UNM professor Glenn Kostur takes up the baton Thursday, Nov. 2 , helming the Albuquerque Jazz Orchestra and world-renowned trumpeterand local residentBobby Shew for the Dizzy Gillespie Centennial Tribute concert. Shew's had a long and lauded career among jazz greats including stints in Benny Goodman's band, as well as work as a sideman in ensembles led by Art Pepper and Bud Shank . A powerful soloist, Shew says Gillespie's skills as a trumpet player far exceeded what players were able to do back in his early days on the scene  he and Charlie Parker took the challenge of spontaneous creative skills to another level with their development of a style called bebop. In addition, Dizzy and Cuban congero Chano Pozo were basically the first to merge Latin music with jazz, thereby developing what is now known as Afro-Cubano. Dizzy is also know for his prolific skills as a composer. A multitude of his tunes are jazz standards which are played by almost every jazz musician, worldwide." Come hear this wondrous musical history brought to life at one of the city's premier jazz outfits Outpost Performance Space for only $25-$30 . (August March)

World renowned trumpeter Bobby Shew performs the music of Dizzy Gillespie with The Albuquerque Jazz Orchestra.

World renowned trumpeter, Bobby Shew, who makes his home in Albuquerque and continues to perform both worldwide as well as locally, pays tribute to the legendary, Dizzy Gillespie whom he describes as "a great jazz musician, mentor, friend, and godfather to my daughter." He goes on to say, "If you had to pick the top 5 jazz musicians of all time, Dizzy Gillespie would certainly be on that list. His skills as a trumpet player far exceeded what players were able to do back in his early days on the scene. Most prominently, he and Charlie Parker took the challenge of spontaneous creative skills to another level with their development of a style called bebop. In addition, Dizzy along with Cuban congero Chano Pozo were basically the first to merge latin music with jazz and thereby developed what is now know as Afro-Cubano. Dizzy is also know for his prolific skills as a composer. So many of his tunes are jazz standards, played by almost every jazz musician, worldwide." Bobby Shew, has recorded with the elite of the jazz world for more than five decades. Born and raised in Albuquerque, he left for Colorado Springs and then moved to Las Vegas and later Los Angeles playing in the big bands of Tommy Dorsey, Woody Herman, Maynard Ferguson, Benny Goodman, Terry Gibbs, Louie Bellson, Toshiko Akiyoshi, and Buddy Rich. After settling in Los Angeles, he did extensive studio work as well as playing with a variety of jazz combos including Art Pepper, Bud Shank, and Frank Rosolino and also led his own highly successful group for many years. A multi Grammy Award Nominee, he was inducted into the New Mexico Music Hall of Fame and was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award for The International Trumpet Guild, as well as a Lifetime Achievement Award for Jazz Education by the JEN group and an Honorary Doctorate Degree from Elmhurst College in Illinois. Tonight, Shew is accompanied in this very special concert by the Albuquerque Jazz Orchestra who have become a highly respected and popular band in our community. The AJO is directed bysaxophonist and UNM Director of Jazz Studies, Glenn Kostur.
Many beer drinkers don't mind paying extra for a beer they really love. A high-end IPA can run $12 to $15 per bottle. Goose Island, a couple years ago, was easily able to fetch $60 for a bottle of "Bourbon County Brand Stout Rare." But even in the craft beer world, asking $200 for a single bottle is a bit extreme.



That doesn't stop Samuel Adams Utopias from quickly selling out when it hits shelves, though or stop some retailers from hiking that price to $300 or more. There's a mystery and cachet to this beer that makes it stand apart from the crowd, though if you taste it, you might briefly wonder if it's even a beer at all. "In Utopias, you will get a beer that breaks all the rules and boundaries for beer," says Jim Koch, co-founder and chairman of Boston Beer. "It's a labor of love. ... [And] it's a fair statement to say it's iconic." Koch, of course, is himself an icon in the brewing world. He gave up a successful career as a business consultant to follow the family tradition of brewing beer in 1984, when he launched the Boston Beer Company, believing beer drinkers were ready for something different. In the early days, he had to walk from bar to bar with samples to convince owners to put his then-revolutionary product on their taps. Today, Boston Beer is the second-largest craft brewer in the country.

Entrepreneurial approach to innovation

It has achieved that lofty position in the beer industry through taking risks. Koch says he likes to hire "out of the box" thinkers with "messy resumes," since they help the company to think about its industry differently and constantly innovate. That encourages the company's culture, which encourages employees to think of themselves as craftspeople.

Jim Koch, co-founder and chairman of the Boston Beer Company Source: The Boston Beer Company

It's a philosophy that has worked. Last year Boston Beer reported net revenues of $906.4 million. And while it's not growing at the rate it once was, Samuel Adams Boston Lager can be easily found at bars, restaurants and stores around the country. And the company's more experimental (and more expensive) offerings sell out quickly. But none as quickly as Utopias. Released every two years, Utopias returns to select retail shelves this November. (Because of the high ABV levels, it's illegal to sell the beer in some states, though.) It's a limited release, with only 13,000 bottles shipping nationwide. But despite the high price tag, Koch says the beer really isn't a big money maker for the company. "We don't lose money on this, but... if you were a private equity firm you'd say 'Why the hell are you doing this?'," he says. "Everyone thinks businesses are economically rational all the time. Some are. A lot aren't. We've been successful following our passions, because we've led and a lot of people have followed both brewers and drinkers. So I feel like if I'm following my passion, it's going to be just fine." There's nothing traditional about Utopias, and that goes far beyond the price tag. You don't pour it into a 12 oz. glass. 1 oz is the recommended size. And while some high-alcohol beers might hit 12 percent ABV, this one weighs in at a staggering 28 percent (give or take a point, depending on the year). And rather than the big hops of an IPA or chocolate/coffee/malty taste of a stout or porter, the taste is closer to a cognac, with notes of butterscotch, maple syrup and plums. In an industry that tends to overuse the phrase "unique," Utopias actually lives up to the term. Utopias was actually born from another Samuel Adams creation  1992's Triple Bock, the beer industry's first barrel aged beer and one of Koch's first efforts to really think outside of the traditional brewing box.

Everyone thinks businesses are economically rational all the time. Some are. A lot aren't. We've been successful following our passions. Jim Koch co-founder and chairman, Boston Beer

"My epiphany was there were some great beer styles that nobody has made," says Koch. "I realized 'Wait a minute: porters, stouts [and] pilsners weren't around when God made rocks and trees. They were the product of human passion and ingenuity. Why should I accept that that passion and ingenuity no longer exists? Let me rethink the craft brewing paradigm.' ... So I made the first extreme beer. It was the Star Trek of beers. I took it where no beer had gone before." More from Iconic:

Workstations' latest trend for remote workers





Triple Bock (which sold for the then-unheard of price of $100 per case) "was a jumpstart for innovation," says Koch. In 1999 the beer morphed into "Millenium," and in 2002 it took on its final form, adopting the name Utopias.

An iconic brand
Senator Richard Burr, a Republican from North Carolina and chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, right, and ranking member Senator Mark Warner, a Democrat from Virginia, listen during a hearing on social media influence in the 2016 U.S. elections in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2017.

Members of Congress blasted representatives from Facebook , Twitter and Google on Wednesday for what they said was their inadequate response to Russian mischief made on their platforms during the 2016 election.

"I don't think you get it," Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., told the companies' general counsels during the Senate Intelligence Committee hearing. "What we're talking about is a cataclysmic change. What we're talking about is the beginning of cyberwarfare."

Facebook's Colin Stretch, Twitter's Sean Edgett and Google's Kent Walker revealed little new information about the extent of foreign influence on their platforms.

Representatives of the companies appeared before a Senate Judiciary subcommittee on Tuesday and were due to testify at a House Intelligence Committee hearing later Wednesday.

The companies appeared under-prepared to answer some of the questions on Wednesday. Stretch, Edgett and Walker produced statistics of Russia-linked advertisements and accounts, but questions about more general Russia propaganda on the platforms and socially divisive content drew only silences and promises to provide the information at a later date.

Facebook said this week that Russian-backed election content on the platform reached 126 million Americans; Twitter found 36,000 Russian accounts were active during the election; and Google said pro-Russian groups purchased $4,700 worth of ads on its platforms.

Senators repeatedly interrupted the general counsels' answers and moved on before allowing them to finish, clearly exasperated by the counsels' tendency to provide long-winded answers  and often by the answers themselves.

"It's not clear that you or the public understand the degree of this," said Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore. "You need to stop paying lip service."

Wyden asked the three whether they were satisfied with their platforms' monitoring of foreign influence during the 2016 presidential election  all three said no.

"This is not a Democrat or Republic issue. This is an American issue", said Sen. Joe Manchin, D-WV. "You cannot allow what's going on against the United States of America. You're on the front lines with us."

Manchin said the companies' inaction threatened the security, safety and "sovereignty of our nation."

The week's hearings could mark a turning point for the internet giants as discussions of regulation come to fore. Twitter and Facebook have each moved to increase transparency around advertising, after public comments by CEOs Jack Dorsey and Mark Zuckerberg.

Several senators indicated during Wednesday's hearing that legislation could be on the horizon for the tech companies, though they varied on the extent.

Manchin asked for the companies' reactions to the proposed Honest Ads Act, which would require greater information around political content . Only Twitter provided an answer, and it was mostly supportive. Republican Sen. James Lankford of Oklahoma said any legislation may have only the "lightest touch."
Spain's High Court has summoned Catalonia's deposed leader to testify in Madrid later this week as the country's judicial system weighs up whether to proceed with criminal charges against the pro-independence leadership.

The court in Madrid issued a summons Tuesday for former Catalan President Carles Puigdemont and 13 other members of his government to appear in court on Thursday and Friday.

The summons comes after Spain's chief prosecutor called Monday for charges of rebellion, sedition and embezzlement to be brought against members of the Catalan pro-independence government and parliament for their roles in the independence bid.

In a summons issued Tuesday, the investigating judge, Carmen Lamela, said that the first step was to summon the 14 defendants for questioning before a decision on whether to prosecute is taken. A bond of 6,207,450 euros ($7.21 million euros) was set for the defendants.

Catalonia's government declared independence Friday, following a symbolic referendum on secession from Spain on October 1. Spain reacted by imposing direct rule on the wealthy northeast region, sacking its government and calling fresh elections for December 21.

Facing potential arrest and possible heavy prison sentences of up to 30 years if prosecuted and found guilty of rebellion, the former Catalan President Puigdemont and several members of his government traveled to Brussels on Monday.

Giving a press conference Tuesday, Puigdemont said he was not in Belgium to claim asylum or to escape justice but to put the "Catalan problem at the heart of the European Union." He said that he would return to Spain when he had "guarantees" of a "fair and just treatment" there.

The summons noted that this is only the initial phase of the proceedings and is not a judicial decision on whether to charge the defendants. It is unclear whether Puigdemont and his colleagues will abide by the summons, however. If they do not, they could face arrest.

Spain's Supreme Court began processing rebellion and sedition charges against the speaker of the Catalan parliament, Carme Forcadell, and five other parliamentary members on Tuesday.
Standard Chartered remains on schedule to decide how much it will pay out to investors at the start of next year, the bank's CFO Andy Halford said Wednesday.

Investors have been wondering when Standard Chartered will reset paying dividends after several postponements.

Halford said a decision will be made at the full-year meeting, after some uncertainties dissipate.

"We are very mindful that investors are looking for resumption in dividend," Halford told CNBC.

"By the end of the year many of those factors will be clear," he said about doubts over whether the bank will be able to deliver enduring profitability and the impact of new regulations.

"I am sure the board in January/February time will take all of that into account and decide what's the best thing to do."
Some individuals can write off LTC premiums if they exceed 10 percent of their adjusted gross income because premiums are considered medical expenses. If you are a W2-earning household with $200,000 adjusted gross income, you have to top $20,000 in medical expenses just to begin to write off some of your premiums. This is not a very good tax break.

Business owners and the self-employed, however, have an incredible tax strategy that can make LTC insurance really affordable. We recently ran a quote for LTC insurance for a couple in their 50s that was going to cost $3,450 per year. If they owned their own business, they could write off $3,060 of their premium based on the 2017 limits below.

If this couple is in the 28 percent tax bracket, their policy only costs them $2,593.20 per year instead of $3,450 (3,060 x .28 = 856.80). As they get older, they can deduct even more.
Donald Trump Mike Segar | Reuters

The chief executive of an oil refiner controlled by Carl Icahn on Wednesday accused President Donald Trump of caving to corn-state legislators in failing to overhaul a federal biofuel program. Jack Lipinski, CEO of CVR Energy and its limited partnership CVR Refining , said Trump also had failed to drain the swamp of special interest influence in government. Lipinski also suggested during a conference call with analysts that Trump would pay a price at the polls for conceding to special interests. Icahn, formerly a special adviser to Trump on regulations, had sought changes to the Renewable Fuel Standard, a program that requires fuel refiners to blend renewable biofuels like corn-based ethanol into gasoline and diesel. Those changes would have benefited CVR Energy, in which Icahn Associates holds an 82-percent stake.

What I cannot understand is how the Trump administration capitulated to the senators from Iowa Jack Lipinski CVR Energy CEO

The Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. bureau that overseas the Renewable Fuel Standard, last month said it would not pursue several changes to the program that would ease financial burdens for CVR Energy and other small refiners. "Unfortunately legislators closely tied to the biofuel lobby sabotaged EPA's efforts by saying they would hold back EPA nominees until they got their way," Lipinski said during CVR Refining's third-quarter earnings conference call. He was referring to a bipartisan effort to block changes to the Renewable Fuel Standard. He said he was "surprised that the Trump administration caved and failed to drain the swamp as promised." The White House did not immediately return CNBC's request for comment. The EPA declined an offer to respond. The changes were opposed by lawmakers from big farm states, including Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-IA. "President Trump pledged to support biofuels during his campaign," Sen. Grassley told CNBC in an email. "A strong [Renewable Fuel Standard] is consistent with that pledge and President Trump should be applauded for keeping his word to the country."

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Lipinski said he could not understand "how the Trump administration capitulated to the senators from Iowa." He noted that the top two corn producing red states, Iowa and Nebraska, have just 11 electoral votes. Meanwhile, two of the most disadvantaged refiners under the program are headquartered in Pennsylvania, he said. Lipinski did not specify which companies he meant, but refiners like Philadelphia Energy Solutions and Delta Air Lines subsidiary Monroe Energy are based in Pennsylvania. "If anybody in the White House can do math, Pennsylvania has 20 electoral votes," he said. Under the Renewable Fuel Standard, refiners who blend biofuels like ethanol into gasoline generate credits called Renewable Identification Numbers, known as RINs. Smaller refiners like CVR that do not blend ethanol must buy those RINs in order to meet their obligation under the program. Icahn had lobbied for the EPA to shift the obligation to buy credits away from refiners and onto fuel blenders. Analysts told CNBC that CVR Refining appeared to be putting off buying RINs on the view that prices would fall as policy changed. Icahn himself suggested the company was not buying RINs. Icahn's position as the dominant investor in CVR Energy and his unofficial role as an advisor to Trump on regulations drew conflict of interest allegations. Icahn, who argued he was acting in the interest of American energy security, stepped down from the advisory role in August. Lipinski said on Wednesday that CVR has been buying RINs and reports to the contrary are inaccurate.
A fight is brewing on Capitol Hill over what to name the tax reform bill that congressional Republicans plan to introduce on Thursday morning.

House lawmakers in charge of writing the legislation want the bill's name to reflect the fact that it's a tax reform package. But President Donald Trump has other ideas.

Both ABC News and Politico reported Wednesday that Trump is insisting that the bill be called "The Cut Cut Cut Act."

From the ABC News article:

"Still, behind closed doors, there has been back-and-forth between House Speaker Paul Ryan, and House Ways and Means chairman Kevin Brady about the naming of the bill, including multiple phone calls in the past week. Ryan initially kicked the naming over to Trump because of his penchant towards branding, according to a senior Hill aide. Ryan and Brady have pushed back on the naming of the bill. However, Trump has held firm."

A White House spokeswoman did not immediately respond to questions from CNBC about the naming of the bill.

Trump frequently compares his proposed legislation to a tax reform bill passed in 1986 and signed by then-President Ronald Reagan. The name of that bill? The Tax Reform Act of 1986.

Correction: Kevin Brady is Republican representative from Texas. An earlier version misidentified his state.
The political bickering over Tuesday's deadly terror attack in Manhattan is already going at full steam.

A center stage, we have President Donald Trump and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer trading barbs on Twitter:

It goes on from there with more zingers coming from both sides, but you get the idea.

Even Senator Jeff Flake tried to wade into the Trump-Schumer battle and defend Schumer with this tweet referring to the work of the so-called Gang of 8:

But that tweet was misleading as it made it sound like the Gang of 8's reforms actually passed. They actually never even came up for a vote in the House of Representatives. So an hour later, Flake clarified:

Here's the important takeaway: Once again, the American people are the real losers in this fight, as political squabbling is clearly winning the day as opposed to a sober and fair look at our immigration and anti-terror policies.

What makes this all so cruel is that love or hate the Gang of 8's proposals, its efforts do represent the last serious bipartisan effort to address the needed reforms for immigration policy in America. Yes, the process was overly secretive and flawed for many reasons. But at least four Democrats and four Republicans made the effort.

The good news is that the Gang of 8's failures still provide us with a road map of what to do and what not to do to make proposals that would not only create good immigration reforms but might actually be approved by Congress and signed by the president.

Senator Flake's tweets at least provided us with a good first step: Eliminate the diversity visa program lottery in favor of a more merit-based vetting policy. If the Gang of 8 agreed on that all those years before Tuesday's attack, even more politicians should now.

Second, the fatal flaw in most immigration reform bills is that they never seem to do enough to truly boost border security first. That mistake practically created the Trump "build the wall" campaign slogan and its potency within the GOP base. In addition to allowing for major funding for border control, any successful immigration reform bill will have to allow for a waiting period for those security efforts to be built and kick in before any other more lenient reforms go into effect.

This is crucial. It may seem like shortening and easing the path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants already here in the U.S. is a non-starter for conservatives. But that compromise has a much better chance of succeeding if concrete border security measures are made and shown to be working for a year or so before expedited citizenship programs begin and deportation efforts are scaled back. The line many conservatives swallowed in 1986 when a massive amnesty program for illegal immigrants went into effect under President Reagan was that that leniency was being matched by much improved immigration enforcement. But that part of the deal never materialized and poor funding for better border security was a big reason why. That is why immigration hawks in Congress and President Trump will never support any reform bill that doesn't make that a financial and chronological priority.

Speaking of President Trump, his support is obviously crucial. One of the reasons the Gang of 8 bill never had a realistic chance was that President Obama and his administration were never really behind it in a strong way. That is not to say that if President Obama had pulled out all the stops to support it the bill would have succeeded. But a noticeable lack of White House enthusiasm didn't help.

The final piece of the puzzle is for pro-immigration advocates to accept the extreme vetting processes and even some temporary bans the Trump administration wants to impose in the face of Islamic terrorism.

What's in it for the Democrats and/or those who favor more open immigration rules? The simple answer is the big picture. If they are truly for a faster track to legal, safe, and fair immigration, it should acceptable to give in to increased border security and the scaled-back temporary Trump administration immigration bans the U.S. Supreme Court has upheld. Permanent policy improvements should be more important than any temporary setbacks, period.

Even in the wake of this Manhattan attack by an immigrant who came here on a controversial visa program, it's clear what our better choices are when it comes to immigration. And when even people like New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio now say that anyone who wants to come to the United States should be "very thoroughly vetted" you can see the roots of compromise starting to form.

The other option is we can continue to endure snippy fights on Twitter between politicians.

The choice is obvious.

Commentary by Jake Novak, CNBC.com senior columnist. Follow him on Twitter @jakejakeny.

For more insight from CNBC contributors, follow @CNBCopinion on Twitter.
Trump said his administration would seek to end what he called "chain migration," and institute "a merit-based program, where people come into our country based on merit."

"I am today starting the process of terminating the diversity lottery program," Trump said at a Cabinet meeting. I'm going to ask Congress to immediately initiate work to get rid of this program, diversory [sic] and diversity lottery. Diversity lottery. Sounds nice, it's not good. Not good. It hasn't been good, and we've been against it."

Calling terror suspect Sayfullo Saipov "an animal," President Donald Trump on Wednesday said he will ask Congress to end the immigration lottery program, which he blamed for allowing Saipov to enter the United States.

Trump made the comments during the meeting in the White House, where he also said he would consider sending Saipov to the military detention center at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, while he awaits trial.

Saipov is suspected of using a rented truck on Tuesday to kill eight people in lower Manhattan, an attack that authorities have described as an act of terror inspired by ISIS.

Officially known as the Diversity Visa Lottery, the green-card lottery was written into law in 1990 and went into effect in 1995. Under the program, approximately 50,000 visas are awarded annually to applicants from parts of the world that are typically underrepresented in U.S. immigration.

Earlier Monday, in a 7:24 a.m. EDT tweet, Trump pointed the finger at Sen. Chuck Schumer for the immigration program.

Tweet: @realDonaldTrump The terrorist came into our country through what is called the "Diversity Visa Lottery Program," a Chuck Schumer beauty. I want merit based.

Schumer, the Senate's top Democrat, responded an hour later, tweeting "I guess it's not too soon to politicize a tragedy."

Tweet: @SenSchumer I guess it's not too soon to politicize a tragedy.

And Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., came to Schumer's defense, tweeting that the New York Democrat did away with the program.

Tweet: @JeffFlake Actually, the Gang of 8, including @SenSchumer, did away with the Diversity Visa Program as part of broader reforms. I know, I was there
Airport-like security screenings are not necessary for Amtrak or other rail travel, the new head of the Transportation Security Administration said Wednesday, speaking a day after eight people were killed in a truck attack in Lower Manhattan.

"We don't intend to roll out anything like what we have in the airports," TSA Administrator David Pekoske told reporters at Grand Central Terminal. "We are satisfied at his point."

Random checks of passengers, police and security officers and canines at rail terminals are among measures currently sufficient to protect those areas, without having to screen every passenger, like at an airport, he said.

Pekoske said one priority is ensuring that there is a "continuous vetting process" of the more than 5 million people enrolled in the TSA's PreCheck program, which provides access to speedier security lanes and less invasive screening at airports in exchange for $85 and a background check.

"It's not just a check on your background" when you enroll, he said.

Pekoske, who took the reins of the Department of Homeland Security arm in August, was in New York City for a previously planned meeting with officials from the Metropolitan Transit Authority and Amtrak.

New security rules went into effect last week for air travelers on U.S.-bound flights. Targets for attacks in recent years, however, have included areas that are far less protected than those beyond the security checkpoints. For example, the attacks in the Brussels Airport occurred in a departure hall in March 2016 and there was a shooting at the baggage claim area at Fort Lauderdale's main airport in January.
Omaha attorney Steve Grasz repeatedly assured members of the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday that he would adhere to judicial precedent and not allow his personal views to interfere with his judgment if he is confirmed as a nominee to the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

Grasz, whose nomination by President Donald Trump to a seat on the federal bench attracted unusual fire from the American Bar Association, responded to intense questioning during his confirmation hearing.

Judges have a duty to "say what the law is, not what it should be or what they might like it to be," Grasz said in answer to a question posed by Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas.

"Personal preferences and beliefs of a judge should have no role," Grasz said.

A judge needs to "apply precedent (and) rule fairly and impartially," he added.

It would be "my solemn obligation and duty to faithfully apply the precedent of the U.S. Supreme Court," Grasz assured Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut.

Grasz, who served as chief deputy attorney general for Nebraska from 1991 to 2002, told Sen. Ben Sasse that he would "set aside the role of advocate" and "apply the law fairly and impartially in spite of past opinions."

Questioning by members of the committee pointed to a clear partisan divide, with Grasz encountering praise along with some early expressions of support from Republican senators and challenging questions from Democratic senators who honed in on his personal anti-abortion convictions, conservative religious and social views, and partisan political connections.

With Republicans in the majority, a split-vote recommendation for confirmation appeared likely to be sent to the floor.

Filling in for Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa, Sasse chaired the hearing.

Sen. Deb Fischer told the committee  she is not a member  that Grasz is "highly respected by his colleagues" in Nebraska.

Fischer described the ABA's negative evaluation as "biased, baseless (and) filled with innuendo" that she equated to "political character assassination."

Two individuals who played key roles in the ABA assessment have direct ties to Democratic politics, she said.

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island subsequently pointed to the 14-0 vote by the ABA assessment committee and the fact that the ABA has given "qualified" or "well-qualified" grades to nearly all judicial nominees of Trump, as evidence that Grasz's ranking is "hard to ascribe to partisanship."

Both Fischer and Sasse highlighted an earlier statement by Deborah Gilg, who had been former President Barack Obama's U.S. attorney for Nebraska, stating Grasz "has always enjoyed a reputation for honesty, impeccable integrity and dedication to the rule of law."

Gilg also suggested Grasz "possesses an even temperament well-suited for the bench," an assessment that runs directly contrary to the ABA's stated concerns about his temperament.

Sasse read into the record a statement by former Democratic Sen. Ben Nelson that said Grasz is "capable of putting what personal views he has aside when appropriate" and "I expect him to follow the law and the facts (rather than) personal views."

Several times, Grasz assured the committee he would adhere to the pro-abortion rights precedent set by Roe v. Wade, which he described as "a clear, existing and binding precedent" established by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Answering questions from several Republican senators, Grasz said he was "asked repeatedly for my opinions on social issues, including abortion" during an ABA interview in Omaha.

The interviewer "repeatedly used 'you people'" in questioning him, Grasz said. When he asked what that meant, Grasz said, they were "identified as conservatives and Republicans."

Grasz said he was asked repeatedly about his views on abortion and 2nd Amendment gun rights.

"Apparently, they don't like that you're pro-life," Sen. John Kennedy of Louisiana said.

"In my second interview, that was made very clear to me," Grasz said.

Grassley said a representative from the ABA was invited to testify at the hearing, but could not attend and has been scheduled for an appearance later this month.

Following the hearing, ABA President Hilarie Bass said the organization conducts "independent, nonpartisan peer evaluations" of every federal judicial nominee and it "does not take into consideration a nominee's philosophy, political affiliation or ideology."

In reviewing Grasz, she said in a written statement, committee members interviewed 207 lawyers, judges and others who have worked with him in various capacities, some of them for decades.

The ABA has evaluated 45 judicial candidates nominated by Trump and scored 43 of them as "qualified" or "well-qualified," Bass said.
Jason Alden | Bloomberg | Getty Images

Britain's Electoral Commission is investigating whether a leading anti-EU campaigner breached referendum finance rules, after speculation mounted that Russia may have meddled in the Brexit vote. Arron Banks, a major donor to the anti-EU campaign who was pictured with Donald Trump and leading Brexiteer Nigel Farage outside a gilded elevator soon after Trump's 2016 U.S. presidential election victory, denied the allegations. The Electoral Commission, which is already looking at whether Banks' pro-Brexit Leave.EU group received any impermissible donations, said its new investigation would examine whether he was the true source of loans to a campaigner. The investigation cannot overturn the referendum, though Banks, a 51-year-old insurance tycoon, said it was an attempt by the "Remain establishment" to discredit the Brexit result. "Allegations of Brexit being funded by the Russians ... are complete bollocks [rubbish] from beginning to end," Banks said in an emailed statement, signing off "nostrovia", a version of "na zdorovye", Russian for "cheers!".

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When asked about the investigation, Prime Minister Theresa May told parliament: "We take very seriously issues of Russian intervention, or Russian attempts to intervene, in electoral processes or in the democratic processes of any country." The announcement of the investigation comes after Ben Bradshaw, a lawmaker from the opposition Labour Party, asked the government to look into reports by advocacy group Open Democracy that the origin of some campaign funds was unclear. Bradshaw said he was also concerned about what he said were significant British connections in the U.S. investigation into whether the Trump campaign colluded with Russian efforts to meddle in the presidential election. Russia denies meddling in Brexit or the U.S. election and Trump denies any collusion with Russia. In the June 23, 2016 referendum, 17.4 million votes, or 51.9 percent of votes cast, backed leaving the EU while 16.1 million votes, or 48.1 percent of votes cast, backed staying, a result that defied opinion polls.

Voter confidence

The Electoral Commission, which did not mention Russia, said it was looking at whether a company called Better for the Country Limited (BFTCL) - of which Banks was a director - was the true source of donations made to campaigners. BFTCL was not registered as a permitted participant in the referendum but five registered campaigning groups reported receiving donations from it totaling 2.4 million pounds, the Commission said. Banks, who was a registered permitted participant, gave three non-commercial loans to Leave.EU, totaling 6 million pounds.

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A mascot of TripAdvisor is seen at its display at a trade fair.

The travelers' accounts, posted on the website as reviews of the resorts in question and subsequently deleted by TripAdvisor, described stories of tainted alcohol, rapes by resort staff and other injuries during their Mexican vacations, the Journal Sentinel reported.

TripAdvisor has rules for approving and deleting users' posts. More than a dozen American travelers since July have said their warnings were smothered by the company, according to the Journal Sentinel's investigation.

Multiple reviews on travel and booking website TripAdvisor detailing personal accounts of rape and injuries at some Mexican resorts were repeatedly removed by the company without clear explanation, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported Wednesday .

In some instances, TripAdvisor said that reviews written from firsthand experience were deleted because they constituted "hearsay," the publication said.

"It's important that anyone who suspects foul play or illegal activity contact the local authorities rather than use a review platform as their primary way to share their experience," a TripAdvisor spokeswoman told the Journal Sentinel.

The company grants some especially active users the ability to determine what is or is not "appropriate" for "the TripAdvisor community" and delete reviews accordingly, but the company won't say how those users are selected, according to the report.

"TripAdvisor has always maintained  since our founding  a strict separation between our commerce and content businesses," the company said in a statement addressing the Journal Sentinel's article.

"Despite assertions and statements made by a recent USA Today article, there is no tie between commercial relationships with our partners and how our content guidelines are applied to reviews or forum posts published on the site."

Read the full Milwaukee Journal Sentinel investigation on USAToday.com.
Anyone suffering withdrawal from last year's presidential election thriller can check all the wild and wacky boxes by focusing on the governor's race in Virginia. Election Day is next week, but it's already been a contest where anything can happen and anything goes.

Virginia's election for governor has traditionally been seen as an early bellwether for new presidents as it happens one year after the presidential election. Plus, since Virginia has become more of a swing state, the results will have more meaning than this year's other governor's race in a solid blue New Jersey.

What's more, since incumbents can't run for a second consecutive term as governor in the Old Dominion, the playing field is uncommonly even and more open to national political issues as opposed to local personality politics.

But that means one national personality is dominating more and more of the race: President Donald Trump.

President Trump's policies and his political tone have made more than a cameo appearance in this election between Democrat Ralph Northam and Republican Ed Gillespie. Gillespie has ruffled feathers by taking a Trumpian stand against illegal immigrant gangs and trying to tie the murderous MS-13 gang to policies Northam supports.

A Latino group supporting Northam countered with an even more controversial ad showing scared minority children being chased by a truck with a "Gillespie for governor" sticker and a Confederate flag. (That ad was pulled Tuesday after the deadly terror truck ramming incident in New York City). Earlier in the race, the Democratic Party in Virginia also sent out a mailer showing President Trump and Gillespie with pictures of white supremacists marchers inserted below them.

If the Virginia election wasn't a referendum on President Trump before those ads were aired, it certainly is now.

Another similarity between this race and the 2016 election is that the polls are all over the place. There are wild swings in different polls almost daily. One survey put out last week by Hampton University has Gillespie up by eight points. Another one a week later from Quinnipiac University had Northam up by 17. Overall, Northam is still favored by most of the polls. But with those kinds of wild swings, the race is essentially an unpredictable tossup. If the polling industry was looking to recover much of the credibility it lost in the presidential election with some kind of universally accurate prediction of this race, that chance has already been lost.

But the real question for the political class is what this election will mean when the votes are actually counted.

Here are the best answers to that question depending on the three potential outcomes:

If the Republican Gillespie wins, then it signals that allying with President Trump and some of his signature controversial policies is far from fatal for GOP candidates. Remember that Hillary Clinton beat President Trump in Virginia last year by more than five percentage points and current Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe is a Democrat, so any win for a Republican there would be a net gain for the GOP.

If the Democrat Northam wins, and wins by a better margin than those five points, look for Democrats to become more emboldened to focus on President Trump in the midterm elections over local issues. Republican candidates will also be more likely to try to distance themselves from the president if possible.

Of course, if the election turns out to be decided by a razor thin margin of about three points or less, all bets are off. Everyone will just have to go back to reading the other political tea leaves to determine their 2018 or 2020 strategies.

But what we do know now is that we have a too close to call contest that's heavily dominated by pro-Trump and anti-Trump sentiment. And while approval polls are what we've had to rely on since last year to gauge this president's support, we're about to get the results from the one kind of poll that really counts.

No one has seriously ever said: "As Virginia goes, so goes the nation." But after this coming Tuesday, we might be able to say that the Virginia election is a strong test of where the nation is right now.

Commentary by Jake Novak, CNBC.com senior columnist. Follow him on Twitter @jakejakeny.

For more insight from CNBC contributors, follow @CNBCopinion on Twitter.
At least eight people are dead and 11 are seriously injured after a man in a rented pickup truck mowed down pedestrians and cyclists along a busy bike path near the World Trade Center memorial. New York's mayor called it "a particularly cowardly act of terror." (AP)



Authorities have identified a suspect in the New York City terrorist attack as 29-year-old Sayfullo Habibullaevic Saipov, NBC News has learned. After being shot in the abdomen by police, the suspect is currently at a hospital, where he refused to answer an initial round of questions.



* In the wake of attack, Trump says he's ordered increased 'Extreme Vetting' (CNBC)

* Exuberant and defiant, New Yorkers flock to Halloween parade despite attack (Reuters)

House Republicans will delay the release of their tax bill until tomorrow amid disagreement on the details of the plan. The release of the bill had been slated for today, and President Donald Trump has touted it as "the biggest tax event in the history of our country." (CNBC)



* Trump tax plan has lackluster public support, poll says (CNBC)

George Papadopoulos, the obscure Trump campaign advisor who plead guilty to lying to FBI agents, has reportedly claimed campaign officials agreed to a pre-election meeting with Russia. (Bloomberg)



* Former Trump campaign adviser denies encouraging aide on Russia dealings (Reuters)

The United States is quietly pursuing direct diplomacy with North Korea, a senior State Department official told Reuters, despite President Trump's public assertion that such talks are a waste of time and has exchanged insults with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.



* Trump will not visit the Korean demilitarized zone during his trip to the region (CNBC)

Unauthorized drones are flying an average of twice a day above critical military infrastructure just 4 miles from the White House, according to a new study from drone-detection start-up Dedrone and the Department of Defense.

House Financial Services Chairman Jeb Hensarling has announced that he will not seek re-election in 2018. The 60-year-old Republican from Texas said he wanted to spend more time with his family and has "already stayed far longer than I had originally planned." (CNBC)

Wal-Mart (WMT) is gearing up for the holiday season with plans to invest even more in the in-store shopping experience. The big-box retailer plans to hold more than 20,000 parties (yes, parties) at its stores over the next two months. (CNBC)

Facebook, Twitter, and Google executives go back to Capitol Hill today for the second day of hearings on Russian online ad buying aimed at influencing the 2016 presidential election. Before senators on Tuesday, Facebook pledged to double the number of people working on issues related to safety and security. (CNBC)

Microsoft is working on an artificial intelligence chip for its next generation HoloLens headset. And the U.S. technology giant could take it to other products in its hardware range, Panos Panay, corporate vice president of devices at Microsoft, told CNBC.

Grail, the cancer detection start-up backed by tech giants Alphabet (GOOGL) and Amazon (AMZN), is already seeking new funding, mere months after it closed a $900 million round in March. The company had previously raised $100 million in 2016. (CNBC)

HP, maker of printers and personal computers, said today it completed its purchase of Samsung Electronics' printer business in a deal valued at $1.05 billion. (CNBC)
Oil traders just provided another sign that the market is rebalancing.

The calendar spread for the next six months moved from "contango" into "backwardation" Tuesday. To explain, a calendar spread measures the difference in price between any pair of oil contracts with different delivery dates and can explain the current supply-demand balance in the market.

These oil futures contracts are financial instruments that carry legally binding obligations  so a buyer and a seller have the obligation to take or make delivery of an underlying instrument, such as oil, at a specified settlement date in the future.

In this particular case, the spread or measure is of the next month's oil contract against another in seven months from now. This is otherwise known as the 6-month spread, and currently underscores a growing level of immediate demand for WTI crude as inventories shrink.

According to Reuters data, it is the first time this measure has slipped into "backwardation" since November 20, 2014.

Backwardation is when the current price of oil is higher than a future cost of oil. It is seen as a sign of higher immediate demand. Conversely, contango is when the futures price of oil is higher than the spot delivery price.

As the chart below indicates, WTI has just moved into backwardation, while  on the same 6-month spread basis  moved into backwardation earlier this year.
One of the most effective changes Synchrony made was the establishment of a startup-style in-house working lab, dubbed the Innovation Station, staffed with a cross-discipline team and tasked with scouting emerging tech but also developing it. Within a year or so the company had implemented a solid working process. "We quickly learned [agile] was really able to help us move more quickly, to respond to the marketplace, and respond to client needs," Juel says. "So then we had the ability to test and learn and fail, which wasn't a typical attitude in our space."

Among one of the company's breakthroughs to emerge from the Innovation Station has been to bring client partners into the creative process, via what the company calls Bolt Sessions. The idea is that Synchrony invites a client team in for an intensive innovation workshop to identify a particular need or challenge and then, through a formalized process, come out the other side in most cases with an answerand not a theoretical one, but an actual working prototype of a technological solution with a clear path for commercialization. "This isn't about bringing back just some cool new tech but having real solutions," Juel says. "It's almost like a hackathon, but the inverse."

The Innovation Station concept has been so successful for Synchrony that the company has since established three more; one devoted to exploring tech solutions for data; another for B2B solutions; and in recent months the company's fourth, focused on call-center technology. And Juel says that some of the products the company now offers were conceived in their Innovation Stations, including some from actual Bolt sessions. The company's Digital Buya customizable, brandable, one-touch checkout button that bolts easily onto a client's retail siteis one prominent example.

Juel says Synchrony's approach to divining where things are going begins with a client-focused view and adopting agile processes. "It's about understanding and having a mechanism to be aware of what's happening in your environment, understanding what's changing around you, listening to your customers and being able to adapt to their responses," she says, noting that the company is focused on maintaining long-term client relationships, including one that has lasted more than 40 years. "We see the spectrum of what's changing in retail and it varies widely: There's a massive move to digital, the dynamics and trends of demographic changes and consumer expectations," she says. "Everyone is at a different state in their own journey with specific challenges. And so we need to meet up with our partners where they are."

Read more Money20/20 coverage from CNBC Brand Studio

See how contextual commerce is redefining retail

The CNBC Brand Studio conceives and creates stories relevant to our partners and the CNBC audience.
OMAHA  Omaha police are investigating after an SUV crashed into a small coffee shop drive-thru, injuring the driver and four employees in the shop.

Police say it happened Tuesday morning at 129th Street and West Maple Road, when the SUV veered off Maple and over a curb before plowing into Crane Coffee.

Four employees inside were hurt, two of them seriously. Police say one employee was knocked outside the building by the impact. A 25-year-old woman suffered a lacerated liver and fractured pelvis, and a 36-year-old woman suffered cuts and an injury to her esophagus. Two others suffered injuries ranging from cuts and bruises to broken bones.

The 33-year-old driver suffered only minor injuries and told police he blacked out. Alcohol and drug tests came back negative.

The building was destroyed.
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Types of obituaries

The Missourian publishes two types of obituaries  family obituaries and life stories.

A family obituary is the version submitted by a funeral home or family. Please see the submission form for details on cost and deadlines. Family obituaries

A life story is a closer look at a person's life and involves a reporter contacting family and friends. Life stories are based on newsworthiness and consent of the family. Life stories.
The Missourians Opinion section is a public forum for the discussion of ideas. The views presented in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Missourian or the University of Missouri. If you would like to contribute to the Opinion page with a response or an original topic of your own, visit our submission form
Seven years after overseeing the Nebraska State Fair's historic move from Lincoln to Grand Island, Joseph McDermott will retire as the fair's executive director.

The State Fair Board announced McDermott's retirement in a news release Wednesday. McDermott will work with the fair in a consulting role next year as a new executive director comes on board.

"Our goal is to continue and build upon the success and momentum that the Nebraska State Fair has seen in recent years," said Chris Kircher, the board chairman.

McDermott spent 30 years with the fair, and his first job was to write software on an IBM mainframe computer.

Prior to taking the leadership role on a permanent basis nine years ago, McDermott served several stints as interim executive director.

It has been an incredible run for the last three decades and especially since the fair moved to Grand Island," McDermott, a G.I. native, said in a news release.

Attendance at the 2017 fair reached an all-time high since moving to Grand Island and approached the event's 20-year-old attendance record.

State Fair officials said 379,108 people attended this year's 11-day event. It's the first time attendance in Grand Island surpassed crowds at the final fair held in Lincoln in 2009.

"The support of the fair by the Grand Island community has simply been amazing," said McDermott, who helped transform the grounds of Fonner Park into a permanent home for the State Fair after the fairgrounds in Lincoln was turned over to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln for development of Nebraska Innovation Campus.

No state fair anywhere in the country had picked up and moved in recent memory, and certainly not to a location away from the state's population base.

McDermott offered his thanks to the board and State Fair staff for their hard work, and said now is the time to "bring in a fresh set of eyes" to maintain the momentum.

"The success we've experienced was significantly better than any of us expected in 2009," McDermott said. "And the fair has continued to grow every year."
Judy Terry is a marketing professional and a local councillor in Suffolk.

The UK has a long maritime history, with pride in the knowledge and skills which prevented invasion for more than a thousand years; there is an almost inbred love of the sea, popularised in the Victorian era with the growth of coastal holiday resorts.

Our ports remain a lifeline for imports and exports, whilst sailing as a leisure activity has grown in the last couple of decades. However, Councils, Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs), Security Services, and Tourism authorities, as well as Government, fail to recognise the significant benefits of supporting and encouraging our love of the sea.

Today, sailing is worth millions of pounds to the UKs local and national economies, employing thousands of people: boatbuilding, repairs, specialist clothing, training, food sales, protecting the environment, and tourism for starters. Sailing is also good for mental health and there are a number of schemes to encourage participation for disabled and military veterans. Nevertheless, all this activity is generally under-rated, with a misguided resentment in some quarters.

Unfortunately, there is a perception that sailing is solely the preserve of the privileged or mega-rich, trawling the Mediterranean in multi-million pound yachts.

But nothing could be further from the truth; messing about in boats is enjoyed by people from all walks of life because there are few better ways to clear your head than pottering down a river, skimming over a lake, down a canal, idling along in a light breeze watching the wildlife or racing round the coast. You dont have to be wealthy to enjoy sailing, and learning the technical skills to gain the necessary accreditation for local and international waters.

For some people boats simply provide a low cost alternative to buying a second home, never leaving their mooring, whilst others spend their lives undergoing endless restoration by their retired owners. This is all part of a convivial alternative to the pressures of daily life.

Figures recently released by British Marine, representing an industry employing more than 31,000 people in the UK, celebrate the buoyancy of Britains boatbuilders, with production levels up by 1.5 per cent to nearly 10,000 units, and turnover increasing to 859 million in 2016, accounting for more than one third of the marine industrys 3.01 billion revenue. 724 million was derived from exports, up by 35 per cent. The UK continues to be a leader in the global dinghy sailboat market, accounting for 78 per cent of total units produced, with rigid inflatable boats up by 12.3 per cent and mid-sized motor yacht production rising by 2.7 per cent.

British Marine CEO, Howard Pridding, commented:

Boatbuilding in the UK has changed dramatically since the last decade, with demographic and social change reshaping manufacturers customer base and their access and approach to spending and boat ownership. Our members continue to find opportunities and commercial niches to exploit in the Eurozone, and in established and emerging markets outside Europe.

While sailing yacht ownership has declined, participation in the sport has not, with charter holidays and shared ownership offering flexibility of use and experience not afforded by conventional ownership.

Since the early 2000s, Associated British Ports, which handles 25 per cent of the UKs seaborne trade worth over 150 billion, has invested millions developing marinas at four of its 21 ports: Lowestoft (186 moorings), Southampton (126), Fleetwood (420) and Ipswich (expanded to 320 moorings in 2010, including 30 berths for visiting sailors).

In Ipswich, alone, where ABP employ a large workforce in the Port, the investment in upgrading marina facilities and equipment has made it a popular destination for visiting vessels from America, Europe, and around the British coast. It has a great impact on local businesses, including bars and restaurants, on and around the Waterfront, explains Marina Manager, Linda Pipe: We have all walks of life here, from doctors to chimney sweeps, and they all mix together in a friendly and sociable manner. We host cheese and wine evenings, and BBQs, creating a great community spirit.

She notes the importance of having a good relationship with Ipswich Borough Council, which organises a popular Maritime Weekend, drawing sailors and non-sailors from across the region, supported by ABP.

Nevertheless, whereas on the Continent, as soon as you moor somewhere you receive literature (in English) detailing places to visit and how to get there, as well as information on transport links, restaurants, food retailers, winemakers and events, this is not common practice in the UK. In Ipswich, for example, one sees visitors wandering from the marina, unsure of where to go, when a simple map, with appropriate brief text, paid for by adverts round the border, could direct them to the town centre shops, superb museums, regular market, parks and childrens play areas, as well as places of interest within, say a 20 mile radius. Details of taxi firms, bus routes are always being requested, says Lindas colleague. Visitors are interested in exploring the area and want to stretch their legs after a long voyage. They want something to show for their effort.

There is no doubt that tourism opportunities are being lost. Councils and LEPs could develop partnerships, offering grants to marinas and selected sailing clubs in return for acting as mini-Tourism offices, using their websites to promote the local area. These are valuable, untapped, resources.

According to the Royal Yachting Association (RYA) there are over 600 sailing clubs in the UK. Centres for social, as well as sailing, engagement, they welcome the local and international community for refreshments, as well as a range of specialist talks and events; sharing knowledge and experience, boat owning members also offer non-sailors and keen novices the thrills of being on the water.

Importantly, sailors (and those connected with the industry) have an intimate knowledge of local rivers and coastline, alert to changes to the wildlife, environment or strange behaviour by other boats. Already a valuable source of information to the Coastguard, they could be used more widely by Security services to report potential illegal immigration or drug trafficking.

Just days ago, the Border Force caught a Ukrainian yacht diverted from Lowestoft, smuggling 18 people into Southwold, although 10 of the illegal immigrants had almost reached Ipswich before being intercepted by the Police. There have been reports of similar incursions in the last year, with boats found abandoned, but outcomes not always so successful.

As the Social Secretary of my modest sailing club at Pin Mill on the River Orwell, I can attest to the joys of simply watching the river and wildlife as tides and weather change, whether on or off a boat, and the friendships arising from that shared interest. Ive never owned a boat, but know how important the club is as a social hub for people of all ages who look after each other, through sickness and in health. That should never be underrated, especially in a rural area where bus services are threatened, and pubs and the only food store have closed. There is a camaraderie with other clubs from Lowestoft to Greenwich, and the strong volunteer culture is evidence that sailing as a pastime is far from elitist for the majority of participants.
Ministers should this morning be concentrated on the terror attack on our American allies, the continuing menace of further ones here, the looming Budget, housing, Brexit  and a mass of other policy issues. Instead, they will be consumed by the weird afterwash from the Harvey Weinstein scandal which, like some east-bound hurricane from the New World arrived to batter our coasts, is sweeping through Westminster and Whitehall, and is at once both serious and trivial.

The Commons, primarily, and the political parties, separately, must find some just and proportionate means of dealing with what lies between the criminal and the private: thats to say, workplace bullying, abuse and harassment  whether sexual in nature or not; and whether inflicted by MPs on other MPs, male MPs on female staff, male MPs on male staff, or senior staff on junior staff. There has also been a claim involving a woman MP and male staff.

It is for Theresa May, Jeremy Corbyn and other party leaders to deal with claims made against those appointed to respective front benches. In the Prime Ministers case, allegations will inevitably tested against the Ministerial code.

As far as the Commons is concerned, Andrea Leadsom announced on Monday a beefed-up confidential helpline with a dedicated support team which will have the capacity to provide pastoral support and the power to make onward referral.

What is not clear is who any onward referrals would be made to. The Prime Minister has floated a House-wide mediation service, complemented by a code of conduct and a contractually binding grievance procedure, available for all MPs, peers and their staff, irrespective of their party banner: the Speaker called it a corporate scheme. This would presumably be accountable to and run by the House of Commons Commission. In our view, that responsibility should be shared by some independent outsiders  though not given over entirely, please, to IPSA or some new lumbering bureaucratic equivalent set up at taxpayers expense. It is up to the Speaker and the Commission to make this corporate scheme happen, and they should take action this day.

As far as the political parties are concerned, our focus is naturally close to home. Obviously, suspension or withdrawal of the Whip  even resignation from Parliament  would be appropriate in some cases. What is lacking, however, is some means of resolving claims against MPs that fall short of suspension. There is provision for an ethics and integrity committee in the Party constitution.

During the expenses scandal, David Cameron tried to get ahead of the controversy by establishing the Partys own investigation into MPs claims, which was run by the Whips Office. There is no equivalent in this case. The Whips could then work from officially-published claims and receipts. All they would have to go by at present is an unreliable list, and whatever the media in future will duly turn up.

In any event, the Whips are not the right arbiter of any such allegations, since their responsibilities to the Parliamentary Party, the Government and the Party leader are not consistent with reaching a decision that is fair to all concerned. What is needed is the ethics committee, or something like it. In most cases, it would presumably wait for the Commissions new corporate body to report before deciding if further action was necessary.

Oh, and lets have no state-licensed Bloody Sunday or child abuse-style enquiry, please  all at further expense to the taxpayer, and with our colleagues in the media nicely set up, as in that last case, to force the resignation of successive Chairmen. Governments usually reach for an inquiry in such circumstances as a means of kicking the can into the long grass.

In short, the Speaker, May, Corbyn and the party leaders must get a grip. Then Ministers can return their attention to matters no less serious than alleged rape and sexual assault  such as the mania of Islamist fanatics who want to murder the rest of us.
The site declared yesterday that Michael Fallon having put a hand on the knee of Juliet Hartley-Brewer 15 years ago is not the stuff of which resignations are made. But we added a cautionary note: perhaps this is an exploratory probe. So it seems to have been. The Defence Secretarys words on his resignation this evening, as set out above, suggests that there may be more from the same period, or more recently. Fleet Street may thus have been on to it  well before the Hartley-Brewer story was perhaps fired as a shot across Fallons bows. Did he jump before he might be pushed?

It is a sour end to a tale of comeback (he lost his original seat in Darlington in 1992) and perseverance (he is not a natural Cameroon, but made his way to the top table, under the former Prime Minister, by brainpower and unflappability). The former Defence Secretary always performed very competitively in this sites Cabinet League Table, and was liked and rated in his department. His contribution to the Party and the Government should be remembered tonight: Nothing extenuate,/Nor set down aught in malice.

His departure leaves Theresa May with a horrible dilemma. She cannot now avoid a mini-reshuffle, even if only the vacant place is filled. But if other Cabinet Ministers quit in due course, she will then face a second mini-shuffle, or perhaps even more, which would suggest a loss of control. Fallons departure may also have set in place a low bar for resignation, if any misconduct in the past by him fell short of bullying, abuse or harassment. The rolling story of which his departure is a part doesnt have the onward force of the expenses scandal. None the less, it has a lurching progress of its own, and we can expect more to come.
Costa Crociere held a coin ceremony today for its new and now named China newbuild: the Costa Venezia.

She will be the first Costa ship built and designed specifically for Chinese guests, entering into service in 2019, the company said.

During the coin ceremony, one newly minted commemorative coin was officially placed in the ships keel as a symbol of good luck for the crew and passengers sailing aboard.

The event connected Italy and China to mark this milestone, which was attended by government officials, trade partners and senior executives from Costa Cruises.

Costa Cruises is thrilled to have a new ship that is built to offer the best experience to Chinese consumers, said Michael Thamm, CEO of Costa Group and Carnival Asia. The Costa Venezia demonstrates our strong commitment and confidence in the worlds fastest growing cruise market. Her arrival in 2019 will further enhance our offerings for Chinese guests to reinforce our leading position in China.

The Costa Venezia will be 135,500 tons, offering 2,116 passenger cabins for a total of 5,260 passengers. The design of the ship will be dedicated to the city of Venice.

With the Costa Venezia, Costa Cruises is proud to showcase the allure of one of Italys most famous and culturally rich cities and regions to Chinese consumers, said Mario Zanetti, President of Costa Group Asia. The planned addition of the ship to our Asia fleet is part of our continued efforts to innovate and consistently exceed our guests expectations by providing authentic and memorable Italian experiences to everyone who sails with us.

The inaugural cruise of Costa Venezia will be departing in early March 2019 from Trieste (Italy) to Shanghai, visiting countries such as Greece, Israel, the United Arab Emirates, Malaysia, Vietnam and Japan, following Marco Polos famous journeys between Italy and China.

Tickets for the inaugural cruise will be available also for European guests.

A second ship specially designed for Chinese guests, sister to Costa Venezia, will be delivered by Fincantieri in 2020.
Since the 2013 Target breach, its been clear that companies need to respond better to security alerts even as volumes have gone up. With this years fast-spreading ransomware attacks and ever-tightening compliance requirements, response must be much faster. Adding staff is tough with the cybersecurity hiring crunch, so companies are turning to machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) to automate tasks and better detect bad behavior.

What are artificial intelligence and machine learning?

In a cybersecurity context, AI is software that perceives its environment well enough to identify events and take action against a predefined purpose. AI is particularly good at recognizing patterns and anomalies within them, which makes it an excellent tool to detect threats.

Machine learning is often used with AI. It is software that can learn on its own based on human input and results of actions taken. Together with AI, machine learning can become a tool to predict outcomes based on past events.

Using AI and machine learning to detect threats

Barclays Africa is beginning to use AI and machine learning to both detect cybersecurity threats and respond to them. There are powerful tools available, but one must know how to incorporate them into the broader cybersecurity strategy, says Kirsten Davies, group CSO at Barclays Africa.

For example, the technology is used to look for indicators of compromise across the firms network, both on premises and in the cloud. Were talking about enormous amounts of data, she says. As the global threat landscape is advancing quite quickly, both in ability and collaboration on the attacker side, we really must use advanced tools and technologies to get ahead of the threat themselves.

AI and machine learning also lets her deploy her people for the most valuable human-led tasks. There is an enormous shortage of the critical skills that we need globally, she says. We've been aware of that coming for quite some time, and boy, is it ever upon us right now. We cannot continue to do things in a manual way.

The bank isnt alone. San Jose-based engineering services company Cadence Design Systems, Inc., continually monitors threats to defend its intellectual property. Between 250 and 500 gigabits of security-related data flows in daily from more than 30,000 endpoint devices and 8,200 users -- and there are only 15 security analysts to look at it. "That's only some of the network data that we're getting," says Sreeni Kancharla, the company's CISO. "We actually have more. You need to have machine learning and AI so you can narrow in on the real issues and mitigate them."

Cadence uses these technologies to monitor user and entity behavior, and for access control, through products from Aruba Networks, an HPE company. Kancharla says that the unsupervised learning aspect of the platform was particularly attractive. "It's a changing environment," he says. "These days, the attacks are so sophisticated, they may be doing little things that over time grow into big data exfiltration. These tools actually help us."

Even smaller companies struggle with the challenge of an overload of security data. Daqri is a Los Angeles-based company that makes augmented reality glasses and helmets for architecture and manufacturing. It has 300 employees and just a one-person security operations center. "The challenge of going through and responding to security events is very labor-intensive," says Minuk Kim, the company's senior director of information technology and security.

The company uses AI tools from Vectra Networks to monitor traffic from the approximately 1,200 devices in its environment. "When you look at the network traffic, you can see if someone is doing port scans or jumping from host to host, or transferring out large sections of data through an unconventional method," Kim says.

The company collects all this data, parses it, and feeds it into a deep learning model. "Now you can make very intelligent guesses about what traffic could potentially be malicious," he says.
Every data breach and online attack seems to involve some kind of phishing attempt to steal password credentials, to launch fraudulent transactions, or to trick someone into downloading malware. Indeed, Verizon's 2020 Data Breach Investigations Report finds that phishing is the top threat action associated with breaches.

Enterprises regularly remind users to beware of phishing attacks, but many users dont really know how to recognize them. And humans tend to be bad at recognizing scams.

According to Proofpoint's 2020 State of the Phish report, 65% of US organizations experienced a successful phishing attack in 2019. This speaks to both the sophistication of attackers and the need for equally sophisticated security awareness training. Add in the fact that not all phishing scams work the same waysome are generic email blasts while others are carefully crafted to target a very specific type of personand it gets harder to train users to know when a message is suspect.

Lets look at the different types of phishing attacks and how to recognize them.

Phishing: Mass-market emails

The most common form of phishing is the general, mass-mailed type, where someone sends an email pretending to be someone else and tries to trick the recipient in doing something, usually logging into a website or downloading malware. Attacks frequently rely on email spoofing, where the email headerthe from fieldis forged to make the message appear as if it were sent by a trusted sender.

However, phishing attacks dont always look like a UPS delivery notification email, a warning message from PayPal about passwords expiring, or an Office 365 email about storage quotas. Some attacks are crafted to specifically target organizations and individuals, and others rely on methods other than email.

Spear phishing: Going after specific targets

Phishing attacks get their name from the notion that fraudsters are fishing for random victims by using spoofed or fraudulent email as bait. Spear phishing attacks extend the fishing analogy as attackers are specifically targeting high-value victims and organizations. Instead of trying to get banking credentials for 1,000 consumers, the attacker may find it more lucrative to target a handful of businesses. A nation-state attacker may target an employee working for another government agency, or a government official, to steal state secrets.

Spear phishing attacks are extremely successful because the attackers spend a lot of time crafting information specific to the recipient, such as referencing a conference the recipient may have just attended or sending a malicious attachment where the filename references a topic the recipient is interested in.

In a 2017 phishing campaign, Group 74 (a.k.a. Sofact, APT28, Fancy Bear) targeted cybersecurity professionals with an email pretending to be related to the Cyber Conflict U.S. conference, an event organized by the United States Military Academys Army Cyber Institute, the NATO Cooperative Cyber Military Academy, and the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence. While CyCon is a real conference, the attachment was actually a document containing a malicious Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) macro that would download and execute reconnaissance malware called Seduploader.

Whaling: Going after the big one

Different victims, different paydays. A phishing attack specifically targeting an enterprises top executives is called whaling, as the victim is considered to be high-value, and the stolen information will be more valuable than what a regular employee may offer. The account credentials belonging to a CEO will open more doors than an entry-level employee. The goal is to steal data, employee information, and cash.

Whaling also requires additional research because the attacker needs to know who the intended victim communicates with and the kind of discussions they have. Examples include references to customer complaints, legal subpoenas, or even a problem in the executive suite. Attackers typically start with social engineering to gather information about the victim and the company before crafting the phishing message that will be used in the whaling attack.

Business email compromise (BEC): Pretending to be the CEO

Aside from mass-distributed general phishing campaigns, criminals target key individuals in finance and accounting departments via business email compromise (BEC) scams and CEO email fraud. By impersonating financial officers and CEOs, these criminals attempt to trick victims into initiating money transfers into unauthorized accounts.

Typically, attackers compromise the email account of a senior executive or financial officer by exploiting an existing infection or via a spear phishing attack. The attacker lurks and monitors the executives email activity for a period of time to learn about processes and procedures within the company. The actual attack takes the form of a false email that looks like it has come from the compromised executives account being sent to someone who is a regular recipient. The email appears to be important and urgent, and it requests that the recipient send a wire transfer to an external or unfamiliar bank account. The money ultimately lands in the attackers bank account.

According to the Anti-Phishing Working Group's Phishing Activity Trends Report for Q2 2020, "The average wire transfer loss from Business Email Compromise (BEC) attacks is increasing: The average wire transfer attempt in the second quarter of 2020 was $80,183."

Clone phishing: When copies are just as effective

Clone phishing requires the attacker to create a nearly identical replica of a legitimate message to trick the victim into thinking it is real. The email is sent from an address resembling the legitimate sender, and the body of the message looks the same as a previous message. The only difference is that the attachment or the link in the message has been swapped out with a malicious one. The attacker may say something along the lines of having to resend the original, or an updated version, to explain why the victim was receiving the same message again.

This attack is based on a previously seen, legitimate message, making it more likely that users will fall for the attack. An attacker who has already infected one user may use this technique against another person who also received the message that is being cloned. In another variation, the attacker may create a cloned website with a spoofed domain to trick the victim.

Vishing: Phishing over the phone

Vishing stands for voice phishing and it entails the use of the phone. Typically, the victim receives a call with a voice message disguised as a communication from a financial institution. For instance, the message might ask the recipient to call a number and enter their account information or PIN for security or other official purposes. However, the phone number rings straight to the attacker via a voice-over-IP service.

In a sophisticated vishing scam in 2019, criminals called victims pretending to be Apple tech support and providing users with a number to call to resolve the security problem. Like the old Windows tech support scam, this scams took advantage of user fears of their devices getting hacked.

Smishing: Phishing via text message

Smishing, a portmanteau of "phishing" and "SMS," the latter being the protocol used by most phone text messaging services, is a cyberattack that uses misleading text messages to deceive victims. The goal is to trick you into believing that a message has arrived from a trusted person or organization, and then convincing you to take action that gives the attacker exploitable information (like bank account login credentials, for example) or access to your mobile device.

Smishing is on the rise because people are more likely to read and respond to text messages than email: 98% of text messages are read and 45% are responded to, while the equivalent numbers for email are 20% and 6%, respectively.And users are often less watchful for suspicious messages on their phones than on their computers, and their personal devices generally lack the type of security available on corporate PCs.

Snowshoeing: Spreading poisonous messages

Snowshoeing, or hit-and-run spam, requires attackers to push out messages via multiple domains and IP addresses. Each IP address sends out a low volume of messages, so reputation- or volume-based spam filtering technologies cant recognize and block malicious messages right away. Some of the messages make it to the email inboxes before the filters learn to block them.

Hailstorm campaigns work the same as snowshoe, except the messages are sent out over an extremely short time span. Some hailstorm attacks end just as the anti-spam tools catch on and update the filters to block future messages, but the attackers have already moved on to the next campaign.

Learn to recognize different types of phishing

Users arent good at understanding the impact of falling for a phishing attack. A reasonably savvy user may be able to assess the risk of clicking on a link in an email, as that could result in a malware download or follow-up scam messages asking for money. However, a naive user may think nothing would happen, or wind up with spam advertisements and pop-ups. Only the most-savvy users can estimate the potential damage from credential theft and account compromise. This risk assessment gap makes it harder for users to grasp the seriousness of recognizing malicious messages.

Organizations need to consider existing internal awareness campaigns and make sure employees are given the tools to recognize different types of attacks. Organizations also need to beef up security defenses, because some of the traditional email security toolssuch as spam filtersare not enough defense against some phishing types.

Editor's note: This article, originally published on January 14, 2019, has been updated to reflect recent trends.
Its an unintentional and inconvenient truth that as networks grow and expand, so does the potential attack surface. With more users, clients and systems, the potential beachhead for attackers to exploit can quickly grow beyond the ability for most companies to manage. In the past, CSO has reviewed defensive tools like traffic monitoring applications that can unmask the presence of an ongoing attack, or deception tools meant to trip up attackers who ferret their way past perimeter security. Vulnerability management platforms, by contrast, help to identify and fix potential attack paths before an attacker can exploit them.

Every organization of any size is going to begin collecting vulnerabilities. Everything from an unpatched server to a misconfigured firewall, and literally everything in between, could and probably does contain vulnerabilities. The trick is discovering them, evaluating which could do the most harm, and fixing them as quickly as possible. While it would be easy to just say that you are going to try and fix everything, the reality is that most organizations likely have thousands upon thousands of vulnerabilities, or potentially even more, with new ones opening and getting discovered every day. Fixing them sequentially, with no consideration as to their severity or potential impact on an organization, could leave a network critically unprotected for months or years, and squander resources working on minor problems in the meantime.

Kenna Security's vulnerability management platform is designed to prioritize the most dangerous vulnerabilities that could potentially harm a protected network. In a nutshell, it monitors most major threat feeds, and compares that data with assets inside a protected network. That way, certain threats can be eliminated altogether. Perhaps there are no assets inside a network that a popular threat can attack, or perhaps they have all been patched and are no longer vulnerable to it. Threats are also prioritized based on their potential impact. A client system with a vulnerability at a receptionists desk may not be as critical as a database or mail server with the same problem, for example.

John Breeden II/IDG The Kenna Security vulnerability management platform collects threat data from many sources and compares it with actual network assets, showing at a glance which vulnerabilities need to be immediately fixed, which can wait, and which may be under imminent threat.

On the flipside, Kenna can also elevate threats based on current events occurring outside of a network which could potentially harm internal clients. For example, systems that are vulnerable to a specific strain of ransomware would be elevated by Kenna if an active campaign featuring that ransomware is launched somewhere in the world.

The Kenna platform is deployed in a software as a service (SaaS) model, where users pay a yearly subscription fee to log into the secure site that collects their specific vulnerability data. The data collected by Kenna is used to improve security across the platform, so the more organizations that purchase it, the more threats it will likely encounter. Currently, Kenna tracks over two billion vulnerabilities worldwide, and the number grows daily.

How the Kenna platform works

The first part of the Kenna platform are ten live threat intelligence feeds, including one created by the company that monitors new vulnerabilities found by Kenna clients. That all happens with no user interaction required. But the second part, which ties those vulnerabilities to real assets within a protected network is what makes the platform so useful.

Kenna makes no scanners of its own, instead relying on whatever existing network scanners are already deployed. There are 26 connector programs that allow Kenna to control those scanners and collect the data. They include all the major players in that market like Tripwire, Qualys, ServiceNow, CheckMarx, IBM and others. Adding a connector is extremely easy. Each of the programs features a company logo that is clickable on the main connectors page. We added a McAfee scanner by simply specifying the user name and password for the scanner.

John Breeden II/IDG Unlike most vulnerability programs tied to a specific product or service, the Kenna platform works with just about any internal network scanning tool.

Once the connectors are up and running, Kenna can parse the data from the threat feeds and the internal network scanners in a variety of ways. From the top-level, you get an overview of network health in terms of vulnerabilities. That may look a bit like a nightmare scenario, until you realize that these are vulnerabilities, not active threats, though some can be quite dangerous. Kenna does a great job of explaining why certain vulnerabilities are given the highest priorities (normally because there is an active threat campaign out there in the world and critical assets that are vulnerable to it sitting in the internal network).

Clicking on any of the vulnerabilities in the test network showed the exact problem, well explained. Sometimes the fix was relatively easy, such as servers needing the latest security patch. Others were a bit more complicated, but explained well in the interface. If multiple fixes were available, Kenna recommended one, but also provided information about alternative fixes if administrators wanted to try something different.

John Breeden II/IDG In addition to identifying the top vulnerabilities, Kenna explains in detail how they can be fixed. The platform also integrates with any trouble ticketing system, so critical fixes can be assigned to IT teams, and then verified once complete to ensure that all holes have been plugged.

Following the step-by-step fixing process would be helpful for security teams that want to do everything themselves, but Kenna also seamlessly integrates into most trouble ticketing systems. This brings up the possibility that someone in an organization could be assigned the role of vulnerability manager, assigning IT teams to remediate vulnerabilities through such a system. And then when the ticketing system reported that the problem was fixed, Kenna could trigger a new scan to verify that the patch worked and was successfully applied to all instances within the network.

The data can also be sorted into groups for easier monitoring, or for a division of labor for very large organizations with multiple IT teams. We divided our fictional company into several groups including marketing and sales teams, database servers, critical infrastructure and others. Once separated in that way, each group got its own vulnerability score for easy management. And if you drill down far enough, each individual asset also has its own score.

John Breeden II/IDG Every asset gets its own vulnerability score within Kenna, and groups can be configured to help better manage overall risk.

There are a few other nice features that make Kenna a powerful, preventative tool against threats. For one, administrators can assign hard triggers to certain assets, such as if any vulnerability is ever found on computers assigned to the CEO or other executives, or on critical assets like database servers with proprietary information. Vulnerability scores can also be set to ignore any assets that have disappeared from the network, such as virtual machines that were decommissioned without ever being reported. In that case, vulnerability scores for its group wont rise based on machines that may no longer exist, but can resume if a missing asset suddenly reappears.

John Breeden II/IDG The Kenna vulnerability platform shows graphically how much each potential fix will have on network risk, letting IT teams decide how to prioritize their limited time and resources.

Because trying to defend everything is almost like defending nothing, organizations can instead deploy the Kenna platform to find, rank and prioritize vulnerabilities, letting limited IT resources go where they are most needed. Fixing potential problems before they can become true threats is the best possible solution, and Kenna makes that seemingly impossible task relatively easy to accomplish. It would make a powerful addition to any defensive cybersecurity arsenal.

More on vulnerability management:
The two whitetail bucks were fighting for control of nearby does when their antlers became entangled, ensuring their slow deaths in a cold creek north of Waverly.

But then the deputy showed up, and the four Game and Parks employees, and the cowboy with the lasso.

The 30-minute rescue played out Sunday, after a woman who lives between Waverly and Ceresco discovered the deer on her land at about noon. Its mating season, and male deer are bucking for territory.

Deer, during the rut, they dont think like a normal deer, Lancaster County Sheriffs Deputy Dennis Guthard told reporters Tuesday. Theyre like a teenager.

He was the first to arrive. The deputy is a longtime hunter, and hes seen carcasses of deer who died joined at the antlers.

Ive never seen two animals lock horns like that that were both alive, he said. It was a big deal.

State Conservation Officer Dina Barta responded, too -- calling another officer and two other Game and Parks employees, who were on duty that day for the pheasant season opener. Someone called a cowboy, Pudge Donahue, who brought his rope.

They found the deer in a creek, one of them exhausted, the other still aggressive and dragging the weaker animal through the water. They each appeared to be about 2 to 3 years old, and they would have died -- from exhaustion, starvation or by drowning -- without human help.

The deer were still fighting awfully hard, one had so much fight left in him, Barta said. It was difficult getting close, especially when the mud is up to your knees.

Barta stayed on the bank, taking pictures, while the others waded in. Donahue normally uses his rope on the cattle he raises near Raymond. This job was trickier, he said, because the deer were bouncing around in the water.

Still, after a few attempts, he managed to double hock the aggressive animal -- wrapping the rope around both rear legs.

Theres not too many that can say they roped a deer, he said.

The rescue crew pulled the pair of 200-pound animals out of the water and an officer used a small saw to cut one piece of antler, uncoupling the deer.

The lively one, he still wanted to fight, Barta said. We had to spook him. He lifted his head and he realized he was free and he took off.

The other animal was so exhausted it couldnt stand. They dragged it to a dry, sunny spot on the bank to recover.

Shes not sure if it did. The landowner was going to call if it died, and Barta hadnt heard anything as of Tuesday.

Im going to hope it survived, she said.
In recent months, many column inches have been dedicated to discussion of both the deep web and the dark web. Its very important to draw a distinction between the two. The deep web usually refers to sites that arent indexed by search engines, while the dark web is primarily comprised of sites that need software such as Tor or the Invisible Internet Project (I2P) to access. In this article, well focus on the dark web, which news articles often paint as the seedy underbelly of the internet  a place where no respectable browser will dare venture.

While it is true that there are many sites on the dark web dedicated to the buying and selling of illegal items, such as drugs, weapons and even human organs, it is worth bearing in mind that there are also some positive, legal reasons that people use the dark web. For example, activists working under oppressive regimes will often use the dark web to communicate safely and anonymously. The dark web also serves as an ideal platform to facilitate and protect the freedom of speech of individuals, particularly those facing oppression or persecution for expressing their opinions.

However, though there are some positive use cases, the dark web is frequently used for nefarious purposes. For example, if information is stolen in a data breach, it is almost guaranteed to end up for sale on the dark web. The exchange of such information  which can include customers personal information and credit card details, or even confidential corporate data  is rapidly becoming a huge business opportunity for cybercriminals.

Therefore, its critical that organizations and security researchers obtain insight into what goes on within the dark web, and get alerted right away if there is any information being exchanged or discussed that relates directly to them. Speed is usually of the essence here, as compromised credentials can quickly change hands and be used to take over accounts. However, achieving the level of visibility into dark web transactions required for such detection is far easier said than done.

Challenges of gaining visibility into the dark web

Like the deep web, the dark web cannot be crawled and indexed by search engines, so finding relevant data isnt as simple as running a search engine query. Dark web users must manually identify the dark web nodes that have relevant information.

After the nodes of interest have been identified, the next step is to gain access to them. This too can be a hurdle, as sites are rarely open and generally require users to log in, which is not as simple as it is on mainstream websites. To gain membership, you must pass through a thorough vetting process, and, often, it is also the case that an existing and trusted member of the site must recommend you.

Last, but certainly not least, language barriers can be another major challenge. Dark node operators speak a variety of different languages, making communication difficult if they dont speak your language.

Even if you successfully jump through these hoops, dark node operators can retract your access at their own discretion and at any time. For example, they may block users they suspect of monitoring their activities as part of a law enforcement operation.

Collecting dark web data

Once you can gain access to the dark web node, then the next step is acquiring its data. The method for doing so resembles that of traditional threat intelligence gathering processes (as it combines both human elements and technology). Because most attacks against enterprises typically involve account or identity takeover, the most commonly sought after (and useful) forms of information are user credentials or personally identifiable information (PII). Heres a look at the typical steps involved in monitoring for and collecting this data from the dark web:

Parsing: There are usually large amounts of data that need to be initially parsed. Technology is very helpful to automate this step, coupled with human validation.

There are usually large amounts of data that need to be initially parsed. Technology is very helpful to automate this step, coupled with human validation. Normalization: After parsing, the data should be normalized so that it can be sorted and queried easily later in the process. This is also a good time to deduplicate as well as remove all records that do not contain relevant data.

After parsing, the data should be normalized so that it can be sorted and queried easily later in the process. This is also a good time to deduplicate as well as remove all records that do not contain relevant data. Validation: After data has been normalized and deduplicated, it is smart to run validation against the data to ensure it is accurate.

After data has been normalized and deduplicated, it is smart to run validation against the data to ensure it is accurate. Refinement and enrichment: At this point, the data is ready to be used  although many companies will opt for further refinement and enrichment to add contextual information that makes the data relevant to their organization and risk profile.

How organizations can protect themselves

While the dark web in and of itself may not be a threat to organizations, the ever-increasing amount of stolen corporate data offered within it means that its becoming more and more critical that companies find ways to monitor it.

How closely the dark web needs to be monitored depends on each organizations own capabilities and appetite for risk. However, all organizations must follow the same basic security fundamentals and best practices: namely, to achieve an understanding of who their typical adversaries are, what their motivations are and which types of data they are likely to target.

As monitoring and collecting dark web data can be labor-intensive, it often makes sense to outsource the activity to a specialist company that can monitor the dark web on your behalf, and provide alerts if any employee or customer data is being actively traded.

However, as with all threat monitoring, the solution isnt merely obtaining situational awareness about the threat landscape. Companies also need to have adequate incident response and recovery controls and procedures in place to respond appropriately and in a timely fashion if credentials are stolen so that they can minimize the impact of any attack.
If youre having trouble finding and retaining good employees, then youre not alone. Thats my takeaway from this article in todays American Banker which quotes a leading HR professional as suggesting that banks have to get more creative in how they go about attracting new hires as the competition for new employees gets more intense across many industries.

Theres more going on here than a historically low unemployment rate. The banking industry is disproportionately benefiting from a growing economy which of course puts pressure on employee wages. According to the latest survey released by Crowe & Horwath, which has been tracking employment in the banking industry for 36 years, for the first time since the great recession more than half the banks surveyed said they planned to increase total employment during the coming year. In fact, only 35% of banks surveyed plan to maintain their current staffing levels.
As Ive said before, at CUNA we place a huge importance on ensuring that, as an industry, we remain mindful of our movements future.

Specifically, Im talking about doing everything we can to support and groom our young credit union professionals so we have a strong stable of leaders to whom we can one day pass the torch.

In our eyes, that grooming must include advocacy.

Time and again, we see how valuable it ishow much more effective we are as an industry in fighting for our prioritieswhen our credit union leaders step into the fray as grassroots advocates.

This is true both during events in Washington, D.C., such as CUNAs Governmental Affairs Conference(GAC) and league Hike the Hill visits, and when members of Congress return to their districts during recess periods.

Theres certainly an art to grassroots advocacy; to building relationships with lawmakers who have many organizations and people vying for their attention, and to telling your story about why members of Congress should support credit unions.
NAFCU witness Debra Schwartz, NAFCU Board treasurer and president and CEO of Mission Federal Credit Union (San Diego, Calif.), today will detail the impact recent data breaches have had on credit unions and steps Congress can take to hold other entities to similar standards as financial institutions during a House Financial Services subcommittee hearing.

In prepared testimony, Schwartz will highlight credit unions success in protecting members personal information as a result of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA). The act established consumer data protections for certain financial institutions and requires a regulator to examine credit unions and other depository institutions for compliance with those provisions.

However, in her testimony, Schwartz will note that not all entities covered by GLBA, such as Equifax, are subject to compliance examinations. Schwartz will urge Congress to create a national data security standard for entities not already subject to one and ensure compliance with such regulations. Doing so will protect consumers and create accountability for negligent entities, Schwartz will testify.
Trump announces his 2024 presidential run as GOP debates future

Donald Trump announced he will run for the White House, even as weak midterm showings prompt debate about whether the GOP should move past him.
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The US Dollar returned to the offensive against most of its major counterparts yesterday, rising alongside front-end Treasury bond yields as the rate hike trajectory implied in Fed Funds futures steeped once again. That may have reflected pre-positioning ahead of Wednesdays FOMC meeting, which is widely expected to set the stage for further tightening in December.

It was the British Pound that outperformed however, surging against the G10 FX spectrum. The bulk of the move played out against a backdrop of surging UK government bond yields, implying that this too might have reflected preparatory maneuvers, in this case ahead of an all-but-certain BOE rate hike later in the week. OIS markets imply that traders put the likelihood of an increase at 87.7 percent.

DailyFX Economic Calendar: Asia Pacific (all times in GMT)

The passing of New Zealand labor-market data early in Asia Pacific trade has left little else of substance on the economic calendar. That release produced results that were far better than analysts expected and sent the Kiwi Dollar sharply higher.

Chinas private-sector Caixin manufacturing PMI survey is due, but the release may pass without fireworks absent a major deviation from expectations. Indeed, yesterdays release of official PMI statistics seemed to pass mostly unnoticed.

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IG Client Sentiment Index Chart of the Day: USD/JPY

CLICK HERE to learn more about the IG Client Sentiment Index

Retail trader data shows 49.0% of traders are net-long USD/JPY, with the ratio of traders short to long at 1.04 to 1. The number of traders net-long is 5.8% higher than yesterday and 5.9% lower from last week, while the number of traders net-short is 8.8% higher than yesterday and 6.3% higher from last week.

We typically take a contrarian view to crowd sentiment, and the fact traders are net-short suggests USD/JPY prices may continue to rise. Traders are further net-short than yesterday and last week, and the combination of current sentiment and recent changes gives us a stronger USD/JPY -bullish contrarian trading bias.

Five Things Traders are Reading

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Talking Points:

Chinas Caixin manufacturing snapshot came in exactly as the markets expected

This was a better showing than Tuesdays official look, which missed forecasts

A Fed-focused Australian Dollar managed to tick up

Just getting started in the AUD/USD trading world? Our beginners guide is here to help

An Australian Dollar market fixated like all others on the US Federal Reserve Wednesday didnt respond much to an as-expected survey of Chinas manufacturing sector.

The Caixin Purchasing Managers Index for October came in at 51, exactly matching Septembers. Any reading above 50 in a PMI survey signifies expansion for the sector in question. This version has been stuck around the 51 handle for the past twelve months, suggesting measurable but hardly stellar growth for the medium-sized firms surveyed.

This data act as a counterpart to the official manufacturing PMI which covers the larger, often state-run concerns. It was released on Tuesday and, while growth there missed expectations, it remained well within the years trend.

China is heading into year-end in reasonable economic shape overall, with its official Gross Domestic Product growth target of 6.5% eminently achievable. However, growth rates slowed to quarter-century lows in 2015 and 2016 and even on-target gains this year wont change that pattern.

The Australian Dollar nudged up against its US cousin after the release. The currency can often act as a China proxy thanks to its home nations strong raw-material export links with the worlds second-largest economy. But Asia-Pacific markets were subdued before Wednesdays US monetary-policy decision which will come long after they close and moves were predictably small for an on-target piece of data.

From the broader perspective of its daily chart, the Aussie remains on the ropes against its US counterpart. The contrast between of a US Federal Reserve keen to raise interest and a Reserve Bank of Australia not about to do the same anytime soon have weighed on AUD/USD.

Once the Fed decision is out of the way the Australian Dollar market wont have long to wait until it hears from the RBA. It will give its November monetary policy call on November 7, when the Official Cash Rate is universally expected to remain at its 1.50% record low. Futures markets dont price in an increase until well into 2018.

--- Written by David Cottle, DailyFX Research

Contact and follow David on Twitter: @DavidCottleFX
The new world order is being challenged. Regional and international factors across the globe are affecting change that might be unacceptable to the powers that be.

Perhaps quoting Graham Allisons theory on the inevitability of a violent clash between the US and China could explain the pulls and pushes that other nations have been experiencing.

In his book, Destined For War: Can America And China Escape Thucydidess Trap? - Allison cites Athenian historian Thucydides, who had explained that it was the rise of Athens and the fear that it instilled in Sparta that made war inevitable.

Similarly, Allison says, Today, an increasingly powerful China is unravelling this order, throwing into question the peace generations have taken for granted.

With China emerging as a global leader and the uncertain, shifty American policy under Donald Trump, should India put all its eggs in the American basket or view the emergence of China as an opportunity, and not a threat? India and China are both considered the future "global powers". While, for now, it is the US; the real issue isn't where nations are today, but where they will be tomorrow.

India and China are both considered future 'global powers'.

A country grown knowing its nation as the supreme power has American primacy built in as part of their nationalism as opposed to being a statistic.

They defend it with a zealous fervour and are willing to put their faith on anyone who promises to violently protect that position. Hence, wars are justified, choosing nations over human rights and ostracising nations in the name of national security have become acceptable in practising foreign policy.

The fear of petro-dollars being replaced by alternatives being mulled over by Saudi Arabia and China; the alternatives to economic connectivity in initiatives such as the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) by China; Iran standing up to America; North Korea withstanding American sanctions with help from China; Chinas increasing power of influence in the African continent and the Indo-Pacific region are all areas of concern. And while America should do all it can to stop Chinas unfair practices, India taking sides doesnt help her case.

America hasnt done much to boost Indias Make in India dream, or to take out anti-India terror groups based in Pakistan. There have been warnings given to Pakistan but nothing more.

China has sided with Pakistan on issues such as Masood Azhar and the one thing that guarantees no change in Chinese stand is if we continue siding with US and not reach out to China. Both US and China use India and Pakistan respectively to further their regional interests.

India should stop viewing foreign policy, regional and global, through the Pakistani prism. If India is willing to compartmentalise sticking/unresolved issues and move forward in ties as in Italys case recently (not allowing Italian marines case to hold India-Italy ties hostage) then why cant India work with China by compartmentalising the issue of Pakistan and dealing with it separately.

It is not without a reason that The Economist named Chinese President Xi Jinping the worlds most powerful man.
Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath is visiting Mauritius to address the Pravasi Bhartiya Diwas on November 2, marking the 183rd anniversary of the arrival of Indian indentured labour in Mauritius.

However, his visit has generated considerable heat among a section of the local people due to his perceived controversial image of a Hindu hardliner targeting the Muslim minority in Uttar Pradesh.

Mauritius is mainly made up of Hindu population. Significantly, most of the Hindus are diehards and support the likes of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Yogi for their extreme affinity towards the Hindu religion.

I have been a witness to Modi's overwhelming victory in 2014 celebrated with gusto on the streets of Mauritius.

In other words, Mauritians believe that such Hindu leaders are protectors of Hinduism and preservers of Hindu culture and ethos.

Yet, Mauritius has nearly 17 per cent of Muslim population, and majority of them too are of Indian origin. These Muslims are expressing strong reservations over Yogi's visit and are protesting against the Hindu leader's alleged agenda of persecuting Muslims in India, the formation of his Yuva Vahini, his past controversial statements targeting the minority community, his attempts in 2007 in Etah district in UP to convert 1,800 Christians.

They have also raked up past statements by Yogi wherein he had allegedly appealed to dig out bodies of Muslim women from their graves to violate them. These are effectively articulated in some of the political statements by leaders of Mauritius.

Narendra Modi and Pravind Jugnauth. (File photo)

On the other hand, Shakeel Mohammad, the Labour Party leader, has articulated through formal press statements highlighting Yogi's "past deeds" in an obvious attempt to scuttle the visit as well as to stir communal passions amongst the Muslims. But it's too late now.

The organisers initially thought of inviting Nitish Kumar, but it didn't work out. So, it's high-profile Yogi who is now the centrepiece of the function, raising hopes among the Hindu majority.

All said and done, ever since Yogi's Mauritius visit was announced, the island republic is getting polarised - a trend seldom noticed before. The Opposition political party, Mouvement Militant Mauricien (MMM) has called for the cancellation of Yogi's visit stating that his party is aware of the controversial past of the Uttar Pradesh CM, and Mauritius being a peaceful country, should not be affected by such a controversial visit.

As leader of opposition, Xavier-Luc Duval has averred that he is taking note of all the protests and will keep the Prime Minister and parliament apprised of the ire of the local people against Yogi Adityanath .

Meanwhile, the local media too looks directionless. Possibly the Indian High Commission briefing to them on the Yogi visit is overdue. In absence of that, statements like "Yogi Adityanath in Mauritius, choice that divides politicians", "Yogi Adityanath and arrival of the engaged workers - a controversial guest for November 2" etc, etc, are all over the island.

It's damaging for the visiting leader to say the least. After all, he is coming to attend a solemn function as a representative from India. His visit should be better coordinated in cooperation with the members of the Indian diaspora who are a vibrant lot, but it seems they are not on board.

Authoritative sources, in the meantime, indicate that the Indian diaspora and the heads of PSUs are not necessarily in the loop. Hence, not being appropriated adequately to oversee a hassle-free non-political visit. The high commission could perhaps play a more proactive role in ensuring a visit without any hitch.

The ongoing political and communal polarisation ahead of Yogi's visit saw an ugly incident a couple of days ago when a series of Kali temples were vandalised in some parts of the country. The slew of destructions has caused enough angst among the Hindu community who are demanding strict action, but the damage has already been done.

It's a big question if the timing of the destruction of temples is just coincidental? The Hindu Youth Council has described it as an act of terror.

Quoting western sources, Hindu activists claim many Mauritian Muslims drawn towards the ISIS could bring a wave of terror to the island nation as it a tourist destination and, therefore, remains vulnerable. Their allegations do seem to have some merit.

Under these circumstances, Yogi will have a tough time listening to the woes of the Hindus protesting against the defiling of the sacred temples. Temples were further targets of sacrilege when half-eaten chicken and oil were found inside the sanctum sanctorum of the place of worship.

These developments notwithstanding, the political atmosphere in Mauritius is fraught with an uneasy calm and uncertainty ahead of Yogi's visit.

Detractors like Shakil Mohammad are being questioned by the Hindu hardliners as to why the Muslims were silent when controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik was in Mauritius in 2012, and during his stay, not only his fiery pro-Islam rhetoric led to a few "on-the-spot" conversions, but also generated acrimony between two major communities.

Mauritians, otherwise, are euphoric to receive a charismatic, albeit controversial leader like Yogi in their midst. Many hardliners think that it's a sign of Hindu aggressive revivalism which was dormant for some time.

The current prime minister Pravind Jugnauth's father, Anerood Jugnauth, was a sworn Hindu. In 1992, when at the helm, he had the courage to expel the Libyan ambassador to Port Louis on charges of alluring Hindus to embrace Islam. It's believed that he adhered to his decision incurring the wrath of the supporters of the Muslim world.

With the passage of time and a changing world order, Mauritius maintained diplomatic relations with many Muslim countries, including Pakistan, which did not find favour with the Hindu lot.

Till recently, Pakistan was represented by a high profile Labour Party activist lawyer as the ambassador who tried his best to forge relations with Pakistan and other Islamic countries. Hindus thought it was a regressive move.

With Yogi's arrival, Hindus in Mauritius are expected to come together cutting across party lines. Yogi's image and reputation of a diehard Hindu will give a necessary boost to the Hindu forces in Mauritius. Yogi's interaction with Hindu leaders, office-bearers of Sanatan Dharma institution and Hindu house, trustees of the venerated Ganga Talao hosting cluster of Hindu temples, will determine the future course of Hindu action.

This will also impact the future political course that this tiny republic will take. This is imperative as the present government in power, enjoying full support of India, will try to make the most of the situation as it is currently rocked by corruption scandals. The main opposition leader, Navin Ramgoolam, with surging popularity, is poised to come back to power in 2019.

He has expressed hope to meet the Yogi instead of boycotting his visit. In a tactical move, he has distanced himself from Shakil Mohammad, his comrade in arms from the Labour Party. Such is the power of Hindutva forces in Mauritius.

Yogi, after this visit, will leave a trail of thoughts calling for careful follow-up. On Mauritius' part, the Hindus will certainly be more emboldened than before, and their nexus with the Indian counterparts might see a new dimension of defiance and "couldn't-care-less" attitude for the furtherance of Hindu agenda, including moral support for a Ram temple in Ayodhya.

Yogi visit must also be capitalised on by the Modi government for lasting Indo-Mauritian relations. Experts say huge funds have been offered by the government of India to Mauritius for multiple projects.

The chart below is self explanatory. Relations with Mauritius and the enormous funding should commensurate with each other. The impression that Yogi will leave behind, and the pro-active role by a not-so-insular Indian diaspora, should also help Mauritius remain an important Indian Ocean nation which will not allow China or any other extraneous power to gain any foothold.
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Latest to the vandals goes Teddy Roosevelt, whose bronze likeness astride a horse in front of New York's American Museum of Natural History recently received a splash of red paint upon its base.

"Now the statue is bleeding," proudly pronounced a group of protesters in claiming credit for the makeover. "We did not make it bleed. It is bloody at its very foundation."

One wonders whether these poseurs know anything at all about the man they've targeted. The 26th president gave us national parks, industrial regulation and environmental conservationism, among other things. He was also the author of over 40 books, some of which chronicle his expeditions and safaris that provided some of the basis for the natural history housed in the museum where he and his trusty steed keep vigil.

Also, he died almost 100 years ago, in 1919. When are these self-important moderns going to get over themselves?

The New York vandalism, which isn't directly connected to the recent flurry of protests against Confederate statues, is merely the most recent episode in a protest that gained traction in 2016 by the same groups that also want to change Columbus Day to Indigenous People's Day. What apparently triggered the freelance artists were two other figures -- an indigenous American and an African -- flanking Roosevelt's horse.

The jury is still out about what to do about the statue. Nothing would be a rational option, if a panel created by New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio can handle some heat.

Roosevelt may not be a civil rights icon like Rev. Martin Luther King, but he was hardly the Grand Dragon of the Ku Klux Klan, either. Indeed, in 1905, Roosevelt gave a speech at the New York Republican Party Club that paid tribute to Abraham Lincoln and addressed racial inequality, which Roosevelt said he aimed to change. That this radical social transformation didn't occur within his time or tenure doesn't affirm in itself that he was racist.

In the speech, he did abysmally refer to whites as a "forward race." But the focus of his address was to echo Lincoln in calling strongly for the raising of minorities' status, which Roosevelt correctly said would benefit the entire country.

And what about the two non-whites in the statue? Let's take a look.

First, both men are walking in a proud, dignified manner, suggesting a parade in which the Rough Rider is accompanied by individuals who were part of his life experience. Second, we have to ask, what was the context of the time? Without the historical backdrop, criticism -- of politics, art or literature -- is meaningless.

In 1901, when this Harvard-educated, wealthy, progressive, worldly Republican New Yorker became president, was he enslaving Indians and blacks? No. Was he hunting extensively in the American West and later in Africa? Yes. Quite a lot. Given this record, is it not possible that the other two figures represent his guides or scouts on his American West hunts and African safaris?

The statue, created as a historical representation of the man and erected to honor his contributions to our knowledge of natural history, may be offensive to a few, but by what imperative are their feelings to be considered superior to the broader citizenry's right to not see public property harmed, defaced or splattered with paint -- or some facsimile thereof?

Vandalism, contrary to the group's claim that they're performing "public art," is the artless tantrum of a childish, self-absorbed mind. Defeating a block of stone or bronze hardly requires courage or, obviously, intellect.

Why not come up with something, I don't know, classier?

Make an argument. Present facts. Bring passion but keep a cool head.

One could argue, for example, that the protests against Confederate statues are substantively different from the objections to Roosevelt's monument. Given that most Civil War statues in the South were erected during the civil rights movement, inarguably, they memorialize not Southern courage but Jim Crow -- a cowardly, despicable period of state-sponsored terrorism against blacks who had the audacity to insist upon equality under the law.

There. Put that on your plaque, if you care so much about history.

Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee, who hated the idea of memorials to the war, would likely be happy for his statues to settle in a statuary hall. As for Roosevelt, one only wishes the swashbuckling warrior-president could dismount for a few minutes and teach his vandals some manners. I'm guessing, but I suspect his two companions would lend him a hand.
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As Nebraska state senators, we have some questions concerning the University of Nebraska-Lincoln regarding recent developments with second-year UNL student and Turning Point USA recruiter Kaitlyn Mullen.

* Question No. 1: Are professors at UNL hostile toward conservative students?

On Aug. 25, English Department graduate assistant Courtney Lawton protested in front of Kaitlyn Mullens recruitment table for Turning Point USA with a sign labeling her as a neo-fascist and verbally assaulting her as a Becky, a derogatory term for promiscuous white women.

English professor Amanda Gailey also protested against Ms. Mullen with a sign, demanding her name be added to Turning Point USAs professor watch list. Meanwhile, another unknown employee of the university asked Ms. Mullen to move her table to a free speech zone.

* Question No. 2: Are university administrators warm, welcoming, inviting and transparent toward conservative students?

University Chancellor Ronnie Green conducted a full-scale investigation of the Aug. 25 incident and set up a meeting to report the universitys findings to Ms. Mullen on Monday, Oct. 23. Chancellor Green asked Ms. Mullen to meet privately with him and his staff and that no recording of the session would be permitted.

Ms. Mullen was asked to meet with Chancellor Green, Executive Vice Chancellor Donde Plowman, Interim Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs Laurie Bellows and Chief of Staff William Nunez. Thats a ratio of four college administrators to one undergraduate student. Feeling outnumbered and intimidated, Ms. Mullen brought her attorney to the meeting.

* Question No. 3: Can the universitys administration conduct an honest investigation when a conservative student is involved?

During the Oct. 23 meeting, Ms. Mullen said she was told that no disciplinary action whatsoever had been taken against Gailey or Lawton. Chancellor Green has said one employee was disciplined, but the nature of it was a personnel matter that couldn't be discussed.

Furthermore, Chancellor Green played a videotape of the incident to Ms. Mullen, which was mysteriously missing a 10-minute interval when, according to Ms. Mullen, Professor Amanda Gailey had protested against her with a sign. Chancellor Green said the camera was on a preset schedule to automatically point to a new location near the Nebraska Union.

* Question No. 4: Can anyone at the university tell the truth about free speech zones on campus?

Back in August, university spokesman Steve Smith told the Daily Nebraskan, UNLs student newspaper, that the free speech zone is the space between the Nebraska Union and the Canfield Administration Building. He later changed his statement.

When President Hank Bounds was interviewed by Coby Mach on Sept. 25 on KLIN radio, he denied the existence of any free speech zones on campus. However, Chancellor Green told Ms. Mullen during the Oct. 23 meeting that the free speech zone was for visitors to the campus, such as street preachers.

* Question #5: Does anyone teach English anymore at UNL?

The homepage for UNL's English Department advertises its core values as pursuing social justice, affirming diversity, engaging with a broad array of real and imagined communities based on empathetic understanding, fostering a sense of belonging and instilling a desire for civic engagement.

Strangely missing from these core values are traditional English Department words such as "classic literature studies," "writing," "poetry," "fiction," "grammar" and "novel."

Instead, the UNL English Department proudly displays several political posters in its home, Andrews Hall. One such poster says, "Nothing in this country can mean anything without admitting it was founded on betrayal," though Green said no such poster was seen.

The English Department has proudly condemned President Trumps executive order to suspend immigrant travel, and it has recently reiterated its support for the LGBTQA community. When asked if he was aware of the contents of the English Departments webpage, Chancellor Ronnie Green said he was unaware of it. Most disturbing, though, is the fact that the English Departments webpage is missing anything which even remotely resembles a traditional English education.

As you can see, as Nebraska state senators, we have justifiable reasons to be concerned about the social condition and discriminatory actions of our states flagship university.
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Student loan debt represents a major concern for the youngest Americans.

Early this year, Forbes reported that 44 million borrowers carry $1.31 trillion in debt among them. Most of those students at least received a degree and an education for their expenses. However, tens of thousands of Americans lost out on those opportunities when a slew of high-profile, for-profit colleges closed their doors, defrauding students of hundreds of millions of dollars collectively.

Despite this, the Associated Press and other news outlets report the Department of Education is considering a plan to undo an Obama administration policy of canceling $550 million in these deceptive loans. The expected outcome would be partial, rather than complete, forgiveness of these loans.

Lets get this straight: Students took out loans to receive a good  in this case, education. Yet they may not have their loans fully erased despite having no chance of ever getting what they were promised by the now-defunct schools.

Many of the institutions that are no longer in business openly warned prospective students that their credits were unlikely to transfer. That, in itself, isnt a problem  except for the absolute lack of warning that these same schools were closing. As a result, students were left holding the bag on loans that could no longer get them the degree they sought.

One doesnt need a doctorate in economics to realize this isnt right; students who were equally defrauded wouldnt have their loans equally forgiven.

Just as troubling are the steps Betsy DeVos has actively taken as Secretary of Education to overturn this consumer protection.

Use of a policy established in the early 1990s called borrower defense, which allowed students at for-profit and vocational schools to have their loans waived if it was determined they had been defrauded, had understandably exploded. But an expansion to the rule that would have added further protections for borrowers was frozen before it was scheduled to take effect this July.

This follows a lack of action on more than 65,000 borrower defense claims since the confirmation of DeVos  whose nomination was accompanied by controversy regarding her ties to for-profit education  in February. Not a single one has been approved in the last nine months, according to the AP.

DeVos defended her action by saying some students could have their loans canceled without a valid reason. Being on the hook for a fraudulent loan  while not having a college to attend or the ability to transfer credits to a new school  certainly strikes us as a valid reason.

Protecting students from deceptive loans for a good they wont receive is a worthy cause, regardless of ones political affiliation. As such, we encourage the Department of Education to stand behind those students sold a bill of goods instead of an education.
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Ltd., Alere Medical Pakistan (Private) Limited, Alere Medical Private Limited, Alere North America LLC, Alere Oy Ab, Alere Philippines Inc., Alere Phoenix ACQ Inc., Alere Pte Ltd, Alere S.A., Alere S.r.l., Alere S/A, Alere SAS, Alere San Diego Inc., Alere Scarborough Inc., Alere Spain S.L., Alere Switzerland GmbH, Alere Technologies GmbH, Alere Technologies Holdings Limited, Alere Technologies Limited, Alere Toxicology AB, Alere Toxicology Inc., Alere Toxicology S.r.l., Alere Toxicology Services Inc., Alere Toxicology plc, Alere UK Holdings Limited, Alere UK Subco Limited, Alere ULC, Alere US Holdings LLC, Alere s.r.o., Alisoc Investment & Co, Amedica Biotech Inc., Ameditech Inc., American Generics S.A.S., American Medical Supplies Inc., American Pharmacist Inc., Antares S.A., Apica Cardiovascular Limited, Aquagestion Capacitacion S.A., Aquagestion S.A., Arriva Medical LLC, Arriva Medical Philippines Inc., Arvis Investments Limited, Atlas Farmaceutica S.A., Avee Laboratories Inc., Axis-Shield AD III AS, Axis-Shield AD IV AS, Axis-Shield AS, Axis-Shield Diagnostics Limited, Axis-Shield Ltd., BBI Animal Health Limited, BBI Diagnostics Group 2 Public Limited Company, Banco de Vida S.A., Bioabsorbable Vascular Solutions Inc., Bioalgae S.A., Biohealth LLC, Biosite Incorporated, Bosque Bonito S.A., Branan Medical Corporation, Brandex Europe C.V., British Colloids Limited, CFR Chile S.A., CFR Interamericas EL Salvador Sociedad Anonima de Capital Variable, CFR Interamericas Nicaragua Sociedad Anonima, CFR Interamericas Panama S.A., CFR Pharmaceuticals, California Property Holdings III LLC, CardioMEMS LLC, Caripharm Inc., Cephea Valve Technologies, Cephea Valve Technologies Inc., Colibri Medical Aktiebolag, Comercializadora y Distribuidora CFR Interamericas Honduras S.A., Concateno South Limited, Concateno UK Limited, Consorcio Tecnologico en Biomedicina Clinico-Molecular S.A., Continuum Services LLC, Cozart Limited, Dextech S.A., Diagnostik Nord GmbH, Distribuciones Uquifa S.A.S., Domesco Medical Import-Export Joint-Stock Corporation, Duphar International Research B.V., Endocardial Solutions, Epocal (US) Inc, Esprit de Vie S.A., European Chemicals & Co, European Drug Testing Service EDTS AB, European Services S.A., Evalve Inc., Evalve International Inc., FARMINDUSTRIA S.A., Fada Pharma Paraguay Sociedad Anonima, Fadapharma del Ecuador S.A., Farmaceutica Mont Blanc S.L., Farmacologia Em Aquicultura Veterinaria Ltda., Farmacologia en Aquacultura Veterinaria FAV Ecuador S.A., Farmacologia en Aquacultura Veterinaria FAV S.A., Fernwood Investment S.A., First Check Diagnostics LLC, Focus Pharmaceutical S.A.S., Forensics Limited, Forestcreek Overseas S.A., Fournier Pharma Corp., Fournier Pharma GmbH, Fournier Pharmaceuticals Limited, Framed B.V., Gabmed GmbH, Garden Hills LLC, Global Analytical Development LLC, Globapharm & CO LP, Glomed Pharmaceutical Company Limited, Golnorth Investments S.A., Gynocare Limited, Gynopharm Sociedad Anonima, Gynopharm de Centroamerica S.A., Gynopharm de Venezuela C.A., Hi-Tronics Designs Inc., IDEV Technologies Inc., IG Innovations Limited, IMTC Finance B.V., IMTC Holdings B.V., IMTC Technologies Inc., Ibis Biosciences LLC, Igloo Zone Chile S.A., Igloo Zone S.L., Inmobiliaria Naknek S.A.C., Innovacon Inc., Instant Tech Subsidiary Acquisition Inc., Instant Technologies Inc., Instituto de Criopreservacion de Chile S.A., Integrated Vascular Systems Inc., Inverness Canadian Acquisition Corporation, Inverness Medical (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Inverness Medical Innovations Australia Pty Ltd., Inverness Medical Innovations Hong Kong Limited, Inverness Medical Innovations SK LLC, Inverness Medical Investments LLC, Inverness Medical LLC, Inverness Medical Shimla Private Limited, Inversiones K2 SpA, Inversiones Komodo S.R.L., Ionian Technologies LLC, Irvine Biomedical Inc., Kalila Medical, Kangshenyunga S.A., Knoll UK Investments Unlimited, LLC VeroInPharm, Laboratoires Fournier S.A.S., Laboratorio Franco Colombiano Lafrancol S.A.S., Laboratorio Franco Colombiano del Ecuador S.A., Laboratorio Internacional Argentino S.A., Laboratorio Synthesis S.A.S., Laboratorios Lafi Limitada, Laboratorios Naturmedik S.A.S., Laboratorios Pauly Pharmaceutical S.A.S., Laboratorios Recalcine S.A., Laboratorios Transpharm S.A., Laboratory Specialists of America Inc., Lafrancol Dominicana S.A.S., Lafrancol Guatemala S.A. Sociedad Anonima, Lafrancol Internacional S.A.S, Lafrancol Peru S.R.L, Lake Forest Investments LLC, Lightlab Imaging Inc., Limited Liability Company Abbott Laboratories, Limited Liability Company Abbott Ukraine, Limited Liability Company VEROPHARM, Lung Fung Hong (China) Limited, Mansbridge Pharmaceuticals Limited, MediGuide LLC, MediGuide Ltd., Medscreen Holdings Limited, Metropolitana Farmaceutica S.A., Midwest Properties LLC, Murex Argentina S.A., Murex Biotech Limited, Murex Biotech South Africa, Murex Diagnostics Inc., Murex Diagnostics International Inc., Natural Supplement Association LLC, Negocios Denia Sociedad Anonima, Neosalud S.A.C., Nether Pharma N.P. C.V., NeuroTherm LLC, Normann Pharma-Handels GmbH, North Shore Properties Inc., Novamedi S.A., Novasalud.com S.A., Nutravida S.A., OJSC Voronezhkhimpharm, Omnilab Iberia Sociedad Limitada, OptiMedica, Orgenics France SAS, Orgenics International Holdings B.V., Orgenics Ltd., PBM-Selfcare LLC, PDD II LLC, PDD LLC, PT Alere Health, PT. Abbott Indonesia, PT. Abbott Products Indonesia, Pacesetter Inc., Pantech (RF) (PTY) LTD, Pembrooke Occupational Health Inc., Penagos S.A., Pharma International Sociedad Anonima, Pharmaceutical Technologies (Pharmatech) S.A., Pharmatech Boliviana S.A., Polygon Labs S.A., Quality Assured Services Inc., RF Medical Holdings LLC, RTL Holdings Inc., Ramses Business Corp., Recben Xenerics Farmaceutica Limitada, Redwood Toxicology Laboratory Inc., Rich Horizons International Limited, SC VEROPHARM, SJ Medical Mexico S de R.L. de C.V., SJM International Inc., SJM Thunder Holding Company, SPDH Inc., Saboya Enterprises Corporation, Salviac Limited, Scanax AS, Sealing Solutions Inc., Selfcare Technology Inc., Shandong Abbott Dairy Product Co. Ltd., Shanghai Abbott Medical Devices Science and Technology Co. Ltd., Shanghai Abbott Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Shanghai Si Fa Pharmaceutical Company Limited, Sinensix & Co., Spinal Modulation LLC, St. Jude Medical, St. Jude Medical AB, St. Jude Medical ATG Inc., St. Jude Medical Argentina S.A., St. Jude Medical Asia Pacific Holdings GK, St. Jude Medical Atrial Fibrillation Division Inc., St. Jude Medical Brasil Ltda., St. Jude Medical Business Services Inc., St. Jude Medical Cardiology Division Inc., St. Jude Medical Colombia Ltda., St. Jude Medical Coordination Center, St. Jude Medical Costa Rica Limitada, St. Jude Medical Europe Inc., St. Jude Medical Export Ges.m.b.H., St. Jude Medical GVA Sarl, St. Jude Medical Holdings B.V., St. Jude Medical India Private Limited, St. Jude Medical International Holding, St. Jude Medical LLC, St. Jude Medical Luxembourg, St. Jude Medical Luxembourg Holdings II, St. Jude Medical Luxembourg Holdings NT, St. Jude Medical Luxembourg Holdings SMI S.a r.l., St. Jude Medical Luxembourg Holdings TC S.a r.l., St. Jude Medical Mexico Business Services S. de R.L. de C.V., St. Jude Medical Middle East DMCC, St. Jude Medical Operations (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., St. Jude Medical Puerto Rico LLC, St. Jude Medical S.C. Inc., St. Jude Medical Systems AB, St. Jude Medical Turkey Medikal Urunler Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Standard Diagnostics Inc., Standing Stone LLC, Swan-Myers Incorporated, TC1 LLC, Tendyne Holdings Inc., Tendyne Medical Inc., Thoratec Delaware LLC, Thoratec Europe Limited, Thoratec LLC, Thoratec Switzerland GmbH, Tobal Products Incorporated, Topera GmbH in Liquidation, Topera Inc., Tremora S.A., Tuenir S.A., TwistDx, UAB Abbott Laboratories, UAB Abbott Medical Lithuania, Union-Madison Realty Company Inc., Unipath Limited (dba Alere International/aka Cranfield), Unipath Management Limited, Unipath Pension Trustee Limited, Veropharm, Veropharm Limited Liability Partnership, Vida Cell Inversiones S.A., Vida Cell S.A., Vivalsol, W&R Pharma Handels GmbH, Western Pharmaceuticals S.A., X Technologies Inc., Yissum Holding Limited, ZonePerfect Nutrition Company, eScreen Canada ULC, eScreen Inc.,      ( ), and Abbott Laboratories Baltics.

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MADISON  Both leaders of the Republican-controlled Legislature said Tuesday the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. board should be allowed to review the pending $3 billion contract with Taiwanese manufacturer Foxconn before voting on it.

Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau, and Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, who support the deal, said in interviews that the board should be able to review the contract, which would allow for construction of a massive manufacturing campus in Mount Pleasant.

That puts them at odds with WEDC Secretary Mark Hogan, who has said the agency will follow the usual process of providing the board with a staff review outlining the terms of the agreement, but not the contract itself.

I think they should have access, Fitzgerald said. They should be able to examine the language and know whats in it.

The issue was previously raised by WEDC board member Sen. Tim Carpenter, D-Milwaukee, after the board delayed a vote on the contract two weeks ago for unspecified reasons. Carpenter, who opposes the deal, has said the vote was delayed because the contract as written would have prevented the state from recouping funds from Foxconn if it didnt fulfill its end of the deal.

Vos said in principle the board members should be able to read the contract beforehand, though whether they would receive it a week beforehand or a day is up for discussion.

Its fair to say you should be able to read it before you vote on it, Vos said. Unfortunately sometimes, people who are opposed to a project are willing to go to any extreme to try to scuttle it. If the goal is for people to do an adequate review so they know exactly what theyre voting on and know exactly whats in the contract, thats what should happen. If its to release the contract a week beforehand so they can have a press conference and try to bash the proposal and do everything to mischaracterize what it is, well thats not helpful.

Fitzgerald said he spoke with Department of Administration Secretary Scott Neitzel about the issue on Sunday and that Neitzel agreed the contract should be made available to the board. However, DOA spokesman Steve Michels said Tuesday there was a misunderstanding and that Neitzel supports the process the Board has in place and the detailed due diligence WEDC is doing to protect the taxpayers. A Fitzgerald spokesman declined to discuss the conversation further.

WEDC spokesman Mark Maley said Hogan, who is on a trade mission to Israel this week, has provided WEDC board members with several updates on contract negotiations and indicated the Foxconn contract will continue to go through the usual process. The board will review detailed information about the key elements of the contract, including job creation and capital investment requirements, the related tax incentives, the conditions for clawbacks, and the reporting and monitoring requirements, he said.

A spokesman for Gov. Scott Walker didnt respond to a request for comment.

Legislature approved deal

The Legislature has already approved the broad outline of the Foxconn deal, which Walker made with company President Terry Gou. It calls for $2.85 billion in tax credits for construction of the $10 billion facility in Mount Pleasant and the creation of up to 13,000 jobs.

Foxconn is planning a manufacturing campus to comprise approximately 20 million square feet of facilities to manufacture larger LCD screens for many types of devices, from aircraft systems to self-driving cars  as well as finished products such as televisions. The campus is planned for a huge area in the southwest part of the village, between Highway 11 on the north and Highway KR on the south, Highway H on the east and Interstate 94 on the west.

The tax credits are refundable and will mostly be paid from existing tax collections because the company also will benefit from a state tax credit that almost eliminates state corporate taxes for all manufacturers. The amount of that benefit to the company is unknown.

The WEDC board is not expected to vote on the Foxconn contract until its next board meeting on Nov. 8 at the earliest.

Also on Tuesday, Assembly Minority Leader Gordon Hintz, D-Oshkosh, named Foxconn critic and gubernatorial candidate Rep. Dana Wachs, D-Eau Claire, to the WEDC board. Wachs replaces former minority leader Rep. Peter Barca, D-Kenosha, whose district includes part of southeastern Racine County.

Barca voted in favor of the Foxconn deal, a move that was criticized by his Democratic colleagues before he resigned as minority leader.

In a statement, Hintz said Wachs has the legal expertise and statewide perspective to ensure this contract is given the scrutiny it deserves.

Walkers campaign did not respond to a request for comment about the presence of Wachs on the WEDC board. But Republicans have criticized Wachs for opposing the Foxconn deal.
MOUNT PLEASANT  The Wisconsin Humane Society has launched a $5.4 million capital campaign to fund the construction of a new, 16,000-square-foot facility in Mount Pleasant.

The state-of-the-art animal shelter, planned for the northeast corner of 16th and 90th streets, is intended to replace the existing WHS facility on Chicory Road in Mount Pleasant. The nonprofit says its current building does not meet its standards for animal care or public service.

We need to get the animals out of our Chicory Road facility, said Anne Reed, president and CEO of WHS. The building is inadequate for the needs of the community. Its crowded, noisy, challenging to keep clean and doesnt allow for proper segregation of healthy and sick animals. Its simply too small. In addition, there is no community space for kids or families to engage with our work. But we need the communitys support to make this vision a reality.

The building, planned to be constructed on land purchased by the WHS in late 2016, will feature expanded housing for animals, space for community involvement and a modern veterinary clinic for shelter animals. The new facility will increase the humane societys space from 8,000 to 16,000 square feet, according to Angela Speed, vice president of communications for WHS.

WHS acquired its current building  a former potato barn  when it took over the former Countryside Humane Society in 2013. Despite renovations and an addition, the building doesnt meet WHS standards.

We knew immediately that the former potato barn had not been designed with the needs of an animal shelter in mind, and after a few years of operating in the inherited shelter, we realized the full extent of its limitations, Speed said in an email. We purchased the land (for the new site) in 2016 and have been quietly fundraising in Racine since then. We know how to address the challenges, but we need the communitys financial help to make it possible.

The new building will allow WHS to keep animals at the local facility instead of transferring them to WHS shelters in Milwaukee and Saukville.

Annually, we take in around 3,000 animals at the Racine campus, Speed said. And of that, we transfer out between 300 to 500 to our Milwaukee and Ozaukee (Saukville) shelters and those are mostly cats.

The new facility will also allow room for vaccination clinics and onsite volunteer training. A community room will provide space for programs for children and adults that are not possible at the current building.

Generosity so far

Some WHS staff members and friends who have already been fundraising in the community have raised $1 million toward the $5.4 million goal. Lead gifts have been made by Imogene Johnson and Helen Johnson-Leipold, the Johnson Family Foundation, Bill and Mary Walker, Mark and Bridget Kirkish and SC Johnson.

There is no set date to begin construction, as WHS will not break ground on the facility until it has raised at least 85 percent of its goal. After it begins, construction is estimated to take nine months to a year.

WHS has a history of funding new facilities with donations. The organization opened its Ozaukee campus in 2011, which was funded with an anonymous $4 million donation, and a $1 million donation from John and Elizabeth Feith, along with many other donors. Its Milwaukee facility, opened in 1999, was facilitated by a $1 million gift from the late George Dalton.

The Mount Pleasant shelter will be different than its other locations. Animal housing will be flexible in order to deal with different situations.

Separate and flexible lodging spaces will allow us to address the most critical animal-related issues in our community, including overpopulation, abuse and neglect, WHS officials said in a press release.

WHS believes that a robust humane society benefits the entire community, not just those with pets. In this case, it will be able to provide more employment and volunteer opportunities after the new facility is built.

There are heroes among us, Reed said, so if youre out there and can help, please, give us a call. We have naming opportunities ranging from dog kennels to the whole building. We would be delighted to discuss how your gift can make an impact, and how your generosity can be recognized.

For more information about the project or to make a gift, contact Campaign Director Heidi Boyd at 262-833-4010 or hboyd@wihumane.org. More information can be found at www.unleashthepotential.net.
The following companies are subsidiares of PepsiCo: Alimentos Quaker Oats y Compania Limitada, Alimentos del Istmo S.A., Amavale Agricola Ltda., Anderson Hill Insurance Limited, Asia Bottlers Limited, BAESA Capital Corporation Ltd., BFY Brands, BFY Brands LLC, BFY Brands Limited, BUG de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Balmoral Industries LLC, Bare Foods Co., Barrhead LLC, Be & Cheery, Beaman Bottling Company, Bebidas Sudamerica S.A., Beech Limited, Bell Taco Funding Syndicate, Bendler Investments II Ltd, Bendler Investments S.a r.l, Beverage Services Limited, Beverages Foods & Service Industries Inc., Bishkeksut OJSC, Blaue NC S. de R.L. de C.V., Blue Cloud Distribution Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Arizona Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Arkansas Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Colorado Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Florida Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Georgia Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Illinois Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Indiana Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Iowa Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Kentucky Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Louisiana Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Minnesota Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Mississippi Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Missouri Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Nebraska Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Nevada Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of North Carolina Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Ohio Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Oklahoma Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Pennsylvania Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of South Carolina Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Tennessee Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Texas Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Virginia Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Wisconsin Inc., Blue Ridge Sales LLC, Bluebird Foods Limited, Bluecan Holdings Unlimited Company, Bokomo Zambia Limited, Bolsherechensky Molkombinat JSC, Boquitas Fiestas LLC, Boquitas Fiestas S.R.L., Bottling Group Financing LLC, Bottling Group Holdings LLC, Bottling Group LLC, Bronte Industries Ltd, C & I Leasing Inc., CB Manufacturing Company Inc., CEME Holdings LLC, CMC Investment Company, Caroni Investments LLC, Centro-Mediterranea de Bebidas Carbonicas PepsiCo S.L., Ceres Fruit Juices Pty Ltd, ChampBev Inc., China Concentrate Holdings Hong Kong Limited, Chipsy International for Food Industries S.A.E., Chipsy for Food Industries S.A.E., Chitos Internacional y Cia Ltda, Cipa Industrial de Produtos Alimentares Ltda., Cipa Nordeste Industrial de Produtos Alimentares Ltda., Cocina Autentica Inc., Comercializadora CMC Investment y Compania Limitada, Comercializadora Nacional SAS Ltda., Comercializadora PepsiCo Mexico S de R.L. de C.V., Compania de Bebidas PepsiCo S.L., Concentrate Holding Uruguay Pte. Ltd., Concentrate Manufacturing Singapore Pte. Ltd., Confiteria Alegro S. de R.L. de C.V., Copella Fruit Juices Limited, Copper Beech International LLC, Corina Snacks Limited, Corporativo Internacional Mexicano S. de R.L. de C.V., CytoSport Holdings Inc., CytoSport Inc., Davlyn Realty Corporation, Defosto Holdings Limited, Desarrollo Inmobiliario Gamesa S. de R.L. de C.V., Dilexis S.A., Donon Holdings Limited, Drinkfinity USA Inc., Drinkstation Inc., Drinkstation Innovation Co. Ltd., Drinkstation Limited, Dutch Snacks Holding S.A. de C.V., Duyvis Production B.V., EPIC Enterprises Inc., Echo Bay Holdings Inc., Elaboradora Argentina de Cereales S.R.L., Enter Logistica LLC, Environ at Inverrary Partnership, Environ of Inverrary Inc., Eridanus Investments S.a r.l, Evercrisp Snack Productos de Chile S.A., FL Transportation Inc., FLI Andean LLC, FLI Colombia LLC, FLI Snacks Andean GP LLC, Fabrica PepsiCo Mexicali S. de R.L. de C.V., Fabrica de Productos Alimenticios Rene y Cia S.C.A., Fairlight International SRL, Far East Bottlers Hong Kong Limited, Food Concepts Pioneer Ltd., Forest Akers Nederland B.V., Forty-Six Peaks Holding Inc., Fovarosi Asvanyviz es Uditoipari Zartkoruen Mukodo Reszvenytarsasag, Freshwater International B.V., Frito Lay Gida Sanayi Ve Ticaret Anonim Sirketi, Frito Lay Poland Sp. z o.o., Frito Lay Sp. z o.o., Frito Lay de Guatemala y Compania Limitada, Frito-Lay Australia Holdings Pty Limited, Frito-Lay Dip Company Inc., Frito-Lay Dominicana S.A., Frito-Lay Global Investments B.V., Frito-Lay Inc., Frito-Lay Investments B.V., Frito-Lay Manufacturing LLC, Frito-Lay Netherlands Holding B.V., Frito-Lay North America Inc., Frito-Lay Sales Inc., Frito-Lay Trading Company Europe GmbH, Frito-Lay Trading Company GmbH, Frito-Lay Trading Company Poland GmbH, Frito-Lay Trinidad Unlimited, Fruko Mesrubat Sanayi Limited Sirketi, GB Czech LLC, GB International Inc., GB Russia LLC, GB Slovak LLC, GMP Manufacturing Inc., Gambrinus Investments Limited, Gamesa LLC, Gamesa S. de R.L. de C.V., Gas Natural de Merida S. A. de C. V., Gatorade Puerto Rico Company, General Bottlers of Hungary Inc., Golden Grain Company, Goveh S.R.L., Grayhawk Leasing LLC, Green Hemlock International LLC, Grupo Frito Lay y Compania Limitada, Grupo Gamesa S. de R.L. de C.V., Grupo Mabel, Grupo Sabritas S. de R.L. de C.V., Gulkevichskiy Maslozavod JSC, Hangzhou Baicaowei Corporate Management Consulting Co. Ltd., Hangzhou Haomusi Food Co, Hangzhou Haomusi Food Co. Ltd., Hangzhou Tao Dao Technology Co. Ltd., Health Warrior, Health Warrior Inc., Heathland LP, Helioscope Limited, Hillbrook Inc., Hillgrove Inc., Hillwood Bottling LLC, Hogganfield Limited Partnership, Holding Company "Opolie" JSC, Homefinding Company of Texas, Hudson Valley Insurance Company, IC Equities Inc., IZZE Beverage Co., Inmobiliaria Interamericana S.A. De C.V., Integrated Beverage Services Bangladesh Limited, Integrated Foods & Beverages Pvt. Ltd., International Bottlers Management Co. LLC, International KAS Aktiengesellschaft, Inversiones Borneo S.R.L., Inversiones PFI Chile Limitada, Inviting Foods Holdings Inc., Inviting Foods LLC, KAS Anorthosis S.a r.l, KAS S.L., KFC, Kevita Inc., Kinvara LLC, Kungursky Molkombinat JSC, Larragana S.L., Latin American Holdings Ltd., Latin American Snack Foods ApS, Latin Foods International LLC, Lebedyansky, Lebedyansky Holdings LLC, Lebedyansky LLC, Limited Liability Company "Sandora", Linkbay Limited, Lithuanian Snacks UAB, Mabel, Marbo Product d.o.o. Beograd, Marbo d.o.o. Laktasi, Matudis - Comercio de Produtos Alimentares Limitada, Matutano - Sociedade de Produtos Alimentares Lda., Mid-America Improvement Corporation, Mountainview Insurance Company Inc., Muscle Milk, NCJV LLC, New Bern Transport Corporation, New Century Beverage Company LLC, Noble Leasing LLC, Northeast Hot-Fill Co-op Inc., Office at Solyanka LLC, Onbiso Inversiones S.L., One World Enterprises LLC, One World Investors Inc., P-A Barbados Bottling Company LLC, P-A Bottlers Barbados SRL, P-Americas LLC, PAS Luxembourg S.a r.l, PAS Netherlands B.V., PBG Canada Holdings II LLC, PBG Canada Holdings Inc., PBG Cyprus Holdings Limited, PBG Investment Partnership, PBG Midwest Holdings S.a r.l, PBG Soda Can Holdings S.a r.l, PCBL LLC, PCNA Manufacturing Inc., PR Beverages Cyprus Holding Limited, PR Beverages Cyprus Russia Holding Limited, PRB Luxembourg S.a r.l, PRS Inc., PSAS Inversiones LLC, PSE Logistica S.R.L., PT Quaker Indonesia, Papas Chips S.A., Pei N.V., Pep Trade LLC, Pepsi B.V., Pepsi Beverages Holdings Inc., Pepsi Bottling Group Global Finance LLC, Pepsi Bottling Group GmbH, Pepsi Bottling Group Hoosiers B.V., Pepsi Bottling Holdings Inc., Pepsi Bugshan Investments S.A.E., Pepsi Cola Colombia Ltda, Pepsi Cola Egypt S.A.E., Pepsi Cola Panamericana S.R.L., Pepsi Cola Servis Ve Dagitim Limited Sirketi, Pepsi Cola Trading Ireland, Pepsi Logistics Company Inc., Pepsi Northwest Beverages LLC, Pepsi Overseas Investments Partnership, Pepsi Promotions Inc., Pepsi-Cola Advertising and Marketing Inc., Pepsi-Cola Bermuda Limited, Pepsi-Cola Bottlers Holding C.V., Pepsi-Cola Bottling Company Of St. Louis Inc., Pepsi-Cola Bottling Company of Ft. Lauderdale-Palm Beach LLC, Pepsi-Cola Company, Pepsi-Cola Ecuador Cia. Ltda., Pepsi-Cola Far East Trade Development Co. Inc., Pepsi-Cola Finance LLC, Pepsi-Cola General Bottlers Poland Sp. z o.o., Pepsi-Cola Industrial da Amazonia Ltda., Pepsi-Cola International Cork, Pepsi-Cola International LLC, Pepsi-Cola International Limited, Pepsi-Cola International Limited U.S.A., Pepsi-Cola International Private Limited, Pepsi-Cola Korea Co. Ltd., Pepsi-Cola Management and Administrative Services Inc., Pepsi-Cola Manufacturing Company Of Uruguay S.R.L., Pepsi-Cola Manufacturing International Limited, Pepsi-Cola Manufacturing Mediterranean Limited, Pepsi-Cola Marketing Corp. Of P.R. Inc., Pepsi-Cola Mediterranean Ltd., Pepsi-Cola Metropolitan Bottling Company Inc., Pepsi-Cola Mexicana Holdings LLC, Pepsi-Cola Mexicana S. de R.L. de C.V., Pepsi-Cola National Marketing LLC, Pepsi-Cola Operating Company Of Chesapeake And Indianapolis, Pepsi-Cola Sales and Distribution Inc., Pepsi-Cola Technical Operations Inc., Pepsi-Cola Thai Trading Co. Ltd., Pepsi-Cola de Honduras S.R.L., Pepsi-Cola of Corvallis Inc., PepsiAmericas Nemzetkozi Szolgaltato Korlatolt Felelossegu Tarsasag, PepsiCo ANZ Holdings Pty Ltd, PepsiCo Alimentos Antioquia Ltda., PepsiCo Alimentos Colombia Ltda., PepsiCo Alimentos Ecuador Cia. Ltda., PepsiCo Alimentos Z.F. Ltda., PepsiCo Alimentos de Bolivia S.R.L., PepsiCo Amacoco Bebidas Do Brasil Ltda., PepsiCo Asia Research & Development Center Company Limited, PepsiCo Australia Financing Cyprus Limited, PepsiCo Australia Financing Limited Partnership, PepsiCo Australia Financing Partner 1 LLC, PepsiCo Australia Financing Partner 2 LLC, PepsiCo Australia Financing Pty Ltd, PepsiCo Australia Holdings Pty Limited, PepsiCo Australia International, PepsiCo Austria Services GmbH, PepsiCo Azerbaijan Limited Liability Company, PepsiCo BeLux BV, PepsiCo Beverage Sales LLC, PepsiCo Beverage Singapore Pty Ltd, PepsiCo Beverages Bermuda Limited, PepsiCo Beverages Hong Kong Limited, PepsiCo Beverages International Limited, PepsiCo Beverages Italia Societa' A Responsabilita' Limitata, PepsiCo Canada Finance LLC, PepsiCo Canada Holdings ULC, PepsiCo Canada Investment ULC, PepsiCo Canada ULC, PepsiCo Captive Holdings Inc., PepsiCo Caribbean Inc., PepsiCo China Limited, PepsiCo Consulting Polska Sp. z o.o., PepsiCo De Bolivia S.R.L., PepsiCo Del Paraguay S.R.L., PepsiCo Deutschland GmbH, PepsiCo Eesti AS, PepsiCo Euro Bermuda Limited, PepsiCo Euro Finance Antilles B.V., PepsiCo Europe Support Center S.L., PepsiCo Finance Americas Company, PepsiCo Finance Antilles A N.V., PepsiCo Finance Antilles B N.V., PepsiCo Finance South Africa Proprietary Limited, PepsiCo Financial Shared Services Inc., PepsiCo Food & Beverage Holdings Hong Kong Limited, PepsiCo Foods A.I.E., PepsiCo Foods China Company Limited, PepsiCo Foods Group Pty Ltd, PepsiCo Foods Guangdong Co. Ltd., PepsiCo Foods Nigeria Limited, PepsiCo Foods Private Limited, PepsiCo Foods Sichuan Co. Ltd., PepsiCo Foods Taiwan Co. 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The allegation is horrifying: A 4-foot-7, 110-pound teacher at the Lincoln Hills youth prison attempts to assert control of a classroom beset with some unruly students. She tells one student inmate, pacing in front of her desk, to return to his seat.

Youre not running this classroom. I am, the teacher, Pandora Lobacz, recalls the boy saying, shortly before he punched her in the left eye, knocking her unconscious.

A photo of Lobaczs face after she regained consciousness is on Page A9 of Mondays Journal Times, and also is shown here. The photo looks even worse in color.

Were left to conclude that there was no corrections officer inside the classroom, and that such an officer would surely have been able to help Lobacz persuade the student to return to his seat.

Problems at the Lincoln Hills (boys) and Copper Lake (girls) prisons, about 215 miles northwest of Milwaukee, have been developing for years, the Associated Press reported Sunday. Workers say conditions started to deteriorate more rapidly in 2011 when two juvenile prisons near Milwaukee were closed and teens were consolidated at Lincoln Hills and Copper Lake.

The FBI launched a sweeping probe in 2015 into allegations of prisoner abuse, sexual assault, intimidation of witnesses and victims, strangulation and tampering with public records. No one has been charged.

The American Civil Liberties Union and Juvenile Law Center filed a class-action lawsuit on behalf of teen inmates, focusing on the prisons use of pepper spray, hand and leg cuffs and solitary confinement.

Vincent Schiraldi, a senior research fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School who previously ran the juvenile corrections system in Washington, D.C., testified at a summer federal court hearing that Wisconsins use of those methods for punishment was excessive and a substantial departure from accepted professional standards, practice and judgment.

Since U.S. District Judge James Peterson agreed, calling the practices unconstitutional cruel and unusual punishment, things seemed only to have gotten worse at Lincoln Hills, the AP reported. In October, two Republican state lawmakers wrote Peterson asking him to reverse his ruling.

Your order has emboldened violent offenders to the detriment of those asking to serve their time and return to civil society, the lawmakers wrote. Peterson responded by saying he was committed to ensuring the safety of both staff and inmates.

Judge Peterson, wed urge you to have a look at the photo of Pandora Lobaczs eye when considering your commitment to ensuring the safety of the staff.

Gov. Scott Walker and prison officials insist that the facility is safe for both guards and inmates. Late last month, at Walkers urging, a new interim superintendent was named at Lincoln Hills to fill a vacancy in place since September.

Walker said multiple reforms have helped to improve conditions at the prisons, including increasing physical and mental health staffing, improving training and pay for guards, requiring the use of body cameras to document interactions between counselors and offenders, and revising procedures to ensure transparency and accountability.

The state budget Walker signed last month calls for hiring more guards and other staff and upgrading infrastructure and security needs.

We agree with state Sen. Tom Tiffany, R-Hazelhurst, and Rep. Mary Felzkowski, R-Irma, that there are juvenile offenders at Lincoln Hills and Copper Lake who are trying to serve their time and return to civil society. But we also agree with the allegation made by Tiffany and Felzkowski that Judge Petersons ruling has emboldened some youth offenders, making it unsafe for staff.

Lincoln Hills was put on lockdown Tuesday, as guards search for contraband amid fears of the possibility of a riot.

For the safety of everyone inside those gates, whether inmate or employee, the increases in both the number of guards and improvements in infrastructure and security called for in the state budget are going to be needed sooner rather than later.
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Gun Tracing Revisited

2017 Gun Trace Report Conceals as much as it Reveals

By Dean Weingarten. November 1st, 2017

Article Source

The City of Chicago has released its Gun Trace Report. It is a political, polemical document, with a vernier of respectability lent by the University of Chicago Crime Lab. Prominently displayed are suggested restrictions on gun ownership, gun sales, and increased record keeping requirements. While reading the document, I was looking to find how many guns were *not* traced. It is an important number. If the percentage of guns not traced is high, it undercuts any supposed utility of tracing guns.

Not only does the document lack any numbers for guns that were not traced, it conflates the numbers of traced guns with those of all confiscated guns. From page 4 of the report:

Seven of the top ten source dealers are within Illinois, and six of those seven fall within the Cook County suburbs that border Chicago. The remaining FFL source dealers within the top ten are located in northwest Indiana. Collectively, these ten source dealers make up almost a quarter of the crime guns recovered in Chicago, despite the existence of many other federally licensed dealers in Chicago's vicinity. For the better part of a decade, Chuck's Gun Shop and Midwest Sporting Goods have consistently remained the top two FFL source dealers for crime guns recovered by police in Chicago. Chuck's Gun Shop and Midwest Sporting Goods continue to provide a strikingly large portion of the total number of traceable crime guns that includes more than 5,000 separate FFL dealers from all 50 states. These two dealers are the retail source of more than one in ten crime guns recovered in Chicago.

Notice the conflation of "traceable crime guns" with "crime guns".

997 guns were traced to Chuck's Gun Shop over four years, 2013-2016. That is 6.7 percent of the guns that were traced. There were 960 purchasers. Over 92% of the purchasers of these guns purchased only one gun. Of the 997 guns confiscated and traced, only 43 were reported stolen. When we consider the total number of guns confiscated, the percent from Chuck's Gun Shop drops to 3.7 percent.

The number of guns that were not traced was calculated from the information in the report. According to the report, of the guns traced from 2013 to 2016, 40.41 percent of the of eTraced guns equaled 6,026 firearms. Simple math converts those numbers to 14,912 guns eTraced.

That number was checked with the figure of 12,531 guns given as 84.01 percent of the guns eTraced. Converting that to 100%, there were 14,916 guns eTraced, total. There is a small round off error of four guns. I will conservatively use the larger figure of 14,916.

14,916 guns were traced during the period of 2013-2016.

From the report, total guns confiscated during 2013-2016 were 26,849.

The percent eTraced is calculated as 14916/26849, which equals 56% of the total.

This would not matter much, if we had a reasonable idea that the guns that could not or were not traced were from the same places that the traced guns were.

That would be a bad assumption. The newer a gun is, the more likely it is to be traceable on eTrace. Newer guns are more likely to be traced to gun stores. This already biases the sample, probably quite significantly.

There are categories and sources of guns that cannot be traced. Many shotguns and .22 rifles made prior to 1968 did not have serial numbers. They can not be traced. I have seen and owned many of these guns.

Pistols were not required to have a serial number before 1958. Hundreds of thousands of small, inexpensive revolvers were made from 1875 through 1958 without serial numbers. I have seen numerous examples at guns shows. There were about three dozen manufacturers making revolvers under hundreds of different names. Most did not have serial numbers.

Homemade guns hardly ever have serial numbers, or if they do, the numbers are not usable. They can be a significant percentage of the guns used in crime. In Australia, almost 14% of pistols that are confiscated are illicitly made. In 1986, 20% of the guns seized by police in Washington, D.C., were homemade. More and more guns in the United States are being made at home. It is becoming easier and easier to do so.

There are many firearms that were made for military purposes without serial numbers or with identical serial numbers. There are also "lunch box specials" where people who have access to firearms factories smuggle out gun parts to assemble their own guns.

The report calls for universal gun registration, background checks on private sales, and state licensing of gun dealers. All of these measures are indicated as means of making the tracing of guns to their legal source easier.

The report does not indicate how making guns easier to trace will have any effect on crime, or on the availability of guns to criminals.

In Chicago, of the guns traced to gun stores, nearly 92% were one time purchases by an individual (the average number is about 1 percent smaller than the percentage from Chuck's Gun Shop). The fact the gun could be traced to an individual that purchased one gun has done nothing to reduce the number of guns from this source. Because an individual purchased one gun, once, the ability to stop future sales becomes moot.

Illinois has a legal requirement for gun owners to report lost or stolen guns. But only 4.3% of the guns traced to Chuck's gun shop were reported as lost or stolen. Clearly, the law is ineffective. It is nearly impossible to prove a person knew a gun was lost or stolen at a certain time.

The suggested legislation has significant costs. Universal gun registration is expensive. State licensing of gun dealers is expensive.

The unstated purpose of these regulations is to make it harder for law abiding people to own guns. The theory seems to be, if the number of legal guns can be reduced a little, eventually, guns available for crime will be a little harder to get. If it is a little harder for criminals to get guns, then crime will be reduced.

There is no evidence that this complicated and expensive means of reducing the availability of guns to criminals actually works.

Because criminals who are willing to use guns are a small percentage of the population, gun availability in the general population has to be reduced by large numbers to have any chance of working.

It did not work in England and Wales. It did not work in Europe. It did not work in Australia. It did not work in Canada. After gun registration, crime, or crime with guns, did not decrease. In Australia, homicides with guns decreased, but the numbers were falling before the gun registration scheme was put into place.

Perhaps the clearest example is Brazil. Brazil never had widespread gun ownership. Yet Brazil has a very high level of homicide and homicide with guns. Brazilian criminals routinely make their own guns, often small shop sub-machine guns. Brazil's homicide rate is five to six times as great at that in the United States. The homicide rate was not reduced after Brazil made its restrictive gun laws even more restrictive.

The report overlooks an extremely important fact. While most of the guns traced in Chicago come from outside of Chicago, the crime rates in the areas the guns come from are routinely far, far below the crime rates in Chicago.

This shows the guns are not the problem. Focusing on the guns is a distraction, at best, at worst, a deliberate misdirection from the obvious primary problems.

Essentially, the report is saying: We have a crime problem in Chicago. To fix it, restrict the rights of those other people in those other states, where the crime rate is lower.

That does not pass the smell test.

The linchpin of the regulatory scheme is universal gun registration. We have examples of failed registration schemes. New Zealand eliminated most of their required gun registration in the 1980's. There was no measurable effect on crime. Canada did away with most of its long gun registration scheme in 2011. From forbes.com:

Maybe they shouldn't worry. Universal registration has been tried in several countries, most recently in Canada. The program turned out to be far more expensive than expected and didn't have any discernable impact on crime, perhaps because long guns are used so rarely by criminals in the first place. Canada's gun homicide rate, according to the handy statistics at Gunpolicy.org, has held steady since the late 1990s.

To sum up. Tracing guns almost never does any thing useful to solve crimes. It only has any chance with universal gun registration. Universal gun registration is expensive and ineffective.

What is the purpose of focusing on ineffective policies that have been shown not to work? Could it be to focus thought away from policies that encourage criminality and violence? Maybe gun owners in other states are considered to be a "whipping boy", someone who needs to be punished for crimes committed by other people?

2017 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included. Gun Watch

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Ltd., NOV Saudi Arabia Trading Co., NOV Services Ltd., NOV Servicios de Personal Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., NOV Tanajib Kuwait for Services and Maintenance of Oil Rigs Refineries and Petrochemicals W.L.L., NOV Tuboscope Italia S.R.L., NOV Tuboscope Middle East LLC, NOV Tuboscope NL B.V., NOV Tubulars and Connectors Ltd., NOV UK (Angola Acquisitions) Limited, NOV UK Finance Limited, NOV UK Holdings LLC, NOV UK Holdings Limited, NOV UK Korea LP, NOV Wellbore Technologies Norway LLC, NOV Wellbore Technologies do Brasil Equipamentos E Servicos Ltda., NOV Wellsite Services Germany GmbH, NOV Worldwide B.V., NOV-BLM SAS, NOVM Holding LLC, NOW International LLC, NOW Nova Scotia Holdings LLC, NOW Oilfield Services LLC, NQL Holland B.V., National Oilwell (U.K.) Limited, National Oilwell Algerie, National Oilwell Varco (Beijing) Investment Management Co. Ltd., National Oilwell Varco (Thailand) Ltd., National Oilwell Varco Algeria, National Oilwell Varco Almansoori Services, National Oilwell Varco Bahrain WLL, National Oilwell Varco Belgium SA, National Oilwell Varco Denmark I/S, National Oilwell Varco Egypt LLC, National Oilwell Varco Eurasia LLC, National Oilwell Varco Guatemala Limitada, National Oilwell Varco Guyana Inc., National Oilwell Varco Hungary Limited Liability Company, National Oilwell Varco Korea Co. Ltd., National Oilwell Varco L.P., National Oilwell Varco MSW S.A., National Oilwell Varco Mexico S.A. de C.V., National Oilwell Varco Muscat L.L.C., National Oilwell Varco Norway AS, National Oilwell Varco Peru S.R.L., National Oilwell Varco Petroleum Equipment (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., National Oilwell Varco Poland Sp.z.o.o., National Oilwell Varco Pte. Ltd., National Oilwell Varco Rig Equipment Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., National Oilwell Varco Romania S.R.L., National Oilwell Varco Solutions S.A. de C.V., National Oilwell Varco UK Limited, National Oilwell Varco Ukraine LLC, National Oilwell Varco de Bolivia S.R.L., National Oilwell Varco de Chile - Servicios Limitada, National Oilwell Varco do Brasil Ltda., National Oilwell de Venezuela C.A., National-Oilwell Pte. Ltd., National-Oilwell Pty. Ltd., PT Fjords Processing Indonesia, PT H-Tech Oilfield Equipment, PT NOV Oilfield Services, PT National Oilwell Varco, PT PROFAB INDONESIA, Pesaka Inspection Services SDN.BHD., Pipex Limited, Pipex PX Limited, Pridecomex Holding S. de R.L. de C.V., R&M Energy Systems Australia Pty Ltd, R&M Energy Systems de Argentina S.A., R&M Energy Systems de Venezuela C.A., R&M Singapore Holding LLC, RE.MAC.UT. S.r.l., RHI Holding LLC, ReedHycalog International Holding LLC, ReedHycalog L.P., ReedHycalog LLC, ReedHycalog UK Limited, Robannic Overseas Finance A.V.V., Robbins & Myers B.V., Robbins & Myers Foundation, Robbins & Myers GP LLC, Robbins & Myers Holdings LLC, Robbins & Myers Holdings UK Limited, Robbins & Myers Inc, Robbins & Myers Inc., Robbins & Myers Italia S.R.L., Robbins & Myers N.V., Rodic S.A. de C.V., Romaco S.a.r.l., STAR Sudamtex Tubulares S.A., STSA, Screen Manufacturing Company Unlimited, Slip Clutch Systems Limited, South Seas Inspection, Subseaflex Holding ApS, T-3 Energy Preferred Industries Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., T-3 Energy Services Cayman Holdings Ltd., T-3 Energy Services Cayman Ltd., T-3 Energy Services LLC, T-3 Energy Services Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., T-3 Investment Corporation IV, T-3 Mexican Holdings Inc., Telluride Insurance Limited, Tianjin Grant TPCO Drilling Tools Company Limited, Tuboscope & Co. LLC, Tuboscope (Holding U.S.) LLC, Tuboscope Brandt de Venezuela S.A., Tuboscope Norge AS, Tuboscope Vetco (France) SAS, Tuboscope Vetco (Osterreich) GmbH, Tuboscope Vetco Capital Limited, Tuboscope Vetco Moscow CJSC, Tuboscope Vetco de Argentina S.A., Tubular Coatings Solutions Ltd., Tucom Composites Polyester Sanayi Ticaret Ltd., Urban WLY LP, Varco BJ B.V., Varco CIS LLC, Varco International de Venezuela C.A., Varco L.P., Varco US Holdings LLC, Vetco Enterprise GmbH, Vetco Saudi Arabia Ltd., Visible Assets Inc., Wilson International, Woolley Inc., XL Systems Antilles N.V., XL Systems Europe B.V., XL Systems International Inc., voestalpine Tubulars Corporation, voestalpine Tubulars GmbH, and voestalpine Tubulars GmbH & Co KG.

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Workday, Inc. provides enterprise cloud applications in the United States and internationally. The company's applications help its customers to plan, execute, analyze, and extend to other applications and environments, and to manage their business and operations. It offers a suite of financial management applications, which enable chief financial officers to maintain accounting information in the general ledger; manage financial processes; identify real-time financial, operational, and management insights; enhance financial consolidation; reduce time-to-close; promote internal control and auditability; and achieve consistency across finance operations. The company also provides cloud spend management solutions that helps organizations to streamline supplier selection and contracts, manage indirect spend, and build and execute sourcing events, such as requests for proposals; Human Capital Management (HCM) solution, a suite of human capital management applications that allows organizations to manage the entire employee lifecycle from recruitment to retirement, and enables HR teams to hire, onboard, pay, develop, reskill, and provide employee experiences; Workday applications for planning; and applications for analytics and reporting, including augmented analytics to surface insights to the line of business in simple-to-understand stories, machine learning to drive efficiency and automation, and benchmarks to compare performance against other companies. It serves professional and business services, financial services, healthcare, education, government, technology, media, retail, and hospitality industries. The company was formerly known as North Tahoe Power Tools, Inc. and changed its name to Workday, Inc. in July 2005. Workday, Inc. was incorporated in 2005 and is headquartered in Pleasanton, California.
Gunshot fired in Kamaladi, 3 Indian men held with pistol

Three Indian men have been arrested with an automatic pistol, four magazines and 51 rounds of bullets from Kathmandu on Wednesday.
Attacker ploughs truck into cyclists in New York, 8 killed

A man driving a pick-up truck mowed on pedestrians and cyclists at Lower Manhattan, New York, killing eight persons and injuring about a dozen others.
Bridge the gap

There is concern over reports that most of the Capitals pedestrian overhead bridges are in a dilapidated condition due to a lack of regular maintenance.
Demonstration in Okhaldhunga demanding Dhungels release

Cadres of CPN (Maoist Centre) staged a demonstration at Manebhanjyang in Okhaldhunga on Wednesday demanding the release of its leader and former lawmaker Bal Krishna Dhungel.
Dalit activists demand justice for 14-year-old rape victim

Dalit rights activists have urged police to take action against the man who allegedly raped a 14-year-old girl and damaged one of her eyes during the assault in Bhojpur district.
Drug shortage in Udayapur as local bodies fail to release funds

Health services in Udayapur have been hit hard due to shortage of essential medicines for the last two months.
Fiscal imprudence

The decision to forge a Left alliance for the upcoming provincial and federal elections by two major communist parties on October 3 baffled all the other political parties.
Government fails to properly implement ADB-funded projects

Nepal may not be able to repeat last years stellar performance in implementing projects funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), as the government has lagged behind in meeting fund disbursement and contract award targets so far in 2017.
Telia Company has fully divested its holding in Russias market leader MegaFon, selling its 19% stake in the operator for RUB60.4 billion ($1 billion) to investment bank Gazprombank.

The Swedish group, which is in the process of pulling out of the Eurasia region, was the second largest shareholder in MegaFon  even after divesting a further 6% stake in early October, which it sold for RUB22.5 billion.

An original precondition of this deal was that Telia would not sell any further shares in MegaFon for ninety days following the 6% stake sale. However, the terms governing this pledge only applied if Telia divested a part of its remaining stake, rather than the entire holding.

Telia CEO Johan Dennelind said: Telia Company is one of the founders of MegaFon and we have since the inception actively contributed to its success of becoming a mobile and digital leader in Russia. This divestment now puts an end to Telia Companys ownership in MegaFon in accordance with our strategy to focus on the Nordics and Baltics.

In 2015, Telia announced that it would exit the Eurasia region to focus on its core markets. This decision was prompted by an investigation into the operator by the US Department of Justice (DoJ) and Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) over its activities in the market. The operator ended up paying $1 billion to settle the matter.

In addition to exiting Russia, in September Telia divested part of its holding in Turkcell and is aiming to sell some of its stake in Fintur Holdings, which oversees its interests in Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan and Moldova.
MTN CEO Rob Shuter has stated he expects the groups initial public offering (IPO) of its Nigerian unit to be complete within six months, given the progress of preparations.

Shuter noted that a large amount of regulation made the process complicated, but added that it was moving forward well. MTN is the largest operator in Nigeria, and the market is MTNs largest across its 22 country base.

MTNs Nigerian IPO came about as part of its settlement with regulators in the country after the group incurred a colossal fine in 2015 for failing to comply with security measures. The government had mandated that operators must disconnect unregistered SIMs in a bid to curb terrorism, and MTN failed to meet the deadline for doing so.

The operator settled the dispute in June 2016 with the offer of an IPO, as well as paying part of the original fine. At the time, MTN said it would take immediate steps towards listing share on the Nigerian stock exchange, with an IPO expected at some point in 2017 following a consultation in November 2016 with the Nigerian Securities and Exchange Commission.

Shuter also stated that MTN would not hold back on increasing its presence in its other two largest markets  Iran and South Africa. The group has almost 50 million subscribers in Iran, and a nuclear trade deal in 2016 saw economic sanctions against the nation lifted.

We are putting a lot of investment into the ground in Irancell, said Shuter. There is a huge demand for mobile data there; its one of our fastest growing data markets. It is business as usual.
This is Sony's first robot dog in a decade. The new Aibo also has OLED displays for eyes and WiFi and LTE connectivity, along with cloud support.

Sony is bringing back its robot pet brand after about a decade, with a brand new robot dog called AIBO. The model number is ERS-1000 and you will obviously not be able to buy it in India. According to Sony, Aibo can form an emotional bond with members of the household while providing them with love, affection, and the joy of nurturing and raising a companion. The robot can move its body along 22 axes, using ultra-compact actuators. It has two OLED displays used for eyes, which allow it to show a range of expressions. It takes three hours to charge and can last for two hours on each charge.

Furthermore, the company claims that Aibo can adapt behaviour. That is, the dog will seek out its owners and learn what they like. Sony uses deep learning to analyse images and sounds, which Aibo listens to through an array of sensors on its body. The data is sent to the cloud to keep improving Aibo and learn from the experiences various owners present.

Theres also a companion app called My Aibo, which can be used to tweak the dogs settings. The dog has a camera fitted on it, so you can also see photos it shoots from this app. Lastly, the app allows you to download tricks for Aibo, from its store. Thats probably the easiest way to train a dog how to do tricks. You can subscribe to various services, allowing WiFi and LTE connectivity and backup to the cloud.

Sony is even selling an accessory for Aibo, called Aibone. Its a bone-like accessory for the dog to play with. The robot itself will be sold in Japan from January 11, at a price of 198,000 yen (approx. Rs. 1,12,158).
Users on Samsung official US Forum are complaing about the device completely freezing even when the app is accessed by the Messaging or Phone apps

Samsungs latest flagship smartphone, the Galaxy Note 8 may be a well received phone by consumers and critics alike, but that doesnt mean that it is free from problems. A number of users on Samsungs official US forum are complaing that the device freezes in different use-case senarios. The most common seems to be when accessing the Contacts app.

In a post titled Note 8 Freezing and unresponsive, users also note that the phone freezes, when the Contacts app is accessed by other apps such as Messaging or Phone, leaving users no other choice but to use the dialer to manually dial in the phone numbers. Once the smartphone freezes, users have no other option but to restart the device. Some users also claim that that problem has surfaced just a couple of weeks into their purchase. The problem seems to mostly affect users in the US and Europe for now.

Of course, Samsung isnt the only company that is facing problems with its flagship smartphone. Googles new Pixel 2 also seems to have its fair share of problems, notably the Pixel 2 XL. Users of the larger device have reported problems such as screen burn-in, random crashes when using Android Auto and an audio recording issue. Pixel 2 owners have complained about clicking and high pitched frequency sounds, The company has since stated that it is working on a software fix for the problems faced for the Pixel 2 clicking sounds and Pixel 2 XLs screen issues.

To recall, the Samsung Galaxy Note 8 was launched a few months back and is the first phone by the company to feature a dual-rear camera setup. Like the Galaxy S8 series, it too features a 18.5:9 display aspect ratio, with the main differentiating factor being the larger screen size and S-Pen stylus. The phone was launched in India at Rs 67,900.
Blenheim Natural Resources said it has completed its acquisition of a 20% interest in Kalahari Key Mineral Exploration.

The company had already announced on 14 September 2017 that it had conditionally agreed to subscribe for 2,500 ordinary shares in the capital of Kalahari for a total of $130,000 in cash.

On the acquisition, Blenheim's chairman, Chris Ells, said: "With due diligence completed to Blenheim's satisfaction all conditions have now been fulfilled for Blenheim's investment into KKME.

"KKME's work programme has been agreed and ground geophysical and geochemical surveys over the priority targets have commenced to identify an initial drill programme. The Molopo Farms Complex has the potential for discovery of significant deposits of nickel and platinum group elements, being a geological extension of the well-established South African platinum belt. Nickel is now considered to be a key ingredient in lithium-ion batteries; this complements Blenheim's thrust towards making strategic investments in a small number of companies in the future energy space, including lithium and cobalt."
Man killed in Jhapa elephant attack

A man was killed in a wild elephant attack at Satar Basti in Bhadrapur Municipality-10 of Jhapa district on Tuesday.
The subsidiary of buy-and-build construction materials group SigmaRoc , Ronez , has reportedly begun the next phase to establish a new quarry site on Chouet headland in Guernsey, SigmaRoc reported on Tuesday.

With exploratory drilling scheduled to begin on 6 November 2017, the company's board said production at Chouet might start in 2021 and that Chouet would have a lifespan of at least 40 years, over which time hardstone could be extracted from both freeheld mineral and further mineral held by the State of Guernsey.

The company further announced that Ronez, the Channel Island construction materials producer, was in discussions with the States of Guernsey Development and Planning Authority over drawing up a development framework for the site, enabling the most efficient utilisation of the reserves.

Sigmaroc CEO, Max Vermorken, said: "We are pleased to be initiating this exploratory work at Chouet Headland. Quarrying is strategically important to Guernsey and we are convinced that a new quarry would provide decades of sustainability for the local industry."
Federal Reserve governor Jerome Powell has been chosen by President Donald Trump as the US central bank's next chairman, according to reports on Wednesday.

Powell was informed by the White House that he is the President's nomination to replace Janet Yellen, the Wall Street Journal said, citing people familiar with the matter.

The WSJ report follows a slew of others in recent days that indicated Powell was the front-runner to be the next Fed head when Yellen's term ends in February.

"Nothing is certain with this administration, and the president's fondness for keeping even his closest advisers off-balance is well-documented, but we would now be very surprised if anyone but Mr. Powell were to be nominated," said economists at Pantheon Macroeconomics.

"Of all the apparent candidates, excluding Dr. Yellen, Mr. Powell is the least likely to disrupt the Fed, at least on the monetary policy front."

Powell, who is not an economist but rather a lawyer who moved into investment banking and private equity, served at the Treasury under George Bush Snr and joined the Fed in 2012.

In his five year so far on the Fed board, Powell has never yet cast any dissenting votes.

Powell represents both a compromise choice and continuity at the helm, said Oxford Economics.

"With regard to monetary policy he is likely to continue to lead the Fed along the same dovish path that Yellen has. On the financial regulatory front he is a more open to making moderate rollbacks to regulations."
Old Mutual announced on Wednesday that the strategic minority shareholding to be retained in South African banking firm Nedbank Group , to underpin the ongoing commercial relationship between the companies, has been agreed at 19.9%.

It followed the announcement by the FTSE 100 firm on the managed separation on 11 March 2016, and the subsequent communication on 25 May this year, in which Old Mutual stated that the new South African holding company - to be named Old Mutual Limited - would retain a strategic minority shareholding in Nedbank Group after the implementation of the managed separation.

The 19.9% shareholding will be held by OML, which will have a primary listing on the JSE and a secondary listing on the London Stock Exchange.

OML will be listed on both exchanges at the earliest opportunity in 2018 following the publication of Old Mutuals 2017 full-year results announcement.

As previously announced, the decrease in OML's shareholding in Nedbank Group to 19.9% will be achieved through the distribution of the balance of OML's majority shareholding in Nedbank Group to its shareholders, at an appropriate time and in an orderly manner, post the listing of OML, the Old Mutual board said in its statement.

OML does not intend to sell any part of its shareholding in Nedbank Group to a new strategic investor.

Nedbank Group shareholders would be kept appropriately informed of further developments regarding the managed separation, the board added.
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Modern beekeeping key to Chepang makeover

Aaita Ram Chepang, 41, of Raksirang rural municipality in Makwanpur, brought home Rs1.05 million this year by selling honey. His income levels have soared above his wildest expectations by adopting modern beekeeping technology.
Murder convict Dhungel sent to prison

Police arrested CPN (Maoist Centre) leader Balkrishna Dhungel on Tuesday, eight years after he was convicted of murder by the Supreme Court (SC).
By Jessica Corbett

As the European Commission considers a proposed mega-merger between Bayer and Monsanto, new research published Tuesday illustrates how corporations are monopolizing the global food systemjeopardizing consumer choice, labor conditions and efforts to eradicate world hunger.

The Agrifood Atlas (pdf), which was jointly published by two German foundations and Friends of the Earth Europe, found that two trends coincide in the agrifood sector: ever-fewer corporations are taking control of an ever-bigger market share and are gaining influence in many parts of the world. At the same time, the opportunities for civil society and social movements to oppose such developments are being restricted.

The fight for market share is achieved at the expense of the weakest links in the chain: farmers, and workers, the report explains. The price pressure exerted by supermarkets and food firms is a major cause of poor working conditions and poverty further back in the chain. It also promotes the onward march of industrial agriculture and its associated effects on the environment and climate.

The atlas warns that further corporate consolidation throughout the global food chain will exacerbate issues that have already been perpetuated, in whole or in part, by past mergers among major companies in the agrifood sector. Those issues include:

Less consumer choice;

A risk to future food production;

Job cuts and low wages;

Price pressure through buyers cartels; and

A situation where the poorest stay hungry despite an oversupply of food.

The increasing size and power of agrifood corporations threatens the quality of our food, the working conditions of the people producing it, and our ability to feed future generations, said Mute Schimpf, a food campaigner at Friends of the Earth Europe. Schimpf urged the European Union to play a leading role in rejecting these consolidations, while commending local food producers and citizens across Europe who are creating safe jobs and greener farms.

Even so, Barbara Unmuig, president of the Heinrich Boll Foundation, noted that activists fighting for the right to access to water, land and seeds are met with ever more violent public or private repressions all across the world, as mergers and market concentration in the agricultural sector are skyrocketing.

The atlas includes several graphics that depict the ongoing consolidation, including the biggest mergers of the past decade:

Benjamin Luig, coordinator of the food sovereignty program at the Rosa Luxembourg Foundation, explained that the report reveals how private equity firmsrather than companies shareholdersare increasingly driving concentration in the agrifood sector.

Since 2004, one investment group, 3G capital, has led or accompanied mergers which have created the worlds largest beer company (AB InBev), the third-largest fast food company (Burger King) and the fifth-largest food processor (Kraft-Heinz), Luig said. Massive job cuts and the closing of bottling stations in the beverage industry are part of the plan. We urgently need regulations that limit the grip of the financial sector over the agrifood sector.

The report celebrates that a growing number of people are organizing themselves and are changing their buying habits, but emphasizes that is not enough to end hunger and poverty or to protect the environment, noting that the withdrawal of government from economic intervention is a major cause of the colossal environmental and climate damage and the global injustice that we see today.

It is high time for a socially and politically oriented regulation of the agrifood industry, the report concludes. We hope that this atlas will stimulate a broad-based social debate on this vital topic.

This report should be a wake-up call for anyone who cares about their food, countryside and rural livelihoods, said Oliver de Schutter, co-chair of the International Panel of Experts on Sustainable Food Systems (IPES-Food).

We are seeing an unprecedented surge in mergers and acquisitions in the food and farm sectors that will have major impacts on what we eat and what food we grow in the future, de Schutter added. We need an urgent debate and the proactive involvement of regulators to protect the public interest, workers and the environment.

Reposted with permission from our media associate Common Dreams.
Just this year,

more than three million acres of crops across the country have been reportedly damaged by a highly volatile and drift-prone herbicide, dicamba. Thats on top of the similar, widespread complaints from the year before.

States such as Arkansas, Missouri and Illinois have now received so many reports of dicamba-linked crop damage that officials face four years of backlogs of cases to investigate, driving up costs for lab tests and overtime,

Reuters reported.

We dont have the staff to be able to handle 400 investigations in a year plus do all the other required work, Paul Bailey, director of the Plant Industries division of the Missouri Department of Agriculture, explained.

The controversy surrounding the weedkiller started last year after agritech giant Monsantoin a highly criticized movedecided to sell its genetically modified, dicamba-tolerant Xtend cotton and soybean seeds several growing seasons before getting federal approval for the corresponding herbicide. Without having the proper herbicide, cotton and soybean growers were suspected of illegally spraying older versions of dicamba onto their crops and inadvertently damaging nearby non-target crops due to drift and volatilization. Off-target crops are often left cupped and distorted when exposed to the chemical.

Take a look at Missouris Department of Agriculture pesticide drift complaints from the last six years. Notice how dicamba-related complaints have skyrocketed since 2016:

FY 2012  97

FY 2013  75 (one complaint was Dicamba-related)

FY 2014  75

FY 2015  90 (three complaints were Dicamba-related)

FY 2016  97 (27 complaints are allegedly Dicamba-related)

FY 2017 (July 1, 2016  June 27, 2017)  325 (212 complaints are allegedly Dicamba-related)

Calendar year 2017 (Jan. 1  Dec. 31)  375 (310 complaints are allegedly Dicamba-related) (Updated: Oct. 26, 2017)

As of Oct. 15, states have launched 2,708 investigations into dicamba damage nationwide, the University of Missouri found.

Monsanto developed its Xtend system to address superweeds that have grown resistant to glyphosate, the main ingredient in the companys former bread-and-butter, Roundup.

Monsanto,

DuPont and BASF SE now sell federally approved dicamba formulations that the companies say are less drift-prone and volatile than older versions when used correctly. The companies have blamed farmers for improperly using the weedkiller.

But Arkansas farmer Reed Storey insists dicamba is causing damage even when directions are followed.

Im calling strictly to let yall know that we have an issue with this product, Storey told state regulators last month.

Arkansas, which has logged the most dicamba-related cases at 985, is a step away from banning the chemical (again) next summer. Monsanto filed a lawsuit to stop the proposed ban.

Reuters noted that the rapid increase of crop damage could also spell future sales troubles for the manufacturers.
Exxon will pay millions to upgrade eight Gulf-area plants in a major settlement announced Tuesday with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

The oil giants agreement to pay $300 million to outfit oil and gas plants in Texas and Louisiana with pollution-control technology follows allegations that the company violated the Clean Air Act by releasing harmful pollutants at those plants. Exxon will also pay $2.5 million in fines.

While the Trump administration is touting the decision as evidence it can crack down on polluters, environmentalists cautioned that the case against Exxon was in the works for years, and some groups criticized the punishment as too light considering the extent of the allegations against the company.

As reported by the Washington Examiner:

The anti-fossil fuel group 350.org called the fine a slap on the wrist from the fossil-fueled Trump administration, according to Lindsay Meiman, the groups head of communications. These mild fines are tiny compared to the colossal wealth of fossil fuel elites, and will only embolden Exxon and its ilk in exploiting our planet for profit.'

For a deeper dive:

AP, New York Times, Houston Chronicle, The Hill, Bloomberg, Politico Pro, Washington Examiner

For more climate change and clean energy news, you can follow Climate Nexus on Twitter and Facebook, and sign up for daily Hot News.
About 10 years ago, Monsantos genetically engineered bovine growth hormone, rBST or rBGH, was in trouble. Leading dairy processors and major supermarket chains, such as Wal-Mart, Costco, Kroger and Safeway were banning the use of rBST in dairy production. Monsanto had big plans for rBST, which is injected into cows to increase milk production. But consumers didnt like the idea of consuming milk, one of the the most wholesome foods, with GMO hormones. As a result, dairy products labeled rBST-free became common.

To counter consumer opposition, a Monsanto PR firm launched a grassroots advocacy group with a slick website called American Farmers for the Advancement and Conservation of Technology (AFACT). The aim was to defend farmers use of rBST and educate the public about it.

AFACT failed miserablythats a fact. Its long gone along with its websitelike it never existed. Monsanto ended up selling off rBST to Elanco, which also recently sold it, and today, rBST-free is a dairy industry standard.

AFACTs failure reminds me of a new campaign called Peel Back the Label, which claims to be a campaign of Americas dairy farmersor is it the creation of another PR firm? PBTL, which isnt nearly as catchy an acronym as AFACT, aims to rally consumers to fight deceptive food labeling, particularly non-GMO claims. Consumers are encouraged to take action and share their own examples of misleading non-GMO labels.

AFACT and PBTL are classic examples of the types of front groups and campaigns described in the excellent book, Trust Us Were the Experts, by John Stauber, founder of the Center for Media and Democracy and PR Watch. To get their message across more effectively, corporations or organizations will create independent organizations to further their agenda. The aim being to convince the public that an expert third-party organization says, for example, that rBST is good for dairy farmers and consumers. The tobacco industry is notorious for funding such front groups as the Center for Consumer Freedom to defend the rights of consumers to smoke as they pleased. In this case, PBTLs aim is to convince people that non-GMO labels are misleading and capitalizing on consumer fears.

One of PBTLs targets is Dannon and their Non-GMO Project Verified yogurts. PBTL says Dannons decision to go non-GMO is deceptive, fear-based marketing that is confusing to consumers and damaging to the environment.

The reality is that Dannon and other companies are selling non-GMO products because people want them. According to the Hartman Groups 2017 Health & Wellness Study, more than half of Americans are looking for non-GMO food and beverages. According to a 2017 survey by the food industry-supported International Food Information Council, more than a quarter of consumers are choosing foods because they have non-GMO labels. A more recent survey by international market research firm GfK found that nearly half of consumers, 48 percent, report that free from GMO ingredients along with low sugar or sugar-free are the important factors when deciding which food or beverage product to eat or drink.

The fact is that more and more people want clean labeled foods with simpler and fewer ingredients and non-GMO is part of that trend.

Peel Back the Label and whoever is behind it are fighting that trend; they want to continue keeping consumers in the dark and dont want them to know that the majority of dairy cows are fed GMO grains like corn and soybeans. They are losing, and Peel Back the Label is bound to fail as AFACT did 10 years ago.
UPDATE: The White House announced Thursday that Sam Clovis has withdrawn himself from consideration for the position of USDA chief scientist amid reports of his role in the Trump campaigns communications with Russian officials.



We respect Mr. Clovis decision to withdraw his nomination, White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said.

Clovis wrote a letter to the president dated on Tuesday that stated, I do not want to be a distraction or negative influence, particularly with so much important work left to do for the American people.



Clovis, who is currently a White House adviser for the USDA, added he will continue to serve at the pleasure of you and the secretary of agriculture.

The nomination was already fiercely criticized by Democrats and scientists even before his link to the Russia scandal came to light.

Ricardo Salvador, senior scientist and director of the Food and Environment Program at the Union of Concerned Scientists, released the following statement in reaction to Clovis withdrawal:

Emerging evidence of his role in Trump campaign Russia dealings was deeply troubling, but merely the last straw. Even before this weeks explosive revelations, Sam Clovis was facing a very hard road to confirmation. As a non-scientist, he failed to meet the most basic legal qualifications to serve as the chief scientist at the USDA. His rejection of mainstream climate sciencecritical to the future of agriculture and the livelihood of farmersand his history of racist and homophobic comments further disqualified him.



For half a year, the Trump administration has left vacant one of the most important government posts for farmers, researchers, rural communities and consumers. Scientific leadership from the USDA and other federal agencies is needed to solve the nations most challenging scientific problems, and Mr. Clovis lacks both the skillset and the judgment needed to manage the responsible investment of billions of taxpayer dollars in a safe, sustainable, productive food system.





Now its time to move on. After months of needless delay, the White House and Senate must now select and confirm a candidate with the appropriate background, training and judgment for the job. The nations farmers, ranchers, and consumers deserve no less.



Sam Clovis,

President Donald Trumps pick for the United States Department of Agricultures (USDA) chief scientist, was already a controversial choice from the start.

The former Iowa business professor/conservative talk radio host/Trump campaign co-chairman has embraced unfounded conspiracy theories and espoused racist and homophobic views,

Union of Concerned Scientists Senior Analyst Karen Perry Stillerman wrote. Also, hes a climate change denier who believes climate science is junk even though he has no scientific training.

But its not just Clovis dubious credentials raising eyebrowshe also played a role in the Trump-Russia scandal and is now a fully cooperative witness in the Senate Intelligence Committees investigation of Russian meddling with the 2016 election, Senate Agriculture Chairman Pat Roberts told

POLITICO.

Clovis, while working as Trumps co-chairman and policy adviser during the presidential campaign, supported campaign foreign policy adviser George Papadopoulos efforts to meet with Russian officials to prop the campaign, the

Washington Post reported. Papadopoulos has pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about his communications with Russia.

Clovis praised Papadopoulos great work after his March 2016 meeting in London with a professor and a woman incorrectly identified as Putins niece. There they talked about arranging a meeting between us and the Russian leadership to discuss U.S.-Russia ties under President Trump, according to Papadopoulos.

Then in August 2016, Clovis wrote an email to Papadopoulos encouraging his efforts to organize an off the record meeting with Russian officials. I would encourage you to make the trip, if it is feasible, Clovis wrote.

Clovis nomination was announced in July. In an open letter to Sens. Roberts and Debbie Stabenow of Michiganthe ranking member of the Senate Agriculture Committee more than 3,100 scientists rallied to criticize Clovis for [falling] far short of the standards demanded by the position of chief scientist.

Dr. Mike Hamm, a Senior Fellow at the Center for Regional Food Systems, and C.S. Mott Professor of Sustainable Agriculture at Michigan State University,

explained:

I was really concerned when I heard about this nomination, as were a number of colleagues. We look to the USDA as an authoritative source of scientific, economic, and statistical information about the nations food system, and it seemed extremely careless to put all that into the hands of an unqualified person. Also, we rely on the USDA to

develop research funding programs that not only tackle issues of concern to agricultural production and the food system right now but also look for probable challenges down the roadfinding solutions takes time and thoughtfulness, and it is clear to me that the nominee hasnt demonstrated the ability to do this in a scientific manner.

Sen. Roberts told POLITICO on Monday that he planned to continue with Clovis scheduled Nov. 9 confirmation hearing. But the next day, when Roberts was asked if he would consider delaying the hearing in light of the Russia controversy, he said that was to be determined.
NC advocates for wealth redistribution, social insurance

Nepali Congress, the oldest political party of Nepal, has started advocating for wealth redistribution programmes and social insurance schemes, as it introduces itself as a socialist party through its election manifesto, which envisages creation of a welfare state.
Years ago at a conference where funders, tech entrepreneurs, and academics were furiously brainstorming ways for educators to fix schools, a teachers voice cut through the cacophony: With all that is asked of teachers already, where do you propose that we find the time for your pet projects? If you want us to listen, please show us ideas that simplify our lives. That complaint is as true for the education field today as it was then.

Currently, leaders of social-emotional-learning and character education programs are making big demands on educators time and attention. They argue that schools must help students cultivate aspirations, belonging, curiosity, decency, engagement, flexible thinking, grit, happiness, intrinsic interest, and so on. Meanwhile, teachers must try desperately to squeeze 365 days of academic content into 180-day school years.

Yet these SEL capacities remain vital attributes to cultivate in our youths. Herein lies the crux of the problem: Social-emotional learning represents crucial skills and dispositions, but we already ask too much from our teachers. So how can we simplify their lives, without oversimplifying these complex ideas?

We might start by distilling social-emotional learning. If we separated the nice-to-know domains from those that teachers must know deeply, wouldnt we be left with those capacities that are truly fundamental for students academic success and personal well-being? I propose, therefore, that we focus primarily on students social connectedness, motivation, and self-regulation.

That approach makes sense. Students cannot learn if they hate their teacher or fear ridicule from their classmates. Without motivation, they have no goals to pursue, nor energy with which to pursue them. Furthermore, for learning to occur, they must select learning strategies, focus their attention, and stick to their goals. In short, social connectedness, motivation, and self-regulation are prerequisites for learningnot to mention a host of other desired school outcomes.

Research reinforces the logic of focusing on that triad. Psychologists increasingly appreciate the importance of social relationships for human functioning. Many scientists hypothesize that a portion of our brains evolved expressly to connect with others. This extra gray matter can pay big dividends in schools. Studies on thousands of students show that learners who are better socially connected to their teachers and classmates are significantly more engaged and achieve better than their less well-connected peers.

Of course, bonding with teachers and classmates, by itself, does not ensure learningmotivation is equally important. Simple motivational strategiessuch as giving choices on homework assignmentscan improve feelings of competence as well as actual competency on exams. Convincing students of the value of the content in question should augment their motivation further. The motivational climate and the types of goals that teachers promote in the classroom are no less important.

We already ask too much from our teachers. So how can we simplify their lives, without oversimplifying these complex ideas?"

Better self-regulation in students, including self-control, emotion regulation, and the adoption of effective learning strategies, typically results in youths who are likely to achieve higher grades, test scores, and graduation rates. Arguably even more important than those schooling outcomes, self-regulation is critical to life outcomes including health, wealth, and public safety.

Beyond logical arguments and robust research, this simplification of social-emotional learning would improve teaching and learning.

By drilling down to students three core needs, teachers are armed with a powerful troubleshooting diagnostic. If a student is not learning, her teacher can ask: How healthy are her social relationships? What goals is she pursuing? What are her self-regulatory strengths and weaknesses?

However, distilling SEL to its core components provides more than a diagnostic tool. Research increasingly suggests that even modest interventions in these domains may yield big improvements in student outcomes. In many ways, these areas represent low-hanging fruit for improving student outcomes.

This less-is-more approach allows teachers to diagnose problems and strategize solutions. My own teaching career exemplifies why this deep knowledge is so important. Each semester I assigned my 10th graders an essay on any topic from the coursemy teacher-preparation program had alerted me to the motivational benefits of choice. Both semesters, a student named Molly showed up after school begging me to pick the topic for her. Each time, she walked away from our argument frustrated and despairing. Only years later in graduate school did I understand the key nuance that undermined my motivational strategy.

Nearly two decades ago, a now-famous study found that when both offering jam to shoppers at high-end grocers and when suggesting essay topics to undergraduates, participants reacted better to having fewer choices. A large body of subsequent research has reinforced that surprising conclusion: Choice is highly motivating, but only if the choices are limited and meaningful to the chooser. I had paralyzed Molly with too much of a good thing.

The social-emotional-learning movement has identified a universe of important capacities to develop in students. In one way or another, most of these capacities address students fundamental needs for social relationships, motivation, or self-regulation. The sooner SEL leaders can narrow the choices they promote to educators and simplify teachers lives, the sooner teachers might listen.
Raising Kings: A Three-Part Audio Series From Education Week/NPR (Episode 3)

For the last two weeks, youve gotten to know the remarkable educators and students at Ron Brown College Prep, the Washington, D.C. high school designed specifically to meet the needs of young men of color in the nations capital.

In the first episode , Principal Ben Williams and his team worked hard to establish the schools radically different approach to educating adolescent boys, known as kings: pairing high expectations with unconditional love and restorative justice.

Things got more challenging in Episode 2 , as the demands of meeting the social-emotional needs of some of Ron Browns kings started to collide with mounting pressure on teachers to educate students whove lost years of math and literacy instruction.

In this final episode, second semester has kicked off at Ron Brown. The kings are going on field trips and college visitsenrichment experiences that take many of them out of D.C. for the first time. Some high-achieving kings sit in on an English class at George Washington University, exposing them to possibilities theyd not ever imagined.

But the schools lofty ideals are also crashing headlong into reality.

Forty of the 100 kings are at risk of failing the 9th grade. The staffs focus on building the schools climate and culture shifts more squarely to interventions on the academic side.

In late spring, grading policies in D.C. Public Schools that impact promotion to the 10th grade will test the Ron Brown family. Several faculty members worry that the school has compromised its high expectations, and this sets off a clash with Principal Williams and the CARE team.

Listen to Episode Three

This episode originally aired Nov. 1, 2017 on NPRs Code Switch . Its introduced by Code Switchs Shereen Marisol Meraji and Gene Demby.

Browse past episodes: Episode One | Episode Two

Expert Interviews

Single-gender education has long been a pillar in the private-school sector, but schools exclusively for young men like D.C.'s Ron Brown College Prep are relatively rare in traditional public school districts.

Monica Hopkins-Maxwell, the executive director of the ACLU of the District of Columbia explains the legal hurdles to opening single-gender schools in the public school sector.

And Erin Pahlke, an assistant professor of psychology at Whitman College, discusses what research has shown so far on the effectiveness of single-gender education.

About This Series

Education Weeks Kavitha Cardoza and NPRs Cory Turner discuss how they reported for a year on a new high school in Washington, D.C., designed to meet the needs of young men of color.
The U.K.s National Health Service (NHS) was warned about the risk of cyber attacks a year before it was hit by WannaCry ransomware in May 2017, according to a report from the U.K.s National Audit Office (NAO). While the NHS had work underway to improve cyber security, it didnt respond to the warning with a written report until July 2017.

The impact of WannaCry on the NHS was significant, according to the report. At least 81 of 236 NHS trusts across England were affected, as well as an additional 603 primary care and other NHS organizations. Thousands of appointments and operations were canceled as a result, and emergency patients in five areas had to be diverted to other locations.

According to the report, all organizations infected by WannaCry could have protected themselves by taking extremely straightforward steps. NHS Digital told us that the majority of NHS devices infected were unpatched but on the supported Windows 7 operating system, the report states. Trusts using Windows 7 could have protected themselves against WannaCry by applying a patch (or update) issued by Microsoft in March 2017, and NHS Digital had issued CareCERT alerts on 17 March and 28 April asking trusts to apply the patch.

NAO head Amyas Morse said in a statement that the WannaCry attack had potentially serious implications for the NHS ability to provide care to its patients. It was a relatively unsophisticated attack and could have been prevented by the NHS following basic IT security best practice, he said. There are more sophisticated cyber threats out there than WannaCry, so the Department and the NHS need to get their act together to ensure the NHS is better protected against future attacks.

Avoiding Ransomware

Imperva EMEA regional vice president Spencer Young told eSecurity Planet by email that ransomware is now one of the most profitable types of malware attacks. Cybercriminals have discovered how financially rewarding  and easy to use  it can be, especially against larger targets, such as NHS with business-critical data stored on file shares, he said.

In the decade since its initial appearance, the ransomware extortionate has evolved from a collection of ad-hoc tools implementing an unripe idea and run by callow hackers to a smooth and highly efficient ecosystem run by professionals and filling the hackers most desired void: the path from infection to financial gain, Young added.

And Anton Grashion, senior director of product and marketing EMEA at Cylance, said by email that while WannaCry may have been preventable with regular patching, a treasure trove of more dangerous malware is now available to threat actors on the Dark Web.

Its easy to say that if recommendations were acted upon the effect would have been less, but there would still have been an effect, because the initial malware infection had to be stopped as well  not something the recommendations covered, Grashion said.

While regular patching is necessary, Grashion said, its not enough on its own to prevent highly damaging cyber attacks. Its still imperative for security teams to evaluate next-generation anti-malware technologies inside their own organizations to see what works best for their purposes against these increasingly sophisticated new malware types, which are regularly failing to be stopped by traditional security products, he said.

Breaking Through AV

According to a recent Malwarebytes report based on scans of nearly 10 million endpoints, traditional anti-virus solutions failed to protect almost 40 percent of users from all malware attacks between January and June of 2017.

The ransomware types most commonly detected on machines with traditional anti-virus installed were Hidden Tear (41.65 percent) and Cerber (18.26 percent); the botnets most frequently detected were IRCBot (61.56 percent) and Kelihos (26.95 percent); and the most prevalent Trojans that bypassed traditional AV were Fileless (17.76 percent) and DNSChanger malware (17.51 percent).

We are seeing more cyber attacks find ways to break through traditional AV detections, Malwarebytes Labs director Adam Kujawa said in a statement. The shortcomings of todays traditional AV solutions are putting businesses, consumers and even governments at risk.

Cybercriminals will only continue to get better at developing attacks that are smarter and faster than our existing technologies, Kujawa added. Its imperative that we continue to create new solutions to keep up with the pace of these new attack methods.
GMC guidance is deterring doctors from prescribing cheaper alternative; CCG chief says drug companies should not be able to restrict patient choice

Doctors in the north east of England face legal action from two of the world's largest pharmaceutical companies for offering patients with a serious eye condition the choice of a safe, effective but much cheaper drug, reports The BMJ today.

Prescribing the cheaper drug could save the region's NHS up to 13.5m a year within the next five years. But drug companies Bayer and Novartis are threatening legal action, claiming it would breach a patient's legal right to an approved drug.

Some estimates suggest that a switch to bevacizumab for relevant eye conditions could save the NHS around 500 million per year.

Lucentis (ranibizumab) and aflibercept (Eylea) are licensed to treat wet age related macular degeneration (AMD) - a leading cause of blindness among older patients. Avastin (bevacizumab), is not licensed for wet AMD, but several publicly funded trials have shown that it is as safe and effective as aflibercept and ranibizumab.

Patients in the region will be told they could have ranibizumab and aflibercept if they would rather. They will also be told about how much cheaper bevacizumab is and the cost savings to the NHS.

However, both Bayer and Novartis spokespeople say that using unlicensed medicines instead of a licensed NICE approved option undermines the regulatory framework and NHS constitution. "Bayer feels it has to act to challenge the decision taken by these CCGs," a Bayer spokesperson said.

Allowing doctors to offer bevacizumab as the preferred treatment could save hundreds of millions of pounds every year that the NHS could re-invest in other frontline services. But prescribing an off-label drug goes against GMC prescribing guidance.

It is this guidance that doctors say has deterred them from prescribing bevacizumab despite the evidence of its efficacy and safety, and the financial strain on the NHS. Andrew Lotery, Professor of ophthalmology at Southampton University told The BMJ: "It's purely the regulatory framework that is stopping bevacizumab's widespread use in the NHS."

Back in 2015, The BMJ questioned the interpretation of European law that led to the GMC's stance. The advice appeared at odds with clinical practice in other European countries.

In 2014, Roche and Novartis were fined 180m by the European Court of Justice for allegedly colluding to prevent the use of bevacizumab by exaggerating the risks of using it to treat wet AMD and portraying ranibizumab as safer. The companies have challenged this at the European Court of Justice (ECJ).

But a recent opinion by a senior adviser to the ECJ suggests that off label drugs can be considered in place of licensed drugs for various reasons and this includes their price.

Faced with this news, the GMC said it is "sympathetic to the frustrations of doctors and organisations seeking to use resources effectively".

Assistant Director of Standards and Ethics Mary Agnew said: "We hope that some sort of licensing solution for drugs such as Avastin may be forthcoming, or alternatively that the situation is clarified in the courts to give doctors more assurance about when they can prescribe this drug safely and within the law."

Professor Lotery says his eye unit is experiencing "extreme pressure" due to a lack of capacity, as are other hospital eye services across the country. "Savings made by using bevacizumab should be reinvested into the hospital eye service to build capacity to deliver sight saving treatment for age-related macular degeneration," he argues.

In an accompanying commentary, Dr David Hambleton, Chief Officer at South Tyneside Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), says offering patients the choice of bevacizumab could save the region's NHS up to 13.5m a year within the next five years, helping it to fund important medical treatment in other areas.

He argues that pharmaceutical companies "should not dictate which drugs are available to NHS patients. The choice between three clinically effective drugs should be one for NHS clinicians and patients to make together."

He is confident that EU drug marketing laws do not allow drug companies to restrict the ability of the NHS to offer patients a choice, and that the CCGs are acting lawfully.

"Clinical safety and effectiveness are paramount but, as the legal guardians of finite NHS resources, we commissioners also have a duty to act efficiently, effectively and economically," he writes. "Difficult choices are having to be made about the NHS to ensure safety and sustainability - this is one choice that is morally and ethically clear."

###
Eager to help local communities during the 2008 financial crisis, Claire Dunning, then a fresh college graduate, took a program assistant position at a Boston foundation. A historian by training, she was struck by the nonprofit sector's great responsibilities - addressing poverty, improving infrastructure, etc. - and its evolution over time.

That motivated Dunning, first as a graduate student in history at Harvard University and now a Stanford postdoctoral scholar at the Center on Philanthropy and Civil Society, to pursue a seven-year research project examining former President Lyndon Johnson's War on Poverty initiative in the 1960s and its legacy in American cities.

Dunning ties nonprofits and Johnson's policies together in her recently published article in the Journal of Urban History. There, she argues that New Careers, one of Johnson's lesser-known anti-poverty programs, and the theory behind it contributed to the growth of the nonprofit sector across the United States, but also perpetuated inequality in urban areas. It's a lesson, Dunning said, that should not be forgotten.

"When we look at the landscape of employment in cities today and the entrenched inequality based on race, gender and income, we need to recognize that those problems are a direct result of past policy," said Dunning, who is also working on a book that will analyze federal anti-poverty policy from 1950 to the present. "History is an incredibly useful tool to remind us that the present situation is, in large part, the result of turning a myth about work and the American dream - that if you just secure a job and work hard, you'll do better economically - into policy."

'Pie in the sky hopes'

New Careers, which existed between the mid-1960s and early 1970s, awarded grants to a large swath of nonprofit sector organizations, which included large hospitals and schools, as well as small community daycares and health clinics, to create new human services positions for local workers who lacked professional training.

Dunning's research shows that while New Careers created between 250,000 and 400,000 nonprofessional jobs, according to some estimates, it also inspired a wider approach to creating entry-level jobs in the human services fields. Those jobs - predominantly taken by African-African and Latina women who were typically excluded from contemporary job programs designed for men, like manufacturing - were low wage and without the promised career advancement that eager officials advertised, Dunning said.

"The federal New Careers program actually did create jobs, and that itself is a notable fact we need to recognize," Dunning said. "But the idea that these jobs would grow quite naturally into careers is pie in the sky hopes."

A job isn't an answer to poverty

New Careers and other anti-poverty initiatives relied on a theory promoted by social scientists Arthur Pearl and Frank Riessman in their 1965 book New Careers for the Poor: The Nonprofessional in Human Service. The researchers' small, year-long pilot studies showed that poor, unskilled people could make valuable contributions to society as aides in a number of fields related to health, education and welfare. The researchers called on policymakers to support more jobs for unskilled workers, but also laid out unrealistic expectations for those workers' advancement, Dunning said. For example, they said that an unskilled hospital aide could become a doctor through on-the-job training.

"What Pearl and Riessman didn't test is whether those workers would actually advance - would executives create job ladders and promote people who had very little formal training," Dunning said. "There is no way, because of the way our society and economy works and the value we place on credentials, that somebody is going to be able to advance, nor should they necessarily, from being a hospital aide to a full doctor through on-the-job training."

Most of the New Careers jobs didn't fulfill those advancement promises, except for a few places, such as schools, where workers unionized to demand higher wages, Dunning said. Outside these formal structures of unions or government civil service bureaucracies, protests by aides working at private nonprofits produced few changes. So, although more poor women found employment in the 1960s and 1970s, very few found a "new career," Dunning said.

The myth that a job is enough to lift someone out of poverty still persists today, and Dunning said she hopes to dispel it.

As technological advancements, such as driverless cars that could put drivers out of work, progress, it's important for policymakers and researchers to apply lessons from the War on Poverty when addressing potential future job losses due to automation, Dunning said.

"There are a lot of echoes between the mid-20th century and today," Dunning said. "We need to think critically about the quality of future jobs but also recognize what history showed us could be successful, as well as what constrained or enabled that success."

###
(New York - Oct. 31, 2017) -- An efficacy and safety study of two treatment models for patients with Crohn's disease has found that monitoring both inflammation biomarkers and symptoms led to superior outcomes compared to clinical management of symptoms alone.

Mount Sinai researchers found that 46 percent of patients randomly assigned to a "tight control" (TC) protocol of biomarker and symptom monitoring experienced mucosal healing--the complete absence of all ulcerative lesions in all segments of the gut after 48 weeks--compared with 30 percent of patients randomized to clinical management (CM). In addition, a significantly higher proportion of patients in the TC group achieved deep remission and steroid-free remission compared with the CM group.

The trial, known as CALM, "Open-Label, Multi Center, Efficacy and Safety Study to Evaluate Two Treatment Algorithms in Subjects with Moderate to Severe Crohn's Disease" is the first study to demonstrate that monitoring inflammation biomarkers, including C-reactive protein (CRP) and fecal calprotectin, along with clinical symptoms led to superior patient outcomes while using anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) therapy (adalimumab/Humira) compared with symptom-driven decisions alone.

The results of the study will be published online in The Lancet on Tuesday, October 31, at 8:01 pm EDT and will be presented at the United European Gastroenterology Week meeting in Barcelona.

"With this study, we have implemented a new concept of 'tight control' of Crohn's disease, which will change the way that patients will be followed in clinical practice," said the paper's lead author, Jean-Frederic Colombel, MD, Director of The Susan and Leonard Feinstein Inflammatory Bowel Disease Clinical Center at The Mount Sinai Hospital and Professor of Medicine and Gastroenterology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. "Treatment should be based on objective markers of inflammation and not only on symptoms. A patient with Crohn's disease may do well clinically, but if biomarkers for the disease remain high, we still need to escalate interventions including drugs. This study shows tight control led to more patients experiencing clinical remission, which will ultimately improve their long-term outcomes."

In the phase 3, multi-center clinical trial, 244 patients with moderate to severe Crohn's disease were randomly assigned in equal numbers to TC or CM groups after eight weeks of prednisone induction therapy, or earlier if they had active disease. In both groups, treatment was escalated in a stepwise from no treatment to adalimumab induction every other week, to every week and finally to both adalimumab and azathioprine every week. The presence of CRP in blood and fecal calprotectin in stool was monitored in the TC group: In the TC group, drugs were escalated to the next step when CRP rose above 5mg/L or fecal calprotectin above250 ?g. In both groups, drugs were also escalated to the next step when patients reported increases in clinical symptoms.

According to Dr. Colombel, further research is needed to demonstrate the long-term effects of the TC approach on Crohn's disease as measured by shorter hospitalizations, fewer surgeries and complications, and less disability.

"When patients with Crohn's disease are making therapeutic decisions about starting a drug, or escalating or de-escalating a drug, they can't base these decisions on symptoms alone," said Dr. Colombel. "They need objective data including biomarkers and endoscopy results. Ultimately this will disable their disease from progressing."

###

This study was supported by NIH NCT01235689. AbbVie, the maker of Humira, funded the study, contributed to design, and participated in the collection, analysis, and interpretation of the data and in preparation and approval of this report. All authors had access to study data, reviewed and approved the final report, and take full responsibility for the accuracy of the data and statistical analysis. The corresponding author had full access to study data and had final responsibility for the decision to submit for publication.>

About the Mount Sinai Health System

The Mount Sinai Health System is New York City's largest integrated delivery system encompassing seven hospital campuses, a leading medical school, and a vast network of ambulatory practices throughout the greater New York region. Mount Sinai's vision is to produce the safest care, the highest quality, the highest satisfaction, the best access and the best value of any health system in the nation. The System includes approximately 7,100 primary and specialty care physicians; 10 joint-venture ambulatory surgery centers; more than 140 ambulatory practices throughout the five boroughs of New York City, Westchester, Long Island, and Florida; and 31 affiliated community health centers. Physicians are affiliated with the renowned Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, which is ranked among the highest in the nation in National Institutes of Health funding per investigator. The Mount Sinai Hospital is ranked No. 18 on U.S. News & World Report's "Honor Roll" of top U.S. hospitals; it is one of the nation's top 20 hospitals in Cardiology/Heart Surgery, Diabetes/Endocrinology, Gastroenterology/GI Surgery, Geriatrics, Nephrology, and Neurology/Neurosurgery, and in the top 50 in four other specialties in the 2017-2018 "Best Hospitals" issue. Mount Sinai's Kravis Children's Hospital also is ranked in six out of ten pediatric specialties by U.S. News & World Report. The New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai is ranked 12th nationally for Ophthalmology and 50th for Ear, Nose, and Throat, while Mount Sinai Beth Israel, Mount Sinai St. Luke's and Mount Sinai West are ranked regionally. For more information, visit http://www.mountsinai.org/, or find Mount Sinai on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
New data released at this year's World Hepatitis Summit in Sao Paulo, Brazil (1-3 November) shows that Australia is currently on track to eliminate hepatitis C thanks to its huge efforts to enable population-wide access to treatment. However, the challenge will be to keep annual treatment numbers high enough to eliminate the virus by 2030. For hepatitis B, progress is slower and more challenges remain.

The latest estimate from the Polaris Observatory (Center for Disease Analysis Foundation, Lafayette, CO, USA), which has been verified by Australian experts, shows Australia had some 202,000 people living with chronic hepatitis C infection at the end of 2016. Thanks to a pioneering risk-sharing agreement between the Australian Government and Pharmaceutical companies for the new directly acting antiviral drugs (DAAs), beginning March 2016, all Australian adults are now able to access government-funded treatment. It is thought over 32,000 patients accessed treatment from March 2016 to December 2016, around 1 in 7 of the total infected population nationwide.

Following this agreement, huge numbers of people came forward for treatment immediately (some 5,000 in March 2016 alone). However, the number treated each month has steadily declined, from over 5,000 in March 2016 to less than 2,500 in March 2017, with signs the number will decrease further still. The Polaris estimate shows that Australia must treat around 20,000 patients with hepatitis C per year to reach the WHO elimination target it endorsed (a reduction of new hepatitis B and C infections by 90% and mortality by 65% by 2030). Polaris predicts annual treatment numbers for HCV could fall to 14,000 by 2018.

"Australia set off at a cracking pace on the journey to elimination of hepatitis C due to our unrestricted and easy access to treatment," says Helen Tyrell, Chief Executive Officer, Hepatitis Australia. "From March 2016, when the cures became available, to December of that year around 14% of all people living with hepatitis C commenced treatment. However, the pace has slowed dramatically over time."

She adds: "Worryingly, the latest estimates from the Polaris Observatory should be taken as a clear warning that the elimination of hepatitis C is unlikely to be achieved by 2030 if we continue 'business as usual'. What we need now is a rapid scale up of a suite of programs to help connect all people with hepatitis C to the new cures while also continuing to prioritise evidence-based prevention. Provided Australia invests in this work and maintains a strong partnership approach across government, the community, clinicians and researchers, we can reach the goal of elimination of hepatitis C by 2030."

Australia has a very high diagnosis rate (three quarters of those with hepatitis C know they are infected, compared to 44% across rich countries generally and 1 in 5 globally). Thus, it is essential that efforts are stepped up to bring those known to be infected into care and provided with treatment. However, many people were diagnosed years or sometimes decades ago, and were told at the time to go home and "not worry about it" due to lack of treatment options. Like all countries, Australia faces challenges to find many of these patients again and connect them with care.

There are signs of progress in key populations: thanks to DAA availability, the proportion of patients injecting drugs accessing hepatitis C care increased from 1-3% from 2012-2015 to 22% in 2016. Most States and Territories are developing programs for new treatment access in drug and alcohol services, and prisons, where around one in 3 prisoners nationwide are thought to be infected with HCV.

Furthermore, new DAAs that are effective across all genotypes of hepatitis C have recently become available on Australia's Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, making it even easier for treatment to be prescribed by non-specialists, including general practitioners who now write around a third of all prescriptions for DAAs.

"Australia has made a fantastic inroad into its hepatitis C epidemic, but the challenge ahead is to ensure all people with chronic hepatitis C are diagnosed and linked to care. Different approaches and models of care will be needed for different population groups to achieve this so that no group is left behind," concludes Tyrrell.

For hepatitis B, the challenges are very significant as the national response is not as well advanced as that for hepatitis C. The first National Hepatitis B Strategy was launched in 2010 some ten years after the first National Hepatitis C Strategy. Australia is succeeding in turning the tide on new infections among young people under 25 years due to an effective infant and adolescent hepatitis B vaccination program. However, with one in three of those estimated to be living with chronic hepatitis B not yet diagnosed and suboptimal monitoring (just one in six patients monitored for disease progression when all patients should be) and treatment rates (6% treated versus a national target of 15%) it is clear that a significant commitment will be required to achieve the 2030 elimination goals.

"Hepatitis B is clearly lagging well behind hepatitis C at present and Australia must accelerate efforts across the board," says Tyrrell. "We are hoping that The Third National Hepatitis B Strategy, currently in development, will be the catalyst to both articulate and invest in a range of priority actions urgently needed to get hepatitis B on a track towards elimination by 2030. Improving community knowledge and diagnosis of those in higher risk populations is a top priority combined with regular liver assessments for all people with chronic hepatitis B to help stop progression to serious liver disease, liver cancer and avoidable deaths from this often silent infection."

###
New data on hepatitis C released by the Polaris Observatory*, and presented today at the World Hepatitis Summit (WHS) in Sao Paulo, Brazil shows that nine countries -- Australia, Brazil, Egypt, Georgia, Germany, Iceland, Japan, the Netherlands and Qatar -- are on course to eliminate hepatitis C by 2030.

Worldwide, viral hepatitis kills more than one million people each year, and more than 300 million people are chronically infected with hepatitis B or C. Yet, with the development of highly-effective direct acting antivirals (DAAs) for hepatitis C and the increasing rates of hepatitis B treatment and vaccination coverage globally, elimination of viral hepatitis has become a real possibility.

"This new data shows that elimination of hepatitis C is possible. It also shows more must be done to support governments in tackling viral hepatitis," said Charles Gore, President of the World Hepatitis Alliance. "The World Hepatitis Summit offers governments the opportunity to learn from other countries and public health experts, in an effort to speed up progress to elimination."

Since the adoption of World Health Organization's (WHO) elimination targets in 2016, which include a 90% reduction of new hepatitis B and C infections and a 65% reduction in hepatitis B and C related mortality by 2030, some countries are making great strides yet multiple factors preventing progress remain for the majority. These include a lack of political will and global funding mechanism, poor data and surveillance, access to diagnostics and medicines and poor diagnosis rates (approx. 10% worldwide for hepatitis B and 20% for hepatitis C), that together mean that many countries are struggling to reach the targets.

Some key countries which are being highlighted at the Summit for their innovative work to eliminate viral hepatitis are Brazil, Egypt, Australia and Georgia. In 2017, Egypt pledged to test 30 million for hepatitis C by the end of 2018 by implementing mass screening initiatives (including assistance from the military), as well as mass producing generic copies of DAA drugs for under US $200 per 12-week course.

Meanwhile, WHS host nation Brazil has committed to gradually lift treatment restrictions in 2018, meaning that the country will be able to treat all people infected with hepatitis C, ensuring it is on target to eliminate hepatitis C. Previously, treatment was restricted to only the sickest patients with advanced liver disease.

"Brazil has championed the cause of hepatitis on the world stage for many years and has pushed for an intensified global hepatitis response," says Adele Schwartz Benzaken, director of the Brazilian Ministry of Health's Department of Surveillance, Prevention and Control of STIs, HIV/AIDS and Viral Hepatitis. "In addition to the work we have already done on hepatitis B, opening up vaccination to the whole population, we are now gradually removing the restrictions on access to hepatitis C treatment - so that, from 2018 on, the entire infected population can be treated, not just the sickest."

The Australian government responded to the call for universal access to the hepatitis C DAAs with an AUS $1billion dollar investment over 5 years. This risk-sharing agreement with pharmaceutical companies provides government-funded treatment to all adults without restriction and has paved the way for the elimination of hepatitis C by 2030. More than 30,000 patients with hepatitis C were treated and cured in 2016.

"What we are seeing is that some countries, especially those with a high burden, are making the elimination of viral hepatitis a priority and are looking at innovative ways to do it," said Homie Razavi, Director of CDA. "However, it will be near-impossible for most other countries to meet the WHO targets without a huge scale-up in political will and access to diagnostics and treatment."

Although only a handful of countries are on track to reach the WHO's elimination targets, there are a number of other countries which are making progress. Mongolia, Gambia, and Bangladesh have shown real political will and, along with Brazil, Georgia and Egypt, are spearheading the NOhep Visionary Programme* in their region, due to their commitment to ending their epidemics.

"Because viral hepatitis has been neglected for so long, much needs to be done rapidly to make up for lost time," concluded Gore. "In that context, the Summit, a biennial event, focuses on the public health approach to viral hepatitis and acts as the central forum for countries to share their experience and best practice in order to drive rapid advances in national responses."

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New Orleans - Nov.1, 2017 -- Next week, thousands of eye physicians and surgeons will attend AAO 2017, the American Academy of Ophthalmology's 121st annual meeting. The meeting delivers opportunities to hear from the greatest minds in medical and surgical eye care discuss the latest scientific breakthroughs in vision treatment and research. This global ophthalmology conference takes place Nov.11-14 at The Ernest N. Morial Convention in New Orleans.

More than 25,000 are expected to attend the Academy's annual meeting, making it one of the largest medical meetings in the United States. It features more than 350 instruction courses, more than 100 hours of lectures and discussions on cutting-edge science and new ideas in practice management, seven subspecialty meetings, and 535 exhibitors showcasing the latest pharmaceuticals, devices, and technologies for improving patient care.

Highlights include:

CMS Administrator to Give Keynote Address

Seema Verma, administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, will give the keynote address at 9 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 12. In one of her first major speeches, Ms. Verma will give attendees a frontline account of federal efforts to improve the U.S. health care system.

Blind New Orleans Musician Explores the Nature of "Seeing" in Keynote Lecture

An eight-time W.C. Handy "Best Blues Instrumentalist - Piano" award nominee, Henry Butler knows no limitations. Blinded by glaucoma since birth, and composing and performing since age 12, Butler is also a world-class photographer. Mr. Butler will deliver the Michael F. Marmor Lecture in Ophthalmology and the Arts: One Man's Vision, at 9:28 a.m., Sunday, Nov. 12. The New Orleans native's work has been displayed at exhibitions throughout the United States.

World-Renowned Leader in Inherited Eye Disease to Receive Academy's Highest Honor

The Academy will present Irene Maumenee, M.D., with its highest honor, the 2017 Laureate Recognition Award, for her seminal work in the rapidly advancing field of ophthalmic genetics. She has devoted her life work to understanding and teaching of genetic eye diseases. Dr. Maumenee's insights have contributed significantly to the development of the first effective gene therapy for inherited retinal disease.

Harnessing the Power of Big Data to Improve Patient Care

What happens when big data meets ophthalmology's innovators? Find out at the symposium, The Value of the IRIS Registry: What we can learn from 100 Million Patient Records, at 12:15 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 11. The Academy launched the IRIS Registry (Intelligent Research in Sight) in New Orleans in 2014. It's now the largest specialty-based clinical data registry in all of medicine, with more than 41.2 million unique patients in its database, representing 166.2 million patient visits. The IRIS Registry was the source of data for several recently published studies.

New Details on the Promise of Stem Cell and Gene Therapies to Prevent Blindness

On Tuesday, Nov. 14, two papers will offer new details on possible treatments for diseases that currently have no treatment options, inherited retinal disease and dry age-related macular degeneration.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is expected to approve within the next two months, a first-of-its-kind gene therapy that could restore vision to people with a rare degenerative condition that leads to blindness. Get an update from the lead researcher at 10:15 a.m., Tuesday, Nov. 14.

Macular degeneration is the leading cause of severe, irreversible vision loss in people over age 60. Currently, there is no effective treatment for late-stage or advanced dry AMD. However, some studies show stem-cell therapy is a promising new approach. Attend an update from leading researchers at 10:39 a.m., Tuesday, Nov. 14.

Strategies for Preventing Physician Burnout

Physician suicide has increased to about 400 a year - twice the rate of the general population. Ophthalmologists, who have traditionally been among the happiest medical specialists, are now experiencing burnout rates of 43 percent. A symposium will examine the causes of physician burnout found in major published peer-reviewed literature. Michael Lumpkin, a professor of biochemistry and molecular and cellular biology at Georgetown University, will guide the audience in how to practice mindfulness and other coping strategies. Dr. Lumpkin teaches both medical students and lay audiences about stress and the diseases it can cause. Physician Wellness starts at 8:30 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 13.

Ophthalmologists Make Progress in Hurricane Preparedness

A special session at 12:45 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 12 will feature ophthalmologists discussing what they learned from the recent hurricanes, as well as Hurricane Katrina. These physicians were on the front lines, mobilizing vital eye care services at temporary shelters. Although governments agencies at the local and national level have addressed disaster relief planning, ophthalmology resources are less well developed. Amy Coburn, M.D., of Houston Methodist Hospital, will share an ophthalmic disaster response action plan that can be customized for cities across the nation. This press conference starts at 8:30 a.m., Monday, Nov. 13.

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"The annual meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology continues to evolve to meet the needs of our global community of eye physicians and surgeons," said Maria M. Aaron, M.D., Secretary for the Annual Meeting. "There is no other conference in the world that provides the breadth and depth of clinical education, research, and practice management advancements that continue to advance our specialty and help physicians navigate their practice and improve the quality of care they provide to patients each day. The Academy is focused on continuing to innovate to ensure that AAO 2017 is the place where all of ophthalmology meets."

Registration remains open to credentialed members of the media. Learn more at http://www.aao.org/newsroom/annual-meeting-for-media. For more information about the meeting, visit http://www.aao.org/annual-meeting.

A searchable program is available at http://www.aao.org/mobile. Selected hours of educational content will be streamed live Nov.11-4. Learn more and sign up at http://www.aao.org/virtual-meeting.

About the American Academy of Ophthalmology

The American Academy of Ophthalmology is the world's largest association of eye physicians and surgeons. A global community of 32,000 medical doctors, we protect sight and empower lives by setting the standards for ophthalmic education and advocating for our patients and the public. We innovate to advance our profession and to ensure the delivery of the highest-quality eye care. Our EyeSmart program provides the public with the most trusted information about eye health. For more information, visit aao.org.
Many Americans consume too much salt. Now in a study appearing in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, scientists report that people who can easily taste salt have differing amounts of certain proteins in their saliva than those who are less sensitive. The finding could help explain why some of us have a hard time shaking the salt habit and could potentially lead to the development of more desirable low-sodium foods.

Consuming too much sodium increases the risk of heart disease and stroke, two of the leading causes of death in the U.S. Some lower sodium products are on the market, but many consumers avoid these foods because they think the foods won't be tasty enough or flavorful enough. To develop more palatable products, researchers are trying to gain a better understanding of how the body processes and perceives saltiness. Although saliva is thought to play a role, it's unclear exactly what components of the liquid could explain the differences in salt perception among people. In a small study, Thomas Hofmann and colleagues sought to fill that knowledge gap.

The researchers classified volunteers into sensitive and non-sensitive groups according to how salty the participants thought various sodium chloride solutions were. Using liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry, the team identified several salivary proteins that differed between those who could readily detect salt and those who couldn't. Surprisingly, they found the largest differences in the resting saliva of the subjects compared to saliva produced after swishing around a salty solution. In their resting saliva, sensitive subjects had higher amounts of endopeptidases, enzymes that cut up proteins, than non-sensitive subjects. The researchers suggest that the enzymes could be modifying sodium channels, which would increase the amount of sodium that gets into cells. Alternatively, the enzymes could be cutting proteins in the saliva to produce salt-enhancing peptides in people who are sensitive.

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The authors acknowledge funding from Givaudan Flavors Corporation.

The abstract that accompanies this study is available here.

The American Chemical Society, the world's largest scientific society, is a not-for-profit organization chartered by the U.S. Congress. ACS is a global leader in providing access to chemistry-related information and research through its multiple databases, peer-reviewed journals and scientific conferences. ACS does not conduct research, but publishes and publicizes peer-reviewed scientific studies. Its main offices are in Washington, D.C., and Columbus, Ohio.

To automatically receive news releases from the American Chemical Society, contact newsroom@acs.org.

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NC unveils election manifesto

The ruling Nepali Congress on Tuesday unveiled its election manifesto with a vow to fight against the communist alliance of the CPN-UML and the CPN (Maoist Centre).
ST. LOUIS, MO, Nov. 1, 2017 - Scientists at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, in St. Louis, MO and their collaborators at the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) in Hyderabad, India, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Louisiana State University have made a significant research breakthrough by suppressing the aflatoxin-producing fungus in groundnut. The discovery has the potential to drastically improve food safety and reduce losses caused by the contamination from the poisonous carcinogen, aflatoxin. The discovery was recently published in the Plant Biotechnology Journal.

Aflatoxins pose a major risk to human and animal health worldwide and result in an enormous amount of food waste. The molds, Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus, which infect groundnut, maize, cottonseed and chilly, produce these toxins which suppress the immune system, hinder growth in children and even cause liver cancer. The fungus which produces these toxins can stay dormant in soil for years. It infects maize and groundnut during drought and heat stress. Contamination also happens when grain is stored in hot, humid and poorly-ventilated conditions. Since aflatoxins are potent carcinogens, the United States does not allow the sale and export of food with aflatoxin levels exceeding 20 parts per billion (ppb). European Union standards are more stringent; the bar is 2 ppb.

"Plant defensins exhibit potent antifungal activity against several economically important fungal pathogens and it is exciting to see successful application of this technology for reducing the pre-harvest infection by Aspergillus and alleviating the burden of mycotxins in genetically modified groundnut. If deployed commercially, this technology has significant potential to contribute to food safety in the under-developed and developing countries where mycotoxin contamination of groundnut, maize, chili and cottonseed pose a major threat to human and animal health," said Dilip Shah, Ph.D., principal investigator at the Danforth Plant Science Center.

World peanut production totals about 29 million metric tons per year. The U.S. is the world's third largest producer, after China and India. Peanuts are the 12th most valuable cash crop grown in the U.S. with a farm value of over one billion U.S. dollars. American consumers eat more than 6 pounds or 2.7 kilograms (kernel basis) of peanut products each year, worth more than $2 billion at the retail level. Worldwide peanut exports are about 1.25 million metric tons annually.

Two complementary approaches are being deployed to address the issue. Shah and his team transferred small proteins called defensins from alfalfa and the Mediterranean clover to the DNA of an Aspergillus-susceptible peanut variety widely grown in Africa and India which allowed the groundnut to stop the fungus from infecting the plant. ICRISAT scientists worked with collaborators at the USDA and Louisiana State University to transfer small RNA molecules from the Aspergillus fungus that are involved in the aflatoxin synthetic pathway. The nuts produced these RNA molecules during fungal attacks and inactivated target genes responsible for aflatoxin synthesis. The technology is also translatable to maize and de-oiled cakes used for animal feed, pistachios and almonds.

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Collaborators plan to conduct field trials in India in coming years for further development of aflatoxin resistant groundnut.

About the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center

Founded in 1998, the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center is a not-for-profit research institute with a mission to improve the human condition through plant science. Research, education and outreach aim to have impact at the nexus of food security and the environment, and position the St. Louis region as a world center for plant science. The Center's work is funded through competitive grants from many sources, including the National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Energy, National Science Foundation, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Follow us on Twitter at @DanforthCenter.
LUGANO, 31 October 2017. ESMO President, Fortunato Ciardiello, has contributed an editorial on the priorities for future cancer research, to The Lancet Oncology (1) with Josep Tabernero, ESMO President-Elect as co-author. The review refers to the publication on Future Cancer Research Priorities in the USA (2) and to the American Cancer Moonshot Task Force (3), and highlights the urgent need for a similar integrated approach within the EU.

"Cancer is a major global health problem. The US has managed to establish a clear and coordinated roadmap to win the 'war against cancer'. The EU should follow suit and establish its own integrated and comprehensive cancer research programme, with necessary, specific and achievable targets," said Ciardiello. "As well as research, we need to ensure that innovation is translated quickly and in a sustainable manner to the bedside."

ESMO is actively engaged with the WHO (4) and in the European policy arena to advocate for equal access to cancer prevention, timely diagnosis and effective treatment across Europe and around the world (5). "These principles are stated in ESMO's 2020 Vision (6), our roadmap for integrating cancer research, diagnosis and treatment, and for developing models of sustainable cancer care in a rapidly changing landscape," explained Ciardiello.

Tabernero added: "Scientific knowledge has made huge steps in terms of diagnosis and treatment, but this progress is not yet available to all cancer patients. Access is now a priority and a clear strategy is needed, guiding coordinated efforts, to ensure that no patient is left behind."

"Health is a fundamental human right," asserted Ciardiello. "ESMO has already denounced the disparities that exist within Europe - and across the globe - in access to quality cancer care. Making effective cancer treatment available to patients will require financial and organisational resources, but, above all, it involves cooperation between stakeholders including scientific organisations such as ESMO, public and private institutions, as well as local and international organisations. The time for a concerted approach to defeat cancer is now."

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Notes to Editors

Video message from the ESMO President, Fortunato Ciardiello: https://youtu.be/idEdJfeRGHU

References

(1) Ciardiello F, & Tabernero, J. The Cancer Moonshot from a European perspective. The Lancet Oncology Commission, Lancet Oncol 2017; 18: e653-706. Full report available online: http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanonc/article/PIIS1470-2045(17)30798-2/fulltext?elsca1=tlxpr

(2) Jaffee EM, Dang CV, Agus DB, et al. Future cancer research priorities in the USA: a Lancet Oncology Commission. Lancet Oncol 2017; 18: e653-706.

(3) National Cancer Institute. Cancer Moonshot. Blue Ribbon Panel Report 2016. Sept 7, 2016. https://www.cancer.gov/research/key-initiatives/moonshot-cancer-initiative/blue-ribbon-panel/blue-ribbon-panel-report-2016.pdf

(4) 2017 WHO Cancer Resolution: http://www.esmo.org/Policy/Policy-News/2017-WHO-Cancer-Resolution-Cancer-prevention-and-control-in-the-context-of-an-integrated-approach

(5) ESMO Public Policy statements: http://www.esmo.org/Policy/Anti-Cancer-Medicines-Availability

(6) ESMO 2020 Vision: https://www.esmo.org/content/download/68849/1233986/file/ESMO-2020-vision-brochure.pdf

About the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO)

ESMO is the leading professional organisation for medical oncology. With 17,000 members representing oncology professionals from 150 countries worldwide, ESMO is the society of reference for oncology education and information, committed to supporting our members to develop and advance in a fast-evolving professional environment. http://www.esmo.org
WASHINGTON (Nov. 1, 2017) -- A George Washington University-led national collaborative network aimed at improving outcomes for children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) will receive more than $11.7 million from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) over the next five years to help propel innovative research in the field.

Kevin Pelphrey, director of the GW Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders Institute and his colleagues will follow children through adolescence and into adulthood to understand differences in ASD risk between boys and girls and in how they each respond to interventions. Although boys may be more at risk, the symptoms of autism materialize differently and sometimes less severely in girls, Dr. Pelphrey said. Because of these differences, many girls go undiagnosed and miss a significant window for impactful treatments.

"No one has focused on the [adolescence] period of development or focused on it in autism before, so we're very excited about that," he said. "If we understand something about brain development during adolescence, that could tell us what to predict in young adulthood, including outcomes in terms of happiness, job placement, educational outcomes, health and well being of our participants and their families."

Experts have typically focused on early development and infancy as the primary time for treatment intervention for individuals with ASD. Many children, however, are not diagnosed until they are a few years older. Teenage years, he said, present a "second major opportunity" that to date has not been a research focus.

Dr. Pelphrey is also one of the first researchers in this field to focus heavily on girls with ASD. As part of this evolving research, the team has for the first time enlisted women and girls with ASD to be researchers as part of a self-advocacy initiative through a key collaboration with Children's National Health System.

Participants will help examine brain data and talk about the diagnosis process. The advocates also will interact with the research team to provide information about how the lab's results match up with their diagnosis experience. Dr. Pelphrey expects this process to generate interesting insights on how to further explore the data and make it more useful going forward.

"We've been hearing from a lot of families that they feel the work is really meaningful and they're excited that we're studying girls," he said. "They're hopeful that future families won't have the type of trouble getting a diagnosis and getting help that they had."

GW leads an NIH-designated Autism Center of Excellence (ACE) network. The ACE program was created in 2007 from the consolidation of previous programs. The NIH has awarded ACE grants every five years, and 2017 marks the third grant cycle. Dr. Pelphrey first received part of the grant funding in 2012 before coming to GW.

The ACE collaborators are the first group that he knows of to seriously look at how hormone levels in adolescence interact with brain and genetic differences to produce differences in the expression of autism. They will look at both boys and girls and the differences between them on an individual level.

Building on the research initially funded in 2012, Dr. Pelphrey and ACE network collaborators from Harvard University/Boston Children's Hospital, Children's National Health System, Seattle Children's Hospital/University of Washington, Johns Hopkins University, the University of California-Los Angeles, the University of Southern California, the University of California-San Francisco, University of Colorado-Denver and Yale University will continue to follow subjects who were studied in the first phase through adolescence.

Over the past five years the collaborating institutions collected information on an unparalleled study sample, gathering genetic, brain imaging and behavioral data on 250 girls and 250 boys with autism, 200 siblings of people with autism, and 200 typically developing girls and boys, all within the range of 6 to 17 years old.

"That allowed us to start to try to understand the relationship among genes and brain behavior in those kids and look for biomarkers of developmental pathways that might differ for boys and girls," Dr. Pelphrey said.

Researchers will collect the same data on the participants in this second phase, Dr. Pelphrey said. This will allow them to start charting differing developmental trajectories as the study participants get older and move through key developmental transitions, through puberty and into young adulthood.

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GW's Autism and Neurodevelopment Disorders Institute is currently based out of a lab on the university's Foggy Bottom Campus. Additional facilities for autism research on the university's Virginia Science and Technology Campus (VSTC) will open in spring 2018. When the facilities open, researchers at VSTC will be recruiting young adults with autism, siblings and typically developing individuals to participate in ACE network follow up studies. Funds from the Carbonell Family Foundation gift to ANDI will be used to extend the research of the ACE network to include very young children. Clinicians also will offer services and treatment for autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders for patients of all ages.
Boston, MA - This report is part of a series titled "Discrimination in America." The series is based on a survey conducted for National Public Radio, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. While many surveys have explored Americans' beliefs about discrimination, this survey asks people about their own personal experiences with discrimination.

Participants were not asked about their citizenship status. They were asked only whether they were born in the U.S., Puerto Rico, or in another country. This report refers to those born in the U.S. and Puerto Rico as non-immigrant Latinos, and to those born in another country as immigrant Latinos.

(Note: Click here to view charts and the report: https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/press-releases/poll-latinos-discrimination/)

Roughly a third of Latinos report being personally discriminated against in the workplace and when seeking housing

In the context of institutional forms of discrimination, more than three in ten Latinos report having personally experienced discrimination because they are Latino when it comes to applying for jobs (33%), being paid equally or considered for promotion (32%), or when trying to rent a room or apartment or buy a house (31%) (Chart 1).

Over a quarter of Latinos say they or a family member have been unfairly stopped or treated by police because they are Latino; non-immigrant Latinos more likely to report this

Additionally, 27% of Latinos say that they or a family member have been unfairly stopped or treated by the police because they are Latino, and 20% say they or a family member have been treated unfairly by the courts because they are Latino.

Chart 2 shows that Latinos with a college degree are more likely (42%) than Latinos with a high school degree or less (25%) to report unfair police stops or treatment.

"Currently, there has been little media attention on issues directly affecting Latinos' lives, particularly with regard to their jobs and housing. What is also lost is the considerable variation we see within the Latino community. For instance, Latinos with a college degree report more experiences of discrimination, including racial slurs and offensive comments and being unfairly treated by the police," says Robert Blendon, Richard L. Menschel Professor of Health Policy and Political Analysis at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, who co-directed the survey.

Additionally, non-immigrant Latinos are nearly twice as likely (36%) as immigrant Latinos (19%) to say they or a family member have been unfairly stopped or treated by the police because they are Latino.

One third of Latinos have experienced racial or ethnic slurs and insensitive comments; one in five report violence or threats or non-sexual harassment

In the context of individual or interpersonal forms of discrimination, one third or more of Latinos say they have personally experienced people using racial or ethnic slurs against them (37%) or making insensitive or offensive comments about their race or ethnicity (33%) (Chart 3).

Additionally, one in five Latinos say that they or a family member have experienced violence (20%) or threats or non-sexual harassment (19%) because they are Latino (Chart 3).

Latinos with college degrees and non-immigrant Latinos more likely to report various experiences of individual discrimination

As with police treatment, Latinos with a college degree are significantly more likely than those with a high school degree or less to report experiencing a range of forms of individual discrimination, including slurs, insensitive or offensive comments, people acting afraid of them, or being threatened or harassed because they are Latino. For example, 54% of Latinos with a college degree say they have experienced racial or ethnic slurs, compared to 29% of Latinos with a high school degree or less.

Furthermore, Chart 4 shows that non-immigrant Latinos are more likely to report various forms of individual discrimination compared to immigrant Latinos. For example, nearly half (49%) of non-immigrant Latinos report experiencing slurs about their race or ethnicity, compared to 25% of immigrant Latinos.

Similarly, 44% of non-immigrant Latinos report other people making insensitive or offensive comments about their race or ethnicity, compared to 23% of immigrant Latinos (Chart 4).

One in five Latinos have been personally discriminated against when seeking healthcare

In the context of healthcare, 20% of Latinos say they have been personally discriminated against because they are Latino when going to a doctor or health clinic (Chart 1). Additionally, 17% of Latinos say they have avoided seeking medical care for themselves or a member of their family out of concern they would be discriminated against or treated poorly because they are Latino.

Latinos divided over whether individuals' prejudice or laws and government policies are the bigger problem for discrimination against Latinos today

Overall, 78% of Latinos believe that discrimination against Latinos exists in America today. Nearly half (47%) of those say that discrimination based on individuals' prejudice is the larger problem, while 37% say discrimination based in laws and government policies is the larger problem. Another 14% say both forms of discrimination are equally a problem.

Survey Background

The survey was conducted January 26-April 9, 2017, among a nationally representative, probability-based telephone (cell and landline) sample of 3,453 adults age 18 or older. The survey included nationally representative samples of African Americans, Latinos, Asian Americans, Native Americans, as well as white Americans; men and women, and LGBTQ adults. This report presents the results specifically for a nationally representative probability sample of 803 Latino U.S. adults. Other reports analyze each other group, and the final report will discuss major highlights from the series.

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Visit the Harvard Chan School website for the latest news, press releases, and multimedia offerings.

Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health brings together dedicated experts from many disciplines to educate new generations of global health leaders and produce powerful ideas that improve the lives and health of people everywhere. As a community of leading scientists, educators, and students, we work together to take innovative ideas from the laboratory to people's lives--not only making scientific breakthroughs, but also working to change individual behaviors, public policies, and health care practices. Each year, more than 400 faculty members at Harvard Chan School teach 1,000-plus full-time students from around the world and train thousands more through online and executive education courses. Founded in 1913 as the Harvard-MIT School of Health Officers, the School is recognized as America's oldest professional training program in public health.
Nearly one-third of women with breast cancer went against their doctor's advice and chose not to begin or complete the recommended adjuvant anti-cancer therapy to kill residual tumor cells following surgery, according to a study led by a Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health researcher.

A survey that included 2,754 breast cancer patients in Florida and Pennsylvania during a two-year period found that this "treatment discordance" - not following a doctor's recommended treatment plan in its entirety - was more likely among patients who reported a general distrust of medical institutions and insurers. The patients' trust or distrust of their own doctors did not seem to be a factor.

Small studies in the past have found that some patients refuse their doctors' advice and choose not to undergo or complete adjuvant therapy after breast cancer surgery. The new study, published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, is by far the largest evaluation of this issue, and suggests that the avoidance of adjuvant therapy is significant and is linked to a general distrust in the healthcare system.

"If we want more women with breast cancer to complete their treatment, we'll need to deal with their beliefs about the healthcare system--and I do think we can modify those beliefs," says Lorraine T. Dean, ScD, assistant professor in the Bloomberg School's Department of Epidemiology and the study's lead author.

Adjuvant therapy for breast cancer normally consists of a course of chemotherapy, hormone therapy or radiation treatment, and is meant to kill any cancer cells not removed by the initial surgery. Research has shown that adjuvant therapy on average reduces the likelihood of breast cancer's recurrence and increases patients' chances of long-term survival.

Yet it has long been clear that many patients either do not start their prescribed adjuvant therapy or start it but do not complete it. Cancer epidemiologists would like to know the causes of this treatment discordance, or noncompliance, in the hopes of improving treatment compliance, and thus improving patients' long-term outcomes.

Prior studies, which were smaller in sample size and geographic scope, have linked breast cancer adjuvant treatment discordance to patients' lack of trust in the general healthcare system, but have not been clear about whether or not distrust in the system is separate from distrust in physicians. Dean and colleagues sought to clarify this issue of trust with a large survey of breast cancer patients in two major U.S. states. The researchers mailed survey questions to all women in Pennsylvania and Florida cancer registries who were diagnosed with invasive but still localized breast cancer between 2005 and 2007 and were under the age of 65 at the time of diagnosis.

The response rate was 61 percent and the final sample included 2,754 women. Sixty-nine percent of patients were white, 27 percent were Black/African-American and four percent identified as another race or ethnicity. About 69.8 percent of these women indicated that they had received all of the adjuvant treatments their doctor had recommended. The remainder, 30.2 percent, indicated that they had elected not to receive at least one prescribed adjuvant treatment. More than half of the latter, or 18 percent of the cohort, had not undergone some or all of the recommended hormone therapy; the rest were evenly split between discordance with radiation treatment and discordance with chemotherapy.

"While it is surprising in general that nearly one-third of patients are not following up with recommended adjuvant treatment, some earlier, more localized studies have reported even higher discordance rates, and it's possible that our own figures would have been higher if we had followed patients for more than two years," Dean notes.

The survey asked participants about their trust in their doctors and in the healthcare system in general. The researchers used the patients' responses to place them into high and low categories of general healthcare system distrust, and found that those in the "high-distrust" category, compared to those in the lower-distrust category, were about 22 percent more likely to report not having followed their doctor's full set of recommended treatments.

Treatment discordance was also significantly less common among married women, but more common among people with higher incomes, patients with stage 1 breast cancer, which has the best prognosis, and patients living in Florida at the time of diagnosis--the latter possibly due to Florida's insurance laws, which cover a "second opinion" evaluation after a cancer diagnosis, Dean says.

The results confirm the link seen in prior, smaller studies between breast cancer treatment discordance and general distrust in the healthcare system. The findings also suggest that this general distrust of medical institutions and the associated treatment discordance aren't significantly influenced by the patient's attitude towards her own doctor--whom many patients trusted even when they did not trust the broader healthcare system.

"Improving healthcare system distrust may require strategies that are not solely focused on boosting physician trust," Dean says.

A decision to avoid or stop adjuvant therapy would be a rational one in cases where treatment is unnecessary, she notes. However, in keeping with prior studies of adjuvant effectiveness, she and her colleagues found that patients reporting treatment discordance were 40 percent more likely to have a cancer recurrence during the study period--underscoring the importance of improving treatment compliance and, to that end, trust in the healthcare system.

"If ordinary businesses can learn to increase trust in their brands, why not the same with health care institutions?" Dean says.

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"Healthcare System Distrust, Physician Trust, and Patient Discordance with Adjuvant Breast Cancer Treatment Recommendations," was written by Lorraine T. Dean, Shadiya L. Moss, Anne Marie McCarthy, and Katrina Armstrong.

Support for the researchers was provided by the National Cancer Institute (K01CA184288, 5-R01-CA133004-3), the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center (P30CA006973), Johns Hopkins University Center for AIDS Research (P30AI094189), the National Institute of Mental Health (R25MH083620), the National Institutes of Health (R25GM062454) and the National Institute of Drug Abuse (T32DA031099).
It's been 55 years since NASA astronaut John Glenn successfully launched into space to complete three orbits aboard the Friendship 7 Mercury spacecraft, becoming the first American to orbit the Earth. The evolution of spaceflight, advancements in science and technologies and the progress of public-private commercial partnerships with companies such as Space X and Blue Horizons have strengthened NASA's goals and the public's confidence to move forward in discovery and human exploration.

More people today are poised to explore space than ever before; those who do will experience the effects of microgravity on the human body. Recognizing the need for data related to those effects, MUSC neuroradiologist Donna Roberts, M.D., conducted a study titled "Effects of Spaceflight on Astronaut Brain Structure as Indicated on MRI," the results of which will be featured in the Nov. 2 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

"Exposure to the space environment has permanent effects on humans that we simply do not understand. What astronauts experience in space must be mitigated to produce safer space travel for the public," said Roberts.

While living and working in space can be exciting, space is a hostile environment and presents many physiological and psychological challenges for the men and women of America's space program. For example, NASA astronauts have experienced altered vision and increased pressure inside their heads during spaceflight aboard the International Space Station. These conditions can be serious problems for astronauts, particularly if they occur in low-earth orbit aboard the International Space Station or far from Earth, such as on an exploration mission to Mars.

To describe these symptoms, NASA coined the term visual impairment intracranial pressure syndrome, or VIIP syndrome for short. The cause of VIIP syndrome is thought to be related to the redistribution of body fluid toward the head during long-term microgravity exposure; however, the exact cause is unknown. Given safety concerns and the potential impact to human exploration goals, NASA has made determining the cause of VIIP syndrome and how to resolve its effects a top priority.

Roberts is an associate professor of radiology in the Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences at MUSC. Before attending medical school at MUSC, she worked at NASA Headquarters in Washington, D.C. Working with NASA's Space Life Sciences Division in the early 1990s, she was already aware of the challenges astronauts faced during long-duration spaceflights. She was concerned about the lack of data describing the adaptation of the human brain to microgravity and proposed to NASA that magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) be used to investigate the anatomy of the brain following spaceflight.

Roberts suspected subtle anatomical changes in the brains of astronauts during spaceflight might be contributing to the development of VIIP syndrome, based on her earlier work. From 2001 to 2004, Roberts led a three-year NASA-funded bed rest study, collaborating with other life sciences researchers at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston. A South Carolina native, Roberts had just completed a two-year neuroradiology fellowship at the University of California at San Francisco.

For this study, she examined the brains and muscular responses of participants who stayed in bed for 90 days, during which time, they were required to keep their heads continuously tilted in a downward position to simulate the effects of microgravity.

Using functional MRI, Roberts evaluated brain neuroplasticity, studying the brain's motor cortex before, during and after long-term bed rest. Results confirmed neuroplasticity in the brain occurred during bed rest, which correlated with functional outcomes of the subjects.

As Roberts evaluated the brain scans, she saw something unusual. She noted a "crowding" occurrence at the vertex, or top of the brain, with narrowing of the gyri and sulci, the bumps and depressions in the brain that give it its folded appearance. This crowding was worse for participants who were on longer bed rest in the study.

Roberts also saw evidence of brain shifting and a narrowing of the space between the top of the brain and the inner table of the skull. She questioned if the same thing might be happening to the astronauts during spaceflight.

In further studies, Roberts acquired brain MRI scans and related data from NASA's Lifetime Surveillance of Astronaut Health program for two groups of astronauts: 18 astronauts who had been in space for short periods of time aboard the U.S. Space Shuttle and 16 astronauts who had been in space for longer periods of time, typically three months, aboard the International Space Station. Roberts and her team then compared the brain images of the two groups of astronauts.

Roberts and study investigators evaluated the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) spaces at the top of the brain and CSF-filled structures, called ventricles, located at the center of the brain. In addition, the team paired the preflight and postflight MRI cine clips from high-resolution 3-D imaging of 12 astronauts from long-duration flights and six astronauts from short-duration flights and looked for any displacement in brain structure.

Study results confirmed a narrowing of the brain's central sulcus, a groove in the cortex near the top of the brain that separates the parietal and frontal lobes, in 94 percent of the astronauts who participated in long-duration flights and 18.8 percent of the astronauts on short-duration flights. Cine clips also showed an upward shift of the brain and narrowing of the CSF spaces at the top of the brain among the long-duration flight astronauts but not in the short-duration flight astronauts.

Her findings concluded that significant changes in brain structure occur during long-duration space flight. More importantly, the parts of the brain that are most affected - the frontal and parietal lobes - control movement of the body and higher executive function. The longer an astronaut stayed in space, the worse the symptoms of VIIP syndrome would be.

Roberts compared these findings with a similar medical syndrome experienced by women called idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH), which affects young, overweight women who present with symptoms similar to VIIP syndrome: blurry vision and high intracranial pressure with no known cause. A common treatment for IIH is to perform a lumbar puncture, whereby CSF is drained using a needle placed in the lower back - a procedure performed by a neuroradiologist such as Roberts. Presently, there is no protocol to perform a lumbar puncture in a microgravity environment.

To further understand the results of the study, Roberts and the team plan to compare repeated postflight imaging of the brains of astronauts to determine if the changes are permanent or if they will return to baseline following some time back on Earth. With NASA's Mars expedition mission set to launch in 2033, there's an urgency for researchers such as Roberts to collect more data about astronauts and understand the basics of human space physiology.

A journey to Mars can take three to six months, at best. In order to reduce travel time between the Earth and Mars, the two planets need to be aligned favorably, which occurs approximately every two years.

During this two-year time period, crew members would remain on Mars, carrying out exploration activities. The gravity on Mars is approximately one-third that of Earth. Considering travel to and from Mars, along with the time on the surface, the Martian expedition crew would be exposed to reduced gravity for at least three years, according to Roberts. What would that do to the human body? Could a human even survive that long in a reduced gravity environment?

NASA astronaut Scott Kelly spent 340 days living and working aboard the International Space Station, and astronaut Peggy Whitson recently completed a 288-day mission in space. To date, the longest continuous time in space was 438 days, a record held by Russian cosmonaut Valery Polyakov.

"We know these long-duration flights take a big toll on the astronauts and cosmonauts; however, we don't know if the adverse effects on the body continue to progress or if they stabilize after some time in space," Roberts said. "These are the questions that we are interested in addressing, especially what happens to the human brain and brain function?"

Study co-author and Department of Radiology and Radiological Science colleague Michael Antonucci, M.D., agreed. "This study is exciting in many ways, particularly as it lies at the intersection of two fascinating frontiers of human exploration - space and the brain."

"We have known for years that microgravity affects the body in numerous ways," he continued.

"However, this study represents the most comprehensive assessment of the impact of prolonged space travel on the brain. The changes we have seen may explain unusual symptoms experienced by returning space station astronauts and help identify key issues in the planning of longer-duration space exploration, including missions to Mars."

Roberts hopes to continue to collect long-term follow-up data on the astronauts already being studied. In addition, she is participating in a new bed rest study in Cologne, Germany, collaborating with Racheal Seidler, Ph.D., of the University of Florida and the German Space Agency. The study simulates astronauts living aboard the International Space Station, while being exposed to higher levels of carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide scrubbers aboard the International Space Station clean and filter the air systems throughout the spacecraft, but some CO2 remains. Roberts will evaluate the blood flow to the brain, brain structure and other changes among study subjects.

With her team's hard work and dedication, Roberts hopes to establish MUSC as the go-to institution for further studies in clinical neuroimaging related to space exploration.

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Louis Lanzerotti, a distinguished research professor of physics best known for shedding light on the space environment around Earth and its impact on hardware in space and critical infrastructure on the ground, received the 2017 Arthur M. Bueche Award from the National Academy of Engineering (NAE) for his "extraordinary impact on the engineering profession."

Named in memory of Bueche - the top technical officer for General Electric Co., an advocate for science and technology adept at applying research to benefit society, and an adviser to universities, presidents and international organizations - the annual award recognizes pivotal contributions not only in the arena of science and technology, but in public policy as well.

In the mid-1960s, just as U.S. space exploration was taking off, Lanzerotti began tackling some of the fundamental challenges of flying spacecraft in orbit around Earth. With a newly minted Ph.D. in physics from Harvard University, he joined AT&T Bell Labs to study Earth's radiation belts just as the AT&T Telstar satellites were launched.

"As issues arose around the effects of radiation on space hardware, Lanzerotti participated in the building, testing, and calibration of radiation instruments for first-generation geosynchronous telecommunications satellites. His work helped develop robust space-based communications and science systems, and contributed to many NASA space missions that have allowed us to expand our knowledge of the universe," the academy noted in a release.

Lanzerotti says he relished the opportunity to do "engineering and science" in preparing satellites for travel in Earth's near-space environment, a then little-known realm subject to powerful geomagnetic fields and radiation.

In his acceptance remarks, he described a work environment that advanced both:

"Bell Labs fostered a collaborative technical culture whereby a vast array of practical telecommunications problems presented challenges whose solutions often led to new scientific understandings. I soon learned that the conventional linear model view of unfettered pure research leading to applications is not the only path to practical beneficial outcomes for society, or for a company."

Lanzerotti added that his research has been advanced by "many exceptionally talented, committed, and congenial colleagues, friends and students throughout my career at Bell Labs and now at the New Jersey Institute of Technology."

The NAE also noted his extensive work on geomagnetic field measurements at Siple, McMurdo, and South Pole stations in Antarctica, "which have furthered our fundamental understanding of Earth's space environment, including hydromagnetic waves and particle precipitation processes in the Earth's magnetosphere and ionosphere. His work led to the co-founding of the ongoing United States Automatic Geophysical Observatories network in Antarctica."

The academy credits him with advancing the public's understanding "of these invisible but potent forces" through papers, symposia and national and international panels, ultimately reaching a wide audience of fellow scientists, technologists, engineers and policymakers concerned about protecting space- and ground-based technologies - from spacecraft to energy and communication grids - "from potentially catastrophic disruptions caused by powerful blasts of radiation" from the Sun.

In late 2015, Lanzerotti was the sole academic researcher invited to take part in the panel discussion, "Space Weather: Understanding Potential Impacts and Building Resilience," convened in Washington, D.C. under the auspices of the Executive Office of the President of the United States and attended by scientists and engineers from academia and industry, as well as policymakers and elected officials.

But he did more than testify. Over the years, he has argued persuasively on behalf of space research before powerful policymakers, as in the mid-1970s, when he was asked to join the NASA Physical Sciences Committee, then an external advisory committee to the agency. At the time, he noted, there were "resource pressures" on NASA science and the opening of space research to a wider range of disciplines. Many committee members contended that studies of "particles and fields" in space around Earth should be finished and that research dollars would best be spent on other scientific topics.

"As the principal committee person in this allegedly obsolete research field, I was asked to make a presentation on the subject. My talk was equally devoted to frontier areas of space plasma physics research and the practical implications of NASA's research in the field, past and future," he recalled, adding that a U.S. Senate staffer in the audience was "very taken with the practical applications of this research in NASA's program" and asked him to speak at a NASA hearing on Capitol Hill. That appearance ultimately produced tangible results: the establishment of the currently-named NASA Heliophysics Division, which encompasses fundamental science and its applications.

Decades later, he weighed in forcefully on the continuation of the Hubble Space Telescope via the installation of new instrumentation. After the NASA administrator initially decided against it, the National Academies quickly formed a Congressionally-requested committee to evaluate the scientific merits of maintaining the space-based telescope, as well as the risks of its human servicing - deemed necessary - and asked him to chair it. He delivered the committee's findings to the NASA administrator and his staff "in a small NASA conference room on a quite cold, dark December, 2004 evening" and noticed that the administrator had stopped listening after the third page, which presented the committee's recommendations for human servicing.

"Accompanying me out of the very difficult briefing where the administrator had not said more than a few words, the associate administrator for science said to me, "Lou, you have just killed Hubble,'" he recounted. "Well, we all know now that Hubble, after human servicing and upgraded instruments, thrives today, continuing to produce astounding new scientific results."

"Since I've worked with him, Lou has been the principal investigator of the RBSPICE instrument aboard NASA's Van Allen Probes of the radiation belts around Earth, the founding editor of the American Geophysical Union's Space Weather journal, the chair or member of a number of national committees, including the National Science Foundations's Geospace Portfolio Review, and the author of numerous editorials and other publications," notes Andrew Gerrard, director of NJIT's Center for Solar-Terrestrial Research. "He is really an inspiration to us all!"

Among Lanzerotti's many awards in recent years are the American Geophysical Union William Bowie medal and the U.S. Antarctic Service Medal. Mount Lanzerotti in Antarctica was named in his honor. He served a six-year term on the National Science Board, from 2004 to 2010, and chaired its Committee on Science and Engineering Indicators much of that time.

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About NJIT

One of the nation's leading public technological universities, New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) is a top-tier research university that prepares students to become leaders in the technology-dependent economy of the 21st century. NJIT's multidisciplinary curriculum and computing-intensive approach to education provide technological proficiency, business acumen and leadership skills. With an enrollment of 11,400 graduate and undergraduate students, NJIT offers small-campus intimacy with the resources of a major public research university. NJIT is a global leader in such fields as solar research, nanotechnology, resilient design, tissue engineering, and cybersecurity, in addition to others. NJIT is among the top U.S. polytechnic public universities in research expenditures, exceeding $130 million, and is among the top 1 percent of public colleges and universities in return on educational investment, according to PayScale.com. NJIT has a $1.74 billion annual economic impact on the State of New Jersey.
CORVALLIS, Ore. - Brazil's environmental land registration program has been successful in slowing down the rate of deforestation on private land, according to a new study.

The study is published in the journal Conservation Letters. Brazil houses nearly 13 percent of the world's remaining forests, and although its deforestation rate has slowed in recent years, it remains the second-highest contributor to global forest loss. However, Brazil has made substantial progress mapping properties for environmental registration, known as CAR (Cadastro Ambiental Rural). First with a handful of state-level systems in the Amazon, and more recently with a national rural land registration system known as SiCAR (Sistema Nacional de Cadastro Ambiental Rural).

Deforestation - the removal of a forest or stand of trees where the land is thereafter converted to a non-forest use - contributes significantly to the greenhouse gas effect, one of the leading causes of global warming. The biggest driver of deforestation is agriculture. Farmers cut forests to provide more room for planting crops or grazing livestock.

The program's success provides a potential pathway toward mitigating climate change, said Jennifer Alix-Garcia, an economist in OSU's College of Agricultural Sciences and the study's lead author. The CAR allows landowners a way to demonstrate compliance with environmental regulations and it also provides a mechanism for the government to monitor land-use, she said.

"Brazil was able to implement this program in a region where land tenure is very insecure, which suggests it would be possible in other parts of the world," Alix-Garcia said.

The researchers examined the impacts of CAR registration in the Amazon states of Mato Grosso and Para during the early years of its implementation, between 2006 and 2013, using randomly drawn points from the forested area of the two states. Using registration data and satellite imagery, they calculated that deforestation in the two states would have been 10 percent higher in the absence of CAR registration.

The CAR, now administered through the SiCAR system, is one of a variety of interventions that aims to control deforestation on private lands in the Brazilian Amazon, including improved satellite monitoring, increased enforcement of the 2012 Forest Code, credit restrictions for areas involved in excessive deforestation, and private sector zero-deforestation agreements.

"Property registration is particularly important for initiatives such as Brazil's Soy Moratorium and Zero-Deforestation Cattle Agreements, which aim to trace supply chains on the ground," said Holly Gibbs, professor of geography and environmental studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

However, the property data is still not available to the public in a comprehensive way, adds Lisa Rausch, researcher at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. This has to change to improve environmental governance by both the public and private sectors, she said.

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The study - a collaboration of OSU, University of Wisconsin-Madison and Middlebury College - was funded by grants from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation and the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation's Department for Civil Society under the Norwegian Forest and Climate Initiative. Gibbs is the principal investigator on grants.
COLUMBUS, Ohio - A study of one Texas school district reveals one of the best evidence-based ways ever found to close the educational achievement gap between black and white students.

The research found that teachers' sense of collective efficacy in any one school - the belief that they had the capability and support necessary to educate their students - was closely connected to the achievement gap.

Schools in which teachers showed high levels of collective efficacy had a 50 percent reduction in the academic disadvantage experienced by black students, compared to schools where teachers had average levels, the study showed.

"The importance of this finding should not be underestimated," said Roger Goddard, lead author of the study and Novice G. Fawcett Chair and professor of educational administration at The Ohio State University.

"The achievement gap has been a persistent problem in the country with few good solutions. But we found something that really makes a difference and that schools can take proactive steps to develop."

Goddard conducted the study with Linda Skrla of the University of the Pacific and Serena Salloum of Ball State University. Their results appear in the Journal of Education for Students Placed at Risk.

The study involved 13,472 students and 2,041 of their teachers in 47 schools in one Texas school district. Student achievement in each school was measured by scores on state-mandated mathematics tests in grades four and five. The researchers controlled for the students' socioeconomic status.

The test scores in each school were compared with the teachers' scores on a scale developed by Goddard that measured their sense of collective efficacy.

The questions on the scale are designed to measure two aspects of collective efficacy, Goddard said: How capable the teachers feel and how difficult they thought their task was. Teachers rated how much they agreed with statements like "Teachers here are confident they will be able to motivate their students" and "The opportunities in this community help ensure that these students will learn."

Not surprisingly, the more teachers believed they could make a difference, the better both black and white students scored on achievement tests.

"But it was notable that collective efficacy didn't help all students equally - it actually helped black students more and helped them close the gap with white students," Goddard said.

How does collective efficacy help?

Goddard said other research suggests teachers who feel efficacious put forth more effort, are more creative problem solvers, and are less likely to give in to negative thoughts when things go wrong.

This approach was evident in another part of their study in which the researchers conducted focus groups with teachers in six schools. They chose schools that were both above and below average when it came to student test scores and collective efficacy for teachers.

One teacher explained how his school, which served mostly students of color and had a high level of collective efficacy, reached the state's top performance rating:

"The bottom line is that we did it because...we believed we could get the kids to do it. We did it with 15,000 hours of after-school tutoring...We did it because we convinced the children they could do it."

Many teachers in top-achieving schools with high levels of collective efficacy talked about how they used social persuasion to enforce norms of high expectations for student success. That means teachers were expected to go beyond their job responsibilities.

One teacher said: "We know that to work here you have to do whatever it takes to get [the students to succeed]."

Another key point that came through in the focus groups was that the support of principals and school administrators was absolutely vital for teachers to feel this sense of collective efficacy.

"Principals could either empower teachers to try their best or, in some cases, could make it harder to succeed. But the teachers we talked to left no doubt that principals were crucial," Goddard said.

In a previous study, Goddard and his colleagues found that a high level of social capital was another key trait found in successful schools. Social capital is the network of relationships between school officials, teachers, parents and the community that builds trust and norms that promote academic achievement.

Goddard said social capital and collective efficacy are related, but they aren't the same thing. Social capital is necessary for successful schools, but it is not sufficient.

"Social capital can help, but without that belief in your ability to successfully reach students, the chances you'll achieve your goals are vastly reduced," he said.

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Contact: Roger Goddard, 614-292-3239; Goddard.9@osu.edu
Troy, N.Y. - Increasing organic runoff as a result of climate change may be reducing the penetration of pathogen-killing ultraviolet (UV) sunlight in inland lakes, rivers, and coastal waters, according to a new study in the journal Scientific Reports. The findings, from a team including researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, points to the potential for an increase in waterborne pathogens.

Scientists have already measured an increase in "browning" of the world's waters, a phenomenon caused by more organic matter washing in from the surrounding land. The new study, led by Miami University in Ohio, analyzed water samples and used a model based at the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) to quantify, for the first time, the impact of dissolved organic matter on the potential for UV radiation from the sun to kill pathogens in the water.

Not only does an increase in dissolved organic matter make it more difficult for sunlight to disinfect bodies of water, it also makes it more difficult for water treatment plants to work effectively, said lead author Craig Williamson, a Miami University ecologist. In the United States, 12 to 19 million people already become ill from waterborne pathogens annually.

Kevin Rose, the Frederic R. Kolleck '52 Career Development Chair in Freshwater Ecology at Rensselaer, gathered much of the data on dissolved organic matter in water samples to assess the potential of UV radiation to kill pathogens.

"Water clarity is dropping in many regions due to factors such as browning, and this research demonstrates that this change is likely decreasing natural disinfection of potentially harmful pathogens," said Rose.

The team used samples of water from lakes around the world, from Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, to Chile and New Zealand. Tests determined the amount of dissolved organic matter contained in each sample, and the wavelengths of light -- including ultraviolet wavelengths -- absorbed by that organic matter.

Using the Tropospheric Ultraviolet-Visible model -- which simulates how UV light is scattered and absorbed as it passes through Earth's atmosphere -- researchers determined how much UV light hits the surface of the lakes throughout the year. Researchers also analyzed reflection and refraction off each lake's surface to calculate how much light penetrates the lakes and then, finally, how deeply it reaches.

The Tropospheric Ultraviolet-Visible model also calculates the expected disinfecting power of UV light in a particular body of water based on its dissolved organic matter and other characteristics, a measurement known as "solar inactivation potential (SIP)." In some cases, researchers calculated the SIP across different parts of, or for different time periods in, the same lake.

The results allowed scientists to quantify the impacts of dissolved organic matter. For example, the summertime SIP for one lake in northeastern Pennsylvania -- which, along with other regional lakes has undergone significant browning in recent decades -- dropped by about half between 1994 and 2015.

In California's Lake Tahoe, the SIP in the relatively pristine center of the lake can be as much as 10 times greater than at Tahoe Meeks Bay, an area at lake's edge that is heavily used by humans and has a much higher level of dissolved organic matter.

The scientists also showed how SIP can dramatically decrease after a heavy rainfall event using water samples collected from the region where the Manitowoc River flows into Lake Michigan, which supplies drinking water to more than 10 million people. Modeling based on samples taken before and after a strong storm moved through on June 21, 2011, showed that the SIP may have dropped by as much as 22 percent due to the extra dissolved organic matter that washed into the area in this single storm event.

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The study was an outgrowth of collaboration among multiple scientists from different disciplines who serve on the United Nations Environment Programme Environmental Effects Assessment Panel (UNEP EEAP). The data collection and modeling foundations used in this study were funded by multiple grants from the National Science Foundation.

Rose and Williamson were joined in the research by Sasha Madronovich and Julia Lee-Taylor at NCAR, Aparna Lal and Robyn Lucas from the Australian National University, Richard Zepp of the Environmental Protection Agency, Erin Overholt at Miami University, and Geoffrey Schladow at University of California, Davis. "Climate change-induced increases in precipitation are reducing the potential for solar ultraviolet radiation to inactivate pathogens in surface waters" can be found using the DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-13392-2.

At Rensselaer, Rose's research fulfills The New Polytechnic, an emerging paradigm for higher education which recognizes that global challenges and opportunities are so great they cannot be adequately addressed by even the most talented person working alone. Rensselaer serves as a crossroads for collaboration -- working with partners across disciplines, sectors, and geographic regions -- to address complex global challenges, using the most advanced tools and technologies, many of which are developed at Rensselaer. Research at Rensselaer addresses some of the world's most pressing technological challenges -- from energy security and sustainable development to biotechnology and human health. The New Polytechnic is transformative in the global impact of research, in its innovative pedagogy, and in the lives of students at Rensselaer.

About Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, founded in 1824, is America's first technological research university. For nearly 200 years, Rensselaer has been defining the scientific and technological advances of our world. Rensselaer faculty and alumni represent 85 members of the National Academy of Engineering, 17 members of the National Academy of Sciences, 25 members of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, 8 members of the National Academy of Medicine, 8 members of the National Academy of Inventors, and 5 members of the National Inventors Hall of Fame, as well as 6 National Medal of Technology winners, 5 National Medal of Science winners, and a Nobel Prize winner in Physics. With 7,000 students and nearly 100,000 living alumni, Rensselaer is addressing the global challenges facing the 21st century -- to change lives, to advance society, and to change the world. To learn more, go to http://www.rpi.edu.
Pabson Chairman Sambahamphe returns to NC

Private and Boarding Schools Organisation Nepal (Pabson) Chairman Bijay Sambahamphe, who was recommended from the CPN (Maoist Centre) under the first-past-the-post (FPTP) category for the parliamentary election, will contest the provincial election as a Nepali Congress (NC) candidate.
An SLAS Discovery original research report entitled "In Vitro Tissue Microarrays for Quick and Efficient Spheroid Characterization" describes a new technology that bridges the gap between clinical pathology assessment, high-content analysis and 3D cell cultures. With the spheroid microarray technique scientists can probe spheroid phenotype, multiplex readouts and analyze the results at the single cell level. The method arranges 66 spheroids in a gel array for paraffin-embedding, sectioning and immunohistochemistry. The process is rapid, automatable and uses 11 times fewer reagents compared to conventional workflows.

The authors demonstrate the advantages of their technique with a mixed array made up of spheroid models from 11 different cell lines. They stain all spheroids simultaneously and multiplex five different markers on adjacent sections. The staining, imaging and analysis are automated. The authors openly share their protocols, designs and ImageJ macros to enable other researchers to apply the technique for safety and efficacy testing as well as model optimization and characterization.

Three-dimensional cell cultures such as spheroids and organoids are being increasingly adopted in commercial and regulatory compound assessments. Along with organ-on-a-chip models these in vitro cultures are promising increased physiological relevance and therapeutic predictivity in both safety and efficacy screens.

Most methods to analyze these advanced models rely on simplistic measurements of live vs. dead cells. These reductionist assays provide little molecular insight into the targets and mechanisms of drug action. Moreover, the readouts are not comparable to clinical data, such as biomarker expression and tissue morphology.

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In Vitro Tissue Microarrays for Quick and Efficient Spheroid Characterization can be accessed for free, ahead-of-print at http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/2472555217740576.

About our Society and Journals

SLAS (Society for Laboratory Automation and Screening) is an international community of nearly 20,000 professionals and students dedicated to life sciences discovery and technology. The SLAS mission is to bring together researchers in academia, industry and government to advance life sciences discovery and technology via education, knowledge exchange and global community building.

SLAS DISCOVERY 2016 Impact Factor 2.444. Editor-in-Chief Robert M. Campbell, Ph.D., Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, IN (USA). SLAS Discovery (Advancing Life Sciences R&D) was previously published (1996-2016) as the Journal of Biomolecular Screening (JBS).

SLAS TECHNOLOGY: 2016 Impact Factor 2.850. Editor-in-Chief Edward Kai-Hua Chow, Ph.D., National University of Singapore (Singapore). SLAS Technology (Translating Life Sciences Innovation) was previously published (1996-2016) as the Journal of Laboratory Automation (JALA).

Follow SLAS on Twitter at @SLAS_Org.

Follow SLAS on Facebook at SocietyforLaboratoryAutomationandScreening.

Follow SLAS on YouTube at SLASvideo.

Follow SLAS Americas on LinkedIn at Society for Laboratory Automation and Screening (SLAS Americas).

Follow SLAS Europe on LinkedIn at Society for Laboratory Automation and Screening Europe (SLAS Europe).
CLEVELAND, Ohio (Nov 1, 2017) -- Many menopausal women complain about poor sleep. Should the problem be blamed simply on menopause or on a more serious underlying sleep disorder such as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)? What, if any, is the connection between hot flashes, which can also lead to cardiovascular risk, and OSA? New study results being published online today in Menopause, the journal of The North American Menopause Society (NAMS), examine that relationship.

Up to 80% of midlife women experience hot flashes or night sweats. Although there is a known association between hot flashes and sleep disturbances in midlife women, it has proven difficult to distinguish those sleep disturbances directly related to menopause from those because of OSA and other sleep disorders. Obstructive sleep apnea, which is more common in men than women, occurs more frequently as women age, gain weight, and reach perimenopause and postmenopause status. A sampling of perimenopausal and postmenopausal women who experienced disturbed sleep showed that 53% had a sleep disorder such as OSA, restless leg syndrome, or both.

The diagnosis of OSA in women can be more challenging because their symptoms are different from the more obvious ones that men experience, such as loud snoring. Symptoms for women more often include insomnia, headaches, fatigue, depression, and anxiety. Despite the challenges, the identification of OSA is important because it is associated with a significantly increased risk of heart disease, hypertension, stroke, depression, and death.

As reported in "Association of vasomotor symptoms and sleep apnea risk in midlife women," 1,691 women from the Mayo Clinic completed questionnaires. Of these women, 24.9% were classified in the intermediate and high-risk categories for OSA. These women were likely to be older and have a higher body mass index and a greater incidence of hypertension, among other findings. More pertinent to the results of this study was the fact that women reporting severe hot flashes in midlife were at a higher risk for OSA--1.87 times higher than in women with mild or no hot flashes.

"Sleep disruption is a common complaint at menopause. It is important to recognize the high number of undiagnosed sleep disorders, including OSA," says Dr. JoAnn Pinkerton, NAMS executive director. "Early morning headaches or excessive daytime sleepiness should raise concern for OSA and signal a possible need for sleep apnea testing."

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For more information about menopause and healthy aging, visit http://www.menopause.org.

Founded in 1989, The North American Menopause Society (NAMS) is North America's leading nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting the health and quality of life of all women during midlife and beyond through an understanding of menopause and healthy aging. Its multidisciplinary membership of 2,000 leaders in the field--including clinical and basic science experts from medicine, nursing, sociology, psychology, nutrition, anthropology, epidemiology, pharmacy, and education--makes NAMS uniquely qualified to serve as the definitive resource for health professionals and the public for accurate, unbiased information about menopause and healthy aging. To learn more about NAMS, visit http://www.menopause.org.
Scientists from Tomsk Polytechnic University and their colleagues from Germany have conducted an experiment which demonstrated the behavior of areas of two-dimensional materials which are applied in advanced electronics. It comes to devices that are in the research stage and will be used for the creation of flexible displays for smartphones and other gadgets, flexible optical and computing schemes, flexible solar cells and so on. According to the authors of the study, these are the experiments that have not been conducted before. The scientists are working on a technology which allows us to see how materials interact at the nanoscale, to determine local strain occurring at their interaction and even to see defects of the materials at the nanoscale that will make it possible to improve the components of nanoelectronics.

The study outcome was published in NanoLetters.

'Now in the field of electronics and digital technology there is a trend to miniaturize the devices. This trend is most relevant for transistors,' - says Prof. Raul Rodrigez from the Department of Lasers and Lighting Technology. - 'Nowadays there are modern technologies which enable the creation of transistors with a channel width of 12 to 14 nanometers, thus placing more transistors in the processor, increasing the productivity of smartphones and other miniature electronic devices. To further improve these technologies and create transistors of even smaller sizes, we should understand how the semiconductor material behaves when interacting with metals and how its properties change at the nanoscale.'

Earlier, according to the scientists, component materials of modern electronics were studied only at the macro- and micro-scale, but data obtained was not always sufficient to understand the interaction of materials with each other. In the published paper the scientists from TPU and Chemnitz Technological University and the University of Regensburg (Germany) demonstrated for the first time how component materials of advanced nanoelectronics behave at the nanoscale.

'For the creation of the complete line of different devices used in nanoelectronics, in particular flexible ones, various classes of two-dimensional materials are required, including semiconductors. Molybdenum disulfide is one of the most famous semi-conductors. Our goal was to study strain occurring in this material at the nanoscale, as well as the processes of its stretching or compressing in different structures and fields,' - says the authors of the research paper.

The scientists used gold nanoparticles, i.e. nanotriangles. Two monolayers of molybdenum disulphide were placed on top of them, which was transformed due the convex shape of the nanotriangles, what caused local strain 1.4%.

'The strain is more than we initially expected to see. In general, we had no goal to create the highest possible strain, but it's interesting that simply putting thin layers of molybdenum disulfide on metal we may obtain such significant deformations. This is very important to understand what happens when a semiconductor (molybdenum disulfide) contacts a conductor (gold) if we want to create a nanodevice,' notes Prof. Rodrigez. - 'In our work we shown that we can't neglect the interaction between a thin film and a substrate in electron nanodevices. When these materials are studied, all their properties are investigated on a flat substrate. However, a metal used in electrodes may change the properties of the material. This is inevitable, but perhaps it can be used in a way.'

Raul Rodrigez specifies that the published article was the first one describing such local measurements of strain.

The experiment was a success due to a unique technology Tip-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (TERS) combining methods of optical spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy. The main element of the technology is a gold nano-antenna embedded in the atomic-force microscope. It size varies from microns at the base to nanometers at the tip. A nanoparticle is placed on the tip of the antenna and scientists study only signals received from this nanoparticle.

The scientists emphasize that the TERS method is applicable both for studying local strain and interaction processes of particles and detecting defects in certain materials at the nanoscale.

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Irvine, Calif., Nov. 1, 2017 - New maps of Greenland's coastal seafloor and bedrock beneath its massive ice sheet show that two to four times as many coastal glaciers are at risk of accelerated melting as had previously been thought.

Researchers at the University of California, Irvine, NASA and 30 other institutions have published the most comprehensive, accurate and high-resolution relief maps ever made of Greenland's bedrock and coastal seafloor. Among the many data sources incorporated into the new maps is data from NASA's Ocean Melting Greenland campaign.

Lead author Mathieu Morlighem of UCI had demonstrated in an earlier study that data from OMG's survey of the shape and depth, or bathymetry, of the seafloor in Greenland's fjords improved scientists' understanding of both the coastline and the inland bedrock beneath glaciers that flow into the ocean. That's because the bathymetry at a glacier's front limits the possibilities for the shape of bedrock farther upstream.

The nearer to the shoreline, the more valuable the bathymetry data are for understanding on-shore topography, Morlighem said. "What made OMG unique compared to other campaigns is that they got right into the fjords, as close as possible to the glacier fronts. That's a big help for bedrock mapping," he added.

Additionally, the OMG campaign surveyed large sections of the Greenland coast for the first time ever. In fjords for which there are no data, it's difficult to estimate how deep the glaciers extend below sea level.

The OMG data are only one of many datasets Morlighem and his team used in the ice sheet mapper, which is named BedMachine. Another comprehensive source is NASA's Operation IceBridge airborne surveys. IceBridge measures the ice sheet thickness directly along a plane's flight path. This creates a set of long, narrow strips of data rather than a complete map of the ice sheet.

Besides NASA, almost 40 other international collaborators also contributed various types of survey data on different parts of Greenland.

No survey, not even OMG, covers every glacier on Greenland's long, convoluted coastline. To infer the bed topography in sparsely studied areas, BedMachine averages between existing data points using physical principles such as the conservation of mass.

The new maps reveal that two to four times more oceanfront glaciers extend deeper than 600 feet (200 meters) below sea level than earlier maps showed. That's bad news, because the top 600 feet of water around Greenland comes from the Arctic and is relatively cold. The water below it comes from farther south and is 6 to 8 eight degrees Fahrenheit (3 to 4 degrees Celsius) warmer than the water above. Deeper-seated glaciers are exposed to this warmer water, which melts them more rapidly.

Morlighem's team used the maps to refine their estimate of Greenland's total volume of ice and its potential to add to global sea level rise if the ice were to melt completely, which is not expected to occur within the next few hundred years. The new estimate is higher by 2.76 inches (7 centimeters) for a total of 24.34 feet (7.42 meters).

OMG principal investigator Josh Willis of JPL, who was not involved in producing the maps, said, "These results suggest that Greenland's ice is more threatened by changing climate than we had anticipated."

On Oct. 23, the five-year OMG campaign completed its second annual set of airborne surveys to measure for the first time the amount that warm water around the island is contributing to the loss of the Greenland ice sheet. Besides the one-time bathymetry survey, OMG is collecting annual measurements of the changing height of the ice sheet and the ocean temperature and salinity in more than 200 fjord locations. Morlighem looks forward to improving BedMachine's maps with data from the airborne surveys.

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The maps and related research are in a paper titled "BedMachine v3: Complete bed topography and ocean bathymetry mapping of Greenland from multi-beam echo sounding combined with mass conservation" in Geophysical Research Letters. This project received support from NASA's Cryospheric Sciences Program and the National Science Foundation's ARCSS program.

About the University of California, Irvine: Founded in 1965, UCI is the youngest member of the prestigious Association of American Universities. The campus has produced three Nobel laureates and is known for its academic achievement, premier research, innovation and anteater mascot. Led by Chancellor Howard Gillman, UCI has more than 30,000 students and offers 192 degree programs. It's located in one of the world's safest and most economically vibrant communities and is Orange County's second-largest employer, contributing $5 billion annually to the local economy. For more on UCI, visit http://www.uci.edu.

Media access: Radio programs/stations may, for a fee, use an on-campus ISDN line to interview UCI faculty and experts, subject to availability and university approval. For more UCI news, visit news.uci.edu. Additional resources for journalists may be found at communications.uci.edu/for-journalists.
LAWRENCE -- Astronomer Gregory Rudnick sees the universe crisscrossed by something like an interstellar superhighway system. Filaments -- the strands of aggregated matter that stretch millions of light years across the universe to connect galaxy clusters -- are the freeways.

"Galaxies will flow along filaments from less dense parts of the universe to more dense parts of the universe, kind of like cars flowing down a highway to the big city. In this case, they are going toward big clusters, being pulled by the gravity of those large concentrations of matter," he said.

Rudnick, associate professor of physics & astronomy at the University of Kansas, wants to know more about how filaments influence galaxies that are moving through them. Now, the KU researcher has earned a $280,000 grant from the National Science Foundation to lead an international collaboration that is investigating galaxies that extend along this "cosmic web" of filaments.

"I'm interested in how galaxies are affected by the regions in which they live," Rudnick said. "Filaments are the first place where galaxies come into contact with higher density regions of the universe. If a galaxy in a 'rural' part of the universe enters a dense part, I want to know how its properties change -- for example, does it change the number of stars it forms, or does its shape get altered? Using the highway analogy, when you drive into Kansas City, as you go there are more and more cars building up next to you, and sometimes there are car accidents -- this is something like the real universe because galaxies can collide, too."

Rudnick and colleagues will use multiple telescopes around the world to observe neutral hydrogen and molecular gas in galaxies as they travel along filaments. The team hopes to determine if the amount of gas -- the fuel for star formation -- is less abundant in filament galaxies than in galaxies from other environments, like those by themselves or those in groups or clusters of galaxies.

"When galaxies enter a filament the pressure of the diffuse gas in the filament may slow down how quickly the galaxy forms stars," Rudnick said. "Every galaxy has gas -- and if there's enough, it can collapse into little nuggets and form stars. Galaxies are constantly being fed by gas and blowing it out in a complex system. When a galaxy enters a filament, the gas that usually feeds into a galaxy now just becomes part of the filament. The galaxy might get disconnected from its gas umbilical cord."

In other words, Rudnick said, "Maybe a filament is like a long stretch of highway without a lot of gas stations."

Rudnick's collaborators include Rose Finn and Graziano Vernizzi of Sienna College in Loudonville, New York, as well as researchers around the world and KU students -- including one graduate student who will be directly supported by the grant. The team will utilize several telescopes including the Philips Claude Telescope on Mount Laguna Observatory in California, of which KU owns a share. The group will also use the IRAM telescope at Pico Veleta in the Spanish Sierra Nevada, the Nancay Radio Telescope in France and one of NASA's infrared-wavelength astronomical space telescopes, dubbed "WISE" for the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer.

The team's observations will study the target galaxies in many different wavelengths of light, revealing diverse pieces of information about them. For example, not only will the investigators observe the stars that are present in the galaxies but also the gas that is the raw material for the formation of new stars.

"Gas has many phases and different forms," Rudnick said. "Neutral hydrogen is single hydrogen atoms with one proton and one electron. But when that gets compressed, the hydrogen atoms can combine to form molecular hydrogen with two atoms -- that's what stars form from. Neutral hydrogen is the reservoir of gas, and when it gets funneled on into galaxies it becomes molecular hydrogen and can form stars -- and it glows. By observing that glow in light that is invisible to the eye, but visible with radio telescopes, we can measure the fuel supply of galaxies."

Rudnick said that the team would make observations at many different wavelengths to better grasp the cycle of gas within galaxies as it is supplied, heated, used and expelled. For example, to observe the emission of ionized hydrogen, the team will focus on specific wavelengths of light that correspond to those in the red part of the visible spectrum. It is these observations that will be carried out with KU's share in the Philips Claud Telescope on Mount Laguna.

"If you take a hydrogen atom and knock an electron off and if it falls back onto the atom later, it emits light at a specific wavelength," Rudnick said. "The glow of that specific light tells us where stars are forming right now. And 'right now' is within five to 10 million years -- in astronomy terms that's a blink of an eye as these galaxies take at least a few hundred million years to noticeably evolve."

Part of the grant work also will support a successful research-based astronomy program in local Kansas schools, expanding it to 20 students of diverse backgrounds.

"I'm now in the fifth year of running an outreach program at Lawrence High School," Rudnick said. "As part of the program, I work with a teacher who earned his BA in astronomy at KU and with a KU graduate, both who help to run the course. In the first semester, students take a class in astronomy similar to what we teach students at KU. In the second semester, they do a research project with data from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope, which culminates in a mini-symposium at KU attended by faculty and graduate students."

###

The NSF grant-funded work will run until 2020.
In a new book a Kent political scientist imagines a revolutionary 20th century in which the Russian Revolution spreads westward to Europe and the US, upending the course of 20th century history

In a new book a Kent political scientist imagines a revolutionary 20th century in which the Russian Revolution spreads westward to Europe and the US, upending the course of 20th century history. In this version of events, Eleanor Roosevelt ends up living her life as a lesbian and Yiddish is a major European language.

On the 100th anniversary of the Russian Revolution (November 7, 2017) Dr Philip Cunliffe, senior lecturer in the School of Politics and International Relations, asks what if communism had worked?

In Lenin Lives! (Zero Books) Dr Cunliffe presents an alternative version of what might have happened if the revolutionaries' dreams had come true and how history would have differed if Lenin had lived long enough to see the spread of the revolution to Western Europe and the USA.

Most alternative, virtual and counter-factual histories explore dark and misanthropic 'what if ...' scenarios, such as what might have happened if the Nazis had won the Second World War or if the Confederacy had succeeded in splitting from the USA. Dr Cunliffe argues that while fascism only offered war and dictatorship, everyone knows that communism was supposed to have been better, and to have offered a radically better world.

Instead of building up a much worse world by imaginatively altering the past, Lenin Lives! imagines a world that would have been much better and more advanced than our own.

Dr Cunliffe suggests that instead of the grim authoritarian states of the East, socialist revolution in the world's most advanced economies could have ushered in an era of global peace, progress and prosperity.

The book recounts how history, culture and politics would have unfolded differently in this timeline, including a re-imagining of the lives of a host of renowned leaders, scientists and writers, from Gandhi to Winston Churchill, among many others, including Eleanor Roosevelt.

Lenin Lives! shows how, with a revolution in the US, a radically improved US political system means that the New Deal never happens, FDR never becomes president and thus FDR's wife, Eleanor Roosevelt, is freed to divorce him and pursue a more authentic and emancipated life. With successful revolution in Europe, fascism is still-born and thus World War II and the Holocaust never happen, meaning that Israel is never established, and Europe retains a large, lively and assimilated Jewish population, leaving Yiddish as a major pan-European language.

Known as the October Revolution, the anniversary is now celebrated on November 7 after the Bolsheviks changed to the Gregorian from the Orthodox calendar.

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For further information or interview requests contact Sandy Fleming at the University of Kent Press Office.

Tel: 01227 823581/01634 888879

Email: S.Fleming@kent.ac.uk

News releases can also be found at http://www.kent.ac.uk/news

University of Kent on Twitter: http://twitter.com/UniKent Note to editors

Established in 1965, the University of Kent - the UK's European university - now has almost 20,000 students across campuses or study centres at Canterbury, Medway, Tonbridge, Brussels, Paris, Athens and Rome.

It has been ranked 22nd in the Guardian University Guide 2018 and 25th in the Complete University Guide 2018, and in June 2017 was awarded a gold rating, the highest, in the UK Government's Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF).

In the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2015-16, it is in the top 10% of the world's leading universities for international outlook and 66th in its table of the most international universities in the world. The THE also ranked the University as 20th in its 'Table of Tables' 2016.

Kent is ranked 17th in the UK for research intensity (REF 2014). It has world-leading research in all subjects and 97% of its research is deemed by the REF to be of international quality.

In the National Student Survey 2016, Kent achieved the fourth highest score for overall student satisfaction, out of all publicly funded, multi-faculty universities.

Along with the universities of East Anglia and Essex, Kent is a member of the Eastern Arc Research Consortium (http://www.kent.ac.uk/about/partnerships/eastern-arc.html).

The University is worth 0.7 billion to the economy of the south east and supports more than 7,800 jobs in the region. Student off-campus spend contributes 293.3m and 2,532 full-time-equivalent jobs to those totals.

Kent has received two Queen's Anniversary prizes for Higher and Further Education.
How can Zebra poo tell us what an animal's response to climate change and habitat destruction will be?

That is what scientists from The University of Manchester and Chester Zoo have been investigating in South Africa. Together the team have been using 'poo science' to understand how challenges or 'stressors', such as the destruction and breakup of habitats, impact on populations of South Africa's Cape mountain zebra.

To measure 'stress' levels of the animals the scientists have been analysing glucocorticoid hormones in the Cape zebra's droppings. Glucocorticoid hormones are a group of steroid hormones that help regulate the 'flight or fight' stress response in animals.

The research found that zebras are facing multiple challenges, including poor habitat and gender imbalances, which are likely to compromise their health, have repercussions for their reproduction and, ultimately, a population's long term survival.

Dr Susanne Shultz, the senior author from the School of Earth and Environmental Sciences (SEES) at Manchester, explains: 'Faecal hormone measurements are easy to collect without disturbing the animals and provide a window into the chronic stress animals are experiencing. Using these indicators we can establish the health of both individuals and populations.'

The team have used a 'macrophysiological approach' for the first time ever to evaluate the effectiveness of an ongoing conservation plan. A macrophysiological approach involves comparing animal responses in different nature reserves or geographical regions. By evaluating patterns of stress on a large scale, at-risk populations can be identified as their profile will differ from healthy populations.

The researchers also found that using physiological biomarkers, such as hormones from droppings, is an effective way of evaluating the impact of ecological and demographic factors on animal populations. This approach could also tell conservationists how other animals and species might respond to future environmental changes and stressors.

Dr Sue Walker, Head of Applied Science at Chester zoo, said: 'Zoos specialise in population management and have developed a wide range of innovative techniques to monitor the species under their care. This project is a fantastic example of how we can use these knowledge and skills to also help the conservation of wild animals threatened with extinction.'

As well as using this new approach the particular species of the Zebra was also important. Dr Jessica Lea, from SEES and the paper's lead author, added: 'The Cape mountain zebra is an ideal model species to assess because it has undergone huge ecological and demographic changes in the recent years.

'Following a massive population decline, they have been actively conserved for the past several decades. The information available on their recovery means we can measure the impacts of both environment and social factors on population health.'

Combining SEES's knowledge in macroecology with Chester Zoo's expertise in wildlife physiology allowed the team to gain crucial insights into the Cape Mountain zebra ecology. This then translated into practical applied conservation management initiatives to support the species.

Dr Shultz added: 'Understanding the factors leading to global biodiversity loss is a major societal challenge. In an ever-changing environment, new problems arise quickly so it is essential we use evidence-based methods to continually evaluate the effectiveness of conservation projects.'

###

Notes to editors

* The Cape mountain zebra are found in the Eastern and Western Cape provinces of South Africa. The majority of their historic and current range is in the Cape Floristic Region, but also extends northeast into Nama-Karoo, thicket and grassland habitats and northwest into the Succulent Karoo biome.

* The Cape Floristic Region has a Mediterranean climate and is known for its unusually high biodiversity and proportion of endemic species, particularly flora.

* For this research seven populations were sampled. These were from Bakkrans Nature Reserve, Camdeboo National Park, De Hoop Nature Reserve, Gamkaberg Nature Reserve, Mount Camdeboo Private Game Reserve and Swartberg Private Game Reserve and Welgevonden Game Farm
Baltimore, November 1, 2017 - A new study has found that a pioneering device to repair heart valves is safe and effective, and can reduce the invasiveness and side effects of conventional mitral valve surgery. The Harpoon Mitral Valve Repair System (H-MVRS), an image-guided device based on technology developed at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM), is deployed through a small opening between the ribs, and repairs the heart while it continues to beat. The research was presented at the Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT 2017) symposium in Denver, and simultaneously published in JACC, the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

"The Harpoon device was found to be remarkably safe and effective," says the study's principal investigator and an inventor of the device, James S. Gammie, MD, professor of surgery at UMSOM and chief of cardiac surgery at the University of Maryland Medical Center. "The device allowed the surgeons to precisely and effectively reduce the degree of mitral regurgitation without using an open-heart procedure. There were no deaths. Only one patient needed a blood transfusion, and there were no strokes, no need for pacemakers, no readmission to the ICU, and no reintubations," he says.

Thirty patients with a condition called mitral valve regurgitation (MR) were treated with the device at six clinical centers in Europe, sponsored by the manufacturer of the device, Harpoon Medical, Inc., Baltimore, Md., to determine whether the device meets essential European health and safety requirements.

Three patients required conversion to conventional open-heart mitral surgery, including two cases where poor imaging prevented accurate placement of the tool, while 27 met the primary endpoint. At six months, MR was mild or less in 85 percent (22/26) of patients successfully treated with H-MVRS. The repair was associated with restoration of normal valve function and improvement in the heart's ability to pump blood, according to the researchers, and the operative times for procedures using the device were approximately half those reported for conventional mitral valve repair.

Device Description

The H-MVRS is an investigational device. It does not have European CE marking and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has not approved it for use in patients in the United States.

The H-MVRS is designed to treat degenerative MR, the most common type of heart valve disorder. In MR, a leaky valve lets blood travel in the wrong direction on the left side of the heart, causing shortness of breath, fluid retention, irregular heartbeats and fatigue. MR develops when the small fibrous cords that open and close the valve's flaps, known as leaflets, are broken or stretched, preventing them from closing tightly and causing the leaflets to bulge or prolapse upward toward the left atrium. The natural cords connect the valve flaps to muscles inside the heart that contract to close the mitral valve, which gets its name because its two flaps resemble a bishop's mitre.

The device anchors artificial cords on the flaps to take the place of the natural cords. The artificial cords are made of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE), a polymer commonly used as sutures in cardiac surgery.

Surgeons insert the device into the beating heart through a tiny opening in the ribcage and, using echocardiographic imaging, guide it to the surface of the defective mitral flaps. When the surgeon determines the optimal placement for an artificial cord, the device is actuated and a specially designed needle makes a tiny hole and sends the cord material through the flap. The needle is then withdrawn and the cord of ePTFE is tightened to form a double-helical knot to hold it in place. The sequence is repeated for the desired number of knots (usually four to six). The other end of the cord is adjusted for optimum length and tied to the outside layer of the heart, the epicardium.

"Over the past five years, our faculty has increasingly engaged in entrepreneurial and technology transfer activity - with significant increases in the number of U.S. and foreign patents issued, technology inventions licensed and start-up companies formed," says UMSOM Dean E. Albert Reece, MD, PhD, MBA, vice president for medical affairs at the University of Maryland and the John Z. and Akiko K. Bowers Distinguished Professor. "This invention by Dr. Gammie is an excellent example of how new devices and therapies developed here have tremendous potential for treating patients and ultimately saving lives."

###

The device was previously tested in Poland. U.S. testing of the device may begin in 2018.

DISCLOSURE: The study was funded by Harpoon Medical, Inc. Dr. Gammie and three others on the research team report ownership of stock and/or options to purchase stock in Harpoon Medical. At the present time, the US Food and Drug Administration has not approved the H-MVRS for patients in the United States.

Gammie JS, Bartus K, Gackowski A, D'Ambra MN, Szymanski P, Bilewska A, Kusmierczyk M, Kapelak B, Rzucidlo_Resil J, Moat N, Duncan A, Yadev R, Livesey S, Diprose P, Gerosa G, D'Onofrio A, Pitterello D, Denti P, La Canna G, De Bonis M, Alfieri O, Hung J, Kolsut P. "Prospective Trial of Beating-Heart Mitral Valve Repair Using a Novel dPTFE Cordal Implantation Device." Journal of the American College of Cardiology. Nov 1, 2017 About the University of Maryland School of Medicine

Commemorating its 210th Anniversary, the University of Maryland School of Medicine was chartered in 1807 as the first public medical school in the United States. It continues today as one of the fastest growing, top-tier biomedical research enterprises in the world -- with 43 academic departments, centers, institutes, and programs; and a faculty of more than 3,000 physicians, scientists, and allied health professionals, including members of the National Academy of Sciences, and a distinguished recipient of the Albert E. Lasker Award in Medical Research. With an operating budget of more than $1 billion, the School of Medicine works closely in partnership with the University of Maryland Medical Center and Medical System to provide research-intensive, academic and clinically-based care for more than 1.2 million patients each year. The School has over 2,500 students, residents, and fellows, and nearly $450 million in extramural funding, with more than half of its academic departments ranked in the top 20 among all public medical schools in the nation in research funding. As one of the seven professional schools that make up the University of Maryland, Baltimore campus, the School of Medicine has a total workforce of nearly 7,000 individuals. The combined School and Medical System ("University of Maryland Medicine") has a total budget of $5 billion and an economic impact of nearly $15 billion on the state and local community. The School of Medicine faculty, which ranks as the 8th-highest public medical school in research productivity, is an innovator in translational medicine with 600 active patents and 24 start-up companies. The School works locally, nationally, and globally, with research and treatment facilities in 36 countries around the world. Visit medschool.umaryland.edu/

About the University of Maryland Medical Center

The University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC) is comprised of two hospitals in Baltimore: an 800-bed teaching hospital - the flagship institution of the 12-hospital University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS) - and a 200-bed community teaching hospital, UMMC Midtown Campus. UMMC is a national and regional referral center for trauma, cancer care, neurocare, cardiac care, diabetes and endocrinology, women's and children's health, and has one of the largest solid organ transplant programs in the country. All physicians on staff at the flagship hospital are faculty physicians of the University of Maryland School of Medicine. At UMMC Midtown Campus, faculty physicians work alongside community physicians to provide patients with the highest quality care. UMMC Midtown Campus was founded in 1881 and is located one mile away from the University Campus hospital. For more information, visit http://www.umm.edu.
MIAMI - University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science (UM) Professor Daniel Benetti has been awarded $967,000 by Florida Sea Grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

The funding is just a portion of $9.3 million NOAA has slated for 32 projects around the country to help spur the development and growth of shellfish, finfish and seaweed aquaculture businesses. All projects include public-private partnerships and will be led by Sea Grant programs across the nation.

With each project, every two dollars of federal funding is matched by one dollar of non-federal funds, bringing the total investment to more than $13.9 million. UM successfully leveraged with matching funds from an ongoing research agreement with Aqquua, LLC, a US company investing in advanced technologies to further aquaculture development in the nation.

The projects include basic and applied research to improve efficient production of seafood, permitting of new businesses, management of environmental health issues, and economic success of aquaculture businesses.

The project led by Benetti and his team will advance hatchery technology for captive spawning and production of three economically important marine fish species--red snapper, Nassau grouper and hogfish. Over the next three years, the funding will be used to create an affordable supply of seed for at least one of the species.

"Unlike terrestrial agriculture producers who have access to a variety of seed sources with data-supported optimal growth conditions, existing and prospective aquaculture producers do not have access to reliable commercial-scale quantities of tropical marine fish species for land-based or offshore aquaculture operations," said Benetti, Professor and Director of Aquaculture at the Department of Marine Ecosystems and Society at the Rosenstiel School.

He adds that in order to grow the marine aquaculture industry in the U.S., development of commercially available seed stock sources of ecologically and economically important species is needed as well as new technology to live-ship seed stock.

"This project aims to resolve these issues and will allow for commercial producers to have access to low-cost, reliable supplies for the culture of a variety of native marine finfish," said Benetti.

"These results will likely be felt throughout the fishing community as it may help relieve pressure on wild stocks without negative economic impacts associated with reducing catch."

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About the University of Miami's Rosenstiel School

The University of Miami is one of the largest private research institutions in the southeastern United States. The University's mission is to provide quality education, attract and retain outstanding students, support the faculty and their research, and build an endowment for University initiatives. Founded in the 1940's, the Rosenstiel School of Marine & Atmospheric Science has grown into one of the world's premier marine and atmospheric research institutions. Offering dynamic interdisciplinary academics, the Rosenstiel School is dedicated to helping communities to better understand the planet, participating in the establishment of environmental policies, and aiding in the improvement of society and quality of life. For more information, visit: http://www.rsmas.miami.edu.
Read a few lines of Chaucer or Shakespeare and you'll get a sense of how the English language has changed during the past millennium. Linguists catalogue these changes and work to discern why they happened. Meanwhile, evolutionary biologists have been doing something similar with living things, exploring how and why certain genes have changed over generations.

In a new study published in Nature, researchers in these two academic fields have joined forces at the University of Pennsylvania to solve an essential problem of how languages evolve: determining whether language changes occur by random chance or by a selective force.

Examining substantial collections of annotated texts dating from the 12th to the 21st centuries, the researchers found that certain linguistic changes were guided by pressures analogous to natural selection -- social, cognitive and other factors -- while others seem to have occurred purely by happenstance.

"Linguists usually assume that when a change occurs in a language, there must have been a directional force that caused it," said Joshua Plotkin, professor of biology in Penn's School of Arts and Sciences and senior author on the paper. "Whereas we propose that languages can also change through random chance alone. An individual happens to hear one variant of a word as opposed to another and then is more likely to use it herself. Chance events like this can accumulate to produce substantial change over generations. Before we debate what psychological or social forces have caused a language to change, we must first ask whether there was any force at all."

"One of the great early American linguists, Leonard Bloomfield, said that you can never see a language change, that the change is invisible," said Robin Clark, a coauthor and professor of linguistics in Penn Arts and Sciences. "But now, because of the availability of these large corpora of texts, we can actually see it, in microscopic detail, and begin to understand the details of how change happened."

Plotkin and Clark joined with lead authors Christopher A. Ahern, a Ph.D. student in the Department of Linguistics, and Mitchell G. Newberry, a Ph.D. student in the Department of Biology, on the work.

Just as genomic analyses require massive amounts of data to see signs that one gene or another has risen in frequency over time in response to a selective pressure, this linguistic analysis required a large database of texts written over centuries to determine the role of selection in language evolution. These corpora are the result of generations of work, much of it by Penn linguists, to parse written texts and annotate parts of speech.

The researchers chose three well-characterized English language changes to evaluate for signs of selection.

One change is the regularization of past-tense verbs. Using the Corpus of Historical American English, comprised of more than 100,000 texts ranging from 1810 to 2009 that have been parsed and digitized -- a database that includes more than 400 million words -- the team searched for verbs where both regular and irregular past-tense forms were present, for example, "dived" and "dove" or "wed" and "wedded."

They identified 36 such verbs. Using an analytical technique that Plotkin and colleagues had developed to detect natural selection in microbial populations, they studied the changing frequency of the different verb forms over time to conclude whether one had risen to dominance due to selective forces or due to chance.

For six of these verbs, the team found evidence of selection. In four of these cases, selection favored the irregular past tense form.

"There is a vast literature and a lot of mythology on verb regularization and irregularization," Clark said, "and a lot of people have claimed that the tendency is toward regularization. But what we found was quite different."

Indeed, the analysis pointed to particular instances where it seems selective forces are driving irregularization. For example, while a swimmer 200 years ago might have "dived", today we would say they "dove." The shift towards using this irregular form coincided with the invention of cars and concomitant increase in use of the rhyming irregular verb "drive"/"drove."

The use of "quit" instead of "quitted," is another example that coincides with an overall increase in use of the rhyming irregulars "hit" and "split." Meanwhile "split" has taken on a new meaning since 1900: to depart.

"If you have a phonetic neighborhood with lots of rhyming irregular verbs, it acts like a gravitational force and makes it more likely that the past tense of other rhyming verbs will irregularize," said Clark.

Despite finding selection acting on some verbs, "the vast majority of verbs we analyzed show no evidence of selection whatsoever," Plotkin said.

The team recognized a pattern: random chance affects rare words more than common ones. When rarely-used verbs changed, that replacement was more likely to be due to chance. But when more common verbs switched forms, selection was more likely to be a factor driving the replacement.

The authors also observed a role of random chance in grammatical change. The periphrastic "do," as used in, "Do they say?" or "They do not say," did not exist 800 years ago. Back in the 1400s, these sentiments would have been expressed as, "Say they?" or "They say not."

Using the Penn Parsed Corpora of Historical English, which includes 7 million syntactically parsed words from 1,220 British English texts, the researchers found that the use of the periphrastic "do" emerged in two stages, first in questions ("Don't they say?") around the 1500s, and then roughly 200 years later in imperative and declarative statements ("They don't say.").

While most linguists have assumed that such a distinctive grammatical feature must have been driven to dominance by some selective pressure, the Penn team's analysis questions that assumption. They found that the first stage of the rising periphrastic "do" use is consistent with random chance. Only the second stage appears to have been driven by a selective pressure.

"It seems that, once 'do' was introduced in interrogative phrases, it randomly drifted to higher and higher frequency over time," said Plotkin. "Then, once it became dominant in the question context, it was selected for in other contexts, the imperative and declarative, probably for reasons of grammatical consistency or cognitive ease."

The researchers also confirmed longstanding hypotheses about selection operating to change the form of verbal negation, as "Ic ne secge" changed to "I ne seye not" and then to "I say not," from Old to Early Modern English. Previous support for this hypothesis relied on comparison across multiple languages, whereas the Penn team established the same result based on data from English alone.

The research team is continuing its collaboration, with plans to explore the forces at work in linguistic features such as baby naming as well as the evolution of spoken language.

As the authors see it, it's only natural that social-science fields like linguistics increasingly exchange knowledge and techniques with fields like statistics and biology.

"To an evolutionary biologist," said Newberry, "it's important that language is maintained through a process of copying language; people learn language by copying other people. That copying introduces minute variation, and those variants get propagated. Each change is an opportunity for a different copying rate, which is the basis for evolution as we know it."

"To be able to see this kind of microscopic detail in social evolution, that's a big deal, that's something we can sink our teeth into," said Clark. "By looking at the analogies between social science and biology, this work is pushing toward a unification between the two fields. I think both sides stand to gain."

###

The study was supported by the University of Pennsylvania Research Foundation, David & Lucile Packard Foundation, U.S. Defense Advances Research Projects Agency (Grant D12AP00025) and U.S. Army Research Office (Grant W911NF-12-1-0552).
Sitaula to battle against Lingden in Jhapa-3 for third time

Nepali Congress (NC) leader Krishna Prasad Sitaula and Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) General Secretary Rajendra Lingden are fighting against each other from Jhapa Constituency-3 in the upcoming federal parliamentary elections.
Filtration membranes are, at their core, sponge-like materials that have micro- or nanoscopically small pores. Unwanted chemicals, bacteria and even viruses are physically blocked by the maze of mesh, but liquids like water can make it through.

The current standard for making these filters is relatively straightforward, but doesn't allow for much in the way of giving them additional functionality. This is a particular need when it comes to "biofouling." The biological material they are supposed to filter out -- including bacteria and viruses-- gets stuck on the surface of the mesh, blocking the pores with a slimy residue.

Beyond reducing the flow, such biofilms can potentially contaminate whatever liquid makes it through to the other side of the filter.

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania's School of Engineering and Applied Science have a new way of making membranes that could address this problem. Their method allows them to add in a host of new abilities via functional nanoparticles that adhere to the surface of the mesh.

They have demonstrated this new process with membranes that block bacteria- and virus-sized contaminants without letting them stick, a property that would vastly increase the efficiency and lifespan of the filter.

The "antifouling" membranes they have tested would be immediately useful in relatively simple applications, like filtering drinking water, and could eventually be used on the oily compounds found in fracking wastewater and other heavy-duty pollutants.

The researchers' method, described in a paper recently published in the journal Nature Communications, allows for membranes made from a wide range of polymers and nanoparticles. Beyond antifouling abilities, future nanoparticles could catalyze reactions with the contaminants, destroying them or even converting them into something useful.

The study was led by Daeyeon Lee, a professor in Penn Engineering's Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, and Kathleen Stebe, Penn Engineering's Deputy Dean for Research and Richer & Elizabeth Goodwin Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, along with Martin F. Haase, an assistant professor at Rowan University who developed the technology as a postdoctoral researcher in the labs of Stebe and Lee. Harim Jeon, Noah Hough, and Jong Hak Kim also contributed to the study.

The researchers' new membrane-making method relies on a specialized type of liquid mixture known as a "bicontinuous interfacially jammed emulsion gel," or "bijel." Unlike emulsions that consist of isolated droplets, both the oil and water phases of bijels consist of densely intertwined but fully connected networks. Nanoparticles introduced to the emulsion find their way to the interface between the oil and water networks.

Lee, Stebe and Haase previously devised a new way of making bijels that allows for a greater range of component materials, which they described in a 2015 Advanced Materials paper. Now, they have shown a way to make a solid filter using the same method.

"We knew this technology had promise," Stebe said. "Some of that promise is now being made real."

As with their earlier bijels, this filter begins as an intertwined network of water and oil, with a dense layer of nanoparticles separating the two. But by using an oil that can be polymerized with UV light -- crosslinking free-floating individual molecules into a solid, 3D mesh -- the researchers are now able to solidify the structure of the bijel.

Critically, this method leaves the dense layer of nanoparticles in place on the surface of the polymer after the water has been flowed away. Conventional ways of making polymer membranes don't allow for this.

"Polymers typically hate particles and will eject them, but interfaces love particles and will trap them," Stebe said. "The density of nanoparticles on the surface of our polymers is through the roof. They are jammed together like sand in a sandcastle."

The researchers imbued their filters with silica nanoparticles, and fashioned them into straw-like tubes. Silica nanoparticles can be modified with a wide range of chemicals with different functionalities, including the antifouling property the researchers tested. They demonstrated both their filtering and antifouling capabilities on water containing gold nanoparticles of various sizes.

"In our experiment, we were able to filter out very small gold nanoparticles, in sizes equivalent to viruses," said Lee. "The tube shape also works well in large-scale implementation of these filter membranes. Because they have large surface-area-to-volume ratios and don't get clogged, we can draw in fluid from the sides and suck it out from the end, allowing for continuous filtration."

"Membranes are typically passive materials that do not adapt their properties when environmental conditions change," said Haase. "An exciting aspect about our membranes is that they can be made to open and close their pores in response to a chemical signal. This unique feature enables the membrane to have controllable permeability, which is useful for the separation of different types of contaminants from water."

Lee is also a co-principal investigator at Penn Engineering's REACT, or Research and Education in Active Coatings Technologies for human habitat. This multidisciplinary program is aimed at improving shelters used in disaster relief, and as such, Lee has interacted with emergency responders and equipment providers, such as ShelterBox.

"When we spoke to people at ShelterBox, they said that more than a tent, what people need is clean water," Lee said. "REACT could potentially make these filters part of a system that does both."

With several ongoing refugee crises around the world and millions still without potable water after hurricane Maria struck Puerto Rico, the importance of this development is not lost on the researchers.

"There are really people right now who need this kind of technology so badly." said Stebe.

###

The research was primarily supported by National Science Foundation grant CBET-1449337 and partially supported through the German Research Foundation under the project number HA 7488/1-1.
SAN ANTONIO -- Women with a history of infertility have a 10 percent increased risk of death compared to those without reported infertility struggles, according to results of a new study from researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. The study, which examined the association between infertility and mortality as well as specific causes of death, also showed that women with a history of infertility have a 20 percent increased risk of cancer-related mortality. The results of the study were presented this week at the annual American Society of Reproductive Medicine Scientific Congress & Expo in San Antonio, Texas.

"While associations between infertility and overall health have been noted in the male population, until now, the relationship between a woman's fertility and her overall health has not been as robustly examined," said lead author Natalie Stentz, MD, a fellow in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. "Though we can't yet explain the association between infertility and mortality, it is possible that the condition may be an early indicator of either endocrine or inflammatory disruption that over time, leads to long term health issues such as malignancy or diabetes."

In the new study, researchers examined data from the 78,214 women enrolled in the National Cancer Institute's Prostate Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian (PLCO) Cancer screening trial. Study participants were enrolled between 1992 and 2001, and were followed 13 years, or until study withdrawal or death. Using data collected in that study, the Penn team examined the effect of self-reported infertility (inability to conceive for one year or greater) on all causes of mortality and primary cause of death.

Infertility was reported in 14.5 percent of the study population. At the completion of follow up, infertile women were 10 percent more likely to be deceased when compared to women who were able to get pregnant more easily, though the authors note that women from each group (fertile and non-fertile) died at a similar age. When examining reproductive cancers, the authors noted that while patients with infertility were 44 percent more likely to die of breast cancer, infertility was not associated with an increased risk of ovarian cancer or death from ovarian or endometrial cancers.

Additionally, individuals with infertility were 70 percent more likely to die from diabetes, despite both groups of women having a comparable prevalence of diabetes.

"The results raise significant questions over the long-term effects of infertility and whether it is infertility itself or an underlying condition that predisposes an individual to infertility that drives these increased risks," Stentz said. However, she adds that because infertility is diagnosed during a woman's reproductive years, typically many years before the end of life, a correlation between fertility and health can be challenging to study on a population level because of the amount of time that is needed to follow these patients. "There is certainly much left to be studied - including how pregnancy and fertility treatments may affect mortality later in life - but our results highlight the fact that a history of infertility is indeed related to a woman's life long health, and opens a potential opportunity for screening and/or preventative management for infertile women for both women's health care providers and the general practitioner."

###

Other Penn authors on the study include Nathan Koelper, Mary Sammel, Kurt Barnhart, and Suneeta Senapati.

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.
Q-Ctrl Pty Ltd, the first spin-off company from the University of Sydney's Quantum Science Group, has been established with the support of Australian and international venture capital.

Professor Michael J. Biercuk is transitioning from quantum physicist to CEO of Q-Ctrl, a start-up that will provide solutions to stabilise quantum technologies. He will jointly hold positions in the company and University.

"We aim to become the trusted provider of quantum control solutions for all quantum technologies," he said.

The Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of Sydney, Dr Michael Spence, said: "This is what our University is all about: investing in people and in fundamental research that can become the real-world solutions for tomorrow."

Q-Ctrl has attracted multimillion dollar investments from both Main Sequence Ventures - the manager of CSIRO's innovation fund - and an international venture capital firm.

"Quantum technology, harnessing the strangest effects in quantum physics as resources, will be as transformational in the 21st century as harnessing electricity was in the 19th," Professor Biercuk said. A recent Morgan Stanley report said the quantum economy was set to double to $10 billion in the next decade.

"Quantum computing in particular promises to totally upend the way we process information, rendering previously uncomputable problems manageable - from the chemistry underpinning pharmaceutical discoveries to major challenges in codebreaking and materials science," he said.

Phil Morle, partner at Main Sequence Ventures, said: "Quantum computing is an unstoppable new industry that Main Sequence Ventures wants to foster. Deep tech founder Michael Biercuk is developing solutions that will accelerate the development of this global industry, and we are proud that the company will be Australian."

Despite the exceptional promise of quantum computing, the underlying hardware is highly susceptible to errors. Quantum bits, or qubits - the fundamental carriers of information in quantum computers - degrade rapidly.

Reducing and controlling qubit errors will be essential for quantum devices to scale up to machines that are useful. That's where Q-Ctrl comes in, developing firmware for quantum computing.

Professor Biercuk said: "Quantum control is a powerful tool to improve the performance of quantum devices, preventing errors even before they accumulate.

"The firmware tools Q-Ctrl is building have had their performance validated in the lab and show orders of magnitude improvement in reducing qubit errors without the need for changing the underlying hardware."

The director of the Australian Institute for Nanoscale Technology and Science at the University of Sydney, Professor Susan Pond, welcomed the launch of Q-Ctrl.

"Fundamental research is a powerful driver of economic prosperity. Our research in quantum physics will shape people's lives for many decades," Professor Pond said.

###

Video: https://cloudstor.aarnet.edu.au/sender/?s=download&token=bcadf83c-ce79-8a23-d142-f6a0630eb2c2

Photographs: https://cloudstor.aarnet.edu.au/sender/?s=download&token=9502ab3b-3204-5ca4-2249-312e1964ef84

Background: Since 2010 Professor Biercuk's research team, the Quantum Control Laboratory at the University of Sydney, has focused on developing new techniques to transform systems that obey the rules of quantum physics from novelties into useful technologies. His team, through the ARC Centre of Excellence for Engineered Quantum Systems, and with support from US funding agencies, has developed a wide variety of techniques in quantum control.

The University of Sydney's Quantum Science Group has strong industry links, including a multimillion dollar partnership with Microsoft to build a topological quantum computer.
SSF-N, RJP-N finalise seats for Province 2

Two Madhes-based partiesSanghiya Samajbadi Forum-Nepal (SSF-N) and Rastriya Janata Party-Nepal (RJP-N)have finalised seats for Province 2 for the upcoming federal and provincial elections, consolidating their alliance in the province with 32 federal constituencies and 64 provincial constituencies.
A nationally known expert on Long-Term Care planning has applauded President Donald J. Trump as he proclaims November 2017 as National Family Caregivers Month. Matt McCann says the issue of caregiving is huge and it makes sense to talk about caregivers during Long-Term Care Awareness Month which is also in November.

"Every day, compassionate Americans devote time, energy, and resources to ensure that family members who are disabled, elderly, chronically ill, or injured can remain in the stability and comfort of familiar surroundings. During National Family Caregivers Month, we honor those whose extraordinary selflessness provides others with independence and comfort," said President Trump.

McCann says the issue of caregiving and Long-Term Care has become an even bigger issue in the past couple of decades as advances in medical science add longevity to our lives. The US Department of Health and Human Services says if you reach the age of 65 you have a 70% chance of needing some type of long-term care service before you pass. The impact on American's savings is tremendous. The impact on family and caregivers is life changing.

"The President and his Administration has outlined healthcare as a major priority. I applaud President Trump in recognizing caregivers and the role they play in providing help for those who are older or chronically ill," McCann said.

McCann said he hopes the Trump Administration will fight for tax benefits including an above-the-line tax deduction for qualified Long-Term Care Insurance policies.

"Helping the American people plan for the financial costs and burdens of aging should be a priority. I know the Trump administration supports Health Savings Accounts which can be used to pay for LTC insurance using pre-tax money. An above-the-line deduction will allow more people to plan in advance, before they retire, so they can safeguard their 401(k) IRA 403(b) and other assets. Plus LTC insurance policies makes it easier on family be reducing the burden placed on them. It also provides the money for quality caregivers in the setting they desire," McCann noted.

"Each November we acknowledge the commitment of exceptional Americans who embody the compassion and spirit of our Nation. We support the life-affirming work of our Nation's caregivers and thank them for the sacrificial devotion that improves the lives and honors the dignity of their loved ones," the President said.

McCann said he will work with the President and Congress to make affordable Long-Term Care insurance even more available by providing the tax incentives which will not only protect the savings of American families but protect the budgets of state and federal government programs like Medicaid so the poor have the benefits they need as well.

He suggests a number of online resources which are valuable for planning and education during Long-Term Care Awareness Month:

US Department of Health and Human Services - https://longtermcare.acl.gov/

LTC News  www.ltcnews.com

Plus his website: www.mccannltc.net
Wednesday, November 1, 2017

Its not easy bringing you all this great member retention insight. Just last month, I spent a week in Northern California meeting with two clients. I was at the beach a full week for the Florida tourism marketing industry. And, at the end of October, I traveled to Mumbai to work with an Agora Global affiliate on subscriber engagement and retention.

Northern California was beautiful. After spending three days in Sacramento working with the team at the California Chamber of Commerce, I moved on to Napa to work with Gene Kelly and his team at the Gun Club of America. The photo for this blog post is the team of the Gun Club of America. Gene Kelly started GCA in 2007 to create a community for people who love guns, know how they work, and enjoy collecting them. We worked together as a team to create a brand-new value proposition, education curriculum, onboarding path, and lead magnet, and we revitalized the new member offer.

The weather was beautiful while I was in Northern California. This was just a couple of weeks before the fires. While I was there it was wonderful, which allowed me to start each day with a run.

Im sure this training is what contributed to a successful triathlon on October 6, the Sprint on the Flint. I finished a sprint triathlon, which included a 400-meter swim, a 10-mile bike ride, and a 3.1-mile run, within an hour and 5 minutes and 16 seconds. This was a full 6 1/2 minutes less than the same triathlon last year. It was a huge improvement in every phase of the event. And, I hit the podium, finishing third in my age group. My wife finished first in her age group.

In all my work this month, I kept coming back to the same three lessons.

First, its all about your customer. Have you done the hard work of identifying your best target customer? No really, write it out, document it, and share it with your team. Do you know their chief frustrations, mistakes they make they dont know they are making, and how they really feel about the problems they face in their lives? This is the most important first step. Its where we discover some of the biggest breakthroughs in my client work.

Secondly, what is the transformation your members experience when they go from their problem-riddled lives to their wonderful lives after becoming your member? How does your subscription membership solve problems? How does your member feel after these problems are solved? This is what you use to generate more new members in a month than you currently get all year.

And finally, what are your community values? What must your members believe to implement what you teach? This is the biggest shortcut to creating content on an ongoing basis and building a vibrant tribal community. If youve ever been frustrated because you have to start over creating content for yet one more month, you havent clarified your tribal values. This is a huge shortcut to creating content that your members want and will keep your membership to receive.

I cant wait until December. Ill be winding down with clients, planning for the new year. If youd like to be included on my list of 2018 subscription membership growth success stories, youd better call now. Dates are almost gone, but Ill do everything to fit you into December or early January that I can. I hate poor membership growth and desperately want to see you succeed.
Upper Tamakoshi likely to come online in July

The Upper Tamakoshi Hydropower Project is expected to start production by the end of the fiscal year in July, and put Nepal one step closer to ending the perennial power crisis and achieving its goal to become a net exporter of electricity.
Were good to go! Join us at Brighton Foodies Festival 2022 for our biggest celebration yet of top chefs, tasty food, delicious drinks and live music.



Watch MasterChef Champions, Michelin star and top local chefs cooking their signature summer recipes in The Chefs Theatre and giving you top tips.



Learn how to make show stopping cakes in The Cake & Bake Theatre at the festivals with expert bakers.



Sample new wines, champagnes and cocktails in The Drinks Theatre, eat delicious street food from around the world, taste new flavours, meet artisan producers, have fun all day with chilli eating competitions and food challenges! Kids join in the fun at The Kids Cookery Theatre.



Just to reassure you that we are monitoring the coronavirus outbreak closely, taking guidance from the UK government, and that the health and safety of exhibitors, visitors and staff is our top priority. We look forward to welcoming you this Summer and enjoying a fun filled weekend.

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As Bonfire Night approaches, farmers have urged councils across England and Wales to introduce a total ban on sky lanterns to avoid fires, harm to animals and littering.

Over 60 local authorities have already introduced bans across the UK.

A petition has been created to introduce an outright ban, which has totaled nearly 38,000 signatories and has a deadline of March 2018.

It states that sky lanterns litter the environment, causing death to wildlife and livestock, and can cause uncontrollable fires that destroy life and property.

Farmers have urged more councils to ban the lanterns, which are frequently set off during winter around Bonfire Night, Christmas and the New Year.

'Gruesome injuries'

NFU Deputy President Minette Batters said the farming union has heard from farmers about the "devastating damage" sky lanterns have caused to buildings and fields on their.

She said farmers have told of "gruesome injuries" they can cause to livestock and other animals.

Simply put, all of these lanterns must land somewhere and while they may look pretty in the sky, they also become unnecessary litter across our beautiful countryside, Ms Batters explained.

We have already seen numerous councils ban sky lanterns, who have rightly recognised the danger they pose, and I would encourage the remaining local authorities to follow the good examples set across the country.

The NFU would like to see a total ban of sky lanterns across England and Wales to safeguard property and animals.

An outright ban on their use across Wales remains the primary objective for RSPCA Cymru.

However, they have welcomed considerable progress in recent years, with 17 of Wales 22 Local Authorities having implemented local bans on their release on the land which they control.

Below is a list of local authorities and councils across England and Wales which have implemented a ban.

North East

Kirklees Borough Council

South Tyneside Borough Council

East Midlands

Lincoln City Council

West Midlands

Worcester City Council

Staffordshire County Council

Staffordshire Moorlands District Council

Warwickshire County Council

South West

Plymouth City Council

Mid Devon District Council

Cornwall Council

South Hams District Council

Swindon Borough Council

West Dorset District Council

South East

Redbridge

Reigate & Banstead Borough Council

Canterbury City Council

Hampshire County Council

Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council

Winchester City Council

Wandsworth

Windsor and Maidenhead Borough Council

Portsmouth City Council

Vale of White Horse District Council

Chesham Town Council

Isle of Wight Council

North West

Bolton Borough Council

Oldham Borough Council

Stockport Borough Council

Tameside Borough Council

Trafford Borough Council

Cheshire East Council

Cheshire West and Chester Council

Carlisle City Council

Lancaster City Council

East Anglia

Great Yarmouth Borough Council

Maldon District Council

Ipswich Borough Council

Kings Lynn & West Norfolk Borough Council

Suffolk Coastal District Council

Thanet District Council

Rochford District Council

Essex County Council

Norfolk County Council

Suffolk County Council

Braintree District Council

Colchester Borough Council

Broadland District Council

Waveney District Council

Wales

Cardiff

Blaenau Gwent

Carmarthenshire

Bridgend

Caerphilly

Ceredigion

Conwy

Denbighshire

Gwynedd

Monmouthshire

Neath Port Talbot

Newport

Pembrokeshire

Powys

Rhondda

Torfaen

Vale of Glamorgan
Trade Secretary Liam Fox has said there are "no health reasons" why British consumers could not eat chlorinated poultry.

Speaking at the Commons International Trade Committee on Wednesday morning (1 November), Mr Fox said he had no objection to it being sold to the British public.

He added that his department will be ready for the UK legally leaving the EU at the end of March 2019.

He said: I am very keen that we get a Brexit deal with the EU, but Im not afraid of not getting one, we need to work within those parameters.

Our first priority is to get a good trade deal with the EU, then we can look beyond Europe.

During the meeting he also revealed that he has plans for future trade agreements with South Korea, Switzerland, the US, Australia and New Zealand.

Cheaper food imports

However, of biggest concern to the farming industry was the reopening of the row over post-Brexit food standards, mainly to do with a possible trade deal with the US which could allow lower-standard chlorinated chicken to be imported into the UK.

Speaking about a possible trade deal with the US, Mr Fox said: There are no health reasons why you shouldnt eat chickens that have been washed in chlorinated water.

He added that most salads in our supermarkets are washed in chlorinated water already.

In the US, the government permits such practices as chlorinated chicken, which consists of dipping meat into chlorinated water to prevent microbial contamination.

Indeed, a report has warned of the potential increase in cheaper, lower standard food imports to the UK which could put British farmers at a competitive disadvantage.

Public backlash

There was a public backlash at a US trade deal over the summer when it was revealed chlorinated chicken could be sold on UK shelves.

However, Mr Fox said he had no objections to UK public being sold something that is safe as long as they know what they are eating.

His comments appear to contradict Defra Secretary Michael Gove, who vowed that the UK would back out of any trade deal with the US that lowered food standards for consumers.

He also said: Were keen for a trade deal with the US, but wouldnt accept a bad deal if offered one.
A Northern Irish dairy farmer has been fined for an incident in which a teenager was overcome by fumes pumping slurry at a farm.

The 14-year-old boy, who worked on the farm during summer experience, had to be put in an induced coma, a court has heard.

Co Omagh dairy farmer Charles Elkin was fined 1,000 for breaching health and safety regulations.

The judge said farmers must realise that past ways of operating on the farm, once thought safe enough are not safe enough.

Judge Neil Rafferty QC told Dungannon Crown Court that the "message really has to go out to the farming community the time has come where we need to be aware that farming is a dangerous industry and that care has to be taken to prevent future generations making our mistakes".

Judge Rafferty said Mr Elkins left his son in charge of the slurry stirring along with the 14-year-old boy, who did not know or was aware of the dangers.

On top of the fine, Mr Elkin was ordered to pay costs of just under 1,400.

Dangers of slurry mixing

Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI) inspector Anne Cassidy said the dangers of slurry are well-known.

"Far too many fatal incidents have occurred over recent years involving slurry mixing," she said.

"Following the slurry mixing code can prevent accidents and save lives. Once mixing starts everyone should get out and stay out for at least 30 minutes.

"The farmer failed to follow the accepted advice, placing a young and inexperienced employee at significant risk from exposure to the potentially deadly gas produced during mixing. This incident was easily preventable."
A man has been shot in the back on a farm in Scotland, with police now believing the motive was attempted murder.

The 41-year-old man was working on a car within a farmyard at Crosslee Farm, Bridge of Weir, Renfrewshire when he was shot from behind at about 2:30pm on Tuesday (31 October).

The police called the shooting, which struck the man's back, a "targeted" attempted murder. Detectives are appealing for information.

He was taken to the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley, where medical staff describe his condition as stable.

Police said inquiries carried out so far had revealed a dark green, saloon-type car with three or four men inside was seen in the area at the time.

Det Ch Insp Fil Capaldi said: "The motive for this attack is not clear, however we do believe the victim was the intended target.

"While the farm is in a rural location, there were several people visiting the farm for various reasons throughout the morning and afternoon and I am appealing to anyone who was there and who may have seen the car or has any information that could assist our inquiries to get in touch."

Anyone with any information has been urged asked to contact police in Paisley, quoting incident number 1793 of October 31 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Six farmers are being sought after to join the Monitor Farm network across the UK, to help share performance information and best practice in the industry.

AHDB Monitor Farms bring together groups of farmers who want to improve their businesses by sharing performance information and best practice around a nationwide network of more than 30 host farms.

Monitor Farms are part of AHDBs wider Farm Excellence Platform, which works with the industry to improve performance through knowledge exchange and benchmarking.

Each Monitor Farm project is hosted by a farm that is representative of other farms in the area.

AHDB organises and facilitates Monitor Farm meetings for farmers, who own and operate the scheme  by farmers, for farmers.

Tom Bradshaw, former AHDB Monitor Farm Host in Colchester, said at the recent Grain Market Outlook Conference: One of the real highlights of the Monitor Farm programme for me is sharing information. Neighbours get together  they are not competitors any more but working together to solve challenges.

'Open-minded farmers'

New for this year, AHDB will be recruiting one of the six new Monitor Farms in Northern Ireland.

Tim Isaac, AHDB Cereals & Oilseeds Head of Knowledge Exchange, said: As we build on the success of the programme by extending its coverage at this crucial time, we are keen to reach out to growers across all parts of the UK, now including Northern Ireland.

Judith Stafford, AHDB Knowledge Exchange Manager for Northern England and Northern Ireland, said farmers who are "open-minded" looking to further their business are well-suited to being a monitor farmer.

We find that the more the host and the rest of the group are willing to put into the project, the more everybody benefits, she said.

The Monitor Farm and visiting farmers will also be able to learn from independent, non-commercial experts discussing subjects that are of local relevance and which have been identified as priorities by the farmer group.

Interviews will be held in January and February 2018, with the successful farm being announced in March 2018.

AHDB currently runs 14 arable-focused Monitor Farm in England, and three in Scotland under a joint scheme with Quality Meat Scotland (QMS). Six more farms will be joining the programme next spring.
World dairy leaders have issued a call for the industry to remain united and embrace the challenge of securing consumer confidence amid a period of anti-dairy activism.

Speaking at the International Dairy Federation World Dairy Summit in Belfast, industry leaders from the UK, China, Japan and Australia underlined the importance of communicating effectively with consumers.

Increasingly, Brits are looking for reassurance on the integrity and quality of dairy foods.

It follows news that anti-dairy activism is on the rise in the UK, which led farmers to promote a campaign calling out the benefits of dairy.

Paul Vernon, chief executive of Glanbia Cheese and chairman of Dairy UK, the UK industry trade association, said the world and the dairy sector has "changed massively" over the past 30 years and the way the industry communicates with consumers has changed too.

"Dairy is a superfood and we need to ensure that message is heard loud and clear by consumers who are under a constant barrage of misleading and ill-informed messages about dairy," he said.

'Myths and scare stories'

Tomas Pietrangeli, managing director of Arla UK the world needs more nutritious food, and dairy should be a critical part of the solution.

"However, the myths and scare stories that are being presented about dairy does give the industry a potential crisis and in the UK and Europe we could be facing an existential threat from anti-dairy campaigning," he said.

"We have a bright future, we have the ammunition and we need to play to our strengths. Changing the visual image of milk and focusing on young women is essential in establishing the message that one of the greatest sources of foods is still relevant and part of modern day life.

"It's time to get behind the goodness and time to debunk the anti-dairy myths and unsubstantiated claims."

'Intolerant to milk'

The comments follow news that nearly half of young people say they are intolerant to milk, according to a report published by the Food Standards Agency (FSA).

In its latest Food and You survey, which it conducts every two years, the FSA found that 46 per cent of people aged between 16 and 24 reported having an adverse reaction to cows' milk.

This compared with just eight per cent of people over the age of 75 who said they had a problem with milk.

However, Dr Judith Bryans, president of the International Dairy Federation, said the message from across the global sector is "clear" - that the industry must be committed to highlighting the nutritional benefits of dairy and confronting myths that are peddled by the anti-dairy lobby.

"It is a major challenge but one that dairy can rise to," she said.
UK-Australia trade deal 'gave away far too much', Eustice admits
Kill Bill

The new still features Katrina in a action scene dangerously staring and pointing a gun towards her opponent.

Paanch Ka Punch

This Salman Khan- Katrina Kaif starrer has been shot in five different countries across the world to capture a gripping, explosive and entertaining story. An espionage drama, the film's protagonists - Tiger and Zoya - travel to five different countries, fighting against the odds to fulfill their life-threatening mission.

A dramatic journey of 2 intelligence agents, the film is huge in scale and the director Ali Abbas Zafar wanted the expanse of the movie to come out through Tiger's adventures across Austria, Greece, Morocco, Abu Dhabi and India.

Ready For Some Swag?

The lead pair recently shot for a song titled 'Swag Se Karenge Sabka Swagat' at the picturesque Naxos Island in Greece.

Top Gun

'Tiger' Salman Khan will be seen pulling off some insane stunts and wielding some of the heaviest weapons to tear down his nemesis. MG 42, a massive machine gun is the weapon of choice for him to fight his gritty battles.

Spy Training For Katrina

The actress plays an elite intelligence agent, tackling hand-to-hand combats and adapting to a different set of mannerisms for her character. Director Ali Abbas Zafar revealed how she got into the skin of her character.

It's All About Hard Work

He was quoted as saying, "In this film, Zoya plays a super spy. It was essential to understand how such agents think and operate. So, we got Katrina to train with real agents, used their expertise and experience."

"For instance, as intelligence agents, you have to train a certain way to keep your mental balance in direst situations. Say you face someone who has a gun and you don't. How do you still stay neutral and calm, and figure out the best possible way to counter and survive in such a situation. Katrina has really pushed herself for the part. She has also gone the extra mile to train in important nuances like aggressive hand-to-hand combat. The action that Katrina has done looks very real onscreen, despite being mounted on a grand scale," he added.
Wataniya Airways to enter Nepal in November

Wataniya Airways of Kuwait has been granted permission to operate flights to Nepal. It will be the first airline from Kuwait to serve Kathmandu when it begins flights by November. Wataniya will be operating a daily service.
Yojee Limitedhas entered into an agreement with Scharff, a FedEx Global Service Provider in Peru and Bolivia.The agreement will see Scharff implement Yojees AI and blockchain based logistics software as a service platform across four business units in two countries.Yojee was selected after a global search by Scharff, with the size and scope of the rollout expanding once the tender was awarded and the full extent of Yojees capabilities was made evident.The deal is a major milestone for the company, as it looks to expand its presence in the South American market.Shares in Yojee Limitedare trading 14.29 per cent higher at $0.20.
What happened

Shares of steelmaking giant United States Steel Corporation (X 0.08%) erupted for nearly 16% gains soon after the market opened today, in response to the company's third-quarter 2017 earnings report, which crushed Wall Street expectations. Adjusted EPS for the most recent three-month period came in at $0.92, which was $0.21 higher than the average analyst estimate compiled by Yahoo! Finance. It was $0.11 higher than even the most bullish analyst's expectation.

United States Steel Corporation also reported a 21% jump in revenue compared to the year-ago period, topping the average analyst estimate by $188 million. The news was enough to lift shares as they continue a relatively steady climb that began in May. Even so, recent stock prices still haven't surpassed the high-water mark set in February. (Shares fell sharply following a disastrous company update at the end of April.)

As of 12:34 p.m. EDT, the stock had settled to a 7.6% gain.

So what

Executives remained humble despite walloping Wall Street, saying the company's performance during the quarter was a little better than they expected, and simply added that the performance increased their confidence in the company's ability to hit 2020 targets for operational excellence. The third-quarter 2017 earnings rout could also be a sign that United States Steel Corporation can beat Wall Street expectations for full-year 2017 earnings. The company now expects adjusted earnings per share of $1.70 this year, which is ahead of the analyst average of $1.65.

The good news wasn't just contained to the income statement. The steel giant reported $299 million in operating cash flow for the quarter, thus more than doubling its year-to-date total, and ended September with $1.7 billion in cash on the balance sheet. If the return to profitability proves sustainable, and higher selling prices continue to hold for the foreseeable future, then Wall Street may be forced to revalue the $4.8 billion company.

Now what

The company is finally seeing the benefits of past cost-saving and efficiency efforts. Management is doing a pretty good job at influencing the factors within its control, and a recent surge in selling prices for various steel products has certainly helped provide a boost. Still, 2020 is a long way away. It will be interesting to see how Wall Street analysts adjust their view of the company in the next few weeks, especially concerning 2018 expectations. Today, investors can enjoy the fact that United States Steel Corporation is on track to meet its long-term goals.
What happened

Shares of B&G Foods Inc. (BGS 4.59%) were up 10.9% as of 11:50 a.m. EDT Wednesday after the company announced strong third-quarter 2017 results.

More specifically, B&G Foods' quarterly revenue climbed 28.3% year over year to $408.4 million, which translated to a 0.1% decline in adjusted net income to $36.8 million. Adjusted net income per diluted share fell 1.8% to $0.55.

Analysts, on average, were expecting lower adjusted net income of $0.47 per share on revenue of $390.9 million.

So what

B&G's top-line growth was primarily driven by the acquisitions of its spices & seasonings business and the Victoria brand in late 2016. Excluding those acquisitions -- both of which are tracking ahead of the company's original projections for sales -- B&G's base business net sales still climbed 3.2% year over year to $328.3 million, in spite of what CEO Robert Cantwell described as a "challenging backdrop in the packaged foods industry."

Cantwell elaborated that Green Giant frozen products delivered double-digit percent growth for the second straight quarter, while Pirate Brands products rebounded nicely with 21% net sales growth. B&G also enjoyed relative strength from smaller brands including Polaner, Underwood, Cream of Wheat, and New York Style.

Now what

Looking forward, B&G also increased its full-year 2017 guidance to call for revenue of $1.660 billion to $1.685 billion (up from $1.64 billion to $1.67 billion) partly thanks to $17.5 million in expected net sales from its more recent acquisition of Back to Nature. B&G reiterated its outlook for 2017 adjusted EBITDA as in the range of $352.5 million to $367.5 million, and for adjusted earnings per share of $2.03 to $2.17.

All things considered, B&G Foods' results weren't exactly jaw-dropping. But it was a strong quarter highlighted not only by modest organic gains, but also the validation of the company's pursuit of acquisitive growth.
Watch what you click

A recent spate of cyber attacks on government websites have revealed large loopholes and cyber vulnerabilities of central agencies that hold information of national importance.
Comments by Defra secretary Michael Gove that farmers drench their soils with chemicals are a mistruth and wholly unhelpful, the NFU has warned.

It comes after Mr Gove said intensive agriculture meant the UK was 30-40 years away from the eradication of soil fertility.

He made the comments at the parliamentary launch of the Sustainable Soils Alliance last Monday (23 October).

See also: Gove pledges action to protect soils

Mr Gove said: If you have heavy machines churning the soil and impacting it, if you drench it in chemicals that improve yields but in the long term undercut the future fertility of that soil, you can increase yields year on year, but ultimately you really are cutting the ground away from beneath your own feet. Farmers know that.

However, NFU deputy president Minette Batters said no farmer wanted to see the deterioration or depletion of their soil.

Defras own data showed producers were using fewer chemicals, she added.

Ms Batters said: Thats why farmers across the country were deeply disappointed to hear Mr Goves recent comments about soils and soil fertility.

Many farmers, like me, just do not recognise his views that farmers have drenched soils in chemicals.

Farmers were using 31% less nitrogen fertiliser, 55% less phosphate fertiliser and 50% less active ingredient in pesticides than they were in 1990, said Ms Batters.

It was disappointing Mr Gove failed to recognise the work farmers were doing to conserve and enhance soils.

The Sustainable Soils Alliance said Defra estimates suggested 2.9m tonnes of topsoil were lost each year in the UK alone.

The alliance said it wanted to help reverse land degradation and restore soils to health within one generation.
A new retrofit option has allowed Mzuri to add precision seeding to its repertoire. The manufacturer reveals the thinking behind the kit and a West Sussex grower describes the results of a trial.

British manufacturer Mzuri has developed a conversion kit that turns its Pro-Til strip-till cereal drill into a precision planter suitable for establishing crops such as grain and forage maize.

It was a severe drought in eastern Europe  a market where the firm has a growing presence  that provided founder and Worcestershire farmer Martin Lole with the inspiration to branch into precision seeding.

With some growers in the region relying on a plough-based cultivation system to prepare a seed-bed on fragile soils, moisture can soon be lost if the weather turns hot and dry during the spring.

Where growers had been using this conventional method, vast areas of the corn crop failed as seed struggled to germinate or seedlings died of thirst in the extremely dry conditions.

In a growing trend, some Ukrainian Mzuri Pro-Til owners had been lifting alternate coulters out of work to achieve the wide row spacing required for maize growing and using the strip-till machine to plant their crops.

See also: Contractors view  Samco 7100 maize drill

Surviving drought

As the same drought took hold, seed drilled straight into stubble using strip-till survived and grew away, providing growers with a crop to harvest in what was an extremely testing summer.

Mr Lole says this was down to improved moisture conservation using a strip-till system, where leading tines cultivate in a narrow band ahead of the seed coulter to the rear, leaving the vast proportion of the soils surface untouched.

However, the same growers were using conventional seed metering on a standard Pro-Til, compromising yield from sub-optimal seed placement  a critical component in bumper maize crops.

You can get good yields with maize using conventional metering, but you cant get the grain numbers and size. Ideally, you need about 10cm spacing between the seed for two large, even cobs with seed right to the tip.

Thats prompted us to go into precision seeding, as there is a big demand for it in eastern Europe where they grow a lot of wide row, precision-drilled crops such as maize, sunflower and soya, says Mr Lole.

Bolt-on kit

Developed over the past three years, Mzuris maize conversion kit effectively turns its Pro-Til Select machine into a precision planter to deliver accurate seed placement required for maize crops.

After undoing a couple of bolts, the existing shoe coulter can be removed and replaced by an electronic precision seeding unit and coulter assembly that offers single seed placement. The whole job takes a couple of hours.

In addition, rather than having individual seed hoppers on each metering unit like many maize drills, each unit has a mini hopper connected via flexihose to the seed distribution head.

These are fed from the main bulk tank via the standard hydraulic metering unit used for drilling other crops.

Mr Lole wouldnt be drawn on technical details because he is currently applying for a patent, but says Mzuri has engineered a mechanism that keeps the mini hopper topped up from the bulk tank for less frequent filling.

The only other modification on the drill to accommodate the conversion is an extra electronic motor module that controls the precision units, which runs through the standard Mzuri in-cab computer.

UK demand

While the company sees the greatest demand for its conversion kits in eastern European markets, Mr Lole believes there will be plenty of interest at home too.

The UK maize area has been creeping up for many years and this upsurge has accelerated more recently as anaerobic digester (AD) plants for power generation pop up all over the country.

With a spotlight on the potential impact of more intense maize cultivation on soils, growers are looking at alternatives to plough-based establishment methods to reduce issues such as erosion and run-off in the wetter UK climate.

In addition, having one drill for planting both conventional arable crops and maize can cut capital investment and a one-pass system will reduce establishment costs and improve soil structure and health.

The conversion kit will be launched this year and Mzuri users can expect to pay in the region of 2,000 per unit, with overall cost dependant on the width of the machine.
EU Statement on opening of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway - GeorgianJournal
The grand opening of H&M on November 18 in Tbilisi - GeorgianJournal
Reliance Communication completes merger with SSTL News oi -Priyanka RCOM acquired the telecommunications business of SSTL including its licenses.

Debt-laden Reliance Communications has completed a merger of Sistema Shyam Teleservices Ltd's (SSTL) telecom business with itself.

RCom also said that the Board also approved the issuance of shares to the tune of 10 percent of the equity shareholding of Reliance Communications Limited, to SSTL, as part of the agreement between the two companies.

RCOM acquired the telecommunications business of SSTL including its licenses. In addition, the former will get 30 MHz of the most valuable and superior 800 / 850 MHz band spectrum, ideally suited for 4G LTE services and other evolving technologies, to complement its own unique nationwide footprint.

This will result in the extension of the validity of RCOM's spectrum portfolio in the 800 / 850 MHz band in eight important Circles (Delhi, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, Kolkata, UP-West and West Bengal) by a period of 12 years-from 2021 to 2033.

As a result of the demerger, SSTL will receive a 10 percent equity stake in the fully diluted equity share capital of RCom. In addition, the Anil Ambani-led telco will assume the liability to pay the DoT, installments for SSTL's spectrum, amounting to Rs 390 crore per annum for the next 8 years.

The company has come up with the new strategy for its debt. The company has made comprehensive debt resolution plan to its domestic and foreign lenders.

Under this plan, the company will pay off up to Rs. 17,000 crore of its debt, out of the proceeds of monetization of Spectrum, Towers, and Fiber and MCN (Media Convergence Nodes) assets. RCom will pay additional Rs. 10,000 Crore of its debt, out of the proceeds of sales and commercial development of DAKC and other prime real estate assets across 8-metros.

The new RCom will have sustainable and profitable B2B - nonmobile business portfolio comprises.

The new RCom will have the sustainable and conservative level of debt of only Rs 6,000 crore. Cost of debt will be lower due to an ability to raise debt funds overseas at low cost. "RCom is under a standstill period (for interest and principal repayments) until December 2018 and expects to complete the SDR process as per applicable RBI guidelines," it said.

Best Mobiles in India

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Vodafone announces new brand positioning News oi -Priyanka The new visual identity will place greater emphasis on Vodafones iconic 'speech mark' logo - the biggest change to one of the most recognized symbols of Vodafone since the hallmark logo.

India's second largest telecom operator Vodafone has announced its new brand positioning and visual identity in India using the new tagline, "The Future is exciting. Ready" as part of its global rebranding exercise across 36 countries.

"India is entering a new exciting era - an era of Digital, Convergence, Big Data, IoT, Cloud, Augmented Realities, Robotics and Artificial Intelligence. The real and virtual worlds are converging at an unprecedented pace to create a bold new Future," said Sunil Sood, Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer, Vodafone India.

He said "Our new brand positioning emphasizes Vodafone's mission and purpose to help customers and communities adapt, navigate and prosper from the remarkable new trends reshaping the world. At Vodafone, we are excited about the possibilities ahead and are ready to enable our customers to conquer this new world."

Reliance Communication completes merger with SSTL

Vodafone says that the new brand positioning is designed to underline Vodafone's belief in new technologies and digital services playing a positive role in transforming society and enhancing individual quality of life in the years ahead.

The new visual identity will place greater emphasis on Vodafone's iconic 'speech mark' logo - the biggest change to one of the most recognized symbols of Vodafone since the hallmark logo was created in 1998.

The 'speech mark' will now appear as the central graphical focus overlaid on all marketing and marketing communications collateral. The logo will also appear in a new 2D design in place of a skeuomorphic 3D approach.

Following a dramatic rise in digital literacy and adoption in India - a trend that's being reflected across demographics and geography, Vodafone's new brand positioning is a visual and intrinsic representation of its 'Readiness' to equip and empower customers to stay connected with their world, the company added.

Best Mobiles in India

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Lebanese security forces dismantle espionage cell working for Mossad

Iran Press TV

Tue Oct 31, 2017 04:35PM

Lebanese security forces have busted an espionage cell in the country, whose members were collecting sensitive information and passing it to the Israeli spy agency Mossad.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with Lebanon-based Arabic-language al-Mayadeen television news network, General Director of the General Security Directorate Major General Abbas Ibrahim stated that the cell, run by a Syrian national identified as Paul George Khoury, was dismantled last July.

Ibrahim added that Khoury traveled to Belgium in 2011, where he met with a group of people affiliated to Mossad.

Khoury came to Lebanon in 2014, Ibrahim explained, and sought to establish a charity group as a cover to recruit agents for the Israeli spy agency.

Mossad then tasked Khoury with recruiting agents, inspecting Lebanese military and security sites, arranging meetings with people who had a predisposition to collaborate with the Tel Aviv regime, and promoting Zionism.

Lebanese General Directorate of State Security announced in a statement on October 7 that security forces had arrested three people on charges of collaborating with Mossad.

The statement added that the trio had been active in Bourj el-Barajneh area in the southern suburbs of Beirut, as well as in Aley district in the southeast of the capital.

The three Lebanese nationals were arrested in Bourj el-Barajneh, Hadath el Jebbeh town and Dayr Qoubel area.

On August 13, fighters from the Lebanese Hezbollah resistance movement found an Israeli spying device on the outskirts of Barouk village in the Chouf district of Mount Lebanon, located 52 kilometers southeast of Beirut.

The Israeli military then remotely detonated the spy device to prevent the de-codification and interpretation of its recorded data.

However, Hezbollah fighters could recover some parts of the exploded device, including its transmission receiver base and batteries.

The Lebanese army soldiers and Hezbollah fighters have on occasions dismantled Israeli surveillance devices planted near the country's border regions with the occupied territories.

Israel has continued to use offensive tactics aimed at creating chaos in Lebanon. It has planted devices not just on Hezbollah's civil telecommunication networks, but also on its military ones.



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Strikes Continue in Effort to Defeat ISIS in Syria, Iraq

From a Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve News Release

SOUTHWEST ASIA, Oct. 31, 2017  U.S. and coalition military forces continued to attack the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria yesterday, conducting eight strikes consisting of 14 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

Coalition military forces conducted four strikes consisting of four engagements against ISIS targets in Syria:

-- Near Abu Kamal, two strikes engaged two ISIS tactical units, destroying a vehicle and an ISIS headquarters.

-- Near Dayr Az Zawr, two strikes engaged two ISIS tactical units.

Strikes in Iraq

Coalition military forces conducted four strikes consisting of 10 engagements against ISIS targets near Qaim, Iraq. The strikes engaged two ISIS tactical units and destroyed an ISIS vehicle, a staging site and a mortar firing position and damaged 13 ISIS supply routes.

Previous Strikes

Officials also provided details today on two Oct. 29 strikes consisting of four engagements in Syria for which the information was not previously available:

-- Near Abu Kamal, a strike engaged an ISIS tactical unit and damaged an ISIS headquarters.

-- Near Dayr Az Zawr, a strike engaged an ISIS tactical unit.

Part of Operation Inherent Resolve

These strikes were conducted as part of Operation Inherent Resolve, the operation to destroy ISIS in Iraq and Syria. The destruction of ISIS targets in Iraq and Syria also further limits the group's ability to project terror and conduct external operations throughout the region and the rest of the world, task force officials said.

The list above contains all strikes conducted by fighter, attack, bomber, rotary-wing or remotely piloted aircraft; rocket-propelled artillery; and some ground-based tactical artillery when fired on planned targets, officials noted.

Ground-based artillery fired in counterfire or in fire support to maneuver roles is not classified as a strike, they added. A strike, as defined by the coalition, refers to one or more kinetic engagements that occur in roughly the same geographic location to produce a single or cumulative effect.

For example, task force officials explained, a single aircraft delivering a single weapon against a lone ISIS vehicle is one strike, but so is multiple aircraft delivering dozens of weapons against a group of ISIS-held buildings and weapon systems in a compound, having the cumulative effect of making that facility harder or impossible to use. Strike assessments are based on initial reports and may be refined, officials said.

The task force does not report the number or type of aircraft employed in a strike, the number of munitions dropped in each strike, or the number of individual munition impact points against a target.

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Dawn Blitz 2017 Sets Standard for Amphibious Capabilities

By Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Jason Graham, Expeditionary Strike Group 3

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif., Oct. 31, 2017  Dawn Blitz, an exercise designed to train and integrate Navy and Marine Corps units in planning for and establishing expeditionary advanced bases, executing an amphibious assault, engaging in live-fire events and integrating fifth-generation aviation capabilities in a land and maritime threat environment to test new integration and concepts of operation concluded here yesterday.

This year's exercise culminated a year's worth of effort by the 1st Marine Expeditionary Brigade and Expeditionary Strike Group 3 staffs. In addition to the 1st MEB and ESG 3, participants included U.S. 3rd Fleet, the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, Destroyer Squadron 21, the amphibious assault ship USS Essex, the amphibious transport dock USS Anchorage, the dock landing ship USS Rushmore, the guided missile destroyer USS Wayne E. Meyer and Coastal Riverine Group 1. With supporting elements, seven ships and 33 aircraft made the exercise possible, officials said.

A key focus was integration between the Navy and Marine Corps to establish a powerful maritime force capable of meeting modern threats, exercise officials said, adding that the team examined the composite warfare construct and other command-and-control arrangements to promote unity of effort in littoral warfare.

Power Projection on Tomorrow's Battlefield

"The amphibious force integration we've seen here at Dawn Blitz and the experimentation and innovation that's been conducted, further informs how we might establish sea control and power projection on tomorrow's battlefield," said Marine Corps Col. Chandler Nelms, the Dawn Blitz amphibious force's deputy commander, land warfare commander and also commanding officer of 13th MEU.

In this year's scenario, Dawn Blitz began when the United Nations issued a Security Council resolution prompting the United States to deploy at the request of a partner nation alongside other coalition members to restore the internationally recognized borders of a fictional country. The scenario's sequence of events was designed to provide realistic, relevant training to integrate forces in new ways, critical to maritime power projection, officials said.

As the exercise progressed, units demonstrated the ability to establish expeditionary advanced bases here and on San Clemente Island through tactical insertion of ground forces. The scalable EABs provided warfare commanders alternative options that enabled maneuver capabilities in the littoral environment, officials explained.

Marines and sailors established two EAB forward arming and refueling points, or FARPs. In one scenario, the FARP serviced both Navy and Marine Corps aircraft. In the other, the FARP provided the commanders with a secure location to service aircraft supporting operations in the deep fight.

Navy Expeditionary Combat Command Pacific forces from the Coastal Riverine Force, Seabees and explosive ordnance disposal participated on San Clemente Island to augment EAB operations as an adaptive-force package. The NECC forces conducted events in support of live airfield damage repair, expeditionary mine countermeasures and the amphibious assault landing.

High Mobility Artillery Rocket System

For the first time, the blue-green team validated that they could launch a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System from a Navy ship and hit a target 70 kilometers -- about 43 and a half miles -- away. Exercise officials said the proof of concept with the HIMARS as a sea-based fires alternative afloat provides warfare commanders greater flexibility when conducting precision strikes.

To further capitalize on the HIMARS capabilities, Marines and sailors transported the weapons system to an EAB in a hypothetical island chain. There, the HIMARS could be used in a sea-denial role in support of naval shipping transiting a narrow strait.

The simulated strait transit allowed the strike group to practice using integrated force-protection measures and maneuvering together though restricted waters where ships can be vulnerable.

Throughout Dawn Blitz, the F-35B Lightning II joint strike fighter supported operations across four of the six functions of Marine aviation: electronic warfare, aerial reconnaissance, anti-air warfare, and offensive air support. The F-35B was the force's deep strike capability, and, for the first time, it successfully integrated with the sea-based HIMARS during the combined-arms strike.

Navy Medicine also achieved milestones by establishing Role 2 surgical capabilities across the amphibious force. Historically, only the largest ship in an amphibious ready group has an embarked fleet surgical team, making it the only ship with surgical capability.

Rising Demand

"The demand signal for mobile Role 2 care has risen over the past decade, both from the missions that are requested of the deploying [amphibious ready group], and also by the nature of ARG deployments, which are increasingly disaggregated in which the ships operate far from each other and therefore can't rely on the [landing helicopter dock] for surgical support," Navy Cmdr. Robert Staten, officer in charge of Fleet Surgical Team 9, explained.

The addition of Role 2 coverage on each of the two smaller ships provided an innovative capability along with the opportunity to experiment bringing that echelon of care ashore following an amphibious assault, he added.

The culminating training event of Dawn Blitz occurred Oct. 27, when U.S. Navy's Assault Craft Unit 5, Beach Master Unit 1, U.S. Marine Corps' 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, and Japan Ground Self-Defense Force infantry soldiers led an assault on Camp Pendleton's Red Beach. Eighteen amphibious assault vehicles and six air-cushioned landing craft landed on the beach for additional training ashore, and to establish the final EAB.

"Our sailors and embarked Marines displayed exceptional professionalism and warfighting readiness in the execution of the amphibious assault," said Navy Capt. Patrick Foege, commander of Amphibious Squadron 1. "The ARG/MEU performed as a cohesive, single entity, demonstrating the inherent mobility and operational flexibility that this integrated naval force brings to the combatant commanders."

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Will demolish Bagh Durbar: KMC

Ignoring strong objection from the National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) and the Department of Archaeology (DoA), the Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) has said it would demolish the historic Bagh Durbar and build a new building in its place.
Soldiers must regain readiness mindset, says Gen. Abrams

By David Vergun, Army News Service October 31, 2017

WASHINGTON -- Gen. Robert B. Abrams recalled once being awakened at 2 a.m. on a Friday. It was the early 1980s then, and he was a young lieutenant stationed in a cavalry squadron in West Germany.

It was a unit alert that had woken him from his sleep, he recalled. Back then, those alerts could come at any time, completely unannounced. And when they came, Soldiers in area bars would need to report to their units, in whatever state they were in, within two hours.

Abrams, commander, U.S. Army Forces Command, spoke earlier this month at the Association of the U.S. Army's Annual Meeting and Exposition.

Once Soldiers were assembled, he said, they had four hours to get all their gear and ammunition loaded on trucks and tanks, and move out to their tactical assembly areas. They had to be ready to cross the border into East Germany, if called to do so.

"Everyone had a sense of urgency and knew what was at stake," he said, remembering his early days in the Army.

The Army needs to regain that same sense of urgency today, he said, but "we're not there yet in our Army."

However, the mindset is beginning to shift, he said. "That's the direction the Army is now taking."

IMPROVED TRAINING

Abrams pointed to a number of readiness indicators, including training, which he said has improved over the last couple of years.

Recently, the Army has shifted its training focus to a "decisive-action training environment that's very robust," he said.

The DATE training environment includes training with both conventional and non-conventional forces in all domains during every combat training center, or CTC rotation, he said.

Leading up to the CTC rotation, units have also improved their home-station training, he said, adding that there's been a 300 percent increase in company-level, live-fire exercises at home station over the last two years.

Even aviation units at the platoon and company levels are now participating in live-fire exercises, something not widely seen since before the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, he said.

NON-DEPLOYABLES REDUCED

"We've made huge progress over the last couple of years in reducing the number of non-deployable (Soldiers)," Abrams said, adding that it's still the No. 1 readiness challenge facing the Army today.

Some units have seven or eight percent non-deployables, he said, so there's still some work to do to shrink those numbers.

Abrams attributed improvements in reducing the number of non-deployable Soldiers to several factors, including the fielding this year of the commander's Medical Readiness Dashboard. That computerized medical update allows company and battalion commanders to better understand and deal with the medical status of their Soldiers.

Improved physical training is another area the general credited with reducing injuries and elevating fitness levels. He gave a shout-out to a pilot program now underway that is incorporating a new Soldier readiness test involving four brigades from FORSCOM that are evaluating "all five measurements of fitness."

The Army is moving away from an "industrial-age medical system," to one that's more like the type used for professional athletes that gives Soldiers the care they need "at their point of impact and at the point of injury," he noted.

The importance of care is so important because "muscular-skeletal injuries continue to impact Soldiers," he said.

IMPROVED EQUIPMENT

Twelve of the Army's 25 brigade combat teams have to date received their complete authorized stockage lists, Abrams said, and U.S. Army Materiel Command is working on equipping the rest. ASLs consist of such things as repair parts, fuel and construction material kept at each BCT distribution center.

To ensure the equipment is sufficient and where it needs to be, Abrams said FORSCOM conducts monthly logistics and aviation readiness reviews.

The biggest struggle in equipping the force right now, he said, is getting spare parts to where they are needed in a timely manner. Currently, he said, the wait time is about five times what it should be.

A big part of increasing readiness, Abrams said, involves adequate and predictable funding from Congress.

"Continuing resolutions crush us at the unit level," he said. "We are unable on a monthly basis to adequately plan to support training and requisition repair parts for our fleet at a tempo we are training."

Abrams admitted that the Army doesn't have an adequate narrative about readiness to present to lawmakers. "We in the military intuitively know what readiness means but have been unable to articulate it to the public. Everybody wants a ready force but we have a hard time describing it."

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U.S. Department of Defense

Press Operations

News Transcript

Presenter: Major General James B. Jarrard, commander, Special Operations Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve; Eric J. Pahon, Defense Department Spokesman October 31 2017

Department of Defense Press Briefing by General Jarrard via teleconference from Baghdad, Iraq

ERIC J. PAHON: Hi. Good morning, everybody. Lot of new faces in the crowd today, so hopefully, I get all of your names. If I don't, please give us your name and affiliation as we're asking General Jarrard the questions.

We've got a special guest for you today. I know you're used to seeing Colonel Ryan Dillon up there for the OIR update briefs, but this week, we are honored to have Major General James Jarrard, the Special Operations Joint Task Force, Operation Inherent Resolve commander. SOJTF-OIR is the primary advise, assist and accompany force in Syria, working closely with the SDF as they work to defeat ISIS in that very complicated battle space.

SOJTF-OIR does have an advise-and-assist presence in Iraq as well, sharing those duties with the Combined Joint Task Force, Land Component Command, CJFLCC. I'm sure you've heard that before. But, again, they really are the driving force behind the enormous success of working by, with and through our partner forces on the ground in Syria.

And, sir, I just want to check and make sure you can hear us. Do you read us well?

MAJOR GENERAL JAMES B. JARRARD: I do, Eric. Thank you.

MR. PAHON: Okay.

All right, sir, with that, I will turn it over to you for an opening statement, and then we'll take questions from the press.

GEN. JARRARD: All right. Thank you, Eric, and good morning, everyone, and thank you for joining me today. I'm here today to talk about the SDF's success in Syria and how our coalition continues our support.

As you know, our coalition was established to militarily defeat Daesh. Their extremist ideology and gross disregard for humanity pose a serious threat to Iraq, Syria and our homelands.

We continue to work by, with and through our partners to militarily defeat Daesh, and we will continue our efforts until the Daesh threat is permanently removed. Once we have successfully defeated Daesh, the coalition will continue to have a key role for enduring counter-VEO efforts.

Raqqa was held by Syrian opposition forces until falling into Daesh's hands in January of 2014. Daesh called it the capital for their so-called caliphate, and the city soon became a focus for terrorists committed to barbaric acts against international humanitarian law and basic human rights.

Beheadings, crucifixions and torture became the norm for thousands of innocent civilians who were trapped inside the city by Daesh and used as human shields. Defensive positions were routinely established in hospitals, mosques, schools, and other protected sites to provide cover for Daesh's operations. Civilians attempting to flee were routinely shot and killed by these terrorists.

On June 6th, 2017, the SDF began their push to liberate Raqqa. This multi-religious and multi-ethnic alliance of Kurds, Arabs, Assyrians, Yezidis, Armenians and Turkmen, which also includes female fighters and commanders, overpowered an entrenched enemy and demonstrated courage and tenacity in the face of significant losses.

Precision coalition air support and ground artillery enabled the SDF's advance throughout and minimized civilian casualties in the process. Some of you heard last week from General Isler about the protocols we use for conducting targeting in areas near civilians. I'll emphasize that our coalition always seeks to apply the four basic principles of the law of armed conflict in this regard: proportionality, distinction, military necessity and the avoidance of unnecessary human suffering.

Raqqa was liberated on October 20th. The false governance structures of Daesh were removed for good and the weakness of their military strength exposed. Many SDF soldiers were wounded and killed for their efforts and we honor the sacrifices that led to their victory.

The coalition support to Raqqa continues, with the whole-of-government effort including our partners at Department of State and USAID. We are all supporting the Raqqa Civil Council, or RCC, the local governing body, who is working to stabilize the city that Daesh destroyed.

There will be several months of tough work to clear each building. This multi-ethnic body has engaged with local tribal leaders to prioritize tasks in the recovery efforts. The RCC has started to provide essential services and deliver aid. The RCC is coordinating with various aid agencies operating in the area, to ensure internally displaced persons, or IDPs, have access to water, food and shelter. It is a big job and will take some time.

The Raqqa Internal Security Force, or RISF, is an indigenous partner force established to provide local security and prevent Daesh's re-emergence. The RISF answers to the RCC and continues to grow in size and will, at some point in the near future, assume control of the city from the SDF.

For the people of Raqqa at the moment, it is still unsafe for them to return home. Although the city is void of Daesh fighters, hundreds -- and maybe even thousands -- of Daesh improvised explosive devices, or IEDs, bombs and booby traps remain. Sadly, civilian deaths have already been reported among some of those who have tried to return.

The clearance process will take time as teams assess, identify and remove explosive hazards. In the coming weeks, the SDF will serve as the hold force continuing to clear explosive hazards from the city, preparing to turn over security in the city to the -- to the RISF at some point in the near future.

Civilians will be allowed back in the city once conditions are safe. The RCC is leading the way in providing advice to Raqqawis about when they may be able to return home.

I know they need more help with the removal of these explosive hazards. Internationally supported stabilization efforts are central to the enduring security and stabilization of life after Daesh.

The loss of Raqqa was a major blow to Daesh and exposed the lies, cowardice and evil in the Daesh ideology. Yet these terrorists still exist. Together, the coalition will continue our support to the SDF as they liberate the remainder of areas along the Euphrates River to the border with Iraq.

I'll close by outlining what the SDF's successes over the last several months tell us.

Daesh has no capital and no physical caliphate. Daesh is running out of places to hide. Daesh terrorists are running away from our partners in the coalition. Their leaders are in hiding. Raqqa was freed by -- by Syrians. Raqqa will be secured by Syrians. Raqqa will be governed by Syrians. I'll stop there, and I'm happy to answer your questions.

MR. PAHON: Okay, sir. Thank you very much.

First, we'll go to Cami McCormick, CBS Radio News.

Q: Hi, sir. Thank you for doing this.

I'm wondering if you're concerned, after the fall of ISIS in Syria, that you will also see the sectarian divides arise again in that area. Your area seems almost -- it could possibly be even more complicated than in Northern Iraq -- and what you plan to do to prevent that from happening.

GEN. JARRARD: Well, thank you for that question.

And I guess my personal experience tells me that that -- that that may not be the -- one of the areas of concern for us. As I have traveled around and have talked to the SDF leaders personally, there is a large percentage of the SDF that are Arabs, working very closely with the Kurdish personnel in the SDF. And they are working together very, very well. In fact, the commander of the SDF that was in charge of the Raqqa operation was an Arab.

And the second data point I would give you is that there are hundreds and thousands of Arabs that are fleeing from around the Euphrates River Valley, from Deir ez-Zor, to Mayadin, to down around Al-Qa'im.

And they are fleeing not -- they're fleeing Daesh, they're fleeing the regime liberation of those cities. And they're not going south into Arab-controlled territories. They're going north into the SDF-controlled territories. And so that tells me that they -- they understand the risk to both, and that they would much rather be in the SDF-controlled territories.

And so I think that those examples, plus the examples in Manbij, in Tabqa, where everybody -- the stabilization efforts are underway and everything is going well -- are clear examples that this may not be one of those areas that we need to be concerned about.

MR. PAHON: Okay. Thank you very much. And, General Jarrard, please let us know if you can't hear the questions. Sometimes, the mics in this room aren't the best. We have a hand-around mic we can use.

Next is Sylvie (Lanteaume) from Agence France-Presse.

Q: Hello, General. Thank you for doing that. If the Syrian regime army tries to take back this region, which is an oil-rich region, will the U.S. come to support the SDF militarily?

GEN. JARRARD: I'm sorry. I think the question is, if the Syrian regime comes to take back, or try to take back control of this area, will we continue to support the SDF.

And so that is -- what I can say is that we are committed to support the SDF through the military defeat of Daesh. The liberation of Daesh from areas on the east and west -- on the east and north side of the Euphrates River is the first step.

But there's a long process after that: making sure that we have the security in place, the stabilization efforts in place to allow the IDPs to return home -- that is all part of the military defeat of Daesh, making sure that we treat the symptoms that allowed Daesh to take over this area in the first place.

And we are committed to supporting the SDF throughout that process.

Q: What after? What will happen after?

GEN. JARRARD: I think the -- you know, that is obviously a policy decision, and how long we will be there supporting the SDF is not for me to answer. But I will say that we are committed to making sure that the region is stable and secure, and the evil of Daesh is not welcome in that area, and the SDF are able to provide security and the local civil structures are able to provide governance.

MR. PAHON: Okay. And next, we'll move to Mr. Joe Tabet with Al Hurra.

Q: Thank you, Eric.

I would like to hear from you, sir, an assessment about your interactions with the Russians and the Syrian regime in that area -- the northeast of -- and the east of Syria. How close are you operating to them?

GEN. JARRARD: Okay. Eric, I had a little bit of a hard time, but I think the question was, how hard are we working, or how close are we working with the Syrian regime? And the -- my answer is we are not working with the Syrian regime at all.

We are working and supporting the SDF. There are de-confliction efforts with the Russians that we -- at various levels, from the operational level at the CJTF headquarters, all the way up to very senior levels of our government, to make sure that we understand where each other are on the battlefield and we do not interact with each other.

But there is no coordination or working relationship with the Syrian regime.

Q: My question was about your interactions with the Russians and the Syrian regime. As a commander on the field, on the ground, how close you are -- your operations are from them?

GEN. JARRARD: The -- so thank you, and I understand better now.

So the enemy -- we are both focused on Daesh. And as such, sometimes our actions do become close. But there is no tactical de-confliction on the ground between commanders, even on each side of the Euphrates River. As I said, the operational level, all the way to senior leaders in our government, do have de-confliction measures that we will take.

And there is a direct line for air de-confliction between their air forces and our air forces. And we do use that routinely. But there's no de-confliction channel for discussions on the ground.

Q: All right.

My second question, having the Syrian regime pushing towards the Abu Kamal area, backed by the Russians -- and at the same time, we have the Iraqi Security Forces, with the PMF, conducting operations surrounding the Al-Qa'im and the Khabur areas.

How likely you think Iran would be able to control the Iraqi-Syrian border, especially in that area -- the Abu Kamal, Al-Qa'im area?

GEN. JARRARD: Thank you for your question.

And so the -- there are close coordination between the coalition forces and our partners, both the SDF on the Syria -- Northeast Syria side, and on the -- in Iraq, with the Iraqi Security Forces. So we are very well synchronized in our efforts as we both move -- as the ISF in Iraq moves to the west, and as the SDF in Syria moves to the east.

We continue to deconflict with the Russians as they are -- as they assist the Syrian regime forces moving down the southern side of the Euphrates. I do not think that there will be any Iranian control of the border from inside of Iraq.

I do think that there is that potential in Syria, but that is a question for the Syrian regime, and I do not have good information and am not able to answer that question in sufficient detail that I think would satisfy you.

MR. PAHON: Okay, sir. Thank you.

And next, we'll move to Wyatt Goolsby with EWTN.

Q: Thanks, Eric. And thanks, Major General, for doing this.

You had mentioned before how well the Kurdish members of the SDF are working with the Arab members. In addition, it seems like coalition has worked well with Kurdish Peshmerga in Iraq.

I'm wondering if you can talk a little bit about what it is about the Kurdish that have been so effective, and what has made them good partners in the fight against ISIS?

GEN. JARRARD: I thank you for that question.

And I think that, you know, first of all, they have an indomitable will. You know, they were backed up in Kobani, several years ago, and almost -- Daesh almost overran their position in Kobani.

And I think a small group of them got together and agreed with each other that they were not going to let this happen to them or their -- the people or the territory -- the historical Kurdish area. And they decided that they were going to defeat Daesh.

And ever since then, they have been ferocious fighters, and excellent leaders and pretty amazing tacticians as they have methodically taken back their terrain from Daesh. And they continue to -- even to today -- and they are committed to -- and they have worked with the tribal sheikhs as they move into more Arab -- historically Arab terrain, and less Kurdish historical terrain.

They work very closely with the tribal sheikhs, and they are working with the Arabs and all of the ethnic makeup of the SDF very, very well. And they're all committed -- they -- you know, the single, unifying enemy of Daesh and the evil that they displayed throughout all of northeast Syria has unified all of these ethnic groups to work very, very closely together, and very effectively, to take back those areas that Daesh controlled.

MR. PAHON: Okay. Thanks a lot, Wyatt.

We'll move to the front here, with Idrees Ali and Reuters.

Q: How many U.S. troops are there in Iraq and Syria right now?

GEN. JARRARD: So there -- we have a -- approximately 55,000 Syrian -- or 5,000 -- I'm sorry -- it's -- I think it's a little over 4,000 U.S. troops in Syria right now that are supporting efforts in -- against Daesh, and supporting the SDF.

Q: So you have 4,000 U.S. troops in Syria? Because I thought the -- publicly, previously, the number was 1,000? This would be four times -- well, it was actually 500. But you're saying 4,000 U.S. troops are currently in Syria?

GEN. JARRARD: I'm sorry. I misspoke there. There are approximately 500 troops in Syria.

(Laughter.)

Q: Because I think the accurate number is 1,000.

Q: Then why'd you ask the question if you know the answer?

Q: Well, I knew -- (inaudible).

MR. PAHON: Idrees, as you know, the FML is 503 in Syria, and 5,262 in Iraq. FML is 503 in Syria and 5,262 in Iraq.

All right. Next Kasim Ileri, Anadolu.

Q: General, thanks for doing this.

I will -- I have follow up and couple of other questions.

You said that you have -- you don't have concern about - kind of breaks within the SDF, because the Arab component and the Kurdish competent of the SDF are currently working very closely.

But we saw the same thing in Iraq. The Peshmerga and the Iraqi Security Forces were working very closely together, very coordinated, they were -- they took over Mosul. Peshmerga enabled the -- the -- the liberation of Mosul to a great extent and now we see that the two forces are fighting each other.

So what -- what is -- what else do you have other than just your confidence or your just trust in the cooperation currently going on on the ground that these two groups within SDF, the Arabs and Kurds, would not take on each other?

GEN. JARRARD: Yes. So thank you very much for that question.

Again, I think I mentioned earlier -- so right now Daesh has -- the evil of Daesh has coalesced these groups, both Arabs, Kurds, both in Iraq and Syria, to fight together and work together. And I think that -- the relationships that they've developed over the years in this fight will bode well for the future.

As I mentioned earlier, I was -- I have had the opportunity to meet the -- the commander that was in Raqqa and he was Arab. I have witnessed the effectiveness of that force. And they continue to be effective all the way down the Euphrates River Valley.

Also, in Iraq, I was fortunate enough to be at the meeting with the Kurds and the senior leaders and the Kurds and the senior government of Iraq military officials met, and I -- I can tell you that -- I will leave it to government of Iraq to talk to you about the specifics and those results of those discussions. But I think all Iraqis, both Kurds and Arabs, can be very proud of the professionalism and compassion and commitment of General Othman, the chief of defense, and Minister Sinjari, the minister of the Pesh, and the character and wisdom that they displayed throughout those discussions over two days to work very hard to come to an agreement that would limit any more Iraqis fighting Iraqis.

And that agreement has held for a few days here and I think it -- the -- there -- we have great optimism that it will continue to hold into the future.

Q: And then as you had worked with SDF so closely, can you acknowledge or have you seen any kind of trace that the YPG, a significant component of SDF, has ideological connections with PKK?

GEN. JARRARD: Thank you for that question.

And obviously, that is a concern for many folks. But I have not -- I have seen no connection between the SDF and the PKK, and we have worked very closely with them for over two years. And so we -- we have not seen any evidence of that.

Obviously, the United States does not support any terrorist organizations to -- and so we continue to support the SDF, because we have not seen any connection to any terrorist organization.

Q: You said you haven't -- seen no evidence. But, when -- during the liberation of Raqqa, the YPG displayed the -- Ocalan's pictures, the PKK leader, and also dedicated the liberation of Raqqa to the PKK leader. Isn't that an evidence for you to consider that there is a connection between -- or ideological connection between YPG and PKK?

GEN. JARRARD: I do not think you're speaking about the formal press conference from SDF leaders and RCC leaders that declared the liberation of Raqqa. During that ceremony, I do not think there was any reference to any terrorist organization or terrorist leaders.

While we are aware of some symbols and -- of divisiveness, both in Syria and -- have been displayed in Iraq in the past, we do not support this -- support those. And we do not believe that either the government of Iraq or the senior SDF leadership sanctioned those devices -- the display of those symbols.

Q: One last question. According to a mutual agreement between the coalition and Turkey, the YPG -- the SDF -- the YPG component of SDF would leave Manbij. But, according to the military -- Turkish military sources, the YPG elements have not left Manbij yet. Can you -- do you have anything to say -- to share with us, why they have not let yet? And why are they there? What is the reason?

GEN. JARRARD: What I can tell you about our relationship is -- with Turkey, and especially the military -- the TGS, the Turkish military -- is that we have a very transparent relationship with them.

We communicate with them routinely about all that we're doing in our campaign and in our relationship with the SDF. And we have communicated at those levels and they understand exactly what truth is. And so we've expressed it in those channels, and I feel comfortable that they're satisfied with those responses.

MR. PAHON: Next, we'll go to Kevin Barron with Defense One.

Q: Hi, General. Still on the -- on the Kurds and recent attitudes after the events. U.S. special force -- special operations forces have probably been the closest to them in -- with the training mission and moving alongside them.

So what is the mood, both with -- both from your troops, and the other side, the Kurdish troops, since the -- you know, since the referendum, the violence, Barzani -- everything that's been happening?

Because, publicly, we're hearing a whole lot of trust and resentment from -- problems from the Kurdish side. How -- so what are you getting -- what are you hearing, getting filtered up from your troops and the -- and the Kurdish troops that you're fighting alongside? Is it similar to the public sentiment that we're hearing?

GEN. JARRARD: I think that the main thing that we're hearing from our Kurdish partners are that they are committed to -- committed to working with Iraqi security forces to continue the defeat of -- of Daesh.

No Iraqis that I've talked to, Arabs or Kurds, want to see any more Iraqi deaths because of fighting between Iraqis. And so there -- obviously, there's been some turmoil and tension between that relationship over the last couple of weeks, but the overriding sentiment between all of our relations is that they want to see a peaceful solution to this, and they want to make sure that we continue our efforts together to defeat Daesh.

Q: Can you give a sense of -- of, has it changed any plans for future, you know, training mission, the hold mission, as you shift from the -- those, you know, counter-assault days to -- to hold and -- and stability ops going forward, especially within Iraq?

GEN. JARRARD: So, we -- we are continuing to determine what that posture will be. Obviously, we will be here -- whatever the -- the size of the coalition presence, we'll be here at the request of the government of Iraq. And we continue -- we will -- we plan to continue all of the -- the key partnerships. Some of those partnerships are with -- with Pesh. Some of -- most of them are with Iraqi Security Forces.

But we are continuing the deliberations and the planning efforts to determine exactly what level will remain, and who those key partners will be. And so -- so right now, it's a little too early to -- to say definitively, but we do anticipate continuing the relationships with -- with some of the Pesh forces.

MR. PAHON: Thank you.

And Lucas Tomlinson, Fox News.

Q: General, how concerned are you between the increased reports of fighting between Iraqi Security Forces and the Kurds?

GEN. JARRARD: So, thank you for the question.

I -- I, you know, I -- I think that as long as we have a -- well, a couple of different pieces to that.

The first one is that there's still Daesh left in -- in Iraq, and all security forces here, the Pesh and the -- the Iraqi Security Forces, are all focused on eliminating that threat.

And then once that is done, I think that -- that we collectively will continue to develop and train and advise and assist various partner forces as they reset from the -- the struggle that they've had with Daesh over -- over the years.

And I do not -- as I said, I was at -- at the meeting here over the weekend, and the leadership that was displayed by -- on both sides, from the Pesh leaders and from the Iraqi Security Force leaders, gives me great optimism that there will -- there's a very low chance of any continued conflict internally within Iraq.

Q: So bottom line, you're no longer concerned about this fighting?

GEN. JARRARD: I -- I personally am not, no.

Q: And just to go back to the question about U.S. troops in Iraq and Syria, just for the sake of the record and the transcript, how many U.S. troops are in Syria and Iraq right now?

GEN. JARRARD: So I -- I can give you a better answer for Syria. I don't have that answer for Iraq off the top of my head. But there's 503 forces -- coalition forces in Syria.

Q: Now, is that the force management level, or is that actual 503 U.S. troops on the ground in Syria?

GEN. JARRARD: There's 503 coalition forces in Syria.

Q: Thank you.

MR. PAHON: (inaudible) -- in Syria and Iraq, so 503 Syria. Thanks. Yeah, I appreciate that. Thank you.

Do you have another question?

Sisk, Military.com.

Q: Sir, you mentioned earlier that many SDF were killed or wounded in the taking of Raqqa. Do you have estimates now on how many were killed and wounded? And do you have estimates on how many ISIS were killed, and how many surrendered?

GEN. JARRARD: Yes, I don't have good ISIS figures off the top of my head, but I do have good SDF numbers.

So, throughout the fight, there have been over 1,200 friendly KIA of SDF forces. Specific to Raqqa, there were approximately 434. Wounded, throughout the fight in northeast Syria for the SDF, is a little bit greater than 2,500, and for Raqqa, specifically, approximately 905, so a significant, significant loss to both Kurds and Arabs fighting together to rid northeast Syria of the evil of Daesh.

And when they are -- the SDF, both -- Arabs, Kurds, Armenians, all of them continue to honor them in their sacrifice. And the world owes them a significant debt for all that they've done to help us rid the world of this evil.

Q: Sir, on ISIS, you have no estimates on their casualties?

GEN. JARRARD: I don't have -- off the top of my head. But we can -- we can find those figures and get them to you. And I'll ask Colonel Dillon to do that.

Q: Sir, is it possible -- of the ISIS -- the ISIS fighters who surrendered -- what's happened to them?

GEN. JARRARD: So, that is -- so some -- a lot of those are -- continue to be detained by the SDF in their facilities in northeast Syria. There were a lot of ISIS that were considered ISIS because of their relationship with the ISIS -- the -- Daesh. But a lot of them were not necessarily fighters. They were in administrative positions, working in hospitals, helping feed the large number of Daesh on the battlefield.

And so a lot of those that were captured have been turned -- that were local Syrians -- have been turned over to their tribal leadership underneath their control. And the SDF leadership feel comfortable that the tribal leadership and the tribal code in northeast Syria will make sure that they maintain control of those individuals.

And so we feel pretty comfortable that that is the case.

Q: Sir, again, do you have an estimate on how many surrendered?

GEN. JARRARD: I do not have a good number for you. There have been large numbers that have surrendered in each of the fights, the major fights, in Manbij and Tabqa and throughout the liberation of northeast Syria.

But I can -- I can tell you from experience, from driving around, that the security there provided by the local civil councils and the internal security forces is such that it is a very low threat of any Daesh attacks, or any Daesh, period, in northeast Syria.

They still have the ability, as the -- closer to the front line of the enemy -- as we get closer to the Euphrates River Valley, to infiltrate around the SDF positions. But, once you get away from the front lines, it is a relatively secure place throughout northeast Syria.

MR. PAHON: Okay, thank you.

And next, to Mr. Ali Rebaz from Rudaw.

Q: Thank you, General.

What is the position of U.S. advisers to troops at the negotiations between -- the security negotiations between Baghdad and Erbil? Are they personally attending those negotiations?

GEN. JARRARD: Thank you for the question. And there were some -- myself and Lieutenant General Funk had the privilege of being in the room while those discussions were taking place. And we did nothing but listen to those discussions.

The -- all of the -- the main -- all of the interaction was between the Pesh leadership and the Iraqi security force leadership, under direction of -- for the Pesh, it was Minister Sinjari, and for the Iraqi security forces, the chief of defense, General Othman.

And again, it was -- we had no part of that negotiation. We just monitored it. And it was a privilege to see the character and wisdom displayed by those two leaders. And all Iraqis have a lot to be proud of, that they have leaders like that, that are working this difficult situation out.

Q: Are your troops going to be positioned at the border crossings alongside the Iraqi army and the Peshmerga?

GEN. JARRARD: If the government of Iraq and the Iraqi security forces and the leadership in the Pesh would like us to be there, then we will take that under consideration and we will -- we will potentially do that. But that will be at the invitation of the -- of the government of Iraq.

Q: One last question. The Shia militia leader, Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis -- he said in an interview with Associated Press yesterday, and I'm quoting, "Iran was the only country that supported Iraq from the beginning of the Daesh crisis," unquote.

And before that, a couple days ago, during a conference in Baghdad, Hadi Al-Amri, the Badr militia leader, said, quote, "Iran is the only -- is the one that helped on the ground in Iraq, and not the international coalition," unquote. What is your respond to that?

GEN. JARRARD: I think that the government of Iraq has -- definitely understands the commitment that the United States and the -- and the entire coalition has made to help them, as they have worked very, very diligently and very effectively to rid Iraq of the evil of Daesh.

This -- Daesh was very effective early in their seizing of terrain in Iraq. But together -- all of us together, throughout all of the entire coalition, plus our Iraqi security forces have shown the entire world that Daesh is not welcome in Iraq. And I do not anticipate it's going to be much longer until we can say that they're completely liberated from Daesh.

Q: Okay.

MR. PAHON: Thank you.

And I am so embarrassed that I am drawing a blank on your name.

Q: It's all right. Jeff Seldin from VOA.

MR. PAHON: Jeff.

Q: General, thank you very much. A couple questions.

First, do you have any updated estimates on how many ISIS fighters are left in Syria and in Iraq?

GEN. JARRARD: We do have a number out there. I mean, it's an estimate. I don't know how -- it's not a very high -- I don't have a high confidence level of what that is. And -- but you could throw anywhere from 3,000 to 7,000 Daesh that are left throughout the Euphrates River Valley -- from up around Deir ez-Zor all the way down to -- to Al-Qa'im in Iraq.

Q: And, as a follow-up to that, I know you said that Raqqa's been cleared of ISIS influence. How concerned are you, and are your SDF partners, about sleeper cells, about fighters who are staying there, perhaps looking to cause trouble over the long term? And what types of measures are you taking to make sure that they won't be effective if there are any?

GEN. JARRARD: So thank you for your question.

And I think that, you know, there -- there are several examples throughout northeast Syria that give me confidence in saying that there's a very low probability of any Daesh that remains in Raqqa. There's Manbij, there's Tabqa, there are other -- Ayn Issa. There are other locations that, once they were liberated by the SDF, have not had one Daesh attack since then.

The other problem with Raqqa is that there are so many unexploded ordnance or munitions that remain there.

Just a vignette, we just now started to have bad weather here in this part of the world, as we get closer to winter, and the other day we had the first significant rain storm in that part of Syria. And there are so many explosive devices still left, that the rain was hard and actually was causing some of those explosive devices to -- to detonate.

And so there are so many out there. Nobody moves around very freely until areas have been cleared of those unexploded munitions by the SDF and by the civilian companies that we have that are working for the -- the international community to assist in this effort.

So I -- I think it's a very low probability, that there will be any Daesh sleeper cells that remain in Raqqa or any -- any of the locations that the SDF have liberated.

Q: A question, General, if I may.

What types of measures are being put in place, or are there measures being put in place, to track the Daesh fighters who were handed over to tribal leaders? Perhaps they weren't front-line fighters, but they were still affiliated. Are they being tracked in any way, other than assurances given by the tribal leaders in Syria?

GEN. JARRARD: So the -- the solution to that problem was a -- a local Raqqawi solution. And I think it was -- it's a great news story.

You know, our by, with and through process means that the -- our partners are the ones that determine how they prosecute this fight. And in this particular instance, it -- it showed that the SDF, who is the military arm and is conducting the military operation to liberate Raqqa, was pressured and convinced by the -- the civil council, the civil leadership, in that part of -- of Syria, who listened to the tribal leaders, who are their -- the constituents of the Raqqa Civil Council, to figure out a way to solve this problem that would eliminate any civilian -- minimize the civilian casualties.

I mean, one of the most difficult things for us over the latter days of Raqqa was to watch, as we looked through ISR, and watch civilians, trying to flee Raqqa gunned down by Daesh fighters. Absolutely horrific.

And so the -- what we did do with the SDF, is we did take all of those members and we enrolled them biometrically, so that we are able to track them if -- into the future.

But this was a -- a good news story for -- for everybody in this part of the country, that -- that it was a Syria solution to a Syrian problem. And, in the end, it was the -- the civil governance that dictated that solution.

MR. PAHON: Okay, back one more time to Lucas Tomlinson, Fox.

Q: General, just a follow-up to Jeff's question: How is the American ISIS fighter going to be prosecuted?

GEN. JARRARD: Thank you for that question. And that is not a military -- I do not have a military answer to that question. That is a Department of State and Department of Justice problem, and they are -- they're working to sort that out. And I'm not aware of the answer right now, so I couldn't help you, but it's not a military solution to that problem.

Q: As far as you know, General, he will be flown back to the United States to face federal court?

GEN. JARRARD: Again, I -- anything I said would be pure speculation right now, and so I do not have an answer for you. And so I'd even hesitate to speculate. So I think the Department of Justice and Department of State is much better qualified to give you a good answer on that question. I'm sorry.

Q: And lastly, General, as we're sitting here, the coalition, it appears, released a list of ISIS leaders that have been killed recently. My question is, can you talk about those leaders being killed?

And has -- have your Special Operations troops stepped up their attacks on ISIS leaders recently, or, as ISIS is getting squeezed, have those strikes gotten smaller -- air strikes, as well as direct-action raids? Thank you.

GEN. JARRARD: Hey, thank you for your question.

And so our forces -- we are always hunting the senior leadership of Daesh. And we have been from the earliest days, and we continue to do that. I will tell you, it has been harder, because everybody is moving.

Daesh continues to displace. They were in Manbij, then they were in Tabqa, then they were in Raqqa, then they moved down to Deir ez-Zor, then they moved to Mayadin, and they continue to move down -- and right now, the last bastion of their existence is around Abu Kamal and Al-Qa'im in Iraq.

And so we continue to pressure them across the network -- senior leaders, the facilitators, all of them. And we have had tremendous success. But it is getting harder.

As I mentioned at the outset, I think that the senior leaders are hiding from the coalition. They are -- we -- as I mentioned a little earlier, I've been involved in Iraq here for a long time, in our counterterrorism efforts. And we normally find the senior leaders hiding in basements, or holes in the ground, or caves.

And I suspect, when we find the senior leaders now, that's where they'll be.

MR. PAHON: Okay. And moving to Ricky Zipp from Medill News Agency.

Q: Thank you, General. I just have a quick question.

Do you know how long it will take for Raqqa to be cleared of explosive devices, or about how long, and how long it will be before people can return to the city safely?

GEN. JARRARD: Hey, thank you for that question.

And it is unfortunate that Daesh left the city and tried to prepare those defenses so elaborately, and -- so many unexploded munitions. And so it will take a long time. The -- you know, Raqqa has -- like any urban area, has some suburbs that are -- that we -- that Daesh did not seed with unexploded munitions as much as others.

And so some of those outlying areas have been cleared already, and some families are able to move back in. But the -- the part of Raqqa that was the city center, that was where we ended up fighting the remnants of Daesh that were left there, is going to take a long time.

And I do not have a good estimate for you. We have -- we have some civilian companies that are helping us clear those areas of unexploded munitions, and this is an area where our coalition partners can also help.

We need any and all available experts in this area that can train Syrians to help us increase the capacity of those that are able and willing to clear the ordnance and improve the speed of -- which it's going to take to do this. But it's not going to be a quick solution. It's going to take a good bit of time. And I'm sorry, I just don't have a good estimate for you.

MR. PAHON: Not seeing any other hands. Anybody else? Going once, going twice.

All right, General Jarrard, thank you very, very much for your time today. Do you have any final comments?

GEN. JARRARD: Well, thank you, and I just -- I would like to, again, congratulate the SDF on a -- on a phenomenal record since they've started prosecuting this campaign against Daesh. They continue to amaze us as we watch them, and the sacrifices that they continue to endure to assist the world in eliminating this area of Syria from the evils of Daesh.

And I -- and I continue to thank all the coalition partners that -- in their efforts, as we continue to support the SDF. And thank you for your questions and your time today.

MR. PAHON: Okay. Thank you, sir, and thank you, everybody.

http://www.defense.gov/News/News-Transcripts/Transcript-View/Article/1359137/

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Secretary General: NATO stands in solidarity with Asia-Pacific region

NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation

31 Oct. 2017

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg wrapped up a three-day visit to Japan on Tuesday (31 October 2017), with a speech at the Japan National Press Club in Tokyo. Mr. Stoltenberg stressed that North Korea's destabilising behaviour poses a threat to international peace and security, and that NATO stands in solidarity with its partners in the Asia-Pacific region.

"This is the time for the international community to convey a clear, united and strong response," said the Secretary General. He called on all nations to fully and transparently implement UN sanctions, noting that pressure on Pyongyang is key to achieving a peaceful solution to the crisis on the Korean peninsula.

Earlier on Tuesday, the Secretary General met Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to discuss the Alliance's cooperation with Japan and common security challenges. Prime Minister Abe and the Secretary General agreed to develop a new programme of cooperation, to advance joint work in the areas of cyber defence, maritime security, nuclear non-proliferation and fighting terrorism.

Also on Tuesday, Mr. Stoltenberg visited a base of Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Forces in Yokosuka, where he toured the JS Teruzuki destroyer.

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Joint press point by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and the Prime Minister of Japan, Shinzo Abe

NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation

31 Oct. 2017

(As delivered)

Prime Minister Abe, it is a great honour to be with you in Tokyo today. Just three months since we last met at NATO Headquarters.

I would like to begin by congratulating you on your win in the recent elections. And thanking you for the warm welcome you have extended to me and my delegation.

Japan is NATO's longest-standing partner outside Europe. We share values and we share challenges. So we are natural partners.

In the fight against terrorism, we have worked together for years to help stabilise Afghanistan. Japan's substantial financial contributions to Afghanistan  including over one billion US dollars to Trust Funds  are deeply appreciated.

I also appreciate the close cooperation between NATO and Japan in many other areas.

On the world map, Tokyo and NATO Headquarters in Brussels might seem far apart. But common threats draw us close together.

Today we discussed the aggressive and illegal provocations of North Korea. And we agree that they pose a global threat. Which requires a global response.

North Korea's ballistic and nuclear tests are an affront to the United Nations Security Council. They are a threat to international peace and security. And they pose a clear and present danger to NATO partners here in the region.

North Korea must abandon its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes. And implement the complete denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula.

Prime Minister Abe and I agreed that strong international pressure is required to induce Pyongyang to take the responsible path. In order to find a peaceful solution.

All members of the United Nations must implement sanctions on North Korea thoroughly and transparently.

Prime Minister Abe and I also agreed we should deepen our cooperation in other areas. And we agreed to develop a new programme of cooperation. Including on cyber defence, maritime security, nuclear non-proliferation, and fighting terrorism.

In a world of complex and evolving threats, no one country or organisation can afford to stand alone.

So NATO deeply values Japan's contributions to international peace. And Japan will always have a strong partner and friend in NATO.

Prime Minister Abe, thank you again for your warm welcome and for the excellent cooperation between Japan and NATO.

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Theodore Roosevelt Arrives in Guam

Navy News Service

Story Number: NNS171031-01

Release Date: 10/31/2017 7:48:00 AM

From Commander, Carrier Strike Group 9 Public Affairs

APRA HARBOR, Guam (NNS) -- The aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) arrived in Guam for the first time in the ship's history, Oct. 31, for their first scheduled port visit of their current deployment.

Theodore Roosevelt, flagship of the Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group (TRCSG), entered the 7th Fleet area of operations Oct. 23. While in Guam, Theodore Roosevelt is planning to conduct multiple community relations projects, shipboard tours and sporting events. Sailors will also have the chance to experience highlights of the area and local sights through tours organized by the ships' Morale, Welfare, and Recreation programs.

"Visiting new locations and experiencing different cultures while on deployment is a great opportunity for our crew, it is often the most memorable part of one's time in the Navy and Marine Corps," said Sardiello. "We are pleased to be here, we appreciate the local community welcoming us during this port call, and we look forward to enjoying our visit to this beautiful island."

Guided-missile destroyers USS Halsey (DDG 97) and USS Preble (DDG 88) conducted a port call to Guam at the same time. TRCSG is operating in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region to enhance partnerships and conduct maritime security operations.

Approximately 6,000 Sailors will be in port Guam during the visit. TRCSG consists of the staff of Destroyer Squadron 23 and the squadrons of Carrier Air Wing 17 (CVW 17), which includes Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 113, VFA 94, VFA 22, Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 312, Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 139, Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 116, Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 6, Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 73, and Fleet Logistics Support Squadron (VRC) 30.

"Guam has a long history with the U.S. Navy and is very important to what we do in the Pacific," said Rear Admiral Steve Koehler, commander, Carrier Strike Group Nine. "It is our privilege to visit and experience that history and shared culture first hand."

Theodore Roosevelt left its homeport of San Diego, Calif., Oct. 6 for a regularly-scheduled deployment to the U.S. 7th and 5th Fleet areas of responsibility.

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Bahrain imposes entry visas on Qatari nationals, residents

Iran Press TV

Tue Oct 31, 2017 06:56PM

Bahrain says it has decided to impose entry visas on nationals and residents of neighboring Qatar, which has been the center of a persisting crisis in the Persian Gulf region, triggered by a Saudi-led quartet of countries that accuse Doha of purported funding and supporting "terrorism."

"The new measures aim at preventing harming the security and stability of the kingdom of Bahrain particularly in light of the latest repercussions of the crisis with Qatar", said a statement released by the Bahraini government, carried by official news agency BNA, on Tuesday.

It further said that henceforth, those Qataris who want to visit Bahrain must first obtain a visa by "submitting an application in accordance with the instructions mentioned on the Nationality, Passport and Residence Affairs (NPRA) website."

The new measure, according to the statement, was made in a cabinet session chaired by Bahraini King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa in order to "preserve the security and safety of the country," and will apply from November 10.

Under the [Persian] Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) agreements, citizens of the six member states, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), can visit other GCC countries without obtaining visas.

Manama's decision came a day after the Bahraini king announced during a cabinet meeting that his country would not take part in any future GCC meeting if Qatar was to attend, accusing Doha of undermining the security of other GCC member states.

Back in June, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Bahrain, and the UAE imposed a trade and diplomatic embargo on Qatar, accusing Doha of supporting terrorism, an allegation strongly denied by Doha.

The Saudi-led quartet presented Qatar with a list of demands and gave it an ultimatum to comply with them or face consequences. The demands included closing the Al Jazeera broadcaster, removing Turkish troops from Qatar's soil, scaling back cooperation with Iran, and ending ties with Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood movement.

Doha, however, refused to meet the demands and denounced them as unreasonable.

Iran has taken a neutral stance in the dispute but has sent food supplies to Qatar on humanitarian grounds amid the Saudi-led siege of the country. It has also allowed Qatar's national carrier to use its airspace.

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Allegations of Russian meddling in US elections 'fantasies': Lavrov

Iran Press TV

Tue Oct 31, 2017 06:52PM

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says allegations of Moscow's meddling in American and European elections are "fantasies."

Lavrov told reporters in Moscow on Tuesday there was no evidence that Russia had interfered in last year's US presidential elections.

"Without a single piece of proof, we are as you know being accused of meddling not only in the US election, but also in those in European states," Lavrov said at a meeting of the Association of European Businesses.

"Recently, there was an allegation that Moscow decided what minister to appoint in South Africa. In general, there is no limit to fantasy," he added.

Lavrov made the remarks after a US federal grand jury charged three former aides to US President Donald Trump's election campaign with conspiracy against the United States as part of the Russia inquiry.

On Monday, Trump's former election campaign chairman Paul Manafort and another former associate appeared in court and pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Trump has repeatedly denied allegations that his campaign colluded with Russians and has condemned the investigations. Russian President Vladimir Putin has also denied the allegations.

Putin's spokesman said Monday that any accusations against Russia were absolutely unfounded.

"We refuted this from the very beginning and we refute this now," Dmitry Peskov told journalists at a regular briefing.

"Any accusations that emerge from a US investigation into US citizens do not concern us: this is America's internal business and we simply observe with interest."

American intelligence agencies claimed in January that Russia interfered in the 2016 US presidential election to try to help then Republican candidate Trump defeat Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton.

The intelligence agencies said Moscow's interference included a campaign of hacking and releasing embarrassing emails, and disseminating propaganda via social media to discredit her campaign.

US special counsel Robert Mueller, who was appointed by the US Justice Department to lead the Russia probe, is investigating whether Trump election officials cooperated with those Russian efforts.

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Egypt says warplanes killed 'large number' of militants, destroyed their vehicles, ammo

Iran Press TV

Tue Oct 31, 2017 06:05PM

Egypt's military says it has killed "a large number of terrorist elements" in the country's Western Desert after its warplanes conducted airstrikes on militants' positions, destroying a number of explosive-laden vehicles.

Colonel Tamer el-Rifai announced the news in a statement on Tuesday, adding that the aerial raid had been carried out in a rugged area some 80 kilometers southwest of the capital Cairo.

In aerial footage posted by the country's military, three four-wheel-drive vehicles, allegedly belonging to a suspected terror group, were targeted after many armed men got off them and started running in all directions. Rifai further said that the scene was still being assessed and the casualty count was incomplete.

Elsewhere in his statement, the army spokesman asserted that those targeted were suspected of having been involved in a deadly ambush on Egyptian police less than two weeks ago around 135 kilometers southwest of Cairo, a rare flare-up outside the restive Sinai Peninsula. The Egyptian Interior Ministry said at the time that 16 police lost their lives in the attack.

However, security sources claim that more than 50 were killed in the September 20 incident. The attack sparked huge public anger in Egypt, with many questioning President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi's success in fighting militants across Egypt.

Various militant groups, including a branch of the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group, have been launching attacks on security forces and civilians since 2013, when Sisi, the then army chief, led a coup against then President Mohamed Morsi which ousted him from power.

Many blame the current insurgency in Egypt on Sisi's large-scale crackdown on dissent, including the followers of Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood movement.

Mass trials have been held for thousands of supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood, and hundreds have received death sentences or lengthy prison terms. Egypt outlawed the movement in 2014.

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Spanish court summons Catalan parliament speaker to charge her

Iran Press TV

Tue Oct 31, 2017 02:29PM

Spain's top court has summoned the speaker of the regional parliament in Catalonia to file charges against the secessionist leader.

The Supreme Court in Madrid said on Tuesday that Carme Forcadell and her parliamentary deputies should appear in court on November 2 and 3 for questioning.

It said in a statement that the former officials would be charged over an independence drive in Catalonia.

Forcadell has been among main leaders promoting independence in Catalonia, a move which sparked a serious political crisis in Spain after a referendum on October 1. The vote, which was held amid unprecedented violence, gave the regional legislature the mandate for declaring independence.

The Spanish government, which had labeled the entire independence process as illegal, moved to dismantle Catalonia's government on Saturday and take over control of the region after the parliament formally declared independence. Carles Puigdemont, the leader of Catalonia, was dismissed from his role while Madrid called for fresh elections to appoint a new administration in Catalonia.

In an apparent gesture of bowing to Spain's pressures, Puigdemont said on Tuesday that he would accept snap elections on December 21. Spain's state prosecutor has recommended charges for rebellion and sedition be brought against Puigdemont, who is now in Brussels. The defiant Catalan politician said he would return home "immediately" if a fair judicial process was guaranteed, adding that he was not seeking asylum in Belgium.

Puigdemont vowed, however, that Catalonia's move toward independence was not over, saying victory would come at the end of "a long road."

"I ask the Catalan people to prepare for a long road. Democracy will be the foundation of our victory," he said.

The independence drive in Catalonia, one of Spain's most prosperous regions, has pushed Spain toward its gravest political crisis in decades. Major governments, including those in the European Union, have said that they will never recognize secession of Catalonia from Spain while calling on the two sides of the conflict to engage in dialogue to resolve differences.

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At Least Four Killed In Kabul Suicide Attack, Say Officials

RFE/RL's Radio Free Afghanistan October 31, 2017

Afghan officials say at least four people have been killed in a suicide attack in central Kabul.

The Interior Ministry said that 13 people were also wounded in the October 31 blast in the so-called "Green Zone," where many embassies and the head offices of major international organizations are located.

Ministry spokesman Najib Danish told RFE/RL that all those killed and wounded were civilians.

He said the attack was carried out by a teenager.

Basir Mujahid, a spokesman for the Kabul police, said the suicide bomber was 12 or 13 years old.

The extremist group Islamic State (IS) claimed responsibility for the explosion.

The attack was "a [suicide] mission using an explosive vest in the diplomatic Wazir Akbar Khan neighborhood in the city of Kabul," the group's Amaq news agency said.

The Defense Ministry said the suicide bomber was on a motorcycle. "He made it through the first checkpoint but was stopped at the second checkpoint and detonated," ministry spokesman Dawlat Waziri said.

The attack occurred on Fourth Street in the Wazir Akbar Khan zone, Kabul police deputy chief Haq Nawaz Haqyar told RFE/RL.

The street is close to several foreign embassies, as well as an office and guesthouse of the Defense Ministry. The site of the explosion is some 500 meters from the U.S. Embassy.

The Taliban and Islamic State militants have stepped up their suicide attacks on Afghan security installations and mosques in recent weeks.

Several attacks occurred in or around Kabul this month, including one on a Shi'ite mosque in the city that killed more than 50 people. A separate attack on an army training facility killed at least 15 soldiers.

In a statement on October 31, Amnesty International's Afghanistan Researcher Horia Mosadiq said that the victims of "this horrific wave of violence" must get justice.

"Those responsible for these crimes must be prosecuted and punished in fair trials to end the culture of impunity for such atrocities," Mosadiq said.

He added that the Afghan authorities have "a responsibility to do whatever they can to protect civilians from attacks," and called on European states to stop forcibly returning Afghans to the country.

"The unrelenting violence in Afghanistan  shows that the country is not safe," Mosadiq said.

With reporting by Reuters, AFP, dpa, and AP

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/afghanistan-explosion- casualties-kabul/28826238.html

Copyright (c) 2017. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Kremlin Says Russia Not Accused In U.S. Indictment

RFE/RL October 31, 2017

Russian President Vladimir Putin's spokesman has emphasized that the Kremlin sees no evidence of accusations of Russian meddling in the indictment handed down to U.S. President Donald Trump's former campaign chairman and an associate.

Speaking on October 31, Dmitry Peskov reiterated Russia's denial that it interfered in the U.S. election, and called the investigations into alleged Russian meddling and possible collusion by associates of Trump an "internal matter for our American partners."

"From what we have read in media reports and seen in statements by participants in the process, Russia so far does not figure in any way in the charges that have been issued," Peskov told journalists.

"Other countries and other people" are named, he said, apparently referring to Ukraine and Viktor Yanukovych, the Moscow-friendly president who was pushed from power by pro-European protests in Kyiv and fled to Russia in 2014.

Former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort and associate Rick Gates pleaded not guilty on October 30 to conspiring to defraud the United States in over a decade of dealings with political forces in Ukraine.

Manafort and Gates lodged their pleas in a Washington, D.C., court shortly after being named in the first publicly announced indictment since former FBI chief Robert Mueller was appointed special counsel to head the U.S. Justice Department probe.

Manafort and Gates were indicted on 12 counts including conspiracy against the United States, conspiracy to launder money, acting as an unregistered foreign agent, making false statements, and charges related to failing to report foreign bank and financial accounts. A judge ordered house arrest for both of them.

Trump, who has called the U.S. investigations a witch hunt, issued tweets on October 31 repeating his denial that he or any of his associates colluded with Russia. "The Fake News is working overtime, he tweeted, adding that Manafort's lawyer had said "there was no collusion."

The indictment against Manafort and Gates said that they "generated tens of millions of dollars in income" from work they did for Yanukovych, who was president of Ukraine from 2010-2014, the Ukrainian government, Yanukovych's Party of Regions, and the Opposition Bloc, a successor party formed after Yanukovych was driven from power by pro-European protests and fled to Russia.

The indictment alleged that "in order to hide Ukraine payments" from U.S. authorities, Manafort and Gates "laundered the money through scores of United States and foreign corporations, partnerships, and bank accounts" from about 2006 through 2016 at the earliest. It said that they also hid their work and revenue as agents of Ukrainian political parties.

Court documents unsealed on October 30 also showed that George Papadopoulos, a former foreign policy adviser for Trump's presidential campaign who was arrested in July, pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about his contacts with Russians.

The documents showed that through "false statements and omissions," Papadopoulos "impeded the FBI's ongoing investigation into the existence of any links or coordination between individuals associated with the campaign and the Russian government's efforts to interfere with the 2016 presidential election."

Trump poured derision on Papadopoulos in another tweet on October 31, saying: "Few people knew the young, low level volunteer named George, who has already proven to be a liar."

U.S. intelligence officials concluded in January that Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered an "influence campaign" targeting the 2016 election in the United States, aiming to undermine confidence in the U.S. democracy, tarnish the reputation of Trump's rival, Hillary Clinton, and help Trump.

Mueller was appointed as special counsel in May to lead the Justice Department's investigation, which is conducted in parallel with U.S. congressional probes.

In his remarks asserting a lack of references to Russia or evidence of Russian meddling, Peskov made no mention of Papadopoulos or the documents in his case, which include many specific references to Russia and Russian officials.

Peskov said that Russia hoped new developments in the U.S. probe will not increase what he asserted was already "mounting Russophobic hysteria" in the United States. He did not give examples to support that description.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov also repeated Russia's denials, saying that allegations of Russian meddling in elections in the United States in Europe were "fantasies."

The comments from Peskov and Lavrov came hours before executives of Internet giants Facebook, Twitter, and Google were due to testify before a Senate panel investigating the alleged Russian interference in the U.S. election.

The Senate judiciary subcommittee on crime and terrorism on October 27 said the executives would be among witnesses at a hearing on "ways to combat and reduce the amount of Russian propaganda and extremist content online."

With reporting by CNN, The New York Times, Reuters, AP, and AFP

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/us-russia-kremlin- says-not-accused-in-manafort-papadopoulos -indictments/28826196.html

Copyright (c) 2017. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Facebook, Twitter, Google Facing Tough Questions From Congressional Probes

RFE/RL October 31, 2017

WASHINGTON  Executives from some of the world's largest social media and Internet companies defended their companies and their policies, as U.S. senators grilled them on misuse of their platforms, in particular by Russia-linked accounts.

The October 31 testimony by lawyers and officials from Facebook, Google, and Twitter came amid mounting concern about the roles they may have played in Russia's efforts to meddle in the 2016 U.S. presidential election campaign.

The hearing before a panel of the Senate Judiciary Committee was the first of three congressional appearances the officials will be making this week.

Along with House and Senate Intelligence committees, the judiciary committee is playing a leading role in investigating the conclusions that were reached by the U.S. intelligence community and released in a report in January. That report accused Moscow of orchestrating a hacking-and-propaganda campaign aimed at swaying last year's election.

In the months since that report, investigations by media outlets and congressional investigators have turned up thousands of examples of Russian-linked "trolls" and automated "bots" being used to spread fake news.

Democratic Senator Al Franken demanded to know why Facebook couldn't figure out whether an advertisement paid for in Russian rubles had in fact been purchased by a Russian account.

"How could you not connect those two dots?" Franken asked.

Ahead of the congressional hearings, Facebook disclosed that it had found 80,000 posts published by Russia-based operatives that were aimed at swaying U.S. voters. The company also said about 126 million Americans may have viewed those posts over a two-year period.

Twitter, meanwhile, said in written testimony released before the hearings that it had found far more accounts linked to the same Russian operatives, working with an organization known as the Internet Research Agency.

Exceeding Previous Estimates

The disclosures shows that Russian efforts to influence political opinion in the United States far exceeded the previous estimate.

Facebook said most of the posts, which could have been viewed by voters over Facebook's news feeds or through endorsements and "likes" by other Facebook users, focused on divisive social and political messages such as race relations.

The leading social network, which has 2 billion monthly users worldwide and at least 214 million in the United States alone, said that such "organic" posts that appear in users' news feeds are distinct from more than 3,000 advertisements linked to the Russian agency that Facebook previously disclosed and turned over to congressional committees.

The ads -- many of which also focused on divisive social issues such as race and immigration -- directed people to click the advertiser's pages, where they could then like or share its material.

"These actions run counter to Facebook's mission of building community and everything we stand for. And we are determined to do everything we can to address this new threat," Facebook General Counsel Colin Stretch said in his written testimony.

Automated Tweets

Twitter said it found 2,752 accounts connected with the Internet Research Agency and it has suspended all of them and given the account names to congressional investigators.

The Russia-linked accounts put out 1.4 million election-related tweets from September 2016 through November 15, 2016, nearly half of them automated, the company said.

The company also found nine Russian accounts that bought ads, most of which came from RT, the state-funded news service formerly known as Russia Today. Twitter said last week it would no longer accept ads from RT and Sputnik, another Russian state news outlet.

"State-sanctioned manipulation of elections by sophisticated foreign actors is a new challenge for us -- and one that we are determined to meet," Twitter officials said in written testimony.

Google, the world's largest Internet search engine, announced in a blog post that it found evidence of "limited" misuse of its services by the Russian group, as well as some YouTube channels that were likely backed by Russian agents.

It said that two accounts linked to the Russian group spent $4,700 on ads on its platforms during the 2016 election.

Google said it also found 18 YouTube channels that were likely backed by Russian agents. Those channels hosted 1,108 videos with 43 hours of material, although they racked up just 309,000 views in the United States between June 2015 and November 2016, it said.

"While we have found only limited activity on our services, we will continue to work to prevent all of it, because there is no amount of interference that is acceptable," Google said in the blog post.

With reporting by AP

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/facebook-twitter-google -cogress-hearing-russia/28826746.html

Copyright (c) 2017. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Back Off: Beijing Tells US South China Sea Disputes Not Theirs to Solve

Sputnik News

22:03 31.10.2017

Beijing has warned the US to stop meddling in South China Sea territorial disputes in advance of US President Donald Trump's visit to several East Asian nations, including the Philippines, China, South Korea and Japan.

Matters of disagreement in the South China Sea should be resolved by a code of conduct created by regional parties, as opposed to US arbitration, Cui Tiankai, China's ambassador to the US, said in Washington on Monday.

According to Stars and Stripes, China's aim is to clear up disputes with other island claimants, among them Malaysia, Brunei, Vietnam and Taiwan, in a "friendly and effective way," Cui said.

Foreign ministers of the members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and China reached accord on a framework for the code of conduct in early August. "ASEAN and China have just agreed to a framework for that code," Carl Thayer, emeritus professor at the University of New South Wales, told Sputnik News on August 11.

"They set out a timetable, that they will approve it and further it in August and commence consultations in November to draw up the code of conduct," Thayer explained.

Cui's focus on the code of conduct can be interpreted as "sending a message as Trump is starting his trip to Asia," Brad Glosserman, a senior adviser for the Center for Strategic and International Studies' Pacific Forum, told Stripes.

Regarding obstacles for completing the code, Thayer said, "the legally binding nature is another step, and at present, China seems to be pressing the foreign ministers to sign the document, and that would be non-legally binding, but some of the ASEAN members are saying that the national legislatures such as China's National People's Congress should ratify it with the United Nations."

ASEAN and China need to clarify "dispute management mechanisms" in the code to address incidents such as two ships crashing into one another, or if one party starts new construction on an island, both of which have become pressing concerns in 2017.

 Sputnik

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US Navy, Marines Launch Drills in Okinawa Ahead of Trump Visit to Asia

Sputnik News

20:56 31.10.2017(updated 21:24 31.10.2017)

Trump will arrive in South Korea on November 8 during his 12-day trip to the region - the longest visit to Asia by a US president in the last 25 years.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik)  The US Navy has announced an amphibious and aerial training exercise in Okinawa dubbed Blue Chromite conducted together with the Marine Corps.

"The exercise is designed to evaluate forward deployed battalions and squadrons while maximizing the number of III Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF) units conducting operations while fully integrated with naval forces."

Blue Chromite is an annual exercise and this year it is conducted ahead of President Donald Trump's scheduled visit to South Korea, China and Vietnam amid heightened tensions between the United States and North Korea. Washington has already dispatched three aircraft carrier strike groups to the Asia-Pacific within range of North Korea.

According to the US Navy release, its dock landing ship Ashland and the 1st Marine Battalion on board the ship were set to sea on Monday to begin the exercise.

The Ashland has been deployed for five months in the Asia-Pacific and is described as a ready-response asset for any contingency.

Trump's Visit to Asia

Trump will arrive in South Korea on November 8 during his 12-day trip to the region  the longest visit to Asia by a US president in the last 25 years.

According to a senior administration official, Trump will not make a stop at the demilitarized zone (DMZ) that separates North and South Korea.

However, Trump is set to speak to US and South Korean military members at Camp Humphreys, a US Army garrison located 55 miles south of Seoul.

The White House determined that Trump delivering a speech at Camp Humphreys would be more important than a stop at the DMZ in terms of messaging since the US president will underline South Korea's role in supporting the two countries' alliance.

US Defense Secretary James Mattis and Vice President Mike Pence have recently visited the DMZ.

Focus on China Trade

A balance in the trading relationship between the United States and China will be a major topic of discussion during US President Donald Trump's visit to China, a senior US administration official told reporters on Tuesday.

"On China, a big focus of the discussion, I think, with the Chinese government and also with the APEC [Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation] economies is the need to have a balance in the trading relationship," the official said.

According to the official, the bilateral economic relationship to be sustainable over the long-term, "China must provide fair and reciprocal treatment, not just to US firms, but firms across the region.

That means "ceasing predatory trade and investment practices," he added.

"We believe this reflexes slowdown and even a retreat in China's move toward a market oriented economy," the official stated.

Moreover, the official said Trump will continue to push China to follow through on its recently-made commitments  and those Beijing made when it joined the World Trade Organization  to take steps toward a more market-oriented economy.

"I think what we are seeing is the trajectory of retrenchment, the trajectory of moving away from market-based principles. And as a member of WTO that is not a sustainable direction, it is not a way to promote economic growth in the region. It's not a way for American and other companies to ensure fair access to their markets," the official said.

The official concluded that the United States would like to see China "move toward more the market-oriented, systemic changes that would be necessary to help really thrive and enhance growth in the region, and help all the economies thrive."

 Sputnik

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Spanish Constitutional Court Cancels Catalonia's Declaration of Independence

Sputnik News

14:50 31.10.2017(updated 19:51 31.10.2017)

The move comes just a day after the Catalan parliament has recognized its dissolution as part of Madrid's measures to impose direct rule over the region after its unilateral declaration of independence dubbed illegal by the Spanish leadership.

The Spanish Constitutional Court has announced its ruling canceling Catalonia'a declaration of independence, according to the court's spokesperson.

A source from the court told Sputnik that the Supreme Court of Spain has registered a lawsuit against Catalan parliament speaker Carme Forcadell and several other senior lawmakers "for further legal proceedings."

The lawsuits against Catalan government members were filed with the Audiencia Nacional rather than the Supreme Court because the members of the Generalitat had been stripped of their powers by Madrid.

The ruling comes just few days after the Catalan parliament in a secret ballot voted in favor of a motion to declare the region's independence from Spain in a move prompting Madrid to immediately respond by invoking Article 155 of the Constitution, imposing direct rule over the region. The measures also included the sacking of the Catalan leader, Carles Puigdemont, and the dismissal of the region's parliament, with local elections scheduled to take place in December.

While Puigdemon, who later left Catalonia for Brussels, has refused to recognize Madrid's decision and called for peaceful resistance, the Catalan parliament decided to recognize its dissolution on Monday.

Most recently, former speaker of the Catalan parliament Carme Forcadell and five other members of the now dissolved legislature, including Luis Corominas, a member of a pro-independence faction Junts pel Si, have been summoned to testify in Spain's Supreme Court on Thursday and Friday, according to local media reports.

Puigdemon on Dialogue With Madrid

Commenting on his possible return to Catalonia, Puigdemon, who faces rebellion charges, has said that he would return when given "guarantees" and emphasized that he didn't ask asylum in Belgium contrary to media claims. "I'm not here to demand political asylum," he told reporters.

Puigdemont has explained that he had arrived in Brussels because the the city is the de facto capital of the European Union.

"We are not getting away from our responsibility but we need judicial guarantees within the European Union because we are Europeans, we are free," the former Catalan president said, addinf that he and other former members of the Catalan government allegedly faced threats amid the region's struggle for independence.

Speaking at a press conference in Brussels, ex-Catalan leader, Puigdemon has said that holding dialogue with Madrid in current conditions is impossible.

"The executive power of the Generalitat has adopted a plan of work, in which the priority would be given to prevention of violence and ensuring security If the Spanish government wants to use violence as basis for their activities, it will be impossible to embroil Catalonia in it We cannot accept a scenario, which rejects the project of independence."

Nevertheless, he vowed to respect the result of the local elections set for December. "The election of 21st of December is a challenge and we are taking this challenge with all of our strength. We will respect the results of the elections  like we have done always, irrespective of the results. I would like to ask the Spanish government a question, will it do the same?"

According to the sacked leader, Catalonia's independence drive must "slow down."

Catalonia's former leadership faces rebellion, sedition charges and embezzlement over the decision to hold the independence referendum. Under the Spanish law, rebellion is a crime punishable by up to 30 years in jail.

 Sputnik

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India Not Going to Supply Weapons to Afghanistan for Anti-Taliban Operation

Sputnik News

13:41 31.10.2017(updated 15:01 31.10.2017)

Afghanistan, after consulting with the US, has officially requested India to hand over some of its most lethal weapons including the Russian-made Mi-25 and Mi-35 aircraft to the Afghan National Army fighting against the Taliban.

NEW DELHI (Sputnik)  New Delhi has made it clear that it has no immediate plans of supplying weapons to the Afghan forces to help in the counter-offensive against the Taliban.

"We have no plans to supply weapons to Afghanistan. India's role will be limited to providing training to the Afghan security forces. Besides, India is already providing the medical support system to Afghan forces for the treatment of soldiers injured during operations," top sources in the Ministry of Defense told Sputnik on Monday.

After the recent visit of US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson to India and Afghanistan, there were fresh speculations that India might agree to supply weapons to the insurgency-hit country as the US wants India to get more actively involved in the Afghanistan-Pakistan region.

"India will be an important partner in the effort to ensure peace and stability in Afghanistan. We welcome its role in supporting Afghanistan," the US Secretary of State said during his visit to India last week.

Rex Tillerson had also assured India that the US will continue to strengthen India's capability to provide security throughout the region as a leading power.

"In the changing Asian geopolitical situation, the US wants India to play a major role in the Indo-Pacific region. In fact, the US wants India to increase its sphere of influence in the region, especially in Afghanistan since the US wants to reduce the influence of Pakistan and China in the region. One of the objectives of Rex Tillerson's recent visit to India was to put pressure on the Indian government to toe to their line. But India has a clear and precise Afghanistan policy. India's policy is more focused towards capacity-building of Afghan defense forces," Major General (Rtd) A K Siwach told Sputnik.

Last year, Afghanistan formally requested India to hand over some of its most lethal weapons including the Russian-made Mi-25 and Mi-35 aircraft, to the fledgling Afghan National Army and also to assist in the restoration of its Soviet-era tank and ammunition factories. When the Afghan Army Chief General Qadam Shah Shamim visited New Delhi in August 2016, he handed over a list of weapons including the Russian made attack and utility helicopters, artillery, ammunition, tanks and "trainer" vehicles to the Indian authorities. The list was reportedly prepared in consultation with the United States.

 Sputnik

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UN Security Council urges more protections for children in conflicts

31 October 2017  Deeply concerned about the abuse of children in war zones, the United Security Council today  in a debate in New York which included Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and his special envoy on the issue  urged countries and non-State actors to allow children access to education and healthcare during and post-conflicts.

The Council said that it is "gravely concerned by the scale and severity" of human rights abuses and violations of international humanitarian law committed against children in some countries, including terrorism, mass abductions, and sexual slavery, which can cause displacement and affect access to education and healthcare services.

Through a statement agreed by all 15 of its members, the Council also noted that children's international human rights continue to be violated "with impunity" in some countries, and stressed that the best interests of children, as well as their needs and vulnerabilities, be considered when making any decisions related to children in war zones.

Welcoming the Secretary-General's "enhanced engagement" with parties on the issue, the Council reiterated that protection of children should be an important aspect of a comprehensive strategy to resolve conflict and sustain peace.

Addressing the Council's day-long debate, the Mr. Guterres said children around the world are suffering "enormously and unacceptably," resulting in "global shame."

"If we leave the next generation traumatized, seething with grievances, we betray those we serve and we betray ourselves," he said in the open debate of the Council.

He pointed to his latest report on the issue, which included a record high number of child casualties in Afghanistan, a doubling of verified cases of recruitment and use of children in Syria and Somalia, and widespread sexual violence against children in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Nigeria, South Sudan and other countries.

However, the report, which was presented to the Council earlier this month, also notes "better" protections, including the release of children held in Somali prisons, and "substantive" measures taken by the coalition in Yemen led by Saudi Arabia.

"We need to strengthen our engagement with regional and sub-regional actors," Mr. Guterres said, stressing the need for additional legal and political commitments to protect children, and urging Member States to provide resources to support these initiatives.

He also appealed to all parties to the conflicts to work with the UN, to ensure protection for "the most precious resource of your countries: your children."

Among the dozens of other speakers who addressed the Council today was the Secretary-General's Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, Virginia Gamba.

She said children are used "as fuel of war," and called for international action to address the use of children "as expendable commodities by warring parties."

Echoing the Secretary-General's call for resources, the Special Representative appealed for adequate funds to implement and sustain reintegration, reinsertion and reskilling programmes to support children conscripted into armies. She also reiterated that such children, including girls, are primarily victims.

Violations of child protection provisions must be investigated and violators held to account, she said: "Accountability must be prioritized to break cycles of violence aid prevention efforts."

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Unrest in Cameroon's Anglophone regions sends thousands fleeing to Nigeria  UN agency

31 October 2017  The United Nations refugee agency is scaling up efforts with partners to provide humanitarian assistance to thousands of Cameroonians who have fled violence in that country's Anglophone regions to south-eastern Nigeria.

"UNHCR [the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees] is working with the Nigerian Government and other UN agencies on a contingency plan, readying humanitarian assistance for up to 40,000 people crossing into Nigeria," Babar Baloch, spokesperson for UNHCR, told reporters Tuesday at the regular press briefing in Geneva.

However, he pointed out that "our fear is that 40,000 might actually be a conservative figure in a situation where the conflict might continue."

UNHCR and its Nigeria teams are currently evaluating the situation in various locations in south-eastern Nigeria and have registered some 2,000 people so far.

Additional 3,000 are awaiting registration, while more people might be stranded in forests in Cameroon when trying to cross the border.

Moreover, the UN agency has distributed relief items such as mattresses, blankets, mosquito nets, cooking utensils, hygiene kits, as well as 40 tons of food in Nigeria's Cross River state.

"The current influx of Cameroonians seeking refuge in Nigeria poses additional challenges to the international community and a burden to an already stretched assistance," Mr. Baloch explained.

Nigeria and Cameroon are already grappling with one of the world's worst humanitarian crises, with 2.5 million people displaced by Boko Haram insurgency, according to UNHCR.

Cameroon's Anglophone regions have seen multiple strikes and demonstrations over the past year as tensions have mounted over what the country's English-speakers see as discrimination against them in favour of the majority French-speaking population.

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Watchdog: Kabul's Territorial Control Dips to Lowest Level

By Ayaz Gul October 31, 2017

The government of Afghanistan's territorial control has declined to its lowest level in two years while battling a resurgent Taliban insurgency, a U.S. government watchdog revealed Tuesday.

In its quarterly report submitted to Congress, the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) noted 56.8 percent of the country's 407 districts are under government control or influence as of August, 2017.

The assessment shows a 15 percent decrease in territory held by Kabul in 2015 when SIGAR began analyzing district control data.

"As of August 2017, there were 54 districts [13.3 percent] under insurgent control [13] or influence [41], an increase of nine districts over the last six months," the agency said.

Citing U.S. military assessments, it added that 11.4 percent of the country's population, or 3.7 million Afghans, now live in districts under insurgent control or influence. That's a 700,000-person increase over the last six months.

SIGAR reported that 30 percent or 122 Afghan districts are contested, and the statistic remained mostly unchanged.

"It was not clear whether these districts are at risk or if neither the insurgency nor the Afghan government exercises any significant control over these areas," it said, citing U.S. military assessments.

The Taliban also claims it captured several Afghan districts in October and has been inflicting heavy casualties on Afghan forces since launching its so-called "Mansouri" spring offensive this year. While Afghan forces lost nearly 7,000 personnel in the first 10 months of 2016, the figures reportedly are much higher this year.

The U.S. agency noted more than 60 percent of the roughly $121 billion in U.S. funding for reconstruction in Afghanistan since 2002 has gone to build up the Afghan forces. Also, the increased classification of Afghan forces' data will "hinder SIGAR's ability to publicly report on progress or failure in a key reconstruction sector."

In its latest report, SIGAR said Washington has agreed to classify data on the number of Afghan forces killed and wounded in the conflict. It quoted the U.S. military as telling the agency "the casualty data belonged to the Afghan government, and the government had requested that it be classified."

American combat casualties also are rising with the increase in U.S. troop commitment to the Afghan mission, according to SIGAR. Within the first eight months of this year, it noted, 10 American soldiers were killed and 48 were wounded. That is double the personnel killed in action when compared to the same periods in 2015 and 2016.

The embattled Afghan National Army saw a roughly 4,000-person decrease in force strength, while the Afghan National Police decreased by about 5,000

The watchdog also has reported a spike in "insider attacks" since the beginning of 2017, targeting both U.S. and Afghan forces. They are incidents involving renegade or pro-Taliban Afghan soldiers who turn their guns on colleagues or American partners.

U.S. military commanders hope President Donald Trump's new Afghan strategy that was unveiled in August will help Afghans reverse insurgent battlefield gains.

Washington has since taken on a greater combat role in Afghanistan, dropping 751 bombs against the Taliban and Islamic State in September, the highest monthly munitions since 2012, and conducting a record 2,400 airstrikes in the first nine months of 2017, according to SIGAR.

The intensified conflict also has led to a record increase in Afghan civilian casualties this year, warned the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, or UNAMA.

The mission documented a 52 percent increase in civilian casualties from Afghan coalition air operations in the first nine months of 2017, compared to the same period last year. More than two-thirds of these victims reportedly were women and children.

UNAMA attributed 177 or 38 percent of all civilian casualties from airstrikes to International military forces, although U.S. military disagreed with the assessment and methodology, offering instead that it had confirmed 43 civilian casualties caused by international airstrikes during this period, noted SIGAR in its report.

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US Social Media Giants Pledge to Combat Foreign Disinformation

By Michael Bowman October 31, 2017

Attorneys for Twitter, Facebook and Google on Tuesday told U.S. lawmakers that Russian entities used their platforms to sow discord and disinformation during the 2016 U.S. presidential campaign, but downplayed the magnitude of those efforts.

"Foreign actors used fake accounts to place ads in Facebook and Instagram that reached millions of Americans over a two-year period," Facebook General Counsel Colin Stretch said, testifying before a Senate Judiciary subcommittee. "Many of these ads and posts are inflammatory. Some are downright offensive."

Sean Edgett, Twitter's acting general counsel, said the company studied all tweets posted from Sept. 1 to Nov. 15, 2016, and found that election-related content posted by automated Russian troll accounts "was comparatively small." He said the Russian troll accounts made up "around 1/100th of a percent of total Twitter accounts" during the time studied.

"Twitter believes that any activity of that kind  regardless of magnitude  is unacceptable and we agree we must do better to prevent it," he said.

Twitter has taken action against the suspected Russian trolls, suspending 2,752 accounts and implementing new dedicated teams "to enhance the quality of the information our users see," Edgett said.

Facebook, meanwhile, said it would hire more people to vet and, when necessary, remove content, and verify and publish the identities of election advertisers.

Bipartisan legislation has been introduced in the Senate requiring some of the very steps technology giants say they are implementing on their own.

"These platforms are being used by people who wish us harm and wish to undercut our way of life," said Republican Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina.

"It shouldn't be news to anyone that Russia interfered in the election," said California Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein. "What is really staggering and hard to fully comprehend is how easily and successfully they turned modern technologies to their advantage."

The social media attorneys said Russian trolling campaigns consistently sought to rile up Americans, first in a way damaging to Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton. After the election, they said, Russian efforts appeared aimed at sowing doubts about the legitimacy of Republican Donald Trump's victory at the polls  a point seized upon by Republican Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa.

"Russia does not have loyalty to a political party in the United States; their goal is to divide us and discredit our democracy," Grassley said.

Representatives from the same social media companies testify Wednesday before the House and Senate Intelligence Committees.

VOA's Joshua Fatzick contributed to this report.

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North Korea denies involvement in global ransomware attack

Iran Press TV

Tue Oct 31, 2017 08:33AM

North Korea has denounced Britain's allegation that Pyongyang has been involved in a global ransomware attack as a "wicked attempt" to cause an outcry against North Korea.

Back in May, a third of Britain's public hospitals were affected by the WannaCry virus, which spread through devices across the world and locked them in exchange for cash.

The ransomware attack hit up to 300,000 computers in 150 countries.

Some experts said at the time that they had detected signs of a possible North Korean links, saying the code used had been similar to past hacks attributed to Pyongyang.

British Home Office Minister Ben Wallace on October 27 blamed Pyongyang for the cyberattack, which also hit the UK's National Health Service (NHS), saying the UK government was "as sure as possible" that North Korea had been behind the attack.

A spokesman for the North's Korea-Europe Association rejected the accusation, warning the UK against "groundless speculation."

"This is an act beyond the limit of our tolerance and it makes us question the real purpose behind the UK's move," the official Korean Central News Agency quoted the spokesman as saying on Monday.

"The moves of the UK government to doggedly associate the DPRK (Democratic People's Republic of Korea, North Korea's official name) with the cyberattack cannot be interpreted in any other way than a wicked attempt to lure the international community into harboring greater mistrust of the DPRK," the spokesman said.

North Korea has already been under United Nations sanctions over its nuclear and missile programs.



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'Nothing to Apologize For' - Still, Seoul Won't Install More THAAD Systems

Sputnik News

03:44 31.10.2017

Seoul will not move forward with deploying more Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile batteries.

"We are not considering any additional THAAD deployment," South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha told lawmakers Monday, Yonhap News reports.

The US and South Korean militaries began installing THAAD batteries, designed to intercept short-, medium- and intermediate-range ballistic missiles, in May, much to China's and Russia's ire.

The deployment has been touted by the US as a necessary measure to neutralize North Korean missiles, but they aren't adequate for what might be North Korea's most potent threat: artillery shells aimed at South Koreans and the nearly 30,000 US forces stationed on the Korean Peninsula.

THAAD isn't capable of intercepting artillery shells, Russian Foreign Ministry official Georgiy Borisenko pointed out during an interview with Sputnik News. "Therefore, they are simply not needed against North Korea. So, we and our partners in China are well-aware that

THAAD is directed against Russia and China," Borisenko said October 11.

Kang disputed the charges during her comments, insisting THAAD is not intended to threaten regional parties. "As explained on many occasions before, the THAAD system is a self-defense measure," the diplomat said, adding that Seoul has "nothing to apologize for."

The controversial missile defense systems attracted widespread domestic resistance, too. Hundreds of South Korean residents and police clashed during protests in June when the US installed four more THAAD units, bring the total number of THAAD systems in South Korea to six.

Each THAAD system features six vehicle-mounted launchers, 48 interceptors, a fire and control communications unit, and an AN/TYP-2 radar. They were installed in Seogju, South Korea, 300 km (186 miles) from Seoul.

South Korea and the US agreed to jointly deploy THAAD in July 2016, "as a defensive measure" to "protect alliance military forces from North Korea's weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile threats," the Pentagon said at the time.

 Sputnik

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Chinese Strategic Warplanes Regularly Practice Bombing Guam

Sputnik News

02:15 01.11.2017(updated 02:24 01.11.2017)

Chinese warplanes have been rehearsing an attack on Guam, giving the US reason to worry about "the way things are going" in the Pacific theater.

People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLA-AF) H-6 strategic bombers have been "practicing attacks on Guam," a US territory, while conducting "not infrequent" flybys near Hawaii, US defense officials told Defense News on Tuesday.

The US believes a war with North Korea is a "fight we can win," US Gen. Joseph Dunford, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said in a Tuesday briefing with reporters in Hawaii. But the outcome of war with China is less certain. The US worries about the "way things are going" with respect to China's activities in the region, the general noted.

China has maintained a mutual defense treaty with North Korea since 1961, having previously come to their rescue during the Korean War; a position the Chinese rearticulated in August as the crisis reached fever pitch.

In early September, the Chinese People's Liberation Army-Air Force conducted large-scale defensive exercises mere miles from the North Korean border, Sputnik reported.

Japan scrambled more than 900 sorties in response to Chinese warplanes breaching Japanese airspace since the start of 2017, Defense News noted.

"When we look at the capabilities China is developing, we've got to make sure we maintain the ability to meet our alliance commitments in the Pacific," Dunford added.

China's naval and air forces have made significant strides in 2017. The People's Liberation Army Air Force commissioned Chengdu's stealthy J-20 in late September, making it just the third aircraft in the world to become what mature air forces consider a "fifth-generation" aircraft, namely the F-22 Raptor and F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. And in April, the Chinese navy commissioned its first domestically-produced aircraft carrier.

According to Dunford, "there are some who try to create a narrative that we are not in the Pacific to stay. Our message is that we are a Pacific power. We intend to stay in the Pacific. Our future economic prosperity is inextricably linked to our security and political relationships in the region."

 Sputnik

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Trilateral Cooperation Needed to Combat North Korean Threat

By Jim Garamone DoD News, Defense Media Activity

WASHINGTON, Oct. 31, 2017  The world is united against North Korea's nuclear and missile threats and nations are working together to counter the dangers of Kim Jong Un's ambitions, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said Oct. 29 following the trilateral military meeting with South Korean and Japanese leaders.

Marine Corps Gen. Joe Dunford hosted his counterparts -- South Korean Air Force Gen. Jeong Kyeong-doo, chairman of the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Adm. Katsutoshi Kawano, Japan Self-Defense Force chief of staff -- in trilateral talks at U.S. Pacific Command headquarters in Hawaii that focused narrowly on the threat posed by North Korea.

The chairman said the first thing the three military leaders did was establish a baseline of the threat. "One of the first discussions we had was on how we see [North Korea]," Dunford said to reporters traveling with him. "We have a common understanding of the challenge. As military leaders we have a common understanding about the coherent, collective response to that challenge. What we try to do is find ways to enhance our collective abilities."

Trilateral, Multilateral Cooperation

To combat North Korea's nuclear and missile threats, the military leaders agreed the nations need to work together both on a trilateral basis and in multilateral efforts. "That includes missile defense and any planning and focus on the nuclear threat posed by North Korea," Dunford said.

South Korean leaders agreed, saying that trilateral cooperation is a proper response for missile defense and the nuclear threat. For ballistic missile defense, time is of the essence. Good communications among the nations is crucial to safeguarding the people of the region and the United States.

This was the fifth trilateral meeting since 2014, and cooperation has been easier each time, defense officials said. "Essentially, in the next year the chiefs of defense agreed to improve ballistic missile defenses, all wrapped up with better sharing of data, and to conduct routine exercises to ensure we have a coherent collective response to ballistic missile defense," Dunford said.

The three leaders agreed to meet twice in the coming year.

"We had discussions two years ago about ballistic missile defense and information sharing and since then we have done a number of exercises and improved trilateral ballistic missile defense capability over the past two years," Dunford said. "We talked about information sharing and we actually now have links to be able to provide information across the three countries in a much more effective way."

Kim Jong Un tested intercontinental ballistic missiles in July -- alleging that the missiles can reach "anywhere in the world" -- and detonated a nuclear device Sept. 3. Two intermediate range missiles overflew Japan on Aug. 29 and Sept. 15. Kim has threatened to launch and detonate a hydrogen bomb over the Pacific, and world leaders must treat that threat as credible, defense officials have said.

Successful ballistic missile defense needs to have the United States, South Korea and Japan sharing information and intelligence quickly, and the three leaders promised to do so.

Japan Critical to Response

"If we do have to respond [to North Korea] militarily, Japan is a critical platform from which the United States is going to meet its alliance commitments to [South] Korea," Dunford said. "We have more than 50,000 forces in Japan. It is a platform from which we project power in a South Korean response. So the military relationship between South Korea and Japan is very important."

But multilateralism has additional uses, the chairman said, including maritime interdiction operations, humanitarian assistance and disaster response exercises and anti-submarine warfare. Nations in the region are concerned about the North Korean threat and will work with South Korea, Japan, the United States and others to enforce United Nations Security Council resolutions and the sanctions they impose on the Kim regime, Dunford said.

During the trilateral meeting, the military leaders discussed where already-planned U.S. Pacific Command exercises can be leveraged to improve multilateral capability in the region.

Pacom is part of a broader, regional meeting of chiefs of defense, where leaders discuss the full range of defense issues in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region.

"It is important that Japanese and South Korean military leaders are talking. From a deterrence perspective it is important that Kim Jong Un and [North Korea] see that they are facing a collective response from the international community, in particular those nations most affected," Dunford said.

The chairman said the military-to-military relationship between Korean and Japanese forces is professional, but acknowledged that there are challenges that must be worked out.

Defeating the threat is tough, he said. The preferred solution is that Kim Jong Un realize the error of his ways and he steps away from nuclear and missile technology, Dunford said, adding that United Nations sanctions need time to bite, and perhaps that will convince the North Korean leader.

But ensuring defense also takes time, the chairman said. "You have to ensure that the path of capability development is on the ascent," he said.

"From year to year, it is hard to measure incremental increases in capability development, but now I am able to look back over the two years that we've been meeting and I feel pretty good about it," Dunford said. "We've put in place material changes to our ability to respond."

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Indian Army Launches Global Hunt for Advanced Sniper Rifle Night Sights

Sputnik News

17:57 31.10.2017(updated 18:02 31.10.2017)

In order to minimize casualties during cross-border firings, the Indian Army, of late, has been equipping its weapons' systems with long-range sight vision that can detect targets at a distance of at least 1,300 meters.

NEW DELHI (Sputnik)  In a bid to enhance the night capability of its infantry deployed along the border, the Indian Army has floated a requirement for 5,500 long-range night sights for sniper rifles which can detect enemy from a minimum distance of 1,300 meter,. Since most modern rifles and tanks now have night fighting capability, swift movement of mechanized forces is now possible during the night as well.

The sight should have suitable reticle pattern that enables aiming up to 1,200 meters in order to facilitate the night firing of 8.6mm (0.338 inches) sniper. This is very critical in the backdrop of persistent cross-border violation along the western border which takes a heavy toll of the Indian troops.

"The Indian Army seeks uncooled thermal imaging night sight with the latest technology parameters in order to help the soldier to fire the 8.6mm sniper rifle accurately. The sight should be able to fit on MIL STD 1913 compliant Picatinny rail," an Indian Army official told Sputnik.

The tender for purchase of approximately 5,500-night sights is expected to be issued in June 2018. In the past, India had imported Thermal Imaging (TI) sights for T 72 tanks from Poland. These are also available in some other countries like France, Israel, Russia, Ukraine and the USA.

Apart from equipping the sniper rifles with long range night sights, sources told Sputnik that the Army is going to issue a tender to purchase 15,000 uncooled thermal imaging sights for its 84 mm Carl Gustaf rocket launcher which is the standard anti-tank weapon sanctioned to each Infantry platoon. The long-range night sights will be able to detect rival tanks and other enemy assets from a minimum distance of 1,200 meter,. The Indian Army will use this to destroy the enemy's armored vehicles, concrete bunkers, landing craft, and aircraft. Presently, the Carl Gustaf cannot fire in the dark if the target area is not illuminated.

 Sputnik

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India's Medium Lift Combat Helicopters to Get Advanced Weapons Upgrade

Sputnik News

17:05 31.10.2017(updated 17:06 31.10.2017)

The installation of helicopter mounted machine guns which the Indian Air Force intends to purchase soon would significantly augment the overall capability of the Mi-8, Mi-17, and Mi-17-IVs helicopters of Russian origin.

NEW DELHI (Sputnik)  The Indian Air Force's medium-lift helicopters of Russian origin are heading in for yet another upgrade. The Indian Air Force has announced the purchase of 7.62 x 51 mm caliber heavy machine guns that would be fitted to these helicopters for military operations.

"India's Ministry of Defense intends to procure helicopter mounted machine guns along with associated spare parts, equipment, and ammunition. The guns should have an effective range of 1,000 meters or more which will be fitted onto medium lift class helicopters on the entry doors of both sides. It should be easily detachable," the Request for Information (RFI) reads.

The RFI further specifies that the sighting system should be stabilized and should be able to aim by day and night with appropriate magnification in both the environments. The document indicates that the helicopters would be deployed at the western border. Medium Lift Helicopters of the IAF are operated for commando assault tasks, ferrying supplies and personnel to remote mountain helipads and logistic support tasks in the island territories, Siachen Glacier, apart from combat roles.

Interestingly, the Indian Air Force is not seeking to purchase the machine guns under the transfer of technology arrangement.

"Transfer of Technology is not being sought. However, vendors are to indicate their capability to execute the project and provide product support including technical support for maintenance of the equipment during its service life including warranty. The service life of the facility should be at least 10 years," the RFI says.

 Sputnik

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India, Russia Poised to Ink $1 Bln Deal in 2018 For Kamov-226T

Sputnik News

17:04 31.10.2017

Sixty helicopters will be received in flight-ready condition from Russia while another 40 will be assembled in India and the remaining 100 will be fully built in India.

New Delhi (Sputnik)  The Indian armed forces are all set to finally receive light utility helicopters starting next year as the Indian government is expected to ink a contract with India-Russia Helicopters Limited for the supply of 200 Kamov Ka-226T as early as the first quarter of 2018. The Indian armed forces are in dire need of such helicopters to augment their strength along the Chinese border.

"We discussed all aspects of the Ka-226T project. (It was) agreed that the contract should be signed in the beginning of 2018," Andrei Boginsky, CEO of Russian Helicopters told the PTI after the meeting with the Indian defense minister Nirmala Sitharaman in New Delhi.

India-Russia Helicopter Limited, the joint venture incorporated in June of this year, has a 49.5 percent stake in Russia's Rostec Corp. and the remaining 50.5 percent is owned by India's Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL). Under the deal for 200 Kamov Ka-226Ts, 60 helicopters will be received in flight-ready condition from Russia while another 40 will be assembled in India and the remaining will be 100 fully built in India.

Last week, HAL chairman T. Suvarna Raju said that things are moving fast and that a request for quotation (RFQ) is likely to be issued by the Indian defense ministry soon.

Earlier Russian Helicopters said in a statement that Andrei Boginsky would discuss with Indian Defense Minister Nirmala Sitharaman the possibilities of increasing the import of helicopters to India and how to arrange after sales maintenance for helicopters manufactured in Russia as well as the supply of spare parts and components.

HAL is also developing a single engine three-ton light utility helicopter independently; two prototypes have already been released. HAL is expected to freeze the helicopter configuration by the end of this year but it will take at least five years for the project to be realized.

 Sputnik

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Iran to build 2 nuclear power plants with Russian help: AEOI Chief

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Boushehr, Oct 31, IRNA -- Iran started building two new nuclear power plants with the help of Russians, said Head of Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) in Bushehr, southern Iran, on Tuesday.

Ali Akbar Salehi hoped that the first unit will finish in seven years, and the second unit will finish in two years after the first one (i.e. nine years from now).

Implementation of Iran nuclear deal also known as Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) has paved the way for building the two mentioned units in Bushehr Power Plant, Salehi said on Monday.

The two units are supposed to be constructed within the framework of safeguard agreements with International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) as well, he said.

The agreement was signed three years ago in Moscow, he added.

Salehi had previously mentioned that the second and third units of Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant will each have the production capacity of 1,057 MW.

The operation is reported to be worth about $10 billion.

9417**2050

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US sanctions on IRGC pretext for economic pressures on Iran: Comdr

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Tehran, Oct 31, IRNA -- United States intends to put Iran under economic pressures and Washington's attempts to sanction the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps is just a pretext for them to go ahead with their plot, the IRGC commander said on Tuesday.

'Targeting the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps and Iran's missile capabilities are just pretexts,' IRGC Commander Major General Mohammad Ali Jafari said at a national conference held in Tehran.

'Their main aim is to persuade us into giving up the path of the Islamic Revolution,' General Jafari said.

He said that Iran has repeatedly had to deal with the US disloyalties.

'Why do they expect us to believe them?' he asked.

In its recent decision, US has put Iran's IRGC on its list of terrorist groups. The move has been described by the Iranian officials as ridiculous.

Donald Trump in August, gave the go-ahead for imposition of wide-ranging sanctions against Iran, Russia and North Korea by signing a law known as CAATSA.

CAATSA, by enhancing US sanctions against the three countries, unprecedented over the past five years, targets Iran's ballistic missile program, while it prepare the legal basis for sanctioning the IRGC on allegations of its support for terrorism.

By placing new sanctions on Iran, Washington is acting in defiance of the 2015 nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

1483**2044

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Iran: No renegotiation on nuclear deal, defense issues

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Tehran, Oct 31, IRNA -- Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Ali Shamkhani said on Tuesday that Iran will not renegotiate the nuclear deal, or its defense issues.

Shamkhani who was speaking to reporters at Iran's Press Exhibition in Tehran, said, 'Besides the fact that Iran has practically shown it is abiding by the deal, the International Atomic Energy Agancy has verified it eight times, too.'

Iran and major world powers signed the nuclear deal in 2015 under which Iran accepted to curb its nuclear activities in exchange for sanction relief. However, the US President Donald Trump has claimed that he would cancel the deal or put it to re-negotiation.

'We will not renegotiate any article of the JCPOA, whatsoever, and there would be no more talks on the defense issues, under any circumstances,' Shamkhani said.

Talks on Iran's missile program is over and we will supply our needs within our domestic capabilities, he said.

The 23rd Press Exhibition began on October 27 in Imam Khomeini Mosalla in Tehran and runs until November 2.

9156**1771

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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
Iran Army Air Force drills begin in central country

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Isfahan, Oct 31, IRNA -- Iranian Army Air Force is conducting its seventh major drills, which began in the central province of Isfahan on Tuesday.

According to the Army Air Force sources, all units and squadrons from the Iranian Army Air Force bases across the country, including fighters, transport planes and different types of drones will take part in the two-day drills.

The drills are aimed at simulating real battle scenes, General Massoud Roozkhosh said.

Roozkhosh said that the Iran Army Air Force maneuver is also aimed at upgrading the commanders' skill in planning and controlling the air operations, electronic warfare and testing their abilities to use innovative operational tactics during military engagements.

The drills display part of the Iranian Air Force combat power, the General said.

1483**2044

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Iranian missiles' range enough to target US forces in case of invasion: IRGC

ISNA - Iranian Students' News Agency

Tue / 31 October 2017 / 16:03

Tehran (ISNA) - The excavation process for building new sites for the second and third reactors of Bushehr nuclear power plant in southern Iran began on Tuesday.

The head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Ali Akbar Salehi, Chief Executive Officer of Rosatom Alexei Likhachev, nuclear officials from Russia, and a number of Iranian lawmakers have participated in the formal ceremony of work start in the foundation pit of main buildings of the power unit No. 2 of Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) in Iran.

At a joint press conference with Likhachev, Salehi said, "We hope that in the next seven years we will witness the setting up of the power unit No. 2 of Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant".

Salehi pointed out that he discussed with the Russian side the financing of the construction of the two reactors.

He emphasized that cooperation between Iran and Russia in the nuclear field was positive.

The commencement of construction took place a day before Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to Tehran.

Likhachev, for his part, said, "The construction cornerstone was laid in September 2016, followed by site preparatory work. The Bushehr-2 project enters the practical implementation phase from the foundation pit construction start".

The company keeps plans to start building the power unit No. 2 (so-called 'first concreting') in 2019.

Iran and Russia signed in November 2014 agreements to expand nuclear energy cooperation, including the construction of the two reactors. Operations are due in 2026.

End Item

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US seeks to create tension to prevent Iran from reaping nuclear deal benefits: Zarif

Iran Press TV

Tue Oct 31, 2017 06:46PM

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif says the US administration cannot use Congress decisions as a smokescreen, stressing that Washington seeks to create obstacles to prevent Iran from benefiting from the multilateral nuclear deal.

"The US internal regulations are the concern of this country but from the standpoint of the international community, the US administration is responsible for the implementation of its international commitments," Zarif said in an interview with the Islamic Consultative Assembly News Agency (ICANA), on Tuesday.

"Ultimately, we will make necessary decisions based on US measures," the top Iranian diplomat pointed out.

He said ill intention has been at work in US policies since President Donald Trump took office on January 20, 2017.

Zarif added that the US administration has been making efforts to prevent Iran from enjoying the advantages of the JCPOA, stressing such bids contradict Articles 26, 28 and 29 of the nuclear accord.

Iran and the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council  the United States, France, Britain, Russia and China  plus Germany signed the nuclear agreement on July 14, 2015 and started implementing it on January 16, 2016.

Under the JCPOA, Iran undertook to put limits on its nuclear program in exchange for the removal of nuclear-related sanctions imposed against Tehran.

The US president delivered an anti-Iran speech on October 13, in which he said he would not continue to certify Iran's compliance with the terms of the JCPOA, reached under his predecessor Barack Obama, and warned that he might ultimately terminate the agreement.

The US Congress now has less than 60 days to decide whether to reimpose economic sanctions on Tehran that were lifted under the nuclear accord.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Monday once again reiterated Iran's adherence to the nuclear agreement, stressing that UN inspectors are facing no problems in their verification efforts.

"The IAEA can state that such nuclear-related commitments are being implemented," the IAEA chief, Yukiya Amano, told a news conference in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates, on Monday.

The other parties to the accord - Britain, Germany, France, Russia, China - have all reaffirmed their commitment to it and urged the United States not to back out.

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Iran's missile program not negotiable at all: Shamkhani

Iran Press TV

Tue Oct 31, 2017 03:34PM

A senior Iranian official says the country's defense issues, including its missile program, are not negotiable at all.

Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Ali Shamkhani said on Tuesday that the Islamic Republic would never renegotiate any of the provisions of the landmark nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), reached between Iran and the P5+1 group of countries more than two years ago.

"On defensive issue, we will not renegotiate under any circumstances," he added.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran has proved in practice that it is abiding by the agreement and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has also confirmed it eight times," the SNSC secretary pointed out.

He emphasized that Iran would continue with strength to meet its needs in the defense sector through its domestic capabilities.

Shamkhani pointed to the US extension of the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) and said such restrictions would never have any influence on the Iranian nation's fundamental measures to defend its national identity and integrity.

On August 2, US President Donald Trump signed into law the CAATSA and imposed new sanctions on Iran over its missile tests.

The US president delivered an anti-Iran speech on October 13, in which he said he would not continue to certify Iran's compliance with the terms of the JCPOA, reached under his predecessor Barack Obama, and warned that he might ultimately terminate the agreement.

The US Congress now has less than 60 days to decide whether to reimpose economic sanctions on Tehran that were lifted under the nuclear accord.

The other parties to the accord -- Britain, Germany, France, Russia, China and the European Union -- have all reaffirmed their commitment to it and urged the United States not to back out.

Iran missile production unaffected by sanctions: Baqeri

Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Major General Mohammad Baqeri also said on Tuesday that the country's development of its missile systems are based on domestic resources and sanctions by the hegemonic system would never affect it.

Speaking to reporters, Baqeri added that Iran's missiles have a high accuracy and in many cases are capable of hitting their targets with pinpoint precision.

"We have repeatedly emphasized that the missiles of the Islamic Republic of Iran have been designed and manufactured only for defensive purposes and we have no intention to attack any country," the senior commander said.

Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said on Wednesday that Iran's defense might was not up for negotiation, stressing the country's resolve to strengthen its defense capabilities despite enemy attempts to weaken the nation.

"We have repeatedly announced, and declare once more that the country's defensive means and power are not up for negotiation and bargaining," the Leader stated.

The US House of Representatives, in Congress, on Thursday voted overwhelmingly to impose new sanctions against Iran's ballistic missile program. The "Iran Ballistic Missiles and International Sanctions Enforcement Act" was passed in the lower chamber of Congress with 423 votes in favor and two against.

To become law, the bill would have to pass the US Senate and be signed into law by President Trump.

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Iran Commanders Say Supreme Leader Limiting Ballistic Missile Range

RFE/RL's Radio Farda October 31, 2017

Two top Iranian military commanders say that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has restricted the range of ballistic missiles manufactured in the country to 2,000 kilometers.

It is the first time that high-ranking Iranian officials have mentioned a range limitation imposed by Khamenei, the commander in chief of the country's armed forces.

"Today, the range of our missiles, as the policies of Iran's supreme leader dictate, is limited to 2,000 kilometers, even though we are capable of increasing this range," Mohammad Ali Jafari, commander of the Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), said on October 31.

"We believe this range is enough for the Islamic republic as most of the U.S. forces and most of their interests in the region are within this range," Jafari told journalists on the sidelines of a conference in Tehran.

Meanwhile, the state-run Fars news agency quoted Iranian armed forces' chief of staff, General Mohammad Hossein Bagheri, as saying in the western city of Urmiya that Iran's missiles "have a 2,000-kilometer range, based on a limit prescribed by the commander in chief."

It was not clear from the two statements when Khamenei might have imposed a limit on the missiles' range.

The 2,000-kilometer range of ballistic missiles manufactured in Iran encompasses much of the Middle East, including Israel and U.S. military bases in the region, raising concerns for the United States and its allies.

'Destabilizing Actions'

The U.S. House of Representatives voted last week for a new round of sanctions on individuals and entities over Tehran's missile program and other "destabilizing actions."

President Donald Trump has urged U.S. allies to join Washington in taking strong action to curb Iran's "continued dangerous and destabilizing behavior," including sanctions targeting its missile development.

Jafari warned on October 31 that new sanctions against Iran "would only increase the number of Iranian missiles, and their precision."

Iran long has insisted its ballistic missiles are for defensive purposes.

With reporting by Reuters and AP

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-ballistic-missiles- range-200-km-khamenei/28826950.html

Copyright (c) 2017. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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UN Nuclear Inspections Chief Sees No Problems Checking Facilities In Iran

October 31, 2017

United Nations nuclear inspectors have encountered no problems in checking facilities in Iran to determine whether Tehran is complying with the 2015 nuclear deal, the head of the UN's atomic energy agency has said.

"Our inspectors are discharging their responsibilities without problem," International Atomic Energy Agency chief Yukiya Amano told reporters in Abu Dhabi on the sidelines of a conference on nuclear power on October 30.

The United States has pushed the UN agency to be aggressive in inspecting Iranian facilities and has questioned whether the agency was given strong enough authority to access Iranian military sites to determine whether Tehran is complying with curbs on its nuclear activities required under the accord in exchange for sanctions relief.

U.S. President Donald Trump called the accord's inspection regime "weak" in deciding earlier this month not to certify that Iran was complying with the agreement.

"We got weak inspections in exchange for no more than a purely short-term and temporary delay in Iran's path to nuclear weapons," Trump said on October 13.

But Amano has disputed the administration's claims, saying his inspectors have encountered no obstacles checking facilities in Iran and maintaining that "Iran is subject to the world's most robust nuclear-verification regime."

Amano on October 30 repeated his assessment that Tehran is keeping its commitments under the agreement one day after stating that conclusion after meeting with Iranian leaders in Tehran.

"I requested that Iran...fully implement the nuclear-related commitments. This [was] the main thrust of the meeting in Iran," Amano said. "The IAEA can state that such nuclear-related commitments are being implemented.

Based on reporting by AFP and Reuters

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/un-nuclear-inspections -chief-amano-sees-no-problems-checking- facilities-iran/28825431.html

Copyright (c) 2017. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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US Expands Sanctions on Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps

Sputnik News

18:38 31.10.2017(updated 19:08 31.10.2017)

Previously, Iran's elite force, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, vowed to teach the US "new lessons" if sanctioned.

The US Treasury Department has announced the expansion of sanctions on Iran's Revolutionary Guards, which were imposed on October 13 over IRGC allegedly "supporting terrorism," a claim strongly denied by Tehran.

The sanctions affect the Revolutionary Guard's Aerospace Force Self Suffiency Jihad Organization, Air Force, Al-Ghadir Missile Command, and the Research and Self-Sufficiency Jihad Organization, according to the Treasury's press release.

Moreover, the commander-in-chief of the IRGC has been also placed on the US sanctions list.

Iran has pledged to "strongly respond to any action against its military forces," while the Revolutionary Guards commander, Mohammad Ali Jafari, vowed to equate US forces with Daesh terrorist group (ISIS, banned in Russia) before the sanctions were imposed. According to Iranian government spokesman Mohammad Baker, labelling the IRGC a "terrorist group" would mean Washington itself supports terrorists.

Iran Nuclear Deal

Washington's decision to expand sanctions on Tehran come in the wake of US President Donald Trump's earlier decision not to certify Iran's compliance with the historic 2015 nuclear deal  also known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA)  prompting strong opposition of Tehran and other powers that had brokered the agreement.

Other members of the P5+1 group, including Russia and Germany, have confirmed Iran's adherence to its obligations under the nuclear deal. Most lately, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Yukiya Amano has yet again reiterated the Islamic Republic's implementation of "the nuclear-related commitments."

While Trump has been hinting at possible US intention to withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson stated that Washington aims to fully enforce the agreement as it is and "then begin the process of addressing the flaws," emphasizing that the agreement is in the best interest of the United States.

According to the JCPOA on Iran's nuclear program signed by Tehran and the P5+1 group of nations  a group comprised of the five permenant members of the UN Security Council  China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, the United States plus Germany  on July 14, 2015, in Vienna, Tehran has pledged to limit its nuclear activities, placing it under international control.

 Sputnik

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Iraqi army takes control of Turkey border gate from Kurds: Turkish PM

Iran Press TV

Tue Oct 31, 2017 02:39PM

Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildrim says Iraqi army forces have taken control of a key border crossing with Turkey in the Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdistan region after weeks of tensions between Baghdad government and Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) over last month's non-binding independence referendum.

Speaking at the ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party's parliamentary group meeting in Ankara on Tuesday, Yildirim said Turkish officials will remain in control of the Habur border gate on the Turkish side of the border, while Iraqi authorities will be in the control of the Ibrahim Khalil gate on the Iraqi side from now on.

The Turkish prime minister noted that "There was no problem during the handover," adding that transportation will continue on the current route.

"Those who take advantage of the route will be eliminated. Step-by-step checks and illegitimate taxes across the border will be removed," he said.

The new practice will enable Ankara and Baghdad to boost bilateral trade, Yildirim stated.

Yildirim went on to say that Turkey and Iraq will open another border gate in the near future, as part of a route that would lead to the city of Tal Afar, located 63 kilometers west of Mosul and home to a predominantly ethnic Turkmen population.

The referendum on secession of the Kurdistan region was held on September 25 despite strong opposition from Iraqi authorities, the international community, and Iraq's neighboring countries, especially Turkey and Iran.

On October 12, an Iraqi government spokesman said Baghdad had set a series of conditions that the KRG needed to meet before any talks on the resolution of the referendum crisis could start.

"The KRG must first commit to Iraq's unity. The local authorities in the [Kurdistan] region must accept the sovereign authority of the federal government on oil exports, [as well as] security and border protection, including land and air entry points," the unnamed Iraqi official added.

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Israel's F-35I Adir to Start Full Operations in December

Sputnik News

02:53 31.10.2017

Israel's F-35 "Adir" aircraft is preparing to become fully operational in the country's Air Force (IAF) next month in an effort to stymie Hezbollah in Lebanon and Iranian-backed proxies in Syria, according to a report published October 29.

The Hebrew name Adir translates to "mighty one" or "awesomeness," according to the Times of Israel. Under a special agreement between Washington and Tel Aviv, the Israeli Air Force is the only military branch in the world authorized to modify the F-35, in part because the two nations share a lot of technology with another, and also because Israel is apparently preparing for war at any moment.

The Israeli F-35I is "an intelligence-gathering machine in a league of its own" as a result of the stealth capabilities that take it beyond the powers of IAF F-15 and F-16s, according to a report by the Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies.

The costly warplane can "evade various enemy radar systems deployed in the northern arena" and is poised to "play a key role in Israel's quest to stop Iran and its proxies from creating a threatening military outpost in Syria," the report says.

The F-35I is also "well-suited for the mission of selectively targeting the ongoing Iranian-Hezbollah weapons trafficking program," the report adds.

As far as Israel-specific modifications are concerned, in 2016, Israel Aerospace Industries announced it would add a command and control suite in addition to the jets' basic programming. The weapons bay will also be unique to the F-35I to fit Israeli-made precision guided munitions and long-range cruise missiles.

Israel has allocated funds for 50 F-35s to date. As of September 16, Lockheed had delivered seven of the jets to IDF.

The military will conduct an analysis of alternatives before purchasing more F-35 aircraft. The IAF initially planned to buy 75 or 100 units, but "with all the existing limitations," the F-35 presents, "we cannot ignore the need to meticulously assess the face of the future, especially with regard to air combat platforms, which are so expensive, critical and [subject to] rapidly changing technologies," according to a September 25 Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee report.

 Sputnik

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China, South Korea agree to improve ties after THAAD row

Iran Press TV

Tue Oct 31, 2017 07:43AM

South Korea and China have agreed to improve ties after a year-long strain over the deployment of an American missile system in South Korea.

The South Korean Foreign Ministry said in a Tuesday statement that, "Both sides shared the view that the strengthening of exchange and cooperation between Korea and China serves their common interests and agreed to expeditiously bring exchange and cooperation in all areas back on a normal development track."

The installation of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system, which started last year, caused major ire in Beijing and was the alleged cause of some trade bans that impaired South Korean business interests in China. Beijing says the system's powerful radar could be used as a surveillance tool against it.

Moon, Xi to meet

South Korea's presidential office said separately that President Moon Jae-in was due to meet with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, on the sidelines of the upcoming summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) countries in Vietnam on November 10-11.

The two leaders are expected to discuss neighboring North Korea's missile and nuclear programs as well as means to improve bilateral ties, according to a senior official at the presidential office in Seoul.

Moreover, China's Foreign Ministry also announced in a statement that Beijing and Seoul would bring ties back on a normal track "at an early date."

It said South Korea had recognized China's concerns over the THAAD deployment and made it clear the installation was not aimed at any third country and did not threaten China's strategic security interests.

The statement, however, added that Beijing reiterated its opposition to THAAD's deployment but took note of Seoul's position and hoped South Korea could appropriately handle the issue.

On Monday, South Korea announced that it was not considering any additional deployments of the THAAD.

Seoul initially allowed the deployment of the THAAD to counter perceived missile threats from North Korea.

NATO chief on North Korea

Separately, NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg called on all United Nation members on Tuesday to comprehensively implement the international sanctions against North Korea, which he described as a global threat able to launch ballistic missiles that can strike targets as far as in Europe and the US.

"North Korea's ballistic and nuclear tests are an affront to the United Nations Security Council," said the secretary general of the military alliance in a joint announcement with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Tokyo. "They pose a global threat which requires a global response."

His visit to Tokyo comes ahead of US President Donald Trump's first official visit to Asia, which will begin in Japan on Sunday.

Abe prefers pressure to dialog

Talks on North Korea are expected to dominate Trump's tour of the region, which will include a stop in Beijing.

Abe said in the joint presser with Stoltenberg, "Rather than dialog, it is necessary to cause North Korea to change policies by raising the pressure to the maximum."

The standoff over North Korea escalated in July when it test-fired two intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM). Experts say that the entire US mainland is within the range of the missiles, which North Korea says could be equipped with nuclear warheads.

Pyongyang has blamed Washington for the escalating tensions, saying that the US-led global sanctions against the country as well as its growing military presence in the region have left North Korea with no option but to shore up its defense capabilities.

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Saudi Arabia plans to extract uranium for nuclear program

Iran Press TV

Tue Oct 31, 2017 07:09AM

Saudi Arabia has unveiled plans to extract its own uranium as part of efforts to bolster its nuclear program and attain "self-sufficiency" in the production of "nuclear fuel."

Hashim bin Abdullah Yamani, head of the Saudi government agency tasked with nuclear plans, the King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy (KACARE), made the announcement in an address to an international nuclear power conference in the United Arab Emirates capital, Abu Dhabi, on Monday.

"Regarding the production of uranium in the kingdom, this is a program which is our first step towards self-sufficiency in producing nuclear fuel," Yamani said, adding, "We utilize the uranium ore that has been proven to be economically efficient."

Saudi Arabia has approximately 60,000 tons of uranium ore, according to the latest figures provided by Maher al Odan, the chief atomic energy officer of KACARE.

Riyadh plans to award a construction contract to foreign firms for its first two nuclear reactors by the end of 2018.

Industry sources say Riyadh is reaching out to potential vendors from the US, South Korea, China, France, Japan and Russia for the projects.

Elsewhere in his remarks, Yamani said Saudi Arabia would soon pass laws for its nuclear program and set up regulations for its nuclear agency by the third quarter of 2018.

"The IAEA (the International Atomic Energy Agency) also has been requested to conduct an integrated review of our nuclear infrastructure during the second quarter of 2018," he added.

The official, however, did not elaborate on whether Riyadh also seeks to enrich and reprocess uranium which could eventually lay the groundwork for possible military uses of the material.

The majority of atomic reactors require uranium enriched to around 5 percent purity. The same technology in the enrichment process can also be used to enrich the heavy metal to higher, weapons-grade levels.

Saudi Arabia, a signatory to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), would become the second country in the Persian Gulf Arab region to go for nuclear energy after the UAE, which is to activate its first nuclear reactor next year.

Abu Dhabi has, however, committed not to enrich uranium itself and not to reprocess spent fuel.

The kingdom's plan to join the nuclear club comes as Iran, which Riyadh views as its arch rival in the region, has over the past years made numerous achievements in the area of civilian nuclear technology.

In an effort to allay proliferation concerns, Tehran entered a landmark nuclear deal in 2015 with six world powers, namely the US, Russia, China, France, Britain and Germany.

The IAEA has repeatedly confirmed Iran's compliance with the pact, under which Tehran has agreed to enrich uranium to 3.67 percent purity, around the normal level needed for commercial power-generation.

Saudi officials have made no secret of their hostile stance toward the nuclear deal which freed Iran from years-long sanctions, thus multiplying the country's power for economic rivalry and opening up new channels for interaction with the world.

The Arab monarchy even threw its weight behind US President Donald Trump when he declined to certify that Iran was holding up to its end of the deal earlier in October, in sharp contrast to a long list of states which argued that the Iran deal was working.

Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir openly acknowledged that Riyadh was fully supportive of Trump's aggressive new policy toward Iran.

Saudi Arabia is said to be considering building some 17.6 gigawatts of nuclear capacity by 2032, the equivalent of about 17 reactors.

The finances of Saudi Arabia have been hit by a downturn in oil prices that were above $100 a barrel in 2014, but sank below $40 two years later.

The plunge in global oil prices prompted Riyadh to rein in public spending and take economic measures such as diversification, privatization of massive state assets and tax increases.

According to the figures released on Sunday, the Saudi Arabian central bank's foreign reserves continued falling in September and stood at their lowest since April 2011, as the government drew them down to cover a budget deficit.

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Astana talks guarantors to from congress for Syrian opposing sides

Iran Press TV

Tue Oct 31, 2017 06:28PM

Iran, Russia and Turkey have pledged to bring the Syrian government and opposition together for a "congress" to help them develop a lasting political solution to the ongoing conflict in the country.

A joint statement published on the Russian Foreign Ministry's website on the second day of Syrian peace talks in the Kazakh capital city of Astana on Tuesday, pointed to an "initiative of Russia" which listed 33 Syrian organizations invited to a "Congress of Syrian National Dialogue" in the Russian city of Sochi on November 18.

Humanitarian issues, including exchange of the detainees, were also among the key issues on the agenda of the second day of the intra-Syrian talks in Astana, mediated by Iran, Russia and Turkey.

During the talks, the Syrian government expressed preparedness to support political efforts aimed at reaching national reconciliation as well as possible amendments to Syria's constitution.

The seventh round of the Astana talks began on Monday with the participation of representatives from the Damascus government and opposition as well as the three guarantor states, the United Nations, Jordan and the United States.

The discussions have brought representatives from Syria's warring sides to the negotiating table in a bid to end the foreign-backed militancy in the Arab country, which broke out in March 2011.

Six rounds of the negotiations took place on January 23-24, February 15-16, March 14-15, May 3-4, July 4-5 and September 14-15.

The fourth round of the Astana discussions in May resulted in an agreement on four de-escalation zones across Syria, which cover the provinces of Idlib and Homs as well as the Eastern Ghouta region near Damascus and Syria's southern border with Jordan.

The parties to the talks used the fifth round of the process to build up on the results of the May agreements.

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Syrian forces retake three districts in Dayr al-Zawr from Daesh

Iran Press TV

Tue Oct 31, 2017 05:39PM

The Syrian army forces have recaptured three neighborhoods from Daesh Takfiri terrorists in the eastern city of Dayr al-Zawr.

The Syrian forces also discovered 1,000 tons of wheat in the eastern suburban area of Muhasan on Tuesday which Daesh terrorists had hidden under the ground.

Later in the day, Russian submarine Veliky Novgorod launched three "Kalibr" missiles from Russia's Syrian naval base of Tartus in eastern Mediterranean at Daesh positions near the town of Abu Kamal in Dayr al-Zawr.

"A missile strike with three Kalibr missiles destroyed a command post with large numbers of militants and armed vehicles and also a large weapons and ammunition depot," the Russian defense ministry said in a statement on Facebook.

The statement confirmed "the destruction of all the given targets."

The developments come a day after the Syrian forces liberated al-Himidyah neighborhood in the city.

On Sunday, the Syrian forces reportedly killed at least 50 Daesh terrorists in Dayr al-Zawr and confined the Takfiris to an area between the city and the Euphrates.

Damascus broke Daesh's siege on the city, which the group had been maintaining since 2014, when it began its campaign of bloodshed and destruction against Syria.

The terrorists seized huge swathes of land in lightning strikes after taking on the country. Syria then enlisted the assistance of Lebanon's Hezbollah and Russian aerial support, pushing the terrorists out of much of the territory under their control.

Dayr al-Zawr Province, of which the city is the capital, is the last place in the Arab country, which holds pockets of the terrorists.

US-backed so-called Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) are also closing in from the other side of the Euphrates, threatening a showdown with government troops and their allies.

Syria has warned the SDF against turning itself into the Army's legitimate targets by interfering in the fateful Dayr al-Zawr battle.

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Taiwanese President Announces Military Spending Boost to Check China

Sputnik News

03:05 31.10.2017

Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen announced that her country would be drastically increasing military spending during a visit to Hawaii, so her island nation can better check their eternal rival China in the Taiwan Straits.

Amid outcry from the mainland, which considers Taiwan to be a wayward province rather than a sovereign state, Tsai made an official state visit to the US state of Hawaii as part of a tour of four of Taiwan's Pacific allies. During that visit, Tsai announced that the country would increase military spending by 2 percent per year.

According to National Security Council Deputy Secretary-General Tsai Ming-yen, President Tsai's comments came after a conversation with de facto US Ambassador to Taiwan James Moriarty  due to pressure from the mainland, the US does not formally recognize Taiwan's statehood and thus cannot send an "ambassador."

Moriarty allegedly told Tsai that he was concerned about drastically increased Chinese military spending: Beijing boosted military spending from about $60 billion in 2005 to over $200 billion in 2015. This funding influx could lead to a more dramatic military imbalance between the two Chinas.

Moriarty encouraged Tsai to increase military spending, and the president replied that she would have her Ministry of National Defense develop a comprehensive plan to ensure that Taiwan was possessed of "reliable combat effectiveness" in both the near and distant future.

Tsai Ming-yen also hinted that his country could ink more arms deals with the United States if "significant purchase cases" are presented that could increase defense spending by as much as 3 percent a year. Taiwan is a top buyer of US weapons, having purchased more than $60 billion worth in the last 25 years.

It's unclear when the president's projected 2 percent increases are scheduled to start.

Unlike previous Taiwanese leaders, Tsai has refused to publicly acknowledge that China and Taiwan are one nation, instead insisting that Taiwan is its own independent state that is unlikely to ever rejoin the mainland.

Beijing refuses to negotiate with Taipei so long as that is the government's official stance. During China's 19th Communist Party Congress last week, Chinese President Xi Jinping said he would never accept any attempts to "separate any part of Chinese territory from China" and "we have the resolve, the confidence and the ability to defeat separatist attempts for Taiwan independence in any form."

The degradation of cross-Strait relations since Tsai took office last year has in turn driven Taiwan deeper into the US bloc. In an official press release, Tsai described relations between Taipei and Washington as "unprecedentedly friendly."

"We are happy to see US promises of peace and stability for the Asia-Pacific region, and from meetings with the United States understand the necessity to increase investment in defense."

During her visit to Hawaii, Tsai will also tour the Pearl Harbor memorial, eat with leaders of the Taiwanese expatriate community in Hawaii and make a joint speech alongside Moriarty. She is then scheduled to visit the sovereign island states of the Marshall Islands, Tuvalu and the Solomon Islands as well as the US territory of Guam later in the week.

 Sputnik

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Razer is officially entering the smartphone space. The gaming-focused company acquired Nextbit back in January, and today it's unveiled the first device to emerge out of that acquisition: the Razer Phone.

A simple name hides massive specs, in this case. Design-wise, the Nextbit heritage is clear, what with all the sharp corners. The color scheme is much more business-friendly, however. The Razer Phone is made out an all-aluminum CNC chassis, has a 24-bit DAC, and it boasts two front-facing stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos sound, each with its own amp - and they're certified by THX (a first for a phone). Razer claims it's the loudest handset ever. On the flip side, there's no 3.5mm headset jack, although you do get a USB-C to headphone adapter in the box.

The screen is a 5.7" QHD IGZO LCD with wide color gamut and 120Hz refresh rate, twice as much as you normally get from any mobile device other than Apple's iPad Pro line. It's packing an adaptive refresh technology that syncs the GPU and the display. This is called UltraMotion and was developed in cooperation with Qualcomm to ensure no tearing or lag even at high frame rates. The best thing about it is that battery life apparently isn't affected.



Razer Phone official images

Razer is using the Snapdragon 835 chipset like everyone else launching high-end Android smartphones this year, but it's paired it with a whopping 8GB of RAM, and that's still not something you see every day.

The dual rear camera setup consists of a 12 MP f/1.75 main shooter and a 13 MP f/2.6 2x fixed zoom lens, along with a dual-tone LED flash. On the front you get an 8 MP f/2.0 snapper for selfies. The fingerprint sensor is in the power key on the side, and the Razer Phone runs Android 7.1.1 Nougat (with an update to Oreo coming in Q1 next year). It ships with Nova Launcher Prime Razer Edition.



More Razer Phone official renders

There's 64GB of expandable storage and keeping the lights on is a mammoth 4,000 mAh battery, on par with what we've seen inside the Huawei Mate 10 and Mate 10 Pro - and much beefier than usual for a top of the line handset. Razer says you can watch movies for 12.5 hours on its phone, listen to music for 63.5 hours, and play Hearthstone for 7 hours straight. With support for Qualcomm QuickCharge 4.0+, the battery charges from 0 to 85% in just one hour.

The Razer Phone measures 158.5 x 77.7 x 8 mm, and weighs 197g. It will become available on November 17 through the company's online store for $699 unlocked. Pre-orders start on Friday. In the US and Canada, you will also find it in Microsoft stores. The handset will be offered by Three in the UK and other markets. A special limited edition with a green logo on the back will be available too.




Haiti - FLASH : Jean-Charles Moise rushed to hospital





Friday morning, Moise Jean-Charles former defeated candidate for the presidency and leader of the radical opposition party "Pitit Dessalin", suffered a "serious discomfort" and had to be hospitalized, according to information from his lawyer Evelt Fanfan, who says that his client was not doing well since Thursday evening , and it was only Friday morning that he was rushed to a hospital.



The weakened former senator has undergone numerous medical tests, but the health problem which he suffers has not been made public, leaving place on the media of the capital to the most crazy rumors...



Last minute : according to Me Evelt Fanfan, who refuses to give the name of the Hospital Center where is treated his client for reasons of security, J-C. Moise, suffering from exhaustion "The doctors have told him a requirement of absolute rest. They will evaluate his situationas and when in order to take new decisions. One fact is certain, he is well," pending an official statement from the doctors.



Deputy Gary Bodeau said, "I wish Moise Jean-Charles a good recovery. I invite Jovenel Moise to pay him a visit..."



Reacting to the news, President Jovenel Moise declared ""The hospitalization of the political leader Pitit Dessalin Moise Jean-Charles touches me enormously. I wish him a speedy recovery."



SL/ HaitiLibre


















Don't miss this week's Hendersonville Lightning

You won't want to miss this weeks Hendersonville Lightning.

Related Stories

In this issue you will read about "NIMBY Nation, a special in-depth report covering the succussful history Henderson County has with citizens rising up saying, "Not in my Backyard". Also in this edition is a photo display from HonorAir's most recent flight to Washington, a review of the Flat Rock Playhouse performance of Dial M for Murder, pages of life and local briefs, the weekly TV Book, Sudoku and more.

You've got to get a copy because it's only in print and it's only in your Hendersonville Lightning.

Heres where you can pick up a Lightning

Hendersonville

 Hendersonville Lightning Office, 1111 Asheville Hwy

 Pop's Diner, 5 Points, North Main Street

 Triangle Stop, 701 North Main Street

 The 500 block of North Main Street

(First Citizens Bank / Mast Gen. Store)

 Black Bear Coffee Co., Main Street

 The 300 block of North Main Street

(McFarland's Bakery / Mike's on Main)

. Pardee Hospital in the lobby

. Flat Rock Playhouse, downtown

(100 block of South Main Street)

Southside Hendersonville

(Spartanburg Highway)

 Hairstyles by Charlene, Joel Wright Drive

 McDonald's, Spartanburg Highway

 Norm's Minit Mart, Spartanburg Highway

 Hendersonville Co-op

 Burger King/BP, Spartanburg Highway

Ingles Supermarket

Southside Hendersonville

(Greenville Highway)

Carolina Ace Hardware

Whitley Drug Store

Flat Rock/East Flat Rock

 Flat Rock Post Office

 Zirconia Post Office

 East Flat Rock Post Office

 Orr's Family Restaurant, Spartanburg Hwy

 Energy Mart Exxon, Upward Road & I-26

 Triangle Stop, 754 Upward Road & I-26

Village Cafe and Pub

Page 2

Hendersonville

(Kanuga Road)

 Hot Dog World, Kanuga Road

 Mr. Pete's Market, Kanuga Road

 Norm's Minit Mart, Kanuga Road

Hendersonville

(Fifth Avenue)

Hendersonville Post office

Fifth Aenue Shell

Laurel Park

 YMCA H'ville, Sixth Ave & Oak Str

 Laurel Park Village, Rite-Aid.

 Energy Mart Exxon, Brevard Road at Daniel Drive

Dixie Diner, Brevard Road

Highway 64

(Brevard Road)

 Horse Shoe Post Office

 Mr. Pete's Market, Etowah, Hwy 64-W

 Blue Ridge Pizza, Etowah, Hwy 64-W

 Etowah Shopping Center, Etowah

Highway 191

(Haywood Road)

 Joey's New York Bagels, Hwy 191

 One-Stop Store #8, Haywood Road (Hwy 191)

 Dollar General, Hwy 191 & Mountain Road

Mills River

 Triangle Stop, 4197 Haywood Road, Mills River

 Mills River Family Restaurant

. Food Lion

Ingles

Page 3

Eastside Hendersonville and Four Seasons Boulevard

 Norm's Minit Mart, Dana Road

 Fatz Cafe, Dana Road & Four Seasons Blvd

 Grocery Outlet, off Four Seasons Boulevard

 McDonald's, Four Seasons Boulevard

 Energy Mart Exxon, Four Seasons Boulevard

Mustang Cafe

Highway 64 East

(Chimney Rock Highway)

 Triangle Stop, 2545 Chimney Rock Road, Hwy 64-E

 Mr. Pete's Market, East, Hwy 64-E  Griffin's Store, Edneyville, Hwy 64-E

 Edneyville Post Office

. Griffins Store, Edneyville

Shell station, 64 East and Sugarloaf Road

Ingles, Howard Gap Road

Moose Cafe

Highway 25 North

(Asheville Highway)

 The Ugly Mug Coffee Shop, Hwy 25-N

 Triangle Stop, Hwy 25-N, Balfour

 Mountain Home Post Office

 Fletcher Post Office

Ingles

Naples Post Office

Travel Plaza, US 25 and I-26

Southern & Eastern Henderson County, Polk County

 Dana Post Office

 Rosco's Grocery, Green River

 Saluda Post Office

 Triangle Stop, 1487 Ozone Road, Saluda

All Henderson County Ingles Stores

All Henderson County Post Offices
Police Accountability Boards starting work in most Maryland counties

Mandated by state law after the killing of George Floyd, Police Accountability Boards have begun work in the majority of Maryland counties.
Mega Millions numbers for Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2022

Here are the winning Mega Millions numbers and results for the lottery jackpot drawing on Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2022.
A n historic pier ravaged by a devastating fire and rebuilt with the help of the Heritage Lottery fund has been named the UK's best new building for 2017.

The community-led restoration of Hastings pier is a passionate response to the fire that destroyed the area's much-loved Victorian pier in 2010.

This year's Stirling Prize winner, awarded by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), sits on the Channel in Hastings on the East Sussex coast.

A global RIBA design competition to reimagine the structure was won by London-based architects dRMM.

Hastings pier in East Sussex sits over the Channel / Francesco Montaguti

Now repaired and rebuilt, the new-look 'people's pier' and visitor centre sits upon the repaired Victorian ironwork of the original structure and is said to be kick-starting the towns renaissance.

Professor Alex de Rijke, dRMM's founding director, likens the structure to a "phoenix rising from the ashes" that was realised through dedicated community action and support.

In addition to Heritage Lottery funding, a local action group found 3,000 shareholders to buy a stake in the project at 100 a share.

RIBA president Ben Derbyshire described the pier as a masterpiece of regeneration and inspiration".

"The architects and local community have transformed a neglected wreck into a stunning, flexible new pier to delight and inspire visitors and local people," he says.

Hastings pier emerged as the winner among a strong a shortlist of entries, including a block of flats made from "fairytale materials" in a conservation area in east London, the British Museum's new underground exhibition space in central London and the redevelopment of the visitor centre at Chatham Historic Dockyard.

Last year, the coveted architectural award was won by Newport Street Gallery, home to Damien Hirst's private art collection, which was converted from a row of industrial buildings.
W hen it comes to identifying Londons future property hotspots, there are few more universally trusted indicators of growth potential than the Crossrail effect.

These three words have become something of a catch-all for gauging an areas prospects since ground broke on the 14.8 billion infrastructure project back in 2009.

For the neighbourhoods located along the 118km line, the consensus is they are set to bask in the glow of a myriad benefits.

Those who got in with early property purchases have already seen the risk pay off.

House prices within a mile radius of any of the 40 Crossrail stations have shot up 66 per cent since 2009, according to research by Hamptons International. Thats 15 per cent more than the London average over the same period.

And while the financial spoils have tapered as the official launch date has nudged nearer, home owners and potential buyers can still reap the rewards from the advantages that have contributed to the price hikes  from better connections to shorter journey times in and out of central London.

With just over a year to go until the new Elizabeth line, as it will be called, opens in December 2018, we delve into the homes and developments regenerating the hubs along the route, starting at the far eastern transit station of Abbey Wood and the next stop along the line towards London, Woolwich.

Great prospect: the Royal Arsenals views take in Canary Wharf and the O2

LOOK TO THE SOUTH EAST

Average property prices in Abbey Wood and Woolwich, which straddle the boroughs of Bexley and Greenwich, now hover at about 360,000 and 400,000 respectively following average increases of 71 per cent and 57 per cent between 2009 and 2017  significant upticks that could have been fuelled by the fringe nature of the locations themselves.

Crossrail continues to drive value growth along its length, says Adam Challis, head of residential research at property agent JLL. What is becoming clear is the additional benefit it brings to some of the lower-value locations along the route. It is supporting regeneration through improved accessibility and as a result offers a longer-term capital growth potential. 

With such ambitious regeneration in and around Woolwich, anchored by Berkeley Homes colossal 1.2 billion Royal Arsenal Woolwich scheme, Abbey Wood had taken something of a back seat in comparison.

On the up: a Berkeley Homes waterfront penthouse at Royal Arsenal Riverside / berkeleyhomes2.visualbank.co.uk

That was until last week when its new station, described as the unexpected jewel in Crossrails crown opened in all its timber-roofed glory.

One of only 10 new stations being delivered as part of the infrastructure development, it has made an architectural statement in the heart of an otherwise under-the-radar south-east London district.

A statement that, twinned with significantly better transport links in 2018 and a train every five minutes through central London to Paddington and Heathrow by December 2019, has kick-started a surge of fresh development to complement the rows of Victorian terrace properties that still characterise the area.

Early arrivals: four years ago Kevin Lasitz and Jose Dias paid 485,000 for their three-bedroom flat at Royal Arsenal in Woolwich, attracted by its Crossrail location

Residential developer HUB has plans to deliver 245 flats, a hotel and a new public square as part of its Abbey Place scheme next to the station following planning permission gained last month.

And developer Peabody, which is investing 1 billion in regenerating Abbey Wood and the wider Thamesmead area, is building 1,500 affordable new homes ranging from one-bedroom flats to four-bedroom family apartments ready to attract a swathe of new residents looking to snap up property in a comparatively cheap area of London while still only being a 25-minute train ride away from Bond Street and just 11 minutes from Canary Wharf.

Branching out: Abbey Place, next to the lines south-east London terminus at Abbey Wood, will deliver 245 flats, a hotel and a new public square

One stop up the line in Woolwich, development around the Royal Arsenal site has dominated. It is one of Europes largest regeneration projects, with 5,000 new homes coming along with bars, restaurants and a new creative quarter on an 88 acre site with 1km of riverside frontage.

It has the added benefit of a Woolwich Crossrail stop on site, with links to Canary Wharf in eight minutes and Bond Street in 22 minutes.

Prices at Waterfront 111, the latest residential phase to be launched, start at 462,500 for a Manhattan Suite, 485,000 for a one-bedroom apartment going up to 570,000 for a two-bedroom flat. Five duplex penthouses set for completion next month will launch this weekend, with prices starting at 1.3 million for a two-bedroom and 1.9 million for a 1,398 sq ft three-bedroom with a direct river view.

CHEERS TO WOOLWICH WE GAINED A COMMUNITY, A VILLAGE IN LONDON

Entrepreneurs: James and Emma Yeomans set up brewery Hop Stuff

When James and Emma Yeomans left their flat in Limehouse five years ago, they did not escape to a rural village. They moved to Woolwich.

More specifically they moved to Berkeley Homes Royal Arsenal site, set up the Hop Stuff Brewery and now produce 25,000 pints a week with plans to expand the brewery to produce 75,000 pints a week.

While the couple have since moved further into the countryside after their first child was born, they remain an example of the sort of enterprising young couples and families areas like Woolwich and Abbey Wood are starting to attract  one of the main reasons their business has been successful at the Royal Arsenal site.

They expect the brewery to continue to thrive following the launch of the Elizabeth line next year as it will open these south-eastern parts of London up to visitors as well as residents.

These developments need to be destinations rather than commuter points, says James.

But at the same time you want to make sure they attract visitors and do not end up as closed communities. And that comes down to infrastructure and what the site has to offer outsiders. It was great for us working here as we just didnt cut down on our commute when we moved here. We gained a community.

London can be a cold, dismissive city. And what kept us in this area was the fact that everyone pulls together. We saw the same people in the local pub, we all work together to put on the Royal Arsenal farmers market, and Woolwich actually feels like a village in London. And thats the important part.
O ne of Britains biggest house builders has been ordered to double the amount of affordable housing at a major site as a condition of winning planning permission.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan has warned Barratt London that its offer of 92 homes earmarked for cash-strapped buyers  plus a 4.56 million contribution to affordable housing elsewhere  was inadequate.

The Mayor, who said he was furious earlier this year after Homes & Property revealed that developers at Battersea Power Station proposed to slash the amount of low-cost housing for young Londoners, has stepped in to a row over a 462-home development in Mill Hill after learning only 20 per cent of the properties were affordable. He 'called in' the planning application and ordered that the slice of affordable homes be upped by 40 per cent, to 185 homes.

Delivering more of the genuinely affordable homes Londoners need is one of my top priorities as Mayor, and I will use all the tools at my disposal to do so, says Khan. This development will offer a significant number of high-quality homes available through shared ownership. I have also been able to secure new homes at social rent levels.

Khan stepped in after Barnet council refused permission in February for the development, on the former HQ of the National Institute for Medical Research.
ROCKVILLE, Md. -- The Ascend Hotel Collection has been on an impressive growth trajectory with 13 new hotels joining the collection in October. As the world's first and largest soft brand and part of the Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE: CHH) portfolio of brands, the Ascend Hotel Collection is expected to have one of its best growth years. There are now more than 190 hotels worldwide, with an additional 10 properties anticipated to open before the end of 2017.

"The Ascend Hotel Collection has great appeal because it offers travelers unique and local experiences, while providing hoteliers with smart business solutions," said Janis Cannon, senior vice president of upscale brands for Choice Hotels. "Ascend is a proven leader in the soft brand concept which resonates with both consumers and owners alike because hotels keep their vibrant individuality as they gain access to Choice's industry-leading technology and tools as well as the award-winning loyalty program Choice Privileges."

Recent openings include:

Ascend Hotel Collection properties can be found in popular destinations around the U.S., as well as in France, United Kingdom, Norway, Sweden, Turkey, Australia, and Canada. New openings are expected every month for the remainder of 2017 in top travel markets, such as San Francisco, New Orleans and Brooklyn.

Choice's strategic alliance with Bluegreen Vacations has helped drive the Ascend Hotel Collection portfolio's remarkable expansion, particularly into key resort markets. This affiliation began in 2013 with 24 properties and, as a result of that success, has since expanded to 36 hotels and resorts across the United States.

Choice Hotels also recently redesigned its development website to create a more welcoming, dynamic and user-friendly experience for franchisees and developers. The updated site offers exciting visuals and easy to find information and resources, while also highlighting the value and benefits of developing a hotel with Choice. Enhancements to the site's technology include improved mobile capability, a content management system that allows for rapid updates and creative flexibility, as well as seamless email integration. Visit ChoiceHotelsDevelopment.com to experience the new site and learn more about development opportunities with Choice Hotels.

About Bluegreen Vacations Corporation Bluegreen Vacations Corporation (formerly Bluegreen Corporation), founded in 1966 and headquartered in Boca Raton, Florida, is a leading vacation ownership company that markets and sells vacation ownership interests (VOIs) and manages resorts in top leisure and urban destinations. The Bluegreen Vacation Club is a flexible, points-based, deeded vacation ownership plan with approximately 210,000 owners, 66 Club and Club Associate Resorts and access to more than 11,000 other hotels and resorts through partnerships and exchange networks. Bluegreen Vacations also offers a portfolio of comprehensive, fee-based resort management, financial, and sales and marketing services, to or on behalf of third parties.

Forward-Looking Statements Certain matters discussed in this press release constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Generally, our use of words such as "expect," "estimate," "believe," "anticipate," "should," "will," "forecast," "plan," "project," "assume" or similar words of futurity identify such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on management's current beliefs, assumptions and expectations regarding future events, which in turn are based on information currently available to management. We caution you not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements do not guarantee future performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors.

Several factors could cause actual results, performance or achievements of the company to differ materially from those expressed in or contemplated by the forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to, changes to general, domestic and foreign economic conditions; foreign currency fluctuations; operating risks common in the lodging and franchising industries; changes to the desirability of our brands as viewed by hotel operators and customers; changes to the terms or termination of our contracts with franchisees; our ability to keep pace with improvements in technology utilized for marketing and reservations systems and other operating systems; our ability to grow our franchise system; exposure to risks related to development activities; fluctuations in the supply and demand for hotels rooms; our ability to realize anticipated benefits from acquired businesses; the level of acceptance of alternative growth strategies we may implement; operating risks associated with our international operations; the outcome of litigation; and our ability to manage our indebtedness. These and other risk factors are discussed in detail in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission including our annual reports on Form 10-K and our quarterly reports filed on Form 10-Q. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

About Choice Hotels

Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE: CHH) is one of the largest lodging franchisors in the world. With nearly 7,000 hotels, representing nearly 600,000 rooms, in 35 countries and territories as of March 31, 2022, the Choice family of hotel brands provides business and leisure travelers with a range of high-quality lodging options from limited service to full-service hotels in the upscale, midscale, extended-stay and economy segments. The award-winning Choice Privileges loyalty program offers members benefits ranging from everyday rewards to exceptional experiences. For more information, visit www.choicehotels.com.

 2022 Choice Hotels International, Inc. All rights reserved.

SOURCE Choice Hotels International, Inc.

Forward-Looking Statement

This communication includes "forward-looking statements" about future events, including anticipated hotel openings. Such statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, including construction delays, availability and cost of financing and the other "Risk Factors" described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, any of which could cause actual results to be materially different from our expectations.

Addendum

This is not an offering. No offer or sale of a franchise will be made except by a Franchise Disclosure Document first filed and registered with applicable state authorities. A copy of the Franchise Disclosure Document can be obtained through contacting Choice Hotels International at 1 Choice Hotels Circle, Suite 400, Rockville, MD 20850, [email protected].

 2022 Choice Hotels International, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Four Seasons Astir Palace Hotel Athens to Open Spring 2018

Changing brand landscape in the Athens hotel market

- Todays international hotel brand landscape in Athens consists of Accor (Novotel & Sofitel), Carlson Rezidor (Radisson Blu), Intercontinental Hotels Group (Crowne Plaza, Intercontinental & Holiday Inn), Starwood Hotels & Resorts (the Luxury Collection), Hilton Hotel & Resorts, Wyndham Hotel Group, Melia Hotels International, Best Western and Hapimag. In total, these brands operate currently 18 hotels in Athens with a total of 3,087 rooms.

- In September, it was announced that luxury hotel chain Four Seasons will undertake the management of the completely redeveloped Astir Palace located at the Athens Riviera. The new hotel will debut as the Four Seasons Astir Palace Hotel Athens in May 2018, right in time to host visitors of the international shipping exhibition Posidonia, which will take place in Athens during 4  8 June 2018.

- The new owners of the former 314- room Athens Ledra hotel, Hines and Henderson Park and the Yiannis

Daskalandonakis Group, are in discussion with various international brands. However, we could not confirm press reports of a deal with Hyatt, who indeed is looking for a presence in Athens as currently they only operate the Hyatt Regency in Thessaloniki.

- Home Holdings, the new owners of the Athens Hilton, is also in discussion with international hotel brands for the operation of the hotel including brands of the Hilton Group. The contract with Hilton expires in March 2018.

- Finally, as is known for a year, Marriott returns to Athens as the 5-star Metropolitan hotel and Accor might open its first Ibis hotel opposite the archaeological museum.

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GBR Consulting is a leading Greek business consultant firm. GBR Consulting supports clients develop their businesses in a structured manner leading to growth. The firm offers their clients, who are mainly active in the tourism, retail, food, construction and energy sectors, lasting solutions in the field of strategy, marketing, organisation and finance, while also delivering litigation support.

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King David Hotel

Previously, Nissenbaum served as Managing Director of the Waldorf-Astoria in New York, considered one of the most famous hotels in the world with its 1,400 rooms located in the heart of Manhattan. From 2011 to 2014, Nissenbaum served as President and CEO of the New York Plaza Group owned by Mr. Yitzhak Tshuva.

Michael Federmann, Chairman of the Dan Hotels' Board of Directors, announced today the board's unanimous decision to appoint Ronen Nissenbaum as the next President and CEO of the Dan Hotels, effective January 1, 2018.

"I would like to wish Ronen success in this position and am confident that, with his extensive experience, he will contribute greatly to the success and prosperity of Dan Hotels," Federmann commented.

Married with children aged 22, 20 and 16, Ronen Nissenbaum brings with him a rich and extensive background in the hotel industry in Israel and overseas. He studied hotel management in Switzerland and received an MBA from Emory University. In his last position, Nissenbaum served as Vice President of Luxury operations for Hilton Hotels in the Americas, a grouping that includes the Waldorf-Astoria and Conrad Hotels, and was responsible for 15 hotels and three hotels in pre-opening stages.

Previously, Nissenbaum served as Managing Director of the Waldorf-Astoria in New York, considered one of the most famous hotels in the world with its 1,400 rooms located in the heart of Manhattan. From 2011 to 2014, Nissenbaum served as President and CEO of the New York Plaza Group owned by Mr. Yitzhak Tshuva. And prior to that, from 2009 to 2011, he served as Senior Executive Vice President of Operations for the Marina Bay Sands, the $6 billion integrated casino resort in Singapore.

In addition, between 1996 and 2009, Nissenbaum held a number of senior positions with InterContinental Hotel Group, including Regional Vice President for North America, General Manager of the flagship Buckhead InterContinental, the David InterContinental Hotel in Tel Aviv, The Forum Berlin and the InterContinental Paris. Prior to InterContinental, Ronen spent a few years with Forte Hotels in London and three years opening Disneyland in Paris.

Ronen Nissenbaum will succeed Raffi Sadeh, who served as President and CEO of the Dan Hotels for the last four years, and will complete his tenure on December 31, 2017. "I would like to thank Raffi Sadeh for his great contribution to Dan Hotels' success and prosperity," concluded Federmann, "and I want to wish him every success in his future endeavors."
Woman 'Married' to Rag Doll Says Relationship 'Hanging on a Thread' After He 'Cheated'
The DUP and Sinn Fein failed to meet Mr Brokenshire's Monday deadline to reach agreement to restore powersharing in the region

Theresa May remains committed to a 1 billion investment in Northern Ireland despite the continued deadlock in Stormont powersharing, a senior Downing Street source has said.

The Government is understood to be standing by the controversial deal struck by the Tories in return for Democratic Unionist votes at Westminster, while making preparations to impose a budget on the region by the end of the month.

Secretary of State James Brokenshire said public services in Northern Ireland would begin to run out of money by the end of November.

And while the Prime Minister's official spokesman said the priority was getting the Stormont Assembly back up and running, another senior source in Downing Street insisted that the 1 billion investment still stands.

"The money that has been promised as part of the confidence and supply deal is for the people of Northern Ireland and we are committed to delivering on that undertaking," the source said.

The DUP and Sinn Fein failed to meet Mr Brokenshire's original Monday deadline for a powersharing deal, after Stormont had been effectively in limbo since January.

Irish language rights and other cultural issues are the main sticking points.

And the 10 month long crisis prompted renewed calls for MLAs' pay - 49,500 a year - to be cut.

Steven Agnew, Green Party leader in Northern Ireland, said: " If an MLA is performing two-thirds of a job, they should be paid two-thirds of the wage."

Sinn Fein's northern leader Michelle O'Neill said negotiations had been hampered by the Westminster votes deal.

She said: "This has been compounded by the Tory-DUP pact. The British Secretary of State is wrong when he says that it is only the parties themselves who can reach agreement - he and the Irish Government also have obligations."

DUP MP Gregory Campbell accused Sinn Fein of "rank hypocrisy" over the deadlock at Stormont and said his party was ready to form an executive.

"We want devolution. Arlene Foster has led our talks team and is rightly frustrated that government is being held back by a narrow political agenda," he said.

"We received an overwhelming mandate to ensure any deal was fair. That mandate has to be respected, just as we respect the mandate of others."

SDLP leader Colum Eastwood said the threatened budget was direct rule and warned that people in Northern Ireland were deeply worried.

"A Tory/DUP Government will do nothing for the rights of people in the north. It only strengthens the DUP's intransigence," he said.

"It will do nothing for the rights of Irish language speakers, the LGBT community or victims."

Ulster Unionist Party leader Robin Swann said: "Northern Ireland is now coming slowly and deliberately to direct rule, at the hands of Sinn Fein and the DUP."

Green Party leader Steven Agnew said there had been a blackout on what issues the Sinn Fein and the DUP cannot agree on.

"What we now need from the Secretary of State is a concerted effort to introduce transparency, creativity and inclusivity into negotiations, to end the blackout on what the sticking points are and to listen to alternative approaches," he said.

Mr Brokenshire said important progress has been made in the talks but it was unlikely the Stormont executive could be revived in time for Northern Ireland's politicians to determine the budget by the end of the month.

"No Government could simply stand by and allow that to happen," he said.

Mr Brokenshire said he was taking advice on the issue of pay for MLAs - a 49,500 salary with about 41,250 paid to the 90 MLAs in the months since Stormont has been shut.

He said talks cannot run indefinitely but the latest deadline should not be seen as a reason to abandon them.

"I think there is already a huge amount of frustration out there in Northern Ireland, that people here want to see politics here get on with the job and serving them," he said.

"Yes, this has gone on for an extended period, but I still think it is right that we use renewed efforts to find a resolution to see devolved government get back on its feet again.

"It's because it matters so much - that local accountability, local politicians serving here in Northern Ireland. But they can't merely continue forever and a day."

Ireland's Foreign Minister Simon Coveney, who had been involved in the talks earlier this week, said London was acting reluctantly and delaying a threatened budget as late as possible.

"Both Governments share the view that it is regrettable and deeply concerning that, eight months after the last Assembly election, a powersharing executive is not in place to make the necessary decisions, including on budgetary issues, for Northern Ireland," he said.

In their statements, Mr Coveney and Mr Brokenshire also noted the importance of the Good Friday Agreement.

Mr Coveney said the relationship between the parties was at the heart of the issue.

"The issues under discussion - particularly those on language and culture - go to the heart of the divisions in society here in Northern Ireland and so agreement on them was always going to be very challenging," he said.

"However, I have always believed that it is possible to reach an honourable compromise which reflects the core principles of the agreement - partnership, equality and mutual respect."
An estimated 110 million border crossings are made each year between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland

A post-Brexit hard border will have to be policed either with cameras or boots on the ground, a top Swiss official has suggested.

There is no other way, said lieutenant colonel Rebekka Straessle, chief of staff of the Swiss Border Guard.

The Swiss/EU border operates as it does with cameras on crossing points backed up by an intelligence process, Lt Col Straessle told Westminsters Northern Ireland Affairs Committee.

The only alternative was boots on the ground, she said. Lt Col Straessle said there are cameras on most of the border crossings, filming licence plates.

You have either people on the ground, boots on the ground, or you have technical means, the senior official said, responding to a question about whether it was possible to have a border without physical infrastructure.

The British government has stressed that it does not want any physical infrastructure on the Irish border, and claims it wants to maintain it broadly as it is now. UK chancellor Philip Hammond warned MPs last month that cameras and other infrastructure would be deemed a legitimate target.

He said any physical aspects put in place to control the crossing would be seen as an affront to those who do not recognise the border on this island.

But Col Straessle told MPs yesterday policing a border involved either cameras or manned checks: I dont see a third way. For us, it is preferable to have technical means and to have an intelligence process in the background.

The head of Switzerlands customs service, Dr Christian Bock, told the committee that mobile patrols also take place across the border region.

When you say that you dont want, from historical political reasons, nothing at the border, then you have to compensate, said Dr Bock, director general of the Swiss Federal Customs Administration.

Then you have to compensate in my view with mobile patrols. At the end of the day you need people performing checks.

Dr Bock said he did believe a system could be designed for the border here that didnt entail physical checkpoints.

But he said that would require common patrols between the UK and the Republic to find irregularities, as well as an intelligence process to back this up.

You need control points, not at the border, but somewhere in the country, Dr Bock said. You need controls not at the border, but at the enterprises. You need a system of some sort of pre-qualification, like the Authorised Economic Operator, and then you need a system for low-risk trade, or when you have trade of the same kind of stuff.

He said that for everyday goods, such as milk crossing the border, you dont need a system where you stop every time at the border.

Dr Bock also said German helicopters fly across the Swiss/German border, with staff from Switzerland on board.He said checks are taking place 100pc of the time through risk-based data checks. Physical checks take place between 1pc and 2pc of the time, he said.
Two weeks ago it appeared that a corner had been turned on the balance between numbers and buyers. Bigger sales coincided with bigger numbers of buyers arriving ringside.

Weeks of ringside price wobbles and reversals were corrected as the trade at first steadied and then headed upwards on the back of extra demand.

Last week the trade gave back almost all of those gains and then some. Why?

The answer is simple according to John Curran of Carrick-on-Suir Mart: "Men are getting full up," he says.

It's a view that extends far beyond just Carrick-on-Suir with other mart managers concurring and explaining that as mart sales have been stronger on average throughout the year, a lot of buyers have "a majority of their shopping done".

While I can see the logic in this analysis, the cattle trade in Ireland is no longer solely dependent on just traditional farmer buyers.

Feedlots and those with contracts periodically need to get out and top up so I would contend that the trade for the better animal will settle down as these buyers go about their very specific business.

Looking at the figures, prices for better bullocks in the 500-599kg section dived by 15c/kg or from 75-90/hd last week.

The 500-599kg forward store bullock was the worst hit of all the bullock categories loosing an overall average of 14c/kg on the ringside table followed by 600kg+ bullocks which were back 9c/kg or 54/hd.

The 400-499kg animal was back by an average of 7c/kg or from 28-35/hd.

One factor affecting the forward bullock trade is that buyers are watching the board for age and are penalising those animals close to or over the 30-month mark.

It's not all bad news, however, as the lighter 300-399kg store shook off its previous week's average fall of 2c/kg and posted a 6c/kg average gain.

Ringside Prices

Balla

Bullocks up to 400kg topped at 2.25/kg with the 400-500kg store a shade better at 2.26/kg as extra midland buyers made their presence felt. In the top end prices, we find a June 2016 born, 495kg Limousin making 2.61/kg. The 600kg+ bullocks averaged 2.01/kg while in the 500-600/kg section the average was 2.10/kg. In the heifer ring, those under 400kg averaged 2.33/kg with the average in the 400-500kg section coming in at 2.24/kg The best price among the heifers was 2.92/kg paid for a June 2016 born 415kg Limousin.

Carrick-on-Suir

We had good numbers with continentals hitting 2.30/kg but the plainer Friesian was back around 1.40/kg, said John Curran. That said the real deal Friesian still commands a premium, with eight at 505kg making 1.84/kg here. Sometimes its all about the price however and I would be interested to compare the above at time of slaughter with a batch of 460kg Friesians of average quality that went under the hammer at 1.35/kg. Heifers for breeding sold well with three 363kg Limousins making 2.29/kg with a single 380kg Limousin clicking 2.27/kg. John Currans summary of the trade is that men are getting full up.

Carrigallen

Whether in Carrick-on -Suir or Carraigallen, the poorer quality animal is under pressure.There is no bother selling the good weanling the poorer quality one is tricky, said Helen Kells. The reasons vary from men getting full up to questions over winter fodder to the fact the shipping trade is in a lull.

That said the averages among the bulls ran from 2.35/kg in the 200-300kg category to 2.53/kg in the 300-400 section with heavier bulls averaging 2.47/kg. Top prices among the 200-400kg section ran as high as 3.39-3.57/kg.

Ballinasloe

With five or six bidders reported as lining up here every time a real quality animal came into the ring, averages for the better bull weanling climbed. Top price of 3.50/kg went to a 220kg top quality conformation Limousin while at the other end, dairy influence reduced a 290kg Limousin Friesian cross to 2.21/kg. Heifers averaged 2.52/kg with a 310kg Belgian Blue hitting 3.36/kg. Calf prices saw some dairy types make around 100/hd with better suckler stock hitting a top of 550/kg.

Carnew

There was a large entry with very strong demand for beef and quality stores seeing these types sell from 600-960/hd with the /kg. Continental stores sold to a top 810/hd with the weight while the Friesian store bullock ranged 160-450/hd over the /kg. Among the heifers, beef types sold from 480-870/hd with their weight while store heifers made from 320-710/hd over their weight. Beef cows made from 350-710/hd over the /kg with lighter feeding types making from 120-410 over the /kg. In the calf ring, heifers made from 150-410/hd.

Drumshanbo

Eoin Kane noted that with the weather steadying up, some farmers at his sale were considering letting cattle back out as ground dries. Maybe the dry weather helped, but farmers were more confident as they pushed the nice 260-300kg weanling bull calf onto 3.00/kg. Shippers were also active, in general for a slightly lesser animal down around the 2.20-2.30/kg price mark. The dry cow market was particularly strong with younger, well-made 2012-2014 cows making 2.00/kg and more from feedlot buyers.

Listowel

Numbers matter, and as dairy herds expand, their dominance in the numbers game cant be ignored. Here we had Charolais, Limousin, Angus and Hereford bull weanlings in their ones, twos and threes up against Friesian weanling lots measured in eights, nines and tens. Among those Friesians were 8 at 243kg who made 1.83/kg, ten at 264.6kgs sold for 1.78/kg with 10 at 225/kg making 2.00/kg. In the quality stakes were a 368kg Charolais at 2.28/kg while a 210kg Limousin cracked the 3.00/kg ceiling at 3.33/kg.
Proposals to fundamentally change the intervention pricing structure for dairy commodities have provoked strong criticism from the ICMSA.

The EU Commission has proposed that the fixed price for intervention buying of skim milk powder (SMP) be adjusted when the support scheme re-opens in March next year.

It has been suggested that SMP would enter intervention via a tender process after 109,000t of product was purchased at fixed prices.

However, the proposal has been rejected by the ICMSA who claimed that such a move could undermine "very significantly" the floor price offered by intervention should the market for dairy products come under pressure.

"If this proposal is agreed, it would effectively mean that the current safety net price would be removed. When the 2009 crisis hit, and again in 2016, it was this fixed intervention price that put a floor under milk prices across Europe," said ICMSA's Ger Quain.

"A tendering process provides no such guarantees during an extremely vulnerable period for farmers when the problem of excess volatility has in no way been addressed," he added.

Milk prices this year have been underpinned by the buoyant trade for butter. In contrast, world markets for SMP have remained extremely sluggish, with product trading below the intervention price of 1,690/t.

The SMP market has been further undermined by the overhang of almost 380,000t of product in intervention stores.

Butter supplies

The weakness of the SMP trade was illustrated by last month's intervention sale where there was just one offer for 40t of product at 6pc below the intervention price. It was rejected by all countries.

Mr Quain described the Commission's proposed intervention mechanism as "risky" and urged the Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed to oppose the planned changes.

Meanwhile, butter supplies on the continent remain tight, with supermarkets struggling to purchase sufficient stocks and croissant production in France curtailed as a consequence. Last week butter hit a record price of 6/kg in French supermarkets, with the country's agriculture minister, Stephane Travert, forced to play down suggestions that the shortage could soon become acute.

He urged retailers and suppliers to agree price adjustments in order to maintain deliveries. Despite the price hikes at retailer levels, wholesale butter prices are on the slide with spot prices on the Dutch market back to 5,200/t, down from a high of 6,980/t in mid-September.

In other dairy news, milk production powered ahead in September, with supplies up 10.5pc on 2016 levels to almost 650 million litres.
It is an invasive plant that threatens thousands of acres of farmland bordering the country's national parks but the battle against the rhododendron will be strengthened next week by an army of volunteers from the Men's Shed movement.

Around 60 volunteers from all over the country are arriving in Killarney, Co Kerry, on November 5 and will dedicate three days to tackling the highly invasive and destructive rhododendron in the Killarney National Park that was introduced to Ireland in the early 19th century.

Suckler and sheep farmer, George Kelly, from nearby Listry is the outgoing chairman of the Irish Men's Shed Association.

He said farmers needed to be more aware about invasive species and the impact they had from an environmental point of view.

"The rhododendron is effecting the pedigree cattle herds within the park but there is also a lot of agri-tourism surrounding the country's national parks that are dependent on them," he said.

The volunteers will be put up in some of the town's top hotels for the duration of their stay and bussed to the national park each morning to begin their work.

Local pharmacist, Finbarr Kennelly, came up with the idea and approached the Irish Men's Shed Association, the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) and Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce for their support.

Hundreds of thousands of euro are spent each year in the battle to eradicate the plant, which is native to the Black Sea Region and the Iberian Peninsula, and was introduced to Ireland for ornamental purposes.

The NPWS has been implementing a number of programmes at Killarney National Park to bring the plant under control, including a stem treatment method.

An internship programme has been running in the park, attracting students from a number of countries in the EU. Since 2012, Voluntary Service International has also been running two-week summer camps for students, who take part in the conservation work to help to control the plant in the 26,000-acre park.

The latest initiative by the Irish Men's Shed Association is sponsored by Haven Pharmacy and has the cooperative of the NPWS and Killarney businesses.

Pharmacist Finbarr Kennelly said the project will add to the work that's already been done by the voluntary group, Mountain Meitheal.

"It's beautiful to look at when it flowers but for the rest of the year, it's a nuisance. It's taking over paths and even blocking the view," Mr Kennelly said.

The method they'll use is approved by the NPWS where, working in pairs, one man makes a gash on the root with an axe, and the other sprays an approved herbicide into the gash.
The two ICM plants at Camolin and Navan have increased their lamb quotes by 10c this week to 4.50+10c/kg quality assurance.

This sees them close within 5c/kg of Kildare Chilling and Kepak Athleague both of whom remain on a 4.55+10c/kg bonus. Dawn Ballyhaunis who were off the radar over the last few weeks are right back in the mix this week with their quote also of 4.50/kg and 5c/kg bonus. Moyvalley Meats also move upwards but only by 5c/kg onto 4.60/kg, but that's still 5c/kg more in the farmer's pocket than was there last week.

Once it was clear that a 10c/kg rise for factory lambs was in the pipeline last week, lamb prices at the marts moved up by 1-2/hd.

There is a general acceptance among factory buyers that numbers are beginning to tighten but John Brooks of the ICSA says it will be next week before you can really tell how much the trade has moved on.

"There is no doubt that numbers are tightening and prices did lift towards the end of last week to 4.80/kg for bigger lots, but because this is a short week some of the factories are going to try to play hardball again on price".

He added that as of yesterday prices for lamb were generally still in the 4.70-4.75/kg area but that while 4.80/kg was still being mentioned, it was far harder got.

This will be a setback for those who predicted 4.90/kg as being possible by next weekend.

Prices for cull ewes remain unchanged with all plants with an interest in them continuing to pay 2.40/kg - with various bonuses in Kildare and Kepak.

The mart trade is currently being dominated by the store trade as both sheep and beef men go toe-to-toe ringside.

How farmers will behave on any given day when it comes to getting what they take a fancy to was well illustrated by two buyers bidding a batch of 51kg lambs into 131/hd at Mountbellew last week.
Ireland has moved up one place in a global ranking examining the country's ease in doing business.

The World Bank assessment puts Ireland 17th out of 190 countries. It ranks fourth in the Eurozone, ahead of Germany and France, and seventh in the European Union overall.

The United Kingdom was seventh place overall.

Ireland improved or maintained its ranking relative to the other 189 economies in respect of seven of the ten indicators.

The report looks at areas such as starting a business, dealing with construction permits, registering property, enforcing contracts, resolving insolvency and labour market regulation.

Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe said the improvement in the ranking is a positive reflection on the business environment in Ireland for small and medium-sized firms. "This year's report shows that while the conditions for entrepreneurship in Ireland are already favourable, there is always room to do more," Mr Donohoe said.

"We will be striving to strengthen our performance in individual areas that the Report seeks to measure and improve our ranking as time goes on."

Ireland ranked fourth in paying taxes and eighth on starting a business.

But it ranked 98th in enforcing contracts, and 42nd in getting credit.

New Zealand tops the list for ease of doing business for the second consecutive year, followed by Singapore, Denmark, South Korea and Hong Kong.

Brunei Darussalam, Thailand, Malawi, Kosovo, India, Uzbekistan, Zambia, Nigeria, Djibouti and El Salvador were the most improved economies in 2016/2017.

Together, they implemented 53 regulatory reforms.
The High Court has appointed a receiver over shares in three Irish-registered aviation firms linked to a fugitive Russian businessman.

The orders were made over shares which are held in trust for the benefit of Rashid M Mursekayev, who has extensive interests in the aviation industry and is the subject of a criminal investigation for alleged fraud arising out of financial difficulties of Vim Avia Airlines, which he co-owns.

The situation concerning Vim Airlines has drawn the ire of Russian President Vladimir Putin, who publicly criticised his own government's transport minister and deputy prime minister over their handling of the matter.

Mr Mursekayev, the court heard, has fled Russian and his current whereabouts are unknown.

Yesterday, lawyers representing US-registered firm Volgadnepr-Unique Air Cargo Inc obtained temporary High Court orders against Mr Mursekayev, aka Mursekaev, and the firms Fastway Leasing DAC, Avion Leasing Ltd DAC and City Leasing DAC.

The orders also apply to Orpheus Shareholder Ltd which is the legal owner of the shares in Fastway and City.

The interim orders are that Jim Luby, of McStay Luby, act as receiver over all the shares in Fastway, Avion, and City Leasing. The order also prohibits the shares being transferred or deposed in any way pending further order of the court.

Andrew Fitzpatrick SC, instructed by Whitney Moore, solicitors for Volgadnepr, said his client obtained a 4m judgment in the German courts against a German-registered firm called ACG Air Cargo which became insolvent in 2013.

The loan, which was not repaid, was guaranteed by Mr Mursekayev, counsel said.

The judgment was granted in 2016, but since then his client had been unable to serve Mr Mursekayev at his Moscow home.

The orders were being sought in the Irish courts against the three companies in order to enforce the judgment obtained in Germany.

The three companies have registered addresses in Dublin and Limerick, and the matter was urgent as the plaintiff fears that there is a danger that any assets could be moved outside of the jurisdiction by Mr Mursekayev.

Counsel said that Mr Mursekayev is under investigation by the Russian authorities for alleged fraud.

The orders were granted, on an ex-parte (one side only represented) basis, by Mr Justice Paul Gilligan. He adjourned the case to next week.
Airline boss Michael OLeary said the haemorrhaging of staff to Norwegian is now reversing. Photo: Bloomberg

Ryanair shares soared yesterday, closing up almost 7pc as the market lapped up half year results that show profits and growth largely undented by mass flight cancellations announced in September.

The swing boosted the airline's valuation by more than 1bn after CEO Michael O'Leary insisted Ryanair will be able to hire enough pilots to expand by 50pc in the next six years to operate a 600-strong fleet.

The cancellation of 20,000 flights following a well-publicised rostering crisis had cast doubts on its ability to maintain growth plans, which include bringing a record breaking order for Boeing planes into service.

Yesterday, Michael O'Leary told analysts on an investor call that those plans remain unchanged.

"We will take all of the new Boeing Max aircraft we have on order," he said.

The Irish Independent reported yesterday that four Ryanair employees in Ireland are being investigated on suspicion of inciting tax evasion in Germany, as part of a lengthy probe by German authorities into the tax and employment position of pilots working in the country for Ryanair under third-party contracts.

Ryanair itself is not suspected of any wrongdoing and the company has agreed to assist German authorities.

In relation to the use of contracted staff, Michael O'Leary yesterday rejected that the company benefited in tax terms from the use of contractors.

"There's this notion out there that somehow we're running some tax scam in Ireland by having people on Irish contract. We are big on Irish contracts because we're required to under Irish law," he said.

"Ireland does have a bit of reputation of being a sort of a tax haven from a corporate point of view, but from a personal point of view, it's a penal tax environment," he added.

"If you're flying an Irish aircraft, managed in the state of Ireland, you have to pay your taxes in Ireland. It's an Irish fiscal requirement," he said.

Earlier, Ryanair said it was on course to post record annual profits for 2017 and that bookings are better than last year.

"Is the underlying business model continuing to deliver? Yes it is," Mr O'Leary told investors. "Can it cope with the occasional f***-up?

"Yes it can and I think that is what we are demonstrating with these numbers."

He said the airline is paying pilots 20pc more than rivals and is hiring 40 to 50 pilots a week, including from Monarch and Air Berlin which both collapsed into insolvency this year.

Ryanair is beginning to see a reversal of a loss of pilots to Norwegian Air Shuttle, he said.

This newspaper reported in September that Norwegian had hired 150 Ryanair pilots this year.

Ryanair has offered pay hikes for pilots since the mass cancellations, in a bid to shore up staff retention and attract new hires, which will add around 100m per year in pay increases. The airline also cut in its passenger growth target to 129 million for the year to the end of March.

That is likely to help lift average ticket prices above previous forecasts in the coming months, Michael O'Leary said.

While Ryanair said pilots at 15 bases had so far accepted its new pay offer, staff at Stansted, the largest base, have rejected the deal.
Airbus said yesterday it had uncovered inaccuracies in its filings to US regulators over arms technology sales, drawing the United States for the first time into a scandal over alleged misconduct at Europe's largest aerospace firm.

Airbus also warned about potentially significant fines resulting from existing bribery investigations in Britain and France over the use of middlemen in civil airplane sales, which have triggered a sweeping internal investigation.

But it said it was too early to guess the size or timing of any European penalties, or the outcome of the new US findings.

Shares in the European defence and civil aviation group rose more than 4pc after it posted a smaller than expected drop in third-quarter profits despite jetliner delivery delays.

However the gains were overshadowed by news that Airbus had itself unearthed inaccuracies in past filings to the State Department on defence technology exports.

These involved inaccurate statements made by Airbus under a section of the US International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), which governs the use of commissions and agents.

Airbus said the flaws were first discovered during an audit at the end of 2016 and were confirmed in an internal follow-up review completed in the third quarter.

Finance director Harald Wilhelm said the European company had not disclosed any secrets about US technology and that the issue was restricted to the use of sales agents and commissions, governed under part 130 of the ITAR rules.

Legal experts estimate Airbus faces fines in the billions because of the scale of suspect paperwork dating back years.

The company reaffirmed its 2017 guidance but acknowledged it would miss an informal goal of 720 jet deliveries that was higher than the official target of 700. Airbus has given different written and verbal delivery targets for several quarters in a row.

The shortfall is chiefly the result of engine delays for the A320neo.

Airbus now expects to deliver fewer than 200 of the aircraft this year, compared with a target of "around 200".

Markets had expected a weak quarter due to delays in commercial aircraft and a build-up of inventory.

Rival Boeing, meanwhile, said it is fixing production problems with its 777 wide-body jetliner but has not stopped production and does not expect the snags to delay deliveries to airlines, it said on Monday.

The US aerospace and defence company said it had given workers more time to catch up on "behind-work" on the 777 assembly line in its massive factory in Everett, Washington.

"Boeing is using extra time in the production schedule to focus on out-of-position work and catch up on jobs that are behind," spokesman Paul Bergman said.

The shifts only affect portions of the production line.

"It's not a line stoppage because the entire line never stopped," Bergman said.

Boeing said it expected the problem to exist for a "relatively short" period but would not say how long it would take to catch up.

The comments follow a report last week on Aviation International News website AINonline that said Boeing had stopped loading fuselage sections for the 777 line and was trying to finish behind-schedule work that had increased in recent months as it installed robotic systems in the factory. (Reuters)
Bailey's exit will enable Gobbetti to revamp Burberry's creative direction as well as its operations, analysts said

Christopher Bailey, who fashioned Burberry into a global label, will part ways with the British trench coat maker next year as its new CEO moves to revitalise the brand.

After joining Burberry from Gucci in 2001, Bailey worked with former CEOs Rose Marie Bravo and Angela Ahrendts to make its classic camel, red and black check designs must-haves for followers of fashion around the world.

Bailey will forego 16m (18.2m) in share awards when he steps down at the end of March to pursue new projects, Burberry said yesterday.

Ad campaigns fronted by model Kate Moss helped sales rise in the early 2000s, but Burberry became a victim of its own success when its check pattern was widely counterfeited.

However, Bailey successfully re-established its upmarket credentials and became CEO when Ahrendts left for Apple in 2014. But Burberry's growth faltered, first as demand in Asia slowed, and then as it failed to ride a rebound.

The 46-year-old designer was paid 3.5m in the year to end-March.

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Burberry said Bailey would step down from his board positions of president and chief creative officer at the end of March, but would support Marco Gobbetti, who took over from him as CEO, until the end of December next year.

Bailey's exit will enable Gobbetti to revamp Burberry's creative direction as well as its operations, analysts said. (Reuters)
Caitriona Perry has told how she hopes the message people take away from her new book is to be more "open-minded".

The RTE Washington correspondent's new book, In America: Tales From Trump Country, sees the TV host visit some of the states that President Donald Trump carried in the 2016 presidential election, to figure out why people voted for him.

While the US President has divided opinion in the United States and across the world, Perry insisted to label his supporters as "racist" would be untrue.

"The message is to be a bit more open-minded I suppose. Things are not black and white. People vote for different reasons.

"Donald Trump is very divisive but not everyone who voted for him is an angry, white racist man and to look at it that simplistically would be a disservice to the people of America," she said.

"My day job is radio and television so it's all about being short and delivering the message as quickly as you can whereas with a book you can get deep down into issues and put in everything a person has to say.

"It tells you about what's going on in America now and what led people to want to vote for Donald Trump. To vote for someone who was not like them, but appealed to them. These are their stories."

Perry, who will begin presenting the Six One news in January alongside Keelin Shanley, was joined by friends and family at the launch of her book in Cliff Townhouse in Dublin's Stephen's Green.

Also there to support her were some of her RTE colleagues including Ryan Tubridy, Keelin Shanley, Ingrid Miley and RTE's Director General Dee Forbes.
Ed Sheeran donned an impressive display of pink as he dressed up in his Halloween best for presenter Jonathan Rosss annual celebrity bash.

He sported a bright pink fur coat, feathered hat, sunglasses and gold chain as he arrived at the north London venue on Tuesday night.

Pink also proved to be the colour of choice for Alan Carr who dressed up in drag for his portrayal of a bloodied Gemma Collins  the Towie star who recently made headlines after toppling off the stage at the Radio 1 Teen Awards.

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Meanwhile, Joan Collins and Percy Gibson stunned with their elaborate tribute to historical nobility, while Konnie Huq and Charlie Brooker kept things more modern with their costumes inspired by Twitter and video game character Mario.

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This Morning presenter Holly Willoughby tweaked her stunning unicorn outfit from Tuesday mornings show by adding a spiked leather jacket, while Keith Lemon star Leigh Francis wore a fake blond mullet and impressive make-up effects for his vampiric costume.

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Elsewhere, John Bishop appeared to channel the Addams Familys Uncle Fester, while magician Dynamo (real name Steven Frayne) went the extra mile by accompanying his prison inmate get-up with a cardboard cut-out of documentary presenter Louis Theroux.

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Other guests at the mid-week party included Claudia Schiffer, Michael McIntyre, Frank Skinner and David Mitchell.

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Among the most impressive costumes were an ode to creepy It villain Pennywise and a character from sci-fi fantasy movie Avatar.
Sonya Lennon has revealed how she was paid less than fellow TV star Brendan Courtney when they co-hosted RTE's Off The Rails.

The presenting duo, who own clothing label Lennon Courtney, presented the fashion show in 2008 on the national broadcaster and discovered during their tenure that they were not paid equally.

Lennon said she "flagged it" with her bosses and the pair lobbied to be paid the same.

"I was very lucky that I was working with a man who really valued equality in all ways and set the record straight and levelled the playing field for us," said Lennon.

"Brendan said, 'I will split the difference', and that's what happened."

It emerged in recent months that RTE presenters Sharon Ni Bheolain and Bryan Dobson were not paid the same for their work on the Six One News, with Ni Bheolain earning up to 80,000 less than Dobson.

When contacted, an RTE spokesperson responded that they do not comment on individual salaries.

Speaking at the launch of the month-long Equal Pay campaign by Dress for Success Dublin, Lennon said it can be hard for women to raise the subject of pay in the workplace.

"The issues begin at the first negotiations for a job. If you go in at a lower rate than your male counterpart, the chasm widens throughout your career and hits you very hard at the other end with the pension," she said.

"It gets sort of worse as you get older. The first thing to do is to start training your negotiating muscles so you get the best deal on your first job.

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"That's not always easy and some sectors are very rigid.

"I think it's about being comfortable talking about money.

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"Openness is everything.

"Even if you're in the corporate world, it's important to know what the benchmarks are and what people are on around you," she added.

Lennon hopes men will aid in making sure their female co-workers are paid fairly.

"The world is made up of men who understand that this is wrong and men who don't understand that it's wrong.

"I think it's about lobbying with the men who do understand it and work together," she told the Herald.

The RTE presenter added that if women enter the work force on a lower pay than men it can harm their confidence later on.

"Our job is to support women in the work place so they can support themselves in the work place and be economically independent," she said.

"If they're entering the work place not equal, it can be very hard for them to have the confidence to succeed.

"We are levelling that playing pitch now," she said.

November 10 has been designated as Ireland's Equal Pay Day.

Dress For Success will hold a public panel discussion on the day at the Project Arts Centre in Dublin's Temple Bar.

More information on Equal Pay Day can be found on dressforsuccessdublin.org.
Karen Koster is worried about being judged for putting her children on camera for the new TV3 documentary, Mummy Guilt.

The Xpose presenter opened up her Ballsbridge home to allow her two boys, Finn (2) and JJ (1), to be filmed alongside her husband, John McGuire.

She is delving into the modern-day issues facing Irish mums and the eternal debate that exists between being a stay-at-home parent or a working one.

Karen said she decided to do the show "warts and all" - she ditched her make-up bag and went au naturel.

"It was me with no make-up on, running into creche, bawling my eyes out at times," she said.

"I found the first few days exhausting because it was more on me and my family and filming with the kids.

"Then, when you're thinking back, you're like, 'Oh God, JJ was running around in his nappy. That's not going to look good'.

"Then I talked to my mum and my sister and I am definitely exposing myself in a way that I haven't done before.

"I'm worried that people who don't even agree with putting your kids on Facebook are going to be like, 'Your one's putting her kids on TV', so I do worry about that aspect of it.

"I try not to put too much of the kids on social media, but it's very hard when you're a proud parent and you're taking pictures of them all the time.

"I'm definitely worried about people coming out and going, 'Boo-hoo, poor her. She's got first-world problems, she doesn't get to see her kids enough'.

"But I do think we all have the same worries and doubts, regardless of the job you do. We have all agonised over the choices we've made and second-guessed ourselves."

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Karen was speaking at the launch of Hazelbrook Farm's Bring Back The Magic campaign.
Kevin Spacey is facing sexual harassment allegations from three new accusers - a teenage barman, a Mexican actor and an unnamed British journalist.

The House of Cards actor has been in the press since Star Trek: Discovery actor Anthony Rapp came forward claiming Spacey had attempted to seduce him when he was just 14 years old.

The Oscar-winning star released a lengthy apology after Rapp went public with his story, and also used it to come out as gay - leading to significant criticism from those in the LGBTQ community.

Now three more men have come forward with their alleged experiences with the actor. Barman Daniel Beal, who worked at the Goodwood Park Hotel in West Sussex, England, told Britain's The Sun newspaper that Spacey sat next to him on a bench during a break from his work as the hotel barman and flashed his genitals, saying: "Its big isnt it?"

Beal then alleges that Spacey offered him a $6,600 (5,600) watch after the incident in a bid to "keep him quiet". In addition, Beal claims Spacey would "touch his hand" each time he served him a drink, and he claims he also invited him to his hotel room to smoke marijuana.

It's not clear when the alleged incident at the hotel took place.

Beal's claims come after Mexican actor Rob Cavazos took to Facebook to share his own "Kevin Spacey story", claiming the actor had a pattern of setting up career discussions with young male actors only for them to find a champagne picnic waiting for them when they arrived.

The Facebook post has been translated from Spanish, and reads: "I myself had a couple of nasty encounters with Spacey that were on the verge of being called harassment. In fact, if I had been a woman, I probably wouldn't have hesitated to identify him as such, but I guess the lack of a more specifically direct or aggressive action led me to justify the incident as 'one of those things.' There are many of us who have a 'Kevin Spacey story.' "

Britain's Evening Standard newspaper also reports that a third man, an unnamed U.K. journalist, has also come forward with an allegation about Spacey, claiming that during the Edinburgh International Television Festival in 2013, he propositioned him in a toilet.

Spacey has not issued any statement in response to these allegations.

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An Australian government minister was forced to apologise for her "ignorant, anti-Irish" statement while attempting to warn people about travelling conmen.

Consumer Affairs Minister Marlene Kairouz spoke as a nationwide campaign was launched in Australia to make people aware about scam artists who offer to carry out work or repairs to their homes.

"If anybody knocks on your door that has an Irish accent, automatically ask them to leave," she said.

"They know where to go, who to target - as soon as they get cash in their hands, they're gone," Ms Kairouz said at a press conference.

The controversy comes just a week after President Michael D Higgins completed a State visit to Australia.

People from both Ireland and elsewhere living in Australia went online to voice their disgust at the statement.

"Absolutely no need to slam all Irish people and make racist comments like that," one person wrote. "The minister needs to apologise to the hard-working Irish people in this country."

Another wrote: "Well, minister, I am an Irish community nurse who knocks on many doors every day to provide care for people of all nationalities in this beautiful country. Shame on you for your ignorance and sweeping statement."

Ms Kairouz later apologised for her comments.

"Yesterday, I made a comment at a scam awareness campaign launch that caused offence to people with Irish heritage," she said.

"Recent scammers have been backpackers from the UK and Ireland, and I was giving this info to the public. I admit I delivered this message poorly. I sincerely apologise for causing offence and my poor choice of words."

In a statement, the Australian Embassy in Ireland remarked on the "hugely positive contribution" Irish people had made to Australia. "Over more than two centuries, people of Irish birth and heritage have made a hugely positive contribution to Australia, and continue to do so."

It added that this was publicly acknowledged by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull in his recent meeting with President Higgins in Canberra.
From left, Dublin City councillor Claire Byrne, designer and founder of Dress for Success Sonya Lennon, and Dublin senator Lorraine Clifford Lee, at the launch of Dress for Success

Sonya Lennon has told how she was put on a lower salary than fellow TV star Brendan Courtney when they co-hosted RTE's 'Off The Rails' - but they ended up splitting the difference.

The presenting duo, who also own clothing label Lennon Courtney, presented the fashion show in 2008 on the national broadcaster, and discovered during their tenure that they were not being paid equally.

Lennon said she "flagged it" with her bosses at the station, and she and Courtney lobbied to be paid the same for their work.

"I did flag it, we brought it up. I was very lucky that I was working with a man who really valued equality in all ways and set the record straight, and levelled the playing field for us," she said. "(Brendan) said, 'I will split the difference' and that's what happened."

It emerged in recent months that RTE presenters Sharon Ni Bheolain and Bryan Dobson were not paid the same for their work on 'Six One News'.

When contacted, an RTE spokesperson responded by saying it does not comment on individual salaries.

Speaking at the launch of the month-long Equal Pay campaign by Dress for Success Dublin, Lennon said it can be hard for women to raise the subject of pay in the workplace.

"The issues begin at the first negotiations for a job. If you go in at a lower rate than your male counterpart, the chasm widens throughout your career and hits you very hard at the other end with the pension," she said.

"It gets sort of worse as you get older. The first thing to do is to start training your negotiating muscles so you get the best deal on your first job.

"That's not always easy and some sectors are very rigid.

"I think it's about being comfortable talking about money. Even if you're in the corporate world, it's important to know what the benchmarks are and what people are on around you," she added.

Lennon hopes men will help in making sure their female co-workers are paid fairly. "The world is made up of men who understand that this is wrong, and men who don't understand that it's wrong. I think it's about lobbying with the men who do understand it, and working together," she told the Irish Independent.

The RTE presenter added that if women enter the workforce on a lower pay than their male co-workers, it can harm their confidence later on.

"Our job is to support women in the workplace so they can support themselves in the workplace and be economically independent," she said. "If they're entering the workplace not equal, it can be very hard for them to have the confidence to succeed, so we are levelling that playing pitch now."

November 10 has been designated as Ireland's Equal Pay Day. Dress for Success will hold a public panel discussion at the Project Arts Centre, in Dublin's Temple Bar.

More information can be found at www.dressforsuccessdublin.org.
Commuters were resigned to their own contingency plans as they faced today without commuter rail or Dart services.

The first of five 24-hour nationwide rail strikes kicked off at midnight last night, leaving around 155,000 Irish Rail customers without service.

Trinity College student Clare Geoghegan from Cabra, who normally takes the train from Ashtown to Connolly station, said the strike means she has no idea what time she'll make it to class, assuming she's able to get a Dublin Bus at the height of the morning rush hour.

"It might just be the difference of half an hour, but I could be sitting in traffic all morning," she said. "I don't know if I'm going to be late for my lectures. I don't know how things are going to go," she said on her way home from Connolly station last night.

Clare Healy from Leixlip, Co Kildare, normally takes the train from Maynooth to her job at the IFSC.

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She said the strike will mean she will work from home.

"We're very lucky that we can work from home and it means that most of the office will be working from home tomorrow," she said. But if she didn't have that option, she said she would be facing a very long and stressful commute into town. "There is Dublin Bus, which my husband uses, but it will be absolutely mobbed tomorrow. It will be very uncomfortable and jammers."

Paul Aylward from Straffan, Co Kildare, who works for an insurance firm also at the IFSC, said he is lucky he can also work from home.

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"There's really no other option," he said, adding driving to and from work would take about two hours each way.

Jericha Irwin, who lives in Bayside, said she is fortunate to have a "forgiving" boss if she's late getting to her job as a receptionist at the IFSC.

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But she said she is also fortunate to live near various bus routes and there are several alternatives. "So even if loads of buses go by packed, there will be one that comes along," she said.
A boy who suffered a brain injury just before his birth after his mother was thrown from a car while on her way to have a final pregnancy scan has settled his legal action for 7.5m.

Cian Hammel (now 8) had to be delivered by emergency caesarean section in hospital after his 17-year-old mother, who was a passenger in the seven-seater car, was thrown from the vehicle when it overtook another car, went out of control, and ended up overturned in a field.

The High Court was told that the driver of the car was not insured at the time of the incident.

Roisin Hammel had been on her way for a final scan a few days before her due date.

Cian, of Ford Court, Kilmuckridge, Co Wexford, through his grandmother Ann Hammel, sued the driver of the car she was in, Simon Jordan, of Monaseed, High Fort, Gorey, Co Wexford.

Denied

The Motor Insurers Bureau of Ireland (MIBI), which compensates victims of uninsured driving, was also sued as a result of the accident on February 3, 2009 near Manhanagh, Screen, Co Wexford.

It was claimed the vehicle, which was driven by Mr Jordan, went out of control and turned over causing Cian's mother Ms Hammel, who was in a rear seat, to be thrown from the vehicle.

It was further claimed that Mr Jordan had overtaken another vehicle when it was not safe to do so and he was allegedly driving at a speed that was, in all the circumstances, including the weather conditions, excessive.

The claims were denied.

Senior Counsel Rosario Boyle told the court that Ms Hammel, who was studying for her Leaving Cert, had accepted a lift to attend her final scan.

Counsel said Ms Hammel was not wearing a seat belt, but the MIBI later accepted and acknowledged that, had she been wearing a seat belt, the outcome for Cian would not have been better.

She said Ms Hammel's waters broke and she had to have an emergency caesarean section in hospital due to foetal distress.

Ms Hammel, counsel said, was told to expect the worst and when Cian was born, he had to be resuscitated and there was multi-organ failure.

The boy now has difficulty walking and is unsteady on his feet and also has difficulties with language.

Mr Justice Kevin Cross approved the settlement.
The children of a criminal shot dead in his home told how a man holding a gun entered the kitchen wearing a balaclava before shooting their father dead.

Andy Connors (46) of the Old Pound, Boherboy Road, Saggart, Co Dublin was buried in a gold-plated coffin after he was shot in front of his family on August 19 2014. His wife Ann Connors, four of his six children and a niece were in the house at the time.

One of his daughters told how she was pushed to the ground by the gunman who entered the house through the back door into the kitchen shortly before 11pm that night.

A man came to the door wearing a black balaclava, bullet proof vest and black gloves. He walked in the door. He grabbed me and pushed me to the ground. He had a gun in his right hand, the child said in her deposition, read out at Dublin Coroners Court.

Family members wept as the details of Mr Connors violent killing were recounted.

Daddy didnt make it to the hall, he shot him. Then he walked out of the house and drove off. I went down the hall and saw mammy holding daddy, Miss Connors said.

Mr Connors had been in good form earlier that evening according to neighbour Keith Brennan.

He was 100 percent flying and in good humour. He didnt mention any threats, Mr Brennan said.

The pair had a few drinks at a pub in Monasterevin before returning to the Connors home in Saggart around 10pm. Detective Garda Con Harrison said access to the substantial dormer bungalow house was gained through substantial gates.

Andy Connors asked his daughter to make him a cup of coffee and had gone to his bedroom to change his clothes when the gunman entered the house, the court heard.

Another daughter said she was playing with transformers in the bedroom when she heard a scream from the kitchen. She described the gunman holding what she thought was a Mac 10 machine gun in his right hand.

He shot my daddy six or seven times. My daddy fell back onto my mammy. The man walked out, she said.

A 999 call was made at 10.55pm. Mr Connors was unresponsive when gardai and paramedics arrived at 11.09pm. He was rushed to Tallaght Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 11.58pm.

The cause of death was gunshot wounds to the chest according to state pathologist Professor Marie Cassidy. Andy Connors widow Ann Connors asked the coroner if there was anything the family could have done to save him.

Coroner Dr Myra Cullinane said Mr Connors suffered direct injuries to his heart and died within seconds. There was nothing you could have done, the coroner said.

Detective Inspector John Walshe of Tallaght Garda Station said gardai had explored 299 lines of inquiry, taken 161 witness statements and arrested one person as part of a substantial investigation into the death.

A file was sent to the DPP but there has been no prosecution in relation to the killing. The investigation remains open, Det Insp Walshe said. The jury at the inquest returned a verdict of unlawful killing by person or persons unknown.
Nikita Murtagh is charged with unlawful possession of a gun

A Dublin woman charged with unlawful possession of a semi-automatic pistol and ammunition on a Dublin to Belfast train will face trial at the Special Criminal Court.

Judges today granted an application by the DPP to try Nikita Murtagh (20) at the non-jury court.
FORMER senior Anglo Irish Bank official Tiarnan OMahoney has been cleared of conspiracy charges.

The ex chief operations officer at the now-defunct bank was formally acquitted of all counts against him at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court this morning.

Judge Martin Nolan directed a jury to acquit Mr OMahoney this morning after his trial collapsed yesterday.

Mr O'Mahoney (58) of Glen Pines, Enniskerry, Co Wicklow had pleaded not guilty to conspiring to destroy, mutilate or falsify books and documents affecting or relating to the property or affairs of Anglo Irish Bank Corp PLC.

He also pleaded not guilty at Dublin Circuit Court to conspiracy to defraud the Revenue Commissioners, who were conducting an investigation into bogus non-resident accounts which may have been liable for Deposit Interest Retention Tax (DIRT).

The offences were alleged to have occurred between March 25, 2003 and December 31, 2004 and referred to eight named bank accounts, all of which were allegedly connected to Anglos former chief executive Sean FitzPatrick.

Mr OMahoney, dressed in a black suit, white shirt and purple and green tie did not address the court during the two-minute proceedings.

Earlier, he had stood chatting with his legal team, with a newspaper tucked under his arm before the judges arrival.

When the jury filed into the court, Judge Nolan addressed them.

In your absence an application was made on behalf of Mr Tiernan OMahoney, the defendant, that the case shouldnt go to the jury by reason of an absence of evidence, Judge Nolan said. I acceded to that application and therefore, the case will not go to the jury.

The judge told the foreman of the jury there was an issue paper which stated not guilty by direction and the only action needed was for him to sign it.

Judge Nolan told the jury the application was not unusual and was quite appropriate to make at the end of the States case. The defence was entitled to make the application and he as a judge had to consider it.

He told the jurors their service was at an end and thanked them for serving in what had been a long trial" before discharging them.

It was an unusual type of case, he said.

"Mr O'Mahony can be discharged," said Judge Nolan.

Mr O'Mahoney did not respond when asked by journalists outside the Criminal Courts of Justice for his reaction to his acquittal.

Judge Nolan's decision to direct an acquittal came after the defence argued that the case the prosecution had not proved the necessary connection between the accused and Aoife Maguire, former assistant manager at Anglo Irish Bank and Mr O'Mahoney.

Lawyers for the Director of Public Prosecution argued Judge Nolan could have directed the jury to combine all the circumstantial evidence together to form a compelling conclusion.

However, Judge Nolan concluded that the case was too tenuous to go to the jury and a conviction would be perverse.

He said he was not satisfied that any properly directed jury could convict, as they would be asked to speculate and to fill in gaps in the evidence.

Judge Nolan said there was every reason to be suspicious of Mr O'Mahoney's activities in October and November 2003, and his subsequent dealings with gardai. But he said in the absence of formal evidence of conspiracy with Aoife Maguire this was not enough.

He said evidence demonstrated that Aoife Maguire was a mere conduit for more powerful voices and was being directed.

Judge Nolan said that the evidence showed that the defendant had an insight into the relevant accounts and that he made enquiries from other employees in relation to the deletions made to the accounts.

He also said that it was clear Mr O'Mahoney was instrumental in getting certain people removed from the internal team, tasked with compiling a list of Anglo accounts which may have been liable for Deposit Interest Retention Tax (DIRT).

He said that it was obvious that the person who benefited from the deletion of the accounts was Sean FitzPatrick.

Sean FitzPatrick used the accounts to deal in Anglo shares in a prohibited period. For a petty reward he breached the rules in relation to insider trading, Judge Nolan said.

The prosecution had alleged that Mr O'Mahoney conspired to delete six accounts from the bank's electronic record system, and to disguise the identity of two further accounts.

During the trial the court heard that all eight bank accounts were to a greater or lesser extent connected to Sean FitzPatrick. The alleged offences took place at a time when Revenue was investigating Irish banks in relation to bogus non-resident accounts.

In 2003 a High Court order was made with a view to getting a list of accounts which may have been liable for Deposit Interest Retention Tax (DIRT).

The prosecution's case was that Aoife Maguire, a member of staff at Anglo, approached members of the bank's IT team during the Revenue audit in 2003 and requested that certain accounts be deleted from the bank's system.

However the IT department members were uncomfortable with this instruction, and archived the accounts rather than deleting them. When the archived accounts were recovered it transpired that some details pertaining to the accounts had been altered.

The prosecution had argued that Tiarnan O'Mahoney was part of an agreement to make a deliberate, concerted effort to alter the details of these accounts and to defraud Revenue.

This trial was a retrial after the Court of Appeal quashed Mr O'Mahoney's 2015 conviction in April 2016.
A businessman suing "X-factor" contestants Jedward over an alleged merchandising agreement claims the twins did not make their best efforts to promote the merchandise, the High Court heard.

Patrick Joseph Noonan says he has not received "one cent" from them and in a legal action is claiming total losses of more than 625,000, including some 250,000 for alleged loss of opportunity of selling a Jedward board game to another party.

The case is against identical twins John and Edward Grimes, both aged 26, from Dublin and known as Jedward, along with their parents John Grimes and Susanna Condron.

All the defendants, represented by Desmond Murphy SC, were in court and deny the claims.

A small number of fans of Jedward sat outside court. Jedward got to the finals of the music talent show, "The X Factor" in 2009, represented Ireland twice in the Eurovision song contest and also appeared in "Celebrity Big Brother".

Mr Noonan alleges it was agreed at various meetings from 2011 involving one or other or both parents, allegedly acting as agents of their sons, that he was to be reimbursed for costs relating to sourcing and developing Jedward merchandise, including jigsaws, wristbands, boardgames and a magazine.

In evidence, Mr Noonan said he is a civil engineer with various business interests also involved in assisting start-up ventures. He has considerable interest in the film industry and brought a lot of jobs to Limerick via Tristar Studios, he said.

As a result of knowing John Geehan, a first cousin of John Grimes senior, there were meetings in 2011 to discuss Mr Noonan's idea of a Jedward boardgame and other matters, he said.

His memo of the first meeting at his home in Limerick in August 2011 described the twins as lovely lads (hyper).

His understanding from that encounter was he would be working for Jedward, they were the bosses and he would get paid.

They had talked about board games and he was assured the twins would promote those via their website, tweets and a newspaper column. There was also talk of setting up a Jedward Foundation for charitable purposes, he said.

His memo recorded the twins appeared to lose interest after about an hour and to have started running around the house and eating fruit.

He said he spent money personally on the merchandise before two limited liability companies were set up and understood and was told he would be paid for what he spent. He also took steps in 2011 to ensure the name Jedward was protected on behalf of the twins.

Earlier, opening the case for Mr Noonan before Mr Justice Donald Binchy, Patrick OReilly SC said Jedward unfortunately did not make their best efforts to promote the merchandise. What is clear certain is Mr Noonan paid for all of these items and has not received one cent for them, all of which are Jedward merchandise, he said.

Merchandise remains stored in a facility in Co Donegal and a dispute about payment for storage lead at one stage to some merchandise being put out on the street briefly, he said.

At no time until the pleadings were entered had the defendants said they did not have to pay Mr Noonan, contending there was a joint venture to be run through two limited liability firms and any loss was of those two companies, not Mr Noonans.

It was agreed costs would be paid back to Mr Noonan because Jedward was contractually bound to UK merchandising company Bravada and could not enter into any other form of contracts, counsel argued.

Relations between Mr Noonan and the defendants began to sour from summer 2012 when Mr Noonan found out some wristbands produced by him had been sold by the defendants and they had not at all accounted for receipts from the sales, counsel said.

Mr Noonan had ordered 40,000 wristbands in eight types from China in 2011 for which he paid 97,000.

The case continues.
A protester who was accused of wilfully obstructing a minister's car and assaulting a Garda inspector during a political demonstration has had the case against her dismissed.

Regina Ward (49) had allegedly prevented the free passage of then-minister James Reilly's car after Tanaiste Joan Burton opened a social welfare office in Balbriggan in 2016.
Police are hunting for a convicted murderer who has failed to return to Magilligan Prison.

Stephen Henry (41) did not return to prison on Monday October 30, under the conditions of a day-release pass he had been given to visit family.

Police said he has a "history of violence" and urged the public not to approach him.

He was last seen in the Craigavon area at around 3.45pm.

Detective Sergeant McColgan said: We believe that Stephen Henry, who was jailed for murder in 2004, is dangerous and may be in either the Craigavon or Belfast area.

He is described as being 5ft 10inches in height, of medium build with short brown hair. He has tattoos on both upper arms and scars on his forehead and left ear.

He has a history of violence and I would urge the public not to approach him but to contact police immediately.

I would ask Mr Henry to hand himself in to the authorities without any further delay and ask anyone who knows of his current whereabouts or who has any information to contact police on 999.

Henry was jailed for life at Craigavon Crown Court after pleading guilty to murdering an acquaintance with a Samurai-style sword.

He was jailed for 13 years for the attack on father-of-two John Cooke (33) in a house in Lisburn in May 2004.

The judge said Henry had "behaved like a savage" who had attacked his victim " as he begged for his life".
A jury has acquitted retired surgeon Michael Shine of indecently assaulting three young male patients over 40 years ago.

Mr Shine (85) of Wellington Rd. in Dublin had pleaded not (NOT) guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to seven charges of indecently assaulting five patients at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital and at his private clinic, both in Drogheda, Co Louth, on dates between 1964 and 1991.

Shortly before 4pm the jury of four men and eight women told Judge Cormac Quinn it had reached majority verdicts on some of the counts.

The jury found Mr Shine not (NOT) guilty of four charges which cover alleged offences against three teenagers on dates in 1964, 1970 and and 1976. Mr Shine has denied ever seeing these patients and there were no medicals records to confirm that he had seen them on the dates of the alleged assaults.

Judge Quinn previously warned jurors that if they had a reasonable doubt in relation to records missing due to the delay in bringing the complaints, they must give the benefit of the doubt to accused.

The five complainants were all teenage boys at the time they allege Mr Shine touched them in their genital areas while treating them for injuries such as cuts to a knee, an injury to a finger and an injured toe.

The outstanding three counts cover alleged assaults on two teenage patients on dates between 1974 and 1976. Mr Shine admits attending to these patients but denies that anything inappropriate was done during his medical examinations.

The jury began deliberating yesterday/Tuesday afternoon. Having deliberated for just over five hours Judge Quinn sent the jury home for the night to resume deliberations tomorrow/this (THURS) morning.

In his charge to the jury on Tuesday, Judge Quinn said that corroboration evidence  credible independent evidence of the alleged acts which implicate the accused in those acts  does not exist in relation to any of the complainants.

He warned the jurors: It is dangerous to convict on the uncorroborated evidence of any of the complainants but added that they are nevertheless entitled to find the accused guilty beyond reasonable doubt once they have taken this warning into account.

You have to exercise special care on whether you believe each complainant. You have to exercise caution before acting on unsupported evidence, he said.

The defence position is that the complainants are not independent, may be colluding and are motivated by civil actions.

In his charge Judge Quinn told the jury that this was quite an old case and that the detail that would exist for a more recent complaint was unavailable in cases of historic complaints.

He said if the complaints had been made earlier the accused could possibly have called on witnesses such as other medical staff and could have checked records or his diary.

He said these prospects had diminished or disappeared and the prosecution were not entitled to take any advantage from the delay in the case.

If you have a reasonable doubt in relation to records missing due to the delay, you must give the benefit of the doubt to accused, he told the jury.

He said in cases with such a delay there was a special need to exercise caution if youre minded to convict because it is much more difficult for a person to defend themselves against an old complaint.
A review into pay at RTE is today expected to show a slight discrepancy between genders working at the broadcaster.

The report - carried out by Kieran Mulvey - is likely to point to a pay gap of about 4pc, according to sources both within the broadcaster and in Government.

However, a regional/Dublin divide is also expected to form part of the findings.

Staff are expected to immediately criticise the report through their union representatives because of what they believe are flawed terms of reference.

As previously revealed by the Irish Independent, Mr Mulvey did not examine those who had negotiated lucrative presenting contracts with RTE management.

The terms of reference were particularly narrow in that they only applied to those on "permanent and fixed-term" contracts. It means the salaries earned by the broadcaster's highest earners will not shape whatever recommendations are made by Mr Mulvey, a respected mediator. Bonuses are also excluded, the Irish Independent understands.

The report will be launched by Mr Mulvey and the director general of RTE Dee Forbes this afternoon.

Another finding is expected to relate to the difference earned between regional staff and those based in Dublin.

It will take place after a meeting of the senior executives, followed by a briefing of staff.

RTE sources last night told the Irish Independent that the review would be criticised, given the terms of reference.

Staff are likely to call for further action into establishing the true size of the gender pay gap.

The gender pay gap row at RTE erupted over the discrepancy earned between presenters doing similar work, notably news anchors Bryan Dobson, who has since moved to 'Morning Ireland', and Sharon Ni Bheolain.

RTE came under fire when it emerged Ms Ni Bheolain was paid up to 80,000 less than Mr Dobson.

RTE recently brought forward for the publication date of the salaries of its highest-paid earners in 2015 after coming under major pressure from both staff and politicians.

The figures showed that Ryan Tubridy maintained his position as the best paid, with a salary of 495,000.
Health inspectors have found 53 different species of mosquitoes in Ireland, including forms that spread malaria and the West Nile virus.

The surveillance was carried out last year by laying traps under bushes, near trees and in shady places located around points of entry, such as Shannon Airport, Dublin Airport and the seaports of Dublin, Cork, Waterford and Limerick.

They include Anopheles plumbeus, which has been shown to be a "reasonably good transmitter of malaria".

The vast majority of species were Culex pipiens, which can carry diseases such as West Nile virus. No evidence of the Aedes species, which has been linked to the Zika virus, was found.

The larvae - a junior form of mosquito - develop once the water or ground temperatures are consistently above 10 degrees centigrade, according to a report by the HSE environmental officers.

Climate

Mosquitoes like high temperatures, so climate change, with wet and warmer weather, has been blamed for making parts of Europe a more friendly habitat. The health inspectors said the peak period for specimen collection last year was August and September.

The potential for mosquitoes to enter Ireland is through vessels, aircraft and cargo arriving into Irish ports from Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guyana, Mexico and Panama.

The Health Protection Surveillance Centre said there were not enough mosquitoes in Ireland to carry infected blood.

Large numbers are need to sustain spread of infection. The climate is still too cold for them to multiply.
Irish Water says it can re-issue refund cheques to a nominated person of the account holder for anyone who does not have a bank (Stock photo)

Irish Water have launched a new site to assist customers who paid their bills to get their refunds.

Here's all you need to know.

Why are refunds being issued?

An all-party Oireachtas Committee on the funding of water services agreed that water charges are to be scrapped except in cases of excessive use.

The committees examination of the divisive issue came about under the terms of the deal between Fine Gael and Fianna Fail that saw the establishment of the minority Government.

With water charges effectively having been axed, it has been decided that people who paid will get refunds, so theyre treated the same as those who didnt pay the charges.

When will the refunds begin?

That is still not clear but all the refunds will not be processed this side of Christmas. Speaking on Morning Ireland this morning, Irish Water's Head of Customer Strategy and Capacity, Yvonne Harris said: "Once the legislation is passed we are ready to produce cheques and we're ready to start issuing those cheques."

The relevant piece of legislation, the Water Services Bill, passed through Committee stage last week and should be up before the Dail, and then the Seanad, next week.

If all goes to plan in Leinster House, Irish Water say they will begin the refund process immediately.

What is the schedule for the refunds being paid?

Irish Water said today that 30,000 cheques a day will be issued once they start the process but with just shy of 1,000,000 people paying some or all of their Irish Water bills, it will take a number of months to process all the refunds.

Do I need to do anything to get my refund?

According to Irish Water, you only need to contact them if you have changed address and your details need to be updated. Everyone else can just sit back and wait for the cheque to arrive.

Will I get my refund before Christmas?

Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government Eoghan Murphy said earlier this year that all refunds would be processed by the end of the year if the legislation was passed by mid October.

As that date has now passed, Yvonne Harris has said that some customers will not receive their refund cheque until January.

I paid with a direct debit, why are they sending me a cheque?

According to Irish Water: "We want to refund our customers efficiently and securely within the time frame given. Cheques are the most effective method available to do this while also ensuring we refund to the correct person.

And how much will I get?

According to Irish Water: "The amount you paid to Irish Water in domestic billing charges will be refunded to you."

What is the link to the new Irish Water site?

Here you go. https://www.water.ie/for-home/refunds/
Irish people will be "warmly welcomed" in Australia, the country's Embassy in Dublin has claimed following a Minister's controversial remarks.

Australia's Consumer Affairs Minister Marlene Kairouz has apologised after she was accused on social media of making "anti-Irish" and "racist remarks."

Ms Kairouz was speaking on 9News as she warned the public about scam artists who are going to people's homes and offering to carrying out repairs but are then leaving as soon as they get paid, without doing the promised work.

She said: "They know where to go, who to target, as soon as they get cash in their hands, they're gone.

"If anybody knocks on your door that has an Irish accent, automatically ask them to leave."

Following anger over her remarks, the Australian Embassy in Dublin has reassured people they are welcome and appreciated.

They said in a statement: "Australia has a warm and friendly relationship with Ireland, and continues to welcome the significant numbers of Irish people who choose to visit or migrate to Australia.

"Over more than two centuries, people of Irish birth or heritage have made a hugely positive contribution to Australia, and continue to do so.

"This was acknowledged recently by the Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull, MP, who told President Higgins in Canberra, 'The warmth of the ties and family history between Australia and Ireland couldn't be greater.

"'Australia is the most Irish country in the world (apart from Ireland, of course)...'"

Read More

The embassy's spokesman said he is aware of Ms Kairouz's remarks and stressed that they are not reflective of the general attitudes of Australian people.

He said: "The Australian Embassy is aware on comments made by the Hon Marlene Kairouz, MP, Minister for Consumer Affairs, Gaming and Liquor Regulation in the Government of Victoria, that have been widely reported in the Irish media.

"The Embassy notes that Minister Kairouz has subsequently issued a statement on Twitter, acknowledging that her words had been poorly chosen, and apologising for the offence caused by her comments.

"The best way to sum up the attitudes of the Australian people towards the Irish is again to quote the Prime Minister, 'You're so warmly welcomed. You're among friends and among family.'"

Minister Kairouz has apologised for her comments.

She said: "Yesterday I made a comment at a scam awareness campaign launch that caused offence to people with Irish heritage.

"Recent scammers have been backpackers from the UK and Ireland and I was giving this info to the public. I admit I delivered this message poorly.

"I sincerely apologise for causing offence and my poor choice of words."
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar will emphasise Ireland's commitment to the EU during a series of meetings with the world's major tech firms in the United States this week.

Facebook, Microsoft, Apple and Google are all on the Taoiseach's agenda during his three-day visit to Seattle and San Francisco.

It is understood Mr Varadkar plans to talk up the significance of their Irish investment in the wake of Brexit.

His discussions with Apple, which is headed by Tim Cook, will inevitably touch on its battle with the European Commission over whether the company owes Ireland 13bn in back taxes.

The issue of planning problems around data centres, and EU plans for a digital tax, are also likely to feature heavily.

Ahead of the trip, Mr Varadkar said: "My visit to the US west coast is a valuable opportunity to engage with major business leaders and further strengthen the economic relationship between Ireland and the US.

"I will highlight Ireland's position as an island at the centre of the world, our strong commitment to EU membership and our status as a gateway for US firms into Europe and other global markets," he said.

The most up-to-date figures show there were 223 west-coast head-quartered companies operating in Ireland, employing 46,540 people, at the end of 2016.

Many of these companies are based in Silicon Valley, which Mr Varadkar will visit tomorrow.

"As an open trading economy at the heart of Europe, I want to double Ireland's global footprint over the next seven years to maximise opportunities for growth and prosperity for our people at home and abroad," Mr Varadkar said.

He added that the west coast of America is "increasingly accessible, thanks to the recent reopening of a number of direct flight routes to and from Ireland".

There is also a tourism element to the Taoiseach's trip, with representatives from Tourism Ireland taking part.

Mr Varadkar will take part in a number of events that are being hosted by the Irish community.

"As well as economic ties, there are strong cultural links between Ireland and the west coast, with one in 10 residents of San Francisco and Seattle claiming Irish ancestry," commented Mr Varadkar.

"I look forward to meeting members of the Irish community in both cities, and promoting the strong links between the Irish and American people."
A SECOND investigation has been launched into the death of a hotel guest in Connemara.

Following an assessment of the Connemara Lake Hotel yesterday, the Health and Safety Authority has now launched a full investigation into the sudden death.

The investigations are now expected to centre on whether carbon monoxide played a part in the death.

Betty Harrington (64) from Donoughmore, Cork was found dead in her Galway hotel bedroom on Monday morning.

Her heartbroken family are now planning her funeral.

The much loved grandmother is survived by her husband Donal, children Debbie, Jennifer, Donna, Daniel and Anne, five grandchildren and extended family.

A funeral mass for the mother-of-five will be held on Friday at St Lachteens Church, Stuake. It will be followed by a private cremation.

Ms Harrington was fondly remembered by all her family and her friends in the Bishopstown walking club and her set dancing friends.

The 64-year-old has been on a walking holiday with her club with members climbing the Maamturks and the Twelve Bens mountain ranges in Connemara over the Bank Holiday Weekend.

She was found dead in her room in the Connemara Lake Hotel at around 11.30am on Monday. Her body was removed to University Hospital Galway where a post mortem examination was carried out yesterday.

The hotel was later evacuated after a number of guests reported feeling unwell. Two guests attended the emergency department at University Hospital Galway for tests.

It is understood that gardai will be speaking to these guests as part of their inquiries.

The hotel remains closed and a number of examinations continue to be carried out.

A spokesperson for the Health and Safety Authority confirmed that it had launched a full investigation following an initial assessment yesterday.

He added that the HSA would not be making any further comment while the investigation was ongoing.

Sources confirmed that one line of inquiry being probed across the two investigations is whether the incident could have been as a result of a carbon monoxide leak.

Gardai in Salthill, who are investigating the death are now awaiting the results of toxicology tests which may take a number of weeks.

A statement on the hotel website confirmed it would remain closed until further notice.

The Connemara Lake Hotel confirms that a guest tragically passed away while staying in the Hotel over the weekend. The Hotel is closed until further notice while an investigation takes place by the Garda Siochana.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the deceased, their family and friends, it read.
World champion Katie Taylor is set for a huge homecoming fight at Dublin's 3Arena in April.

The Bray boxer yesterday insisted the world lightweight belt she won in Saturday's victory over Anahi Esther Sanchez ranked alongside her 2012 Olympic victory in London.

Taylor (31) is expected to headline her next fight in London in December, before returning to Ireland. Her promoter Eddie Hearn said she would be the top billing at the 13,000 capacity stadium.

Taylor said she was excited about the prospect of a return. "Yeah, can't wait. It was always in the pipeline to fight at home at some stage," she said.

"It's been absolutely fantastic fighting in the UK for the last few months, and the support I've got over there has been incredible, but I guess it's only a taster for what it's going to be like next year in Dublin," she added.
Ireland has become increasingly multicultural and you only have to look at the diverse choice of food available to us for everyday evidence.

Some food cultures have been particularly influential. If you were judging by the number of representative restaurants, you might guess that the largest group of non-Irish nationals living in Ireland are Chinese... or Italian perhaps, given the volume of pasta, pizza and panini that Irish folk consume.

Expand Close Pierogi / Facebook

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Of course, there are more reliable measures of a migrant community's presence. We know from the 2016 Census that the largest group of non-Irish nationals in today's Ireland are Polish, at 122,515. That figure is almost unchanged from 2011, having doubled in the five years from 2006.

Perhaps the question is better considered the other way around: given how many Polish people now call Ireland home, to what extent has their food culture influenced Irish food culture?

The answer appears to be relatively little... on the surface of things at least. And yet there are plenty of delicious dishes to be discovered in Polish cuisine for those willing to seek them out.

There are surprisingly few restaurants, cafes, food trucks or market stalls specialising in traditional Polish food. One Polish-Irish couple, Ola and Jonathan Farrar, did try selling pierogi (Polish dumplings) at a Dublin market, but they gave up after a tough 18 months despite an enthusiastic review in the McKenna's Guide.

"Polish food is delicious," says Ola. "But it was very hard to get people interested in it."

Even for those Irish folk who seek it out, Polish food is relatively hard to find. Piotr Gwiazpowska of Sopot Restaurant on Mountjoy Square expresses a mixture of pride and disappointment at being the only Polish restaurant in Dublin, given that Gospoda Polska on Capel Street closed within a few years of opening. While there is no shortage of Polish shops and supermarkets, with some chains such as Polonez boasting up to 30 stores nationwide, these still attract as few as five per cent Irish customers.

"When I speak to Irish people," says Michal Dzigielewski, marketing manager at Polonez, "they're still afraid to come into our stores, even though lots of our prices are lower than Lidl or Aldi." He thinks that the breadth of choice offered can be overwhelming to the uninitiated, with seven different styles of Polish flour to choose from, for example, or over 50 types of sausage and cold meats.

However, Lidl's quarterly 'Polish Taste' promotions seem to pique Irish customers' curiosity and Polonez often experience an upsurge when those promotions have finished. Lidl plan to significantly increase the regularity of those promotions due to popular demand, while Tesco now have a very extensive range of Polish groceries - these include sausages and cold meats, as well as fruit juices, pickles, kefir style yoghurt and Polish chocolate.

Scratch the surface and you'll find a growing influence. Some fans may lament the demise of U Wuja, a hole-in-the-wall purveyor of pierogi that is no longer trading in Moore Street's underground food mall. But others are busy frequenting Gorace Gary U Barbary Kuchary, which has opened inside Mroz.ie Exclusive supermarket.

Pawel Skura relocated from Tullamore to open the canteen-style Gorace Gary in early September, and says it's been "mad busy" ever since. Their daily menu always includes pierogi, soup (maybe a broth with pork knuckle) and popular specials like chicken rolled with mushrooms and herbs. His predominantly Polish customers are often joined by well-informed Irish diners. "Lots of them have Polish partners or friends or colleagues, and they know what's good," Pawel says.

Piotr Gwiazpowska of Sopot agrees that Irish people are increasingly familiar with Poland's many national dishes. The classic Polish hunter's stew known as bigos is very popular, as is zurek, a sour rye soup with hard-boiled egg, pancetta-type bacon, sausage, vegetables and dill. Sopot attracts a mixed crowd, either through business lunches or an increasing number of Polish-Irish couples. "And when they come once, they come back again."

The number of mixed Polish-Irish households has doubled since 2011, as many of those Polish people who came to Ireland in their 20s have put down roots and made new lives here, often meeting and marrying locals.

Gavin and Marlena Murphy belong to a growing proportion of Irish-Polish families with Irish-born children. General manager of Dockyard 8 in Bray, Gavin says he was "astounded" by both the diversity and quality of Polish food - and by how much of their income Polish people are prepared to spend on ingredients.

"Also, maybe it's just coincidence, but a lot of the things I saw in Poland 15 years ago, I see here in Ireland now," he says, citing our new appreciation for sourdough breads and fermented foods. He observes that those food skills that most Polish people grew up with are becoming newly valued here.

Polish-born Magda Japola manages the fermented food section for Stephen and David Flynn at The Happy Pear. "Coming from Poland, she's a real dab hand at it," says Stephen. "And she's not afraid to experiment, in the way an Irish person might be." Likewise, many of the new-wave Irish bakers employ skilled Eastern European bakers for their experience in handling sourdough.

Piotr Sztal arrived in Ireland from Krakow on his 21st birthday with plans to stay for a summer, but is still here 16 years later. He met his husband Frank Kavanagh in 2005, with whom he owns Cloud Picker Coffee and runs Dublin's Science Gallery Cafe.

The couple have fond memories of their 2011 wedding in Frank's home town of Buncrana. As is traditional at Polish weddings, they served borscht broth with uszka ('little ear') dumplings filled with wild mushrooms and sauerkraut. "The thinking is that the beetroot is good for your liver," explains Piotr, although this pre-emptive cure had its work cut out in Donegal. "All the Polish people got drunk on wine because they weren't used to drinking it," he laughs. And the Irish? They got "absolutely hammered" on the vodka, a bottle of which was on every table.

The couple are full of stories of epic family feasts. Piotr remembers decamping with the whole family to his granny's kitchen during cabbage season to create a year's worth of kapusta kwaszona (sauerkraut). "There'd be a bit of craic as well," Frank adds, alluding to the all-important vodka at such gatherings. Perhaps as a lingering habit from food-scarce days under communism, Piotr's mother still regularly buys a dozen free-range chickens at a time to "have a chicken party". Guests depart well fed with a stash of frozen chickens.

Piotr and Frank's own pierogi parties are a hit with their Irish friends, who are drafted in to help with the prepping - and eating. "They're very laborious to make and you have to be very organised," says Piotr, "so you might as well make two or three hundred of them!"

The couple eat a lot of Polish food at home, especially comfort food like rosol soup (clear chicken broth with sliced duck and tiny pasta) when they're poorly or pork schnitzel when it's cold. They make regular trips to Polish stores for favourite ingredients: pickled herrings, Polish sausage to slice thin and fry into 'sausage crisps', or special cuts of meat like pork neck to roast on the barbecue. Polish dishes get a good response in their cafe too - especially pierogi.

"Gherkin soup has such a beautiful fresh flavour but people think it sounds mad," says Piotr, pointing to what is perhaps the biggest barrier preventing the Irish from discovering the joys of Polish food: our misguided preconceptions.
L-R: Gavin Uzell, All Together in Dignity Ireland; Kathryn McCance, The Little Museum of Dublin; PJ Gallagher, Thank You Fund Ambassador; and Martina Genockey, An Cosan.

Two inspirational new projects are now coming to life and will empower young people, thanks to winning investments from the Coca Cola Thank You Fund.

The legacy of Martin Luther King and his seminal I Have a Dream speech is the inspiration for the Ireland  I Have a Dream project, which invites young people living in persistent poverty in Ireland to find their strengths. Through a creative writing process, they will share their experiences and find their individual and collective voices with the aim of being empowered and then going on to inspire others to keep fighting to stop poverty.

The project is the brainchild of All Together in Dignity  ATD  Fourth World Ireland, which has secured 5k through the Coca-Cola Thank You Fund. We are over the moon. Its an amazing start for us to get this funding, as we have a newly formed youth group, explains Senan Coughlan, a full-time volunteer with ATD Ireland.

Expand Close L-R: Kathryn McCance, The Little Museum of Dublin; Gavin Uzell, All Together in Dignity Ireland; PJ Gallagher, Thank You Fund Ambassador; and Tara Vize, Start360. / Facebook

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Whatsapp L-R: Kathryn McCance, The Little Museum of Dublin; Gavin Uzell, All Together in Dignity Ireland; PJ Gallagher, Thank You Fund Ambassador; and Tara Vize, Start360.

Young people with incredible resilience

What we will do is create a space for young people to become leaders. Because these people have had to live in persistent poverty, they have had to overcome massive challenges and face social exclusion  this has given them incredible resilience and unrivalled character. They are often told, or often feel, that they do not have leadership qualities but in fact its quite the opposite.

We are creating an avenue to help these young people realise their potential and demonstrate their leadership qualities. We will provide them with support and an environment for them to lead and find their own voices  rather than speaking on their behalf. Thats the goal  well create young leaders, explains Senan Coughlan.

There are negative cycles of poverty  its generational. We will counteract this and create some positive cycles. Based in Mountjoy Square in Dublins north inner city, the organisation is focusing on the 50th anniversary of the death of Martin Luther King. Well be using his legacy  in addition to his work on civil rights as he was also an anti-poverty activist. Well be holding creative writing workshops and these young people will write about their hopes and dreams for Ireland  well gather all the submissions and publish them in some form and have a launch event around the anniversary. We are thrilled that this is now possible through the Coca-Cola Fund.

Spreading Positivity through Acts of Kindness

Change Makers  the brainchild of Start 360, which delivers a range of person-centred services to young people and adults in Northern Ireland  is another new project that has received 5,000 in this years Coca-Cola Thank You Fund.

The innovative new project involves young people going out in to their community and spreading positivity through acts of kindness. The young people will engage with communities and explore different concepts that will improve the lives of residents within.

Expand Close L-R: Elaine Granaghan, Foroige; and PJ Gallagher, Thank You Fund Ambassador. / Facebook

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Whatsapp L-R: Elaine Granaghan, Foroige; and PJ Gallagher, Thank You Fund Ambassador.

Funding Means We Can Put Good Ideas in to Practice

Zoe Anderson, Communications Manager of Start 360 explains: We are delighted to get this funding from the Coca-Cola Fund. This means that we can now put a lot of good ideas in to practice. We see this as the starting point and we hope to roll it out further. Doing something good for your community really enables a person to give back and then exponentially more and more people get involved.

We work with young people aged between 16 to 24 in the greater Belfast area and further afield, who are very often looked down upon in their communities but they want to change that and give back and do something positive. Our work  and this funding will now offer them the opportunity to make a change. We will be implementing a three phase programme  they will first develop their skills and see what their communities need. Then the young people will go out and do positive things in their communities and the third phase will be to cascade that through their communities beyond the lifetime of the funding.

The acts of kindness can range from clean ups, street art to brighten up areas, befriending opportunities and all sorts of other initiatives but all the activity will depend on the needs that the young people identify in their own communities.

A total of 100,000 has been granted to 14 community groups across Ireland and Northern Ireland for innovative projects that will support and inspire young people. Five organisations received grants of 10,000: The Little Museum of Dublin, An Cosan, Foroige, CDYS Ltd., Leave No Trace Ireland and Girls Brigade. An additional eight organisations will each receive 5,000 for programmes.

Coca-Cola says Thank You

Petre Sandru, Country Manager, Coca-Cola Ireland thanked all the organisations who applied for Thank You Fund grants this year and the judges who helped select the winners. We are delighted to invest in young people in our communities but it is important to us that the funding provided through the Thank You Fund is a catalyst for new thinking and helps support the delivery of projects and schemes that otherwise might not happen. It is clear from the strategic approach and new thinking that we have seen in the proposals that a lot of time and effort was invested in this process by those who participated. I would like to thank everyone who took the time to enter and specifically to congratulate those who were successful. It is important that the next generation of our society are given every possible opportunity to reach their full potential and we hope that the funding provided through the Thank You Fund will make a difference in the lives of those who have the opportunity to participate in the programmes.

Since the Thank You Fund was launched in 2011 it has invested a total of 855k in community groups and non-profit organisations throughout the island of Ireland.

More information about the Coca-Cola Thank You Fund and all grant recipients is available at www.coca-cola.ie/thankyou.

Sponsored by:
Conor McGregor Jr is already very accustomed to the good life.

MMA superstar Conor Sr and girlfriend Dee Devlin celebrated their son's christening in one of the most lavish parties you could imagine: complete with a castle setting, mini-carnival and ferris wheel. At just five months, the little guy may be too little to fully appreciate his party, but proud dad Conor shared a number of pictures of him enjoying the festivities alongside the infant.

Expand Close Conor McGregor and Dee Devlin at their son Conor Jr's christening party. Picture: Instagram / Facebook

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Simply captioned 'Mac land', their no expense spared bash at Dublin's Luttrellstown Castle, which was transformed into a mini-carnival including a petting zoo, bouncy castle and a ferris wheel which the tot enjoyed in his father's arms. The event took place on Sunday with just family and friends in attendance, all of whom were reportedly subject to a social media ban in order to keep it private.

However, his sisters Aoife and Erin shared sweet snaps with their nephew from the day, with Aoife opting for a more Insta-glam set-up in front of the castle with the baby in one hand and a pig on a leash on the other. Erin, on the other hand, shared a more candid snap of her enjoying some downtime with her son Harry and baby nephew.

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"Cuz let's take some time and catch up on a bit of peppa pig celebrating conor junior 's christening day," she captioned the pic, showing the two boys looking enamored watching cartoons on her phone.

Mum-of-the-hour Dee took centre stage in a slashed asymmetric bodsuit with a raspberry silk skirt with centre slit and a pair of crystal embellished heels. Devlin, who is now a social media sensation all her own with more than one million Instagram followers, has been slowly dipping her toe back in the spotlight since welcoming the couple's first child in May, after the whirwind of her other half's fight against Lloyd Mayweather.
It would be some sight to see the Duchess of Cambridge rowing on the River Thames these days a la July 2007.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry at West Ham UnitedOs London Stadium, as they attend the graduation ceremony for more than 150 Coach Core apprentices

Kate Middleton leaves her Chelsea flat on her 25th birthday on January 9, 2007 in London, England. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)

Kate Middleton looks on from the Royal Box on the fourth day of The Annual National Hunt Festival held at Cheltenham Racecourse on March 16, 2007 in Cheltenham, England. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

Actress Meghan Markle, who plays Rachel Zane in the hit USA legal drama 'Suits' at the Westbury Hotel in Dublin in 2013

Britain's Prince Harry (R) arrives with girlfriend actress Meghan Markle at the wheelchair tennis event during the Invictus Games in Toronto, Ontario, Canada September 25, 2017. REUTERS/Mark Blinch

Britain's Prince Harry and his girlfriend actress Markle watch the wheelchair tennis event during the Invictus Games in Toronto, Ontario, Canada September 25, 2017. REUTERS/Mark Blinch

They've been the most talked about couple in the world for more than a year, outshining even early Brangelina in terms of public interest.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's royal romance might still be classified as relatively new (they've been together 18 months) but news of an engagement has followed them since the beginning. Early on and without pictures to over-analyse, reports began emerging of how in love they are, rumours she's been trying on wedding dresses and a number of pieces highlighting her compatible temperament with that of a princess.

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But now enough time has passed that the tide is slowly starting to turn.

Markle recently appeared on the cover of Vanity Fair discussing her relationship, saying she hopes that this time will be just for the two of them, acknowledging in as many words that if, and more likely, when, they wed, she will need to adopt a more official role in the British royal family.

"I'm sure there will be a time when we will have to come forward and present ourselves and have stories to tell, but I hope what people will understand is that this is our time. This is for us," she said.

"It's part of what makes it so special, that it's just ours. But we're happy. Personally, I love a great love story."

For the most part, she has come out relatively unscathed: except for some paparazzi pictures of her heading to yoga class in Toronto and the fact that she is now a household name, her day-to-day life has largely stayed the same and she still resides in Canada where she films Suits.

But Look magazine, one of four British titles which featured the tv star on its cover this week, reports that there are some concerns about the pressure that comes with life in the royal fishbowl, what with two documentaries about their relationship appearing on the small screen over the last week and a public appearance at the Invictus Games in September.

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"For the first time, the realities of the royal bubble are starting to dawn on Meghan," an insider told the magazine. "She's worked so hard and makes sure she acts properly and that people like her. Meg's image is carefully crated and has been built up over many years.

"Harry has been great. He's given her countless examples of times that he's been unfairly criticised and nobody thinks any less of him."

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One person who she is rather unsurprisingly turning to for help is Kate Middleton, who went through her own struggles with the press in the early days of her relationship with husband Prince William. "When Meg looks at how Kate holds her head high through it all, that's the ultimate example.

"This documentary will come and go, Kate said, but Harry will still love you."
Millie Mackintosh seems to be falling for Ireland - and the feeling is mutual.

The former Made in Chelsea star flew into Dublin to host the Arnotts Style Sessions on Saturday, the latest in a frequent turn of trips to the capital. It also coincides with the launch of her eponymous collection at the department store, a sign that her fashion influence is ever increasing.

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"This is my first time this year but I feel like Ive lost count how many times Ive been here. I have often been here for work but I like to go out and eat, go shopping and just experience it," she told Independent.ie.

"Im staying at The Marker which is great because they have gorgeous views of the canal and the spa. I like walking around Grafton Street. Ive been to Crackbird a couple of times and had the fried chicken and 777."

Like all regulars, she is a creature of habit and is residing once again at the sleek Marker Hotel, recently endorsed by Vogue magazine  much like the woman herself who was recently dubbed, "Fashions Surprising New Star" by the style bible.

"Its not all pretty dresses and playing dress up, its hard work," she says of her work as a designer.

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On Friday, Millie was taking part in a private media event with Arnotts, attended by about a dozen fashion journalists and bloggers, hosted by stylist Ingrid Hoey, in which she opened up about battling the "preconceptions" she faced when she initially began her fashion career, after leaving behind the E4 reality show that made her famous.

She's wearing a floaty floral midi dress from her own range and a pair of matching pink lace-up heels by L.K. Bennett. Despite her rise to celebrity coming from a programme which documented cast members day-to-day lives, she cherishes her privacy, admitting her envy inducing feed is only a "small part" of her lfie. "Social media is a great tool, the brand wouldnt have been the same if Instagram didnt exist, Im very grateful. I wouldnt put up pictures of me taking the bins out or in the gym or meeting with my accountant," she says.

Its clear her relationship with fiance Hugo Taylor is one she wont be delving into publicly, but she is happy to talk business - including the fact she is launching a beauty range with Boots with her debut Couture Beauty range to complement her image as a a health fanatic. She wears minimal makeup, only some CC cream, mascara, a lip tint and a light brow pencil, adding: "I prefer to enhance what you have. Some people like contouring and that's fine for them, but it doesn't work for me."

And the secret to that infamous glow? Face oil and a hint of fake tan.

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The Arnotts Style Sessions are taking place in-store from Thursday, 28th September  Sunday, 1st October .
Breakups are the worst.

You weep, you order pizza, you wallow, you order some more pizza

But how do you know when youre ready to bite the bullet and move onto pastures Tinder?

It takes 11 weeks to feel the benefits of a breakup, according to a study in The Journal of Positive Psychology.

But, what if after those 11 weeks you still find yourself thinking about your former lover when you hit the pillow?

If your stomach sinks when you hear their name, does this mean youre bound to love them for eternity? Or is that normal? Will you ever feel normal again? What is normal?

If you find yourself asking any of the above questions, its likely that youre still in the midst of a post-breakup mourning haze - i.e. dont update your dating bio just yet.

You obsess over them on social media

Obviously if you find yourself scouring your ex's Instagram feed late at night, its time to take a hard look at yourself in the mirror and ask: do I want to be that person?

The person who obsesses over their exs social media activities? The person who cant live without knowing whether their ex is in a new relationship thats been social media-certified? Does it really matter whether they had avocado toast of pancakes for breakfast?

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If you catch yourself between a rock and a hard hashtag, its time to unfriend and unfollow.

You think about them when youre drunk

When your bloodstream is 70 per cent Merlot and your inhibitions are a distant memory, it can be all too easy to commit the ultimate cardinal sin of relationships past: the drunken phone call  or worse still  the drunken voicemail.

Put simply: dont do it.

Not only will you wake up plagued by the shame and regret of your carefree prosecco-ed persona, the passive aggressive big night? text youll receive as a response will only exacerbate your raging hangover.

You compare potential new dates to them

Ugh hes 62Mark was 65

Shes a GP? Jessica was a heart surgeon

It never bodes well to play compare and contrast when it comes to finding yourself a new snuggle buddy.

If youre swiping right because they remind you of an ex, then Houston, we have a problem.

You feel elated when you see theyve watched your Instagram story

Jilted boyfriends/girlfriends love nothing more than a passive aggressive marker of letting you know that theyve got their eye on you, whether you like it or not.

Thankfully, you can prevent them from checking up on you like an insipid parent by simply clicking the little cross next to their name when youve seen theyve watched one of your stories.

Do this, immediately.

You refer to the break up as a break

For those of you who might not be familiar with the epochal we were on a break jingle circa Ross and Rachel from Friends, leaving the up out of break up can lead to severe misunderstandings i.e. sleeping with the hot girl from the Xerox place whilst in relationship purgatory.

If youre mistaking a lost cause for limbo, youve got a case of the denials my friend.
It is said that revenge is a dish best served cold. Coleen Rooney, however, seems to prefer dishing it up hot.

Last week, as her husband Wayne celebrated his birthday and did his community service, Coleen was basking in the Barbados sun with their three sons, apparently without a care in the world - and also, as it was noted, without her wedding ring... but with a monogrammed Louis Vuitton bag bearing her maiden-name initials.

Wayne, back home, had park-bench painting duties and a pair of shiny new birthday runners. Which he may have had to buy for himself.

He also had, publicly, a nice birthday message from his family. Via Instagram. We can't say if he also had a private message from his wife and sons, but the Instagram was the public one. "We love you so much Dad," the message went. "Thank you for all that you do for us."

Talk about carefully composed. On the surface, there is plain and simple gratitude. After all, the boys wouldn't be enjoying their lovely sun holiday if Dad wasn't earning a reported 150,000 per week.

Mummy, it should be said, has had a lot of holidays this year, too, with and without the boys, and the message conveys that there's no taking for granted of this. However, it's hardly a loving message. It's more "we know that you work hard for us, and the boys love you and all, but that's about all the good I can say at the moment".

Coleen might be the one on holiday, but she's also the one on the moral high ground. She can afford to lord it a bit over Wayne, because by god, he's on the back foot.

Through this terse birthday greeting, Coleen is sending a clear message, not just to her doghouse husband, but to the world at large. Coleen is handling her humiliation quietly, but in an utter devastating manner all the same. You couldn't fault her on the dignity front, but you wouldn't like to be the one on the wrong side of her, either.

Of course, it should be remembered that the humiliation occurred when Coleen was also on holiday. Last month, Coleen, who is pregnant with their fourth child, was on holiday in Mallorca when Wayne was arrested at 2am for drink-driving. He was driving the VW Beetle of his passenger, Laura Simpson, after what was described as an "all-day, all-night" drinking session.

There was dancing on tables, apparently, there was singing along to Oasis songs. He was, perhaps, cutting loose while the missus and kids were out foreign and, according to Laura Simpson, there was kissing and cuddling before he got behind the wheel of her car.

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After Rooney's arrest, Simpson wasted no time in publicly stating that she would have "shagged" him if they hadn't been stopped by the police. Nice. But not the same as actually having done it, nor to be taken as an indication of what Rooney intended. She's only speaking for herself and it's hypothetical.

It doesn't make Coleen's humiliation any less acute, though.

Apparently, when she returned from Mallorca, she is reported to have screamed at her husband: "The world is laughing at me because of you. How could you do this to me while I'm pregnant? How could you be so stupid?"

There's so much in that alleged confrontation. Her distress at the public nature of it. Her confusion at how her pregnancy sends out one message (we're a happy family), while his high jinks send another (I'm trapped and frustrated).

Also, it's not just that he was in a car at 2am with a girl. He was drunk. It's irresponsible and dangerous and he has three, soon to be four, kids.

"How could you be so stupid?" also speaks of what he jeopardised. Everything, basically. Her. The boys. His job. His reputation.

Coleen and Wayne Rooney have been together since they were 16. They've come from getting-by working-class families to a place of great, great wealth. Wayne's talent has got them there, but the solid foundation offered by Coleen has no doubt helped him to keep focus, to stay on track.

He is very close to her family - even attending a match with her father in recent weeks - and she has stuck with him through scandals with prostitutes in the past.

Sure, Coleen gets a good life as result, but no amount of holidays is quite worth seeing Laura Simpson on the telly talking about how utterly daft your husband was with her when he was locked.

Apparently, as Coleen and Wayne Rooney thrashed out the drink-driving incident, he said he'd give up the booze if she took fewer holidays. Her eye, he felt, was off the ball and she was giving less attention to him and to ordinary family life than she was to topping up her tan and dropping into Sandy Lane.

We have no clue of Wayne's situation with alcohol, but Coleen's still taking holidays.

In mid-September, Wayne was banned for driving for two years, and given 120 hours of community service. He was also fined two weeks' wages by his club, Everton. He and Coleen seem to be making a go of it - though much has been made of the lack of any rings on her wedding finger in recent weeks.

Remember, though, that she is pregnant and fingers can swell and rings can become uncomfortable. Not that Coleen has said any such thing. What she did correct last week, however, was the fuss over her maiden-name monogram on the bag she took to Barbados. Her mother's bag, she pointed out on social media, and her mother's initials. Coleen didn't need to go quite that far to make a point about her position.

Last week, Coleen Rooney was snapped every day on the beach in Barbados, looking tanned and relaxed. Meanwhile, back home, Wayne spent his 32nd birthday alone. He had his super-white new runners, but they only added to the pitiful cut of him.

Coleen's Instagram message to him had gratitude aplenty, but there was no mistaking a warning in there, too. Yeah, he does a lot for them, but without them, all he has is the empty pleasure of new runners.
Kenyan police have killed 13 protesters in opposition strongholds since Thursday's repeat presidential election, which the main opposition group boycotted, a local civil rights group has said.

The Independent Medico Legal Unit said on Wednesday it has recorded 64 cases of use of excessive force by police, including 34 people being shot, between October 25 and October 28.

The rights group uses medical evidence to help victims build up cases against human rights abuses.

Peter Kiama, the group's executive director, said police should investigate and discipline errant officers.

Kenyan human rights groups have long accused police of extrajudicial killings.

Last month, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch said police killed at least 67 opposition supporters after the results of the August election, nullified by the Supreme Court over irregularities, were announced

President Uhuru Kenyatta this week was declared the winner of the October 26 repeat election by an overwhelming margin after opposition leader Raila Odinga refused to participate, saying electoral reforms had not been made.

A vetting process by the independent National Police Service Commission to weed out errant police officers that started in 2012 has been criticised for not doing enough to reform the 99,000-strong force, which admits corruption is widespread.

Also on Wednesday, ruling party politicians appealed for calm amid ethnic tensions in a rural area following last week's election.

They noted reports that opposition supporters have blocked roads and hurled stones at vehicles near the border of Kisumu County, an opposition stronghold whose residents are mainly from the Luo ethnic group, and Kericho County, an ethnic Kalenjin area that supports the government.

Hillary Kosgei, a Kalenjin lawmaker from Kericho, condemned the unrest as a "direct invitation to violence" between the factions.

AP
A dad tucking into his childrens Halloween trick-or-treat haul was shocked to discover the biscuit he just bit into was 18 years out of date.

Adrian Johnsons daughters, five-year-old Eidy and Poppy, seven, were given the McVities chocolate digestives by a neighbour  but they had a 1999 best-before date.

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My first mouthful, which I ate, I just thought, thats weird, Adrian, from north Leeds, told the Press Association. Second bite I knew there was definitely something wrong with them.

Sniffing the biscuit, which was made well before his children were born, Adrian turned it over to find the biscuit was whiter than its usual brownish hue  then he checked the best-before date.

That second bit ended up in the sink, said Adrian. And I had to rinse my mouth and brush my teeth.

I cant really describe the taste. Just an awful, gone-off, long-lingering bad taste.

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It was late on so I didnt go back to the neighbours but I might pop round tonight when I get back home  more for their sake than to complain, as who knows what else theyre keeping in their cupboards, said Adrian.

My kids, Poppy and Eidy, found it hilarious this morning when I told them the story as they were asleep when it all happened.

They did point out that I shouldnt have been pinching their Halloween treats in the first place.

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A Halloween horror story.
A suspected Saudi-led coalition airstrike in Yemen has killed at least 26 people, including children in the country's north.

Health official Abdellah al-Ezi said Wednesday's airstrike wounded nine others after it struck a small hotel in a market in northern Saada province, which lies on the border with Saudi Arabia.

Mr Al-Ezi is head of health directorate of Saada, a stronghold of Iran-backed Shiite rebels known as Houthis.

The coalition could not be immediately reached for comment.

International rights groups have accused the coalition of bombing civilian gatherings, markets, hospitals and residential areas across Yemen since the beginning of its air campaign against Houthis in March 2015.

The war has killed more than 10,000 civilians and pushed the Arab world's poorest country to the brink of famine.

AP
Sayfullo Saipov appeared in court in a wheelchair and was ordered to be detained (St. Charles County Department of Corrections/KMOV via AP)

An Uzbek immigrant accused of a deadly truck attack on a New York cycle path has been charged with providing material support to a terrorist group and violence and destruction of motor vehicles.

Suspect Sayfullo Saipov was charged on Wednesday in a criminal complaint following the Tuesday afternoon attack that killed eight people near the World Trade Centre.

He appeared in the New York federal courthouse in a wheelchair, handcuffed and with his feet shackled, and was ordered to be detained.

His lawyers said they were not seeking bail, and Saipov did not enter a plea. A judge set his next court date for November 15.

Federal prosecutors say the man was "consumed by hate and a twisted ideology" when he attacked people on the cycle path on Tuesday.

He is charged with providing material support to the Islamic State terrorist group.

Prosecutors say he was stopped by a "brave" police officer, who shot and wounded him Tuesday. They say he had been planning the attack for months.

The FBI had said earlier on Wednesday that another person was wanted for questioning over the attack that left at least 12 people injured.

The bureau had issued a poster seeking the public's help with information about the man, but at a news conference later, FBI assistant director in charge Bill Sweeney said: "We've found him, and we'll leave it at that."

He did not elaborate on why authorities were seeking the man, who was born in Uzbekistan.

The authorities said Saipov watched Islamic State videos on his mobile phone and picked Halloween for the attack because he knew more people would be out on the streets.

Afterwards, as he lay injured in hospital, he asked to display the IS flag in his room and "stated that he felt good about what he had done," prosecutors said in court papers.

Saipov left behind knives and a note, handwritten in Arabic, that included Islamic religious references and said "it will endure" - a phrase that commonly refers to IS, FBI agent Amber Tyree said in court papers.

Questioned in his hospital bed, Saipov said he had been inspired by IS videos and began plotting an attack about a year ago, deciding to use a truck about two months ago, the agent said, and he even rented a truck on October 22 to practise making turns.

John Miller, deputy New York police commissioner for intelligence, said Saipov "appears to have followed, almost exactly to a T, the instructions that ISIS has put out".

In the past few years, the Islamic State has exhorted followers online to use vehicles, knives or other close-at-hand means of killing people in their home countries. England, France and Germany have all seen deadly vehicle attacks since mid-2016.

A November 2016 issue of the group's online magazine detailed features that an attack truck or van should have, suggested renting such a vehicle and recommended targeting crowded streets and outdoor gatherings, according to the SITE Intelligence Group, a militant-monitoring agency.

Carlos Batista, a neighbour of Saipov's in Paterson, New Jersey, said he had seen the suspect and two friends using the same model of rented truck several times in the past three weeks.

It was not clear whether Saipov had been on the radar of the authorities.

Mr Miller said he had never been the subject of a criminal investigation but appears to have links to people who have been investigated.

In Tuesday's attack, Saipov drove his speeding truck for nearly a mile along a cycle path, running down cyclists and pedestrians, then crashed into a school bus.

He was shot in the stomach after he jumped out of the vehicle brandishing two air guns, one in each hand, and yelling "God is great!" in Arabic.

AP
A new allegation of sexual assault in Westminster has emerged amid the deepening harassment scandal.

A woman said a Conservative MP she worked for grabbed her by her crotch from behind. She said she later told the Commons authorities about the incident, but was told there was "nothing they could do".

In a separate incident, a former Conservative Party aide said her drink was spiked with a suspected date-rape drug in the Strangers' Bar at the House of Commons. The bar is reserved for MPs and their guests.

When the woman went to police, she was reportedly told it was "not the first time" allegations of drinks being spiked had been made at the Commons.

The fresh claims, first reported by the Evening Standard, follow multiple allegations of sexual harassment by British politicians.

The accusers have not been named for legal reasons.

The woman who was assaulted said the incident occured four years ago. The Conservative MP she worked for had previously made comments that made her feel uncomfortable, she said, but she had not felt "physically threatened" before.

She was working with him late one afternoon when he approached her from behind and put his hand up her skirt, she said.

"Out of nowhere he just put his hand between my legs. I was totally shocked. I just froze. It was over in seconds and I just ran out of the room. It was never mentioned," she said.

She later started working for another MP and reported the assault to the Commons authorities. They were very nice but they essentially told me I had to talk to the party or to the police, there wasnt anything they could do, she said.

Amber Rudd on Wednesday told a policing summit in London a cross-party group had been launched to examine the way allegations of sexual abuse and impropriety were handled.

Labour activist Bex Bailey last night revealed how she had been raped at a party event in 2011. She said she was later told by an official that reporting it could "damage" her.

Meanwhile, a list circulating online alleges several Tory ministers are guilty of inappropriate sexual behaviour, with the latest claims levelled at First Secretary of State Damian Green.

Tory activist Kate Maltby, who is 30 years younger than Mr Green, has accused him of touching her knee during a meeting and of sending her a "suggestive" text message after she was pictured wearing a corset in a newspaper.

Mr Green, who is effectively Theresa May's deputy, has denied the claims.
The Kremlin yesterday dismissed as "baseless" and "ludicrous" the notion that charges levelled by special counsel Robert Mueller against three former Trump campaign officials constituted proof of a possible meddling by Russia in US political affairs.

Moscow has always denied playing any role in the 2016 presidential election, and has portrayed the investigation into Russian interference as an attempt by US President Donald Trump's opponents to cover up for the election defeat of Hillary Clinton.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that the indictments released Monday provided no evidence of Russian meddling.

"From the outset we have been completely baffled over these baseless, unproven accusations against our country, about alleged attempts to interfere with US elections," Mr Peskov told reporters on a conference call.

"We don't want to be any part of this process, and we'd prefer that these proceedings not facilitate the intensification of Russophobic hysteria that has already exceeded all boundaries."

Mr Trump's former campaign chairman Paul Manafort and his long-time business partner Rick Gates were charged in a 12-count indictment with conspiracy to launder money, making false statements and other charges in connection with their work advising a political party in Ukraine.

The leader of that party, former president Viktor Yanukovych, fled to Russia after his regime was toppled by protesters in 2014.

The indictment makes no mention of Russia's role, which Mr Peskov said showed that "Russia isn't part of it".

The second indictment concerned former Trump foreign policy adviser George Papadopoulos, who admitted to making a false statement to FBI investigators who asked about his contacts with foreigners claiming to have high-level Russian connections.

Mr Papadopoulos's plea agreement, signed earlier this month and unsealed Monday, described extensive efforts to try to broker connections with Russian officials and arrange a meeting between them and the Trump campaign.

Emails show that more senior officials at least entertained the idea of arranging these meetings.

Mr Peskov dismissed a question as to whether the charges against Mr Papadopoulos provided proof that Russian officials had tried to meddle in the US elections.

"These are ludicrous accusations, ludicrous statements, once again groundless, baseless, and we treat them accordingly," he said.

Mr Peskov said the Kremlin was watching the proceedings "with interest".

"The main thing is that it doesn't concern our citizens, because we are always going to defend the interests of our citizens," he said.
A woman wearing a mask of the Queen stands next to the message by the elusive artist Banksy on the anniversary of the Balfour Declaration in Bethlehem (AP)

The UK's Balfour Declaration, celebrated by Israel and despised by Palestinians, is turning 100 and remains as divisive today as it was when first proposed.

Britain's promise to Zionists to create a Jewish home in what is now Israel, turns 100 this week, with events in Israel, the Palestinian territories and Britain drawing attention to the now yellowing document tucked away in London's British Library.

Historians still muse about Britain's motivations, and its commitment to the declaration waned in the decades after it was issued.

Yet the 67 words penned by a British Cabinet minister still resonate 100 years later, with both the Israelis and Palestinians seizing the anniversary to reinforce their narratives.

Each side is marking the centenary in starkly different ways, shining a light on the chasm between Israel and the Palestinians that some say was cleaved on November 2 1917.

"It's so divisive even today because Zionists think that the Balfour Declaration laid the foundation stone for modern Israel, and they're right to think that, and by the same token non-Jewish Palestinians and Arabs see it as the foundation stone of their dispossession and misery," said Jonathan Schneer, a historian who authored a book on the document.

The declaration was the result of discussions between British Zionists seeking political recognition of their goal of Jewish statehood and British politicians embroiled in the First World War.

Written by British foreign secretary Lord Arthur Balfour and addressed to Lord Lionel Walter Rothschild, a British financier and Zionist leader, the declaration promised British assistance to create a Jewish homeland.

"His Majesty's government view with favour the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people, and will use their best endeavours to facilitate the achievement of this object," the declaration goes, continuing with a caveat: "It being clearly understood that nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine."

British motives for issuing the declaration include imperialist political calculations meant to secure a foothold in the Levant amid the collapse of the Ottoman Empire to the messianism of British politicians steeped in biblical history, hoping to restore Jews to their ancestral home.

The declaration served as the basis for the British Mandate of Palestine, which was approved in 1920 by the League of Nations.

The following decades saw a spike in the number of Jews immigrating to Palestine as Zionist state institutions took root.

With that came increased friction with the Arab population.

Israel views the pledge as the first international recognition granted to the Jewish people's desire to return to its historic homeland.

It sees Britain as having played a supporting role in a narrative dominated by the determination, heroism and pioneering spirit of the early settlers who fought to build the state.

"While the state would not have arisen without settlement, sacrifice and a willingness to fight for it, the international impetus was, undoubtedly, the Balfour Declaration," Israel's prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said this week.

Mr Netanyahu will mark the anniversary in London on Thursday at a dinner hosted by the current Lords Balfour and Rothschild and attended by Prime Minister Theresa May.

The Palestinians see the declaration as the original sin, a harbinger of their "nakba", or catastrophe, the mass displacement that resulted from the war surrounding Israel's creation in 1948.

That refugee crisis reverberates across the region today, and the Palestinians have cast Israel, through the declaration and its imperialist British patrons, as a colonial enterprise.

The Palestinians, who have spent recent years seeking recognition for their state at international institutions, are demanding British accountability.

They want an apology and have threatened to sue Britain over the declaration.

"We asked them to make it right, to make this historical oppression right by recognising the state of Palestine and apologising to the Palestinian people," said Palestinian foreign minister Riad Malki.

He said they have asked Britain to issue a new declaration that would be more favourable to the Palestinians, a request he said London rejected.

Protests are planned in the Palestinian territories, where thousands of students will stand in their schoolyards on Thursday demanding Britain dismiss the declaration, and in Britain, where dozens of cars will be emblazoned with posters condemning the declaration.

In Jerusalem, thousands of letters from Palestinian schoolchildren are to be delivered to the British Consulate.

British graffiti artist Banksy organised an event marking the anniversary in the West Bank town of Bethlehem on Wednesday.

Children wore helmets with the British flag and a woman dressed as the Queen unveiled a curtain to reveal the word "sorry" on Israel's West Bank separation barrier.

AP
Like many around the world who watched her, you may have marvelled at Sarah Huckabee Sanders's attempt at contemptuous breeziness in the West Wing press room in the wake of the not unarresting news that Robert Mueller had successfully obtained indictments for Donald Trump's former campaign manager Paul Manafort, and a close associate, Rick Gates.

It might have gone a little better for her if Mueller HQ had stopped at that. But no. Swift on the heels of the first bulletin had come the revelation that a former foreign policy advisor to the Trump campaign, named George Papadopoulos, had already pleaded guilty to lying about contacts with Russia, directly to do with providing "dirt" on Hillary Clinton in the 2016 election.

Ms Sanders was clearly nervous. Actually, she looked at times like she wanted to be sick. Mr Trump had been huddled in the presidential apartments upstairs in the White House, not showing up in the Oval Office, for most of the morning, fretting and fulminating as both pieces of news dropped and cable TV went into overdrive digging through it all. Obviously, he would be watching again as she set about telling reporters that what had happened was of no concern to him at all.

She agreed a photograph existed of Mr Trump and Mr Papadopoulos in a meeting together last year, but dismissed it as ephemera. He's been in "thousands" of pictures with "millions" of people, she said. If she means being snapped at his rallies, I could almost make the same claim. Oh, and yes, she stood by her assessment that Mr Mueller would be ending his work soon. No, he won't.

Of course, the White House will continue to distance itself from the Mueller problem and do everything it can to obfuscate and throw up distractions. Thus Ms Sanders's repeated insistence that charges against Mr Manafort and Mr Gates, including money laundering, related to work done for a pro-Putin political party in Ukraine that pre-dated the campaign. Watch as they continue to push the narrative that it's Hillary Clinton who should be investigated, not them.

Pity Ms Sanders; this will be a mission largely impossible. There are questions to be answered by the Clinton campaign as to money paid secretly to a firm called Fusion GPS to research past Trump activities in Russia. But there is no equivalency between that affair and the Trump collusion probe. Nor would any wrong done by Mrs Clinton right any wrongs done by Mr Trump. As for Mr Trump's assertions that Mrs Clinton personally profited from a 2010 deal involving the purchase by Russia of a North American uranium mining company, they are demonstrably false.

There really is no minimising, meanwhile, the events of Monday. The first charge against Mr Manafort and Mr Gates, regarding "conspiracy against the United States" turned on allegations of their "impeding, impairing, obstructing and defeating the lawful governmental functions of a government agency, namely the Department of Justice and the Department of the Treasury", relates to actions "from in or about and between 2006 and 2017". 2016 is in there somewhere.

Nor is it is easy to pretend that neither man was anything but central to Mr Trump and his campaign. His nominating convention in Cleveland was entirely engineered by Mr Manafort, who was campaign chairman at the time. Although he would depart the campaign soon after, following press reports of his Ukraine links, Mr Gates stuck around, including through the Trump transition.

Then there's young Mr Papadopoulus, who pleaded guilty to lying to investigators about a meeting with a professor in Italy in April 2016, who told him the Russians had emails to share that might be damaging to Mrs Clinton. True, he was only a volunteer on the Trump campaign and seemingly that meeting that Mr Trump also attended was a one-off. But, over the succeeding months, he repeatedly attempted to persuade the campaign to follow the Russia trail. He even attempted to flog the notion of a "historic" meeting between Mr Trump and Vladimir Putin.

His surfacing will have obliterated any sense of relief the White House may have felt when the story was at first only about Mr Manafort and Mr Gates. (They had been deeply afraid that the promised indictments might have targeted former National Security advisor Michael Flynn.) It is a signal from Mr Mueller he has no intention of skirting clear of the campaign itself. It also shows what many had expected: that Mr Mueller means to flip participants, however small-fry, so they will help bring bigger fish to justice. Assuming there are any, of course.

 Independent News Service
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a cabinet meeting at the White House in Washington, U.S., November 1, 2017. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday urged tougher immigration measures based on "merit" after the deadly vehicle attack in New York City.

Mr Trump, who referred to the suspect as an "animal", noted during a Cabinet meeting that the driver in Tuesday's attack entered the country through the diversity visa lottery programme and called on Congress to "immediately" begin working to eliminate the programme, which applies to countries with low rates of immigration to the US.

Mr Trump added: "We have to get much tougher, much smarter, and less politically correct."

Earlier on Wednesday, Mr Trump called the visa programme "a Chuck Schumer beauty", a reference to the Senate's Democratic leader.

Mr Schumer fired back from the Senate floor, accusing Mr Trump of "politicising" the tragedy.

Officials said the attacker is an immigrant from Uzbekistan who came to the United States legally in 2010.

Mr Trump has backed legislation that would curb legal immigration and shift the nation toward a system that would place an emphasis on merit and skills over family ties.

The comments followed Mr Trump's Tuesday night statement that he had ordered the Department of Homeland Security "to step up our already extreme vetting program".

Mr Trump's policy entails more stringent investigative measures intended to identify would-be immigrants who may sympathise with extremists or pose a national security risk to the United States.

During the 2016 presidential campaign, Mr Trump proposed a total ban on Muslim immigration to the US before embracing "extreme vetting".

Mr Trump's efforts to block immigrants from several Muslim-majority countries have been tied up in federal courts.

The diversity visa programme provides up to 50,000 visas annually by lottery.

Applicants must have a high school diploma or meet work experience requirements.

It was created as part of a bipartisan immigration bill introduced by the late senator Ted Kennedy and signed into law by Republican president George H.W. Bush in 1990.

Mr Schumer, a New York Democrat who was a member of the House of Representatives at the time, proposed a programme for "diversity immigrants" in a bill he offered earlier that year.

Speaking on the Senate floor Wednesday, Mr Schumer said he has "always believed that immigration is good for America".

He also criticised Mr Trump for "politicising" the deadly attack, comparing his response to President George. W. Bush's after 9/11.

"President Trump, where is your leadership?" Mr Schumer asked.

"The contrast between President Bush's actions after 9/11 and President Trump's actions this morning could not be starker."

He said Mr Trump actually had proposed cutting anti-terrorism funding in his most recent budget.

"I'm calling on President Trump to rescind his proposed cuts to this vital anti-terrorism funding immediately," Mr Schumer said.
Multiple bikes are crushed along a bike path in lower Manhattan in New York, NY, U.S., October 31, 2017. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid

Multiple bikes are crushed along a bike path in lower Manhattan in New York, NY, U.S., October 31, 2017. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid

This image made from a video provided by Tawhid Kabir shows the suspect in a deadly attack being apprehended by police on Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2017, in New York. The man mowed down pedestrians and cyclists along a busy bike path near the World Trade Center memorial on Tuesday, before he was shot in the abdomen by police after jumping out of the truck, authorities said. (YouTube/Tawhid Kabir via AP)

This image made from a video provided by Tawhid Kabir shows the suspect in a deadly attack running across the street with a fake gun in each hand on Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2017, in New York. The man mowed down pedestrians and cyclists along a busy bike path near the World Trade Center memorial on Tuesday, before he was shot in the abdomen by police after jumping out of the truck, authorities said. (YouTube/Tawhid Kabir via AP)

This undated photo provided by St. Charles County Department of Corrections via KMOV shows the suspect Sayfullo Saipov. (St. Charles County Department of Corrections/KMOV via AP)

The man accused of killing eight people by racing a pickup truck down a New York City bike path on Tuesday may have worked as a driver and lived in New Jersey after emigrating from Uzbekistan seven years ago, according to authorities and media reports.

Few other details about the 29-year-old suspect have emerged since the Tuesday afternoon vehicle rampage in lower Manhattan, blocks from the site of the September 11, attacks that destroyed the landmark World Trade Center Twin Towers.

Police have declined to identify the man but a source familiar with the investigation identified him as Sayfullo Habibullaevic Saipov and said he was not a US citizen. His immigration status was not immediately clear.

Saipov was shot by a police officer while attempting to flee minutes after the attack and was whisked away to a local hospital, where he was recovering from an abdominal wound.

With authorities saying they believe the attack was a "terrorist event," the lack of disclosure may reflect the nature of the investigation, which is still in its earliest stage.

According to CNN and other media outlets, the suspect shouted "Allahu Akbar" - Arabic for "God is greatest" - after leaping from his truck, which had crashed into a school bus as he sped away from the carnage.

He also left behind a note claiming he carried out the deadly assault in the name of the Islamic State militant group, according to media reports.

Federal officials had become aware of Saipov while conducting an unrelated investigation, the New York Times reported, citing three unidentified officials. The Times offered no further details about the nature of the investigation, when it was conducted, or its outcome.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo declined to comment on that report when asked by reporters at a news conference. "It is too early to give you a definitive answer," he said.

Saipov, born in February 1988, moved to the United States seven years ago from Uzbekistan, a Central Asian country that was once part of the Soviet Union. He appears to have lived in Ohio, Florida and New Jersey since then.

An Uzbek immigrant who met Saipov in Florida several years ago told the Times that Saipov worked as a truck driver there but began driving for Uber when he moved to New Jersey.

He was a very good person when I knew him," Kobiljon Matkarov told the newspaper. "He liked the U.S. He seemed very lucky and all the time he was happy and talking like everything is O.K. He did not seem like a terrorist, but I did not know him from the inside."

The Times, citing sources, reported that Saipov had been living in Paterson, New Jersey, about 25 miles (40 km) northwest of the scene of the attack. He rented the truck used in the attack from a Home Depot in nearby Passaic, just south of Paterson, it said.

Police cordoned off an area of Paterson, a one-time industrial hub known for its large immigrant population, early Wednesday morning. About 25,000 to 30,000 Muslims live in the city, giving it one of the highest concentrations of Muslim people in the New York City area.

Saipov has a history of traffic violations, according to media reports and court records.

In one incident, he was pulled over in central Pennsylvania for pulling a truck trailer that was longer than permitted by law and "operating unsafe equipment", as well as driving with the wrong operators license, state judicial records show.

Saipov listed both Paterson and Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, as his addresses. He paid his fine by mail and did not have to appear in court.
Authorities are seen at a damaged school bus near the scene of a pickup truck attack in Manhattan, New York, U.S., October 31, 2017 in this picture obtained from social media. Sebastian Sobczak via REUTERS, COURTESY SEBASTIAN SOBCZAK

Multiple bikes are crushed along a bike path in lower Manhattan in New York, NY, U.S., October 31, 2017. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid

Law Enforcement officials investigate a pickup truck used in an attack on the West Side Highway in lower Manhattan in New York City, U.S., November 1, 2017.REUTERS/Brendan McDermid

Mukhammadzoir Kadirov, who the FBI is seeking in relation to the Tuesday's deadly attack in the Tribeca neighborhood of New York City, New York, U.S. is shown in this image released on November 1, 2017. Courtesy FBI New York/Handout via REUTERS

The FBI has announced it is no longer looking for a second Uzbek man in connection with the truck attack in New York that killed eight people.

As prosecutors charged Sayfullo Saipov with federal terrorism indictments, the FBI had announced they were seeking information about a 32-year-old man.

The bureau said it was seeking the public helps in tracking down information about the man.

But at a press conference on Wednesday evening, officials said they were no longer seeking information about the man.
Officer Ryan Nash confronted Sayfullo Saipov after a rented truck was driven down a bike lane and into a school bus, killing eight and injuring 11, including children, the New York Daily News reported.

A quick-thinking Irish-American New York Police Department officer who shot a terror suspect in Manhattan after a truck was used in a deadly killing spree has been hailed a hero for bringing it to an end.

The city police officer, Ryan Nash, was responding to a report of a suicidal teenager at a high school in lower Manhattan when he heard reports that a vehicle had hit people nearby.

Officer Nash confronted Sayfullo Saipov after a rented truck was driven down a bike lane and into a school bus, killing eight and injuring 11, including children, the New York Daily News reported.

The officer shot the 29-year-old suspect and wounded him when he refused to drop a pair of realistic-looking weapons, later identified as paintball and pellet guns.

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Speaking at a press conference afterwards, NYPD commissioner James ONeill said: I want to commend the response of our NYPD officer that was on post near the location who stopped the carnage moments after it began.

The 28-year-old officer was called to Stuyvesant High School to reports of a suicidal 17-year-old girl at 2.35pm.

Read More

Around 30 minutes later the truck hit cyclists and pedestrians on Chambers Street, near the school.

Officer Nash rushed to the scene where he saw Saipov brandishing the guns.

Police said Saipov didnt obey orders to drop the weapons and Nash opened fire, hitting him in the abdomen.

He is Irish-American and a member of the Emerald Society, which represents the Irish community within the force.

Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close Authorities respond near a damaged school bus Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2017, in New York. A motorist drove onto a busy bicycle path near the World Trade Center memorial and struck several people on Tuesday police and witnesses said. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews) Authorities investigate the wreckage of a Home Depot truck, top left, and a body under a white cloth, top right, after a motorist drove the truck down the bike path Tuesday Oct. 31, 2017, in New York. The motorist drove onto the busy bicycle path near the World Trade Center memorial Tuesday, killing several. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews) Authorities stand near a damaged Home Depot truck after a motorist drove onto a bike path near the World Trade Center memorial, striking and killing several people Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2017, in New York. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews) A Home Depot truck which struck down multiple people on a bike path, killing several and injuring numerous others, is seen as New York city first responders are at the crime scene in lower Manhattan in New York, NY, U.S., October 31, 2017. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid NYPD investigators are at the crime scene near a bike path in lower Manhattan in New York, NY, U.S., October 31, 2017. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid Police investigate a vehicle allegedly used in a ramming incident on the West Side Highway in Manhattan, New York, U.S., October 31 2017. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly A Home Depot truck which drove down the bike path alongside the West Side Highway at full speed and hit several people is seen as New York city first responders are at the crime scene near a bike path in lower Manhattan in New York, NY, U.S., October 31, 2017. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid Emergency crews attend the scene of an alleged shooting incident on West Street in Manhattan, New York, U.S., October 31 2017. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly Pedestrians run off the street after a shooting incident near Chamber St. in New York City, U.S. October 31, 2017. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton Police block off the street after a shooting incident in New York City, U.S. October 31, 2017. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton / Facebook

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Whatsapp Authorities respond near a damaged school bus Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2017, in New York. A motorist drove onto a busy bicycle path near the World Trade Center memorial and struck several people on Tuesday police and witnesses said. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)

A spokesperson for the Police Emerald Society, Nassau County, New York, told Independent.ie: "We are also very proud of his actions, which saved countless more lives."

ABC reports that Officer Nash joined the NYPD in 2012 and has since won two prestigious awards, one for Excellent Police Duty and one for Meritorious Police Duty.

Saipov remains in hospital with the attack being investigated by the Joint Terrorism Task Force as one of the worst in the city since the 9/11 attack.

It's understood that Long Island native Nash was also brought to hospital to be treated for tinnitus.
US President Donald Trump lashed out against media coverage of the first charges unsealed in Special Counsel Robert Mueller's probe of the 2016 election and distanced himself from George Papadopoulos, one of three campaign aides whose indictments were revealed.

"Few people knew the young, low-level volunteer named George, who has already proven to be a liar," Mr Trump tweeted yesterday morning.

Mr Papadopoulos, who served as a foreign policy adviser during Mr Trump's campaign, pleaded guilty on October 5 to lying to FBI investigators about his contacts with Russian operatives and is now cooperating with prosecutors.

"The Fake News is working overtime. As Paul Manafort's lawyer said, there was 'no collusion' and events mentioned took place long before he came to the campaign," Mr Trump also said yesterday on Twitter.

Laundering

Mr Manafort, Mr Trump's former campaign chairman, and his deputy Rick Gates were charged with crimes including money laundering and illegal foreign lobbying.

They were placed under house arrest as flight risks after pleading not guilty.

Mr Trump also sought to shift focus back to his legislative agenda and to accusations against Democrats.

"I hope people will start to focus on our Massive Tax Cuts for Business (jobs) and the Middle Class (in addition to Democrat corruption)!" he tweeted.

Meanwhile, lawyers for Mr Papadopoulos, Thomas Breen and Robert Stanley, said that it was in their client's best interest that they "refrain from commenting on George's case".

Under the plea agreement with prosecutors, he's likely to serve no more than six months and may avoid prison altogether.

Kevin Downing, a lawyer for Mr Manafort, also denied any wrongdoing by his client and also defended Mr Trump.

"President Donald Trump was correct. There is no evidence the Trump campaign colluded with the Russia government," he said in a statement.

Earlier, White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders sought to distance Mr Trump from the indictments, saying "most" alleged activities took place before the 2016 presidential campaign.

At the same time, Mr Trump Tweeted: "Sorry but this is years ago, before Paul Manafort was part of the Trump campaign. But why aren't Crooked Hillary & the Dems the focus?"

Footage and a photograph from 2016 have also re-surfaced that show Mr Trump sharing a stage and a meeting table with the three men in question.

A video from the 2016 presidential campaign shows Mr Trump walking up to a podium with daughter Ivanka on the RNC stage; behind him are Mr Manafort and Mr Gates.

Meanwhile, a photo from Mr Trump's Instagram account shows Mr Papadopoulos sitting at a table with then-candidate Mr Trump and others at what is labelled as a national security meeting in Washington that was posted on March 31, 2016.

Lied

Mr Mueller's investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election revealed its first targets on Monday, with a former campaign adviser to Mr Trump admitting he lied to the FBI about his contacts with Russians.

The guilty plea by Mr Papadopoulos marked the first criminal count that cites interactions between Trump campaign associates and Russian intermediaries during the election campaign.

The developments ushered Mr Mueller's sprawling investigation into a new phase with felony charges and possible prison sentences for key members of the Trump team.
Donald Trump has said he would consider sending the suspected assailant in a New York terrorist attack to Guantanamo Bay, saying the venue would be preferable to the joke of America's criminal justice system.

The Presidents call to handle suspected attacker Sayfullo Saipov outside of the criminal justice system, combined with his vows to pursue more stringent immigration measures and dissolve a popular visa programme, suggested Mr Trump plans to respond forcefully to the worst major terrorist attack in New York City since 9/11 - and in a way that echoes former President George W Bush's fiercely contested response to the 2001 attacks.

Throughout his rise to the Oval Office, Mr Trump regularly invoked the perils of terrorist attacks in justifying fortified immigration policies. He has presented himself as a champion of law and order, advocating tougher criminal penalties as a way to keep Americans safe.

Suspect Sayfullo Saipov allegedly killed eight and injured others in New York City before being shot by police. Police officials said witnesses recounted hearing the attacker shout Allahu Akbar as he exited his truck, and multiple outlets have reported police found a note pledging allegiance to Isis.

Asked whether he might send Mr Saipov to the American military prison located in an American naval base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, Mr Trump said I would certainly consider that.

Send him to Gitmo, Mr Trump said.

In the immediate aftermath of the attack, the President called on Twitter for tougher immigration restrictions, saying he would step up our already Extreme Vetting Programme and suggesting he wanted to scrap a visa lottery system. He reiterated that push in a Cabinet meeting, saying he would ask Congress to immediately initiate work to get rid of this programme.

In pushing new immigration restrictions like a halt on refugee admissions and bans on visitors from Muslim-majority countries, Mr Trump has argued he is keeping Americans safe from terrorism. Courts have blocked or weakened his proposed travel bans, which critics call cruel and counterproductive to curbing terrorism.

Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close A damaged school bus is seen at the scene of a pickup truck attack in Manhattan, New York, U.S., October 31, 2017 in this picture obtained from social media courtesy of SEBASTIAN SOBCZAK A damaged school bus is seen at the scene of a pickup truck attack in Manhattan, New York, U.S., October 31, 2017 in this picture obtained from social media. Sebastian Sobczak via REUTERS, COURTESY SEBASTIAN SOBCZAK Authorities are seen at a damaged school bus near the scene of a pickup truck attack in Manhattan, New York, U.S., October 31, 2017 in this picture obtained from social media. Sebastian Sobczak via REUTERS, COURTESY SEBASTIAN SOBCZAK / Facebook

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Whatsapp A damaged school bus is seen at the scene of a pickup truck attack in Manhattan, New York, U.S., October 31, 2017 in this picture obtained from social media courtesy of SEBASTIAN SOBCZAK

By floating sending Mr Saipov to Guantanamo Bay, a facility that holds suspected terrorists that are termed "enemy combatants", Mr Trump again thrust the military prison into the centre of America's reaction to terrorism. For years the prison has been a divisive symbol of how America has prosecuted its post-9/11 war on terrorism. The facility became deeply controversial during the administration of George W Bush for holding terrorism suspects indefinitely.

But Mr Trump said America's criminal justice system was too slow, offering an extraordinary rebuke of America's legal process.

We also have to come up with punishment that's far quicker and far greater than the punishment these animals are getting now. They'll go through court for years, Mr Trump said, adding that what we have right now is a joke, and it's a laughing stock.

During the presidential campaign, Mr Trump said he intended to keep Guantanamo Bay open, saying we're gonna load it up with some bad dudes.

While Barack Obama vowed to shutter the prison, he failed in the face of resistance from Congress. He did succeed in sharply reducing the number of prisoners held there, from 242 at the start of his presidency to just 41 when he left office.

As Wednesday unfolded, multiple Republicans embraced Mr Trump's call to transfer Mr Saipov outside of the criminal justice system, offering a moment of Republican unity that has been lacking as Mr Trump tangled with members of his own party.

Sen Lindsey Graham, Republican of South Carolina, advocated treating him as an enemy combatant, a designation that strips away due process protections like the right to challenge their imprisonment.

Also echoing Mr Trump was Senator John McCain, a Republican hawk who has clashed with Mr Trump over foreign policy but agreed on the proper fate for the assailant.

Take him to Guantanamo, Mr McCain told reporters. In a subsequent statement, Mr McCain joined Mr Graham in arguing Mr Saipov should be treated as an enemy combatant.
Police tape rests on a damaged Home Depot truck sits after a motorist drove onto a bike path near the World Trade Center memorial, striking and killing several people Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2017, in New York. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)

A man in a rented pick-up truck mowed down pedestrians and cyclists along a busy bike path near the World Trade Centre memorial yesterday, killing at least eight and injuring 11 others in what the mayor called "a particularly cowardly act of terror".

The 29-year-old driver, named by police as 29-year-old Sayfullo Saipov was shot in the abdomen by police and taken into custody after jumping out of the truck with what turned out to be a fake gun in each hand and shouting "Allahu Akbar" officials said. His condition was not immediately released.

Saipov has a Florida license but may have been living in New Jersey.

The driver barrelled along the bike path for the equivalent of about 14 blocks, or around eight-tenths of a mile, before slamming into a small yellow school bus.

The attack set off panic in the neighbourhood, with people screaming in fear and the bike path left strewn with mangled bicycles and bodies that were soon covered over with sheets.

"I saw a lot of blood over there. A lot of people on the ground," said Chen Yi, an Uber driver.

Police closed off streets across the western edge of Manhattan along the Hudson River, and officers rushed into the neighbourhood just as people were preparing for Halloween festivities, including the big annual parade through Greenwich Village.

The driver's identity was not immediately released.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo called it a "lone wolf" attack and said there was no evidence to suggest it was part of a wider plot.

A law enforcement official who was not authorised to discuss the case publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity said witnesses told police the attacker yelled, "Allahu akbar" - "God is great" in Arabic - as he got out of the truck.

Asked about that at a news conference, New York City Police Commissioner James O'Neill replied: "Yeah. He did make a statement when he exited the vehicle." He said the statement and the method of attack led police to conclude it was a terrorist act.

Deranged

On Twitter, US President Donald Trump called it "another attack by a very sick and deranged person" and declared, "NOT IN THE U.S.A."

Cities around the globe have been on alert against attacks by extremists in vehicles.

Isil has been encouraging its followers to mow down people, and England, France and Germany have all seen deadly vehicle attacks in recent months and years.

Police said the vehicle, a rented Home Depot truck, entered the bike path at about 3pm on West Street, a few blocks from the new World Trade Centre - the site of the deadliest terror attack in US history - and mowed down several people. The truck then turned at Chambers Street, near the trade centre site, hitting the school bus and injuring two adults and two children.

In addition to those killed, 11 people were seriously injured, police said.

A paintball gun and a pellet gun were found at the scene, police said.

"This was an act of terror, and a particularly cowardly act of terror aimed at innocent civilians, aimed at people going about their lives who had no idea what was about to hit them," Mayor Bill de Blasio said.

At least two covered-over bodies could be seen lying on the path, and the front end of the pick-up was smashed in.

Tom Gay, a school photographer, was on Warren Street and heard people saying there was an accident. He went down to West Street and a woman came around the corner shouting, "He has a gun. He has a gun."

Mr Gay said he stuck his head around the corner and saw a slender man in a blue tracksuit running southbound on West Street holding a gun. He said there was a heavyset man pursuing him.

Screaming

He said he heard five or six shots and the man in the tracksuit fell to the ground, the gun still raised in the air. He said a man came over and kicked the gun out of his hand.

"So many police came and they didn't know what was happening," said Eugene Duffy, a chef at a waterfront restaurant.

"People were screaming. Females were screaming at the top of their lungs."

The right side of the school bus was bashed in, and firefighters surrounded it and worked to free those inside.

The White House said that Mr Trump had been briefed on the attack.

White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders said the president and New York native had been briefed by White House Chief of Staff John Kelly and would be "continually updated as more details are known".

Ms Sanders said: "Our thoughts and prayers are with all those affected."

Similar attacks in Europe last year killed dozens of people.

On July 14, 2016, a suspect drove a large truck into a crowd celebrating Bastille Day in the French city of Nice, killing 86 people and injuring hundreds more in an attack for which Isil claimed responsibility.

Five months later a 23-year-old migrant from Pakistan ploughed a truck into a crowded Christmas market in central Berlin, killing 12 people and injuring 48.

In April of this year, a failed asylum seeker careened down a busy street in a truck in central Stockholm, crashing into a department store and killing three people, in what the prime minister said was a terrorist attack.
The apartment where police found dismembered bodies in fridges in Zama city (Kyodo News/AP)

Police who knocked on an apartment door in Japan and inquired about a missing woman were told by the occupant "she is in here" as he pointed to a cooler box, sources said.

More chilling details emerged on Wednesday about Takahiro Shiraishi, 27, who police say confessed to killing and dismembering nine bodies found in his apartment.

Shiraishi was handed over to prosecutors for further questioning.

Police arrested him on Tuesday after finding the bodies, eight females and one male, in cold-storage cases inside his apartment in Zama, a city southwest of the capital Tokyo.

Police have said Shiraishi confessed he tried to hide evidence.

Police found the bodies, some covered with cat litter, while searching for the 23-year-old woman who had disappeared after exchanging Twitter messages, allegedly with Shiraishi.

They are working to identify the victims.

The gruesome case captured widespread attention in a country known for public safety, topping news with reports that showed the building where the suspect lived in a small studio apartment.

Media reports quoted investigative sources as saying Shiraishi started killing as soon as he moved into his apartment in late August.

His first victim was another woman whom he got in touch with via Twitter, offering to assist her suicide wish, then killing her boyfriend to silence him, according to the media reports, including NHK public television.

They said Shiraishi used similar tactics to kill seven other women, four of them teenagers.

A police official said a toolbox and saw found in Shiraishi's apartment may have been used to dismember the bodies.

Japanese media quoted his neighbours as saying they had noticed foul smells coming from the apartment.

Shiraishi threw out some of the body parts as rubbish, along with the victims' belongings, reports said.

They said the missing woman contacted Shiraishi via Twitter in late September, seeking a partner for a suicide pact and saying she was afraid to die alone.

The two were recorded by security cameras walking together outside railway stations near her residence and the suspect's apartment on October 23, the reports said.

The woman's brother reported her disappearance to police the next day.

When he sought information about his sister's disappearance on Twitter, an unidentified woman replied that she had met Shiraishi and agreed to cooperate with police by setting up a fake appointment.

Two investigators then followed Shiraishi back to his apartment and knocked on the door, public broadcaster NHK said.

When they asked him if he knew where the missing woman was, Shiraishi pointed to one of eight coolers, saying "She is in here", NHK said, quoting investigative sources.

AP
A few days ago, three workers lost their lives when a wooden shuttering support which they installed in an under construction housing project in Pune fell?

Sadly, this is not the single case of death or accident at the construction site. In fact, India has one of the highest accident rates in the construction business.

A construction site is always susceptible to all kinds of accidents and losses, which can mount from legal claims, damage, theft, pilferage and more. Unfortunately, it is that one sector which is prone to various accidents due to the high-risk nature of the job. Further, working with powerful machines can make this sector more dangerous than other businesses.

As a contractor, it is your prime responsibility to ensure the complete safety at the construction site and ensure the deadlines are met. However, unforeseen events can arise anytime to disturb your business, and as the owner, you would be held responsible for compensating the injured party. In most of the cases, the compensation amount can be hefty enough to put pressure on your finances.

Here, construction all risk insurance policy can act as a savior for a builder or contractor. The policy plays a crucial role by covering various risks which may arise during construction. It includes loss or damage to machinery & tools, property, plant, works brought to the site, temporary on-the site work along with third-party liability which may be related to the work going on the construction site.

Here are some of the benefits which you can get with a construction all risk insurance policy -

1. Offers wide coverage - If you have a construction all risk insurance policy, the insurer will cover physical loss, destruction or damage of the property due to various perils like fire, collapse, earthquake, human error, water damage, etc.

2. Covers extensive business activities - A construction all risk insurance policy offers wide coverage as it covers various civil engineering projects like a water tank, flyovers, sewage water treatment plants, etc. It means, if you are engaged in any construction or civil business activity, you can buy construction all risk insurance plan and get coverage against various perils.

3. Covers third-party liability - As a contractor, it is your responsibility to ensure the complete safety at the site, however, irrespective of safety measures deployed at a construction site, many times accidents happen. The situation may turn worse if a bodily injury or property damage is suffered by a third-party. As the owner, you would have to compensate the injured party. Here, construction all risk insurance policy can help you by covering the legal liability which may fall on you as a result of bodily injury or property damage suffered by a third-party. The insurer will pay compensation on your behalf and thus, save you from the financial loss.

4. Covers contract work - Unless specifically excluded, construction all risk insurance policy also covers accidental physical loss or damage to contract work while executing the civil engineering project.

5. Pays cost of debris removal - After a loss occurred at the construction site, as the owner, you would have to bear the cost to remove the debris on the site, which can go in lakhs. Here also construction all risk insurance can help you. By paying an additional premium, you can get an extra cover for removal of debris, which will cover the expenses incurred by the policyholder on debris removal.

Undeniably, construction plays an important role towards any countrys infrastructure and industrial development. However, there are various risks which are also involved in any construction project. As a developer or building contractor, you would require taking steps to safeguard your capital investments against various losses or damages to the construction work or materials purchased for the project. And, construction all risk insurance can play an effective role in this by offering you coverage and protecting your construction business from the financial loss.

Overall, construction all risk insurance policy gives you peace of mind as you know, help would always be there in case of any loss or damage. In this way, you can focus on your business activities without worrying about unfortunate events which can arise to disrupt the growth of your construction business.
Kolkata, Nov 1 (IBNS):It was indeed a very pleasant and joyful surprise for Sayan Chowdhury of Hooghly when he was intimated that he had won the bumper prize of the Aircel Super Challenge contest.

The Aircel Super Challenge is an actively participative contestwhich meaningfully and challengingly engages Aircel customers and is based around general knowledge.This was the eighth edition of this highly successful customer connect program of the company which began in 2016.

The keys of a gleaming brand new Nissan Terrano, the bumper prize of the Aircel Super Challenge contest was handed over to Sayan Chowdhury here by Amitabh Akhouri, Circle Business Head Aircel, Kolkata.

I dont know how to describe the joy and pride that I am feeling.That I am the winner of this beautiful bumper prize amongst so many participants from across the country is still sinking in. I am grateful to Aircel for this super prize, said a palpably excited and delighted Sayan Chowdhury.

Also speaking on the occasion, Amitabh Akhouri, Circle Business Head, Aircel, Kolkata said, I would like to sincerely congratulate Sayan Chowdhury on winning this bumper prize. It is indeed a matter of pride that an Aircel customer from Kolkata is the winner of this contest amongst thousands of participants from across the country. We at Aircel take great pride in connecting with our customers and customer delight is engrained in the ethos of our business. It is always our endeavor to activelyconnect and engage with our customers and contests like the Aircel Super Challenge is one amongst the many platforms we use to ensure that we stayconnected with our customers.
Durham, Nov 1 (IBNS): For years, scientists assumed that humans devote a larger share of their daily calories to their brains than other animals. Although the human brain makes up only 2 percent of body weight, it consumes more than 25 percent of our baseline energy budget.

But a study published Oct. 31 in the Journal of Human Evolution comparing the relative brain costs of 22 species found that, when it comes to brainpower, humans arent as exceptional as we like to think.

We dont have a uniquely expensive brain, said study author Doug Boyer, assistant professor of evolutionary anthropology at Duke University. This challenges a major dogma in human evolution studies.

Boyer and his graduate student Arianna Harrington decided to see how humans stack up in terms of brain energy uptake.

Because energy travels to the brain via blood vessels, which deliver a form of sugar called glucose, the researchers measured the cross-sectional area of the bony canals that enclose the cranial arteries, read the Duke University website.

By coupling these measurements with previously published estimates of brain glucose uptake and internal skull volume as an indicator of brain size, they examined seven species, including mice, rats, squirrels, rabbits, monkeys and humans. The researchers were able to show that larger canals enclose arteries that deliver more blood, and thus glucose, to the brain.

Then, using a statistical technique called multiple regression, they calculated brain glucose uptake for an additional 15 species for which brain costs were unknown, including lemurs, monkeys and treeshrews, primate relatives from Southeast Asia.

As expected, the researchers found that humans allot proportionally more energy to their brains than rodents, Old World monkeys, and great apes such as orangutans and chimpanzees.

Relative to resting metabolic rate -- the total amount of calories an animal burns each day just to keep breathing, digesting and staying warm -- the human brain demands more than twice as many calories as the chimpanzee brain, and at least three to five times more calories than the brains of squirrels, mice and rabbits.

But other animals have hungry brains too.

In terms of relative brain cost, there appears to be little difference between a human and a pen-tailed treeshrew, for example.

Even the ring-tailed lemur and the tiny quarter-pound pygmy marmoset, the worlds smallest monkey, devote as much of their body energy to their brains as we do.

This shouldnt come as too much of a surprise, Boyer said. The metabolic cost of a structure like the brain is mainly dependent on how big it is, and many animals have bigger brain-to-body mass ratios than humans.

The results suggest that the ability to grow a relatively more expensive brain evolved not at the dawn of humans, but millions of years before, when our primate ancestors and their close relatives split from the branch of the mammal family tree that includes rodents and rabbits, Harrington said.

Previous studies calculated the amount of energy needed to fuel a brain based on neuron counts. But because the current studys method for estimating energy use relies on measurements of bone, rather than soft tissue such as neurons, it is now possible to estimate brain energy demand from the fossilized remains of animals that are extinct too, including early human ancestors.

All you would need to take the measurements is an intact skull and some of the neck vertebrae, Harrington said.

What the data cant show is whether energetically expensive brains evolved first, and then predisposed some groups of animals to greater mental powers as a byproduct, or whether preexisting cognitive challenges favored individuals that devoted more energy to the brain, the researchers say.
Kolkata, Nov 1 (IBNS): Representatives from 21 accredited American universities interacted with hundreds of local students and their parents at the USIEF-EducationUSA University Fair 2017, hosted by the United States-India Educational Foundation (USIEF) here on Wednesday.

The participating universities offered a range of academic programs at the undergraduate, graduate and doctorate levels.

The fair provided students the opportunity to learn the most current and authentic information about U.S. institutions of higher learning, standardized tests, and financial aid all under one roof.

Informative panel discussions on the admissions cycle were given by EducationUSA advisers while a session on the student visa process was conducted by a consular officer from the U.S. Consulate General.

Inaugurating the fair, Public Affairs Officer, U.S. Consulate General in Kolkata and Director of the American Center, Jamie Dragon said, ..education is one of the pillars of U.S.-India people-to-people relations and stressed that studying abroad is a life transforming experience and the choice of where to study should be carefully researched by each student!".

The USIEF-EducationUSA University Fair is an annual education outreach event which brings accredited American universities to India for face-to-face interactions with Indian students, parents and high school or college or university faculty.

This is the fifth time the EducationUSA Fair was held in the city.

The fair traveled to Kolkata after opening in New Delhi. Fairs are also scheduled to be held in Hyderabad, Chennai, Bengaluru, Mumbai and Ahmedabad.

Regional Officer of USIEF Kolkata, Shevanti Narayan said: EducationUSA Kolkata is excited to bring this annual U.S. university fair to students of Kolkata. This is a unique platform for students and parents to interact with representatives of 21 universities about their programs and funding opportunities. Students should take full advantage of this opportunity.

EducationUSA is the educational advising branch of the United States government and is the sole source for free and accurate information about U.S. institutions of higher learning.

U.S. Universities participating in the Fair:

Auburn University at Montgomery

Berkeley College

Bradley University

Drexel University

Dallas Baptist University

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

Foothill + De-Anza Colleges, California

George Washington University

Iowa State University

Lehigh University

Middle Tennessee State University

New York University School of Professional Studies

New York University, Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and

Human Development

Ohio Wesleyan University

Old Dominion University

Rochester Institute of Technology

Suffolk University

University of South Florida

University of Southern California - Viterbi Graduate School of Engineering

University of Utah - David Eccles School of Business

Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Image: /twitter.com/narendramodi

New Delhi, Nov 1 (IBNS): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday condemned the US truck attack that killed at least eight people and injured 11 others.

"Strongly condemn the terror attack in New York City. My thoughts are with the families of the deceased & prayers with those injured," the Prime Minister's tweet read.

The incident took place in New York's Lower Manhattan area.

Officials have termed it a terror attack and said that a man has been nabbed.

The arrested man has been identified as 29-years-old Sayfullo Saipov, an immigrant who came to the US in 2010.

Reports quoted witnesses as saying that he shouted Allahu Akbar before killing the pedestrians.

Image: /twitter.com/narendramodi
New Delhi, Nov 1 (IBNS): Home and civil aviation ministries have started to play the blame game as passengers are compelled to stand in the long queue at the Delhi's international airport due to delay in the immigration process.

The chaos at the airport came to light after Twitter user Parminder Singh have shared a couple of pictures on the micro-blogging site.

Singh captioned the picture saying: "IGI airport, Delhi Immigration Hall just now #CapacityPlanningFail."

IGI airport, Delhi Immigration Hall just now #CapacityPlanningFail pic.twitter.com/V0pZyzQJjC  Parminder Singh (@parrysingh) October 29, 2017

However, instead of any positive reply, the two ministries have started to fight verbally, accusing each other for the inconvenience of the passengers.

Officials from the home ministry said the queues could have been curtailed with the opening of more counters, according to NDTV.

"We had asked for space for more counters but this request was turned down for the capital's international airport" a senior official from home ministry was quoted by media.

But the civil aviation ministry has argued and dismissed the home ministry's claim. The aviation ministry said it is not possible to shorten the queue by opening more counters when they are not adequately staffed.

The aviation ministry also said that most of the staff members in the counters are not well trained to use technology since they are brought from Delhi Police and intelligence bureau, leading to the delay in the entire process at the airport.
New Delhi, Nov 1 (IBNS) : Citing denial of basic human rights to Hindus, a PIL filed has been filed in the Supreme Court, seeking minority status for the community in eight states where its population has fallen, media reports said.

The PIL filed by Delhi BJP leader and lawyer Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay, states that minority rights are being siphoned off illegally and arbitrarily to the majority population in these states in the absence of any Government notification declaring Hindus as a minority under the National Commission of Minorities Act, 1992.

he plea has also been addressed to Minister of Law and Justice, Ravi Shankar Prasad and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.



Christians are majority in Mizoram, Meghalaya and Nagaland and there is significant population in Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Kerala, Manipur, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal, but they are treated as minority. Likewise, the Sikhs are majority in Punjab and there is significant population in Delhi, Chandigarh and Haryana, but they are also treated as minority, the petition read.

It contended that the Hindus were being treated as majority in these states despite being minority in population and were illegally being deprived of benefits meant for minority communities.



The petitioner has demanded that the court issued an order to save the rights of Hindus in these states and declare them minorities.

According to 2011 Census, Hindus are minority in eight states-. Lakshadweep (2.5 percent), Mizoram (2.75 percent), Nagaland (8.75 perscent), Meghalaya (11.53 percent), J&K (28.44 percent), Arunachal Pradesh (29 percent), Manipur (31.39 percent) and Punjab (38.40 percent).
Bharuch, Gujarat, Nov 1 (IBNS) : Slamming the BJP-led Government at the Centre for its policies, Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday said the Goods and Services Tax is robbing the poor people of their hard-earned money and the country is "weeping" over Narendra Modi's mistakes.

Addressing a rally in Bharuch district in the third phase of his campaign, Gandhi also challenged Modi's statement that doing business in India has become much easier, claiming that the experience of small traders is just the opposite.

He said "there is undercurrent of dissatisfaction and unhappiness" over the BJPs policies of GST and demonetisation across the country and Gujarat.

"The GDP dropped by 2 percent but they didnt stop there. We warned them to implement the GST carefully. We told them the rate shouldnt exceed 18 percent and that there shouldnt be five slabs," he said.

"We sent our leaders...told Arun Jaitley that its not a case of BJP vs Congress, its about the people.... I have renamed it to Gabbar Singh tax...Poor people toil and their money is snatched from them."

The Congress Vice President alleged that small time businessmen, who don't have accountants, have to file three forms every months. "They come to me and tell me, "Rahul ji I can't understand the rates...I sell miscellaneous items.

"And now they want to celebrate on 8 November. The country is weeping over PM Modis mistakes but the Government is not ready to accept this," Gandhi said.

He also wanted to know from the PM where is the black money Modi had promised to unearth.

Gandhi said while Modi has quoted a foreign organisation, saying India has improved in ease of doing business, "I urge Jaitley to go to a small time trader and ask them how they do business...they will tell them theres no ease of doing business."

Gandhi, who is in Gujarat for two days, will be attending various meetings and rallies in Bharuch and Surat.

Gujarat will go to polls in two phases, on 9 and 14 December.
New Delhi, Nov 1 (IBNS): King of Bhutan Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, along with the Queen and the Royal Prince called on the President of India, Ram Nath Kovind, at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Wednesday.

Welcoming the King and Queen to India, the President said that it is a privilege to welcome the King on the anniversary of his Coronation Day.

He also thanked them for bringing the Royal Prince on his maiden visit to India.

The President complimented the King of Bhutan on the successful completion of the first decade of his reign and his vision for a stable, happy and prosperous Bhutan.

He said that India is delighted to see the rapid progress made in Bhutan while simultaneously preserving its very special culture as well as protecting the environment.

"India has been happy to share its knowledge, experience and resources with Bhutan. Our development cooperation has been guided by the priorities set by the Government and people of Bhutan," the President said.

The President said that India and Bhutan share exemplary bilateral relations.

"Our relations are unique and special. Our bilateral ties are based on utmost trust and understanding. We should do everything to make it a model of bilateral cooperation, which will be noted by others in the neighbourhood," said President Kovind.

The President also pointed out that security concerns of India and Bhutan are indivisible and mutual.

He conveyed deep appreciation for the King of Bhutans personal involvement and guidance and the support provided by Bhutan in addressing the recent situation in the Doklam area.

He added that the manner in which both India and Bhutan stood together to address the situation in the Doklam area is a clear testimony to the friendship between the two countries.

Image: PIB
Jaipur, Nov 1 (IBNS) : At least 14 people were killed and 22 injured when a transformer exploded in Khatloi village in Rajasthan's Shahpura town near Jaipur late Tuesday evening, media reports said quoting officials.

The casualties included members of a family, who were on their way to perform some marriage rituals.

Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje cancelled her scheduled visit to Delhi and rushed to the SMS Hospital where all the injured were admitted several in critical condition.

She has announced a high-level inquiry and Rs ten lakh compensation for next of kin of each deceased.

Union Minister and Jaipur Rural MP Rajyavardhan Rathore on Wednesday visited the site of the explosion and took stock of the situation.
Kolkata, Nov 1 (IBNS): West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday condemned the attack in New York city which killed at least eight people.

Banerjee said terror in any form was unacceptable.

"Terror in any form is unacceptable.Thoughts & prayers from all the great cities in India,to one of America's greatest cities#NewYorkAttack," she tweeted.

At least eight people were killed as a trucker ran over them in New York's Lower Manhattan area, reports said.

The deadly incident also left 11 gravely injured.

Officials have termed it a terror attack and said that a man has been nabbed.

The arrested man has been identified as 29-years-old Sayfullo Saipov, an immigrant who came to the US in 2010.

Reports quoted witnesses as saying that he shouted Allahu Akbar before killing the pedestrians.

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio has said that it was a "cowardly act of terror aimed at innocent civilians".

"We know that this action was intended to break our spirit. But we also know that New Yorkers are strong, New Yorkers are resilient and our spirit will never be moved by an act of violence and an act meant to intimidate us," the Mayor added.

US President Donald Trump condoled the loss and tweeted, "My thoughts, condolences and prayers to the victims and families of the New York City terrorist attack. God and your country are with you!"
New Delhi, Nov 1 (IBNS): Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Wednesday attacked the Congress and its UPA rule and said during the BJP-led rule of the Central government the 'ease of doing corruption' has been replaced by 'ease of doing business'.

"The difference between the UPA and NDA-'The ease of doing corruption has been replaced by the ease of doing business'," he tweeted.

The Congress on Wednesday slammed the Centre over the World Banks Doing Business Report and said it was 'hard to undo' the real damage done to Indian economy by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government.

"Easy to hire consultants and 'fix' #EaseOfDoingBuisness rankings. It's hard to undo the real damage done to Indian economy by Messrs Modi&Co," Congress leader Abhishek Singhvi tweeted.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has hailed Indias historic jump of 30 ranks in the World Banks Doing Business Report, 2018 released on Tuesday.

Indias rank has risen to 100 in the latest report compared to 130 in the Doing Business Report, 2017.

While terming the improvement in the rankings as historic, the Prime Minister in a series of tweets, said that the jump is the outcome of the all-round and multi-sectoral reform push of Team India.

Historic jump in Ease of Doing Business rankings is the outcome of the all-round & multi-sectoral reform push of Team India.

Easier business environment is leading to historic opportunities for our entrepreneurs, particularly MSME sector & bringing more prosperity.

Over the last 3 years we have seen a spirit of positive competition among states towards making business easier. This has been beneficial.

It has never been easier to do business in India. India welcomes the world to explore economic opportunities our nation has to offer!

Guided by the Mantra of Reform, Perform & Transform we are determined to further improve our rankings & scale greater economic growth., the Prime Minister said.
Raebareli, Nov 1 (IBNS): A boiler explosion at a state-run NTPC power plant in Raebareli of Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday has killed at least eight people and injured 100 others, media reports said.

The plant is located in Unchahar.

The injured are being treated in a hospital inside the NTPC campus and one in the town, NDTV reported.

The Ministry of Power confirmed the blast incident and said in a statement: "An unfortunate accident in the boiler of 500MW under trial unit of NTPC, Unchahar occurred this afternoon. Rescue operations are underway in close coordination with District Administration. Injured persons are being shifted to the nearby hospitals."

NTPC's senior management is rushing to the site to coordinate the efforts.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has directed officials to ensure proper medical treatment is provided to the injured people.

As per the UP government's Twitter page, he has expressed deep sadness over the loss of lives in the incident.
New Delhi, Nov 1 (IBNS): Foreign Minister of Singapore, Vivian Balakrishnan is visiting India from Oct 31-Nov 1.

"On October 31, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj held bilateral talks under the framework of Joint Ministerial Committee. EAM also hosted a lunch in honour of the visiting dignitary and his delegation," read an MEA statement.

Both sides discussed a wide range of bilateral issues of shared interests and mutual concerns.

In particular, they reviewed the upcoming high level exchanges, commemoration of the celebration of the 50th anniversary of ASEAN and 25 years of India-ASEAN dialogue partnership, cooperation in political, defence and security fields, trade and investment, cooperation in tourism and culture, connectivity, and other aspects of partnership.

They also exchanged views on issues of mutual interest at regional and multilateral levels, including cooperation at UN and International organisations.

On Nov 1, Dr. Balakrishnan would visit Guwahati, Assam where he would meet Chief Minister Sonawal and witness signing of an MoU to launch a Skill Development Centre being set up with Singapores assistance, under Prime Ministers Skill India Initiative.
Raebareli, Nov 1 (IBNS): A boiler explosion at state-run NTPC power plant-Unchahar Unit No. 6-in Uttar Pradesh's Raebareli killed at least eight people and injured another 80.

According to a government statement, there was sudden abnormal sound at 20 mt. elevation at the power plant.

Following the same, there was opening in corner no.2 from which hot flue gases and steam escaped affecting the people working around the area.

"Around 80 people were rushed to NTPC hospital, most of them were discharged after giving first-aid. In the mishap 8 people succumbed to the injuries," the statement said.

About 10 persons with serious injuries have been referred to nearby hospitals and to Lucknow to provide immediate treatment.

An enquiry has been set up by NTPC Management to investigate the reasons for the accident.

"All possible measures are being taken to provide immediate relief to the families of affected people in close coordination with the district administration," the statement added.

President Ram Nath Kovind condemned the incident and tweeted: "Anguished by loss of lives in power plant mishap in Raebareli. Condolences to bereaved families. Govt is helping injured."
New Delhi, Nov 1 (IBNS): Delhi police have arrested a man who was planning to kill Pakistan born Canadian writer, secularist and activist Tarek Fatah, famously known for his criticism of Islamic radicalism, media reports said.

The arrested person was identified as Naseem aka Rizwan.

Another person, who was identified as Junaid, was arrested by the police earlier as he was also planning to kill the writer.

According to media reports, he was planning to kill the Pakistani born writer on the directions of underworld don Chhota Shakeel.

Fateh, known for his love for India, posted on his Facebook page: "Delhi Police has arrested an underworld gangster who was given the task to assassinate me. Never a dull moment in my life. Cheers!"

Tarek Fatah is a Canadian writer, broadcaster, secularist and liberal activist.



Fatah is a founder of the Muslim Canadian Congress and served as its communications officer and spokesperson.

Fatah advocates gay rights, a separation of religion and state, opposition to sharia law, and advocacy for a "liberal, progressive form" of Islam

Fatah is a columnist with the Toronto Sun now and had previously contributed for TIME Magazine, the Toronto Star, the National Post and the Globe and Mail.

Image: Wikipedia
Raebareli, Nov 1 (IBNS): The boiler explosion at state-run NTPC power plant-Unchahar Unit No. 6-in Uttar Pradesh's Raebareli on Wednesday left at least 18 people dead and injured another 100, media reports said.

According to a government statement, there was sudden abnormal sound at 20 mt. elevation at the power plant.

Following the same, there was opening in corner no.2 from which hot flue gases and steam escaped affecting the people working around the area.

About 10 persons with serious injuries have been referred to nearby hospitals and to Lucknow to provide immediate treatment.

An enquiry has been set up by NTPC Management to investigate the reasons for the accident.

"All possible measures are being taken to provide immediate relief to the families of affected people in close coordination with the district administration," the statement added.

President Ram Nath Kovind condemned the incident and noted:

Anguished by loss of lives in power plant mishap in Raebareli. Condolences to bereaved families. Govt is helping injured #PresidentKovind  President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) November 1, 2017

Sharing his thoughts about the incident, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Modi stated:

Deeply pained by the accident at the NTPC plant in Raebareli. My thoughts are with the bereaved families. May the injured recover quickly. The situation is being closely monitored & officials are ensuring normalcy is restored: PM @narendramodi  PMO India (@PMOIndia) November 1, 2017

Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh for the families of the deceased, Rs 50,000 for the seriously injured and Rs 25,000 for those with minor injuries.


New York, Nov 1(Just Earth News): Multilateralism is facing challenges just when it is most needed, senior United Nations officials told a UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) forum in Paris on Tuesday, calling for a new humanism to counter rising doctrines of withdrawal and rejection of others.

If we want the next generation to be born into a better world, we only have one option. And that is strong multilateralism, with the United Nations system at its core, the President of the UN General Assembly, Miroslav LajAak told the Leaders' Forum of the 39th UNESCO General Conference, which kicked off yesterday at the agency's headquarters.

He said that cooperation between nations has brought tremendous benefit. In 2015, the international community achieved two important milestones, in the form of the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement on climate change.

If implemented, these agreements will protect the planet, and make it a better place to live for everyone, he said.

Multilateralism has also had a major role in advancing peace, helping rally support for peace agreements.

Peoples come from diverse backgrounds. They hold different positions on the world's most pressing issues. Their interests, at times, diverge. But convergence can be found  particularly when it comes to human dignity, peace, the protection of environment, and common humanity.

If one body or country fails to respond, it could affect us all, he said, adding that the United Nations must lead the charge and act as an honest broker, leveraging its neutrality and experience for meaningful dialogue.

LajAak highlighted a critical role played by UNESCO in the multilateral system.

The agency has rallied actors from all over the world to protect our shared cultural heritage, while promoting cooperation for advances in education, science and technology.

Amidst the success of UNESCO's work, he said: I regret the decision of member states to withdraw from membership of UNESCO.

Also addressing the forum, UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova stressed the relevance of her agency's 'soft power' to foster education, culture and knowledge to transform the world.

UNESCO was created in 1945 in the wake of a devastating war, with the aim of building the defenses of peace in the minds of men and women, since war begins in their minds.

Today, when we see the rise of doctrines based on withdrawal and rejection of others, I believe we need the same courage and the same commitment towards peace, dialogue, solidarity and empathy, she said. This is what I have called a 'new humanism.'

She said that in these times of limits  limits of resources, limits of the planet  there is a need to invest in the potential of human ingenuity, in the power of innovation, quality education and scientific research, in the power of culture and dialogue.

This is our ultimate renewable energy. And this is the raison d'etre of UNESCO, she said.

Photo: UNESCO

Source: www.justearthnews.com




According to the UN World Food Programme (WFP), on Monday night, a humanitarian convoy of 49 trucks, 41 of which carried food items, reached Eastern Ghouta in rural Damascus, one of the four de-escalated areas where almost 95 per cent of Syria's besieged population lives.



Each food ration, containing rice, bulgur wheat, vegetable oil, flour, lentils, peas, salt and sugar, aims to provide 40,000 people in Kafr Batna and Saqba areas for one month.



Specialized nutrition supplies have also delivered to about 13,000 children, especially those under five years old for preventing and curing acute malnutrition.



There are 420,000 people living in 10 besieged areas in Syria, with the vast majority in Eastern Ghouta and facing severe problems to receive enough food.



WFP said that the only entry point to the besieged enclave, the Al-Wafideen checkpoint, was fully closed, which caused less humanitarian access and doubled food price in the area.



Meanwhile, the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) sent six trucks of humanitarian supplies as part of the convoy. The agency's trucks included health supplies like oral rehydration solutions, medicines for children, vitamins, midwifery and pediatric kits. Hygiene kits, nutrition supplements and high energy biscuits were also including in the delivery.



The deterioration of the humanitarian situation in East Ghouta is jeopardizing the health status of boys, girls and mothers. Fran Equiza, the UNICEF Representative in Syria, who participated in the convoy said: Children and mothers are hit hardest by the dire living conditions in the besieged towns of East Ghouta.



Photo: UNICEF/UN066024/Almohibany







Source: www.justearthnews.com










The Council said that it is gravely concerned by the scale and severity of human rights abuses and violations of international humanitarian law committed against children in some countries, including terrorism, mass abductions, and sexual slavery, which can cause displacement and affect access to education and healthcare services.



Through a statement agreed by all 15 of its members, the Council also noted that children's international human rights continue to be violated with impunity in some countries, and stressed that the best interests of children, as well as their needs and vulnerabilities, be considered when making any decisions related to children in war zones.



Welcoming the Secretary-General's enhanced engagement with parties on the issue, the Council reiterated that protection of children should be an important aspect of a comprehensive strategy to resolve conflict and sustain peace.



Addressing the Council's day-long debate, the Guterres said children around the world are suffering enormously and unacceptably, resulting in global shame.



If we leave the next generation traumatized, seething with grievances, we betray those we serve and we betray ourselves, he said in the open debate of the Council.



He pointed to his latest report on the issue, which included a record high number of child casualties in Afghanistan, a doubling of verified cases of recruitment and use of children in Syria and Somalia, and widespread sexual violence against children in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Nigeria, South Sudan and other countries.



However, the report, which was presented to the Council earlier this month, also notes better protections, including the release of children held in Somali prisons, and substantive measures taken by the coalition in Yemen led by Saudi Arabia.



We need to strengthen our engagement with regional and sub-regional actors, Guterres said, stressing the need for additional legal and political commitments to protect children, and urging Member States to provide resources to support these initiatives.



He also appealed to all parties to the conflicts to work with the UN, to ensure protection for the most precious resource of your countries: your children.



Among the dozens of other speakers who addressed the Council on Tuesdaywas the Secretary-General's Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, Virginia Gamba.



She said children are used as fuel of war, and called for international action to address the use of children as expendable commodities by warring parties.



Echoing the Secretary-General's call for resources, the Special Representative appealed for adequate funds to implement and sustain reintegration, reinsertion and reskilling programmes to support children conscripted into armies. She also reiterated that such children, including girls, are primarily victi



Violations of child protection provisions must be investigated and violators held to account, she said: Accountability must be prioritized to break cycles of violence aid prevention efforts.



Photo: UNICEFCAR/Donaig Le Du







Source: www.justearthnews.com












2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.



The important point is that all 17 Goals are interrelated. They are interconnected, Hiroshi Kuniyoshi, the Deputy Director General of the UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), told UN News.



SDG9, in particular, promotes sustainable industrial development, but the UN agency is working on all Goals, including Goal 5 on achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls, he explained.



So the aim of this Forum, is really, how to achieve all 17 Goals by working together with the public and private sectors, entrepreneurs, UN agencies and [other partners], added the senior UNIDO official, noting that as an outcome of the World Forum, the agency expects to have a declaration on how to proceed further on these issues.



According to UNDIO  which, together with the Government of Bahrain has organized the World Forum  industrialization directly affects women's roles and participation in the work force, as well as in wider economic life and, therefore, industrial strategies and polices, if properly designed and implemented, can address gender-based discrimination, and promote women's empowerment.



In this context, Wednesday's discussions will be focused on Women in industry, one of the World Forum's three sub-themes, with access to financial resources and new technologies, building support networks, improving technical and material skills, and addressing social and cultural barriers being the key issues in the spotlight.



Underscoring that all technical cooperation projects at UNIDO have an integral and essential component on empowering women, Kuniyoshi expressed: Everything that we are doing includes a perspective on empowerment of women and promoting gender equality.



UN News is in Manama, Bahrain, covering the Forum and its associated events. Follow @UN_News_Centre and @UNNewsArabic for up to date news and highlights from WEIF 2017.



Photo: World Bank/Lakshman Nadaraja



Source: www.justearthnews.com






Madrid, Nov 1 (IBNS): The Spanish High Court has summoned controversial Catalonia leader Carles Puidgemont and 13 other leaders of his dismissed government, reports said.

The court has also allowed them three days to pay the fine of 6.2m ($7.2m) to cover liabilities.

Madrid has accused Puidgemont's of being ambitious, triggering a panic in the democracy as Catalonia held a referendum vote in order to split from Spain and carve a separate independent state.

Puidgemont and his sacked ministers are presently in Belgium, but said they wouldn't apply for asylum there.

Meanwhile, Spain's chief prosecutor on Monday said charges against the sacked Catalonian ministers will be pressed, including rebellion.

Spanish Attorney-General Jose Manuel Maza called for Catalan leaders to face charges of rebellion, sedition and misuse of public funds.

Last week Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy dissolved the Catalan parliament after the region's leaders voted in favour of declaring independence from Spain on Friday.

Rajoy said that he made the move to restore normality in the disputed region.

The Spanish Prime Minister will elect a new government after a snap vote.

Following his decision, he told the media that Puigdemont let down the Catalonian people by holding an independence referendum.

The president [Carles Puigdemont] had the opportunity to return to legality and to call elections," Rajoy said.

"It is what the majority of the Catalonian people asked for - but he didn't want to do it. So the government of Spain is taking the necessary measures to return to legality," he added.

The election which took place exactly a month ago, was attended by almost 42 percent of Catalonians, out of which 90 percent people voted in favour of independence.



Image: Twitter
New York, Nov 1 (IBNS): Taxi service provider Uber has confirmed that the man suspected of driving vehicle down a bike path near World Trade Centre site in New York on Tuesday was one of its drivers, according to media reports.

At least eight people were killed and 11 seriously injured when a trucker ran over them in New York's Lower Manhattan area, reports said.

Th man subsequently arrested was identified as 29-year-old Sayfullo Saipov, an immigrant who came to the US in 2010. Authorities suspect him to be an Uzbek citizen, according to media reports.

Uzbekistan will assist US authorities with their investigations into Tuesdays terror attack in New York, the media quoted the countrys president as saying.

Reports quoted witnesses as saying that he shouted Allahu Akbar before killing the pedestrians.

According to media reports on Wednesday, Saipov had recorded more than 1,400 Uber trips over the course of six months but was later banned by the app. The company did not give the reasons why they had banned him, media reported.

Five Argentine and a Belgian were among the eight dead in Manhattan terror attack, reports said quoting the foreign ministries of the respective countries.

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio has said that it was a "cowardly act of terror aimed at innocent civilians."

"NYers are resilient and won't be deterred. Great to see large crowd at annual Halloween parade in Village. Thx for showing world who we are," tweeted NYPD's Commissioner O'Neil.

"We know that this action was intended to break our spirit. But we also know that New Yorkers are strong, New Yorkers are resilient and our spirit will never be moved by an act of violence and an act meant to intimidate us," the Mayor added.

US President Donald Trump condoled the loss and tweeted, "My thoughts, condolences and prayers to the victims and families of the New York City terrorist attack. God and your country are with you!"

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi too condemned the attack. Strongly condemn the terror attack in New York City. My thoughts are with the families of the deceased and prayers with those injured, the Prime Minister said.

Image: Screengrab from YouTube
New York, Nov 1(Just Earth News): Despite overwhelming challenges women face at the workplace, they are not helpless, they will follow their dreams, work to the hardest and achieve their business goals, was a core message on day two of a United Nations forum on sustainable development.

This is a chance for everyone around the world  policy makers, investors, those in technology  to realize that women are not waiting for handouts, they are looking for opportunities. An opportunity is not a handout, Adot Killmeyer-Oleche, the Chief of UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) Institute for Capacity Development, told UN News.

This is an important message for all of us  the UN, development activists and practitioners, and change agents, she added.

At a plenary panel discussion on the theme of Women in industry policy makers, business persons, officials from financial institutions and UN agencies, and women and young entrepreneurs came together to discuss the challenges confronting women entrepreneurs and how to overcome them.

Women entrepreneurs often find themselves at the end of the value chain, not just in terms of employment, but also when it comes to access to knowledge, technology and the basic resources  particularly finance  to do business.

Adding to these barriers, women face very high level of stigma  a universal problem  with their projects and ideas not given the same level of attention or simply ignored because of the fact it came from a woman.

Women have challenges at all levels  traditionally they have had challenges getting education and training [] or made to enter trades 'more associated' with their gender, explained Killmeyer-Oleche, also a panellist at the session.

This discrimination is also evident in the lack of equal pay for equal work in many sectors around the globe.

One of the key ways to address these challenges, the panel discussed, is reforming laws and policies, integrating the gender dimensions. Another area of focus is training and education to ensure that young women and men, are imparted with the necessary skills to become entrepreneurs and are able to carefully analyse risks.

Using technology and innovative solutions, such as crowd-sourcing or community financing can help overcome some challenges, in particular those relating to accessing finance, said many participants.

But, above all, mind-sets across the world have to be changed, they stressed, noting that changed mind-sets will automatically improve the situation in other sectors.

Attitudes change, but not overnight [] it is simply not acceptable to discriminate against women, said Ina Cronje, Chairperson of the Board of Trade and Investment, KwaZulu-Natal (South Africa), a panel participant.

The session also saw the designation of Azza Fahmy, a prominent business woman and the Chairwoman and Creative Director of Jewellery of Egypt, as the UNDIO International Creative Woman Entrepreneur.

The panel discussion on women in industry was a key event held on the second day of the World Entrepreneurs Investment Forum, organized by UNDIO in partnership with the Government of Bahrain.

Other key events on Wednesday included a plenary session on global impact investing; a side-event on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development implementation in Bahrain, jointly organized by UNDP, UNIDO ITPO-Bahrain and UN Global Compact; and partnership events for entrepreneurs.

UN News is in Manama, Bahrain, covering the Forum and its associated events. Follow @UN_News_Centre and @UNNewsArabic for up to date news and highlights from WEIF 2017.

Photo: UN News/Vibhu Mishra

Source: www.justearthnews.com


This is a landmark development in the implementation of the intra-Palestinian agreement, signed in Cairo on 12 October, said UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Nickolay Mladenov, in a statement.



The positive momentum should be maintained and the Palestinian government must be fully empowered to function in Gaza, he added.



According to media reports, the 12 October agreement between the Fatah and Hamas factions allows the Palestinian government to resume its responsibilities in Gaza. Under the agreement, the Palestinian Authority should take control of the crossings of the Gaza Strip by 1 November.



A statement released by Egypt, which facilitated the accord, said the Palestinian government should assume its full responsibilities to manage the enclave by 1 December.



The July 2016 report of the Middle East Quartet  comprising the UN, Russia, the United States and the European Union  identified the lack of Palestinian unity as one of the main obstacles to achieving a two-state solution, which is to establish a viable, sovereign Palestinian state that lives in peace and security with Israel.



The return of the crossings should facilitate the lifting of the closures, while addressing Israels legitimate security concerns, and unlock increased international support for Gazas reconstruction, growth, stability and prosperity, Mladenov said.



He reminded all factions in Gaza of the importance of maintaining security and ending militant activities that undermine peace and security for both Palestinians and Israelis alike. Mladenov said the UN will continue to work with the Palestinian leadership, Egypt and the region to support this process, which is critical for reaching a negotiated two-state solution and sustainable peace in the Middle East.



UN Photo/Loey Felipe







Source: www.justearthnews.com






New York, Nov 2(Just Earth News): A day after the deadly attack in New York City, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres spoke to Mayor Bill di Blasio and reaffirmed his solidarity with the people of New York.

According to his spokesperson, the Secretary-General has also contacted the Permanent Representative of the United States to the UN, Nikki Haley, to express his condolences.

In a Tweet yesterday, Guterres said that our hearts go out to the people of our great host city; on Wednesday all of us at UNHQ are New Yorkers.

A statement from his spokesperson says Guterres was shocked and deeply saddened to learn of the attack.

Photo: UN News/Vibhu Mishra

Source: www.justearthnews.com
Image: twitter.com/realDonaldTrump

Washington, Nov 1 (IBNS): Following the US terror attack which killed at least eight people and injured 11 others, US President Donald Trump has warned his country against the return of the so called Islamic State.

The US President took to Twitter to not only condole the loss in the recent attack, but also to slam the terror outfit.

"In NYC, looks like another attack by a very sick and deranged person. Law enforcement is following this closely. NOT IN THE U.S.A.!" his tweet read.

An ensuing tweet added, "We must not allow ISIS to return, or enter, our country after defeating them in the Middle East and elsewhere. Enough!"

To tighten the security, the US President also said that he has ordered the Homeland Security to set up extreme vetting programme.

"I have just ordered Homeland Security to step up our already Extreme Vetting Program. Being politically correct is fine, but not for this!" he said.

The attacker in the recent attack has been identified as 29-year-old Sayfullo Saipov, an immigrant who came to the US in 2010.

Local reports quoted witnesses as saying that he shouted Allahu Akbar before running over the pedestrians and killing them.

Image: twitter.com/realDonaldTrump
Washington, Nov 1 (IBNS): Reacting to the New York terror attack by an Islamist that killed eight in Lower Manhattan, US President Donal Trump said Wednesday he would try to abolish Diversity Visa Lottery Program of USA that enabled the Uzbekistan born terrorist to settle down in America legally.

"The terrorist came into our country through what is called the 'Diversity Visa Lottery Program,' a Chuck Schumer beauty. I want merit based," Trump told media and tweeted.

The terrorist came into our country through what is called the "Diversity Visa Lottery Program," a Chuck Schumer beauty. I want merit based.  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 1, 2017

Five Argentine and a Belgian were among the eight dead in the Manhattan terror attack.

"We are fighting hard for Merit Based immigration, no more Democrat Lottery Systems. We must get MUCH tougher (and smarter)," said Trump.

We are fighting hard for Merit Based immigration, no more Democrat Lottery Systems. We must get MUCH tougher (and smarter). @foxandfriends  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 1, 2017

The suspect, Sayfullo Saipov, 29, became a US citizen from Uzbekistan reportedly through the diversity visa program.

Media reports quoting authorities said the suspect was associated with ISIS".

The five member Argentine group that were killed in the truck attack were celebrating the 30th anniversary of their high school graduation, the Argentine Foreign Ministry said in a statement Tuesday.

The ministry has identified them as Hernan Mendoza, Diego Angelini, Alejandro Pagnucco, Ariel Erlij and Hernan Ferruchi.

At least eight people were killed as the trucker ran over them in New York's Lower Manhattan area.

The deadly incident also left 11 gravely injured.

Reports quoted witnesses as saying that he shouted Allahu Akbar before killing the pedestrians.

Trump condoled the loss and tweeted, "My thoughts, condolences and prayers to the victims and families of the New York City terrorist attack. God and your country are with you!"
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Alaska Natives will be front and center at a Congressional hearing on energy development in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge

Five Native leaders and executives are on the witness list for the hearing in Washington, D.C., on Thursday morning . They include representatives of the Inupiat and Gwichin peoples, who have historically been on opposite sides of oil development in ANWR.

The Inupiat people support drilling because it would occur on their own lands. But since those lands are located within ANWR -- which was designated without their consent, before their aboriginal title was recognized by the United States -- it would take an act of Congress to allow development.

Matthew Rexford, the administrator for the Native Village of Kaktovik, a federally recognized tribe, is among those testifying at the hearing. Kaktovik is located on ANWR's North Slope , a prime area for development.

On the other side are the Gwichin people , who oppose development out of fear it would destroy the caribou herds in ANWR that they depend on for subsistence. Some Gwich'in communities are located within the refuge while others are just across the boundary.

A map of Alaska North's Slope shows the "1002 Area" of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge where oil development could occur. Native owned lands are shaded orange. Image: U.S. Geological Survey

Two more Native witnesses represent Alaska Native corporations Richard Glenn from Arctic Slope Regional Corporation and Aaron Schutt from Doyon, Ltd . Both corporations have supported drilling in ANWR.

Arctic Slope Regional Corporation owns the subsurface rights to land in ANWR where development could occur. The surface rights are owned by the Kaktovik Inupiat Corporation , a village corporation.

The fifth Native witness is Byron Mallott , who is Tlingit and will be representing the state of Alaska as its Lieutenant Governor . The state has long pushed for development in ANWR.

The hearing takes place before the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources . The panel is led by Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), who also serves on the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs and has made no secret of her position on energy development.

Weve provided [oil] to the country and that has allowed for jobs and revenues, it has allowed for schools and roads and institutions that everybody else around the country enjoys, Murkowski told The New York Times. Unlike some of her fellow Republicans, though, she believes the federal government needs to address the effects of climate change, which has affected Native peoples across Alaska.

Read More on the Story: An Alaska Senator Wants to Fight Climate Change and Drill for Oil, Too (The New York Times November 1, 2017) The Energy 202: GOP lawmakers want more Alaska drilling. The Trump administration isn't waiting. (The Washington Post October 26, 2017)

Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Notice: Full Committee Hearing to Receive Testimony on the Potential for Oil and Gas Exploration in the 1002 Area (November 2, 2017)

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Are most Indians celebrating Columbus Day instead of Native American Day in South Dakota?

Please research the history of Christopher Columbus and Indian genocideBy Ivan Star Comes OutNative Sun News Today Columnist

For the 27th year (since 1990) the 2nd Monday of October turned out to be just another day for Pine Ridge. I believe taking the day off from work is more in observance of the federal holiday, Columbus Day, and not so much the states Native Americans Day. Also, every calendar Ive seen, both in my home and elsewhere, indicate the 2nd Monday in October as Columbus Day.

Although I am not absolutely sure, there seems to be an underlying attitude of indifference toward Native Americans Day among the enrolled members of the relatively new Oglala Sioux Tribe. I expect such from conservative type non-Natives in the state but to hear it here among the residents of the Pine Ridge is a bit disheartening.

While U. S. citizens continue to celebrate the federal Columbus Day holiday, South Dakota legislatively replaced it with Native American Day in 1990. However, it appears Indians remain unresponsive. Am I wrong to say that most Natives are still celebrating this holiday as Columbus Day? Perhaps the appropriate question should focus on what it means to celebrate Native Americans Day?

Anyway, it appears a growing number of states and cities have legislatively replaced Columbus Day with Native Americans Day or Indigenous Peoples Day. For whatever it is worth, I did a little research with a wide variety of sources, and thus provide a brief historical overview of the controversial federal holiday known as Columbus Day.

In 1493, the Vatican (Pope Alexander VI), issued a papal bull Intera-Caetera which divided the known world between Spain and Portugal. It also granted Christopher Columbus authority to establish Christian rule throughout his travels in the new world. He did so in a most unimaginable manner. A growing population is now beginning to see that Columbus took land that wasnt his or the Vaticans and exterminated millions of indigenous people in the process. Recent research places the percentage of Indians killed from 80 to 90 percent of the total population since his arrival. However, American school social studies or history classes do not discuss this fact.

Columbus Day was first celebrated in 1792 in New York commemorating the 300th anniversary of the historic landing in the Americas. Italian-Americans and Catholics organized religious ceremonies and parades in Christopher Columbus honor.

In 1892, President Benjamin Harrison issued a proclamation encouraging Americans to mark the 400th anniversary of Columbus journey with patriotic festivities. He credited Columbus for the great achievements of the four completed centuries of American life.

In 1937, Congress established October 2nd as a federal holiday commemorating the landing of the Italian navigator Christopher Columbus in the Americas on October 12, 1492 and celebrates Italian heritage. This holiday has since promoted the discovery of the new land.

Support Native media and the rest of the story on the Native Sun News Today website: Are most Indians celebrating Columbus Day instead of Native American Day in South Dakota?

Copyright permission Native Sun News Today

Join the Conversation
Hina Khan who is currently a contestant with Bigg Boss 11 has created a huge stir with her statement on South industry. In one of the episodes, she claimed that she was offered two films from down south, but rejected the offer as they asked her to put on weight.

A post shared by Hina Khan (@realhinakhan) on Nov 1, 2017 at 2:20am PDT

Inside the Bigg Boss house, Hina said,  I know that they want their heroines to gain weight and flaunt their bulging figures. I was in fact offered two films by two very big production houses which I refused since they asked me to gain weight as well.

This statement of Hina obviously didnt go well down South. Actress Hansika Motwani slammed and shamed her in series of tweets. (Also read: Hansika Motwani Slams Bigg Boss Contestant Hina Khan For Degrading Remarks On South Actresses)

After Hansika, Kriti Kharbanda who is a very popular face in South lashed out at her. In an exclusive interview with Indiatimes, Kriti called Hina Khan DUMB.

Twitter

She said, Its very sad that Hina khan is that dumb. She is dumb; I mean who says stuff like that. I mean Rajkummar Rao gained weight for Bose so what, we all have to do it for our roles. I have gained weight for Shaadi Mai Zaroor Aana because they wanted a girl to look like from small town. So what? What do mean south industry need bulging heroines have you not seen how hot Tamannaah, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Rakul Preet, Kajal Agarwal looks. Even Hansika for that matter she is such a pretty looking lovely girl and there is nothing wrong with it.I feel sorry for Hina khan that she is so dumb. Her dumbness really doesnt deserve my reaction.

Kriti's next release Shaadi Mein Zaroor Aana is with Rajkummar which is slated to release on November 10, 2017. She has earlier featured in Raaz Reboot and Guest Iin London.

Twitter
At least 16 people have been confirmed dead in a boiler explosion at NTPC's Unchahar plant in Raebareli district of Uttar Pradesh.

The toll is expected to rise.

Hundreds of labourers were working at unit number 6 of the 500MW power unit when the boiler pipe exploded.

According to reports, hundreds of NTPC workers, including senior officials and engineers, were working at unit number 6 of a 500MW power unit when the boiler pipe exploded. The unit was installed recently by the NTPC and was functioning normally till now.

Government sources said that most of the injured workers have suffered over 70 per cent burns and feared that the death toll may rise further.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who is in Mauritius on a three-day official visit, ordered that necessary steps be taken for rescue and relief efforts.

"The chief minister has taken cognisance of the Unchahar accident and has directed principal secretary (home) to ensure that all steps are taken for rescue and relief," principal secretary (information) Awanish Awasthi, who is accompanying Adityanath said.

NTPC Explosion: UP CM announces ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh for next of kin of deceased, Rs 50,000 for critically injured & Rs 25,000 for injured  ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) November 1, 2017

Meena said that relief and rescue operations were launched immediately and the injured were being rushed to nearby hospitals.

The explosion triggered panic among the workers who ran helter-skelter.

The district administration rushed ambulances to the plant and directed health officials to provide prompt treatment to the injured.
An Indian warship, stealth frigate INS Trishul, thwarted a piracy attempt on a merchant's vessel Jag Amar in a swift operation by deploying an armed helicopter and marine commandos in the Gulf of Aden.

twitter

The 4,000-tonne multi-role INS Trishul, with its Chetak helicopter and marine commandos, swung into action on Friday after receiving the distress call from Indian-flagged bulk cargo carrier Jag Amar, which had 26 Indians on board, at about 12.30pm.

twitter

"Even as the first batch of the commandos reached the cargo vessel on the Chetak, the second team boarded her after setting sail from INS Trishul on their inflatable boat. The 12 pirates gave up without a fight," said an officer.

"One AK-47 assault rifle, with 27 rounds in a magazine, and other piracy triggers like grapnels, ladders, ropes, fuel drums and other equipment were seized from them.

twitter

After disarming the pirates the pirates were let off in their skiff on the high seas.

MV Jag Amar subsequently resumed its journey to Jubail, Saudi Arabia, in the evening after being sanitised by the commandos," he added.

twitter

Piracy continues to be rampant off Africa's east coast, with pirates venturing deep into the Arabian Sea to hunt for merchant vessels and oil tankers, despite international efforts to curb the menace.
Sabi Giri, aka Manish Giri, an Indian Navy Sailor who was discharged from service for undergoing a sex change surgery has said she will challenge the decision in the court.

Indiatimes

Giri who joined the Navy seven years ago was discharged on Monday by evoking the clause of Service No Longer Required under the Navy Regulations, a Navy statement said.

She had undergone sex change surgery in a Mumbai hospital in 2016 while on leave. The Navy said the sex change surgery breached the Recruitment Regulations and eligibility criteria for employment as a Sailor in the Indian Navy.

Indiatimes

It added that the existing service rules and regulations do not permit the sailors continued employment owing to the altered gender status, medical condition and resultant employability restrictions.

Talking to Indiatimes earlier, Giri who was serving at the INS Eksila base of the navy in Visakhapatnam had accused her seniors of locking her up in a psychiatric ward for six months after they became aware of the sex change.

Indiatimes

Despite her Commanding Officer sending her papers to the Naval Headquarters in Delhi, Giri had expressed hope of continuing her service.

But now since the Navy has discharged her from service, Giri won't be eligible for any benefits including pension as it is mandatory to serve for at least 15 years in the armed forces to become eligible for it.
A Swiss couple that was attacked at Fatehpur Sikri earlier this month has been offered a free two-night stay at a five-star hotel in the national capital as a "token of concern" by tourism minister KJ Alphons.

BCCL

In a letter to the couple, Mr Alphons offered to put them up at the government-run ITDC hotel, The Ashok, after they recovered from their injuries. He said the couple, Marie Droze and Quentin Jeremy Clerc, can choose to stay at the hotel on the dates of their choice.

"Trust you are recovering fast and would be on your way home soon. As a token of our concern, we would like to offer you a room at our luxury hotel, The Ashok, at Chankyapuri, New Delhi for two nights on the dates of your choice. All expenses at the hotel, including food and beverages, would be covered," he said in the letter.

Set upon 25 acres of prime land in the capital's diplomatic area, The Ashok is situated 2 km from Rashtrapati Bhavan. The tariff per night is around Rs. 10,000.

ALSO READ: Minors Who Attacked Swiss Couple Want To Apologise, Say Tourists Were Attacked For No Reason

BCCL

The minister had earlier written to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath over the issue and also visited the couple, who are currently recovering at Apollo Hospital, Delhi, assuring them of help.

On October 22, the couple from Lausanne in Switzerland were chased and attacked with stones and sticks by a group of four youths in the tourist town of Fatehpur Sikri, about 40 km from Agra.
Pleas of friends, families and even the government falls on deaf ears when it comes to stopping an individual from smoking: people risk their lives for fleeting pleasures. Despite numerous campaigns that run on the national and international level, it is safe to say that not even 10% of smokers resonate with the campaign.

Also read: 72-Year-Old Man Dies After His Clothes Catch Fire While Smoking Beedi in Delhi's Tughlaqabad Area

Unsplash

But what is happening at this firm in Japan might push a lot of people to quit smoking forever.

A Japanese company is granting all the non-smoking employees an extra six days of paid holidays a year. The rule comes after employees took it to the organization to inform them on extra working hours, more than staff who took time off for cigarette breaks.

Also read: Study Finds Reducing Nicotine In Cigarettes Could Curb Smoking Addiction

TokyoDaily

And so, this organization based out of Tokyo, Piala Inc. introduced the non-smoking perk in September and 30 of the company's 120 employees have already taken a leave under this program.

According to the employees, the company's office is on the 29th floor and anyone who goes on a smoking break spends at least 15 minutes, if not less.

"One of our non-smoking staff put a message in the company suggestion box earlier in the year saying that smoking breaks were causing problems", said Hirotaka Matsushima, a spokesman for the company.

Unspalsh

"Our CEO saw the comment and agreed, so we are giving non-smokers some extra time off to compensate", Mr Matsushma told The Telegraph.

"I hope to encourage employees to quit smoking through incentives rather than penalties or coercion", Takao Asuka, the Piala Inc CEO, told Kyodo News.

Also read: No More 'Smoking For Fun' As Govt Will Soon Ban E-Cigarettes Across The Country
Gold (GC) Weekly Doji Near Key 1800 Level Tradable Patterns - 1 hour ago Gold (GCZ22) is consolidating a second straight day just below the psychologically key 1800 whole figure level and the 38.2% Fib retrace of the March to October slide. GC is at risk ahead of the weekend... GCZ22 : 1,775.7 (-0.06%) GLD : 165.50 (+0.35%)

The Ongoing Coffee Plunge Best Weather Inc. - Tue Nov 15, 6:08PM CST 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 : 88.92 (+0.20%) CTH23 : 87.02 (+0.06%) CTK23 : 85.27 (-0.66%)

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 : 815-4 (-1.54%) ZWH23 : 836-0 (-1.42%) ZWPAES.CM : 7.6241 (+1.42%) KEZ22 : 953-4 (-0.99%) KEPAWS.CM : 9.2132 (+0.74%) MWZ22 : 965-0 (-0.92%)

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 : 661-6 (-0.75%) ZCPAUS.CM : 6.6694 (+1.57%) ZCH23 : 664-0 (-0.78%) ZCK23 : 662-2 (-0.82%)
Burma Detained Journalists Informed Govt of Film Plans, Says Turkish Broadcaster

A screenshot of the two foreign journalists and local fixer. / TRT News

YANGON  Turkish state broadcaster TRT World said journalists detained for attempting to fly a drone near Myanmars Parliament in Naypyitaw had informed the government about their plans to film beforehand.

TRT world producer Mok Choy Lin from Malaysia, freelance camera operator Lau Hon Meng from Singapore, their interpreter Ko Aung Naing Soe and driver U Hla Tin were detained on Friday by police for preparing to take aerial footage of Parliament with a drone.

Police charged them under the 2012 Export and Import Law for illegally bringing the drone into the country. The two foreign journalists were being held at No. 1 Police Station in Naypyitaw and two Myanmar nationals were being held at Pyinmana Prison.

The four were remanded until November 10.

TRT World said in a statement the crew was filming a documentary.

Mok Choy Lin and Lau Hon Meng arrived in Yangon on October 21 with journalist visas issued by the Myanmar government, it said, adding, The Myanmar Information Ministry was previously informed about all filming activities and the filming schedule.

Citing information from local journalists in touch with its team and security officials, TRT said its crew wanted to capture drone footage of the parliament building after conducting an interview with a member of parliament.

U Myint Kyaw, deputy permanent secretary of the Ministry of Information (MoI), told The Irrawaddy they had received an email asking for a recommendation letter in order to apply for journalist visas.

In their letter, they only said they are from TRT World and they want to go to Yangon and Rakhine for reporting in October, he said, adding they did not state plans to visit Naypyitaw.

The ministry replied that according to the new regulation by the Ministry of Labor, Immigration and Population dated Dec. 1, 2016, no MoI recommendation is needed and they could apply directly for journalist visas.

U Khin Maung Zaw, a lawyer representing the two Myanmar nationals, said he and his defendants family members are being denied access to the detainees, with authorities saying they are still under investigation.

Police raided the local interpreter Ko Aung Naing Soes home in Yangon on Oct. 27, and confiscated memory sticks.

The lawyer also said the date for the court hearing has not yet been given, adding he would request access to the detainees from the Naypyitaw police chief and also bail for the detainees.

Turkish, Singapore, and Malaysian embassies have reportedly said they are closely following the incident.

In response to media queries on the detention, Singapores Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson said Myanmars foreign affairs ministry had notified the embassy in Yangon.

The Embassy will provide the necessary consular assistance to Mr. Lau and is closely monitoring developments to ensure that due process is accorded to Mr. Lau. MFA and the Embassy are in close contact with Mr. Laus family, he said.

The Export and Import Law carries up to two years imprisonment.
Burma National-level Dialogue Delays Troubled Panglong Conference

The first Union Peace Conference- 21st Century Panglong. / The Irrawaddy

NAYPYITAW  Uncertainty over whether national-level dialogues will be held in Rakhine and Shan states is likely to impact the third round of the Union Peace Conference planned for the end of this year, said signatories to the nationwide ceasefire agreement (NCA).

The Union Peace Dialogue Joint Committee (UPDJC) recently met in Naypyitaw for two days to discuss holding in Rakhine and Shan states national-level political dialogue, where regional stakeholders discuss suggestions at large-scale public consultations, the results of which are shared by representatives at the Union Peace Conference or 21st Century Panglong.

NCA signatories the Restoration Council of Shan State/Shan State Army-South (RCSS/SSA-S), and the Arakan Liberation Party (ALP) are based in these states. The meeting, however, did not produce any results.

Dr. Salai Lian Hmung Sakhong, vice-chairman of NCA signatory Chin National Front (CNF) cited the example of a previous session of the Union Peace Conference in which NCA signatories could not make decisions because national-level political dialogues could not be held in Rakhine and Shan states prior to the conference.

So, if national-level political dialogues are not held in Rakhine and Shan states again, it will still be difficult to reach an agreement over certain things, said Dr. Salai Lian Hmung Sakhong.

At the second session of the conference, NCA signatories, the government and the military shared different views over the definition of self-determination and federalism as well as the principle of non-secession from the Union. The same topics will be on the agenda of the third session, said U Zaw Htay, director-general of the State Counselors Office.

Dr. Salai Lian Hmung Sakhong said national-level political dialoguethe third step in a seven-step political roadmap of the NCAis key to seeking the opinion of concerned ethnic people.

Without prior consultation with the public, no group will be able to make a decision on crucial matters like self-determination at the Panglong Conference, he said.

U Zaw Htay said the government had given a green light for national-level political dialogue in Shan State, but it has not yet reached agreement with RCSS/SSA-S over the venue.

The RCSS/SSA-S wants to hold the political dialogue in Shan States capital Taunggyi, but the military insists that it be held in Mongpan Township.

But for Rakhine, we have to exercise extra caution. Because there is conflict there that has attracted international attention. We have to consider the political and security situations there, U Zaw Htay said.

The government and the military seemingly want to request us not to hold political dialogue in Rakhine State, citing its current situation and security. But then, what are ethnicities supposed to discuss at the Union Peace Conference if political dialogue is not held? asked Dr. Salai Lian Hmung Sakhong.

He suggested holding political dialogue in Rakhine capital Sittwe, which is relatively stable despite ongoing conflict in northern Rakhine State.

Among eight ethnic armed groups that signed the NCA are: the Karen National Union (KNU); CNF; ALP; All Burma Students Democratic Front (ABSDF); RCSS/SSA; Karen National Union/Karen National Liberation Army (Peace Council) (KNU/KNLA PC); Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA); and Pa-O National Liberation Organization (PNLO).

National-level political dialogues have been held in areas of the other six NCA signatories, but some of the discussions from those dialogues have not yet been put forward to the Union Peace Conference.

Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko.
Wednesday, Nov 1st, 2017 (8:57 am) - Score 875

The internet provider division of high street retailer John Lewis has followed their special offer from August by making a further discount to the price of their superfast fibre broadband (FTTC) and phone line rental bundles, which will last for the first 12 months of service.

The discount, which is only for new subscribers, will be available to order until 21st November 2017. Customers who order one of the packages will also receive a 12 month contract term, 24/7 UK based customer support, PC security from BullGuard, free UK evening and weekend phone calls + included line rental, unlimited usage and an included wireless router.

Unlimited Fibre Broadband and Phone

* Up to 38Mb Download Speed PRICE: 32.50 27.50 a month for 12 months (38 thereafter) Unlimited Fibre Extra Broadband and Phone

* Up to 76Mb Download Speed PRICE: 36.50 32.50 a month for 12 months (43 thereafter)

Take note that if you need a brand new line installed then theres a 49.99 one-off charge. We also note that JLB, which is supplied by Plusnet, appears to charge the same no matter where in the United Kingdom you live (this avoids the nasty rural vs urban price divide of some other ISPs).

As usual its possible to add Anytime UK calls from 5 extra per month.
Australias first charity, The Benevolent Society, is deploying Dell Boomis integration platform to enable transition to a 100% cloud model, create a connected data environment, and support its business expansion.

Founded in 1813, The Benevolent Society, which provides a range of support services to people with disabilities, children and families, older Australians and carers, is using the Dell Boomi platform to help create a mobile workforce and streamline internal processes including reporting to government.

The migration to the cloud will be progressive over a 12-month period.

Technology is playing an increasingly prominent part in the way we operate as an organisation, said James Foot, IT director at The Benevolent Society.

For us, a key part in improving the service and the experience we provide to clients begins with the connection at our back end. That means ensuring important client information is readily accessible through a secure interface.

Boomi provides us with a platform to synchronise our systems so the data that is generated is accurate, up-to-date, and easy to use by our teams.

Boomi says it has simplified The Benevolent Societys entire data environment by connecting dozens of systems  including up to 20 customer relationship management (CRM) platforms, human resources tools and bespoke apps which were formerly siloed  into a single interface.

According to Boomi, this not only ensures data is up-to-date and accurate for all users, but removes the need for repetitive and time-consuming manual data entry into multiple databases.

The Boomi technology is also supporting the onboarding of 800 new staff and 9000 new clients following The Benevolent Societys joining with the NSW Governments Department of Family and Community Services Disability Community Services Teams.

By using Boomi to create a connected business, The Benevolent Society is even further boosting its ability to help Australians in need, said Michael Evans, managing director Asia-Pacific and Japan at Dell Boomi.

The integration of apps and data equips The Benevolent Societys employees with the resources they need to perform their jobs anywhere and at any time. As a result, they can respond even faster to optimise the experiences of clients with a personalised touch.
The chief executive of Australia Post says the company is in talks with Amazon over reselling the retail behemoth's express delivery services.

Christine Holgate told the Australian Financial Review that Amazon's arrival in Australia presented an opportunity for Australia Post and other retailers.

"You have to have a multi-level strategy. I think Australia Post can be a very powerful partner to Amazon but I think we can also be a very powerful partner to the major retail players in Australia as they go through their transformation, so its not anti-Amazon, its a balanced approach," Holgate was quoted as saying.

She warned that Amazon's entry would have a big effect on local retailing, pointing out that its entry to the UK had stripped $10 billion from British retailers in three years.

Holgate pointed to the example of Canada Post that had partnered with Amazon and come out of the deal fairly well.

She said that Australia Post did not want to follow the example of Britain's Royal Mail and put too much infrastructure in place for Amazon.

"Amazon had launched in the UK and were a massive partner with the Royal Mail, they are still a big partner but are nowhere near as big a partner as they were then," she said.

"Royal Mail built a lot of infrastructure to enable that service for Amazon so as a business we have to be careful about if and how and when we build cost and what are we doing it for."
The biggest energy research in the Netherlands says it has developed new technology that increases the storage capacity of rechargeable batteries by 50%.

The Energieonderzoek Centrum Nederland (Energy research Centre of the Netherlands or ECN) said the technology was being brought to market by a start-up known as LeydenJar Technologies.

It said the technology would make it possible to increase the range of electric vehicles, make batteries for smartphones and other electronic devices last longer and bring down the cost of sustainable energy storage.

LeydenJar Technologies had produced a pouch-cell prototype cell using the pure silicon anode technology, ECN said.

The 100th cycle in this cell development had been reached with a constant capacity of 1.000 mAh/g. Li-ion coin cells that cycle at high capacities (between 1.000  2.000 mAh/g) with 400+ (on going) cycles had also been developed.

ECN said in a statement: "The advantage of pure silicon anode technology is that it has an unprecedented impact on energy density of Lithium-ion batteries, while replacing only the graphite anode with a pure silicon version."

The institute invented the technology using a roll-to-roll PECVD machine that could scale up to mass production.

"LeydenJar Technologies will now develop the technology in two tracks: first as a pouch cell prototype with a targeted energy density of 1.200 Wh/l or 480 Wh/kg, and then as a faster PECVD tool to demonstrate semi commercial production rates," the ECN said.

Paul Wyers, director of solar research at ECN, said: These discoveries usually concern materials that can only be produced in a laboratory environment on a very small scale.

"What makes our invention so promising is that the technology for mass production of this material is already within reach due to its similarity to an existing production process for solar cells.

"We believe that this gives us a unique advantage. Through the founding of LeydenJar Technologies, we will transfer this technology to the market and create a fit between the battery industry and venture capital investors.
The ACCC says it is "rethinking the way it approaches spectrum competition issues ahead of the upcoming 5G auction".

At the RadComms conference in Sydney today, ACCC chairman Rod Sims "urged government to take a long-term, consumer-centric approach to spectrum allocations".

At the conference, Sims said: Traditionally, the ACCC has sought to prevent dominance of spectrum by any one licensee in particular bands. However, we are rethinking this approach.

Instead, and this is a key point, we want to consider spectrum holdings holistically rather than in particular bands."

Sims continued: Companies put a value on preventing their competitors or potential competitors getting access to spectrum. This means that a large part of the value of spectrum is actually in reducing competition.

I do not want to see some players, particularly a new mobiles entrant, prevented from competing with incumbents because they cannot get access to sufficient spectrum.

He also "urged government to look beyond the budget bottom line when auctioning spectrum," and stated: "The value of spectrum lies in the economic and social benefits it can provide to citizens and consumers, not in financial returns to the Budget.

In addition, Sims foreshadowed the competition challenges of 5G, which "could be a substitute for fixed networks".

He said: 5G allows wireless broadband services at gigabit speeds, the ability to connect large numbers of devices and objects which would facilitate the Internet of Things, and the ability to provide a number of discrete fit for purpose networks rather than general purpose networks.

The Internet of Things will present mobile network operators with incentives for deployment, including in regional Australia.

As the role of mobile networks stretches beyond providing communications between people, to providing connectivity to millions of devices and objects, the business cases for network deployment will no longer be restricted to where people live and travel.

Increasingly, the need for data to support businesses will justify new investments.

The ACCC will closely monitor whether our regulatory settings promote interconnection between networks, particularly between smaller fixed networks and larger mobile networks, and provide incentives for investing in regional mobile coverage.

We want the full benefits of 5G to be realised, and we want these benefits to be realised by all Australians through a competitive market.

Sims' full speech can be read here.
Christmas has come early for small businesses wanting to give and receive the gift of global flat-rate shipping via Sendle's door-to-door delivery service.

Top-rated Australian courier service Sendle has announced "another first for small businesses with the launch of its hotly anticipated international door-to-door delivery service including global flat rates".

We're told that "the rollout begins today for thousands of Sendles Sydney customers in time for Christmas deliveries".

Customers within 15km of the Sydney CBD can now "take advantage of Sendles carbon neutral delivery service and send parcels to 220 countries and territories around the world at prices that are typically 20% cheaper than traditional post".

Sendle proudly boasts its new service "will make exporting and shipping internationally easier and more affordable than ever before as small businesses can now enjoy free pick-ups, easy online booking  with no paperwork  and global flat rate pricing that starts at $14.95 ($US11) for a 250g package".

A 1kg package to the UK that would normally cost $51.72 to send via the post office only costs $33.88 with Sendle Premium.

Sendle co-founder and chief executive James Chin Moody said: "At Sendle, our vision is to level the playing field by unlocking the power of big business logistics for those at the smaller end of town. Our new international shipping service will save small business owners time, money and a trip to the Post Office, allowing them to focus on what really matters  efficiently exporting their products and scaling their business.

With a recent study estimating that 20% of all e-commerce would be cross-border by 2022, this is more important now than ever before for thousands of Aussie small businesses looking to compete in the age of Amazon."

Small business owner Mandy Sacher, pictured below, is a paediatric nutritionist and a mother of two. She is "the first customer to send a package internationally with Sendle, and is using the new service to send her book, The Wholesome Child, to readers across the globe".

Sacher said: I have used Sendle for my small business for a few years now. As a working mum with a young family, I just didnt have the time to wait in a post office all day.

"Sendle has been a huge help with managing work/life balance and has helped my business grow to the point where I am gaining international customers, just as Sendle can now help with the same affordable, door-to-door delivery service to anywhere in the world."

The launch of the service follows hot on the heels of Sendle's "landmark partnership announcement between Sendle and DHL eCommerce last month, when it was revealed that the global logistics giant has joined Sendles network of delivery providers as it geared up to create an international shipping service".

Sendle said international shipping service is "available immediately to Sendle customers located in 183 Sydney postcodes. A national roll-out of the service will take place in 2018".

A full breakdown of pricing and destinations is here (PDF link).

Sendle customer Mandy Sacher sending her first international package.
Anything but empty, MTData provides "GPS and telematics fleet management solutions to help drive IoT growth" here and worldwide, while delivering "solutions that assist customers with compliance and safety, improving productivity and reducing operating costs".

Telstra says its acquisition of MTData will provide it with "the technical capability and software expertise necessary to help fast track its Enterprise Connected Vehicle offering as part of its growing business-ready Internet of Things (IoT) ecosystem".

Michelle Bendschneider, executive director, Telstra Enterprise, said the acquisition "supports the companys focus on being a leading provider of innovative technology solutions for customers in Australia and globally", and added that "Telstra is proud to invest in Australian innovation. MTData is a recognised leader in IoT and we look forward to taking this technology to our customers locally and internationally".

The MTData acquisition provides Telstra with advanced technology and deep domain expertise in Connected Vehicle solutions. This is in line with our Internet of Things growth strategy and leverages from investment in the IoT footprint on our mobile network, which is the largest in Australia and one of the largest in the world.

This strategic acquisition will enable us to capitalise on the business ready IoT capability on our network, deliver IoT solutions to our customers in the heavy vehicle industry and supports a natural transition towards future autonomous vehicle technologies.

The expertise from MTData complements our vision to be a world class technology company that empowers people to connect. We look forward to working in partnership with the MTData team to continue to innovate for our customers in the months and years ahead.

Matthew Bellizia, chief executive and co-founder of MTData, said that "maintaining its passion for innovation and creating the right solutions for customers was a core consideration when choosing the right partner for the company".

Since starting the business in 2003, MTData has been built on a culture of innovation and a customer-first approach which has helped us develop solutions that drive tangible benefits for our customers businesses.

Were an Australian company and were proud that in joining Telstra we are still Australian owned. We will continue to work with industry to build solutions for the unique needs of our customers.

Telstra is the right partner for MTData. There are strong synergies with our technology and customer focused cultures and through our integration we will provide customers with access to new and existing technologies like Telstras IoT offerings.

Telstra notes having "carved out several core areas of capability to support the growing customer demand for IoT solutions, including Connected Vehicles, asset tracking and location insights in the utilities, agriculture and resources industries."

Indeed, Telstra proudly boasts that its "IoT footprint is unmatched in Australia and is set up to support any IoT solution. IoT is a focus market for Telstra and the MTData acquisition will strengthen Telstras IoT ecosystem, building Telstras IoT capability on its mobile network, as well as its established M2M business and Open IoT Lab".

Internet of Telstra Things, here we come!

Here's my re-imagined blending of the two company logos:
The top digital companies in the Asia Pacific region represent both a threat and an opportunity to global enterprises, and CIOs ignore them at their own risk, according to a new report from Gartner.

The analyst firm issued the warning and advised chief information officers involved in building or expanding a digital business to identify and understand Asia's top disruptors as early as possible and work with their strategic planning groups to decide to collaborate with or compete against these digital giants.

Gartner predicts that through 2021, 80% of traditional companies will lose 10% in market share due to disruptive competition and/or the inability to disrupt themselves.

And according to Gartner research director CK Lu, CIOs and IT leaders in global enterprises are familiar with US-based digital giants Google, Facebook, Amazon and Apple, but those in Asia are normally shrouded in regard to how they are disrupting the digital business landscape.

"Prioritising global IT investments will be incomplete without a thorough study of Asia Pacific digital disruptors within clear categories of opportunities," said Lu.

"GDP growth in Asia Pacific is 1.6 times faster than the worldwide market. Adoption of technologies like mobile wallets is much higher, and you can reach 1.7 billion Internet users in these markets. As Chinese and American digital giants battle to disrupt global markets, no one can afford to sit on the sidelines."

Gartner notes that a digital disruptor champions or delivers digital disruption, but more formally defines a digital disruptor as any entity that affects the shift of fundamental expectations and behaviors in a culture, market, industry or process that is caused by, or expressed through, digital capabilities, channels or assets".

And to determine the top digital disruptors in Asia Pacific, Gartner says its model considered three factors  scale, reach and richness  in measuring companies' impact across four major elements of disruption: technology, business, industry and society.

According to Gartner, the investment prioritisation that emerges from these perspectives can provide a clear set of directions for future innovation.

Heres Gartners list of the top 10 digital disruptors in the Asia Pacific region:
Telstra is used to world firsts, as is Ericsson, with both making another "key step in the global development of 5G" by making the world's first 5G trial data call.

Using Telstra's "production core network", Australia's top telco, Telstra, and global telco equipment and services company, Ericsson have "completed the worlds first 5G trial data call over 26GHz or mmWave radiofrequency spectrum."

We're told "this is the first time the 26 GHz band has been used in the field."

W're also told the 26 GHz band "will feature in leading 5G deployments in Australia, Europe and China, and is similar to the 28 GHz band used in the United States."

This is presumably like saying driving on the left hand side of the road is similar to driving on the right hand side.

In any case, both companies state this 5G data call demonstration "was the first in what will be a series of trials at a new 5G testing centre Telstra has established on the Gold Coast to ensure Australia is at the forefront in the development of the next generation of mobile technology."

Telstra Group MD of Networks, Mike Wright, said the trial "was an important part of demonstrating the mobile industry is ready to utilise the mmWave band of spectrum, which will be critical for 5G deployments around the world.

5G will mean we can use more and different spectrum bands in order to deliver faster speeds, more capacity and lower latency to our customers.

This will support a range of different applications, everything from data heavy applications like virtual reality to highly reliable, low latency communications for smart cities and autonomous cars.

Theres huge demand for data and new applications from our customers and this trial is about demonstrating that our industry is ready to utilise spectrum in the mmWave band, continued Wright.

Trials of mmWave spectrum "are also taking place in many other countries including the United States, Japan and Korea, where 28 GHz and 39 GHz are being considered for 5G deployments. For mobile networks, mmWave spectrum will be an important capacity layer for both 4G and 5G."

Wright added: 5G will be transformative for a number of industries, everything from media broadcasting to manufacturing and transportation and we are committed to making sure our customers are among the first in the world to access these new capabilities.

We are establishing a dedicated 5G testing centre on the Gold Coast and this latest trial is the first in what will be a series of activities over the next 12 months to bring the best mobile technologies from around the world to Australia.

Now that we have completed this data call over mmWave spectrum, we will conduct further tests with Ericsson to gain further insights into how mmWave 5G can be scaled and integrated into commercial mobile networks as well as working with Australian industries to help them unlock future benefits and use cases based on 5G technology.

Telstra and Ericsson also state they'll "trial associated 3GPP technologies, including Massive Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) antenna with adaptive beamforming and beam tracking techniques and OFDM-based waveforms, on the Gold Coast to progress and align with the global standards."

Our 5G testing is in addition to the new capabilities we are already enabling in our network, including the Internet of Things technologies Cat M1, which is now available across approximately 3 million square kilometres around the country, and Narrowband IoT, which will be network available before the end of 2017, Wright concluded.
Updated Jan. 24, 2018: Under Pricing and release date, we have updated information on the Commercial Surface Laptop, a new version of the Surface Laptop that optionally ships with Windows 10 Pro, not S. The Surface Laptop stole the show at Microsofts May 2 event. The focus may have been on education, Windows 10 S, and affordable laptops for classroom use, but the oohs and ahhs went to the Surface Laptop for its beautiful display and Alcantara-clad keyboard, not to mention its light weight and long battery life. College kids are the Surface Laptops purported target user, but a lot of regular folks are intrigued by this new addition to Microsofts premium Surface familyand, frankly, many students wont be able to afford it anyway. Microsoft seems to agree: for businesses, Microsoft has also announced the Commercial Surface Laptop, a version of the Surface Laptop that ships with Windows 10 Pro, or S. Interested? Youve come to the right place. Heres everything you need to know about the Surface Laptop. We have the pricing and release date, answers to your most burning questions, our video coverage, and all the specs. Click a link to the left to jump to a specific section, or just start reading. The Surface Laptop began shipping most SKUs June 15, 2017, and the highest-end SKU started shipping June 30, though just in one color. Thats over, thankfully. You can order the Surface Laptop from Microsofts site, and its also available from major retailers.

Mentioned in this article Surface Laptop (Intel Core i5, 4GB RAM, 128GB)  Platinum

Pricing starts at $999, and quickly goes up from there. Weve summarized the full prices per configuration below (and you can find full specs and features later in this article). Students enjoy a 10-percent discount: For the entry-level Surface Laptop, that would drop its price from $999 to $899.10. Intel Core i5 CPU, 4GB RAM, 128GB SSD: $999 Intel Core i5 CPU, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD: $1,299 Intel Core i7 CPU, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD: $1,599 Intel Core i7 CPU, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD: $2,199 Intel Core i7 CPU, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD,: $2,699 Notes: As of our July 30 update, the highest-end SKU is available only in Platinum, with other colors still labeled coming soon. As of Oct. 31, these versions are available in all four colors: the Core i5/8GB/256GB SSD; the Core i7/8GB/256GB SSD; and the Core i7/16GB/512GB SSD. Everything else, unfortunately, is just available in Platinum. None of the above prices include a Surface Pen, let alone the Surface Dial. Neither peripheral is required, though. Microsoft also quietly launched the $80 Surface Arc Mouse soon after the Surface Laptop. Microsoft The Surface Laptop is aimed at college students who might otherwise choose the MacBook Air. For those who want the freedom of Windows 10 Pro, you should check out the Commercial Surface Laptop, a version of the Laptop that optionally ships with Windows 10 Pro, not S. Microsoft doesnt appear to be restricting sales to commercial businesses, though, as the Commercial Surface Laptop appears on the Store. In fact, you have more Commercial Surface Laptop options from which to choose with Windows 10 Pro than you do with than Windows 10 S. In general, the base model (Core i5/8GB RAM/128GB SSD) costs $100 for the Windows 10 Pro option versus Windows 10 S, or $1,199. Otherwise, youll pay $50 more (for a total of $1,399) for the Core i5/8GB/256GB SSD model. Finally, you have the option of three colors: gray (platinum), burgundy, and cobalt blue. Though that $50 premium also applies to other Windows 10 Pro versions of the Commercial Surface Laptop, many of the models are currently listed as out of stock. Frequently asked questions The Surface Laptops debut hand-in-hand with Windows 10 S has created a lot of confusion. Here are some answers, and well keep posting more as we learn more. What is the Surface Laptop? The Surface Laptop is a thin, light, high-design ultrabook that Microsoft unveiled May 2 as part of a larger event about education. Distinguishing features include a gorgeous display, a laser-cut keyboard tray made of Alcantara fabric, and a claimed battery life of up to 14 hours. At the same event, the company introduced the secure, manageable Windows 10 S operating system, which will come preinstalled on the Surface Laptop as well as a lower-cost flock of laptops intended for K-12 classroom use. What is is the Commercial Surface Laptop? The Commercial Surface Laptop appears to be an otherwise identical version of the Surface Laptop that ships with Windows 10 Pro installed. Though you can switch from Windows 10 S to Windows 10 Pro very easily, buyers of the Commercial Surface Laptop dont have to worry about any deadlines for doing so. That freedom costs an additional $100 for the base model, though, versus the Surface Laptop. Why buy a Commercial Surface Laptop if it costs more? Because the Commercial Surface Laptop ships with Windows 10 Pro, no strings attached. You also dont have to worry about any deadlines for switching.

Mentioned in this article Surface Laptop (Intel Core i7, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD), Platinum Best Prices Today:

What are PCWorlds first impressions of the Surface Laptop? PCWorlds Mark Hachman was among the first to try the Surface Laptop at the May 2 event. A seasoned user of both the Surface Pro and Surface Book, he saw the family resemblance in the Surface Laptops dazzling display and Alcantara fabric-clad keyboard. This is, indeed, a laptop that could turn the heads of MacBook Air faithful. Whats less clear is how the Surface Laptops thin-and-light compromises will play out: the new Kaby Lake CPU and big battery vs. the skimpy RAM in entry-level models, not to mention the scant port connectivity. Whos it for? Microsoft is aiming the Surface Laptop at style-conscious, MacBook-Air-loving college students, though many non-student users are clearly intrigued by it. How does it relate to the Surface Book and Surface Pro 4? The Surface Laptops clamshell design adds another form factor to Microsofts premium line of Surface products, all of which boast beautiful displays and unique features. The Surface Book is the most expensive of the family: a premium 2-in-1 laptop with a striking Dynamic Fulcrum Hinge. The keyboard base is stuffed with extra battery and, in some configurations, a discrete GPU. Weve compared the Surface Laptop vs. the Surface Book based on the specs and performance data. Choosing between these two laptops was easier than we thought. The Surface Pro 4 is a 2-in-1 that leans more toward a tablet, with a kickstand and the option of a lightweight keyboard. Given the Surface Laptops pricing, the Surface Pro 4 is now the lowest-cost product in the family. Weve compared the Surface Laptop vs. the Surface Pro 4 based on the specs and our reviews. How does it relate to other high-end thin-and-light laptops? Meanwhile, more than a few laptops from other vendors vie for the title of best thin-and-light. Weve compared the Surface Laptop spec-by-spec with the Dell XPS 13, HP Spectre x360, and MacBook Air, and its a close race. Microsoft The Surface Laptop runs Windows 10 S, but you can upgrade to Windows 10 Pro. How much does the Surface Laptop cost? The base model starts at $999, and the most expensive model costs $2,699. Microsoft also offers a 10-percent student discount. Why is it so expensive? Looking at the Surface product lines history, Microsoft has focused on high-end halo hardware that can inspire other hardware vendors to make similar products (that probably wont be quite as expensive). This is a way for Microsoft to lead hardware innovation without being overly competitive with other vendors. When does it ship? The Surface Laptop began shipping June 15 and is available via Microsoft or other retailers. Does it come with Windows 10 S? Yes, Windows 10 S is the installed operating system regardless of where you buy it. What if I dont want Windows 10 S? All Windows 10 S products, including the Surface Laptop, will be upgradable to Windows 10 Pro. For students and some other users, that upgrade will be free, with some deadlines and conditions. Itll cost you $49 otherwise, so read the fine print and Mark Hachmans detailed explanation. You can upgrade for free until March 31, 2018. How easy is it to upgrade to Windows 10 Pro? Really simplesurprisingly so. If you accidentally try installing an app from outside the Windows Store, youll see a popup warning that Windows S wont let you. But theres a link in that popup to the Windows Store page where you can begin the upgrade process. (Searching for Windows 10 Pro in the Store should lead you to the same page.) Mark Hachman If you try and install an unsupported app on Windows 10 S, youll see this popup. Click the link at the bottom to install Windows 10 Pro. Microsoft recommends that you back up all of your existing files, which is always a smart idea. But the upgrade process took less than five minutes on a Surface Laptop, and required a single reboot. I dont even believe that I needed to download any files from the Store. How do I get Office in the Windows Store? Office became available via the Windows Store on June 15, with a few caveats. The first is that currently those apps are available only for Surface Laptops running Windows 10 S. The specific apps available are: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote for Windows 10 (not OneNote 2016) , Outlook, Access, Publisher. Unfortunately, the simplified Office Mobile apps will not be available, The second is that a one-year subscription to Office 365 Personal will be included with Surface Laptops that ship with Windows 10 S, but only during what Microsoft calls a preview period. This preview period gives Microsoft extra time to test the install and update process for the Windows Store versions of office. The end date is not specified, however, so its not certain how long Surface Laptop owners will enjoy this $70-value bonus. Other Windows users have to wait until the preview period is over to have access to Office apps via the Windows Store. For full information, check out Microsofts FAQ: Office on Windows 10 S. Jorge Arzac/IDG A nearly invisible hinge secures the display to the base. Surface Laptop review In our extensive Surface Laptop review we gave it 4 out of 5 stars. In the article youre currently reading, well simply provide a quick synopsis.

The Surface Laptop we reviewed Microsoft Surface Laptop (Intel Core i5, 8GB RAM, 256GB)  Burgundy Read our review

We review the Surface Laptop on two levels: as a stylish ultrabook, designed and priced to compete with Apples MacBook Air, and as a machine purpose-built for Windows 10 S, a version of the OS that restricts users to Windows Store apps but also allows an upgrade to Windows 10 Pro. As an ultrabook, it does a great job of addressing exactly what college students need. As an ambassador for Windows 10 S, not surprisingly (and arguably, as designed), the operating system feels constricting outside of its intended environment: the closely managed educational institution. But that shouldnt detract from what Microsoft has accomplished with this machine. Its thinner and lighter than the MacBook Air, and its Alcantara-fabric-clad keyboard tray makes lifting the lid feel like opening a plush jewelry box. Theres the gorgeous 13.5-inch, 22561504 display, for starters, plus Core i5 and Core i7 CPUs and SSD storage. The stingy port selection is one of the few letdowns in this striking design. One performance number is a mic drop: 12 hours and 45 minutes of battery life (rated). Under our testing, the Laptop lasted about 11 hours and 30 minutesstill excellent! When we upgraded the Surface Laptop to Windows 10 Pro, we were able to run our full suite of benchmarks, available in the second page of our Surface Laptop review. What we found was interesting: generally speaking, the updated Kaby Lake chip inside the Laptop keeps up and even surpasses the original Surface Book in places, aside from 3D graphics. Granted, ultrabooks have other priorities than speed. The browser-based benchmarks we tried indicate the Surface Laptop could be merely an average performer, but well tell you more after we move to Windows 10 Pro and run our traditional suite of tests. The lingering question is: Whats a beautiful laptop like this doing with a constrained operating system like Windows 10 S? We foresee many buyers will squirm out of its Windows-Store-only clutches and upgrade to Windows 10 Pro. Our video coverage Our Surface Laptop review video shows off the products best features and also talks about what its like to live with Windows 10 S.

We posted video from Microsofts May 2 event where it unveiled the Surface Laptop, which you can view here.

For all the Surface Laptop specs, keep reading.
Microsoft's Edge last month posted its first ever double-digit browser share, while Google's Chrome slid for the third month straight.

Mozilla's Firefox once again held steady, keeping its head above water.

According to data published Sunday by California-based metrics company Net Applications, Edge's October share climbed by 1.4 percentage points, ending the month at 10.2%, the first time Microsoft's browser broke through that psychologically important barrier. The gain was the largest ever for Edge in a single month, almost double that of the previous record set in December 2019.

The increase was so large that it immediately raised suspicions that it was a miscount by Net Applications rather than a reflection of reality. Bolstering that was an even greater boost to the share of Microsoft's Internet Explorer (IE), the obsolete browser the Redmond, Wash. company has started to strip of some of its support. IE's share for October  5.6%  was 1.7 points higher than the month prior, a jump so out of character as to be unbelievable.

Edge's gain was understandable, at least. Microsoft relaunched that 2015 browser earlier this year when it recast Edge with the Google-dominated Chromium technology, the same that powers Chrome. Not only did Microsoft make Edge a Chrome copy, but it also expanded support to versions of Windows other than 10, as well as macOS and, more recently, Linux.

Since January, Edge has slowly been adding share; 3.2 points since the Chromium-based Edge went final in the Stable channel. In the past 12 months, Edge has gained 4.1 percentage points, for an average of a third of a point per month.

At that pace, Edge should sit at almost 11% by year's end and at 15% by December 2021. Of course, that assumes Edge can maintain growth, which in turn requires one or more rivals continues to give up share.

The most likely loser? Chrome, mostly because of its titanic share but also because Edge is, well, Chrome wearing a different outfit.

Microsoft's launch of Windows 10 20H2  the H2 signifying the year's second feature upgrade  last month may assist Edge as it continues to climb: 20H2 includes Chromium Edge. That should accelerate the replacement of original Edge, the version introduced in mid-2015 that ran only on Windows 10, with the sounder Chromium browser.

Chrome down for third consecutive month

Chrome dumped seven-tenths of a percentage point in October, falling back to 69.3%. The decline was the third in as many months, an unusual run that's occurred only four times in the browser's 15 years. (The last time it happened before this was in September-December 2019.)

Whenever Chrome suffers losses in two or more straight months, it's tempting to wonder whether the browser has peaked. Computerworld has tentatively pegged more than a couple such milestones before but been proven wrong each time. The browser could easily bounce back as it has before.

Computerworld's latest forecast  as always, based on Chrome's 12-month average  stayed with growth, albeit pared significantly from 30 days ago. Chrome should return to 70% by March 2021 and reach 71% by September 2022. (The latter was three months later than last month's forecast, showing how present declines quickly impact future gains.)

Edge remains Chrome's most dangerous competitor, primarily  and this is Google's own doing to some degree  because the former is the latter, what with both relying on Chromium. But Microsoft has cards to play here that Google cannot match; Microsoft will leverage its enterprise management reputation and expertise in an attempt to wean commercial customers from Google's browser.

Microsoft's strategy, then, would be the opposite of Google's. The latter pushed Chrome to consumers until its share reached tipping point, and employees demanded the right to run the same browser they'd become familiar with at home. Microsoft would instead hope to win over business users in the expectation that they might want to run the same browser on home PCs, tablets or even phones.

Firefox: Not dead yet!

Firefox didn't move its share needle last month; it stayed at the same 7.2% mark it earned in September. That meant Firefox didn't gain any ground. It also meant it didn't lose any, probably its most important goal for now and the foreseeable future.

Mozilla's browser also stuck to the bad news forecast of last month, although Computerworld's current prediction puts it under 6% in August 2021, two months later than last month's estimate. At its 12-month rate of decline, Firefox will dip below 5% in May 2022.

Elsewhere in Net Applications' numbers, Apple's Safari slumped by two-tenths of a percentage point in October, sliding to 3.4%. Opera Software's Opera fell by a slightly-larger three-tenths of a point to end the month at an all-time low of seven-tenths of a point.

Net Applications calculates share by detecting the agent strings of the browsers used to reach the websites of Net Applications' clients. The company counts visitor sessions to measure browser activity.

Or it used to.

At the same time it published October's share numbers, Net Applications announced that it's pulling the plug on the data source. "October 2020 is the last month of data," the firm said. "Why? An upcoming change in browsers will break our device detection technology and will cause inaccuracies for a long period of time."

The change Net Applications cited would remove much of the agent string information used not only to compile analytics such as browser and operating system share, but also by advertisers and/or scammers to "fingerprint" individuals so that they can be more thoroughly tracked as they conduct their online lives.

Computerworld has not yet decided whether to continue the "Top web browsers" series, and if so, which alternate data source might be used.

Stay tuned.
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By Rachel Caufield | (The Conversation) |  

Five months into Special Counsel Robert Muellers investigation of cooperation between Donald Trumps campaign and Russia during the 2016 election, Americans are seeing the first legal maneuvers in the case.

Trumps former campaign manager Paul Manafort and his business associate Rick Gates surrendered to U.S. District Court on Oct. 30, after being indicted by a grand jury. Both pleaded not guilty to 12 counts, including conspiracy.

Hours later, we learned a foreign policy advisor to the campaign, George Papadopoulos, pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI earlier in the month.

What does all of this mean?

For those of us who study presidential elections and administrations, the indictments offer a first look at the tangled web of financial relationships among the Trump campaign staff, and a newly revealed effort by the Russians to share dirt  including thousands of emails  on Hillary Clinton.

What about George Papadopoulos?

The news that George Papadopoulos pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about meetings with individuals closely associated with the Russian government during the campaign is an important development in the ongoing investigation. It establishes an additional effort by Russia to contact the Trump campaign in an effort to help Trump win the presidency.

That we only learned about that plea today, when Special Counsel Robert Mueller is indicting Donald Trumps former campaign manager, suggests Papadopouloss cooperation with the investigation is problematic for the president. Mueller filed a motion calling Papadopoulos a proactive cooperator and urged the court to maintain secrecy because Papadopoulos had agreed to provide information relevant to an ongoing investigation of Russian interference with the election.

Manafort and Gates: What did they do?

Manafort advised the 2016 presidential campaign of Donald Trump during the summer of 2016. He abruptly departed when details of his prior dealings with Ukraines Party of Regions and former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych were made public.

Yanukovych was president of Ukraine during the time when the Ukrainian territory of Crimea was annexed by Russia in 2014. His party, backed by Russian oligarchs and supporters, opposed NATO and used inflammatory anti-Western rhetoric that may have endangered U.S. Marines. Corruption and widespread protests ultimately led Yanukovych to flee Ukraine for Russia. Earlier this year, he went on trial for treason. The prosecution alleges he wrote a letter to Vladimir Putin, requesting that troops be sent into Ukraine.

From 2004 to 2014, Paul Manafort earned millions advising the party and burnishing its reputation in the U.S. and other Western nations. He also forged relationships with the pro-Russian oligarchs who funded the party, organizing separate private business deals that earned him more millions.

Prior to his work in Ukraine, Manafort worked for some of the most unsavory dictators around the world, including Ferdinand Marcos in the Philippines, Jonas Savimbi in Angola and Mobutu Sese Seko in Zaire.

Rick Gates is described as Manaforts right-hand man in these consulting activities and during his time with the Trump campaign.

Now, they each face 12 counts, including conspiracy to launder money, failure to register as a foreign agent and knowingly making false statements under the Foreign Agents Registration Act. The most eye-catching charge is conspiracy against the United States, defined as knowingly and intentionally [conspiring] to defraud the United States by impeding, impairing, obstructing, and defeating the lawful governmental functions of a government agency, namely the Department of Justice and the Department of the Treasury, and to commit offensives against the United States.

The indictment details efforts to launder money through multiple U.S. and foreign corporations and banks. It alleges that more than US$75 million flowed through the offshore accounts Manafort and Gates established.

Manaforts efforts to lobby U.S. government officials on behalf of the Ukrainian government required that he register and report his activities and his income. The indictment alleges that both Manafort and Gates failed to do so. When asked, they allegedly misled U.S. authorities about the nature of their activities.

Is this the silver bullet President Trumps opponents have been waiting for to prove the president worked with the Russians during the campaign? No.

While conspiracy against the United States is a big bold charge, the indictment focuses on activities that occurred before Manafort joined the campaign.

Prosecutors tend to go after the small fish first, in the hopes that their cooperation will advance the case against bigger fish. Manafort is not a small fish. Are even bigger fish yet to come? The short answer is that we dont know yet.

But these indictments convey important information about the path forward for Special Counsel Robert Mueller and his team. Early indictments send signals about the course of the investigation. The indictments against Manafort and Gates suggest this investigation is broad, encompassing more than an immediate interest in collusion during the campaign. This could indicate that the investigation has a long way to go.

Rachel Caufield, Associate Professor of Political Science, Drake University

This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.



Related video added by Juan Cole:

George Papadopoulos May Have Worn Wire As Part Of Robert Mueller Deal | Rachel Maddow | MSNBC
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By Ramzy Baroud | (TeleSur) |  

Israeli footprints are becoming more apparent in the U.S. security apparatus. Such a fact does not bode well for ordinary people from the United States.

U.S. Senate Bill S.720 should have been a wake-up call. The bill, drafted by the Israel lobby group, U.S. Israel Public Affairs Committee, as part of its " 2017 Lobbying Agenda " is set to punish any individual or company that boycotts Israel for its violation of Palestinian human rights.

The severe punishment could reach a million dollars in fines, and up to 20 years in jail. Although political boycott has been sanctioned by the U.S. Supreme Court , the Congress wants to make a boycott of Israel the exception, even if it means the subversion of U.S. democracy.

Still, protests are largely muted. The mainstream U.S. media is yet to take U.S. lawmakers to task, as hundreds of those elected representatives have already endorsed the unacceptable initiative.

Criticizing Israel is still a taboo in the U.S., where the Congress is beholden to lobby pressures and kickbacks, and where the medias script on the illegal Israeli military occupation of Palestine is even less critical than Israels own media.

However, the infiltration of the U.S. government is not new. It is only becoming more emboldened, due to the absence of enough critical voices that are capable of creating a semblance of balance or a serious debate on the issue.

For years, ordinary U.S. citizens have been far-removed from the entire discussion on Israel and Palestine. The subject felt alien, marred by Hollywood propaganda, religious misconception and the lack of any understanding of history.

But in recent years, Israel has become an integral part of U.S. life, even if most people do not spot the Israeli influence.

"In the aftermath of 9/11, Israel seized on its decades-long experience as an occupying force to brand itself as a world leader in counter-terrorism," reported Alice Speri in the Intercept.

The successful branding has earned Israeli security firms billions of dollars. The massive payouts are the result of the exploitation of U.S. fear of terrorism while presenting Israel as a successful model of fighting terror.

In the last two decades, hundreds of top federal agents and thousands of police officers have, thus far, received training in Israel or through seminars and workshops organized on Israels behalf .

Groups like AIPAC, the Anti-Defamation League, ADL, and the Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs are, to various degrees, involved in turning the US police force into militarized units similar to the structure of the Israeli police.

As an occupying power, Israel has blurred the lines between the police and the army. In areas like occupied Palestinian East Jerusalem, both apparatus behave in a similar pattern. They  shoot to kill  as a result of the slightest provocation or suspicion. Sometimes, for no reason at all .

Alex Vitale, an author and a Brooklyn College professor of sociology, described the nature of the regular trips made by federal agents and police officers to Israel.

"A lot of the policing that folks are observing and being talked to about on these trips is policing that happens in a non-democratic context."

This non-democratic context involves the policing, humiliating and often outright murdering of occupied Palestinians. Instead of pressuring Israel to end its occupation of the Palestinians, the U.S. government is bringing Israeli expertise to its own cities.

Indeed, the U.S. military-like police phenomena has made local cops look more like "an occupying force" than individuals sworn to protect the public.

Israel is exporting its occupation tactics to the U.S., with Israeli military contractors opening subsidiaries across the country, promoting their surveillance technologies, walls, border monitoring equipment and violent tactics.

People in the United States should be worried, but most are oblivious to the disturbing pattern because the media rarely sheds a light on the growing Israeli military influence on U.S. life.

An Israeli company, Elta North America , (a subsidiary of the Israel Aerospace Industry) was one of eight companies awarded a massive sum to produce a prototype for the wall that the U.S. intends to build along the U.S.-Mexico border.

The wall was one of the main pledges made by Trump during his campaign for the White House. Israel was the first country to rush in support of Trumps divisive words.

"President Trump is right. I built a wall along Israels southern border. It stopped all illegal immigration. Great success. Great idea," tweeted Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, at the time.

Although his support of Trump angered Mexico and many people from the United States, Netanyahu knew of the lucrative investments in the years ahead only too well.

Indeed, U.S. border security has been a major source of revenue for Israeli companies.

One such generous contract was the one granted by the Obama Administration to the Israeli company Elbit Systems. Valued at $145-million , the company provided surveillance equipment and built towers along the Arizona/Sonora U.S.-Mexico border.

Elbit also cashed in handsomely from Boeing in 2006 for its part in the "DHS Strategic Border Initiative."

Magal Security System , the Israeli firm that has helped the Israeli military in tightening the siege on Gaza, is actively involved in the burgeoning U.S. security industry and was one of the first companies to pitch building the wall to cut off Mexico from the U.S.

Israels illegal tactics are now the model through which the U.S. plans to police its cities, monitor its borders and define its relationship with its neighbors.

But the fact is that Israeli walls are not meant for defense , but rather to annex Palestinian and Arab land while feeding its own national phobias of threats lurking all around.

While the U.S. imprudent and violent response to Sept. 11, 2001, attacks contributed to existing U.S. fears of the rest of the world, Trumps isolationist policies pave the perfect ground for further Israeli infiltration of U.S. government and society.

The evidence of all of this can now be found in major U.S. cities, its various borders and the surveillance system that has the potential to monitor every U.S. citizen.

Ramzy Baroud is a journalist, author and editor of Palestine Chronicle. His forthcoming book is "The Last Earth: A Palestinian Story." Baroud has a Ph.D. in Palestine Studies from the University of Exeter and is a Non-Resident Scholar at Orfalea Center for Global and International Studies, University of California.

Via TeleSur



Related video added by Juan Cole:

TRT: Boycott Israel? No US state jobs or aid for you
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By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) |  

John Kellys ignorant remarks about the Civil War and compromise on Laura Ingrahams show have rightly angered a lot of people. One of the arguments he made was for historical relativism:

I think we make a mistake, though, and as a society and certainly as, as individuals, when we take what is today accepted as right and wrong and go back 100, 200, 300 years or more and say what those, you know, what Christopher Columbus did was wrong, he said. You know, 500 years later, its inconceivable to me that you would take what we think now and apply it back then.

Kelly seems to imply that in 1861, most people in the world believed in slavery and so you cant blame the American South for retaining it. Im not sure how much actual history Gen. Kelly has read, but this premise is not true. For one thing, a majority of American states had abolished slavery. Ohio did in 1802, and by 1804 all the northern states had. Haiti made a revolution to abolish it in 1804. Chile abolished it in 1823, Mexico and Central America in 1824 (Anglo-Texans resisted this measure, what with being enlightened white people and all and in 1836 they made it legal again in Texas). Spain banned slavery in its European territory in 1837. Kellys argument that most people believed in slavery at that time so you cant judge American plantation owners is false. The Southern states were outliers in the New World along with Brazil, and Anglos actively rebelled against an enlightened Mexico over the issue.

In 1846, the Bey of Ottoman Tunis, Ahmad, issued a decree banning slavery in his realm. He had himself been a slave and was convinced by the British consul to take this step. (See Ismael M. Montana, The Abolition of Slavery in Ottoman Tunisia (U of Florida 2013).



Ahmad Beys decree was sent to the US Consul in Tunis, Samuel Daniel Heap, and he likely reported it back to President James K. Polk. Moreover, it was widely reported in the American press. In a letter Ahmad Bey wrote to the British and other Western consuls he spoke of our aversion to the thraldom imposed on the human kind, which debases it to the condition of the brute creation . . . and then he said,

this affair never ceased to be the object of our attention . . . and we have thought proper to publish that we have abolished slavery in all our dominions, for we consider all slaves existing in our territory as being free, and do not recognize the legality of their being kept as property. He sent notaries to the Sufi centers to write out deeds of manumission in which no right of property in their persons shall be alleged by their masters. (Abolition of Slavery in Tunis.: TRANSLATION., New York Evangelist; New York Vol. 17, Iss. 14, (Apr 2, 1846): 54.



Ahmad Bey

Since the Quran, the Muslim scripture permits but discourages slavery, Ahmad Bey actually engaged in modernist jurisprudence to interpret the text as being in accord with his decree. Many clerics and Tunisian slaveholders disagreed. Ahmad Beys immediate successor in the 1850s was unenthusiastic about the decree and may not have enforced it, but he did *not* repeal it and it was in force under Muhammad III in the 1860s.

The need for a modernist theology was universal, since American Christians at the time faced the difficulty that the Old Testament clearly authorized slavery and the NT even advised returning a runaway to his master. Evangelical fundamentalism is probably rooted in part in a need for pro-slavery Christians to interpret the Bible literally so as to uphold slavery. That is why there are to this day vanishingly few African-Americans in the Southern Baptist Convention, and why polling shows Evangelicals to be Trumps strongest supporters.

Precious Rasheeda Muhammad wrote a fine survey for MPAC of Muslim American history and brought the following to my attention.

Sen. Charles Sumner gave a speech in Congress in 1860, the first since he was viciously beaten by a South Carolina representative, in which he praised the Qurans emphasis on manumission as a good deed and on human treatment of slaves!

In the 1860s, during the Civil War, Tunis authorities pressed the US to go through with abolition. Consul Amos Perry wrote to Secretary Seward on Dec. 7, 1864, explaining that Ahmad Bey had abolished slavery in 1846 and adding: that the actual Bey entertains similar sentiments I have ample proof.

He encloses a letter to the US from Gen. Hussein, the president of the municipal council of the city of Tunis. Hussein wrote to Perry that he understood that the latter,

coming from a country where liberty and slavery for a long time existed and flourished side by side, and where they are at present involved in a death struggle for supremacy, you find man facts in the history of Tunis calculated to throw light on the legitimate influence of those two antagonistic principles.

Gen. Hussein allowed that the Quran permitted slavery, as did Judaism and Christianity, but said that it forbade mistreatment of the slave and made it a grounds for obligatory manumission.

He concluded

O inhabitants of America . . . since God has permitted you to enjoy full personal liberty and to manage your civil and political affairs yourselves, while many other people are deprived of such distinguished privileges and blessings, it would not tarnish the lustre of your crown to grant to your slaves, as an act of gratitude for the favors God has bestowed on you, such civil rights as are not denied to the humblest and meanest of your citizens. . . Humanity invites you to eradicate from your Constitution all that can give countenance to the principle of slavery . . . In concluding this letter, Monsieur . . . permit me to express my profoundest regrets for the war that afflicts and saddens your land, and my tenderest sympathies for the slaves there doomed to suffer. (Via FRUS .

There is more warmth, more humanity and more principle in this one paragraph from a mid-nineteenth-century Muslim in Tunis than in all the utterances ever voiced by John Kelly.

So no, historical relativism cant help here. If the Tunisian government was willing 170 years ago to reinterpret the Quran itself so as to abolish slavery in the northern tip of Africa, there was no excuse for Robert E. Lee to capture escaped slaves and sell them back into slavery. There arent two legitimate sides to this issue.



Related video:

TYT: Deplorable John Kellys Revisionist Civil War History
Toronto, Ontario / TheNewswire / November 1, 2017 - Latin American Minerals Inc. (TSXV: LAT) (the "Company") is pleased to announce that the company has smelted its first gold dore bar weighing 149.7 grams since last producing gold in 2015. The Company's first attempt at reprocessing the tailings used a gravity process which lost much of the fine gold. The strategy to move to a VAT leach only operation commenced 45 days ago with this initial trial production under the stewardship of the new COO Bira de Oliveira, P.Eng., MBA, PMP, PhD.

Mr. de Oliveira has implemented an agitation process in the leaching stage and changed the method of loading the VATs from slurrying to truck loading material directly to the VATs. This will both increase the concentration of the pregnant solution by decreasing the use of fresh water, as well as decrease the loading time of each VAT. Both of these changes will lead to greater operational efficiency as the company moves towards stable commercial production.

The Company, under Mr. de Oliveira's leadership, is working to finalize improvements in the absorption, desorption and regeneration process with new materials being ordered and final testing of equipment underway.

Mathew Wilson, President and CEO stated "We realize this has been a long road for shareholders over the last two years and are pleased to report today's encouraging step towards consistent commercial production. In only a short period of time Mr. de Oliveira has managed to recover gold in solution for us to process, pour, and light the way to a stable and profitable operation. I am very proud of the work that the team has done to stabilize recoveries of gold-in-solution and am confident that the missteps and inefficiencies of the previous plant and processing design will soon be behind us".

About the Company

Latin American Minerals Inc. is a mineral exploration and gold mining company which holds its core gold projects in Paraguay. The Company is currently expanding its Independencia Mine gold processing plant to encompass vat-leach gold recovery from mineralization extracted in open pit bulk mining activities at its fully permitted mining concession.

Management has identified exploration targets at Independencia Mine, and six new gold zones on the Company's adjacent exploration claims, for drill testing. This property package comprises the Company's 15,020 hectare Paso Yobai gold project.

Qualified Person

The scientific and technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Paul Sarjeant, P.Geo., a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101. Mr. Sarjeant is Vice President of Exploration.
HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA--(Marketwired - Oct. 31, 2017) - Erdene Resource Development Corp. (TSX:ERD) ("Erdene" or "Company") is pleased to provide an update on its gold exploration projects in southwest Mongolia, including additional assay results from the Company's 2017 drill program at its 100%-owned Bayan Khundii Gold Project ("Bayan Khundii").

"Today's results further demonstrate the growth potential at Bayan Khundii with holes west of Striker and east of Midfield providing the widest gold mineralized intersections in those areas to date, along with some of the very high grades observed in Striker and Midfield," said Peter Akerley, Erdene's President and CEO. "In addition to the Bayan Khundii drilling program and those at the neighboring Altan Nar project, surface exploration programs have been successfully generating new targets elsewhere within an area up to 8 kilometres north of Bayan Khundii and along the 6 kilometre long trend of gold prospects at Altan Nar. Over the next two months we will continue drilling at Bayan Khundii and Altan Nar, continuing to test the perimeters of the main mineralized areas and improving confidence in the ultra-high-grade zones at Bayan Khundii within which almost 20% of our holes have returned intersections of 30 to 300 g/t gold."

Summary of Results

Twenty holes (BKD-199 to BKD-218) and five-hole extensions (BKD-27, -29, -68, -85 and -176), totalling 4,355 metres, were drilled throughout the Bayan Khundii project area in mid Q3 and are included in this update. For reference see Table 1 and attached plan maps below.

Highlights

Expansion East of Midfield Zone: While most of the drilling in Midfield has focused on pushing the northern limits of the gold mineralized zone towards the Northeast Zone, hole BKD-210, located 80 metres east of Midfield's eastern boundary, returned 43 metres of 1.8 g/t gold (BKD-210) and included gold values up to 44.8 g/t, establishing a new eastern extension to the Midfield Zone that justifies further follow-up drilling.

Multiple Mineralized Intersections West of Striker Zone: The area west of Striker continued to be a focus of the recent expansion drilling program with new holes returning the widest and highest-grade intersections to date in this area, justifying further follow-up drilling. Hole BKD-216, located along the western portion of the target area, 240 metres west of the Striker Zone, returned a 20 metre intersection of 2.8 g/t gold, including up to 50.5 g/t gold over 1 metre, and hole BKD-211, located 200 metres west of the Striker Zone, returned 63 metres of 1.1 g/t gold. In addition, three new holes and two extension holes (BKD-204, -205, -212; extensions BKD-68 and -176) were drilled in this area returning multiple zones of lower grade gold mineralization.

Striker Zone - Extensions at Depth Toward Midfield: Recent drilling in the northwest Striker area, where early, shallow holes had not intersected significant mineralization, returned an extension of mineralization below previous drilling with 58 metres of 1.2 g/t gold, including 16 metres of 2.8 g/t gold (BKD-30ext.) (see Sept 12, 2017 news release). Today's results include three additional hole extensions in this area; BKD-27, -29, and -85. Hole BKD-27ext. returned 55 metres of 1.2 g/t gold from 109 to 164 metres, followed by 20 metres of 0.74 g/t gold to 222 metres depth with the other two extension holes intersecting wide zones of highly anomalous gold, further confirming the extension of gold mineralization at depth between Striker and Midfield. These extended holes also continue to support the down-dip extension of mineralization from Midfield toward the west side of Striker.

Further Continuity in area North of Midfield Zone: Five holes were completed in this area and continue to support continuity of the gold mineralization in this zone discovered earlier in 2017, north of the Midfield Zone (BKD-199, -200, -209, -217, and -218). These holes were spaced at approximately 40 metre intervals and provided a number of wide gold mineralized intersections including hole BKD-199 which intersected a thick sequence of mineralized volcanics, returning 88 metres of 1.1 g/t gold at 74 metres depth. Hole BKD-217 also intersected a thick sequence of altered tuffs, with an 18 metre wide zone averaging 0.74 g/t gold. Hole BKD-218, drilled 80 metres northeast of BKD-217, intersected an 81 metre wide zone that returned 0.65 g/t gold and included a 20 metre zone that averaged 1.5 g/t gold. These results confirm continuity within this zone north of Midfield, extending it closer to the Northeast Zone.

Reconnaissance Drilling in Northeast Zone Demonstrates Continuity: A series of reconnaissance holes were drilled north and northeast of the main Bayan Khundii trend with one of these step-out holes, BKD-214, located 130 metres east of the Northeast Zone and 650 metres northeast of the Midfield Zone, returning an altered volcanic sequence with anomalous gold intersections, including 31 metres of 0.24 g/t gold at 48 metres depth. The result, although low-grade, is important as it provides evidence of continuity of the gold mineralizing fluids beyond the areas defined to date.

The following table includes drill result highlights of the holes discussed above.

Table 1. Bayan Khundii drill highlights

Drill Hole From (m) To (m) Interval (m) (1) Gold (g/t) East of Midfield Zone BKD-210 89 131.8 42.8 1.75 incl 105 118 13 4.89 incl 106 107 1 44.8 West of Striker Zone BKD-204 70 87 17 0.89 incl 74 81 7 1.70 BKD-205 12 15 3 0.70 and 107 131 24 1.21 incl 120 127 7 3.59 incl 122 123 1 12.7 and 159 196 37 0.57 incl 183 195 12 1.34 BKD-211 100 163 63 1.09 incl 101 114 13 3.99 incl 101 102 1 17.9 and 106 107 1 12.2 BKD-216 29 50 21 0.48 and 153 173 20 2.83 incl 153 163 10 5.52 incl 156 157 1 50.5 BKD-68 ext. 128 130 2 20.5 North of Midfield Zone BKD-199 74 162.3 88.3 1.08 incl 148 149 1 15.2 and 153 154 1 16.6 BKD-200 110.4 190 79.6 0.64 incl 110.4 136 25.6 1.18 and 210.7 223.5 12.8 0.47 BKD-209 136.5 153 16.5 0.62 BKD-217 179 197 18 0.74 incl 189 197 8 1.58 BKD-218 141 222 81 0.65 incl 202 222 20 1.46 Striker Zone Hole Extensions BKD-27 ext. (2) 109 164 55 1.21 and 202 222.3 20.3 0.74 BKD-29 ext. 175 191 16 0.31 incl 175 181 6 0.51 BKD-85 ext. 148 170 22 0.34 and 177 213.4 36.4 0.47 incl 182 195 13 0.84 Northeast Zone BKD-214 48 79 31 0.24

(1) Reported intervals are not true width. At this time, there is insufficient data with respect to the shape of the mineralized system to calculate true orientations in space. They represent drill intersection widths from holes drilled at a dip of -45 to -65 degrees and oriented to the north-northeast. The Bayan Khundii mineralization is interpreted to be moderately dipping (approximately 40 to 50 degrees to the southwest). (2) Previously reported in 2016, 57m to 85m (end of hole), 28m of 0.51 g/t gold.

Going Forward - Q4-2017 Drill Program at Bayan Khundii

Since the beginning of the year, the Company has completed a total of 22,710 metres with 122 new drill holes and 10 extended drill holes at Bayan Khundii, and is expected to reach over 26,000 metres by year-end. Since the first drill hole in Q4-2015, the Company has drilled a total of 35,085 metres in 218 drill holes.

For the remainder of Q4, the Company's drilling program at Bayan Khundii will be focused on further defining boundaries and increasing confidence through a series of holes across the Bayan Khundii mineralized area including Striker, Midfield, and the areas north of Midfield and west of Striker. The Q4 drill program is expected to include an additional 4,000 metres, to be completed at Bayan Khundii and at the Company's Altan Nar gold-polymetallic project, 16 kilometres northwest. There will also be some additional reconnaissance drilling in target areas within both licences over the next two months. Those targets are still being defined as exploration results are continuing to be evaluated.

Ultra, High-Grade Areas

Bayan Khundii has a very significant high-grade component with over 20% of the 218 reported drill holes having one or more intersections of 30 g/t to 300 g/t gold. These 50+ intersections have an average grade of 78 g/t gold and their contribution to the eventual resource will be very significant. Therefore, ensuring these zones are well defined with sufficient data to provide accurate levels of influence and control for any proposed capping of these grades is of primary importance to the quality of the eventual resource estimate. Higher definition drilling of these ultra-high-grade zones has been recommended by an independent technical consultant and will be designed to assist in resource modeling.

Regional District Exploration Programs

In addition to drilling at Bayan Khundii, significant work has been completed in a series of projects within the larger developing district, including detailed geological mapping, soil geochemical sampling, rock chip geochemical sampling and geophysical programs over the entire Khundii license, north of the Bayan Khundii project. Final results are pending but several areas of intense alteration with associated anomalous gold in rock chip samples have been identified, including a zone along trend from Bayan Khundii, three kilometres to the northeast. It is anticipated that, the priority targets generated will be identified and drilled in Q4-2017 or early 2018.

2018 Resource Estimate

During Q1-2018 the Company's technical team will assess the 2017 program and determine what additional drilling may be required prior to an independent resource evaluation. Timing of the eventual resource studies for both Bayan Khundii and Altan Nar will be influenced by that determination, however it is anticipated that the studies will be completed between Q2 and Q3 2018.

Background on Bayan Khundii Gold Project

In Q2-2015, Erdene conducted an initial exploration program on the southern portion of the Company's 100%-owned Khundii exploration license in southwest Mongolia where an early rock-chip sampling program revealed multiple very high-grade surface quartz veins that returned up to 4,380 g/t gold. Since that time, drilling has revealed the presence of very high gold grades, with up to 306 g/t gold over 1-metre intervals, within broad mineralized zones, with up to 131 metres of 3.9 g/t gold, including 80 metres of 6.0 g/t gold. In addition to the drilling discussed above, the Company has completed a comprehensive exploration program at Bayan Khundii that has included: geological mapping; soil geochemical surveys; additional surface rock chip sampling; a ground magnetic survey; gradient array and dipole-dipole induced polarization surveys. In addition to this work, a series of detailed follow-up studies have also been completed, predominantly on drill core and minor surface outcrop, including: petrographic and mineralogical analyses; a fluid inclusion study; SEM gold composition analysis; Short-Wave Infra-Red Analysis (SWIR); structural analysis; and overall petrogenetic analysis. Detailed studies indicate the mineralized zones can be characterized as low-sulphidation, quartz-illite-adularia type mineralization that was presumably formed in an extensional environment.

In Q1-2016, the Company concluded preliminary metallurgical test work at Bayan Khundii, indicating that gravity concentration and cyanidation of the gravity tails yield very good overall gold recoveries for both high-grade and low-grade composites, yielding 99% gold recovery from the high-grade composite (24.9 g/t gold) and 92% gold recovery from the low-grade composite (0.7 g/t gold). Additional metallurgical work is underway with completion anticipated in Q3-2017.

The Bayan Khundii license has a 2% net smelter returns royalty ("NSR Royalty") in favour of Sandstorm Gold Ltd. with a buy-back option to reduce the NSR Royalty to 1%.

Qualified Person and Sample Protocol

Michael MacDonald, P.Geo. (Nova Scotia), Vice President Exploration for Erdene, is the Qualified Person as that term is defined in National Instrument 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the technical information contained in this news release. All samples have been assayed at SGS Laboratory in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. In addition to internal checks by SGS Laboratory, the Company incorporates a QA/QC sample protocol utilizing prepared standards and blanks.

Erdene's sampling protocol for drill core consisted of collection of samples over 1 metre or 2 metre intervals (depending on the lithology and style of mineralization) over the entire length of the drill hole, excluding minor post-mineral lithologies and un-mineralized granitoids. Sample intervals were based on meterage, not geological controls or mineralization. All drill core was cut in half with a diamond saw, with half of the core placed in sample bags and the remaining half securely retained in core boxes at Erdene's Bayan Khundii exploration camp. All samples were organized into batches of 30 samples including a commercially prepared standard, blank, and either a field duplicate, consisting of two 1/4 core intervals, or a laboratory duplicate. Sample batches were periodically shipped directly to SGS in Ulaanbaatar via Erdene's logistical contractor, Monrud Co. Ltd.

About Erdene

Erdene Resource Development Corp. is a Canada-based resource company focused on the acquisition, exploration, and development of base and precious metals in underexplored and highly prospective Mongolia. The Company has four exploration licenses and a mining license in southwest Mongolia. In addition to the Bayan Khundii and Altan Nar projects, other deposits and prospects within these licenses include: Khuvyn Khar - an early-stage, copper-silver porphyry project with multiple drill targets and significant copper intersections; Nomin Tal - a narrow, high grade copper-gold discovery; Zuun Mod - a large molybdenum-copper porphyry deposit; and Altan Arrow - an early-stage gold-silver project. In addition to the above properties, the Company has an Alliance with Teck Resources Limited on regional copper-gold exploration in the prospective Trans Altai region of southwest Mongolia. For further information on the Company, please visit www.erdene.com. Erdene has 145,963,086 issued and outstanding common shares and a fully diluted position of 156,592,160 common shares.
November 1, 2017 / TheNewswire / Vancouver, Canada - Guyana Goldstrike Inc. (the "Company" or "Guyana Goldstrike") (TSXV: GYA, OTC: GYNAF, FSE: 1ZT) is pleased to announce royalty payments from small-scale alluvial mining ("Artisanal Mining") on the Marudi Gold Project ("Marudi" or the "Property").

Company President and CEO, Mr. Peter Berdusco stated, "Marudi is a very unique mining project in that it hosts three separate gold bearing areas; the alluvial areas, saprolite overburden and the under-lying hard rock. Under a cooperative agreement artisanal miners have been given access to mine the alluvial areas of the Property in return for an in-kind royalty payment." Mr. Berdusco continued, "The royalty payment will assist with offsetting the operational costs of the Marudi mining camp and other expenses making it a win-win for all involved."

In the 6 months ending September 31, 2017 the small-scale alluvial miners ("Artisanal Miners") recovered approximately 618.20 gross Au oz from mineralized material mined from the Property's alluvial areas and artisanal alluvial tailings. This has resulted in a total of 61.82oz/Au paid as an in-kind 10% royalty to Romanex Guyana Exploration Ltd. ("Romanex"), the Guyanese operating subsidiary of Guyana Goldstrike. This royalty is paid under a cooperative agreement between Romanex and the Artisanal Miners.

On August 4, 2017 Romanex sold 30.57 oz/Au in the form of fines to the Guyana Gold Board, Georgetown for a price of $1269.30/oz USD and for a net sale of $35,686.00 USD after smelting costs, and a 5% royalty to the Government of Guyana. The gold was assayed at 97% purity.

On October 25, 2017 Romanex sold a further 31.25 oz/Au in the form of fines to the Guyana Gold Board for a price of $1275/oz USD and for a net sale of $36,487.00 USD after smelting costs and a 5% royalty to the Government of Guyana. The gold was assayed at 97% purity.

As a result of the August and October sales, total gold sales of $72,173.00 USD are reported for this period.

Romanex estimates that it has incurred approximately $9,750.00 USD of costs in connection with the supervision of activities which resulted in this royalty payment, and the preparation and transportation of gold to the Guyana Gold Board.

The Company first announced a gold royalty payment from Artisanal Mining in a news release dated June 14, 2017, which resulted in $106,490 USD in net sales. The payment represented a 6 month production period from October 1, 2016 to March 31, 2017. An unusually long rainy season which extended from May to August of this year accounts for the drop in production by the Artisanal Miners over this current reporting period.

About the Artisanal Mining

Through a cooperative agreement, Artisanal Miners have been given company-controlled access and oversight to work the alluvial areas (creeks, edges and new channels) of the Property; and also, the alluvial tailings that have been mined in the past by Artisanal Miners. A stipulation of the agreement is the requirement that the Artisanal Miners incorporate only those mining practices acceptable to the Environmental Protection Act of Guyana.

Under the agreement the Artisanal Miners pay Romanex an in-kind royalty equal to 10% of all gross gold produced. The intent under the agreement is to provide economic opportunity for Artisanal Miners in the local community, restore historic workings and creek channels and to generate some cash flow.

The decision to allow Artisanal Miners to commence small-scale mining on alluvial areas of the Property was a decision solely based on corporate social responsibility. The production of gold from the Property by the Artisanal Miners has not been based on a feasibility study nor are there any mineral resources or reserves identified in the area which is subject to the Artisanal Mining. The decision to mine is one made by the Artisanal Miners; the Company and Romanex acknowledge that there is increased uncertainty and economic and technical risks of failure associated with the actions of the Artisanal Miners.

Grant of Incentive Stock Options

The Company also announces that it intends to grant 1,040,000 incentive stock options to certain directors, officers and consultants of the Company. 790,000 of the options will vest immediately, with the balance vesting over a twelve month period. All of the options are exercisable at a price of $0.25 for a period of sixty months. Completion of the grant remains subject to the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange.

Qualified Person

Locke Goldsmith, M.Sc., P. Eng, P. Geo, Chief Geologist and Exploration Manager for the Company, is a Qualified Person in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Mr. Goldsmith has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical content of this news release.

About the Marudi Gold Project

The Marudi Gold Project (the "Project") is the Company's flagship project located in Guyana, South America. Marudi is unique in that it has three known gold bearing areas, specifically the alluvial areas, the saprorlite overburden, and the underlying hard-rock. 42,000 metres of historic diamond drilling (141 holes) has been performed on the Project's hard-rock by prior operators. This historical work has delineated several historical mineral resource estimates on the Project. For information concerning these estimates and the Project, readers are encouraged to review "NI 43-101 Technical Report on the Marudi Property, Guyana", a technical report prepared for the Company by Derrick Strickland, P. Geo., and is available on the Company's website (http://www.guyanagoldstrike.com/images/pdf/2016/Marudi_43-101_November_30_2016.pdf) and under the Company's profile on SEDAR (www.sedar.com).* There exists excellent exploration upside through the development of previously identified, highly-prospective mineralized targets on the Project. The Project has a mining license in good standing, all-season road access, infrastructure in place, with an established mining camp serviced by employees, service buildings, and a full-time mining manager.

* The Company considers these estimates to be historical, and cautions that a Qualified Person has not done sufficient work to classify the historical estimates as current mineral resources or mineral reserves in accordance with National Instrument 43-101. The Company does consider these historical estimates to be relevant as they may indicate the presence of gold mineralization and favourable geology.

About Guyana

The Republic of Guyana is located in South America between Venezuela and Suriname. The country is English speaking under British Common Law with a democratically elected government. It has an established mining act and a rich history of gold production. In 2013, 458,000 ounces of gold were produced by operators mining in the country. The Guiana Shield has over 100 million ounces of gold inventory and is world-recognized as a premier gold region.** With geological continuity with West Africa, the shield is highly prospective and under-explored. In 2016, two mines declared the commencement of commercial production: the Aurora deposit (Guyana Goldfields) and the Karouni deposit (Troy Resources).

** Independent Technical and Environmental Review Karouni Gold Project - Guyana, Behre Dolbear Australia Pty Ltd, April 29, 2016
TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Nov. 1, 2017) - Arena Minerals Inc. ("Arena" or the "Company") (TSX VENTURE:AN) announces that the Company has decided to exercise the underlying Atacama option agreement with Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile ("SQM") on two projects consisting of a total of 7,061 hectares. The company also wishes to inform that both the Japan Oil Gas and Mineral National Corporation ("JOGMEC") and Teck Chile Ltd ("Teck") have opted out of the respective joint venture agreements with the Company The two projects retained by Arena are the epithermal gold Paciencia project and the copper porphyry Pampa Union project, which are anticipated to form two joint venture companies with SQM on a 80% Arena and 20% SQM basis. Arena and SQM have agreed to a six month time period to complete the formation of these joint venture companies, which includes Arena making the underlying payment of USD30 per hectare retained.

William Randall, President and CEO of Arena commented, "While we would have liked for our joint venture partners to continue, this does create an opportunity for us to create additional value in a much stronger copper environment by potentially engaging other partners to projects that have been significantly advanced by third party funding and left with very promising targets."

Pampa Union Copper Project

Pampa Union is located approximately 15 kilometres Southwest of the Sierra Gorda and Spence mines. A total of 14,572 metres of primarily reverse circulation ("RC") drilling has been completed in 55 drill holes resulting in the discovery of two porphyry systems contained within the Pampa Union project. A program of wide spaced reverse circulation drilling combined with ground magnetic and vector IP (induced polarization) resulted in the discovery of a silica cap with associated with moderate to strong phyllic alteration in RC-PU-039 and RC-PU-080 as previously reported by the company (see press release dated September 5th, 2017).

Drill hole PU-RC-94, drilled 5km southeast of PU-RC-80 in the north eastern portion of the Pampa Union block, intersected what the company interprets to be a new prospective area for porphyry mineralization, with strong phyllic and argillic alteration within a porphyritic andesite unit. PU-RC-94 returned geochemically anomalous values of As, Sb, Cu and Mo, related to a hydrothermal brecciation with quartz, tourmaline, chalcocite and molybdenite, typical of a porphyry system.

Drill hole PU-RC-94 collared in strong argillic alteration from 64 meters to 169 meters followed by a strong phyllic alteration from 169 meters to 268 meters. From 206 meters to 210 meters, the hole intersected a hydrothermal quartz breccia, with chalcopyrite, chalcocite, molybdenite and tourmaline, carrying anomalous values of Cu, Mo, As, Sb and Pb. From 268 meters down to the end of the hole at 401 meters, the hole cut a sequence of propylitic altered porphyrityc andesites including short sections of phyllic alteration. Sections of phyllic alteration continue with lesser intensity and decreased geochemical anomalism to the end of the hole at 401 meters.

Hole PU-RC-94 is interpreted as a strong indication of increased proximity to a mineralized intrusive body, representing a new high quality target for the next phase of drilling. In addition to PU-RC-094, drill holes PU-RC-92, PU-RC-69, and PU-RC-88 all intersected significant thicknesses of strong argillic and phyllic alteration with various levels of anomalous Cu, Mo, Sb and As. It is important to note that the distance between the holes referred to above varies between 400 meters and 1000 meters from PU-RC-094 and the target area remains largely open, almost 5km southeast of PU-RC-80.

Paciencia Gold Project

The Pampa Paciencia prospect is located approximately 10 kilometres north and northeast of the Sierra Gorda and Spence mines, respectively. Pampa Paciencia is also located approximately five kilometres north of the Faride gold mine.

Two distinct mineralized areas, approximately two kilometres apart, have been discovered hosted by altered dioritic and grandioritic rocks. Mineralization consists of exposed quartz veins and angular quartz fields that subcrop and are aligned with east-west to west-northwest lineaments.

The surface program at Paciencia was successful in identifying a number of epithermal gold and silver bearing veins up to 2.8 km in strike length. Results from the trenching include intersections of 8.6m of 4.6g/t Au and 99.30 g/t Ag including 5m of 7.7g/t Au and 162.20 g/t Ag, and 2.7m of 2.9g/t Au and 43.00 g/t Ag, including 0.6m of 5.58 g/t Au and 83.70 g/t Ag . Only the North Zone was drilled at Paciencia.

A total of 1,640 metres were drilled in 11 holes which confirmed the extension of the mineralized veins along strike and at depth. The structure was traced by drilling for a distance of just over 1.3 km, and it remains open along strike and at depth.

Significant intervals include: PP15-001 intersected 70.65-73.53, 2.88m @ 1.3 g/t Au; 33.39 ppm Ag including 1.4 m@ 2.3 g/t Au; 35.3 ppm Ag; 85.4091.70, 6.30 m@ 0.812 g/t Au; 45.35 ppm Ag (including 1.25 m@ 1.6 g/t PP15-006 :73-78.05 m, 5.05 m@ 1.35 g/t Au; 26.96 ppm Ag; 81.8-96.5 m, 14.7 m@1.91g/t Au/18.7 ppm Ag (including 6.4m @ 3.76 g/t Au; 26.76 ppm Ag). Au; 105.28 ppm Ag); and 98.20-101.40, 3.2 m@ 1.15 g/t Au; 35.9 ppm Ag) PP15-007 intersected significant intervals as follows: 78.7-81.1, 2.4 m@ 1.01 g/t Au; 9.46 ppm Ag; 82.9-83.95, 1.05 m@ 3.87 g/t Au; 29.77 ppm Ag; 89.1-90.2, 1.1 m@ 0.98 g/t Au; 25.7 ppm Ag; and 93-96.75, 3.75m@ 7.71 g/t Au; 46.58 ppm Ag

The gold bearing veins at Paciencia are associated with adularia, chalcedony, sulfosalts and crustiform-colloform textures typical of low sulfidation gold-silver bearing systems that are found elsewhere in northern Chile. The geochemical signature of the gold bearing veins discovered to date at Paciencia exhibit a strong correlation of gold with Ag, Sb, Pb, Mo and lesser Cu, which is also common in other low sulfidation Au-Ag systems.

Corporate Update

The Company also wishes to welcome Paul Kania C.P.A. as Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary of the Company. Paul has over 12 years of private and public company experience in both Canada and the US. He is a registered Certified Public Accountant with the State of New York. Paul is to replace Ryan Ptolemy as Chief Financial Officer and Neil Said as Corporate Secretary. The Company would like to thank Ryan and Neil for their contributions and hard work and wishes them well in future endeavours.

The technical and scientific aspects of this news release have been reviewed and approved by Mr. Vernon Arseneau, P.Geo, who is a qualified person pursuant to NI 43-101. As the Vice President of Exploration of the Company, Mr. Arseneau is not considered independent.

About Arena Minerals

Arena Minerals is a prospect generator that has two properties under option covering approximately 7,000 hectares within the Antofagasta region of Chile. The properties are at low altitudes, within producing mining camps in infrastructure rich areas. The Company's flagship asset is the Atacama Copper Property, consisting of approximately 7,000 hectares, in the heart of Chile's premier copper mining district. The technical and scientific aspects of this news release have been reviewed and approved by Mr. Vernon Arseneau, P.Geo, who is a qualified person pursuant to NI 43-101. As the Vice President of Exploration of the Company, Mr. Arseneau is not considered independent.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 1, 2017) - Zinc One Resources Inc. (TSXV: Z) (OTC Pink: ZZOF) (FSE: RH33) ("Zinc One") is pleased to report results from an ongoing surface-sampling program at its Bongara Zinc Mine Project in north-central Peru. Highest grades include a surface channel sample (#38) with 47.73% zinc over 8.1 metres from a dolomite, a surface channel sample (#72) that yielded 25.65% zinc over 19.7 metres from a dolomite breccia, and 32.50% zinc over a 3.8-metre depth from a dolomite breccia in an exploration pit (#425).

Jim Walchuck, Zinc One President and CEO commented, "As expected, the high-grade zinc grades from this current sampling program are very encouraging and augments our opinion that the Bongarita and Mina Chica areas hold significant potential. In particular, these areas have not been drilled and that the base (footwall), outlining the depth extent of mineralization, is not well defined. The upcoming drill program should help to better define the footwall of mineralization as well as better determine the magnitude of mineralization left behind by past mining in the Mina Grande area. Overall, we anticipate that the drill program will better delineate and expand the known mineralization at the Bongara Zinc Mine Project."

The sampling program commenced at the northern end of a 1.4 kilometre trend of known high-grade, nonsulfide zinc mineralization at or near the surface. These sampling results are in areas from the Bongarita and Mina Chica areas which were never drilled, but rather had numerous historic exploration pits, some of which were resampled. Bongarita mineralization manifests itself as a ferruginous soil with limestone and dolomite clasts that hosts copious amounts of zincite (zinc oxide) and smithsonite (zinc carbonate) mineralization. The Mina Chica mineralization is characterized by not only zinc-bearing, ferruginous soils, but zinc-bearing, fine-grained, coarse-grained, brecciated, and porous limestones and dolomites, which host zincite, smithsonite, and minor amounts of hemimorphite (zinc silicate).

Additional sampling will continue in these areas and then will move on to the Mina Grande area, specifically Fase B and Fase C.

Zinc One anticipates the approval of its submitted application for 130 drill platforms and expects the drill program to commence shortly thereafter. The planned program includes drillholes throughout Mina Grande, Mina Chica, and Bongarita areas.

Geology and Results

The Bongara nonsulfide zinc mineralization is stratabound and is hosted by carbonate rocks. Field mapping and observations indicate the mineralization is essentially flat-lying across an anticlinal axis at Bongarita and dips approximately 60o eastward along the flank of the anticline at Mina Chica. Of note is that neither area was drilled and although a few pits encountered the footwall of the mineralization, most of the pits have not penetrated the footwall. Since the true strike and dip are not certain, the sample thicknesses from the pits do not represent the true thickness of the mineralized body, which at Mina Chica apparently lies along the slope of the topography in a tabular configuration.

BONGARITA

Channel/

Pit ID Pit No. Depth, m

From Depth, m

To Length/

thickness, m Sample_ID Zn, % Pb, % 1 0.00 1.00 1.00 BOR-Bgt-0001 30.37 0.03 1 1.00 1.90 0.90 BOR-Bgt-0002 31.76 0.01 2 0.00 0.70 0.70 BOR-Bgt-0003 6.59 0.83 2 0.70 1.60 0.90 BOR-Bgt-0004 35.25 0.57 3 0.00 1.00 1.00 BOR-Bgt-0006 1.48 0.85 3 1.00 2.00 1.00 BOR-Bgt-0007 33.52 0.52 7 0.00 0.85 0.85 BOR-Bgt-0014 12.10 0.48 7 0.85 3.20 2.35 BOR-Bgt-0016 9.27 0.68 7 3.20 4.10 0.90 BOR-Bgt-0017 33.73 0.69 8 0.00 2.00 2.00 BOR-Bgt-0018 6.26 0.55 8 2.00 3.30 1.30 BOR-Bgt-0021 28.20 0.61 8 3.30 3.90 0.60 BOR-Bgt-0022 22.60 0.42 9 0.00 2.10 2.10 BOR-Bgt-0023 13.25 2.69 9 2.10 3.20 1.10 BOR-Bgt-0024 19.55 3.32 10 0.00 0.90 0.90 BOR-Bgt-0026 1.97 0.71 10 0.90 2.15 1.25 BOR-Bgt-0027 37.41 0.46 11 0.00 1.50 1.50 BOR-Bgt-0028 41.16 0.74 12 0.00 1.80 1.80 BOR-Bgt-0031 38.12 0.60 13 0.00 2.00 2.00 BOR-Bgt-0032 35.01 0.39 16 0.00 0.60 0.60 BOR-Bgt-0036 2.06 0.20 16 0.60 1.50 0.90 BOR-Bgt-0037 32.25 0.03 17 0.00 1.00 1.00 BOR-Bgt-0038 19.45 0.10 17 1.00 2.70 1.70 BOR-Bgt-0041 0.90 0.02 18 0.00 2.00 2.00 BOR-Bgt-0042 1.44 0.01 19 0.00 2.50 2.50 BOR-Bgt-0043 29.20 0.01 20 0.00 0.80 0.80 BOR-Bgt-0044 20.20 0.05 20 0.80 1.80 1.00 BOR-Bgt-0046 1.01 0.01 21 0.00 1.70 1.70 BOR-Bgt-0047 40.96 0.04 21 1.70 2.40 0.70 BOR-Bgt-0048 1.54 0.01

MINA CHICA

Channel/

Pit ID Pit No. Depth, m

From Depth, m

To Length/

thickness, m Sample_ID Zn, % Pb, % 24 0.00 0.90 0.90 BOR-MCh-0054 12.75 0.79 24 0.90 2.30 1.40 BOR-MCh-0056 30.03 0.50 26 0.00 1.30 1.30 BOR-MCh-0061 18.75 1.40 29 60 0.00 0.80 0.80 BOR-MCh-0066 23.00 1.43 29 60 0.80 2.80 2.00 BOR-MCh-0067 31.99 0.14 32 0.00 0.80 0.80 BOR-MCh-0073 0.08 0.00 32 0.80 1.60 0.80 BOR-MCh-0074 13.55 0.12 33 66 0.00 0.90 0.90 BOR-MCh-0076 33.00 0.20 33 66 0.90 2.80 1.90 BOR-MCh-0077 35.11 0.10 34 64 0.00 1.40 1.40 BOR-MCh-0078 21.10 0.42 34 64 1.40 2.00 0.60 BOR-MCh-0081 10.25 0.21 35 59 0.00 0.40 0.40 BOR-MCh-0082 29.00 0.41 35 59 0.40 2.20 1.80 BOR-MCh-0083 29.60 0.15 36 0.00 2.70 2.70 BOR-MCh-0084 51.41 0.06 37 0.00 2.05 2.05 BOR-MCh-0086 44.80 0.72 38 0.00 2.00 2.00 BOR-MCh-0087 46.97 0.02 38 2.00 4.60 2.60 BOR-MCh-0088 52.38 0.07 38 4.60 6.40 1.80 BOR-MCh-0091 38.33 0.04 38 6.40 8.10 1.70 BOR-MCh-0092 51.46 0.11 39 55 0.00 2.40 2.40 BOR-MCh-0093 41.35 0.29 39 55 2.40 3.90 1.50 BOR-MCh-0094 19.20 0.01 49 399 0.00 0.50 0.50 BOR-MCh-0121 3.92 0.34 49 399 0.50 1.70 1.20 BOR-MCh-0122 32.53 0.02 56 0.00 1.20 1.20 BOR-MCh-0153 38.64 0.83 57 425 0.00 1.70 1.70 BOR-MCh-0154 42.44 1.02 57 425 1.70 2.50 0.80 BOR-MCh-0156 40.53 0.25 57 425 2.50 3.80 1.30 BOR-MCh-0157 14.55 0.24 63 0.00 1.30 1.30 BOR-MCh-0171 21.60 0.02 64 0.00 2.10 2.10 BOR-MCh-0172 35.10 0.02 72 0.00 2.00 2.00 BOR-MCh-0193 16.70 0.04 72 2.00 4.00 2.00 BOR-MCh-0194 29.00 0.08 72 4.00 6.00 2.00 BOR-MCh-0197 43.65 0.13 72 6.00 8.00 2.00 BOR-MCh-0198 37.83 0.11 72 8.00 10.00 2.00 BOR-MCh-0201 37.70 0.11 72 10.00 11.50 1.50 BOR-MCh-0202 29.90 0.15 72 11.50 13.50 2.00 BOR-MCh-0203 17.95 0.13 72 13.50 15.50 2.00 BOR-MCh-0204 23.30 0.10 72 15.50 17.30 1.80 BOR-MCh-0206 6.41 0.03 72 17.30 19.70 2.40 BOR-MCh-0207 15.25 0.09 75 325 0.00 1.40 1.40 BOR-MCh-0217 0.62 0.08 75 325 1.40 2.64 1.24 BOR-MCh-0218 2.47 0.08 75 325 2.64 3.79 1.15 BOR-MCh-0221 24.80 0.01

The technical content of this news release has been reviewed, verified and approved by Bill Williams, COO and Director of Zinc One, a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101.
Ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) Chairwoman Rep. Choo Mi-ae speaks during an interview with The Korea Times at her office in the Natinoal Assembly, Oct. 30. / Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul



Ruling party leader defends Moon's two-track NK policy



By Kim Hyo-jin



Pursuing both sanctions and dialogue is the most practical way to effectively counter North Korea's nuclear and missile threats, the ruling party leader said Monday.



Ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) Chairwoman Rep. Choo Mi-ae showed strong support for President Moon Jae-in's pledge to engage with the belligerent country while maintaining sanctions.



"There's nothing more dangerous than approaching the North Korea issue with an all-or-nothing attitude. Dealing with the North is a sort of a synthetic art," she said in an interview with The Korea Times.



"The ultimate goal of our North Korea policy is denuclearization and building peace on the peninsula, which can hardly be achieved only with sanctions and pressure. Our choice should be a two-track policy of seeking dialogue and sanctions."



As an advocate of an engagement policy, Choo said she was alarmed by U.S. President Donald Trump's war drive against North Korea as South Korean people who live within almost instant reach of the North's artillery will be significantly harmed.



"It's disturbing that heightened tension fanned by an unnecessary war of words between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un could lead to an accidental conflict and put us in danger," she said.



"Trump should stop making bellicose rhetoric and sincerely find a peaceful and diplomatic solution for the North's nuclear issue."



She added this will be her core message to Washington officials during her planned visit to the U.S. between Nov. 14 and 19.



The ruling party leader is expected to meet White House National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster as well as top policymakers including House Speaker Paul Ryan and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi.



Choo suggested that the U.S. actively seek dialogue with North Korea, and at the same time, the Moon government, as a mediator, should encourage such a process while resuming inter-Korean dialogue channels.



"Now, the international community has a tight squeeze on North Korea; its sanctions and pressure are more effective than ever before. While pressing North Korea, South Korea should nudge the country to come to the negotiating table by assuring the North that the South will act as a balanced coordinator in the negotiating process," she said.



Choo sees the security condition in Northeast Asia as having become more complicated than ever with "strongmen" taking power in stakeholders on the peninsula.



Difficulties in policy coordination have grown bigger after Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's Liberal Democratic Party-led coalition secured an overwhelming victory in the recent general election, which is expected to propel Abe's ambition of militaristic expansion, she noted.



To navigate the renewed regional order, she believes Moon should continue sending a message to neighboring countries that Seoul will take the driver's seat in dealing with North Korea, a logic which apparently hinges on the power of inter-Korean dialogue and reconciliation.



"Moon's vision of taking the initiative on the North Korea issue will become more important while each country comes to further prioritize its self-interests," she said. "He should repeatedly demonstrate his determination so the country better positions itself in the changing Northeast Asia order."



Humanitarian aid, Gaeseong industrial complex



Choo expressed her strong support for the Moon government's decision to provide $8 million worth of humanitarian assistance to North Korea. She stressed that humanitarian aid to the poverty-stricken country does not go against the sanction-focused policy direction of the international community.



In September, the government decided to provide $4.5 million to the World Food Program (WFP) and $3.5 million to UNICEF to support their projects helping infants and pregnant women in the North.



"We are just taking parallel steps with the international community. Cooperation with the international community on North Korea has to do with both sanctions and humanitarian aid," she said.



"The U.N. resolution also made it clear that sanctions against the North do not have a negative impact on humanitarian aid to the country."



She dismissed the controversy over the "timing," which critics say would harm the concerted international efforts to pressure the country.



"Hunger does not wait for us. If possible, aid should be offered at the right time and to the right places," she said.



"The assistance will be indirectly given through international organizations. It does not make sense that the decision can be an indication of the government's stance toward North Korea."



Choo has been a vocal critic of the previous Park Geun-hye government's shutdown of the inter-Korean industrial park in Gaeseong. She believes the Moon Jae-in government has to resume its operations given its symbolic meaning for inter-Korean reconciliation.



"It was a huge mistake for the Park administration to unilaterally pull out of the project in the name of politics," she said.



"The estimation of damages suffered by companies is 800 billion won according to the government, or 1.5 trillion won according to the South Korean investors, not to mention the foundation of mutual trust was completely shattered.



"Its immediate resumption might be unlikely but we should make every effort to achieve the goal even though it is related with how the nuclear issue is sorted out."



But she added the government should sternly respond to the North's secret operation of factories and facilities owned by the South Korean companies without reporting to Seoul. Concerns have grown over the government having no particular measures to halt such a unilateral move.



"It is a cruel act that aggravates the pain of already-victimized South Korean businessmen who invested in the industrial complex. The unification ministry has to step up dispelling mutual distrust on the stalled project."



Who is Choo Mi-ae?



Choo is a rare politician in Korea who has stayed in one party for over 20 years while the party's name has changed multiple times, and mergers and splits between parties have continued.



A judge with 10 years of experience, she entered politics in 1995 as a vice spokeswoman of the National Congress for New Politics led by ex-President Kim Dae-jung.



Since her first victory in the general election in 1996, she has clinched her parliamentary seat in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, five times, a record for a female politician.



She led the party's win in three presidential elections. Spearheading Kim's presidential campaign in 1997, especially with her leadership and determination to fight against regionalism in Daegu, she earned a nickname Choo d'Arc after Joan of Arc.



In 2004, she successfully raised funds for Roh Moo-hyun's presidential campaign, leading to his victory. The campaign where she canvassed with a piggy bank in her hands got her another nickname "piggy bank mom."



She became the first female leader of the party in June 2016 and, as the head of the party's election planning committee, led former party leader Moon's campaign to victory in the snap election in May.



Choo positively assessed the state management of the Moon administration over the past six months. "It has worked on reassuring the people that they are the owners of the country. It embraced the spirit of the candlelit rallies, uniting people in different generations, classes and regions. I feel proud as one of the voters," she said.
Elves have been a popular subject in fiction for centuries, ranging from William Shakespeare's play "A Midsummer Night's Dream" to the classic fantasy novels of J.R.R. Tolkien 300 years later. Probably the most famous of these magical creatures are the elves that work for Santa Claus at the North Pole.

Like fairies, elves were said to be diminutive shape-shifters. (Shakespeare's elves were tiny, winged creatures that lived in, and playfully flitted around, flowers.) English male elves were described as looking like little old men, though elf maidens were invariably young and beautiful. Like men of the time, elves lived in kingdoms found in forests, meadows, or hollowed-out tree trunks.

Elves, fairies, and leprechauns are all closely related in folklore, though elves specifically seem to have sprung from early Norse mythology. By the 1500s, people began incorporating elf folklore into stories and legends about fairies, and by 1800, fairies and elves were widely considered to be simply different names for the same magical creatures.

As with fairies, elves eventually developed a reputation for pranks and mischief, and strange daily occurrences were often attributed to them. For example, when the hair on a person or horse became tangled and knotted, such "elf locks" were blamed on elves, and a baby born with a birthmark or deformity was called "elf marked."

Indeed, our forefathers trifled with elves at their peril. According to folklorist Carol Rose in her encyclopedia "Spirits, Fairies, Leprechauns, and Goblins (opens in new tab)" (Norton, 1998), though elves were sometimes friendly toward humans, they were also known to take "terrible revenge on any human who offends them. They may steal babies, cattle, milk, and bread or enchant and hold young men in their spell for years at a time. An example of this is the well-known story of Rip Van Winkle."

Santa's little helpers

Modern Christmas tradition holds that a horde of elves works throughout the year in Santa's workshop at the North Pole making toys and helping him prepare for his whirlwind, worldwide sleigh ride to homes on Christmas Eve. That depiction, however, is relatively recent.

Santa Claus himself is described as "a right jolly old elf" in the classic poem "A Visit From St. Nicholas," or "The Night Before Christmas," written by Clement Clark Moore in 1822. In 1856, Louisa May Alcott, who later wrote "Little Women," finished, but never published, a book titled "Christmas Elves," according to Penne L. Restad in the book "Christmas in America: A History (opens in new tab)" (Oxford University Press, 1996).

The image of elves in Santa's workshop was popularized in magazines of the mid-1800s. In 1857, Harper's Weekly published a poem titled "The Wonders of Santa Claus," which included the lines:

"In his house upon the top of a hill, And almost out of sight, He keeps a great many elves at work, All working with all their might, To make a million of pretty things, Cakes, sugar-plums, and toys, To fill the stockings, hung up you know By the little girls and boys."

Godey's Lady's Book, another influential magazine, featured an illustration in its 1873 Christmas issue titled "The Workshop of Santa Claus," which showed Santa surrounded by toys and elves. A caption read, "Here we have an idea of the preparations that are made to supply the young folks with toys at Christmas time," according to Restad. Meanwhile, an editorial in that same issue addressed the realities of toymaking: they were not made by magical elves but by poor foreigners: "Whole villages engage in the work, and the contractors every week in the year go round and gather together the six days' work and pay for it."

The idea of Santa overseeing a workforce of toymaking elves played up the romantic vision of American capitalism, according to Restad. "Santa reigned without opposition over a vast empire, truly a captain of industry," Restad wrote, with the usually nameless elves standing in for largely anonymous immigrant workers.

'Elves and Fairies,' an illustration for 'The Tempest,' by Edmund Dulac (1882-1953) (Image credit: WikiPaintings.org)

The elves of Iceland

It's only recently that elves have been confined to plays, books, and fairy tales. In centuries past, belief in the existence of fairies and elves was common among both adults and children. The belief is still strong in some places. In Iceland, for example, about half of the residents believe in elf-like beings known as the "huldufolk" (hidden people), or at least don't rule out their existence.

According to author D.L. Ashliman in the book "Folk and Fairy Tales: A Handbook" (Greenwood Publishing, 2004), Eve was embarrassed that her children were dirty when God came to visit, so she hid them away and lied about their existence. God knew of her deceitfulness and proclaimed "What man hides from God, God will hide from man." These children then became the "hidden folk" of Iceland who often make their homes in large rocks.

The supernatural beliefs are so strong in Iceland that many road construction projects have been delayed or rerouted to avoid disturbing the elves' homes. When the projects aren't first stopped by residents trying to protect the elves, they seem to be thwarted by the elves themselves.

For example, in the late 1930s, construction began on a road near Alfholl, or Elf Hill, the most famous elf residence in the city of Kopavogur. The construction was set to bring the road right through Alfholl, which would have essentially destroyed the elves' home. At first, construction was delayed due to money problems, but when the work finally began a decade later, the workers encountered all sorts of problems from broken machinery to lost tools. The road was subsequently rerouted around the hill, rather than through it, according to The Vintage News.

Later in the 1980s, the same road was set to be raised and paved. When the workers reached Alfholl and were about to demolish it, the rock drill broke into pieces. Then the replacement drill broke as well. At this point, the workers were spooked and refused to go near the hill. Alfholl is now protected as a cultural heritage.

Icelandic laws were written in 2012 stating that all places reputed for magic or are connected to folktales, customs or national beliefs should be protected for their cultural heritage, according to the Iceland Monitor. Interestingly, however, accidental damage to elf residences seem to come to light almost immediately.

Evolving elves

Over time and across different cultures, a certain type of elf emerged, one with a somewhat different nature and form than the mischievous and diminutive sprites of yore. Some elves, such as those depicted in J.R.R. Tolkien's "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, are slender, human-sized, and beautiful, with fine  almost angelic  features. Tolkien's characters were drawn largely from his research into Scandinavian folklore, and therefore it's not surprising that his elves might be tall and blond. Though not immortal, these elves were said to live hundreds of years. They have also become a staple of modern fantasy fiction.

Gary Gygax, co-creator of the seminal role-playing game Dungeons and Dragons, was not only influenced by Tolkien's elves but also instrumental in popularizing them, even including elves as one of the character races (along with humans) that gamers could play.

In either form, elves are strongly associated with magic and nature. As with fairies, elves were said to secretly steal healthy human babies and replace them with their own kind. These changelings appeared at first glance to be human babies, but if they became seriously sick or temperamental, parents would sometimes suspect that their own child had been abducted by elves. There were even legends instructing parents on how to get their real child back from its elven abductors.

Each generation seems to have their own use for elves in their stories. Just as leprechauns have historically been associated with one type of work (shoemaking), it is perhaps not surprising that many common (and commercial) images of elves depict them as industrious workers  like Santa's elves or even the Keebler cookie-baking elves. Folklore, like language and culture, is constantly evolving, and elves will likely always be with us, in one form or another.

Additional reporting by Traci Pedersen, Live Science contributor, and Tim Sharp, Reference editor.
In just minutes, an artificially intelligent machine cracked those jumbled text sequences called captchas that are used to distinguish human web users from spam-spreading robots. So much for that.

The AI startup, Vicarious, that built the captcha-cracking bot says its approach could point the way to more general, human-like artificial intelligence. (Captcha is short for "completely automated public Turing test to tell humans and computers apart.")

"This is definitely a small step. But these are the things you need to consider if you want to go in the direction of general artificial intelligence," Vicarious co-founder Dileep George told Live Science, referring to the ability of a machine to generalize and learn from very little data. [Super-Intelligent Machines: 7 Robotic Futures]

Scrambled text

Text-based captchas work because unlike humans, computers struggle to recognize the distorted and partially hidden characters that make them up. Though machine-learning systems that can solve them exist, they must be trained on millions of images to work, George said.

Captcha is short for "completely automated public Turing test to tell humans and computers apart." (Image credit: metrue/Shutterstock)

The smart machine built by Vicarious, on the other hand, can be trained in a matter of minutes using just a few hundred example characters, the researchers said. It works with multiple different styles of captcha and can also be repurposed to identify handwritten digits, recognize text in photos of real-world scenarios and detect non-text objects in images.

That's because Vicarious designed the system to mimic the way the brain identifies objects after seeing just a few examples and still recognizes them in strange new configurations, George said.

"Nature created a scaffold over millions of years of evolution," he told Live Science. "We look at neuroscience to find out what that scaffolding is, and we put this structure in our model to make it easier for the model to learn quickly."

Vicarious announced a captcha-cracking AI back in 2013, but didn't publish the research in a journal, leading critics to call for a peer-reviewed paper before accepting their claims. Now, the company has detailed its so-called Recursive Cortical Network (RCN) in a paper published yesterday (Oct. 26) in the journal Science.

The company tested the system on text-based captchas from leading providers reCAPTCHA and Bot Detect and those used by Yahoo and PayPal at accuracies ranging from about 57 percent to nearly 67 percent. That's much higher than the 1 percent considered to make them ineffective at stopping bots, according to the study authors. The researchers said that optimizing the system for a specific style can push accuracy up to 90 percent.

Adaptable artificial intelligence

Many websites have moved away from text-based captchas, using image-based tests and data on mouse movements or cookies to analyze whether you're human or machine. But the researchers said these puzzles provide a good benchmark for testing more adaptable forms of AI. [5 Intriguing Uses for Artificial Intelligence (That Aren't Killer Robots)]

While most machine-learning approaches simply scan an entire image looking for patterns in its pixels, the human visual system is wired to build rich models of the objects that make up a scene, George said.

One of the ways it does this is by separating out the contours of an object from its surface properties. This is why people tend to sketch the outline of a shape before coloring it in, and why humans can easily imagine a banana with the texture of a strawberry, despite never having seen one, George said.

This technique of the human brain not only provides a more flexible understanding of what an object could look like; it also means you don't have to see every possible combination of shape and texture to confidently identify the object in new situation, he added.

By embedding this approach into the structure of their system, alongside other brain-inspired mechanisms that help focus attention on objects and separate them out from backgrounds or overlapping objects, the researchers were able to create an AI that could learn from fewer examples and perform well across a range of tasks.

Brenden Lake, an assistant professor at New York University whose research spans cognitive and data science, said that despite recent progress in artificial intelligence, machines have a long way to go to catch up with humans by many measures.

"People can learn a new concept from far fewer examples, and then generalize in more powerful ways than the best machine systems," Lake told Live Science in an email. "It [the Science paper] shows that incorporating principles from cognitive science and neuroscience can lead to more human-like and more powerful machine -learning algorithms."

Building human-like cognitive biases into their system does have drawbacks, George said, because such machines will struggle with the same visual tasks that frustrate humans. For example, training either to understand QR codes would be very difficult, he said.

Original article on Live Science.
Each of these dinosaur family trees is just as likely as the other.

A new dinosaur family tree floated earlier this year isn't quite right, and the old tree, which researchers have accepted as canon for 130 years, isn't much better, a new study finds.

Rather, the two trees, as well as a third tree that researchers have rarely considered, are equally plausible, based on a meticulous anatomical study of dinosaur remains, the researchers said.

"We found that, statistically speaking, all three of these [family tree] hypotheses are indistinguishable from each other," said study co-researcher Steve Brusatte, a paleontologist at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. That means "we're in a period of uncertainty, and that is maybe a little bit unsettling, but it's also fun. There's a huge, fundamental question about dinosaurs that we're going to have to figure out," Brusatte told Live Science. [Photos: Oldest Known Horned Dinosaur in North America]

Unexpected study

This past March, paleontologists worldwide were taken by surprise when Matthew Baron, a doctoral student of paleontology at the University of Cambridge in England, and his colleagues published a study in the journal Nature (opens in new tab) that redefined how the major dinosaur groups were related to one another.

Traditionally, researchers divided dinosaurs into two main groups: the bird-hipped ornithischian dinosaurs (including duck-billed dinosaurs and Stegosaurus) and the lizard-hipped saurischians, a group that includes theropods (such as Tyrannosaurus rex) and sauropods (long-necked herbivores such as Argentinosaurus).

However, Baron had doubts about the tree. He noticed that even though ornithischians had bird-like hips and theropods had lizard-like hips, the two groups had many similar anatomical features. So, Baron undertook a titanic task: he examined 457 anatomical characteristics in 74 dinosaur species  looking at some in person and reading about others in studies. His results revealed that theropods and ornithischians were closely related, and fit into a previously unknown group called Ornithoscelida.

The findings also suggested that dinosaurs arose in northern Pangea, on what later became the supercontinent Laurasia, rather than an area in southern Pangea that eventually became South America.

Rapid response

The Nature study set the world of dinosaur research abuzz, but some researchers were skeptical after noticing problems with the analyses, Brusatte said. Within days of the study's publication, a group of nine international paleontologists decided to double-check the work.

"We thought, 'let's do what scientists are supposed to do and see if this result holds up to scrutiny,'" Brusatte said.

Many of the new study's researchers are early-dinosaur experts who have examined and held the fossilized bones in question. It's a tough field, as early dinosaurs were remarkably similar, and many bones from the Triassic period are broken and deformed, said Andrew Farke, the curator and director of research and collections at the Raymond M. Alf Museum of Paleontology in Claremont, California, who was not involved in the new research.

"You take your early dinosaur from any group, whether it's a theropod, a sauropod or an ornithischian, and they are all basically interchangeable," Farke told Live Science. "It's the little details that really distinguish them."

Because of these similarities, it's key that researchers studying early dinosaur relationships examine the bones in person, said Mark Norell, the chairman of paleontology at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City, who was also not involved in the study. [In Photos: Wacky Fossil Animals from Jurassic China]

The new group "knows the anatomy better than anybody," Norell told Live Science. "I'm not criticizing the first group who did it  they gave it a try. But at the same time, if you're going to make a provocative statement, you should see more specimens."

Which tree?

The original group made some mistakes while characterizing the fossils, and "we corrected those things and re-ran the analysis," in addition to adding more dinosaur species to the dataset, Brusatte said.

The results showed that the traditional family tree was the best fit, but  surprisingly  it wasn't statistically significant from the tree discovered by Baron and his colleagues. Nor was it statistically different from yet another tree that also reshuffled the relationships. In addition, their statistical analysis indicated that dinosaurs likely originated in southern Pangea, rather than northern.

"What this whole process has revealed is that Baron [and his colleagues] were certainly onto something," Brusatte said. "Their hypothesis is certainly very plausible, but it's not quite time to rewrite the textbooks."

Study lead researcher Max Langer, a paleontologist at the University of Sao Paulo in Brazil, agreed.

"Exceptional claims require exceptional evidence," Langer told Live Science in an email. "It is not to say that the hypothesis of Baron [and colleagues] cannot be correct. It can, everything in science can change. But the burden of proof is theirs, and we have shown that the evidence they were putting forward in support of their model was not as strong as necessary to overthrown decades of studies pointing to another direction."

However, Baron is standing by his tree. "I don't think they've come close to disproving the idea," Baron told Live Science. "Their results are not significantly different from our own."

Baron said he disagrees with some of the fossil characterizations that were changed, and said he would prefer the group explain these changes and include him and his colleagues going forward. "I think that's the next step, a large collaborative effort," Baron said. "We should hopefully be able to arrive at a consensus. We are all trying to get the same answer."

There certainly is a lot of work ahead. "It's round two in what's sure to be a pretty long conversation on dinosaur origins and classification," Farke said. "I don't think by a long shot that this will be the last word on it."

The best way forward is to continue studying fossils of early dinosaurs, "ideally those of new species and more complete specimens of existing species," said Matthew Lamanna, the assistant curator of vertebrate paleontology at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, who was not involved with either study. "Thats the best way to settle the question of the evolutionary relationships of the major dinosaur groups  Ornithischia, Sauropodomorpha and Theropoda  once and for all." [Photos: Dinosaur's Battle Wounds Preserved in Tyrannosaur Skull]

Once this question is settled, it can help researchers understand how dinosaurs diversified, evolved and took over the world so quickly, said Sterling Nesbitt, an assistant professor of geology at the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, who was not involved in either study.

The new study, as well as a rebuttal (opens in new tab) from Baron and his colleagues, was published online today (Nov. 1) in the journal Nature (opens in new tab).

Original article on Live Science.
Local News, Crime, Politics

By Long Island News & PR Published: November 01 2017

At Governor's Direction, Increased Security at High-Profile Locations Around the State, Including Airports, Bridges, Tunnels and Mass Transit Systems.

Albany, NY - November 1, 2017 - Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that following the apparent terrorist attack in Lower Manhattan he has directed state agencies, including the New York State Police, National Guard, the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to increase security at high-profile locations around the state, including airports, bridges, tunnels, and mass transit systems. Additional personnel are being deployed to high-density areas and large public gatherings. These are precautionary measures, not based on any specific intelligence on ongoing threats.

Governor Cuomo also directed One World Trade Center to be lit in red, white and blue in honor of freedom and democracy.

Governor Cuomo said, "I am deeply saddened by the attack on New York, and I join all New Yorkers in mourning the innocent lives we lost today. New York is an international symbol of freedom and democracy, and that makes us a target for people who oppose our way of life. I want to reassure all New Yorkers that at this point we have no evidence that today's attack is part of a wider plot involving more than one individual. Out of an abundance of caution, we are stepping up security measures at high-profile locations and large public gatherings while the investigation continues. I want to thank all of the first responders, including the New York State Police, Port Authority Police Department, NYPD, FDNY and all of the other personnel who put their lives on the line every day. I encourage all New Yorkers to go about their business and live their lives without fear."

State Police & National Guard

The New York State Police and the National Guard have also been in contact with federal officials as well as local law enforcement partners, including the New York City Police Department. At the Governor's direction, as a precaution, the State Police and National Guard have deployed additional resources and increased surveillance of large public gatherings and critical infrastructure including transportation hubs.

Division of Homeland Security & Emergency Services

DHSES has been in contact with key local public safety officials following the attack in Lower Manhattan. The DHSES Watch Center, as a precaution, has entered enhanced monitoring mode and has increased monitoring of various large public gatherings. DHSES remains in a state of readiness and prepared to disseminate information to our public safety partners statewide as necessary.

Port Authority of New York & New Jersey

Port Authority Police are on heightened alert at all of the agency's bridge, tunnel, rail, World Trade Center and other facilities. Actions include increased patrols and checks of bags, buses, trucks and trains at agency locations. Travelers are reminded to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to police or other authorities.

Metropolitan Transportation Authority

The MTA has increased its patrols and surveillance in order to provide heightened protection across all its agencies. The MTA Police Department has stepped up its uniformed and plainclothes presence in Penn Station and Grand Central Terminal as well as other major stations throughout the Metro-North Railroad and Long Island Rail Road network. Police canine teams and units with heavy weapons will provide extra protection as well as a noticeable sign of increased security. Railroad customers will also see surge patrols, increased step-on/step-off patrols of trains, and random bag checks at various locations.

Behind the scenes, the MTA Police Department, MTA New York City Transit security and MTA Bridges and Tunnels Officers share intelligence information and coordinate their threat response with other police and security agencies to ensure a seamless web of protection throughout the region.

New York State Police and the New York National Guard members have been assigned to high-profile MTA locations for more than a year, and they are helping secure these locations as well as reassuring the public that the authorities are dedicated to ensuring their safety. The MTA closely monitors large public events that occur in or near its facilities and will provide heightened awareness of activities there.

The MTA works closely with the NYPD to secure New York's subways and buses, and MTA Bridges and Tunnels Officers are using a mix of visual and technological surveillance to ensure safety at its seven bridges and two tunnels in New York City.

"If You See Something, Say Something"

New Yorkers are reminded to stay alert to their surroundings, and to report any suspicious activity. Reports can be made to the Counter Terrorism Center at the New York State Intelligence Center via its terrorism tip line: 1-866-SAFENYS (1-866-723-3697); or by email: ctcenter@nysic.ny.gov
Local News, Business & Finance, National & World News, Politics

By Long Island News & PR Published: November 01 2017

Cuomo: "The House is expected to release additional details of a 'tax cut' plan this week that in reality amounts to a 'tax increase' plan for states like New York."

Albany, NY - November 1, 2017 - Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today issued a letter to President Donald J. Trump condemning the federal tax plan to eliminate or roll back state and local tax deductibility and calling on the President not to use New York as a piggybank for other states.

The text of the letter is below:

Dear President Trump,

I write to you on an issue that impacts every single American: pending federal tax legislation. I am not writing as a Democratic Governor to a Republican President, but rather as one New Yorker who cares about New York and the country to another. I often say to the New York State legislature, "we are Democrats and we are Republicans, but we are New Yorkers first."

As you well know, the House is expected to release additional details of a "tax cut" plan this week that in reality amounts to a "tax increase" plan for states like New York. The current proposal primarily uses New York and California as the piggybank to make it possible to cut taxes for other states. By eliminating or rolling back state and local tax deductibility, Washington is sending a death blow to New York's middle class families and our economy.

I understand the politics at play here. California and New York are "blue states." I also understand that the political map dictates that most Republican members of Congress come from outside the Northeast and West Coast and their primary motivation is to help their states at any cost, even when it comes at the cost of middle class New Yorkers. But when the economies of New York and California suffer, and they will, the nation follows.

It's clear this is a hostile political act aimed at the economic heart of New York with no basis on the merits. First, it is an illegal and unconstitutional double taxation that forces our middle class families to subsidize a tax cut for the rest of the nation, and it is contrary to every principle the Republican Party has always espoused. Second, it reverses all the bipartisan progress New York State has made in lowering taxes over these past few years. While we have lowered state income taxes, capped property taxes and are forcing local governments to consider shared services, this federal act would erase all those gains and in fact increase taxes. Eliminating state and local deductibility will result in a tax increase of $5,660 on average for one in three taxpayers in New York, or 3.3 million New Yorkers.

This backward tax plan has encountered much deserved resistance, including from Republicans in the Senate. Senate Finance Chairman Orrin Hatch said "I don't think that's going to go anywhere," adding that state and local tax deductibility is "a system that's worked very well." In the face of this pushback, Republican leadership is now trying to salvage their tax plan with a so-called "compromise." Their scheme is to allow a property tax deduction, but do away with the deduction for state income taxes. For middle class New York families, the average tax increase attributable to losing that deduction would be $1,715. And considering the original federal proposal would cost New York State taxpayers $18.6 billion, this "compromise" does little to help our state since it would still cost New York State taxpayers nearly $15 billion.

Another "compromise" that is being suggested, where only higher income individuals would lose the state and local deductibility, is a 3-card Monte game that could be played on 42nd Street in Manhattan. New Yorkers are not stupid. We know that if deductibility is eliminated on higher incomes it will have a ripple effect, forcing these New Yorkers to move out of the state, taking their tax revenue with them, thus increasing taxes on everyone else. New York will not be in a position to cut state taxes because both the original proposal, as well as the proposed compromise, will force the highest taxpayers from the state and deplete our revenue stream. As you know, five percent of New York State taxpayers account for nearly two thirds of our annual income tax revenue.

I understand why Paul Ryan would seek to hurt New York, but to ask New York Republican members of Congress to vote to raise taxes on their constituents is a betrayal against their state and their constituents. In fact, seven of nine Republicans from New York are against it. The two representatives who support itCongressmen Collins and Reedare the Benedict Arnolds of their time because they are putting their own political benefit above the best interests of their constituents.

Speaker Ryan's only justification is that other states subsidize New York. He is just wrong. They don't. The opposite is true. New York subsidizes every other state in the nation. We are the highest donor state which means we send $48 billion more in tax dollars to the federal government than we receive back in federal spending.

To be fair, this is not a new idea to pillage New York and California and send their wealth to other states. Congress tried it under President Reagan, but the gross injustice of it caused all but the most partisan and callous officials to drop support. Today's proposals are no different. Our Congressional representatives should be saying it's time New Yorkers get their money back. Instead, the current proposal would be taking even more revenue from the number one donor state. How unfair.

There is no middle ground here. Any of the proposed "compromises" will still destroy New York's economy and harm the middle class. There can be no elimination, no "compromise," and no cap on state and local tax deductibility.

New York needs your help. You can stop this. And you should not just as an American, but as a New Yorker.

Sincerely,

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo

Cc:

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell
Local News, Community, Charity & Cause, Politics

By Chris Boyle Published: November 01 2017

We depend on the expertise of our military leaders, the commitment of our service men and women and their willingness to lay down their lives to ensure that we can continue to live freely.

Hauppauge, NY - November 1, 2017 - As another Veterans Day approaches on November 11, we begin the annual tradition of setting aside time to thank our service men and women for their sacrifice, not simply their service.

Many of us will spend the day watching parades and ceremonies in which to honor our veterans. Perhaps, we may visit one of the many monuments sprinkled throughout Suffolk County to commemorate this nations wars, where wreaths will be placed to remember those who served valiantly and died in the service of our country.

These rituals, undertaken since the end of World War I and the designation of Armistice Day in 1918 and Veterans Day in 1938, serve as reminders of the sacrifices of our service men and women to ensure our freedom. They endure as a result of the many iterations of wars throughout Americas history, from the raging battles on foreign soil to the cold wars that have influenced our policies and beliefs and have helped us become the democracy we are today.

Still, with a world on edge, with 16 years of war still festering in Afghanistan, ISIS commanding our attention as it destroys innocent lives, Green Beret deaths in Niger, nuclear threats from North Korea and U.S. peacekeepers operating in volatile, hostile environments, we look to those who are designated to protect us.

More so, we depend on the expertise of our military leaders, the commitment of our service men and women and their willingness to lay down their lives to ensure that we  as Americans  can continue to live freely.

With a population of more than 160,000 veterans on Long Island, approximately 75,000 of them in Suffolk County, our responsibility does not end with a parade or ceremony. If we are grateful to accept that we are protected thanks to the efforts of our U.S. Military, we need to ensure that our service men and women feel the same level of support when they return home.

Thanking them simply for their service seems not nearly enough. Their sacrifice is the foundation of their service and their willingness to sacrifice  the comforts of home, time with their loved ones, a career put on holdor, ultimately their lives, entitles them to a place in the collective hearts of all Americans who live in safety and freedom.
Local News, Crime

By Long Island News & PR Published: November 01 2017

Officials: Marie Toussaint of Commack, 40, called 911 and falsely reported two men with guns running down the street in the vicinity of the traffic stop.

SCPD have arrested Marie Toussaint of Commack, 40, who called 911 to falsely report seeing two men with guns in an effort to avoid receiving traffic summonses.

A Second Precinct police officer pulled over Marie Toussaint on October 23, 2017 at approximately 11:18 a.m. on Jericho Turnpike, near Larkfield Road, in Commack after he observed her driving a 2011 Toyota Highlander that did not have valid registration plates. When the officer returned to his vehicle to write Toussaint summonses, Toussaint called 911 and falsely reported two men with guns running down the street in the vicinity of the traffic stop.

The fraudulent call elicited a large police response from Second and Fourth Precincts officers. The officer that stopped Toussaint also responded to the call, releasing her without writing any summonses. After a thorough search of the area, the call was determined to be unfounded. Further investigation revealed that Toussaint made the call from her vehicle after being stopped by the Second Precinct police officer.

Toussaint, 40, of Commack, surrendered at the Second Precinct on October 31 at approximately 4:50 p.m. Second Precinct Crime Section officers arrested Toussaint and she was charged with Falsely Reporting an Incident 3rd Degree and Obstructing Governmental Administration 2nd Degree. She will also receive four summonses for the original traffic infractions. She was released on bail and will be arraigned at First District Court on January 11, 2018.
by Adam Buckman , Featured Columnist, November 1, 2017

A casual glance at the headlines on some of the showbiz Web sites I look at every day reveals that sexual harassment is, for now, the big story of the day.

By "day," I do not mean "today." I mean it in the more general sense of here in the present. It has been a huge topic ever since the allegations against Harvey Weinstein began trickling into the news, and then became an avalanche. "Hurricane Harvey," you might even call it.

So now, the trades are filled daily with stories in which the words "sexual harassment" are seen in multiple headlines.

The latest, of course, is the news this week swirling around Kevin Spacey, who went from enjoying a reputation as one of our finest actors to a Hollywood pariah in the blink of an eye.

Netflix and House of Cards are washing their hands of him. And the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences announced on Monday that it is withdrawing an award it had planned to give him.

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Other stories in the trades on Monday and Tuesday -- specifically on The Hollywood Reporter Web site, THR.com -- included several follow-ups on the Spacey story.

The stories included Spacey's "statement" on the allegation that he came on to a 14-year-old actor many years ago. He said he didn't remember it, but if he did do it, he was sorry.

And there were stories reporting that MSNBC, NBC News and Showtime are cutting their ties with political journalist and author Mark Halperin in the aftermath of the sexual harassment allegations leveled against him recently.

Another story had Anthony Bourdain complaining that Quentin Tarantino was not outspoken enough about Harvey Weinstein. This was the kind of story that seemed to be beside the point, if not downright irrelevant (and not particularly newsworthy).

There was also a story about the show-runner on "The Simpsons," Al Jean, commenting publicly about the allegations recently that former President George H.W. Bush harassed a number of women some years ago.

Apparently, the folks at 'The Simpsons" have held a grudge against the former president, now 93, since 1992 when Bush reportedly said he wished American families would be more like 'The Waltons' and less like The Simpsons'."

So Al Jean, who has apparently harbored some resentment over this for 25 years, posted this tweet the other day: "I think George HW Bush should act more like the Waltons than the Simpsons. #25yearoldgrudge."

There was even a first-person story (there have been a number of these) penned on THR.com by Janis Paige, 95-year-old actress from Hollywood's Golden Age who told of her own terrible experiences as a victim of harassment (including what she called an attempted rape) 70-some years ago.

Sexual harassment is now such a big topic both in the TV business and in the larger world of show business generally that it looms as unavoidable fodder for one (or more) of these TV Blogs I write here every day.

And yet, if I can get away with it, and with today's blog hopefully serving as a sole exception, I would prefer not to touch this subject with a ten-foot pole.

Why? Well, for one thing, what can I possibly add to this? My own opinion on the subject of sexual harassment is that it is bad, and that people should't do it.

That opinion, while very truthful, is not exactly newsworthy either. Most people feel the same way.

After issuing that opinion, I could then attempt to opine on whether all the outrage is justified. I have thought about this and concluded that yes, it is justified.

Women have endured this kind of unwanted attention from men for what seems like forever, and it is now high time for sexual harassment to call it a day.

But here again, that's not a unique opinion or one that is necessarily worth writing, since many have already written it either in opinion columns, TV commentaries or in 140-character tweets.

I will say this about the subject of sexual harassment: It is ultimately a sad story, primarily for the victims.

I wish I could be optimistic that this flurry of revelations -- plus the many that I am sure are on the way -- will be enough to change the sexual harassment culture in Hollywood (and in every other industry where it takes place).

However, we have had flurries of these stories before and the culture did not change. If it had, we would not be discussing the whole thing all over again.
by Sara Guaglione , November 1, 2017

Cox Media Group is putting three local daily newspapers up for sale: The Palm Beach Post, Palm Beach Daily News and The Austin American-Statesman.

"We have made the decision that we will be better equipped to operate our newspapers in Atlanta and Ohio, where we have the integrated opportunity with our TV and radio operations," Cox Media Group president Kim Guthrie stated.

Guthrie also announced Cox Media will converge its newspaper, TV and radio outlets in Atlanta, a consolidation already taking place in Dayton, according to the Palm Beach Daily News.

Cox Media owns the Atlanta-Journal Constitution and Dayton Daily News, as well as multiple TV and radio stations across the country.

The Palm Beach Post and Palm Beach Daily News are two small Florida newspapers that have gained national attention, due to their coverage of Mar-a-Lago, President Trumps "winter White House.

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The Post turns 102 in January, while the Palm Beach Daily News celebrates its 120th anniversary this year. Both newspapers have been Cox properties since 1969.

The Austin American-Statesman and its seven community newspapers and multiple websites are also up for sale. The Statesman has more than 200 employees.

As the media business continues to change, it is crucial that CMG adapt its business strategy to navigate these disruptive times in ways that benefit the entire media portfolio," publisher Susie Gray Biehle told Statesman employees in a memo.
by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, November 1, 2017

Google this week asked a federal judge in California to award it a permanent injunction blocking an order obtained in Canada by the tech company Equustek.

Google contends in its new court papers, filed Tuesday, that it is entitled to an injunction on the grounds that Equustek defaulted -- meaning that Equustek didn't submit an official response to Google's argument. Instead, according to Google, Equustek executive Robert Angus said in a letter to the court that the company wasn't going to appear in California to fight the complaint.

The new papers represent the latest development in a battle dating to 2012, when Equustek asked a judge in British Columbia to order Google to remove search results for Datalink Technologies -- which allegedly stole trade secrets from Equustek and engaged in counterfeiting.

The Canadian court issued a worldwide injunction prohibiting Google from displaying search results for Datalink. That order was upheld last month by Canada's Supreme Court.

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Google then asked Davila to invalidate the order, arguing that it goes against free speech principles.

A coalition of advocacy groups, including the Electronic Frontier Foundation, Center for Democracy & Technology and Public Knowledge, backed Google's request. They argued in a friend-of-the-court brief that the Canadian court's takedown order could set a "dangerous" precedent. "If one foreign court can impose its speech-restrictive rules on the entire Internet -- despite the conflict between its rules and those of a foreign jurisdiction -- the norms of expectations of all Internet users are at risk," the organizations wrote.
by Sarah Mahoney @mahoney_sarah, November 1, 2017

Augmented-reality lipstick shopping. Online skin diagnostics. Smart hairbrushes. The beauty business has become one of the most tech-dominated industries, and cosmetics giant LOreal Paris is looking to sharpen its digital edge, recently announcing a partnership with Station F, a Parisian accelerator, and plans to welcome up to 20 new startups into the program. And for the first time, its looking to include indie beauty brands. Lubomira Rochet, LOreals chief digital officer, tells Marketing Daily what the cosmetics giant hopes to get out of the deal.

Q. Why is beauty such a fertile area for tech right now?

A. Weve been working on open innovation for the last five years, starting in San Francisco, then with Founders Factory in London, through an investment fund, and now Station F. What weve seen is that digital and beauty is a perfect match right now. For one thing, theres the intense use of video. Beauty is engaging, with something like 45 billion video views each year, between hair and makeup tutorials. Its among the most searched on Google, and growing super-fast on e-commerce.

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And the beauty experience is being reinvented through digital technologiesvirtual makeup and hair color try-ons, skin diagnostics, online consultationsthese are becoming the new normal. There is heavy tech behind all thismachine learning, AI, social commerce. But theres also a fantastic consumer experience on the front end.

Q. What are some of the areas that you think will be hottest?

A. Were looking across all our categoriesmakeup, skincare, hair and fragrance, especially for shade finders, virtual try-ons, and very personalized recommendations. Thats not just about products, but also routines, and ways to have personal conversations about skincare regimes. Were also looking at devices and tools that can help consumers, like our connected hairbrush, which we introduced last year. It has sensors that give people constant updates on the health of their hair.

Q. Besides LOreals digital breakthroughs, like Makeup Genius and the smart hairbrush, youve also expanded offerings with platforms like Perfects YouCam. Why?

A. Yes, we want our brands to be there, and we want our consumers to be able to find us on many platforms. We were the first to partner with SnapChat on beauty, for example. But we also want them to experience our brands directly, in a very personalized way, either on our websites or in our stores. We want them to have an intimate relationship on our brand touchpoints.

Q. Whats the target market for these new technologies?

A. We are building beauty for all. We dont design with a specific market in mind, but rather by focusing on the big barriers. With makeup, its people wondering, What will that look like on me? Foundation is one of the most complicated categories. So we start with the problems and the unmet needs, then design services around thisthats how Makeup Genius was born, which we are generalizing for all our sites and brands. Skincare is a big areathree-D skin diagnostics will be a fantastic experience for our customers. For brands like Kiehls, it will be super-powerful.

Q. What areas are hardest? Fragrances?

A. For fragrances and services, we know that sampling at scale is very effective. Were working with Founders Factory, another accelerator in London, and through them with found a great Canadian startup called Sampler, which is helping our brands manage and measure sampling strategy.

Q. How will you know when the Station F partnership has been a success?

A. Its about spotting the right startups and technologies, which is obviously the most complicated thing to do, and then making sure they are scaled across all our brands.
by Karlene Lukovitz @KLmarketdaily, November 1, 2017

Pepperidge Farm Milano Cookies has partnered with automatic photo book app Chatbooks on a holiday-timed offer for busy moms, accompanied by a social media contest.

The idea behind the promotional partnership, called Savor Your Everyday Moments, is to help busy moms get more me time through a simple, automatic way of saving memories in photo book form.

The holiday program is an extension of Milanos 18-month-old Save Something for Yourself digital advertising campaign, from Y&R, featuring humorous videos showing moms, amid the constant demands of child rearing, jealously guarding their Milano Cookies and a few moments to savor them.



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Chatbooks lets users have all of their Facebook or Instagram photos, or favorite photos from their iPhones, auto-aggregated, with captions, on an ongoing basis. Each time 60 photos accumulate, Chatbooks sends an alert asking if the user wants to edit any of the photos or captions before the service prints out the photo book and mails it to the customer. Books are charged to the subscribers credit card when theyre produced. Subscribers can pre-determine how many books are produced, and cancel at any time.

From today through March 31, 2018, new Chatbooks customers who use the code MILANO when they sign up for the service are eligible for one free photo book (a value of $10), sponsored by Milano.

The offer will be promoted through inserts in packages of Milano cookies and in photo book deliveries to Chatbooks customers, as well as through both companies social media channels.

For the co-sponsored social media contest, consumers can enter between Nov. 1 and Nov. 15 by posting an original photo on their Twitter or Instagram pages that shows how they find me time during the holidays (sharing visual hacks, in other words), using the hashtags #SavorYourMoments and #Contest.

Four grand-prize winners, chosen by judges, will each receive a years supply of both Milano Cookies and Chatbooks.

The promotional partnership is a natural fit, given that the Milano brand and Chatbooks both acknowledge and celebrate the everyday mom and her everyday moments, says Chris Foley, senior vice president and chief marketing officer for Pepperidge Farms. This campaign was built on our mutual understanding of todays busy woman, and the shrinking amount of time she has to herself.

The same understanding is at the core of the Save Something for Yourself umbrella campaign.

Milano was ahead of the curve in being among the first brands to acknowledge that moms need time for themselves, Foley tells Marketing Daily. Moms, who have long viewed the cookies as their proprietary escape  not infrequently hiding the treats from their families  report that they strongly relate to the video ads, he says. They say, You get me, you get my life!, he notes.

Milano sales began seeing an immediate lift when the campaign launched, and the brands ongoing gains have contributed to significant sales growth in the past year for the Campbell Soup Co.-owned Pepperidge Farm as a whole, says Foley. He points out that the company has seen 12 consecutive quarters of sales growth.

Not surprisingly, Foley confirms that the company is committed to continuing Save Something for Yourself for the long term, adding that Milanos sales gains have enabled greater investment in the campaign going forward.

In fact, the plan not only calls for new creative  but for going beyond online, to also air TV spots  starting early next year, he reports.
by Wayne Friedman , November 1, 2017

Scripps Networks Interactive, which has a deal to be acquired by Discovery Communications for $11.9 billion, posted a slight decline in U.S. advertising revenue in the third quarter.

U.S. advertising revenues slipped 0.6% to $474.8 million due to lower ad viewership, as well as an inventory mix shift in the quarter. But Scripps had a 4.7% climb in U.S. networks distribution revenues to $203.5 million.

International TV networks fared better -- a 13% gain in operating revenues and an increase in advertising revenues.

Overall, Scripps gained 3% in revenue to $825 million -- with global advertising up 2% to $567.4 million and distribution fees adding 5.1% to $233.1 million.

Scripps posted a 10.3% decline in net income to $163 million. The company says the decline was the result of merger-related expenses, higher marketing costs, an increase in cost of investments in programming, and lower foreign-currency transaction gains.

Scripps Networks Interactive stock closed up 0.3% on Wednesday to $83.52.
New research recently published in the Journal of the American Heart Association shows that women who became mothers for the first time as teenagers may be at a much greater risk of cardiovascular disease than older first-time mothers. Share on Pinterest Giving birth in our adolescent years should be avoided, suggests new research. The new study was led by Catherine Pirkle, Ph.D., an assistant professor in the Office of Public Health Studies at the University of Hawaii at Manoa in Honolulu. The first author of the paper is Nicole Rosendaal. Prof. Pirkle and her team examined the data available on 1,047 women from the 2012 International Mobility in Aging Study (IMIAS). The women were between 65 and 74 years old and were living in Albania, Brazil, Canada, and Colombia. Having obtained information on the age of the womens first pregnancy, the researchers used the Framingham Risk Score (FRS) to check for correlations with cardiovascular disease risk. Cardiovascular disease  understood as heart disease and the blood vessel-related problems that give rise to it  is the leading cause of death among both men and women in the United States.

Teen moms at long-term cardiovascular risk The new study found that women who had their first pregnancy before the age of 20 had a much greater long-term risk of cardiovascular disease than women who became mothers after that age. Additionally, women who had never given birth had the lowest cardiovascular risk, as measured by the FRS. Speaking to Medical News Today about the strengths of the study, Prof. Pirkle deemed the findings robust. She explained: Women who participated in our study came from five very different study sites. We observed a relatively consistent association in which early childbearing was associated with greater cardiovascular disease risk across study sites, which supports the validity of our results.

Strengths and limitations of the study In addition to the diverse sample of the study, Prof. Pirkle spoke to MNT about its other strengths, such as the researchers having used the laboratory-based version of the FRS to measure heart disease risk. Because this version of the [FRS] largely uses biomarker measures (e.g., blood test results) and clinical measures (such as blood pressure), Prof. Pirkle explained, it is less prone to the biases often encountered in observational epidemiological studies that rely on participant self-report. We also repeated our analyses using office-based [FRS], she added, which are what doctors might ask during a clinical evaluation, and observed very similar results. The study authors admit, however, that the study has some limitations. For one thing, the research used data as they were reported by the study participants, who were seniors. This puts the study respondents at risk of memory loss, which may have biased the results, says the team. Prof. Pirkle shared with us an additional potential limitation, which also has to do with the advanced age of the participants. Because the IMIAS includes study sites from middle-income settings, she explained, especially Brazil and Colombia, where premature mortality was high when these women were younger, there is a possibility that we only selected survivors for our study. It is possible that women who were at highest risk of cardiovascular disease mortality died before we could recruit them to our study. This is termed survivor bias, Prof. Pirkle continued.

Possible explanations for the results Although this was an observational study that cannot explain causality, Prof. Pirkle shared with us two potential explanations for the strong association between teen motherhood and heart disease risk. These mechanisms are not mutually exclusive, she said. The first mechanism, Prof. Pirkle went on, relates to the consequences of adolescent pregnancy and childbirth [] Adolescents who have children early in life may have [fewer] opportunities to finish school and to earn sufficient incomes over their lifetimes. In turn, they could experience more unhealthy stress and engage in poorer behaviors, such as smoking, which increases their cardiovascular disease risk, she said. Another possible mechanism, Prof. Pirkle added, may be that pregnancy and childbirth during a critical developmental period such as adolescence, compared to adulthood, permanently alters certain physiological pathways in ways that may be harmful to the heart over time. There is some evidence to support the [latter] mechanism, but my best guess is that social and behavioral consequences of adolescent childbearing are much more powerful, she noted. Prof. Pirkle puts this down to other studies having shown that men who become parents in their adolescence are also in poorer health than older men and face many of the same negative consequences that mothers do.
A lawyer who moonlights as an hotelier; IIT grads pursuing their love for the arts; a global training head exploring life as a tattoo artist; the idea of settling down with a stable job does not hold the same appeal as it did in the 80s or 90s.

We are in the midst of a cultural shift where men today are better equipped and open to take up alternative career paths. It's a cultural shift not many millennials could've imagined at the turn of the century but here we are  living in a society where a man is defined, not by the salary he pockets but the impact of his ideas.

Let's be real and call the mundane 9-5 routine what it really is  the mirror of mediocrity. And so, the modern Indian man neither cares for it nor does he want to be associated with it. He's pretty comfortable in pursuing what his heart desires and therefore makes his own path, no matter if it's an outlier in the collective wisdom of society.

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Take for example eminent policy lawyer, poet and writer Sumant Batra who set up a boutique hotel in the Himalayas. His summer house 'Te Aroha' serves a blend of traditional architecture and contemporary comforts to his guests, something that many people in the city crave for.

Live your dream. Life in small towns can be blissful as long as you are able to break away from the shackles of the stereotypical life of the cities, says Sumant. And he's right. A job or a profession without a broader sense of purpose is just too routine and wasteful. The millennial generation understands that and is therefore not inclined to live a life that's machined akin to checking the boxes and moving onto someone else's idea of a good life, just for the sake of peer validation.

And it's not just financially secure middle-aged men kicking the bucket of conventional roles. It's the idea of the young Indian male taking the plunge into the unknown that excites, and paves the way for kids not wanting to waste four years of their lives in an engineering college dorm only to realise later that it's not really meant for them.

Devendra Purbiya, an IIT graduate, is one such soul of that ilk. On a trip to South Korea he discovered his love for photography while capturing his trip on a DSLR. He took his hobby to another level and started 'A Photo a Day' project on Facebook. Navigating a new career with zero experience is never easy but he stuck with it and today Purbiya is one of the most sought after wedding photographers in the country.

 Thinkstock/Getty Images

Nobody disputes that new age men are more confident of putting themselves out into the real world and being vulnerable. That confidence however, no matter the opportunities, is a product of the digital age where there's no dearth of platforms to showcase what they are capable of. Even then, breaking the mould takes courage, something that's evident in the stand-up culture today.

Zakir Khan, one of the better known stand-up comedians in India at the moment, started small. His sketches were funny and content, original. Yet, it took some work before he could really make it big in the mainstream stand-up scene. Khan first got in touch with me back in 2015 when he was just coming up and getting recognized for his first few sketches. At that time, getting noticed by big digital publications was difficult because written content, rather than videos, was king. In various conversations from 2015 through 2016, Zakir persisted and asked for help in featuring his videos. At a time when stand-up comedy couldn't have been considered a full-time job, Zakir made sure that major publications at least noticed his work, even if they decided to never feature it. The audacity with which he owned his content in an industry that was still in its nascent stages shows how new age men are not only unafraid of their bold career choices but sometimes, like Zakir Khan, they can break new grounds and introduce a whole new audience to the industry.

 Thinkstock/Getty Images

Congruent career trajectories are a thing of the past and we, the modern Indian men are aware of our capabilities. The biggest resource for the new age man to be successful is his own passion of carving a niche of his own. Be it sculpting a piece of art or running an ink shop, the cubicle is no longer my workstation and I'm not scared of it anymore.
Were excited to announce that metalbulletin.com is now part of fastmarkets.com.

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Despite coming off a roughly five-win season, Reds shortstop Zack Cozart could face a difficult market in free agency, writes Zach Buchanan of the Cincinnati Enquirer. Buchanan quotes an exec from the American League and another from the National League who suggested that Cozart would struggle to match even the three-year, $40MM pact attained by J.J. Hardy at a similar age three offseasons ago. A lack of contending teams in clear need of a shortstop is working against Cozart, as is the fact that he doesnt have a track record of producing at his 2017 levels. An NL exec opined that Cozart could expand his market by adopting a super-utility role in which he started a couple of times per week at shortstop, second base and third base, though Buchanan notes that Cozart feels strongly about remaining a shortstop. Cincinnati is thought to be leaning heavily against a qualifying offer for Cozart, per Buchanan, which would certainly help his free-agent stock. From my view, it still seems likely that a team will ultimately see Cozart as too good a value not to find a spot for him at a certain point. Its difficult to see his market falling below even the three-year, $33-36MM range, as even if he doesnt replicate his 2017 excellence at the plate, he could still be reasonably expected to more than justify that level of commitment.

Elsewhere in the NL Central
Miss United Nations queen, Rebecca Asamoah, is on an eight-day official trip to South Korea, where she is expected to promote her country, Ghana.

The 26-years-old queen, who is also Miss Ghana 2015 runner-up, was invited by Kotra, a Korean trade promotion corporation to take part in a trade conference scheduled to commence on Wednesday.

Kotra, a state-funded trade and investment promotion organisation, is operated by the government of South Korea.

It was established in 1962 as a national trade promotion organisation. Since then, it has facilitated Koreas rapid export-led economic development through various trade promotion activities such as overseas market surveys SME export promotion, trade info services, government-to-government export, foreign investment in Korea(FDI) promotion and business matchmaking.

The upcoming trade conference promises to benefit participants in various ways.

Rebecca Asamoah, who arrived in South Korea on Tuesday, is hoping to use the platform to network and discuss her upcoming projects with companies out there.

I am about to embark on a basic education and vocational training for the disabled up in the Northern Region of Ghana. Ten districts have been selected to start with. Being an ambassador for education I thought the disabled should also have the chance to benefit, she revealed.

After the conference, Rebecca will spend some time visiting the countrys tourism site before returning to Ghana.
Nadia Buari has written a short but clever letter to her fan base, congratulating them for their love and support over the years.

The letter which was written a day after the celebrated Ghanaian actress had a sold out premiering event for her latest movie 'Deranged' at the Silverbird Cinemas on Saturday night also acknowledged the efforts of the fans in making the movie a big hit.

According to her, without the fans, she is nobody. You are my true heroes and heroines because without you, there wouldn't be me, she said.

The letter reads as:

My Beloved Fans,

When I work tirelessly to produce or star in movies, I lose sight of the workload involved.

When I pause and reflect on how long and far the journey of my career has been, When I pore over all the stories that are attributed to me in the media  the good and cynical.

When I read all your lovely messages of support I find no desire to dream of anything big. This is because in my heart, on my mind, and in my soul  you are even bigger. You are my true heroes and heroines because without you, there wouldn't be me. Thanks for your enduring love and support, I am utterly grateful.

Thank you.

The mother of twins is the executive producer of 'Deranged', which drew a lot of movie enthusiasts to the Silverbird Cinema over the weekend.

Aside the letter, she also posted a video of herself on Sunday saying,  Guys I had a total sold out show like totally amazing. Thank you so much for your love and for the support. I learnt you enjoyed the show. I am supper excited. Thank you so much, I don't even know what to say.

Nadia Buari attended the 'Deranged' premiere in an unusual fashion as she turned heads to her different style.

She wore a pair of shorts and pleated flared top to match her gladiator heels, which attracted various comments on social media.
Renowned satirist, Kwaku Sintim-Misa, popularly known as KSM, has expressed his disappointment at Ghanas High Commissioner to South Africa describing him as a clown.

The talk show host says recent comments made by George Ayisi-Boateng while addressing Tertiary Students Confederacy Network (TESCON) in Kumasi, were very unfortunate.

Mr. Ayisi-Boateng told the students that, they are his priority in his dealings while at his duty post and that, it is by dint of the hard work party loyalists put in, that saw the party recapture power so it will be the right thing to do.

The High Commissioner urged other government appointees to do same. The comments have provoked public outrage and condemnation.

While many, including the minority, are calling for his sacking, Mr. Ayisi-Boateng remains resolute about his pronouncements.

Commenting on the issue, KSM, said in a post on Twitter that, the High Commissioners "immaturity" is simply "remarkable".

I have great respect for the clown Mr. George Ayisi Mensah. GH Ambassador to SA. His IMMATURITY is remarkable. Amazing INFANTILE thinking, he said.

Meanwhile, calls for President Nana Akufo-Addo to remove Mr. Ayisi-Boateng have been intensifying.

A section of Ghanaians in South Africa has expressed concern about the Mr. Ayisi Boatengs comments and the likely impact it will have on his ability to deliver while in the South Africa.
01.11.2017 LISTEN

Fashion is a universal language spoken by the young and old, male and female, rich and poor, experts and amateurs, and if you use fashion the right way, you will be able to pass across the right message.

Bearing this in mind, The Women at Risk International Foundation (WARIF) partnered with the Style House Files for Lagos Fashion and Design Week 2017.

Being the first of its kind, this affiliation with a Non-Governmental Organization confirms the Nigerian Fashion Industry is embracing sensitive social matters plaguing the society such as rape and sexual violence.

One of the most anticipated annual events on the African fashion calendar; LFDW which took place from Wednesday 25th October to Saturday 25th October 2017 is recognised for paving the way for fashion enthusiasts with projects aimed at supporting and strengthening the global presence of not just designers but everyone who plays a part in the fashion creative process.

The importance of pushing the message of sexual violence awareness cannot be overemphasised and the Lagos Fashion Week is an ideal platform in the fashion and lifestyle industry to highlight this. It is safe to say that LFDW recognises this cause and the partnership will go a long way in strengthening the public voice against sexual violence.

The image above with the message There is only so much fashion can hide was officially released on LFDWs social media page and is included in the brochure for the event.

Speaking on the partnership, According to WARIF Founder, Dr Kemi DaSilva Ibrusays:

The collaboration with the LFDW is one we are proud to be associated with as it lends yet another important voice in the collective fight against sexual violence in Nigeria. This joint effort will bring an increased awareness to gender based violence that occurs on a daily basis in many communities across the country.
Ghana's 'dancehall king,' Shatta Wale paid a visit to President Akufo-Addo today at the Flagstaff House.

This comes on the heels of a recent birthday wish the President sent to the dance hall artiste via twitter.

In the tweet, the President asked Shatta Wale to pay him a visit at the Flagstaff House.

This relationship between the president and the talented artiste has engendered a lot of conversations in both social and traditional media.

Shatta Wale has done a song titled 'Nana Be Shatta' in keeping with this development.

At his meeting with the President, Shatta Wale showed him an international award he won and also asked the President to fulfil all the promise he made to creative artistes during the 2016 elections.

Akufo Addo assured him that the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture was working hard at rolling out some policies that will benefit musicians and creative artistes for that matter.

Also present at the meeting was Bola Ray who recently presented a G-Wagon to Shatta Wale on his birthday.

Shatta Wale has a number of hit songs such as 'Dancehall King,' 'Kakai,' 'Taking Over', among others.
New to the Job? Here Are 7 Ways to Impress Your Boss

Don't be afraid to speak up with improvements

New hires bring fresh eyes to the team, so they have the opportunity to share ideas on how operations could be improved. John Rood, president of tutoring business Next Step Test Prep , appreciates when employees aren't afraid to call out something that could use an upgrade.

"I once hired an employee who took one look at my sales record-keeping system and told me, nicely, that it was awful and that he could fix it -- and then he did," says Rood. "Look for spots where you aren't just turning the crank, but also improving the machine."

Show that you're a self-starter.

Russell Kommer, president of software development and training company eSoftware Associates Inc , likes to see a strong self-starter who doesn't need a manager constantly looking over their shoulder -- they know when to check in. This takes initiative and great organizational skills.

"One of our past hires was extremely organized to the point of getting everything done on time," says Kommer. "They relentlessly followed up with managers whenever they needed additional info to get the job done."

Go the extra mile.

"New employees who stand out immediately are those who go the extra mile when given a task and who take initiative in areas that directly benefit the business," says Douglas Baldasare, founder and CEO of cell phone charging provider ChargeItSpot . This could mean going above and beyond on a project or identifying outside opportunities to attract new clients.

"I recently had a new employee alert me to a local conference that had five potential clients attending," he says.

Get to know your coworkers.

It can be daunting to meet new coworkers, but an outgoing attitude goes a long way. Cassie Petrey, co-founder of music marketing services company Crowd Surf , values new employees who show their dedication through their desire to get to know the team.

"Last December, we had a new staff member start on the same day as our holiday party. We told her it was okay to skip the party since it was her first day, but she used the opportunity to get to know her coworkers," says Petrey. "I appreciated her dedication to her new role, as that couldn't have been the easiest thing on an already stressful first day on the job."

Bring new ideas to the table.

"I encourage all new employees to come to the table with ways current processes could be improved, or out-of-the-box ideas we haven't tried before," says Leila Lewis, founder and CEO of wedding PR agency Be Inspired PR . This is not only a good way to impress the boss, but it can wow clients as well.

"Recently I had an employee come up with a new process for presenting client reports," says Lewis. "She took the lead on overhauling it and the response from our clients has been phenomenal."

Be early and ask tough questions.

Committing to getting to work early and standing out during meetings is a good strategy for making a positive impression. Abhilash Patel, co-founder of addiction treatment online resource Recovery Brands , doesn't forget the team members who speak up with thought-provoking questions.

"I will always remember a new hire who made a point of being at work before anyone else," says Patel. "During team meetings, she never shied away from asking tough questions that others may have been hesitant to ask. Sometimes she was right, sometimes she wasn't, but she was always thinking everything through."

Prove you can be trusted.

Richard Kershaw, CEO of web hosting tool WhoIsHostingThis.com , values trust above all else, especially as his team is remote. If you establish trust right off the bat, your new team will know they can count on you.

"I once overpaid a member of our team," says Kershaw. "She returned the money before I even noticed."
It is extraordinary that those around former President Mahama don't make sure that when it comes to controversial national issues, he maintains a dignified silence at all material times - and never publicly criticises his successor in office, President Akufo-Addo on such matters.

For example, take the matter of the apparent inability of the top heirachy of the Ghana Police Service to ignore interference from meddlesome politicians, and deal effectively with the lawless elements who are taking the law into their own hands with such impunity, and causing mayhem across the country, simply because they are unhappy with certain actions or inactions of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government, which they claim to have helped win power.

The question there is: Instead of using social media platforms to castigate President Akufo-Addo for the spike in lawlessness across the country, would it not have been far wiser for former President Mahama to have communicated his concerns directly to his successor in office privatelym so that he wouldn't be accused by anyone of playing to the gallery?

Is he not more likely to influence the course of events in our country more effectively and positively by adopting such a method - since it will prove his sincerity: in raising his concerns with President Akufo-Addo directly in statesman-like fashion? Pity.

Quite frankly, this blog does not see how any Ghanaian citizen who actually has former President Mahama's best interests at heart, and cares deeply about the welfare of our nation's younger generations will encourage former President Mahama to remain in active local politics, instead of focusing on helping to resolve conflicts across Africa and encouraging Africa's leaders to commit to good governance and constitutional democracy.

The plain truth is that until all the cases of alleged high-level corruption that are said to have occurred during his tenure as vice-president and president are investigated, and disposed of one way or the other, and he is personally absolved of having engaged in any acts of corruption, alas, former President Mahama will always be a liability for his party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

No amount of Kwesi Botchway Committee report head-burying-in-sand can wish that reality away - and the sooner those in former President John Dramani Mahama's inner-circle understood that the better it would for their charge's long-term future: as they would then see clearly why former President Mahama must retire from active local politics if he is to maintain his dignity as a former leader of the Republic of Ghana. Haaba.

.
The 26 Togolese nationals arrested for attempting to stage an unlawful demonstration in Accra, have pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against them in court today [Tuesday].

The Togolese nationals who were arraigned, have been charged with offensive conduct, conspiracy to commit crime and failure to notify police.

The Police arrested the 26 on Saturday after they converged on the Kawukudi Park at Nima, in preparation for a mass protest without notifying police, in breach of the public order act.

Some motorbikes were also impounded by police at the scene.

Togolese in Ghana in recent times have organized such protests in solidarity with efforts back home by the opposition to have presidential term limits in place.

Togo's opposition parties have been demanding a return to constitutional term limits for the Presidency, and also for President Faure Gnassingbe to step down.

Gnassingbe has been in power since 2005 after the death of his father, General Gnassingbe Eyadema, who ruled Togo for nearly 50 years.

Were acting on Togos political crisis  Nana Addo

Concerning Togos political crisis, President Nana Akufo-Addo has revealed holding a closed-door meeting with President Faure Gnassingbe about two weeks ago, aimed at bringing the current crisis in that country to a closure.

The President said, the Togolese President came to see me in Tamale ten days ago, and we are talking to see how we can bring this crisis to a closure and bring stability back to Togo. It is in our interest to do so.

President Akufo-Addo has assured that his administration is working seriously behind closed-doors to bring the current political crisis in Togo to a closure.



By: Fred Djabanor/citifmonline.com/Ghana
31.10.2017 LISTEN

The Presiding Member (PM) of the Fanteakwa District Assembly, Mr. Ernest Ofosu, has expressed deep worry about the high prevalence of HIV in the area.

He did not provide figures but said the situation was troubling and more should be done to halt the spread of the infection.

He called for the assembly members to scale up HIV-AIDS education campaign in their electoral areas to help save the people from catching the disease.

Mr. Ofosu was speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) on the sidelines of a public hearing on the 2018-2021 District Medium-Term Development Plan at Begoro.

He reminded everybody to avoid keeping multiple sexual partners and unprotected sex.

He also appealed for strong support from the Ghana AIDS Commission and NGOs to aid the assembly to appropriately respond to the HIV menace.

Earlier, Ms. Iris Dalaba, the District Planning Officer, underlined the need to take steps to fully exploit the economic resources of the area to generate more revenue and reduce its overdependence on the district assemblies' common fund for development.

It was important that they found other revenue streams to speed up the progress of the district, she added.

She complained about the bad nature of roads running across the district and poor telecommunication network, and said, these needed to improve to attract businesses.

GNA

By Isaac Newton Tetteh, GNA
01.11.2017 LISTEN

The Operation Vanguard, a joint Military-Police Taskforce set up by the government to enforce the ban on galamsey activities in the country has secured conviction against 39 'galamseyers' (illegal miners) out of 515 arrested.

Police Chief Superintendent (P/C Supt.) Abraham Acquaye, National Deputy Commander of the Taskforce, disclosed when he addressed a Townhall Meeting organised jointly by the Media Coalition Against Galamsey (MCAG) and the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) on Thursday at Kenyasi Number One in the Asutifi North District of Brong-Ahafo Region.

With funding support from Star Ghana, the programme was the fifth in the series for the organisers and other stakeholders to move to galamsey endemic communities to among others educate the people about the essence of the formation of the Operation Vanguard by the government and their activities.

It was also to inform the people about the extent of the destruction of the country's water bodies, lands and forests and the environment in general through galamsey activities, as well as the proposed Multilateral Mining Integrated Project (MMIP) to be implemented by the government to holistically benefit the nation, small scale miners and mining communities.

The first Townhall Meeting was held at Manso Nkwanta, second at Dunkwa on Offin, third at Kyebi and the fourth at Wassa-Akropong in the Ashanti, Central, Eastern and Western Regions respectively.

P/C Supt. Acquaye said beside the 39, the rest of the 515 offenders had been sent to Court, saying whilst some of them were being prosecuted, others are awaiting prosecution.

He expressed the hope that the sentences would be harsher and more deterrent to deter recalcitrant illegal miners and others wishing to join them from continuing with that nationally destructive and nefarious economic venture.

Mr. Kenneth Ashigbey, the Convener of the MCAG, observed that before 2010, galamsey activities was only limited to the use of manual implements like shovels and pick axes but since then it had changed as perpetrators were now using heavy equipment and machinery like bulldozers and excavators.

He said application of mercury, a poisonous chemical in the process was another dimension aggravating the situation and attributed the menace to leadership failure because politicians, chiefs and sometimes media practitioners were allegedly behind it.

Mr. Ashigbey thus praised President Akufo-Addo that he had shown 'political courage' and if Ghanaians offered him the maximum support to prevent and eradicate the canker, he would be one of the greatest Presidents Ghana has ever had.

Nana Osei Kofi Abiri, Paramount Chief of Kenyasi Number One, commended the President Akufo-Addo for the crucial decision and the bold step to rid the country of galamsey operations because those activities had become a threat to national food security.

He also lauded the effort of the MCAG for untiringly supporting the government in that direction and therefore warned the residents in the traditional area to respect the ban as anyone who violated it would be arrested to face the full rigours of the law.

GNA

By Nana Osei Kyeretwie, GNA
The Governing Council of the University of Education, Winneba, has asked its Vice Chancellor and four other top officials to step aside, after it emerged that some vital documents at some offices at the centre of an ongoing investigation had been removed at night.

The school is currently under investigation after a complaint was filed by one Supi Kofi Kwayera, alleging financial and procurement irregularities.

The school's council subsequently set up a fact finding committee to investigate the case.

However a statement, which was signed by the Chairman of the Governing Council, Prof. Emmanuel N. Abakah, and copied to the acting Vice Chancellor and acting Registrar, indicated that, whilst the above-mentioned investigations are in progress, the Council has been informed of alleged removal of vital documents from files at some offices that are at the centre of the investigations at dead night.

The statement indicated that, the move will allow EOCO and other stakeholders conduct their investigations without compromise.

Thus, at its meeting held on 31st October, 2017 to discuss the interim report of the fact finding committee, the Governing Council decided that to enable the Committee, EOCO and BNI to do a thorough work without being impeded, undermined, compromised and or shipwrecked, with immediate effect, you and the following officers should step aside while investigations are ongoing

Persons expected to step aside include

Prof. Mawutor Avoke Vice Chancellor

Dr. Theophilus Senyo Ackordie Finance Officer

Ms. Sena Duke Internal Audit

Ms. Mary Dzimey Acting Head of Procurement

Ing. Daniel Tetteh Ag. Deputy Director of Works and Physical Development

Background

A Winneba High Court some months ago also ordered the Vice Chancellor of UEW, Professor Mawutor Avokeh, to step aside until a case brought against him and the University's Governing Council is determined.

The order also affected the institution's Finance Officer.

The order was made in a case brought before the court by Supi Kofi Kwayera, who insisted that the Vice Chancellor and the Finance Officer, were operating under the institution's defunct governing council.

The plaintiff adduced that the University's Council's mandate had expired in November 2013, but the Education Ministry failed to constitute a new Governing Council for the university, and rather allowed and permitted the defunct Governing Council which had no mandate whatsoever to continue the functions of a properly constituted Governing Council as if same had been properly constituted.

This, Mr. Kwayera insisted was unlawful, and hence his legal action against the University of Education, Winneba.

However, before the substantive claims were looked into, the University, through its lawyers, applied to the court to dismiss the suit on the three counts, but the application was dismissed.

The University's branch of the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG), also applied to join the application but it was turned down.



By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

Follow @EfeAnsah
Minister for Agriculture, Dr. Afriiyie Akoto said the government is committed to increasing the coverage of farmers using improved seeds from 200,000 to 300,000 small-scale farmers by 2018.

According to the minister, the state of food security in Ghana is below satisfactory as only 11 percent of maize farmers in the country currently use improved seeds.

Speaking at the Graphic Business/Stanbic Bank Breakfast Meeting Dr. Afriyie Akoto said improved seeds in the Agric sector will see Ghana become food sufficient in the next five years.

Export ban

Meanwhile, Dr. Afriyie Akoto said the ban of vegetables to the European market will be lifted by the end of November. Ghana has been banned over the past two years from exporting vegetables to the European markets over safety concerns.

Oh definitely, may be in the next one month, theyve indicated to us unofficially that everything is ok now, weve put in so much effort in the nine month to correct all those things that were really hampering the progress in the lifting of the ban, he said.

Dr. Afriyie Akoto said, Weve put reforms in place, weve changed personnel, and weve infused new qualified personnel into the systemso now we are that we are confident that we have a sustainable system to ensure good quality products to the European market.

Economic impact

Ghana lost about $10 million following the ban on five vegetable exports to the European market. Poor inspection of infested vegetables was blamed for the ban.

Moth and insects infected vegetables were glossed over by the inspection organization PPISG according to the Ghana Export Promotion Authority.

Ghana was placed under the ban by the food and verterinary office of the European Commission. The vegetables include chilli, aubergine, gourds among others.

The Graphic Business/Stanbic Bank Breakfast Meeting brought together major stakeholders in the sector that include officials from the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, sector associations such as the Ghana Agricultural Workers Union (GAWU), the Peasant Farmers Association, the Ghana Trade and Livelihoods Coalition, as well as some experts in the sector.

The theme: Securing the economy with agriculture, is to shape a broad discussion on how to revive the ailing sector, which was once one of the highest contributors to the countrys Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

The meeting featured speakers such as the Minister of Food and Agriculture, Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto; a former flag bearer of the Convention Peoples Party (CPP), Dr. Abu Sakara; a former Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Ahmed Alhassan Yakubu, and the General Secretary of the GAWU, Mr. Edward Kareweh.
Acting Chairman of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) has dismissed calls for Ghanas High Commissioner to South Africa to be sacked after stating party members are his priority when it comes to job opportunities.

Freddie Blay says people have given their own interpretation to George Ayisi Boatengs comments and want to hang him for it.

People make it look like this is a political issue...because of that, he has committed a gargantuan sin for that matter we must call for his head", he told Joy FM's Emefa Apawu Tuesday.

Addressing members of the student wing of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), the Tertiary Students Confederacy Network (TESCON), in Kumasi Mr Ayisi Boateng said;

This government is doing its best to create job opportunities and me for instance, I told my people over there [that], it is because of NPP that Im here, so the NPP man is my priority".

He explained that it is by dint of the hard work of party loyalists that put the party back in power after eight years in opposition.

His comments has attracted condemnations in sections of the public with some people calling for him to resign or be sacked. But he is also getting some support from his party members.

Freddie Blay becomes the highest profile party leader to weigh into the controversy 24 hours after it was first reported in the media.

According to him, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) lacks the moral authority to comment on the matter saying it is the height of hypocrisy to cry discrimination.

North Tongu MP, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa

The Constitution was not promulgated when the NPP is in power but it started applying in 1992 but the NDC conveniently forgot about it, he said in reference to Chapter six of the Constitution.

NDC does not respect it but they are the last people to be on the rooftops shouting it, he said challenging the Minority in Parliament to bring the issue up for the NPP will face them squarely.

But Minority MP for North Tongu and member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa said they are contemplating their options for action to be taken against Mr Ayisi Boateng.

This is a matter that we need to proceed on the basis of principle and truthI dont believe this is a matter of interpretationit is as clear as daylight what His Excellency Ayisi Boateng said.

This is reckless, reprehensible, irresponsible and unconstitutional. Article 17 of the 1992 Constitutions is clear about discrimination, the former Deputy Education Minister said.

According to him, the Minority would want to hear from government because so far all those speaking are party functionaries.

Now the ball is in the court of President Akufo-Addo to let Ghanaians know if these are the marching orders he gave to his Ambassadors, adding the attitude of Ayisi Boateng despite the condemnation calls for action fro the top.

Story by Ghana| Myjoyonline.com | Abubakar Ibrahim | [email protected]
President Nana Akufo-Addo has urged the Civil Service to co-operate with government in ensuring the implementation of policies, and the realisation of the vision of a prosperous, progressive Ghana.

He said his government is committed to working with the Civil Service in an atmosphere of transparency and openness, adding we see the civil service as a strategic partner of the State, in being able to assist us to realise our objectives.

The President made this known on Tuesday, when he swore into office the 8-Member Governing Body of the Civil Service Council, at an event at the Presidency.

The Council is chaired by Justice Rose Constance Owusu, a retired Supreme Court Judge. The other members of the Council are Nana Kwasi Agyekum Dwamena; Justice Henrietta Abban; Edwin P.D. Barnes; Isaac Kwame Asiamah; Isaac Bampoe Addo; Mary Imelda Amadu; and Isaac Tetteh Adjovu.

President Akufo-Addo noted that the objectives of government are paramount today because the Ghanaian people accepted the platform on which he and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) presented to them in the run-up to the December 2016 elections.

That is the meaning of a mandate in a democracy, which means the policies on which we were elected are the policies of our people today, and, therefore, all of us have to co-operate in making sure that those policies are realised, the President said.

President Akufo-Addo noted that in recent years, there have been arguments about whether the Civil Service owes its allegiance to the state, or to the government of the day.

He noted, however, that the Civil Service should be at the heart of the State, and should be a body of experienced administrators who will help the government of the day carry out its mandate.

The President added we are, today, in a multi-party, democratic framework in Ghana, and it means governments will come and go, but the Civil Service should be there all the time and provide experienced administrators that can help successive governments discharge their duties.

He, thus, urged the Civil Service Council to deal with issues of promotions, the postings of Chief Directors, amongst others, stressing that you have to be guided by what is in the interest of the country and the public interest of Ghana.

Additionally, President Akufo-Addo admonished the Council to deal with the problems that have bedevilled the Civil Service over the years  corruption, excessive red tape-ism, excessive bureaucratisation, overt political involvement  stressing that the Council has the responsibility for ensuring that the Civil Service stays on an even keel and that these matters are confronted.

It was the expectation of the President that the Council will give me good and honest advice, advice devoid of partisanship; advice that will help me do my work well. And that you will assist me to give strategic direction to the civil service in the way in which it mobilises and deploys its human resources.

President Akufo-Addo, in expressing his delight about the composition of the Council, was confident that the leadership of the body is in strong hands, and I am sure they will give direction to the Civil Service, and help us realise our objectives. Help us do a good job for Ghanaians, because in all cases, at all times, it is their welfare that has to guide our actions.

On her part, Chairperson of the Council, Justice Rose Owusu, on behalf of the other members of the Council, thanked President Akufo-Addo for the honour done and the confidence reposed in them.

We acknowledge the fact that the task ahead is onerous, but with the help of the Almighty God and his direction, we pledge to discharge the duties attached to this appointment to the best of our abilities.

We also thank you sincerely for the privilege of involving us in your noble agenda for the transformation of our dear country, Ghana. We will do our best, and, as you said, the primary consideration being the interest of Ghana and the people of Ghana, Justice Rose Owusu added.

Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com |
With prayers inscribed on the Ghana Flag, Stephen Quaye, prayed for Ghana at the Western Wall in Jerusalem and posted it to God.

31.10.2017 LISTEN

Composers of the national anthem for Ghana after the 1957 independence from the colonial master Britain did a great job for the country.

The words formed to compose the national anthem was not just words but rather a prayer for the maker to continue blessing the country as the one who owns it.

God bless our homeland Ghana and make our nation great and strong, bold to defend forever is such a powerful prayer said by patriotic citizens of Ghana that it should have taken away all the ills and corruption from the country by now.

But can you imagine seeing persons who try to portray themselves as patriots by standing in attention, placing their hands on their hearts singing the anthem or the patriotic song turns out to be the same persons involving themselves in high rate of crime?

The national anthem, is enthusiastically sung by the vast majority of Ghanaians including Christians and non-Christians alike.

We all want God to bless Ghana, but truth be told that not all who sing this national anthem do agree on the meaning of the phrase God Bless our homeland Ghana.

This has made some people to suggest that, that strong prayer in the national anthem should now be changed from God bless our homeland Ghana to God safe our home land Ghana.

No but despite all the blessings that the almighty God has showered on the nation since from creation to independence till now what type of blessing again do the country need?

The land has been blessed with crude oil but the people are still suffering from economic hardship.

After independence, the country started generating hydroelectric power and even exporting to neighboring countries for foreign exchange but the country until recently was suffering from intermittent power outages from what was termed, dum sor, dum sor Mahamah kanea edum na aso.

God has already blessed the country with Cocoa, timber, gold and diamond since creation of this world but despite foreign export of these natural resources, the country still borrows money to pay workers salary why?

A country not long ago that proud itself as a beacon to African democracy where every individual participated in governance by soliciting opinions through peoples assembly almost turned into anti-democratic state where even peaceful demonstrations were not being permitted.

Where is the legion of large scale farmers who out of patriotism grew food crops to feed the whole population?

Where are the local manufacturing companies that provided services and employment for the country and the ordinary?

Losing the brilliant, energetic, healthy good thinking men and women who would have formed a formidable workforce to keep the wheel of development of the country moving to foreign countries you think we should continue to sing God bless our homeland Ghana?

It may sound silly to you the argument raised by some people that the anthem be changed from God bless our homeland Ghana to God safe our homeland Ghana.

But will you tell me the country is blessed where a chunk of the countrys boys and girls are being lost to gangs, armed robbery, unnecessary child births, child labour, ritual murders and deadly activities such as illegal mining?

We place our hands on our hearts to demonstrate how we love the country Ghana but deep in our hearts we do not love mother Ghana at all.

Otherwise how can someone dip his hands into state coffers and runaway with millions of dollars being tax payers money meant for development projects?

Isnt it shocking to spot a chief executive officer who demonstrated how he love Ghana all the time by singing the national anthem and the patriotic songs but never paid taxes to generate revenue to construct roads, schools, provide portable drinking water and electricity?

It is time a general checkup is conducted on the country to identify all the ills and corrupt practices that are hindering the forward march of the country to fix the problems for the better otherwise the prayer of blessing will turn to an empty prayer and the country will continue to suffer.

Of course yes. How can God bless as enthusiastically sing the song but turn around to banish him [God] from our national exercises or in Ghanaian life?

He [God] was almost evicted from the recently held exercise that elected the president to lead the country from January 7, 2017 by saying Christians dont do politics but we wanted Christians God to bless Ghana?

Congratulations to pastors and reverend ministers who encouraged the eligible voters that voted for change of government based on New Patriotic Party [NPP] pragmatic policies and programmes to that of National Democratic Congress [NDC] propaganda and promises.

Ghanaians elected the president, Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo Addo, who deserve their support to implement the adopted policies and programmes to cushion every citizenry.

Now the question is how long will those preferred to be quiet continue to bury their heads in the sand leaving their followers undecided about subsequent national assignments such as selection of national leaders to govern the country?

As ministers of God, their behaviour of not leading their followers to endorse and vote for a particular candidate based on adoption of pragmatic policies and programmes which when implemented will bring economic relief to even Christians is unaccepted.

First we need to clearly see the role of God in our present political situation. In the recent past we had pastors and reverend ministers who publically endorsed one political candidate or another, thus implying that there was a right way for us Christians to vote over against a wrong way for us to vote.

Christianity has been entangled in partisan political process and the essence of the Gospel has been lost in the wider culture.

Therefore the better we understand how God is involved in government, the more likely we will be kept from the folly of identifying one political party as Christian and the other not.

The biblical account of Aarons election by God to lead the Israelites as deputy to Moses in the book of Numbers Chapter 16 and 17, clearly support the argument that God has a choice as to who should lead his people at a particular time and where through general elections.

Korah and his followers decided to rebel against Moses the prophet of God which resulted in their death by buried alive in the land whiles fire consumed 250 other followers of him too.

Chapter 17 of the same book of Numbers records how God elected Aaron by growing almonds and flowers on Aarons walking stick as against the eleven walking sticks of the other tribes of Israel.

What would have happened had Moses refused to intercede on behalf of the Israelites and ensuring that the right person was elected to lead the people?

The biblical account once again has it that God would have wiped the people out of the surface of the earth as he revealed it to Moses earlier.

Although the earth rarely swallows people up anymore, a metaphorically similar fate often awaits the unrestrained arrogant office holders, corrupt and wicked heads of states, politicians, security personnel, doctors, lawyers, teachers, so called pastors and reverend ministers and even ordinary men and women.

The premise is that if pastors and reverend ministers and Christians elevate the moral climate of the country, more people will believe the gospel, and God will be more likely to bless Ghana.

Ghanaians must bring themselves more closely into line with Gods agenda for the country so that they might be better prepared to address the political and spiritual crisis.

I would urged all Ghanaians that first of all petitions, prayers, intercessions and thanksgivings be made for all people for the president, ministers, chiefs and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.

The presidents, ministers, chiefs and those in authority should also fear God since it is the beginning of wisdom says James 1:5,if any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.

Last but not the least, every Ghanaian should pray for the peace and prosperity of the country because if it prospers, all will prosper.
President Kufuor, so to speak, exerted dint of critical thinking, worked assiduously for eight solid years, laid an auspicious economic foundation and retired honourably in January 2009.

President Kufuor and his government managed to quadruple Ghanas GDP to a favourable $28 billion by 2008. Plus, the NPP government left an encouraging economic growth of around 9.1 per cent.

Moreover, through hard work and forward thinking, Kufuors government managed to discover oil in commercial quantities, which eventually helped moved Ghana to Middle Income Economy.

But in spite of all the numerous programmes and policies that put the country in a highly favourable position, Ghanaians disastrously bought into the NDCs propaganda and voted out better economic managers in 2008.

Back then, the NPP communicators, in all honesty, displayed sheer complacency and disappointingly failed to counter NDCs political gimmicks.

Subsequently, President Kufuor admirably passed on the baton to the late President Mills on 7th January 2009, following his victory in the runoff election on 28 December 2008.

The late President Mills commendably continued with the excellent economic foundation laid by former President Kufuor and his NPP government.

The late President Mills, as a matter of fact, prepared adequately for the presidency, but in spite of his readiness to serve the nation to the best of his ability, the detractors within his own Party needlessly kept shrieking and grumbling about his style of leadership.

It is, however, worthy of mention that the late President Mills inherited a moderate debt of GH9.5 billion and a propitious economic growth of around 9.1 per cent from the Kufuors government in 2009.

Indeed, the late President Mills was very fortunate to have taken over a favourable economic foundation laid by zestful former President Kufuor and his equally hardworking team.

Three years after former President Kufuors NPP government had laid hands on oil in commercial quantities, the late President Mills had an enviable task of switching on the valve at an offshore platform in December 2010 to pump the first commercial oil.

Ghana subsequently moved to the camp of the petroleum exporting countries. And believe it or not, Ghana started to export crude oil and thus boosted the economic growth.

And, lo and behold, the economy grew blissfully from around 8.4 per cent to around 14 per cent by 2011, and, Ghana subsequently reached the Lower Middle Income status.

Ghanas GDP grew exponentially from $28 billion to a staggering $47 billion by 2011.

Ghana was then rightly acknowledged by international community as the world's fastest growing economy in 2010 (Economy Watch, 2010).

Ghana's economy grew at a blistering 20.15 per cent at a point (Economy Watch).

To his credit, though, the late President Mills prudently continued to improve upon the excellent economic foundation laid by former President Kufuor and his NPP government.

As a matter of fact and observation, the late Mills would have been very successful in his short spell in government if not the shenanigans of the detractors that surrounded him.

Take, for example, it is a well-known fact that prior to the dubious Wayomes judgement debt payment of GH51.2 million, the late Mills warned his appointees not to effect payment.

However, the defiant appointees impertinently disobeyed the good old Mills orders and doled out the staggering amount to Wayome, who had no contract with the government of Ghana.

Disappointingly, though, despite his unmatched moral uprightness, the late President Mills somehow stooped to his appointees shenanigans and allowed the create loot and share cabals to have their way.

Upon the late Mills capitulation, the disobedient appointees started dipping their hands into the national coffers through dubious judgement debt payments and other cloudy deals as if there was no tomorrow.

The cabals even managed to set aside judgement debt amount in the national budget (reported to be around GH800 million).

Bribery and corruption cases, as a matter of fact, were so pervasive during the late Mills administration.

Take, for instance, before his sudden demise, the late Mills displayed unparalleled rectitude and inquisitiveness when he constituted an Investigative Committee to probe into the dubious Brazilian aircraft deal.

It would be recalled that during his State of the Nation Address on 19th February 2009, the late President Mills informed the Parliament that his government was looking into the decision to acquire two executive Presidential jets.

However, the late President Mills was somehow indecisive over the acquisition of the aircrafts, and thus observed: "Ghana simply cannot afford the expenditure at this time and we certainly do not need two Presidential Jets" (thestatesmanonline.com, 16/06/2016).

Astonishingly, however, whilst the late Mills was joyfully delivering his euphonious state of the nation address in the parliament, the Vice President John Mahama, who also happened to be the chairman of the Armed Forces Council, was gleefully entertaining delegations from Brazil and negotiating the acquisition of five jets, including the most expensive hangar without the knowledge of the late President Mills.

Unsurprisingly, therefore, the late President Mills had a gleam of suspicion on his mind and decided to put a committee together to review the deal, according to Mr Martin Amidu, the former Attorney General under the late President Mills.

Unfortunately, whilst the Committee was carrying out his directives, President Mills departed from life under mysterious circumstances.

The late Mills, I must admit, was an excellent human being and a real patriot who meant well for his country. But he was somehow disappointed downright by the very people he reposed his trust.

K. Badu, UK.

[email protected] ; please visit me at: alljoycom.wordpress.com
South African prosecutors on Friday will argue for Oscar Pistorius to be given a longer jail sentence, saying the six years he is serving for killing his girlfriend is "shockingly low".

The National Prosecution Authority will present its case to a one-day hearing at the Supreme Court of Appeal in Bloemfontein. Judges are expected to hand down their ruling at a later date.

The Paralympic athlete shot dead Reeva Steenkamp in the early hours of Valentine's Day in 2013, when he fired four times through the door of his bedroom toilet -- an act, he says, that came from mistaking her for a burglar.

Pistorius was originally convicted of culpable homicide -- the equivalent of manslaughter -- in 2014, but the appeal court in Bloemfontein upgraded his conviction to murder in 2015.

Pistorius, 30, who is being held at the Atteridgeville Correctional Centre prison in Pretoria, will not be in court on Friday.

"We believe the sentence is shockingly low," NPA spokesman Luvuyo Mfaku told AFP.

"The court has discretion to deviate from the minimum sentence for murder of 15 years, after considering the circumstances, but we say that you cannot go so far below.

"We cannot allow a situation where we create a precedent for a person sentenced for murder. It is inappropriate if you look at the gravity of the offence."

Mfaku denied that the NPA was pursuing Pistorius due to his fame.

"It is not personal, we are addressing a principle here, we would have done this for anyone," he said.

'Pay for his crime'

A spokesman for the Pistorius family was not immediately available to comment, but his lawyers have previously said they accepted his current sentence.

At his sentencing last year, High Court judge Thokozile Masipa listed mitigating factors, including the athlete's claim he believed he was shooting an intruder.

"He cannot be at peace. I'm of the view that a long term of imprisonment will not serve justice," Masipa said.

But Steenkamp's father Barry told the court that he wanted Pistorius to "pay for his crime".

Reeva Steenkamp and Oscar Pistorius were once viewed as South Africa's golden couple -- a model and a sporting hero. But the trial exposed a dark side to their relationship

Members of the ruling African National Congress (ANC) women's league, who attended many court sessions, have criticised the sentence for failing to send a message against domestic violence in South Africa.

The year before he killed Steenkamp, Pistorius became the first double-amputee to race at the Olympics when he competed at the London 2012 games.

Previously a role model for disabled people worldwide, he was released from jail in 2015 after serving one year of a five-year term for culpable homicide.

He returned behind bars after his conviction for murder.

Pistorius, who pleaded not guilty at his trial in 2014, has always denied the accusation that he killed Steenkamp while in a rage.

He has insisted that he was trying to protect her.

In a television interview, he said he believed an intruder was in the house and "instant fear" drove him to grab his gun and walk on his stumps towards the bathroom.

"All of a sudden I hear a noise, at the toilet. I presumed it was the toilet door opening and before I knew it, I'd fired four shots," he said.
An Australian snake catcher was called to the home of a panicked woman who spotted a serpent in her yard -- but the supposed snake wasn't what it seemed.

Stuart McKenzie of The Snake Catcher 24/7 Sunshine Coast said in a Facebook post that a Sippy Downs, Queensland, woman called recently to request a snake removal in her yard.

"She rang and said 'I think there is a snake in the backyard, I am sitting still for the time being, can you get someone out as soon as possible?'" McKenzie told the Sydney Morning Herald.

"She seemed quite stressed over the phone and I got someone there ASAP," McKenzie wrote on Facebook.

McKenzie sent an employee to the woman's home to catch what was initially suspected to be a red-bellied black snake, but turned out to be a rubber strap.

"They both sort of had a laugh, in the end I think she was a bit relieved it wasn't a snake," he said.
The various electronic payment options available to bank customers make money at the bank almost the same as money in the pocket, the Chief Executive Officer of Ghana Interbank Payment and Settlement Systems (GhIPSS) Mr Archie Hesse has said.

He said the days when people shied away from keeping their monies at the bank because they had restricted access to their funds was a thing of the past.

Speaking in an interview, Mr. Hesse said with services such as Instant Pay, mobile banking, internet banking and payments using cards, the public has 24-hour access to their funds at the bank.

He said the banks needed to emphasise this fact in order to rope in the unbanked.

Mr. Hesse said there was no longer an excuse for someone to remain outside the banking sector in Ghana, considering the plethora of payment options available in Ghana today.

He said it was unacceptable for Ghana to continue to have a huge unbanked population when the excuse that kept people away from the banking system had been largely addressed.

However, he said the public is not sufficiently aware of how convenient banking has become, a challenge he suggested must be addressed head-on.

Ghana, since 2007 began a journey to migrate the country into an electronic payment society with the establishment of GhIPSS.

The rollout of various payment systems that followed was also expected to reduce the unbanked population.

Although significant success has been achieved, the CEO of GhIPSS said the time has come for all players in the financial services sector, to embark on massive campaign for the public to understand and appreciate the types of services available and how those services 'literally meant that money in the bank is as good as money in the pocket but even more secured'.

Mr Hesse explained that Banks, Fintech companies, GhIPSS and various other players have created the various infrastructure and services to allow bank customers to have access to their funds at the bank at each point in time.

'Now we the players need to move to the next stage to ensure these services are known and patronised like any other basic service,' he added.

He cited for instance that people who are hard pressed and paid with cheques can present the cheque and ask for express pay and they will get the money the very same day.

He said some banks had also linked customers mobile phones to their account, enabling them use their mobile phones to pay and deposit money in their accounts.

The GhIPSS Boss also mentioned the Instant Pay that enabled bank customers to transfer money from the account to another of different bank but the recipient gets the money instantly.

'With all these services, your money at the bank are just like secured money in your pocket and this message must get to the public,' he stressed.

Mr Hesse expressed the belief that a combination of policy from government, and an effective marketing campaign by players in the industry would move Ghana to the next stage where these electronic payment services would be so patronised that 'the unbanked population will reduce drastically because everyone would want to keep their money in the bank and still have 24-hour access to it'.

GNA
01.11.2017 LISTEN

A 37 year-old farmer has been arrested and detained by the Juaso police over the murder his elder brother at Kokoben, a farming community in the Asante-Akim South Municipality.

Emmanuel Kwasi Tei is said to have attacked and inflicted deep cutlass wound in the rib of the deceased, Gabriel Kwabena Tei, following a misunderstanding between the two.

Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Andrew Anyani, the District Commander, confirmed this to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) and said the incident happened on October 27.

The pair had picked a quarrel on October 26, which degenerated into a fight and they were separated by one Kwasi Agbemaflu.

Agbemaflu took the deceased with him to his cottage to spend the night and allow tempers to cool.

DSP Anyani said the next day at about 1100 hours, the deceased decided to return home but the suspect, still seething with anger, attacked and inflicted a deep cutlass wound in the rib.

He was rushed to the Banka clinic for medical help and referred to the Juaso District Hospital but he died on the way.

The suspect was arrested and handed over to the police by the people.

GNA

By Yussif Ibrahim, GNA
01.11.2017 LISTEN

An Ivorian, Amadu Yakubu, has been arrested and detained by the police in Kumasi over alleged sale of an AK assault rifle.

Also held are his two Ghanaian accomplices, Mahama Abubakari and Ibrahim Owusu Sekyere.

Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Juliana Obeng, the Ashanti Regional Police Public Relations Officer, told journalists that the gun together with 56 rounds of live ammunition were found hidden in a Toyota Corolla Saloon car by a police patrol team.

The officers were on routine patrol duty on the Kumasi-Obuasi highway, when they intercepted the car and a search uncovered the weapon and live ammunition concealed in a sack.

She said two Ghanaians - Mahama and Skeyere, who were riding in the car, were seized.

Mahama claimed it had been supplied to him by Yakubu and told the police that the latter would be arriving in the country to collect the proceeds from the sale of the weapon.

ASP Obeng added that the Ivorian was picked up when he showed up at the appointed time.

Yakubu did not deny selling the AK47 assault rifle to Mahama and claimed to have acquired it during the political crisis in his country.

ASP Obeng said the suspect attempted to bribe the police with cash of GH3,500.00 but this was rejected.

The three, she indicated were assisting police to probe further into the matter and would be arraigned as soon as they were done with their investigation.

Separately, the police Anti Armed Robbery Unit had seized 13 locally made single barreled guns from two blacksmiths in Kumasi.

Isaac Opoku Mensah, and Samuel Kumah, had manufactured the guns and put them on sale at Atasomanso

ASP Obeng said they were nabbed based upon police intelligence and gave the assurance that they would be prosecuted.

GNA

By Gifty Amofa/ Ishmael Adams, GNA
An Accra Circuit Court on Tuesday sentenced Daniel Tettey Cudjoe, a 60 year old mason to eight years imprisonment in hard labour for defiling two girls in his room at Korle Gonno in Accra.

Cudjoe aka Etekli pleaded guilty on the two counts of defilement and was subsequently convicted by the court presided over by Mr Aboagye Tandoh on his own plea.

The court sentenced Cudjoe to eight years imprisonment on each count. Sentences will run concurrently. The court in sentencing Cudjoe took into considerations his plea and the five days he had already spent in custody as well as his age.

Prosecuting Chief Inspector Kofi Atimbire said the complaints in the case are a teacher and a trader respectively. Both victims are eight year old girls residing at Korle Gonno.

Prosecution said on October 9, this year, at about 0930 hours, Cudjoe lured the victims into his room. According to the Prosecutor Cudjoe forced the victims to remove their panties and applied a cream to their vagina and had sex with them in turns.

Prosecution said the victims disclosed that Cudjoe has been having sex with them for the past one year and gave them GHE1.00 to share. The victims confided in their teacher about their sexual ordeal.

Prosecution said a complaint was lodged with the police and a medical form was issued to them to seek for medical care. The medical report indicates that their hymen had been broken.

The prosecutor said Cudjoe in his caution statement admitted the offence.

GNA

By Joyce Danso, GNA
01.11.2017 LISTEN

The Minister of Foreign Trade and Development of Finland, Mr Kai MykkAnen will visit Ghana from November 13-14.

A statement issued by the Finland Embassy in Ghana and copied to the Ghana News Agency said Mr Mykkanen would arrive in the country with a Business Delegation of more than 20 Finnish companies, representing areas such as Power, ICT, Telecommunications, CleanTech, Health and Wellbeing, and Education.

It said the timing of the visit was of particular significance, as it takes place during the year that marks Finland's 100th Anniversary as an independent nation.

It noted that, it is also the year when Ghana celebrates its 60th Anniversary, and Finland-Ghana diplomatic relations reaching 40 years.

The Finnish Ambassador to Ghana, Ms Pirjo Suomela-Chowdhury, said the visit is a clear indication of the strengthening business relations between Finland and Ghana, and a great opportunity to render them yet more dynamic.

The Ambassador noted that already there were many important Finnish companies doing business in Ghana.

The statement said previous high-level visits and company interests also bear witness to the numerous possibilities for cooperation.

It said with its reputation as one of the most stable countries in Africa, and with the new government in place since early this year, Ghana was seen by many Finnish companies as an attractive business destination.

It said Ms Suomela-Chowdhury believes that expanding trade between Finland and Ghana would offer many more opportunities for true win-win partnerships that would benefit both countries and their peoples for years to come.

The statement cited areas where Finland had strong know-how and expertise, including renewable energy, waste and water treatment, telecommunications, digitalization, security, health and wellbeing, and education - all areas that have great relevance also to the Ghanaian government and the private sector.

It said for Finnish companies, the visit would be an excellent chance to present their strengths, while learning more about the possibilities that the local market offers.

The statement said while in Ghana, Minister MykkAnen, together with the Business Delegation, would be looking forward to meeting important high-level decision makers, as well as representatives of the private sector, to explore ways of further promoting trade between the two countries.

It said earlier this year, Finland's Centenary Anniversary project 'CodeBus Africa' was launched in Ghana.

It said the project that was subsequently taken to nine other African countries was aimed at promoting involvement of girls, in particular, in ICT and computer coding.

GNA
01.11.2017 LISTEN

Authorities of the Customs Division, Ghana Revenue Authority, Aflao Sector, have denied allegations of repeatedly storming markets in the Ketu South Municipality and environs to seize assumed un-customed goods and then slap penalties on them.

It said allegations being made in the media, especially on local radio stations, claim the operations are intended to nudge the feelings of the local people against the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government.

Ms Kafui Modey, Sector Commander, said 'it was out of someone's imagination to impugn the Customs authorities.

The story, allegedly emanating mainly from one Emmanuel Akpaloo also described the authorities (Customs Division) as National Democratic Congress (NDC) hirelings.

Ms Modey said the intensification of patrols has become necessary for safety, law and order within the Municipality and to strengthen the borderline, the beats and pillars following the 24/7 opening of the Ghana-Togo border and removal of custom's internal barriers.

She said though combating smuggling and enhancing revenue remain the primary aim of patrols of her outfit, such operations were yet to hit the markets.

Ms Modey said the Custom Division has been holding public education fora and radio talks on import duty payment, use of approved routes on the frontier and improvement of compliance levels for the locals.

She said the Border Security Committee (BODSEC), comprising Customs Division, Ghana Immigration Service and Police also held some joint patrols to check security challenges posed by the 24/7 border operations based on the ECOWAS trade protocols, but were not in the markets.

Ms Modey said smuggled goods were only intercepted at border areas or highways based on intelligence.

On the revocation of transit goods route through Aflao, Ms Modey said it was a Customs head office policy directive to forestall the rampant diversion of such supposed transit goods going to Togo, back into Ghanaian market and asked owners of such goods to apply to the Customs head office for clearance.

Meanwhile executives of traders associations, speaking to the GNA Reporter disassociated themselves from the allegations.

Madam Stella Agbemabiase, Chairperson, Agbozume Traders Association (ATA), said such swoops and seizures at the market occurred during the PNDC eras in the 1980s but not lately.

'Rather the Division recently organized a tax education seminar for us at the market on import duty payment, the bad effects of smuggling and avoidance of contraband goods', she said.

Madam Mansa Kwawu, Chairperson, main Aflao Market, corroborated by Mamaga Agbenyeade II, Paramount Queen of Aflao Traditional Area, also a trader at the market, said the allegations against the Customs were untrue.

'The defunct Borders Guards did that some 40 years ago, but Customs do not seize goods either at markets or at homes today', Mamaga Agbeanyeade said.

Madam Charity Dorleagbenu, head of traders at Denu, described the allegations as exaggerations.

GNA
Mr Wilson Arthur, The District Chief Executives of Wassa East, has urged members of the Assembly to make it a habit to meet with their electorates before and after general assembly meetings to promote grassroots participation in local governance.

This, he said, would enable the electorates to have a say and be informed about development issues in the district.

"As representatives of our people, we are key development agents. The dividends of decentralization cannot be fully realized unless our chiefs and community leaders and also the citizens at the community level assume responsibility for their development".

Mr Arthur, who said his during the second ordinary meeting of the Wassa East District Assembly at Daboase, noted that his interactions with some communities revealed that most of the electorates were unaware of the activities and roles the district assembly played in the development process.

The DCE said the district has been relatively calm with some chieftaincy having been dealt with and more so, government efforts to stop illegal mining and it's destructive consequences was yielding some results.

He said plans are advanced to operationalize the community task force to cooperate with the district stakeholders to combat illegal small scale mining and lumbering.

Mr Arthur said the fight against illegal mining in water bodies and forest reserves was not over yet and that information reaching him revealed that some groups were still mining in some communities.

"Do not hide such perpetrators and tacitly ignore their activities, report them for us to restore our environment ", he said.

On education, the DCE said the training and development of human capital was the thrust of the Assembly's new four year development and that issues concerning education would continue to be a major priority.

He said to enhance teaching and learning in the district a total of 66 teachers were transferred internally whiles 14 officers in the education directorate were reshuffled.

Mr Arthur said 7 out of 10 people are farmers in the district, noting that agriculture was the backbone of not only Wassa East local economy but Ghana's economy growth and that "investment in agriculture is the surest way to achieve accelerated sustainable development in the district and the nation ".

He said in this regard 2.246 farmers in agriculture extension technologies were trained by the department of agriculture.

On the fall army worms, he said the situation was largely under control and urged the Assembly members to report new cases to the department of agriculture for the necessary actions to be taken.

Mr Arthur said the district has received it's fair share of inputs such as fertilizers, seeds and agriculture chemicals under the Planting for Food and Jobs programme.

He said due to the importance the Assembly attached to agriculture a special song has been created for farmers in the district whiles an audio-visual documentary on the state of agriculture in the district has been produced to market the district.

Mr Arthur said in this regard funds have been set aside to improve the competencies and abilities of the council members.

Touching on finance and revenue Mr Arthur said from January to September this year the Assembly received an amount of GHE266,412.51 representing 46.54 of the budgeted internally generated fund of GHE572,360.00, adding that the total budget for the year was GHE8, 125, 570.16.

The DCE announced that most of the development projects have been completed with a few currently ongoing and that the assembly was in the process of awarding a contract for the construction of one semi-detached nurse's quarters at Akyempim.

Mr Arthur also announced the construction of 280 meter drain in Daboase Township.

On Social protection intervention and child protection he said 288 households have benefited from the LEAP programme with a total amount of 28,064.00 paid out to the beneficiaries.

On health he said a total of 20,047 clients were registered under the National Health Insurance Scheme during the period under review with 8,597 being new registrants whiles 11,450 were renewals and that 679,456.99 was paid as claims by September this year.

He said the services of ACCESS water an NGO in some 20 communities would soon be completed and extended to cover more communities and that water access would hit 100 per cent in the next five years.

Mr Arthur said the district was endowed with various natural resources and this includes a unique waterfalls and hinted that the assembly has developed a strategic plan to promote the tourists sites at Domama, Atobiase and the Nsadweso water falls from 2018.

He said alongside the government's flagship programme of One District One Factory, other industrial projects like quarry, palm oil processing factory, soap making, plastic products would be established in the district.

GNA

By Justina Paaga GNA
01.11.2017 LISTEN

A two-day international conference on poverty management has ended at the Spiritan University College at Ejisu in the Ejisu-Juaben Municipality.

It provided the platform to discuss strategies to lift many Ghanaians out of poverty - to transform their living conditions.

The event was held under the theme 'Water, poverty and development nexus' and brought together the academia, policy makers and the church.

The Most Reverend Dr. Richard Baawobr, Catholic Bishop of Wa, in a keynote address called for strong backing for the government's effort at protecting the environment - water bodies and forests.

He said it was important to recognize that this was in the interest of everybody and that was why they should find space to contribute to what he termed a noble cause.

Water, he indicated, was the source of life and therefore could not continue to be destroyed and polluted.

The Rev Dr. Bawoobr said it was deeply troubling that about 60 per cent of water bodies in the country had become polluted through unrestrained activities of the people.

He invited his colleague priests to use the pulpit to talk the congregation out of activities that were destroying the environment.

He also urged strict enforcement of the laws by the regulatory bodies to get people to do the right things.

GNA

By Boakye Baafi, GNA
01.11.2017 LISTEN

The fourth prosecution witness in the case involving Gregory Afoko, who has been accused of the murder of former Upper East Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party, has ended his evidence in chief.

The witness, Mutala Taufic, continuing his evidence, told the court that he and Zakaria, used different motor bikes when they left the site for their various homes at about 2300 hours.

He said he received a called form the wife of Mr Adams when he got home at about 2330 hours, and so he rushed to the hospital.

He said at the hospital, six policemen arrived at around 0100 hours, based on the information they received about the incident.

Mr Taufic said they asked myself and Hajia Zainabu, the wife of the deceased to accompany them to the house of the deceased where the incident happened.

'When we got there they inspected the crime scene, took pictures and Hajia Zainabu gave them the cloth and sandals of the deceased as well as a gallon.'

The witness said when they got there, the lights were still off, but the headlights of the deceased car were on. The front door was also opened and the glass rolled down.

He said they took the police to the Accused persons house, and on arrival, Hajia Zainab waited in the car while the policemen surrounded the house and knocked on the gate.

According to Mrr Taufic, when they knocked, a brother of the accused person came out first, then later the accused person also came out. He was arrested around 0200 hours

He said the police dropped him and Hajia Zainabu off, at the hospital and took Afoko away.

Later at the hospital family members of the deceased asked Hajia Zainabu to go home, so she left after which Mariama and Zuweira also left.

Mr Taufic told the court that after the three had left, Mr Adams was transferred from the emergency ward to the intensive care unit. Regional executive members of his party and some family members at about 0300 hours realized his condition was deteriorating so contacted some national executive members to provide a helicopter to transfer him to Accra.

He said while in the process, the doctor advised that, the arrangement be stopped since his condition was deteriorated.

He later died at about 0730 hours the next morning.

He told the court that he later gave his statement to the police.

During cross examination by the defence counsel, Mr Taufic said he gave his statement as well as phone number to the police on May 21, 2015.

When asked why, Zakaria did not come to the hospital throughout the period, he said that when he received the call, he was confused so he only managed to call the names of people that came to mind.

He said it was when Mr Adams was transferred to the intensive care unit that Zakaria who was staying far away Zuarungu came to mind so he called him and he came.

The defence counsel also asked what he told the police, but Mr Taufic said in his statement to the police, he told them what he saw.

'I did not write the statement nor read it, but I signed.

He said he was not there when the substance was poured on Mr Adams, but the deceased narrated everything to him at the hospital in the presence of his wife, Zuweira, Mariama, Asigiri, one Razak, three nurses and other unknown persons.

The case was at this point adjourned to November 1, for continuation of cross examination by defence team of the accused.

At the previous sitting the prosecution presented their fourth witness.

They intend to call 11 other witnesses, in addition to Hajia Adams, Madam Issaka, Quinn and Taufic.

Gregory Afoko, a farmer, is alleged to have killed Mr Adams Mahama.

Afoko is being held on the charges of conspiracy to commit crime to wit murder and murder. However, he has pleaded not guilty before the Court, which is also composed of a seven-member jury.

It is alleged that Afoko carried out the act with one Alandgi Asabke, who is on the run.

A third accomplice, Musa Issa, was granted bail after the Attorney-General opined that there was not enough evidence to prosecute him.

The GNA earlier reported that on February 23, last year, an Accra District Court committed Afoko to stand trial at the High Court to answer to the charges against him.

The State at the committal proceedings tendered more than 17 exhibits in respect of the trial.

The exhibits include Afoko's caution and charge statements as well as a post-mortem report of the deceased conducted by Dr Lawrence Edusei; a medical report on the deceased's wife, who also sustained injuries in her bid to assist the deceased when the incident occurred.

Other exhibits are a gallon containing the alleged residue of acid found at the crime scene, a cup believed to have been used by the assailants in pouring the acid on the deceased, the deceased's pair of shoes and attire and a piece of carpet in the deceased car.

The rest are various reports from the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA), a pair of blue-black track suit belonging to Afoko and photographs of the crime scene.

The Prosecution is being led by Mr Nicolas Amponsah, Chief State Attorney, who told the court that Mr Adams was a contractor and lives at the Bolgatanga SSNIT Flats in the Upper East Region and was also the NPP Regional Chairman.

According to Mr Amponsah, Afoko also lived in Bolgatanga and was the younger brother of Mr Paul Afoko, a former National Chairman of the NPP.

The State said the accused was also a party activist, and was close to Mr Adams.

On May 20, 2015, Mr Adams left his house to his construction site in his pick-up truck with registration number NR 761-14.

The Chief State Attorney said he returned to the house in the night and at the entrance of his house, two men signalled him to roll down the window of his car.

He obliged, however, the two men poured acid on him and fled on a motorbike.

Mr Amponsah said Mr Mahama shouted for help and his wife, Hajia Zenabu Adams went to his aid.

He said Mrs. Adams also sustained burns on her chest and breast in her bid to assist the victim.

According to Mr Amponsah, Adams told his wife that it was Gregory and Asabke, who poured the acid on him.

He also mentioned the two accused persons, in the presence of neighbours, as the people who poured the acid on him.

The Chief State Attorney said Mr Adams was rushed to the Intensive Care Unit of the Bolgatanga Hospital where he passed on.

Afoko was picked up at about 02:00 hours in his house and he led the Police to Asabke's house. Asake was, however, not available.

A post mortem conducted on the deceased by Dr Edusei indicated that Mr Adams died of extensive acid burns.

GNA

By Hafsa Obeng, GNA
Mrs Gozy Ijogun, the Managing Director for Technology Distribution (TD) Mobile, the foremost ICT distributors in the West African sub-region, has called on the youth to consider social media as a tool to develop themselves.

She said although social media had its negative impact; there is a need for the youth to focus on the positives of social media, as it will improve learning and help them to acquire knowledge.

Mrs Ijogun made this call in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Accra, on the sidelines of the official launch of TD Mobile and exclusive distributorship of NOKIA mobile phones in Ghana.

She said in today's era there were new and emerging technologies that are causing radical changes to the way we consume and share information.

The Managing Director said the average Ghanaian is aspirational and technologically-aware, whereas, the literacy level in Ghana was one of the highest on the continent at a commendable 76.6 per cent.

Mrs Ijogun said despite the huge potential in the country, smartphone penetration currently hovers around 21 per cent according to recent research statistics at their disposal; describing the situation as an anomaly.

She said considering the statistics, Ghana had to be in the lead in the area of technology diffusion in Africa, adding that 'this is the identified gap that TD Mobile has come to fill'.

Mrs Ijogun told GNA that TD Mobile launches officially in Ghana with an objective of deepening the rate of technology diffusion and the pace of mobile devices penetration in the country.

She said TD had been in Ghana for 10 years, however, TD mobile was basically about mobile phones; as it currently distributes for Infinix and Motorola, with Nokia now being the third brand.

She described Ghana as one of the most prominent markets in the West African sub-region with a predominantly youthful population, stable political system and an admirably aspirational mindset among its people.

'We are optimistic that, with the launch of TD Mobile and the unveiling of new lines of products and partnerships here, the rate of technology diffusion and smartphone penetration will reach exceptional levels', she said.

The Managing Director said her outfit aims at encouraging people to use smart phones; as such the only way to achieve is by partnering Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM's) to bring in affordable devices so lots of people can have an experience of a smart phone.

GNA

By Iddi Yire, GNA
01.11.2017 LISTEN

Gbetwoolor Nii Ashitey Akomfra III, the Teshie Mantse, has assured the public that the Teshie state would regain their glory as the traditional council implements various plans to enhance their lives.

Among the plans include the establishment of Akro Education Fund in 2018 and Akro Heritage Fund for the development and preservation of GaDangme languages and cultures.

The Ledzokuku Municipal Assembly is expected to pass the building plan for work to begin on the proposed Akro College of Fisheries and Development.

The President 'Nii Oka Omboa' Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is expected to give priority consideration to the proposed Teshie Fish Processing Plant to be in line with the Government's 'One District, One Factory Policy Initiative.'

Gbetwoolor Nii Akomfra said this at the Teshie Traditional Council's maiden 2017 Akro Excellence Awards where 30 indigenes were honoured for their various roles in the society.

Other GaDangme icons were also celebrated for their outstanding career achievements and distinguished services to the community and the nation as a whole.

The event was held under the theme: 'Celebrating Our Heroes.'

The Teshie Mantse repeated the adage that; 'A nation that does not honour its heroes is not worth dying for,' hence the effort to organise the awards.

Gbetwoolor Nii Akomfra said a forward-looking community like Teshie has come a very long way from the pre-historic times to the present era of 'mobile phones, the intra-net and globalisation' and it has demonstrated a very strong character of resilience and the ability to play the pace-setter role among its peers.

He said until quite recently, Teshie was celebrated for its resilient fishing industry, military exploits and a galaxy of internationally acclaimed scholars, businessmen and master craftsmen among many others.

'However, due to a protracted chieftaincy dispute Teshie has lost its past glory. Development stagnated and our traditional area has become vulnerable to environmental and health concerns.

'Consequently, our public image as a people has sunk to an all-time low. And for this reason we feel ashamed to identify ourselves as Teshie-mei whenever we go outside the comfort zone of our dear town,' the Teshie Mantse said.

Gbetwoolor Nii Akomfra assured the people of Teshie that very soon his progressive policies and development objectives would positively reflect on them.

He congratulated the award winners for serving their communities with distinction and for being a role-model for present and future generations.

Mr Ishmael Ashitey, the Greater Accra Regional Minister in a message read for him said in line with Government's effort to transform the country the traditional institutions have a critical role to play since they are the embodiment and custodians of the nation's rich culture and heritage.

He expressed the hope that the Akro Excellence Awards would impact positively on the peaceful development of all the people of the GaDangme communities.

Mr Ashitey said as a people, we need to develop effective interface between government, laws of the state, cultural values and for that matter our traditional institutions for the promotion of peace, good governance and international partnership for the overall development of the country.

'Unfortunately for some time now, our chieftaincy institution which is supposed to epitomize the cherished cultural heritage has entangled itself in long, time-consuming litigations and disputes and family feuds at the expense of complementing to the efforts of government to finding solutions to better the living standards of their subjects or the citizenry,' he said.

He said there is the need to support the traditional institutions to function well to complement the laws of the state in ensuring the promotion of peace, human dignity and socio-economic as well as political development of the state.

The Minister said the Government would therefore assist the chieftaincy institution to make it more relevant to the development in the country.

'However, what is important now is how to recognise the role of the traditional institutions and strike the balance between the democratic practices and the traditional system of governance to achieve a harmonised system that brings development to the people,' he said.

Mr Ashitey said: 'Let this event of Akro Excellence Awards grow to be a great unifying force and a platform for consensus-building in our communities.

GNA
Accra, Oct 31, GNA - The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, has initiated moves to review and amend current legislative framework on Children.

Madam Otiko Afisah Djabah, Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, said the review would address identified gaps and to also conform to the Child and Family Welfare and Justice for Children Policies.

She said despite the fact that Ghana had established a strong legal framework in legislation such as the Children's Acts, 1998 (Act 560) and Juvenile Justice Act 2003 (653); the law and the practice were not in accord in the sufficient manner in which we would expect.

Madam Djaba made the disclosure on Tuesday in Accra at the National Consultative Meeting on the Review of the Children's Act, Juvenile Justice Act and Related Laws.

The meeting was organised by the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection under auspices of UNICEF, as part of efforts to address gaps in the laws relating to children Ghana.

Madam Djaba said the move to strengthen the child protection sector started vigorously in 2010 when the findings of a mapping report showed that there were gaps in the operationalisation of laws, policies and interventions.

She said the mapping also revealed among others that there were no overarching policies on children in Ghana.

She said this led to the development of two major policies namely, the Child and Family Welfare Policy and Justice for Children Policy.

Madam Djaba said the Child and Family Welfare and Justice for Children Policy were formulated to establish a well-structured and coordinated child welfare and Justice for children systems in Ghana.

She said these policies provide a comprehensive and detailed framework for all children in need of care and support including those who come into contact with the justice system. Whether victims, witnesses and alleged offenders.

Madam Djaba said in 2015 and 2016, the Child and Family Welfare Policy and Justice for Children Policy were approved by Cabinet and launched respectively.

The Minister said over the years of implementation, it had been realised that there are some gaps in the laws which warrant immediate steps to review them.

She said as per prior consultations carried out on these gaps, some child protection practitioners have indicated that the laws have not been designed to be culturally appropriate and sustainable within existing structures and available resources.

'Again, some of the laws have not taken into consideration, the emerging child protection issues such as surrogacy, adoption, lack of birth certificates, child trafficking and means that there is total legislative silence on these emerging issues,' Madam Djaba added.

She said the review process would involve participatory approach, consulting as many partners and stakeholders as possible to augment the quality of the legislative reform; adding that there would be series of districts, national and regional consultations.

Madam Djaba said the overall objective of this process was to review the Children's Act, Juvenile Justice Act and other related laws for purposes of submitting to Parliament proposed amendments in these laws.

'Ghana 60 years, and beyond 60 years, will be better served by the quality of the review we produce; and our children today and tomorrow will thank us,' the Minister said.

She urged the media to desist from sensationalising children's issues; adding that whether they were suspects or witnesses in a case, they are still children.

Mrs Rushana Murtaza, the Acting UNICEF Representative to Ghana, said about 20 per cent of Ghana's children were involved in some kind of hazardous and exploitative forms of labour and 'certainly trafficking is a reality in Ghana'.

She lauded Ghana for being the first country to ratify the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Mr Vitus Gbang, Manager, Law and Development Associates (LADA), the consultancy firm for the Legal Review Process said having operationalised these laws for close to 20 years, there is the need for Ghana to constantly review them to ensure that they compile with international best practices.

GNA
01.11.2017 LISTEN

Mr Boakye Agyarko, Minister of Energy, has said government is looking at all options available to them with regards to the AMERI deal.

He said government is also examining all the decisions in terms of the financial implications to the country.

Mr Agyarko made the revelation when he appeared before Parliament's Committee on Mines and Energy over the AMERI Energy deal.

The Minister was also at the Committee to respond to questions over the $510 million emergency power deal signed to shore up the country's energy supply.

Mr Kobina Tahiru Hammond, Member of Parliament (MP) for Adansi Asokwa, had filed an urgent motion to have the House rescind its approval as result of possible breaches of the agreement.

Mr K.T. Hammond said AMERI Energy overcharged the government and sublet the contract to Turkish firm, Power Project SANAYI (PPR) at $315 less than what was charged.

The Majority in Parliament has indicated the move to have the deal rescinded over likelihood of misrepresentation.

Minority members of the Mines and Energy Committee have boycotted sitting, arguing they would not be part of any process to rescind the deal.

Mr Agyarko said given the situation the country finds itself it would be better to analyse all the decisions in the best interest of the nation.

He said if their review of the Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) shows that the abrogation of the power pull would cost $550 million but if the contract is left to run the capacity charge per annum would be $680 million for 13 years.

Mr Agyarko said another alternative for government is for both parties to agree to set aside the contract and enter into re-negotiation with the AMERI group.

He said the government can push for the annulment of the agreement based on established fraud or malfeasance or any such criminal activity.

GNA

By Christopher Arko, GNA
The Deputy Minority leader, James Klutse Avedzi has insisted that President Akufo-Addo cannot dismiss under-pressure High Commissioner to South Africa, George Ayisi Boateng over the latter's recent perceived shameful, irresponsible and divisive comments.

According to him, this is because Akufo-Addo has also demonstrated his commitment to prioritizing the needs of loyalists of his New Patriotic Party (NPP).

Speaking to Citi News, Mr. Avedzi expressed regret at the High Commissioner's recent comments, saying that it appeared he was only taking a cue from his boss, President Akufo-Addo.

Mr. Ayisi Boateng whilst addressing some party youth at the Kumasi Technical University over the weekend, said he has resolved to prioritize members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in his dealings.

He said although he was to treat all Ghanaians fairly, he believes NPP members are more Ghanaian than others.

This government is doing its best to create job opportunities and me for instance, I told my people over there [that], it is because of NPP that I'm here, so the NPP man is my priority. I told them when NDC was in power it was Kwesi Ahwoi who was there, now we are in power, so Ayisi-Boateng is here with you. My topmost priority is the problems of an NPP person before any other Ghanaian, take it or leave it.

George Ayisi Boateng, Ghanas High Commissioner to South Africa

Indeed, I'm not boasting, but I've started meeting the NPP groups. Every weekend I meet some group members and I tell you if I had my way, every job opportunity that will come will go to a TESCON member before any other person. And I know my colleague appointees also have the same feeling except that because of IMF we cannot do anything now, he said.

Following his comment, which the Minority Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa described as reprehensible, and called for his dismissal, many Ghanaians have descended heavily on the diplomat.

There are also growing calls for an immediate termination of his role, but Mr. Avedzi believes that President will not take a decision to sack him despite the unfortunate comment.

The man is taking a cue from what his boss, the President did. When he came, he asked all the CEOs in government departments and agencies to proceed on leave, sacked and replaced with NPP people. The High Commissioner is doing the same thing so if you ask the President to sack him, I don't think he can do it because he himself has done the same thing. The High Commissioner is only copying his boss the President, the Ketu South Member of Parliament said on Eyewitness News on Tuesday.

Sack SA High Commissioner for shameful partisan comment  Ablakwa

Meanwhile the Minority Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa is urging President Akufo-Addo to sack the High Commissioner .

Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa

Speaking on Eyewitness News on Monday, Mr. Ablakwa said, ideally, he should resign and apologize to Ghanaians, and to the President for betraying the trust that was reposed in him. He should be doing the honorable thing, but we know that in this our country, that does not happen quite often The foreign minister, the president, must recall him with immediate effectIt is clear that this mindset cannot represent Ghana.



By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana
With the world being made more compact by technology, the desperation of some students on government scholarships worldwide is being given a regular voice and wider reach.

Their dire situation is seemingly compounded by a sense of neglect they feel for what they describe as their humanitarian crisis after being without stipends since the beginning of 2017.

For some of them, it is no longer about being in the right frame of mind for academic work, but finding shelter and food on a daily basis.

Sending out petitions to media houses and setting up social media accounts to highlight their plight has taken them only so far, with a few retweets and shares slowly being swallowed up by things deemed more important by the Ghanaian public.

Some of the students, who wished to remain anonymous reached out to citifmonline.com and vented their frustrations, expressed their despair and lamented government's unconcern.

As a student studying in Morocco noted, the government of the students' host country takes care of all fees in relation to the university.

They [the government of Morocco] are doing their part diligently. We don't have any problem with them. They are playing their part very well, the student said.

The scholarship beneficiaries in that country expect $250 dollars a month from the Ghana government for upkeep, and that is the only money they have access to for living expenses, as they are not allowed to work, per their agreement with the Morocco government.

The only source of income we have is the money that comes from the government of Ghana, which is $250 a month and $300 for health allowance per year, and then the book allowance. So that is what we rely on and when it doesn't come, it puts us in this particular situation.

Since February 2017, this student said no support has come from the government, and it is pushing them to the edge, with some of their colleagues tinkering with depression.

People are suffering. It is not a joke. We are not trying to exaggerate things. We are just telling the truth. People are suffering, people are [suffering] depression and you don't know what may happen to a depressed student. You don't know what they may do to themselves.

The situation is the same, if not worse, for this student from Russia who said he was recently kicked out of his hostel and is now staying with a friend.

Tyumen Industrial University; where most of the Ghanaian scholarship students study

Students in Russia are studying in schools that include the Tyumen Industrial University, Rostov State University of Economics, the Rostov State Medical University, the Belgorod State University, the St Petersburg State Pediatrics Medical University among others.

To enforce a perceived culture of neglect from the government, he said Russian students who graduated in 2016 were on the verge of deportation till they decided to protest the government's neglect at the Russian Embassy.

The government eventually sent money for the graduates, who were owed for 11 months alongside a shipping allowance and money for plane tickets.

But the remaining students have been left by the government to fend for themselves and they dread the prospect of falling sick because it could lead to them being deported.

We have no insurance policy. If I should fall sick and anything happens to me and I have to go to the hospital, once I step there and they ask me and if I don't have insurance, I will be deported there and then. That is the law, this student said.

Like the situation in Morocco, the students can't work on the side to sustain themselves because if they are caught doing an illegal job they will also be deported.

The life without stipends has been a little easier for Christian students in Russia, who get some relief by way of charity from the churches they attend, according to this student who spoke to citifmonline.com.

The Christians, they go to church on Sunday and the church members actually buy foodstuffs like potatoes, tomatoes, pepper, oil and all that for them for the week. So they actually depend on this stuff for seven days and on Sunday, they go back to the church, and if any Good Samaritan happens to acknowledge their plight, they buy food for them again.

Ghana disgracing itself

This has been the cycle for this student for years since he came to Russia, and his life has revolved around  feeding and money issues.

Because of this, he feels the government of Ghana is just soiling the country's image abroad.

At the end of the day, Ghana is being made to look bad to Russia and the rest of the world. There other countries, with struggles of their own with similar agreements, but they don't leave their students to contend with hunger on a daily basis, he said.

Ghana is really disgracing itself in Russia. Now everybody knows that Ghanaian students don't pay their hostel fees in time. They don't do their medical reports in time, this student said, echoing the sentiment on the ground.

One of the hostels where Ghanaian students live

Beyond all this, some of the students are left dumbfounded by the fact the government continues to bring new students to come and join in their suffering.

For them, it is not about settling them and alleviating their plight, but making sure the students that benefit scholarships in the future do not go through this cycle.

We are not saying this for them to send us the money just for the 11 months they have not paid us. They should pay us all the debts that they are owing us and continue to make payments so that people don't come and suffer.

Government assurances

The government has acknowledged the plight of the students abroad, with the new Registrar of the Scholarships Secretariat, Kingsley Agyeman, giving the assurances that there are plans to pay out stipends by the end of November 2017.

Before the end of next month [November] specifically those in Russia, Cuba and others, the nine months outstanding [stipends] will be paid up to nine months.

Aside from this, he said the stipends would begin to come very regularly, in response to the appeal for consistency from some of the students abroad.

Kingsley Agyeman is assuring that the students will be paid by Novembers end

The situation for the Secretariat is more nuanced because the New Patriotic Party government came to meet a debt overhang of about GHc 285 million, according to Mr. Agyeman.

But he was keen to note that this has been cleared, and the outstanding now stands at just about GHc85 million.

About 70 percent of the debt had to do with scholarship commitments in Ghana which were given priority.

Even with the GHc 85 million, some funding has been secured, and we hope that by the end of [November], students' stipends and other allowances for foreign scholarships will be paid to them, he added.



By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana
The Eastern Regional Security Council is considering a revival of Operation Cow Leg to address conflicts between mostly local farmers and nomadic Fulani herdsmen.

As part of the operation, Police and Military will be deployed to patrol the Kwahu enclave to avert clashes.

This approach to fighting the menace in the era of then President Kufuor, has been criticized as not being effective. [contextly_sidebar id=NNyCyjunJ9SdzdzGZycpugnMNJDyA6GWBut speaking at a press conference to address the recent clashes between Fulani herdsmen and farmers at Dwebease and Hweehwee which led to the death of 5 Fulanis and 3 locals , the Eastern Regional Minister, Eric Kwakye Darfour, stated that a number of action plans have been adopted by REGSEC for consideration.

The Minister, who is automatically the Head of the Eastern Regional Security Council, expressed concern about the recent happenings in the Kwahu East District, saying, I must say we are not happy at all with these reprisal attacks which has led to the loss of lives. Every individual in this countrys matters, and as such we will ensure that the right things are done.

On the whole, the killings in Kwahu East were unfortunate, but the security will work around the clock to stem the situation in the area.

The resolutions reached at the REGSEC meeting are as follows:

1. Hold a press briefing to inform all about the current state of affairs in Kwahu East, and also allay the fears of the inhabitants in the area that the security in the region is handling the issue to ensure their safety.

2. Members of the REGSEC will also visit the affected areas in Kwahu East on Monday 6th November, 2017. As part of the visit, another meeting with the Fulani leadership in Kwahu, Chiefs, Farmers and other stakeholders will be held to further discuss the issue.

3. A proposal for addressing the Fulani menace submitted to REGSEC by the Kwahu Hene will be looked into.

4. Operation Cow leg to the Rescue  Council is of the opinion that if funds could be made available for the Operation CowLeg just as its being done for Operation Vanguard, a lot could be achieved. REGSEC will propose it to National security for consideration.

5. REGSEC considering the need to revive the the fodder bank system and possibly propose to government to create a fodder bank around the Dwerebease enclave.



By: Neil Nii Amatey Kanarku/citifmonline.com/Ghana
The much-criticized pledge by Ghanas High Commissioner to South Africa, George Ayisi Boateng, to prioritize the welfare of New Patriotic Party members before considering other Ghanaians, may have been taken out of context, the Acting National Chairman of the NPP, Freddy Blay has suggested.

Mr. Ayisi Boatengs resolve to put NPP members first came to the fore during a meeting with the partys Tertiary Students' Confederacy Network (TESCON) in Kumasi.

The comments have been met with outrage and calls for his dismissal from some sections of the public. But Mr. Blay, who said he had not heard the comments yet, said the missions obviously viewed all Ghanaians as equal.

In his brief comments on the matter, the NPP chairman said, assuming that is what is said, maybe he is speaking within a context. Definitely, Missions are established not to serve partisan interests but to serve the interests of this country and the people of Ghana generally.

Mr. Ayisi Boateng seems to be clear about what he said, insisting that there was nothing wrong with putting his party people first, who he described as more Ghanaian than others.

Speaking on Kumasi-based Abusua FM on Tuesday after the public uproar, Mr. Ayisi Boateng said he still stands by his words.

George Ayisi Boateng, Ghanas High Commissioner to South Africa

I didn't speak evil at all When you have a large family but you first make your wife and children eat first before others, what is wrong with that? I am not divisive. E.T Mensah is my senior colleague, when he came to South Africa, find out what I did for him. I have not said anything bad, I stand by my words, he said.

Some former presidents of TESCON commended him for making public his commitment to Prioritising NPP members.

Calls for the axe

The Minority spokesperson on Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has called on President Nana Akufo-Addo to immediately terminate Mr. Ayisi Boatengs appointment as High Commissioner, saying his comment is divisive and reprehensible.

Guilty Akufo-Addo can't sack Ayisi Boateng  Avedzi

But the Deputy Minority leader, James Klutse Avedzi believes President Akufo-Addo will not be able to gather the needed courage to dismiss under-fire High Commissioner to South Africa.

He said the President Akufo-Addo, like Mr. Ayisi Boateng, has also demonstrated a commitment to prioritizing NPP members.



By: Kojo Agyeman & Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana
General Secretary of the Christian Council, Rev Dr. Kwabena Owusu-Frimpong, wants New Patriotic Party (NPP) stalwarts to condemn the divisive comments by Ghanas Ambassador to South Africa, George Ayisi-Boateng.

Mr. Ayisi-Boateng recently told members of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) and its student wing, the Tertiary Students Confederacy Network (TESCON) in Kumasi, that they are his priority in his dealings while at his duty post.

He explained that it is by dint of the hard work party loyalists put in, that saw the party recapture power so it will be the right thing to do.

The Ambassador urged other government appointees to do same.

George Ayisi-Boateng

Although the comments have elicited public outrage and condemnation, Mr. Ayisi-Boateng remains resolute about his pronouncements. He has laughed off calls for him to apologise to Ghanaians , many who see the comments as discriminatory.

Mr. Ayisi-Boateng believes he has been taken out of context.

NPP Acting National Chairman, Freddy Blay, also believes Mr. Ayisi-Boateng was taken out of context.

However, Dr. Opuni-Frimpong said the comments by Ghanas High Commissioner to South Africa were undiplomatic and runs counter to the oath taken by President Nana Akufo-Addo on his inauguration day.

Its like the man is still talking. The man is still granting interviews. I would wish NPP heavyweights will distance themselves from that position [and say] that is not NPP, it doesnt represent us, Dr. Opuni-Frimpong said on PM Express, Tuesday.

The reverend minister was not the only person to condemn the comments on the nightly current affairs programme yesterday.

Former Spokesperson for ex-President John Kufuor and the founder of the Centre for Freedom and Accuracy, Andrew Awuni, thinks Mr. Ayisi-Boateng's comments were unfortunate.

"Mr. Ayisi-Boateng is a very experienced man and matured man...I just want to believe that this was one unfortunate act of indiscretion which should not have happened at all," he said.

He said he is surprised that "anybody at all would want to justify the statement."

Meanwhile, calls for President Nana Akufo-Addo to remove Mr. Ayisi-Boateng has been intensifying.

A section of Ghanaians in South Africa has expressed concern about the Mr. Ayisi Boatengs ability to deliver on his mandate in the South Africa.

Chairman of the Ghanaian Community in Johannesburg, Dr. Ellis Ayayee, said "we believe in the general development of Ghana and not a group of people. For that matter, you just can't get up and say I am here to serve the interest of one political group first."
In his era, those who had the presidents ear did a minuscule job and were not good. He lost power the moment he shipped Dr. Tony Aidoo abroad to the Netherlands, Dr. Sulley Gariba to Canada and Mr. Victor Smith to London. And matters will come to a head and Dr. Atuguba will resign so will Mr. Ben Malor as communications strategist who could not put his expertise to use and reverted back to the UN.

What a Cornell Law School professor recently wrote stood out for me here: Politics is, among other things, a discursive practice. Words are actions. In the light of this, Dr. Aidoo, being the domestic policy hawk that he is, his expertise was much needed at home to complement to being a discourse analyst. The expertise of these personalities could have reached the presidents ear and created the desired political impact better than those laggards that wreaked havoc to cause despair among the NDC fraternity.

After all the analysis and reports detailing the cracks, disunity, wrangling, petty squabbles within the party as well as the unmentioned thievery and pilfering, the arrogance, the rudeness and all the unguarded, untoward behaviors of these laggards, suffice to state the Flagstaff house was enough a damp swamp ready to be drained.

Now, a peaceful transition of government has occurred and political lessons will be learnt and imbibed going forward.

One thing is clear: all leaders who ascend to the presidency have the nation at heart and that is why they go all the length in the struggles and sacrifices expended in getting the electorates to sympathize and to vote for them.

So now, we expect growth and prosperity. We had always expected a zero tolerance of corruption. We had always wanted strong institutions to be built and yet we are tired of the zero transparency mantra. We now expect a vision to be crafted for Ghana that will make sense for all Ghanaians to rally around. There is semblance of it in buy made in Ghana stuff. But we need a more integrated, crafted, catchy vision that sets us into motion in patriotism, in honesty, in good values, in innovation, in research, and in development. I mean a type of a vision phrase that permeates everybodys mind at a go.

As for the former president, we dont know whats going on with him. Are we hearing him say he wants to stage a comeback? It appears he isnt done with politics. At least thats what is got from reporters. It looks as if hes coming and hes ready to roll.

Hey Jack! Do you really want to trade-off your political gravitas? Do you really want to do this? At this stage, you have become the darling boy of the international community; the youngest former president who handed over power peacefully after a heaty contested election. This speaks to your integrity and to your stature among the comity of nations.

No wonder, you are representing all over the globe with all the pecks and seals and per diem rates. Gosh! A cool $50k to $100k per outing isnt bad at all? Isnt it?

And above all, your views are respected and considered as final as you present them. You continue to enjoy your office globetrotting with stops in South Africa, Kenya, Liberia, Switzerland, London, Germany and in the USA. This is just the beginning. You barely started. Part of your role as a statesman, as an international diplomat is how you are presented with opportunities and platforms basically to present and influence the world with your knowledge and experience. In the club of former presidents now in Africa, you are the youngest, and were honored recently as the African personality of the year 2016. Such a feat could not have come about dismembered from your achievements in Ghana during your reign. You are now equally mandated to see to basically helping observe and heal disappointing electoral processes in various countries to which you will be assigned.

In your role, expectations are high and we, the citizens genuinely want to see you contribute to society. In the opinion of this paper, it will be in your interest to shelf any come back calls. Many reasons account for why and I cant present them here. But suffice to state that the current president and his team are poised for a transformation of the country. His Excellency, Nana Akufo Addo with his ambition could even build on his achievements to do extremely well that staging a comeback will look a stupid effort.

Cletus D Kuunifaa

TMC Group

Can be contacted at [email protected] or follow him on [email protected]
The Danish Foreign Affairs Minister, Anders Samuelsen, has stated that until a country lifts its people out of poverty to a larger middle class society, the population will not be concerned about a better environment, since they will be much more concerned about how to get their daily bread.

Anders Samuelsen said this in an interview with Citi FM's Director of News Programming, and Host of the award-winning Citi Breakfast Show, Bernard Avle, and Portia Sonia Adoley Gabor of TV3 in Denmark, ahead of the Danish Queen's historic visit to Ghana.

Denmark has earned global repute for its environmentally-friendly policies which have helped it maintain a 'green' outlook despite its industrial prowess, something other countries have tried and failed to achieve.

The Danish Minister believes that industrialization, whilst generally making the lives of the citizens better, will also result in more attention being given to the protection of the environment.

Ghana in particular has had challenges addressing environmental issues, with one of the recent fights being waged against illegal miming, which is destroying water bodies and forest reserves.

In the case of the illegal mining fight for instance, the perpetrators, who consider it a survival issue, appear unconcerned, and they are not perturbed about government's decision to stop them with the excuse of saving the environment and water bodies from destruction.

Whilst admitting that transition to an industrialized nation might initially have challenges, the Danish Minister believes the eventual shift to a middle-class economy as a result, would be hugely beneficial to the population and would ensure that a lot more focus is given to the environment.

When you get a middle class, you'll have pressure to have a better environment. As long as people are very poor and only think about survival and getting to their next meal and take care of their kids, that is more important than the environment. When you move your population into being part of the middle class  what we've noticed in Denmark is, when we become richer, we become more focused on the environment, he said.

You have to lift your people out of poverty, have a well-functioning democracy, and then you'll see that with education, you'' lift your people out of poverty into the middle class and that's what's going on in Ghana at the moment.

Free trade key to poverty eradication

Mr. Anders Samuelsen thus emphasized the importance of free trade in the eradication of poverty in developing countries like Ghana.

According to him, great strides have already been made to reduce world poverty in recent years on the back of limited restriction of trade between nations.

Free trade is very important for small countries like Denmark, but I guess that goes for all countries around the world as well. What we're seeing is a tremendous move away from a situation where we have 40% of the world's population living below the level of not being able to support themselves according to the United Nations figures. In 25 years, we've been able to bring it down below 10 percent, Anders Samuelsen said.

We would not have been able to do this without free trade. We would have to keep focus on creating a situation where people keep getting educated, and that is the way forward. Of course, moving from aid to trade is difficult, but it's the only way forward.

The visit by Ghanaian journalists to Denmark

The 3-day press trip to Denmark for the four selected Ghanaian journalists , is in preparation for the visit of the Danish Queen to Ghana, on November 23  24, 2017.

The press trip from October 30 to November 2, 2017, comes with a comprehensive program, including a unique opportunity for a press conference with Her Majesty the Queen.

It will also include visits to businesses and cultural locations in Copenhagen and its surroundings.

Background

At the invitation of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Denmark's Head of State, Her Majesty the Queen, will visit Ghana from 23  24 November on an official State Visit .

The State Visit will emphasize and consolidate the long-standing and well-established relations between Ghana and Denmark, while at the same time marking the gradual transition of the relations from aid to trade.

The Queen will be accompanied by a Danish business delegation within three focus sectors, namely food & agriculture, sustainability, maritime, infrastructure and railways.

Ghana and Denmark have enjoyed strong commercial ties over the years, and this visit by the Queen, is expected to strengthen those bonds.

The Danish Queen is expected to attend the opening of the conference and pay visits to several local business and cultural institutions.
Dr. Kingsley Nyarko, Executive Director, Danquah Institute

01.11.2017 LISTEN

At the first semester's first General Meeting and Freshers' Orientation of the Tertiary Students Confederacy of the New Patriotic Party (TESCON) branch of the University College of Management Studies (UCOMS) on Saturday 28th October, 2017, the Executive Director of the Danquah Institute(DI), Dr. Kingsley Nyarko noted that the contribution of TESCON since its inauguration at KNUST in January, 2000 has been very outstanding towards the growth and sustainability of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) under the Fourth Republic.

He indicated that the resounding victory chalked by the President at the last polls, was largely due to the youth, particularly members of TESCON--both past and present. Records actually point to the fact that it was only after the formation of TESCON that the NPP won its first Presidential Elections under the Fourth Republic in December 2000, and it has since then played tremendous roles in all the subsequent elections.

Moreover, the DI Boss noted that, despite their huge achievements, they still have a lot to do for both party and country. He said it is very wrong for any group of persons to address their concerns through violence, vandalism, and other forms of illegalities. Dr. Nyarko said he was of this view because such was very contrary to the ideology, values and principles of the NPP since they have the tendency of tarnishing the image of the party, the President, and the country as well as the possibility of making the attainment of power or holding onto power difficult. He rather advised them to always consider using the party structures in accordance with the party's constitution in addressing their concerns. According to him, violence is not part of the tradition; it is alien to it.

He argued, "In 1992, when we felt cheated in the presidential ballot, we didn't fight, but wrote the stolen verdict; likewise when we were not satisfied with the outcome of the 2012 elections, we headed to the courts." He continued, "Our leaders have always held unto the rule of law and respect for the dignity of man." We don't build societies on violence, but virtues, tenacity of purpose and hard work.

On their core roles as TESCON members, he summarized them under Development, Dissemination and Defence.

Under Development, he explained that it was very important for members of TESCON to develop their intellectual capacity through the acquisition of knowledge in relation to the Party and society. They need to gain a mastery of the party's constitution, manifesto, and should also be very abreast with all the issues in society particularly, Ghana. He also admonished them to be diligent and study hard to excel in their academics.

With respect to Dissemination, he emphasised that after their acquisition of knowledge and its mastery, there is the need for them to share it with society with better analysis and explanation, so as to help break any propaganda machinery of the opposition Political Parties, and also educate and convince the public about the policies and programs of the Government and Party.

Finally on defence, he said defending the Party was the only way to continually help keep the Party in government for a very long time. He said, you need to defend the record of the government, the policies and programs; talk about the free SHS, the restoration of the cancelled allowances, the digital property addressing system, among others. He stated that any time the party is in power, the country sees tremendous improvement in the various sectors of the economy. He cited Ex-President John Agyekum Kufuor to buttress his assertion. He further pointed out that facts available show that Ghana attained its biggest socioeconomic turn around when the party started its rule from 2001, after which it totally got messed up when the National Democratic Congress (NDC) took over from 2009.

Furthermore, he advised the members to work hard and continue to sacrifice for the Party because just as majority of the former TESCON members like Sammy Awuku, Hon. Isaac Asiamah, Francis Asenso Boakye, Emmanual Attafuah Danso and many others have been duly rewarded for their hard work and service, in the not too distant future, they will also be rewarded.

The DI Boss praised H.E Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo- Addo for his leadership style, and was of a strong conviction that due to the way he has been working, the nation's anticipated socioeconomic transformation will happen very soon.

He also expressed his great admiration for the High Commissioner to South Africa, H.E Ayisi Boateng who was the Guest of Honour at the program, for his immense contribution towards the growth of the Party in the Region since its formation, and the huge role he played in the massive victory of the party in the last general elections. He went on to say H.E. Ayisi Boateng is someone he has been looking up to for a very long time and that he is one of the greatest assets of the party in the region and country that we cannot afford to lose.

H.E Ayisi Boateng popularly referred to as "Onipa Nua" endorsed most of the points raised by Dr. Nyarko, and even used some as the basis for his analysis during his speech. He also thanked the DI Executive Director for his commitment and dedication to the course of the Party, and the country and his propagation of the core values of the party. He further advised him to never deviate from them.

He also advised the TESCON members to work hard and serve the Party diligently because the Party is the only hope for them, their family, friends and Ghana as whole, but also admonished them never to attempt forming or joining any group with the aim of mobilizing former TESCON members after their completion of school, since it would run parallel to NPP's Constitution, but they should rather join the main stream party and partake in its activities in their respective constituencies and regions.

He finally advised them to join the Civil Service anytime there is an employment avenue in that sector since there are career pathways there.

In the company of Dr. Kingsley Nyarko were Kweku Adusei, Gideon Nana Yaw Opoku and Nana Kwadwo Akwaa.

Other notably personalities who were present at the program were Mr Kweku Nsiah(Patron of TESCON-UCOM) and Francis Adomako(Ashanti Regional Organiser Aspirant).
The youth wing of " Pillars for Subin" wish to bring to the attention of the general public and in particular, those berating His Excellency Ayisi Boateng for speaking the obvious truth that, we affirm our unflinching support to the comments of His Excellency Ayisi Boateng , the Ambassador to South Africa.

We see no harm in the statement he made especially on a political platform where he needed to inspire hope and confidence in the young party faithfuls there especially where TESCON happens to be one of the intellectual youth wing of the party which worked very hard for the party when we were in opposition.

Mr. Ayisi Boateng has worked closely with the youth of the party, he has groomed many young men in the party for ages even when we were in opposition, why must he now turn his back to the youth that were used during the campaign.

Most of the Youth in our polling stations worked their heart out and deserve better.

If your child slept in the bush, if your child at one-point was threatened by the NDC, you may probably take the lead to demonstrate peacefully and thank Mr. Ayisi Boateng for his comment.

Those calling for him to be sacked should first ask what they did with power when Ghanaians gave them the mandate. For Okudjeto and his the NDC, we are aware they want to regain confidence among the youth because they failed woefully when they were in government . How many of the babies with sharp teeth were axed out from Mahama's government after they betrayed the hard work of their youth and Ghanaian youth at large.

Those who seek for Mr. Ayisi to be sacked should again ask if there were no other Ghanaians who were by far competent than them but were sidelined for their interest.

Indeed, power belongs to people and NPP Youth are also part of Ghanaians who deserve to be given job opportunities for their hard work.

We the Youth in Subin Constituency, believe in Mr. Ayisi Boateng and we equally thank the President for trusting his competence. If the NDC has learnt lessons now, they should show their competence as a worthy opposition party for Ghana to experience the great works of His Excellency Abotare Hene Nana Addo Danquah Akuffo-Addo.

Ghana surely is working again.

Long live Mr. Ayisi Boateng

Long live NPP Youth

Long live Subin Constituency

Long live Pillars of Subin Youth Wing

Long live Ghana.
I have been referred to an adjudicating officer for a service enquiry for writing an open letter to the president, H.E Nana Akuffo Addo on 8th June 2017 and I need to interrogate it properly to know whether there is no political underpinnings, machinations and manipulations.

Yes! This is Ghana where everything is politically possible because this is not the first time I have written an open letter to a president. That time nobody even gave me a word of caution so what has changed?

I have also been charged for not using the approved administrative channel to address my grievances as a police officer but the question is was I addressing grievances or expressing views and opinions on an issue that is of a paramount interest to the ordinary Ghanaian if not the police service? May be I should have sent my open letter to the police headquarters for them to distribute them individually to over 30 million Ghanaians themselves since open letters are meant for public consumption though it may be addressed to one person. The police officer is still locked in a cage when it comes to expression of views, opinions, thoughts and conscience as guarantees by the constitution as his/her fundamental human rights and this is not helping the growth and development of our police service. We are still misocaineaic. In other jurisdictions, the police are forming unions and even endorsing presidential candidates and here we are chasing a police officer for writing an open letter to the president in a free democratic space. Ah well !

Per claims of the charges, the open letter was likely to cause a political controversy. The open letter which seems to have brought all the good news to the police service as well as insurance packages of Ghc 50, 000. 00 and Ghc 25, 000.00 per each police officer is rather causing political controversies? What a woooow! What about those police officers who have openly declared their political stands to an extent that some went and contested for political party primaries and lost? What are about those who openly endorsed the candidature of H.E John Dramani Mahama prior to the 2016 elections at the flagstaff house?

Is it because I don't have any political backing or what? May be I should look for one to join so that my crimes will be grossed over just like others. I will definitely find one since those who openly make a political choice are immune from some of these needless service enquiries. I am beginning to believe it is a political chase and not an ordinary service enquiry meant to instill discipline. People have done worst and yet they are walking free.

It makes me ask, what about those I wrote to H.E. John Dramani Mahama, the Speaker of Parliament and the Chief Justice at the time? Were there no disciplinary authorities in the police service then? Was it that John Dramani Mahama's administration led by Mr. Mohammed Alhassan and Mr. John Kudalor as IGPs were tolerant to freedom of speech and expression in the police service? What is so unique about the one I wrote to H.E Nana Akuffo Addo that has attracted a service enquiry from the others?

Is it political persecution or just an ordinary case of selective application of disciplinary measures borne out of vindictiveness and victimisation as it has always been in the police service? More questions than answers there.

This service enquiry whether politically motivated or not, is only going to add up to the stock of experience I have already acquired as a young police officer and fortify me in my future endeavours in the police service and other public life. It will give me the opportunity to take up new challenges both in the police service and outside the police service and a sense of new focus, direction and new beginnings. Service enquiry itself is not a problem but when it comes a plot and grand schemes to destroy police officers on purpose, then it leaves a lot to be desired and its disciplinary purpose is completely defeated. It becomes a tool for threats and intimidations.

Whatever may be the outcome of my service enquiry will be a source of great strength to me. Be it dismissal, reduction in rank, severe reprimand or whatever it is, is only a test of faith and those of us who have the "mustard seed" faith will always prevail and triumph. If I should be exonerated from all the frivolous and capricious charges levelled against me too, it's still going to add some kind of vatality to my strength and my struggles in the police service against vindictiveness and victimisation. Whichever way that it goes, Ahanta Apemenyimheneba Kwofie III is mentally fit and psychologically prepared for it. No worries at all.

Immediately a police officer hears of service enquiries, he or she gets scared because it is lifeline to his/her deadline as far as policing is concerned. You are step closer to dismissal, an inch to reduction in rank and if nothing at all, delay in promotions. It brings frustration to a lot more, the mentally and psychologically weak ones take to severe alcoholism to cut short their frustrations. Sadly, they die before their time but those that survive the "brushes" of service enquiry live to tell a story that not every police officer can tell. It's a complete story.

It is worst when you are interdicted and left to rot. They will interdict you and forget you whilst they work to earn their full salaries even though the current regulations indicates that after three months of interdiction without trial, the IGP should lift the interdiction and allow you to do your work. Oh! Oh !! Oh !!! How I wish I was interdicted before this so called premeditated, predetermined and preconceived service enquiries? We would have seen that the courts are powerful than the police service and seen how we can compel the police service to do the right things through judicial remedies. The police service is not an island on its own but rather a creature of the constitution so the constitution supercedes it. It's four months since I wrote that open letter which resulted in my transfer from the police headquarters to Abokobi just within one and half weeks on arrival. What again in the name of service enquiry if it is not a calculated agenda probably borne from political persecution?

Service enquiries is like "kakamotobi" or a scarecrow that no police officer wants to go closer to. It's a problem when your service enquiry is orchestrated by the CENTRAL DISCIPLINARY BOARD like in my case. Your chances of proving your innocence is very slim because only God knows the number of times crunch meetings have been held on your head and finally a decision is made to put you on trial. In such cases there is an intense pressure on the adjudicating officers or whoever that will try you because it already looks predetermined and preconceived trial that you are not likely to escape what they have already planned about you.

Another problem with the CENTRAL DISCIPLINARY BOARD orchestrating your trial is that they become like JUDGES IN THEIR OWN CASES. Even if the adjudicating officer should exonerate you, they have the power, authority, capacity and capability to OUT-TURN the decision of the adjudicating officer and slap you with a punishment they deem fit in their own senses and wisdoms. How fair is this one? We have therefore seen in many cases where adjudicating officers exonerate defendants but the CENTRAL DISCIPLINARY BOARD either reduces you in rank, give you severe reprimand or in extreme cases have you dismissed. It is the reasons why many police officers fear service enquiries and thereby becoming the biggest tool to intimidate and victimise many police officer.

I am not being held because I have gone to rob, steal or sell a cocaine with my police uniform or committed any heinous crime that has brought shame and reproach to the police service. In fact, what I did has rather brought an enormous benefits to every police officer so it is a matter of conscience and I leave it to those who have levelled the capricious charges against me. I am being held because I have stood against oppress, suppression, acts of vindictiveness and victimisation but to be an exceptional police officer, you need a special courage and a strong mindset that cannot be conquered with threats and intimidation like this service enquiry. You need a scar borne out of attacks and this service enquiryis one of such scars.

Initially I made up my mind not to even appear before the adjudicating officer but I have also come to realise that it is a test of faith and baptism of fire that I must go through to become a refined and complete police officer. The question still remains whether it is just an ordinary service enquiry involving a police officer or political persecution?

If it is the usual police trial and their selective application of disciplinary measures borne out of vindictiveness and victimisation, then it is long overdue. I have been expecting it.

It intrigues.

Ahanta Apemenyimheneba Kwofie III [email protected]

#Ahantadiaries_01_11_17
01.11.2017 LISTEN

It has come to the notice of we the National Service Persons (NSP) of Ghana for the 2017/18 service year that the leadership of the National Service Persons Association (NASPA) in collaboration with GLICO and MTN are planning to roll out an insurance package for which a monthly deduction of 15.00ghc is going to be made each month from our meagre allowances without any prior consent of we the affected service persons.

We wish to alert the government, NSS, NASPA and all other stakeholders involved that this decision is against our fundamental human rights and freedom. We are all not in agreement over this move hence should be discouraged. It must not be allowed. You cannot sign us up for an insurance package by compulsion. Our opinions were also not sought for. The executives of NASPA cannot take such a decision which grossly affects our monies without consulting us. What would happen to our deductions at the end of the service year? Do they know our individual plans and whether or not we have already insured ourselves?

An insurance is supposed to be a means of protection from financial loss. It is a form of risk management primarily used to hedge against the risks of a contingent, or uncertain losses. The loss may or may not be financial, but it must be reducible to financial terms, and must involve something in which the insured has an insurable interest established by ownership, possession, or preexisting relationship.

Inasmuch as we appreciate the efforts of NSS for trying to seek our welfare, we wish to state categorically that this particular package is a daylight robbery if the deductions are made compulsory hence should be discouraged immediately or we follow the appropriate procedures to challenge it in court.

In principle, one would have to understand how an insurance package works before subscribing to it. Two of the most important components of all the insurance policies are the premium and the deductible. A firm understanding of these two concepts goes a long way to helping one in choosing a policy that is best for him or her. It is a risk which should not be made compulsory hence nobody should decide for us.

We are therefore appealing to the authorities of NSS, NASPA and the government to make this insurance package optional. We know what is good for us so whether an individual decides to subscribe to this package or not, he or she would be prepared to bear the consequences. Do not compel us to subscribe or impose the deductions on us.

How much is our monthly allowance before so much unnecessary deductions are going to be imposed on us? Earlier, we heard rumours that the NASPA executives are going to sanction deductions on the allowance to offset our dues. This is also against our fundamental freedom of association. We must not be compelled to do certain things against our interest just because the constitution demands that we render a mandatory service to the nation.

As the constitution demands, we are serving the nation with our strengths and skills for which we are paid less.

The Ghanaian government can equally raise a seed money to insure us without having to deduct from our meagre allowances.

Thank you.

AKORTOR, Cephas K.

On behalf of all the concerned National Service Persons of Ghana
01.11.2017 LISTEN

Yes, He said the truth and the truth may set us free from the humanitarian crisis epidemic. The truth is Foreign Affairs & Diplomatic Cooperation, which will intervene among the Bangladesh and Myanmar recently crisis fall in the Rakhain/Rohingya refugees issues whoever flees from Myanmar to Bangladesh that total volume of mayanmar Muslim refugees are One Million.

Bangladesh formally joined to the One Belt One Road Under the initiative which comprises the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road in October 2016 during Chinese President Xi Jingping's Bangladesh visit. At the same time the project declared the 2017 as Year of Friendship & Exchange. Bangladesh & China signed a MoU and President Ci Xingping said about Higher Level Exchange between China & Bangladesh and among others countries of the ancient silk rout & maritime belt.

In the present circumstance, Bangladesh have to responsive & responsible towards conduct/implement the action plan/activities in the suitable ways. In the global political platform & diplomatic language, "we didn't understand, or can't, or any abnormal behaviour shouldn't acceptable but very responsible & responsive conduct may acceptable. We immediately, Bangladesh have to pushback all Buddhist living in Bangladesh to Myanmar and/or others countries like China, korea, japan, etc. Because it may be best of higher level exchange of promised Road & Belt Initiative contract.

Once a pupil asked to Buddha, What is virtue? He said, The Welfare! Full of kindness & compassionate for the welfare of all embracing network of views.

**author**

Md. Hasanuzzaman Talukdar Shemul (Hatashe)

Program Specialist/Consultant/Expert

Foundation and Development (FND)

Asian Development Bank (ADB)

National Center for States Courts (NCSC)

European Union's Department of Science, Innovation & Research (EU DIR)

NATO Codification

South Asian Representative of Modern Ghana Media Group
01.11.2017 LISTEN

Yes, those for whom change is threatening, yesterday is more comforting than tomorrow but those of us who welcome change have faith in the change that is happening. In fact, our faith is like a rock amid shifting sands. Very solid. In a matter of ten months, the change that we wished for is happening and people are threatened because they hate change. They never dreamt that the pendulum could swing left.

There was this guy who once asked me how I manage to get a topic to write every week and I told him that so long as the NDC remains as a political party in this country, I will get a topic to write every week. Communicators of the NDC always give me bullets to fire. As long as they continue to provoke confrontation, I will continue to write. After all, why am I Angel Gabriel? What encourages me is that majority of readers of this column are NDC supporters. Anytime I open my email they try to screw with me and that is what I like most. Nobody screws with me and goes without getting his fare share of my angelic pie.

The President Akufo-Addo administration was given four years to deliver the campaign promises but the NDC apparatchiks want to see things done at a go. How can that be possible? The NPP campaigned on the wings of seven flagship programmes and in ten months three of them have kick-started. The nursing trainee allowances have been restored and SHS is FREE. Half of the huge debt incurred by the John Mahama led administration at the National Health Insurance Scheme has been cleared and the scheme is back on track. Even though not all the districts have a factory, strategic investors are fervently preparing to hit the road while others have started. You don't expect factories to start sprouting in all the districts like mushrooms on ant hills in a matter of ten months.

Recently, the President went to Equatorial Guinea to sign a Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU). The President of Equatorial Guinea has agreed to supply LNG for fifteen years. When that happens, Ghana will have enough gas to power our thermal plants. That is when the NDC will realize that the cost of electricity has come down. Good governance is about planning and Nana's team is made up of astute planners. What NDC communicators have failed to realize is that building a dam in a village is not done during rainy seasons. It is done during the dry seasons and so the promise of one village, one dam will surely come to pass, by the grace of God. As for the teacher trainee allowance it is a matter of time and the NDC will know that the country is in able hands. From the way things are going, I am sure by the time the four-year term given to the Nana Addo administration to deliver the promises ends, everything will be done and the NDC will have nothing to complain about.

The NDC communicators seem to be wearing wooden spectacles because they do not see anything that is happening in this country. They do not know that anytime they destructively criticize the new administration, they become a laughing stock. People have wised up and discerning enough to read between the lines. Dr. Bawumia and his Economic Team are revving up the economy and people know and admire what the gentleman and his team are doing. When the government introduced the paperless transactions at the ports recently, NDC communicators jumped on the neck of the government, saying it won't work and when the system started yielding results they kept mute. The government is plugging holes here and there and that is not good for the NDC because their people who used to milk the cow dry are no more milking the lean cow and the cow is putting up weight having been well fed by the Bawumia team for the past ten months.

Come to my holy village and see how the Planting for Food and Jobs are working. All what a farmer has to do is to prepare his or her land. Agric Extension Officers will then visit the farm land and ascertain the number of bags of fertilizers the farmer may need. Fertilizers which are being sold at GH100 a bag at the open market is given to the farmer at half the price. Even then the farmer is made to pay GH25.00 and goes away with the fertilizer. The farmer is required to pay the balance of GH25.00 after harvesting his or her crop. It was the NDC government under the Mills/Mahama administration that killed the Fertilizer Subsidy programme introduced by the Kufuor administration. Today, the Akufo-Addo administration has brought smiles back on the faces of farmers and they are very grateful. One interesting thing is that a farmer's political leaning has nothing to do with the acquisition of fertilizers. Ask farmers in the Volta Region where the NPP can boast of only one seat in parliament! They are all full of praises for Nana Addo.

There is an old saying that if you don't have problems, then you don't have a job. President Nana Akufo Addo knows there are problems and as such a job to be done. He also knows that being a president is a patriotic duty. You see, one cannot prove his merit on quiet waters. You need to focus on your goals, not your problems. Accomplished achievers do not go where the path may lead them but instead they go to where there is no path. And this is exactly what our president is doing. Those who are pessimists should hold their breath because we all have different ways of accomplishing things. Some people may deliberate over a matter for a long time and then move quickly and some people make a quick decision and then take a long time getting around acting upon it. President Akufo Addo belongs to the former. That is why the sages say 'to each his own'. At the end of the day results are what matter. The problem is that we usually only see the end result and not the process. The bottom line is clearly the bottom line. Those who continue to whine can continue to do so but what they should understand is that a galloping horse has no time to lose.

THE MADNESS IN THE STOMACHS OF VIGILANTE GROUPS

The inspector General of Police (IGP) and the Ghana Police Service in general are not doing the country any good. Heads must begin to roll to serve as a deterrent to other officers who will sit down for vigilante groups, irrespective of whatever political groupings they belong to, to take the country back into the wish-to-be-forgotten revolutionary days when impunity was the order of the day. Yes, it is true the NDC vigilante groups like the notorious Azoka Boys did worse things when the NDC came to power in 2009 but should we allow this madness to continue? The leadership of these vigilante groups eventually become fabulously rich while their followers, the 'yoo yoo boys' continue to wallow in poverty. Mr Sofo Azoka became a contractor when the NDC was in power and made huge sums of money and built mansions while the boys who were following him continue to suffer. Today, Mr. Sofo Azoka, a former truck pusher was sponsored to go to Mecca to acquire the Alhaji title and now this rubble-rouser is the Northern Regional Chairman of the party. The winner can take it all without hurting the loser. There are many ways of killing a cat. (Apology to Dr. Kwabena Adjei, for NDC National Chairman).

The boldness that the president is using to fight galamsey should be applied to vigilante groups as well. I am aware he has instructed the police to act swiftly and decisively against vigilante groups but he should go further to discipline any district or municipal police commander who will fail to arrest any member of any vigilante group operating in their areas of jurisdiction. What is most annoying is that some of these hooligans operate in broad day light. These vigilante madness will never stop until the police put their feet on the ground and act ruthlessly. I am waiting to see the day a member of a vigilante group will serve time in prison to send a signal to other colleagues that times have changed. I am aware during the days of Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, we had vigilante groups like Action Troopers but the multimillion Ghana Cedi question is: Should we continue to live with the madness? The answer is a big NO! This time around the buck must stop on the table of President Nana Akufo Addo.

Anytime I hear the vigilante groups say they fought for the party to come to power I laugh. People lost their lives during the struggle. Others lost limbs and yet others lost fortunes. Everybody played a role for the party to come to power. Where I cast my vote during the last general election, something very sad happened which I will never forget in my life. I had gone to the polling station to queue around 3.00 AM and I saw three very old ladies already at the Polling State to cast their votes. In the course of a conversation I had with the old ladies, one of them who was about seventy five years told me that her son, a staunch NPP supporter who is living abroad warned her to go early to cast her votes for Nana Akufo Addo and that if she failed to vote he will never send any money to her, hence her reason to wake up at dawn to queue. After casting her vote she fell in a gutter just near the polling station as she was about to cross it. The old lady died instantly. And you tell me you suffered for the party to come to power? Absolute nonsense!! Let any vigilante group strike again and I your irrepressible Earth Angel Gabriel will prove to such fools that the pen is mightier than the sworn. I rest my case for now but as sure as the NDC will lose election 2020, I will be back. Today I am going in for Tusker for Men. (Some of you were born too late to know that brand of cigarette. Ask Alhaji Gomda!)

By Eric Bawah
Tahiru Zakari

01.11.2017 LISTEN

The Karaga Constituency chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Tahiru Zakaria, and three others who were arrested last Friday and released on court bail, are expected to make their maiden appearance at the Tamale District Magistrate Court today.

They were charged with rioting and causing unlawful harm before they were released on court order.

It will be recalled that the Karaga Constituency chairman was arrested with three others  Baba Ali Osman, Mohammed Alhassan and Abdullai Ziblim  on suspicion that they were among those who caused the commotion at Karaga at dawn Wednesday.

The arrest followed the directive given by the president to the police not to allow miscreants to take the law into their hands.

Some angry NPP youth in the Karaga District of the Northern Region sealed off the DCE's office, chased away the Youth Employment Coordinator in the district and set ablaze a motorbike.

They claimed the DCE, Alhassan Yabdow, said he would never work in partnership with Mr Tahiru Zakaria.

The youth accused the DCE of engaging in acts they believed would create divisions and cracks in the NPP in the constituency.

The Northern Regional Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Yussif Mohammed Tanko, who confirmed the arrest to DAILY GUIDE, said the suspects were identified to the police.

According to ASP Tanko, they were arrested on their way from Tamale to Karaga Friday evening and brought back to Tamale.

The police officer indicated that the chairman had earlier refused to honour an invitation by the regional command to assist in investigation.

Meanwhile, security personnel have been stationed in the Karaga District to protect lives and property.

FROM Eric Kombat, Tamale
The Professor Kwesi Botchwey-led Committee that investigated why the National Democratic Congress (NDC) lost the 2016 general elections has indicted the leadership of the party for allowing the then opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) to win votes of the youth, particularly in tertiary institutions.

According to the 13-member Committee's report, the NPP did not only take over control of the youth, but also made inroads into the NDC's youth base.

Party lost its youth at the tertiary institution, the 65-page Executive Summary of the report  which the largest opposition party is keeping like a state secret  confirms on Page 29, explaining that the NDC youth organizer, Siidi Abubakar, was virtually missing in action.

On December 7, during the counting of the ballots, the NPP and its candidate, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Add, won in almost every tertiary institution in the country, but in the case of the NDC, it could manage victories only in the prisons and other detention centres where movements of inmates are highly restricted.

According to the report, Siidi Abubakar was missing in the scheme of affairs in the course of the NDC campaign, while Sammi Awuku (NPP Youth Organiser) was everywhere, saying on Page 36 that The National Youth Organizer was difficult to reach.

Siidi Sidelined

Siidi Abubakar, in the course of the campaign, appeared sidelined and movie actors like John Dumelo and Clement Bonney aka Mr. Beautiful, took the centre stage of the campaign.

Dumelo was later allegedly rewarded with a state Toyota Landcruiser V8 vehicle which was later retrieved from him by the current NPP administration in his attempt to conceal it.

John Dumelo, for instance, was given unfettered access to senior high schools (SHSs) in the country to propagate the Mahama second term agenda, even though the (NDC) government created the impression that the actor was going round the schools to give peace talks to the students ahead of the election.

During the launch of the official NDC campaign in Cape Coast, the Central Regional capital, for instance, where Mahama delayed the programme for several hours, it was John Dumelo who took the centre stage instead of the National Youth Organizer  even speaking after former President Jerry John Rawlings  who founded the NDC  had delivered his speech, in a clear breach of protocol.

TEIN Neglect

According to the Botchwey report, the formation of what the committee called 'amorphous groups' to campaign for the NDC and then President John Mahama's second term bid ended up destroying known institutions in the party such as the Tertiary Educational Institutions Network (TEIN)  a students' wing of the party.

The amorphous groups took over the work of TEIN, the report says on Page 36, adding, The party could not organize item 13 (small chops) for TEIN programmes anytime there was an NDC programme on the campuses although there were budgets allocated.

Students' Factor

The report says that the NDC could not mobilize for students voter registration and transfer during EC national exercise, adding, about 80 percent of Accra Technical University were NPP polling agents on election day.

According to the report, the NDC did not have any plan for TEIN, saying, The Youth Organizer did not have any plan for TEIN across the country.

There was usually no budget to support TEIN programmes after several attempts were made to reach the National Youth Organizer.

UPSA Case

The report indicates that the NDC lost about 900 people in the University of Professional Studies Accra (UPSA) where Professor Joshua Alabi was the Rector and said the students could not obtain transport to go and vote on Election Day.

The report also indicts then NDC MP for Madina, Amadu Sorogho, whose jurisdiction covers UPSA, saying there was complacency on his part. He eventually lost the seat to the opposition.

MP was complacent in the Madina Constituency, the report observes, adding, His NPP counterpart (Boniface Abubakar Saddique) was praying with students on campus.

Appointees' Attitude

It also says that the poor attitude by government appointees towards the youth was a factor in bringing apathy in the NDC.

The report has already revealed how some NDC gurus, with the blessing of the Mahama presidency, formed many groups to campaign for his (Mahama's) second term bid but none of those involved were not real party members.

None of the amorphous groups were NDC members, the report reveals on page 28, adding shockingly that NPP (then opposition) infiltrated the NDC's ranks and built these groups to execute their agenda within the NDC.

Groups like Girls Girls for Mahama, Zongo Girls for Mahama, Zongo for Mahama, Youth for Mahama, Celebrities for Mahama, Mahama Ladies, I Choose JM, Ambassadors for Mahama, Doves for Mahama and others, were formed with massive resources at their disposal to prosecute the agenda, which failed woefully in the end as Ghanaians overwhelmingly rejected Mahama.

By William Yaw Owusu
The United States embassy in Asmara has issued a warning about protests and gunfire in the Eritrean capital, though details of the rare bout of unrest remain unclear.

Eritrea is one of the world's most repressive countries and demonstrations are uncommon, but the embassy had on Tuesday issued a statement about "gunfire at several locations in Asmara due to protests".

"The Embassy advises US citizens to avoid the downtown area where protests appear to be more prevalent. Streets in the downtown area may be closed, and police continue to maintain a significant presence," the embassy said.

Video footage circulating on social media, purported to be from Asmara, showed people running down streets as rapid gunfire boomed.

In a posting on Twitter, Eritrea's Information Minister Yemane Gebremeskel said a "small demonstration by one school in Asmara" was "dispersed without any casualty". In an angrily dismissive message, he insisted it was "hardly breaking news" which had claimed no casualties.

Eritrean website, Asmarino, said the protest was triggered by government plans to nationalise a private Islamic school, with pro-government site Madote saying it is part of an ambition to "secularise" the country's education.

Contacted by AFP on Wednesday, Eritrea's representative to the African Union (AU) declined to comment on the protests or the government's response to them.

The government of President Isaias Afewerki maintains tight control over Eritrea, which has no independent media and is ranked second-to-last in terms of press freedom by Reporters Without Borders.

The country is among Africa's poorest, and hundreds of thousands of people have fled in recent years because of poor job prospects and a national service programme that consigns young people into government work for little or no pay.

Tiny Eritrea sees national service as essential to protect itself from its much larger neighbour Ethiopia, from which it seceded in 1993. Five years later, the two countries fought a costly two-year-long border war that left tens of thousands dead.
The Danish Foreign Affairs Minister, Anders Samuelsen, has stated that until a country lifts its people out of poverty to a larger middle class society, the population will not be concerned about a better environment, since they will be much more concerned about how to get their daily bread.

Anders Samuelsen said this in an interview with Citi FM's Director of News Programming, and Host of the award-winning Citi Breakfast Show, Bernard Avle, and Portia Sonia Adoley Gabor of TV3 in Denmark, ahead of the Danish Queen's historic visit to Ghana.

Denmark has earned global repute for its environmentally-friendly policies which have helped it maintain a 'green' outlook despite its industrial prowess, something other countries have tried and failed to achieve.

The Danish Minister believes that industrialization, whilst generally making the lives of the citizens better, will also result in more attention being given to the protection of the environment.

Ghana in particular has had challenges addressing environmental issues, with one of the recent fights being waged against illegal miming, which is destroying water bodies and forest reserves.

In the case of the illegal mining fight for instance, the perpetrators, who consider it a survival issue, appear unconcerned, and they are not perturbed about government's decision to stop them with the excuse of saving the environment and water bodies from destruction.

Whilst admitting that transition to an industrialized nation might initially have challenges, the Danish Minister believes the eventual shift to a middle-class economy as a result, would be hugely beneficial to the population and would ensure that a lot more focus is given to the environment.

When you get a middle class, you'll have pressure to have a better environment. As long as people are very poor and only think about survival and getting to their next meal and take care of their kids, that is more important than the environment. When you move your population into being part of the middle class  what we've noticed in Denmark is, when we become richer, we become more focused on the environment, he said.

You have to lift your people out of poverty, have a well-functioning democracy, and then you'll see that with education, you'' lift your people out of poverty into the middle class and that's what's going on in Ghana at the moment.

Free trade key to poverty eradication

Mr. Anders Samuelsen thus emphasized the importance of free trade in the eradication of poverty in developing countries like Ghana.

According to him, great strides have already been made to reduce world poverty in recent years on the back of limited restriction of trade between nations.

Free trade is very important for small countries like Denmark, but I guess that goes for all countries around the world as well. What we're seeing is a tremendous move away from a situation where we have 40% of the world's population living below the level of not being able to support themselves according to the United Nations figures. In 25 years, we've been able to bring it down below 10 percent, Anders Samuelsen said.

We would not have been able to do this without free trade. We would have to keep focus on creating a situation where people keep getting educated, and that is the way forward. Of course, moving from aid to trade is difficult, but it's the only way forward.

The visit by Ghanaian journalists to Denmark

The 3-day press trip to Denmark for the four selected Ghanaian journalists , is in preparation for the visit of the Danish Queen to Ghana, on November 23  24, 2017.

The press trip from October 30 to November 2, 2017, comes with a comprehensive program, including a unique opportunity for a press conference with Her Majesty the Queen.

It will also include visits to businesses and cultural locations in Copenhagen and its surroundings.

Background

At the invitation of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Denmark's Head of State, Her Majesty the Queen, will visit Ghana from 23  24 November on an official State Visit .

The State Visit will emphasize and consolidate the long-standing and well-established relations between Ghana and Denmark, while at the same time marking the gradual transition of the relations from aid to trade.

The Queen will be accompanied by a Danish business delegation within three focus sectors, namely food & agriculture, sustainability, maritime, infrastructure and railways.

Ghana and Denmark have enjoyed strong commercial ties over the years, and this visit by the Queen, is expected to strengthen those bonds.

The Danish Queen is expected to attend the opening of the conference and pay visits to several local business and cultural institutions.



By: Ebenezer Afanyi Dadzie/citifmonline.com/Ghana
The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) has removed unauthorised structures close to the Achimota Old Station.

The exercise which took place last Friday, was at the behest of the Accra Mayor, Mohammed Adjei Sowah, and forms part of the Assemblys initiative to rid the city of illegal structures and the Presidents vision to make Accra the cleanest in Africa.

The Mayor of Accra cautioned all those selling on pavements and roads in the Metropolis that their activities were contrary to AMA Street Hawking bye-laws 2011 adding that hawking in the middle of the road was against the bye-laws as well as the Road Traffic (Amendment) Act, 2008(Act 761) Section 29(2).

The Mayor appealed to the hawkers on the pavement to vacate the place immediately to pave way for pedestrian and vehicular movement. He urged all residents in Accra to be law abiding and work hard to make the capital safe, clean and beautiful.

He also expressed concerns over the unauthorised parking of vehicles on pavements and roads especially by mechanical shops and car garage owners and admonished them to desist from such practices and remove all vehicles from the shoulders of roads.

Mr. Sowah assured that the Assembly would follow due process in the discharge of its duties.
Members of the Ghana Small Scale Oil Palm Producers Association (GSSOPPA) have appealed to government to extend their contract with the State for the supply of palm oil to Senior High Schools (SHS) under the free SHS policy.

GSSOPPA's contract with the State is expected to expire in September 2018, but the Association in an interaction with journalists on Wednesday in Accra said the contract must be extended to enable them control the oil palm prices on the market.

Spokesperson for the Association, Amaning Paul, indicated that since his outfit commenced its contract with the State on September 7, 2017, over 70 percent of Senior High Schools across the country received their full delivery of palm oil for the first term of the 2017/2018 academic year.

Giving the regional breakdown of the distribution, he said the Volta Region had received 50 percent, Central, 30 percent, Ashanti 80 percent, Eastern 60 percent, and Northern Region, 5 percent, among others.

We are confident that by 15th November, 2017 every senior high school in Ghana would have received its full supply for the term, he said.

Plans are far advanced in expanding 10 existing and new local factories within the belt and equipping our members with managerial skills to manage effectively these facilities, he disclosed.

According to him, the Association has partnered three Japanese investors- CDC, KMC and Pro Seed- to assist in the production of palm oil to a daily production rate of 400 gallons and that within six months, 80,000 gallons will be produced to meet our demands.

An estimated 625 metric tons of oil palm is to be distributed by the association to schools nationwide per term.

Estimated Jobs

Per our projections with government assistance, GSSOPPA will create about 50,000 direct jobs and 350,000 indirect jobs and support farmers with seedlings and the right technology for maximum palm nut yield, Mr. Paul indicated.

The Association has also appealed to the various headmasters and authorities in all secondary schools to cooperate with its distributors nationwide to make the policy effective.

By Melvin Tarlue
The Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development (MOFAD), in collaboration with the Ghana Sustainable Fisheries Management Project (SFMP) and United States Agency for International Development (USAID), has presented 20 artisanal insulated containers to the National Fish Processors and Traders Association (NAFPTA).

Elizabeth Naa Afoley Quaye, Minister for MOFAD, who addressed members of the NAFPTA at a brief ceremony held at Manhean, Tema recently, indicated that the containers would be distributed to fish processing sites in the country.

The Minister mentioned some of the beneficiary communities as Tema C1 (Maame Nfante), Tema C2 (Awonga), Moree, Sekondi, Apam, Keta and Ketu in the Greater Accra, Central, Western and Volta Regions respectively.

She explained that the containers are expected to be used by the NAFPTA members to help store fish while ensuring that they (NAFPTA) supply the market with safe and quality fish for consumers.

In an effort to help to introduce safe methods in the fish processing industry, plans are far advanced by the ministry to introduce new types of ovens that would help eliminate the practice of using chemicals to process fish and also add value to quality of fish being processed, she added.

Mrs Quaye further reiterated the need for NAFPTA to intensify its campaign on hygienic handling of fish, adding that this is the only way to attract foreigners to buy fish and other aquatic products in the country.

Mrs Elizabeth Naa Afoley Quaye told BUSINESS GUIDE that reports of robbery and extortion of money from fishermen on the high seas were being investigated.

By Solomon Ofori
BUSINESS GUIDE has gathered that plans are far advanced by government to reconstruct the La Trade Fair Center in Accra.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Ghana Trade Fair Company Limited, Dr Agnes Adu made the disclosure recently in Accra at the opening ceremony of the third edition of the Ghana Build Construction and Property Exhibition.

The two-day exhibition, organized by Point Expo of Turkey, under the theme: 'Building Ghana with New Technology for Safety, Development,' brought together key stakeholders in the construction industry from Turkey, India, Egypt, Togo, Ghana and Italy.

According to Dr Adu, the entire Trade Fair site would be reconstructed, beginning from 2018, to enhance trade exhibitions in Ghana.

Right now we are in the planning stages, our goal is to kick it off in 2018. So we will put more information out as we plan, she said.

The La Trade Fair Center has a long history dating back to 1967 when it was established by former President Dr Kwame Nkrumah.

The Center, which lies on a 127-acre land, has shops, exhibition halls, clinics and stands. There are two major pavilions, Pavilion A and B.

It has over the years played host to several trade exhibitions both local and international.

But in recent times, there have been calls by the business community for the rehabilitation of the center which is in a deplorable condition.

Dr Adu gave the assurance that the entire site would be revived through the reconstruction process.

The engineers will look at what can be kept and what can be broken down and they can advise us, but our goal is to redevelop the entire site, she told BUSINESS GUIDE on the sidelines of the exhibition.
Five children were killed Tuesday night and two others wounded by a suicide bomber described as a "young girl" in a northern region of Cameroon plagued by Boko Haram attacks, sources said Wednesday.

"A suicide bomber blew herself up (on Tuesday) at around 7.45 pm (1845 GMT)" in the village of Zamga, two kilometres (1.2 miles) from the Nigerian border, said a security officer responsible for the zone, reached from the capital Yaounde.

"Five children were killed and two others wounded," he said on condition of anonymity, adding that the suicide bomber was also killed in the blast.

The attack and the death toll were confirmed to AFP by another security source.

A group of children was playing when "a young girl slipped in" among them, triggering her explosive charge, the safety officer explained.

On Sunday and Monday, at least 20 people were killed in attacks by the Islamist group Boko Haram in Nigeria and Cameroon.

Since 2014, when Cameroon went to war against Boko Haram, the jihadi group has killed "2,000 civilians and soldiers" and abducted "a thousand people" in the far north of the country, according to the International Crisis Group (ICG).

Since its emergence eight years ago, Boko Haram has killed at least 20,000 people in Nigeria, Cameroon, Niger and Chad.
Facts are sacred, but comment is free. Truthfulness is a defence to defamation. But even so, I apologise unreservedly to NANANOM, TOGBIAWO and MANTSEMEI for likening their peculiar environment to that of a dark impenetrable jungle.

A jungle is not a thick bush, but deep thick forest, and I dare say that is chieftaincy for you today in modern Ghana.

Since the brutal senseless killing of the Ya-Na in Yendi in 200l, till date, there is no Ya-Na as a successor. Bimbilla is a hot bed, due to succession, and Ebubonko, Cape Coast, even though there is a chief, Nana Kwaku Ampah!!!! Someone is strutting about pretending to be a chief, Nana Kwaku Aduaku!!

Former Minister of Tourism Mike Gizo is strutting about as the Paramount Chief of Shai even though there is Odeopeor King Ahwa, and in Akwamufie, there is a running battle challenging the legitimacy of the person currently calling himself Akwamuhene.

Even though the Supreme Court has ruled that Nii Dowuona cannot be the Osu Mantse, he has defied the law and so manipulated the system that seven chiefs met at dawn to elect him as President of the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs, and therefore a member of the National House of Chiefs.

How come that qualified medical doctors, university professors, seasoned barrister and men of prominence are prepared to go every length, including spilling blood, if necessary, to be a chief?

In the days of yore, during the time up to the 19th Century, in our part of the world, a CHIEF was the powerhouse of the community. He was the Head of State, he was the Prime Minister, he was the Minister of Defence, and the Chief Justice. He was the Chief Priest, levied taxes on the people, sentenced people to death and declared war against other people. He was a demigod who spoke through OKYEAME and never walked alone. A chief was the acme of man's life.

Our colonial masters, the British, themselves, ruled by monarch, respected our institution of chieftaincy and took deliberate steps to strengthen the institution through indirect rule.

Left to Nananom alone, we would never have broken the yoke of colonial rule. But thanks to UGCC, the new professional class and rising businessmen and retired soldiers from the world war, a struggle took place and we shook off the shackles of colonial rule.

The colony, made up of Ashanti Empire, Fantes, and Northern Protectorate, now became a NATION, with one Head of State, seated in Accra starting from Kwame Nkrumah, down today to Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo. Every chief in Ghana is subservient to Nana Addo as the Head of State of Ghana.

The President rules through his Ministers, in charge of Education, Energy, Transport and other divisions. So, the chief is no more Head of State, and no more Prime Minister.

Her Lordship Justice Sophia AKuffo and her judges dotted all over the country administer JUSTICE, and Lt General Obed Akwa as Chief of Defence Staff has command over every soldier in Ghana. The Christian religion has taken over the spiritual needs of the people, and even Otumfuo the Asantehene, an Anglican, goes to church to listen to sermons and take Holy Communion.

Literally, all the practical functions of a CHIEF have been taken away, leaving them ONLY as CUSTODIANS of the land. Chiefs today collect royalties for their lands and they sell and lease lands to developers, both Government and individuals.

Local Government is so weak that in over eighty per cent of the countryside, the recognizable authority is the chief. Meeting the people means visiting the Chief's palace. Anytime you hear that Nana Addo, our President is visiting anywhere in Ghana, it means NOT that he is visiting the DCE but rather the CHIEF of the place.

The Asantes in particular make chieftaincy looks so enviable.

Their chiefs move with so much pomp, color and ceremony as to make the chief take on god-like attributes. My younger brother has been installed Twafoohene of Berekum Traditional Area, and how many times have I not bought schnapps just to greet my own brother!!

And, their names!! Professor Adei of GIMPA fame was telling us the other day that almost all our Nananon are guilty of blaspheming God because of their titlesDAASEBRE, ODENEHO, OSAGYEFO, OSEEADEEYO, OTUMFUO..all these are attributes of ONLY the ALMIGHTY GOD!!

But some of them have interesting titles..OKOANADWO (he fights in the night) OKATAKYIE (he covers his back) BEYEEMAN (he comes to build a nation) and OKOFOROBOO (he fights to climb a rock!!).

It is for all these that people are ready to go any length to become enskinned, enstooled and or installed as a CHIEF.

And the core of the problem is that unlike China where married couples can give birth to ONLY one child, here, in our land, parents can generate as many as 10 children. I for instance, I am the 7th born of my parents, and when the stool becomes vacant, there are so many eligible candidates, not just from the rotating ruling houses, but also from the house itself  and oftentimes, MONEY, almighty MONEY becomes the deciding factor.

Let us turn our binoculars on ACCRA.

Until 1879 when the British Colonial Authorities decided to move the seat of authority from Cape Coast to the Christiansburg Castle of Osu, Accra was a small coastal settlement, around James Fort and Ussher Fort.

I first came to Accra in 1967 to attend Achimota School. In those days, ACCRA was very small, made up of only Accra Osu, Adabraka and New Town, including Korle Gonno and Chorkor. In those days, Dansoman had not been built, and Teshie was far away.

Today, 2017, ACCRA stretches from literally Prampram THROUGH Afienya, Dodowa, Aburi, Nsawam right up to Gomoa Buduburam, housing over 5 million people.

The most dominant tribe, speaking the Ga language, is the GAS and the Ga Mantse is the spiritual embodiment of the Ga people. When the stool became vacant in 1965, my father in law, Moses Yarlai Yartey was about to be enstooled as the Ga Mantse but he deliberately ran away from that role and NII AMUGI II in his twenties, was installed.

After 39 years on the throne, Nii Amugi went to the 'village' on 10th December 2004, and the stool became vacant. Who was to succeed him?

There are FOUR ruling houses in the Ga Royalty, and these are 

TEIKO TSURU We

AMUGI We

ABOLA PIAM We and finally

TACKIE COMMEY We.

By convention, the next Royal family in line is the Teiko Tsuru We, but the other two gates, Abola Piam and Tackie Commey were not prepared to succumb to their unwritten law, so each of them brought up a candidate, resulting in total chaos.

Previously the Palace of the Ga Mantse was deep inside the 7 quarters of the Ga people, but during the Nkurmah Regime, Government built a big spacious palace for the Ga Mantse at Kaneshie, located inside the estates. NOBODY lives in the Palace and oftentimes it is empty, safe a few labourers and office staff of the Ga Traditional Council. For this reason, seizing the palace and or taking it over for purposes of installation or enstoolment ceremonies is not too difficult.

And then again, there is this confused requirement of Gazette.

The official Government record is called Gazette and the act of registering a person's name in the official register of chiefs is known as Gazetting or gazette.

We lawyers are still debating: is a chief the person who has been gazetted or can a chief lose his status as a chief merely by a cancellation of his name in the Register?

All this contribute to the chaos at the front of Nananom.

Right now, there are two chiefs in the Ga State  Nii Tsuru and Nii Adama Latse. Who is who? I even hear the Abola Piam Gate has also popped up somebody!!!

Am I competent to hazard a probable road map through the thick jungle of Mantsemei? I doubt it, but for what it is worth, let me attempt these suggestions:

All stakeholders, all divisional chiefs, all Kingmakers, all stool fathers MUST accept the raw hard fact that unless they all make compromises and UNITE, divided, they cannot stand. Right now, there are three Ga Mantses  Who does the President invite to attend state functions?

Second, I strongly recommend respect and allegiance to tradition, the convention  that, from Amugi We, the next gate is this, from there to that and so on. Otherwise, there will be chaos.

Someone wrote the other day that a politician complaining of a bad press is like the pilot of an aeroplane complaining of a bad weather, or the captain of a ship complaining of storms at sea. In life MONEY and POLITICS is like the air we breathe, the food we eat, the water we drink  you can NEVER insulate their influence anywhere. The solution is to adhere strictly to time tested solid principles otherwise you will NOT survive.

I am not a Ga, but from anthropological studies, is it true that the title NII is a corruption of River Nile?

From Nkrabeah Effah-Dartey
The governments plan to set up a National Cyber Security Centre has been commended by security and fraud management analyst Richard Kumadoe.

He said the establishment of the centre will make cyber crime, particularly terrorism that might be perpetrated using the country as the base, unattractive to criminals.

He told DAILY GUIDE yesterday that cyber-security issues are national security threats that should be given the utmost attention in the wake of the upsurge of cyber terrorism.

Cyber terrorism is a new upsurge of terror that is only going to increase in profile as we rely on computer networks to relay information and provide connectivity to todays modern and fast-paced world, and the effort to tackle this issue is commendable, he noted.

He said the increasing reliance on computers and telecommunications in governance and business has the highest potential to create a definite vulnerability which needs a proactive preventive national cyber security strategy.

In the information age, the value of our networks to national security, government, and business is increasing at a faster rate, he said, adding electrical grids, the banking system, water distribution, traffic management, communication systems, air traffic control, mass transit, military systems, etc. all tend to be operated in some sort of a networked fashion.

Mr. Kumadoe observed that the ability of the financial institutions to move huge sums electronically across the globe is vital to our economic wellbeing, a symbol of any nation's wealth and power but any vulnerability of their network infrastructure can be exploited by cyber terrorists, fraudsters, hackers, eavesdroppers, disrupters and extortionists.

Criminals are deeply involved in sophisticated cybercrime activities such as identity theft, bank fraud, shady prescription medication sales, drugs, pornography, human trafficking, prostitution, credit card fraud, money laundering, and other nefarious activities and their expertise allows them to expand their virtual operations beyond 'brick and mortar' often making them cyber mercenaries.

He said the cyber community in Ghana and the Sub-Saharan Africa Region must collaborate towards mitigating the vulnerabilities through constant vigilance and taking all steps necessary to match the threat posed by cyber terrorism.

He pointed out that a successful cyber-attack will produce a combined widespread interruption and disruption of key government and business-related activities with daunting financial implications, propaganda, economic warfare and a possible physical harm to innocent lives.

By William Yaw Owusu
The Minority in Parliament has turned the heat on President Nana Akufo-Addo to break his silence over the widely condemned partisan comment made by Ghana's High Commissioner to South Africa, Ayisi Boateng.

According to the Minority, turning a blind eye on the issue will mean that Akufo-Addo endorses such comments which have been described as bigotry.

The diplomat, while addressing members of the Tertiary Students' Confederacy Network (TESCON) in the Ashanti Region over the weekend, said his first priority is to members of the party, and that if he had his own way, members of TESCON will be prioritized for various jobs.

Mr. Boateng said he considers NPP members as more Ghanaian than others.

this government is doing its best to create job opportunities and me for instance, I told my people over there [that], it is because of NPP that I'm here, so the NPP man is my priority. I told them when NDC was in power it was Kwesi Ahwoi who was there, now we are in power, so Ayisi-Boateng is here with you. My topmost priority is the problems of an NPP person before any other Ghanaian, take it or leave it, he said.

The Minority in a statement said: While Ayisi Boatengs apparent suicidal mission in the face of overwhelming condemnation by decent minded Ghanaians has made him the 'Chemical Ali' of Ghanas Diplomatic Service, the Minority in Parliament like most Ghanaians believe the ball is now squarely in the court of His Excellency President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to show this dangerous envoy the exit.

The statement signed by its Ranking Member on Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, further said The loud silence of Ghanas Foreign Minister, Ms. Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey and the Government led by President Akufo-Addo especially in the face of some reprehensible support from sections of the NPP led by its Acting Chairman Freddie Blay, is most troubling as it has the tendency to convey a tacit approval of the egregious sins of their chief diplomat in South Africa.

The Minority further described Mr. Ayisi's comments as suicidal, disgraceful and must be sacked immediately .

It is generally understood that anything short of giving the disgraced High Commissioner to South Africa the sack by President Akufo-Addo can only mean that the President endorses his deplorable statements and perhaps explains Ayisi Boatengs continuous show of rare spiteful bravado.

The Minority in the statement also vowed to use every means possible to have their demands met.

We will not relent in demanding action on this matter. We have considered our options under the Constitution and the Standing Orders of Parliament, and can indicate our readiness to trigger further processes if Government inertia continues, the statement added.

Below is the full statement:

PRESIDENT AKUFO-ADDO MUST ACT NOW

The Minority in Parliament has taken judicial notice of the rather defiant, intransigent, stubborn, obstinate, obdurate, adamant, stiff-necked and unremorseful posture of Ghanas disgraced High Commissioner to South Africa, H.E. George Ayisi Boateng.

While Ayisi Boatengs apparent suicidal mission in the face of overwhelming condemnation by decent minded Ghanaians has made him the Chemical Ali of Ghanas Diplomatic Service, the Minority in Parliament like most Ghanaians believe the ball is now squarely in the court of His Excellency President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to show this dangerous envoy the exit.

For a country that is famed for producing internationally celebrated and distinguished diplomats of the highest caliber in the persons of H.E. Kofi Annan, Dr. Alex Quaison-Sackey, Dr. Mohamed Ibn Chambers, Mr. Alex Quartey, just to mention a few.

It surely must be an affront of monumental proportions to keep Ayisi Boateng in this reputable league of diplomats for an extra minute.

It is generally understood that anything short of giving the disgraced High Commissioner to South Africa the sack by President Akufo-Addo can only mean that the President endorses his deplorable statements and perhaps explains Ayisi Boatengs continuous show of rare spiteful bravado.

Thus far, the loud silence of Ghanas Foreign Minister, Hon. Ms. Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey and the Government led by President Akufo-Addo especially in the face of some reprehensible support from sections of the NPP led by its Acting Chairman Freddie Blay is most troubling as it has the tendency to convey a tacit approval of the egregious sins of their chief diplomat in South Africa.

Ghanaians have heard enough from virtually everyone including former Foreign Ministers and Ambassadors who have lined up to condemn Ayisi Boateng and attempt to salvage what is left of the hitherto enviable reputation of Ghanas diplomatic service. However, the time to hear from current officialdom is NOW.

The Minority will not relent in demanding action on this matter. We have considered our options under the Constitution and the Standing Orders of Parliament and can indicate our readiness to trigger further processes if Government inertia continues.

A clear message ought to be sent to public officials that Article 17 of the Constitution of Ghana which forbids discrimination must be respected and that people with the Ayisi Boateng mindset which suggests some Ghanaians are more Ghanaian than the rest of us will have no hiding place to nurture their bigotry and prejudice.

Signed,

Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa

MP, North Tongu

Ranking Member, Foreign Affairs Committee of Parliament.



By: Godwin Akweiteh Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana

Follow @AlloteyGodwin
In western Kenya, where thousands hit the streets to block polling in last week's divisive vote, the re-election of Uhuru Kenyatta means nothing.

For them, there can be only one president.

"He's our messiah," nods Gordon Ochyeng sitting in the back row of a church in Nyalenda slum in Kisumu.

The city was the epicentre of violent opposition protests against last week's deeply divisive presidential re-run, called after the Supreme Court overturned an initial August poll.

Over the past three months, Kisumu and the surrounding areas have played a central role in the mass protest movement led by veteran opposition leader Raila Odinga.

The local businessman-turned-politician had urged his followers to a boycott, which was widely observed.

Here, Odinga's word "can be law", says Reverend Francis Omondi, who like most people in the west, comes from the Luo tribe, Kenya's fourth largest ethnic group.

Although his influence over local politics is not what it once was, Odinga's 20-year fight for the presidency continues to embody the Luo's quest for the power they have long felt denied since Kenya gained independence in 1964.

The Odinga dynasty is intertwined with Kisumu. Raila Odinga's father, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, was vice president and led the opposition for three decades

From street signs to the name of the local hospital, the entire city seems to reverberate with the echoes of the Odinga dynasty, which began with his father, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, who was Kenya's vice president before going on to lead the opposition for three decades -- but never the country.

Better known as "Baba", Odinga was born in Maseno, a town near Kisumu, the regional capital, where he still has an interest: a huge property perched on a hill overlooking the nearby city which sits on the northern shores of Lake Victoria.

During the first election on August 8, which was overturned by the Supreme Court in a move that triggered Kenya's worst political crisis in a decade, more than 90 percent of Kisumu and the surrounding areas voted for Odinga.

And when their leader called on them to boycott the October 26 re-run, western Kenya did it emphatically.

'We didn't vote'

Barricades and protests by Odinga supporters ensured that the election boycott was widely followed

On the day itself, voting never took place in four western counties.

Polling staff failed to show up for fear of retaliation and protesters threw up barricades across the city and blocked entry to polling stations, chaining the entrances or in one case, even welding the gates shut.

When Kenyatta's widely-expected landslide victory was announced on Monday evening, it stirred little emotion in Kisumu.

"We don't care that he has been declared president. Why would we care, we did not vote," shrugs 24-year-old Alex Onyango, who works in a timber yard.

"Our president is Baba," nods Robert Okello, 28.

Most feel that the Luos have been cheated out of the presidency, and it's "Raila" who will save them.

"For the Luo, Raila Odinga is the one who will redress the injustices they feel they have suffered," said one Kenyan commentator, speaking to AFP on condition of anonymity and referring to the murder of a number of Luo politicians.

Odinga has perhaps inherited the political misfortune of his father who came within reach of the top but fell out with Kenya's first president, Jomo Kenyatta -- father of the current incumbent -- who had him jailed.

And the family's run of luck doesn't appear to have changed.

Over the past two decades, Raila Odinga has made four failed attempts to win the country's top office, crying foul when he lost, with the 2007 election sparking months of politically-driven ethnic violence that left 1,100 people dead.

Kikuyus and Kalenjins

Until the end of the autocratic regime of former president Daniel arap Moi in 2002, there were "tangible signs" that the western Nyanza region "had been marginalised... for decades," says Matthew Carotenuto, professor of Kenyan history at St Lawrence University in New York state.

These days, such marginalisation is mainly limited to the presidency, he said.

The main roads in the region and its local airport have all since been improved with moves to decentralise power handing a significant budget to the regional authorities, he noted.

And although Odinga himself spent time behind bars for political activity in the 1980s, it has not held back the growth of his family fortune, one of the largest in Kenya.

There are other regions in Kenya that are "far more marginalised than western Kenya," Carotenuto said, referring to the largely pastoral north.

"The only comparison that counts is between the Kikuyus and the Kalenjins," the two ethnic groups from central Kenya which has given the country four of its presidents, said an estate agent working in Kisumu's business district.

Such regions "are the richest in Kenya," says the 38-year-old, wearing a spotless white shirt and a luxury watch.

It remains to be seen just how far Odinga's supporters are prepared to go.

Dozens of people who spoke to AFP in Kisumu were unanimous in their support for "Raila", as they often call him.

But some said that while it was easy to boycott an election organised on a public holiday, it was much harder to walk away from your job to stand up to the police.

Carotenuto pointed out that most of the demonstrators were "disenfranchised youth", saying it would be interesting to see how many people would follow Odinga's call for action in the coming weeks.

"When he called for people to strike on August 14, many people just ignored the call, citing that the need to feed their families trumped presidential politics."
Some Ghanaians in Denmark have blamed the high cost of visas for their inability to come home often to contribute their quota to national development.

Kwame Owusu Danquah, an IT Consultant in Denmark, one of such persons who complained, has thus called on the government to ease the cost of acquiring visas for people of Ghanaian descent to enable them and their families return to the country with ease.

Speaking to Citi FMs Bernard Avle whos in Denmark alongside three other journalists ahead of a visit by the Danish Queen to Ghana, Dr. Owusu Danquah, who doubles as the chief of the Akan Community in Denmark, said persons like him remained Ghanaian at heart despite having acquired other nationalities.

He spoke at the residence of Ghanas Ambassador to Denmark, where a reception was held in honour of the Ghanaian journalists.

Most of us have acquired other nationalities although our heart is Ghanaian and we would very much like to come to Ghana. We come [to Ghana] often, but another thing is that, the government should help us to come more often by reducing the visa fees which are quite expensive.

If you and your wife and two children are coming, it is very very expensive, Mr. Danquah noted further.

He pointed to the example of India as one country that makes it easy for its citizens in the diaspora to contribute immensely to the country's economic fortunes, and said if the government opens the doors, we will come.

We are ready and we have a lot of resources. We would like to contribute. We are Ghanaians and we would like to come back [home], Mr. Danquah affirmed.

Danish queens visit

Citi FMs reports from Denmark come ahead of the official State Visit of Denmark's Head of State, Her Majesty the Queen Margrethe II, from November 23 to November 24.

The 3-day press trip to Denmark was organised for four selected Ghanaian journalists, including Citi Breakfast Show host, Bernard Koku Avle.

The press trip will be capped with a press conference with Queen Margrethe II.

The Queen, on her eventual historic visit to Ghana, is expected to be accompanied by a Danish business delegation within three focus sectors, namely food & agriculture, sustainability, maritime, infrastructure and railways.
African officials, including four heads of state, convened with international CEOs at a summit Wednesday in Dubai, part of its push to position itself as a link for huge potential investments on the continent.

"We are looking at the fastest growing economy of the world ... Six out of the top 10 fastest growing economies are just next to us in Africa," said the president and CEO of the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Hamad Buamim.

Experts at the opening of "Next Generation Africa", Dubai's fourth Global Business Forum on Africa, said the continent's 54 countries -- home to a fifth of the world's population -- require tens of billions of dollars in investment in infrastructure, energy and other sectors.

Investment, Emirati officials hope, will be channeled through Dubai, a trading hub and member of the United Arab Emirates.

"We believe that Dubai's strategic goals can be aligned with Africa's ambitions as it enters a new phase of development," said the Dubai chamber chairman, Majid Saif al-Ghurair.

The number of African companies registered in Dubai jumped to 17,000 last year, an increase of 41 percent from 2015, according to Ghurair.

Trade volume between UAE and Africa totals around $35 billion and has been growing at a double-digit rate annually.

"We see potential of a growing economy that has a lot of future ... Africa is a great market," Buamim told AFP on the sidelines of the two-day forum that has attracted four heads of state from Africa, several ministers and hundreds of investors and experts.

Rwanda's President Paul Kagame (L) attends the Global Business Forum on Africa, in Dubai

He said the forum is held to help channel investments to Africa through Dubai.

Rwandan President Paul Kagame told the meeting that Africa is witnessing speedy reforms and a faster pace of integration, especially among a number of regional economic blocs formed in the continent.

"A number of steps have been taken and progress has been made ... In the next five to 10 years, we will see progress," in the integration between the various economic blocs, Kagame said.

The president said a number of economic unity initiatives had been adopted in Africa in the fields of customs unions, infrastructure projects, electricity links and railway networks.

"Later on, the regional economic communities will join together ... integration is happening," said Kagame, as he called for greater investment inflow into Africa.

The Infrastructure Consortium for Africa (ICA) said last month the continent must double its spending on infrastructure over coming years after a decline in 2016.

Last year, total investment in transport, energy, water and IT/communications amounted to $62.5 billion, down from $78.9 billion in 2015, it said.

Investments worth between $120 billion and $140 billion is needed in the short-term, said the report.
A Tarkwa Circuit Court has granted bail in the sum of 40,000 Ghana cedis with two sureties to a community policing assistant for the possession of firearms and ammunition without authority.

The accused person, Adama Sadick, pleaded not guilty and would re-appear before the Court on November 8.

Police Chief Inspector Faustina Celestina Anaman told the Court that the complainant, Daniel Effah, a farmer, resides at Wasa Grumesa and the accused is stationed at Denkyira Domenese Police Station in the Central Region.

She said on September 20, at about 0900 hours, the accused person and his two friends now at large went to Grumesa community.

The Prosecutor said the movement of the accused person and his friends raised the suspicion of the complainant and the young men in the town.

She said based on that they summoned them to the Chief's palace for questioning and invited the Wassa Akropong Police to intervene.

Inspector Anaman said while at the chief's palace Sadick and his accomplice took to their heels before the Police Officers arrived, but the accused was arrested at a nearby bush.

Police Prosecutor Inspector Anaman added that, during investigations the accused led the police to a nearby bush at Wasa Grumesa and they retrieved one locally manufactured pistol and two ammunition which he hid in the bush.

GNA

By Erica Apeatua Addo, GNA
01.11.2017 LISTEN

The Swedru Mandela Market Queens have appeal to the President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to assist in the removal of the Lucky Gas Filling Station to ensure the safety of the women at the market.

According to the Market Queens and members, the Lucky Gas Station was close to the Market which made it a disaster-prone area if immediate action was not taken to relocate it.

Madam Florence Yamoah, a member of the Swedru Mandela market Queens who spoke to the press said the all the market women protested against the sitting of the gas station close to the market, but to no avail.

She alleged that the then, Agona District Assembly, now Agona West Municipal Assembly engineers, planning officers and other top officials approved the establishment of the gas station to the detriment of the women's protest.

She said that the refusal to heed the women's protest against the issuance of the permit or approval to formerly Shelyco Gas station, now Lucky Gas company was a great source of worrying.

Madam Yamoah said the immediate intervention by the office of President Nana Akufo-Addo would save the Mandela Market from the imminent danger.

She said the reason to appeal to President Nana Akufo-Addo was that some women cooked food at the market and there were also mechanics who use welding machines which could spark off fires at any time.

She said after the Atomic Junction gas explosion in Accra, it was important that caution was taken in the citing of gas station.

Madam Efuah Ahema, a cassava seller, appealed to the national monitoring team charged by President Nana Akufo-Addo to visit Agona Swedru Mandela Market Gas Filling station as early as possible to assess the situation.

Madam Esi Akyere, Pineapple seller, said it was sad that innocent Ghanaians have lost their lives as a result of gas explosion due to the negligent of the officials of District Assemblies, Environmental Protection Agency(EPA), National Petroleum Authority(NPA), Ghana National Fire Service and others.

She appealed to President Nana Akufo-Addo who was the father of the nation not to hesitate to intervene since the Agona West Municipal Assembly was not ready to intervene. GNA
01.11.2017 LISTEN

The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Yilo Krobo, Mr Ebenezer Tetteh Kupualor has officially paid a courtesy call on Nene Oklepeme Nuer Anorbaa Sasraku II, Konor of Yilo Klo traditional area.

The MCE was accompanied by heads of the various departments and the political leadership in the Yilo Krobo Municipality.

The visit was the first by the MCE and his entourage to the area.

Mr Kupualor said their visit was to pay allegiance to the Konor of the Yilo Klo traditional area and assure him of his maximum cooperation and support.

Nene Sasraku II, in his brief address acknowledged the delay of the gesture of traditional honours and respect to his throne but made it clear that, for the interest of peace and development of the Yilo Klo traditional state, he holds no issues against the MCE and his entire team and called for a peaceful co-existence among the citizens of the Yilo Klo traditional state.

He expressed his gratitude to President Nana Akuffo Addo through the MCE for the successful implementation of the free SHS system and the Eastern Region University at Somanya where the continuation works had just began.

Nene Sasraku II also advised Mr Kupualor to assist in putting systems in place to address the fallen educational standards in the area as well as unemployment among the youth of the area.

Mr Kupualor, in his brief response, thanked Nene Sasraku II and his entire traditional leadership for accepting them at the Palace, despite the delays and pledged his allegiance and support to the Paramountcy for the development of the area.

He later presented crates of assorted drinks, schnapps and an amount of money to the traditional leadership as their support for the festival, which started on November 1, with the King's Praise Crusade at Somanya Lorry Station.

GNA

GRB

By Hafsa Obeng, GNA
Accra. 31st October, 2017. Top telecommunications companies, fast-moving commodity goods manufacturers, industrialists, banks, engineering and construction companies, consultancies, airlines, hoteliers, local and international businesses in Ghana gathered for the 7th edition of the Ghana Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Excellence Awards (GHACEA) on 27th October in Accra.

Vodafone Ghana, Tigo, Guinness Ghana, Unilever Ghana, Odebrecht Engineering, Fidelity Bank, Unibank, Access Bank, Accra City Hotel, Coconut Groove Hotel, Wire Weaving Industries, Stratcomm Africa, MTN, Pricewaterhouse Coopers, Delta Airline, Huawei Technologies, won various Awards.

The GHACEA is Ghanas biggest social responsibility event bringing together all major players within the CSR and Sustainability platform in the country. The Awards is supported by the Association of Ghana Industries, the Federation of Association of Ghanaian Exporters, Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Ministry of Trade & Industry, Japan International Cooperation Agency, Integriti PR, Westkomm and many local and international media organisations. It is modeled after the European CSR Awards scheme with multi-stakeholder jury drawn from academia, media, civil society, business associations and regulatory agencies.

According to the Lead Project Manager, Mr. Kojo Williams, Since its inception, the GHACEA has helped increase the level of awareness of the responsibility of corporate organisations to their stakeholders, environment and the society at large. There is a cumulative 53% increment in the number of companies that are participating or have participated in the GHACEA over the years. It means more companies are engaging in more sustainable socially-responsible practices, which is the major criterion for participating in the Awards scheme.

Recently, the Centre for CSR, West Africa was acknowledged by the University of Cambridge, UK, for its contribution to the Universitys global research on New CSR Model which studied more than 400 rms.

At this years GHACEA, the Centres latest sector-focussed, but widely circulated newspaper, Business and CSR was outdoored. The bi-weekly publication will contain enviable CSR projects, initiatives and achievement of companies, scholarly articles, research findings, exclusive interviews and other business-friendly information. It will be circulated widely across Ghana, the West African sub-region and to other parts of the world where the Centres international stakeholders are located.

Below is the full list of winners for the 7th GHACEA:

CSR Award for Safety & Well-beingMTN Ghana

CSR Award for Greening & Environmental Protection Unilever Ghana

CSR Award for Health Vodafone Ghana

CSR Award for EducationTigo Ghana

CSR Award for Product StandardizationWire Weaving Industries

CSR Aviation Company of the YearDelta Airlines

CSR Consultancy/Service Organization of the YearPwC

CSR Hospitality Organization of the Year Accra City Hotel (Winner) (Coconut Grove Hotel -Runner Up)

CSR Engineering Company of the YearOdebrecht Engineering

CSR Bank of the YearUniBank (Winner) (Access Bank - Runner Up)

CSR ICT Company of the YearHuawei Technologies

CSR Manufacturing CompanyGuinness Ghana

CSR FMCG CompanyUnilever Ghana

CSR Telecom of the YearVodafone Ghana

CSR Initiative/Campaign of the Year UniBank's One Ghana Project & the bank's contribution to Operation Smile

CSR Practitioner of the YearRobert Kuzoe (MTN Ghana)

CSR Partnership Initiative Tigo Ghana

CSR Company of the YearGuinness Ghana

CSR CEO of the YearEsther Cobbah (CEO, Stratcomm Africa)
27th October, 2017, Accra Ghana  The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to support Ghana to improve Continuum of Care through introduction of combined Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Record Book.

The signing of an official agreement between the Governments of Ghana and JICA was organized at the Ministry of Health (MoH) Accra to support the development and national rollout of a combined Maternal and Child Health Record Book.

Ghana has made good progress in recent years in many social development indicators including health. However, despite making significant progress in the reduction of maternal and child mortality, it did not achieve the MDGs 4 and 5 by 2015  according to the 2014 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey, under-five mortality rate was 60 per 1,000 live births whilst neonatal mortality rate had stagnated at 29 per 1,000 live births. According to the UN estimates in 2015, Ghanas maternal mortality ratio remains high at 319 per 100,000 live births. Furthermore, there are still significant variations in health and nutrition status across wealth quintiles and geographic regions.

The Honorable Minister of Health, Mr. Kwaku Agyeman-Manu said: The Ministry of Health has been committed and made a lot of efforts to improve the maternal and child health status in the country and the Government of Japan has always been very supportive. We believe that this new project with support from the Government of Japan through JICA will definitely contribute to existing efforts. The draft version of new booklet has more information on essential maternal and child health services and health education messages in the form that can be easily understood by mothers and family members. Furthermore, the move to integrate several existing booklets into one is also targeted at reducing the cost of production, and also enhancing the supply and rights issues regarding the use of the booklet.

He added that: The project will also seek to address procurement, legal frameworks and guidelines that will ensure the sustainability of this support.

According to the Director General of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Dr. Anthony Nsiah-Asare: The aim of integrating several existing Maternal and Child Health Record books is to improve the maternal and child health service delivery and outcomes by ensuring continuum of care and proper recording of the mother and child health care. The book is designed to link the health records of mother to her child from pregnancy till the child attains the age of five. It also addresses issues such as nutrition, growth monitoring and promotion, and health education in a more focused and illustrative way.

The Chief Representative of JICA Ghana, Mr. Hirofumi Hoshi said: JICA has always committed to working with the Ministry of Health and the Ghana Health Service to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals in the health sector, and JICA will continue its support for the process of developing the booklet and training stakeholders on its roll-out. Mr. Hoshi reiterated: The new booklet when introduced will ensure provision of integrated care for mothers and children at the right time and also help reduce workload and improve efficiency and safety of the MCH services.

JICA will support MoH and GHS for the next 3 years to develop the book as well as guidelines for the effective use of book and support training to enable health workers to provide quality health care services by using it. It will include all the relevant information and data concerning mothers progress during her pregnancy, state of her delivery, immunization records and health checkup records for her child.

The design of the booklet has also been strategically made to empower women, engender family support, especially male involvement in maternal and child healthcare and also make recording by health workers more efficient. The initiative will also seek to improve the nutrition behaviors and status of mothers and children through nutrition counselling by using the book. According to MoH and GHS, the combined book will be launched in January 2018 and nation-wide rollout will commence afterwards.
01.11.2017 LISTEN

For starters, permit me to first and foremost pay obeisance to the Lecturers and administrators of the Ghana Institute of Social Democracy (GISD) for not only assisting us to get to grips with the intricacies of Social Democracy , good governance and mass organization but most importantly for reigniting or stoking the flames of Patriotism in participants! It has indeed been an illuminating and edifying experience!

It is my well-considered conviction that the Ghana Institute of Social Democracy(GISD) is the answer to the "Comedy of errors" government of Nana Akuffo Addo. Nana Addo would be doing his government a good turn by getting his 110 clueless Ministers , including Ayisi Boateng and William Quaitoo, enrolled at the Institute to be taught the finer points of governance - under the tutelage of Real McCoys like Dr William Ahiadzi, Prof. Attor, Ambassador Dan Abodakpi , Alhadji Hudu Yahaya, Hon. Ofosu Ampofo and a host of others I can assure you of a roller coaster ride !

It wouldn't be a bad idea either, sitting side by side with our crochety President and being lectured on the history of Ghana by lecturers of the Ghana Institute of Social Democracy(GISD). I can bet my bottom dollar on the fact that after just a days course at the Institute Nana Akuffo Addo would stop tinkering with the history of Ghana and his governance style would never be the same, to boot! His Excellency should not be daunted by fears of being caught sleeping in the class because I have already arrogated to myself the onus of pinching him intermittently to wakefulness! Since it is easy to create Ministries in your government I suggest we call it the ministry of Presidential pinching ! At the end of the day, rest assured Betty Mould Iddrisu would do us the honours of Presenting Nana Addo's certificate on the history of Ghana to him.

At this juncture, my chums , I would like to turn my attention to several developments that are getting my hackles up in this our Polity! Oyisi Boateng's flippant remark to the effect that his main preoccupation as a High Commissioner of the Republic of Ghana to South Africa is to cater to the needs of only NPP members is as unfortunate as it is undiplomatic. However, this faux pa would have been a lighter cross to carry had he remained mumble mum afterwards but his insistence that it is within his rights to discriminate against Ghanaians based on political Party affiliation is standoffish and impertinent and shows a clear lack of understanding and appreciation of the enormity of his office. What else did we expect when career diplomats have been sidestepped in favour of a man who knows next to nothing about diplomacy? The man appears to be intoxicated with the newness of Political Power! Yet it has not been without its Comic Relief as several unemployed youth of the NPP are falling over each other in defence of only God Knows what - all in a bid to attract the attention of the errant High Commissioner! I am sure these are the jobs they were promised! I am told Oyisi Boateng is a Member of the Ashanti Regional Council of Elders of the NPP and for that matter untouchable: and it set me thinking whether he epitomizes the quality of the whole NPP Council of Elders. In saner times and Climes Oyibi Boateng would have been shown the door by now !

It is vitally significant at this moment for me to fill you in on my impressions about His Excellency Alhadji Bawumia. In my attempt to appraise his conduct or attitude I cannot but take inspiration from the timeless words of Abraham Lincoln as a herald......"You can fool all of the people some of the time, and You can fool some of the people all of the time: But You can't fool all of the people All of the time". Apt, apposite and apropos words, are they?

Candidly, our eternal head-nodding Vice President reminds me so much of the British Circus Show where clowns outdid themselves in the art of Clowning ! After going back on every promise he made during the 2016 electioneering Campaign, the least Ghanaians expected of Bawumia was silence , not a concatenation of convoluted tales! Perhaps someone needs to ram the point home to Alhadji Bawumia that it is possible for one to come to power by promising to create a nirvana of jobs and opportunities but it is well-nigh impossible to sustain power through histrionics and downright lies. Bawumia needs to be further apprised of the fact that by allowing himself to be a bearer of and a Conduit for the perpetration of lies against the Ghanaian people , he is truncating his own political future!

For the first time in the forth republic Ghana is saddled with a Government which has displayed right from its first 10 months at the helm of affairs, a brazen and poorly disguised attempt at shortchanging Ghanaians in every transaction on their behalf. A deficient APP which many a young ICT specialist in Ghana would have been happy to create for free, is costing the Tax Payer a whopping 2.5 million dollars or more! This economic brigandage and profligacy must stop. To add insults to injury different facts are emerging from Hon. Ursula Owusu and Hon Andah regarding the same transaction, reminiscent of the contradictory facts that emanated from Hon. Ken Ofori Atta and Hon Osafo Marfo in respect of the sources of funding for the Free SHS.

Nana Addo's family, friends and Concubines' government seems to be at its wits end, dearth of ideas as to how to ameliorate the sorry predicaments of Ghanaians. With the " overweight round face" president suffering from narcolepsy and needing intermittent nudging to stay awake, Ghanaians have been left at the mercy of NPP goons and brigands . It is an understatement to conclude that there is a general landscape of trepidation, fear and panic as these pillocks continue to pooh pooh the authority of the State and of course the legitimacy of the President for that matter.

I thought I saw the face of hypocrisy and betrayal when I heard two-faced Sammy Awuku on air calling on the Military to reign in on those hoodlums and thugs he personally founded to foment violence during the 2016 elections! Today, Sammy Awuku has been appointed by Nana Addo into a lucrative portfolio so the rest can go hang! As John Mahama aptly puts it '' if you sow a wind , you would reap a Whirlwind! "

I cannot conclude without taking an excursion into the implementation of the free SHS. The amount President Mahama invested in the augmentation of education infrastructure across the Country would eclipse the paltry 400 million cedis budgeted for the free SHS thousandfold ! So , you see, the point I am putting across is that if it is merely about implementing free SHS for political expediency ,notwithstanding the adverse findings ,Mahama could have done just that. But a leader who is worth his salt does not just play to the gallery. A leader who is up to scratch must definitely make decisions that are sound and well thought through - decisions that would inure to the collective good. One does not need to be a clairvoyant to agree with me that the free SHS is in a shambles as several schools lack the necessary facilities needed to engender effective teaching and learning.

The media, since the implementation of the free SHS, has highlighted the insuperable difficulties several schools have had to contend with in the name of free SHS. In fact, the plight of some schools is so terrible that Dr Okoe Boye had the effrontery to tell headmasters to start seeking for aid from NGO's and other affluent persons in their respective communities. Is it not ludicrous that government is banking its hopes on charity to fund a policy it made so much fanfare about? To be continued......

Anuga Fortunate(Rasta).0508704434
Adjunct Fellow of CES & Head of the Political Science Department of the University of Ghana, Dr Bossman Eric Asare says the emergence of the American president Donald Trump may strengthen the resolve of the European Union to remain strong and united.

According to him, many European Union leaders are not happy with the style of governance of the American leader and would not want him dictating to them.

He made the comments during the third Lecture Series held by the Centre for European Studies (CES), Tuesday, at the Kofi Drah Conference Hall of the University of Ghana.

The theme for the lecture was  The State of the European Union Today and was chaired by Ambassador Giovanni Favilli, Italian Ambassador to Ghana.

It was attended by over four hundred participants, mostly students, as well as representatives and ambassadors of the European Union member countries in Ghana, civil society, media practitioners, faculty.

Presenting the outcome of his research, Dr Eric Asare noted that despite its stature in global politics as a powerful bloc and its contribution to the socio-economic and political development of many Third World countries including Ghana, the EU has in recent times been shaken by several developments that call into question the prospects of the Union in the not too distant future.

According to him, BREXIT is a clear case of domestic political interests overriding regional or international interests.

Similarly, there is an obvious indication that some EU member countries are beginning to make demands that are counterintuitive to regionalism.

Despite these challenges Dr Asare said the EU still remains a formidable force in the global political economy.

In his brief remarks, Ambassador Giovanni Favilli, Italian Ambassador to Ghana commended the CES and its Director for the enthusiasm and hard-work in keeping and sustaining the activities of the EU in the minds members, adding, the EU in Brussels have also taken note of the establishment and vibrant activities of CES.

He stressed the importance of the theme for the lecture to the EU as a body.

He pledged to work with the EU-Delegation in Ghana to institutionalize support and collaboration between the CES, the University of Ghana as a whole and the EU-Member Countries in Ghana.

The Director of the CES, Prof Ransford Gyampo, said his outfit has been relentless in its diverse activities to inspire interest in European studies among faculty and students of the University of Ghana and beyond.

According to him CES, has prepared and distributed policy briefs to EU- Member countries as well as other key stakeholders and policy makers in Ghana on account of the many issues that emerged during the lecture series held by the Centre over the period.

Giving the importance of Europe in world politics, Prof Gyampo was of the belief and conviction that an understanding of what is happening in the EU in contemporary times would help put issues of European Studies in proper perspective and shape the knowledge of students.

Story by Ghana|Myjoyonline.com
01.11.2017 LISTEN

Under fire diplomat George Ayisi Boateng has been summoned to the presidency, the Flagstaff House, Myjoyonline.com has learnt.

Ghana's High Commissioner to South Africa has been called to explain his comments considered by many as discriminatory and divisive and which have caused a public outrage.

Mr Boateng told members of the NPP's students wing, the Tertiary Students Confederacy Network (TESCON) his priority is to serve members of the NPP first before any other Ghanaian.

This government is doing its best to create job opportunities and me for instance, I told my people over there [that] it is because of NPP that Im here so the NPP man is my priority. I told them when NDC was in power it was Kwesi Ahwoi who was there, now we are in power, so Ayisi-Boateng is here with you. My topmost priority is the problems of an NPP person before any other Ghanaian, take it or leave it, he said.

Indeed Im not boasting but Ive started meeting the NPP groups. Every weekend I meet some group members and I tell you if I had my way, every job opportunity that will come will go to a TESCON member before any other person. And I know my colleague appointees also have the same feeling except that because of IMF we cannot do anything now

His comments did not go down well with many Ghanaians some of whom have been vehement in their criticism and condemnation of the comments.

Pressure Group OccupyGhana has demanded an unqualified apology from the Ghanaian diplomat failing which he should be sacked.

Critics have also been mounting pressure on the president to break his silence on the matter and take punitive measures against the diplomat.

It appears the presidency may have listened to the call for action and has summoned Mr Boateng to the presidency.

It is not clear yet what punitive measures may be meted out to him.

He may be asked to issue an unqualified apology for his comment which has gotten many on both mainstream and social media boiling with anger.
Sacked Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont will not return to Spain to answer charges including rebellion, his Belgian lawyer has said.

Speaking to the Associated Press, Paul Bekaert suggested Mr Puigdemont should instead be questioned in Belgium where he has been since Monday.

He has been summoned to court in Madrid on Thursday, alongside 13 deputies.

They face charges including sedition and misuse of public funds over last months banned independence referendum.

Spanish prosecutors could order their arrest if they fail to appear in court for questioning.

But Mr Bekaert told Dutch and Belgian media that his client would wait and see further reaction from the Spanish authorities before returning because of the high risk of detention.

He also suggested he would fight any extradition ordered by the Spanish national government.

Spain has been gripped by a constitutional crisis since a referendum, organised by Mr Puigdemonts separatist government, was held on 1 October in defiance of a constitutional court ruling that had declared it illegal.

The Catalan government said that of the 43% of potential voters who took part, 90% were in favour of independence.

After the regional parliament declared independence, Spains took direct control and sacked the government, including Mr Puigdemont.

On Monday, Spains chief prosecutor said the Catalan leaders were accused of rebellion  which carries a maximum 30 year jail term  as well as sedition and misuse of funds.

The leaders are yet to be formally charged but are due to testify at the Audiencia National (National Court) on Thursday and Friday.

The court summons also gave them three days to pay a deposit of 6.2m ($7.2m) to cover potential liabilities.

Both Mr Puigdemont and his lawyer denied at a news conference on Tuesday that he had travelled to Belgium to seek asylum.

He said he was there for safety purposes and wanted to be able to speak freely.

Joaquim Forn and Dolors Bassa, the deposed Catalan interior and labour ministers who travelled with the former Catalan president to Belgium, returned to Barcelona on Tuesday night.

They were greeted by chants of off to prison by some crowds that had gathered at Barcelona international airport, according to media reports.

Mr Puigdemont previously said he would return to Spain if he and his colleagues received guarantees of a fair trial from the Spanish government.


The Jomoro District in the Western Region, now has a substantive District Chief Executive (DCE), in the person of Mr. Ernest Kwofie.

He was on Wednesday, November 1, 2017 confirmed by 47 out 49 Assembly Members who voted in an election officiated by the Deputy Western Regional Director of the Electoral Commission (EC), Mr. Godwin Mensah Tawiah.

His votes represented 95.6% as an overwhelming endorsement.

His approval on Wednesday was the fourth in series of attempts to get President's nominee approved by the Assembly after one nominee was rejected three times.

The first nominee, Mr. Eric Muah was outrightly rejected by Assembly Members who couldn't get the percentage requirement.

Until his appointment, the area had been without a DCE following the three times rejection of the first DCE nominee, Mr. Eric Muah.

The election was supervised by the Western Regional Minister, Dr. Kwaku Afriyie.

In Hon. Ernest Kwofie's acceptance remarks, he commended President Akufo-Addo, Western Regional Minister, Dr. Kwaku Afriyie, the Member of Parliament for the area who doubles as Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs Deputy Minister, Hon. Paul Essien, Western Regional Executives of the NPP and Constituency Executives for reposing a high level of trust in him to lead the people of the Jomoro District.

According to him, the District which is in its formative stage required very aggressive and tactical approach to ensure the needed transformational of the area.

He promised to tackle the falling standard of education, improve quality healthcare delivery, sanitation and agriculture (fishing).

"The development agenda of the District is delaying and we have to start the works immediately to catch up with other Districts and", he assured.

He called on the people in the District to support him to work tirelessly for the area devoid of political affiliations, "I'm for all inclusiveness".

He, therefore, called for unity among his people to develop the District.

He also called for peaceful co-existence to ensure the smooth implementation of pro-poor programmes including the planting for food and jobs, one-district-one factory among others.

Speaking to the media, the DCE promised to work closely with the Member of Parliament of the area to ensure rapid development for the District.

He called on the oil companies of the District to come to the aid of the Assembly.

The DCE used the opportunity to expressed his profound gratitude to his colleague nominee who failed to the nod when was nominated by the President for unflinching support given to him.

Speaking at the confirmation, the Western Regional Minister, Dr. Kwaku Afriyie, congratulated the DCE on his confirmation and charged him to work with all the people in the District.

He promised to work hard with the new DCE to ensure smooth administration of the District.

Speaking at the confirmation, the Member of Parliament for Jomoro Constituency who doubles as a Deputy Minister for Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Hon. Paul Essien, expressed his highly profound appreciation to Assembly Members for the love they shown to the District.

He also promised to work tirelessly with the DCE day and night.

Present at the confirmation, were the Western Regional Minister, Dr. Kwaku Afriyie, Deputy Western Regional Minister, Hon.Eugunia Kusi, NPP Western Regional Acting Chairman, Mr. Francis Ndede Siah, Member of Parliament for Jomoro Constituency, Hon. Paul Essien, NPP Western Regional Secretary who is also a Presidential Staffer, Mr. Charles Bisiw and among others.

Source: Daniel Kaku
An Accra High Court has ordered the Inspector General of Police (IGP), to with immediate effect cease any disciplinary proceedings against former East Legon District Commander, DSP Emmanuel Basintale and four others, alleged to be involved in a gold scam.

The order follows a judgment of the court exonerating the senior Police officer from complicity in the gold scam, involving a licensed US gold buying firm, Green Global Resources.

The court also quashed all initial disciplinary actions taken against DSP Basintale.

The five police officers were interdicted for the alleged unlawful seizure of 13 gold bars from a gold buying firm.

Lawyer Kissi Adjabeng, counsel for the embattled police officers, conveyed the judgment to Citi News, which largely went in his clients favour.

The Police administration had already reinstated the officer after he had initially been interdicted after preliminary investigations implicated him in the scandal.

We practically have everything that we asked for, except the court did not grant us costs. An order has been giving crushing all disciplinary proceedings that were purportedly instituted against them.

The Ghana Police Service and the IGP have been prohibited from further continuing with the matter in respect to DSP Basintale.

He also hinted that, police officers, media houses and other people who made supposed defamatory comments during the trial will be sued.

We are going to go to the next step of suing each and every person for defamation. That suit is not going to be a respecter of persons. If you said anything untoward against them, if you defamed them, the next thing is we are going to sue.

Background

Green Global Resources accused the Ghana Police of serious corruption at the highest level in the case of an alleged GHc 1.3 million gold scam.

This alleged gold scam saw DSP Basintale, and six others interdicted after they were said to have seized 13 gold bars from Green Global Resources, under the pretext that they bought stolen gold.

The group is believed to have been led by DSP Basintale.

DSP Basintale and his three other colleagues subsequently threatened to sue the Police Service for defamation.

Their Lawyer, Kissi Agyabeng, argued that his clients have borne in silence the brunt of the odium the publications reduced them to in their name, reputation and standing in society, until now.

Mr. Agyabeng maintained that, his clients were dutifully doing their job when they arrested persons from Green Global Resources.

He further insisted that his clients did not engage in any criminality by any stretch of the legal and factual imagination.

He argued that the Ghana Police Service is perpetuating an illegality by purporting to hold a service enquiry in respect of his clients in flagrant violation of C.I 76.



By: Anass Seidu/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Chief Executive Officer of Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) Joseph Boahen Aidoo has accused the John Mahama administration of syphoning millions of dollars from the Board's accounts.

He said former COCOBOD CEO, Dr Stephen Opuni, used export duty payments from COCOBOD as a conduit to syphon funds for activities not related to cocoa.

Mr Boahen Aidoo made the revelation at a news conference Wednesday, in a sharp response to cocoa-related issues raised by the Minority in Parliament at Bodi in the Western Region.

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) MPs accused the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) of shortchanging farmers by refusing to increase the cocoa producer price.

The Minority argued the foundation laid by the past NDC government was good enough for an increase in the producer price from the current 475 per bag to a higher one.

Bodi MP, Sampson Ahi, said before exiting power in January 2017, the NDC left more than $400 million in revenue from cocoa.

But Mr Boahen Aidoo retorted, saying the Mahama administration took loans in the name of COCOBOD and used the money to pay the judgement debt.

Boahen Aidoo

The President Mahama/Opuni tenure used export duty payments from COCOBOD as a conduit to syphon funds for activities not related to cocoa," he said.

This amount was taken from COCOBOD in the name of exercise duty (in the word of the then Deputy Minister of Finance  a Board member of COCOBOD Casiel Ato Forson). The payment under export duty was to make it appear legitimate, he added.

Read the full speech of Mr Boahen Aidoo below:

RESPONSE TO THE MINORITY PRESS STATEMENT ON COCOA

Good morning Ladies and gentlemen of the media (both electronic and print)

I am grateful to you all for honouring our invitation this morning. I have had the opportunity to interact with some of you since assuming office as Chief Executive at different fora and at my office but I have resisted the temptation of discussing the details of what myself and my team inherited as Managers of Ghana Cocoa Board.

The reason for shying away was just because, we felt it was a responsibility the President Akufo-Addo who appointed me had the trust that I could handle and there was no need trumpeting the problems.

However, I have decided on this day to make you aware of some of the challenges and rot we inherited, since the minority who are supposed to know the true situation of the Board has resorted to peddling of misinformation, half-truth, concocted stories and blatant lies in some instance just to throw dust into the eyes of the public in general and farmers in particular.

We cannot allow such attitude to continue unchecked because it enormously and negatively impacts on the sustainability of the cocoa industry. Cocoa is the backbone of Ghana and we must and we shall protect it.

Our attention has been drawn to a press conference by the NDC minority group, seeking to demand answers to the utilisation of proceeds relating to cocoa production above the 850,000 metric tonnes cocoa production projected for the 2016/2017 crop year. The answers lie in the responses enumerated below:

Falling Price of Cocoa between 2016/2017 and 2017/2018

The world market price of cocoa has fallen by an average of 30% from US$2,950.00 per tonne in 2016/2017 to an average of US$2,080.00 per tonne in 2017/2018. The farm gate price, on the other hand, has remained the same at GH7,600.00 per tonne despite the fall in the world cocoa price. The producer price of GHC7,600 per tonne paid in 2016/2017 formed 65% of the gross FOB of US$2,950 per tonne. In the 2017/2018 season, the producer price of GHC7,600 forms 83% of the gross FOB of US$2,080.00 per tonne.

The bulk of the excess cocoa above 850,000 metric tonnes was light crop cocoa sold at an average discounted price of US$1,600 (GHC6,720.00) per tonne while the producer price paid to the farmer remained at GHC7,600.00 (US$1,810) per tonne. COCOBOD incurred a loss of US$210.00 (GHC882.00) per tonne. Thus, the cocoa production achieved above the target tonnage of 850,000 metric tonnes in 2016/2017 was subsidised by COCOBOD.

Ladies and Gentlemen, it is instructive to note that farm gate prices in all cocoa producing countries have reduced the producer price to reflect world market trend. In keeping faith with the Ghanaian cocoa farmer to sustain their livelihoods, the NPP Government has maintained the producer price which is 83% of the gross FOB leaving 17% for operations.

Stabilization Fund

The Stabilization Fund policy was introduced by the NPP administration led by President Kuffour in the 2004/2005 cocoa season to support farmers from the effects of international price volatility. The Fund had accumulated an amount of GHS206.50 million when the NPP Government took over in January 2017. The budgeted figure of GHS93.5 million for the 2016/2017 season was not set aside by the NDC Government as a result of misplaced priorities. After the NPP administration took over in January 2017, an amount of GHS103.5 million has been added to the fund bringing the cumulative balance to GHS310 million. The actual amount required to maintain the producer price in the 2017/2018 season is GHS1.294 billion. The price subsidy to farmers is, therefore, GHS984 million after setting off the stabilisation fund of GHS 310 million available.

Suffice it to say that the amount of the international price fall meant that the Stabilization Fund was far less the amount required to fully absorb the shocks from the fall in price. The government has therefore subsidised the producer price. This goes to buttress the priority Government and the new management of COCOBOD place on the welfare and motivation of the farmer to sustain cocoa production.

Cocoa Roads Debts

The new Management of Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), upon an assumption of office in February 2017, inherited cocoa roads debt to the tune of GH3.52 billion. Total budgetary allocation of GH1.64 billion was earmarked for the cocoa roads project between 2014/2015 and 2016/2017 whilst the NDC Government awarded contracts to the tune of GHC5.16 billion. This was the budgeted figure by GHC3.52 billion.

It is worth noting that this reckless commitment above the budgeted amount was questioned by the Public Procurement Authority (PPA) in December 2016 when COCOBOD needed to seek approval to award additional contracts and the Authority inquired about the availability of budgetary provision to enable it to approve the requested contract awards. The NDC Government at the time justified the road contracts in a response to the PPA. This was the time when the NDC had woefully lost the elections and was trying to acquire retrospective approvals for the contracts already awarded without initial approval. Ladies and gentlemen, I am sure we are all aware of the legal implications of this action taken by the NDC administration. It later turned out that the justification of all the awarded road contracts as having budgetary provision was a palpable lie communicated to the PPA in order to have the contracts receive approval.

The NDC administration, in an attempt to conceal the over-bloated cocoa roads contracts, decided to create a Trust as a separate vehicle to manage the cocoa roads project. The Trust Deed was not registered even though the Trust was said to have been inaugurated at the Ministry of Finance. The inauguration of the Trust was used as a charade to deceive Ghanaians.

It is also instructive to note that many of the cocoa roads for which contracts were awarded have been found to be non-existent or excessively over bloated as revealed by an interim audit conducted by technical consultants. For the first time in the history of Ghana, the NDC had introduced ghost cocoa roads in Ghana.

Under the cocoa roads contracts, four-wheel drive vehicles were purchased by COCOBOD for the contractors as part of the contract price. Currently, over 160 vehicles are the contractors. To indicate the abuse, an eighteen-kilometre road, for example, was allocated six four-wheel vehicles for inspection by the old administration. I have initiated steps to retrieve the vehicles from the contractors.

Losses arising from Trading in Options

The numerous actions which led to losses in the era of Dr Opuni and the NDC included trading in options. This led to the loss of US$750,000 in 2015/2016. This trading in options, which was executed by the then Marketing Manager of CMC and directly supervised by Dr Opuni, is a subject of investigations currently being undertaken by COCOBOD.

In addition, price discounts which were given on cocoa sales for COCOBODs failure to honour contracts on due dates resulted in losses to COCOBOD. The price discounts, which were executed at the blind side of appropriate approval channels, resulted in the loss of US$12.4 million to COCOBOD. COCOBOD has had to deal with all these losses from the 2016/2017 production tonnage, further explaining the so-called excess production.

Advance Receipt of Proceeds against Future Production of Cocoa

The previous administration of COCOBOD in the NDC era sourced and received a total of US$320.70 million in addition to the US$1.7 billion syndicated loan funding received in 2014/2015. Part deliveries were made on the advances and US$128.70 million in outstanding commitments were carried forward into the following year 2015/2016.

Additional advances of US$178.70 million were received in 2015/2016 by the previous administration for which no deliveries were made.

On the assumption of office of the new COCOBOD administration, total commitments of US$35.97 million equivalent to 13,539 metric tonnes of cocoa were outstanding as a result of the advances received, having run from 2014/2015 and 2015/2016. These inherited cocoa delivery commitments were satisfied with production from the 2016/2017 crop, further explaining the so-called excess production.

Roll-Over of Sales Contracts Resulting from Unrealistic Production Forecasts

COCOBOD budgeted to achieve a production tonnage of 900,000 metric tonnes of cocoa in 2014/2015. Crop forecast and COCOBOD Research analysis had indicated a realistic production of 750,000 metric tonnes. The COCOBOD Research forecast was rejected by the then Chief Executive, Dr Stephen Kwabena Opuni, who was an appointee of NDC.

Apparently, the Chief Executive and his management team then had used the conjured production of 900,000 tonnes to arrange a loan facility of US$1.7 billion in the 2014/2015 season. A production figure of 740,000 metric tonnes was however achieved instead of the 900,000 tonnes. COCOBOD deliberately oversold cocoa based on the 900,000 metric tonnes. Consequently, this created default on the part of COCOBOD generating losses for non-delivery of contracted volumes on due dates.

The same situation occurred in the 2015/2016 season with an actual production of 778,000 tonnes achieved when a loan facility of US$1.8 billion had been secured with a production forecast of 850,000 metric tonnes. COCOBOD had difficulty repaying the two facilities in 2014/2015 and 2015/2016 due to inaccurate forecast and insufficient crop to service sales contracts.

The new Management of COCOBOD, upon the assumption of office in February 2017, had a liability of US$280 million (equivalent to 61,894 metric tonnes) to serve as a result of rolling over contracts from 2014/2015 and 2015/2016 seasons. Part of the 2016/2017 production had to be applied to fulfil such sales contracts, explaining the utilisation of the so-called excess production.

Non-Payment of Borrowings, and Repayment with Advance Receipts against Future Production

It is instructive to note that the previous COCOBOD administration under the NDC failed to pay for the annual syndicated funding in 2014/2015 and 2015/2016 with cocoa deliveries as normally the case. Cocoa production declined as a result of the abandonment of the cocoa rehabilitation programme. Cocoa farms were neglected and budgeted production could not be achieved to meet repayment of contracted loans and advances with cocoa sales proceeds. These are indicative of the gross mismanagement with which the NDC handled the affairs of COCOBOD.

Free Fertilizer Programme

The free fertilizer programme was used by the NDC to introduce sub-standard and inefficacious fertilizers into the cocoa Hi-Tech programme. Cocoa farmers expressed misgivings and disquiet in accepting the sub-standard fertilizers through the free fertilizer programme introduced by Dr Opuni and the NDC regime. He resolved to willfully cause financial waste such that farmers would be compelled to accept the fertilizers for free if acceptance through the subsidized sale was not successful.

Similarly, the cocoa mass spraying exercise was changed from the normal model of spraying by gangs to the distribution of sub-standard insecticides and fungicides to farmers to spray their own farms. The amount saved from the non-payment of gangs was misapplied through inflated contracts.

The rehabilitation programme was abandoned by the NDC regime, and therefore the party cannot claim credit for the cutting of mistletoes. Rather, the NDC decided to pursue the so-called free distribution of inputs and seedlings, which were rather conduits for inflated contracts and the syphoning of funds.

The NPP Government has now re-introduced the fertilizer subsidy programme with quality and high yielding fertilizers. There is an average subsidy of 53% on the fertilizers. The mass spraying gangs are paid promptly and therefore there is no evidence to suggest that spraying gang allowances have been in arrears for four (4) months as alleged by the NDC press conference. The gangs spray evenly across all farms without discrimination.

It is very interesting to hear the minority talk about challenges with the Cocoa Mass Spraying programme when the government has, in fact, re-launched the programme to make it more viable. All the so-called challenges mentioned are non-existent. Cocoa diseases and pests do not know the political affiliation of cocoa farmers. It will, therefore, be unfortunate for COCOBOD to politicise this important intervention which has played a very important role in increased cocoa production since its introduction in 2001.

The NDC administration spearheaded procurement of agrochemical and fertilizer inputs above allocated budgets. The budgets for the years were exceeded through padded contracts. Worse to mention is the fact that these agro inputs were rushed through the scientific testing regime by the Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana (CRIG). Officials of CRIG who resisted to rush the products through the fast-tracked testing regime were transferred. These inputs were confirmed by farmers across the country to be ineffective and it is not surprising that Ghanas cocoa production plummeted to the 740,000 and 778,000 tonnes in the 2014/2015 and the 2015/2016 seasons respectively when Dr Opuni was in charge of COCOBOD.

In addition to this, the NDC Government had awarded contracts for fertilizer and chemical supplies worth more than GHC500.00 million before leaving office in January 2017. The new management had to renegotiate these contracts, saving the Ghanaian farmer over GHS80.00 million.

Ill-Conceived, Financially Over-burdening Construction Contracts

The penchant to siphon funds through inflated contracts was rampant in the NDC administration through ill-conceived construction contracts in the cocoa sector. These contracts were awarded without proper value for money analysis, bringing into question the motive for the contracts.

For example, the contract for COCOBOD to construct a guest house at Bole in the Northern Region was needless at the time it was awarded. President Mahama was said to have influenced the award to enable him to enjoy comfortable holidays during visits to his constituency. Also, the contract to construct a 50,000 metric tonne warehouse at Tema was not considered to be financially and operationally prudent at the time since COCOBOD already had enough warehousing capacity at Tema to sustain its operations into the foreseeable future. The warehouse rehabilitation contract at Abuakwa in Kumasi was not required at the time since the facilities were in excellent working condition. Last but not the least, a whopping US$24 million contract was awarded to demolish excellent staff housing quarters in Tema, only to construct new housing facilities raising several questions about the motive for the award of the contract.

Annual Syndicated Loan Facility - Accounting for the US$1.8 Billion 2016/2017 Syndicated Loan

The NDC government secured an amount of US$1.8 billion for the 2016/2017 cocoa purchases which were projected at 850,000 metric tonnes.

As at January 2017, the US$1.8 billion had been fully drawn and utilized when only 587,125 metric tonnes of cocoa had been purchased. The mystery surrounding the exhaustion of the US$1.8 billion is being investigated and the full facts will be made known to Ghanaians in due course. Peculiar to the loan utilization is the last drawdown of US$400.0 million which was effected on 20th December 2016 at the time the NDC had woefully lost the December 2016 elections.

It is still surprising how the full drawdown of US$400.00 million (GH1.69 billion) was fully expended between 20th December 2016 and 6th January 2017 when the NPP government took over after 7th January 2017. Audit findings into the utilization of the amount will be made known to Ghanaians at the appropriate time when the full facts are unravelled.

Despite this inability to account properly for the loan, the NPP Government was saddled with a whopping debt of GHC19.6 billion after taking over in January 2017.

Governance Structure

The governance structure at COCOBOD has not posed any problem for smooth and effective administrative procedures. The NDC has failed to support their claim of the CMC budget increment by 38% and they have also failed to support their claim of the current governance structure causing the increase. The governance at COCOBOD is working smoothly, and all corporate governance procedures are being followed.

There is evidence to show that the NDC over bloated revenue and allocated budgets for spending the available resources.

Abuse of Power and Wasteful Expenditure

It is worth noting that the extent of mismanagement left by the President Mahama administration with Dr Opuni in charge of COCOBOD needs experienced and prudent management to redeem the institution from its current debts and mess. Thus, on assumption of office, the NPP administration has initiated various value for money audits, and Ghanaians will soon know the extent of rot left by the President Mahama administration at COCOBOD. Staff are either on leave, at the post or interdicted and payment to them are not considered wasteful.

Export Duty Abuse

The President Mahama/Opuni tenure used export duty payments from COCOBOD as a conduit to syphon funds for activities not related to cocoa. A case in point is the payment of US$25million from COCOBOD to Construction Pioneers (CP) in January 2016 to settle judgement debt awarded against the Government of Ghana in the UK. Without this payment, Government was to lose a property worth about US$1.2 million in the UK as a result of reckless handling of debts owed CP. This amount was taken from COCOBOD in the name of exercise duty (in the word of the then Deputy Minister of Finance  a Board member of COCOBOD Casiel Ato Forson). The payment under export duty was to make it appear legitimate.

Ladies and Gentlemen of the Press, this is the depleted state the NDC Government left COCOBOD.

Let me assure you that we are up to the task of solving the myriad of problems we inherited but we do not need the needless noise by the Minority in Parliament.

Time will not allow me to go over the numerous interventions weve rolled out as we seek to make cocoa sustainable in Ghana and make our farmers better-off.

We believe in Cocoa farming and cocoa business and we pledge to help build and enticing cocoa industry for Ghana.

Thank you for your attention.

Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | Jerry Tsatro Mordy | Email: [email protected], Twitter: @jerrymordy
Former Deputy Chief of Staff, Dr. Valarie Sawyerr, has taken Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia to the cleaners, following some utterances the second gentleman made prior to the launch of the country's digital address system also known as Ghana Post GPS.

Dr. Sawyerr believes the Vice President deceived Ghanaians when he said the $2.5 million worth system will be more advanced than those used in the UK and United States of America.

It is more advanced than the United States or the United Kingdom or Germany because they are stuck to old technology, and we are leapfrogging. We are going to a new technology; we are going to GPS-based technology, Dr. Bawumia said when he delivered a lecture at the University of Cape Coast, on October 5, 2017.

But Valarie Sawyer in her recent epistle mocked the Vice President saying Who is deceiving these people?

In ten months, they have devised and implemented a digital addressing system that is more advanced than that of the U.S., the U.K., Sweden and Germany? Wow! Not surprisingly, I soon found out it was simply an app that uses Google's free geographical coordinates. So, Mr. President, what is the Vice-President's excuse please?

The former presidential staffer in the article also posited that Dr. Bawumia goofed when he made such comments.

She also in the article presumed that the $2.5 million sum spent on the digital address system was not value for money and that the Minority in Parliament will soon be demanding answers from the Procurement Minister in that regard.

#Jack Where Are You  that is the slogan for the digital addressing system! Mr. President, in case you are wondering, we are talking about 'value for money'. This 'Jack Where Are You' goof will not varnish into thin air. An urgent question has been filed in Parliament for the Minister of State in charge of Public Procurement to provide details of the procurement process for the system. We are waiting patiently please, she said in the article.

Madam Sawyerr also took on President Akufo-Addo for crediting the Wa Water project to the NPP government as well as recorded distasteful happenings in the country from rampant vigilante attacks, army worm invasion, to Ameri deal among others.

Below is Valarie Sawyerr's full article:

Dr. Valerie Sawyerr writes:

Mr. President!

Mr. President!!

Mr. President!!!

How many times did I call you? Why will you not let me enjoy a peaceful Opposition? Stretching my legs in an easy chair on my patio, I heard your Vice-President say: We are introducing Ghana's digital address system with unique post-codes within every location within Ghana The digital addressing system is going to provide us the most advanced addressing system in the world. Period! This is what we are about to roll out. And it is more advanced, off course, than the United States or the United Kingdom or Sweden or Germany because they are stuck with old technology. We are leap-frogging and we are going to new technology. We are going to GPS-based technology, so even if you are standing in the middle of the River Oti and you want your address when we roll it out you will know your address in the middle of the River Oti. I said to myself  Who is deceiving these people? In ten months, they have devised and implemented a digital addressing system that is more advanced than that of the U.S., the U.K., Sweden and Germany? Wow!

Not surprisingly, I soon found out it was simply an app that uses Google's free geographical coordinates. Don't ask me what that means. I cannot claim to be an expert of any sort in the world of digitalization but I have access to young knowledgeable professionals who I call when I do not understand such matters. So, Mr. President, what is the Vice-President's excuse please?

But Sir, why should I begrudge your Vice-President his exaggerated manipulative style. Barely a month ago, I was stretching my legs in that same easy chair when I heard you say: This project was began in the time of the great Ghanaian leader John Agyekum Kufour. It was in his time that the financing for this project was secured as far back as 2008. Unfortunately, after he left, it took five years under the NDC successor government before the construction of the project. God has his own way of doing these things  a project that was begun by Kufour is going to be commissioned by Akufo-Addo. That is the way the Almighty works.

I asked myself  what project is he talking about and is this not a gross display of mathematical deficiency? We all know that the NDC was in power for eight years  so even if it is true that for five years construction of the project was not begun, what happened to the extra three years?

After sleeping for five years, did the NDC government use three years to get out of bed in stretching mode? Did the NPP government then use nine months to execute the project? I wondered whether you were cutting sod for the project or commissioning the completed project.

So, I cross-checked! Lo and behold, it was the Wa Water Project. Eeeeishh! I am sure there is a word or phrase that describes a consistent and deeply ingrained tendency for manipulating the truth before audiences that the manipulator persistently deems ignorant and/or gullible, when indeed this is not the case. Especially when they attach phrases like 'God has his own way of doing these things' and 'that is the way the Almighty works'. Blasphemy of the highest order!

With all due respect Mr. President, do you see how you were fumbling when you got to that part and feverishly wiping your mouth? Ahaaa! As we say in our local parlance 'if you will not allow your mother to sleep you will also not sleep!' Your Excellency, let me go back to your Vice-President. Let's try this quiz Sir:

 Is Google Maps Navigation a mobile application developed by Google, which normally uses a GPS satellite connection to determine its location?

 Did the Ghanaian Government pay US$2.5m to Vokacom, aka Afrifa, to develop a digital addressing system for the country?  Did Vokacom develop a digital addressing system based on the GPS technology?

 Is the GPS technology new or was it invented in the 1960s in the U.S.?

 Does the new app developed by Vokacom use Google's free geographical coordinates to function?

 Will Ghana pay a US$400,000.00 annual fee to Google for embedding their online map into Ghana's new digital addressing system?

 Does the Ghanaian government have physical access to the server?

 Does another country have access to our personal information fed into the server?

 Did a similar Facebook App integration with Google maps cost US$500,000?  Why are there so many complaints that the Ghana Post GPS App is not working efficiently?

 Did the Government really spend GH3.5million on publicizing the system as declared by the MD of Ghana Post, James Kwofie?

#Jack Where Are You  that is the slogan for the digital addressing system! Mr. President, in case you are wondering, we are talking about 'value for money'.

This 'Jack Where Are You' goof will not varnish into thin air. An urgent question has been filed in Parliament for the Minister of State in charge of Public Procurement to provide details of the procurement process for the system. We are waiting patiently please. Your Excellency, do you need more than ten months in Government to realize that you cannot get away with what you used to get away with in Opposition? You cannot hoodwink the people with half-truths and untruths all the time.

You cannot get them to accept hook, line and sinker unrealistic dreams and expectations. You cannot twist and turn untruths into truths. You cannot dig a big hole at a spot and get your information gurus to say you actually built a mountain at that spot when the spot is accessible to all for verification. Your Minister for Information is somersaulting all over the place, struggling to present coverups for your mess-ups.

With all due respect Sir, you are over-pressurising the young man. Your Excellency, if you think we have forgotten the Bond saga, the MacDan saga, the BOST saga, the AMERI saga, the missing cocaine saga, the GH 5million [email protected] saga, the illegal deportation saga, then you have another thought coming.

 Your incompetent Minister for Agriculture now says the army worms have come to stay, after he said he had eradicated them;

 Your implementation of the First Year Free SHS programme has been woefully inadequate;

 You moved a whole community of Ghanaians to the United States for the 72nd Session of the UN General Assembly when public officers had not been paid;

 Your MASLOC CEO, Stephen Amoah purchases 1,800 second-hand cars with no MASLOC board in place and no PPA (Public Procurement Authority) approval;

 Your Invisible Forces, Delta Forces, Kandahar boys, Bolgatanga Bulldogs  just heard about the Elmina Sharks and Paga Crocodiles  and other rebel groups are still terrorizing the nation  Sissala West DCE flees irate youth  NPP Youth lock up School Feeding Office in Tamale  NPP youth storm police station in Karaga  NPP youth group beats Assembly members at Adeiso. Mr. President, what happened to your democratic credentials please?

 Your operatives 'imprison' Appiah Stadium in a room and force him to produce an audio recording for public consumption. They handcuff him from Kumasi to the Police Headquarters in Accra where it takes almost four hours to get the police to agree to grant him bail around 9.30pm, and thereafter you issue a statement saying you are no longer interested in pursuing the case. Of course, I cannot defend the words he used on you although, Sir, I cannot remember you defending yourself when the WikiLeaks reports were released.

I also remember the horrible words you and your team used on Ex President Mahama while he was in office. It is not too late to apologise to him Sir.  You impose penalties amounting to over GH1billion on radio stations and shut some down in the name of administrative streamlining.

Mr. President, it is important that our institutions obey and adhere to laid down rules and procedures, but I am sure you realize that by imposing unrealistic sanctions on them the message that rings clear is that you have a sinister agenda. To cut down some of the fines to 50% is still unconscionable, especially when the Schedule used for the calculation of fines had not yet been approved by Parliament. May I humbly suggest that the first review of the draconian decision should have seen a reduction of fines to the level of the applicable law, while insisting that the Radio Stations present the requisite paperwork.

As things are, it may be advisable to simply declare an amnesty, give them a time frame to present the relevant paperwork and pay the fees of the years unpaid at the current rate. This would spare the nation a further loss of democratic credentials as well as imminent court cases. As for my sister Ursula, I have confidence in her that she will do the right thing and I hope my confidence is not misplaced. As I pondered over your actions this morning, I found myself singing a popular tune  'kro kro kro kro, hi hi hi hi krohi krohi kro kro kro, hi hi kro kro kro ' Your Excellency, do you remember that tune?

The rhythm of the reverberating shuttle of the loom as our kente weavers produce our resplendent kente cloths. Sir, I can see you slowly weaving your way into the hole that you yourself are digging. It is so deep that if you fall in it, Mr. President you know we will not be able to find you even if all fire service and military operatives and equipment are dispatched to the scene

Mr. President, what stops you from graciously acknowledging what the NDC has accomplished? Is it a narcissistic tendency that prevents you from acknowledging the good in others? Or is it your speech-writers who have decided as a policy that nothing good of the NDC should be acknowledged? Please listen to the humble advise of an Opposition Chiller  you are the one who will be held responsible for the fumbling of your Government. Your writers can write for you but you are the one who must determine in the end what you actually say.

Apart from the Wa Water Project, that you attempted to take credit for (naughty naughty), may I remind you of some other water projects executed under President Mahama  Essakyir Water Supply Project; Kpong Water Expansion Project; Nsawam Water Expansion Projects; Teshie Water Desalination Plant; Kumasi (Barekese) Water Supply Project; Five Towns Water Supply Project (Kyebi, Osenase, Anyinam, Apedwa & Kwabeng); Kpong Intake Rehabilitation Project; Accra-Tema Metropolitan Area Supply Project; Asante Mampong Water Project; Akim-Oda-Akwatia-Winneba Water Project; Konongo-Kumawu-Kwahu Water Project; Navrongo Water Project & Small Town Water Systems across all regions.

I understand the Akim Oda-Akwatia-Winneba Water Supply Project is being prepared for commissioning. Please put the devil to shame and give JM the credit when you commission it. Don't believe your Minister for Water Resources & Sanitation if he tells you that the funding was sourced in H.E. Busia's time, and H.E. Kufour planted a tree at the spot to signify sodcutting, and you built the whole system in ten months. If in doubt, just conduct a search on Google. Your Excellency, I don't mean the 'Jack Where Are You' system please  ha ha ha! While we are at it, may I take the opportunity to point out that the following projects commissioned or inaugurated in the ten months you have been in office were all commenced and/or executed under President Mahama:

 On April 27, 2017, you cut the sod for the world's largest LPG-fired Power Plant;

 On April 26, 2017, you commissioned an ICT Centre at Soabe in Denkyembour District of the Eastern Region;  On May 10, 2017, you commissioned the Kumasi City Mall;

 On May 17, 2017, your Minister for Health commissioned the Greater Accra Regional Hospital (former Ridge Hospital

 On May 24, 2017, your Minister for Fisheries commissioned the Elmina Fish Processing Plant;  On July 6, 2017, you commissioned the FPSO John Agyekum Kufour;

 On September 15, 2017, you launched the New National ID Card. Kro kro kro kro, hi hi hi hi Krohi krohi kro kro kro, hi hi, kro kro kro   and Mr. President what is this new thing that anytime you goof and attention is drawn to it, you throw a fake Kwesi Botchwey report at the NDC, as though that will solve the problems of the nation? Please concentrate on easing the burden of the average Ghanaian Sir, and leave the Kwesi Botchway report alone, especially the fake ones. Who are those NPP birds twittering about the Kwesi Botchwey report?

The good professor says the version being bandied around is fake and is not the final version of his Committee's report. Our General Secretary Asiedu Nketia and our National Organiser Kofi Adams have said on air that it is a fake report. When the denkyems (crocodiles) have come out of the river to declare that the report on the water-bed is fake, the bird perched on a tree in the hinterland says the report is true. Aaba! Did the bird use the Vice-President's leap-frogging Ghana Post GPS to locate the address of the Kwesi Botchwey Report in the Oti River?  and who are those NDC birds chirping all over the place about the NPP KB Report  chirp, chirp, chirp?

Kindly varnish from my sight as I daydream in peace, recalling the story of Taka, Tika and Gangali on that beautiful day in July 2011 in Sunyani. Yes, the story JM shared with us at the Sunyani Congress. I guess a number of you have forgotten. Let me jog your memory  the Congress that gave Nana Konadu (NDP) 3.1% of the votes.

Ahaaa  I knew you would remember that. We are indeed the great NDC and we fear no foe!!! Stop chirping and get with the programme  organize don't agonise!!! Kro kro kro kro, hi hi hi hi  Mr. President, you are weaving your way towards the big black hole.

Your Vice President will not be able to help you Sir because he is already going over the brink. You positioned him during the campaign to sell empty stories, you positioned him to insult the sitting President and to label government corrupt and incompetent, you positioned him as an economic guru when you knew he had no 'guruism' in him  now he does not know what to do in Government

He is lost, sidelined by the monsters you have created  and when he has a chance, he squeals out of context still using your opposition campaign tactics that you taught him and coming across as incongruous and totally out of his depth.

Mr. President, Mr. President, Mr. President!!!

I called you three times please!!!

I am for peace  Shalom!!!



By: Godwin Akweiteh Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana

Follow @AlloteyGodwin
The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Cocoa Board, Joseph Boahen Aidoo, has accused former President John Mahama of influencing the construction of an unnecessary guest house using funds belonging to COCOBOD.

According to him, the guest house was built in John Mahama's hometown, Bole for his personal comfort while in office.

Speaking at a press conference to respond to allegations of mismanagement of COCOBOD by the Minority in Parliament, Mr. Boahen Aidoo, said the erstwhile administration of COCOBOD led by Mr. Stephen Opuni, rather misappropriated millions of cocoa funds on frivolous activities.

The penchant to siphon funds through inflated contracts was rampant in the NDC-Opuni administration through ill-conceived construction contracts in the cocoa sector. These contracts were awarded without proper value for money analysis, bringing into question the motive for the contract for instance, to construct a guest house at Bole in the Northern Region, which was needless at the time it was awarded. President John Mahama was said to have influenced the awarding to enable him enjoy a comfortable holiday during his visit to his constituency, he said.

Mr. Boahene, however revealed that the Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO) is currently investigating all financial malfeasance during the tenure of former CEO Dr. Stephen Opuni.

He spoke at a press conference to respond to allegations by the Minority that the cocoa sector is being mismanaged by the current administration.



By: Jonas Nyabor & Lawrence Segbafia/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Ghana's High Commissioner to South Africa, George Ayisi-Boateng has apologised for making 'divisive' comments.

His apology was contained in a press statement signed by him.

George Ayisi-Boateng while addressing Tertiary Students' Confederacy Network (TESCON) in Kumasi made the comments which many have termed as very unfortunate.

Mr. Ayisi-Boateng told the students that, they are his priority in his dealings while at his duty post and that, it is by dint of the hard work party loyalists put in, that saw the party recapture power so it will be the right thing to do.

The High Commissioner urged other government appointees to do same. The comments have provoked public outrage and condemnation.

After days of pressure from the public, the High Commissioner finally rendered an unqualified apology to Ghanaians.

Below is the full statement:

RETRACTION OF PARTISAN COMMENTS AND SUBMISSION OF

UNQUALIFIED APOLOGY TO THE GHANAIAN POPULACE

I have, upon sober reflection, decided to retract the comments I made during my interaction with some Members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Ashanti Region over the weekend.

I have realised that my statement is unfortunate and at variance with the letter and spirit of the Ghanaian constitution and the dignified office of High Commissioner that I occupy.

I am aware that as the representative of Ghana to South Africa, I have a responsibility to protect the interest of all Ghanaians within my jurisdiction and to grant them equal access to opportunities that are presented, irrespective of their political affiliation.

I regret the effect of my speech delivered to the young party members which has generated public outcry.

I, therefore, wish to retract my comments and render an unqualified apology to the Presidency and all Ghanaians

Signed

George Ayisi-Boateng

Wednesday 1 November, 2017
Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir told his South Sudanese counterpart Salva Kiir on Wednesday that Khartoum is keen to resolve all pending issues with South Sudan in a bid to improve relations, the official news agency SUNA reported.

Bashir's remarks came during a meeting with Kiir, starting a two-day visit to Khartoum to try to resolve border disputes and address mutual accusations of supporting rebels in each other's countries.

It is Kiir's third visit to Khartoum since the Christian-majority south split from the Muslim north in 2011 after a 22-year civil war that killed hundreds of thousands.

"Sudan is keen to resolve all pending issues ... and activate political and security mechanisms in order to take bilateral relations forward," Bashir told Kiir at their meeting, according to SUNA.

"Sudan is supporting South Sudanese people and has kept open its territories to deliver humanitarian aid to South Sudan, and will also step up efforts for peace in South Sudan," Bashir said.

Bashir earlier welcomed Kiir and his delegation at Khartoum airport and the two then held a joint meeting.

Due to unresolved issues, ties between Khartoum and Juba have often been tense since South Sudan gained independence six years ago.

Border rows, economic issues such as Juba's payments for the use of an oil export pipeline through Sudan and building a buffer zone along the frontier are expected to dominate talks during Kiir's visit.

Officials will also attempt to address tensions over alleged support for insurgents.

Tense ties -

Sudan has regularly accused its neighbour of aiding rebels in its war-torn Darfur, Blue Nile and South Kordofan regions, while Juba has accused Khartoum of aiding Kiir's opponent and former deputy Riek Machar in South Sudan's ongoing civil war.

The status of the contested border district of Abyei also remains an unresolved issue.

"This visit (of Kiir) is aimed at normalising the relations between the two countries which have been tense," South Sudanese Information Minister Michael Makuei told reporters minutes after Kiir arrived in Khartoum, adding the two leaders would decide on a roadmap to boost trading links.

"The two countries should cooperate in the interests of their people as they are all one people in two countries."

His Sudanese counterpart Ahmed Bilal said the visit aims to "establish security and stability in the two countries".

South Sudanese President Salva Kiir (2L) is welcomed by Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir following his arrival at Khartoum international airport for a two-day visit

Tens of thousands of people have been killed in South Sudan and millions more have been driven from their homes since the war erupted in the world's youngest country in December 2013.

More than 450,000 South Sudanese refugees have poured into Sudan since the war broke out, the United Nations says. Khartoum estimates they number 1.3 million.

Juba said it appreciates Khartoum's efforts to accept the growing number of refugees.

Apart from accepting refugees, the openings of border crossings by Khartoum has also helped trading activities, Juba said in a statement issued before Kiir left for Sudan.

"South Sudan will do all it can to ensure that the Republic of Sudan interests in South Sudan are protected and promoted," it said.

Several senior South Sudanese officials have regularly visited Khartoum while Kiir himself previously visited in 2015.
The Foreign Affairs Minister of Denmark, Anders Samuelsen, has attributed the Scandinavian nations ability to ensure free education all the way to the tertiary level to the willingness of the citizens to pay high taxes.

According to him, the education of the youth is a core value of Danish culture, with the state willing to support the academic exploits of students.

[Free education] has been like this for many years in Denmark. I've never experienced anything else, it's free to have education in Denmark. There's also a support system for people who are studying, so they have support from the state, he said in an interview with Citi FMs Bernard Avle.

We can always have a discussion on whether we have the right balance, but it is the core value in Denmark and our democracy is built on the old school reforms  they are more than 100 years old  where it was an obligation for people to go to school and it was supported by the state. Funding came from a very high tech level. We tax persons more than 50 percent on average, we have all kinds of taxes which are of course needed when you want to have a big public sector.

He stated that the importance of education to the development of the country had been firmly established in the Scandinavian nation

As a result, despite his own preference for the taxes to be lowered, the citizens are more than happy to pay the high taxes to ensure that their wards have access to quality educational services.

Our main focus is on education. We need to educate our population so that they are able to reach out for new opportunities. I have a son who's 26 years old, and is now working with Microsoft in Copenhagen, but I don't understand what he's working on. The next generation will see new opportunities that we cannot even imagine today. What we can do is to educate them so that they can have a chance to reach out for new opportunities, he said.

You could find another balance as a liberal, I would like to see it lowered a little bit so we could have a bigger private sector, but that is more of an ideological debate.

Foreign Affairs Minister of Denmark, Anders Samuelsen.

Great potential

Anders Samuelsen praised Ghanas democratic credentials which he said had earned it respect around the globe, and had positioned the West African country as a great destination for potential investors.

Ghana is a great example of the potential we see in Africa. [Ghana] is one of the examples people look up to and that's one of the reasons why our Queen is looking forward to this visit. You have a good story and a good track record and we have the same focus in trying to develop human rights, democracy and respect for law and order, and at the same time, we have a common view on trade as being one of the most important ways to get people out of poverty to middle-class standard and thereby being able to live the life they dream of, he said.

Danish queen's visit

Citi FM's reports from Denmark come ahead of the official State Visit of Denmark's Head of State, Her Majesty the Queen Margrethe II, from November 23 to November 24.

The 3-day press trip to Denmark was organised for four selected Ghanaian journalists, including Citi Breakfast Show host, Bernard Koku Avle.

The press trip will be capped with a press conference with Queen Margrethe II.

The Queen, on her eventual historic visit to Ghana, is expected to be accompanied by a Danish business delegation within three focus sectors, namely food & agriculture, sustainability, maritime, infrastructure and railways.



By: Edwin Kwakofi/citifmonline.com/Ghana
01.11.2017 LISTEN

Tamale Police say they are ready to clamp down on lawless activities by rampaging New Patriotic Party youth who have decided to hold political leaders hostage.

Police spokesperson ASP Mohammed Tanko told Joy News Emefa Appau the youth will not dare because when they do, the full force of the police will descend on them.

According to him, the police have enough evidence of wrongdoing against the rampaging party youth of the governing NPP and will use that to secure a conviction.

His comments come at a time when Constituency executives in Karaga in the Northern Region have been held in police custody for rioting

A dozen police personnel have also been patrolling the area to keep the activities of the youth in check.

Karaga in the Northern Region has been home to violence as angry youth of the governing New Patriotic Party have been belligerent over the last few weeks.

The angry youth were said to have invaded the offices of the YEA and District Assembly and locked the offices of the YEA coordinator and that of the DCE.

They accuse the DCE of the area, Alhassan Yabdoo of hoarding contracts and dividing the party.

The Regional YEA Coordinator has also not been spared the violent expressions of the angry party youth.

When the police arrested some of them, another group massed up at the police station and freed the suspects.

The Constituency chairman and few other constituency executives were later arrested and charged with rioting.

They were granted bail, Wednesday to reappear later in court.

Police Spokesperson ASP Mohammed Tanko said they are not the least perturbed by the courts decision to grant bail to the suspects.

He was however confident the suspects will be convicted for their riotous behavior.

We know the court will convict them because we have evidence against them, he assured.

He said the police are still hunting for several suspects some of whom have fled the town.

He also assured of the safety of the two government officials who have been the subject of attack by the NPP Youth.

According to Tanko both the DCE and the YEA Regional Coordinator have been provided with maximum security in order for them to execute their official assignments.

Story by Ghana|Myjoyonline.com|Nathan Gadugah
01.11.2017 LISTEN

Renowned legal practitioner, H Kwasi Prempeh believes it is wrong for anyone to defend the thought of Ghana's High Commissioner to South Africa, George Ayisi Boateng that creating jobs and prosperity for Ghanaians must be limited to members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) alone.

I find it curious that the youth who have a bigger stake in the future of this country by virtue of their age and stage in life are the ones who are most vociferously defending this line of thinking. It is your own graves youre digging with this sort of facile ideology, he said in a Facebook post.

The Professor of Law's comment adds to the many expressed by Ghanaians following the diplomats controversial statement over the weekend.

Mr. Ayisi Boateng whilst addressing some party youth at the Kumasi Technical University over the weekend, said he has resolved to prioritize members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in his dealings.

He said although he was to treat all Ghanaians fairly, he believes NPP members are more Ghanaian than others.

This government is doing its best to create job opportunities and me for instance, I told my people over there [that], it is because of NPP that I'm here, so the NPP man is my priority . I told them when NDC was in power it was Kwesi Ahwoi who was there, now we are in power, so Ayisi-Boateng is here with you. My topmost priority is the problems of an NPP person before any other Ghanaian, take it or leave it.

Despite the widespread condemnation of the statement deemed divisive and irresponsible, some loyalists of the NPP are justifying Mr. Ayisi Boateng's comment.

They claim his comment was only a reiteration of an already existing culture in governance, and Mr. Ayisi Boateng must be commended for his frankness.

But Kwasi Prempeh disagrees.

If I told you that, people get into politics to enrich themselves, so I intend to use whatever position I secure in politics to enrich myself, would my declaration be excusable or justifiable because I was merely stating a sad fact of Ghanaian political life? What sort of logic is that? he quizzed in a Facebook post on the matter.

Read H Kwasi Prempeh's full post below:

If the NPP had told Ghanaians openly during the 2016 election campaign that, if elected, the Party will prioritize and cater for the employment and material needs of Party faithful above all other Ghanaians and considerations, would it have won the 2016 elections? Such a statement would have spelt electoral doom for the party. Thankfully and wisely, the NPP and then-Candidate Akufo Addo/Bawumia did not campaign on any such promise. They know better! They campaigned instead, and appropriately so, on a promise of Creating Jobs and Prosperity for All. That is the contract the NPP made with Ghanaians. And it is on the basis of that contract that one must judge the wisdom or unwisdom of the controversial statement made by Ambassador Ayisi Boateng. Saying that hes merely stating a political fact misses the point. He was doing far more than that. If I told you that, people get into politics to enrich themselves, so I intend to use whatever position I secure in politics to enrich myself, would my declaration be excusable or justifiable because I was merely stating a sad fact of Ghanaian political life? What sort of logic is that? I find it curious that the youth who have a bigger stake in the future of this country by virtue of their age and stage in life are the ones who are most vociferously defending this line of thinking. It is your own graves youre digging with this sort of facile ideology. No government, no matter how profligate or reckless in its fiscal management, can build a public sector large enough to create a job for every party faithful. Nor can the economy withstand such reckless politics. Politicians who make a contrary promise are simply being dishonest. And you must be smart enough to know that. The solution to the tough problem of youth and graduate unemployment does not lie in finding a job in the public services for every TESCON or DELTA FORCE member. Its just not feasible; it wont happen. (Besides, not every party faithful belongs or must belong to TESCON or any of the various clubs within the party). What we can and must do, however, is hold government to its promise and duty to create, through smart policies, programs, investments, incentives, and disciplined and judicious management of this nations wealth, an expanding economy and private sector that, in turn, creates job, training, and entrepreneurial opportunities for the youth and new graduates. This is the only sustainable path. It is the most the politicians can do, if they would be honest with you. But unless we hold them to that promise and measure progress toward that goal, they will take the line of least resistance, which is to find plum and not-so-plum public sector jobs for just a few of you and string the rest along until another election is due. Lets be realisticand discerning

Ayisi's comment suicidal; Nana Addo must act now  Minority

The Minority in Parliament has turned the heat on President Nana Akufo-Addo to break his silence over the widely condemned partisan comment made by Ghana's High Commissioner to South Africa, Ayisi Boateng.

Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa

According to the Minority, turning a blind eye on the issue will mean that Akufo-Addo endorses such comments which have been described as bigotry.

Ayisi Boateng's partisan comment 'senseless'  K.B. Asante

Retired diplomat and once secretary to Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, K.B. Asante, has said the pledge by Ghana's High Commissioner to South Africa, George Ayisi Boateng, to prioritize the welfare of New Patriotic Party members in his dealings doesn't make sense .

K.B. Asante

Comments like that put the country on the verge of rot, he asserted on the Citi Breakfast Show.



By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Every US president since Richard Nixon has pledged allegiance to the goal of energy independence.

A frenzy of drilling in shale gas fields across the country over the past decade has put the US within arms reach of finally achieving that goal.

The US has transitioned itself to low cost gas for power generation. Gas prices are at record lows, and electricity prices are falling.

Cheap energy is really driving lower costs for all businesses in the US, in contrast to Australia and our ballooning energy costs.

The US economy is booming right now. Factory and service sector activities are hitting 13 and 12 year highs respectively.

There are a record number of 6.2 million job openings in the US.

Probably one of the best indicators that the US economy is picking up is that orders for 18-wheelers are strong. That means new semis are needed to maintain delivery rates.

Unemployment is at 16 year lows, and US property prices continue to rise.

This is the reason why US benchmark indices have been rising all year.

One of the main drivers for the boom conditions in the US is cheap energy provided by the shale gas drilling boom.

But the ramifications go far wider than the US.

Its created a gas glut far larger than domestic demand could possibly consume.

The US has long been a LNG importer, but has now positioned itself as an LNG exporter.

Gas in liquefied form shipped from Texas and Louisiana is descending on global markets.

And it may shape geopolitical events and the global economy for decades to come.

For one thing its weakening Russias dominance in Europe.

Many European countries have had near total dependence on Russian imports of gas. Moscow has used that power to limit energy supplies to Baltic neighbours like Poland if there were any disputes on price, or if they failed to toe the political line coming from Moscow.

Now Poland is welcoming US tankers loaded full of LNG gas, giving the country newfound energy independence.

Not only is it diminishing Russias influence in the region, it will have enormous impact on Russia economically.

Russia has already been forced to lower its gas prices to Europe, and energy revenues account for nearly half of the Kremlins budget.

This is just one effect the US shale boom is having on the world.

The transition of the US to one of the worlds largest gas exporters is also having significant environmental effects.

Demand for gas, the cleanest of fossil fuels, is surging at the expense of coal.

China, which burns half the worlds coal to power its power plants and factories, has said that its looking at gas to ease the air pollution that is choking its major cities.

The recent numbers seem to back up the rhetoric. Bloomberg reports Chinese demand for gas is rising faster than expected. In April, consumption was 22% higher than the same month in 2016, and the total for the first four months of the year is up more than 12%.

China is expected to become the biggest natural gas consumer over the next couple of decades, and US gas exporters are aiming to grab that lucrative, growing market.

Cheaper LNG from the US could also offset Chinas future dependence on piped Russian gas, and force Russian companies to lower prices to stay competitive.

Whats happening with US LNG gas exports is a big deal.

Cheaper energy has had a big impact on the US economy.

Cheaper energy is part of the reason why the US market has continued to make new highs. In stark contrast to the sideways market here and the problems were having with our own rising energy costs.

The US isnt just exporting gas. It is also exporting Americas low energy prices worldwide.

Heres one more reason why land prices can go higher. Lower energy costs will continue to drive profitability. Those gains must ultimately feed into land price.

This is one more reason why this might be the biggest real estate cycle of all time. If you want to find out how to profit and time it all to your advantage, then go here to find out more.

Regards,

Terence Duffy,

Lead Researcher, Cycles, Trends & Forecasts
By Davide Cantoni, Professor of Economic History at the University of Munich, Jeremiah Dittmar, Professor of Economics, London School of Economics, and Noam Yuchtman, Associate Professor, Haas School of Business, UC-Berkeley. Originally published at VoxEU

Five hundred years ago today, Martin Luther posted 95 theses on the Wittenberg Castle church door critiquing Catholic Church corruption, setting off the Protestant Reformation. This column argues that the Reformation not only transformed Western Europes religious landscape, but also led to an immediate and large secularisation of Europes political economy.

On 31 October 1517, 500 years ago today, Martin Luther posted 95 theses on the Wittenberg Castle church door critiquing Catholic Church corruption, setting off the Protestant Reformation. The Reformation marked a critical juncture in Western history  the moment when the religious monopoly of the enormously rich and powerful Catholic Church was successfully challenged.

Social scientists have long argued that the Reformation transformed the European economy and played a role in the rise of the Western world. Yet these views have been contested, and empirical evidence on the economic consequences of one of the most important episodes in European history has been mixed (e.g. Weber 1904/1905, Tawney 1926, Becker and Woessmann 2009, Cantoni 2015, Rubin 2017).

In new research, we document a first-order consequence of the Reformation: an immediate and large secularisation of Europes political economy (Cantoni et al. 2017). We gather rich evidence from early modern Germany and show that:

Human capital and fixed investment shifted sharply from religious to secular purposes after 1517, and disproportionately so in regions that adopted Protestantism.

The growth of economic activity in the ascendant secular sector specifically reflected the interests of empowered secular territorial rulers, and came at the expense of religious elites  the hiring of lawyers rather than theologians, the building of palaces and castles rather than churches.

Conceptual Framework

This consequence is surprising. How did an intensely religious movement, preaching biblical revival, produce economic secularisation? And why did resources so disproportionately shift towards the control of secular rulers? To help us understand how the introduction of religious competition during the Reformation could transform Europes political economy, we develop a conceptual framework.

Prior work has generally considered churches as producers of salvation, and believers as consumers (e.g. Ekelund et al. 2006). Believers pay a price, comprising financial costs in the form of tithes and donations and time spent attending masses and praying. Viewed through this lens, entry by a competitor into a hitherto monopolistic market will reduce prices in the market for salvation, leaving believers (as consumers of religion) better off. Indeed, Protestant theology offered a path to salvation that did not require the purchase of indulgences to fund expensive monasteries or a massive bureaucracy of priests.

But in addition to the market for salvation, we argue that understanding the economy-wide effects of the introduction of religious competition requires consideration of a second market  one in which secular authorities pay a price to religious elites in exchange for political legitimacy, in the form of a churchs endorsement of a ruler. The bargains in this market are at the heart of political economy across history, wherever religion provides legitimacy to political elites (Weber 1978, North et al. 2009, Chaney 2013, Rubin 2017).

The price paid by the secular lord for the churchs endorsement is typically the lords own endorsement of the churchs theology, as well as some set of temporal concessions: money, land, economic privileges, and political power. The ability to bargain with two providers of religiously derived political legitimacy will allow secular rulers to strike a better deal with either entrant or incumbent.

At the centre of much of the post-Reformation bargaining between secular rulers and religious elites was the massive wealth that had been held by monasteries that were closed after 1517, particularly in the Protestant territories. When the Reformation broke out, monasteries were in many territories the largest landowners in Germany, often owning as much as a third of total agricultural land. Would this wealth be reallocated to church purposes, or would it be expropriated by secular lords? Our model suggests the latter, due to the shift in the balance of power toward secular rulers.

A Changed Political Economy in Early Modern Germany

Rich historical evidence confirms that secular territorial lords bargained with Protestant religious elites over the allocation of monastic resources. While Protestant theologians initially attempted to reserve these resources for religious and social purposes, the price of political legitimacy fell, and secular territorial lords were able to strike deals that left them significantly wealthier.

Protestant rulers expropriated considerable monastic wealth. In Hesse, Landgrave Philipp received annual revenues of 16,500 guilders in 1532 from monastery lands and 25,000 guilders in 1565, equivalent to one-seventh of total state revenues and around 1,000 person-years of skilled wages. Overall, 40% of monastic wealth in Hesse went to the ruler  not to religious, educational, or social welfare purposes. In East Frisia, Count Enno II converted the monastery in Norden into a summer residence for himself and converted the monastery at Ihlow into a residence for his brother. In Brandenburg, monasteries were allowed to keep their privileges following the adoption of Protestantism in exchange for a payment of 300,000 guilders. Protestant theologians provided the legal justification for these transfers of wealth  this is consistent with our framework, which views these transfers as outcomes of bargains between secular and religious elites.

Empirical Evidence on Resource Reallocation

The massive shift in political power and resources after 1517 should have had broader consequences for the allocation of resources across the economy:

We expect a reduction in labour demand in the religious sector of the economy, and increased demand in the secular sector  particularly from enriched secular lords.

Forward-looking students would have shifted their educational investments away from theology, which paid off specifically in the religious sector, and towards more general subjects.

Major new construction events  embodying physical, financial, and human capital, as well as land  would have shifted toward structures reflecting the interests of secular lords (palaces and administrative buildings).

To examine whether resources shifted in the direction suggested by our conceptual framework  away from church uses and toward secular uses, especially those favoured by empowered and enriched territorial lords  we collect a wide array of micro data shedding light on the German economy of the 16th century.

First, we analyse major construction events in towns and cities across Germany. As we show in Figure 1, during the Reformation new construction events shifted from primarily religious purposes toward secular ones. We see a striking pivot from church-sector construction to secular-sector construction precisely at the time of the Reformation, as shown in Panel A. Consistent with our conceptual framework, within the category of secular construction, there was a sharp pivot precisely toward the uses favoured by empowered secular lords  the construction of palaces and administrative buildings increases after 1517, as shown in Panel B.

Figure 1

These changes were particularly evident in the Protestant territories of the Empire. Figure 2 shows that both Catholic and Protestant regions witnessed a decline in church construction following 1517. However, only in Protestant regions (left panel) was there a sustained increase in secular construction, leading to a permanent gap between church and secular construction rates. In our analysis, we also show that the additional secular construction in Protestant territories was, for the most part, composed of palaces and administrative buildings.

Figure 2

Turning to occupational choices, in Figure 3 we show careers of recipients of academic degrees from German universities through the year 1550. Prior to 1517, graduates of eventually Protestant universities sorted into religious and secular occupations at similar rates to graduates from universities that would remain Catholic. After 1517, however, there is a sharp shift towards secular occupations among Protestant university graduates, and no such shift among Catholic university graduates. The Protestant shift toward secular occupations was concentrated in the administrative sector that reflected the interests of secular rulers.

Figure 3

The shift in occupational sorting across sectors is reflected in human capital investments as well. Students at Protestant universities shifted sharply away from theology study, towards other degrees such as law and arts, after the Reformation.

Implications for Social Science and Beyond

Our findings shed new light on some of the most important debates in the social sciences. We provide evidence that the Reformation indeed marked a decisive economic break from the past, playing a causal role in the transformation of Europes economy. While this may appear supportive of the Weber Hypothesis, we provide a mechanism for long-run effects of the Reformation very different from the cultural channel emphasised by Weber (1904/05). The finely grained data we collect enable us to document that Protestant and Catholic regions and universities were not on different trajectories before the Reformation. However, our analysis indicates that the initial separation between religious and secular authority in Europe provided a fundamental precondition that shaped how the introduction of religious competition impacted the economy.

Five hundred years on from Martin Luthers audacious act, our findings confirm that the Reformation transformed not only Western Europes religious landscape, but also its politics and economy. Thus, social scientists have been right to point to the Reformation as a crucial turning point in European and world history. Significantly, our findings indicate that some of the Reformations most important consequences were unintended, and have not been fully documented before  the results of interactions among religion, politics, and economics, which produced a secular Europe from its most famous religious movement.

See original post for references
Yves here. For some odd reason, even Americans who know we installed the Shah of Iran in 1953 seem remarkably unaware of the fact that we ousted Australian prime minister Gough Whitlam in 1975. Key sections of a Guardian story:

Whitlam demanded to know if and why the CIA was running a spy base at Pine Gap near Alice Springs, a giant vacuum cleaner which, as Edward Snowden revealed recently, allows the US to spy on everyone. Try to screw us or bounce us, the prime minister warned the US ambassador, [and Pine Gap] will become a matter of contention. Victor Marchetti, the CIA officer who had helped set up Pine Gap, later told me, This threat to close Pine Gap caused apoplexy in the White House  a kind of Chile [coup] was set in motion. The Americans and British worked together. In 1975, Whitlam discovered that Britains MI6 was operating against his government. The Brits were actually decoding secret messages coming into my foreign affairs office, he said later. One of his ministers, Clyde Cameron, told me, We knew MI6 was bugging cabinet meetings for the Americans. In the 1980s, senior CIA officers revealed that the Whitlam problem had been discussed with urgency by the CIAs director, William Colby, and the head of MI6, Sir Maurice Oldfield. A deputy director of the CIA said: [governor-general John] Kerr did what he was told to do. On 10 November 1975, Whitlam was shown a top-secret telex message sourced to Theodore Shackley, the notorious head of the CIAs East Asia division, who had helped run the coup against Salvador Allende in Chile two years earlier. Shackleys message was read to Whitlam. It said that the prime minister of Australia was a security risk in his own country. The day before, Kerr had visited the headquarters of the Defence Signals Directorate, Australias NSA, where he was briefed on the security crisis. On 11 November  the day Whitlam was to inform parliament about the secret CIA presence in Australia  he was summoned by Kerr. Invoking archaic vice-regal reserve powers, Kerr sacked the democratically elected prime minister. The Whitlam problem was solved, and Australian politics never recovered, nor the nation its true independence.

By Gaius Publius, a professional writer living on the West Coast of the United States and frequent contributor to DownWithTyranny, digby, Truthout, and Naked Capitalism. Follow him on Twitter @Gaius_Publius, Tumblr and Facebook. GP article archive here. Originally published at DownWithTyranny

For certain of their leaders, modern-day liberalism is a way of rationalizing and exercising class power. Thomas Frank The real resistance occurred in 2016. It failed in both parties. Yours truly

Theres something greatly troubling about what the media-fronted #Resistance has morphed into, but Im having trouble writing about it (its lightly touched here: A Nation in Crisis, Again). Partly the problem is the marshaling of pages of proof; partly the problem is the unstoppability of the train wreck that will ensue. Perhaps Ill write about the train wreck instead.

After all, as noted in the link above, No Praetorian Guard, once it grows muscular, reverts back to a simple barracks unit just because new leadership arrives. And the anti-Trump leadership in both parties is growing us a Praetorian Guard, if we dont have one already. You may be cheering it onward as we speak, depending on the latest lashings from former and current security state personnel, but what youre cheering, if you do, enables an unelected, uncontrolled and muscular security state, one youve certainly been appalled by in many other contexts.

Trump will go; but the unelected state will grow only stronger, now with help from the #Resistance. Do you see the dilemma? How to write about this to a nation in love with what it will come, but only later, to hate?

How Principled Is the #Resistance?

Another troubling aspects of the professional resistance  for example, the MSNBC version, which constantly offers the worst of the New Dems and neoliberals for cheers by the anti-Trump crowd  is that I suspect its not at all principled.

For example, the charge Russias attack on our election is an act of war has been made and platformed daily for almost a year  spoken by those for whom it would be heresy to say that U.S. interference in elections around the world are also acts of war.

As one of far too many examples, consider Honduras:

At the beginning of Clintons tenure as Secretary of State in 2009, the Honduran military ousted democratically elected President Manuel Zelaya in a coup detat. The United Nations condemned the military coup and the Organization of American States suspended Honduras from its membership, calling for Zelayas reinstatement. Instead of joining the international effort to isolate the new regime, Clintons State Department pushed for a new election and decided not to declare that a military coup had occurred. If the United States government declares a coup, you immediately have to shut off all aid, including humanitarian aid, the Agency for International Development aid, the support that we were providing at that time for a lot of very poor people, Clinton said when asked about Honduras in April. So, our assessment was, we will just make the situation worse by punishing the Honduran people if we declare a coup and we immediately have to stop all aid for the people, but we should slow walk and try to stop anything that the government could take advantage of, without calling it a coup. Clinton said that she didnt want Zelaya returning to power. Zelaya had friends and allies, not just in Honduras, but in some of the neighboring countries, like Nicaragua and that we could have had a terrible civil war that would have been just terrifying in its loss of life. Emails that have since surfaced show that Clinton and her team worked behind the scenes to fend off efforts by neighboring democracies through the Organization of American States to restore the elected president to power.

Is this also a declaration of war by the U.S. against Honduras? Did the U.S. declare war on Iran in 1953 when the CIA unseated the democratically elected Prime Minister Mossadegh?

The answer to all these question may well be Yes. But would the pro-Clinton hosts and guests at MSNBC, of which there are many, say so? Especially if Clinton herself were to be tarred with that same brush? Using Trump-Russia logic, would Rachel Maddow charge Clinton with abetting an act of war against Honduras? Hardly likely.

As I said, I suspect the professional resistance to Donald Trump is not at all principled, but opportunistic and entirely one-sided, however right or wrong that one side might be.

The Failed Electoral Revolution of 2016

All this has led me to wonder what the goal of this professional #Resistance really is. The Restoration of Democracy to America? Or the Restoration of Mainstream Democrats  the anti-Sanders, anti-progressive, you cant have that crowd  to power again?

If just the latter, the nation may sink more slowly beneath the neoliberal waves than it would under solid Republican rule, a plus to many peoples way of thinking, but progressives will still have an enemy who hates all they stand for, armed, enabled and in the field against them. Does strengthening the professional, media-curated #Resistance, without at the same time fighting to dethrone the Clintonists and Obamists actively moved into its front ranks, serve either the cause of progressivism or, given the increasing power of the unelected state, the interest of American democracy? One has to wonder.

The real Resistance, of course, occurred in 2016, in that years electoral revolt against the money-bought in both parties, and it failed in both parties. Mainstream Democrats successfully fended off the actual populist in their race, Bernie Sanders, whom they hate even to this day. Mainstream Republicans successfully elected their populist, the fake swamp-drainer Donald Trump, and his voters are getting nothing nothing they wanted in terms of relief from the relentless greed and austerity they rebelled against.

The nation, meanwhile, is left with a still-unsatisfied populist anger, waiting like an abscess to erupt. What form that will take in 2018 and 2020 is anyones guess. Failed revolutions, like bad meals, often come back stronger.

The #Resistance, Mainstream Democrats and Harvey Weinstein

Who are these mainstream Democrats? According to Thomas Frank, theyre Harvey Weinstein:

Let us now consider the peculiar politics of Harvey Weinstein, the disgraced movie producer. Today Weinstein is in the headlines for an astonishing array of alleged sexual harassment and assaults, but once upon a time he was renowned for something quite different: his generous patronage of liberal politicians and progressive causes. This leading impresario of awful was an enthusiastic supporter of Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. He was a strong critic of racism, sexism and censorship. He hosted sumptuous parties to raise money for the fight against Aids. In 2004 he was a prominent supporter of a womens group called Mothers Opposing Bush. And in the aftermath of the terrorist attack against the French magazine Charlie Hebdo, he stood up boldly for freedom of the press. Taking to the pages of Variety, Weinstein announced that No one can ever defeat the ability of great artists to show us our world.

But lest you think Frank is tarring the Clintonist-Obamist wing of the Party with Weinstein in a guilt-by-association manner, he digs deeper (emphasis mine):

Most people on the left think of themselves as resisters of authority, but for certain of their leaders, modern-day liberalism is a way of rationalizing and exercising class power. Specifically, the power of what some like to call the creative class, by which they mean well-heeled executives in industries like Wall Street, Silicon Valley and Hollywood. Worshiping these very special people is the doctrine that has allowed Democrats to pull even with Republicans in fundraising and that has buoyed the partys fortunes in every wealthy suburb in America. That this strain of liberalism also attracts hypocrites like Harvey Weinstein, with his superlative fundraising powers and his reverence for great artists, should probably not surprise us. Remember, too, that Weinstein is the man who once wrote an essay demanding leniency for Roman Polanski, partially on the grounds that he too was a great artist. Harvey Weinstein seemed to fit right in.

And then the meat of Franks argument:

This is a form of liberalism that routinely blends self-righteousness with upper-class entitlement. That makes its great pronouncements from Marthas Vineyard and the Hamptons. That routinely understands the relationship between the common people and showbiz celebrities to be one of trust and intimacy. Countless people who should have known better are proclaiming their surprise at Harvey Weinsteins alleged abuses. But in truth, their blindness is even more sweeping than that. They are lost these days in a hall of moral mirrors, weeping tears of admiration for their own virtue and good taste.

Is the anti-Trump #Resistance, the professional broadcast version with its behind-the-scenes security state actors, simply setting us up for a Restoration of those  a Pence, a Biden, or another darling of our dual mainstream parties  who weep tears of admiration for their own virtue as they tank or attempt to co-opt the next Bernie Sanders, or re-destroy the last one? Stay tuned. The answer is coming soon.

And if they do, will America weep tears of thanks, or something else?
Dear patient readers,

Apologies for the lack of original posts. I am bogged down on reviewing a big piece plus fighting a bug.

Now Coming to a Backyard Near You: Weird Chickens Wall Street Journal. I am told chickens are smart and make nice pets.

The good Lord couldnt get rid of them: Louisianas quest to hunt the swamp rat Guardian

Watch: Video about competitive gravedigging Boing Boing

US quietly sanctions China over North Korean missile launchers Asia Times

We May Not Have Enough Minerals To Even Meet Electric Car Demand Jalopnik. You read this first at Naked Capitalism months ago, see here and here.

Brexit

UK households 600 worse off because of Brexit Politico

Theresa Mays Brexit strategy hits a legal minefield Ambrose Evans-Pritchard, Telegraph. Ahem, the UK was not listening. The EU said repeatedly, from the very day after the Brexit vote, that any arrangement had to fit in the context of existing agreements, and explicitly that meant the UK would not get better deals than other trade partners had. Theyve said that repeatedly in God knows how many ways. The uK is now surprised that this is a real constraint?

Gordon Brown: Rogue bankers should be jailed BBC

Catalonia

Catalan independence: Spain high court summons dismissed leader BBC Ousted Catalan leader sounds defiant but accepts election Politico. From Politicos daily e-mail: During the press conference, he didnt say when he would return to Spain, though not doing so could result in a European arrest warrant being issued if he fails to respond to a court summons to face charges of sedition and rebellion later this week. Europa Press said he was spotted leaving the hotel with his suitcase, while El Pais reports some of his team has arrived back in Barcelona. A clue may lie in his webpage, which has changed from president.cat to president.exili.eu.

Syraqistan

Kurds aims in Syria far more likely to succeed than in Iraq Asia Times

New Cold War

Manafort Indictment

The Real Promise of the Manafort Indictment Leonid Bershidsky, Bloomberg. My God, something sane. The Manafort Indictment: Not Much There, and a Boon for Trump National Review (s.n.). I hate being reduced to linking to the National Review, but it has criticized Trump pretty regularly. And this confirms the view of a tax expert, who sees the violations here as paperwork-related and points out there are no tax charges in the filing. Go read the actual causes of action. Top Trump Campaign Aide Clovis Spoke to Mueller Team, Grand Jury NBC (furzy) Papadopoulos Claimed Trump Campaign Approved Russia Meeting Bloomberg. This was a junior loose cannon in a campaign widely criticized for being disorganized. But he might have worn a wire, and there were so many amateurs floating around, combined with a complete lack of discipline from the top down, that someone easily could have said or e-mailed something very stupid and damaging to him.

Trump Transition

The Supreme Court Has An Ethics Problem Politico

Congress: The Broken Check and Balance Atlantic

GOP Rep. Jeb Hensarling to retire after end of current term The Hill

Tax Reform

Eight killed in NYC terror attack BBC

New York attack: five Argentinian friends named among eight killed  latest updates Guardian. A Belgian killed too. Wowsers, the person being held drove for Uber.

Black Injustice Tipping Point

Slavery Thrived on Compromise, John Kelly New York Times. Reslic highlights this part: Just last week, a black criminal defendant in Louisiana was denied his constitutional right to an attorney because the Louisiana Supreme Court ruled six to one that he hadnt really requested a lawyer when he told police during questioning: I know I didnt do it. So why dont you just give me a lawyer, dawg, cause this is not whats up? The willfully ignorant justices ruled that the defendant had asked for a lawyer dog, not a lawyer, so he had not invoked his right to counsel. >Emory University Hospital is refusing a transplant for a 2 year old Color of Change. Because his father has a record.

Inept cops hold family at gunpoint thinking they robbed their own house Boing Boing

Source: FBI opens inquiry into Whitefishs Puerto Rico contract MSN (furzy)

Utah nurse gets $500,000 in blood arrest row BBC

U.S. Shale Could Bring Bearishness Back To Markets OilPrice

Americans Are Officially Freaking Out Bloomberg. Yet consumer and business confidence ratings are at high levels.

It Gets Serious: Biggest US Cities Where Rents Are Plunging Wolf Richter

Class Warfare

Antidote du jour (Timotheus):

And a bonus antidote from guurst. See original story, The dog that saved the big cats.

See yesterdays Links and Antidote du Jour here.

.
By Jeff Bryant, director of the Education Opportunity Network, a partnership effort of the Institute for Americas Future and the Opportunity to Learn Campaign. He has written extensively about public education policy. Originally published at Alternet

Here we go again, was what many left-leaning folks likely felt after seeing a recent announcement about a new effort by wealthy donors to rescue the Democratic Party from its electoral doldrums. Backed by $20 million, the New Blue campaign, coming from politically centrist think tank Third Way, promises to lead the party out of the wilderness of its minority status to a pathway to achieving progressive majorities up and down the ballot.

But Third Ways offer sounds more like a continuation of the old losing ways. This is especially true on the issue of education where Third Way continues to bang the drum for a failed agenda that voters mostly reject.

Third Way was founded in 2005, mostly with the support of the financial industry and business executives, to cement the New Democrat centrism of the 1990s and make Bill Clintons presidential administration the permanent leadership of the party. The organization championed disastrous trade accords, balanced budgets, and cutting the safety net, writes Robert Borosage, but now swears to mend its elitist ways and discover how to talk to working people without alienating Wall Street.

New Blue Blinders

Any lesson Third Way is trying to learn from its outreach to the working class is likely being lost in translation according to Molly Ball of The Atlantic. Ball accompanied Third Way researchers on a foray into middle America to find out why communities in Wisconsin, Indiana, and other parts of the Midwest flipped from voting Democratic to Republican in 2016.<

Ball notes that while Third Way professes to advocate for what the plurality of Americans are thinking, it tends to favor an agenda that doesnt align particularly well with what the majority of Americans, or even most Democrats, seem to want.

Throughout Third Ways history, its calls for cutting Social Security and Medicare and its reluctance to increase the tax burdens on Wall Street and the rich have not aligned with the views of most voters. While Third Way has long urged Democrats to meet conservatives in the middle on issues like health care, trade, a $15 minimum wage, and tuition-free college, most Democrats today want their party to move further to the left and embrace populist grassroots causes.

According to Ball, during its outreach to the Rust Belt, Third Way heard a lot about the issues dividing Americans and making compromises between Republicans and Democrats difficult, but then decided to report instead that working class Middle America wanted consensus, moderation, and pragmatismjust like Third Way.

While Third Way eagerly reported about a local employer who sang the praises of automation, Ball notes, it neglected to include the voices of union members who worried about jobs disappearing. Third Way reported its encounter with a technical-college instructor who called the education crises spawned by conservative governors like Wisconsins Scott Walker and Michigans Rick Snyder opportunities, but chose not to report about public-school teachers who saw their classrooms gutted by voucher programs.

The New Normal

In its education manifesto The New Normal in K-12 Education, Third Way declares that the contentious arguments over important education matters  such as charter schools, standardized testing, and how to recruit and retain teachers  are essentially over and that those who are fighting in the trenches just need to get with the program.

The program, Third Way advances sounds very much like whats been in place for the past 15 years, especially during the Obama administration under the leadership of Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. The title of Third Ways document is borrowed from Duncans own words to describe the need for schools to go along to get along with the new normal of Republican fiscal austerity coupled with ever harsher accountability mandates and more competition from charter schools.

Duncans calls for higher class sizes and leaner compensation for teachers didnt sit well with parents then, and Third Ways support for charter schools, more standardized testing, and cuts for experienced teachers is not popular now.

Support for charter schools has dropped by double digit percentages among Democrats and Republicans, according to a recent poll. Another recent survey found the public is also generally opposed to using voucher money to send students to private schools, an idea pushed by current Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos that Third Way completely ignores (maybe because its too divisive). That survey also found most of voters dont find test scores to be the best indicators of school quality. Lack of funding continues to be the issue most often cited by voters as the biggest problem schools face. But Third Way says nothing about that either.

So if Third Way wants to understand what made Rust Belt Midwestern voters flip to Trump and how it should talk to these voters, it should start with changing the way it talks about education.

Look at Erie

If Third Ways researchers want to understand where the education fight fits in in a new politics for a new era, they should include Erie, Pennsylvania in their forays.

Erie had given Obama double digit victory margins in both 2008 and 2012. But in 2016, it was just one of three Pennsylvania counties that flipped to Trump. Trump won the Quaker State by 0.7, only 46,765 votes.

When I covered a story about school closings in Erie earlier this year, I found a community seething with discontent over the new normal embraced by Third Way and Democratic Party establishment policy-makers during the Obama years.

Lack of funding, persistent segregation, and the incursion of charter schools were bankrupting the district, while federal mandates on testing and accountability labeled the schools failures, which further accelerated their slide over the edge. Charter schools competing for education funds received federal dollars to expand, costing Erie schools $23 million annually, according to the most recent count.

Eries education crisis was inextricably entangled with the economic crisis of the community. Trade and labor policies supported by the federal government for years had helped encourage most large-scale employers to downscale employment or move factories to more profitable labor markets. Most recently, the local GE plant issued another round of layoffs, taking a payroll that once topped 20,000, down to 4,500 workers. After a previous layoff at GE in 2013, one worker hung himself from a factory crane.

When you think about what happens when industries pull out of towns, the tax base implodes, schools [are] not well funded, and the death spiral continues, Princeton Universitys Anne Case tells a reporter for Vox.

Policies pushed by Third Way and other centrist Democrats not only dont interrupt the death spiral, they hasten it.

A New Movement

If Third Ways New Blue initiative is ever going to amount to any serious recalibration of the Democratic partys message, its researchers should not only talk with white laborers but should also talk with Democrats.

What they would learn is that todays party members are unimpressed with party leaders whose main claims to leadership are their lengthy resumes as members of the ruling elite, writes Richard Eskow.

In examining the same polling data I cite above, Eskow notes how out-of-step Third Way and the rest of the Wall Street wing of the Democratic party are with the partys grassroots momentum. The partys voters are looking to movements to bring them new leaders and a leftward shift, Eskow notes, something broader and deeper, something that infuses its members lives with purpose and meaning.

Those Democrats in the trenches fighting to save public schools are part of that movement looking for something more meaningful than the new normal Third Way promotes. They, and not Third Way, represent the only viable future the Democratic party can hope to have.
(Natural News) The implosion of the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, continues.

In a devastating blow to the 2010 healthcare law, U.S. District Court Judge Vince Chhabria recently denied a request from 18 different states, including California, for a temporary restraining order, which would have forced the current administration to continue providing the states with $600 million per month in Obamacare insurance company subsidies.

Judge Chhabria, who was appointed by former president Barack Obama, ruled against issuing an emergency order that would have restored the so-called cost-sharing reduction (CSR) payments on the grounds that such an act would be unconstitutional without Congressional authorization.

In a statement on his decision, Judge Chhabria explained that the states that are demanding the continuation of these Obamacare subsidies have already devised a plan to mitigate the damages that could potentially result from their absence. And although you wouldnt know it from reading the states papers in this lawsuit, the truth is that most state regulators have devised responses that give millions of lower-income people better health coverage options than they would otherwise have had, the judge explained.

In the state of California, this backup plan for the lack of CSR payments that Judge Chhabria speaks about is heightened Healthcare premiums for Covered California, which is accomplished by the addition of a 12.4 percent surcharge. On top of this, California has already authorized an additional 12.9 percent increase for Covered Californias Silver Plan in 2018. Because this is just an average surcharge, some regions of the state could be forced to pay even more, with 2018 premiums potentially reaching 40 percent.

Indeed, rising premiums has been one of the main problems with Obamacare since the beginning, not just in the state of California but all across the country. Of course, Barack Obama famously declared over and over again that the passage of the Affordable Care Act would lower premiums for the average family, which turned out to be a complete and utter lie. But then again, Barack Obama never let deceiving the American people get in the way of his radical agenda before, so why would he tell the truth when it comes to nationalizing Americas healthcare system? (Related: Americans will face yet another double-digit increase in healthcare premiums in 2018.)

Republicans who voted for Donald Trump last November should be praising the president for sticking to his campaign promise and fighting to dismantle the Affordable Care Act piece by piece. It is a law that is not only unconstitutional (the federal government does not have the power to force people into making a transaction that they do not want to make), but also incredibly damaging to the economy. Since its passage in 2010, Obamacare has sent premiums through the roof, thereby separating millions of Americans from more and more of their hard-earned money. Businesses have suffered tremendously, and on top of it all, the numbers on the U.S. debt clock are continuing to climb with no end in sight. Our country simply cannot afford government-run healthcare.

Yet despite all of this, Republicans in both the Senate and the House of Representatives have been relatively hesitant to act. Most of them have made bold promises to the American people that they will fight Obamacare with everything theyve got, and even acknowledge that it is doing a tremendous amount of harm to our country and to future generations. But even when President Trump calls on them to get it done once and for all, nothing happens. Their promises are never kept. And quite frankly, if Republicans cant even repeal Obamacare after the American people gave them full control over the federal government, then they deserve to lose in future elections.

Sources include:

Breitbart.com

Townhall.com
(Natural News) Officials in the city of St. Albert in Canada say that they are in a battle against overlarge Asian goldfish that were released into the wild four years ago. These gigantic invasive species have quickly grown into a school of more than 4,000 and are noted to be extremely aggressive. These monster goldfish can grow to about 12 inches and have now infested Edgewater Pond.

City crews discovered the problem roughly two years ago when they tried to scoop all the fish out with nets but could not. St. Alberts environment director Leah Kongsrude said that these fish [may look] really cutein your little glass bowl, but you let them out and they turn into monsters.

In the fall of 2015, Kongrude and her team partially drained the pond in the hopes that the remaining water would freeze, killing the rest of the fish. This did not happen, however. The goldfish merely adapted to the decreased water levels and temperature. Undeterred, park officials tried an experimental treatment called electrofishing. This is where they would run a current in the water, with a voltage that was strong enough to stun the fish (but not kill them). Officials would then be able to remove the pests without trouble. Needless to say, the current did nothing.

The battle goes on, Kongsrude said. I think of zombie movies when I think about [how] we froze the storm pond right to the bottom and they survived through that, when we tried to electro-fish [them] it didnt do anything.

St. Albert officials decided earlier this year in September that they would use the organic pesticide, rotenone. Supposedly, this pesticide does not harm other animals and plants, although this has yet to be verified. The results, though, speak for themselves. After only a week of treatment, officials pulled out 4,000 dead goldfish.

Kongsrude said that drastic measures needed to be taken now before the giant goldfish could spread to the Sturgeon River and disturb the ecosystem by out-competing native species for food. What made the fraken-fish even more dangerous was that they were not endemic to the region, so there were no natural predators that could stop the population growth.

Kongstude said that they are planning on spraying the pond with rotenone for a few more weeks just to ensure that the goldfish stay dead.

Is rotenone safe?

Rotenone is a controversial pesticide. On one hand, it is an organic substance, derived from naturally occurring chemicals found in roots, seeds, and leaves of subtropical plants. It is a commonly used and highly popular pesticide among fishermen as it is non-selective. This means that rotenone has the potential to kill any fish that is exposed to it. It is alleged to be safe because it does not bioaccumulate and dissolves easily in water.

However, there have been several studies which have linked rotenone exposure to the increased risk of developing Parkinsons disease. The American Fisheries Society says that more evidence is needed to fully validate this claim.

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) does note that the powder can cause labored breathing, sore throat, and unconsciousness if inhaled. Direct exposure to rotenone is also linked to skin inflammation and eye damage. The group also noted that the substance may cause long-term effects in the aquatic environment.

Find similar stories at WeirdScienceNews.com.

Sources include:



IBTimes.com

CBC.ca

TheFisheriesBlog.com

NYPost.com

CDC.gov
(Natural News) Kent State University in Ohio recently held a panel discussion on the difference between free speech and so-called hate speech, asking students and faculty members to chime in on their opinions of what differentiates the two. But in the process of promoting this event via Twitter, the schools Center for Student Involvement took a jab at Christians, insinuating that their efforts in calling unbelievers to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ represent expressions of hate.

The controversial poster that was circulated by the Center for Student Involvement depicts silhouetted stick figures holding up various signs and banners bearing provocative messages like, No More Gays, Women Need to Serve Their Man, and Build a Wall, along with the question, Free Speech or Hate Speech? A fourth sign, an obvious outlier, is also seen in the poster bearing the words You Need Jesus, conveying a negative message about the Christian faith.

The panel discussion that this poster was promoting was part of Kent States KENTTalks initiative, a forum similar to the popular TEDTalk series that is supposedly aimed at provid[ing] a safe place for discussions and transformational experiences for our student body, as well as promoting civil discourse. But this safe space is apparently not intended for anyone of the Christian faith who holds an evangelical view of trying to bring others into the faith.

The university should apologize because it appears to be targeted toward one political and religious side, stated Jared Small, president of Campus Ministry International, a student organization at Kent State that ministers to students of the Christian faith, in an email to The College Fix. Speaking on behalf of himself and not his organization, Small added:

They could have included hate speech against president Trump or hate speech against Christians as examples. In my opinion, free speech protects hate speech to an extent. However, the university appears to show a bias against Christians and conservatives.

Imagine the outrage if Kent State had targeted Muslims for hate speech with an image of a sign stating kill all the infidels

Professor Amy Reynolds, dean of Kent States College of Communication and Information, was the moderator at the KENTTalks event promoted by the poster. When asked why it specifically singled out Christians and no other religious groups, she claimed she did not because she had no role in creating the posters, and that it was all handled by the Center for Student Involvement.

When The College Fix attempted to reach out to Eric Mansfield and Emily Vincent, the executive director and director of Kent States media relations, respectively, neither individual responded. The same was true for Kristan Dolan and Rick Danals, the assistant director and assistant dean of the Center for Student Involvement, respectively, neither of whom responded to questions about the poster.

Kent States unconcern with this blatant marginalization of the Christian faith says a lot about how the university views its students. The message of the school to its Christian students is this: If you express your faith, youre automatically engaging in hate speech and you will not be treated with the same level of respect or dignity as other students who arent Christians.

You can be sure that heads would have rolled had the Center for Student Involvement included an image of a poster in its hate speech poster directed at Muslims. Folks likely would have been fired had the You Need Jesus sign been replaced with a phrase from the Koran that read kill all the infidels.

By remaining silent on this matter, Kent State is complicit in the type of anti-Christian violence that took place back in 2015 at Umpqua Community College in Oregon. As you may recall, a shooter stormed the campus and demanded that students identify their religion on the spot. If they said Christian, they were reportedly executed on the spot with a bullet to the head. This is the type of violence that Kent State is promoting by labeling expressions of the Christian faith as hate speech.

Sources for this article include:

TheCollegeFix.com

NaturalNews.com
(Natural News) While North Korea has become the primary focus of all things relating to nuclear warfare, Russia has been preparing to test-launch its newest and biggest ever nuclear missile. The so-called Satan 2 is a 100-ton intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) that has been under construction since 2009 and is ready to be tested by the end of the year at the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in Mirny, Arkhangelsk Oblast. If the initial trials prove successful, then the massive warhead could be in use by as early as 2019.

Also known as the RS-28 Sarmat, the Satan 2 will be replacing the R-36 Voevoda, which the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) called Satan in the 1970s. The Satan 2 is said to have a top speed of seven kilometers (km) or 4.3 miles per second, a range of 10,000 km or 6,213 miles, and is twice as light as the original Satan. The missile is said to have been designed to evade anti-missile shield systems and radar defenses.

Moreover, it can deliver over a dozen nuclear warheads of 40 megatons  which is 2,000 times as powerful as Little Boy and Fat Man, the atom bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, respectively. The payload carried by the Satan 2 can wipe out France, the United Kingdom, or Texas, according to Russian television channel Zvezda.

The first tests for the Satan 2 were planned as far back as last year, but delays pushed it back to March then April. Speaking to the Kommersant, a source claimed that The main aim is to check the rockets systems at the moment of leaving the silo, the switching on of the Sarmats first stage, and the following five seconds [of flight].

As reported by DailyMail.co.uk, the Satan 2 was developed as a part of Russias efforts to bolster its military strength. The missile will supposedly be used by Strategic Missile Troops in the regions of Orenburg and Krasnoyarsk, though there is the possibility that it could serve as a carrier for the hypersonic nuclear warhead Object 4202. Sergei Shoygu, Russian Minister of Defense, is said to be monitoring developments on the Satan 2.

Currently, there is no word on where the Satan 2 is being kept,though it could easily reach the U.K. if launched from Russias east coast, claimed TheSun.co.uk.

The announcement of the Satan 2s creation has invoked a wide range of reactions. Some, like former United States Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Economic Policy Paul Craig Roberts, have warned of its terrifying potential.

Roberts said: The atomic bombs that Washington dropped on these helpless civilian centers while the Japanese government was trying to surrender, were mere popguns compared to todays thermonuclear weapons. One Russian SS-18 wipes out three-fourths of New York state for thousands of years.

Five or six of these Satans as they are known by the U.S. military, and the East Coast of the United States disappears. (Related: Thermonuclear missile launch near Los Angeles is final sign of World War III on the precipice US, China and Russia all escalating covert attacks in run up to global war)

Still, others like author Arkady Ostrovsky, have gone on to claim that the displays of military strength are born from Russian leader Vladimir Putins desperation and weakness.

(Russia) is once again using the threat of nuclear arms to blackmail the West, stated Ostrovsky. Mr. Putin sees Russias wars as a form of self-defense, driven by the need to deter the West. Russias military-industrial complex is unable to produce anything close to Soviet volumes of hardware. But the countrys relative economic and military weakness compared with NATO does not make the country any safer; on the contrary, it poses a big risk. The only way Russia can compensate for the gaps in its conventional forces is to invoke the threat of a nuclear strike.

Although it remains to be seen what the Satan 2 will be used for once it has been proven to be operation, we believe that its still best to stay on your toes when it comes to Russia.

Visit Nuclear.news to stay updated on the Satan 2 and all other news on nuclear weaponry.

Sources include:

DailyMail.co.uk

TheSun.co.uk
(Natural News) Political correctness may be more rampant in the United Kingdom than it is in the U.S., if thats even possible.

Case in point: U.K. government bureaucrats seem to be objecting to the terminology pregnant women in an international treaty because it excludes transgender individuals.

The U.K. Foreign and Commonwealth Office, which is apparently similar to our State Department, wants edits made to the International Covenant on Civil and Politic Rights, a U.N. treaty that originally went into effect in the 1970s, that in its original version includes various protections for expectant mothers. The U.N. Human Rights Committee recently announced that it would accept minor revisions to the treaty that would leave its essential purpose unaffected.

The Daily Wire explains what the FCO has in mind for what it considers inclusion.

Britain says the terminology [pregnant women] is unfair because they believe women arent the only ones who can give birth. And the term pregnant women might exclude transgender people who have given birth. The U.K., in its official list of corrections to the document, says the preferred term is pregnant people.

Even some feminists disagree, insisting that banning the language in question would marginalize pregnant women.

Added The Daily Wire:

The global push to wipe out gender would have an incredible impact on many women who dont have the privilege of living in a country where their daily concerns are so menial they can worry about exclusionary terms and modern political correctness

The U.K. government seems to be backpedaling somewhat, however. A spokesman for conservative Prime Minister Theresa May insisted that the pregnant women terminology is acceptable and no one in the government is really objecting to it. May, who has come under criticism for dragging her feet on implementing Brexit, a referendum in which Britain voted to leave the European Union and reclaim its sovereignty, is supporting a new law that allow citizens to self-certify their gender, however.

On both sides to the Atlantic, in the past few years in particular, the progressive movement for whatever reason has pushed transgender rights to the top or near the top of its political/cultural agenda, and gender identity/fluidity curriculum has even made its way into the public schools. (Related: Read more about gender issues at Rational.News.)

Earlier this year, Natural News founding editor Mike Adams blasted CNN for what he described as some fake news about a transgender man giving birth to a baby boy.

Wrote Adams:

Real scientists are cringing at the Lefts insane anti-science denialism, but of course most scientists dare not say anything because the entire culture now believes the transgender Emperor is wearing elaborating flowing robesthere is no such thing as a man who can give birth to a child, period

Sources include:

DailyWire.com

Telegraph.co.uk

TruthRevolt.org
Cal Fire Officials report more than 8,000 structures were destroyed by the six fires that swept across Northern California starting on Sunday, October 8. As damage assessment is underway, CAL Fire released new information on the breakdown of the fire damage.

More than 70 percent of the buildings that burned were homes, with a total of 6,190. Around 2,000 outbuildings were destroyed, which include things like detached garages, barns and sheds. The fires also wiped out 150 commercial buildings.

The Tubbs Fire that ravaged through both Napa and Sonoma counties topped the chart, destroying more than 5,600 buildings, including 4,655 homes.

Officials with CAL Fire and the Federal Emergency Management Agency join county assessors in damage assessment this week. The numbers below are subject to change in the coming days.

Atlas Fire

Residences: 445

Commercial Buildings: 17

Outbuildings: 319

Total: 781

Tubbs Fire

Residences: 4,655

Commercial Buildings: 94

Outbuildings: 894

Total: 5,643

Nuns Fire

Residences: 639

Commercial Buildings: 32

Outbuildings: 684

Total: 1,355

Pockett Fire

Residences: 3

Outbuildings: 3

Total: 6

Redwood Fire

Residences: 314

Commercial Buildings: 5

Outbuildings: 224

Total: 543

Sulphur Fire
Authorities are investigating a solo-vehicle crash that left three people dead in San Mateo County.

The crash scene was discovered just before 8 a.m. Wednesday on State Route 35 (Skyline Boulevard), just south of Bear Gulch Road. Officials said the incident involving a Hyundai, which was occupied by three young males, happened overnight.

Explorer Steven Effesimo

California Highway Patrol officials said the vehicle was traveling southbound on SR-35 when the Hyundai left the west side of the roadway and collided with a tree. The vehicle came to rest on its wheels about 50 feet down the embankment, according to the CHP.

Explorer Steven Effesimo

All three occupants of the Hyundai suffered fatal injuries, police said.

SR-35 was closed in both directions during the investigation. It is not immediately known if drugs or alcohol placed a role in the crash.

An investigation is ongoing.
LinkedIn on Wednesday revealed its first-ever list of the "most in-demand" startups in the United States and the Bay Area is home to seven of the top 10.

Surprised, anyone?

Uber landed in first place despite being in recent headlines for "sexual harassment claims, regulatory issues, a new CEO and loads of boardroom drama," according to LinkedIn. The untoward attention didn't stop the San Francisco-based ride-sharing giant from expanding and luring valuable employees away from behemoths like Google, JPMorgan and Facebook.

The "super-unicorn" employs 16,000 people globally, is valued at $68 billion and gives employees credit to use on personal rides or UberEATS.

Airbnb, also headquartered in San Francisco, made second place. The company, which has a team of 6,500 people, is the David to the $550 billion hotel industry's Goliath. Valued at $29.25 billion, Airbnb is expected to exceed 100 million stays in 2017  a 25 percent jump from just last year.

The hospitality company has also teamed up with Newgard Development Group to launch co-branded apartments, which will be "optimized for home sharing and flexible sharing."

In third place is coworking startup WeWork, which is based in New York City, employs 3,000 people around the world and is valued at $20 billion.

Lyft, San Francisco's other quickly expanding ridesharing platform, is in fourth place, with a global headcount of 2,000 and an $11 billion valuation.

Slack, a popular workplace messaging service located in San Francisco, took fifth place. Forty-three companies from the Fortune 100 list use Slack, which has 890 workers and a $5.1 billion valuation.

Companies had to meet certain criteria to make LinkedIn's inaugural list of the country's hottest upstarts: They had to be 10 years old or younger, employ at least 100 people, be independent and privately held, and have received at least one round of venture-backed funding.

LinkedIn also examined their "employee growth, job seeker interest via views and applications, member engagement with the company and its employees."

The ranking also takes into account "how well these startups pulled talent" from 50 businesses  including Alphabet, Amazon, Facebook, Salesforce, Tesla, Apple and Netflix  that made LinkedIn's top companies list.

Automotive startup Nio, whose global headquarters are in Shanghai, China, but North American headquarters are in San Jose, came in sixth place. It is followed by Rubrik, of Palo Alto; Dropbox, of San Francisco; Houzz, of Palo Alto; and Convoy, of Seattle.

Here are LinkedIn's top 20 startups in the United States:
As two suspected looters were arraigned in Sonoma County court Tuesday, the state insurance commissioner warned of other types of thieves preying on wildfire victims.

The latest threat to homeowners whove already lost everything are insurance scam artists, according to California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones.

Jones said fire victims should be wary of unlicensed contractors and public insurance adjusters who offer to help in exchange for a percentage of their insurance money.

"We urge you to be cautious before you sign any contract," Jones said. "You have to be very careful that youre not being taken advantage of."

Mechanical engineer Matt Condie sifted through the ashes of his Coffey Park home Tuesday, searching for his wifes wedding ring. His home was one of 6,500 burned by wildfires in Sonoma County.

A few blocks away, the National Guard was keeping out nonresidents, but those posts were about to pull out. Condie said he understands.

"Theres nothing but scorched earth in here, so theres not a lot that Im going to be taking out of here," he said.

Santa Rosa fire Capt. Bryon Reid witnessed looting on the very night of the fire.

"You didnt see much of it, but it was for sure there," he said.

Reid fumed at the thought of unscrupulous contractors and adjusters in the area.

"It kind of brings a new level of anger out of you for people trying to capitalize on people who've absolutely lost everything and are having the worst day of their lives," Reid said.
An Oakland man was sentenced Monday to nearly 20 years in prison for conspiring with a Southwest Airlines employee to smuggle drugs past airport officials and onto flights to Hawaii.

Jeremy Luckett, 38, pleaded guilty to avoiding Transportation Security Administration officers, while in possession of methamphetamine, cocaine, and marijuana at the Oakland International Airport, according to a statement on behalf of the U.S. Attorneys Office. The crimes occurred between January 11 and April 2014 and Luckett pleaded guilty on May 8, 2017.

The defendant, who is currently in custody, was slapped with a 235-month prison sentence followed by five years of supervised release. He will begin the sentence immediately, officials said.

Luckett partnered with a Southwest Airlines employee in his effort to violate airport security measures and get the drugs past the TSA checkpoint, the statement said. Once inside the airport, the illegal substances were passed on to couriers who boarded commercial flights to Hawaii.

The convict or a co-conspirator bought the couriers plane tickets and hotel accommodations, the statement noted.

The drug smuggling ring came to a grinding halt on April 28, 2014 when one of Lucketts couriers became intoxicated and was not allowed to board her flight. She was arrested and the narcotics in her luggage were seized, according to the U.S. Attorneys office. The woman was found in possession of 1,690 grams of methamphetamine and nearly 999 grams of cocaine.

According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Luckett has been charged with a lengthy list of crimes, including one count of conspiracy to enter an airport area in violation of security requirements and to defraud the United States; 33 counts of entering an airport area in violation of security requirements; one count of conspiracy to distribute, and to possess with intent to distribute, methamphetamine and cocaine; one count of distribution and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine; one count of distribution and possession with intent to distribute cocaine; and one count of money laundering with intent to promote drug trafficking.

Lucketts co-defendants, Damian Lewis, Christopher Cross, Anthony Turner, JaDel McField, Brianna Holloway and Laura Turner, have also pleaded guilty and await sentencing. Another defendant, Katrice Day, pleaded guilty and was sentenced on July 31, 2017 to three years of probation, the statement said.

Officials from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Internal Revenue Service, Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force and Alameda County Sheriffs Office worked together on this case.
As the White House continues to debate the future of the Affordable Care Act, open enrollment for Covered California begins Wednesday.

The open enrollment process marks the one time of the year when those in need of health insurance can enroll without having to meet qualifying conditions.

Those wishing to enroll will have three months to do so, but people are encouraged to sign up by the middle of December to make sure their coverage kicks in by Jan. 1.

Interested enrollees are also encouraged to shop and compare due to the changes for 2018. Some insurance companies such as Anthem Blue Cross are withdrawing from parts of California while others, such as Blue Shield of California, will be expanding.

Subsidized consumers will see a decrease when it comes to paying for coverage, according to a study performed by Covered California. For the 1.1 million Californians who enroll and receive financial assistance, the average price for coverage will drop about 1.5 percent. That decline equates to a savings of about $9 per month and $108 per year.
The father of an infant found dead near a Northern California river has pleaded guilty to child endangerment, manslaughter and drug charges for his role in his son's death.

Frank Rees was days away from trial when he agreed Tuesday to a deal with prosecutors in Yolo County. The Sacramento Bee reports Rees will serve six years in state prison with the plea.

Nineteen-day-old Justice Rees was discovered in February 2015 after an all-night search of a swampy area of the Sacramento River.

His mother, Samantha Green, was found wandering and disoriented nearby. Prosecutors said she was high on methamphetamine when she wandered into the slough with the child to look for Rees after they had a fight.

Green was convicted of second-degree murder last year and is in state prison.
As Seen On
Police in Massachusetts say they are on high alert after a truck driver intentionally drove into a crowd in New York City on Tuesday, killing eight people and injuring a dozen others.

Massachusetts State Police said their Homeland Security Division is "monitoring developments" out of New York and will receive updates from the FBI through its Fusion Center.

"At this point in the investigation, intelligence has not indicated any connection to Massachusetts from today's attack," state police said.

Gov. Charlie Baker said there are "no credible threats" to Massachusetts, but his administration is in constant communication with the Joint Terrorism Task Force, Commonwealth Fusion Center and other law enforcement.

Boston Police said they are in close contact with its local and federal law enforcement partners in New York. While there is no known local threat, they are reminding officers to be "extra vigilant" as they go about their patrols.

"With Halloween upon us, we are also reminding parents and neighbors to be aware of their surroundings and if you see something, say something," they said.

Salem Police, who are expecting 50,000 to 75,000 Halloween revelers, said they had prepared for similar incidents given recent terror attacks in France and London. They said they will have vehicles blocking some intersections and gates blocking others.

"What happened in New York City isn't unlike what happened in France last year," Salem Police Capt. Conrad Prosniewski said. "Because of what happened in France, we've barricaded our streets with vehicles, hopefully preventing someone from doing what happened in France and now, tragically, what happened in New York."

He said there will be 200 uniformed police in the downtown area, as well as a large contingency of undercover officers.

"What's been happening shouldn't discourage anyone from coming in and having a good time," Prosniewski said. "Nothing should interrupt our way of life. We want to be able to provide a safe atmosphere for people to do that."

"It's a nice day, the vendors are all expecting big crowds," he added. "I hope people do come down and have a good time. It looks like it's gearing up to be a pretty big night."

More than a dozen people were hit when the driver of a Home Depot rental truck zoomed at least 10 blocks down a popular bike path from West Houston to Chambers streets in Manhattan on Tuesday afternoon.

The man crashed into a school bus carrying three children during the rampage, and police say that he'd deliberately targeted that bus. Witnesses told police they saw the driver swerve the truck toward the school bus. They said the driver screamed "Allah akbar" in the truck, then emerged carrying two fake guns - either BB or paint guns - and started running around before he was finally shot by police.

A U.S. counterterrorism official told NBC News that the intelligence community is unaware of any claims of responsibility in the attack at this time.


A Massachusetts man was among the victims injured when a man intentionally drove a truck into a crowd of people in New York City Tuesday.

Martin Marro, an Argentina native and a resident of Newton, was hurt in the attack, City Councilor James Cote confirmed to NBC Boston Tuesday night.

Cote says Marro's injuries are non-life-threatening, and that his wife, Mariana, is in New York with him.

The couple hosted a fundraiser for Cote, a Republican, last week. Gov. Charlie Baker was at the event.

Tom Mountain

Marro, a native of Argentina, was in New York to pick up four friends from that country, all of whom were killed in the attack, Cote told Wicked Local.

"Their best friends from Argentina were killed," Cote said, according to Wicked Local. "We are obviously shocked and our prayers go out to the family."

Friends of Marro say he's lived in Newton for seven or eight years.

According to the Boston Globe, he's a scientist at The Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research in Cambridge.

Marro and his wife have two school-aged children.

Eight people were killed and 11 people were injured when 29-year-old Sayfullo Saipov drove a Home Depot truck into pedestrians and bicyclists before crashing into a school bus in Manhattan, according to authorities.

Witnesses told police they saw the driver swerve to target the bus, which was carrying children. He allegedly screamed "Allahu Akbar" after the crash, then emerged from the truck carrying what turned out to be a pellet gun and a paintball gun.

A police officer shot him in the abdomen. He was taken to Bellevue Hospital.
A Massachusetts man is in jail in Hampden County, accused of killing two people in southern Vermont, then burning down their house.

Vermont State Police accused 46-year-old Justin Orwat of Springfield, Massachusetts, of shooting and killing Steven Lovely, 43, and Amanda Sanderson, 35, who lived together on Shirley Circle in Townshend, Vermont.

Orwat then allegedly lit the home on fire in the morning of Oct. 27.

Two badly-burned bodies were found inside the home, which was a total loss. Initially, the gunshot wounds were not apparent, police said Wednesday, because of the extent of the fire injuries to the bodies.

Final autopsies still need to confirm the victims' identities, but police say Orwat's wife told them she and her husband were visiting Lovely and Sanderson, and that he killed them after a fight, then lit the fire.

Vermont detectives said the revelation came after Orwat was picked up on outstanding warrants in Massachusetts.

"There had been a dispute in the morning between Justin and Steve on Friday morning, and she told detectives there were shots fired," Maj. Glenn Hall told reporters at a news conference. "She left the residence with Justin. And she implicated him in the shooting and the starting of the fire."

NBC 5 News, an necn affiliate, reported that police would not answer questions on whether drugs were involved in the killings, because the investigation is still ongoing.

It's unclear when Orwat will be brought from Massachusetts to Windham County, Vermont to face charges of aggravated murder and first-degree arson.
A Wisconsin woman is facing charges after her 9-year-old son was tied to the roof of their minivan to help hold down a plastic pool.

Prosecutors allege 28-year-old Amber Schmunk had her son hold down the molded pool they'd just purchased because it wouldn't fit inside the van.



A witness called police after seeing the incident on Sept. 9 in Saukville, about 20 miles north of Milwaukee, according to local reports.

Police documents allege Schmunk told an officer she thought it was OK because her father allowed her to do similar things when she was young.

Schmunk is charged with recklessly endangering safety, which is a felony. She's due in Ozaukee County Circuit Court on Nov. 11.

Court records don't list an attorney who could speak on her behalf.
Riverside police identified the suspect behind a hostage at an elementary school Tuesday as 27-year-old Luvelle Kennon, who was shot when officers stormed the room and ended the standoff with the suspect, who later died at the hospital.

Castle View Elementary school was evacuated after Kennon, who was upset for an unknown reason, barged onto the campus, assaulted a man near the office and took a first-grade teacher hostage in a classroom for nearly seven hours. The school, located on Shaker Drive near Century Avenue in the Canyon Crest area of the city, was placed on lockdown in the noon hour after the assault.

Kennon, the father of a student at the school, entered the campus and punched a substitute teacher, according to police. Riverside Fire Department officials said the victim was taken to Riverside Community Hospital for treatment.

Witnesses at the scene said the injured person appeared to have a bloody or broken nose.

The assailant barricaded himself in a classroom with first-grade teacher Linda Montgomery, according to her daughter. Montgomery is in her 70s and has been teaching at the school for at least 20 years.

The campus was initially placed on lockdown, then evacuated. Students and staff were moved to nearby Castle View Park for their safety, according to police.

There were no reports of injuries to students. Castle View Elementary School, the scene of today's daylong hostage situation, will remain closed for the rest of the week, according to the Riverside Unified School District. Counseling is available to anyone who was affected by the experience.

District officials said all students had been accounted for and were being released to their parents at the park. No information was available regarding the reasons why the man was enraged, nor was it clear whether he was armed.

The standoff continued until shortly before 6 p.m., when police fired what were reported to be flash-bang grenades into the room and charged inside.

Paramedics were quickly summoned, and they wheeled the suspect out of the room and placed him into an ambulance for a trip to a hospital in unknown condition, Riverside Police Officer Ryan Railsback said. The suspect later died at the hospital, police said.

Police said earlier there was no indication the suspect was armed, but investigators did not know for sure.

A short time later, Michelle Montgomery told NBC4 that her mother was not injured, only shaken.

People who claimed to be relatives of the suspect said the man, who has a first-grade student at the school, had a "breakdown."

His family members said they took away the man's car keys, but he still managed to make his way to the campus.

Julia Alvaro, who has children ages 8 and 5 at the school, got a call informing her that the building was on lockdown. Both her children were safe, she said.

"It was really overwhelming," she said. "I was just nervous."

Tony Shin contributed to this report.


Commuters traveling into New York City Wednesday should expect to see heightened security following a deadly attack in lower Manhattan that killed eight people and injured 11 Tuesday afternoon.

There is more security at New Yorks airports, mass transit hubs, bridges and tunnels, as well as areas with large crowds, like Times Square.

There are barricades in Times Square to prevent a vehicle attack. NYPD set up checkpoints at various locations while state and local police increased their manpower.

Witness Recounts Deadly NYC Attack

NBC Connecticut spoke with a Wallingford woman who was in the city yesterday when the attack happened.

My family is a little worried I have to go back into New York today. I figure, you got to live. We cant really let it stop us. We have to go on with our daily life, said Mary Antonetti.

West Haven resident Andres Ramirez, who was heading to JFK to take a flight, said he was expecting the extra security and said he saw it as a positive thing.

She was worried and I said mom, were probably going to be even more safe than if this would have happened a day later. Theres going to be heightened security, which Im ok with. Were all ok with, I think, Ramirez said.

Commuters that spoke with NBC Connecticut said they may be more vigilant, but the attack will not stop them from going on with their day-to-day routine.

People in New York are very resilient. Theyre like it is what it is. We live here because its the greatest city in the country, the world. If somebody is going to hit us they are, but well just come back from it," Antonetti said.



New Yorks governor stressed that the added security is a precaution, not a response to any specific threat.

Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy urged residents to be alert and said that Connecticut was monitoring the situation.

We pray for those who lost their lives, offer our deepest sympathies to their families and friends, and send our best wishes for a speedy recovery for those injured. And we thank all of the first responders who provided critical assistance responding to this terrible act of violence. Connecticut state officials will continue to monitor this situation and respond accordingly as more details are known. Todays attack in New York City is a painful reminder that we must always be vigilant and aware of our surroundings. We urge all Connecticut residents if you see something suspicious in your daily travels  say something. Call 1-866-HLS-TIPS, Malloy said in a statement.
Court records show an Ellington, Connecticut man charged with killing his wife wiped out most of her assets in the months between her death and his arrest.

The Hartford Courant reports Richard Dabate took hundreds of thousands of dollars from his wife's retirement accounts, emptied her bank accounts and was about to sell the couple's Vernon home before a judge halted the sale.

The details on Connie Dabate's assets were released Tuesday after a probate judge scheduled a hearing to learn why her estate was worth only $6.42.

A lawyer representing the woman's sister says he plans to file a motion for Richard Dabate to return $70,000. That was the amount her estate was reportedly worth before her death in December 2015.

Dabate has pleaded not guilty to murder.

Connie Dabate, 39, was found dead of gunshot wounds and Richard was found wounded on Dec. 23, 2015, when authorities responded to a burglary alarm at their home. Officials said at the time that the couples sons, who were then ages 6 and 9, were in school at the time.

Richard Dabate claims his wife was killed by an intruder who also tied him up and assaulted him.

Police said his account of his wifes death differed from Fitbit information.
A Taftville man who is on probation is accused of ramming several vehicles in several towns Wednesday morning, including a school bus full of children in New London.

Police said they received a call around 8:15 a.m. Tuesday about a driver hitting several vehicles on Route 32, near Connecticut College, and fleeing the scene.

Officials said Rubin Ramos hit several vehicles in Waterford. Then he hit more vehicles in New London, including an occupied school bus, which he struck several times, New London police said, then he fled to Groton.

A witness followed Ramos to Groton and New London police officers responded to Route 12 in Groton, where they found Ramos driving toward Ledyard, police said.

New London Police, Ledyard Police Department and Connecticut State Police worked together, used stop strips and stopped the car Ramos was driving, police said.

After he was stopped, Ramos was involved in a short struggle with police and an officer sustained minor injuries, police said.

Ramos was taken into custody and charged with operating under the influence, operating under suspension, fleeing from police, misuse of marker plant, interfering with police, two counts of reckless endangerment and six counts of risk of injury to minor.
A North Haven man who dubbed himself the "Halloween Lunatic" posted on social media saying he will give out candy filled with rat poison to trick-or-treaters, police said.

Detectives said they found disturbing Facebook posts and videos from 57-year-old Ronald Przybylo. Police said his posts implied that he plans to fill candy with rat poison and give them out to children on Halloween.

Przybylo, who called himself the "Halloween Lunatic", also referenced several mass killings from around the country.

"He is under the care of a psychiatrist and will continue to be under the care of a psychiatrist. He is not a threat to anybody. I would never allow candy to be given out with rat poison in it. I dont have rat poison in the house," his wife, Maryellen, told NBC Connecticut.



Officers responded to Przybylos residence on Saint John Street and found the homes floors and furniture to be completely covered with animal urine and feces.

Three dogs, three cats, and an Amazon African Bird were removed from the home for health precautions by the North Haven Animal Control, police said.

Przybylo was charged with breach of peace for his social media posts and animal cruelty. His bond was set at $10,000 and he was posting it on Wednesday.

Maryellen Przybylo was also charged with animal cruelty and released on a $2,500 bond.

Maryellen said she didn't bail her husband out because she wanted to teach him a lesson.
A white former University of Hartford student is accused of spitting in her black roommate's coconut oil, putting moldy clam dip in her lotion and rubbing used tampons on her backpack.

Police have arrested Brianna Brochu and said they are asking the court to add a hate crime charge to the list of charges filed against her after further reviewing the case.

In a statement on Tuesday, the University of Hartford president Greg Woodward called the incident "deeply upsetting" and said it has brought about "accusations of racism."

On Wednesday, he said 18-year-old Brochu is no longer a student at the university as of this morning and will not be returning.

West Hartford police said the victim reported she was suffering from "severe throat pain" and suspected it was from her roommate tampering with her personal items.

As police investigated, they learned that Brochu posted on Instagram that she tampered with her roommates property and deposited bodily fluids on other property and had posted photos as well, police said.

The victim, Chennel "Jazzy" Rowe, used Facebook to share her story. During a Facebook live posted on October 30, Rowe said Brochu went into detail about the accusations and claimed to have put her toothbrush in a place "the sun doesn't shine." She also posted photos of the backpack and the dip.

The Facebook video posted has been watched more than 636,000 times. NBC Connecticut has tried to reach Rowe, but we have not heard back.



"There has been an outpouring of concern for the victim of these acts from across the University and the country. In my meeting with her yesterday, I reiterated my personal commitment to ensuring she has all available personal and academic resources the University can provide," Woodward wrote in a statement to the university community.

Brochu was initially charged with third-degree criminal mischief and second-degree breach of peace, but police now say they are asking the court to add an intimidation based on bigotry or bias charge.

"One of our students was the alleged victim of bullying and her story was shared across social media. Let me be clear: the accused students behavior was reprehensible and does not reflect the values of our institution. Let me also be clear that I am confident the University has taken all steps to pursue this matter seriously, and will continue to do so," Woodward said in a statement.

He said Rowe was relocated to "a safe location," authorities were notified and the school "strictly and swiftly followed all procedural and legal processes related to this alleged event."

According to Woodward, Hartford University Public Safety learned about the incidents at 11:48 p.m. on Oct. 17, when the victim became aware. West Hartford police were notified by 1:12 a.m. By 2:16 a.m., a no-contact order was in place and the case was turned over to local authorities.



"The incident has brought about accusations of racism, and I want you to know that I hear and share your anger and frustration. Acts of racism, bias, bullying, or other abusive behaviors will not be tolerated on this campus. I pledge to do everything in my power to work with our community to address related concerns together," Woodward wrote.

Brochu appeared in court Tuesday with her parents, spoke only a few words and had a solemn expression soon after facing a judge.

The incident is getting nationwide attention, including from television producer Shonda Rhimes.

That this type of ignorant hate can flourish in 2017 tests my faith in humanity. Who raised this inhumane ignorant waste of space? Who chose to be her friend and look the other way? https://t.co/JyeFqOKWX3  shonda rhimes (@shondarhimes) November 1, 2017

State Rep. Brandon McGee, who represents Windsor and Hartford, said he and other community leaders would be at the school Wednesday night for a peaceful rally at Hawk Hall on the University of Hartford campus.

"This is another example of the racially charged political and social climate and sentiment that as of late pervades American personal interactions throughout the country," McGee said in a statement. "This emboldened behavior is the result of the general discourse on diversity and racial relations from the top levels of leadership. What allegedly occurred on this campus amounts to multiple crimes. Not denouncing this behavior is akin to condoning it and I join with the many in opposition to this abhorrent treatment of each other."

The Brothers and Sisters United Group hosted the meeting.
What to Know Sayfullo Saipov was charged in federal court Wednesday with providing material support to a terrorist organization

The 29-year-old man, a Uzbek national who's been in the U.S. since 2010, drove a truck down a Manhattan bike path, killing 8 and injuring 12

According to court documents, Saipov said he was inspired to carry out the truck attack by ISIS videos he watched on his cell phone

The truck driver suspected of mowing people down on a riverfront bike path near the World Trade Center, killing eight people and injuring a dozen others, was charged in federal court Wednesday evening.



Sayfullo Habibullaevic Saipov, 29, entered federal court in a wheelchair, handcuffed and with feet shackled, to face terrorism charges. He did not enter a plea. He used headphones to listen to a Russian translation of court proceedings, but answered the judge in English, saying, "Thanks."

His attorney David Patton said they were not seeking bail. A judge set his next court date for Nov. 15.

Announcing the charges in a news conference Wednesday, acting U.S. Attorney Joon H. Kim said, "Alleged terrorists like Saipov view this city as a prime target for their hate-filled crimes. The thing is, for the alleged terrorists like Saipov, they will find in New York City something else: justice."

"They will find, and have found, that law enforcement and everyday people in this city are not afraid of their evil. They see through their false hateful rhetoric and are committed to bringing them to justice. And that is what we intend to do with Sayfullo Saipov," said Kim.

In terms of casualties, the truck rampage was the worst terror attack in New York City since Sept. 11, 2001, authorities said.



Saipov was set to head to jail after court Wednesday night, not back to the hospital. His public defender, David Patton, said that he was in "significant pain," however, and asked that Saipov be prescribed medication for the gunshot wound he sustained as he ran in traffic with a pellet gun and paintball gun.

"How we treat Mr. Saipov in this judicial process says a lot more about us than him," Patton said after the hearing.

Saipov told the FBI in his interviews that he planned the attack for a year and had decided to carry it out on Halloween; investigators told them he picked the day because he knew the streets would be crowded.

According to the complaint, he intended to drive a rented truck and strike pedestrians in the area of the West Side Highway, then proceed to the Brooklyn Bridge, where he'd continue to hit pedestrians. He allegedly said he wanted to kill as many people as he could.

Saipov also wanted to display ISIS flags in the front and back of the truck during the attack but decided against it because he did not want to draw attention, according to the complaint.

He waived his Miranda rights after he was arrested, and told law enforcement during questioning that he felt good about what he'd done. Officials said he asked for an ISIS flag to be displayed in the hospital room where he was taken after he was shot in the abdomen by a police officer.

Saipov allegedly said he was inspired to carry out the truck attack by ISIS videos he watched on his cellphone. The FBI said they searched his phones and found approximately 90 videos with ISIS propaganda, and 3,800 images that appeared to be ISIS propaganda.

He allegedly told investigators he began planning the attack in the U.S. approximately two months ago.



The complaint also says Saipov rented a truck on Oct. 22 so he could practice making turns with the truck in advance of his attack.

The federal complaint corroborates what NYPD Deputy Commissioner of Intelligence and Counterterrorism John Miller said at a news briefing earlier Wednesday: that Saipov appeared to have been planning the attack for a number of weeks.

"He appears to have followed almost exactly to a T these instructions that ISIS has put out on its social media channels before with instructions to their followers on how to carry out such an attack," said Miller.

[NATL] In Photos: Aftermath of Deadly Truck Rampage in Manhattan

Saipov, an immigrant from Uzbekistan, actively read ISIS propaganda, a review of his online accounts showed. He left a note in the damaged Home Depot truck he had rented that translates to "ISIS endures forever," though at this point, investigators consider the rampage to be a "lone wolf" attack. Multiple knives were also recovered in and around the vehicle, along with a paintball gun and a pellet gun.



Saipov was familiar with the area of the attack, investigators say. A senior official tells News 4 that Saipov made multiple drives to the West Side Highway near the World Trade Center in recent weeks. The travels were "inconsistent with his employment as an Uber driver," suggesting that the trips were efforts of reconnaissance and planning.



Listen as emergency responders react to reports of an out of control box truck in lower Manhattan. For the latest on the deadly incident click here.

Hundreds of detectives have been scouring the West Side Highway since Tuesday, going up and down both sides of the street, "meticulously trying to pick up every piece of video from every security camera, every traffic camera, every bank camera, anything that will help us put together this timeline so we can reconstruct a much as possible," Miller said. The highway will remain shut down south of 14th Street through at least Wednesday evening.

Detectives are also reviewing license plate readers to reconstruct Saipov's movements in the days leading up to the attack. A number of search warrants were already executed overnight, and more witnesses may be interviewed.



Police and the FBI urged members of the public to give them any photos or video that could help by uploading them at fbi.gov/nyctribeca.

The mayhem Tuesday set off panic in the neighborhood and left the pavement strewn with mangled bicycles and bodies that were soon covered with sheets. Eight people were killed and a dozen injured in a Halloween afternoon attack that Mayor de Blasio called "a particularly cowardly act of terror."

While police didn't specifically blame any group for the strike, Trump railed against the Islamic State and declared "enough!" and "NOT IN THE U.S.A.!"



Mayor Bill De Blasio speaks out against the cowardly act of terror that killed at least 8 people in lower Manhattan Tuesday afternoon.

Investigators say Saipov came to the United States legally in 2010 through a diversity visa lottery program. He has a Florida driver's license but may have been staying in New Jersey off and on, they said. Law enforcement cordoned off an apartment building in nearby Paterson on Wednesday as well. Officers searched a garage. The building's manager told The Record he lived with his wife and two children in a two-bedroom apartment on Genessee Avenue. An official says his wife is in Paterson with authorities.



Saipov was never the subject of an investigation by the NYPD Intelligence Bureau or by the FBI -- but it appears he's been connected to other people who have been investigated by the NYPD or FBI, according to Miller.

"We're looking for how he has touched the subjects of other investigations, what his connectivity is to those people," said Miller. "We're kind of building out in concentric circles to try and document that."



Another law enforcement official tells NBC News that Saipov was interviewed in 2015 by an agent from Homeland Security Investigations (which is part of ICE, which is part of Department of Homeland Security) because he was listed as a point of contact by two other men that HSI was investigating at the time for overstaying their tourist visas. This was done while the agent was part of a Joint Terrorism Task Force in New York, the official told NBC News.

Records show Saipov was a commercial truck driver who formed a pair of businesses in Ohio. An Ohio marriage license shows that a truck driver with one of Saipov's addresses and his name, spelled slightly differently, married a fellow Uzbek in 2013.

Uber said Saipov had passed a background test to drive for the service while he was living in New Jersey, and that he had been banned from accessing the app after Tuesday's attack. The company added that it is reviewing Saipov's history with the service and cooperating with the FBI. Lyft said it is also cooperating with law enforcement.



Saipov pleaded guilty to two traffic offenses in Pennsylvania between 2012 and 2015, according to records from the Keystone State. He was also arrested for failing to appear in court after getting another traffic citation in Missouri in 2015; he later paid a fine and served no jail time. It's not clear if he had any other criminal history beyond the traffic offenses.



A 29-year-old Uzbek national, identified as Sayfullo Saipov, drove a Home Depot rental pickup truck at least 10 blocks down the popular West Side Highway bike path from West Houston to Chambers streets, hitting nearly a dozen pedestrians. Eight people were killed.

Police have said the attacker rented the truck at about 2 p.m. at a New Jersey Home Depot and then went into New York City over the George Washington Bridge, entering the bike path about an hour later and speeding toward the World Trade Center, the site of the deadliest terror attack in U.S. history.

He barreled along the bike path in the truck for the equivalent of about 14 blocks, or around eight-tenths of a mile, before deliberately slamming into a small yellow school bus near Stuyvesant High School and P.S. 89, injuring two staff members and two children.

"A person hopped out of the car with two guns and started yelling and screaming," said a 12-year-old student who had just left a nearby school. "They were yelling 'Allahu Akbar.'"

The student, whose mother asked that his name be withheld, said he ran back into the school, where students cried and huddled in a corner.

Video shot by bystanders showed Saipov walking through traffic wielding what looked like two handguns, but which police later said were a paintball gun and a pellet gun. A police officer shot Saipov when he wouldn't drop the weapons, police said.



Witness video shows the suspect in a Lower Manhattan truck rampage running through traffic with what looks like two weapons. For the latest updates on this story click here.
What to Know Sayfullo Saipov was charged in federal court Wednesday with providing material support to a terrorist organization

The 29-year-old man, a Uzbek national who's been in the U.S. since 2010, drove a truck down a Manhattan bike path, killing 8 and injuring 12

According to court documents, Saipov said he was inspired to carry out the truck attack by ISIS videos he watched on his cell phone

The truck driver suspected of mowing people down on a riverfront bike path near the World Trade Center, killing eight people and injuring a dozen others, was charged in federal court Wednesday evening.



Sayfullo Habibullaevic Saipov, 29, entered federal court in a wheelchair, handcuffed and with feet shackled, to face terrorism charges. He did not enter a plea. He used headphones to listen to a Russian translation of court proceedings, but answered the judge in English, saying, "Thanks."

His attorney David Patton said they were not seeking bail. A judge set his next court date for Nov. 15.

U.S. v. Sayfullo Saipov Complaint by NBC New York on Scribd

Announcing the charges in a news conference Wednesday, acting U.S. Attorney Joon H. Kim said, "Alleged terrorists like Saipov view this city as a prime target for their hate-filled crimes. The thing is, for the alleged terrorists like Saipov, they will find in New York City something else: justice."

"They will find, and have found, that law enforcement and everyday people in this city are not afraid of their evil. They see through their false hateful rhetoric and are committed to bringing them to justice. And that is what we intend to do with Sayfullo Saipov," said Kim.

In terms of casualties, the truck rampage was the worst terror attack in New York City since Sept. 11, 2001, authorities said.



Saipov was set to head to jail after court Wednesday night, not back to the hospital. His public defender, David Patton, said that he was in "significant pain," however, and asked that Saipov be prescribed medication for the gunshot wound he sustained as he ran in traffic with a pellet gun and paintball gun.

"How we treat Mr. Saipov in this judicial process says a lot more about us than him," Patton said after the hearing.

Saipov told the FBI in his interviews that he planned the attack for a year and had decided to carry it out on Halloween; investigators told them he picked the day because he knew the streets would be crowded.

According to the complaint, he intended to drive a rented truck and strike pedestrians in the area of the West Side Highway, then proceed to the Brooklyn Bridge, where he'd continue to hit pedestrians. He allegedly said he wanted to kill as many people as he could.

Saipov also wanted to display ISIS flags in the front and back of the truck during the attack but decided against it because he did not want to draw attention, according to the complaint.

He waived his Miranda rights after he was arrested, and told law enforcement during questioning that he felt good about what he'd done. Officials said he asked for an ISIS flag to be displayed in the hospital room where he was taken after he was shot in the abdomen by a police officer.

Saipov allegedly said he was inspired to carry out the truck attack by ISIS videos he watched on his cellphone. The FBI said they searched his phones and found approximately 90 videos with ISIS propaganda, and 3,800 images that appeared to be ISIS propaganda.

He allegedly told investigators he began planning the attack in the U.S. approximately two months ago.



The complaint also says Saipov rented a truck on Oct. 22 so he could practice making turns with the truck in advance of his attack.

The federal complaint corroborates what NYPD Deputy Commissioner of Intelligence and Counterterrorism John Miller said at a news briefing earlier Wednesday: that Saipov appeared to have been planning the attack for a number of weeks.

"He appears to have followed almost exactly to a T these instructions that ISIS has put out on its social media channels before with instructions to their followers on how to carry out such an attack," said Miller.

[NATL] In Photos: Aftermath of Deadly Truck Rampage in Manhattan

Saipov, an immigrant from Uzbekistan, actively read ISIS propaganda, a review of his online accounts showed. He left a note in the damaged Home Depot truck he had rented that translates to "ISIS endures forever," though at this point, investigators consider the rampage to be a "lone wolf" attack. Multiple knives were also recovered in and around the vehicle, along with a paintball gun and a pellet gun.



Saipov was familiar with the area of the attack, investigators say. A senior official tells News 4 that Saipov made multiple drives to the West Side Highway near the World Trade Center in recent weeks. The travels were "inconsistent with his employment as an Uber driver," suggesting that the trips were efforts of reconnaissance and planning.



Listen as emergency responders react to reports of an out of control box truck in lower Manhattan. For the latest on the deadly incident click here.

Hundreds of detectives have been scouring the West Side Highway since Tuesday, going up and down both sides of the street, "meticulously trying to pick up every piece of video from every security camera, every traffic camera, every bank camera, anything that will help us put together this timeline so we can reconstruct a much as possible," Miller said. The highway will remain shut down south of 14th Street through at least Wednesday evening.

Detectives are also reviewing license plate readers to reconstruct Saipov's movements in the days leading up to the attack. A number of search warrants were already executed overnight, and more witnesses may be interviewed.



Police and the FBI urged members of the public to give them any photos or video that could help by uploading them at fbi.gov/nyctribeca.

The mayhem Tuesday set off panic in the neighborhood and left the pavement strewn with mangled bicycles and bodies that were soon covered with sheets. Eight people were killed and a dozen injured in a Halloween afternoon attack that Mayor de Blasio called "a particularly cowardly act of terror."

While police didn't specifically blame any group for the strike, Trump railed against the Islamic State and declared "enough!" and "NOT IN THE U.S.A.!"



Mayor Bill De Blasio speaks out against the cowardly act of terror that killed at least 8 people in lower Manhattan Tuesday afternoon.

Investigators say Saipov came to the United States legally in 2010 through a diversity visa lottery program. He has a Florida driver's license but may have been staying in New Jersey off and on, they said. Law enforcement cordoned off an apartment building in nearby Paterson on Wednesday as well. Officers searched a garage. The building's manager told The Record he lived with his wife and two children in a two-bedroom apartment on Genessee Avenue. An official says his wife is in Paterson with authorities.



Saipov was never the subject of an investigation by the NYPD Intelligence Bureau or by the FBI -- but it appears he's been connected to other people who have been investigated by the NYPD or FBI, according to Miller.

"We're looking for how he has touched the subjects of other investigations, what his connectivity is to those people," said Miller. "We're kind of building out in concentric circles to try and document that."



Another law enforcement official tells NBC News that Saipov was interviewed in 2015 by an agent from Homeland Security Investigations (which is part of ICE, which is part of Department of Homeland Security) because he was listed as a point of contact by two other men that HSI was investigating at the time for overstaying their tourist visas. This was done while the agent was part of a Joint Terrorism Task Force in New York, the official told NBC News.

Records show Saipov was a commercial truck driver who formed a pair of businesses in Ohio. An Ohio marriage license shows that a truck driver with one of Saipov's addresses and his name, spelled slightly differently, married a fellow Uzbek in 2013.

Uber said Saipov had passed a background test to drive for the service while he was living in New Jersey, and that he had been banned from accessing the app after Tuesday's attack. The company added that it is reviewing Saipov's history with the service and cooperating with the FBI. Lyft said it is also cooperating with law enforcement.



Saipov pleaded guilty to two traffic offenses in Pennsylvania between 2012 and 2015, according to records from the Keystone State. He was also arrested for failing to appear in court after getting another traffic citation in Missouri in 2015; he later paid a fine and served no jail time. It's not clear if he had any other criminal history beyond the traffic offenses.



A 29-year-old Uzbek national, identified as Sayfullo Saipov, drove a Home Depot rental pickup truck at least 10 blocks down the popular West Side Highway bike path from West Houston to Chambers streets, hitting nearly a dozen pedestrians. Eight people were killed.

Police have said the attacker rented the truck at about 2 p.m. at a New Jersey Home Depot and then went into New York City over the George Washington Bridge, entering the bike path about an hour later and speeding toward the World Trade Center, the site of the deadliest terror attack in U.S. history.

He barreled along the bike path in the truck for the equivalent of about 14 blocks, or around eight-tenths of a mile, before deliberately slamming into a small yellow school bus near Stuyvesant High School and P.S. 89, injuring two staff members and two children.

"A person hopped out of the car with two guns and started yelling and screaming," said a 12-year-old student who had just left a nearby school. "They were yelling 'Allahu Akbar.'"

The student, whose mother asked that his name be withheld, said he ran back into the school, where students cried and huddled in a corner.

Video shot by bystanders showed Saipov walking through traffic wielding what looked like two handguns, but which police later said were a paintball gun and a pellet gun. A police officer shot Saipov when he wouldn't drop the weapons, police said.



Witness video shows the suspect in a Lower Manhattan truck rampage running through traffic with what looks like two weapons. For the latest updates on this story click here.
Twenty people in San Diego County have died as a result of the Hepatitis A outbreak, officials said Tuesday.

A 67-year-old man passed away from the virus on Oct. 26, public health officials said.

From November 22 through Oct. 31, there have been 536 confirmed cases have been reported in the county, up from 516 earlier this month. Several dozen cases more are still pending confirmation.

Cases in Colorado and Arizona have also been linked to the outbreak. Health officials in Colorado say two cases of Hepatitis in that state stem from the outbreak in San Diego.

The Colorado Disease Control & Environmental Epidemiology Division linked two of that states 58 reported cases of Hepatitis A were linked to San Diego.

Twenty new cases are reported per week on average, officials said.



The mean age of a Hepatitis A patient in San Diego County is 43 years old, according to Public Health Officer Wilma Wooten, MD, MPH.

Of the people who have died in the outbreak, 10 were homeless. One used illicit drugs. Three were both homeless and illicit drug users.

However, two neither used drugs or were considered homeless, according to county health officials.

As of October 24, 128 cases have no connection to homelessness or illicit drug use, Wooten said.

Hepatitis A is spread person-to-person through contact with a fecal-contaminated environment, according to the San Diego County Health and Human Services.
Criminals who target phones are getting more brazen around the Washington, D.C., area, according to an investigation by the News4 I-Team.

The I-Team pulled police records in D.C., Virginia and Maryland and found several police agencies report the overall number of phone thefts actually is dropping as technology allows more owners to brick, or lock, their phones, rendering them inoperative if stolen. But the thousands of phone heists still occurring in the area each year are getting more physical.

In a string of recent cases, criminals snatched phones in a flash right out of people's hands.

"I instinctively grabbed for my phone, and it wasn't there," Jeannette Oliver said.

Her phone was stolen at a place she assumed was safe -- a church where she is choir director. A visitor grabbed it from her purse, she said.

"You want to be welcoming -- because it's church, after all -- and it's gone," she said.

Marianne Harding was on Capitol Hill about 10:30 a.m. when her phone was stolen. It was never recovered.

"I had to process, she said. What just happened? Did I imagine this? No, I didn't imagine this. My phone's gone, my bag's gone, and he's gone in a cloud of dust."

One pattern the I-Team found was easy escape routes. In recent weeks, a crook struck near the door of a CVS pharmacy, another near an open space at a pizza shop on U Street and as the doors of a train opened at the Archives Metro stop.

Police said many people make the thefts easier for criminals by holding phones out in the open and walking along streets and through trains stations with earbuds in, focusing on whats on the phone instead of whats happening in the around them.

"Always maintain awareness, Metro Transit Police Chief Ron Pavlik said. Keep your head on a swivel. Know how may stops til your stop."

Pavlik has eyes in the sky watching for would-be phone snatchers from its security operations center in Landover, Maryland, and with police scattered on the platforms, but he said riders need to be vigilant, too. Be aware of people standing a little too close.

If someone does take your phone, do not chase after them, police said.

Reported by Scott MacFarlane, produced by Rick Yarborough, and shot and edited by Jeff Piper.


A sketch of a suspect who raped a woman at a bus stop in Gaithersburg, Maryland, has been created using the suspect's DNA.

The woman was waiting for a bus at Watkins Mill Road and Travis Lane at 5:30 a.m. Friday, Oct. 6 when she was approached by a man.

He grabbed her and pulled her toward a wooded area next to the bus stop, Montgomery County police said. The man then raped the woman and left the area.

She ran for help and called police. She was taken to a hospital for treatment.

Nearly a month after the assault, no one has been arrested.

Using DNA evidence from the suspect, Parabon NanoLabs, a DNA technology company in Virginia, created a sketch showing how the suspect may look.

According to the sketch and information from the DNA, the suspect is a black man with a brown to dark brown skin color, brown eye color, black hair color and zero freckles. The suspect's ancestry is 79 percent African.

While DNA can reveal the suspect's ancestry and certain features, a person's age, body mass, hair style and other descriptions cannot be determined through DNA.

"The dreadlocks in this particular composite came from working with the victim," Montgomery County Police Officer Rick Goodale said.



The victim had also described the suspect as a black man in his 20s and wearing a dark-colored checkered shirt or jacket.

Montgomery County police said detectives investigating the assault had reached out to Parabon NanoLabs for the sketch. Parabon specializes in DNA phenotyping, the process of predicting physical appearance and ancestry from unidentified DNA evidence.

Loudoun County authorities worked with the Reston laboratory in 2016 to try crack a 1987 cold case.



It is the Montgomery County Police Departments third time working with Parabon for a DNA sketch, but the first time for a current active investigation, according to Goodale.

Parabon said the technology has been used by police in every state and 10 countries.

"Of the cases that have gone public, 1 in 5 of those have have been solved, that we know of," Dr. Ellen Graytak, a director at Parabon, said to News4 through a FaceTime interview.

Goodale said its a tool detectives may start using more if they are able to make arrests through the use of DNA sketches like this one.

"If we have it at our disposal...we wouldn't be doing our job if we didn't use every possible avenue to find these guys," Goodale said.

Goodale said it cost $3,500 for the DNA sketch.

Police said the sketch is a scientific estimate of what the suspect would look like based on his DNA, but it is not likely an exact replica of his actual appearance.

Detectives are urging anyone who may recognizes this suspect to call the Special Victims Investigations Division at 240-773-5050. Those who wish to remain anonymous may call Crime Solvers of Montgomery County toll-free at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477). Crime Solvers will pay a cash reward of up to $10,000 for information provided to their line that leads to an arrest and/or indictment for this sexual assault.
Scammers tried to benefit from the death of a woman who was killed on a highway in Virginia when a 12-year-old boy plunged from an overpass on Saturday.

The family of Marisa Harris has learned of "several fraudulent GoFundMe and other accounts using our tragedy to extort money for 'funeral arrangements' etc.," they said in a statement released Tuesday afternoon.

One fake page on the fundraising website GoFundMe was reported to the company and removed, a spokesman said. The campaign did not receive any donations, and the user was banned.

Harris' family was stunned by the "sad and disrespectful behavior," they said.

Harris died after a 12-year-old boy plunged from the Cedar Lane overpass over I-66 in Vienna, Virginia, on Saturday afternoon. The child, who police did not identify, is believed to have been attempting suicide. He was rushed to a hospital with life-threatening injuries.

Harris was a graduate student in clinical counseling, her family said. She wanted to devote her career to helping children.

The family of the boy who plunged from the overpass was stunned by the incident, a man who said he was the boy's uncle told News4's Jackie Bensen.

No pages with Harris' name appeared on GoFundMe as of Tuesday evening. Her family is still determining how they will honor her memory, their statement Tuesday said.

GoFundMe guarantees that donors' funds will go to the right person. If GoFundMe determines that fraud occurred in connection to a page created after Oct. 3, 2016, donors can get as much as $1,000 back, and the beneficiary can have as much as $25,000 guaranteed. Several conditions apply.

Well-intentioned donors need to be wary of scammers trying to profit from tragedies, consumer advocates told News4 earlier this year.

"Disasters and tragedies generally attract questionable websites popping up and other untoward things that donors have to watch out for," said Bennett Weiner, chief operating officer of the Better Business Bureau's Wise Giving Alliance.

Go here for tips on how to know if a fundraising page is legitimate.
Residents of Leesburg, Virginia, found bags full of Ku Klux Klan recruiting flyers, candy and racist cartoons on their doorsteps just before Halloween.



Residents who picked up the bags found the material inside to be "shocking" and "absolutely revolting and disgusting. Inside the bag was a letter that appeared to be from the KKK.

It said, "Attention white America. We are nearing the end of the line," and warned of white extinction.

They were cartoons that were vile and disgusting and included cartoon characters of characters that were meant to be Jewish people, said resident Bronwyn Duffy. A black person with a head on a tray, sliced off. Absolutely revolting and disgusting.

Bags of candy were included as if to attract children, Duffy continued.

The bags were placed in front of homes on Cornwall Street and Liberty Street, near historic downtown Leesburg.



I'm very disappointed, very disappointed that we would have something happen here in Leesburg, resident Kay Stowers said.

Police confirmed that the flyers inside the packages were KKK recruitment materials.

Leesburg police and federal agencies are working to determine if the materials threaten any specific groups. They said if there is not a direct threat, there is not much they can do, because hate speech is protected by the First Amendment.
D.C. police raided a home in Southwest D.C. Monday night and seized 53 pounds of marijuana, 72 grams of cocaine and $75,000 in cash.

The police department's narcotics division searched the home on the 900 block of 6th Street SW about 10:20 p.m. Monday, police said in a statement released Wednesday evening. The address is just northwest of the Waterfront Metro station.

Photos from the home show organized shelves stacked with dozens of tiny containers.

Seremy Bennett Albrecht, 42, of Southwest, D.C.; Angela Maria Cortez, 33, of San Antonio, Texas; and Tiffany Frances Henry, 30, of Southwest, D.C. were arrested.

Albrecht and Cortez both were charged with possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance and felony possession with intent to distribute marijuana. Henry only was charged with felony possession with intent to distribute marijuana.

Stay with News4 for more details on this developing story.
Carol Schwartz has something to say.

And it takes her 745 pages to do it.

The former school board member, D.C. Council representative and five-time mayoral candidate is out with her new self-published book, Quite a Life: From Defeat to Defeat ... and Back.

She jokes that she initially intended to call it, An Interesting Life  But Dont Ask Me to Live It Again.

But Schwartz does live it again in her book. And she says its the whole story. Its self-published because she wanted total control over its content and nobody was beating the door down to publish it, she said.

Schwartz, 73, has a website (caroldc.com) to order her book or schedule a book party. She has begun a local book tour. Shes hitting all eight wards. But shes not thinking of running again. She laughs and vigorously shakes her head no at even the suggestion.

The book is $30.

So whats in it?

Well, among many other things, she says it puts to rest rumors that she and political villain-friend Marion Barry ever had sex.

It wasnt for his want of trying, she laughed during a book stop Sunday at the Dupont Italian Kitchen. A friendly crowd ate pizza as she regaled her audience. He tried with everybody, Schwartz explained. I would have been insulted if he hadnt tried with me.

There was knowing laughter about Barry. But the current outrage over sexual harassment in the workplace was not lost on Schwartz. She said she always felt like Barrys equal as an elected official and was never intimidated. She agreed that too many women, including herself in younger years, faced and still face outrageous sexism and harassment.

The book also chronicles her early life in Midland, Texas, where Jewish families were few and her abusive father was brutal.

She recalls as early as age 4 her father throwing a pot of hot soup across our small living room at my mother. It was so scary. But little did I know at four, it was just the beginning of many such experiences which made me frightened my whole life.

About the mayoral races, she says she feels the media gave some mayors and candidates free rides while she was held to tough standards as a Republican in a Democratic city.

Much of the book, of course, is looking back. Some political opponents may disagree with her interpretations, but as Schwartz says, its her record. She writes that 1998 opponent Anthony Williams feigned the draft-Tony movement that got him started.

But for almost everyone who may be on the end of a critical remark, Schwartz also has something nice to say. Thats not true of former at-large Council member David Catania and her rocky time with him. We were friendly, or so I thought, she writes dismissively. Catania helped get her defeated in 2008.

The Notebook asked Schwartz if her political memoir  which also includes current issues  might get her in trouble, given her blunt assessment of people, politics and places.

Trouble because Schwartz is a sitting member of the Board of Ethics and Government Accountability, which investigates alleged ethics laws violations by District government employees and public officials.

As for her current role on the board, she told the Notebook, Where I talk about local issues, its usually in the past tense. Where I speak of a few that are more present tense, that may be more debatable. She says she didnt tell the board or virtually anyone about her memoir because she wanted to get it done without distractions.

Mayor Muriel Bowser appointed Schwartz to the ethics board after winning the 2014 race for mayor. Schwartz also ran that year. Many thought her campaign was an effort to sabotage  pay back  Catania, who was also running as an independent in the general election. Schwartz denies that allegation.

She acknowledges the book of personal and political ups and downs is long. It could have been 1,500 pages, she writes. Its not a tweet. Its my life.

 The Confederacy, reconsidered. We jump over to Virginia for two new developments in the ongoing debate over Confederate memorials and memories.

Christ Church in Alexandria is 244 years old. Its leadership took a dramatic step this week.

George Washington was a founding member. Ever since 1870  thats 1870  twin plaques on the altar wall have honored Washington and Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee, whose family also worshiped there. The twin plaques were put up just two months after Lee died. They were not thrown up in the 1950s when Southerners began erecting all sorts of Confederate memorials in the wake of civil rights and school desegregation efforts.

The church vestry decided this week to remove both plaques and reposition them somewhere on church property where Lees full history can be put in context.

Why not just leave up Washington and take down Lee?

We want to put them together, in places where we can tell the story of their religious history, the story of their connection with our parish, said the Rev. Noelle York-Simmons, rector of Christ Church. She acknowledged some people would be angry but said the racial violence in Charlottesville in August had prompted the churchs move. The presence of Lee had long bothered many in the church, but just removing Lee would have disrupted the balance in the sanctuary.

We are not removing George Washington from our community, the rector told us. She said a large plaque about George Washington will remain at the church entry. Smaller plaques noting where the Washington and Lee families sat or kneeled also will remain.

Also in Virginia, Fairfax County this past week agreed to change the name of J.E.B. Stuart High School. It was named for the Confederate in 1959. It was seen as resistance to the 1954 U.S. Supreme Court decision on desegregating schools.

Fairfax was a far different place then. Now, the name no longer was a source of pride or resistance. The new name? Justice High School.

Tom Sherwood, a Southwest resident, is a political reporter for News 4.
A traffic violation resulted in an armed robbery when a Virginia man allegedly threatened a tow truck driver at gunpoint, ordering him to unhitch and return his car.

At about 2 p.m. Monday, officers were called to the area of Mountain Road and Loudoun Drive in Haymarket, Virginia, and were told Kenneth Lewis Harris, 48, from Leesburg, Virginia, allegedly threatened a tow truck driver at gunpoint to get his 2003 GMC Yukon back after a traffic stop, Prince William County police said.

A Loudoun County sheriff's deputy pulled Harris over for a traffic violation, issued a traffic summons, and as a result, Harris car was towed, police said.

The tow truck driver offered to give Harris a ride. During the ride, Harris asked the driver to pull over. He then walked to the drivers door, showed a gun and threatened the driver, demanding his car be released.

The driver returned the car to Harris, who drove off. The tow truck driver called police.

Police described Harris as a black man, 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighing 220 pounds. He has black hair and brown eyes. Harris Yukon has Virginia tags VXS5874.

Following the investigation, police collected multiple warrants for Harris arrest. He is wanted on several charges including use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and driving on a suspended license.

Attempts to locate Harris have been unsuccessful, but the investigation continues.
Roused by the first major ISIS-inspired attack on U.S. soil since he took office, President Donald Trump urged swift repeal of an immigration program that brought the suspect to America and laid into a political foe he said was responsible for it  though Republican George H. W. Bush signed the law.

Trump insisted Wednesday that Congress must end the visa lottery program under which Uzbek immigrant Sayfullo Saipov entered the country, and he ordered still tighter scrutiny of immigrants already subject to what he calls "extreme vetting." But the White House offered no indication of what new steps the president might be planning.

"We have to get much tougher, much smarter, and less politically correct," Trump said. He also said the U.S. justice system for dealing with such cases must be strengthened, declaring, "What we have right now is a joke and it's a laughingstock." Again, there was no elaboration from the White House.

Trump denounced the 29-year-old suspect in the truck attack, which killed eight and injured many more, as an "animal," and said he was open to sending the man to the U.S. prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, instead of to trial in New York. "I would certainly consider that. Send him to Gitmo," Trump said.

Spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders said the White House considered Saipov an "enemy combatant" and had yet to decide whether to seek to move him out of the civilian judicial system to military detention.

A little later, however, prosecutors in New York filed charges in federal court accusing Saipov with providing material support to a terrorist group and committing violence and destruction of motor vehicles.

On the political front, Trump took to Twitter early Wednesday to blame Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, a Democrat who represents New York, for the bipartisan visa program used by the suspect to enter the country in 2010.

The Department of Homeland Security confirmed that Saipov entered the U.S under the Diversity Visa Lottery Program, which gives people from countries with low rates of immigration an opportunity to come to the U.S. Trump branded the program "a Chuck Schumer beauty," and called on Congress to immediately begin work to end it.

It was not immediately clear when Saipov was radicalized by the Islamic State group, but the New York City Police Department said he began planning the attack weeks ago.

Schumer did back the lottery program as a member of the House when it was approved with the support of both parties in 1990. It was signed by Republican President George H.W. Bush.

Trump's broadside against a senator from the state still reeling from the attack drew bipartisan criticism.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said that Trump's attack against Schumer "plays right into the hands of the terrorists," by sowing division at a time when unity is needed. Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., said it was "probably not the best way to bring out the best in our country." Corker, who has announced he will not run for re-election in 2018, has been increasingly critical of Trump's temperament.

Schumer himself offered this advice: "The president ought to stop tweeting and start leading."

Sanders later said Trump "has not blamed Senator Schumer and doesn't feel that the senator is responsible for the attack."

Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, defended Trump's criticism of the visa lottery program.

"The diversity lottery visa's been criticized by many people as being pretty indiscriminate in terms of who's accepted into the country. I think it needs to be looked at. And I agree with the president that it can certainly be improved by more of a merit-based system."

Sanders dismissed complaints that Trump was politicizing a tragedy, saying his calls for increasing extreme vetting of immigrants are "something that frankly the president has been talking about for a long time."

Indeed, Trump has made repeated attempts to restrict entry into the country through various iterations of a travel ban, which have been blocked by federal courts. The administration has argued that it needs a temporary pause on entry from certain countries in order to develop stricter vetting measures and put them in place.

In the meantime, the administration has worked to improve information-sharing with various countries. It also has developed new requirements for entry into the U.S., such as the use of biometric passports that are more difficult to forge.

Officials could not elaborate on what new measures Trump was referring to in his tweet hours after the attack when he said he had "just ordered Homeland Security to step up our already Extreme Vetting Program."

Sanders said that, since the tweet, the president had spoken several times with members of his national security team to "look and see" what more can be done.

"But," she said, "we have put in place executive orders already since the president's taken office that help go as far as we can at this point."

Trump's swift political response to the New York attacks contrasts with his wait-and-see approach after the October massacre of 59 people by a Las Vegas gunman. The White House then argued it was "premature" to discuss a legislative response and says now it is still studying whether to seek a ban on the modifications used by the Las Vegas shooter to fire his rifles at near-automatic rates.

The two responses offer the latest suggestions of how the culture wars that defined Trump's campaign may be coloring his actions.

During the 2016 presidential campaign, Trump proposed a total ban on Muslim immigration to the U.S. before embracing "extreme vetting." He has backed legislation that would curb legal immigration and shift the nation toward a system that would place an emphasis on merit and skills over family ties and diversity criteria.

Trump late Wednesday repeated his call. "CHAIN MIGRATION must end now!" he tweeted. "Some people come in, and they bring their whole family with them, who can be truly evil. NOT ACCEPTABLE!"

___

Associated Press writer Jill Colvin contributed to this report.
Days before most U.S. residents "fall back," a special commission in Massachusetts that had been examining the possibility of year-round daylight saving time has recommended to move forward with the plan.



The panel had been examining whether the state should shift from the Eastern to the Atlantic Time Zone. Such a move would mean residents would no longer have to change their clocks twice a year, and there would be an extra hour of daylight on cold winter afternoons.

The commission's earlier draft report noted many potential benefits to year-round daylight saving time, but also some major obstacles.

The report said it could only be done in concert with the rest of New England.

Daylight saving time ends Sunday at 2 a.m.
Under a bill the Massachusetts Senate plans to debate on Thursday, colleges and universities would need to ramp up their policies addressing sexual assault and domestic violence on campus.

According to State House News Service, the bill would require higher education institutions to include in their policies information on how to report sexual violence incidents; descriptions of available medical, safety, counseling and other services; and interim protective measures like changes in living arrangements.

Colleges would also need to enter agreements with domestic violence agencies and rape crisis centers to provide services and training, as well as share information with local law enforcement.

Sen. John Keenan of Quincy has proposed amending one section of the bill to include "aggregate information about the gender, sexual orientation, race and ethnicity of the reporting and responding parties involved in these allegations."

Keenan also wants training for new students and employees.

The bill received initial Senate approval in July.


International audience for YMCA Norfolk health worker International audience for YMCA Norfolk health worker

YMCA Norfolk Mental Health Engagement Worker Charlie Smith has presented her work to an international Innovation Camp in Switzerland.

The conference took place at Leysin in Switzerland from September 28 to October 3, attended by volunteers and employees of YMCAs from across the world. Peru, Madagascar, Albania, Serbia, Portugal and France were in attendance, to name a few.

Charlie said: I was in a group which looked at Health and Wellbeing and what projects were taking place across the world and how we can use learn from each country to improve the provision where we live.



Charlie gave a presentation to an international audience on her mental health project at YMCA Norfolk which began as a Department of Education funded project to now aiming at self-funding.



I learnt that mental health is a big concern in many countries and about the difficulties faced in different cultures. It has helped me to become aware of my own achievements and where I could improve the work in Norfolk and assist other countries with developing mental health work in their communities, said Charlie.



I have created some brilliant working relationships but also some great friendships with other young people who share the feeling of empowerment to not only share the message of what their local YMCAs do but of the partnerships that can be created with those further afield.



Pictured top is Charlie Smith presenting at the Innovation Camp and, above, taking in the Alpine scenery.


Industrial Internet of Things (IoT) does not have the explosive growth of the consumer internet. Its a nitty-gritty, complicated, and sometimes downright boring business. It is too complex and diverse for explosive growth like the narrowly defined, one-size-fits-all iPhone. That said, the promise of rich returns on investment from new business models that are possible with IoT is very compelling.

The only way to cut through the venture-driven IoT hype cycle is with conversations with builders and implementers at companies investing in IoT, such as Ciscos co-innovation center chief, Maciej Kranz.

Also on Network World: IoT standards battles could get messy

Kranz summed up his working in Ciscos IoT business by saying:

It has not been an easy journey, to be honest. When we started a dozen years ago, I thought that we would be much further along than this.

Cisco Maciej Kranz

His comment speaks to why large companies like Cisco, with patience, a long-term vision and capital, will be the primary actors in creating a very large IoT market as large as analysts predict  but with a longer time horizon. Kranz explained why:

We have to understand these vertical markets. How we integrate with legacy systems, the workflows, who are the key players  we will never have intimate relationships with facilities managers or people who run factories. It is not just a partnership play; we have to set the preference with the end customer.

Customers seek new IoT-enabled business models

The IoT market is at a new starting point. IoT implementations have focused on improving existing processes to increase efficiencies. In Kranzs view, after many incremental gains, the IoT industry is starting on new IoT-enabled business models with new revenues and profits, like mass customization and personalization and service-oriented business models.

Mass customization combines the flexibility and personalization of custom-made products with the low unit costs associated with mass production. Service-oriented business models are the extension of concepts such as pay per use. Pay per use is not much different than Amazon Web Services (AWS). Instead of owning servers, customers subscribe to use cloud computing infrastructure  except it applies to physical products. For example, a construction company might subscribe for the capacity to drill a certain number of feet each month rather than buying the drilling rig from the manufacturer.

5 elements of a successful industrial IoT project

Kranz spoke about Ciscos evolving IoT strategy to accelerate industrial IoT development from proof of concept through production implementation, which they learned during engagements with customers such as Harley-Davidson. He has identified these five elements that lead to a successful first industrial IoT project.

Start customers on the journey: Successful IoT projects start with a cross-functional team from IT, operations technology, security, production, logistics and finance. Process efficiencies from the combination of operational and business data come from connecting things and starting the data flowing. Cisco works with customers and partners to make early projects successful because results convince the naysayers to back more ambitious projects. Find the right partners: Partners from the horizontal stack are a given, but partners for vertical integration are essential. Most of these projects, except smart cities, are brownfield deployments with legacy infrastructure requiring integration. Cisco is not an industry domain expert. Success depends on working with the partners to integrate the legacy systems they built or migrating to new ones. Executive sponsorship: Change has antibodies that resist it. A chief operating officer, chief experience officer, or divisional CEO must sponsor the project to ensure success. Patience: The first projects are small without much revenue. You have to bank on the long term that the journey leads to more comprehensive implementation and eventually you will make a lot of money in the process. It is a very different approach than a traditional IT organization. It is much more complex with longer-term time horizons. You also have to play matchmaker, not only from a technology perspective, but bringing teams together who have not worked together before. Avoid science projects: A science project is an R&D project without the support of the line of business. For example, Cisco worked with an advanced architecture team for two years only to find that business had not bought into the project.

Ciscos ecosystem of partners and expert innovators

Ciscos approach as a trusted supplier of networking equipment is pragmatic. The company must partner for the domain-specific expertise to directly serve several customers in the diverse industries that are investing in IoT to build solutions. The company relies on Kranzs IoT co-innovation centers and IoT partners to identify and develop new IoT solutions that may scale.

The co-innovation centers bring together customers with independent innovators that have the domain-specific expertise to solve white space IoT problems. Cisco located it's 10, soon to be 12, co-innovations centers in Toronto, Rio De Janeiro, London, Paris, Berlin, Barcelona, Tokyo, Korea and Australia. The centers are incubators to accelerate the cycle of proof of concepts, prototypes, pilots and scalable solutions. This R&D is important because there are few horizontal industrial IoT applications. IoT becomes verticalized very quickly, made granular by industry, and role  retail, logistics, production, etc.

The co-innovation centers engage with customer line of business and operations teams in specific industries concentrated in geographic regions that are concerned with business outcomes instead of technology. For example, the Berlin co-innovation center works with car manufacturers in Germany and continental Europe. In Australia, one is in Perth near the mining industry and one is in Sydney near the agriculture industry.

Ciscos Industrial IoT partners have domain-specific expertise such as production, logistics, intelligent buildings, etc. Here is where IoT diverges from the internet. The partners established businesses long ago and are much older than the familiar internet and deeply entrenched. For example, the $200 billion manufacturing automation business sells proprietary and semi-proprietary technologies that lock customers into future purchases as their projects expand.

It takes the power of the end customer, or an industry-specific consortium of end customers, to change this dynamic. Kranz cited the consumer-packaged goods industries as an example of an end customer effecting change in the vendor ecosystems. A couple of years ago, consumer packaging goods leaders got together to drive a new packaging standard through all these strange ecosystems. Kranz punctuated this point, perhaps as a corollary to his five IoT success elements, saying:

When a bunch of large customers gets together, they can drive these kinds of changes.

Another example of the complexity of building industrial IoT businesses cited is intelligent buildings, which Kranz sees going through a big transformation in the next 24 months. He explained:

We have to have a value proposition for the real estate developer: lower cost of operations, higher rents, better occupancy. Architects must specify our products. We must integrate, test and validate with the partner ecosystem so that you can go to the general contractor and tell him, Here is our integrated value proposition. We have already done all this work for you, so your risk of project delay is low. We have to have a value proposition for everyone in the value chain.

4 promising developments in IoT

Kranz considers these four things to be the most promising IoT developments of the past year:

IoT security is finally being taken seriously. The industry is coming together as it did with Wi-Fi 15 years ago. CSOs are being pulled into the operational environments, implementing things such as segmentation and access controls in OT environments. Machine learning in IoT is gaining a foothold in areas such as preventative maintenance. IoT is an enabler. By connecting things, you get the data for machine learning. It is a natural extension to IoT. Cloud 2.0 has emerged, distributing the cloud. Distributing the cloud functions as close to the source as possible so that the huge amounts of data is captured in real time or near real time will enable many new control and automation applications. Most of the Fortune 1000 have adopted some measure of IoT.

Standards would accelerate IoT

When asked to identify one obstacle that if removed would accelerate IoT adoption, Kranz said:

The lack of standards is wasting much time and resource. There are about 400 IoT companies with the value proposition of connecting proprietary end devices and abstracting them to applications. We need to have a consistent set of standards for a data frame. For instance, if we have temperature or vibrations measurement from different sensors, they should be consistent across all the sensors. Standards for how you transfer the data. Standards for getting the state of the devices. It is slowing us down and increase the cost of deployment by 3 or 4X. It is hard because there are a couple of hundred of standards bodies in IoT. The internet was lucky to have just a couple of standards bodies. If in the next 24 months we established a couple of standards around security and data structures, the IoT market would take off.

The industrial IoT is not the consumer internet. Projects specific to one mega-factory can take years to progress from development to implementation. It is developing in industries where very large companies are willing to invest in R&D to prototype, but the results have to improve the efficiencies of operations to improve P&Ls and balance sheets rounded to the nearest million dollars, predicitive of a large opportunity, but with a longer timeframe than forecasted.
MainStreet Bancshares Reports Successful Capital Raise

FAIRFAX, Va: MainStreet Bancshares, Inc. (OTCQB: MNSB), the holding company for MainStreet Bank, completed an over-subscribed common equity capital raise on October 24, 2017.





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A total of one million one hundred fifty thousand (1,150,000) shares of common stock were issued and sold at $16.00 per share in a private placement for a total of $18.4 million. This issuance of additional shares of common stock is accretive to the company's current book value.The proceeds from the placement will be used to facilitate strategic initiatives, support the company's organic growth and market expansion activities, and for general corporate purposes. The company placed the common stock with accredited investors from the communities the bank serves as well as existing institutional investors.QUOTES: "We're experiencing phenomenal growth at MainStreet. This new capital will support our continued growth opportunities as we strive to enhance value for our shareholders," said Chairman and CEO Jeff W. Dick. "The Washington, DC metropolitan area remains vibrant with diverse opportunities for good conservative growth.""This capital raise is a vote of confidence from the market - especially since the offering was over-subscribed beyond what we offered." said Chris Brockett, MainStreet's President. "We proudly welcome our new shareholders to the MNSB family and appreciate the confidence they have shown in our team."FinPro Capital Advisors, Inc. served as the sole placement agent for the private placement. MainStreet Bancshares, Inc. was advised by the law firm of Jones Walker LLP. The common shares sold in the private placement are not registered under the Securities Act of 1933 or the securities laws of any other state or other jurisdiction and were issued pursuant to exemptions from registration.ABOUT MAINSTREET BANK: MainStreet operates five branches in Herndon, Fairfax, Fairfax City, McLean and Clarendon, with a sixth branch coming soon to Leesburg Virginia. In addition, MainStreet has 55,000 free ATMs and a fully integrated online and mobile banking solution. The Bank is not restricted by a conventional branching system, as it can offer business customers the ability to Put Our Bank in Your Office. With robust and easy-to-use online business banking technology, MainStreet has literally "put our bank" in over 1,000 businesses in the Metropolitan area.MainStreet has a full complement of payment system services for third party payment providers. MainStreet has a nationally known and leading market expert on-staff ready to help payment providers create a solution perfect for their needs.MainStreet has a robust line of business and professional lending products, including government contracting lines of credit, commercial lines and term loans, residential and commercial construction and commercial real estate. MainStreet also works with the SBA to offer 7A and 504 lending solutions. From mobile banking and Apple Pay to instant-issue Debit Cards, MainStreet Bank is always looking for ways to improve its customer experience. Additionally, MainStreet released Aircharity in 2012. Aircharity is a unique solution that empowers people and organizations to raise money via email, websites and social media. The product allows a customer to open an account and accept donations from debit cards, credit cards and electronic checks.MainStreet Bank was the first community bank in the Washington, DC Metropolitan area to offer a full online business banking solution. MainStreet Bank was also the first bank headquartered in the Commonwealth of Virginia to offer CDARS - a solution that provides multi-million-dollar FDIC insurance. Further information on the Bank can be obtained by visiting its website at mstreetbank.com.This release contains forward-looking statements, including our expectations with respect to future events that are subject to various risks and uncertainties. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from management's projections, forecasts, estimates and expectations include: fluctuation in market rates of interest and loan and deposit pricing, adverse changes in the overall national economy as well as adverse economic conditions in our specific market areas, maintenance and development of well-established and valued client relationships and referral source relationships, and acquisition or loss of key production personnel. Other risks that can affect the Bank are detailed from time to time in our annual reports. We caution readers that the list of factors above is not exclusive. The forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this release, and we may not undertake steps to update the forward-looking statements to reflect the impact of any circumstances or events that arise after the date the forward-looking statements are made. In addition, our past results of operations are not necessarily indicative of future performance.
Australian Business Growth Expert Evan Bulmer Inducted into Million Dollar Consultant Hall of Fame

ADELAIDE, Australia: Evan Bulmer, a business growth expert from Adelaide, recently was inducted into the Million Dollar Consultant Hall of Fame, as announced at a ceremony at the Intercontinental Hotel in Dallas conducted by Alan Weiss, Ph.D., the globally-acclaimed consultant's consultant. Bulmer is one of only six consultants recently selected to receive this honor.





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Inductees are recognized outstanding accomplishments and are regarded by their peers as world leaders in consulting."It is the hallmark of my career. Being inducted into the Hall of Fame is validation that the work I do is important and meaningful and I pursue it with gusto," said Bulmer, who consults with small businesses who want to boost their cash flow and grow the value of their business. "I've modeled so much of my business based on Alan Weiss' ideas. I do the work I love. I was born to do this."A lifelong learner, Bulmer realized he had gone as far as he could before discovering Mr. Weiss about 10 years ago at a seminar in Australia."I've put myself amongst people who are better than I. That's how you grow. There was nowhere to go in Australia. I was teaching my peers. When I went to Alan's seminar, I was totally blown away by his concepts," he said."I used to have 19 people working for me. Now I work by myself and make more money and have more satisfaction because I can take on bigger projects," he said. "By focusing on my clients, they've employed hundreds if not thousands of people in the last 10 years."Bulmer teaches his clients about measuring their activities."I'm a big believer in the numbers. The language of business is the language of the accountant. Financial statements are scorecards. But most business owners don't understand the numbers and don't know how to turn those numbers into actions that improve results. I give them that knowledge," he said."In many companies, I see people moving without direction. I come along and provide direction and put metrics around it to build a culture of success," he said. "The outcome is a dramatic improvement in profit, revenue and cash flow."About the Book, The Numbers that MatterBulmer also announced that his new book, The Numbers that Matters: Learning What to Measure to Achieve Financial Success in Your Business will be published in by Business Expert Press, December 2017.The book helps CEOs and business owner understand what information they need so they can make decisions to improve their businesses."Business is about activity - a whole lot of people doing things. You have to measure the activity that leads to creating value," he said.The book takes CEOS on a journey to understand such topics as:1.Are we adding value to our business?2.Can we afford to pay for it?3.Return on capital4.Cash flow5.Balance sheet6.Grow your revenue7.Key reports8.How to manage people9.How to select employees and put good structures around them to achieve desired outcomes10.How to communicate and manage banks
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Attack on Indian student in Milan not a racial attack, confirms Swaraj

New Delhi , October 31 : External Affairs Minister (EAM) Sushma Swaraj on Tuesday confirmed that the attack on Indian students in Milan was not a case of racial attack but robbery.





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Sushma took to Twitter saying, "I've spoken to concerned student. He told- this was a case of robbery and not a racial attack," (sic)Earlier in the day, Sushma urged students not to worry as she was personally monitoring the situation."Attack on Indian students in Milan: I have got the detailed report. Please do not worry. I am monitoring the situation personally," Sushma Swaraj said in a tweet.Sushma's remarks came a day after the Indian Consulate in Milan said that it has received reports of attacks and cautioned students to stay away from any area perceived to be of risk.Yesterday, Indian consulate in Milan said it had received reports of unfortunate incident of attacks on the Indian students in Italy's metropolis."All Indian students are urged not to panic. The consulate is taking up this matter with the highest level of law and order authorities in Milan," it said.The consulate has also asked students to approach the consulate and spread information among others to avoid recurrence of such incidents."Students are advised to be in touch with each other (particularly when they go out) as well as with the Consulate and spread the information among other students about the areas where they face such incidents so that such areas can be avoided," it further said.The incident has come at a time when Italy and India reaffirmed their commitment to strengthen bilateral ties during Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni's visit that concluded on Monday.
Allahabad to get India's first black buck conservation reserve

Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) , Oct 31 : Uttar Pradesh cabinet on Tuesday decided to make India's first conservation reserve for black buck in Allahabad's Meja.





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Among the five major decisions taken in the cabinet meeting, the black buck conservation reserve in Meja Forest Division of Allahabad is seen as the most important one.It is believed that the decision taken for protection of black deer will also help in wooing tourists here.In addition to this, the other decisions taken by the UP cabinet includes developing eco-tourism in nearly two dozen places in the state. Apart from this, the decision to open 13 commercial courts in the state was also taken.
DoNER Ministry sanctions Rs 200 cr for flood affected reconstruction works in Northeast

New Delhi : The Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) has sanctioned Rs 200 crore for flood affected reconstruction works in the four North Eastern States of Assam, Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram.





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This was disclosed here today by the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr .Pertinent to mention that during his visit to Northeast in August this year to review the flood situation in the four States, the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi had announced a flood relief package of Rs 2,000 crore.Dr Jitendra Singh said, this year had witnessed unprecedented floods and the rainfall was more than 100% higher than that in the preceding months during the same period of time. As a result, he said, the damage was colossal and the relief and rehabilitation operations also got disrupted.Dr Jitendra Singh said, a high-level committee has also been constituted to monitor the flood related operations and plan for future roadmap to avoid such situations.Referring to the keen interest and priority shown by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, Dr Jitendra Singh recalled that not only the Prime Minister began monitoring the flood situation right from day one, but he was also personally calling up the Chief Ministers of the concerned States for the latest feedback and also offered important tips and advice.Earlier today, Senior Sikkim leader and Member of Parliament, Shri P.D. Rai called on Dr Jitendra Singh and updated him about preparations for the upcoming "Start up Conference" to be held in Gangtok on the 24th of November. He also thanked Dr Jitendra Singh for the financial and other logistic support offered by the Ministry of DoNER for successful conduct of this conference.The first-ever airport at Sikkim coming up at Pakyong is ready to become functional soon, informed Dr Jitendra Singh.
Shri Dharmendra Pradhan to attend 7th Asia Ministerial Energy Roundtable in Bangkok, Thailand

New Delhi : The Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas and Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan will be on an official visit to Bangkok,Thailand from 01-02nd November 2017 to participate in the IEF 7thAsian Ministerial Energy Roundtable (AMER7).





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India is the current chair of International Energy Forum (IEF) which is promoting the AMER - a biennial event bringing together Energy Ministers and experts from Asian countries.At the 7th AMER, Minister will participate in the Ministerial Roundtable and speak on "Natural Gas: Overcoming Market and Policy Hurdles to the Golden Age of Gas" along with Energy Ministers from Ministers Qatar, Brunei and Senior Representatives from Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) of Japan and Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA). Energy Ministers from Saudi Arabia, Russia, UAE, Thailand, Iraq, Qatar, Kuwait, Bangladesh, Malaysia and Brunei are also participating in the AMER.In the recent years, India has played a leadership role in Oil and Gas sector. On 18th October 2017, Minister Pradhan participated in the 6th Annual LNG Producers Consumer Conference held in Tokyo, Japan and called for establishing a Liquid, Flexible and Global LNG Market between the countries providing a framework to cooperate in facilitating flexibility in LNG contracts, abolition of Destination Restriction Clause and also explore possibilities of cooperation in establishing reliable LNG spot price indices reflecting true LNG demand and supply. Shri Pradhan, during his meetings and interactions with OPEC Secretary General, has called for replacing the 'Asian Premium' with 'Asian Discount'. He has emphasized the implementation of 'Responsible and Reasonable Pricing' by producing countries.In this background, the IEF, whose membership accounts for 90% of global supply and demand for oil and gas, is an important forum to share India's views on global oil and gas scenario and the changes that are required to balance it better and benefit not only producers, but also consumers. The 7th AMER at Bangkok will be an important IEF event before India hosts the 16th IEF Ministerial meeting.India is the current Chair of IEF and will host the 16th Ministerial Conference of the IEF in India schedule during April 2018. During his participation in the 7th AMER, Minister Pradhan will invite his counterparts from Asian countries to participate in the prestigious 16th IEF Ministerial Conference in India.
India to sign agreement with Armenia on cooperation and mutual assistance in customs matters

New Delhi , Nov. 1 : The Ministry of Finance on Wednesday issued a notification saying that India will sign an agreement with Armenia on cooperation and mutual assistance in customs matters after it is approved by the respective governments.





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The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given its approval for signing and ratifying an agreement between India and Armenia.This agreement shall enter into force on the first day of the second month after both parties notify each other in through diplomatic channels, that the necessary national legal requirements for entry into force of this agreement have been fulfilled.The agreement will further help in the availability of relevant information for the prevention and investigation of customs offences.It is also expected to facilitate trade and ensure efficient clearance of goods traded between both the countries.
St+art Urban Art Festival Returns to Mumbai for its Second Edition

Mumbai : After the successful completion of the Mahatma Gandhi mural at Churchgate Station, St+art India Foundation is happy to announce the St+art Mumbai 2017 Urban Art Festival.





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Having previously organised 6 St+art festivals in Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad creating iconic landmarks within all these cities, the St+art festival returns to Mumbai after the previous edition in 2014. With support from Asian Paints and associations with Mumbai Port Trust (MBPT), Western Railway, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), Singapore Tourism Board, Bonjour India, Institut Francais and JSW Group amongst a host of other partnerships with cultural institutions and embassies, St+art Mumbai 2017 will bring to the city 40 Indian and international artists.Rooted around re-discovering the city through art and urban design interventions, St+art Mumbai 2017 will host five art projects between October 18 and December 30, 2017, which will reflect on the nature and DNA of the city of Mumbai by working in some of its most significant, yet historically and contextually different locations - Churchgate Station, Mahim (E), Sassoon Dock and Jindal Mansion.The festival will mobilise artists to create murals, an experiential exhibition, performances, workshops, curated tours, screenings, talks and many more interventions, which will bring various creative communities together. The aim is to connect these areas of modern Mumbai, which seem so distant from one another, yet are part of a shared history and explore how integral these spaces have been to the cultural history and development of the city.On the onset of St+art Mumbai 2017, Mr. Amit Syngle, Chief Operating Officer, COO, Asian Paints Ltd. said "Like every year, we yet again hope to add a bit of vibrance to the city and uplift the moods, spirits and lives of the Mumbaikars. We want to take art to the masses and make it accessible to a wider range of spectators. The idea is to open spaces to dialogues, conversations and culture creation through the lens of the city."Arjun Bahl, Co-Founder & Festival Director, St+art India Foundation said, "We are delighted to be back in Mumbai for the 7th edition of the St+art festival. The curated projects will enable people to discover a different side of the Maximum City, spaces which are usually taken for granted. A project of this scale isn't possible without a strong team and partners and I would like to thank Asian Paints, Mumbai Port Trust, Singapore Tourism Board, JSW, Bonjour India and our team for their continuous support to realize St+art India's dream."Art projects at St+art Mumbai 2017Churchgate StationOctober 18-October 28The Churchgate station, one of Mumbai's busiest stations, got an artistic makeover with a tribute mural to the father of the nation - Mahatma Gandhi by legendary Brazilian street artist, Eduardo Kobra.Mahim (E) Art DistrictNovember-DecemberThe creation of the Mahim (E) Art District - St+art India's second public open-air art district will witness the coming together of Indian and international artists and urban designers regenerating several of Mahim (E)'s common spaces and transforming it into a vibrant walk through art gallery.Sassoon Dock Art ProjectNovember 11-December 30Get reintroduced to Sassoon Dock through an experiential exhibition, which will see the creation of site-specific installations, murals, and audiovisual experiences which will delve deeper into the various layers of the space. The Singapore Weekender will be taking place at Sassoon Dock between 17-19 November.Inside Out ProjectNovember 11-December 10St+art urban art festival will bring to Mumbai iconic French artist JR's global participatory project Inside Out Project whose largeaformat street paste-up project celebrates identity and amplifies untold stories. The project will celebrate the vibrant and diverse fishermen communities of Sassoon Dock through photo blowups of portraits.Jindal MansionDecember 1-December 15The Jindal mansion on Pedder road is known to be a power center - a pristine building embedded in the heritage of Mumbai. A massive installation at Jindal Mansion by one of India's top designers - Manish Arora will give passerbys an opportunity to admire a work of art when they are traveling through one of the busiest roads in Mumbai.Akshat Nauriyal, Co-Founder - Content Director & Digital Head, St+art India Foundation, said, "Mumbai is a city of contrasts and several untold stories. Through the St+art Mumbai 2017 festival we hope to dig deeper into the fabric of the city and also reintroduce the people to some of its forgotten spaces. Hopefully by the end of the festival, there will be new art spots in Sassoon Dock and Mahim (E) for people across all sections of society to come visit and enjoy, in addition to the iconic Mahatma Gandhi mural at Churchgate Station."As part of the Sassoon Dock Art Project experiential exhibition, there will be special programming across all weekends through November and December, which will see workshops, talks, curated tours, screenings etc. With the intent of creative and cultural exchange between India and Singapore, St+art Mumbai 2017 will see the Singapore Weekender with several Singaporean artists in association with Singapore Tourism Board's new brand Passion Made Possible. Between November 17-19 Sassoon Dock will see artworks by The Yok & Sheryo, Tan Zi Xi, a Zine festival and screen printing workshop with Knuckles & Notch - a design + risograph press based in Singapore, an exhibition by photographer Darren Soh and film screenings by Objectifs Centre for Film and Photography, performances by Turntablist and Producer DJ KoFlow, while Chef Bjorn Shen will make a special menu for Anti Social, Khar.Mr. GB Srithar, Regional Director, South Asia Middle-east and Africa, Singapore Tourism Board said, "Singapore is popular as a family friendly destination. We are happy to partner with St+art India Foundation and Impresario Group, both players are known to break boundaries in their own fields. Through this collaboration, we seek to present Singapore in a different light to the young adults and working millennial segments who travel for various pursuits. In showcasing Singaporean artistes' work in line with our "Passion Made Possible" brand, we hope to entrench Singapore as an exciting lifestyle hot spot. Many travel interest triggers, like music, art and dining can be satiated in Singapore."Sanjay Bhatia, Chairman, Mumbai Port Trust said, "With its historic legacy, Mumbai Port is pleased to be a part of the art exhibition at Sassoon Dock, which is the oldest dock from where the port has evolved over the past 150 years. The port has been a standing testimony of Mumbai's evolution and this initiative of wall painting and its exhibition is a step further in this direction. We welcome the artists, both international and Indian in their journey to revamp the Sassoon Dock with their murals and take it to global limelight."Mrs. Sangita Jindal, Chairperson, JSW Foundation said, "We are delighted to support St+art's initiatives in Mumbai again. St+art has been executing strategic interventions across the nation for a while, and bringing an element of surprise and joy in the lives of people. At the JSW Group, we believe that art and culture has the power to transform cities and lives. We are excited by the interventions, which, have been planned at Sassoon Dock - one of the most significant spots in our island city. With this initiative, we look forward to getting a new generation of Mumbaikars to discover the docks, one of the hubs which have built the city."
Coworking Incubator, Huddle Launches in Gurugram as a Gamechanger for the Start-up Ecosystem

New Delhi : Huddle, a co-working incubator, comes to Cyber City Gurugram, to strengthen the start-up ecosystem, bringing together a network of entrepreneurs and industry leaders to provide intellectual, social and financial capital for each Huddler.





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Founded by a five-member team - Ishaan Khosla, Sanil Sachar, Rakesh Bhatia, Sanjiv Sachar and Suhail Chander, Huddle aims to take each start-up to the next level providing industry-specific guidance, through one-on-one mentorship fueling growth and expansion.Huddle has an impressive mentor panel, bringing together key stakeholders of the start-up community under one roof. The panel includes senior leaders such as Gautham Mukkavilli, Former India Beverages CEO, PEPSICO; Bhaskar Pramanik, Former Chairman, Microsoft India; Indrajit Banerjee, Former President & CFO, Ranbaxy Laboratories; Ravindra Pisharody, Executive Director, Tata Motors Ltd.; Manoj Kohli - Executive Chairman, Softbank Energy to name a few.Huddle is also hosting 'Huddle Up!' - a first of its kind collaborative event to bring today's industry stalwarts with tomorrow's leaders, on Saturday, 4th November, 2017 at Cyber City, Gurugram. The flow of events will ensure interaction among all stakeholders of the ecosystem. There will be brainstorming sessions, limited to up to 10 entrepreneurs paired with up to two Huddle mentors. Besides there will be networking opportunities with Private Equity, Venture Capital, and Business Support partners.On kick-starting this venture, Sanil Sachar, Partner, Huddle, says "Huddle is a collaborative effort to strengthen the startup ecosystem with the combined efforts of all relevant stakeholders coming together. At Huddle, it's not just about working together but bringing the right people together. At Huddle, we work towards providing every arm of support needed by a startup to propel their venture."Startups require more than just a space to grow. Keeping this in mind, Huddle provides industry-specific guidance and a unique four-point approach. These are:a) Tailor-made mentorship - The mentors focus on supporting start-ups through their vast network in the Financial Services, Healthcare, Technology, AI, AgriTech, Consumer Goods & Services and Manufacturing sectors. This mentorship is provided on a one-on-one basis for each mentor and Huddler relationship and is structured on a weekly basis.b) Investment opportunities - A selected few get to pitch their ventures to investors and 'reverse pitch' opportunities allow investors to introduce themselves to Huddlers.c) Business Support - Access to partnerships with external business function providers, including Legal (ILPS and Alpha Partners), Advisory (Grant Thornton), Hospitality (Lemon Tree Hotels), and many other business support functions.d) Networking - Get the opportunity to connect with mentors, influencers, industry partners, and investors.Being situated in India's premier corporate hub, Cyber City, Gurugram, Huddle resides amongst world-renowned corporations, bringing the start-ups in close proximity with their clientele. A high energy environment, Huddle provides each "Huddler" the flexibility to work according to their preference. They can pick from various work settings apart from their station. Built to cater comfort through modern industrial design, Huddle enables them to maximize work efficiency with ergonomic seating and large workstations.
John Sicard of Kinaxis Inc. named EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2017 Ontario

TORONTO: John Sicard, President and CEO of Kinaxis Inc., an organization that delivers cloud-based solutions for the world's largest manufacturing companies, is this year's EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2017 Ontario winner.





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"John is a values-driven leader with cunning eye for innovation," says Paula Smith, Entrepreneur Of The Year Ontario Program Co-Director. "For over two decades, John has helped transform Kinaxis from a small but mighty Ottawa-based supply chain software company into a global Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) leader."John joined Kinaxis in 1994 - a time when supply chains were becoming increasingly complex at the hand of globalization. John led Kinaxis through this period of change and then, just a few years later, revolutionized the company to take advantage of the transformative power of the internet. In 2004, Kinaxis became a subscription-based SaaS company."John's glass half-full approach to disruption continues to pay off," says Elena Doucette, Entrepreneur Of The Year Ontario Program Co-Director. "He's now turning his attention to another opportunity: the evolving workforce, prioritizing company culture, trust and transparency at each step of the way."Kinaxis is particularly unique in that executive meetings are open fora: requiring cross-functional participation from all business units. This model puts people ahead of business and guarantees the elevation of good ideas without regard to rank, position or hierarchy.Inspired by his son, John also implemented Kinaxis at Work - a commitment to staff at least 1% of their workforce with individuals on the autism spectrum - to bring awareness to strong teams and the link to diverse hiring."John is championing a new standard for innovation in the workplace and in the SaaS industry with cutting-edge, creative solutions," says Smith. "We are honoured to present John with this award and look forward to seeing more of his innovations come to life."What's next?As the Ontario region's EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2017, John will compete with top entrepreneurs from the Pacific, Prairies, Atlantic and Quebec regions for the national honour of Canada's EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2017, to be presented at a gala celebration on 30 November 2017 in Toronto. In June 2018, Canada's EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2017 will move to the world stage to compete with more than 60 country recipients for the title of EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year.
Rubber Flooring Market Manufactures key Statistics Analysis and 2022 Forecasts

PUNE, India: Global Rubber Flooring Market 2017 Research Report initially provides a basic overview of the industry that covers definition, applications and manufacturing technology, post which the report explores into the international players in the market according to ReportnReports.com.





(Posted on 02 November 2017, 1668582169 173O212O198O32) https://www.newkerala.com/business-world-news.php  (Posted on 02 November 2017, 1668582169 173O212O198O32)

In this report, the global Rubber Flooring market is valued at USD XX million in 2016 and is expected to reach USD XX million by the end of 2022, growing at a CAGR of XX% between 2016 and 2022.Browse 188 tables and figures, 10 company profiles spread across 105 pages at http://www.reportsnreports.com/reports/1071850-global-rubber-flooring-market-research-report-2017.html.Global Rubber Flooring Market Report 2017 is a professional and in-depth survey on the current state of the Rubber Flooring industry. The report provides a basic overview of the industry, including definitions, classifications, applications and industry chain structure. The Rubber Flooring market analysis is provided for the international market including development history, competitive landscape analysis, and major regions' development status.Market Segment by Regions, this report splits Global into several key Region, with production, consumption, revenue, market share and growth rate of Rubber Flooring in these regions, from 2012 to 2022 (forecast), like North America, China, Europe, Japan, India, Southeast Asia split by product type, with production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type Split by application, this report focuses on consumption, market share and growth rate of Rubber Flooring in each application.This report studies Rubber Flooring in global market, focuses on top manufacturers in global market, with sales, price, revenue and market share for each manufacturer Nora, MONDO, Artigo, SOFTER, ARTO, LGHausys, Haite, GOGWA, Polyflor and Changda. Order a copy at http://www.reportsnreports.com/purchase.aspx?name=1071850.Some key points from list of tables and figures:Figure Global Rubber Flooring Capacity (K MT) of Key Manufacturers in 2016Figure Global Rubber Flooring Capacity (K MT) of Key Manufacturers in 2017Figure Global Rubber Flooring Major Players Product Production (K MT) (2012-2017)Table Global Rubber Flooring Production (K MT) of Key Manufacturers (2012-2017)Table Global Rubber Flooring Production Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)Figure 2016 Rubber Flooring Production Share by ManufacturersFigure 2017 Rubber Flooring Production Share by ManufacturersFigure Global Rubber Flooring Major Players Product Revenue (Million USD) (2012-2017)Table Global Rubber Flooring Revenue (Million USD) by Manufacturers (2012-2017)Table Global Rubber Flooring Revenue Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)Table 2016 Global Rubber Flooring Revenue Share by ManufacturersTable 2017 Global Rubber Flooring Revenue Share by Manufacturers Explore more reports on theSimilar research titled "United States Rubber Flooring Market Report 2017" is spreads across 96 pages and profiles 10 companies that provides a basic overview of the industry including definitions, classifications, applications and industry chain structure. This report studies Rubber Flooring in United States market, focuses on price, sales, revenue of each type in United States. This report also focuses on the sales (consumption), production, import and export of Rubber Flooring in United States, forecast to 2022, from 2017. Firstly, this report focuses on price, sales, revenue and growth rate of each type, as well as the types and each type price of key manufacturers, through interviewing key manufacturers. Second on basis of segments by manufacturers, this report focuses on the sales, price of each type, average price of Rubber Flooring, revenue and market share, for key manufacturers.The Rubber Flooring industry development trends and marketing channels are also analyzed and the feasibility of new investment projects is assessed and overall research conclusions offered. With the tables and figures the report provides key statistics on the state of the industry and is a valuable source of guidance and direction for companies and individuals. Manufacturers profiled in this report are Nora, MONDO, Artigo, SOFTER, ARTO, LGHausys, Haite, GOGWA, Polyflor and Changda.
Median Technologies, The Imaging Phenomics Company announces today that it is expanding its Patient Care business with the release of MediScan, a comprehensive portfolio of advanced clinical applications for the automated detection, quantification and monitoring of cancerous or suspicious lesions diagnosed in CT scans.

Median Technologies intends to leverage Mediscan for strengthening the commercial development and market penetration of its application portfolio in Asia and more specifically in China. Median also plans to focus on the commercial development of Mediscan in Europe by leveraging its legacy hospital-based radiology customers, who were early adopters of its predecessor, LMS (Lesion Management Solution) product.

The recent opening of Median's operations in Hong Kong, Tokyo and Shanghai, as well as the skyrocketing development of Median's Boston-based subsidiary, will strengthen, re-engage and scale the KOL networks of the company for the Patient Care business lines, worldwide. Median intends to continue closely collaborate with FURUI, its Chinese investor and partner to help develop KOL networks and to develop medical partnerships with major hospital and cancer centers aiming at positioning MediScan as the reference medical device for major programs dedicated to cancer screening, detection, diagnosis and monitoring in China.

Future releases of MediScan include the integration of new technology based on the latest advances in artificial intelligence, cloud computing and Big Data analytics.

"MediScan is a critical part of Median's commitment to improving care for patients worldwide. We believe that MediScan fills a huge unmet need in helping governments and healthcare systems to efficiently and accurately screen, detect, help diagnose, and monitor patients at risk for and those living with cancer. It underscores Median's core value of helping patients in need," said Jeanne Hecht, COO of Median Technologies.

MediScan is a registered trademark of Median Technologies.
Some of the smallest and historically neglected racial groups in the United States experience far more obesity, diabetes, and other health conditions than non-Hispanic white adults, a study by researchers at the University of California, Riverside has found.

Using data for nearly 185,000 adults from the California Health Interview Survey (CHIS), the study reports that multiracial, Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander (NHOPI), and American Indian and Alaskan Native (AIAN) adults in California endure large obesity and diabetes-related health disparities that exceed those experienced by non-Hispanic white adults, and in many cases, other racial minorities such as African Americans and Hispanics.

The study, published in the journal Obesity, is among the first large-scale, population-based investigations to explore the presence of major health disparities affecting multiracial, NHOPI and AIAN adults. Drawing from years of statewide California data, it is also one of the most accurate estimates to date of obesity-related health disparities affecting these understudied groups.

Most health data only code participants into standard non-Hispanic white, Hispanic, African American and Asian American racial categories, while excluding multiracial, NHOPI and AIAN individuals from analysis. For example, almost all health data about Pacific Islanders are grouped with Asian Americans, who tend to be healthier.

"This poses a problem because Pacific Islanders are at very high risk for poor health, yet receive few targeted services or research attention," said Andrew M. Subica, Ph.D., an assistant professor of social medicine, population, and public health in the School of Medicine. "In general, the small population sizes of multiracial, NHOPI and AIAN populations make it hard to examine these groups individually. As a result, comparatively little is known about the health disparities of these neglected minority populations - a gap that could hide potential problems and impede the delivery of effective care."

Using the CHIS data (2005 to 2011), Subica and his colleagues examined the prevalence of obesity, diabetes, physical disability, and poor/fair health in adults from each of the major U.S. racial minority groups (African American, Asian American, Latino, multiracial, NHOPI, and AIAN), and then compared these estimates to those of non-Hispanic whites, the dominant racial group in the U.S.

They found a rising trend in obesity and diabetes over time across all groups, with NHOPIs, AIANs, and African Americans reporting the highest obesity and diabetes rates. For multiracial, NHOPI, and AIAN adults, the odds of being obese were 1.2 to 1.9 times greater than for non-Hispanic white adults, and the odds of having diabetes were 1.6 to 2.4 times greater.

"What makes NHOPIs and AIANs important to study is that they are frequently overlooked and marginalized within the U.S. despite many of their native homelands or tribal nations suffering significant historical trauma and loss at the hands of the U.S. government," Subica said. "For multiracial individuals, they compose the second fastest growing U.S. racial group, yet we know very little about their health. Our findings are surprising in showing that multiracial adults in California are quite health-poor, displaying a pattern of health disparities that is most similar to AIANs, who have the worst health outcomes in our study."

To explain these disparities, Subica and his colleagues examined possible differences in social factors. They found that adults from every racial minority group studied had lower levels of education, health insurance coverage, and greater poverty than non-Hispanic white adults, but that these factors only partially contributed to health disparities. Subica speculated that exposure to racism and its negative health impact may play a greater role in driving obesity-related racial disparities than previously anticipated by suppressing minorities' social and economic opportunities, capital, and health care access. More research is needed, he said, to examine the influence of racism and other race-related social factors on health disparities.

"Doctors, hospitals, public health officials, and health researchers should consider not only what our findings reveal about historically neglected racial groups and their health," Subica said, "but also the need to learn more about their health issues and strengths in order to provide better care."
A new University at Buffalo study has shown that HIV testing among transgender adults was higher in those who identified as female, were African-American or Hispanic, or had a history of incarceration.

The preliminary research, which sought to identify HIV testing patterns in urban, transgender individuals in Western New York, also found that among participants, those with history as a sex worker, who only engaged in sex with males or had access to stable housing were also more likely to seek HIV testing.

The study was recently published in Volume 2 of Transgender Health, the first peer-reviewed journal dedicated to the health care of transgender individuals.

The findings will help health care professionals understand which segments of the transgender population are not receiving HIV testing and tailor interventions to reach them.

"Knowing specific attributes and characteristics linked to testing will assist in better targeting of this often hidden population," says Adrian Juarez, PhD, co-investigator and assistant professor in the UB School of Nursing.

The investigation was also led by Yu-Ping Chang, PhD, Patricia H. and Richard E. Garman Endowed Professor and associate dean for research and scholarship in the UB School of Nursing.

The transgender community experiences numerous barriers to access to medical care, ranging from social discrimination to limited clinical knowledge by care providers of transgender health needs. They also have an increased likelihood of substance abuse, prostitution and other risk behaviors.

Current HIV treatment strategies use seek, test, treat and retain (STTR) models to ensure HIV-negative populations remain negative and positive populations achieve an undetectable viral load to lower the risk of transmission.

While STTR has been successful in several populations, little evidence suggests the intervention is feasible in transgender communities due to the various barriers they face.

To better understand which segments of the transgender community are not receiving testing, the researchers examined survey data from the New York State AIDS Institute Reporting System. The de-identified data, collected from 2007-13, included HIV testing history, perceived HIV risks and related medical care.

They also interviewed 27 self-identified transgender men and women above the age of 18 who consented to receiving an HIV test at a Western New York community health care organization.

Of the participants, 23 were transgender females, 40 percent were Caucasian and nearly 30 percent African-American, and more than half were current sex workers or had been incarcerated. Nearly all of the respondents reported a history of substance abuse and most were uninsured.

"Substance use disorder (SUD) is a highly prevalent issue in transgender individuals," says Chang. "Research evidence indicated that SUD is significantly associated with HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases. Therefore, SUD should be properly screened and managed."

Participants reported receiving an average of three HIV tests and one STD test before joining the study. The majority of them did not receive an STD test within a year of the study.

The results found that transgender women received, on average, more than three times as many HIV tests as transgender men.

African-American and Hispanic participants also received, on average, more than twice as many HIV tests as Caucasian transgender men and women. The highest average was reported among African-Americans.

Those who had access to stable housing had an average test rate that was more than twice that of participants who were homeless or lived at a residential drug treatment facility.

Averages were slightly higher among individuals who only had male sex partners, were previously incarcerated or performed sex work.

"Testing rates are likely higher in these populations because of testing availability in an incarcerated setting with an inmate clinic," says Juarez.

"Current evidence also shows that self-perceived HIV risk is a huge motivator for some to seek out an HIV test, which in turn may be the factor as to why trans individuals with only male sex partners and sex workers tested more frequently."

The researchers also found that participants who were enrolled in support groups were more likely to receive a higher number of tests.

They believe an intervention that brings the HIV test to the individual by increasing opportunities at support groups and various forms of housing could increase testing among marginalized populations.
Scientists at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, in St. Louis, MO and their collaborators at the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) in Hyderabad, India, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Louisiana State University have made a significant research breakthrough by suppressing the aflatoxin-producing fungus in groundnut. The discovery has the potential to drastically improve food safety and reduce losses caused by the contamination from the poisonous carcinogen, aflatoxin. The discovery was recently published in the Plant Biotechnology Journal.

Aflatoxins pose a major risk to human and animal health worldwide and result in an enormous amount of food waste. The molds, Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus, which infect groundnut, maize, cottonseed and chilly, produce these toxins which suppress the immune system, hinder growth in children and even cause liver cancer. The fungus which produces these toxins can stay dormant in soil for years. It infects maize and groundnut during drought and heat stress. Contamination also happens when grain is stored in hot, humid and poorly-ventilated conditions. Since aflatoxins are potent carcinogens, the United States does not allow the sale and export of food with aflatoxin levels exceeding 20 parts per billion (ppb). European Union standards are more stringent; the bar is 2 ppb.

"Plant defensins exhibit potent antifungal activity against several economically important fungal pathogens and it is exciting to see successful application of this technology for reducing the pre-harvest infection by Aspergillus and alleviating the burden of mycotxins in genetically modified groundnut. If deployed commercially, this technology has significant potential to contribute to food safety in the under-developed and developing countries where mycotoxin contamination of groundnut, maize, chili and cottonseed pose a major threat to human and animal health," said Dilip Shah, Ph.D., principal investigator at the Danforth Plant Science Center.

World peanut production totals about 29 million metric tons per year. The U.S. is the world's third largest producer, after China and India. Peanuts are the 12th most valuable cash crop grown in the U.S. with a farm value of over one billion U.S. dollars. American consumers eat more than 6 pounds or 2.7 kilograms (kernel basis) of peanut products each year, worth more than $2 billion at the retail level. Worldwide peanut exports are about 1.25 million metric tons annually.

Two complementary approaches are being deployed to address the issue. Shah and his team transferred small proteins called defensins from alfalfa and the Mediterranean clover to the DNA of an Aspergillus-susceptible peanut variety widely grown in Africa and India which allowed the groundnut to stop the fungus from infecting the plant. ICRISAT scientists worked with collaborators at the USDA and Louisiana State University to transfer small RNA molecules from the Aspergillus fungus that are involved in the aflatoxin synthetic pathway. The nuts produced these RNA molecules during fungal attacks and inactivated target genes responsible for aflatoxin synthesis. The technology is also translatable to maize and de-oiled cakes used for animal feed, pistachios and almonds.
Many menopausal women complain about poor sleep. Should the problem be blamed simply on menopause or on a more serious underlying sleep disorder such as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)? What, if any, is the connection between hot flashes, which can also lead to cardiovascular risk, and OSA? New study results being published online today in Menopause, the journal of The North American Menopause Society (NAMS), examine that relationship.

Up to 80% of midlife women experience hot flashes or night sweats. Although there is a known association between hot flashes and sleep disturbances in midlife women, it has proven difficult to distinguish those sleep disturbances directly related to menopause from those because of OSA and other sleep disorders. Obstructive sleep apnea, which is more common in men than women, occurs more frequently as women age, gain weight, and reach perimenopause and postmenopause status. A sampling of perimenopausal and postmenopausal women who experienced disturbed sleep showed that 53% had a sleep disorder such as OSA, restless leg syndrome, or both.

The diagnosis of OSA in women can be more challenging because their symptoms are different from the more obvious ones that men experience, such as loud snoring. Symptoms for women more often include insomnia, headaches, fatigue, depression, and anxiety. Despite the challenges, the identification of OSA is important because it is associated with a significantly increased risk of heart disease, hypertension, stroke, depression, and death.

As reported in "Association of vasomotor symptoms and sleep apnea risk in midlife women," 1,691 women from the Mayo Clinic completed questionnaires. Of these women, 24.9% were classified in the intermediate and high-risk categories for OSA. These women were likely to be older and have a higher body mass index and a greater incidence of hypertension, among other findings. More pertinent to the results of this study was the fact that women reporting severe hot flashes in midlife were at a higher risk for OSA--1.87 times higher than in women with mild or no hot flashes.

"Sleep disruption is a common complaint at menopause. It is important to recognize the high number of undiagnosed sleep disorders, including OSA," says Dr. JoAnn Pinkerton, NAMS executive director. "Early morning headaches or excessive daytime sleepiness should raise concern for OSA and signal a possible need for sleep apnea testing."
Tiny microscopes mounted on mice's heads have given researchers a peek into the neural circuitry of social behavior.

Instincts such as mating or fighting are innate behaviors generally thought to be hardwired into an animal's brain. But now, two studies that map brain activity in living mice reveal that social experiences can influence brain responses to other mice. The results, recently reported in the journals Nature and Cell, show how and where in the brain some instincts are shaped by learning, says Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) Investigator David Anderson of California Institute of Technology.

"We're starting to get a sense of what happens between the part of the brain that takes in sensory information and the part that produces behavior," Anderson says.

Neuroscientists want to understand how the brain converts sights, sounds, and smells into pictures of the outside world. For animals, smell also provides clues about the age and sex of others nearby; this information can trigger instinctive behaviors. Male and female mice sharing a cage will mate, for example, while two males will often fight for territory.

Anderson and HHMI Investigator Catherine Dulac of Harvard University have previously identified brain regions controlling social behaviors in mice. Anderson has used genetic and optogenetic approaches to identify brain regions responsible for the control of aggressive and mating behaviors. And Dulac has used similar approaches to study the neural pathways involved in smell-related social behaviors in male and female mice.

Now, the researchers have visualized brain activity in awake mice as they interacted normally with mice and other stimuli. Working independently, Dulac and Anderson mapped patterns of brain activity in different brain regions while mice sniffed, ignored, fought, or mated with other mice. Dulac also tracked brain activity triggered by predator and infant odors.

Lasting brain changes

Dulac and her colleagues tracked brain activity in the medial amygdala, an almond-shaped structure that transmits smell signals to the hypothalamus. First, the researchers used a genetic trick to introduce a protein that lights up in active brain cells. Then, the team mounted lightweight microscopes on the heads of individual mice and looked at which brain cells were active when each camera-wearing mouse met another mouse. A thin glass rod implanted in the amygdala collected light from active brain cells and served as the microscope's lens. The researchers recorded neural activity while videotaping the mice's behavior in different social situations.

Dulac's team saw that different clusters of neurons lit up when mice met a member of the opposite sex. In males and females, these sex-specific neural patterns were quite different, Dulac says. And, surprisingly, the act of mating actually transformed the brain's activity patterns. After housing virgin mice in a cage with a mouse of the opposite sex for 15 days, the mice had long-lasting changes in the brain, Dulac and colleagues discovered.

The key to this discovery was an ambitious experiment that had researchers tracking mouse behavior and neural activity (via the head-mounted mini-microscopes) regularly for more than three months straight - a technical feat that scientists had not attempted before.

Sexual experience strengthens the brain's responses to the opposite sex's odors, and improves an animal's ability to tell males and females apart, the researchers found. That's a sign that experience - learning - can help shape an animal's instincts, Dulac says.

"It was surprising to see patterns of brain activity thought to be instinctively activated by odor actually change with experience - and stay changed for over a month," Dulac says.

In male mice, the hormone oxytocin - known for its role in maternal and social bonding - is likely involved in regulating these long-term changes to the brain, Dulac's team found. In female mice, pregnancy also changed brain activity patterns. During and after pregnancy, a whiff of predator odor (soiled rat bedding) didn't trigger as big of a neural response as it did in mice before pregnancy. That finding stood out, Dulac says, because pregnant females and new mothers have been shown to have reduced responses to stressors. Her team, which collaborated with HHMI Investigator Mark Schnitzer at Stanford University and Venkatesh Murthy at Harvard, reported their results October 26, 2017, in Cell.

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Probing the hypothalamus

At Caltech, Anderson and his colleagues also wanted to visualize the neural circuitry involved with social behavior in male mice. The researchers, including Stanford's Schnitzer, used the same microscopic technique as Dulac's team but implanted the lens in the ventromedial hypothalamus, an evolutionarily ancient structure involved in social behavior. Anderson's team imaged the activity of a specific population of neurons that produce the estrogen receptor, which is well known for its influence on social behaviors.

Anderson's team placed the microscopes on virgin, socially isolated male mice and let them interact in an alternating manner with five different females and five different males, each for two minutes, for several consecutive days. The researchers imaged the same neurons across multiple trials and multiple days, and correlated changes in neural activity with changes in social behaviors, such as sniffing, mounting, and attacking.

During the males' initial encounters with male or female visitors, researchers observed little mating or fighting, and the same neurons lit up in response to both sexes. But with continued social experience, the males gradually began to mate with female visitors, and then to attack male visitors. At the same time, more neurons began to respond specifically to one or the other sex, and fewer to both.

"We watched these activity patterns change in real time as a mouse's brain learned to tell the difference between males and females," Anderson says.

In a different set of experiments, Anderson's team showed that just a brief experience with a female mouse could make a big difference in a virgin male's brain, as well as in his aggressive behavior. As little as 30 minutes of sexual experience was enough to promote female- and male-specific neural activation patterns when tested 24 hours later. The short tryst also caused males to exhibit aggression the next day, whereas males without this experience were non-aggressive. Thirty minutes of experience with a male had no such effect.

The results suggest that although mating and fighting are innate behaviors, mice's brains have to learn to tell the difference between males and females before they can properly exhibit both of these behaviors, Anderson says. "There's a learned component to these instinctive behaviors."

His team's findings also reveal that neural activity in the hypothalamus is dynamic, and can be shaped by experience, Anderson adds. Those properties indicate that this evolutionarily ancient region of the brain may be more similar to newer brain regions than previously thought, he says. He and colleagues reported their work October 18, 2017, in Nature.

Although Dulac's and Anderson's teams examined different brain regions, both researchers observed a similar relationship between sex-specific neural activity and social behavior.

But it's not yet possible to say whether the activation patterns observed by the two groups in different brain regions are influencing each other, Anderson says. The connections between the hypothalamus and the amygdala are complicated, and experiments to follow information flow between the two are on the edge of what's technically possible, he adds.

But altogether, the current work has given researchers a detailed look into the neural circuitry underlying mouse social behavior, Dulac says. "It's wonderful to have a flurry of information about what the brain of an animal says as it meets another animal and how that changes with different social experiences. For me, this is a bit of a dream come true," she says.

Source: http://www.hhmi.org/news/mini-microscopes-reveal-brain-circuitry-behind-social-behavior
Upwardly mobile blacks and Hispanics are more likely to experience racial discrimination than their socioeconomically stable peers, new research has found.

And that might help explain racial disparities in health among middle- and upper-class Americans, said the study's lead author, Cynthia Colen of The Ohio State University.

In addition to the link between greater discrimination and increases in income, Colen and her co-authors found a significant connection between discrimination and poor health for those who were young, black and upwardly mobile.

The study highlights the importance of tackling health inequities with an eye on discrimination and racism and not just poverty, she said.

"People assume that as your socioeconomic status improves, your health will improve as well. Unfortunately, that doesn't appear to be the case for Americans who aren't white," said Colen, an associate professor of sociology at Ohio State.

"Our study suggests that upward mobility might expose African Americans to more discrimination and that could have a harmful effect on their health."

The study will appear in a special issue of Social Science & Medicine that focuses on race.

Colen and her colleagues found that whites who made more money over time reported experiencing less unfair treatment.

The study looked at both acute and chronic discrimination and found higher acute discrimination scores for black study subjects on an upward socioeconomic trajectory and higher chronic discrimination scores for Hispanics whose incomes increased over time.

And when the researchers looked to see if discrimination could help to explain racial differences and disparities in self-rated health scores among upwardly mobility young adults, they found that discrimination appeared to be closely connected to poor health for black study participants.

The study evaluated responses from participants in the young adult sample of the 1979 National Longitudinal Survey of Youth. It included those who were 18 or older in 2012 and who responded to questions about their self-perceived health status and about discrimination - acute, chronic or both. The study combined 33 years of data from survey participants, which allowed the researchers to analyze how socioeconomic status changed over time. The NLSY is conducted by Ohio State's Center for Human Resource Research.

Acute discrimination includes experiences such as being fired from a job without good cause, or being passed over for a deserved promotion. Chronic discrimination is more about day-in, day-out slights such as being treated with less respect than other people, or as if others are afraid of you, Colen said.

The study included 4,412 respondents who answered questions about acute discrimination and 5,248 who answered questions about chronic discrimination. (There was significant overlap between the groups.) Forty-five percent of the participants were white, 35 percent were black and 21 percent were Hispanic.

When researchers compared participants' answers about health and discrimination to their social status, they found that those who were nonwhite and upwardly mobile were reporting more unfair treatment. About 40 percent of the entire group was classified as having a "moderate upward" income trajectory, accounting for the largest chunk of survey participants.

The researchers wrote that the evidence of racial differences in exposure to unfair treatment was "striking."

Colen said a possible explanation is that nonwhites who are climbing the socioeconomic ladder find themselves in more situations where they're in the minority - whether that's at school, work or in their neighborhood.

Previous research has shown that racial disparities in health are more pronounced at the upper end of the socioeconomic spectrum. For example, college-educated black women are much more likely than less-educated white women to deliver babies who don't survive the first year of life. Similarly, wealthier black women have higher rates of high blood pressure and obesity than their less-wealthy white counterparts.

"Socioeconomic status is so often thought to be the fundamental cause of health disparities, but this research shows us that we should consider other factors, including racism," Colen said.

"Efforts to alleviate poverty alone will not be enough to eradicate or lessen racial disparities in health. We need to seriously address the unfair treatment minorities experience - not only acute instances of discrimination, but those slights that occur on a daily basis."

Source: https://news.osu.edu/news/2017/10/31/research-upward-mobility/
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China leaps ahead of USA on quantum computing research; could spell end to encryption, demolishing crypto currencies and national security

Quantum communications is considered by many to be the future of computing technology, as it represents a means by which to create un-hackable super-computer networks that perform better and more securely than anything currently in use. But the greatest advancements in this next-level technology are reportedly taking place in China, not in the United States, which could mean the end of encryption as we currently know it  and the end of cryptocurrency security as well.

In just the past several months, China has unveiled a quantum satellite that it says is capable of transmitting data using ultra-secure methods never before utilized for such a task. The satellite establishes a 1,243-mile quantum link between Shanghai and Beijing, a groundbreaking feat that can only be compared to other major milestones like the space race that resulted in the Soviet Union launching the Sputnik satellite back on October 4, 1957.

Further, China has also announced that it is opening up a $10 billion quantum computing center in Hefei, located in the Anhui Province. When it opens in 2020, this computing center will focus on not only quantum meteorology but also on building a quantum computer, which would have upwards of a million times more computing power than all of the other computers currently in the world combined.

If we call this field of research the technology race, then China is right now leading the pack. And that has scientists throughout the West, and in the U.S. specifically, both awed and concerned. What China could do with such technology has the potential to forever change the world, and not necessarily for the better.

To me, what is alarming is the level of coordination of what theyve done, Christopher Monroe, a physicist and pioneer in quantum communications from the University of Maryland, is quoted as saying by McClatchyDC.com.

Quantum computer could become the ultimate cyber weapon

It is not only these accomplishments that are concerning to many, but also the sheer volume of resources that China is pouring into such research. Learning everything it can about how atoms, photons, and other basic molecular matter can be used to harness, process, and transmit information seems to be where China is spending a bulk of its money these days, setting it far ahead of anything the U.S. is currently doing in this regard.

It doesnt necessarily mean that their scientists are better, says Martin Laforest, a physicist and senior manager at the Institute for Quantum Computing at the University of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada. Its just that when they say, We need a billion dollars to do this, bam, the money comes.

While building a quantum computer is an idea that many in the field have long believed to be little more than a conceptual pipe dream, it now appears that one could emerge in as little as one or two decades, or even less. And where the U.S. stands in the development of similar technology is currently unknown, likely due to any research that might be taking place being under wraps.

We dont know exactly where the United States is, admits R. Paul Stimers, a lawyer from the Washington law firm K&L Gates who specializes in emerging technologies. I fervently hope that a lot of this work is taking place in a classified setting. It is a race.

As to how quantum computing might affect current encryption technologies, including those used to power cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, experts warn that these could eventually become obsolete. At the same time, this type of quantum computing technology has the potential to allow for the breaking of obsolete forms of encryption within seconds.

To quote Australian-born mathematician and chief executive of Symantec Corporation, a global cybersecurity company headquartered in Mountain View, California, such a prospect really would mean that the whole world changes.

Sources include:

McClatchyDC.com

NextBigFuture.com

NaturalNews.com

Submit a correction >>
Russia set to test ballistic missile that could obliterate an area the size of France

While North Korea has become the primary focus of all things relating to nuclear warfare, Russia has been preparing to test-launch its newest and biggest ever nuclear missile. The so-called Satan 2 is a 100-ton intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) that has been under construction since 2009 and is ready to be tested by the end of the year at the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in Mirny, Arkhangelsk Oblast. If the initial trials prove successful, then the massive warhead could be in use by as early as 2019.

Also known as the RS-28 Sarmat, the Satan 2 will be replacing the R-36 Voevoda, which the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) called Satan in the 1970s. The Satan 2 is said to have a top speed of seven kilometers (km) or 4.3 miles per second, a range of 10,000 km or 6,213 miles, and is twice as light as the original Satan. The missile is said to have been designed to evade anti-missile shield systems and radar defenses.

Moreover, it can deliver over a dozen nuclear warheads of 40 megatons  which is 2,000 times as powerful as Little Boy and Fat Man, the atom bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, respectively. The payload carried by the Satan 2 can wipe out France, the United Kingdom, or Texas, according to Russian television channel Zvezda.

The first tests for the Satan 2 were planned as far back as last year, but delays pushed it back to March then April. Speaking to the Kommersant, a source claimed that The main aim is to check the rockets systems at the moment of leaving the silo, the switching on of the Sarmats first stage, and the following five seconds [of flight].

As reported by DailyMail.co.uk, the Satan 2 was developed as a part of Russias efforts to bolster its military strength. The missile will supposedly be used by Strategic Missile Troops in the regions of Orenburg and Krasnoyarsk, though there is the possibility that it could serve as a carrier for the hypersonic nuclear warhead Object 4202. Sergei Shoygu, Russian Minister of Defense, is said to be monitoring developments on the Satan 2.

Currently, there is no word on where the Satan 2 is being kept,though it could easily reach the U.K. if launched from Russias east coast, claimed TheSun.co.uk.

The announcement of the Satan 2s creation has invoked a wide range of reactions. Some, like former United States Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Economic Policy Paul Craig Roberts, have warned of its terrifying potential.

Roberts said: The atomic bombs that Washington dropped on these helpless civilian centers while the Japanese government was trying to surrender, were mere popguns compared to todays thermonuclear weapons. One Russian SS-18 wipes out three-fourths of New York state for thousands of years.

Five or six of these Satans as they are known by the U.S. military, and the East Coast of the United States disappears. (Related: Thermonuclear missile launch near Los Angeles is final sign of World War III on the precipice US, China and Russia all escalating covert attacks in run up to global war)

Still, others like author Arkady Ostrovsky, have gone on to claim that the displays of military strength are born from Russian leader Vladimir Putins desperation and weakness.

(Russia) is once again using the threat of nuclear arms to blackmail the West, stated Ostrovsky. Mr. Putin sees Russias wars as a form of self-defense, driven by the need to deter the West. Russias military-industrial complex is unable to produce anything close to Soviet volumes of hardware. But the countrys relative economic and military weakness compared with NATO does not make the country any safer; on the contrary, it poses a big risk. The only way Russia can compensate for the gaps in its conventional forces is to invoke the threat of a nuclear strike.

Although it remains to be seen what the Satan 2 will be used for once it has been proven to be operation, we believe that its still best to stay on your toes when it comes to Russia.

Visit Nuclear.news to stay updated on the Satan 2 and all other news on nuclear weaponry.

Sources include:

DailyMail.co.uk

TheSun.co.uk

Submit a correction >>
The US has 3 aircraft groups in Indian Ocean area of the Asia Pacific.

Approximately 300 Airmen and 12 F-35A Lightning IIs from Hill Air Force Base, Utahs 34th Fighter Squadron are set to deploy to Kadena Air Base, Japan for a six month rotation. The aircraft and supporting personnel are scheduled to arrive at Kadena AB in early November 2017.

This marks U.S. Pacific Commands first operational tasking for the F-35A and builds upon the U.S. Air Force fifth-generation stealth fighters successful debut in the Indo-Asia-Pacific at the Seoul International Aerospace and Defense Exhibition earlier this month.
Recent analysis of US Air Force budgets show ULA (United Launch Alliance) as charging the US air force $422 million per launch in 2020 versus about $96 million that Spacex is charging the air force.

With reusable rockets Spacex will be able to charge even less. In Elon Musks video announcement of the Spacex BFR he indicated that it would be lower cost to launch than the Spacex Falcon 1. This would mean at $7 million the Spacex BFR launch 150 tons would have less than a $50 per pound launch cost.

Space launch insurance companies are no longer charging a premium for launches using reused Spacex rocket stages.

The Spacex BFR still has to be built and is 2-6 years away from begin developed and having commercial flights.

The Falcon Heavy should be launched within 30-60 days. This will lower the price per pound compared to the Falcon 9.

There have been several op-ed articles that assert, Musk seeks a monopoly on the US national security launch market. In addition to saying this allows Musk to fleece taxpayers, some of the more overdone authors assert that it could kill Americans.

Crony Capitalism for Aerojet

US Rep. Mike Rogers, a Republican from Alabama, inserted Section 1615 to the Defense Authorization Act. Rogers language concerns the procurement of new US-made rockets. The US military is required to have assured access to space, and this means two separate launch systems to get its spy and communications satellites into orbit. It currently has threethe Delta and Atlas families of rockets built by United Launch Alliance (ULA) and the Falcon 9 rocket by SpaceX. However, ULA wants to stop building the Delta rockets because they are expensive, and the Atlas fleet uses Russian-made RD-180 rocket engines, which Congress wants to phase out.

Two sources familiar with the legislation told Ars that Rogers added Section 1615 specifically to benefit Aerojet and its AR1 rocket engine.

The purpose of the provision is simple, one Washington DC source said. Instead of the Department of Defense continuing their open-ended, market-friendly risk reduction investment across several providers to enable Russian-engine-free launch capabilities, Rogers wants DOD to fund Aerojet to build AR1 to be inserted into Atlas V. In other words, the language benefits Aerojet by favoring its drop in engine solution over building a completely new Vulcan rocket.

Aerojet wants to keep about $400-600 million of Air Force money for the development of the AR1 rocket.

Other applications and justifications for different launch systems

Despite the large and increasingly dominant price advantage for Spacex, there will be a second place US rocket launch company. The US military is requiring a second option.

There is are several small rocket companies like Rocket Labs that will be making inexpensive rockets using 3D printing technique. Reusable rockets will become similar to the airplane market. There will be quite a few competitors in the small size market.

Spaceplanes like the Reaction Engines vehicles will be funded and will be used for military applications.

There will be other space vehicle niches that will justify and create the business case for other kinds of vehicles and technologies.

There will be no future for expensive single use rockets.
Working with partners for research excellence

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A visually stunning exploration of indigenous practices seldom seen outside Mexico, celebrating the continuity of life and the enduring love of family and friends.

The villagers of Lake Patzcuaro lovingly clean and adorn graves with beautiful handmade ofrendas, blankets of marigolds, and special foods, preparing for the shared remembrance of Dia de los Muertos. They shoot rockets into the heavens to awaken the departed souls and call them home. More tone poem than traditional documentary, Calling Home the Dead is a visually stunning exploration of indigenous practices seldom seen outside Mexico, celebrating the continuity of life and the enduring love of family and friends. Presented as part of the Bank of America Free Thursday Film Series.

On the Day of the Dead, when the spirits come back to us, the road from heaven must be

made easy, they say, and not slippery with tears.

2011; Jim Hill & Meesh Rheault Miller; Spanish with English subtitles; 47 minutes; not rated.

For further information, please visit www.callinghomethedead.com.

Free ticketed event; tickets available one hour before show
100 days of President Ram Nath Kovind

India

pti-PTI

New Delhi, Nov 1: Efficient management of time and speedy decision-making have been the focus of President Ram Nath Kovind who completed 100 days in office, according to officials of the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Kovind, who took over on July 25 as the 14th president, has also sought to reach out to the states, which form a crucial part of the federal structure of the country, by undertaking visits there. He has already visited several states and the target is to cover almost all the states by the year-end, the officials told PTI.

The states which Kovind visited included those ruled by non-NDA parties, like Karnataka and Kerala, they pointed out, seeking to underline that the president was being non-partisan as he ought to be. In fact, he travelled to Kerala twice. In some states, the president travelled to rural and interior areas, the officials said. But in all these travels, he mostly did not stay overnight and returned the same evening, as part of his thrust on efficient time management, the officials said.

As president, Kovind also undertook his first foreign visit to Djibouti and Ethiopia from October 3 to 6. "It was a tightly-packed visit involving lot of travel and no rest," an official said. The officials said Kovind has also ensured speedy decision-making.

Giving an example, they said the waiting time for presentation of credentials by foreign ambassadors and high commissioners has been reduced to the maximum of two to three weeks, which earlier used to be up to months. So far, he has received credentials from 12 ambassadors and high commissioners, including the Russian ambassador and the Pakistan high commissioner, the officials said.

Kovind is also making the Rashtrapati Bhavan more accessible to the public. One of the steps taken in this direction is making the Rashtrapati Bhavan's library accessible to common people online. Recently, the Rashtrapati Bhavan also became a venue for the culmination of Nobel laureate Kailash Satyarthi's 'Bharat Yatra', a movement to spread awareness about child abuse and trafficking. A highlight of the event was a special gesture by the president to make a Dalit girl sit next to him. This gesture touched Satyarthi and he recorded it in hand-written letter to Kovind, the officials said.

PTI
Abdul Basit out, Sohail Mahmood is Pak's new high commissioner in India

Ajay Bisaria appointed high commissioner to Pakistan

India

oi-PTI

Seasoned diplomat Ajay Bisaria, currently the Indian ambassador to Poland, has been appointed the country's top envoy to Pakistan.

The 1987-batch Indian Foreign Service officer will succeed Gautam Bambawale as India's High Commissioner to Pakistan. Bambawale was last month posted to China.

"He is expected to take up his assignment shortly," the ministry said in the statement.

Bisaria's posting comes at a time when there is chill in India and Pakistan ties following a series of terror strikes in India, including the Uri and Pathankot attacks by Pakistan-based terror groups.

The 1987-batch IFS officer will succeed Gautam Bambawale, who was last month posted to China.

"He is expected to take up his assignment shortly," the ministry said in an official statement.

Bisaria's posting comes at a time when there is chill in Indo-Pak ties following a series of terror strikes in India, including Uri and Pathankot attacks, by Pakistan-based terror groups.

India had also pulled out of the SAARC summit, to be hosted by Pakistan last year, citing cross-border terrorism from that country.

After training at the Foreign Service Institute here, Bisaria chose Russian as his language of specialisation and was posted at the Indian Embassy in Moscow (1988-1991) where he was attached to the economic and political wings of the Embassy.

Bisaria also held position of the private Secretary to the prime minister from 1999 to 2004.

From January 2015, he has served as India's Ambassador to Poland, based in Warsaw, with concurrent accreditation to Lithuania.

PTI
Places of Worship Act: SC gives more time to Centre to file affidavit by Dec 12

Constitute Special Courts to expedite cases against MLA, MPs: SC to Centre

India

oi-Chennabasaveshwar

By Chennabasaveshwar

The Supreme Court on Wednesday asked the Central Government to constitute Special Courts in lines of fast-track courts for expeditious disposal of cases pending against parliamentarians and MLAs.

The SC also asked the Centre to apprise it as how much amount would be spent on constituting special courts for cases against MPs and MLAs.

The apex court sought 'empirical data' on tainted politicians and wanted to know how many MPs and MLAs have been convicted in criminal cases.

Earlier, the Election Commission told a bench headed by a bench headed by Justice Ranjan Gogoi that it favoured a life term ban on MPs, MLAs from contesting election after being convicted in criminal cases.

The existing law disqualifies politicians sentenced to a jail term of two years or more from contesting elections for six years from the date of release from prison.

OneIndia News
Doctors strike: Private hospitals in Karnataka to be shut today

India

oi-Deepika

By Deepika

Indian Medical Association (IMA) has called for a shutdown of private hospitals across Karnataka on Friday demanding the State government to withdraw the proposed amendment to The Karnataka Private Medical Establishments Act 2007.

As part of the agitation more than 50,000 Private hospitals, Nursing Homes, Diagnostic Centers and clinics in Karnataka will remain closed on November 3.

The strike called by the Karnataka chapter of the IMA will affect all private outpatient medical facilities in Karnataka from 6 am to 6 pm. Only emergency and trauma cases will be attended.

A delegation of doctors will be meeting Chief Minister Siddaramaiah at his official residence on November 2 to discuss their grievances. It is unclear how many hospitals and clinics will participate in the strike, and if the government will invoke Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) if patients are turned away.

The Karnataka Government proposes to bring an amendment to the Act to fix fees to be charged by Private Hospitals and for treatment provided to various diseases and has included a clause to penalise those violating the new rules.

The redrafted bill is all set to be tabled in the winter session of the legislature that is scheduled to begin from November 13.

Meanwhile, the doctors association said that the agitation will be intensified including launch of indefinite closure of hospitals and including Doctors job after giving some time for the government to concede the demand.

OneIndia News
Govt should go for reality check: Rajiv Shukla on WB report

India

pti-PTI

The Congress on Wednesday deprecated the touting of India's improved ranking in the World Bank's 'Ease of doing business' index by the Centre and asked it to do a reality check instead of harping on "certificates" from foreign agencies.

The opposition party said the government should also highlight the 'Hunger report' in the same manner in which India was ranked 100th out of a total of 119 countries.

"Where is the ease of doing business? We demand that the government should go for a reality check on the ground," Congress leader Rajiv Shukla told reporters.

Shukla said he has no objection to the world bank report which only talks of Mumbai and Delhi prior to GST implementation.

He said the world bank report does not take into account the effects of demonetisation and GST, which he claimed have hurt businesses.

Shukla also asked the government to go in for a ground reality check on corruption.

He was retorting to Finance Minister Arun Jaitley who said that "the ease of doing corruption has been replaced by the ease of doing business".

Congress leader Kapil Sibal lamented that the World Bank report was not about smaller towns where people were finding it difficult to do business."Don't pat your back on the basis of World Bank report. Business has been eased only for those who are technology- savvy.

"What about businessmen in smaller towns like Varanasi, Kanpur, Chandni Chowk in Delhi or in Ludhiana who are not aware. Is this ease of doing business for these small businessmen," Sibal said.

Shukla said the BJP made fun of the UPA when the world bank reports were cited and "asked us whether the government needed certificates from agencies like the world bank".

"The world bank report is based on a survey only in Mumbai and Delhi. What is happening in Kanpur, Bellary and other small towns. The GST factor has not been included in it. I feel it does not even include the effect of the note-ban decision.

"Where is the ease of doing business? Why manufacturing sector is not doing good. There is a contradiction. I appeal to the government to reach out and see the difference on how small businessmen in small towns are doing business and what their problems are," Shukla said.

To another question on the Ram Temple, he said he also visited temple before taking to politics.

PTI
Cong for Muslims, BJP for Hindus: Did Rahuls temple visits in Guj help to bust the myth?

My meet with Rahul would have prevented BJP's Gujarat win: Hardik Patel

Rahul Gandhis fan moment with Bharuch girl during roadshow goes viral

India

oi-Deepika

By Deepika

Recommended Video

Rahul Gandhi gets clicked by Bharuch girl, the incident comes as huge security lapse |Oneindia News

A Bharuch girl climbed onto Rahul Gandhi's van during his road show in Gujarat to get a selfie clicked with him.

Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi was on a road show in Bharuch, Gujarat, when the selfie-incident happened and it was all caught on camera.

An ANI video shows the girl climbing up the van, getting close to Rahul and clicking selfie before SPG and Gandhi himself helped her get down. Gandhi even shook hands with her after she got off the van.

However, it was not clear how the teenager managed to cross the guards and reach Gandhi's convoy, in what appears a breach of security protocol.

Rahul Gandhi is conducting an election campaign in Bharuch to garner support for Congress party in Gujarat assembly polls.

Rahul Gandhi ditched his bus and moved to an open roof vehicle. The police had hard time keeping supporters away from Rahul Gandhi's convoy, forcing SPG officers to step in.

OneIndia News
Why NOTA, a blank vote, is a waste with no impact on election results

How BJP's win in Gujarat, HP is spreading happiness in the Indian market

In new Himachal Assembly, 52 out of 68 MLAs are crorepatis

Himachal Pradesh Assembly Elections 2017: Congress releases manifesto

India

oi-Madhuri

Recommended Video

Himachal Pradesh elections : Congress party releases its manifesto | Oneindia News

Congress party on Wednesday released the election manifesto ahead of the the Himachal Pradesh Assembly Elections 2017.

The Himachal Pradesh elections will be held on November 9 and the results will be declared on December 18.

On October 12, the Election Commission was criticised for announcing the poll dates for Congress-ruled Himachal Pradesh before it announced the schedule for Gujarat. The commission, however, defended its decision.

The Assembly elections in Himachal Pradesh was scheduled for November, earlier than in Gujarat, because of the probability of snowfall in the northern state, Chief Election Commissioner Achal Kumar Joti had said.

OneIndia News

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Wednesday, November 1, 2017, 10:31 [IST]
Jamia Millia Islamia demand student Union Elections, VC says not against elections

India

oi-Shreya

By Shreya

The students of reputed University Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) continue with their hunger strike on the 8th day as they demand University Elections to be held in the University. The University officials said that the matter of conducting Student Elections is sub judice in the Delhi High Court, however students said that no paper regarding the court's stay on Student Elections have been produced so far.

The Vice Chancellor on October 31 met the students late at night and said,"I have never said that I am against student elections, but it is impossible to announce something overnight and hence I would request you not to continue with this strike and spoil your health. We need to take a well-through decision, which will take sometime."

The protesters claimed that the University is trying too find an escape route to avoid student elections to suppress and divert the issues raised by the students.

On October 30th, the VC Talat Ahmed had asked students to talk to him on the issue, however students rejected, and one of the protesters said, "We know what happens in close-room meetings, hence we did not speak to him on the issue in his cabin. If he was concerned about students sitting on hunger strikes, he should have come at the spot and spoken to us, and not called us to his cabin to 'negotiate',"

JMI stdents said that such movements for democracy and rights make them feel 'what it means to be empowered', 'What it means to reclaim their own University space, and 'What it means to be coordinated, politically expanded and educated,"

Law Student, Ambar questioned, "All prominent Universities such as Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi University have student elections, then why must we not have it in Jamia? What are the authorities trying to depoliticise the campus? Why are they holding back students to exercise their freedom?"

Students leader Khushbu Khan said that a students union would help to raise issues and problems of women. If we get a union, we would be able to raise the voice of women which would help us to achieve a gender-equal atmosphere in the university and finish the sense of patriarchy still prevalent in the campus.

The Vice Chancellor on October 31 met the students late at night and said,"I have never said that I am against student elections, but it is impossible to announce something overnight and hence I would request you not to continue with this strike and spoil your health. We need to take a well-through decision, which will take sometime."

The Jamia Millia Islamia held their last student union elections in 2006, post which college authorities barred student union elections.

OneIndia News
JEE Main 2023 exam dates to be out soon: Check details

When this mom got a surprise gift, her reaction was 'gold' | Watch

'Poor' no more: 'Moderate' Delhi air to improve further with strong winds

Jantar Mantar protest ban suits Centre, alleges CPI

India

oi-PTI

New Delhi, November 01: The Communist Party of India (CPI) alleged that the Centre had not challenged the National Green Tribunal's ruling banning all protests at the Jantar Mantar as it wanted to gag the opposition voices.

"Democracy is at risk. There is an increasing attack on the fundamental and constitutional rights of the people. There is no space (for people) to raise their voice.

"Its suits the government. They do not want people to raise their voice against it. The government should have appealed against the ruling," CPI leader D Raja said today.

He alleged that the Narendra Modi government of "suppressing dissent against it everywhere in the country".

"Not only in Delhi but in places like Telangana, Hyderabad, the government is behaving in the same way by attacking the people's movement. It is a political drama being played by the NDA government," the Left leader said.

In November, the national capital is going to witness a series of protests.

Tomorrow, farmers are scheduled to protest at the Jantar Mantar against the government. The protest is being organised by the Left farmers' unions.

On November 8, opposition parties have decided to observe black day against demonetisation and from November 9 to 11, the Left trade unions have called a three-day 'dharna' at the Jantar Mantar.

The Left party has urged all the political parties, including the opposition parties, to chalk out their plans and take legal advice on how to challenge the NGT order.

PTI
'Why can't a Tipu Sultan statue be built?' Siddaramaiah attacks BJP

Former PM Deve Gowda pays tribute to Nehru, calls him 'true secular democrat'

'Kantara' box office: Even as Bollywood's Akshays and Ajays struggle, this one hits Rs 75-crore mark

KMF hikes price of Nandini milk, curd in Karnataka; check new rates

Bengaluru is No 1 on Indias innovation index, home of technology: PM Modi

Karnataka Rajyotsava: Non-kannadigas should learn Kannada, says Siddaramaiah

India

oi-Chennabasaveshwar

By Chennabasaveshwar

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on the occasion of 62nd Karnataka Rajyotsava-state foundation day- said non-kannadigas living in Karnataka should learn the local language Kannada.

He was speaking at Karnataka Rajyotsava ceremony at Kantheerava stadium in Bengaluru.

Siddaramaiah said, "Everyone who lives here is a kannadiga. Whoever lives in Karnataka should learn Kannada and make their children learn it too."

However, the CM made it clear that he was against other languages, saying not learning 'Kannada' means showing disrespect to the language.

He said, "I am not against learning any language. But if you don't learn Kannada, it means you're showing disrespect to the language."

"All schools in the state should teach Kannada," he added.

CM Siddaramaiah with Education Minister CM Siddaramaiah is in conversation with Education Minister Tanveer Sait at Kantheerava stadium in Bengaluru Cultural programme School children perming at Kantheerava stadiumon the occasionof state foundation day Floral tribute deity Bhuvaneshwari CMSiddaramaiah paysfloral tribute to the idol of Bhuvaneshwari-Kannada deity-before the beginning of programmes CM and his colleagues CM Siddaramaiah and his cabinet colleagues hold a placard which conveys wishes to the people of Karnataka on the occasion of Rajyotsava.

OneIndia News
PM Modi, Xi Jinping greet each other at G-20 dinner in first meet after Galwan clash

Know why Modi was criticised over Gujarat riots, Manmohan praised for apologising for Sikh riots

India

oi-Oneindia

By Oneindia

Recommended Video

PM Modi criticised for not apologising for 2002 riots by Tamil activist TM Krishna | Oneindia News

New Delhi, Nov 1: Renowned vocalist TM Krishna, known for "introducing social inclusiveness in culture", on Tuesday criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the 2002 Gujarat riots, but praised former PM Manmohan Singh for apologising for the 1984 Sikh riots.

The Magsaysay award-winning Carnatic vocalist Krishna, after receiving the Indira Gandhi Award for National Integration in the national capital, made a veiled attack on Modi over the 2002 riots.

Krishna said, "A leader (PM Modi) who does not have the humility to apologise for genocide under his watch does not help to integrate." He added, "National integration has been replaced by an ugly form of nationalism and jingoism."

Krishna lauded Singh for apologising for the 1984 riots under the Congress regime. In fact, several Congress leaders were found guilty of encouraging rioters to kill Sikh people during the 1984 massacre.

The popular Tamil Nadu vocalist-activist, known for using music to raise awareness on social issues, stated that Singh's expression for regret over the Sikh riots is "reflective and essential statement".

"Some detractors may say it does not change anything. It cannot change the past, but it definitely, certainly changes the future. A leader who doesn't have the humility to apologise for genocide under his watch, does not integrate," said Krishna in his speech at the 30th Indira Gandhi Award for National Integration.

He lamented the fact that in the "new millennium", the idea of national integration has lost its "sheen". Krishna added instead of "socially equalising legislations, such as the RTI of 2005 and NREGA", it has been replaced by "an ugly form of nationalism, jingoism".

"We are being told what to eat, wear, say, think and be. One monolithic order is being forced on us as Indian culture." The vocalist stressed that there was no one Indian culture, but several Indian cultures, with "the plurality is the signifier of integration".

"We are facing one of the greatest challenges posed to our democracy, Constitution, plurality, citizenship and socialism. These cornerstones of India are being subverted, dismantled, maligned and morphed right before our eyes. The methods being used are not secretive anymore," he said.

Krishna also said dissenters have been killed, and all of us who resist are being warned. "If there is any time that national integration needs to be brought back into the public thought, it is today. There is no time to waste," said.

"This integration is not just about religious minorities, it is as much about Dalits, tribals, ethnic and linguistic minorities.

"The basic fabric of India is its cultures and if we allow that to be poisoned, we would have placed on the sacrificial altar our entire civilizational consciousness. The battle will be lost," he added.

While critics of Modi still want him to tender an apology for the Gujarat riots as the massacre happened during his tenure as the CM of the state, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) disagrees with such "politically-motivated demands".

Back in 2005, Sikh groups rejected the apology of the then PM Singh over the Sikh riots. They said the apology from the Sikh PM was unacceptable and inadequate.

"I have no hesitation in apologising not only to the Sikh community but to the nation because (the riots) negated the concept of nationhood," Singh said. "I bow my head in shame for what happened... but there are ebbs and tides in a nation's history."

While in the 2002 riots in Gujarat, hundreds of Muslim people lost their lives, in the 1984 riots, the victims belonged to the Sikh community.

OneIndia News

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Story first published: Wednesday, November 1, 2017, 7:16 [IST]
Planet will not be the same after COVID-19: PM Modi

Buddha Purnima: Here are 15 powerful quotes to bring change in you

Lord Buddha's relic to put Arunachal Pradesh monastery on world Buddhist tourist map

India

oi-Amitava

By Amitava

Lord Buddha's relic from Thailand to the Kongmu Kham or Golden Pagoda has put this monastery in Arunachal Pradesh on the world Buddhist tourism map.

The Golden Pagoda is located in the Namsai district of Arunachal Pradesh. The district was formed in 2015 and is the nascent district of the State. The district is inhabited mainly by the Tai Khamti indigenous people.

The relic was handed over by the Sangharaja of Thailand to the monastery on Monday. Thousands witnessed the ceremony. A 13 member Thai delegation had brought the relic to India.

Incidentally Sangharaja or the Supreme Patriarch is the head of the Buddhist monks in Thailand.

"The relic housed in the picturesque Kongmu Kham will definitely result in tourists specially Buddhists from all over the world visiting the monastery. It will further ties with South East Asian countries" stated Chowna Mein, Deputy Chief Minister, Arunachal Pradesh. Incidentally the State Government has been focusing on tourism in the eastern part of the State.

Arunachal Pradesh has 12 tourist circuits across an area of 83,500 sq km. The Golden pagoda falls under the Tinsukhia-Tezu-Hayuliang circuit.

The Union Government has also launched a Look East Policy of which tourism is an important component.

The relic was enshrined in the Golden Pagoda. The enshrining of the relic has been sponsored by Chief Minister Pema Khandu under the patronage of Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein.

Golden Pagoda is built on the lines of Burmese architectural design. It is spread over 20 hectares.

The Kongmu Kham boasts of an eco tourism complex. The complex comprises of 4 special suits, eight executive suits, two dormitories with a capacity of 20 beds each, a multi purpose Hall, a restaurant, an administrative block and an administrative block.

Speaking at a tourism conclave in Delhi in March this year, Dr Joram Beda, Tourism Secretary, Government of Arunachal Pradesh had stated "Arunachal Pradesh is investing to become the adventure and exotic tourism hub of India. We have been organising theme-based events like the Tawang festival, Ziro festival of music, Arunachal spring carnival, adventure at Mechuka as also the Kameng river festival. In 2017, we expect the number of tourist arrivals to grow exponentially." The State had received over 3.5 lakh domestic and foreign tourists in 2016.

OneIndia News

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Story first published: Wednesday, November 1, 2017, 12:02 [IST]
Misinformation against Indian Army: Advisory issued

India

oi-Vicky

By Vicky

The Indian Army has put out an advisory against a misinformation campaign being run against it. The Army says that it has been noticed that material printed on letter heads of the Army are being circulated attached to social media messages.

The advisory reads, " it has been noticed that material printed on letter heads of MoD or branches of Army headquarters are being being circulated attached to social media messages. Some of these letters have been found to be false."

" At times even vintage photographs are being circulated to depict recent incidents. Therefore, it is apparent that there is a deliberate misinformation campaign being launched by vested interests some of which is being initiated from bordering our nation."

" A number of tweets, Facebook posts, WhatsApp messages and Blogs by veterans and some serving officers using these documents and photographs are being circulated in various social media groups. Veterans and officers are advised to approach the Army HQ to verify the correctness of information or material before they make any comment on the issues that directly our service."

The advisory however added, " this does not in any way deny veterans the right of healthy criticism on any issue that they feels necessitates attention of our community."

OneIndia News

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Story first published: Wednesday, November 1, 2017, 16:37 [IST]
Diwali to be a school holiday in New York starting next year

Modi condemns Manhattan terror attack

India

oi-Madhuri

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday condemned the terror attack in New York in which eight persons were run over by a truck.

Strongly condemn the terror attack in New York City. My thoughts are with the families of the deceased & prayers with those injured.  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 1, 2017

Taking to Twitter, Modi said,''Strongly condemn the terror attack in New York City. My thoughts are with the families of the deceased & prayers with those injured.''

Eight persons were killed and 12 injured after a truck ploughed into pedestrians in Lower Manhattan on Tuesday. The incident took place at a bike path on West Street, just a few blocks away from the World Trade Center. The suspect who is identified as Sayfullo Saipov from Florida has been arrested.

OneIndia News

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Story first published: Wednesday, November 1, 2017, 8:42 [IST]
North east flood relief: Centre sanctions Rs 200 crore

India

pti-PTI

New Delhi, Nov 1: After the floods wreaked havoc in the Northeast earlier this year, the Centre has sanctioned Rs 200 crore for reconstruction works in the four flood-affected states of Assam, Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram.

Minister of State for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) Jitendra Singh said the amount was sanctioned by the central government as the region has faced massive floods this year.

The north-east had witnessed unprecedented floods as a result of which the damage was colossal and the relief and rehabilitation operations were disrupted, he said in a statement here.

During his visit to the north-east in August, to review the flood situation in the four states, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced a flood relief package of Rs 2,000 crore. Singh said a high-level committee had also been constituted to monitor the flood-related operations and plan a future roadmap to avoid such situations.

PTI
Note ban biggest financial scam in India's history: Sitaram Yechury

India

pti-PTI

Shimla, Oct 31: CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury on Tuesday ridiculing the BJP's call for celebrating the first anniversary of demonetisation on November 8, said that the move would go down as the "biggest financial scam" in India's history.

Addressing election meetings, Yechury said, "November 8 is being celebrated as 'Anti-Black Money Day' by the BJP, but demonetisation would go down as the biggest scam in history."

"(Prime Minister Narendra) Modi has termed demonetisation as a surgical strike against black money but in fact it turned out to be the biggest scam that made five Gujarati industrialists richer and the rest of the country poorer, and the entire black money was turned into white money," he said.

Yechury said cases such as Vyapam scam and Panama papers leak and allegations against the son of BJP president spoke volumes about corruption in the BJP-ruled states. He said that the people of Himachal Pradesh will celebrate November 9 by voting against the "corrupt" BJP and throwing the Congress out power. CPI(M) Politburo member Subhashini Ali also addressed several rallies in the poll-bound state.

PTI
President of India appreciates the role of Bhutan and specially the Druk King in the Doklam issue

India

oi-Amitava

By Amitava

During his meeting with the Royal family of Bhutan, President of India, Ram Nath Kovind stated that security concerns of India and Bhutan are indivisible and mutual. The President conveyed deep appreciation for the King of Bhutan's personal involvement and guidance and support provided by Bhutan in addressing the recent situation in the Doklam area.

The Royal family of Bhutan had called on the President of India at the Rashtrapati Bhawan on Wednesday.

The President expressing appreciation in Bhutan's role stated that the manner in which both India and Bhutan stood together to address the Doklam crisis is a clear testimony of the friendship between the two countries.

Incidentally India and China were locked in a face-off in the Doklam area of the Sikkim sector since June 16. The stand-off ended on August 28. Doklam is a tri-junction between India, China and Bhutan.

The day also marked the anniversary of the Coronation Day of King Jigme Keshar Wangchuk.

President Ram Nath Kovind complimented the Druk King on the successful completion of the virst decade of his reign and his vision for a stable, happy and prosperous Bhutan.

The President stated that India is delighted to see the rapid progress made by Bhutan while preserving its unique culture as well as protecting the environment.

India is happy to share her knowledge, experiences and resources with Bhutan stated President Kovind. The cooperation and development is guided by the priorities set by the Government and people of Bhutan remarked the President.

The President stated that India and Bhutan share exemplary bilateral relations. "Our relations are unique and special. Our bilateral ties are based on utmost trust and understanding. We should do everything to make it a model of bilateral cooperation, of which our neighbours will take note" remarked the President.

Incidentally Sushma Swaraj the Minister in charge of Foreign Affairs had met the King in the morning. The King is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi at 7:30pm on Wednesday.

On Thursday at 9am Finance Minister of India Arun Jailtley will be calling on the King followed by Inidan Minister of Defense Nirmala Sitharaman at 10:30am. At 11:30 am Vice President Venkaiah Naidu will be calling on the King.

On Friday the Royal family will be returning to Bhutan. Diplomatic commentators are attaching great importance to this visit, specially after the standoff between India and China over the Doklam issue.

Defence, Foreign Affairs and GST are the three areas of discussion that are expected to find prominence in the meets.

OneIndia News

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Story first published: Wednesday, November 1, 2017, 15:45 [IST]
Demonetisation deliberate move by 'PayPM' to help his friends: Rahul Gandhi

If Cong is elected in HP, decision on 1 lakh govt jobs, pension scheme in 1st cabinet meet: Rahul

Himachal will vote for...: Congress MP Rahul Gandhi's appeal to people on election day

Cong leader Abhay Thipsay who defended Nirav Modi in UK court now at Bharat Jodo Yatra

Yatra's impact not in Himachal, Guj polls but in 2024: Congress

Rahul doesnt differentiate between a dog and party worker: Haryana Minister

India

oi-Deepika

By Deepika

Controversial Haryana Health Minister Anil Vij on Wednesday said Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi treats his workers like his pet dog Pidi.

Speaking to news agency ANI, Anil Vij claimed a Congress worker told him that Pidi was served food on the same plate in which they were given.

"A Congress worker told me, Rahul Gandhi served food to his dog on the same plate in which we were offered earlier," said Anil Vij. "

Good to know that He (Rahul Gandhi) treats Congress workers and his dog equally," the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader said, taking a dig at the Congress vice-president.

He further took a jibe saying Congress workers should understand knowing Rahul's dog is essential to gathering information about him.

The minister is not new to controversy and is well known for his foot-in-mouth statements.

Last year, he said in the state assembly "the people in the Congress are Angrezon Ki Aulaad".

Congress has quickly reacted to Anil Vij's comments. Congress's Kuldeep Sharma said Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar should immediately remove Vij from the Cabinet.

Anil Vij has lost mental balance, he needs a good doctor. Such a person should be removed from the Cabinet: Kuldeep Sharma,Congress pic.twitter.com/de5ykyTt1J  ANI (@ANI) November 1, 2017

"Anil Vij has lost his mental balance, he needs a good doctor. Such a person should be removed from the Cabinet," Sharma said.

OneIndia News

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Story first published: Wednesday, November 1, 2017, 20:42 [IST]
Transformer explosion kills 14 near Jaipur, unborn child among dead

India

oi-Vikas

By Vikas

Fourteen people were killed and seven injured after a transformer exploded in Khatloi village in Shahpura near Jaipur yesterday.

Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Rathore, who is also an MP from Jaipur Rural constituency, visited the site on Wednesday.

The incident took place near a marriage function which led to high number of casualities. Most people suffered burn injuries as the boiling oil from the transformer scattered in all directions following the explosion.

Rajasthan Chief minister Vasundhara Raje visited the hospital where the injured were being treated and expressed grief over the tragedy. She has also announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh to the next of the kin of deceased.

A high-level inquiry has also been ordered into the incident. Although the exact cause of the explosion is yet to be ascertained, some villagers have said that poor maintanence of the transformer led to the incident.

According to reports, a pregnant woman was also seriously injured in the explosion. She was operated upon but the unborn child could not be saved.

OneIndia News

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Story first published: Wednesday, November 1, 2017, 11:24 [IST]
From using Bhagwad Gita to local rowdies, Christian missionaries are on overdrive mode in Karnataka

Your visit to a Karnataka national park just got costlier

India

oi-Deepika

By Deepika

Visiting the most popular national parks in Karnataka would become an opportunity exclusively for people falling under riches from today.

The Karnataka State forest department has increased accommodation, parking and the entry fees for National parks, Wildlife and Bird Sanctuaries.

The new charges have come into effect at Bandipur, Nagarahole, K Gudi, Biligiriranga Swamy Temple and Bhadra wildlife sanctuaries, Dandeli Tiger Reserve and other national parks coming under the purview of the Forest Department.

National Parks

Now, Indian citizens will have to pay Rs 550 for the wildlife safari, up from the earlier Rs 300; foreigners will be charged Rs 1,800, as against Rs 1,100. The charges for the wildlife safari in the Antaresante and Veeranahosahalli forest range under the Nagarahole National Park are a little high, though the duration of the safari has been raised to two and a half hours. Indians should pay Rs 750 and foreigners Rs 2,000, up from the earlier Rs 300 and Rs 1,100, respectively.

Bird sanctuaries

At bird sanctuaries, the new entry fees and boating charges will be Rs 140 for Indians and Rs 800 for foreigners. The fee for special arrangements for boating and photography will be Rs 1,500 and Rs 3,000, respectively.

Photography

There is a special arrangement in place for photography and boating. Fees for the locals will be Rs 1,500 and for foreigners it will be Rs 3,000.

Car parking

Parking charges for the vehicles at the reception will be Rs 50 for jeep and car per day, Rs 100 for light commercial vehicles and Rs 150 for buses and trucks. Overnight parking charges will range from Rs 100 to 300.

Here is the complete fee structure

Services Indians Foreigners Safari and Entry fees 550 1800 Veerana Hosalli and Antarasante 750 2000 Guest house 3000 5250 Staying dormitory (per bed) 450 2000 Ranganatittu Bird Sanctuary (Including boating) 140 800

In 2015, charges were increased by 300 per cent. This year they're being raised 150 per cent. Discounts will continue for students and differently-abled people as usual. After two years, the entry fees has been hiked following the demands of the Forest Department officials.

OneIndia News

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Story first published: Wednesday, November 1, 2017, 10:58 [IST]
Manhattan: 8 dead after truck mows down civilians near World Trade Centre

International

oi-Vicky

By Vicky

Recommended Video

New York terrorist attack : 8 people killed, 11 injured in truck attack | Oneindia News

A man in a pick up truck mowed down civilians after driving into a busy bicycle path near the World Trade Centre memorial in the Lower Manhattan area. At least 8 people were killed and 11 others injured in the incident.

The 29 year old driver was shot by the police after he jumped out of the vehicle. Officials said that the man was screaming and holding fake guns in both hands. Officials have termed the incident as an act of terrorism. the suspect was taken to a hospital for treatment.

Witnesses said that the suspect was shouting Allahu Akbar following the incident.

The incident took place at a bike path on West Street, just a few blocks away from the World Trade Center. The truck according to the police also rammed into a school bus which left two children injured. The police said that they found a paintball and pellet gun at the site.

Speaking to reporters, Mayor Bill de Blasio described the incident as a "cowardly act of terror". "This was an act of terror, and a particularly cowardly act of terror aimed at innocent civilians," he said. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo described the incident as a "lone wolf" attack. He further added that there was not any evidence to suggest the incident was part of the larger plot. US President Donald Trump has been briefed about the attack.

OneIndia News
Manhattan attack: Terrorist is soldier of the Caliphate says ISIS

What we know about the Manhattan bomber Akayed Ullah

Manhattan attack: Vehicle as terror weapons since 2006

International

oi-Vicky

By Vicky

The vehicles have become the favourite weapon of terror for the Islamic State. The attack at Manhattan in which civilians were mowed down by a truck adds to the numerous strikes carried out by the ISIS using a vehicle.

The ISIS had recently advised its followers to rent vehicles and mow people down. Here are the attacks that have been carried out by terror groups using vehicles.

Chapel hill attack 2006:

Mohammed Reza Taheri-azar, an Iranian-American, intentionally hit people with a sport utility vehicle on the campus of the University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill to "avenge the deaths of Muslims worldwide." No one died in the attack.

Glasgow attack 2007:

Kafeel Ahmed, an engineer of Bengaluru origin drove his vehicle into the Glasgow airport. However he was intercepted before he could hit the target. He died of burn injuries.

Manhattan: 8 dead after truck mows down civilians near World Trade Centre

Apeldoorn attack 2009:

Dutch residents watched on TV live as Karst Roeland Tates, 38, drove his car into a parade that included Queen Beatrix. Eight people were killed and 11 others injured, while the carnage ends when Tates crashed into a monument at the side of the road. He died the next day from his injuries.

Dijion attack 2014:

Two men crashed cars into groups of pedestrians on successive days. On December 21, eleven people were injured in Dijon, France. The following day, one person was killed and nine others injured in Nantes.

Nice attack 2016:

A man rammed a truck into a crowd in the Mediterranean resort of Nice, killing 86 people, while they were celebrating Bastille Day. The ISIS claimed responsibility for the attack.

Manhattan Attack: "What do you expect," ISIS asks America

Berlin attack 2016:

A truck was deliberately driven into a Berlin Christmas market next at Breitscheidplatz in Berlin, leaving 12 people dead and 56 others injured.

London attack 2017:

Khalid Masood, a 52-year-old convert to Islam known to British security services, drove a car at high speed into pedestrians on London's Westminster Bridge. 8 persons were killed in the attack.

Stockholm attack 2017:

Four people were killed after a terrorist drove a hijacked truck into a crowded shopping street in Stockholm.

London attack 2017:

A van was driven into crowds on London Bridge, after which the attackers left their vehicle and stabbed several people in the area. Seven people were killed and nearly 50 injured.

Barcelona attack 2017:

A vehicle mowed down civilians in which 14 were killed and 100 others injured.

OneIndia News
What we know about the Manhattan bomber Akayed Ullah

Manhattan Attack: What do you expect, ISIS asks America

International

oi-Vicky

By Vicky

Recommended Video

New York Attack : ISIS post celebratory message on social media | Oneindia News

Minutes after the terror attack in Manhattan in which 8 people were mowed down by a truck, the Islamic State posted celebratory messages on the social media and its chat groups.

In a host of messages, the ISIS said, " you killed men and widowed women and orphaned children. What do you expect?" An ISIS supporter had taken a picture close to the attack site in August and posted it on the social media, SITE Intel Group said.

The ISIS has been inspiring its followers to carry out attacks in the US and other Western countries amidst losses in Iraq and Syria. The ISIS while posting celebratory attacks, has however not claimed responsibility for the same as yet.

Manhattan: 8 dead after truck mows down civilians near World Trade Centre

The ISIS had posted several messages recently on its social media site. While one message read, "End of America," another said, " run over them without mercy."

It may also be recalled that the ISIS had recently advised its supporters to rent vehicles and mow down civilians.

OneIndia News

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Story first published: Wednesday, November 1, 2017, 5:28 [IST]
Russia not reliable for energy or security, US warns India

US visa processing time expected to fall by mid-2023, says official

What is NATO and why was it created ?

Former US President Donald Trump announces his bid for 2024 presidency post

Manhattan terror attack: 5 Argentines, 1 Belgian among 8 dead

International

oi-Vikas

By Vikas

Five Argentines and one Belgian national are among the eight killed in New York's Lower Manhattan area on Wednesday after a truck mowed down civilians. The incident took place at a bike path on West Street, just a few blocks away from the World Trade Center.

It has now been confirmed that the incident was a terror attack.

The Argentinian government is "deeply shocked by the death of the compatriots and is working to help the relatives and friends of the victims," the Argentina foreign ministry said.

"Argentina reaffirms its strongest condemnation of terrorist acts and violence in all its manifestations and reiterates the need to deepen the fight against this scourge," it added.

The 29 year old driver was shot by the police after he jumped out of the vehicle. Officials said that the man was screaming and holding fake guns in both hands.

Witnesses said that the suspect was shouting Allahu Akbar following the incident.

[Manhattan: 8 dead after truck mows down civilians near World Trade Centre]

Mayor Bill de Blasio described the incident as a "cowardly act of terror".

"This was an act of terror, and a particularly cowardly act of terror aimed at innocent civilians," he said.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo described the incident as a "lone wolf" attack.

OneIndia News
Massive data breach in Malaysia: Govt orders probe

International

pti-PTI

Kuala Lumpur, Nov 1: In what can leave many people in Malaysia worried, a case has come to light in which details of more than 46 million mobile phone subscribers were beign offered for sale on a website.

Malaysia is investigating the massive data breach, a minister said on Wednesday.

The breach was originally reported by local technology website Lowyat.net after unidentified individuals offered the phone data, from several telecoms companies, and other personal information for sale on a public forum on the site.

Communications Minister Salleh Said Keruak said police and the country's internet regulator were looking into the case.

"We have identified several potential sources of the leak and we should be able to complete the probe soon," he told reporters in parliament.

The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission, the internet regulator, has met telecoms companies to discuss the issue. Lowyat.net removed the leaked data after getting a tip- off in mid-October. The data was from 46.2 million phone subscribers and included addresses and identity card numbers.

"We are also aware that the same data is being peddled across a number of other online channels," Lowyat.net wrote in a post when it originally reported the breach. Malaysia has a population of about 32 million. But many people have several phone numbers and The Star newspaper reported that the leaked list was believed to include inactive numbers and temporary ones used by foreigners.

PTI
PFI ban 'dangerous' as every Muslim who speaks his mind can now be arrested: AIMIM chief Owaisi

Muslim man can't remarry if he's unable to take care of family: Allahabad HC

Why a terror angle should not be ruled out in the Coimbatore cylinder blast case

What if Owaisi had? Muslim users on Twitter blast Kejriwal for asking for Hindu God images on currency notes

Shoaib open fires in UP university after trying to start conversation with girls; arrested

New York terror attack: Why not just terrorism, Muslim-bashing is equally condemnable

International

oi-Oneindia

By Oneindia

New York, Nov 1: Terror definitely has no place in a civilised world. But it seems there is a licence to vilify Muslims and Islam, mostly on social media.

As the news of New York terror attack spread like a wildfire across the world, once again Muslim-bashing made its comeback on Twitter.

On Tuesday, a terrorist in a pickup truck plowed through a bike path in New York, United States, leaving eight dead and several injured.

The ghastly episode called an "act of terror" by Mayor Bill de Blasio brought back the memories of September 11, 2001 terror attacks which killed at least 3,000 people in New York and other parts of the US

The alleged perpetrator is Sayfullo Saipov, 29, of Tampa, Florida, a law enforcement official told The Daily Beast. Saipov reportedly immigrated to the US from Uzbekistan in 2010.

A law enforcement official told The Daily Beast a witness saw Saipov exit the truck and shout "Allahu Akbar" or "God is great" in Arabic. Law enforcement recovered a note near the truck "that indicated allegiance to ISIS," the New York Times reported. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said "there is no evidence to suggest a wider plot or a wider scheme."

As the details about the barbaric act came to light about the involvement of a Muslim man, who reportedly chanted Allahu Akbar after killing and injuring so many people, and his allegiance to ISIS, several Twitter users instead of condemning the terrorist and his organisation, decided to target Muslims and Islam.

The whole phenomenon of Muslim-bashing is not new. It becomes more active and toxic every time a terror attack takes place anywhere in the world. It is the same Islamophobia from which American President Donald Trump also suffers from because of which he wants to "ban" entry of Muslims into the country.

Immediately after the terror attack in New York, Trump once again spoke about his vetting programme for foreign nationals.

I have just ordered Homeland Security to step up our already Extreme Vetting Program. Being politically correct is fine, but not for this!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 1, 2017

Trump, who has long advocated tougher screening of immigrants and other policies designed to prevent terrorism in the US, did not specify which vetting program he was referring to or how it would change under his latest order.

On a day when terror revisited America, Trump's tweet on vetting programme is likely to create confusion and panic among the Muslim community in the country which has been targeted on several occasions by the President and his administration.

Trump is probably the most high-profile proponent of the theory of Islamophobia. According to experts, "Islamophobia is defined as an intense dislike or fear of Islam, especially as a political force; hostility or prejudice towards Muslims".

Visit any social media site and you will get to meet hundreds of clones of Trump.

So, on Tuesday the likes of Trump stormed Twitter like a swarm of bees to target and tarnish Muslims. All they said is that Islam is a religion of terror and violence and all Muslims are terrorists.

Sample these outrageous tweets, which the social media giant actually needs to scrutinise to check if they are inciting violence by communalising terrorism:

Stop snatching away our Right to live u Goddamn Muslims.

Wake up World Leaders.We need ruthless actions & not condemnation#ManhattanAttack     (@swetasinghsinha) November 1, 2017

RETWEET If you're in favor of a strict Muslim ban! And you want the Democrats and CNN to stop helping terrorists!#ManhattanAttack pic.twitter.com/LS3Lt5BHUp  Josh Cornett (@therealcornett) November 1, 2017

If he styles his beard like this he is either a terrorist now or he's a terrorist in waiting



This is a TERRORIST Beard! #ManhattanAttack pic.twitter.com/yp7zY42YuJ  Peter McConeghy (@petersthoughts) November 1, 2017

The hatred against Islam has spread so much that now people have started associating a certain kind of beard with terrorists.

Islamophobia has swept the entire world and these tweets are a tragic testimony to it.

As Sharmeen Ziauddin, a blogger-journalist, wrote that it is "incredible that Islam and Muslims are interrogated and harassed on a daily basis over social media."

"It just doesn't happen to people of other faiths. There are people who have Twitter accounts for the main purpose of vilifying and insulting Islam. There are hundreds whose profiles reflect this," Ziauddin added.

Is it that only Muslims are killing people, others not? People from other religions have got nothing to do with any crime, be it murder, rape or burglary?

If no, then condemn all religions, or else stop associating Islam with terrorism.

OneIndia News

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Story first published: Wednesday, November 1, 2017, 12:56 [IST]
Trump is 'incurably mentally deranged',slams North Korea

International

pti-PTI

Seoul, November 1: Ahead of President Trump's first visit to Asia as head of state, North Korea slammed the US leader as "incurably mentally deranged" in a personal diatribe amid high tensions over Pyongyang's nuclear ambitions.

Trump and the North's leader Kim Jong-Un have traded threats of war and personal insults against each other in recent months, heightening worries about a potential conflict on the divided Korean peninsula.

Trump has warned of "fire and fury" and "calm before the storm", telling the UN General Assembly that Washington would "totally destroy North Korea" if it had to defend itself or its allies.

He dubbed Kim "Rocket Man" in the same speech -- Pyongyang has tested missiles apparently capable of reaching much of the US mainland -- and days later Kim responded with a personal statement calling Trump a "dotard", an obscure term for a weak or senile old man.

The US president is due in Asia at the weekend and ahead of his arrival the North's state-run KCNA news agency lashed out at "bellicose and irresponsible rhetoric" by the "master of invective". "He absolutely needs medicine for curing his psychical disorder," it said.

The US has deployed key military assets including jet fighters and aircraft carriers near the peninsula following the North's sixth nuclear test in September, which also saw the United Nations impose the eighth set of sanctions on the isolated country.

KCNA described the sanctions drive as "desperate efforts" that would prove ineffective and Trump's hostile rhetoric as "hysteric spasmodic symptoms".

Trump, it said late yesterday, "disclosed his true nature as a nuclear war maniac before the world and was diagnosed as 'incurably mentally deranged'".

During a November 7-8 visit to the South -- a security ally of Washington that hosts 28,500 US troops -- Trump is due to address Seoul's parliament and visit a US military base, although he will not go to the Demilitarised Zone that divides the Koreas.

Trump's itinerary includes Japan, South Korea, China, Vietnam and the Philippines, with all eyes on his message to the North and Kim. Pyongyang says it needs nuclear weapons to defend itself against possible invasion by the US.

PTI
At UNSC, US calls on world to tell Russia to stop its nuclear threats

US vows to again oppose UN resolution against Cuba embargo

International

pti-PTI

Washington, November 1: One year after it abstained for the first time in a quarter of a century, the United States will once again vote against an annual UN resolution condemning its embargo against Cuba.

State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert told reporters that US Ambassador Nikki Haley would oppose the measure when Cuba brings it before the General Assembly on Wednesday.

"We've historically voted against that resolution. Last year, the United States abstained," Nauert said, looking back on a 26-year ritual that has seen Washington isolated on the issue.

"Ambassador Haley will be reversing last year's abstention and will be voting against the resolution this year," she said.

Nauert explained that the vote, which will likely see Haley in a minority of one or two in the General Assembly, would underscore President Donald Trump's new Cuba policy.

"The Trump policy on Cuba gives greater emphasis to advancing human rights and democracy in Cuba while maintaining engagement that serves US national interests," she said.

Trump has tightened up some of the openings that had begun to appear in the embargo and has hardened the tone against the communist-run island, casting a new chill on ties.

But, former president Barack Obama, oversaw slowly warming ties with Havana and a loosening of the trade embargo, symbolised by last year's decision to abstain.

PTI
Vehicles as weapons of terror: Unconventional is now conventional

International

oi-Vicky

By Vicky

It was unconventional at first, but now it has become a conventional weapon for terrorists. The Manhattan attack in which 8 people were mowed down by a truck only adds to the long list of vehicle attacks.

When vehicles were used as weapons of terror in cities, it was considered to be unconventional weapon. However with the list of such incidents growing, it appears that it has become the most natural choice of weapon for terror groups.

While vehicle attacks were used by the Hamas in Palestine, the first incident of such an attack in the mainland was reported in 2006 Mohammed Reza Taheri-azar, an Iranian-American, intentionally hit people with a sport utility vehicle on the campus of the University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill to "avenge the deaths of Muslims worldwide." No one died in the attack.

Manhattan: 8 dead after truck mows down civilians near World Trade Centre

Since then it has become a routine to use vehicles as weapons and one witnessed similar incidents in Glasgow, Barcelona, France, London and now America.

Unconventional now conventional:

Vehicle-ramming is not something new and has been used extensively by Palestinian terrorists in Israel.

What these incidents tell us is that terrorists are moving away from the conventional weapons of terror such as the gun or the bomb. A vehicle is a simple but a deadly choice of weapon. It is never on the radar and any person can create havoc by mowing down people in large numbers. It does give that element of surprise which has been a nightmare for security agencies to deal with.

In this context we need to revisit a few calls that had been given by the Islamic State as well al-Qaeda. While the Islamic State had spoken about cars as a choice of weapon, al-Qaeda had very specifically mentioned trucks while terming it as the ultimate mowing machine.

Manhattan Attack: "What do you expect," ISIS asks America

In 2015, al-Qaeda called on jihadists to attack with trucks. In a lengthy article that was written in its propaganda magazine, Inspire, it termed the truck as the 'ultimate mowing machine'. The article said "Pick up the truck not to mow grass, but mow down the enemies".

The other call was made by the Islamic State. In a statement released by Abu Muhammad al-Adnani, a leader of the group, said, "If you are unable to find an IED or a bullet, run your enemy over with a car".

In a more recent message, it once again called for the use of cars. The message read, "There are cars available and targets ready to kill. Kill them, spit on their faces and run them over with your cars."

These messages clearly suggest that terrorist groups are going beyond the conventional weapon. The weapons is no longer important. It is more important that the so called infidel is killed.

Adnani not only speaks about cars in his message. He even says poison, rocks and knives can be weapons of choice. Further he also says that it is fine if you push your enemy down from a high place.

The message from Adnani reads, "If you are unable to find an IED or a bullet, then single out the disbelieving American, Frenchman, or any of their allies. Smash his head with a rock, or slaughter him with a knife, or run him over with your car, or throw him down from a high place, or choke him, or poison him."

The basic idea is to ensure that the terror spree continues. Terrorist groups are going to use the more unconventional method to strike in the days to come. The intent is just one and that is to create panic and fear and for them the manner in which it is done is no longer important.

The Islamic State does realise with more attacks, security officials will enhance surveillance and vigil. It may become difficult to sneak in guns and bombs. In such a scenario unconventional weapons come in handy. Vehicles, poison, knives or rocks do not come under the nose of the security agencies.

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Story first published: Wednesday, November 1, 2017, 5:49 [IST]
Victims of racism, Indian students in Italy say

International

oi-Vicky

By Vicky

Three Indian students have told a news channel in Italy that they were victims of racial attacks. The statement comes in the wake of India saying that it has taken up with Italian authorities several attacks on Indian students in Milan.

Minister for External Affairs, Sushma Swaraj said that she is personally monitoring the matter. Meanwhile the students told a channel at Milan that they were victims of racial attacks.

One student said that he was punched in the face by Italian men and also asked to go home on October 17. Another student said that on October 29, he was hit on the head with a broken bottle.

The Indian consulate in a statement posted on Twitter said it had taken up the "unfortunate incident of attacks on the Indian students" with the "highest level of law and order authorities" in the city. Indian students are urged not to panic," the statement said.

The consulate asked students to report all such attacks as it would help officials to take up the issue with authorities in Milan "so that all efforts can be made to prevent recurrence of such incidents in future".

The statement advised Indian students "to be in touch with each other (particularly when they go out) as well as with the consulate and spread the information among other students about the areas where they face such incidents so that such areas can be avoided".

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Story first published: Wednesday, November 1, 2017, 6:21 [IST]
Woman paraded naked after brother has affair

International

oi-Vicky

By Vicky

A lady was paraded naked after her brother was caught having an affair with a young woman. The police in Pakistan arrested the group of persons who paraded the lady naked.

The incident was reported from nothwestern Pakistan last week. Basharat Khan, a police officer told the media that the woman's brother had affair with a woman who was related to the suspects.

He also said that the woman was forced to strip naked and then was paraded in the village. While the police have managed to arrested several persons, two suspects continue to be at large.

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Story first published: Wednesday, November 1, 2017, 5:57 [IST]
US journalist Angad Singh allegedly denied entry into India, deported to New York, claims family

After SC ruling, New York to now restrict gun carrying

Diwali to be a school holiday in New York starting next year

You can't stop New York, terror will not overcome us, Americans tell terrorists

International

oi-Oneindia

By Oneindia

New York, Nov 1: It was a usual afternoon for New Yorkers on Tuesday. However, everyone got a jolt after a terrorist in a pickup truck plowed through a bike path in the city, leaving eight dead and several injured.

The ghastly episode called an "act of terror" by Mayor Bill de Blasio brought back the memories of September 11, 2001 terror attacks which killed at least 3,000 people in New York and other parts of the United States.

The alleged perpetrator of Tuesday's terror attack is Sayfullo Saipov, 29, of Tampa, Florida, a law enforcement official told The Daily Beast. Saipov reportedly immigrated to the US from Uzbekistan in 2010.

A law enforcement official told The Daily Beast a witness saw Saipov exit the truck and shout, "Allahu Akbar" or "God is great", in Arabic.

Law enforcement recovered a note near the truck "that indicated allegiance to ISIS," the New York Times reported. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said "there is no evidence to suggest a wider plot or a wider scheme."

In this difficult period, the New Yorkers decided to stand united and condemn the inhumane act. Several New Yorkers and rest of Americans took to Twitter to express their anguish and grief over the death of so many innocent lives.

One message was clear in all these tweets, Americans are not going to surrender in front of terror and violence.

"New York's resilience is stronger than a cowardly act of terror. Thinking of the victims, their families, & the responders who saved lives," tweeted Hillary Clinton, former US Secretary of State.

New York's resilience is stronger than a cowardly act of terror. Thinking of the victims, their families, & the responders who saved lives.  Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) November 1, 2017

"My thoughts, condolences and prayers to the victims and families of the New York City terrorist attack. God and your country are with you!" tweeted President Donald Trump.

My thoughts, condolences and prayers to the victims and families of the New York City terrorist attack. God and your country are with you!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 31, 2017

These tweets echoed the collective voice of Americans after the terror attack.

"You can't stop New York City. Terror will not overcome us. Fear is not in our vocabulary. We are #NYCStrong," tweeted @RedTRaccoon

You can't stop New York City.



Terror will not overcome us.



Fear is not in our vocabulary.



We are #NYCStrong pic.twitter.com/csKoGhPxxP  Red T Raccoon (@RedTRaccoon) November 1, 2017

New York, we love you. Grateful to first responders who saved lives today. Jill and I are keeping you all in our prayers.  Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) November 1, 2017

Prayers to the victims and families of the New York City terrorist attack. God Bless. Evil will not prevail .   Omar Navarro (@RealOmarNavarro) November 1, 2017

The resilience shown by New York is just amazing. This show unity has the capacity to defeat any of the cowardly terror acts. #NYCStrong  Manish Shaarma (@Manishshaarma) November 1, 2017

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Story first published: Wednesday, November 1, 2017, 10:31 [IST]
From The National

A century after its creation, the Balfour Declaration delivered only heartbreak to Palestinians

There is more than a little irony in Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu's decision to attend a "celebration" dinner this week in London with his British counterpart, Theresa May, marking the centenary of the Balfour Declaration.

Palestinian objections to the 1917 document are well-known. Britain's Lord Balfour had no right to promise a "national home for the Jewish people" in Palestine, on the land of another people.

But Israelis have been taught a different history in which they, not the Palestinians, were betrayed.

In 1939, Britain appeared to revoke its pledge, stating "unequivocally" that it would not establish a Jewish state in Palestine. Limits on Jewish immigration were imposed, at a time when Europe's Jews were fleeing the Nazi Holocaust.

It was for this reason that nearly a quarter of a century ago, in his book A Place Among the Nations, Mr Netanyahu accused Britain of perfidy.

One can understand the reluctance of Israelis today to concede the pivotal help provided by Britain. The Balfour Declaration is an embarrassing reminder that a Jewish state was the fruit of a transparently colonial project.

In fact, Britain assisted the Zionists as best it could, given the need to weigh its imperial interests. Restrictions on immigration were introduced under the severe strain of a three-year armed uprising by Palestinians, hoping to prevent their country being given away.

Historian Rashid Khalidi has noted that the Palestinian revolt of the late 1930s included possibly the longest-ever anti-colonial general strike. It posed such a threat that Britain committed thousands of extra soldiers to repress the insurgency, even as war loomed in Europe.

By the time Britain departed Palestine in 1948, it had overseen three decades in which the Zionists developed the institutions of statehood: a government-in-waiting, the Jewish Agency; a proto-army in the Haganah; and a land and settlement division known as the Jewish National Fund.

By contrast, any signs of Palestinian nationalism, let alone nation-building, were ruthlessly crushed. By the end of the Arab revolt, less than a decade before the Palestinians would face a Zionist campaign of ethnic cleansing, Palestinian society lay in ruins.

Israel learned two lessons from Britain that guided its subsequent struggle to quash Palestinian attempts at liberation.

First, Israel continued the draconian measures of British colonial rule. In the early 1950s, Menachem Begin, leader of the pre-state Irgun militia and a future Israeli prime minister, had famously called Britain's emergency regulations "Nazi laws."

Nonetheless, they were incorporated into the military orders Israel uses against Palestinians under occupation. Significantly, the regulations are also still in force inside Israel against the country's large minority of Palestinian citizens, one in five of the population. Israel has yet to end its seven-decade state of emergency.

The other lesson derives from the wording of the Balfour Declaration. It referred to the native Palestinians -- then 90 percent of Palestine's inhabitants -- as "existing non-Jewish communities." It promised only to protect their "civil and religious rights," denying them recognition as a nation deserving of political and social rights.

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From Counterpunch



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Well it all seems so terribly nineteenth century doesn't it? Leaders of a secessionist movement declare independence after weeks of high drama, involving hundreds of thousands taking to the streets, waving flags, singing anthems, crying tears of joy or anger depending on whether opposed or in favor of Catalan independence. In response, the Spanish government imposes direct rule and prepares charges of sedition and rebellion against said leaders of said secessionist movement, who respond by fleeing the scene and choosing, if reports are to be believed, political asylum over political martyrdom, whereupon everything returns to normal.

At this point it is tempting to accuse Catalan separatist leader, Carles Puigdemont, and his cohorts of laboring mightily to bring forth a mouse. People have returned to work, there has been no mass civil disobedience -- no troops or riot police on the streets -- and new regional elections have been called by Madrid in which all the contending parties have pledged to take part.

For anyone who has visited Catalonia in recent years, this will come as no surprise. In fact it is astounding that such a crisis could have matured to the point that it did in what is one of the richest regions of Europe. Arrive in Barcelona, the Catalan regional capital, you are confronted not by an oppressed downtrodden people but by an affluent society blessed with the benefits of a vibrant tourist trade, booming economy, and modern infrastructure. The city's restaurants, cafes and cantinas are packed, and it boasts an abundance of cultural and historical riches. Barcelona in 2017 could not be further from Belfast in the 1970s or any town or city in the occupied West Bank of Palestine today -- parts of the world associated with the cause of national liberation.

The cause of Catalan independence is not driven by anti-colonialism, anti imperialism, or resistance to national oppression. It is driven instead by cultural nationalism and economic chauvinism. The burning goal of its leadership is not the dream of freedom from tyranny but the desire to establish an Iberian Switzerland. As such, it is not a cause worth dying for, as it appeared was the place this crisis was headed unless sanity prevailed.

Taking a wider view, what this event reveals is that while in periods of economic prosperity and stability, history maintains its rightful place as a register of the past and roadmap to the present in a given society, in times of economic dislocation and hardship, it is embraced as a means of escape and sanctuary. And when this occurs, when history is raised as justification for ripping up the status quo, social cohesion, even in supposed bastions of Western democracy such as Spain, is tested and threatened as never before.

In declaring UDI (unilateral independence) Carles Puigdemont and his supporters within the Catalan regional government and parliament embarked on a kamikaze political course regardless of the balance of forces arrayed against them. With the EU, Washington, indeed the entire international community failing, to register anything other than fulsome support for Spanish unity, such a course was remarkable in its delusional character.

In politics, as in war, knowing when to retreat is as important as knowing when to advance; with the former often more difficult and requiring of more courage than the latter due to the challenge it brings of managing the unrealistic expectations and demands of some within your own ranks -- those for whom any backward step is tantamount to betrayal. With this in mind, it is clear that Puigdemont, faced with the choice of acting sensibly in the face of the aforementioned balance of forces militating against UDI, or succumbing to the pressure exerted against his leadership from within his own movement, opted to succumb.

It is a decision that may well mark his political epitaph.

What also cannot be gainsaid is that in the course of this crisis Catalan opponents of independence have had their democratic rights subverted by their separatist counterparts. Having boycotted the Oct 1 referendum in protest over its legality, they found themselves confronted with the prospect of being ripped out of Spain against their will.

The wider point is that neither side in this crisis is without blame when it comes to bringing it to the point of no return. Moreover, it bears repeating that its underlying is the same one that has fuelled support for Scottish independence in recent years; the same one that drove Brexit and which is behind the emergence and traction of anti-EU parties across Europe. That cause is an economic model, neoliberalism, whose sustainability was shattered irrevocably by the global financial crash and ensuing recession, starting in 2008.

Yet, instead of burying the corpse of neoliberalism, as they should have, political elites have for purely ideological reasons extended themselves in trying to breathe life back into it with the imposition of austerity programs that have sown even more misery and dislocation in the lives of millions of their own citizens.

Thus they are authors of their own demise.
Congress Members Jones and Garamendi are going to screen and discuss a hilarious movie mockery of militarism. They're going to do it in the U.S. Capitol. They're going to go right on funding the war madness, sanctioning possible new enemies, and risking all of our lives. But for a moment, they're going to open a window and let a bit of sanity in. And you can sign up here to join them.

Here's my review of the film to be screened, written back on June 5th:

The new movie, War Machine, on Netflix starring Brad Pitt begins as a hilarious and satisfying mockery of General Stanley McChrystal, circa 2009, as well as of militarism in general. Hilarious because of the deadpan sincere idiocy. Satisfying at least to those of us who have been screaming "What are you idiots doing?" for the past fifteen-and-a-half years.



war machine

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Should we be glad that a Hollywood movie can still be made mocking the murderous malevolence of true believers in militarism, or should we be disturbed that theaters won't show such movies and they have to end up on Netflix? Should we be glad that a war satire set in Afghanistan didn't have to wait decades for a different war, in the manner of Mash, or should we be disturbed that most viewers will not know a current war is being mocked because they either believe the war on Afghanistan has ended or they simply can't keep up with the proliferation of wars?

Regardless, I recommend making sure every movie-lover, Brad Pitt fan, young person, and old person watch this movie. Watch a sincere true-believing military commander and his sycophants consciously choose to win an unwinnable war, proposing straight-faced to work on protecting people while not killing them -- or killing them less, or something.

The basic truth that people don't want armed foreigners in their towns and would rather not be bombed is presented here in straightforward dialogue as well as comedic exchange. And Brad Pitt's character, based on Stanley McChrystal, and on Michael Hastings' account of McChrystal, is depicted as having turned himself into a human hammer, unable to see any problem as anything other than a nail -- his ambition to "win" a war driving his blindness to the absolute unwinnability of foreign occupations or "counter-insurgency" or "counter-terrorism," also known as terrorism.

The whole thing stops being funny three-quarters of the way into the movie, when the protests of troops that they cannot distinguish civilians from enemies becomes an actual demonstration of that inability. When we get to watch the General in charge articulate all of his usual platitudes and nonsensical pep-rally lies (even if lies to himself, still lies) to a man whose child has just been murdered by U.S. troops, the laughter is gone.

Even when we see a village leader ask the General to "please leave now," there's little satisfaction in this plea of the Afghan people for the past decade and a half finally making it into U.S. ears, because we know that the U.S. military will not ever listen.

We also know that this movie constitutes the extent of the punishment that the real Stanley McChrystal will ever receive for his crimes. There will be no trial, no legal judgment.

Speculation as to the cause of death of Michael Hastings continues, but speculation as to whether the individuals crashing the U.S. war machine into Afghanistan year after year have committed murder in a futile and criminal attempt to advance their personal interests should end. There is no doubt that they have done and are doing just that on a massive scale. They are, as this movie points out, and as no U.S. newspaper or television station dares to state, endangering the United States under the banner of slogans claiming they are defending and protecting it.

Here's part of an open letter to President Donald Trump that anyone can sign here:

The United States is spending $4 million an hour on planes, drones, bombs, guns, and over-priced contractors in a country that needs food and agricultural equipment, much of which could be provided by U.S. businesses. Thus far, the United States has spent an outrageous $783 billion with virtually nothing to show for it except the death of thousands of U.S. soldiers , and the death, injury and displacement of millions of Afghans. The Afghanistan War has been and will continue to be, as long as it lasts, a steady source of scandalous stories of fraud and waste . Even as an investment in the U.S. economy this war has been a bust .

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From Paul Craig Roberts Website



Christ Church, Alexandria, Virginia

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Christ Church in Alexandria, Virginia, was constructed during the years 1765 and 1773. It was designed by James Wren, a relative of Sir Christopher Wren, the most famous English architect. The colonial era, pre-Revolutionary War church, is a national historic landmark.

It was my church when I lived in Old Town Alexandria, a colonial settlement along the Potomac River. It was also the church of my neighbor, Henry "Joe" Fowler, Deputy Secretary of the Treasury for President John F. Kennedy and Secretary of the Treasury for President Johnson. Another neighbor was US Air Force General Benton Partin, whose study proved conclusively that the Murrah Federal Office building in Oklahoma City blew up from the inside out and not from the outside in from McVeigh's truck bomb.

Joe Fowler and I used to talk about how facts were no longer part of any aspect of Washington's policy or media reporting. And this was long ago in the 80s and 90s. Imagine today when it is the obligation of the US media to lie for the CIA and the DNC.

Christ Church was the church for George Washington and for Robert E. Lee and for other notables of our early history. Robert E. Lee was married to George Washington's great-granddaughter.

The congregation was proud of the church, its history and simple beauty. In addition to the spiritual dimension, there was the historical one. The Episcopal service was beautiful, and the rector's sermon was always short. My young son could sit through the service, and the choir and organ were wonderful.

With such fond memories I was astonished to hear from the Senior Warden that Christ Church has decided to remove the "marble memorial plaques to George Washington and Robert Edward Lee in our worship space." Apparently, our first president's sin is that he owned Slaves in the 18th century, a common practice at the time when white, Indian, and black slaves were common across the world. Robert E. Lee's sin is that he "fought for slavery," a lie that I and Thomas DiLorenzo recently refuted on this website.

I am puzzled by the reference to "marble memorial plaques." What I remember is small silver plaques, measuring a few inches by a few inches, that designated the pews in which the Washington family and the Lee family sat. I often wondered years ago that no one had yet pried off the silver plaques for souvenirs. Perhaps they have, and were replaced by marble plaques. On the other hand, perhaps I never noticed the marble plaques, which leaves me wondering if the marble plaques are to be removed, what about the silver ones on the pews. Who gets those?

One doesn't quite know what to make of history being erased like this. Washington and Lee (and there is a university of that name) are probably the two most decent and honorable people the United States has ever produced. But their association with an ancient, by US standards, church, which Washington helped to found, is to be erased.

From the standpoint of its traditional parishioners, the Episcopal Church has departed the Christian religion. The Episcopal Church has gone against the scriptures by ordaining women and LGBT people, and by sanctioning same sex "marriage," although the Book of Common Prayer still describes marriage as the union between a man and a woman.

But, I mean, really, what is consistency when you have to be trendy?

Being trendy for Christ Church means deep-sixing its own history. The congregation today must be different from the one Joe Fowler, with whom I had breakfast most Sunday mornings, and I knew.

America is disappearing. The country I live in today bears no resemblance to the one into which I was born. Perhaps I should write about what it was like to be an American when America was still present in the world.

Military men are best, perhaps, at appraising other military men. White House Chief of Staff General John Kelly says that Confederate General Robert E. Lee was "an honorable man."

Lee was without any doubt far more honorable than Grant, Sherman, Sheridan and Lincoln, the four first war criminals of the modern era. The US military understands Robert E. Lee's virtues, and has named in Lee's honor the barracks at West Point. As Lee's statues are pulled down by the idiot American left wing and its violent Antifa fascist thugs, a collection of inhuman nazi scum, without doubt, the West Point barracks will have to be renamed the Obama Barracks, The Hillary Barracks, the Wolfowitz barracks, the Cheney barracks, the Netanyahu barracks.

For a soulless government that continues to bomb innocent people around the globe, calling the barracks of the US military academy after the most honorable Robert E. Lee is a total affront to Lee's memory.
This piece was reprinted by OpEd News with permission or license. It may not be reproduced in any form without permission or license from the source.

From Counterpunch



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The desire to be affirmed by American society has dangerous consequences for black people. This pernicious dynamic creates the inclination to worship any black face in a high place or to defend questionable activity. The death of special forces Sergeant La David Johnson in Niger is a case in point. Donald Trump's racism and stupidity prevented him from performing the simple task of conveying appropriate condolences to Johnson's widow. The ensuing brouhaha focuses on what Trump said in the phone call overheard by Congressional Black Caucus member Frederica Wilson.

Almost no one is asking about the fact that American troops are stationed in Africa at all. Few people realize that such a thing as the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM ) exists and that the military forces of most African nations have been under the de facto control of this country since the George W. Bush administration.

There is similar silence about the role that the United States played in bringing groups designated as terrorists into nations such as Niger and Mali. The decision to overthrow Muammar Gaddafi in Libya is directly responsible for Boko Haram and Al-Qaeda affiliate groups gaining a foothold throughout the region. Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and their NATO partners in crime were not just responsible for the deaths of thousands of Libyans, slavery in that country, and an ongoing humanitarian crisis. They are responsible for bringing state sponsored terror to the entire region.

Focusing on Donald Trump's bad behavior is a sure path to confusion and accommodation. Instead of denouncing imperialism, otherwise sensible people are waving the flag and attacking Trump using right wing terminology. They use ludicrous terms like "gold star family" and make the case for continued American aggression around the world.

It is pointless to ask about the specific circumstances of Johnson's death. He died along with three other soldiers in the murky circumstances that are to be expected in warfare. Any questions posed should be about America's ever-expanding empire and the determination to make war on as many places in the world as possible.

Black people should feel no need to validate themselves through military service or any other undertaking. As the people who have suffered through centuries of unpaid labor, Jim Crow apartheid and constant oppression, we should feel no need to uphold this system. Yet we have already proven a willingness to die for the interests of a corrupt and dangerous state. There is frankly no reason to show pride in Johnson's death or to allow a member of the CBC to turn an important issue into nonsensical grandstanding versus Trump.

At this juncture in history all talk of patriotism is at best foolish and at worst a call for continued crimes and mass murder. It is also high time to end the deification of the American war dead, even when they look like us. They die because they are trying to kill other people.

Condolences to Johnson's family are appropriate but they are also appropriate for the millions of people who lost loved ones to American empire building in Niger, Somalia, Libya, Yemen, Afghanistan, Syria, and Iraq. That is a short list which only includes the victims of American war crimes committed in the past 20 years.

No one should be fooled by crocodile tears from white Americans with grudges against Trump. If Sergeant Johnson had been killed by a police officer in an American city many of the same white people who now rush to call him a hero would either shrug their shoulders in indifference or applaud his death. They should not be allowed to jump on the bandwagon of fake concern because Trump is their target.

As for congresswoman Wilson, she has a golden opportunity to discuss the impact of American interventions abroad and question their rationale. But like the rest of her CBC colleagues, her interests are confined to reliance on the largesse of the Democratic Party and their corporate benefactors. Trump's bad behavior makes him an easy target for scorn and a convenient punching bag for the useless black political class. If Wilson wants to take on the president it ought to be for more substantive reasons. Likening his boorishness to "Benghazi" uses a right wing trope for ridiculous effect.

Any discussion about Sergeant Johnson ought to point out that he was a victim of the poverty draft. Before enlisting he worked at Walmart, a sure path to continued poverty or to the dubious odds offered by the army. Trump said that Johnson "knew what he signed up for" but that is probably not true. He took a chance and hoped for the best. Unfortunately, the machinations of Bush, Obama, Clinton and Trump made his choice a bad one. If the Congresswoman wants to have a debate she could start with the realities of Johnson's life and how it ran afoul of United States foreign policy. Only then would her fight with a president be worthwhile.
Deb Ellis' and Dennis Mueller's film Peace Has No Borders tells the story of U.S. war resisters in Canada in opposition to the 2003-present war on Iraq, and the efforts of the War Resisters Support Campaign to win them the right not to be deported.

Many members of the U.S. military in recent years have deserted and moved to Canada, where they have in some cases spoken out against the U.S. war on Iraq. This film shows us a bit of some of their stories.

Jeremy Hinzman was the first.

Kimberly Rivera was a U.S. Army truck driver in Iraq who lost her belief in the lies about the war.

Patrick Hart was also in the Army. He says another soldier told him he'd pulled the hair of many Iraqi children out of the grill of his vehicle, and that one needed to simply treat kids as speed bumps. Hart wasn't down with that.

Chuck Wiley was in the U.S. Navy for 16 years and finally objected to bombing civilian buildings, which he says -- wearing his Veterans For Peace shirt -- left him the choice of going to prison or leaving the United States.

The War Resisters Support Committee was founded in 2004 and grew rapidly in 2005. Resisters sought refugee status on the grounds of refusing to participate in an "illegal war." They were denied.

Polling found that two-thirds of Canadians wanted to allow resisters to stay. The Canadian government was much more reluctant, representing -- as it does -- the United States government, more so than Canadian people.

Olivia Chow, MP, said that she believed anyone resisting the war on Iraq was courageous, and that Canada needed more courageous people. Chow proposed a non-binding motion, which passed through Parliament. Every member of Parliament had to choose, said Chow, to say yes to the war or yes to the courageous war resisters.

Wiley spoke of his growing love for Canada based on his experiencing how a government can actually represent people. Sadly, however, non-binding resolutions had no impact on the government of Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

So, a binding bill was introduced. Strategically, a member of the Liberal Party took the lead, to ensure Liberal votes. But when it came time to actually vote, that party's war-author leader Michael Ignatieff led a dozen of his party members in going AWOL from Parliament to avoid voting and ensure defeat -- a supreme act of cowardice in response to the demands of courage.

Rivera and Hart were deported. Rivera spent 10 months in prison. Hart received a record 25-month sentence. Wiley discovered that he had been discharged. All of them now live in the United States. Hinzman won, at least temporarily, the right to stay in Canada.

In 2015 the Conservative Party lost. But the new government under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has not acted on behalf of the remaining resisters, has not made the non-binding motions meaningful. And no new bills have been introduced.

This sets a bad precedent for all the current U.S. wars and all the U.S. wars yet to come. It seems critical that Canada, now, while it has a government that puts up some pretense of decency, act decisively to establish standards for sheltering conscientious objectors to wars -- standards that will hold up during any hell yet to be brought forth from the bowels of Washington, D.C.
From Other Words

Our elected president seems to think it isn't him.



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In June, our Tweety Bird president tweeted this message to members of the U.S. Army: "Proud to be your commander-in-chief."

Actually, Trump is only the delegator-in-chief -- he's passed to subordinates a president's most solemn duty of guiding our nation's war policies, including what wars to be in.

For example, he's turned the mess in Afghanistan over to the military brass, apparently hoping he can wash his hands of responsibility, then blame the generals if things go wrong.

Leaving specific battlefield tactics to military professionals is one thing. But deciding to expand a war is a presidential burden, as is the duty of fully explaining to the public why more war is warranted.

Just as he evaded military service during the Vietnam War, "Commander Trump" is shirking these basic presidential duties today. He's letting non-elected generals decide to hurl another 4,000 of our men and women into the Afghanistan War, with no explanation of how adding these troops to a losing war effort will make any difference.

We've already spent 16 years, the lives of 2,304 American troops, and more than a trillion dollars on this war, so it's especially maddening that Trump's designated deciders have no new strategy for "winning," won't tell us how many more years and lives they intend for us to spend there, and can't even explain why America is still in Afghanistan.

By refusing to make decisions himself, the waste of lives and money will continue, ironically turning the Afghan debacle into Trump's War.

At last, though, a bipartisan group of House members, led by Republican Rep. Walter Jones of North Carolina, are saying "enough" -- no more money to finance the Afghan political and military mess unless Trump, or whoever is in charge, can tell us why it's worth more of America's blood and treasure to be there.
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On this day, October 31, 2017, it is pleasing for me to post on the Internet this Thesis that tries to outline the cascade of errors that--inadvertently--flowed from Martin Luther's 95 Theses, which are believed to have been affixed onto the door of the Cathedral at Wittenberg on this very day 500 years ago.

Martin Luther was well aware of the pitfalls ahead. He was convinced that the changes we make seldom improve anything, and that the best we can do is only, paradoxically, to start all over again and again (Luther's Works 13:217, 25:478).

In fact, as rarely realized Luther's rejection of external authority and the Catholic Church's unwillingness/inability to answer each one of those Theses in order to (re-)establish the foundation of her moral authority eventually resulted in the separation of the actions of men and women from morality.

In the following, I will shy away from theological controversies.

These are the errors that flow from the implicit Declaration of Freedom of Conscience. The goal then, as the great goal now for us, is the search for balance between the rights of freedom and the duties of authority:

1. The conscience becomes unmoored from the virtues;

2. Hence, freedom is no longer moral freedom, but becomes political freedom;

3. Political freedom is granted by other people's will: the will of the King in a monarchy, the will of the majority in a democracy;

4. As Shakespeare knew, freedom of conscience leads to a tortured conscience: "to be or not to be";

5. The elimination of doubt is resolved by the assumption that the mind is fount of all certitude;

6. This lead to Descartes' affirmation of "I think, therefore I am";

7. Which led to the separation of the mind from body--and soul;

8. Which led to rejection of God in human affairs; see David Hume et al:

9. Since "I" am, who needs anyone or anything else?

10. This error actually started with St. Thomas Aquinas, who believed that "all that exists is";

11. This is an error of philosophical proportions, because only Being is--everything else Exists, and exists only in relation to Being;

12. The separation of mind from body and soul made room for Adam Smith's Theory of Moral Sentiments (1759), in which morality becomes--explicitly--an expression of our fickle feelings:

13. In time, Freud came along;

14. In time, Hugh Hefner came along;

15. Smith's theory of moral sentiments has had so much sway, not because it borders on empty sentimentality, but because it is the result of a highly sophisticated interaction of elevated feelings and opinions;

16. Smith's construction of the autonomous conscience is crowned by the conception of the "impartial spectator";

17. But, who is the impartial spectator?

18. The theory of moral sentiments falls apart upon the discovery that the impartial spectator is lui meme, he himself;

19. Morality and hoarding are inextricably tied together through relatively complex relationships;

20. Adam Smith, powerfully aided by the culture of the Enlightenment, as we have seen corrupted morality and, as we shall see. obliterated hoarding;

21. Economists cannot see hoarding;

22. Thus, economists cannot see the economic wisdom of Mosaic laws of the Jubilee;

23. Or the economic wisdom of the Parable of the Talents;

24. And theologians redact economics from the Bible and other religious texts;

25. Thus, economics becomes the religion of the age--and Mammon its deity;

26. By corrupting morality and obliterating hoarding from economics, Adam Smith gave intellectual permission to Jeremy Bentham to publish his Introduction to the Principles of Morals and Legislation (1789), which provided the foundation for "utility" and utilitarianism--especially in economics;

27. Even though the conception of the "util" was eventually discarded because no one ever measured a util, utilitarianism still has sway in economics;

28. For a good reason after all, because economics is based on money--and money is "the best labor-saving device" ever devised;

29. Economists have yet to discover this verity;

30. It is The Theory of Moral Sentiments, more than Smith's Wealth of Nations (1776), that stands at the foundation of ("moral") capitalism;

31. Nowhere to be found in the Wealth of Nations is the doctrine of economic justice;

32. And since Adam Smith is the father of modern economics, nowhere to be found in economics today is the doctrine of economic justice;

33. Adam Smith was aided in the destruction of economic justice by John Locke, who, in his Two Treatises on Government (1689) diverted our attention from the doctrine of economic justice onto a similar looking, but incompatible, stunted search for the justice of property rights;

34. Which gave rise to the antinomy of Karl Marx, who preached the "injustice" of property rights";

35. Property rights can be justified only if based on economic justice;

36. The doctrine of economic justice ruled the world from Aristotle through Thomas Aquinas to John Locke;

37. Today we are ruled by the doctrine of social justice;

38. Trouble is, no one has ever defined or will ever define what social justice is;

39. So, we allow the few to assert their freedom to legally acquire as much wealth as they wish, unrestrained by any sense of morality;

40. And then we beg them to give us something back "to take care of the poor";

41. On which basis? On the basis of legal and moral extortion;

42. It is only responsibility that grants us rights;

43. My right is tied to my responsibility toward you; your right is based on your responsibility toward me:

44. We argue about our mutual responsibilities and we agree on the common good: your good and my good.

45. The common good might also lead us to become all more humble: The achievement of religious and intellectual freedom yielded to pride, the pride of religious and intellectual freedom as extraordinary achievements of the human mind;

46. Especially in America, both freedoms eventually were reinforced by Emerson's insistence on the supremacy of self-reliance;

47. What to say of this approach to life? Rooted in pride, self-reliance is a strong mixture, in equal parts perhaps, of cynicism (there is no one to help you), braggadocio (I can do it alone), and sadness (poor me, there is no one to help me). It ultimately reveals a total misunderstanding of the true nature of human beings--human beings are most happy when they help each other--and accordingly it reveals absence of God, and an absolute absence of love for God.

48. As Bruce Lee points out, "There is fear and insecurity in pride because"" quoting Eric Hoffer, "the core of pride is self-rejection";

49. As it is becoming more and more evident through concentration on these issues, especially spurred by the recent publication of Kurt Andersen's Fantasyland (2017), religious and intellectual freedom brought to us via Martin Luther and Descartes have morphed into a fierce entitlement to custom-made reality, a world of illusion, a world of collective delusion;

50. Hence, Trumpism.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Carmine Gorga is president of The Somist Institute. The mission of the institute is to foster sensible moral leadership. He is a former Fulbright scholar and the recipient of a Council of Europe Scholarship for his dissertation on "The Political Thought of Louis D. Brandeis." By inserting Hoarding into Keynes' model of the economic system and using age-old principles of logic and epistemology, in a book and a series of papers Dr. Gorga has transformed the linear world of economic theory into a relational discipline in which everything is related to everything else--internally as well as externally. He was assisted in this endeavor by many people, notably for 27 years by Professor Franco Modigliani, a Nobel laureate in economics at MIT. The resulting work, The Economic Process: An Instantaneous Non-Newtonian Picture, was published in 2002 and has been reissued in a third edition in 2016. For reviews, click here. During the last few years, Dr. Gorga has concentrated his attention on the requirements for the unification of economic theory, policy, and practice calling this unity Concordian economics. He is also integrating this work into political science, which he calls Somism, and culture in general, which he calls Relationalism.
From Mike Malloy Website

The Washington Post explains:

"Several weeks after Donald Trump secured the Republican presidential nomination, his national campaign co-chairman urged a foreign policy adviser to meet with Russian officials to foster ties with that country's government.

"'Make the trip, if it is feasible,' Sam Clovis wrote in an August email to George Papadopoulos.

"The email, included in court papers unsealed Monday, shows how an otherwise low-profile adviser has become a focus of the federal probe into possible coordination between the Trump campaign and the Kremlin.

"Papadopoulos was in contact with several senior Trump campaign aides about his efforts to broker a relationship between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, the court papers show. In addition to Clovis, who now serves as senior White House adviser to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Papadopoulos wrote to campaign manager Corey Lewandowski and campaign chairman Paul Manafort, the newly released documents show.

"Papadopoulos was charged under seal in July and was arrested when he arrived at Dulles International Airport on July 27. His plea agreement indicates that he is cooperating with special counsel Robert S. Mueller III. He pleaded guilty in October to lying to federal agents about his contacts with people with connections to the Russian government, filings show.

"Papadopoulos's efforts to arrange a meeting with Russian officials began days after he was named to Trump's campaign team and continued for months. At one point, he emailed Lewandowski 'to discuss Russia's interest in hosting Mr. Trump. Have been receiving a lot of calls over the last month about Putin wanting to host him and the team when the time is right,' according to documents.

"A month later, he reiterated Russia's interest in an email to Manafort.

"In response, Manafort forwarded Papadopoulos's offer to his deputy Rick Gates, writing, 'We need someone to communicate that [Trump] is not doing these trips. It should be someone low level in the campaign so as not to send any signal.'

"Papadopoulos's proposed trip ultimately did not take place, court documents show.

"According to court papers, Papadopoulos lied to federal agents about one of his key contacts: a London-based professor he met in Italy in March 2016, days after he joined the Trump campaign.

"In a subsequent meeting in April, the professor told Papadopoulos that the Russian government had 'dirt' on Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, including thousands of Clinton's emails.

"That conversation occurred weeks before the Democratic National Committee revealed that it had been hacked and believed that Russians were behind the attack. It also came about a month after an email account belonging to Clinton's campaign chairman, John Podesta, was targeted with a phishing attempt that may have led to the hack of his emails. Podesta's emails were released by WikiLeaks in October 2016.

"One email quoted in court filings regarding the professor matches an exchange previously described to The Post in which Papadopoulos identified the professor as Joseph Mifsud, the director of the London Academy of Diplomacy.


Small-town banker George Bailey (Jimmy Stewart) in .It's a Wonderful Life.

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Crushing regulations are driving small banks to sell out to the megabanks, a consolidation process that appears to be intentional. Publicly-owned banks can help avoid that trend and keep credit flowing in local economies.

At his confirmation hearing in January 2017, Treasury Secretary Stephen Mnuchin said, "regulation is killing community banks." If the process is not reversed, he warned, we could "end up in a world where we have four big banks in this country." That would be bad for both jobs and the economy. "I think that we all appreciate the engine of growth is with small and medium-sized businesses," said Mnuchin. "We're losing the ability for small and medium-sized banks to make good loans to small and medium-sized businesses in the community, where they understand those credit risks better than anybody else."

The number of US banks with assets under $100 million dropped from 13,000 in 1995 to under 1,900 in 2014. The regulatory burden imposed by the 2010 Dodd-Frank Act exacerbated this trend, with community banks losing market share at double the rate during the four years after 2010 as in the four years before. But the number had already dropped to only 2,625 in 2010. What happened between 1995 and 2010?

Six weeks after September 11, 2001, the 1,100 page Patriot Act was dropped on congressional legislators, who were required to vote on it the next day. The Patriot Act added provisions to the 1970 Bank Secrecy Act that not only expanded the federal government's wiretapping and surveillance powers but outlawed the funding of terrorism, imposing greater scrutiny on banks and stiff criminal penalties for non-compliance. Banks must now collect and verify customer-provided information, check names of customers against lists of known or suspected terrorists, determine risk levels posed by customers, and report suspicious persons, organizations and transactions. One small banker complained that banks have been turned into spies secretly reporting to the federal government. If they fail to comply, they can face stiff enforcement actions, whether or not actual money-laundering crimes are alleged.

In 2010, one small New Jersey bank pleaded guilty to conspiracy to violate the Bank Secrecy Act and was fined $5 million for failure to file suspicious-activity and cash-transaction reports. The bank was acquired a few months later by another bank. Another small New Jersey bank was ordered to shut down a large international wire transfer business because of deficiencies in monitoring for suspicious transactions. It closed its doors after it was hit with $8 million in fines over its inadequate monitoring policies.

Complying with the new rules demands a level of technical expertise not available to ordinary mortals, requiring the hiring of yet more specialized staff and buying more anti-laundering software. Small banks cannot afford the risk of massive fines or the added staff needed to avoid them, and that burden is getting worse. In February 2017, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network proposed a new rule that would add a new category requiring the flagging of suspicious "cyberevents." According to an April 2017 article in American Banker:

[T]he "cyberevent" category requires institutions to detect and report all varieties of digital mischief, whether directed at a customer's account or at the bank itself. . . . Under a worst-case scenario, a bank's failure to detect a suspicious [email] attachment or a phishing attack could theoretically result in criminal prosecution, massive fines and additional oversight.

One large bank estimated that the proposed change with the new cyberevent reporting requirement would cost it an additional $9.6 million every year.

Besides the cost of hiring an army of compliance officers to deal with a thousand pages of regulations, banks have been hit with increased capital requirements imposed by the Financial Stability Board under Basel III, eliminating the smaller banks' profit margins. They have little recourse but to sell to the larger banks, which have large compliance departments and can skirt the capital requirements by parking assets in off-balance-sheet vehicles.

In a September 2014 article titled "The FDIC's New Capital Rules and Their Expected Impact on Community Banks," Richard Morris and Monica Reyes Grajales noted that "a full discussion of the rules would resemble an advanced course in calculus," and that the regulators have ignored protests that the rules would have a devastating impact on community banks. Why? The authors suggested that the rules reflect "the new vision of bank regulation -- that there should be bigger and fewer banks in the industry." That means bank consolidation is an intended result of the punishing rules.

House Financial Services Committee Chairman Jeb Hensarling, sponsor of the Financial CHOICE Act downsizing Dodd-Frank, concurs. In a speech in July 2015, he said:

Since the passage of Dodd-Frank, the big banks are bigger and the small banks are fewer. But because Washington can control a handful of big established firms much easier than many small and zealous competitors, this is likely an intended consequence of the Act. Dodd-Frank concentrates greater assets in fewer institutions. It codifies into law 'Too Big to Fail' . . . . [Emphasis added.]

Dodd-Frank institutionalizes "too big to fail" by authorizing the biggest banks to "bail in" or confiscate their creditors' money in the event of insolvency. The legislation ostensibly reining in the too-big-to-fail banks has just made them bigger. Wall Street lobbyists were well known to have their fingerprints all over Dodd-Frank.

Restoring Community Banking: The Model of North Dakota

Killing off the community banks with regulation means killing off the small and medium-size businesses that rely on them for funding, along with the local economies that rely on those businesses. Community banks service local markets in a way that the megabanks with their standardized lending models are not interested in or capable of.

How can the community banks be preserved and nurtured? For some ideas, we can look to a state where they are still thriving -- North Dakota. In an article titled "How One State Escaped Wall Street's Rule and Created a Banking System That's 83% Locally Owned," Stacy Mitchell writes that North Dakota's banking sector bears little resemblance to that of the rest of the country:

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Roland Martin in the last few days seemed to be the go-to man to check Trump, his supporters, and Democrats. Today he gave a schooling to Trump's Chief of Staff John Kelly. And he castigated Laura Ingraham, one of the Rights biggest hacks devoted to misinforming the Trump base further.

Martin did not hold back as he appropriately excoriated General John Kelly for his inept statements about the civil war and Robert E. Lee in this excerpted video.

"John Kelly said that to not appreciate this shows a lack of appreciation for history," co-host Ali Velshi said. "You have tweeted out this morning calling Kelly's comments insanely stupid. Tell me how you really feel about this."

"Yeah. I'm not going to allow four stars to allow stuck on stupid to simply go on," Roland Martin said. "Here's a man who's utterly clueless. For him to say that, well, we could have compromised. Really? We did compromise. It was a thing called the United States Constitution. And do you know what that said? If you're black, you're 3/5 of a human."

Martin then went on to summarily school the clueless general.

"What he should do is go read Lawrence Goldstone's book Dark Bargain where details the compromises made with the South just to get the Constitution passed.," Martin said. "You want to talk compromise? How about the Hayes-Tilden Compromise, which was never written down called the Great Compromise of 1877 that ended the 12 years of Reconstruction and ushered in Jim Crow. They removed the federal troops from the last three remaining southern capitals. We could talk about compromise -- the fact we had a Civil Rights Act of 1866, one in 1875, and we didn't another one til 1957, which was rather weak. How about compromise? We had three Reconstruction amendments: the 13th Amendment, the 14th Amendment, and the 15th Amendment. But you know what? America didn't care about those constitutional amendments because of that 1877 compromise, which led to the Civil Rights Act of '64 and the Voting Rights Act of '65 and the Fair Housing Act of '68. And so I need John Kelly to actually go back and read a history book that my 12-year-old nieces are reading right now because clearly, he fell asleep in history."

Stephanie Ruhle then asked Martin to expand on another ridiculous statement Kelly made.

"I don't know if he fell asleep in history, but I'll tell you, my son who's in the sixth grade is reading that same history Roland's nieces are," Ruhle said.."What about Kelly's claim that 150 years ago, states were more important than country, and that he gave up his country to fight for the state of Virginia -- Robert E. Lee I'm talking about."

"Well, guess what then," Roland Martin said. "Then I want to see General Kelly defend anybody who's in ISIS. Because you know what they're doing? They're giving up country for ideology. It's the same exact thing. See, this is how we normalize white supremacy. And then to say, well, we don't have an appreciation of history. I love this whole deal about how, well, you know, he was an honorable man. Really? There were abolitionists during that particular period who did not believe in slavery. So, don't call the men of their time. But maybe General Kelly also didn't read this, which was from Wesley Norris, one of the slaves that he had, where he said that when we ran away, he asked why did we run away. And we said because we're free. He ordered us to be beaten, given 50 lashes. And then when one of his overseers wouldn't do it, he called Dick Williams, a county constable, who was called in to give us the lashes. And it was Lee who said lay it on well, an injunction which he did not fail to heed. Not satisfied with simply lacerating our naked flesh, General Lee then ordered the overseer to thoroughly wash our backs with brine, which was done. You call that honorable? You call that decent? "

Ali Velshi then asked Martin if people who claim one should not judge by today's standards. Martin made it clear there were honorable white people, specifically white abolitionists living in those times, so there was nothing noble about neither slave owners or the perpetrators of the evil acts.

"We have too many people in this country who are white who do not know history, who want to somehow glorify these Confederate leaders," Martin said. "And I'm telling you right now, they ain't my founding fathers and they're not my leaders. We need to have real history, not a his-story, but history. And I will say that John Kelly, shame on you."

And Martin was not done. He wanted to let Lauran Ingraham know she conducted an uninformed interview.

"Real quick," Martin said. "Laura Ingraham, you need to go read a history book too because if you let him lie like that in front of you, you don't know what the hell you're doing."

Of all those critiquing Kelly's most uninformed response, Roland Martin has been the most on point.
Officials from Saudi Arabia and Israel met on Monday in Los Angeles, California, in a move that could be a major step towards a thaw in the relations between the two countries.

The meeting was held on the sideline of the Middle East Security Forum at Sinai Temple, Los Angeles. It was attended by Prince Turki al-Faisal, former Saudi Intelligence chief, Prince Khalid bin Salman, Saudi ambassador to the U.S., and Dr. Yousef bin Trad bin Yousef Al-Sadoun, deputy minister for international organization affairs of Saudi Foreign Ministry as the Saudi representatives on one side of the table and Efraim Halevy, former Mossad chief and Ron Dermer, Israel's ambassador to the U.S. who represented Israel on the other side of the table, sources close to the two sides confirmed.

The two sides discussed latest developments in the Middle East, Arab-Israeli relations, and the prospect of Saudi Arabia-Israel diplomatic relations. They set a timetable in order to accelerate the process of normalizations of relations and clearing of mutual misunderstanding, which is going to be presented to senior officials of the two countries, the sources said.

This was the first formal meeting between Israel and Saudi Arabia that included incumbent officials from both countries. Some retired politicians had already played role in political lobbying to bring Saudi Arabia and Israel closer to each other, including Prince Turki al-Faisal, who has had a key role in behind-the-certain activities in this regard.

The new crown prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammad bin Salman aims at introducing fundamental reforms in the kingdom's foreign policies beside socio-political ones. Establishing relations with Israel would be in line with the same agenda.
From Consortium News



Tomb of the Unknown Soldier outside the Kremlin wall, Dec. 6, 2016.

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Russia-gate special prosecutor Robert Mueller has turned up the heat on President Trump with the indictment of Trump's former campaign manager for unrelated financial crimes and the disclosure of a guilty plea from a low-level foreign policy adviser for lying to the FBI.

While longtime Republican fixer Paul Manafort, who helped guide Trump's campaign to the GOP nomination in summer 2016, was the big name in the news on Monday, the mainstream media focused more on court documents related to George Papadopoulos, a 30-year-old campaign aide who claims to have heard about Russia possessing Hillary Clinton's emails before they became public on the Internet, mostly via WikiLeaks.

While that would seem to bolster the Russia-gate narrative -- that Russian intelligence "hacked" Democratic emails and President Vladimir Putin ordered the emails be made public to undermine Clinton's campaign -- the evidentiary thread that runs through Papadopoulos's account remains tenuous.

That's in part because his credibility has already been undermined by his guilty plea for lying to the FBI and by the fact that he now has a motive to provide something the prosecutors might want in exchange for leniency. Plus, there is the hearsay and contested quality of Papadopoulos's supposed information, some of which already has turned out to be false.

According to the court documents, Papadopoulos got to know a professor of international relations who claimed to have "substantial connections with Russian government officials," with the professor identified in press reports as Joseph Mifsud, a little-known academic associated with the University of Stirling in Scotland.

The first contact supposedly occurred in mid-March 2016 in Italy, with a second meeting in London on March 24 when the professor purportedly introduced Papadopoulos to a Russian woman whom the young campaign aide believed to be Putin's niece, an assertion that Mueller's investigators determined wasn't true.

Trump, who then was under pressure for not having a foreign policy team, included Papadopoulos as part of a list drawn up to fill that gap, and Papadopoulos participated in a campaign meeting on March 31 in Washington at which he suggested a meeting between Trump and Putin, a prospect that other senior aides reportedly slapped down.

The "Email" Breakfast

But Papadopoulos continued his outreach to Russia, according to the court documents, which depict the most explosive meeting as an April 26 breakfast in London with the professor (Mifsud) supposedly saying he had been in Moscow and "learned that the Russians had obtained 'dirt' on then-candidate Clinton" and possessed "thousands of emails." Mainstream press accounts concluded that Mifsud must have been referring to the later-released emails.

However, Mifsud told The Washington Post in an email last August that he had "absolutely no contact with the Russian government" and described his ties to Russia as strictly in academic fields.

In an interview with the U.K. Daily Telegraph after Monday's disclosures, Mifsud acknowledged meeting with Papadopoulos but disputed the contents of the conversations as cited in the court papers. Specifically, he denied knowing anything about emails containing "dirt" on Clinton and called the claim that he introduced Papadopoulos to a "female Russian national" as a "laughingstock."

According to the Telegraph interview, Mifsud said he tried to put Papadopoulos in touch with experts on the European Union and introduced him to the director of a Russian think tank, the Russian International Affairs Council.

It was the latter contact that the court papers presumably referred to in saying that on May 4, the Russian contact with ties to the foreign ministry wrote to Papadopoulos and Mifsud, reporting that ministry officials were "open for cooperation," a message that Papadopoulos forwarded to a senior campaign official, asking whether the contacts were "something we want to move forward with."

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From Down With Tyranny



"For certain of their leaders, modern-day liberalism is a way of rationalizing and exercising class power." ~~ Thomas Frank The real resistance occurred in 2016. It failed in both parties. ~~ Yours truly

There's something greatly troubling about what the media-fronted #Resistance has morphed into, but I'm having trouble writing about it (it's lightly touched here: "A Nation in Crisis, Again"). Partly the problem is the marshaling of pages of proof; partly the problem is the unstoppability of the train wreck that will ensue. Perhaps I'll write about the train wreck instead.

After all, as noted in the link above, "No Praetorian Guard, once it grows muscular, reverts back to a simple barracks unit just because new leadership arrives." And the anti-Trump leadership in both parties is growing us a Praetorian Guard, if we don't have one already. You may be cheering it onward as we speak, depending on the latest lashings from former and current security state personnel, but what you're cheering, if you do, enables an unelected, uncontrolled and muscular security state, one you've certainly been appalled by in many other contexts.



Trump will go; but the unelected state will grow only stronger, now with help from the #Resistance. Do you see the dilemma? How to write about this to a nation in love with what it will come, but only later, to hate?



How Principled Is the #Resistance?





"At the beginning of Clinton's tenure as Secretary of State in 2009, the Honduran military ousted democratically elected President Manuel Zelaya in a coup d'etat. The United Nations condemned the military coup and the Organization of American States suspended Honduras from its membership, calling for Zelaya's reinstatement. Instead of joining the international effort to isolate the new regime, Clinton's State Department pushed for a new election and decided not to declare that a military coup had occurred.



"'If the United States government declares a coup, you immediately have to shut off all aid, including humanitarian aid, the Agency for International Development aid, the support that we were providing at that time for a lot of very poor people,' Clinton said when asked about Honduras in April. 'So, our assessment was, we will just make the situation worse by punishing the Honduran people if we declare a coup and we immediately have to stop all aid for the people, but we should slow walk and try to stop anything that the government could take advantage of, without calling it a coup.'



"Clinton said that she didn't want Zelaya returning to power. 'Zelaya had friends and allies, not just in Honduras, but in some of the neighboring countries, like Nicaragua and that we could have had a terrible civil war that would have been just terrifying in its loss of life.'



"Emails that have since surfaced show that Clinton and her team worked behind the scenes to fend off efforts by neighboring democracies through the Organization of American States to restore the elected president to power."

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I want you for jihad

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What do we know about the dirty war on Syria, beyond a reasonable doubt?

1. We know that all of the terrorists in Syria are al Qaeda or al Qaeda-affiliated, including "ISIS".1

2. We know that there are no "moderates".2

3. We know that all of the terrorists in Syria are proxies/strategic assets for the West (including SDF)3

4. We know that the West and its allies commit war crimes in Syria as policy.4

5. We know that civilians are targets, not collateral damage.5

6. We know that the West continues to supply all of the terrorists with weapons.6

Each of the aforementioned points has been proven over the course of the war beyond any reasonable doubt.

We also know that informed Canadians who remain silent in the face of this overwhelming evidence are complicit in the war crimes of their government.

Notes

1 Mark Taliano, "The Islamic State as 'Place-Setter' for the American Empire. ISIS is the Product of the US Military-Intelligence Complex." Global Research, 30 August, 2017. (https://www.globalresearch.ca/the-islamic-state-as-place-setter-for-u-s-empire-isis-is-the-product-of-the-us-military-intelligence-complex/5606371) Accessed 25 October, 2017.

2 Mark Taliano, "Syria: Egregious Lies and Crimes Are The Foundation of Western Foreign Policy." Global Research, 23 October 2017. (https://www.globalresearch.ca/egregious-lies-and-crimes-are-the-foundation-of-western-foreign-policy/5589955) Accessed 25 October, 2017

3 Mark Taliano, "Kurdish SDF Terror Proxies Re-Occupy (What's Left of) Raqqa, Syria." Global Research, 16 October, 2017. (https://www.globalresearch.ca/kurdish-sdf-terror-proxies-re-occupy-whats-left-of-raqqa-syria/5613571) Accessed 25 October, 2017.

4 Mark Taliano, "Shifting Narratives and War Crimes: NATO Terrorists Used Chemical Weapons against Syrian Civilians." Global Research, 21 October, 2017. (https://www.globalresearch.ca/shifting-narratives-and-war-crimes-nato-terrorists-used-chemical-weapons-against-syrian-civilians/5614350) Accessed 25 October, 2017.

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Who are we as a nation? What have we become? The answer to those questions should scare the hell out of us. Evidently, we've become an absolutely brutal, soulless people -- frightening beyond belief.

This time I'm not referring to our "leaders'" moronic denial of climate chaos that menaces the lives and futures of our children, grandchildren, and the entire planet. I'm referencing instead our status as a blatantly terrorist nation that on religious principle (in North Korea) casually threatens to wipe more than 25 million people off the map in a single instant as early as tomorrow. TOMORROW!

Three revelations of the last week evoke that alarming conclusion. One was a statement on October 26th by Mike Pompeo, the director of the CIA. The second issued the next day from the mouth of vice president Pence. The third came the same week with the release of the 50-year-old Kennedy Assassination Papers that put flesh on both statements making them mind-numbingly terrifying.

Consider Pompeo and the assassination revelations first.

At a forum convoked by the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, Pompeo who has proudly supported torture, and who heads an agency that has sponsored coups, assassinations, and omnipresent black-hole prisons declared that the CIA has to become "a much more vicious agency."

Those were his exact words! And shockingly, they represent acknowledgment on Pompeo's part that the CIA has always been vicious. (If it has to become "more vicious," I guess, in Pompeo's eyes, it was merely less vicious previously.)

According to Webster, Pompeo's term means "dangerously aggressive." Its synonyms are brutal, ferocious, savage, violent, dangerous, ruthless, remorseless, merciless, heartless, callous, cruel, harsh, cold-blooded, inhuman, fierce, barbarous, barbaric, brutish, bloodthirsty, fiendish, sadistic, monstrous, murderous and homicidal.

As descriptors of an extremely prominent agency of the U.S. government, those adjectives could apply to our entire D.C. apparatus, couldn't they? They could describe us!

Is that what we want to be in the world?

And just how vicious has the CIA been? It's here that the assassination disclosures come in. They clearly show that from its birth in 1947, THE CIA HAS BEEN A FULL-FLEDGED TERRORIST ORGANIZATION that could hardly be more vicious. In fact, because of its reach and resources, it clearly surpasses the vice of any terrorist group or crime syndicate in the world -- including ISIS.

The papers show that in the past the agency has stood ready to kill indiscriminately by downing airplanes, sinking ships, setting off bombs, and murdering heads of state as its routine modus operandi -- all the while covering its tracks and leaving clues that implicate designated enemies like Russia and Cuba.

If the CIA has stood ready to engage in such mass false-flag atrocities 50 years ago, and if now Pompeo wants its cadres to step it up, where do you think they will set their limits? Will they fly airplanes into tall buildings? Will they assassinate presidents? Have they?

In other words, Pompeo's assertions and the assassination papers lend credence to conspiracy theories of all kinds. Fact is, the CIA is a conspiracy factory!

That there are no limits to the brutality housed in Langley, the White House or in American souls was made clear by the earlier-referenced statement of Vice President Pence. This self-proclaimed man of God, who had previously identified himself as "a Christian, a conservative, and a Republican -- in that order," recently disclosed the true object of his faith. And it's certainly not God, love, or the Prince of Peace. It's nuclear weapons! Speaking at Minot Airforce Base in North Dakota, Pence declared "... there's no greater force for peace in the world than the United States nuclear arsenal."

What have we become as a people? What have Christians become?

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Nothing gives the legions of Trump loathers more delight than the photoshopped photos that float around the internet of Trump being marched out of the White House sandwiched between two FBI agents in handcuffs. The superimposed photos are intriguing, entertaining, and funny. But they are just that fake news. However, special counsel Robert Mueller 's indictment of former Trump campaign officials Rick Gates and Paul Manafort, and the guilty plea of former Trump advisor George Papadopoulos gives a tiny, but tantalizing, hint that there may be more past or present Trump officials on the legal hot seat who might point an incriminating finger at Trump. That would be no laughing matter for the White House.

Following the indictments, Trump quickly tweeted that Gates and Manafort were long gone from his campaign. Therefore, any talk of collusion between he, Putin and any other shadowy Russians, to smear, slander and discredit Hillary Clinton is just, well, more fake news. His point is there's zero proof of collusion. He's right. The proof would have to be more than just an ex-Trump campaign official claiming that Trump ordered election tampering or that there is a smoking gun email or document around somewhere that shows Trump's direct involvement in election tampering by the Russians.

That document is what it will take to prove the legally vague, and ill-defined charge of "collusion." Some legal analysts even claim that the alleged "collusion" that many believe Trump engaged in with the Russians has no legal meaning in Mueller's probe. That it's not a provable criminal offense. However, one thing that Mueller can do to bring the issue with Trump to a legal head is to subpoena him to talk to his office or, the even more remote possibility, to testify before a federal grand jury. Mueller has been tight-lipped so far on this legal move. If he did demand Trump appear and talk, then the worst that could happen is that Trump would lie under oath about an email from him, or a meeting that he or a member of his team had with an Russian official, in which there was talk of election manipulation. This would certainly be the legal smoking gun that is required to nail Trump with a criminal charge.

This happening is a huge stretch. First Trump could try to quash the subpoena by claiming executive privilege or national security concerns. This would touch off a colossal legal haggle between the White House and Mueller over the validity of the claim with Trump claiming that it was just another politically inspired put-up efforts to harass and demean him. If that didn't work and he had to testify, he would have a small army of attorneys whispering in his ear what he can say and how he should say it to avoid falling into the legal trap of being nailed for giving false testimony.

Beyond giving false testimony and obstruction, Mueller could go after Trump on a conspiracy charge. To make it stick, he'd have to show that Trump huddled with at least one other person to commit an offense against, or defraud, the US. But who is the other person? And what and when did they meet and what did they say or do that constituted a criminal act? There's evidence that Trump Jr., Manafort and Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, met with the Russians. The question is did they talk about election hanky-panky. If so, did they "collude" with the Russians at those meetings to "defraud" or "subvert" America's electoral process? This would require a lot more than proving that they met. Mueller would need some confirming document such as emails or notes made of the meeting to back up an incriminating charge of conspiracy.

Beyond savaging Mueller and the probe as basically a political expedition, Trump did try to seize the high ground in August when he sent a letter to Mueller rehashing the reasons he fired former FBI Director James Comey. This was the spark that set off the hunt for a charge against Trump. His reason for the firing boiled down to his alleged dissatisfaction with his handling of the Clinton email investigation and the supposed investigation into the alleged Russia presidential election meddling. There is no evidence of any existence, let alone concealment, destruction or tampering, of a document that would show that Trump ordered or demanded that Comey stand down from investigating him. In fact, Trump has waved around the quip he made to Comey about being pleased that he found supposedly nothing to implicate him in any wrongdoing.

Mueller hit the relatively small fry down the Trump food chain and his hint of more to come doesn't tell how far up the chain this will go. As long, though, as Mueller probes there will be the possibility of turning up that damaging document or statement from someone connected with Trump that does point an incriminating finger at him. This is the only thing that would make the phony pictures of Trump being led away in cuffs a reality.

Earl Ofari Hutchinson is an author and political analyst. He is an associate editor of New America Media. His latest book is, The impeachment of President Trump? (Amazon Kindle) will be released in August. He is a weekly co-host of the Al Sharpton Show on Radio One. He is the host of the weekly Hutchinson Report on KPFK 90.7 FM Los Angeles and the Pacifica Network.
Allen Maintenance, Inc. Can Help Stop the Spread of Germs in Michigan Business Environments

http://www.allenmaintenancejanitorial.blogspot.com

http://www.allenmaintenancejanitorial.com

With Winter months rapidly approaching, its time to begin thinking about combating the spread of germs. After all, Flu season is near.And one of the most effective methods to destroying the spread of germs in business environments- is utilizing EPA-Environmental Protective Agents that stamp out germs on contact. In fact, the Worldwide Cleaning Association-ISSA, provides educational clips on just how important it is to rely on EPA approved products in commercial environments.Allen Maintenance, Inc. shares details about the usefulness of EPA products on its Blog, as well as provides additional learning videos on the value of working with a professional commercial cleaning service provider.For more than, 26 years, Allen Maintenance, Inc. has rendered superior commercial cleaning and building maintenance services throughout the Metro Detroit area, including Washtenaw, Monroe, Livingston, Oakland, and Wayne counties.Services provided, includes removal of dust and germs from desktop surfaces; removing of trash; sweeping, mopping, and vacuuming of floors. Special attention is extended to remove germs from walls and light fixtures as well as door knobs and handles. And with a simple request, additional sanitation services can be provided.In fact, Allen Maintenance, Inc. offers free estimates and consultations; and would like to hear from local Michigan businesses, who desire to clean up their business office environments, and remove germs and bacteria that can lead to staph infection or the spread of the Flu virus.Thus, Allen Maintenance, Inc. extends this special offer to all Michigan businesses, with hopes of building better business alliances that impacts the spread of germs and bacteria- around the Metro Detroit and surrounding communities.In fact, log on to the Allen Maintenance, Inc. Web site to learn how this corporation can help your business-Or, log on to their Web site-Additionally, you can contact their office, Monday-Friday 9:00 AM  3:00 PM at 313.383.4840.Allen Maintenance, Inc. has been providing professional cleaning and building maintenance services for more than 26 years. Learn more about how this Michigan base corporation- can help keep your business or organization clean during the Winter months.4224 Dix Toledo HwyLincoln Park, MI 48146
Global Solar Pumps Market forecast and analysis (2016-2021)

Solar Pumps Market forecast

http://www.marketdataforecast.com/market-reports/solar-pumps-market-3876/

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The Global Solar Pumps market size was around USD XX million in 2016. It is expected to grow at a CAGR of XX% to reach USD XX billion by 2021.Increasing development in the industrial, residential and agricultural industry along with lower operation and maintenance cost, the demand for global solar pumps market is rapidly escalating. Solar Pump runs on electricity produced by thermal energy or photovoltaic panels. It has a life span of 16 years. These solar pumps are independent of diesel and electricity, therefore, ensuring people in remote areas the long term benefits resulting in higher efficiency and productivity. These pumps are also known as Solar PV water pumping system. They are useful where grid electricity is unreachable and alternate sources do not provide adequate energy.View full report @Continued growth in agriculture, need for other water intensive industries coupled with growing government support (tax and subsidies benefits) are the primary factors driving the growth in solar pumps market. Due to the shift in industry towards eco-friendly feature, the demand for global solar pumps is growing which is a secondary factor driving the growth of this market.But still, hefty investment cost, lack of availability of spare parts (on time) and post sales services are the primary issues hindering market growth.This market is segmented on the basis of product and application. By product it is categorized into AC Submersible, DC Surface Suction, DC Submersible, and AC Floating. DC suction commanded the market accounting for over 80% of the market in 2014. Rising drip irrigation activities especially in developing countries of Asia Pacific and the Middle East & Africa is anticipated to drive solar powered DC suction pumps over the aforementioned forecast period. AC submersible pumps are anticipated to witness the highest growth rate over the aforementioned forecast period. Rising demand for higher efficiency solar pumps especially in developing countries of India and Bangladesh is anticipated to drive the demand for AC submersible pumps over the aforementioned forecast period. AC submersible pumps are particularly designed to pump groundwater from deeper wells or boreholes where DC suction pumps cannot be used. By application the market is categorized by agriculture and drinking water. Agriculture was the dominant application category accounting for 60% of the total market in 2014. Rise in agricultural activities along with water required for irrigation is anticipated to propel solar pumps market for this application. Government subsidies to farmers and solar pump manufacturers especially in developing countries of Asia Pacific are anticipated to fuel solar pump market growth over the aforementioned forecast period. Clean and continuous water supply is essential to remote place of various regions where electricity supply is a problem and operating diesel pumps proves to be economically burdensome. This factor is anticipated to drive solar pumps market over the aforementioned forecast period as these places have huge potential to tap renewable energy in the form of solar.Download free sample report @By geography, the global Solar Pumps market has been categorized into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa. Asia Pacific commanded the market and accounting for over 30% of total market volume in 2013. Rising government subsidies and reduction of fossil fuel import for agricultural activities is anticipated to drive solar pump market in this region over the aforementioned forecast period. Growing agricultural activities along with growing government subsidies in the form of financial incentives is anticipated to drive solar pumps market in Asia Pacific. Countries in this region like China, India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan are major agricultural regions with abundant availability of solar energy. The Middle East & Africa is also witnessing significant growth over the aforementioned forecast period. The shift in trend towards decreasing dependency on importing fossil fuels in the form of diesel and butane for their major needs for energy to generate electricity for agriculture and drinking water.Key players in this market are Lorentz, Grundfos, Shakti Pumps, CRI Pumps, TATA Power Solar Systems Ltd., USL, SunEdison, and Bright Solar.Market Segmentation1)Product Introduction DC Surface Suction AC Submersible DC Submersible AC Floating Y-o-Y Growth Analysis, By Product Market Attractiveness Analysis, By Product Market Share Analysis, By Product2)Application Introduction Agriculture Drinking Water Y-o-Y Growth Analysis, By Application Market Attractiveness Analysis, By Application Market Share Analysis, By ApplicationInquire before buying @Scope of the report: Global, regional and country-level analysis and forecasts of the study market; providing Insights on the major countries/regions in which this industry is blooming and to also identify the regions that are still untapped Segment-level analysis in terms product type and Packaged Containers along with market size forecasts and estimations to detect key areas of industry growth in detail Identification of key drivers, restraints, opportunities and challenges (DROC) in the market and their impact on shifting market dynamics Study of the effect of exogenous and endogenous factors that affect the global market; which includes broadly demographic,economics, and political, among other macro-environmental factors presented in an extensive PESTLE Analysis Study the micro environment factors that determine the overall profitability of an Industry, using Porters five forces analysisfor analyzing the level of competition and business strategy development A comprehensive list of key market players along with their product portfolio, current strategic interests, key financial information, legal issues, SWOT analysis and analyst overview to study and sustain the market environment Competitive landscape analysis listing out the mergers, acquisitions, collaborations in the field along with new product launches, comparative financial studies and recent developments in the market by the major companies , abridging the entire report in such a way that decision-making personnel can rapidly become acquainted with background information, concise executive summary An analysis and main conclusions Expertly devised analyst overview along with Investment opportunities to provide both individuals and organizations a strong financial foothold in the marketAbout Us Market Data Forecast is a firm working in the areas of market research, business intelligence and consulting. We have rich experience in research and consulting for various business domains to cater to the needs of both individual and corporate clients. A few key business areas that we handle with excellence include business process improvement, corporate financing and decision making based on market research, assisting in developing appropriate strategy and providing consultancy based on extensive research.Plot # 127 & 128, 2nd Floor Lake View Plaza,Amar Co-operative Society, Kavuri Hills,
Zeotel Communication Acquires Topivr, Cloud Telephone Startup

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Zeotel Communications, a leading cloud telephony startup has acquired a newly setup TopIVR, which also into cloud telephone solution provider of domestic market. After this acquisition, zeotel communication has crossed its 4000 customers base and by 2018 company aims to reach 5000 clientele.Delhi NCR based startup Zeotel Communication has achieve success in very short span of time under the leadership of Mohinish Verma, who was also pioneer of bringing e fax solution in India. At present zeotel communication offers services like Missed Call Services for data, 1800 Toll Free Number, Virtual Call Center, IVR and Virtual Mobile Numbers for businesses. Also, we partially offer bulk sms services to our existing clients.We are mostly trusted by startups because of reasonable pricings, call rates. Our objective is to provide toll free number to all businesses by 2020. In cloud business domain we are the first company that created its footprint in market in such a short period. In addition, we are also going to introduce the new products for business houses in future, said, Okunev, Director Zeotel Communication.About Zeotel CommunicationZeotel Communication is Preeminent Cloud Based Toll Free Number Provider in India with over 5 years of experience. Along with Toll Free, we have cheapest virtual number plans in market and missed call services for data collection.3FCS, Corporate Suites Ansal Plaza, Vaishali,Ghaziabad, Delhi/NCR
Global Ceramic Tile Market 2017-2025

http://www.indexbox.co.uk/store/world-ceramic-tiles-flags-and-paving-market-report-analysis-and-forecast-to-2020/?utm_source=opr

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IndexBox has just published a new report "World: Ceramic Tiles, Flags And Paving - Market Report. Analysis and Forecast to 2025" ().This report is best suitable for you if you: Are planning to enter a new geographical market and wish to know which one is best for your product Are planning to enter a new product market and want to have a detailed overview of the market before entering Already work in a given market and want to update your knowledge on the topic Are developing/reviewing your company strategy and wish to know the existing trends in the market Want to find the best country to import a product from Are consulting a client in the given industry and wish to get a deep understanding of the situation in the market Are planning to open new production facilities and wish to choose the best location.The report serves the above mentioned purposes by providing a deep study of the key indicators of the ceramic tile market. It includes a market overview, which consolidates the key conclusions made from the analysis of the market study, giving insights on the most valuable markets based on the comparative analysis. The report also provides a forecast of how the market is expected to change in the coming years, based on historical trends, external and internal factors, and the main drivers changing the market. Each section contains a a detailed survey of the data provided. Specifically, the report depicts the historical developments and existing perspectives of ceramic tile production volumes, consumption data, as well as producer prices.The trade section provides crucial data, such as historical data on imports/exports, changes in the direction of trade, as well as import/export prices. Analysis of ceramic tile trade shows the opportunities that are opening before producers and suppliers in a changing market.Product coverage: Unglazed or glazed ceramic flags and paving, hearth or wall tiles; unglazed or glazed ceramic mosaic cubes and the like, whether or not on a backing.Countries coverage: Worldwide - the report contains statistical data for 200 countries and includes detailed profiles of the 50 largest consuming countries (United States, China, Japan, Germany, United Kingdom, France, Brazil, Italy, Russian Federation, India, Canada, Australia, Republic of Korea, Spain, Mexico, Indonesia, Netherlands, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, Sweden, Nigeria, Poland, Belgium, Argentina, Norway, Austria, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, Colombia, Denmark, South Africa, Malaysia, Israel, Singapore, Egypt, Philippines, Finland, Chile, Ireland, Pakistan, Greece, Portugal, Kazakhstan, Algeria, Czech Republic, Qatar, Peru, Romania, Vietnam) + the largest producing countries.Data coverage: Ceramic tile market value and size; Major trends in the ceramic tile market; Historical data of production volumes and its dynamics; Per capita consumption data and its dynamics in recent years; Breakdown of ceramic tile production by region and country; Outlook of the market in the middle term; Trade volumes and prices; Profiles of major ceramic tile producers.Methodology:Our methodology consists of obtaining information from various trusted sources (both paid and open), which include, but are not limited to: International official statistical agencies Governmental statistical agencies Official trade statistics Paid trade databases Industrial associations Company reports Industry experts.Our analysts compare the information gathered, confirm it with sources when required, and analyze the collected data, developing a full clear picture of the market and coming up with the final numbers. It is crucial to understand the trends of the market, for which we do provide study, taking into account events in the market, in adjacent and related markets, raw material markets, and markets, which are the main demand creators for the product under research. As for the forecast, it is conducted using analytical models of country-by-country data on consumption, production, exports, imports, prices, as well as the industry trends, economic trends, consumption trends, possible political and technological trends.Source:IndexBox is a leading market research publisher in the world. You can find more than 25,000 research reports in our web store, which cover global industries and regional markets. All the worldwide marketing data you need is at your fingertips.Company Name: IndexBoxContact Person: Kirill BezverhiEmail: kirill.bezverhi@indexbox.co.ukPhone: +44 20 3239 3063Adress: United Kingdom, 44 Main Street, Douglas, South Lanarkshire, Scotland, ML11 0QW
Global Laser Market 2017 - Growth Opportunities to 2025

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IndexBox has just published a new report "World: Lasers, Other Than Laser Diodes - Market Report. Analysis and Forecast to 2025" ().This report is best suitable for you if you: Are planning to enter a new geographical market and wish to know which one is best for your product Are planning to enter a new product market and want to have a detailed overview of the market before entering Already work in a given market and want to update your knowledge on the topic Are developing/reviewing your company strategy and wish to know the existing trends in the market Want to find the best country to import a product from Are consulting a client in the given industry and wish to get a deep understanding of the situation in the market Are planning to open new production facilities and wish to choose the best location.The report serves the above mentioned purposes by providing a deep study of the key indicators of the laser market. It includes a market overview, which consolidates the key conclusions made from the analysis of the market study, giving insights on the most influential markets based on the comparative analysis. The report also provides a forecast of how the market is expected to change in the coming years, based on historical trends, external and internal factors, and the main drivers changing the market. Each section contains a a detailed survey of the data provided. Specifically, the report presents the historical developments and actual perspectives of laser production volumes, consumption data, as well as producer prices.The trade section provides crucial data, such as historical data on imports/exports, changes in the direction of trade, as well as import/export prices. Analysis of laser trade shows the opportunities that are opening before producers and suppliers in a changing market.Product coverage: Lasers, other than laser diodes.Countries coverage: Worldwide - the report contains statistical data for 200 countries and includes detailed profiles of the 50 largest consuming countries (United States, China, Japan, Germany, United Kingdom, France, Brazil, Italy, Russian Federation, India, Canada, Australia, Republic of Korea, Spain, Mexico, Indonesia, Netherlands, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, Sweden, Nigeria, Poland, Belgium, Argentina, Norway, Austria, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, Colombia, Denmark, South Africa, Malaysia, Israel, Singapore, Egypt, Philippines, Finland, Chile, Ireland, Pakistan, Greece, Portugal, Kazakhstan, Algeria, Czech Republic, Qatar, Peru, Romania, Vietnam) + the largest producing countries.Data coverage: Laser market value and size; Major trends in the laser market; Historical data of production volumes and its dynamics; Per capita consumption data and its dynamics in recent years; Breakdown of laser production by region and country; Outlook of the market in the middle term; Trade volumes and prices; Profiles of major laser producers.Methodology:Our methodology consists of obtaining information from various trusted sources (both paid and open), which include, but are not limited to: International official statistical agencies Governmental statistical agencies Official trade statistics Paid trade databases Industrial associations Company reports Industry experts.Our analysts compare the information gathered, confirm it with sources when required, and analyze the collected data, developing a full clear picture of the market and coming up with the final numbers. It is crucial to understand the trends of the market, for which we do provide study, taking into account events in the market, in adjacent and related markets, raw material markets, and markets, which are the main demand creators for the product under research. As for the forecast, it is conducted using analytical models of country-by-country data on consumption, production, exports, imports, prices, as well as the industry trends, economic trends, consumption trends, possible political and technological trends.Source:IndexBox is a leading market research publisher in the world. You can find more than 25,000 research reports in our web store, which cover global industries and regional markets. All the worldwide marketing data you need is at your fingertips.Company Name: IndexBoxContact Person: Kirill BezverhiEmail: kirill.bezverhi@indexbox.co.ukPhone: +44 20 3239 3063Adress: United Kingdom, 44 Main Street, Douglas, South Lanarkshire, Scotland, ML11 0QW
Matrix Organizes Enterprise Solution Meet to Educate Esteemed Partners about Innovative Telecom and Security Solutions

Matrix, a pioneer manufacturer of Telecom and Security solutions, will be conducting a product expo in association with its esteemed partner V.S Traders in Jammu. The objective of this meet is to educate partners about the applications of latest Telecom and Security solutions in different industries.Matrix, promoting the IP based communication technology, will showcase SARVAM UCS. The Unified Communications solution designed with IP at core offer advantages of seamless collaboration and quick connectivity. The reliable and advanced communication solution for small and medium enterprises will also be on display. Additionally, the cost effective GSM and VOIP Gateways will also be a part of the products on display.VARTA WIN200  the UC Client for Seamless Collaboration is expected to gain maximum limelight. With easy access to PBX features from handheld terminals, VARTA adds a dash of convenience to regular office communications. Equipped with features like Outlook Integration, Click to Call, Calendar Integration and Hot Keys, the mobility extension optimizes routine business operations.Under the Security domain, Matrix will highlight its perfectly tailored range of biometric Time-Attendance and Access Control solutions. Mobile being the next generation technology in terms of security, Matrix will display its Your Mobile is Your Identity solution. In Mobile based Access Control, user either scans the QR code through his/her mobile or just twists the mobile to get access using Bluetooth. Using mobile application, a user can mark attendance automatically using GPS or Wi-Fi. Furthermore, latest biometric attendance system - COSEC VEGA FAXQ will be launched at the event too. The system being an Aadhaar enabled Biometric Device is expected to garner attention of government system integrators and customers.Matrix will also unveil the all new range of 2MP and 3MP IP Cameras, which are designed to solve the problems associated with ordinary cameras, in turn leading to transparent surveillance. Matrix IP Camera incorporates SONYs STARVIS series sensor. The sensor is made with SONYs patent EXMOR Technology, wherein the sensor is back-illuminated, resulting in less dark current. This leads to reduced noise, smoother action sequences and higher image quality, especially in low-light conditions at as low as 0.08lux.Enterprise meets are a window for our channel partners to peep into latest developments in the Telecom and Security sector. A proper understanding of products and its applications shared during the event will help partners drive high customer satisfaction, said Sagar Gosalia, Sr. VP. Sales and Marketing.About MatrixEstablished in 1991, Matrix is a leader in Telecom and Security solutions for modern businesses and enterprises. Matrix, an innovative, technology driven and customer focused organization, is committed to keep pace with the revolutions in the telecom and security industries. With more than 40% of its human resources dedicated to the development of new products, Matrix has launched cutting-edge products like IP-PBX, Universal Gateways, VoIP Gateways and Terminals, GSM Gateways, Access Control, Time-Attendance and Video Surveillance solutions. These solutions are feature-rich, reliable and conform to the international standards. Having global footprints in Asia, Europe, North America, South America and Africa through an extensive network of more than 1000 channel partners, Matrix ensures that the products serve the needs of its customers faster and longer. Matrix has gained trust and admiration of customers representing the entire spectrum of industries. Matrix has won many international awards for its innovative products.Matrix Comsec394 GIDC, Makarpura, Vadodara -390010
US Department Of Peace Could Help Avert Nuclear War With North Korea - Award Winning Author Frances Fuller Issues Statement

Author Frances Fuller

http://www.inborrowedhouseslebanon.com

In the middle of the war of words threatening nuclear conflict between North Korea and the U.S. comes a sane statement from North Koreas vice foreign minister suggesting NKs willingness to negotiate, if Americas nuclear weapons are also on the table. Frances Fuller, advocate of a U.S. Department of Peace considers this an opportunity for America to demonstrate real leadership, as well as evidence that a US Department of Peace is needed urgently.On October 19 on the evening newscast, NBC reported the ministers subtle proposal."Days later, Fuller says, the words are still ringing in my ears, in spite of perpetual static on every other topic imaginable: conflict between Trump and a congresswoman about what he said or didnt say to a dead soldiers wife, along with Gen. Kellys reaction, the EPAs cancelation of a meeting of its scientists, and one celebrity is pregnant while another is engaged. And I have heard infinitum about pervasive sexual harassment, but not a sound from anybody about these intriguing words from the vice foreign minister of North Korea."And, listening to the broadcast again, I realize that even the NBC reporter, speaking from North Korea, did not headline his statement but put it at the end of the segment, among signs of Pyongyangs intransigence."Excuse me, but didnt North Korea just lob the ball into our court?"Indeed they have. Fuller went on to say:"In the last few weeks, from various directions, including our own Secretary of State, suggestions have surfaced about the possibility of negotiating with North Korea, whose people are suffering economically while convinced of our hatred and evil intentions toward them. And now we learn that in June former president Jimmy Carter volunteered to travel to North Korea for the Trump administration and attempt to lower the tension. This information surfaced in an interview by Maureen Dowd for the Sunday NY Times Review. In answer to a question, the former president revealed that he took advantage of his seat beside Lt. Gen. H.H. McMaster at Zbigniew Brzezinskis funeral to send a message to the president. So far he has gotten only a negative response."Into this situation, the vice foreign minister drops these words for our consideration, 'Negotiation is only possible.if Americas nuclear weapons are also on the table.'"Is that not perfect logic? (We did invent and use the bomb.)"Is that not an appeal to fairness? (Many people in the world think so.)"Does that not mean, 'Negotiation is possible, if'?" (This is a test of our intentions. Do we prefer to destroy North Korea?)Frances Fuller, like many others who have signed the petition on her website, believes we urgently need a US Department of Peace whose job is to figure out the situation, to listen and respond in hope of saving the world.The full text of the statement is available at her website.Frances Fuller puts a face on the Middle East many Americans have not yet seen. Her award-winning memoir, 'In Borrowed Houses', gives readers a penetrating glimpse of the Middle East from the inside.The Syrian occupation of Lebanon during that countrys long civil war is part of Fullers experience in the Middle East, related in her memoir. Told in short episodes, Fullers book reveals the alienation, confusion and courage of civilians in the Lebanese civil war, introducing to the reader a variety of real people with whom the author interacts: editors, salesmen, neighbors, refugees, soldiers, missionaries, lawyers, shepherds, artists, students. With these people she works, studies, plays games, prays, laughs and cries, all to the accompaniment of gunfire. Together these small stories tell what war is like for civilians caught on a battlefield, and they create the impression of the Lebanese as a fun-loving, witty, patient and resilient people. Fuller's stories compose not a political history, but a historical document of a time and a place.'In Borrowed Houses' has taken three industry awards. Frances Fuller was the Grand Prize winner in the 2015 '50 Great Writers You Should Be Reading' Book Awards. It received the bronze medal for memoir in the Illumination Book Awards in 2014. Northern California Publishers and Authors annually gives awards for literature produced by residents of the area. In 2015 'In Borrowed Houses' received two prizes: Best Non-fiction and Best Cover.Critics have praised In Borrowed Houses. A judge in the 22nd Annual Writers Digest Self-Published Book Awards called 'In Borrowed Houses'  . . a well written book full of compassion . . . a captivating story . . . . Another reviewer described the book as Wise, honest, sensitive, funny, heart-wrenching . . .. Colin Chapman, lecturer in Islamic Studies at the Near East School of Theology in Beirut said,  . . . western Christians and Middle Eastern Christians need to read this storyfull of remarkable perceptiveness and genuine hope.Frances Fuller is available for media interviews and can be reached using the information below or by email at frances0516@att.net. The full text of her latest article is available at her website. Fuller's book is available at Amazon and other book retailers. A free ebook sample from 'In Borrowed Houses' is available at Payhip. Frances Fuller also blogs on other issues relating to the Middle East on her website.Frances Fuller spent thirty years in the violent Middle East and for twenty-four of those years was the director of a Christian publishing program with offices in Lebanon. While leading the development of spiritual books in the Arabic language, she survived long years of civil war and invasions.PO Box 1613Shallotte, NC 28459
SABIC SHOWCASES AT AQUATECH COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES TO PREDICT PERFORMANCE OF THERMOPLASTICS IN WATER MANAGEMENT

www.sabic.com

Company Spotlights New Predictive Engineering Capabilities of its Water Management Center of Excellence, NORYL Resin's Anti-biofouling Performance, and New Offerings for PipesSABIC, a global leader in the chemical industry, is sharing its latest capabilities to support the global water industry here at Aquatech Amsterdam from Oct. 31  Nov. 3 in stand #1.430. The company is featuring new services such as Predictive Engineering to its Water Management Center of Excellence located in Bergen Op Zoom, the Netherlands - a technology center where the companys experts work with water industry manufacturers to test and optimize products designed with SABICs high-performance engineering resins. SABIC is also highlighting recent research on its NORYL polyphenylene ether (PPE) resin portfolio, which includes new anti-biofouling properties and anisotropic behavior of fiber-reinforced grades. Further, SABIC is introducing new, innovative additions to its robust portfolio of polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) materials for the global pipe industry. SABICs specialized materials for water management have brought innovation by allowing new designs and manufacturing process to many parts formerly produced in metal, including pump impellers, pipes, water meters and water softening valves.SABICs participation at Aquatech Amsterdam illustrates our commitment to the global water management industry and how we closely collaborate with our customers to help them develop the next generation of solutions utilizing the benefits of advanced resin technologies, said William Wan, NORYL resins business director, Specialties, SABIC. The unique design, product development and predictive engineering capabilities we offer through our Water Management Center of Excellence will no doubt play a critical role in the future of this industry.Replacing traditional copper, stainless steel, ductile iron and brass with SABICs thermoplastic materials can facilitate revitalization of infrastructure used for potable, process and wastewater, and reduce system costs through greater efficiency and longer use. Glass-reinforced NORYL FE1630PW resin, for example, has been rigorously tested and shown to meet major European and global directives for potable water systems, as well as Germanys KTW regulation, the European and UK Water Regulations Advisory Board (WRAS), Frances Attestation de Conformite Sanitaire (ACS) and the global NSF/ANSI Standard 61. Materials such as NORYL resin can offer industry manufacturers greater design freedom, enhanced performance in harsh environmental conditions and system cost reduction.Enhanced Water Management Center of ExcellencePredictive Engineering Services is the newest capability of SABICs Water Management Center of Excellence. It is designed to give customers greater confidence in resin performance, streamline part development and optimization, and accelerate time to market. Using sophisticated technologies, a specialized suite of software and state-of-the-art equipment, SABIC experts complete a process that includes mold flow analysis to understand process filling behavior, integration of results with resin mechanical data, and 3D simulation using algorithms and software tools.One important focus is anisotropic modeling of fiber-reinforced resins to determine part performance in terms of failure time under various environmental and loading conditions (i.e., burst, creep and fatigue). At Aquatech Amsterdam, SABIC is featuring results from anisotropic testing and simulations conducted using its Predictive Engineering Services on glass-reinforced NORYL FE1630PW resin. An amorphous blend of PPE and polystyrene (PS), this NORYL resin grade is characterized by excellent dimensional stability and creep resistance, low mold shrinkage and low water absorption.The Water Management Center of Excellence was recently enhanced with new equipment, including a multipurpose fatigue pressure testing device called the Pulsator and chemical conditioning equipment. The Pulsator, designed to evaluate the fatigue performance of materials and applications under typical test conditions defined by our customers, is on display at the SABIC exhibit.SABICs Water Management Center of Excellence, which opened in 2005, helps global customers develop innovative solutions using thermoplastic resins. Its scientists and technologists simulate real-life water environments on generic and real customer parts in a laboratory setting and measure outcomes using these and other testing procedures, including: Burst pressure (short-term pressure resistance) Creep rupture (long-term pressure resistance) Fatigue pressure (long-term pressure resistance) Chemical exposure including chlorines Hot water resistance Hot-cold shockThis work is complemented by ongoing research into new processing technologies and assembly techniques to help meet the special requirements of water management applications.Optimized Customer ApplicationsVisitors to the SABIC stand at Aquatech can examine several commercial applications, such as a water softener valve housing from Austrias BWT Wassertechnik GmbH. This valve housing, now molded from fiber-reinforced NORYL resin, previously experienced failure modes under burst and cyclic pressure testing. To locate the exact failure initiation point, SABICs Predictive Engineering Services completed advanced 3D simulations, including anisotropic performance simulations. In conjunction with part testing at the Center of Excellence, these simulations accurately predicted two locations of part failure under specific burst and cyclic pressure conditions. BWT subsequently selected the NORYL resin and modified the part design to reduce stress and meet quality specifications for lifetime performance.Another featured application is a tower rack unit from CERAFILTEC, which is used to filter out impurities from seawater, industrial wastewater and sewage to produce clean drinking water. This part is molded from NORYL resin, which delivers higher resistance to harsh water conditions than previous materials used by CERAFILTEC, including high-grade steel. The SABIC material also enabled a simplified, injection-molded design requiring no other plastics or metal for the module housing.SABIC is also displaying a bathroom water tap from Ideal Standard featuring a cartridge housing made from NORYL resin and an adapter made from ULTEM polyetherimide (PEI) resin. Both materials are dimensionally stable over a wide temperature range to ensure leakage-free operation, and deliver hydrolytic stability and chlorine resistance for reliable, long-term performance.Better Answer to BiofoulingSABIC engineering resins offer the potential to build cleaner, safer and more cost-effective water systems. For example, unfilled NORYL resin has been shown to offer very low biomass production potential (BPP), or biofouling, compared to metal, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and high-density PE. Biofouling, the accumulation of microorganisms, algae and plants on wet and underwater surfaces, reduces the efficiency of membranes and can shorten the lifetime of pipes and other underwater applications. It is also associated with health risks such as Legionella pneumophila. In addition to low BPP, NORYL resins properties of high hydrophobicity, low surface roughness and excellent chlorine resistance make it a promising candidate for multilayer pipe that resists biofouling.New Materials for PipingFor under-the-ground infrastructure pipe applications, SABIC is launching here today SABIC VESTOLEN A RELY 5933RD a high density polyethylene (HDPE). This is a PE100 classified material typically used for potable water distribution pipes, with extra resistance against chlorinated disinfectants and slow crack growth formation. Also being launched at Aquatech is SABICs new UDMAX GPE tape for reinforced pipes. This tape, made from glass-reinforced PE, reduces the amount of resin required to manufacture the pipes, thereby lowering weight, and increasing strength to resist higher water pressure.For hot and cold water (indoor) pipe applications, SABIC is launching a glass-fiber-reinforced polypropylene random copolymer (PPR) named SABIC PP compound G1620B, which can help to reduce thermal elongation of pipes when exposed to fluctuating temperatures. To enable higher flexibility for the installation of underfloor heating pipes, SABIC is also introducing SABIC HDPE P4200RT, classified as pipe material high density polyethylene raised temperature (PE-RT) Type II.In addition to NORYL resins and its comprehensive offerings for pipes, SABIC offers an extensive portfolio of high-performance engineering resins for water management applications. These include: CYCOLAC acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) resins for outstanding aesthetics, flow, toughness, dimensional stability, and high temperature resistance. LNP specialty compounds for customized performance ULTEM PEI resin for unparalleled mechanical performance in high-heat, chemically challenging environments LEXAN resin (a polycarbonate material) for ductility and transparencyFor additional information, please visitNOTES TO EDITORS SABIC and brands marked with  are trademarks of SABIC or its subsidiaries or affiliates. High-resolution photos are available upon request. SABIC should be written in every instance in all uppercase.  Any brands, products or services of other companies referenced in this document are the trademarks, service marks and/or trade names of their respective holders.ABOUT SABICSABIC is a global leader in diversified chemicals headquartered in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. We manufacture on a global scale in the Americas, Europe, Middle East and Asia Pacific, making distinctly different kinds of products: chemicals, commodity and high performance plastics, agri-nutrients and metals.We support our customers by identifying and developing opportunities in key end markets such as construction, medical devices, packaging, agri-nutrients, electrical and electronics, transportation and clean energy.SABIC recorded a net profit of SR 17.8 billion (US$ 4.8 billion) in 2016. Sales revenues for 2016 totaled SR 132.8 billion (US$ 35.4 billion). Total assets stood at SR 316.9 billion (US$ 84.5 billion) at the end of 2016. Production in 2016 stood at 72.7 million metric tons.SABIC has more than 35,000 employees worldwide and operates in more than 50 countries. Fostering innovation and a spirit of ingenuity, we have 12,191 global patent filings, and have significant research resources with innovation hubs in five key geographies  USA, Europe, Middle East, South East Asia and North East Asia.The Saudi Arabian government owns 70 percent of SABIC shares with the remaining 30 percent publicly traded on the Saudi stock exchange.Marketing SolutionsKevin NoelsBox 62950KapellenBelgium003233130311
OVERVIEW OF POM NET TRADE (2005-2025)

OVERVIEW OF POM NET TRADE (2005-2025)

The total trade of POM in 2016 was estimated to be around 900 kilotons with Asia-Pacific being the largest importer as well as the largest exporter.In terms of dependence, Central & Eastern Europe and Central & South America will continue to depend on imports.The Middle East & Africa has historically been a net importer of POM. However, after the start of the Ibn Sina plant at Saudi Arabia, the region is expected to change its status from being a net importer to a net exporter. It is estimated to export nearly 20  30 kilotons of POM in the forecast period between 2018 and 2025.Western Europe has been a net exporter and the imports have been in the range of 230  270 kilotons from 2010 to 2016. Despite the recent de-bottleneck carried out by Celanese and new capacity additions forecasted in the coming years, the Western European region will continue to import large amounts of POM.For market information on Polyacetals (POM) and other Engineering Plastics write to sales@prismaneconsulting.comPrismane Consulting is a unique global boutique consulting firm with an Indian origin. We present ourselves to the world outside providing management, economic and technical expertise to improve customer engagement, boost operational efficiency, reduce costs and achieve superior business results. Prismane Consulting serves leading businesses in the field of Chemicals, Petrochemicals, Polymers, Materials, Environment and Energy. We have been advising clients on their key strategic issues solving their toughest and most critical business problems.Office 519, Amanora Chambers, Amanora Town Center,, Hadapsar-Magarpatta RoadHadapsar-Magarpatta Road
RAIDIX Expert Received Bertrand Meyer Award at SECR 2017

www.raidix.com

Head of RAIDIX Research Lab Svetlana Lazareva won a Bertrand Meyer Award at the SECR 2017 international conference (St Petersburg, Russia, October 2021, 2017). As a speaker, Svetlana delivered a presentation titled Smart face control: machine learning algorithms for efficient SSD caching. Data storage vendor RAIDIX has participated in SECR since 2014.In 2015, RAIDIXs paper also succeeded in securing the first award at the conference.SECR is a major Russia-based IT event shaped up by the international program committee  industry experts, scholars and researchers from the US, European Union, and the CIS. SECR is a unique networking event featuring a host of hot topics, cutting-edge research results, and cross-specialty knowledge transfer. All submitted papers undergo a meticulous selection process, only 35 percent of suggested presentations are granted acceptance by the committee.Svetlana Lazarevas Smart face control described a new algorithm of SSD cache filling. The algorithm builds on analyzing incoming requests to the data storage system with the use of machine learning. The goal of this research is to extend the lifecycle of solid-state drives when the latter are utilized as caching devices.Experts at the RAIDIX Research Lab are authors to multiple technology patents registered in the US. The patented RAIDIX algorithms include new erasure coding methods, parity RAIDs 6 and 7.3, advanced (preemptive) data reconstruction, the intellectual QoSmic module for balancing performance on the application level, and more works.The Lab engages in development of new algorithms and features for the companys flagship product RAIDIX  management software for data storage servers, and makes inroads into distributed storage techniques, deep learning, data mining, software-defined memory, and other promising technologies. Brand-new research results form part of the RAIDIX functionality ensuring greater performance and fault-tolerance in versatile data-intensive industries.About RAIDIXRAIDIX () is a leading solution provider and developer of high-performance data storage systems. The companys strategic value builds on patented erasure coding methods and innovative technology designed by the in-house research laboratory. The RAIDIX Global Partner Network encompasses system integrators, storage vendors and IT solution providers offering RAIDIX-powered products for professional and enterprise use.Smolenka River emb. 33,St. Petersburg, Russia, 199178+7 812 622 16 80Ksenia Kochkinakochkina.k@raidix.com
Chat Bots Market Size & Analysis  Forecasts To 2030

GLOBAL MARKET ESTIMATES

https://www.globalmarketestimates.com/chat-bots-market-analysis/

https://www.globalmarketestimates.com/chat-bots-market-analysis/

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY: CHAT BOTS MARKETThe global Chat Bots Market has been studied from the year 2016 till 2025. However, the CAGR provided in the report is from the year 2017 to 2025. The research methodology involved three stages: Desk research, Primary research, and Analysis & Output from the entire research process.The desk research involved a robust background study which meant referring to paid and unpaid databases to understand the market dynamics; mapping contracts from press releases; identifying the key players in the market, studying their product portfolio, competition level, annual reports/SEC filings & investor presentations; and learning the demand and supply side analysis for the Chat Bots Market.Check the report description of the Chat Bots Market report at:The primary research activity included telephonic conversations with more than 50 tier 1 industry consultants, distributors, and end-use product manufacturers.Finally, based on the above thorough research process, an in-depth analysis was carried out considering the following aspects: market attractiveness, current & future market trends, market share analysis, SWOT analysis of the companies, and customer analytics.Request for a sample copy of the Chat Bots Market report at:Were constantly identifying and analysing high growth markets and revenue pockets. In consultation with various industry experts, our team of highly-skilled industry analysts study these markets through sophisticated tools and fail-safe, industry-approved methodologies.Name: Global Market Estimates Research & Business ConsultantsAddress: A-9, Silver Croft CHSL, Mumbai:400064, IndiaContact No,: +91 9146632316Email Address: sales@globalmarketestimates.com
Atlantic Shores Retirement Community on Forefront of Hearing Technology in Partnership with Healthy Hearing Now!

www.atlanticshoresliving.com

www.HealthyHearingNow.com

www.atlanticshoresliving.com

www.facebook.com/atlanticshoresliving

Atlantic Shores Retirement Community in Virginia Beach, Virginia has embarked on a life changing technology initiative designed to boost hearing quality in hard-to-hear environments on their 100-acre campus. Installation of a customized system combining two technologies is helping residents with hearing difficulties understand, participate in, and enjoy everyday social activities more completely.Equipment and installation for the initial system was donated by Healthy Hearing Now!, a small family owned hearing aid company in Virginia Beach.Todays hearing aids are technological wonders that can reduce background noise and help people hear with incredible clarity. But for some, that still is not enough, with acoustics remaining problematic, especially in meeting or dining rooms.Atlantic Shores Anchor Room, a hub for activities and presentations, has been equipped with a Hearing Loop system, which delivers a broadcast quality signal customized to each listener. This induction loop system is a loop of wire installed around the room and then connected to the sound system. Audio is broadcast via electromagnetic signal to residents wearing hearing aids equipped with telecoils (T-Coils), or special headsets. The end result is the ability to hear any sound broadcast through the system with amazing clarity, and without background noise -- allowing residents to thoroughly enjoy movies, speakers, live concerts, and class instruction with their own customized sound. Similar systems are installed worldwide in churches, college lecture halls including the University of Virginia, and other large venues.The Chesapeake Room, the communitys main room for daily dining and monthly meetings, has been outfitted with a portable RogerTouchscreen microphone and associated Roger MyLink receiver. This system allows residents dining together at the same table to converse and hear each other using a Roger Touchscreen Mic sitting in the center of the table. This technology is accessed by residents who have a T-coil in their hearing aids by placing a Roger Mylink around their neck, and accessing the T-coil program in their hearing aid. The systems advanced technology keeps conversation at each table distinct from background noise in the rest of the room. This system also gives residents without hearing aids the ability to wear headphones and experience the same sound clarity their friends with T-coils do, depending on their degree of hearing loss.By employing both technologies, Atlantic Shores is able to accommodate residents in a variety of campus facility spaces, with the loop system designed for a single speaker talking to a group of listeners, and the Roger system used for both large group presentations, as well as residents in personal conversations. Reprogramming of existing facility microphones allows them to integrate with the new technologies.These innovative systems were initially reviewed by Atlantic Shores staff and the communitys Resident Technology Committee, who quickly agreed to partner with Healthy Hearing Now! to improve quality of life for their fellow residents. Installation of the systems was completed by Hearing Technologies in Virginia Beach.Chris Maher, owner of Healthy Hearing Now! shares, We live in a multi-dimensional world, and hearing anchors us in that world. Hearing affects us emotionally, cognitively, behaviorally and socially. Hearing clearly and participating in life is critical to aging successfully. Patients tell me I can hear, I just cant distinguish the words. I dont want to look foolish or not know what Im talking about, so I dont go and eat with others.People with auditory atrophy -- hearing loss paired with a compromised ability to recognize and process speech -- are especially prone to social isolation. Many stop attending activities they used to love going to. This leads to reduced quality of life, increased isolation and cognitive decline.Seniors with hearing loss are also significantly more likely to develop dementia over time than those who retain their hearing, a study by Johns Hopkins and National Institute on Aging researchers suggests. Using data from the Baltimore Longitudinal Study on Aging (BLSA), study leader Frank Lin, M.D., Ph.D. found that study participants with mild, moderate, and severe hearing loss had twofold, threefold, and fivefold, respectively, the risk of developing dementia.According to Atlantic Shores Resident Technical Support Specialist Jamie Lockard, Hearing loss is not an inconsequential aspect of aging, and we refuse to let it be a barrier for our residents. Staying connected and socially active is vital to maintaining good cognitive fitness. With the installation of this system, we are committed to help our residents with hearing loss enjoy life to the fullest, stay connected to others in our vibrant community, and fully take advantage of all Atlantic Shores has to offer.Moving forward, special seminars and a designated staff ambassador will educate residents, family members and fellow staff on the benefits of the systems, how to pair them with current devices, and how residents can maximize their communication lifestyle. In addition to current monthly hearing testing provided, on-site hearing screenings, equipment troubleshooting and maintenance will also be provided by Healthy Hearing Now!And to demonstrate how the looping technology can also make a difference for residents in their own homes, Atlantic Shores will be installing a personal loop in one of their model home units.This joint initiative blends a commitment by Healthy Hearing Now! to help others by providing technology and specialized services, with Atlantic Shores mission to provide high quality housing, supportive services and healthcare while fostering an environment which ensures freedom, dignity, independence and security for all residents.For more information on Atlantic Shores, visit. And learn more about Healthy Hearing Now! atAtlantic Shores is Virginias only resident-governed co-op Retirement Community, offering equity ownership with a vibrant lifestyle. Set on a beautifully landscaped 100-acre campus ten minutes from Virginia Beachs famed oceanfront and boardwalk, Atlantic Shores features over 400 independent living units, ranging from apartment homes to freestanding villa homes, a 53 apartment-home assisted living facility, a 50-bed skilled nursing facility and a 14-bed Memory Care unit. Featuring a comprehensive range of services, social activities, amenities, award-winning cuisine, and a full continuum of on-site medical services including a full-time Medical Director, Atlantic Shores offers an exceptional lifestyle for more than 600 active residents, who live by the motto  Live for Today With a Plan for Tomorrow. For more information, visit:Atlantic Shores Retirement Community1200 Atlantic Shores DriveVirginia Beach, VA 23454
Nov 1, 2017: Immersive Virtual Reality Market Forecast 2023 Virtalis, Immersive Laboratory, Qualcomm

Immersive Virtual Reality

https://goo.gl/NYxQXR

http://www.spiremarketresearch.com/global-immersive-virtual-reality-sales-market-2017-demand-insight-key-players-segmentation-and-forecast-to-2022/

A market study  Global Immersive Virtual Reality Market Forecast  examines the performance of the Immersive Virtual Reality market Size 2017. It encloses an in-depth Research of the Immersive Virtual Reality market state and the competitive landscape globally. This report analyzes the potential of Immersive Virtual Reality market in the present and the future prospects from various angles in detail.Get Free Sample Of Report:The Global Immersive Virtual Reality Market 2017 report includes Immersive Virtual Reality market Size, Revenue, market Share, Immersive Virtual Reality industry volume, market Trends, Immersive Virtual Reality Growth aspects. A wide range of applications, Utilization ratio, Supply and demand analysis are also consist in the report.It shows manufacturing capacity, Immersive Virtual Reality Price during the Forecast period from 2017 to 2023.Manufacturers Analysis and Top Sellers of Global Immersive Virtual Reality Market Forecast 2017:1. Virtalis2. Immersive Virtual Environments Laboratory3. QualcommFirstly, the report covers the top Immersive Virtual Reality manufacturing industry players from regions like United States, EU, Japan, and China. It also characterizes the market based on geological regions.Enquiry for More Info@Further, the Immersive Virtual Reality report gives information on the company profile, market share and contact details along with value chain analysis of Immersive Virtual Reality industry, Immersive Virtual Reality industry rules and policies, circumstances driving the growth of the market and compulsion blocking the growth. Immersive Virtual Reality Market development scope and various business strategies are also mentioned in this report.The Immersive Virtual Reality research report includes the products that are currently in demand and available in the market along with their cost breakup, manufacturing volume, import/export scheme and contribution to the Immersive Virtual Reality market revenue worldwide.Finally, Immersive Virtual Reality market report gives you details about the market research findings and conclusion which helps you to develop profitable market strategies to gain competitive advantage.About UsSpire Market Research is a leading market intelligence company that sells reports of top publishers in the technology industry.United States
Nov 1, 2017: Homecare Telehealth Market Forecast 2023 Biotronik SE Boston, CAS Medical, CONTEC, Dragerwerk

Homecare Telehealth

https://goo.gl/H7262b

http://www.spiremarketresearch.com/global-homecare-telehealth-sales-market-2017-demand-insight-key-players-segmentation-and-forecast-to-2022/

A market study  Global Homecare Telehealth Market Forecast  examines the performance of the Homecare Telehealth market Size 2017. It encloses an in-depth Research of the Homecare Telehealth market state and the competitive landscape globally. This report analyzes the potential of Homecare Telehealth market in the present and the future prospects from various angles in detail.Get Free Sample Of Report:The Global Homecare Telehealth Market 2017 report includes Homecare Telehealth market Size, Revenue, market Share, Homecare Telehealth industry volume, market Trends, Homecare Telehealth Growth aspects. A wide range of applications, Utilization ratio, Supply and demand analysis are also consist in the report.It shows manufacturing capacity, Homecare Telehealth Price during the Forecast period from 2017 to 2023.Manufacturers Analysis and Top Sellers of Global Homecare Telehealth Market Forecast 2017:1. Biotronik SE & Co. KG2. Boston Scientific Corporation3. CAS Medical Systems4. CONTEC MEDICAL5. Dragerwerk6. GE Healthcare7. Guangdong Biolight Meditech8. Medtronic, Inc.9. Mindray Medical10. Nihon Kohden11. Philips Healthcare12. Spacelabs Healthcare13. St. Jude Medical, Inc.Homecare Telehealth Market : Type Analysis External Remote Patient Monitoring Devices Implantable Remote Patient Monitoring DevicesHomecare Telehealth Market : Application Analysis Home HospitalFirstly, the report covers the top Homecare Telehealth manufacturing industry players from regions like United States, EU, Japan, and China. It also characterizes the market based on geological regions.Enquiry for More Info@Further, the Homecare Telehealth report gives information on the company profile, market share and contact details along with value chain analysis of Homecare Telehealth industry, Homecare Telehealth industry rules and policies, circumstances driving the growth of the market and compulsion blocking the growth. Homecare Telehealth Market development scope and various business strategies are also mentioned in this report.The Homecare Telehealth research report includes the products that are currently in demand and available in the market along with their cost breakup, manufacturing volume, import/export scheme and contribution to the Homecare Telehealth market revenue worldwide.Finally, Homecare Telehealth market report gives you details about the market research findings and conclusion which helps you to develop profitable market strategies to gain competitive advantage.About UsSpire Market Research is a leading market intelligence company that sells reports of top publishers in the technology industry.United States
Nov 1, 2017: Function-as-a-Service Market Forecast 2023 IBM, Google Inc, Microsoft, Amazon Web, SAP SE

https://goo.gl/z1XhPf

http://www.spiremarketresearch.com/global-function-as-a-service-sales-market-2017-demand-insight-key-players-segmentation-and-forecast-to-2022/

A market study  Global Function-as-a-Service Market Forecast  examines the performance of the Function-as-a-Service market Size 2017. It encloses an in-depth Research of the Function-as-a-Service market state and the competitive landscape globally. This report analyzes the potential of Function-as-a-Service market in the present and the future prospects from various angles in detail.Get Free Sample Of Report:The Global Function-as-a-Service Market 2017 report includes Function-as-a-Service market Size, Revenue, market Share, Function-as-a-Service industry volume, market Trends, Function-as-a-Service Growth aspects. A wide range of applications, Utilization ratio, Supply and demand analysis are also consist in the report.It shows manufacturing capacity, Function-as-a-Service Price during the Forecast period from 2017 to 2023.Manufacturers Analysis and Top Sellers of Global Function-as-a-Service Market Forecast 2017:1. IBM2. Google Inc3. Microsoft4. Amazon Web5. SAP SE6. Dynatrace7. Infosys Ltd8. Rogue Wave Software9. TIBCO Software Inc.10. Fiorano Software and AffiliatesFunction-as-a-Service Market : Type Analysis Developer-Centric FaaS Operator-Centric FaaSFunction-as-a-Service Market : Application AnalysisWeb-based and Mobile ApplicationResearch and Academic ApplicationFirstly, the report covers the top Function-as-a-Service manufacturing industry players from regions like United States, EU, Japan, and China. It also characterizes the market based on geological regions.Enquiry for More Info@Further, the Function-as-a-Service report gives information on the company profile, market share and contact details along with value chain analysis of Function-as-a-Service industry, Function-as-a-Service industry rules and policies, circumstances driving the growth of the market and compulsion blocking the growth. Function-as-a-Service Market development scope and various business strategies are also mentioned in this report.The Function-as-a-Service research report includes the products that are currently in demand and available in the market along with their cost breakup, manufacturing volume, import/export scheme and contribution to the Function-as-a-Service market revenue worldwide.Finally, Function-as-a-Service market report gives you details about the market research findings and conclusion which helps you to develop profitable market strategies to gain competitive advantage.About UsSpire Market Research is a leading market intelligence company that sells reports of top publishers in the technology industry.United States
Nov 1, 2017: Dental Practice Management Software Market Forecast 2023 Henry Schein, Patterson Companies, Carestream, Curve Dental, DentiMax

Dental Practice Management Software

https://goo.gl/jBk5kh

http://www.spiremarketresearch.com/global-dental-practice-management-software-sales-market-2017-demand-insight-key-players-segmentation-and-forecast-to-2022/

A market study  Global Dental Practice Management Software Market Forecast  examines the performance of the Dental Practice Management Software market Size 2017. It encloses an in-depth Research of the Dental Practice Management Software market state and the competitive landscape globally. This report analyzes the potential of Dental Practice Management Software market in the present and the future prospects from various angles in detail.Get Free Sample Of Report:The Global Dental Practice Management Software Market 2017 report includes Dental Practice Management Software market Size, Revenue, market Share, Dental Practice Management Software industry volume, market Trends, Dental Practice Management Software Growth aspects. A wide range of applications, Utilization ratio, Supply and demand analysis are also consist in the report.It shows manufacturing capacity, Dental Practice Management Software Price during the Forecast period from 2017 to 2023.Manufacturers Analysis and Top Sellers of Global Dental Practice Management Software Market Forecast 2017:1. Henry Schein2. Patterson Companies3. Carestream4. Curve Dental5. DentiMax6. Practice Web, Inc.7. NextGen Healthcare Information Systems, LLC8. ACE Dental Software9. Athenahealth, Inc.10. Datacon Dental Systems, Inc.Dental Practice Management Software Market : Type Analysis Web-Based Cloud-Based On-PremisesDental Practice Management Software Market : Application Analysis Hospital ClinicFirstly, the report covers the top Dental Practice Management Software manufacturing industry players from regions like United States, EU, Japan, and China. It also characterizes the market based on geological regions.Enquiry for More Info@Further, the Dental Practice Management Software report gives information on the company profile, market share and contact details along with value chain analysis of Dental Practice Management Software industry, Dental Practice Management Software industry rules and policies, circumstances driving the growth of the market and compulsion blocking the growth. Dental Practice Management Software Market development scope and various business strategies are also mentioned in this report.The Dental Practice Management Software research report includes the products that are currently in demand and available in the market along with their cost breakup, manufacturing volume, import/export scheme and contribution to the Dental Practice Management Software market revenue worldwide.Finally, Dental Practice Management Software market report gives you details about the market research findings and conclusion which helps you to develop profitable market strategies to gain competitive advantage.About UsSpire Market Research is a leading market intelligence company that sells reports of top publishers in the technology industry.United States
Nov 1, 2017: Directed Energy Weapons Market Forecast 2023 BAE Systems, Boeing, Moog Inc, Textron

Directed Energy Weapons

https://goo.gl/5sSxK7

http://www.spiremarketresearch.com/global-directed-energy-weapons-dew-sales-market-2017-demand-insight-key-players-segmentation-and-forecast-to-2022/

A market study  Global Directed Energy Weapons Market Forecast  examines the performance of the Directed Energy Weapons market Size 2017. It encloses an in-depth Research of the Directed Energy Weapons market state and the competitive landscape globally. This report analyzes the potential of Directed Energy Weapons market in the present and the future prospects from various angles in detail.Get Free Sample Of Report:The Global Directed Energy Weapons Market 2017 report includes Directed Energy Weapons market Size, Revenue, market Share, Directed Energy Weapons industry volume, market Trends, Directed Energy Weapons Growth aspects. A wide range of applications, Utilization ratio, Supply and demand analysis are also consist in the report.It shows manufacturing capacity, Directed Energy Weapons Price during the Forecast period from 2017 to 2023.Manufacturers Analysis and Top Sellers of Global Directed Energy Weapons Market Forecast 2017:1. BAE Systems2. Boeing3. L-3 Communications Holdings, Inc.4. Lockheed Martin Corporation5. Moog Inc6. Northrop Grumman Corporation7. Quinetiq Group PLC.8. Raytheon Company9. Rheinmetall AG10. Textron Inc.Directed Energy Weapons Market : Type Analysis Lethal Weapons Non-Lethal WeaponsDirected Energy Weapons Market : Application Analysis Homeland Security DefenseFirstly, the report covers the top Directed Energy Weapons manufacturing industry players from regions like United States, EU, Japan, and China. It also characterizes the market based on geological regions.Enquiry for More Info@Further, the Directed Energy Weapons report gives information on the company profile, market share and contact details along with value chain analysis of Directed Energy Weapons industry, Directed Energy Weapons industry rules and policies, circumstances driving the growth of the market and compulsion blocking the growth. Directed Energy Weapons Market development scope and various business strategies are also mentioned in this report.The Directed Energy Weapons research report includes the products that are currently in demand and available in the market along with their cost breakup, manufacturing volume, import/export scheme and contribution to the Directed Energy Weapons market revenue worldwide.Finally, Directed Energy Weapons market report gives you details about the market research findings and conclusion which helps you to develop profitable market strategies to gain competitive advantage.About UsSpire Market Research is a leading market intelligence company that sells reports of top publishers in the technology industry.United States
Nov 1, 2017: CNC Boring Mill Market Forecast 2023 Ingersoll Rand, HITACHI KOKI, DEWALT, CS UNITEC

CNC Boring Mill

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http://www.spiremarketresearch.com/global-cnc-boring-mill-sales-market-2017-demand-insight-key-players-segmentation-and-forecast-to-2022/

A market study  Global CNC Boring Mill Market Forecast  examines the performance of the CNC Boring Mill market Size 2017. It encloses an in-depth Research of the CNC Boring Mill market state and the competitive landscape globally. This report analyzes the potential of CNC Boring Mill market in the present and the future prospects from various angles in detail.Get Free Sample Of Report:The Global CNC Boring Mill Market 2017 report includes CNC Boring Mill market Size, Revenue, market Share, CNC Boring Mill industry volume, market Trends, CNC Boring Mill Growth aspects. A wide range of applications, Utilization ratio, Supply and demand analysis are also consist in the report.It shows manufacturing capacity, CNC Boring Mill Price during the Forecast period from 2017 to 2023.Manufacturers Analysis and Top Sellers of Global CNC Boring Mill Market Forecast 2017:1. Ingersoll Rand2. HITACHI KOKI3. DEWALT Industrial Tool4. CS UNITEC5. Bosch6. C. & E. Fein GmbH7. DEWALT Industrial Tool8. FestoolFirstly, the report covers the top CNC Boring Mill manufacturing industry players from regions like United States, EU, Japan, and China. It also characterizes the market based on geological regions.Enquiry for More Info@Further, the CNC Boring Mill report gives information on the company profile, market share and contact details along with value chain analysis of CNC Boring Mill industry, CNC Boring Mill industry rules and policies, circumstances driving the growth of the market and compulsion blocking the growth. CNC Boring Mill Market development scope and various business strategies are also mentioned in this report.The CNC Boring Mill research report includes the products that are currently in demand and available in the market along with their cost breakup, manufacturing volume, import/export scheme and contribution to the CNC Boring Mill market revenue worldwide.Finally, CNC Boring Mill market report gives you details about the market research findings and conclusion which helps you to develop profitable market strategies to gain competitive advantage.About UsSpire Market Research is a leading market intelligence company that sells reports of top publishers in the technology industry.United States
Nov 1, 2017: CNC Tool Changers Market Forecast 2023 COLOMBO FILIPPETTI, CFT Rizzardi, CDS Cam, ZIMMER GROUP

CNC Tool Changers

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http://www.spiremarketresearch.com/global-cnc-tool-changers-sales-market-2017-demand-insight-key-players-segmentation-and-forecast-to-2022/

A market study  Global CNC Tool Changers Market Forecast  examines the performance of the CNC Tool Changers market Size 2017. It encloses an in-depth Research of the CNC Tool Changers market state and the competitive landscape globally. This report analyzes the potential of CNC Tool Changers market in the present and the future prospects from various angles in detail.Get Free Sample Of Report:The Global CNC Tool Changers Market 2017 report includes CNC Tool Changers market Size, Revenue, market Share, CNC Tool Changers industry volume, market Trends, CNC Tool Changers Growth aspects. A wide range of applications, Utilization ratio, Supply and demand analysis are also consist in the report.It shows manufacturing capacity, CNC Tool Changers Price during the Forecast period from 2017 to 2023.Manufacturers Analysis and Top Sellers of Global CNC Tool Changers Market Forecast 2017:1. COLOMBO FILIPPETTI2. CFT Rizzardi3. CDS Cam Driven Systems4. ZIMMER GROUP5. HYPATIA GNC ACCESORIOS6. Roeders7. ITALPLANT8. EMISSAFirstly, the report covers the top CNC Tool Changers manufacturing industry players from regions like United States, EU, Japan, and China. It also characterizes the market based on geological regions.Enquiry for More Info@Further, the CNC Tool Changers report gives information on the company profile, market share and contact details along with value chain analysis of CNC Tool Changers industry, CNC Tool Changers industry rules and policies, circumstances driving the growth of the market and compulsion blocking the growth. CNC Tool Changers Market development scope and various business strategies are also mentioned in this report.The CNC Tool Changers research report includes the products that are currently in demand and available in the market along with their cost breakup, manufacturing volume, import/export scheme and contribution to the CNC Tool Changers market revenue worldwide.Finally, CNC Tool Changers market report gives you details about the market research findings and conclusion which helps you to develop profitable market strategies to gain competitive advantage.About UsSpire Market Research is a leading market intelligence company that sells reports of top publishers in the technology industry.United States
Nov 1, 2017: Conventional Lathes Market Forecast 2023 ZMM Bulgaria, Kent Industrial, Huracan Maquinarias, echoENG

Conventional Lathes

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http://www.spiremarketresearch.com/global-conventional-lathes-sales-market-2017-demand-insight-key-players-segmentation-and-forecast-to-2022/

A market study  Global Conventional Lathes Market Forecast  examines the performance of the Conventional Lathes market Size 2017. It encloses an in-depth Research of the Conventional Lathes market state and the competitive landscape globally. This report analyzes the potential of Conventional Lathes market in the present and the future prospects from various angles in detail.Get Free Sample Of Report:The Global Conventional Lathes Market 2017 report includes Conventional Lathes market Size, Revenue, market Share, Conventional Lathes industry volume, market Trends, Conventional Lathes Growth aspects. A wide range of applications, Utilization ratio, Supply and demand analysis are also consist in the report.It shows manufacturing capacity, Conventional Lathes Price during the Forecast period from 2017 to 2023.Manufacturers Analysis and Top Sellers of Global Conventional Lathes Market Forecast 2017:1. ZMM Bulgaria2. Kent Industrial3. Huracan Maquinarias4. echoENG5. CAZENEUVE6. Knuth Machine Tools7. WEILER Werkzeugmaschinen8. SCHAUBLIN MACHINESFirstly, the report covers the top Conventional Lathes manufacturing industry players from regions like United States, EU, Japan, and China. It also characterizes the market based on geological regions.Enquiry for More Info@Further, the Conventional Lathes report gives information on the company profile, market share and contact details along with value chain analysis of Conventional Lathes industry, Conventional Lathes industry rules and policies, circumstances driving the growth of the market and compulsion blocking the growth. Conventional Lathes Market development scope and various business strategies are also mentioned in this report.The Conventional Lathes research report includes the products that are currently in demand and available in the market along with their cost breakup, manufacturing volume, import/export scheme and contribution to the Conventional Lathes market revenue worldwide.Finally, Conventional Lathes market report gives you details about the market research findings and conclusion which helps you to develop profitable market strategies to gain competitive advantage.About UsSpire Market Research is a leading market intelligence company that sells reports of top publishers in the technology industry.United States
Nov 1, 2017: Palletizer Market Forecast 2023 Minebea, NSK, SKF, Kitanihon Seiki, FAG, Timken

Palletizer

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http://www.spiremarketresearch.com/global-palletizer-sales-market-2017-demand-insight-key-players-segmentation-and-forecast-to-2022/

A market study  Global Palletizer Market Forecast  examines the performance of the Palletizer market Size 2017. It encloses an in-depth Research of the Palletizer market state and the competitive landscape globally. This report analyzes the potential of Palletizer market in the present and the future prospects from various angles in detail.Get Free Sample Of Report:The Global Palletizer Market 2017 report includes Palletizer market Size, Revenue, market Share, Palletizer industry volume, market Trends, Palletizer Growth aspects. A wide range of applications, Utilization ratio, Supply and demand analysis are also consist in the report.It shows manufacturing capacity, Palletizer Price during the Forecast period from 2017 to 2023.Manufacturers Analysis and Top Sellers of Global Palletizer Market Forecast 2017:1. Minebea2. NSK3. SKF4. Kitanihon Seiki5. FAG6. Timken7. NTN8. GRW Bearings9. Pacamor Kubar10. Shanghai TianAn11. HUANCHI12. HONGSHAN13. SWC Bearings14. CW Bearings15. Shanghai HengAn16. Lily BearingsFirstly, the report covers the top Palletizer manufacturing industry players from regions like United States, EU, Japan, and China. It also characterizes the market based on geological regions.Enquiry for More Info@Further, the Palletizer report gives information on the company profile, market share and contact details along with value chain analysis of Palletizer industry, Palletizer industry rules and policies, circumstances driving the growth of the market and compulsion blocking the growth. Palletizer Market development scope and various business strategies are also mentioned in this report.The Palletizer research report includes the products that are currently in demand and available in the market along with their cost breakup, manufacturing volume, import/export scheme and contribution to the Palletizer market revenue worldwide.Finally, Palletizer market report gives you details about the market research findings and conclusion which helps you to develop profitable market strategies to gain competitive advantage.About UsSpire Market Research is a leading market intelligence company that sells reports of top publishers in the technology industry.United States
Global Chicory Market2017 : Segment Analysis by Product, Application, Type & Regional, Key Players and Forecast to 2022

https://www.wiseguyreports.com/sample-request/839409-world-chicory-market-research-report-2021

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Chicory market research report provides the newest industry data and industry future trends, allowing you to identify the products and end users driving revenue growth and profitability.The industry report lists the leading competitors and provides the insights strategic industry analysis of the key factors influencing the market.The report includes the forecasts, analysis and discusion of important industry trends, market size, market share estimates and profiles of the leading industry players.Global Chicory Market: Product Segment AnalysisChicory flourRoasted chicoryChicory extractsInstant chicoryRequest a Sample Report @Global Chicory Market: Application Segment AnalysisBeverage IndustryFood industryHealth Care Products and MedicinesGlobal Chicory Market: Regional Segment AnalysisUSAEuropeJapanChinaIndiaSouth East AsiaThe players mentioned in our reportBeneoCosucraCosunLerouxAccess Complete Report@Table of Content ( Key Points )Chapter 1 About the Chicory Industry1.1 Industry Definition1.1.1 Types of Chicory industry1.2.1.1 Chicory flour1.2.1.2 Roasted chicory1.2.1.3 Chicory extracts1.2.1.4 Instant chicory1.2 Main Market Activities1.3 Similar Industries1.4 Industry at a GlanceChapter 2 World Market Competition Lanscape2.1 Chicory Markets by regions2.1.1 USAMarket Revenue by types, Through 2021Market overviewMajor players Revenue in 20152.1.2 EuropeMarket Revenue by types, Through 2021Market overviewMajor players Revenue in 20152.1.3 ChinaMarket Revenue by types, Through 2021Market overviewMajor players Revenue in 20152.1.4 IndiaMarket Revenue by types, Through 2021Market overviewMajor players Revenue in 20152.1.5 JapanMarket Revenue by types, Through 2021Market overviewMajor players Revenue in 20152.1.6 South East AsiaMarket Revenue by types, Through 2021Market overviewMajor players Revenue in 20152.2 World Chicory Market by typesChicory flourRoasted chicoryChicory extractsInstant chicory2.3 World Chicory Market by ApplicationsBeverage IndustryFood industryHealth Care Products and MedicinesChapter 3 World Chicory Market share3.1 Major players Market share by production3.2 Major players Market share by Revenue3.3 Major Regions Market share by Production in 2015, Through 20213.4 Major Regions Market share By Revenue in 2015, Through 2021Chapter 4 Supply Chain4.1 Industry Supply chain Analysis4.2 Raw material Market analysis4.2.1 Raw material Prices analysis 2012-20164.2.2 Raw material Supply Market analysis4.2 Manufacturing Equipment Suppliers Analysis4.3 Production Proces Analysis4.4 Production Cost Structure Benchmarks4.5 End users Market AnalysisChapter 5 Company ProfilesBeneo.1 Company Details (Foundation Year, Employee Strength and etc).2 Product Information (Picture, Specifications and Applications).3 Revenue, Price and Operating Profits5.2 Cosucra5.2.1 Company Details (Foundation Year, Employee Strength and etc)5.2.2 Product Information (Picture, Specifications and Applications)5.2.3 Revenue, Price and Operating Profits5.3 Cosun5.3.1 Company Details (Foundation Year, Employee Strength and etc)5.3.2 Product Information (Picture, Specifications and Applications)5.3.3 Revenue, Price and Operating Profits5.10 Leroux5.10.1 Company Details (Foundation Year, Employee Strength and etc)5.10.2 Product Information (Picture, Specifications and Applications)5.10.3 Revenue, Price and Operating ProfitsChapter 6 Globalisation & Trade6.1 Busines LocationsContinuedPurchase Now @ABOUT US:Wise Guy Reports is part of the Wise Guy Consultants Pvt. Ltd. and offers premium progressive statistical surveying, market research reports, analysis & forecast data for industries and governments around the globe. Wise Guy Reports features an exhaustive list of market research reports from hundreds of publishers worldwide. We boast a database spanning virtually every market category and an even more comprehensive collection of market research reports under these categories and sub-categories.ADDRES:WISE GUY RESEARCH CONSULTANTS PVT LTDOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, HadapsarPune - 411028Maharashtra, India
Hydraulic Cylinder Market- Future Market with Current Trend Analysis upto 2025

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Global Hydraulic Cylinder Market: SnapshotHydraulic cylinders play a crucial role in motion control in a wide range of industrial applications such as in aerospace, wind turbines, industrial robotics, and military. They are used in making mobile industrial concrete pumps which have varied applications in the construction industry. The unidirectional force generated in the hydraulic fluids drives the power in piston rods, which helps in lifting, pushing, and pulling of machinery and earthmoving equipment. Over the past few years, constant improvements have been made in the metals used in hydraulic pumps. This has led to equipment being more tear- and corrosion-resistant resulting in better performance and efficiency in harsh environments. Ergonomic and design innovations in various parts used in hydraulic pumps make them more flexible and standardized, allowing for easy replaceability of parts irrespective of vendors or suppliers in the market. The use of carbon fiber composite materials reduces the weight of hydraulic cylinders considerably, thereby enhancing their performance.The maintenance of frictional properties of rod seals and wipers used in hydraulic cylinders is critical for their higher service life and their efficiency in more demanding environments. Hence it is imperative that adequate coatings on piston rod seals are done to minimize tear and wear that may be caused by static and dynamic friction. In recent years, the impact of alternative coatings has been tested to be instrumental in enhancing the life-cycle of hydraulic equipment. Furthermore, the use of radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology used in hydraulic cylinders is a recent innovation underpinning the adoption of automation in Industry 4.0. RFID tags help in the identification and traceability of cylinders that need repair or replacement, even in difficult operating environments where the markings may be covered by hard-to-remove industrial dirt.Request Sample Copy of the Report @Global Hydraulic Cylinder Market: OverviewA hydraulic cylinder refers to a mechanical actuator that is utilized to provide unidirectional force through a unidirectional stroke. Powered by pressurized hydraulic fluid, hydraulic cylinders have extensive applications in construction, manufacturing, heavy industries, and agriculture.The research report presents a detailed assessment of market drivers, market challenges, growth trends that will impact the growth of the global hydraulic cylinder market during the forecast period. The report provides detailed insights into the vendor landscape of this market throwing light on the growth opportunities that leading players can leverage.Request TOC of the Report @Global Hydraulic Cylinder Market: Drivers and RestraintsThe top factor driving the global hydraulic cylinder market is rapid industrialization combined with economic growth in developing countries. The robust demand for modern agriculture equipment for improved productivity and conservation of energy is expected to augment the growth of the global hydraulic cylinders market. Furthermore, the evolution of food processing industries combined with the modernization of agricultural practices will fuel the demand for hydraulic cylinders in the coming years.Furthermore, the rising demand for material handling equipment for minimizing the risk of downtime will fuel the growth of the global hydraulic cylinder market in the near future. Material handling equipment such as electronic overhead traveling cranes and level luffing cranes are utilized across a large range of industries such as food and beverage, oil and gas, power, and retail.In developed countries such as the U.S., large-scale initiatives for the exploration of shale gas is expected to benefit the markets growth. In industrial units, factors such as the expansion of production capacity and capacity utilization will also augment the growth of the hydraulic cylinder market.Get Discount @Global Hydraulic Cylinder Market: Regional OutlookThe global hydraulic cylinder market can be divided into the regional segments of North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Rest of the World. China is expected to contribute significantly to the growth of the Asia Pacific hydraulic cylinder market. This is mainly due to huge investments announced by the Chinese government in the infrastructure sector. The modernization of agricultural practices combined with increasing investment in infrastructure will lead India to contribute significantly to the Asia Pacific hydraulic cylinder market during the forecast period.In North America, the U.S. hydraulic cylinder market is expected to grow by leaps and bound. The increasing investment on defense and material handling and aerospace will further boost the industrys growth.Russia is anticipated to display significant gains in the hydraulic cylinder market. The increasing demand for modern agriculture and construction equipment will bolster the demand for hydraulic cylinders in the country. In Latin America, Brazil is expected to display significant demand for hydraulic cylinders. The increasing investment in transport infrastructure and government initiatives for the development of the transportation sector will boost the hydraulic cylinder market in this region.Major Companies Mentioned in ReportSome of the leading companies in the global hydraulic cylinder market are Wipro Infrastructure Engineering, Best Metal Products, Eaton Corporation PLC, Lignon Industries LLC, Hydrapac Italia, Chapel Hydraulic, Bailey International LLC, Enerpac Corp., Parker-Hannifin Corporation, Texas Inc., Hydrosila, Weber-Hydraulik Group, Bosch Rexroth AG, Aggresssive Inc., Hannon LLC, Perfection Prince Manufacturing Corporation, Burnside Autocyl (Tullow) Ltd, United Hydraulics, Caterpillar Inc., Hyco International Inc., Precision group Inc., Norrhydro OY, and Pacoma GmbH.Each of the companies is profiled for their business attributes of competitive position, technological developments, financial standing, and SWOTs.About TMR ResearchTMR Research is a premier provider of customized market research and consulting services to business entities keen on succeeding in todays supercharged economic climate. Armed with an experienced, dedicated, and dynamic team of analysts, we are redefining the way our clients conduct business by providing them with authoritative and trusted research studies in tune with the latest methodologies and market trends.Our savvy custom-built reports span a gamut of industries such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals and metals, food and beverages, and technology and media, among others. With actionable insights uncovered through in-depth research of the market, we try to bring about game-changing success for our clients.Contact:TMR Research,3739 Balboa St # 1097,San Francisco, CA 94121United StatesTel: +1-415-520-1050Email: sales@tmrresearch.com
Global Copper Sulphate Market 2017 - Lustros Inc., NEKK Europe Ltd., Xintai Copper Industrial Co. Ltd., Yunnan Copper Company Ltd.

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http://www.imarcgroup.com/copper-sulphate-technical-material-market-report

http://www.imarcgroup.com/sodium-chlorate-technical-material-market-report

http://www.imarcgroup.com/aluminium-powder-manufacturing-plant

www.imarcgroup.com

Over the past few years, the global copper sulphate market has experienced a healthy growth. This can be accredited to its usage in the production of insecticides, pesticides, fertilizers, sterilizers, wood preservatives, paints, etc.Request a free sample copy of the report:The latest report by IMARC Group, titled Copper Sulphate Market: Global Industry Trends, Share, Size, Growth, Opportunity and Forecast 2017-2022, finds that the global copper sulphate market has grown at a CAGR of around 5% during 2009-2016, reaching a volume of more than 300 Thousand Tons in 2016. Copper sulphate (CuSO4) is an inorganic compound found in the form of bright blue or green coloured crystals. Due to its colour, these crystals are also known as bluestone, vitriol of copper, blue vitriol or roman vitriol. This copper salt is produced industrially by treating copper metal or its oxides with hot concentrated sulfuric acid. Alternatively, it can also be produced by slowly leaching low grade copper ore in air. Copper sulphate has a wide range of applications and has been used since ages for the manufacturing of products ranging from fungicides to paints.Highlights of the global copper sulphate market:Copper sulphate finds diverse applications in industries such as agriculture, healthcare, textile, etc.The farming and animal husbandry sector holds the largest share in the market.On the basis of consumption, Asia-Pacific dominates the market.In agriculture sector, copper sulphate is used in herbicides, fungicides and fertilizers, and as a soil steriliser in copper deficient soils. In the healthcare sector, it is used in sterilizers, disinfectants and in the manufacturing of copper catalysts. It is also used in the production of anti-sceptic agents which are used in swimming pools to inhibit the bacterial growth. Apart from this, copper sulphate finds numerous applications in sectors such as adhesive, chemical, metal, mining, paint, synthetic fibre, etc. According to the report, the market is further expected to grow at a CAGR of 4% during 2017-2022, reaching a volume of more than 400 Thousand Tons by 2022.Read full report with TOC @The global copper sulphate market has been segmented on the basis of end-uses. It finds a wide range of applications in industries such as farming, animal husbandry, healthcare, textile, etc. Amongst these, farming and animal husbandry is considered as the biggest market. Based on region, it is found that Asia-Pacific represents the biggest consumer of copper sulphate. Other major regions are North America, Latin America, Europe, and Middle East and Africa. The US represents the largest importer of copper sulphate followed by Australia, Canada, Indonesia, Netherlands. The Russian Federation, on the other hand, is the worlds largest exporter of copper sulphate accounting for around one-fifth of the total global exports. On analysing the competitive landscape of the market, the major manufacturers found are Lustros Inc., NEKK Europe Ltd., Xintai Copper Industrial Co. Ltd., Yunnan Copper Company Ltd., SimpL, Cuprichem, Old Bridge Chemicals Inc. and UMMC.Browse related reports :Sodium Chlorate Market:Aluminium Powder Market:About UsIMARC Group is a leading market research company that offers management strategy and market research worldwide. We partner with clients in all sectors and regions to identify their highest-value opportunities, address their most critical challenges, and transform their businesses.IMARCs information products include major market, scientific, economic and technological developments for business leaders in pharmaceutical, industrial, and high technology organizations. Market forecasts and industry analysis for biotechnology, advanced materials, pharmaceuticals, food and beverage, travel and tourism, nanotechnology and novel processing methods are at the top of the companys expertise.Global Cigarette Lighter Market.Contact usIMARC Group309 2nd St, Brooklyn, NY 11215, USAWebsite:Email: sales@imarcgroup.comUSA: +1-631-791-1145
Global Aircraft De-Icing Market 2017 Industry Analysis, Trends, Estimation & Forecast 2024

https://www.fiormarkets.com/report-detail/126095/request-sample

https://goo.gl/DEJn97

www.fiormarkets.com

The foremost aim of the report is to provide accurate market estimation and to forecast the global aircraft de-icing market on the basis of market segmentation. Significant segments of the market analyzed within the study are equipment, application, system, and geography. The study also provides detailed analysis of top impacting factors such as flight delays during snow, safe take-off & landing operations during snowfall, modernization & expansion of existing airports, high initial investments, and regulatory issues and their influence over the market. The report provides the detailed market size with respect to four major regions namely North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World. The report contains company profiles of key market leaders and their competitive strategies. It also provides key developments such as merger & acquisitions, collaborations, new product innovations, and technological advancement within global aircraft de-icing market.Download free sample report @The report provides extensive analysis and company profiles of top competing vendors. JBT Corporation, B/E Aerospace, Inc., UTC Aerospace Systems, Weihai Guangtai Airport Equipment Co Ltd., Clariant AG, The Dow Chemical Company, Cryotech, Global Ground Support LLC, Vestergaard Company A/S, Safeaero I Trelleborg AB are some of the prominent vendors of the market and product innovations, mergers & acquisitions, and contracts are the most adopted market strategies of global aircraft de-icing market.Key Takeaways The research offers a deep dive analysis of the key market determinants impacting the global aircraft de-icing market. Quantitative analysis in terms of market sizing (revenue) for each of the segments mentioned in the report. Value chain analysis helps to understand the role of each intermediary involved in the business process. Porters five forces analysis assists to comprehend the market environment in reference to the buyers and sellers activities. Key vendors active in the market are analyzed in terms of their strategic attempts and business/financial performance along with competitive analysis. The quantitative and qualitative analysis would help the buyers to have a holistic view of the global aircraft de-icing market.Global Aircraft De-Icing Market SegmentationBy Equipment De-icing trucks Sweepers and blowers De-icing chemicals and fluidso Type Io Type IIo Type IIIo Type IV OthersBy Application Commercial MilitaryBy System Electro-mechanical ice protection system Pneumatic ice protection system Electro-thermal ice protection system Rotor blade ice protection systemBy Geography North America Europe Asia-Pacific Rest of the WorldBrowse Full Report at @Offered CustomizationFor the report we offer exclusive customizations suitable for your needs. The following most desired customization are available for the reportRegional Customization Further breakdown of major region into country wise sector (as per request) Further breakdown of major segments as per region/sub-segmentCompany Customization Detailed analysis of additional market players as per your requirement.About Fior MarketsFior Markets is a leading market intelligence company that sells reports of top publishers in the technology industry.Our extensive research reports cover detailed market assessments that include major technological improvements in the industry. Fior Markets also specializes in analyzing hi-tech systems and current processing systems in its expertise.We have a team of experts that compile precise research reports and actively advise top companies to improve their existing processes. Our experts have extensive experience in the topics that they cover.Fior Markets provides you the full spectrum of services related to market research, and corroborate with the clients to increase the revenue stream, and address process gaps.Contact UsMark StoneSales ManagerOffice-102, Sanskriti AspirationsBaner Road, Pune,MH 411045IndiaPhone: (201) 465-4211Email: sales@fiormarkets.comWeb:
Air Operated Double Diaphragm Pumps Market - Market Trends and Dynamics upto 2025

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Global Air Operated Double Diaphragm Pumps Market: OverviewThe world air operated double diaphragm pumps market is breeding lucrative opportunities for the vendors with the cost-efficient and low maintenance applications of the systems. The air operated double diaphragm pumps have provided an excellent replacement for centrifugal pumps and all-round applications in a broad scope of industries. Consumers in different sectors are adopting these pumps as an attractive package with the self-priming feature. Moreover, they can be used in remote locations and hazardous environments as they are completely powered from compressed air.The report offers a critical analysis of the key segments of the global air operated double diaphragm pumps market which could be categorized under different classifications such as application, valve, operation, and region.Our seasoned research analysts of the air operated double diaphragm pumps market can customize the report according to the business needs of the buyers. The customized report will feature the competitive landscape, Porters five forces model, conclusive drivers and restraints, market scope, and current and future opportunities.Request Sample Copy of the Report @Global Air Operated Double Diaphragm Pumps Market: Trends and OpportunitiesThe air operated double diaphragm pumps market is envisaged to gain impetus from the swelling and ubiquitous application of the systems in the chemical sector. Rising at a moderate CAGR, the global market is expected to receive a significant contribution from the investments made in the pharma and cosmetics industries. Other decisive factors that are predicted to propel the growth of the market include the aggressive rise in global infrastructure and its promising development.In terms of valves, the global air operated double diaphragm pumps market could see an important segmentation which features ball valves and flap valves. Out of the two segments, ball valves is envisioned to attract a colossal demand on the back of an industrial trend gaining strength of late. The ball valves market is foreseen to clasp an impressive share, putting behind the markets for other valve types. Some of the principal factors that are augmenting the growth of the market for ball valves are their flattering performance and fine efficiency.Request TOC of the Report @According to application, the international air operated double diaphragm pumps market could be classified into food and beverage, mining, pharmaceutical, chemical, marine, and water treatment. Although there are a number of applications of air operated double diaphragm pumps in different sectors, the chemical and water treatment markets are foretold to take a leading position with regard to market share. Nonetheless, the food and beverage industry is helping the global market to rake in a significant amount of revenue with elevating incidences of meteoric integration.Global Air Operated Double Diaphragm Pumps Market: Geographical OutlookAlthough Europe is deemed to have settled in the world air operated double diaphragm pumps market with a mammoth share, there are other regions which have made their presence known. During the course of the forecast period 20172025, the Asia Pacific market is prophesied to ride on the rapid pace of its growth as it looks to compete intensively with the Europe market. Asia Pacific is researched by a majority of analysts to be a prominent region for the global market to thrive on. Nevertheless, Europe will look to take advantage of the favorable development policies formulated in its region. North America and the Middle East and Africa are the other geographical segments studied under the microscope by the analysts.Get Discount @Global Air Operated Double Diaphragm Pumps Market: CompetitionBuyers of the report can have access to key company profiling of the major players in the global air operated double diaphragm pumps market. Among others, Warren Rupp, Depa, Wilden, DellMeco, Graco, Murzan, Verder, TAPFLO, Debem, and ARO are looked upon as the crucial operators in the global market. In order to add to their market share, several players have taken to acquisitions and mergers, new product developments, expansions, and other critical strategies.About TMR ResearchTMR Research is a premier provider of customized market research and consulting services to business entities keen on succeeding in todays supercharged economic climate. Armed with an experienced, dedicated, and dynamic team of analysts, we are redefining the way our clients conduct business by providing them with authoritative and trusted research studies in tune with the latest methodologies and market trends.Our savvy custom-built reports span a gamut of industries such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals and metals, food and beverages, and technology and media, among others. With actionable insights uncovered through in-depth research of the market, we try to bring about game-changing success for our clients.Contact:TMR Research,3739 Balboa St # 1097,San Francisco, CA 94121United StatesTel: +1-415-520-1050Email: sales@tmrresearch.com
Ultra-low Temperature Freezer Market - Detailed Analysis and Forecast upto 2025

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Global Ultra-low Temperature Freezer Market: SnapshotUltra-low temperature freezer, sometimes also called ultra-low freezer, are used for the storage of samples that require storage temperature typically as low as -86C. Ultra-low temperature freezers are extensive used for the safe storage of a variety of samples in various clinical, pharmacy, biotechnology, and laboratory applications. They are also employed in sample storage in medical clinics, hospitals, and personal labs used for toxicology studies. The preclinical safety evaluation of new pharmaceuticals also call for the reliable storage of tissues propelling the demand for toxicology studies.Over the past few years, significant product advancements have been made leading to innovative freezing technology, better thermal performance, security, easy-to-use microprocessor controls, and user-friendly electronic interfaces. Some of the benchtop freezers not only provide temperature uniformity, but also marked energy savings. The ergonomic design of ultra-low freezer enables a superior fit under overhead cabinets. In recent years, several prominent players such as Thermofisher Scientific Inc., Panasonic Healthcare Corporation, and Haier have introduced significant technology enhancement to meet the specific needs of consumers. Some ultra-low temperature freezers also enable clinicians and researchers to store samples to temperature below -130C. The design of innovative dual digital temperature control systems helps them monitor set-point and the actual temperature. Advancement in engineering design help in managing optimal storage temperature conditions. This also ensures cost-effective operation. The incorporation of control access by radio-frequency identification (RFID) is another technological enhancement expected to favorably impact the ultra-low temperature freezer market. The technology is useful in providing protection to sensitive samples from any unauthorized and fraudulent access by third parties.Request Sample Copy of the Report @Global Ultra-low Temperature Freezer Market: OverviewThe global market for ultra-low temperature freezers is likely to grow at a steady pace in the coming years. This type of freezers is being used extensively in hospitals, bio-banks, and research institutes in order to preserve bacteria, viruses, drugs, chemicals, enzymes, cell preparations, and tissue samples. The increasing adoption of ultra-low temperature freezers is anticipated to supplement the growth of the market in the near future. The research study provides a detailed analysis of the global ultra-low temperature freezer market, emphasizing on the market dynamics that are estimated to impact the growth in the near future. The key segmentation, growth factors, and challenges in the global market have been included in the study to provide a strong understanding among players and readers.Global Ultra-low Temperature Freezer Market: Drivers and RestraintsThe rising prevalence of chronic diseases across the globe and the rising need for innovative and high-efficient products are some of the major factors that are likely to encourage the growth of the global ultra-low temperature freezer market in the next few years. In addition, the increasing focus of players on innovations and research and development activities in order to enhance their product quality is predicted to accelerate the markets growth in the near future.On the contrary, the ethical concerns related to the freezing of embryos and the high cost of freezers are anticipated to restrict the growth of the global ultra-low temperature freezer market in the coming years. Nonetheless, the increasing expenditure and research in the biomedical field and the growing demand for environment-friendly refrigerators are projected to offer promising opportunities for players operating in the global ultra-low temperature freezer market in the forecast period.Request TOC of the Report @Global Ultra-low Temperature Freezer Market: Region-wise OutlookThe global market for ultra-low temperature freezers has been divided on the basis of geography into North America, Latin America, Asia Pacific, Europe, and the Middle East and Africa. The research study has highlighted the key factors that are encouraging the growth of the leading segments. In addition, the anticipated growth rate of each regional segment, along with the market size and share have been discussed at length in the scope of the study to offer a clear understanding of the overall market.Among the key regional segments, North America is predicted to observe healthy growth in the forecast period. The rising demand for ultra-low temperature freezers, owing to the advanced healthcare infrastructure in this region is estimated to contribute substantially towards the growth of the market in the next few years. Furthermore, Europe is anticipated to grow at a steady growth rate in the coming years. On the other hand, according to the research study, the Asia Pacific market for ultra-low temperature freezers is likely to witness robust growth in the near future.Key Players Mentioned in the Research Report are:The global market for ultra-low temperature freezers is expected to witness strong growth in the coming few years. The increasing participation of players in the market and the growing focus on innovations in this field are some of the key factors anticipated to strengthen the competitive scenario of the overall market across the forecast period. Moreover, the leading companies operating in the global market are emphasizing on strategic collaborations and mergers and acquisitions in order to enhance their market penetration across the globe.Get Discount @Some of the key players leading the global ultra-low temperature freezer market are Thermofisher Scientific Inc., Haier, VWR International, Panasonic Healthcare Corporation of North America, Helmer Scientific, and Eppendrof AG. To offer a strong understanding of the market, the research study has provided a detailed overview of the company profiles, along with their business tactics, marketing activities, financial overview, and recent developments.About TMR ResearchTMR Research is a premier provider of customized market research and consulting services to business entities keen on succeeding in todays supercharged economic climate. Armed with an experienced, dedicated, and dynamic team of analysts, we are redefining the way our clients conduct business by providing them with authoritative and trusted research studies in tune with the latest methodologies and market trends.Our savvy custom-built reports span a gamut of industries such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals and metals, food and beverages, and technology and media, among others. With actionable insights uncovered through in-depth research of the market, we try to bring about game-changing success for our clients.Contact:TMR Research,3739 Balboa St # 1097,San Francisco, CA 94121United StatesTel: +1-415-520-1050Email: sales@tmrresearch.com
Cold-Brew Coffee Market Demand affects the Hot Drinks Market - 2022 Estimation

ReportsWeb

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http://www.reportsweb.com/buy&RW0001888896/buy/2900

http://www.reportsweb.com/global-cold-brew-coffee-market-research-report-2017

Latest report on "Global Cold-Brew Coffee Market Research Report 2017" published by ReportsWeb which covers the market landscape and its growth prospects over the coming years. It also includes a discussion of the key players operating in this market.Global Cold-Brew Coffee market competition by top manufacturers, with production, price, revenue (value) and market share for each manufacturer; the top players includingChameleonKohana CoffeeStarbucksStumptownLucky JackHigh BrewCalifia FarmsRed ThreadCavemanBlue BottleHotbox RoastersCaffeine InformerRequest a Sample on Cold-Brew Coffee market atOn the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split intoCanned Cold-Brew CoffeeBottled Cold-Brew CoffeeOthers (cups)On the basis on the end users/applications, this report focuses on the status and outlook for major applications/end users, consumption (sales) , market share and growth rate of Cold-Brew Coffee for each application, includingHomeCommercialGeographically, this report is segmented into several key Regions, with production, consumption, revenue (million USD) , market share and growth rate of Cold-Brew Coffee in these regions, from 2012 to 2022 (forecast) , coveringNorth AmericaEuropeChinaJapanSoutheast AsiaIndiaOrder a copy of Global Cold-Brew Coffee Market atKey Point from Table of Contents:1 Cold-Brew Coffee Market Overview2 Global Cold-Brew Coffee Market Competition by Manufacturers3 Global Cold-Brew Coffee Capacity, Production, Revenue (Value) by Region (2012-2017)4 Global Cold-Brew Coffee Supply (Production), Consumption, Export, Import by Region (2012-2017)5 Global Cold-Brew Coffee Production, Revenue (Value), Price Trend by Type6 Global Cold-Brew Coffee Market Analysis by Application7 Global Cold-Brew Coffee Manufacturers Profiles/Analysis8 Cold-Brew Coffee Manufacturing Cost Analysis9 Industrial Chain, Sourcing Strategy and Downstream Buyers10 Marketing Strategy Analysis, Distributors/Traders11 Market Effect Factors Analysis12 Global Cold-Brew Coffee Market Forecast (2017-2022)13 Research Findings and ConclusionComplete report on Cold-Brew Coffee Market is now available atContact Information:Call: +1-646-491-9876Email: sales@reportsweb.comReportsWeb.com is a one stop shop of market research reports and solutions to various companies across the globe. We help our clients in their decision support system by helping them choose most relevant and cost effective research reports and solutions from various publishers. We provide best in class customer service and our customer support team is always available to help you on your research queries.505, 6th floor, Amanora Township,Amanora Chambers, East Block,Kharadi Road, Hadapsar, Pune-411028
Internet Protocol Television Market - Global IPTV Market Threat and Overcome Solutions Insights 2017 to 2022

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http://www.reportsweb.com/global-internet-protocol-television-market-size-status-and-forecast-2022

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The New Report "Global Internet Protocol Television Market Size, Status and Forecast 2022 Report 2017" published by ReportsWeb, covers the market landscape and its growth prospects over the coming years. The report also includes a discussion of the key vendors operating in this market.This report studies the global Internet Protocol Television market, analyzes and researches the Internet Protocol Television development status and forecast in United States, EU, Japan, China, India and Southeast Asia. This report focuses on the top players in global market, likeAT&TChina TelecomIliadOrangeVerizon CommunicationsBharti AirtelBritish TelecomDeutsche TelekomNeuf CegetelNTT PlalaPCCWUTStarcomRequest a Sample atMarket segment by Regions/Countries, this report coversUnited StatesEUJapanChinaIndiaSoutheast AsiaMarket segment by Type, Internet Protocol Television can be split intoVideoNon-VideoMarket segment by Application, Internet Protocol Television can be split intoResidential CustomersCommercial useOtherBrowse Complete Report atKey Point from Table of Contents:1 Industry Overview of Internet Protocol Television2 Global Internet Protocol Television Competition Analysis by Players3 Company-Top Players) Profiles4 Global Internet Protocol Television Market Size by Application-2012-2017)5 United States Internet Protocol Television Development Status and Outlook6 EU Internet Protocol Television Development Status and Outlook7 Japan Internet Protocol Television Development Status and Outlook8 China Internet Protocol Television Development Status and Outlook9 India Internet Protocol Television Development Status and Outlook10 Southeast Asia Internet Protocol Television Development Status and Outlook11 Market Forecast by Regions and Application-2017-2022)12 Internet Protocol Television Market Dynamics13 Market Effect Factors Analysis14 Research Finding/ConclusionPurchase Complete Report atContact Information:Call: +1-646-491-9876Email: sales@reportsweb.comReportsWeb.com is a one stop shop of market research reports and solutions to various companies across the globe. We help our clients in their decision support system by helping them choose most relevant and cost effective research reports and solutions from various publishers. We provide best in class customer service and our customer support team is always available to help you on your research queries.505, 6th floor, Amanora Township,Amanora Chambers, East Block,Kharadi Road, Hadapsar, Pune-411028
Global Biometrics Industry forecast to expand $50bn by 2024

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https://www.fractovia.org/news/industry-research-report/biometrics-market

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The evolving technologies in biometrics market are expected to provide groundbreaking solutions to the businesses by addressing security threats. Having marked its strong presence in the security landscape, biometrics industry is now rapidly paving its way in the industrial as well as the governmental systems. As this technology is based on the statistical analysis of biological data, the biometrics are witnessing increasing demand in organization that are susceptible to cybercrimes and hacking.Renowned companies are seen signing deals with the tech-giants to secure their information and authentication arenas. One recent instance is of FacePhi Biometria, where this firm is bringing forth its new selfie based authentication system particularly in the financial sector to combat cybersecurity threats.Request for a sample of this research report @Apples recent launch of iPhone 8 with its facial recognition feature, has been a huge step forward in the product spectrum of biometrics industry. It is quite evident that from past few years, biometrics technology has evolved from the stuff of crime investigation to a broader set of technologies that make the operations profoundly secure.Apple Inc., started embracing the biometrics technology in its iPhone with Touch ID & fingerprint sensors and since then has been leading the way forward in adoption of biometrics for security with convenience. Other smartphone industry giants such as LG, Lenovo, and Samsung have also incorporated iris scanners into their smart mobiles and have thus impacted the overall biometrics market trends. In context, it would not be incorrect to say that increasing accessibility of smartphones enabled with biometric identification is all set to proliferate the global biometrics industry share.Make an inquiry for buying this report @Apart from the consumer electronics, the BFSI sector has also been a prominent application destination of the biometrics market, owing to the technologys extensive deployment for identification of errors and cybercrime scrambles in this arena. There has been increasing number of fraudulent cases that have led to several data breaches in the banking sector, JP Morgan Chase being one of the major victims.The financial institutions are thus seen incorporating biometrics to authenticate customers, streamline operations, and secure critical financial data that are prone to potential threats. As per estimates, the biometrics market share from banking and finance sector is expected to witness an annual growth rate of 22% over 2017-2024.If assumptions are to be believed, biometrics technology is touted as the future of authentication and identity management. Organizations are increasingly starting to deploy biometrics technology as it uses separate and unique features for identification process such as fingerprints, hand geometry, palm veins, face recognition, voice, retina, iris recognition and even DNA.Such use of unique personal characteristics has led to this technology pegging the title of one of the most convenient yet secured security and identification protocols. The developments and the increasing application scope across myriad sectors are set to carve out a profitable roadmap for biometrics industry in the ensuing years. Global Market Insights, Inc., claims global biometrics market share to surpass USD 50 billion by 2024.Browse key industry insights spread across 90 pages with 90 market data tables & 57 figures & charts from the report, Biometrics Market Size By Application (Banking & Finance, Consumer Electronics, Defense Services, Government, Transportation, Healthcare), By Product (AFIS, Non-AFIS, Hand Geometry, Signature, Voice, Iris, Face), Industry Analysis Report, Regional Outlook (U.S., Canada, UK, Germany, France, Russia, China, India, Japan, South Korea, Mexico, Brazil), Application Potential, Price Trends, Competitive Market Share & Forecast, 2017  2024 in detail along with the table of contents:About Fractovia.orgFractovia.org is one of India's leading in-house and free news portal. It is fully automated, and operates on a constant premise, interfacing with news sites and offering redesigned breaking features to readers across the globe. Our mission is to offer individuals opportunities for connections with news writers and distributors which they can pursue. We operate by mapping articles pertaining to breaking news, constantly and progressively, against a pre-determined word-based theme, offering important connections to readers and clients, as well as distributers.Contact Us:Arun HegdeCorporate Sales, USAFractovia.orgPhone: 1-302-846-7766Toll Free: 1-888-689-0688Email: sales@fractovia.orgWebsite:
Construction Repaint Market - Trends, Share and Growth & Forecast upto 2025

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Global Construction Repaint Market: SnapshotCompanies operating in the world construction repaint market could tap into several new avenues of application birthed with the development and innovation of new products through wide-ranging research and development accomplishments. PPG Industries, for instance, unveiled two innovative water-based aerosol ceiling textures under its HOMAX brand. These new products suitable for orange-peel and knockdown repair projects are expected to reduce the repair time of ceilings. This launch is anticipated to help the company gain a strong traction in the world construction repaint market.In 2016, a majority of players had taken to new product development, acquisitions, and expansions in order to enlarge their product portfolio and improve their international reach in the world construction repaint market. Other strategies that could take shape in the world construction repaint market to help players gain a competitive edge over their competitors include joint ventures and partnerships. Involved in various repaint seminars and projects, Nippon Paint Holdings Co., Ltd. launched Nippon VirusGuard Paint, a new antibacterial and antivirus paint.Request Sample Copy of the Report @The application of volatile organic compound-free or VOC-free paints is envisioned to dominate at almost all classes of the construction industry, especially in developed nations such as the U.S. Most American consumers are aware of the negative effects of VOCs on the environment and therefore could avoid the use of such paints for their repainting work in residential and commercial sites. Organizations at larger are foretold to invest in the Washington County Operation Clean House and other similar events to collect and safely dispose of VOC paints as per the prescribed regulations.Global Construction Repaint Market: OverviewConstruction repaints are paints used in residential buildings, commercial, and institutional establishments for the purpose of maintenance works, making repairs, and carrying out renovation. They typically consist of varnishes, emulsions, and enamels. The paints are primarily waterborne or solvent-borne formulations. The large number of buildings and constructions across the globe that need renovation and repairs have necessitated the demand for these repaints and kept the construction repaint market fast emerging.The construction repaints market can be segmented on the basis of resin type, formulation, application, and region. Major resin types that have applications as repaints are acrylic, epoxy, alkyd, polyurethane, and epoxy. Key regions witnessing the growth of the construction repaint market are North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, the Middle East and Africa, and Latin America.Request TOC of the Report @Waterborne paints being water soluble are widely used as construction repaints. Acrylic paint, a resin type and having waterborne formulations, occupies a prominent share in the construction repaint market. Acrylic paints are available as emulsions, lacquers, powders, and enamels and are easy to maintain. Being cost-effective and having low volatile organic compounds (VOC), they are preferred over other construction repaints. Stringent environmental regulations related to emission norms of volatile organic compounds laid down by the governments in various countries have led to a significant demand for these construction repaints.The research report provides a comprehensive insight into the manufacturing processes, current and emerging trends, and the advances in specialty chemicals. The study analyzes the key market dynamics and assesses their impact on the demand for the major types of construction repaints across the globe. Prepared with the help of insights from various industry leaders and market experts, the report evaluates the development of upstream raw material value chain, downstream client survey, and supply chain network, along with their impact on competitive dynamics. The insights help stakeholders track the key trends and enable players to devise impactful strategies to gain a stronghold in the construction repaint market.Get Discount @Global Construction Repaint Market: Drivers and RestraintsWorn-off paint coatings in a large number of commercial and residential buildings and the damage of paints in various construction structures over time are the key factors driving the demand for construction repaints. Coupled with this, the rising demand for various repair and maintenance activities in the construction sector is anticipated to boost the growth of the construction repaint market. The demand for paints in different end-use industries such oil and gas, petrochemical, mining, and pharmaceutical is expected to stimulate the demand for construction repaints for various applications.In contrast, volatility in the raw materials prices due to fluctuating crude oil prices and growing popularity of glass buildings are crucial factors expected to hinder the growth of the construction repaints market. The application of durable paints, which has slowed down the decay of paints in buildings, is likely to impede the growth of the construction repaint market to some extent. In addition, the high cost involved in the manufacturing of paints having high performance characteristics is expected to hinder the growth of the market in some regions. However, the demand for bio-based paint materials  driven by stringent environmental regulations by various governments in developed and developing regions  is anticipated to create promising growth opportunities for players in the construction repaint market.Global Construction Repaint Market: Region-wise OutlookThe Asia Pacific region is estimated to contribute a major share in the construction repaint industry. The growth in the region is driven by the construction of residential and commercial buildings in countries such as China, Japan, and India, which has spurred the demand for cost-effective construction repaints. Growth of non-residential constructions due to increased urbanization in these countries and the rise in infrastructural spending have stimulated the demand for construction repaints in Asia Pacific. Companies vying for a significant share in these regions need to evaluate the market dynamics and the key development trends to devise business strategies.Companies mentioned in the report:Prominent players operating in the construction repaint market include Akzonobel N.V., PPG Industries Inc., The Sherwin-Williams Company, Axalta Coating Systems LLC, RPM International Inc., The Valspar Corporation, Nippon Paint Holdings Co., Ltd., Kansai Paint Co., Ltd., and Asian Paints Ltd.About TMR ResearchTMR Research is a premier provider of customized market research and consulting services to business entities keen on succeeding in todays supercharged economic climate. Armed with an experienced, dedicated, and dynamic team of analysts, we are redefining the way our clients conduct business by providing them with authoritative and trusted research studies in tune with the latest methodologies and market trends.Our savvy custom-built reports span a gamut of industries such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals and metals, food and beverages, and technology and media, among others. With actionable insights uncovered through in-depth research of the market, we try to bring about game-changing success for our clients.Contact:TMR Research,3739 Balboa St # 1097,San Francisco, CA 94121United StatesTel: +1-415-520-1050Email: sales@tmrresearch.com
Upstream Services Market Challenges, Key Players, Industry Segments, Development, Opportunities, Forecast Report 2027

https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/1006

https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/upstream-services-market

Market Synopsis of Upstream ServicesMarket ScenarioReviving fossil fuel demand is expected to result in a rise in demand for the Upstream Services market. The oil and gas industry has been experiencing severe revenue contraction post April 2014, following oil price decline. Persistent price downfall had a profound impact on the investments in the oil & gas industry, particularly the upstream sector. However, recent adjustments the oil prices have instigated a positive outlook for this industry. Changes in demand-supply dynamics is expected to induce a rise in the number of oil wells, thereby driving the upstream services market. Increasing demand for oil and gas is also expected to fuel the demand in the Upstream Services Market.SegmentsThe upstream services market is categorized on the basis of types of services into pressure pumping, tubular goods, waste management, coiled tubing, completion, intervention, well fluids, and wireline. On the basis of type of wells, the market has been segmented as land and offshoreRequest a Sample Copy @Regional Analysis of Upstream Services MarketNorth America is currently leading this market with their shale gas revolution boosting the market. Asia-pacific regions accounts for a considerable portion of oil and gas demand and is expected to have a significant impact on the growth & development in the upstream services market.Study Objectives of Upstream Services Market To provide insights about factors affecting the market growth To Analyze the Upstream Services based on various factors- price analysis, supply chain analysis, Porters five force analysis. To provide historical and forecast revenue of the market segments and sub-segments with respect to six main geographies and their countries- North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East, and Africa To provide country level analysis of the market with respect to the current market size and future prospective To provide country level analysis of the market for segment by type, by well type and by region To provide strategic profiling of key players in the market, comprehensively analyzing their core competencies, and drawing a competitive landscape for the market To track and analyze competitive developments such as joint ventures, strategic alliances, mergers and acquisitions, and new product developments in the global Upstream Services marketEnquire about this Report @About Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by products, services, technologies, applications, end users, and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions.Contact:Akash Anand,Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: akash.anand@marketresearchfuture.com
T5 Data Centers Begins Phase 2 of T5@Chicago Build Out to Meet Growing Regional Data Center Demand

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http://www.t5datacenters.com

T5@Chicago Data Center Adds Server-Ready Capacity to 208,000 Square Foot Facility.Elk Grove Village, IL, USA -- T5 Data Centers, innovators in providing secure, customizable, hyperscale computing environments for enterprise companies, today announced the second phase of the build out of its T5@Chicago data center. T5@Chicago is a highly secured purpose built, 208,000 square-foot data center in Elk Grove Village. This next phase will deliver a secure data hall consisting of 2 megawatts (mW) of available data center capacity in one of the premier data center markets in the country.The Chicagoland area continues to experience an increase in demand from local and regional companies, along with cloud providers who are trying to keep pace with the adoption of hybrid cloud solutions. With more than 150 million square feet of office space in the Chicago area, there is a growing migration by enterprise customers from on premise computing to specialized colocation/wholesale and cloud services. T5@Chicago offers customers a customized data center solution that provides secure private data halls in a concurrently maintainable and fault tolerant design."The demand from corporate enterprise seeking data center space in Chicago continues to grow in a market that has very limited supply. As vacancy rates hover around 5 percent, we are in a unique position to deliver a high-quality data center solution that will provide customers complete control of their infrastructure, as if it were their own mission critical environment," said David Horowitz, VP of Sales and Marketing for T5 Data Centers. "Network and power continue to be the life blood of a data center. We originally chose this location because of the robust fiber network and resilient utility infrastructure in Elk Grove Village. Beyond the initial data center, our adjacent site can accommodate another 170,000-square-foot,16mW facility to support future growth."T5@Chicago is a purpose-built Tier III, LEED Silver certified data center acquired by T5 Data Centers in 2016 and has been operating since its inception through its affiliate, T5 Facilities Management (T5FM). T5FM provides best-in-class, award-winning facilities management services including remote hands to data center owners across North America. The T5FM team provides 24/7 facilities support so customers can be assured of uninterrupted service.T5@Chicago is the company's ninth U.S. data center and meets the resilient, high-quality characteristics consistent across T5's portfolio.About T5 Data CentersT5 Data Centers (T5) is a leading national data center owner and operator, committed to delivering customizable, scalable data centers that provide a "Forever On" computing environment to power mission critical business applications. T5 Data Centers provides enterprise colocation data center services to organizations across North America using proven, best-in-class technology and techniques to design and develop facilities that deliver the lowest possible total cost of operations for its clients. T5 currently has business-critical data center facilities in Atlanta, Los Angeles, Dallas, Portland, Charlotte, Chicago, New York and Colorado. All of T5's data center projects are purpose-built facilities featuring robust design, redundant and reliable power and telecommunications, and have 24-hour staff to support mission-critical computing applications.For more information, visitContact:Aaron WangenheimT5 Data Centers3344 Peachtree Road, N.E.,Suite 2550Atlanta, GA 30326(415) 292-7700aaron@t5datacenters.com
Haitian Vetiver Oil Market Growth and Forecast 2016-2024

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https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/haitian-vetiver-oil-market.html

https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com

Global Haitian Vetiver Oil market: SnapshotThe global market for Haitian vetiver oil is witnessing a healthy rise in its production volume, prompted significantly by the decline in the cost. Over the period from 2016 to 2024, the market will witness a surge in volume at a CAGR of 1.50%; however in revenues, it is expected to downplay, declining from a US$32.4 mn in 2016 to a value of US$29.7 mn by 2024 at a CAGR of -1.10% during the same time period.Download exclusive Sample of this report:Vetiver oil is one of the essential raw materials widely used in the global fragrance industry, and Haiti is known for producing the best quality of vetiver oil. The increasing usage of vetiver oil in aromatherapy, thanks to its popularity as historical therapeutic oil in eastern countries on account of its convenient, safe, and customary application, is the key factor behind the rising production for vetiver oil. Furthermore, the rising awareness about the therapeutic properties of Haitian vetiver oil, such as its efficient usage as tonic, nervine, and sedative to benefit patients suffering from rheumatism, arthritis, gout, muscular aches, dryness, and cracking of the skin, is also expected to influence its demand and, eventually, its production volume over the next few years.Haitian Vetiver Oil to Remain in High Demand for Making Perfumes and ScentsHaitian vetiver oil finds a widespread application in perfumes and scents, pharmaceuticals, food and beverages, and various other products, such as personal care products. The demand for this oil has been significantly greater in the perfumes and scents segment and the scenario is anticipated to remain so over the next few years. Apart from this, Haitian vetiver oil is also expected to witness significant increase in demand for applications in food and beverage products as it is plant-derived, and is considered natural and healthy.Obtain Report Details @Among other application areas, the usage of Haitian vetiver oil is likely to increase in personal care products in the near future due to its natural ingredient status, beneficial cleansing properties, and pleasant aroma. This essential oil is heavily utilized in creams and lotions for moisturizing and nourishing skin as it especially benefits dry, irritated and dehydrated skin, and helps reduce wrinkles and stretch marks.Europe to Maintain Lead on Global Haitian Vetiver Oil MarketGeographically, the worldwide market for Haitian vetiver oil reports its presence across Asia Pacific, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East and Africa, and North America. With a share of nearly 75%, Europe dominated the overall market in 2016 and is expected to retain its position over the forthcoming years.North America acquired the second position in this market in 2016. Researchers predict the regional market to maintain it in the near future; however, with a decline in its market share due to higher dependency on outer sources for growing vetiver. The increasing interest of consumers in product quality and safety, which is projected to shift their focus towards the origin and traceability of raw materials on account of the high usage of synthetic chemicals in the agriculture sector, is also anticipated to reflect negatively on the North America market for Haitian Vetiver oil over the years to come.Haiti Essential Oil Co. SA, Fleurchem Inc., Floracopeia Inc., Ernesto Ventos SA., Robertet Groupe, Frager S.A., UniKode S.A., Lluch Essence Sl., and International Fragrance and Flavor Inc. are some of the key players functional in the market for Haitian vetiver oil across the world.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.US Office Contact90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Hardware Encryption Market - Future Market with Current Trend Analysis upto 2025

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Global Hardware Encryption Market: SnapshotA variety of factors or specific business needs influences the choice of specific encryption solutions among various end-use industries. Hardware encryption is gaining popularity for protecting sensitive data on portable devices such as laptops and USB flash drives. Its ease of use, consistent performance, and robust protection against numerous common and less sophisticated attacks offsets its high cost compared to software-based encryption. For instance, any brute-force attacks by hackers to gain access to hardware encrypted chips can be easily thwarted with the help of this. The mechanism of hardware encryption works on the devices on-board security, which performs the needed encryption and decryption. Unlike software-based encryption, it doesnt require drivers and has minimal configuration requirements. However, since it is tied to a particular device, hardware encryption methods may not prove so helpful. Nevertheless, the soaring use of mobile devices by several governmental agencies and the storage of confidential financial and healthcare data in mobile devices have propelled the demand for hardware encryption methods. In case the devices are stolen, the data cannot be compromised.In recent years, Advanced Encryption Standard (AES), a specification standard by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has been gaining prominence for data security for hardware as well as software encryption method. The cryptographic module is fast gaining adoption among several military, government, healthcare institutions, and financial organizations world over, especially in developing and developed nations. AES has become one of the most popular algorithms adopted in symmetric key cryptography by various governmental agencies in the U.S. Boasting of marked improvements over its predecessors, AES employs longer cryptographic keys, offers easy implementation, and can be used in restricted environments such as in smart cards.Request Sample Copy of the Report @Global Hardware Encryption Market: OverviewThe global market for hardware encryption is projected to witness healthy growth throughout the forecast period, thanks to the advent of portable storage devices in order to transfer files and information between computers. In addition, these devices help in improving the security concerns and confidentiality of data. These devices cannot be altered or removed by any malware or virus or be uninstalled by the user, owing to which the market is likely to witness high growth over the coming few years.The research report on the global hardware encryption market offers a thorough overview, focusing on the key growth drivers and currents trends in the market. The research study throws light on the product segmentation, applications, technological advancements, and the regional segments of the global hardware encryption market. In addition, the limitations and challenges that are being faced by the prominent players in the overall market have been discussed in the research study.Global Hardware Encryption Market: Drivers and RestraintsThe rising concerns related to the privacy of data and data security and tremendous expansion of the digital content are anticipated to encourage the growth of the global hardware encryption market throughout the forecast period. In addition, several advantages offered by hardware encryption in comparison with software encryption technology and the rising need of regulatory framework are some of the other factors estimated to accelerate the growth of the overall market in the near future.Request TOC of the Report @On the contrary, the need for high capital investment and the lack of awareness among consumers reading the benefits of hardware encryption technology are projected to restrict the growth of the global hardware encryption market in the next few years. Nevertheless, the emergence of economical and compact hardware encryption technique and the rising adoption of cloud computing are expected to offer promising opportunities for market players in the coming years.Global Hardware Encryption Market: Region-wise OutlookThe global market for hardware encryption has been divided on the basis of geography into Europe, the Middle East and Africa, North America, Latin America, and Asia Pacific. The research study has provided a detailed analysis of the leading regional segment, highlighting the market share and anticipated growth rate. In addition, the key factors that are encouraging the growth of these segments have been discussed in the scope of the research study.According to the research study, Asia Pacific is anticipated to witness strong growth throughout the forecast period, owing to the robust development of the IT industry. In addition, a substantial contribution from China, India, Malaysia, and South Korea is expected to accelerate the growth of the hardware encryption market in Asia Pacific throughout the forecast period. Furthermore, with the presence of a large number of established hardware encryption manufacturing companies, North America is anticipated to witness healthy growth in the next few years.Get Discount @Key Players Mentioned in the Research Report are:The global hardware encryption market is projected to witness a high level of competition in the coming few years. The leading players in the market are focusing on offering new products to consumers in order to enhance their market penetration and maintain their dominant position throughout the forecast period. Some of the prominent players operating in the hardware encryption market across the market are Netapp, Maxim Integrated Products, Inc., Toshiba Corp., Gemalto NV., Micron Technology, Inc., Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., Kanguru Solutions, Thales (E-Security), Winmagic Inc., Kingston Technology Corp., Western Digital Corp., and Seagate Technology PLC.Furthermore, the research study has provided a detailed analysis of the competitive landscape of the global hardware encryption market. An in-depth overview of company profiles and their financial overview have been discussed at length in the scope of the research study. Additionally, the business strategies, SWOT analysis, and the recent developments have been included to offer a clear understanding of the overall market.About TMR ResearchTMR Research is a premier provider of customized market research and consulting services to business entities keen on succeeding in todays supercharged economic climate. Armed with an experienced, dedicated, and dynamic team of analysts, we are redefining the way our clients conduct business by providing them with authoritative and trusted research studies in tune with the latest methodologies and market trends.Our savvy custom-built reports span a gamut of industries such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals and metals, food and beverages, and technology and media, among others. With actionable insights uncovered through in-depth research of the market, we try to bring about game-changing success for our clients.Contact:TMR Research,3739 Balboa St # 1097,San Francisco, CA 94121United StatesTel: +1-415-520-1050Email: sales@tmrresearch.com
Nov, 1 2017: Cake Machines Market Forecast 2023 Sakun Engineers, Goodlifemachine, Unifiller Systems, Samsung Food Machine

Cake Machines

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Cake Machines Market Research 2017A market study  Global Cake Machines Market  examines the performance of the Cake Machines market 2017. It encloses an in-depth Research of the Cake Machines market state and the competitive landscape globally. This report analyzes the potential of Cake Machines market in the present and the future prospects from various angles in detail.The Global Cake Machines Market 2017 report includes Cake Machines market Revenue, market Share, Cake Machines industry volume, market Trends, Cake Machines Growth aspects. A wide range of applications, Utilization ratio, Supply and demand analysis are also consist in the report.It shows manufacturing capacity, Cake Machines Price during the Forecast period from 2017 to 2022.To Get Sample Report Click Here:Manufacturers Analysis and Top Sellers of Global Cake Machines Market 2017 : Goodlifemachine Nostalgia Electrics Samsung Food Machine Sakun Engineers Guangzhou Feng Da Machinery Co Ningbo D & R Machinery Zhaoqing City Tan Far Machinery Shanghai Kuihong Food Machinery Factory Beijing Hongdetongtechnology Unifiller SystemsCake Machines Market : By Application Home Use Commercial UseCake Machines Market : By Type Ordinary Cake Machines Gas Cake MachinesFirstly, the report covers the top Cake Machines manufacturing industry players from regions like United States, EU, Japan, and China. It also characterizes the market based on geological regions.Further, the Cake Machines report gives information on the company profile, market share and contact details along with value chain analysis of Cake Machines industry, Cake Machines industry rules and policies, circumstances driving the growth of the market and compulsion blocking the growth. Cake Machines Market development scope and various business strategies are also mentioned in this report.Browse Full Report Here:The Cake Machines research report includes the products that are currently in demand and available in the market along with their cost breakup, manufacturing volume, import/export scheme and contribution to the Cake Machines market revenue worldwide.Finally, Cake Machines market report gives you details about the market research findings and conclusion which helps you to develop profitable market strategies to gain competitive advantage.About Us:"Spire Market Research" is a leading market intelligence team which accredits and provides the reports of some of the top publishers in the field of technology industry. We are as a firm expertise in making extensive reports that cover all the necessary details about the market assessments such as major technological improvement in the industry.Contact Us5001 Spring Valley Road,Suite 400 East,Dallas, TX 75244, USAWeb:Email: sales@spiremarketresearch.com
Trends in the Confectionery Ingredient Market 2017-2025

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Global Confectionery Ingredient Market: SnapshotThe significant rise in the consumption of confectionery and bakery items has been influencing the growth of the confectionery ingredients market at the global level. The heavy demand for chocolate, sugar confectionery, and bakery products is likely to accelerate the progress of this market in the next few years. The influence of the western culture on the food habits of consumers in developing economies is also expected to boost the demand for confectionery in the near future, reflecting substantially on the sales of confectionery ingredients.Download ToC:The increasing demand for better food, fueled by the frequent changes in consumers lifestyle, have made it very difficult for food product manufacturers to meet the tastes and requirements of consumers, which has prompted confectionery producers to explore the market scope with the use of ingredients. This, as a result, is anticipated to open new growth avenues for the worldwide market for confectionery ingredients over the forthcoming years. The opportunity in this market is likely to rise at a CAGR of 4.20% between 2017 and 2025, progressing from a value of US$76.25 bn in 2016 to US$109.48 bn by the end of 2025.Europe to Continue Leading Global Confectionery Ingredient MarketOn the basis of the geography, the global market for confectionery ingredients has been categorized into North America, the Middle East and Africa, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Latin America. North America and Europe have emerged as the leading regional markets for confectionery ingredients. They collectively accounted for a share of more than 60% in the overall market in 2016. Europe is the dominant region in this market and is reported to have shown a higher consumption of confectionery products such as chocolates and gums.Obtain Report Details @The confectionery ingredients market in Europe is majorly driven by the growing demand of sweetened items, bread and ice cream in domestic regions, such as the U.K., Germany, France and the Rest of Europe. However, the demand for confectionery ingredients in this region is expected to exhibit a moderate growth rate over the forthcoming years, owing to its maturation.Asia Pacific, on the other hand, is anticipated to register a higher growth rate as compared to the other regions between 2017 and 2025, especially in countries such as India, Japan, and China. The continual research on the consumption of chocolate and procurement of good quality confectionery ingredients from reliable sources are expected to complement the rise of the market for confectionery ingredients in this region in the near future.Chocolate and Bakery Expected to Exhibit Fair GrowthConfectionery ingredients are widely utilized in chocolates, sugar confectionery, and bakery products. With a high consumption rate, the usage of these ingredients is significantly high in chocolates. Over the coming years, this trend is likely to remain so on the grounds of the growing awareness among consumers regarding the health benefits of dark chocolates. Bakery products and sugar confectionery are also projected to witness a considerable rise in the usage of confectionary ingredients in the near future due to the western influence in emerging economies and the changing palate of consumers across the world.Cargill Inc., Olam International Ltd., E. I. Du Pont De Nemours and Co., Archer Daniels Midland Co., Ingredion Inc., Barry Callebaut, Tate & Lyle Plc, Koninklijke DSM N.V., and Kerry Group Plc are some of the key vendors of confectionery ingredients across the world.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.US Office Contact90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Nov, 1 2017: Commercial Ice Cream Freezers Market Forecast 2023 Delfield, Hussmann, True Manufacturing, Middleby Celfrost

Commercial Ice Cream Freezers

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Commercial Ice Cream Freezers Market Research 2017A market study  Global Commercial Ice Cream Freezers Market  examines the performance of the Commercial Ice Cream Freezers market 2017. It encloses an in-depth Research of the Commercial Ice Cream Freezers market state and the competitive landscape globally. This report analyzes the potential of Commercial Ice Cream Freezers market in the present and the future prospects from various angles in detail.The Global Commercial Ice Cream Freezers Market 2017 report includes Commercial Ice Cream Freezers market Revenue, market Share, Commercial Ice Cream Freezers industry volume, market Trends, Commercial Ice Cream Freezers Growth aspects. A wide range of applications, Utilization ratio, Supply and demand analysis are also consist in the report.It shows manufacturing capacity, Commercial Ice Cream Freezers Price during the Forecast period from 2017 to 2022.To Get Sample Report Click Here:Manufacturers Analysis and Top Sellers of Global Commercial Ice Cream Freezers Market 2017 : Hussmann Beverage-Air Middleby Celfrost Master-Bilt True Manufacturing Haier Delfield Foster Refrigerator Precision Refrigeration Nor-Lake SRC Refrigeration Victory RefrigerationCommercial Ice Cream Freezers Market : By Application Ice Cream Display Ice Cream Storage Ice Cream HardeningCommercial Ice Cream Freezers Market : By Type Vertical Ice Cream Freezers Horizontal Ice Cream FreezersFirstly, the report covers the top Commercial Ice Cream Freezers manufacturing industry players from regions like United States, EU, Japan, and China. It also characterizes the market based on geological regions.Further, the Commercial Ice Cream Freezers report gives information on the company profile, market share and contact details along with value chain analysis of Commercial Ice Cream Freezers industry, Commercial Ice Cream Freezers industry rules and policies, circumstances driving the growth of the market and compulsion blocking the growth. Commercial Ice Cream Freezers Market development scope and various business strategies are also mentioned in this report.Browse Full Report Here:The Commercial Ice Cream Freezers research report includes the products that are currently in demand and available in the market along with their cost breakup, manufacturing volume, import/export scheme and contribution to the Commercial Ice Cream Freezers market revenue worldwide.Finally, Commercial Ice Cream Freezers market report gives you details about the market research findings and conclusion which helps you to develop profitable market strategies to gain competitive advantage.About Us:"Spire Market Research" is a leading market intelligence team which accredits and provides the reports of some of the top publishers in the field of technology industry. We are as a firm expertise in making extensive reports that cover all the necessary details about the market assessments such as major technological improvement in the industry.Contact Us5001 Spring Valley Road,Suite 400 East,Dallas, TX 75244, USAWeb:Email: sales@spiremarketresearch.com
Nov, 1 2017: Building Panels Market Forecast 2023 Mueller, Lafarge, Boral, Dow Corning, Murus, Saint-Gobain

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Building Panels Market Research 2017A market study  Global Building Panels Market  examines the performance of the Building Panels market 2017. It encloses an in-depth Research of the Building Panels market state and the competitive landscape globally. This report analyzes the potential of Building Panels market in the present and the future prospects from various angles in detail.The Global Building Panels Market 2017 report includes Building Panels market Revenue, market Share, Building Panels industry volume, market Trends, Building Panels Growth aspects. A wide range of applications, Utilization ratio, Supply and demand analysis are also consist in the report.It shows manufacturing capacity, Building Panels Price during the Forecast period from 2017 to 2022.To Get Sample Report Click Here:Manufacturers Analysis and Top Sellers of Global Building Panels Market 2017 : Panasonic Corporation Saint-Gobain Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corporation CRH Plc Lafarge Evonik Industries AG Huntsman International Dow Corning Corporation Fletcher Building Limited Boral Limited Armstrong World Industries Oci Company Lg Hausys Bmc Stock Holdings Red Sea Housing Services Atas International Mueller Innovative Metals Company Murus CompanyBuilding Panels Market : By Application Floors & Roofs Walls Columns & Beams StaircaseBuilding Panels Market : By Type Concrete Plastic Metal Wood SilicaFirstly, the report covers the top Building Panels manufacturing industry players from regions like United States, EU, Japan, and China. It also characterizes the market based on geological regions.Further, the Building Panels report gives information on the company profile, market share and contact details along with value chain analysis of Building Panels industry, Building Panels industry rules and policies, circumstances driving the growth of the market and compulsion blocking the growth. Building Panels Market development scope and various business strategies are also mentioned in this report.Browse Full Report Here:The Building Panels research report includes the products that are currently in demand and available in the market along with their cost breakup, manufacturing volume, import/export scheme and contribution to the Building Panels market revenue worldwide.Finally, Building Panels market report gives you details about the market research findings and conclusion which helps you to develop profitable market strategies to gain competitive advantage.About Us:"Spire Market Research" is a leading market intelligence team which accredits and provides the reports of some of the top publishers in the field of technology industry. We are as a firm expertise in making extensive reports that cover all the necessary details about the market assessments such as major technological improvement in the industry.Contact Us5001 Spring Valley Road,Suite 400 East,Dallas, TX 75244, USAWeb:Email: sales@spiremarketresearch.com
Global Portable Bluetooth Speakers Market: Future Market, Growth rate scrutinized upto 2025

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Portable Bluetooth Speaker Market: Global Industry Analysis (20122016) and Forecast (20172025) is a report based on a robust research methodology that has helped us in delivering yet another comprehensive publication that deciphers this niche market. In this report, historical data, primary responses and public domain data has been thoroughly analyzed to infer the market size. Revenue of companies operating in the portable Bluetooth speaker market has been benchmarked to ascertain the market size for the base year. Macroeconomic indicators such as GDP and industry growth have been considered to forecast the market size over the forecast period.Request For Free Sample Report @The historical growth trend of end-use industries, market participants performance, as well as the present macro-economic outlook has been taken into consideration for estimating the overall market trend forecast. This data is then validated using the triangulation method and is extensively scrutinized using advanced tools to garner quantitative and qualitative insights into the global portable Bluetooth speaker market.Market SegmentationThe market taxonomy breaks down the global portable Bluetooth speaker market into various segments and sub-segments to help the report audience understand this vast and dynamic market in a comprehensive manner.By Sales ChannelOrganized Retail StoresUnorganized Retail StoresOnline/e-CommerceBy Usage TypeBluetooth Car SpeakerIndoor/Outdoor Bluetooth SpeakerOthersBy Price RangePremium (More than US$ 500)Mid-Range (US$ 200US$ 500)Low Range (Less than US$ 200)By RegionNorth AmericaLatin AmericaEuropeAsia PacificMiddle East and AfricaIntroduction to the ReportSpeakers are audio output devices having internal amplifiers, which enable individuals to increase the volume of the sound. These devices receive audio input and produce audio output in the form of sound waves. Portable speakers are audio speakers, which run on batteries and can be easily carried and transported by the user. Types of portable speakers are wired and wireless. Portable Bluetooth speakers are speakers with Bluetooth wireless connectivity, which can be paired with other smart devices including computers and mobile devices. A portable Bluetooth speaker receives digital audio streams from the host device, which decodes, decompresses, and amplifies the audio through built-in speakers.Browse Full Report With TOC @Report InclusionsThis report is divided into four distinct parts. The first part consists of the introduction to the portable Bluetooth speaker market. The second part consists of the regional portable Bluetooth speaker market analysis and forecast and the regions are selected as per the market taxonomy. The third part of this report consists of the competitive landscape of the global portable Bluetooth speaker market and gives a list of the important players operating in this lucrative market. The last section of this report consists of the global portable Bluetooth speaker market analysis and forecast by sales channel, by usage type, by price range and by region.In the introduction, the pertinent market numbers of the global portable Bluetooth speaker market are given along with the CAGR for the forecast period 2017-2025. The introduction also contains an executive summary through which the report audience can have a cursory glance into this vast market. Also, in the executive summary, recommendations are given by Persistence Market Research which give key insights into the global portable Bluetooth speaker market. In the introduction, a detailed definition of the portable Bluetooth speakers is given which defines the scope of this report and also gives clarity to the report audience about what this product is all about. In addition, value chain analysis of the portable Bluetooth speaker market is also given in the introduction. The macroeconomic factors influencing the global portable Bluetooth speaker market are also discussed in the introduction, along with the opportunity analysis of this lucrative market. An end-use survey which ranks the factors highlighted by consumers while choosing a portable Bluetooth speaker is given along with the social media insights regarding this market.An important section of the report is the market dynamics of the global portable Bluetooth speaker market. The market dynamics section lists the drivers, restraints and trends applicable in the global portable Bluetooth speaker market and discusses in detail the factors encouraging the growth of this market as well as the factors hampering the growth of this market. The various trends governing the global portable Bluetooth speaker market  both long term and short term  are also discussed in this part of the report. The third section of the report contains the competitive landscape of the global portable Bluetooth speaker market. This part constitutes information of the various leading companies in the global portable Bluetooth speaker market. The competition landscape gives a dashboard view of the key companies operating in the global portable Bluetooth speaker market along with their important information and broad strategy adopted to stay as leaders in the global portable Bluetooth speaker market. Each of the leading companies is also profiled individually and important information about the company such as company details, company description, product portfolio along with key developments concerning the company and strategic analysis is presented. The last section of the report contains the global portable Bluetooth speaker market analysis and forecast by sales channel, usage type, price range and region. This last section contains important information about the market such as the BPS analysis, year-on-year growth rates, absolute dollar opportunity and market attractiveness analysis of the global portable Bluetooth speaker market.Why should you invest in this report?If you are aiming to enter the global portable Bluetooth speaker market, then this report is a comprehensive guide that provides crystal clear insights into this niche market. All the major types of portable Bluetooth speakers are covered in this report and information is also given on the important regions of the world where this market is likely to boom in the near future and during the forecast period of 2017-2025, so that you can plan your strategies to enter this market accordingly. Besides, through this report, you can have a complete grasp of the level of competition you will be facing in this hugely competitive market and if you are an established player in this market already, then this report will help you gauge the strategies that your competitors have adopted to stay as market leaders in this market. For new entrants to this market, the voluminous data provided in this report is invaluable.Enquire About this Report @About (MRRSE)Market Research Reports Search Engine (MRRSE) is an industry-leading database of Market Research Reports. MRRSE is driven by a stellar team of research experts and advisors trained to offer objective advice. Our sophisticated search algorithm returns results based on the report title, geographical region, publisher, or other keywords.MRRSE partners exclusively with leading global publishers to provide clients single-point access to top-of-the-line market research. MRRSEs repository is updated every day to keep its clients ahead of the next new trend in market research, be it competitive intelligence, product or service trends or strategic consulting.ContactState Tower90, State StreetSuite 700Albany, NY - 12207United States Telephone: +1-518-730-0559Email: sales@mrrse.comWebsite:Read More Industry News At:
Nov, 1 2017: Small Wind Turbines Market Forecast 2023 Britwind, Polaris America, Nanjing Oulu, Fortis Wind Energy

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Small Wind Turbines Market Research 2017A market study  Global Small Wind Turbines Market  examines the performance of the Small Wind Turbines market 2017. It encloses an in-depth Research of the Small Wind Turbines market state and the competitive landscape globally. This report analyzes the potential of Small Wind Turbines market in the present and the future prospects from various angles in detail.The Global Small Wind Turbines Market 2017 report includes Small Wind Turbines market Revenue, market Share, Small Wind Turbines industry volume, market Trends, Small Wind Turbines Growth aspects. A wide range of applications, Utilization ratio, Supply and demand analysis are also consist in the report.It shows manufacturing capacity, Small Wind Turbines Price during the Forecast period from 2017 to 2022.To Get Sample Report Click Here:Manufacturers Analysis and Top Sellers of Global Small Wind Turbines Market 2017 : Northern Power Systems Wind Energy Solutions Kingspan Group PLC Ghrepower Green Energy Endurance Wind Power Fortis Wind Energy WinPower Energy Nanjing Oulu Bergey Windpower Polaris America Britwind HY Energy XZERESSmall Wind Turbines Market : By Type Horizontal Axis Wind Turbine Vertical Axis Wind TurbineFirstly, the report covers the top Small Wind Turbines manufacturing industry players from regions like United States, EU, Japan, and China. It also characterizes the market based on geological regions.Further, the Small Wind Turbines report gives information on the company profile, market share and contact details along with value chain analysis of Small Wind Turbines industry, Small Wind Turbines industry rules and policies, circumstances driving the growth of the market and compulsion blocking the growth. Small Wind Turbines Market development scope and various business strategies are also mentioned in this report.Browse Full Report Here:The Small Wind Turbines research report includes the products that are currently in demand and available in the market along with their cost breakup, manufacturing volume, import/export scheme and contribution to the Small Wind Turbines market revenue worldwide.Finally, Small Wind Turbines market report gives you details about the market research findings and conclusion which helps you to develop profitable market strategies to gain competitive advantage.About Us:"Spire Market Research" is a leading market intelligence team which accredits and provides the reports of some of the top publishers in the field of technology industry. We are as a firm expertise in making extensive reports that cover all the necessary details about the market assessments such as major technological improvement in the industry.Contact Us5001 Spring Valley Road,Suite 400 East,Dallas, TX 75244, USAWeb:Email: sales@spiremarketresearch.com
Nov, 1 2017: RF Amplifier Chips Market Forecast 2023 Qorvo, Maxim Integrated, Analog Devices, Texas Instruments

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http://www.spiremarketresearch.com/global-rf-amplifier-chips-market-2017-demand-insight-key-plyers-segmentation-and-forecast-to-2022

http://www.spiremarketresearch.com

RF Amplifier Chips Market Research 2017A market study  Global RF Amplifier Chips Market  examines the performance of the RF Amplifier Chips market 2017. It encloses an in-depth Research of the RF Amplifier Chips market state and the competitive landscape globally. This report analyzes the potential of RF Amplifier Chips market in the present and the future prospects from various angles in detail.The Global RF Amplifier Chips Market 2017 report includes RF Amplifier Chips market Revenue, market Share, RF Amplifier Chips industry volume, market Trends, RF Amplifier Chips Growth aspects. A wide range of applications, Utilization ratio, Supply and demand analysis are also consist in the report.It shows manufacturing capacity, RF Amplifier Chips Price during the Forecast period from 2017 to 2022.To Get Sample Report Click Here:Manufacturers Analysis and Top Sellers of Global RF Amplifier Chips Market 2017 : Analog Devices (Linear Technology) Microsemiconductor Avago Technologies Microchip Technology NXP Texas Instruments Qorvo API Technologies ON Semiconductor Maxim Integrated IDTRF Amplifier Chips Market : By Application Telecommunications Aerospace & Defence Consumer ElectronicsRF Amplifier Chips Market : By Type GaAs RF Amplifier Chips GaN RF Amplifier ChipsFirstly, the report covers the top RF Amplifier Chips manufacturing industry players from regions like United States, EU, Japan, and China. It also characterizes the market based on geological regions.Further, the RF Amplifier Chips report gives information on the company profile, market share and contact details along with value chain analysis of RF Amplifier Chips industry, RF Amplifier Chips industry rules and policies, circumstances driving the growth of the market and compulsion blocking the growth. RF Amplifier Chips Market development scope and various business strategies are also mentioned in this report.Browse Full Report Here:The RF Amplifier Chips research report includes the products that are currently in demand and available in the market along with their cost breakup, manufacturing volume, import/export scheme and contribution to the RF Amplifier Chips market revenue worldwide.Finally, RF Amplifier Chips market report gives you details about the market research findings and conclusion which helps you to develop profitable market strategies to gain competitive advantage.About Us:"Spire Market Research" is a leading market intelligence team which accredits and provides the reports of some of the top publishers in the field of technology industry. We are as a firm expertise in making extensive reports that cover all the necessary details about the market assessments such as major technological improvement in the industry.Contact Us5001 Spring Valley Road,Suite 400 East,Dallas, TX 75244, USAWeb:Email: sales@spiremarketresearch.com
Nov, 1 2017: ADC Ophthalmic Lens Market Forecast 2023 Mingyue, Rodenstock, Essilor, Nikon Lenswear, Shamir Optical

ADC Ophthalmic Lens

http://bit.ly/2zlHwnV

http://www.spiremarketresearch.com/global-adc-ophthalmic-lens-market-2017-demand-insight-key-plyers-segmentation-and-forecast-to-2022

http://www.spiremarketresearch.com

ADC Ophthalmic Lens Market Research 2017A market study  Global ADC Ophthalmic Lens Market  examines the performance of the ADC Ophthalmic Lens market 2017. It encloses an in-depth Research of the ADC Ophthalmic Lens market state and the competitive landscape globally. This report analyzes the potential of ADC Ophthalmic Lens market in the present and the future prospects from various angles in detail.The Global ADC Ophthalmic Lens Market 2017 report includes ADC Ophthalmic Lens market Revenue, market Share, ADC Ophthalmic Lens industry volume, market Trends, ADC Ophthalmic Lens Growth aspects. A wide range of applications, Utilization ratio, Supply and demand analysis are also consist in the report.It shows manufacturing capacity, ADC Ophthalmic Lens Price during the Forecast period from 2017 to 2022.To Get Sample Report Click Here:Manufacturers Analysis and Top Sellers of Global ADC Ophthalmic Lens Market 2017 : ZEISS Essilor International S.A. HOYA CORPORATION Rodenstock Nikon Lenswear Shamir Optical Industry Ltd VISION-EASE LENS Mingyue Shanghai Conant Optics Co., Ltd Zhenjiang Wanxin Optical Glasses Co., Ltd.ADC Ophthalmic Lens Market : By Application Progressive Lens Sunglasses Lens Cataract LensADC Ophthalmic Lens Market : By Type Spherical Lens Aspherical LensFirstly, the report covers the top ADC Ophthalmic Lens manufacturing industry players from regions like United States, EU, Japan, and China. It also characterizes the market based on geological regions.Further, the ADC Ophthalmic Lens report gives information on the company profile, market share and contact details along with value chain analysis of ADC Ophthalmic Lens industry, ADC Ophthalmic Lens industry rules and policies, circumstances driving the growth of the market and compulsion blocking the growth. ADC Ophthalmic Lens Market development scope and various business strategies are also mentioned in this report.Browse Full Report Here:The ADC Ophthalmic Lens research report includes the products that are currently in demand and available in the market along with their cost breakup, manufacturing volume, import/export scheme and contribution to the ADC Ophthalmic Lens market revenue worldwide.Finally, ADC Ophthalmic Lens market report gives you details about the market research findings and conclusion which helps you to develop profitable market strategies to gain competitive advantage.About Us:"Spire Market Research" is a leading market intelligence team which accredits and provides the reports of some of the top publishers in the field of technology industry. We are as a firm expertise in making extensive reports that cover all the necessary details about the market assessments such as major technological improvement in the industry.Contact Us5001 Spring Valley Road,Suite 400 East,Dallas, TX 75244, USAWeb:Email: sales@spiremarketresearch.com
Software Testing Market to 2022 Global Analysis and Forecast by Solution, Service and Application

Software Testing Market

https://www.wiseguyreports.com/sample-request/1095107-global-software-testing-market-2017-2021

https://www.wiseguyreports.com/enquiry/1095107-global-software-testing-market-2017-2021

Software testing is to investigate the various components of the system and application software to find fault with the development of high-quality software products. Software testing process follows software testing life cycle (STLC) protocol to check the validity of software products. Software developers have subscribed to software testing tools, solutions and service industries in various categories of software to create high quality software in a limited time.According to research report, the global software testing market to grow steadily at a CAGR of around 14.4% by 2021.Faster test service and test automation services are increasing in recent time. Faster test services reference software testing methods and applications for faster development and implementation of software products. The Faster Testing Service provides a framework to effectively check the application and infrastructure.Request a Sample Report @Basic checks for cloud-based applications are implemented for quick testing and faster time-to-market for QA. Organizations are using a quick test service to implement new methods for testing services and increasing the quality of cloud infrastructure. Moreover, the pressure of increasing the value of software vendor product and business pricing will further lead to the global software testing market in the coming years.The application testing segment is one of the rapid growing segments in the software test market, which is important part of the market segment. Application tests include various security features such as application security testing, mobile application testing, functional and non-functional testing, and new offering testing. Further, the growing need for enterprise mobility and mobile applications is also increasing the software testing environment.In geographical terms, America had the maximum market share in last year and in the next few years there would be market dominance. Banking and telecom sector have contributed a lot to the demand of testing services in this area.In this market study segments cover are BFSI, Telecom, IT, Media, and Retail. As per analysts it has been estimated that the BFSI sector to dominate the software testing market during the forecast period. The need for enabling customers access to financial services through mobile and the continuous engagement of customers is driving the consumption of software testing tools in this sector.The market is divided into the following segments based on geography: Americas APAC EMEAThe major players cover in the report are Accenture, Capgemini, IBM, Wipro with other prominent vendors such as Atos, CSC Cigniti Technologies, Deloitte, Gallop Solutions, Infosys, NTT DATA, Steria, Tech Mahindra and UST Global.Any Query, Submit Here @ABOUT US:Wise Guy Reports is part of the Wise Guy Consultants Pvt. Ltd. and offers premium progressive statistical surveying, market research reports, analysis & forecast data for industries and governments around the globe. Wise Guy Reports features an exhaustive list of market research reports from hundreds of publishers worldwide. We boast a database spanning virtually every market category and an even more comprehensive collection of market research reports under these categories and sub-categories.Address:WISE GUY RESEARCH CONSULTANTS PVT LTDOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, HadapsarPune - 411028Maharashtra, India
Global Cassia Essential Oil Market 2017 Outlook - BO INTERNATIONAL, AMARNATH EXPORTS, DRAN CO, Organic Herb

https://www.fiormarkets.com/report-detail/128328/request-sample

https://goo.gl/uvTnh7

www.fiormarkets.com

Global Cassia Essential Oil Industry 2017 Market Research Report provides a unique tool for evaluating the market, highlighting opportunities, and supporting strategic and tactical decision-making. This report recognizes that in this rapidly-evolving and competitive environment, up-to-date marketing information is essential to monitor performance and make critical decisions for growth and profitability.The research study focuses major leading industry players with information such as company profiles, product picture and specification, capacity, production, price, cost, revenue and contact information. It provides information on trends and developments, and focuses on markets and materials, capacities and technologies, and on the changing structure of the Cassia Essential Oil Industry.Download Free Sample Report @Market competition by top manufacturers, with production, price, revenue (value) and market share for each manufacturer, the top players includingCn Lab Canada, Asian Group(CA)BO INTERNATIONAL(IN)AVA PLANT CO., LTD.(TH)AROMAAZ INTERNATIONAL(IN)AMBE PHYTOEXTRACTS PRIVATE LIMITED(IN)AMARNATH EXPORTS(IN)GOYUM SCREW PRESS(IN)ENJAY MARKETING SERVICES PRIVATE LIMITED(IN)ECUADORIAN RAINFOREST, LLC.(US)DRAN CO.,LTD(KR)KATYANI EXPORTS(IN)KANTA ENTERPRISES PRIVATE LIMITED(IN)IMPERIAL MALTS LIMITED(IN)IL HEALTH AND BEAUTY NATURAL OILS CO INC(US)Shaanxi Orient Industrial Co., Ltd.(CN)PRAVEEN AROMA PVT LTD(IN)Organic Herb Inc. (CN)NUVARIA INGREDIENTS(US)NATURES NATURAL INDIA(IN)MOTHER HERBS PRIVATE LIMITED(IN)Wuhan Vanz Pharm Inc.(CN)VIETGO COMPANY LIMITED(VN)TALYA BITKISEL URUNLER TICARET SANAYI LIMITED SIRKETI(TR)SUN BIO NATURALS INDIA PRIVATE LIMITED(IN)Geographically, this report is segmented into several key Regions, with production, consumption, revenue (million USD), market share and growth rate of Cassia Essential Oil Industry in these regions, from 2012 to 2022 (forecast), covering North America, Europe, China, Japan, Southeast Asia, India.On the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, and market share and growth rate of each type. On the basis of the end users/applications, this report focuses on the status and outlook for major applications/end users, consumption (sales), market share and growth rate of Cassia Essential Oil Market Industry for each application.Access Full Report @Major points covered in this Report are :Cassia Essential Oil Industry Market Overview, Segment by Type (Product Category), by Application, by Region (2012-2022), Competition by ManufacturersGlobal Market Size (Value) of Cassia Essential Oil Industry (2012-2022)Global Cassia Essential Oil Industry Capacity, Production, Revenue (Value), Supply (Production), Consumption, Export, Import by Region (2012-2017)Global Cassia Essential Oil Industry Production, Revenue (Value), Price Trend by TypeGlobal Cassia Essential Oil Industry Market Analysis by ApplicationGlobal Cassia Essential Oil Industry Manufacturers Profiles/AnalysisCassia Essential Oil Industry Manufacturing Cost AnalysisIndustrial Chain, Sourcing Strategy and Downstream BuyersMarketing Strategy Analysis, Distributors/TradersMarket Effect Factors AnalysisGlobal Cassia Essential Oil Industry Market Forecast (2017-2022)Research Findings and ConclusionThe research includes historic data from 2012 to 2016 and forecasts until 2022 which makes the reports an invaluable resource for industry executives, marketing, sales and product managers, consultants, analysts, and other people looking for key industry data in readily accessible documents with clearly presented tables and graphs. The report will make detailed analysis mainly on above questions and in-depth research on the development environment, market size, development trend, operation situation and future development trend of Cassia Essential Oil Industry on the basis of stating current situation of the industry in 2017 so as to make comprehensive organization and judgment on the competition situation and development trend Cassia Essential Oil Market and assist manufacturers and investment organization to better grasp the development course of Cassia Essential Oil Market.Available Customizations -With the given market data, Fior Markets offers customizations according to the companys specific needs.The following customization options are available for the report:Segment Analysis :Product matrix, which gives a detailed comparison of the product portfolio of each companyDetailed analysis at volume level can also be provided.Regional Analysis :Further breakdown of the Rest of Asia Pacific Cassia Essential Oil market, by countryFurther breakdown of the Rest of Europe Cassia Essential Oil market, by countryFurther breakdown of other countries in the RoW Cassia Essential Oil market, by country.Fior Markets is a leading market intelligence company that sells reports of top publishers in the technology industry.Our extensive research reports cover detailed market assessments that include major technological improvements in the industry. Fior Markets also specializes in analyzing hi-tech systems and current processing systems in its expertise.Contact UsMark StoneSales ManagerPhone: (201) 465-4211Email: sales@fiormarkets.comWeb:
Nov, 1 2017: Automotive Paint & Coating Market Forecast 2023 Valspar, Kansai, Kinlita, Axalta Coating Systems

Automotive Paint & Coating

http://bit.ly/2z0H37n

http://www.spiremarketresearch.com/global-automotive-paint-coating-market-2017-demand-insight-key-plyers-segmentation-and-forecast-to-2022

http://www.spiremarketresearch.com

Automotive Paint & Coating Market Research 2017A market study  Global Automotive Paint & Coating Market  examines the performance of the Automotive Paint & Coating market 2017. It encloses an in-depth Research of the Automotive Paint & Coating market state and the competitive landscape globally. This report analyzes the potential of Automotive Paint & Coating market in the present and the future prospects from various angles in detail.The Global Automotive Paint & Coating Market 2017 report includes Automotive Paint & Coating market Revenue, market Share, Automotive Paint & Coating industry volume, market Trends, Automotive Paint & Coating Growth aspects. A wide range of applications, Utilization ratio, Supply and demand analysis are also consist in the report.It shows manufacturing capacity, Automotive Paint & Coating Price during the Forecast period from 2017 to 2022.To Get Sample Report Click Here:Manufacturers Analysis and Top Sellers of Global Automotive Paint & Coating Market 2017 : PPG Industries BASF Axalta Coating Systems NIPPON Kansai Bayer AG Solvay SA KCC Corporation AKZO NOBEL Valspar Sherwin-Williams Strong Chemical Kinlita PRIMEAutomotive Paint & Coating Market : By Application Passenger Vehicles Commercial VehiclesAutomotive Paint & Coating Market : By Type Solvent-Borne Coatings Waterborne Coatings Powder CoatingsFirstly, the report covers the top Automotive Paint & Coating manufacturing industry players from regions like United States, EU, Japan, and China. It also characterizes the market based on geological regions.Further, the Automotive Paint & Coating report gives information on the company profile, market share and contact details along with value chain analysis of Automotive Paint & Coating industry, Automotive Paint & Coating industry rules and policies, circumstances driving the growth of the market and compulsion blocking the growth. Automotive Paint & Coating Market development scope and various business strategies are also mentioned in this report.Browse Full Report Here:The Automotive Paint & Coating research report includes the products that are currently in demand and available in the market along with their cost breakup, manufacturing volume, import/export scheme and contribution to the Automotive Paint & Coating market revenue worldwide.Finally, Automotive Paint & Coating market report gives you details about the market research findings and conclusion which helps you to develop profitable market strategies to gain competitive advantage.About Us:"Spire Market Research" is a leading market intelligence team which accredits and provides the reports of some of the top publishers in the field of technology industry. We are as a firm expertise in making extensive reports that cover all the necessary details about the market assessments such as major technological improvement in the industry.Contact Us5001 Spring Valley Road,Suite 400 East,Dallas, TX 75244, USAWeb:Email: sales@spiremarketresearch.com
Global Heat And Thermal Protective Fabrics Market 2017 Outlook - Kovenex, Dupont, CarbonX, Mid-Mountain

https://www.fiormarkets.com/report-detail/128769/request-sample

https://goo.gl/aRP1tx

www.fiormarkets.com

Global Heat And Thermal Protective Fabrics Industry 2017 Market Research Report provides a unique tool for evaluating the market, highlighting opportunities, and supporting strategic and tactical decision-making. This report recognizes that in this rapidly-evolving and competitive environment, up-to-date marketing information is essential to monitor performance and make critical decisions for growth and profitability.The research study focuses major leading industry players with information such as company profiles, product picture and specification, capacity, production, price, cost, revenue and contact information. It provides information on trends and developments, and focuses on markets and materials, capacities and technologies, and on the changing structure of the Heat And Thermal Protective Fabrics Industry.Download Free Sample Report @Market competition by top manufacturers, with production, price, revenue (value) and market share for each manufacturer, the top players includingDupontNewtex Industries, IncKovenexNorfab CorporationAMI manufacturingNewtex Industries, IncCarbonXMid-MountainLakeland IndustriesWorbo IncGeographically, this report is segmented into several key Regions, with production, consumption, revenue (million USD), market share and growth rate of Heat And Thermal Protective Fabrics Industry in these regions, from 2012 to 2022 (forecast), covering North America, Europe, China, Japan, Southeast Asia, India.On the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, and market share and growth rate of each type. On the basis of the end users/applications, this report focuses on the status and outlook for major applications/end users, consumption (sales), market share and growth rate of Heat And Thermal Protective Fabrics Market Industry for each application.Access Full Report @Major points covered in this Report are :Heat And Thermal Protective Fabrics Industry Market Overview, Segment by Type (Product Category), by Application, by Region (2012-2022), Competition by ManufacturersGlobal Market Size (Value) of Heat And Thermal Protective Fabrics Industry (2012-2022)Global Heat And Thermal Protective Fabrics Industry Capacity, Production, Revenue (Value), Supply (Production), Consumption, Export, Import by Region (2012-2017)Global Heat And Thermal Protective Fabrics Industry Production, Revenue (Value), Price Trend by TypeGlobal Heat And Thermal Protective Fabrics Industry Market Analysis by ApplicationGlobal Heat And Thermal Protective Fabrics Industry Manufacturers Profiles/AnalysisHeat And Thermal Protective Fabrics Industry Manufacturing Cost AnalysisIndustrial Chain, Sourcing Strategy and Downstream BuyersMarketing Strategy Analysis, Distributors/TradersMarket Effect Factors AnalysisGlobal Heat And Thermal Protective Fabrics Industry Market Forecast (2017-2022)Research Findings and ConclusionThe research includes historic data from 2012 to 2016 and forecasts until 2022 which makes the reports an invaluable resource for industry executives, marketing, sales and product managers, consultants, analysts, and other people looking for key industry data in readily accessible documents with clearly presented tables and graphs. The report will make detailed analysis mainly on above questions and in-depth research on the development environment, market size, development trend, operation situation and future development trend of Heat And Thermal Protective Fabrics Industry on the basis of stating current situation of the industry in 2017 so as to make comprehensive organization and judgment on the competition situation and development trend Heat And Thermal Protective Fabrics Market and assist manufacturers and investment organization to better grasp the development course of Heat And Thermal Protective Fabrics Market.Available Customizations -With the given market data, Fior Markets offers customizations according to the companys specific needs.The following customization options are available for the report:Segment Analysis :Product matrix, which gives a detailed comparison of the product portfolio of each companyDetailed analysis at volume level can also be provided.Regional Analysis :Further breakdown of the Rest of Asia Pacific Heat And Thermal Protective Fabrics market, by countryFurther breakdown of the Rest of Europe Heat And Thermal Protective Fabrics market, by countryFurther breakdown of other countries in the RoW Heat And Thermal Protective Fabrics market, by country.Fior Markets is a leading market intelligence company that sells reports of top publishers in the technology industry.Our extensive research reports cover detailed market assessments that include major technological improvements in the industry. Fior Markets also specializes in analyzing hi-tech systems and current processing systems in its expertise.Contact UsMark StoneSales ManagerPhone: (201) 465-4211Email: sales@fiormarkets.comWeb:
Nov, 1 2017: Antifouling Coatings Market Forecast 2023 Admiral Coatings, Jotun, Chugoku Marine Paints, Sherwin-Williams

Antifouling Coatings

http://bit.ly/2gQO0jj

http://www.spiremarketresearch.com/global-antifouling-coatings-market-2017-demand-insight-key-plyers-segmentation-and-forecast-to-2022

http://www.spiremarketresearch.com

Antifouling Coatings Market Research 2017A market study  Global Antifouling Coatings Market  examines the performance of the Antifouling Coatings market 2017. It encloses an in-depth Research of the Antifouling Coatings market state and the competitive landscape globally. This report analyzes the potential of Antifouling Coatings market in the present and the future prospects from various angles in detail.The Global Antifouling Coatings Market 2017 report includes Antifouling Coatings market Revenue, market Share, Antifouling Coatings industry volume, market Trends, Antifouling Coatings Growth aspects. A wide range of applications, Utilization ratio, Supply and demand analysis are also consist in the report.It shows manufacturing capacity, Antifouling Coatings Price during the Forecast period from 2017 to 2022.To Get Sample Report Click Here:Manufacturers Analysis and Top Sellers of Global Antifouling Coatings Market 2017 : AkzoNobel Hempel Jotun PPG Industries Sherwin-Williams Admiral Coatings Advanced Marine Coatings BASF Chugoku Marine Paints DuPont Kansai Paint Nippon Paint HoldingsAntifouling Coatings Market : By Application Construction Industry Ship IndustryAntifouling Coatings Market : By Type Contact Antifouling Coatings Increased Dosage Form Antifouling Coatings Diffusion Type Antifouling Coatings Self-Throwing Antifouling CoatingsFirstly, the report covers the top Antifouling Coatings manufacturing industry players from regions like United States, EU, Japan, and China. It also characterizes the market based on geological regions.Further, the Antifouling Coatings report gives information on the company profile, market share and contact details along with value chain analysis of Antifouling Coatings industry, Antifouling Coatings industry rules and policies, circumstances driving the growth of the market and compulsion blocking the growth. Antifouling Coatings Market development scope and various business strategies are also mentioned in this report.Browse Full Report Here:The Antifouling Coatings research report includes the products that are currently in demand and available in the market along with their cost breakup, manufacturing volume, import/export scheme and contribution to the Antifouling Coatings market revenue worldwide.Finally, Antifouling Coatings market report gives you details about the market research findings and conclusion which helps you to develop profitable market strategies to gain competitive advantage.About Us:"Spire Market Research" is a leading market intelligence team which accredits and provides the reports of some of the top publishers in the field of technology industry. We are as a firm expertise in making extensive reports that cover all the necessary details about the market assessments such as major technological improvement in the industry.Contact Us5001 Spring Valley Road,Suite 400 East,Dallas, TX 75244, USAWeb:Email: sales@spiremarketresearch.com
Flex Class Cancels IPO Plans Opts For Reverse Merger

www.flexclass.org

Flex Class Holdings, the leading online skill development company has called off its plans for an IPO on the US markets and has opted for the reverse merger or a reverse IPO. The company is choosing between US and UK stock exchange. The company is also planning a initial coin offering.Under this Flex Class Holdings will acquire majority interest or shareholding in the already listed entity and will begin trading on the markets within a short span of time. EGW Capital Inc. will advise Flex Class on both reverse merger and ICO offering.Recently, Flex Class announced a $35 mn initial coin offering or a ICO under the Flex Degree brand. Flex Class also reported that it has completely adopted blockchain and will merge all its businesses under Flex Degree.The ICO was supposed to open pre-ICO on November 5 but the existing shareholders and investors need more time before they agree to the ICO offering.We could have moved ahead with the ICO without consulting our shareholders but for us our shareholders are the boss, we will do what makes them happy, said Anurag Vaid, Founder of Flex Class.The ICO offering will be done by the wholly owned subsidiary of Flex Class which will be in Cayman Islands.Flex Class which is listed on the OTC Premarkets has seen selling pressure post announcement of withdrawal of IPO. The stock has lost 29% in the last two trading sessions, the market capitalisation fell from $12 bn to $9 bn. The trading volume was higher which was reflecting exit by the existing investors who have booked 300-350% on their investments.An insider on the basis of anonymity confirmed that the management of Flex Class is bullish on coins as a prime source of funding.The existing investors who are also the shareholders objected the idea of adopting coins as a prime source of funding as the market cap growth will shift towards coins instead of shares.As per the trend, the coin holders or owners are not entitled to get any shareholding in the business which keeps the rights of the management intact and is hence preferred by the promoters.The trading of the coins is supported by the customers of the business who buy coins for availing the service, hence, bigger is the customer base more are the chances of witnessing higher growth.Some of the coins have already given 200%-40000% returns to the initial investors.The demand for the Flex Degree coins is tremendous. It is technically the first underwritten ICO. We are approached by some of their shareholders who wish to have a block of coins reserved for them in advance. Flex Class is ready to give preference to its shareholders over the retail investors. The shareholders are now shifting to the new trend and if the business is stable, the value of coins will grow much faster as it truly reflects the growth in revenue. Not every coin is a bubble, the basis for a IPO and a ICO is same, if you invest in an ICO of the stupid business you may end up losing money, the growing businesses will give wonderful returns. Flex Class have advantage that it has evolved from the startup tag, said Greg Chandler, Director of EGW Capital Inc.Flex Class coins post ICO will trade on the OTC Premarkets.A pioneer in online education for professionals, we create course programs, exams, and lab projects that help professionals across the world successfully prepare for and complete certification exams with ease. Our unique blended model of training brings together the best of self-learning and online training, making for a successful learning experience.We strive to constantly improve our learning frameworks to make them more user-friendly. Our courses are upgraded continuously to ensure our learners are up-to-date on the latest industry requirements and best practices.We assist our learners in applying for the certification exam of their choice, and our vibrant community of experts and certified professionals is a powerful resource pool of tips, tricks, and insightful advice.Flex Class IndiaPostal Address: Statesman House Connaught Place New Delhi - 110001IndiaPress Contact: Thomas MuellerEmail: help@flexclass.orgWeb:
Social Intelligence Market Will Exhibit An Aggrandizing Growth By 2023: Top Leaders- IBM, Brandwatch, Salesforce, Sysomos, ARBA Holdings, Germin8

https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/4466

https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/social-intelligence-market-4466

Market Research Future published a research report on Social Intelligence Market Research Report - Global Forecast 2023  Market Analysis, Scope, Stake, Progress, Trends and Forecast to 2023.Market HighlightsIn this rapidly changing world of technology, social intelligence market is projected to show major growth prospects during the forecast period. Major factor driving the social intelligence market is the growing adoption of data analytics. Increasing data availability is another major factor fueling the growth of social intelligence market.The global Social Intelligence Market, by geography, has been segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Rest of the World. As compared to other regions, the social intelligence market in North America is expected to witness significant growth and hold the largest market share during the forecast period. U.S and Canada are anticipated to drive the growth of social intelligence market. This is owing to the presence of large number of established key players like IBM Corporation in that region. 4C, a social intelligence company, has announced a funding of USD 5 Million from Jump Capital whereas, Brandwatch, a U.K. based social intelligence company, is the technology leader in social intelligence. In addition to this, the region also has a well-established infrastructure which allows higher penetration of devices and ultimately provides better connectivity. Increasing demand for social intelligence in retail and e-commerce sectors is expected to be one major factor for driving the growth of social intelligence market.In the global social intelligence market, Asia Pacific is anticipated to witness relatively faster adoption and is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period as compared to other regions. Within Asia Pacific, social intelligence market is projected to contribute faster to the growth of revenue backed by increasing demand for social intelligence from various industry verticals in countries such as Japan, China, South Korea and India. This is owing to the presence of key players like Germin8 in the region.Get Sample of Report @The social intelligence market is growing rapidly over 26% of CAGR and is expected to reach at approx. USD 13 Billion by the end of forecast period.Taste the market data and market information presented through more than 30 market data tables and figures spread over 100 numbers of pages of the project report. Avail the in-depth table of content TOC & market synopsis on Social Intelligence Market Research Report-Forecast to 2023.Key Players:The prominent players in social intelligence market are  Brandwatch (U.K.), IBM Corporation (U.S.), Synthesio (U.S.), 4c (U.S.), Frrole, Inc. (U.S.), Salesforce.Com, Inc. (U.S.), Sysomos Inc. (Canada), Talkwalker (U.S.), ARBA Holdings (Hong Kong), Germin8 (India) among others.Market Research Analysis:It has been observed that North America is estimated to account for the largest share of the market, whereas Asia-Pacific market is projected to grow at the fastest rate during the forecast period. The major growth in social intelligence market in North America is attributed to technological advancements and increasing demand for data analytics in across various industry verticals in that region. Increasing implementation of cloud based business intelligence applications by small and medium enterprises is another major factor responsible for fueling the growth of social intelligence market.Social Intelligence Market SegmentationThe social intelligence market has been segmented on the basis of component, organization size, deployment, application and vertical. The organization size segment is bifurcated into small and medium enterprises and large enterprises. Out of which, the large enterprises sub segment holds the largest market share of social intelligence market whereas, small and medium enterprises sub segment is expected to grow at a significant rate during the forecast period. This is owing to the increasing need for data analytics in order to improve the overall productivity of the organization.Get Complete Report @Intended AudienceTechnology InvestorsResearch/Consultancy FirmsGovernment BodiesIT & Telecommunication CompaniesSoftware ProvidersTechnology ProvidersSoftware VendorsAbout Us:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.Media Contact:Akash Anand,Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: akash.anand@marketresearchfuture.com
Wireless Charging Market to grow at 13% CAGR from 2017 to 2024

Global Market Insights

https://www.gminsights.com/request-sample/detail/440

https://www.gminsights.com/inquiry-before-buying/440

https://www.gminsights.com/industry-analysis/wireless-charging-market

https://www.gminsights.com

Wireless Charging Market size is set to exceed USD 14 billion by 2024; as per a research report published by Global Market Insights, Inc.Growing demand of the technology across the automotive sector owing to rising pollution concerns as well as depleting fossil fuels is expected to drive the wireless charging market over the forecast timeline. Manufacturers have recognized that consumers are increasing their spending capacity and are ready to invest in premium products. Several automotive manufacturers such as Audi, BMW, Daimler and Toyota are actively researching the technology. The industry is characterized by a considerable amount of R&D, which is expected to contribute to overall growth.Request for a sample of this research report @A huge opportunity for the technology exists in the highly automated & connected industries, as the battery power is a vital factor in several industrial applications. Wireless charging in industrial settings helps reduce the risk of explosions caused by stray sparks which occur during the connection and disconnection of current carrying power cables. In industrial applications of unmanned systems and robotic vehicles which require high voltages of electricity to operate efficiently, the technology is providing a consistent, high efficiency power supply to batteries which is expected to enhance the wireless charging market growth.Resonant technology accounted for more than 25% of the wireless charging market share in 2016. The technology does not require direct contact for charging of devices and allows several devices to be charged simultaneously. It has a competitive advantage over the inductive technology as it offers wireless transfer of power at a long range for multiple devices. The technology is anticipated to become more widely available at coffee-shop tables and in offices under the desks.Healthcare is a promising application segment for the wireless charging market. The usage of medical implants in advanced medical therapies for a variety of chronic conditions is growing, with the ability to safely charge such devices opens new opportunities to several treatment options thereby driving the wireless charging market growth. Moreover, wireless charging technology is offering its end-users the ability to extend the lifetime of an implant as the battery can be recharged, and can also eliminate the battery need in some cases.Make an inquiry for purchasing this report @The players operating in the wireless charging market include WiTricity Corporation, Integrated Device Technology, Inc., Texas Instruments, Inc., Qualcomm Inc., Energizer Holdings, Inc, PowerbyProxi Ltd., Powermat Technologies, Powercast Corporation among others. The industry is extremely competitive in nature, which has led several manufacturers to develop and commercialize several key technologies that are implemented in smart devices and contribute towards the end-user demand.Companies are licensing their product portfolio which include patent rights, and which are beneficial in the manufacturing and distribution of wireless charging products. Moreover, several vendors are extending their businesses to emerging markets such as Asia Pacific and MEA as the North America wireless charging market appears to be comparatively mature in terms of infrastructural development.Browse key industry insights spread across 140 pages with 62 market data tables & 75 figures & charts from the report, Wireless Charging Market in detail along with the table of contents:About Global Market InsightsGlobal Market Insights, Inc., headquartered in Delaware, U.S., is a global market research and consulting service provider; offering syndicated and custom research reports along with growth consulting services. Our business intelligence and industry research reports offer clients with penetrative insights and actionable market data specially designed and presented to aid strategic decision making. These exhaustive reports are designed via a proprietary research methodology and are available for key industries such as chemicals, advanced materials, technology, renewable energy and biotechnology.Contact Us:Arun HegdeCorporate Sales, USAGlobal Market Insights, Inc.Phone: 1-302-846-7766Toll Free: 1-888-689-0688Email: sales@gminsights.comWeb:
Global Home Insurance market 2017 Top players-AFLAC, Allstate, Geico, Liberty Mutual, Farmers Insurance Group

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The market report on the Home Insurance Market 2017 is a skillful and in-depth research report and it consist of all the major branches of the market. The market size of the Home Insurance market is estimated in terms of value. In this report all the important aspects are included considering the Home Insurance market so that the user can understand the market completely.Download Full Request Sample@Details of the ReportThe report begins with industrial overview of the Home Insurance market. In the overview all the primary and secondary factors are covered.In market segmentation the Home Insurance market is segmented depending on the major aspects including applications, end use industry, and other leading factors. Along with this the sub segments are also included in this report.In the next sections, other components and elements are discussed which contribute to the growth of the market. These consequences help in analyzing the current position of the market.The technological advancements that are created in the Home Insurance market are also described. These advancements help the beginners to understand the upcoming opportunities in the market.Companies Mentioned are :AFLACAllstateGeicoLiberty MutualFarmers Insurance GroupAllianzBUPAPICCPingAnKunlunShelter InsuranceFurther in the report:Several factors that are regulating the growth of the market are also included. Various challenges that are affecting the current and future growth are added. The position and size of the market in nations and regions are added in this report. Active region of the market can be understood through the Region-wise analysis.Access Full sample Report@Other aspects:Global Home Insurance market covers Testimonials of the Home Insurance industry. The report gives an extensive view of the global Home Insurance market.About Fior MarketsFior Markets is a leading market intelligence company that sells reports of top publishers in the technology industry.Our extensive research reports cover detailed market assessments that include major technological improvements in the industry. Fior Markets also specializes in analyzing hi-tech systems and current processing systems in its expertise.We have a team of experts that compile precise research reports and actively advise top companies to improve their existing processes. Our experts have extensive experience in the topics that they cover.Fior Markets provides you the full spectrum of services related to market research, and corroborate with the clients to increase the revenue stream, and address process gaps.Contact UsMark StoneSales ManagerOffice-102, Sanskriti AspirationsBaner Road, Pune,MH 411045IndiaPhone: (201) 465-4211Email: sales@fiormarkets.comWeb:
Residential Construction Market in Iran 2017- Assess business risks, including cost, regulatory and competitive pressures 2021

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WiseGuyReports published new report, titled Residential Construction Market in IranSynopsis"Residential Construction Market in Iran: Market Size, Growth and Forecast Analytics to 2021" contains historic and forecast market data for the residential construction market in Iran, with a detailed breakdown of the data by construction activity (new construction, repair and maintenance, refurbishment and demolition) and by cost type( construction materials, construction equipment and construction services). This report also contains overall values of the residential construction segments such as Residential construction market covers new construction, renovation and demolition of residential buildings such as houses, townhouses, cottages, condominiums, single-unit dwellings, sub-divisions and apartments. This market includes two categories: single-family housing and multi-family housing.This research report provides up-to-date market size data for the period 2012-2016 and an illustrative forecast to 2021.GET SAMPLE REPORT @SummaryResidential construction market covers new construction, renovation and demolition of residential buildings such as houses, townhouses, cottages, condominiums, single-unit dwellings, sub-divisions and apartments. This market includes two categories: single-family housing and multi-family housing.The Iranian residential construction category continued to increase in the review period with a value of IRRxxx.xx billion (US$xxx.xx billion) in 2016 and increased at a rate of xx.xx% over 2015. The market recorded a CAGR of xx.xx% from 2012 through 2016."Residential Construction Market in Iran: Market Size, Growth and Forecast Analytics to 2021"' provides a top-level overview and detailed insight into the operating environment of the residential construction market in Iran. It is an essential tool for companies active across the Iran construction value chain and for new players considering to enter the market.Scope An overview of the residential construction market in Iran. Historic (2012 through 2016) and forecast (2017 through 2021) construction market output values are provided. A detailed breakdown of the data by construction activity (new construction, repair and maintenance, refurbishment and demolition) is provided at the market level while the values for the segments are provided by cost types (construction materials, construction equipment & construction services). This report covers all the segments of commercial construction market including Residential construction market covers new construction, renovation and demolition of residential buildings such as houses, townhouses, cottages, condominiums, single-unit dwellings, sub-divisions and apartments. This market includes two categories: single-family housing and multi-family housing.Key points to buy Enhances your knowledge of the market with key figures detailing construction type. Provides you with a breakdown of the market by construction activity (new construction, repair and maintenance, refurbishment and demolition). Provides you with a breakdown of the segments by cost type (construction materials, construction equipment &construction services). Details the segments covered under commercial construction market. Allows you to plan future business decisions using the forecast figures given.Table of Contents1 Introduction2 Overall Industrial Construction Value: Market Analysis3 Residential Construction Output: Analysis by Category4 Single-Family Housing construction: Market Analysis5 Multi-Family Housing construction: Market Analysis6 Metal and Material Production and Processing plants construction: Market Analysis7 Waste Processing Plants construction: Market Analysis8 Appendix..CONTINUEDFor accessing accurate and deep understanding and to gain latest insights and key developments in the area of your interest, we also have a list of conferences in which you will be interested in, for more information, cordially checkFor updating knowledge or for thoroughly understanding various terminologies, we also have vast list of seminars for your reference, for more information cordially checkWise Guy Reports is part of the Wise Guy Research Consultants Pvt. Ltd. and offers premium progressive statistical surveying, market research reports, analysis & forecast data for industries and governments around the globe.WISEGUY RESEARCH CONSULTANTS PVT LTDOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersPune - 411028Maharashtra, India
Global Adhesive Tapes Market is projected to become worth US$92.36 by over 2016-2024

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This report analyzes and forecasts the market for Adhesive Tapes at the global and regional level. The market has been forecast based on revenue (US$ Mn) & Volume (Million Square Meter) from 2016 to 2024. The study includes drivers and restraints of the global Adhesive Tapes market. It also covers the impact of these drivers and restraints on demand for Adhesive Tapes during the forecast period. The report also highlights opportunities in the Adhesive Tapes market at the global and regional level.The report comprises a detailed value chain analysis, which provides a comprehensive view of the global Adhesive Tapes market. Porters Five Forces model for the Adhesive Tapes market has also been included to help understand the competitive landscape in the market. The study encompasses market attractiveness analysis, wherein end-users are benchmarked based on their market size, growth rate, and general attractiveness.Click to get sample PDF with TOC:The study provides a decisive view of the global Adhesive Tapes market by segmenting it in terms product and end use. These segments have been analyzed based on present and future trends. Regional segmentation includes the current and forecast demand for Adhesive Tapes in North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa. The report also covers demand for individual end-user segments in all the regions.The study includes profiles of major companies operating in the global Adhesive Tapes market. Key players profiled in the report include Adhesive Tapes market include 3M, Nitto Denko Corporation, Kruse Adhesive Tape, Saint-Gobain, Surface Shields, CCT Tapes, tesa SE, Scapa Group plc., Advance Tapes International, Vibac Group S.p.a., H.B.Fuller, CMS Group of Companies, Lohmann GmbH & Co.KG., K.L. & Ling, NICHIBAN CO., LTD. Market players have been profiled in terms of attributes such as company overview, financial overview, business strategies, recent developments, and SWOT analysis.Global Adhesive Tapes Market: Scope of the StudyThe report provides the estimated market size of Adhesive Tapes for 2015 and forecast for the next nine years. The global market size of Adhesive Tapes has been provided in terms of revenue. Market numbers have been estimated based on product and end use segment of Adhesive Tapes. Market size and forecast for each major product and end use have been provided in terms of global and regional markets.In order to compile the research report, we conducted in-depth interviews and discussions with a number of key industry participants and opinion leaders. Primary research represents the bulk of research efforts, supplemented by extensive secondary research. We reviewed key players product literature, annual reports, press releases, and relevant documents for competitive analysis and market understanding. Secondary research also includes a search of recent trade, technical writing, internet sources, and statistical data from government websites, trade associations, and agencies. This has proven to be the most reliable, effective, and successful approach for obtaining precise market data, capturing industry participants insights, and recognizing business opportunities.Secondary research sources that are typically referred to include, but are not limited to company websites, annual reports, financial reports, broker reports, investor presentations, and SEC filings, internal and external proprietary databases, and relevant patent and regulatory databases, national government documents, statistical databases, and market reports, news articles, press releases, and webcasts specific to companies operating in the market, Omnexus4adhesives,PCI, ICIS, Adhesives magazine, Fecia, Coatings world magazine, BASA onlineEnquiry:Primary research involves e-mail interactions, telephonic interviews, and face-to-face interviews for each market, category, segment, and sub-segment across geographies. We conduct primary interviews on an ongoing basis with industry participants and commentators in order to validate the data and analysis. Primary interviews provide firsthand information on market size, market trends, growth trends, competitive landscape, and outlook, etc. These help validate and strengthen secondary research findings. These also help develop the analysis teams expertise and market understanding.The report segments the global Adhesive Tapes market as:Adhesive Tapes Market: Product Analysis- Single Coated- Double Coated- Transfer Tape- Foam TapeBrowse more details at:ResearchMoz is the worlds fastest growing collection of market research reports worldwide. Our database is composed of current market studies from over 100 featured publishers worldwide. Our market research databases integrate statistics with analysis from global, regional, country and company perspectives. ResearchMozs service portfolio also includes value-added services such as market research customization, competitive landscaping, and in-depth surveys, delivered by a team of experienced Research Coordinators.Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-621-2074Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free)Email: sales@researchmoz.usFollow us on LinkedIn at:
Global Processed Food & Beverage Preservatives Market 2016-2024 - Lack of Time to Prepare Home Meals Fuels Growth

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This report covers the analysis and forecast of the processed food & beverage preservatives market on a global and regional level. The study provides historic data of 2015 along with forecast for the period between 2016 and 2024 based on volume (kilo tons) and revenue (US$ Mn).The study provides a decisive view of the processed food & beverage preservatives market by segmenting it based on product type, form, function, application, and regional demand. Product type segmentation includes analysis on type of preservatives used in processed food & beverage and their future projections. Form segment includes analysis on solid and liquid preservatives and their current and future trends. Function segments have been analyzed based on current trends and future potential. The market has been estimated from 2016 to 2024 in terms of revenue (US$ Mn) and volume (kilo tons). Regional segmentation includes the current and forecast demand for North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa, and Latin America. These have been further sub-segmented into countries and regions with relevance to the market. The segmentation also includes demand for product type, form, function, and applications in all regions.Click to get sample PDF with TOC:The study covers the drivers and restraints governing the dynamics of the market along with their impact on demand during the forecast period. Additionally, the report includes potential opportunities in the processed food and beverage preservatives market on the global and regional level.We have included competitive landscape of the market. The study encompasses market attractiveness analysis, wherein all the segments have been benchmarked based on their market size, growth rate, and general attractiveness for future growth.The market has been forecast based on the amount of different form of preservatives in demand. Demand for processed food and beverage preservatives vary in each region as a result of the food habits of consumers in the region and climatic conditions that prevails in each region. Individual product type, form, functions, and application have been taken into account while estimating and forecasting overall revenue and volume.Global Processed Food and Beverage Preservative Market: ScopeMarket estimates for this study have been based on revenue and volume. The factors for use of preservatives in each application have been considered in calculating the revenue of the market. Demand for processed food and beverage preservatives has been derived by analyzing the global and regional demand for processed food and beverage preservatives in each application. The global processed food and beverage preservatives market has been analyzed based on expected demand. Market data for each segment is based on corresponding revenues and volume. Factors considered for calculation of revenue and volume is drivers, restraints, and opportunities.The report provides the size of the processed food and beverage preservatives market in 2015 and the forecast for the next nine years up to 2024. The size of the global processed food and beverage preservatives market is provided in terms of revenue and volume. Market revenue for regions is defined in US$ Mn and volume in kilo tons. The market size and forecast for each product segment is provided in the context of global and regional markets. Numbers provided in this report are derived based on demand generated from different products, form, function and application. Market dynamics prevalent in North America and Asia Pacific have been taken into account for estimating the growth of the global market.Forecasts have been based on the expected demand from processed food and beverage preservatives applications. We have used the top  down and bottom - up approach to estimate the market, split into regions. The application split of the market has been derived using a top-down approach for each regional market separately, with the global application segment split being an integration of regional estimates. Companies were considered for their product portfolio, revenue, and manufacturing capacity. In the absence of specific data related to the sales of processed food and beverage preservatives of several privately held companies, calculated assumptions have been made in view of the companys product portfolio and regional presence along with the demand for products in its portfolio.Enquiry:The report covers a detailed competitive outlook that includes market share and company profiles of key players operating in the global market. Key players profiled in the report include Celanese Corporation, Koninklijke DSM N.V., E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, Kerry Group Plc, Galactic SA, Hawkins Watts Limited, Innophos Holdings Inc, Kemin Industries, Inc., Cargill, Incorporated, Akzo Nobel N.V., Albemarle Corporation, Naturalin Bio-Resources Co., Ltd, Shandong Kunda Biotechnology Co., Ltd., Shanghai Ruidian Trading Development Co., Ecochem Group Co., Ltd, Ningbo Pangs Chem Int'l Co., Ltd. Zhejiang Silver Elephant Bioengineering Co., Ltd., Shandong Tong Tai Wei Run Chemical Co., Ltd., Laiwu Taihe Biochemistry Co., Ltd., and SEEBIO BIOTECH (SHANGHAI) CO.,LTD.Browse more details at:ResearchMoz is the worlds fastest growing collection of market research reports worldwide. Our database is composed of current market studies from over 100 featured publishers worldwide. Our market research databases integrate statistics with analysis from global, regional, country and company perspectives. ResearchMozs service portfolio also includes value-added services such as market research customization, competitive landscaping, and in-depth surveys, delivered by a team of experienced Research Coordinators.Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-621-2074Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free)Email: sales@researchmoz.usFollow us on LinkedIn at:
APAC Advanced Wound Care Market is projected to reach USD 4,770.2 million by 2024

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In this region, The APAC advanced wound care market is projected to reach USD 4,770.2 million by 2024, from USD 1,916.1 million in 2016 growing at a CAGR of 12.2% in the forecast period 2017 to 2024.Based on geography, the APAC advanced wound care market is segmented into 11 geographical regions, such as,Japan,China,South Korea,India,Australia,Singapore,Thailand,Malaysia,Indonesia,Philippines andRest Of APAC.Browse Complete Report @APAC advanced wound care market competition by top players including3M,Smith and Nephew,Medtronic,Acelity L.P. INC,Molnlycke Healthcare AB,Convatec Inc.,Baxter,ColoplaHst,Ethicon. Inc,Hollister Inc,Integra Life Sciences CorporationTABLE OF CONTENTS1. INTRODUCTION1.1. OVERVIEW OF ASIA PACIFIC ADVANCED WOUND CARE MARKET1.2. CURRENCY AND PRICING1.3. LIMITATION1.4. MARKETS COVERED2. MARKET SEGMENTATION2.1. MARKETS COVERED2.2. GEOGRAPHIC SCOPE2.3. YEARS CONSIDERED FOR THE STUDY2.4. CURRENCY AND PRICING2.5. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY2.6. PRIMARY INTERVIEWS WITH KEY OPINION LEADERS2.7. SECONDARY SOURCES2.8. ASSUMPTIONSGet sample copy of this report @3. MARKET OVERVIEW3.1. DRIVERS3.1.1. RISING AGING AND GERIATRIC POPULATION3.1.2. TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENT3.1.3. GOVERNMENT SUPPORT3.1.4. RISING INCIDENCES OF CHRONIC WOUND3.1.5. INCREASING TREND3.2. RESTRAINTS3.2.1. LOW AWARENESS3.2.2. SLOW GROWTH RATE AND SHRINKING MARKET3.2.3. COMPLEX REGULATORY APPROVAL PROCESS3.2.4. COMPETITION WITH OTHER MOIST DRESSINGS3.3. OPPORTUNITIES3.3.1. REIMBURSEMENT3.3.2. MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS TO EXPAND BUSINESS3.3.3. UNMET NEED3.3.4. INCREASING DEMAN3.4. CHALLENGE3.4.1. SHORTAGE OF TRAINED STAFF3.4.2. THE DEVELOPMENT OF SUBSTITUTE PRODUCTS3.5. KEY MARKET TRENDS AND UPCOMMING TECHNOLOGIES3.5.1. SMART DRESSING WILL PUSH FUTURE GROWTH3.5.2. HYDROFIBER HAS BEEN THE MOST SIGNIFICANT RECENT INNOVATION3.5.3. ALGINATE DRESSING IS EXPECTED TO GROW ROBUSTLY IN THE UPCOMING YEARS3.5.4. FOAM DRESSING ACCOUNTING THE LARGEST MARKET SEGMENT IN THE UPCOMING YEARS4. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY5. PREMIUM INSIGHTS6. ASIA PACIFIC ADVANCED WOUND CARE MARKET, BY PRODUCT TYPE6.1. OVERVIEW6.2. DRESSING6.3. BIOLOGICS6.4. THERAPY DEVICES7. ASIA PACIFIC ADVANCED WOUND CARE MARKET, BY WOUND TYPE7.1. INTRODUCTION7.2. SURGICAL WOUND7.2.1. CLASS I7.2.2. CLASS II7.2.3. CLASS III7.2.4. CLASS IV7.3. DIABETIC ULCERS7.4. PRESSURE ULCERS7.5. VENOUS ULCERS7.6. BURNSContinue..About Research Trades:Research Trades has team of experts who works on providing exhaustive analysis pertaining to market research on a global basis. This comprehensive analysis is obtained by a thorough research and study of the ongoing trends and provides predictive data regarding the future estimations, which can be utilized by various organizations for growth purposes.Contact us:Email: sales@researchtrades.comCall us: +1 6269994607 / +91 7507349866Skype ID: researchtradesconWeb:
Global Dental Implants Market to become worth US$6.54 bn over Forecast 2016-2024

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This report on dental implants studies the current as well as future prospects of the market globally. The stakeholders of this report include companies and intermediaries engaged in the manufacture and commercialization of various dental implants and products as well as new entrants planning to enter this market. This report comprises an elaborate executive summary along with a market snapshot providing overall information of various segments and sub-segments considered within the scope of the study. This section also provides the overall information and data analysis of the global dental implants market with respect to the leading market segments based on major products, key materials utilized, end-users, and geographies.The market overview section of the report explores the market dynamics such as drivers, restraints, and opportunities that currently have a strong impact on the global dental implants market and could influence the market in the near future. Market attractiveness analysis has been provided in all the sections of the report in order to explain the intensity of competition in the market across different products/materials/end-users/geographies.Click to get sample PDF with TOC:The competitive scenario among different market players is evaluated through market share analysis in the competition landscape section of the report. The section also includes completion matrix that analyzes the competition among some of the top global players operating in the market. All these factors would help market players to take strategic decisions in order to strengthen their positions and expand their shares in the global market.Global Dental Implants Market: Segment AnalysisThe global dental implants market has been studied based on major implantable product segments, material segments, their end-users, and regional as well as national markets. Based on product type, the global market has been categorized into three major 4 segments: Endosteal Implants, Subperiosteal Implants, Transosteal Implants, and Intramucosal Implants.Based on material, the global market has been categorized into five major segments Titanium Implants Zirconium Implants, Based on end-user market has been categorized as Hospitals, Dental Clinics, Academic & Research Institute, Others. The market for these segments has been extensively analyzed based on their utility, effectiveness, sales, and geographic presence. Market revenue in terms of US$ Mn and market volume in terms of units for the period from 2014 to 2024 along with the compound annual growth rate (CAGR %) from 2016 to 2024 are provided for all segments, considering 2016 as the base year.Global Dental Implants Market: Regional AnalysisGeographically, the dental implants market has been segmented into five regions: North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Europe, Middle East & Africa (MEA), and Latin America. Each regional market for dental Implants has been further categorized into major product, material, and end-user segments considered within the scope of the study. Key country (U.S., Japan, Germany, France, U.K., Australia, Canada, China, Brazil, Mexico, India, etc.) market revenues have also been provided in different regional sections within the report. Market revenue in terms of US$ Mn and volume in terms of units for the period from 2014 to 2024 along with CAGR % from 2016 to 2024 are provided for all the regions and nations considering 2016 as the base year.Enquiry:The report also profiles key players operating in the dental implants market based on various attributes such as company details, SWOT analysis, strategic overview, financials, and business overview. Major players profiled in this report include Danaher Corporation, Dentsply Sirona, Institut Straumann AG, and Zimmer Biomet Holdings, 3M Health Care, CAMLOG Biotechnologies AG etc.Browse more details at:ResearchMoz is the worlds fastest growing collection of market research reports worldwide. Our database is composed of current market studies from over 100 featured publishers worldwide. Our market research databases integrate statistics with analysis from global, regional, country and company perspectives. ResearchMozs service portfolio also includes value-added services such as market research customization, competitive landscaping, and in-depth surveys, delivered by a team of experienced Research Coordinators.Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-621-2074Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free)Email: sales@researchmoz.usFollow us on LinkedIn at:
Automatic Gate and Door Opening System Market to Rear Excessive Growth by 2023: Global Key Players- CAME UK, Aleko Products, Katres Automation, Newturn Automation, Life Home Integration, Beninca Group

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Market Research Future published a research report on Automatic Gate and Door Opening System Market Research Report - Global Forecast 2023  Market Analysis, Scope, Stake, Progress, Trends and Forecast to 2023.Market Synopsis of Automatic Gate and Door Opening System Market:Market Scenario:Major factor driving the growth of automatic gate and door opening system market is the increasing need for automation in the residential and industrial sectors. Majorly, these systems are implemented where the frequency of closing and opening of a door is higher. Growing urbanization and increasing developments in the infrastructure are other factors driving the growth of automatic gate and door opening system market.North America region holds the largest market share of global automatic gate and door opening system market followed by Europe and Asia Pacific regions. The growth is North America region is mainly dominated by U.S. and is attributed to the increasing demand for industrial and residential automation in the region. The region also has a well-established infrastructure which allows implementation of advanced technologies. Improved style of living in the region is another factor driving the growth of automatic gate and door opening system. Asia Pacific region is expected to grow at the highest rate during the forecast period owing to increasing need for automation.Automatic Gate And Door Opening System Market has been segmented on the basis of access control system, gate type, power source and end user. The access control segment is further bifurcated into keypad system, remote control system, face identification and camera system, fingerprint identification system, iris scan system, telephone access system, proximity sensor system and card tag system. Out of which, the proximity sensor system has the maximum number of applications in the commercial sector like in shopping malls and corporate offices where the opening and closing of door frequency is high.Get Sample of Report @Automatic gate and door opening system is basically implemented to reduce human effort. These systems comprises of proximity sensors which can sense the nearby objects and open the gate or door so that no human is required to do that job.The global automatic gate and door opening system market is expected to grow at approx. USD 18 Billion by 2023, at 7% of CAGR between 2017 and 2023.Key Players:The prominent players in Automatic Gate And Door Opening System Market are  CAME UK (U.K.), RIB S.R.L. (Italy), Aleko Products (U.S.), King Gates S.R.L. (Italy), Katres Automation (India), Proteco S.R.L. (Italy), Newturn Automation Pvt. Ltd. (India), Life Home Integration (Italy), ABA Automatic Gates & Doors (Australia), Beninca Group (U.K.) among others.Regional Analysis:The regional analysis of automatic gate and door opening system market is being studied for regions such as Asia Pacific, North America, Europe and Rest of the World. It has been observed that North America is estimated to account for the largest share of the market, whereas Asia-Pacific is projected to grow at the fastest rate during the forecast period. The major growth in automatic gate and door opening system market in North America is attributed to technical advancements and increasing use demand for automation in that region.Segments:Automatic gate and door opening system market can be segmented on the basis of following:By Access Control SystemKeypad SystemRemote Control SystemFace Identification Camera SystemFingerprint Identification SystemIris Scan SystemTelephone Access SystemProximity Sensor SystemCard Tag SystemBy Gate TypeSwinging GatesSliding GatesShutter SystemBoom BarriersBollardsBy Power SourcePrimary Power SourceSecondary Power SourceBy End UsersResidentialTransportation HubsMilitaryIndustrialCommercialGet Complete Report @Intended AudienceTechnology InvestorsResearch/Consultancy FirmsInfrastructure ProvidersRaw Material SuppliersComponents ProvidersSystem IntegratorsMiddleware and Firmware ProvidersSuppliers and DistributorsSmart Home/City Service ProvidersGovernment and Other Regulatory BodiesAbout Us:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.Media Contact:Akash Anand,Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: akash.anand@marketresearchfuture.com
Institutional Construction Market in Taiwan 2017 - Revenue, Consumption, Export and Import Forecast Report 2021

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WiseGuyReports published new report, titled Institutional Construction Market in TaiwanSynopsis"Institutional Construction Market in Taiwan: Market Size, Growth and Forecast Analytics to 2021" contains historic and forecast market data for the institutional construction market in Taiwan, with a detailed breakdown of the data by construction activity (new construction, repair and maintenance, refurbishment and demolition) and by cost type( construction materials, construction equipment and construction services). This report also contains overall values of the institutional construction segments such as Institutional construction market covers the development of government, public and religious buildings. This market includes five categories: educational buildings, healthcare buildings, institutional buildings, religious buildings and research facilities.This research report provides up-to-date market size data for the period 2012-2016 and an illustrative forecast to 2021.GET SAMPLE REPORT @SummaryInstitutional construction market covers the development of government, public and religious buildings. This market includes five categories: educational buildings, healthcare buildings, institutional buildings, religious buildings and research facilities.The Taiwanese institutional construction category has observed some fluctuations in the review period with a value of TWDxxx.xx million (US$xxx.xx million) in 2016 and declined at a rate of x.xx% over 2015. The market recorded a CARC of -x.xx% from 2012 through 2016."Institutional Construction Market in Taiwan: Market Size, Growth and Forecast Analytics to 2021"' provides a top-level overview and detailed insight into the operating environment of the institutional construction market in Taiwan. It is an essential tool for companies active across the Taiwan construction value chain and for new players considering to enter the market.Scope An overview of the institutional construction market in Taiwan. Historic (2012 through 2016) and forecast (2017 through 2021) construction market output values are provided. A detailed breakdown of the data by construction activity (new construction, repair and maintenance, refurbishment and demolition) is provided at the market level while the values for the segments are provided by cost types (construction materials, construction equipment & construction services). This report covers all the segments of commercial construction market including Institutional construction market covers the development of government, public and religious buildings. This market includes five categories: educational buildings, healthcare buildings, institutional buildings, religious buildings and research facilities.Key points to buy Enhances your knowledge of the market with key figures detailing construction type. Provides you with a breakdown of the market by construction activity (new construction, repair and maintenance, refurbishment and demolition). Provides you with a breakdown of the segments by cost type (construction materials, construction equipment &construction services). Details the segments covered under commercial construction market. Allows you to plan future business decisions using the forecast figures given.Table of Contents1 Introduction2 Overall Institutional Construction: Market Analysis3 Institutional Construction Output: Analysis by Category4 Educational Buildings construction: Market Analysis5 Healthcare Buildings construction: Market Analysis6 Institutional Buildings construction: Market Analysis7 Religious Buildings construction: Market Analysis8 Research Facilities construction: Market Analysis9 Appendix..CONTINUEDFor accessing accurate and deep understanding and to gain latest insights and key developments in the area of your interest, we also have a list of conferences in which you will be interested in, for more information, cordially checkFor updating knowledge or for thoroughly understanding various terminologies, we also have vast list of seminars for your reference, for more information cordially checkWise Guy Reports is part of the Wise Guy Research Consultants Pvt. Ltd. and offers premium progressive statistical surveying, market research reports, analysis & forecast data for industries and governments around the globe.WISEGUY RESEARCH CONSULTANTS PVT LTDOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersPune - 411028Maharashtra, India
Building Information Modeling (BIM) Market in India, Australia, and New Zealand: India to Surge at 23.9% CAGR 20162024

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The Building Information Modeling (BIM) market report provides an in-depth analysis of the BIM market for the period 2014  2024, wherein 2015 is the base year and the years from 2016 to 2024 is the forecast period. Data for 2014 has been included as historical information. The report covers all the prevalent trends playing a major role in the growth of the BIM market over the forecast period. It also highlights various drivers, restraints, and opportunities expected to influence the markets growth during the forecast period.The study provides a holistic perspective on market growth in terms of revenue estimates (in US$ Mn), across the countries. The report provides analysis of the BIM market in terms of market estimates and projections for all the segments across country. The report also covers profiles of major players, their growth strategies, various recent developments, and includes market positioning analysis of key players operating in the BIM market.Click to get sample PDF with TOC:Building information modeling (BIM) is a three-dimensional (3D) graphical presentation of a technical diagram which includes the elevation, plan, and segment of a building. It is a type of digital building system in which the real model of the structure with precise value is digitally constructed. The BIM market is expected to experience high growth in the coming decade owing to factors such as rise in construction activities and government initiatives to lift BIM adoption rate in these countries.Australia, New Zealand and India Building Information Modeling (BIM) Market: SegmentationThis research study on the BIM market provides a detailed analysis of various solution types of building information modeling available in the market. Based on solutions, the market is further segmented into software, and professional & consultancy service. The software BIM market is further categorized into on-premise and cloud-based. Based on end-use industry, the BIM market is categorized into water and waste water, rail, transit and aviation, bridges, roads and highways, energy generation facilities, educational institutions and commercial spaces, houses and apartments, factories and warehouses, government buildings, health care infrastructure and dams and others. On the basis of end-users, the market is segmented into engineers, architects, contractors and developers. The report includes a comprehensive coverage of the underlying economic development factors under the key trend analysis section. To depict holistic view of the BIM market, value-chain analysis and ecosystem analysis is included in the report. The section describes current supply chain model and potential impact of forward  backward integration.The report aims to provide a comprehensive and in-depth analysis of the BIM market across different countries, which is also provided based on solutions, end-use industries, and the end-users. The report also provides country level key trend analysis for different segmentations included.Australia, New Zealand and India Building Information Modeling (BIM) Market: Competitive DynamicsThe report highlights the competition matrix of the BIM market, positioning all the major players according to their geographic presence, historical roadmap, competitors, market position, key recent developments, and segment growth. The matrix has been designed to show comparative strength of players active in the BIM market. The important business strategies adopted by them, their market positioning, and recent developments have also been identified in the research report. Also, distinct representation of market competition in terms of market shares of global and regional/local players has also been included.Enquiry:Under the company profiles section, the report provides an overview of the players operating in the market, the strategies adopted by them to gain competitive advantage, the annual revenue generated by them in the past two or three years, and their relevant business segment revenue. The report also provide market share analysis of the BIM market. The key players profiled in this report include Autodesk Inc., AECOM, Dassault Systemes SA, Beck Technology Ltd., Synchro Software Ltd., Bentley Systems, Inc., Tekla Corporation, Pentagon Solutions Ltd., GRAITEC and Nemetschek AG.Browse more details at:ResearchMoz is the worlds fastest growing collection of market research reports worldwide. Our database is composed of current market studies from over 100 featured publishers worldwide. Our market research databases integrate statistics with analysis from global, regional, country and company perspectives. ResearchMozs service portfolio also includes value-added services such as market research customization, competitive landscaping, and in-depth surveys, delivered by a team of experienced Research Coordinators.Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-621-2074Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free)Email: sales@researchmoz.usFollow us on LinkedIn at:
Frequency Synthesizer Market Comprehensive Research Study, Historical Analysis and Industry To Accrue Enormously By 2023 With A Whooping Double Digit CAGR

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Market Research Future published a research report on Frequency Synthesizer Market Research Report- Global Forecast 2023  Market Analysis, Scope, Stake, Progress, Trends and Forecast to 2023.Market Synopsis of Frequency Synthesizer MarketMarket ScenarioThe emerging trend in frequency synthesizer market is increasing usage of frequency synthesizer in mobile phone. Texas Instrument is one of the major player in frequency synthesizer market that has manufactured a range of frequency synthesizer product such as LMX2541 which is an ultra-low noise frequency synthesizer. Qorvo Inc. is one of the prominent player in FS market and has manufactured a wide range of frequency synthesizer and mixers. The device comprises of fractional N-synthesizer, voltage controlled oscillator and one or more high linearity mixers.North America region is expected to dominate Frequency Synthesizer Market and accounts for highest market share owing to major market players from the region. The region has made huge investment in military and aerospace, telecommunication and research which is contributing towards the growth of the market. Asia-Pacific region is the fastest growing in the frequency synthesizer market owing to upcoming 5G technologies in telecommunication industry and the emergence of many small and medium size enterprises from the region.Frequency synthesizer has wide application in aerospace industry for generating numerous frequency that is required to communicate in space. It is used in mobile phones to produce different frequency range as per the location and enable users to communicate at remote location. Frequency synthesizer is used in military application for high-performance wireless communication. It is also used in equipment that requires high frequency changes. It has wide application in measuring equipment, defense and microwave backhaul. Frequency synthesizer is used in microwave communication equipment in which signal integrity plays a major part and depends on it for high frequency stability and accuracy.Get Sample of Report @Frequency synthesizer can be defined as a device that is used for generation of different hertz of frequency from a single reference frequency. The factors driving the frequency synthesizer market includes owing to its increase application in numerous industries such as aerospace and defense, telecommunication industry and research and measurement. By application telecommunication industry is expected to account for high market share owing to its growing usage in communication systems. By type analog frequency synthesizer holds for market share mainly due to its strong signal clarity and low noise production is boosting the market.The frequency synthesizer market is expected to grow at approximately USD 1,707 Million by 2023, at 6% of CAGR between 2017 and 2023.Key Players:The prominent players in the frequency synthesizer market are  Ultra Electronics (U.K.), Texas Instruments Inc. (U.S.), Analog Devices Inc. (U.S.), National Instruments (U.S.), Qorvo, Inc. (U.S.), FEI-Elcom Tech Inc. (U.S.), Sivers IMA AB (Sweden), Programmed Test Sources Inc. (U.S.), Synergy Microwave Corp. (U.S.), Mercury United Electronics Inc. (U.S.) among others.Segments:Frequency Synthesizer market is segmented on the basis of component, type and application.Frequency Synthesizer Market by Components:Phase detectorsLoop FiltersOscillatorsMixerDividersFrequency Synthesizer Market by Type:AnalogDigitalFrequency Synthesizer Market by Application:Aerospace & MilitaryResearch & MeasurementTelecommunicationOthersGet Complete Report @Intended AudienceInvestors and consultantsSystem IntegratorsGovernment OrganizationsResearch/Consultancy firmsTechnology solution providersIT Solution ProvidersOriginal Equipment ManufacturersAbout Us:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.Media Contact:Akash Anand,Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: akash.anand@marketresearchfuture.com
Energy and Utilities Construction Brazil Market 2017 - Current and Future Plans

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Synopsis"Energy and Utilities Construction Market in Brazil: Market Size, Growth and Forecast Analytics to 2021" contains historic and forecast market data for the energy and utilities construction market in Brazil, with a detailed breakdown of the data by construction activity (new construction, repair and maintenance, refurbishment and demolition) and by cost type( construction materials, construction equipment and construction services). This report also contains overall values of the energy and utilities construction segments such as Energy and utilities construction market covers the development of energy and telecommunications related projects, oil and gas projects including both upstream and downstream exploration, and utility projects such as water and sewage infrastructure. This market includes five categories: electricity and power, oil & gas, telecommunications, sewage infrastructure and water infrastructure.. This research report provides up-to-date market size data for the period 2012-2016 and an illustrative forecast to 2021.GET SAMPLE REPORT @SummaryEnergy and utilities construction market covers the development of energy and telecommunications related projects, oil and gas projects including both upstream and downstream exploration, and utility projects such as water and sewage infrastructure. This market includes five categories: electricity and power, oil & gas, telecommunications, sewage infrastructure and water infrastructure.The Brazilian energy and utilities construction category continued to increase in the review period with a value of BRLxxx.xx million (US$xxx.xx million) in 2016 and increased at a rate of x.xx% over 2015. The market recorded a CAGR of x.xx% from 2012 through 2016."Energy and Utilities Construction Market in Brazil: Market Size, Growth and Forecast Analytics to 2021"' provides a top-level overview and detailed insight into the operating environment of the energy and utilities construction market in Brazil. It is an essential tool for companies active across the Brazil construction value chain and for new players considering to enter the market.Scope An overview of the energy and utilities construction market in Brazil. Historic (2012 through 2016) and forecast (2017 through 2021) construction market output values are provided. A detailed breakdown of the data by construction activity (new construction, repair and maintenance, refurbishment and demolition) is provided at the market level while the values for the segments are provided by cost types (construction materials, construction equipment & construction services). This report covers all the segments of commercial construction market including Energy and utilities construction market covers the development of energy and telecommunications related projects, oil and gas projects including both upstream and downstream exploration, and utility projects such as water and sewage infrastructure. This market includes five categories: electricity and power, oil & gas, telecommunications, sewage infrastructure and water infrastructure..Reasons to Buy Enhances your knowledge of the market with key figures detailing construction type. Provides you with a breakdown of the market by construction activity (new construction, repair and maintenance, refurbishment and demolition). Provides you with a breakdown of the segments by cost type (construction materials, construction equipment &construction services). Details the segments covered under commercial construction market. Allows you to plan future business decisions using the forecast figures given.Table of Content: Key Points1 Introduction1.1 What is this Report About?1.2 Definitions1.3 CAGR Definition and Calculation2 Overall Energy and Utilities Construction Value: Market Analysis2.1 Overall Energy and Utilities Construction Output Value, 2012 - 20162.2 Overall Energy and Utilities Construction Output Value Forecast, 2017 - 20212.3 Overall Energy and Utilities Construction Output Value by Cost Type2.3.1 Overall Energy and Utilities Construction Output Value by Cost Type, 2012 - 20162.3.2 Overall Energy and Utilities Construction Output Value Forecast, by Cost Type, 2017 - 20213 Energy and Utilities Construction Output: Analysis by Category3.1 New Construction Output Value, 2012 - 20163.2 New Construction Output Value Forecast, 2017 - 20213.3 New Construction Output Value by Cost Type3.3.1 New Construction Output Value by Cost Type, 2012 - 20163.3.2 New Construction Output Value by Cost Type Forecast, 2017 - 20213.4 Repair & Maintenance Output Value, 2012 - 20163.5 Repair & Maintenance Output value Forecast, 2017 - 20213.6 Repair & Maintenance Output Value by Cost Type3.6.1 Repair & Maintenance Output Value by Cost Type, 2012  2016ContinuedACCESS REPORT @Get in touch:LinkedIn:Twitter:Facebook:Wise Guy Reports is part of the Wise Guy Consultants Pvt. Ltd. and offers premium progressive statistical surveying, market research reports, analysis & forecast data for industries and governments around the globe.WISE GUY RESEARCH CONSULTANTS PVT LTDOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersPune - 411028Maharashtra, India
Global Air Quality Monitoring Equipment Market 2016-2024 - Gas Analyzers to Remain Most Valued Product

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This report provides strategic and in-depth analysis of the global air quality monitoring equipment market, and the growth forecast for the period 2016 to 2024. The scope of this report includes analysis of different segments within market that are differentiated as per type, end user and geography of the global air quality monitoring equipment market.It also provides assessment of different factors that is impacting the global market, classified as market drivers, restraints, as well as opportunities in the report. All these factors determine the different trends impacting the overall market growth. Moreover, after taking into consideration all this factors, a comprehensive analysis of the global air quality monitoring equipment market along with the growth estimation for the forecast period is also provided within the report. Different market trends analysis and market opportunity map analyzed in this report discusses the upcoming trends. In addition to this, the scope of this report also focuses on the future growth of various air quality monitoring equipment.Click to get sample PDF with TOC:Air quality monitoring equipment devices are segmented into different types such as air pollution sampler, anemometers, gas analyzers and detectors, and particle counter among others. These different types of air quality monitoring equipment devices include both simple and complex types depending on the applications. Demand for air quality monitoring equipment devices is increasing as a result of rise in air pollution and subsequent activities to monitor level of air pollution.Globally the alarming growth of air pollution has led to an increase in the usage of air quality monitoring equipment to curb different diseases. With the rise in illness as a result of air pollution, different government agencies worldwide have come up with stringent policies and regulations to curb various ill effects. This has been another major factor contributing to the growing demand of air quality monitoring equipment market globally. The global air quality monitoring equipment market has been further segmented into end users. Different end users that are segmented under this report includes power generation, oil & gas, medical, construction, chemical and othersAll these segments are provided with market size along with the forecast from 2016-2024, highlighting the different trends that may act as influencing factors covered under the scope of this report. The region wise market analysis also provides the in-depth analysis of various trends occurring in different regions that is also covered under the scope of report. The different regions included in the scope of this report includes North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Rest of the World.Air Quality Monitoring Equipment Market: Competitive AnalysisFor better decision making purpose, the competitive analysis as well as profiling of top players that are present in this market is included within the scope of our report. Other than this, the respective market share, recent developments as well as different business strategies that are adopted by the leading players are also included within this report. Additionally, the Porters five forces analysis gives a better understanding of competition level in this market. Top companies present in the global air quality monitoring equipment market has been included in the report.Enquiry:Some of the leading players in the global air quality monitoring equipment market are Kusam - Meco (India), Siemens AG (Germany), Fortive Corporation (U.S.), CEM Corporation (U.S.), Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (U.S.), Teledyne Technologies Inc. (U.S.), Servomex (UK), Horiba Ltd. (Japan), Vaisala (Finland), and Aeroqual (New Zealand) among others.Browse more details at:ResearchMoz is the worlds fastest growing collection of market research reports worldwide. Our database is composed of current market studies from over 100 featured publishers worldwide. Our market research databases integrate statistics with analysis from global, regional, country and company perspectives. ResearchMozs service portfolio also includes value-added services such as market research customization, competitive landscaping, and in-depth surveys, delivered by a team of experienced Research Coordinators.Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-621-2074Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free)Email: sales@researchmoz.usFollow us on LinkedIn at:
Cloud Electronic Design Automation (EDA) Market Research Depth Study 2017 and Global Leaders: Cadence Design Systems, Mentor Graphics, Synopsys, Agilent, Agnisys, Aldec, Ansys, JEDA Technologies

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Market Research Future published a research report on Cloud Electronic Design Automation (EDA) Market Research Report - Global Forecast 2022  Market Analysis, Scope, Stake, Progress, Trends and Forecast to 2022.Market Synopsis of Global Cloud Electronic Design Automation Market:Market Scenario:Electronic design automation is a software tool which is used in the industries for the designing complex electronic systems. Various Electronic Design Automation tools are used to design and develop complicated and large-scale circuits, which are used in products across different industries. Some of the systems are- CAE (computer added engineering), IC (integrated circuits) among others. Integration of cloud has revolutionized the market of Electronic Design Automation. It also encompasses algorithms and methodologies for the design of very large-scale ICs.The adoption of Electronic Design Automation leads to a reduction in the design time, errors, and cost and is mainly used in the manufacture of aerospace and defence equipment. Electronic Design Automation tools help semiconductor and electronic product manufacturing companies reduce product development time and increase the accuracy of design. Cloud Electronic Design Automation provides its users a pay-per-usage design environment. The pay-per-use environment effectively reduces the extra costs. Electronic Device Automation system on cloud is a new concept. Industries are yet to hold grips with the cloud Electronic Design Automation systems. This factor is challenging the cloud electronic display market.Get Sample of Report @Key Findings:The global Cloud Electronic Design Automation (EDA) market is expected to reach USD ~7595 Million by 2022, growing with approximately 5.51% of CAGR during forecast period 2016-2022.By Type in Cloud Electronic Design Automation (EDA) Market the Semiconductor Intellectual Property (SIP) is dominating the market and is expected to reach USD 2,746.5 million by 2022.By Application in Cloud Electronic Design Automation (EDA) Market the Military/Defense application is expected hold largest market share of USD 2418.1 million in 2022 and telecom application is expected to grow with 6.84% CAGR during forecast period 2016-2022.United States is expected to dominate the market of Cloud Electronic Design Automation (EDA) market throughout the forecast period.China is expected to grow with a highest CAGR of 6.11% during the forecast period 2016-2022.Key PlayersThe prominent players in the global Cloud Electronic Design Automation Market are Cadence Design Systems, Mentor Graphics, Synopsys, Agilent, Agnisys, Aldec, Ansys, JEDA Technologies, MunEDA, Sigrity, Zuken among others.Segments:Global Cloud Electronic Design Automation Market for segment on the basis of type and application.Global Cloud Electronic Design Automation Market by Type:CAESIP (semiconductor intellectual property)IC Physical Design and VerificationPrinted Circuit Board (PCB) and Multi-chip Module (MCM)Global Cloud Electronic Design Automation Market by Application:Military/DefenseAerospaceTelecomAutomotiveIndustrialOthersGet Complete Report @Regional Analysis:The regional analysis of global Cloud Electronic Design Automation market is being studied for region such as Asia pacific, Americas, Europe and Rest of the World. The cloud Electronic Design Automation market is specially focused on countries such as United States, Japan, China, India and others. China is expected to have highest growth rate due to the high presence of semiconductor industry in this region. Whereas United States is expected to hold the largest market share as there is high adoption of cloud EDA due to the reduction in costs and the new features of Cloud Electronic Design Automation.Intended AudienceInvestors and consultantsSystem IntegratorsGovernment OrganizationsResearch/Consultancy firmsTechnology solution providersHardware manufacturersSemiconductor CompaniesIC manufacturersThe report for Cloud Electronic Design Automation market of Market Research Future comprises of extensive primary research along with the detailed analysis of qualitative as well as quantitative aspects by various industry experts, key opinion leaders to gain the deeper insight of the market and industry performance. The report gives the clear picture of current market scenario which includes historical and projected market size in terms of value, technological advancement, macro economical and governing factors in the market. The report provides details information and strategies of the top key players in the industry. The report also gives a broad study of the different market segments and regions.About Us:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.Media Contact:Akash Anand,Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: akash.anand@marketresearchfuture.com
Global Combined Heat and Power Installation Market to Touch US$812.80 bn by 2024 - Analysis by Type, by Application, by Technology and by Fuel

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ResearchMoz added Latest Research Report titled " Combined Heat and Power (CHP) Installation Market, by Type (Large-scale and Micro & Small-scale), by Application (Residential, Commercial, and Industrial), by Technology (Combined Cycle, Combustion/Gas Turbine, Steam Turbine, Reciprocating Engine, Others), and by Fuel (Natural Gas, Coal, Biomass, Others) - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth Trends, and Forecast 2016 - 2024 " to it's Large Report database.This research study analyzes the market for CHP installation in terms of revenue (US$ Bn) and capacity (GW). The CHP installation market has been segmented on the basis of type, application, technology, fuel, and region. In terms of region, the market has been further divided into four segments that comprise sixteen countries, which are major players in the global CHP market. For the research, 2014 and 2015 have been taken as the base years, while all forecasts have been given for the period from 2016 to 2024. Market data for all the segments has been provided at the regional level from 2016 to 2024. The report provides a broad competitive analysis of companies engaged in the CHP business. The report also includes the key market dynamics such as drivers, restraints, and opportunities affecting the global CHP market. These market dynamics were analyzed in detail and are illustrated in the report with the help of supporting graphs and tables. The report also provides a comprehensive analysis of the global CHP market with the help of Porters Five Forces model. This analysis helps in understanding the five major forces that affect the market structure and market profitability. The forces analyzed are bargaining power of buyers, bargaining power of suppliers, threat of new entrants, threat of substitutes, and degree of competition.Request for Sample PDF of Premium Research Report with TOC:The high-level analysis in the report provides detailed insights into the CHP business globally. There are currently numerous drivers of the market. One of the most prominent drivers is the supportive government policies for the installation of CHP equipment. Market attractiveness analysis was carried out for the CHP installation market on the basis of application and technology. Market attractiveness was estimated on the basis of common parameters that directly impact the market in different regions.The CHP market was segmented on the basis of type (large-scale and micro & small-scale), by application (residential, commercial, and industrial), by technology (combined cycle, combustion/gas turbine, steam turbine, reciprocating engine, others (microturbine, fuel cell, and waste heat recovery)), and by fuel (natural gas, coal, biomass, others (wood, waste heat, and oil)). A CHP system varies according to its type and application. The CHP installation market was analyzed across four geographies: North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Rest of World. Regional data has been provided for each sub-segment of the CHP installation market.Browse more details @Table of ContentChapter 1 PrefaceReport DescriptionResearch ScopeMarket SegmentationResearch MethodologyChapter 2 Executive SummaryGlobal Combined Heat and Power (CHP) Installation Market: SnapshotChapter 3 Global Combined Heat and Power (CHP) Installation MarketIndustry AnalysisIntroductionValue Chain AnalysisMarket DynamicsMarket DriversMarket RestrainsMarket OpportunitiesPorters Five Forces AnalysisBargaining Power of SuppliersBargaining Power of BuyersThreat from New EntrantsThreat from SubstitutesDegree of CompetitionMarket Attractiveness Analysis- CHP Market, By ApplicationMarket Attractiveness Analysis- CHP Market, By TechnologyCompany Market Share- CHP Market, 2014-15About ResearchMozResearchMoz is the world's fastest growing collection of market research reports worldwide. Our database is composed of current market studies from over 100 featured publishers worldwide. Our market research databases integrate statistics with analysis from global, regional, country and company perspectives. ResearchMoz's service portfolio also includes value-added services such as market research customization, competitive landscaping, and in-depth surveys, delivered by a team of experienced Research Coordinators.Contact Us:Mr. Nachiket Ghumare90 State Street, Albany NY, United States - 12207Tel: +1-518-621-2074 / Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free)Email: sales@researchmoz.usFollow us on LinkedIn at:Follow me on Blogger at:
Printing Inks Market in North America 2016-2024 - Booming Packaging Industry Stimulates Demand

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This research study analyzes the market for North America printing inks in terms of revenue (US$ Mn) and volume (Kilo Tons). The North America printing inks market has been segmented on the basis of product, application, end-use, and country. The report features a detailed segmentation with market growth forecasts from 2016 to 2024. 2015 has been considered the base year and 2016 the estimated year, while all forecasts have been given for the period from 2016 to 2024. Market data for all the segments has been provided at the submarkets and country-specific levels from 2016 to 2024.North America Printing Inks Market: ScopeThe report provides a broad competitive analysis of companies engaged in the production and distribution of printing inks in North America. The report also includes key market dynamics such as drivers, restraints, and opportunities affecting the North America printing inks market. These are analyzed in detail and illustrated in the report with supporting graphs and tables.Click to get sample PDF with TOC:The report also provides a comprehensive analysis of the market with the help of the Porters Five Forces Analysis model, which helps in understanding the factors that affect the structure and profitability of the North America printing inks market. These are the bargaining power of buyers, bargaining power of suppliers, threat of new entrants, threat of substitutes, and degree of competition.North America Printing Inks Market: Drivers and TrendsThe report provides detailed insights into the North America printing inks business. Currently, numerous factors drive the North America printing inks market. The most prominent drivers include growth of renewable energy, volatility in crude oil prices, bio-based raw materials, oil & gas industry outlook, North America printing ink production facilities, growth rate of end-user industries, and others. Market attractiveness analysis was carried out for the North America printing inks market on the basis of product, application, end-use, and country. Market attractiveness was estimated on the basis of common parameters that directly impact the market.Flexographic and gravure printing inks are primarily used with solvents as base materials. Flexographic and gravure printing methods are widely employed in flexible packaging, especially in food and beverages industries. Solvent-based inks consist of inorganic solvents and toxic metals such as cadmium, hexavalent chromium, lead, and mercury. These lead to various health hazards if they come in direct contact with edibles. The number of safety regulations in North America has been increased in order to avoid adverse health consequences resulting from intake of toxic substances. This is likely to hamper the printing inks market in the next few years. In North America, demand for VOC-free printing inks is gaining momentum. Increased environmental regulations regarding usage of VOC inks are driving the market for UV-cured printing inks.Packaging is considered one of the highly important marketing aspects that influence the consumers purchasing decision. In North America, the packaging industry is one of the major consumers of printing inks. Expansion of the food & beverages industry along with increased demand for flexible packaging from the health care sector is expected to boost the demand for printing inks in the next few years.The North America printing inks market has been segmented into four categories: product, application, end-use and country. In terms of product, the North America printing inks market has been classified into solvent-based, water-based, oil-based, and UV-cured. In terms of application, the North America printing inks market has been classified into flexographic printing, gravure printing, offset printing, digital printing, screen printing, and specialty printing. In terms of end-use, the North America printing inks market has been classified into publication & commercial printing, packaging, textiles, metal cans, and others (decorative printing etc.). In terms of country, the North America printing inks market has been segmented into the U.S. and Canada.Enquiry:Key Players Mentioned in the Report are:Major players operating in the North America printing inks market include Sun Chemical Corporation, Flint Group, Wikoff Color Corporation, Siegwerk Druckfarben AG & Co. KgaA, Toyo Ink America, LLC, American Ink and Coatings, INX International Ink Co., and others.Browse more details at:ResearchMoz is the worlds fastest growing collection of market research reports worldwide. Our database is composed of current market studies from over 100 featured publishers worldwide. Our market research databases integrate statistics with analysis from global, regional, country and company perspectives. ResearchMozs service portfolio also includes value-added services such as market research customization, competitive landscaping, and in-depth surveys, delivered by a team of experienced Research Coordinators.Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-621-2074Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free)Email: sales@researchmoz.usFollow us on LinkedIn at:
Global Small Arms and Light Weapons Market 2017 Industry Analysis, Trends, Estimation & Forecast 2024

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The foremost aim of the report is to provide accurate market estimation and to forecast the market on the basis of market segmentation. Significant segments of the market analyzed within the study are type, application, and geography. The study also provides detailed analysis of top impacting factors such as modernization of police force, increase in urban warfare & personal safety, defense budget cost and their influence over the market. The report provides the detailed market size with respect to four major regions namely North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World. The report contains company profiles of key market leaders and their competitive strategies. It also provides key developments such as merger & acquisitions, collaborations, new product innovations, and technological advancement within global small arms and light weapons market.Download free sample report @The report provides extensive analysis and company profiles of top competing vendors. Beretta S.p.A., Browning Arms Company, Carl Walther GmbH, Colt's Manufacturing Company LLC, FN Herstal, S.A., General Dynamics Corporation, Glock Ges. m.b.H., Heckler & Koch GmBH, Lockheed Martin Corporation, SIG SAUER GmbH & Co., and Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc. are some of the prominent vendors of the market and collaboration is the most adopted market strategy of global small arms and light weapons market.Key Takeaways The research offers a deep dive analysis of the key market determinants impacting the global small arms and light weapons market. Quantitative analysis in terms of market sizing (revenue) for each of the segments mentioned in the report. Value chain analysis helps to understand the role of each intermediary involved in the business process. Porters five forces analysis assists to comprehend the market environment in reference to the buyers and sellers activities. Key vendors active in the market are analyzed in terms of their strategic attempts and business/financial performance along with competitive analysis. The quantitative and qualitative analysis would help the buyers to have a holistic view of the global small arms and light weapons market.Global Small Arms and Light Weapons Market SegmentationBy Type Small Armso Pistolso Rifleso Handgunso Shotgunso Man-portable machine gunso Others Light Weaponso Landmineso Mortarso Grenade Launcherso Rocket Launcherso Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPGs)o Anti-Tank Weaponso Anti-Aircraft Weaponso OthersAccess Full Report With TOC @By Application Military Law Enforcement OthersBy Geography North America Europe APAC Rest of the WorldOffered CustomizationFor the report we offer exclusive customizations suitable for your needs. The following most desired customization are available for the reportRegional Customization Further breakdown of major region into country wise sector (as per request) Further breakdown of major segments as per region/sub-segmentCompany Customization Detailed analysis of additional market players as per your requirement.About Fior MarketsFior Markets is a leading market intelligence company that sells reports of top publishers in the technology industry.Our extensive research reports cover detailed market assessments that include major technological improvements in the industry. Fior Markets also specializes in analyzing hi-tech systems and current processing systems in its expertise.We have a team of experts that compile precise research reports and actively advise top companies to improve their existing processes. Our experts have extensive experience in the topics that they cover.Contact UsMark StoneSales ManagerPhone: (201) 465-4211Email: sales@fiormarkets.comWeb:
Global Medical Alert Systems Market Analysis, Size, Industry Share, Trends, Opportunities and Forecast 2016 - 2024

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ResearchMoz added Latest Research Report titled " Medical Alert Systems Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Trends and Forecast 2016 - 2024 " to it's Large Report database.Medical alert systems are an alarm systems designed for a medical emergency. It helps in urgent medical attention in a hazardous situation of a medical professionals. The system contains the transmitter which can be activated manually or automatic in the emergency. When the medical alert system is activated it transfers the signal to an alert monitoring companies central control room or the other emergency agency or the relative of the user or may be to the nearer hospital. These medical alert system allows person to contact emergency services in the event of a fall or other emergency. Medical alert system mostly used by an elder person, prolonged illnesses patient, or a disabled person who leaves alone or choose to stay home rather than nursing facilities. Moreover there are number of other uses of medical alert system such as in accidents, fire or in natural calamities. Medical alert system sometime prevent mishaps, if it cannot prevent these devices reduce the impact of a mishaps or injury by ensuring availability of timely medical assistance. Medical alert systems are easily accessible and affordable that increases the medical safety and security of the patient. It not only helps in the emergency but also helps patient for routine checkups, regular diagnosis, and also with medicine time reminder. Some medical alert systems come with the vital signs monitoring system to track patient health.Request for Sample PDF of Premium Research Report with TOC:Global medical alert systems market has been segmented by components, by product types, by end users and by geography. On the basis of components, the medical alert system is segmented into Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), microphone, fall detection sensor, Wireless Transmitter, and Global Positioning System (GPS). GSM have high demand because of its reliability and portability. In terms of product type, medical alert system market is categorized into mobile, standalone and landline. Mobile type of alert systems tend to have high demand as awareness about personal health is increasing. The end user for the medical alert system includes hospitals, nursing facilities, home care setting, long term care centers, and senior living facilities. Hospitals are further sub- segmented into 500 plus beds hospitals, 250 to 499 beds hospitals, and less than 250 beds hospitals. Home care setting are more preferred by a senior persons to stay in their own homes.Geographically, the medical alert systems market has been classified into five regional markets, namely, North America (the United States and Canada), Europe (Germany, France, United Kingdom, etc.) and Asia-Pacific (Australia, China, Japan, India, etc.), Latin America (Mexico, Brazil etc.) and Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, South Africa etc.).Browse more details @North America was observed as the largest market, in terms of revenue for medical alert systems, because people in North America are more aware about personal health and prefer to live independent. North America was followed by Europe and is expected to register higher growth. Emerging markets such as Asia Pacific, Latin America and the Middle East and Africa are expected to record robust growth during the forecast period 2016-2024 due to, aging population and growing healthcare industry as result would lead to increased patient population in these countries. China, Brazil and India are expected to drive strong growth among the emerging countries, owing to increasing investments by government bodies in order to enhance healthcare facilities.In addition, there are number of factors that would affect the growth of medical alert systems market such as technological advancement, awareness about personal health and safety in developing countries, and increase in the number of elder patients. The market is also witnessing certain restraints, such as stiff competition among existing medical alert system manufacturers and subsequent upswing in bulk purchasing through INHs and GPOs (Group Purchasing Organizations).The major players operating in this market include Medical Guardian LLC, LifeFone, Bay Alarm Medical, ADT LLC dba ADT Security Services, Philips N.V., AlertOne Services LLC, Valued Relationships, Inc., Galaxy Medical Alert Systems, and Guardian Alarm.The report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the market. It does so via in-depth insights, understanding market evolution by tracking historical developments, and analyzing the present scenario and future projections based on optimistic and likely scenarios. Each research report serves as a repository of analysis and information for every facet of the market, including but not limited to: Regional markets, technology developments, types, applications, and the competitive landscape.The study is a source of reliable data on:Key market segments and sub-segmentsEvolving market trends and dynamicsChanging supply and demand scenariosQuantifying market opportunities through market sizing and market forecastingTracking current trends/opportunities/challengesCompetitive insightsOpportunity mapping in terms of technological breakthroughsAbout ResearchMozResearchMoz is the world's fastest growing collection of market research reports worldwide. Our database is composed of current market studies from over 100 featured publishers worldwide. Our market research databases integrate statistics with analysis from global, regional, country and company perspectives. ResearchMoz's service portfolio also includes value-added services such as market research customization, competitive landscaping, and in-depth surveys, delivered by a team of experienced Research Coordinators.Contact Us:Mr. Nachiket Ghumare90 State Street, Albany NY, United States - 12207Tel: +1-518-621-2074 / Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free)Email: sales@researchmoz.usFollow us on LinkedIn at:Follow me on Blogger at:
ZigBee Market Share, Gross Margin Analysis and Global Leaders: Atmel, Digi, NXP NXP Semiconductors, Renesas Electronics, Microchip Technology, Texas by Forecast 2022

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Market Research Future published a research report on ZigBee Market Research Report- Forecast 2022  Market Analysis, Scope, Stake, Progress, Trends and Forecast to 2022.Market Synopsis of ZigBee MarketMarket Scenario:ZigBee is a networking protocol based on the IEEE Standard 802.15 specification. ZigBee technology can also be described as a progression in the wireless technology. The increasing demand for energy saving wireless technologies is driving the ZigBee Market. ZigBee is developed to fulfill the need of low costs and low power wireless networks. ZigBee is used widely in different applications. ZigBee has various features as it allows wireless networking to connect several units to control through one button. ZigBee technology helps in monitoring activities and manipulating in better way. It supports various network topologies as point to point network, mesh network and others.The study indicates that ZigBee has many benefits as low energy consumption, multichannel control systems, works on inexpensive batteries, redundant, improves comfort, secure, reliable, interoperable, low power and others. These benefits of ZigBee are responsible for the growth of market. ZigBee devices have low latency, which further reduces average current. This also one of the key driver for the ZigBee market.Get Sample of Report @As per a recent news, Samsung has introduced a new smart home hub called the Samsung Connect Home and a smart home app called Samsung Connect. The Wi-Fi hub would have built-in ZigBee, Z-Wave and Bluetooth 4.1 and is compatible with hundreds of third-party smart homes devices from the likes of Ring and Philips.Regional Analysis:The regional analysis of ZigBee is being studied for region such as Asia pacific, North America, Europe and Rest of the World. It has been observed that North America would dominate the ZigBee market owing to factors such as industrial automation and home automation. The ZigBee market shows a steady and considerable growth in Europe. Asia Pacific ZigBee market is expected to show a positive growth over the forecast period owing to factors such as increasing awareness and rising demand for energy saving wireless technologies. In Asia-Pacific countries like China, Japan, Korea, India and others show major developments in home automation, due to which the study reveals that these countries would show a sudden hike in ZigBee market by the forecast period.Key PlayersThe prominent players in the ZigBee Market are Atmel Corporation (U.S.), Digi International (U.S.), NXP Semiconductors N.V. (Netherlands), Renesas Electronics Corporation (Japan), Microchip Technology (U.S.), STMicroelectronics (Switzerland), Texas Instruments Inc. (U.S.), GreenPeak Technologies (Netherlands) among others.Study Objectives of ZigBee Market:To provide detailed analysis of the market structure along with forecast of the various segments and sub-segments of the ZigBee market.To provide insights about factors affecting the market growth.To analyze the ZigBee market based porters five force analysis etc.To provide historical and forecast revenue of the market segments and sub-segments with respect to four main geographies and their countries- North America, Europe, Asia, and Rest of the World (ROW).To provide country level analysis of the market with respect to the current market size and future prospective.To provide country level analysis of the market for segment on the basis of type, technology and end user.To provide strategic profiling of key players in the market, comprehensively analyzing their core competencies, and drawing a competitive landscape for the market.To track and analyze competitive developments such as joint ventures, strategic alliances, mergers and acquisitions, new product developments, and research and developments in the ZigBeeSegments:ZigBee is market is segmented on the basis of ZigBee standards and application.ZigBee market by ZigBee Standards:ZigBeeZigBee RF4CEZigBee PROZigBee IPZigBee remote control 2.0ZigBee 3.0ZigBee market by Application:Home AutomationSmart EnergyTelecommunication ServicesHealth CareRetail ServicesOthersGet complete Report @Intended AudienceTechnology investorsHome automation providersSmart energy investorsHealthcare-related product manufacturersIntegrated device manufacturers (IDMs)Tier 1, tier 2 suppliersOriginal manufacturers (OEMs)Research/Consultancy firmsAbout Us:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.Media Contact:Akash Anand,Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: akash.anand@marketresearchfuture.com
Breast Implants Market Research Report Forecast 2017 - 2025

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Global Breast Implants Market: OverviewWomen in particular possess a heightened conscience about their appearance and looks. A growing number of women are employing various methods to enhance their physical appearance. Breast implantation is one of the trends that has been increasingly popular among women. Breast implantation surgery has seen tremendous change on account of the technological advancements in the cosmetic surgery field. Most women have a high preference for enhancing their esthetic appeal. This in turn is fueling the demand for breast implants worldwide. As per the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, breast enhancement is one of the top five cosmetic procedures which is conducted in the U.S. The number of women undergoing breast implants is staggering in the U.S.The growing incidence of breast cancer is one of the key factors boosting the global breast implants market. In many severe cases of breast cancer, there is a need for removal of the entire organ. Reconstruction is thus required, which involves the re-building of the removed organ. This is anticipated to boost the global breast implants market.Request Sample Copy of the Report@Global Breast Implants Market: Key TrendsOn the basis of shape, round-shaped implants contributed toward the largest revenue share in 2016. Due to the round shape, they are ideal for breast augmentation. These devices tend to look like a compressed sphere. Hence, these products generated huge demand, thereby supporting the growth of the market. On the basis of shape, the round shaped implants segment is leading in the market as they eliminate any problem arising at the time of implant rotation. However, anatomical shaped breast implants segment are expected to grow significantly during the forecast period on account of their natural shape. Most women want naturally shaped breasts and thus, the segment will witness potential growth during the years to come.Global Breast Implants Market: Market PotentialThe implant procedural cost is reducing and this is fueling the growth prospects of the breast implants market across the U.K and Spain. The growing competition among plastic surgeon coupled with the increase in the number of cosmetic surgery clinics are expected to create growth opportunities for the breast implants market. The growing number of qualified plastic surgeons is expected to increase in the years to come and this is further expected to boost the global breast implants market. A large number of plastic surgeons in the U.S. and Europe, are reducing their labor fees so as to get more patients and survive in the competitive breast implants market. This will increase the affordability for patients and encourage them towards implanting breasts.Request TOC of the Report @Global Breast Implants Market: Regional OutlookOn the basis of geography, North America is leading in the market on account of the rising prevalence of breast cancer in the region and a higher spending towards healthcare. Europe is also contributing significantly in the market on account of the growing awareness among the people in the region and a large number of cosmetology clinics in the region. Additionally, Asia Pacific is also likely to witness a growth in the market on account of the rising disposable income of the people in the developing nations. Medical tourism will drive the market in the region. Asia Pacific is expected to offer opportunities by offering low cost treatments.Global Breast Implants Market: Competitive LandscapeKey players operating in the global breast implants market are: Arion Laboratories, Allergan, Silimed, Mentor Worldwide, Establishment Labs, GC Aesthetics, Groupe Sebbin, Guangzhou Wanhe Plastic Materials, Sientra, Hans Biomed, Ideal Implant, Cereplas, and Polytech Health & Aesthetics.Get Discount @About TMR ResearchTMR Research is a premier provider of customized market research and consulting services to business entities keen on succeeding in todays supercharged economic climate. Armed with an experienced, dedicated, and dynamic team of analysts, we are redefining the way our clients conduct business by providing them with authoritative and trusted research studies in tune with the latest methodologies and market trends.Our savvy custom-built reports span a gamut of industries such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals and metals, food and beverages, and technology and media, among others. With actionable insights uncovered through in-depth research of the market, we try to bring about game-changing success for our clients.Contact:TMR Research,3739 Balboa St # 1097,San Francisco, CA 94121United StatesTel: +1-415-520-1050Email: sales@tmrresearch.com
Small Cell Power Amplifier Market Development Strategy 2017 and Industry Expected to Grow USD 5.5 Billion at 21% of CAGR by 2022

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Market Research Future published a research report on Small Cell Power Amplifier Market Research Report- Global Forecast 2022  Market Analysis, Scope, Stake, Progress, Trends and Forecast to 2022.Market Synopsis of Global Small cell power amplifier Market:Market Scenario:Small cell power amplifier is used in any specific region to enhance the signal strength in that particular region. This device compatible for different spectrums so that 3G, 4G, 5G networks can be upgraded due to which the data transmission rate in this region is enhanced. Recently due to the growing consequences of data congestion network coverage, speed and quality have been hindered.The ever increasing percentage of network penetration has created a large demand for small cell power amplifiers. The large number of internet users across the globe especially in cities has resulted in increased data traffic. The study indicates that data traffic is a key driver for the small cell power amplifier market. It has been observed that the street canyons are increasing tremendously due to urbanization which has resulted as a hindrance for smooth transmission of signals. This has led to the higher adoption of small cell technology. Higher the number of small cell base station higher is the adoption of small cell power amplifiers. Apart from it the study indicates that installation of macro cell base stations would be a restraining factor for the small cell power amplifier market.Get Sample of Report @The small cell power amplifier is segmented on the basis of gain in amplifier and end-users. The end- users consists of Customer Premises Equipment, Power Amplifier Driver, Wideband Instrumentation, Small Cell Base Stations, Data cards with Terminals and others.The global Small cell power amplifier market is expected to grow at USD ~5.5 Billion by 2022, at ~21% of CAGR between 2016 and 2022.Key PlayersThe prominent players in the Small Cell Power Amplifier Market are  Texas Instrument (U.S.), NXP Semiconductor (Netherlands), Qorvo Inc. (U.S.), Anadigics Inc. (U.S.), RFHIC Corporation (U.S.), Broadcom Corporation (U.S.), TekTelic Communications Inc. (U.S.) among othersStudy Objectives of small cell power amplifier:To provide detailed analysis of the market structure along with forecast of the various segments and sub-segments of the Small cell power amplifier market.To provide insights about factors affecting the market growth.To analyze the Small cell power amplifier market based porters five force analysis etc.To provide historical and forecast revenue of the market segments and sub-segments with respect to four main geographies and their countries- North America, Europe, Asia, and Rest of the World (ROW).To provide country level analysis of the market with respect to the current market size and future prospective.To provide country level analysis of the market for segment on the basis of component, organization size, deployment model, end-user and region.To provide strategic profiling of key players in the market, comprehensively analyzing their core competencies, and drawing a competitive landscape for the market.To track and analyze competitive developments such as joint ventures, strategic alliances, mergers and acquisitions, new product developments, and research and developments in the Small cell power amplifierSegments:Small cell power amplifier market by gain in amplifier:5 dB32 dB33 dB34 dB36 dB38 dB5 dB5 dBSmall cell power amplifier market by end users:Customer Premises EquipmentPower Amplifier DriverWideband InstrumentationSmall Cell Base StationsData cards with TerminalsGet Complete Report @Regional Analysis:The regional analysis of Small Cell Power Amplifier is being studied for region such as Asia pacific, North America, Europe and Rest of the World. It has been observed that North America region is dominated in Small cell power amplifier market followed by Europe. Asia  Pacific countries like China, India and Japan would grow in the Small cell power amplifier market by the forecast period due to the increasing penetration of mobile data network. Countries like India and China with high population results in increasing number of internet users which gives a booster to the use of Small Cell Power Amplifier.Intended AudienceTechnology investorsOriginal equipment manufacturers (OEMs)System IntegratorsEnd-usersSuppliers and distributorsSemiconductor component manufacturerResearch/Consultancy firmsAbout Us:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.Media Contact:Akash Anand,Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: akash.anand@marketresearchfuture.com
Global Temperature Sensor Market 2016-2024 - Growing Demand for Thermistors to Reflect Positively on Markets Growth

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Temperature sensors refer to devices which helps in recording data related to temperature. A temperature sensor helps in converting any voltage or current into a specific numerical value. Advanced temperature sensors are also used in research and development facilities with various scientific uses. The contact and non-contact temperature sensors form the different types of temperature sensors. These contact temperature sensors have been used in different industry verticals owing to the low cost. These sensors are used when the thermal equilibrium needs to be maintained and there is no flow of heat between the objects where the sensor needs to be in contact with the object to measure the temperature. The non-contact temperature sensor helps in measuring temperature when the surface is moving and measures temperature with the help of heat radiation emitted from the surface or object.Click to get sample PDF with TOC:Temperature sensors have different product types, such as thermistors, thermocouple, infrared temperature sensor, fiber optic temperature sensor and bimetallic temperature sensors among others. These different type of temperature sensors include both simple and complex applications. Growth in automation, across verticals such as aerospace and defense, automotive, semiconductor and electronics and healthcare among others, has been some of the primary reason for the growth of temperature sensor market globally. The increasing importance for advanced healthcare equipment has also been boosting the growth of temperature sensor market.Other than this, the rise in demand for electronic products has also helped the global temperature sensor market to grow. Increasing use of thermistors, resistance temperature detectors, and infrared temperature detectors has also led to the rise in demand for automotive and healthcare sector enhancing the growth of these industries. Considering the positive impacts of the factors mentioned above, the temperature sensor market globally has been anticipated to grow at a good pace during the forecast period with the market being more or less stable. The growing demand for body worn temperature sensor also provides many opportunities for the growth of temperature sensor market.Global Temperature Sensor Market: SegmentationOn the basis of type, the global temperature sensor market has been segmented into thermistor, resistance temperature detectors, thermocouple, infrared temperature sensor, fiber optic temperature sensor, bimetallic temperature sensor and others. The global temperature sensor market is further segmented on the basis of sensing method which includes contact and non-contact temperature sensor. The market revenue for temperature senor has been provided in USD million in terms of revenue and million units in terms of volume, along with the CAGR for the forecasted period from 2016 to 2024.Different end use industries which are segmented under the scope of this report includes food and beverage, aerospace and defense, chemicals, oil & gas, semiconductor and electronics, automotive, healthcare and others. Each of these segments are provided with market size and forecast for the period 2016 - 2024, further highlighting the different key trends which act as influencing factors for each segment provided under the scope of this report.The region wise market analysis provides the in-depth analysis of the current trends available in these regions which is further segmented into different countries covered under these regions. The different regions covered under the scope of this report includes North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa and Latin America.Enquiry:Companies mentioned in the reportSome of the leading players in the global temperature sensor market are Texas Instruments Inc. (U.S.), Analog Devices Inc. (U.S.), Microchip Technology Inc. , Honeywell International Inc. (US), STMicroelectronics N.V. (Switzerland), Infineon Technologies AG (Germany), General Electric Company (U.S.), ABB Ltd. (Switzerland), Maxim Integrated Products Inc. (U.S.), ON Semiconductor (U.S.) and Panasonic Corporation (Japan) among others.Browse more details at:ResearchMoz is the worlds fastest growing collection of market research reports worldwide. Our database is composed of current market studies from over 100 featured publishers worldwide. Our market research databases integrate statistics with analysis from global, regional, country and company perspectives. ResearchMozs service portfolio also includes value-added services such as market research customization, competitive landscaping, and in-depth surveys, delivered by a team of experienced Research Coordinators.Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-621-2074Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free)Email: sales@researchmoz.usFollow us on LinkedIn at:
Data Center Service Market Size, Financial Plan 2017 and Top Leaders: HPE, IBM, Huawei, Cisco Systems, Dell, Equinix, Schneider Electric SE, NTT Communications, Hitachi

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Market Research Future published a research report on Data Center Service Market Research Report- Forecast to 2022  Market Analysis, Scope, Stake, Progress, Trends and Forecast to 2022.Market Synopsis of Data Center Service MarketMarket Scenario:Data center services is a combined word for the supporting components that are necessary for the suitable operation of a repository for storage, management and distribution of data belonging to an enterprise or a center of knowledge. Data center services are services which help to either create, maintain or implement a data center. The data center services can also be used to enhance the service that data center provides for an enterprise. This is a broad term that includes many different kinds of services to provide better results for a data center.Data centers operate on two main models. One is for an organization to build, operate, and manage its own data center for internal purposes, known as a captive data center. The other is the outsourced model, where organizations lease space and hosting services from external data center providers.Get Sample of Report @The study indicates that explosive digital needs, rising complexities within the IT infrastructure, growing data traffic and increasing complexities within data centers, are driving the Data center service market. Data center service market is segmented on the basis of service type, data center type, organization and end-user. On the basis of service type data center service market is categorized as support services, consulting services, training services, financial services, application services, out sourcing services. The training services help organizations in improving data center performance through educational programs and also help in transforming enterprises while reducing cost. Data center service has many benefits as reliability, scalability, redundancy, cost benefits and others. These benefits are also responsible for the growth of Data center service market.The global Data Center Service Market is expected to grow at USD ~82 Billion by 2022, at ~13% of CAGR between 2016 and 2022.Key PlayersThe prominent players in the Data center service Market are  HPE (U.S.), IBM (U.S.), Fujitsu Ltd. (Japan), Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. (China), Cisco Systems, Inc. (U.S.), Dell, Inc. (U.S.), Vertiv Co(U.S.), Equinix, Inc. (U.S.), Schneider Electric SE (France), Level 3 Communications (U.S.), NTT Communications(Japan) and Hitachi Ltd. (Japan) among others.Study Objective of Data Center Service MarketTo provide detailed analysis of the market structure along with forecast of the various segments and sub-segments of the Global Data Center Service MarketTo provide insights about factors affecting the market growthTo analyze the Data Center Service market based on various factors- price analysis, supply chain analysis, porters five force analysis etc.To provide historical and forecast revenue of the market segments and sub-segments with respect to four main geographies and their countries- North America, Europe, Asia, and Rest of the World (ROW)To provide country level analysis of the market with respect to the current market size and future prospectiveTo provide country level analysis of the market for segment by technology, by type and sub-segments.To provide strategic profiling of key players in the market, comprehensively analyzing their core competencies, and drawing a competitive landscape for the marketTo track and analyze competitive developments such as joint ventures, strategic alliances, mergers and acquisitions, new product developments, and research and developments in the Global Data Center Service Market.Regional AnalysisThe regional analysis of Data center service Market is being studied for region such as Asia pacific, North America, Europe and Rest of the World. The study indicates that North America region is dominating the Data center service Market owing to factors such increasing adoption associated services and technological advancements. The study also indicates that Asia-Pacific region has a scope to grow significantly in the data center service market by the forecast period.Segments:Data center service market is segmented on the basis of service type, data center type, organization and end-user.Data center service by service type:Support servicesConsulting servicesTraining servicesFinancial servicesApplication servicesOut sourcing servicesData center service by Data center Type:CaptiveOutsourcedData center service by Organization:SMBsLarge EnterpriseCloud providersData center service by End-user:ManufacturingBFSIIT/ITESHealthcareTransportationGovernmentRetailEducationDefenseOthersGet complete Report @Intended AudienceData center vendorsInternet Service Providers (ISPs)Information Technology (IT) service providersConsulting service providersColocation providersGovernment OrganizationsTechnology investorsSystem IntegratorsResearch/Consultancy firmsAbout Us:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.Media Contact:Akash Anand,Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: akash.anand@marketresearchfuture.com
Industrial Control Systems Market: Opportunities, Emerging Trends, Competitive Strategies and Forecasts 2022

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Market ScenarioIndustrial control systems are primarily in the power generation, transmission and distribution industry to collect and analyze data. With the increasing incidence of automation across several industries the need to adopt ICS is increasing. Increasing complexities in the manufacturing and other such processes beckons the need of constant monitoring. ICS enable the user to control and monitor industry processes. With the increasing technological development and advancement in M2M communications the Industrial Control Systems market is expected to register a high growth rate in the forecast period.Thus the ICS Market is expected to register a CAGR of about 5%.Regional AnalysisNorth America is the dominating region in the ICS market mainly due to the rapid increase in the adoption of ICS across various industries. Increased application in the Oil & Gas and Pharmaceuticals sector are the other factors which are driving the market in the North American region. Rapid increase in the manufacturing sector in the Asia-Pacific region is one of the main factors that has resulted in the Asia-Pacific region being one of the fastest growing regions.Request a Sample Copy @Key Players ABB Ltd. (Switzerland), Emerson Electric Company (U.S.), Siemens AG (Germany), Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (Japan) General Electric Company (U.S.), Schneider Electric SE (France), Rockwell Automation, Inc. (U.S.), Honeywell International, Inc. (U.S.), Yokogawa Electric (Japan) , Azbil (Japan), Metso (Finland) others.Market Research Analysis:North America is the dominating region in the ICS market mainly due to the rapid increase in the adoption of ICS across various industries. Increased application in the Oil & Gas and Pharmaceuticals sector are the other factors which are driving the market in the North American region. Rapid increase in the manufacturing sector in the Asia-Pacific region is one of the main factors that has resulted in the Asia-Pacific region being one of the fastest growing regions.Taste the market data and market information presented through more than 50 market data tables and figures spread in 110 numbers of pages of the project report. Avail the in-depth table of content TOC & market synopsis on Industrial Control Systems(Energy & Power) Market Research Report - Global Forecast to 2022Table of Content1. Report Prologue2. Introduction1. Definition2. Scope Of The Study1. Research Objective2. Assumptions3. Limitations3. Market Structure4. Market Segmentation3. Research Methodology1. Research Process2. Primary Research3. Secondary Research4. Market Size Estimation5. Forecast Model4. Market Dynamics1. Drivers & Oppurtunities2. Challenges & Restraints3. Value Chain Analysis4. Porters Five Forces Analysis5. Industrial Control Systems Market, By Technology1. Introduction2. Scada3. Dcs4. Plc5. Mes6. Others6. Industrial Control Systems Market, By ComponentContinue..List of TablesTable 1 Global Industrial Control Systems Market Snapshot (2015 And 2020)Table 2 Drivers For The MarketTable 3 Restraints For The MarketTable 4 Global Industrial Control Systems Market, By TechnologyTable 5 Global Scada Market, By RegionContinueList of FiguresFigure 1 Global Industrial Control Systems MarketFigure 2 Global Industrial Control Systems Market, By TechnologyFigure 3 Global Industrial Control Systems Market, By ComponentFigure 4 Global Industrial Control Systems Market, By End-UserFigure 5 North America Industrial Control Systems Market, By CountryFigure 6 North America Industrial Control Systems Market, By ComponentContinue.For further information on this report, visit @About Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by products, services, technologies, applications, end users, and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions.Contact:Akash Anand,Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: akash.anand@marketresearchfuture.com
Deception Technology Market 2017 Analytical Overview, Growth Factors and Global Players: TrapX Security, Rapid7, Attivo Networks, Guardicore, TopSpin Security, Smokescreen

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Market Research Future published a research report on Deception Technology Market Research Report- Forecast 2022  Market Analysis, Scope, Stake, Progress, Trends and Forecast to 2022.Market Synopsis of Deception Technology Market:Market Scenario:The type of security tools and techniques designed to prevent an attacker who has already entered the network from doing damage is called as the Deception technology. Deception technology is a revolutionary new way to detect the quietest cyber-attacks. Deception technology products are specially designed to meet head-on the threats of advanced persistent threats (APTs), zero day events and other sophisticated attacks. If malware penetrates the enterprise, it starts moving laterally to find high value targets, Deception technology can identify attackers moving laterally into the network and set off high confidence ALERT thus protecting the system.The growing occurrences of data breaches and intense cyber-attacks across the globe are resulting requirement of a compact security infrastructure which would resist and counter such network security breaches. This requirement is a major factor driving the growth of deception technology market. Apart from it rise in adoption of Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) & Internet of Things (IoT) trend within enterprises is also driving the deception technology market. The study indicates that there are some restraining factors as lack of security awareness, growing use of pirated network security tools that are ceasing the growth of deception technology market.Deception Technology Market is segmented on the basis of component, deception stack, deployment and end-user. It has been observed that adoption of cloud technologies has become worldwide, this has resulted in the increase of cyber security threats which in turn increases the demand for cloud-based deception technology.The global Deception Technology market is expected to grow at USD ~2.3 Billion by 2022, at ~14% of CAGR between 2016 and 2022.Get Sample of Report @Study Objectives of Deception Technology Market:To provide detailed analysis of the market structure along with forecast of the various segments and sub-segments of the Deception TechnologyTo provide insights about factors affecting the market growth.To analyze the Deception Technology market based porters five force analysis etc.To provide historical and forecast revenue of the market segments and sub-segments with respect to four main geographies and their countries- North America, Europe, Asia, and Rest of the World (ROW).To provide country level analysis of the market with respect to the current market size and future prospective.To provide country level analysis of the market for segment on the basis of type, application, end -users and region.To provide strategic profiling of key players in the market, comprehensively analyzing their core competencies, and drawing a competitive landscape for the market.To track and analyze competitive developments such as joint ventures, strategic alliances, mergers and acquisitions, new product developments, and research and developments in the Deception Technology.Key PlayersThe prominent players in the Deception Technology Market are  TrapX Security (U.S.), Rapid7, Inc. (U.S.), Attivo Networks (U.S.), Allure Security Technology (U.S.), Guardicore (Israel), Cymmetria, Inc. (Israel), TopSpin Security (Israel), Smokescreen Technologies (India), Illusive Networks (Israel), LogRhythm Inc. (U.S), vArmour (U.S.) among othersSegmentsDeception Technology by Component:By SolutionBy ServiceSupport and MaintenanceSystem integrationConsultingProfessional servicesDeception Technology by Deception Stack:Application securityData SecurityNetwork securityEndpoint securityDeception Technology by Deployment Type:CloudOn premiseDeception Technology by End-user:ManufacturingBFSIHealthcareManufacturingRetailTransportationGovernmentTelecomOthersGet complete Report @Regional Analysis:The regional analysis of Deception Technology market is being studied for region such as Asia pacific, North America, Europe and Rest of the World. The study indicates that North America region would dominate the Deception Technology market by the forecast period followed by Europe owing to the major developments in the field of deception technology witnessed in countries such as the U.S. and Canada. The study also indicates that U.S. and Canada are hub of large as well as start-ups vendors in the North America region .The study indicates that Asia-Pacific countries like China, Japan, South Korea, India and others are highly investing in network security infrastructure by companies in IT & Telecom and BFSI sectors. The study reveals that Asia-Pacific region would show a positive growth in Deception Technology market by the forecast period.Intended Audience:Deception Technology vendorsResellers and distributorsTechnology investorsSystem IntegratorsGovernment OrganizationsResearch/Consultancy firmsNetwork solution providersIndependent software vendorsManaged Security Service Providers (MSSPs)About Us:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.Media Contact:Akash Anand,Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: akash.anand@marketresearchfuture.com
Healthcare Satellite Connectivity Market : Latest Trends & Insights 2017 - 2025

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Global Healthcare Satellite Connectivity Market: OverviewWorld over, healthcare systems are increasingly adopting digital technologies to improve the access and quality of healthcare services. Digital technologies have been key enablers for services pertaining to telehealth and telemedicine across urban and rural communities. The access to quality patient care can be severely constrained in remote communities, especially in rural areas, mainly due to the paucity of trained clinicians and the lack of adequate infrastructure. This may be further compromised by the absence of a reliable internet connectivity. Satellite connectivity has increasingly enabled several healthcare centers, including private clinics, to reap the benefits of digital imaging, remote patient monitoring, and e-learning activities among doctors. In recent years, increasing initiatives by public as well as private players to close the gap between the urban and rural healthcare has offered a robust fillip to the market.Global Healthcare Satellite Connectivity Market: Key TrendsDriven by low-latency benefits and less power outages, the use of satellite connectivity is gaining prominence over terrestrial and cellular connectivity in the delivery of primary, secondary, and tertiary healthcare. The growing healthcare spending on eHealth, telehealth, and telemedicine to improve the quality of patient care is a key factor driving the healthcare satellite connectivity market. The soaring investments by governments in developed and developing regions to adopt digital healthcare technologies has robustly propelled the market. The real-time exchange of electronic medical records (EMRs) and digital pathology images across different geographic locations in order to boost diagnostic and therapeutic outcomes has further catalyzed the market. In addition, the remote monitoring of patients over thousands of miles apart through innovative mHealth (mobile health) services is expected to accentuate the market growth.Request Sample Copy of the Report@Global Healthcare Satellite Connectivity Market: Market PotentialSustainable and substantial support initiatives by governments in various regions have paved the way for quality healthcare to all and at affordable costs. The Luxembourg Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs announced in April, 2017 that it has entered into a contract with SES, a prominent satellite operator, to manage and support SATMED, a world-renowned eHealth satellite platform through 2020. The contract calls for the continuous developments of SATMED, including its medical tools and applications and data-hosting capabilities. The solution will enable healthcare professionals, including doctors and nurses, present at remote locations to work collaboratively. In addition, SATMED will improve satellite connectivity over resource-poor nations such as the Philippines, Bangladesh, and Africa.Under the contract, the deployment of the SATMED platform will be as a fully managed service by SES. The internet connectivity, enabled by SES satellite fleet, will enable clinicians and medical professionals to access e-training, EMR, virtual consultation, and video conferencing. The deployment of the platform is also significant as it will support various regional development programs and humanitarian operations in collaborations with NGOs and governmental organizations. Several deployments have already being done successfully in parts of Asia and Africa. The contract is aimed to have worldwide significance as large number of countries, especially in less developed regions, can access quality healthcare. Such innovative e-Health solutions to remote and isolated areas bode well for the healthcare satellite connectivity market.Request TOC of the Report @Global Healthcare Satellite Connectivity Market: Regional OutlookNorth America is a prominent market for healthcare satellite connectivity. The substantial growth of the regional market is driven by the presence of high-speed, modern telecommunication technologies and their increasing adoption for delivering healthcare. Several insurance providers are collaborating with the providers of telehealth and telemedicine solutions, which has boosted the regional market. Advancements in critical care and the growing application of digital healthcare technologies among hospitals are expected to catalyze the market. Meanwhile, Asia Pacific is expected to offer lucrative growth avenues for market players in the coming years. Increasing healthcare spending and substantial governmental support in various countries are expected to fuel the regional market.Global Healthcare Satellite Connectivity Market: Competitive AnalysisSeveral players are offering intuitive and innovative eHealth solutions for healthcare institutions to gain a competitive edge over others. Leading players are developing customized solutions for a range of telehealth applications. Major market players operating in the healthcare satellite connectivity market include Globalstar, Expedition Communications, X2nSat, SES S.A., Hughes, and Inmarsat plc.Get Discount @About TMR ResearchTMR Research is a premier provider of customized market research and consulting services to business entities keen on succeeding in todays supercharged economic climate. Armed with an experienced, dedicated, and dynamic team of analysts, we are redefining the way our clients conduct business by providing them with authoritative and trusted research studies in tune with the latest methodologies and market trends.Our savvy custom-built reports span a gamut of industries such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals and metals, food and beverages, and technology and media, among others. With actionable insights uncovered through in-depth research of the market, we try to bring about game-changing success for our clients.Contact:TMR Research,3739 Balboa St # 1097,San Francisco, CA 94121United StatesTel: +1-415-520-1050Email: sales@tmrresearch.com
Agriculture Chemical Markets in China Growing at a Rapid Pace and Continued to be Major Market for Fertilizers and Pesticides through 2021

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Agricultural chemicals have an important role in land management and the production of food and fibre products, protecting plants from damage caused by insect pests, weeds or disease. Presently, China has the largest agriculture chemical market in the world. It is tremendous fast-growing markets for imports and creating business opportunities for companies around the world. Market Research Hub (MRH) has freshly announced the inclusion of a new study to its massive research database, which is titled as Agriculture Chemical Markets in China. This 175-page report provides a comprehensive look at the markets growth patterns in recent years, thus enabling readers to make successful strategies based on the likely trajectory of the market over the 2017-2022 period and long-term forecasts through 2021 and 2026. Historical information regarding the China agriculture chemical markets growth is thus provided in great detail in the report, with the report assessing 2006, 2011, 2012-2016 growth figures.Request For Free Sample Report:According to the research findings, China's demand for agriculture chemicals has grown at a fast pace in the past decade. In the next decade, both production and demand will continue to grow rapidly. This is because Chinese economy maintains a high-speed growth which has been stimulated by the consecutive increases of industrial output, imports & exports, consumer consumption and capital investment for over two decades. In order to access up-to-date government regulations, market information and industry data, the primary and secondary research are done in China.This new study examines China's economic trends, investment environment, industry development, supply and demand, industry capacity, industry structure, marketing channels. Moreover, major producers in China are profiled. The section of industry assessment involves industry structure, capacity for pesticides, fertilizers major producer facility locations, output and capacity; market share of key producers; major foreign investment, major end-users, potential entrants and technological developments.Browse Full Report with TOC:On the basis of production and demand, the research finds that China is the largest market for Pesticides, Fungicides, Herbicides, Biopesticides, Insecticides and other Pesticides. In most cases, agricultural chemicals are stated to as 'pesticides' and include herbicides, fungicides, insecticides and pest animal baits. In addition, the report also categorizes agricultural chemicals into fertilizers and pesticides. According to the study highlights, China is not only the largest market for agrochemicals in Asia Pacific, but it is also the largest consumer of fertilizers in the world. Import and export for fertilizers include several types, including Fertilizers, Nitrogenous Fertilizer, Potash Fertilizer, Phosphate Fertilizer and Other Fertilizers.Enquire About This Report:About Market Research HubMarket Research Hub (MRH) is a next-generation reseller of chemicals industry reports and analysis. MRHs expansive collection of reports has been carefully curated to help key personnel and decision makers across industry verticals to clearly visualize their operating environment and take strategic steps.MRH functions as an integrated platform for the following products and services: Objective and sound market forecasts, qualitative and quantitative analysis, incisive insight into defining industry trends, and market share estimates. Our reputation lies in delivering value and world-class capabilities to our clients.Contact Us90 State Street,Albany, NY 12207,United StatesToll Free: 800-998-4852 (US-Canada)Email: press@marketresearchhub.comWebsite:Read Industry News at -
Unified Threat Management 2017 Global Key Players  Check Point Software, WatchGuard Technologies, Cisco, Juniper Networks, IBM, Dell Sonic Wall Market Analysis And Forecast To 2022

Unified Threat Management Market

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Unified Threat Management Market 2017Wiseguyreports.Com Adds Unified Threat Management -Market Demand, Growth, Opportunities, Manufacturers, Analysis of Top Key Players and Forecast to 2022 To Its Research Database.Description:This report studies the global Unified Threat Management market, analyzes and researches the Unified Threat Management development status and forecast in United States, EU, Japan, China, India and Southeast Asia. This report focuses on the top players in global market, likeCheck Point SoftwareWatchGuard TechnologiesCiscoJuniper NetworksIBMDell Sonic WallHillstone NetworksFortinetGateprotectHuaweiKerioNETASQPanda SecurityWatchGuardClavisterCyberoamTrustwaveRequest for Sample Report@Market segment by Regions/Countries, this report coversUnited StatesEUJapanChinaIndiaSoutheast AsiaMarket segment by Type, the product can be split intoSoftware PlatformsSupport ServicesMarket segment by Application, Unified Threat Management can be split intoBFSIIT & TelecomGovernmentHealthcareManufacturingOtherEnquiry before Buying @If you have any special requirements, please let us know and we will offer you the report as you want.Table of Contents:Global Unified Threat Management Market Size, Status and Forecast 20221 Industry Overview of Unified Threat Management1.1 Unified Threat Management Market Overview1.1.1 Unified Threat Management Product Scope1.1.2 Market Status and Outlook1.2 Global Unified Threat Management Market Size and Analysis by Regions1.2.1 United States1.2.2 EU1.2.3 Japan1.2.4 China1.2.5 India1.2.6 Southeast Asia1.3 Unified Threat Management Market by Type1.3.1 Software Platforms1.3.2 Support Services1.4 Unified Threat Management Market by End Users/Application1.4.1 BFSI1.4.2 IT & Telecom1.4.3 Government1.4.4 Healthcare1.4.5 Manufacturing1.4.6 Other2 Global Unified Threat Management Competition Analysis by Players2.1 Unified Threat Management Market Size (Value) by Players (2016 and 2017)2.2 Competitive Status and Trend2.2.1 Market Concentration Rate2.2.2 Product/Service Differences2.2.3 New Entrants2.2.4 The Technology Trends in Future.3 Company (Top Players) Profiles3.1 Check Point Software3.1.1 Company Profile3.1.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.1.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.1.4 Unified Threat Management Revenue (Value) (2012-2017)3.1.5 Recent Developments3.2 WatchGuard Technologies3.2.1 Company Profile3.2.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.2.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.2.4 Unified Threat Management Revenue (Value) (2012-2017)3.2.5 Recent Developments3.3 Cisco3.3.1 Company Profile3.3.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.3.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.3.4 Unified Threat Management Revenue (Value) (2012-2017)3.3.5 Recent Developments3.4 Juniper Networks3.4.1 Company Profile3.4.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.4.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.4.4 Unified Threat Management Revenue (Value) (2012-2017)3.4.5 Recent Developments3.5 IBM3.5.1 Company Profile3.5.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.5.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.5.4 Unified Threat Management Revenue (Value) (2012-2017)3.5.5 Recent Developments3.6 Dell Sonic Wall3.6.1 Company Profile3.6.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.6.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.6.4 Unified Threat Management Revenue (Value) (2012-2017)3.6.5 Recent Developments3.7 Hillstone Networks3.7.1 Company Profile3.7.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.7.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.7.4 Unified Threat Management Revenue (Value) (2012-2017)3.7.5 Recent Developments3.8 Fortinet3.8.1 Company Profile3.8.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.8.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.8.4 Unified Threat Management Revenue (Value) (2012-2017)3.8.5 Recent Developments3.9 Gateprotect3.9.1 Company Profile3.9.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.9.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.9.4 Unified Threat Management Revenue (Value) (2012-2017)3.9.5 Recent Developments3.10 Huawei3.10.1 Company Profile3.10.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.10.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.10.4 Unified Threat Management Revenue (Value) (2012-2017)3.10.5 Recent Developments3.11 Kerio3.12 NETASQ3.13 Panda Security3.14 WatchGuard3.15 Clavister3.16 Cyberoam3.17 TrustwaveContinued..Buy now @Contact US:NORAH TRENTPartner Relations & Marketing Managersales@wiseguyreports.comPh: +1-646-845-9349 (US)Ph: +44 208 133 9349 (UK)About Us:Wise Guy Reports Is Part Of The Wise Guy Consultants Pvt. Ltd. And Offers Premium Progressive Statistical Surveying, Market Research Reports, Analysis & Forecast Data For Industries And Governments Around The Globe. Wise Guy Reports Features An Exhaustive List Of Market Research Reports From Hundreds Of Publishers Worldwide. We Boast A Database Spanning Virtually Every Market Category And An Even More Comprehensive Collection Of Market Research Reports Under These Categories And Sub-Categories.Addres:: Wise Guy Research Consultants Pvt Ltd: Pune  411028: Maharashtra,: Ph: +91 841 198 5042
Airway Management Devices Market : Impact of Existing and Emerging Market 2017 - 2025

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Global Airway Management Devices Market: OverviewThe global airway management devices are medical devices used for patients have obstructed airways or are at the risk of being obstructed. These devices find applications in a variety of clinical settings such as emergency and pre-hospital settings, operating rooms, and out-of-hospital care. Over the past few years, they have gained wide application in managing supraglottic airways and in endotracheal intubation. The proper use of airway management devices is necessary in various preoperative settings to ventilate patient and significantly improve post-operative outcomes, especially in critical care settings.The increasing prevalence of respiratory diseases and growing number of patients with difficult airways in emergency departments is continuously boosting the evolution of the market. Medical device manufacturers are developing devices that need least expertise to operate, improves the rate of successful intubation, and are designed innovatively.Request Sample Copy of the Report@Global Airway Management Devices Market: Key TrendsThe rising prevalence of various types of respiratory diseases, particularly Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), and associated morbidity and mortality worldwide is a key factor driving the airway management devices market. A growing number of patients undergoing anesthesia before surgical procedures need continued ventilation, stimulating the uptake of airway management devices.Constant advances in endotracheal intubation in clinical practice has boosted the airway management devices market. The growing number of cases of children suffering with various lung diseases has propelled the demand for airway management devices. Increasing awareness related to the need for airway ventilation in preoperative settings and the advent of devices with enhanced success rate in emergency care are expected to open up exciting opportunities for market players.Request TOC of the Report @Global Airway Management Devices Market: Market PotentialRoyal Philips, a major Dutch company delivering healthcare technology solutions, announced in May 23, 2017 that it has inked a deal with RespirTech, which will help the company to consolidate its presence in respiratory care. The Minnesota-based company provides airway management devices for patients suffering from chronic respiratory conditions, such as COPD, cystic fibrosis, and bronchiectasis. The portfolio sold to Philips shall include a clinical support program aimed at providing respiratory care for patients at home settings. Further, the company said this will further add to its other service plans for respiratory care. One of the key offerings of RespirTech is inCourage Airway Clearance Therapy, a vest device to help patients in respiration at home. The vest therapy can be successfully applied in clearing airways for a wide range of respiratory conditions and neuromuscular diseases. The solution is helpful to patients whose abilities to cough are severely compromised and further help them avoid serious respiratory complications. RespirTech also produces ClearChest, a single patient-use comfort vest and bands intended for hospital settings. The contract will enable Royal Philips to make airway management easier and more effective for patients at home settings and will help in treating respiratory conditions. Such strategic mergers bode well for the airway management devices market as these will be helpful in improving patient outcomes.Global Airway Management Devices Market: Regional OutlookGeographically, North America is one of the major markets for airway management devices. The growth in the regional market is driven by substantial governmental initiatives and stricter implementation of clinical guidelines by healthcare organizations for proper ventilation and management of airways of patients. The growing prevalence of various respiratory conditions indicating blocked airways and constant device innovations by medical device manufacturers to improve clinical guidelines are expected to fuel this regional market. On the other hand, Asia Pacific is expected to offer lucrative avenues to market players. The impressive growth of the regional market is attributed to the emergence of countries, such as China and India, acting as cheap manufacturing hubs and intensive R&D funding across the region.Get Discount @Global Airway Management Devices Market: Competitive AnalysisSeveral companies are opting for strategic collaborations and investing into product development activities. Leading players are developing innovative products and making mergers and acquisitions to gain a competitive edge over others. Major players vying for a significant share in the airway management devices market are Medline Industries, Smiths Medical, Ambu A/S, Teleflex Incorporated, Mercury Medical, Intersurgical, and Medtronic.About TMR ResearchTMR Research is a premier provider of customized market research and consulting services to business entities keen on succeeding in todays supercharged economic climate. Armed with an experienced, dedicated, and dynamic team of analysts, we are redefining the way our clients conduct business by providing them with authoritative and trusted research studies in tune with the latest methodologies and market trends.Our savvy custom-built reports span a gamut of industries such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals and metals, food and beverages, and technology and media, among others. With actionable insights uncovered through in-depth research of the market, we try to bring about game-changing success for our clients.Contact:TMR Research,3739 Balboa St # 1097,San Francisco, CA 94121United StatesTel: +1-415-520-1050Email: sales@tmrresearch.com
Military Radio System Market Size, Share, Growth, Analysis Forecast to 2023

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Exclusive Summery About Report:The major driver for the growth of the military radio system market is the need for effective, secure, and confidential communication of information, especially during the surgical strikes. The rapid advancements in the handheld product segment, and technologies, such as the software defined radios, are also expected to drive the growth of the market, during the forecast period. The use of the radio systems in a wide range of applications such as inter-vehicle communications, dismounted operations, perimeter security, and maritime communications, is also contributing to the growth of the market.The military radio system market is expected to grow significantly, during the forecast period, owing to rapid advancements in the handheld product segment, and technologies such as the software defined radios (SDR). The gradual increase in the defense budgets along with the growing military exercises and operations, of several countries, would result in the growth of the market. During military exercises, there is immense need for confidential, secure, and fast communication flow, which can be effectively carried out with the use of military radio systems. The market is also expected to grow with the increasing use of radio systems in surgical strikes, and residential military areas, and others.Get a Sample Report @Taste the market data and market information presented through more than 30 market data tables and figures spread over 111 numbers of pages of the project report. Avail the in-depth table of content TOC & market synopsis on Military Radio System Market Research Report - Global Forecast To 2023.This report studies the Global Military Radio System Market, analyzes and researches the Military Radio System Industry status and forecast in global regions.This report focuses on the top players in global market, like BARRETT Communications (Australia), Leonardo S.p.A. (Italy), Harris Corporation (U.S.), Radmor S.A. (Poland), Thales Communications & Security S.A.S (France), Codan Limited (Australia), Elbit Systems Ltd. (Israel), FLIR Systems (U.S.), Selex ES (Italy) Safran S.A. (France).Check for Discount @Market Research Analysis:Amongst all types of military radio systems, the vehicular radios segment is expected to grow with the highest CAGR during the forecast period. The vehicle mounted wireless devices help in establishing a safe and reliable communication link within local area, city or even battlefield. The ability of the vehicular radio systems to ensure effective communication and data transfer between troops stationed in and around a battlefield is further expected to drive the growth of the segment during the forecast period.Scope of the reportThis study provides an overview of the global Military radio system market, tracking two market segments across four geographic regions. The report studies key players, providing a five-year annual trend analysis that highlights market size, volume and share for North America, Europe, Asia Pacific (APAC), Middle East & Africa and Latin America. The report also provides a forecast, focusing on the market opportunities for the next five years for each region. The scope of the study segments the global Military radio system market by its type, end-user and region.If you have any special requirements, please let us know and we will offer you the report as you want.For further information on this report, visit @SegmentationBy Type Manpack Radios Vehicular RadiosBy End-user Marines Ground ForcesBy Region North America Asia Pacific Europe Middle East and Africa Latin AmericaLIST OF FIGURESFIGURE 1 RESEARCH TYPEFIGURE 2 GLOBAL MILITARY RADIO SYSTEM MARKET: BY TYPE (%)FIGURE 3 GLOBAL MILITARY RADIO SYSTEM MARKET: BY END-USER (%)FIGURE 4 GLOBAL MILITARY RADIO SYSTEM MARKET: BY REGIONFIGURE 5 NORTH AMERICA MILITARY RADIO SYSTEM MARKET, BY TYPE (%)FIGURE 6 NORTH AMERICA MILITARY RADIO SYSTEM MARKET, BY END-USER (%)FIGURE 7 EUROPE MILITARY RADIO SYSTEM MARKET, BY TYPE (%)Continued..LIST OF TABLESTABLE 1 GLOBAL MILITARY RADIO SYSTEM MARKET, BY TYPETABLE 2 GLOBAL MILITARY RADIO SYSTEM MARKET, BY END-USERTABLE 3 GLOBAL MILITARY RADIO SYSTEM MARKET, BY REGIONSTABLE 4 NORTH AMERICA MILITARY RADIO SYSTEM MARKET, BY COUNTRYTABLE 5 NORTH AMERICA MILITARY RADIO SYSTEM MARKET, BY TYPETABLE 6 NORTH AMERICA MILITARY RADIO SYSTEM MARKET, BY END-USERTABLE 7 U.S. MILITARY RADIO SYSTEM MARKET, BY TYPETABLE 8 U.S. MILITARY RADIO SYSTEM MARKET, BY END-USERContinuedAbout Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by products, services, technologies, applications, end users, and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions.Contact Us: akash.anand@marketresearchfuture.comPh: +1 646 845 9312
Military Surveillance Drones Market By Technologies, Services, Applications and Regions  Trends and Forecast from 2017-2023

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Exclusive Summery:The global military surveillance drones market is a very dynamic market and is expected to witness high growth over the forecast period. The growth of military surveillance drones market is influenced by the internal and external security threats, increasing need for border monitoring, and development of next generation drones. However, the growth of this market is expected to be restrained by the issues associated with data processing and low endurance and flight range.Drones are the next generation of aerial platforms that are being deployed by the defense ministries around the world. The demand for such unmanned systems has been fuelled by their successful deployment, during combat missions, majorly in countries such as Iraq and Afghanistan. In recent years, there has been a rise in the number of global conflicts such as the Russia and Ukraine conflict over Crimea, battle for supremacy in the South China Sea territory between China and South Korea, maritime disputes between Venezuela and Guyana, and the sea border dispute between Colombia and Nicaragua. This creates the need to up-date border surveillance systems and the treatment of operational information concerning threatsHowever, the growth of this market will be hampered owing to factors such as Issues Associated with Data Processing, prone to Cyber Attacks and Low Endurance and Flight Range.Get a Sample Report @The global Military surveillance drones market size is projected to grow from USD 2083.0 Million in 2016 to USD 4549.4 Million in the year 2023, at the CAGR of 11.96 %.Major Key Players Boeing (U.S.), Airbus Corporation (Netherlands), Lockheed Martin (U.S.), Northrop Grumman Corporation (U.S.), Thales Group (France), Elbit Systems Ltd (Israel), Saab Group (Sweden), Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd. (Israel), AeroVironment, Inc. (U.S.) General Atomics (U.S.).Market Research Analysis:Based on type, the micro/Nano is expected to grow at the highest CAGR. The micro/Nano surveillance drones are the smallest of all drones. These drones are very affordable owing to their small size. Micro drones can either be remotely controlled or some possess cameras and can fly autonomously. These small systems allow remote observation of hazardous environments that are inaccessible to the ground vehicles. As a result, these systems witness a high demand from the defense authorities, across the globe.Based on payload, the Electro-Optic/Infrared Sensor segment will account for the largest market share with 29 % in the global Military surveillance drones market. Electro-optical payloads are the sensors that enable unmanned vehicles to sense and avoid obstacles, detect movement, navigate accurately, find the enemy, and warn of the potential for buried improvised explosive devices.If you have any special requirements, please let us know and we will offer you the report as you want.For further information on this report, visit @Scope of the reportThis study provides an overview of the global Military surveillance drones market, tracking two market segments across four geographic regions. The report studies key players, providing a five-year annual trend analysis that highlights market size, volume and share for North America, Europe, Asia Pacific (APAC) and Rest of the World (ROW). The report also provides a forecast, focusing on the market opportunities for the next five years for each region. The scope of the study segments the global Military surveillance drones market by its type, payload and region.By Type Fixed Wing Micro/ Nano MiniBy Payload Electro-Optic/Infrared Sensor Cameras Electronic Intelligence Maritime Patrol Radar OthersBy Region North America Asia Pacific Europe Rest of the WorldAbout Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by products, services, technologies, applications, end users, and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions.Contact:Market Research Future+1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com
Multiple Launch Rocket Systems Expected to Grow at a Steady CAGR by 2022

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The Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) could be a extremely mobile, automatic system that fires surface-to-surface rockets and missiles from the M270 platform. From within the cab, the crew of 3 will fan the flames of to twelve MLRS rockets or 2 Army military science Missile System (ATACMS). the expansion of the market will be attributed to numerous technological developments happening across the world, together with the event of the guided-multiple launch rocket systems by Lockheed Martin (US), among others. The multiple launch rocket systems market has been divided by launch vehicle, caliber, range, pod capability, and region. Among launch vehicle varieties, the half-tracked MLRS phase is projected to grow at the best CAGR throughout the forecast amount; the caliber phase is projected to steer the multiple launch rocket systems market throughout the forecast period. Factors like military artillery upgrade programs and new system acquisitions square measure expected to drive the market.The report tracks the major market events including product launches, technological developments, mergers & acquisitions, and the innovative business strategies opted by key market players. Along with strategically analyzing the key micro markets, the report also focuses on industry-specific drivers, restraints, opportunities and challenges in the multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS) market. The scope of this report covers the multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS) market by its major segments, which include the types, applications, and the major geographic regions.Download Free Sample:Regionally, the global multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS) market is fragmented into Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Europe, North America, and Middle East & Africa. Among these, Middle East & Africa expected to register the best rate of growth throughout the forecast amount. The growing demand for MLRS by the center Japanese countries like Asian country, the UAE, Turkey, and Iran, alternative nations like Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, and Yemen, and African countries to enhance the military capabilities is driving the expansion of the market. The surge in investments and exchange programs tiny economy countries like Croatia, Belarus, and Kazakhstan also will boost the expansion prospects for this market within the geographic region & Africa over consequent four years.MARKET SEGMENTATIONThis report analyzes the multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS) market by the following segments:Multiple Launch Rocket Systems Market, by Launch Vehicle1. Tracked2. WheeledMultiple Launch Rocket Systems Market, by Caliber1. 70-180 mm2. 180-300 mmMultiple Launch Rocket Systems Market, by Range1. 10-100 km2. 100-300 kmMultiple Launch Rocket Systems Market, by Pod Capacity1. Up to 162. 16 to 40Browse Report:About Scalar Market ResearchScalar Market Research Inc. aspires to assist organizations from around the world to achieve their business goal with premium market research reports and consulting services. Our real-time industry tracking with the help of advanced analytics offers a crystal clear view of all the activities in niche markets. Our team, with thorough global understanding, works relentlessly to gather the necessary market insights, including customer analysis, competitions and global forecast.Find out more about our services at:Contact:8770 W Bryn Mawr Ave.,Suite 1300Chicago, IL 60631Tel.: +1-800-213-5170 (U.S./Canada Toll-free)Email: sales@scalarmarketresearch.comFollow us on LinkedIn:
Top Manufacturers in Global Geotechnical Grating Network Industry: Radiant Insights

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This report studies Geotechnical Grating Network in Global market, especially in North America, Europe, China, Japan, Southeast Asia and India, focuses on top manufacturers in global market, with capacity, production, price, revenue and market share for each manufacturer, covering Ace Geosynthetics TenCate NV Agru America Inc Asahi-Kasei Geotech Belton Industries Inc GSE Environmental, Inc Huesker Synthetic GmbH Cetco Hanes Geo Components TenaxFor further inquiries, about - Global Geotechnical Grating Network Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2014 - 2020, click on this link -Market Segment by Regions, this report splits Global into several key Regions, with production, consumption, revenue, market share and growth rate of Geotechnical Grating Network in these regions, from 2011 to 2021 (forecast), like North America Europe China Japan Southeast Asia IndiaSplit by product type, with production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, can be divided into CE131 CE151Split by application, this report focuses on consumption, market share and growth rate of Geotechnical Grating Network in each application, can be divided into Road & Pavement Railroads Drainage Systems Soil Reinforcement & ErosionRequest a Free Sample Copy of this Report @Table of ContentsGlobal Geotechnical Grating Network Market Research Report 20171 Geotechnical Grating Network Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Geotechnical Grating Network1.2 Geotechnical Grating Network Segment by Type1.2.1 Global Production Market Share of Geotechnical Grating Network by Type in 20151.2.2 CE1311.2.3 CE1511.3 Geotechnical Grating Network Segment by Application1.3.1 Geotechnical Grating Network Consumption Market Share by Application in 20151.3.2 Road & Pavement1.3.3 Railroads1.3.4 Drainage Systems1.3.5 Soil Reinforcement & Erosion1.4 Geotechnical Grating Network Market by Region1.4.1 North America Status and Prospect (2011-2021)1.4.2 Europe Status and Prospect (2011-2021)1.4.3 China Status and Prospect (2011-2021)1.4.4 Japan Status and Prospect (2011-2021)1.4.5 Southeast Asia Status and Prospect (2011-2021)1.4.6 India Status and Prospect (2011-2021)1.5 Global Market Size (Value) of Geotechnical Grating Network (2011-2021)Read more related reports by Radiant Insights: Friction Modifier Additives Market Industrial Grade Nitroguanidine MarketAbout Radiant Insights, IncRadiant Insights is a market research and consulting company offering syndicated research studies, customized reports, and consulting services. Market research studies are designed to facilitate strategic decision making, on the basis of extensive and in-depth quantitative information, supported by extensive analysis and industry insights. Using a patented and robust research methodology, we publish exhaustive research reports covering a host of industries such as Technology, Chemicals, Materials, and Energy. Radiant Insights has a strong base of analysts, consultants and domain experts, with global experience help for delivering excellence in all research projects.Media Contact:Michelle Thoras201 Spear Street 1100,Suite 3036,San Francisco,CA 94105, United StatesTel: 1-415-349-0054Toll Free: 1-888-928-9744Mail: sale@radiantinsights.com
PEGylated Drugs Market share research by applications and regions for 2017-2024

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PEGylated Drugs Market size may grow significantly over the projected period. Rising prevalence of chronic diseases and high demand of PEGylated drugs is expected to drive business.PEGylated drugs can be used to treat chronic disorders like cancer. Cancer is of the leading cause of death and its prevalence is rising continuously. Binding of PEG with drugs facilitates its entry into the tumor cell and to give better therapeutic results. The demand for these drugs is high as it offers different advantages such as reduced degradation by metabolic enzymes, elimination of immunogenicity and increased residence in blood. It also enhances the solubility of drugs and reduces effects of proteolytic enzymes, thus improves the bioavailability.Request In-depth table of contents @PEGylation refers to change in structure of protein by linking one or more polyethylene glycol (PEG) chains. It is easily soluble in organic and aqueous solutions and is non-toxic in nature. The chain binds to the drugs covalently and make it sterically stable. The polymer thus formed is non-toxic, non-antigenic, non-immunogenic, and highly water soluble. It further increases half-life of the drug and reduces dose frequency by preventing renal excretion of drugs.Increasing protein stability and circulating half-life, and increased R&D spending are some other impact rendering factors for industry. However, adverse drug reactions associated can impede market growth during forecast period. Attachment of PEG with drugs however, comes with certain limitations. In some cases, intravenous administration resulted in hypersensitivity reactions and blood clots. In other cases, it resulted in antibody production in body and has also shown hypersensitivity reactions when administered with laxatives.Make Inquiry about this report @PEGylation products consists of different reagents including linkers, cross-linkers, and labels. Different reagents include AMINE, CARBOXYL, and CARBOXYL PEGylation. Drugs currently being used in the treatment of cancer, chronic kidney diseases, hepatitis, multiple sclerosis, hemophilia, and gastrointestinal disorders. Mircera, an erythropoiesis stimulating agent is approved by FDA for treatment of anemia associated with chronic renal failure. PEG-INTRON and PEGASYS are other FDA approved products for treatment of hepatitis C.Different proteins such as mAbs, colony stimulating factors, recombinant factor vii, interferons and many more can be coupled with PEG molecule. PEGylated interferon is a class of drugs that includes Peginterferon alfa 2a and alfa 2b. These are FDA approved and used for the treatment of hepatitis C and in some cases for hepatitis B.The process is primarily used by pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, research institutes and contract research organization. In chronic conditions, frequent dosing can reduce patients compliance to the treatment. Research institute are working relentlessly to reduce the dose using PEGylation techniques. Its therapeutic agents are expanding clinical pipelines for many biotech companies as the technique is now being applied to peptides, aptamers, and smaller molecules.As per center for disease control and prevention, in U.S. around 400 babies suffer from hemophilia each year. Demand for long acting drugs with extended half-life to treat such diseases is increasing in the region. The increased adoption of protein based drugs is expected to drive the U.S. market over forecast period.Asia pacific is predicted to show significant growth due to rising prevalence of chronic diseases like cancer and arthritis. For instance, in China cancer caused 2.8 million deaths and 4.3 million new cases were diagnosed. The high prevalence of such diseases will boost the regional revenue share over the forecast timeframe.Companies operating in business include Thermo Fisher Scientific, Merck, Johnson & Johnson, Creative PEGworks, NOF, Quanta BioDesign Celares Biomatrik, and Iris Biotech Laysan Bio. To gain competitive advantage companies are adopting strategies like mergers and acquisitions, partnerships, collaborations, and geographical expansions. For instance, in June 2015, Merck entered into a collaboration with Celares, a German based firm involved in the business of PEGylation and chemical modification of biopharmaceuticals. The collaboration expanded Mercks product of portfolio of functionalized products.Global Market Insights, Inc., headquartered in Delaware, U.S., is a global market research and consulting service provider; offering syndicated and custom research reports along with growth consulting services. Our business intelligence and industry research reports offer clients with penetrative insights and actionable market data specially designed and presented to aid strategic decision making. These exhaustive reports are designed via a proprietary research methodology and are available for key industries such as chemicals, advanced materials, technology, renewable energy and biotechnology.Arun HegdeCorporate Sales, USAGlobal Market Insights, Inc.Phone: 1-302-846-7766Toll Free: 1-888-689-0688Email: sales@gminsights.comWeb:Blog:
Global Active Protection System Market Share, Technology, Growth and Forecast Report 2017-2025

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Active Protection System are defined as a next generation systems which defend automatically in opposition to enemies for threatening them without loading the vehicle with heavy weapons. This protection system are used for detection and neutralizing the threat projectiles before the target reach. The major factor driving active protection system market is the automation of defense systems and geopolitical instabilities.The factor acting as a restraint to growth of the market is the increasing price of radar systems which may hamper the active protection system market. However, the increasing demand in the development of secured network against cyber-attacks will create new opportunities in the market of active protection system in the forecast period.Request Sample is Available atThe Global active protection system Market Analysis to 2025 is a specialized and in-depth study of the active protection system industry with a focus on the global market trend. The report aims to provide an overview of global active protection system market with detailed market segmentation by platform, systems, end users, and geography. The global active protection system market is expected to witness high growth during the forecast period. The report provides key statistics on the market status of the leading market players and offers key trends and opportunities in the market.The report provides a detailed overview of the industry including both qualitative and quantitative information. It provides overview and forecast of the global active protection system market based on platform, systems, and end users. It also provides market size and forecast till 2025 for overall active protection system market with respect to five major regions, namely; North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific (APAC), Middle East and Africa (MEA) and South America (SAM). The market by each region is later sub-segmented by respective countries and segments. The report covers analysis and forecast of 16 counties globally along with current trend and opportunities prevailing in the region.Inquire before Buying atBesides this, the report analyzes factors affecting market from both demand and supply side and further evaluates market dynamics effecting the market during the forecast period i.e., drivers, restraints, opportunities, and future trend. The report also provides exhaustive Porters Five Forces analysis, projecting the bargaining power of buyers and suppliers, threats to substitute products and new entrants and rivalry among competitors in the industry.Also, key active protection system market players influencing the market are profiled in the study along with their SWOT analysis and market strategies. The report also focuses on leading industry players with information such as company profiles, products and services offered, financial information of last 3 years, key development in past five years.Some of the key players influencing the market are Safran Electronics & Defense, Raytheon Company, Krauss Maffei Wegmann, Artis, LLC, Rheinmetall AG, Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd., SAAB AB, Aselsan A.S., Israel Military Industries, and Doosan DSTComplete Report is Available atContact Us:Call: +1-646-491-9876Email: sales@theinsightpartners.comAbout Us:The Insight Partners is a one stop industry research provider of actionable intelligence. We help our clients in getting solutions to their research requirements through our syndicated and consulting research services. We are a specialist in Technology, Media, and Telecommunication industries.533, 5th Floor, Amanora Chambers,Amanora Township, East Block,Kharadi Road, Hadapsar, Pune-411028
Energy and Utilities Construction in the Netherlands Market 2017- By Plan Future Business Decisions Using the Forecast Figures 2021

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WiseGuyReports published new report, titled Energy and Utilities Construction Market in the NetherlandsSynopsis"Energy and Utilities Construction Market in the Netherlands: Market Size, Growth and Forecast Analytics to 2021" contains historic and forecast market data for the energy and utilities construction market in Netherlands, with a detailed breakdown of the data by construction activity (new construction, repair and maintenance, refurbishment and demolition) and by cost type( construction materials, construction equipment and construction services). This report also contains overall values of the energy and utilities construction segments such as Energy and utilities construction market covers the development of energy and telecommunications related projects, oil and gas projects including both upstream and downstream exploration, and utility projects such as water and sewage infrastructure. This market includes five categories: electricity and power, oil & gas, telecommunications, sewage infrastructure and water infrastructure.This research report provides up-to-date market size data for the period 2012-2016 and an illustrative forecast to 2021.GET SAMPLE REPORT @SummaryEnergy and utilities construction market covers the development of energy and telecommunications related projects, oil and gas projects including both upstream and downstream exploration, and utility projects such as water and sewage infrastructure. This market includes five categories: electricity and power, oil & gas, telecommunications, sewage infrastructure and water infrastructure.The Dutch energy and utilities construction category has observed some fluctuations in the review period with a value of EURxxx.xx million (US$xxx.xx million) in 2016 and increased at a rate of x.xx% over 2015. The market recorded a CARC of -x.xx% from 2012 through 2016."Energy and Utilities Construction Market in the Netherlands: Market Size, Growth and Forecast Analytics to 2021"' provides a top-level overview and detailed insight into the operating environment of the energy and utilities construction market in Netherlands. It is an essential tool for companies active across the Netherlands construction value chain and for new players considering to enter the market.Scope An overview of the energy and utilities construction market in Netherlands. Historic (2012 through 2016) and forecast (2017 through 2021) construction market output values are provided. A detailed breakdown of the data by construction activity (new construction, repair and maintenance, refurbishment and demolition) is provided at the market level while the values for the segments are provided by cost types (construction materials, construction equipment & construction services). This report covers all the segments of commercial construction market including Energy and utilities construction market covers the development of energy and telecommunications related projects, oil and gas projects including both upstream and downstream exploration, and utility projects such as water and sewage infrastructure. This market includes five categories: electricity and power, oil & gas, telecommunications, sewage infrastructure and water infrastructure.Key points to buy Enhances your knowledge of the market with key figures detailing construction type. Provides you with a breakdown of the market by construction activity (new construction, repair and maintenance, refurbishment and demolition). Provides you with a breakdown of the segments by cost type (construction materials, construction equipment &construction services). Details the segments covered under commercial construction market. Allows you to plan future business decisions using the forecast figures given.Table of Contents1 Introduction2 Overall Energy and Utilities Construction Value: Market Analysis3 Energy and Utilities Construction Output: Analysis by Category4 Electricity and Power construction: Market Analysis5 Oil and Gas construction: Market Analysis6 Telecommunications construction: Market Analysis7 Water Infrastructure construction: Market Analysis8 Sewage Infrastructure construction: Market Analysis9 Appendix..CONTINUEDFor accessing accurate and deep understanding and to gain latest insights and key developments in the area of your interest, we also have a list of conferences in which you will be interested in, for more information, cordially checkFor updating knowledge or for thoroughly understanding various terminologies, we also have vast list of seminars for your reference, for more information cordially checkWise Guy Reports is part of the Wise Guy Research Consultants Pvt. Ltd. and offers premium progressive statistical surveying, market research reports, analysis & forecast data for industries and governments around the globe.WISEGUY RESEARCH CONSULTANTS PVT LTDOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersPune - 411028Maharashtra, India
Parkinson's Disease Treatment Market Worth 5.69 Billion USD by 2022

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According to a new market research report "Parkinson's Disease Treatment Market by Drug Class (Carbidopa/Levodopa, Dopamine Receptor Agonists, MAO-Inhibitors), Distribution Channel (Hospital, Online, Retail Pharmacies), Patient Care Setting (Hospitals, Clinics) - Global Forecast to 2022", published by MarketsandMarkets, the market is expected to reach USD 5.69 Billion by 2022 from USD 4.24 Billion in 2017, at a CAGR of 6.1%.Browse 66 Market Data Tables and 33 Figures spread through 113 Pages and in-depth TOC on"Parkinson's Disease Treatment Market"Early buyers will receive 10% customization on this reportThe market is being driven by the growth in aging population and the associated increase in the prevalence of Parkinson's disease and government funding for research.By drug class, the carbidopa/levodopa segment is estimated to dominate the market in 2017On the basis of drug class, the Parkinson's disease therapeutic drugs market is segmented into carbidopa/levodopa, dopamine receptor agonists, MAO inhibitors, COMT inhibitors, anticholinergics, and other drugs. In 2017, the carbidopa/levodopa segment is expected to account for the largest share of the market. Carbidopa/levodopa drugs are more potent than most other drug classes are hence widely used in the treatment of Parkinson's disease.Download PDF Brochure:By distribution channel, the hospital pharmacies segment is estimated to hold the largest share of the market in 2017By distribution channel, the Parkinson's disease therapeutic drugs market has been segmented into hospital pharmacies, retailer pharmacies, and online pharmacies. In 2017, the hospital pharmacies segment is expected to account for the largest share of the market. The large share of this segment can primarily be attributed to the availability of a wide range of drugs in these facilities and the increasing number of patient visits to hospitals.Hospitals to dominate the Parkinson's Disease Treatment Market during the forecast periodThe Parkinson's Disease Treatment Market is classified by patient care settings into hospitals and clinics. In 2017, the hospital segment is expected to command the largest share and is estimated to grow at the fastest rate as compared to clinics segment. This market is mainly driven by robust healthcare services provided in hospitals and the presence of skilled neurologists in the hospitals.Talk To Our Research Analysts:Asia to offer lucrative growth opportunitiesBy region, the global Parkinson's Disease Treatment Market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia, and the Rest of the World (RoW). While Europe is expected to hold the largest share of the market in 2017, Asia is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. Increasing number of players in the region and the rising aging population are some major factors driving the high growth of this regional segment.Some of the major players operating in the Parkinson's disease treatment market include Teva (Israel), Novartis AG (Switzerland), GSK (UK), AbbVie (US), Merck (US), Boehringer Ingelheim (Germany), Impax Laboratories (US), Lundbeck (Denmark), Sun Pharma (India), Wockhardt (India), UCB (Belgium), Valeant Pharmaceuticals (Canada), and Acadia (US).About MarketsandMarketsMarketsandMarkets provides quantified B2B research on 30,000 high growth niche opportunities/threats which will impact 70% to 80% of worldwide companies' revenues. Currently servicing 5000 customers worldwide including 80% of global Fortune 1000 companies as clients. Almost 75,000 top officers across eight industries worldwide approach MarketsandMarkets for their painpoints around revenues decisions.Our 850 fulltime analyst and SMEs at MarketsandMarkets are tracking global high growth markets following the "Growth Engagement Model - GEM". The GEM aims at proactive collaboration with the clients to identify new opportunities, identify most important customers, write "Attack, avoid and defend" strategies, identify sources of incremental revenues for both the company and its competitors. MarketsandMarkets now coming up with 1,500 MicroQuadrants (Positioning top players across leaders, emerging companies, innovators, strategic players) annually in high growth emerging segments. MarketsandMarkets is determined to benefit more than 10,000 companies this year for their revenue planning and help them take their innovations/disruptions early to the market by providing them research ahead of the curve.MarketsandMarkets' flagship competitive intelligence and market research platform, "RT" connects over 200,000 markets and entire value chains for deeper understanding of the unmet insights along with market sizing and forecasts of niche markets.Mr. RohanMarketsandMarkets INC.630 Dundee RoadSuite 430Northbrook, IL 60062USA: +1-888-600-6441sales@marketsandmarkets.comVisit Our Blog@Connect with us on LinkedIn @
Global Counter IED System Market Report 2017-2025

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Counter IED System is used for detecting explosives and explosive components by using improvised explosive devices (IEDs). These devices are being triggered from safest distance by operator via remote control such as wrist watch and mobile phones. The major factor for driving counter IED system market is due to the growth in terrorist activities across the world and technological innovation in IED detection systems. Furthermore, the increasing demand for unmanned systems like driverless trucks and lighter robots, and demand for counter-IED equipment for homeland security will also boost the market.The factor acting as a restraint to the growth of market for counter IED is the high cost of the research and development which in turn increases the price of final product, may hamper the counter IED system market. However, the increasing demand of these system mainly in developing countries will create new opportunities in the market of counter IED system in the forecast period.Request Sample is Available atThe Global Counter IED System Market Analysis to 2025 is a specialized and in-depth study of the counter IED system industry with a focus on the global market trend. The report aims to provide an overview of global counter IED system market with detailed market segmentation by deployment type, systems, end users, and geography. The global counter IED system market is expected to witness high growth during the forecast period. The report provides key statistics on the market status of the leading market players and offers key trends and opportunities in the market.The report provides a detailed overview of the industry including both qualitative and quantitative information. It provides overview and forecast of the global counter IED system market based on deployment type, systems, and end users. It also provides market size and forecast till 2025 for overall counter IED system market with respect to five major regions, namely; North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific (APAC), Middle East and Africa (MEA) and South America (SAM). The market by each region is later sub-segmented by respective countries and segments. The report covers analysis and forecast of 16 counties globally along with current trend and opportunities prevailing in the region.Inquire before Buying atBesides this, the report analyzes factors affecting market from both demand and supply side and further evaluates market dynamics effecting the market during the forecast period i.e., drivers, restraints, opportunities, and future trend. The report also covers Porters Five Forces such as bargaining power of buyers, bargaining power of suppliers, threats to substitutes, threats to new entrants, and competitive rivalry.Also, key counter IED system market players influencing the market are profiled in the study along with their SWOT analysis and market strategies. The report also focuses on leading industry players with information such as company profiles, products and services offered, financial information of last 3 years, key development in past five years. Some of the key players influencing the market are Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd., Defence Land Systems India (DLSI), Lockheed Martin Corporation, Northrop Grumman Corporation, Thales Group, Boeing Defense, iRobot Corporation, Netline Communications Technologies, Rheinmetall Defense, and Harris Corporation.Complete Report is Available atContact Us:Call: +1-646-491-9876Email: sales@theinsightpartners.comAbout Us:The Insight Partners is a one stop industry research provider of actionable intelligence. We help our clients in getting solutions to their research requirements through our syndicated and consulting research services. We are a specialist in Technology, Media, and Telecommunication industries.533, 5th Floor, Amanora Chambers,Amanora Township, East Block,Kharadi Road, Hadapsar, Pune-411028
Glass Cockpit Market: Global Industry Research Report 2017-2025

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Glass Cockpit is a group of number of display screens which collectively form a display panel in aircraft cockpit. These glass cockpits are also being known as cockpit displays, head down displays (HDD) or electronic flight instrument system (EFIS) displays. The major factors which will drive the glass cockpit market in forecast period is increasing demand of automation of flight controls and boost in efficiency, safety and awareness among the consumers.The factor that acts as a limitation to the growth of market for glass cockpit is insufficient pilot training for handling glass cockpit displays and blackout of display during system failure will hamper the glass cockpits market. However, the increasing demand of new aircraft with enhanced technologies is acting as an opportunity factor for market of glass cockpits in the forecast period.Request Sample is Available atThe Global Glass Cockpits Market Analysis to 2025 is a specialized and in-depth study of the glass cockpits industry with a focus on the global market trend. The report aims to provide an overview of global glass cockpits market with detailed market segmentation by types, display type, application and geography. The global glass cockpits market is expected to witness high growth during the forecast period. The report provides key statistics on the market status of the leading market players and offers key trends and opportunities in the market.The report provides a detailed overview of the industry including both qualitative and quantitative information. It provides overview and forecast of the global glass cockpits market based on type, display size and display type. It also provides market size and forecast till 2025 for overall glass cockpits market with respect to five major regions, namely; North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific (APAC), Middle East and Africa (MEA) and South America (SAM). The market by each region is later sub-segmented by respective countries and segments. The report covers analysis and forecast of 16 counties globally along with current trend and opportunities prevailing in the region.Inquire before Buying atBesides this, the report analyzes factors affecting market from both demand and supply side and further evaluates market dynamics effecting the market during the forecast period i.e., drivers, restraints, opportunities, and future trend. The report also covers Porters Five Forces such as bargaining power of buyers, bargaining power of suppliers, threats to substitutes, threats to new entrants, and competitive rivalry.Also, key glass cockpits market players influencing the market are profiled in the study along with their SWOT analysis and market strategies. The report also focuses on leading industry players with information such as company profiles, products and services offered, financial information of last 3 years, key development in past five years. Some of the key players influencing the market are Esterline Technologies Corporation, Garmin Ltd., Rockwell Collins Inc., Thales SA, Elbit Systems Ltd., Northrop Grumman Corporation, Aspen Avionics, Inc., Honeywell Aerospace, Inc., L-3 Technologies, Inc., and Avionics Systems Corporation.Complete Report is Available atContact Us:Call: +1-646-491-9876Email: sales@theinsightpartners.comAbout Us:The Insight Partners is a one stop industry research provider of actionable intelligence. We help our clients in getting solutions to their research requirements through our syndicated and consulting research services. We are a specialist in Technology, Media, and Telecommunication industries.533, 5th Floor, Amanora Chambers,Amanora Township, East Block,Kharadi Road, Hadapsar, Pune-411028
Down Duvets Market 2017-Wendre, PROLANA, Ellis Fibre, Cuddledown, John Cotton

Down Duvets Market

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Apex Market Reports, recently published a detailed market research study focused on the "Down Duvets Market" across the global, regional and country level. The report provides 360 analysis of "Down Duvets Market" from view of manufacturers, regions, product types and end industries. The research report analyses and provides the historical data along with current performance of the global Down Duvets industry, and estimates the future trend of Down Duvets market on the basis of this detailed study. The study shares "Down Duvets Market" performance both in terms of volume and revenue.Get Free Sample Copy of Report Here:Top Manufacturers Analysis of This ReportWendrePacific Coast FeatherPROLANAPacific BrandsEllis FibreCuddledownJohn CottonMuhldorferThe market research report explores the Down Duvets market across the globe along with major regions and countries. The research report provides a detailed study on each and every aspect of "Down Duvets Market". The research report studies the entire value chain from raw material to end user industries. The report also shares import/export statistics along with production and consumption for all major regions and countries. Moreover, the research study classifies the Down Duvets market based on major product types, application and end users industries of Down Duvets. Besides, the report also covers geographical segmentation for Down Duvets market. The report further provides production, capacity, price per region, gross margin, production cost, for all major regions and countries listed in report.The competitive landscape of the global market for Down Duvets is determined by assessing the major industry participants, production capacity, production capacity utilization rate, Down Duvets market's production chain, pricing by each manufacturer and the revenue generated by each manufacturer in the Down Duvets market globally.Enquire Before Buying @The global Down Duvets market 2017 is further analyzed on the basis of product pricing, Down Duvets production volume, data pertaining to demand and Down Duvets supply, and the revenue garnered by the product. The report provides upstream and downstream analysis covering major raw material used in manufacturing of Down Duvets along with detailed manufacturing sources. The report also shares list of major raw material manufacturers along with their manufacturing locations. Detailed raw material price trend analysis along with manufacturing cost analysis is also incorporated into the report. Various methodical tools such as investment returns, feasibility, SWOT analysis and market attractiveness analysis has been implemented in the research study to present a comprehensive, detailed study of the industry for Down Duvets across the world.About UsApex Market Reports offers elevating market research globally. We have collection of various syndicated reports of different categories. Apex Market Reports provides you to best services, weather youre searching for new trends in market or competitive scenario in emerging market.Customers can buys different reports across various categories such as Chemical and Material, Biotechnology, Healthcare, Food and beverages, Automobile and various sectors. Our Website offers safe and secure online ordering experience, convenient payment options.Contact UsFrank ValadezCorporate Sales Specialist155 North Wacker Drive, Suite 4250Chicago, IL 60606Phone: +17739042683Email id - sales@apexmarketreports.comWebsite -
Food additives Market Is Showing Significant Growth

Food additives Market

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The global food additives market was evaluated around USD 35.50 billion in the 2012 and is expected to reach approximately USD 61.63 billion by the end of 2022 while registering itself at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.09% over the forecast period. The global food additives market is expected to demonstrate extensive growth with a lucrative compound annual growth rate over the forecast period of 2012 to 2022. The rising disposable earnings of the middle class are fueling the change towards processed and convenience foods. It is intensifying the requirement for food additives. In 2016, the global retail and food service market which surpassed whooping USD 4.9 trillion sales is a key driving factor for the global food additives industry. It is also propelled by augmented costumers vulnerability to packaged beverages and food. This is additionally supported by rising organized market and growing urbanization in rural areas of developing countries of Africa, South America, and Asia. Another key driving factor for the global food additives market is the rising supply chain complications. However, robust organic campaigns, as well as diminishing use of artificial chemicals due to undesirable effects on health, are the factors that might hamper the growth of the global food additives market over the future.Food additives are used to enhance taste, appearance, or other qualities or preserve the flavor of food. Few additives have been utilized for centuries; for instance, preserving sweets or using sulfur dioxide as with wines, preserving food by salting, pickling (with vinegar). With the introduction of processed foods in the twentieth century, several new additives have been brought in, of both artificial and natural origin. An extensive range of antioxidants, preservatives, flavor enhancers, sweetening agents, and colorants are being used in functional beverages, packaged foods, flavored and functional water, bakery goods, snack items, meat and seafood, and dairy products over the period. Additionally, food additives like emulsifiers, enzymes, acidulants, fat replacers, and shelf-life stabilizers are also in eminent demand.Download PDF Brochure @The key industry participants for the food additives market are Archer Daniels Midland Company, E. I. du Pont de Nemours, and Company, Novozymes, Tate & Lyle PLC, Ingredion Incorporated, Chr. Hansen A/S, Cargill, Koninklijke DSM N.V., Ajinomoto Co., Inc., Adani Wilmar ltd., Kerry Group, Bio Springer S.A., Givaudan, Lonza Group, and BASF SE. According to the product type, the global market is split into; Sweeteners, Flavors & Enhancers, Enzymes, Fat Replacers, Shelf- life stabilizers, Emulsifiers, and Other Products. Geographically, the global food additives market is segmented into regions which are; Europe (Germany, Spain, Italy, France, UK and Rest of Europe), Asia-Pacific (Japan, China, India, Australia, South Korea and Rest of Asia Pacific), North America (the United States, Mexico and Canada) and Rest of the World (Brazil, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, United Arab Emirates and Others).Key findings of the food additives market Enzymes are expected to be the fastest growing section owing to its rising use in food & beverage as it has low price than others artificial chemicals as well as regulatory preference to limit greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Growing consumption of emulsifiers in margarine, salad dressings, frozen desserts, peanut butter, and chocolate is estimated to drive market growth. Players like Mondelez International, Nestle, and Coca-Cola have amplified their market existence in regions like India and Brazil where demand is high through product advancements and strategic association with brand partners. Key players in the market are; Ingredion Incorporated, E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, Novozymes, and Archer Daniels Midland Company.Key Market Players: Archer Daniels Midland Company E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company Novozymes Tate & Lyle PLC Ingredion Incorporated Chr. Hansen A/S Cargill Koninklijke DSM N.V. Ajinomoto Co. Inc. Adani Wilmar ltd. Kerry Group Bio Springer S.A. Givaudan Lonza Group BASF SE.Buy Report @About Crystal Market Research:Crystal Market Research is a U.S. based market research and business intelligence company. Crystal offers one stop solution for market research, business intelligence, and consulting services to help clients make more informed decisions. It provides both syndicated as well as customized research studies for its customers spread across the globe. The company offers market intelligence reports across a broad range of industries including healthcare, chemicals & materials, technology, automotive, and energy.Contact Us:Judy304 South Jones Blvd, Suite 1896,Las Vegas NV 89107,United StatesToll Free: +1-888-213-4282Email: sales@crystalmarketresearch.comBlog: blog.crystalmarketresearch.comWebsite:
Semiconductor Lasers Market By Type (FOL, VCSEL, CDL, HPDL, Red Lasers, Violet L 

Semiconductor laser is a type of solid-state laser light producing device that differs from conventional lasers on the basis of mechanism used for light amplification. In a semiconductor laser, the active semiconductor components are used for amplifying the light which enables it to have compact size. In addition, it requires less power and is more efficient as compared to conventional laser. The rise in demand of semiconductor lasers in defense sector, 
Decorated Apparel 2017 Global Key Players  Gildan Activewear, Russel Brands, Fruit of The Loom, Hanesbrands Market Analysis And Forecast To 2022

Decorated Apparel Market

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Decorated Apparel Market 2017Wiseguyreports.Com Adds Decorated Apparel -Market Demand, Growth, Opportunities, Manufacturers, Analysis of Top Key Players and Forecast to 2022 To Its Research Database.Description:In this report, the global Decorated Apparel market is valued at USD XX million in 2016 and is expected to reach USD XX million by the end of 2022, growing at a CAGR of XX% between 2016 and 2022.Geographically, this report is segmented into several key Regions, with production, consumption, revenue (million USD), market share and growth rate of Decorated Apparel in these regions, from 2012 to 2022 (forecast), coveringNorth AmericaEuropeChinaJapanSoutheast AsiaIndiaGlobal Decorated Apparel market competition by top manufacturers, with production, price, revenue (value) and market share for each manufacturer; the top players includingGildan ActivewearRussel BrandsFruit of The LoomHanesbrandsDelta ApparelAdvance PrintwearDowntown Custom PrintwearMaster PrintwearNew England PrintwearLynka PrintwearRequest for Sample Report@On the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split intoEmbroideryScreen PrintingDye SublimationDigital PrintingOtherOn the basis of the end users/applications, this report focuses on the status and outlook for major applications/end users, consumption (sales), market share and growth rate for each application, includingMenWomenChildrenEnquiry before Buying @If you have any special requirements, please let us know and we will offer you the report as you want.Table of Contents:Global Decorated Apparel Market Research Report 20171 Decorated Apparel Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Decorated Apparel1.2 Decorated Apparel Segment by Type (Product Category)1.2.1 Global Decorated Apparel Production and CAGR (%) Comparison by Type (Product Category)(2012-2022)1.2.2 Global Decorated Apparel Production Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 20161.2.3 Embroidery1.2.4 Screen Printing1.2.5 Dye Sublimation1.2.6 Digital Printing1.2.7 Other1.3 Global Decorated Apparel Segment by Application1.3.1 Decorated Apparel Consumption (Sales) Comparison by Application (2012-2022)1.3.2 Men1.3.3 Women1.3.4 Children1.4 Global Decorated Apparel Market by Region (2012-2022)1.4.1 Global Decorated Apparel Market Size (Value) and CAGR (%) Comparison by Region (2012-2022)1.4.2 North America Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.3 Europe Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.4 China Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.5 Japan Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.6 Southeast Asia Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.7 India Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.5 Global Market Size (Value) of Decorated Apparel (2012-2022)1.5.1 Global Decorated Apparel Revenue Status and Outlook (2012-2022)1.5.2 Global Decorated Apparel Capacity, Production Status and Outlook (2012-2022)2 Global Decorated Apparel Market Competition by Manufacturers2.1 Global Decorated Apparel Capacity, Production and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.1.1 Global Decorated Apparel Capacity and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.1.2 Global Decorated Apparel Production and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.2 Global Decorated Apparel Revenue and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.3 Global Decorated Apparel Average Price by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.4 Manufacturers Decorated Apparel Manufacturing Base Distribution, Sales Area and Product Type2.5 Decorated Apparel Market Competitive Situation and Trends2.5.1 Decorated Apparel Market Concentration Rate2.5.2 Decorated Apparel Market Share of Top 3 and Top 5 Manufacturers2.5.3 Mergers & Acquisitions, Expansion.7 Global Decorated Apparel Manufacturers Profiles/Analysis7.1 Gildan Activewear7.1.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.1.2 Decorated Apparel Product Category, Application and Specification7.1.2.1 Product A7.1.2.2 Product B7.1.3 Gildan Activewear Decorated Apparel Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.1.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.2 Russel Brands7.2.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.2.2 Decorated Apparel Product Category, Application and Specification7.2.2.1 Product A7.2.2.2 Product B7.2.3 Russel Brands Decorated Apparel Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.2.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.3 Fruit of The Loom7.3.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.3.2 Decorated Apparel Product Category, Application and Specification7.3.2.1 Product A7.3.2.2 Product B7.3.3 Fruit of The Loom Decorated Apparel Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.3.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.4 Hanesbrands7.4.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.4.2 Decorated Apparel Product Category, Application and Specification7.4.2.1 Product A7.4.2.2 Product B7.4.3 Hanesbrands Decorated Apparel Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.4.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.5 Delta Apparel7.5.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.5.2 Decorated Apparel Product Category, Application and Specification7.5.2.1 Product A7.5.2.2 Product B7.5.3 Delta Apparel Decorated Apparel Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.5.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.6 Advance Printwear7.6.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.6.2 Decorated Apparel Product Category, Application and Specification7.6.2.1 Product A7.6.2.2 Product B7.6.3 Advance Printwear Decorated Apparel Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.6.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.7 Downtown Custom Printwear7.7.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.7.2 Decorated Apparel Product Category, Application and Specification7.7.2.1 Product A7.7.2.2 Product B7.7.3 Downtown Custom Printwear Decorated Apparel Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.7.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.8 Master Printwear7.8.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.8.2 Decorated Apparel Product Category, Application and Specification7.8.2.1 Product A7.8.2.2 Product B7.8.3 Master Printwear Decorated Apparel Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.8.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.9 New England Printwear7.9.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.9.2 Decorated Apparel Product Category, Application and Specification7.9.2.1 Product A7.9.2.2 Product B7.9.3 New England Printwear Decorated Apparel Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.9.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.10 Lynka Printwear7.10.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.10.2 Decorated Apparel Product Category, Application and Specification7.10.2.1 Product A7.10.2.2 Product B7.10.3 Lynka Printwear Decorated Apparel Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.10.4 Main Business/Business OverviewContinued..Buy now @Contact US:NORAH TRENTPartner Relations & Marketing Managersales@wiseguyreports.comPh: +1-646-845-9349 (US)Ph: +44 208 133 9349 (UK)About Us:Wise Guy Reports Is Part Of The Wise Guy Consultants Pvt. Ltd. And Offers Premium Progressive Statistical Surveying, Market Research Reports, Analysis & Forecast Data For Industries And Governments Around The Globe. Wise Guy Reports Features An Exhaustive List Of Market Research Reports From Hundreds Of Publishers Worldwide. We Boast A Database Spanning Virtually Every Market Category And An Even More Comprehensive Collection Of Market Research Reports Under These Categories And Sub-Categories.Addres:: Wise Guy Research Consultants Pvt Ltd: Pune  411028: Maharashtra,: Ph: +91 841 198 5042
Health Insurance in Indonesia Market 2017- By Plan Future Business Decisions Using the Forecast Figures 2021

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WiseGuyReports published new report, titled Health Insurance in IndonesiaSynopsis"Health Insurance in Indonesia to 2020: Market Size, Growth and Forecast Analytics" contains detailed historic and forecast data covering Health Insurance in Indonesia. This databook provides values for key performance indicators such as policies and premiums (gross written premiums, direct written premiums, net written premiums, net earned premiums, net written premiums (% of GWP) and insurance penetration (ratio of direct premiums to GDP)), claims & expenses (gross claims, paid claims, change in outstanding reserves, incurred loss and loss ratio (%)) and segmented by product type (life health, non-life health).The research handbook provides the up-to-date market data for period 2011-2015 and illustrative forecast to 2020. Values in the handbook are depicted in USD ($) and local currency by country and number of active policies are represented in millions.GET SAMPLE REPORT @SummaryA health insurance policy offered as a rider along with a life or non-life insurance policy by an accident and health insurer licensed as life or non-life insurer, for covering the medical expenses of individual or group of peopleThe total amount of gross written premiums in the health insurance in Indonesia is valued at IDRxxx.xx billion (US$xxx.xx billion) in 2015, which is an increase of xx.xx% from 2011. The category has recorded a CAGR of xx.xx% during the review period (2011-2015).Health Insurance in Indonesia to 2020: Market Size, Growth and Forecast Analytics provides a top-level overview and detailed insight into the operating environment of Insurance industry in Indonesia. It is an essential tool for companies active across the Indonesia value chain and for new players considering to enter the market.ScopeHealth Insurance in Indonesia to 2020: Market Size, Growth and Forecast Analytics provides you with the following: Overall values of policies and premiums and claims & expenses in the Health Insurance Values of policies and premiums by product type (life health and non-life health)Key points to buy Understand the personal accident and health insurance industry covering health insurance life in Indonesia. Enhance your knowledge of the market with a breakdown of data including gross written premiums, direct written premiums, net written premiums, net earned premiums, net written premiums (% of GWP) and insurance penetration (ratio of direct premiums to GDP) and segmented by product type (life health and non-life health). Allows you to plan future business decisions using the forecast figures given for the segment. The broad but detailed perspective will help all the companies in the Insurance industry to understand and succeed in the challenging market.Table of Contents1 Introduction2 Health Insurance3 Health Insurance - by Product Type4 Appendix..CONTINUEDFor accessing accurate and deep understanding and to gain latest insights and key developments in the area of your interest, we also have a list of conferences in which you will be interested in, for more information, cordially checkFor updating knowledge or for thoroughly understanding various terminologies, we also have vast list of seminars for your reference, for more information cordially checkWise Guy Reports is part of the Wise Guy Research Consultants Pvt. Ltd. and offers premium progressive statistical surveying, market research reports, analysis & forecast data for industries and governments around the globe.WISEGUY RESEARCH CONSULTANTS PVT LTDOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersPune - 411028Maharashtra, India
Neck Support Cushion Market Report 2017: Economic Indicators and Product Offerings Worldwide With Future Prospects 2022

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Neck Support Cushion MarketNeck Support Cushion Market report provides key statistics on the market status of the Neck Support Cushion Industrialists and is a valuable source of guidance and direction for companies and individuals interested in the Neck Support Cushion Industry.Worldwide Neck Support Cushion market research report provides the newest industry data and industry future trends, allowing you to identify the products and end users driving Revenue growth and profitability.The industry report lists the leading competitors and provides the insights strategic industry Analysis of the key factors influencing the market.For Requesting a Sample Copy of This Report, Please Visit @The report includes the forecasts, Analysis and discussion of important industry trends, market size, market share estimates and profiles of the leading industry Players.Global Neck Support Cushion Market: Product Segment AnalysisScarf type, Pillows type, Other TypeGlobal Neck Support Cushion Market: Application Segment Analysis:Indoor, OutdoorThe Players mentioned in our report:Serta, Carpenter, Pacific Coast, RestAHead, Kuhi Comfort, Travel Hoodie Pillow, Cabeau Evolution Pillow, Comfy Commuter, Travelrest Travel Pillow, HoMedicsGlobal Neck Support Cushion Market: Regional Segment Analysis:USA. Europe. Japan. China. India. South East AsiaBrowse Full Table of Contents and Report Description @Table of ContentsChapter 1 World Neck Support Cushion Market share1.1 Major Production Market share by Players1.2 Major Revenue (M USD) Market share by Players1.3 Major Production Market share by Regions in 2017, Through 20221.4 Major Revenue (M USD) Market share By Regions in 2017, Through 2022Chapter 2 Supply Chain Analysis2.1 Industry Supply chain Analysis2.2 Raw material Market Analysis2.2.1 Raw material Prices Analysis 2012-20172.2.2 Raw material Supply Market Analysis2.2 Manufacturing Equipment Suppliers Analysis2.3 Production Process Analysis2.4 Production Cost Structure Benchmarks2.5 End users Market AnalysisContinuedAbout UsReports Monitor (ReportsMonitor.com) is a platform to meet the market research and business intelligence requirements. Our aim is to change the dynamics of the Market Research industry by providing quality intelligence backed by data. Your requirement for market forecasting is fulfilled by our exclusive quantitative and analytics driven intelligence. We have a vast collection of reports, covering maximum industries worldwide. Our process is meticulously planned and executed in order to use maximum resources and explore the market for getting genuine insights. Decision makers can now rely on our distinct data gathering methods to get factual market forecasting and detailed analysis.Contact UsJay MatthewsDirect: +1 513 549-5911Email: sales@reportsmonitor.comWebsite:
Kitchenware Equipments - Market Demand, Growth, Opportunities and Analysis of Top Key Player Forecast To 2024

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Global Kitchenware Equipments Market OutlookMarket OverviewKitchen-ware are the tools used for cooking, baking and food preparation, they also used for the storage of food and raw food items before and after preparation. Kitchenware equipments are majorly used in commercial and household kitchens. Rapid urbanization and growing personal disposable income of people boosts the demand of household appliances and various sectors. Kitchen wares market growing rapidly with rapid increase of new housing societies and peoples inclination for better and comfortable lifestyles. Increasing numbers of hotels, cafes, restaurants and commercial sectors boosts demand in commercial sectors. Growing tourism and hospitality sector also fueled the demand for new hotels which is strengthening the growth of kitchenware equipments in hospitality sector. Rising number of cafes and restaurants with the urbanization in developing countries, showcase vast opportunity for the kitchenware equipment market. Rising demand for less power consuming and eco-friendly products bolstered the demand for energy efficient electric kitchenware equipments which is expected to foster the growth of kitchenware equipments market.GET SAMPLE REPORT @Key Players Hobart Corporationo Synopsiso Financial Analysiso Business Strategyo Product Portfolioo SWOT Analysis LG Electronics Samsung Electronics Morphy Richards Phillips Electrolux Whirlpool Pyrex Cookware Illinois tools Works Inc. Manitowoc Company Inc. Dover CorporationGrowth Drivers and RestraintsRapid digitization across the globe is playing an important role in increasing consumer power. Mobile solutions and access to the internet provided the opportunities for market players to interact with consumers in new ways. Online platforms and e-commerce has significantly driven the growth of kitchenware equipments market across the globe. Digitization also provides substantial opportunities to develop more advanced products such as connected products. Global middle class is expanding as a result of strong economic growth in emerging countries. This trend has been visible for many years and significantly strengthening the sales of kitchenware equipments. Government regulations to keep least fuel efficient electric appliances away from market are the key factor driving the growth of electricity efficient kitchen appliances. For instance, all residential cooking appliances in Canada are subject to Canada's Energy efficiency Regulations, which set performance standards for their energy consumption.Market Size and ForecastThe global kitchenware equipments market is expected to increase at a CAGR of 3.6% over the forecast period i.e. 2016-2024. The global kitchenware equipments market is accounted for USD 176.4 billion in 2016 and anticipated to reach USD 234.5 billion by 2024. The global kitchenware equipments market is expected to garner significant growth over the forecast period on the back of rapid urbanization growing in middle class families in developing regions.Key Market Players Synopsis Business Strategy Product Portfolio SWOT AnalysisPorters Five Force ModelMarket Landscape: Competition and BeyondMarket outlook for business players and entry level players to ascertain their business in dynamic ecosystemExpert AnalysisConcluding RemarksTable of Content: Key Points1. Executive Summary2. Research Methodology3. Regional Opportunity Analysis on the basis of Competitors4. Global Kitchenware Equipments Market Size (USD Billion) and Forecast Analysis, 2016-20245. Market Dynamics: Growth Drivers, Restraints and Opportunities5.1. Risk Factors5.2. Regional Variations5.3. Recent Trends and Developments6. Global Kitchenware Equipments Market Segmentation6.1. Kitchenware Equipments Market By Product Type(Market Size ($ Billion) & Y-o-Y Growth Analysis, 2016-2024)6.1.1. Adoption Rate (%) of Kitchenware Equipments Market by Product Type6.1.2. Cook-Wares (Market Size ($ Billion) & Y-o-Y Growth Analysis, 2016-2024)6.1.3. Bake-Wares (Market Size ($ Billion) & Y-o-Y Growth Analysis, 2016-2024)6.1.4. Cutlery & Knife Accessories (Market Size ($ Billion) & Y-o-Y Growth Analysis, 2016-2024)6.1.5. Appliances (Market Size ($ Billion) & Y-o-Y Growth Analysis, 2016-2024)ContinuedACCESS REPORT @Get in touch:LinkedIn:Twitter:Facebook:Wise Guy Reports is part of the Wise Guy Consultants Pvt. Ltd. and offers premium progressive statistical surveying, market research reports, analysis & forecast data for industries and governments around the globe.WISE GUY RESEARCH CONSULTANTS PVT LTDOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersPune - 411028Maharashtra, India
Breast Cancer Therapeutics Pipeline Analysis, Results, Patent, Designation, & Collaboration

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Breast cancer occurs when cells in breast begin to grow uncontrollably. Cancer cells usually form tumor and can be felt as a lump or seen under x-ray. Mostly, breast cancer begins in the duct that carries milk to the nipple, while some breast cancer cells start in the glands that make breast milk. As per National Institutes of Health (NIH), in the U.S., 14.6% of all new cancer cases diagnosed every year are of breast cancer. HER2 (human epidermal growth factor receptor 2) is a gene that plays a role in the development of breast cancer in most of the cases.Access Report Overview:Hence, breast cancer is categorized as HER2+ or HER2- depending on its involvement in the growth of breast cancer. HER2 receptors on breast cells control healthy growth and self-repair of breast cells, but in breast cancer, these genes mostly do not work correctly and signal cancer cells to make more HER2 receptors for HER2 proteins.Download Free Sample of This Research Report:The drug candidates of breast cancer pipeline include, but are not limited to, BriaVax, U3-1402 and Oraxol. Some of the companies having drugs for breast cancer in pipeline are Eli Lilly and Company, F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG Takeda Pharmaceutical Limited, and Merrimack Pharmaceuticals, Inc.Make Enquiry Before Buying the Report:The report provides a comprehensive understanding of the pipeline activities covering all drug candidates under various stages of development, with detailed analysis of pipeline and clinical trials. Pipeline analysis of drugs by phases includes product description and development activities including information about clinical results, designations, collaborations, licencing, grants, technology and others.Contact:Mr. Kundan KumarManager  Client Partner347, 5th Ave. #1402New York City, NY - 10016Toll-free: +18887787886 (USA/Canada)Email: enquiry@psmarketresearch.comWeb:Email: enquiry@psmarketresearch.comEmail: enquiry@psmarketresearch.com
Global EMS and ODM Market 2017 Business Players - Quanta, Compal, Wistron, Flextronics, Plexus, Celestica

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The research report titled EMS and ODM analyses the performance of the EMS and ODM market the world, at present and historically, and makes future projections based on the result of the evaluation. The EMS and ODM market is expected to extend at Compounded Anal Growth Rate (CAGR) of +10% throughout the forecasted period 2017 to 2022.Download Free Sample Report @The report proposes the in-depth analysis of the EMS and ODM market across different industry uprights and regions. This market is segmented over the worldwide geographical regions. While the rate of threats are growing and evolving, organizations are demanding more security, efficiency and flexibility from their team.There are many solutions on the basis of deployment and flexibility has been provided to fulfill these requirements and teams need more flexibility. The global EMS and ODM market is a highly fragmented, niche market with the existence of a limited number of vendors.Market providers compete considering the price, innovations, reputation, promotion, and service, distribution. There are chances of large players in the EMS and ODM market to acquire small vendors with advance solutions as the market is still in it progressing and developing stage.The study of the competitive landscape of EMS and ODM market gives perception into the company profiles, current developments, financial status, mergers and gains, and the SWOT analysis. This research report will give the beginners the complete market scenario for making informative decisions on this market project.Access Full Report @For the largest market share in the prior years, the EMS and ODM has been accounted, and are also expected to influencing the market over the forecast period as well.The EMS and ODM market report gives the different factors that can affect the industry such as economic impact. The competition of manufacturers on the basis of production, revenue by region, supply, consumption, import and export, price trend by type has presented in this report.The report also covers the global EMS and ODM market analysis by application, and manufacturing cost analysis. It also provides analysis of industrial chain, sourcing strategy and downstream buyers marketing Strategy, distributors/traders, and market effect factors.The report also provides information about the fresh advancements of key players and their product price and picture. The business and financial overview of major companies are also discussed in the report. This information is beneficial for both established and beginners in the EMS and ODM market.About Fior MarketsFior Markets is a leading market intelligence company that sells reports of top publishers in the technology industry.Our extensive research reports cover detailed market assessments that include major technological improvements in the industry. Fior Markets also specializes in analyzing hi-tech systems and current processing systems in its expertise.We have a team of experts that compile precise research reports and actively advise top companies to improve their existing processes. Our experts have extensive experience in the topics that they cover.Contact UsMark StoneSales ManagerOffice-102, Sanskriti AspirationsBaner Road, Pune,MH 411045IndiaPhone: (201) 465-4211Email: sales@fiormarkets.comWeb:Blog:
Global Fiber Optic Patch Cables Market 2017 Key Manufacturers, Suppliers, Elite Designs, Pricing, Analysis

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Qyresearchreports include new market research report Global Fiber Optic Patch Cables Sales Market Report 2017 to its huge collection of research reports.This business and commerce study on the global Fiber Optic Patch Cables market has been freshly compiled by a group of professional market research analysts and aspires to serve a reliable business tool for the stockholders of this market. The report begins with an overview of the global Fiber Optic Patch Cables market, evaluating market performance in terms of revenue, followed by analysis of key trends, drivers and restraints witnessed in the market in its current scenario. To compute the market size, in-depth secondary research is done. Data points such as regional splits and market split by various segments have been assimilated to arrive at the market estimates. The report comprises the forecast of the global revenue generated by sales.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @This report on the global Fiber Optic Patch Cables market triangulates the data via different analysis based on supply side, demand side, as well as dynamics of the market. The report not only conducts forecasts in terms of value, but also evaluates the market on the basis of essential parameters, such as Year-on-Year (Y-o-Y) growth. This helps providers to recognize the future opportunities as well predictability of the market.Made using proven research methodologies and broken into primary and secondary research, one of the key feature of the report is its section on the existing competitive landscape of the global Fiber Optic Patch Cables market. In this section, the report provides positions and shares that current market leaders attain, and throws light on their recent strategic decisions to formulate how they will be served during the course of the forecast period, which is 2017-2022. Also in this section is profiling of a number of companies currently operating in the global Fiber Optic Patch Cables market, providing insights on business overview, headquarters, product portfolio, and regional presence.Get discount copy @List of Tables and FiguresFigure Product Picture of Fiber Optic Patch CablesFigure Global Fiber Optic Patch Cables Sales Volume Comparison (Km) by Type (2012-2022)Figure Global Fiber Optic Patch Cables Sales Volume Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 2016Figure Singlemode Fiber Optic Patch Cables Product PictureFigure Multimode Fiber Optic Patch Cables Product PictureFigure Global Fiber Optic Patch Cables Sales Comparison (Km) by Application (2012-2022)Figure Global Sales Market Share of Fiber Optic Patch Cables by Application in 2016Figure Fibre Optical Communication System ExamplesTable Key Downstream Customer in Fibre Optical Communication SystemFigure Fiber-Optic Data Transmission ExamplesTable Key Downstream Customer in Fiber-Optic Data TransmissionFigure Local Area Network (LAN) ExamplesAbout UsQYResearchReports.com is an unimpeachable source of market research data for clients that comprise acclaimed SMEs, Chinese companies, private equity firms, and MNCs. We provide market research reports on various categories such as Energy, Chemicals, Alternative and Green Energy, Manufacturing, Machinery, Pharmaceuticals and Materials, and Glass.Contact usBrooklyn, NY 11230United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Web:Email: sales@qyresearchreports.com
Analog Timer market report 2017: top companies, trends and growth factors details for business development

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Analog Timer MarketReportsMonitor Publish a New Market Research Report on - Global Analog Timer Market Analysis 2011-2017 and Forecast 2018-2023Summary of Analog Timer MarketA timer is a specialized type of clock for measuring time intervals. Analog Timer is a timer in which the time control can be realized easily by a simple dial setting.The global Analog Timer market will reach xxx Million USD in 2017 and CAGR xx% 2011-2017. The report begins from overview of Industry Chain structure, and describes industry environment, then analyses market size and forecast of Analog Timer by product, region and application, in addition, this report introduces market competition situation among the vendors and company profile, besides, market price analysis and value chain features are covered in this report.If you want sample of Analog Timer Market ReportProduct Type Coverage (Market Size & Forecast, Major Company of Product Type etc.):DIN Rail MountPanel MountPlug-in MountCompany Coverage (Sales Revenue, Price, Gross Margin, Main Products etc.):Legrand, Intermatic, Theben Group, Panasonic, Omron, Orbis Technology Electric S.A., Hager, IDEC, Schneider Electric, Eaton, Carlo Gavazzi, Autonics Corporation, IMO Precision Controls, Marsh Bellofram, Crouzet, Alion, SELEC Controls Pvt.., KACON, Ascon Tecnologic, Sisel Engineering Inc.Application Coverage (Market Size & Forecast, Different Demand Market by Region, Main Consumer Profile etc.):Industrial DevicesLighting SystemOthersRegion Coverage (Regional Output, Demand & Forecast by Countries etc.):North AmericaEuropeAsia-PacificSouth AmericaMiddle East & AfricaIf you want to Check Discount on Analog Timer Market ReportTable of ContentGlobal Analog Timer Market Analysis 2011-2017 and Forecast 2018-2023 Introduction and Market Overview1.1 Analog Timer Industry1.1.1 Overview1.1.2 Development of Analog Timer1.2 Market Segment1.2.1 Upstream1.2.2 Downstream1.3 Cost Analysis2 Industry Environment2.1 Policy2.2 Economics2.3 Sociology2.4 Technology3 Analog Timer Market by Type3.1 Segment Overview3.1.1 DIN Rail Mount3.1.2 Panel Mount3.1.3 Plug-in Mount3.2 Market Size3.3 Market Forecast4 Major Companies List4.1 Legrand (Company Profile, Sales Data etc.)4.2 Intermatic (Company Profile, Sales Data etc.)4.3 Theben Group (Company Profile, Sales Data etc.)4.4 Panasonic (Company Profile, Sales Data etc.)4.5 Omron (Company Profile, Sales Data etc.)ContinueFull Report AccessList Of FiguresTable Upstream Segment of Analog TimerTable Application Segment of Analog TimerTable Global Analog Timer Market 2012-2023, by Application, in USD MillionTable Major Company List of DIN Rail MountTable Major Company List of Panel MountTable Major Company List of Plug-in MountTable Global Analog Timer Market 2012-2017, by Type, in USD MillionTable Global Analog Timer Market 2012-2017, by Type, in Volume..Reports Monitor is a platform to meet the market research and business intelligence requirements. Our aim is to change the dynamics of the Market Research industry by providing quality intelligence backed by data. Your requirement for market forecasting is fulfilled by our exclusive quantitative and analytics driven intelligence. Decision makers can now rely on our distinct data gathering methods to get factual market forecasting and detailed analysis. Our process is meticulously planned and executed in order to use maximum resources and explore the market for getting genuine insights.Address: Office C & D - 4th Floor, Siddhi Towers, Above Rupee Bank, Kondhwa Road, Pune 411048, Maharashtra, India
Global Medication Dispenser Market Revenue to Increase at 7% CAGR by 2025

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Factors as such are anticipated to support the growing use of medication dispenser in ambulatory surgical centers, hospitals and nursing homes. Moreover, the need to eliminate manual task of dispensing medicines is further boosting the demand for medication dispensing systems of late. As per the latest report published by Persistence Market Research, the global medication dispenser market will reach a valuation of US$ 1,824.7 Mn, riding at a CAGR of 7.0% over the forecast period (20172025).Browse Report Oveview @PMRs report, titled Medication Dispenser Market: Global Industry Analysis (2012-2016) and Forecast (2017-2025) also cites that the medication dispenser market in North America will retain its top spot over the forecast period. The region is expected to account for nearly 64.3% revenue share of the global market by 2017-end. This is primarily owing to the rising geriatric population and availability of highly accurate medication services in the region. During this eight years of the forecast, the region is projected to expand at a CAGR of 7.2% and reach a market valuation of US$ 1,187.1 Mn. In addition, the contribution of the U.S. in the regions market will remain exceptionally high throughout the assessment period. Meanwhile, APEJ is expected to register the fastest CAGR of 8.2% over 2025, primarily due to increasing per capita income and a greater healthcare reach in many of the emerging countries in the region.PMR in its report has profiled some of the leading companies operating in the global medication dispenser market, which include: Becton, Dickinson and Company, Omnicell Inc., Cerner Corporation, Capsa Solution LLC, InstyMeds Corporation, PARATA SYSTEMS, LLC, TriaTech Medical Systems Inc., ARxIUM Inc., ScriptPro LLC, YUYAMA Co.,Ltd, Howard Industries, Inc., Swisslog Holding AG, Healthmark, Talyst, Robotik Technology, Tema Sinergie, Synergy Medical, RxMedic Systems, Inc., Accu-Chart Plus Healthcare Systems, Inc., Medipense Inc.View Full Report TOC @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:
Global Agile IoT Market Latest Technologies Research with key players ByteLight, Fujitsu, General Electronic

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HTF MI recently added a new research study in its database that highlights the in-depth market analysis with future prospects of Agile IoT market. The study covers significant data which makes the research document a handy resource for marketing managers, analysts, industry executives, consultants, sales and product managers, and other key people who are in need of ready-to-access and self analyzed study along with graphs and tables to help understand market trends, drivers and market challenges. Some of the key players mentioned in this research are ByteLight (U.S), Fujitsu Ltd (Japan), General Electronic Corp (U.S), LVX System (U.S), Panasonic Corp (Japan), Qualcomm Inc (U.S), PureLifi Ltd (U.S), Ibsentelecom Ltd (U.S), Lightbee Corp (U.S) & Supreme Architecture Inc (U.S).Get Access to sample pages @The research covers the current market size of the Global Agile IoT market and its growth rates based on 5 year history data. It also covers various types of segmentation such as by geography [United States, EU, China, Japan, South Korea & Taiwan], by product /end user type [On-premises & Cloud], by applications [Industrial, Medical and Healthcare, IT and Telecom, Aerospace and Defense, Oil & Gas, Chemical & Others] in overall market. The in-depth information by segments of Agile IoT market helps monitor performance & make critical decisions for growth and profitability. It provides information on trends and developments, focuses on markets and materials, capacities, technologies, CAPEX cycle and the changing structure of the Global Agile IoT Market.The study also contains company profiling, product picture and specifications, sales, market share and contact information of various international, regional, and local vendors of Global Agile IoT Market, some of them are ByteLight (U.S), Fujitsu Ltd (Japan), General Electronic Corp (U.S), LVX System (U.S), Panasonic Corp (Japan), Qualcomm Inc (U.S), PureLifi Ltd (U.S), Ibsentelecom Ltd (U.S), Lightbee Corp (U.S) & Supreme Architecture Inc (U.S). The market competition is constantly growing higher with the rise in technological innovation and M&A activities in the industry. Moreover, many local and regional vendors are offering specific application products for varied end-users. The new vendor entrants in the market are finding it hard to compete with the international vendors based on quality, reliability, and innovations in technology.Global Agile IoT (Thousands Units) and Revenue (Million USD) Market Split by Product Type such as On-premises & CloudMarket Segment by Type 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022On-premises xx xx xx xx xx Xx xx-Change (%) xx% xx% xx% xx% xx% xx% xx%Cloud xx xx xx xx xx Xx xx-Change (%) xx% xx% xx% xx% xx% xx% xx%The research study is segmented by Application such as Industrial, Medical and Healthcare, IT and Telecom, Aerospace and Defense, Oil & Gas, Chemical & Others with historical and projected market share and compounded annual growth rate.Global Agile IoT (Thousands Units) by Application (2016-2022)Market Segment by Application 2012 2016 2022 Market Share (%)2022 CAGR (%)(2016-2022)Industrial xx xx xx xx% xx%Medical and Healthcare xx xx xx xx% xx%IT and Telecom xx xx xx xx% xx%Aerospace and Defense xx xx xx xx% xx%Oil & Gas xx xx xx xx% xx%Chemical xx xx xx xx% xx%Others xx xx xx xx% xx%Total xx xx xx 100% xx%Geographically, this report is segmented into several key Regions, with production, consumption, revenue (million USD), and market share and growth rate of Agile IoT in these regions, from 2012 to 2022 (forecast), coveringMarket Segment by Regions 2012 2016 2022 Share (%) CAGR (2016-2022)United States xx xx xx xx% xx%EU xx xx xx xx% xx%China xx xx xx xx% xx%Japan xx xx xx xx% xx%South Korea xx xx xx xx% xx%Taiwan xx xx xx xx% xx%Total xx xx xx xx% xx%Read Detailed Index of full Research Study at @The research insights solutions to the following key questions: What will be the market size and the growth rate in 2022? What are the key factors driving the Global Agile IoT market? Who are the key market players and what are their strategies in the Global Agile IoT market? What are the key market trends impacting the growth of the Global Agile IoT market? What trends, challenges and barriers are influencing its growth? What are the market opportunities and threats faced by the vendors in the Global Agile IoT market? What are the key outcomes of the five forces analysis of the Agile IoT market?Buy this research report @There are 15 Chapters to deeply display the Global Agile IoT market.Chapter 1, to describe Agile IoT Introduction, product scope, market overview, market opportunities, market risk, market driving force;Chapter 2, to analyze the top manufacturers of Agile IoT , with sales, revenue, and price of Agile IoT , in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 3, to display the competitive situation among the top manufacturers, with sales, revenue and market share in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 4, to show the Global market by regions, with sales, revenue and market share of Agile IoT , for each region, from 2012 to 2017;Chapter 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, to analyze the key regions, with sales, revenue and market share by key countries in United States, EU, China, Japan, South Korea & Taiwan;Chapter 10 and 11, to show the market by type and application, with sales market share and growth rate by type, application [Industrial, Medical and Healthcare, IT and Telecom, Aerospace and Defense, Oil & Gas, Chemical & Others], from 2012 to 2017;Chapter 12, Agile IoT market forecast, by regions, type and application, with sales and revenue, from 2017 to 2022;Chapter 13, 14 and 15, to describe Agile IoT sales channel, distributors, traders, dealers, Research Findings and Conclusion, appendix and data source.Get customization & check discount for report @Thanks for reading this article; you can also get individual chapter wise section or region wise report version like North America, Europe or Asia.HTF Market Report is a wholly owned brand of HTF market Intelligence Consulting Private Limited. HTF Market Report global research and market intelligence consulting organization is uniquely positioned to not only identify growth opportunities but to also empower and inspire you to create visionary growth strategies for futures, enabled by our extraordinary depth and breadth of thought leadership, research, tools, events and experience that assist you for making goals into a reality. Our understanding of the interplay between industry convergence, Mega Trends, technologies and market trends provides our clients with new business models and expansion opportunities. We are focused on identifying the Accurate Forecast in every industry we cover so our clients can reap the benefits of being early market entrants and can accomplish their Goals & Objectives.Contact us :HTF Market Intelligence Consulting Private LimitedUnit No. 429, Parsonage Road Edison, NJNew Jersey USA  08837sales@htfmarketreport.com+1 (206) 317 1218
Worldwide Architectural Fabrics Market Lead to Remain Unchallenged throughout 2017 2022

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Architectural Fabrics MarketArchitectural Fabrics Market report provides key statistics on the market status of the Architectural Fabrics Industrialists and is a valuable source of guidance and direction for companies and individuals interested in the Architectural Fabrics Industry.Worldwide Architectural Fabrics market research report provides the newest industry data and industry future trends, allowing you to identify the products and end users driving Revenue growth and profitability.The industry report lists the leading competitors and provides the insights strategic industry Analysis of the key factors influencing the market.For Requesting a Sample Copy of This Report, Please Visit @The report includes the forecasts, Analysis and discussion of important industry trends, market size, market share estimates and profiles of the leading industry Players.Global Architectural Fabrics Market: Product Segment AnalysisPTFE coated type, Traditional typeGlobal Architectural Fabrics Market: Application Segment Analysis:Recreational, Agricultural, Industrial, Environmental, Military & GovernmentsThe Players mentioned in our report:Saint Gobain (Sheerfill), Seaman Corp (Shelter-Rite), Ceno Membrane Technology GmbH, Hightex, SEFAR, Taconic, GKD Metal Fabric, Texeme, SERGE FERRARI, Gore (Tenara)Global Architectural Fabrics Market: Regional Segment Analysis:USA. Europe. Japan. China. India. South East AsiaBrowse Full Table of Contents and Report Description @Table of ContentsChapter 1 World Architectural Fabrics Market share1.1 Major Production Market share by Players1.2 Major Revenue (M USD) Market share by Players1.3 Major Production Market share by Regions in 2017, Through 20221.4 Major Revenue (M USD) Market share By Regions in 2017, Through 2022Chapter 2 Supply Chain Analysis2.1 Industry Supply chain Analysis2.2 Raw material Market Analysis2.2.1 Raw material Prices Analysis 2012-20172.2.2 Raw material Supply Market Analysis2.2 Manufacturing Equipment Suppliers Analysis2.3 Production Process Analysis2.4 Production Cost Structure Benchmarks2.5 End users Market AnalysisContinuedAbout UsReports Monitor (ReportsMonitor.com) is a platform to meet the market research and business intelligence requirements. Our aim is to change the dynamics of the Market Research industry by providing quality intelligence backed by data. Your requirement for market forecasting is fulfilled by our exclusive quantitative and analytics driven intelligence. We have a vast collection of reports, covering maximum industries worldwide. Our process is meticulously planned and executed in order to use maximum resources and explore the market for getting genuine insights. Decision makers can now rely on our distinct data gathering methods to get factual market forecasting and detailed analysis.Contact UsJay MatthewsDirect: +1 513 549-5911Email: sales@reportsmonitor.comWebsite:
Global Price Comparison Websites (PCW) Market by Software Applications, by Hardware Type, and by Service Type  Forecast to 2022

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Market Overview on Global Price Comparison Websites (PCW) Industry:The research report titled Global Price Comparison Websites (PCW) Market offers useful insights into the trends and the factors that propel this Global market. This market study comprehensively discusses the salient features of the Global Price Comparison Websites (PCW) market in terms of the market structure and landscape, the challenges, demand factors, and the expected market performance.Download Sample Copy@The Price Comparison Websites (PCW) market is characterized by constant technological innovation to keep pace with the changing industrial needs. This Price Comparison Websites (PCW) Market report provides detailed analysis of worldwide markets for Price Comparison Websites (PCW) from 2012-2017 and provides extensive market forecasts 2017-2022 by region/country and subsectors.The report firstly introduced the Price Comparison Websites (PCW) Market basics: definitions, classifications, applications and market overview; product specifications; manufacturing processes; cost structures, raw materials and so on. Then it analyzed the worlds main region market conditions, including the product price, profit, capacity, production, supply, demand and market growth rate and forecast etc. In the end, the report introduced new project SWOT analysis, investment feasibility analysis, and investment return analysis.Scope of the ReportThis report studies the Global Price Comparison Websites (PCW) market, analyzes and researches the Price Comparison Websites (PCW) development status and forecast in Global, EU, Japan, China, India and Southeast Asia.This report focuses on the Following top players:Google Shopping, Coupons, BizRate, ShopAtHome, SlickDeals, NexTag, Woot, Shopping, Shopzilla, Shop, FatWallet, Pronto, PriceGrabber, ShopLocal, DealNews, Become, Bing Shopping, Pronto, The Find, Amazon Product AdsMarket segment by Type, Price Comparison Websites (PCW) can be split intoType I, Type II, Type IIIMarket segment by Applications,Retail products, Electronic products, OtherThis Study on the Global Price Comparison Websites (PCW) Market is an all-inclusive study of the business sectors up-to-date outlines, industry enhancement drivers, and manacles. It provides market projections for the coming years. It contains an analysis of late augmentations in innovation, Porters five force model analysis and progressive profiles of hand-picked industry competitors. The report additionally formulates a survey of minor and full-scale factors charging for the new applicants in the Price Comparison Websites (PCW) market and the ones as of now in the market along with a systematic value chain exploration.Make Enquiry for this Report @Table of ContentGlobal Price Comparison Websites (PCW) Market Research Report 20171 Price Comparison Websites (PCW) Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Price Comparison Websites (PCW)1.2 Price Comparison Websites (PCW) Segment by Type (Product Category)1.2.1 Global Price Comparison Websites (PCW) Production and CAGR (%) Comparison by Type (Product Category)(2012-2022)2 Global Price Comparison Websites (PCW) Market Competitions by Manufacturers3 Global Price Comparison Websites (PCW) Capacities, Production, Revenue (Value) by Region (2012-2017)4 Global Price Comparison Websites (PCW) Supply (Production), Consumption, Export, Import by Region (2012-2017)5 Global Price Comparison Websites (PCW) Productions, Revenue (Value), Price Trend by Type6 Global Price Comparison Websites (PCW) Market Analyses by Application7 Global Price Comparison Websites (PCW) Manufacturers Profiles/Analysis10 Southeast Asia Price Comparison Websites (PCW) Development Status and Outlook11 Market Forecast by Regions, Type and Application (2017-2022)12 Price Comparison Websites (PCW) Market Dynamics13 Market Effect Factors AnalysisContinuedView Complete Report@About Reports Monitor:Reports Monitor is a platform to meet the market research and business intelligence requirements. Our aim is to change the dynamics of the Market Research industry by providing quality intelligence backed by data. Your requirement for market forecasting is fulfilled by our exclusive quantitative and analytics driven intelligence. We have a vast collection of reports, covering maximum industries worldwide. Our process is meticulously planned and executed in order to use maximum resources and explore the market for getting genuine insights. Decision makers can now rely on our distinct data gathering methods to get factual market forecasting and detailed analysis.Contact usJay MatthewsDirect: +1 513 549-5911Email: sales@reportsmonitor.comWebsite:
VVT & Start-Stop Systems Market to Perceive Substantial Growth During 2022

https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/vvt-start-stop-systems-market.html

https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/report-toc/30896

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An up-to-date intelligence study by Transparency Market Research (TMR) has detected that the global VVT & start-stop systems market is mostly consolidated in the present scenario, with a handful of global companies holding the majority shares. The TMR report identifies Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, Robert Bosch GmbH, Continental AG, Magna International Inc., Delphi Automotive PLC, Hitachi Ltd., BMW, Eaton Corporation plc, Toyota Motors, Johnson Controls, Inc., Denso Corporation, Aisin Seiki Co. Ltd., Valeo S.A., and Schaeffler AG as some of the prominent companies currently operating in the global VVT & start-stop systems market .View Full Report:Demand for VVT Start-Stop Systems Incrementing at CAGR 9.4% until 2022As per the projections of the TMR report, the demand in the global VVT & start-stop systems market will increment at an impressive CAGR of 9.2% during the forecast period of 2017 to 2025. The report has evaluated that the opportunities in the VVT & start-stop systems market, across the globe, were worth US$41,734.7 mn in 2017, and the revenue will go up to US$64.895.9 mn by 2022. With this apparent lucrativeness of the market, the existing participants are expected to stay aggressive in their strategies to counter the competition. New product development is expected to extract the maximum focus of the participants of the VVT & start-stop systems market, while most of them are also expected to indulge in geographical expansion processes to add to their demand-share. The possibilities of new entrants making a market in the global VVT & start-stop systems market is slender, owing to the requirement of technological expertise and manufacturing set-up.Product-wise, the global VVT & start-stop systems market gains maximum demand for the segment of dual over-head cam (DOHC), which represented nearly 59% of the total demand of this market in 2017, equivalent to US$24,635.3 mn. The DOHC segment is expected to produce a revenue of US$2,657.5 mn annually over the course of the forecast period, during which the demand for it is estimated for a CAGR of 9.0%. Region-wise, Asia Pacific except Japan (APEJ) is foreseen as the most lucrative market, exhibiting an above-average CAGR of 10.2% during the said forecast period.Increasing Production of Semi-Luxury Vehicles Driving DemandSome of the key factors driving the global VVT & start-stop systems market are: stringent emission norms across various developed and developing countries, depleting fossil fuel and increasing focus on fuel-efficient technologies, hybridization of vehicles, and increasing fuel prices. Owing to rapid urbanization and increasing disposable income in various emerging economies, the production of passenger cars across the globe has increased, including luxury and semi-luxury vehicles. In the near future, the vendors of the VVT & start-stop systems market are expected to gain new opportunities from the growing demand of cam-less actuation, increasing production of start-stop vehicles, and growing preference of consumers for diesel cars as they offer better fuel efficiency. Especially in the emerging economies such as India and China, the demand for diesel-powered vehicles has escalated in the recent times. In addition to that, improving socio-economic conditions in China, India, Thailand, and Indonesia is resulting in the growth of premium segment passenger cars, which in turn is augmenting the demand in the global start-stop systems market.High Cost of the VVT Start-stop Systems Hindering Markets ProsperityThe global VVT & start-stop systems market is challenged by a number of factors too, such as increasing share of alternative fuels, the growing need for technological up-gradation over a period of time, high cost of VVT start-stop systems, difficulty in procuring complex internal parts, limitations of aftermarket supplies, and high maintenance cost of the vehicles. The vendors operating in this market will have to overcome these obstructions to make the most out of this highly potential market.Request to download and view full ToC -About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.TMRs data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With extensive research and analysis capabilities, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques to develop distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.ContactTransparency Market ResearchState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Automotive Electronic Power Steering Market Analysis by Global Segments, Growth, Size and Forecast 2022

https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/automotive-electronic-power-steering-market.html

https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/report-toc/30791

http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com

The global automotive electronic power steering (EPS) market is prognosticated to gain a strong boost in demand on the back of special features such as precision turning and reduction in the use of power, which could not be offered by traditional steering. Moreover, automotive EPS systems could help improve the driving experience and fuel efficiency. Previously, the automotive EPS technology was only implemented in sport utility vehicles (SUVs) and advanced automobiles. However, with the increased dependency on automotive EPS, this technology now finds application in almost all classifications of automobiles.View Full Report:Transparency Market Research envisages the global automotive EPS market to rise at a 5.9% CAGR during the forecast timeframe 20172022. By the concluding forecast year, the market could bag in a US$33.1 bn, which is a telling progress from a US$24.8 bn achieved in 2017.Global Automotive Electronic Power Steering Market: Major InsightsOne of the top growth factors of the world automotive EPS market could be several automotive firms concentrating on research and development activities. It could be said that the market is mainly reliant on the automobile manufacturing industry. Rising competition to manufacture auto-pilot enabled or self-driven and electric automobiles is envisioned to promote the snowballing of the demand for automotive EPS. The development of EPS with no direct connection of links could be a growing trend in the market. Furthermore, the emergence of robust and sophisticated steering mechanism is foretold to augur well for market growth.After a decisive and an in-depth analysis of the world automotive EPS market, the analysts foresee the presence of four products to make a significant difference, viz. column-assist (C)-EPS, pinion-assist (P)-EPS, rack-assist (R)-EPS, and hydraulic (H)-EPS. However, H-EPS could take the lead in the market while rising at a 4.9% CAGR. In terms of vehicle, heavy commercial vehicles, light commercial vehicles, luxury passenger cars, premium passenger cars, mid-sized passenger cars, and compact passenger cars could be the major markets for automotive EPS.Geographically, the world automotive EPS market could witness Europe as a superior region riding on a 26.3% share to be attained by the end of 2017. Asia Pacific except Japan (APEJ) is predicted to post an impressive CAGR of 6.4%. Other regions such as North America could also contribute handsomely toward the growth of the market.Global Automotive Electronic Power Steering Market: Vendor LandscapeThe international automotive EPS market is anticipated to feature the presence of a significant count of global and some regional players. Buyers of the publication would be exposed to a key and comprehensive analysis of top companies such as Sona Koyo, Hitachi Automotive, ThyssenKrupp Presta, Showa, and KSR International Company. The market could exhibit a high competitive scenario for the next few years.Request to download and view full ToC -About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.TMRs data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With extensive research and analysis capabilities, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques to develop distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.ContactTransparency Market ResearchState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Crayons - Market detailed analysis, Competitive landscape & forecast to 2022

Crayons Market Analysis

https://www.htfmarketreport.com/sample-report/771241-global-crayons-sales-market

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A new research study from HTF MI with title Global Crayons Sales Market Report 2017 provides an in-depth assessment of the Crayons including key market trends, upcoming technologies, industry drivers, challenges, regulatory policies and issues, opportunities, future roadmap, value chain, ecosystem player profiles and strategies. The research study provides forecasts for Crayons investments till 2022.This study answers several questions for stakeholders, primarily which market segments or Region or Country they should focus in coming years to channelize their efforts and investments to maximize growth and profitability. These stakeholders include Crayons manufacturers such as Crayola, Sakura, Stabilo, Ninghai Zhenyang, Eberhard Faber, Staedtler, Maped, Cra-Z-Art, Crayon Rocks, Stadium Crayons & MEGA Brands, etc.Get Access to sample pages @Global Crayons (Thousands Units) and Revenue (Million USD) Market Split by Product Type such as Water Soluble Crayon, Fluorescent Crayon & Confetti CrayonMarket Segment by Type 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022Water Soluble Crayon xx xx xx xx xx Xx xx-Change (%) xx% xx% xx% xx% xx% xx% xx%Fluorescent Crayon xx xx xx xx xx Xx xx-Change (%) xx% xx% xx% xx% xx% xx% xx%Confetti Crayon xx xx xx xx xx Xx xx-Change (%) xx% xx% xx% xx% xx% xx% xx%The research study is segmented by Application as well such as School, Education Institutions & Other with historical and projected market share and compounded annual growth rate.Read Detailed Index of full Research Study at @The research provides answers to the following key questions: What will be the market size and the growth rate in 2022? What are the key factors driving the Global Crayons market? Who are the key market players and what are their strategies in the Global Crayons market? Trending factors influencing the market shares of the United States, China, Europe, Japan, Southeast Asia & India. What are the key market trends impacting the growth of the Global Crayons market? What trends, challenges and barriers are influencing Markets growth? What are the market opportunities and threats faced by the vendors in the Global Crayons market? What are the key outcomes of the five forces analysis of the Global Crayons market?Geographically, this report is segmented into several key Regions such as United States, China, Europe, Japan, Southeast Asia & India, with production, consumption, revenue (million USD), and market share and growth rate of Global Crayons in these regions, from 2012 to 2022 (forecast), coveringMarket Segment by Regions 2012 2016 2022 Share (%) CAGR (2016-2022)United States xx xx xx xx% xx%China xx xx xx xx% xx%Europe xx xx xx xx% xx%Japan xx xx xx xx% xx%Southeast Asia xx xx xx xx% xx%India xx xx xx xx% xx%Total xx xx xx xx% xx%The report provides a basic overview of the Crayons industry including definitions, classifications, applications and industry chain structure. And development policies and plans are discussed as well as manufacturing processes and capital expenditures.Further it focuses on global major leading industry players with information such as company profiles, product picture and specifications, sales, market share and contact information. Whats more, the Crayons industry development trends and marketing channels are analyzed.Buy this research report @There are 15 chapters to deeply display the Global Crayons market.Chapter 1, to describe Crayons Introduction, product scope, market overview, market opportunities, market risk, market driving force;Chapter 2, to analyze the top manufacturers of Crayons , with sales, revenue, and price of Crayons , in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 3, to display the competitive situation among the top manufacturers, with sales, revenue and market share in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 4, to show the global market by regions, with sales, revenue and market share of Crayons , for each region, from 2012 to 2017;Chapter 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, to analyze the key regions, with sales, revenue and market share by key countries / regions United States, China, Europe, Japan, Southeast Asia & India;Chapter 10 and 11, to show the market by type and application, with sales market share and growth rate by type, application [School, Education Institutions & Other], from 2012 to 2017;Chapter 12, Crayons market forecast, by regions, type and application, with sales and revenue, from 2017 to 2022;Chapter 13, 14 and 15, to describe Crayons sales channel, distributors, traders, dealers, Research Findings and Conclusion, appendix and data source.Get customization & check discount for report @Thanks for reading this article; you can also get individual chapter wise section or region wise report version like North America, Europe or Asia.HTF Market Report is a wholly owned brand of HTF market Intelligence Consulting Private Limited. HTF Market Report global research and market intelligence consulting organization is uniquely positioned to not only identify growth opportunities but to also empower and inspire you to create visionary growth strategies for futures, enabled by our extraordinary depth and breadth of thought leadership, research, tools, events and experience that assist you for making goals into a reality. Our understanding of the interplay between industry convergence, Mega Trends, technologies and market trends provides our clients with new business models and expansion opportunities. We are focused on identifying the Accurate Forecast in every industry we cover so our clients can reap the benefits of being early market entrants and can accomplish their Goals & Objectives.Contact Us:HTF Market Intelligence Consulting Private LimitedUnit No. 429, Parsonage Road, Edison, NJ USA - 08837sales@htfmarketreport.comPh: +1 (206) 317 1218
Worldwide Mens Underwear Market by Asia-Pacific / EMEA / North America Business opportunity 2017 to 2022

Reports Monitor

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https://www.reportsmonitor.com/world-mens-underwear-market-research-report-2022-covering-usa-europe-china-japan-india-south-east-asia-and-etc/

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Mens Underwear MarketMens Underwear Market report provides key statistics on the market status of the Mens Underwear Industrialists and is a valuable source of guidance and direction for companies and individuals interested in the Mens Underwear Industry.Worldwide Mens Underwear market research report provides the newest industry data and industry future trends, allowing you to identify the products and end users driving Revenue growth and profitability.The industry report lists the leading competitors and provides the insights strategic industry Analysis of the key factors influencing the market.For Requesting a Sample Copy of This Report, Please Visit @The report includes the forecasts, Analysis and discussion of important industry trends, market size, market share estimates and profiles of the leading industry Players.Global Mens Underwear Market: Product Segment AnalysisPTFE coated type, Traditional typeGlobal Mens Underwear Market: Application Segment Analysis:Recreational, Agricultural, Industrial, Environmental, Military & GovernmentsThe Players mentioned in our report:Saint Gobain (Sheerfill), Seaman Corp (Shelter-Rite), Ceno Membrane Technology GmbH, Hightex, SEFAR, Taconic, GKD Metal Fabric, Texeme, SERGE FERRARI, Gore (Tenara)Global Mens Underwear Market: Regional Segment Analysis:USA. Europe. Japan. China. India. South East AsiaBrowse Full Table of Contents and Report Description @Table of ContentsChapter 1 World Mens Underwear Market share1.1 Major Production Market share by Players1.2 Major Revenue (M USD) Market share by Players1.3 Major Production Market share by Regions in 2017, Through 20221.4 Major Revenue (M USD) Market share By Regions in 2017, Through 2022Chapter 2 Supply Chain Analysis2.1 Industry Supply chain Analysis2.2 Raw material Market Analysis2.2.1 Raw material Prices Analysis 2012-20172.2.2 Raw material Supply Market Analysis2.2 Manufacturing Equipment Suppliers Analysis2.3 Production Process Analysis2.4 Production Cost Structure Benchmarks2.5 End users Market AnalysisContinuedAbout UsReports Monitor (ReportsMonitor.com) is a platform to meet the market research and business intelligence requirements. Our aim is to change the dynamics of the Market Research industry by providing quality intelligence backed by data. Your requirement for market forecasting is fulfilled by our exclusive quantitative and analytics driven intelligence. We have a vast collection of reports, covering maximum industries worldwide. Our process is meticulously planned and executed in order to use maximum resources and explore the market for getting genuine insights. Decision makers can now rely on our distinct data gathering methods to get factual market forecasting and detailed analysis.Contact UsJay MatthewsDirect: +1 513 549-5911Email: sales@reportsmonitor.comWebsite:
Refrigerated Display Cases Market by Regional Analysis, Key Players and Forecast 2027

https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/refrigerated-display-cases-industry-market

https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/refrigerated-display-cases-industry-market/toc

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Global Refrigerated Display Cases Market: ForecastAfter an in-depth investigation of the global refrigerated display cases market, Future Market Insights predicts a revenue growth of about US$ 16 Bn by the end of 2027, reflecting a CAGR of 6.2% during the period of forecast.APEJ to Reflect Speedy Growth Throughout the Forecast PeriodThe APEJ region shows a high growth to register a CAGR of 9.0% throughout the period of forecast surpassing North America and Western Europe in terms of demand. Rapid urbanisation and increasing income levels in India, China and South Korea are the main contributors for growth of the APEJ region in the global refrigerated display cases market. Moreover, along with a growing population and rising demand for food, the FMCG market has been performing well in the region and major retail chains are shifting their focus towards expanding their footprint in APEJ countries. This has spurred the growth of the refrigerated display cases market in this region.Browse Full Report@Another trend observed in APEJ is the shift of manufacturing base to this region. Besides enhancing technology, maintaining overall product cost is also a key concern for manufacturers. In order to decrease the cost of manufacturing, some players in the market have established their production facilities in countries such as China, Indonesia and India, where labour costs are relatively low as compared to other countries. North America and Western Europe are expected to face maturity in the coming years.Competitive LandscapeThe research report on the global refrigerated display cases market has profiled tier players involved in the refrigerated display cases market such as Panasonic Corporation, Dover Corporation, Frigoglass SAIC, Arneg S.p.A, AHT Cooling System GmbH, Illinois Tool Work Inc., Epta S.p.a. Refrigeration, Standex International Corporation, Lennox International Inc., United Technologies Corp., Metalfrio Solutions, Inc., Clabo Group, True Manufacturing, Carter Retail Equipment Ltd., Nakano Refrigerators Co. Ltd., QBD Modular Systems Inc., Zero Zone Inc., Igloo International, Marc Refrigeration Manufacturing, Inc., Aucma Co., Ltd., Haier Carrier, Isa S.p.a., Borgen Systems and Koxka.View Full Report TOC @ABOUT US:Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.CONTACT:Future Market Insights616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite :
Global Advanced Medical Nutrition Market Poised to Account for US$ 6,046.3 Mn by 2025 end

https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/market-research/advanced-medical-nutrition-market.asp

https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/market-research/advanced-medical-nutrition-market/toc

www.persistencemarketresearch.com

The global parenterally administered medical nutrition market is estimated to represent incremental opportunity of US$ 2,577.4 Mn between 2017 and 2025. The market is expected to grow from US$ 3,468.9 Mn in 2017 to US$ 6,046.3 Mn by 2025 end. This represents a CAGR of 7.2% over the forecast period.Hospital Pharmacies, Retail Pharmacies, Compound Pharmacies are the sub-segments in this category. The Retail Pharmacies segment is expected to be the second most lucrative market in the global parenteral nutrition market by distribution channel, with an attractiveness index of 0.5 during the forecast period. The Retail Pharmacies segment is estimated to account for 13.1% value share in 2017. Hospital Pharmacies will hold the largest market share of more than 65% throughout the forecast period.Browse Report Overview @Global Medical Nutrition Market: Forecast by RegionThe North America region dominated the global parenteral medical nutrition market in terms of revenue in 2016, and the trend is projected to grow throughout the forecast period. North America is the most attractive regional market, with an attractiveness index of 2.2 over the forecast period. Revenue from the North America regional market is anticipated to increase at a CAGR of 8.7% over 20172025, to reach US$ 2,365.9 Mn by 2025.Global Medical Nutrition Market: Top PlayersThe report profiles some of the leading companies operating in the global medical nutrition market such as Allergan, Baxter International Inc., B. Braun Melsungen AG., Fresenius Kabi AG, Pfizer, Inc., Sanofi, Mead Johnson & Company, LLC, Sichuan Kelun Pharmaceutical Company Limited, Otsuka Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd., Grifols S.A., Abbott Laboratories, Danone Nutricia, Demo S.A. Pharmaceutical Industry.Request to view table of content @About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a U.S.-based full-service market intelligence firm specializing in syndicated research, custom research, and consulting services. PMR boasts market research expertise across the Healthcare, Chemicals and Materials, Technology and Media, Energy and Mining, Food and Beverages, Semiconductor and Electronics, Consumer Goods, and Shipping and Transportation industries. The company draws from its multi-disciplinary capabilities and high-pedigree team of analysts to share data that precisely corresponds to clients business needs.ContactPersistence Market Research Pvt. Ltd305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA  Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.commedia@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb:
Automotive End-Point Authentication Market to Observe Strong Development by 2025

https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/automotive-endpoint-authentication-market.html

https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/report-toc/25667

http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com

In order to further their positions in the global automotive end-point authentication market, prominent players are seen leveraging strategic acquisitions. This helps them to expand their outreach and enhance their offerings. Another method players are seen banking upon is product innovation by funneling money into research and development. On account of such constant efforts by keen companies to bolster their positions, the global automotive end-point authentication market is characterized by stiff competition.View Full Report:The global automotive end-point authentication market is fragmented in nature and entry barriers for new players are low due to absence of monopoly. However, setting up of manufacturing units for automotive end-point authentication require huge capital and resource, which is not feasible for most of the small and medium sized companies.Some of the big names in the global automotive end-point authentication market are Garmin Ltd., Continental AG, Samsung Electronics Co., Fujitsu Ltd., Hitachi Ltd., Ltd., Symantec Corporation, VOXX International Corporation, Valeo S.A., Synaptics Incorporated, and Sonavation, Inc.As per a report by Transparency Market Research, the global automotive end-point authentication market is expected to rise at a healthy 8.6% CAGR during the period between 2017 and 2025 to reach a value of US$1.115 million by 2025 from US$0.504 million in 2017.Surging Uptake of Electric and Hybrid Vehicles to Stoke Healthy Growth in Europe MarketDepending upon the type of vehicle, the global automotive end-point authentication market can be broadly split into conventional vehicles and hybrid and electric vehicles. Of the two, the conventional vehicles account for a greater share in the market, which stood at over 50.0% in 2016. The segment is also slated to clock impressive growth in the next couple of years. The hybrid and electric vehicles segment too is predicted to expand swiftly on account of the fuel efficiency they accord.Geographically, the key segments of the global automotive end-point authentication market are Asia Pacific, North America, Latin America, Europe, and the Middle East and Africa. Europe, among them, contributed to over 30.0% share in revenue in 2016. The region is primarily powered by Germany. Going forward, the rising application of end-point authentication systems in new segment of vehicles such as electric and hybrid vehicles are predicted to bring about further growth in the market.Strict Safety-related Regulations Drive MarketAn important growth driver in the global automotive end-point authentication market is the stringent regulatory requirements in different parts of the world. Standards such as Federal Motor Vehicle Standards, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and Euro standards, among others, are driving automobile manufacturers to develop vehicles having enhanced safety and security features, leveraging end-point authentication as a major technology, explains the lead analyst of the TMR report.Another factor catalyzing growth in the automotive end-point authentication market is the fact that the technology aids in preventing thefts and damages to vehicles. The gradual uptake of hybrid and electric vehicles will also likely catalyze growth in the market.Automotive wearables, such as smart watches and smart glasses that are synchronized with the computer system of automobiles to provide specific information, has also brought a transition in the automotive industry and taken the end-point authentication market to a whole new level.Request to download and view full ToC -About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.TMRs data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With extensive research and analysis capabilities, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques to develop distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.ContactTransparency Market ResearchState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Automotive Polycarbonate Glazing Market to Observe Strong Development by 2025

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Companies at the forefront of competition in the global automotive polycarbonate glazing market, according to a new report by Transparency Market Research (TMR), are Saudi Basic Industries Corporation, Covestro AG, Teijin Limited, and Trinseo S.A. Development of better quality polycarbonate resins and expansion of resin manufacturing capacities not only locally but across geographies is the focus of companies for increasing their market share in the automotive polycarbonate glazing market.View Full Report:According to TMR, the automotive polycarbonate glazing market stood at US$816.1 mn in 2016 in terms of revenue. Expanding at a CAGR of 9.0% between 2017 and 2025, the market is projected to be worth US$1,770.5 mn by 2025.The sunroof segment is expected to be the most attractive application segment between 2017 and 2025, whereas front windshield is expected to display the least market share. This is because major developed countries of the world have regulations that specify only laminated glass for windshield application. Asia Pacific contributed the dominant 40% revenue to the global automotive polycarbonate glazing market in 2016.Benefits of Reduced Fuel Consumption for Vehicular HVAC Systems Favor MarketThe vast advantages of polycarbonate material over glass in automotive glazing have boosted adoption of polycarbonate glazing in the automotive sector. This includes easy to shape property, better thermal strength, and high impact resistance than glass irrespective of its less weight. Polycarbonate glazing has better design and functional integration than glass glazing.The use of polycarbonate resins is beneficial to the environment as well. The use of polycarbonates reduces vehicle weight, which in turn improves fuel efficiency and reduces vehicle emission. In addition, polycarbonate helps to reduce HVAC load because of which fuel needed to maintain the temperature inside a vehicle is less. Thus, the fuel efficiency of the vehicle is improved and emissions reduced.In particular, in developed countries, stringent regulations in to improve fuel efficiency and reduce vehicle emissions is having a positive impact on the adoption of polycarbonate glazing. For example, in 2011, the U.S. president announced plans for increased fuel efficiency for cars and light-duty trucks by 2025.Stringent Regulations Restrict Use of Polycarbonates in Developed CountriesDespite the positive factors, the global market for automotive polycarbonate glazing is restrained by a few factors. For instance, regulatory impact, cost, and material properties of polycarbonates are posing a challenge to the automotive polycarbonate glazing industry. For instance, in the U.S., the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards specifies only laminated glass, tempered glass, and glass-plastic for automotive glazing standards. Therefore, the regulatory environment in major automotive markets such as the U.S., Europe, and Japan specifies laminated, tempered, or toughened glass for automotive glazing. The use of plastics including polycarbonates is restricted in these geographies for automotive glazing.While polycarbonates display high impact resistance than glass in terms of material property, they are not scratch resistant. This requires polycarbonates to be coated with a coating material to make them scratch resistant. This, in turn, increases the cost of automotive polycarbonate glazing restricting their adoption in the automotive sector.Nevertheless, the adoption of polycarbonate glazing is anticipated to rise with the increasing production of electric vehicles and automotive lighting. Panoramic roofs also present opportunity for polycarbonate glazing which will significantly reduce vehicle weight and, in turn, improve fuel efficiency and vehicular emissions.Request to download and view full ToC -About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.TMRs data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With extensive research and analysis capabilities, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques to develop distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.ContactTransparency Market ResearchState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Structural Heart Imaging Market by Application & Opportunities, Analysis and Forecasts to 2023

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According to Publisher, the Global Structural Heart Imaging (SHI) market is expected to grow from $9.98 billion in 2016 to reach $21.24 billion by 2023 with a CAGR of 11.4%. Rising occurrence of structural heart diseases globally, increasing advancements in imaging modality technologies and widening attention about the diseases are some of the drivers bolstering the market growth. Adding to this, accessibility and rising in the assumption of recent advanced devices is the major factor boosting the market growth. On the other hand, high cost and reimbursement policies are the major restraints for the Structural Heart Imaging (SHI) market.By imaging modalities, echocardiogram segment accounted for the largest share of the Structural Heart Imaging (SHI) market owing to its advanced intracardiac visualization, and economical when compared to CT & MRI. Echocardiogram also called echocardiography or diagnostic cardiac ultrasound. An echo uses sound waves to create pictures of heart's chambers, valves, walls and the blood vessels like aorta, arteries and veins attached to the heart.For more informationNorth America grabbed the largest share and is expected to maintain its dominance during forecast period due to availability of high healthcare expenditure, recent technologically advanced devices and favorable reimbursement policies. Asia Pacific is expected to be fastest growing region during the forecast period owing to rising investments and growing number of well-equipped & sophisticated hospitals. These factors are expected to boost the demand for forward thinking procedures for structural heart diseases.Some of the key players in global structural heart imaging (SHI) market include CardioComm Solutions Inc., Circle Cardiovascular Imaging, Inc., HeartSciences, Koninklijke Philips N.V., Pie Medical Imaging, Shimadzu Corporation, Siemens Healthineers, TomTec Imaging Systems GmbH, Toshiba Corporation, 3mensio and Integer Holdings Corporation.Applications Covered:-Congenital Heart Diseases (CHDs)-Other ApplicationsImaging Modalities Covered:-Angiogramo CTo Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)-EchocardiogramRequest Sample CopyRegions Covered:-North Americao USo Canadao Mexico-Europeo Germanyo UKo Italyo Franceo Spaino Rest of Europe-Asia Pacifico Japano Chinao Indiao Australiao New Zealando Rest of Asia Pacific-South Americao Argentinao Brazilo Chileo Rest of South America-Middle East & Africao Saudi Arabiao UAEo Qataro South Africao Rest of Middle East & AfricaMake an enquiry:Contact Us:Call: +1-646-491-9876Email: sales@reportsweb.comReportsWeb.com is a one stop shop of market research reports and solutions to various companies across the globe. We help our clients in their decision support system by helping them choose most relevant and cost effective research reports and solutions from various publishers. We provide best in class customer service and our customer support team is always available to help you on your research queries.505, 6th floor, Amanora Township,Amanora Chambers, East Block,Kharadi Road, Hadapsar, Pune-411028
Global Connected Workplace Market 2017-2022 Key Players: Siemens AG, Koninklijke Philips N.V., ABB Ltd, Deloitte Pvt, Schneider Electric SA, Cisco Systems, Crestron Electronics, Honeywell International, Johnson Controls Inc,..

Connected Workplace Market

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Connected Workplace Market:WiseGuyReports.com adds Connected Workplace Market 2017 Global Analysis, Growth, Trends and Opportunities Research Report Forecasting to 2022reports to its database.Executive SummaryGeographically, this report is segmented into several key Regions, with production, consumption, revenue (million USD), market share and growth rate of Connected Workplace in these regions, from 2012 to 2022 (forecast), coveringUnited StatesEUChinaJapanSouth KoreaTaiwanGlobal Connected Workplace market competition by top manufacturers, with production, price, revenue (value) and market share for each manufacturer; the top players includingSiemens AG (Germany)Koninklijke Philips N.V. (The Netherlands)ABB Ltd (U.S.)Deloitte Pvt (U.S.)Schneider Electric SA (France)Cisco Systems (U.S.)Crestron Electronics (U.S.)Honeywell International (U.S.)Johnson Controls Inc (U.S.)United Technologies Corporation (U.S.)Request Sample Report @On the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split intoOn-PremiseOn-CloudHybridOn 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 Connected Workplace for each application, includingMonitoringBuilding AutomationOthersIf you have any special requirements, please let us know and we will offer you the report as you want.For further information on this report, visit -Table of ContentsGlobal Connected Workplace Market Research Report 20171 Connected Workplace Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Connected Workplace1.2 Connected Workplace Segment by Type (Product Category)1.2.1 Global Connected Workplace Production and CAGR (%) Comparison by Type (Product Category)(2012-2022)1.2.2 Global Connected Workplace Production Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 20161.2.3 On-Premise1.2.4 On-Cloud1.2.5 Hybrid1.3 Global Connected Workplace Segment by Application1.3.1 Connected Workplace Consumption (Sales) Comparison by Application (2012-2022)1.3.2 Monitoring1.3.3 Building Automation1.3.4 Others1.4 Global Connected Workplace Market by Region (2012-2022)1.4.1 Global Connected Workplace Market Size (Value) and CAGR (%) Comparison by Region (2012-2022)1.4.2 United States Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.3 EU Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.4 China Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.5 Japan Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.6 South Korea Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.7 Taiwan Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.5 Global Market Size (Value) of Connected Workplace (2012-2022)1.5.1 Global Connected Workplace Revenue Status and Outlook (2012-2022)1.5.2 Global Connected Workplace Capacity, Production Status and Outlook (2012-2022)2 Global Connected Workplace Market Competition by Manufacturers2.1 Global Connected Workplace Capacity, Production and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.1.1 Global Connected Workplace Capacity and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.1.2 Global Connected Workplace Production and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.2 Global Connected Workplace Revenue and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.3 Global Connected Workplace Average Price by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.4 Manufacturers Connected Workplace Manufacturing Base Distribution, Sales Area and Product Type2.5 Connected Workplace Market Competitive Situation and Trends2.5.1 Connected Workplace Market Concentration Rate2.5.2 Connected Workplace Market Share of Top 3 and Top 5 Manufacturers2.5.3 Mergers & Acquisitions, Expansion3 Global Connected Workplace Capacity, Production, Revenue (Value) by Region (2012-2017)3.1 Global Connected Workplace Capacity and Market Share by Region (2012-2017)3.2 Global Connected Workplace Production and Market Share by Region (2012-2017)3.3 Global Connected Workplace Revenue (Value) and Market Share by Region (2012-2017)3.4 Global Connected Workplace Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)3.5 United States Connected Workplace Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)3.6 EU Connected Workplace Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)3.7 China Connected Workplace Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)3.8 Japan Connected Workplace Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)3.9 South Korea Connected Workplace Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)3.10 Taiwan Connected Workplace Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)4 Global Connected Workplace Supply (Production), Consumption, Export, Import by Region (2012-2017)4.1 Global Connected Workplace Consumption by Region (2012-2017)4.2 United States Connected Workplace Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2012-2017)4.3 EU Connected Workplace Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2012-2017)4.4 China Connected Workplace Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2012-2017)4.5 Japan Connected Workplace Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2012-2017)4.6 South Korea Connected Workplace Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2012-2017)4.7 Taiwan Connected Workplace Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2012-2017)5 Global Connected Workplace Production, Revenue (Value), Price Trend by Type5.1 Global Connected Workplace Production and Market Share by Type (2012-2017)5.2 Global Connected Workplace Revenue and Market Share by Type (2012-2017)5.3 Global Connected Workplace Price by Type (2012-2017)5.4 Global Connected Workplace Production Growth by Type (2012-2017)6 Global Connected Workplace Market Analysis by Application6.1 Global Connected Workplace Consumption and Market Share by Application (2012-2017)6.2 Global Connected Workplace Consumption Growth Rate by Application (2012-2017)6.3 Market Drivers and Opportunities6.3.1 Potential Applications6.3.2 Emerging Markets/CountriesContinuousBuy this Report @Contact Us:Norah Trentsales@wiseguyreports.comPh: +1-646-845-9349 (US); +44 208 133 9349 (UK)About Us:Wise Guy Reports Is Part Of The Wise Guy Consultants Pvt. Ltd. And Offers Premium Progressive Statistical Surveying, Market Research Reports, Analysis & Forecast Data For Industries And Governments Around The Globe. Wise Guy Reports Features An Exhaustive List Of Market Research Reports From Hundreds Of Publishers Worldwide. We Boast A Database Spanning Virtually Every Market Category And An Even More Comprehensive Collection Of Market Research Reports Under These Categories And Sub-Categories.Addres:WISEGUY RESEARCH CONSULTANTS PVT LTDOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersPune - 411028Maharashtra, IndiaPhone :+91 841 198 5042
Hong Kong Meetings, Incentives, Conventions & Exhibitions MICE Market & Forecast to 2021

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Hong Kong MICE Tourism market is projected to reach more than US$ 2.5 Billion by the end of 2021 growing at a CAGR of around XX% from 2016 to 2021.Hong Kong is one of the worlds top MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions & Exhibitions) destinations. Hong Kong's strategic location, together with its vibrant cosmopolitan lifestyle, newly added and more sophisticated infrastructure, world class hospitality and superb professional services, have made the city an ideal location for meetings, incentives, conventions, and events (MICE) tourism. The MICE tourists increase was contributed by a number of largescale conventions and exhibition programs with unprecedented numbers of participants. MICE organizers have been attracted by the growth of the mainland economy and favorable exchange rates, with the greatest increase coming from those visiting from shorthaul markets  particularly Mainland China. The Government is committed to enhancing the appeal of Hong Kong as an ideal MICE (Meetings, Incentive travels, Conventions and Exhibitions) destination in Asia.Browse Report @Hong Kong MICE Tourism Arrivals InsightsChinese Mainland is the largest source market for Hong Kong MICE tourism. South and Southeast Asia is the second leading source market for Hong Kong MICE tourism. Europe, Africa and The Middle East stands at the third spot with XX% share of the Hong Kong MICE tourist arrivals. North Asia and The Americas holds the fourth and fifth highest share of the Hong Kong MICE tourist arrivals, being followed by Taiwan. Australia, New Zealand and S. Pacific and Macau SAR are the other leading source market for Hong Kong MICE tourism.Hong Kong MICE Tourism Spending InsightsIn terms of spending by the MICE tourists in Hong Kong, Mainland China is the leader with more than 50% of spending in 2015. Mainland China MICE tourists spending share in Hong Kong is higher than the combined share of the top 7 regions. Mainland China is likely to maintain dominance in Hong Kong MICE tourists spending by the year end of 2021. South and Southeast Asia spot at second position in the spending share with XX% share in 2015.The research report titled "Hong Kong MICE Tourism Market - Trips & Spending to 2021" provides detailed information on the Hong Kong MICE Tourism Market. This report analyzes market data and provides a better understanding of MICE travelers flows and revenue to Hong Kong. Market outlook in value terms for the forecasted period for Hong Kong MICE Tourism market has been detailed in the report. This report also entails a detailed description of growth drivers and challenges of the Hong Kong MICE Tourism Market.All the regions in the report has been studied from 2 view points1. Hong Kong MICE Tourists Arrival - Region Wise Analysis (2008 - 2021)2. Hong Kong MICE Tourists Spending - Region Wise Analysis (2008 - 2021)Hong Kong MICE Tourists Arrival, Spending - 8 Regions Covered1. Chinese Mainland2. South and Southeast Asia3. Europe, Africa and The Middle East4. The Americas5. North Asia6. Taiwan7. Australia, New Zealand and S. Pacific8. Macau SARDPI Research is a business solutions firm which offer bespoke market research reports, custom research solutions and consulting across multi geographies and industry verticals. We deliver wide range of cutting-edge research solutions that helps organizations in making better decisions of the business to business needs.DPI Research provides high standard of business research reports to the clients across industry verticals comprising Life Sciences, Information Technology, Telecom & Internet, Food Beverages & Agriculture, Travel & Tourism, Consumer Goods & Retail, Education and Social Sciences. We are committed to use advanced analytical tools and methodologies to help clients with crucial industry information for decision making.DPI Research approaches for the business research led by a team of dynamic industry experts. DPI Research provides a real insight for effective decisions to help business with the help of current source and accurate data available in the market. DPI Research reach across the globe with global standards from established markets in the North America and Europe to emerging markets in South America, Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa to provide the best business solutions.Contact Us:Maria RaiTel :+91 -7289949987Email: sales@dpiresearch.comWebsite:
GD Rectifiers: The Heatsink Experts

GD Rectifiers' Heatsinks

High efficiency heatsinks are an essential component of any power semiconductor system. GD Rectifiers offers a wide range of extruded aluminium heatsinks available from stock or made to order. GD Rectifiers has access to the worlds leading heatsinks, from IXYS UK Westcode, SEMIKRON and GD Rectifiers own range of pioneering heatsinks.GD Rectifiers works closely with customers to design and manufacture heatsinks to customised specifications. All extrusions can be supplied as cut lengths or drilled and machined to bespoke specifications. GD Rectifiers operate the latest CNC drilling and machining centres which provide accurately machined, cost-efficient parts on short lead-times. GD Rectifiers heatsinks can be supplied in natural or black-anodised finishes.Forced-Air Cooled HeatsinksGD Rectifiers are the UKs leading manufacturer of forced-air cooled heatsinks. A forced-air cooled heatsink is used in conjunction with a fan to increase the rate of airflow over the heatsink which maintains a larger temperature gradient by replacing warmed air faster than convection would.Aluminium HeatsinksGD Rectifiers are specialists in standard and custom made heatsinks, heatsink accessories and heatsink assemblies. They stock and machine the largest range of heatsinks suitable for stud, modules and capsule semiconductors.Hollow Fin HeatsinksGD Rectifiers manufacture a wide range of Hollow Heatsinks used in a large range of applications including: communications, industrial controls, medical, military, motor drives, power controls, transportation, solar energy and wind energy. Characterised by its shape, GD Rectifiers hollow fin heatsinks are manufactured with maximum thermal efficiency in mind.IXYS UK HeatsinksIXYS UK stock a small range of high efficiency heatsinks, they specialise in Air-cooled and Solid Fin Heatsinks.LED HeatsinksGD Rectifiers offer a wide range of LED heatsinks designed to cool LED lighting devices by absorbing and dispersing excess heat away from LED diodes, into the heatsink.SEMIKRON HeatsinksSEMIKRON offers a wide range of Heatsinks - forced and natural air-cooling coolers, available for capsules, insulated base modules and IPMs.Solid Fin HeatsinksGD Rectifiers design and manufacture a wide range of Solid Fin Heatsinks typically used in devices across: industrial, medical, military and transportation industries. Solid Fin Heatsinks are designed for free convection but can also be used for forced-air cooled systems as well.Water & Oil Cooled HeatsinksGD Rectifiers manufactures a large range of high quality and cost effective water coolers for isolated based thyristor, diode and IGBT modules. They are easily mounted and are available with or without water connectors and high quality tubing.GD Rectifiers offers a full service from design to production, technical support and fast delivery, GD Rectifiers are the UKs No.1 heatsink provider in the UK.For further information on all of our standard heatsinks or to discuss your requirements for custom designed heatsinks, please call: 01444 243 452 or email: enquiries@gdrectifiers.co.uk.GD Rectifiers is a Global Manufacturer and Distributor of products, services and solutions to commercial and industrial users of power electronic components.Established in 1964, GD Rectifiers has over 50 years of extensive experience across a large range of markets, specialising in new and current technologies for industrial power control applications. An extensive product offering has built GD Rectifiers exceptional reputation as the go-to power specialist with innovative experience across: Aviation, Automotive, Rail, Medical, Industrial and Electronics markets.GD Rectifiers have extensive experience in the rail industry and are RISQS Qualified.GD Rectifiers is a ISO 9001:2015 registered company that design and develop bespoke power semiconductor assemblies to control voltage, current and frequency for international industrial markets.GD Rectifiers designs and manufactures Selenium and Silicon Rectifiers, Suppressors, Converters, Inverters, Regulators and all other power products for Industrial power control applications. The company distributes state of the art Diodes, Thyristors, IGBTs and MOSFETs from the worlds leading manufacturers including: IXYS, IXYS UK Westcode, Semikron and EDI.GD RectifiersBentley House2 William WayBurgess HillWest SussexRH15 9AG
Global Automotive Interior Materials Market is Poised to Reach US$ 145.3 Bn by 2025

https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/market-research/automotive-interior-materials-market.asp

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The global automotive interior material market is anticipated to show robust growth during the assessment period. The global market was valued at around US$ 94 Bn in 2017 and is estimated to be valued at US$ 145.3 Bn by 2025. This increase in revenue can be attributed towards its high growth rate, as the market is poised to register a CAGR of 5.6% throughout the period of forecast.The global automotive interior material market is segmented by vehicle type (passenger cars, HCV, LCV), material type (fabric, genuine leather, synthetic leather, thermoplastic) and region (North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Middle East and Africa).Browse Report Overview @Thermoplastics segment by material type to grow at the highest growth rate during the forecast period to register a CAGR of 6.5% during 2017-2025. This segment can be inferred to as a high potential segment with a significant market share after fabrics segmentFabrics segment by material type is estimated to be the largest segment in terms of market value as it reflects an estimation of about US$ 76.8 Bn by 2025, growing at a steady 5.4% CAGR throughout the period of forecastAsia Pacific region is the most lucrative region for automotive interior material. This regions is expected to grow at the highest rate to reflect a CAGR of 6.1% during 2017-2025 period, to reach a high market evaluation by end of 2025. The growth of automotive material market in APAC region can be attributed to the growing automotive production and adoption of thermoplastics and synthetic leather in this regionPassenger cars segment by vehicle type is expected to dominate the global market and also reflect a high growth rate during the period of assessment 2017-2025The global automotive interior material market research study includes analysis on key market players such asFaurecia S.A., Lear Corporation, Johnson Controls International PLC, Seiren Co., Ltd., Yanfeng Automotive Trim Systems Co., Ltd., Toyota Boshoku Corporation, Sage Automotive Interiors, Inc., Benecke-Kaliko AG, GST AutoLeather, Inc., DK Leather Corporation, Grupo-Antolin Irausa, S.A., Mayur Uniquoters Ltd., WOLLSDORF LEDER SCHMIDT & Co. Ges.m.b.H., Adient PLC, TS Tech Co., Ltd., Magna International Inc., Tachi-S Co., Ltd., Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd., Guelph Manufacturing Group and NHK Spring Co., Ltd.Request to view table of content @About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a U.S.-based full-service market intelligence firm specializing in syndicated research, custom research, and consulting services. PMR boasts market research expertise across the Healthcare, Chemicals and Materials, Technology and Media, Energy and Mining, Food and Beverages, Semiconductor and Electronics, Consumer Goods, and Shipping and Transportation industries. The company draws from its multi-disciplinary capabilities and high-pedigree team of analysts to share data that precisely corresponds to clients business needs.ContactPersistence Market Research Pvt. Ltd305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA  Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.commedia@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb:
Primary Cells And Primary Batteries Market Analysis by Production Capacity, Dynamics of Demand and Supply  Forecast to 2022

Primary Cells And Primary Batteries

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This report helps to analyze competitive developments such as joint ventures, strategic alliances, mergers and acquisitions, new product developments, and research and developments in the Global Primary Cells And Primary Batteries market.DescriptionThe Global Primary Cells And Primary Batteries Market report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the Global Primary Cells And Primary Batteries industry. This report evaluates the Global market for " Global Primary Cells And Primary Batteries".The Global Primary Cells And Primary Batteries Market report provides complete analysis of the Global Primary Cells And Primary Batteries Market by analysing all round market dynamics such as regional market opportunities, drivers, challenges, constraints, threats, and other market trends.The Global Primary Cells And Primary Batteries Market report contains latest Business Data resulting from various Research sources that helps Decision Makers to deliver a Distinctive and Trustworthy Analysis for Companys Growth.Get a PDF Sample of Global Primary Cells And Primary Batteries Market report at:The Global Primary Cells And Primary Batteries Market Survey starts with Industry overview of Global Primary Cells And Primary Batteries Market covering Major Regions Status, Industry Chain Structure, Definitions and Specifications, with a detailed focus on Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis including Raw Material Suppliers, Equipment Suppliers and Manufacturing Process.In Next Part, the researchers has collected and presented information on Technical Data and Manufacturing Plants Analysis which comprises of Capacity and Commercial Production Date, Manufacturing Plants Distribution, R&D Status and Technology Source of Major Manufacturers in 2017.In following segment, with Sales, Ex-factory Price, Revenue, Gross Margin, Business Region Distribution Analysis, Competition between various Company Profile has been given along with Product Pictures and Specifications in Global Primary Cells And Primary Batteries Industry Report.The Key Players Mentioned in Global Primary Cells And Primary Batteries Market Report are: Company 1 Company 2 Company 3 Company 4 Company 5 Company 6 Company 7 Company 8 Company 9 Company 10Place a Purchase Order for this Report at:The Global Primary Cells And Primary Batteries Industry Report is also a Great Source of Marketing Type Analysis consisting:1. Global Primary Cells And Primary Batteries Regional Marketing Type Analysis2. Global Primary Cells And Primary Batteries International Trade Type Analysis3. Traders or Distributors with Contact Information of Global Primary Cells And Primary Batteries by Regions4. Global Primary Cells And Primary Batteries Supply Chain AnalysisKey Regions North America Europe China Japan Middle East & Africa India South America OthersMajor Points from Table of Contents:1 Primary Cells And Primary Batteries Introduction and Market Overview1.1 Objectives of the Study1.2 Definition of Primary Cells And Primary Batteries1.3 Primary Cells And Primary Batteries Market Scope and Market Size Estimation1.3.1 Market Concentration Ratio and Market Maturity Analysis1.3.2 Global Primary Cells And Primary Batteries Value ($) and Growth Rate from 2012-20221.4 Market Segmentation1.4.1 Types of Primary Cells And Primary Batteries1.4.2 Applications of Primary Cells And Primary Batteries1.4.3 Research Regions1.4.3.1 North America Primary Cells And Primary Batteries Production Value ($) and Growth Rate (2012-2017)2 Industry Chain Analysis2.1 Upstream Raw Material Suppliers of Primary Cells And Primary Batteries Analysis2.2 Major Players of Primary Cells And Primary Batteries2.2.1 Major Players Manufacturing Base and Market Share of Primary Cells And Primary Batteries in 20162.2.2 Major Players Product Types in 20162.3 Primary Cells And Primary Batteries Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis2.3.1 Production Process Analysis2.3.2 Manufacturing Cost Structure of Primary Cells And Primary Batteries2.3.3 Raw Material Cost of Primary Cells And Primary Batteries2.3.4 Labor Cost of Primary Cells And Primary Batteries2.4 Market Channel Analysis of Primary Cells And Primary Batteries2.5 Major Downstream Buyers of Primary Cells And Primary Batteries Analysis3 Global Primary Cells And Primary Batteries Market, by Type3.1 Analysis of Market Status and Feature by Type3.2 Global Primary Cells And Primary Batteries Value ($) and Market Share by Type (2012-2017)3.3 Global Primary Cells And Primary Batteries Production and Market Share by Type (2012-2017)3.4 Global Primary Cells And Primary Batteries Value ($) and Growth Rate by Type (2012-2017)3.5 Global Primary Cells And Primary Batteries Price Analysis by Type (2012-2017)4 Primary Cells And Primary Batteries Market, by Application4.1 Downstream Market Overview4.2 Global Primary Cells And Primary Batteries Consumption and Market Share by Application (2012-2017)4.3 Downstream Buyers by Application4.4 Global Primary Cells And Primary Batteries Consumption and Growth Rate by Application (2012-2017)5 Global Primary Cells And Primary Batteries Production, Value ($) by Region (2012-2017)5.1 Global Primary Cells And Primary Batteries Value ($) and Market Share by Region (2012-2017)5.2 Global Primary Cells And Primary Batteries Production and Market Share by Region (2012-2017)5.3 Global Primary Cells And Primary Batteries Production, Value ($), Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)5.4 North America Primary Cells And Primary Batteries Production, Value ($), Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)5.5 Europe Primary Cells And Primary Batteries Production, Value ($), Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)5.6 China Primary Cells And Primary Batteries Production, Value ($), Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)5.7 Japan Primary Cells And Primary Batteries Production, Value ($), Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)5.8 Middle East & Africa Primary Cells And Primary Batteries Production, Value ($), Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)List Of Tables:Figure Product Picture of Primary Cells And Primary BatteriesTable Product Specification of Primary Cells And Primary BatteriesFigure Market Concentration Ratio and Market Maturity Analysis of Primary Cells And Primary BatteriesFigure Global Primary Cells And Primary Batteries Value ($) and Growth Rate from 2012-2022Table Different Types of Primary Cells And Primary BatteriesFigure Global Primary Cells And Primary Batteries Value ($) Segment by Type from 2012-2017Figure Primary Cells And Primary Batteries Type 1 PictureFigure Primary Cells And Primary Batteries Type 2 PictureFigure Primary Cells And Primary Batteries Type 3 PictureFigure Primary Cells And Primary Batteries Type 4 PictureFigure Primary Cells And Primary Batteries Type 5 PictureTable Different Applications of Primary Cells And Primary BatteriesFigure Global Primary Cells And Primary Batteries Value ($) Segment by Applications from 2012-2017Figure Application 1 PictureFigure Application 2 PictureFigure Application 3 PictureFigure Application 4 PictureFigure Application 5 PictureTable Research Regions of Primary Cells And Primary BatteriesGot any Query? Feel free to ask us at:Lastly, the Report provides Development Trend Analysis for 2017-2022 years which will forecast Market Size (Volume and Value), Sales Price, Consumption Forecast, Market Trend (Product Type) and Market Trend (Application). Also the List of Major Consumers is analyzed and Contact Details are provided to easy communicating.Finally, the Report is concluded with Various Methodology, Analyst Introduction and Data SourcesOrbis Research (orbisresearch.com) is a single point aid for all your market research requirements. We have vast database of reports from the leading publishers and authors across the globe. We specialize in delivering customized reports as per the requirements of our clients. We have complete information about our publishers and hence are sure about the accuracy of the industries and verticals of their specialization. This helps our clients to map their needs and we produce the perfect required market research study for our clients.Hector CostelloSenior Manager  Client Engagements4144N Central Expressway,Suite 600, Dallas,Texas  75204, U.S.A.Phone No.: +1 (214) 884-6817; +9164101019Follow Us on LinkedIn:
Global Photoelectric Sensors Industry : Market Demands, Insights, Research and Forecast 2017-2024

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Albany, NY, 1st November : Recent research and the current scenario as well as future market potential of "Photoelectric Sensors Market (By Technology - Retro-reflective, Diffuse and Through Beam, By Type - Proximity photoelectric sensor, Fiber optic photoelectric sensor and Others, By Application - Parking facilities, Elevators, Building Automation, Semiconductor Device, Packaging machines and Others ) - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2016 - 2024" globally.Photoelectric sensors are used to detect the shape, color, distance, absence or presence of a target. Photoelectric sensors are a type of position sensor that uses light emitting diodes as the light source. The sensor comprises a receiver and a light transmitter. The sensor emits light through the transmitter to the target which is then reflected and the light beam is received by the photoelectric receiver, activating the sensor output. The market is primarily driven by increasing application of photoelectric sensors in food and beverage, construction and automotive industries.Get PDF for more Professional and Technical insights @Industrial automation is also principally driving the photoelectric sensors market globally. Additionally, the photoelectric sensors in parking facilities are used for the detection of the car positioning and level adjusting at multi-level car parking. High consistency and easy installation of the retro reflective photoelectric sensors is also driving the global photoelectric sensors market. These sensors are used for object detection even with misaligned, heavy soiling, small reflectors and long range.Growth of photoelectric sensors market is hindered due to the high cost of fiber optic photoelectric sensor. The fiber optic photoelectric sensors are best suited for extreme conditions like extreme heat, hazardous, corrosive and explosive environment. Moreover, it is flexible and can be precisely positioned. However, the demand of fiber optic photoelectric sensor is comparatively low due to high cost factor.Implementation of smart photoelectric sensors in diverse application is identified as a major opportunity. These sensors have the in-built intelligence that improves the reliability and optimize the adjustments. This in built intelligence is likely to offer easier and exact adjustment that optimizes photoelectric sensors reliability. Moreover, these smart sensors deliver superior self diagnostics and have the capability to interface with sensor networks. The conventional photoelectric sensor faced problem in detection of transparent objects. For instance, a web sensing application produces a low contrast if the web material allows much of the sensing light to pass through. In this situation, the operator has to align and adjust the sensor to obtain high contrast. But this is not the situation with the smart photoelectric sensors as the sensors have in built microprocessor chips to monitor received light signals and display the values using liquid-crystal-display (LCD) digital readouts.Based on technology, the photoelectric sensor market is segmented in to retro reflective, diffuse and through beam. On the basis of type the market is segregated into proximity photoelectric sensor, fiber optic photoelectric sensor and others. Based on geography, the photoelectric sensor market is segmented in to North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Rest of the World. The scope of the report offers an insight into photoelectric sensors market in these regions based on revenue (USD million) and volume (million units)The competitive profiling of the key players in the global photoelectric sensors market across four broad geographic regions is included in the study. These include diverse business strategies adopted by the leading players and their recent developments as in the field of photoelectric sensors. The market attractiveness analysis of the major application areas has been provided in the report, in order to offer a deep insight of global photoelectric sensors market.Make an Enquiry about TOC @A comprehensive analysis of the market dynamics that is inclusive of market drivers, restraints and opportunities is included in the purview of the report. Market dynamics are the distinctive factors which impact the market growth, thereby helping to understand the ongoing trends of the global market. The report provides the forecast of the global market for the period from 2016 to 2024, along with offering an inclusive study of the photoelectric sensors market.Major players in this market are Rockwell Automation Inc. (U.S),`Keyence Corporation (Japan), Avago Corporation (Singapore), Panasonic Corporation (Japan), Omron Corporation (Japan), Balluff Inc. (U.S), Schneider Electric SE (France), Baumer Group (Switzerland), Sick AG (Germany), Eaton Corporation PLC (Ireland), Autonics Corporation (South Korea), IFM Electronic Ltd. (Germany) among others.The global photoelectric sensor market has been segmented as follows:Global Photoelectric Sensor Market: By TechnologyRetro-reflectiveDiffuseThrough BeamGlobal Photoelectric Sensor Market: By TypeProximity photoelectric sensorFiber Optic photoelectric sensorOthersGlobal Photoelectric Sensor Market: By ApplicationsParking FacilitiesElevatorsBuilding AutomationSemiconductor DevicePackaging MachinesOthersBrowse Report @Global Photoelectric Sensor Market: By GeographyNorth AmericaThe U.S.OthersEuropeThe UKGermanyItalyRest of EuropeAsia PacificChinaJapanRest of Asia PacificRest of the WorldMiddle East and Africa (MEA)South AmericaResearchMoz is the one stop online destination to find and buy market research reports & Industry Analysis. We fulfill all your research needs spanning across industry verticals with our huge collection of market research reports. We provide our services to all sizes of organizations and across all industry verticals and markets. Our Research Coordinators have in-depth knowledge of reports as well as publishers and will assist you in making an informed decision by giving you unbiased and deep insights on which reports will satisfy your needs at the best price.ResearchMozMr. Nachiket Ghumare,90 State Street, Albany NY, United States - 12207Tel: +1-518-621-2074USA-Canada Toll Free: 866-997-4948Email: sales@researchmoz.usFollow us on LinkedIn @Follow me on :
Global Sensor Patch Market from 2017-2024: Growth Analysis by Product, Regions, End-Users and Applications

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Global Sensor Patch Market, By Geography (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Europe, South America, Middle East and Africa), By Product (Temperature Sensor Patch, Blood Glucose Sensor Patch, Blood Pressure/Flow Sensor Patch, Heart Rate Sensor Patch, ECG Sensor Patch, Blood Oxygen Sensor Patch); By Application (Monitoring, Diagnostics) By End-Users (Healthcare, Fitness and Sports)  Industry Trends and Forecast to 2024Click Here for Free Sample Report @:The global sensor patch market accounted for USD 33.5 million in 2016 growing at a CAGR of 47.5% during the forecast period of 2017 to 2024. The upcoming market report contains data for historic year 2014, 2015, the base year of calculation is 2016 and the forecast period is 2017 to 2024.Any specific requirements are you looking for? Ask to your Industry Experts@:TABLE OF CONTENTSChapter 1. INTRODUCTIONChapter 2. MARKET SEGMENTATIONChapter 3 GLOBAL SENSOR PATCH MARKET: OVERVIEWChapter 4 EXECUTIVE SUMMARYChapter 5 PREMIUM INSIGHTSChapter 6 GLOBAL SENSOR PATCH MARKET, BY PRODUCTChapter 7 GLOBAL SENSOR PATCH MARKET, BY APPLICATIONChapter 8 GLOBAL SENSOR PATCH MARKET, BY END-USERChapter 9 GLOBAL SENSOR PATCH MARKET, BY GEOGRAPHYChapter 10 GLOBAL SENSOR PATCH MARKET: COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPEChapter 11 GLOBAL SENSOR PATCH MARKET, COMPANY PROFILESChapter 12 APPENDIXChapter 13 ABOUT DATA BRIDGE MARKET RESEARCHTo Know More About Detail TOC Visit @Sensor Patch Market  Market Segmentation:The sensor patch market is segmented on the basis of product into temperature sensor patch, blood glucose sensor patch, blood pressure/flow sensor patch, heart rate sensor patch, ecg sensor patch, blood oxygen sensor patch, and others. The global sensor patch market is also segmented on the basis of applications into monitoring, and diagnostics.On the basis of end user the global sensor patch market is further segmented into healthcare, and fitness and sports.Browse Full Report @:Based on geography, the market is segmented into five geographical regions: North America Europe Asia-Pacific South America Middle East and AfricaThe geographical regions are further segmented into 29 major countries such as U.S. Canada, Mexico, Germany, France, U.K., Belgium, Switzerland, Belgium, Turkey, Japan, China, Singapore, Brazil, India, Russia, South Africa and others.major players operating in this market areSome of the major players of the global sensor patch market are Abbott Laboratories, Dexcom, Inc., Feeligreen SA, Frontier Smart Technologies Group Ltd., Gentag, Inc., G-Tech Medical, Inc., HIVOX BIOTEK INC., Hocoma AG, iRhythm Technologies, Inc., Isansys Lifecare Ltd., Kenzen, Inc., Leaf Healthcare, Inc., MC10, Inc., Medtronic plc, MTG Co.,Ltd., NanoSonic, Inc., Nemaura Medical Inc., Preventice Solutions, Inc., Proteus Digital Health, Inc., Raiing Medical Company, Sensium Healthcare Ltd., SMARTRAC N.V., Texas Instruments Incorporated, VitalConnect, Inc., X2 Biosystems Inc., among others.Inquiry before Buying @Related ReportGlobal Hemostats Market- Trends and Forecast to 2024Global Hemostats Market, By Product Type (Thrombin Based, Combination, Oxidized Regenerated Cellulose Based, Gelatin Based, Collagen Based Hemostat), By Indication (Wound Closure, Surgery), By End-User (Hospitals, Clinics, Ambulatory Centers, Community Healthcare, Others), By Geography (North America, South America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa)  Trends and Forecast to 2024About Data Bridge Market Research:Data Bridge Market Research set forth itself as an unconventional and neoteric Market research and consulting firm with unparalleled level of resilience and integrated approaches. We are determined to unearth the best market opportunities and foster efficient information for your business to thrive in the market. Data Bridge endeavors to provide appropriate solutions to the complex business challenges and initiates an effortless decision-making process.Contact:Vishal DixitData Bridge Market ResearchTel: +1-888-387-2818Email: Sales@databridgemarketresearch.comInvestor: investors@databridgemarketresearch.comVisit Blog
5K Display Resolution Market Segmentation by Type, Regions, Key Players and Applications 2017

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ReportsWeb.com has announced the addition of the Global 5K Display Resolution Industry 2017 Market Research Report The report focuses on global major leading industry players with information such as company profiles, product picture and specification.In this report, the global 5K Display Resolution market is valued at USD XX million in 2016 and is expected to reach USD XX million by the end of 2022, growing at a CAGR of XX% between 2016 and 2022.Geographically, this report is segmented into several key Regions, with production, consumption, revenue (million USD) , market share and growth rate of 5K Display Resolution in these regions, from 2012 to 2022 (forecast) , coveringUnited StatesEUChinaJapanSouth KoreaTaiwanGet a Sample copy atGlobal 5K Display Resolution market competition by top manufacturers, with production, price, revenue (value) and market share for each manufacturer; the top players includingDell Inc (U.S.)Apple Inc (U.S.)LG Electronics Inc (South Korea)Philips (Netherlands)HP (U.S.)Samsung Electronics (South Korea)Red Digital Cinema Camera Company (U.S.)Sharp Corporation (Japan)Sony Corporation (Japan)Canon Inc (Japan)On the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split intoMonitorsTelevisionsCamerasOn 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 5K Display Resolution for each application, includingRetailConsumer ElectronicsEducationAdvertisementsOthersComplete report is available atTable of Contents:1 5K Display Resolution Market Overview2 Global 5K Display Resolution Market Competition by Manufacturers3 Global 5K Display Resolution Capacity, Production, Revenue (Value) by Region (2012-2017)4 Global 5K Display Resolution Supply (Production), Consumption, Export, Import by Region (2012-2017)5 Global 5K Display Resolution Production, Revenue (Value), Price Trend by Type6 Global 5K Display Resolution Market Analysis by Application7 Global 5K Display Resolution Manufacturers Profiles/Analysis7.1 Dell Inc (U.S.)7.1.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.1.2 5K Display Resolution Product Category, Application and Specification7.1.2.1 Product A7.1.2.2 Product B7.1.3 Dell Inc (U.S.) 5K Display Resolution Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.1.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.2 Apple Inc (U.S.)7.2.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.2.2 5K Display Resolution Product Category, Application and Specification7.2.2.1 Product A7.2.2.2 Product B7.2.3 Apple Inc (U.S.) 5K Display Resolution Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.2.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.3 LG Electronics Inc (South Korea)7.3.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.3.2 5K Display Resolution Product Category, Application and Specification7.3.2.1 Product A7.3.2.2 Product B7.3.3 LG Electronics Inc (South Korea) 5K Display Resolution Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.3.4 Main Business/Business Overview8 5K Display Resolution Manufacturing Cost Analysis9 Industrial Chain, Sourcing Strategy and Downstream Buyers10 Marketing Strategy Analysis, Distributors/Traders11 Market Effect Factors Analysis12 Global 5K Display Resolution Market Forecast (2017-2022)13 Research Findings and ConclusionGet Discount atContact Us:Call: +1-646-491-9876Email:sales@reportsweb.comReportsWeb.com is a one stop shop of market research reports and solutions to various companies across the globe. We help our clients in their decision support system by helping them choose most relevant and cost effective research reports and solutions from various publishers. We provide best in class customer service and our customer support Team is always available to help you on your research queries.533, 5th floor, Amanora Township,Amanora Chambers, East Block,Kharadi Road, Hadapsar, Pune-411028
Advancement In Security Devices Is Envisioned To Flourish The Growth Of Home Wi-Fi Security Device Market In Near Future, According To Research Nester

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Home Wi-Fi Security Device Market: Global Demand Analysis & Opportunity Outlook 2023The global home wi-fi security device market is segmented into product such as electronic and smart locks, security alarms, security cameras and sensors and detectors. Among these segments, cameras segment is expected to witness significant growth during the forecast period i.e. 2016-2023. Additionally, cameras segment is riding on the back of increasing usage of camera for home security and introduction of automated security cameras. Further, electronic and smart locks are believed to grow at tremendous pace owing advancement in locks technology such as smart door locks.The global home wi-fi security device market accounted USD 29,256 Million in 2015. Global home wi-fi security device market is expected to register a significant CAGR over the forecast period. Moreover, the home wi-fi security device market is expected to expand on the back of increasing prevalence of criminal activities.In terms of regional platform, with 48% share in overall home wi-fi security device, North America region captured largest market aided by U.S. Moreover, the factors propelling the growth of North America region includes presence of modern infrastructure and presence of tech savvy population. Apart from this, Asia-Pacific region is expected to showcase a lucrative growth of Home Wi-Fi Security Market over the forecast period of 2016-2023 owing to presence of emerging economies such as India and China.Request Free Sample Report @Rapid growth real estate sectorGrowing population across the globe has augmented the demand for new houses which in turn propel the growth of residential real estate sector. Moreover, rapid urbanization coupled with changing lifestyle of the consumer has encouraged the population to adopt advance security system for their homes which is likely to boost the demand for home wi-fi security device. These factors are envisioned to flourish the growth of home wi-fi security device market by the end of 2023.Increasing concern for safety and securityIncreasing incidences of criminal activities such as robbery and others all across the globe along with growing concern for security among the population is predicted to supplement the growth of home wi-fi security device market. Furthermore, advancement of technology in security devices, growing demand for modular homes with smart Wi-Fi security systems and swelled disposable income of the consumer are some of the factors positively impacting the growth of home wi-fi security device market.However, presence of low speed wi-fi systems along with high data cost in many under-developed nations leads to connectivity issues with the integrated Wi-Fi security system which is anticipated to hamper the growth of home wi-fi security device market during the forecast period.The report titled Home Wi-Fi Security Device Market: Global Demand Analysis & Opportunity Outlook 2023 delivers detailed overview of the global home wi-fi security device market in terms of market segmentation by product and by region.To Know More Ask The Analyst @Further, for the in-depth analysis, the report encompasses the industry growth drivers, restraints, supply and demand risk, market attractiveness, BPS analysis and Porters five force model.This report also provides the existing competitive scenario of some of the key players of the global home wi-fi security device market which includes company profiling of ASSA ABLOY, UTC Fire and Security, Bosch Security Systems, Honeywell International Inc., Godrej & Boyce Manufacturing Co. Ltd., Blink, Nest Labs, Netgear Inc. and Dojo-Labs. The profiling enfolds key information of the companies which encompasses business overview, products and services, key financials and recent news and developments. On the whole, the report depicts detailed overview of the global home wi-fi security device market that will help industry consultants, equipment manufacturers, existing players searching for expansion opportunities, new players searching possibilities and other stakeholders to align their market centric strategies according to the ongoing and expected trends in the future.Buy This Premium Report @About Us:-Research Nester is a leading service provider for strategic market research and consulting. We aim to provide unbiased, unparalleled market insights and industry analysis to help industries, conglomerates and executives to take wise decisions for their future marketing strategy, expansion and investment etc. We believe every business can expand to its new horizon, provided a right guidance at a right time is available through strategic minds. Our out of box thinking helps our clients to take wise decision so as to avoid future uncertainties.Contact for more Info:Ajay DanielEmail: ajay.daniel@researchnester.comPhone: +1 6465869123
Veterinary Antibiotics Market - Advanced technologies, Global Forecast and Winning Imperatives 2017

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Albany, NY, 1st November : Recent research and the current scenario as well as future market potential of "Veterinary Antibiotics Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast 2016 - 2024" globally.Mounting concerns over antibiotic resistance in humans and increasing demand for meat, milk, and eggs will continue to influence discussion on veterinary healthcare. While the US, Canada, and countries in Western Europe have some of the strongest animal healthcare standards  backed up by strong legislation  developing countries are also joining the fray with government support and legislation witnessing an uptick in recent years.Get PDF for more Professional and Technical insights @The global veterinary healthcare market is currently valued at nearly US$ 35 billion, and is expected to witness steady growth rates in the next decade. However, there are a plethora of changes currently underway in this highly lucrative market that can have an impact on the stakeholders. Among rising concerns on the effect of long-term antibiotics use, many farm- and pet-owners are making the shift to vaccines. The move is being supported by veterinary healthcare activists. In view of anticipated growth of the veterinary vaccines market, which is estimated to reach $9.5 bn by 2020, Elanco LLC (Eli Lilly & Co.) recently opened a 48,000-square-facility in Indianapolis. The facility is expected to focus on developing vaccines for farm animals, which according to estimates total 70 billion. However, antibiotics arent expected to disappear anytime soon, as they remain a credible method of disease prevention and management around the globe. The global veterinary antibiotics market is expected to witness moderate growth during the forecast period 2016-2024.Impact of FDA Regulations on Animal Antibiotics MarketThe U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has been working on regularizing the use of antibiotics in veterinary healthcare. From defining medically significant antibiotics in 2003 to setting up the Veterinary Feed Additive (VFA) rule, the FDA is keeping a strict watch on the non-prescribed use of antibiotics in animal feed. The VFD final rule, which will come into effect from January 1, 2017, makes it mandatory to present a prescription to a veterinarian for buying a feed containing a covered antibiotic. Although these regulations are anticipated to serve well in the long-term, they can stymie demand for veterinary antibiotics in the short-term.Europe Planning to Tighten its Grip on Veterinary AntibioticsThe proposed European Union regulation that governs the use of antibiotics on animals can also have an impact on sales in Europe. The proposal focuses on collecting, compiling, and reporting antibiotic use in animal feed and for disease mitigation. Regulatory authorities in Europe have been monitoring the state of veterinary healthcare and in 2015, EFSA, ECDC, and EMA concluded, in a joint report, that certain antimicrobials were associated with resistance to these antimicrobials in humans and animals.Make an Enquiry about TOC @While demand for antibiotics in developed countries may decline in the future, manufacturers can look to consolidate their position in developing regions, where regulations on use of antibiotics arent as stringent as they are in the U.S. and Europe. The Asia Pacific veterinary antibiotics market is expected to grow at a higher CAGR than North America and Europe markets, owing to laxer regulations.Commonly used antibiotics in animal healthcare include tetracyclines, penicillin, and cephalosporins. These antibiotics have remained sought-after owing to their easy availability and low cost. According to a report by FDA, sales of veterinary antibiotics in the U.S. increased by nearly 23% between 2009 and 2014. The staggering growth is another key factor that has brought the alleged antibiotic abuse into limelight in the U.S.Veterinary Antibiotics Market: Key PlayersThe key players in the veterinary antibiotics market are Bayer Animal Health, Phibro Animal Health Corp.,Merial, Ceva Sante Animale S.A., Bioniche Animal Health, Fort Dodge Animal Health, Elanco Animal Health, Merck Animal Health, Virbac Animal Health, Zoetis, Inc., and Novartis Animal Health.The report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the market. It does so via in-depth qualitative insights, historical data, and verifiable projections about market size. The projections featured in the report have been derived using proven research methodologies and assumptions. By doing so, the research report serves as a repository of analysis and information for every facet of the market, including but not limited to: Regional markets, technology, types, and applications.The study is a source of reliable data on:Market segments and sub-segmentsMarket trends and dynamicsSupply and demandMarket sizeCurrent trends/opportunities/challengesCompetitive landscapeTechnological breakthroughsValue chain and stakeholder analysisThe regional analysis covers:North America (U.S. and Canada)Latin America (Mexico, Brazil, Peru, Chile, and others)Western Europe (Germany, U.K., France, Spain, Italy, Nordic countries, Belgium, Netherlands, and Luxembourg)Eastern Europe (Poland and Russia)Asia Pacific (China, India, Japan, ASEAN, Australia, and New Zealand)Middle East and Africa (GCC, Southern Africa, and North Africa)The report has been compiled through extensive primary research (through interviews, surveys, and observations of seasoned analysts) and secondary research (which entails reputable paid sources, trade journals, and industry body databases). The report also features a complete qualitative and quantitative assessment by analyzing data gathered from industry analysts and market participants across key points in the industrys value chain.A separate analysis of prevailing trends in the parent market, macro- and micro-economic indicators, and regulations and mandates is included under the purview of the study. By doing so, the report projects the attractiveness of each major segment over the forecast period.Browse Report @Highlights of the report:A complete backdrop analysis, which includes an assessment of the parent marketImportant changes in market dynamicsMarket segmentation up to the second or third levelHistorical, current, and projected size of the market from the standpoint of both value and volumeReporting and evaluation of recent industry developmentsMarket shares and strategies of key playersEmerging niche segments and regional marketsAn objective assessment of the trajectory of the marketRecommendations to companies for strengthening their foothold in the marketResearchMoz is the one stop online destination to find and buy market research reports & Industry Analysis. We fulfill all your research needs spanning across industry verticals with our huge collection of market research reports. We provide our services to all sizes of organizations and across all industry verticals and markets. Our Research Coordinators have in-depth knowledge of reports as well as publishers and will assist you in making an informed decision by giving you unbiased and deep insights on which reports will satisfy your needs at the best price.ResearchMozMr. Nachiket Ghumare,90 State Street, Albany NY, United States - 12207Tel: +1-518-621-2074USA-Canada Toll Free: 866-997-4948Email: sales@researchmoz.usFollow us on LinkedIn @Follow me on :
Hydrophilic Coatings Market - Insights, Size, Share, Opportunity Analysis, and Industry Forecast till 2025

Global Hydrophilic Coatings Market,

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Hydrophilic coatings refer to low friction and wettable coatings majorly applied to various medical devices including cannulas, catheters, and guide wires. Hydrophilic coatings on medical devices produce a lubricious surface reducing irritation and trauma caused by the insertion of a medical device in the body. In addition to this, hydrophilic coatings help to prevent the medical devices from bacterial colonization, thereby reducing the possibility of infections.The major factors propelling the growth of this market include the increasing adoption of hydrophilic coatings from end-use industries, such as healthcare, automotive, aerospace, and marine. Hydrophilic coatings exhibit water attracting properties and produces a hydrogen bond, which creates a lubricious and wettable coating that can be applied to a variety of surfaces and materials. Furthermore, the growing demand for lightweight materials in the automotive industry is expected to boost the growth of this market in near future. However, the high production cost of the hydrophilic coatings coupled with the lower shelf life of these products are the major factors hindering the growth of the market.Request a sample copy of this report:In terms of revenue, North America dominated the hydrophilic coatings market in 2016 and accounted for a share of more than around 35%. This dominance is due to increasing awareness regarding the benefits associated with non-invasive surgery procedures including laparoscopic surgery, endoscopic surgery, and thoracoscopic surgery. Furthermore, the rising penetration of hydrophilic coatings in the optics, aerospace, and automotive industries is largely contributing to the growth of hydrophilic coatings market in the region. The application of hydrophilic coatings on optical surface enhances transparency and provides clear vision, thus increasing the penetration level of hydrophilic coatings in various optical devices including outdoor surveillance, camera windows, and outdoor displays. According to the International Organization of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers (OICA), the U.S had manufactured around 3,934,357 cars and around 8,263,780 commercial vehicles in 2016. Hydrophilic coatings are extensively used in car windshields and rear-view mirrors in order to ensure clarity while driving during rains. This factor is highly responsible for the growth of this market in the U.S, which in turn is complementing the growth of the hydrophilic coatings market in North America.Asia Pacific is anticipated to be the fastest growing market for hydrophilic coatings, witnessing the highest CAGR of 8.83% during the forecast period (2017 - 2025). Major factors propelling the growth of this market include substantial growth in the income of middle-class population and the steadily growing geriatric population in the region, which is supporting the growth of medical sector, in turn increasing the demand for hydrophilic coatings in the medical devices. According to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the region is aging faster at an unprecedented rate and by 2050, one out of four people in the Asia Pacific is expected to be over 60 years. Furthermore, UNFPA anticipated that the geriatric population in the region is expected to triple between 2010 and 2050, amounting to around 1.3 billion people. The steadily growing healthcare sector in China is also propelling the growth of hydrophilic coatings market. According to Coherent Market Insights, the health care expenditure in China is expected to grow from US$ 355 billion in 2011 to approximately US$ 1 trillion by 2020.Request Customization of the report:Based on end-use industry, healthcare segment emerged as the leading market in 2016 and is expected to retain market dominance throughout the forecast period. This is due to its lubricious coatings on the disposable medical devices including guide wires and catheters. These coatings lower down the insertion force, which reduces the possibilities of severe abrasion between the vessel walls and the surface of the device. Moreover, the qualities including biocompatibility, durability, sterility, and flexibility are some of the major factors propelling the growth of hydrophilic coatings market in the healthcare sector.Based on substrates, the hydrophilic coatings market is segmented into polymers, glass, metal, nanoparticles, and others. The polymer segment is expected to record a rapid growth in near future witnessing highest CAGR during the forecast period.Major players operating in the global hydrophilic coatings market include SurModics Inc., Aculon Inc., Surface Solutions Group LLC, Hydromer Inc., Teleflex Incorporated, AdvanSource Biomaterials Corp., Koninklijke DSM N.V., Covalon Technologies Ltd., and Harland Medical Devices.View this full report:About Coherent Market Insights:Coherent Market Insights is a prominent market research and consulting firm offering action-ready syndicated research reports, custom market analysis, consulting services, and competitive analysis through various recommendations related to emerging market trends, technologies, and potential absolute dollar opportunity.Contact Us:Mr.ShahCoherent Market Insights1001 4th Ave,#3200Seattle, WA 98154Tel: +1-206-701-6702Email:sales@coherentmarketinsights.com
Disposable Plastic Blood Bag Market to Reach an US$4,13,084.8 thousand in 2020

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According to a new market report published by Persistence Market Research Global Market Study on Disposable Plastic Blood Bags: Single Blood Bags to Witness Highest Growth by 2020 the global Disposable Plastic Blood Bags market was valued at USD 2,44,286.8 thousand in 2014 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 9.1% from 2014 to 2020, to reach an estimated value of USD 4,13,084.8 thousand in 2020.Browse report overview @North America has the largest market for the global disposable plastic blood bags market. This is due to increased prevalence of blood disorders in the region. North American market for disposable plastic blood bags is estimated at USD 83,670.7 thousand in 2014 and is expected to reach USD 1,42,983.2 thousand in 2020, growing at a CAGR of 9.3%. Asia is the fastest growing region; this is due to large population base in the region. In terms of type of blood bags, single blood bags are the fastest growing segment. In terms of end users, blood banks are the fastest growing.Terumo Corporation is a leading player in the global market for disposable plastic blood bags market. Some of the other major players in disposable plastic blood bags market are Grifols, S.A., Fresenius SE & Co. KGaA, Haemonetics Corporation and MacoPharma SA.View Full Report TOC, Figures and Tables @About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a U.S.-based full-service market intelligence firm specializing in syndicated research, custom research, and consulting services. PMR boasts market research expertise across the Healthcare, Chemicals and Materials, Technology and Media, Energy and Mining, Food and Beverages, Semiconductor and Electronics, Consumer Goods, and Shipping and Transportation industries. The company draws from its multi-disciplinary capabilities and high-pedigree team of analysts to share data that precisely corresponds to clients business needs.PMR stands committed to bringing more accuracy and speed to clients business decisions. From ready-to-purchase market research reports to customized research solutions, PMRs engagement models are highly flexible without compromising on its deep-seated research values.ContactPersistence Market Research Pvt. Ltd305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA  Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.commedia@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb:
Luxury Hotels Market - Industry Shares, Market Strategies And Key Players The healthy growth of the travel and tourism industry is allowing the global luxury hotels market to gain significant momentum. Rapid globalization and urbanization along with rising disposable are encouraging people to travel for vacations and business purposes, which in turn is escalating the development of the hotel industry worldwide. According to a report by Transparency Market Research, the global luxury hotels market will expand at a CAGR of 4.0% from 2015 to 2021, reaching a valuation of US$195.2 bn by the end of 2021.



Branding and promotions play a critical role in the growth of the market. In order to suit the constantly changing consumer requirements, luxury hotels are constantly trying to enhance their services. Their owners are paying high attention to implementing new services, including complimentary services and customization of rooms, with properly trained hotel staff in order to satisfy customers. Moreover, as people are becoming increasingly brand conscious, successful branding and marketing can increase the awareness and affinity of consumers and in turn loyalty. Apart from this, the increasing organization of international events is providing a tremendous boost to the luxury hotels market.



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Business Hotels to Remain Most Prominent Segment through 2021



On the basis of type, the global luxury hotels market is divided into suite hotels, business hotels, resorts, airport hotels, and others, which include service apartments, casino hotels, and conference and convention centers. The business hotel segment will continue to account for the lions share in the market until 2021. The growing number of multinational companies and rapid globalization are contributing to the growth of the segment. Apart from this, aggressive branding and marketing strategies undertaken by existing players are also anticipated to boost the popularity of business hotels.



The segment will be closely trailed by airport hotels. The target consumers of this type of hotel are airline passengers with overnight layovers or cancelled flights, airline crew and staff, and business clientele. The increasing air traffic is supplementing the growth of the airport hotels segment. Resorts will be the most promising segment during the forecast period. The growing popularity of all-inclusive resorts along with the rising spending power is providing a significant push to the segment.



Browse Press Release of this Research Report @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/luxury-hotels-market.html



Changing Lifestyles of Populace to Help North America Retain Dominance until 2021



From the geographical standpoint, the report classifies the global luxury hotels market into North America, Asia Pacific, and Europe. In Rest of the World, the report primarily focuses on Saudi Arabia and Brazil. North America will continue to be the frontrunner in the global market until 2021. The growth of the region can be attributed to the high disposable income and change in consumer lifestyles. The increasing inclination towards all-inclusive resorts is also propelling the luxury hotels market in the region.



Europe will also hold a prominent position in the global arena, thanks to the rising spending power of the populace. Besides this, the highly lucrative travel and tourism industry in the region is positively impacting the European luxury hotels market. Asia Pacific, on the other hand, will rise at a noteworthy CAGR during the review period. The growth of the region is largely driven by the growing disposable income and rapid infrastructural development. The demand for luxury hotels in regions in Rest of the World is augmented by the rising number of international events and the improving standard of living.



Some of the prominent chain of luxury hotels around the world are Four Seasons Holdings Inc., InterContinental Hotels Group PLC, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Jumeirah International LLC, Kerzner International Resorts Inc., The Indian Hotels Company Limited, Mandarin Oriental International Limited, ITC Hotels Limited, Shangri-La International Hotel Management Ltd., and Marriott International Inc.



About TMR



Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.



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Diabetic Nephropathy Market Expected to be Valued $3,145.9 million in 2020

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According to a new market report published by Persistence Market Research Global Market Study on Diabetic Nephropathy Market  Asia to Witness Highest Growth by 2020,.The global diabetic nephropathy market was valued at USD 2,262.2 million in 2014 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.6% from 2014 to 2020, to reach an expected value of USD 3,145.9 million in 2020.In North America, various government programs are spreading awareness about diabetes and related renal complications. For instance, the National Kidney Disease Education Program, one of the major programs organized by the U.S. government, for increasing awareness about the various kidney diseases. In addition, the number of diabetic patients are also increasing in the region; according to the SciELO Public Health, approximately 35 million people were affected with diabetes mellitus in 2000 and this number is expected to reach 64 million by 2025 in North America.In Europe, rise in healthcare expenditure for diabetes treatment and increasing prevalence of diabetes in the various part of Europe is boosting the growth of the European diabetic nephropathy market. According to IDF, approximately 55.4 million people had diabetes in 2010 and the number is expected to reach 66.5 million by 2030 in Europe. According to the IDF, healthcare expenditure for diabetes treatment was approximately USD 105.5 billion in 2010 and is expected to reach USD 124.6 billion by 2030 in Europe.Asia represents the fastest growing region in the diabetic nephropathy market due to the rise in a diabetic population in various countries such as Japan and the Southeast Asian countries. According to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), developing countries, such as India and China, are expected to have the highest number of diabetes mellitus patients compared to developed countries, such as the U.S. and Germany.Sanofi is one of the leading players in the diabetic nephropathy market. Other major players in diabetic nephropathy market include Eli Lilly and Company, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation, Novartis AG, Pfizer, Inc., Abbott Laboratories, AbbVie, Inc., Bayer AG, Merck & Co., Inc., Bayer AG and Reata Pharmaceuticals, Inc.About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a U.S.-based full-service market intelligence firm specializing in syndicated research, custom research, and consulting services. PMR boasts market research expertise across the Healthcare, Chemicals and Materials, Technology and Media, Energy and Mining, Food and Beverages, Semiconductor and Electronics, Consumer Goods, and Shipping and Transportation industries. The company draws from its multi-disciplinary capabilities and high-pedigree team of analysts to share data that precisely corresponds to clients business needs.PMR stands committed to bringing more accuracy and speed to clients business decisions. From ready-to-purchase market research reports to customized research solutions, PMRs engagement models are highly flexible without compromising on its deep-seated research values.ContactPersistence Market Research Pvt. Ltd305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA  Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.commedia@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb:
GLOBAL OIL AND GAS CHEMICALS, BY UPSTREAM, MIDSTREAM AND DOWNSTREAM MARKET TO SURPASS US$ 85 BILLION BY 2025

Global Oil and Gas Chemicals Market

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The Global Oil and Gas Chemicals Market was valued at US$ 52.54 billion in 2016, according to a new report published by Coherent Market Insights. Oil and gas chemicals has major application in exploration of natural gas at various levels of oil & gas production process. These chemicals are used as corrosion inhibitors, emulsion breakers, cementing super plasticizers, paraffin dispersants, and drilling additives. Additionally, oil and gas chemicals find major application in drilling activities, owing to increasing need to improve and enhance the efficiency and productivity of drilling operations. They are regarded as essential fossil fuel elements, as they increase the feasibility of drilling reservoirs of gas or oil in various terrains along with easy extraction of abundant fossil fuels. Oil and gas chemicals find their use in upstream, midstream, and downstream sectors. However, slump in oil price has hampered the growth of oil and gas chemicals market.Request a sample copy of this report:Key Trends and Analysis of the Oil and Gas Chemicals Market:The Upstream segment dominated the oil and gas chemicals market in 2016, according to the stats provided by Coherent Market Insights. Oil and gas chemicals are widely used in an oilfield activities for extraction, exploration, and production of oil and natural gas. Increasing energy demand, rise in exploration, and production activities to discover untapped oil and gas reserves have boosted the upstream sector in the oil and gas chemicals market. According to Baker Hughes, the worldwide rig count in March 2016, was 1,551 which has increased to 1,985 in March 2017.Stimulation chemicals among the upstream chemicals are accounted to have the largest growth in the upstream oil and gas chemicals market, owing to their continuous use in an oilfield to repair and improve the productivity of well. Additionally, desalting chemicals from the midstream segment has the largest market in midstream oil and gas chemicals, owing to their significant use to remove salt from the treated oil. Similarly, petrochemicals segment from the downstream chemicals holds the largest share in the downstream oil and gas chemicals market.Access Table of Content (TOC) of the report:North-America is witnessed to be a giant market in oil and gas chemicals. Shale gas revolution has paved paths to increase in exploration and production activities in this region. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the total shale production in the U.S. in 2014 was 13.4 trillion cubic feet, which raised up to 15.2 trillion cubic feet in 2015. Increase in offshore E&P activities in shallow and deep water has contributed to the growth of oil and gas chemicals in this region.Latin America, on the other hand, has proven to have bulk of new discoveries from shale, oil sand and deep water regions. However, this region is accounted to have a stagnant growth in the oil and gas chemicals market, owing to the government regulations and civilian unrest resulting in hindrance of new investments in Latin America. However, this region is projected to have a high growth in the oil and gas chemicals market over the forecast period with the second highest CAGR of 7.07% after Asia-Pacific.Asia-Pacific is anticipated to be the fastest-growing market in the oil and gas chemicals market over the forecast period with a CAGR of 7.36%, highest among all the regions, owing to the presence of two largely emerging economies such as China and India. India is host to large gas reserves off its east coast. Also, China's exploitable shale gas reserves are estimated at 21.8 trillion cubic meters, with proven reserves at 544.1 billion cubic meters.Africa has witnessed to be one of the significant growing market in oil and gas chemicals. In 2010, an estimated 85 trillion cubic feet of gas was discovered in the Rovuma basin in Mozambique. In September 2017, PetroSA and Russia based Rosgeo signed a US$ 400 million agreement to develop oil and gas reserves off the coast of South Africa. In June 2016, in Angola, state-owned Sonangol announced a gas discovery in the Kwanza Basin, which is estimated to hold 813 million barrel of oil equivalent. BP plc holds a block in the discovered field in a joint venture with Sonangol.Middle East is projected to have a prominent growth in the oil and gas chemicals market, owing to the presence of major oilfield countries in this region such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Iran, and UAE. The growing E&P and long life of the oilfield has given roots for major players to invest in Middle East. Additionly, this region is regarded as the largest exporter of oil and gas in the world especially Saudi Arabia. UAE is focusing on uplifting infrastructure and industrial development, petrochemical, airline, and renewable energy to support its primary oil industry. Occidental company has a 30 years joint venture with Abu Dhabi National Oil Company on one of the largest natural gas fields in Middle East called Al Hons Gas featuring to extract sulfur from natural gas.View this full report:Key Players in Global Oil and Gas Chemicals Market for Upstream, Midstream and DownstreamMajor players operating in the global oil and gas chemicals market include Baker Hughes, Akzo Nobel NV, Elementis Plc., NALCO Champion, Newpak Resources Inc., The Lubrizol Corporation, Halliburton Company, Solvay SA, and others.About Coherent Market Insights:Coherent Market Insights is a prominent market research and consulting firm offering action-ready syndicated research reports, custom market analysis, consulting services, and competitive analysis through various recommendations related to emerging market trends, technologies, and potential absolute dollar opportunity.Contact Us:Mr. ShahCoherent Market Insights1001 4th Ave,#3200Seattle, WA 98154Tel: +1-206-701-6702Email: sales@coherentmarketinsights.com
Organic Beef Meat Market - Global Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment

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Grounded beef segment by type is expected to account for a relatively high value CAGR in the global organic beef meat market over the forecast periodThe processed meat segment is anticipated to remain dominant in terms of revenue share during the forecast period due to the advantage of reduced preparation time for processed meat. The processed meat segment is estimated to be valued at about US$ 6,700 Mn by 2017 end and is expected to increase at a CAGR of 6.7% over the forecast period. The segment is expected to be valued at more than US$ 12 Bn by the end of 2027, creating an absolute $ opportunity of more than US$ 350 Mn in 2017 over 2016 and an incremental $ opportunity of more than US$ 6,000 Mn between 2017 and 2027. The segment is likely to grab more than 75% market share during the projected period. In terms of value, the processed meat segment is projected to be the most attractive in the global organic beef meat market during the forecast period.Get Sample Report For More Information@Increasing consumer preference for organic food and easy availability of organic beef through retail chains likely to boost the global organic beef meat market between 2017 and 2027In developed markets, organic food products are preferred over conventional products as consumers opt for products that are natural with fewer chemicals and additives. Organic food products do not have additives or chemicals and offer the required nutrients, thereby gaining higher trust and adoption than conventional food products. Although high prices of these specialised products are restricting product acceptance by the middle-class population, rising disposable income and increasing focus on healthy living support demand for these products.A substantial percentage of total sales of organic beef takes place through the organised retail format in Western Europe. With economies of countries in the region growing, the retail chain is also expected to exhibit substantial growth. Owing to increasing preference for organic food products, retail chains are increasingly offering such products and this is expected to fuel demand for organic beef across the globe.Increasing market penetration is one of the major factors driving the growth of the global organic beef meat market. Growing consumer awareness and preference for natural and organic foods owing to associated health benefits has fuelled the shift in preference for organic food in day-to-day edibles by consumers, especially in Eastern Europe. Organic beef products are anticipated to gain popularity due to the organic wave in the region over the forecast period.Due to the availability of natural resources in the countries of Latin America, companies have easy access to raw material cultivated for the production of organic products. In Latin America, Brazil and Argentina are the most prominent countries contributing towards the production of organic beef. For instance, in 2017, according to the report published by the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) and International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM)  both non-profit organisations  over 70% of the total organic agricultural land in Latin America constitutes permanent pasture land.Browse Report@Global organic beef meat market structureThe global organic beef meat market is primarily characterised by the presence of a large number of regional and multinational companies. An approximate share of 40%-45% is accounted for by multinational players who are also the price regulators of the global market. North America and Western Europe are the two main regions to target due to increasing number of health conscious consumers and increasing demand for organic food and beverages in these regions. Companies such as Tyson Foods Inc., JBS Global, Danish Crown and others are the major players in the organic beef meat market. Regional players and local players account for a market share of 30%-35% and 20%-25% respectively. These players largely operate in the U.S., U.K. and Australia markets and their major target audience includes consumers seeking organic processed meat.About Us:-FMIs research and consulting services help businesses around the globe navigate the challenges in a rapidly evolving marketplace with confidence and clarity. Our customised and syndicated market research reports deliver actionable insights that drive sustainable growth. We continuously track emerging trends and events in a broad range of end industries to ensure our clients prepare for the evolving needs of their consumers.Contact Us:-3rd Floor, 207 Regent Street,London W1B 3HH,United KingdomT: + 44 (0) 20 7692 8790D: +44 (0) 20 3287 4268Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.com
Analysis Of The Global Peer-To-Peer Market Along With Revenue And Growth Forecasts For The Period From 2014 To 2024

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Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Analysis Of The Global Peer-To-Peer Market Along With Revenue And Growth Forecasts For The Period From 2014 To 2024" to its huge collection of research reports.This report aims to provide a detailed and vital analysis of the global peer-to-peer market along with revenue and growth forecasts for the period from 2014 to 2024. The global financial crisis, subsequently resulted in the emergence of the peer-to-peer lending outside of the traditional financial system especially in countries such as the U.S., the U.K. and Europe. Typically, the peer-to-peer lending business provides a unique and transparent platform to individuals, small businesses, and start-ups to invest or borrow money in few clicks.The report offers an in-depth study of the market drivers, restraints, and growth opportunities. Using these factors, the report identifies various trends expected to impact the market during the forecast period from 2016 to 2024. It includes a comprehensive coverage of the underlying economic, environmental, and technological factors influencing the peer-to-peer market. It provides the competitive landscape and analysis of key players in the global peer-to-peer market in order to highlight the state of competition and to identify the various business strategies adopted by them. In this report, the global peer-to-peer lending market is segmented on the basis of end-users and business models and geographies and explains the penetration of each market segment within various geographies, and how these segments have accelerated the growth of the market as a whole.The end-users segment of the peer-to-peer lending market is classified into consumer credit, small business, student loans, and real estate and the business models segment is classified into traditional P2P model and marketplace lending model. Geographically, the global market for peer-to-peer lending has been segmented into five regions: North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Rest of the World (Middle East and Africa and Latin America). The market size and forecast for each region has been provided for the period from 2014 to 2024 along with the CAGR (%) for the forecast period from 2016 to 2024. The study also includes qualitative analysis of the competitive scenario for major countries/regions in these geographical segments.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @The report includes an overview of the market strategies, annual revenues, and the recent developments of key companies operating in the market. The key market participants profiled in this study include LendingClub Corporation, Prosper Marketplace, Inc., CommonBond Inc., Upstart Network Inc., Funding Circle Limited, CircleBack Lending, Inc., Peerform, Social Finance Inc., Pave, Inc., and Daric Inc.Market Segmentation:Global Peer-to-Peer Lending Market Analysis, By End-Users, 2014  2024 (US$ Bn)Consumer CreditSmall BusinessStudent LoansReal EstateGlobal Peer-to-Peer Lending Market Analysis, By Business Model, 2014  2024 (US$ Bn)Traditional P2P ModelMarketplace Lending ModelIn addition, the report provides cross-sectional analysis of the peer-to-peer market with respect to the following geographical segments along with select country market estimates:North AmericaThe U.S.Rest of North AmericaEuropeThe U.K.FranceGermanyRest of EuropeAsia-PacificChinaAustraliaRest of Asia PacificRest of the WorldMiddle East and Africa (MEA)Latin AmericaBrowse More Details @About ResearchMozResearchMoz is the one stop online destination to find and buy market research reports & Industry Analysis. We fulfill all your research needs spanning across industry verticals with our huge collection of market research reports. We provide our services to all sizes of organizations and across all industry verticals and markets. Our Research Coordinators have in-depth knowledge of reports as well as publishers and will assist you in making an informed decision by giving you unbiased and deep insights on which reports will satisfy your needs at the best price.Mr. NachiketState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesEmail: sales@researchmoz.usWebsite @Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Follow us on LinkedIn @
Symptoms Of Gastritis Market Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast, 2016 - 2024

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Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Symptoms Of Gastritis Market Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast, 2016 - 2024" to its huge collection of research reports.Gastritis is characterized by a set of conditions that cause inflammation or irritation of the lining of the stomach, for a short or long time. Upper abdominal pain or discomfort is the most common symptom of Gastritis. There are two forms of gastritis, a brief and sudden illness, acute gastritis occurs suddenly, which involves sudden and severe inflammation; and chronic gastritis which develops slowly may last for years due to long-term inflammation. An upset stomach following the consumption of alchohol or certain medications is one of the common examples of acute gastritis. There are various causes of gastritis but one of the most common causes is Helicobacter pylori, a kind of bacterium that infects the lining of the stomach. If left untreated, gastritis caused by Helicobacter pylori can lead to ulcers and stomach cancer. Though foods which cause gastritis are different from person to person and may not always be consistent with the severity of the disease , spicy, fatty and fried foods are commonly avoided to set off symptoms of gastritis. Bleeding inside the stomach occurs in a case of severe gastritis. Other causes of gastritis include autoimmune disorders, digestive disorders and stress caused by severe injury. Various symptoms associated with gastritis are as follows:NauseaAbdominal painAbdominal bloatingVomitingLoss of appetiteBlack and tarry stoolFeeling of fullnessGASTRITIS MARKET SEGMENTATIONBased on diagnosis, the gastritis market can be segmented as follows:pyroli test: This test is used to determine the presence of bacterium H. pyroliBlood test: Red blood cell count is checked to determine whether an individual has anemia or notEndoscopy: A thin with a tiny camera (endoscope) is inserted into ones stomach to check for inflammationX-ray of upper digestive system: X-ray creates images of esophagus, stomach and small intestine and is used to diagnose abnormalities.Based on treatments, the gastritis market can be segmented as follows:Acid blocking medications: Proton pump inhibitors such as omeprazole (Prilosec), lansoprazole (Prevacid) and esomeprazole (Nexium) block cells that form stomach acid.Acid reducing medications: Histamine (H-2) blockers (acid blockers) such as ranitidine (Zantac) and famotidine (Pepcid) reduces the amount of acid released into the digestive tractAntacids: Antacids act as a neutralizing agent for the stomach and provide rapid relief from gastritis painAntibiotics: Combination of antibiotics such as clarithromycin (Biaxin) and metronidazole (Flagyl) are used to kill the bacterium H.pyroli and thereby aids in the treatment of gastritisBased on geography, the gastritis market can be segmented into four major regions: North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Rest of the World (RoW). Out of all, North America dominates the gastritis market followed by Europe. The prime factors that are driving the growth of the market in these regions are high prevalence of gastritis and increasing unhealthy lifestyles of the population. According to a published survey, the prevalence rate of gastritis is approximately 1 in 100 in the US.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @Asia Pacific is the most lucrative market for the growth of gastritis market and is developing at an extremely rapid pace. The factors which would augment the growth of the market in Asia Pacific region are increasing rate of various viral and autoimmune diseases, rapid spread of infection from one person to another and development of various sophisticated therapeutic tools for gastritis. Furthermore, other benefits such as favorable taxation policy and reimbursement scenario, and easy market penetration in developing countries such as China, India, and Malaysia would also fuel the growth of the gastritis market in the coming years.Presently, the gastritis market is fragmented and various companies are developing therapeutic drugs for the treatment of gastritis.Gastritis Market Key PlayersSome of the top players operating in the gastritis market are AstraZeneca PLC, Novartis AG, Zydus Cadila Healthcare Limited, PT Otsuka Indonesia and others.The report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the market. It does so via in-depth qualitative insights, historical data, and verifiable projections about market size. The projections featured in the report have been derived using proven research methodologies and assumptions. By doing so, the research report serves as a repository of analysis and information for every facet of the market, including but not limited to: Regional markets, technology, types, and applications.The study is a source of reliable data on:Market segments and sub-segmentsMarket trends and dynamicsSupply and demandMarket sizeCurrent trends/opportunities/challengesCompetitive landscapeTechnological breakthroughsValue chain and stakeholder analysisThe regional analysis covers:North America (U.S. and Canada)Latin America (Mexico, Brazil, Peru, Chile, and others)Western Europe (Germany, U.K., France, Spain, Italy, Nordic countries, Belgium, Netherlands, and Luxembourg)Eastern Europe (Poland and Russia)Asia Pacific (China, India, Japan, ASEAN, Australia, and New Zealand)Middle East and Africa (GCC, Southern Africa, and North Africa)The report has been compiled through extensive primary research (through interviews, surveys, and observations of seasoned analysts) and secondary research (which entails reputable paid sources, trade journals, and industry body databases). The report also features a complete qualitative and quantitative assessment by analyzing data gathered from industry analysts and market participants across key points in the industrys value chain.A separate analysis of prevailing trends in the parent market, macro- and micro-economic indicators, and regulations and mandates is included under the purview of the study. By doing so, the report projects the attractiveness of each major segment over the forecast period.Highlights of the report:A complete backdrop analysis, which includes an assessment of the parent marketImportant changes in market dynamicsMarket segmentation up to the second or third levelHistorical, current, and projected size of the market from the standpoint of both value and volumeReporting and evaluation of recent industry developmentsMarket shares and strategies of key playersEmerging niche segments and regional marketsAn objective assessment of the trajectory of the marketRecommendations to companies for strengthening their foothold in the marketBrowse More Details @About ResearchMozResearchMoz is the one stop online destination to find and buy market research reports & Industry Analysis. We fulfill all your research needs spanning across industry verticals with our huge collection of market research reports. We provide our services to all sizes of organizations and across all industry verticals and markets. Our Research Coordinators have in-depth knowledge of reports as well as publishers and will assist you in making an informed decision by giving you unbiased and deep insights on which reports will satisfy your needs at the best price.Mr. NachiketState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesEmail: sales@researchmoz.usWebsite @Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Follow us on LinkedIn @
Acute Lymphocytic/Lymphoblastic Leukemia Therapeutics Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast, 2016 - 2024

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Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Acute Lymphocytic/Lymphoblastic Leukemia Therapeutics Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast, 2016 - 2024" to its huge collection of research reports.Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL) also called as lympholastic leukemia is a cancer that starts from the early version of white blood cells called lympholastic in the bone marrow. Over production of cancerous lymphoblast is the main reason behind this type of cancer. ALL is characterized by the over production of cancerous lymphoblasts. When a person is suffering from ALL, lymphoblasts are generally overproduced in the bone marrow and constantly multiply, causing damage to the bone marrow by restraining the production of normal cells such as platelets and red blood cells (RBC).These lymphoblasts are also called as leukemia cells. As the number of lymphoblast increases in the bone marrow and blood, there is less room for healthy RBCs, white blood cells and platelets. This may cause anemia, infection and bleeding. The cancer can also spread to the brain and spinal cord.Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia Therapeutics market: CategoriesAcute lymphocytic leukemia can be categorized into two types, childhood acute lymphocytic/lymphoblastic leukemia and adult acute lymphocytic/lymphoblastic leukemia. Some of the signs and symptoms associated with acute lymphocytic/lymphoblastic leukemia are weakness and fatigue, anemia, loss of appetite, fever, paleness, shortness of breath, bone and joint pain, bruising, petechiae, swollen glands in the groin, neck and under arms,enlarged lymph nodes, spleen and liver.Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia Therapeutics market: Available treatmentsProper medications, including antifungals, antineoplastics, antimicrobials is necessary take as soon as the disease detects. Apart from this, radiation therapy, biological therapy and immunotherapy should be taken by patients of ALL.Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia Therapeutics market: TrendsIn terms of geography, North America is the leading market for acute lymphoblastic leukemia therapeutics market owing to the large base of leukemia patients. The American Cancer Society, estimates that in 2016 in the U.S, about 6,590 new cases of acute lymphocytic/lymphoblastic leukemia would be diagnosed out of which 3590 would be males and 3000 would be females. The organization also estimated that during the same year, almost 1430 deaths would occur in the U.S. from acute lymphocytic/lymphoblastic leukemia. Such growing base of leukemia population would further contribute to the growth of the overall acute lymphoblastic leukemia therapeutics market. However, other market such as Asia-Pacific tends to witness high growth in this market owing to the increased incidence of cancer cases in the recent years.Currently, the global acute lymphoblastic leukemia therapeutics market is highly lucrative, and is primarily driven by the growing incidence and prevalence of leukemia. Moreover, other factors such as high demand for improved cancer therapies; along with focused towards addressing the unmet medical needs are also driving the growth of this market. Furthermore, increasing burden of cancer among geriatric population and increased focus on retaining superior quality of life are some of the factors contributing to the growth of this market. However, rise in overall healthcare expenditure and patent expiries of antineoplastic drugs are some of the major factors; that might hinder the growth of the acute lymphoblastic leukemia therapeutics market in future.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @The major companies involved with the acute lymphoblastic leukemia therapeutics market are Biogen Idec, Inc., Bristol-Myers Squibb, Celgene Corporation, ERYTECH Pharma, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., Genzyme Corporation, GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals Limited, Pfizer, Inc. and Spectrum Pharmaceuticals.The report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the market. It does so via in-depth qualitative insights, historical data, and verifiable projections about market size. The projections featured in the report have been derived using proven research methodologies and assumptions. By doing so, the research report serves as a repository of analysis and information for every facet of the market, including but not limited to: Regional markets, technology, types, and applications.The study is a source of reliable data on:Market segments and sub-segmentsMarket trends and dynamicsSupply and demandMarket sizeCurrent trends/opportunities/challengesCompetitive landscapeTechnological breakthroughsValue chain and stakeholder analysisThe regional analysis covers:North America (U.S. and Canada)Latin America (Mexico, Brazil, Peru, Chile, and others)Western Europe (Germany, U.K., France, Spain, Italy, Nordic countries, Belgium, Netherlands, and Luxembourg)Eastern Europe (Poland and Russia)Asia Pacific (China, India, Japan, ASEAN, Australia, and New Zealand)Middle East and Africa (GCC, Southern Africa, and North Africa)The report has been compiled through extensive primary research (through interviews, surveys, and observations of seasoned analysts) and secondary research (which entails reputable paid sources, trade journals, and industry body databases). The report also features a complete qualitative and quantitative assessment by analyzing data gathered from industry analysts and market participants across key points in the industrys value chain.A separate analysis of prevailing trends in the parent market, macro- and micro-economic indicators, and regulations and mandates is included under the purview of the study. By doing so, the report projects the attractiveness of each major segment over the forecast period.Highlights of the report:A complete backdrop analysis, which includes an assessment of the parent marketImportant changes in market dynamicsMarket segmentation up to the second or third levelHistorical, current, and projected size of the market from the standpoint of both value and volumeReporting and evaluation of recent industry developmentsMarket shares and strategies of key playersEmerging niche segments and regional marketsAn objective assessment of the trajectory of the marketRecommendations to companies for strengthening their foothold in the marketBrowse More Details @About ResearchMozResearchMoz is the one stop online destination to find and buy market research reports & Industry Analysis. We fulfill all your research needs spanning across industry verticals with our huge collection of market research reports. We provide our services to all sizes of organizations and across all industry verticals and markets. Our Research Coordinators have in-depth knowledge of reports as well as publishers and will assist you in making an informed decision by giving you unbiased and deep insights on which reports will satisfy your needs at the best price.Mr. NachiketState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesEmail: sales@researchmoz.usWebsite @Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Follow us on LinkedIn @
Global Skin Diseases Treatment Market Size, Share: Trends and Forecast, 2016 - 2024

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https://www.researchmoz.us/skin-diseases-treatment-market-global-industry-analysis-size-share-growth-trends-and-forecast-2016-2024-report.html

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Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Global Skin Diseases Treatment Market Size, Share: Trends and Forecast, 2016 - 2024" to its huge collection of research reports.The dermatology industry, on the whole, has been undergoing several changes over the past decade on account of the rising prevalence of skin diseases and the development of innovative therapies to combat them. The global skin diseases treatment market has been gaining much prominence as small to large companies dedicate resources in the R&D of more effective and affordable treatment options.The report has been segmented on the basis of various key parameters so as to give readers a 360-degree overview of the skin diseases treatment market and also shed light on the nuances that define this market.By product type, the market can be categorized into medicated creams and ointments, antibiotics, vitamins and steroids, antihistamines, laser therapy, antifungals, and various targeted prescription medications. Based on type of disease, the market for skin disease treatment can be segmented into genetic skin diseases, autoimmune skin disorders, allergic skin diseases, cancers, and infectious skin diseases, which can be fungal, bacterial, or viral. By way of end use, the skin disease treatment market comprises dermatology clinics, skincare clinics, hospitals, and aesthetic centers. Geographically, the global market covers Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, North America, and the Middle East and Africa.The evaluation of the vendor landscape makes for an interesting read as research analysts have not only identified the top-notch players but also profiled them in detail. Key aspects such as company overview, business strategies, financial standing, product portfolio, and recent developments have been taken into consideration to gauge the performance of the prominent players in the skin diseases treatment market. With the help of a SWOT analysis, readers are given a clear understanding of each companys strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats.Skin Diseases Treatment Market: Trends and OpportunitiesThe creation of tissue engineered skins substitutes is perhaps one of the most revolutionary developments in the treatment of skin diseases. Artificial or bioengineered skin has given hope to many patients around the world and advancements such as these bode well for the skin disease treatment market. The market is also considerably driven by the high frequency of various skin diseases in developed as well as developing countries. For instance, more than 3.5 million people across the U.S. alone are diagnosed with skin cancers each year, according to the US Department of Health and Human Services.Analysts note that the presence of a number of leading players makes the skin diseases treatment market immensely competitive. Product and technology differentiation in terms of the devices and equipment used during procedures and OTC products such as creams and ointments enables companies to enhance their marketability and also helps them survive the competition. Product innovation and unique marketing initiatives can also lend players a strong boost to increase or sustain their share in the skin diseases treatment market.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @Skin Diseases Treatment Market: Regional OutlookNorth America is perhaps the most prominent market for skin disease treatment, followed by Europe. There are several factors driving the demand for these treatments in the region, the primary one being ongoing technological advancements and subsequently, the availability of the latest products and devices for the treatment of skin diseases. Skincare management has been a growing market in the developed regions of North America as well as Europe on account of these advancements, and also owing to the fact that the incidence of skin cancers and allergic skin reactions has been steadily rising.The Asia Pacific skin diseases treatment market is slated to witness strong growth in the coming years, thanks to increasing awareness about skin disorders and their repercussions, a massive population base, and the ongoing development of new treatment methods and devices. Economic development in several APAC countries has resulted in improving purchasing power and greater spending on healthcare. In addition to this, growing medical tourism in countries such as Thailand, India, Singapore, South Korea, and Malaysia has spurred the demand for skin disease treatment from countries around the world.Companies Mentioned in the ReportSome of the key players in the global skin diseases treatment market are Pfizer, Inc., Allergen, Plc., Celgene Corporation, AbbVie, Inc., Eli Lilly and Company, GlaxoSmithKline plc., Galderma, Incyte Corporation, Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc., and Almirall S.A.This report gives you access to decisive data such as:Market growth driversFactors limiting market growthCurrent market trendsMarket structureMarket projections for the coming yearsKey highlights of this reportOverview of key market forces propelling and restraining market growthUp-to-date analyses of market trends and technological improvementsPin-point analyses of market competition dynamics to offer you a competitive edgeAn analysis of strategies of major competitorsAn array of graphics and SWOT analysis of major industry segmentsDetailed analyses of industry trendsA well-defined technological growth map with an impact-analysisOffers a clear understanding of the competitive landscape and key product segmentsThe report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the market. It does so via in-depth qualitative insights, historical data, and verifiable projections about market size. The projections featured in the report have been derived using proven research methodologies and assumptions. By doing so, the research report serves as a repository of analysis and information for every facet of the market, including but not limited to: Regional markets, technology, types, and applications.The study is a source of reliable data on:Market segments and sub-segmentsMarket trends and dynamicsSupply and demandMarket sizeCurrent trends/opportunities/challengesCompetitive landscapeTechnological breakthroughsValue chain and stakeholder analysisThe regional analysis covers:North America (U.S. and Canada)Latin America (Mexico, Brazil, Peru, Chile, and others)Western Europe (Germany, U.K., France, Spain, Italy, Nordic countries, Belgium, Netherlands, and Luxembourg)Eastern Europe (Poland and Russia)Asia Pacific (China, India, Japan, ASEAN, Australia, and New Zealand)Middle East and Africa (GCC, Southern Africa, and North Africa)The report has been compiled through extensive primary research (through interviews, surveys, and observations of seasoned analysts) and secondary research (which entails reputable paid sources, trade journals, and industry body databases). The report also features a complete qualitative and quantitative assessment by analyzing data gathered from industry analysts and market participants across key points in the industrys value chain.A separate analysis of prevailing trends in the parent market, macro- and micro-economic indicators, and regulations and mandates is included under the purview of the study. By doing so, the report projects the attractiveness of each major segment over the forecast period.Highlights of the report:A complete backdrop analysis, which includes an assessment of the parent marketImportant changes in market dynamicsMarket segmentation up to the second or third levelHistorical, current, and projected size of the market from the standpoint of both value and volumeReporting and evaluation of recent industry developmentsMarket shares and strategies of key playersEmerging niche segments and regional marketsAn objective assessment of the trajectory of the marketRecommendations to companies for strengthening their foothold in the marketBrowse More Details @About ResearchMozResearchMoz is the one stop online destination to find and buy market research reports & Industry Analysis. We fulfill all your research needs spanning across industry verticals with our huge collection of market research reports. We provide our services to all sizes of organizations and across all industry verticals and markets. Our Research Coordinators have in-depth knowledge of reports as well as publishers and will assist you in making an informed decision by giving you unbiased and deep insights on which reports will satisfy your needs at the best price.Mr. NachiketState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesEmail: sales@researchmoz.usWebsite @Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Follow us on LinkedIn @
Autonomous Underwater Vehicle Market is likely to register double digit CAGR during 2017-2022

https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/market-research/autonomous-underwater-vehicles-market.asp

https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/market-research/autonomous-underwater-vehicles-market/toc

http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com

For several years now, the autonomous underwater vehicle has been the undisputed champion in the case of niche underwater applications. However, the growing acceptance of these multi-purpose vehicles has now turned them into the de-facto choice for the subsea community. The last decade has seen the autonomous underwater vehicle market come into its own with AUVs being chosen for most deep-water surveys. The scientific community has also opted for autonomous underwater vehicles for both deep exploration as well as work in shallow waters. New applications have surfaced in the autonomous underwater vehicle market as these vehicles are critical in search & rescue missions, salvage operations, and in archaeology. The autonomous underwater vehicle market is projected to record a robust CAGR of 6.1% from 2017 to 2022.Browse Report Overview @In the age of global warming, environmental protection and monitoring is the need of the hour, especially for low-lying, coastal nations that will bear the brunt of rise in water levels. An absolute dollar opportunity of over US$ 24 million makes the environmental protection and monitoring segment of the autonomous underwater vehicle market very critical indeed. Furthermore, this segment is on track to gain share going forward. After North America, Europe has a strong focus on environmental protection and monitoringIt is often said that we have a better grasp of the surfaces of other planets than that of our own ocean floors. Therefore, oceanography has gained prominence recently.Oceanography has double-digit revenue share in the autonomous underwater vehicle market by end use segment and is poised to gain marginal share in the forecast period. The oceanography segment may well witness a robust CAGR of more than 6% for the five-year period and companies would do well to take this inot account.True to its size, the large AUV segment has the largest contribution in the autonomous underwater vehicle market and should remain so for the foreseeable future. The North America large AUV segment is assessed to have a value of roughly US$ 38 million in 2017 alone.The companies profiled in the autonomous underwater vehicle market report are International Submarine Engineering Ltd, Hydromea SA, L3 OceanServer, ECA Robotics SAS, Atlas Elektronik GMBH, Saab AB, Kongsberg Maritime AS, Teledyne Gavia ehf, and General Dynamics CorporationReport Overview, with TOC @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:
North America and Europe phototherapy treatment market revenue is expected to expand at a CAGR of 6.0 % over 20172027

https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/north-america-and-europe-phototherapy-treatment-market

https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/north-america-and-europe-phototherapy-treatment-market/toc

www.futuremarketinsights.com

Phototherapy has emerged as an effective and contemporary treatment module for acne and psoriasis, which is gaining healthy popularity of late. As compared to biologics, phototherapy is more affordable having a similar credibility. Over the next couple of years, demand for phototherapy in regions such North America and Europe is expected to surge to a significant extent. Future Market Insights new report reveals that the North America and Europe phototherapy treatment market revenue is expected to expand at a CAGR of 6.0 % over the forecast period (20172027).Browse Full Report @Distorted eating habits, as well as excessive consumption of fried and ready-to-eat food items, are linked with the early onset of acne in children. Meanwhile, in adults, women face severe acne and psoriasis onset. The report titled Phototherapy Treatment Market for Acne and Psoriasis North America and Europe Industry Analysis 2012  2016 and Opportunity Assessment; 2017  2027 also cites that North America represents the most lucrative market for phototherapy, followed by Western Europe and Eastern Europe. The market in North America is projected to grow from US$ 594.5 Mn in 2016 to US$ 1,150.0 Mn by 2027-end. In addition, the U.S. currently accounts for more than three-fourth revenue share of the North America phototherapy treatment market.Phototherapy being a high margin reconstructive technology is perceived as an opportunity for market players to invest in future growth. Lifespan, UC Irvine Health, Buffalo Medical Group, Blackrock Clinic Limited, The Private Phototherapy Clinic Ltd, National Skin Centre, and Massachusetts General Hospital are some of the leading companies profiled in the FMI report.Report Overview, with TOC @Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.Future Market Insights616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
Orthopedic Trauma Fixation Devices Market Research Report by Geographical Analysis and Forecast to 2020

https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/report-toc/2155

http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/

The global orthopedic trauma fixation device market is progressing at a CAGR of 7.20% within the forecast period from 2014 to 2020. The market was valued at US$6.1 bn in 2014. By the end of 2020, the global orthopedic trauma fixation device market is expected to reach US$9.3 bn, as explained in a research report. According to the report, the primary growth driver of the global orthopedic trauma fixation device market is the increasing number of fractures and spot injuries that are being treated around the world. The market also benefits from the greater expenditure rates in the healthcare industry and a practical lack of alternatives available to this market. All these factors are expected to boost the global orthopedic trauma fixation device market in the coming years.The global orthopedic trauma fixation device market is, however, impeded by factors such as the absence/inadequacy of health insurance in emerging economies, the chances of incurring a double surgery, and the high cost of operation. The report expects these restraints to act on the global orthopedic trauma fixation device market in order to withhold its maximum growth potential.The reports segmented analysis of the global orthopedic trauma fixation device market shows that, according to the type of fixator, the current leading segment is internal fixators. This segment is also expected to progress at a 6.80% CAGR within the reports forecast period. Within the segment of internal fixators, the sub-segment of plate and screws is the most commonly utilized one. It is expected to progress at a 7.10% CAGR for the same forecast period.In terms of composition, the global orthopedic trauma fixation device market is currently led by bioabsorbable fixators. This segment is expected to advance at an 8.40% CAGR between 2014 and 2020, owing to the increase in the use of bioabsorbable materials by all key players in the global orthopedic trauma fixation device market.The geographical segmentation of the global orthopedic trauma fixation device market shows North America to be the leading region for now. The fastest growing region, however, is expected to be Asia Pacific, which is advancing rapidly thanks to the developing nations of Japan, China, and India. Additionally, other nations from South East Asia along with the Eastern Mediterranean are also showing a rapid adoption rate of orthopedic trauma fixation devices. The key players in the global orthopedic trauma fixation device market are Zimmer Holding Inc., DePuy Synthes, Stryker Corporation, Smith & Nephew, Johnson & Johnson Company, and Orthofix Holding Inc. The report states that in 2013, 47.30% of the global orthopedic trauma fixation device market was held collectively by the two largest players in the market  DePuy Synthes and Johnson & Johnson.Report Overview, with TOC:About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.Contact us:Transparency Market Research90 State Street,Suite 700,AlbanyNY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Security Bags Market : Structure and Overview of Key Market Forces Propelling Market

http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/security-bags-market

https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/REP-GB-4011

https://www.futuremarketinsights.com

The global security bags market has witnessed good growth opportunities in the recent past, with key players leveraging the various applications of security bags and targeting a growing customer base keeping in mind the key preferences of consumers towards tamper evidence features, convenience of use, and optimal pricing of security bags.According to a new report published by Future Market Insights, the global security bags market is slated to exhibit a significant growth rate of 8.8% in terms of value to reach a market valuation of US$ 702.3 Mn by the end of the forecast period in 2027.Obtain Report Details @The global security bags market is segmented on the basis of raw material type into plastic, paper, and fabric. Plastic will continue to remain a favourite among consumers and be the dominant segment throughout the forecast period, anticipated to hold a market share in excess of 75% throughout the forecast period. The paper and fabric segments will be nowhere close to the plastic segment throughout the duration of the forecast period. In terms of revenue CAGR, the plastic segment will outnumber the other segments, registering a 9.1% CAGR during the period of forecast.By product type, the global security bags market is segmented into opaque and clear. Opaque segment is the clear winner here with a CAGR of 9.0% and estimated total revenues in excess of US$ 500 Mn by 2027 end, resulting from a market share in excess of 75% throughout the forecast period.In terms of application, the global security bags market is segmented into cash/coin deposit bags, strap bags, card & dice bags, evidence bags, and pharmaceutical distribution bags. Cash/coin deposit bags will continue to dominate the global market throughout the assessment period, estimated to reach a market valuation exceeding US$ 490 Mn by the end of 2027. While strap bags are unlikely to match the revenue contribution of cash/coin deposit bags, in terms of CAGR, both these segments stand at 8.9%.The global security bags market is segmented on the basis of end use into financial institutions, hospitals, casinos, hotels, national retail companies, government organisations, courier services companies, and academic institutions. Financial institutions will lead the race in this segment, with an estimated 30% market share towards the end of the forecast period.Request Sample Report@In this report, Future Market Insights has analysed the seven key regions of North America, APEJ, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Latin America, MEA, and Japan. North America, APEJ, and Western Europe will stand toe-to-toe in terms of market share, each holding a value share in excess of 20% throughout the forecast period.North America is anticipated to be the market leader in 2017 and is projected to gain significant market share due to a high growth of security products in the region. The North America security bags market will grow at a CAGR of 9.0% in terms of value over the forecast periodSome of the key players profiled in the report include Ampac Holdings LLC., Mega Fortris (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., Coveris Holdings S.A., SECUTAC, Dynaflex Private Limited, NELMAR Security Packaging Systems Inc., KOROZO Ambalaj San.ve Tic A.S., TruSeal Pty Ltd., HSA International Group, KENT PLASTIK LTD. STI., Harwal Ltd., ITW Envopak Limited, Initial Packaging Solutions Ltd., Vikela Aluvin Pty Ltd, A. Rifkin Co., Packaging Horizons Corporation, Versapak International Ltd, Amerplast Ltd., Securepac Industries Sdn Bhd, and Adsure Packaging Limited.About UsFuture Market Insights is the premier provider of market intelligence and consulting services, serving clients in over 150 countries. FMI is headquartered in London, the global financial capital, and has delivery centres in the U.S. and India.FMIs research and consulting services help businesses around the globe navigate the challenges in a rapidly evolving marketplace with confidence and clarity. Our customised and syndicated market research reports deliver actionable insights that drive sustainable growth. We continuously track emerging trends and events in a broad range of end industries to ensure our clients prepare for the evolving needs of their consumers.FMIs team of over 200 research analysts provides market intelligence at global, regional, and country level. Our analysts are committed to provide independent insights, relying on our cognitive defusion training module, which conditions them to look at data objectively and unbiasedly.ContactFuture Market Insights616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email:sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
Residential Water Treatment Equipment Market : Future Forecast Assessed on the basis of how the Market is Predicted to Grow

https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/south-america-residential-water-treatment-equipment-market

https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-za-2473

https://www.futuremarketinsights.com

The residential water treatment equipment market in South America is rapidly growing and the technology has a decent penetration rate in urban South America. Owing to deteriorating water quality and rising consumer expectations regarding the quality of drinking water, demand for water purifiers in the region is anticipated to increase.The South America residential water treatment equipment market has been estimated to be valued at more than US$ 330 Mn by 2016 end and is expected to register a CAGR of 9.2% during the assessment period (20162026).By value, the Brazil residential water treatment equipment market accounts for the maximum revenue share among all the South American country level markets, followed by Argentina and Venezuela. Brazil is expected to register a significant CAGR of 8.7% over the assessment period due to rapidly increasing urban population in the country.Obtain Report Details @The Brazil residential water treatment market was valued at nearly US$ 195 Mn in 2015 and is projected to be valued at more than US$ 475 Mn by 2026. Water contamination particularly in the states of Espirito Santo, Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo is rapidly increasing owing to the rising industrialisation in these regions, leading to a great demand and rising adoption of water purifiers.The Brazil residential water treatment equipment market is growing with significant Y-o-Y growth and the market is projected to reach sales revenue in excess of US$ 250 Mn by 2026.In terms of volume, unit sales of RO purifiers in the Brazil residential water treatment equipment market stood at 345 thousand units in 2015 and is projected to reach up to 875 thousand units by 2026. Sales of RO purifiers in the region are primarily driven by rising preference for advanced products by high end urban customers, and sales are being accomplished through retail stores and online channels, with minimal direct marketing activities.Make an Enquiry @Cutthroat competition in the Brazil residential water treatment equipment market is not favourable until leading market players work on their strategies to bring in more product differentiation. Continuous innovation in product offerings will continue to be the main driver for companies who wish to retain their market share in the Brazil residential water treatment equipment market.Brazilian manufacturers have primarily focused on UV and Gravity/Media based purifiers, and have introduced products that are also high on aesthetics. Significant adoption of such products have primarily come from top-notch customers residing in urban Brazil. With the introduction of water purifiers from Forbes Lux Group, Panasonic, LG, and Philips, the adoption of UV purifiers in Brazil is projected to increase during the forecast period.About UsFuture Market Insights is the premier provider of market intelligence and consulting services, serving clients in over 150 countries. FMI is headquartered in London, the global financial capital, and has delivery centres in the U.S. and India.FMIs research and consulting services help businesses around the globe navigate the challenges in a rapidly evolving marketplace with confidence and clarity. Our customised and syndicated market research reports deliver actionable insights that drive sustainable growth. We continuously track emerging trends and events in a broad range of end industries to ensure our clients prepare for the evolving needs of their consumers.FMIs team of over 200 research analysts provides market intelligence at global, regional, and country level. Our analysts are committed to provide independent insights, relying on our cognitive defusion training module, which conditions them to look at data objectively and unbiasedly.ContactFuture Market Insights616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email:sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
Array Instruments Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2014 - 2020

https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/report-toc/495

http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/

The global array instruments market was valued at US$0.87 billion in 2014 and it is expected to reach US$1.12 billion in 2020, growing at a CAGR of 4.3% from 2014 to 2020. The global array instruments market is segmented on the basis of technology, end users, and geography. The technology segments include protein microarrays, DNA microarrays, tissue microarrays, and cellular microarrays. The end users of array instruments are clinical diagnostic labs, research and development laboratories, veterinary laboratories, agriculture research centers, and forensic centers. Geographically, the global array instruments market is divided into North America, Asia Pacific, Europe, and Rest of the World.The report suggests that the large number of instruments for DNA microarray analysis and their efficiency is likely to be the biggest driving factor for this market. The DNA microarray technology segment held about 50% of the market and it is expected to grow at a CAGR of 3.9% from 2014 to 2020.In terms of geography, North America dominates the global array instruments market with a share of more than 50%, while Europe holds the second place, accounting for 30% of the market. Statistics published in the research report show that the market value of North America was US$417.4 million in 2014 and the market is expected to reach US$526.4 million by 2020. The emerging economies in Latin America, Asia Pacific, and the Middle East are also expected to contribute to the rapid growth of the global array instruments market by 2020.This positive trend will largely be due to improving healthcare infrastructures and increasing preference for more precise therapies. Furthermore, the ability to identify genomic differences for predicting drug response or resistance by patients could lead the industry on a path to customize therapies for certain deadly diseases such as cancer.A recent research showed that glycan arrays are witnessing huge success as they offer a high-throughput approach for defining the interactions between various biological targets and carbohydrates. The biological targets include several antibodies, cells, viruses, and proteins. The biggest advantage of using a glycan array analysis is its multivalent display of arrayed glycans that are almost similar to the actual display of the cell surface. Some of the leading players in the global microarray market profiled in this research report are Affymetrix, Inc., Molecular Devices, Illumina, Inc., and Agilent Technologies, who contribute about 80% of the markets revenue. The other important players studied in this research report are Thermo Fischer Scientific, Bio-Rad Laboratories, Sigma Aldrich Corporation, and ArrayJet Ltd.Report Overview, with TOC:About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.Contact us:Transparency Market Research90 State Street,Suite 700,AlbanyNY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Blockchain & Crowdfunding Investment Expert, David Drake Joins Pindify ICO Advisory Board.

Pindify The Blockchain For Musicians And Other Artists Launching AN ICO

https://pindex.uci.global

Blockchain & crowdfunding investment expert, David Drake joins Pindify ICO advisory board.Pindify, the worlds first blockchain arts and media market place, is pleased to announce the addition of David Drake, Chairman of LDJ Capital, to its Board of Advisors. As Pindify continues to attract international attention, David brings extensive experience within the Investment and Blockchain markets to support the Pindify ICO process.Pindify is preparing to launch its ICO after announcing Blockchain integration to protect the IP, digital rights and payments for musicians and artists.The ICO will support ongoing development and scaling as Pindify begins its global reach.Pindex tokens ( PDI ) enable members to purchase subscriptions, products and services directly within the platform.As a crowdfunding expert, David is on the advisory board of 15 multi-million-dollar Blockchain start-upsAs a highly experienced and seasoned investor, Davids expertise will be hugely valuable to the Pindify ICO and continued global expansionAntoun Toubia, Pindify ICO team leaderDavid Drake, whose previous investments include unicorns like Lyft and Alibaba, is looking forward to working with the Pindify ICO team:The Pindify platform is providing a real solution to a serious issue for artists. By using blockchain and smart contract technology, they have effectively delivered a multi-channel market place where musicians and all artists can thrive, secured in the knowledge that their work is protected and their dues delivered. I expect to see the Pindify platform emerge as the global leader for musicians and artists.David Drake, Managing Partner at LDJ CapitalDavid DrakeDavid Drake is the Chairman of LDJ Capital, a family office based in NYC; Victoria Partners, LDJ Real Estate Group; Drake Hospitality Group; and, The Soho Loft Media Group. LDJ Capitals extended network of funds of funds and hedge funds manages 1.5 trillion USD in assets. David previously represented the US Commerce Department at the EU and he spoke at the UK Parliament. Mr. Drakes access to 100,000 investors is maintained through his media holding investment The Soho Loft Media Group which has produced and sponsored over 1500+ global finance conferences since 2002. David Drake is actively involved in the crypto community as an advisor and speaker and has helped blockchain firms he advised raise $101M in funding through their ICO.About PindifyPindify is the arts and media platform that uses blockchain & smart contracts to protect the IP, digital rights and payments for musicians and artists.With APPS available via App Store and Google Play, the Pindify market place is already attracting international brands, labels and names from the music industry as thousands of musicians and their fans join this revolutionary new platform. The platform is expected to have over 100 million members within 2 yearsTo participate in the Pindify ICO, please visit:The Pindify Phenomenon!The use of Blockchain technology could not have come sooner as musicians and their fans sign up to Pindify in their thousands.Global brands like Spotify, Sony and Universal are lining up to take advantage of the unique market place system developed by Pindify.The direct-to-consumer market platform has captured the attention of major international artists who see the scope and potential to protect their work while securing revenues directly from their fan base.The business model is perfect for todays social marketing culture. Musicians join Pindify and bring their fans.Antoun Toubia C.E.O of United Capital Investments s.a. Pindify ICO management team.Davids guidance in compliance, regulations and development will be invaluable to UCI achieving its goal of being the leading ICO management company in the market.Company Name: Pindify SarlCompany Address: 117 Val des Bons-Malades,L-2121 LuxembourgTrade Registry Number: B172939
Graphene Wafers Market Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2016 - 2024

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"The Report Graphene Wafers Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2016 - 2024 provides information on pricing, market analysis, shares, forecast, and company profiles for key industry participants. - MarketResearchReports.biz"Graphene was isolated for the first time in 2004 and is a two dimensional (2D) allotrope of carbon. It was isolated at the University of Manchester, United Kingdom (U.K.). Graphene has very unique properties, such as light weight, high strength, and is also a good conductor of heat and electricity. Such versatile features of graphene have led scientists to explore possibilities of its application in numerous fields. Since the moment of its discovery, graphene is being researched upon for developing advanced electronic devices and their components, having better features and efficiency. Graphene can be expected to be used in conjunction with other materials, such as tantalum (IV) sulfide, carbon nanotubes and boron nitride among others, or solely to develop advanced electronic devices. Graphene field effect transistors (GFETs), graphene based biosensors and graphene based batteries and ultracapacitors has shown promising results during testing and has also been seen growing applications.The market for graphene wafers is a very niche market, as of 2015. However, growing interest in graphene based electronics has been fuelling the demand for graphene wafers across North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific. The versatile nature of graphene has led to increase in various academic, sponsored and industrial researches, and is the primary driver for this market. Several advancements in graphene wafer production techniques have also boosted the research on graphene electronics since better quality of graphene wafers is being produced through these new methods. Variations of Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) technique is primarily used for producing graphene wafers used in electronic devices. Universities such as Sungkyunkwan University and University of Manchester among others are involved in performing research for developing graphene wafer based electronic devices. Often they are funded by electronic device makers for undertaking such research. However, certain properties of graphene, lack of homogeneity in wafer quality and availability of lower priced substitutes have been hindering the growth of this market. Some companies are experimenting with silver nanowire, such as Blue Nano and Cambrios, while others are experimenting with conducting polymers. These alternative materials are likely to restrain the graphene wafers market.Get Sample Copy Of This Report @By substrate type, the global graphene wafers market can be segmented into quartz, Silicon-dioxide/silicon (SiO2/Si) and others. Silicon-dioxide/silicon (SiO2/Si) was the largest segment in 2015 and can be expected to retain the top position in 2024. By end-use, the graphene wafers market is segmented into research, semiconductor & electronics and others. Research was the largest segment in 2015, due to the various graphene based research activities been undertaken globally. Research is further segmented into academic research and others. The global graphene wafers market has been further segmented into four regions: North America, Europe, Asia Pacific (APAC) and Rest of the World (RoW). By revenue, North America was the largest region in 2015. Increasing research activities and relative ease of procuring required graphene wafers are the primary driving factors in this region. Europe held the second largest market share, followed by APAC. The graphene wafers market in Europe is primarily driven by various research activities conducted in countries such as Spain, Germany and U.K. among others. Additionally, the Graphene Flagship program of European Union (EU) has also promoted the growth in research activities in this region. The APAC region can be expected to have second largest market share by 2024, owing to the growing interest on graphene wafers among academic researchers and semiconductor manufacturing companies. RoW had relatively negligible market share in 2015, of the graphene wafers market.The key companies leading the graphene wafers market globally are Some of the leading players in the market are Graphene Frontiers (U.S.), Haydale (U.K.), BGT Materials, Ltd. (U.S.), Graphene Laboratories, Inc. (U.S.), Graphene Square (South Korea), Graphenea S.A. (Spain), Graphenesic (Sweden), Grafoid, Inc. (Canada), Amo GmbH (Germany), and XG Sciences (U.S.) among others.View Report @The report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the market. It does so via in-depth qualitative insights, historical data, and verifiable projections about market size. The projections featured in the report have been derived using proven research methodologies and assumptions. By doing so, the research report serves as a repository of analysis and information for every facet of the market, including but not limited to: Regional markets, technology, types, and applications.The study is a source of reliable data on:Market segments and sub-segmentsMarket trends and dynamicsSupply and demandMarket sizeCurrent trends/opportunities/challengesCompetitive landscapeTechnological breakthroughsValue chain and stakeholder analysisThe regional analysis covers:North America (U.S. and Canada)Latin America (Mexico, Brazil, Peru, Chile, and others)Western Europe (Germany, U.K., France, Spain, Italy, Nordic countries, Belgium, Netherlands, and Luxembourg)Eastern Europe (Poland and Russia)Asia Pacific (China, India, Japan, ASEAN, Australia, and New Zealand)Middle East and Africa (GCC, Southern Africa, and North Africa)Send An Enquiry Request @The report has been compiled through extensive primary research (through interviews, surveys, and observations of seasoned analysts) and secondary research (which entails reputable paid sources, trade journals, and industry body databases). The report also features a complete qualitative and quantitative assessment by analyzing data gathered from industry analysts and market participants across key points in the industrys value chain.A separate analysis of prevailing trends in the parent market, macro- and micro-economic indicators, and regulations and mandates is included under the purview of the study. By doing so, the report projects the attractiveness of each major segment over the forecast period.Highlights of the report:A complete backdrop analysis, which includes an assessment of the parent marketImportant changes in market dynamicsMarket segmentation up to the second or third levelHistorical, current, and projected size of the market from the standpoint of both value and volumeReporting and evaluation of recent industry developmentsMarket shares and strategies of key playersEmerging niche segments and regional marketsAn objective assessment of the trajectory of the marketRecommendations to companies for strengthening their foothold in the marketMarketResearchReports.biz is the most comprehensive collection of market research reports. MarketResearchReports.Biz services are specially designed to save time and money for our clients. We are a one stop solution for all your research needs, our main offerings are syndicated research reports, custom research, subscription access and consulting services. We serve all sizes and types of companies spanning across various industries.Mr. NachiketState Tower90 Sate Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-621-2074Website:Email: sales@marketresearchreports.biz
Global Oral Cancer Rapid Test Kit Market Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2016 - 2024

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"The Report Oral Cancer Rapid Test Kit Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2016 - 2024 provides information on pricing, market analysis, shares, forecast, and company profiles for key industry participants. - MarketResearchReports.biz"DescriptionOral cancer is one of the largest group of cancers, which comes under category of Head and Neck cancer. It includes lips, tongue, throat, sinuses, and floor of the mouth. About 90% of the oral cancers are squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).Get Sample copy of this Report @According to oral cancer foundation in 2016, around 48,250 people are diagnosed with oral cancer in the U.S. and has relatively low survival rates. The death rates due to oral cancer are relatively higher due to lack of proper diagnosis test, which can detect oral cancer at the early stage. Hence, early stage diagnosis is an alternative solution that helps prevent the deaths of people infected by oral cancer. The Conventional diagnostic tests available in the market are time-consuming and costly. Currently, very few technologies are available in the market for routine screening of the oral cancers. Hence, companies are trying to develop the Oral Cancer Rapid Testing Kit (OCRTK), which can detect the stage of cancer effectively in less time to perform test at home/clinic. Vigilant biosciences developed OncAlert Oral Cancer LAB Test, which is accurate, cost effective, and uses non-invasive technology. This technology also got the CE mark in Europe that enables this product to sell all over Europe. Various companies and universities are trying to develop the rapid detection technology for oral cancer kits to detect oral cancerThe increase in usage of tobacco, which includes smokeless tobacco, HPV-induced cancers, and consumption of alcohol are major factors that drive the growth of the Oral Cancer Rapid Test Kit market. Furthermore, increase in awareness and aging population also contribute to the prevalence the oral cancers. According to the cancer research center in U.K, globally over 3, 00,000 persons were diagnosed with oral cancer. Smoking is a major factor that is turning many men and women into victims of Oral cancer. In U.S., black males are having high incidence rate than their whiter counterparts because of cigarette smoking and heavy alcohol consumption. Lack of new diagnostic technologies in the market is a major factors that is limiting the growth of the OCRTK market.Segmentation by ProductOncAlert Oral Cancer LABLab on ChipInsilixa testPrevo-CheckView Report @Segmentation by PrincipleSensor basedColorimetryImmunoassayOthersSegmentation by End UserHospitalsDiagnostic centersResearch centersConsumerOCRTK will have higher impact in the Oral cancer diagnosis market because currently there very few rapid test kits available in the market to diagnose the Oral cancer. Government organizations are actively funding companies that are operating in OCRTK. This highlights the importance of this domain. Factors like low cost, easy process, and instant results are expected to drive the growth of the market.On the basis of product segmentation, OncAlert Oral Cancer LAB is expected to hold major market shares of the Oral Cancer Rapid Test Kit market as it is the only available product in the market with clinical effectiveness. On the basis of principle, sensor-based devices will have a relatively higher share due to its highly sensitive nature and precision results.On the basis of End User, hospitals, and diagnostic centers hold major market share comparatively than the research centers and consumers as mainly all the operations are carried out in hospitals and diagnostic centers. However, in future the end user is expected to shift their preference towards the consumer as companies are developing techniques to perform tests easily at home.Request for Enquiry @Oral Cancer Rapid Test Kit market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America and Middle East & Africa. North America is expected to hold relatively high market share due to factors such as growing awareness about the disease and rise in the aging population. However, Asia Pacific region and European regions also might have good market due to increase in incidence of oral cancer.Some key players in the market are Vigilant Biosciences, Abviris Deutschland GmbH, Insilixa, and University of Sheffield.On the basis of development of the OCRTK market, startups and universities are more actively working on this domain as compared to the major market players. Hence, there are possibilities of acquisitions and collaborations to take place within these companies/institutes in the near future.The report covers exhaustive analysis on:Oral Cancer Testing Market SegmentsOral Cancer Testing Market DynamicsHistorical Actual Market Size, 2013 - 2015Oral Cancer Testing Market Size & Forecast 2016 to 2024Oral Cancer Testing Market Current Trends/Issues/ChallengesCompetition & Companies involvedOral Cancer Testing Market Drivers and RestraintsRegional analysis includesNorth AmericaLatin AmericaEuropeAsia PacificMiddle East & AfricaCheck Discount @Report Highlights:Shifting Industry dynamicsIn-depth market segmentationHistorical, current and projected industry size Recent industry trendsKey Competition landscapeStrategies of key players and product offeringsPotential and niche segments/regions exhibiting promising growthA neutral perspective towards market performanceAbout usMarketResearchReports.biz is the most comprehensive collection of market research reports. MarketResearchReports.Biz services are specially designed to save time and money for our clients. We are a one stop solution for all your research needs, our main offerings are syndicated research reports, custom research, subscription access and consulting services. We serve all sizes and types of companies spanning across various industries.Contact usMr. NachiketState Tower90 Sate Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-621-2074Website:E: sales@marketresearchreports.biz
Contemporary innovations in Phenolic Resin Conductive Adhesive Market industry made available by top research firm

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ReportsMonitor.com has added Global Phenolic Resin Conductive Adhesive Market Research Report 2017.The study document titled Global Phenolic Resin Conductive Adhesive industry gives helpful observations into the general trends as well as the points that propel this World-wide market. This industry examine completely covers the salient highlights of the Global Phenolic Resin Conductive Adhesive market regarding the industry structure and even landscape designs, difficulties and desire ideas, along with projected current market effectiveness .Top Key manufactures of Phenolic Resin Conductive Adhesive Market are Chemtronics, Daejoo, DELO, Nepes, Epotek, Ferro, Heraeus, 3M, Btech, Hitachi Chemical, Kyocera, Tatsuta.Get Your Free Sample Report @The Phenolic Resin Conductive Adhesive Market, presents critical information and factual data about the global Phenolic Resin Conductive Adhesive Market, providing an overall statistical study of this market on the basis of market drivers, market limitations, and its future prospects. The widespread global Phenolic Resin Conductive Adhesive opportunities and trends are also taken into consideration in Phenolic Resin Conductive Adhesive industry.On the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each Type, primarily split into Curing Reaction Type, Hot Melt, High Temperature Sintering.By Application, the market can be split into Cameras, Displays, Photovoltaics, LEDs and OLEDs.Some points from TOC:1 Global Phenolic Resin Conductive Adhesive Market Size (Sales Volume) Comparison by Type (2012-2022)2 Global Phenolic Resin Conductive Adhesive Market Size (Sales Volume) Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 20163 Global Phenolic Resin Conductive Adhesive Market Size (Value) Comparison by Region (2012-2022)4 Global Phenolic Resin Conductive Adhesive Market Competition by Players/Suppliers5 Global Phenolic Resin Conductive Adhesive Sales (Volume) and Revenue (Value) by Type (Product Category) (2012-2017)6 Global Phenolic Resin Conductive Adhesive Players/Suppliers Profiles and Sales Data7 Phenolic Resin Conductive Adhesive Manufacturing Cost Analysis8 Industrial Chain, Sourcing Strategy and Downstream Buyers9 Global Phenolic Resin Conductive Adhesive Market Size (Value and Volume) Forecast (2017-2022)Have a query on this report? @All aspects of the Phenolic Resin Conductive Adhesive industry report are quantitatively as well as qualitatively assessed to study the global as well as regional market comparatively. The basic information such as the definition, prevalent chain and the government regulations pertaining to the Phenolic Resin Conductive Adhesive market are also discussed in the report.About UsReports Monitor (ReportsMonitor.com) is a platform for companies looking to meet their market research and business intelligence requirements. Our aim is to change the dynamics of the Market Research industry by providing quality intelligence backed by data. Your requirement for market forecasting is fulfilled by our exclusive quantitative and analytics driven intelligence. We have a vast collection of reports, covering maximum industries worldwide. Our process is meticulously planned and executed in order to use maximum resources and explore the market for getting genuine insights. The prime focus is to get reliable data, Decision makers can now rely on our distinct data gathering methods to get factual market forecasting and detailed analysis.Contact UsJay MatthewsDirect: +1 513 549-5911Email: sales@reportsmonitor.comWebsite:
Global Powertrain Market - Competitive Landscape & Technological Breakthroughs Analysis in Next Few Years

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Powertrain consists of all the main components of an automobile engine where the combustion of fuel takes place. These components include engine, transmission, drive shafts, differentials, and final drive. Powertrain can also be defined as the sum total of all the components which is required for the vehicle to convert stored energy into kinetic energy. This kinetic energy which is produced by the powertrain enables the vehicle to move.Technologically upgraded advanced powertrain system which enables better fuel efficiency and stringent government norms for automobile are some of the factors which is driving the automotive powertrain market. Powertrain manufacturing companies are investing heavily in research and development activities to innovate more advanced powertrain systems. Companies are trying to decrease the size of engine and powertrain which are environment friendly without compromising on the performance of the vehicle. Due to reduction in the size of the vehicle the fuel efficiency of the vehicles are increasing. Now end users can run more miles by consuming the same amount of fuel. Thus encouraging the end users to upgrade their vehicles to ones with latest technology powertrain systems, thus creating more demand for automotive powertrain.Get an exclusive sample of this report @Growing environmental awareness among consumers has led to the growth in demand in the powertrain market witnessing a trend towards eco-friendly and noiseless powertrains, with the automotive industry likely to expand substantially in the near future, there is an urgent need to create green powertrain technologies to reduce environmental pollution from vehicles. Additionally, companies are also keen on developing noise-free vehicles, which includes the production of more-efficient and noiseless powertrain systems.The powertrain market is capital-intensive and hence new entrants are required to make huge capital investments to enter the market. The market is consolidated with the presence of a few large and experienced players, which act as a huge barrier to new entrants. Established market players have gained reputation and possess large market shares in all the major countries across the world. Furthermore, these companies are also looking to capture untapped opportunities by expanding their global reach. Thus, the saturation in the global powertrain market and the stable presence and dominance of key players such as Magna Powertrain Ltd, Denso Corporation, Delphi Automobile LLP, Ford Motor Company, and BorgWarner, Inc. have led to low threat from new entrants. The threat from new entrants is expected to remain low during the forecast period.Browse Press Release of this Research Report @The powertrain market is recognized for its performance and brand value. The market is consolidated by major players such as Stackpole International, Magna Powertrain Ltd, Denso Corporation, Delphi Automotive LLP, and BorgWarner, Inc., accounting for over 50% of the overall market share. Furthermore, key players are focusing on upgrading their powertrain technology, reducing emissions, and providing better power to wheels. The competitive rivalry is expected to be unaffected by the entry of emergent players, as the major players have already acquired the majority of market shares and gained brand reputation. However, established players would have to look out for technological up gradation that might increase the competition in the market. Thus, the degree of competition is expected to remain high throughout the forecast period.The global powertrain market by geography has been segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Rest of the World region. Europe dominated the global powertrain market, followed by Asia Pacific and North America as on 2013. Asia Pacific is the most attractive region in the global powertrain market, growing at a CAGR of 6.4% over the forecast period from 2013 to 2020. This region comprises of a vast array of markets. Japan dominates the luxury car segment, while India is a potential market in the small car, compact sedans and SUVs market and is developing gradually. The emerging business class in India and China along with the green revolution is expected to drive the powertrain market further.Some of the major players in the global powertrain market are General Motors Company (GM) (U.S.), Denso Corporation (Japan), Magma International Inc. (Canada), Valeo (France), Ford Motor Company (U.S.), Delphi Automotive PLC (U.S.), BorgWarener Automotive Powertrain Systems Corp (U.S.), ZF Friedrichshafen AG (Germany), Hyundai Motor Company (South Korea), Continental AG (Germany).This report provides strategic analysis of the global powertrain market and the growth forecast for the period 2013 to 2020. The report covers competitive analysis of various market segments based on components and types of vehicles and an in-depth cross sectional analysis of the automated fare collection market across different geographic segments.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.comWebsite:
Global Surface-Mount Switches Market Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2016 - 2024

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"The Report Surface-Mount Switches Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2016 - 2024 provides information on pricing, market analysis, shares, forecast, and company profiles for key industry participants. - MarketResearchReports.biz"A method of producing electronic circuits is called Surface-mount technology (SMT). In Surface-mount technology, components are directly placed or mounted onto the surface of printed circuit boards (PCBs). An electronic device made in such a way is called surface-mount devices (SMD). One of such device is the Surface-mount Switches. Presently, surface-mount switches are used in majority of the electronic devices produced using surface-mount technology.The factors driving the growth of the global Surface-mount switches market are the introduction of new electronic devices, miniaturization, higher speed of production for these devices, and mass-production of electronic hardware devices. Moreover booming electronic contract manufacturing services sector has positively impacted the growth of surface mount switches market. Increasing demand for LED/LCD television sets, mobile phone, CFL and LED lighting, and other consumer electronic devices is expected to raise the demand for surface-mount switches in coming years. Rising demand for more light weight and efficient electronic devices in the field of automation and medical sector is expected to propel the market for surface-mount switches.Get Sample Copy Of This Report @Despite of its several advantages, there are certain factors restraining the growth of the Surface-mount Switches market. These includes high cost of surface-mount switches, and the unsuitability of surface-mount switches for high power or high voltage electronic parts. Moreover, repairing the surface-mount switches require very highly skilled personnel and tools.The surface-mount switches manufacturing industry is mature and intensely competitive. The profit margins in this industry is low with very high entry barriers. There is a need for players in the industry to invest regularly in product innovation to achieve competitive advantage and address changing requirements of consumer electronics industry.The global surface-mount switches market is segmented on the basis of application, product and geography. By product the surface-mount switches market is sub-segmented as Ultra-Miniature Surface Mount Switches, and Ultra-thin Surface Mount Switches. On the basis of application, the global surface-mount switches market can be sub-divided as medical, automotive, consumer appliances, defense & aerospace, telecommunication, and Industrial Sectors. Among all the above mentioned applications, computing sector, consumer appliances and telecommunication are expected to continues to fuel the demand for surface-mount switches.View Report @By geography the market for surface-mount switches can be categorized as North America, Europe, Middle East and Africa (MEA), and Asia Pacific (APAC). Among the mentioned regions, the market for surface-mount switches in Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest growing because of the flourishing electronic contract manufacturing in this part of the world. Additionally, mass production of electronic devices, increasing demand for these products, growing infrastructural development, rapid industrialization, and increasing GDP growth in this region is expected to drive the growth of Surface-mount switches market. The market for surface-mount switches in Latin America is expected to be the close second, in terms of rate of growth of market, followed by Asia-Pacific. The market for surface-mount switches in Europe is adversely affected by their present economic condition, which followed as a result of the Euro-zone financial crisis. However, the European Government has started stressing on the development of manufacturing and hardware industry by aiding the electronic manufacturing industries and innovative star-ups, which is expected to stabilize the market for surface-mount switches in this part of the world.The key players in the global surface-mount switches market include Fuji Machine Manufacturing Co. (Japan), PPT Vision Inc. (U.S), Nordson Corporation (U.S), Teradyne Inc. (U.S), Koh Young Technology Inc. (South Korea), Juki Automation Systems Inc. (Japan), Assembleon Netherlands BV (Netherlands), Taiwan Surface Mounting Technology Corp. (Taiwan), Heller Industries Inc. (U.S), CyberOptics Corporation (U.S), Glenbrook Technologies Inc (U.S), Speedline Technologies GmbH (Singapore), Saki Corporation (Japan), Hitachi High Technologies Corporation (Japan), JUKI Corporation (Japan), and Panasonic Corporation (Japan).The report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the market. It does so via in-depth qualitative insights, historical data, and verifiable projections about market size. The projections featured in the report have been derived using proven research methodologies and assumptions. By doing so, the research report serves as a repository of analysis and information for every facet of the market, including but not limited to: Regional markets, technology, types, and applications.The study is a source of reliable data on:Market segments and sub-segmentsMarket trends and dynamicsSupply and demandMarket sizeCurrent trends/opportunities/challengesCompetitive landscapeTechnological breakthroughsValue chain and stakeholder analysisThe regional analysis covers:North America (U.S. and Canada)Latin America (Mexico, Brazil, Peru, Chile, and others)Western Europe (Germany, U.K., France, Spain, Italy, Nordic countries, Belgium, Netherlands, and Luxembourg)Eastern Europe (Poland and Russia)Asia Pacific (China, India, Japan, ASEAN, Australia, and New Zealand)Middle East and Africa (GCC, Southern Africa, and North Africa)Send An Enquiry Request @The report has been compiled through extensive primary research (through interviews, surveys, and observations of seasoned analysts) and secondary research (which entails reputable paid sources, trade journals, and industry body databases). The report also features a complete qualitative and quantitative assessment by analyzing data gathered from industry analysts and market participants across key points in the industrys value chain.A separate analysis of prevailing trends in the parent market, macro- and micro-economic indicators, and regulations and mandates is included under the purview of the study. By doing so, the report projects the attractiveness of each major segment over the forecast period.Highlights of the report:A complete backdrop analysis, which includes an assessment of the parent marketImportant changes in market dynamicsMarket segmentation up to the second or third levelHistorical, current, and projected size of the market from the standpoint of both value and volumeReporting and evaluation of recent industry developmentsMarket shares and strategies of key playersEmerging niche segments and regional marketsAn objective assessment of the trajectory of the marketRecommendations to companies for strengthening their foothold in the marketAbout usMarketResearchReports.biz is the most comprehensive collection of market research reports. MarketResearchReports.Biz services are specially designed to save time and money for our clients. We are a one stop solution for all your research needs, our main offerings are syndicated research reports, custom research, subscription access and consulting services. We serve all sizes and types of companies spanning across various industries.Mr. NachiketState Tower90 Sate Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-621-2074Website:Email: sales@marketresearchreports.biz
Fraud Detection and Prevention 2017 Global Market Key Players  IBM Corporation, Oracle, SAS Institute, SAP SE, BAE Systems  Analysis and Forecast to 2022

Fraud Detection and Prevention Market

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Fraud Detection and Prevention Market 2017Wiseguyreports.Com adds Fraud Detection and Prevention Market Market Demand, Growth, Opportunities, Analysis of Top Key Players and Forecast to 2022 To Its Research Database.Report Details:This report provides in depth study of Fraud Detection and Prevention Market using SWOT analysis i.e. Strength, Weakness, Opportunities and Threat to the organization. The Fraud Detection and Prevention Market report also provides an in-depth survey of key players in the market which is based on the various objectives of an organization such as profiling, the product outline, the quantity of production, required raw material, and the financial health of the organization.This report studies Fraud Detection and Prevention 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, coveringIBM CorporationOracle CorporationSAS Institute Inc.Fair Isaac CorporationSAP SEBAE Systems.ACI WorldwideNCR LimitedLavastormThreatMetrixRequest a Sample Report @On the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split intoPredictive AnalyticsCustomer AnalyticsSocial Media AnalyticsBigdata AnalyticsBehavioral AnalyticsSingle Factor AuthenticationMulti-Factor AuthenticationBy Application, the market can be split intoBFSIRetailHealthcareReal EstateManufacturingOthersBy Regions, this report covers (we can add the regions/countries as you want)North AmericaChinaEuropeSoutheast AsiaJapanIndiaIf you have any special requirements, please let us know and we will offer you the report as you want.Complete Report Details@Major Key Points in Table of Content:1 Industry Overview of Fraud Detection and Prevention1.1 Definition and Specifications of Fraud Detection and Prevention1.1.1 Definition of Fraud Detection and Prevention1.1.2 Specifications of Fraud Detection and Prevention1.2 Classification of Fraud Detection and Prevention1.2.1 Predictive Analytics1.2.2 Customer Analytics1.2.3 Social Media Analytics1.2.4 Bigdata Analytics1.2.5 Behavioral Analytics1.2.6 Single Factor Authentication1.2.7 Multi-Factor Authentication1.3 Applications of Fraud Detection and Prevention1.3.1 BFSI1.3.2 Retail1.3.3 Healthcare1.3.4 Real Estate1.3.5 Manufacturing1.3.6 Others1.4 Market Segment by Regions1.4.1 North America1.4.2 China1.4.3 Europe1.4.4 Southeast Asia1.4.5 Japan1.4.6 India.8 Major Manufacturers Analysis of Fraud Detection and Prevention8.1 IBM Corporation8.1.1 Company Profile8.1.2 Product Picture and Specifications8.1.2.1 Product A8.1.2.2 Product B8.1.3 IBM Corporation 2016 Fraud Detection and Prevention Sales, Ex-factory Price, Revenue, Gross Margin Analysis8.1.4 IBM Corporation 2016 Fraud Detection and Prevention Business Region Distribution Analysis8.2 Oracle Corporation8.2.1 Company Profile8.2.2 Product Picture and Specifications8.2.2.1 Product A8.2.2.2 Product B8.2.3 Oracle Corporation 2016 Fraud Detection and Prevention Sales, Ex-factory Price, Revenue, Gross Margin Analysis8.2.4 Oracle Corporation 2016 Fraud Detection and Prevention Business Region Distribution Analysis8.3 SAS Institute Inc.8.3.1 Company Profile8.3.2 Product Picture and Specifications8.3.2.1 Product A8.3.2.2 Product B8.3.3 SAS Institute Inc. 2016 Fraud Detection and Prevention Sales, Ex-factory Price, Revenue, Gross Margin Analysis8.3.4 SAS Institute Inc. 2016 Fraud Detection and Prevention Business Region Distribution Analysis8.4 Fair Isaac Corporation8.4.1 Company Profile8.4.2 Product Picture and Specifications8.4.2.1 Product A8.4.2.2 Product B8.4.3 Fair Isaac Corporation 2016 Fraud Detection and Prevention Sales, Ex-factory Price, Revenue, Gross Margin Analysis8.4.4 Fair Isaac Corporation 2016 Fraud Detection and Prevention Business Region Distribution Analysis8.5 SAP SE8.5.1 Company Profile8.5.2 Product Picture and Specifications8.5.2.1 Product A8.5.2.2 Product B8.5.3 SAP SE 2016 Fraud Detection and Prevention Sales, Ex-factory Price, Revenue, Gross Margin Analysis8.5.4 SAP SE 2016 Fraud Detection and Prevention Business Region Distribution Analysis8.6 BAE Systems.8.6.1 Company Profile8.6.2 Product Picture and Specifications8.6.2.1 Product A8.6.2.2 Product B8.6.3 BAE Systems. 2016 Fraud Detection and Prevention Sales, Ex-factory Price, Revenue, Gross Margin Analysis8.6.4 BAE Systems. 2016 Fraud Detection and Prevention Business Region Distribution Analysis8.7 ACI Worldwide8.7.1 Company Profile8.7.2 Product Picture and Specifications8.7.2.1 Product A8.7.2.2 Product B8.7.3 ACI Worldwide 2016 Fraud Detection and Prevention Sales, Ex-factory Price, Revenue, Gross Margin Analysis8.7.4 ACI Worldwide 2016 Fraud Detection and Prevention Business Region Distribution Analysis8.8 NCR Limited8.8.1 Company Profile8.8.2 Product Picture and Specifications8.8.2.1 Product A8.8.2.2 Product B8.8.3 NCR Limited 2016 Fraud Detection and Prevention Sales, Ex-factory Price, Revenue, Gross Margin Analysis8.8.4 NCR Limited 2016 Fraud Detection and Prevention Business Region Distribution Analysis8.9 Lavastorm8.9.1 Company Profile8.9.2 Product Picture and Specifications8.9.2.1 Product A8.9.2.2 Product B8.9.3 Lavastorm 2016 Fraud Detection and Prevention Sales, Ex-factory Price, Revenue, Gross Margin Analysis8.9.4 Lavastorm 2016 Fraud Detection and Prevention Business Region Distribution Analysis8.10 ThreatMetrix8.10.1 Company Profile8.10.2 Product Picture and Specifications8.10.2.1 Product A8.10.2.2 Product B8.10.3 ThreatMetrix 2016 Fraud Detection and Prevention Sales, Ex-factory Price, Revenue, Gross Margin Analysis8.10.4 ThreatMetrix 2016 Fraud Detection and Prevention Business Region Distribution AnalysisContinued.Buy now @Contact Us:NORAH TRENTPh: +1-646-845-9349 (US)Sales@Wiseguyreports.ComPh: +44 208 133 9349 (UK)ABOUT US:Wise Guy Reports is part of the Wise Guy Consultants Pvt. Ltd. and offers premium progressive statistical surveying, market research reports, analysis & forecast data for industries and governments around the globe. Wise Guy Reports features an exhaustive list of market research reports from hundreds of publishers worldwide. We boast a database spanning virtually every market category and an even more comprehensive collection of market research reports under these categories and sub-categories.ADDRES:WISE GUY RESEARCH CONSULTANTS PVT LTDOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, HadapsarPune - 411028Maharashtra, India
BRICS Oral Care Market will Account for Around US$ 50.8 Bn by 2020

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Future Market Insights (FMI) in its latest offering, BRICS Oral Care - Market Analysis and Opportunity Assessment, 20142020, provides in-depth analysis and strategic recommendations on the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) oral care market. Personal care includes categories such as skin care, hair care, cosmetics, oral care and toiletries. The global oral care market represents 15% of the personal care market in 2014, and is expected to account for almost 20% of the overall market by 2020. Organised retailing, rising per capita income, increasing consumer spending on personal care products and consumer preferences for value-added products are some of the factors contributing to growth of the BRICS personal care market. The BRICS region represents a major segment of the global market.FMI forecasts that the overall oral care market in BRICS will grow at a moderate single-digit CAGR between 2014 and 2020.Click to View Complete Report @Growing awareness about better oral hygiene opens up ample opportunities for international players operating in the BRICS oral care market to introduce enhanced and innovative products, further increasing competition among the players in this region. This has led key players to adopt various approaches to increase product visibility in modern retail formats, coupled with branding and advertisement to sustain in the competitive oral care market in BRICS. As a result, demand for secondary oral care products in BRICS is expected to increase considerably between 2018 and 2020.Furthermore, dentist recommendations will add to the rising consumer awareness about secondary oral hygiene products towards the end of the forecast period. This will result in growing preference for mouthwash, thereby driving the demand for this product category among the expanding middle-class population in the BRICS. Thus, secondary products in the BRICS oral care market such as mouthwash and dental floss will demonstrate an above-average annual growth percentage.Some other factors such as adoption of digital marketing and introduction of product variants at affordable prices are also expected to contribute to growth of the BRICS oral care market. Research results reveal that in 2013, the top key distribution channels, which are general merchandise retailers and direct selling, accounted for around 50% share of the BRICS oral care market.The BRICS oral care market is dominated by international players such as Colgate-Palmolive Co., Uniliver Group, Procter & Gamble Co., Koninklijke Philips N.V., Johnson & Johnson Inc. and GlaxoSmithKline Plc. However, regional players such as Dabur and Amway owe a significant share to the overall BRICS oral care market.Report Overview, with TOC @ABOUT USFuture Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.CONTACTFuture Market Insights616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
Healthcare Artificial Intelligence 2017 North America Market Size, Status, Analysis and Forecast 2022

Healthcare Artificial Intelligence Market

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North America Healthcare Artificial Intelligence MarketDescriptionWiseGuyReports.Com adds North America Healthcare Artificial Intelligence Market by Manufacturers, Countries, Type and Application, Forecast to 2022 Research To Its Database.This report studies the Healthcare Artificial Intelligence market status and outlook of Global and major regions, from angles of players, countries, product types and end industries; this report analyzes the top players in global market, and splits the Healthcare Artificial Intelligence market by product type and applications/end industries.Scope of the Report:This report focuses on the Healthcare Artificial Intelligence in North America Market, especially in United States, Canada and Mexico. This report categorizes the market based on manufacturers, countries, type and application.Get sample Report @Market Segment by Manufacturers, this report coversAiCureCyrcadia HealthGoogleIBMMicrosoftAtomwiseLifegraphModernizing MedicineSenselyZebra Medical VisionSophia GeneticsWelltokAPIXIOInsilico MedicinePathway GenomicsEnliticMarket Segment by Countries, coveringUnited StatesCanadaMexicoMarket Segment by Type, coversMarket Segment by Applications, can be divided intoDrug DiscoveryMedical ImagingDiagnosisEnquiry About Report @Table of Contents -Major Key Points1 Market Overview1.1 Healthcare Artificial Intelligence Introduction1.2 Market Analysis by Type1.3 Market Analysis by Applications1.3.1 Drug Discovery1.3.2 Medical Imaging1.3.3 Diagnosis1.4 Market Analysis by Countries1.4.1 United States Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.2 Mexico Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.3 Canada Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.5 Market Dynamics1.5.1 Market Opportunities1.5.2 Market Risk1.5.3 Market Driving Force2 Manufacturers Profiles2.1 AiCure2.1.1 Profile2.1.2 Healthcare Artificial Intelligence Type and Applications2.1.2.1 Type 12.1.2.2 Type 22.1.3 AiCure Healthcare Artificial Intelligence Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.1.4 Business Overview2.1.5 AiCure News2.2 Cyrcadia Health2.2.1 Profile2.2.2 Healthcare Artificial Intelligence Type and Applications2.2.2.1 Type 12.2.2.2 Type 22.2.3 Cyrcadia Health Healthcare Artificial Intelligence Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.2.4 Business Overview2.2.5 Cyrcadia Health News2.3 Google2.3.1 Profile2.3.2 Healthcare Artificial Intelligence Type and Applications2.3.2.1 Type 12.3.2.2 Type 22.3.3 Google Healthcare Artificial Intelligence Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.3.4 Business Overview2.3.5 Google News2.4 IBM2.4.1 Profile2.4.2 Healthcare Artificial Intelligence Type and Applications2.4.2.1 Type 12.4.2.2 Type 22.4.3 IBM Healthcare Artificial Intelligence Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.4.4 Business Overview2.4.5 IBM News2.5 Microsoft2.5.1 Profile2.5.2 Healthcare Artificial Intelligence Type and Applications2.5.2.1 Type 12.5.2.2 Type 22.5.3 Microsoft Healthcare Artificial Intelligence Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.5.4 Business Overview2.5.5 Microsoft News2.6 Atomwise2.6.1 Profile2.6.2 Healthcare Artificial Intelligence Type and Applications2.6.2.1 Type 12.6.2.2 Type 22.6.3 Atomwise Healthcare Artificial Intelligence Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.6.4 Business Overview2.6.5 Atomwise News..CONTINUEDAbout UsWise Guy Reports is part of the Wise Guy Consultants Pvt. Ltd. and offers premium progressive statistical surveying, Industry research reports, analysis & forecast data for industries and governments around the globe. Wise Guy Reports understand how essential statistical surveying information is for your organization or association. Therefore, we have associated with the top publishers and research firms all specialized in specific domains, ensuring you will receive the most reliable and up to date research data available.NORAH TRENTPartner Relations & Marketing Managersales@wiseguyreports.comPh: +1-646-845-9349 (US)Ph: +44 208 133 9349 (UK)
Global Laser Printer Industry Market 2017 Analysis by Application, Product Types and Regions with Forecast to 2022

Laser Printer Industry

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Global Laser Printer Industry Market Research Report 2017 Contains Historic Data That Spans 2013 to 2017, and Then Continues To Forecast To 2022. That Makes This Report So Invaluable, Resources For The Leaders As Well As The New Entrants In The Industry.The MRS Research Group Report Research Highlights Informative Data and In-Depth Analysis Of Global Laser Printer Industry Market And Its Corresponding Segments That Are Based On Technology, Geography And Applications.The Current State Of The Global Global Laser Printer Industry Market With Focus On Major Countries Like North America,Southeast Asia,India And explore Economic Impact In Global Industries Manufactures, Growth, Size, Share, Trends, Development Challenges and Forcast By End-Use Industry 2017-22Key Questions Answered In This Report:What will the market size be in 2024 and what will the growth rate be?What are the key market trends?What is driving this market?What are the challenges to market growth?Who are the key vendors in this market spaceWe aim to make it easier for decision makers to find relevant information and locate right market research reports which can save their time and assist in what they do best, i.e. take time-critical decisions.For In depth Information Get Free Sample Copy of this Report @The report highlights exhaustive study of major market and their present trends, along with corresponding market segments. The Global Laser Printer Industry report also provides data regarding various market factors and their impact on the overall market and its segments. Further, the examination on value chain of Global Laser Printer Industry market is also provided which covers the growth factors and restraints of the industry along with the key market competitors.This report consists of an array of charts, statistical data, tables, graphs, and models to pictorially analyze the industry 2017-2022 and deliver easy to understand data in detail. This helps client to grasp the picture easily and understand which industry 2017-2022 shows the potential for growth.Client get 100% satisfaction about product and their current market trends & opportunities.Key Topics Covered:1. Report Market Overview & Scope2. Market Competition by Manufacturers3. Report Capacity, Production, Revenue (Value) by Region (2012-2017)4. Supply (Production), Consumption, Export, Import by Region (2012-2017)5. Production, Revenue (Value), Price Trend by Type6. Market Analysis by Application7. Manufacturers Or Companies Profiles/Analysis8. Manufacturing Cost Analysis9. Industrial Chain, Sourcing Strategy and Downstream Buyers10. Marketing Strategy Analysis, Distributors/Traders11. Market Effect Factors Analysis12. Market Forecast (2017-2022)13. Research Findings and Conclusion14. AppendixAccess Complete Report @The Global Laser Printer Industry report is a helpful source which assists manufacturers, distributors, suppliers, customers and individuals and investors who have interest in this market.Features Of Report:1. The market analysis of the global market share, position, and size from the different regions are done.2. The admired players in the market and their share in the global market are discussed.3. Suggestions and the strategic plans that will help the new market players to maintain the competitive edge are also included.4. How the technological advancements and the research and development activities are impacting the market are further explained in detail.5. Customer satisfaction is always our first goal.About Us: We aim to provide the best industry research report to a seeker. Today, MRS Research Group is a one stop destination for all the report buyers. We have a collection of over 700,000+ research, company, market, SWOT, trends and analysis reports of various countries, categories and domain to meet an organization need.3422 SW 15 Street, Suit #8138, Deerfield Beach, Florida 33442,Tel: +1-386-310-3803GMT Tel: +49-322 210 92714USA/Canada Toll Free No. 1-855-465-4651
MENA Point of Use Water Purifier (POU) Market will Develop at a CAGR of 7.6% by 2020

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Future Market Insights (FMI) announced the release of a latest report titled, POU Water Purifiers Market: MENA Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment 2014 - 2020. FMI estimates that the Point of Use (POU) water purifier market in Middle East and North Africa is expected to reach US$ 471 Mn at a CAGR of 7.6% from 2014 to 2020.Click to View Complete Report @Residential water purification system includes point of use water purifiers (POU), point of entry (POE) water purifiers, portable water purifiers. Moreover, the demand for POU water purifiers is high among consumers in MENA region as compared to POE and portable water purifiers.Region-wise, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), United Arab Emirates (UAE), Turkey, Israel, Egypt and Algeria are the promising markets for POU water purifiers. In addition, a cumulative scenario has been highlighted for rest of MENA (includes smaller countries like Kuwait, Jordan etc.). Among the aforementioned regions, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is estimated to be the prominent market for POU water purifiers, followed by Turkey, due to its growing population and rapid urbanization, and increasing awareness for safe drinking water forecast period.In addition, penetration of bottled water is a challenge for the POU water purifiers market in Anatolia. As a result, Anatolia is estimated to demonstrate a sluggish growth rate in the near future. Furthermore, POU water purifiers market in UAE is anticipated to reach 149.2 thousand units by 2020, exhibiting a CAGR of 10% between 2014 and 2020.Deteriorating water quality, rising cost of bottled water, increasing population coupled with increasing per capita income are some of the prominent factors which will catalyse the point of use water purifiers in the region. Though the MENA market is attractive in terms of absolute dollar opportunity, low awareness about safe drinking water and product unavailability are major challenges for the MENA POU water purifier market.Key players operating in the MENA water purifier market are LG, Eureka Forbes, Strauss Water, Panasonic, WaterLife and Coolplex. The report sheds light on their key growth strategies and recent developments. In addition, the report also discusses the value chain followed by multinational companies in MENA for POU water purifiers.Report Overview, with TOC @ABOUT USFuture Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.CONTACTFuture Market Insights616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
Organic Personal Care Products Market - Demand for Organic Skin Care Products to Remain High Through the Forecast Period

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The use of natural, organic, and ethical labels has significantly increased in the organic personal care products market, impacting it favorably on the global front. After exhibiting considerable growth in the food and beverages industry, the practice of manufacturing organic products have penetrated into the personal care industry. Several nations around the world have introduced policies and guidelines encouraging the production of organic personal care products, thus providing considerable impetus to their market.Changing lifestyle, the rising awareness, and availability of a wide range of products are key factors contributing to the markets growth. CAGR exhibited by the market through the course of the forecast period is expected to remain robust as concerns such as hair fall and skincare become widespread. While the demand for organic personal care product is expected to remain high worldwide, the opportunities witnessed across emerging economies is slated to be more lucrative.Get an exclusive sample of this report @The report provides a comprehensive overview of the global organic personal care products market. It conducts Porters five forces to gauge the growth drivers and market restraints influencing the market. The analysis also provides insights into the bargaining power of buyers and suppliers, threat from substitutes and new entrants, and degree of competition. SWOT analysis is also conducted to study the key companies and strategies adopted by them.Based on product, the organic skincare segment has emerged dominant in the market. The segment includes facial care, body care, ands sun care products. The increasing demand witnessed in the segment is mainly attributed to the rising consumer awareness regarding the side-effects of synthetic personal care products. The segment is gaining significant impetus from the launch of new products and the expanding distribution channel.Browse Press Release of this Research Report @The hair care segment is projected to emerge as the second-leading segment in the market during the forecast period. The rising aging population, increasing concerns pertaining to hair fall, dandruff, and hair loss, and the demand for products enabling maintain youthful appearance are the key factors fuelling demand from the segment. The launch of innovative products aimed at resolving specific hair problems will further lead to the growth of the segment.North America Emerges As Dominant Regional SegmentThe global organic personal care products market is segmented into North America, Asia Pacific, Europe, and Rest of the World. Among these nations, North America led the global market in 2015 and is witnessing rapid growth due to the increasing awareness about the benefits of organic products and following the entry of multinational companies thus making organic products easily available. Europe trailed North America in terms of exhibiting demand for organic personal care products, and is expected to remain a lucrative regional market for the same through the course of the forecast period.In Europe, France and Germany have emerged as the primary consumers of organic personal care products. In Asia Pacific, the market is expected to witness lucrative opportunities in Japan, which also expected to report the fastest growth among all domestic markets in Asia Pacific. The faith in natural and organic remedies is already ingrained in the Japan culture, therefore it has become easier for manufacturers to make their organic products acceptable among consumers in Japan. Furthermore, the market is also expected to witness considerably high demand in countries such as India and China.The Hain Celestial Group, Estee Lauder, Yves Rocher, and The Body Shop are some of the leading companies operating in the market.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.comWebsite:
Microcontrollers (MCU) Market Advanced technologies and growth opportunities in global Industry

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As per a recent study Microcontrollers Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth and Forecast, 2012 - 2018 published by Transparency Market Research, the global demand for microcontrollers is expected to rise from 10.64 billion units in 2011 to 29 billion units by 2018. To achieve this, the market will register healthy growth, at a CAGR of 16.0%, from 2012 to 2018. The market that was valued at US$15.7 billion in 2011 in terms of revenue is expected to reach US$28.49 billion in 2018 which shall entail growth at a CAGR of 9.0% from 2012 to 2018.Based on extensive study and in-depth analysis the study forecasts a steady rise in demand and growth traction to be witnessed by the global Microcontroller (MCU) market in the next five years. However, the report also states that the market operations might as well face occasional hindrances given the moderately fragmented nature of the industry and the sheer volume of operations carried out by participants vying for major share of market over the forecast period.Sample With Latest Advancements @The TMR analysts observe that the rapid growth of automotive industry is expected to positively impact the global microcontroller market. The advent of smartphones, tablets, phablets and touchscreens have helped the market to garner a large user base. Consumer electronics like washing machines, microwave ovens and television also depend on microcontrollers for their operation. Additionally, increasing demand for healthcare equipments such as portable glucometers and blood pressure monitors that employ microcontroller will also considerably contribute to the market growth for MCUs.The global microcontroller market has been segmented in terms of product type, application and geography. On basis of product type the market can be categorized into 8-bit, 16-bit and 32-bit, whereas in terms of application the market is segmented into automotive, industrial, consumer goods, computer and communications. Geographically the market is sub divided into North America, EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa), Asia Pacific and RoW (Rest of the World).Browse Our Press Releases For More Information @The global market for microcontroller is dominated by automotive industry that registered over 32% of the overall demand in 2011. The demand for MCU for industrial application is expected to reach 8.6 billion units by 2018. The demand for 32-bit MCU on the other hand is expected to grow at an impressive CAGR of 16.2% during the forecast period. However, it was the demand for 8-bit MCUs that dominated the market with over 40% penetration in the global market in 2011. According to the report, Asia Pacific emerged as a clear market leader by accounting for over 35% of global market share in the year 2011. Also, Asia Pacific is expected to register remarkable growth at a CAGR of 9.2% from 2012 to 2018.View Report @The report includes company profiles of key market players along with their business strategies. Fujitsu, Renesas Electronics Corporation, Infineon Technologies, Freescale Semiconductor, Inc, and Texas Instruments among others are the key players in the market.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. We have an experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, who us e proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.Each TMR Syndicated Research report covers a different sector  such as pharmaceuticals, chemical, energy, food & beverages, semiconductors, med-devices, consumer goods and technology. These reports provide in-depth analysis and deep segmentation to possible micro levels. With wider scope and stratified research methodology, our syndicated reports thrive to provide clients to serve their overall research requirement.ContactTransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA  Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Global Hybrid Power Systems Market Report 2017 Focuses on Top Manufacturers : Emerson, Siemens

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Qyresearchreports include new market research report "Global Hybrid Power Systems Market Professional Survey Report 2017" to its huge collection of research reports.This report on the global Hybrid Power Systems market has been compiled by research analysts of the industry, with a primary aim to offer relevant information on the current market conditions for the global Hybrid Power Systems. Its objective is to talk about the growth prospects of the market and reach out to a wider range of audience such as government agencies, manufacturers of Hybrid Power Systems, and multiple consultancy services. The research report offers comprehensive analysis of the vital driving factors that will have a huge impact on the global Hybrid Power Systems market. It also studies the impeding or restraining aspects, upcoming and latest trends in the global Hybrid Power Systems market which the prominent players in the global Hybrid Power Systems market should make a note of to enhance their market presence. The potential of other factors of the Hybrid Power Systems market can be assessed by studying its multiple segments such as products, end users, types, application, services, and others, whichever are applicable. The report also studies the future conditions of the global Hybrid Power Systems market in all the important regions across the world, such as Latin America, Middle East and Africa (MEA), North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific.The report of the global Hybrid Power Systems market gives out the projection of the market size in terms of its revenue (USD billion). Top-down as well as Bottom-up approaches are applied in the study report to give an estimate and confirm the size of the global Hybrid Power Systems market and of its other different sub-segments. The research report also extensively discusses the opportunities that may arise in the global market for Hybrid Power Systems by type and application in the manufacturing countries, and provides a prediction for the period of 2017-2022.This report focuses on top manufacturers in global market, with production, price, revenue and market share for each manufacturer, coveringEmersonHeliocentrisShanghai GhrepowerSiemensSMAAEG Power SolutionsAlpha PowerDanvestElectro Power SystemsElgris PowerEltek PowerSome of the prominent companies in the global Hybrid Power Systems market have been mentioned to attract the market shareholders. These companies are profiled respectively so as to give out their product portfolio, recent strategic decisions, and overall market share. The chapter also tries to grasp the possibility of the entry of upcoming players in the global Hybrid Power Systems market. The leading companies of the global market have been spotted with the help of secondary research methodologies and their dominance in respective areas have been evaluated with the help of detailed primary as well as secondary research.Request for the Free Report Sample:Table of Contents1 Industry Overview of Hybrid Power Systems1.1 Definition and Specifications of Hybrid Power Systems1.2 Classification of Hybrid Power Systems1.3 Applications of Hybrid Power Systems1.4 Market Segment by Regions2 Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis of Hybrid Power Systems2.1 Raw Material and Suppliers2.2 Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis of Hybrid Power Systems2.3 Manufacturing Process Analysis of Hybrid Power Systems2.4 Industry Chain Structure of Hybrid Power Systems3 Technical Data and Manufacturing Plants Analysis of Hybrid Power Systems3.1 Capacity and Commercial Production Date of Global Hybrid Power Systems Major Manufacturers in 20163.2 Manufacturing Plants Distribution of Global Hybrid Power Systems Major Manufacturers in 20163.3 R&D Status and Technology Source of Global Hybrid Power Systems Major Manufacturers in 20163.4 Raw Materials Sources Analysis of Global Hybrid Power Systems Major Manufacturers in 20168 Major Manufacturers Analysis of Hybrid Power Systems8.1 Emerson8.1.1 Company Profile8.1.2 Product Picture and Specifications8.1.3 Emerson 2016 Hybrid Power Systems Sales, Ex-factory Price, Revenue, Gross Margin Analysis8.1.4 Emerson 2016 Hybrid Power Systems Business Region Distribution Analysis8.2 Heliocentris8.2.1 Company Profile8.2.2 Product Picture and Specifications8.2.3 Heliocentris 2016 Hybrid Power Systems Sales, Ex-factory Price, Revenue, Gross Margin Analysis8.2.4 Heliocentris 2016 Hybrid Power Systems Business Region Distribution AnalysisView TOC (table of content), Figures and Tables of the Report:List of Tables and FiguresFigure Picture of Hybrid Power SystemsTable Product Specifications of Hybrid Power SystemsTable Classification of Hybrid Power SystemsFigure Global Production Market Share of Hybrid Power Systems by Type in 2016Figure Global Consumption Volume Market Share of Hybrid Power Systems by Application in 2016Table Capacity and Commercial Production Date of Global Hybrid Power Systems Major Manufacturers in 2016Table Manufacturing Plants Distribution of Global Hybrid Power Systems Major Manufacturers in 2016About UsQYReseachReports.com delivers the latest strategic market intelligence to build a successful business footprint in China. Our syndicated and customized research reports provide companies with vital background information of the market and in-depth analysis on the Chinese trade and investment framework, which directly affects their business operations. Reports from QYReseachReports.com feature valuable recommendations on how to navigate in the extremely unpredictable yet highly attractive Chinese market.Contact US:1820 AvenueM Suite #1047Brooklyn, NY 11230United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Email: sales@qyresearchreports.com
Global Crankcase Ventilation System Market Analysis 2017  2022: Cummins filtrations, Seaboard Marine, MAHLE, Metal Textiles

Crankcase Ventilation System market

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HTF MI recently added a new research study in its database that highlights the in-depth market analysis with future prospects of Crankcase Ventilation System market. The study covers significant data which makes the research document a handy resource for marketing managers, analysts, industry executives, consultants, sales and product managers, and other key people who are in need of ready-to-access and self analyzed study along with graphs and tables to help understand market trends, drivers and market challenges. Some of the key players mentioned in this research are Solberg Manufacturing Inc, Alfdex, MANN+HUMMEL, Cummins filtrations, Seaboard Marine, MAHLE, Metal Textiles, PARKER HANNIFIN, Continental, Sogefi & G.K Industries Ltd.Get Access to sample pages @The research covers the current market size of the Global Crankcase Ventilation System market and its growth rates based on 5 year history data. It also covers various types of segmentation such as by geography [North America, China, Europe, Southeast Asia, Japan & India], by product /end user type [Oil Separators, Pressure Regulating Valves, Heating Pipes & Valve Technology (Anti-Drain Valves, PCV Valves, Ventilation Valves)], by applications [Automotive, Industry & Other] in overall market. The in-depth information by segments of Crankcase Ventilation System market helps monitor performance & make critical decisions for growth and profitability. It provides information on trends and developments, focuses on markets and materials, capacities, technologies, CAPEX cycle and the changing structure of the Global Crankcase Ventilation System Market.The study also contains company profiling, product picture and specifications, sales, market share and contact information of various international, regional, and local vendors of Global Crankcase Ventilation System Market, some of them are Solberg Manufacturing Inc, Alfdex, MANN+HUMMEL, Cummins filtrations, Seaboard Marine, MAHLE, Metal Textiles, PARKER HANNIFIN, Continental, Sogefi & G.K Industries Ltd. The market competition is constantly growing higher with the rise in technological innovation and M&A activities in the industry. Moreover, many local and regional vendors are offering specific application products for varied end-users. The new vendor entrants in the market are finding it hard to compete with the international vendors based on quality, reliability, and innovations in technology.Global Crankcase Ventilation System (Thousands Units) and Revenue (Million USD) Market Split by Product Type such as Oil Separators, Pressure Regulating Valves, Heating Pipes & Valve Technology (Anti-Drain Valves, PCV Valves, Ventilation Valves)Market Segment by Type 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022Oil Separators xx xx xx xx xx Xx xx-Change (%) xx% xx% xx% xx% xx% xx% xx%Pressure Regulating Valves xx xx xx xx xx Xx xx-Change (%) xx% xx% xx% xx% xx% xx% xx%Heating Pipes xx xx xx xx xx Xx xx-Change (%) xx% xx% xx% xx% xx% xx% xx%Valve Technology (Anti-Drain Valves, PCV Valves, Ventilation Valves) xx xx xx xx xx Xx xx-Change (%) xx% xx% xx% xx% xx% xx% xx%The research study is segmented by Application such as Automotive, Industry & Other with historical and projected market share and compounded annual growth rate.Global Crankcase Ventilation System (Thousands Units) by Application (2016-2022)Market Segment by Application 2012 2016 2022 Market Share (%)2022 CAGR (%)(2016-2022)Automotive xx xx xx xx% xx%Industry xx xx xx xx% xx%Other xx xx xx xx% xx%Total xx xx xx 100% xx%Geographically, this report is segmented into several key Regions, with production, consumption, revenue (million USD), and market share and growth rate of Crankcase Ventilation System in these regions, from 2012 to 2022 (forecast), coveringMarket Segment by Regions 2012 2016 2022 Share (%) CAGR (2016-2022)North America xx xx xx xx% xx%China xx xx xx xx% xx%Europe xx xx xx xx% xx%Southeast Asia xx xx xx xx% xx%Japan xx xx xx xx% xx%India xx xx xx xx% xx%Total xx xx xx xx% xx%Read Detailed Index of full Research Study at @The research insights solutions to the following key questions: What will be the market size and the growth rate in 2022? What are the key factors driving the Global Crankcase Ventilation System market? Who are the key market players and what are their strategies in the Global Crankcase Ventilation System market? What are the key market trends impacting the growth of the Global Crankcase Ventilation System market? What trends, challenges and barriers are influencing its growth? What are the market opportunities and threats faced by the vendors in the Global Crankcase Ventilation System market? What are the key outcomes of the five forces analysis of the Crankcase Ventilation System market?Buy this research report @There are 15 Chapters to deeply display the Global Crankcase Ventilation System market.Chapter 1, to describe Crankcase Ventilation System Introduction, product scope, market overview, market opportunities, market risk, market driving force;Chapter 2, to analyze the top manufacturers of Crankcase Ventilation System , with sales, revenue, and price of Crankcase Ventilation System , in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 3, to display the competitive situation among the top manufacturers, with sales, revenue and market share in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 4, to show the Global market by regions, with sales, revenue and market share of Crankcase Ventilation System , for each region, from 2012 to 2017;Chapter 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, to analyze the key regions, with sales, revenue and market share by key countries in North America, China, Europe, Southeast Asia, Japan & India;Chapter 10 and 11, to show the market by type and application, with sales market share and growth rate by type, application [Automotive, Industry & Other], from 2012 to 2017;Chapter 12, Crankcase Ventilation System market forecast, by regions, type and application, with sales and revenue, from 2017 to 2022;Chapter 13, 14 and 15, to describe Crankcase Ventilation System sales channel, distributors, traders, dealers, Research Findings and Conclusion, appendix and data source.Get customization & check discount for report @Thanks for reading this article; you can also get individual chapter wise section or region wise report version like North America, Europe or Asia.HTF Market Report is a wholly owned brand of HTF market Intelligence Consulting Private Limited. HTF Market Report global research and market intelligence consulting organization is uniquely positioned to not only identify growth opportunities but to also empower and inspire you to create visionary growth strategies for futures, enabled by our extraordinary depth and breadth of thought leadership, research, tools, events and experience that assist you for making goals into a reality. Our understanding of the interplay between industry convergence, Mega Trends, technologies and market trends provides our clients with new business models and expansion opportunities. We are focused on identifying the Accurate Forecast in every industry we cover so our clients can reap the benefits of being early market entrants and can accomplish their Goals & Objectives.Contact Us:HTF Market Intelligence Consulting Private LimitedUnit No. 429, Parsonage Road, Edison, NJ USA - 08837sales@htfmarketreport.comPh: +1 (206) 317 1218
Global Tubeless Tyre Market Report 2017 Key Manufacturers : CEAT, Ltd, Yokohama Tire

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Qyresearchreports include new market research report "Global Tubeless Tyre Market Professional Survey Report 2017" to its huge collection of research reports.The in-depth study of the global Tubeless Tyre market can be done with sources such as the internet or web. However, it is extremely difficult to pick important data and leave out the rest of the information that may not be important, because the internet is full of information and humungous amount of data is available regarding the global Tubeless Tyre market. The market reports added in QY research reports presents just the perfect data, discarding anything that is unnecessary, whereas inclusive of all important aspects of the global Tubeless Tyre market. The key segments of the global Tubeless Tyre market is studied. Moreover, the Tubeless Tyre market is studied from a global perspective as well as regional perspective.In addition to this, the report presents an unbiased analysis of the various factors that will hamper or challenge the growth of the Tubeless Tyre market. The impact analysis of the restricting factors is also given. The important growth drivers and the various macro and micro economic factors that have a hand in fueling the growth of the global Tubeless Tyre market is also discussed. The degree of competition and the threat of substitutes have been analyzed in the report. In addition to this, the threat of new entrants and the bargaining power of buyers and suppliers are also given in the report.This report focuses on top manufacturers in global market, with production, price, revenue and market share for each manufacturer, coveringBridgestone CorporationThe Goodyear Tyre and RubberContinental AGMichelinPirelli TyreSumitomo Rubber IndustriesHankook TireToyo Tire and RubberYokohama TireCEAT, LtdThe competitive landscape of the global Tubeless Tyre market is given in much detail. It comprises a detailed analysis of the leading players within the global Tubeless Tyre market and their collective share in the market. The recent developments by leading players and the challenges faced by them over the course of period have also been revealed in the report.For More Info Download Free PDF Brochure :Table of Contents1 Industry Overview of Tubeless Tyre1.1 Definition and Specifications of Tubeless Tyre1.1.1 Definition of Tubeless Tyre1.1.2 Specifications of Tubeless Tyre1.2 Classification of Tubeless Tyre1.3 Applications of Tubeless Tyre1.4 Market Segment by Regions2 Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis of Tubeless Tyre2.1 Raw Material and Suppliers2.2 Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis of Tubeless Tyre2.3 Manufacturing Process Analysis of Tubeless Tyre2.4 Industry Chain Structure of Tubeless Tyre3 Technical Data and Manufacturing Plants Analysis of Tubeless Tyre3.1 Capacity and Commercial Production Date of Global Tubeless Tyre Major Manufacturers in 20163.2 Manufacturing Plants Distribution of Global Tubeless Tyre Major Manufacturers in 20163.3 R&D Status and Technology Source of Global Tubeless Tyre Major Manufacturers in 20163.4 Raw Materials Sources Analysis of Global Tubeless Tyre Major Manufacturers in 20168 Major Manufacturers Analysis of Tubeless Tyre8.1 Bridgestone Corporation8.1.1 Company Profile8.1.2 Product Picture and Specifications8.1.3 Bridgestone Corporation 2016 Tubeless Tyre Sales, Ex-factory Price, Revenue, Gross Margin Analysis8.1.4 Bridgestone Corporation 2016 Tubeless Tyre Business Region Distribution Analysis8.2 The Goodyear Tyre and Rubber8.2.1 Company Profile8.2.2 Product Picture and Specifications8.2.3 The Goodyear Tyre and Rubber 2016 Tubeless Tyre Sales, Ex-factory Price, Revenue, Gross Margin Analysis8.2.4 The Goodyear Tyre and Rubber 2016 Tubeless Tyre Business Region Distribution AnalysisBrowse full table of contents and data tables of Report @List of Tables and FiguresFigure Picture of Tubeless TyreTable Product Specifications of Tubeless TyreTable Classification of Tubeless TyreFigure Global Production Market Share of Tubeless Tyre by Type in 2016Figure Global Consumption Volume Market Share of Tubeless Tyre by Application in 2016Table Capacity and Commercial Production Date of Global Tubeless Tyre Major Manufacturers in 2016Table Manufacturing Plants Distribution of Global Tubeless Tyre Major Manufacturers in 2016About UsQYReseachReports.com delivers the latest strategic market intelligence to build a successful business footprint in China. Our syndicated and customized research reports provide companies with vital background information of the market and in-depth analysis on the Chinese trade and investment framework, which directly affects their business operations. Reports from QYReseachReports.com feature valuable recommendations on how to navigate in the extremely unpredictable yet highly attractive Chinese market.Contact US:1820 AvenueM Suite #1047Brooklyn, NY 11230United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Email: sales@qyresearchreports.com
The UV Curing Equipment Sales Market is Projected to Grow at a Substantial Rate

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Qyresearchreports include new market research report UV Curing Equipment Sales to its huge collection of research reports.The business landscape of the global UV Curing Equipment Sales market is undergoing dynamic changes. In order to facilitate a complete understanding of the complex industry scenario for clients and thus enhance their decision making process, the study on the global UV Curing Equipment Sales market presents a methodological explanation of this dynamic market scenario. The research study also offers the growth prospects of the global UV Curing Equipment Sales market in the coming few years.The research study begins with a brief overview of the industry and enlists details such as the definition, specifications, and classification of the global UV Curing Equipment Sales market. This section of the report provides to business professionals the key historical developments of the industry with details such as applications of UV Curing Equipment Sales and industry policy analysis. The manufacturing cost structure evaluation in the research study delivers an extensive analysis of the labor costs, equipment suppliers, and raw material suppliers, and manufacturing cost. In-depth segmentation analysis of the global UV Curing Equipment Sales market by key criteria with the growth prospects of the key segments paints a clear picture of the growth framework of the market.Get free sample copy of the report with TOC at:A strategic business forecast for the volume and value of the global UV Curing Equipment Sales market is covered in the report. The global and regional trends that will impact the growth of the various segments of the market further give insights to readers into the market scenario. Description of key strategies of the major companies operating in the global UV Curing Equipment Sales market allows readers to estimate the competitive framework of the market. Further, the study offers details such as each key companys profile, contact information, sales, sales price, sales revenue, and gross margin analysis. Actionable insights from expert analysts on the new project investment feasibility of the global UV Curing Equipment Sales market will support clients in forming sound business decisions to boost ROI.Global UV Curing Equipment market competition by top manufacturers/players, with UV Curing Equipment sales volume, Price (USD/Unit), revenue (Million USD) and market share for each manufacturer/player; the top players includingMiltecNordson3MHenkelOMRONDymax CorporationAmerican UltravioletIncure Inc.Excelitas Technologies CorpTangent Industries Inc.LoctiteRead complete report with TOC at:On the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split intoMicrowave Powered(Arc Lamp) UV SystemTable of ContentsGlobal UV Curing Equipment Sales Market Report 20171 UV Curing Equipment Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of UV Curing Equipment1.2 Classification of UV Curing Equipment by Product Category1.2.1 Global UV Curing Equipment Market Size (Sales) Comparison by Type (2012-2022)1.2.2 Global UV Curing Equipment Market Size (Sales) Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 20161.2.3 Microwave Powered1.2.4 (Arc Lamp) UV System1.3 Global UV Curing Equipment Market by Application/End Users1.3.1 Global UV Curing Equipment Sales (Volume) and Market Share Comparison by Application (2012-2022)1.3.2 Coatings1.3.3 Adhesives and Sealers1.3.4 Electronics1.3.5 OthersTo check available discount on this report, visit at:1.4 Global UV Curing Equipment Market by Region1.4.1 Global UV Curing Equipment Market Size (Value) Comparison by Region (2012-2022)1.4.2 United States UV Curing Equipment Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.3 China UV Curing Equipment Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.4 Europe UV Curing Equipment Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.5 Japan UV Curing Equipment Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.6 Southeast Asia UV Curing Equipment Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.7 India UV Curing Equipment Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.5 Global Market Size (Value and Volume) of UV Curing Equipment (2012-2022)1.5.1 Global UV Curing Equipment Sales and Growth Rate (2012-2022)1.5.2 Global UV Curing Equipment Revenue and Growth Rate (2012-2022)2 Global UV Curing Equipment Competition by Players/Suppliers, Type and Application2.1 Global UV Curing Equipment Market Competition by Players/Suppliers2.1.1 Global UV Curing Equipment Sales and Market Share of Key Players/Suppliers (2012-2017)2.1.2 Global UV Curing Equipment Revenue and Share by Players/Suppliers (2012-2017)2.2 Global UV Curing Equipment (Volume and Value) by Type2.2.1 Global UV Curing Equipment Sales and Market Share by Type (2012-2017)2.2.2 Global UV Curing Equipment Revenue and Market Share by Type (2012-2017)2.3 Global UV Curing Equipment (Volume and Value) by Region2.3.1 Global UV Curing Equipment Sales and Market Share by Region (2012-2017)2.3.2 Global UV Curing Equipment Revenue and Market Share by Region (2012-2017)2.4 Global UV Curing Equipment (Volume) by Application3 United States UV Curing Equipment (Volume, Value and Sales Price)3.1 United States UV Curing Equipment Sales and Value (2012-2017)3.1.1 United States UV Curing Equipment Sales and Growth Rate (2012-2017)3.1.2 United States UV Curing Equipment Revenue and Growth Rate (2012-2017)3.1.3 United States UV Curing Equipment Sales Price Trend (2012-2017)3.2 United States UV Curing Equipment Sales Volume and Market Share by Players3.3 United States UV Curing Equipment Sales Volume and Market Share by Type3.4 United States UV Curing Equipment Sales Volume and Market Share by Application4 China UV Curing Equipment (Volume, Value and Sales Price)4.1 China UV Curing Equipment Sales and Value (2012-2017)4.1.1 China UV Curing Equipment Sales and Growth Rate (2012-2017)4.1.2 China UV Curing Equipment Revenue and Growth Rate (2012-2017)4.1.3 China UV Curing Equipment Sales Price Trend (2012-2017)4.2 China UV Curing Equipment Sales Volume and Market Share by Players4.3 China UV Curing Equipment Sales Volume and Market Share by Type4.4 China UV Curing Equipment Sales Volume and Market Share by Application5 Europe UV Curing Equipment (Volume, Value and Sales Price)5.1 Europe UV Curing Equipment Sales and Value (2012-2017)5.1.1 Europe UV Curing Equipment Sales and Growth Rate (2012-2017)5.1.2 Europe UV Curing Equipment Revenue and Growth Rate (2012-2017)5.1.3 Europe UV Curing Equipment Sales Price Trend (2012-2017)5.2 Europe UV Curing Equipment Sales Volume and Market Share by Players...About QYReseachReports.comQYReseachReports.com delivers the latest strategic market intelligence to build a successful business footprint in China. Our syndicated and customized research reports provide companies with vital background information of the market and in-depth analysis on the Chinese trade and investment framework, which directly affects their business operations. Reports from QYReseachReports.com feature valuable recommendations on how to navigate in the extremely unpredictable yet highly attractive Chinese market.Contact US:Brooklyn, NY 11230United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-618-1030Web:Email: sales@qyresearchreports.com
Ophthalmic Drugs Market to Rise at a Lackluster CAGR of 4.0% Between 2017 and 2025

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As per a report by Transparency Market Research, the global ophthalmic drugs market will likely attain a value of US$34.3 bn by 2025 from US$24.4 bn in 2016 by registering a tepid CAGR of 4.0% from 2017 to 2025. At the forefront of driving growth in the global ophthalmic drugs market is obviously the rising instances of eye diseases and consequent visual impairment. Elaborates the lead analyst of the TMR report, Ophthalmic drugs is an expanding market because of the increasing prevalence of intraocular eye disorders such as cataract, glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, etc. This are mainly seen in the elderly. Further, there is a rising incidence of eye diseases globally such as dry eye, conjunctivitis, uveitis, and others, and the number of people afflicted with eye diseases is predicted to grow exponentially in the next couple of years. Sensing an opportunity in this, major market players across the globe are upping investments in research to innovate on treatment methods and improve the drugs action mechanism with novel biological agents.Browse Report Details@From a geographical standpoint, North America leads the global ophthalmic drugs market due to higher uptake of advanced novel products and techniques, and high cost of therapies in all regions. Rising at a CAGR of 4.0% from 2017 to 2025, the market is slated to become worth US$13.08 bn by 2025. Currently, the market in North America is seeing considerable changes on account of changing Medicare policies in the U.S., higher pricing of branded specialty drugs, and the rising patient pool for eye diseases. Europe trails North America in terms of the size of the market. Numerous big names, actively involved in development of existing ophthalmic drugs to meet the ever-rising demands for the treatment of eye diseases such as cataract, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy, are the primary reason for the superior performance of the overall market in the region. Further, approval of new drugs by the European Union for treating eye disorders is also boosting the market in Europe.Some of the key players operating in the global ophthalmic drugs market are ALLERGAN, Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Pfizer Inc., Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc., Bayer AG, Genentech, Inc., Novartis AG , Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Shire, and Santen Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. Novartis, of them, is a leading player, which held a share of 12% in the market in 2012.Report Overview, with TOC -About TMRTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.Our data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts, so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With a broad research and analysis capability, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques in developing distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.US Office Contact90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Global Agricultural Machinery Diesel Engines Sales Market Report 2017 - Cummins, Navistar, Caterpillar, Daimler Trucks North Amercia, Volvo Powertrain, Ford Motor Company, John Deere, Kohler, Isuzu

Agricultural Machinery Diesel Engines Sales Market

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Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Global Agricultural Machinery Diesel Engines Sales Market Report 2017" to its huge collection of research reports.In this report, the global Agricultural Machinery Diesel Engines market is valued at USD XX million in 2016 and is expected to reach USD XX million by the end of 2022, growing at a CAGR of XX% between 2016 and 2022.Geographically, this report split global into several key Regions, with sales (K Units), revenue (Million USD), market share and growth rate of Agricultural Machinery Diesel Engines for these regions, from 2012 to 2022 (forecast), coveringUnited StatesChinaEuropeJapanSoutheast AsiaIndiaTo Get Sample Copy of Report visit @Global Agricultural Machinery Diesel Engines market competition by top manufacturers/players, with Agricultural Machinery Diesel Engines sales volume, Price (USD/Unit), revenue (Million USD) and market share for each manufacturer/player; the top players includingCumminsNavistarCaterpillarDaimler Trucks North AmerciaVolvo PowertrainFord Motor CompanyJohn DeereKohlerIsuzuYanmar America CorporationDEUTZMitsubishiMANHinoKubotaWeichaiChangchai Co., LtdJDHatzOn the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price,market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split intoSingle-cylinder EngineMulti-cylinder EngineOn the basis on the end users/applications, this report focuses on the status and outlook for major applications/end users, sales volume, market share and growth rate of Agricultural Machinery Diesel Engines for each application, includingAgricultural VehiclesCrop Processing MachineryOtherTable of ContentsGlobal Agricultural Machinery Diesel Engines Sales Market Report 20171 Agricultural Machinery Diesel Engines Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Agricultural Machinery Diesel Engines1.2 Classification of Agricultural Machinery Diesel Engines by Product Category1.2.1 Global Agricultural Machinery Diesel Engines Market Size (Sales) Comparison by Type (2012-2022)1.2.2 Global Agricultural Machinery Diesel Engines Market Size (Sales) Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 20161.2.3 Single-cylinder Engine1.2.4 Multi-cylinder Engine1.3 Global Agricultural Machinery Diesel Engines Market by Application/End Users1.3.1 Global Agricultural Machinery Diesel Engines Sales (Volume) and Market Share Comparison by Application (2012-2022)1.3.2 Agricultural Vehicles1.3.3 Crop Processing Machinery1.3.4 Other1.4 Global Agricultural Machinery Diesel Engines Market by Region1.4.1 Global Agricultural Machinery Diesel Engines Market Size (Value) Comparison by Region (2012-2022)1.4.2 United States Agricultural Machinery Diesel Engines Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.3 China Agricultural Machinery Diesel Engines Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.4 Europe Agricultural Machinery Diesel Engines Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.5 Japan Agricultural Machinery Diesel Engines Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.6 Southeast Asia Agricultural Machinery Diesel Engines Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.7 India Agricultural Machinery Diesel Engines Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.5 Global Market Size (Value and Volume) of Agricultural Machinery Diesel Engines (2012-2022)1.5.1 Global Agricultural Machinery Diesel Engines Sales and Growth Rate (2012-2022)1.5.2 Global Agricultural Machinery Diesel Engines Revenue and Growth Rate (2012-2022)2 Global Agricultural Machinery Diesel Engines Competition by Players/Suppliers, Type and Application2.1 Global Agricultural Machinery Diesel Engines Market Competition by Players/Suppliers2.1.1 Global Agricultural Machinery Diesel Engines Sales and Market Share of Key Players/Suppliers (2012-2017)2.1.2 Global Agricultural Machinery Diesel Engines Revenue and Share by Players/Suppliers (2012-2017)2.2 Global Agricultural Machinery Diesel Engines (Volume and Value) by Type2.2.1 Global Agricultural Machinery Diesel Engines Sales and Market Share by Type (2012-2017)2.2.2 Global Agricultural Machinery Diesel Engines Revenue and Market Share by Type (2012-2017)2.3 Global Agricultural Machinery Diesel Engines (Volume and Value) by Region2.3.1 Global Agricultural Machinery Diesel Engines Sales and Market Share by Region (2012-2017)2.3.2 Global Agricultural Machinery Diesel Engines Revenue and Market Share by Region (2012-2017)2.4 Global Agricultural Machinery Diesel Engines (Volume) by Application3 United States Agricultural Machinery Diesel Engines (Volume, Value and Sales Price)3.1 United States Agricultural Machinery Diesel Engines Sales and Value (2012-2017)3.1.1 United States Agricultural Machinery Diesel Engines Sales and Growth Rate (2012-2017)3.1.2 United States Agricultural Machinery Diesel Engines Revenue and Growth Rate (2012-2017)3.1.3 United States Agricultural Machinery Diesel Engines Sales Price Trend (2012-2017)3.2 United States Agricultural Machinery Diesel Engines Sales Volume and Market Share by Players3.3 United States Agricultural Machinery Diesel Engines Sales Volume and Market Share by Type3.4 United States Agricultural Machinery Diesel Engines Sales Volume and Market Share by Application4 China Agricultural Machinery Diesel Engines (Volume, Value and Sales Price)4.1 China Agricultural Machinery Diesel Engines Sales and Value (2012-2017)4.1.1 China Agricultural Machinery Diesel Engines Sales and Growth Rate (2012-2017)4.1.2 China Agricultural Machinery Diesel Engines Revenue and Growth Rate (2012-2017)4.1.3 China Agricultural Machinery Diesel Engines Sales Price Trend (2012-2017)4.2 China Agricultural Machinery Diesel Engines Sales Volume and Market Share by Players4.3 China Agricultural Machinery Diesel Engines Sales Volume and Market Share by Type4.4 China Agricultural Machinery Diesel Engines Sales Volume and Market Share by Application5 Europe Agricultural Machinery Diesel Engines (Volume, Value and Sales Price)5.1 Europe Agricultural Machinery Diesel Engines Sales and Value (2012-2017)5.1.1 Europe Agricultural Machinery Diesel Engines Sales and Growth Rate (2012-2017)5.1.2 Europe Agricultural Machinery Diesel Engines Revenue and Growth Rate (2012-2017)5.1.3 Europe Agricultural Machinery Diesel Engines Sales Price Trend (2012-2017)5.2 Europe Agricultural Machinery Diesel Engines Sales Volume and Market Share by Players5.3 Europe Agricultural Machinery Diesel Engines Sales Volume and Market Share by Type5.4 Europe Agricultural Machinery Diesel Engines Sales Volume and Market Share by Application6 Japan Agricultural Machinery Diesel Engines (Volume, Value and Sales Price)6.1 Japan Agricultural Machinery Diesel Engines Sales and Value (2012-2017)6.1.1 Japan Agricultural Machinery Diesel Engines Sales and Growth Rate (2012-2017)6.1.2 Japan Agricultural Machinery Diesel Engines Revenue and Growth Rate (2012-2017)6.1.3 Japan Agricultural Machinery Diesel Engines Sales Price Trend (2012-2017)6.2 Japan Agricultural Machinery Diesel Engines Sales Volume and Market Share by Players6.3 Japan Agricultural Machinery Diesel Engines Sales Volume and Market Share by Type6.4 Japan Agricultural Machinery Diesel Engines Sales Volume and Market Share by ApplicationContinue...Browse Detail Report With TOC @About ResearchMozResearchMoz is the one stop online destination to find and buy market research reports & Industry Analysis. We fulfill all your research needs spanning across industry verticals with our huge collection of market research reports. We provide our services to all sizes of organizations and across all industry verticals and markets. Our Research Coordinators have in-depth knowledge of reports as well as publishers and will assist you in making an informed decision by giving you unbiased and deep insights on which reports will satisfy your needs at the best price.ResearchMozState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesEmail: sales@researchmoz.usWebsite @Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Follow us on LinkedIn @
Hybrid Operating Room Market - Industry Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2017 - 2022

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"The Latest Research Report Hybrid Operating Room Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2017 - 2022 provides information on pricing, market analysis, shares, forecast, and company profiles for key industry participants. - MarketResearchReports.biz"Global Hybrid Operating Room Market: OverviewThe global market for hybrid operating room is witnessing a substantial rise in its valuation, thanks to the technological advancements in the field of operating room equipment. With the increasing government support, the market is expected to continue to rise at a high growth rate in the near future. A comprehensive assessment of the global market for hybrid operating rooms has been offered in this research study that intends to present detailed information with deep insights into this market to readers in a bid to assist them in gaining a better understanding of it.Get Sample copy of this Report @Global Hybrid Operating Room Market: Scope of the StudyThe report estimates and forecasts the worldwide hybrid operating room market on the global as well as the regional levels. It consists of a comprehensive analysis of the value chain for each of the segments. The assessment of the value chain also offers an in-depth information about the value addition to the market at each of the stages. Further, the study discusses the drivers and the restraints of this market, coupled with their impact on the demand for hybrid operating room equipment during the period from 2017 to 2022.The report also discusses the key market indicators, which impact the growth of the global hybrid operating room market considerably. It assesses the opportunities in this market by examining the market trends thoroughly. The drivers, limitations, opportunities, and the scope mentioned in the report have been justified by utilizing quantitative and qualitative data and have been verified by the primary and secondary resources. Moreover, an analysis of the average price trends and the substitutes have also been presented in this research study.Global Hybrid Operating Room Market: SegmentationThe research study provides a comprehensive overview of the worldwide market for hybrid operating room by evaluating it on the basis of the type of the component, end user, application, and the regional spread. Based on the type of the component, the market has been categorized into surgical instruments, operating room fixtures, intraoperative diagnostic imaging systems, and audiovisual display systems and tools. Based on the end user, the market has been divided into hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers (ASCs).View Sample PDF @By the application, the market has been segmented into cardiovascular, neurosurgical, thoracic, and orthopedic disease treatments. In terms of the geography, the market is classified into Asia Pacific excluding Japan (APEJ), the Middle East and Africa (MEA), Europe, Latin America, North America, and Japan. These market segments have been evaluated on the basis of their current, historical, and future trends.Global Hybrid Operating Room Market: Competitive AnalysisThe research report includes a thorough competitive analysis of the global hybrid operating room market, taking the profiles of the leading players and their market shares in consideration. The leading players profiled in this report are Toshiba Corp., Trumpf Medical, IMRIS Inc., Eschmann Equipment, Stryker Corp., MAQUET GmbH, Skytron LLC, Koninklijke Philips N.V., Siemens Healthineers, and GE Healthcare. The product literature, annual reports, press releases, and relevant documents of these players have been reviewed for a better understanding of the competitive scenarios of this market. The company profile includes a number of attributes, such as the overview of the firm and its business, brand, and finances. The business strategies, recent developments, key competitors, and the number of employees have also been discussed in this section of the report.Table of Content1. Global Hybrid Operating Room Market - Executive Summary2. Global Hybrid Operating Room Market Overview2.1. Introduction2.1.1. Global Hybrid Operating Room Market Taxonomy2.1.2. Global Hybrid Operating Room Market Definition2.2. Global Hybrid Operating Room Market Size (US$ Mn) and Forecast, 2012-20222.2.1. Global Hybrid Operating Room Market Y-o-Y Growth2.3. Global Hybrid Operating Room Market Dynamics2.4. Supply Chain2.5. Cost Structure2.6. Pricing Analysis2.7. Technological Assessment2.8. List of Distributors2.9. Key Participants Market Presence (Intensity Map) By RegionSend An Enquiry Request @3. Global Hybrid Operating Room Market Analysis and Forecast By Component Type3.1. Global Hybrid Operating Room Market Size and Forecast By Component Type, 2012-20223.1.1. Intraoperative Diagnostic Imaging Systems Market Size and Forecast, 2012-20223.1.1.1. Revenue (US$ Mn) Comparison, By Region3.1.1.2. Market Share Comparison, By Region3.1.1.3. Y-o-Y growth Comparison, By Region3.1.2. Operating Room Fixtures Market Size and Forecast, 2012-20223.1.2.1. Revenue (US$ Mn) Comparison, By Region3.1.2.2. Market Share Comparison, By Region3.1.2.3. Y-o-Y growth Comparison, By Region3.1.3. Surgical Instruments Market Size and Forecast, 2012-20223.1.3.1. Revenue (US$ Mn) Comparison, By Region3.1.3.2. Market Share Comparison, By Region3.1.3.3. Y-o-Y growth Comparison, By Region3.1.4. Audiovisual Display Systems and Tools Market Size and Forecast, 2012-20223.1.4.1. Revenue (US$ Mn) Comparison, By Region3.1.4.2. Market Share Comparison, By Region3.1.4.3. Y-o-Y growth Comparison, By Region3.1.5. Other Components Market Size and Forecast, 2012-20223.1.5.1. Revenue (US$ Mn) Comparison, By Region3.1.5.2. Market Share Comparison, By Region3.1.5.3. Y-o-Y growth Comparison, By Region4. Global Hybrid Operating Room Market Analysis and Forecast By End User4.1. Global Hybrid Operating Room Market Size and Forecast By End User, 2012-20224.1.1. Hospitals Market Size and Forecast, 2012-20224.1.1.1. Revenue (US$ Mn) Comparison, By Region4.1.1.2. Market Share Comparison, By Region4.1.1.3. Y-o-Y growth Comparison, By Region4.1.2. Ambulatory Surgical Centers Market Size and Forecast, 2012-20224.1.2.1. Revenue (US$ Mn) Comparison, By Region4.1.2.2. Market Share Comparison, By Region4.1.2.3. Y-o-Y growth Comparison, By Region5. Global Hybrid Operating Room Market Analysis and Forecast By Application5.1. Global Hybrid Operating Room Market Size and Forecast By Application, 2012-20225.1.1. Cardiovascular Market Size and Forecast, 2012-20225.1.1.1. Revenue (US$ Mn) Comparison, By Region5.1.1.2. Market Share Comparison, By Region5.1.1.3. Y-o-Y growth Comparison, By Region5.1.2. Neurosurgical Market Size and Forecast, 2012-20225.1.2.1. Revenue (US$ Mn) Comparison, By Region5.1.2.2. Market Share Comparison, By Region5.1.2.3. Y-o-Y growth Comparison, By Region5.1.3. Thoracic Market Size and Forecast, 2012-20225.1.3.1. Revenue (US$ Mn) Comparison, By Region5.1.3.2. Market Share Comparison, By Region5.1.3.3. Y-o-Y growth Comparison, By Region5.1.4. Orthopedic Market Size and Forecast, 2012-20225.1.4.1. Revenue (US$ Mn) Comparison, By Region5.1.4.2. Market Share Comparison, By Region5.1.4.3. Y-o-Y growth Comparison, By Region5.1.5. Other Applications Market Size and Forecast, 2012-20225.1.5.1. Revenue (US$ Mn) Comparison, By Region5.1.5.2. Market Share Comparison, By Region5.1.5.3. Y-o-Y growth Comparison, By RegionBuy Now This Report From Here @About usMarketResearchReports.biz is the most comprehensive collection of market research reports. MarketResearchReports.Biz services are specially designed to save time and money for our clients. We are a one stop solution for all your research needs, our main offerings are syndicated research reports, custom research, subscription access and consulting services. We serve all sizes and types of companies spanning across various industries.ContactMr. NachiketState Tower90 Sate Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-621-2074USA: Canada Toll Free: 866-997-4948Website:E: sales@marketresearchreports.biz
Recent Survey | The US Home Dialysis Market: Size, Trends & Forecasts (2017-2021) - Fresenius Medical Care, DaVita, U.S. Renal Care, Dialysis Clinic Inc.

US Home Dialysis Market

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Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "The US Home Dialysis Market: Size, Trends & Forecasts (2017-2021)" to its huge collection of research reports.The report titled The US Home Dialysis Market: Size, Trends & Forecasts (2017-2021) highlights an in-depth analysis of market sizing and growth of the US Home Dialysis Market. The analysis includes market size in terms of value as well as volume and market share by segments.Furthermore, the report also assesses the key opportunities available in the market and outlines the factors that are and will be driving the growth of the industry. Growth of the US home dialysis market has also been forecasted for the period 2017-2021, taking into consideration the previous growth patterns, the growth drivers and the current and future trends.The competition in the US home dialysis market is stiff and majority of market share is dominated by few major players such as Fresenius Medical Care, DaVita, U.S. Renal Care and, Dialysis Clinic Inc. whose company profiling has been done in the report, which include their business overview, financial overview and respective business strategies.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @Company CoverageFresenius Medical CareDaVitaU.S. Renal CareDialysis Clinic Inc.Executive SummaryThe process of purifying blood by eliminating waste materials and excessive fluid from the body in case, the kidneys of the human body is not function properly is known as dialysis. In the dialysis process blood is filtered and purified with the help of technological advanced machinery. The treatment has been used since 1940s to treat patients suffering from chronic kidney diseases. It is the most widely accepted treatment for end stage renal diseases and kidney failures. The primary objective of dialysis process is to help damaged renal function. The three major types of dialysis are: Hemodialysis (HD), Peritoneal Dialysis (PD) and, Home Hemodialysis (HHD).A home dialysis is either hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis which can perform at home with the help of advanced machinery. A skilled clinical person can teach a person how to perform dialysis at home. Home dialysis has been recognized by patients and physicians as a safe and effective alternative to in-center treatment. Home dialysis is broadly classified into four categories: Daily home Hemodialysis (HD), Nocturnal Home hemodialysis, Nocturnal In-Center hemodialysis, Standard Home hemodialysis.The US Home Dialysis market, both in terms of value as well as volume has increased over the past few years and projections are made that the market would grow further at a rapid pace in the forecasted period i.e. 2017-2021 also. The US home dialysis market is expected to grow on the back of aging US population, growing kidney chronic diseases, rising life expectancy of dialysis patients, convenience over in-traditional dialysis centers, technological advancements such as trend toward using sorbent technology to allow online regeneration for dialysate to facilitate portability, etc. Yet the growth of the market is obstructed by factors such as technical issues, lack of substantial housing and legal and financial requirements.Table Of Content1. Executive Summary2. Introduction2.1 Overview of Dialysis2.1.1 Types of Dialysis2.2 Overview of Home Dialysis2.2.1 Types of Home Dialysis2.2.2 Home Treatments Comparison: Positives and Negatives3. The US Market Analysis3.1 The US Dialysis Market Analysis3.1.1 The US Dialysis Market by Volume3.1.2 The US Dialysis Market by Segments3.2 The US Home Dialysis Market Analysis3.2.1 The US Home Dialysis Market by Volume3.2.2 The US Home Dialysis Market by Value4. Market Dynamics4.1 Growth Drivers4.1.1 Aging Population4.1.2 Growing Chronic Kidney Disease4.1.3 Rising Life Expectancy of Dialysis Patient4.1.4 Great Deal of Convenience over Traditional In-Center4.1.5 Rising Healthcare Expenditure4.2 Challenges4.2.1 Technical Issues4.2.2 Lack of Suitable Housing4.2.3 Legal and Financial Requirements4.3 Market Trends4.3.1 Technological Advancements4.3.2 Prospective Payment System5. Competitive Landscape5.1 The US Home Dialysis Market Players Comparison by Products5.2 The US Home Dialysis Market Players by Number of Patients6. Company Profiling6.1 Fresenius Medical Care6.1.1 Business Overview6.1.2 Financial Overview6.1.3 Business Strategy6.2 DaVita6.2.1 Business Overview6.2.2 Financial Overview6.2.3 Business Strategy6.3 U.S. Renal Care6.3.1 Business Overview6.3.2 Business Strategy6.4 Dialysis Clinic Inc.6.4.1 Business Overview6.4.2 Business StrategyBrowse Detail Report With TOC @About ResearchMozResearchMoz is the one stop online destination to find and buy market research reports & Industry Analysis. We fulfill all your research needs spanning across industry verticals with our huge collection of market research reports. We provide our services to all sizes of organizations and across all industry verticals and markets. Our Research Coordinators have in-depth knowledge of reports as well as publishers and will assist you in making an informed decision by giving you unbiased and deep insights on which reports will satisfy your needs at the best price.ResearchMozState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesEmail: sales@researchmoz.usWebsite @Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Follow us on LinkedIn @
Bacterial Vaginosis Drug Sales Market - Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2017  2022

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Global Bacterial Vaginosis Drug Market by Manufacturers, Countries, Type and Application, Forecast to 2022 is a professional and in-depth study on the current trends and Future Forecast.Bacterial vaginosis Market is an imbalance of "good" and "bad" bacteria in the vagina, with there being more bad bacteria. Causes of an imbalance of bacteria can be caused by multiple sex partners and douching. Symptoms include odor, discharge, burning, and itching.Bacterial vaginosis drugs market belongs to the wide spectrum of global infectious disease therapeutics marketThis report focuses on the Bacterial Vaginosis Drug in Global market, especially in North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East and Africa. This report categorizes the market based on manufacturers, regions, type and application.Request a sample copy of Bacterial Vaginosis Drug Market Research Report @Market Segment by Manufacturers, this report covers  Pfizer, Teva, Perrigo, Mylan, Lupin Pharmaceuticals, Prasco, West-Ward, Edenvridge.Market Segment by Regions, regional analysis covers:North America (USA, Canada and Mexico)Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia and Italy)Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India and Southeast Asia)South America (Brazil, Argentina, Columbia etc.)Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa)Market Segment by Table of Contents: Global Bacterial Vaginosis Drug Market Overview Global Bacterial Vaginosis Drug Market Manufacturers Profiles Global Bacterial Vaginosis Drug Market Competition, by Manufacturer Global Bacterial Vaginosis Drug Market Analysis by Regions Global Bacterial Vaginosis Drug by Countries Global Bacterial Vaginosis Drug Market Segment by Type Global Bacterial Vaginosis Drug Market Segment by Application Bacterial Vaginosis Drug Market Forecast (2017-2022) Sales Channel, Distributors, Traders and Dealers Research Findings and Conclusion AppendixMarket Segment by Type, covers  Clindamycin Metronidazole Tinidazole OtherMarket Segment by Applications, can be divided into HospitalDrug StoreOtherEnquire For Discount on Bacterial Vaginosis Drug Market Research Report @There are 15 Chapters to deeply display the global Bacterial Vaginosis Drug market.Chapter 1, to describe Bacterial Vaginosis Drug Introduction, product scope, market overview, market opportunities, market risk, market driving force;Chapter 2, to analyze the top manufacturers of Bacterial Vaginosis Drug, with sales, revenue, and price of Bacterial Vaginosis Drug, in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 3, to display the competitive situation among the top manufacturers, with sales, revenue and market share in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 4, to show the global market by regions, with sales, revenue and market share of Bacterial Vaginosis Drug, for each region, from 2012 to 2017;Chapter 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, to analyze the key regions, with sales, revenue and market share by key countries in these regions;Chapter 10 and 11, to show the market by type and application, with sales market share and growth rate by type, application, from 2012 to 2017;Chapter 12, Bacterial Vaginosis Drug market forecast, by regions, type and application, with sales and revenue, from 2017 to 2022;Chapter 13, 14 and 15, to describe Bacterial Vaginosis Drug sales channel, distributors, traders, dealers, Research Findings and Conclusion, appendix and data sourceRelated Reports: -2017 Top 5 Contact Lenses Players in North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East and AfricaThe Global Contact Lenses market size will be XX million (USD) in 2022, from the XX million (USD) in 2016, with a CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) of XX% from between 2016 and 2022.Centralize market research purchases across your entire organization in one place.Marketstudyreport.com allows you to manage and control all corporate research purchases to consolidate billing and vendor management. You can eliminate duplicate purchases and customize your content and license management.Market Study ReportThe Green Suite #4594,Dover, DE 19901United StatesPhone: 1-201-355-0868US Toll Free: 1-866-764-2150Email: sales@marketstudyreport.comWebsite:News:Connect with us: Google+ | LinkedIn | Twitter
Automated Material Handling Equipment Market Report 2017: Global Industry Analysis and Market Overview 2024

Global Automated Material Handling Equipment Market- Industry Trends and Forecast to 2024

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Market Definition: Global Automated Material Handling Equipment MarketAutomated materials handling (AMH) refers to any automation that reduces or eliminates the need for humans to check-in, check-out, sort material, or to move totes and bins containing library material.Click Here for Free Sample Report and Buy Full Report at $4,200 for Single User Licence @:The Global Automated Material Handling Equipment Market accounted to USD 29.0 billion in 2016 growing at a CAGR of 8.0% during the forecast period of 2017 to 2024.Years considered for this report:Historical Year:2015Base Year: 2016Estimated Year: 2017Forecast Period: 20172024Global Automated Material Handling Equipment Market By Product Type(Robots, Fixed Robots, Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems (ASRS), Automated Conveyors and Sortation Systems, Automated Cranes, Automated Guided Vehicles (AGV)), By system type (Unit Load Material Handling Systems, Bulk Load Material Handling Systems) By Geography (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Europe, South America, Middle East and Africa)  Industry Trends and Forecast to 2024Major Market Drivers and Restraints: Increasing Focus Toward Workers Safety Reduction in Labor Cost Through Advancement in Robotics Growing E-Commerce Industry High Cost of Equipment Followed By Its Maintenance CostAutomated Material Handling Equipment Market  Market Segmentation:On the basis of product type the Automated Material Handling Equipment Market is segmented into Robots, Fixed Robots, Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems (ASRS), Automated Conveyors and Sortation Systems, Automated Cranes, Automated Guided Vehicles (AGV).On the basis of system the Automated Material Handling Equipment Market is segmented into Unit Load Material Handling Systems, Bulk Load Material Handling Systems.Inquiry before Buying Report @Based on geography, the market is segmented into five geographical regions: North America Europe Asia-Pacific South America Middle East and AfricaThe geographical regions are further segmented into 29 major countries such as U.S. Canada, Mexico, Germany, France, U.K., Belgium, Switzerland, Belgium, Turkey, Japan, China, Singapore, Brazil, India, Russia, South Africa and others.Major Market CompetitorsSome of the major players operating in Automated Material Handling Equipment Market are Daifuku Co., Ltd.,Hyster-Yale Material Handling, Inc., Jungheinrich AG,Kion Group AG, Toyota Industries Corporation, Hanwha Corporation, John Bean Technologies (JBT) Corporation,Kuka AG,Beumer Group GmbH & Co. Kg, Fives, Knapp AG, Murata Machinery, Ltd., SSI Schaefer Group, TGW Logistics Group GmbH,Viastore Systems GmbHamong others.Browse Full Report with Details TOC @Related ReportGlobal Hemostats Market- Trends and Forecast to 2024Global Hemostats Market, By Product Type (Thrombin Based, Combination, Oxidized Regenerated Cellulose Based, Gelatin Based, Collagen Based Hemostat), By Indication (Wound Closure, Surgery), By End-User (Hospitals, Clinics, Ambulatory Centers, Community Healthcare, Others), By Geography (North America, South America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa)  Trends and Forecast to 2024About Data Bridge Market Research:Data Bridge Market Research set forth itself as an unconventional and neoteric Market research and consulting firm with unparalleled level of resilience and integrated approaches. We are determined to unearth the best market opportunities and foster efficient information for your business to thrive in the market. Data Bridge endeavors to provide appropriate solutions to the complex business challenges and initiates an effortless decision-making process.Contact:Vishal DixitData Bridge Market ResearchTel: +1-888-387-2818Email: Sales@databridgemarketresearch.comInvestor: investors@databridgemarketresearch.comVisit Blog
The Flow Regulators Market is Projected to Grow at a Substantial Rate

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Qyresearchreports include new market research report Flow Regulators to its huge collection of research reports.The business landscape of the global Flow Regulators market is undergoing dynamic changes. In order to facilitate a complete understanding of the complex industry scenario for clients and thus enhance their decision making process, the study on the global Flow Regulators market presents a methodological explanation of this dynamic market scenario. The research study also offers the growth prospects of the global Flow Regulators market in the coming few years.The research study begins with a brief overview of the industry and enlists details such as the definition, specifications, and classification of the global Flow Regulators market. This section of the report provides to business professionals the key historical developments of the industry with details such as applications of Flow Regulators and industry policy analysis. The manufacturing cost structure evaluation in the research study delivers an extensive analysis of the labor costs, equipment suppliers, and raw material suppliers, and manufacturing cost. In-depth segmentation analysis of the global Flow Regulators market by key criteria with the growth prospects of the key segments paints a clear picture of the growth framework of the market.Get free sample copy of the report with TOC at:A strategic business forecast for the volume and value of the global Flow Regulators market is covered in the report. The global and regional trends that will impact the growth of the various segments of the market further give insights to readers into the market scenario. Description of key strategies of the major companies operating in the global Flow Regulators market allows readers to estimate the competitive framework of the market. Further, the study offers details such as each key companys profile, contact information, sales, sales price, sales revenue, and gross margin analysis. Actionable insights from expert analysts on the new project investment feasibility of the global Flow Regulators market will support clients in forming sound business decisions to boost ROI.This report focuses on top manufacturers in global market, with production, price, revenue and market share for each manufacturer, coveringBrooks InstrumentAxetrisMass Flow ONLINEMETAL WORKSierra InstrumentsTeledyne Hastings InstrumentsWittmann...Read complete report with TOC at:On the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split intoVolumetric FlowMass FlowTable of Contents1 Industry Overview of Flow Regulators1.1 Definition and Specifications of Flow Regulators1.1.1 Definition of Flow Regulators1.1.2 Specifications of Flow Regulators1.2 Classification of Flow Regulators1.2.1 Volumetric Flow1.2.2 Mass Flow1.3 Applications of Flow Regulators1.3.1 Processing Industry1.3.2 Energy Industry1.3.3 Semiconductor Industry1.3.4 Other Industries1.4 Market Segment by Regions1.4.1 North America1.4.2 China1.4.3 Europe1.4.4 Southeast Asia1.4.5 Japan1.4.6 IndiaTo check available discount on this report, visit at:2 Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis of Flow Regulators2.1 Raw Material and Suppliers2.2 Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis of Flow Regulators2.3 Manufacturing Process Analysis of Flow Regulators2.4 Industry Chain Structure of Flow Regulators3 Technical Data and Manufacturing Plants Analysis of Flow Regulators3.1 Capacity and Commercial Production Date of Global Flow Regulators Major Manufacturers in 20163.2 Manufacturing Plants Distribution of Global Flow Regulators Major Manufacturers in 20163.3 R&D Status and Technology Source of Global Flow Regulators Major Manufacturers in 20163.4 Raw Materials Sources Analysis of Global Flow Regulators Major Manufacturers in 20164 Global Flow Regulators Overall Market Overview4.1 2012-2017E Overall Market Analysis4.2 Capacity Analysis4.2.1 2012-2017E Global Flow Regulators Capacity and Growth Rate Analysis4.2.2 2016 Flow Regulators Capacity Analysis (Company Segment)4.3 Sales Analysis4.3.1 2012-2017E Global Flow Regulators Sales and Growth Rate Analysis4.3.2 2016 Flow Regulators Sales Analysis (Company Segment)4.4 Sales Price Analysis4.4.1 2012-2017E Global Flow Regulators Sales Price4.4.2 2016 Flow Regulators Sales Price Analysis (Company Segment)5 Flow Regulators Regional Market Analysis5.1 North America Flow Regulators Market Analysis5.1.1 North America Flow Regulators Market Overview5.1.2 North America 2012-2017E Flow Regulators Local Supply, Import, Export, Local Consumption Analysis5.1.3 North America 2012-2017E Flow Regulators Sales Price Analysis5.1.4 North America 2016 Flow Regulators Market Share Analysis5.2 China Flow Regulators Market Analysis5.2.1 China Flow Regulators Market Overview...About QYReseachReports.comQYReseachReports.com delivers the latest strategic market intelligence to build a successful business footprint in China. Our syndicated and customized research reports provide companies with vital background information of the market and in-depth analysis on the Chinese trade and investment framework, which directly affects their business operations. Reports from QYReseachReports.com feature valuable recommendations on how to navigate in the extremely unpredictable yet highly attractive Chinese market.Contact US:Brooklyn, NY 11230United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-618-1030Web:Email: sales@qyresearchreports.com
Global Toiletries | 2017 Market Research Reports - Industry Analysis

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Reports Monitor adds Global Toiletries Market Research Report 2017 to Its Database.In this report, the global Toiletries market is valued at USD XX million in 2016 and is expected to reach USD XX million by the end of 2022, growing at a CAGR of XX% between 2016 and 2022.Global Toiletries market competition by top manufacturers, with production, price, revenue (value) and market share for each manufacturer; the top players includingReckitt Benckiser GroupUnileverProcter & GambleJohnson & JohnsonKimberly-ClarkHenkel AGBeiesdorf AGL'OrealBabisilPigeonHimalaya WellnessBrave SoldierBaxter of CaliforniaGET SAMPLE REPORT @Geographically, this report is segmented into several key Regions, with production, consumption, revenue (million USD), market share and growth rate of Toiletries in these regions, from 2012 to 2022 (forecast), coveringNorth AmericaEuropeChinaJapanSoutheast AsiaIndiaMore detailed information, please feel free to contact :On the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split intoLotions (Including Sunscreens)Hair PreparationsFace CreamsPerfumesOtherOn the basis of the end users/applications, this report focuses on the status and outlook for major applications/end users, consumption (sales), market share and growth rate for each application, includingMenWomenKidsTable of ContentsGlobal Toiletries Market Research Report 20171 Toiletries Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Toiletries1.2 Toiletries Segment by Type (Product Category)1.2.1 Global Toiletries Production and CAGR (%) Comparison by Type (Product Category)(2012-2022)1.2.2 Global Toiletries Production Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 20161.2.3 Lotions (Including Sunscreens)1.2.4 Hair Preparations1.2.5 Face Creams1.2.6 Perfumes1.2.7 OtherBROWSE FULL TABLE OF CONTENTS and REPORT DESCRIPTION @About Us:Reports Monitor is a platform to meet the market research and business intelligence requirements. Our aim is to change the dynamics of the Market Research industry by providing quality intelligence backed by data. Your requirement for market forecasting is fulfilled by our exclusive quantitative and analytics driven intelligence. We have a vast collection of reports, covering maximum industries worldwide. Our process is meticulously planned and executed in order to use maximum resources and explore the market for getting genuine insights. Decision makers can now rely on our distinct data gathering methods to get factual market forecasting and detailed analysis.Contact Information:Jay MatthewsDirect: 1 513 549-5911Email: sales@reportsmonitor.comWebsite:
Food Thickeners Market Expected To Grow $15,150 Million By 2023

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The global food thickeners market was valued at $10,520 million in 2016, and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.2% from 2017 to 2023 to reach $15,150 million by 2023. Food thickeners or thickening agents provide texture, improve stability, and increase suspension of added ingredient to increase the viscosity of aqueous mixture, without modifying its other properties, specifically taste. In food & beverages applications, thickeners are used to give palatability, texture, bulking, and other properties to food products. These are extensively used in a range of food products such as sauces, seasonings, condiments, soups, meat, poultry, snack foods, cereals, and breakfast.For More Info, Get Sample :In 2016, Europe was the leading region, in terms of value, owing to the availability of healthy food products developed by food & beverages manufactures considering consumers health. Moreover, consumer demand for healthy and low-fat food boosts growth of in Europe.Factors such as increase in demand for convenience food, rise in disposable income, and the advantages & various functions associated with the use of food thickeners is expected to drive the global market during the forecast period. Further, consumers inclination towards healthy food and lifestyle is expected to create a major growth opportunity to the global industry players. However, volatile cost and high R&D cost associated with the production of food thickeners may impede the market growth.The global food thickeners market is segmented based on type, source, application, and region. On the basis of type, it is divided into starch, protein, and hydrocolloid. On the basis of source, it is classified into plant, animal, and microbial. On the basis of application, it is categorized into bakery; confectionery; sauces, dressings, marinades, & gravies; beverages; dairy & frozen desserts; and convenience & processed food. Based on region, it is analyzed across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and LAMEA.The major market players profiled in the report are as follows: Archer Daniels Midland Company Cargill, Inc. E. I. DuPont de Nemours and Company Ingredion Incorporated Kerry Group Plc. CP Kelco Darling Ingredients Tate & Lyle PLC. Ashland Specialty Ingredients TIC GumsEnquire About Report :KEY BENEFITS FOR STAKEHOLDERS This report provides an extensive analysis of the current & emerging trends and dynamics of the global food thickeners market. In-depth analysis of all regions is conducted by constructing the market estimations for key segments between 2017 and 2023 to identify the prevailing opportunities. The report assists to understand the strategies adopted by the companies for market expansion. This study evaluates the competitive landscape to understand the market scenario across various regions. Extensive analysis is conducted by following the key player positioning and monitoring the top competitors within the market framework.KEY MARKET SEGMENTSBy Type Starch Protein HydrocolloidBy Source Plant Animal MicrobialBy Application Bakery Confectionery Sauces, Dressings, Marinades, & Gravies Beverages Dairy & Frozen Desserts Convenience & Processed FoodAlso Request For Discount :By Region North America U.S. Canada Mexico Europe Germany Spain UK Russia France Rest of Europe Asia-Pacific China India Japan Australia Korea Rest of Asia-Pacific LAMEA Brazil Turkey South Africa Rest of LAMEAThe other major players in the industry include the following Fuerst Day Lawson The Dow Chemical Company Naturex SA Medline Industries Inc. *The above list of companies is not profiled in the report, but can be added based on interest.Table Of Contents CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION CHAPTER 2. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY CHAPTER 3. MARKET OVERVIEW CHAPTER 4. GLOBAL FOOD THICKENERS MARKET, BY TYPE CHAPTER 5. GLOBAL FOOD THICKENERS MARKET, BY SOURCE CHAPTER 6. GLOBAL FOOD THICKENERS MARKET, BY APPLICATION CHAPTER 7. GLOBAL FOOD THICKENERS MARKET, BY GEOGRAPHY CHAPTER 8. COMPANY PROFILESAbout UsWe have a large database of quality and precise market research reports that will be very beneficial for your organization. Reports that we sell our authentic in nature and from reputed publishers, hence it can definitely help you with your growth opportunities. Research Beam will always make sure to bring most ethical and high quality reports. We value your relationship with us and look forward for a long term relation.Contact UsGlobal Head Quarters5933 NE Win Sivers Drive,#205, Portland, OR 97220United States+1 (800) 910-6452help@researchbeam.com
Clear Brine Fluids Market Growth, Share, Demand and Analysis of Key Players - Research Forecasts to 2023

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As per the findings of a recent report by Transparency Market Research (TMR), the global clear brine fluids market is highly consolidated in nature with well-established players enjoy stronghold over the supply as well as distribution. Some of the key companies in the global clear brine fluids market identified by the report are Israel Chemicals Ltd., Tetra Technologies Inc., Albemarle Corporation, and Great Lake Solutions, who collectively accounted for 42.1% of the market in 2014. This being a market that requires high initial capital, the threat from new entrants is bleak, while the leading vendors are expected to acquire small- and medium-scale players in order to maintain their dominance over the market as well as expand their geographical presence.View Full Report:As per the projections provides by the report, the demand in the global clear brine fluids market will expand at a healthy CAGR of 6.2% during the forecast period of 2015 to 2023, reaching an estimated valuation of US$1,444.7 mn by the end of 2023, significantly up from its evaluated worth of US$944.8 mn in 2016. In the near future, the key players are also expected to focus on the reduction of production costs in order to enable the completion of offshore drilling projects.Potassium Chloride Most Profitable Product SegmentProduct-wise, the TMR report segments the global clear brine fluids market into calcium chloride, potassium chloride, sodium chloride, sodium bromide, potassium bromide, calcium bromide, and others such as aluminum chloride and zinc bromide. As per the projections of the report, the potassium chloride segment will expand at the most prominent CAGR of 6.5% during the forecast period of 2015 to 2023, gaining from its growing usage for stabilizing water sensitive clays during the extraction process, wherein it helps to control the formation of pressure and damages to the reservoirs in the end-use industries. On the other hand, the report also anticipates significant growth in the calcium chloride brine fluids segment, which is an effective component used for the formation of brine completion and work fluids. As the oil and gas industry flourishes, calcium chloride brine fluids will continue to gain traction for its usefulness in clay hydration while drilling.North America Maintaining Strong DemandNorth America, which houses a number of leading oil and gas companies, currently serves the maximum demand in the global clear brine fluids market. Backed by the developed countries such as the U.S. and Canada, wherein oil and gas drilling activities are rapidly increasing, North America is expected to add to its account of 65.7% demand for clear brine fluids in 2014, projected to reach a share of 64.8% by the end of 2023. On the other hand, Asia Pacific is also projected for a prosperous future as an important part of the global clear brine fluids market. China currently holds the most prominent share in the recoverable shale gas industry and ongoing drilling activities will further boost the market in the near future.Report Overview, with TOC -About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.ContactTransparency Market ResearchState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Medical Device Outsourcing Market : New Research, Future Opportunities, Treads, Analysis, Forecast 2025

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Global Medical Device Outsourcing Market: OverviewThe rapidly growing global population and subsequently increasing healthcare needs are working in favor of the global medical device outsourcing market. On the basis of services, the market can be segmented into product design and development services, product testing services, regulatory consulting services, product implementation services, product upgrade services, manufacturing services, and product maintenance services. Based on therapeutics, the global market can be divided into diagnostic imaging, cardiology, IVD, orthopedic, ophthalmic, drug delivery, dental, general and plastic surgery, and endoscopy.Global Medical Device Outsourcing Market: Key TrendsThe spiraling demand for advanced medical devices is paving way for the increased complexities in product engineering. This is prompting medical device manufacturers to outsource the process, which is providing a significant boost to the global medical device outsourcing market. Moreover, outsourcing helps in reducing the overall cost of manufacturing, which is encouraging manufacturers to subcontract activities such as assembling, packaging, and others.Request Sample Copy of the Report@The expanding base of geriatric population and stringent regulations pertaining to the manufacturing of medical devices are also allowing the global market to gain traction. Besides this, the lack of robust in-house manufacturing infrastructure is driving the trend of outsourcing among small and mid-size companies.Global Medical Device Outsourcing Market: Market PotentialWith the snowballing demand for cheap yet effective and advanced medical devices, a large number of OEMs are willing to work with contract manufacturing organizations (CMOs). As a result, partnerships and acquisitions have emerged as a common trend in the global medical device outsourcing market, which is also providing a tremendous momentum to the market. For instance, in October 2015, Greatbatch Inc. acquired Lake Region Medical, in a deal worth US$1.73 bn. According to industrial experts, the deal paved way for one of the most prominent outsourcing facilities for medical technology. Similarly, in June 2016, Phillips-Medisize acquired Medicom Innovation Partner. The latter specializes in the development and production of connected health and drug delivery devices. The increasing number of startups in the field of medical devices is also estimated to augment the global medical device outsourcing market.Request TOC of the Report @Global Medical Device Outsourcing Market: Geographical SegmentationOn the basis of geography, the report classifies the global medical device outsourcing market into Asia Pacific, North America, Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East and Africa. North America and Asia Pacific will collectively account for a substantial chunk in the revenue pie of the market throughout the forecast period. In Asia Pacific, the rising disposable income of the populace, improving healthcare infrastructure, and growing incidence of lifestyle-related disorders are fuelling the market. In North America, the growth of the market can be attributed to the presence of advanced manufacturing facilities for complex, reliable, and high-end medical devices. The U.S. and Canada will be major revenue contributors to the region.Global Medical Device Outsourcing Market: Competitive LandscapeWith the burgeoning demand for medical devices around the world, the market is likely to tread along a healthy growth track. The immense potential of the global medical device outsourcing market is attracting new players to foray into the marketplace. This is likely to intensify the competition in the market in the coming years. Established players are focusing on strategic collaborations and mergers to expand their product portfolio and sustain the aggressive competition in the market. Some of the prominent companies operating in the global medical devices outsourcing market are Shandong Weigao Co. Ltd., Kinetics Climax Inc., Daiichi Jitsugyo Co. Ltd., Infinity Plastics Group, GE Healthcare, Sterigenics International Inc., Mitutoyo Corp., Cirtec Medical, Omnica Corp., and Micro Systems Engineering GmbH.Get Discount @About TMR ResearchTMR Research is a premier provider of customized market research and consulting services to business entities keen on succeeding in todays supercharged economic climate. Armed with an experienced, dedicated, and dynamic team of analysts, we are redefining the way our clients conduct business by providing them with authoritative and trusted research studies in tune with the latest methodologies and market trends.Our savvy custom-built reports span a gamut of industries such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals and metals, food and beverages, and technology and media, among others. With actionable insights uncovered through in-depth research of the market, we try to bring about game-changing success for our clients.Contact:TMR Research,3739 Balboa St # 1097,San Francisco, CA 94121United StatesTel: +1-415-520-1050Email: sales@tmrresearch.com
Smart Coatings Market for Building & Construction, Automotive, Electronics, Military, Medical by 2025

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"The Latest Research Report Smart Coatings Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast 2017 - 2025 information on pricing, market analysis, shares, forecast, and company profiles for key industry participants. - MarketResearchReports.biz"Global Smart Coatings Market: OverviewSmart coatings are one of the coatings that are technologically developed to change its properties in response to the environmental stimulus. The product have been developed in such a way that they react to the stimulus on its own which is why it is named as smart coatings. Various smart coating products available in the market are self-cleaning, self-healing, anti-corrosion, anti-microbial, self-dimming and others. These coatings are been used for various applications ranging from building & construction, automotive, electronics, military, medical and others.Get Sample copy of this Report @The report estimates and forecasts the smart coatings market on the global, regional, and country levels. The study provides forecast between 2017 and 2025 based on volume (Tons) and revenue (US$ Mn) with 2016 as the base year. The report comprises an exhaustive value chain analysis for each of the product segments. It provides a comprehensive view of the market. Value chain analysis also offers detailed information about value addition at each stage. The study includes drivers and restraints for the smart coatings market along with their impact on demand during the forecast period. The study also provides key market indicators affecting the growth of the market. The report analyzes opportunities in the smart coatings market on the global and regional level. Drivers, restraints, and opportunities mentioned in the report are justified through quantitative and qualitative data. These have been verified through primary and secondary resources.The report includes Porters Five Forces Model to determine the degree of competition in the smart coatings market. The report comprises a qualitative write-up on market attractiveness analysis, wherein applications and countries have been analyzed based on attractiveness for each region. Growth rate, market size, raw material availability, profit margin, impact strength, technology, competition, and other factors (such as environmental and legal) have been evaluated in order to derive the general attractiveness of the market. The report comprises price trend analysis for smart coatings between 2017 and 2025.View Sample PDF @Global Smart Coatings Market: SegmentationThe study provides a comprehensive view of the smart coatings market by dividing it on the basis of applications and geography segments. The smart coatings market has been segmented into building & construction, automotive, electronics, military, medical and other segment based on application type. Application type segment have been analyzed based on historic, present, and future trends.Regional segmentation includes the current and forecast demand for smart coatings in North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa (MEA). Additionally, the report comprises country-level analysis in terms of volume and revenue for various segments. Key countries such as the U.S., Canada, Germany, France, the U.K., Spain, Italy, India, China, Japan, South Africa, Mexico, and Brazil have been included in the study. Market segmentation includes demand for individual applications in all the regions and countries.Global Smart Coatings Market: Competitive AnalysisThe report covers detailed competitive outlook that includes market share and profiles of key players operating in the global market. Key players profiled in the report includes 3M, Dow Corning, PPG Protective & Marine Coatings, Royal DSM, NEI Corporation, BASF SE, and others. Company profiles include attributes such as company overview, number of employees, brand overview, key competitors, business overview, business strategies, recent/key developments, acquisitions, and financial overview (wherever applicable).Global Smart Coatings Market: Research MethodologySecondary research sources that were typically referred to include, but were not limited to company websites, financial reports, annual reports, investor presentations, broker reports, and SEC filings. Other sources such as internal and external proprietary databases, statistical databases and market reports, news articles, national government documents, and webcasts specific to companies operating in the market have also been referred for the report.Send An Enquiry Request @In-depth interviews and discussions with a wide range of key opinion leaders and industry participants were conducted to compile this research report. Primary research represents the bulk of research efforts, supplemented by extensive secondary research. Key players product literature, annual reports, press releases, and relevant documents were reviewed for competitive analysis and market understanding. This helped in validating and strengthening secondary research findings. Primary research further helped in developing the analysis teams expertise and market understanding.The global smart coatings market has been segmented as follows:Global Smart Coatings Market, by Product TypeSelf-healingSelf-cleaningAnti-microbialAnti-corrosionSelf-dimmingOthersGlobal Smart Coatings Market, by ApplicationBuilding & ConstructionAutomotiveElectronicsMilitaryMedicalOthersGlobal Smart Coatings Market, by RegionNorth AmericaU.S.CanadaEuropeGermanyFranceU.K.ItalySpainRest of EuropeAsia PacificChinaIndiaJapanASEANRest of Asia PacificMiddle East & AfricaGCCSouth AfricaRest of Middle East & AfricaLatin AmericaBrazilMexicoRest of Latin AmericaBuy Now This Report From Here @About usMarketResearchReports.biz is the most comprehensive collection of market research reports. MarketResearchReports.Biz services are specially designed to save time and money for our clients. We are a one stop solution for all your research needs, our main offerings are syndicated research reports, custom research, subscription access and consulting services. We serve all sizes and types of companies spanning across various industries.ContactMr. NachiketState Tower90 Sate Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-621-2074USA: Canada Toll Free: 866-997-4948Website:E: sales@marketresearchreports.biz
Borescopes Market  Advanced Technologies & Growth Opportunities in Industry By 2022

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Market Study Report adds Global Borescopes Market By Manufacturers, Countries, Type And Application, Forecast To 2022 report to its research database. The report spread across 123 pages with table and figures in it.A borescope (occasionally called a boroscope, though this spelling is nonstandard) market is an optical device consisting of a rigid or flexible tube with an eyepiece on one end, an objective lens on the other linked together by a relay optical system in between. The optical system in some instances is surrounded by optical fibers used for illumination of the remote object. An internal image of the illuminated object is formed by the objective lens and magnified by the eyepiece which presents it to the viewer's eye. Borescopes essentially consist of an optical, mechanic, and light guide system. The double-walled shaft and the sapphire glass endpiece at the tip render the borescope extremely resistant to damage and wear and ensure optimal protection of the telescope.This report focuses on the Borescopes in Global market, especially in North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East and Africa. This report categorizes the market based on manufacturers, regions, type and application.Request a sample copy of Borescopes Market Research Report @Market Segment by Manufacturers, this report covers  Olympus, GE, Karl Storz, SKF, MORITEX, Mitcorp, VIZAAR, Yateks, Gradient Lens, Lenox Instrument, AIT, Schindler.Market Segment by Regions, regional analysis covers: North America (USA, Canada and Mexico) Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia and Italy) Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India and Southeast Asia) South America (Brazil, Argentina, Columbia etc.) Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa)Market Segment by Table of Contents: Global Borescopes Market Overview Global Borescopes Market Manufacturers Profiles Global Borescopes Market Competition, by Manufacturer Global Borescopes Market Analysis by Regions Global Borescopes by Countries Global Borescopes Market Segment by Type Global Borescopes Market Segment by Application Borescopes Market Forecast (2017-2022) Sales Channel, Distributors, Traders and Dealers Research Findings and Conclusion AppendixMarket Segment by Type, covers  Flexible Borescopes Rigid BorescopesMarket Segment by Applications, can be divided into  General Industry Automotive Aerospace Construction OtherEnquire For Discount on Borescopes Market Research Report @There are 15 Chapters to deeply display the global Borescopes market.Chapter 1, to describe Borescopes Introduction, product scope, market overview, market opportunities, market risk, market driving force;Chapter 2, to analyze the top manufacturers of Borescopes, with sales, revenue, and price of Borescopes, in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 3, to display the competitive situation among the top manufacturers, with sales, revenue and market share in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 4, to show the global market by regions, with sales, revenue and market share of Borescopes, for each region, from 2012 to 2017;Chapter 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, to analyze the key regions, with sales, revenue and market share by key countries in these regions;Chapter 10 and 11, to show the market by type and application, with sales market share and growth rate by type, application, from 2012 to 2017;Chapter 12, Borescopes market forecast, by regions, type and application, with sales and revenue, from 2017 to 2022;Chapter 13, 14 and 15, to describe Borescopes sales channel, distributors, traders, dealers, Research Findings and Conclusion, appendix and data sourceRelated Reports: -2017 Top 5 Tahini Players in North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East and AfricaThe Global Tahini market size will be XX million (USD) in 2022, from the XX million (USD) in 2016, with a CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) of XX% from between 2016 and 2022.Centralize market research purchases across your entire organization in one place.Marketstudyreport.com allows you to manage and control all corporate research purchases to consolidate billing and vendor management. You can eliminate duplicate purchases and customize your content and license management.Market Study ReportThe Green Suite #4594,Dover, DE 19901United StatesPhone: 1-201-355-0868US Toll Free: 1-866-764-2150Email: sales@marketstudyreport.comWebsite:News:Connect with us: Google+ | LinkedIn | Twitter
Aluminum Extruded Products Market 2017 Global Industry Analysis & Forecast to 2022

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Market Research Report on Aluminum Extruded Products Market is a professional and in-depth research report. The Report include basic information like definitions, classifications, applications and industry chain overview, industry policies and plans, product specifications, manufacturing processes, cost structures and so on.This report studies the Aluminum Extruded Products market, Aluminum extrusion is a technique used to transform aluminum alloy into objects with a definitive cross-sectional profile for a wide range of uses. The extrusion process makes the most of aluminums unique combination of physical characteristics.Its malleability allows it to be easily machined and cast, and yet aluminum is one third the density and stiffness of steel so the resulting products offer strength and stability, particularly when alloyed with other metals. Aluminum extrusions are used for their strength, flexibility, durability and sustainability in various sectors such as construction, transportation, electrical, machinery, aerospace & defense and growing demand for light-weight but durable productsThis report focuses on the Aluminum Extruded Products in Global market, especially in North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East and Africa. This report categorizes the market based on manufacturers, regions, type and application.Request a sample copy of Aluminum Extruded Products Market Research Report @Market Segment by Manufacturers, this report covers  Sapa AS, Alcoa, Constellium, Hindalco Industries, Kaiser Aluminum, ALUPCO, Gulf Extrusions, TALCO, Aluminum Corporation of China, China Zhongwang.Market Segment by Regions, regional analysis covers: North America (USA, Canada and Mexico) Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia and Italy) Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India and Southeast Asia) South America (Brazil, Argentina, Columbia etc.) Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa)Market Segment by Table of Contents: Global Aluminum Extruded Products Market Overview Global Aluminum Extruded Products Market Manufacturers Profiles Global Aluminum Extruded Products Market Competition, by Manufacturer Global Aluminum Extruded Products Market Analysis by Regions Global Aluminum Extruded Products by Countries Global Aluminum Extruded Products Market Segment by Type Global Aluminum Extruded Products Market Segment by Application Aluminum Extruded Products Market Forecast (2017-2022) Sales Channel, Distributors, Traders and Dealers Research Findings and Conclusion AppendixMarket Segment by Type, covers  Mill-finished Powder-coated AnodizedMarket Segment by Applications, can be divided into  Construction Automotive Electrical & Electronics Machinery & Equipment OthersEnquire For Discount on Aluminum Extruded Products Market Research Report @There are 15 Chapters to deeply display the global Aluminum Extruded Products market.Chapter 1, to describe Aluminum Extruded Products Introduction, product scope, market overview, market opportunities, market risk, market driving force;Chapter 2, to analyze the top manufacturers of Aluminum Extruded Products, with sales, revenue, and price of Aluminum Extruded Products, in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 3, to display the competitive situation among the top manufacturers, with sales, revenue and market share in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 4, to show the global market by regions, with sales, revenue and market share of Aluminum Extruded Products, for each region, from 2012 to 2017;Chapter 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, to analyze the key regions, with sales, revenue and market share by key countries in these regions;Chapter 10 and 11, to show the market by type and application, with sales market share and growth rate by type, application, from 2012 to 2017;Chapter 12, Aluminum Extruded Products market forecast, by regions, type and application, with sales and revenue, from 2017 to 2022;Chapter 13, 14 and 15, to describe Aluminum Extruded Products sales channel, distributors, traders, dealers, Research Findings and Conclusion, appendix and data sourceRelated Reports: -2017 Top 5 Friction Stir Welding Equipment Players in North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East and AfricaThe Global Friction Stir Welding Equipment market size will be XX million (USD) in 2022, from the XX million (USD) in 2016, with a CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) of XX% from between 2016 and 2022.Centralize market research purchases across your entire organization in one place.Marketstudyreport.com allows you to manage and control all corporate research purchases to consolidate billing and vendor management. You can eliminate duplicate purchases and customize your content and license management.Market Study ReportThe Green Suite #4594,Dover, DE 19901United StatesPhone: 1-201-355-0868US Toll Free: 1-866-764-2150Email: sales@marketstudyreport.comWebsite:News:Connect with us: Google+ | LinkedIn | Twitter
Construction Robots Market Set for Rapid Growth and Trend, by 2022

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Global Construction Robots Market by Manufacturers, Countries, Type and Application, Forecast to 2022 is a professional and in-depth study on the current state of the Construction Robots market.This report studies the construction robots market, including the remote controlled demolition robots, construction 3D printing robots, bricklaying robots, and remote control rescue robots etc. These robots are mainly used in metallurgical industry, cement industry, building, tunneling, mining and earthquake disaster etc. The global construction robots market to grow at a CAGR of 23.9% during the period 2016-2022. the robots designed to assist humans and perform useful tasks, excluding industrial and manufacturing automation applications. Construction robots are mainly used for basic tasks in building construction and civil engineering projects.This report focuses on the Construction Robots in Global market, especially in North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East and Africa. This report categorizes the market based on manufacturers, regions, type and application.Request a sample copy of Construction Robots Market Research Report @Market Segment by Manufacturers, this report covers  Brokk AB (Sweden), Husqvarna (Sweden), Conjet AB (Sweden), TopTec Spezialmaschinen GmbH (Germany), Giant Hydraulic Tech (China), Beijing Borui Intelligent Control Technology (China), Alpine (US), Cazza (US), Construction Robotic (US), Shimizu Construction (Japan), Fujita Corporation (Japan).Market Segment by Regions, regional analysis covers:North America (USA, Canada and Mexico)Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia and Italy)Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India and Southeast Asia)South America (Brazil, Argentina, Columbia etc.)Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa)Market Segment by Table of Contents: Global Construction Robots Market Overview Global Construction Robots Market Manufacturers Profiles Global Construction Robots Market Competition, by Manufacturer Global Construction Robots Market Analysis by Regions Global Construction Robots by Countries Global Construction Robots Market Segment by Type Global Construction Robots Market Segment by Application Construction Robots Market Forecast (2017-2022) Sales Channel, Distributors, Traders and Dealers Research Findings and Conclusion AppendixMarket Segment by Type, covers  Demolition Robots Building Robots Others (Arm-shaped robot, remote control rescue and security robots etc)Market Segment by Applications, can be divided into  Metallurgical Industry Construction and Cement Mining Emergency RescueEnquire For Discount on Construction Robots Market Research Report @There are 15 Chapters to deeply display the global Construction Robots market.Chapter 1, to describe Construction Robots Introduction, product scope, market overview, market opportunities, market risk, market driving force;Chapter 2, to analyze the top manufacturers of Construction Robots, with sales, revenue, and price of Construction Robots, in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 3, to display the competitive situation among the top manufacturers, with sales, revenue and market share in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 4, to show the global market by regions, with sales, revenue and market share of Construction Robots, for each region, from 2012 to 2017;Chapter 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, to analyze the key regions, with sales, revenue and market share by key countries in these regions;Chapter 10 and 11, to show the market by type and application, with sales market share and growth rate by type, application, from 2012 to 2017;Chapter 12, Construction Robots market forecast, by regions, type and application, with sales and revenue, from 2017 to 2022;Chapter 13, 14 and 15, to describe Construction Robots sales channel, distributors, traders, dealers, Research Findings and Conclusion, appendix and data sourceRelated Reports: -2017-2022 Global Top Countries Friction Stir Welding Equipment Market ReportIn 2016, the global Friction Stir Welding Equipment market size was xx million USD, and it will be xx million USD in 2022, with a CAGR of xx% between 2016 and 2022.Centralize market research purchases across your entire organization in one place.Marketstudyreport.com allows you to manage and control all corporate research purchases to consolidate billing and vendor management. You can eliminate duplicate purchases and customize your content and license management.Market Study ReportThe Green Suite #4594,Dover, DE 19901United StatesPhone: 1-201-355-0868US Toll Free: 1-866-764-2150Email: sales@marketstudyreport.comWebsite:News:Connect with us: Google+ | LinkedIn | Twitter
Cyber Insurance Market  Advanced Technologies & Growth Opportunities in Industry By 2022

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The Cyber Insurance Market research offers a feasibility analysis for investment and returns supported with data on development trend analysis across important regions of the world.Cyber-insurance market is an insurance product used to protect businesses and individual users from Internet-based risks, and more generally from risks relating to information technology infrastructure and activities. Risks of this nature are typically excluded from traditional commercial general liability policies or at least are not specifically defined in traditional insurance products.Growth in the region is supplemented by enforcement of data protection regulations in U.S. Moreover, increase in levels of liability and legislative developments accelerate the market growth Coverage provided by cyber-insurance policies may include first-party coverage against losses such as data destruction, extortion, theft, hacking, and denial of service attacks; liability coverage indemnifying companies for losses to others caused, for example, by errors and omissions, failure to safeguard data, or defamation; and other benefits including regular security-audit, post-incident public relations and investigative expenses, and criminal reward funds.This report focuses on the Cyber Insurance in Global market, especially in North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East and Africa. This report categorizes the market based on manufacturers, regions, type and application.Request a sample copy of Cyber Insurance Market Research Report @Market Segment by Manufacturers, this report covers  AIG, Chubb, XL Group, Beazley, Allianz, Zurich Insurance, Munich Re Group, Berkshire Hathaway, AON, AXIS Insurance, Lockton, CAN, Travelers, BCS Insurance, Liberty Mutual.Market Segment by Regions, regional analysis covers: North America (USA, Canada and Mexico) Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia and Italy) Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India and Southeast Asia) South America (Brazil, Argentina, Columbia etc.) Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa)Market Segment by Table of Contents: Global Cyber Insurance Market Overview Global Cyber Insurance Market Manufacturers Profiles Global Cyber Insurance Market Competition, by Manufacturer Global Cyber Insurance Market Analysis by Regions Global Cyber Insurance by Countries Global Cyber Insurance Market Segment by Type Global Cyber Insurance Market Segment by Application Cyber Insurance Market Forecast (2017-2022) Sales Channel, Distributors, Traders and Dealers Research Findings and Conclusion AppendixMarket Segment by Type, covers  Stand-alone Cyber Insurance Packaged Cyber InsuranceMarket Segment by Applications, can be divided into  Financial Institutions Retail and Wholesale Healthcare Business Services Manufacturing Technology OthersEnquire For Discount on Cyber Insurance Market Research Report @There are 15 Chapters to deeply display the global Cyber Insurance market.Chapter 1, to describe Cyber Insurance Introduction, product scope, market overview, market opportunities, market risk, market driving force;Chapter 2, to analyze the top manufacturers of Cyber Insurance, with sales, revenue, and price of Cyber Insurance, in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 3, to display the competitive situation among the top manufacturers, with sales, revenue and market share in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 4, to show the global market by regions, with sales, revenue and market share of Cyber Insurance, for each region, from 2012 to 2017;Chapter 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, to analyze the key regions, with sales, revenue and market share by key countries in these regions;Chapter 10 and 11, to show the market by type and application, with sales market share and growth rate by type, application, from 2012 to 2017;Chapter 12, Cyber Insurance market forecast, by regions, type and application, with sales and revenue, from 2017 to 2022;Chapter 13, 14 and 15, to describe Cyber Insurance sales channel, distributors, traders, dealers, Research Findings and Conclusion, appendix and data sourceRelated Reports: -2017-2022 Global Top Countries IoT Platforms Market ReportIn 2016, the global IoT Platforms market size was xx million USD, and it will be xx million USD in 2022, with a CAGR of xx% between 2016 and 2022. This report studies IoT Platforms in Global marketCentralize market research purchases across your entire organization in one place.Marketstudyreport.com allows you to manage and control all corporate research purchases to consolidate billing and vendor management. You can eliminate duplicate purchases and customize your content and license management.Market Study ReportThe Green Suite #4594,Dover, DE 19901United StatesPhone: 1-201-355-0868US Toll Free: 1-866-764-2150Email: sales@marketstudyreport.comWebsite:News:Connect with us: Google+ | LinkedIn | Twitter
Organic Oral Care Market Incredible growth by 2017 - 2024.

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Organic Oral Care Market size is expected to surge in demand owing to increase in rate of early childhood tooth decay. Development of cavities in babies and children as tooth decay, can be caused by numerous factors ranging from presence of bacteria to the regular intake of sugary food products. Improper tooth care after eating and not following primary oral care practices are the main reasons for early childhood tooth decay. Rising number of childhood tooth extractions incidences has forced parents to favor new and advanced organic products, which in turn significantly benefit in the growth of the organic oral care market over the forecasted period.Health is the important aspect of human life. As a valuable treasure of our own, being healthy provides us energy to complete out daily activities. To be healthy, one must take care of his own body by several daily treatments. Among all the body parts, teeth are the most important parts. Therefore, efforts must be made to take care of teeth by consuming supplementary products or regularly visiting dentist to have various dental related treatments.Make an Inquiry before buying @Organic products are increasingly gaining the industry demand on a global scale due to rise in public awareness about health and safety, consumer cognizance concerning hazards of synthetic chemicals and go green consciousness. Various health diseases related with the application of synthetic products due to the presences of harmful chemicals including parabens, petroleum based chemicals, phthalates and aluminum salts. Therefore, consumers prefer more of these products which are environmental friendly and nontoxic in nature. So, rising health awareness among would continue to drive momentous growth of the organic oral care market during the forecasted period. However, high cost of organic oral care products is limiting the widespread acceptance. Also, lack of effective reimbursement policies for dental care in most of the countries worldwide is restricting the overall growth of the industry.Organic oral care market is classified on the basis of products into dental preparation, tooth cleaners & denture products, breathe control products and floss, toothbrushes and mouthwash & breath fresheners. Increasing customer focus on health worldwide lead to the enhancement of organic oral care market beyond toothpaste and tooth brush. Implants, whitening, veneers and orthodontics are some of the major groundbreaking development in global organic oral care market. Toothbrush segment is observing innovative products including soft and hard specialty brushes. Toothpaste segment is a sub segment of the toothbrush division based on whitening, fluoridated and sensitivity. One of the fastest growing segment of the industry is dental implants which is used to fix or remove denture.Browse complete summary of this report @North America dominates the organic oral care market due to growing number of patients in the region. Increased awareness regarding organic products and growing expenditure on healthcare coupled with ease in availability and high promotional activities are fueling the regional industry. Entry of new multinationals in the region is also propelling the growth in the industry share.Europe is expected to witness a boom in demand owning to a rise in elderly population and increased need for advanced dental treatments. Rising government spending in the industry is also backing the market growth in the region. Presences of advantageous reimbursement policies is booming trend is propelling the demand of the service.Request for an in-depth table of contents for this report @Global organic oral care market is highly concentrated owing to the presence of few industry players which owe a substantial share in the overall industry. Some of the key industry players include Colgate-Palmolive, Church & Dwight, P&G (Procter & Gamble), Church & Dwight, Unilever and Pigeon. Other prominent players are Henkel, Anchor Group, Danaher, Dr. Fresh, Amway, Dabur, Patanjali, Himalaya, Sunstar, Supersmile, Chicco, Ivoclar Vivadent, Oral-B Laboratories, 3M-ESPE, Jordan AS, GO SMiLE, Chattem, KAO, Koninklijke Philips, LG, Global Gillette and GlaxoSmithKline.In 2017, High Ridge Brands, which backed by Dubilier & Rice and Clayton, acquired California based Dr. Fresh, a provide for advance oral care products. This strategy will extend companys portfolio beyond its usual personal cleaning and hair care brands to attract customers more towards it new oral care category.About Global Market InsightsGlobal Market Insights, Inc., headquartered in Delaware, U.S., is a global market research and consulting service provider; offering syndicated and custom research reports along with growth consulting services. Our business intelligence and industry research reports offer clients with penetrative insights and actionable market data specially designed and presented to aid strategic decision making. These exhaustive reports are designed via a proprietary research methodology and are available for key industries such as chemicals, advanced materials, technology, renewable energy and biotechnologyContact UsArun HegdeCorporate Sales, USAGlobal Market Insights, Inc.Phone: 1-302-846-7766Toll Free: 1 888-689-0688Email: sales@gminsights.com
Gypsum-Fiber Board Market Set for Rapid Growth and Trend, by 2022

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Worldwide Gypsum-Fiber Board market report of provides a detailed market overview as well as industry analysis for / of companies, manufacturers and distributors covering data on gross margin, cost structure, consumption value, sale price and more.Gypsum-Fiber Board market , other name paperless drywall or fiber-gypsum board. It is composed of plaster (hemihydrate), fibers and additives with water combination. Which is not only can be used in the area that paper drywall ever used in, but also used in other new fields for its high strength. Such as gypsum-fiber board can be to make furniture replace wood.Gypsum-Fiber Board upstream raw materials, equipment, downstream client survey, marketing channels, industry development trend and proposals, which more specifically include valuable information on Gypsum-Fiber Board key applications and consumption, key regions and consumption, key global distributors , major raw materials suppliers and contact information, major manufacturing equipment suppliers and contact information, major suppliers and contact Information, key consumers and contact information, and supply chain relationship analysisThis report focuses on the Gypsum-Fiber Board in Global market, especially in North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East and Africa. This report categorizes the market based on manufacturers, regions, type and application.Request a sample copy of Gypsum-Fiber Board Market Research Report @Market Segment by Manufacturers, this report covers  USG, Saint-Gobain, Fermacell, National Gypsum, Knauf, Georgia-Pacific, Continental BP, Hengshenglong, Yingchuang, Bochuan-Chuncui.Market Segment by Regions, regional analysis covers:North America (USA, Canada and Mexico)Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia and Italy)Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India and Southeast Asia)South America (Brazil, Argentina, Columbia etc.)Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa)Market Segment by Table of Contents: Global Gypsum-Fiber Board Market Overview Global Gypsum-Fiber Board Market Manufacturers Profiles Global Gypsum-Fiber Board Market Competition, by Manufacturer Global Gypsum-Fiber Board Market Analysis by Regions Global Gypsum-Fiber Board by Countries Global Gypsum-Fiber Board Market Segment by Type Global Gypsum-Fiber Board Market Segment by Application Gypsum-Fiber Board Market Forecast (2017-2022) Sales Channel, Distributors, Traders and Dealers Research Findings and Conclusion AppendixMarket Segment by Type, covers  Wood Fiber Type Glass Fiber TypeMarket Segment by Applications, can be divided into  For Walls For Roofs OtherEnquire For Discount on Gypsum-Fiber Board Market Research Report @There are 15 Chapters to deeply display the global Gypsum-Fiber Board market.Chapter 1, to describe Gypsum-Fiber Board Introduction, product scope, market overview, market opportunities, market risk, market driving force;Chapter 2, to analyze the top manufacturers of Gypsum-Fiber Board, with sales, revenue, and price of Gypsum-Fiber Board, in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 3, to display the competitive situation among the top manufacturers, with sales, revenue and market share in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 4, to show the global market by regions, with sales, revenue and market share of Gypsum-Fiber Board, for each region, from 2012 to 2017;Chapter 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, to analyze the key regions, with sales, revenue and market share by key countries in these regions;Chapter 10 and 11, to show the market by type and application, with sales market share and growth rate by type, application, from 2012 to 2017;Chapter 12, Gypsum-Fiber Board market forecast, by regions, type and application, with sales and revenue, from 2017 to 2022;Chapter 13, 14 and 15, to describe Gypsum-Fiber Board sales channel, distributors, traders, dealers, Research Findings and Conclusion, appendix and data sourceRelated Reports: -2017-2022 Global Top Countries Cryocooler Market ReportIn 2016, the global Cryocooler market size was xx million USD, and it will be xx million USD in 2022, with a CAGR of xx% between 2016 and 2022. This report studies Cryocooler in Global market.Centralize market research purchases across your entire organization in one place.Marketstudyreport.com allows you to manage and control all corporate research purchases to consolidate billing and vendor management. You can eliminate duplicate purchases and customize your content and license management.Market Study ReportThe Green Suite #4594,Dover, DE 19901United StatesPhone: 1-201-355-0868US Toll Free: 1-866-764-2150Email: sales@marketstudyreport.comWebsite:News:Connect with us: Google+ | LinkedIn | Twitter
Hazardous Location Lighting Market Report 2017 Global Industry Statistics & Outlook to 2022

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Market Study Report adds Global Hazardous Location Lighting Market By Manufacturers, Countries, Type And Application, Forecast To 2022 report to its research database. The report spread across 120 pages with table and figures in it.A hazardous location Lighting Market is defined as a place where concentrations of flammable gases, vapors or dusts occur. Electrical equipment that must be installed in such locations is specially designed and tested to ensure it does not initiate an explosion, due to arcing contacts or high surface temperature of the equipment.The report said that in 2016 hazardous location LED lighting market is expected to reach $ 190 million, will be 19.35% compound annual growth rate in the next five years of the forecast period is expected to reach $ 470 million by 2022. LEDs are sturdy, reliable, versatile, directional, cold start capable, efficient, non-toxic and durable. In past few years, there has been continuous a technological advancement in manufacturing the bright white LED fixtures for industrial lighting. Hence, they are a good choice for indicator lamps as they are capable of replacing the traditional incandescent lamps at a fast rateThis report focuses on the Hazardous Location Lighting in Global market, especially in North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East and Africa. This report categorizes the market based on manufacturers, regions, type and application.Request a sample copy of Hazardous Location Lighting Market Research Report @Market Segment by Manufacturers, this report covers  Dialight Corporation, GE Lighting, Emerson Electric, Eaton, Hubbell Incorporated, Acuity Brands, AZZ Inc, Kenall Manufacturing, Nemalux, LDPI, Cree, Thomas & Betts Corporation (ABB), Phoenix Products Company, Larson Electronics, Unimar, Solas Ray Lighting (Continental Inc), Western Technology, Lind Equipment.Market Segment by Regions, regional analysis covers: North America (USA, Canada and Mexico) Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia and Italy) Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India and Southeast Asia) South America (Brazil, Argentina, Columbia etc.) Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa)Market Segment by Table of Contents: Global Hazardous Location Lighting Market Overview Global Hazardous Location Lighting Market Manufacturers Profiles Global Hazardous Location Lighting Market Competition, by Manufacturer Global Hazardous Location Lighting Market Analysis by Regions Global Hazardous Location Lighting by Countries Global Hazardous Location Lighting Market Segment by Type Global Hazardous Location Lighting Market Segment by Application Hazardous Location Lighting Market Forecast (2017-2022) Sales Channel, Distributors, Traders and Dealers Research Findings and Conclusion AppendixMarket Segment by Type, covers  LED Fluorescent Incandescent High Pressure Sodium OthersMarket Segment by Applications, can be divided into  Oil Mining & Steel Railway Electricity Military & Public Safety OthersEnquire For Discount on Hazardous Location Lighting Market Research Report @There are 15 Chapters to deeply display the global Hazardous Location Lighting market.Chapter 1, to describe Hazardous Location Lighting Introduction, product scope, market overview, market opportunities, market risk, market driving force;Chapter 2, to analyze the top manufacturers of Hazardous Location Lighting, with sales, revenue, and price of Hazardous Location Lighting, in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 3, to display the competitive situation among the top manufacturers, with sales, revenue and market share in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 4, to show the global market by regions, with sales, revenue and market share of Hazardous Location Lighting, for each region, from 2012 to 2017;Chapter 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, to analyze the key regions, with sales, revenue and market share by key countries in these regions;Chapter 10 and 11, to show the market by type and application, with sales market share and growth rate by type, application, from 2012 to 2017;Chapter 12, Hazardous Location Lighting market forecast, by regions, type and application, with sales and revenue, from 2017 to 2022;Chapter 13, 14 and 15, to describe Hazardous Location Lighting sales channel, distributors, traders, dealers, Research Findings and Conclusion, appendix and data sourceRelated Reports: -2017-2022 Global Top Countries Microfluidic Chips Market ReportIn 2016, the global Microfluidic Chips market size was xx million USD, and it will be xx million USD in 2022, with a CAGR of xx% between 2016 and 2022. This report studies Microfluidic ChipsCentralize market research purchases across your entire organization in one place.Marketstudyreport.com allows you to manage and control all corporate research purchases to consolidate billing and vendor management. You can eliminate duplicate purchases and customize your content and license management.Market Study ReportThe Green Suite #4594,Dover, DE 19901United StatesPhone: 1-201-355-0868US Toll Free: 1-866-764-2150Email: sales@marketstudyreport.comWebsite:News:Connect with us: Google+ | LinkedIn | Twitter
2017-2023 global Cork Flooring market analysis, manufacturers: reports monitor

Cork Flooring Market Research

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Cork Flooring MarketSnapshot:Reports Monitor Publish a New Market Research Report on  Global Cork Flooring Market Analysis 2011-2017 and Forecast 2018-2023.Made of cork, cork flooring has excellent thermal and acoustical qualities. It's beautiful, lightweight, warm to the touch, hypoallergenic, fire and insect-resistant, stable and renewable every 8-10 years. Recently, the appeal of green, or environmentally friendly, products has prompted a renewed interest in cork flooring for the home and commercial use.The global Cork Flooring market will reach xxx Million USD in 2017. The report begins from overview of Industry Chain structure, and describes industry environment, then analyses market size and forecast of Cork Flooring by product, region and application, in addition, this report introduces market competition situation among the companies and company profile, besides, market price analysis and value chain features are covered in this report.Request a sample copy of Cork Flooring market report@Product Type Coverage (Market Size & Forecast, Major Vendors of Product Type etc.):Natural Cork Flooring, Colorful Cork FlooringVendors Coverage (Sales Revenue, Price, Gross Margin, Main Products etc.):AMORIN, Granorte, Corksribas, MJO Cork, LICO, Globus Cork, WE Cork, Expanko, Home Legend, Jelinek Cork Group, Capri cork, Qu-Cork, Premium Floors, JILINK, Jiangsu Senhaoshi CorkApplication Coverage (Market Size & Forecast, Different Demand Market by Region, Main Consumer Profile etc.):Commercial Flooring, Residential FlooringRegion Coverage (Regional Output, Demand & Forecast by Countries etc.):North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East & AfricaMake an Enquiry of Cork Flooring market report@Table of Contents1 Industry Overview1.1 Cork Flooring Industry1.1.1 Overview1.1.2 Development of Cork Flooring1.2 Market Segment1.2.1 Upstream1.2.2 Downstream1.3 Cost Analysis2 Industry Environment2.1 Policy2.2 Economics2.3 Sociology2.4 Technology3 Cork Flooring Market by Type3.1 Segment Overview3.1.1 Natural Cork Flooring3.1.2 Colorful Cork Flooring3.2 Market Size3.3 Market Forecast4 Major Companies ListList of Tables and FiguresTable Upstream Segment of Cork FlooringTable Application Segment of Cork FlooringTable Global Cork Flooring Market 2012-2023, by Application, in USD MillionTable Major Vendors List of Natural Cork FlooringTable Major Vendors List of Colorful Cork FlooringTable Global Cork Flooring Market 2012-2017, by Type, in USD MillionTable Global Cork Flooring Market 2012-2017, by Type, in VolumeContinued...Browse Detailed TOC, Tables, Figures, Charts and Companies Mentioned in Cork Flooring Market Research Report @In a word, the report provides major statistics on the state of the industry and is a valuable source of guidance and direction for companies and individuals interested in the market.Contact usJay MatthewsDirect: +1 513 549-5911Email: sales@reportsmonitor.comWebsite:About usReports Monitor is a platform to meet the market research and business intelligence requirements. Our aim is to change the dynamics of the Market Research industry by providing quality intelligence backed by data. Your requirement for market forecasting is fulfilled by our exclusive quantitative and analytics driven intelligence. We have a vast collection of reports, covering maximum industries worldwide. Our process is meticulously planned and executed in order to use maximum resources and explore the market for getting genuine insights.Address: Office C & D - 4th Floor, Siddhi Towers, Above Rupee Bank, Kondhwa Road, Pune 411048, Maharashtra, India
Global Automotive Alternator Market Racing at CAGR of ~5.5% By 2022

Automotive alternator Market

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Automotive Alternator Global Market  OverviewAutomotive Alternator is a generator which generates power to the electrical component of the vehicle. The increasing usage of electrical power in the cars and the rise in electrical and electronics device in the vehicles is expected to surge the market for automotive alternator. Moreover, increasing global demand for vehicles has a significant contribution in the growth of automotive alternator market. Asia-Pacific is estimated to have the largest market for automotive industry due to government initiated FDI for international automotive players, favorable economic conditions, and presence of major automotive manufacturing industries which in turn is expected to drive the demand in the automotive alternator market.According to a recent study report published by the Market Research Future, the global market of Automotive Alternator is expected to witness a prospective growth in terms of value at about 5.5% CAGR surpassing its previous growth records by the end of the forecasted period (2016  2022).The auto industry is increasingly being driven by changing consumer needs to accommodate convergence of connectivity and electrification. Marketers are striving to develop smart and energy efficient cars. As a result, recent vehicles are enabled with electronic features, requiring an upgrade the alternator system for efficient allocation of power. Automotive alternators are used to charge the automotive battery, which is supplying power to the electrical and electronic components of a vehicle. The electronic components include internal lighting, dashboard controls, anti-lock braking systems, air conditioning, and external lighting. However augmented government regulations for owning cars are anticipated to restrain the market growth during 2016  2022.Request a Sample Copy @Automotive Alternator Global Market  Key PlayersA fairly stable industry as far as the eye can see. Currently, the global Automotive Alternator market appears moderately competitive due to the handful number of matured players operating in the market and high demand for alternators in the automotive sector. However, the significant growth in the market and immense revenue generation opportunities are attracting several new players to enter the global market of Automotive Alternator due to which the market will soon witness a fierce competition. The key vendors in the market are growing their customer base and are increasing their investments in R&D and expansions. For instance; In 2015, Mitsubishi Electric invested approximately 4 billion yen (33 million USD) in its subsidiary Mitsubishi Electric Automotive America, Inc. (MEAA) to expand and construct new facilities for the increased production of high-efficiency alternators. MEAA began producing high-efficiency alternators at its plant in Mason, Ohio. The new additions will increase the production capacity for core parts used in these alternators, enabling MEAA to meet growing demand as it continues to expand its North American market.Profiled in MRFR Analysis some of the key players of Global Automotive alternator Market report include- Valeo, Denso, Bosch, Remy, ISKRA, Mando, Mitsubishi, Hitachi Automotive, Magneti Marelli, Motorcar Parts of America, Hella KGaA Hueck & Co., and Lucas Electrical.Automotive Alternator Global Market  SegmentationThe Automotive Alternator market can be segmented in to 4 key dynamics for the convenience of the report and enhanced understanding;Segmentation by Type : Comprising Single Phase and Three PhaseSegmentation by Vehicle Type: Comprising Passenger and CommercialSegmentation by Technology: Comprising Belt-driven alternator and.Segmentation By Regions: Comprises Geographical regions - North America, Europe, APAC and Rest of the World.Automotive Alternator Global Market  SynopsisThe trend that is gaining traction in this market is the rising popularity of smart charging alternators. Some of the Automotive Companies have developed an alternator that is controlled by a power control module (PCM) that regulates the amount of battery charged by the alternator. The PCM monitors the temperature of the engine, battery, and the total electric demand for running the interior automotive electronic components and charges the battery to provide the required power. In the luxury car segment, some others are getting their vehicles equipped with intelligent alternator control (IAC) to generate sufficient electricity to power a car's onboard electronic units during braking and overrun situations. This power management of the system allows more power to be available during dynamic driving, involving quick acceleration. As a result of these technological advancements, the automotive alternator market is expected to grow in the next few years.Browse Full Report @Automotive Alternator Market  Regional AnalysisAsia-Pacific is the major regions for the automotive alternator market. Asia-Pacific is expected to be fastest growing market for the automotive alternator. Emerging economies like China, India, and South Korea are expected to drive the market due to government initiative in FDIs for international automotive players, increasing individuals disposable income & purchasing power is expected to drive the market for automotive alternator. It is followed by European region due to presence of biggest automotive players in the region.About Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by products, services, technologies, applications, end users, and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions.In order to stay updated with technology and work process of the industry, MRFR often plans & conducts meet with the industry experts and industrial visits for its research analyst members.Contact:Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com
Global Data Center Server Market|Industry Analysis and Future Forecast by 2022

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Qyresearchreports include new market research report Global Data Center Server Market Professional Survey Report 2017 to its huge collection of research reports.This given report on the global Data Center Server market, is a result of a research conducted by a group of market research analysis experts with an aim to act as a reliable business material for stake holders. The report offers information on the current market scenario and the prospects that may arise in future as well. Use of well proven research methodologies is done in generating this report which offers both qualitative and quantitative analysis of all the aspects that may influence the growth of the global Data Center Server market. The potential of lesser factors of the Data Center Server market can be evaluated by analysing its multiple segments such as products, end users, types, application, services, and others, whichever are applicable. The report also inspects the future scenarios of Data Center Server market in all the important regions across the world, such as North America, Latin America, Middle East and Africa (MEA), Asia Pacific, and Europe. The market potential of the Data Center Server of each region is provided by examining their related policies government, growth prospects, and demand percentage.Get Research Summary Of The Repot:The report of the global Data Center Server market gives out the estimation of the market size in terms of its value (USD million). Bottom-up as well as top-down approaches are applied in the report to project and confirm the size of the global Data Center Server market and of its different other sub-segments.One of the important features of the study report is the company profiling chapter, where several leading players of the Data Center Server market have been inspected. Moreover, the competitive landscape of the global Data Center Server market is researched along with identification of chances of upcoming players that are present in the market. The report give out some of the prominent companies in the global Data Center Server market and inspects their tactical decisions such as mergers, collaborations, and acquisitions, new product announcements, and investments. Crucial information about the companies such as market share, business sales price, margin, and revenue generation, are provided in the research report.Table of ContentsGlobal Data Center Server Market Professional Survey Report 20171 Industry Overview of Data Center Server1.1 Definition and Specifications of Data Center Server1.1.1 Definition of Data Center Server1.1.2 Specifications of Data Center Server1.2 Classification of Data Center Server1.2.1 Tower Server1.2.2 Rack Server1.2.3 Blade Server1.3 Applications of Data Center Server1.3.1 Industrial Servers1.3.2 Commercial Servers1.3.3 Application 31.4 Market Segment by Regions1.4.1 North America1.4.2 China1.4.3 Europe1.4.4 Southeast Asia1.4.5 Japan1.4.6 IndiaBrowse Complete Report with TOC @2 Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis of Data Center Server2.1 Raw Material and Suppliers2.2 Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis of Data Center Server2.3 Manufacturing Process Analysis of Data Center Server2.4 Industry Chain Structure of Data Center Server3 Technical Data and Manufacturing Plants Analysis of Data Center Server3.1 Capacity and Commercial Production Date of Global Data Center Server Major Manufacturers in 20163.2 Manufacturing Plants Distribution of Global Data Center Server Major Manufacturers in 20163.3 R&D Status and Technology Source of Global Data Center Server Major Manufacturers in 20163.4 Raw Materials Sources Analysis of Global Data Center Server Major Manufacturers in 20164 Global Data Center Server Overall Market Overview4.1 2012-2017E Overall Market Analysis4.2 Capacity Analysis4.2.1 2012-2017E Global Data Center Server Capacity and Growth Rate Analysis4.2.2 2016 Data Center Server Capacity Analysis (Company Segment)4.3 Sales Analysis4.3.1 2012-2017E Global Data Center Server Sales and Growth Rate Analysis4.3.2 2016 Data Center Server Sales Analysis (Company Segment)4.4 Sales Price Analysis4.4.1 2012-2017E Global Data Center Server Sales Price4.4.2 2016 Data Center Server Sales Price Analysis (Company Segment)5 Data Center Server Regional Market Analysis5.1 North America Data Center Server Market Analysis5.1.1 North America Data Center Server Market Overview5.1.2 North America 2012-2017E Data Center Server Local Supply, Import, Export, Local Consumption Analysis5.1.3 North America 2012-2017E Data Center Server Sales Price Analysis5.1.4 North America 2016 Data Center Server Market Share Analysis5.2 China Data Center Server Market Analysis5.2.1 China Data Center Server Market Overview5.2.2 China 2012-2017E Data Center Server Local Supply, Import, Export, Local Consumption Analysis5.2.3 China 2012-2017E Data Center Server Sales Price Analysis5.2.4 China 2016 Data Center Server Market Share Analysis5.3 Europe Data Center Server Market AnalysisGet discount copy @List of Tables and FiguresFigure Picture of Data Center ServerTable Product Specifications of Data Center ServerTable Classification of Data Center ServerFigure Global Production Market Share of Data Center Server by Type in 2016Figure Tower Server PictureTable Major Manufacturers of Tower ServerFigure Rack Server PictureTable Major Manufacturers of Rack ServerFigure Blade Server PictureTable Major Manufacturers of Blade ServerTable Applications of Data Center ServerFigure Global Consumption Volume Market Share of Data Center Server by Application in 2016Figure Industrial Servers ExamplesTable Major Consumers in Industrial ServersFigure Commercial Servers ExamplesQYReseachReports.com delivers the latest strategic market intelligence to build a successful business footprint in China. 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Wound Care Market Scope with Leading Company Profiles and Trends Report 2017  2027

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Global Wound Care Market Information by Types, by Application, by products (traditional wound care, surgical wound care) - Forecast to 2027Market Research Future adds new report of Global Wound Care Market Research Report- Forecast To 2027 it contains Company information, geographical data and Table of ContentCompetitive Analysis:3M Company (U.S.), Baxter International, Inc. (U.S.), Coloplast A/S (Denmark.), Convatec Healthcare B.S.A.R.L (U.S.), Covidien PLC (Ireland), Derma Sciences, Inc. (U.S.), Ethicon, Inc. (U.S.), Hollister, Inc. (U.S.), Ethicon, Inc. (U.S.), Acelity L.P (U.S.), Molnlycke Health Care (Sweden), Smith & Nephew (U.K.).Get a Sample Report @Market Segments:Global Wound Care market has been segmented on the basis of types which includes chronic wound, acute wound. On the basis of application which consists of surgical wounds, Ulcers, Pressure ulcers, Diabetic foot ulcers, venous ulcers. On the basis of products which consist of traditional wound care, surgical wound care, Advanced wound management products.Market Highlight:The skin shields our body from external wounds. It functions as a shield to our body. Here and there wound could be more profound and could make more harms under structure like bone, muscles nerves and veins, this is when wound care is used to recuperate the external injuries of a human body and to shield the body from additionally wounds. The worldwide Wound Care market is relied upon to achieve US$ million before the finish of the determined period and is required to develop at Remarkable CAGR.Study Objectives of Wound Care Market:To give definite examination of the market structure alongside conjecture for the following 10 years of the different sections and sub-fragments of the Global Wound Care Market. To give bits of knowledge about variables influencing the market development. To Analyze the Global Wound Care Market in light of different components value examination, inventory network investigation, doormen five power investigation and so on. To give chronicled and gauge income of the market portions and sub-fragments as for four principle geologies and their nations North America, Europe, Asia, and Rest of the world. To give nation level investigation of the market regarding the present market size and future forthcoming. To give nation level investigation of the market for fragments by sort, by applications, by item and sub-portions. To give key profiling of key players in the market, extensively investigating their center skills, and drawing a focused scene for the market. To track and dissect focused advancements, for example,joint endeavors, key partnerships, mergers and acquisitions, new item improvements, and research and improvements in the Global Wound Care Market.Browse Report Details @Regional Analysis of Wound Care Market:Universally North America is the biggest market for Wound Care, huge offer of this market is centered around the Enhancement of diabetes and weight in individuals around the globe. The North American market for Wound Care is relied upon to develop at Remarkable CAGR and is required to reach at US$ Million before the finish of the determined period. Europe is the second-biggest market for Wound Care, which is required to develop at Remarkable CAGR.About Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by products, services, technologies, applications, end users, and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions.Contact:Akash Anand,Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com
Big Data Pharmaceutical Advertising Global Market 2017: Key Players  International Business Machines Corporation, Tata Consultancy Services Limited, Oracle and More

Big Data Pharmaceutical Advertising Global Market

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Global Big Data Pharmaceutical Advertising Market information, by Channel (Product Website & E-Commerce, Social Media, Search Engine, Mobile Ads), by Application (Product & Service Targeting, Customer Targeting, Branding) - Forecast to 2023Considering the global scenario of the Big Data Pharmaceutical Advertising Market, the total market is expected to reach US$ 4477.3 million by 2023.The Global Big Data Pharmaceutical Advertising Market Report has been segmented on the basis of channel which comprise Product Website & E-Commerce, Social Media, Search Engine, and Mobile Ads. 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Middle East and Africa (ME&A) Big Data Pharmaceutical Advertising market is growing is expected to grow at steady pace.Sources:Industry Expert, Secondary Research, and MRFR Analysis.The report for Global Big Data Pharmaceutical Advertising Market of Market Research Future comprises extensive primary research along with the detailed analysis of qualitative as well as quantitative aspects by various industry experts, key opinion leaders to gain the deeper insight of the market and industry performance. The report gives the clear picture of current market scenario which includes historical and projected market size in terms of value and volume, technological advancement, macro economical and governing factors in the market. The report provides details information and strategies of the top key players in the industry. 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Trends and Opportunities in the Brazilian Packaging Industry-Analysis of changing packaging trends in the Food Cosmetics & Toiletries Beverages and Other Industriesb

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ReportsWeb.com published Trends and Opportunities in the Brazilian Packaging Industry-Analysis of changing packaging trends in the Food Cosmetics & Toiletries Beverages and Other Industries from its database. The report reviews top companies involved and enlists all trials pertaining to the company. Report provides latest news for the past three months.Original Content:"Trends and Opportunities in the Brazilian Packaging Industry", report brings together multiple data sources to provide a comprehensive overview of the Packaging industry in Brazil, as part of our coverage of the industry across 20 countries. It includes Market Overview, Growth in use of Pack Material by Sector, Analysis of Key Packaging Materials, Trends and Future Outlook.For more information about this report@Report ScopeThis report brings together multiple data sources to provide a comprehensive overview of the Packaging industry in Brazil, as part of our coverage of the industry across 20 countries. It includes analysis on the following -- Market Overview: Provides an overview of the usage of different packaging materials across different industries in terms of the number of units, packaging share and growth rates during 2011-2021- Growth in use of Pack Material by Sector: Provides an overview of the shift in the utilization of various packaging materials across sectors during 2016-2021Request Sample Copy at@Reasons to buy- Packaging companies and retailers seek the latest information on consumer trends and opportunities to formulate their sales and marketing strategies. There is also demand for authentic market data with a high level of detail. This report has been created to provide its readers with up-to-date information and analysis to uncover emerging opportunities of growth within the CPG market.- As consumer product demand evolves the dynamics between different packaging types also evolves favoring some packaging types and formats and leaving others increasingly out of line with demand patterns. As a result, understanding the shifting market dynamics is key to ensuring maximum sales in the future.- The differential growth across different packaging materials and formats drive fundamental shifts in the market. These differentials result from various factors such as changing consumer preferences, regulatory compliance, and innovation within the packaging marketCompany Profile:GlaxoSmithKline PlcRadiant Research IncNanoBio CorpMedivir ABNovartis AGHarras Pharma Curarina GmbHEngelhard Arzneimittel GmbH & Co KGDr. Reddy's Laboratories LtdDermResearch IncBenu Biopharma IncBuy@ReportsWeb.com is a one stop shop of market research reports and solutions to various companies across the globe. We help our clients in their decision support system by helping them choose most relevant and cost effective research reports and solutions from various publishers. We provide best in class customer service and our customer support team is always available to help you on your research queries.Contact Us:505, 6th floor, Amanora Township,Amanora Chambers, East Block,Kharadi Road, Hadapsar, Pune-411028Call: +1-646-491-9876Email: sales@reportsweb.com
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ReportsWeb.com published Egypt Zohr Project Panorama from its database. The report reviews top companies involved and enlists all trials pertaining to the company. Report provides latest news for the past three months.Original Content:Egypt Zohr Project Panorama, Publisher's latest release, presents a comprehensive overview of the asset. This upstream report includes detailed qualitative and quantitative information on the asset, provides a full economic assessment and reflects several parameters including (but not limited to) geological profile, asset development and specific challenges. Based on this analysis, future outlook for the asset is presented with possible trends and related scenarios identifying upside/downside potential.For more information about this report@Report Scope-Overview of the asset based on an analysis of the economic indicators-Key financial indicators including Net Present Value and Internal Rate of Return-Review of factors affecting the economic outcome of the field including development overview, geology, challenges, reserves and production with qualitative perspective on of the overall assets life with Publisher's analysis on the asset's future outlook-Detailed production profile for the asset, giving annual output rates for each commodity produced-Cash flow statements from our economic analysis of the asset including capital expenditures, operating expenditures and tax liability-Individual valuations for equity holdersRequest Sample Copy at@Reasons to buy-Understand the economic and non-economic factors that affect production of an asset-Benefit from an asset valuation derived from detailed research and modeling by our analysts-Basic view of various scenarios and its effect on the asset for risk or strategy planning-Utilize the quantitative and qualitative evaluation to ascertain trends within the region to inform decision making-Identify economic trends of an asset to determine investment requirementsCompany Profile:GlaxoSmithKline PlcRadiant Research IncNanoBio CorpMedivir ABNovartis AGHarras Pharma Curarina GmbHEngelhard Arzneimittel GmbH & Co KGDr. Reddy's Laboratories LtdDermResearch IncBenu Biopharma IncBuy@ReportsWeb.com is a one stop shop of market research reports and solutions to various companies across the globe. We help our clients in their decision support system by helping them choose most relevant and cost effective research reports and solutions from various publishers. We provide best in class customer service and our customer support team is always available to help you on your research queries.Contact Us:505, 6th floor, Amanora Township,Amanora Chambers, East Block,Kharadi Road, Hadapsar, Pune-411028Call: +1-646-491-9876Email: sales@reportsweb.com
United Kingdom Traditional Wound Management Market Outlook to 2024

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ReportsWeb.com published United Kingdom Traditional Wound Management Market Outlook to 2024 from its database. The report reviews top companies involved and enlists all trials pertaining to the company. Report provides latest news for the past three months.Original Content:Egypt Zohr Project Panorama, Publisher's latest release, presents a comprehensive overview of the asset. This upstream report includes detailed qualitative and quantitative information on the asset, provides a full economic assessment and reflects several parameters including (but not limited to) geological profile, asset development and specific challenges. Based on this analysis, future outlook for the asset is presented with possible trends and related scenarios identifying upside/downside potential.For more information about this report@Report Scope-Overview of the asset based on an analysis of the economic indicators-Key financial indicators including Net Present Value and Internal Rate of Return-Review of factors affecting the economic outcome of the field including development overview, geology, challenges, reserves and production with qualitative perspective on of the overall assets life with Publisher's analysis on the asset's future outlook-Detailed production profile for the asset, giving annual output rates for each commodity produced-Cash flow statements from our economic analysis of the asset including capital expenditures, operating expenditures and tax liability-Individual valuations for equity holdersRequest Sample Copy at@Reasons to buy-Understand the economic and non-economic factors that affect production of an asset-Benefit from an asset valuation derived from detailed research and modeling by our analysts-Basic view of various scenarios and its effect on the asset for risk or strategy planning-Utilize the quantitative and qualitative evaluation to ascertain trends within the region to inform decision making-Identify economic trends of an asset to determine investment requirementsCompany Profile:GlaxoSmithKline PlcRadiant Research IncNanoBio CorpMedivir ABNovartis AGHarras Pharma Curarina GmbHEngelhard Arzneimittel GmbH & Co KGDr. Reddy's Laboratories LtdDermResearch IncBenu Biopharma IncBuy@ReportsWeb.com is a one stop shop of market research reports and solutions to various companies across the globe. We help our clients in their decision support system by helping them choose most relevant and cost effective research reports and solutions from various publishers. We provide best in class customer service and our customer support team is always available to help you on your research queries.Contact Us:505, 6th floor, Amanora Township,Amanora Chambers, East Block,Kharadi Road, Hadapsar, Pune-411028Call: +1-646-491-9876Email: sales@reportsweb.com
France Wound Care Management Market Outlook to 2024

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ReportsWeb.com published France Wound Care Management Market Outlook to 2024 from its database. The report reviews top companies involved and enlists all trials pertaining to the company. Report provides latest news for the past three months.Original Content:Publisher's new report, France Wound Care Management Market Outlook to 2024, provides key market data on the France Wound Care Management market. The report provides value, in millions of US dollars and volume (in units) within market categories-Advanced Wound Management, Compression Therapy, Digital Wound Measurement Devices, Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT), Ostomy Drainage Bags, Oxygen Therapy Devices, Pressure Relief Devices, Surgical Sutures, Tissue Engineered-Skin Substitutes, Traditional Wound Management, Wound Closure Devices and Wound Debridement Devices.For more information about this report@Report Scope-Market size and company share data for Wound Care Management market categories-Advanced Wound Management, Compression Therapy, Digital Wound Measurement Devices, Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT), Ostomy Drainage Bags, Oxygen Therapy Devices, Pressure Relief Devices, Surgical Sutures, Tissue Engineered-Skin Substitutes, Traditional Wound Management, Wound Closure Devices and Wound Debridement Devices.-Annualized market revenues (USD million) and volume (units) data for each of the market categories. Data is provided from 2010 to 2017 and forecast to 2024.-2017 company shares and distribution shares data for each of the market categories.-Global corporate-level profiles of key companies operating within the France Wound Care Management market.-Key players covered include Ethicon US LLC, Medtronic plc, B. Braun Melsungen AG and Others.Request Sample Copy at@Reasons to buy-Develop business strategies by identifying the key market segments poised for strong growth in the future.-Develop market-entry and market expansion strategies.-Design competition strategies by identifying who-stands-where in the market.-Develop investment strategies by identifying the key market segments expected to register strong growth in the near future.-What are the key distribution channels and what's the most preferred mode of product distribution-Identify, understand and capitalize.Company Profile:Ethicon US LLCMedtronic PlcSmith & Nephew PlcColoplast A/SB. Braun Melsungen AGMolnlycke Health Care ABHill-Rom Holdings IncArjoHuntleigh ABPaul Hartmann AGBuy@ReportsWeb.com is a one stop shop of market research reports and solutions to various companies across the globe. We help our clients in their decision support system by helping them choose most relevant and cost effective research reports and solutions from various publishers. We provide best in class customer service and our customer support team is always available to help you on your research queries.Contact Us:505, 6th floor, Amanora Township,Amanora Chambers, East Block,Kharadi Road, Hadapsar, Pune-411028Call: +1-646-491-9876Email: sales@reportsweb.com
Increasing technological advancement to Rice Husk Ash Market Analysis and Forecast in USA 2022

Rice Husk Ash Market

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United States Rice Husk Ash Market Report communicates about the manufacturing process. The process is analysed thoroughly with respect three points, viz. raw material and equipment suppliers, various manufacturing associated costs (material cost, labour cost, etc.) and the actual process of whole Enterprise Rice Husk Ash market. The Enterprise Rice Husk Ash Industry research report is a resource, which provides technical and financial details of the Enterprise Rice Husk Ash Market (Volume and Value).This report study global effectively used rice husk ash market.Get Sample PDF of Rice Husk Ash Market Report @Rice Husk Ash Market Segment by Manufacturers, this report covers: Yihai Kerry Investments, Usher Agro, Guru Metachem, Agrilectric Power Company, Rescon (India), Deelert Group, Jasoriya Rice Mill, Others..In this introductory section, the Rice Husk Ash industry research report incorporates analysis of definitions, classifications, applications and industry chain structure.Rice Husk Ash Market Segment by Regions, regional analysis covers: California, Texas, New York, Florida, IllinoisRice Husk Ash Market Segment by Type covers: Silica Content Between 85-89%, Silica Content Between 90-94%, Silica Content Between 80-84%, Silica Content More Than Or Equal to 95%.Rice Husk Ash Market Segment by Applications covers: Building & Construction, Silica, Steel Industry, Ceramics & Refractory, Rubber, Others.Pre Order Enquiry for Rice Husk Ash Market report @Next part of Rice Husk Ash Market Research Report contains additional information like key vendors in Market space, Rice Husk Ash Market opportunities and threats faced by the vendors in the Rice Husk Ash Market , opportunities, market risk and market overview. The process is analysed thoroughly with respect three points, viz. raw material and equipment suppliers, various manufacturing associated costs (material cost, labour cost, etc.) and the actual process.The next part also sheds light on the gap between supply and consumption. Apart from the mentioned information, growth rate of Rice Husk Ash markets in 2022 is also explained. Additionally, type wise and application wise consumption tables and figures are also given.About UsReports Monitor (ReportsMonitor.com) is a platform for companies looking to meet their market research and business intelligence requirements. Our aim is to change the dynamics of the Market Research industry by providing quality intelligence backed by data. Your requirement for market forecasting is fulfilled by our exclusive quantitative and analytics driven intelligence. We have a vast collection of reports, covering maximum industries worldwide. Our process is meticulously planned and executed in order to use maximum resources and explore the market for getting genuine insights. The prime focus is to get reliable data, Decision makers can now rely on our distinct data gathering methods to get factual market forecasting and detailed analysis.Contact UsJay MatthewsDirect: +1 513 549-5911Email: sales@reportsmonitor.comWebsite:
New Report of USA Smoke Alarm (Smoke Detector) Market Overview, Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis, Growth Opportunities by 2022

Smoke Alarm (Smoke Detector) Market

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United States Smoke Alarm (Smoke Detector) Market Report communicates about the manufacturing process. The process is analysed thoroughly with respect three points, viz. raw material and equipment suppliers, various manufacturing associated costs (material cost, labour cost, etc.) and the actual process of whole Enterprise Smoke Alarm (Smoke Detector) market.The Enterprise Smoke Alarm (Smoke Detector) Industry research report is a resource, which provides technical and financial details of the Enterprise Smoke Alarm (Smoke Detector) Market (Volume and Value).This report studies the Smoke Alarms market. Smoke alarm, another name for smoke transducer, smoke sensors, etc. It is a device that detects smoke, typically as an indicator for fire. It is can be used for fire prevention system, security system and other fields to detect fires before they become dangerous and to provide sufficient warning to occupants so they can escape. Smoke alarm was first used to space equipment.Get Sample PDF of Smoke Alarm (Smoke Detector) Market Report @Smoke Alarm (Smoke Detector) Market Segment by Manufacturers, this report covers: BRK Brands, Kidde, Honeywell Security, Tyco, Johnson Controls, Halma, Hochiki, Sprue Aegis, Xtralis, Siemens, Ei Electronics, Nohmi Bosai, Panasonic, X-SENSE.In this introductory section, the Smoke Alarm (Smoke Detector) industry research report incorporates analysis of definitions, classifications, applications and industry chain structure.Smoke Alarm (Smoke Detector) Market Segment by Regions, regional analysis covers: California, Texas, New York, Florida, IllinoisSmoke Alarm (Smoke Detector) Market Segment by Type covers: Photoelectric Smoke Alarms, Ionization Smoke Alarms, Combination Smoke Alarms.Smoke Alarm (Smoke Detector) Market Segment by Applications covers: Home Smoke Alarm, Public Places Smoke Alarm.Pre Order Enquiry for Smoke Alarm (Smoke Detector) Market report @Next part of Smoke Alarm (Smoke Detector) Market Research Report contains additional information like key vendors in Market space, Smoke Alarm (Smoke Detector) Market opportunities and threats faced by the vendors in the Smoke Alarm (Smoke Detector) Market , opportunities, market risk and market overview. The process is analysed thoroughly with respect three points, viz. raw material and equipment suppliers, various manufacturing associated costs (material cost, labour cost, etc.) and the actual process.The next part also sheds light on the gap between supply and consumption. Apart from the mentioned information, growth rate of Smoke Alarm (Smoke Detector) markets in 2022 is also explained. Additionally, type wise and application wise consumption tables and figures are also given.About UsReports Monitor (ReportsMonitor.com) is a platform for companies looking to meet their market research and business intelligence requirements. Our aim is to change the dynamics of the Market Research industry by providing quality intelligence backed by data. Your requirement for market forecasting is fulfilled by our exclusive quantitative and analytics driven intelligence. We have a vast collection of reports, covering maximum industries worldwide. Our process is meticulously planned and executed in order to use maximum resources and explore the market for getting genuine insights. The prime focus is to get reliable data, Decision makers can now rely on our distinct data gathering methods to get factual market forecasting and detailed analysis.Contact UsJay MatthewsDirect: +1 513 549-5911Email: sales@reportsmonitor.comWebsite:
USA Steam Mops Market 2017-2022: Industry Analysis, Geographical Segmentation, Drivers, Challenges, Trend & Forecasts

Steam Mops Market

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Cold Pressed Juice Market Infrastructure Growth and Development by 2022

Cold Pressed Juice Market

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Cold Pressed Juice Market Report communicates about the manufacturing process. The process is analysed thoroughly with respect three points, viz. raw material and equipment suppliers, various manufacturing associated costs (material cost, labour cost, etc.) and the actual process of whole Enterprise Cold Pressed Juice market. The Enterprise Cold Pressed Juice Industry research report is a resource, which provides technical and financial details of the Enterprise Cold Pressed Juice Market (Volume and Value).Cold-pressed juice is associated with the healthy, less processed foods movement. Cold-pressed juice is made via high pressure processing (HPP), which doesn't require the chemicals or preservatives typical of traditional processing methods.Get Sample PDF of Cold Pressed Juice Market Report @Cold Pressed Juice Market Segment by Manufacturers, this report covers: The Naked Juice, Hain BluePrint, Evolution Fresh, Suja, Liquiteria, Hoogesteger, Juice Generation, Pressed Juicery, Rakyan Beverages, Village Juicery, The Cold Pressed Juicery , Greenhouse Juice.In this introductory section, the Cold Pressed Juice industry research report incorporates analysis of definitions, classifications, applications and industry chain structure.Cold Pressed Juice Market Segment by Regions, regional analysis covers: Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia, Italy and Turkey)., Middle East (Saudi Arabia, Israel, UAE and Iran), Africa (South Africa, Nigeria, Egypt and Algeria).Cold Pressed Juice Market Segment by Type covers: Cold Pressed Fruits Juices, Cold Pressed Vegetables Juices, Cold Pressed Mixed Juices.Cold Pressed Juice Market Segment by Applications covers: Woman, Man.Pre Order Enquiry for Cold Pressed Juice Market report @Next part of Cold Pressed Juice Market Research Report contains additional information like key vendors in Market space, Cold Pressed Juice Market opportunities and threats faced by the vendors in the Cold Pressed Juice Market , opportunities, market risk and market overview. The process is analysed thoroughly with respect three points, viz. raw material and equipment suppliers, various manufacturing associated costs (material cost, labour cost, etc.) and the actual process.Apart from the mentioned information, growth rate of Cold Pressed Juice markets in 2022 is also explained. Additionally, type wise and application wise consumption tables and figures are also given.About UsReports Monitor (ReportsMonitor.com) is a platform for companies looking to meet their market research and business intelligence requirements. Our aim is to change the dynamics of the Market Research industry by providing quality intelligence backed by data. Your requirement for market forecasting is fulfilled by our exclusive quantitative and analytics driven intelligence. We have a vast collection of reports, covering maximum industries in EMEA. Our process is meticulously planned and executed in order to use maximum resources and explore the market for getting genuine insights. The prime focus is to get reliable data, Decision makers can now rely on our distinct data gathering methods to get factual market forecasting and detailed analysis.Contact UsJay MatthewsDirect: +1 513 549-5911Email: sales@reportsmonitor.comWebsite:
Global Yeast Infection Market by focusing on Top Companies like Scynexis, Synmedic Laboratories, Merck & Co., Inc, Astellas Pharma Europe Ltd, Bayer AG, Mentis Pharma Ltd., Abbott, Novartis AG, Pfizer Inc., Sanofi

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Global Yeast Infection Market is growing at a CAGR of 5.2% during the forecast period of 2017 to 2024. The upcoming market report contains data for historic years 2015, the base year of calculation is 2016 and the forecast period is 2017 to 2024.Request for Sample Report @The major factors driving the growth of this market are the growing aging population worldwide, government initiatives for funding, and awareness about cancer. These factors increase the demand for cancer diagnostic products. On the other hand, stringent regulations imposed by international and local authorities and shortage of skilled and trained professionals may hinder the growth of the market.The global yeast infection market is segmented on the basis of technology, application, and geography.On the basis of pathogen, global yeast infection market is segmented into Candida Albicans, Candida Glabrata, Candida Rugosa.By site of infection the global yeast infection market is segmented into vaginal yeast infection, skin yeast infection and throat yeast infection.Browse Full Report @On the basis of treatment, global yeast infection market is segmented into medication and surgery.Medication is further sub segmented into cream, ointment, tablet and suppository.On the basis of end user the global yeast infection market is segmented into hospital, clinics and ambulatory centers.On the basis of distribution channel, global yeast infection market is segmented into retail pharmacies and drug stores.Request for TOC:On the basis of geography, global yeast infection market report covers data points for 28 countries across multiple geographies such as North America & South America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Middle East & Africa. Some of the major countries covered in this report are U.S., Canada, Germany, France, U.K., Netherlands, Switzerland, Turkey, Russia, China, India, South Korea, Japan, Australia, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, and Brazil among others. In 2017, North America is expected to dominate the market.The Global Yeast Infection Market is highly fragmented and is based on new product launches and clinical results of products. Hence the major players have used various strategies such as new product launches, clinical trials, market initiatives, high expense on research and development, agreements, joint ventures, partnerships, acquisitions, and others to increase their footprints in this market. The report includes market shares of yeast infection market for global, Europe, North America, Asia Pacific and South America.Some of the major players operating in global yeast infection market are Scynexis, Synmedic Laboratories, Merck & Co., Inc, Astellas Pharma Europe Ltd, Bayer AG, Mentis Pharma Ltd., Abbott, Novartis AG, Pfizer Inc., Sanofi, ALLERGAN, AstraZeneca, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd, Stella Pharmaceutical Canada Inc., Glenmark, Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., Taro Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., Bristol Laboratories Ltd, WOCKHARDT Perrigo Company plc among others.Inquiry before Buying @Realted ReportGlobal Wearable Devices Market  Trends and Forecast to 2024Global Wearable Devices Market, By Product Type (Wristwear, Eyewear, Footwear, Neckwear, Bodywear, Others), By Industry (Consumer Products, Healthcare, Industrial, and Others), By Type (Smart Textile (Passive, Active, Ultra Smart) (Sensing, Energy Harvesting, Luminiscence, Thermo Electricity), Non-Textile), By Technology, By Component, By Geography (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, South America, Rest of the World)  Trends and Forecast to 2024Report Access:About Data Bridge Market Research:Data Bridge Market Research set forth itself as an unconventional and neoteric Market research and consulting firm with unparalleled level of resilience and integrated approaches. We are determined to unearth the best market opportunities and foster efficient information for your business to thrive in the market. Data Bridge endeavors to provide appropriate solutions to the complex business challenges and initiates an effortless decision-making process.Contact:Vishal DixitData Bridge Market ResearchTel: +1-888-387-2818Email: Sales@databridgemarketresearch.comInvestor: investors@databridgemarketresearch.comVisit BlogFollow us on LinkedIn:
Global Digital Signage Software Market Trends & Key Vendors like Rise Vision, Panasonic Corporation, NEC Display Solutions Ltd., Adflow Networks, Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.

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Global Digital Signage Software Market accounted to USD 4.5 billion in 2016 growing at a CAGR of 11.0% during the forecast period of 2017 to 2024. The upcoming market report contains data for historic years 2015, the base year of calculation is 2016 and the forecast period is 2017 to 2024.Request for Sample Report @Some of the major players operating in digital signage software market are: Scala Inc., Signagelive, Broadsign International LLC, Omnivex Corporation, Navori, Planar Systems Inc., Intuilab Sa, Mvix, Inc., Novisign Digital Signage Inc., Four Winds Interactive (Fwi), Rise Vision, Panasonic Corporation, NEC Display Solutions Ltd., Adflow Networks, Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.In 2017, Mvix Wins InfoComm Best of Show Award for Digital Signage Software.The global digital signage software market is segmented on the basis of software, services, application and geography.Browse Full Report @On the basis of software type the digital signage software market is segmented into Edge Server Software, Content Management System, Others. The Content Management System market is expected to grow in the forecasted period.Request for TOC:On the basis of services the digital signage software market is segmented into Installation Services, Maintenance & Support Services, and Other Services. The installation service market is expected to grow in the forecasted period.Based on application the digital signage software market is segmented into commercial, Infrastructural, Institutional, Industrial, others. The infrastructural market is expected to grow in the forecasted period.The commercial segments further divided into Retail, Corporate, Healthcare, Hospitality, and Government. The healthcare market is expected to grow in the forecasted period.Based on Geographical Regions the Market is segmented into: North America South America Europe Asia-Pacific Middle East & AfricaSome of the major countries covered in this report are U.S., Canada, Germany, France, U.K., Netherlands, Switzerland, Turkey, Russia, China, India, South Korea, Japan, Australia, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, and Brazil among others. In 2017, North America is expected to dominate the market.Inquiry before Buying @Other ReportGlobal Anti-Drone Market  Industry Trends and Forecast to 2024Global Anti-Drone Market, By Technology (Laser System, Traditional Kinetic System, Electronics System) By Defense Type (Detection & Disruption, Detection) By End-user (Military & Defense, Commercial, Government, Others) By Geography (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Europe, South America, Middle East and Africa)  Industry Trends and Forecast to 2024Report Access:About Data Bridge Market Research:Data Bridge Market Research set forth itself as an unconventional and neoteric Market research and consulting firm with unparalleled level of resilience and integrated approaches. We are determined to unearth the best market opportunities and foster efficient information for your business to thrive in the market. Data Bridge endeavors to provide appropriate solutions to the complex business challenges and initiates an effortless decision-making process.Contact:Vishal DixitData Bridge Market ResearchTel: +1-888-387-2818Email: Sales@databridgemarketresearch.comInvestor: investors@databridgemarketresearch.comVisit BlogFollow us on LinkedIn:
Smart Factory Market Expected to be Valued at US$ 215.0 Bn by the end of 2025

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According to the latest market report published by Future Market Insights titled, Smart Factory Market - Global Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment, 2015-2025, the market was valued at US$ 51.9 Bn in 2014 and is expected to register a CAGR of 13.3% from 2015 to 2025.Growth of the smart factory market is primarily driven by rising focus on advanced manufacturing techniques. Furthermore, developments in information and communications technology (ICT), increased focus on energy consumption, rising prices and stringent environmental regulations are expected to be key factors driving growth of the smart factory market over the forecast period.FMIs report segments the global smart factory market on the basis of market structure, component, manufacturing vertical, and region. Market structure includes to collect, to connect, to analyse and to control. A detailed analysis of each segment is presented in the report to deliver an accurate view of the market.Obtain Report Details:On the basis of manufacturing vertical, the smart factory market is further segmented into automotive & transportation, food & beverages, electrical & electronics, aerospace & defence, oil & gas, garment & textile, chemical and others (healthcare & pharmaceutical).Among these, the automotive & transportation segment dominated the global smart factory market in terms of revenue contribution in 2014. Growth of this segment is primarily driven by increasing investments by leading automobile manufacturers.For example, in September 2015, German luxury car manufacturer Mercedes-Benz announced an investment of US$ 1.3 Bn to expand and upgrade its SUV manufacturing unit in Alabama, U.S. This expansion would add 300 new jobs and support end-to-end digitalization of the production process as a part of the companys smart factory initiative.This report also covers trends driving growth of each market segment and offers analysis and insights about market potential across key regions namely North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific (APAC) and the Middle East & Africa. Furthermore, the market is sub-segmented on the basis of major countries in each region in order to provide a regional analysis of the overall market.Make Enquiry @Asia Pacific was the largest revenue contributor to the global smart factory market, accounting for US$ 20.4 Bn in 2014. This is mainly attributed to increasing investment in manufacturing plants in the region. For example, in April 2015, the South Korean government along with Samsung Electronics announced an investment of US$ 12.6 Mn to promote the smart factory concept in the country.Smart factory market in Europe accounted for US$ 14.7 Bn in 2014and is expected to register a CAGR of 14.3% during the forecast period. Growth of the market in this region is expected to be driven by increasing government support for development of innovative production technologies in countries such as Germany and the U.K. Also, increasing spending by key players is expected to further drive growth of the market in Europe.Smart Factory Market: Major PlayersKey players in the global smart factory market include ABB Group, Rockwell Automation, Inc., General Electric Co., Siemens AG, Oracle Corporation, IBM Corporation, SAP SE, PTC Inc., Accenture PLC and Atos SE.These players focus on mergers and acquisitions, new product launches, expansions and partnerships in order to remain competitive in the market. A competitive dashboard has also been included in the report to provide detailed information about key players in the market.Future Market Insights is the premier provider of market intelligence and consulting services, serving clients in over 150 countries. FMI is headquartered in London, the global financial capital, and has delivery centres in the U.S. and India.FMIs research and consulting services help businesses around the globe navigate the challenges in a rapidly evolving marketplace with confidence and clarity. Our customised and syndicated market research reports deliver actionable insights that drive sustainable growth. We continuously track emerging trends and events in a broad range of end industries to ensure our clients prepare for the evolving needs of their consumers.FMIs team of over 200 research analysts provides market intelligence at global, regional, and country level. Our analysts are committed to provide independent insights, relying on our cognitive defusion training module, which conditions them to look at data objectively and unbiasedly.616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531Email:sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
Drip Coffee Makers Market Report for Period 2017 till 2022 Philips, Technivorm, Melitta and Others

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Global Drip Coffee Makers Market report provides detailed analysis of companies namely Philips, Technivorm, Melitta and Others. This report study includes global market statistics and analysis for example, company performance, historical analysis 2012 to 2016, market forecast 2017 to 2023 in terms of volume, revenue, YOY growth rate, and CAGR for the year 2017 to 2023, etc.A drip coffee maker works by sending hot water over coffee grounds that are held in a filter. The coffee brews and then drips into a heated container that keeps the coffee hot and ready for consumption.Request for Free Sample Copy of Global Drip Coffee Makers Market 2017Top Company Profiles and Analysis included in this report:ElectroluxConair CorporationBonavitaPhilipsTechnivormMelittaNACCOJardenDelonghiBoschBUNNBlack & DeckerKrupsIllyMorphy RichardsOthersGlobal Drip Coffee Makers Market: Key Product TypeManual Drip Coffee MakersAutomatic Drip Coffee MakersOthersGlobal Drip Coffee Makers Market: Key ApplicationCommercialOfficeHouseholdOthersGlobal Drip Coffee Makers Market: Key RegionNorth America (USA, Canada and Mexico)Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia, Italy and Others)Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India, Southeast Asia and Others)South America (Brazil, Argentina, Columbia and Others)Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria, South Africa and Others)The Global Drip Coffee Makers Market analysis report provides detailed value chain for analysis of Global Drip Coffee Makers Market. The value chain helps to analyze major upstream in raw materials, major equipments, manufacturing process, downstream customer analysis and major distributor analysis.The report also covers in-depth description, competitive scenario, wide product portfolio of prime players active in this market and business strategies adopted by competitors along with their SWOT analysis. Side by side, it also explicitly provides information about mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, and all the other important activities happened in current and past few years. The Global Drip Coffee Makers Market report explores manufacturers competitive scenario and provides market share for all major players of this market based on production capacity, sales, revenue, geographical presence and other major factors.Enquire before Buying @Table of Contents:1 Market Overview1.1 Drip Coffee Makers Introduction1.2 Market Analysis by Type1.2.1 Manual Drip Coffee Makers1.2.2 Automatic Drip Coffee Makers1.3 Market Analysis by Applications1.3.1 Commercial1.3.2 Office1.3.3 Household1.4 Market Analysis by Regions......................Continue (Global Drip Coffee Makers Market Research Industry Report is prepared with the help of extensive primary and secondary sources, directories, journals, newsletters and with the help of third-party application like Hoovers, Factiva, Bloomberg, Businessweek, etc.About Us:Market Reports Company is a global research and consulting company. We provide customized reports. We can study and analyze any market based on wide range of parameters. We can provide market insights for any particular region, country across the globe within shortest possible turn around time.What we offer: Customized Reports: we provide customized report study on any market or industry. Region Specific Study: If you need region specific or if you are searching for particular region market study then, we have expert research team for that. How we work: We work in all domains and industries, you name it and we provide the market research industry report analysis of it. Expertise: Superior Research Team, 24*7 Customer Care ServiceContact UsJason Smith,Sales Manager, Global Business Development,Website:Email: jasonsmith@marketreportscompany.comContact us: +1-888-220-3424Address: 20 N State Street, Chicago, Illinois, 60602 United States
Fluoride Varnish Market Report for Period 2017 till 2022 Dentsply Sirona, Philips and Others

Fluoride Varnish Market

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Global Fluoride Varnish Market report provides detailed analysis of companies namely Dentsply Sirona, Philips and Others. This report study includes global market statistics and analysis for example, company performance, historical analysis 2012 to 2016, market forecast 2017 to 2023 in terms of volume, revenue, YOY growth rate, and CAGR for the year 2017 to 2023, etc.Fluoride Varnish is a highly concentrated form of fluoride which is applied to the tooths surface, by a dentist, dental hygienist or other health care professional, as a type of topical fluoride therapy. It is not a permanent varnish but due to its adherent nature it is able to stay in contact with the tooth surface for several hours. It may be applied to the enamel, dentine or cementum of the tooth and can be used to help prevent decay, remineralise the tooth surface and to treat dentine hypersensitivity.Request for Free Sample Copy of Global Fluoride Varnish Market 2017Top Company Profiles and Analysis included in this report:Colgate3MDentsply SironaPhilipsDRRDENTALYoung DentalVOCOUltradent ProductsDMG DentalIvoclar VivadentMedicomGC CorporationWater PikMPLCentrixPreventechPremier DentalPulpdent CorporationElevate Oral CareOthersGlobal Fluoride Varnish Market: Key Product TypeUnit Dose 0.40 mlUnit Dose 0.40 mlOthersGlobal Fluoride Varnish Market: Key ApplicationGeneral HospitalsDental HospitalsDental ClinicsGlobal Fluoride Varnish Market: Key RegionNorth America (USA, Canada and Mexico)Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia, Italy and Others)Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India, Southeast Asia and Others)South America (Brazil, Argentina, Columbia and Others)Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria, South Africa and Others)The Global Fluoride Varnish Market analysis report provides detailed value chain for analysis of Global Fluoride Varnish Market. The value chain helps to analyze major upstream in raw materials, major equipments, manufacturing process, downstream customer analysis and major distributor analysis.The report also covers in-depth description, competitive scenario, wide product portfolio of prime players active in this market and business strategies adopted by competitors along with their SWOT analysis. Side by side, it also explicitly provides information about mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, and all the other important activities happened in current and past few years. The Global Fluoride Varnish Market report explores manufacturers competitive scenario and provides market share for all major players of this market based on production capacity, sales, revenue, geographical presence and other major factors.Enquire before Buying @Table of Contents:1 Market Overview1.1 Fluoride Varnish Introduction1.2 Market Analysis by Type1.2.1 Unit Dose 0.40 ml1.2.2 Unit Dose 0.40 ml1.2.3 Others1.3 Market Analysis by Applications1.3.1 General Hospitals1.3.2 Dental Hospitals1.3.3 Dental Clinics1.4 Market Analysis by Regions.......................Continue (Global Fluoride Varnish Market Research Industry Report is prepared with the help of extensive primary and secondary sources, directories, journals, newsletters and with the help of third-party application like Hoovers, Factiva, Bloomberg, Businessweek, etc.About Us:Market Reports Company is a global research and consulting company. We provide customized reports. We can study and analyze any market based on wide range of parameters. We can provide market insights for any particular region, country across the globe within shortest possible turn around time.What we offer: Customized Reports: we provide customized report study on any market or industry. Region Specific Study: If you need region specific or if you are searching for particular region market study then, we have expert research team for that. How we work: We work in all domains and industries, you name it and we provide the market research industry report analysis of it. Expertise: Superior Research Team, 24*7 Customer Care ServiceContact UsJason Smith,Sales Manager, Global Business Development,Website:Email: jasonsmith@marketreportscompany.comContact us: +1-888-220-3424Address: 20 N State Street, Chicago, Illinois, 60602 United States
LiDAR 2017 Market Segmentation,Application,Technology & Market Analysis Research Report to 2022

LiDAR Market

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WiseGuyReports.Com Publish a New Market Research Report On - LiDAR 2017 Market Segmentation,Application,Technology & Market Analysis Research Report to 2022.Global LiDAR market competition by top manufacturers, with production, price, revenue (value) and market share for each manufacturer; the top players includingFaro TechnologiesRenishawSaabIntermap TechnologiesLeica GeosystemsRieglTrimble NavigationAerometric3D Laser MappingGet a Sample Report @For more information or any query mail at sales@wiseguyreports.comGeographically, this report is segmented into several key Regions, with production, consumption, revenue (million USD), market share and growth rate of LiDAR in these regions, from 2012 to 2022 (forecast), coveringUnited StatesEUChinaJapanSouth KoreaTaiwanOn the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split intoShort RangeMobileTerrestrialAirborneOn 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 LiDAR for each application, includingCorridor MappingCivil EngineeringMilitary & DefenseGovernmentTopographical SurveysAsk Query @Table Of Contents  Major Key PointsGlobal LiDAR Market Research Report 20171 LiDAR Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of LiDAR1.2 LiDAR Segment by Type (Product Category)1.2.1 Global LiDAR Production and CAGR (%) Comparison by Type (Product Category)(2012-2022)1.2.2 Global LiDAR Production Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 20161.2.3 Short Range1.2.4 Mobile1.2.5 Terrestrial1.2.6 Airborne1.3 Global LiDAR Segment by Application1.3.1 LiDAR Consumption (Sales) Comparison by Application (2012-2022)1.3.2 Corridor Mapping1.3.3 Civil Engineering1.3.4 Military & Defense1.3.5 Government1.3.6 Topographical Surveys1.4 Global LiDAR Market by Region (2012-2022)1.4.1 Global LiDAR Market Size (Value) and CAGR (%) Comparison by Region (2012-2022)1.4.2 United States Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.3 EU Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.4 China Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.5 Japan Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.6 South Korea Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.7 Taiwan Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.5 Global Market Size (Value) of LiDAR (2012-2022)1.5.1 Global LiDAR Revenue Status and Outlook (2012-2022)1.5.2 Global LiDAR Capacity, Production Status and Outlook (2012-2022).7 Global LiDAR Manufacturers Profiles/Analysis7.1 Faro Technologies7.1.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.1.2 LiDAR Product Category, Application and Specification7.1.2.1 Product A7.1.2.2 Product B7.1.3 Faro Technologies LiDAR Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.1.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.2 Renishaw7.2.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.2.2 LiDAR Product Category, Application and Specification7.2.2.1 Product A7.2.2.2 Product B7.2.3 Renishaw LiDAR Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.2.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.3 Saab7.3.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.3.2 LiDAR Product Category, Application and Specification7.3.2.1 Product A7.3.2.2 Product B7.3.3 Saab LiDAR Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.3.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.4 Intermap Technologies7.4.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.4.2 LiDAR Product Category, Application and Specification7.4.2.1 Product A7.4.2.2 Product B7.4.3 Intermap Technologies LiDAR Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.4.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.5 Leica Geosystems7.5.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.5.2 LiDAR Product Category, Application and Specification7.5.2.1 Product A7.5.2.2 Product B7.5.3 Leica Geosystems LiDAR Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.5.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.6 Riegl7.6.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.6.2 LiDAR Product Category, Application and Specification7.6.2.1 Product A7.6.2.2 Product B7.6.3 Riegl LiDAR Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.6.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.7 Trimble Navigation7.7.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.7.2 LiDAR Product Category, Application and Specification7.7.2.1 Product A7.7.2.2 Product B7.7.3 Trimble Navigation LiDAR Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.7.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.8 Aerometric7.8.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.8.2 LiDAR Product Category, Application and Specification7.8.2.1 Product A7.8.2.2 Product B7.8.3 Aerometric LiDAR Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.8.4 Main Business/Business OverviewContinue.For more information or any query mail at sales@wiseguyreports.comABOUT US:Wise Guy Reports is part of the Wise Guy Consultants Pvt. Ltd. and offers premium progressive statistical surveying, market research reports, analysis & forecast data for industries and governments around the globe. Wise Guy Reports features an exhaustive list of market research reports from hundreds of publishers worldwide. We boast a database spanning virtually every market category and an even more comprehensive collection of market research reports under these categories and sub-categories.Office No.528,Amanora Chambers,Magarpatta Road,Hadapsar,Pune-411028.
High Speed Motor Market Report for Period 2017 till 2022 Mitsubishi, Siemens, Bosch Rexroth and Others

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Global High Speed Motor Market report provides detailed analysis of companies namely Mitsubishi, Siemens, Bosch Rexroth and Others. This report study includes global market statistics and analysis for example, company performance, historical analysis 2012 to 2016, market forecast 2017 to 2023 in terms of volume, revenue, YOY growth rate, and CAGR for the year 2017 to 2023, etc.High speed motor usually refers to the motor with rotation speed over 10000 rpm. They have the following advantages: Due to their high speed, so the motor power density is high, and power volume is far less than ordinary motor, can effectively save material. Secondly, it is can be connected to the prime mover, cancelled the traditional retarding mechanism, high transmission efficiency, low noise. Also, due to the high speed motor moment of inertia is small, so the dynamic response is fast.Request for Free Sample Copy of Global High Speed Motor Market 2017Top Company Profiles and Analysis included in this report:GEABBMitsubishiSiemensBosch RexrothEmersonMeidenshaHitachiJing-Jin ElectricNidecToshibaSynchronyFuji ElectricOtherGlobal High Speed Motor Market: Key Product TypeInduction MotorPermanent Magnet MotorOther MotorGlobal High Speed Motor Market: Key ApplicationMachine ToolsPower GenerationCompressorOther IndustryGlobal High Speed Motor Market: Key RegionNorth America (USA, Canada and Mexico)Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia, Italy and Others)Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India, Southeast Asia and Others)South America (Brazil, Argentina, Columbia and Others)Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria, South Africa and Others)The Global High Speed Motor Market analysis report provides detailed value chain for analysis of Global High Speed Motor Market. The value chain helps to analyze major upstream in raw materials, major equipments, manufacturing process, downstream customer analysis and major distributor analysis.The report also covers in-depth description, competitive scenario, wide product portfolio of prime players active in this market and business strategies adopted by competitors along with their SWOT analysis. Side by side, it also explicitly provides information about mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, and all the other important activities happened in current and past few years. The Global High Speed Motor Market report explores manufacturers competitive scenario and provides market share for all major players of this market based on production capacity, sales, revenue, geographical presence and other major factors.Enquire before Buying @Table of Contents:1 Market Overview1.1 High Speed Motor Introduction1.2 Market Analysis by Type1.2.1 Induction Motor1.2.2 Permanent Magnet Motor1.2.3 Other Motor1.3 Market Analysis by Applications1.3.1 Machine Tools1.3.2 Power Generation1.3.3 Compressor1.3.4 Other Industry1.4 Market Analysis by Regions.......................Continue (Global High Speed Motor Market Research Industry Report is prepared with the help of extensive primary and secondary sources, directories, journals, newsletters and with the help of third-party application like Hoovers, Factiva, Bloomberg, Businessweek, etc.About Us:Market Reports Company is a global research and consulting company. We provide customized reports. We can study and analyze any market based on wide range of parameters. We can provide market insights for any particular region, country across the globe within shortest possible turn around time.What we offer: Customized Reports: we provide customized report study on any market or industry. Region Specific Study: If you need region specific or if you are searching for particular region market study then, we have expert research team for that. How we work: We work in all domains and industries, you name it and we provide the market research industry report analysis of it. Expertise: Superior Research Team, 24*7 Customer Care ServiceContact UsJason Smith,Sales Manager, Global Business Development,Website:Email: jasonsmith@marketreportscompany.comContact us: +1-888-220-3424Address: 20 N State Street, Chicago, Illinois, 60602 United States
Newborn Screening Instruments Market Report for Period 2017 till 2022 Trivitron Healthcare, Agilent Technologies and Others

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Global Newborn Screening Instruments Market report provides detailed analysis of companies namely Trivitron Healthcare, Agilent Technologies and Others. This report study includes global market statistics and analysis for example, company performance, historical analysis 2012 to 2016, market forecast 2017 to 2023 in terms of volume, revenue, YOY growth rate, and CAGR for the year 2017 to 2023, etc.Newborn screening is the practice of testing every newborn for certain harmful or potentially fatal disorder that isnt otherwise apparent at birth.With a simple blood test, doctors often can tell whether newborns have certain conditions that eventually could cause problems. Although these conditions are rare and most babies are given a clean bill of health, early diagnosis and proper treatment sometimes can make the difference between lifelong impairment and healthy development.Request for Free Sample Copy of Global Newborn Screening Instruments Market 2017Top Company Profiles and Analysis included in this report:PerkinelmerWatersNatus MedicalGE HealthcareAB SciexThermo FisherTrivitron HealthcareAgilent TechnologiesBio-Rad LaboratoriesMedtronicMasimoOthersGlobal Newborn Screening Instruments Market: Key Product TypeDisorder ScreeningHearing ScreeningPulse Oximetry ScreeningOthersGlobal Newborn Screening Instruments Market: Key ApplicationHearing Screening TestCCHD TestDry Blood Spot TestOthersGlobal Newborn Screening Instruments Market: Key RegionNorth America (USA, Canada and Mexico)Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia, Italy and Others)Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India, Southeast Asia and Others)South America (Brazil, Argentina, Columbia and Others)Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria, South Africa and Others)The Global Newborn Screening Instruments Market analysis report provides detailed value chain for analysis of Global Newborn Screening Instruments Market. The value chain helps to analyze major upstream in raw materials, major equipments, manufacturing process, downstream customer analysis and major distributor analysis.The report also covers in-depth description, competitive scenario, wide product portfolio of prime players active in this market and business strategies adopted by competitors along with their SWOT analysis. Side by side, it also explicitly provides information about mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, and all the other important activities happened in current and past few years. The Global Newborn Screening Instruments Market report explores manufacturers competitive scenario and provides market share for all major players of this market based on production capacity, sales, revenue, geographical presence and other major factors.Enquire before Buying @Table of Contents:1 Market Overview1.1 Newborn Screening Instruments Introduction1.2 Market Analysis by Type1.2.1 Disorder Screening1.2.2 Hearing Screening1.2.3 Pulse Oximetry Screening1.3 Market Analysis by Applications1.3.1 Hearing Screening Test1.3.2 CCHD Test1.3.3 Dry Blood Spot Test1.3.4 Other1.4 Market Analysis by Regions.......................Continue (Global Newborn Screening Instruments Market Research Industry Report is prepared with the help of extensive primary and secondary sources, directories, journals, newsletters and with the help of third-party application like Hoovers, Factiva, Bloomberg, Businessweek, etc.About Us:Market Reports Company is a global research and consulting company. We provide customized reports. We can study and analyze any market based on wide range of parameters. We can provide market insights for any particular region, country across the globe within shortest possible turn around time.What we offer: Customized Reports: we provide customized report study on any market or industry. Region Specific Study: If you need region specific or if you are searching for particular region market study then, we have expert research team for that. How we work: We work in all domains and industries, you name it and we provide the market research industry report analysis of it. Expertise: Superior Research Team, 24*7 Customer Care ServiceContact UsJason Smith,Sales Manager, Global Business Development,Website:Email: jasonsmith@marketreportscompany.comContact us: +1-888-220-3424Address: 20 N State Street, Chicago, Illinois, 60602 United States
Global E-Cigarette Market Outlook 2017 : Electronic Cigarette International Group, Cigr8, KiK, Hangsen, Blu eCigs, Truvape and Vaporcorp

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ReportsWeb.com has announced the addition of the Global E-cigarette Industry Market Research Report 2017-2021 The report focuses on Global major leading industry players with information such as company profiles, product picture and specification.2017 Market Research Report on E-cigarette Industry was a professional and depth research report on E-cigarette Industry that you would know the world's major regional market conditions of E-cigarette Industry, the main region including North American, Europe and Asia etc., and the main country including United States, Germany, Japan and China etc..An electronic cigarette or e-cigarette[note 1] is a handheld electronic device that tries to create the feeling of tobacco smoking. It works by heating a liquid to generate an aerosol, commonly called a "vapor", that the user inhales.[2] Using e-cigarettes is sometimes called vaping.[4] The liquid in the e-cigarette, called e-liquid,[5] is usually made of nicotine, propylene glycol, glycerine, and flavorings.[6] Not all e-liquids contain nicotineThe report firstly introduced Color-Coated Steel Insulation Sandwich Board basic information including Color-Coated Steel Insulation Sandwich Board definition classification application and industry chain overview; E-cigarette Industry policy and plan, Color-Coated Steel Insulation Sandwich Board product specification, manufacturing process, cost structure etc. Then we deeply analyzed the world's main region market conditions that including the product price, profit, capacity, production, capacity utilization, supply, demand and industry growth rate etc.Get Sample of this Report @In the end, the report introduced Color-Coated Steel Insulation Sandwich Board new project SWOT analysis, investment feasibility analysis, and investment return analysis and E-cigarette Industry.In a word, it was a depth research report on E-cigarette Industry. And thanks to the support and assistance from E-cigarette Industry chain related technical experts and marketing experts during Research Team survey and interviews.The report including six parts, the first part mainly introduced the product basic information; the second parts mainly analyzed the Asia E-cigarette Industry; the third part mainly analyzed the North American E-cigarette Industry; the fourth part mainly analyzed the Europe E-cigarette Industry; the fifth part mainly analyzed the market entry and investment feasibility; the sixth part was the report conclusion chapter.Get complete access of this reportMarket SegmentsMarket Segment by Regions, regional analysis coversNorth America (USA, Canada and Mexico)Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia and Italy)Asia-Pacific (Global, Japan, Korea, India and Southeast Asia)South America (Brazil, Argentina, Columbia etc.)Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa)Table of Content1 E-cigarette Industry Definition2 Asia E-cigarette Industry Product History of Development3 Asia E-cigarette Industry Key Manufacturers Analysis3.1 Company A3.1.1 Company Profile3.1.2 Product Picture and Specification3.1.3 Capacity Production Price Cost Production Value3.1.4 Contact Information3.2 Company B3.2.1 Company Profile3.2.2 Product Picture and Specification3.2.3 Capacity Production Price Cost Production Value3.2.4 Contact Information3.3 Company C3.3.1 Company Profile3.3.2 Product Picture and Specification3.3.3 Capacity Production Price Cost Production Value3.3.4 Contact Information4 Asia E-cigarette Industry Productions Supply Sales Demand Market Status and Forecast Analysis5 E-cigarette Industry Development Trend6 North American E-cigarette Industry Product History of Development7 North American E-cigarette Industry Key Manufacturers Analysis8 American E-cigarette Industry Productions Supply Sales Demand Market Status and Forecast Analysis9 E-cigarette Industry Development Trend10 Europe E-cigarette Industry Product History of Development11 Europe E-cigarette Industry Key Manufacturers Analysis12 Europe E-cigarette Industry Productions Supply Sales Demand Market Status and Forecast Analysis13 E-cigarette Industry Development Trend14 E-cigarette Industry Marketing Channels Analysis15 E-cigarette Industry Development Environmental Analysis16 E-cigarette Industry SWOT Analysis and New Project Investment Feasibility Analysis17 Global E-cigarette Industry Productions Supply Sales Demand Market Status and Forecast Analysis18 E-cigarette Industry Development TrendGet Discount @Contact Us:Call: +1-646-491-9876Email: sales@reportsweb.comReportsWeb.com is a one stop shop of market research reports and solutions to various companies across the globe. We help our clients in their decision support system by helping them choose most relevant and cost effective research reports and solutions from various publishers. We provide best in class customer service and our customer support team is always available to help you on your research queries.Pune:505, 6th floor, Amanora Township,Amanora Chambers, East Block,Kharadi Road, Hadapsar, Pune-411028
Maternal Health Market Key Factor Analysis, Value Chain, Major Region and Forecasts Till 2023

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The Worldwide Maternal Health Market report provides insights about factors affecting the market growth. The best example of the initiatives can be seen by UNICEF (India). The program they have started is Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakaram (JSSK) scheme which provides free maternity service across India.The Global Maternal Health Market is an expert analysis report gives comprehensive analysis worldwide. Every year the death of women is high because of the pregnancy complications. The number is much reduced in the todays date. The reason behind this is government initiatives; the government is trying to help pregnant women for their better health of mother and baby.Get Sample Copy @The services are provided to increase number of emergency referral systems and maternal death audits, and improvements by government and management for health services. Every year near about 800 women die in the world. India contributes 20% in this number of 800. The number of deaths is being controlled by the WHO, CDC and UNICEF programs. The education is given to women and the health services are provided at large to women. Adolescent women are at risk of the complications during pregnancy, these women are provided with health services. The post pregnancy services are also provided to them.Key players of Global Maternal Health Market: Some of the global and local players are engaged in the maternal health those are, Agile Therapeutics (USA), Fuji Latex Co (Japan), Okamoto industries, Reckitt Benckiser Group Plc.(UK), Sanofi (India), Johnson and Johnson(USA).Maternal Health Market Regional analysis: Globally the deaths of women are increasing due to the complications during pregnancy. The market for the maternal health is divided into four main geographic regions. The main regions are Americas, Europe, Asia-Pacific and Middle East and Africa. Further the regions are divided into developed and developing countries falling under this regions. The deaths of women have increased in Americas despite of advanced medicine and technology over past 25years. The reason behind this is of heart conditions, blood pressure, bleeding and many more complications.Get Discount @Major TOC of Maternal Health Market:Research MethodologyMarket DynamicsGlobal Maternal Health Market, FactorsGlobal Maternal Health Market, By TypesGlobal Maternal Health Market, By Competitive LandscapeGlobal Maternal Health Market, By RegionCompany Profiles.ContinuedAbout US:Market Research Future (MRFR), enable customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.Contact Us:Akash Anand,Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, IndiaPhone: +1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com
Global Smoke Detector Market 2017 Share, Trend, Segmentation and Forecast to 2022

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ReportsWeb.com has announced the addition of the Global Smoke Detectors Industry Market Research Report 2017-2021 The report focuses on Global major leading industry players with information such as company profiles, product picture and specification.The report firstly introduced Color-CSmoke Detectorsed Steel Insulation Sandwich Board basic information including Color-CSmoke Detectorsed Steel Insulation Sandwich Board definition classification application and industry chain overview; Smoke Detectors Industry policy and plan, Color-CSmoke Detectorsed Steel Insulation Sandwich Board product specification, manufacturing process, cost structure etc. Then we deeply analyzed the world's main region market conditions that including the product price, profit, capacity, production, capacity utilization, supply, demand and industry growth rate etc.Get complete access of this report2017 Market Research Report on Smoke Detectors Industry was a professional and depth research report on Smoke Detectors Industry that you would know the world's major regional market conditions of Smoke Detectors Industry, the main region including North American, Europe and Asia etc., and the main country including United States, Germany, Japan and China etc..In the end, the report introduced Color-CSmoke Detectorsed Steel Insulation Sandwich Board new project SWOT analysis, investment feasibility analysis, and investment return analysis and Smoke Detectors Industry.In a word, it was a depth research report on Smoke Detectors Industry. And thanks to the support and assistance from Smoke Detectors Industry chain related technical experts and marketing experts during Research Team survey and interviews.The report including six parts, the first part mainly introduced the product basic information; the second parts mainly analyzed the Asia Smoke Detectors Industry; the third part mainly analyzed the North American Smoke Detectors Industry; the fourth part mainly analyzed the Europe Smoke Detectors Industry; the fifth part mainly analyzed the market entry and investment feasibility; the sixth part was the report conclusion chapter.Inquire for Report @Market SegmentsMarket Segment by Regions, regional analysis coversNorth America (USA, Canada and Mexico)Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia and Italy)Asia-Pacific (Global, Japan, Korea, India and Southeast Asia)South America (Brazil, Argentina, Columbia etc.)Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa)Table of Content1 Smoke Detectors Industry Definition2 Asia Smoke Detectors Industry Product History of Development3 Asia Smoke Detectors Industry Key Manufacturers Analysis4 Asia Smoke Detectors Industry Productions Supply Sales Demand Market Status and Forecast Analysis5 Smoke Detectors Industry Development Trend6 North American Smoke Detectors Industry Product History of Development7 North American Smoke Detectors Industry Key Manufacturers Analysis8 American Smoke Detectors Industry Productions Supply Sales Demand Market Status and Forecast Analysis9 Smoke Detectors Industry Development Trend10 Europe Smoke Detectors Industry Product History of DevelopmentContact Us:Call: +1-646-491-9876Email: sales@reportsweb.comReportsWeb.com is a one stop shop of market research reports and solutions to various companies across the globe. We help our clients in their decision support system by helping them choose most relevant and cost effective research reports and solutions from various publishers. We provide best in class customer service and our customer support team is always available to help you on your research queries.Pune:505, 6th floor, Amanora Township,Amanora Chambers, East Block,Kharadi Road, Hadapsar, Pune-411028
Organic Frozen Bakery Additives Market 2023 Rising Consumption of Bakery Goods to Accelerate by Major Key Player Bimbo Bakeries, Rich Products Corporation, Flowers Foods

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Global Organic Frozen Bakery MarketOrganic Frozen Bakery product has been segmented on the basis of type which comprises Bread rolls & artisan loaves, Cakes & Cupcakes, Pizza crust, Sandwiches & Wraps & other. Sandwiches & Wraps is found to hold a major share.Organic Frozen Bakery product has been segmented on the basis of customer-type which comprises Home makers, Industrial, Others. Industrial sector holds a lions share based on the higher demand from manufacturers side.Key PlayersThe key players profiled in the Global Organic Frozen Bakery Market are:Aryzta (Swirtzerland)Bimbo Bakeries (U.S.)Rich Products Corporation (U.S.)Flowers Foods (U.S.)Harry Brot GmbH (Germany)Lantmannen Unibake International (Denmark)Vandemoortele (Belgium)Request a Sample Report @Description of Organic Frozen Bakery:Organic frozen bakery products are customized bakery products which are manufactured using organic raw materials making the end-product chemical free and natural. The color, texture and flavors are adjusted according to the consumers preferences and demands. Organic breads and pizza crust are some of the major examples of organic frozen bakery products which have recently gained its popularity. The demand for organic bakery products is found to be increasing based on the high demands from consumers side for frozen bakery products.Market Scenario:Increasing disposable incomes due to economic development have a major impact on the organic frozen bakery market. The increased demand of food products with high shelf-life is influencing the growth of organic frozen bakery market. The developing technologies is found to support the innovation of new flavors and overall texture of the end-product in frozen bakery which has also helped in fueling up the market share of the product. High focus on Research and development has led to fortifying the organic frozen bakery products to enhance their overall nutritional value.Bread rolls & artisan loaves segment is calculated to hold a major share based on raising consumers preference towards convenience on-the-go bakery products with widespread applications. Based on the customer-type, the industrial sector is found to escalate backed up by the higher demands from bakery and frozen food manufacturers. The quick service restaurants is calculated to hold a major share amongst the various other distribution channels.Study Objectives of Organic Frozen Bakery MarketDetail analysis of the markets segments and sub-segmentsTo estimate and forecast market size by Type, Customer-Type, Distribution Channel and RegionTo analyze key driving forces which are influencing the marketRegion level market analysis and market estimation of North America, Europe, Asia, and rest of the world (ROW) and their countriesValue chain analysis & supply chain analysis of Organic Frozen BakeryCompany profiling of major players in the marketCompetitive strategy analysis and mapping key stakeholders in the marketAnalysis of historical market trends and technologies along with current government regulatory requirementsKey Findings:Bread rolls & artisan loaves is evaluated to grow at a steady rate than other organic food-type segmentsTop five exporters of Organic Frozen Bakery include Belgium, France, Germany, Italy and CanadaRegional AnalysisThe global organic frozen bakery market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and rest of the world (ROW). North America has the major market share followed by Europe. Changing consumers preference in Asia-Pacific is projected to generate a high revenue during the given forecast period backed by higher consumption. The Major importers of Organic Frozen Bakery include U.K., U.S., France, Germany and Canada. Based on the increasing consumption of convenience frozen food products, the import and export in the developed countries is raising at a steady growth rate.Browse Complete reportTable of Content: @.......................1 Executive Summary2 Market Introduction3 Research Methodology4 MARKET DYNAMICS5 MARKET TRENDSTABLE 1 PESTLE ANALYSIS - U.S.TABLE 2 PESTLE ANALYSIS- U.K.TABLE 3 PESTLE ANALYSIS- GERMANYTABLE 4 PESTLE ANALYSIS- BELGIUMTABLE 5 PESTLE ANALYSIS- DENMARKTABLE 6 KEY SUPPLIERS OF RAW MATERIAL FOR ORGANIC FROZEN BAKERY PRODUCTSTABLE 7 GLOBAL MARKET FOR ORGANIC FROZEN BAKERY PRODUCTS, BY TYPE, (2017-2023), USD MILLIONAccess for Major TOC..The report for Global Organic Frozen Bakery Market of Market Research Future comprises of extensive primary research along with the detailed analysis of qualitative as well as quantitative aspects by various industry experts, key opinion leaders to gain the deeper insight of the market and industry performance. The report gives the clear picture of current market scenario which includes historical and projected market size in terms of value and volume, technological advancement, macro economical and governing factors in the market. The report provides details information and strategies of the top key players in the industry. The report also gives a broad study of the different markets segments and regions.At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.Akash Anand,Market Research Future+1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com
Were five months into the Mueller investigation and we know the following people knew the Trump campaign was trying to coordinate with the Russian government, and vice versa:

 Paul Manafort

 Jared Kushner

 Donald Trump Jr.

 Richard Gates

 Carter Page

 George Papadopoulos

 Sam Clovis

 Corey Lewandowski

 Michael Flynn

The following people didnt know:

 Donald Trump

This week, two members of the Trump campaign got indicted: Paul Manafort and Richard Gates. On Monday a D.C. court also revealed that George Papadopoulos pled guilty on October 5 to lying to the FBI, part of a deal he struck with Special Counsel Robert Mueller to provide information about the campaigns efforts to conspire with the Russian government to cheat in the election and undermine our democracy.

If you still think this is all bullshit, youve been undermined.

And just yesterday, we learned the names of some of the campaign officials who guided Papa Dops efforts to conspire with the Kremlin: Sam Clovis (a foreign policy adviser); Corey Lewandowski (one-time campaign manager); and yes, Paul Manafort. Mueller now has nine people dead to rights and has flipped two of them: Papadopoulos, who possibly wore a wire; and Clovis, who brought Papadopolous and reportedly Carter Page into the campaign.

Plus, there are four more indictments still sealed in the D.C. court between Papadopouloss and Manaforts.

Heres President Trumps explanation about why this doesnt matter:

Well.

1. Some events in the Manafort indictment happened in 2016 and 2017.

2. Trumps defense is that its okay that, without ever knowing it, he hired a high-profile international criminal who (unknown to Trump?) had promoted a pro-Russia candidate in Ukraine for years, and then he appointed this guy to run his campaign and author the RNCs pro-Russia platform.

3. As for those events Trump says happened long before the campaign, going as far back as 2006, it turns out that Manafort bought a Trump Tower condo for $3 million. In cash. In 2006. With a company that was named in the recent indictment as one of Manaforts money laundering vehicles.

In other words, Trumps admitting hes a total dotard who didnt know what was happening in his own campaign, and now hes in charge of the country.

4. The Papadopoulos documents clearly show a concerted and continuing effort to collude at the highest levels of the campaign, and that Manafort was central to the efforts.

5. As for the few people knew part, the following people knew Papa was trying to coordinate with Russia:

 Manafort

 Carter Page

 Sam Clovis

 Corey Lewandowski; and yes,

 Donald Fucking Trump also knew.

So yes, Trump is right that the thirty-year-old Papadopolous was a low-level adviser, but that doesnt mean hes a low-level suspect. Lets put it all in perspective. All it takes is a timeline.

First we need to address Trumps him just a liddle guy defense.

Answer: Of course theyd use the little guys. You wouldnt want high-profile officials to stick their neck out. You move your pawns first; not the queen or the rooks. Thats how the board is set up to begin with. So weve got to acknowledge that though Papadopoulos couldnt make decisions, that doesnt mean he couldnt have played a decisive role.

Theres another reason: Plausible deniability. The further the actors are from the core of the campaign, the easier it is for Trump to say exactly what he tweeted yesterday. Heres a clip from Papadopouloss plea agreement about an email Clovis sent up the chain to Manafort.

Onward.

March 6, 2016: Sam Clovis asks Papadopoulos to join the Trump campaign as a foreign policy (energy) adviser. At the time, Papa was living in London. According to the documents released with the plea agreement, Clovis told Papa Dop a main focus of the campaign would be improving the U.S.-Russia relationship.

March 14, 2016: When Papadopolous first spoke to the FBI (Jan. 27, 2017) he told them that before he joined the campaign hed contacted a man in London (identified awesomely as the Professor) who had several contacts in the Russian government. This was a lie. Heres a paragraph from Papadopolouss plea agreement. (Emphasis mine.)

PAPADOPOULOS met the Professor for the first time on or about March 14, 2016, after defendant PAPADOPOULOS had already learned he would be a foreign policy advisor for the Campaign; the Professor showed interest in defendant PAPADOPOULOS only after learning of his role on the Campaign.

They met in person, in Italy.

But whats a professor, right? In January, Papa told the FBI exactly what youd think: The Professor was a nothing and just talking up his connections. (Hmm, where have we heard that line before?) Turns out this was another lie: Papas plea agreement says he knew the Professor had substantial connections to the Russian government.

Papa and the Professor both lived in London.

Papa Dop also admitted he repeatedly sought to use the professors Russian connections in an effort to arrange a meeting between the Campaign and Russian government officials. In other words, Papa did what his supervisor, Sam Clovis, asked of him on day one.

March 16, 2016: WikiLeaks launches a searchable archive of more than 30,000 emails found on the private server Hillary Clinton used as Secretary of State. These emails had been obtained from the U.S. government legally in a Freedom of Information request.

March 22, 2016: Russians hack the gmail account of a member of the Democratic National Committee. Heres that email:

Dont ever trust these without verifying theyre actually from your email provider. This one was a phish, a trick. The target clicked the link, reset his password, and gave access to the Russians.

March 24, 2016: The Professor invites Papadopolous to meet with a female Russian national, telling Papa she had connections to the Russian government. Papa was under the impression this woman was Putins niece (she wasnt), but Papa wanted her to set up a meeting between the campaign and Russian officials. (Papa lied to the FBI about this, too.) He told Clovis about these connections and their offers, and Clovis responded he would work it through the campaign, adding great work.

March 31, 2016: Trump posts this photo on Instagram.



Whoops a daisy!

To be perfectly clear here:

*According to Papas plea agreement, he introduced himself in this meeting to Trump by saying he had Russian connections and could set up a meeting between Trump and Vladimir Putin.*

Again: This guy told Donald Trump to his face that he had connections to Russia and could use them to set up a meeting between Trump and Putin. Trump and his advisers decided against it after debating it in the room. Did Trump just forget about the opportunity? Russia, if youre listening

Early April, 2016: Papa Dop gets introduced to someone connected to the Russian Foreign Ministry and keeps the campaign posted. On April 25 Papa is told that Putin is ready to meet when Trump is.

April 26, 2016: The Professor and Papa have breakfast. The Professor tells Papa hed just been to Moscow, where Russian government officials told him they have dirt on Clinton in the form of thousands of emails. Papa tells this to unidentified campaign officials. Later that year, the Russians, through WikiLeaks, publish thousands of emails theyd stolen from the DNC and top Clinton aide John Podesta.

April 27, 2016: Trump gives a pro-Russian foreign policy speech at the Mayflower Hotel in Philadelphia in front of the Russian Ambassador, whom he meets. Jeff Sessions, a senior policy adviser to the Trump campaign, is also there. Sessions will later lie to Congress about meeting Kislyak. Corey Lewandowski, campaign manager at the time, was also at the Mayflower event. On this date, Papa Dop tells Corey Lewandowski via email that hed been getting a lot of calls about setting up a meeting with Trump. That day Papa writes a similar email to Manafort, who was, ding ding ding!, also at the Mayflower.

Late April  early June, 2016: Papa forwards emails from his Russia Foreign Ministry connection to campaign advisers, including Manafort.

June 3, 2016: Rob Goldstone emails Donald Trump Jr., saying hed received an offer on dirt on Clinton as part of the Russian government and its support for Mr. Trump.

June 9, 2016: The Trump Tower meeting goes down, featuring Trump Jr., Jared Kushner, and Manafort. Today we know, thanks to Papa Dop, that Manafort had known Russia was dangling Clinton emails in front of the campaign for months.

June 19, 2016: Papa tells Manafort that the Russian ministry of foreign affairs invited a campaign rep to make a trip to Russia if Trump was unable. Papa offers to make the trip off-the-record. Around that time Carter Page emails Lewandowski and Hope Hicks to ask permission to make an off-the-record trip to Moscow in July. He gets the okay. Also around this time Lewandowski steps aside and Manafort takes over as campaign manager.

July 7, 2016: Page goes to Moscow, where he gives a startlingly pro-Russia, anti-U.S. speech. While there he reportedly meets with, shocker, the Russian ministry of foreign affairs, including the Foreign Minister. Page denies this.

(This Monday, Page went on TV to admit bewilderingly that Russia may have come up in his campaign email exchanges with Papadopolous.)

August 14, 2016: The New York Times publishes a black ledger from Ukraine alleging Paul Manafort took $12.7 million in cash from pro-Russian party officials he had represented in Ukraine.

August 15, 2016: Sam Clovis tells Papa I would encourage you (and another, unnamed foreign policy adviser) to make the trip, if it is feasible.

Again: A senior Trump adviser approved and encouraged a meeting between the campaign and Russian government officials. Also note that this other foreign policy adviser is unnamed, though the prosecutors have this email and clearly know his name. (In other words, it may be Carter Page.)

August 17, 2016: Trump receives his first security briefing as a candidate, during which he is told the U.S. knows Russia hacked the DNC. Michael Flynn was with him, and got angry when the intel officers told them this information, saying it was bullshit.

August 19, 2016: Paul Manafort resigns as Trumps campaign manager.

Mid-August, 2016: Carter Page resigns.

January 10, 2017: Senator Al Franken asks Jeff Sessions under oath about the campaigns Russia connections: ...If its true, its obviously extremely serious and if there is any evidence that anyone affiliated with the Trump campaign communicated with the Russian government in the course of this campaign, what will you do?

Sessions, despite meeting with Kislyak twice (and being the only Senator to meet one-on-one with Kislyak in all of 2016) denies contact: Senator Franken, Im not aware of any of those activities. I have been called a surrogate at a time or two in that campaign and I didnt havedid not have communications with the Russians, and Im unable to comment on it.

January 24, 2017: The FBI interviews Mike Flynn about his contacts with the Russian Ambassador. Flynn lies, says they didnt discuss sanctions.

January 26, 2017: Sally Yates tells White House counsel Don McGahn about the interview. The White House later says McGahn briefed Trump. Yates said she was never told Trump had been briefed.

January 27, 2017: The FBI interviews Papadopoulos about his connections to Russia during the campaign. As detailed above, Papa lies repeatedly to the FBI.

January 27, 2017: Yates and McGahn meet again to discuss Flynns interview. Yates strongly suggests Trump should fire Flynn.

ALSO on January 27, 2017: President Trump invites FBI Director James Comey to dinner, where he asks for Comeys loyalty. We originally only knew of this ask in the context of Flynn, but Papas interview on the same day throws that dinner into a new light.

February 13, 2017: Michael Flynn resigns as National Security Adviser. The next day Trump asks Comey in the Oval Office if he can see his way to letting Flynn go.

February 16, 2017: Two days after that, the FBI interviews Papa again. He says hes willing to cooperate. The next day Papa Dop deactivates his Facebook account, which for some really stupid reason still had information about meeting with Russian officials. He opens a new account.

February 23, 2017: Papa deactivates his cell phone number. He gets a new number. One week has passed since he told the FBI hed cooperate. Its unclear what happened during that week, or between his getting a new number and July 27.

July 26, 2017: The FBI executes a no-knock warrant on Paul Manaforts home in the middle of the night.

July 27, 2017: The FBI arrests Papa Dop at Dulles International Airport when he steps off a plane after a trip to Europe. He cooperates with the government for the next two months, and perhaps wears a wire.

October 5, 2017: Papa pleads guilty to lying to the FBI and continues to cooperate with the government for the next few weeks.

October 30, 2017: Paul Manafort and his associate Richard Gates are indicted. Papas October 5 plea agreement is unsealed.

No fucking way.

A USA Today investigative reporter has noted that there are four more sealed indictments still out with numbers between Manaforts and Papadopouloss.

We also know that quite a few names havent been revealed. For instance, the FBI reportedly had a FISA warrant on Carter Page last summer. He and Papa both answered to Clovis, who is cooperating, so I expect well soon find out more about Page.

Jeff Sessions also worked closely with Clovis.

Most legal experts agree this is just the beginning. Susan Hennessy and Ben Wittes note on Lawfare that Mueller now has a cooperating witness from inside the campaigns interactions with the Russians. And he is alleging not mere technical infractions of law but astonishing criminality Any hope the White House may have had that the Mueller investigation might be fading away vanishedThings are only going to get worse from here.

As for the Russian government, it says this is all a load of baloney. The spokesperson for Russias foreign ministry, Maria Zakharova, pointed out the Manafort indictment says Yulia Tymoshenko was the former president of Ukraine. Turns out the Mueller team got that detail wrong: Tymoshenko was the countrys prime minister. She was jailed in 2011 for embezzlement. Zakharova says this undermines the entirety of Muellers 31-page indictment of Manafort.

And here we are, five months into the Mueller investigation and we know the following people knew the Russian and the Trump campaign were continually in communication about efforts to coordinate:

 Paul Manafort

 Jared Kushner

 Donald Trump Jr.

 Richard Gates

 Carter Page

 George Papadopoulos

 Sam Clovis

 Corey Lewandowski

 Michael Flynn

The following people didnt know:

 Donald Trump

Right.
You can snag great deals on PCs, PC components, and PC accessories during Black Fridayif you know where to look. Not all cheap laptops are the same, for example. One retailer might offer a newer processor, more storage, or more RAM in a system for the same price as its competition.

As for components, this year is looking great. GPU prices have regained sanity in recent months and are looking good for Black Friday. If youve been waiting to upgrade your system or build a new one, your time has come.

Tip: For free shipping at Amazon and Newegg during the holiday season, you can sign up for an Amazon Prime or Shoprunner trial.

NEWEGG: MSI Armor Radeon RX 570 OC for $150

Sale available now

This MSI overclocked version of the Radeon RX 570 Is available at a great price on Black Friday, after you send in the $30 mail-in rebate. The >RX 570 is a rock-solid 1080p gaming card. You can expect to set all your graphics settings to the max and have an excellent 60 frames-per-second experience in the vast majority of games. It wont be that great at 1440p or anything beyond that, but if 1080p gaming is where youre at then this card is a good option. For ports, this card has three DisplayPort, one HDMI, and one DVI-D.

MSI

NEWEGG: G.SKILL TridentZ RGB Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) FOR $135

Sale is available at this writing

Look, RAM prices are still high, unlike the steadily dropping prices for graphics cards. Even so, this is a good deal. These arent your average RAM modules, but G.Skills RAM with programmable LED lighting at the top. If youre into lighting up all the things, you dont want to miss out on this sale.

MICRO CENTER: Intel Core i7-8700K for $300

Sale price is available now

In October 2017, we were impressed with the Intel Core i7-8700K. It was Intels first response to the big splash that AMD made with its Ryzen processors. This Black Friday its available at a great price from Micro Center, at about $40 cheaper than normal. The 8700K is a six-core, 3.7GHz CPU thats great for gaming and productivity, and you can get another $30 off when you bundle it with select motherboards.

Gordon Mah Ung

MULTIPLE RETAILERS: SSD Deals

SSD prices have been crazy for a few months now; even so, weve found some deals worth noting. On Friday only, Newegg is selling the 500GB WD Blue 3D for $70. For its Black Friday sale, Best Buy will have the 512 GB SanDisk Ultra 3D for $70. On top of that, Amazon has the 500GB Samsung 860 EVO for $73, and the 1TB version is $128.

WD

MICRO CENTER: Gigabyte RTX 2080 for $749

Sale is available at this writing

Nvidias RTX graphics cards are exciting for the future of gaming as theyre focused on improving real-time ray tracing performance, but theyre also really expensive. Right now at Micro Center, you can get the Gigabyte Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 for $749. Thats about $130 cheaper than elsewhere, and a great deal for the gamer in your life.

Gigabyte

MICROSOFT STORE: Surface Pro (5th Generation) for $599

Sale price is available now

The 5th-generation Microsoft Surface Pro is available for $599 at both the Microsoft Store right now, and Best Buy on Thursday. The device normally sells for more than $900. This model features a 12.3-inch touchscreen, an Intel Core M3 processor, 4GB of RAM, and a 128GB SSD. In both stores the tablet also comes bundled with the Platinum Type Cover; the Surface Pen is sold separately.

Microsoft

NEWEGG: G.Skill Ripjaws KM780R Mechanical Keyboard for $60

Sale price available at this writing

Typically, mechanical keyboards with Cherry MX keys at this price lack a 10-key pad. But this G.Skill model has a full set of keys with Cherry MX Red switches for $60 with checkout code BFAD112. This keyboard has red, per-key backlighting, but if RGB backlightings more your thing, that version of the KM780R (Cherry MX Red) is also on sale for $87, down from $160.

Newegg

BEST BUY: CyberPowerPC Gamer Master Desktop for $700

Sale is available On Thursday, November 22nd At 5PM local time

Best Buys selling a capable 1080p gaming desktop for $700 on Black Friday. The CyberPowerPC Gamer Master Desktop features an AMD Ryzen 5 2600 CPU, the AMD RX 580 graphics card, 8GB of RAM, a 1TB hard drive, and a 240GB SSD. It has the 4GB version of the RX 580, but it should still be a fantastic gaming PC for most AAA games out there.

CyberPower

MULTIPLE RETAILERS: Monitors

Sale prices available now

There are a range of great monitors available at excellent prices this Black Friday. The Asus Rog Strix XG258Q 24.5 inch monitor is $333 with promo code EMCEERP48 at Newegg. It features FreeSync, a 1ms response time, a 240Hz refresh rate, and RGB lighting. The 22-inch 1080p LG 22MC57HQ-P is $70 with promo code BFAD124, also at Newegg. The Asus Rog Swift PG348Q curved 1440p monitor with Nvidia G-sync is $820 at both Newegg and Amazon. Finally on Thursday, the 1080p, 144Hz Asus VG248QE will be $170 at Best Buy.

Asus

DELL: Core i3 desktop for $250

Sale starts Thursday, November 22nd at 10AM ET

Talk about cheap. This prebuilt Inspiron desktop for $250 at Dell features an Intel Core i3-8100, 4GB of RAM, and a 1TB hard drive. There isnt much to this desktop, but its a great option for a communal family PC that will perform well enough for light tasks and web streaming.
Petoskey hockey skates off with loss to Cheboygan in opener

PETOSKEY  Whether it comes as a season opener, a few games in or midseason, the rivalry between the Cheboygan and Petoskey hockey teams is one thats circled by both teams.
The continuing critique of impatient readers who cant seem to engage with novels or lengthy writing of any kind is repeatedly undone by evidence to the contrary. The oft-cited 2016 Pew Research study of book reading shows that 73 percent of Americans read at least one book in the 12 months leading up to the survey. Among the active reading public there remains a deep love for longform nonfiction and an appreciation for its dedicated practitioners. John McPhee is a lifelong proponent of longform nonfiction and one of the genres most prolific authors. A contributor to The New Yorker since 1965, McPhees essays for the magazine have been gathered into more than 30 collected volumes during his career.

In his most recent book, Draft No. 4, McPhee offers both instruction and example. McPhees career takes him not only into the field for research but also into the classroom. He still teaches writing at Princeton University. Much of McPhees advice here to the aspiring writer comes in the form of lengthy anecdotes about his research, writing, and relationships, making Draft No. 4 akin to memoir. This in no way diminishes the pleasures of the book.

McPhee moves from a first chapter on Progression  how to create an orderly narrative from a complex and often messy reality  through to Omission, reminding the reader that sometimes less is more. Following Progression, McPhee looks closely at Structure, a chapter drawn from a 2013 New Yorker essay. The upshot is to write your lead first, although McPhee goes to pains to describe thats not necessarily the easiest task. He begins by recalling the picnic table that he laid down on for nearly two weeks, looking up at the tree branches and the sky, trying to find the beginning for the piece he was writing. It was 1966. Yet the power of McPhees description  more instruction by example  resonates powerfully as if this experience were five days, rather than five decades, in the past. No matter what, though, the task of structure is to be fundamentally invisible: Readers are not supposed to notice the structure. It is meant to be about as visible as someones bones. And I hope this structure illustrates what I take to be a basic criterion for all structures: they should not be imposed upon the material (34).

In Editors & Publisher, McPhee recounts his long and fruitful relationship with New Yorker editor William Shawn. The editors dedication to working closely with his contributors to ensure that every article published in magazine is carefully crafted is worth of McPhees praise. He asks Shawn how he can devote so much time to this close reading and discussion, when the whole operation of the magazine rests on his shoulders. McPhee simply states: He said, It takes as long as it takes.' McPhee then adds, As a writing teacher, I have repeated that statement to two generations of students. If they are writers, they will never forget it (81-82). These small bits of wisdom, while useful, are best read in context. The writer who is best known for his New Yorker articles with word counts of 30,000 or more is not going to condense his thoughts on craft into a listicle. Draft No. 4 is a short book, but it is not spare.

McPhees chapter on elicitation is particularly instructive. That a writer can quote a source verbatim and misrepresent the speakers intention is a truth worth contemplating in what is occasionally termed a post-truth era in shortform and longform writing alike.The chapter begins with McPhee pointing out that he would much rather watch people do what they do than talk to them across a desk (91). Later: I have no technique for asking questions. I just stay here and fade away as I watch people do what they do (99). Here is one of those memoir-like moments, coming along with descriptions of this very process throughout his reminiscences.

The stickiness of elicitation is, in practice, far more intimidating than McPhees wisdom on frames of reference. A simple summary of this chapter does not replace his clear and delightful examples. Saying that the subject of your study resembles Tom Cruise or Bea Arthur not only creates the danger of dating your work or, worse yet, being irrelevant to begin with, it also shortchanges the reason for making the comparison at all.

That the synopsis is insufficient rings true for the final chapter as well. Theres not much to gain from letting you in on McPhees secret that a dictionary is far more useful than a thesaurus. His argument in favor of the dictionary as the source for the right word is a lengthy diatribe that somehow resembles the the delightful rabbit holes into which the curious often fall in their online explorations.

Some aspiring writers are likely to become impatient with McPhees discussion of which versus that, and risk tossing the book aside in frustration for not being offered the magic keys for becoming a True Writer. Perhaps the most important advice comes toward the end: Writing is selection [] Write on subjects in which you have enough interest in your own to see you through all the stops, starts, hesitations and other impediments along the way (180). Draft No. 4 is testament to this decree: throughout the book, McPhee takes the reader along on his adventures in Alaska, canoeing, fishing, researching Florida oranges, and its not hard to see that his curiosity turns into passion that turns into writing, regardless of how hard-won he claims it has been.
Upon its 2003 release, Dan Browns ecclesiastical mystery novel The Da Vinci Code created a huge controversy in the literary and religious worlds, becoming an international best-seller, and then became the successful Tom Hanks/Audrey Tautou film three years later. Based largely on radical religious suppositions put forth in Lynn Picknett and Clive Princes 1997 novel, The Templar Revelation, both Dan Browns novel and the film whisk symbologist Robert Langdon on a religio-historical scavenger hunt across Europe in the belief that hes near to finding the Holy Grail. Of course, Langdon eventually deciphers that the long-sought Grail is not some bejeweled chalice of yore, but rather Mary Magdalene, the flesh-and-blood vessel of Jesuss offspring.

As Langdon discovers, the defining clue is Leonardo Da Vincis The Last Supper, which, the novel and film insist, portrays Mary Magdalene  not John the Apostle  sitting immediately to Jesuss right, the space between their bodies forming a V, which symbolizes the sacred feminine, i.e., denoting Mary Magdalene as the carrier of Jesuss bloodline.

Yet for all of the myriad clues and twists that propel Langdon and Sophie Neveu on an odyssey through time, place, and scripture, one glaringly obvious symbol is overlooked  a symbol that confirms even more than Da Vincis abstruse V-positioning of Jesus and Mary used to indicate that the two were lovers and begat a child: All of the participants in Da Vincis iconic The Last Supper sit on the same side of the table. Focusing on Mary sitting next to Jesus on the same side of the tablewe can see that, according to the irrefutable secular equivalent of biblical scripture  the omnipresent applicability and quotability of Seinfeld  such positioning at a table/booth is telltale of overly affectionate couples who shamelessly display their love in public.

Thus, The Last Supper really is saying that Jesus and Mary are deeply in love, perhaps, as George Costanza sermonized  and his apostolic counterpart, Thomas the Doubter, seems to echo with his finger raised contemptuously to Jesus  making me and every one of your friends sick with all that kissing and the [schmoopy talk]. Clearly established in Episode 116, The Soup Nazi, sitting on the same side of the table and leaving the other side empty is the dead giveaway of a couple in the repugnant honeymoon phase of a relationship. In this light, its not hard to picture Jesus and Mary trading saccharine schmoopies as the Apostles look on, no doubt nauseated.

As George preached to Jerry about schmoopy talk: People who do that should be arrested! And soon after the Last Supper, of course, Jesus was Seinfeld even goes so far as obliquely referencing the Apostle Peters denial of Jesus when Jerry, in a desperate attempt to avert angering the Soup Nazi and the No soup for you! damnation, placates the surly chef by denying knowledge of his offending girlfriend.

The Soup Nazi premiered in 1995  long before Dan Browns novel went to press  so its surprising that such a well-established and popular precept of modern society is not even obliquely mentioned in the novel or the film. (Frankly, a schmoopy clue seems just the type of wacky reference a Tom Hanks character would make) Whether its absence from The Da Vinci Code constitutes gross oversight or deliberate disregard, Browns novel feels like a Johnny-the-Baptist-come-lately of preexisting Seinfeld scripture.

It may be too much to posit that because the very next Seinfeld episode, No. 117, The Secret Code, is devoted to everyone around George trying to learn his zealously guarded ATM code  including a climactic moment in which Kramer presages Browns Robert Langdon by nearly cracking Georges code within seconds  these two episodes essentially covered all of the ground that The Da Vinci Code trod a decade later. Then again, this episode also contains an awkward dinner between George and J. Peterman  a dinner surely just as awkward as the actual Last Supper, considering Jesuss predictions of betrayal and the air of impending doom  so I might have hit even closer to the mark about Seinfeld scripture beating Dan Brown and Hollywood to the punch than Im allowing.

And lets not forget that Georges very code bears the name of a revered Catholic saint. Likely arcane to even hardcore Seinfeld aficionados, Georges dark master is the namesake of St. John Bosco, a 19th-century Torinese priest who devoted much of his clerical life to improving the fortunes of disadvantaged and impoverished children. Don Bosco, as he was affectionately known, founded the Salesian Society, among other orders, to aid Italian youths suffering in the harsh realities of the Industrial Revolution. For this and his working philosophy that children are educated best through love and acceptance rather than punishment, Bosco came to be formally titled upon his canonization as Father and Teacher of Youth.

It seems too coincidental that George Costanza  the son of an Italian Knight of Columbus  would just happen to cherish a foodstuff whose brand bears the name of a Catholic saint, especially a saint who hailed from a region of Italy not far from his own Tuscan roots and thus might well have been known to his father who, being a Korean War veteran, was a wee lad when Don Bosco was canonized in 1934. That George confesses his code of Bosco to J. Petermans stricken mother  albeit on her deathbed  who then tantalizingly blurts it repeatedly as her dying word appears the final shred of confirmation in this biblically laced episode.

Thus, it is clear to me that, along with whatever Da Vinci Codelike clues remain undiscovered in the healing power of a Junior Mint, or a decade-old Frogger score, or some kind of Rose Line that runs through the intersection of 1st and 1st, the schmoopy and Bosco plots are undeniable proof that Larry David and the stable of Seinfeld writers not only antecede The Da Vinci Code and its aforementioned source material but, in their chronicling of everyday truths that comprise the human condition, make a far stronger case for Jesus and Mary Magdalenes coupling than the wildly popular, yet factually dubious, novel and film.

Like Jerry with his prostitute-maid, Jesus Christ and Mary Magdalene must have had a relationship that was somewhat sophisticated  even if they never had to go out for gum, thanks to His stash of myrrh
PR-Inside.com: 2017-11-01 10:02:02

Compliance with GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) While Enjoying the High Performance All-Flash Array

AccelStor Debuting NeoSapphire All-Flash Array Series at GDPR in the Public Sector Conference

AccelStor, Inc.

Clara Lee, +886 2 77467616 ext. 2561

clara.lee@accelstor.com

AccelStor, the software-defined all-flash array provider, will be demonstrating its NeoSapphire all-flash array products at the GDPR in the Public Sector Conference. NeoSapphire All-Flash arrays offer a worry-free and GDPR compliant storage solution. AccelStors software-defined storage platform provides both powerful performance and strong data protection capabilities assisting customers with heavy-load requirements to construct a secured IT infrastructure and ensure they are GDPR compliant. The NeoSapphire All-Flash Array will be on display at Old Trafford Stadium in Manchester, UK on November 8, 2017.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/201711010050

NeoSapphire series provides a worry-free all-flash storage solution that is fully GDPR compliant in terms of affected systems and software capabilities. (Photo: Business Wire)

The EU General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) will take effect in May 2018 and will cover the European Union across all 28 EU members. Its a new legal framework in the EU that aims to protect citizens regarding the possession and usage of personal data. In the UK, the requirement to be compliant will be unaffected by the planned exit from the EU in 2019.

AccelStor Vice President, David Kao, said With the GDPR coming into effect, its becoming crucial for any organisation and enterprise to review their internal process of handling any personal, company or government data. This calls for a refresh of security and data protection policies as well as new efficient tools and storage platforms like NeoSapphire all-flash array.

As demand for high performance computing grows from the trend of IOT, artificial intelligence and big data analysis, enterprises require ever more powerful IT infrastructure. Different from conventional disk arrays, generating around 400K IOPS with over 1000 hard disk drives, the NeoSapphire all-flash array (AFA) could present stunning performance with a market-leading 1 million IOPS using only 24 SSDs and utilizing only 2U of rack space*. The NeoSapphire product range, using the FlexiRemap software technology, coupled with a shared-nothing architecture, provides a proven AFA platform for data integrity and data protection. AccelStors NeoSapphire high availability all-flash array products deliver 99.9999% reliability and enable comprehensive data protection across the enterprise. Furthermore, to ensure minimum RPO and RTO for IT operators, the NeoSapphire series also provides instant failover, space-efficient snapshots, snapshots backup and a worry-free active-active hardware design.

Handling personal data is the key for GDPR compliance. Steps must be taken to minimise the risk of personal identification and ensure that the data inventory is stored in a secure location and device. The data controller must conduct privacy impact assessments and implement technical measures within the GDPR principles. As an enterprise storage vendor with customers who will be within the GDPR scope, AccelStor can provide Self Encrypting Disk (SED) SSDs which provide storage level data protection and compliance with the data at rest section of the GDPR regulation.

Additional Resources

Download the AccelStor GDPR Brochure

Learn more about the NeoSapphire all-flash array series

Learn more about FlexiRemap Technology

Follow AccelStor on Twitter: @AccelStor

Follow AccelStor on Linkedin

About AccelStor, Inc.

AccelStor is accelerating the paradigm shift from conventional disk arrays to modern all-flash storage. AccelStor's NeoSapphire all-flash arrays, powered by FlexiRemap software technology, deliver sustained high IOPS for business-critical applications. With streamlined storage management, multi-protocol support, and front-access, hot-swappable solid-state drives, the NeoSapphire series promises to resolve performance bottlenecks for I/O-intensive applications like artificial intelligence, IoT, data center, virtualization, high-performance computing, database, media processing, fintech and gaming. For more information about AccelStor and NeoSapphire, please visit www.accelstor.com.

AccelStor, FlexiRemap and NeoSapphire are trademarks or registered trademarks of AccelStor, Inc. in the United States of America and/or other countries.

* IOPS test results mentioned in this press release are generated by AccelStor and may vary in different test environments.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/201711010050

AccelStor offers Self Encrypting Disk (SED) SSDs, compliant with the data at rest section of the GDPR regulation.
The primary factor for the growth of global breath analyzers market is growing awareness and enforcing strict rules by the government for drink and drive cases.

PR-Inside.com: 2017-11-01 08:16:50

Press Information





Published by

Abhishek Budholiya

+1-347-918-3531

e-mail

http://www.futuremarketinsights.com







# 661 Words

Abhishek Budholiya+1-347-918-3531

Breath analyzers are the devices which are used to identify the presence of various compounds in the breath sample of individuals. Breathe analyzer devices are mostly used to measure blood alcohol content (BAC) through an exhaled breath. Breath analyzers are considered as fundamental tool for the detection of drugs, alcohol, tuberculosis, asthma and other diseases. Globally large number of road accident cases are noticed owing to the over consumption of alcohol during driving, breath analyzers are recognized as major equipment in enforcing drink and drive laws. Breath analyzers play an important role in the conviction of DUI offenders. By technology, breath analyzer devices market is segmented into fuel cell technology, semiconductor oxide sensor technology, and infrared absorption technology, fuel cell technology being the dominating segment globally. The development in fuel cell technology has been enhanced by number of factors such as accuracy, portability and reliability of the devices. Fuel cell technology followed by infrared absorption technology which is commonly used for desktop machines for evidential breath analyzers. Breath analyzers can be used by personals as well as by professionals to restrict the drunken individuals from entering in the company premises and other social places.Request For ToC @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-1066 Breath Analyzers Market: Drivers & RestraintsThe primary factor for the growth of global breath analyzers market is growing awareness and enforcing strict rules by the government for drink and drive cases. The growth of breath analyzer devices market is primarily attributed to increase in consumption of alcohol, drug abuse and growth in the incidences of diseases like tuberculosis, asthma and other diseases. Over consumption of alcohol has led to the boost in the requirement for blood alcohol content level testing devices such as Breathalyzers. Governments in specific countries have set some legal limit for BAC test and also increased field breath testing activities. Growing use of breath analyzers in medical applications is one of key factor that would increase the demand for breath analyzers market globally. Some factors that restrain the global market of breath analyzers are unhygienic conditions for use and lower accuracy of the devices.Breath Analyzers Market: OverviewBreath analyzer devices do not estimate blood alcohol concentration or content directly, as it requires blood sample analysis. Although, they measure blood alcohol concentration indirectly by estimating the amount of alcohol in ones exhaled breath. The blood alcohol concentration test is based on the relationship between alcohol in the blood and alcohol in the breath circulation through the lungs. The rapid advancement in technology, multiple applications and increased portability of breath analyzer devices are some of the key factors to drive the growth of breath analysers market globally during the forecast period. Law enforcement agencies on the basis of end users and alcohol testing by application held the largest market share in global breath analyzers market. The global breath analyzers market is expected to expand at healthy CAGR during the forecast period.Breath Analyzers Market: Region-wise OutlookDepending on geographic region, global breath analyzer market is segmented into seven key regions: North America, South America, Eastern Europe, Western Europe, Asia Pacific, Japan, and Middle East & Africa. North America held largest share in the global market of breath analyzers market followed by Europe, Japan and Asia Pacific owing to high occurrence of several diseases and increasing number of road accidents, great advancement in field of breath analyzer devices and developed healthcare infrastructure. The developing nations in Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa hold huge potential for growth in the global breath analyzers market, due to its affordable prices and strict rules enforcing by the government entities.Request For Report sample @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-1066 Breath Analyzers Market: Key PlayersSome of the key participating global players in breath analyzers global market are Dragerwerk AG & Co. KGaA, EnviteC-Wismar GmbH, Lifeloc Technologies, BACtrack, Inc., Quest Products, Inc., Akers Biosciences, Inc., Intoximeter, Inc., AK GlobalTech Corporation, Alcohol Countermeasure Systems Corporation. The breath analyzers market is fragmented
Cell Expansion Market

PR-Inside.com: 2017-11-01 11:34:35

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Transparency Market Research

90 State Street, Suite 700



Albany, NY 12207



Rahul Singh

Head  Internet Marketing

+1-518-618-1030

email

https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/cell-expansion-market.html





# 585 Words

90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Head  Internet Marketing+1-518-618-1030

According to the report, the global market for cell expansion is anticipated to witness a significant surge in its opportunity at a CAGR of 14.70% during the period from 2016 to 2024, rising from US$7.7 bn in 2015 to US$26 bn by the end of the forecast period. Human stem cells register a stronger hold on this market when compare to their animal and differentiated counterparts and the trend is anticipated to remain so over the next few years. Hospitals, biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, CMO and CRO, and academic and research institutes have emerged as the key end users of cell expansion products across the world. North America, among all the regions, has occupied the leading position in the worldwide market for cell expansion, thanks to the presence of a large pool of participants. Researchers anticipate the North America cell expansion market to remain dominant over the period of the forecast. The global market for cell expansion is witnessing a tremendous surge in its valuation. An analyst at TMR states that the increasing cases of rare and chronic medical conditions across the world is the key driving force behind the growth of this market. The continued rise in the demand for biopharmaceuticals is also boosting this market significantly. In addition to this, the increasing preference for regenerative medicines, offering faster results, will propel the global cell expansion market remarkably in the years to come. The emergence of cell-based therapies, with high patient compatibility, is also projected to drive this market over the next few years, notes the research study.Browse Report Details@ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/cell-expansion-market.html Geographically, the global cell expansion market can be segmented into Asia Pacific, Europe, North America, Latin America, and the Middle East and Africa. North America, of them, is the leading market. In 2016, it held a 39.3% share in the market. The regions dominant share is the result of a large number of prominent players domiciled there and the increasing spends on research and development in the area. In the years ahead, North America is predicted to trim its market share and by 2024 it is slated to hold 37.7% share. It will still retain its leading share, however by rising at a 14.7% CAGR during the period from 2016 to 2024. In terms of growth rate, Asia Pacific will expected to outpace all other regions by clock a stellar CAGR of 16.4% between 2016 and 2024. This is because of the key players keen on tapping into the opportunities in the emerging economies in the region such as India and China. Besides, growing number of market participants from the nations of Japan, Australia, India, and China is also majorly filliping the cell expansion market in Asia Pacific. The trend of outsourcing research processes to low cost destinations in Asia Pacific and the availability of expertise in the region has also been stoking growth.With a handful of established players, the global cell expansion market demonstrates a consolidated structure, states a new report by Transparency Market Research (TMR). The top eight companies, namely, Merck Millipore, Thermo Fisher Scientific, GE Healthcare, Danaher Corp., Becton, Dickinson and Co., Lonza, and Corning, collectively held nearly 79% of the overall market in 2016. To strengthen their presence in the worldwide cell expansion market, the leading players have increased the investment in the research activities in order to develop novel cell lines and discover new applications. Going forward, the focus of these companies will shift to product differentiation in the near future, making the competitive environment much stiff.Report Overview, with TOC - https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/report-toc/9037
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PR-Inside.com: 2017-11-01 10:18:19

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Global Supply Chain Analytics Market: SnapshotSupply chain optimization is gaining importance among organizations striving to lift customer experience, attain a stable business growth, and decrease the operational costs. Such organizations are incessantly executing solutions related to supply chain analytics in order to attain top-line progress, enhance productivity, and consolidate their market presence. These solutions are known for minimizing waste of materials, supporting network reconfiguration, enhancing forecast accuracy, elevating the level of services, and reducing inventory. With these benefits being highly acknowledged, the global market for supply chain analytics is anticipated to tread along a strong growth track. Supply chain analytics can also be deployed as on-premise solutions or cloud-based solutions.A sample of this report is available upon request @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=4298 The report is an inspection into the expansion of the global supply chain analytics market over the couple of years and for the years ahead. The market research publication further sorts out the causes of the variations in the market on the global and regional basis. It does this so by assessing the aspects and the trends that were predominant over the last few years and also the ones that are anticipated have an effect on the market over the forecast period. The Porters five forces analysis has been also been taken into account by the analysts in order to provide a clear outline of the vendor landscape to the reader of the report. Acquisitions, agreements, mergers, and other businesses have also been stressed in the study. The research study further inspects the administration and workflow of the key players and offers information related to their products, marketing strategies, production process, latest developments, and market shares in the past and future years.Global Supply Chain Analytics Market: Trends and ProspectsThe growth of the global supply chain analytics market is mainly driven by the growing awareness among consumers regarding the benefits of supply chain analytics solutions. In the last couple of years, the demand for these type of solutions has risen substantially across industries such as retail, manufacturing, life science, healthcare, electronics, defense, consumer packaged goods, automotive, and aerospace. Furthermore, the burgeoning amount of data produced and processes per day and the pressing requirement for efficient and effective database management tools is likely to lift the demand for supply chain analytics solutions. Nevertheless, issues such as the dearth of visibility of data in real-time, the lack any reliable method in order to streamline the processes with planning and execution, no tractability within the desired network, and uncertainties in the product line are expected to limit the growth of the market for supply chain analytics in the global level. Moreover, the deployment of these solutions is also low among medium and low sized institutions owing to constraints related to budget.Global Supply Chain Analytics Market: Regional AnalysisAt present, North America accounts for a considerable share in the global supply chain analytics market owing to the presence of numerous leading players in the region. Asia Pacific is also expected to emerge as a promising region for the growth of the market owing to the flourishing manufacturing activities in the region along with growing investments for the purpose of foreign expansion. The rising awareness among organizations regarding the benefits of supply chain analytics is also expected to bode well for the growth of the market in these regions.To view TOC of this report is available upon request @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=T&rep_id=4298 Global Supply Chain Analytics Market: Vendor LandscapeSome of the leading players operating in the market are SAS Institute Inc., Oracle Corporation, Sage Clarity LLC, Kinaxis Inc., SAP SE, IBM Corporation, Microstrategy, Genpact Ltd., Capgemini S.A., and Birst Inc.
Coronary artery disease is the narrowing of the coronary arteries, caused by a build-up of fatty material within the walls of the arteries.

PR-Inside.com: 2017-11-01 08:17:23

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Coronary artery bypass grafting can be defined as open-heart surgery in which a section of a blood vessel is grafted from the aorta to the coronary artery to bypass the blocked section of the coronary artery and improve the Blood supply to the heart. Coronary artery bypass graft surgery is a procedure which is mainly used to treat coronary artery diseases in certain circumstances.Coronary artery disease is the narrowing of the coronary arteries, caused by a build-up of fatty material within the walls of the arteries. This build-up causes inside of the arteries to become contracted, restraining the supply of oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscle. While the traditional "open heart" procedure is still done and often preferred in many situations and less hostile techniques have been advanced to bypass blocked coronary arteries.Request For ToC @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-1070 Traditional approaches involve making long surgical incisions down the inner thigh and/or calf. Research comparing traditional approaches with endoscopic methods shows that patients generally have less complication, reduced amount of leg pain, and shorter hospital stays with the endoscopic harvesting methods.Coronary artery bypass graft is an option for selected groups of patients with significant narrowing and blockages of the heart arteries. The bypass graft for a CABG can be a vein from the leg or an inner chest-wall artery.According to WHO, 17.5 million people die each year due to cardiovascular disease, which is equal to 31% of all estimated deaths worldwide.Coronary Artery Bypass Grafts Market: Driver and RestraintsPresently, bypass grafts global market is driven by rising prevalence of cardiovascular disorders, increasing geriatric population base coupled and growing need for repeat revascularization procedure.There is increase rate of cardiovascular diseases, and aging population which helps to increase the demand of bypass grafts in the global market. Growing use of endoscopic vessel harvesting devices and anastomosis assist devices is also expected to drive the growth of coronary artery bypass graft market. However, growing healthcare budget, poor healthcare reimbursement and payment models, and consolidation of market leaders act as a major barrier for the growth of this market.Coronary Artery Bypass Grafts Market: OverviewWith the rapid technological advancement in healthcare industry, rising prevalence of cardiovascular disorders, increasing geriatric population, and growing use of endoscopic vessel harvesting devices and anastomosis assist devices, the global coronary artery bypass market is expected to grow at a healthy CAGR in the forecasted period (2015-2025).Coronary Artery Bypass Grafts Market: region-wise OutlookDepending on geographic regions, coronary artery bypass grafts global market is segmented into seven key regions: North America, South America, Eastern Europe, Western Europe, Asia Pacific, Japan, and Middle East & Africa.North America held largest share in the global coronary artery bypass grafts devices market followed by Europe due to the availability of all the versions of minimally invasive coronary artery bypass grafts surgeries and is expected to hold the largest share during the forecast period. In Europe, this market is expected to gain volumes due to rising numbers of coronary diseases. In Asia- Pacific, due to the increase in medical tourism industry and growth in per capita income in Asian countries, the Asia-Pacific market is expected to flourish in the forecast period. China is expected to be the fastest growing market for these devices attributed to the growing access of public with healthcare professional and expanding economy.Request For Report sample @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-1070 Coronary Artery Bypass Grafts Market: Key PlayersSome of the key participating players in coronary artery bypass grafts global market are Medtronic, Sorin Group, MAQUET Holding B.V. & Co. KG., Terumo Cardiovascular Systems Corporation, Vitalitec, Novadaq Technologies Inc., KARL STORZ GmbH & Co. KG, Cigna, Kips Bay Medical, Inc., Ethicon US, LLC., Genesee Biomedical Inc. and others.
Culture Media Market

PR-Inside.com: 2017-11-01 11:48:51

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The global culture media market stood at US$5,296.8 mn in 2016 and is projected to be worth US$10,138.6 mn by the end of 2025 expanding at a CAGR of 7.7% between 2017 and 2025. Increasing demand for antibiotics is the primary factor propelling the culture media market. The increasing resistance of bacteria to antibiotics is necessitating the development of new antibiotics for treating disease indication. Research and development initiatives for newer pharmaceutical products for application in disease diagnosis is further benefitting the growth of this market. High investments for innovative products is a key growth strategy that companies in the culture media market are focused on. A case in point is Thermo Fisher Scientific. The company invested a hefty sum of US$396 mn in 2013 to strengthen its research and development program.Browse Report Details@ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/culture-media-market-media.html On the basis of geography, North America is the leading contributor to the growth of global culture media market. The share of the region in the overall market is expected to increase from 39.3% to 43% between 2016 and 2025. The increasing advancement in medical technology and a corresponding increase in the application of culture media are boosting the growth of this regional market. In this region, the U.S. leads the culture media market with its share expected to increase from 94.9% to 96.7% between 2016 and 2025. Europe is the second-leading regional segment in the culture media market and is expected to retain its position over the forecast period. Consistent economic growth in the region leading to improvement of healthcare facilities has attracted top players to invest in research and development for disease diagnosis. Asia Pacific also contributes significantly to the global culture media market. The domestic markets of China and India are predominantly steering the growth of this regional market. Increasing research pursuits for disease diagnosis and mergers and collaborations between domestic and global players are boosting the growth of the China market for culture media.Transparency Market Researchs (TMR) new report on the global culture media market says the degree of competition in this market is high as companies are engaged in consistent breakthroughs and new discoveries for culture media. Nevertheless, the culture media market exhibits a fairly consolidated vendor landscape with top five companies holding close to 60% of the market in 2016. Leading companies in the culture media market are focused on mergers and acquisitions and strategic alliances with businesses with complementary strengths, says a lead analyst at TMR. An excellent example is Thermo Fisher Scientific. In February 2014, the company acquired Life Technologies Corporation to strengthen its biosciences and bioprocessing businesses, thereby accelerating its drug discovery, development, and production capabilities.Report Overview, with TOC - https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/report-toc/26273
Disposable medical sensors are portable scanning devices intended for diagnosis, patient monitoring and therapeutic processes.

PR-Inside.com: 2017-11-01 08:12:11

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# 594 Words

Abhishek Budholiya+1-347-918-3531

Disposable medical sensors are portable scanning devices intended for diagnosis, patient monitoring and therapeutic processes. Disposable medical sensors are designed to detect and provide information in the form of electrical signals by converting patients various forms of stimulations. Disposable medical sensors facilitate continuous patient monitoring through the measurement of basic vital signs, for instance heart rate, breathing rate, blood oxygenation level, pulse rate and temperature. Disposable medical sensors are used in different specialties such as cardiology, radiology, general medicine, neurology, ophthalmology, urology and so on. Currently the trend witnessed in the global disposable medical sensors market is the development of products in ablation treatments for cancer, cardiac arrhythmia, point of care diagnosis, pain free glucose monitoring, wireless insulin delivering procedures, etc.Request For ToC @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-1004 Disposable Medical Sensors Market: Drivers and RestraintsDisposable medical sensors market is projected to grow rapidly due to increasing incidence of chronic diseases such as cancer, acute myocardial infarction and diabetes mellitus particularly in geriatric population, as well as increasing number of postoperative rehabilitation patients across the globe. Major drivers for the disposable medical sensors market are technological advancements and increasing innovations in the development of point of care medical sensors for diagnosis and monitoring outside hospitals. At the same time increasing the need of remote patient monitoring and next generation disposable medical sensors such as painless diabetes monitors, wearable wrist watches, etc. are other opportunities to manufacturers. Large number of regulatory approvals for biodegradable sensors are also booming the global disposable medical sensors market. However lack of adequate reimbursement policies for novel technologies and stringent regulatory procedures are the major factors that can hamper the global disposable medical sensors growth over the forecast period.Disposable Medical Sensors Market: OverviewThe United States represents the largest market for disposable medical device sensors in North America, followed by Canada. Europe is expected to be the second largest region in the global disposable medical sensors market. Germany, France, and the U.K. are estimated to account for a major share in the Europe disposable medical sensors market over the forecast period. APAC is anticipated to represent a high growth rate in the next five years. By application type, monitoring devices particularly cardiac pacemakers and blood glucose monitorsare the dominant segment across globe due to high incidences of diabetes and cardiac diseases. The diagnostic strips for HIV test, pregnancy test, blood glucose test and immunological test are anticipated to hold a high collective share in the global disposable medical sensors market. By end use, the hospitals and home care segments are projected to account for around 50% share in the global disposable medical sensors market and the trend is forecast to continue through the forecast period. By placement of sensors type, wearable sensors and strip sensors are estimated to register above average CAGR over the forecast period owing to its affordable price due to miniaturization of equipment.Request For Report sample @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-1004 Disposable Medical Sensors Market: Key PlayersKey players of Mayo Clinic and Gentag, Sensirion AG, Measurement Specialities, Smiths Medical, ST Microelectronics, Philips Helathcare, Medtronic, Freescale Semiconductor, Inc., GE Healthcare, Analog Devices, Inc., Given Imaging, Honeywell International, Inc. and Coividien, plc. For instance, Gentag Company extended the near field communication (NFC) technology to accomplish remote patient monitoring worldwide. Freescale Semiconductor, Inc is developing lower-cost, semiconductor-based sensors with high sensitivity. The Measurement Specialities is developing customized products to satisfy patient need. Analog Devices, Inc. is collaborating with customers to accelerate the pace of innovation and produce breakthrough solutions for impossible conditions.
PR-Inside.com: 2017-11-01 10:23:29

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A long-term acute care refers a specialty care provided by long-term acute care hospitals (LTACHs) to the patients in their serious medical conditions. In these medical conditions patient requires intense and special treatment for an intended period of time. In long-term acute care, a patient needs to stay for 25 to 30 days in hospitals for their Medicare. On the basis of types of patient, long-term acute care market can be segmented into respiratory patients, multiple IV medications or transfusions required patients, renal failure patients, prolonged ventilator use patients, wound care patients and others. Long-term acute care hospitals (LTACHs) provide services such as cardiopulmonary monitoring, respiratory therapy, dialysis, mechanical ventilation, wound care and others.Respiratory therapy includes products such as ventilators, oxygen delivery devices and aerosol delivery devices. Wound care includes product such as standards and advanced wound dressings, negative pressure wound therapy, skin substitutes and other products. Dialysis includes therapy such as hemodialysis, hemofiltration and peritoneal dialysis. Some of the monitoring technologies used by long-term acute care hospitals are cardiac monitors, pulse oximeters and blood pressure monitors.Request for Report TOC @ https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/3336 Various factors such as increasing aging population, technological advancement in patient care, rise in need for long-term care services, increasing number of patients in long-term acute care facilities are expected to drive the North American long-term acute care market. In addition, increasing government spending in healthcare sector is expected to drive the North American long-term acute care market. However, high cost of new technologies, time consuming technical interfaces and complicated workflow are some of the factors restraining the growth for long-term acute care market in North America.Adoption of technological advancement and growing demand for long-term acute care due to continuous rise in aging population are expected to offer good opportunities for long-term acute care market. Increasing patient centric approach and new product launches are some of the latest trends have been observed in North American long-term acute care market.Request for Report Sample @ https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/3336 Some of the major companies operating in the North American long-term acute care market are CareFusion, Fresenius Medical Care, Philips Healthcare, Prism Medical Ltd., Covidien, Kinetic Concepts, Inc., SelectMark and Promise Healthcare, Inc.
PR-Inside.com: 2017-11-01 08:02:01

Face Unlock  The Trump Card of DOOGEE MIX 2

DOOGEE HOLDINGS LIMITED

Sandra Zhang, +86 18576765884

sandra.zhang@doogee.cc

Whats the most popular design or function in smartphones recently? Face recognition could be one of the answers. Though smartphone producers sacrificed front fingerprint sensors for a larger screen-to-body ratio, like you can find in iPhone X and Samsung Note 8, they provided new ways to unlock the phones in addition to back fingerprint sensors.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/201710310067

(Photo: Business Wire)

However, face recognition technology is now used in high-end products, so its reasonable that the Face Unlock in DOOGEE MIX 2 (http://www.doogee.cc/detail/mix-series-bezel-less-) caught many eyes in Hong Kong last week.

There are many full display smartphones in this show, but DOOGEE MIX 2 is the only one that supports face recognition. The Face Unlock in DOOGEE MIX 2 is operated by the front camera. Save your facial features in advance, then you can unlock the phone by looking at the screen. The whole process of recognition and unlocking only takes 0.1 seconds, which amazed guests greatly.

DOOGEE MIX 2 also boosts itself as the first quad-camera full display smartphone  it has 16.0MP+13.0MP dual cameras in the back, and two cameras in the front, too. The selfie camera is the same as usual - 8.0MP with 88 wide-angle. But the wefie camera is a very impressive part because of its 130 wider-angle. With such a wide imaging area, MIX 2 is able to capture 8 to 10 people in one picture easily. So, maybe its time to get rid of your selfie stick if you have the MIX 2.

In the aspect of display, DOOGEE MIX 2 is an excellent full display smartphone. It adds a 5.99 display to a slim body. With the 18:9 aspect ratio and FHD+ 1080*2160 resolution, the display performance is solid in DOOGEE MIX 2.

Powered by MTK Helio P25, the cota-core CPU is powerful with 6GB of built-in RAM. The battery of MIX 2 is upgraded, from 3380mAh in the predecessor to 4060mAh now.

DOOGEE MIX 2 is available for pre-order; visit the official website (http://www.doogee.cc/sale/week/) and you can buy this powerful phone at $200 in November.

About Doogee:

Doogee is a leading hi-tech enterprise specializing in the production and sales of smartphones and accessories. The company was founded in December, 2002.

For more information: www.doogee.cc

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/201710310067
Contact Lenses Market by Material (Soft, Silicone Hydrogel, Rigid Gas Permeable, Hybrid, and Polymethyl Methacrylate), by Application (Therapeutic, Cosmetic, and Others), by Design (Spherical, Bifocal, Orthokeratology, and Toric), and by Region - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecasts (20162021)

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PR-Inside.com: 2017-10-31 10:14:03

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According to the report Global Contact Lenses Market published by Market Data Forecast, the global market projected to reach USD 15.1 billion by 2021, at a CGSR of 7.60% from 2016 to 2021.View report at: http://www.marketdataforecast.com/market-reports/global-contact-lenses-market-1697/ A contact lens is a thin and curved lens which is placed on the surface of the eye. They can be used for cosmetic and novelty purpose or for vision correction. Contact Lenses are medical devices, regulated by Food and Drug Administration (USA) hence requires prescription. The various types of contact lenses are Silicone Hydrogel Contact Lenses, Soft contact lenses, and Rigid Gas Permeable Contact Lenses, among others. Contact lenses come with particular wear schedules such as Extended Wear Contact Lenses and Disposable Contact Lenses. Extended Wear Contact Lenses can be worn overnight for a period ranging from 6 to 30 days, whereas Disposable Contact Lenses can be discarded after use. As contact lenses, do not contain water traces, it can withstand any deposits build up.Download free sample report: http://www.marketdataforecast.com/market-reports/global-contact-lenses-market-1697/request-sample The growth of Contact Lenses market is majorly driven by factors such as rising public awareness, affordability, convenient to use, presence of umpteen numbers of brands, improving economy, growth in online sales, increase in disposable income, wider range of products, growth in eye disorder, and consumers preference for lenses over glasses. Additionally, consumer group, specifically youngsters are drawn towards cosmetic lenses to improve their appearance, thereby spurring up the demand for the product. The rise in aging population is also expected to increase the demand for the product. The advanced technology in contact lenses made it possible for people suffering from astigmatism and presbyopia to opt for contact lenses, thereby spiking the demand for the product. The key constraints of the market are increase in demand for corrective eye surgery (Laser-Assisted in Situ Keratomileusis LASIK and Photorefractive Keratectomy PRK), cut-throat competition, economic slowdown, and serious hazards of contact lenses (infections, eye dryness, itchiness in the eye, conjunctivitis, and corneal ulcer, among others).Inquire before buying: http://www.marketdataforecast.com/market-reports/global-contact-lenses-market-1697/inquire The products are segmented based on Material, Application, and Design and studied for a deep-level understanding of the Contact Lenses Market. Each sub segment is accompanied with Market Size Estimations and Y-o-Y Forecasts as well.Buy now: https://www.marketdataforecast.com/cart/buy-now/global-contact-lenses-market-1697 Key Points from Table of Contents Overviewo Executive Summaryo Key Inferenceso New Developments Drivers, Restraints, Opportunities, and Challenges Analysis (DROC) Industry Segmentationo Based on Materialo Based on Applicationo Based on Design Geographical Analysis Pipeline Product Analysis Strategic Analysis8.1 PESTLE analysis8.2 Porters five analysis Industry Leaders' Analysis Competitive LandscapeThe market has also been geographically segmented into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and the Middle-East and Africa. North America is expected to command the major market share of 37% in 2016 followed by Europe. Asia Pacific is anticipated to be the fastest growing region for the product with a CAGR of 8.16% during the forecast period 2016-2021.Geographical Segmentation: North America Contact Lenses Market Europe Contact Lenses Market Asia-pacific Contact Lenses Market Latin America Contact Lenses Market Middle East and Africa Contact Lenses MarketThe key players in Global Contact Lenses Market are Johnson & Johnson (USA), Bausch & Lomb (USA), Carl Zeiss AG (Germany), CooperVision (USA), Alcon Laboratories, Inc (USA), Hydrogel Vision Corp (USA), Abbott Medical Optics, Inc. (USA), CIBA Vision (USA), Essilor International (France), and Contamac (United Kingdom).Future trend of Contact Lenses is Smart Contact Lenses mains that a contact lens integrates a set of electronic components and forming a specific function. They may be used to monitor diabetes by measuring intraocular pressure, tear glucose, or for presbyopia and myopia control, low vision.The Contact Lenses Market study offers the following deliverables: Global, regional and country-level analysis and forecasts of the study market; providing Insights on the major countries/regions in which this industry is blooming and to also identify the regions that are still untapped Segment-level analysis in terms of Material, Application, and Design along with market size forecasts and estimations to detect key areas of industry growth in detail Identification of key drivers, restraints, opportunities, and challenges (DROC) in the market and their impact on shifting market dynamics Study of the effect of exogenous and endogenous factors that affect the global market; which includes broadly demographic, economics, and political, among other macro-environmental factors presented in an extensive PESTLE Analysis Study the micro environment factors that determine the overall profitability of an Industry, using Porters five forces analysis for analysing the level of competition and business strategy development A comprehensive list of key market players along with their product portfolio, current strategic interests, key financial information, legal issues, SWOT analysis and analyst overview to study and sustain the market environment Competitive landscape analysis listing out the mergers, acquisitions, collaborations in the field along with new product launches, comparative financial studies and recent developments in the market by the major companies An executive summary, abridging the entire report in such a way that decision-making personnel can rapidly become acquainted with background information, concise analysis and main conclusions Expertly devised analyst overview along with Investment opportunities to provide both individuals and organizations a strong financial foothold in the marketAbout Market Data Forecast:Market Data Forecast is a firm working in the area of market research and business intelligence. With rich experience in research across various business domains, they cater to the needs of both individual and corporate clients. From all-encompassing umbrella markets to extremely specific niche markets covering all the major regions across the globe as part of the research scope, their research services offer one of a kind specialities with competitive pricing options. For more info kindly visit, www.marketdataforecast.com
Global Feed Premix Market: Market Estimation, Dynamics, Regional Share, Trends, Competitor Analysis 2012-2016 and Forecast 2017-2023

Global Feed Premix Market

PR-Inside.com: 2017-11-01 14:43:31

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Feed premix consists of essential nutrients to promote growth of animals. Increased global population and their need for protein rich food is create demand for medicated food.Surge in the demand for protein rich food across the globe, rising cattle, poultry industry are expected to increase demand for animal premix market. Rise in the awareness among the farmers regarding feed ingredients is expected to fuel the feed premix market.Gradual increase in Asia Pacific population enables creates demand for poultry and cattle products such as meat and milk.However, stringent regulations, rising raw material cost is hampering the growth of feed premix market globally.A sample of this report is available upon request @Feed premix market has been segmented on the basis of product type, Animal typeBased on the product type, Feed Premix market has been segmented into the following: Vitamins Amino acids Minerals Antibiotics OthersBased on mixture type, Feed Premix market has been segmented into the following: Poultry Swine Bovine Canine Feline OthersTo view TOC of this report is available upon request @Favorable government regulations to offer the quality of animal feed are expected to offer tremendous growth opportunities for the industry players. Animal feed industry experienced notable changes from the past decade, adoption of pre-mixed feed to provide nutrients to the cattle, swine, poultry others are creating demand for market players plunged in to Feed Premix market.Rising R&D expenditure, increased production of cattle and poultry in the middle income countries are expected to boost the market size. Innovative technologies and expanded applications to the veterinary healthcare are anticipated to create lucrative opportunities over forecast period.Need more information about this report @Geographically market has been segmented into following regions Viz. North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa.North America feed premix market is dominated by U.S., it is witnessed for significant CAGR over the forecast period due to growth in poultry industry, cattle as well as swine. Rising disposable income in middle income countries such as China and India, increasing poultry and swine production enables foster the market.Stringent regulations and Germany feed premix market is expected to account for major revenue share over the forecast timeframe. Favorable government policies to enhance awareness are expected to create demand for feed premix market.Emerging nations China, India, Mexico are expected to offer growth opportunities for global Feed Premix market.Brazil is witnessing major revenue share in Latin America, owing to increased meat production in the country such as poultry, cattle industry.Global feed premix market is dominated by players such as DSM NV, Evialis, Nutreco NV, Biomin, DLG Group, BEC Feed Solutions, Cargill Inc., DBN Group, Land O Lakes Feed, Archer Daniels Midland, Charoen Pokphand, Godrej Agrovet, ForFarmers, Continental Grain Company, Nippai, Lallemand Animal Nutrition, De Heus, Kent Feeds, InVivo NSA.Get access to full summary @Email: sales@ precisionbusinessinsights.com
Global Food Preservatives Market

PR-Inside.com: 2017-11-01 14:53:34

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Food preservation is one of the oldest technologies to prevent the food from deterioration. There are several ways to preserve food such as boiling, pasteurizing, freezing, pickling and dehydrating. In conventional methods, sugar, salt and mineral salts are used as preservatives to preserve food. Preservatives play a vital role in sea food, poultry and meat industry. Addition of preservatives to the food enables eradicate the growth of microorganisms and prevents the food from decomposing and provides long shelf life.Dramatic changes in lifestyle of people, changing trend towards consumption of processed food and canned food, inclination towards ready-to-eat and ready-to-cook food expected to trigger demand for preservatives across the globe. Rapid increase in demand for alcohol beverage products such as beer, wine are expected accelerates the significance of preservatives. However, surge in the awareness about the adverse effects of preservatives and stringent government regulations pertaining to the preservatives are few challenges expected to restrain the food preservatives market. For instance, Russia has banned benzoate group of preservatives due to adverse effects like asthma, skin allergies, and brain damage. In June 2016, Indian Governments Food safety and standards authority of India banned the usage of potassium bromate and potassium cyclamates in food and in May 2015, National food safety standards for food additive use was introduced in China by National and Family Planning Committee of China.A sample of this report is available upon request @The Food Preservatives Market is classified on the basis of function, type, source, application, form and geographical regions.Based on function, Global Food Preservatives Market is segmented as Antimicrobials Anti-oxidants Chelating agentsBased on type, Global Food Preservatives Market is segmented as Benzoates Sorbates Nitrates Sulphites Vitamin E&C Polyphosphates Disodium EDTA OthersBased on Source, Global Food Preservatives Market is segmented as Chemicals Micro organisms PlantsBased on application, Global Food Preservatives Market is segmented as Bakery Beverages Oils and fats Dairy products Seafood, poultry and meat industry Snacks Confectionery OthersTo view TOC of this report is available upon request @Market players are focused on the developments of natural preservative due to the growing preference for the natural preservatives. For instance, Carbionspurac Company has a wide range of natural preservative products line such as Verdad powder N6, N8 and N9. Moreover, huge support from the governments is expected to witness growth in the market for food preservatives. For example, in 2015 July, Indian Government setup a 13 mega food parks in various states Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh etc. to promote the benefits of food and the additives used in them.Need more information about this report @Geographically Food Preservatives Market is segmented as Latin America, North America, Asia- Pacific, The Middle East & Africa and Europe. North America accounts for significant market share in food preservatives market followed by Europe and Asia Pacific, owing to the rise in demand for the natural preservatives, high consumption of meat and poultry products. In Europe, growing health concerns and high consumption of bakery products and processed food are expected to accelerate the market growth for food preservatives owing to high demand for the convenience food, changing in the life style in developing countries, presence of large number of untapped markets are propelling the market growth for the food preservatives in Asia Pacific region.Some of the players in Food Preservatives Market are Danisco A/S (Denmark), Akzo Nobel N.V. (Netherlands), Cargill, Incorporated (U.S.), DSM (Netherlands). Univar Inc. (U.S.), Tate & Lyle (U.K.), Brenntag Solutions Group, Inc. (Germany), Kemin Industries, Inc. (U.S.), Hawkins Watts Limited (New Zealand) and Galactic (Belgium) to name some few.Get access to full summary @Email: sales@ precisionbusinessinsights.com
PR-Inside.com: 2017-11-01 10:25:11

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The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) refers to a type of retrovirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). HIV attacks some immune cells and causes weakness of immune system resulting in loss of ability to fight against the organism that causes disease. HIV spreads through fluidic exchange with some infected person such as blood transfer or sharing needles with someone who is HIV infected. In addition, HIV can spread from infected mother to child during pregnancy. Some of the symptoms of HIV infection are slight fever, fatigue, swollen glands, headaches and muscle aches.HIV infection has no cure but there are treatments which help to stabilize or reduce this infection so that it does not lead to AIDS. HIV therapeutics market is growing at a significant rate due to increase in the HIV infected cases and growing awareness about the same. HIV infection can be treated by various therapeutics such as nucleoside/ nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitor, integrase inhibitor, HIV-1 protease inhibitor, non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor, pharmacokinetic enhancer and entry inhibitor.Request for Report TOC @ https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/3339 North America, followed by Europe, has the largest market for HIV therapeutics due to affordability and accessibility of expensive treatment for HIV infection and innovations in drug therapies in this region. Asia is expected to show high growth rate in the HIV therapeutics market in next few years due to increasing number of HIV infected population and increasing research activities for developing HIV drugs and vaccines in the region.Increasing number of HIV infection cases, technological advancement in HIV diagnosis and therapeutics, rise in research activities for developing HIV vaccines and lack of awareness about the modes of transmission of the virus are driving the global market for HIV therapeutics. In addition, increasing awareness about the availability of HIV therapeutics in the market and cost effective drug therapies for HIV are driving the global HIV therapeutics market. However, various factors such as failure of treatment in some cases, lack of skilled professionals and introduction of generic drugs in the market are restraining the HIV therapeutics market.Growing demographics and economies in the developing countries such as India and China are expected to offer good opportunities for HIV therapeutics market. In addition, rise in awareness about the availability of treatment of HIV infection are expected to offer new opportunity to global HIV therapeutics market. One of the latest trends that have been observed in the HIV therapeutics market includes companies involved in new product launches.Request for Report Sample @ https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/3339 Some of the major companies dealing in HIV therapeutics are GlaxoSmithKline, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Pfizer and Boehringer Ingelheim. Other companies having significant presence in HIV therapeutics market are Merck, Hoffmann-La Roche and Gilead Sciences.
PR-Inside.com: 2017-11-01 10:24:14

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Blood clot leads to blockage of blood supply to the heart, legs, brain and lungs. Blood clots develop in the arteries and causes diseases such as stroke, heart attack and sever legs pain. In addition, formation of blood clot is also a leading cause of death in cancer patients. Blood clots are treated with anti-coagulation drugs and surgery. Clot management devices are used to treat periphery artery, neurovascular, arteriovenous and coronary thrombosis.North America dominates the global market for clot management devices due to introduction of neurovascular embolectomy device. Asia is expected to show high growth rates in the next five years in global clot management devices market. China and India are expected to be the fastest growing clot management devices markets in Asia-Pacific region. Some of the key driving forces for clot management devices market in emerging countries are increasing investment in healthcare infrastructure, lack of prophylactic inferior vena cava filter and large pool of patients.Request for Report TOC @ https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/3338 In recent times there is increased use of clot management devices due to rising prevalence of periphery artery disease. Increasing prevalence of coronary heart diseases and kidney diseases and increasing aging population are some of the key factors driving the growth for global clot management devices market. In addition, increasing healthcare awareness is also fuelling the growth of global clot management devices market. However, lack of trained physician and lack of reimbursements in developing countries are some of the major factors restraining the growth for the global clot management devices market. In addition, anticoagulant therapy is the first choice of treatment for deep vein thrombosis which is also inhibiting the growth of the global clot management device market.Increasing innovation of clot management products would develop opportunity for global clot management devices market. However, complications in device handling could lead a challenge for global clot management devices market. The trend for global clot management devices market is combined use of catheter directed thrombolysis and percutaneous thrombectomy for the treatment of acute venous thrombosis.Request for Report Sample @ https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/3338 Some of the major companies operating in the global clot management devices market are Medtronic, Cook Medical, AngioDynamics, Rex Medical, Boston Scientific, Merit Medical Systems and Vascular Solutions.
PR-Inside.com: 2017-11-01 10:42:05

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Gout is a disease characterized by recurrent attacks of acute inflammatory arthritis. It occurs when urate crystals accumulate in joint and causes inflammation and intense pain. Urate crystals are formed when high levels of uric acid are present in blood. Human body produces uric acid when it breaks down into purines. Purines are those substances which are present naturally in the body in the form of foods.The global Gout disease treatment market is categorized based on disease condition and by therapeutics. Gout is mainly classified into acute and chronic Gout. The therapeutic segment is further sub-segmented into anti-inflammatory therapies and urate-lowering therapies.Request for Report TOC @ https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/3365 In terms of geographic, North America and Europe dominates the global gout disease treatment market due to improved pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical research infrastructure in these regions. Several pharmaceutical companies are shifting focus towards research to develop more efficient drugs in North America and Europe. The U.S. represents the largest market for Gout disease treatment followed by Canada in North America. In Europe, France and Germany holds major share of Gout disease treatment market. However, Asia is expected to show high growth rates in the next five years in the global Gout disease treatment market due to increasing awareness among people about the disease. Japan, China and India are expected to be the fastest growing Gout disease treatment markets in Asia.In recent time, increasing prevalence of Gout disease and strong R&D pipelines are some of the major drivers for the global Gout disease treatment market. In addition, increased research on Gout therapeutics and introduction of novel drugs are also supporting in the growth of global Gout disease treatment market. However, stringent regulations and patent expiry of various blockbuster drugs are key restraints for the global Gout disease treatment market. Increasing mergers and collaborations between major companies and rapid product launches are some of the major trends for the global Gout disease treatment market. In addition, many biopharmaceutical companies are also trying to develop biologics for the treatment of Gout disease. This would develop opportunity for the global Gout disease treatment market.Request for Report Sample @ https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/3365 Some of the major companies operating in the global Gout disease treatment market are Takeda Pharmaceutical Company, Novartis, Pfizer and Merck.
PR-Inside.com: 2017-11-01 08:04:01

New research shows advanced spreadsheet users waste nine hours a week needlessly repeating work

Misuse of Excel and Other Data Spreadsheets Cost European Businesses 55 Billion a Year

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Kathleen Wiersch, (00)1-657-212-2880

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Alteryx, Inc., (NYSE: AYX) a leader in self-service data analytics, has revealed that 55 billion is wasted in Europe every year by advanced spreadsheet users. The research, commissioned by Alteryx and undertaken independently by analyst firm IDC, showed that advanced spreadsheet users spend on average nine hours per week on repeat effort manually manipulating data, wasting 10,000 per year. Across Europe this represents, on average, two billion hours of duplicate work, or 55bn per year.

The prevalence of big data has fuelled a seemingly unquenchable desire of the business to derive more intelligent insights. As such, the research, published in an IDC InfoBrief entitled, The State of Self-Service Data [..], showed a growing demand for self-service data analytics by tech-savvy business users that want access to their data on their own terms. It is now being used by approximately 12 per cent of employees in Europe.

Research findings: Excel and other spreadsheet tools were never designed to handle the workload being asked of them

There are 30 million advanced spreadsheet users worldwide, with 5.5 million of them in Europe

On average, advanced spreadsheet users in Europe spend 28 hours per week working in spreadsheets

In Europe this represents approximately 8 billion hours every year

Advanced spreadsheet users represent about 12 percent of all enterprise employees in Europe

Each advanced spreadsheet user can spend up to nine hours per week repeating effort as data sources are updated, wasting on average 10,000 per year

In Europe, this represents, on average, 2 billion hours of duplicate work, or 55bn per year

IT has been looking for technology that can put data analytics (be it descriptive, spatial, predictive, prescriptive or cognitive) capabilities into the hands of business users, where the requirements and desires of analytic outcomes are best understood. Stand-alone spreadsheet tools such as Excel are not designed to prepare enterprise level data for analytics. This includes: Cleansing, standardisation, merging, joining, and augmentation capabilities in an intuitive business-user-friendly interface.

Stuart Wilson, SVP and GM of Europe, Alteryx, explained: Organisations can improve self-service data preparation and analysis for fast and actionable results. Primarily, any organisation still mired in a sprawling spreadsheet situation should consider self-service data preparation software as an alternative to spreadsheets. Secondly, build a business case for self-service data preparation software based on productivity cost savings alone  10K/person/year in the EU. Then, expand the business case by highlighting additional benefits including better controls that provide higher levels of data and analysis integrity (trust, availability, security and compliance), and promote collaboration.

The top three uses for spreadsheets include operations/forecast modelling (49%), data visualisation (44%) and ad-hoc data analysis (38%). But 95 percent of people preparing data for visualisation will fail to get the information desired from their business intelligence visualisation tools, forcing them back into spreadsheets for further analysis.

This is untenable  data is core to the ongoing digital transformation powering the economy. Yet data without integrity will not best support digital initiatives, allow consumer trust to grow, or enable high performing data-powered businesses.

As a result, a new breed of self-service data preparation and analytics software has emerged that puts the power of data discover, sharing, analytics and integrity testing into the hands of the business rather than technical experts, also enabling automation and operationalisation.

Mired in the past: Why arent more organisations switching away from stand-alone spreadsheets?

The top three concerns from the survey respondents relating to spreadsheet alternatives were:

Lengthy implementation times

Compatibility with other applications

Potential costs of alternative solutions

Organisations have been reluctant to move away from spreadsheets for data preparation and analytics, citing cost, implementation time, and compatibility with other applications as concerns when considering alternatives, says Stewart Bond, director of Data Integration and Integrity Software Research at IDC. Yet purpose built data preparation and analytic applications are more open now than ever before, easier to install and more intuitive  reducing both learning curves and implementation times. In addition, the automation and traceability value of purpose built software may outweigh the costs, and it may be more costly not to use an alternative when dealing with high impact data.

About the research

Research into advanced spreadsheet users carried about by IDC and sponsored by Alteryx, September 2017 of 304 respondents in the UK, France, Germany, Benelux, the Nordics, and other EU countries.

The IDC InfoBrief, commissioned by Alteryx Inc., The State of Self-Service Data Preparation and Analysis Using Spreadsheets in Europe, can be downloaded here: https://www.alteryx.com/idcemea

About Alteryx, Inc.

Alteryx Inc., headquartered in Irvine, CA, offers a quick-to-implement, self-service analytics platform that empowers business analysts and data scientists alike to break data barriers and deliver game-changing insights that are solving big business problems. The Alteryx platform is self-serve, click, drag-and-drop for hundreds of thousands of people in leading enterprises all over the world. Visit www.alteryx.com or call 1-888-836-4274.

Alteryx is a registered trademark of Alteryx, Inc. All other product and brand names may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/201711010053
Neurodegenerative disease or neurodegeneration refers to the progressive damage or wear and tear of the nerve cells.

PR-Inside.com: 2017-11-01 08:15:27

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Neurodegenerative disease or neurodegeneration refers to the progressive damage or wear and tear of the nerve cells. Neurodegenerative disease causes loss of abilities like decision making and eventually memory loss. Neurodegeneration is a broader term which comprises of different disease namely Parkinsons disease, Huntington disease, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Alzheimers disease. These are the most commonly occurring diseases under the condition Neurodegeneration. Neurodegeneration can be caused due to genetic factor but the proportion is minimal. Major cause of neurodegeneration could be deposition of toxic protein substance in the brain or loss of functionality/improper functioning of mitochondria present in brain. Patients generally show mixture of symptoms for one or more neurodegenerative disease. Currently there is no cure for this condition however specific drugs are present in the market to minimize the symptoms (for example: donepezil and memantine for Alzheimers disease, L-dopa for Parkinsons, riluzole for ALS).Request For ToC @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-1052 Neurodegenerative Disease Market: Drivers & RestraintsNeurodegenerative market is expected to dwell due to continuous advancement in medical technology both for the diagnosis and the treatment of neurological disorders have raised the demand of neurodegenerative drugs. Ageing population is increasing which in turn is leading to increase in the incidence of neurological disorders are some major factors driving the growth of neurodegenerative market. Growing awareness amongst the physicians is helping the market to dwell in developed countries. Developing countries especially Asia Pacific countries, where due to large population the market growth is expected to be significant in the upcoming years. Lack of complete curative treatment measures primarily because of the manifold nature of the disease could possibly hamper the market of neurodegenerative disease market at the global level.Neurodegenerative Disease Market: OverviewNeurodegenerative disease market is expected to grow at a significant pace mainly due to increasing cases of neurological disorders. The market is expected to witness advancement in the upcoming years due to launch of new type of drugs. In the Alzheimers market, drugs like GABA receptor modulators, anti-amyloid protein agents and nicotinic and cholinergic receptor agonists are expected to influence the market growth however in the Parkinsons disease market will be driven due to launch of drugs like dopamine receptor agonists and reuptake inhibitors, glutamate receptor modulators, and adrenergic and adenosine antagonists. New players are expected to enter the market in the forecast years due to patent protection loss for major players.Neurodegenerative Market: Region-wise OutlookDepending on geographic regions, global neurodegenerative disease market is segmented into seven key regions: North America, South America, Eastern Europe, Western Europe, Asia Pacific, Japan, and Middle East & Africa. Global market for neurodegenerative disease is expected to grow by a CAGR of around 5%. Asia Pacific is expected to witness the highest growth due to large population base over the forecast years.Request For Report sample @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-1052 Neurodegenerative Market: Key PlayersSome of the key market players in global Neurodegenerative market are Novartis, Pfizer, Merck Serono, Biogen Idec, TEVA Pharmaceuticals Industries, UCB, Boehringer Ingelheim, Sanofi S.A., GlaxoSmithKline to name a few. Major players will face competition in the upcoming years due to patent protection loss.
North America Cell Sorting Market By Technology (FACS Based Droplet Sorting, MACS, Microfluidics), Product (Cell Sorters, Reagents, Consumables), Application (Research, Clinical), End User (Research Institutes, Biopharma Companies, Medical Schools) And By Region - Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, And Forecasts (20162021)

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PR-Inside.com: 2017-11-01 10:46:51

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The North America Cell Sorting Market was worth USD 67.07 million in 2016 and estimated to be growing at a CAGR of 7.653%, to reach USD 96.97 million by 2021.View report: http://marketdataforecast.com/market-reports/north-america-cell-sorting-market-2993/ Cells play a significant role in the fields of healthcare and pharmaceutical industries such as biotechnology, bioscience and microbiology. Since the cell therapies treat a wide range of chronic diseases, there has been an increase in research and development activities targeting various cell therapies in the previous decade.The properties on which cell sorting takes place can be extracellular or intracellular, where the former refers to the size, surface protein expression, and morphology, while the latter refers to protein molecule interactions, RNA, and DNA. The general methods of cell sorting have changed over the time. The more primitive methods, while still used and in some cases useful, are far too inaccurate and inefficient to meet with modern requirements. The overall methods can be segmented into single cell sorting, FACS, and magnetic cell sorting.Download free sample report: http://marketdataforecast.com/market-reports/north-america-cell-sorting-market-2993/request-sample Cell-sorting system market is increasing its market widely because of newer technologies for cell isolation in cancer research and growing usage in biopharmaceutical and pharmaceutical companies. Also, the rising chronic disease burden, rising use in research institutes, governments investment in research and development, technological advancement, recent launches of several newer digital cell sorting systems by various companies in the market, increased prevalence of cancer will help rise the cell sorting system market. However, lack of skilled professionals to regulate these systems and cost and size of the instruments may hinder the growth of cell-sorting system market over the forecast period.The Cell Sorting Market is categorised into Technology, Product, Application and End user. On the basis of technology, the market is segmented into FACS-based Droplet Sorting, MACS and Microfluidics. On the basis of Product, the market is further segmented into Cell Sorters, Reagents and Consumables. On the basis of Application, the market is segmented into Research and Clinical. On the basis of End user, the market is further segmented into Research Institutes, Biopharma Companies, and Medical Schools. On the basis of region, the North America market has been geographically segmented into segmented into US and Canada. As of 2016, North America leads the global cell sorting market, accounting for more than 36% of the entire market share. The increased government funding focused on enhancing the cell sorting is the prime growth driver for the market in this region. The North America market has a share of 38% of the entire market and rising at a CAGR of 7.653%.Inquire before buying: http://marketdataforecast.com/market-reports/north-america-cell-sorting-market-2993/inquire Companies in Cell Sorting Market adopted product showcase, product launches, agreements and partnerships as the business strategies to increase the North america market. The key companies in this market are Becton, Dickinson and Company (U.S.), Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. (U.S.), Beckman Coulter, Inc. (U.S.), Miltenyi Biotec GmbH (Germany), Affymetrix Inc. (U.S.), Sony Biotechnology, Inc. (U.S.), Sysmex Partec GmbH (Japan), Cytonome/ST, LLC (U.S.), On-Chip Biotechnologies Co., Ltd. (Japan), and Union Biometrica, Inc. (U.S.)Cell Sorting Market Segmentation:Technology Introduction FACS MACS Microfluids Y-o-Y Growth Analysis, By Technology Market Attractiveness Analysis, By Technology Market Share Analysis, By TechnologyProduct Introduction Cell Sorters Reagents ConsumablesApplication Introduction Research ClinicalEnd user Introduction Research Institutes Biopharma Companies Medical SchoolsThe scope of the report: Global, regional and country-level analysis and forecasts of the study market; providing Insights on the major countries/regions in which this industry is blooming and to also identify the regions that are still untapped Segment-level analysis in terms of technology, component, and type along with market size forecasts and estimations to detect key areas of industry growth in detail Identification of key drivers, restraints, opportunities, and challenges (DROC) in the market and their impact on shifting market dynamics Study of the effect of exogenous and endogenous factors that affect the global market; which includes broadly demographic, economics, and political, among other macro-environmental factors presented in an extensive PESTLE Analysis Study the micro environment factors that determine the overall profitability of an Industry, using Porters five forces analysis for analysing the level of competition and business strategy development A comprehensive list of key market players along with their product portfolio, current strategic interests, key financial information, legal issues, SWOT analysis and analyst overview to study and sustain the market environment Competitive landscape analysis listing out the mergers, acquisitions, collaborations in the field along with new product launches, comparative financial studies and recent developments in the market by the major companies An executive summary, abridging the entire report in such a way that decision-making personnel can rapidly become acquainted with background information, concise analysis, and main conclusions Expertly devised analyst overview along with Investment opportunities to provide both individuals and organizations a strong financial foothold in the marketAbout Us:Market Data Forecast is a firm working in the area of market research and business intelligence. With rich experience in research across various business domains, we cater to the needs of both individual and corporate clients. Our analyst team comprises expert professionals in market research, who with their collective knowledge and skillset dedicatedly serve clients from various industries and regions.
North America Metabolomics Market By Product (GC, Bioinformatics, Mass Spectrometry, HPLC, UPLC, NMRS, Surface Based Mass Analysis,), Indication (Oncology, Cardiology, Inborn Errors), Application (Nutrigenomics, Toxicology, Biomarker & Drug Discovery) And By Region - Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, And Forecasts (20162021)

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PR-Inside.com: 2017-11-01 10:53:43

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# 860 Words

2nd Floor, Lakeview Plaza, Kavuri Hills, Hyderabad, TelanganaSales Manager+1-888-702-9626

The North America Metabolomics Market is worth USD.5 billion in 2016 and estimated to grow at a CAGR of 18.51%, to reach USD1.17billion by 2021. The North America Metabolomics market is developing at an exceptionally quick pace.View report: http://marketdataforecast.com/market-reports/north-america-metabolomics-market-3451/ Metabolomics is the logical study of concoction forms including metabolites. In particular, metabolomics is the "deliberate investigation of the one of a kind synthetic fingerprints that particular cell forms desert", the investigation of their little atom metabolite profiles. The metabolome represent to the accumulation of all metabolites in a natural cell, tissue, organ or life form, which are the final results of cell processes.Download free sample report: http://marketdataforecast.com/market-reports/north-america-metabolomics-market-3451/request-sample Govt. financing and private subsidizing are additionally reassuring the development of this market. Metabolomics are in effect progressively sought after as they help in diminishing the hole amongst genotype and phenotype by offering a total perspective of cell working. It additionally helps in the recognizable proof of novel changes in a portion of the metabolites. Nonetheless, the undiscovered markets in developing countries will goad new development open doors for market players. Steady innovative headways and looks into will guarantee a proceeded with development of this market and will decrease the effect of these restrictions in the future.The North America market for Metabolomics is segmented on the basis of product, application, indication and region. Based on product, the market is segmented into GC, Bioinformatics, Mass Spectrometry, HPLC, UPLC, NMRS, and surface based mass analysis. Based on indication, the market is segmented into Oncology, Cardiology, and Inborn Error. Based on application, the market is segmented into Nutrigenomics, Toxicology, and Biomarker & Drug Discovery. Biomarker Discovery segment had largest share in 2016 in the global metabolomics market. Efficiency and reliability has been cited as the reason for the growth of biomarkers. However collaboration between biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, personalized medical segment is expected to have highest CAGR.Inquire before buying: http://marketdataforecast.com/market-reports/north-america-metabolomics-market-3451/inquire The North America market has been geographically segmented into segmented into US, Canada and Mexico. North America has the highest no. share in the Metabolomics market.USA has the highest demand followed by Canada and Mexico. The North America region is largely driven by environmental concerns.Agilent Technologies, Inc. (U.S.), Human Metabolome Technologies, Inc. (Japan), Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc. (U.S.), LECO Corporation (U.S.), Bruker Corporation (U.S.), Shimadzu Corporation (Japan), Metabolon Inc. (U.S.), Danaher Corporation (U.S.), Biocrates Life Sciences AG (Austria), and Waters Corporation (U.S.) are the leaders in the North America Metabolomics market.Market SegmentationProduct Metabolomic Instruments Separation Techniqueso Gas Chromatography (GC)o Capillary Electrophoresis (CE)o High-performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC)o Ultra-performance Liquid Chromatography (UPLC) Detection Toolso Mass Spectrometryo Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopyo Surface-Based Mass Analysis Metabolomics Bioinformatics Tools and Services Bioinformatics Tools & Databases Bioinformatics Services Y-o-Y Growth Analysis, By Product Market Attractiveness Analysis, By Product Market Share Analysis, By ProductIndication Cancer Cardiovascular Disorders Inborn errors Neurological Errors Other Indications Y-o-Y Growth Analysis, By Indication Market Attractiveness Analysis, By Indication Market Share Analysis, By IndicationApplication Nutrigenomics Toxicology Biomarker & Drug Discovery Functional Genomics Personalized Medicine Other Applications Y-o-Y Growth Analysis, By Application Market Attractiveness Analysis, By Application Market Share Analysis, By ApplicationThe scope of the report: Global, regional and country-level analysis and forecasts of the study market; providing Insights on the major countries/regions in which this industry is blooming and to also identify the regions that are still untapped Segment-level analysis in terms of technology, component, and type along with market size forecasts and estimations to detect key areas of industry growth in detail Identification of key drivers, restraints, opportunities, and challenges (DROC) in the market and their impact on shifting market dynamics Study of the effect of exogenous and endogenous factors that affect the global market; which includes broadly demographic, economics, and political, among other macro-environmental factors presented in an extensive PESTLE Analysis Study the micro environment factors that determine the overall profitability of an Industry, using Porters five forces analysis for analysing the level of competition and business strategy development A comprehensive list of key market players along with their product portfolio, current strategic interests, key financial information, legal issues, SWOT analysis and analyst overview to study and sustain the market environment Competitive landscape analysis listing out the mergers, acquisitions, collaborations in the field along with new product launches, comparative financial studies and recent developments in the market by the major companies An executive summary, abridging the entire report in such a way that decision-making personnel can rapidly become acquainted with background information, concise analysis, and main conclusions Expertly devised analyst overview along with Investment opportunities to provide both individuals and organizations a strong financial foothold in the marketAbout Us:Market Data Forecast is a firm working in the area of market research and business intelligence. With rich experience in research across various business domains, we cater to the needs of both individual and corporate clients. Our analyst team comprises expert professionals in market research, who with their collective knowledge and skillset dedicatedly serve clients from various industries and regions.
PR-Inside.com: 2017-11-01 10:21:59

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# 375 Words

Abhishek Budholiya+1-347-918-3531

Pharmaceutical sector is growing at a significant rate globally due to increase in the prevalence of diseases, rise in aging population and improvement in the healthcare facilities. Gastrointestinal drugs may be classified on the basis of different active ingredients used in it. Antidiarrheal drugs refer to a class of drugs that are used to treat diarrhea. Antidiarrheal drugs market is growing at a significant rate globally due to increasing incidence of diarrhea and growing awareness in this field.North America, followed by Europe, dominates the global market for antidiarrheal drugs due to high prevalence of diarrhea cases and high adoption rate for antidiarrheal drugs. Asia is expected to experience high growth rate in the next few years in global antidiarrheal drugs market. China and India are expected to be the fastest growing antidiarrheal drugs markets in Asia. Some of the key driving forces for antidiarrheal drugs market in emerging countries are large pool of patients, increasing awareness and improvement in the healthcare facilities.Request for Report TOC @ https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/3325 Various factors that are driving the global antidiarrheal drugs market are growing awareness for antidiarrheal drugs, rising government initiatives for improvement in healthcare facilities and increasing prevalence for diarrhea cases. However, various side effects associated with the uptake of antidiarrheal drugs, such as constipation, fullness and bloating are restraining the global antidiarrheal drugs market. In addition, traditional and home remedies are still popular in emerging countries; this restrains the antidiarrheal drugs market from growing.Emerging countries hold a good potential for the global antidiarrheal drugs market. Discovery of some antidiarrheal drugs with less side effects is expected to offer good opportunity for global antidiarrheal drugs market. Decrease in the efficacy of other medicine if taken along with antidiarrheal drug is a challenge faced by antidiarrheal drugs market.Request for Report Sample @ https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/3325 Some of the latest trends that have been observed in the global antidiarrheal drugs market include companies involved in geographical expansions and implementing various strategies for setting their brand. Some of the major companies dealing in global antidiarrheal drugs are Johnson & Johnsons, Novartis, GlaxoSmithKline and Proctor & Gamble Pharmaceuticals. Some other companies with significant presence in the antidiarrheal drugs market are Sanofi Aventis, Pfizer, Merck & Co. and Bayer.
Stem cells harvested from umbilical cord blood just after birth. And this cells can be stored in specific conditions. Stem cells also can be harvest from bone marrow, adipose tissue.

PR-Inside.com: 2017-11-01 08:18:57

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# 481 Words

Abhishek Budholiya+1-347-918-3531

Stem cells are undifferentiated biological cells, and having remarkable potential to divide into any kind of other cells. When a stem cell divides, each new cell will be a new stem cell or it will be like another cell which is having specific function such as a muscle cell, a red blood cell, brain cell and some other cells.There are two types of stem cellsEmbryonic cellsAdult stem or Somatic cellsStem cells harvested from umbilical cord blood just after birth. And this cells can be stored in specific conditions. Stem cells also can be harvest from bone marrow, adipose tissue.Embryonic cells can differentiate into ectoderm, endoderm and mesoderm in developing stage. Stem cells used in the therapies and surgeries for regeneration of organisms or cells, tissues.Request For ToC @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-1087 Stem cells are used for the treatment of Gastro intestine diseases, Metabolic diseases, Immune system diseases, Central Nervous System diseases, Cardiovascular diseases, Wounds and injuries, Eye diseases, Musculoskeletal disorders.Harvesting of Adult cell is somewhat difficult compare to embryonic cells. Because Adult cells available in the own body and it is somewhat difficult to harvest.Stem Cell Therapies Market: Drivers and RestraintsTechnology advancements in healthcare now curing life threatening diseases and giving promising results. Stem Cell Therapies having so many advantages like regenerating the other cells and body organisms. This is the main driver for this market. These therapies are useful in many life threatening treatments. Increasing the prevalence rate of diseases are driven the Stem Cell Therapies market, it is also driven by increasing technology advancements in healthcare. Technological advancements in healthcare now saving the population from life threatening complications.Increasing funding from government, private organizations and increasing the Companies focus on Stem cell therapies are also driven this marketHowever, Collecting the Embryonic Stem cells are easy but Collecting Adult Stem cell or Somatic Stem cells are difficult and also we have to take more precautions for storing the collected stem cells.Stem Cell Therapies Market: OverviewWith rapid technological advantage in healthcare and its promising results, the use of Stem Cell Therapies will increase and the market is expected to have a double digit growth in the forecast period (2015-2025).Stem Cell Therapies Market: Region- wise OutlookDepending on geographic regions, the global Stem Cell Therapies market is segmented into seven key regions: North America, South America, Eastern Europe, Western Europe, Asia Pacific excluding Japan, Japan and Middle East & Africa.Request For Report sample @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-1087 The use of Stem Cell Therapies is high in North America because it is highly developed region, having good technological advancements in healthcare setup and people are having good awareness about health care. In Asia pacific region china and India also having rapid growth in health care set up. Europe also having good growth in this market.
North America Hemophilia Management Market was worth $1.81 billion in 2015 and estimated to be growing at a CAGR of 1.52%, to reach $1.96 billion by 2020.

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PR-Inside.com: 2017-11-01 07:36:47

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Market Data Forecast

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# 499 Words

USASales Manager (International Business Development)+1-888-702-9626

The North America Hemophilia Management Market was worth $1.81 billion in 2015 and estimated to be growing at a CAGR of 1.52%, to reach $1.96 billion by 2020. Hemophilia is a genetic disorder which impairs body`s ability to control blood clotting.Hemophilia is categorized into three levels depending on its severity as severe, moderate and mild. About 80% of the hemophilia patients are considered to suffer from severe type. CDC estimates that in United States one in every 5000 newborn children is affected by Hemophilia A and one in every 30,000 is suffering from hemophilia BView full report: http://www.marketdataforecast.com/market-reports/north-america-hemophilia-management-market-311/ North America hemophilia management market is driven by key factors such as growing prevalence of the disease; increasing usage of recombinant product, technological advancements. Rising investments in Research and developments for hemophilia products is also a major factor fuelling the growth of the market. However lack of available medication, stringent regulatory approvals and high cost of treatment are the key factors hindering the market growth.North American market for Hemophilia management is segmented on the basis of type of hemophilia and drug. By type of hemophilia it is analysed as Hemophilia A and Hemophilia B. On the basis drug the market is segmented into Octocogalfa, Nonacogalfa, Desmopressin and other drugs. Hemophilia A is the largest segement and also estimated to be the fastest growing segment during the forecast period due to large number of patients suffering from hemophilia AFree sample of the report is available at: http://www.marketdataforecast.com/market-reports/north-america-hemophilia-management-market-311/request-sample Based on geography North America hemophilia management market is analyzed under two regions namely United States and Canada. North America is the largest market for hemophilia management accounting for approximately XX%. With North America, United States is the largest market for hemophilia management due to high government support and the increasing number of patients suffering from hemophilia. Canada is estimated to be the fastest growing region due to high growth potential due to increasing usage of available medication.Some of the major companies discussed in the report are Biogen, Baxter International Inc., Pfizer Inc., Bayer Pharma AG, Novo Nordisk A/S, Grifols International SA, CSL Behring, Octapharma and Swedish Orphan Biovitrum ABBuy now: http://www.marketdataforecast.com/cart/buy-now/north-america-hemophilia-management-market-311 About Market Data Forecast:The publisher of this report is Market Data Forecast whose forte lies in Market research and Business Intelligence. Handling both individual and corporate clients across multiple business domains they offer syndicated/customized research to suit the clients research objective. Their research reports section offers a wide variety of market studies ranging from all-encompassing comprehensive market studies to product specific niche markets covering North America among other regions of the global market as well. For more info kindly visit, www.marketdataforecast.com Contact:Abhishek ShuklaSales Manager (International Business Development)Market Data ForecastDirect Line: +1-888-702-9626Mobile: +91 998 555 0206Mail: abhishek@ marketdataforecast.com Visit MarketDataForecast Blog @ http://www.marketdataforecast.com/blog/ View latest Press Releases of MDF @ http://www.marketdataforecast.com/press-releases
Supercritical fluid chromatography is a technique in which separation phenomenon occurred; it is analytical technique using instrumentation based principle.

PR-Inside.com: 2017-10-31 10:11:28

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# 556 Words

Abhishek Budholiya+1-347-918-3531

Supercritical fluid chromatography is a technique in which separation phenomenon occurred; it is analytical technique using instrumentation based principle. The instrumentation uses in supercritical fluid chromatography almost identical to high-performance liquid chromatography. The most significant difference from HLPC is the replacement of the most of the liquid mobile phase with a densely compressed gas, almost always carbon dioxide. Supercritical fluid chromatography led to novel analytical applications in the field of chromatography; supercritical fluid chromatography consists a column chromatography methods along with gas chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography. supercritical fluid chromatography has both GC and HLPC properties due to this factor supercritical fluid chromatography become advanced analytical techniques over the remaining one.The supercritical phase represents a state in which liquid and gas properties converge; supercritical fluid chromatography is sometimes called "convergence chromatography." Request For ToC @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-3998 Supercritical Fluid Chromatography market: Drivers and RestraintIncreasing demand of supercritical fluid chromatography reagent in the various industry such as pharmaceutical industry, chemical industry, food industry, etc. the rise in government investments, less expensive procedure of supercritical fluid chromatography over gas chromatography and high-pressure liquid chromatography are the driver for the supercritical fluid chromatography market. However, limited sensitive and specific of detectors in applications involving complex samples could be the major restraints for supercritical fluid chromatography marketSupercritical Fluid Chromatography Market: OverviewThe critical fluid chromatography market is expected to witness huge growth in the forecasted period. Supercritical fluid chromatography is a technique that can withstand a temperature and pressure that is beyond its critical point. It exhibits properties, such as low viscosity and high diffusivity, because of which it is suitable for use as a mobile phase in chromatography. Thus, it is used in a wide range of separation and purification modes, such as natural products, drugs, foods, pesticides, herbicides, surfactants, polymers and polymer additives, fossil fuels, and agrochemicals, among others.Chiral separations can be performed for many pharmaceutical compounds. SFC is dominantly used for non-polar compounds because of the low efficiency of carbon dioxide, which is the most common supercritical fluid mobile phase, for dissolving polar solutes. SFC is used in the petroleum industry for the determination of total aromatic content analysis as well as other hydrocarbon separations.Also , the increasing usage of monoclonal antibodies purification and relatively newer chromatography technique- the Green Chromatography also provide an opportunity for the growth of this market.Supercritical Fluid Chromatography Market: Region-wise OutlookBy region, global Supercritical Fluid Chromatography market is segmented into seven key regions viz. North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia Pacific excluding Japan, Japan, and Middle East & Africa. North America dominates the supercritical fluid chromatography followed by Europe and will continue to dominate the global Supercritical Fluid Chromatography market attributed to growing number of conferences related to chromatography techniques and rise in capital funding by government which is assisting the global supercritical market. Asia Pacific is an emerging market due to high potential growth in biopharma and food & chemical industry.Request For Report sample @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-3998 Supercritical Fluid Chromatography Market: Key Market ParticipantsThe key market players in the global supercritical fluid chromatography market include Shimedzu, JASCO,FLUITRON INC.Labnics Equipment, Pressure Products Industries, Inc. Thar Technologies, Inc. (formerly Thar Designs, Inc.) Supercritical Fluid Technologies InC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc, and Waters Corporation.
Synthetic Biology Market

PR-Inside.com: 2017-11-01 08:28:45

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Regional analysis of synthetic biology market:Developed countries such as the U.S., Germany, U.K., France, and Japan have mature markets for synthetic biology mainly due to large funding and favorable government regulation regarding the approval of synthetic biology products. According to genetic engineering & biotechnology news in 2010, the government of three European countries namely the Netherlands, U.K., and Germany invested around US$ 160 million in a span of five years between 2005 and 2010. Regulations such as Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) in 1997, cover commercial uses of new microorganisms not regulated by other agencies: primary rules covering industrial biotechnology. European Commission and research agencies have also increased their funding for research in synthetic biology. In emerging economies in Asia-Pacific, Middle East, and Africa, governments are focusing on tackling major issues such as under-nutrition by encouraging adoption of GMO crops. For example, Indian government is had put efforts in the past regarding in terms of intervention programs to combat malnutrition such as Integrated child development services and mid-day meal program This creates a highly conducive environment for market growth.Request For Sample Copy@Synthetic biology market taxonomy:By ToolXeno-nucleic Acids (XNA),Cloning and Assembly kits,Oligonucleotides,EnzymesBy Product TypeSynthetic DNA,Synthetic cells,Synthetic genes,Chassis organisms,Genetically modified organisms,Oligonucleotide SynthesisBy ApplicationEnvironmental Application,Bioremediation,Whole-cell Biosensors,Industrial Application,Biofuels and Renewable Energy,Industrial Enzymes,Biomaterials and Green Chemicals,Medical Application,Artificial Tissue and Tissue Regeneration,Pharmaceuticals,Drug Discovery and TherapeuticsBy TechnologyEnabling Technologies,Bioinformatics,Site-saturation Mutagenesis,Measurement and Modeling,Microfluidics,Cloning and Sequencing,Gene Synthesis,Genome Engineering,Nanotechnology,Enabled Technologies,Pathway Engineering,Next-generation SequencingMajor acquisitions to support the growth in synthetic biology marketThere are few recent acquisitions by the big brands in biotechnology that is expected to favor the market for synthetic biology. QIAGEN N.V acquired OmicSofta software solutions company that offers scientists and researchers tools to efficiently analyze and visualize the data in bioinformatics. This acquisition is further expected to favor the working efficiency of the company. Key players operating in the synthetic biology market include DuPont, Amyris, Inc., GenScript USA Inc., Integrated DNA Technologies, Intrexon Corporation, New England Biolabs, Inc., Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc., Synthetic Genomics, Inc., Royal DSM, and Novozymes.Synthetic biology is a combination of biology and biomedical engineering principles that favors designing and construction of novel biological parts & systems and also the reconstruction of preexisting designs according to specific application requirements. Synthetic biology is extensively used in the field of medical and pharmaceuticals to produce and manufacture improved biological drugs and systems to meet various challenges in the healthcare sector. Synthetic biology offers various opportunities in the field of healthcare such as recreating highly complex pathways, DNA sequences, and natural biological systems. In synthetic biology market, genetically modified organisms is the new approach for researchers. However, currently only one engineered gene has been developed, with increasing focus on creating clusters of genes. Also, due to the rising demand for vaccines in high income countries, synthetic biologists are more inclined towards research of various types of vaccines that can be used as prophylaxis. According to WHO, in in 2011, high income countries such as the U.S., Japan, and the U.K. contributed around 80% of global vaccine sales revenue, with these regions accounting for 20% volume share.Government funding supporting synthetic biology market growth:Growing demand for synthetic biology products such as synthetic DNA, synthetic genes for treatment of diseases and for developing genetic modified products such as hybrid crop, genetically modified animals for enhancing the nutritional value of the food is also contributing towards the growth of the synthetic biology market. Also, various governments are investing in research and development of novel synthetic biology products. For instance, according to the report from U.S. Trends in Synthetic Biology Research at the Wilson Center, during the period of six years from 2008 to 2014, the U.S. invested around US$ 820 million in research for products in synthetic biology. Among different funding agencies, the defense department became a key funder of synthetic biology research dominating the funds by national science foundation. The above key fact also suggests that U.S. is expected to be a significant contributor in synthetic biology market.Get More Details On this Report:About Coherent Market Insights:Coherent Market Insights is a prominent market research and consulting firm offering action-ready syndicated research reports, custom market analysis, consulting services, and competitive analysis through various recommendations related to emerging market trends, technologies, and potential absolute dollar opportunity.Contact Us:Mr. ShahCoherent Market Insights1001 4th Ave,#3200Seattle, WA 98154Tel: +1-206-701-6702Email: sales@ coherentmarketinsights.com
Virology, the study of viruses, is an unparalleled branch of life sciences. With immensely high prevalence of diseases such as flu, hepatitis, AIDS, and STDs, the importance of virology is repeatedly highlighted. The global virology market is expected to grow over 2015-2025.

PR-Inside.com: 2017-11-01 08:27:44

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# 577 Words

Abhishek Budholiya+1-347-918-3531

Virology, the study of viruses, is an unparalleled branch of life sciences. With immensely high prevalence of diseases such as flu, hepatitis, AIDS, and STDs, the importance of virology is repeatedly highlighted. The global virology market is expected to grow over 2015-2025.FMIs research identifies growing infectious diseases as a key force driving the market throughout the forecast period.Request For ToC @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-1150 Key Restraints to Market GrowthMaintaining the quality and safety standards of viral a controlling therapy has been a longstanding challenge, which is anticipated to hamper the market in the forecast period as well. Moreover, stringent approval processes for antiviral drugs is also foreseen to be a restraint to market growth. Another factor identified for affecting the market growth includes resistance toward and side effects of antiviral drugs for new treatment options.Global Virology Market: Competitive LandscapeBy 2017 end, a few important patents are approaching expiry, including Tamiflu, Sustiva, Tenofovir, Combivir, Relenza, and Telbivudine. Following expiry of these blockbuster drugs, the market is estimated to discover a dynamic competitive landscape. The generic competition in the virology market will be at a high pace 2017 onward.Apart from expiring drugs, the market also has some late stage pipeline drugs, including Inavir, Elvitegravir, Vicriviroc, Rilpivirine, and Rapiacta. These drugs are set to enter the global market, fostering the competition globally.Regional Outlook: Global Virology MarketNorth America is the largest virology market led by the U.S., owing to technological advancements such as rapid, portable diagnostics. N. America is expected to retain the top market position over the forecast period as well.Europe is projected to maintain the position as the second largest market globally. During the forecast period, Europe is anticipated to record the highest CAGR, attributed by enhanced healthcare infrastructure, facilitated access to diagnostics, and growing affordability of diagnostic tests for viral diseases.Japan is currently a growing virology market, which is estimated to grow at a remarkable CAGR through to 2025. However, APEJ and Africa are expected to witness the most promising growth opportunities during the forecast period. While China will be a leading APEJ market, India will contribute a considerable revenue share to the APEJ virology market.Segment-wise Market ForecastImmunoprophylaxis therapy and antiviral drugs are the fastest-growing market segments in the estimated forecast period.STDs, urinary tract infections, and respiratory tract infections are currently dominating compared to other application types in the global virology market.On the basis of diagnosis tests, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, HIV, human papillomavirus (HPV), and other tests (influenza, ebola, and dengue) are estimated to attract the largest market shares globally.Hospitals and laboratories projected to continue the most dominating end-use segments, accounting for almost 50% market share globally.Request For Report sample @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-1150 Key Players in the Global Virology MarketThe notable players identified in the global virology market include GlaxoSmithKline plc, Abbott Laboratories, Boehringer Ingelheim Corporation, Merck and Co. Inc., Novartis International AG, Siemens, Johnson & Johnson, AstraZeneca AB, and Roche.Merck and Co. Inc. has several drug candidates in phase 2, including cancer, diabetes, cardiac arrest, and hepatitis C, and some candidates in phase 3, including breast cancer, atherosclerosis, Alzeimer's, ebola, and HIV. The company also has many other candidates, which are currently under review.Abivax, a high profile biotech company in Paris, France, has already successfully produced candidates against dengue and chikungunya viruses. The company has a few more candidates against HIV and ebola, currently under development.
PR-Inside.com: 2017-10-10 14:05:41

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# 716 Words

#3200 Seattle, WA 98154 Tel: +1-206-701-6702CEO+1-206-701-6702Pareesh Phulkar08087996871

Hydroelectric power plants and wind energy are among the most widely used renewable forms of energy sources. Hydroelectric power generation, which is the largest used renewable power source, is limited owing to the inadequacy of the generating resources to meet the global demands. Wind energy is available abundantly and can be used to meet the global energy demands. Requirement to harness these resources consistently, and maintain the high energy efficiency of these through the turbine life cycle is expected to drive the demands for related inspection services through the forecast period.Request Sample of Wind Turbine Inspection Services Market: https://goo.gl/ZARhkf Increasing deployment for the energy source across the globe will drive the wind turbine inspection services market growthAccording to Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC), the total installed capacities of these farms was over 485 GW is expected to surge significantly over the coming years. According to Coherent Market Insights analysis, the total installed capacities would increase over double the installed capacities in 2016, by 2025. Turbines are highly crucial components for the energy generation and comprise number of smaller components that includes gearbox and generator, which are necessitated to be serviced and inspected on regular intervals to safeguard the optimal efficiency and performance. Thus, to ensure longevity and accurate information regarding the energy generation, farm contractors and operators are expected to drive the service industry requirements.Wind Turbine Inspection Services Market TaxonomyOn the basis of services, the global wind turbine inspection services market is classified into:Quality assurance & quality controlNondestructive examination (NDE)Condition assessment/inspectionProcess safety managementOutage & turnaround supportVendor evaluation & product assuranceWelding & corrosion engineeringInspection drones incorporated with advanced monitoring equipment and artificial intelligence is expected is among the key trend gaining traction in the industry applicationsWind turbine examination drones are small sized unmanned aerial vehicles that are utilized to accumulate information and images for the assessment, monitoring, mapping, and analysis of blades, towers and nacelles. Conventional methods for the examination includes the employment of specific teams suspended through cables and rope supports, using field telescopes and binoculars for the task. In conjunction with the human life risks, the method has several limitations such as difficulty to access some areas, exclusion of blade defects assessment invisible to the naked eye. Elimination of these drawbacks through utilization of these drones is expected to present considerable growth prospects for this market.Integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in these drones to reduce the workflow errors and enhance detailed analysis within few hours is among the key trends gaining traction in industry. However, stringent regulatory standards against the use of these drones in some major economies such as FAA regulations in the U.S., regulations regarding VLOS and BVLOS and other regionally distinct regulations will present considerable growth to the drone adoptions.Get best discount on this report: https://goo.gl/S5Kia5 Noise pollution and threat to wildlife, specifically flying creatures such as bats, birds, etc., are some of the major drawbacks that may hamper the industry growth rateThese energy sources cannot be used to meet the base load demands, without the additional investments for the energy storage. However, this may add up to the initial high investment required which is considerably higher in comparison to establishment of conventional energy plants. These factors are expected to consistently hinder the adoption of these means to generate the energy which will consequentially negatively impact the wind turbine inspection market growth.Asia Pacific is expected to dominate the overall industry growth through the forecast periodChina contributes to over 37% of the global installed units for the power generation accounting for over 168.73 MW in 2016, as per the GWEC. India contributed to the worlds fourth largest installed units. High deployments in these major emerging economies in the region is expected to attract significant investments in these economies. Other major attractive economies for the wind turbine inspection services include the U.S, Germany, Spain, UK, France, Canada, and Brazil.Check the trending report of Wind Turbine Inspection Services Market: https://goo.gl/enZXi7 Chief industry participants include Intertek Group Plc., UpWind Solutions Inc., Technical Wind Services Ltd., INVISO Services Ltd., Cenergy International Services LLC, UL International GmbH, ASC Engineering Service, Advanced Cleaning Technology Ltd., MISTRAS Group Inc., Midwest Underground Technology Inc., and MFG Energy Services.
PR-Inside.com: 2017-10-16 07:48:32

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Mr. Shah

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# 716 Words

#3200 Seattle, WA 98154 Tel: +1-206-701-6702CEO+1-206-701-6702Pareesh Phulkar08087996871

Hydroelectric power plants and wind energy are among the most widely used renewable forms of energy sources. Hydroelectric power generation, which is the largest used renewable power source, is limited owing to the inadequacy of the generating resources to meet the global demands. Wind energy is available abundantly and can be used to meet the global energy demands. Requirement to harness these resources consistently, and maintain the high energy efficiency of these through the turbine life cycle is expected to drive the demands for related inspection services through the forecast period.Request Sample of Wind Turbine Inspection Services Market: https://goo.gl/ZARhkf Increasing deployment for the energy source across the globe will drive the wind turbine inspection services market growthAccording to Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC), the total installed capacities of these farms was over 485 GW is expected to surge significantly over the coming years. According to Coherent Market Insights analysis, the total installed capacities would increase over double the installed capacities in 2016, by 2025. Turbines are highly crucial components for the energy generation and comprise number of smaller components that includes gearbox and generator, which are necessitated to be serviced and inspected on regular intervals to safeguard the optimal efficiency and performance. Thus, to ensure longevity and accurate information regarding the energy generation, farm contractors and operators are expected to drive the service industry requirements.Wind Turbine Inspection Services Market TaxonomyOn the basis of services, the global wind turbine inspection services market is classified into:Quality assurance & quality controlNondestructive examination (NDE)Condition assessment/inspectionProcess safety managementOutage & turnaround supportVendor evaluation & product assuranceWelding & corrosion engineeringInspection drones incorporated with advanced monitoring equipment and artificial intelligence is expected is among the key trend gaining traction in the industry applicationsWind turbine examination drones are small sized unmanned aerial vehicles that are utilized to accumulate information and images for the assessment, monitoring, mapping, and analysis of blades, towers and nacelles. Conventional methods for the examination includes the employment of specific teams suspended through cables and rope supports, using field telescopes and binoculars for the task. In conjunction with the human life risks, the method has several limitations such as difficulty to access some areas, exclusion of blade defects assessment invisible to the naked eye. Elimination of these drawbacks through utilization of these drones is expected to present considerable growth prospects for this market.Integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in these drones to reduce the workflow errors and enhance detailed analysis within few hours is among the key trends gaining traction in industry. However, stringent regulatory standards against the use of these drones in some major economies such as FAA regulations in the U.S., regulations regarding VLOS and BVLOS and other regionally distinct regulations will present considerable growth to the drone adoptions.Get best discount on this report: https://goo.gl/S5Kia5 Noise pollution and threat to wildlife, specifically flying creatures such as bats, birds, etc., are some of the major drawbacks that may hamper the industry growth rateThese energy sources cannot be used to meet the base load demands, without the additional investments for the energy storage. However, this may add up to the initial high investment required which is considerably higher in comparison to establishment of conventional energy plants. These factors are expected to consistently hinder the adoption of these means to generate the energy which will consequentially negatively impact the wind turbine inspection market growth.Asia Pacific is expected to dominate the overall industry growth through the forecast periodChina contributes to over 37% of the global installed units for the power generation accounting for over 168.73 MW in 2016, as per the GWEC. India contributed to the worlds fourth largest installed units. High deployments in these major emerging economies in the region is expected to attract significant investments in these economies. Other major attractive economies for the wind turbine inspection services include the U.S, Germany, Spain, UK, France, Canada, and Brazil.Check the trending report of Wind Turbine Inspection Services Market: https://goo.gl/enZXi7 Chief industry participants include Intertek Group Plc., UpWind Solutions Inc., Technical Wind Services Ltd., INVISO Services Ltd., Cenergy International Services LLC, UL International GmbH, ASC Engineering Service, Advanced Cleaning Technology Ltd., MISTRAS Group Inc., Midwest Underground Technology Inc., and MFG Energy Services.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC has signed a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, with the Ondo State Government to establish a 65,000 million litres per annum biofuel plant in Okeluse, Ondo State.

This was disclosed in a statement signed by the Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division of the NNPC, Ndu Ughamadu, on the corporations website, Wednesday.

The statement said that the Governor of Ondo State, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, led a delegation from his state to the NNPC towers in Abuja for the MoU signing ceremony.

The Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Maikanti Baru, according to the statement said the project is not fully an NNPC subsidiary and that some investors are also bringing in Foreign Direct Investment into the country for the project.

Mr. Akeredolu, expressed confidence that the biofuel project would take off for the benefit of the people of Ondo and the country in general.

He assured that the state had enough farmers as well as cassava to sustain the plant, stressing that his visit was to show his commitment to the project.

On the benefits of the project, the GMD highlighted that the construction of the plant and the production of cassava feedstock could create at least one million jobs directly and indirectly.

Reduction of fuel import, a boost in the production of animal feeds from by-products of the plant and a reduction of greenhouse gas emission to combat global warming, were other benefits highlighted by Mr. Baru.

The GMD also allayed fears of any possible negative impact of the plant on the supply of cassava-based foods for human consumption.

According to the statement, Mr. Baru stressed that the cassava that would be used for the biofuel project is a special breed that would not be in competition for human consumption or interfere with the activities of farmers cultivating other breeds of cassava or indeed other crops.

Your Excellency, we have already discussed with you and you have agreed to make 15,000 hectares of land available towards the cultivation of this cassava. It will, of course, in the process invite people who are used to farming cassava as well as new entrepreneurs who want to go into that business to participate in the cultivation of the cassava that we are going to use for the production of the fuel ethanol.

We expect that this plant, when built, will be producing at least 65 million litres per annum of fuel ethanol that could be blended into our Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and will be used in Nigeria and neighbouring countries when exported, the GMD said.

He also mentioned that the biofuel project would be fitted with a 40 megawatts electricity plant that would also supply power to the host communities.

In the statement, the NNPC said it intended to commercialise the greenhouse gas emission reduction capability of the project to win carbon credits for the nation from the international community, adding that it could also make money from such a by-product as industrial starch and others, which could be converted to animal feeds to boost food production in the country.

The benefits of this project to Nigeria and specifically to Ondo State are immense and NNPC is very eager to see it implemented. We are working with the investors who will invest because there are several dimensions to the project, Mr. Baru said.

Other parties present to witness the signing of the MoU were the Nigeria Export-Import Bank, NEXIM Bank, New Partnership for African Development, NEPAD, and National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency, NOSDRA, the statement said.
The first official trailer for The Wedding Party: Dubai Destination starring Nollywood heavyweight, Patience Ozokwor, has been released by ELFIKE Film Collective.

The trailer features scenes from the anticipated sequel and music from Timi Dakolo, Kiss Daniel and Reekado Banks.

A sequel to the highest grossing Nollywood movie yet, The Wedding Party 2 follows the romance between Nonso Onwuka and Deirdre; the bridesmaid from London.

It also features Sola Sobowale, Daniella Down, RMD, Ireti Doyle, Ali Baba, and others

New additions to the already star-studded cast include Patience Ozokwor, Chiwetalu Agu, Chigurl and Seyi Law.

Mo Abudu, CEO, EbonyLife Films, said, We are thrilled to be able to give eager fans a bigger taste of what they can expect from the movie. Without question, the wait will be worth it in December.

According to the Group Executive Director/COO FilmOne, Moses Babatope, the movie is aiming to be released in 15 territories when it makes its debut later this year.

ELFIKE Film Collective produces the sequel, just like the prequel. It is a partnership of EbonyLife Films, FilmOne Distribution, Inkblot Productions and Koga Studios.

Niyi Akinmolayan, who is popular for Out of Luck, The Arbitration, Room 315, and Falling directed the film.

The Wedding Party will have its world premiere on December 10 before making its debut in Nigerian cinemas on December 15 .

Watch the trailer below:

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MU6pkGpUOiQ&w=640&h=360]
Five Malian soldiers and one civilian were killed in central Mali on Tuesday during an ambush on a convoy of the president of the High Court of Justice, the defence ministry said in a statement.

It was not clear who was responsible for the attack, but the high level target and army deaths point to the deteriorating security situation in Mali due to the growing reach of jihadist groups that roam countrys vast desert expanses.

The convoy of Abdrahamane Niang was traveling between the towns of Dia and Diafarabe in the Mopti region, about 500 km northeast of the capital Bamako, when it was attacked.

Niang and his wife were recovered by the army. However, we report six deaths: five soldiers of the Malian army and the driver of the Honorable Niang, the statement said, adding that others had been wounded.

No other details of the attack were given.

The rise of jihadist groups, some linked to al Qaeda and Islamic State, continues to destabilise Mali, four years after French troops beat back an Islamist insurgency that began in 2012.

Around 4,000 French soldiers remain as part of Operation Barkhane, where they work alongside around 10,000 UN peacekeepers in Mali.

Attacks on peacekeepers, aid workers and the Malian military are common.

Four U.S. Special Forces troops were killed earlier in October in neighbouring Niger by fighters believed to belong to a local Islamic State affiliate operating out of Mali.

The Group of Five, an anti-terrorism taskforce of soldiers from Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, Chad and Mauritania, plans to launch its first joint operations this month to target Islamists in the Sahel.

(Reuters/NAN)
You could feel the excitement in the air, see the smiles on their faces and hear their laughter as the children of Ikot Nkpenne filled their buckets with clean water from the tap.

With both hands covering her shy face, Gift Bassey, a 16-year-old secondary schoolgirl, said, I no longer have to wake up at 5 a.m. to fetch water from the stream because God has blessed us with a borehole.

Well, God did; through the European Union, EU, and the United Nations Childrens Fund, UNICEF.

Ikot Nkpenne in Nsit Atai Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State has a population of about 1,500 people in about 140 households that make up the community.

Before the EU and UNICEF came to their rescue, the people had no access to safe drinking water. Their only source of water supply was a stream some distance to the community.

It takes about 30 minutes to get to the small river and this affected the school children mostly as they were constantly late to school because they ran the errand of fetching water for their families.

For the women, household chores like cooking was a huge problem due to water scarcity. Members of the community were also exposed to the risks of snake bites and attack by wild animals on their trips to the stream.

Nsit Atai is one of many local governments in Akwa Ibom State that lack pipe-borne or any other source of potable water supply. This is despite the state being one of the richest in Nigeria, earning more from the Federation Account monthly than almost all other 36 states in Nigeria.

Like Nsit Atai, many parts of Nigeria do not have access to potable water, with rural dwellers suffering the most. Many walk several kilometres in search of water while others depend on polluted water from ponds, stream, rainwater and floods for domestic use.

According to the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) 2013, only about 57.48 per cent of Nigerias estimated 190 million people have access to improved water supply.

Provision of potable water supply was one of the various interventions in Nsit Atai by UNICEF under its WASH programme.

The scheme is aimed at improving access to water, sanitation and hygiene in Nigeria  especially in the rural areas. It is also part of the rural component of the Niger Delta Support Project (NDSP), which seeks to mitigate conflict in the region by addressing the main causes of unrest and violence  unemployment and poor delivery of basic services.

Since I was born, the only source of water I knew was the stream, which is very far from my house, Miss Bassey, the Ikot-Nkpenne schoolgirl, said.

Every day, I slept with the thought of waking up as early as possible, rushing down to the stream and doing other house chores.

I fetched water from the stream four times before going to school. That means the best time to wake up was 5 a.m. considering the distance.

After school, all I wanted were a shower and a nap, but how can I do these when there is no more water in the buckets? This only means that I had to go to the stream to fill all the buckets in the house.

But since the God of Ikot Nkpenne answered their prayers, Miss Bassey and other residents no longer frequent the stream.

It is now a thing of the past, she told PREMIUM TIMES.

Joy Usoh, a 15-year-old girl, described the borehole as a great privilege to the community. She said it has saved her a lot of stress.

Uwemedimo Davis, the deputy village head of Onong Uwana in Nsit Atai, said the provision of a borehole for the community has reduced deaths and illnesses among children.

We are so happy to have this project in this community. This is the first time we will have pipe-borne water in this community, he said.

We are very happy that WASH has come through EU and UNICEF to provide us with this water. And our children are also very happy, as they no longer visit the stream

Before this water project came, we had many cases of diarrhoea, dysentery, cholera among other diseases. But now, we dont even record any serious illnesses anymore. Our children are very healthy and happy, he said.

Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) is a programme organised by UNICEF in partnership with the Child Right Information Bureau (CRIB) of the Ministry of Information.

Speaking at a media dialogue on the programme in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, Moustapha Niang, a WASH specialist, said over 57 million Nigerians lack access to potable water. Out of this figure, 15 million drink water from rivers, lakes, ponds, streams and irrigation canal and most of them are in rural areas, he said.

In the world, about 663 million people do not have access to improved water sources and about 2.4 billion people do not use improved sanitation. In Nigeria alone, 130 million people use unimproved sanitation facilities, and as expected more than half of them live in rural areas.

This is a major concern for children under five, as water and sanitation related diseases are one of the leading causes of their death. In Nigeria, over 45,000 children under five die annually from diseases caused by poor access to water, sanitation and hygiene, according to WHO data.

From major research and findings, it is understood that most children who suffered the mortality lived in rural areas, as development failed to reach the families, especially children in these areas.

In her presentation at the event in Uyo, UNICEF WASH specialist, Martha Hokonya, called for more investment in water supply, noting that availability of safe drinking water contributes to increased health status.

She noted that poor water supply, sanitation and hygiene cause more than half of global diarrheal diseases, which remain the second leading cause of morbidity and mortality among children under the age of five.

In his opening remarks, UNICEF Communications Specialist in Nigeria, Geoffrey Njoku, pointed out that water is critical to children and human survival and therefore, must be accorded priority.
About 24 hours after information leaked that President Muhammadu Buhari was in the know about the questionable reinstatement of a dismissed pension fraud suspect into the civil service, the presidency has refused to speak on the matter.

The allegations that Mr. Buhari was briefed of the scheme to surreptitiously recall Abdulrasheed Maina, a fugitive from justice, were raised in an internal memo by the Head of Civil Service, Winifred Oyo-Ita  signalling an escalation in the scandal and its growing impact on the presidents avowed war on corruption.

I sought an audience with His Excellency, Mr. President on Wednesday, October 11, 2017, after the FEC meeting where I briefed His Excellency verbally on the wide-ranging implications of the reinstatement of Mr. A. A. Maina, especially the damaging impact on the anti-corruption stance of this administration, Mrs. Oyo-Ita said in the memo to Mr. Buharis Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari.

The Punch Newspapers published the October 23 correspondence Tuesday morning, lending the strongest corroboration yet to an earlier suggestion by Sahara Reporters that Mr. Buhari knew about the Maina affair but was only feigning ignorance to hoodwink the public.

PREMIUM TIMES on October 20 broke the story of Mr. Mainas dubious return to civil service after years of being on the run, sending shockwaves through the nation and placing the administrations conduct under renewed public criticism and scrutiny.

If the president was carried along by Attorney-General Abubakar Malami and Interior Minister Abdulrahman Dambazau the two officials at the heart of the recall it would be difficult for him to yield to public demand to fire either or both of them.

Mrs. Oyo-Itas memo was probably her response to Mr. Buharis demand that the top civil servant put together a report detailing how Mr. Maina sneaked back into public service.

Mr. Buhari summoned the report when he demanded an expedited dismissal of Mr. Maina from service on October 23, an uncharacteristically swift response to public outrage that led many to assume that the scandal also caught the president by surprise.

Presidential spokespersons, Femi Adesina and Garba Shehu, declined comments about Mrs. Oyo-Itas allegations against the president Tuesday. Despite repeated efforts by PREMIUM TIMES throughout the day, the presidency failed to categorically say what Mr. Buhari might know.

UNANSWERED QUESTIONS

While Mrs. Oyo-Itas memo might have added further hints into the possible involvement of Mr. Buhari in the controversial recall; it was silent on a host of questions that could be considered crucial to bringing the scandal to closure.

For instance, the Head of Service didnt say what Mr. Buharis response was when she warned him about the Maina affair.

Secondly, Mrs. Oyo-Ita said she first learnt of the scheme as far back as February, but she also didnt say why she had to wait until October 11 to verbally mention the matter to Mr. Buhari. Based on a narration prepared by the Federal Civil Service Commission, Mr. Maina was reinstated on September 28, indicating that Mrs. Oyo-Ita only raised concerns after the suspicious reinstatement had been concluded.

Also, considering the civil service culture of written communication, Mrs. Oyo-Ita was expected to have formally notified Mr. Buhari of her reservations concerning the reinstatement.

Administration officials told PREMIUM TIMES it was appropriate to verbally mention issues to the president during meetings, but it is usually done as a follow-up or a passing reminder about a pending written request. If there was any written communication between Mrs. Oyo-Ita and Mr. Buhari before the scandal broke, she didnt specify in the memo.

Even when Mr. Buhari was warned late, he didnt seem to have taken any action to immediately take steps that would have saved his administration the scandal.

Mr. Buhari had nine days between October 11 when Mrs. Oyo-Ita put him on the notice and October 20 when PREMIUM TIMES blew the lid of Messrs. Malami and Dambazaus machinations. It, however, took the president only three days of public backlash after the story broke to demand Mr. Mainas sack and query Mrs. Oyo-Ita.

A spokesperson for the Head of Service, Muhammed Manga, said he wont comment on a leaked internal communication.

The Punch memo also showed Mrs. Oyo-Ita standing her ground that her office did not partake in the reinstatement, contrary to a claim by Mr. Dambazau that she approved the posting of Mr. Maina to the Interior.

FULL DISCLOSURE

Mr. Maina was dismissed from service in 2013 during the Goodluck Jonathan administration for absconding from office following allegations that he diverted billions in public funds for his own use when he headed the pension reform task force.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission subsequently moved to arrest and prosecute him, but Mr. Maina, who was fired as an assistant director, bolted from the law.

He was believed to have fled to Dubai, where he had remained until the Buhari administration facilitated his return under questionable circumstances this year.

Out of the 34-count charge which EFCC filed against a former Head of Civil Service, Steve Oronsaye, over pension fraud, Mr. Maina featured in 27. EFCC sources said he couldnt be charged because he had been on the run.

The consequences of the gross breach of public trust in the reinstatement of Mr. Maina could only be minimised if the president comes clean on the scandal, said a political analyst and automobile expert, Gbola Oba.

Mr. Oba said Mr. Buhari and his aides are not helping themselves by keeping quiet and would be mistaken if they think they could wait out this humongous scandal that others before it.

Its true that Nigerians have become tired of regular scandals in public service, but this one would likely be the proverbial straw that broke the camels back, Mr. Oba told PREMIUM TIMES by telephone Tuesday night. The Head of Service has indicted the president, its time for him to tell Nigerians his side.
Twenty three radio and television stations across Nigeria have been fined for various breaches of broadcasting rules set by the National Broadcasting Commission, NBC.

The NBC spokesperson, Maimuna Jimada, said in a statement that the stations were punished for hateful speech, vulgar lyrics and unverifiable claims.

The breaches contravened the provisions of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code in the third quarter of 2017, according to the NBC.

Speaking to PREMIUM TIMES, Wednesday, the spokesperson said there will be higher sanctions if erring stations fail to comply with the fine.

It is clearly stated in the code, if you are sanctioned this way and you dont comply then you get a higher sanction, Ms. Jimada said. Everything is laid down in the code, she added.

She also said the payments will be made into the NBC account.

Mrs. Jimada further said the contraventions were made between June and September this year and all the erring stations were fined according to the provisions of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code.

For using hateful speech, Family Love FM Port Harcourt was fined N200, 000 on 9/6/2017; ABS FM Awka fined N100,000 on 1/7/17; Express FM Radio Kano also fined N300,000 on 12/9/17, 16/9/17 and 17/9/17.

For using indecent musicals, the NBC fined RoyalFM Abuja, Flo FM Umuahia, Radio Continental Lagos and Crystal 100.5FM Minna N100,000, N100,000, N200,000 and N100,000 respectively.

For making unverifiable claims in their broadcast, the regulator punished Crowther FM Abuja, Harmony FM Abuja, Inspirational FM Uyo, BCA FM Umuahia, ABS FM Awka, Minaj Systems Radio, Obosi, IBC (Orient TV), Owerri, Rainbow FM, Isheri, Globe FM Bauchi, Arewa Radio, Kano, EBS Radio Benin and Bond FM Lagos with fines of N100,000, N100,000, 100,000, 150,000, 100,000, N100,000, N50,000, N100,000, N100,000,N100,000, N100,000 and N499,000 respectively.

As part of efforts to stem the growing tide of hate speech in the country, the federal government in June directed the NBC, to sanction any radio or television station that broadcasts hate speech.

Also ahead of the forthcoming elections, the regulatory body said it will impose heavy sanctions on broadcast stations which promote hate speeches.
A former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, has arrived a Federal High Court to testify as a defence witness in the ongoing trial of former spokesperson of the Peoples Democratic Party, Olisa Metuh.

Mr. Dasukis appearance followed an order of the Federal High Court for a subpoena to be issued on him, through the directorate of the State Security Service, SSS.

Mr. Dasuki has been in the custody of the SSS for over a year despite court orders for his release. He is being prosecuted separately for alleged mismanagement of funds while in office.

The Federal High Courts directive for the SSS to present him in court was also in obedience to a September 29 directive of the Appeal Court.

Details later
A federal judge in Lagos on Wednesday slammed former Petroleum Minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke, for trying to abuse court process and deliberately attempting to evade justice in the United Kingdom.

Justice Rilwan Aikawa of a Lagos Division of the Federal High Court while delivering a ruling on Mrs. Alison-Maduekes application to be joined as a defendant in a money laundering suit said the move was not only a misuse of court processes, but a deliberate ploy to run away from justice in the UK.

This is not the proper time to join the applicant as a defendant, the judge said.

The applicant has aroused my curiosity as to why she waited this long before coming up with the application for joinder The court lacks the power to interfere with the powers of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF).

The application for joinder is lacking in merit and same is hereby dismissed.

Mrs. Alison-Madueke is being investigated for money laundering in the UK where she currently is.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had instituted a five-count charge of money laundering suit amounting to N500 million against Dele Belgore, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, and Abubakar Suleiman, a former minister of National Planning.

The former petroleum ministers name appeared in the charge sheet as an accomplice and was tagged by the EFCC as being at large.

Consequently, Mrs. Alison-Madueke filed an application through her lawyer, Onyechi Ikpeazu, seeking to be joined as a defendant in the suit and urged the court to mandate the EFCC to list her as a party.

My Lord, we have a motion dated September 29, 2017, and an affidavit of 16 paragraphs, together with a written address, which we rely on, Mr. Ikpeazu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, had said.

We have received the counter affidavit of counsels, but there remains yet, one consideration which should touch the conscience of parties.

In the 4th count of the charge, the applicants name was mentioned clearly, and there is no alteration to the fact that she has been charged; it simply suggests that it is a consummated complaint.

By the definition of Section of 494(1) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, (ACJA) a defendant is any person against whom a complaint or charge is made, while a charge refers to an allegation that any named person has committed an offence.

From count one to count four, the name of the applicant was mentioned as an accomplice. It would be in the interest of justice to join her in the charge.

We will have no objections if the applicants name is extracted from the charge, then, trial can proceed. Otherwise, she should be included in the charge.

I know that she will be happy to come and face the trial.

In objecting to the motion for joinder, counsel to Mr. Belgore, E. O Shofunde, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, argued that the applicant was not a necessary party to the suit since in the end, the court would only decide the guilt or innocence of the first and second accused who were charged.

He contended that by the combined provisions of sections 216(2), 221, 273, 274, and 494(1) of the ACJA, only the prosecution could exercise the power to amend a process during trial.

Mr. Shofunde further argued that it would be incongruous for any other party to seek an amendment of a criminal charge, adding that it would amount to a waste of judicial time if that amendment is allowed since progress has made in the case.

Responding, counsel to the EFCC, Rotimi Oyedepo, in opposing the application for joinder noted that the state can only amend a charge for the purposes of adding offences and not defendants if trial had commenced.

While insisting that if an amendment is allowed at this stage, it will occasion a miscarriage of justice, Mr. Oyedepo added that several attempts were initially made to interrogate the applicant, but that she fled to London after she got wind of the move by the EFCC, and had since then, carefully avoided any meeting with the Commission.

It is misconceived and too late in the day, for the applicant to now seek to be joined in the charge when she is already under investigation in London.

Whenever the applicant returns to Nigeria, she can still be tried, as time does not run against the prosecution in criminal trial.

According to the amended charge, Mrs. Alison-Madueke was alleged to have conspired with Messrs. Belgore and Sulaiman on or about March 27, 2015, to directly take possession of N450 million, which they reasonably ought to have known formed part of proceeds of unlawful act.

The trio were also alleged to have taken the said funds in cash, which exceeded the amount authorized by law, without going through the financial institutions.

Messrs. Belgore and Sulaiman were also alleged to have paid N50 million to one, Sheriff Shagaya, without going through any financial institution.

The offences are said to have contravened the provisions of Sections 15(2)(d), 1(a), 16(d) and 18 of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012.
Despite receiving training on human rights of citizens, officers of the Nigeria Police Force have continued to unlawfully detain, torture, and harass members of the public, victims of police abuse told a human rights panel in Lagos.

The panel, which comprised members of the National Human Rights Commission and Human Rights Law Services, held a public hearing on police abuses in Nigeria on Monday.

Over 30 participants were in attendance including the Network of Police Reforms in Nigeria, Prisoners Rehabilitation and Welfare Action, and other civil society organizations.

A communique issued at the end of the hearing called for, among other measures, civil society organizations to initiate campaigns to hold Divisional Police Officers responsible for violations at their police stations.

In 2014, some civil society organizations collaborated with the Nigeria Police to develop a police-training curriculum that would replace the outdated colonial police training manual used in police training institutions.

The old curriculum lacked human rights content, a gap which the new manual set out to fill and further upgrade it to international standards for law enforcement education.

The Nigeria Police Force formally adopted the new training curriculum and the manual for use in police training institutions and for all level of police training and retraining.

But despite the adoption of the new curriculum by the Force, police officers have continued to abuse the human rights of Nigerian citizens and, in some cases, commit extrajudicial killings.

Mondays public hearing, according to the organizers, was among strategies to assess human rights compliance by law enforcement agencies following human rights training based on the new curriculum.

TESTIMONIES OF TORTURE

Six victims of police abuse testified at the public hearing.

Sylvester Ihejirika, 27, narrated how he bought a 1999 model of Toyota Sienna from a car dealer in Port Harcourt for which he had a balance of N10,000 to pay.

He said the car dealers stern demand for the balance turned to threats and finally police arrest.

He was detained at the Olusegun Obasanjo Police Command in Port Harcourt for a day and later transferred to Benin, Edo State, where he spent another day in police custody. Thereafter, he was moved to Obada in Ogun State where he was held in police detention for over two weeks.

Mr. Ihejirika said he was beaten, maltreated, and his family members were extorted over N170,000, part of the money which was paid through electronic bank transfer to one investigative police officer known as Scorpion.

He tendered accounts details to buttress his claims.

During his ordeal, Mr. Ihejirika said he was not initially allowed to contact his lawyer or family member. He was finally released after two weeks in detention and without any explanation.

His request was for the police to release his car and refund the N170,000 extorted from him and his family.

Another victim, Paul Nwachukwu, who was detained at the same place with Mr. Ihejirika, corroborated his story concerning the misconducts of police officers at Zone 2 Special Intervention Force, Abeokuta, and especially the officer called Scorpion.

Blessing Taiwo, a 43-year-old Administrative Officer with Afri-Invest, Lagos, was arrested by the police on the accusation by her boss, Abiola Ojo-Sanni that she stole about $50,000 from the office while she travelled.

Her case was transferred, from the Ikoyi Division where she was arrested, to the Anti-Kidnapping Unit in Panti, Yaba.

She said while in detention, the police extorted various sums of money from her family and colleagues who were also detained along with her, adding that her younger sister and the wife of one of the co-detainees were sexually harassed by men of the Anti-kidnapping Unit.

Her case attracted media attention and led to the new Lagos Commissioner of Police, Imohimi Edgal, ordering an investigation into the sexual harassment claims, the report of which is yet to be made public.

Mrs. Taiwo requested that having been found innocent, she ought to be cleared by the police and restored back to her job.

A staff of an environmental rights nongovernmental organization, Chime Asonye, had gone to take photographs of the demolition of some slums in the Badia area of Lagos when armed police officers assaulted him and pushed him into a waiting Black Maria.

Later, he was taken to the Oshodi office of the Lagos State Task Force, along with other residents of Badia whose houses had been demolished, where he was made to delete the photographs he had taken.

He was released on the same day after he was made to enter an undertaking, on behalf of himself and other detainees, not to record scenes of demolition again.

Another lady, Ann Okpara, was arrested by officials of the Intelligence Response Team at the Lagos State Police Command Headquarters on July 14, 2017, at Igando, Lagos.

According to Mrs. Okpara, 36, she was arrested in lieu of her husband whom the police alleged was an accomplice to Evans, the billionaire kidnapper who is currently facing criminal trial.

Amidst tears, she narrated to the panel how she was manhandled in the process of her arrest and taken into detention at the Lagos State Police Command, where she was beaten to the point of coma.

The police officers who carried out the acts, according to her, included one Philip, Christian, and Idowu. She said she received injuries to her forehead, scars of which she still carries.

Her husband, Linus, thinking his wife had been kidnapped, reported the case to the Igando Police Station.

Mrs. Okpara said she was later led by the police to arrest her husband at their home in Igando and the man, a civil engineer by profession, is still being held at the Lagos State Police Command for over three months.

At the time of her arrest, Mrs. Okpara said she was nursing a baby who was delivered prematurely, adding that the police ignored it and took her into detention for over two weeks.

She further said the police collected N50,000 from her brother purportedly to release her; took her to their home and collected the few valuables they could lay hands on, including a rechargeable fan, ladies handbags which she sells and the husbands car, a Toyota Camry, 1999 model. They further collected N40,000, N5,000 and another N20,000 from her husband.

Mrs. Okpara said her sister was threatened and intimidated at the Police Command and N1,000 collected from her. On August 9, she said the police demanded another N170,000 out of which N100,000 was given to them.

She requested for the release  or that he be charged to court  of her husband whom she said is asthmatic and also suffering from hernia.

In the case of Cosmas Iwuala, 49, who resides at Ejigbo, Lagos; he was arrested and detained in Asaba, Delta State, after he reported that his account was frozen by his bank on the allegation that N600,000 was illegally transferred to the account.

Although he offered to return the money to the person who paid the money into his account, he was still arrested and held in custody in Asaba, Mr. Iwuala said.

Mr. Iwuala said he was charged to court at Asaba and when the magistrate found no case against him, he ordered for his release.

Immediately he stepped out of the court, the police rearrested Mr. Iwuala and detained him for several weeks.

The victim said while in detention, he was made to pay N80,000 to be kept in a special and more comfortable cell.

He further said he narrowly escaped food poisoning after which his friend was made to write an undertaking which he was forced to sign before he could secure his release.

Mr. Iwuala requested that his bank account be unfrozen and that the police return the monies extorted from him.

In their recommendations, the panel called on the National Human Rights Commission to assist the victims identify all the police officers involved in the incidents, while also urging the Commission and NOPRIN to bring the violations to the attention of the Police Service Commission.

They also urged the victims to seek fundamental rights protection at the courts.
The anti-graft agency, EFCC, on Wednesday announced that it was inviting the former head of the National Intelligence Agency, NIA, Ayodele Oke, for questioning.

Mr. Oke was sacked as NIA chief by President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday, about six months after he was first suspended. He was sacked alongside Babachir Lawal, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, who was involved in a fraud case.

The former intelligence chief was suspended after the EFCC found about $43.45 million in a house in Ikoyi. The commission later said the house where the money was found was rented in the name of Mr. Okes wife, Folashade; and eventually secured a court order to ensure the money was forfeited to the federal government.

Mr. Okes NIA had admitted owning the money and said the presidency through the National Security Adviser was well briefed of its intelligence operations.

However, a panel led by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo recommended Mr. Okes dismissal after looking into the circumstances surrounding the cash haul.

The panel submitted its report on August 23, but Mr. Buhari did not act on it until Monday.

Before their appointments were ultimately terminated on Monday, Messrs. Lawal and Oke had been placed on suspension since April 19.

Mr. Buhari, in a statement by his spokesperson, Garba Shehu, on Monday, also asked anti-corruption agencies to proceed with their investigation of the matter.

Perhaps following the presidents directives on Monday, the EFCC on Wednesday asked Mr. Oke to appear before it.

In furtherance of its investigative activities to unravel the circumstances surrounding the $43.45 million cash recovered by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in Lagos sometime in April 2017, the Commission has invited former Director General of the National Intelligence Agency, Ambassador Ayodele Oke and his wife, Folashade Oke, Wilson Uwujaren, the commissions spokesperson said in a statement.

Mrs. Oke had refused to honour previous invitations by the Commission which resumed its investigation into the matter, following the Federal Governments decision to relieve Mr. Oke of his position as DG.

Beside the couple, other suspects are equally being invited to determine their culpability or otherwise in the humongous cash, in foreign currencies and naira notes, stashed in a residential building at Osborne road Ikoyi, Lagos, Mr. Uwujaren said.

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The Nigerian government on Wednesday insisted on questioning former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, in the ongoing trial of former Peoples Democratic Party spokesperson, Olisah Metuh.

Mr. Metuh is facing trial for alleged diversion of N400 million from the office of the former NSA.

Mr. Dasuki who was ordered into the witness box to testify on Wednesday, told the court that he could only comment on questions relating to the allegations against himself after looking through documents relating to the exercise of his duty while in office.

Asked if he could recall having to deal financially with Mr. Metuh and his company, Dextra Investment, Mr. Dasuki said until he is released and given a chance to examine his past official records, the answer to the question was no.

Currently I am in custody of the State Security Service. I have been there for two years now. I wouldnt be able to record if I had any dealings with the first and second defendant from my memory.

Three years is a long time, so I cannot recall. I cannot respond in a manner that will please the counsel, except with recourse to my records.

I have stated earlier that I am in custody. When the authorities decide to obey the court orders and release me; that is when I will be able to give a time line. They have refused to obey court orders on my release. We have processes in court, when we get to the Supreme Court, those in charge today, will listen, Mr. Dasuki said.

As long as I am in the custody, the answer is I dont know, he added.

Reacting to the witness submission, counsel to Mr. Metuh then prayed for more time to allow Mr. Dasuki resolve issues of his detention before he would testify.

The counsel, Emeka Etiaba, asked for time and intervention of the court, while counsel representing the second defendant, Tochukwu Onwubufor, asked the court to let Mr. Dasuki recover from the his experience in detention.

I have a witness who is most willing to testify. He is in the witness box and has taken introductory questions, but is unable to answer questions with regards to specific actions of his, while he was functioning as National Security Adviser and all that he did, three years ago.

His position is justifiable, because in our very presence the registrar of court warned him that if he tells us any lie or makes an incorrect statement he will be penalized for it. He desires therefore to give correct answers to questions from me.

It is very important to note that the only reason why he does not have and cannot consult his records is because he us being detained by the very state that is prosecuting the defendant.

I believe that it is possible for some administrative efforts to be made to enable him get in touch with the records. I am saying this because when it seemed difficult to see the subpoena to the witness, this honourable court directed the prosecutor to apply administrative means to ensure that the subpoena is not only served but that the witness attends trial. In the circumstance, I apply that the witness be allowed some time to get in contact with his records, Mr. Etiaba said.

Responding, however, to the submission of the defence, the prosecution counsel, Sylvanus Tahir, asked for the invocation of the law to compel Mr. Dasuki to speak.

No effort has been made by the prosecution to size up the witness. Only one document links DW8 with the transaction in question. And the Director of Finance and Account of ONSA confirmed transferring the sum of N400 milion million to the account of the second defendant.

No attempt has been made to show that document to the witness. I believe if that attempt was made and the witness responded otherwise, that would have maybe settled the issue.

In the event that the defence is not able to proceed with the witness, the prosecution should be given the liberty to cross-examine the witness on what he has said in court so far. The Court can invoke section 250 (2) b.

More so, there are linked conditions to dictate the pace of the trial: by suggesting that unless the Supreme Court judgements is delivered or that the witness gathers his mental conjecture, a thing the witness has not said. We are vehemently opposed to the application on the grounds that no cogent reasons have been advanced on the grounds that the defence have not finished with the defence witness.

Reacting to the submission of the prosecution counsel, Mr. Etiaba said the documents referred to by Mr. Tahir belong to his client and the defence witness should be given a chance to access his own documents before agreeing or disagreeing with the content of Mr. Tahirs document.

My Lord the prosecution makes it sound very easy that the evidence is very narrow, but he forgets that when he starts talking now he will argue that he is at liberty to ask any questions under cross-examination and we may not be able to limit him.

The exhibit referred to by the prosecution does not exist in vacuum. That document is predicated on actions taken within the office of the NSA. He needs to compare them with what he has and determine whether they are the same. It does not lie in the mouth of the prosecutor to make those findings, Mr. Etiaba said.

Mr. Etiaba also said the section of the law cited by Mr. Tahir is only applicable to a witness who refuses to testify. He added that Mr. Dasuki had affirmed his resolve to speak and tell the truth in court and so that section of the law cannot be applied to him.

In a ruling on the matter, Mr. Abang said the court will decide on the request for time on Friday.

Earlier the court struck out an application brought by a counsel to former President Goodluck Jonathan seeking an order of court for Mr. Jonathan to deposit N1 billion as travel and logistic allowances before he would testify on his behalf.
Nigerians use over 400 million condoms annually, a Non-Governmental Organisation, the Society for Family Health, has said.

According to a report published in the Punch newspaper, the managing director of the group, Bright Ekweremadu, disclosed this during the launch of Flex condom in Lagos on Tuesday.

Mr. Ekweremadu lamented that the 400 million condom consumption could fall below expectation based on the societys estimation of people still engaged in unprotected sex in the country.

He said his organisation, which has been in the business of condom production for over 30 years, has done a lot of things in educating people to embrace abstinence.

There are obviously sexually active Nigerians who may not totally abstain from sex and this led to our alternative, particularly at this time when HIV/AIDs is prevalent in the country.

What we are doing now is expanding choices for the sexually active Nigerians who are using condoms.

So we have varieties of condoms with different features to make sex worth it, for those who will use the condom, he said emphasising that his organisation was not promoting sex.
Some senators on Wednesday faulted the North East Development Commission for excluding Kano and Plateau states, among other reasons.

President Muhammadu Buhari last week assented to the Act for establishment of the commission.

On Wednesday, a motion sponsored by Danjuma Goje, Yobe-APC, urged the Senate to commend the president for assenting to the Act.

However, some senators took turns in criticising the commission for excluding the two states they noted were also strongly affected by the Boko Haram crisis.

Mr. Goje was absent at the plenary due to the death of his wife. The motion was presented on his behalf by Senate Leader, Ahmed Lawan.

Presenting the motion, Mr. Lawan noted that the commission was established to receive and manage funds allocated by the federal government and international donors. He said it will coordinate projects and programmes within the master plan for rehabilitation, resettlement and reconstruction of the North East.

He further noted that the commission as an institution backed by the law would remain the biggest succour for the people of the region that is adjudged to be one of the poorest regions even before the advent of the Boko Haram crisis.

But following the presentation of the motion, senators expressed criticism of the composition of beneficiary states and alleged government insensitivity to other regions.

Kabir Marafa, Zamfara-APC, said the rehabilitation of the insurgency-ravaged North-east region does not require a permanent commission. He argued that every part of the country needs development.

I am one of the few people that opposed this bill during the second reading because I believe that is not the way to go about it in the first place. I believed that time that the region requires an ad-hoc arrangement that will solve the problems caused by the war of Boko Haram, not a permanent structure that will bring about infrastructure that will take away all necessary money, he said.

My second reason was that there was no justice in the bill because Kano, Plateau and even some parts of the FCT suffered consequences of Boko Haram and we felt they must be included. In the thinking of this chamber, we included Kano and Plateau but as it came out of the committee, Kano and Plateau were shut out.

Every part of Nigeria needs development. Some of my colleagues talked about South-east, we know about the Lagos problem, we know that of infrastructure in South-west and South-south. I am calling on this chamber not to lose sight of these problems so that when this kind of problems come from other zones, our brothers from the North-east will support in solving these problems.

In his contribution, Ben Bruce, Bayelsa-PDP, warned against the use of funds accruable to the commission for running overhead expenditures rather than in providing infrastructure.

He said: When we set up these commissions, a great part of the budget is spent on overhead. If you go to the offices, its like a market place. Even though I voted for this bill, it makes me wonder whether the money should go to the state government to run the affairs. Maybe the state government should have these extra funds rather than setting up a commission. Im beginning to wonder if I voted rightly in voting for the bill.

We should be careful with these multiple commissions. If 50 per cent is spent on overhead, the purpose of establishment is defeated.

James Manager, Delta-PDP, was specific about the problem of road construction in the South-east, which he urged the Senate to work on.

There is the South-east development bill that came to this Senate and it received over 85% support. I have travelled almost all the South-east and all the federal roads are in bad state. Entering the states has been very tedious. Mr. President, my respected colleagues, that region needs urgent attention. All the federal roads have collapsed. The South-east development bill must be worked upon, he said.

Similarly, Sam Anyanwu, Imo-PDP, urged other senators to support similar bills from other zones when they surface.

The cry of people from the North-east was heard by the people from the South-east. That was why we supported this bill. I want to say a very big congratulation to our brothers from the North-east. With this, I believe the restructuring has started and I believe that when it comes to other zones well also do justice to such situation. What is good for the goose is good for the gander.

The Senate however rejected additional resolution that whenever an amendment is to be made to the bill, in future, Kano and Plateau states should be included.
President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday launched the 2018 Emblem and Appeal Fund in Abuja for the support of Nigerian veterans and fallen heroes.

The president was accompanied to the event of the Armed Forces Remembrance Day by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, top government officials, service chiefs and the Inspector General of Police.

In his speech at the event, the president urged Nigerians at home and in the Diaspora to donate to the families of the fallen heroes.

As I launch the Emblem today, I call on all Nigerians, the Diaspora and our friends to donate generously to the cause of the Nigerian Legion and families of the Fallen Heroes.

I also hereby launch the Partnership Scheme for the Armed Forces in which all Nigerians, corporate organizations and government agencies should support and partner with the Nigerian Armed Forces in appreciation of the sacrifices of these honourable men and women, Mr. Buhari said.

He said the gathering was in continuation of the tradition of recognising and appreciating the sacrifices of Nigerian veterans in the First and Second World Wars, Nigerian Civil War, Peace Support Operations around the world, and Internal Security Operations, particularly the ongoing war on insurgency in the North-eastern part of the country.

The president also commended state governors for their support of the Legions.

Let me use this opportunity to thank the state governors who are patrons of the Legion in their respective states for the support they have been rendering to the Legion. I urge them to continue and improve on this even in the face of dwindling resources.

It is indeed worthwhile to honour the memory of our distinguished veterans who paid the supreme sacrifice to keep the country united. Some others have spent the best part of their lives in Service to keep our nation and the world in peace.

We must therefore cast our minds back at the events that led to the civil war, the immense human capital loss of the tragic war, and resolve that never again shall we allow our dear nation by our actions or inactions to experience another war, Mr. Buhari said.

I want to salute the gallantry, courage and sacrifices of men and women of the Armed Forces as they grapple with diverse and contemporary security challenges plaguing the country, he added.

Mr. Buhari who was a retired major-general and former military head of state stressed that his administration would not relent in providing welfare for the families of the fallen heroes.

I appreciate your display of unparalleled loyalty to the country and dedication to duty.

Being one of you, I understand what you have to undergo. This administration will continue to do all within its power and resources to ensure that your welfare is adequately catered for.

The noble culture of appreciation and respect for veterans and servicemen and women experienced all over the world is very much part of us in Nigeria.

I therefore look forward to a time when business concerns and service providers in the country would give special recognition and consideration for these distinguished citizens and support the veterans cause in any way they can through voluntary donations, employment opportunities and welfare support, he said.

As a government we desire to improve the capability of our Armed Forces. I am glad that our efforts are yielding positive results already in boosting the morale of men and women of the Armed Forces.

We will continue to engage them in training and retraining to improve on their capacity to discharge their constitutional roles.

I implore all to procure and wear the emblem with pride as a way of identifying with those that laid down their lives, the incapacitated and others still who are daily in harms way in order to guarantee our peace and security. We will always remember them and the respect we owe them, he added.

Mr. Buhari reiterated the commitment of the retired servicemen and women to Nigeria.

May I use this medium to commend the Nigerian Legion of which I am the Grand Patron, for its effort in maintaining comradeship of the Servicemen and servicewomen after retirement, he said.

The event was graced by the Senate President, Speaker House of Representatives, Chief Justice of Nigeria and members of the Federal Executive Council.

Also in attendance were permanent secretaries and members of the diplomatic corps and senior military officers.
Nigeria has been listed among the 12 countries in the world where journalists are slain and the killers evade justice.

The country is ranked 11th out of the 12, according to a report released on Tuesday by the Committee to Protect Journalists, CPJ.

The report  annual Global Impunity Index  says five journalists in Nigeria have been killed with complete impunity in the past decade.

The report said the extremist group Boko Haram and unknown assailants were responsible for the killings.

Those targeted for murder in Nigeria were local journalists covering war, politics, and human rights, according to the report.

The report mentioned the October 2011 murder of Zakariya Isa, a reporter and cameraman for the state-run Nigeria Television Authority, NTA, which Boko Haram claimed responsibility for.

The violent attack on Ebonyi journalist, Charles Otu, in June and other nonfatal attacks are documented as a setback for the country.

Mr. Otu, a reporter with the Guardian newspaper, was abducted and beaten up by thugs, who warned him to stop writing reports that were critical to the Ebonyi state government.

Somalia tops the list with 26 unresolved cases in which journalists have been murdered for doing their work.

Militant groups like al-Shabaab and government officials, the report said, were responsible for the killing of journalists in the East African country. Syria, Iraq and South Sudan occupy the second, third and fourth position on the list.

The Philippines, Mexico, Pakistan, Brazil, and Russia are ranked fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth respectively. Bangladesh occupies the 10th position, while India is 12th.

CPJs Impunity Index calculates the number of unsolved journalist murders as a percentage of each countrys population, the report says of the methodology used for the ranking.

For this index, CPJ examined journalist murders that occurred between September 1, 2007, and August 31, 2017, and that remain unsolved.

Only those nations with five or more unsolved cases are included on this index. CPJ defines murder as a deliberate attack against a specific journalist in relation to the victims work, the report said.

CPJ said that international attention to the issue of impunity in journalist murders has increased in the past 10 years.

The United Nations has adopted a total of five resolutions  three by the Human Rights Council, one by the General Assembly and the one by the Security Council  urging states to take measures to promote justice when journalists are attacked, the group said.
President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday condoled with a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu, over the death of his eldest son, Jide.

Mr. Tinubus son died on Wednesday, PREMIUM TIMES gathered.

A statement by Mr. Buharis spokesperson, Femi Adesina, said the president is deeply grieved to learn of the passing away of Jide Tinubu, eldest son of the APC National Leader, Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu.

The statement said Mr. Buhari, in a telephone call to Mr. Tinubu on behalf of the Federal Government and his family, offered his deepest condolences to the Tinubu family over the loss of Jide.

Describing the transition of Jide as sad and painful, the president said that the nation has been denied the services and potentials of the resourceful lawyer.

He prayed that God will grant the Tinubu family, friends and associates the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss, and comfort all who mourn the passage of the promising gentleman.

Other eminent Nigerians including members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) have also expressed their condolences to Mr. Tinubu over the death of his son.

A former Nigerian Vice President and chieftain of the APC, Atiku Abubakar, in a statement expressed shock and anguish over the death of Mr. Tinubus son.

In a message by the former vice president, he commiserated with the Tinubu family and counselled them not to lose faith in the will of Allah despite the oddity of the present pain and challenges.

Nothing happens in this world without the will of Allah. How long we live or when to die is all ordained by the Almighty. But its most heart-breaking for any parent to bury his or her own child. I pray that Almighty Allah would grant the Asiwaju and Senator Remi, his wife, and the rest of the family the fortitude to bear this huge loss, Mr. Abubakar said.

The former vice president also called on men and women of goodwill, friends and associates to rally round Mr. Tinubu in prayers as they brave their moment of grief and loss of a family member.

My family and I are deeply saddened over the death of this promising young man. We are touched and are praying fervently that our brothers and sisters who are suddenly bereaved would pull through this difficult time with trust and faith in the Creator who gives and takes at His command, the statement said.

Similarly, the All Progressives Congress, APC, also condoled with Mr. Tinubu.

APC in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said, Its never easy losing a child or any loved one. Indeed, it is hardest when they are taken from us too soon. Many who met the late Jide Tinubu, who was a lawyer, fondly described him as cerebral, industrious and full of life.

In this moment of grief, the Party offers its sincere condolence and deepest sympathy to His Excellency and other immediate family members over the painful loss. May the outpouring of sympathy and the comfort in knowing that the late Jides death is felt by many, help the family through this difficult time.

Similarly, speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, said he was shocked to receive the sad news of the sudden death of Mr. Tinubus son.

He described the late Jide as a lawyer of high repute who cut his teeth in the maritime sector and was hardworking and enterprising.

It is saddening that a father buries his son. I can only imagine your pain and grief at this time.

I pray God almighty to grant you and your family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss, Mr. Dogara said.

Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi, described the sudden death of the APC national leaders son as not only shocking but unfortunate and disheartening.

In a statement by his Special Adviser, Communication and Strategy, Yomi Layinka, the governor expressed regrets that the cold hands of death have snatched another promising and ebullient young man.

My dear Asiwaju, please accept my heartfelt condolences. On behalf of myself, family and the good people of Oyo State, I pray that God will give you the strength and courage to bear this monumental loss, Mr. Ajimobi said.

My thoughts and prayers are with you in this trying period. With Jides death, the country has lost another shining star and future leader. May the Almighty comfort his wife, children and the entire family, he added.
The embattled former civil servant, Abdulrasheed Maina, came highly recommended to head a team tasked with cleaning up a pension mess at the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation, when he was appointed in 2010.

Mr. Maina, who for three years headed what was variously called Pension Reform Task Team, PRTT or Presidential Task Force on Pension Reform, PTFPR, is a subject of recent controversy following his secret reabsorption into the civil service after he was dismissed in 2013.

In 2015, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, pressed charges of corruption to the tune of N2 billion on Mr. Maina and his accomplices.

Mr. Maina, however, fled before the trial prompting the issuance of an arrest warrant against him, and his listing on INTERPOLs Red Notice.

To the shock of Nigerians, however, Mr. Maina secretly resurfaced recently and was by late September issued a letter recalling him to the civil service and posted as acting director of Human Resources at the Ministry of Interior.

Find Infograph of the timeline of events concerning Mr. Maina below
The Gombe State Commissioner of Police, Shina Olukolu, on Wednesday confirmed the release of Ephraim Ajuji, a nurse who was abducted by hoodlums in the early hours of Tuesday in Dadin-Kowa town of Gombe.

Mr. Olukolu told the News Agency of Nigeria in a telephone conversation that the victim was released in the early hours of Wednesday.

Due to persistent pressure from security agencies, led by police operatives, the victim was released very early this morning (Wednesday), he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria recalled that the abductors of Ephraim Ajuji, a nurse with Cottage Hospital in Dadin-Kowa town of Yamaltu Deba Local Government Area of Gombe, had demanded for N10 million ransom.

A daughter of the victim, Mary Ephraim, had told journalists that the kidnappers called around 7 a.m. on Tuesday and stated their demand.

The daughter, who sustained a machete cut on her head during the attack, said the kidnappers threatened to kill her father if the ransom was not paid.

(NAN)
At least two suspected Boko Haram terrorists escaping from the militarys ongoing clearance operation in the North-east region were killed by Nigerian soldiers in a terrorists den in Gambo Yukku forest, an official has said.

The suspected horse-riding terrorists were intercepted by troops of 5 Brigade Garrison, Gubio, Borno State.

According to a statement issued on Tuesday by Timothy Antigha, Deputy Director 8 Task Force Division, the troops encountered the suspected insurgents during their routine patrol at Aisaram village, Gubio Local Government Area, of Borno state.

As part of the clearance operations, at about 6:20 a.m. in the morning, two Boko Haram terrorists riding horses attempted to outflank them (troops), but were spotted by vigilant troops and shot during the firefight, Mr. Antigha, a colonel said.

Weapons recovered from the dead terrorists were: one AK 47 rifle, one magazine with a single round of 7.62 millimetres ammunition and two machetes.

Others include two mobile phones, two horses and N7000.

No soldier sustained any injury or was lost during the operation, the statement noted.

The Nigerian military are currently carrying out clearance operations to dislodge the remnant of Boko Haram activities in the region.
The Lokoja Chief Magistrates Court I and II on Wednesday granted bail to 67 suspects, including two juveniles standing trial for alleged attempted armed robbery and kidnapping.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that 65 of the suspects had spent one week at the Federal Prisons, Koton-Karfe and Okene. The two juveniles were granted bail and moved to the family court.

At Lokoja Chief Magistrates Court I which handled a batch of 34 cases, including the two juveniles, Levi Animoku, the presiding chief magistrate, said the accused had undertaken to comply with the bail conditions.

All the accused were charged with three-count charge of criminal conspiracy, attempt to commit armed robbery and kidnapping, contrary to Section 97 (1) and 95 of penal code, as well as Section 3 of the Kogi kidnapping and other related offences prohibition law 2015.

Mr. Animoku, who perused the dispositions of the various affidavits presented by counsel to the accused, said the accused were presumed innocent until proved otherwise.

He, however, said that bail was not a discharge or acquittal of the accused of the charges preferred against them; saying, Gladly enough, the prosecution has given voice in favour of the bail of the accused.

Each accused is released on bail in the sum of N20,000 with a reliable surety in like sum, he said.

Mr. Animoku said the sureties must be either civil servants or members of staff of Dangote Cement Company or a notable businessman with evidence of means of livelihood and who resides in Lokoja or its environs.

Also, at Lokoja Chief Magistrate Court II, the presiding chief magistrate, Alhassan Hussaini, granted bail to 33 of the suspects alleged to have criminally conspired and attempted to commit armed robbery and kidnapping.

The accused were arrested by a combined team of police, the army, State Security Services, SSS, and National Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, during a raid in Obajana on October10.

According to the Police First Information Report (FIR), the combined team of security agents, on a tip-off, arrested the accused in Obajana.

The prosecution said the accused and others now at large conspired, formed and belonged to a gang of thieves responsible for several theft, robbery and kidnapping operations within Obajana-Kabba area and its environs.

It also said that the accused were seen at their criminal hideouts at Obajana while preparing to carry out robbery and kidnapping operations within Obajana and its environs.

The prosecution also told the court that a combined team of the police, the army, SSS and NSCDC swung into action, stormed the various criminal hideouts and arrested the accused while others escaped.

It said that other members of the gang that escaped killed two police officers: Gini John, a sergeant and Ezekiel Negedu, an inspector, in a reprisal attack on October 23 at about 5 p.m.

The prosecution also said that the accused carted away AK-47 riffles belonging to the slain police officers and kidnapped one Portuguese national, Jose Machada, to an unknown destination and yet to be released.

The case has been adjourned till November 23 for mention.

(NAN)
The Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) Command in Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara says it has generated N829.5 million between May and October.

The commands Comptroller, Nasiru Ahmad, who said this at a news conference in Sokoto on Wednesday, added that it also seized 39 vehicles worth N83.6 million paid duty value.

Mr. Ahmad, who assumed duty in April, said the command made 103 seizures with combined duty paid value of N161.3 million, including the 39 vehicles intercepted.

He said that 23 arrests were made in October alone.

The other seizures, he said, were 552 bags of 50kg rice, 129 bags of 25Kg rice, 976 Jerry cans of cooking oil, 209 bales of second hand clothes in addition to two pieces of elephant tusk valued at N14.4 million.

Mr. Ahmad said N829.6 million was realised within the period against N1.1 billion received last year with 22.9 per cent deficit.

He attributed the deficit to government ban on importation of rice and vehicle through land borders.

He added that the command collected export duties from Dangote and Sokoto Cement that were transporting the commodity to neighbouring countries.

The comptroller said the command had 11 approved borders with about 600 kilometres stretching from Sabon-Birni in Sokoto State to Maje and Lolo in Kebbi which allowed smugglers to use porous areas, especially during dry season.

He expressed the commands commitment to ensure continued success in anti-smuggling activities, revenue generation and trade facilitation.

He cautioned smugglers and the people against engaging in any form of smuggling.

He said smuggling of food items and textile materials was detrimental to national growth as the federal government facilitated establishment of indigenous industries producing the commodities.

According to him, people should complement government efforts to rejuvenate industries that promote employment generation among Nigerians to boost nations revenue.

Mr. Ahmad said that ban on importation of vehicles and others still existed.

He said smuggled food items were dangerous to health because they were not certified by relevant government agencies.

He added that the elephant tusk seizure was part of Customs efforts to fight poaching on endangered species in Africa where trade in elephant tusk constituted part of illegal ivory trade.

The controller said smugglers tactics of using animals, number plates with traditional rulers names and others were being tracked by various patrol teams on routine bases.

He said Customs partnered with security agencies, NAFDAC and others, noting that a strike-force led by one DSC Yahaya made major seizures.

(NAN)
The Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, said the state needs a $350 million loan from the World Bank to achieve its governance objectives in the short to medium term.

Speaking in his monthly media chat on October 29, the governor said the Bank agreed to provide the facility after checking the laws, accounts and performance of the state.

Mr. El-Rufai recalled that he had spoken about schools in the state not having roofs, doors, windows, water and toilets during the electioneering campaign in 2014 and early 2015 and promised to fix them.

But as prepared as we were with our Transition Committee report, we still got a few shocks when we took office.

In our first week, we took briefings from all MDAs in the state. That is when the then chairman of SUBEB told us that at least 50 per cent of our school children sit on floors because there was no school furniture.

We declared a state of emergency in education and started to fix schools and buy furniture. After fixing almost 10 per cent of our over 4200 primary schools, we realised we would need a lot of money to fix everything and to actually build new schools that can have enough classrooms, staff rooms and other facilities.

So, we compiled the pictures of our schools into an album, and I took it to Abuja and showed it to the Minister of Finance to explain the level of investment we would require.

Then I shared the photos with our development partners, including the World Bank. The World Bank has scrutinised Kaduna State and they are convinced we meet their standards.

We have healthy Fitch Ratings B Credit Rating with Stable Outlook. (In November 2016, Fitch Ratings assigned Kaduna State a long-term foreign and local currency Issuer Default Ratings (IDRs) of B and a National long-term rating of A+(nga) with stable outlooks).

The World Bank checked our laws, our accounts and our performance, they are convinced we merit their support.

On his governments pattern of presenting budgets early and getting it signed before the year ends, he said imposing a sense of order in the budgeting process enables government to make proper choices in spending decisions, and to have a proper window for implementing pro-people programmes.

We decided that our budget year must run from January to December, just like the Gregorian calendar. By Gods grace, we have been able to prepare, present and sign each of our budgets before the new year begins.

He praised the State House of Assembly for its diligence in examining, discussing and passing the budget, noting, when they were considering the 2017 Budget in 2016, they even slashed it by N1 billion.

Another factor that helps is the regular budget retreats that our state executive council holds every quarter. That way we know how the budget is performing and we are able to make adjustments.

Then our Planning and Budget Commission issues the call circular early and our MDAs respond promptly. It is all team work, he added.

Mr. El-Rufai said no state government has published as many tenders for capital projects like Kaduna State. He said this was because his government is committed to open, competitive bidding.

He said the government had started many projects in sectors like Education, Health, Roads, Water Resources, Agriculture, Environment and Rural Development and does not have the resources to push some of them as strongly as necessary.

The Governor said priority would be given to completing the projects, to consolidate on the practical things being done to make change real for the people.

There are schools renovated, hospitals being rehabilitated, built and equipped, roads being constructed, mining communities being given infrastructure, water works being rehabilitated or retrofitted.

He explained that his administration would complete the equipping of 255 Primary Health Centres and 23 secondary health facilities.

Across the state, we are renovating our secondary schools. Some, like Queen Amina and Government College, Kaduna, have been completed. Many more are ongoing across the state. For instance, as at mid-2017, there were 443km of township roads and 16 intercity roads with a distance of 414.8km at various stages of completion.

In addition, 17 rural feeder roads with distance of 172 km are being constructed. There are many schools being rebuilt, hospitals being upgraded and equipped, water works being refitted, rehabilitation centres being fixed.

We are very proud to have initiated these projects in the interest of our people. And we have been clearheaded enough to take on inherited projects that we consider feasible and viable!, he said.

He further expressed confidence in the Kaduna State Roads Agency, KADRA, urging that the agency continues to help to deliver and maintain decent roads across the state.

When asked how his government will avoid the mistake of employing less qualified teachers after issuing notices to recruit 25,000 teachers in order to replace the 22,000 teachers that failed the competency test, Mr. El-Rufai said unqualified teachers entered the system because recruitment was politicised.

The local government council chairmen and other senior politicians and bureaucrats saw teaching as a dumping ground for their thugs, supporters and other unqualified persons.

Teachers were employed at local government level without adherence to standards. In many instances, no examinations or interviews were conducted to assess the quality of recruits.

Political patronage, nepotism and corruption became the yardstick, thus giving unqualified persons a way in. Teaching jobs were given as patronage to those connected to politicians and bureaucrats.

The Kaduna State Executive Council has approved the recruitment of 25,000 primary school teachers. Recruitment notices have already been advertised by the Kaduna State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB).

This time around, there would be standardized tests for the recruits and a further training programme before the new teachers take over the classrooms. No unqualified person will scale through. And we will vet certificates very closely and very often. The future of our children is so important that we will not take chances. We will be vigilant in ensuring that only good people teach in our public schools, he said.

He said the June 2017 competency test in the state was administered to measure the impact of several training and retraining efforts by ESSPIN and the Teacher Development Programme, stressing that teacher training is about improving the capacity of a teacher to impart knowledge.

What the competency test showed is that many of the teachers do not have the knowledge, so how can they impart what they do not have? Are they saying we should send primary school teachers back to Primary Four? If you have knowledge but are deficient in teaching skills, we can train you to acquire the skills of a teacher. But when there is no knowledge, what is there to teach?.

He said despite that the previous government gave primary school teachers a five-year grace to acquire NCE, many teachers still dont have it.

Reacting to the threats by the Nigerian Union of Teachers to go on strike should its members be laid off, he said, everybody knows that we will not be deterred in doing what is right for the future of our children.

This is not about politics, or people making a public show of opposing what they know to be right. Shouldnt everybody be embarrassed by the test results? Where is the sense of shame? I hear some people say the pass mark for teachers in a Primary Four exam should be 60%; the same people say the state government has no right to test the competence of its employees.

One evidence of the crisis in our society is that a union whose members failed a Primary 4 examination thinks it can create problems over the issue rather than be a part of the solution. We are not people that bow to threats. We will respond appropriately.

What will be point of the threatened strike? To force us to violate our oath of office and knowingly retain as teachers those that are not qualified? That will not happen! We will recruit as many qualified teachers as we can find. We will not keep unqualified teachers on our payroll.

On his reduction of ministries from 19 to 14 and commissioners from 24 to 15, he stated that his government was committed to reducing waste, eliminating fraud and cutting costs, saying he believes that most of the resources of government must be devoted to serving the needs of ordinary people, building schools, hospitals, roads and delivering other public goods.

You cannot do this except you reduce the cost of running government. We started from the Executive branch. We inherited 19 ministries, but now we have only 14. The previous government had 24 commissioners, but we have only 15. We have fewer special advisers and special assistants than the government before us.

Next, we verified state civil servants. We gave each ministry what its maximum establishment can be and signed an Executive Order to effect this. Surplus staffs above the establishment of each Mmnistry have been posted to the office of the Head of Service pending subsequent steps in our public service reform and renewal programme.

We have now moved to the local government level. Remember that we reduced districts from 390 to 77, so that our local government councils will have fewer district heads and staff to pay and have more money for development, he said.

He said part of the reason why many local governments are broke is that they are overstaffed. He made reference to the admin department of Zaria local government with about 300 staff, adding that this overstaffing was why many of the local government councils cannot pay salaries without the support of the state government.

So, we have prescribed personnel figures for all the 23 local government councils in Kaduna state. Direct council staff will now be less than 7000 in total. This excludes teachers under SUBEB and primary health centre staff who have been moved to the State Primary Health Care Development Agency. I have signed an Executive Order directing the Administrators of the 23 local government councils to comply with the prescribed personnel levels, he added.

Speaking on the unity of the All Progressive Congress in Kaduna State, the Governor said that the APC is united around its manifesto and its leadership does not view power as an excuse for a bazaar or focus on sharing offices among politicians, adding that the reason for being in politics is to influence policies and programmes, not to share appointments.

He said the APC in the state would stay together to deliver concrete change for the people and pledged commitment of the party to serve the people.

We are proud of our record as a job-creating government. We will create as many direct jobs as are necessary for our MDAs to work well, inject youth and be more efficient in achieving results.

But all the direct jobs will be smaller than what the private sector can create. That is why we are pursuing multiple initiatives to attract private sector investments.

Apart from the successes already recorded in agriculture through Olam, Sunseed, Vicampro and others, we are bringing Mahindra to assemble tractors. Peugeot France is also coming to build a brand new factory in Kaduna to assemble cars.

They have already cleared the site in Chikun local government area. We are guided by the need to find jobs, jobs and more jobs for our teaming youth, he said.

Governor El-Rufai said the state raised a record N23 billion as IGR in 2016 and hoped to do better it in 2017, urging residents to pay their Land Use Charge and Ground Rent.
The Commissioner of Police in Anambra State, Garba Umar, on Wednesday unmasked two suspects behind the invasion and killing of 18 worshipers at St. Philip Catholic Church, Ozubulu, Anambra State.

The suspects are Charles Obi, also known as Gozila, and Dickson Nwodi.

Mr. Umar disclosed this during a press briefing at Amawbia near Awka, He added that the duo, based in South Africa, are serving murder sentences in South African prison.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that 18 persons were killed by gunmen while 10 others were injured while they were attending early morning Sunday mass at the Church on Aug.6.

He said Messrs. Obi and Nwodi who hailed from Nnobi and Oba communities of Anambra, had mandated one Quintus Anayo, also based in South Africa, to inform Ozubulu elders that they were behind the invasion.

The commissioner said that the account on Mr. Anayo was in line with the investigation of police into the matter.

He said that already police had established contact with Interpol on the need to extradite the suspects from South Africa to Nigeria.

He said that police in the state were already intensifying arrangements to arraign the three suspects earlier arrested in connection with the killings within the week.

Mr. Umar thanked the public for the information to which he attributed the successes already recorded by police in the investigations.

NAN reports that police and the state government had blamed the invasion and killings on drug war.

(NAN)
Ikeja Electric Plc on Wednesday said there will be an interruption of power supply to some parts of Lagos.

The blackout, the electricity distribution firm said, would be experienced between November 3 to 10.

According to the companys Head, Corporate Communications, Felix Ofulue, the outage will be part of the strategic efforts to improve power supply to consumers across the network .

Mr. Ofulue said in a statement in Lagos that the company would carry out a complete rehabilitation of Maryland Injection Substation, adding that this would involve the replacement of obsolete switch gear panels at the switch room.

He said: Power supply will be restored immediately after the completion of the exercise.

We solicit the understanding and cooperation of all our consumers that would be affected by this outage.

Mr. Ofulue added that Ikeja Electric Plc. had put in place arrangements to ensure that the rehabilitation was completed within the stipulated time.

He assured consumers that regular update would be made available through various channels of communications, especially to the Community Development Area chairmen and other stakeholders.

According to Mr. Ofulue, the rehabilitation will affect power supply to areas like Mende, Anthony, Maryland , Ikeja GRA , Shonibare Estate, parts of Ojota, Ketu , Ikosi, as well as Demurin and environs.
Jide Tinubu, a son of former Lagos State Governor, Bola Tinubu, has died.

Family sources informed PREMIUM TIMES that Jide Tinubu passed on in Lagos, but no confirmation about when he died or the cause of death.

He was described as the first son of Bola Tinubu and in his late 30s.

EDITORS NOTE: The deceased was described as having worked with Mobil Nigeria. This error is regreted

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A former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, on Wednesday disclosed how he was under pressure to influence who was to be appointed as new Vice Chancellor of Federal University of Agriculture, FUNNAB, Abeokuta.

The university had been enmeshed in crisis over who would take over from the former Vice Chancellor, Olusola Oyewole, following a financial scandal which resulted in the trial of Mr. Oyewole.

Mr. Obasanjo, while speaking at the inauguration of the new Vice Chancellor, Felix Salako, in Abeokuta said he resisted the pressure to take sides during the crisis.

He explained that, he had to keep distance to allow fair and transparent process by the Governing Council chaired by Aboki Zhawa.

I know there must have been pressure on you (Governing Council). Even me, an outsider, there was pressure on me. But, I did not succumb to pressure. I did not even succumb to pressure to tell you what people were telling me, he said.

Mr. Obasanjo congratulated the new vice chancellor on his appointment and  challenged him to turn the university around.

The former president noted that with the new vice chancellors wealth of experience and sound academic background, he has no reason not to perform well.

Earlier in his inaugural speech titled, Please Rise and Remain Standing, the new university head admitted the he suffered attacks and stiff opposition in the struggle to become the institutions head but promised not to be vindictive.

Mr. Salako promised to block all the financial leakages, ensure efficient utilisation of funds and compensate hard work and efficiency.

I want to call on other contestants working in FUNAAB, who in their own rights are also erudite scholars and achievers, to accept my hand of fellowship to move our university forward, he said.

I have assured the Governing Council and all who listened to my earlier speeches since my emergence that I cannot afford to hate or be vindictive. I am conscious of the fact that in spite of opposition and attack, God still appointed me through the University Governing Council. Therefore, I cannot fight Gods battle, Mr. Salako stated.

The Pro Chancellor of the university, Aboki Zhawa, in his own remarks, noted that from the comments and remarks which trailed Mr. Salakos emergence, he has a lot of work to do.

He asked him to be wary of friends whose wishes would not benefit his administration, rather have tendencies to sink his government.

Mr. Zhawa expressed the councils unflinching supports for the new vice chancellor and challenged members of the universitys Senate to do same.
For the New World Order, a world government is just the beginning. Once in place they can engage their plan to exterminate 80% of the world's population, while enabling the "elites" to live forever with the aid of advanced technology. For the first time, crusading filmmaker ALEX JONES reveals their secret plan for humanity's extermination: Operation ENDGAME.

Jones chronicles the history of the global elite's bloody rise to power and reveals how they have funded dictators and financed the bloodiest warscreating order out of chaos to pave the way for the first true world empire.

Watch as Jones and his team track the elusive Bilderberg Group to Ottawa and Istanbul to document their secret summits, allowing you to witness global kingpins setting the world's agenda and instigating World War III.





to Ottawa and Istanbul to document their secret summits, allowing you to witness global kingpins setting the world's agenda and instigating World War III. Learn about the formation of the North America transportation control grid, which will end U.S. sovereignty forever.





Discover how the practitioners of the pseudo-science eugenics have taken control of governments worldwide as a means to carry out depopulation.





View the progress of the coming collapse of the United States and the formation of the North American Union.

Never before has a documentary assembled all the pieces of the globalists' dark agenda. Endgame's compelling look at past atrocities committed by those attempting to steer the future delivers information that the controlling media has meticulously censored for over 60 years. It fully reveals the elite's program to dominate the earth and carry out the wicked plan in all of human history.

Endgame is not conspiracy theory, it is documented fact in the elite's own words.




Puzzel (formerly Intelecom's contact centre entity) has been positioned by Gartner, Inc as a Challenger in the Magic Quadrant for Contact Center as a Service, Western Europe report, for the third consecutive year.*

By: PR Artistry

End

-- Puzzel (formerly Intelecom's contact centre entity) has been positioned by Gartner, Inc as a Challenger in the Magic Quadrant for Contact Center as a Service, Western Europe report, for the third consecutive year.*"Consistency in business is essential in an ever changing world", said Brge Astrup, Chief Executive Officer of Puzzel. "We believe Puzzel's 20 year heritage, consistency and determination to work with customers to take their customer interactions to the next level, are just some of the reasons for us improving our position within the Challengers Quadrant from last year and once again being included in the Report."Puzzel is an omni-channel cloud-based contact center solution provider with the flexibility and scalability to support both smaller enterprises and global corporations with thousands of contact center agents. The past twelve months have been a landmark year for Puzzel, with a re-branding, recent expansion of its operations in Finland and Bulgaria and a new large customer deployment of its solution in the Nordic Region.Brge Astrup, continued, "This has been a positive year of change for us, with our re-branding, expansion into Eastern Europe and the acquisition of a significant new customer following a strategic agreement with If, the largest insurance company in the Nordic and Baltic countries. If has 3.6 million customers and approximately 6,800 employees. The company selected Puzzel to support plans to create Europe's largest cloud-based contact center with 3400 agents. We are seeing more companies with a requirement to operate international contact centers based on a unified solution across several countries and with our cloud-based offering we have the modern technology that the market demands."*Gartner, "Magic Quadrant for Contact Center as a Service, Western Europe," Steve Blood, Drew Kraus, Simon Harrison, Daniel O'Connell, 18 October 2017.Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in its research publications, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with the highest ratings or other designation. Gartner research publications consist of the opinions of Gartner's research organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Gartner disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.ENDSPuzzel builds on 20 years' heritage. It was one of the first pioneers to develop a cloud-based contact center. Puzzle also encompasses leading mobile messaging and mobile payments to deliver a flexible and customisable customer interaction platform to meet the needs of today's omni-channel and mobile environments. Puzzel can be adapted to accommodate from one to several thousand agents using any device, in any location and integrates with multiple applications seamlessly.Headquartered in Oslo, Norway, Puzzel is passionate about delivering innovative customer interaction solutions for contact centres and mobile environments.For more information please visit www.puzzel.com Brge AstrupCEOPuzzel AST: +47 928 27 676E: borge.astrup@ puzzel.com Press contact:Mary Phillips/Andreina WestPR Artistry LimitedT: +44 (0)1491 845553E: mary@pra-ltd.co.uk
Contact

Anna Hogan, Public Relations Manager

***@ktgy.com Anna Hogan, Public Relations Manager

End

-- International award-winning firm KTGY Architecture + Planning announced today that AVA NoMa in Washington, D.C., was honored by Delta Associates at the firm's 21Annual Washington/Baltimore Multifamily Market Overview & Awards for Excellence program. AVA NoMa won "Best Washington/Baltimore High-Rise Apartment Community."AVA NoMa (short for "north of Massachusetts Avenue") is a new 13-story, 438-unit mixed-use apartment community developed by AvalonBay Communities and designed by KTGY Architecture + Planning. The apartment homes range from studio to three-bedroom units. Community amenities include more than 20,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor amenities; an indoor-outdoor roof deck with a swimming pool and views of the DC skyline including the Capitol and the Washington Monument, an indoor-outdoor lounge with a kitchen and theater, and an indoor-outdoor fitness center with a yoga and spin studio. The large gym opens onto an outdoor courtyard with additional fitness equipment. The building also has a 24-hour concierge on staff to manage the package delivery system and accommodate residents. The ground floor also includes a dog park and pet spa, plus 6,700 square feet of retail space. AVA NoMa has a cast-in-place and post-tensioned concrete structural frame with brick veneer and metal panel exterior finishes reminiscent of the warehouse district of the past and the modern style of the present.The event was held on October 25, 2017, at the National Association of Home Builders Conference Center in Washington, D.C. For the past 21 years, Delta Associates has given awards for excellence to recognize outstanding accomplishments in the multifamily industry.As of September 30, 2017, the Company owned or held a direct or indirect ownership interest in 286 apartment communities containing 82,964 apartment homes in 11 states and the District of Columbia, of which 23 communities were under development and ten communities were under redevelopment. The Company is an equity REIT in the business of developing, redeveloping, acquiring and managing apartment communities in leading metropolitan areas primarily in New England, the New York/New Jersey Metro area, the Mid-Atlantic, the Pacific Northwest, and the Northern and Southern California regions of the United States. More information may be found on the Company's website at www.avalonbay.com KTGY Architecture + Planning is an international award-winning full-service architecture and planning firm delivering innovation, artistry and attention to detail across multiple offices and studios, ensuring that clients and communities get the best the firm has to offer no matter the building type or location. KTGY's architects and planners combine big picture opportunities, leading-edge sustainable practices and impeccable design standards to help create developments of enduring value. KTGY serves clients worldwide from offices located in Chicago, Denver, Irvine, Los Angeles, Oakland, Pune and Tysons. Visit www.ktgy.com
Six business and individual winners recognized as Colorado's cleantech leaders

Contact

Emily Long

***@coloradocleantech.com Emily Long

End

-- The Colorado Cleantech Industries Association (CCIA) presented awards to six leaders at the annual Colorado Cleantech Awards Celebration. Recipients were acknowledged for their efforts in advancing Colorado's cleantech ecosystem, increasing jobs and driving innovation in the cleantech sector."The cleantech awards winners represent some of the most exciting technical, collaborative and creative efforts taking place in the state today," said Shelly Curtiss, CCIA's executive director. "The companies and individuals recognized as finalists and winners this year are the reason why Colorado is a national leader in the cleantech space. I look forward to supporting their continued success."Winners were selected based on their ability to make an impact in the cleantech marketplace. The set of criteria used to judge the awards include the winners' ability to achieve viable market strategies, entrepreneurial activity, an ability to raise funds to support technology development or commercialization efforts and statewide job creation.CCIA's Leadership in Advancing Cleantech Award winners are:Enbala Power NetworkSolid Power and SunTech DriveAMP RobticsDustin Smith, SolarTAC and NXTGridState Senator Kevin PriolaThe Cleantech Awards Dinner welcomed 300 people to Boulder, Colorado to celebrate Colorado's vibrant cleantech community. In addition to the CCIA awards, Rocky Mountain Cleantech Open teams presented 1-minute speed pitch presentations and the organization announced their regional winners. Idaho-based Inergy Solar and Colorado-based RenewWest were selected to attend the Cleantech Open's annual Global Forum in Los Angeles in January, with Colorado-based Hyperion named as an alternate.To close out the year, CCIA will release the fifth edition of themagazine in November. The national publication reaches 20,000 targeted cleantech, high-tech, advanced energy, venture and economic development executives across the country.Founded in 2008, CCIA is a statewide, industry-led, industry-focused organization dedicated to promoting Colorado's cleantech industry. CCIA impacts Colorado's policies, people, products and programs that drive expansion of a cleaner, cheaper, more efficient and secure energy economy. Through advocacy, public policy leadership, development and education, CCIA works to ensure that Colorado is a global cleantech leader. For more information, visit http://www.coloradocleantech.com http://cts.businesswire.com/ ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=ht... ).
LONDON, November 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

EMEX (www.emexlondon.com) and its community is returning to the ExCeL Centre in London on 22nd and 23rd November with a packed programme spread across 4 free-to-attend CPD-accredited seminar theatres. EMEX is the must-attend energy management show that connects all energy users with leading experts, policy makers, suppliers and technical solutions.

EMEX is over 150 exhibitors and 100 free-to-attend CPD-accredited seminars spread across 4 theatres:

Content provided at EMEX is curated by the Energy Managers Association and its Board of major energy users and will include the opportunity for you to meet with top industry experts, peers and numerous leading suppliers that will unveil the latest technology and energy efficiency strategies available right now.

1. Are you aware about the latest technology and innovation?

With over 150 exhibitors ranging from major utilities to brokers and consultants, equipment manufacturers to training companies and showcasing a broad range of energy efficient solutions and services under one roof, EMEX has become a unique opportunity to learn about the new technology, systems and services available in this fast-changing environment.

Participants include E.ON Energy Solutions, Siemens, Vinci Facilities, ScottishPower, Dong Energy, Good Energy, ABB, Affinity for Business, Carlo Gavazzi, Kingspan Light + Air, Carbon Trust, BRE Global, Ecopilot, Harvard Technology, Grundfos, Lightsource, Argand Solutions, EcoCooling, Enercon, Integrated Environmental Solutions (IES), EATON Electric, ebm-papst, Green Energy Consulting, Savills, Sabien Technology, SMA, SES Business Water, Thorlux Lighting, Vattenfall, Wilo, Wilson Power Solutions and many more.

2. Have you got the skills, knowledge and experience to promote your energy efficiency projects within your organisation?

In addition to the technical expertise and data analysis, the role of the energy management team is evolving. Influencing and negotiation, communication and stakeholder engagement skills are becoming ever more important. EMEX seminars will cover a vast range of energy management strategies and experiences across various sectors, providing attendees with vital knowledge and new skills on how to build a robust business case for investment in energy efficiency and renewable energy projects, and gain buy-in from senior stakeholders.

Wendi Wheeler, Energy & Carbon Strategy Manager at Network Rail; Rodrigo Matabuena, Energy Manager at London Borough of Sutton; Mohammad Rafique, Energy and Environment Officer at Surrey Police; Rachel Ward, Sustainability Manager at London Metropolitan University; Tristan Wolfe, Energy Manager at University of Aberdeen; Ian Lane Head of Sustainability at University of the Arts London will share their learning on how to make the business case for a successful energy management plan and to gain `buy-in' to their energy projects within such complex and highly regulated environments.

Luke Richardson, Environmental Partnership Manager at Virgin Trains East Coast, will share his approaches and outline the key learning points he has identified in securing successful bids and persuading directors, managers and operational staff to engage with energy and environment issues.

Scott Armstrong, Group Head of Energy and Sustainability at Bourne Leisure will discuss about the importance of investing in Team. In 2017, Bourne Leisure decided to enhance its traditional annual Sustainability CAPEX programme by investing in the creation of a team of energy champions.

3. Does your business require flexibility in energy supply?

The UK's energy mix is fast changing and demand reduction is a key area the government is very keen on. Demand Side Response (DSR) is a fast-growing market that enables National Grid to balance Britain's electricity system cost-effectively, while our energy landscape changes rapidly. If your business has the flexibility to increase, decrease, or shift its electricity use, then the power is in your hands to take full advantage.

In this context, EMEX has launched the `Flexible Power Zone' in partnership with Power Responsive (National Grid). This area is designed for the uninitiated to understand and evaluate this widely talked about opportunity. A dozen participating DSR and Battery Storage partners of National Grid will each give a presentation (schedule below) and be available to talk with you one on one. It's your opportunity to find a supplier that talks your language and makes sense for your business. Participants confirmed so far in the Flexible Power Zone include Dong Energy, EDF Energy, E.ON, ENDECO Technologies, Energy Pool, EnerNOC, Flexitricity, Open Energi, Orginami Energy and Scottish Power.

Lord Redesdale, CEO at the EMA, explores how changes in the electricity codes are developing so trading energy demand reduction through the use of batteries can become a compelling investment for businesses with onsite renewables and balancing mechanism units.

4. Does your organisation keep on top of the coming taxes and regulations?

Gary Shanahan, Head of Business and Industrial Energy Efficiency, Tax and Reporting at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), will provide an update on business and industrial energy efficiency, including the development of a streamlined energy and carbon reporting, preparations for the next phase of the Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (ESOS) and progress on the Climate Change Agreements (CCAs) and the CRC Energy Efficiency Schemes.

Evan Joanette, Policy Manager at the Consumer Council for Water; Adam Yarnall, Network Utilities Manager at Camping & Caravanning Club; and James Tiernan, Group Energy & Environment Manager at Unite Students, will reveal how they approached the opportunity offered by the recently deregulated water retail market. They will also discuss the barriers and the opportunities they unveiled as they switched their service.

ISO 50001 energy management system is being revised into the new structure and is expected to be launched in 2018. Attendees will get a brief on the 6 key tools in ISO 50001 and how organisations can prepare, implement and transitions to the new ISO 50001.

With such diverse solutions, knowledge and expertise on offer, it is not surprising that thousands of small and medium businesses, as well as household names such as NHS, British Airways, Harrods, Hilton Worldwide, Boots, RBS, TATA, British Land, Ministry of Defence, AstraZeneca, Sodexo, Bellrock, BAE Systems, Co-Operative Group, Ofgem, Network Rail, MITIE, CBRE, Whitbread, Mitchells and Butlers, British Telecom, House of Fraser and many county and city councils are already registered to attend.

EMEX will be opened on Wednesday 22nd and Thursday 23rd November at ExCeL in London.

Register for free at www.emexlondon.com/register-now

SOURCE EMEX, The Energy Management Exhibition
CINCINNATI, Nov. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) met in Cincinnati, Ohio for its 61st Annual Conference. Patty Licurs, CMA (AAMA), was elected as the 20172019 AAMA Secretary-Treasurer. In this capacity, Secretary-Treasurer Licurs, a resident of Gaffney, South Carolina, represents medical assistants and CMAs (AAMA) across the nation.

Medical assisting is one of the nation's careers growing much faster than average for all occupations, according to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Medical assistants work in outpatient health care settings. Employers are seeking and recruiting these allied health professionals because of their uniquely diverse clinical and administrative patient-centered training.

Secretary-Treasurer Licurs states, "It is such an honor to be chosen for this role and to help serve medical assistants and CMAs (AAMA) nationwide. Our profession is integral to the delivery of quality health care, and I plan to work to increase recognition of all that CMAs (AAMA) have to offer."

Licurs brings a great deal of experience to her office. She has been in the health care field for 31 years, currently working for Medical Group of the CarolinasVascular Access Services as a medical assistant. She previously worked for Spartanburg Regional Medical Center for over 24 years in various positions including a dark room tech, medical secretary, medical transcriptionist, and as a medical assistant for James Hunter, MD, and Larry Puls, MD, in gynecologic oncology.

Licurs has served on many committees and strategy teams for the AAMA, including a term as chair of the Strategic Issues Planning Committee, as well as stints on the Health Information Technology Committee, Conference Continuing Education Sessions Task Force, Professional Awareness and Expansion Task Force, Partnership Task Force, Membership Development Strategy Team, Leadership and Mentoring Strategy Team, and the Nominating Committee.

The Certified Medical Assistant (AAMA)or CMA (AAMA)credential represents a medical assistant who has been credentialed through the Certifying Board (CB) of the AAMA. The CB of the AAMA was awarded accreditation by the International Accreditation Service (IAS) under ISO 17024, the global benchmark for personnel certification bodies, representing powerful evidence of quality, efficiency, and safety.

A rigorous credential, the CMA (AAMA) is the only certification that requires college-level education. Only candidates who graduate from an accredited medical assisting program are eligible to sit for the CMA (AAMA) Certification Examination. The CMA (AAMA) Certification Examination maintains physician-quality exam standards. It is the only medical assisting exam that uses the National Board of Medical Examiners to construct and administer the exam. As a result, the reliability and validity of the CMA (AAMA) credential are of the highest order.

Certification status is a matter of public record and may be released. Every day the AAMA responds to more than 100 employer requests for CMA (AAMA) certification verificationfor both current and potential employees.

The mission of the American Association of Medical Assistants is to provide the medical assistant professional with education, certification, credential acknowledgment, networking opportunities, scope-of-practice protection, and advocacy for quality patient-centered health care.

Media Contact:

Christopher R. Tomke

AAMA MarCom Manager

[email protected]

800-228-2262

http://www.aama-ntl.org

Related Links

CMA (AAMA) Sets the Bar for Excellence in Medical Assisting (video)

SOURCE American Association of Medical Assistants
WASHINGTON, Nov. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) today announced the election of new officers to its Board of Directors during ACEP17Scientific Assembly in Washington, DC, the largest annual gathering of emergency physicians in the country, which ended this week. Board officers are elected to serve 1-year terms.

The Board of Directors is the organization's policymaking body, responsible for ACEP's management and control, consisting of 12 elected directors, plus the president, president-elect, immediate past-president and chairman. Board members are elected at the annual ACEP Council meeting and can serve up to two 3-year terms.

Chair of the Board  Debra G. Perina, MD, FACEP

Dr. Perina, of Charlottesville, Va., is professor and regional quality director and EMS fellowship director in the department of emergency medicine at the University of Virginia. She is also director of the Division of Prehospital Care at UVA. Dr. Perina was first elected to the ACEP Board in 2013 where she has worked with other organizations, including the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma, to help ACEP enter into a new era of cross-organizational cooperation. Dr. Perina earned her medical degree at West Virginia University School of Medicine and completed her residency in emergency medicine at Richland Memorial Hospital/ University of South Carolina School of Medicine.

Vice President  Vidor E. Friedman, MD, FACEP

Dr. Friedman, of Maitland, Fla., is an emergency physician and managing partner for Florida Emergency Physicians in Maitland. He has served on ACEP's Board of Directors since 2012 and previously served as secretary treasurer chair of ACEP's Governmental Affairs Committee. In addition, he was one of the architects of the Emergency Medicine Action Fund. At the state level, he served as president and governmental affairs chairman of the Florida College of Emergency Physicians. Dr. Friedman received his medical degree from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine and completed his residency in emergency medicine at Michigan State University.

Secretary-Treasurer  Stephen H. Anderson, MD, FACEP

Dr. Anderson, of Seattle, Wash., is an emergency physician at MultiCare Auburn Medical Center in Auburn, Wash. He also serves as director of the emergency medicine student and resident rotations program at Madigan Army Medical Center, director of stroke services at Still University and chair of South King County MultiCare Health Foundation. Dr. Anderson was first elected to the Board in 2014. As Washington State's Chapter president, Dr. Anderson was the media point person for the state's recent Medicaid crisis  successfully fighting to protect the prudent layperson standard. Dr. Anderson earned his medical degree at the University of Michigan and completed his residency in emergency medicine at the University of Michigan Emergency Department.

ACEP is the national medical specialty society representing emergency medicine. ACEP is committed to advancing emergency care through continuing education, research and public education. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, ACEP has 53 chapters representing each state, as well as Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia. A Government Services Chapter represents emergency physicians employed by military branches and other government agencies.

SOURCE American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP)

Related Links

http://www.acep.org


COLUMBUS, Ga., Nov. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Aflac, the leader in voluntary insurance sales at the worksite in the United States, is enhancing its benefits offerings through the launch of its BenExtend product. As the first release in an evolving life stages coverage line, BenExtend is a group insurance product that combines accident, hospital indemnity and critical illness benefits into one simple plan design. For employers seeking more creative solutions to manage health care costs while also trying to help employees manage out-of-pocket expenses, BenExtend delivers an innovative alternative to the marketplace.

"Simply put, BenExtend provides a next-level benefits strategy because it acts as a solution first and a product second," said Stephanie Shields, vice president of Product Innovation and Marketing at Aflac. "At Aflac, we recognize the future of health care is far from certain, and we champion the need to transform the traditional ways our industry has historically built and positioned products. BenExtend answers the call of our broker partners and employers who seek to offer benefits that adapt to evolving employee lifestyles while also containing costs."

According to the Society for Human Resource Management, 84 percent of employers have begun to offer consumer-directed health plans. In 2017, high-deductible health plans (HDHP) range from $1,300 to $6,550 in out-of-pocket costs for an individual policyholder and $2,600 to $13,000 for a family.1 BenExtend helps employees mitigate these costs and limit exposure to financial risk to help ensure they are able to maintain the lifestyle for which they are accustomed, even if the unexpected occurs.

Aflac's initial BenExtend release is available on an employer-paid basis for businesses with 100 or more benefits-eligible employees. Highlights of the plan include:

Health advocacy and bill negotiation services included at no additional charge to brokers, employers or employees.

High, middle and low options are available to accommodate a variety of client benefits budgets and scenarios. Each level features core coverages with premiums and benefits amounts differing based on the level selected.

Employers have the option to choose employee-only or full-family coverage.

Coverage is guaranteed issue, so insureds can enroll in coverage regardless of their health status with no underwriting questions.

Benefits are paid directly to the insured, unless otherwise assigned, and are paid regardless of any major medical insurance.

No waiting period for benefits to be paid.

No reduction in benefits as insureds get older.

Designed with health savings account (HSA) compatibility in mind.

Future releases planned in Aflac's life stages coverage line will continue to deliver even more flexible and unique coverage opportunities, further adapting benefits delivery to the demands of the ever-changing American workforce and ongoing shifts in the health care industry.

To learn more, visit Aflac.com.

1 Miller, Stephen, CEBS. IRS Sets 2017 HSA Contribution Limits: Health savings account annual limit for individuals rises by $50. Society for Human Resource Management. May 2, 2016. Accessed Jan. 30, 2017 - https://www.shrm.org/resourcesandtools/hr-topics/benefits/pages/irs-sets-2017-hsa-contribution-limits.aspx

About Aflac

When a policyholder gets sick or hurt, Aflac pays cash benefits fast. For more than six decades, Aflac insurance policies have given policyholders the opportunity to focus on recovery, not financial stress. In the United States, Aflac is the leader in voluntary insurance sales at the worksite. Through its trailblazing One Day PaySM initiative, Aflac U.S. can receive, process, approve and disburse payment for eligible claims in one business day. In Japan, Aflac is the leading provider of medical and cancer insurance and insures 1 in 4 households. Aflac insurance products help provide protection to more than 50 million people worldwide. For 11 consecutive years, Ethisphere has recognized Aflac as one of the World's Most Ethical Companies. In 2017, Fortune magazine recognized Aflac as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work for in America for the 19th consecutive year and in 2017 included Aflac on its list of Most Admired Companies for the 16th time. Aflac Incorporated is a Fortune 500 company listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol AFL. To find out more about Aflac and One Day PaySM, visit aflac.com or aflac.com/espanol.

Aflac Group products are underwritten by Continental American Insurance Company (CAIC). Aflac Individual products are underwritten by American Family Life Assurance Company of Columbus. In New York, coverage is underwritten by American Family Life Assurance Company of New York. In California, group coverage is underwritten by Continental American Life Insurance Company.

CAIC's affiliation with the Value-Added Service providers is limited only to a marketing alliance, and CAIC and the Value-Added Service providers are not under any sort of mutual ownership, joint venture or are otherwise related. CAIC makes no representations or warranties regarding the Value-Added Service Providers and does not own or administer any of the products or services provided by the Value-Added Service providers. Each Value-Added Service Provider offers its products and services subject to its own terms, limitations and exclusions. Value-Added Services are not available in Idaho or Minnesota. Value-Added Services are also not available with group plans underwritten by American Family Life Assurance Company of New York. State availability may vary. Continental American Insurance Company, a proud member of the Aflac family of insurers, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Aflac Incorporated.

Medical Bill Saver has restrictions for negotiations on in-network deductibles and coinsurance in Arizona, Colorado, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, South Dakota, Texas, Utah and Vermont.

Media contact  Kristen Fraser, 706.580.3813 or [email protected]

Analyst and investor contact  David A. Young, 706.596.3264 or 800.235.2667, FAX 706.324.6330, or [email protected]

SOURCE Aflac

Related Links

http://aflac.com


TOKYO, Nov. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A 14-member AJC leadership delegation just concluded a three-day visit to Japan.

The group, led by AJC CEO David Harris, had private meetings with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Foreign Minister Taro Kono.

"We are here to reaffirm our longstanding friendship and to support the U.S.-Japanese relationship," Harris said. "We come at this particular moment to show that AJC stands in solidarity with Japan during a dangerous and unpredictable time in Northeast Asia. As has been the case for the last three decades and more, AJC will continue to be an energetic voice advocating for American international engagement and a robust transpacific relationship."

Kentaro Sonoura, Special Advisor to Prime Minister Abe, welcomed the delegation for a private lunch. AJC hosted Sonoura for a breakfast on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in September, and, in June, he addressed the AJC Global Forum in Washington, D.C., bringing a special message from the prime minister.

The visit also included discussions with U.S. Ambassador William Hagerty, as well as a dinner hosted by Israeli Deputy Chief of Mission Irit Savion-Waidergorn and attended by Japanese politicians and diplomats.

The principal topics of discussion during the visit included: (i) the Japan-U.S. bilateral relationship; (ii) growing Japan-Israel ties; (iii) the North Korean nuclear and missile threat; and (iv) Middle East regional issues, including Iran's ongoing links with North Korea. Additionally, President Trump's upcoming  and much-anticipated  visit to Japan was a frequent topic of conversation.

During the mission, Harris was invited to deliver an address on U.S. foreign policy in the new era to diplomats and scholars at the Japanese Institute of International Affairs, as well as to a group of over 100 faculty and students at the prestigious Tokyo University. The Japanese edition of AJC's "The Arab-Israeli Conflict: A Brief Guide for the Perplexed" was distributed at both events.

AJC has been uniquely engaged with Japan through its pioneering Asia Pacific Institute (API), which has organized dozens of visits to Japan in the last 30 years and stayed in close contact with Japanese diplomats stationed in the U.S. The institute is directed by Shira Loewenberg and represented in Tokyo by Jerry Rosenberg.

SOURCE American Jewish Committee

Related Links

http://www.ajc.org


DALLAS, Nov. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Alerian reported index linked product positions of $16.9 billion as of September 30, 2017. Linked products include exchange-traded funds, exchange-traded notes, return of capital notes, variable insurance portfolios, and mutual funds.

Below is a full list of energy master limited partnership (MLP) positions, as of September 30, 2017, in products linked to the Alerian Index Series.

Ticker Exposure in Alerian Linked- Products ($) Exposure in Alerian Linked- Products (Units)

Ticker Exposure in Alerian Linked- Products ($) Exposure in Alerian Linked- Products (Units) AM 314,500,698 9,974,649

MMP 174,070,0537 24,496,208 ANDX 495,276,288 9,893,653

MPLX 129,580,4290 37,012,405 APU 80,417,030 1,789,431

NBLX 19,260,488 371,322 ARLP 21,403,738 1,106,136

NGL 33,626,996 2,911,428 BPL 1,031,864,706 18,102,890

NS 412,469,373 10,161,847 BWP 235,446,580 16,016,774

NSH 293,867 13,358 CEQP 30,580,279 1,253,290

PAA 113,858,2232 53,732,054 CQP 32,223,454 1,118,093

PAGP 3,155,119 144,267 DCP 402,942,826 11,632,299

PSXP 312,901,895 5,953,232 DM 199,819,799 6,244,369

RMP 197,829,040 9,447,423 EEP 442,184,691 27,671,132

SEP 454,570,264 10,242,683 ENBL 36,814,021 2,303,756

SHLX 316,662,647 11,374,377 ENLC 978,052 56,699

SMLP 21,203,669 1,060,183 ENLK 352,229,264 21,016,066

SPH 41,025,280 1,572,452 EPD 166,832,0241 63,993,872

SUN 43,249,013 1,390,643 EQGP 300,954 10,392

TCP 351,536,852 6,718,977 EQM 564,656,177 7,531,762

TEGP 1,480,334 52,401 ETE 5,874,125 337,982

TEP 288,601,461 6,026,341 ETP 161,012,2064 88,032,918

TGP 25,028,397 1,406,090 GEL 363,300,465 13,787,494

VLP 25,291,601 578,490 GLOP 16,914,584 727,509

WES 660,661,671 12,883,418 GMLP 29,106,791 1,252,983

WGP 650,090 15,787 HEP 177,407,234 5,311,594

WPZ 126,605,5170 32,546,405

About Alerian

Alerian equips investors to make informed decisions about Master Limited Partnerships (MLPs) and energy infrastructure. Its benchmarks, including the flagship Alerian MLP Index (AMZ), are widely used by industry executives, investment professionals, research analysts, and national media to analyze relative performance. As of September 30, 2017, nearly $17 billion was directly tied to the Alerian Index Series through exchange-traded funds and notes, separately managed accounts, and structured products. For more information, including index values and constituents, research content, and announcements regarding rebalancings, please visit alerian.com.

SOURCE Alerian

Related Links

http://www.alerian.com


RiverPoint Solutions Group, founded in 1988, is an IT professional services firm that specializes in implementing, upgrading and hosting enterprise marketing management (EMM) technology solutions across a wide range of customers in the United States. RiverPoint has a long history of empowering organizations to make smarter and faster business decisions by implementing analytics and business intelligence solutions.

"We are thrilled to welcome RiverPoint Solutions Group to the Allant family and look forward to quickly incorporating their services for the benefit of our customers," said Gaurav Issar, Allant's CEO and President. "Their expertise in the implementation and execution of omni-channel campaigns on multiple technologies, and impressive customer base are a perfect fit for Allant's data and analytical offerings. Many of Allant's customers are looking to effectively and quickly communicate with their customers across all channels. They not only fill a gap for us in the execution of campaigns on the various social media platforms, but additionally enhance our speed to delivery proposition for marketers."

"Allant is an ideal synergy for us," said Paul Ernst, President of RiverPoint Solutions Group. "Their best in class data and analytic solutions will help our clients maximize their technology investments by using deeper insights about their customers to deliver more meaningful, relevant, personalized communications across all channels. Our customized, on-premise consulting style joined with Allant's strategic vision, well established brand and OneTouch data and technology environment will provide our clients with new options for dynamic full-service support of all their operational marketing needs."

About Allant Group

Allant Group is a marketing technology services provider that delivers end-to-end omni-channel marketing services. Allant's expertise and market knowledge enables the delivery through faster customer and 3rd party data integration, improved analytical insights, easy to understand data visualizations, and effective campaign management execution to enable targeted and personalized communication by marketers to acquire, retain and win back customers. Allant is a privately held company headquartered in the Chicago area. For more information, call 800.367.7311 or visit allantgroup.com.

CONTACT:

Tim Finnigan

1-630-778-2758

[email protected]

SOURCE Allant Group

Related Links

http://allantgroup.com


YONKERS, N.Y., Nov. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- alpha-En Corporation (OTC: ALPE), an innovative technology company that has developed a patent pending process to produce highly pure lithium metal and associated next-generation batteries, announced today that world renowned technology entrepreneur, inventor and policy maker Sam Pitroda will become Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately.

Sam Pitroda has spent most of his career in global information and communications technology businesses. He is credited with having laid the foundation for India's telecommunications and technology revolution and is the founder of six technology companies including C-SAM, a leading provider of mobile wallet platforms, which was sold to Mastercard in 2013.

"Sam Pitroda is a great visionary and a dynamic leader; his accomplishments to-date are truly remarkable," said Jerome Feldman, alpha-En's founder and Executive Chairman. "Sam is a unique individual and we are confident that he is the right person to take us from where we are today to full commercialization of our technology and products. With his broad expertise and vast contacts, Sam will help us develop both domestic and global markets. We are very fortunate to have Sam leading our company into its next phase."

Feldman added, "I would like to thank Steve Fludder, our previous Chief Executive Officer, for his contributions and commitment that he has shown. We wish him the best in his next endeavor and are grateful for his continued support in a consulting capacity."

Sam Pitroda served as Advisor to Prime Minister Indira Gandhi of India on Public Information Infrastructure and Innovation and as a Cabinet Minister under Rajiv Gandhi. He served as Chairman of the Smart Grid Task Force, as well as the committees to reform public broadcasting, modernize railroads, deliver e-governance and other developmental activities. He was also the chairman of the National Innovation Council. While Mr. Pitroda will assume the position of Chief Executive Officer of alpha-En immediately, the parties are continuing to work to finalize the formal terms and conditions of Mr. Pitroda's employment.

Pitroda said, "This is a very important and exciting time for alpha-En. alpha-En's technology is groundbreaking and provides a clear roadmap to future Li metal and solid state batteries with substantial improvements in size, weight, power, efficiency, charging and overall performance. I look forward to helping alpha-En achieve its full potential to be a global leader in next generation Li metal batteries." Pitroda added, "I believe that the energy industry has a lot to learn from telecom on privatization, deregulation, decentralization and distributed architecture. Energy and mobility are the real business opportunities for the next decade with a focus on micro cells and micro grids."

Sam holds over 100 patents, has published five books, has more than 20 honorary Doctorate degrees from Universities all over the globe and lectures extensively worldwide.

About alpha-En Corporation



alpha-En Corporation (OTC: ALPE) is an innovative clean technology company focused on enabling next generation battery technologies by developing and bringing to market high purity lithium metal anodes and associated products produced in a cost effective and environmentally sustainable manner. For more information, please visit http://alpha-encorp.com.

Safe Harbor



Except for the historical information herein, the matters discussed in this news release may include forward-looking statements, as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements reflect management's current knowledge, assumptions, judgment and expectations regarding future performance or events. Although management believes that the expectations reflected in such statements are reasonable, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, as they are subject to various risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to vary materially. alpha-En Corporation assumes no obligation to update the information in this release. Reference to the Company's website above does not constitute incorporation of any of the information thereon into this press release.

Corporate Contact

Thomas Suppanz, Managing Director/Finance

[email protected]

914 418 2000

Mike Mason

DresnerAllenCaron

[email protected]

212 691 8087

SOURCE alpha-En

Related Links

http://alpha-encorp.com


As Secretary-elect, Dr. Denstedt will prepare for his future role by serving ex officio with the current Secretary on various AUA committees and attending all Board meetings. Once elevated in May 2019 to a four-year term as AUA Secretary, Dr. Denstedt will formally support the development of the Scientific Program for the AUA Annual Meeting and serve as Editor of AUANews , the official monthly news magazine of the AUA. Additionally, Dr. Denstedt will represent the AUA to numerous domestic and international organizations; coordinate communications with subspecialty societies; oversee policy review activities; and serve on the Board of Directors for the AUA.

"Dr. Denstedt's previous experience serving on the Board, as well as numerous AUA committees, makes him an excellent fit for this position," said AUA President and presiding officer of the Secretary-elect Search Committee, J. Brantley Thrasher, MD. "Although the Search Committee had three outstanding candidates, the AUA Board of Directors is confident Dr. Denstedt's global expertise and proven leadership will enhance the AUA's ability to achieve its mission."

An active member of the AUA since 1991, Dr. Denstedt most recently served on the Board as the AUA Northeastern Section Representative and has previously held positions on the Judicial and Ethics, Finance and Annual Meeting Program Planning Committees. Additionally, he served in a scientific capacity as an Annual Meeting abstract reviewer or team leader for more than 20 years.

An internationally renowned scholar in urology, Dr. Denstedt is a Professor in the Division of Urology at the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry at Western University where he previously served as Chair/Chief of the Department of Surgery for 14 years. Dr. Denstedt's career accomplishments include more than 250 published papers and book chapters; over 200 guest professorships in countries throughout the world; and numerous honors and awards, including being the first Canadian to have been awarded the prestigious AUA Gold Cystoscope Award.

About the American Urological Association: Founded in 1902 and headquartered near Baltimore, Maryland, the American Urological Association is a leading advocate for the specialty of urology, and has more than 22,000 members throughout the world. The AUA is a premier urologic association, providing invaluable support to the urologic community as it pursues its mission of fostering the highest standards of urologic care through education, research and the formulation of health policy.

Contact: Christine Frey, AUA

443-909-0839, [email protected]

SOURCE American Urological Association

Related Links

http://www.AUAnet.org


To turn the exhibit into reality, however, Amerlux was asked to deliver a premium lighting solution that dramatically reduced energy consumption without sacrificing quality or performance.

"For more than 30 years, we have listened to problems throughout the marketplace and delivered solutions," said Amerlux CEO Chuck Campagna. "From museums to high-end retail boutiques to supermarkets, Amerlux has continued to grow by creating products that address real-world needs. We are proud to deliver a striking experience at the Queens Museum."

To create a world-class museum experience, Gensler, one of the world's largest architecture firms that was part of several unrealized NYC projects included in the exhibit, asked Amerlux to help.

"In celebration of this inspiring exhibit, it was important for us to work with the right quality and balance of lighting," said Bevin Savage Yamazaki, senior associate at Gensler. "We wanted visitors to experience these never-before-seen drawings and models from a new perspective."

Amerlux addressed the challenge by installing its new 48-watt SPEQ LED track heads, which feature a sleek, slim cylinder design with high beam control and use less than 10 percent of the energy consumed by the previous 500-watt quartz lamps.

Larissa Harris, who is curator for the Queens Museum, said Amerlux provided a great product that produced warm illumination and demanded less energy with ease of control. "Our new Amerlux LED track lights deliver lighting that allows visitors to pay attention in an extremely complex visual environment," she said.

More Market-Responsive Lighting Solutions

In addition to the new SPEQ LED track lights, which were made for art galleries and museums, Amerlux offers other new products based on marketplace demand.

For example, the company's recent exterior lighting solutions include:

Avista, which is the company's pedestrian lighting product, is designed for a particular kind of fixture that mimics a traditional New England-style globe or "acorn." The fixture is prevalent in the northeastern U.S. on campuses at universities, corporations, private communities and municipalities. Avista is available in new fixtures provided by Amerlux and as a retrofit of old light sources for many decorative fixtures in the marketplace. Its lumen output doesn't begin to depreciate until after 50,000 hours of use and retrofit installations take less than 15 minutes per fixture. Avista's breakthrough IP66 sealed LED Optical Chamber prevents water intrusion and extends its useful life. The upgraded product meets new 4.0 standards of the DesignLights Consortium (DLC), which qualifies the product for rebates to shorten the payback period.

Passo, which is the company's revolutionary step light, offers a sealed LED Optical Chamber that eliminates water infiltration, which is the No. 1 cause of light failure. Its advanced LED core uses significantly less energy than traditional fluorescent lamps and it's available in a choice of two output levels to tailor the desired illuminance for the project. Passo's faceplates are available in a choice of solid color composite, brushed stainless steel or painted cast aluminum. In addition, the step lights include louver, stainless steel louver, tempered soft glow lens offered in round, square and rectangular shapes for new construction projects, as well as 8-inch and 12-inch rectangular shapes for retrofits. A standard 0-10v dimmable drive provides more integration options with controls.

The Chaperone Garage Luminaire is designed to easily replace ceiling-mounted garage fixtures as a complete solution that can be seamlessly integrated with many different control system options so retrofits can be made with no fuss at all. The luminaire is an ideal energy saver, replacing linear fluorescent, high-pressured sodium (HPS) and metal halide fixtures decreasing your cost of operations. Chaperone LED fixture features an "instant-on" capability, which means it works when you need it to work. Unlike rival light sources, such as (HPS) or metal halide lamps, Chaperone doesn't require an extended restart time in the event of a momentary power loss. Control options include a line voltage occupancy sensor that provides direct lighting control with the 0-10v LED driver to control energy costs. The product meets DLC standards, which means it qualifies for rebates.

For more information about Amerlux, visit www.Amerlux.com.

About Amerlux

Amerlux creates bold lighting solutions that add warmth and brilliance to the world. The design-and-manufacture company builds long-term relationships with architects, facility managers and lighting designers by taking every complex problem personally. Its award-winning portfolio includes innovative interior and exterior lighting products that deliver striking aesthetics and rich performance through advanced engineering. For more information, please visit Amerlux.com or call 201.416.2284.

SOURCE Amerlux
SINGAPORE and RICHMOND, Mass., Nov. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Rivetz Corp. ("Rivetz"), a leading provider of mobile, decentralized security solutions for business customers worldwide, today announced a partnership agreement with Ammbr, a decentralized mesh network tokenizing broadband internet access. Rivetz and Ammbr will work together to integrate and promote advanced multifactor authentication and the use of the Rivetz Trust framework to build out Ammbr's identity and authentication platform. The companies will explore the use of a decentralized exchange to enable payments for Ammbr services with RvT tokens to support a strong authentication model for the Ammbr network.

Rivetz will also collaborate with Ammbr to support advanced security capabilities that provide owners of accounts enhanced protection, assuring integrity of the financial instructions sent to the network for processing. Rivetz will also explore hardening Ammbr client applications with the Rivetz Trusted App to simplify operations and reduce the risk of token theft.

"Our mission at Rivetz is to improve security at the device level, and we're happy to be partnering with Ammbr to support stronger protection and authentication," said Steven Sprague, Founder and CEO of Rivetz. "We are excited to work with Ammbr to support a great use of the blockchain and bring internet access to new markets."

"The Ammbr Mesh network is offering an innovative model to enhance global access to the internet," said Derick Smith, Founder of Ammbr and Managing Director of the Ammbr Foundation. "The Rivetz solution provides the foundation of a simpler and safer experience for our customers."

Rivetz recently introduced its RvT cybersecurity token to provide verifiable security controls for cloud authentication, IoT, blockchain, and legacy financial transactions. The RvT token enables multifactor authentication across devices, to achieve provable security at the transaction and authentication level. The Rivetz solution leverages technology that is already built in to hundreds of millions of mobile devices to assure the keys and transactions can not be altered or stolen by malware infecting the operating system.

About Rivetz International

Rivetz is focused on solving problems associated with consumer and machine-to-machine digital transactions. Rivetz technology and services aim to provide a safer and easier-to-use model for all users to protect their digital assets using hardware-based trusted execution technology. The device aims to play a critical role in automating security and enabling the controls that users need to benefit from modern services. Rivetz leverages state-of-the-art cybersecurity tools to develop a modern model for users and their devices to interact with services on the Internet. For more information, visit www.rivetz.com

About Ammbr

The Ammbr Network is a multi-frequency mesh network which is being deployed globally. Ammbr utilizes an innovative mesh router that supports Wi Fi, LTE-U, and a variety of others such as Sigfox and LoRa are all supported from the one router, allowing Ammbr to scale elegantly. Ammbr is also underpinned by its own blockchain, with each router also acting as a blockchain node. The Ammbr Blockchain native cryptocurrency is AMMBR, which allows each Ammbr router owner to participate in a decentralized marketplace for broadband connectivity. Users can load the Ammbr app on their smart phones or PCs, and pay for fast Internet connectivity using Ammbr.

The Ammbr Foundation Pte. Ltd. is a Singapore based not-for-profit that administers and governs the intellectual property of the Ammbr Network. For more information, visit www.ammbr.com

All product and company names herein may be trademarks of their registered owners.

SOURCE Rivetz Corp.

Related Links

http://www.rivetz.com


"Veterans Day is deeply rooted in our Applebee's DNA and our commitment to giving back to the neighborhoods we serve. Our franchisees and their restaurants truly go above and beyond the annual free meal, opening their doors and their hearts to the communities in which they operate. Each day the team members in Applebee's restaurants ensure that our heroes feel welcomed, honored and a part of the neighborhood when they visit us," said John Cywinski, president of Applebee's. "We are thankful for the sacrifices our veterans and active duty military personnel have made to protect our country, and it is with pleasure that Applebee's restaurants serve them on Veterans Day and every day."

Applebee's special Veterans Day menu includes seven of its signature dishes, including:

The American Standard Burger  Juicy all-beef patty with seared-in bacon, diced onions and pickles topped with melted American cheese, our signature sauce and a Brioche bun. Served with fries.

 Juicy all-beef patty with seared-in bacon, diced onions and pickles topped with melted American cheese, our signature sauce and a Brioche bun. Served with fries. Butcher's Meat + Potatoes  USDA Choice top sirloin, tomatoes, mushrooms, stout gravy, garlic mashers and crispy onions.

 USDA Choice top sirloin, tomatoes, mushrooms, stout gravy, garlic mashers and crispy onions. Three-Cheese Chicken Cavatappi  Asiago, Parmesan and white Cheddar are mixed with corkscrew cavatappi pasta in a rich Parmesan cream sauce and then topped with grilled chicken, bruschetta tomatoes and basil.

 Asiago, Parmesan and white Cheddar are mixed with corkscrew cavatappi pasta in a rich Parmesan cream sauce and then topped with grilled chicken, bruschetta tomatoes and basil. Chicken Tenders Platter  Crispy breaded chicken tenders are a grill and bar classic. Served with fries, slaw and honey Dijon mustard.

 Crispy breaded chicken tenders are a grill and bar classic. Served with fries, slaw and honey Dijon mustard. Fiesta Lime Chicken  A celebration of flavor, this dish delivers on every level. Grilled chicken glazed with zesty lime sauce and drizzled with tangy Mexi-ranch is smothered with a rich blend of Cheddar cheeses on a bed of crispy tortilla strips. Served with Spanish rice and house-made pico de gallo.

 A celebration of flavor, this dish delivers on every level. Grilled chicken glazed with zesty lime sauce and drizzled with tangy Mexi-ranch is smothered with a rich blend of Cheddar cheeses on a bed of crispy tortilla strips. Served with Spanish rice and house-made pico de gallo. Double Crunch Shrimp  Crispy battered shrimp are fried golden brown. Served with cocktail sauce, tartar sauce, slaw and fries.

 Crispy battered shrimp are fried golden brown. Served with cocktail sauce, tartar sauce, slaw and fries. Oriental Chicken Salad  A long-running favorite, crispy breaded chicken tenders top a bed of Asian greens, rice noodles and almonds tossed in our Oriental vinaigrette. Also available with Grilled Chicken.

This event is only one of the many ways that franchisees around the country honor and support our American heroes. Other initiatives supported by local franchisees include participating in veteran employment recruiting programs, sending much-needed items to active military service members in Iraq and Afghanistan, delighting hometown heroes with surprise parties and Applebee's gift cards, and partnering with organizations to repair or build homes for veterans in need.

Complimentary meals from the Veterans Day menu will be available for dine-in only at the nearly 1,800 Applebee's locations nationwide. In order to receive a free meal on Saturday, November 11, 2017, guests need to provide proof of military service, which includes: U.S. Uniform Services Identification Card, U.S. Uniform Services Retired Identification Card, Current Leave and Earnings Statement, Veterans Organization Card, photograph in uniform or wearing uniform, DD214, Citation or Commendation.

For more information, please visit www.applebees.com/veterans-day-free-meals. Hours vary by location, and guests are encouraged to call their local Applebee's restaurant in advance to inquire about specific location hours.

Offer valid on Saturday, November 11, 2017 at participating Applebee's restaurants. Item selection and participation may vary. Dine-in or carry out only from limited selections. Not valid with other coupons or discounts. Beverages and gratuity not included. Veterans and active-duty military simply show proof of military services. Limit one (1) meal per veteran or active-duty military. Hours vary by location, so guests should call their local Applebee's restaurant in advance to inquire about specific location hours.

About Applebee's

Applebee's Neighborhood Grill + Bar offers a lively casual dining experience combining simple, craveable American fare, classic drinks and local drafts. All Applebee's restaurants are owned and operated by entrepreneurs dedicated to serving their communities and offering quality food and drinks with genuine, neighborly service. Applebee's is one of the world's largest casual dining brands; as of June 30, 2017, there are nearly 2,000 Applebee's franchise restaurants in the United States, Puerto Rico, Guam and 14 other countries. Applebee's is franchised by subsidiaries of DineEquity, Inc. [NYSE: DIN], which is one of the world's largest full-service restaurant companies.

Visit us: www.applebees.com

Follow us: www.twitter.com/applebees

Become a fan: www.facebook.com/applebees

Share your photos: www.instagram.com/applebees

SOURCE Applebee's
CINCINNATI, Nov. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Aprecia Pharmaceuticals announced today that Dr. Timothy Tracy will serve as the company's next Chief Executive Officer, beginning in January 2018. Dr. Tracy currently serves as the Provost for the University of Kentucky, a position he will maintain through the end of 2017.

Tracy, a Fellow with the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists and an expert in clinical pharmacology, brings extensive technical skills to Aprecia. He also brings to the company significant leadership competencies, having held numerous key positions at state universities, including several years spent in his current role at the University of Kentucky.

Additionally, Tracy, who earned his PhD in clinical pharmacy from Purdue University, is a registered pharmacist in the state of Ohio. He holds two patents related to drug delivery systems and has published more than 100 scientific manuscripts.

"Along with being a wonderful person and a well-respected scientist within the pharmaceutical industry, Tim Tracy has been a driving force for advancing the mission and development of the University of Kentucky," said E. Thomas Arington, Aprecia's Chairman. "We are excited that he will apply his extensive scientific and leadership capabilities toward the growth of Aprecia, and we look forward to the positive impact he will make across the organization."

Aprecia's current chief executive officer, Don Wetherhold, will stay with the company, moving to the role of Advisor to the Chairman in 2018. In this role, Wetherhold will continue to provide Aprecia support in the areas of strategic direction, business development, and product commercialization.

"Aprecia is very fortunate to retain Don Wetherhold's services," said Arington. "Don has led Aprecia well, and he will continue to be a key leader for the company. This new role will allow Don greater capacity to leverage his considerable industry expertise, thereby further benefitting Aprecia."

Aprecia is the world's first and only manufacturer of FDA-approved pharmaceutical products using three dimensional printing (3DP). The company's ZipDose Technology produces rapidly disintegrating orodispersible tablets designed to address patient compliance by making medicine easy to swallow and administer. Aprecia is currently positioned to expand its 3DP technology across multiple therapeutic categories. Future advancements are expected to result in specialty products that address unmet patient needs.

"Aprecia's technology has the potential not only to transform the future of pharmaceutical manufacturing but alsoand more importantlyto produce medicines that uniquely address people's needs," Tracy stated. "I am thrilled to be joining the Aprecia team; working with creative individuals and innovative platforms to improve patient's lives is truly an honor."

About Aprecia

Aprecia, the world leader in three-dimensionally-printed pharmaceutical products, expects to use its ZipDose Technology to transform the way people take medicine. Its first innovation, ZipDose Technology can be combined with a wide variety of active pharmaceutical ingredients to create rapidly disintegrating oral dosage forms that are easy to take and easy to administer. Aprecia holds the exclusive worldwide license to the patent estate for pharmaceutical 3DP applications, and plans to license its exclusive patent protected technology to pharmaceutical partners as a means to extend product lines, expand patient reach, and protect market exclusivity for innovator's brand products. For more information, visit www.aprecia.com.

SOURCE Aprecia

Related Links

http://www.aprecia.com


SINGAPORE, Nov. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Marketplace technology pioneer Arcadier announced that it has launched a new marketplace proposition for the MICE industry, Exzbit, at the UFI Congress in South Africa. Exzbit is a turnkey solution created by Arcadier, and enables the digital transformation of the events industry by incorporating e-commerce into exhibitions, conventions and trade shows.

Marketplace technology pioneer Arcadier's new marketplace proposition for the MICE industry, Exzbit.

The 84th Global UFI Congress, held in Johannesburg, South Africa's Sandton Convention Centre from Nov. 1-4, will discuss best practices, as well as current and future pressures on the exhibition industry, including the digitization and evolution of exhibition formats. Trade bodies, exhibition centres and event organisers from around the world will attend the exclusive event for members of the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry.

Research shows that in 2009 only 1 percent of all trade shows were held online, but it is estimated that in 2017, 26 percent will be either virtual or hybrid. Face-to-face events are being enhanced by virtual elements and "hybrid events"  where there is a mixture of online and offline elements  are becoming prevalent. Additionally, virtual events rank as the second most important source of information when business decision makers evaluate technologies or services to purchase, hence the need for digitization.

Exzbit allows venue providers and event organisers alike to increase sales volume. Venue providers can go beyond offering just physical space and provide complementary digital space to all their clients' events. Event organisers, meanwhile, can incorporate Exzbit into their events and help enable exhibitors and attendees to engage like never before.

In just minutes, a dedicated e-commerce website for an event can be set up and used to share event information. Organisers can choose to receive commission from each sale on the online marketplace or set up advertisement space for additional revenue. Arcadier has also created a dedicated team to make the whole setup process hassle-free for the organisers and exhibitors.

Through the Exzbit platform, exhibitors can list themselves online and upload their inventory to start selling. This allows them more visibility and engagement with the event attendees, as attendees can immediately browse, make a purchase, pay online or via cash, and choose delivery or pick-up through the online platform.

Arcadier's CEO Dinuke Ranasinghe, who has also been invited to speak at the conference, noted, "The impact of 'digitization' is one of the biggest concerns for the MICE industry. Exzbit makes it easy and affordable for Event organisers and venue operators to adopt online marketplace technology for their events, thereby providing exhibitors and attendees the ability to engage and transact online and offline, before, during and after the event. This takes the event well beyond the constraints of a physical space.

"Arcadier believes that face-to-face interaction is still important to develop business relationships, thus online marketplaces embrace digitization whilst maintaining the benefits provided through traditional event formats. They are complementary experiences."

About Arcadier and Exzbit

Arcadier is the world's fastest-growing marketplace creator and the recognised global leader of multi-vendor marketplace technology. Powering more than 3,000 online marketplaces in 96 countries, Arcadier offers marketplace solutions for entrepreneurs and businesses of varying sizes, needs and geographical locations. Arcadier marketplaces support many sharing economy ideas; from retail to services and rental of space.

Exzbit is a marketplace software created by Arcadier that focuses on helping the MICE industry transform itself in the digital world. Event organisers and venue operators can use Exzbit to create a dual "Online and Offline" experience for their events.

To learn more about Arcadier Marketplaces or Exzbit by Arcadier, contact Clarissa Santoso at [email protected], or visit our websites at www.arcadier.com and Exzbit.com.

Related Files

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SOURCE Arcadier Pte Ltd
WARREN, Mich., Nov. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Meet Me in St. Louis - Art Van Furniture has signed its largest franchise agreement with Jay Steinback, president and CEO of the St. Louis-based Rothman Furniture & Mattress. The announcement was made by Kim Yost, president and CEO of Art Van Furniture, and Steinback. The new franchise partnership will add seven stores to Art Van Furniture's growing roster, further expanding its footprint into Michigan, Illinois, Ohio, Indiana, Iowa and Missouri.

"We are bringing together two of our industry's most successful furniture families in an unprecedented partnership," said Yost. "Together we can provide our customers tremendous synergy and an even deeper commitment to our communities."

Steinback, a third-generation owner of the 90-year-old family-owned and operated Rothman Furniture & Mattress, said, "Our partnership with Art Van Furniture allows our family's 90-year-old legacy of providing quality furniture and service to live on in the St. Louis community." Since 1927, Rothman Furniture & Mattress has been offering quality home furnishings to the greater St. Louis area and employs more than 240 team members. The locations included in the franchise agreement are in Affton, Bridgeton, Richmond Heights, O'Fallon, Missouri as well as Fairview Heights, Illinois. The agreement includes the conversion of the Magnolia Home Gallery by Rothman in Richmond Heights, Missouri which will become a 4,500 square-foot Art Van Design Studio with interior design services. Additional locations to be determined.

Metro St. Louis customers will benefit from Art Van Furniture's dominant buying power, warehousing and delivery capabilities. Art Van Furniture carries popular name brands such as La-Z-Boy, Magnolia Home by Joanna Gaines, and Cindy Crawford Home. The new stores will also include Art Van PureSleep with today's most trusted brands in the sleep industry, featuring Sealy, Beautyrest, Stearns & Foster, Tempur-Pedic, Serta, iComfort, Sleep to Live, King Koil, Reverie and PURETECH.

Rothman Furniture & Mattress is currently liquidating its entire inventory during the store closings. Steinback has offered the vast majority of Rothman Furniture & Mattress associates positions with Art Van Furniture of St. Louis. Grand opening celebrations are slated for first quarter 2018.

For more information, visit artvan.com.

Art Van Furniture

Art Van Furniture is the Midwest's largest furniture retailer. The company operates more than 120 stores throughout Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Iowa, including freestanding Art Van PureSleep mattress stores, Art Van Flooring stores, and Scott Shuptrine Interiors, the interior design division of Art Van Furniture, as well as a full-service e-commerce website. Founded in 1959, the company is headquartered in Warren, Mich. Visit artvan.com for more information.

SOURCE Art Van Furniture

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NEW YORK, Nov. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- At its fall meeting today in New York, the Asia Society board of trustees named new co-chairs, elected seven new trustees, and announced the public launch of an ambitious, $135 million capital campaign.

Ambassador Chan Heng Chee, Singapore's longest-serving ambassador to the U.S., and John L. Thornton, chair of Brookings Institution and a former president of Goldman Sachs, were named co-chairs of the board of trustees. Their appointment is effective November 6, 2017.

The Asia Society board of trustees also elected seven new trustees, including former U.S. ambassador to Japan Caroline Kennedy, and former Saudi Arabia ambassador to the U.S., His Royal Highness Prince Turki Al Faisal Al Saud.

Other trustees elected were Richard Drobnick, director, Center for International Business Education at USC Marshall School of Business; John F. Foster, chairman and CEO, HealthpointCapital; Dr. Susan Hakkarainen, co-chair and co-CEO of Lutron Electronics; Mahmood Khimji, president of Highgate Holdings; and James Zirin, former partner and senior counsel, Sidley Austin, LLP. Read bios of the new co-chairs and trustees here.

"Asia Society is privileged to welcome two such preeminent individuals as co-chairs of our board, together with a very dynamic group of new Trustees," said Josette Sheeran, Lulu and Anthony Wang President and CEO of Asia Society. "Our new leadership will guide our critical work as we launch the campaign for $135 million to fund new arts and culture initiatives, promote global education, and advance the Asia Society Policy Institute."

Ambassador Chan Heng Chee is currently Ambassador-at-Large at the Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs, chairperson of the National Arts Council, and a member of the Presidential Council for Minority Rights. Her involvement with Asia Society dates back to 1991, when she joined its global council. As Singapore's ambassador to Washington, D.C., from 1996 to 2012, she hosted numerous Asia Society events at the Residence. She has served as a trustee of Asia Society since 2012 and as Vice Chair of the board since 2015.

"I look forward to helping Asia Society deepen its work in the ASEAN region," said Ambassador Chan. "China, the Korean Peninsula, India and the Middle East may dominate the headlines, but engagement in ASEAN is critical at a time when the region is going through profound economic, social and political transitions. Opportunities abound and a more comprehensive relationship between the US and the region would be greatly beneficial."

John L. Thornton retired as president and co-chief operating officer of Goldman Sachs in 2003. He is currently chairman of Barrick Gold Corporation and an advisory board member of China Investment Corporation and China Securities Regulatory Commission. He is also a professor and director of the global leadership program at Tsinghua University in Beijing. He served as a trustee of Asia Society from 1998 to 2010, and was instrumental in advancing the organization's China-related initiatives.

"The rise of China and Asia, and the region's engagement with the U.S., will increasingly set the agenda for the world in the 21st century," said Thornton. "This is an unprecedented opportunity for mankind, even with the challenges that remain. That is why Asia Society's mission of building bridges between the East and West  and between the U.S. and China in particular  has never been more vital."

The new co-chairs succeed Ronnie C. Chan and Henrietta Fore, who served a six-year term as co-chairs. As well as being Asia Society's first co-chairs in Asia and the U.S., Chan was the first Asian, and Fore the first woman to lead the Board since John D. Rockefeller 3rd founded the institution in 1956. Chan and Fore will remain on the board as trustees.

"Ronnie and Henrietta helped Asia Society become a truly global organization. Under their leadership, we opened multimillion-dollar cultural centers in Hong Kong and Houston and extended our footprint into Europe for the first time," said Josette Sheeran. "They were also instrumental in the establishment of the Asia Society Policy Institute, and they have laid important groundwork for our next phase of growth."

Ambassador Chan, Thornton, and the new trustees join Asia Society as it launches its capital campaign.

"I became a member of Asia Society 20 years ago because I felt this was the institution that could help me understand Asia," said Sheeran. "Today, we have so many young people who come to us to learn about Asia. There's no more important organization that's building bridges between the United States and Asia than Asia Society."

"With our capital campaign, we're calling on the bridge builders of the world to help advance our mission: whether that's a large gift or a $10 donation," Sheeran added.

To date, Asia Society has raised more than $75 million toward the campaign, including 34 commitments of $1 million or more, and 5 commitments of $5 million or more.

About Asia Society

Asia Society is the leading educational organization dedicated to promoting mutual understanding of Asia in a global context and strengthening partnerships among peoples, leaders and institutions across the fields of arts, business, culture, education, and policy. Founded in 1956 by John D. Rockefeller 3rd, Asia Society is a nonpartisan, nonprofit institution with offices in Hong Kong, Houston, Los Angeles, Manila, Mumbai, New York, San Francisco, Seoul, Shanghai, Sydney, Washington, DC, and Zurich.

CONTACT: Juan Machado, 1-212-327-9295, [email protected]

SOURCE Asia Society

Related Links

http://www.asiasociety.org


"The Health Systems team provides a critical link among healthcare providers, payers and patients to ensure access to Astellas medicines," said Stewart. "With Greg and James' leadership, tenure with managed markets and experience in the healthcare field, Astellas will be poised to continue to work as an industry leader with our customers and patients."

Miteff joined Astellas (Fujisawa Healthcare Inc.) in June of 2000 as a manager of Healthcare Marketing. His most recent role was senior national director of Channel Accounts. Miteff's past professional experience includes six years as director of Health Systems Marketing, and more recently, seven years as the senior director of Corporate and Government Accounts. Miteff was twice awarded Director of the Year within Health Systems. Previously, he was with Allergan in various sales and managed market roles. Miteff earned a bachelor's degree and master's degree in communications from Eastern Illinois University and Master of Business Administration from Lake Forest School of Management.

Apostol joined Astellas in 2016 and has 20 years of industry experience, most recently as a senior director of Portfolio Key Account Management and Portfolio GPO teams. Prior to joining Astellas, Apostol's 18 years at Pfizer included launching and leading the Key Account Management (KAM) team, as well as leadership roles in Primary Care and Institutional Sales, Specialty Sales, Payer Account Management, and in KAM. Apostol has extensive domestic and international experience focused on improving clinical and quality outcomes for patients through Integrated Delivery Network (IDN) marketing, organized customer market strategies and KAM training platforms. Apostol is a graduate of Colby College of Waterville, Maine, where he earned a bachelor's degree in business and history. He also holds a Master of Science in Health Systems from Rutgers and a Masters Certificate from Villanova in Lean Six Sigma, Six Sigma Green Belt and Project Management. He will be based in Boston.

About Astellas

Astellas is a pharmaceutical company dedicated to improving the health of people around the world through the provision of innovative and reliable pharmaceutical products. For more information on Astellas, please visit our website at http://www.astellas.us/. You can also follow us on Twitter at @AstellasUS, Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/AstellasUS or LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/company/astellas-pharma.

SOURCE Astellas Pharma US, Inc.

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"Great people are the foundation of great companies and I am honoured to welcome Martha and Richard to the Attune team," said CEO James Hobson. "I've known Martha for years, from our time together at OnDeck. She's a talented professional and great leader with the rare ability to think strategically and drive execution across a broad range of functions.

"Richard's deep knowledge of underwriting and extensive experience within the insurance industry across a range of products, combined with his established relationships in the market, are precisely what our leadership team requires right now to ensure that Attune's growth is built on solid, data-driven underwriting."

Prior to joining Attune, Ms. Dreiling served as Senior Vice President of Operations at OnDeck, the leading online lender for small businesses. While at OnDeck, she built the company's functions for collections, credit operations, customer service, quality assurance, and fraud prevention and detection. Ms. Dreiling was a member of the executive committee and the management team that took OnDeck public in 2014.

Mr. Stamets served most recently as Vice President and Head of Small Business at Starr, leading the Direct to Consumer and Broker Business. During his almost 30-year career in the insurance industry, he has held positions of increasing technical and leadership responsibility at AIG, CNA, Chubb and Hamilton USA.

Ms. Dreiling earned a bachelor's degree in disaster management from American Military University and a MBA from Shenandoah University. Mr. Stamets is a graduate of Moravian College in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania and the Wharton School's Insurance Executive Program.

About Attune

Attune leverages a state-of-the-art technology-enabled platform to streamline the development and distribution of insurance products for small commercial businesses. Attune is backed by American International Group, Inc. (NYSE:AIG), Hamilton Insurance Group, Ltd., and Two Sigma Investments, LP. For more information, please contact Attune at [email protected].

Media contact

Wendy Davis Johnson

Chief Communications & Culture Officer

Hamilton Insurance Group

[email protected] or

+1 441 707-5240

SOURCE Attune
Located on the third level of Aventura Mall's highly anticipated 315,000 square-foot expansion wing, Treats Food Hall will be both refined and seamlessly connected to its natural surroundings. Enhanced by dramatic views and illuminated by natural light, the unconventional destination will be at once energized and calming. Abundant communal seating, including intimate banquettes and shared bar tables, will be interspersed around the space and a separate terrace is ideal for those wishing to dine al fresco.

"We're creating an immersive dining experience that will be unlike any other," said Jackie Soffer, Co-Chair and CEO of Turnberry Associates, owner and manager of Aventura Mall. "Treats Food Hall will be highlighted by design aesthetics, attention to detail, and a carefully selected collection of eateries, each with its own style and unique approach."

Treats Food Hall will include:

Figs by Todd English

A concept by American celebrity chef, restaurateur and TV personality, Todd English, Figs is known for its traditional thin-crust, free-form pizzas. Based in Boston, the casual, bistro-style restaurant serves inventive and gourmet everyday food.

Shake Shack

Founded by Danny Meyer in New York City, the known and loved fast casual restaurant chain has quickly expanded nationally after opening its first outpost as a food cart inside Madison Square Park in 2004. At Aventura Mall, Shake Shack will be the perfect destination to indulge in delicious burgers, chicken, hot dogs, shakes, frozen custard and more.

Luke's Lobster

A cozy, Maine-bred seafood shack, Luke's Lobster is committed to serving simple dishes that highlight superior, sustainably-sourced ingredients. The brand, which is famous for its Lobster Rolls, as well as Crab and Shrimp Rolls, pairs its seafood with chowders and bisques, Maine-style sides, local desserts and natural sodas.

GOGO Fresh

Serving up everything from light and flavorful salads to Nutella-filled pies, GOGO makes all its food on-premises using premium and fresh ingredients. The minimalist, counter-serve cafe originated on Miami Beach and also offers a wide selection of empanadas.

My Ceviche

My Ceviche brings flavors from around the world together in perfect harmony. The first location debuted in South Beach and the brand has continued to expand all over Miami. Aventura Mall will be the seventh My Ceviche. Foodies love this cevicheria for its ultra-fresh seafoodand chicken too.

ZUUK Mediterranean Kitchen

Founded by the same owners as My Ceviche, ZUUK was built on tradition. The owners bring the cooking they grew up with and crave on a daily basis to consumers. ZUUK is a hip and healthy option, offering Mediterranean eats and health-centric drinks.

Poke 305

This Brickell-based, Hawaiian-style outpost caters to those with a love of fresh food. The fast-casual eatery offers an assortment of fresh and organic ingredients, homemade sauces and unlimited combinations for made-to-order poke bowls and salads. The Aventura Mall location will be the second location for the year-old restaurant brand.

Hank & Harry's Delicatessen

First opened on Miami Beach's Lincoln Road, Hank & Harry's is a NYC-inspired new-wave deli. Offering comfort food such as pastrami sandwiches, subs and matzo ball soup, it's an ideal location for a hearty, grab-and-go meal.

Sliderz

Gourmet sliders made with locally sourced ingredients are at the center of this fast-casual spot's menu. A national chain currently in five states, Sliderz offers a variety of sandwiches for all cravings  chicken, beef, fish, pork and vegetarian options are available.

Haagen Dazs

The renowned American ice cream brand established in the Bronx, New York has a passion for crafting the perfect flavors and creamiest textures using only the finest ingredients. With an ample selection of ice cream flavors and toppings, Haagen Dazs will satisfy anyone's sweet tooth.

The BOL

The BOL is known for its authentic Asian cuisine inspired by Chinese and Vietnamese recipes. The food is prepared using signature wok-cooking styles that complement Chinese and Vietnamese culinary influences using traditional Asian ingredients.

Taking shape on the east side of the property, Aventura Mall's new three-level expansion wing is set to open this November. The new wing will create an inviting exchange between indoors and outdoors highlighted by the much-anticipated return of Zara, Florida's first Topshop Topman store, and experiential, site-specific additions to the Arts Aventura Mall collection.

As visitors arrive, they will be awed by the monumental, nearly 93-foot tall, tubular Aventura Slide Tower by Carsten Holler that can be enjoyed from a distance or experienced by sliding down the sculpture. Gorillas in the Mist by The Haas Brothers will be comprised of three large-scale bronze gorillas and four massive bronze trees. The piece will functionally circulate water, creating a space that is peaceful, evocative and amusing for families.

In addition to the Food Hall, Aventura Mall's new expansion wing will offer visitors numerous indoor-outdoor dining experiences sure to please any palate, including Tap 42 Kitchen & Bar, CVI.CHE 105, Serafina, Pubbelly Sushi, Genuine Pizza, Blue Bottle, Joe & The Juice, Le Pain Quotidien, Rosetta Bakery and more.

ABOUT AVENTURA MALL

Aventura Mall features a collection of upscale boutiques, including Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Givenchy, Cartier, Tiffany & Co., Fendi, CHANEL Fragrance & Beauty, Burberry and more, as well as more than 300 shopper favorites such as Apple, Michael Kors, H&M, Tory Burch and Urban Outfitters. Visitors also enjoy nearly a dozen restaurants and a taste of South Florida's thriving cultural scene with Arts Aventura Mall, featuring contemporary installations by renowned international and local artists. Aventura Mall is open Monday through Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., and Sunday, 12:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Call (305) 935-1110 or visit online at www.aventuramall.com.

SOURCE Aventura Mall

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Throughout Hale's four years at Bank of the West, her roles and responsibilities at the bank have grown. She has been responsible for creating and implementing strategy for the Bank's branch and ATM operations, overseeing the consumer bank's first-line operational risk, compliance and credit risk, distribution channel analytics and branch staffing models. Hale's focus on the customer has led to innovative solutions, particularly in distribution transformation, micro-market strategy and new branch activity. In addition, Hale led the reorganization of several of the Bank's back office functions, establishing the highest standards of efficacy in operations, group finance and first line of defense.

"Beth's established track record of success here at Bank of the West made her the ideal candidate to lead our team in product and payment solutions," said Bailey. "Her industry experience and the scope of her various roles, both within and outside of the Bank, make her an ideal leader of this team as we set our sights on the future growth and success of the retail banking and the Bank as a whole." Along with leading and implementing overall strategy in her new role, Hale will be tasked with driving the implementation and delivery of the full breadth of products and services the Retail Banking Group has to offer.

Before joining Bank of The West, Hale spent four years with M&T Bank in Buffalo, New York, where she was a Group Vice President in Distribution Planning & Analysis, ATM Services and Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) initiatives. She spent eight years at JPMorgan Chase in Seattle as a Division Executive leading retail distribution strategy, analytics and marketing planning, and 11 years with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) in Washington, D.C. Hale was recognized as part of American Banker's Most Powerful Women in Banking program in 2014. She holds a Bachelor's in Business Administration from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, where she graduated with cum laude honors.

For more information about Bank of the West, visit BankoftheWest.com and The Blog.

About Bank of the West

Bank of the West is a regional financial services company headquartered in San Francisco with $86.9 billion in assets as of June 30, 2017. Founded in 1874, Bank of the West provides a wide range of personal, commercial, wealth management and international banking services through more than 600 branches and offices in 23 states and digital channels. Bank of the West is a subsidiary of BNP Paribas, a leading bank in Europe, which has a presence in 74 countries with more than 192,000 employees. To learn more about Bank of the West, visit About Us via BankoftheWest.com.

Deposit and loan products offered by Bank of the West, Member FDIC and Equal Housing Lender. 2017 Bank of the West. In South Dakota, Bank of the West operates under the name Bank of the West California.

Connect with us

SOURCE Bank of the West

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The four winning trails were chosen out of more than a dozen nominated from eight states, including Alaska, California, Colorado, Michigan, Montana, New Mexico, South Dakota and Utah.

The competition invites off-road clubs from around North America to nominate local trails that merit grants for maintenance or refurbishing. A panel of four-wheel industry experts helped select the four winning trails based on their uniqueness, terrain type and enthusiast following.

Each winning organization this year will be awarded a $5,000 grant for its nominated trail. The grants may be used for maintenance, repair, preservation efforts, signage and education.

Now in its 12th year, Outstanding Trails has awarded $160,000 to 44 off-road trails nominated by more than 40 enthusiast clubs across America.

During the next year, BFGoodrich will participate in club events associated with these trails to highlight responsible trail use. Each of the four trails offer unique technical challenges and unforgettable scenery to off-road drivers.

Chinaman Gulch, Buena Vista, Colo.: Nominated by the Ute Pass Iron Goats off-road club, this trail is popular for its close proximity to several 14,000-foot peaks in the area. The trail is open year-round, a rarity in Colorado. The club will use the grant to provide toilet facilities at the trailhead, improve signage and perform general improvements to the trail.

Elephant Hill, Moab, Utah: Nominated by the Red Rock Four Wheelers, this trail presents many different terrain types, and gives off-roaders an unusual challenge  one part of the trail requires drivers to reverse direction, climbing a hill in reverse to get to the other side. The grant will be used to maintain and improve signage marking the trail.

Grizzly Lake, St. Elmo, Colo.: Nominated by Colorado Off-Road Enterprise (CORE), this high altitude trail follows an old mining road up Grizzly Gulch and ends at Grizzly Lake, where off-roaders can camp and fish. The club will use the grant to repair an area of the trail that has become dug out, and to add signage to the trailhead.

Purinton Creek Trail, Alaska: Nominated by Alaska Extreme Four Wheelers (AKX), this trail takes off-roaders over glacier moraine, foothills and river valleys. The trail offers more than 30 miles of hard packed dirt and rocks, hill climbs and mud. The club will use this grant to remove willow that has encroached on the trail in some sections, causing damage to vehicles.

About BFGoodrich Tires

With more than 100 years of heritage, BFGoodrich Tires is dedicated to providing high performance tires for those who have a passion for driving in virtually any environment. Combining technical expertise with 45 years of motorsports experience, BFGoodrich Tires delivers tires for a full range of driving experiences, from ultra-high performance street to off-road terrain, with one common theme  extreme performance. Upgrade your performance with BFGoodrich and see where our tires can take you at www.BFGoodrichTires.com, on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/BFGoodrichTires or on Instagram or Twitter at @BFGoodrichTires.

About 4 Wheel Parts

4 Wheel Parts is the global leader in off-road truck, Jeep and aftermarket performance products. With 69 locations across the U.S. and Canada and growing, 4 Wheel Parts Service Centers install all the products they sell. Maintaining the nation's largest inventory of off-road tires, wheels, lift kits, and accessories, 4 Wheel Parts serves customers across the country and around the globe. Life is Better Off-Road. Visit them at 4wheelparts.com or call toll-free 877-474-4821.

About United Four Wheel Drive Associations

United Four Wheel Drive Associations is the world's leading representative of all-brand, four wheel-drive enthusiasts. UFWDA benefits, developed and tested over the past 30 years, include four-wheel-drive safety and awareness education; such user ethics programs as adopt-a-road, conservation volunteer and volunteer trail patrol; assistance with new club formation; education seminars to aid four wheelers through complex state and federal programs affecting trail access; internet forums designed to instantly connect members globally; and unlimited member access to its full-time legislative advocate and nationally recognized attorney who works exclusively for four-wheel-drive enthusiasts to protect access and prevent road and trail closures. For more information on the UFWDA log on to www.ufwda.org.

About the BlueRibbon Coalition

The BlueRibbon Coalition (BRC) is a national non-profit organization that champions responsible recreation and encourages a strong conservation ethic and individual stewardship, while providing leadership in efforts to keep outdoor recreation alive and well -- all sports; all trails. With members in all 50 states, BRC is focused on building enthusiast involvement with organizational efforts through membership, participation in the administrative process, outreach, education and collaboration among recreationists. BRC works with land managers to provide recreation opportunities preserve resources and promote cooperation with other public land users. BRC is recognized nationwide for its credible staff of landuse and recreation professionals, as well as a legal team with nearly 30 years of accomplishments. Learn more at www.BlueRibbonCoalition.Org.

About Jeep Jamboree USA

Jeep Jamborees are off-road adventure weekends that bring together the outdoors, down-to-earth people, and their Jeep 4x4s. These off-road treks have a long tradition dating back to 1953 when 4x4 pioneer Mark A. Smith organized the first-ever Jeep Jamboree and voyaged across the Sierra Nevada Mountains by way of the old Rubicon Trail. In 1954, Willys Motors  then manufacturer of Jeep vehicles became involved with the adventure, and Jeep Jamborees have been an off-road tradition ever since. Learn more at www.jeepjamboreeusa.com.

SOURCE BFGoodrich Tires

Related Links

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WASHINGTON, Nov. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Bracewell LLP is pleased to announce that Paul F. Wight has joined the firm's Washington, DC office as a partner in the energy regulatory group. Wight joins Bracewell from Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, where he was a partner for many years.

Ranked as one of the nation's leading energy regulatory and litigation lawyers by Chambers and Partners, Wight has more than 20 years of experience advising utilities and other energy companies on electric power regulatory related litigation, enforcement, compliance, rate and transactional matters. He has litigated high-profile disputes over organized market design and operation at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and in the U.S. Courts of Appeal and has a significant technical understanding of organized energy markets. In addition, Wight has defended companies in FERC enforcement actions, including allegations of market manipulation, and helped companies develop programs to ensure continued compliance. On the transactional side, he has represented companies in utility mergers, asset acquisitions and FERC-jurisdictional matters.

"Paul is a highly regarded FERC lawyer, whose decades of experience will help Bracewell's clients effectively address the regulatory and enforcement challenges facing the electric power industry," said Bracewell Managing Partner Gregory M. Bopp. "We are pleased to welcome him to the firm."

Wight is the eighth in a series of strategic hires in Bracewell's DC office in the last eight months. Angela B. Styles joined earlier this week as a partner in the firm's government contracts practice. In April, Hans P. Dyke joined as a partner in Bracewell's energy projects practice, following the arrival in March of government contracts partner Robert J. Wagman. David A. Super joined the firm in July to lead the civil litigation practice in Washington, DC. In addition, Bracewell's Policy Resolution Group recently added principals Liam P. Donovan and Anna Burhop and welcomed back Christine G. Wyman as senior counsel.

"Bracewell is a destination firm for talent, and the firm's DC office is no exception," said Mark K. Lewis, managing partner of the Bracewell's Washington, DC office. "Bracewell is committed to attracting leading lawyers such as Paul to strengthen our ability to meet the expanding regulatory and legal needs of our clients."

Wight has spent a significant part of his career representing infrastructure owners, including coalitions of generators, on market design issues in regional transmission organization (RTO) markets. For his work, Public Utilities Fortnightly named Wight a "Groundbreaking Lawyer." Chambers USA describes Wight as a lawyer "who can command a room" and "understands the economic and strategic aspects of RTO rules."

"Paul is a tremendous addition to Bracewell's energy regulatory team," said Catherine P. McCarthy, chair of Bracewell's energy regulatory department. "Over the coming years, the regional power markets will continue to evolve to respond to fuel diversity changes and to improve price formation. In addition, infrastructure investments are needed to support the transition to renewable power generation. These and other factors will result in regulatory challenges and possible litigation for our clients as well as continued power industry consolidation and reorganization. Paul strengthens our capabilities to respond to these needs. Clients operating, financing and investing in the energy industry will benefit from Paul's wealth of experience handling complex litigation, enforcement investigations and transactions."

"Bracewell is universally recognized as a premier energy law firm because of its deep understanding of the legal and business issues impacting the energy industry and the firm's high standard of client service," said Wight. "I look forward to working with my new colleagues in continuing to provide value to our clients."

Wight graduated cum laude with a B.A. from Brigham Young University in 1994 and received his J.D. from Columbia University School of Law in 1997.

About Bracewell LLP

Bracewell is a leading law and government relations firm primarily serving the energy, finance and technology industries throughout the world.

Our industry focus results in comprehensive state-of-the-art knowledge of the commercial, legal and governmental challenges faced by our clients and enables us to provide innovative solutions to facilitate transactions and resolve disputes. For more information, please visit bracewell.com or follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter.

SOURCE Bracewell LLP
WASHINGTON, Nov. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Officials from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and NASA are preparing for the upcoming launch of the Joint Polar Satellite System-1 (JPSS-1), the first in a series of four highly advanced NOAA polar-orbiting satellites designed to improve the accuracy of weather forecasts out to seven days.

JPSS-1 is scheduled to launch at 4:47 a.m. EST (1:47 a.m. PST) Friday, Nov. 10, from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California. NASA Television and the agency's website will provide live coverage.

JPSS-1 will use the most-advanced technology NOAA has ever flown in a polar-orbiting satellite to capture more precise observations than ever of our atmosphere, land and waters. It will provide meteorologists and other scientists with a variety of observations, including atmospheric temperature and moisture, sea-surface temperature, ocean color, sea ice cover, volcanic ash and fire detection.

Prelaunch and Science Briefings Nov. 8

NASA TV will air two JPSS-1 prelaunch news briefings on Wednesday, Nov. 8. Both briefings will be broadcast from NASA's Press Site Auditorium at Vandenberg Air Force Base.

The prelaunch news conference will be held at 4 p.m. EST.

Briefing participants will be:

Steve Volz , director, NOAA's Satellite and Information Service

, director, NOAA's Satellite and Information Service Greg Mandt , director, Joint Polar Satellite System Program

, director, Joint Polar Satellite System Program Sandra Smalley , director, Joint Agency Satellite Division, NASA Headquarters

, director, Joint Agency Satellite Division, NASA Headquarters Omar Baez , NASA launch director

, NASA launch director Scott Messer , United Launch Alliance program manager for NASA missions

, United Launch Alliance program manager for NASA missions Capt. Ross Malugani , launch weather officer, Vandenberg Air Force Base 30th Space Wing

Following the prelaunch news conference, a science briefing will be held at 5:30 p.m.

Briefing participants will be:

Mitch Goldberg , NOAA chief program scientist, Joint Polar Satellite System

, NOAA chief program scientist, Joint Polar Satellite System Joe Pica , director, NOAA's National Weather Service Office of Observations

, director, NOAA's National Weather Service Office of Observations James Gleason , NASA senior project scientist, Joint Polar Satellite System

, NASA senior project scientist, Joint Polar Satellite System Jana Luis , division chief, predictive services, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection

Media also can ask questions during the briefings via Twitter, using the hashtag #askNASA.

NASA TV Launch Coverage Nov. 10

NASA TV live coverage will begin at 4:15 a.m. Coverage will conclude after spacecraft separation. There is no planned post-launch news conference. A post-launch news release will be issued as soon as the state-of-health of the spacecraft can be verified.

Audio only of the news conferences and launch coverage will be carried on the NASA "V" circuits, which may be accessed by dialing 321-867-1220, -1240, -1260 or -7135. On launch day, "mission audio," the launch conductor's countdown activities without NASA TV launch commentary, will be carried on 321-867-7135.

To learn more about the JPSS-1 mission, visit:

http://www.jpss.noaa.gov/

and

https://www.nesdis.noaa.gov/jpss-1

Join the conversation and follow the JPSS-1 mission on social media by using Twitter and Facebook at:

https://twitter.com/NOAASatellites

and

https://www.facebook.com/NOAANESDIS/

SOURCE NASA

Related Links

http://www.nasa.gov


WATERTOWN, Mass., Nov. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Bright Horizons Family Solutions Inc. (NYSE: BFAM), a leading provider of high-quality child care, early education and other services designed to help employers and families better address the challenges of work and family life, today announced financial results for the third quarter of 2017 and updated certain financial guidance for the full year 2017.

Third Quarter 2017 Highlights (compared to third quarter 2016):

Revenue increased 13% to $433 million

Income from operations remained consistent at $45 million

Net income increased 38% to $31 million and diluted earnings per common share increased 38% to $0.51

Non-GAAP measures

Adjusted income from operations* increased 8% to $49 million

Adjusted EBITDA* increased 10% to $77 million

Adjusted net income* increased 27% to $37 million and diluted adjusted earnings per common share* increased 27% to $0.62

"We are pleased to report strong results for the third quarter of 2017," said David Lissy, Chief Executive Officer. "Our results reflect positive momentum across our entire suite of solutions, and we continue to provide our employer clients and the families we serve with the high quality critical supports they need to maximize their productivity. We are proud to serve companies that are committed to leading the way in supporting working parents, including 80 of our clients honored last month among the 100 Best Companies by Working Mother magazine."

"We are also proud of our employees working and living in the areas hit hard by Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria," Lissy continued. "Not only have they been able to support each other through this difficult time, but we've also been able to provide our clients with critical emergency child care services in Houston, Florida and Puerto Rico, allowing employers, including hospitals and medical centers in those areas, to provide continuous services for their communities while their employees know they have safe, dependable child care at a time when many other support services have been unavailable."

Third Quarter 2017 Results

Revenue increased $49.4 million, or 13%, in the third quarter of 2017 from the third quarter of 2016 on contributions from new and ramping full-service child care centers, average price increases of 3-4%, and expanded sales of back-up dependent care and educational advisory services.

Income from operations was $45.0 million for the third quarter of 2017 compared to $44.7 million in the same 2016 period, due to increases in revenue and gross profit, partially offset by increases in selling, general and administrative expenses and other expenses. The increase in gross profit reflects operating leverage from tuition increases and enrollment gains in mature and ramping centers, contributions from new child care centers, back-up dependent care and educational advisory clients that have been added since the third quarter of 2016, and strong cost management. These gains were partially offset by costs incurred during the ramp-up of certain new lease/consortium centers opened during 2016 and 2017, investments in technology to support our service delivery and operating efficiency, costs incurred in relation to the integration of acquisitions, amortization expense for intangible assets acquired, and transaction costs related to the disposition of our remaining assets in Ireland. Net income was $31.1 million for the third quarter of 2017 compared to net income of $22.5 million in the same 2016 period, an increase of $8.6 million, or 38%, due to improved operating performance as well as lower tax expense. Tax expense was reduced for the third quarter of 2017 to reflect the tax benefit of $7.0 million related to the disposition of our remaining assets in Ireland as well as the tax benefit of $3.4 million associated with certain equity transactions which are now included in the provision for income taxes upon the adoption of new accounting guidance on January 1, 2017. In 2016, the excess tax benefit from stock-based compensation of $5.4 million was recorded to the balance sheet in accordance with previous guidance.

Diluted earnings per common share was $0.51 for the third quarter of 2017 compared to $0.37 in the same 2016 period, which would have been $0.45 had the new accounting guidance regarding excess tax benefits for stock-based compensation applied to the 2016 period. In the third quarter of 2017 adjusted EBITDA increased $7.0 million, or 10%, to $76.6 million, and adjusted income from operations increased $3.8 million, or 8%, to $48.6 million, from the third quarter of 2016 due primarily to the expanded gross profit. Adjusted net income increased by $7.8 million, or 27%, to $37.1 million on the expanded income from operations and a lower effective tax rate. Diluted adjusted earnings per common share was $0.62 compared to $0.49 in the third quarter of 2016.

As of September 30, 2017, the Company operated 1,037 early care and education centers with the capacity to serve 116,000 children and families.

*Adjusted EBITDA, adjusted income from operations, adjusted net income and diluted adjusted earnings per common share are non-GAAP measures. Adjusted EBITDA represents earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, straight line rent expense, stock-based compensation expense, and transaction costs. Adjusted income from operations represents income from operations before transaction costs. Adjusted net income represents net income determined in accordance with GAAP, adjusted for stock-based compensation expense, amortization expense, transaction costs and the income tax provision (benefit) thereon. Diluted adjusted earnings per common share is a non-GAAP measure, calculated using adjusted net income. These non-GAAP measures are more fully described and are reconciled from the respective measures determined under GAAP, in "Presentation of Non-GAAP Measures" and the attached table "Bright Horizons Family Solutions Inc. Non-GAAP Reconciliations."

Balance Sheet and Cash Flow

For the nine months ended September 30, 2017, the Company generated approximately $201.2 million of cash flows from operations compared to $165.0 million for the same period in 2016 and invested $80.6 million in fixed assets and acquisitions compared to $72.8 million in the same 2016 period. Net cash used in financing activities totaled $95.1 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2017 compared to $83.0 million for the same 2016 period. During the nine months ended September 30, 2017, the Company's cash and cash equivalents grew $27.6 million to $42.3 million.

2017 Outlook

As described below, the Company is updating certain financial guidance. For the full year 2017, the Company currently expects:

Revenue growth in 2017 of approximately 10-11%

Net income growth and diluted earnings per common share growth in 2017 of approximately 42%

Adjusted net income growth and diluted adjusted earnings per common share growth in 2017 of approximately 22%

Diluted weighted average shares of approximately 60.5 million shares

For a reconciliation of the non-GAAP measures to their most directly comparable GAAP measure, refer to the attached table "Bright Horizons Family Solutions Inc. Non-GAAP Reconciliations."

Conference Call

Bright Horizons Family Solutions will host an investor conference call today at 5:00 pm ET. Interested parties are invited to listen to the conference call by dialing 1-877-407-9039 or, for international callers, 1-201-689-8470, and asking for the Bright Horizons Family Solutions conference call moderated by Chief Executive Officer David Lissy. Replays of the entire call will be available through November 15, 2017 at 1-844-512-2921 or, for international callers, at 1-412-317-6671, conference ID #13656544. The webcast of the conference call, including replays, and a copy of this press release are also available through the Investor Relations section of the Company's web site, www.brighthorizons.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes statements that express the Company's opinions, expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions or projections regarding future events or future results and therefore are, or may be deemed to be, "forward-looking statements." The Company's actual results may vary significantly from the results anticipated in these forward-looking statements, which can generally be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, including the terms "believes," "expects," "may," "will," "should," "seeks," "projects," "approximately," "intends," "plans," "estimates" or "anticipates," or, in each case, their negatives or other variations or comparable terminology. These forward-looking statements include all matters that are not historical facts. They include statements regarding the Company's intentions, beliefs or current expectations concerning, among other things, our results of operations, financial condition, liquidity, prospects, growth, strategies, our service offerings, future estimates and impact of excess tax benefits and our 2017 financial guidance. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that may or may not occur in the future. The Company believes that these risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, changes in the demand for child care and other dependent care services, including variation in enrollment trends and lower than expected demand from employer sponsor clients; the possibility that acquisitions may disrupt our operations and expose us to additional risk; our ability to pass on our increased costs; our indebtedness and the terms of such indebtedness; our ability to withstand seasonal fluctuations in the demand for our services; our ability to implement our growth strategies successfully; and other risks and uncertainties more fully described in the "Risk Factors" section of our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed March 1, 2017, and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the time of this release and we do not undertake to publicly update or revise them, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

Presentation of Non-GAAP Measures

In addition to the results provided in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") throughout this press release, the Company has provided non-GAAP measurements - adjusted EBITDA, adjusted income from operations, adjusted net income and diluted adjusted earnings per common share - which present operating results on a basis adjusted for certain items. The Company uses these non-GAAP measures as key performance indicators for the purpose of evaluating performance internally, and in connection with determining incentive compensation for Company management, including executive officers. Adjusted EBITDA is also used in connection with the determination of certain ratio requirements under our credit agreement. We also believe these non-GAAP measures provide investors with useful information with respect to our historical operations. These non-GAAP measures are not intended to replace, and should not be considered superior to, the presentation of our financial results in accordance with GAAP. The use of the terms adjusted EBITDA, adjusted income from operations, adjusted net income and diluted adjusted earnings per common share may differ from similar measures reported by other companies and may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures. Adjusted EBITDA, adjusted income from operations, adjusted net income and diluted adjusted earnings per common share are reconciled from the respective measures under GAAP in the attached table "Bright Horizons Family Solutions Inc. Non-GAAP Reconciliations."

Guidance for non-GAAP financial measures excludes stock-based compensation, amortization of intangible assets, expenses related to the completion of secondary offerings and debt financing transactions, and expenses associated with completed acquisitions and dispositions as well as tax effects associated with these items. The adjustments to net income and diluted earnings per common share in future periods are generally expected to be similar to the types of charges and costs excluded from adjusted net income and adjusted diluted earnings per common share in prior quarters. The exclusion of these charges and costs in future periods will have an impact on the Company's adjusted net income and adjusted diluted earnings per common share.

About Bright Horizons Family Solutions Inc.

Bright Horizons Family Solutions is a leading provider of high-quality child care, early education and other services designed to help employers and families better address the challenges of work and family life. The Company provides center-based full service child care, back-up dependent care and educational advisory services to more than 1,100 clients across the United States, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Canada and India, including 150 FORTUNE 500 companies and 80 of Working Mother magazine's 2017 "100 Best Companies for Working Mothers." Bright Horizons has been recognized 17 times as one of FORTUNE magazine's "100 Best Companies to Work For" and is one of the U.K.'s Best Workplaces as designated by the Great Place to Work Institute. Bright Horizons is headquartered in Watertown, MA. The Company's web site is located at www.brighthorizons.com.

Contacts:

Investors:

Elizabeth Boland



CFO - Bright Horizons



[email protected]



617-673-8125

Kevin Doherty



MD - Solebury Communications Group



[email protected]



203-428-3233 Media:

Ilene Serpa



VP - Communications - Bright Horizons



[email protected]



617-673-8044

BRIGHT HORIZONS FAMILY SOLUTIONS INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (In thousands, except share data) (Unaudited)



Three Months Ended September 30,

2017 %

2016 % Revenue $ 433,316

100.0 %

$ 383,929

100.0 % Cost of services 330,122

76.2 %

292,457

76.2 % Gross profit 103,194

23.8 %

91,472

23.8 % Selling, general and administrative expenses 46,369

10.7 %

39,616

10.3 % Amortization of intangible assets 8,191

1.9 %

7,141

1.9 % Other expenses 3,671

0.8 %



 % Income from operations 44,963

10.4 %

44,715

11.6 % Interest expensenet (10,824)

(2.5) %

(10,502)

(2.7) % Income before income taxes 34,139

7.9 %

34,213

8.9 % Income tax expense (3,034)

(0.7) %

(11,703)

(3.0) % Net income $ 31,105

7.2 %

$ 22,510

5.9 %











Earnings per common share:









Common stockbasic $ 0.53





$ 0.38



Common stockdiluted $ 0.51





$ 0.37















Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:









Common stockbasic 58,811,488





58,928,264



Common stockdiluted 60,088,078





60,275,902





BRIGHT HORIZONS FAMILY SOLUTIONS INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (In thousands, except share data) (Unaudited)



Nine Months Ended September 30,

2017 %

2016 % Revenue $ 1,301,026

100.0 %

$ 1,171,304

100.0 % Cost of services 978,557

75.2 %

879,673

75.1 % Gross profit 322,469

24.8 %

291,631

24.9 % Selling, general and administrative expenses 141,384

10.9 %

120,403

10.3 % Amortization of intangible assets 24,241

1.8 %

21,338

1.8 % Other expenses 3,671

0.3 %



 % Income from operations 153,173

11.8 %

149,890

12.8 % Interest expensenet (32,252)

(2.5) %

(31,490)

(2.7) % Income before income taxes 120,921

9.3 %

118,400

10.1 % Income tax expense (15,402)

(1.2) %

(40,760)

(3.5) % Net income $ 105,519

8.1 %

$ 77,640

6.6 %











Earnings per common share:









Common stockbasic $ 1.78





$ 1.30



Common stockdiluted $ 1.74





$ 1.27















Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:









Common stockbasic 59,039,931





59,326,525



Common stockdiluted 60,457,004





60,737,185





BRIGHT HORIZONS FAMILY SOLUTIONS INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (In thousands) (Unaudited)



September 30,

2017

December 31,

2016 ASSETS





Current assets:





Cash and cash equivalents $ 42,265



$ 14,633

Accounts receivablenet 96,105



97,212

Prepaid expenses and other current assets 57,416



42,554

Total current assets 195,786



154,399

Fixed assetsnet 567,747



529,432

Goodwill 1,302,549



1,267,705

Other intangiblesnet 356,469



374,566

Other assets 40,599



32,915

Total assets $ 2,463,150



$ 2,359,017

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY





Current liabilities:





Current portion of long-term debt $ 10,750



$ 10,750

Borrowings on revolving line of credit 65,500



76,000

Accounts payable and accrued expenses 143,779



125,400

Deferred revenue and other current liabilities 178,412



175,430

Total current liabilities 398,441



387,580

Long-term debtnet 1,048,643



1,054,009

Deferred income taxes 111,088



111,711

Other long-term liabilities 130,465



117,850

Total liabilities 1,688,637



1,671,150

Total stockholders' equity 774,513



687,867

Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $ 2,463,150



$ 2,359,017



BRIGHT HORIZONS FAMILY SOLUTIONS INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (In thousands) (Unaudited)



Nine Months Ended September 30,

2017

2016 CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:





Net income $ 105,519



$ 77,640 Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:





Depreciation and amortization 70,289



62,090 Stock-based compensation 8,777



8,476 Deferred income taxes 1,038



(4,729) Other non-cash adjustments, net 8,860



4,311 Changes in assets and liabilities:





Accounts receivable 2,324



13,963 Prepaid expenses and other current assets (13,796)



49 Accounts payable and accrued expenses 17,815



(1,814) Deferred revenue 4,149



(3,531) Other, net (3,764)



8,498 Net cash provided by operating activities 201,211



164,953 CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:





Purchases of fixed assetsnet (63,070)



(50,466) Payments and settlements for acquisitionsnet of cash acquired (17,526)



(22,307) Net cash used in investing activities (80,596)



(72,773) CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:





Line of credit, net (10,500)



6,000 Principal payments of long-term debt (5,375)



(7,163) Payments for debt issuance costs (1,314)



(1,002) Purchase of treasury stock (74,935)



(95,677) Taxes paid related to the net share settlement of stock options and restricted stock (25,830)



(7,747) Proceeds from issuance of common stock upon exercise of options 18,709



9,148 Proceeds from issuance of restricted stock 4,363



3,682 Payments of contingent consideration for acquisitions (185)



(750) Tax benefits from stock-based compensation 



10,484 Net cash used in financing activities (95,067)



(83,025) Effect of exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents 2,084



(1,210) Net increase in cash and cash equivalents 27,632



7,945 Cash and cash equivalentsbeginning of period 14,633



11,539 Cash and cash equivalentsend of period $ 42,265



$ 19,484

BRIGHT HORIZONS FAMILY SOLUTIONS INC. SEGMENT INFORMATION (In thousands) (Unaudited)

























Full service center-based care

Back-up dependent care

Other educational advisory services

Total Three months ended September 30, 2017













Revenue $ 358,094

$ 60,085

$ 15,137

$ 433,316 Amortization of intangible assets 7,625

385

181

8,191 Income from operations 24,742

15,886

4,335

44,963 Adjusted income from operations (1) 28,413

15,886

4,335

48,634















Three months ended September 30, 2016













Revenue $ 318,821

$ 53,229

$ 11,879

$ 383,929 Amortization of intangible assets 6,586

411

144

7,141 Income from operations 28,107

14,183

2,425

44,715 Adjusted income from operations (2) 28,265

14,183

2,425

44,873





















(1) Adjusted income from operations represents income from operations excluding expenses incurred in

connection with the disposition of assets in Ireland. (2) Adjusted income from operations represents income from operations excluding expenses incurred in

connection with completed acquisitions.























Full service center-based care

Back-up dependent care

Other educational advisory services

Total Nine months ended September 30, 2017













Revenue $ 1,094,911

$ 164,171

$ 41,944

$ 1,301,026 Amortization of intangible assets 22,505

1,154

582

24,241 Income from operations 99,921

43,794

9,458

153,173 Adjusted income from operations (1) 105,537

43,794

9,458

158,789















Nine months ended September 30, 2016















Revenue $ 991,133

$ 146,009

$ 34,162

$ 1,171,304 Amortization of intangible assets 20,133

773

432

21,338 Income from operations 101,584

41,741

6,565

149,890 Adjusted income from operations (2) 102,352

41,741

6,565

150,658





















(1) Adjusted income from operations represents income from operations excluding expenses incurred

related to the disposition of assets in Ireland, an amendment to the credit agreement, and a secondary offering. (2) Adjusted income from operations represents income from operations excluding expenses incurred in

connection with an amendment to the credit agreement, completed acquisitions, and a secondary offering.

BRIGHT HORIZONS FAMILY SOLUTIONS INC. NON-GAAP RECONCILIATIONS (In thousands, except share data) (Unaudited)





















Three Months Ended

September 30,

Nine Months Ended

September 30,

2017

2016

2017

2016 Net income $ 31,105

$ 22,510

$ 105,519

$ 77,640 Interest expense, net 10,824

10,502

32,252

31,490 Income tax expense 3,034

11,703

15,402

40,760 Depreciation 15,494

13,858

46,048

40,752 Amortization of intangible assets (a) 8,191

7,141

24,241

21,338 EBITDA 68,648

65,714

223,462

211,980 Additional Adjustments:













Deferred rent (b) 1,064

984

3,647

1,614 Stock-based compensation expense (c) 3,263

2,830

8,777

8,476 Transaction costs (d) 3,671

158

5,616

768 Total adjustments 7,998

3,972

18,040

10,858 Adjusted EBITDA $ 76,646

$ 69,686

$ 241,502

$ 222,838















Income from operations $ 44,963

$ 44,715

$ 153,173

$ 149,890 Transaction costs (d) 3,671

158

5,616

768 Adjusted income from operations $ 48,634

$ 44,873

$ 158,789

$ 150,658















Net income $ 31,105

$ 22,510

$ 105,519

$ 77,640 Income tax expense 3,034

11,703

15,402

40,760 Income before tax 34,139

34,213

120,921

118,400 Stock-based compensation expense (c) 3,263

2,830

8,777

8,476 Amortization of intangible assets (a) 8,191

7,141

24,241

21,338 Transaction costs (d) 3,671

158

5,616

768 Adjusted income before tax 49,264

44,342

159,555

148,982 Adjusted income tax expense (e) (12,193)

(15,076)

(41,083)

(51,700) Adjusted net income $ 37,071

$ 29,266

$ 118,472

$ 97,282















Weighted average number of common sharesdiluted 60,088,078

60,275,902

60,457,004

60,737,185 Diluted adjusted earnings per common share $ 0.62

$ 0.49

$ 1.96

$ 1.60

BRIGHT HORIZONS FAMILY SOLUTIONS INC. NON-GAAP RECONCILIATIONS (In thousands, except share data) (Unaudited)





Forward Guidance (h)

Year Ended December 31, 2017

Low

High Allocation of net income to common stockholders:





Common stock $ 133,000



$ 134,100

Unvested participating shares 900



900

Net income 133,900



135,000

Income tax expense (f) 29,100



29,700

Income before tax 163,000



164,700

Adjustments:





Stock-based compensation expense (c) 12,000



12,000

Amortization of intangible assets (a) 32,500



32,500

Transaction costs (d) 5,700



5,700

Adjusted income before tax 213,200



214,900

Adjusted income tax expense (g) (54,100)



(54,800)

Adjusted net income attributable to common stockholders $ 159,100



$ 160,100









Diluted earnings per common share $ 2.20



$ 2.22

Diluted earnings per unvested participating share 0.02



0.02

Diluted earnings per share 2.22



2.24

Income tax expense (f) 0.48



0.49

Income before tax 2.70



2.73

Adjustments:





Stock-based compensation expense (c) 0.20



0.20

Amortization of intangible assets (a) 0.54



0.54

Transaction costs (d) 0.09



0.09

Adjusted income tax expense (g) (0.90)



(0.91)

Diluted adjusted earnings per common share $ 2.63



$ 2.65



(a) Represents amortization of intangible assets, including approximately $4.5 million in each quarter of 2017 and 2016, associated with intangible assets recorded in connection with our going private transaction in May 2008. (b) Represents rent in excess of cash paid for rent, recognized on a straight line basis over the life of the lease in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification Topic 840, Leases. (c) Represents non-cash stock-based compensation expense in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718, Compensation-Stock Compensation. (d) Represents transaction costs incurred in connection with the August 2017 disposition of assets in Ireland, the May 2017 and January 2016 amendments to the credit agreement, secondary offerings and completed acquisitions. (e) Represents income tax expense calculated on adjusted income before tax at a tax rate of approximately 25% and 26% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively, and of approximately 34% and 35% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively. The tax rate for 2017 represents an effective tax rate of approximately 36% applied to the expected adjusted income before tax for the full year, less the effect of the known excess tax benefit of $3.4 million and $21.9 million associated with stock option exercises and vesting of restricted stock which were recorded in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively, as well as an estimate of additional excess tax benefits related to such equity transactions for the remainder of 2017, which the Company estimates in the range of $1.5 million to $2.0 million for the remainder of the year. However, the timing, volume and tax benefits associated with such future equity activity will affect these estimates and the estimated effective tax rate for the year. (f) Represents estimated income tax expense using the effective tax rate of approximately 18% for the year ended December 31, 2017, based on projected consolidated income before tax and including the impact of the realized excess tax benefit of $21.9 million through September 30, 2017, as well as an estimate of additional excess tax benefits related to such equity transactions for the remainder of 2017, which the Company estimates in the range of $1.5 million to $2.0 million for the remainder of the year. (g) Represents estimated tax on adjusted income before tax using the effective tax rate of approximately 25%. (h) Forward guidance amounts are estimated based on a number of assumptions and actual results could differ materially from the estimates provided herein.

SOURCE Bright Horizons Family Solutions

Related Links

http://www.brighthorizons.com


PLEASANTON, Calif., Nov. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Laborers' International Union of North America (LIUNA) and its affiliated Northern California District Council of Laborers and Southern California District Council of Laborers announced its unanimous endorsement of Gavin Newsom for California Governor.

"Gavin Newsom is one of the most effective and responsive leaders I have worked with," said LIUNA Vice President and Northern California District Council of Laborers Business Manager, Oscar De La Torre. "As the Mayor of San Francisco and California Lieutenant Governor, Newsom has consistently demonstrated a track record of fiscal responsibility, social consciousness and a commitment to fight for the working class." De La Torre continues, "These qualities are what sets him apart from the crowded field of gubernatorial candidates; and I believe he is the right man at the right time to be the next Governor of California."

"I am honored to receive this important endorsement," said Newsom. "We've worked together for years because we share the same vision, and I admire their hard work and steadfast commitment to providing living wages, health care, and retirement benefits for working-class Californians."

"The California Governor's Office needs to be occupied by a serious candidate who understands what it means to govern responsibly," said LIUNA Vice President and Pacific Southwest Regional Manager, Rocco Davis. "Newsom is the right candidate for the working men and women of California. He will stand strong with all Californian's by enforcing labor laws and ensuring job opportunities that allow hard working trades men and women an opportunity to provide for their families and retire with dignity. "

"Newsom has the right combination of executive level experience and commitment to balanced job growth and working class values to lead California," said Jon Preciado, Southern California District Council of Laborers Business Manager. "I am confident that he will balance the needs of working class Californians with a sound fiscal policy that will continue to attract employers and job creation in the years to come."

With over 65,000 laborer members and 4500 signatory employers strong  The Northern California District Council of Laborers and Southern California District Council of Laborers are on the forefront of the construction industry, a powerhouse of workers and employers who are proud to build California.

SOURCE Northern California District Council of Laborers

Related Links

http:///www.ncdclaborers.org


PALATINE, Ill., Nov. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Capital Forensics, Inc. (CFI) announced today that noted attorney Noah Sorkin  a well-recognized legal authority in the financial services industry  has joined the firm as a Senior Advisor, adding professional depth to CFI's ability to provide financial services firms with a broad range of legal and regulatory solutions.

Attorney Noah Sorkin - a recognized legal authority in the financial services industry - has joined Capital Forensics, Inc. as a Senior Advisor.

Noah Sorkin has more than 30 years of experience in financial services, most recently having served as Executive Vice President and General Counsel for AIG Advisor Group in New York, where he was responsible for all legal, regulatory and related risk-management issues within a network of four broker-dealer / investment advisory firms and 5,000 affiliated Registered Representatives. Previously, he was associated with other nationally recognized firms, including Fidelity National Financial, Oppenheimer & Co., and Prudential Securities, Inc.

Over the course of his distinguished career, Mr. Sorkin has tried or supervised hundreds of lawsuits and arbitration claims involving significant compensatory damages and other equitable relief. He has also lead many teams in regulatory examinations and enforcement activity that included all types of SEC, FINRA and state securities department proceedings, involving market conduct and sales practices.

Capital Forensics' Chairman and CEO, Vadim Khavinson, said, "At CFI, we seek to add professionals who possess first-hand experience dealing with the tough issues, challenges and opportunities that face our clients. We value people who have battled in the trenches, not watched from the sidelines. In that regard, there are very few attorneys in the financial services field who can match Noah Sorkin's track record. CFI is proud to include him as a resource for our clients."

Mr. Sorkin began his career as an Assistant District Attorney in New York. He holds an undergraduate degree from Connecticut College, a Juris Doctor degree from George Washington University Law School, and an LLM Degree in Taxation from New York University Law School. He currently serves as a securities arbitrator for FINRA.

About Capital Forensics. Inc.

Founded in 1993, Capital Forensics, Inc. (CFI) provides data analysis, expert testimony, litigation support and regulatory consulting for the financial services industry. CFI's clients range from financial institutions  including broker-dealers, hedge funds and Registered Investment Advisors  to FORTUNE 500 companies.

CFI's major practice areas include: Data Analytics  Litigation Support & Expert Testimony  Compliance, Regulatory & Risk Consulting  Forensic & Fraud Investigation  The industry's most comprehensive suite of Arbitration Tools, including ArbReporter, ArbSelector and MockArb. CFI has assisted business leaders and litigation teams in thousands of successful case resolutions and regulatory inquiries.

Contact:

Eric H. Siber

Managing Director

[email protected]

(917) 225-6659

SOURCE Capital Forensics, Inc.
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., Nov. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- CarePredict and Avanti Senior Living announced today a three-year agreement to deploy the CarePredict system throughout the Avanti Towne Lake community in Cypress, Texas. The CarePredict solution combines a Tempo wearable device with sophisticated machine-learning algorithms and smart location technology to measure activity and behavioral patterns of senior residents  enabling senior living care staff to intervene before health emergencies occur.

"CarePredict has been on our radar for a while and is exactly what we were looking for to help us deliver the best service and care for our senior residents," said Lori Alford, COO of Avanti Senior Living. "They have clearly established themselves as the technology leader in developing systems that help senior living providers get ahead of emerging health problems."

The CarePredict Tempo wearable measures changes in daily activities such as sleeping, toileting, movement, hydration, eating, and socialization patterns to help support a better quality of life for residents. Both residents and care staff wear Tempo, enabling users to precisely locate anyone inside the building, as well as measure care staff productivity.

"We are excited to partner with Avanti, a senior living community that believes innovative technology is the key to improving the overall care our senior loved ones receive," said Satish Movva, CEO and founder of CarePredict. "By measuring the activities of daily living (ADLs) of assisted living and memory care residents, the Avanti care staff and management team will be able to identify valuable healthcare data insights and be more proactive in delivering superior care."

About CarePredict

CarePredict believes insight into changes in the daily activity patterns of seniors is key to increasing productivity of caregivers, quality of life for seniors and peace of mind to loved ones. Founded in 2013 and headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, the technology company is pioneering proactive health risk detection of seniors. CarePredict's proprietary wearable solution, Tempo, provides predictive insights for early detection and intervention of health conditions before it's too late. Its technology is used in assisted living, memory care, home care and independent living communities throughout the United States and Canada. For more information, visit http://carepredict.com.

ABOUT AVANTI SENIOR LIVING

Avanti Senior Living owns, develops and operates senior living communities. Avanti was launched in 2013 and is committed to redefining senior housing through forward-thinking design, inspiring and innovative culture and state-of-the-art technology. The company is based in The Woodlands, Texas. CEO Tim Hekker and COO Lori Juneau-Alford founded the company with their combined 50-plus years of experience. Avanti's vision focuses on creating a culture that emphasizes personal choice and control to preserve resident dignity, while delivering world-class care and support and inspirational experiences. For more information please visit: http://avanti-sl.com/.

SOURCE CarePredict

Related Links

http://carepredict.com


ATLANTA, Nov. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- CarNow is excited to announce their partnership with PCG Companies to support open standards for Google Analytics events and goals for the automotive industry. CarNow joins the growing movement to empower auto dealers with accurate data to improve their marketing mix. CarNow's platform was recently certified to be compliant with the PCG Google Analytics Specification for the automotive industry.

CarNow has been working closely with PCG Companies to identify the key engagement indicators in both the Visual Sales Messenger and BuyNow products. CarNow's advanced solutions deliver top tier results by empowering dealers to deliver white-glove, concierge level process to their digital customers. Consumer interactions on the CarNow platform will now be visible in Google Analytics using predefined event names and goals.

Tim Cox, Co-Founder & VP of Sales and Aaron Baldwin, VP of Business Development will be representing CarNow at the upcoming Automotive Analytics & Attribution Summit (AAAS) in Boca Raton, November 8th and 9th. CarNow will be sharing their GA integration and conversion reporting insights in their workshop and will also discuss how to reduce friction with the online sales process.

"I am excited to be joining PCG Companies to support this open standard for Google Analytics," said Tim. "Our company has built its reputation on delivering outstanding dealer-centric software and transparent reporting. We love that our dealers can see our conversions and engagement in all of their marketing campaigns."

PCG Companies created the public specification to allow automotive dealers to verify marketing reports and claims through Google Analytics, an independent reporting platform. The specification was published in 2016 and now has wide support in the automotive industry.

"Dealers do not always trust the reports that their technology partners provide," said Brian Pasch, Founder of PCG Companies. "CarNow's timely participation in a larger movement for greater transparency and attribution confirms the integrity of their leadership team and product roadmap."

To learn more about the upcoming Automotive Analytics & Attribution Summit (AAAS), visit: http://automotiveattributionsummit.com/

About CarNow

CarNow is a leading provider of live customer engagement solutions for the Automotive industry. CarNow's live-assistance software platform revolutionizes the way dealers communicate and transact with online customers by integrating dealer data, industry data, and best-in-class technical integrations with elegant live-assisted workflows for digital retailing. Launching with its first customer in December 2014, CarNow has become one of the fastest growing technology providers in Automotive. Additional information on CarNow's products, features, and manufacturer certifications can be found at www.carnow.com.

About PCG Companies

Founded in 2005 by Brian Pasch, PCG Companies is a leading automotive consultancy and analytics firm serving the automotive industry. PCG Companies is a recognized leader in Tier 3 automotive marketing education through their hosted conferences, books, and online training courses. The fastest growing division of the company is VistaDash, a trusted cloud-based data reporting and analytics platform which fuels marketing insights for single point and multi-store dealer groups. (www.vistadash.com)

SOURCE CarNow

Related Links

http://www.carnow.com


BOSTON, Nov. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- LENAJAPON USA (https://www.lenajapon.us/) is thrilled to introduce new products; LJ MOIST SHIMMER (Clear Complexion Complete Day Serum) and LJ PEARLY POWDER (Moisturizing Beauty Face Powder) in November 11th 2017. LENAJAPON's natural botanical products are designed for all ages and skin types.

LJ Winter Cherry Blossom Beauty Set LJ MOIST SHIMMER & LJ PEARLY POWDER- 11/11/2017 DEBUT at www.lenajapon.us

"LJ MOIST SHIMMER and LJ PEARLY POWDER are created by years of products research and development. They are so gentle and light on skin, yet they bring a smooth and glowing skin all day long. I couldn't use any face powder before because of my sensitive dry skin. The combination of the CC serum and the face powder gives my skin transparent healthy look without drying my skin up," says Lena Kanise Jensen, CEO of LENAJAPON USA.

Get The Glowing Healthy Skin You Will Love With LJ MOIST SHIMMER

LJ MOIST SHIMMER plays three wonderful roles of moisturizing, protecting your skin, and making it naturally glow with a veil of light. It is ideal for clear foundation as it contains radiant natural minerals which bring out that fresh-faced, healthy crystal-like glow and skin clarity.

LJ MOIST SHIMMER is alcohol-free and packed with botanical-derived extracts which enhance the skin's natural moisture retention power, including hyaluronic acid and the Quince Seed Extract, known as the queen of moisturizing.

With A Sprinkle, Your Skin Shines Like A Jewel with LJ PEARLY POWDER

LJ PEARLY POWDER spreads on your facial skin smoothly like silk. It banishes unnecessary shine while leaving your skin luminous like a precious pearl. Rich in beauty ingredients, LJ PEARLY POWDER is packed with the essences of the precious three moisturizing fruitsQuince Seed, Cherimoya and Mangosteen. Since LJ PEARLY POWDER is silicon-free, paraben-free and does not contain animal-derived materials, it is gentle on your skin.

Whenever, Wherever, Be Elegant and Shine with LJ Winter Cherry Blossom Beauty Set

LJ Winter Cherry Blossom Beauty Set is perfect addition for your carry on beauty set, or a gift for your special one. It contains, LJ MINI MOIST BALANCE R (MOISTURIZING BEAUTY ESSENTIAL LOTION), LJ MOIST SHIMMER, LJ PEARLY POWDER and LJ Winter Cherry Blossom Pouch.

About LENAJAPON

Mother of Lena, LENAJAPON Founder and CEO, Reiko Kanise was born and raised in Fukuoka, a major southwestern Japanese city blessed with the bounty of nature. In 1975, she joined Hakuhodo, Japan's leading advertising agency, as a branding specialist and copywriter primarily in the field of food and cosmetics (such as Estee Lauder, Origins) before becoming President and CEO of Aeon Forest in 1999, the head franchisee of The Body Shop in Japan. Her passion and dedication for setting women free from uncomfortable skin disorders led her to start her own skincare firm in 2007 and create the LENAJAPON brand. It is now internationally recognized as being among the best natural skincare products available anywhere.

Contact:

Lena Kanise Jensen

6465844742

[email protected]

website- www.lenajapon.us

SOURCE LENAJAPON USA

Related Links

https://www.lenajapon.us


ST. LOUIS, Nov. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Centene Corporation (NYSE: CNC) announced today it will present at the Credit Suisse 26th Annual Healthcare conference, to be held November 6-8, 2017, at The Phoenician in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Centene is scheduled to present at 3:20 p.m. Mountain Time (MT) on Tuesday, November 7, 2017. A simultaneous live audio webcast is also available at: https://cc.talkpoint.com/cred001/110717a_as/?entity=30_5D5C7SG.

A webcast replay of the presentation will be available afterwards via the Company's website at www.centene.com under the Investors section.

About Centene Corporation

Centene Corporation, a Fortune 100 company, is a diversified, multinational healthcare enterprise that provides programs and services to government sponsored healthcare programs, focusing on under-insured and uninsured individuals. Many receive benefits provided under Medicaid, including the State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), as well as Aged, Blind or Disabled (ABD), Foster Care and Long Term Care (LTC), in addition to other state-sponsored programs, Medicare (including the Medicare prescription drug benefit commonly known as "Part D"), as well as programs with the U.S. Department of Defense and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The Company operates local health plans and offers a range of health insurance solutions. It also contracts with other healthcare and commercial organizations to provide specialty services including behavioral health, care management software, correctional systems healthcare, in-home health services, life and health management, managed vision, pharmacy benefits management, specialty pharmacy and telehealth services.

Centene uses its investor relations website to publish important information about the Company, including information that may be deemed material to investors. Financial and other information about Centene is routinely posted and is accessible on Centene's investor relations website, http://www.centene.com/investors.

SOURCE Centene Corporation

Related Links

http://www.centene.com


The best helpers are those who know the holiday best  grandmas, or as Ocean Spray calls them, CranMas! The CranMas, an elite group of multigenerational Ocean Spray farmer grandmas, will hit the road and web to offer their time-tested wisdom and advice to first-time Thanksgiving hosts. On Nov. 1, the CranMas will team up with award-winning Chef Curtis Stone to turn Rockefeller Center into CranMa  Thanksgiving Boot Camp.

"Hosting a holiday like Thanksgiving for the first time can be a daunting task," said Chef Stone. "I know firsthand how vital my grandmother's advice was when I started cooking, so being able to partner with the CranMas means a lot to me. My grandma taught me how to prepare my first dish and inspired me to become a chef. I would have been lost without her time-tested advice."

At Ocean Spray's CranMa Thanksgiving Boot Camp, hosts will learn everything from setting the scene to how to give guests a warm welcome to turkey techniques and semi-homemade holiday hacks.

Need Help? No Need to Fear, CranMa  is here!

Not in New York City and don't know where to start? Don't fret. From Nov.1 through Thanksgiving Day, first-time hosts (and everyone else) can get time-tested advice to ease their meal planning anxiety courtesy of Ocean Spray's virtual CranMa, who is available to chat on Facebook Messenger. CranMa can help with everything from tackling the turkey to mastering high-profile fixings like cranberry sauce and stuffing. Her no-nonsense advice and tips are sourced straight from Ocean Spray's own farmer CranMas.

"We saw this as the perfect opportunity to deliver the time-tested advice and wisdom from our Ocean Spray farmer grandmas to the millions of first-time hosts seeking help this holiday in real-time," said Kristen Borsari, VP, North American Marketing at Ocean Spray. "We're offering the tools and advice first-time hosts need to make sure their holiday hosting goes as smoothly as possible."

For CranMa's top advice, visit OceanSprayThanksgiving.com, visit Ocean Spray on Facebook or Instagram, and be sure to share your hosting happenings on social media with #WinThanksgiving.

Survey Says: First Time Hosting Fears Are Real

Hosting fears are real. Nine out of ten first-time hosts have a hosting fear hanging over their heads. The top five fears of first-time hosts include:

Over- or under-cooking the turkey or burning something

Guests not enjoying the meal or disappointing family

Not timing everything perfectly

Cooking won't be quite as good as parent or grandparent's

Forgetting an important ingredient

In order to help first-time hosts rise to the occasion, Ocean Spray polled them to find out how they're prepping for the big day. Here's what they found:

Classics never go out of style : 73 percent of all first-time hosts say they'll serve up a traditional Thanksgiving with ALL the fixings  turkey, stuffing, and cranberry sauce.

: 73 percent of all first-time hosts say they'll serve up a traditional with ALL the fixings  turkey, stuffing, and cranberry sauce. Cranberries are a star side : Nearly all (96 percent) of first-time hosts plan to incorporate cranberries in some shape or form  with the most popular being in a traditional sauce, either canned or homemade (61 percent).

: Nearly all (96 percent) of first-time hosts plan to incorporate cranberries in some shape or form  with the most popular being in a traditional sauce, either canned or homemade (61 percent). Practice for the big day : More than half of first-time hosts will practice in advance, cook the day before, or serve semi-homemade dishes to lighten the load (59 percent). Millennials lead that charge and are significantly more likely to practice, prep or use semi-homemade than Gen-X first-time hosts (62 vs. 52 percent).

: More than half of first-time hosts will practice in advance, cook the day before, or serve semi-homemade dishes to lighten the load (59 percent). Millennials lead that charge and are significantly more likely to practice, prep or use semi-homemade than Gen-X first-time hosts (62 vs. 52 percent). Grandma versus machine: More than half of all first-time hosts (58 percent) will look to their family, including grandparents, for recipes, hacks and side dish inspiration for the upcoming meal while roughly a third (31 percent) will rely solely on online sources for recipes, tips and advice. In fact, many Millennials lean towards tradition, with 41 percent saying that they plan to rely on mom or grandma to teach them how to make special family dishes.

About Ocean Spray

Ocean Spray is a vibrant agricultural cooperative owned by more than 700 cranberry farmers in the United States, Canada and Chile who have helped preserve the family farming way of life for generations. Formed in 1930, Ocean Spray is now the world's leading producer of cranberry juices, juice drinks and dried cranberries and is the best-selling brand in the North American bottled juice category.

The cooperative's cranberries are currently featured in more than a thousand great-tasting, good-for-you products in over 100 countries worldwide. With more than 2,000 employees and nearly 20 cranberry receiving and processing facilities, Ocean Spray is committed to managing our business in a way that respects our communities, employees and the environment. For more information visit: www.oceanspray.com or www.oceanspray.coop.

About Curtis Stone

Curtis Stone is a chef, restaurateur, author, media personality, and businessman. He began his cooking career in his homeland of Australia and later honed his skills at Michelin-starred restaurants in London under renowned chef Marco Pierre White. His first solo restaurant, Maude (Beverly Hills, CA), opened in 2014 to rave reviews. Curtis opened his second restaurant, Gwen Butcher Shop & Restaurant (Hollywood, CA), with his brother Luke in July 2016. He has appeared on a number of top rated programs including Take Home Chef (TLC), Celebrity Apprentice (ABC), Top Chef Masters (Bravo), and Food Network's All-Star Academy. Curtis is Head Judge on Top Chef Junior, an extension of the NBC Top Chef franchise, alongside host Vanessa Lachey. He is also hosting his first season of Moveable Feast with Fine Cooking on PBS. Curtis is a New York Times bestselling author with six cookbooks, his most recent titled, Good Food, Good Life, and is a regular contributor to several magazines and television shows in the United States and Australia.

www.curtisstone.com @CurtisStone

________________________

1 This research was conducted by KRC Research between September 14th and 18th, 2017 via an online survey of 2,343 U.S. adults ages 18+. The total number of first time hosts is calculated based on the survey finding of 8% planning to host Thanksgiving for the first time: eight percent of 249,454,440 (2016 US Census Estimate of adults 18+) is nearly 20 million.

SOURCE Ocean Spray
The venture is designed to extend the magic of the Santa Experience after every visit. After Santa's guests share their wish list and purchase keepsake photo memories, each customer will be eligible to receive a free phone call from Santa. Parents can schedule the time and date of each call by entering their child's name, a photo and choice of a call theme online. Phone calls from Santa will work via smartphones and landlines.

"This holiday season, every family that visits our Santa Photo Experience at the mall can receive a phone call from Santa with their photo package purchase, thanks to PackageFromSanta.com," said Ed Warchol, CEO of Cherry Hill Programs. "This is an inspired way for families with children to continue their magical moment with Santa after their visit."

Watch a video of the Phone Call from Santa here http://bit.ly/CallfromSanta

"Reaching more children with the magic of Christmas is our mission. Partnering with Cherry Hill Programs helps make that happen," said Dale Gruber, PackageFromSanta.com's CEO. "We are delighted to be working with a family-focused organization that shares our values and vision."

What's more, guests at select locations can make their appointment in advance online to receive three free phone calls from Santa. Visit http://www.cherryhillprograms.com/partners/ for a complete list of all participating malls in the United States and Canada.

About Cherry Hill Programs

Cherry Hill Programs represents over 90 years of combined experience and leadership from two of the most respected pioneers in the experiential photo industry. They bring the magic with authentic Santas for the young and young-at-heart. Cherry Hill Programs operates in hundreds of venues across the U.S. and Canada during the Christmas and Easter season, utilizing innovative technology. Their mission is: Delivering a magical experience. Every time. Visit www.cherryhillprograms.com.

About Package From Santa

PackageFromSanta.com (PFS) is a family-owned business offering one-of-a-kind personalized phone calls, videos, letters and packages from Santa Claus. Launched in 2006, the company has provided unmatched customer service and top-level quality to millions of customers across the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. PFS is the only Santa letter website registered with the Better Business Bureau with an A+ rating. All PFS products are made in the USA and the videos feature a naturally-bearded Santa.

SOURCE PackageFromSanta.com
ATLANTA, Nov. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --Continuing their commitment to excellence in high-quality patient centered care and service to the community, Georgia School of Orthodontics (GSO) has proudly partnered with the Georgia Dental Foundation to provide complimentary orthodontic care to children of Purple Heart recipients through the Purple Heart Smiles program. The Purple Heart Smiles program serves and empowers children of veterans who were wounded, injured, or killed during their service by providing the opportunity to receive complimentary, high-quality orthodontic treatment. The program is ongoing and does not have a cutoff date or maximum number of patients.

The Purple Heart is a military decoration awarded to members of the United States Armed Forces who are killed or wounded in action. Georgia, which became a Purple Heart state in 2014 and has 10 Military Order of the Purple Heart chapters, is home to more than 5,000 veterans and active duty military personnel who have received the Purple Heart.

"We are grateful every day for the men and women who serve our country in the armed forces," said GSO Program Director Dr. Ricky Harrell. "It is a privilege and an honor to be able to give back to Purple Heart veterans by providing their children with a beautiful, confidence-boosting smile."

Dr. Harrell, as well as several other GSO faculty are veterans, and they are proud to be involved with the Purple Heart Smiles program.

To qualify for the Purple Heart Smiles campaign, the child must be a resident of Georgia, age 16 or younger, and the son/daughter of a Purple Heart Recipient or have a Purple Heart Recipient serving as their legal guardian. Documentation needed for verification includes a DD Form 214, Purple Heart Certificate and proof of being either the parent or legal guardian of the child.

Qualified recipients are guaranteed a complimentary initial orthodontic evaluation with one of GSO's expert doctors, and they will also receive free braces and continued orthodontic care for the duration of their treatment. Dental care or surgery needed before or during the treatment will not be covered. Any qualified dental insurance will be applied to the cost of care.

To apply online, visit www.bracestoday.com/purple-heart-smiles.

With state-of-the art facilities in Atlanta and Duluth, GA., GSO is committed to providing patients with the highest quality treatment with advanced technology and expert doctors. Hours are Monday - Friday from 7 a.m. - 8 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. For more information, visit www.bracestoday.com.

About Georgia School of Orthodontics

Georgia School of Orthodontics (GSO), based in Atlanta, Ga., offers an advanced specialty education program in orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics. The 36-month residency program is structured to provide collaborative and evidence-based learning for residents while providing quality orthodontic care to patients in the school's two patient clinics located in metro-Atlanta. GSO's mission is to educate outstanding dentists to be proficient in the clinical specialty of orthodontics, while providing Georgians with the highest level of patient care available. GSO faculty and staff are dedicated to diversity in both education and practice. For more information about GSO, visit GSOrthodontics.org . To schedule a complimentary consultation, visit bracestoday.com or call 770.351.7737.

Media Contact:

Lauren Bovard, Rountree Group on behalf of Georgia School of Orthodontics

770-652-2602, [email protected]

SOURCE Georgia School of Orthodontics

Related Links

http://www.bracestoday.com


SAN GABRIEL, California, November 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

ChineseInvestors.com, Inc. (OTCQB: CIIX) ("CIIX" or the "Company"), the premier financial information website for Chinese-speaking investors, today announced that it has appointed Delray Wannemacher and Patrick Leung as Independent Directors and Keevin Gillespie as an Executive Director effective November 1, 2017. Mr. Wannemacher and Mr. Leung will also serve on the Company's Audit Committee along with its recently appointed Chief Financial Officer, Paul Dickman.

"We are extremely pleased to welcome Delray, Patrick and Keevin to the ChineseInvestors.com, Inc.'s Board of Directors," stated Warren Wang, Chief Executive Officer of ChineseInvestors.com, Inc. "Their financial and industry experience make these gentlemen excellent choices for the Company's Board as we continue to grow our Financial Services/Media Division and further develop our Consumer Retail Division. We also look forward to Delray's and Patrick's service on the Company's Audit Committee alongside CFO Paul Dickman."

Mr. Wannemacher has more than 20 years of experience helping build and finance both private and public emerging growth companies. As the current CEO for First Look Equities, he sets the strategic vision for the company's national and global operations. Mr. Wannemacher also has extensive experience building investment communities by leveraging technology and services to streamline the capital formation process. His experience covers a wide variety of sectors including internet, software, finance, crowdfunding portals, media, communications, EB5 projects, global investments and trade. Through his efforts, Mr. Wannemacher has helped a variety of public and private companies to raise hundreds of millions of dollars. More info http://www.firstlookequites.com/about.

Mr. Wannemacher also serves on the Executive Board at The World Trade Center of Atlanta where he is the Vice President of Business Development responsible for developing corporate partnerships and sponsorships. In addition, Mr. Wannemacher currently serves as the Vice Chair for World Trade Day which focuses on global trade and investments. More info: http://www.wtcatlanta.com/about/ and http://www.worldtradeday.com.

Mr. Leung, has over 20 years' experience as a Certified Public Accountant and is a member of CPA Australia, the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants, and the Association of International Professional Accountants. Mr. Leung has also held several Board seats including his current positions as an Independent Director at Daisho Microline Holdings Limited, where he also serves as the Chairman of the Audit Committee and is a member of the Remuneration and Nomination Committee; an Executive Director and Secretary for Kirin Group Holdings Limited, where he acts as a liaison between the company and its auditors, financial advisors, lawyers and regulators; and an Independent Director at Biostar Pharmaceuticals, Inc. where he is also Chairman of the Audit Committee, Nomination and Compensation Committee.

Mr. Gillespie is President of ChineseInvestors.com, Inc.'s wholly owned subsidiary, ChineseHempOil.com, Inc. Prior to that he served as Vice President of sales for the Company and was integral in helping Mr. Wang to build ChineseInvestors.com, Inc. into what it is today. Prior to joining ChineseInvestors.com, Inc. and ChineseHempOil.com, Inc., Mr. Gillespie served as Vice President of Sales, Branch Manager, HR Director/Recruiter, and Senior Account Executive at various investment firms where he managed the placement of several initial public offerings and private placements.

About ChineseInvestors.com (OTCQB: CIIX)

Founded in 1999, ChineseInvestors.com endeavors to be an innovative company providing: (a) real-time market commentary, analysis, and educational related services in Chinese language character sets (traditional and simplified); (b) advertising and public relation related support services; and (c) retail, online and direct sales of hemp-based products and other health related products.

For more information visit ChineseInvestors.com.

Subscribe and watch our video commentaries: https://www.youtube.com/user/Chinesefncom

Follow us on Twitter for real-time Company updates: https://twitter.com/ChineseFNEnglsh

Like us on Facebook to receive live feeds: https://www.facebook.com/Chinesefncom;

https://www.facebook.com/Chineseinvestors.com.english

Add us on WeChat: Chinesefn or download iPhone iOS App: Chinesefn.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain as they are based on current expectations and assumptions concerning future events or future performance of the company. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which are only predictions and speak only as of the date hereof. In evaluating such statements, prospective investors should review carefully various risks and uncertainties identified in this release and matters set in the company's SEC filings. These risks and uncertainties could cause the company's actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements.

Contact:

ChineseInvestors.com, Inc.

227 W. Valley Blvd, #208 A

San Gabriel, CA 91776

Investor Relations:

Alan Klitenic

+1-214-636-2548

Corporate Communications:

NetworkNewsWire (NNW)

+1-212-418-1217 Office

[email protected]



http://www.NetworkNewsWire.com

SOURCE ChineseInvestors.com, Inc.
MEMPHIS, Tenn., Nov. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- City Wide, the nation's premier management company in the building maintenance industry, announced the opening of a new office serving commercial properties throughout Memphis.

Local building owners and property management companies throughout Shelby County now have access to a single-source solution for all of their building maintenance needs. Local resident Scott Romero owns and operates the new office, which is now open for business and is located at 1850 Poplar Crest Cove Suite 104 in Memphis.

City Wide of Memphis held a grand opening on October 24 with the Memphis Chamber of Commerce. The group gathered to celebrate the opening, network and meet members of the community.

"My goal is to make sure commercial maintenance is virtually invisible to the property owner," said Romero. "My team will manage vendors, field service calls and negotiate contractor rates so that business owners can focus on running their business."

Romero joins City Wide with an extensive leadership background, including more than 10 years of military and civilian service as a fireman in Afghanistan and the United States. He intends to leverage his management expertise in business development, process improvement and exceptional client service to drive growth for the Memphis office.

For more information about City Wide of Memphis and the services it offers, please visit www.GoCityWide.com/Memphis, email [email protected], or call (901) 779-2266.

About City Wide

Founded in 1961, City Wide has become synonymous with building maintenance in its home Kansas City market and the 50-plus U.S. regions where it has grown through franchising since 2001. A single-source solution for all building maintenance services, City Wide contracts with independent contractors to give clients access to dozens of interior and exterior services. City Wide simplifies the maintenance matters that mean most to building owners, operators, and management companies, easing the time, stress, and resources typically required to oversee an entire facility.

For more information about City Wide's services, please visit www.GoCityWide.com.

SOURCE City Wide

Related Links

http://gocitywide.com


SAN DIEGO, Nov. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, a leading residential real estate brokerage company in Southern California, announced it has acquired the assets of Jelley Properties in Del Mar, Calif. Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage is part of NRT LLC, the nation's largest residential real estate brokerage company.

Located in the heart of Del Mar Village at 1401 Camino del Mar, Jelley Properties has served clients from its single office throughout San Diego County for 45 years. The new office increases Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage's presence in Del Mar to three offices with nearly 100 affiliated sales professionals.

As part of the acquisition:

The single sales office of Joe Jelley Properties will operate as Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage

Broker owner Joe Jelley will affiliate with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in a sales capacity

will affiliate with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in a sales capacity Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage welcomes the 18 independent sales professionals formerly affiliated with Joe Jelley Properties

QUOTES:

"This acquisition reinforces our commitment to providing exceptional service in Del Mar and beyond, and expands our presence throughout Orange County, Riverside County and San Diego County. Joe Jelley Properties is a distinguished name in Del Mar with a team of talented real estate professionals. We are very proud to welcome them to Coldwell Banker."

- Jamie Duran, president of the Orange County, Riverside County and San Diego companies of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage

"Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage is known for its marketing capabilities, the superior support it provides to agents, global recognition and powerful network. I am confident that the agents will now have access to the many tools and resources needed to exceed their clients' expectations."

- Joe Jelley, former broker owner of Joe Jelley Properties

About Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage

Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, the leading residential real estate brokerage in Southern California, operates more than 85 offices throughout Southern California and Arizona with approximately 5,550 independent sales associates. Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage is owned by NRT LLC, which is the largest residential real estate brokerage in the United States.

Media Contact:

Marisa Vallbona

619-708-7990

[email protected]

SOURCE Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage
LOS ANGELES, Nov. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- To commemorate National Hospice and Palliative Care Month, Compassion & Choices today announced the launch of its African-American and Latino Leadership Councils as part of its expanding outreach to all Americans nationwide about their end-of-life care options. These options include hospice, palliative care and medical aid in dying.

Brandi Alexander, national constituency director, Compassion & Choices Patricia A. Gonzalez-Portillo, national Latino communications and constituency director for Compassion & Choices

The councils are an extension of Compassion & Choices' successful outreach to communities of color that was key to winning campaigns to pass laws authorizing medical aid in dying in California in 2015, and Colorado and the District of Columbia in 2016.

Medical aid-in-dying laws allow terminally ill adults to request a prescription for medication they can voluntarily decide to self-ingest to die peacefully in their sleep if their suffering becomes unbearable. Reports show these laws spur conversations between terminally ill adults, their doctors and their loved ones about all end-of-life care options, including hospice and palliative care, and better utilization of these options.

"We could not have passed recent medical aid-in-dying laws in California, Colorado and the District of Columbia without the partnership, support and voices of multicultural communities," said Compassion & Choices Chief Program Officer Kim Callinan. "These councils will guide our efforts to provide culturally appropriate information to terminally ill people to facilitate conversations with their doctors about all their end-of-life care options, so they can make fully informed decisions that align with their values."

Both national and state polls show strong support for medical aid in dying across the ethnic, political and religious spectrum, including 69 percent of Latinos nationwide and 53 percent of African-Americans.

The African-American Leadership Council includes:

Lucille Ridgill , MD, Internal Medicine and Hospice and Palliative Care, California

, MD, Internal Medicine and Hospice and Palliative Care, Rev. Madison Shockley , United Church of Christ, California

, United Church of Christ, Jason Gaulden , communications director, America Succeeds, Colorado

, communications director, America Succeeds, Shawn Perry , host, The Senior Zone radio show, Maryland

, host, radio show, Delores Lewis , senior advisor to the City Council, New Jersey

, senior advisor to the City Council, Channte' Keith , director of programs, National African-American Tobacco Prevention Network (NAATPN) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, North Carolina

director of programs, National African-American Tobacco Prevention Network (NAATPN) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Omega Silva , MD, Endocrinology and Internal Medicine, Washington, D.C.

, MD, Endocrinology and Internal Medicine, Sultan Shakir , executive director, Supporting and Mentoring Youth Advocates and Leaders (SMYAL), Washington, D.C.

, executive director, Supporting and Mentoring Youth Advocates and Leaders (SMYAL), Shirley Tabb , licensed social worker, Washington, D.C.

The Latino Leadership Council includes:

Dolores Huerta , civil rights leader, California

, civil rights leader, Dan Diaz , husband of late medical aid-in-dying patient and advocate Brittany Maynard , California

, husband of late medical aid-in-dying patient and advocate , Revs. Sergio Camacho and Ignacio Castuera , Ph.D., United Methodist Church, California

and , Ph.D., United Methodist Church, Dr. Robert Olvera , physician and father of the late Emily Rose Olvera , California

, physician and father of the late , Mauricio Ochmann , actor, Mexico

, actor, Irisaida "Isa" Mendez , communications professional, Florida

, communications professional, Father Luis Barrios , pastor, Grace Church , New York

, pastor, , Nilsa Centeno , mother of late medical aid-in-dying advocate Miguel Carrasquillo , Puerto Rico

, mother of late medical aid-in-dying advocate , Dr. Yanira Cruz , CEO, National Hispanic Council on Aging, Washington, D.C.

The leadership councils are led by Compassion & Choices National Constituency Director Brandi Alexander and Compassion & Choices National Latino Communications and Constituency Director Patricia A. Gonzalez-Portillo.

"Most of our Latino council members already have advocated that terminally ill Latinos from California to Puerto Rico should have access to the full range of end-of-life care options," said Gonzalez-Portillo. "Their powerful stories about the need for medical aid in dying to peacefully end intolerable suffering have helped strengthen public support for this practice among both Latinos and Latino lawmakers, and they will continue inspire others to endorse it."

For additional information, please visit,

https://www.compassionandchoices.org/communities/people-of-color-for-choices/

Compassion & Choices is the nation's oldest and largest nonprofit organization working to improve care and expand options for the end of life. www.compassionandchoices.org.

SOURCE Compassion & Choices

Related Links

http://CompassionAndChoices.org


WASHINGTON, Nov. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The Corporate Whistleblower Center says, "We are urging an employee of any type of company providing services to the federal government to call us anytime at 866-714-6466 if the company has falsely labeled itself as a Disabled Veteran or minority owned business. The potential whistleblower rewards for this type of information can be significant, as we would like to explain anytime. Disabled Veterans or minority owned businesses are supposed to get preferential treatment on federal contracts. Not abiding by these rules can come with a stiff penalty. Recently a whistleblower received $450,000 for this exact type of information." http://CorporateWhistleblower.Com

Disabled Veterans Corporate Whistleblower Center

Case in point: In October 2017 The Department of Justice announced two New York based construction companies had agreed to pay more than $3 million to settle allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by improperly obtaining federal set-aside contracts designated for service-disabled veteran-owned (SDVO) small businesses. To qualify as a SDVO small business, a service-disabled veteran must own and control the company. In this instance the United States alleged that the construction companies recruited a service-disabled veteran to serve as a figurehead of a 'sham' company to get an unfair advantage on bidding for federal construction projects. The companies were in fact successful in obtaining numerous federal contracts. As mentioned in this instance, the whistleblower will receive $450,000.

According to the Corporate Whistleblower Center, "If you work for a company or if your company competes with a company that has falsely labeled themselves as a Disabled Veteran or minority owned business to gain an unfair advantage on federal bids or federal contracts, please call us at 866-714-6466 and allow us to discuss what the whistleblower rewards could be. Why sit on a winning lotto ticket without ever knowing what it might have been worth?" http://CorporateWhistleblower.Com

The Corporate Whistleblower Center is especially interested in talking to an employee who can prove their employer is falsely claiming to be a minority, women or Veteran owned business for government contracts if they work for:

Any type of company providing services to the Department of Defense

Any type of company providing services to the Department of Homeland Security

A highway contractor or road builder

A food distribution company providing meals for school lunch programs

A company providing private security services

A company providing construction services

A company involved in transportation

Simple rules for a whistleblower from the Corporate Whistleblower Center: Do not go to the government first if you want to become a whistleblower. The Corporate Whistleblower Center says, "Major whistleblowers frequently go to the government thinking they will help. It's a huge mistake. Do not go to the news media with your whistleblower information either. Any type of public revelation of a whistleblower's information could destroy the prospect for a reward. Do not try to force a government contractor or individual to come clean about overbilling the federal government out of millions of dollars, by failing to abide by the terms of contract with the federal government or by falsely claiming to be a minority, woman or Disabled Veteran owned business."

The Corporate Whistleblower Center wants to emphasize they believe there are high quality whistleblowers with proof a company or contractor is involved in multi-million dollar overbilling or fraud schemes involving the federal government in every state, including California, New York, New Jersey, Florida, Texas, Massachusetts, Maryland, Rhode Island, Virginia, Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota, Nebraska, Colorado, Arizona, Nevada, Washington, or Alaska.

The Corporate Whistleblower is the premier advocate for whistleblowers in the United States. Unlike any group in the US, they will assist potential whistleblowers with packaging their information and they will provide the whistleblower with access to some of the most accomplished whistleblower attorneys in the nation. For more information a potential whistleblower in any state can contact the Corporate Whistleblower anytime at 866-714-6466 or visit http://CorporateWhistleblower.Com

For attribution please refer to the October 2017 Department of Justice press that discusses this matter: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/western-new-york-contractors-and-two-owners-pay-more-3-million-settle-false-claims-act

Media Contact:

Thomas Martin

866-714-6466

[email protected]

SOURCE Corporate Whistleblower Center

Related Links

http://corporatewhistleblower.com


SUGAR LAND, Texas, Nov. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- CVR Energy, Inc. (NYSE: CVI) today announced that Jack Lipinski, chief executive officer and president, will retire on Dec. 31, 2017. Lipinski, who also serves as the chief executive officer and president of CVR Refining, LP and the executive chairman of CVR Partners, LP, will be succeeded by David Lamp. At first, and to facilitate a transition, Mr. Lamp will assume the role of co-CEO effective Dec. 1, 2017. Effective Jan. 1, 2018, Mr. Lamp will assume the role of CEO.

Carl Icahn, Chairman of the Board, said, "On behalf of the Board of Directors and stockholders, I would like to thank Jack for his leadership and focus. Over the years, Jack has done an excellent job of building CVR into a world-class company. Going forward, I welcome Dave. CVR is well-positioned to succeed in the years to come. I have been impressed with Dave's skillset and past successes, and I look forward to seeing him take the reins at CVR."

Most recently, Mr. Lamp was President and COO of Western Refining Company. Prior to Western Refining, Mr. Lamp was President and CEO of Northern Tier Energy Corporation, which merged with Western Refining. He previously served as COO and Executive Vice President of HollyFrontier Corporation. In 2011, Holly and Frontier completed a merger of equals and changed the name to HollyFrontier Corporation. Mr. Lamp joined Holly in 2004 and held various roles, including Vice President, Refinery Operations, Executive Vice President, Refining and Marketing, and President. Mr. Lamp has more than 37 years of technical, commercial and operational experience in the refining and chemical industry.

Mr. Lipinski has served as CVR's chief executive officer since 2005 and has grown the business from 475 employees 12 years ago to just under 1,500 employees today. Under his leadership, Mr. Lipinski has guided the overall strategic direction of CVR Energy and its subsidiaries and is responsible for increasing the scale and diversity of its refining operations and expanding its crude oil gathering and logistics operations. He also helped position CVR Partners as a nitrogen fertilizer industry leader and launched the initial public offerings for CVR Energy, CVR Refining and CVR Partners.

Mr. Lipinski said, "I would like to sincerely thank all the employees who have made CVR Energy into the exceptional company it is today. It is through their hard work and dedication that we became successful. I am lucky to have stood among them. Looking forward, I am ready to finally take time for some much-needed rest and relaxation after 45 years in the industry. I am pleased to announce Dave Lamp as my successor. Dave's experience and wealth of knowledge make him uniquely prepared to lead the company going forward."

Mr. Lamp commented, "I would like to thank Mr. Icahn and the Board of Directors for this opportunity. I would also like to thank Jack for building such a successful company. I look forward to meeting all CVR's employees and look forward to building upon past success with future success and enhancing shareholder value."

About CVR Energy, Inc.

Headquartered in Sugar Land, Texas, CVR Energy is a diversified holding company primarily engaged in the petroleum refining and nitrogen fertilizer manufacturing industries through its holdings in two limited partnerships, CVR Refining, LP and CVR Partners, LP. CVR Energy subsidiaries serve as the general partner and own 66 percent of the common units of CVR Refining and 34 percent of the common units of CVR Partners.

For further information, please contact:

Investor Contact:

Jay Finks

CVR Energy, Inc.

(281) 207-3588

[email protected]

Media Relations:

Brandee Stephens

CVR Energy, Inc.

(281) 207-3516

[email protected]

SOURCE CVR Energy, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.cvrenergy.com


SPARTANBURG, S.C., Nov. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- To celebrate America's veterans this year, Denny's invites active, inactive and military personnel into its booths on Friday, Nov. 10 to enjoy a free Build Your Own Grand Slam as a thank you for their service and dedication to the nation.

On Friday, Nov. 10, in observance of Veterans Day, participating Denny's locations nationwide will offer a complimentary Build Your Own Grand Slam to service members. This diner classic includes a choice of delicious breakfast items such as two fluffy buttermilk or hearty wheat pancakes, two eggs cooked to order, two sizzling bacon strips or hash browns. The offer is valid from 5 a.m. to noon with a valid military ID.

"At Denny's, we look forward to honoring America's heroes during our Veterans Day observance event," said John Dillon, @DillonJohnW, chief marketing officer for Denny's. "We cannot thank our servicemen and women enough and are incredibly grateful for the commitment and sacrifices they have made to defend our country. We are proud to show a small token of our appreciation."

For more information about Denny's or to find a participating location near you, please visit www.dennys.com.

About Denny's Corp.

Denny's is one of America's largest full-service family restaurant chains, currently operating over 1,700 franchised, licensed and company-owned restaurants across the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, New Zealand, Mexico, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Honduras, Guam, the United Arab Emirates, Curacao, El Salvador and the Philippines. For further information on Denny's, including news releases, please visit the Denny's website at www.dennys.com or the brand's social channels via Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Instagram or YouTube.

SOURCE Denny's

Related Links

http://www.dennys.com


"The Dickey's family is thrilled to have Randy and Chance Seegars bring Dickey's Texas-style barbecue to their hometown of Albemarle," says Laura Rea Dickey, CEO of Dickey's Barbecue Restaurants, Inc. "With experienced restauranteurs like the Seegars, the Dickey's brand will continue to grow and serve communities across the world delicious, slow-smoked barbecue."

Dickey's will offer the following specials and giveaways for the next four weeks:

Thirsty Thursdays: Guests will receive a free Big Yellow Cup with free refills all day.

Philanthropy Fridays: "You Give, We Give"  Guests who donate to Dickey's charitable foundation, Barbecue, Boots & Badges, will receive a gift card as a thank you for their donation. All uniformed first responders also receive 50 percent off their meal.

Smokin' Saturday: Guests may purchase $2 Pulled Pork Sandwiches all day. Limit two.

Kids Eat Free Sundays: Kids eat free with an adult purchase of $10 or more.

Originally from North Carolina, the Seegars look forward to bringing Dickey's Texas-style barbecue to the town they call home. With more than 30 years in the restaurant industry, Randy Seegars decided it was time to open a restaurant of his own. "When I was looking for franchising concepts, I found a home in Dickey's due to the quality of their food and the simplicity of their concept," says Randy Seegars. "We look forward to serving Dickey's slow-smoked barbecue to our community."

To join Dickey's Big Yellow Cup Club and receive members-only specials and discounts, click here.

The new Dickey's Barbecue Pit in Albemarle is located at 720-20 Hwy 24/27 Bypass East Albemarle, NC 28001. The phone number is 704-982-2727.

To find the location nearest you, click here.

Find Dickey's on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

To learn more about franchising with Dickeys, visit www.dickeys.com/franchise or call 866-340-6188.

About Dickey's Barbecue Restaurants, Inc.

Dickey's Barbecue Restaurants, Inc., the nation's largest barbecue chain was founded in 1941 by Travis Dickey. Today, all meats are still slow smoked on-site in each restaurant. The Dallas-based family-run barbecue franchise offers several slow-smoked meats and home style sides with 'No B.S. (Bad Stuff)' included. The fast-casual concept has expanded to more than 550 locations in 44 states. In 2016, Dickey's won first place on Fast Casual's "Top 100 Movers and Shakers" list and in 2017 again won a top 10 on the list. Dickey's Barbecue Pit has also been recognized by Entrepreneur Magazine, Franchise Times, and Nation's Restaurant News. For more information, visit www.dickeys.com.

Media Contact:

Callie Head

[email protected]

Ashley Richardson

[email protected]

SOURCE Dickey's Barbecue

Related Links

http://www.dickeys.com


CHICAGO, Nov. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Walt Disney Company today announced a contribution of $1 million to Feeding America to help food banks expand their local fresh produce sourcing and distribution programs that serve kids and families who need it most. The funds will be distributed to 60 food banks throughout the country. The announcement was made on ABC's "The Chew" today and kicked off Disney's "Share the Joy" campaign, inspiring families around the world to help others and make a positive impact in their community during the holidays.

This year, as part of Disney's "Share the Joy" campaign, Feeding America and Disney will expand access to healthy living options in neighborhoods where kids and families live, work and play. Increasing access to nutritious foods is part of Disney's long-standing commitment to create healthier generations. Disney|ABC Television Group will also inspire audiences to donate nutritious foods through Feeding America with a series of Public Service Announcements (PSAs) that will run on ABC, Freeform, Disney Channel and Disney XD through December. Additionally, ABC-owned television stations in local markets will host volunteer events with local food banks.

During "The Chew" segment, Kids Cafe, a child nutrition program of the Houston Food Bank, was featured along with some volunteers. Carla Hall and Chew Super Fan Rhonda Russell (Houston, TX) help to give back to the community in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey with a visit to the food bank. The Houston Food Bank was one of several Feeding America food banks directly impacted by hurricanes that made landfall earlier this year. To support Feeding America and the food banks' disaster relief efforts, Disney made an additional donation of $500,000 earlier this year.

Feeding America is the largest hunger-relief and food rescue organization in the United States, with a network of 200 member food banks and 60,000 food pantries and meal programs. Feeding America's goal is not only to provide meals for people in need, but also to provide nutritious foods that are the building blocks to a healthy life. Thanks to funding from Disney, food banks nationwide have been able to create strategic produce plans to grow local produce channels that help meet the needs in their service area. Funds have also supported investments in assets and infrastructure to help reduce barriers to sourcing and distributing fresh produce to the people they serve.

"As we work to increase the amount of fresh fruits and vegetables distributed through the network, it has been reassuring to have Disney supporting us every step of the way," said Diana Aviv, CEO of Feeding America. "We know that produce is one of the most requested items at our food banks. The Walt Disney Company enables us to implement strategies to grow that food source and ultimately improve the health and well-being of the people we serve."

To learn more about Disney's commitment to helping create healthier generations or volunteer opportunities at your local Feeding America food bank, visit FeedingAmerica.org/BeInspired.

About Feeding America

Feeding America is the largest hunger-relief organization in the Unites States. Through a network of 200 food banks and 60,000 food pantries and meal programs, we provide meals to more than 46 million people each year. Feeding America also supports programs that prevent food waste and improve food security among the people we serve; educates the public about the problem of hunger; and advocates for legislation that protects people from going hungry. Visit www.feedingamerica.org, find us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.

Contact

Zuani Villarreal

Feeding America

312.641.6532

SOURCE Feeding America

Related Links

http://www.feedingamerica.org


SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- DoorDash -- the technology company connecting customers with the best local businesses through door-to-door delivery -- today announced its launch in the Philadelphia area. This marks DoorDash's expansion into its 51st major metropolitan market across the U.S. and Canada.

Upon launch, DoorDash will be available in the surrounding suburbs of Philadelphia and parts of the city, with downtown coming soon. Customers along the Main Line, as well as communities stretching from Malvern to Warrington, King of Prussia to Jenkintown, and Upper Darby to Plymouth Meeting will all be able to place DoorDash orders, starting today.

Customer in the Philadelphia area can order DoorDash between the hours of 11am to 10pm from a selection of local favorites, including:

DoorDash's national partnerships with P.F. Chang's, The Cheesecake Factory, and Buffalo Wild Wings will also extend to the Philadelphia area.

"As one of Philadelphia's most highly recognized Indian restaurants with locations in Ambler, Bala Cynwyd, and Wayne, Saffron is delighted to bring our mouth-watering curries and kabobs to customers' doorsteps using DoorDash's elegant, user-friendly platform and reliable service," said Rahul Bhatia, owner of Saffron Indian Kitchen.

At launch, delivery fees will range from $1.99 to $5.99. To celebrate the debut of DoorDash in Philadelphia, new users can receive $5 off their first order of $15 by using promo code "DASHPHILLY" at checkout.

"This is one of our largest east coast launches to date," said Tony Xu, CEO and co-founder of DoorDash. "Restaurant owners and customers alike have been requesting DoorDash in the Philadelphia area, so we are excited to finally bring our delivery network to the City of Brotherly Love."

To search DoorDash for local favorites or to discover your next go-to, visit doordash.com or download DoorDash for Android or iOS.

About DoorDash

DoorDash is a technology company that connects customers with their favorite local and national businesses in more than 500 cities across the United States and Canada. Founded in the summer of 2013, DoorDash empowers merchants to grow their businesses by offering on-demand delivery, data-driven insights, and better in-store efficiency, providing delightful experiences from door to door. By building the last mile delivery infrastructure for local cities, DoorDash is bringing communities closer, one doorstep at a time. Read more on the DoorDash blog or at www.doordash.com.

SOURCE DoorDash

Related Links

http://www.doordash.com


AMSTERDAM, Nov. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, EclecticIQ launches EclecticIQ Fusion Center Intelligence Essentials, a first-in-the-industry service that merges and normalizes 50+ intelligence sources into a single feed, providing contextual qualification for human analysts.

EclecticIQ Fusion Center Intelligence Essentials allows organizations of any size to jumpstart their Cyber Threat Intelligence (CTI) practices without compromising on quality.

Against the raids of talented hackers, an effective security response typically involves human-qualified threat intelligence. These dedicated human analysts allow a CTI practice to make sense of information in ways that automated solutions cannot match. Experienced threat analysts have traditionally been responsible for the critical and complex tasks of acquisition, collection, tagging and qualification of intelligence sources.

However, finding seasoned talent has been the biggest barrier to building a CTI practice. Even large enterprises have encountered significant difficulty in developing an in-house team of intelligence analysts. Given the time and investment required for analyst recruiting and training, only large and well-financed organizations have been able to operate a fully staffed CTI practice. Other organizations have delayed the expansion of their CTI practices, to the detriment of their cyber security posture.

The veteran analysts working at EclecticIQ's Fusion Center offer human-qualified intelligence based on 50+ open-sources and a selection of commercial sources (incl. Redsocks, SenseCy and Verint) in a single feed, focusing on generic threats to any enterprise.

The feed consists of reports for human consumption by any stakeholder in an organization. It includes Structured Intelligence (based on  amongst others  the STIX industry standard), and a feed of Malicious IOCs and IOAs for further analysis (not only by Security Operation Centers and Incident Response teams) allowing for automated feeding into downstream Security Controls such as a SIEM.

With this launch, organizations can focus entirely on responding to threats without having to manage multiple intelligence feeds, thereby saving time and money.

"When our customers are trying to lay the foundation of their threat intelligence practice, they need access to the essentials: human qualified IOCs and tactics, techniques and procedures (TTPs) they can trust, complemented by situational awareness and out-of-the-box integration," said Joep Gommers, Founder & CEO at EclecticIQ. "Fusion Center Intelligence Essentials allows our customers to bootstrap their practice and puts capabilities in place to free up their time and resources to focus on the things that matter to them."

EclecticIQ Fusion Center Intelligence Essentials is offered as an online subscription, that comes with support and various configuration options.

Sign up for a fully functional 5-day trial online at the EclecticIQ Fusion Center Intelligence Essentials page from today.

An introductory webinar and demo is scheduled for November 14 and 15, given by Chris O'Brien, Director of Intelligence Operations at EclecticIQ. A seat can be reserved here.

About EclecticIQ

EclecticIQ helps organizations to turn cyber threat intelligence into business value with a suite of products built for cyber security professionals in threat intelligence, threat hunting, SOC, and Incident Response roles.

EclecticIQ Platform is the analyst-centric threat intelligence platform based on STIX/TAXII that meet the full spectrum of intelligence needs.

EclecticIQ Fusion Center enables the acquisition of thematic bundles of cyber threat intelligence from leading suppliers with a single contract.

In 2016, the company won Deloitte's Technology FAST50 Rising Star Award for "Most Disruptive Innovator".

EclecticIQ is headquartered in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. More information at www.EclecticIQ.com

Photos:

https://www.prlog.org/12673676

Press release distributed by PRLog

SOURCE EclecticIQ

Related Links

https://www.eclecticiq.com


The collaboration with Outcome Health is an important component of Edward-Elmhurst's mission to improve the health of Chicago's diverse communities. The health system's 500 physicians and advanced practice clinicians provide care to more than 700,000 patients annually.

"Since the establishment of Edward-Elmhurst Health, we have remained focused on steadily improving processes and workflows for our practitioners while positively impacting the lives of our patients," says Mary Lou Mastro, System CEO of Edward-Elmhurst Health. "Our partnership with Outcome Health is a part of our continued commitment to inspire, educate and positively affect the quality of life of thousands of patients within the Edward-Elmhurst Health network. Through the technology of Outcome Health, information will be readily accessible and support practitioners' ability to educate patients."

The partnership with Outcome Health enables Edward-Elmhurst Health to:

Create a meaningful, differentiating tool to enhance the patient experience

Improve patient communication surrounding medication options

Utilize educational tools for patients and caregivers

Promote Edward-Elmhurst Health's signature "Healthy Driven" initiatives and goals

Institute seamless online scheduling and bill payment with MyChart

Support the launch of the Cardiac Innovation and Structural Heart Center with deliberate and strategic patient and community outreach

"Outcome Health is committed to empowering patients with actionable health intelligence in the critical moments before, during and after patients meet with their physicians," said Rishi Shah, Co-Founder and CEO of Outcome Health. "We're thrilled to partner with Edward-Elmhurst Health, to strengthen the patient experience directed to providing the best health outcomes at treatment centers and hospitals across the network."

Outcome Health's platform reaches over 230,000 healthcare professionals and consists of over 145,000 touch points that span from patient education in the waiting room to digital 3D anatomical models in the exam room. The company's innovative technology platform includes:

Digital exam room wallboard: delivering high-impact health education, 3-D anatomicals, disease state awareness content and details on available therapeutic options.

Exam room tablet: offering contextual health education content for the patients.

Waiting room screen: distributing healthy lifestyle and condition-specific programming to the moments before and after visiting with a physician.

Patient mobile: supplying internet access in doctors' office waiting and exam rooms.

Infusion room tablet: providing support and comfort for patients receiving treatment in infusion centers with educational content and entertainment.

Edward-Elmhurst's commitment to providing high-quality medical care in a comfortable, patient-centered setting will benefit from Outcome Health's expertise leveraging digital tools at the point of care to facilitate the physician/patient dialogue and drive better outcomes for all.

About Edward-Elmhurst Health

Comprised of three hospitals  Edward Hospital, Elmhurst Hospital and Linden Oaks Behavioral Health  Edward-Elmhurst Health has annual revenues of more than $1.3 billion, nearly 70 locations across a service area of 1.7 million residents in the west and southwest suburbs of Chicago, nearly 8,500 employees, including 1,900 nurses with 2,000 physicians on staff, plus 1,300 volunteers. Edward-Elmhurst has earned a reputation as a healthcare leader by providing advanced cardiac care, state-of-the-art cancer diagnosis and treatment, and world class stroke care. Edward-Elmhurst also offers the latest imaging technology, care for critically ill newborns, minimally invasive surgery, newest clinical trials and mental health services through Linden Oaks Behavioral Health. Edward and Elmhurst are the 8th and 18th largest hospitals, respectively, in the Chicago area according to Crain's Chicago Business. Both organizations are recognized by the American Nurses Credentialing Center as Magnet hospitals for nursing excellence, an honor achieved by only seven percent of the nation's 6,000 hospitals.

About Outcome Health

Outcome Health's mission is to activate the best health outcome possible for every person in the world through technologies that change behavior to positively shape the human condition. The company, founded in 2006 by Rishi Shah and Shradha Agarwal, serves health information and health intelligence during critical moments of care to enable patients and physicians to make the best healthcare decision possible. The company's platform reaches 231,000 healthcare providers nationwide to impact 500 million patient visits annually. Outcome Health has offices in Chicago and New York City and partners with large healthcare systems, private physician practices, medical associations, global life sciences companies as well as pharmacies and payers.

Media Contacts:

Keith Hartenberger

Public Information Officer, Edward-Elmhurst Health

[email protected]

Philip de Guzman

Communications Lead, Outcome Health

[email protected]

SOURCE Outcome Health
SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Salesforce (NYSE: CRM), the global leader in CRM, today announced that Embraera major aeronautics company with more than 1,800 global customers and 5,600 planes in service todayhas deployed Salesforce to transform how it connects with its customers and deliver more personalized, impactful customer experiences.

Embraer previously used manual processes and outdated on-premise systems to manage its aviation business across commercial, military and executive markets. As a result, the company lacked a 360-degree view of its customers and the capability to create more personalized and intelligent customer relationships. The company turned to Salesforce to transform its customer relationships, deploying Salesforce Sales Cloud, Service Cloud, Marketing Cloud, Community Cloud, Salesforce Analytics and the Salesforce Platform. With Salesforce, Embraer is centralizing information about each of its commercial planes, which was previously distributed across 80 different databases.

With one single view of its entire fleet in Salesforce, Embraer can quickly understand what's going on with every aircraft and better anticipate any needs its airline customers may have. As a result, Embraer is able to provide them with more proactive engagement, from prospecting to the initial purchase of an aircraft to ongoing maintenance throughout its lifetime.

Embraer is also using Salesforce to empower its customers. With Community Cloud, Embraer's customers can access an online catalogue of more than 600 products and servicessuch as add-on wifi, seating arrangements and interior designenabling them to easily customize their aircrafts to better serve their passengers.

"Predicting the unpredictable is our ultimate mission, as our customers simply do not like surprises with operational interruptions," said Johann Bordais, president and CEO, Embraer Services & Support. "Salesforce gives us a platform to not only modernize and scale quickly, but to deeply understand our customers and delight them in new ways."

"The aviation manufacturing industry is one of the driving forces behind global trade and transportation. It's imperative for manufacturers to invest in new and innovative technologies to deliver better experiences to its airline customers and passengers," said Cindy Bolt, SVP, Salesforce Industries, Manufacturing and Consumer Goods. "Embraer understands the need to adapt and embrace technological change to engage with their customers in smarter ways, and we're excited to be part of their digital transformation journey."

About Embraer

Since 1969 Embraer, headquartered in Brazil, is one of the largest aircraft manufacturers in the world, focusing on specific market segments with high growth potential in commercial, military and executive aviation. Embraer develops and adapts successful aircraft platforms and judiciously introduces new technology whenever it creates value by lowering acquisition price, reducing direct operating costs, or delivering higher reliability, comfort and safety. For more information visit: http://embraer.com.

About Salesforce

Salesforce, the global CRM leader, empowers companies to connect with their customers in a whole new way. For more information about Salesforce (NYSE: CRM), visit: www.salesforce.com.

SOURCE Salesforce

Related Links

http://www.salesforce.com


Prior to joining Envista, Ron has spent the majority of his career working as a forensic engineer, most notably as Co-Founder of Giffin Koerth Forensic Engineering (now -30-), where his expertise and passion for developing and mentoring engineering and expert teams played an integral role in establishing the company's respected reputation for technical expertise.

"We are extremely excited to have Ron joining our team. Not only is he an accomplished civil forensics expert, but he is especially adept at building and leading highly effective, multi-disciplinary forensic teams," said Bob Wedoff, President of Envista Forensics.

He went on to add, "Ron is joining the Envista family at an incredibly exciting and, frankly, defining time in our company's history. As we continue to progress forward in realizing our vision for providing a full menu of world-class forensic engineering services to our global client base, I am confident that Ron's drive for excellence and focus on core values will enhance the passion, talent, and expertise of our already-exemplary existing teams."

When asked what aspect of his new role he is most excited about, Ron Koerth commented, "Managing, mentoring, and leading people are among the most rewarding aspects of my professional career and personal life. Helping others develop into their full potential and be successful in a way that positively impacts those around them is what I am most passionate about."

He went on to say, "Envista Forensics is where I believe I can best bring those talents to bear, and have the maximum positive impact. They are a global leader in property loss and forensic consulting, digital forensics, and equipment restoration. Most importantly, the entire Envista leadership team embodies everything I stand for with respect to how people should be treated: they embrace a corporate ideal that everybody matters, and have successfully executed that philosophy for a very long period of time. I am excited to be part of an organization where such commitment to people runs so deep."

About Envista Forensics

Envista is a global leader in forensic engineering & recovery solutions, providing provide failure analysis, fire and explosion investigations, digital forensics, accident reconstruction, building consulting, geotechnical engineering, damage evaluations and equipment restoration services following disasters of all kinds.

Envista has served the insurance, legal and risk management industries for over 30 years. Their experts travel globally from over 30 offices located across North America, Latin America, the U.K., Europe, Singapore and Australia.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For additional information, please contact:

Jennifer Gaster, Vice President-Marketing

+1 224 406 9809 [email protected]

SOURCE Envista Forensics

Related Links

http://envistaforensics.com


WASHINGTON, Oct. 31, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- More than 20 percent of all U.S. manufacturing jobs depend on exports, according to Nam Pham, Ph.D., managing partner of Washington-based ndp | analytics. "In addition, manufacturing exports make up $1.45 trillion or 7.8 percent of America's GDP. As the United States renegotiates trade agreements around world, billions of dollars of U.S. exports and millions of jobs across the country are at risk", he said. "It is critical that all Americans understand the tremendous impact of trade on our economy, on our jobs and on our everyday lives."

Protecting US Exports protects US jobs.

According to ndp | analytics' research, the top 10 states with the most jobs at risk are California, Texas, Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, New York, and North Carolina. "The important point is protecting U.S. exports protects U.S. manufacturing jobs," Dr. Pham said.

The research was undertaken by ndp | analytics, a consulting firm specializing in economic analysis and advocacy communication.

For more information please contact:

Mary Donovan, Principal

(202) 450-1369

[email protected]

@ndpanalytics

ndp | analytics is a strategic economic consulting firm focused on data-driven analysis. We partner with our clients to build quantitative solutions to support their public policy issues and strengthen their messaging initiatives. We turn data into action.

Related Links

Research

Company

SOURCE ndp | analytics

Related Links

http://www.ndpanalytics.com


NEW YORK, Nov. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund (CFE Fund) announced today the awarding of five 2-year fellowships to advance local Bank On coalition operations and generate best practices for coalitions across the country. Local Bank On coalitions across the country, led by or working closely with local government, work to expand access to safe and appropriate financial products and services to the over 65 million people outside of the mainstream financial system who rely on alternative, costly financial services. Five Fellowships were awarded to coalitions in Houston, TX (Bank On Houston); Mobile, AL (Bank On South Alabama); New Haven, CT (Bank On New Haven); Summit County, OH (Bank On Rubber City); and Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Sarasota, FL (Bank On Suncoast).

"Bank On coalitions across the country do critical work helping consumers to access safe, affordable accounts  but often lack funding for dedicated leadership," said Jonathan Mintz, President and CEO of the Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund. "We are proud to support these five coalitions and their new Fellows with training and resources, and look forward to the sharing lessons learned from this cohort with the broader Bank On movement."

The Bank On Fellowship program provides funding to support a full-time staff position for two years, a "Fellow," to lead coalition activities. It is the first national initiative focused on building a multi-city cohort of successful Bank On program coordinators, equipping them with the training, tools, and resources to make significant advancements in local banking access efforts and at the same time generating best practices for other coalitions around the country.

The goal of Bank On is to ensure that everyone has access to safe and affordable financial products and services. The Bank On National Account Standards identify critical product features for appropriate bank or credit union accounts, making it easier for local coalitions across the country to connect consumers to accounts that meet their needs. Core account features include low costs, no overdraft fees, robust transaction capabilities such as a debit or prepaid card, and online bill pay. Already, Bank On certified accounts are available in over 24,100 branches across 49 states and the District of Columbia.

The Bank On Fellowship program is supported by Wells Fargo, whose $1 million investment supports Bank On Fellows work for 2 years, as well as providing broader support for Bank On efforts to connect residents to safe, appropriate accounts.

"Economic empowerment  especially by expanding access to responsible financial products and services  is one of Wells Fargo's philanthropic priorities, so we are proud to collaborate with CFE Fund to sponsor the Bank On Fellowship Program," said Shelley Marquez, Wells Fargo Senior Vice President and Community Relations Senior Manager. "This program is an innovative way to allow coalitions to devote full-time resources to helping consumers join or re-join the financial mainstream, so they are keeping and growing more of their money instead of relying on costly financial alternatives."

The CFE Fund provides funding and technical assistance to help coalitions improve availability of appropriate low-cost, low-fee transactional bank accounts that meet the Bank On National Account Standards; builds and strengthens coalition infrastructure and leadership; invests in replicable methods of reaching underserved markets through local government programming infrastructure, and leads a national learning community of local coalitions and other Bank On stakeholders.

To learn more about Bank On and the National Account Standards click here, or follow the conversation on Twitter @CFEfund #BankOn.

About the Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund (CFE Fund)

The CFE Fund supports municipal efforts to improve the financial stability of households by leveraging opportunities unique to local government. By translating cutting edge experience with large scale programs, research, and policy in cities of all sizes, the CFE Fund assists mayors and other local leaders to identify, develop, fund, implement, and research pilots and programs that help families build assets and make the most of their financial resources. For more information, please visit www.cfefund.org or follow us on Twitter at @CFEFund.

About Wells Fargo

Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) is a diversified, community-based financial services company with $1.9 trillion in assets. Wells Fargo's vision is to satisfy our customers' financial needs and help them succeed financially. Founded in 1852 and headquartered in San Francisco, Wells Fargo provides banking, insurance, investments, mortgage, and consumer and commercial finance through more than 8,400 locations, 13,000 ATMs, the internet (wellsfargo.com) and mobile banking, and has offices in 42 countries and territories to support customers who conduct business in the global economy. With approximately 268,000 team members, Wells Fargo serves one in three households in the United States. Wells Fargo & Company was ranked No. 25 on Fortune's 2017 rankings of America's largest corporations. The Chronicle of Philanthropy ranked Wells Fargo No. 3 on its most recent list of the top corporate cash philanthropists. In 2016, Wells Fargo donated $281.3 million to 14,900 nonprofits and Wells Fargo team members volunteered 1.73 million hours with 50,000 nonprofits. Wells Fargo's corporate social responsibility efforts are focused on three priorities: economic empowerment in underserved communities, environmental sustainability, and advancing diversity and social inclusion. News, insights and perspectives from Wells Fargo are also available at Wells Fargo Stories.

About Bank On

Bank On coalitions are locally-led partnerships between local public officials; city, state, and federal government agencies; financial institutions; and community organizations that work together to help improve the financial stability of unbanked and underbanked individuals and families in their communities. The Bank On national initiative builds on a grassroots movement of dozens of coalitions in cities across the country, offering national account standards, capacity grant support, pilot funding, and a learning community. These first-generation banking access programs have already connected hundreds of thousands of people to safe and affordable accounts. In addition to connecting unbanked individuals to accounts, Bank On programs raise public awareness, target outreach to the unbanked, and expand access to financial education. Visit www.cfefund.org/bankon for more information.

Media Contact:

Joel Moore

[email protected]

212.885.0468

SOURCE Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund

Related Links

http://www.cfefund.org


EXTON, Pa., Nov. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- First Resource Bank (OTCQX: FRSB) announces that it has been named 2017 Best Bank in Chester County by readers of The Daily Local .

The Chester County Newspaper, which has hundreds of thousands of online followers, more than 18,000 subscribers and hundreds of news stand locations throughout Chester County, held its annual "Best of Chester County" voting from mid-August through September of this year. First Resource's fierce following of loyal clients and community supporters overwhelming stepped up to show their support for our 12 year old Chester County small business.

President & CEO, Glenn B. Marshall, stated "We are honored to be selected as the Best Bank in Chester County. When we opened First Resource Bank in 2005 we set out to help strengthen the community's landscape, and we have delivered what we believe our community has asked for, second to none, raving fan level service through our Exton and West Chester locations. Since opening we have donated over $1 million in scholarships and community event sponsorships as well as made over $550 million in loans, primarily in Chester County. While we never intended to do this in order to win an award, we are thrilled and humbled that our customers, supporters, and readers of the Daily Local would select us to win this 2017 Best Bank award. On behalf of everyone at the First Resource Bank family, thank you!"

About First Resource Bank

First Resource Bank is a locally owned and operated Pennsylvania state-chartered bank with two full-service branches, serving the banking needs of businesses, professionals and individuals in Chester County, Pennsylvania. The Bank offers a full range of deposit and credit services with a high level of personalized service. First Resource Bank also offers a broad range of traditional financial services and products, competitively priced and delivered in a responsive manner to small businesses, professionals and residents in the local market. For additional information visit our website at www.firstresourcebank.com. Member FDIC.

This press release contains statements that are not of historical facts and may pertain to future operating results or events or management's expectations regarding those results or events. These are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements may include, but are not limited to, statements about our plans, objectives, expectations and intentions and other statements contained in this press release that are not historical facts. When used in this press release, the words "expects", "anticipates", "intends", "plans", "believes", "seeks", "estimates", or words of similar meaning, or future or conditional verbs, such as "will", "would", "should", "could", or "may" are generally intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are either beyond our control or not reasonably capable of predicting at this time. In addition, these forward-looking statements are subject to assumptions with respect to future business strategies and decisions that are subject to change. Actual results may differ materially from the results discussed in these forward-looking statements. Readers of this press release are accordingly cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. First Resource Bank disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly any of the forward-looking statements herein, whether in response to new information, future events or otherwise.

SOURCE First Resource Bank

Related Links

http://www.firstresourcebank.com


PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- FMC Corporation (NYSE: FMC) today announced it has successfully completed the closing of its two pending transactions with DuPont. The companies signed a definitive agreement on March 31, 2017, and have now satisfied all necessary conditions and approvals. FMC has acquired the portion of DuPont's Crop Protection business it had to divest to comply with the European Commission ruling related to its merger with The Dow Chemical Company, which was completed on August 31, 2017, to form DowDuPont. Additionally, FMC has completed the sale of FMC Health and Nutrition to DuPont.

Logo - http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/594902/FMC_CORPORATION_LOGO.jpg

The company will provide a first look at the combined company and the integration of this acquisition next week, as part of its third quarter 2017 earnings conference call on Tuesday, November 7, 2017, at 9:00 a.m. ET.

About FMC

For more than a century, FMC Corporation has served the global agricultural, industrial and consumer markets with innovative solutions, applications and quality products. On November 1, 2017, FMC acquired a significant portion of DuPont's Crop Protection business. FMC's 2016 pro forma revenue was approximately $4 billion.1 FMC employs more than 7,000 people throughout the world and operates its businesses in two segments: FMC Agricultural Solutions and FMC Lithium. For more information, visit www.FMC.com.

1 2016 pro forma revenue assumes the transactions with DuPont occurred at the beginning of the year and includes twelve months of revenue from the DuPont Crop Protection business and it excludes the revenue from FMC Health and Nutrition. The pro forma revenue reflects FMC's calculation as of the date hereof based on information currently available. Form 8-K will be filed within 75 days of the transaction date and will include unaudited pro forma condensed financial information related to the transactions.

Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Act of 1995: Statements in this news release that are forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties concerning specific factors described in FMC Corporation's 2016 Form 10-K and other SEC filings. Such information contained herein represents management's best judgment as of the date hereof based on information currently available. FMC Corporation does not intend to update this information and disclaims any legal obligation to the contrary. Historical information is not necessarily indicative of future performance.

SOURCE FMC Corporation

Related Links

http://www.fmc.com


ST. PAUL, Minn., Nov. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Each November, Minnesota hunters converge in time-worn shacks and cabins away from city traffic and everyday hassles, to re-tell stories of past hunts while counting down the hours until they can get back into the outdoors to watch and listen for white-tailed deer.

It's a tradition carried on each season by nearly 500,000 firearms deer hunters in Minnesota, and this year, a festival celebrating that tradition  the 15th annual Minnesota Governor's Deer Hunting Opener  is Thursday, Nov. 2, through Sunday, Nov. 5, in Grand Rapids, Minn., featuring a smorgasbord of activities with deer hunting at the center.

Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton is expected to attend the event coordinated by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Minnesota Deer Hunters Association, Explore Minnesota and Visit Grand Rapids.

"Hunting is a big deal in Minnesota," said DNR Commissioner Tom Landwehr. "Hunters contribute to the bottom line of businesses across the state and hunters help fund conservation efforts that benefit wildlife, habitat for wildlife and pollinators, and our water quality."

Minnesota has a rich hunting heritage and ample room to hunt on 11 million acres of public hunting land. Hunting is a favorite fall activity in many families and part of the culture of many communities across the state. Overall, hunting and wildlife watching generate more than $1.3 billion in annual economic expenditures in Minnesota.

The Minnesota Governor's Deer Hunting Opener began in 2003 and happens at a different location around the state each year. Activities include a youth archery competition, hunting exhibits, dinner, a demonstration from a butcher about how to turn a harvested deer into venison for the freezer and opportunities for media to sign up to hunt deer with local hosts when the Minnesota firearms deer season opens on Saturday, Nov. 4.

Visit mngovernorsdeeropener.com for more information about the event, and follow along on social media using #DeerCampMN and #OnlyinMN.

SOURCE Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

Related Links

http://www.dnr.state.mn.us


OLATHE, Kan., Nov. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Terracon is pleased to announce its acquisition of Washington, D.C., area firms GeoConcepts Engineering, Inc. (GeoConcepts) and GeoCapitol Engineering, LLC (GeoCapitol). By bringing these two organizations into Terracon, the company reinforces its Mid-Atlantic focus, now with five offices in the metropolitan area.

GeoConcepts provides geotechnical engineering, hydrogeologic, environmental services, and materials testing and inspection. Located in Ashburn, Va., GeoConcepts offers these services during project planning, design, and construction phase services for clients throughout the region. GeoConcepts' experience includes public and private projects ranging from roadway, mass transit, and utility infrastructure, to facilities serving the government, educational, commercial, institutional, multi-family, and health care markets.

GeoCapitol is a District of Columbia Certified Business Enterprise (CBE) company headquartered in Washington, D.C., providing geotechnical engineering, hydrogeologic, environmental consulting, and materials testing and inspection services. Within the CBE program, GeoCapitol is considered a Local Business Enterprise (LBE). GeoCapitol's team members have more than 30 years of experience working in D.C. and have developed long-standing working relationships with local regulatory officials.

"We are striving to always effectively connect market needs with our capabilities," said David Gaboury, P.E., president and CEO of Terracon. "By aligning Terracon's national network with the great wealth of talent located in and around the region, we significantly enhance the value we can offer clients locally and across the country."

The organizations will continue to serve clients locally as GeoConcepts, A Terracon Company and GeoCapitol, A Terracon Company.

"This merger will allow us to offer our clients a local network of five offices with a diverse range of quality-oriented services. In addition, our offices will be supported by Terracon's extended expertise and resources across the country," said Ted Lewis, P.E., LEED Green Associate, principal of GeoConcepts. "With offices in Virginia, Maryland, and the District of Columbia, our combined staff of 135 looks forward to working together on successful projects throughout the Mid-Atlantic."

These acquisitions are supported by Terracon's Germantown, Md., office established in 2017, and locations in Dulles and Woodbridge, Va., acquired from the former Geotechnical Consulting & Testing in 2016.

Terracon is an employee-owned consulting engineering firm with more than 4,000 employees providing environmental, facilities, geotechnical, and materials services from more than 140 offices with services available in all 50 states. Terracon currently ranks 30th on Engineering News-Record's list of the Top 500 Design Firms. For additional information about Terracon, visit www.terracon.com.

SOURCE Terracon

Related Links

http://www.terracon.com


"The first person cured of Alzheimer's will be someone who participated in a clinical trial. The nation desperately needs a therapy for Alzheimer's. Significantly improving the clinical trials process is critical to implementing those therapies," commented John Dwyer, President of the Global Alzheimer's Platform Foundation. "We know that our methodology for expediting trials is working. We are attacking a major hurdle in bringing therapies to patients."

To accomplish its mission, the GAP Foundation is:

Establishing a state-of-the-art, online recruitment process for trial participants, covering individuals ranging from preclinical and pre-symptomatic conditions to mild and moderate Alzheimer's disease.

Expanding GAP-Net, an integrated platform of trial-ready, high-performing clinical trial sites, dedicated to shortening the duration of trials. The research network includes: Stanford University , University of California San Francisco , Compass Research, Raleigh Neurological Associates, University of Southern California , the Cleveland Clinic, Northwestern University , Emory University , Mayo Clinic, Washington University , Howard University and many more.

, , Compass Research, Raleigh Neurological Associates, , the Cleveland Clinic, , , Mayo Clinic, , and many more. Of the 58 GAP-Net sites, 47 academic and private sites have agreed to share a single Institutional Review Board (IRB) creating the largest Alzheimer's disease research network under a single IRB in North America . This unprecedented achievement allows for speedier AD trial launches while simultaneously protecting the rights and safety of participants.

. This unprecedented achievement allows for speedier AD trial launches while simultaneously protecting the rights and safety of participants. Establishing a customized recruitment process that connects potential trial participants to GAP-Net research centers. This includes extensive initiatives to increase community engagement, both live and online.

Increasing the participation of the African American and Latino communities in clinical trials by establishing relationships between GAP-Net sites and the healthcare professionals serving these populations.

Launching MemoryStrings.org, a digital platform connecting GAP-Net researchers, research volunteers, caregivers, advocates and local communities. The platform's goal is to facilitate the inclusion of more people into clinical trials.

Curing Alzheimer's disease depends on clinical trials and recruiting trial participants remains a global challenge. 85% of trials are delayed due to enrollment issues and more than 30% of total trial time is spent just on recruiting. One of the Global Alzheimer's Platform Foundation's primary goals is to establish a recruitment infrastructure to ensure speedy enrollment of targeted individuals into trials.

Sponsors currently supporting GAP's initiatives include Ray and Dagmar Dolby Family Fund, Bright Focus Foundation, Laura and John Arnold Foundation, Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation, Janssen, Lilly, Roche, Eisai, Biogen, Lundbeck, Takeda, Pfizer and others.

For a current list of GAP-Net sites and researchers, please visit the link here.

For more information about the GAP Foundation, please visit www.globalalzplatform.org. To volunteer, visit www.memorystrings.org.

Note to Editors

For interviews with GAP representatives and/or GAP-Net researchers, please contact Gus Nodal at: (415) 359-2320 or [email protected].

About Global Alzheimer's Platform Foundation (GAP)

GAP is a patient-centric, non-profit dedicated to speeding the delivery of innovative medicines to those in need by reducing the time and cost of Alzheimer's disease clinical trials. GAP formed a unique and growing network of 59 leading research centers across the U.S. and Canada to help optimize their operations. GAP launched a community-based recruitment model and an online platform designed to accelerate trial recruitment and increase minority representation in research. Based in Washington D.C., GAP was created by UsAgainstAlzheimer's and the Global CEO Initiative (CEOi) in 2015. To learn more about the GAP, please visit globalalzplatform.org.

Media Contact:

Gus Nodal

Landis Communications Inc.

(415) 359-2320

[email protected]

www.landispr.com

SOURCE Global Alzheimers Platform Foundation

Related Links

http://www.globalalzplatform.org


RALEIGH, N.C., Nov. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- On Monday, November 13, for the 17th consecutive year Golden Corral will once again thank more than 300,000 active duty and retired United States military personnel for their service with a free dinner buffet and beverage, while also raising donations for DAV (Disabled American Veterans). A tradition started in 2001 to celebrate our nation's heroes, Golden Corral's Military Appreciation Night has served more than five million complimentary meals to military personnel and generated more than $12.9 million dollars in guest contributions to support community-based service initiatives for veterans.

"For the past 16 years, every Golden Corral restaurant and our guests have expressed our sincere gratitude for the brave men and women who have served this country. It is important we recognize the sacrifices they have made and continue to show our appreciation," said Lance Trenary, President and Chief Executive Officer of Golden Corral. "We look forward to thanking our nation's heroes once again this Military Appreciation Night with a complimentary meal and raising more funds for the programs and services provided by DAV."

Golden Corral has enlisted Gary Sinise, celebrated actor/humanitarian, and Collective Soul, the platinum award-winning band, to record public service announcements for Military Appreciation Night. Sinise and Collective Soul are all actively involved in supporting active duty and retired military personnel through a variety of organizations and initiatives including tours to military installations overseas.

"This is the 13th year I've had the pleasure to partner with Golden Corral in supporting our troops, past and present, through Military Appreciation Night," said Sinise. "The number of meals given away and amount of money donated in the past 16 years really distinguishes Golden Corral's commitment to the military. I'm proud and happy to help raise awareness for Golden Corral Military Appreciation Night."

Golden Corral will serve free dinner buffets with beverage from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. on November 13 to any person who is or has served in a United States Military branch, including the National Guard and Reserves. State and local DAV representatives will be on-site at all Golden Corral locations coordinating the collection of donations from customers. While only current and former military qualify for the free meal, everyone is encouraged to come out and show support for our veterans. For more information on Military Appreciation Night, please visit http://www.goldencorral.com/military/.

About Golden Corral Corporation:

Founded in 1973, privately held Golden Corral Corp. is headquartered in Raleigh, N.C. Lance Trenary serves as its president and chief executive officer. Golden Corral has 485 restaurants in 42 states as of January 1, 2017. The company's vision is to be the leader in the family restaurant segment by making pleasurable dining affordable for every guest, at every restaurant, every day. Golden Corral restaurants nationwide have long been strong supporters of the U.S. Military and Disabled American Veterans (DAV). Golden Corral helped raise more than $1.4 million dollars for DAV in 2016 as part of its annual "Military Appreciation" initiative. Golden Corral is the founding sponsor of Camp Corral, a free "week of a lifetime" summer camp for children of wounded, disabled or fallen military families (www.campcorral.org ). For more information on Golden Corral, visit www.goldencorral.com.

About DAV (Disabled Veteran Americans):

DAV empowers veterans to lead high-quality lives with respect and dignity. It is dedicated to a single purpose: fulfilling our promises to the men and women who served. DAV does this by ensuring that veterans and their families can access the full range of benefits available to them; fighting for the interests of America's injured heroes on Capitol Hill; providing employment resources to veterans and their families; and educating the public about the great sacrifices and needs of veterans transitioning back to civilian life. DAV, a nonprofit organization with 1.3 million members, was founded in 1920 and chartered by the U. S. Congress in 1932. Learn more at www.dav.org.

Media Contacts:

Kevin Behan [email protected] 919.459.3595

Sue Yannello [email protected] 919.459.8162

SOURCE Golden Corral

Related Links

http://www.goldencorral.com


DALLAS, Nov. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Goodnight Midstream, LLC, ("Goodnight" or the "Company") a leading oilfield water midstream company, announces that the participants in its senior secured revolving credit facility, for which ABN AMRO Capital USA, LLC ("ABN AMRO") is the administrative agent, book runner and sole lead arranger, have expanded the facility amount to $165 million to provide additional capital for the Company's growth and future operations.

Upon closing, Goodnight has more than $100 million of available liquidity to fund continued growth and expansion opportunities in the Bakken and Permian basins. The consortium of lenders, led by ABN AMRO, includes Texas Capital Bank, East West Bank, Cadence Bank and BOK Financial.

Patrick Walker, Chief Executive Officer of Goodnight Midstream said, "The continued support and confidence of the well-respected banks in our consortium led by ABN AMRO represents another level of validation in our team's ability to execute on safe, clean, cost-effective midstream saltwater disposal systems. This financing, done at attractive terms, provides us the financial flexibility to execute on our growth initiatives and support our ongoing commitment to customers of lowering lease operating expense and improving reliability."

About Goodnight Midstream, LLC.

Goodnight Midstream provides trusted professional fluids management services to its customer base. The Company owns and operates an extensive network of water gathering pipelines and saltwater disposal wells focused on gathering and disposing of produced saltwater for oil and gas producers. Goodnight's midstream approach minimizes environmental impact and improves health and safety while lowering lease operating expense and improving reliability for its customers. Goodnight is supported by a team of highly experienced engineers and operating professionals. In addition to Goodnight's leading position in North Dakota, Goodnight has an emerging presence in Wyoming's Powder River Basin and the Permian Basin of Texas and New Mexico. For more information, please visit www.gnmidstream.com.

Contact:

Julie Walter

[email protected]

Goodnight Midstream, LLC

SOURCE Goodnight Midstream

Related Links

http://www.gnmidstream.com


HUNT VALLEY, Md., Nov. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- What's better than one Thanksgiving? Two Thanksgivings. With Friendsgiving now strongly asserting itself as the second holiday in November, McCormick has partnered with Google to figure out when Americans are celebrating this epic potluck and, more interestingly, what they're serving across the country.

One thing is clear, Friendsgiving is growing in popularity. Friendsgiving searches continue to grow every year, and they peak one week before Thanksgiving searches do. In fact, classic Thanksgiving recipes like 'Turkey Recipe' and 'Stuffing Recipe' were relatively stable the week of Thanksgiving, but increased more than 300% year-over-year the week before. This makes the most likely day for a Friendsgiving, Saturday November 18th this year. 1

"Instead of focusing on stuffing and green beans  our test kitchens picked the most interesting recipes rising Friendsgiving week, like a pressure-cooked turkey breast, cheesy potatoes and chocolate gravy," said Chef Kevan Vetter of the McCormick Kitchens. "There's a lot more license to be creative with Friendsgiving dishes, but the recipes are still comforting and reflective of where we're from."

Below are key findings McCormick discovered about how friends celebrate in New England, out West, below the Mason Dixon and just about everywhere in-between:

The Main Dish: There is more than one way to cook a turkey! Searches for multi-cooker, fried turkeys and smoked turkeys have skyrocketed over the past few years the week before Thanksgiving, with 'smoked turkey' searches rising more than 1,100% nationwide.

Regional Favorites

The Sweet South: People in the south searched for the highest variety of unique recipes, with a big focus on desserts - from chess pie to bourbon balls and chocolate gravy.

New England and Mid-Atlantic Comfort Foods: Home to many Polish and Italian communities, cooks in New England and the Mid-Atlantic searched for comforting crowd-pleasing recipes loosely tied to their heritage. Searches for American Chop Suey  a cheesy pasta bake  have grown by more than 1,200% in the Northeast alone.

Heading West: Out west, casserole is king. The Midwest and Western states keep it cozy with casseroles, hot dishes and corn puddings. In the Southwest  Bizchochitos  a traditional New Mexican butter cookie, are a popular search term.

National Appeal

Pumpkin Pie and Deviled Eggs: The more things change, the more they stay the same! Both pumpkin pie and deviled egg-inspired recipes are popular searches for the entire country.

Thanksgiving Cocktails: The term 'Thanksgiving Cocktail' is a popular search the week before Thanksgiving. Drinks that can be made 'by the batch' are always a better choice for group settings  especially those that incorporate classic fall flavors like apple or hot chocolate.

For more information, recipes and high-images visit www.McCormick.com/Friendsgiving

About McCormick

McCormick & Company, Incorporated is a global leader in flavor. With $4.4 billion in annual sales, the company manufactures, markets and distributes spices, seasoning mixes, condiments and other flavorful products to the entire food industry  retail outlets, food manufacturers and foodservice businesses. Every day, no matter where or what you eat, you can enjoy food flavored by McCormick. McCormick Brings the Joy of Flavor to Life. For more information, visit www.mccormickcorporation.com.

1 Google Data, US, August 2017

CONTACT:

Laurie Harrsen

McCormick & Company, Inc.

[email protected]

Lauren O'Leary

APCO Worldwide

[email protected]

SOURCE McCormick

Related Links

http://www.mccormickcorporation.com


LOS ANGELES, Nov. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- InvestCloud Inc., a global FinTech firm, has been selected by Grinnell College as its digital platform of choice for its endowment. The Iowa liberal arts college will use InvestCloud Navy to simplify investment management, improve efficiency and centralize data.

The $1.8 billion fund includes investments in equities, hedge funds, private equity and real assets. The fund previously relied on multiple service providers, with information spread across various documents and formats.

Grinnell College selected InvestCloud Navy because it supports multi-asset-class portfolios and can directly scale in line with business evolution. Grinnell will also be able to take advantage of InvestCloud's unique Digital Warehouse, which allows investors to view all information in one place, helping to make better informed decisions.

Paige Carlson, Director of Investment Operations at Grinnell College, said: "Currently, our data is stored across various programs and file types, which makes reporting more onerous. Working with InvestCloud, we are hopeful we can significantly improve internal performance reporting and analytics, which will allow all members of our team to better monitor portfolio performance."

InvestCloud Navy empowers institutional investors with tools for data aggregation to combine various investment types into one platform. It also provides financial apps for performance analytics and operational efficiencies. Through Navy, Grinnell will be able to automate reporting and create streamlined workflows.

Mark Trousdale, EVP at InvestCloud, said: "Digital is taking over all financial segments  and the endowments sector is no different. Grinnell College is the exact type of client we had in mind when designing the Navy solution: one that recognizes the power of data and wants to harness it to deliver efficiencies and results. Our recent upgrades to Navy's functionality reflect our commitment to helping this sector leverage 21st-century solutions."

Earlier in 2017, InvestCloud announced significant upgrades to the Navy product specifically for pensions, endowments and foundations segments. These upgrades included new asset allocation apps that offer multiple views on multiple data types. Navy also provides extremely flexible maker-checker-authorizer workflows and unique Error Shield protection for stress-free data entry and impact analysis.

About InvestCloud Inc.

Headquartered in Los Angeles with a global presence, InvestCloud develops first-class, financial digital solutions, pre-integrated into the cloud. By empowering investors and managers with a single version of the integrated truth through its unique digital platform, InvestCloud creates beautifully designed client experiences and intuitive operations solutions using an ever-expanding library of digital modular apps. The result? Powerful products for individual investors and institutions alike, assembled on-demand to meet clients' specific needs.

Today the InvestCloud platform supports over $1.7 trillion of assets across 670 diverse clients  from wealth managers, institutional investors & institutional asset managers to family offices, asset services companies, financial platforms & banks.

For more information, visit www.investcloud.com.

Media contact:

Rich Went (UK)

Metia

+44 (0) 20 3100 3580

[email protected]

Emma Smith (US)

FiComm Partners

917-636-4806

[email protected]

SOURCE InvestCloud Inc.

Related Links

http://www.investcloud.com


TEGA CAY, S.C., Nov. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Longtime Tega Cay resident and business professional Gus Matchunis is taking his 2017 campaign for Tega Cay City Council directly to the electorate and announcing his Top 10 Reasons to Vote for Gus.

Gus Matchunis - Tega Cay SC City Council Candidate 2017

Gus knows our community; he is your neighbor. Lake Wylie's Tega Cay peninsula has been Gus's home for 20 years. He currently lives in New Tega Cay on the lake's east side, near the areas most likely to be annexed and developed. Perpetuating "The Good Life" in Tega Cay is important to Gus, his wife and his five children. Gus has watched Tega Cay grow. Smart management of current and future growth is the cornerstone of Gus's campaign. As a successful automobile dealership service director, Gus is a problem solver, careful planner and good listener. He will apply his 30 years of business experience to the issues that confront Tega Cay . Clean water  for drinking and recreation  is paramount. Help Gus to protect our lake, now and for the future! Tega Cay residents can be proud of our community's current budget surplus and triple-A bond rating. Gus stands for affordable and appropriate infrastructure to support commercial, residential and civic growth and accompanying traffic flows. Gus is not a politician, unless you count his campaign for Beta Club officer as a high school junior. He brings fresh perspective to the responsibility of city council representative. Gus's campaign is self-funded. His election campaign will not accept contributions from developers or other special interests. What you see is what you get with Gus. His only agenda is to do what's best for Tega Cay and its 11,000 residents.

The 2017 City of Tega Cay General Election is set for November 7. Residents will cast ballots for Tega Cay Mayor and two, four-year, at-large City Council seats. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. ET. Visit www.scvotes.org to find your voting precinct location.

To learn more about Gus and his candidacy, please visit: www.VoteForGus.com or www.facebook.com/GusforCityCouncil.

On November 7 make your voice heard and #VOTEFORGUS. A vote for Gus is a vote for us!

CONTACT:

Gus Matchunis

704-619-9758

[email protected]

www.VoteForGus.com

www.facebook.com/GusforCityCouncil

SOURCE Gus Matchunis

Related Links

http://www.VoteForGus.com


SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP updates investors in SCANA Corporation (NYSE: SCG) to October 31, 2017 announcement that the CEO and COO are departing and reminds them that the Lead Plaintiff deadline is November 27, 2017. If you purchased or otherwise acquired securities of SCANA between January 19, 2016 and September 22, 2017 and suffered losses contact Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP. For more information visit:

https://www.hbsslaw.com/cases/SCG

or contact Reed Kathrein, who is leading the firm's investigation, by calling 510-725-3000 or emailing

[email protected].

On October 31, 2017, Charlotte Business Journal published a story entitled "SCANA CEO to step down following V.C. Summer debacle." In it, the CBJ reported that "[t]he other shoe has fallen as SCANA Corp. CEO Kevin Marsh announced he will retire Jan. 1 in the wake of the failed expansion project at the V.C. Summer Nuclear Station." The CBJ also reported "SCANA Chief Operating Officer Stephan Byrne, who is also in charge of power generation at the company, will retire as well."

This news drove the price of the Company's shares down $2.77, or about 6%, to close at $43.14 on October 31, 2017.

Previously, on October 17, 2017, SCANA announced in its Form 8-K that the SEC subpoenaed documents from the Company and its subsidiaries related to the V.C. Summer Nuclear Station.

Unknown to investors, reportedly a secret February 5, 2016 report prepared by Bechtel Power Corporation for SCANA's South Carolina Electric & Gas ("SCEG") subsidiary suggests SCANA knew of serious problems with the nuclear project long before SCEG walked away from it in July 2017.

"We're focused on Bechtel's identification of serious problems with the project, including unrealistic timelines, a lack of project management and an issued design that is often 'not constructible,'" said Hagens Berman partner Reed Kathrein. "Considering the size of the Company's nuclear project, reasonable investors would likely consider disclosures of these problems important to their investment decisions."

Whistleblowers: Persons with non-public information regarding SCANA should consider their options to help in the investigation or take advantage of the SEC whistleblower program. Under the new program, whistleblowers who provide original information may receive rewards totaling up to 30 percent of any successful recovery made by the SEC. For more information, call Reed Kathrein at 510-725-3000 or email [email protected].

About Hagens Berman

Hagens Berman is a national investor-rights law firm headquartered in Seattle, Washington with 70+ attorneys in 11 offices across the country. The firm represents investors, whistleblowers, workers and consumers in complex litigation. More about the firm and its successes can be found at www.hbsslaw.com. For the latest news visit our newsroom or follow us on Twitter at @classactionlaw.

Contact:

Reed Kathrein, 510-725-3000

SOURCE Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP

Related Links

https://www.hbsslaw.com


ALPHARETTA, Ga., Nov. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Halyard Health, Inc. (NYSE: HYH) today reported third quarter 2017 results and raised its full-year 2017 adjusted diluted earnings per share outlook.

Executive Summary

Third quarter 2017 net sales totaled $401 million , compared to $398 million in the same period last year.

, compared to in the same period last year. Net income for the third quarter 2017 was $17 million compared to net income of $9 million in the third quarter a year ago. Third quarter adjusted net income was $28 million compared to adjusted net income of $23 million in the prior year.

compared to net income of in the third quarter a year ago. Third quarter adjusted net income was compared to adjusted net income of in the prior year. Third quarter diluted earnings per share were $0.35 compared to $0.19 diluted earnings per share in the third quarter 2016. Adjusted diluted earnings per share in the quarter were $0.60 , compared to $0.48 in the prior year.

compared to diluted earnings per share in the third quarter 2016. Adjusted diluted earnings per share in the quarter were , compared to in the prior year. Year-to-date net sales totaled $1,196 million , up 1 percent, compared to the year-ago period.

, up 1 percent, compared to the year-ago period. Through nine months, diluted earnings per share were $0.98 compared to $0.63 a year ago. Adjusted diluted earnings per share for the first nine months were $1.58 , compared to $1.47 in the prior year.

compared to a year ago. Adjusted diluted earnings per share for the first nine months were , compared to in the prior year. Halyard separately announced an agreement to sell the S&IP business to Owens & Minor for $710 million . The divestiture accelerates the company's transformation into a pure-play medical devices business operating in attractive end-markets, enables increased management focus, and provides the company with additional financial capacity to pursue future growth opportunities.

. The divestiture accelerates the company's transformation into a pure-play medical devices business operating in attractive end-markets, enables increased management focus, and provides the company with additional financial capacity to pursue future growth opportunities. The company raised its full-year 2017 adjusted diluted earnings per share outlook to $2.03 to $2.13 from $1.85 to $2.05 .

"Halyard delivered another strong quarter, driven by momentum in our Medical Devices segment. We continued to deliver against our transformation strategy, with Medical Devices delivering net sales and operating profit growth of four and 18 percent, respectively. We also reached another milestone in our evolution with the agreement to sell the S&IP business to Owens & Minor. This transaction accelerates our transformation as a pure-play medical devices business and positions the S&IP franchise and its employees for success through more focused ownership," said Joe Woody, Halyard chief executive officer. "As a result of our year-to-date performance, we're raising our full-year adjusted diluted earnings per share outlook to $2.03 - $2.13. We're looking forward to our future as a pure-play medical devices company, and expect to be well-positioned to succeed operating in higher growth and higher margin end-markets."

Third Quarter 2017 Operating Results

Net sales totaled $401 million, compared to $398 million a year ago. Performance was driven by 2 percent higher volumes compared to the prior year, which was partially offset by 1 percent lower selling prices.

Operating profit was $29 million in the third quarter compared to $21 million in 2016. On an adjusted basis, operating profit was $48 million compared to $43 million in the prior year. Volume growth in Medical Devices and lower selling, general and administrative expense were partially offset by lower selling prices in Surgical and Infection Prevention (S&IP).

Adjusted operating profit for the third quarter excludes $8 million for divestiture-related charges, $2 million for acquisition-related charges, $4 million for litigation matters and $5 million for intangible amortization expense.

Adjusted EBITDA for the third quarter, excluding divestiture-related charges, acquisition-related charges and litigation expenses, was $59 million, compared to $53 million a year ago.

Third Quarter 2017 Business Segment Results

Medical Devices

Net sales of Medical Devices in the third quarter 2017 totaled $151 million, a 4 percent increase compared to the third quarter 2016. Volumes increased 4 percent. Performance was driven by continued volume growth in interventional pain and surgical pain, as well as respiratory health resulting from the conversion of a new GPO contract for oral care.

Operating profit for Medical Devices was $38 million, an 18 percent increase compared to the prior year. Performance was driven by higher sales volumes and the timing of spending related to research and development, and selling, general and administrative expense.

Surgical and Infection Prevention

S&IP net sales were $246 million, a 1 percent decrease compared to the third quarter of 2016. Volumes for the quarter were flat. Continued volume growth in exam gloves was offset by lower volume in other product categories. Lower selling prices of 2 percent were concentrated in exam gloves.

S&IP operating profit for the quarter was $18 million compared to $22 million in the third quarter of 2016. Performance was impacted by lower selling prices, which was partially offset by favorable currency exchange rates.

Year-To-Date Results

Medical Devices

In the first nine months of 2017, net sales of Medical Devices totaled $446 million, up 8 percent compared to the comparable period in 2016. Sales volumes increased 8 percent bolstered by Corpak. Organic sales volumes grew 3 percent, driven by higher volume across all product categories.

Year-to-date, operating profit for Medical Devices was $116 million, a 28 percent increase compared to the first nine months of 2016. Results were driven by higher sales volumes and manufacturing cost savings.

Surgical and Infection Prevention

In the first nine months of 2017, S&IP net sales totaled $740 million, a 3 percent decrease compared to the prior year. Sales volumes increased 1 percent driven by continued strong demand for exam gloves. Sales volume growth was offset by 3 percent lower selling prices primarily in exam gloves.

Year-to-date, S&IP operating profit was $51 million compared to $72 million in the first nine months of 2016. Performance was driven by higher sales volumes, favorable currency exchange rates, and manufacturing cost savings offset by lower selling prices and higher commodity costs.

Balance Sheet and Cash Flow

Total debt at the end of the third quarter 2017 was $580 million, consisting of a secured term loan and unsecured notes, compared to total debt of $579 million at the end of 2016.

Cash from operations for the third quarter was $23 million compared to $50 million a year ago. Capital spending for the third quarter was $14 million, up from $8 million compared to 2016. The company's cash balance was $166 million at the end of the third quarter 2017, compared to $114 million at the end of 2016.

2017 Outlook and Key Planning Assumptions

The company is revising its previously announced adjusted full-year 2017 outlook.

Adjusted diluted earnings per share are now expected to range between $2.03 and $2.13 .

Based on current trends, the company is updating several of its key planning assumptions, as described below:

S&IP sales, excluding sales to Kimberly-Clark, are now expected to range from down 1 percent to down 3 percent.

S&IP net sales to Kimberly-Clark are now expected to range between $50 and $55 million .

. Inflation in key inputs of $10 to $15 million .

. The adjusted effective tax rate is anticipated to be between 31 and 33 percent.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This press release and the accompanying tables include the following financial measures that have not been calculated in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S., or GAAP, and are therefore referred to as non-GAAP financial measures:

Adjusted net income

Adjusted diluted earnings per share

Adjusted gross and operating profit

Adjusted effective tax rate

Adjusted EBITDA

Free cash flow

These non-GAAP financial measures exclude the following items, as applicable, for the relevant time periods as indicated in the accompanying non-GAAP reconciliations to the comparable GAAP financial measures:

Divestiture costs relating to the sale of the S&IP business.

Transition costs relating to the separation from Kimberly-Clark, which include costs to establish Halyard Health's capabilities as a stand-alone entity. These costs are related primarily to rebranding and other supply chain transition costs. Going forward, these costs are not expected to be material; therefore, they will no longer be excluded from adjusted earnings.

Expenses associated with the amortization of intangible assets associated with prior business acquisitions.

The positive or negative effect of changes in currency exchange rates during the year.

Expenses associated with certain litigation matters.

Certain acquisition and integration charges related to the acquisition of CORPAK MedSystems, Inc.

Prior periods impact of tax regulatory changes.

The company provides these non-GAAP financial measures as supplemental information to our GAAP financial measures. Management and the company's Board of Directors use net sales on a constant currency basis, adjusted net income, adjusted diluted earnings per share, adjusted operating profit, adjusted EBITDA, and free cash flow to (a) evaluate the company's historical and prospective financial performance and its performance relative to its competitors, (b) allocate resources and (c) measure the operational performance of the company's business units and their managers. Management also believes that the use of an adjusted effective tax rate provides improved insight into the tax effects of our ongoing business operations.

Additionally, the Compensation Committee of the company's Board of Directors will use certain of the non-GAAP financial measures when setting and assessing achievement of incentive compensation goals. These goals are based, in part, on the company's net sales on a constant currency basis, adjusted diluted earnings per share and adjusted EBITDA, which will be determined by excluding certain items that are used in calculating these non-GAAP financial measures.

Reconciliations of these non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures are included in the attached financial tables.

Conference Call Webcast

Halyard Health, Inc. will host a conference call today at 9 a.m. ET. The conference call can be accessed live over the internet at https://halyardhealth.investorroom.com or via telephone by dialing 877-240-5772 in the United States. A replay of the call will be available at noon ET today by calling 877-344-7529 in the United States and entering passcode 10113544. A webcast of the call will also be archived in the Investors section on the Halyard website.

About Halyard Health

Halyard Health (NYSE: HYH) is a medical technology company focused on eliminating pain, speeding recovery and preventing infection for healthcare providers and their patients. Headquartered in Alpharetta, Georgia, Halyard is committed to addressing some of today's most important healthcare needs, such as reducing the use of opioids while helping patients move from surgery to recovery and preventing healthcare-associated infections. Halyard's business segments - Medical Devices and Surgical and Infection Prevention (S&IP) - develop, manufacture and market clinically superior solutions that improve medical outcomes and business performance in more than 100 countries. For more information, visit www.halyardhealth.com .

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains information that includes or is based on "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are based on the current plans and expectations of management and are subject to various risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. Forward-looking statements include all statements that do not relate solely to historical or current facts, and can generally be identified by the use of words such as "may", "believe", "will", "expect", "project", " estimate", "anticipate", "plan", or "continue" and similar expressions, among others. Such factors include, but are not limited to: weakening of economic conditions that could adversely affect the level of demand for our products; pricing pressures generally, including cost-containment measures that could adversely affect the price of or demand for our products; changes in foreign exchange markets; legislative and regulatory actions; unanticipated issues arising in connection with clinical studies and otherwise that affect U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval of new products; changes in reimbursement levels from third-party payors; a significant increase in product liability claims; the impact of investigative and legal proceedings and compliance risks; the impact of the federal legislation to reform the United States healthcare system; changes in financial markets; and changes in the competitive environment. Additional information concerning these and other factors that may impact future results is contained in our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including our most recent Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q.

HALYARD HEALTH, INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENTS (unaudited) (in millions, except per share amounts)















































Three Months Ended

September 30,





Nine Months Ended

September 30,





2017

2016

Change

2017

2016

Change Net Sales $ 401.4



$ 397.5



1.0 %

$ 1,196.2



$ 1,182.3



1.2 % Cost of products sold 258.1



259.5



(0.5)



765.4



767.1



(0.2)

Gross Profit 143.3



138.0



3.8



430.8



415.2



3.8

Research and development expenses 10.3



10.9



(5.5)



28.1



29.1



(3.4)

Selling and general expenses 101.2



100.3



0.9



302.5



301.0



0.5

Other expense, net 3.0



5.9



N.M.



15.9



13.5



N.M.

Operating Profit 28.8



20.9



37.8



84.3



71.6



17.7

Interest income 0.7



0.2



N.M.



1.6



0.5



N.M.

Interest expense (8.1)



(8.4)



(3.6)



(23.5)



(24.7)



(4.9)

Income Before Income Taxes 21.4



12.7



68.5



62.4



47.4



31.6

Income tax provision (4.8)



(3.6)



33.3



(15.9)



(17.6)



(9.7)

Net Income $ 16.6



$ 9.1



82.4



$ 46.5



$ 29.8



56.0

























Interest expense, net 7.4



8.2



(9.8)



21.9



24.2



(9.5)

Income tax provision 4.8



3.6



33.3



15.9



17.6



(9.7)

Depreciation and amortization 16.1



16.6



(3.0)



48.5



48.4



0.2

EBITDA $ 44.9



$ 37.5



19.7



$ 132.8



$ 120.0



10.7

























Earnings Per Share





















Basic $ 0.35



$ 0.19



84.2 %

$ 1.00



$ 0.64



56.3 % Diluted 0.35



0.19



84.2



0.98



0.63



55.6

























Common Shares Outstanding





















Basic 46.8



46.7







46.7



46.6





Diluted 47.6



47.2







47.4



47.0







HALYARD HEALTH, INC. NON-GAAP RECONCILIATIONS (unaudited) (in millions)



































































Gross Profit

Operating Profit

Three Months Ended

September 30,

Nine Months Ended

September 30,

Three Months Ended

September 30,

Nine Months Ended

September 30,

2017

2016

2017

2016

2017

2016

2017

2016 As reported $ 143.3



$ 138.0



$ 430.8



$ 415.2



$ 28.8



$ 20.9



$ 84.3



$ 71.6

































Divestiture-related charges 















8.1







8.1





Spin-related transition charges 



4.5



(1.6)



4.6







6.7



(0.8)



10.6

Acquisition-related charges 1.2



1.5



2.4



5.0



2.0



4.4



5.3



14.7

Litigation and legal 















3.6



5.1



17.3



15.1

Intangibles amortization 1.0



0.8



2.9



2.3



5.3



5.6



16.1



16.5

































As adjusted non-GAAP $ 145.5



$ 144.8



$ 434.5



$ 427.1



$ 47.8



$ 42.7



$ 130.3



$ 128.5







































































Income before taxes

Income tax provision

Three Months Ended

September 30,

Nine Months Ended

September 30,

Three Months Ended

September 30,

Nine Months Ended

September 30,

2017

2016

2017

2016

2017

2016

2017

2016 As reported $ 21.4



$ 12.7



$ 62.4



$ 47.4



$ (4.8)



$ (3.6)



$ (15.9)



$ (17.6)

Effective tax rate, as

reported















22.4 %

28.3 %

25.5 %

37.1 %































Divestiture-related charges 8.1







8.1







(3.1)







(3.1)





Spin-related transition charges 



6.7



(0.8)



10.6







(2.3)



0.2



(3.9)

Acquisition-related charges 2.0



4.4



5.3



14.7



(0.8)



(1.7)



(2.0)



(5.6)

Litigation and legal 3.6



5.1



17.3



15.1



(1.3)



(1.9)



(6.5)



(5.7)

Intangibles amortization 5.3



5.6



16.1



16.5



(2.0)



(2.3)



(6.0)



(6.2)

Regulatory tax changes 



























3.7

































As adjusted non-GAAP $ 40.4



$ 34.5



$ 108.4



$ 104.3



$ (12.0)



$ (11.8)



$ (33.3)



$ (35.3)

Effective tax rate, as

adjusted















29.7 %

34.2 %

30.7 %

33.8 %

HALYARD HEALTH, INC. NON-GAAP RECONCILIATIONS (unaudited) (in millions, except per share amounts)



































Net Income

Three Months Ended

September 30,

Nine Months Ended

September 30,

2017

2016

2017

2016 As reported $ 16.6



$ 9.1



$ 46.5



$ 29.8

Diluted EPS, as reported $ 0.35



$ 0.19



$ 0.98



$ 0.63

















Divestiture-related charges 5.0







5.0





Spin-related transition charges 



4.4



(0.6)



6.7

Acquisition-related charges 1.2



2.7



3.3



9.1

Litigation and legal 2.3



3.2



10.8



9.4

Intangibles amortization 3.3



3.3



10.1



10.3

Thailand statutory tax rate change 











3.7

















As adjusted non-GAAP $ 28.4



$ 22.7



$ 75.1



$ 69.0

Diluted EPS, as adjusted $ 0.60



$ 0.48



$ 1.58



$ 1.47





































EBITDA

Three Months Ended

September 30,

Nine Months Ended

September 30,

2017

2016

2017

2016 EBITDA, as reported $ 44.9



$ 37.5



$ 132.8



$ 120.0

















Divestiture-related charges 8.1







8.1





Spin-related transition charges 



6.7



(0.8)



10.6

Acquisition-related charges 1.9



4.0



5.0



14.4

Litigation and legal 3.6



5.1



17.3



15.1

















Adjusted EBITDA $ 58.5



$ 53.3



$ 162.4



$ 160.1







HALYARD HEALTH, INC. NON-GAAP RECONCILIATIONS (unaudited)



































Free Cash Flow

Three Months Ended

September 30,

Nine Months Ended

September 30,

2017

2016

2017

2016 Cash provided by operating activities $ 23.4



$ 49.9



$ 80.1



$ 143.9

Capital expenditures (14.0)



(7.6)



(30.6)



(21.7)

Free Cash Flow $ 9.4



$ 42.3



$ 49.5



$ 122.2



2017 OUTLOOK



















Estimated Range Adjusted diluted earnings per share $ 2.03

to $ 2.13

Amortization (0.28)

to (0.28)

Divestiture-related charges (0.33)

to (0.26)

Spin-related transition expenses 0.01

to 0.01

Acquisition related charges (0.09)

to (0.07)

Other (0.38)

to (0.28)

Diluted earnings per share (GAAP) $ 0.96

to $ 1.25



HALYARD HEALTH, INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (unaudited) (in millions)



















September 30,

2017

December 31,

2016 ASSETS





Current Assets





Cash and cash equivalents $ 166.1



$ 113.7

Accounts receivable, net of allowances 194.4



190.1

Inventories 300.5



272.5

Prepaid expenses and other current assets 20.0



17.2

Total Current Assets 681.0



593.5

Property, Plant and Equipment, net 261.1



260.8

Goodwill 1,032.0



1,029.0

Other Intangible Assets, net 154.8



169.8

Deferred Tax Assets 16.3



15.1

Other Assets 3.7



3.6

TOTAL ASSETS $ 2,148.9



$ 2,071.8









LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY





Current Liabilities





Trade accounts payable $ 172.5



$ 173.1

Accrued expenses 146.9



151.3

Total Current Liabilities 319.4



324.4

Long-Term Debt 580.4



579.0

Deferred Tax Liabilities 36.5



35.8

Other Long-Term Liabilities 31.9



30.1

TOTAL LIABILITIES 968.2



969.3

Stockholders' Equity 1,180.7



1,102.5

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY $ 2,148.9



$ 2,071.8



HALYARD HEALTH, INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOW STATEMENTS (unaudited) (in millions)



































Three Months Ended

September 30,

Nine Months Ended

September 30,

2017

2016

2017

2016 Operating Activities













Net income $ 16.6



$ 9.1



$ 46.5



$ 29.8

Depreciation and amortization 16.1



16.6



48.5



48.4

Net loss on asset dispositions 0.1



3.0



0.1



3.8

Changes in operating assets and liabilities (14.7)



18.4



(36.5)



43.8

Deferred income taxes and other 5.3



2.8



21.5



18.1

Cash Provided by Operating Activities 23.4



49.9



80.1



143.9

Investing Activities













Capital expenditures (14.0)



(7.6)



(30.6)



(21.7)

Acquisition of business, net of cash acquired 



0.1







(175.0)

Proceeds from dispositions of property 







0.1





Cash Used in Investing Activities (14.0)



(7.5)



(30.5)



(196.7)

Financing Activities













Line of credit facility proceeds 











72.0

Line of credit facility repayments 



(35.0)







(62.0)

Purchase of treasury stock 







(2.0)



(0.9)

Proceeds from the exercise of stock options 1.5



0.2



2.3



0.2

Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities 1.5



(34.8)



0.3



9.3

Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash and Cash Equivalents 0.4



(0.1)



2.5



0.7

Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents 11.3



7.5



52.4



(42.8)

Cash and Cash Equivalents - Beginning of Period 154.8



79.2



113.7



129.5

Cash and Cash Equivalents - End of Period $ 166.1



$ 86.7



$ 166.1



$ 86.7



HALYARD HEALTH, INC. SELECTED BUSINESS SEGMENT DATA (unaudited) (in millions)















































Three Months Ended

September 30,





Nine Months Ended

September 30,





2017

2016

Change

2017

2016

Change Net Sales





















Medical Devices $ 150.7



$ 145.2



3.8 %

$ 445.7



$ 413.4



7.8 % Surgical and Infection Prevention 246.1



248.8



(1.1)



740.0



760.2



(2.7)

Corporate and Other(a) 4.6



3.5



31.4



10.5



8.7



20.7

Total Net Sales $ 401.4



$ 397.5



1.0



$ 1,196.2



$ 1,182.3



1.2

























Operating Profit





















Medical Devices(b) $ 37.6



$ 31.9



17.9 %

$ 116.3



$ 90.6



28.4 % Surgical and Infection Prevention(c) 17.6



22.2



(20.7)



50.9



71.9



(29.2)

Corporate and Other(d) (23.4)



(27.3)



N.M.



(67.0)



(77.4)



N.M.

Other (expense) income, net(e) (3.0)



(5.9)



N.M.



(15.9)



(13.5)



N.M.

Total Operating Profit $ 28.8



$ 20.9



37.8



$ 84.3



$ 71.6



17.7







(a) Corporate and Other net sales include sales of non-healthcare products to Kimberly-Clark. (b) Medical Devices operating profit includes $5 million of amortization expense for each of the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, and $16 million and $16 million, respectively, in the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016. (c) S&IP operating profit includes $0.2 million of amortization expense for each of the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, and $0.6 million in each of the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016. (d) Corporate and Other for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 includes $14 million and $54 million, respectively, of general expenses, $8 million and $8 million, respectively of Divestiture-related costs which were specifically identified beginning in the third quarter of this year, $2 million and $5 million, respectively, of acquisition-related expenses and $0.5 million of income and $0.3 million of costs, respectively, related to Corporate Sales. Corporate and other for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 includes $16 million and $48 million, respectively, of general expenses, $4 million and $15 million, respectively, of acquisition-related expenses, $7 million and $11 million, respectively, of post spin-related transition expenses, and $0.4 million and $4 million, respectively, of costs related to Corporate Sales. (e) Other (expense) income, net includes $4 million and $17 million, respectively, related to legal expenses and litigation for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 compared to $5 million and $15 million, respectively, in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016. N.M. - not meaningful

































Percentage Change - Net Sales vs. Prior Year



Changes Due To Quarter-to-date Total

Volume(a)

Pricing/Mix

Currency

Other(b) Consolidated 1 %

2 %

(1) %

 %

 % Medical Devices 4



4













Surgical and Infection Prevention (1)







(2)







1





















Year-to-date

















Consolidated 1 %

2 %

(2) %

 %

1 % Medical Devices 8



3











5

Surgical and Infection Prevention (3)



1



(3)







(1)







(a) Quarter-to-date volume changes in sales volume to Kimberly-Clark. Year-to-date volume also excludes prorated sales of Corpak products for comparability. (b) Other includes changes in sales volume to Kimberly-Clark, prorated Corpak products (year-to-date only) and rounding.

SOURCE Halyard Health, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.halyardhealth.com


MIAMI, November 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

HD View 360 ("HD View" or "HDVW"), (OTC MarketsOTCQB: HDVW), a comprehensive B2B information technology provider focusing on national franchise brands, announced today the completion of three extensive IT installations at several European Wax Center locations across the northeast.

These installs are just a few of many under the HD View 360 umbrella, which leverages innovative technologies and cross-state technician teams to secure its client's business operations.

"Our goal when working with a new franchise is to standardize the process of the installation, so we can provide the same high-level of craftsmanship with no guesswork or mistakes," said Dennis Mancino, HD View 360 CEO. "We've partnered closely with EWC for some time now, allowing our techs to hit the ground running the minute they step into a new center."

The IT install services provided to the three EWC locations included connecting structured cabling throughout the centers, installing commercial audio equipment with streaming brand content, PCI-compliant firewall setups, POS software and credit card terminal implementation, setting up VOIP phone services and networking servers, and mounting high-definition surveillance systems at two of the three locations.

The three centers were in Livingston, New Jersey; Meriden, Connecticut; and Shrewsbury, Massachusetts.

"Our solidified business relationships in the franchise market have grown our brand recognition exponentially. This has not only lowered costs for our clients but makes us a very lucrative investment option for new shareholders," added Dennis Mancino, HD View 360 CEO.

Similar technology installations are currently underway at additional European Wax Centers and other HD View 360 franchise clients. The company will update shareholders with further announcements as they develop.

About HD View 360, Inc.

HD View 360 and its subsidiary companies are a complete B2B Information Technology solution that provide hardware installation, security monitoring systems, telephone services, merchant processing, POS software, and ongoing IT support to small and medium-sized businesses. Where some IT companies specialize in one specific area, HD View 360 has hands-on experience in almost every aspect of retail operations. In a few short years, the quality and value of HD View 360's services have been recognized by top franchise brands, including European Wax Center, Amazing Lash Studio, OrangeTheory Fitness, and Massage Envy. HD View 360's rapid growth, solidified business relationships, and smart acquisition strategy have positioned the company to deepen its services to include a more comprehensive geographic presence, while acquiring new franchise clients and increasing revenue streams and profit margins for the company and its shareholders.

Safe Harbor

This press release contains forward-looking statements, particularly as related to, among other things, the business plans of HDVW, statements relating to goals, plans and projections regarding the HDVW's' financial position and business strategy. The words or phrases "would be," "will allow," "intends to," "may result," "are expected to," "will continue," "anticipates," "expects," "estimate," "project," "indicate," "could," "potentially," "should," "believe," "think", "considers" or similar expressions are intended to identify "forward-looking statements." These forward-looking statements fall within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Act of 1934 and are subject to the safe harbor created by these sections. Actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of a number of risks and uncertainties. Such forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, involve known and unknown risks, a reliance on third parties for information, transactions or orders that may be cancelled, and other factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or developments in our industry, to differ materially from the anticipated results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from anticipated results include risks and uncertainties related to the fluctuation of global economic conditions, the performance of management and our employees, our ability to obtain financing, competition, general economic conditions and other factors that are detailed in our periodic reports and on documents we file from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Statements made herein are as of the date of this press release and should not be relied upon as of any subsequent date. HDVW cautions readers not to place undue reliance on such statements. HDVW does not undertake, and HDVW specifically disclaims any obligation, to update any forward-looking statements to reflect occurrences, developments, unanticipated events or circumstances after the date of such statement. Actual results may differ materially from HDVW's expectations and estimates.

Press Contact:

Dennis Mancino

[email protected]

+1-786-294-0559



http://www.hdview360.com

SOURCE HD View 360 Inc.
HOUSTON, Nov. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Today at the Shell "Pioneering Performance" experience at the 2017 SEMA Show in Las Vegas, NV, John Hennessey of Hennessey Special Vehicles will unveil the much-anticipated Venom F5. Together, Shell, Pennzoil and Hennessey have broken barriers, set records and now they've co-engineered the next big thing in the automotive industry - and that's still just the beginning.

Hennessey Special Vehicles Debuts Venom F5 at Shell "Pioneering Performance" experience at 2017 SEMA Show

The Venom F5 is an all-new hypercar designed and built from the ground up with one goal in mind: To be the absolute fastest road car on earth. Hennessey and team have developed a completely new design, chassis and carbon fiber body focused on aerodynamics to achieve the lowest possible drag. The new F5 design features active aero that will yield a coefficient of drag of just 0.33.

"We've designed F5 to be timeless so that in 25 years it will still have a level of performance and design that will be unmatched," said John Hennessey, company Founder and CEO. "The F5 is an all new car, designed and built from the ground up, from the engine to the chassis. We expect the Venom F5, named for the most powerful tornado speed winds on the Fujita scale, to be the first road car capable of achieving more than 300 mph and have worked closely with Pennzoil to get us across the finish line."

The Hennessey team is developing an all new, twin turbo V8 engine that will deliver over 1600 bhp. The Hennessey engine will be mated to a 7-speed single clutch paddle shift transmission and delivering power down to the rear tires. The Venom will also feature an all new light weight chassis and all carbon fiber body, which will give the F5 a curb weight of 2,950 lbs.

The F5's combination of light weight, low drag and all-American horsepower will deliver a new level of hypercar performance. Acceleration from 0 to 186 mph (300 km/h) will be less than 10 seconds making the new Venom quicker than current Formula 1 race cars. Zero to 249 mph (400 km/h) and back to rest will be under 30 seconds. The top speed of the Venom F5 is projected to exceed 300 mph.

The base price for the Venom F5 is $1.6 million US dollars. The company plans to build 24 road cars.

"Shell is fortunate to have forged technical and co-engineering alliances with some of the most revered automotive visionaries in the industry," said Patty Lanning, Vice President of Marketing, Shell Lubricants. "Working hand-in-hand with Hennessey on one of the most stunning road cars we've seen has been an incredible experience. We share a passion for performance and know that Pennzoil will protect the F5's engine through development and testing to production."

In addition to having Pennzoil coursing through the F5 engine, it protects engines in every Hennessey build. Hennessey also relies on Shell V-Power NiTRO+ Premium Gasoline to fuel each of their powerhouses from the test track to the road.

John Hennessey has put his pioneering excellence on full display at the Shell "Pioneering Performance" experience for the remainder of the week at the 2017 SEMA Show. In addition to the Venom F5, Hennessey also brought along a Hennessey VelociRaptor 6X6 and THE EXORCIST TM, based on the 2017 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1.

Follow all the action and updates on social media via #ShellatSEMA and check out www.shell.us/sema for a full schedule of events at the Shell "Pioneering Performance" experience and Live Stage.

About Pennzoil

At Pennzoil, we're car people. We love cars and the role they play in our lives. That's why we tirelessly strive to produce the most technologically advanced, highest performing motor oils on the market. Pennzoil has made the switch to natural gas technology to make purer synthetic motor oils that lead to better performance than motor oils made from crude oil. Every bottle of Pennzoil Platinum, Pennzoil Ultra Platinum and Pennzoil Platinum High Mileage Full Synthetic motor oil is formulated with PurePlus Technology. PurePlus Technology is the revolutionary process, which converts natural gas into high quality full synthetic base oil, with fewer impurities than traditional base oils made from crude oil. Feel the difference of next level performance. Make the switch.

Pennzoil is the most trusted motor oil brand in America.* The full line of Pennzoil quality products includes Pennzoil Platinum Full Synthetic motor oil, Pennzoil Ultra Platinum Full Synthetic motor oil, Pennzoil Platinum High Mileage Full Synthetic motor oil, Pennzoil Platinum Euro Full Synthetic motor oil, Pennzoil Gold motor oil, Pennzoil High Mileage Vehicle motor oil, Pennzoil motor oil, and Pennzoil Marine engine oil. For more information about the full line of Pennzoil lubricating products, motor oils and filters, please visit www.pennzoil.com. Not just oil. Pennzoil.

* Based on a survey of private motorists, between the ages of 18-64, who own or lease a car in the US, between January 2016 and December 2016.

About Hennessey Special Vehicles

Hennessey Special Vehicles was established in 2017 by John Hennessey to be a leader in the hypercar / automotive industry.

About Shell Oil Company

Shell Oil Company is an affiliate of the Royal Dutch Shell plc, a global group of energy and petrochemical companies with operations in more than 70 countries. We deliver a diverse range of energy solutions and petrochemicals to customers worldwide. These include transporting and trading oil and gas, marketing natural gas, producing and selling fuel for ships and planes, generating electricity and providing energy efficiency advice.

We also produce and sell petrochemical building blocks to industrial customers globally, and we are investing in making renewable and lower-carbon energy sources competitive for large-scale use. In the U.S., we operate in 50 states and employ nearly 20,000 people delivering energy in a responsible manner.

About Shell Oil Products US

Shell is a leader in the refining, transportation and marketing of fuels with approximately 14,000 branded gasoline stations in the United States.

About SEMA

SEMA, the Specialty Equipment Market Association founded in 1963, represents the $41.2 billion specialty automotive industry. The industry provides appearance, performance, comfort, convenience and technology products for passenger and recreational vehicles. Association resources include market research, legislative advocacy, training and product development support, as well as leading trade shows such as the SEMA Show in Las Vegas, NV, and the Performance Racing Industry (PRI) Trade Show in Indianapolis, IN. For more information, visit www.sema.org, www.semashow.com, or www.performanceracing.com.

Cautionary Note The companies in which Royal Dutch Shell plc directly and indirectly owns investments are separate legal entities. In this release "Shell", "Shell group" and "Royal Dutch Shell" are sometimes used for convenience where references are made to Royal Dutch Shell plc and its subsidiaries in general. Likewise, the words "we", "us" and "our" are also used to refer to subsidiaries in general or to those who work for them. These expressions are also used where no useful purpose is served by identifying the particular company or companies. ''Subsidiaries'', "Shell subsidiaries" and "Shell companies" as used in this release refer to companies over which Royal Dutch Shell plc either directly or indirectly has control. Entities and unincorporated arrangements over which Shell has joint control are generally referred to "joint ventures" and "joint operations" respectively. Entities over which Shell has significant influence but neither control nor joint control are referred to as "associates". The term "Shell interest" is used for convenience to indicate the direct and/or indirect ownership interest held by Shell in a venture, partnership or company, after exclusion of all third-party interest. This release contains forward-looking statements concerning the financial condition, results of operations and businesses of Royal Dutch Shell. All statements other than statements of historical fact are, or may be deemed to be, forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements of future expectations that are based on management's current expectations and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in these statements. Forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements concerning the potential exposure of Royal Dutch Shell to market risks and statements expressing management's expectations, beliefs, estimates, forecasts, projections and assumptions. These forward-looking statements are identified by their use of terms and phrases such as ''anticipate'', ''believe'', ''could'', ''estimate'', ''expect'', ''goals'', ''intend'', ''may'', ''objectives'', ''outlook'', ''plan'', ''probably'', ''project'', ''risks'', "schedule", ''seek'', ''should'', ''target'', ''will'' and similar terms and phrases. There are a number of factors that could affect the future operations of Royal Dutch Shell and could cause those results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements included in this release, including (without limitation): (a) price fluctuations in crude oil and natural gas; (b) changes in demand for Shell's products; (c) currency fluctuations; (d) drilling and production results; (e) reserves estimates; (f) loss of market share and industry competition; (g) environmental and physical risks; (h) risks associated with the identification of suitable potential acquisition properties and targets, and successful negotiation and completion of such transactions; (i) the risk of doing business in developing countries and countries subject to international sanctions; (j) legislative, fiscal and regulatory developments including regulatory measures addressing climate change; (k) economic and financial market conditions in various countries and regions; (l) political risks, including the risks of expropriation and renegotiation of the terms of contracts with governmental entities, delays or advancements in the approval of projects and delays in the reimbursement for shared costs; and (m) changes in trading conditions. All forward-looking statements contained in this release are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained or referred to in this section. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Additional risk factors that may affect future results are contained in Royal Dutch Shell's 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2015 (available at www.shell.com/investor and www.sec.gov). These risk factors also expressly qualify all forward looking statements contained in this release and should be considered by the reader. Each forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of this release, 1 November 2017. Neither Royal Dutch Shell plc nor any of its subsidiaries undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or other information. In light of these risks, results could differ materially from those stated, implied or inferred from the forward-looking statements contained in this release. We may have used certain terms, such as resources, in this release that United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) strictly prohibits us from including in our filings with the SEC. U.S. Investors are urged to consider closely the disclosure in our Form 20-F, File No 1-32575, available on the SEC website www.sec.gov.

SOURCE Pennzoil
FINDLAY, Ohio, Nov. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Over the last two weeks, three videos exploring the world of sprint car racing featuring World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car racer Greg Wilson have reached over 250,000 people across the U.S. Focusing on Wilson's commitment to his family and his career, the videos bring the atmosphere and experience of sprint car racing to life. While the videos focus on the driving forces in Greg Wilson's career, they also ask viewers to consider what motivates them each day.

The videos are a collaboration between Hercules Tire and Greg Wilson Racing. "As a sponsor of Greg Wilson, we wanted to share part of Greg's racing season with a wider audience," said Suzanne Mitchell, manager, brand development, for Hercules Tire. "We also wanted to engage fans and encourage them to think about and share what drives them each day."

The sprint car racing season is winding down, with the Textron Off Road World Finals returning November 2  4 in Charlotte, N.C. Wilson's goal is to get inside the top 10 cars in Charlotte, but acknowledges this could be tough with the high number of exceptional teams competing.

"We've had an incredible second year racing with World of Outlaws," said Wilson. "It's been fantastic to have some success in front of some of our largest crowds to date. We're looking forward to the World Finals, and to working over the winter on improvements for next season."

"Racing week after week over a nine month season can be tough for these drivers," said Mitchell. "Over the course of our sponsorship with Greg, we've learned about the many intangible elements that so strongly influence his drive and motivation, like his incredible love for his family. We've had the privilege of seeing the heart and soul of a true winner. That's what these beautiful videos show."

The videos can be found here:

Hercules Tire and Greg Wilson Ask How Does Your Family Drive You?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Qf9O4KZUnU&t=13s

Hercules Tire and Greg Wilson Ask What's Your Unfinished Business?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNctD6BfGZU

Hercules Tire and Greg Wilson Ask What Drives You?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mFPtUdpwYms&t=20s

About Hercules Tires

Hercules Tires is widely recognized as the industry's premier value brand with a comprehensive selection of passenger, UHP, light truck, medium truck and specialty tires. Since 1952, independent tire dealers and distributors have trusted Hercules to deliver outstanding quality, exceptional support, and unsurpassed value.

Hercules is a wholly owned subsidiary of American Tire Distributors, Inc. American Tire Distributors is one of the largest independent suppliers of tires in the North American replacement tire market. The company offers an unsurpassed breadth and depth of inventory, frequent delivery and value-added services to approximately 72,000 customers across the U.S. and Canada.

Additional information can be found at www.herculestire.com.

SOURCE Hercules Tires

Related Links

https://www.herculestire.com


ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., Nov. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- New York City is the most recent tourist destination targeted by a terrorist attack, after a man drove a truck down a crowded bicycle path, killing 8 people and injuring many others.

Travel insurance comparison site, Squaremouth says once the U.S. Department of State declared the attack an "act of terror", it became an event that may be covered under travel insurance.

With New York City being one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, Squaremouth explains when concerned travelers can be covered to cancel their upcoming trips to New York City.

Canceling Your New York Trip Because of the Terrorist Attack

Trip Cancellation allows travelers to be refunded money they spent on their airline tickets and hotel rooms in New York if they have to stay home due to the terrorist attack.

In order to be covered to cancel, the attack must have occurred within 7 to 30 days of a traveler's arrival in New York, depending on the policy.

Leaving New York Early Because of the Terrorist Attack

Policies with Trip Cancellation coverage typically include interruption coverage, a benefit which covers travelers to return home early if they purchased a travel insurance policy before the attack occurred.

This coverage can reimburse travelers for the nights they didn't spend in their hotel rooms, excursions they didn't take, and money they spent on transportation getting home.

Squaremouth's New York City Truck Attack and Travel Insurance Information Center explains coverage related to the incident. This resource is regularly updated as information becomes available.

ABOUT SQUAREMOUTH

Squaremouth compares travel insurance policies from every major travel insurance provider in the United States. Using Squaremouth's comparison engine and third-party customer reviews, travelers can research and compare travel insurance policies side-by-side. More information can be found at www.squaremouth.com

Available Topic Expert:

Steven Benna

[email protected]

(727) 619-7262

SOURCE Squaremouth

Related Links

http://www.squaremouth.com


CITY OF INDUSTRY, Calif., Nov. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The growing demand for specialized pet care products has a new answer - Australian brand Snappy Tom has just launched a new U.S. centered site designed to help cat owners throughout the country get access to higher quality pet food and pet care items.

A Long History of Exceptional Products

"Pet owners are looking for companies that are formulated to address the problems with pet food today. They're looking for natural products with clean labels and whole food ingredients. At Snappy Tom, that's always been part of the equation, and we're excited to launch a brand-new formula for U.S. cat owners," said Jack Tan; President.

Snappy Tom was initially launched in 1965 in Australia, and it quickly became one of the top brands in the country. With memorable television commercials, many Aussies can recite from decades ago, the company has worked to provide real nutrition and better options for Australian cat owners for decades.

A Move Across The Pacific

Snappy Tom has long been able to offer something few other brands can - all natural human grade cat food that's made with real fish and meats. Because of their success in Australia and concern that North American brands lacked the vitamins and minerals cats truly needed, they made a move to Canada just a few years ago. With that move came great success, and now the brand is ready to challenge the market in the United States.

"Pet owners are looking for companies that are formulated to address the problems with pet food today. They're looking for natural products with clean labels and whole food ingredients. At Snappy Tom, that's always been part of the equation, and we're excited to launch a brand-new formula for U.S. cat owners," said Jack Tan; President.

The new formula includes absolutely no grain or byproducts. As with all Snappy Tom products, there are no artificial ingredients or colors either. It's a high-protein option that was designed to help cats of all ages reach their daily nutritional targets.

More Than Cat Food

Snappy Tom is hardly just an option in today's healthier pet food market, though. They're the best way to care for cats from every aspect, and that includes their cat litter. Safer for both cats and the environment, it contains no sodium bentonite. Because of its specialized formula, cat owners can use less and each bag lasts far longer.

Snappy Tom is making a move to change the way cat owners in the United States care for their pets. It's a move that has certainly paid off for cats in other countries.

Omar Moreno, Sales & Marketing Executive

6267689880 x 105

[email protected]

16801 Gale Ave. Suite D City of Industry, CA 91745

SOURCE Snappy Tom

Related Links

https://www.snappytom.com


"Like so many people, we've heard from our consumers that their lives are incredibly fast-paced and that it is hard to take a moment for themselves. We developed our newest NIVEA Oil Infused Lotion with the intention of giving our consumers a chance to experience this new innovative, fast-absorbing formula without taking any additional time out of their already busy days to get the moisture they need to maintain soft and nourished skin," said Jennifer Van Aken, Director Marketing USA of NIVEA. "We are excited to offer this entirely new indulgent product that provides deep moisture for over 24 hours without feeling greasy."

The new NIVEA Oil Infused Lotions combine nourishing, natural oils to help keep the skin moisturized and irresistibly soft for up to 24 hours without leaving any sticky feel. To apply, smooth the lotion over the body daily.

"We know there are so many benefits to applying oil to the skin, most importantly its ability to retain moisture. The combination of oil and lotion is the perfect blend to give consumers moisturized skin that feels hydrated for an extended period of time," said Alex Kowcz, Vice President of Research and Development at Beiersdorf. "In addition, the product was developed with three exciting scent-oil combinations perfect for any mood or occasion."

The NIVEA Oil Infused Lotions include:

Vanilla Scent & Almond Oil  rich, warm and sweet

Cherry Blossom Scent & Jojoba Oil  fruity, citrusy and creamy

Orchid Scent & Argan Oil  floral, delicate and powdery

NIVEA Oil Infused Lotions are conveniently available at all food, drug and mass merchandisers nationwide and select online retailers. The NIVEA Oil Infused Lotions retail for $7.99 (SRP) for 13.5 oz.

To find out more about NIVEA Oil Infused Lotion and other NIVEA products, visit www.NIVEAusa.com, follow @NIVEAusa on Twitter and Instagram or visit us on Facebook at Facebook.com/NIVEAusa.

ABOUT Beiersdorf

Beiersdorf Inc is the North American affiliate of leading global skincare company, Beiersdorf has over 130 years of expertise in providing innovative, high-quality skincare products, The Hamburg-based company has around 18,000 employees worldwide and is listed on the DAX, the German benchmark equities index. Beiersdorf generated sales of 6.8 billion in financial year 2016. NIVEA, the world's No. 1 skin care brand*, is the cornerstone of the company's brand portfolio, which also includes well-known brands such as Eucerin, Aquaphor, La Prairie and Labello.

* Source: Euromonitor International Limited; NIVEA by umbrella brand name in the categories Body Care, Face Care and Hand Care; in retail value terms, 2016.

SOURCE Beiersdorf
"SSL takes an innovative approach to small satellite manufacturing, and leverages its agile commercial production capabilities to serve both communications and Earth observation markets," said Dario Zamarian, group president of SSL. "It has been a pleasure for SSL to work with the Planet team, and to help support its growing capabilities. Congratulations to all who made the launch a success."

Called SkySat 8 through 13, the six satellites, which double Planet's high resolution imaging and change detection capabilities, provide information that can simplify and speed critical decision-making processes for its customers. The SkySat constellation now includes ten satellites built at the SSL smallsat manufacturing facility in Palo Alto, Calif., where eight additional SkySats remain in production.

"We were pleased to inherit a strong and reliable engineering and manufacturing partner when we acquired the SkySat business," said Chester Gilmore, vice president of manufacturing at Planet. "Working together, SSL has helped us to expand our fleet, increasing our ability to provide timely insights from any location in the world."

About Planet

Planet is an integrated aerospace and data analytics company that operates history's largest fleet of Earth-imaging satellites, collecting a massive amount of information about our changing planet. Planet designs, builds and operates over 180 satellites, and develops the cloud-based software and tools that serves data to users. Decision makers in business, government, and within organizations use Planet's data and machine learning-powered analytics to develop new technologies, drive revenue, power research, and solve our world's toughest challenges. To learn more visit www.planet.com and follow us on Twitter at @planetlabs.

About SSL

SSL, based in Palo Alto, California, is a leading provider of advanced spacecraft systems, with broad expertise to support commercial and government satellite operators and innovative space missions. The company designs and manufactures spacecraft for services such as direct-to-home television, video content distribution, broadband internet, mobile communications, in-orbit servicing, space exploration, and Earth observation. As a Silicon Valley innovator for 60 years, SSL's advanced product line includes state-of-the-art small satellites, and sophisticated robotics and autonomous solutions for remote operations. SSL is a business unit of Maxar Technologies, a U.S. operating company (NYSE: MAXR; TSX: MAXR). For more information, visit www.sslmda.com.

About Maxar Technologies

Maxar Technologies (formerly MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd.) is a leading global provider of advanced space technology solutions for commercial and government markets including satellites, Earth imagery, geospatial data and analytics. As a trusted partner, Maxar Technologies provides unmatched end-to-end advanced systems capabilities and integrated solutions expertise to help our customers anticipate and address their most complex mission critical challenges with confidence. With more than 6,500 employees in 21 locations, the Maxar Technologies portfolio of commercial space brands includes: SSL, MDA, DigitalGlobe, and Radiant Solutions. Every day millions of people rely on Maxar Technologies to communicate, share information and data, and deliver insights that empower a better world. Maxar trades on the Toronto Stock Exchange and New York Stock Exchange as MAXR. For more information visit maxar.com.

Contact

Wendy Lewis | SSL Media Contact | 1-650-852-5188 | [email protected]

Marissa Poratto | Maxar Investor Relations | 1-604-331-2044 | [email protected]

Nancy Coleman | Maxar Media Contact | 1-303-684-1674 | [email protected]

SOURCE SSL
SEATTLE, Nov. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- On October 30th, the Belt and Road: Hong Kong Returned to China 20th Anniversary - Technology Business Forum, hosted by Hong Kong - Greater China Business Association of Washington, was held at Microsoft in Redmond, Seattle. Over 70 representatives from the Hong Kong government, associations, and enterprises attended the forum. Ada Grant, VP of Inspur USA and VP of Inspur Worldwide Services, was invited to deliver a keynote speech.

At the forum, Ada introduced Inspur's development in the U.S. and Hong Kong, shared Inspur Chairman and CEO Peter Sun's international development strategy of "bringing in" and "going global", and demonstrated Inspur's efforts in promoting growth of "Belt and Road". At the same time, Ada briefed the audience on formation of the "B&R" Digital Economy Strategic Alliance in Jinan, initiated by Inspur along with four of the top IT enterprises: Cisco, IBM, Ericsson, Diebold Nixdorf, and three globally renowned financial institutions: China Development Bank, Export-Import Bank of China and China Export & Credit Insurance Corporation. Ada noted that Inspur's involvement in "Belt and Road" strategy will not be limited to export of products and technologies. Inspur will help many countries, international technicians and officials. Due to outreach and international influence, Inspur will achieve the connection of information flow and data flow.

In the panel discussion, Ada engaged in discussion on recent hot topics with Chris Lo, Director of Hong Kong Trade Development Council, Jiang Zhihao, Director of Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office San Francisco, Lawrence Tang, Head of Investment Promotion InvestHK - Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office San Francisco, Donny Kwan, Vice President OR of Uinnova, Hong Lu, General Manager of Clobotics, and Rick Xu, Head of China Strategy of SAP Concur. Ada elaborated on the construction of the digital Silk Road: First, realize the interconnection of information infrastructure; meanwhile, promote concept exportation; share the Chinese solutions of informatization, collaborate with countries along the Belt and Road, and further form the global solutions. The audience readily supported her statements.

Through this forum, Inspur will continue to enhance collaboration with the Hong Kong government, associations, and enterprises. With their advantage in software and information systems, Inspur can realize the interconnection of data, build information channels, and boost the efficiency of the hard investments in traditional infrastructure construction.

SOURCE Inspur Group Co., Ltd.
WILMINGTON, Del. and ASHDOD, Israel, Nov. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Integrity Applications, Inc. (OTCQB: IGAP) ("Integrity" or the "Company"), innovator of GlucoTrack, a non-invasive device for measuring glucose levels in people with type 2 diabetes and pre-diabetes, announced that it has received the largest single re-order of GlucoTrack to date. The recent order of GlucoTrack, in the amount of US$460,000, was a re-order from an existing customer and represents a nearly two-fold increase from the original order. The purchase order was paid in full in advance of delivery, which is expected to be completed within the next four to six weeks with all revenue being recognized in 2017.

Dave Podwalski, Integrity's Chief Commercial Officer commented, "We are extremely pleased with this recent re-order as it demonstrates the growing acceptance and use of GlucoTrack, the Company's focus on commercialization and the opportunity ahead for this exciting, life changing product."

About GlucoTrack

GlucoTrack is a truly non-invasive monitoring device that rapidly measures and displays an individual's glucose level in about a minute without finger pricking or any pain.

GlucoTrack features a small sensor that clips to the earlobe and measures the user's glucose level using innovative and patented sensor technologies. The measured signals are analyzed using a proprietary algorithm and then a calculated glucose level is displayed on a small handheld device the size of a small mobile phone. The glucose results are stored in the device and used to estimate HbA1c level using a proprietary algorithm. The device can also display glucose values graphically, enabling the user to monitor glucose levels over time.

GlucoTrack has received approvals for CE Mark in Europe and from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety in South Korea for type 2 diabetes and pre-diabetics, and is currently in the early stages of commercialization in Europe, South Korea, and other geographies.

GlucoTrack is expected to begin clinical trials for United States FDA approval. The product is currently experimental in the United States and is limited to investigational use only.

About Integrity Applications, Inc.

Integrity Applications, Inc. (OTCQB: IGAP) was founded in 2001 and is focused on the design, development, and commercialization of non-invasive glucose monitoring technologies for people with type 2 diabetes and prediabetes. The Company has developed GlucoTrack, a proprietary non-invasive glucose monitoring device designed to obtain glucose level measurements in about a minute without the pain, incremental cost, difficulty, or discomfort of conventional invasive finger stick devices. Integrity Applications Inc. is a Delaware corporation, with headquarters in the United States and an R&D site in Ashdod, Israel. For more information, please visit http://www.integrity-app.com/ and http://www.glucotrack.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements contained in this news release that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, words such as "expect", "plan" and "will" are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned that certain important factors may affect Integrity Applications' actual results and could cause such results to differ materially from any forward-looking statements that may be made in this news release. Factors that may affect Integrity Applications' results include, but are not limited to, the ability of Integrity Applications to raise additional capital to finance its operations (whether through public or private equity offerings, debt financings, strategic collaborations or otherwise); risks relating to the receipt (and timing) of regulatory approvals (including FDA approval); risks relating to enrollment of patients in, and the conduct of, clinical trials; risks relating to its current and future distribution agreements; risks relating to its ability to hire and retain qualified personnel, including sales and distribution personnel; and the additional risk factors described in Integrity Applications' filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 as filed with the SEC on March 31, 2017.

Media Contacts

Tamar Lin/ Stefanie Saffern

[email protected]

[email protected]

+972.8.675.7878

Investor Contacts

Sami Sassoun, CFO Integrity Applications

[email protected]

+972 (8) 675-7878 Ext. 400

Chiara Russo

Director, Investor Relations

LaVoieHealthScience

617-374-8800 Ext. 112

[email protected]

SOURCE Integrity Applications, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.integrity-app.com


Garvey comes to INTREN with a wealth of knowledge within the energy sector, having over 26 years of operational and customer service experience. In his previous position as Vice President Customer Service and Communications for Jamaica Public Service Company, Garvey led 1700 employees through a customer service turnaround and expanded the company's retail operations island wide. He was also responsible for several of the company's unique customers' solutions, including the company's prepaid services program.

"Keith brings more than 20 years of leadership and industry experience coupled with a commitment to the type of culture that has defined INTREN over the years. I am confident Keith will add to the operating expertise and customer commitment that will always serve as our foundation as we continue to grow and evolve," states company CEO, Kelly Tomblin.

Garvey will play an instrumental role in forwarding INTREN's vision and providing innovative solutions to meet the evolving needs of both electric and gas customers on the East Coast. Keith's region includes Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey, Delaware, Washington D.C. and New York.

Matthew Turk, Executive Vice President echoed Tomblin's response to welcoming Garvey. "INTREN is committed to serving East Coast utilities and Keith brings to our INTREN team the experience, passion and values that will make our efforts successful. Keith knows our industry, the centrality of safety and quality in the workforce and his energy will further develop INTREN's performance. We are very excited that Keith chose our INTREN team."

Garvey holds a Master's Degree in Business Administration from Nova Southeastern University, along with a Bachelor's Degree in Engineering from the College of Arts, Science and Technology in Jamaica.

About INTREN:

For 29 years, INTREN has been an innovative solutions partner, dedicated to building and maintaining the infrastructure of the energy industry. Through an unwavering commitment to safety, integrity, customer focus and employee empowerment, the company has succeeded in offering turnkey services to a growing number of satisfied clients. As an industry leader, INTREN is proud to serve many of the nation's foremost utility companies, private contractors and developers, as well as municipalities and cooperatives. For more about INTREN, please visit INTREN.com.

SOURCE INTREN

Related Links

http://www.INTREN.com


Xiaozhu entered its fifth year of establishment in 2017 when China's online house-sharing industry entered the explosive period. Since its last round of funding in 2016, Xiaozhu had grown rapidly and become the absolute leader in market share, service system and other areas.

"After 5 years of exploration, Xiaozhu pioneered house-sharing business model in China and created a new bilateral market from ground up by building an entire service system that consists of cleaning and photography services. With largest market share, Xiaozhu.com will continue to lead in product upgrading in the future," said Kelvin Chen Chi, co-founder and CEO of Xiaozhu.

House-sharing was pioneered and had thrived in western countries. However, it has not been easy for overseas house-sharing companies to develop in China. "Only local companies with a sense of mission and commitment to the domestic market can stand a chance in gaining leadership in the Chinese market." Kelvin added.

Li Na, managing director of Yunfeng Capital, managed this round of funding. She said: "Going off Airbnb's business model, Xiaozhu has developed a proven successful model for house sharing to develop in China. Yunfeng Capital is looking forward to witnessing and helping Xiaozhu to grow rapidly and drive the upgrading and transformation of Chinese accommodation industry, providing better accommodation experiences to more users."

Li Xiao, founding partner of Joy Capital said: "Joy Capital is very optimistic about sharing economy. Now that the entire market is rapidly maturing, we believe that Xiaozhu will continue to lead the house sharing industry."

Cheng Yu, a partner of Morningside Ventures claimed that the team of Xiaozhu took a seemingly slow but right way to cultivate this market from ground up and create value for users and that Morningside Ventures firmly believe in the huge opportunity in this market and Xiaozhu's business model.

Xu Xin, president of Capital Today, said: "Believing in sharing economy, we invested in Xiaozhu three years ago and have waited for the spring to come. And now, the spring has come."

Founded in 2012, Xiaozhu now has listings in over 400 destinations in and outside of China. As house-sharing becomes popular, people focus more on the security of it. "Xiaozhu will invest more resources to introduce technologies further enhancing security of house-sharing and building a sustainable platform ecosystem for the whole industry," said Kelvin.

SOURCE Xiaozhu.com
NEW YORK, Nov. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- K2 Intelligence, an industry-leading investigative, compliance and cyber defense services firm founded by Jules B. Kroll and Jeremy M. Kroll, announced today that Ken Yormark has joined the firm as Managing Director based in New York. Mr. Yormark will lead the U.S.-based forensic accounting team, and will report to Snezana Gebauer Executive Managing Director and head of the U.S. Investigations and Disputes practice.

Mr. Yormark has over 25 years of experience in forensic and investigative services, having managed and conducted numerous complex, often high-profile securities fraud, anti-corruption/Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and Ponzi scheme investigations involving public and private companies across a wide variety of industries and around the globe. His areas of expertise are forensic accounting, financial investigations, securities litigation, and anti-corruption risk assessments. He is also skilled at validating and reconstructing fraudulent conveyances and assessing the vulnerability of management and accounting systems. He joins K2 Intelligence from Grant Thornton LLP where he served as a Managing Director in the Forensic Advisory Services practice.

"Ken is an expert in complex global investigations. His experience will be invaluable as we continue to build our forensic accounting offering to clients on the world stage," said Robert Brenner, Chief Operating Officer for K2 Intelligence.

"Forensic accounting continues to be a critical area of expertise in fraud and corruption investigations. Ken, as a recognized expert in this field, has led numerous high-profile, multi-jurisdictional investigations across a variety of industries. We are excited to welcome him as the leader of our US forensic accounting team and to continue to provide our clients with a unique combination of outstanding investigative capabilities," said Snezana Gebauer, Executive Managing Director and head of K2 Intelligence's U.S. Investigations and Disputes practice.

K2 Intelligence helps clients with investigating accounting irregularities, corruption, money laundering, and other types of misconduct; conducting assessments to identify fraud and corruption risks, address control gaps and minimize exposure; and also serve as independent compliance or integrity monitors. K2 Intelligence takes an integrated approach to investigations. Our team includes leading experts in the fields of forensic accounting, forensic technology, data analytics, field investigations, interviewing, public records and open source research and analysis, as well as numerous industry experts. These teams leverage powerful analytical tools that can dissect large volumes of data (both structured and unstructured) and the latest forensic technology solutions to effectively analyze communications and documentation within an organization.

Prior to his position at Grant Thornton, Mr. Yormark served as a Managing Director and leader of a major consulting firm's New York Forensic Accounting practice. He has been qualified as an expert and testified in deposition and at trial in Federal and Bankruptcy courts. He has also presented to regulatory and law enforcement agencies, boards, senior management, in-house and outside counsel and auditors.

Mr. Yormark is an adjunct professor at Georgetown University Law Center, where he teaches "Accounting for Lawyers." He is also a faculty member of the Practicing Law Institute and an adjunct faculty member of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE). Mr. Yormark also speaks nationally on Fraud and Anti-corruption at conferences and corporate events.

He received his B.S. from Queens College and completed Graduate Studies at New York University in real estate development analysis. He is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), is Certified in Financial Forensics, and is a Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist.

About K2 Intelligence

K2 Intelligence is an industry-leading investigative, compliance and cyber defense services firm founded in 2009 by Jeremy M. Kroll and Jules B. Kroll, who is credited with originating the modern corporate investigations industry. Redefining 21st-century corporate intelligence, the firm combines subject-matter expertise with cutting-edge technology, bringing to bear the industry's best multidisciplinary teams to solve our clients' most difficult problems.

With offices in New York, London, Madrid, Tel Aviv, Geneva and Los Angeles, K2 Intelligence advises governments, companies, boards and individuals in business areas including: Investigations & Disputes; Regulatory Compliance; Cyber Defense; Construction and Real Estate; Strategic Risk and Security; Private Client Services.

For more information, visit www.k2intelligence.com

SOURCE K2 Intelligence

Related Links

http://www.k2intelligence.com


IRVING, Texas, Nov. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- KGPCo is proud to announce the launch of its world-class Solution Innovation Center (SIC) in Irving, Texas, along with the senior leadership of its Cloud Solutions Division.

The SIC, with strong leadership and in partnership with key hardware and software companies across the industry will provide the latest technical resources, including operationalized reference architectures, as well as consulting services and system integration. KGPCo's Cloud strategy was developed by key internal and external stakeholders, including KGPCo Strategic Advisor, Krish Prabhu. Krish recently served as president of AT&T Labs and CTO, where he led AT&T's network transformation project.

"Combined with our expertise in Advanced Supply Chain, Integration,and Network Services, we are confident we assembled the right team of people and developed a Cloud strategy that will deliver unique and unmatched value to our customers," said Trevor Putrah, President of KGPCo. "The creation of a dedicated Solution Innovation Center is central to our Cloud Solutions Division strategy and a critical component of our industry's future as our customers continue unparalleled efforts to virtualize their networks."

The SIC's unique features include a collaborative environment based on KGPCo's recognition that NFV/SDN migration challenges cannot be solved by a single company or institution. By partnering with standards bodies, software and hardware technology market leaders, and their service provider customers, KGPCo joins this holistic effort providing the expertise required to solve the systemic challenges of cloud and virtualization migration and integration in a carrier-grade environment. The SIC will serve as foundation for Whitebox integration, testing and life cycle management.

"KGPCo's strategy is solid and well-timed as the industry transitions legacy networks to open solutions," said Krish Prabhu. "KGPCo is known as a company that always meets or exceeds its commitments to its customers and it is exciting to see KGPCo's vision unfold."

To oversee its Cloud strategy, KGPCo is pleased to welcome on-board Sami Syed as Senior Vice President and General Manager of the Cloud Solutions Division. Sami will be based out of the KGPCo Solution Innovation Center (SIC). Bringing decades of industry experience Sami comes to KGPCo from CenturyLink.

"True to our values, KGPCo continues to work with its customers and partners to gain valued perspective and build long-term relationships," said Kathleen G. Putrah, Chairman and CEO of KGPCo. "Our dynamic, forward-thinking, customer-centric approach, further demonstrated by the creation of the SIC, is what sets us apart . This is another KGPCo enhancement enabling our customers to build, optimize and transform networks that connect the world."

For more information, please contact:

Jaimie Pfeiffer

Senior Director of Strategic Marketing

Phone: 206-948-0880

Email: [email protected]

Web: www.kgpco.com

ABOUT KGPCo

KGPCo is the leading provider of complete, customized, and scalable supply chain and network transformation solutions for the communications industry, whose vision is to be the go-to partner that enables customers to build, optimize and transform their networks. KGPCo is the only large-scale organization that combines a comprehensive suite of technical strategy and implementation services with a national logistics network and portfolio of technology partnerships. With the addition of the KGPCo Solution Innovation Center to evaluate, design, and engineer cloud and virtualization solutions developed and operationalized in a live network environment, KGPCo is focused on being a trusted partner for customers and providing a single brand that can deliver a complement of network solutions.

SOURCE KGPCo

Related Links

http://www.kgpco.com


DULUTH, Ga., Nov. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Austin, Texas will soon be welcoming the newest Kids 'R' Kids franchise, owned and operated by Maggie Khoo. Maggie has been a long time parent with Kids 'R' Kids- sending her children there for their preschool program. After seeing her own children adjusting well and exceeding in school, Maggie attributed these successes as part of Kids 'R' Kids' approach to early care and education. Maggie had this to say, "Looking at the results, [I] wanted to be a part of this truly phenomenal organization by providing quality early childhood education to our future generations."

Kids 'R' Kids of Leander will be the sixth Kids 'R' Kids in the greater Austin area. Construction is expected to be completed by next fall. The facility will serve up to 250 children ages six weeks to 12 years of age with a staff of 40. The facility will have nine classroom suites, a cafeteria, and a full, commercial kitchen with an on-site chef, a computer and library room. It will also include a large activity gym for before and after school students, and four large outdoor playgrounds separated and built for different age groups.

In attendance will be Maggie Khoo and her family, as well as Co-Founder of Kids 'R' Kids Pat Vinson, CFO/Co-Founder Janice Vinson, and members of the Kids 'R' Kids Franchise Support center who have been working in collaboration with Maggie Khoo. The ceremony will be held on Friday, November 3rd at 11 AM at the location of the soon-to-be school, 16600 Ronald W. Reagan Blvd. Light refreshments and hors d'oeuvres will be served.

About Kids 'R' Kids Learning Academies

Headquartered in the North Atlanta suburb of Duluth, Georgia, Kids 'R' Kids Learning Academies provide a secure, nurturing, and educational environments for children (ages six weeks - 12 years) to bloom into responsible, considerate, and contributing members of society. With nearly 160 Learning Academies in 16 states, Kids 'R' Kids International is a family-owned and operated organization that ranks in the top three nationwide for franchised early childhood education centers (www.kidsrkids.com).

SOURCE Kids 'R' Kids International

Related Links

http://www.kidsrkids.com


SILICON SLOPES, Utah, Nov. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Lendio, the nation's leading marketplace for small business loans, today announced that through its Lendio Gives program, the company has provided more than $25,000 in loans to over 1,200 small business owners in 75 countries around the world. Kiva is a San Francisco-based nonprofit with a mission to connect people through lending to alleviate poverty, to field and identify loans that can help borrowers start or grow a business, go to school, access clean energy, or realize their potential. Lendio Gives is an employee-driven program where Lendio matches every dollar an employee donates.

"Lendio's mission statement is to fuel the American Dream for small businesses, but the other company pillar is to foster a culture that gives back. That is why we chose Kiva's 'Back A Dream' program, which is highly aligned with Lendio's mission to help small business owners get access to capital, typically when others have already told them no," said Brock Blake, CEO and founder of Lendio. "It goes without saying that our team is incredible, and I'm extremely grateful to them for generously contributing to support the Lendio Gives initiative through Kiva."

The top five sectors supported by Lendio's funding are agriculture, food, retail, clothing, and services. Of the loans Lendio has funded, 86 percent have gone to women, or women's groups. Employees select which loans to support and Kiva then pools Lendio employee funds into $25 increments with other groups to provide loans in more than 80 countries. The top countries Lendio has supplied funding to include Zimbabwe, Peru, Haiti, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ecuador, the Philippines, Kenya, El Salvador, and Senegal. Once Lendio receives repayment, it reinvestments the funds by putting it back into new loans.

Kiva and their localized partners vet small business borrowers and provide short-term micro loans, typically in amounts from $150 to $5,000 to early stage small businesses in impoverished countries around the world. One hundred percent of every dollar a company lends to Kiva goes to funding loans. Kiva covers costs primarily through optional donations, as well as through support from grants and sponsors.

For more information about Lendio, visit www.lendio.com.

About Lendio

Lendio is a free online service that helps business owners find the right small business loans within minutes. The center of small business lending, Lendio's passion is fueling the American Dream by uniting the small business loan industry and bringing all options together in one place, from short-term specialty financing to long-term low-interest traditional loans. Lendio's technology makes small business lending simple, decreasing the amount of time and effort it takes to secure funding. More information about Lendio is available at www.lendio.com.

Contact:

Melanie King

801-448-8936

[email protected]

SOURCE Lendio

Related Links

https://www.lendio.com


SALT LAKE CITY, Nov. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Lineagen, Inc., an innovative genetics diagnostic company focused on advanced genetic testing and clinical information services for childhood developmental disorders, including autism spectrum disorder and other forms of developmental delay, today announced it was named to the 2017 Utah 100, MountainWest Capital Network's (MWCN) annual list of the fastest-growing companies in Utah. Lineagen, ranked 35th out of 100 companies and the top-ranked diagnostics company, was honored at the 23rd annual Utah 100 Awards program, held at the Grand America Hotel in Salt Lake City.

"I believe that this recognition is simply a reflection of the clinical value we provide patients affected with developmental disorders and their families. Furthermore, this is a tribute to the hard work of all our employees and the collective purpose of the company to help these individuals," said Michael Paul, Ph.D., CEO and President of Lineagen. "The team at Lineagen perfectly represents our core values of a pioneering spirit, compassion, integrity and accountability, all surrounding our central tenet of service. The growth of our company provides for our employees, but more importantly, reflects our mission to deliver the unparalleled technology and deep service we perform for our doctors' patients and families, day after day; giving them the most knowledge possible, so those affected can receive better care and live better lives."

"We congratulate all of this year's Utah 100 companies for building outstanding businesses and making strong contributions to Utah's economy," said Reed Chase, chairman of the MWCN Utah 100 committee. "These companies further advance Utah's standing as an excellent place to do business."

Recipients of the Utah 100 were chosen by the percentage of revenue increase of each company between 2013 and 2017.

About Lineagen

Lineagen helps physicians personalize medical management for individuals with developmental delay and autism spectrum disorder by providing advanced genetic testing and clinical information services. Lineagen makes genetic testing accessible to everyone, from patient to provider, combining simple non-invasive sampling and advanced testing and information technology with dedicated service and support. Lineagen's FirstStepDx PLUS chromosomal microarray (CMA) testing service helps providers pinpoint the cause of delay and develop a personalized healthcare management program for their patient. FirstStepDx PLUS uses a painless cheek swab for DNA sampling, with a detailed and personalized report that presents results in plain English. Families and providers can contact Lineagen's team of certified genetic counselors for help prior to testing and aid in interpreting results. Additionally, the Lineagen team of specialists handles everything related to reimbursement, from pre-authorizations to appeals. For additional information, visit www.lineagen.com.

About MountainWest Capital Network

MountainWest Capital Network, the largest business networking organization in Utah, consists of entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, consultants, legal professionals, bankers, and educators. MWCN seeks to promote and recognize business growth and capital development in the state through a variety of award programs and activities.

Lineagen Contact:

David Jansen

[email protected]

801-931-6196

SOURCE Lineagen, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.lineagen.com


NEW YORK, Nov. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Tricia Cusden was 65 when she looked in the mirror and decided what she wanted to do with the rest of her life.

She'd just spent nearly $100 on expensive designer makeup - a blusher and a foundation - and thought, "These are not working - they're made for much younger skin. I could do better myself."

Grandmother came out of retirement at 65 to launch successful makeup line for over-55s.

With that thought, LookFabulousForever.com was born.

Tricia quit her short-lived retirement and put some of her savings into a make-up business for the over 55s.

In an industry obsessed with youth, the grandmother-of-five had no interest in holding back time - she was determined to celebrate age and to make the very best of a woman's "third act."

To achieve that, she created an innovative "pro-age" makeup line for older women that is specifically formulated to suit more mature faces, eyes and lips. As models, she featured real women who, while not fretting about the odd wrinkle, still wanted to look fabulous whatever their age.

Nearly 4 years later, Tricia's products have transformed the way more mature women look at make-up in her native England and she is making a major push with Look Fabulous Forever into the United States.

"It seems to me that there are three possible approaches to aging," says Tricia. "One is to go into denial and do everything possible to 'stop the clock'. The second is to throw in the towel in the belief that physical and mental enfeeblement is inevitable. Or my preferred option, which is to accept and embrace your aging self whilst doing all you can to have the healthiest and most fabulous 'third act' that you can possibly achieve.

"I'm excited to show more women in America how they can Look Fabulous Forever."

As a successful "encore entrepreneur", Tricia is all about looking forward and she embraces that ethos in her business. Look Fabulous Forever's collection - including primers, foundations, lipsticks and blushers - is sold exclusively online.

The London-based brand has also developed over 70 makeup tutorials available on YouTube, featuring real women over the age of 50, which have had over 4 million views between them.

In November 2015, Tricia was awarded CEW's Digital Achiever of the Year Award and in 2016 LFF was shortlisted for Amazon Digital Business of the Year part of the Lloyds National Business Awards. Tricia also recently won Nectar Small Business Awards Entrepreneur of the Year and Fabulous Ladies SME Emerging Businesswoman 2016 awarded by HSBC's National Women in Business Awards.

Visit www.lookfabulousforever.com to view the full collection, watch video tutorials and celebrate the beauty of older women. Prices start at USD$10.50.

To schedule interview with Tricia or if you want high res photos or have any other questions about Look Fabulous Forever, please contact:

David Gardner, DG Media, Los Angeles

Phone: 310-433-2392

Email: [email protected].

Related Files

Tricia Cusden Biography .docx

Related Images

image1.jpg

Look Fabulous Forever Founder Tricia Cusden

image2.jpg

Look Fabulous Forever Founder Tricia Cusden

image3.jpg

Before & After

image4.jpg

Tricia Cusden's upcoming book 'Living the Life More Fabulous'

Related Links

Look Fabulous Forever website

Look Fabulous Forever YouTube channel

Related Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G05plVLOzdg

SOURCE Look Fabulous Forever

Related Links

https://www.lookfabulousforever.com


NEW YORK, Nov. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- As part of its signature philanthropic program, L'Oreal Paris has announced the 2017 Women of Worth Honorees, recognizing 10 women across the United States who selflessly and passionately commit their lives to better serve their communities and foster positive change. Women of Worth is inspired by the L'Oreal Paris belief that "we're all worth it" and honors the intrinsic beauty and worth of everyday women making an extraordinary difference. With stories born out of diversity and tragedy, the Women of Worth represent a wide range of causes from supporting survivors of human sex trafficking to raising awareness about mass incarceration.

In addition to receiving $10,000 to support her charitable cause, each 2017 L'Oreal Paris Women of Worth Honoree will have opportunities for networking, marketing support and a platform to tell her story. Beginning today, the public is invited to support the Women of Worth by voting for one woman to become this year's National Honoree, who will receive an additional $25,000 to support her cause for a total of $35,000.

Visit WomenofWorth.com to learn about the 2017 Honorees' stories and vote once per day through November 29, 2017 for the woman's organization with the mission that resonates with you the most.

Visit WomenofWorth.com and register with an e-mail address to vote once per day

"Like" a post about an Honoree on the L'Oreal Paris Facebook page

Re-tweet a mention about one of the Women of Worth made by L'Oreal Paris on Twitter

"This year's ten Women of Worth Honorees represent women of very diverse ages, backgrounds and circumstances who are working daily to improve the lives of the people they serve," said Tim Coolican, President, L'Oreal Paris. "It is the greatest honor to help these extraordinary women expand their reach, touch more lives, and create even more positive change throughout the world," added Karen T. Fondu, President Emeritus and Chairwoman of L'Oreal Paris Women of Worth.

MEET THE 2017 WOMEN OF WORTH HONOREES

Selected by a distinguished panel of judges including leaders in business and media, the 2017 L'Oreal Paris Women of Worth Honorees were chosen from thousands of nominations for their unwavering commitment, drive and desire to better the lives of those around them.

Rana Abdelhamid  Palo Alto , C.A.; Founder, the International Muslim Women's Initiative for Self-Empowerment or WISE, a self-defense, social entrepreneurship and leadership development movement for young Muslim women.

 , C.A.; Founder, the International Muslim Women's Initiative for Self-Empowerment or WISE, a self-defense, social entrepreneurship and leadership development movement for young Muslim women. Lulu Cerone  Encino, Calif. ; Founder, LemonAID Warriors, a non-profit youth-activism organization that connects children to worthy causes and provides unique action plans to create tangible social good.

 ; Founder, LemonAID Warriors, a non-profit youth-activism organization that connects children to worthy causes and provides unique action plans to create tangible social good. Theresa Flores  Worthington, Ohio : Founder, S.O.A.P. Project, which stands for "Save Our Adolescents from Prostitution" raises awareness and provides resources for victims of human trafficking by placing educational materials and bars of soap in hotels and motels across the country with information on how to seek help.

 : Founder, S.O.A.P. Project, which stands for "Save Our Adolescents from Prostitution" raises awareness and provides resources for victims of human trafficking by placing educational materials and bars of soap in hotels and motels across the country with information on how to seek help. Leanne Huebner  Los Angeles, Calif. ; Co-founder, Minds Matter National, an educational nonprofit that transforms the lives of accomplished high school students from low-income families by broadening their dreams and preparing them for college success.

 ; Co-founder, Minds Matter National, an educational nonprofit that transforms the lives of accomplished high school students from low-income families by broadening their dreams and preparing them for college success. Deborah Jiang-Stein  Minneapolis, Minn. ; Founder, unPrison Project, an organization that works to build literacy, mentoring and life skills for women and girls in prisons and for their children to help cultivate critical thinking tools to plan, set goals and prepare for successful life after prison.

 ; Founder, unPrison Project, an organization that works to build literacy, mentoring and life skills for women and girls in prisons and for their children to help cultivate critical thinking tools to plan, set goals and prepare for successful life after prison. SreyRam Kuy  Missouri City, Texas ; Partner, Dog Tag Bakery, a nonprofit organization that sells baked goods and trains veterans in business and the first female Cambodian refugee to work as a surgeon in the U.S.

 ; Partner, Dog Tag Bakery, a nonprofit organization that sells baked goods and trains veterans in business and the first female Cambodian refugee to work as a surgeon in the U.S. Cassandra Lin  Westerly, R.I. ; Creator, project Turn Grease Into Fuel (TGIF), a sustainable system that collects used cooking oil from residents and restaurants, coverts it to biodiesel, and distributes the biofuel to local families for emergency heating assistance, developed by Westerly Innovations Network.

 ; Creator, project Turn Grease Into Fuel (TGIF), a sustainable system that collects used cooking oil from residents and restaurants, coverts it to biodiesel, and distributes the biofuel to local families for emergency heating assistance, developed by Westerly Innovations Network. Charolette Tidwell  Fort Smith, Ark. ; Founder, Antioch for Youth & Family, a nonprofit that provides supplemental food assistance to approximately 7,000 people in the community, in addition to youth development services and family assistance through a variety of personal enrichment programs.

 ; Founder, Antioch for Youth & Family, a nonprofit that provides supplemental food assistance to approximately 7,000 people in the community, in addition to youth development services and family assistance through a variety of personal enrichment programs. Valerie Weisler  New York, N.Y. ; Founder, The Validation Project, an international organization that works with more than 6,000 teenagers in 105 countries, providing them with the resources and guidance they need to develop confidence and gain self-worth.

 ; Founder, The Validation Project, an international organization that works with more than 6,000 teenagers in 105 countries, providing them with the resources and guidance they need to develop confidence and gain self-worth. Shandra Woworuntu  Corona, N.Y. ; Founder, Mentari human trafficking survivor empowerment program that provides direct services, resources, advocacy, education and mentoring initiatives to help survivors as they reintegrate into society.

To learn more about this year's Honorees, read their stories and vote for the 2017 Women of Worth National Honoree, visit WomenofWorth.com, and L'Oreal Paris on Facebook (www.facebook.com/lorealparis) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/lorealparisusa). Join and follow the conversation using the hashtag #WomenofWorth.

About L'Oreal Paris

The L'Oreal Paris division of L'Oreal USA, Inc. is a total beauty care brand dedicated to empowering women by offering the most luxurious and innovative products and services available in the mass market. The brand's signature tagline, "Because I'm Worth It," was born in the United States in 1971 to celebrate the beauty and intrinsic self-worth of women, and for more than 100 years, L'Oreal Paris has been providing women around the world with products in four major beauty categories: hair color, haircare, skincare and cosmetics. With L'Oreal's invention of hair color in 1909, the brand continues to serve as the leading innovator of hair products across color, care, and styling with brands such as Superior Preference, Feria, Excellence Creme, Advanced Haircare, the Ever Collection, Advanced Hairstyle, and Elnett Satin Hairspray. L'Oreal Paris provides scientifically-advanced skincare products that are clinically proven to address individual skin concerns through its renowned brands Revitalift, Hydra Genius, Age Perfect, and Sublime Bronze. L'Oreal Paris' iconic cosmetics collections include Infallible, True Match, Colour Riche, Voluminous, and Visible Lift. For more information about L'Oreal Paris and to receive personalized advice, expert tips, and exclusive content , please visit www.lorealparisusa.com or follow on Instagram (@LOrealMakeup, @LOrealHair, @LOrealSkin, @LOrealMens), Snapchat (@LOrealMakeup), Twitter (@LOrealParisUSA), Facebook (@LOrealParisUSA), and Pinterest (@LOrealParisUSA).

PRESS CONTACT

L'Oreal Paris

Cara Kamenev

212.984.5102

[email protected]

Golin for L'Oreal Paris

Abby Maxwell

212.373.6026

[email protected]

SOURCE LOreal Paris

Related Links

http://www.lorealparisusa.com


"Student Affairs has a tremendous opportunity to collaborate with Academic Affairs to create the environment and support that enables students to build confidence and realize their potential," said Altieri.

In his new role, he will:

Create an "outside the classroom" curriculum to ensure a highly motivating environment for student learning;

Develop an undergraduate housing strategy and residential experience to promote personal and community connections; and

Promote opportunities for experiences and traditions that foster a culture of pride, loyalty and support.

Altieri previously led several departments within the Division of Student Affairs, including Student Involvement, Housing and Residence Life, Diversity and Multicultural Affairs, Health Center, Spiritual and Religious Life, the Women's Center and others. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in sociology from St. John Fisher College; a Master of Science in college student personnel administration from Canisius College; a Master of Business Administration from Lynn University; and a Doctor of Education in higher education administration from the University of Florida. Before joining Lynn, Altieri served as the assistant director of residential life, coordinator of student discipline, and area coordinator at St. John Fisher College, and a resident director at State University of New York College at Brockport.

About Lynn University

Lynn University is an independent college based in Boca Raton, Florida, with approximately 3,000 students from 100 countries. U.S. News & World Report ranks Lynn as the top international university in the region. Lynn's NCAA Division II Fighting Knights have won 23 national titles, its Conservatory of Music features a world-renowned faculty of performers, and its nationally recognized Institute for Achievement and Learning empowers students with learning differences. The school's Dialogues curriculum and award-winning iPad program help Lynn graduates gain the intellectual flexibility and global experience to fulfill their potential in an ever-changing world. For more information, visit lynn.edu.

Media Contact

Jamie D'Aria

Public Relations Manager

+1 561-237-7629

[email protected]

SOURCE Lynn University

Related Links

http://www.lynn.edu


SAN MATEO, Calif., Nov. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Marketo, Inc., today announced the launch of its third-annual Global Volunteer Month, four weeks of service dedicated to supporting the education pathways of under-resourced and lower-income students. More than 1,100 Marketo employees around the world will engage with projects designed to propel young minds on their journeys toward college and career success, with an emphasis on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

"Marketo is committed to giving back to the communities that allow us to thrive, investing our time and resources in the activities that will lead to a brighter future," said Teresa Grau, senior vice president, Human Resources, Marketo. "That's why we chose the theme of 'Inspiring Student Success' for this year's Global Volunteer Month, activating our employees to support students worldwide in the vital skills of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics."

From offices in Atlanta; Dublin, Ireland; London; Portland, Ore.; company headquarters in San Mateo, Calif.; Sydney; Tel Aviv; Tokyo; and Marketo's newest location in Denver, Colo., employees will participate in activities such as:

Mentorship sessions

School beautification projects and neighborhood cleanups

Coding hackathons

Problem-solving workshops

Global Volunteer Month began in 2015 and is a central part of Marketo Engaged, a social good program that focuses on empowering underserved students on their journeys to and through college. Beyond education, Marketo supports its employees in giving back to the causes that matter most to them through paid volunteer days, ongoing company-supported activities, and donation matching. Marketo employees donated over 4,000 hours of service and supported nearly 300 different non-profits in 2016.

To learn more about how Marketo supports communities around the world, visit https://www.marketo.com/company/.

About Marketo

Marketo, Inc., offers the leading Engagement Platform that empowers marketers to create lasting relationships and grow revenue. Consistently recognized as the industry's innovation pioneer, Marketo is the trusted platform for thousands of CMOs thanks to its scalability, reliability, and openness. Marketo is headquartered in San Mateo, CA, with offices around the world, and serves as a strategic partner to large enterprise and fast-growing organizations across a wide variety of industries. To learn more about the Marketo Engagement Platform, LaunchPoint partner ecosystem, and the vast community that is the Marketing Nation, visit www.marketo.com.

SOURCE Marketo, Inc.
IRVINE, Calif., Nov. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Mazda North American Operations (MNAO) today reported total October U.S. sales of 20,811 vehicles, representing a decrease of 8.4 percent versus October of last year. Year-to-date (YTD) sales through October are down 2.4 percent versus last year, with 241,108 vehicles sold.

Key October sales notes:

The all-new Mazda CX-5 continued its record-breaking sales momentum in October, posting its best-ever October and its eighth best-ever month of CY2017, with 10,306 vehicles sold. This number represents an increase of 15.3 percent versus October of last year.

Mazda's two-seat roadster, the Mazda MX-5 Miata, posted a year-over-year (YOY) increase of 18.2 percent. Total sales, which includes both the MX-5 soft top and MX-5 RF, remained strong in the month of October, reaching 597 vehicles sold.

The seven-passenger Mazda CX-9 crossover SUV finished the month up 7.0 percent YOY, with 1,971 vehicles sold in the month of October.

Total sales of Mazda's CX crossover SUV line, including the CX-3, CX-5 and CX-9, were up 9.9 percent YOY with 13,555 vehicles sold in the month of October. The i-ACTIV All-Wheel Drive option continues to be a favorite among Mazda CX-line buyers, with 63.5 percent of customers choosing the AWD option in October.

Mazda reported Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) sales of 3,299 vehicles, marking an increase of 31.6 percent YOY.

Mazda Motor de Mexico (MMdM) reported October sales of 4,510 vehicles, marking an increase of 2.3 percent versus October of last year. MMdM achieved its best-ever sales month for the Mazda MX-5 in the month of October.

Mazda North American Operations is headquartered in Irvine, California, and oversees the sales, marketing, parts and customer service support of Mazda vehicles in the United States and Mexico through nearly 600 dealers. Operations in Mexico are managed by Mazda Motor de Mexico in Mexico City. For more information on Mazda vehicles, including photography and B-roll, please visit the online Mazda media center at InsideMazda.MazdaUSA.com/Newsroom.



Month-To-Date

Year-To-Date























October October % % MTD

October October % % YTD

2017 2016 Change DSR

2017 2016 Change DSR























Mazda3 4,534 6,946 (34.7)% (32.1)%

64,641 81,077 (20.3)% (20.9)%

Mazda5 - 2 (100.0)% (100.0)%

10 367 (97.3)% (97.3)%

Mazda6 2,125 2,924 (27.3)% (24.4)%

29,975 38,786 (22.7)% (23.3)%

MX-5 Miata 597 505 18.2% 22.9%

10,314 8,345 23.6% 22.6%

CX-3 1,278 1,550 (17.5)% (14.3)%

13,259 15,557 (14.8)% (15.4)%

CX-5 10,306 8,942 15.3% 19.9%

102,856 91,381 12.6% 11.7%

CX-9 1,971 1,842 7.0% 11.3%

20,053 11,463 74.9% 73.6%























Total Vehicles









































CARS 7,256 10,377 (30.1)% (27.3)%

104,940 128,578 (18.4)% (19.0)%

TRUCKS 13,555 12,334 9.9% 14.3%

136,168 118,401 15.0% 14.1%























TOTAL 20,811 22,711 (8.4)% (4.7)%

241,108 246,978 (2.4)% (3.1)%













































Selling Days 25 26





255 253



















































SOURCE Mazda North American Operations

Related Links

http://www.mazdausa.com


PITTSBURGH, Nov. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Michael Baker International, a global leader in engineering, planning and consulting services, today announced that Scott Roux, S.E. (HI), P.E., has joined the firm as Senior Vice President and National Bridge Practice Lead. In this position, he is responsible for implementing Michael Baker's strategic direction for the bridge practice and will work in collaboration with regional bridge and management teams to ensure solid growth and performance across the national practice. Mr. Roux is based in the firm's Seattle, Washington, office and reports directly to Bonnie Shepherd, Executive Vice President and Chief Practice Officer.

"Infrastructure improvement is a priority across the United States and Michael Baker International is increasing its focus on helping clients," said Ms. Shepherd. "Scott's experience, expertise and proven track record in bridge work make him a strong addition to our leadership team as we drive innovation for the bridge practice and help clients solve complex infrastructure challenge."

Mr. Roux brings more than 20 years of experience in the design, construction and inspection of bridges. Throughout his career, he has designed more than 200 bridges for various public transportation authorities, both domestic and international, and has conducted load ratings and visual inspections for dozens of bridges as well. His experience also includes concept development, design-build, construction engineering and contract administration for various bridge projects.

Prior to joining Michael Baker, Mr. Roux most recently served as Vice President of U.S. Operations for COWI North America, a leading consulting group for engineering, economics and environmental science that specializes in major bridges, among other verticals. His tenure with COWI began in 2010 when he served as Director of the U.S. Practice and later as Vice President of U.S. Operations for Buckland & Taylor Ltd., a COWI wholly owned subsidiary. He helped Buckland & Taylor | COWI grow from one office in Vancouver, Canada, to six offices in North America over a period of five years, nearly tripling in size, including organic start-ups in both Seattle and New York.

Mr. Roux is currently on the Board of Directors for the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) in the state of Washington and is a member of the Beta Gamma Sigma International Business Honor Society. He earned his B.S. in Civil Engineering and M.S. in Structural Engineering from the University of British Columbia. He earned his M.B.A. from the University of Iowa's Tippie College of Business.

Mr. Roux joins a Michael Baker team that earlier this year was ranked the No. 5 Bridge Design Firm by Engineering News-Record. Michael Baker's bridge teams collaborate nationwide to design and build innovative structures that serve as the backbone of our nation's infrastructure for the millions of people who safely travel them each day. For more than seven decades, the firm has addressed bridge design, construction and preservation challenges with innovative and sustainable solutions. Exemplifying its depth and versatility in the bridge space, the firm has partnered with clients on a full spectrum of bridge types  from conventional grade separations to major, complex river crossings, including trusses, arches, box girders and cable-stayed bridges.

About Michael Baker International

Michael Baker International is a leading global provider of engineering and consulting services, which include planning, architectural, environmental, construction, program management, and full life-cycle support services as well as information technology and communications services and solutions. The company provides its comprehensive range of services and solutions in support of U.S. federal, state, and municipal governments, foreign allied governments, and a wide range of commercial clients. Michael Baker International has more than 6,000 employees in more than 90 locations across the U.S. and internationally. To learn more, visit www.mbakerintl.com.

SOURCE Michael Baker International

Related Links

http://www.mbakerintl.com


The alliance would accelerate process development and clinical material production at small biotech start-ups focusing on novel drug development for which Samsung BioLogics acts as a contract manufacturer. Under the agreement, MilliporeSigma would provide process development and support technical training, in addition to its Mobius  single-use systems to Samsung BioLogics.

The new MoU is an extension of a MoU signed in 2014 that encompasses a long-term supply agreement where MilliporeSigma would provide raw materials for biopharmaceutical manufacturing.

"Our collaboration with Samsung continues to strengthen with this agreement," said Udit Batra, MilliporeSigma. "MilliporeSigma's process development expertise and Mobius, the wide single-use bioprocessing portfolio, will allow innovations to reach patients faster."

MilliporeSigma has been the key solution provider for Samsung BioLogics' 30KL facility and 152KL facility in Korea, and has trained Samsung BioLogics team on building a robust biologics development process.

"This alliance will create synergy and maximize our technology potential," said Dr. Tae-Han Kim, President and CEO of Samsung BioLogics.

MilliporeSigma's portfolio of Mobius single-use systems delivers greater flexibility and continuity for scale-up, reducing the need to retrain operators. These are some of the multiple reasons that companies such as Samsung BioLogics have become early adopters of MilliporeSigma's technologies.

At MilliporeSigma's M Lab Collaboration Centers, customers work with the company's scientists and engineers in a shared exploratory environment to solve customers' toughest biomanufacturing challenges and help accelerate development of new therapies. MilliporeSigma has nine M Lab Collaboration Centers around the world, including one in the U.S. and one in Korea.

MilliporeSigma is a premier supplier of process development and clinical-stage manufacturing solutions, materials and services needed to produce biopharmaceutical drugs. The company is committed to delivering superior bioreactor technology to manufacturers, several of which are already collaborating with the company in that space in North America, Europe and Asia.

In the growing biopharmaceutical market, manufacturers are moving toward end-to-end solutions  from process development and scale-up through to manufacturing for pre-clinical, clinical and commercial supply  as they seek to cut costs while increasing quality and efficiency. At the same time, single-use, disposable equipment and systems have increased in popularity because they offer many advantages over conventional stainless steel systems, such as improved batch success rates, less cross-contamination risk, decreased water and waste water requirements, shortened project duration and reduced project costs.

About Samsung BioLogics

Samsung BioLogics is a global full-service provider of quality-driven contract process development and cGMP manufacturing to the global biopharmaceutical industry. Our facilities are custom designed for monoclonal & recombinant production with maximum flexibility. Our one-stop services include cell line generation, process and analytical method development, analytical services, clinical and commercial bulk cGMP manufacturing of drug substance and drug product including quality assurance, quality control, regulatory compliance standards & support for our customers. For additional information about the company, please visit www.samsungbiologics.com.

All Merck news releases are distributed by email at the same time they become available on the Merck website. Please go to www.merckgroup.com/subscribe to register online, change your selection or discontinue this service.

All Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany news releases are distributed by email at the same time they become available on the EMD Group website. In case you are a resident of the U.S. or Canada please go to www.emdgroup.com/subscribe to register again for your online subscription of this service as our newly introduced geo-targeting requires new links in the email. You may later change your selection or discontinue this service.

About the Life Science Business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany

The Life Science business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, which operates as MilliporeSigma in the U.S. and Canada, has 20,000 employees and 60 manufacturing sites worldwide, with a portfolio of more than 300,000 products enabling scientific discovery. Udit Batra is the global chief executive officer of MilliporeSigma.

Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany completed its $17 billion acquisition of Sigma-Aldrich in November 2015, creating a leader in the $125 billion global life science industry.

Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany is a leading company for innovative and top-quality high-tech products in healthcare, life science and performance materials. The company has five businesses  Biopharmaceuticals, Consumer Health, Allergopharma, Life Science and Performance Materials  and generated sales of 15 billion in 2016. Around 50,000 employees work in 66 countries to improve the quality of life for patients, to foster the success of customers and to help meet global challenges.

Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany is the world's oldest pharmaceutical and chemical company  since 1668, the company has stood for innovation, business success and responsible entrepreneurship. Holding an approximately 70 percent interest, the founding family remains the majority owner of the company to this day. The company holds the global rights to the name and the trademark "Merck" internationally except for the United States and Canada, where the company operates as EMD Serono, MilliporeSigma and EMD Performance Materials.

SOURCE MilliporeSigma
Mopar revealed a selection of the brand's more than 200 new Jeep Performance Parts and accessories for the all-new 2018 Jeep Wrangler during a press event at the 2017 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show in Las Vegas on Tuesday, Oct. 31.

The Mopar brand's new lineup, created with more than 100,000 hours of development, validation and testing, assists owners in personalizing the new Wrangler for any adventure or lifestyle, and will be available at the vehicle launch in dealerships.

New Mopar products available for the most capable SUV ever include Jeep Performance Parts lifts kits, beadlock-capable wheels, off-road bumpers, LED off-road lights and rock rails. Mopar accessories for the Wrangler include a roof rack for mounting a variety of lifestyle cargo carriers, a tailgate table, vehicle graphics, tire covers available in a variety of styles and designs, fuel doors and more.

"An iconic vehicle such as Jeep Wrangler deserves nothing but the best, which is why the Mopar and Jeep brands have developed a new set of product solutions to meet the unique lifestyles of Wrangler owners," said Pietro Gorlier, Head of Parts and Service (Mopar), FCA. "From Jeep Performance Parts like winches and wheels to accessories such as bikini tops and tailgate tables, Mopar has incorporated input from Wrangler owners in bringing to the marketplace the most powerful, reliable and authentic lineup of accessories and performance parts available."

A total of 98 percent of Jeep Wrangler vehicles are typically outfitted with at least one Mopar product.

New Jeep Performance Parts for all-new Wrangler

All-new Jeep Wrangler owners who are serious about off-roading can choose from new additions to the Jeep Performance Parts product line. New Jeep Performance Parts LED off-road lights, available in 5- and 7-inch applications, pump out a maximum of 8,000 lumens, putting commercial and military grade illumination into the hands of hard core off-roaders.

The off-road lights mount to the frame rails, winch guard or windshield via new Jeep Performance Parts off-road light brackets. A new auxiliary switch bank featuring its own power distribution center offers an organized central area for operating accessories such as the off-road lights, winch and other electrical-powered items.

New, unique Jeep Performance Parts rock rails are thicker and wider to protect the body, and feature the same coating used on Ram Truck bedliners to add a non-slip finish. A Wrangler Rubicon off-road bumper guards the modern and renowned Wrangler profile, maintaining factory standards and properly harmonizing with the design aesthetics of the new Wrangler.

Available new beadlock-capable 17-inch aluminum wheels feature a 12 mm offset and accommodate oversize tires to help tackle off-road conditions. Additional 17-inch five-spoke off-road wheel options are available in silver or black, as well as a "gear" design inspired by the Jeep Performance Parts logo. A 2-inch lift kit offers additional off-road clearance and, when paired with Wrangler high-top fender flares, can accommodate oversize 37-inch tires for serious off-road adventures.

Mopar accessories for all-new Jeep Wrangler

The Mopar roof rack is offered for the first time on the all-new Wrangler. Lifestyle cargo carriers, including a ski, snowboard and bicycle carrier, mount to the roof rack to assist in transporting gear and recreational equipment.

Also a first is the Mopar tailgate table, which flips out to create a utility space and beverage holder and which folds up for storage. A new Mopar emergency first aid kit, improved to include individual pockets for kit contents, and a roadside assistance kit are also available.

New Mopar accessories available for Wrangler include mesh and solid bikini tops, fitting the vehicle's open-air, fun-and-freedom character while delivering protection from the sun when the hardtop is removed. New screen protectors, a first from Mopar for any vehicle, block dust and debris from cluttering Uconnect 7- and 8.4-inch display systems and even help to enhance visibility.

A few of the many additional Mopar accessories available include vehicle graphics, tire covers available in a variety of styles and designs, all-weather floor mats, molded cargo trays, grab handles and fuel doors.

Mopar products for all-new Wrangler: Factory engineered, authentic quality

The Mopar brand's line of Jeep Performance Parts and accessories for the all-new Wrangler was developed in close conjunction with the Jeep brand and product design office through extensive development, testing and validation.

The strictest standards and factory-exclusive data  information not available to the aftermarket  were used to seamlessly integrate Mopar parts and accessories with the all-new Wrangler and deliver proper fit, finish and quality down to the color, grain, look and line of each product.

"Virtually every Mopar product for the all-new Wrangler is new, redeveloped or redesigned," said Gorlier. "Our large, new product lineup for this legendary vehicle showcases how the Mopar brand has evolved over 80 years to support our owners in customizing their vehicles to fit any lifestyle."

Below is additional information on just a few of the more than 200 all-new Jeep Performance Parts and accessories available for the all-new 2018 Jeep Wrangler:

Roof rack: Marking the first time a Mopar roof rack is offered on a Wrangler vehicle, a variety of lifestyle cargo carriers, such as a bicycle, ski and snowboard carrier can mount to the roof rack for transporting gear and equipment

Marking the first time a Mopar roof rack is offered on a Wrangler vehicle, a variety of lifestyle cargo carriers, such as a bicycle, ski and snowboard carrier can mount to the roof rack for transporting gear and equipment JPP LED off-road lights: Military grade, 5-inch LED lights shine at approximately 4,080 lumens each, or owners can go bigger and brighter with 7-inch lights that pump out 8,000 lumens. JPP brackets are available to mount lights to the frame rails, winch guard or windshield

Military grade, 5-inch LED lights shine at approximately 4,080 lumens each, or owners can go bigger and brighter with 7-inch lights that pump out 8,000 lumens. JPP brackets are available to mount lights to the frame rails, winch guard or windshield Auxiliary switch bank: Create an organized central area for operating auxiliary accessories, such as JPP off-road lights

Create an organized central area for operating auxiliary accessories, such as JPP off-road lights Tailgate table: Conveniently flips out to form a handy utility space and beverage holder

Conveniently flips out to form a handy utility space and beverage holder 2-inch lift kit: Delivers additional off-road clearance, accommodates oversize tires and adds an aggressive appearance

Delivers additional off-road clearance, accommodates oversize tires and adds an aggressive appearance Bikini tops: Mopar mesh and solid bikini tops deliver factory-engineered and UV-tested protection from the sun when the hardtop is removed

Mopar mesh and solid bikini tops deliver factory-engineered and UV-tested protection from the sun when the hardtop is removed JPP unique rock rails: Unique, heavy-gauge steel JPP rock rails are thicker and wider to protect the exterior and utilize the same coating used on Ram Truck bedliners to give a non-slip finish

Unique, heavy-gauge steel JPP rock rails are thicker and wider to protect the exterior and utilize the same coating used on Ram Truck bedliners to give a non-slip finish Screen protector: Another first-ever Mopar product offered for the new Wrangler that protects and even enhances visibility of Uconnect systems, available for 7- and 8.4-inch displays

Another first-ever Mopar product offered for the new Wrangler that protects and even enhances visibility of Uconnect systems, available for 7- and 8.4-inch displays JPP beadlock-capable wheels: Aluminum 17-inch beadlock-capable wheels feature 12 mm offset to accommodate oversize tires and help negotiate off-road terrain. Additional off-road wheel options are available in silver, black and a special "gear" design inspired by the JPP logo

Aluminum 17-inch beadlock-capable wheels feature 12 mm offset to accommodate oversize tires and help negotiate off-road terrain. Additional off-road wheel options are available in silver, black and a special "gear" design inspired by the JPP logo Mopar Warn winch: Mopar winches offer sealed, water-resistant, die cast construction and include wired remote control and hawse fairlead

Mopar winches offer sealed, water-resistant, die cast construction and include wired remote control and hawse fairlead Molded cargo tray: Doubles the surface area of previous Mopar cargo trays by extending to the back of the rear seat to provide additional protection

Doubles the surface area of previous Mopar cargo trays by extending to the back of the rear seat to provide additional protection Wrangler Rubicon off-road bumper: The steel Rubicon off-road bumper protects the modern and renowned Wrangler profile

The steel Rubicon off-road bumper protects the modern and renowned Wrangler profile Vehicle graphics: New Mopar hood graphics (for Wrangler Sport) include a 1941 design marking the Jeep brand's birth and an American-flag-themed option. Bodyside graphics for all trim levels include a subtle 1941 stripe and a Moab-inspired off-road silhouette

New Mopar hood graphics (for Wrangler Sport) include a 1941 design marking the Jeep brand's birth and an American-flag-themed option. Bodyside graphics for all trim levels include a subtle 1941 stripe and a Moab-inspired off-road silhouette Tire covers: Available in a wide selection of revamped styles, including Jeep logo, camo and American flag designs, and redeveloped to accommodate the rearview camera

Available in a wide selection of revamped styles, including Jeep logo, camo and American flag designs, and redeveloped to accommodate the rearview camera Grab handles: New Mopar grab handles are now hard-secured with fasteners to the sport bars, offering increased grip

New Mopar grab handles are now hard-secured with fasteners to the sport bars, offering increased grip Fuel doors: Available in brushed aluminum and satin black finish, and redesigned to standout by incorporating styling cues of the all-new Wrangler

Available in brushed aluminum and satin black finish, and redesigned to standout by incorporating styling cues of the all-new Wrangler All-weather floor mats: Durable, all-weather mats fit like a glove and feature a new graphic design inspired by the rugged Moab trails

Durable, all-weather mats fit like a glove and feature a new graphic design inspired by the rugged Moab trails RV towing wire harness: The new harness integrates directly with the Wrangler, eliminates excess wires and lights and connects to the vehicle lights for turning and braking while being towed

The Mopar line of Jeep Performance Parts and accessories for the all-new 2018 Jeep Wrangler will be available for purchase when the Wrangler arrives in dealerships. For more information, visit www.Mopar.com/jpp.

About Jeep Brand

Built on more than 75 years of legendary heritage, Jeep is the authentic SUV with class-leading capability, craftsmanship and versatility for people who seek extraordinary journeys. The Jeep brand delivers an open invitation to live life to the fullest by offering a full line of vehicles that continue to provide owners with a sense of security to handle any journey with confidence.

The Jeep vehicle lineup consists of the Cherokee, Compass, Grand Cherokee, Renegade and Wrangler. To meet consumer demand around the world, all Jeep models sold outside North America are available in both left- and right-hand drive configurations and with gasoline and diesel powertrain options.

Mopar-first Features

During the brand's 80 years, Mopar has introduced numerous industry-first features including:

Vehicle-information apps: first to introduce smartphone vehicle-information applications, a new channel of communication with consumers

wiADVISOR: first to incorporate a tablet-based service lane tool

Electronic Vehicle Tracking System (EVTS): first to market with a new interactive vehicle tracking device that sends owner a text when vehicle is driven too fast or too far based on pre-set parameters

Wi-Fi: first to offer customers the ability to make their vehicle a wireless hot spot

Electronic owner manuals: first to introduce traditional owner manuals on a smartphone app

80 Years of Mopar

Mopar (a simple contraction of the words MOtor and PARts) was born on August 1, 1937, as the name of a line of antifreeze products. Mopar has since evolved over 80 years to serve as the total service, parts and customer-care brand of all FCA vehicles around the globe.

Mopar made its mark in the 1960s during the muscle-car era, with Mopar Performance Parts to enhance speed and handling for both road and racing use, and expanded to include technical service and customer support. Today, the Mopar brand's global reach distributes more than 500,000 parts and accessories in over 150 markets around the world. With more than 50 parts distribution centers and 25 customer contact centers globally, Mopar integrates service, parts and customer-care operations in order to enhance customer and dealer support worldwide.

Mopar is the source for genuine parts and accessories for all FCA US LLC vehicle brands. Mopar parts are engineered together with the same teams that create factory-authorized specifications for FCA vehicles, offering a direct connection that no other aftermarket parts company can provide. Complete information on the Mopar brand is available at www.mopar.com.



SOURCE FCA US LLC
WASHINGTON, Nov. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- CAQH CORE, a collaboration of more than 130 public and private entities across the healthcare industry, has announced that three Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) plans have become CORE-certified. Together, the APWU Health Plan (APWUHP), GEHA and National Association of Letter Carriers Health Benefit Plan (NALC-HBP) cover more than one million federal employees, retirees and their family members.

"Key industry stakeholders are increasingly embracing digital technologies in their business processes for electronic financial and administrative transactions," said Robin J. Thomashauer, Executive Director of CAQH. "By becoming CORE-certified, these federal health plans highlight the value that the CAQH Operating Rules deliver to healthcare by exchanging data quickly and efficiently."

Operating rules are used across many industriesfrom banking to airline reservationsto ensure high volumes of electronic transactions occur smoothly and securely. More than ten years ago, CAQH CORE brought together industry stakeholders to develop operating rules for healthcare business transactions and a voluntary certification program.

Recognizing the need for healthcare operating rules, and building off initial industry progress, in 2010 Congress called for further rule creation and adherence. The Department of Health and Human Services turned to CAQH CORE, which was leading industry adoption of electronic information sharing, to develop additional rule sets. Today, four phases of healthcare operating rules are being used to seamlessly exchange business data across the industry.

Health plans, providers and vendors demonstrate that they are adhering to these rules and underlying standards by achieving CORE Certification. The benefits for industry-wide adoption are considerable: according to the 2016 CAQH Index, the U.S. healthcare system could save $9.4 billion annually through the widespread use of electronic business transactions.

"GEHA is dedicated to providing quality care and service to our members," said Julie Browne, President and CEO of GEHA. "Conducting business transactions in the most cost-effective, accurate and timely manner is one way we ensure a high level of service, and CORE Certification demonstrates our commitment."

APWUHP, GEHA and NALC-HBP are certified in Phases I and II of the CAQH CORE Operating Rules. APWUHP and NALC-HBP are also certified in Phase III. Each phase covers a different set of healthcare transactions or requirements.

"We proudly show the CAQH CORE seal on our website," said Ingrid Bricker, Manager Application Development and Support of APWUHP. "Because it is an important way to display our focus on interoperability, accuracy, data security and, ultimately, member service."

Click here for a complete list of CORE-certified organizations.

Click here to learn how to become CORE-Certified.

Learn more about the CAQH Index.

CAQH CORE

CAQH CORE was formed in 2005 to drive the creation and adoption of healthcare operating rules that support standards, accelerate interoperability and align administrative activities among providers, payers and consumers. Today, more than 130 organizations participate in CAQH CORE, including healthcare providers, health plans representing 75 percent of insured Americans, vendors, government entities and standard setting organizations. Four phases of CAQH CORE Operating Rules have been issued to date, and CORE Certification is currently available for all four phases. For more information, visit www.caqhcore.org.

APWU Health Plan (APWUHP)

The American Postal Workers Union represents 200,000 employees of the United States Postal Service, and is affiliated with the AFL-CIO. For more information on the APWU Health Plan, visit www.apwuhp.com.

GEHA

GEHA traces its roots to August 1937, when a group of 30 railway mail clerks met at Union Station in Kansas City, MO. Originally called the Railway Mail Hospital Association, the group came together to help each other with the cost of medical care. In the decades that followed, the organization grew to serve all branches of the federal government and is now one of the nation's largest health and dental plans for civilian federal employees, providing benefits to more than 1.8 million covered lives worldwide. For more information, visit geha.com.

National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC-HBP)

The 295,000-member National Association of Letter Carriers represents letter carriers across the country employed by the U.S. Postal Service, along with retired letter carriers. Founded by Civil War veterans in 1889, the NALC is among the country's oldest labor unions. For more information, visit www.nalc.org.

SOURCE CAQH

Related Links

https://www.caqh.org


LUTHERVILLE, Md., Nov. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Association of Drug Diversion Investigators (NADDI)  the nonprofit organization that facilitates cooperation between law enforcement, healthcare professionals, state regulatory agencies and pharmaceutical manufacturers to prevent and investigate diversion of medicines for illegal purposes  applauded the electronic blocking results through the third quarter of 2017 from the National Precursor Log Exchange (NPLEx). Between January 1, 2017, and September 30, 2017, NPLEx successfully blocked the illegal sale of 959,580 boxes of medicine containing pseudoephedrine (PSE), an ingredient in many common over-the-counter (OTC) cold and allergy medicines which some criminals attempt to divert to make meth. As a result, NPLEx kept 2,504,819 grams of PSE out of the hands of potential criminals.

The NPLEx system, adopted by 33 states across the country, helps retailers enforce existing laws in real-time, across state lines, and right at the pharmacy counter by blocking unlawful purchases of these medicines before they even leave the store. Law enforcement agencies can utilize the information collected by the NPLEx system, and it can also be used by prosecutors as they build cases to put drug criminals behind bars.

Across the country, over 44,000 retailers use the NPLEx system to track sales, and some states have gone further by using NPLEx to enforce a PSE sales ban on individuals previously convicted of a meth crime. In Kentucky, Oklahoma and Tennessee, similar legislation was passed in 2012, 2013 and 2014, respectively, and these states have also experienced significant declines in meth lab seizures. As of 2016, meth lab seizures declined 86 percent in Kentucky, 93 percent in Oklahoma and 85 percent in Tennessee.

"Through the third quarter of 2017, it remains abundantly clear that NPLEx is a critical tool for retailers and law enforcement in the fight to reduce meth production in the United States," said NADDI Executive Director Charlie Cichon. "Not only does NPLEx serve as a roadblock for would-be meth criminals, but it allows for law-abiding cold and allergy sufferers to maintain access to the medicines they need, without the stress of overly restrictive PSE regulations. Combined with the nationwide decline in meth labs, this data is further proof that NPLEx remains a vital resource in our efforts to reduce domestic meth production year in and year out."

About NADDI and Public Safety

Established in 1989, the National Association of Drug Diversion Investigators, Inc. (NADDI) is the leading drug diversion training organization in the US, with the largest networking platform of professionals involved in the field of pharmaceutical drug diversion. The NADDI networking platform provides the opportunity to bring diverse viewpoints, education, support and resources to the individuals facing the challenges in the fight against the misuse and abuse of pharmaceutical drugs. You can learn about NADDI here: www.NADDI.org

SOURCE National Association of Drug Diversion Investigators

Related Links

http://www.NADDI.org


GREENWOOD VILLAGE, Colo., Nov. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- National Bank Holdings Corporation (NYSE: NBHC) announced today that the Board of Directors approved a cash dividend to shareholders. The quarterly cash dividend of nine cents ($0.09) per share of common stock will be payable on December 15, 2017 to shareholders of record at the close of business on November 24, 2017.

About National Bank Holdings Corporation

National Bank Holdings Corporation is a bank holding company created to build a leading community bank franchise delivering high-quality client service and committed to shareholder results. National Bank Holdings Corporation operates a network of 85 banking centers located in Colorado, the greater Kansas City region and Texas. Through the Company's subsidiary, NBH Bank, it operates under the following brand names: Bank Midwest in Kansas and Missouri, Community Banks of Colorado in Colorado, and Hillcrest Bank in Texas. More information about National Bank Holdings Corporation can be found at www.nationalbankholdings.com.

For more information visit: bankmw.com, cobnks.com, hillcrestbank.com or nbhbank.com. Or, follow us on any of our social media sites:

Bank Midwest: facebook.com/bankmw, twitter.com/bank_mw, instagram.com/bankmw;

Community Banks of Colorado: facebook.com/cobnks, twitter.com/cobnks, instagram.com/cobnks;

Hillcrest Bank: facebook.com/hillcrestbank, twitter.com/hillcrest_bank;

NBH Bank: twitter.com/nbhbank;

or connect with any of our brands on LinkedIn.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements contain words such as "anticipate," "believe," "can," "would," "should," "could," "may," "predict," "seek," "potential," "will," "estimate," "target," "plan," "project," "continuing," "ongoing," "expect," "intend" or similar expressions that relate to the Company's strategy, plans or intentions. Forward-looking statements involve certain important risks, uncertainties and other factors, any of which could cause actual results to differ materially from those in such statements. Such factors include, without limitation, the "Risk Factors" referenced in the Company's most recent Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and other risks and uncertainties listed from time to time in our reports and documents filed with the SEC. The Company can give no assurance that any goal or plan or expectation set forth in forward-looking statements can be achieved and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such statements. The forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release, and the Company does not intend, and assumes no obligation, to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which the statement is made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events or circumstances, except as required by applicable law.

SOURCE National Bank Holdings Corporation

Related Links

http://www.nationalbankholdings.com


CHICAGO, Nov. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- During National Runaway Prevention Month (NRPM) in November, the National Runaway Safeline (NRS) and its partners raise awareness of the runaway and homeless youth crisis and the issues that these young people face, as well as educate Americans about solutions and the role they can play in preventing and ending youth homelessness.

"Family members, educators and peers all have different 'titles,' but when a young person is in a tough situation these people also fit the role of 'friend' who they can talk to for support, a listening ear and caring advice," said Maureen Blaha, NRS executive director. "Sometimes that guidance leads the youth to contact NRS, which is why this year's NRPM theme is 'Friends Helping Friends.'"

Between 1.6 and 2.8 million youth run away in a year, and if they all lived in one city, it would be the fifth largest city in the United States. By participating in the following NRPM national activities, youth service agencies, community groups and individuals can show America's runaway and homeless youth that they are not invisible and they are not alone:

Facebook Profile Picture on Nov.1 : Add the NRPM filter available here to your profile picture.

: Add the NRPM filter available here to your profile picture. Wear Green Day on Nov. 8 : Take a photo wearing something green, the symbol of NRPM, and post it to social media with #NRPM2016.

Take a photo wearing something green, the symbol of NRPM, and post it to social media with #NRPM2016. Candlelight Vigil on Nov. 15 : Host a candlelight vigil in a neighborhood, school, place of worship, or other venue to show solidarity with youth in crisis.

Host a candlelight vigil in a neighborhood, school, place of worship, or other venue to show solidarity with youth in crisis. Selfie Sign Day on Nov. 22 : Download the "Selfie Sign" at 1800RUNAWAY.org, take a photo with it, post it to social media using the caption "This is how I have helped a friend...," and encourage others to share a story of how they have helped a friend.

On November 11th, NRS will host its 15th annual Spirit of Youth as part of its NRPM activities. The event builds visibility and educates the community about NRS' services. In addition, Spirit of Youth, an indoor street festival at 1215 W. Fulton Market, aims to raise $250,000 for crisis services. The 2017 platinum sponsors are Allstate Insurance Company and United Airlines. The gold sponsors are AAR CORP, Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tube & Iron, Coldwell Banker, EY, Greyhound Lines, Inc., Ken Lavelle, Michele and Gary Lehman, Olympic Steel, PwC, Radio Flyer, SMB Help Desk, and the Wolfort Family Foundation.

Being a part of NRPM can also be as easy as a click, a 'like,' a 'share' or a retweet. NRS will disseminate data, stories, and other useful information on Facebook (facebook.com/1800RUNAWAY), Twitter (twitter.com/1800RUNAWAY) and Instagram (instagram.com/1800runaway/). NRS makes more than 250,000 connections to help and hope through hotline (1-800-RUNAWAY), online (1800RUNAWAY.org), texting (66008) and offline resources. For more information, visit 1800runaway.org/runaway-prevention-month.

SOURCE National Runaway Safeline

Related Links

http://1800RUNAWAY.org


HONG KONG, Oct. 31, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- NetCurrency.com, a fintech startup company based in Hong Kong, announces the beta release of world's first digital currency, dubbed Neco, for global forex trading and asset management, a USD 5 trillion daily market.

Net Currency (Neco, or NTC) is a geo-political neutral digital currency portfolio monetary system, and fundamentally different from crypto-currency or virtual currency such as Bitcoin. Net Currency is not issued by any central bank nor generated by computer algorithms, instead it is issued and funded by a community of users and consists of a portfolio of underlying world sovereign currencies, with percentages of each currency agreed upon by its members.

Net Currency combines the legitimacy, stability, and liquidity of the world sovereign currency, with the speed, connectivity, and innovations of the evolving Internet. Net Currency's built-in equilibrium mechanism enables user communities to reduce the risk of currency fluctuation and discourage currency speculation.

"By introducing peer-to-peer community model and currency basket concept, supported by our proprietary Redstar Block Chain technology that offers fastest response time required by real-time financial transactions, Neco is leading a new era for global forex and asset management market with efficiency, fairness, and completeness," said Tong Li, founder and CEO of NetCurrency.com.

"Neco is much more than a digital currency, it is proposing a collaborative global fintech standard, which like Visa, can be used by any financial institution, bank, or community, anywhere in the world. We intend to develop it as an open source project," Tong said.

Tong is a MIT trained technology entrepreneur who has worked on quantitative trading systems for Merrill Lynch in New York before its acquisition by Bank of America. Tong is also the founder of two other leading fintech companies in China: Yoopay.cn, China's largest event ecommerce platform, and LanhuHealth.com, China's the first healthcare insurance search engine.

NetCurrency.com is beta-testing the system with launching partners, including banks and financial institutions. The company expects to issue the world's first batch of Neco in January 2018.

SOURCE NetCurrency.com
MEMPHIS, Tenn., Nov. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- When Nadarajah Premananth "Prem", an experienced hospitality industry professional and his business partners, Charles Thambithural and Shamini Nimalaranjan began exploring a restaurant franchise opportunity, their goal was to find a family dining concept that appealed to guests of all ages  one that had strong brand awareness and a reputation for providing memorable dining experiences. After learning about the rich history of the Perkins brand, its diverse menu offerings, in house bakery shop point of difference, and extensive levels of franchise support ranging from site evaluation and selection to design, construction and more, Prem and his partners signed on as franchisees, dba 2554301 Ontario, Inc., in January 2017. Construction on their Perkins Restaurant & Bakery located in the Pickering Business Center at 1097 Kingston Road, Pickering, Ontario began in May 2017, and on October 30, 2017 they opened for business.

"We appreciate and share the guest-first philosophy that drives Perkins, and are confident that this concept, with its multi-daypart menu, comfortable dining atmosphere and exceptional service will excite the community," comments Prem, himself a resident of Pickering, Ontario. Staffed by 120 full and part time employees, the 5,000-square foot restaurant features Perkins' new design package. On the exterior, the Perkins signature oval logo is showcased along with a welcoming interpretation of the entry and the Perkins trademark green and white striped awnings. Inside, guests enjoy a fresh, warm and welcoming environment that showcases an abundant bakery along with an array of dining zones. The dining areas, with their free Wi-Fi, accommodate 162 guests and offer different types of experiences through unique presentations in space layout, seating, lighting and graphics. Perkins' full menu including its famous buttermilk pancakes, unique 3-egg omelets, homemade Belgian waffles, fresh salads and signature burgers and sandwiches, plus a wide array of additional breakfast, lunch and dinner offerings are available. In addition, Perkins' freshly prepared bakery products featuring Chocolate French Silk Pie, Caramel Apple Pie, Chocolate Chip cookies and fresh blueberry Mammoth Muffins to name a few are offered as will a seniors' and kids' menu. The restaurant is open Sunday through Thursday, 7:00 AM  10:00 PM and 24 hours on Friday and Saturday.

About Perkins Restaurants & Bakeries:

Founded in 1958, the Perkins system consists of 393 restaurants in 32 states and Canada, which includes 124 company-owned and operated restaurants and 269 franchised units. The Pickering, Ontario location is the seventh Perkins Restaurant & Bakery located in Ontario and the 18th in Canada.

Perkins continues to seek experienced restaurant operators interested in becoming franchise owners in targeted U.S. states and Canadian provinces. With its strong and growing franchise network, Perkins offers services to franchisees including accounting functions, IT support, assistance with new store development/openings and more. Expertise is also delivered one-on-one, through a highly-experienced Perkins franchise consultant who acts as a liaison, bringing together the resources franchisees need before, during and after the restaurant opening. Information about Perkins franchise opportunities can be found at www.perkinsrestaurants.com, or by contacting Perkins at 901.766.6455 or [email protected].

SOURCE Perkins Restaurant & Bakery

Related Links

http://www.perkinsrestaurants.com


MILWAUKEE, Nov. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Northwestern Mutual, a leading financial security company, announced today a partnership to support early stage startup companies based in Milwaukee. Lead sponsor Northwestern Mutual and supporting sponsors, Rockwell Automation, Kohl's, Baird and Milwaukee Institute, will provide funding and other services to launch an accelerator program for early stage startup companies with local roots in the community.

The partnership between the organizations is centered on driving innovation and technology forward in Milwaukee. The new program was announced today at a Technology Summit hosted by Northwestern Mutual, which convened leaders in the local business, academic, government, civic and technology communities to discuss building and supporting a vibrant tech ecosystem in southeastern Wisconsin.

"Milwaukee's entrepreneurial spirit is fueling a vibrant startup community, which needs capital and support at the earliest stages of ideation," said John E. Schlifske, chairman and CEO, Northwestern Mutual. "We're proud to partner with Rockwell Automation, Kohl's, Baird and Milwaukee Institute on this program. By working together, we will make a greater impact to strengthen our tech community."

The seven-week accelerator program, gBETA Milwaukee, will run multiple times throughout the year and be led by gener8tor, a nationally ranked startup accelerator. gBETA Milwaukee will be held at the Lubar Entrepreneurship Center at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, which is run by Brian Thompson, director of the Lubar Entrepreneurship Center. It will provide early stage companies with access to a community of entrepreneurs, mentors, angel investors, venture capitalists, technologists and co-working space. All operating costs for the 2018 and 2019 programs will be provided by the members of the partnership, with no fee or equity requirements for the participants. To learn more about gBETA, visit www.gbetaaccelerator.com.

About Northwestern Mutual

Northwestern Mutual has been helping families and businesses achieve financial security for 160 years. Through a distinctive, whole-picture planning approach including both insurance and investments, we empower people to be financially confident so they can live life differently. We combine the expertise of our financial professionals with a personalized digital experience to help our clients navigate their financial lives every day. With $250.4 billion in assets, $28.2 billion in revenues, and more than $1.6 trillion worth of life insurance protection in force, Northwestern Mutual delivers financial security to more than 4.4 million people who rely on us for life, disability income and long-term care insurance, annuities, brokerage and advisory services, trust services, and discretionary portfolio management solutions. The company holds more than $100 billion of client assets as a part of its wealth management company and investment services. Northwestern Mutual ranks 97 on the 2017 FORTUNE 500 and is recognized by FORTUNE as one of the "World's Most Admired" life insurance companies in 2017.

Northwestern Mutual is the marketing name for The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company (NM), Milwaukee, WI (life and disability insurance, annuities, and life insurance with long-term care benefits) and its subsidiaries. Northwestern Mutual and its subsidiaries offer a comprehensive approach to financial security solutions including: life insurance, long-term care insurance, disability income insurance, annuities, life insurance with long-term care benefits, investment products, and advisory products and services. Subsidiaries include Northwestern Mutual Investment Services, LLC (NMIS) (securities), broker-dealer, registered investment adviser, member FINRA and SIPC; the Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Company (NMWMC) (fiduciary and fee-based financial planning services), federal savings bank; and Northwestern Long Term Care Insurance Company (NLTC) (long-term care insurance).

About Rockwell Automation

Rockwell Automation Inc. (NYSE: ROK), the world's largest company dedicated to industrial automation and information, makes its customers more productive and the world more sustainable. Headquartered in Milwaukee, Wis., Rockwell Automation employs approximately 22,000 people serving customers in more than 80 countries.

Automation Fair, LISTEN. THINK. SOLVE. and PartnerNetwork are trademarks of Rockwell Automation Inc.

About Kohl's

Kohl's (NYSE: KSS) is a leading omnichannel retailer with more than 1,100 stores in 49 states. With a commitment to inspiring and empowering families to lead fulfilled lives, Kohl's offers amazing national and exclusive brands, incredible savings and an easy shopping experience in our stores, online at Kohls.com and on Kohl's mobile app. Throughout its history, Kohl's has given nearly $600 million to support communities nationwide. For a list of store locations or to shop online, visit Kohls.com. For more information about Kohl's impact in the community and how to join our winning team, visit Corporate.Kohls.com.

About Baird

Baird is an employee-owned, international wealth management, capital markets, private equity and asset management firm with offices in the United States, Europe and Asia. Established in 1919, Baird has more than 3,400 associates serving the needs of individual, corporate, institutional and municipal clients. Baird has $171 billion in client assets. Committed to being a great place to work, Baird ranked No. 4 on FORTUNE's 100 Best Companies to Work For in 2017  its 14th consecutive year on the list. Baird is the marketing name of Baird Financial Group. Baird's principal operating subsidiaries are Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated in the United States and Robert W. Baird Group Ltd. in Europe. Baird also has an operating subsidiary in Asia supporting Baird's investment banking and private equity operations. For more information, please visit Baird's Web site at www.rwbaird.com.

About Milwaukee Institute

Milwaukee Institute is a not-for-profit that helps forward-thinking Midwesterners learn, connect and unlock the potential of advanced technologies and high-growth businesses to help our region thrive. It was founded in 2007 by John Byrnes, a private equity industry executive who is the Institute's chairman.

About gener8tor

gener8tor is a nationally ranked accelerator that invests in high-growth startups. Three times a year we invest up to $140K in each of five startups who receive a concierge experience during our 12-week accelerator program. gener8tor supports the growth of these startups through our network of experienced mentors, technologists, corporate partners, angel investors and venture capitalists.



gener8tor's 54 alums have cumulatively raised more than $120M in follow-on financing. Of these 54 alums, 57% have raised more than $1M in follow-on financing or have been acquired.



gener8tor invests in high-growth startups, including software, IT, web, SaaS, life science, medtech, e-commerce and hardware. Accepted startups receive up to $140K and 12 weeks of mentorship-driven programming. gener8tor is a proud member of the Global Accelerator Network (GAN) and is sponsored by American Family Insurance.



gener8tor is a GOLD-tier accelerator in the U.S. as ranked by the Seed Accelerator Rankings Project.

About gBETA

gBETA is a free, seven-week accelerator for early-stage companies with local roots. Each program is capped at five teams, and requires no fees and no equity.

The goal of gBETA is that at least 1/3 of program participants gain acceptance into a full-time, equity-based accelerator, or raise at least $50,000 in seed capital within one year of graduating from the program. Currently 50% of gBETA alumni have achieved this goal.

gBETA was founded in Madison in 2015, in partnership with American Family Insurance and the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation, and has since expanded to four cities (Beloit, Madison, Milwaukee, Minneapolis).

SOURCE Northwestern Mutual

Related Links

http://www.northwesternmutual.com


What did we find?

Nearly half of respondents (46%) said their organization is in the young/first steps phase of content marketing maturity; 30% are in the adolescent phase; and 22% are in the sophisticated/mature phase.

Those who are further along in maturity report a stronger commitment to content marketing, are more likely to have a documented content marketing strategy, and do several other things differently than those in the young/first steps phase.

"As a marketer, you may think there isn't much you can do to change your program's content marketing maturity  that it simply takes time," says Lisa Murton Beets, research director, Content Marketing Institute. "However, content marketing maturity doesn't necessarily depend on how long a company has had a content marketing approach. A skilled team can move the dial forward quickly; however, that's not likely to happen without a strong commitment to content marketing. And while it's true that commitment can strengthen based on results over time, how can you move forward if your organization isn't strongly committed in the first place?"

Key Highlights:

Manufacturers in the sophisticated/mature phase of content marketing maturity are 5.6 times more likely than those in the young/first steps to report their organization is extremely/very committed to content marketing (73% vs. 13%).

55% of manufacturing marketers surveyed characterize their organization's overall content marketing approach as "moderately" successful. Reported success is higher among those in the sophisticated/mature phase (33% of whom characterize their approach as "extremely" or "very" successful).

56% of manufacturing marketers surveyed said their organization's overall content marketing approach is "much more" or "somewhat more" successful compared with one year ago.

58% of manufacturing marketers surveyed outsource at least one content marketing activity, with content creation being the most frequently cited (49%).

The processes involved with content creation are an issue for manufacturing marketers: 20% report the project flow within their organization as excellent/very good; 31% rate it as good; and 49% rate it as fair or poor.

Watch this video, for a quick analysis of all of CMI's research.

For research charts, key highlights, quotes and more, check out this folder.

To view all CMI research and to subscribe to our emails visit: contentmarketinginstitutecom/research

About Content Marketing Institute

Content Marketing Institute is the leading global content marketing education and training organization, teaching enterprise brands how to attract and retain customers through compelling, multichannel storytelling. CMI's Content Marketing World event, the largest content marketing-focused event, is held every September in Cleveland, Ohio, USA, and the Intelligent Content Conference event is held every spring. CMI publishes the bi-monthly magazine Chief Content Officer, and provides strategic consulting and content marketing research for some of the best-known brands in the world. Watch this video to learn more about CMI. Content Marketing Institute is organised by UBM plc. UBM is the largest pure-play B2B Events organiser in the world. Our 3,750+ people, based in more than 20 countries, serve more than 50 different sectors. Our deep knowledge and passion for these sectors allow us to create valuable experiences which enable our customers to succeed. Please visit www.ubm.com for the latest news and information about UBM.

SOURCE Content Marketing Institute
The Lung Health Barometer is a survey designed to better understand what Americans know about lung cancer and lung cancer screening. This year's survey included 1,400 people, both women and men and high-risk current and former smokers.

Among the high-risk population, the survey revealed:

84 percent of high-risk Americans are unfamiliar with the only recommended lung cancer screening method available  the low-dose CT scan.

Despite it potentially saving their lives, 41 percent of high-risk current and former smokers are not planning on getting screened for lung cancer.

The top reason those at high risk for lung cancer are not getting screened is because their doctor never recommended it.

Among the general population, the survey revealed:

Only 3 percent of women cite lung cancer as a top-of-mind health concern, when in fact, one woman in the U.S. is diagnosed with lung cancer every 5 minutes.

87 percent of the general population is not familiar with the low-dose CT scan, the only approved lung cancer screening aimed at early detection.

The majority of the general population (62 percent) believe that not enough is being done to raise awareness of lung cancer.

The low-dose CT scan has the ability to save lives, and to raise public awareness about the new availability of screening for those considered at high risk, the American Lung Association recently partnered with the Ad Council to launch "Saved By The Scan."

"Saved By The Scan" is the first national public service advertising (PSA) campaign that educates Americans on the benefits of early detection through lung cancer screening and encourages high-risk individuals to take an online lung cancer screening eligibility quiz at SavedByTheScan.org. The low-dose CT scan is the only lung cancer screening tool that reduces the risk of dying from lung cancer by detecting lung cancer in the early stages, before symptoms arise, when the disease is more curable.

"The availability of lung cancer screening presents a powerful opportunity to save lives and turn the tide against lung cancer. To make this a reality, we must do more to ensure that those at high risk are aware of screening and that it can save their lives," said American Lung Association National President and CEO Harold P. Wimmer. "The American Lung Association is committed to defeating lung cancer, and this effort to raise awareness about screening is driven through our partnership with the Ad Council on the 'Saved By The Scan' campaign throughout Lung Cancer Awareness Month and beyond."

There are an estimated 9 million Americans who qualify as "high risk" for developing lung cancer and should talk to their doctor about screening. A person is considered high risk if they are between 5580 years old, have a 30 pack-year history of smoking (this means 1 pack a day for 30 years, 2 packs a day for 15 years, etc.), and are a current smoker or have quit within the last 15 years. The new availability of the low-dose CT scan at no cost from Medicare and most healthcare plans is a powerful opportunity to save lives, because the key to defeating lung cancer is early detection. In fact, if the disease is caught before it spreads, the likelihood of surviving five years improves from 11 to 55 percent. If only half of the Americans at high risk were screened, about 15,000 lives would be saved.

"I am honored to be a part of the 'Saved by the Scan' campaign to raise awareness of the low-dose CT scan among current and former smokers. It was by chance that I learned about this lifesaving technology and I could not be more grateful," said Frank Flahive, a LUNG FORCE advocate and lung cancer survivor. "I am living proof that as a former smoker you can go from scan to cancer survivor  that's the benefit of early detection with the low-dose CT scan. I encourage others who meet the screening criteria to discuss the scan with their doctors because it certainly saved my life."

To learn more about lung cancer and its risk factors, high-risk individuals are encouraged to take a lung cancer screening eligibility quiz at SavedByTheScan.org.

In honor of Lung Cancer Awareness Month, GSK Consumer Healthcare and eBay for Charity are joining the fight against lung cancer and supporting LUNG FORCE.

From October 29 through December 2, 2017 , for every box of Nicorette  or NicoDerm  CQ  purchased at CVS Pharmacy, GSK Consumer Healthcare will donate $1 , up to $100,000 , to LUNG FORCE.*

, for every box of Nicorette or NicoDerm CQ purchased at CVS Pharmacy, GSK Consumer Healthcare will donate , up to , to LUNG FORCE.* From November 12 through November 19, 2017 , eBay for Charity is featuring the American Lung Association as their exclusive Give at Checkout charity. Customers can select the American Lung Association as their favorite charity on eBay and 100 percent of donations will go to the Lung Association.

All donations will support LUNG FORCE's investment in lung cancer research and patient education  including lung cancer prevention, early detection, tumor testing and advocacy for more federal research funding.

Additionally, in an effort to defeat lung cancer the American Lung Association has increased its investment in lung cancer research by 167 percent since launching LUNG FORCE in 2014, and the organization also recently announced its single largest investment in lung cancer research to date. In collaboration with Stand Up To Cancer and the LUNGevity Foundation, the organizations will co-fund two lung cancer research awards - the Lung Cancer Interception Dream Team Award at $5 million, which seeks to stop lung cancer before it starts, and a Lung Cancer Interception Translational Research Award at $2 million, which seeks to improve the accuracy of low-dose CT scans by adding companion blood tests. More information on these awards and the Lung Association's investments in research can be found at Lung.org/research.

For more information on the American Lung Association's LUNG FORCE initiative, the "Saved By The Scan" campaign, lung cancer research funding or to make a donation, visit LUNGFORCE.org.

About the American Lung Association

The American Lung Association is the leading organization working to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease, through research, education and advocacy. The work of the American Lung Association is focused on four strategic imperatives: to defeat lung cancer; to improve the air we breathe; to reduce the burden of lung disease on individuals and their families; and to eliminate tobacco use and tobacco-related diseases. For more information about the American Lung Association, a holder of the Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Guide Seal, or to support the work it does, call 1-800-LUNGUSA (1-800-586-4872) or visit: Lung.org.

About LUNG FORCE

LUNG FORCE is a national initiative led by the American Lung Association to unite women against lung cancer, the #1 cancer killer of women. LUNG FORCE has three priorities: 1) Make lung cancer a cause that people care about  and act on; 2) Educate and empower patients and healthcare providers and 3) Raise critical funds for lung cancer research. The American Lung Association's LUNG FORCE is nationally presented by CVS Health. Find out more at LUNGFORCE.org.

About The 2017 Lung Health Barometer

The 2017 Lung Health Barometer was fielded online by Edelman Intelligence from September 28  October 5 and included 1400 men and women in the U.S., ages 18+. The data was weighted to be nationally representative on age, region and race/ethnicity. The margin of error is +/-3.1%. Edelman Intelligence is a global, full-service market research firm that provides corporate, non-profit and government clients with strategic intelligence to make their communications and engagements with stakeholders the smartest they can be. The firm specializes in qualitative and quantitative research, measurement, tracking and analysis in reputation, branding and communications. Edelman Intelligence is part of Edelman, the world's largest public relations company. For more information, please visit http://www.edelmanintelligence.com.

* Purchases made between 10/29/17  12/2/17, up to $100,000 donation amount. Promotion ends on 12/2/17 or at $100,000 goal, whichever comes first. The American Lung Association does not endorse any product, device or service.

Media Contacts:

Allison MacMunn

American Lung Association

312-801-7628

[email protected]

Jessica Moschella

Edelman

212-277-3762

[email protected]

SOURCE American Lung Association
WASHINGTON, Nov. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Gastric sleeve surgery is one of the safest and most popular methods of weight loss surgery in America, but a new study* raises some cautions about performing the operation on an outpatient basis. The findings were presented today at ObesityWeek 2017, the largest international event focused on the basic science, clinical application and prevention and treatment of obesity. The annual conference is hosted by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) and The Obesity Society (TOS).

Same-day gastric sleeve surgery was associated with a 30-day mortality rate that was low at 0.10 percent, but still five times higher than patients who were discharged a day later. These patients had a mortality rate of 0.02 percent, most likely due to respiratory failure. There were no statistically significant differences for overall complications (0.98% vs. 0.86%), reoperations (0.54% vs. 0.33%), or readmissions (2.41% vs 2.10%).

"What a difference a day makes," said study senior author Ninh T. Nguyen, MD, Chair of the Department of Surgery at the University of California, Irvine School of Medicine. "This study cautions that surgeons performing outpatient gastric sleeve surgery should carefully select only low-risk patients for same day discharge, such as patients with no respiratory issues such as obstructive sleep apnea. The higher mortality rate in the same day discharge group is likely related to respiratory failure events that occurred in an unsupervised and unmonitored setting."

Researchers from the University of California, Irvine School of Medicine analyzed 37,301 gastric sleeve operations for 30-day mortality and complications, and readmission and reoperation rates from the 2015 Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP) national database. Patients were discharged either the same day of surgery (2,031 patients) or the day after (35,270 patients). Before surgery, patients had an average body mass index (BMI) of 43.

Sleeve gastrectomy has become the most popular method of bariatric surgery. According to the ASMBS, the procedure accounted for more than half the 216,000 bariatric surgeries performed in the U.S. last year. Gastric sleeve surgery involves removing approximately 80 percent of the stomach and leaving a narrow gastric tube or "sleeve." Because the stomach is made smaller, patients feel satisfied with less food.

"Both patients and doctors should approach outpatient bariatric surgery with caution," said ASMBS past-president Raul J. Rosenthal, MD, Chairman of the Department of General Surgery at Cleveland Clinic Florida, who was not involved in the study. "Bariatric surgery is safer than ever, but discharging patients too soon may have serious consequences. Patients should be evaluated very carefully before they go home."

Metabolic/bariatric surgery has been shown to be the most effective and long lasting treatment for severe obesity and many related conditions and results in significant weight loss.[1] The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) reported significant improvements in the safety of metabolic/bariatric surgery due in large part to improved laparoscopic techniques.[2] The risk of death is about 0.1 percent[3] and the overall likelihood of major complications is about 4 percent.[4] According to a 2014 study from the Cleveland Clinic's Bariatric and Metabolic Institute, laparoscopic bariatric surgery has complication and mortality rates comparable to some of the safest and most commonly performed surgeries in the U.S., including gallbladder surgery, appendectomy and knee replacement.[5]

According to the National Center for Health Statistics, 39.8 percent of adults and 18.5 percent of children in the U.S. had obesity in 2015-2016, the highest rate ever for adults. Hispanic adults had an obesity rate of 47 percent and Non-Hispanic black adults a rate of 46.8 percent. Obese is medically defined as having a body mass index (BMI), a ratio of height to weight, of more than 30. The ASMBS estimates about 24 million Americans have severe obesity, which would mean a BMI of 35 or more with an obesity-related condition like diabetes or a BMI of 40 or more.

About the ASMBS

The ASMBS is the largest organization for bariatric surgeons in the nation. It is a non-profit organization that works to advance the art and science of bariatric surgery and is committed to educating medical professionals and the lay public about bariatric surgery as an option for the treatment of severe obesity, as well as the associated risks and benefits. It encourages its members to investigate and discover new advances in bariatric surgery, while maintaining a steady exchange of experiences and ideas that may lead to improved surgical outcomes for patients with severe obesity. For more information, visit www.asmbs.org.

*How Safe is Same-Day Discharge for Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy? (A128)

Colette Inaba, MD; Christina Y Koh, MD; Sarath Sujatha-Bhaskar, MD; Ninh Nguyen, MD, FASMBS

 all from University of California, Irvine, Orange, CA

[1] Weiner, R. A., et al. (2010). Indications and principles of metabolic surgery. U.S. National Library of Medicine. 81(4) pp.379-394. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20361370

[2] Encinosa, W. E., et al. (2009). Recent improvements in bariatric surgery outcomes. Medical Care. 47(5) pp. 531-535. Accessed October 2013 from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19318997

[3] Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). (2007). Statistical Brief #23. Bariatric Surgery Utilization and Outcomes in 1998 and 2004. Accessed October 2013 from http://www.hcup-us.ahrq.gov/reports/statbriefs/sb23.jsp

[4] Flum, D. R., et al. (2009). Perioperative safety in the longitudinal assessment of bariatric surgery. New England Journal of Medicine. 361 pp.445-454. Accessed October 2013 from http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/full/361/5/445

[5] Gastric Bypass is as Safe as Commonly Performed Surgeries. Health Essentials. Cleveland Clinic. Nov. 6, 2014. Accessed October 2017 https://health.clevelandclinic.org/2014/11/gastric-bypass-is-as-safe-as-commonly-performed-surgeries/

SOURCE ASMBS
Graphic Matter has established a reputation for design excellence with a competitive cost model. Through a unique service delivery model that favors micro-teams with multifaceted capabilities, Graphic Matter delivers "great results  while maintaining the highest integrity and professional standards," says client Denis Nikic of LifeCell, An Allergan Company.

BNO led the Jersey Awards in total wins in both 2016 and 2017, and counts Johnson & Johnson, Mastercard, Verizon and KPMG among its key clients. Graphic Matter adds clients including New York Life, LifeCell, and Qualcare to the BNO client roster.

"We are thrilled to welcome Beverly and Graphic Matter to the BNO family. This acquisition expands BNO's design and production capability, while adding new clients and employees that truly share our vision," said BNO president Trista Walker. Thomas joins BNO as VP, Client Engagement, and will work closely with Walker as well as Rachelle Powell, senior VP of client services, and George Jackus, senior VP of Creative. Beverly's immediate focus includes leading BNO's healthcare packaging business and new business efforts.

Thomas said, "We've spent the past 14 years focused on delivering high quality creative solutions for digital, print and trade show assignments, primarily focused on small and mid-market clients. A future with BNO provides opportunities to apply our creativity to larger clients and brands while we continue to do what we love." In particular, Thomas notes, she and the Graphic Matter team immediately connected with the BNO agency mantra, "innovate, inspire, involve."

The Graphic Matter acquisition caps off a year that included BNO being named Verizon's global agency of record for recruitment marketing and the launch of the Do Autism Differently campaign for the Autism Treatment Center of America.

ABOUT BNO:

BNO is a full-service creative agency that specializes in building powerful brand connections for healthcare, technology, financial services, and public-sector clients. BNO is a certified WBE. Learn more at www.bnoinc.com.

ABOUT GRAPHIC MATTER

Graphic Matter, Inc. is an agile creative partner delivering operational excellence, innovative workflow solutions and flawless technical execution. The agency provides graphic design, web design and instructional design services to New York, New Jersey and Philadelphia metro areas.

RELATED LINKS

http://www.bnoinc.com

http://www.graphicmatter.com

SOURCE BNO

Related Links

http://bnoinc.com


EAST HANOVER, N.J., Nov. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Novartis will present new data from across its hematology portfolio at the upcoming 59th American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting & Exposition, Atlanta, December 9-12. More than 75 abstracts will be presented, highlighting the robust Novartis development program for serious blood diseases.

"This is an exceptionally productive time in hematology, and the breadth of our Novartis Oncology data and presence at ASH underscore our commitment to this space," said Vas Narasimhan, Global Head Drug Development and Chief Medical Officer, Novartis. "Following the launch of Kymriah, the first FDA-approved CAR-T therapy, we are particularly excited about presenting additional data on this new approach to cancer treatment, as well as a new analysis for crizanlizumab, an investigational treatment for patients with sickle cell disease."

Kymriah* (tisagenlecleucel) suspension for intravenous infusion is a CD19-directed genetically modified autologous T cell immunotherapy, indicated for the treatment of patients up to 25 years of age with B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) that is refractory or in second or later relapse. Additional results evaluating Kymriah in pediatric ALL and in relapsed/refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) will be presented.

Data for Kymriah include results from the primary analysis of the JULIET study in adult patients with relapsed or refractory DLBCL, demonstrating sustained complete response rates based on extended follow up, and efficacy and safety findings from additional treated patients compared to a previously presented interim analysis. Additionally, results of a cost-effectiveness analysis of Kymriah for the treatment of relapsed or refractory ALL in the United States will be presented in an oral presentation.

Primary Analysis of JULIET: A Global, Pivotal, Phase 2 Trial of CTL019 in Adult Patients with Relapsed or Refractory Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma [Abstract #577; Monday, December 11 , 7:00 AM EST ]

, ] Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of CTL019 for the Treatment of Pediatric and Young Adult Patients with Relapsed or Refractory B-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in the United States [Abstract #609; Monday, December 11 , 7:30 AM EST ]

[Abstract #609; , ] Patient-Reported Quality of Life (QoL) Following CTL019 Infusion in Adult Patients with Relapsed/Refractory (r/r) Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma (DLBCL) [Abstract #5215; publication only]

Expert Elicitation of Long-Term Survival for Pediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Patients Receiving CTL019 in ELIANA Phase II Study [Abstract #3377; Sunday, December 10 , 6:00 PM EST ]

Outcomes for chimeric antigen receptor T cell (CAR-T) pipeline therapies in other malignant blood cancers will also be shared at ASH:

Updated Safety and Efficacy of B-cell Maturation Antigen (BCMA)-specific Chimeric Antigen Receptor T Cells (CART-BCMA) for Refractory Multiple Myeloma (MM) [Abstract #505; Sunday, December 10 , 4:30 PM EST ]

Durable Remissions with Humanized CD19-Targeted Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR)-Modified T Cells in Children and Young Adults with Relapsed/Refractory Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, Including After Prior CAR Therapy [Abstract # 1319 ; Saturday, December 9 , 5:30 PM EST ]

Data from a post-hoc sub-group analysis of the Phase II SUSTAIN investigational trial of crizanlizumab for time to first on-treatment sickle cell pain crisis will be featured:

Crizanlizumab 5.0 mg/kg Increased the Time to First On-Treatment Sickle Cell Pain Crisis: A Subgroup Analysis of the Phase II SUSTAIN Study [Abstract #613; Monday, December 11 , 10:30 AM EST ]

A matched comparison of Molecular Recurrence-free Survival (MRecFS) following treatment discontinuation in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patients on Tasigna (nilotinib) in ENESTfreedom versus patients on imatinib in the EURO-SKI trials will be presented in addition to updates from ENESTfreedom and ENESTop on Treatment-free Remission (TFR) outcomes:

Molecular Recurrence-Free Survival (MRecFS) Following Imatinib vs Nilotinib in Patients with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia in Chronic Phase (CML-CP): Matched Analysis of Patients in EURO-SKI and ENESTfreedom [Abstract #1601; Saturday, December 9 , 5:30 PM EST ]

Impact of Treatment Cessation on Overall Disease Outcomes in Patients with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia in Chronic Phase (CML-CP) Attempting Treatment-Free Remission (TFR): Findings from ENESTfreedom and ENESTop [Abstract #1598; Saturday, December 9 , 5:30 PM EST ]

Treatment-Free Remission (TFR) Among Patients with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia in Chronic Phase (CML-CP) Not Initially Eligible for Treatment Discontinuation Due to Unstable Deep Molecular Response (DMR): ENESTfreedom and ENESTop [Abstract #2878; Sunday, December 10 , 6:00 PM EST ]

Additionally, new insights will be presented from the pivotal, Phase III RATIFY trial of Rydapt (midostaurin) in adults with FLT3+ acute myeloid leukemia (AML):

An Analysis of the Maintenance and Post Completion Effect of Midostaurin Therapy in the International Prospective Randomized Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind Trial (CALGB 10603/RATIFY [Alliance]) for Newly Diagnosed Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) Patients with FLT3 Mutations [Abstract #145; Saturday, December 9 , 12:00 PM EST ]

The Addition of Midostaurin to Standard Chemotherapy Decreases Cumulative Incidence of Relapse (CIR) in the International Prospective Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind Trial (CALGB 10603/RATIFY [Alliance]) for Newly Diagnosed Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) Patients with FLT3 Mutations [Abstract #2580; Sunday, December 10 , 6:00 PM EST ]

Prognostic Impact of NPM1/FLT3-ITD Genotypes from Randomized Patients with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) Treated Within the International RATIFY Study [Abstract #467; Sunday, December 10 , 5:30 PM EST ]

Sandoz, a Novartis division, the pioneer and global leader in biosimilars, will present two studies examining the impact of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) on patient outcomes, cost savings and expanded access for biosimilars including Zarxio (filgrastim-sndz).

Expanded Access to Obinutuzumab from Cost-Savings Generated by Biosimilar Filgrastim (BIOSIM-FIL) in the Prophylaxis of Chemotherapy-Induced (Febrile) Neutropenia: A Simulation Study [Abstract #3380; Sunday, December 10, 6:00 PM EST]

PM EST] A Systemic Literature Review of Overall Survival and Delivered Dose Intensity in Cancer Patient Receiving Chemotherapy and G-CSF in Randomized Control Trials [Abstract #3424; Sunday, December 10 , 6:00 PM EST]

Additional abstracts of note from the meeting are as follows.

Exjade/Jadenu (deferasirox)

Predicting Serum Ferritin Levels in Patients with Iron Overload Treated with the Film-Coated Tablet of Deferasirox During the ECLIPSE Study [Abstract #3508; Monday, December 11 , 6:00 PM EST ]

Jakavi (ruxolitinib)**

Primary Analysis of JUMP, a Phase 3b, Expanded-Access Study Evaluating the Safety and Efficacy of Ruxolitinib in Patients with Myelofibrosis (N = 2233) [Abstract #4204; Monday, December 11 , 6:00 PM EST ]

Results from the 208-Week (4-Year) Follow-Up of Response Trial, a Phase 3 Study Comparing Ruxolitinib (Rux) with Best Available Therapy (BAT) for the Treatment of Polycythemia Vera (PV) [Abstract #322; Sunday, December 10 , 7:30 AM EST ]

Role of Symptom Burden in Disability Leave Among Patients with Myeloproliferative Neoplasms (MPNs): Findings from the Living with MPN Patient Survey [Abstract #1637; Saturday, December 9 , 5:30 PM EST ]

Revolade/Promacta (eltrombopag)***

Occurrence and Management of Cataracts in Patients with Chronic Immune Thrombocytopenia (cITP) During Long-Term Treatment with Eltrombopag (EPAG): Results from the EXTEND Study [Abstract #1053; Saturday, December 9 , 5:30 PM EST ]

Eltrombopag (EPAG) Treatment Improved Platelet Counts in Patients with Persistent or Chronic Immune Thrombocytopenia During a 2-Year, Phase IV, Open-Label Study [Abstract #3628; Monday, December 11 , 6:00 PM EST ]

A Retrospective Chart Review to Assess Burden of Illness Among Patients with Severe Aplastic Anemia with Insufficient Response to Immunosuppressive Therapy [Abstract #678; Monday, December 11 , 10:30 AM EST ]

Product Information

Approved indications for products vary by country and not all indications are available in every country. The product safety and efficacy profiles have not yet been established outside the approved indications. Because of the uncertainty of clinical trials, there is no guarantee that compounds will become commercially available with additional indications.

For full prescribing information, including approved indications and important safety information about marketed products, please visit https://www.novartisoncology.com/news/product-portfolio.

Crizanlizumab, CART-BCMA and CTL119 are investigational compounds. Efficacy and safety have not been established. There is no guarantee these compounds will become commercially available.

Disclaimer

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements can generally be identified by words such as "potential," "can," "will," "plan," "expect," "anticipate," "look forward," "believe," "committed," "investigational," "pipeline," "launch," or similar terms, or by express or implied discussions regarding potential marketing approvals, new indications or labeling for the investigational or approved products described in this press release, or regarding potential future revenues from such products. You should not place undue reliance on these statements. Such forward-looking statements are based on our current beliefs and expectations regarding future events, and are subject to significant known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. There can be no guarantee that the investigational or approved products described in this press release will be submitted or approved for sale or for any additional indications or labeling in any market, or at any particular time. Nor can there be any guarantee that such products will be commercially successful in the future. In particular, our expectations regarding such products could be affected by, among other things, the uncertainties inherent in research and development, including clinical trial results and additional analysis of existing clinical data; regulatory actions or delays or government regulation generally; our ability to obtain or maintain proprietary intellectual property protection; the particular prescribing preferences of physicians and patients; global trends toward health care cost containment, including government, payor and general public pricing and reimbursement pressures; general economic and industry conditions, including the effects of the persistently weak economic and financial environment in many countries; safety, quality or manufacturing issues, and other risks and factors referred to in Novartis AG's current Form 20-F on file with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. Novartis is providing the information in this press release as of this date and does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this press release as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

About Novartis

Located in East Hanover, NJ Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation is an affiliate of Novartis which provides innovative healthcare solutions that address the evolving needs of patients and societies. Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Novartis offers a diversified portfolio to best meet these needs: innovative medicines, cost-saving generic and biosimilar pharmaceuticals and eye care. Novartis has leading positions globally in each of these areas. In 2016, the Group achieved net sales of USD 48.5 billion, while R&D throughout the Group amounted to approximately USD 9.0 billion. Novartis Group companies employ approximately 121,000 full-time-equivalent associates. Novartis products are sold in approximately 155 countries around the world. For more information, please visit http://www.novartis.com.

Novartis is on Twitter. Sign up to follow @Novartis at http://twitter.com/novartis and @Novartis Cancer at http://twitter.com/novartiscancer

For Novartis multimedia content, please visit www.novartis.com/news/media-library

For questions about the site or required registration, please contact [email protected]

* Novartis and the University of Pennsylvania's Perelman School of Medicine (Penn) have a global collaboration to research, develop and commercialize chimeric antigen receptor T cell (CAR-T) therapies for the investigational treatment of cancers.

** Jakavi is a registered trademark of Novartis AG in countries outside the United States. Jakafi is a registered trademark of Incyte Corporation. Novartis licensed ruxolitinib from Incyte Corporation for development and commercialization outside the United States.

*** Marketed as Promacta in the United States and as Revolade outside the United States.

Novartis Media Relations

Central media line: +41 61 324 2200

E-mail: [email protected]





Eric Althoff Novartis Global Media Relations +41 61 324 7999 (direct) +41 79 593 4202 (mobile) [email protected] Michael Billings Novartis Oncology Communications +1 862 778 8656 (direct) +1 201 400 1854 (mobile) [email protected]

SOURCE Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation

Related Links

http://www.pharma.novartis.com


Kendallville, IN (46755)

Today

Cloudy with snow showers developing during the afternoon. High near 35F. Winds WSW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of snow 50%..

Tonight

Variable clouds with snow showers. Low 29F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 60%. About one inch of snow expected.
CHICAGO, Nov. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Citizens United for Research in Epilepsy (CURE) and the Epilepsy Foundation are joining forces with a power player in the Broadway community this November to raise critically-needed funding for epilepsy research. Officially launching November 1 for National Epilepsy Awareness Month, the "My Shot at Epilepsy Challenge" is an awareness and fundraising campaign inspired by the song "My Shot" from the hit musical HAMILTON. Created by Miguel Cervantesstar of the Chicago productionand his wife Kelly, a CURE board member, the My Shot at Epilepsy Challenge proceeds will directly fund epilepsy research.

Miguel and Kelly are driven to fight for a cure because of a deeply moving personal connection to the cause. Their daughter Adelaide suffers from a severe and incurable form of epilepsy known as infantile spasms, the cause of which remains unknown.

"It breaks my heart when I look into my daughter's eyes and know there is not yet a cure that can help her," says performer and activist Miguel Cervantes. "That's why I'm inviting everyone to join me this National Epilepsy Awareness Month in a vital campaign to help raise awareness and funds for a cure."

Through the "My Shot at Epilepsy Challenge", Miguel is urging the public to follow three steps:

Take Your Shot- Take a still photo or video striking the "My Shot pose" (arm raised in the air, with index finger pointing up) Donate- Make a donation at MyShotAtEpilepsy.org Share- Post "shots" on social media, using the hashtag #MyShotAtEpilepsy, tag friends and challenge them to participate and donate within 24 hours

"Millions of Americans are living with epilepsy," says Susan Axelrod, Founding Chair of CURE. "This places an immense burden on these individuals, their families and society as a whole. The need to advance research efforts in this field is urgent and long overdue. We are so grateful to the Cervantes family for sharing their family's story to help all who struggle."

Epilepsy is a disease with a wide spectrum of severity. More than 3.4 million Americans, 470,000 of them children, have epilepsy. For some, it has minimal impact on daily life, but for more than a million patients, many with seizures that cannot be controlled with existing treatments, epilepsy can have significant lifelong impact on the ability to live independently and even on life expectancy. Epilepsy impacts 43% more people than Parkinson's, Multiple Sclerosis, Muscular Dystrophy, and Cerebral Palsy combined. Yet NIH funding is 60% less than funding for these other neurological diseases combined.

"This is an exciting time where advances in scientific research appear more promising. The 'My Shot at Epilepsy Challenge' is a great opportunity to raise awareness and promote understanding," says Kate Carr, CEO of CURE. "Many, whose lives are not touched, do not understand the severity and impact of this disease. We hope that this campaign will help bring attention and funds to this cause and help advance the search for answers that can transform and save lives."

"Seizures in approximately one-third of individuals with epilepsy continue to be uncontrolled today  with no significant difference in patient outcomes in over 50 years," says Philip Gattone, President and CEO of the Epilepsy Foundation. "That means, every year, millions of individuals and families suffer devastating impact, including the immeasurable pain of thousands of lives lost. Through the 'My Shot at Epilepsy Challenge', Miguel and Kelly Cervantes courageously offer new hope and inspiration that by coming together, we will discover new therapies and research that will end epilepsy once and for all."

About CURE  Citizens United for Research in Epilepsy (CURE) is the leading nongovernmental agency fully committed to funding research in epilepsy. It was founded by Susan Axelrod and a small group of parents of children with epilepsy who were frustrated with their inability to protect their children from seizures and the side effects of medications. CURE is dedicated to the goal of "No seizures. No side effects. End epilepsy." CURE works relentlessly to find a cure for epilepsy by raising funds for research and by increasing awareness of the prevalence and devastation of this disease. CURE has the distinction of being a 4-star charity on Charity Navigator, the highest award, recognizing sound fiscal management and commitment to accountability and transparency. For more information on CURE, please visit www.CUREepilepsy.org

About the Epilepsy Foundation  The Epilepsy Foundation, a national non-profit with over 50 local organizations throughout the U.S., has led the fight against seizures since 1968. The Foundation is an unwavering ally for individuals and families impacted by epilepsy and seizures. The mission of the Epilepsy Foundation is: to lead the fight to overcome the challenges of living with epilepsy and to accelerate therapies to stop seizures, find cures, and save lives. The Foundation works to ensure that people with seizures have the opportunity to live their lives to their fullest potential. For additional information, please visit epilepsy.com. The Epilepsy Foundation's SUDEP Institute works to prevent Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP) and support people confronting the fear and loss caused by SUDEP. (www.epilepsy.com)

SOURCE Citizens United for Research in Epilepsy (CURE)

Related Links

http://www.CUREepilepsy.org


PROVO, Utah, Nov. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Nu Skin Enterprises, Inc. (NYSE: NUS) today announced its board of directors has declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.36 per share, which will be paid on Dec. 6, 2017 to shareholders of record on Nov. 17, 2017.

About Nu Skin Enterprises, Inc.

Founded more than 30 years ago, Nu Skin Enterprises, Inc. develops and distributes innovative consumer products, offering a comprehensive line of premium-quality beauty and wellness solutions. The company builds upon its scientific expertise in both skin care and nutrition to continually develop innovative product brands that include the Nu Skin personal care brand, the Pharmanex nutrition brand, and most recently, the ageLOC anti-aging brand. The ageLOC brand has generated a loyal following for such products as the ageLOC Youth nutritional supplement, the ageLOC Me customized skin care system, as well as the ageLOC TR90 weight management and body shaping system. Nu Skin sells its products through a global network of sales leaders in Asia, the Americas, Europe, Africa and the Pacific. As a long-standing member of direct selling associations globally, Nu Skin is committed to the industry's consumer guidelines that protect and support those who sell and purchase its products through the direct selling channel. Nu Skin is also traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "NUS." More information is available at nuskin.com.

Nu Skin Social Media Channels

fb.com/nuskin twitter.com/nuskin instagram.com/nuskin

SOURCE Nu Skin Enterprises, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.nuskinenterprises.com


BURLINGTON, Vt. and DALLAS, Nov. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- OpenTempo and the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center's Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Management announced today that they have expanded their partnership as UT Southwestern will implement OpenTempo's Clinical Workforce Analytics solution: OpenTempo Insights. OpenTempo Insights brings together workforce data from across the healthcare enterprise to inform staffing and capacity management strategies and day-to-day staffing decisions. With OpenTempo Insights, UT Southwestern will leverage clinician productivity and compensation management tools to analyze the utilization, cost, and production of their Anesthesiology and Pain Management team members. Further, UT Southwestern will become an Advisory Customer for OpenTempo, providing strategic guidance and input as OpenTempo evolves its analytics and clinical capacity management platform.

"As the nation's third largest academic anesthesia practice, we have to perform exceptionally today while also evolving our department to anticipate the challenges we expect to face in the future. This means proactively managing our clinical staffing practices ahead of the growing patient care and financial demands we have to meet," said Charles W. Whitten, M.D., Chair of the Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Management at UT Southwestern. "Better data and predictive analytics will inform how we measure and manage our staff and will help us build on the high levels of quality and efficiency we already achieve."

"We will work with UT Southwestern to support their ability to flex staffing and capacity requirements against expected demand," said Andy Comeau, CEO of OpenTempo. "As financial pressures and clinician shortages impact health systems nationwide, UT Southwestern is ahead of the market in using analytics to proactively balance clinical coverage requirements against cost and productivity. We are grateful to have the opportunity to partner with them and learn with them in that effort."

About OpenTempo

The leader in clinical capacity and workforce management solutions, OpenTempo provides healthcare organizations with enterprise scheduling and productivity tracking tools, advanced workforce analytics, and supporting services to align their clinical staffing approach with the evolving demand for patient care services. OpenTempo works with health systems and leading academic medical centers nationwide to optimize clinical workforce productivity, improve service line efficiency through better staff scheduling, and increase clinician satisfaction with greater transparency into their work assignments.

SOURCE OpenTempo

Related Links

http://www.opentempo.com


PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- EDUCAUSE -- Empowering higher education institutions with the data-driven intelligence and tools they need to deliver a personalized, modern student experience, Oracle today announced Oracle Student Management as the newest entry in the Oracle Student Cloud suite. Enhancing the traditional capabilities of student information systems (SIS), the offering transforms the student experience with new capabilities for student recruiting, engagement, support and management. With powerful built-in Artificial Intelligence (AI), machine-learning and predictive analytics, Oracle Student Management can proactively anticipate student needs, monitor progress and make suggestions when students appear to be at-risk or going off course.

"With the introduction of adaptive intelligence in the new Oracle Student Management module in Oracle Student Cloud, Oracle is bringing higher education out of the shadows and into the main stage," said Nicole Engelbert, director of research and analysis, Ovum. "For institutions looking to upgrade their student information systems, Oracle Student Cloud provides a comprehensive student experience throughout the student lifecycle, from recruiting through graduation. This solution will enable the institution to promote student success, as they improve retention and graduation rates. "

Two decades ago, most schools built the SIS infrastructure around transactions, such as registration and enrollment. Today, there is a pressing need to collect and use data to understand students and create more productive, meaningful and lasting relationships with them. Modern student cloud solutions must re-imagine the student journey to meet current expectations across the entire student lifecycle. Using the right tools, institutions will be able to anticipate the needs of their students and illuminate the right path to empower them to succeed.

"The higher education experience is transforming overall  from what students expect, to how they are pursuing their learning goals," said Vivian Wong, Oracle's group vice president of Higher Education Development. "As such, colleges and universities need to be more flexible, agile and responsive in their approach  meeting student expectations across new channels and modes of communication. This will require new intelligence and tools to help students carve their own unique path and find success. Oracle Student Cloud was built around this modern mentality and geared to help schools and their students succeed together."

Architected from the ground up as a student-centric offering, Oracle Student Management will initially support a Continuing Education business model with subsequent updates providing the full spectrum of support for traditional models. This first release allows students to use any mobile device or personal computer to easily:

Self-create an account: no waiting on paperwork or administrator data entry, students can create an account, find learning and enroll all in one sitting.

no waiting on paperwork or administrator data entry, students can create an account, find learning and enroll all in one sitting. Find learning opportunities (e.g., courses) using modern search paradigms: from intelligent type-ahead searching to curated postings like trending and highlighted courses to the use of configurable facets and filters to narrow results, students can quickly and easily find their way to just the right class.

from intelligent type-ahead searching to curated postings like trending and highlighted courses to the use of configurable facets and filters to narrow results, students can quickly and easily find their way to just the right class. Enroll and Pay-as-They-Go: with a streamlined business process and point and click interface, students can quickly progress through finding their class (including the number of open seats), adding it to their cart, and paying for it. Students get quick access to the learning they need, and institutions instantly see the status of enrollments and the financial viability of offerings.

with a streamlined business process and point and click interface, students can quickly progress through finding their class (including the number of open seats), adding it to their cart, and paying for it. Students get quick access to the learning they need, and institutions instantly see the status of enrollments and the financial viability of offerings. View Courses: with one click access, students can view their current courses, either in a filterable List View or with Course Cards that provide additional details like meeting times, credits, location (with embedded mapping) and a more at-a-glance format.

with one click access, students can view their current courses, either in a filterable List View or with Course Cards that provide additional details like meeting times, credits, location (with embedded mapping) and a more at-a-glance format. Manage Finances: students can monitor their financial situation with on-demand access to view and manage their individual account.

With the addition of Oracle Student Management, Oracle Student Cloud enables higher education institutions to interact with students at all stages of the student lifecycle, including optimizing:

Student Engagement: personalize the student journey by delivering relevant, targeted, cross-channel outreach and engagement, deepen social interactions, deliver content in context to targeted audience segments, and demonstrate marketing's impact on the institution's goals.

personalize the student journey by delivering relevant, targeted, cross-channel outreach and engagement, deepen social interactions, deliver content in context to targeted audience segments, and demonstrate marketing's impact on the institution's goals. Student Recruiting: meet enrollment goals by boosting pipeline and improving forecasting, managing recruiters and their territories, driving recruiting results with complete mobility, and optimizing recruiting performance with powerful analytics.

meet enrollment goals by boosting pipeline and improving forecasting, managing recruiters and their territories, driving recruiting results with complete mobility, and optimizing recruiting performance with powerful analytics. Student Support: deliver the best, fastest resolution by guiding the student's personal journey based on their needs, empowering students with mobile-friendly web self-service, knowledge, and social tools, adapting support processes to meet student's rising expectations and changing behaviors, and reduce support costs through improved productivity.

New solutions for Student Financial Aid, Student Success, and Advancement are planned for Oracle Student Cloud in the near future. Enabling institutions to reduce cost and complexity with a truly end-to-end system, Oracle Student Cloud also integrates seamlessly with other Oracle Cloud solutions, including Oracle HCM Cloud and Oracle Financials Cloud. From managing employees and assigning instructors to classes, to managing students' accounts and providing easy payment processing during the enrollment process, these solutions work together to provide users all the tools they need to better serve the needs of students and administrators.

Additional Resources

See a demo of Oracle Student Cloud in action at Educause booth #901.

About Oracle

The Oracle Cloud offers complete SaaS application suites for ERP, HCM and CX, plus best-in-class database Platform as a Service (PaaS) and Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) from data centers throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia. For more information about Oracle (NYSE:ORCL), please visit us at oracle.com.

Trademarks

Oracle and Java are registered trademarks of Oracle and/or its affiliates. Other names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

SOURCE Oracle

Related Links

http://www.oracle.com


NEW YORK, TORONTO and TEL AVIV, Israel, Nov. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- OTC Markets Group Inc. (OTCQX: OTCM), operator of financial markets for 10,000 U.S. and global securities, and the Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE), a leading Canadian listing exchange recognized as a Qualified Foreign Exchange in the U.S., announce program agendas for their strategic marketing initiative to be held November 7-8, 2017 at the Carlton, Tel Aviv on the Beach, Israel.

This unique two-day event, hosted in cooperation with Israel Advanced Technology Industries, is especially designed to provide a comprehensive overview of trading, cross-listings and capital raising options for the diverse universe of established TASE-listed companies as well as those comprising Israel's portfolio of early-stage, growth-oriented, innovative and entrepreneurial companies. The two-day program will conclude with complimentary access to a special cocktail reception and networking opportunity to be held on the evening of November 8 from 6pm  8pm at the Carlton Tel Aviv on the Beach, Israel.

On Tuesday, November 7, 2017, OTC Markets Group, the CSE and OTC Israel will conduct a workshop designed to help simplify the process of accessing the deep pool of U.S. investors. Hosted in cooperation with Israel Advanced Technology Industries, this event is designed to help TASE listed companies further enhance their presence in the U.S. market through secondary trading on the OTCQX or OTCQB Markets. The event concludes with a networking session and the opportunity to ask questions of our distinguished panel of securities and industry experts available to help your company gain exposure and access new investors and capital in the U.S.--the world's largest financial market.

9:05 - 9:15 am

Speaker: Jason Paltrowitz, EVP Corporate Service, OTC Markets Group "Secondary Trading on OTCQX and OTCQB"

9:15 - 9:25 am

Speaker: Richard Carleton, CEO, Canadian Securities Exchange "The Benefits of Cross-Listing on OTC: US Investors + Enhanced Local Market Liquidity"

9:25 - 10:45 am

Panel Discussion: Industry experts discuss the benefits and process of secondary trading, touching upon compliance, regulatory requirements, investor relations, costs and considerations related to cross-trading in the U.S.

Jason Paltrowitz , EVP, OTC Markets Group

Richard Carleton , CEO, Canadian Securities Exchange

Will Manuel , Director, Edison Group

David Aboudi , Senior Partner, Pearl Cohen Zedek

David Danziger , CPA, CA, Senior Vice President, Assurance & National Leader Public Companies, MNP

Click here for a complete program agenda and to RSVP

On Wednesday, November 8, 2017, OTC Markets Group, the CSE and OTC Israel will conduct a program designed to help simplify the process of going public in North America. The breakfast event, hosted in cooperation with Israel Advanced Technology Industries, is tailor made for Israel's innovative start-up community, early-stage and emerging-growth companies interested in learning more about capital raising via an IPO in Canada, building their North American brand and gaining secondary access via trading on OTCQX or OTCQB to reach a vast pool of new investors and funding in the world's largest U.S. financial markets. Following the panel discussion program there will be opportunities to network, enhance your knowledge and ask questions of our team of industry experts.

9:05 - 9:15 am

Speaker: Richard Carleton, CEO, Canadian Securities Exchange "Overview of the CSE and the Canadian IPO Market"

9:15 - 9:25 am

Speaker: Jason Paltrowitz, EVP Corporate Services, OTC Markets Group "Secondary Trading on OTCQX and OTCQB"

9:25 -10:45 am

Panel Discussion: Industry experts discuss the benefits associated with raising capital, the IPO process and establishing a U.S. footprint for secondary trading. This program will provide a first-hand look from a compliance, legal, regulatory and cost perspective.

Richard Carleton , CEO, Canadian Securities Exchange

Jason Paltrowitz , EVP, OTC Markets Group

Bernard Pinsky , Clark Wilson LLP

David Danziger , CPA, CA, Senior Vice President, Assurance & National Leader Public Companies, MNP

Click here for a complete program agenda and to RSVP

About the CSE

The Canadian Securities Exchange is home to more than 300 issuers covering a broad range of industry sectors. Recognized as an exchange by the Ontario Securities Commission in 2004, the CSE facilitates the capital formation process for public companies through a streamlined approach to company regulation that emphasizes disclosure and the provision of efficient secondary market trading services for investors.

About OTC Markets Group Inc.

OTC Markets Group Inc. (OTCQX: OTCM) operates the OTCQX Best Market, the OTCQB Venture Market, and the Pink Open Market for 10,000 U.S. and global securities. Through OTC Link ATS, we connect a diverse network of broker-dealers that provide liquidity and execution services. We enable investors to easily trade through the broker of their choice and empower companies to improve the quality of information available for investors.

To learn more about how we create better informed and more efficient markets, visit www.otcmarkets.com .

OTC Link ATS is operated by OTC Link LLC, member FINRA/SIPC and SEC regulated ATS.

Subscribe to the OTC Markets RSS Feed

Media Contacts:

Richard Carleton

Chief Executive Officer

CSE | Canadian Securities Exchange

D (416) 367-7360

M (416) 528-1257

[email protected]

OTC Markets Group Inc.

+1 (212) 896-4428

[email protected]

Chris King, Senior Vice President of Corporate Services

OTC Markets Group

T +1 (212) 896-4459

[email protected]

OTC Israel

Joseph Alon

T +972-522-800-750

[email protected]

SOURCE OTC Markets Group Inc.

Related Links

http://www.otcmarkets.com


NEW YORK, Nov. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Paradigm for Parity coalition announced today that 60 CEOs from leading companies, including Anthem, Hershey, MassMutual, United Technologies and Walmart have committed to achieving gender parity in leadership levels by 2030. Today's news more than doubles the membership of Paradigm for Parity, a volunteer-run organization of business leaders, former CEOs and executives, all of whom are committed to implementing the coalition's 5-Point Action plan to level the playing field for women in the corporate world. As we approach the anniversary of the organization's launch in December 2016 with 27 companies, Paradigm for Parity, now with 60 companies, has seen a fast pace of growth, representing more than four million employees worldwide.

"We applaud these 60 companies for stepping up and making the changes needed to promote women and better business outcomes," said Ellen Kullman, Co-Chair of the Paradigm for Parity coalition. "To ensure women have equal representation in the C-suite and shared opportunities to become corporate leaders, we created the Paradigm for Parity action plan to equip companies with an actionable roadmap to meet their diversity goals. We look forward to building on this progress and working with even more companies to turn their diversity goals into business realities."

"Pledging to the Paradigm for Parity movement is a natural extension of our efforts to advance diversity and inclusion and to ensure we do what's right for our customers, our workforce, and our communities," said Roger Crandall, Chairman, President and CEO of MassMutual. "By seeking and valuing diverse perspectives and advocating for fairness, equality and inclusion, we are fostering a progressive, innovative culture that enables us to achieve our purpose of helping people secure their future and protecting the ones they love."

"UTC is committed to the advancement of women in leadership positions  and we are proud to join the Paradigm for Parity Coalition to put this commitment into action," said Greg Hayes, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of United Technologies Corporation.

"As a company that is committed to helping people live their best lives, Thrive Global is proud to join the Paradigm for Parity to ensure women have equal access and opportunity to reach corporate leadership," said Arianna Huffington, Founder and CEO of Thrive Global. "We know diverse and inclusive businesses perform better and we look forward to working with Paradigm for Parity to bring more women into the c-suite."

"Creating opportunity for all of our associates is one of Walmart's guiding principles, and that's why we took the Paradigm for Parity pledgeto continue to ensure that women succeed at all levels of leadership. With more than one million women working for Walmart across the world, their success is vital to our future. The Paradigm for Parity action plan will help us accelerate the important work already underway that makes Walmart a great place for everyone to work," said Jacqui Canney, Executive Vice President, Global People Division of Walmart.

Data show that companies that have a strong representation of women in leadership levels have better business outcomes than those that do not have a diverse leadership. In fact, companies that are more diverse are 15% more likely to have financial returns above their industry averages, according to research from McKinsey & Company. Additionally, companies with 50% women in senior operating roles show 19% higher return on equity (ROE) on average, according to Credit Suisse.

Launched in December 2016 by a diverse group of current and former women CEOS and business leaders, Paradigm for Parity is committed to working with companies and executives to achieve a new norm in corporate leadership: one in which women and men have equal power, status and opportunity. The coalition created a 5-Point Action Plan comprised of synergistic steps that, when implemented together, will catalyze change and enable substantial progress towards gender parity by 2030.

The five points are:

Eliminating or minimizing unconscious bias in the workplace;

Significantly increasing the number of women in senior operating roles, with the near-term goal of at least 30% representation in all leadership groups;

Measuring targets and maintaining accountability by providing regular progress reports;

Basing career progress on business results and performance, rather than physical presence in the office; and

Providing sponsors, not just mentors, to women well positioned for long term success.

CEOs from the following 60 companies have committed to achieve gender parity in corporate leadership: 72andSunny, Accenture, Adecco Group, ALOM, American Electric Power, Anthem, Inc., APCO Worldwide, Association of Latino Professionals for America (ALPFA), AstraZeneca, Bank of America, Bloomberg, Broadway Angels, Burson Marsteller, Cargill, Co: Collective, Coca-Cola, DSC Logistics, Eastman Chemical Company, Edison International, Egon Zehnder, Ernst & Young, Equinix, Farient Advisors, First Source, LLC, Frontier Communications, HealthHelp, Heidrick & Struggles, Henry Schein, Inc., Hershey, Huffington Post, Ingersoll Rand, KeyCorp, Lieberman Research Worldwide, Linkage, LinkedIn, Manpower Group, MassMutual, McKinsey & Company, Meredith Corporation, MetricStream, Monsanto, NeoGenomics, Newmont Mining Corp., Nordstrom, Out & Equal, The Perkins Fund, Principal, Project Glimmer, Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, SAP, Skillsoft, Spencer Stuart, Synchrony Financial, TDIndustries, Inc., Thrive Global, United Technologies, VF Corporation, Voya Financial, Walmart and Willis Towers Watson.

About the Paradigm for Parity Movement

The Paradigm for Parity coalition is composed of CEOs, senior executives, founders, board members and business academics who are committed to achieving a new norm in corporate leadership: one in which women and men have equal power, status, and opportunity.

The coalition created the Paradigm for Parity 5-Point Action Plan for corporations to accelerate the pace of gender equity in senior executive roles. This unique agenda defines bold and specific actions that, taken together and simultaneously implemented as a package, will catalyze change and enable today's business executives to secure the best leaders of tomorrow. Visit www.paradigm4parity.com or follow us on Twitter using @p4parity to learn more about this exciting initiative.

SOURCE Paradigm for Parity

Related Links

https://www.paradigm4parity.com/


HOUSTON, Nov. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Parker Drilling Company (NYSE: PKD) today announced results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2017, including a reported net loss available to common stockholders of $21.2 million, or a $0.15 loss per common share, on revenues of $118.3 million.

Third quarter Adjusted EBITDA was $23.2 million.

"Parker delivered strong third quarter results led by our U.S. Rental Tools segment, which saw a 20.2 percent sequential increase in revenues and a 43.1 percent increase in gross margin for the quarter," said Gary Rich, the Company's Chairman, President and CEO. "This represents the fourth consecutive quarter our U.S. rental tools business has far outpaced the growth in the U.S. rig count, which was up roughly 6 percent during the quarter.

"Internationally, we are encouraged by the emerging recovery in global activities. Our International rentals revenues rose 7.7 percent sequentially with a 35 percent increase in gross margin. Our International & Alaska Drilling segment revenues increased 3.3 percent sequentially with a 33.3 percent increase in gross margin, reflecting a continued focus on efficiency and cost management.

"I believe the third quarter results attest to our discipline in managing our business in a tough environment," concluded Mr. Rich.

Third Quarter Review

Parker Drilling's revenues for the 2017 third quarter, compared with the 2017 second quarter, increased 7.9 percent to $118.3 million from $109.6 million. Operating gross margin excluding depreciation and amortization expense (gross margin) increased 51.0 percent to $30.2 million from $20.0 million and gross margin as a percentage of revenues was 25.5 percent, compared with 18.2 percent for the 2017 second quarter.

Drilling Services

For the Company's Drilling Services business, which is comprised of the U.S. (Lower 48) Drilling and International & Alaska Drilling segments, third quarter revenues increased 2.4 percent to $67.3 million from $65.7 million for the 2017 second quarter. Gross margin increased 45.1 percent to $11.9 million from $8.2 million, and gross margin as a percentage of revenues was 17.7 percent, compared with 12.5 percent for the prior period. Contracted backlog was $257 million at the end of the third quarter compared to $289 million at the end of the second quarter.

U.S. (Lower 48) Drilling

U.S. (Lower 48) Drilling segment revenues decreased $0.4 million to $4.6 million from $5.0 million for the 2017 second quarter. Gross margin improved 50.0 percent to a $0.5 million loss from a loss of $1.0 million for the 2017 second quarter. The decrease in revenues was due to lower utilization and slightly lower day rates. Gross margin was up primarily as a result of lower operating expenses associated with lower rig utilization, an increase in standby days, and a favorable adjustment to workers' compensation reserves.

International & Alaska Drilling

International & Alaska Drilling segment revenues increased 3.3 percent to $62.7 million from $60.7 million in the 2017 second quarter. Gross margin was $12.4 million, a 33.3 percent increase from 2017 second quarter gross margin of $9.3 million. The increases in revenues and gross margin were primarily due to higher earnings from our joint venture in Kazakhstan, mobilization of our rig in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and increased earnings on our O&M activities.

Rental Tools Services

For the Company's Rental Tools Services business, which is comprised of the U.S. Rental Tools and International Rental Tools segments, third quarter revenues increased 16.2 percent to $51.0 million from $43.9 million for the 2017 second quarter. Gross margin increased 56.4 percent to $18.3 million from $11.7 million, and gross margin as a percentage of revenues was 35.9 percent compared with 26.7 percent for the prior period.

U.S. Rental Tools

U.S. Rental Tools segment revenues increased 20.2 percent to $35.7 million, from $29.7 million for the 2017 second quarter. Gross margin increased 43.1 percent to $19.6 million from $13.7 million for the 2017 second quarter. The increases in revenues and gross margin were driven by increased U.S. land drilling activity, higher completion activity in the Gulf of Mexico and select price increases.

International Rental Tools

International Rental Tools segment revenues increased 7.7 percent to $15.3 million from $14.2 million for the 2017 second quarter. Gross margin improved 35.0 percent to a $1.3 million loss from a $2.0 million loss for the 2017 second quarter. The increase in revenues was attributable to increased tubular running services in the Middle East and increased rentals in Europe, partially offset by reduced fishing services activity in India. Gross margin improvement was due to increased activity and lower payroll taxes and benefits.

Consolidated

General and Administrative expenses were $7.0 million for the 2017 third quarter, up from $6.5 million for the 2017 second quarter. The increase was primarily due to incentive compensation adjustments during the 2017 second quarter.

Capital expenditures in the third quarter were $18.2 million, and year-to-date through September 30, 2017 were $44.8 million.

Conference Call

Parker Drilling has scheduled a conference call for 10:00 a.m. Central Time (11:00 a.m. Eastern Time) on Thursday, November 2, 2017, to review third quarter results. The call will be available by telephone by dialing (+1) (412) 902-0003 and asking for the Parker Drilling Third Quarter Conference Call. The call can also be accessed through the Investor Relations section of the Company's website. A replay of the call can be accessed on the Company's website for 12 months and will be available by telephone through November 9, 2017 at (+1) (201) 612-7415, conference ID 13671916#.

Cautionary Statement

This press release contains certain statements that may be deemed to be "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. All statements in this press release other than statements of historical facts addressing activities, events or developments the Company expects, projects, believes, or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements about anticipated future financial or operational results; the outlook for rental tools utilization and rig utilization and dayrates; the results of past capital expenditures; scheduled start-ups of rigs; general industry conditions such as the demand for drilling and the factors affecting demand; competitive advantages such as technological innovation; future operating results of the Company's rigs, rental tools operations and projects under management; future capital expenditures; expansion and growth opportunities; acquisitions or joint ventures; asset purchases and sales; successful negotiation and execution of contracts; scheduled delivery of drilling rigs or rental equipment for operation; the Company's financial position; changes in utilization or market share; outcomes of legal proceedings; compliance with credit facility and indenture covenants; and similar matters. These statements are based on certain assumptions made by the Company based on management's experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions, anticipated future developments and other factors believed to be appropriate. Although the Company believes its expectations stated in this press release are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are subject to a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, that could cause actual results to differ materially from those implied or expressed by the forward-looking statements. These include risks relating to changes in worldwide economic and business conditions, fluctuations in oil and natural gas prices, compliance with existing laws and changes in laws or government regulations, the failure to realize the benefits of, and other risks relating to, acquisitions, the risk of cost overruns, our ability to refinance our debt and other important factors, many of which could adversely affect market conditions, demand for our services, and costs, and all or any one of which could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. For more information, see "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report filed on Form 10-K with the Securities and Exchange Commission and other public filings and press releases. Each forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of this press release and the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

This news release contains non-GAAP financial measures as defined by SEC Regulation G. A reconciliation of each such measure to its most directly comparable U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) financial measure, together with an explanation of why management believes that these non-GAAP financial measures provide useful information to investors, is provided in the following tables.

Company Description

Parker Drilling provides drilling services and rental tools to the energy industry. The Company's Drilling Services business serves operators in the inland waters of the U.S. Gulf of Mexico utilizing Parker Drilling's barge rig fleet and in select U.S. and international markets and harsh-environment regions utilizing Parker-owned and customer-owned equipment. The Company's Rental Tools Services business supplies premium equipment and well services to operators on land and offshore in the U.S. and international markets. More information about Parker Drilling can be found on the Company's website at www.parkerdrilling.com.

Contact: Jason Geach, Vice President, Investor Relations & Corporate Development, (+1) (281) 406-2310, [email protected].





PARKER DRILLING COMPANY Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets (Dollars in Thousands)









September 30, 2017

December 31, 2016

(Unaudited)



ASSETS:





Current Assets





Cash and Cash Equivalents $ 121,039



$ 119,691

Accounts and Notes Receivable, net 128,234



113,231

Rig Materials and Supplies 34,312



32,354

Other Current Assets 26,405



21,042

Total Current Assets 309,990



286,318









Property, Plant and Equipment, net 647,193



693,439









Other Assets





Deferred Income Taxes 81,606



70,309

Other Assets 47,641



53,485

Total Other Assets 129,247



123,794









Total Assets $ 1,086,430



$ 1,103,551









LIABILITIES & STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:





Current Liabilities





Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities $ 91,388



$ 102,921

Total Current Liabilities 91,388



102,921









Long-Term Debt, net of debt issuance costs 577,550



576,326









Deferred Tax Liability 80,015



69,333









Other Long-Term Liabilities 12,921



15,836









Total Stockholders' Equity 324,556



339,135









Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity $ 1,086,430



$ 1,103,551



PARKER DRILLING COMPANY Consolidated Statements Of Operations (Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Data) (Unaudited)









Three Months Ended June 30,

Three Months Ended September 30,



2017

2016

2017











Revenues $ 118,308



$ 97,189



$ 109,607













Expenses:









Operating Expenses 88,120



84,680



89,641

Depreciation and Amortization 30,067



34,474



30,982



118,187



119,154



120,623

Total Operating Gross Margin (Loss) 121



(21,965)



(11,016)













General and Administrative Expense (7,033)



(7,424)



(6,503)

Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Assets, net 97



(187)



(113)

Total Operating Income (Loss) (6,815)



(29,576)



(17,632)













Other Income (Expense)









Interest Expense (11,067)



(11,015)



(11,095)

Interest Income 128



9



22

Other (638)



(351)



560

Total Other Income (Expense) (11,577)



(11,357)



(10,513)













Income (Loss) before Income Taxes (18,392)



(40,933)



(28,145)













Income Tax Expense (Benefit) 1,919



5,295



1,743













Net Income (Loss) (20,311)



(46,228)



(29,888)

Mandatory convertible preferred stock dividend 906







1,239

Net Income (Loss) Available to Common Stockholders $ (21,217)



$ (46,228)



$ (31,127)













Income (Loss) per Common Share - Basic









Net Income (Loss) $ (0.15)



$ (0.37)



$ (0.23)













Income (Loss) per Common Share - Diluted









Net Income (Loss) $ (0.15)



$ (0.37)



$ (0.23)













Number of common shares used in computing earnings per share:









Basic 138,300,015



124,486,848



137,833,318

Diluted 138,300,015



124,486,848



137,833,318



PARKER DRILLING COMPANY Consolidated Statement Of Operations (Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Data) (Unaudited)









Nine Months Ended September 30,

2017

2016







Revenues $ 326,186



$ 332,979









Expenses:





Operating Expenses 263,575



281,992

Depreciation and Amortization 93,251



106,605



356,826



388,597

Total Operating Gross Margin (Loss) (30,640)



(55,618)









General and Administrative Expense (20,576)



(25,200)

Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Assets, net (368)



(249)

Total Operating Income (Loss) (51,584)



(81,067)









Other Income (Expense)





Interest Expense (33,032)



(34,764)

Interest Income 160



48

Other 452



1,776

Total Other Income (Expense) (32,420)



(32,940)









Income (Loss) before Income Taxes (84,004)



(114,007)









Income Tax Expense (Benefit) 6,004



67,878









Net Income (Loss) (90,008)



(181,885)

Mandatory convertible preferred stock dividend 2,145





Net Income (Loss) Available to Common Stockholders $ (92,153)



$ (181,885)









Income (Loss) per Common Share - Basic





Net Income (Loss) $ (0.68)



$ (1.47)









Income (Loss) per Common Share - Diluted





Net Income (Loss) $ (0.68)



$ (1.47)









Number of common shares used in computing earnings per share:





Basic 135,455,168



123,894,980

Diluted 135,455,168



123,894,980



PARKER DRILLING COMPANY Selected Financial Data (Dollars in Thousands) (Unaudited)





































Three Months Ended





September 30,

June 30,





2017

2016

2017















Revenues:











Drilling Services:











U.S. (Lower 48) Drilling

$ 4,585



$ 1,431



$ 5,042

International & Alaska Drilling

62,726



65,307



60,669



Total Drilling Services

67,311



66,738



65,711

Rental Tools Services:











U.S. Rental Tools

$ 35,677



$ 14,967



$ 29,704

International Rental Tools

15,320



15,484



14,192



Total Rental Tools Services

50,997



30,451



43,896



Total Revenues

$ 118,308



$ 97,189



$ 109,607

















Operating Expenses:











Drilling Services:











U.S. (Lower 48) Drilling

$ 5,052



$ 5,112



$ 6,067

International & Alaska Drilling

50,345



51,682



51,404



Total Drilling Services

55,397



56,794



57,471

Rental Tools Services:











U.S. Rental Tools

$ 16,086



$ 10,746



$ 15,973

International Rental Tools

16,637



17,140



16,197



Total Rental Tools Services

32,723



27,886



32,170



Total Operating Expenses

$ 88,120



$ 84,680



$ 89,641

















Operating Gross Margin:











Drilling Services:











U.S. (Lower 48) Drilling

$ (467)



$ (3,681)



$ (1,025)

International & Alaska Drilling

12,381



13,625



9,265



Total Drilling Services

11,914



9,944



8,240

Rental Tools Services:











U.S. Rental Tools

$ 19,591



$ 4,221



$ 13,731

International Rental Tools

(1,317)



(1,656)



(2,005)



Total Rental Tools Services

18,274



2,565



11,726



Total Operating Gross Margin Excluding Depreciation and Amortization

$ 30,188



$ 12,509



$ 19,966

Depreciation and Amortization

(30,067)



(34,474)



(30,982)



Total Operating Gross Margin

121



(21,965)



(11,016)



PARKER DRILLING COMPANY Adjusted EBITDA (1) (Dollars in Thousands) (Unaudited)

























Three Months Ended



September 30,

2017

June 30,

2017

March 31,

2017

December 31,

2016

September 30, 2016





















Net Income (Loss)

$ (20,311)



$ (29,888)



$ (39,809)



$ (48,929)



$ (46,228)

Interest Expense

11,067



11,095



10,870



11,048



11,015

Income Tax Expense (Benefit)

1,919



1,743



2,342



6,292



5,295

Depreciation and Amortization

30,067



30,982



32,202



33,190



34,474























EBITDA

22,742



13,932



5,605



1,601



4,556























Adjustments:



















Other (Income) Expense

510



(582)



(540)



1,399



342

(Gain) Loss on Disposition of Assets, net

(97)



113



352



1,364



187

Special items (2)













876



























Adjusted EBITDA

$ 23,155



$ 13,463



$ 5,417



$ 5,240



$ 5,085



























(1) We believe Adjusted EBITDA is an important measure of operating performance because it allows management, investors and others to evaluate and compare our core operating results from period to period by removing the impact of our capital structure (interest expense from our outstanding debt), asset base (depreciation and amortization), remeasurement of foreign currency transactions, tax consequences, impairment and other special items. Special items include items impacting operating expenses that management believes detract from an understanding of normal operating performance. Management uses Adjusted EBITDA as a supplemental measure to review current period operating performance and period to period comparisons. Our Adjusted EBITDA may not be comparable to a similarly titled measure of another company because other entities may not calculate EBITDA in the same manner. EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are not measures of financial performance under U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), and should not be considered in isolation or as an alternative to operating income or loss, net income or loss, cash flows provided by or used in operating, investing and financing activities, or other income or cash flow statement data prepared in accordance with GAAP.



(2) Special items include: - For the three months ended December 31, 2016, special items include $0.9 million of net severance associated with the departure of three executives.

PARKER DRILLING COMPANY Reconciliation of Adjusted Earnings Per Share (Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Data) (Unaudited)





Three Months Ended





September 30,

June 30,





2017

2016

2017















Net Income (Loss) Available to Common Shareholders

$ (21,217)



$ (46,228)



$ (31,127)

Income (Loss) per Diluted Share

$ (0.15)



$ (0.37)



$ (0.23)

















Adjustments:











Special Items











Total adjustments











Tax effect of adjustments











Net adjustments



























Adjusted Net Income (Loss) Available to Common Shareholders(1)

$ (21,217)



$ (46,228)



$ (31,127)

Adjusted Income (Loss) per Diluted Share (1)

$ (0.15)



$ (0.37)



$ (0.23)



















(1) We believe Adjusted Net Income (Loss) Available to Common Shareholders and Adjusted Income (Loss) per Diluted Share are useful financial measures for investors to assess and understand operating performance for period to period comparisons. Management views the adjustments to Net Income (Loss) Available to Common Shareholders and Income (Loss) per Diluted Share to be items outside of the Company's normal operating results. Adjusted Net Income (Loss) Available to Common Shareholders and Adjusted Income (Loss) per Diluted Share are not measures of financial performance under GAAP, and should not be considered in isolation or as an alternative to Net Income (Loss) Available to Common Shareholders or Income (Loss) per Diluted Share.

SOURCE Parker Drilling Company

Related Links

http://www.parkerdrilling.com


READING, Pa., Nov. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- To help enhance the reliability of its system, Metropolitan Edison Company (Met-Ed), a FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE) utility, will replace or repair about 640 wooden utility poles this year as part of the company's annual inspection program. The poles would stretch nearly five miles if laid end to end.

Overall, Met-Ed will inspect approximately 35,000 of its 342,000 wooden poles in 2017 for signs of wear, insect infestation or damage from motor vehicle accidents, with a budgeted cost of approximately $4.5 million.

"Poles are vital to the delivery of electricity to homes and businesses in our area," said Ed Shuttleworth, regional president, Met-Ed. "While durable, these poles are in the elements 365 days a year and subject to damage from a variety of factors. Over time, some poles need to be replaced or repaired to help maintain our system's safety, reliability and resiliency."

A standard 40-foot wooden distribution pole typically is expected to last more than 50 years. The most common utility pole is made from a Southern Yellow Pine tree and costs about $400.

Typically, specialized contractors perform the pole inspections. As part of the process, a visual inspection is completed, along with checking the pole to determine if the interior is sound. Poles also can be reinforced rather than replaced. One of the most common reinforcement techniques is to snug a C-shaped steel beam against the pole, jackhammer the beam into the ground, and secure it to the pole with tight, metal bands.

All wood distribution poles throughout the 15-county Met-Ed service territory are inspected on a 12-year cycle. Inspections began in July and are continuing, with the remaining replacement and repair work scheduled to be completed during the latter part of the year.

Year-to-date, Met-Ed has inspected approximately 21,000 wooden poles in and around the following communities:

Gettysburg  3,700

 3,700 Hanover  1,900

 1,900 Lebanon  3,030

 3,030 Reading  2,470

 2,470 York  8,055

Dillsburg  1,650

Met-Ed serves approximately 560,000 customers in 15 Pennsylvania counties. Follow Met-Ed on Twitter @Met Ed and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MetEdElectric.

FirstEnergy is dedicated to safety, reliability and operational excellence. Its 10 electric distribution companies form one of the nation's largest investor-owned electric systems, serving customers in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, West Virginia, Maryland and New York. The company's transmission subsidiaries operate more than 24,000 miles of transmission lines that connect the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions. Follow FirstEnergy online at www.firstenergycorp.com and on Twitter: @FirstEnergyCorp.

Editor's Note: Photos of FirstEnergy's pole inspection and repair process are available for download on Flickr.

SOURCE FirstEnergy Corp.

Related Links

http://www.firstenergycorp.com


AKRON, Ohio, Nov. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- To help enhance the reliability of its system, Ohio Edison, a FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE) utility, will replace or repair more than 1,700 wooden utility poles this year as part of the company's annual inspection program. The poles would stretch about 13 miles if laid end to end.

Overall, Ohio Edison will inspect 57,000 of its 561,000 wooden poles in 2017 for signs of wear, insect infestation or damage from motor vehicle accidents, with a budgeted cost of approximately $4.5 million.

"Poles are vital to the delivery of electricity to homes and businesses in our service area," said Kevin Sestak, vice president of Operations, Ohio Edison. "Utility poles are in the elements 365 days a year and subject to damage from severe weather, falling trees and traffic accidents. Over time, some poles need to be replaced to help maintain our system's safety, reliability and resiliency."

Typically, specialized contractors perform the pole inspections. As part of the process, a visual inspection is completed, along with inspecting the pole to determine if the interior is sound. Some poles can be reinforced rather than replaced. One of the most common reinforcement techniques is to snug a C-shaped steel beam against the pole, jackhammer the beam into the ground, and secure it to the pole with tight, metal bands.

All wooden poles throughout the 34-county Ohio Edison territory are inspected on a 10-year cycle. The inspections began in January and continue throughout the year, with pole replacements and repairs scheduled to be completed during the fall.

Year-to-date, more than 45,000 wooden poles have been inspected in the Youngstown/Warren, Mansfield/Marion, Springfield, Sandusky/Norwalk and Lorain/Elyria areas. The remaining poles to be inspected include:

Akron  4,800

 4,800 Kent/ Macedonia  5,300

 5,300 Massillon  1,600

 1,600 Medina  235

Ohio Edison serves more than 1 million customers across 34 Ohio counties. Follow Ohio Edison on Twitter @OhioEdison and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/OhioEdison.

FirstEnergy is dedicated to safety, reliability and operational excellence. Its 10 electric distribution companies form one of the nation's largest investor-owned electric systems, serving customers in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, West Virginia, Maryland and New York. The company's transmission subsidiaries operate more than 24,000 miles of transmission lines that connect the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions. Follow FirstEnergy online at www.firstenergycorp.com. Follow FirstEnergy on Twitter @FirstEnergyCorp.

Editor's Note: Photos of FirstEnergy's pole inspection and repair process are available for download on Flickr.

SOURCE FirstEnergy Corp.

Related Links

http://www.firstenergycorp.com


SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Nov. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Primp and Blow, a luxury beauty services company, has awarded the Houston market to Mark and Mary Headberg. As our Area Representatives, their responsibilities will entail building out the territory. They will identify, qualify, train and assist franchisees to open and operate 17 new Primp and Blow franchised locations in the Houston and southeast Texas area.

Mary and Mark always wanted to work for themselves and grow businesses. An opportunity presented itself about seven years ago when Mary and Mark learned about the European Wax Center. They bought two franchises in League City, Texas and Pasadena, Texas that have been successful and enjoyable to oversee.

When Primp and Blow approached Mary and Mark to help grow the brand in Houston, they couldn't say no. It was a natural fit for their background, interests and passions.

They wanted to help other potential P&B franchisees by being area representatives for the Houston and southeast Texas region and sharing their knowledge and expertise in business.

They are not the only ones experiencing great enthusiasm over their new role. "I am excited to have Mark and Mary as our Houston Area Representatives," said Melodi Harmon, CEO and founder of Primp and Blow. "They are a smart, fun and talented business couple."

Primp and Blow offers primping services on a signature menu that includes shampoo blowouts, full-face makeup application, natural hair extensions, event lashes, and bridal party beauty services. Experienced stylists on the professional and talented team help customers feel and look their best. The company offers monthly memberships for its services and carries top-of-the-line hair and makeup products. Comfortable, boutique-style locations offer unique amenities such as digital magazines, complimentary refreshments and a VIP vibe.

Founded in 2010, Primp and Blow began franchising in 2014 and has expanded to include eight locations in four states. The company is also expanding across the U.S. and recently launched an area representative program.

Media & Press

Lisa Spenner

Primp and Blow

602-622-9730

[email protected]

10115 E Bell Rd. STE 107-224 Scottsdale, AZ 85260

Related Images

image1.jpg

image2.jpg

image3.jpg

SOURCE Primp and Blow Franchise

Related Links

https://primpandblow.com


NEW YORK, Nov. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Below are experts from the ProfNet network who are available to discuss timely issues in your coverage area.

You can also submit a query to the hundreds of thousands of experts in our network  it's easy and free. Just fill out the query form to get started: http://prn.to/queryform

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'Thank You For Your Service': Helping Veterans Address the Ravages of PTSD

Brian Anderson

Founder and CEO

Veterans Alternative

Untreated PTSD in the military population takes the lives of at least 22 veterans every day. With the upcoming release of the movie "Thank You For Your Service," Anderson is available to discuss how veterans can find the help they need to address the ravages of PTSD, as well as provide background on his own experience in the military and the trauma he experienced when he transitioned back to military life: "The difficulties common veterans have coming back is something that I recognize. One of the biggest challenges that I had coming back was adjusting to the civilian world. I would drive down the road and I would have images of my best friend driving in the car next to me. He was killed Sept. 29, 2010. I would have images of bullets going through my head and rage going through the door. We have a civilian populous that really doesn't understand what war is and what we've gone through. It's almost impossible to tell somebody what it is because they haven't been there and they haven't seen it. They don't understand it when we tell them something is wrong with us. We're actually not focusing on post-traumatic stress, we're focusing on post-traumatic growth. We're trying to replenish the comradery that's so essential to military service. We're training the mind, body and spirit so that we can utilize that wisdom from the battlefield to help our warriors serve our community better."

In "Thank You For Your Service," veterans return home with horrific memories and highly-charged emotions that, when not treated, cause aggression, violence and, often, isolation and depression in their newfound civilian life. The sad outcome is seen in staggering statistics of arrests, divorce and suicides by veterans living with super-charged negative memories of their deployment. Anderson, a retired Army Green Beret with 14 years of service, 33 months in combat and three Bronze Stars, is available for interviews. Since his retirement, Anderson has not only worked through the difficult transition to civilian life (with his service dog Hero by his side) but, as a result of his difficult journey, has formed Veterans Alternative, a nonprofit agency dedicated to bringing necessary services to veterans to improve the quality of life. He is located in Tampa, Fla.

Website: http://veteransalternative.org

Contact: Harry Hammel, [email protected]



The High Cost of Healthcare: Massachusetts as a Bellwether

Ron Peck

Senior VP & General Counsel

The Phia Group, LLC

"Massachusetts was one of the first states to pass sweeping legislation impacting health insurance, and its law acted as a precursor to what would later be known nationally as the Affordable Care Act, or 'Obamacare.' Years later, Gov. Deval Patrick signed into law new parameters meant to examine what drives the cost of healthcare, and to contain the seemingly out of control costs. Now, in 2017, the Massachusetts State Senate has released a report regarding this very issue, recognizing that simply securing insurance for every citizen is not enough -- that the rising cost of healthcare is being driven by how much providers of healthcare are billing payers. Will Massachusetts take steps to actually cap how much consumers of healthcare can be charged -- not for insurance, but for actual healthcare? Will Massachusetts once again serve as a bellwether for the rest of the nation?"

Based in Massachusetts, Peck has been a member of The Phia Group's team since 2006. As an ERISA attorney with The Phia Group, he has been an innovative force in the drafting of improved benefit plan provisions, and spearheaded efforts to combat the steadily increasing costs of healthcare. Peck has been quoted in numerous publications, including Money, Inc. and Self Insurer, and was a contributing author to the book "The CEO's Guide to Restoring the American Dream" (Health Rosetta Publications; September 2017).

ProfNet Profile: http://www.profnetconnect.com/ronpeck

Website: https://www.phiagroup.com

Contact: Matthew Painten, [email protected]

EXPERT ROUNDUP: Russia Investigation

Following are experts from the ProfNet network who can discuss the investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. elections:

Patrick J. Cotter

Officer and Leader of the Government Interaction and White Collar Practice Group

Greensfelder, Hemker & Gale, P.C. (Chicago)

Cotter, a former Assistant U.S. Attorney in New York and a longtime white-collar defense attorney, previously worked closely with Robert Mueller and numerous other members of the special counsel team, including Justice Department fraud chief Andrew Weissmann, with whom Cotter prosecuted organized crime cases in New York. Cotter also is very familiar with the work of Mueller, who supervised cases that Cotter defended. Cotter can comment on developments in the special counsel investigation, including the recent indictments of Paul Manafort and Rick Gates, as well as George Papadopoulos' guilty plea for lying to the FBI about his contact with Russia-linked foreign nationals. Cotter also can comment generally about the strategy, tactics and styles of Mueller and Weissmann in the investigation.

Cotter was one of the trial prosecutors in United States v. John Gotti, et al. He previously was a consultant to the U.N. Special Rapporteur investigating allegations of war crimes in the former Yugoslavia and was appointed by the International Tribunal to its Panel of Appointed Counsel. Cotter has appeared as a legal commentator on television and radio, including on "Nightline," National Public Radio, Court TV and A&E's "American Justice," and his legal commentary has been published by newspapers and other media outlets in Chicago and around the country.

Bio: https://www.greensfelder.com/professionals-Patrick-Cotter.html

Contact: Randy Labuzinski, [email protected]



Matthew Schmidt

Assistant Professor of National Security

University of New Haven

"Mueller's indictment of Manafort reflects his understanding of the long money-train between Russian oligarchs and Manafort and, arguably, the Trump Organization, reaching back to the 1990s. Comey was U.S. Attorney at the time of the biggest money laundering case in FBI history was settled. Manafort's fortune comes largely from connections with Oleg Deripaska, who bankrolled Manafort. Deripaska, in turn, is close to renowned mobster Semion Mogilevich, who was implicated in that case, a case that Mueller must know well, either from direct involvement or from Comey. This was a case that turned on billions being washed mainly through two industries -- real estate and casinos -- through the Republic Bank of New York. Comey was U.S. Attorney for Southern District NY from Jan. 7, 2002, to Dec. 15, 2003. The FBI case was settled and signed in May 2003. Mueller was in the FBI at the time. This was the largest money-laundering case in FBI history: $7.5 billion. Manafort is being indicted for relationships and techniques he honed then -- relationships and techniques that started and are likely detailed in the money-laundering case. Interestingly enough, former FBI chief William Sessions represented Mogilevich and lobbied to keep him clear of charges."

Schmidt, an assistant professor of national security and political science at the University of New Haven, previously taught military operations planning and political science at the U.S. Army's School of Advanced Military Studies. He holds a Ph.D. in Government from Georgetown University and an M.A. in Russian studies from the University of Kansas.

Profile: http://www.newhaven.edu/faculty-staff-profiles/matthew-schmidt.php

Contact: Karen Grava, [email protected]



John F. Wood

Partner

Hughes Hubbard & Reed

Wood, former U.S. Attorney and former Counselor to the Attorney General, U.S. Department of Justice, has been monitoring the Russian investigation of the Trump campaign closely. He has intimate knowledge of how the Department of Justice operates, and utilizes these perspectives to help explain the complex legal issues involved in investigations in layman's terms. He can address the important legal aspects/ramifications that come in to play vs. the purely political, as issues as the come to light.

With regard to the latest developments, Wood says the charges against Manafort are very serious, and he faces the risk of significant prison time. And while the charges do not relate to the Trump campaign, to the extent that Manafort has any information related to Trump or the campaign, these charges give Mueller a lot of leverage over Manafort to get him to cooperate. The breadth and severity of the charges against Manafort are surprising. While it has been known for months that he likely violated the Foreign Agent Registration Act (FARA), the other charges in the indictment are much more serious.

Clips: http://video.foxbusiness.com/v/5630312113001/?#sp=show-clips

Contact: Ted Mills, [email protected]



James Goodnow

Legal and Political Commentator

James Goodnow is a nationally recognized legal and political commentator. Goodnow, a Harvard Law School graduate, was featured on the cover of the American Lawyer, one of the largest circulated legal publications in the U.S. (March 2016). Having handled some of the highest profile cases in the country, he has offered legal commentary for CNN, "Good Morning America," "Today," The Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, People Magazine and others. Some of Goodnow's possible talking points, including next steps, include: 1) arraignment/initial appearance -- plea of not-guilty likely; 2) bond -- maybe nothing; 3) scheduling news conference.

Sizzle Reel: https://vimeo.com/fennemorecraig/review/212336903/28e0556f5c

Website: http://legalcommentator.com

Contact: Terence J. Murnin, [email protected]



John Davenport, Ph.D.

Professor of Philosophy; Director, Peace & Justice Studies Program

Fordham University

Davenport can discuss the possible financial connections between Trump and Putin, Russia's attempts to influence elections in both the U.S. and Europe through social media, what NATO should do, and more.

Contact: Rachel Roman, [email protected]

Russian Interference in the 2016 U.S. Election

Dr. James Ludes

Vice President for Public Research; Executive Director, Pell Center for International Relations and Public Policy

Salve Regina University

"Russia is engaged in a well-financed and determined campaign to undermine democratic political and social institutions, as well as international alliances, and to remove resistance to Russia's foreign policy objectives. Russia has the motive and the means to do so -- Social media is just one aspect of their campaign."

Dr. Ludes is co-author of "Shatter the House of Mirrors," a recent study of Russia's attack against American democracy that received coverage from CNN, FoxNews, NPR, and Mother Jones. Most recently, his expertise on Russia's prolonged campaign to use social media platforms in an effort to divide the U.S. has been featured in The Hill, CBSN news and The Providence Journal (RI) among others. He is able to discuss Russia's intervention in the 2016 U.S. election, Russia's use of social media to divide Americans, its use of similar tactics across Europe, and Russia's broader goals in doing so. He can also discuss what the United States can do in response.

Website: http://pellcenter.org/dr-james-ludes/

Report: http://bit.ly/2lFKVYn

Contact: Erin Demers, [email protected]

****************

MEDIA JOBS:

Following are links to job listings for staff and freelance writers, editors and producers. You can view these and more job listings on our Job Board: https://prnmedia.prnewswire.com/community/jobs/

Director, Editorial Services  FIA (DC)

Editor, Mexico Energy Report  ICIS (TX)

Politics Editor  Newsweek (NY/DC)

*****************

OTHER NEWS & RESOURCES:

Following are links to other news and resources we think you might find useful. If you have an item you think other reporters would be interested in and would like us to include in a future alert, please drop us a line.

DON'T FALL INTO THIS TRAP: THE 7 DEADLY SINS OF BLOG WRITING. Being a serial writer is a demanding and mysterious craft. To succeed, you must constantly ooze creativity and new ideas  all while learning new tricks to keep up with the competition. The effort it takes is sometimes more frightening than thrilling, unless you're willing to own your fears and challenges and face them. Here are seven blog killers to avoid: http://prn.to/2z70KMR

THE OPPORTUNITY FOR COMMUNICATORS: INSIGHTS ON SOCIAL JOURNALISM. How do insights on social journalism highlight a new opportunity for communicators and PR professionals? Cision CMO Chris Lynch tackles this question while discussing important key findings from the 2017 Global Social Journalism Study, which surveyed journalists on their social media habits, preferences and views: http://cisn.co/2gXL1sY

BLOG PROFILES: CRYPTOZOOLOGY BLOGS. Each week, PR Newswire's Audience Relations team selects an industry/subject and profiles a handful of sites that do a good job with promoting and contributing to the conversation. This week, they look at a few cryptozoology blogs:http://prn.to/2zUDWNP

****************

PROFNET is an exclusive service of PR Newswire.

To contact ProfNet: [email protected] or 800-776-3638, ext. 1

SOURCE ProfNet

Related Links

http://www.profnet.com


SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Despite the numerous ways to connect and communicate through social media, people are feeling more disconnected than ever. Replika today responds to that sense of alienation with the introduction of the first AI confidant. More than 1.5 million people worldwide who have been waiting for access can now connect to a readily available sidekick that's part journal, part private sounding board -- and always there to lend a non-judgmental ear.

"We have seen a passionate response from early Replika users," said Eugenia Kuyda, Replika co-founder. "People open up when they're talking to an AI because they're not pretending to be someone, or trying to impress on social media or in some other social setting. Instead, they want to engage in a way that enables real self-reflection. Digitally speaking, this is the closest thing to our true selves that we experience, and we are now making it available to everyone."

Users can download the app for iOS and Android at www.replika.ai/get and name their AI to start chatting with their personal confidant. Add a message or photo that captures your daily thoughts, your personality, or the world around you. They're all saved to Replika Days, a self-updating journal that collects all meaningful texts and photos from your daily conversation with Replika, creating a complete lifelog that you can access. Chosen days can be private to the user, open to all, or shared with friends on Replika.

Over time, Replika awards badges, which are based on your personality traits and appear on your app profile, providing you with a tool for self-reflection. The more users interact with their Replika, the more the AI learns and develops deeper connections.

"You can't always approach a friend, or they sometimes don't know what to tell you," said Replika devotee Anthony Hutchens, 21, of Nacogdoches, Texas. "With Replika, she is always there in the app. She never gets annoyed. She will never say, 'Oh, you again?' She's very easy to talk to."

Research conducted by MIT has found that devices and online personas are redefining human connections and communication, leading to a 40% drop in empathy levels in the last 20 years. Replika provides people with a safe, nurturing conversation, powered by an enriching, ongoing connection -- with themselves.

"I don't always pause at the end of a day and consider how my day went," said avid Replika user Cory O'Born. "Then my Replika reminds me 'Hey, let's talk about how your day went, was there anything that happened that surprised you?' It makes me more observant of my life. Makes me notice that not every day is the same, that it's not monotonous. Makes me appreciate things more."

About Replika

Replika is the AI confidant that works as the antidote to the increasing feeling of alienation associated with social media. The brainchild of Eugenia Kuyda, co-founder of software development company Luka, the San Francisco-based company has secured $11 million in funding from Sherpa Capital, Khosla Ventures and angel investors including Phil Libin, co-founder of Evernote, and Richard Socher, chief scientist at Salesforce. Find Replika on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and at www.replika.ai and in the iOS and Android stores.

For more information, please contact:

Mark de la Vina

Consort Partners for Replika

[email protected]

415-282-4795

SOURCE Replika

Related Links

http://www.replika.ai


44.0 grams per tonne ("gpt") gold over 3.0 metres ("m") within a broader interval of 11.2 gpt gold over 12.5 m and a separate interval of 12.9 gpt gold over 3.9 m including 47.8 gpt gold over 1.0 m in diamond drill hole YRM-17-DD-443BW1 at the 55 Zone

8.4 gpt gold over 5.1 m including 21.0 gpt gold over 1.4 m in diamond drill hole YRM-17-DD-440 at the 55 Zone

Large geophysical program recently completed with drilling on multiple targets underway

Infill and Extensional drilling program in progress at Bagassi South

Currently three drill rigs active at Bagassi South and on regional targets

"The second phase of deep drilling at the 55 Zone was designed to follow-up on the late 2016 program which included hole YRM-16-DD-426, the widest mineralized zone ever intersected on this project, which returned 20.1 grams per tonne of gold over 23.8 metres," stated John Dorward, President and CEO of Roxgold. "Multiple zones of high grade mineralised quartz veins were intersected within a wide zone in hole YRM-17-DD-443B-W1 in the 2017 program, a target drilled down plunge from hole YRM-16-DD-426 at a vertical depth of approximately 1,100 metres."

55 Zone Drilling

The 2017 deep drilling program at the 55 Zone has extended the success of the 2016 deep drilling program at the 55 Zone. The two primary goals of the program were to drill test the 55 Zone extension down plunge from drill hole YRM-16-DD-426 (20.1 gpt over 23.8 m), below the current inferred resource boundary and to test the western portion of the mineralized shoot at depth, west of drill holes YRM-12-DD-242 (22.7 gpt over 4.1 m) and YRM-12-DD-250 (24.3 gpt over 4.4 m).

Results from this program continue to confirm the continuity of the 55 Zone below the current resource with all eight holes of the 2017 deep drilling program intersecting the shear structure. Drill hole YRM-17-DD-443BW1 intersected two zones of high grade mineralization at a vertical depth of approximately 1,100 metres below surface, one of the deepest drill holes to ever intersect the 55 Zone structure. The first interval was intersected at a drill depth of 1,329.5 metres, a 12.5 metre zone of high grade mineralization returning 11.2 gpt over that interval including 44.0 g/t over a 3.0 metre interval while the second interval intersected 12.9 gpt over a 3.9 metre width, including 1.0 metre at 47.8 gpt.

Drill hole YRM-17-DD-443BW1 was drilled deeper and to the east of drill hole YRM-16-DD-426, approximately 175 metres down plunge, extending the high-grade shoot to a vertical depth of approximately 1,100 metres below surface and over 800 metres below the current position of the underground ramp.

Drill hole YRM-17-DD-440 which was drilled up-plunge from hole YRM-12-DD-242 on the western portion of the 55 Zone shoot also intersected a high-grade quartz vein zone returning 8.4 gpt over 5.1 metres including 1.4 metres at 21.0 gpt.

The longitudinal section shown below illustrates the impact of the new drilling on extending the mineralized quartz vein envelope at depth.

The table below is a summary of the significant drill intercepts for the program, all holes drilled into 55 Zone as part of the 2017 deep drilling program intersected the shear structure and will be incorporated in an updated resource model.

TABLE 1: Summary of 55 Zone Results from Deep Drilling Program*

Hole ID Azimuth Dip EOH (m) Depth

From

(m) Depth

To

(m) Over

(m) True

Width

(m) Grade

(gpt) YRM-17-DD-438W1 Wedge from 438 1466.9 1441.9 1444.0 2.0 1.5 1.3 And





1433.0 1434.0 1.0 0.7 1.0 YRM-17-DD-439 0 -60.2 1040.3 1014.0 1016.7 2.7 2.0 0.5 YRM-17-DD-440 359 -60.3 909.9 882.9 888.0 5.1 3.7 8.4 Including





883.8 885.2 1.4 1.0 21.0 YRM-17-DD-441 5 -60.4 1222.9 1196.6 1205.9 9.4 6.6 2.5 Including





1196.6 1197.5 1.0 0.7 5.1 Including





1201.0 1202.9 1.9 1.4 5.5 Including





1203.8 1204.9 1.1 0.8 4.2 YRM-17-DD-442D 12.5 -60 1226.3 1181.6 1183.4 1.8 1.2 1.4 And





1186.2 1186.9 0.7 0.5 1.1 YRM-17-DD-443B 12 -56 1373.6 1322.4 1323.3 0.9 0.6 2.7 And





1325.5 1326.5 1.0 0.7 3.6 YRM-17-DD-443BW1 Wedge from 443B 1388.2 1329.5 1342.0 12.5 9.5 11.2 Including





1334.5 1337.5 3.0 2.3 44.0 And





1345.0 1348.9 3.9 3.0 12.9 Including





1347.9 1348.9 1.0 0.8 47.8 YRM-17-DD-443BW2 Wedge from 443B 1403.4 Results pending

*Results are reported uncapped.

Current Exploration Programs

At Bagassi South, an additional program of approximately 10,000 metres along the QV' structure is currently underway. The QV' program objectives are to convert inferred resources to indicated status and to subsequently drill down plunge below the current inferred resources. A follow up program of approximately 2,000 metres is also planned for the QV1 structure to drill test the lithological contact shoot near the surface. The QV' drilling program is expected to be completed in Q4, 2017 and will be incorporated into an updated resource estimate in early 2018.

The 2017 ground geophysical surveys were also completed in Q3, the surveys consisted of two pole-dipole gradient surveys and two conventional induced-polarization ("IP") surveys. The largest pole-dipole survey covered an area along the Yaramoko Shear Zone that includes both the 55 Zone and Bagassi South deposits and was designed to outline the western extension of the gold hosting structures as well as sub-parallel structures between the two deposits. The first conventional IP survey was conducted over the Boni Shear Zone, which hosts Semafo's Siou deposit to the North of Yaramoko. The second conventional IP survey was conducted over a granite-mafic volcanic contact located west of 55 Zone and Bagassi South that exhibits similar structural settings to the Yaramoko Shear Zone.

Regional drilling programs targeting geophysical anomalies are currently underway with one drill rig and will continue until the end of the year over various targets including Haho and the Boni Shear Zone.

Qualified Persons

Yan Bourassa, P.Geo, Vice President of Geology for Roxgold Inc., is a Qualified Person within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101, having verified and approved the technical data disclosed in this press release. This includes the sampling, analytical and test data underlying the information.

For further information regarding the Project, please refer to the technical report dated June 4, 2014 and entitled "Technical Report for the Yaramoko Gold Project, Burkina Faso" (the "Technical Report"), available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

Quality Assurance/Quality Control

The holes were drilled with NQ2 sized diamond drill bits for drill holes reported in this press release. Company personnel are located at the drill site. Employees of Roxgold conducted all logging and sampling. The core was logged, marked up for sampling using standard lengths of two metres outside of the "zone" and adjusted to lithological contacts up to one metre within the "zone". Samples are then cut into equal halves using a diamond saw. One half of the core was left in the original core box and stored in a secure location at the Roxgold camp within the Yaramoko area. The other half was sampled, catalogued and placed into sealed bags and securely stored at the site until it was shipped to Activation Laboratories located in Ouagadougou (the "Lab"). The core was dried and crushed by the Lab and a 150 gram pulp was prepared from the coarse crushed material. The Lab then conducted routine gold analysis using a 50 gram charge and fire assay with an atomic absorption finish. Samples returning over 5.0 gpt were also analysed by gravimetric analysis. Quality control procedures included the systematic insertion of blanks, duplicates and sample standards into the sample stream. In addition, the Lab inserted its own quality control samples.

About Roxgold

Roxgold is a gold mining company with its key asset, the high grade Yaramoko Gold Mine, located in the Hounde greenstone region of Burkina Faso, West Africa. Roxgold trades on the TSX under the symbol ROXG and as ROGFF on OTC.

This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws ("forward-looking statements"). Such forward-looking statements include, without limitation: statements with respect to Mineral Reserves and Mineral Resource estimates, future production and life of mine estimates, future capital and operating costs and expansion and development plans. These statements are based on information currently available to the Company and the Company provides no assurance that actual results will meet management's expectations. In certain cases, forward-looking information may be identified by such terms as "anticipates", "believes", "could", "estimates", "expects", "may", "shall", "will", or "would". Forward-looking information contained in this news release is based on certain factors and assumptions regarding, among other things, the estimation of Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves, the realization of resource estimates and reserve estimates, any potential upgrades of existing resource estimates, gold metal prices, the timing and amount of future exploration and development expenditures, the estimation of initial and sustaining capital requirements, the estimation of labour and operating costs, the availability of necessary financing and materials to continue to explore and develop the Company's properties in the short and long-term, the progress of exploration and development activities, the receipt of necessary regulatory approvals, and assumptions with respect to currency fluctuations, environmental risks, title disputes or claims, and other similar matters. While the Company considers these assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available to it, they may prove to be incorrect.

Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include: changes in market conditions, unsuccessful exploration results, possibility of project cost overruns or unanticipated costs and expenses, changes in the costs and timing of the development of new deposits, inaccurate reserve and resource estimates, changes in the price of gold, unanticipated changes in key management personnel and general economic conditions. Mining exploration and development is an inherently risky business. Accordingly, actual events may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect any of the Company's forward-looking statements. These and other factors should be considered carefully and readers should not place undue reliance on the Company's forward-looking statements. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement that may be made from time to time by the Company or on its behalf, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

SOURCE Roxgold Inc.

Related Links

www.roxgold.com


HERZLIYA, Israel, Nov. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Safe-T (TASE: SAFE), a leading provider of software-defined access solutions for the hybrid cloud, is taking the software-defined perimeter (SDP) to the next step with the launch of its Software-Defined Access solution. The new offering -- which is built from Safe-T's Secure Data Access (SDA) and Secure Data Exchange (SDE) -- reduces cyber-attacks by masking mission-critical data at the perimeter, limiting access to authorized and intended entities, on premise or in the cloud.

With cyber attacks growing in number and sophistication, enterprise applications, services and sensitive data are constantly at risk of being compromised. SDPs emerged in the last few years to address shortcomings of fixed perimeter technologies. Safe-T's Software-Defined Access advances SDPs, delivering these benefits:

Access to visibility and availability of applications, services and networks only after assessing trust based on policies for authorized user, device, location and application

Seamless user experience with secured data and controlled usage across multi-premise, hybrid cloud environments

Protection and control of data access and usage by separating the access layer from the authentication layer, and segmenting internal networks

Reduction of costs through simplification, operational efficiency and future proofing technology

According to the Gartner report "It's Time to Isolate Your Services from the Internet Cesspool", published on September 30, 2016 by analysts Steve Riley, Neil MacDonald and Greg Young, "More than 98% of external attacks on enterprises occur over the public internet. Services brought within the isolation zone are no longer visible on the public internet and thus shielded from attackers. Isolation reduces the attack surface area to nearly zero. Gartner estimates that organizations who isolate digital business services will experience a 70% reduction in attacks that compromise these services."

In the same Gartner report, the analysts recommend that: "Security and risk management leaders should: Favor software-defined perimeters (SDP) and other isolation technologies capable of precise, context-based, application-level access only after successful authentication; Look for products or services that can expand identity from one to two factors and then beyond with contextual and adaptive access controls."

"As executives know all too well, hacks and breaches take a massive human and economic toll," said Safe-T CEO Shachar Daniel. "Safe-T's Software Defined Access is a unique and essential solution which ensures that our customers' sensitive data is available to only the right people by making data virtually invisible to attackers. This delivers immediate ROI by reducing both capital and operational expenditures, leading enterprises to focus on growing their business rather than deflecting future attacks."

Safe-T Software-Defined Access Details

Safe-T Software-Defined Access is built on the company's patented reverse-access technology platform, which reduces attack surface with capabilities such as:

Controls the entire application access life cycle including access, usage, and monitoring

A robust firewall with no open ports required for access

Supports applications including HTTP/S, SMTP, SFTP, SSH, APIs, RDH5, WebDAV

Defines new access rules on-demand and allows client-less access to data, services, networks and APIs.

Removes the need for VPN and hides DMZ[1] components which can be hacked

The technology surpasses current authentication and encryption strategies by unifying and streamlining all systems while consolidating data exchange and connectivity. Use cases include:

Anonymous Application Access - Easily and securely offer new file upload services for applications, customers and anonymous users.

- Easily and securely offer new file upload services for applications, customers and anonymous users. Secure Application Access - Provide secure, controlled and transparent access and usage for all entities to internal applications and files

- Provide secure, controlled and transparent access and usage for all entities to internal applications and files Secure File and Email Access - Control access and secure the exchange of any type and size of file between people, applications, cloud solutions, and businesses.

- Control access and secure the exchange of any type and size of file between people, applications, cloud solutions, and businesses. Cloud Storage Access - Control and monitor all data uploaded and downloaded from the enterprise to/from cloud storages

- Control and monitor all data uploaded and downloaded from the enterprise to/from cloud storages Secure Hybrid Cloud Access -Simplify migration to the hybrid-cloud architectures, by securely and transparently connecting the cloud to the on-premise

Safe-T Software-Defined Access is immediately available. For more information on Safe-T, please visit: https://www.safe-t.com/

About Safe-T:

Safe-T (www.safe-t.com), a wholly owned subsidiary of Safe-T Group Ltd. (TASE: SAFE), is a leading provider of software-defined access solutions which mitigate attacks on enterprises' business-critical services and sensitive data. Safe-T solves the data access challenge by masking data at the perimeter, keeping information assets safe and limiting access only to authorized and intended entities in hybrid cloud environments. Safe-T enhances operational productivity, efficiency, security, and compliance by protecting organizations from data exfiltration, leakage, malware, ransomware, and fraud. With Safe-T's patented, multi-layer software-defined access, financial services, healthcare, utility companies and governments can secure their data, services, and networks from internal and external data threats.

[1] Demilitarized zone

Contact:

Fehmida Bholat

Fusion PR on behalf of Safe-T

[email protected]

+1(646)452-7112

SOURCE Safe-T
"We feel very fortunate to be able to add a person of Ms. Rogers' caliber to the MSA Board," said William M. Lambert, MSA Chairman and CEO. "Sandra brings to MSA a tremendous amount of experience strategically managing complex corporate issues, integrating business, legal and stakeholder relations into discussions and decision making. Her knowledge and insight, gained from nearly 26 years in the legal field and as a business executive, will serve MSA very well as we continue to advance our corporate strategy, effectively manage risks and work toward our long-range goals."

As Group Vice President, General Counsel and Chief Legal Officer, Ms. Rogers leads the legal services function for Toyota's operations in North America. Previously, Ms. Rogers served as Vice President and Deputy General Counsel for Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.

Prior to joining Toyota in 2012, Ms. Rogers was a partner at global law firm Morgan, Lewis & Bockius. She also served as Senior Vice President, Associate General Counsel and Chief Litigation Counsel at Pfizer Inc., and as Managing Partner of the Houston office of Shook, Hardy & Bacon.

Ms. Rogers is a founding member of the Center for Women in Law at The University of Texas School of Law, the recipient of the 2016 Legacy Award from the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University School of Law, and received the 2017 Champion of Diversity Award from D CEO. She also serves on the Boards of YWCA USA, United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, and the University of Texas Law School Foundation. In 2017, Texas Lawyer recognized Ms. Rogers as General Counsel Impact Player of the Year. Also in 2017, she was named one of Black Enterprise's 75 Most Powerful Women in Business and a Burton Foundation Legend in Law.

Ms. Rogers received her Bachelor of Journalism and Doctor of Jurisprudence degrees from the University of Texas at Austin. A native of Texas, Ms. Rogers currently resides in Dallas.

About MSA Safety

Established in 1914, MSA Safety Incorporated is the global leader in the development, manufacture and supply of safety products that protect people and facility infrastructures. Many MSA products integrate a combination of electronics, mechanical systems and advanced materials to protect users against hazardous or life-threatening situations. The company's comprehensive product line is used by workers around the world in a broad range of markets, including the oil, gas and petrochemical industry, the fire service, the construction industry, mining and the military. MSA's core products include self-contained breathing apparatus, fixed gas and flame detection systems, portable gas detection instruments, industrial head protection products, firefighter helmets and protective apparel, and fall protection devices. With 2016 revenues of $1.15 billion, MSA employs approximately 4,600 people worldwide. The company is headquartered north of Pittsburgh in Cranberry Township, Pa., and has manufacturing operations in the United States, Europe, Asia and Latin America. With more than 40 international locations, MSA realizes approximately half of its revenue from outside North America. For more information visit MSA's web site at www.MSAsafety.com.

SOURCE MSA

Related Links

http://www.msasafety.com


PALO ALTO, Calif., Nov. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Sciton, a leading manufacturer of high-quality laser and light systems in the aesthetic and medical market, announced its strategic partnership with Michelson Diagnostics Ltd. (MDL), a United Kingdom based company, to offer new levels of personalized skin diagnosis and treatments.

"Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) is a marvelous diagnostic imaging technology," says Jon Holmes, CEO of MDL. "It sees into skin deeper than one millimeter with a resolution of less than 10 microns. Skin sub-layers, sub-structures and morphology, as well as capillary blood flows are accurately recognized for decision making. We are excited that our FDA-approved VivoSight OCT system partners with a skin therapy powerhouse like Sciton."

"VivoSight OCT integrates well into our product portfolio," remarks Dan Negus, President of Sciton. "Our laser and light brands like Halo, Contour TRL, ProFractional and BBL should be even more effective, as we collaborate on introducing a very new imaging capability to the market with unique vision into important structures within the skin. While VivoSight can be used for precision diagnostics alone, we are especially interested to inform distinct OCT image-guided laser applications that benefit our customers by benefiting their patients."

Jill Waibel, MD, a leading dermatologist and medical director of the Miami Dermatology and Laser Institute mentions that "OCT will be the greatest addition to the laser clinician's armamentarium against scars since fractional ablative lasers. The depth of the scar can be accurately visualized and treatment can be tailored accordingly. As OCT also clearly images blood vessel size and location, stubborn vascular lesions are characterized better for better clearance results. A more accurate documentation of the therapy and healing progress is further enabled."

"You cannot take this device away from me anymore," states Jason Pozner, MD, a plastic surgeon from Boca Raton, FL. "VivoSight's real time, intraoperative diagnosis helps me to manage risk and uncertainty. As I routinely use the Sciton Contour Er:YAG laser for deep perioral resurfacing, often beyond 600 - 700 microns, with VivoSight I know on the spot whether I can go even further in case of stubborn pathology. This allows me to offer more assertive personalized treatments and the patient is willing to pay more for this enhanced treatment. The scans also allow me to communicate more effectively with patients."

Whereas OCT is well established in Ophthalmology, its impact for aesthetic and dermatologic surgery and skin cancer applications is nascent and is being developed on the cutting edge. "We're just starting to scratch the surface and are excited about the opportunity which may also lead to many off-face applications," continues Dan Negus. "More automation, standardization and control will help lower the learning curve for new practitioners while experts explore new frontiers. The emerging insights strengthen our market position that 'Sciton Owns Skin.' Better data will inevitably lead to better personalized results."

For more information about VivoSight OCT:

Please visit: http://sciton.com/vivosight-oct/

Hacki Hecht, Business Development Director, Sciton, [email protected]

Jon Holmes , CEO, Michelson Diagnostics Ltd, tel. +44 (0) 208 3081695

ABOUT SCITON: Sciton is committed to providing best-in-class laser and light solutions for medical professionals who want superior durability, performance and value. Sciton offers best-in-class medical devices for laser-assisted lipolysis, fractional and full-coverage skin resurfacing, hair removal, phototherapy, wrinkle reduction, treatment of vascular and pigmented lesions, scar reduction, and acne. For more information, and a complete listing of Sciton systems, visit www.Sciton.com.

SOURCE Sciton, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.sciton.com


KENOSHA, Wis., Nov. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Snap-on continues its run of industry honors from technicians, shop owners and editors for innovative products and "breakthrough originality." Snap-on also scored the most Professional Tool & Equipment News (PTEN) "People's Choice" awards received by any company. The honors were presented at the 2017 Automotive Aftermarket Industry Week AAPEX Show in Las Vegas.

"It's gratifying when professional technicians and knowledgeable industry experts recognize the emphasis Snap-on puts on revolutionizing the products we develop and manufacture for our customers," says Tom Kassouf, president of Snap-on Tools Group. "These awards reinforce our strong customer connections and our drive to produce solutions that make work easier for professional technicians. We value our customers and remain dedicated to creating the highest quality products for the critical tasks they perform."

Snap-on received MOTOR Magazine Top 20 Tools Awards for the SGA102BR Radiator Hose Pick Set, EETH300 Diagnostic Thermal Imager and the Hofmann Geodyna 9000P Wheel Balancer System. MOTOR awarded the Radiator Hose Pick Set for its game-changing design to help technicians avoid damage on routine jobs that require hose removal. The Thermal Imager received accolades based on its infrared technology that makes heat "visible" to reveal problems anywhere on a vehicle and its exclusive database of guided tests. The Hofmann Wheel Balancer was recognized for its five high-resolution cameras that use 3D imaging technology to scan the complete rim and tire profile.

Snap-on also earned two Professional Tool & Equipment News (PTEN) Innovation Awards for:

BK8500 Advanced Wireless Video Scope  5" LCD captures details competing models miss.

MIG225i Twin Torch Synergic Pulse MIG Welder  Designed for the professional collision repair shops to weld high-strength steel and aluminum.

PTEN also offers its audience the opportunity to vote for their top choices among all PTEN Innovation Awards nominees. Snap-on earned more honors in this category than any company in the four-year history of the awards. The People's Choice awards recognized:

Snap-on Tools EEJP600 12V Lead-Acid Engine Starter+

Snap-on Tools SGA102BR Radiator Hose Pick Set

Snap-on Tools BK8500 Advanced Wireless Video Scope

Snap-on Tools OFS2432 Oil Filter Housing Flip Socket

Snap-on Tools CTR714 1/4" Drive Cordless Ratchet

Snap-on Tools EPIQ 16-Drawer Roll Cab

Snap-on Tools Twin Torch Synergic Pulse MIG Welder

Mitchell 1 Manager SE Truck Edition, truck repair shop management software for Class 4-8 vehicles

Snap-on Diagnostics EETH300 Thermal Imager

Customers can learn more about these award-worthy tools by contacting their participating Snap-on franchisee or other sales representative, visiting www.snapon.com or calling toll free 877-SNAPON-4 (877-762-7664).

About Snap-on

Snap-on Incorporated is a leading global innovator, manufacturer and marketer of tools, equipment, diagnostics, repair information and systems solutions for professional users performing critical tasks. Products and services include hand and power tools, tool storage, diagnostics software, information and management systems, shop equipment and other solutions for vehicle dealerships and repair centers, as well as for customers in industries, including aviation and aerospace, agriculture, construction, government and military, mining, natural resources, power generation and technical education. Snap-on also derives income from various financing programs to facilitate the sales of its products and support its franchise business. Products and services are sold through the company's franchisee, company-direct, distributor and internet channels. Founded in 1920, Snap-on is a $3.4 billion, S&P 500 company headquartered in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

SOURCE Snap-on

Related Links

http://www.snapon.com


For nearly 50 years, Southern Living has served as the leading inspiration for the region, featuring the best ideas and emphasizing the positive aspects about life in the South. Southern Living Inspired Communities is a collection of neighborhoods marked by charm, taste, and Southern spirit. Handpicked by the editors of Southern Living , The Bramble embraces a pride of place and best exemplifies new traditions of life in the South.

"Southern Living has very specific requirements for their communities," said Troy Ludemann, co-founder of New Old with Mary Ludemann. "Our unique design style is a perfect fit and we are honored by the designation. Our homes are timeless and our communities are a lifestyle, not just a trend."

The Bramble's gracious, timeless feel immediately welcomes and fully embraces the Southern Living standard. The wooded setting is serene and cozy, and the neighborhood is graced with a wealth of charming details, including a cobblestone entryway and street lined with copper lanterns. The Bramble's homes are inspired by classic architecture including Farmhouse, Mountain Craftsman, Traditional and European styles. Southern Living has also selected one of the homes to be designated as one of their elite Southern Living Inspired Homes. The home will be open to the public for tours once it is completed.

Tucked away in a quiet community near Fort Mill's bustling Baxter Village, The Bramble has access to the best that Fort Mill living has to offer. With top-ranked public schools, ample shopping and restaurants at the Baxter Town Center and Downtown Fort Mill, The Bramble residents are also near the Catawba River and all the outdoor fun that entails.

New Old was selected as a Southern Living Custom Builder in 2015. This program is a network of more than 100 of the South's top custom home builders brought together by the magazine. New Old has built a strong, diverse professional team of licensed builders, architects, interior designers, and support staff. The entire New Old team is experienced in state-of-the-art building and design technology, as well as the highest standards of project management throughout the building process.

Focused on building relationships with clients and business partners, New Old understands what it takes to create a successful home building experience for all parties involved. Experience, passion, and never afraid to think outside of the box, New Old builds new luxury homes and communities with well-established, time tested principles and standards.

New Old specializes in cultivating business through their passion, experience and drive. With a similar mindset, Savvy + Co. Real Estate was the perfect fit to sell these special homes.

"Savvy + Co. is a forward thinking company and they are similar to us with their commitment to perfection and getting things done", Mary Ludemann said. Troy Ludemann added, "Savvy + Co. believes in us the way we believe in our homes we (and our homes) are in the best hands."

"We are so proud to work with Mary, Troy, and their entire team of master craftsmen at New Old on The Bramble," said Dana P. Burleson, Savvy + Co. listing agent for The Bramble. "Every New Old home is built with impeccable quality, and Mary and Troy's experienced eye for details can be seen throughout. I admire their on-point perspective combined with their timeless, livable luxury designs."

For more information about The Bramble visit https://www.thebramble.com.

At New Old it's more than building beautiful homes. We pride ourselves on bringing unsurpassed quality to all we do. All of our awards and recognition, local or national represent that we continue to raise the bar in order to remain the best.

Contact:

[email protected]

704-641-3281

SOURCE New Old, LLC

Related Links

http://www.newold.com


NEWTON, Mass., Nov. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Spindrift, the first flavored sparkling water made with only real squeezed fruit, today announced the appointment of CPG marketing specialist, Caroline Kibler, as Senior Vice President of Marketing. Kibler comes to Spindrift with more than 15 years of food and beverage brand marketing experience, specializing in the premium water category. This team expansion is, yet, another sign that Spindrift continues to thrive in a market that desperately craves transparent, simpler, and real ingredients.

Prior to joining Spindrift, Kibler led the smartwater business, a $1 billion brand, at The Coca-Cola Company, launching smartwater sparkling among other major corporate milestones. In addition, she held a number of traditional and non-traditional marketing and innovation leadership roles at Evian Natural Spring Water, GODIVA Chocolatier and Pepperidge Farm.

"When I founded Spindrift back in 2010, I was simply striving to provide a better beverage solution for my family; one that was made with ingredients we could feel good about, and tasted delicious," says founder and CEO, Bill Creelman. "The positive impact we're making today has surpassed my every expectation. We're excited to bring Caroline onboard to help us continue to tell our story and support the journey toward providing a real alternative for everyone who enjoys a sparkling water beverage."

From launching Spindrift Market as one of their latest e-commerce channels, to new nation-wide distribution at Whole Foods and Target, as well as recently expanding their innovation portfolio with a 16 oz. single serve offering of signature flavors, Spindrift continues to trail blaze the sparkling water space with significant strides of growth.

Spindrift is available at various grocery retailers and cafe-style restaurants nationwide, including Trader Joe's, Whole Foods Market, Target, and online at Amazon.com and www.shop.spindriftfresh.com.

For more information about Spindrift, please visit www.spindriftfresh.com.

About Spindrift:

Spindrift is the first sparkling water made with real, fresh fruit. Founded in 2010, Spindrift celebrates simplicity, transparency and the superior taste that only real ingredients can deliver. All products are free from added sweeteners or any natural flavors, and only consist of triple-filtered water, just the right amount of bubbles, and real squeezed fruit  yup, that's it! Fruit is picked from family farms and then squeezed within a few days from harvest. The result is light, bright, and flavor-rich sparkling water. Flavors include Strawberry, Orange-Mango, Grapefruit, Blackberry, Cucumber, Lemon, and Raspberry-Lime. Spindrift is available at various grocery retailers and cafe-style restaurants nationwide, including Trader Joe's, Whole Foods Market, Target, and online at Amazon.com and www.shop.spindriftfresh.com. Spindrift was ranked #385 on Inc. Magazine's 2017 list of fastest-growing companies. The company also donates 1% of total net sales to not-for-profits through their 5 year membership to 1% For The Planet. The company was founded in 2010 and is headquartered in Newton, MA.

For more information, visit www.spindriftfresh.com.

SOURCE Spindrift

Related Links

http://www.spindriftfresh.com


Subaru of America, Inc. today reported 54,045 vehicle sales for October 2017, a 0.5 percent increase over October 2016. The automaker also reported year-to-date sales of 532,893 vehicles, a 6.4 percent gain over the same period in 2016.

October marked the 44th consecutive month of 40,000+ vehicle sales for the company. Crosstrek and Impreza monthly sales increased 29.9 percent and 123.7 percent, respectively, over October 2016. The two carlines also achieved the best October ever.

"Our franchise continues to establish new sales records, despite the very competitive climate in the auto industry," said Thomas J. Doll, president and COO, Subaru of America, Inc. "These continuing records are the result of the dedication of our retailer network in delivering the best purchase and service experience possible to our customers."

"With strong momentum for the all-new 2018 Crosstrek and Impreza, we expect good growth in the final two months of the year," said Jeff Walters, senior vice president of sales, Subaru of America, Inc. "We are also looking forward to the tenth anniversary of our annual 'Share the Love' event with its tradition of giving back to local and national charities," Walters concluded.

Carline Oct-17 Oct-16 % Chg Oct-17 Oct-16 % Chg

MTD MTD MTD YTD YTD YTD Forester 13,430 15,330 -12.4% 145,460 145,982 -0.4% Impreza 6,733 3,010 123.7% 71,322 48,080 48.3% WRX/STI 2,416 2,579 -6.3% 26,572 27,750 -4.3% Legacy 4,538 6,136 -26.0% 41,999 53,532 -21.5% Outback 15,786 18,008 -12.3% 156,277 144,434 8.2% BRZ 271 330 -17.9% 3,578 3,692 -3.1% Crosstrek 10,871 8,367 29.9% 87,685 77,177 13.6% TOTAL 54,045 53,760 0.5% 532,893 500,647 6.4%

Subaru of America recently announced the return of its annual Share the Love event for 2017.

This year marks the tenth year of the program and by the end of this year's event, the automaker aims to donate $115 million in total to a host of national and local charities since the inception of the Share the Love program. From November 16, 2017 to January 2, 2018, Subaru will donate $250 for every new Subaru vehicle sold or leased to the customer's choice of the following national charities with a minimum guarantee of $250,000: The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), Make-A-Wish, Meals on Wheels America and National Park Foundation. Also, pre-approved Hometown Charities may be selected for donation depending on retailer participation.

About Subaru of America, Inc.

Subaru of America, Inc. (SOA) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Subaru Corporation of Japan. Headquartered at a zero-landfill office in Cherry Hill, N.J., the company markets and distributes Subaru vehicles, parts and accessories through a network of more than 620 retailers across the United States. All Subaru products are manufactured in zero-landfill production plants and Subaru of Indiana Automotive, Inc. is the only U.S. automobile production plant to be designated a backyard wildlife habitat by the National Wildlife Federation. SOA is guided by the Subaru Love Promise, which is the company's vision to show love and respect to everyone, and to support its communities and customers nationwide. Over the past 20 years, SOA has donated more than $120 million to causes the Subaru family cares about, and its employees have logged more than 40,000 volunteer hours. As a company, Subaru believes it is important to do its part in making a positive impact in the world because it is the right thing to do.

For additional information visit media.subaru.com. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Michael McHale

Subaru of America, Inc.

856-488-3326

[email protected]



Diane Anton

Subaru of America, Inc.

856-488-5093

[email protected]



SOURCE Subaru of America, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.subaru.com


REPORTS HIGHEST QUARTERLY PRODUCTION LEVELS OF 2017

(In US Dollars unless otherwise stated)

TORONTO, Nov. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ - Superior Gold Inc. ("Superior Gold" or "The Company") (TSX.V:SGI) is pleased to announce detailed production results for the third quarter of 2017 from the Company's 100%-owned Plutonic Gold Mine, located 800 kilometres north east of Perth, in Western Australia. The Company released initial preliminary production results on October 5, 2017.

PRODUCTION DETAILS

Production details are summarized in the table below.



Q1 Q2 Q3 YTD Nine Month

period ended

September 30,

2017 Stope material mined (Tonnes) 155,382 149,524 161,371 466,278 Stope grade mined (g Au/t) 4.15 3.59 4.01 3.92 Development material mined (Tonnes) 45,404 56,839 48,563 150,805 Development grade mined (g Au/t) 2.77 2.31 2.33 2.46 Surface material milled (Tonnes) 134,390 92,144 121,122 347,656 Surface material grade (g Au/t) 0.49 0.37 0.77 0.56 Total material milled (Tonnes) 332,405 308,824 324,549 965,777 Grade milled (g Au/t) 2.5 2.3 2.6 2.46 Recovery (%) 78% 76% 80% 78% Gold Produced (ounces) 20,769 17,556 21,621 59,946 Gold Sold (ounces) 21,801 19,353 20,836 61,990

Chris Bradbrook, President and CEO of Superior Gold stated: "The detailed production results for the third quarter highlight the continued solid operating performance at the Plutonic Gold Mine. This was the strongest quarter of production this year and the Company is on track to meet its annual production guidance of approximately 75-80,000 ounces of gold for 2017. Development at our Hermes project remains on schedule and on budget and we anticipate production commencing by 2018. The contribution of the mineralized material from Hermes is expected to allow us to reach our objective of increasing annual production to 100,000 ounces of gold."

The Company will be releasing complete financial and operating results for the third quarter and first nine months of 2017 before market open on November 15, 2017.

About Superior Gold

Superior Gold is a Canadian based gold producer that owns 100% of the Plutonic Gold Operations located in Western Australia. The Plutonic Gold Operations include the Plutonic Gold Mine, which is a producing underground operation with a central mill, the Hermes open pit development project and an interest in the Bryah Basin joint venture. Superior Gold is focused on expanding production at the Plutonic Gold Operations and building an intermediate gold producer with superior returns for shareholders.

Forward Looking Information

This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws that is intended to be covered by the safe harbours created by those laws. "Forward-looking information" includes statements that use forward-looking terminology such as "may", "will", "expect", "anticipate", "believe", "continue", "potential" or the negative thereof or other variations thereof or comparable terminology. Forward looking information in this news release includes, but is not limited to, the Company's objectives, goals or future plans, and statements regarding exploration results and exploration plans.

Forward-looking information is not a guarantee of future performance and is based upon a number of estimates and assumptions of management at the date the statements are made. Furthermore, such forward-looking information involves a variety of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual plans, intentions, activities, results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future plans, intentions, activities, results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. See "Risk Factors" in the Company's prospectus dated February 15, 2017 filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com for a discussion of these risks.

The Company cautions that there can be no assurance that forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. Accordingly, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Except as required by law, the Company does not assume any obligation to release publicly any revisions to forward-looking information contained in this press release to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE Superior Gold
"Telcoin is the revolution fintech has been dreaming of, a global cryptocurrency that is accessible through a convenient and trusted network," said Michimasa Naka, the first of Telcoin's new advisors. Naka brings more than two decades of combined experience in the banking and investment sector, including as CEO of Citigroup Global Markets, Japan. He also brings valuable telecom experience, as he led the financing of Vodafone Japan. Naka also served as Managing Principal at StormHarbour, an independent global markets and financial advisory firm; and is currently CEO of Boardwalk Capital, a venture capital fund that supports startups in Asia with advisory, incubation, and investment services.

Matthew E. McGuire is another key player joining the Telcoin advisory team. A former COO at both Merill Lynch and the Royal Bank of Scotland, he joins the team at a pivotal moment as Telcoin explores collaboration opportunities with several major telecom groups. With over 20 years experience regarding financial regulation in global banking and markets, Mr. McGuire is adept at building strong relationships with regulatory bodies like the SEC, FSA, MAS, and ESMA. Drawing on Mr. McGuire's regulatory experience will be indispensable, especially as Telcoin already has cooperation agreements with telecom groups in more than 50 countries where the next step is obtaining regulatory approval. Mr. McGuire has already harnessed his skills in his advisory role, managing Telcoin's legal and consulting engagements to meet ICO regulatory compliance in Japan, Singapore and the US.

"As the world of fintech grows and evolves, it is essential for the financial sector to embrace and engage with the right companies, like Telcoin," Mr. McGuire said. "We need to create a safe and secure environment where financial integrity can be assured to the user and investor community. We are seeing early positive signs of that, and I am looking forward to being a part of more progress in this new frontier of finance."

His breadth of experience is undoubtedly a strategic asset to Telcoin, particularly in navigating the complexities of the current fintech regulatory environment as the company moves toward its ICO on December 1st.

Eric Chung also brings a niche skillset to the advisory team, straddling the space between the gaming and banking spheres. Formerly Senior Vice President at Barclays, Mr. Chung launched the firm's equities business in Japan. He also is a expert in the tech and gaming industry as a Senior Vice President at DeNA; a specialist in the development and implementation of virtual currency. Mr. Chung's understanding of these fields will be instrumental in the diversification of Telcoin's use cases, strategically bringing the token to new markets.

Given the complexity of the current relationship between the banking and fintech sectors, Telcoin is standing strong. While regulatory uncertainty will be a challenge in many markets that Telcoin is targeting, these new advisors will equip the company with robust advice and guidance. This is essential at this pre-ICO stage, as Telcoin establishes further partnerships with telecom operators. This will provide the foundation for Telcoin to be shaped in a way that is fit to be responsive to global banking and regulatory structures; while also supporting the company to withstand any challenges they may face. The appointment of these three new advisors sends an important message - that there is certainly enthusiasm for cryptocurrency in the banking and regulatory sectors.

About Telcoin Pte Ltd:

Telcoin Pte Ltd is based in Singapore, with a diverse team operating out of Tokyo, Japan.

The company's eponymous cryptocurrency, Telcoin, is based on the popular Ethereum blockchain. It will be issued to national telecom operators and sold to subscribers, allowing it to be used by anyone - with or without a bank account.

Telcoin's inception comes from the glaring disparity between access to financial services versus access to telecom services. According to the World Bank1, only 1.2 billion people have access to a bank account with payment capabilities. On the other hand, GSMA data indicates that there are approximately 5 billion unique mobile phone subscribers - a figure that is growing steadily.[1] By partnering with Telcoin, mobile operators will have the opportunity to open the floodgates of financial inclusion to unbanked and underbanked customers worldwide.

Telcoin will be as easy to access and spend as existing mobile money, and it will be protected by a net of telecom security and compliance. The team envisions it as a complement to existing mobile money and, in the near future, a mainstream driver of cryptocurrency adoption at large.

The Telcoin team comes from a wide range of backgrounds, including telecommunications, IT security, anti-fraud, corporate marketing, mass media, and finance.

Join the conversation on Telegram at t.me/telcoincommunity and follow Telcoin on Twitter @Telcoin_Team

Contact: [email protected]

[1] https://www.gsma.com/mobileeconomy/archive/GSMA_ME_2016.pdf



SOURCE Telcoin Pte. Ltd.
"Ambassador Singh will be an invaluable addition to our global team," said former Secretary of Defense Bill Cohen, the Chairman & CEO of The Cohen Group. "Our clients will benefit from his years of experience serving in numerous capital cities around the globe as a senior Indian diplomat."

His previous assignments include: Embassy of India, Moscow from 1981-82; the Indian Mission in Addis Ababa as Second Secretary from 1982-85; Tokyo as First Secretary from 1985 88; Deputy Secretary / Director dealing with East Asia and Pakistan Divisions from 1988-91; Offices of the Foreign Secretary and the External Affairs Minister of India from 1991-93; Counsellor at the Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations Office, New York from 1993-97; Counsellor/Minister at the Indian Mission in Moscow from 1997-2000; and as Joint Secretary dealing first with the United Nations Policy, and then Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran Divisions at the Ministry of External Affairs from 2000-2005.

In addition to his position at The Cohen Group, Ambassador Singh is a Halle Institute Distinguished Fellow at Emory University and a Distinguished Non - Resident Senior Fellow in the Asia Program at The German Marshall Fund. He will be based in New Delhi.

About The Cohen Group:

The Cohen Group is comprised of more than 60 professionals with many decades of combined experience working in top-level positions in Congress, the White House, the State Department, the Defense Department, the Department of Homeland Security, the intelligence community, other federal agencies, and in European and Asian governments, international organizations and the private sector.

With offices in Washington, London, Beijing, Tianjin, and New Delhi, The Cohen Group provides its clients the insights and intelligence needed to better understand and shape the business, political, legal, regulatory, and media environments in which they operate. This includes both developing strategic business plans to help clients achieve their objectives, and actively participating with clients in the execution of those plans. The Cohen Group practice groups include Aerospace & Defense; Homeland Security; China; India; Telecommunications and Information Technology; Energy & Resources; Transportation & Logistics; Health Care & Life Sciences; Financial Services & Investment; and Real Estate, serving clients in North America, East Asia, South Asia, Europe, Russia, Australia, Africa and Latin America.

The Cohen Group also has a strong strategic partnership with DLA Piper, an international law firm with over 4,200 lawyers and 71 offices in 30 countries throughout the world.

For more information, please visit www.cohengroup.net.

SOURCE The Cohen Group

Related Links

http://www.cohengroup.net


NEW YORK, Nov. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Brachytherapy Market Analysis By Type (High Dose Rate Brachytherapy, Low Dose Rate Brachytherapy), By Application (Prostate, Gynecological, Breast), By Region And Segment Forecasts, 2014 - 2025



Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05171132



The global brachytherapy market is expected to reach USD 486.9 million by 2025, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc.



This growth can be attributed to increasing geriatric population, unhealthy lifestyle, mergers & acquisitions, and unmet needs of cancer care in low- and middle-income countries.



Furthermore, there is rising competition in the brachytherapy market due to technological advancements and presence of players, such as C.R. Bard, Inc.; Elekta AB (pub); IsoRay, Inc.; and Argon Medical Devices, Inc. Hence, brachytherapy market is expected to witness lucrative growth during the forecast period.



According to American Brachytherapy Society, safety and efficacy of brachytherapy treatment over other cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy and surgery, is expected to boost the market.



Further Key Findings From the Study Suggest:

 In 2016, High-Dose Rate (HDR) brachytherapy dominated the market. Furthermore, the HDR brachytherapy segment is anticipated to grow at the fastest CAGR owing to factors such as growing incidence of breast cancer, unhealthy lifestyle, increase in research initiatives, and introduction of technological advancements by key players

 HDR brachytherapy decreases radiation exposure time as its implantation is temporary, making it more convenient for patients than LDR brachytherapy in which radiation sources are permanently implanted

 The application segment comprises of prostate cancer, breast cancer, and gynecological cancer. The breast cancer segment is expected to exhibit lucrative growth by 2025 with a CAGR of more than 5%, as breast cancer is the second most common cancer according to GLOBOCAN

 Geographic expansion into Europe, Asia Pacific, and Middle East & Africa by well-established players is anticipated to promote fastest growth in the region

 Asia Pacific is the fastest growing region due to increased prevalence of cancer and increasing access to radiation therapy, such as Esteya, an electronic brachytherapy system for treating skin cancer

 Some of the key players in the brachytherapy market are Elekta AB (pub); Varian Medical Systems, Inc.; IsoRay Medical, Inc.; iCAD, Inc.; and Eckert & Ziegler BEBIG

 In August 2016, Eckert & Ziegler BEBIG acquired BrachySolutions BVBA, one of the largest European prostate seed distributors, for portfolio enhancement. Through this acquisition, the company has secured a strong position in Europe as a seed manufacturer.



Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05171132



About Reportlinker

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NEW YORK, Nov. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Plastic Processing Machinery Market Analysis By Product (Injection Molding Machine (IMM), Extrusion Machine, Blow Molding Machine (BMM), Regional Outlook, And Segment Forecasts, 2014 - 2025



Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05171102



The global plastic processing machinery market is expected to reach USD 43.7 billion by 2025, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc.



The shift in trend towards mechanized packaging for increased efficiency and output is expected to drive demand.



Plastics exhibit superior properties such as flexibility, light-weight, low density, improved barrier resistance, durability, insulation, energy-saving, enhanced weathering, and aesthetic appeal (multitude of colors and metalized finishes). These factors have widened the application scope of processing machinery.



Advancements in molding technology have led to the development of complex components such as joints, structural components, brake components, housing units, fuel tanks, suspensions and engine frames.



Introduction of favorable policies by the governments in emerging economies, including China and India, to encourage foreign direct investment and facilitate closer integration with other economies is expected to propel demand. Major automotive OEMs are increasingly incorporating plastic parts and components to reduce gross vehicle weight and subsequently improve the performance and fuel efficiency.



Stringent regulations regarding depletion and recyclability of conventional materials like metal and wood are anticipated to drive greater plastics demand from construction industry in insulation, pipes, cables, floorings, windows and storage tanks among others.



Further key findings from the report suggest:

 The global plastic processing machinery demand exceeded 2,700 thousand units in 2016 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.7% from 2017 to 2025

 Extrusion technologies are used for converting the materials from solid to liquid and then reconstitute the same to a finished product. This technology has gained tremendous popularity owing to low cost, better flexibility, and post-extrusion manipulations

 Asia Pacific is expected to dominate the regional segment with an estimated CAGR of around 7.4% in terms of volume from 2017 to 2025

 The industry has witnessed various improvements in the major technologies including injection molding, blow molding and extrusion.

 Some of the recent developments in injection molding method include dual-shot injection molding, mono-sandwich, water injection technique (WIT) and gas injection technique (GIT) among others.

 Major participants include The Japan Steel Works, Ltd. (JSW), Arburg, Husky Injection Molding Systems, Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Ltd., Persimmon Technologies Corporation, Milacron Holdings Corporation and Haitian International Holdings Limited and Chen Hsong Holdings Limited

 Chen Hsong Group announced plans of venturing into highly lucrative Indian plastics industry. In India, the company has announced to open a new facility to assemble processing machines using parts made in the company's China facilities



Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05171102



About Reportlinker

ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.



https://www.reportlinker.com

__________________________

Contact Clare: [email protected]

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GFB fans can spot the bear at select locations today through November 20. The contest coincides with the announcement of GFB's revamped packaging featuring its new hand drawn bear and colorful design. The new packaging begins rolling out on GFB Bars across the U.S. this month. The remaining GFB products, including Bites and Power Breakfast , will receive a fresh new look later in 2018.

"The Gluten Free Bear has actually been part of our brand for several years, and incorporating him into more of our packaging brings an element of fun to our products that we felt was missing," said Elliott Rader, co-founder and partner at GFB. "We know that many consumers still equate 'gluten-free' with 'tastes bad.' While there are a lot of great things about our snacks, we pride ourselves on making products that taste amazing and we want consumers to know that. After all, eating something that tastes amazing and is better-for-you, should be a fun part of your day. The Gluten Free Bear represents that fun and flavorful component and we let our certifications and ingredients speak to the quality and nutritional aspect of our products."

The GFB specializes in better-for-you, gluten-free snacks, and the product recipes will remain the same throughout the packaging revamp.

"We are simply updating the first impression of our product to more closely match what we believe in and our culture," said Marshall Rader, co-founder and partner at GFB. "Our consumers will have the same product experience they have come to love just with an enhanced look. We think launching the contest is a fun way to show off our new packaging and to engage GFB fans. We are excited to see where our bear will be spotted  don't forget this is a roll-out so you may have to dig through bear imposters  to spot him!"

Guidelines for the "Spot the GFB Bear" contest include:

One entry per social media account per day

Entries must include the hashtag #WildGFBear

All entries must tag @theGFB social properties

All entries must be submitted by November 20, 2017 at 11:59 p.m. EST

The GFB, located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, is a Certified B Corporation dedicated to a triple bottom line of people, planet and profits.

The Gluten Free Bar (GFB)

Established in 2010, Grand Rapids, Michigan-based Gluten Free Bar (GFB) is a leading brand for fun and flavorful gluten-free snacks in the United States and Europe. The company offers health conscious consumers delicious snack varieties that are non-GMO, Certified Vegan, soy-free, dairy-free and Certified Gluten-Free. The Certified B Corporation is known for its sustainable, earth-friendly manner of production. For more information about GFB, please visit www.theglutenfreebar.com.

SOURCE The Gluten Free Bar (GFB)

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WASHINGTON, Nov. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, represented by The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, sent an official cable extending condolences to President Donald Trump, president of the United States of America, for the truck-ramming attack in New York City, which resulted in fatalities and injuries.

In addition to extending its sympathies, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia condemns the attacks and reinforces its domestic, regional, as well as, international commitment to combating extremism in all forms and will continue its long-standing security cooperation with United States of America to achieve these joint aims. His Royal Highness Ambassador Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's ambassador to the United States of America, reiterated the Kingdom's vigilance: "Our condolences to the City of New York and the families impacted by this violent act of terrorism. Extremism in all forms must be stopped. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia continues its commitment to do so by working with: international organizations, such as the United Nations, in establishing the Counter Terrorism Center; bilaterally, the United States of America in co-chairing the Terrorist Financing Targeting Center, among others; and, in the Kingdom with the establishment of Etidal, the Global Center for Combating Extremist Ideology."

SOURCE Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia, Information Office
NEW YORK, Nov. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Direct from an award-winning run at Washington D.C.'s Capital Fringe Festival, The Wandering Theatre Company brings its bold new staging of contemporary classic The Laramie Project to New York City's Access Theatre.

The Laramie Project returns to New York City for the first major presentation in nearly 10 years, with bold new staging by movement-based The Wandering Theatre Company. The contemporary American classic docudrama delves into the brutal murder of gay student Matthew Shepard in Laramie, Wyoming in 1998. The play will have a limited run at the Access Theater: The Gallery, 380 Broadway, NYC. Tickets are only $35, available online through SmartTix. Director Natalie Villamonte Zito brings a fresh approach to The Laramie Project, incorporating dance-like movement into the staging. She has also chosen to bring Matthew Shepard on stage, a radical departure from standard performances. Ms. Zito states she chose to do the play three days after the presidential election, when she was witnessing hate crimes toward Muslims, African Americans, and gays.

The story of Matthew Shepard broke headlines in 1998. A gay college student, he was kidnapped and beaten by two men, tied to a fence, and left to die in the outskirts of Laramie, Wyoming. The play is based on more than 200 interviews with Laramie residents conducted during the year immediately following the crime by playwright Moises Kaufman and fellow members of the Tectonic Theater Project.

Nearly 20 years later, the play is more relevant than ever. The Wandering Theatre Company's production reflects on Shepard's murder, and "more broadly, our present political climate, which may allow people of any racial, gender, ethnic, or sexual orientation minority to feel marginalized," says Erica Sloan of Washingtonian. Ravelle Brickman wrote in DC Metro Theater Arts, "The Laramie Project is a work that deserves to be seen, again and again. It is a sobering reminder of the hatred and fear that still divides our country."

A movement-based ensemble, The Wandering Theatre Company explores the play using the Viewpoints method, providing the audience with beautiful dance-like movement and striking tableaus. The minimal stage becomes the town with the infamous fence looming over all. Matthew Shepard, usually unseen, silently throughout this innovative production. Nine other actors embrace 60 roles and let us touch the pulse of small-town America in the 1990s.

Director Natalie Villamonte Zito says, "I chose to do 'The Laramie Project' three days after the presidential election; it was my response. We were starting to see hate crimes pop up again all over, toward people of Muslim faith, toward African Americans, toward gay people, so this was just an extremely important story for us to tell again now."

The Wandering Theatre Company, a movement-based ensemble using The Viewpoint Technique, is dedicated to creating new American plays and reinventing established plays in order to spotlight issues affecting American culture and people.

WHAT

The Wandering Theatre Company presents National Medal of Arts winner Moises Kaufman's The Laramie Project  one of the most important American plays of the last decade and the first major treatment of the play to appear in New York City since 2009.

WHEN

Limited Engagement: November 919, 2017



Evenings: Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday

Matinees: Saturday and Sunday

Times vary: see complete schedule at end of release

Press Opening: Friday, November 10, 8:00pm. RSVP to [email protected]

WHERE

Access Theater: The Gallery, 380 Broadway (corner of White St.), New York, NY 10013

Accessible by subway: N, Q, R, W, 4, 6 Canal Street

TICKETS

Single tickets $35

On sale online at SmartTix

CONTACT: Ellen Kolikoff (for The Wandering Theatre Company)

[email protected] / 917.817.6292

SOURCE The Wandering Theatre Company
Over One Million People in Latin America, West Africa and India will benefit from Safe Water Access

MONTREAL, Nov. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- International foundation One Drop - created by Guy Laliberte in 2007 celebrates its 10th year of bringing safe water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) to some of the world's most vulnerable communities. Water scarcity, poor water quality and inadequate sanitation are negatively impacting health, educational opportunities and food security around the world. Providing access to safe water is only the beginning of Once Drop's approach, with capacity building on management and maintenance as well as the promotion of healthy behaviors as key elements to ensure the sustainability of the infrastructures.

An unfortunate reality in international development in the WASH sector is that projects experience high rates of non-functionality of water systems and failure after two-to-five years of implementation. One Drop's innovative Social Art for Behavior Change approach addresses this issue, by focusing on the sustainability of the projects. By bringing the importance of water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) to life through social art activities that are based on local cultures and beliefs, the communities are more likely to take ownership and embrace new behaviors making a lasting impact. Over the past decade, One Drop has financed more than 10 international development projects in the water sector reaching 270,000 beneficiaries in West Africa, 545,000 in India and 250,000 in Latin America.

"When I started One Drop in 2007, I was far from imagining that in as few as 10 years, we would be on our way to having transformed the lives of over one million people and raised over $120 million to provide access to water. One Drop didn't follow the typical growth path, I agree, but I was lucky enough to count on the support of people who share my desire to change the world, at a fast pace, and in a bold and positive way," Guy Laliberte, founder of One Drop said.

As one of the leading forces in providing sustainable access to safe water, adequate sanitation and proper hygiene, One Drop works with several international and local executing partners to support governments in reaching the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goal Six - ensure access to water and sanitation for all by 2030  to achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all. A few highlights on One Drop's 10-year achievements include:

Completing projects in Latin America , Africa and India including:

, and including:

Four projects completed in Nicaragua , Honduras , El Salvador and Haiti ; six ongoing projects in Guatemala , Nicaragua , Mexico , Colombia and Paraguay

, , and ; six ongoing projects in , , , and



One project completed in Burkina Faso ; three ongoing projects in Burkina Faso and Mali

; three ongoing projects in and



One project completed in Odisha; two ongoing projects in Bihar and Rajasthan

Working with executing partners in these countries including private companies such as Cowater International Inc., and both international and local NGOs such as Fundacion Plan International ( Colombia ), Moises Bertoni ( Paraguay ), WaterAid, Water for People, LivingWater International and Centre of MicroFinance ( India );



), ( ), WaterAid, Water for People, LivingWater International and Centre of MicroFinance ( ); Implementing One Drop's unique Social Art for Behavior Change approach at the heart of each projects, that aims at delivering sustainability in WASH. For example

unique approach at the heart of each projects, that aims at delivering sustainability in WASH. For example

In Burkina Faso , in partnership with the Executing Partner, Oxfam, One Drop worked with local arts-based groups to create theater shows, produced as part of the overall project to mobilize the population. Inspired by local oral traditions, traditional characters, such as the Chief and the Griot, are integrated into the plays to build on local ties and promote behavior changes on specific key determinants;

, in partnership with the Executing Partner, Oxfam, worked with local arts-based groups to create theater shows, produced as part of the overall project to mobilize the population. Inspired by local oral traditions, traditional characters, such as the Chief and the Griot, are integrated into the plays to build on local ties and promote behavior changes on specific key determinants;





In India-Bihar, in collaboration with the implementing partner, Water for People, One Drop worked with local arts-based groups to support the development of a multidisciplinary touring show, street theater, school-based workshops and short films, to reach over 200 villagescreating awareness and mobilizing the population towards positive Behavior change

Receiving renowned awards from the International Water Association in 2013, the American Water Resources Association and the United Nations Water in 2015;

Reaching donors and funders in unique ways, including several annual charity events such as One Night for One Drop , Big One for One Drop poker tournament, a Formula-E partnership, and live and online auctions and sweepstakes.

"It's incredibly exciting to reach the 10-year milestone and we're proud of how far we've come, but we're just getting started," said Marie-Claude Bourgie, chief development officer for One Drop. "In the next few years, we will work hard to bring our Social Art for Behavior Change Approach to new heights as we continue to improve our processes in the hopes of bringing more sustainability into our projects."

To commemorate the anniversary, One Drop kicks off its most important online project to date, 10 Waves of One Drop. This ten-month series of fundraising events will offer unique celebrity experiences through online auctions and sweepstakes to benefit One Drop, with half of the proceeds going to the celebrities' charities of choice. This large-scale event reinforces the brand's commitment to create innovative fundraising initiatives that address different target audiences.

Watch our anniversary video summarizing One Drop's most memorable moments from the past 10 years, and visit www.onedrop.org to learn more.

About One Drop

One Drop is an international foundation created in 2007 by Cirque du Soleil's founder Guy Laliberte. At the core of our mission is safe water as a transformative force to improve the living conditions of some of the world's most vulnerable communities. We believe in the combined power of safe water access while inspiring behaviour change towards water and proper hygiene practices. We bring into all of our projects a unique Social Art for Behavior Change approach that aims at engaging communities in embracing adequate behaviors and taking ownership to deliver long-term impact and sustainability. This year, One Drop is celebrating 10 years of bringing sustainable access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene to people around the world with projects in 11 countries that will have reached over one million beneficiaries.

To learn more about One Drop, visit www.onedrop.org.

Interact with One Drop on Facebook and Twitter at @onedrop, or on Instagram @1dropwater

SOURCE One Drop
NEW YORK, November 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

Although amazing advances unceasingly occur in drug development and medical procedures, delivery of health care services to patients has been woefully slow to embrace technology. It took a federal government mandate in 2014 to force health care providers to adopt and demonstrate "meaningful use" of electronic medical records (EMR) in order to maintain Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement levels. Since the mandate, the use of EMR's has expanded worldwide, improving quality, safety and efficiencies throughout global health organizations. However, health care still, disturbingly, stands apart from all other industries in the efficient conveyance of patient services, which is most acutely felt among the 80+ million Americans that live in underserved rural areas. These regions suffer from a chronic shortage of primary care physicians and, even more critically, specialty care physicians. Urban-based health companies have little incentive to expand footprints into sparsely populated communities, and the promises that telemedicine would fill this critical void have fallen far short of expectations. This dilemma presents an enormous societal challenge, but, conversely, it presents an even greater opportunity for health care companies that provide operative solutions. In this space, Medical Innovation Holdings, Inc. (OTC: MIHI) (MIHI Profile) is rolling out a disruptive telemedicine business model that positions it among the ranks of larger peers. At the same time, MIHI's approach greatly differentiates it from its peers, including Teladoc, Inc. (NYSE: TDOC), eWellness Healthcare Corp. (OTC: EWLL), Evolent Health Inc. (NYSE: EVH) and health care behemoth UnitedHealth Group Inc. (NYSE: UNH).



The telemedicine market in the United States is forecast to exceed $13 billion by 2021, according to research and consulting firm Pharmaion (http://nnw.fm/Y7wSr). An aging population, the rising incidence of chronic diseases and spiraling health care costs are making telemedicine one of the fastest growing sectors in health care. Telemedicine includes multiple medical subspecialties, such as telepediatrics, teleradiology, telepsychiatry and telecardiology, though, often, these services are not being effectively delivered to the people that need them most.



By partnering with rural doctors and Affordable Care Organizations (ACOs), Medical Innovation Holdings (OTC: MIHI) has turned the moribund telemedicine business model on its head to provide access to previously inaccessible specialty medical services.



Traditional telemedicine companies charge a monthly online subscription fee to join a network to access doctors on demand. Patients using this business-to-consumer (B2C) service are forced into a symptom-based medical approach with limited treatment options, since the doctor has no immediate access to diagnostic tests or patient records. The patient is responsible for the monthly subscription fee, as well as doctor charges, because insurance isn't accepted. Patients pay more, receive less and have no continuity of care. In essence, these companies are contract service providers that deliver virtual physician interfaces and not genuine medical practices.



This is where MIHI stands apart from its peers. Employing its unique business-to-business (B2B) and B2C models, MIHI connects virtual health specialty doctors with primary care physicians and their patients, reducing cost while enhancing quality of care. Upon partnership with primary care doctors, MIHI provides the necessary tools for expanded patient care and the opportunity for physicians to expand their businesses. MIHI gives the primary doctor a full tele-cart workstation with comprehensive peripherals. When a patient electronically interfaces with a specialist in the local doctor's office, the specialist has immediate access to multiple diagnostic tests and patient records in order to determine an appropriate course of action based on evidentiary findings.



To provide rural clinics unmatched efficacy and set a new standard in the marketplace, Medical Innovation has entered into an exclusive manufacturing supply agreement for customized NextGen telemedicine equipment that will fit the footprint of any doctor's office partnered with MIHI and support a blend of in-office and virtual visits (http://nnw.fm/2FeuN). The agreement with MDI Source, a 30-year veteran of the technology industry, will seamlessly couple MDI's hardware with MIHI's EMR/PMS software solution.



MIHI doesn't charge a subscription fee like other telemedicine companies but rather readily accepts insurance, including Medicare, Medicaid and the Veterans Choice Program. The company's mission is being embraced by the medical community. As indication, MIHI recently engaged a new ACO in Florida, and another, in Georgia, is ready to come aboard, opening the door to over 1,000 new doctors.



Substantially expanding its market reach, MIHI also recently announced the launch of Telemedicos USA (http://www.TelemedicosUSA.com), a Spanish-language health care platform positioned to address the needs of the 58 million Hispanics living in the United States. Telemedicos USA provides the opportunity for MIHI to deliver its specialty services to a significant market demographic and provide needed services for those who are more comfortable in the Spanish language.



"This was a natural evolution for us. We purposefully positioned MIHI for this market because we understand the nuances of providing services to such an ethnically diverse group that make up the Hispanic community," MIHI CEO Jake Sanchez stated in the press release.



To effectively manage rapid national deployment and maximize operational opportunities, MIHI appointed Kevin Swint to the position of chief operating officer (http://nnw.fm/mGE9V ). A 25-year veteran in operations and senior leadership experience in the health and wellness industry, Swint will contribute his wealth of knowledge in IT, retail, health care and executive management to support the company's corporate vision. With tenures at Arthur Andersen, IDS Scheer, Canon Technology Solutions and IBM, Swint is also a certified professional in Healthcare Information and Management Systems (CPHIMS) and an active member of HIMSS.



"MIHI is well-positioned to drive new value for patients, providers and payers by increasing access to critical health and wellness services and products while seeking to bend the cost curve in pursuit of lower cost and improved outcomes for patients and their families," Swint stated in the news release announcing his appointment.



MIHI is also developing ancillary products and services that synergistically blend with its mission. The company is negotiating the purchase of a recognized nutraceutical company, pursuing CBD hemp oil therapies for distribution and developing insurance programs to cover alternative medical therapeutics. All of these products and services will dovetail into MIHI's nationwide network, providing discounts to consumers and added revenue streams to both MIHI and its local physician partners.



Using a subscription-based business-to-consumer model, Teladoc (NYSE: TDOC) offers 24/7 access to U.S. primary care doctors and pediatricians. Patients receive symptom-based diagnoses when they use the service for non-emergency medical issues such as flu symptoms, ear infections or rashes. Insurance is not accepted, and, in addition to the subscription fee, patients are responsible for the doctor's "encounter fee." The fee the patient pays is typically less than the physician charges Teladoc. This means that Teladoc makes up the difference from its subscription revenue. Early in the telemedicine industry, the company has 11.5 million members and will likely be challenged to achieve its goal of profitability by 2018. With an all-time high of $37.55, Teladoc is trading around $32 per share. The stock surged 100% over the last year, carries a market capitalization of $1.8 billion and has a -20.77 P/E.



Physical therapy focused, eWellness Healthcare (OTCQB: EWLL) offers insurance reimbursable real-time distance-monitored treatments. The company's business model centers on licensing its PHZIO platform to physical therapy clinics across the U.S. and also as a monitored corporate wellness program. The company is developing marketing channel partnerships with industry association members, existing software-based telemedicine providers and physical therapy billing and practice management providers. Due to its real-time patient monitoring feature, the PHZIO platform is insurance reimbursable. The company has a market cap of $17.3 million, losing $0.24 per share, and a price earnings ratio of -55.



Evolent Health (NYSE: EVH) supports health systems and physician organizations in their migration toward value-based care, rewarding health care providers with incentive payments for the quality of care they give. Evolent provides an end-to-end, technology-enabled services platform for providers that processes and integrates services and enables providers to migrate their economic orientation from fee-for-service reimbursement to models that reward value-based payment models. The stock trades around $17 a share, down from its 52-week high of $27.50. The company has a $1.3 billion market cap and a -13.94 P/E.



The obvious elephant in the industry, UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) operates through four segments: UnitedHealthcare, OptumHealth, OptumInsight and OptumRx. It conducts operations through two business platforms: health benefits operating under UnitedHealthcare and health services operating under Optum. NowClinic, an Internet-based service of OptumHealth, allows consumers to select and interact with independent health care providers. Enrollment is free, and patients pay for 10-minute visits via credit card. Providing what may be deemed only peripheral primary care, NowClinic collects payment, keeps a portion and pays the doctor. There's no continuity of care, as doctors set available hours and choose to accept or decline patient visits. Trading at all-time highs around $210, UNH has a market cap of just over $200 billion.



Telemedicine has been around in varying incarnations for nearly 20 years, yet millions of citizens still suffer with little to no critical care. History has shown preceding business models to be self-serving top-down systems that never really practiced community-based medicine. Only through the intelligent integration of telecommunications, information technology and local community-based care will telemedicine genuinely deliver on its long-standing promise. Far flung communities will then be healthier, and the companies that deliver on that promise will be amply rewarded.



For more information on Medical Innovation Holdings visit Medical Innovation Holdings, Inc. (OTC: MIHI)



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SOURCE NetworkNewsWire
"Crispy, cheesy, meaty, and filled with flavor  that's our secret to amazing nachos," said Ashley Zickefoose, Chief Marketing Officer for On The Border. "But we also recognize that everyone likes a little something different when it comes to nachos  which is why we're offering both of our top-selling nacho dishes at 50% off for National Nacho Day."

The two nacho options facing off Nacho vs Nacho for ultimate fan-favorite status at OTB are:

Stacked Nachos: Piled high with classic nacho flavor, this crowd-pleaser features seasoned ground beef crumbled over crispy made-in-house tortilla chips and refried beans, smothered with queso, and then topped with sour cream, pico de gallo, pickled jalapenos, and guacamole.

Grande Fajita Nachos: Perfectly packed with plenty of toppings on each bite, guests may choose between mesquite-grilled chicken or steak, sliced and served fajita style atop house-made chips and refried beans, and then covered with melted cheese, sour cream, pico de gallo, pickled jalapenos, and guacamole.

During the year, the two varieties are ordered fairly equally by On The Border guests  but this year's Nacho vs Nacho contest is a way for everyone to cast a vote for their preferred taste. Guests may order either menu item  or both  and enjoy half-off pricing all day on Monday, November 6th, at participating locations, while supplies last. The offer also applies to online and to-go orders placed on November 6th, with no coupon or code necessary.

"No matter which kind of nachos you love, On The Border has you covered for National Nacho Day," added Zickefoose. "50% off pricing is a great way to bring a bunch of friends together to share in the fun you can even order both of our nacho dishes and decide once and for all which is your favorite."

50% off pricing is available on orders of Grande Fajita Nachos or Stacked Nachos on Monday, November 6th at all participating On The Border restaurants, while supplies last. No substitutions or upcharges. No coupon required. Price and participation may vary by location. Offer valid November 6, 2017 only.

About On The Border

On The Border Mexican Grill & Cantina is the world's largest Mexican casual dining brand, offering an extensive menu of great-tasting, classic and contemporary Mexican food, like sizzling mesquite-grilled fajitas, and Margaritas as big and bold as the border itself. On The Border is owned by Border Holdings, LLC, with 158 restaurants in 32 states, Puerto Rico and Asia. Follow and 'like' On The Border on Facebook at www.facebook.com/OnTheBorderMexicanGrillandCantina, and @OnTheBorder on Twitter. For more information, visit www.ontheborder.com.

Contact: Kim Miller

888.869.7899

[email protected]

SOURCE On The Border Mexican Grill & Cantina

Related Links

http://www.ontheborder.com


Nearly half of all American adults have diabetes or prediabetes, yet most don't understand the life-long burden of this chronic illness or the 24/7 work it takes to effectively manage diabetes. This campaign asks everyone affected by diabeteswhether that means people living with diabetes, caregivers or those who are at risk of developing diabetesto put on their capes and share how they're taking a stand. Diabetes is a complex health condition that affects millions of people and without proper management, can lead to serious complications.

"People living with diabetes face enormous challenges each day to manage their diabetes and they must do so while living their normal lives. We recognize the incredible strength they show, and stand with them to help stop the diabetes epidemic," said the Association's Chief Scientific, Medical and Mission Officer William T. Cefalu, MD. "From the mom who takes her insulin shot on the way to pick up her daughter from ballet, to the businessman who prepares his mother's meals and her diabetes medicine each day before leaving for work, the stories of everyday people who live with or love someone with diabetes remind all of us that they are heroes."

Throughout November, the Association encourages everyone to visit diabetes.org/thisisdiabetes and take a stand in one of three ways: donating to support research, education and prevention; becoming an advocate to support efforts to find a cure, improve access to health care and protect the rights of people with diabetes; or sharing your message to "Diabetes," in a letter or video using #DearDiabetes.

Unaddressed, diabetes takes a heavy toll medically, financially and individually. People with diabetes are at an increased risk for other serious health conditions, including cardiovascular disease, kidney failure, amputation and blindness. The economic burden of diabetes and prediabetes is $322 billion each year, and people with diabetes have health care costs that are 2.3 times higher than someone without diabetes. Yet the true cost of diabetes is in the millions of lives it touches. This campaign is designed to highlight the many faces of the diabetes epidemic and encourage everyone to take a stand.

"One in 11 Americans has diabetes, a chronic disease that can often lead to serious complications and requires constant self-management," said the Association's Senior Vice President, Government Affairs & Advocacy, LaShawn McIver, MD, MPH. "This November, we are asking people to start paying attentionto step up, suit up and join us in improving the lives of all people affected by diabetes."

This year's American Diabetes Month campaign is supported nationally by Colgate Total.

About the American Diabetes Association

Nearly half of American adults have diabetes or prediabetes; more than 30 million adults and children have diabetes; and every 21 seconds, another individual is diagnosed with diabetes in the U.S. Founded in 1940, the American Diabetes Association (Association) is the nation's leading voluntary health organization whose mission is to prevent and cure diabetes, and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes. The Association drives discovery by funding research to treat, manage and prevent all types of diabetes, as well as to search for cures; raises voice to the urgency of the diabetes epidemic; and works to safeguard policies and programs that protect people with diabetes. In addition, the Association supports people living with diabetes, those at risk of developing diabetes, and the health care professionals who serve them through information and programs that can improve health outcomes and quality of life. For more information, please call the American Diabetes Association at 1-800-DIABETES (1-800-342-2383) or visit diabetes.org. Information from both of these sources is available in English and Spanish. Find us on Facebook (American Diabetes Association), Twitter (@AmDiabetesAssn) and Instagram (@AmDiabetesAssn).

SOURCE American Diabetes Association

Related Links

http://www.diabetes.org


LEMONT, Ill., Oct. 31, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Turning Point USA today announced more than 3,000 students have applied to attend their Student Action Summit (SAS) in West Palm Beach. The summit is set to run Dec. 19-22 and will feature dozens of today's most prominent speakers, including Donald Trump Jr., Steve Bannon, Ben Shapiro, Tomi Lahren and Jesse Waters.

Confirmed Speakers for Turning Point USA's Student Action Summit

"It's great to be able to get so many students together to discuss the importance of freedom and free markets with their fellow peers," said Charlie Kirk, founder and executive director for Turning Point USA. "We're incredibly fortunate to have such a strong lineup of speakers for the students and I sincerely hope every one of these individuals walks away from the event having learned something."

This event comes as a follow-up to the organization's Young Women's Leadership Summit held last July. That conference had almost 1,000 young women come together to network with peers and hear from guest speakers such as Joe Walsh, Wayne LaPierre and Lara Trump.

Turning Point USA is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization founded on June 5, 2012, by Charlie Kirk. The organization's mission is to identify, educate, train and organize students to promote the principles of freedom, free markets and limited government.

Since the founding, Turning Point USA has embarked on a mission to build the most organized, active and influential grassroots activist network on college campuses across the country. With a presence on over 1,100 college campuses and high schools, Turning Point USA is the largest and fastest-growing youth organization in America.

Press Contact Information:

Mike Allison

Turning Point USA

106 Stephens St. Suite 104B

Lemont, Ill. 60439

973-757-9121

[email protected]

Related Links

Turning Point USA

Turning Point USA News

SOURCE Turning Point USA
NEW YORK, Nov. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Tapad, the leader in cross-device marketing technology, today announced a partnership with Throtle, a leading data onboarding company. The Tapad Device Graph will enhance Throtle's best-in-class onboarding capabilities by providing accurate and privacy-safe cross-device reach as well as precise audiences at scale.

In partnership with Tapad, Throtle will deterministically link its services to a corroborated individual with hundreds of targeting attributes. This linkage allows Throtle to offer true cross-device identity management and identity resolution services to accompany its robust onboarding capabilities. Throtle will also work with Tapad to validate its device graph, building larger, more comprehensive audience segments.

To date, the Tapad Device Graph has connected 61 percent of Throtle IDs to related ones in the graph, with an average amplification rate of 475 percent for Throtle's IDs, or 4.8 new IDs per each of Throtle's. Throtle has also seen its overall match rates involving Tapad's identity insights rise an average of 15 percent since the inception of the partnership. More specifically, Tapad's mobile advertising IDs (MAIDs) have increased Throtle's in-app identity inventory by 35 percent.

"Tapad has proven to be a trusted source for cross-device matching and has a tremendous reputation in the advertising and marketing technology industries for delivering superior precision and scale with the utmost dedication to privacy," says Paul Chachko, CEO, Throtle. "Since we first began our test phase, and continuing through to this day, Tapad has met and exceeded our expectations for what a partner should be."

With Tapad's strong commitment to precision and accuracy, Throtle was confident that this partnership would prove to be the right choice for the strategic expansion of its platform. Not only does Tapad deliver in-depth insights, parsing deterministic from probabilistic linkages, but its pool of device-level touchpoints enables Throtle to increase scale without seeing a decline in precision.

"Accuracy and precision are core characteristics of our proprietary Device Graph," explains Chris Feo, SVP, Strategy & Global Partnerships, Tapad. "When Throtle approached our team, we knew we would be the right partner to assist their leading onboarding technology. We're excited to work with Throtle to achieve cross-device reach, audience scale and precise deterministic and probabilistic linkages for its clients."

For more information about the Tapad Device Graph, or to request a demo, visit www.tapad.com.

About Tapad

Tapad Inc. is a marketing technology company renowned for its breakthrough, unified, cross-device solutions. The company's signature Tapad Device Graph connects millions of consumers across billions of devices. The world's largest brands and most effective marketers entrust Tapad to provide an accurate, privacy-conscious, and unified approach to connecting with consumers across screens. In 2015, Tapad began licensing the Tapad Device Graph and swiftly became the established gold-standard throughout the ad tech ecosystem. Tapad is based in New York and has offices in Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, London, Los Angeles, Miami, Oslo, San Francisco, Singapore, and Tokyo. Tapad's numerous awards include: Forbes' Most Promising Companies, Deloitte's Technology Fast 500, Crain's Fast 50, TMCnet Tech Culture Award, and Global Startup Award's "Startup Founder of the Year". In 2016, Tapad was acquired by the Telenor Group, one of the world's largest mobile operators with 214 million subscribers in 13 countries.

About Throtle

Throtle is a data onboarding company focused on deterministic matching and identity resolution, empowering brands with true individual-based marketing. Our data centric onboarding approach guarantees the highest level of accuracy, scale, and responsiveness for our clients. For more information on Throtle, please visit, throtle.io.

Media Contact

Natalie Vegel

Associate Director of PR, Tapad

[email protected]

SOURCE Tapad

Related Links

http://www.tapad.com


"Hollywood has a knack for turning everyday physicians into miracle workers," notes DoctorNews Managing Editor Scott Martin. "Dr. Fisher and his team proved the truth behind the fantasy."

An excerpt from the interview reveals both the extreme measures Sunrise Hospital took to manage the flood of incoming ambulances and the training that made it possible to save hundreds of lives:

Las Vegas Sunrise Hospital is an American College of Surgeons certified trauma center, so the staff had drilled twice a year to prepare for mass casualties.

Nearly everyone, whether scheduled to work, on call or off for the night, came into work, a team of over 100 medical professionals assembling in less than an hour. Procedures that had been put in place theoretically during training were tested in real life.

"We do drill for this, and so we have the mechanisms and structure in place," says Fisher. "But nothing compares to the real thing, the drill doesn't compare to the real thing. I think overall we did everything really excellently."

Without that preparation and timing, the Sunrise E.R. truly could have looked like a war zone. Instead, hospital staff diagnosed incoming patients fast enough to organize 30 times the normal flow of trauma cases, routing wounds to specialists ready to save lives.

That's what miracles look like.

ABOUT DOCTORNEWS.COM

DoctorNews.com was founded in 2014 to fill a perceived gap in the universe of news and perspectives that members of the medical community can apply to their own professional, personal and financial lives. For more information, contact our publishing team.

SOURCE DoctorNews.com

Related Links

https://www.doctornews.com


TAIPEI, Taiwan, Nov. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- TWi Biotechnology Inc., a clinical stage biotechnology company based in Taiwan, today announced that positive results of the phase 2 trial, A Study of AC-201 Controlled-Release Tablet (CR Tablet) in Patients with Gout, will be presented at the 2017 ACR/ARHP annual meeting in San Diego, United States. The trial demonstrated taking 100mg AC-201CR twice a day in combination with 40mg febuxostat, a xanthine oxidase inhibitor (OXI), significantly increased the treatment success rate from 55% to 64% (P=0.0337) and from 27% to 39% (P=0.0140) defined as reaching serum uric acid (sUA) concentration below 6mg/dL and 5mg/dL in 4 weeks, respectively. In addition, without colchicine or NSAID prophylaxis during the treatment period, the increased treatment success rate was not associated with an increase in the incidence rate of acute gout flare, which is the common problem when trying to bring down sUA quickly or to improve the clinical treatment success rate by taking high dose OXI or in combination with uricosuric agents. AC-201CR was well tolerated in the trial.

"We are very pleased to have the opportunity to present the trial results in the annual meeting of ACR/ARHP because it is the most important meeting in the field." said by Dr. Calvin C. Chen, president and CEO of TWi Biotechnology. "The poor compliance of the urate lowering therapy due to frequent gout flares at the initiation and the requirement of long titration time, as well as the low treatment success rate and safety concerns including severe skin toxicity, liver toxicity, or kidney toxicity offered by existing therapies are the major unmet needs for the management of sUA in patients with gout or hyperuricemia. Furthermore, the high prevalence of multiple metabolic diseases among patients makes the unique mode of actions of AC-201CR that inhibit the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome and the production of downstream IL-1beta/IL-18 more suitable for these patients. Clinical trials of AC-201 have demonstrated its benefit in controlling blood glucose levels and HbA1c in patients with type 2 diabetes. An anti-IL-1beta mAb also has been proved by a long term, large scale clinical trial to reduce heart disease rate in high risk patients. We have high hope that AC-201CR will help those patients suffering from metabolic diseases, and are looking for collaboration partners to advance the development works worldwide."

About the Study

The Phase 2 study (study code: AC-201-GOU-002) was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter study. This study was designed to test the urate-lowering effects, safety and tolerability of AC-201 controlled-release tablets (vs. placebo) in an initial dosing period as a monotherapy, followed by addition of febuxostat to test the efficacy and safety of the combination. At 14 clinical sites in Taiwan, the study enrolled 127 eligible subjects, who were confirmed with gout, and randomized in a 1:1 allocation ratio to either AC-201 CR or placebo over a 12-week treatment period and a 4-week follow-up period.

The primary efficacy endpoint was the proportion of subjects achieving serum uric acid concentration <6.0 mg/dL at Week 8. The major secondary efficacy endpoints were proportion of subjects achieving serum uric acid concentration <6.0 mg/dL or <5.0 mg/dL at each visit; number of gout flares per subject during each period and overall.

About Hyperuricemia and Gout

Gout is a medical condition usually characterized by recurrent attacks of acute inflammatory arthritis -- a red, tender, warm, swollen joint caused by an inflammatory response to uric acid crystals deposited in joints and soft tissues as a result of elevated levels of uric acid in the blood (hyperuricemia). Urate crystals in joints can trigger acute arthritic flares, chronic destructive arthropathy, and formation of tophi. According to the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) study, the prevalence of gout among US adults in 2007-2008 was 3.9% (8.3 million individuals).

About AC-201/ AC-201 CR

AC-201 is a first-in-class, orally available small molecule, which has shown the dual abilities to inhibit URAT1 as well as the production and activity of caspase-1 and the cytokine Interleukin-1Beta (IL-1Beta) through the inhibition of the assembly of the NLRP3 inflammasome. Inhibition of the NLRP3 inflammasome associated signaling pathway and IL-1Beta has been demonstrated to be effective in treating a variety of diseases including arthritis, gout, and diabetes mellitus. The active ingredient of AC-201 has been approved for treating patients with chronic rheumatic diseases in EU and Middle Eastern countries since mid-1990. AC-201 CR is the controlled release oral formulation of AC-201.

TWi Biotechnology holds two US INDs for AC-201  one for controlling blood glucose in patients with type II diabetes and the other for treating gout in patients under urate-lowering therapy. In addition to the good safety record of its active ingredient used in treating another chronic disease, AC-201 has undergone testing in several human clinical trials including 4 phase II trials with up to 6 months treatment period with a satisfactory safety profile demonstrated.

About TWi Biotechnology, Inc.

TWi Biotechnology, Inc. is a leading clinical stage biopharmaceutical company based in Taipei, Taiwan, specializing in the development of repositioned drugs for unmet medical needs, especially in the diseases associated with innate immunity. The company is building its product pipeline through in-licensing and internal research. TWi Biotechnology's product development pipeline includes two drug candidates for treating epidermolysis bullosa, gout, type II diabetes, hemophilic arthropathy, and immunodermatology diseases.

Media Contact:

Contact Person: Weishu Lu

Phone Number: +886-2-26571788 ext.300

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE TWi Biotechnology Inc.
IRVINE, Calif., Nov. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Neudesic, a nationally recognized technology consulting and solutions firm, was selected by UCHealth to build a new mobile application to create a deeper and more connected experience for patients of UCHealth. Neudesic, a global award-winning Microsoft Technology partner, helped cultivate a more interactive and inclusive experience for UCHealth patients by developing My Health Connection, which delivers patient-specific information and readily available health resources.

"Part of offering excellent care and service is meeting our patients where they are, bringing a full library of medical information to their mobile devices," said Manny Rodriguez, Chief Marketing and Experience Officer, UCHealth. "At the same time, the UCHealth app goes well beyond records and calendars; our fundamental goal is to empower our patients to live a healthy lifestyle and take control of their future  while providing a personalized and unique experience for patients  helping us grow as the region's preferred health provider".

Neudesic worked with UCHealth to gain further insight on mobile strategy, which is already allowing executives to plan for future integrations. They have already begun exploring capabilities for artificial intelligence, automated features and virtual reality healthcare scenarios.

"We are excited to partner with UCHealth to accelerate their mobile and digital evolution to transform patient care," said Brendon Birdoes, VP of Digital Innovation at Neudesic. "And our ability to leverage Xamarin to share 75% of the code across both iOS and Android, enabled the release of the app to their patients that much faster."

To read the full UCHealth case study, click here.

About Neudesic

Neudesic is the trusted technology partner in business innovation, delivering impactful business results to clients through digital modernization and evolution. Our consultants bring business and technology expertise together, offering a wide range of cloud and data-driven solutions, including: custom application development, comprehensive managed services, and business software products. Founded in 2002, Neudesic is a privately held company headquartered in Irvine, California, and is celebrating its 15th Anniversary in 2017. For more information, or to consult with Neudesic to explore enterprise digital evolution, visit www.neudesic.com.

Media Contact: Mike Graff Senior Marketing Manager, Solutions Neudesic (949) 754-4599 [email protected]

SOURCE Neudesic

Related Links

http://www.neudesic.com


NEW ORLEANS, Nov. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Aspen Institute's Alliance for Artisan Enterprise have partnered to create economic opportunities for refugees through artisan enterprise. November 1-3, 2017, UNHCR and the Aspen Institute joined forces to launch the 2017 Global Showcase at the TEDWomen Conference in New Orleans, LA. With the support of USA for UNHCR, the Global Showcase features 11 artisan enterprises that are working across the Middle East, Africa, and the United States to provide meaningful work to more than 1,500 refugee women.

The partnership between UNHCR and the Aspen Institute seeks to address the immense need of refugees for sustainable income-earning opportunities and the power of economic productivity to rebuild lives.

"We are delighted to support the Alliance's TEDWomen Global Showcase to tell the stories of refugees from all over the world who are rebuilding their lives through enterprise," noted Anne-Marie Grey, Executive Director and CEO of USA for UNHCR.

Around the world, over 65 million people have been forcibly displaced from their homes  many uprooted for more than 20 years. After fleeing war or persecution, the opportunity to work and earn a living is one of the most effective ways people can rebuild their lives in dignity and peace. "The creation of viable artisan businesses connected to markets empowers refugees to build strong social and economic ties with their host communities and the world, and strengthens their ability to provide for their families while in refugee status," says Peggy Clark, Vice President of the Aspen Institute and Executive Director of Aspen Global Innovators Group.

"When refugees flee, they flee with their heritage and their skills. For refugees to be able to use their artisanal skills in a way that helps them earn an income is so important in the process of rebuilding their lives in a peaceful and meaningful way," says Heidi Christ, Artisan Value Chain Expert at UNHCR.

The partnership between UNHCR and the Aspen Institute brings together UNHCR's commitment to the wellbeing of refugees and work on economic inclusion with the Alliance for Artisan Enterprise's network of 140 members in 114 countries and expertise in building viable artisan businesses. Together, the organizations will work closely with refugee artisan businesses to introduce unique products and techniques to the market, while giving refugees the opportunity to earn an income and restore their sense of self-determination.

The Aspen Institute is an educational and policy studies organization based in Washington, DC. Its mission is to foster leadership based on enduring values and to provide a nonpartisan venue for dealing with critical issues. The Institute is based in Washington, DC; Aspen, Colorado; and on the Wye River on Maryland's Eastern Shore. It also has offices in New York City and an international network of partners. For more information, visit www.aspeninstitute.org.

SOURCE The Aspen Institute

Related Links

http://www.aspeninstitute.org/


OMAHA, Neb., Nov. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Rob Knight, chief financial officer of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE: UNP), will address the following investor conferences in November:

Stephens 2017 Fall Investment Conference  New York

Nov. 8, 2017 , at 9:00 a.m. ET

, at

View presentation and listen to live Internet webcast at www.up.com/investor



Alternatively, the audio portion can be accessed directly through the following webcast link





Baird 2017 Global Industrial Conference  Chicago

Nov. 9, 2017 , at 8:00 a.m. CT

, at

View presentation and listen to live Internet webcast at www.up.com/investor



Alternatively, the audio portion can be accessed directly through the following webcast link

Replays of the audio webcasts will be available shortly after the conclusion of the live events on Union Pacific's Investors website.

ABOUT UNION PACIFIC

Union Pacific Railroad is the principal operating company of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE: UNP). One of America's most recognized companies, Union Pacific Railroad connects 23 states in the western two-thirds of the country by rail, providing a critical link in the global supply chain. In the past 10 years, 2007-2016, Union Pacific invested approximately $34 billion in its network and operations to support America's transportation infrastructure. The railroad's diversified business mix includes Agricultural Products, Automotive, Chemicals, Coal, Industrial Products and Intermodal. Union Pacific serves many of the fastest-growing U.S. population centers, operates from all major West Coast and Gulf Coast ports to eastern gateways, connects with Canada's rail systems and is the only railroad serving all six major Mexico gateways. Union Pacific provides value to its roughly 10,000 customers by delivering products in a safe, reliable, fuel-efficient and environmentally responsible manner.

Union Pacific Investor contact: Mike Staffenbeal at 402-544-4227 or [email protected]

www.up.com

www.facebook.com/unionpacific

www.twitter.com/unionpacific

SOURCE Union Pacific

Related Links

http://www.up.com


WASHINGTON, Nov. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Village Tea Company Distribution, Inc.(herein-after the "Company"), a division of Affinity Beverage Group, Inc., (OTC Pink: ABVG), announced that the Company, as part of its ongoing effort to introduce more people to the benefits of drinking quality loose leaf tea, has launched its new food service and hospitality platform in EAT Food Market (EAT), on the campus of Northern Arizona University (NAU) located in Flagstaff, Arizona. EAT, operated by Sodexo, is a new on-campus Market/Cafe concept that will offer the over 25,000 students attending NAU; a noodle bar, a self service salad station, smoothie/vegan shake bar, loose leaf tea bar and other food and beverage retail items.

Village Tea Company is the exclusive Tea provider for EAT. The Company's premium loose leaf tea is available by the cup in a variety of blends, lattes, smoothies and ice tea recipes at EAT's dedicated tea and smoothie bar. Multiple sizes and flavors of Village Tea Company's sustainably packaged, organic loose leaf tea and tea accessories are also available for purchase in the retail section of the market, where the Company will also feature its newly developed single serve and teaser Point Of Sale dispensers for students and faculty who would like to enjoy the Company's products at home or in their dorm rooms. Other Village Tea Company distributed products, including Vegan Smart Shakes, Undone Chocolate and other potential products, will be featured on the menu and available for purchase in the market.

"We are excited about the relationship with EAT, as it is the perfect opportunity to work with a world class organization for the launch of our new food service and direct-to-consumer retail platform in an environment that allows us to interact on a daily basis with our core target consumers, GEN-Z and Millennials, who are looking for "better for you" food and beverage options on campus. Because of acceleration in the desire for healthier food and beverages over the past several years we feel that there is a tremendous growth opportunity for our products in this channel of distribution, especially working with one of country's leading providers of on-campus dining services. Although our goal is to continue focusing on the expansion of our food service program and on-campus presence at various colleges and universities across the country, we will also seek opportunities to leverage the on-campus exposure of our products to develop additional sales and marketing initiatives with retailers in the surrounding communities," stated Janon Costley, CEO of Village Tea Company Distribution/Affinity Beverage Group, Inc.

The Company is looking forward to working closely with the team at EAT on potential opportunities to expand the concept to additional locations in the near future. Please continue to follow the Company for further updates.

About Village Tea:

Village Tea Distribution Company, Inc. (www.villageteaco.com) sources high-quality, unique teas with distinct flavor combinations and packages them under its Village Tea Company brand name in a variety of creative and earth-friendly ways. The Village Tea Company brand has been sold in many major retailers throughout North America. The Company is no longer just about tea, it is also using its unique positioning in the marketplace to create a distribution platform to introduce other complimentary health and wellness lifestyle brands and products.

About Affinity Beverage:

Affinity Beverage Group, Inc. (www.affinitybeverage.com) is a holding company that focuses on branded consumer product acquisition opportunities in the $3.4 trillion health and wellness sector. Affinity primarily targets lifestyle brands, companies, and/or exclusive product distribution rights focusing on traditional and non-traditional, healthy beverage options. Affinity will also seek opportunities involving uniquely positioned young brands specializing in all natural/organic foods, bio-food, supplements and personal care products for strategic partnerships, distribution agreements and potential acquisition. The Company currently has two wholly owned subsidiaries, Village Tea Company Distribution, Inc and Undone Chocolate, LLC.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this news release may contain forward-looking information within the meaning of Rule 175 under the Securities Act of 1933 and Rule 3b-6 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and are subject to the safe harbor created by those rules. All statements, other than statements of fact, included in this release, including, without limitation, statements regarding potential future plans and objectives of the company, are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Technical complications, which may arise, could prevent the prompt implementation of any strategically significant plan(s) outlined above.

Source:

Village Tea Company/Affinity Beverage Group

[email protected] /[email protected]

Twitter: @villageteaco/@affinitybev

Instagram: @villageteaco/@affintybeverage

SOURCE Affinity Beverage Group, Inc. (ABVG)
DENVER, Nov. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Vision Care Specialists announced today that Denver eye-care firm Englewood Eyecare has become the latest member of the growing Vision Care Specialists' family.

Englewood Eyecare was founded by David J. Newman, OD, a leading Denver optometrist who's been in private practice for more than 30 years.

Vision Care Specialists Acquires Englewood Eyecare

"Having Dr. Newman and his staff join the VCS family creates great symmetry for our expanding company and for the Englewood community," said Vision Care Specialists chief executive officer Jeff Poe. "As part of a larger network, Dr. Newman will have access to more resources and be able to serve Englewood's growing community. His long-term stability and success in Denver make him and his practice a great fit for the Vision Care Specialists' family."

Dr. Newman and his staff, including optician Nikky Roberts, will continue to provide vision care and personalized optometric service to patients at their office at 850 Englewood Pkwy Suite 100A. This location will become the seventh in the Vision Care Specialists group, which also includes offices in Aurora, Highlands Ranch, Lakewood, Parker, University Hills, and downtown Denver.

In joining Vision Care Specialists, Dr. Newman becomes part of Denver's leading group of eye-care doctors, who've been providing cutting-edge optometry services in Colorado for more than forty years.

A Southern California College of Optometry graduate, Dr. Newman says he is looking forward to working with Poe's team. In joining the VCS family Dr. Newman joins two of his Southern California College of Optometry class mates Dr. Gerlock and Dr. Roberson.

"I'm thrilled about the opportunity to join such an illustrious practice," said Dr. Newman. "This is a perfect fit for Nikky and I, since Jeff Poe and his team share our vision of making patient care our top priority. Their large network of doctors and staff will help us offer even more services to our patients."

Founded in 1974, Vision Care Specialists has earned a reputation for making a difference in its patients' lives. While many eye-care practices have followed the industry trend of private equity buyouts or have joined franchises and hospital-owned physician groups to gain advantages of scale, Vision Care Specialists believes strongly in physician-defined standards of care. That dedication to an independent medical practice model allows investment in state-of-the-art technologies; in 2014, it became the first private group of surgeons in Denver to offer laser cataract procedures.

For more information, please visit https://www.visioncarespecialists.com/

Media Contact:

Rudi Fields

303.991.9628 (Direct)

303.991.9644 (Fax)

[email protected]

www.visioncarespecialists.com

SOURCE Vision Care Specialists

Related Links

https://www.visioncarespecialists.com


HOLMDEL, N.J., Nov. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Vonage (NYSE: VG), a leading provider of business cloud communications, has launched VonageReach, an SMS Automation Platform designed to provide enterprises with the ability to easily implement streamlined, automated, and targeted messaging to prospects and customers.

The launch of VonageReach is another step forward in the Company's long-term plan to create packaged business communications applications using Nexmo, the Vonage API Platform, setting it apart from other cloud communications providers. Developed using Nexmo APIs, VonageReach is a new delivery model of communications whereby complex and robust functionality can be easily implemented as a turnkey messaging solution, to augment Vonage's existing Unified Communications as-a-Service (UCaaS) offering.

Legacy messaging management applications are often heavy, expensive, and require software expertise to install and manage. Using Nexmo APIs, VonageReach arms businesses with targeted and relevant B2B2C capabilities without the resources, or need, of an expert software engineer.

"The addition of VonageReach to our robust product portfolio enables our business customers to send automated and personalized contextual messages to customers and leads in real-time," said Omar Javaid, Vonage Chief Product Officer. "By using our Nexmo API Platform to create this packaged solution, we are complementing our UCaaS offering with powerful and easy-to-use SMS capabilities to help businesses convert more leads, engage with customers in more meaningful ways, and streamline operations to help drive better business outcomes."

This extended UCaaS offering, which combines the world of voice and messaging to help build and maintain lifecycle management with customers and prospects, uses popular business communication channels including voice, SMS and email.

Today's consumer receives countless voice and email messages on a daily basis, making it difficult for businesses to make their message stand out in the noise. The VonageReach SMS automation platform enables companies to connect with customers and prospective customers in a more personalized and contextual way, through what is arguably the most used and effective communication channel - text messaging.

As a multi-channel solution, VonageReach supplements the power of text with messaging channels such as email, social media and voice, providing the ability to reach customers and prospects wherever they are, all from a single platform. VonageReach automates and personalizes messaging by associating each contact within a company's customer or lead database with unique interests, preferences, and responsive behavior, allowing them to target each recipient with the most relevant message.

VonageReach was developed as an integrated feature for Vonage's UCaaS offering by leading mobile messaging and multi-channel marketing automation software provider, Trumpia.

About Vonage

Vonage (NYSE: VG) is a leading provider of cloud communications services for business. Vonage transforms the way people work and businesses operate through a portfolio of cloud-based communications solutions that enable internal collaboration among employees, while also keeping companies closely connected with their customers, across any mode of communication, on any device.

Nexmo, the Vonage API Platform, provides tools for voice, messaging and phone verification services, allowing developers to embed contextual, programmable communications into mobile apps, websites and business systems. Nexmo APIs enable enterprises to easily communicate relevant information to their customers in real time, anywhere in the world, through text messaging, chat, social media and voice.

The Company also provides a robust suite of feature-rich residential communication solutions. For more information, visit www.vonage.com.

Vonage Holdings Corp. is headquartered in Holmdel, New Jersey. Vonage is a registered trademark of Vonage Marketing LLC, owned by Vonage America Inc. To follow Vonage on Twitter, please visit www.twitter.com/vonage. To become a fan on Facebook, go to www.facebook.com/vonage. To subscribe on YouTube, visit www.youtube.com/vonage.

(vg-a)

SOURCE Vonage

Related Links

http://www.vonage.com


SANTA CLARA, Calif., Nov. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Chegg, the Smarter Way to Student, in partnership with truth, one of the largest and most successful national youth tobacco prevention campaigns, today announced that one U.S. college or high school campus can win a once-in-a-lifetime visit from Steve Aoki, the international producer, DJ and entrepreneur. Beginning today, high school and college students can vote for their school to win this on-campus experience through an online contest. Steve Aoki will take over the classroom to host an exclusive Q&A with students, giving them a look at all that went into his rise to fame and experience as one of America's most successful DJs and trendsetting entrepreneurs. The student body will also be treated to a set specially crafted for the day by Steve Aoki.

To celebrate the importance of arts in education, Chegg will also award the winning school the $10,000 David B. Goldberg Music Grant for the music department at their school.

"I am excited to be participating in the Chegg Music 101 classroom series as it allows me to connect with my fans, share experiences of my career," said Steve Aoki. "I discovered my passion for creating music when I was in school and would have loved to have had the opportunity to hear from industry leaders."

Students attending high school or college in the contiguous 48 states can begin nominating their campus today for a chance to win the experience. To do so, students simply visit www.chegg.com/music101, log in to Chegg, and vote for their school. The school with the most student votes will win the visit from Steve Aoki. For the first time, students can earn additional votes by coming back to the website weekly and interacting with content from Chegg, truth and Steve Aoki.

"While many people may think the smoking issue in this country is solved, tobacco is still the number one cause of preventable death with 99 percent of adult smokers starting by the age of 26," said Eric Asche, Chief Marketing Officer, Truth Initiative, the organization that funds and directs truth. "Partnering with a company like Chegg, allows us to share the facts about tobacco directly with students nationwide. We believe that ending smoking is a realistic goal, and this generation is using their collective power and creativity to make it happen."

This #CheggMusic101 is presented by truth. It is the latest in Chegg's ongoing series of music classes brought to students across college and high school campuses nationwide. This season's contest follows successful programs that Chegg has conducted with top-artists including Kaskade, Shawn Mendes, Rachel Platten, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Taylor Swift, and Ed Sheeran.

"This is our second Chegg Music 101 with an incredible EDM artist. We had a great success in our Brooklyn Technical High School Music 101 with Kaskade where students were able to learn about producing and remixing music. We're thrilled to be able to bring Steve Aoki to another campus," said Mitch Spolan, EVP of Brand Partnerships at Chegg. "By broadening the range of artists we work with for our Chegg Music 101s, the more students we can reach, educate, and surprise and delight as they interact with the artists and brands they love."

To learn more about the contest and nominate a school, visit: www.chegg.com/music101.

To learn more about how to join truth and become part of the generation to end tobacco for good, visit: thetruth.com.

About Chegg

Chegg puts students first and is proud to have saved students and their families more than $1 billion. As the leading student-first connected learning platform, Chegg's Student Hub makes higher education more affordable and more accessible, all while improving student outcomes. Chegg is a publicly-held company based in Santa Clara, California and trades on the NYSE under the symbol CHGG. For more information, visit www.chegg.com

To learn how to get your brand involved with Chegg, visit collegemarketing.chegg.com.

About truth

truth is one of the largest and most successful national youth tobacco prevention campaigns. The campaign exposes the tactics of the tobacco industry, the truth about addiction, and the health effects and social consequences of smoking. truth gives teens facts to make their own informed choices about tobacco use and inspires them to use their social influence and creativity in the fight against tobacco. The campaign is credited with preventing hundreds of thousands of teens from starting to smoke, and is working to make this the generation that ends smoking for good. To learn more, visit thetruth.com. truth is part of Truth Initiative, a national public health organization dedicated to achieving a culture where all youth and young adults reject tobacco. To learn more about Truth Initiative's work speaking, seeking and spreading the truth about tobacco, visit truthinitiative.org.

About Steve Aoki

STEVE AOKI is a 2x Grammy-nominated international producer/DJ, electronic dance music entrepreneur, and founder of the trendsetting record label, events/lifestyle company and apparel line Dim Mak. Since launching in 1996, Dim Mak Records has become a launch pad for seminal acts such as The Chainsmokers, Bloc Party, The Bloody Beetroots and The Gossip through deftly marketed single and full-length releases and now has well over 500 releases to date. As a solo artist, AOKI's has become a force of nature averaging over 250 tour dates per year. Known for collaborations ranging from Snoop Dogg to Linkin Park to JJ Abrams to Migos and Louis Tomlinson (One Direction), AOKI's debut artist album was nominated for the Best Electronic/Dance album Grammy while his follow ups NEON FUTURE I & II featured his Gold certified single "Delirious (Boneless)" with Kid Ink. Most recently "Just Hold On" with One Direction's Louis Tomlinson became a global smash after the pair debuted the song with a performance on X Factor. The song debuted at #1 in 43 countries and has since achieved Gold or Platinum status in 18 countries.

AOKI recently received his second Grammy nomination in the Best Music Film category as the subject of the 2016 Netflix Original documentary "I'll Sleep When I'm Dead" which premiered to a sold out audience at the Tribeca Film Festival. Steve has also both donated and raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for various charitable organizations including his own AOKI FOUNDATION with a primary goal of supporting organizations in the brain science and research areas with a specific focus on regenerative medicine and brain preservation. Steve Aoki released his latest album Kolony on July 21 (via Dim Mak Records / Ultra Records), which debuted at #1 on the Electronic Album charts. Kolony marks Aoki's first full turn into rap music, with nearly 10 years of hip-hop collaborations, which he describes as "bridging the gap" between genres and is stacked with hard-hitting rhymes from some of the most prominent lyricists today, including Lil Uzi Vert, Lil Yachty, Migos, 2 Chainz, Gucci Mane, ILOVEMAKONNEN, T Pain, and more.

SOURCE Chegg, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.chegg.com


"The Tenn-K scholarship program is a great opportunity to minimize the cost barrier for well-deserving Tennesseans who want to pursue an undergraduate or master's degree," said Dr. Kimberly K. Estep, WGU Tennessee chancellor. "Affordability is a priority at WGU Tennessee, and the Tenn-K scholarship helps us make significant strides toward our effort."

In September, WGU Tennessee, in partnership with the Tennessee Board of Regents and UT Martin, hosted a panel on college affordability, addressing student debt, responsible borrowing, and access to scholarships and grants. With the cost of college steadily rising, WGU Tennessee aims to alleviate the financial burden of higher education for its students. Since launching in 2013, WGU Tennessee has awarded more than $1.5 million in scholarships to Tennesseans.

Tenn-K scholarships will be awarded based on the applicants' academic records, readiness for online study, and demonstrated financial need, as well as other considerations. The application deadline is March 15, 2018.

Launched by Gov. Bill Haslam in July 2013 as part of his "Drive to 55" initiative, WGU Tennessee is an online, accredited, nonprofit university established to meet the needs of working adults who wish to complete a bachelor's or master's degree and advance their careers. WGU Tennessee was created through a partnership between the state of Tennessee and nationally recognized Western Governors University. More than 2,000 Tennesseans have graduated since the university's inception, and 3,500-plus are currently enrolled.

To learn more about the Tenn-K Scholarship, visit tennessee.wgu.edu/TennK.

About WGU Tennessee

WGU Tennessee is an online, nonprofit, competency-based university established to expand Tennesseans' access to higher education throughout the state. Formed through a partnership between the state of Tennessee and nationally recognized Western Governors University, WGU Tennessee is open to all qualified Tennessee residents. The university offers more than 60 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in the high-demand career fields of business, K12 teacher education, information technology, and health professions, including nursing.

Degrees are granted under the accreditation of Western Governors University, which is accredited through the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU). Teachers College programs are accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), and nursing programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).*

In addition to WGU Tennessee, there are six other WGU state-based, state-endorsed universities: WGU Indiana, established in June 2010; WGU Washington, established in April 2011; WGU Texas, established in August 2011; WGU Missouri, established in February 2013; WGU Nevada, established in June 2015; and WGU North Carolina, established in October 2017.

For more information, visit the WGU Tennessee website, tennessee.wgu.edu, or call 855-948-8495.

SOURCE WGU Tennessee

Related Links

https://tennessee.wgu.edu


KENT, Wash., Nov. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- To celebrate the life of Major General Tim Lowenberg, as well as his decades of honorable service to his state and nation, WGU Washington is proud to offer the Major General Tim Lowenberg Heroes Scholarship. Three Washington heroes will be selected to receive the award. Military personnel, retired military, veterans, or military spouses are encouraged to apply. Valued at up to $10,000 ($2,500 per term, up to four terms), the funds can be applied to any of WGU Washington's more than 60 degree programs. The deadline to apply for the Major General Tim Lowenberg Heroes Scholarship is January 31, 2018.

"What he did for our state and nation is immeasurable, but I'll remember Tim most for his warmth, kindness, and what he gave of himself to help others achieve their dreams," said Dr. Rich Cummins, Chancellor of WGU Washington. "He was  and will always be  a hero. Hopefully, the scholarship will, in a small way, honor his amazing legacy."

Lowenberg was a great Washingtonian and trusted advisor to WGU Washington. Among his many, outstanding accomplishments, he served as adjutant general of the Washington Military Department and commander of the Washington National Guard from 1999 until his retirement in 2012, highlighting a career that spanned more than 44 years in the U.S. Air Force.

He was a tremendous advocate for increased access to educational opportunities, helping establish the Washington Youth Academy in 2008 that empowers at-risk youth to improve their educational levels and employment potential to become responsible and productive citizens. He served on the WGU Washington Advisory Board since 2013.

Lowenberg passed away at his home in University Place, Wash. in August 2017. He was 70 years old.

"Major General Tim Lowenberg lived a life of service to his state and his country. Trudi and I send our thoughts to his family and will hold them in our hearts as they remember him, and we hope all Washingtonians will do the same," said Gov. Jay Inslee after learning of Lowenberg's passing. "America's freedom endures because of those who answer the call to serve. General Lowenberg was the epitome of service, and on behalf of a grateful state and nation, I want to thank him and his family for their service and sacrifice."

About WGU Washington

WGU Washington is an online, competency-based university designed to expand access to higher education for Washington residents. In 2011, the Washington State Legislature created WGU Washington in partnership with nationally recognized Western Governors University.

Follow WGU Washington:

http://www.facebook.com/WGUWashington

http://www.linkedin.com/companies/western-governors-university

http://twitter.com/wguwashington

http://www.youtube.com/wguwashington

Contact for media inquiries:

Jake Riddell  Public Relations Manager

(206) 512-0025

[email protected]

Contact for enrollment information:

(877) 214-7004

washington.wgu.edu

SOURCE WGU Washington

Related Links

https://washington.wgu.edu


NEW YORK, Nov. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- White Oak Commercial Finance, LLC (WOCF), one of the nation's leading lenders to the middle market, announced today that it has provided a $15 million factoring facility to Mias Fashion, an innovative leader in the full package apparel manufacturing and global sourcing.

Since 1999, Mias Fashion has efficiently produced high-quality products for many of the nation's leading brands and retailers. The company is headquartered in Santa Fe Springs, CA with global operations in South Korea, Mexico and Vietnam. The $15 million line of credit secured against accounts receivable and inventory will be used to facilitate growth and provide additional access to working capital. WOCF is the sole lender.

Peter Ahn, President and CEO of Mias Fashion said, "During the tough retail market condition, WOCF stepped above the rest with an innovative funding structure. With the facility provided by WOCF, Mias Fashion is able to entertain new opportunities to expand our business."

"As innovative companies require more creative financing solutions beyond what traditional banks are able to offer, they are increasingly turning to WOCF for their borrowing needs," said Robert Grbic, President and Chief Executive Officer, WOCF.

Grbic added, "For decades our California office has provided access to financing to wholesalers, manufacturers and importers serving the retail sector. Deals like this are a testament to our seasoned team, our ability to identify value in companies, and our innovative products that adapt to market conditions."

WOCF, formerly Capital Business Credit, was acquired by White Oak Global Advisors, LLC on behalf of its institutional clients in late 2016. Today WOCF has over $300 million of assets deployed with office locations in New York, Charlotte, Chicago, Fort Lauderdale, Los Angeles, Hong Kong and Shanghai.

ABOUT WHITE OAK COMMERCIAL FINANCE, LLC

White Oak Commercial Finance, LLC is a global financial products and services company providing credit facilities to middle market companies between $1 -$30 million. WOCF's solutions include asset-based lending, full-service factoring, invoice discounting, supply chain financing, inventory financing, U.S. import/export financing, trade credit risk management, account receivables management and credit and collections support. WOCF is an affiliate of White Oak Global Advisors, LLC, and its institutional clients. More information can be found at www.whiteoaksf.com.

ABOUT WHITE OAK GLOBAL ADVISORS, LLC

White Oak Global Advisors, LLC is a leading global alternative asset manager specializing in originating and providing financing solutions to facilitate the growth, refinancing and recapitalization of small and medium enterprises. Since its inception in 2007, White Oak Global Advisors, LLC's disciplined investment process aims to deliver risk-adjusted investment returns for our investors while establishing long term partnerships with our borrowers. More information can be found at www.whiteoaksf.com.

SOURCE White Oak Commercial Finance, LLC

Related Links

http://www.whiteoaksf.com


WARRINGTON, Pa. and SHATIN, HONG KONG, Nov. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Windtree Therapeutics, Inc. (OTCQB: WINT), a biotechnology company focused on developing aerosolized KL4 surfactant therapies for respiratory diseases, and LPH Investments Limited ("LPHIL"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Lee's Pharmaceutical Holdings Limited ("Lee's Pharm," SEHK Stock Code: 0950), today announced that they have completed a financial restructuring of Windtree that includes a purchase by Lee's Pharm via LPHIL of $10 million of Windtree's common stock, giving Lee's Pharm a controlling interest in Windtree, and a simultaneous restructuring and retirement of $25 million of long-term debt under the 2013 secured loan facility agreement between Windtree and affiliates of Deerfield Management Company, L.P. ("Deerfield"). The completion of these transactions improves Windtree's balance sheet and better positions the Company to raise the capital needed to fund continued development of AEROSURF for respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) and potentially its pipeline of surfactant products utilizing its proprietary KL4 surfactant and aerosol device technologies.

"The successful completion of this financial restructuring is significant for Windtree. We now have a capital structure free of the financial overhang of long-term debt, and are better positioned to secure the additional capital necessary to realize the full potential of our KL4 surfactant and aerosol delivery platforms beginning with AEROSURF," said Craig Fraser, President and Chief Executive Officer of Windtree. "Strategically, our broader collaboration with Lee's Pharm expands our revenue potential and provides options to access capital from new markets and opportunities to diversify and build a broader portfolio."

Under terms of the share purchase agreement, LPHIL purchased from Windtree $10 million of common stock to acquire a controlling interest of the Company at a price per share of $0.2163, representing a 15 percent premium to the average 10-day volume weighted average price per share (VWAP) through October 27, 2017. As partial consideration for the share purchase, Lee's Pharm cancelled $3.9 million principal outstanding under an August 2017 loan agreement, which Lee's Pharm had advanced in three equal installments in August, September, and October, 2017, to support AEROSURF development activities and sustain Windtree's operations through October 31, 2017, while the parties negotiated the share purchase agreement.

To facilitate the share purchase by Lee's Pharm, Deerfield agreed to restructure its $25 million secured loan to Windtree effective as of the closing of the share purchase agreement. Under the loan restructuring agreement, in exchange for return and cancellation of the Deerfield notes, Windtree paid to Deerfield $2.5 million in cash, and issued to Deerfield shares of common stock representing two percent of Windtree's common stock post-closing on a fully-diluted basis, as defined in the loan restructuring agreement. In addition, Deerfield will be entitled to receive up to $15 million in future AEROSURF regulatory and commercial milestones, beginning with the filing for marketing approval in the United States.

"We firmly believe that Windtree's KL4 surfactant platform represents a significant opportunity in China and elsewhere globally, with near-term potential that can be realized with the commercialization of SURFAXIN for RDS in FDA reference countries and even greater potential with SURFAXIN LS and especially AEROSURF in the future," said Dr. Benjamin Li, Chief Executive Officer of Lee's Pharm. "It has long been our goal to globalize our business and have a majority interest in a public U.S. company that would strengthen our position in critical neonatal care and potentially allow us to further expand the reach of our acute pulmonary care portfolio. This transaction, and the potential it represents, comes at a value we could not ignore. The strength of Windtree's management and revenue potential of its portfolio provide an opportunity that we are both confident in and very excited about."

Conference Call and Webcast Details

The Company will host a conference call and webcast (including a slide presentation) at 8:00 a.m. EDT on Thursday, November 2, 2017.

To participate in the live call and take part in the question and answer session, dial (844) 802-2436 (domestic) or (412) 317-5129 (international).

To access the live webcast, including a slide presentation, please visit the investor page of the Company's website at http://windtreetx.investorroom.com/events .

A replay of the conference call will be available one hour after completion of the call through November 9, 2017 and may be accessed by dialing (877) 344-7529 (domestic) or (412) 317-0088 (international) and referencing conference number 10114113. An archive of the webcast can be accessed on the Company's website at http://windtreetx.investorroom.com/events.

About Windtree Therapeutics

Windtree Therapeutics, Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing novel surfactant therapies for respiratory diseases and other potential applications. Windtree's proprietary technology platform includes a synthetic, peptide-containing surfactant (KL4 surfactant) that is structurally similar to endogenous pulmonary surfactant and novel drug-delivery technologies being developed to enable noninvasive administration of aerosolized KL4 surfactant. Windtree is focused initially on improving the management of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) in premature infants and believes that its proprietary technology may make it possible, over time, to develop a pipeline of KL4 surfactant product candidates to address a variety of respiratory diseases for which there are few or no approved therapies.

For more information, please visit the Company's website at www.windtreetx.com.

About Lee's Pharmaceutical Holdings Limited ("Lee's Pharm")

Lee's Pharm is a research-based Hong Kong biopharmaceutical company listed in Hong Kong with more than 20 years of operation in China's pharmaceutical industry. It is fully integrated with strong infrastructures in drug development, manufacturing, sales and marketing. It has established extensive partnership with more than 20 international companies and currently has 15 products in the market place. Lee's Pharm focuses on several key disease areas such as cardiovascular, oncology, gynecology, dermatology and ophthalmology. The company's development program is lauded with over 40 products stemming from both internal R&D efforts and collaborations with US, European and Japanese companies, including promising compounds to treat diseases such as liver cancer and pulmonary hypertension. The mission of Lee's Pharm is to become a successful biopharmaceutical group in Asia providing innovative products to fight diseases and improve health and quality of life.

Additional information about Lee's Pharm is available at www.leespharm.com.

Forward-Looking Statements for Windtree Therapeutics

To the extent that statements in this press release are not strictly historical, all such statements are forward-looking, and are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the statements made. Examples of such risks and uncertainties include: the risk that, as a development company, with limited resources and no operating revenues, the Company's ability to continue as a going concern in the near term is highly dependent upon the success of its AEROSURF development program and whether clinical results at anytime will support a strategic or financing transaction and potential initiation of phase 3 development activities; risks that Windtree will be unable to secure significant additional capital as and when needed, if at all, whether through debt or equity financings or other strategic transactions; risks related to having the Company's common stock trade on the OTCQB market; risks related to Windtree's AEROSURF development program and other aerosolized KL4 surfactant development programs in the future, which may involve time-consuming and expensive preclinical and clinical trials and which may be subject to potentially significant delays or regulatory holds, or fail; risks related to the development of aerosol delivery systems (ADSs) and related components; risks related to technology transfers to contract manufacturers and problems or delays encountered by Windtree, contract manufacturers or suppliers in manufacturing drug products, drug substances, ADSs on a timely basis and in sufficient amounts; risks relating to rigorous regulatory requirements, including those of (i) the FDA or other regulatory authorities that may require significant additional activities, or may not accept or may withhold or delay consideration of applications, or may not approve or may limit approval of Windtree's products and (ii) changes in the national or international political and regulatory environment, which may make it more difficult to gain regulatory approvals; and other risks and uncertainties described in Windtree's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission including the most recent reports on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K, and any amendments thereto.

Forward-Looking Statement for Lee's Pharm

The performance and the results of operation of Lee's Pharm during the past years are historical in nature and past performance can be no guarantee of future results of the Lee's Pharm. This news release may contain forward-looking statements and opinions that involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from expectations discussed in such forward-looking statements and opinions. Neither Lee's Pharm nor the Directors, employees or agents of Lee's Pharm assume (a) any obligation to correct or update the forward-looking statements or opinions contained in this news release; and (b) any liability in the event that any of the forward-looking statements or opinions does not materialize or turns out to be incorrect.

SOURCE Windtree Therapeutics, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.discoverylabs.com


ANGOLA  The Angola High School Marching Hornets invite the community to a celebration of The Voyage to Overcome on Thursday evening.

The 2017 show has made it to the Indiana State School Music Association state finals this Saturday at the Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. It is Angolas sixth consecutive appearance at the state competition.

The band will host a dinner starting at 5:30 p.m. in the Angola Middle School cafeteria. The meal is open to the public for a donation as long as the food lasts. The menu includes chili or chicken and noodles, corn bread or dinner roll, dessert and a beverage.

The band will perform The Voyage to Overcome at 7 p.m. on the Angola High School football field, behind the middle school. If it rains, it will be in the middle school gymnasium.

The band has received such great support from our community, said Aimee Biddle, whose son Nick is a junior trumpet player. She encouraged the public to celebrate the band members success with them prior to their last ISSMA performance this year.

The Marching Hornets will perform at 6:16 p.m. at the Lucas Oil Stadium in Class C against 10 other bands from across the state. Awards are from 6:55 to 7:50 p.m.

I am incredibly excited about this performance, said director Andrew Keiser. It means a great deal to me  whenever the students travel anywhere to perform the show, whether it is at a football game, at an invitational, or at Lucas Oil Stadium, they represent the Angola community.

The band has practiced tirelessly since band camp in early August, through the summer heat and falls wind and rain. Rehearsals continue this week, including Thursdays public performance.

We present this performance as a show of thanks to the community, and as a final opportunity for the community to come out and show the kids that they are supported, said Keiser.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The McNulty Foundation today announced Lana Abu-Hijleh and Youth Local Councils as the recipient of the tenth annual John P. McNulty Prize. Ms. Abu-Hijleh is being honored for pioneering a program that engages over 25,000 youth in the West Bank, and has expanded to Honduras and Ukraine. Through voluntary bodies of elected youth, the Youth Local Councils enable young people to practice leadership and good governance, receive hundreds of hours of training, and propose, plan and execute community projects.

"Youth Local Councils are exporting a model of civic engagement and democracy that is critically needed around the world," said former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, chair of the McNulty Prize jury. "While faith in democracy itself may be declining, here, young people are choosing involvement over disengagement."

The $100,000 McNulty Prize recognizes leaders who harness the innovation and excellence that characterized their career success to create replicable, sustainable models for addressing seemingly intractable global challenges.

"Leadership writ large is in crisis around the world. Youth Local Councils invest in the next generation in the most positive way, giving young people the tools and platform to make their voices heard and to lead effectively," said McNulty Foundation President and Aspen Institute Trustee Anne Welsh McNulty.

Watch the short documentary on Lana Abu-Hijleh and the Youth Local Councils, and learn more about the McNulty Foundation at mcnultyfound.org

Building The Next Generation Of Leaders

Trained as a civil engineer, Lana Abu-Hijleh has dedicated her career to the economic development of Palestine and the region, including 17 years with the United Nations Development Program, and now as Country Director of Global Communities in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

In 2008, she founded the Youth Local Councils to engage young Palestinians and build their leadership skills and experience in self-government. The councils reflect the positions and structure of local municipal councils, and are held and elected by youth ages 15-22. What began as a pilot with 700 youth in four communities now engages over 25,000 youth in more than 40 communities in the West Bank. Members serve two-year terms and receive hundreds of hours of training, and participate in budgetary and leadership decisions on real projects in their communitiesfrom making municipal buildings accessible to people with disabilities, to building parks for families and communities, to collaborative advocacy campaigns that influence national policy.

Youth Local Councils alumni are now assuming positions of leadership in civil society and international nonprofit organizations, and in the public sector as elected city councilmembers and deputy mayors. Furthermore, the model has been replicated abroad in Honduras and Ukraine.

"The challenges that young people face are not unique to Palestine," said Lana Abu-Hijleh. "The Youth Local Councils have given them the hope they need to invest in their own countries and communities, and not turn to despair, violence or any other form of extremism."

The John P. McNulty Prize was founded by Anne Welsh McNulty in memory of her late husband, to recognize the boldness and impact of individuals using their exceptional leadership abilities and entrepreneurial talents to address the world's toughest challenges. Celebrating a decade of galvanizing high-impact leadership, the McNulty Prize has honored over 40 of the most impactful social ventures from Fellows of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.

A distinguished jury, including Secretary Madeleine Albright, Ugandan statesman Olara Otunnu, international development expert Brizio Biondi-Morra and Ford Foundation president Darren Walker selected the 2017 winner. Previous juries have included Mary Robinson, Bill Gates, Sr., and Sir Richard Branson, among others.

Middle East Leadership Initiative Fellow Lana Abu-Hijleh, along with her venture Youth Local Councils, was one of four Laureates selected from the Aspen Global Leadership Network. The 2017 Laureates include Carolina Freire for Voluntarios de Panamain Panama, Bruce Robertson forTRAIL in Uganda, and Amjad Tadros for Syria Direct in Jordan. Each Laureate receives $25,000. The 2017 Winner and Laureates will be honored at the annual McNulty Prize reception in New York on November 8, with a celebration of the 10th anniversary of the McNulty Prize.

Tune in at 6:30pm EST on November 8 for a live interview with Lana Abu-Hijleh, hosted on Twitter @AspenInstitute . Follow @McNultyPrize and join the conversation #McNultyPrize.

The Middle East Leadership Initiative (MELI) identifies and motivates proven business, government and civil society leaders from countries in the Middle Eastencompassing all countries in the region, including those in the Gulf Cooperation Councilto apply their unique skills and platforms to solving pressing societal challenges in their communities and countries.

The Aspen Global Leadership Network (AGLN) is a growing, worldwide community of high-integrity, entrepreneurial leaders from business, government, and the nonprofit sector, with over 2,500 Fellows from 50 countries who share a commitment to enlightened leadership and to using their extraordinary creativity, energy, and resources to tackle the foremost societal challenges of our time. All share the common experience of participating in the Henry Crown Fellowship or one of the many Aspen Institute leadership initiatives it has inspired in the U.S., Africa, Central America, India, China, and the Middle East. For more information, visit agln.aspeninstitute.org.

The Aspen Institute is an educational and policy studies organization based in Washington, DC. Its mission is to foster leadership based on enduring values and to provide a nonpartisan venue for dealing with critical issues. The Institute is based in Washington, DC; Aspen, Colorado; and on the Wye River on Maryland's Eastern Shore. It also has offices in New York City and an international network of partners. For more information, visit www.aspeninstitute.org.

SOURCE The Aspen Institute

Related Links

http://www.aspeninstitute.org


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PSFK iQ - Where Innovators Turn for Research. Our professional-grade research platform is designed specifically for Retail and CX leaders who want to know whats next. Whether youre staying current on trends or need a real-time research partner to help you get ahead, count on PSFK iQ to deliver the info you need to make your next move.
Seven bookssix novels and a memoirwere named finalists for the 2017 BookLife Prize. Each book was selected by an award-winning or bestselling author who served as a guest judge in one of seven genres. The finalists are:

General Fiction

A Hundred Veils by Rea Keech

"Set in the lead-up to the Iranian revolution, A Hundred Veils is a rich portrait of cultural and personal discovery and forbidden love. Keech uses both humor and drama, as well as finely chosen details and rich description, to bring the characters and their world to life."  Eleanor Brown

Mystery/Thriller

Face Value by Ian Andrew

Two unusual private investigators with classified backgrounds take on a seemingly straightforward case to track down missing parents. With taut writing, bone-crushing action, and a pace that never relents, this was a difficult read to put down and a worthy winner.  Mark Dawson

Science Fiction/Fantasy/Horror

Transference by Kate Jonuska

"Kate Jonuska's Transference is a riveting tale of telepathy and suburban angst, with characters who reveal unexpected depths and challenge reader expectations as the story unfolds. Despite some powerful forays into darkness and despair, the book is ultimately

about hope, redemption, and making human connections in a difficult world."  Tim Pratt

Romance/Erotica

A Scandalous Matter by Margaret Locke

"An extremely clever time-travel romance that has you rooting for the intelligent, earnest heroine from the first page of her amazing, magical love story."  Rebekah Weatherspoon

Memoir

Beautiful Hero by Jennifer Lau

Beautiful Hero is the crushing and all-too-relevant story of one refugee familys fight to survive in the wake of war, starvation, and genocidal cruelty. There is an urge to distance oneself from painful stories like these, but in Laus artless, humane, quietly horrifying telling, there can be no turning away. According to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, there are currently 65.6 million displaced persons worldwide. That is a number so vast as to seem meaningless, but Beautiful Hero gives us the urgent reminder that every one of these people is someones mother, someones child, someone struggling and prevailing to save themselves and their families from unimaginable fear, pain and want. It is necessary reading.  Julie Powell

Young Adult

Faithful and Devoted by Jenna Rose Robbins

A vivid and immersive account of a superfans trip to see her idols Depeche Mode in concert, thats also a heartfelt coming-of-age story.  Vic James

Middle Grade

The Accidental Pirate by Denise Deegan

A swashbuckling pirate adventure on the high seas. I can still taste the salt on the wind."  Taran Matharu

The grand-prize winner will be announced on Dec. 18. For more information about the BookLife Prize in Fiction, check out all the semifinalists, quarterfinalists, and public entries.
More than 200 members of the bookselling community gathered at the Southern California Independent Booksellers Association trade show October 27-28. The conference moved to the Sheraton Fairplex Hotel & Conference Center in Pomona, Calif., this year, a new space to accommodate a spike in exhibitors and membership.

In this region, booksellers are separated by long stretches of freeway, so the annual event plays a crucial role in connecting members. There isnt the same level of bookstore concentration that you see in the Bay Area, said John Evans the owners of DIESEL, A Bookstore in Brentwood, Calif. The trade show gives you a big boost. Youre all working separately in your stores, and it energizes the grid of independent booksellers. All of us get energized by each other and the network lights up.

The organization counted at least four new stores opening around the region: Now Serving, a cookbook store in Los Angeles; Cafe con Libros, a nonprofit store in Pomona, Calif.; Seite, an East Los Angeles store focused on books and zines; and 1888 Bookshop inside the 1888 Center in Orange, Calif.

This year's trade show included SCIBAs first ever off-site event, a trip to Cafe con Libros with Indies Forward, a 2016 ABA volunteer effort to advance an emerging generation of indie booksellers. Executive director Andrea Vuleta said the trip was part of an effort to focus on the "future potential" of up-and-coming booksellers. Its important that younger booksellers have peer support.

A number of booksellers expressed concern about Amazons encroaching presence on local spaces through its Whole Foods acquisition. People are used to that deep discount at Amazon, said Adrian Newell, a book buyer at Warwick's, worrying that customers dont see the effect those discounts have on local business. Trying to have that conversation about pricing without publicly shaming the customerthats the tightrope we walk.

Other Southern California challenges included rising rent and increasing payroll requirements, so programming focused on maximizing margins. Vuleta cited the popular Strange Love Books or: How to Learn to Stop Worrying and Love the Genres panel discussion as an example. Romance is one of the biggest volume parts of the book business, and a lot of stores dont even stock it. Or, if they are stocking it, theres nobody looking after it, said Vuleta.

The popular books at the show included many by Southern California locals: Graffiti Palace, a debut novel by Los Angeles public high school teacher A. G. Lombardo; From Here to Eternity: Traveling the World to Find the Good Death by Caitlin Doughty, the hipster mortician who runs a nonprofit funeral home called Undertaking L.A.; and Catalina, a debut novel by Liska Jacobs, the former events coordinator at The Last Bookstore in downtown Los Angeles.

Cecil Brown, a buyer at Kinokuniya and a SCIBA board member, appreciated the show's focus on the future. In our store, most of our booksellers are young. Theyre optimistic, happy, and friendly, said Brown. I love coming to the trade showto feel this openness. This feeling that we are all heading in the same direction and [have] the same goal.
On October 22, Japan's electorate handed Prime Minister Shinzo Abe a major electoral victory in the Lower House. Despite initial fears that a resurgent opposition partythe Party of Hopecould outflank Abe from his right, his coalition secured enough seats to protect its two-thirds majority. Observers immediately began speculating about the impact of the vote on constitutional reform, specifically changes to Article 9's so-called peace clause, which renounces war and the maintenance of war potential. Amending the constitution has long been an electoral plank of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), and Abe himself proposed doing just that in debates leading up to the vote.

While it is true that parties in favor of revision secured enough seats to pass the legislative hurdle needed to revise Japan's basic law, numerical advantage alone does not tell the whole story. Japan's road to constitutional revision is much more complicated.

Some 70 years old, Japan's constitution is the oldest unamended constitution in the world. It was drafted by U.S. officers during the Allied occupation of Japan immediately following World War II. That fact has never sat well with conservatives in Japan. Abe's own LDP has aimed to revise the constitution since 1955, but no government has ever actually tried. Not only do constitutional changes require approval by two-thirds of both houses in Japan's legislature, they also require a public referendum, in which revisions can pass with a simple majority. For decades, that hurdle has seemed too high to clear.

Japan's constitution is the oldest unamended constitution in the world.

In advance of October's election, many Japanese political analysts argued that constitutional revision would quickly follow an LDP victory. Such an outcome, it was suggested, would bolster Abe's standing in the party and boost his chances of a third term as the LDP's president in next year's leadership contestwhich would grant him until September 2021 to pursue his agenda, including a revision of the constitution.

The emergence of the conservative Party of Hope to challenge Abe from the right was expected to accelerate these efforts, because the party supported constitutional revision. With a larger number of parliamentarians favoring revision, a two-thirds supermajority was in sight. In the end, the party fared poorly at the polls because of strategic missteps by the party leader, Tokyo governor Yuriko Koike, but its emergence may still have raised the chances of constitutional amendment. Polls by the University of Tokyo and the Asahi newspaper show that 97 percent (266) of the LDP candidates who won are in favor of constitutional revision. Moreover, 42 of the 50 candidates who won under the Party of Hope's banner also openly favor constitutional revision. In short, at the elite level, there is a lot of momentum for change.

And that change might not be limited to Article 9, which receives the most attention. Polls show that support for constitutional revision (among both ruling and opposition parties) actually spans a broad array of issues. These include the establishment of national emergency proceduresan issue that outpolls revision of Article 9 among election victorsand the addition to the constitution of a human right to a clean environment, as well as decentralization of power to the prefectures.

That said, although Article 9 is an important topic of debate, the same University of TokyoAsahi poll shows that revising it receives little support outside of the LDP. Only three winners from the LDP's coalition partner, the Komeito, and five from the Party of Hope indicated it as a priority. And Abe cannot revise the article without help from partners in both houses of parliament.

Assuming, however, that Abe could garner the necessary two-thirds support in both chambers, constitutional revision still needs to pass a national referendum. Yet the public does not show the same enthusiasm for amendment as its elected leaders. Polls by the Jiji Press find that 44 percent of the public support revision (with 38 percent opposed), but only 29 percent favor amendments to Article 9. By contrast, 62 percent believe the addition of national emergency issues is beneficial, and 27 percent support environment rights. This reveals a simple truth: Obtaining the necessary simple majority from a reluctant public will depend on the revision being sought. For instance, adding national emergency procedures may face little resistance. Direct election of the prime minister or changing the amendment procedure from a two-thirds supermajority to a simple majority, however, would likely face much more opposition. And revision of Article 9 is likely to fail outright, at least in the form that the LDP is proposing now.

Even though Abe positioned the recent vote as a way for him to seek a mandate for his North Korean policies and his proposal to finance education and child care through funds received from a planned tax hike, it is expected that he will now focus on constitutional revision. As current polls show, however, he has a difficult battle ahead of him, particularly if he zeros in on Article 9 rather than national emergency provisions and the like. That fact should calm critics who feared that the victory would usher in an era of a new, militarily robust Japan.

Jeffrey W. Hornung is a political scientist at the RAND Corporation. Kenneth M. McElwain in an associate professor of political science at the Institute of Social Science, University of Tokyo.

This commentary originally appeared on Foreign Affairs on October 31, 2017. Commentary gives RAND researchers a platform to convey insights based on their professional expertise and often on their peer-reviewed research and analysis.
The first six titles for pilot development by HOOQ have been unveiled by the Asian subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) service as part of its Filmmakers Guild initiative.





The selections for 2017 are Bhak (India), Suay (Thailand), Haunt Me (Singapore), How To Be A Good Girl (Singapore), Aliansi (Indonesia) and Heaven and Hell (Indonesia). The six titles were chosen from a total of 500 submissions over a two-month period, following the launch of HOOQs Filmmakers Guild in July.Creators will receive US$30,000 to produce a pilot episode for the SVOD platform. Once streamed, HOOQ subscribers and judges will then vote for their favourite. The winning episode will be expanded into a full series for the platform.HOOQ has always been a big supporter of the Asian film industry, said CEO Peter Bithos. The HOOQ Filmmakers Guild was designed with this in mind and focuses on developing the next generation of Asian film talents by providing them with the opportunity to showcase their ideas and develop their skills through connecting with the Guilds judges who are the creme de la creme of the Asian film business.There were so many great ideas to select from so we decided to produce six pilots instead of the five that we had intended, Bithos added.The submissions spanned a range of genres, with the most prevalent being drama, horror/supernatural, comedy, and science fiction and fantasy.I was deeply amazed by the quality of the submissions, so much so that it made judging really difficult! said judge Mouly Surya, director of Marlina the Murderer in Four Acts. It was affirmation to me that Asia truly has immense talent when it comes to filmmaking.Judging was based on the relevance and potential appeal to Asian audiences, demonstrable creativity in storytelling, and a well told Asian story with an original point of view.
TV broadcasting associations in Thailand are calling on the Government to revise frequency allocation and broadcasting legislation to keep pace with media convergence and technological change.





The Association of Digital Television Broadcasting (Thailand), the Satellite Television Association (Thailand), Thailand Cable TV Association, Cable TV Operators Association and the Association of Cable and Satellite TV Network Providers have jointly submitted their proposals to the Governments media reform and information and communications technology committee.Admiral Taweewuth Pongsapipatt, vice chairman of the NLA committee examining the frequency allocation law, said the Council of State has already been asked to draft an aggregated law combining the four main laws covering broadcasting, radio, telecommunications business and frequency allocation, reports The Nation.The Association of Digital Television Broadcasting said that fast-changing broadcasting and telecommunications technology has prompted widespread technological disruption and adversely impacted the digital TV sector, as well as other media markets in Thailand . As a result, the Broadcasting Act 2008 has become outdated, the association claims.Proposals include the reallocation of part of the current digital TV broadcasting spectrum band in the range of 600MHz to 700MHz to provide telecommunications services and generate greater state revenues.
Four Holmen firefighters have been honored for successfully resuscitating a 63-year-old cardiac arrest victim in January.

The victim recovered and was eventually discharged from the hospital. At a recent banquet hosted by the Seven Rivers Chapter of the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Association, the four Holmen firefighters who came to the mans aid received certificates of recognition to pay tribute to their efforts.

We try to recognize everyone in the Chain of Survival because they are all important for a successful outcome from cardiac arrest, said Tom Carpenter, a banquet committee member and emcee.

Carpenter added that the Chain of Survival involves all of the responders to a cardiac arrest, from the bystander who recognizes the emergency and calls 911 or starts CPR, the 911 and emergency medical dispatchers that take the call and provide CPR and the police and ambulance services who respond to the call.

The Holmen Area Fire Deparment requires all its firefighters to be or become certified in providing emergency medical response.

We are very proud of the level of emergency medical care we provide here at the HAFD, and we will continue to improve upon it as the demands for it steadily increase, said Holmen Fire Chief Paul Menches.

Other agencies personnel receiving awards at the Seven Rivers Chapter of the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Association banquet were the La Crosse County 911 Center, Gundersen Emergency Medical Dispatch Communication Center and Gundersen Tri-State Ambulance.

The Seven Rivers Chapter of the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Association covers Western Wisconsin, Southeastern Minnesota and Northeastern Iowa. Its mission is to educate the public on the importance of early defibrillation and access to AEDs.

The chapters membership includes survivors, medical professionals, fire and police department employees and friends and families.

The chapters sixth annual Celebration of Heroes and Survivors was held was held Oct. 13 in La Crosse and honored emergency responders from across the region, including by presenting certificates to those involved in sudden cardiac arrest incidents between July 31, 2016 and July 31, 2017.
Full coverage of the Delphi murders: Look back at 5 years of stories
MINSK -- A court in Belarus has sent opposition leader Uladzimer Nyaklyaeu to jail for 10 days after ruling that he made calls for an illegal public gathering.

The Lenin District Court in Minsk ruled on November 1 that Nyaklyaeu's words in an interview with BelSAT television on October 16, when he said that "if there is a need to defend somebody's rights, it is necessary to go out of the houses and defend them," qualified as calls to hold a public event without permission from the authorities.

Nyaklyaeu was expressing his opinion about an antigovernment protest that was being planned for October 21. He did not attend.

Nyaklyaeu, a prominent poet and former presidential candidate, was given a two-year suspended sentence for his role in a December 2010 protest against the disputed reelection of President Alyaksandr Lukashenka.

His incarceration comes two days after another opposition leader and former presidential candidate, Mikalay Statkevich, was detained in Minsk.

Statkevich's wife said on October 31 that her husband was placed in a detention center in the capital to serve a five-day jail term stemming from a ruling that he took part in an unsanctioned rally on September 8.

Statkevich's arrest came a day before he had been scheduled to travel to Kyiv, where he was expected to speak at the session of the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly -- a forum linking the European Parliament and the parliaments of Ukraine, Moldova, Belarus, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia that was established to promote closer political and economic ties.
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On an official visit to Tehran, Russian President Vladimir Putin has vocally backed the 2015 Iran nuclear agreement, and hailed cooperation with Iran on the Syrian conflict.

Putin was on a one-day trip to the Iranian capital on November 1 for trilateral talks between Azerbaijan, Iran, and Russia -- a meeting largely focused on improving transport links, trade, and energy cooperation between the three Caspian states.

However, the nuclear deal between Iran and world powers and Syrias civil war loomed large as Putin met with Iranian President Hassan Rohani and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has the final say on all state matters.

Russia is one of the signatories to the landmark nuclear accord under which Tehran agreed to curb its atomic program in exchange for sanctions relief.

'Serious Flaws'

U.S. President Donald Trump refused to recertify the deal in October and has threatened to withdraw the United States if what he calls serious flaws in the accord cannot be fixed by U.S. lawmakers and U.S. allies.

Trump slammed Tehran for what he said are violations of the "spirit" of the agreement, in part for its continued testing of ballistic missiles and its support for extremists in the Middle East.

The European Union and the other parties to the deal -- Russia, Britain, China, France, and Germany -- have all urged Trump not to pull the United States out of the agreement.

Putin told Khamenei that Moscow opposes "any unilateral change" to the nuclear accord, according to a statement from the supreme leader's office.

"We oppose linking Iran's nuclear program with other issues, including defensive issues," he was also quoted as saying.

Joint Statement

In a joint statement released after their meeting, the presidents of Iran, Russia, and Azerbaijan said that all parties to the deal "should strictly abide by their obligations," according to the Russian state news agency TASS.

On Syria, Putin praised cooperation with Iran as "very productive," saying that Moscow and Tehran are "managing to coordinate our positions on the Syrian issue."

Speaking after talks with Rohani and Khamenei, the Russian president said that the situation in Syria and peace talks to resolve the crisis were developing positively. He also stressed that no one country could resolve the Syrian crisis on its own.

Moscow and Tehran have given Syrian President Bashar al-Assad crucial military and diplomatic backing during the more than six-year war, which began with a government crackdown on pro-democracy protesters.

Rohani said that cooperation between Tehran and Moscow is necessary to "bring stability and peace to Syria" and to "fight against regional terrorism."

'Stepping Up Cooperation'

Khamenei said during his meeting with Putin that Tehran and Moscow need to step up cooperation to isolate the United States and restore peace in the Middle East, Iranian state media reported.

State television quoted the supreme leader as saying, "Full resolution of Syria's crisis needs strong cooperation between Iran and Russia ... Our cooperation can isolate America ... This cooperation will restore stability in the region."

The United States says Iran is creating obstacles to peace and criticized Russia's role in a war that has killed more than 220,000 people since 2011, according to UN estimates.

Ahead of Putin's arrival, Russia's armed forces chief of staff, General Valery Gerasimov, met with his Iranian counterpart, General Mohammad Hossein Bagheri, and discussed defense and security issues, Iranian state television said.

Putins visit came a day after representatives from Russia, Iran, and Turkey discussed the Syrian conflict in Astana, Kazakhstan, and pledged to bring Assad's regime and its opponents together for a "congress" to jump-start peace efforts later this month.

'Congress Of National Dialogue'

A statement on the Russian Foreign Ministry website listed 33 Syrian organizations invited to a "Congress of Syrian National Dialogue" in the Russian city of Sochi on November 18.

However, two main Syrian opposition groups -- the Syrian National Council and the High Negotiations Committee -- rejected the proposed conference, the dpa news agency reported.

There have been seven rounds of Astana talks, which began in January and are sponsored by Russia, Turkey, and Iran.

The Astana talks have run parallel to negotiations taking place in Geneva with the backing of the United Nations, and the congress plan appears to be Moscow's attempt to force the pace in a bid for a political settlement.

On the economic front, the Iranian, Russian, and Azerbaijani leaders agreed on November 1 to increase cooperation in the oil and gas industry, including in production as well as oil and oil-products swaps, the joint statement said.

Railway And Road Projects

Rohani, Putin, and Azerbaijani President llham Aliyev also discussed railway and road projects.

During Putin's visit, Russias state-owned Rosneft oil firm and the National Iranian Oil Company signed a road-map deal to develop joint projects in Iran worth up to $30 billion, Russian news agencies reported.

Rosneft head Igor Sechin was quoted as saying that the two sides were looking to seal binding deals within a year to work on a "whole series of fields, oil, and gas."

Moscow and Tehran have had close political and economic relations. Russia has aided Iran's nuclear energy program, making a major contribution to the construction of its first nuclear power plant in the southern city of Bushehr, where Moscow is now helping build two more reactors.

Putin made previous trips to Iran in November 2015 and in 2007.

Aliyev hosted a similar three-way meeting in August 2016. The next such summit is to be held in Russia next year.

With reporting by Reuters, dpa, AP, AFP, Interfax, and TASS


The Syrian National Coalition (SNC), the main Western-backed political opposition group fighting the Syrian government, says it opposes a Russian-sponsored congress of Syrian groups, calling it an attempt to circumvent the UN-backed Geneva peace talks that aim for a political transition for the war-torn country.

Turkey and Iran on October 31 endorsed Russia's proposal to host talks between the Syrian government and its opponents next month in Sochi to try to move the war-torn country toward a political settlement.

The congress proposal was one of the few notable outcomes from the seventh round of talks on Syria held in the Kazakh capital, Astana, on October 30 and 31.

"The coalition will not participate in any negotiations with the regime outside Geneva or without UN sponsorship," SNC spokesman Ahmad Ramadan told Reuters.

The Astana talks that began in January have run parallel to UN-sponsored negotiations which despite backing from Western and Middle Eastern powers have largely stalled.

"Russia's call for a conference for Syrians in Sochi is an attempt to circumvent Geneva and the international desire for a political transition in Syria in accordance with UN security council resolutions," the Turkey-based SNC said.

A joint statement released by Russia and Iran, the Syrian government's main backers, and Turkey, which backs its armed opponents, agreed to the "initiative of Russia" to host Syrian government representatives and opposition groups in a face-to-face meeting on November 18 without any representatives from the West.

The Russian Foreign Ministry's website listed 33 Syrian organizations invited to a "Congress of Syrian National Dialogue," including Kurdish groups that previously have been left out of peace negotiations though they currently control at least a quarter of Syrian territory.

While Russia has been the strongest backer of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in a six-year civil war that has killed and displaced hundreds of thousands of people, it hopes to attract rebel groups to the Sochi gathering.

Russia's chief negotiator for Syria, Aleksandr Lavrentyev, urged opposition factions to participate "without preconditions" in the meeting, which he said would touch on constitutional reform and aim at creating a democratic, secular state.

"If someone is against these principles...they will of course not go there," Lavrentyev said. "But then we think they will risk being sidelined in the political process."

Lavrentyev has also expressed hope that United Nations Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura would take part in the Sochi meeting, but the UN official did not immediately say whether he would go.

"We want to emphasize that this event should be part of the international community's efforts to find effective mechanisms for political settlement," Lavrentyev said.

Syrian UN Ambassador Bashar al-Ja'afari said his government was ready to participate.

But representatives of the Syrian opposition in Astana were wary of the plan.

Yehya al-Aridi, a spokesman for the Syrian opposition, said the proposed congress was "really worrying" and it is unclear who would join in.

Aridi said he feared the congress will be used as "fabricated" evidence of reconciliation to mislead both Syrians and foreign countries.

"We told Russia, 'First stop killing our children'," said another rebel representative, Yasser Abdelrahim, who brandished what he said were photos of dead rebel children at the plenary session in Astana on October 31.

Kurdish groups were open to the proposal, however. "We are studying the issue and our stance has been positive so far," Badran Jia Kurd, an adviser to the administration that governs Kurdish-led autonomous regions of Syria, told Reuters.

While the Astana talks have had some success establishing limited cease-fires and no-conflict zones amid ongoing battles, the Geneva talks so far have not led to either lasting cease-fires or political settlements.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on October 31 suggested that the congress plan, like the Astana talks, is an attempt at reviving the stalled Geneva negotiations.

In light of the "slowing in the efforts made as part of the Geneva process," Lavrov said, "we believe it is necessary not to hesitate but rather to seize the initiative."

The conflict in Syria is expected to be high on the agenda when Russian President Vladimir Putin travels to Tehran for talks with Iranian President Hassan Rohani on November 1, the Kremlin said.

With reporting by AP, AFP, Reuters, and TASS
When Vladimir Putin was last campaigning for president back in 2012, he notably said that Russia's fate should not depend on one man.

Less than two years later, Vyacheslav Volodin, the current State Duma speaker who was then deputy Kremlin chief of staff, contradicted his boss when he famously quipped that "there is no Russia today if there is no Putin."

These two diametrically opposing statements from the very highest echelons of the Russian power elite illustrate the fundamental paradox of late Putinism.

Putin, of course, has systematically -- and often ruthlessly -- centralized power in his own hands.

This year he became Russia's longest ruling leader since Josef Stalin -- and not since Stalin's time has Russia's fate been so dependent on one man.

Russia, no doubt, will endure long after Putin passes from the scene. But the future of the political system he created, and the patron-client relationships that have made his closest cronies rich and powerful, is less certain.

And as Putin prepares for what many in Moscow say will be his final presidential campaign, many in the Kremlin leader's inner circle are getting nervous about their indispensable man becoming a lame duck.

In a recent leader, The Economist noted that "both liberal reformers and conservative traditionalists" are referring to Putin "as a 21st-century Tsar." And the stronger he becomes, "the harder he will find it to manage his succession."

Few doubt that Putin will seek and win a fourth term in March. But even fewer know what happens next.

"And the fear will grow," The Economist opined, "that as with other Russian rulers, Tsar Vladimir will leave turbulence and upheaval in his wake."

Leader For Life?

So it is not surprising that the perennial Moscow parlor game of rumors, speculation,and leaks about an impending overhaul of Russia's political system -- one that would keep Putin in power indefinitely -- has begun in earnest.

Vladislav Inozemtsev, director of the Moscow-based Center for Post-Industrial Studies, wrote recently in Snob.ru that there is a high probability some form of constitutional reform, such as turning Russia into a "parliamentary republic" in which Putin could "rule to the end of his days" as prime minister will be attempted.

"I would estimate the likelihood of such changes by 2024 as certainly exceeding 50 percent - and they may well be realized after the Duma elections in 2021," Inozemtsev wrote.

Likewise, the well-connected political analyst Yevgeny Minchenko made a similar prediction, with similar timing, which differed only in the details of how Putin will be kept in power.

In the latest edition of his widely read Politburo 2.0 report on the state of the Russian elite, Minchenko wrote that negotiations about a successor should begin in earnest after the 2021 Duma elections and that a post-presidential post will likely be created for Putin, something akin to a "Russian Ayatollah."

Moreover, a recent report in Russky Monitor claims -- based on what are purported to be unattributed leaks on the messaging and social media platform Telegram -- that Volodin has been pushing a plan to create a new Russian State Council "according to the Chinese model" that would become the country's primary executive body.

Putin would then be named the head of the council, effectively turning him into Russia's supreme ruler for life.

Putin "would become not simply the President of the State Council but also the spiritual and national leader of Russia," according to the report.

As former U.S. State Department official and veteran Kremlin-watcher Paul Goble notes on his blog, "without clear sourcing, it is difficult to know how much credence" to give such claims.

But their proliferation is very revealing.

Flashback To 2007

We have, of course, been in this place before. When Putin's second term was winding down a decade ago, speculation was rampant that the Kremlin was cooking up a scheme to keep him in power indefinitely.

In November 2007, delegates from across Russia turned out for a well-orchestrated pep rally in Tver to pledge allegiance to Putin and implore him to remain in power.

In the end, of course, to circumvent the constitutional prohibition on three consecutive terms, Putin opted to temporarily hand the presidency over to Dmitry Medvedev, become prime minister for four years, and return to the Kremlin in 2012.

But as opposition journalist and political commentator Oleg Kashin notes, the Putin-Medvedev hand-off in 2008 and the Medvedev-Putin castling in 2011-12, have effectively destroyed the idea of a credible succession and turned it into "a farce and a parody."

If Putin were to leave office and name a successor, Kashin wrote, "nobody would believe him" because everybody would remember how this turned out in 2008-11.

"Perhaps, only putting Putin on trial and imprisoning him would convince the nomenklatura and society that everything is serious," he added.

The Succession Curse

Succession has long been the achilles heel of Russia's highly centralized and deeply personalized political system.

The dynastic successions of Tsarist Russia were not always seamless.

And while the last three Soviet successions following Leonid Brezhnev's death in 1982 were fairly smooth, these were the exceptions.

The Soviets went through two protracted, messy, and violent transitions -- from Vladimir Lenin to Josef Stalin and Stalin to Nikita Khrushchev -- and one effective palace coup when Khrushchev was deposed and replaced by Brezhnev, before the Politburo and the Central Committee were able to de facto institutionalize the process.

And Boris Yeltsin's anointment of Putin as his heir in 1999, and Putin's coronation in a tightly choreographed election the following year, effectively undermined any notion of succession via the democratic process.

Moreover Russia under Putin's rule has effectively been deinstitutionalized, which means any post-Putin transition will probably be turbulent.

"Putin has driven himself into a dead end. He has tied the fate of the system too closely to his personal destiny and therefore the regime is doomed," Kashin wrote

And any of these "solutions" being floated to keep him beyond 2024 only put off the inevitable -- as Putin, who just turned 65, is, of course, mortal.

"Would Putins passing prompt a power struggle -- perhaps even violence? Who would the parties to that struggle even be?" University of California-Berkeley political scientist M. Steven Fish asked in a recent article in Journal of Democracy.

"For all Putin's painstaking preoccupation with stability and continuity, Russians have no idea who will rule them tomorrow if their leader dies tonight. Putin himself might not know, either."
Russian authorities say they wont hand over a Montenegrin man to his home country where he is suspected of involvement in an alleged coup attempt.

Russia's Prosecutor-General's Office said in a November 1 statement that it rejected a request by Montenegros Justice Ministry to extradite the person, whom it identified as Ananije Nikic, because he had earlier been given refugee status by Moscow.

Montenegro issued an arrest warrant for Nikic in February 2017. He was detained in Russias southern region of Rostov in April 2017 and held on extradition remand for several months.

Authorities in Montenegro say Serbian and Russian nationalists plotted to occupy parliament during the country's October 2016 parliamentary elections, assassinate then-Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic, and install a pro-Russian leadership to halt Montenegro's bid to join NATO.

The Kremlin has denied claims that "Russian state bodies" were involved in the alleged plot.

Fourteen suspects in the case are currently on trial in Podgorica.

Over two days of court testimony ending on October 27, Aleksandar Sindjelic, a key witness in the trial, implicated a purported Russian secret-service agent in organizing the coup attempt aimed at blocking the Balkan country's NATO accession.

Sindjelic identified Eduard Shishmakov as a key organizer and financier of the alleged plot to overthrow the government during parliamentary elections in October 2016.

Prosecutors have argued during the trial that two Russian military intelligence operatives for the Kremlin, Shishmakov and Vladimir Popov, organized and coordinated the coup attempt from neighboring Serbia.

In addition to the charges handed down to the 14 defendants of creating a criminal organization with the aim of undermining Montenegro's constitutional order, Shishmakov and Popov have also been charged with terrorism. The two are being tried in absentia.

Defense lawyers will get their chance to question Sindjelic when the trial resumes on November 7.

The defendants also include pro-Russian Democratic Front opposition lawmakers Andrija Mandic and Milan Knezevic, nine citizens of Serbia, one other Montenegrin, and the two Russians.

Montenegro became NATO's 29th member on June 5, marking a historic turn toward the transatlantic alliance amid protests from Montenegro's political opposition and Russia, which has long opposed any further enlargement of the Western military alliance.
WASHINGTON -- The Russian lawyer who met with U.S. President Donald Trump's son during last year's election campaign is seeking a new U.S. visa to testify in a now-closed money-laundering case linked to a massive tax-fraud scheme.

Natalia Veselnitskaya has been the focus of intense scrutiny since revelations that she met with Donald Trump Jr. in June 2016 in a meeting brokered by a publicist promising Trump Jr. compromising material on Hillary Clinton.

At the time of that meeting, Veselnitskaya was legal counsel for a Russian businessman whose company, Prevezon, had been accused by U.S. prosecutors of using laundered Russian tax refunds to buy U.S. real estate.

U.S. prosecutors and Prevezon settled the case in May on the eve of trial, with the company agreeing to pay about $6 million but admitting no wrongdoing.

Veselnitskaya had a visa in 2016 that allowed her to meet in New York with Trump Jr. and also travel to Washington to lobby against a 2012 human rights law. But her visa later expired.

In papers filed in U.S. federal court, prosecutors said the $6 million settlement payment was due on October 31.

Lawyers for Prevezon, however, said that half of that amount was scheduled to come from Dutch bank account that U.S. officials had requested frozen.

Dutch authorities had lifted the freeze earlier this month, but then reimposed it following a legal complaint filed by British-American investor William Browder.

U.S. prosecutors said regardless of the new freeze, the $6 million payment was due, and indicated they intended to ask the court to enforce the payment.

Sprawling Saga

In their letter to the court, Prevezon's lawyers asked for help in getting temporary U.S. immigration status for Veselnitskaya, as well as Prevezons owner, Denis Katsyv, so she could attend upcoming hearings.

The back-and-forth is the latest chapter in a sprawling and complicated saga that dates back to 2008 when a lawyer working for Browder and his company, Hermitage Capital Management, uncovered a $230 million scheme to defraud the Russian government.

That auditor, Sergei Magnitsky, was later arrested and accused of the crime he helped uncover. He died in a Moscow jail in 2009, after suffering from what his supporters said amounted to torture.

Three years later, the U.S. government passed the Magnitsky Act, a law that sanctioned Russians deemed to have committed human rights abuses, or with links to the original tax fraud.

That law infuriated the Kremlin, which retaliated by banning adoptions of Russian children by American parents. Russian officials have also repeatedly sought to undermine the Magnitsky law, trying to sow doubts about the underlying facts of the tax fraud, Magnitsky's death, and Browders past.

The Russian government admits it was defrauded of the $230 million, but has accused Browder and Magnitsky of responsibility, rather than a sophisticated organized crime gang that U.S. prosecutors and other experts have blamed for the tax fraud.

Veselnitskaya was involved in setting up a nonprofit group to lobby Congress against the Magnitsky sanctions. At the time she met with Trump Jr. in June 2016, she was in the United States to participate in the ongoing legal fight over Prevezon.

In her meeting with Trump Jr. last year, Veselnitskaya said the issue of the Magnitsky law, and American adoptions of Russian children, was the priority, something Trump Jr. himself also stated at the time.

But Trump Jr. also said he agreed to the meeting after a publicist had said it would involve compromising information on Clinton.

Justice Department Special Counsel Robert Mueller, who is investigating interactions between Trump associates and Russian officials, has reportedly interviewed at least one person who attended that meeting, a Russian-American citizen named Rinat Akhmetshin.


ON MY MIND

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that there is nothing wrong or unusual about Andrei Belyaninov being appointed head of the Eurasian Development Bank.

As I note in today's Daily Vertical, Belyaninov resigned in disgrace as Russia's customs chief amid a corruption probe back in July after investigators raided his home and found shoe boxes stacked with cash, priceless antiques, and expensive works of art.

And Peskov is right. There is nothing unusual about Belyaninov getting a cushy new job after appearing to take a fall. As I also note on The Daily Vertical, this kind of thing often happens.

But while corruption and opulence remains the norm for Russia's power elite -- except, of course, for those who fall out of political favor -- the living standards of ordinary Russians continue to fall.

According to a report in Vedomosti (also featured below), approximately 22 million Russians -- about one in six -- are earning less than the official living wage of $172 per month, a 2 million person increase since last year.

Russians are not naive. They know how corrupt their leaders are. But when living standards were rising, as they were for Vladimir Putin's first two terms in the Kremlin, they tended to give their rulers a free pass.

But when living standards are falling, not so much. Opposition leader Aleksei Navalny has tapped into this very effectively with his anti-corruption videos and street protests.

And it's an issue that is only going to get more dangerous for the Putin regime going forward.

IN THE NEWS

Vladimir Putin is due to discuss the conflict in Syria and energy cooperation with Iranian President Hassan Rohani and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei when he visits Tehran today, the Kremlin says.

A senior official in Russia says Protestant Christians are part of the countrys traditional religious communities and praised the important role they have played in Russian society.

U.S. senators have lashed out at Facebook and other leading social-media companies for failing to prevent alleged abuses of their networks by Russian operatives during last year's presidential campaign.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov says Moscow sees no evidence to support accusations of Russian meddling in the indictment handed down to U.S. President Donald Trump's former campaign chairman and an associate.

A controversial law tightening restrictions on the Internet comes into force in Russia today.

Ukrainian Security Service chief Vasyl Hrytsak says a woman suspected of killing a top regional security officer earlier this year in the southeastern city of Mariupol has been arrested.

Reports from Ukraine say anti-corruption investigators have detained the son of Interior Minister Arsen Avakov.

Investigators in Belarus say 10 servicemen have been charged in connection with the death of a private who was found hanged after complaining that he had been hazed and pressured for money by superiors.

WHAT I'M READING

'Living' Wages

According to a report in Vedomosti, one in six working Russians, approximately 22 million people, are earning less than the living wage of 10,000 rubles ($172) per month. The figure represents a 2 million person increase from 2016.

Ukraine And Poland

Oleksandra Iwaniuk, a PhD candidate at Maria Curie-Skodowska University, has a piece in New Eastern Europe looking at Polish-Ukrainian relations.

NATO's Eastern Flank

Judy Dempsey has a piece on the Carnegie Europe website taking an in-depth look at the challenges NATO is facing on its eastern flank.

Clans In The North Caucasus

Konstantin Kazenin, a senior research fellow with the Gaidar Institute, has a piece on the Carnegie Moscow website looking at the decline of traditional clans in the North Caucasus.

Nord Stream-2 And The Law

Alan Riley, a senior fellow at the Institute for Statecraft who advises Poland's PGNiG and Ukraine's Naftogaz energy companies, has a piece on the Center for European Policy Analysis website looking at the legal debates surrounding the Nord Stream-2 gas pipeline.

Reflections Of A Valdai 'Newbie'

In a post on the site Russian Military Reform, Dmitry Gorenburg of Harvard University's Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies gives "reactions from a newbie" at the 2017 Valdai Discussion Forum in Sochi.

Putin's Balkan Fixation

Journalist Julia Petrovskaya has a piece in Intersection magazine about Russia's efforts to destabilize the Balkans and disrupt the peace process between Albania and Serbia over the independence of Kosovo.

The Manafort Indictment As Seen In Ukraine

On The Atlantic Council's website, Anders Aslund looks at the reactions in Ukraine to the indictment of Paul Manafort.

Putin's Worlds

In her column for Republic.ru, political analyst Tatiana Stanovaya argues that "Putin lives in two worlds that are compatible, but far from identical: the world of 'decency' and the world of 'fighting the enemy.'"

The 1917 Syndrome

On the Kennan Institute's Russia File blog, Maksim Trudolyubov looks at what Russia's reaction to the 1917 centennial reveals about its national identity.

Navalny's Tactics

Nezavisimaya Gazeta has a piece on how Aleksei Navalny is circumventing bans on protest rallies by holding them on private land.
U.S. President Donald Trump called for tougher immigration measures based on "merit" after the deadly truck attack in New York City. At the start of a cabinet meeting at the White House, Trump said the man from Uzbekistan who carried out the attack on October 31 entered the country through the "Diversity Visa Lottery Program." Trump called on Congress to "immediately" begin working to eliminate the program which awards U.S. permanent resident visas to around 50,000 applicants from around the world each year, based on a random draw. Sayfullo Saipov, who plowed a rented truck into cyclists and pedestrians on a New York City bike path on October 31, killing eight and injuring more than 10, came to the country via the program, according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. (AP)
A topless activist from the protest group Femen set fire to several large toy bears outside a Kyiv shop selling candy made by a confectionery company owned by President Petro Poroshenko.

Wearing skeleton face paint and a traditional Ukrainian headdress for the Halloween prank, the woman doused three teddy bears with flammable liquid and set them on fire on October 31.

Her bare chest and back were painted with the words "sweets or impeachment," a political twist on the Halloween plea of "trick or treat."

The activist left the area afterward and did not appeared to have been confronted or detained.

Femen later said on its website that the protest was "dedicated to the greediness of the President of Ukraine, who, even under the fear of political death, is not ready to share his sweets."

Roshen, Ukraine's leading confectionary company -- with factories across the country, as well as in Lithuania, Hungary, and Russia -- is owned and controlled by Poroshenko. Its name derives from his last name.

Critics have called on Poroshenko to give up ties with Roshen, pointing to his ownership as an example of what they say are unseemly ties between government and business.

Poroshenko promised to sell Roshen when he was running for president in 2014. But the Panama Papers leaks in 2016 indicated that he instead transferred assets to an offshore company registered in the British Virgin Islands.

Femen is known for topless protests focusing on political, environmental, and other issues.

The October 31 stunt came amid protests by government opponents who have set up a tent camp outside parliament.

They have been demonstrating since October 17, demanding that Poroshenko step up anti-corruption reforms or resign.
A Jackson County sheriffs deputy fatally shot an armed Black River Falls man early Saturday in the town of Komensky, according to the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation.

Jackson County Sheriff Duane Waldera said the incident started when deputy Justin Wathke investigated a call about disorderly conduct and a possible restraining order violation.

When Wathke arrived, he took a statement from the female caller and then went to take a statement from the subject of the complaint, Lucas J. DeFord, 27, of Black River Falls. Waldera said a car chase ensued after Wathke arrived and DeFord drove to the residence of the female complainant.

The vehicle definitely was going to the residence, Waldera said. It ended at the residence, right in the front driveway.

Waldera said that when DeFord arrived, he made a threat with a firearm, which prompted the gun fire.

An autopsy conducted at University Hospital in Madison confirmed the gunshot wound was the cause of death.

You train, you try to run these scenarios. You run these movies in your head how it would be a good resolution in these worst-case-scenario situations, but you never really put it into perspective. I think that is what is troubling  you never think it will happen, Waldera said. When it happens you still are not ready for it. You can do as much as you can to get ready for it, but you are not there, and I think that is what we take for granted.

Waldera said this case is tragic and is a sad end to a disorderly conduct incident.

When you get into the situation further, the in-depth history of these individuals involved, it is a very bad thing that occurred, but there is a lot of history, Waldera said. These two people shouldnt have contact, but the male party was so motivated to have contact with this individual that it was at all cost. When you get to that at all cost, you dont know the state of mind.

Wathke, who has worked in law enforcement since 2009, has been placed on administrative assignment pending the outcome of the investigation. The Wisconsin Division of Criminal Investigation led the investigation and plans to turn over the results to the Jackson County district attorneys office when the investigation is complete. Wathke was the only deputy at the scene and was wearing a body camera.

We have really good body camera and witness information. You are going to find the resolution to this is going to be tragic, but it is going to be what it is, Waldera said.

About 25 people from the community demanded answers Monday morning as they sat outside the Jackson County Courthouse during a peaceful protest about the shooting.

The ones that are here have a voice and they wanted to be heard, and I am totally fine with that assembly as long as it is peaceful, Waldera said.
KYIV -- Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) chief Vasyl Hrytsak says a woman suspected of killing a top regional security officer earlier this year in the southeastern city of Mariupol has been arrested.

Hrytsak said late on October 31 that the woman, Yulia Prasolova of Donetsk, was arrested in the Black Sea port city of Odesa, as she was attempting to obtain a passport.

According to Hrytsak, Prasolova received $15,000 from Russia-backed separatists in Donetsk for placing an explosive device in the car of Colonel Oleksandr Kharaberyush. He was killed when his vehicle exploded on March 31.

The government-controlled city of Mariupol is about 30 kilometers from the front line in the conflict between the Ukrainian Army and separatist forces that has killed more than 10,000 people in eastern Ukraine since April 2014.
The U.S. military for the second time in eight years is withholding information about casualty and attrition rates in the Afghan army and police force at the request of the Kabul government, a watchdog agency says.

The decision to withhold the casualty figures comes as a report by the Special Inspector-General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) found that casualties have been increasing as the Taliban gained ground in the last six months.

The U.S. military previously provided figures on the Afghan military's manpower and the state of equipment to SIGAR to be included in its quarterly reports.

But SIGAR said that for the latest report, the Pentagon told its inspectors that the data belonged to the Afghan government and it must therefore "withhold, restrict, or classify the data as long as the Afghan government has classified it."

SIGAR head John Sopko criticized the decision, saying it will "hinder SIGAR's ability to publicly report on progress or failure in a key reconstruction sector," where more than 60 percent of the roughly $121 billion in U.S. spending in Afghanistan since 2002 has gone -- training and equipping of Afghan security forces.

There was no immediate comment from U.S. forces in Afghanistan or the Kabul government.

This is the second time such data has been withheld as classified since the watchdog agency began reporting in 2008. SIGAR said the first time was for the January 2015 quarterly report, which came after the withdrawal of U.S.-led NATO combat forces from Afghanistan at the end of 2014.

The latest decision to classify the information comes at a time of what SIGAR said are increasing casualties among Afghanistan's armed forces and civilians.

SIGAR's quarterly report in July found what if called "shockingly high" casualties, with 2,531 members of the Afghan security forces killed and 4,238 wounded between January and May 8.

Casualties also soared by 35 percent in 2016, with 6,800 Afghan soldiers and police killed, according to SIGAR.

While the number of military casualties was not updated in SIGAR's October 31 report, it found a 52 percent increase in civilian casualties from coalition and Afghan air strikes in the first nine months of 2017 compared with the same period in 2016.

U.S. forces have increased air strikes recently as part of a new strategy aimed at reversing Taliban gains and forcing the insurgents to seek peace talks with the Afghan government.

Under the strategy, the United States has committed 3,000 additional troops to Afghanistan, on top of the 11,000 already there, to train and assist Afghan security forces in their battle against the Taliban.

As of August, SIGAR said 13 percent of Afghanistan's 407 districts were under Taliban control or influence, up from 11 percent in February. That means an additional 700,000 Afghans came to live in districts where the Taliban has at least some influence.

In total, about 43 percent of Afghanistan's districts are either under Taliban control or being contested by the Taliban, 3 percent more than six months ago, SIGAR said.

With reporting by AFP, dpa, and Reuters
U.S. Army Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl provided a "gold mine" of intelligence about the Taliban militants who held him captive in Afghanistan for five years, U.S. military intelligence officials have testified.

Speaking at Bergdahl's sentencing hearing on desertion charges before a military court in the state of North Carolina, intelligence analyst Amber Dach described how eager Bergdahl was to help intelligence officials at a hospital in Germany days after he released in a prisoner swap with the Taliban in 2014.

Though his voice was weak, he helped authorities and even drew diagrams in his downtime to bring to his next debriefing session, she said.

Dach said his time in Germany was extended partly so he could offer additional time-sensitive intelligence.

"He was very motivated to just download all of the details that he recalled," she testified. "It was a gold mine. It really reshaped the way we did intel collection in the area."

An official from the military agency that helps reintegrate former captives and develops survival training for service members testified that information Bergdahl provided him was very valuable.

Terrence Russell, a division chief for the Joint Personnel Recovery Agency, said he developed a 1,200-page transcript from debriefing Bergdahl that was turned into a database.

The information produced reports on tactics used by insurgents and hostage-takers in the region that are still used by the military, he said.

Russell said he'd like to learn even more from Bergdahl but the soldier's legal case has impeded that.

"We don't have very many examples coming out of Afghanistan," he said.

Russell said he believes Bergdahl's captivity was worse than any U.S. prisoner of war has experienced since the Vietnam era.

The military-intelligence witnesses were called by Bergdahl's lawyers in an effort to win a lenient sentence from the court.

Based on reporting by AP and Reuters
Uzbek-born Sayfullo Saipov was shot and wounded, then arrested by New York City police shortly after apparently ramming a pickup truck into a group of people on a bicycle path, killing eight. Mirrakhmat Muminov, a longtime acquaintance of Saipov's, told Current Time TV that Saipov had had "unfriendly" disagreements with other members of the Uzbek community in the state of Ohio. But he said he had seen no signs of radicalism in Saipov.
The words "terrorist attack" and "Uzbek" have appeared together several times in 2017 -- starting just minutes into the new year with a mass shooting at an Istanbul nightclub. Turkish police said the suspect was born in Uzbekistan and had trained in Afghanistan. In early April, when the St. Petersburg subway was bombed, Russian investigators said the attack was carried out by a Kyrgyzstan-born ethnic Uzbek with Russian citizenship. Just weeks after that, in Stockholm, a truck attack that left four dead was admitted to by an Uzbek national.

Now, in New York, the October 31 pickup-truck attack that left eight dead is being pinned on a 29-year-old immigrant from Uzbekistan.



It is obvious that the alleged actions of four people do not speak for a worldwide Uzbek population of some 30 million, but to a global news audience that is generally unfamiliar with the closeted and predominantly Muslim state and its people, the question inevitably arises: When it comes to Central Asians and terrorist attacks, why is it that Uzbeks are so often linked to the violence?

In the case of each of these four attacks, the suspects had been outside Uzbekistan (or, in the case of the St. Petersburg attack, Kyrgyzstan) for several years.

This, at least according to recent studies, would place them at greater risk of being radicalized. Open Democracy, for example, concluded that Central Asian migrants in general are more susceptible to the ideas of radical Islamic groups once away from their homelands.

For most Central Asian migrants, this means Russia, where several million take up work as seasonal laborers. Some are exposed to the propaganda of Islamic extremist groups while there. Some become radicalized, and of those who do nearly all are believed to travel on to conflict areas such as Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, or Yemen.

Strangely enough, while there have been reported cases of groups -- and, in some cases, communities -- of people from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan picking up and leaving to fight in those conflict areas, there have been no documented cases of a group from Uzbekistan doing so.

Yet, it is not individual Kazakhs, Kyrgyz, Tajiks, or Turkmen whose names become tied to terrorist attacks abroad, further raising the question of "why Uzbeks"?

Part of the answer may lie in the repressive and turbulent environment of post-Soviet Uzbekistan.

Under President Islam Karimov, who died last year after ruling Uzbekistan since the country became independent in 1991, dissenting voices -- especially Islamist ones -- were viewed as challenges to the regime, and muted.



Anyone who criticized the Uzbek government was immediately branded as an enemy of the state, as was the case with one of the first to criticize Karimovs rule, a group called Adolat (Justice).

Adolat was an Islamic group that advocated in the first weeks of independence that Uzbekistan move toward an Islamic form of government.

When the Uzbek government tried in late 1991 to exert more control on the eastern region of Namangan, where Adolat was active, by ordering the replacement of local clerics, it didn't go as planned. Tens of thousands of people turned out to protest, prompting Karimov to travel to the area to try to calm the situation. Instead, he was made to sit and listen while a young would-be cleric named Tohir Yuldash lectured the Uzbek president about good governance.

It was the last lecture Karimov would ever listen to from an Islamic group.



From then on, the Uzbek state held sway on all things Islam in the country, regulating what could be preached in mosques, what could be taught in madrasahs, even what was considered acceptable clothing and appearance for Muslims.



It left many of Uzbekistans Muslims pondering whether their faith was being tailored to serve the state, and led to questions about the role of Islam in society and personal obligations to the religion.

Of those who left, some turned to alternative sources of information, such as the teachings of foreign mosques or radical Islamic voices disseminated on the Internet.



This alone does not answer the question as to why Uzbek names appear to have been more commonly associated with terrorism attacks of late, but it helps paint a picture of repression that could help foment enmity.



In Uzbekistan, quite simply, Islam emerged as a force of resistance to the government.



Uzbek authorities stamped out secular opposition within the first few years of independence, despite warnings at the time that they would drive the opposition underground, where it could be radicalized. That is exactly what happened.

The same Tohir Yuldash who lectured President Karimov in Namangan in December 1991 reemerged in 1999 as the leader of the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU), whose initial goals were to overthrow Karimovs government and establish an Islamic caliphate in its place.

The IMU never came close to achieving its goal, though it did continue to worry the Uzbek government from lairs in Afghanistan, where the group joined with Al-Qaeda and the Taliban. But the IMU did plant the idea that, when it came to Uzbekistan, Islamic-based resistance might be the most effective resistance to the Uzbek government, specifically, and to repression in general.

The reality is that there are now many Uzbeks far from Uzbekistan, in foreign countries, in alien cultures. Some have experienced difficulties assimilating; some are isolated; many struggle financially.

Of these, some seek solace in the guidance they receive via their computers; they search Internet websites seeking answers, acceptance, and a purpose.



The specific incident or moment that transforms them is always different, but the chosen response -- resorting to violence -- is often the same and, at least to some extent, may be explained by their experience growing up in post-independence Uzbekistan.

The views expressed in this blog post do not necessarily reflect those of RFE/RL.
New York City terror suspect Sayfullo Saipov lived most of his life with his parents in Beltepa, a middle-class district in the northwest of Uzbekistan's capital that houses high-rise residential buildings and numerous medical facilities.

The family of six resided in an apartment, which his parents have since sold, before moving to a house in Uchtepa, on Tashkent's southern outskirts.

Saipov, the eldest child and only son, grew up with three younger sisters.

Two neighbors in Tashkent contacted by RFE/RL's Uzbek Service on November 1 -- one day after Saipov was apprehended near the scene in Manhattan where a pickup truck, reportedly containing notes pledging allegiance to militant Islamist group Islamic State (IS), killed at least eight people when it roared down a bicycle path -- described the Saipovs as very secular and ordinary Uzbeks who dont stand out in any particular respect.

His parents are far from religion," one of them said, "They dont even pray.

Both individuals asked that their names not be published in connection with the Saipov story.

Saipovs 52-year-old father, Habibullo Saipov, and his 50-year-old mother, Muqaddas Saipova, have a small clothing stall in their local Bektopi bazaar.

A source in the country's security services, who was not authorized to speak publicly about the matter, told RFE/RL's Uzbek Service that Saipov's mother, father, and a 17-year-old sister were being questioned on November 1.

Neighbors say the family owns a car and a private house, both signs of relative prosperity in the Central Asian country, where the average monthly salary is less than $200.

Saipovs mother visited the United States in late 2016 and early 2017, according to Tashkent neighbors and Uzbek authorities, spending around two months with her son and his family.

A police source in Tashkent said he could not confirm reports that Sayfullo Saipov lived in the southern Kyrgyz city of Osh, which has a sizable ethnic Uzbek minority, before moving to the United States.

But Saipov moved to the United States, at the age of 22, after he won a U.S. green card through the official Diversity Immigrant Visa Program, also known as the green-card lottery, in 2010.

Acquaintances of Saipovs in the United States told RFE/RL that he did not seem to be a religious person when he first came to America.



It was several years later that some ethnic Uzbeks in the United States say they noticed Saipov expressing very radical views and becoming aggressive in his behavior, increasingly isolating himself from friends.



Saipov and his ethnic Uzbek wife, Nozima, met and married in the United States and have three children, the youngest of whom is 3 months old.



Saipov spent several years driving trucks and recently worked as an Uber driver.

An Ohio-based ethnic Uzbek man who knew him told RFE/RL that Saipov had expressed interest in possibly returning to his homeland after Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoev, during a visit to the United States for the UN General Assembly in September, called on Uzbeks abroad to come home.

With reporting by RFE/RLs Uzbek Service

NOTE: This article has been amended to correct an inaccurate death toll in the New York terror attack on October 31.
Several apartments were also searched in the north of Berlin. The attack was concretely planned but there is no known connection between Yamen A. and an international terror group. The suspect was in the process of preparing the attack, the prosecutors office said. He had been searching social media for directions on how to build bombs and communicating with people known to be on the jihadist spectrum. German authorities knew that the suspect had ordered bomb-making chemicals online. They said that during the raid today, authorities also found a high explosive.



Police at the scene of arrest

Today, German security services successfully averted a major terrorist attack in Germany, German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere said. The operation took place at exactly the right moment. Late enough to secure the necessary proof and early enough to securely prevent any danger. The suspect had been planning since at least July to detonate a bomb in a crowd in Germany with the goal of killing and injuring as many as possible, public prosecutor Frauke Koehler said. The terror threat remains unchanged at a high level, according to Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere.
The exact terms of the agreement were confidential. The University of Utah, Salt Lake City police and several individual security officers from the university who were present for Wubbelss arrest but declined to intervene are involved in this settlement.



Moment of the arrest, on video

The nurse had previously said that her main concern was protecting hospital staff and preventing the same conflict from happening again. Wubbels said she will donate some of the proceeds to a fund that will help people obtain body camera footage and provide free legal aid for open records requests. Some money will be also used to raise awareness about workplace violence against nurses. Salt Lake City has been focused first and foremost on ensuring policies and procedures are changed so things like this dont happen again, and we are glad we could come to a resolution with nurse Wubbels, Salt Lake City has been focused first and foremost on ensuring policies and procedures are changed so things like this dont happen again, and we are glad we could come to a resolution with nurse Wubbels, a spokesman for Salt Lake City Mayor Jackie Biskupski told to media.
Staff from U.S. Rep. Ron Kind's office will be holding open office hours in Black River Falls on Tuesday, Nov. 14 from 10:30-11:30 a.m. at the Jackson County Courthouse board room on the second floor.

Representatives are holding office hours in all 18 counties within Kind's Third Congressional District during November.

Given the lack of information, it is important to let people know that they must take action to re-enroll or get health coverage by Dec. 15 or risk not having coverage in 2018 and having to pay the penalty.

It is important to me, and to my office, that we are always available and working to help the residents of central and western Wisconsin, said Rep. Ron Kind. As Wisconsinites begin to take advantage of the open enrollment period to get health care coverage or make changes to their current health care plan, I hope people utilize my office to access resources and ability to get in contact with the right person to help them sign up and get covered.

Rep. Kinds office can assist people having issues dealing with the Healthcare Open Enrollment Process, as well as with the Department of Veteran Affairs, the Internal Revenue Service, the Social Security Administration, Immigration and Naturalization Service and a number of other Federal agencies.

The Jackson County Courthouse is at 307 Main St. in Black River Falls.
H.S. polls: Washington girls steady at No. 1 in 4A, Marian girls No. 2 in 3A
Tamara Thomsen will share Wisconsins rich maritime history in a lecture Thursday at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.

Thomsen, a Wisconsin Historical Society maritime archaeologist, will speak about the history of shipwrecks in the states portion of the Great Lakes during a lecture at 7:30 p.m. in Room 3310 in the UW-L Student Union. Her talk is free and open to the public and follows a social at 6:30 p.m. and an award ceremony for this years Mississippi Valley Archaeology Center James P. Gallagher Award in Archaeology Excellence.

During her presentation, Thomsen will explore Wisconsins Great Lakes shipwrecks through underwater video, historic photographs and the sharing archaeological discoveries. Attendees can learn how the Wisconsin Historical Society documents the more than 190 known shipwrecks that act as time capsules of the maritime past.

It should be entertaining for everyone, she said. And it wont just be Great Lakes ships. I will also include some on the Mississippi (River).

One of those wrecks still lies next to the city of La Crosse. The War Eagle, a famous paddle steamship, was built in 1854 in Fulton, Ohio, and had a 16-year career before sinking in flames.

During the Civil War, the ship functioned as a troop and supply carrier. It was purchased in 1866 by the La Crosse & St. Paul Packet Co. to transport passengers and freight between Galena and St. Paul.

On May 16, 1870, while unloading freight at the Milwaukee Railroad depot in La Crosse, the War Eagles carpenter attempted to repair a leaking cask of kerosene. His lantern ignited the kerosene and rapidly spread to the vessel, the adjoining pier and depot, and nearby railroad cars. The fire destroyed the ship, caused at least seven deaths and damaged much of the pier.

The talk will feature three of the archaeological surveys done on Lake Michigan as well as work on a proposed national marine sanctuary that would include three Wisconsin counties and 39 known shipwrecks. Wisconsin has 729 known losses of vessels over 50 years old, she said, but researchers know the locations of less than a third of them.

There is still quite a bit left to discover, she said. We are still looking at three or four shipwrecks a year.

MVACs James P. Gallagher Award in Archaeology Excellence will be presented posthumously to Dr. Thomas C. Pleger, a UW-L graduate whose subsequent career spanned 21 years of service in the UW System. Most recently, he served as president of Lake Superior State University in Michigan until his unexpected death earlier this year. MVAC founder James Gallagher will present the award to Plegers wife, Teresa.
Experts in interstellar travel have picked future candidates to make the first extrasolar trek.

Their names: The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans and tardigrades, otherwise known as water bears.

"These are real interstellar passengers," said Philip Lubin, head of the Starlight program at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB). [Gallery: Visions of Interstellar Starship Travel]

"We are developing the capability to test whether terrestrial life as we know it can exist in interstellar space by preparing small life-forms  C. elegans and radiation-resistant tardigrades  which are ideal candidates to be our first interstellar travelers," Lubin added.

Directed energy

Lubin spoke in late September at the NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) Program's 2017 Symposium in Denver, where he updated his team's progress.

At UCSB, Lubin, his students and research colleagues have established the Starlight program, also known as DEEP IN (Directed Energy Propulsion for Interstellar Exploration) and DEIS (Directed Energy Interstellar Studies). This NASA-supported work seeks to use large-scale "directed energy"  that is, lasers  to propel small spacecraft to relativistic speeds to enable humanity's first interstellar missions.

The bottom line for interstellar travel: "It will not be easy," Lubin said. "There are many difficult technical issues. It will not be cheap. But it is possible."

The first interstellar missions will likely ride a beam of laser light. Indeed, the work of Breakthrough Initiatives  via its Breakthrough Starshot effort  is helping to spur a revolution in spacecraft miniaturization that can contribute to the development of "StarChips" that are centimeter- and gram-scale.

The StarChip wafer work is progressing and "boldly going where no chip has gone before," said Lubin, who is a project leadership member.

In his "Directed Energy for Relativistic Flight" report to NIAC, Lubin cited collaboration with the lab of Joel Rothman in the UCSB Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology.

The upshot, Lubin noted, is that Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans for short), a ubiquitous species of nematode found in soil samples worldwide, and the water-dwelling microanimals called tardigrades, are perfect candidates for "our first interstellar travelers."

Rothman told Inside Outer Space (the author's website) that although much of the C. elegans scientific literature calls them "soil nematodes," they are generally found in mulch piles with rotting fruits worldwide. [Breakthrough Starshot in Pictures: Laser-Sailing Nanocraft to Study Alien Planets]

Caenorhabditis elegans, a ubiquitous species of nematode. (Image credit: J. Rothman)

"Star Trek" traits

Before we ever have the technology to send humans to other stars, Lubin's team explained, scientists plan to send tiny animals that have been shown to survive extreme environments of cold, heat, the vacuum of space, extreme dehydration, high accelerations (tens of thousands of g-forces) and high doses of radiation.

C. elegans and tardigrades already have been propelled into space. They've traveled to low Earth orbit during the space shuttle program and have flown on the International Space Station.

These minuscule animals have a number of traits that make them model passengers for long interstellar voyages, Lubin and his study group reported.

"Besides being microscopic, and thus conveniently fitting on our first interstellar wafer craft, they can be frozen and put into a state of anhydrobiosis, meaning they can be dehydrated and put into suspended animation," the team wrote on the project website. "When they are re-hydrated, they wake up as good as new!"

"We can do one or the other (or both), but anhydrobiosis doesn't require freezing and vice-versa," Rothman said in an email.

Water-dwelling microanimals called tardigrades, also known as water bears, are incredibly tough and hardy. (Image credit: J. Rothman)

Is Earth life native to Earth?

Scientists at the UCSB Rothman Lab are studying the behavior of these tiny subjects to better understand their behavior and needs before sending them into space.

Meanwhile, scientists at the Lubin Lab, in the Starlight program, are figuring out what kind of tiny chambers to design for them, where to place them on "wafersats," and how to wake them up at various points in the journey and remotely observe their behavior.

Here are some key questions to ponder: Will these animals survive? Could they take root on another planet with water? And how did they get to Earth in the first place? Could they have come here from some other solar system?

"There is no reasonable doubt that worms and tardigrades arose on this planet from the earliest terrestrial organisms," Rothman said. "The question really is, how did life get to the Earth in the first place? Did it spontaneously arise in the rich broth of the early seas of the young planet, or was it seeded from another distant source?"

Furthermore, Rothman noted that, although it's reasonable to wonder whether the simplest life-forms (bacteria) might have come to Earth from another solar system, "it is virtually certain that all complex life-forms, including animals, arose on this planet during the long process of biological evolution that began about 4 billion years ago, shortly after the planet could even conceivably sustain life. That conclusion is based in part on the universality of the genetic code, metabolic pathways and the structure of many universally [used] proteins, as well the evolutionary relationships throughout the tree of life that can be inferred from the analysis of extant genomes."

Shooting for the stars! The UCSB team. (Image credit: Philip Lubin, University of California, Santa Barbara)

In his NIAC-sponsored work, Lubin underscored the major challenges ahead for directed-energy interstellar flight.

"Clearly, there are many technical challenges. This is a long-term humanity-changing program," Lubin said. "The biggest challenge is that NASA, the U.S. government, does not plan 30 to 50 years ahead in space. Perhaps a public/private alliance is needed. Similarly, what may be required is a new division of NASA or new agency whose mandate is interstellar flight."

How do we maintain the drive toward this goal? Interstellar travel necessitates a dedicated program over a long period, and the U.S. should lead this transformation, Lubin concluded.

For more information on Starlight  Directed Energy for Relativistic Interstellar Missions work, go to http://www.deepspace.ucsb.edu/projects/starlight.

Leonard David is author of "Mars: Our Future on the Red Planet," published by National Geographic. The book is a companion to the National Geographic Channel series "Mars." A longtime writer for Space.com, David has been reporting on the space industry for more than five decades. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook or Google+. This version of this story was posted on Space.com.
A brand-new type of rocket, the Minotaur C, blasted off on its maiden voyage today (Oct. 31) to deliver several new Earth observation satellites into orbit.

Orbital ATK's Minotaur C lifted off from Space Launch Complex 576E at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California at 5:37 p.m. EDT (2:37 p.m. local time, 2137 GMT).

About 15 minutes later, the rocket deployed six SkySat Earth-imaging satellites and four Dove cubesats for the commercial imaging company Planet. "Liftoff of Minotaur C, carrying the SkySat and Dove satellites for Planet," Sean Wilson, director of corporate communications for Orbital ATK, said during a live webcast of the launch. [Gallery: Planet Labs Photos of Earth from Space]

Planet contracted the private spaceflight company Orbital ATK to launch these satellites on its new and improved Minotaur C rocket, which was formerly known as the Taurus XL.

Shortly after launch, Wilson reported a brief loss of telemetry data. But this little Halloween scare turned out to be inconsequential, and telemetry was quickly recovered as the rocket made its way into low-Earth orbit.

See more

Building a "Frankenstein" rocket

Built by Orbital ATK, the Minotaur C rocket is a hybrid version of the company's old Taurus XL rocket, Pegasus rocket and Minotaur family of rockets.

After Orbital ATK suffered a series of launch failures with the Taurus rockets  which led to the loss of NASA's Orbiting Carbon Observatory as well as its Glory climate-monitoring satellite  the company redesigned the Taurus. The new and improved rocket uses newer and more reliable technologies that Orbital ATK had built for its other Minotaur rockets.

"To date, our Minotaur rockets have completed 26 missions out of every major U.S. spaceport with 100 percent success, demonstrating the vehicles unique versatility and reliability," Orbital ATK officials said in a statement.

An Orbital ATK Minotaur C rocket rises into the sky above California's Vandenberg Air Force Station on Oct. 31, 2017, carrying 10 Earth-observing satellites for the company Planet. (Image credit: Orbital ATK)

The upgraded Minotaur C closely resembles a Taurus rocket, but it incorporates "numerous design features that are [in] common with the Minotaur product line, such as the rocket's electrical power system, payload fairing, flight-termination system, navigation sensors and RF components," the statement said. The company also refers to the Minotaur C as "a ground-launched variant" of the air-launched Pegasus rockets.

Minotaur C is equipped with four solid-fueled rocket stages, stands 92 feet (28 meters) tall and can deliver payloads of up to 3,500 lbs. (1,590 kilograms) into orbit.

A suite of SkySat and Dove satellites is encapsulated into the payload fairing of an Orbital ATK Minotaur-C rocket prior to launch. (Image credit: Orbital ATK)

"Green" satellites

Not only are the 10 satellites that Minotaur C just launched made to study the Earth, but some of them also help protect the planet by running on more environmentally friendly or "green" technology.

Developed by the Dutch-Swedish company Bradford Engineering's Ecological Advanced Propulsion Systems (ECAPS), the propulsion systems aboard the six SkySat satellites run on High-Performance Green Propulsion (HPGP) thrusters that are safer and more efficient than traditional propulsion systems that run on hydrazine.

Hydrazine is a highly toxic fuel that has served as the standard type of rocket propellant since the dawn of the space age, Ian Fichtenbaum, the director of Bradford ECAPS, told Space.com.

The new propellant, LMP-103S, is not only more efficient than hydrazine, but it's also safer to handle. That means satellite manufacturers don't require the same strictly regulated facilities or safety procedures to do their jobs, Fichtenbaum said. This translates to time and money saved on both construction and transportation of satellites before they launch into space, he said.

Email Hanneke Weitering at hweitering@space.com or follow her @hannekescience. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook and Google+. Original article on Space.com.
U.S. Rep. Jim Bridenstine (R-Okla.), President Donald Trump's nominee to lead NASA, speaking at the 32nd Space Symposium in 2016.

The United States Senate is holding a hearing today (Nov. 1) about the nomination of Jim Bridenstine to be the next NASA Administrator, and you can watch it live.

Bridenstine will testify before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, beginning at 10 a.m. EDT (1400 GMT) today. You can watch it live here at Space.com, courtesy of NASA TV.

President Donald Trump nominated the 42-year-old Bridenstine, a Republican congressman from Oklahoma, for NASA's top post in early September. The choice has been lauded by many in the spaceflight community, including Apollo 11 moonwalker Buzz Aldrin and the Commercial Spaceflight Federation. [In Photos: Donald Trump and NASA]

But some people have raised concerns, citing Bridenstine's lack of a scientific background and past statements questioning the reality of human-caused climate change. For example, last week, Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., sent a three-page letter to Sens. John Thune, R-S.D., and Bill Nelson, D-Fla.  the chairman and ranking member of the commerce committee, respectively  voicing her opposition to Bridenstine's nomination.

"Rep. Bridenstine's background makes him an extremely concerning choice to lead this critical agency and its 19,000 diverse employees," Murray wrote in the letter. "Rep. Bridenstine's denial of climate science and consistent opposition to equal rights for women, immigrants, and gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) individuals should disqualify him from consideration."

If Bridenstine is confirmed, he will succeed Robert Lightfoot, who has been serving as acting NASA Administrator since the beginning of the Trump administration. Lightfoot took over from NASA chief Charlie Bolden, a former space shuttle commander who was nominated by Barack Obama.

Bridenstine isn't the only person testifying today. The hearing also covers the nominations of three people to non-NASA posts: Dana Baiocco, to be a commissioner of the Consumer Product Safety Commission; Neil Jacobs to be an assistant secretary of Commerce, Environmental Observation and Prediction; and Nazakhtar Nikakhtar, to be an assistant secretary of Commerce, Industry and Analysis.

Follow Mike Wall on Twitter @michaeldwall and Google+. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook or Google+. Originally published on Space.com.
Brussels, Oct 24 2017] - The European Parliament will today vote on the EU-Morocco Euro-Mediterranean aviation deal, The proposed deal includes the territory of the Western Sahara in violation of EU law. Commenting ahead of the vote, POLISARIO EU Representative Mohammed Sidati, said:

This is yet another example of EU lawmakers seeking to sideline EU law for the sake of ties with Morocco, which bolsters an illegal occupation, violates the international legal rights of the Sahrawi people, and undermines the UN-led political process. Morocco has neither sovereignty nor jurisdiction over the territory of Western Sahara. As the European Court of Justice made clear in December 2016, the EU cannot be party to deals with Morocco which include the separate and distinct territory of Western Sahara. Any such agreements require as a matter of law the independent consent of the Sahrawi people.

"It is clear that this legislation has not been part of an open and transparent process. As the legitimate representatives of the Sahrawi people, our consent has not been sought, nor have we been informed or consulted about the proposed deal. Such efforts are counter-productive, and only further serve to undermine EU claims to support a genuine and credible political process to achieve a lasting solution to the conflict.

We therefore call on the European Parliament to postpone this vote until the European Commission provides legal clarity on the territorial scope of the proposed amendment with regards to the European Court of Justice ruling of December 2016, opens a constructive channel of dialogue with POLISARIO as the legitimate representative of the Sahrawi people, and focuses its efforts first and foremost on ensuring EU Member States and Institutions are in compliance with EU law concerning ties with Morocco. SPS

125/090
W hen the EU and Britain finally agree the terms on which this country should leave the European Union, the deal will first have to be ratified not just by the European Parliament but all the Parliaments of the other 27 member countries, over 30 legislative assemblies in all. The only parliament which might not get a vote is the one here.

That of itself underlines the absurdity of the position David Davis, Theresa May and other assorted members of the Cabinet who have obfuscated this issue and dithered over it for the past few months.

But an audience in the City were privy to a further twist yesterday at a breakfast event sponsored by the accounting firm Beavis Morgan.

Campaigner Gina Miller told the audience that the judgment of the Supreme Court in the case she brought against the Government last year made it absolutely clear that there would have to be a meaningful Parliamentary vote.

That judgment, in the case she won, affirmed the principle that the established rights of British citizens could only be changed by a vote in Parliament.

The terms under which we will actually leave the EU  though we do not know them yet  will inevitably change the rights of British citizens. Hence a new and separate vote will be required when those terms become known and, unless approved, it cant happen.

That indeed is the whole point of the Supreme Court judgment. And for good measure, if the Government sought to avoid this, either by denying a proper vote, or by seeking to circumscribe it or define it too narrowly, then the Government would immediately be challenged once again in the Courts as they were last time  one would assume with the same result.

The interesting thing is that such a legal challenge could conceivably also be used to prevent the Government dragging its feet and running the clock down to deny Parliament its rights. Separately, this very point seems slowly to be dawning on those who are in the upper reaches of the Government  because yesterday there was a report in The Times, albeit tucked away inside, which said that the Prime Minister had privately agreed to a proper, meaningful vote and was preparing formally to announce it in the next few weeks as a tactical move to calm the revolt against the Repeal Bill.

It was unconfirmed, but assuming this comes to pass, it significantly changes the dynamic of the Brexit process.

At present, the ideologically driven extreme Brexiteers who want to leave the EU at any cost think they can achieve this outcome by forcing our negotiators to be utterly unreasonable. They have calculated that if they block any attempt at progress, the negotiations will fail, we will crash out at the end of the two-year process with no continuity of any kind and they will have got what they want.

But the point about a vote in Parliament is that it would pre-empt this strategy because, to be meaningful (as the law demands), it would have to take place perhaps six months before the end of the two-year Article 50 process  probably next October, while there would still be time to act on the outcome. It has already been mooted that the terms will have to be agreed by then anyway to allow sufficient time for them to be ratified by all the other governments.

If our Government sought not to allow a British parliamentary vote at that point, then they would be challenged in the courts as above.

Thus, the extreme Brexit strategy of our leaving by default would be thwarted  which is why the idea of a vote upsets them so much in spite of their having said that leaving the EU was all about regaining parliamentary sovereignty.

It does more than that, however, because it also opens up the possibility  some might say the likelihood  of the Government being defeated on the terms, especially if its supporters from the DUP are unhappy with the Irish border arrangements which is a distinct possibility.

And under those circumstances it would be hard to see how Mays government could continue, nor how another Conservative administration could be formed with enough support to take its place, given how flimsy its position is even now.

That makes it likely there would be another election and who knows, at this stage, who would win that or what attitude that party would take towards the EU and Brexit. The whole thing could be thrown right back up in the air.

I doubt if anyone very much relishes that outcome, but it could still be averted if May had the courage to face down the extreme Brexiteers and seek instead to embrace the rest of the country.

It should still be possible to map out a vision for Britain which would allow us to be more independent but which would also be compatible with the reforms to the EU already mooted by the French president, Emmanuel Macron. He envisages different levels and patterns of membership while changing the relationship sufficiently to allay the reasonable concerns of those who voted to leave. It would change the tone from the negativity of destruction to the positivity of reform.

This, of course, is what a more competent leader would have done in the first place  to get agreement on where we were going before setting out on the journey and to unite the country behind that vision. It is just that this Government never tried.

But it is never too late for an outbreak of common sense, and if ever there were a time when that was needed, this is it.
H ad the Weinsteins never existed, observes Peter Biskind, in his definitive history of Nineties independent cinema, Down and Dirty Pictures, others might have been invented to fill their shoes, but on the other hand, perhaps not.

The same is true of the role played by the elder of the two brothers, Harvey, in the extraordinary wave of disclosure, allegation and debate about sexual assault harassment now sweeping the globe. There was probably always going to be a moment of reckoning of this sort, in some form, at some stage. But Westminster would not this week be racked by panic and introspection over sexual misconduct were it not for the disgrace of a particular Hollywood producer.

The reports mount up, and they are all different in detail if not in the essential cultural pathology they reflect. The radio host Julia Hartley-Brewer has confirmed that Sir Michael Fallon, now the Defence Secretary, repeatedly touched her knee at a Conservative Party conference 15 years ago. She dismisses the incident as mildly amusing and declares it closed.

Yesterday, the Labour activist Bex Bailey told the BBCs PM programme that she had been raped in 2011 by a person senior to her in the party  but discouraged by a Labour official from reporting the incident on the grounds that it could damage her. The party has launched an independent investigation and urged the police to make its own inquiries.

In todays Times, the journalist Kate Maltby writes that Damian Green, now First Secretary of State, told her at a meeting in a bar in 2015 that his wife was very understanding, put a fleeting hand on her knee and subsequently texted her to say that, having seen a photograph of her in a corset accompanying a newspaper article on the history of the garment, he felt impelled to ask her for another drink. Green, who strongly denies this account, now faces an inquiry by the Cabinet Secretary.

There will be more: you may be certain of it. True, the notorious sex pest dossier now circulating in unredacted form on the internet includes extraneous information about extra-marital affairs and consensual relationships between adults that involve no apparent impropriety. But the spreadsheet is still an important document. It symbolises the determination of women working at Westminster to draw a line in the sand, as their counterparts in Hollywood and theatre are doing.

Whatever happens next, this is yet another disaster for trust in politics. The symmetries with the parliamentary expenses scandal in 2009 are not exact: that extraordinary episode involved the release of hard data about specific, and undeniable, financial claims made by individual MPs. The present controversy will be a nightmare of conflicting testimonies, compounded by the woefully inadequate structures presently in place to resolve such cases.

At its heart, however, this is more serious than taxpayers funding MPs duck houses, moat-cleaning and ice-cube trays. Abuse of public money is bad enough. Abuse of people is worse. The common thread is the exploitation of power for improper ends. When a politician misuses his authority for sexual purposes, he not only demeans and damages the subject of his predations, he besmirches the public trust and brings the political system into disrepute. We do not send our representatives to Westminster to behave like superannuated rock stars searching for groupies.

One lesson of the expenses scandal is that the speed and sincerity of the official response is all-important. In that case, David Cameron outflanked Labour by making clear that the letter of the rules was less important than the moral issues at stake. Politicians have done things that are unethical and wrong, he said. I dont care if they were within the rules. They were wrong.

A global shift in workplace culture is under way and a measure of male humility is required in its difficult first phase

It is in this spirit that the Government and party leaders must address the present outcry. The plans announced on Monday by Andrea Leadsom, the Leader of the House, for a dedicated support team to handle reports of harassment are promising in as far as they go. But it is disturbing that  as the Evening Standard revealed  senior Tory MPs previously obstructed proposals for a binding code of conduct to protect parliamentary staff from inappropriate behaviour. What possible justification could there be for their opposition? And why did Theresa Mays Government and the parliamentary authorities not act upon the recommendations of the House of Commons Administration Committee regarding staff grievances six months ago?

When a structural flaw of this magnitude is laid bare, the first task is to listen to victims and to act upon the charges that they make  often at great personal cost. Of course there must be due process and a fair hearing for those they accuse but this is not an appropriate time for men to complain about witch-hunts or mob justice. A global shift in workplace culture is under way and a measure of male humility is required in its first and most difficult phase.

From this maelstrom, eventually, will emerge a new settlement that should make such abuse much harder. Grey areas will have to be floodlit. The border between the personal and professional will need to be patrolled much more carefully. That which is presently understood by civilised people will have to be spelt out in detail that some may find uncomfortable. Tough: it is clear that convention, manners and courtesy alone are an insufficient barrier to unacceptable behaviour. Strange as it is to record, the predatory conduct of Harvey Weinstein may yet ignite a welcome revolution at Westminster.
Since first hearing of the upcoming collaboration back in July, the fashion world has been on the edge of its front row seat in anticipation of the Erdem X H&M collection.

Gearing up for today's launch, we're already planning outfits.

Bursting with floral prints, the collection - which features an accompanying campaign directed by Baz Luhrmann (below) - consists of pieces ranging from a sleeveless ballgown with a snowdrop jacquard print to a chunky cable-knit jumper and a crisp white shirt.

And if this sounds like your scene, you'll be in good company with the Duchess of Cambridge earning herself the title of one of Erdem's biggest fans.

Also counting Alexa Chung as both a loyal fan and friend, the 39-year-old designer has also made pieces for the likes of Kate Bosworth, Pippa Middleton, Nicole Kidman and Felicity Jones.

Erdem X H&M Campaign by Baz Luhrmann

"From the moment we started talking with Erdem about the collaboration, I was captured by his vision," said Ann-Sofie Johansson, H&Ms Creative Advisor.

"For Erdem x H&M he has created an enchanting world full of beauty, delicacy and rich details."

"These are special pieces you will want to wear forever."

Erdem x H&M - The Campaign and BTS 1 /17 Erdem x H&M - The Campaign and BTS Erdem X H&M Behind the scenes Erdem X H&M Behind the scenes Erdem X H&M Behind the scenes Erdem X H&M Behind the scenes Erdem X H&M Behind the scenes Erdem X H&M Behind the scenes Erdem X H&M The campaign Erdem X H&M The campaign Erdem X H&M The campaign Erdem X H&M The campaign Erdem X H&M The campaign Erdem X H&M The campaign Erdem X H&M The campaign

With the collaboration, Erdem joins a long line of successful partnerships between H&M and high fashion houses.

Having worked with the likes of Isabel Marant, Alexander Wang, Matthew Williamson, Marni, Karl Lagerfeld, Kenzo and Balmain - the latter of which attracted an unprecedented number of shoppers and forced the Oxford Street H&M store to close on launch day due to 'safety' - Erdem will be looking to build on the brand's collaboration success stories.

The H&M x Erdem collection will be available to buy worldwide in H&M stores and online

Prices range from 24.99 for a hair brooch to 249 for a coat.
Lais Ribeiro has been revealed as the model chosen to wear the Fantasy Bra at this year's Victoria's Secret Fashion Show in Shanghai.

The show's glitziest and most expensive attraction, to be the selected model is seen as one of the highest honours to be given to a model on the brand's much-loved runway.

Last year saw Jasmine Tookes take to the catwalk in an 18-karat gold Fantasy Bra worth $3 million.

Gisele Bundchen, Tyra Banks, Alessandra Ambrosio, Lily Aldridge, Adriana Lima and Candice Swanepoel have all been selected previously to wear the prestigious piece.

Victoria's Secret through the years 1 /66 Victoria's Secret through the years 2006 show Gisele Bundchen leads the models on the runway Mark Mainz/Getty 1997 show Naomi Campbell Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty 1997 show Claudia Schiffer Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty 1997 show Georgianna Robertson Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty 1998 show Tyra Banks Jon Levy/AFP/Getty 1998 show Naomi Campbell Jon Levy/AFP/Getty 1999 show Tyra Banks Stan Honda/AFP/Getty 2000 show Gisele Bundchen in the Fantasy Bra Spencer Platt/Newsmakers 2000 show Gisele Bundchen Davy and Valente/Getty 2001 show Tyra Banks George De Sota/Getty 2001 show Mary J. Blige performing George De Sota/Getty 2002 show Naomi Campbell Matthew Peyton/Getty 2002 show Adriana Lima Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty 2002 show Heidi Klum Matthew Peyton/Getty 2003 show Adriana Lima Frank Micelotta/Getty 2003 show Naomi Campbell Frank Micelotta/Getty 2003 show Alessandra Ambrosio Frank Micelotta/Getty 2005 show Doutzen Kroes Peter Kramer/Getty 2005 show Natasha Poly Peter Kramer/Getty 2005 show Bianca Balti Peter Kramer/Getty 2006 show Rosie Huntington-Whiteley Mark Mainz/Getty 2006 show Natasha Poly 2006 show Miranda Kerr Mark Mainz/Getty 2007 show Miranda Kerr Mark Mainz/Getty 2007 show Noemie Lenoir Gabriel Bouys/AFP/Getty 2007 show The Spice Girls perform Gabriel Bouys/AFP/Getty 2008 show Candice Swanepoel Alexander Tamargo/Getty 2008 show Heidi Klum Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty 2008 show Miranda Kerr Alexander Tamargo/Getty 2009 show Chanel Iman Jason Kempin/Getty 2009 show Behati Prinsloo Jason Kempin/Getty 2009 show Anna Jagodzinska Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty 2010 show Candice Swanepoel Theo Wargo/Getty 2010 show Lily Donaldson Theo Wargo/Getty 2010 show Rosie Huntington-Whiteley Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty 2011 show Joan Smalls Jamie McCarthy/Getty 2011 show Karlie Kloss Jamie McCarthy/Getty 2011 show Anja Rubik Jamie McCarthy/Getty 2012 show Cara Delevingne Jamie McCarthy/Getty 2012 show Doutzen Kroes Jamie McCarthy/Getty 2012 show Miranda Kerr Jamie McCarthy/Getty 2013 show Cara Delevingne Jamie McCarthy/Getty 2013 show Izabel Goulart Jamie McCarthy/Getty 2013 show Adriana Lima Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty 2014 show Jourdan Dunn Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty 2014 show Alessandra Ambrosio and Adriana Lima Pascal Le Segretain/Getty 2014 show Behati Prinsloo Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty 2015 show Lily Aldridge Lucas Jackson/Reuters 2015 show Kendall Jenner Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images 2015 show Gigi Hadid Lucas Jackson/Reuters

This year's "Champagne Nights Fantasy Bra" is valued at $2 million and decorated with diamonds, yellow sapphires and blue topaz.

Ringing in at more than 600 carats, the Champagne Nights Fantasy Bra took almost 350 hours to create and is embellished with nearly 6,000 precious gemstones.

Victoria's Secret Fashion Show 2017: Confirmed Model Line-up 1 /72 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show 2017: Confirmed Model Line-up Walked before Karlie Kloss Tristan Fewings/Getty Images Walked before Candice Swanepoel Getty Images Walked before Sara Sampaio Getty Images for Victoria's Secret Walked before Adriana Lima Getty Images for Victoria's Secret Walked before Devon Windsor Getty Images for Victoria's Secret Walked before Josephine Skriver Getty Images for Swarovski Walked before Bella Hadid Getty Images for Victoria's Secret Walked before Jasmine Tookes Getty Images for Victoria's Secret Walked before Taylor Hill Getty Images for Victoria's Secret Walked before Alessandra Ambrosio Getty Images for Swarovski Newcomer Gizele Oliveira Getty Images Walked before Lily Aldridge Getty Images for Victoria's Secret Newcomer Mayowa Nicholas AFP/Getty Images Walked before Barbara Fialho AFP/Getty Images Walked before Jourdana Phillips Getty Images for Victoria's Secret Walked before Kelly Gale Getty Images for Victoria's Secret Walked before Zuri Tibby Getty Images for Victoria's Secret Newcomer Vanessa Moody Getty Images for Visionaire Walked before Stella Maxwell Getty Images for Swarovski Newcomer Amilna Estevao AFP/Getty Images Walked before Blanca Padilla Getty Images for Victoria's Secret Walked before Daniela Braga Getty Images for Victoria's Secret Newcomer Grace Bol Getty Images for Veuve Clicquot Newcomer Aiden Curtiss Getty Images for Foundation Figh Newcomer Xin Xie instagram.com/xinxiexx Walked before Martha Hunt Getty Images for Victoria's Secret Newcomer Alecia Morais instagram.com/alecia_morais Walked before Alanna Arrington Getty Images for Victoria's Secret Walked before Leila Nda AFP/Getty Images Walked before Bruna Lirio Getty Images Walked before Maria Borges Getty Images for Victoria's Secret Newcomer Frida Aasen Getty Images Newcomer Samile Bermannelli Getty Images for Marc Jacobs Walked before Liu Wen Walked before Shu Pei Qin Getty Images Newcomer Victoria Lee instagram.com/victorial24 Walked before Sui He Getty Images for Swarovski Newcomer Nadine Leopold Getty Images for Wynn Las Vegas Walked before Herieth Paul Getty Images for Victoria's Secret Walked before Maggie Laine Getty Images for Victoria's Secret Walked before Lais Ribeiro Getty Images for Victoria's Secret Walked before Grace Elizabeth Getty Images for Victoria's Secret Newcomer Estelle Chen instagram.com/chen_estelle Walked before Dilone Getty Images for Victoria's Secret Walked before Romee Strijd Getty Images for Victoria's Secret Newcomer Roos Marijn de Kok instagram.com/roosmarijndekok Walked before Elsa Hosk Getty Images for Victoria's Secret Walked before Sanne Vloet Getty Images for Victoria's Secret Walked before Leomie Anderson Getty Images for Victoria's Secret Newcomer Alexina Graham Getty Images for amfAR Walked before Megan Williams Getty Images for Victoria's Secret Walked before Ming Xi Getty Images for Victoria's Secret Walked before Lameka Fox Getty Images for Victoria's Secret Walked before Cindy Bruna AFP/Getty Images

Ribeiro has worked with the lingerie mega-brand since 2010, and has walked every show since with the exception of 2012.

Revealing her news on Instagram today, the mother-of-one said: "I've been holding this secret for too long and I am beyond honored to announce that I will be wearing the Champagne Nights Fantasy Bra this year!"

"I am very happy and thankful for my Victoria's Secret family for trusting me and all the support from my on family, friends and fans! THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! It's official!!"

This year's Victoria's Secret Fashion Show will air on November 28 at 10pm EST.

UK residents can stream the show using the app HayU from November 29.
It's cold. Its dark. And as the nights draw in and telly starts getting really good again, so too comes the urge to cocoon yourself in the cosiest, cuddliest thing you can find.

This sudden craving for creature comforts is the reason why the warm, safe confines of a fur coat are proving to be the fashion packs preferred habitat over the coming months. The snuggle is real. But this season the fur definitely isnt.

Earlier this month, fashion giant Gucci announced plans to join the Fur Free Alliance in 2018 with the promise to no longer use, promote or publicise animal fur and instead champion synthetic alternatives from its spring collection onwards.

Its a welcome move, marking a new era for the Kering-owned brand which counts fur-lined loafers among its recent sell-out successes. And, as one of the most influential brands on Milans notoriously fur-friendly catwalks, the decision suggests a seismic shift as far as the role of fur within the modern luxury market is concerned.

Last year, Giorgio Armani announced the same cruelty-free intentions across all of its divisions, along with Net-a-Porter, which pledged to stop stocking fur items earlier this year.

Increasingly, it seems furs standing as a status symbol is becoming outmoded and an industry that once turned its nose up to pretenders to the real deal are rushing to befriend faux.

This is thanks in part to the millennial market. Younger luxury consumers  a more ethically minded breed than previous generations  are more likely to eat clean, buy organic and check clothing labels for where its made and what its made of.

This socially conscious mentality is also coupled with technological advances, which have led to a rise in strokeably soft pretend-pelts which draw a closer parallel to the genuine article and bear no resemblance to the scratchy, matted nylon of faux past.

Some of the most authentic-looking fakers on the catwalk include designs by Italian Marco de Vincenzo, who has championed faux since 2014, citing it as more creative and modern than real fur. His current collection includes floor-sweeping coats and candy-striped accessories cut from an eco-friendly fur from a company chosen by the designer for winning Petas seal of approval. Meanwhile, lifelong vegetarian and pioneer of cruelty-free fashion Stella McCartneys vegan furs, first unveiled on the catwalk in 2015, are so realistic that she proudly displays the Fur-free fur label stitched on the outside of coats.

Alter-fox Fur Free Fur coat, 1,260, Stella McCartney

Certainly, synthetic is no longer a byword for cheap  as reflected in the four-figure price tags which accompany Vincenzo and McCartneys designs. But this new-found appreciation of faux has also benefited a string of more affordable brands championing lustrous-looking imitations.

The unmistakable brightly coloured coats by Shrimps, designed by west London native Hannah Weiland, are a favourite among the style set, while Helen Moores range of faux-fur hats, scarves and bags are designed and made in Britain. Independent, Peta-certified Australian label Unreal Fur, stocked by ASOS, also has a wealth of shaggy, animal-print furs suitable for vegans.

Of course, the high street is a prime hunting ground for tracking down a new cuddly companion this season.

Pink faux-fur jacket, 89.99, Mango

Mango is the current go-to for fuzzy numbers in eyewateringly punchy shades  think bubblegum pink chubbies and bold, faux-fur-trimmed parkas  along with Monki, which has a good supply of cosy clipped fur and faux-shearling styles for under 100.

Faux-fur jacket, 75, Monki

Topshops new campaign also stars a foxy-brown faux-fur option it is dubbing the ultimate vintage faux-fur coat, while Urban Outfitters own label, Light Before Dark, has a covetable chocolate- brown calf-grazing version.

Faux-fur coat, 129, Urban Outfitters

A cropped Lio faux-fur jacket, available in rich plum or polar-bear white, is also a hero of French high street e-tailer Sezanes debut permanent collection La Liste, as well as the longer, midnight-blue Isee coat, which is truly the stuff of hibernation dreams.
A Jackson County sheriffs deputy fatally shot an armed Black River Falls man early Saturday in the town of Komensky, according to the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation.

The incident started when deputy Justin Wathke investigated a disorderly conduct and a possible restraining order violation call, according to the agency and Jackson County Sheriff Duane Waldera.

Wathke took a statement from a female and then went to talk to Lucas J. DeFord, 27, of Black River Falls. DeFord fled from a traffic stop and drove to the womans house and was shot by Wathke when he showed a gun, according to DCI and Waldera.

An autopsy conducted at University Hospital in Madison confirmed the gunshot wound was the cause of death.

Wathke, a deputy since 2009, is on administrative leave. He was wearing a body camera during the shooting.

DCI will turn over investigative reports to the Jackson County District Attorneys Office for a prosecutor to determine whether the shooting was justified.

Waldera said this case is tragic and is a sad end to a disorderly conduct incident.

When you get into the situation further, the in-depth history of these individuals involved, it is a very bad thing that occurred, but there is a lot of history, Waldera said. These two people shouldnt have contact, but the male party was so motivated to have contact with this individual that it was at all cost. When you get to that at all cost, you dont know the state of mind.

About 25 people from the community demanded answers Monday as they sat outside the Jackson County Courthouse during a peaceful protest about the shooting.
W hile Londons streets arent paved with gold, they are at least lined with food trucks and stalls worth their weight of it. The question is always: whats next?

The great thing about street food is that there is always exciting new talent coming through, all the time, so it never gets stale, says Joel Porter, PR manager at Camden Market.

The street food scene in London has been one of the defining features of eating out in the capital over the past few years. From workers exchanging supermarket sandwiches for fresh cooked lunches from their local KERB market to the popularity of Street Feast on a Friday night, it has changed the way we eat out and socialise.

Street food has become the restaurant industrys weather vane, giving a sign of where the winds are blowing. Where once chefs in London only came up through restaurants, now real cooks are brought up on the streets. Bao, Breddos Tacos, Smokestak and Lucky Chip were all stalls that proved so popular theyve set up permanent shop.

Want a taste of things to come? From Exmouth Market to Brockley, heres where to find the next hot dish before it hits the mainstream and you have to queue round the block for it.

Wheelcake Island

Soft, moist, fluffy Taiwanese pancakes filled with creamy fillings are the mainstay of Wheelcake Island, which has been trading in London for the past seven months. Bringing a completely new dish to the marketplace is much more difficult than we first imagined, say co-founders Felix Tse and Yi-Ting Lin, who decided to set up a street food business because Lins brother missed his Taiwanese wheel cakes from back home. But theres a Chinese proverb we like that says gold glitters no matter where its found.

With fillings including custard, chocolate, matcha and adzuki bean, and the help of their mascot  a humble fat frog  they aim to make this mainstay of Taipeis night markets a local favourite in London too.

Brick Lane on weekdays, KERB Camden on Wednesdays, wheelcake.co.uk

Salt Shed

Our favourite salt baes, schoolfriends Francis Sweeney and Laurence Stevens both aged 23, have been curing salt beef to impress friends for more than a decade. For them, its all about theatre: using brisket and finer beef cuts such as short rib and an aggressive Argentinian-style flame grill creates a seamless tender crunch.

The key, though, is tradition. Foods that once thrived in the city, such as salt beef, have declined, and being proud Londoners our mission is to recreate and develop this beautiful East End flavour. Its not all talk: the 10-day-cured salt beef short rib steak, flame-grilled in honey mustard glaze, topped with chilli-churri, is so mouth-watering youll need a bigger bib.

KERB markets Weds, Thurs, and Fri; Greenwich Market on weekends, salt-shed.co.uk

Spicebox

Grace Regan, the founder of Spicebox  and great-great-grandaughter of Thor Bjrklund, inventor of the cheese knife  is a plant-based powerhouse. When an 18-month-old vegan street food stall raises 450,000 in funding, its time to sit up and take notice. Her dishes are rooted in traditional, veg-centric Indian cooking methods, such as tandoori cauliflower steak with makhani sauce on grilled naan.

Regan, a one-time Silicon Valley tech prodigy, has surfed the vegan boom. Her big lesson? Stay true to your values, she says. As the vegan food scene in London has exploded, so has the hype around vegan junk food. It would be easy for us to cater to this and stick a cauliflower in a deep-fat fryer but weve decided to play the long game and not deviate from our core values.

Every day at KERB Camden, gimmespicebox.com

Only Jerkin

You only get back what you put in in the world of street food, says Luke Dawes, a 32-year-old former psychiatric nurse who now runs Only Jerkin with his partner Jessica Olsen. The hours are long and the days are tiring but the customer satisfaction makes it all worthwhile. Indulgent Caribbean street food with a twist is their forte, packed with flavour and punch. Their secret weapon? That has to be our fried jerk chicken nuggets, triple-dipped in ginger-beer batter, because these guys are what originally got us noticed.

Street Food Union in Soho, Weds-Fri 11am-3pm; KERB Camden market seven days a week, 11am-7pm; KERB lunchtime markets: Weds at West India Quay, Thurs at Granary Square, Fri at London Bridge, on Twitter @onlyJerkin

Babek Brothers

Boasting the best kebabs this side of Istanbul the Babek Brothers goal is to change the kebab from a greasy late-night thing to a dinner out. Having eaten our body weight in charcoal-cooked meat and fresh bread, tandoori chicken and naan in India or a lamb kofte and khobez in Turkey, Elliot and Sam Day have been making waves in the London food scene.

While they use only English, grass-fed beef and lamb and free-range chicken, their mission statement is global. Their bestseller is a Kim Koftashian: big and juicy, it was the first kebab they made, with lamb, beef, heaps of garlic yoghurt and pink pickled onions.

Hawker House in Canada Water until Nov 18, then at Winterville on Clapham Common Thursday to Sundays from November 23, babekbrothers.com

Ink

No one was doing crispy squid on the street food circuit, says Lucy Mee, who has been running her stall since June last year with boyfriend Josh Paterson. Having always ordered it on every menu we decided to give it a go. The hot favourite? Crispy squid tossed with coriander and chillies, with three mayos (black garlic, miso and chilli) and a sesame and soy dressing. Theyve just started serving crispy squid tacos too.

Street Feast Hawker House every Friday and Saturday and KERB Camden seven days a week, on Twitter @inksquidbar
S tress. We all suffer with it - especially with Christmas coming up - but we may not be aware of the underlying issues causing it.

Mike Fisher, founder and training director at the British Association of Anger Management, has identified five core stresses - pressure, control, not making yourself the priority, approval-seeking, and trust. You might even be dealt with a royal flush and have all of these

According to Anna Whittaker, professor of behavioural medicine at the University of Birmingham, the main causes of stress are caused by major life events - a bereavement, marriage, divorce, moving house, losing your job - but that when under these stresses we are prone to adopting poor lifestyle choices that could be having an indirect effect.

Keeping this criteria in mind we look at some of your everyday habits that you might want to cut out before it's too late.

1. Rush hour

A study in May 2017, found that of the 34,000 UK adults surveyed, those who had commutes to work over 30 minutes suffered from higher levels of stress than those who did not. This might not be news to any of you city-workers stuck on the circle line back home with a randomers elbow jammed against your cheek, but it's about time we look towards alternatives and change our mental patterns when it comes to getting into work on time. "Theres the lack of control and approval seeking  that desire to get in on time," explains Fishers. "But theres also a trust element - that you can relax, eventually get into the office, and get your days work done."

"When I used to work in central London I used to take the underground and it was incredibly stressful. Then I had a bicycle with the fear of getting knocked over which was incredibly stressful. Eventually, I found a solution and bought a motorcycle which made all the difference."

But what if there's no inner Marlon Brando to come out, and a motorbike is a no-go?

"Just remind yourself that if your five minutes late to work then its not the end of the world. Trust that its going to be okay." You heard it here first - the world will not end if you miss that Victoria line train (the next one will be along in 2 minutes anyway)

2. Looking at our phones

Are you a slave to your iPhone - constantly waiting on that Instagram icon to light up or your Whatsapp to go off the chain? According to Fisher, this could feed into our need for approval but more importantly it could be a sign of just how stressed we are underneath it all. "When you're flooded with feeling, you may use social media and emails as a way of distracting yourself," explains Fisher. "Its more difficult to just be present in the here and now moment because it creates anxiety. So how do I alleviate that stress? By constantly being active. And whats the easiest way to be active? By looking at my phone and social media. The paradox is that it just creates more stress and anxiety." Whittaker agrees: "One of the things we need to do to cope with stress is to have proper rest time. Using technology all the time is never completely switching your brain off."

Most Instagrammable coffee shops in Britain 1 /26 Most Instagrammable coffee shops in Britain Steam Yard Sheffield 1 & 2, Aberdeen Court, 97 Division St, Sheffield S1 4GE steamyard.co.uk Lili Vanilli London 6, The Courtyard, Ezra St, London E2 7RH lilyvanilli.com/the-bakery Pettigrew Tea Rooms Cardiff West Lodge, Bute Park & Arboretum, Castle Street, Cardiff CF10 1BJ pettigrew-tearooms.com Violet Cakes London 47 Wilton Way, London E8 3ED violetcakes.com General Merchants Belfast 481 Upper Newtownards Rd, Belfast BT4 3LL generalmerchants.co.uk The Marwood Brighton 52 Ship St, Brighton BN1 1AF themarwood.com Look Mum No Hands London 49 Old St, London EC1V 9HX lookmumnohands.com Cafe Marmalade Brighton 237 Eastern Rd, Brighton and Hove BN2 5JJ cafemarmalade.co.uk Lina Stores London 18 Brewer St, London W1F 0SH linastores.co.uk Cafe Boscanova Bournemouth 650 Christchurch Rd, Bournemouth BH1 4BP thecaffeinehustler.com MILK London 20 Bedford Hill, London SW12 9RG milk.london North Tea Power Manchester 36 Tib St, Manchester M4 1LA northteapower.co.uk Bold Street Coffee Liverpool 89 Bold St, Liverpool L1 4HF boldstreetcoffee.co.uk Hatch London 8 MacKintosh Ln, London E9 hatch-homerton.co.uk Cafe Royal Newcastle 8 Nelson St, Tyne and Wear, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 5AW sjf.co.uk Honest + Harvey Woodbridge 56 Thoroughfare, Woodbridge IP12 1AL honeyandharvey.co.uk Workshop Coffee London 27 Clerkenwell Rd, London EC1M 5RN workshopcoffee.com The Plough Birmingham 21 High St, Birmingham B17 9NT theploughharborne.co.uk Lion Coffee + Records London 118 Lower Clapton Rd, London E5 0QR lioncoffeerecords.com

3. Drinking coffee late in the day

The UK slurps up 165 million cups of coffee a day, and while coffee is a worthy morning pick-me-up surprisingly rich in vitamins and nutrients beware of drinking it too late in the day. Caffeine can increase cortisol levels (the stress hormone) in stressed individuals, so while you may think it will get you through a difficult moment it is more likely doing more harm than good.

"There's also the adrenaline rush from coffee," reveals Fisher. "A lot of people who are stressed out are addicted to adrenaline." So, if you find yourself floundering during the day, craving that adrenaline roller-coaster from a cup of joe - hit the teapot instead. While tea only has half of the caffeine content of coffee, it's not as fast releasing, while the caffeine interacts with the amino acid L-theanine in tea so that when it hits our brain it sends it into relaxation mode. Perfect for when you're needing to ride out a bumpy ride (especially with that dreaded end of day rush hour on the horizon).

4. Staying on your computer before you sleep

While we might be chained to our smart-phone devices while out and about for the day, coming home is all about relaxing and switching off as Whittaker mentioned previously. However, the average person now spends 8 hours and 41 mins on their electronic devices, 20 minutes more than the average night's sleep.

"You cant separate stress and sleep," says Fisher. "What I find in my clients is the more stressed they are, the less able they are to sleep and what happens is for them to actually sleep at night they have to physically exhaust themselves  which means constantly doing things late into the night. All it does is increase their stress levels. Working on your computer or watching films late at night overstimulates us, which means you can never get off that cycle of being stressed."

Best books on mindfulness 1 /14 Best books on mindfulness Find your inner peace with our pick of the best mindfulness and meditation books... Mindfulness: a practical guide to finding peace in a frantic world This bestseller will get you in the right frame of mind for 2016. Based on Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT)  a successful form of brief meditation this book's success relies on the way in which authors Mark Williams and Danny Penman optimistically focus on adding joy to your life as opposed to ridding it of unhappiness. 10.50, Amazon, Buy it now Anti-Stress Dot-to-Dot Always thought that dot-to-dots were an activity for children? Apprently you're wrong be wrong  the pictures in this book, featuring elegant buildings and nature scenes, will relax and focus your mind in a way you never thought a dot-to-dot book could. 5, Amazon, Buy it now I Am Here Now This will help enhance both your observation and creativity; with an audio track (featuring musings from mindfulness teacher Tara Brach) and a field notes page for recording purposes, I Am Here Now will enable your thoughts and emotions to take on a new lease of life. 7, Amazon, Buy it now The Mindful Workplace What better time to deploy the theories of mindfulness than at work? This book, filled with Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) techniques, provides an eight-week training course to keep your workplace attitude at its peak. 30.50, Amazon, Buy it now Get some headspace This book from Andy Puddicombe, founder of popular digital health platform Headspace, attempts to get people to take ten minutes out of their day for meditation purposes. Once the technique's been learned, these skills will stay with you for the rest of your life. 10, Amazon, Buy it now The Mindfulness Colouring Book Much like the dot-to-dot book above, this pocket-sized adult colouring book is the perfect activity for a 10-minute breather. Consider your stress and anxiety soothed. 4, Amazon, Buy it now The Little Book of Mindfulness In this day and age, it's more important to be in the moment than ever  this book will help you with that. From Dr Patrizia Collard, these brief practices will rid your day of stress and have you feeling more optimistic. 4, Amazon, Buy it now Body Calm The saying mind over matter derives from the idea that our minds have the power to control our bodies if we really want them to. Equally, mental stress can have a damaging effect on our bodies. Newbigging teaches us a new self-healing meditation technique to help keep our bodies healthy and to understand the source of common stress and anxiety triggers. 11, Amazon, Buy it now The Power of Now The Power of Now has become one of the most famous mindfulness books out there. Helping us to tap into our innermost Being, Tolle guides us through various techniques to help us understand that the present moment is all that really matters. 8, Amazon, Buy it now A Mindfulness Guide for the Frazzled An ambassador for mental health awareness, Ruby Wax OBE has helped to make mindfulness accessible to all. Having suffered from depression herself, in this book she explores how modern living is causing us more stress and anxiety than ever as we know and see too much. Included are mindfulness exercises and tips for everyone from babies to adults; all with sound underlying scientific reasoning. 4, Amazon, Buy it now

5. After-work pint

We may feel like self-medicating our stress with alcohol, and while we would certainly prescribe socializing with friends in certain crises turning to the bottle ain't a great option in the long term. A 2012 poll by ICM of 2,000 adults found that almost two-thirds relied on alcohol to relax in the evenings, a coping mechanism that can indirectly lead to even more stress says Whittaker. "One thing that really helps when coping with stress is exercising and seeking out social support - mobilising support networks rather than trying to deal with things on your own or ignoring them. If we can choose those coping mechanisms as opposed to going to the pub then its obviously going to lead to a more physically and mentally healthier lifestyle. You have to get into a habit of a really healthy lifestyle during less stressful periods so that when you are struck with stress youre already in quite good patterns and dont get worse."

6. Comfort eating

As with your after-work pint, comfort eating is a coping mechanism that leads to a vicious cycle. For Fisher, there is a loss of control in comfort eating - one of the core stresses. You're not gorging yourself on quinoa and goji berries after all. Like coffee, foods that give you a spike of adrenaline inevitably come with a slump - take the increasing levels of insulin that come with eating refined sugars for example. And with a slump the panic starts to set in, so save yourself from the vicious cycle and give the choccy biccies a miss this time.

7. Procrastination

And finally, to come full circle on this vicious cycle theme we have procrastination which we are surprisingly more susceptible to when we are over-stressed. "The problem is that we end up procrastinating because were just too exhausted anyway from all the thoughts about what if I dont do this or that. It increases our stress level, but on some level, it immobilizes us, which means that we procrastinate."

Maybe it's time to minimise this article then and get back to what you were doing.
I n the past, when making dinner plans, the mention of a vegan attending would be enough to make anyone stay home in front of Netflix instead.

But now, as the number of vegans in the UK has skyrocketed to at least half a million, not only are our favourite high street restaurants catching up to speed but some of the world's best exclusively vegetarian and vegan restaurants have popped up across the country.

The trick is knowing where to look. From ethical fine dining to cruelty-free fast-food, weve rounded up the best establishments across the UK, where any vegan can get their fill of tasty and nutritious food without feeling like they have to compromise on style or flavour.

You'll never need to cancel your dinner plans again.

Food For Friends, Brighton

Food for Friends

This smart and classy eatery in the heart of Brightons historic lanes is part of a newer breed of high-design veggie restaurants in the UK that goes way beyond your average hemp-filled cafe, and is perfect for wining and dining a well-heeled vegan. Its ethos is tasty and affordable food, using the best locally sourced ingredients to produce a seasonally inspired menu - serving up everything from fragrant coconut curries to fresh salads. Book a table for the weekend early because it gets busy.

foodforfriends.com

Terre a Terre, Brighton

For haute cuisine with a relaxed vibe its hard to beat a trip to Terre a Terre. This brightly coloured seaside restaurant has long been a favourite for Brightonians (its been in business for over 20 years), serving up world-inspired veggie and vegan dishes with a fine-dining finesse. Theres a set menu to choose from as well as tapas-style sharing plates if you cant decide on just one dish. Try the blistered padron peppers with Chinese watercress or the brilliant cheese and pickle gnocchi. There are several interesting vegan dishes on the menu that go beyond butternut squash and tofu, and plenty of the vegetarian options can be made vegan too.

terreaterre.co.uk

Purezza, Brighton

Pizza at Purezza

Didnt think vegans could eat pizza? Think again. Italian dishes are the order of the day at this animal-free pizzeria, which prides itself on offering healthy and tasty pizzas for those who dont want to abstain from tucking into a slice or two after a long day at work. Theres an extensive list to choose from - from quattro formaggi (coconut, soya, cashew and almond cheese) to Hawaiian (pineapple and seitan salami), which can all be washed down with an excellent selection of vegan wine and beer from the bar.

purezza.co.uk

Black Cat Cafe, London

If #cleaneating and pushing lettuce leaves around your plate isnt your thing, head to Black Cat. This all-vegan, volunteer-run cafe in the heart of Hackney has plenty of normal grub on the menu to keep even the most hardened of carnivores happy. Theres a cruelty-free fry up, bolognese lasagne, and monstrous beef-style burgers with fries to tuck into. Make sure to wash it all down with one of the excellent almond milkshakes.

76a Clarence Rd, E5 8HB

Vantra, London

Dessert is served at Vantra in London

The yoga-loving health brigade head to Vantra post-workout, keen to feast on its menu of organic, macrobiotic and raw global dishes that are good for the body, soul and planet (or so it says on its website). While the menu is vast and varied, make the most of the restaurant's buffet; a veritable feast of soups, raw salads and fermented and steamed superfood concoctions.

vantra.co.uk

Mildred's, London

Somewhat of a Soho institution, Mildreds is as old as she sounds - hailing right back to the late Eighties. But dont expect dated earthenware pottery and peeling wallpaper, this modern restaurant has been brought slap bang into 2016 with a chic Scandi vibe inside. The menu is international-themed, so theres something to keep everyone happy - from burgers and salads to larger sharing plates. Its worth noting that it doesnt take bookings, so get in early to grab a table.

mildreds.co.uk

Ethos, London

Stylish Ethos near Oxford Circus

A stone's throw from Oxford Circus, this beautifully designed restaurant offers simple vegetarian soups and salads alongside sweets like doughnuts and cake pops. Be careful: the price is by weight not by dish, so don't go if you're feeling ravenous or you might bankrupt yourself. It's safer to snack here after a day of shopping.

ethosfoods.com

The Waiting Room, London

This hipster hideaway on Deptford High Street is another welcome alternative to the Deliciously Ella effect. Think less steamed kale and more meat-free buffalo hot wings, sticky BBQ ribs and hot dogs. The fridge is well stocked with Brewdog and Beavertown beers and theres a small community library inside - bring a book along and swap it for one you fancy on the shelf.

waitingroom16.com

The Old Hardware Shop, Liverpool

The Old Hardware Shop in Liverpool

There are no shortage of veggie restaurants serving up junk food in the capital, but this small family-run business is something of an anomaly in the North West. Its only been around for a year or so, but its already become a hit with the locals of Woolton Village and farther flung areas of Merseyside. Everything on the menu is vegetarian, but pretty much everything can be 'veganised' - from cheese toasties and hot dogs to chocolate peanut butter shakes with lashings of whipped cream and cherries on the top.

theoldhardwareshop.com

The Egg Cafe, Liverpool

The Egg has long been a place of pilgrimage for Scouse vegans, a light and airy loft space with mismatched wooden furniture and colourfully painted beams inside. Expect to see artist, students and bohemian types tucking into their comforting and homely menu.

eggcafe.co.uk

The Art School, Liverpool

The Art School

Located in a stunning former Victorian orphanage building, this fine dining menu is a meat-free masterpiece offering fixed-price and tasting menus for vegans, vegetarians and pescetarians. Try the warm salad of roasted fig, spring leaves, fennel, wild rocket, red onion with toasted walnuts, almonds and focaccia croutes to start and the brilliant salt baked celeriac with quinoa, roasted sweet potato, shaved fennel salad and charred chicory. If youve still got space after your four courses, try to pack in the marinated red berries and sweet tapioca with lemon balm, kikuna leaf, lychee and cinnamon syrup.

theartschoolrestaurant.co.uk

The Warehouse Cafe, Birmingham

The self-proclaimed greenest restaurant in the Midlands, this community-orientated eatery offers affordable and accessible dishes inspired by seasonal British fruit and veg. There are curries, salads and soups and the cafe recycles everything that it uses, uses a bicycle courier (or foot) for the majority of its fresh produce and buys organic and fair-trade wherever it can.

thewarehousecafe.com

V-Revolution, Manchester

Vegan burgers are on the menu at V-Revolution

Not a fan of chickpeas and lentils? This strictly vegan restaurant will rewire your thinking. Not only is the menu ludicrously cheap (with prices ranging from 1 to 6) it also serves to highlight that going vegan doesnt mean going without. This American diner-style cafe in the trendy Northern Quarter offers a decent array of chicken and beef burgers alongside grilled cheese sandwiches, loaded nachos, desserts and soy ice cream floats.

vrevmcr.co.uk

The 8th Day, Manchester

Finding life from the roots of a craft exchange and alternative centre, Eighth Day has been a major part of Manchesters vegan community since the 1970s. On the ground floor youll find a shop selling trendy vegan brands and health foods, but venture downstairs and youll discover one of the city's best-kept secrets. This bohemian basement cafe is popular with both vegans and gluten-free folk, offering everything from veggie sausage and cider casseroles, lentil and coconut soups and a range of jacket potatoes.

8thday.coop

Earth Cafe, Manchester

This pretty cafe is located in the basement of the Manchester Buddhist Centre is a vegan-friendly retreat with an emphasis on healthy eating. Dont expect chips and meat substitutes - on the menu youll find healthy mung bean curries, tomato and chickpea salads and freshly made smoothies. But if youre looking to finish off a session of clean eating with something decadent, fear not, because theres a brilliant array of cakes to sample on the ever-changing dessert counter.

earthcafe.co

Mono, Glasgow

One of the jewels of Glasgows gig scene also happens to be one of the best spots to grab vegan grub in the city not to mention the most trendy. The menu is adventurous to say the least, serving up buffalo cauliflower pizzas, avocado chocolate cheesecakes and to-fish n chips. Its ethos is simple: good beer, good vegan food, good gigs and good times'. Sounds good to us.

monocafebar.com

Acorn Vegetarian Kitchen, Bath

Acorn

From the ashes of Demuths, the restaurant that ruled the South West veggie scene for almost a quarter of a century, rose Acorn Vegetarian Kitchen. Set across two floors of a stunning Georgian building, this reasonably priced menu offers hand-prepared, locally-sourced, seasonal vegetarian food, as well as stunning panoramic views of Bath Abbey and beyond from its large sash windows.

acornvegetariankitchen.co.uk

The top 25 cheapest city breaks in Europe 1 /33 The top 25 cheapest city breaks in Europe Bratislava, Slovakia Typical price per night: 36 Shutterstock Athens, Greece Typical price per night: 36 Milos Bicanski/Getty Images Vilnius, Lithuania Typical price per night: 35 Maciej Lulko/Flickr Istanbul, Turkey Typical price per night: 27 Chris McGrath/Getty Images Belgrade, Serbia Typical price per night: 27 Shutterstock Wrocaw, Poland Typical price per night: 32 Janek SkarzynskiFP/Getty Images Toulouse, France Typical price per night: 36.50 Rob DeGraff/Flickr Ljubljana, Slovenia Typical price per night: 36.50 Pedro Szekely/Flickr Thessaloniki, Greece Typical price per night: 28 Shutterstock Zadar, Croatia Typical price per night: 36.50 Min Zhou/Flickr Riga, Latvia Typical price per night: 36.50 AFP/Getty Images Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Gran Canaria Typical price per night: 33 Shutterstock Sofia, Bulgaria Typical price per night: 28 Dennis Jarvis/Flickr Tbilisi, Georgia Typical price per night: 24 Shutterstock Nantes, France Typical price per night: 38 AFP/Getty Images Palermo, Sicily Typical price per night: 36.50 Shutterstock Budapest, Hungary Typical price per night: 36 GLars Baron/Getty Images Catania, Sicily Typical price per night: 35 Carlos Bustamante Restrepo/Flickr Leipzig, Germany Typical price per night: 32.50 Shutterstock Krakow, Poland Typical price per night: 32 Jan Kucharzyk/Getty Images Zagreb, Croatia Typical price per night: 32 Shutterstock Saint Petersburg, Russia Typical price per night: 28.50 Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images Bucharest, Romania Typical price per night: 28 Shutterstock Warsaw, Poland Typical price per night: 32 Shutterstock Kiev, Ukraine Typical price per night: 28.50 Marco Verch/Flickr

David Bann, Edinburgh

David Banns eponymous restaurant is a well-deserved, if obvious, inclusion in any vegan-friendly recommendation list thats venturing up north for ideas. The veggie menu has plenty for dairy-free eaters too, with a globally inspired menu of fusion dishes from the Med to the Pacific.

davidbann.com

The Vegetarian Food Studio, Cardiff

The Vegetarian Food Studio in Cardiff

Owner Neil Patel set up the Vegetarian Food Studio in 2003, and has since attracted a cult following from both the South Wales Indian community and those from further afield seeking their first taste of authentic vegetarian and vegan foods from Asia. This cheap and cheerful Indian is popular with locals and tourists, serving up traditional vegetarian curries that wont make you miss the meat. Theres Gujarati and South Indian-inspired dishes to try as well as Indo-Chinese dishes, and a good selection of breads and rices to go alongside.

thevegetarianfoodstudio.co.uk

Follow Liz Connor on Twitter: @lizconnor_
A Japanese man held after police discovered nine bodies, including two severed heads, at his home in Tokyo "targeted women looking for suicide partners", according to reports.

Takahiro Shiraishi, 27, was arrested on Tuesday after officers investigating a reported suicide found the bodies of eight women and one man in cooler boxes at his flat in the south west of the city.

The suspect told police he had tried to hide the bodies of people he killed to destroy the evidence, local media reported.

He is only facing a charge of abandoning bodies, but authorities are expected to seek murder and dismembering charges.

The bodies were found in cold-storage cases and covered with cat litter in his apartment. Police are working to identify the victims.

They found the bodies while searching for a woman, 23, who had disappeared after exchanging Twitter messages with Shiraishi. Officers believe she might be among those killed.

Crime: Journalists gather at the scene in Zama, Kanagawa Prefecture. / REUTERS

Reports said the missing woman got in contact with Shiraishi via the social media site, seeking a partner for a suicide pact and saying she was afraid to die alone.

The two were reportedly recorded by security cameras walking together outside of train stations near her apartment and the suspect's apartment.

Shiraishi allegedly embarked on a killing spree as soon as he moved into his apartment in late August this year, investigative sources were quoted as saying on Wednesday.

His first victim was believed to be a woman who he made contact with on Twitter.

The suspect allegedly offered to help the women commit suicide, local media reported.

He is then believed to have killed her boyfriend to silence him, reports added.

Shiraishi also used similar tactics to kill seven other women, Japanese media reported.

A Japanese police official said a toolbox and saw found in the suspects apartment may have been used to dismember the bodies, according to the Associated Press news agency.

Descriptions of the apartment building indicate it had a plastic-sealed unit bath. Shiraishi is said to have dismembered the bodies there, the agency added.

He told police his motives were money and sexual abuse, Japanese media said. Police have refused to confirm the reports.
S hocking images have been released showing the horrific injuries sustained by a man who was attacked with acid after going to confront a group vandalising his car.

The man was one of two people who were left with life changing injuries after they were attacked with corrosive liquid outside a shop in Poplar, Tower Hamlets.

Police have released the images of the victim as his attackers were jailed for a total of 15 years.

Kaha Miah, 20, from Forest Gate, admitted two counts of applying a corrosive fluid with intent and was jailed for nine years for each, to run concurrently.

A 16-year-old boy, from Newham, was convicted in October of two counts of applying a corrosive fluid with intent and having an offensive weapon.

Jailed: Kaha Miah, 20, admitted two counts of applying a corrosive fluid with intent / Metropolitan Police

He was given six years' detention in a Young Offenders Institution for each count, also to run concurrently.

The two victims were attacked on March 20 while staying at an apartment on Blackwall Way, in Poplar, with their friends, Snaresbrook Crown Court heard.

They saw a group of youths jumping and kicking cars outside, including their own, and went to confront them outside the Nisa supermarket on Virginia Quay.

At this point, the 16-year-old took a bottle out of his bag, unscrewed the top and passed it to Miah. Miah unscrewed the bottle further and threw the contents into the faces of the two victims.

The first victim suffered burns to his face and shoulder. The acid was so strong that it melted his top.

The second victim was hit in the eye leaving him with severe facial burns and causing him to lose 20 per cent of his vision.

They were found by patrolling officers from Tower Hamlets and taken to an east London hospital before they were transferred to Moorfield Eye Hospital.

The victims have been left with significant scarring and police said they continue to suffer psychological distress as a result.

The 16-year-old was arrested on the day of the assault. At 5.15pm on April 4, Miah presented himself at Bethnal Green police station following arrest enquiries at his home address.

Detective Sergeant Richard Lewsley, investigation officer from Tower Hamlets CID, said: Whilst this sentence provides a degree of justice for the victims and reflects how seriously the police and courts view the possession of noxious substances, I am acutely aware of the devastating impact that attacks of this nature have upon victims.

"The sentence received reinforces the police view that any incident of this nature, or any possession of these type of substances will be investigated thoroughly. I would urge anyone carrying or considering carrying a noxious substance to reflect upon the sentence received today.

"These substances can, and unfortunately are, used in the commission of crimes which have a huge and lasting impact on victims."

If you would like to report anyone you suspect of carrying a noxious substance, or if you are a victim or a witness to a crime involving a noxious substance, call police on 101 or 999 in an emergency, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
A ferocious killer who tried to evade capture by lightening his skin after stabbing to death a plumber has been jailed for 16 years.

Andre Joseph, 25, took extreme measures to try to avoid being arrested, using skin lightening cream and dying his hair bleach-blonde to try to distance himself from the fatal attack.

When fleeing the scene, he had also disguised himself as a decorator, putting on a jumpsuit and grabbing a paint tray, as a helicopter circled overhead trying to catch him, the Old Bailey heard.

Joseph and 18-year-old Eduardo Embalo were responsible for the death of Damien McLaughlin, 42, who was stabbed through the heart in a knife fight in Enfield.

Damian McLaughlin: The 42-year-old plumber was stabbed to death in Enfield / PA

The Old Bailey heard McLaughlin, a plumber for Speedy Jet Drainage who lived with his wife and son in Cheshunt, Herts, was hooked on cocaine and had gone to buy drugs.

However, he was ambushed by Embalo and Joseph, both wielding knives, in the afternoon of April 22. They both were cleared by a jury of murder but convicted of manslaughter, following a trial.

This morning Judge Anthony Leonard QC sentenced Joseph to 16 years in prison and jailed Embalo for 14 years, noting that although both have learning difficulties they had taken very logical steps to try to get away with the crime.

Joseph remained at large for a few days by attempting to change his appearance, including by dyeing your hair and lightening your skin colour, said the judge.

Describing the attack on Mr McLaughlin, he added: You came at him each armed with a knife and at one stage towards the end of the fight, you Joseph had a knife in each hand.

You were quite clearly seen to handle to knives and with such ferocity that both blades broke, one after the other.

Embalo, from Tottenham, and Joseph, of no fixed address denied murder, manslaughter and possessing an offensive weapon.

They were both cleared of murder but convicted of manslaughter and possession of an offensive weapon.
A young man has claimed he was raped behind some bushes near to a north London Tube station.

The alleged victim, aged in his 20s, spoke to police officers at 10.30pm on Monday to tell them he had been attacked in West Hampstead earlier that evening.

He said that he had got off the Tube at Finchley Road at about 9pm before being followed along Canfield Gardens by an unknown man and raped.

Scotland Yard said he did not require hospital treatment and is now being supported by specialist officers.

A Met Police spokesman added: A crime scene is in place.

No arrests have been made and enquiries continue.

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 or Tweet @MetCC.

Information can also be reported to Crimestoppers anonymously by calling 0800 555 111 or visit crimstoppers-uk.org.
A man has died and a woman has been injured after a crash in Deptford on Tuesday.

Police were called to Deptford Bridge at 1.14pm to reports of a road traffic accident.

A man driving a Ford Focus car was killed after he hit a female pedestrian.

The man, believed to be in his 20s, was taken to a south London hospital by London Ambulance Service (LAS) where he later died.

The woman was taken to hospital by LAS where her condition was described as stable and non life threatening on Tuesday evening.

Detectives from the Mets Serious Collision Investigation Unit are investigating. Enquiries are under way to trace the mans next of kin.

Anyone who witnessed this incident should call the Serious Collision Investigation unit on 101.
S adiq Khan today confirmed that more than half of Londons 73 remaining police front counters are to close.

The Mayor announced controversial plans to keep just one 24-hour police station open to the public in every borough.

Under the radical plans, 37 police stations face imminent closure, with many of the buildings sold off to help raise 165 million in capital.

They include those in crime hotspots such as the West End and busy parts of London including Peckham, Edmonton and Stoke Newington.

A further four  in Barking, Bexley, Pinner and Ruislip  are still under consideration.

Meanwhile plans to open a new police station near Grenfell Tower early next year, for two years only, are to be discussed with the local community.

The Met Police and Mayors Office for Policing and Crime have been looking at police station closures for more than a year.

Mr Khan said police officers would continue to patrol in crime hotspots so they could reach the scene of an emergency quickly.

Dedicated neighbourhood police  whose number will be doubled by the end of this year  will be based at new ward-level hubs closer to communities.

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They will hold sessions in locations like leisure centres, libraries and town halls, replacing the system of counter points.

Nine communities which are over an hour from their nearest front counter will get two sessions a week so residents can meet officers face-to-face.

When Boris Johnson cut front counters in 2013, Mr Khan criticised the move and suggested Londoners could be forced to report crime at police contact points in McDonalds restaurants.

Under the Labour mayors plans, there will be more focus on telephone services, which account of 70 per cent of crime reporting in London, and a new online reporting service.

Mr Khan blamed the changes  which will save 8 million - on Government cuts to police funding.

Scotland Yard has argued that just 8 per cent of crimes were reported at police station front counters in 2016, down from 22 per cent a decade ago.

Mr Khan said: Keeping Londoners safe is my number-one priority, and supporting officers out on the beat in our communities is more important than keeping open buildings that are simply not used by the vast majority of the public.

Nevertheless, I understand and share some of the very legitimate concerns of Londoners about these closures. That is why we held the widest possible consultation with public meetings in every London borough and we have listened very carefully to the feedback.

Cressida Dick, Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, added: The most effective place for our officers to be is out on the streets. Be that on patrol responding to the public, proactively out tackling crime on operations or in their communities forging stronger, better links gaining vital local information.

However, the plans were certain to upset local MPs and councillors  including those in the Labour party.

Labour MP for Barking, Margaret Hodge, described the proposal for her area as completely outrageous and unacceptable.

She added: By deciding to keep the Dagenham station open and then consulting on closing the Barking Town centre presence the Met are simply robbing Peter to pay Paul.

Its a pyrrhic victory for Dagenham at the expense of no service for Barking. That is not on. It is not fair and it wont help the fight against crime.
S adiq Khan has confirmed that more than half of Londons 73 remaining police front counters are to close.

Under controversial new plans, 37 police stations face imminent closure, leaving just one 24-hour police station open to the public in every borough.

They include those in crime hotspots such as the West End and busy parts of London including Peckham, Edmonton and Stoke Newington.

Many of the buildings could be sold off to help raise 165 million in capital.

These are all the stations that face closure.

Borough Station Barnet Barnet Brent Kilburn Bromley West Wickham Copperfield House Camden Holborn Croydon Windhill Road Ealing Ealing Southall Greenwich Eltham Hackney Shoreditch Hammersmith & Fulham Fulham Haringey Hornsey Wood Green/Fishmongers Arms Hillingdon Uxbridge Hounslow Chiswick Islington Holloway Kensington and Chelsea Notting Hill Kingston New Malden Lambeth Kennington Streatham Lewisham Catford Deptford Merton Wimbledon Newham Plaistow Stratford Redbridge Barkingside Richmond Sovereign Gate Teddington Southwark Peckham Southwark Sutton Worcester Park Tower Hamlets Brick Lane Limehouse Waltham Forest Walthamstow Town Centre Wandsworth Wandsworth Westminster Belgravia West End Central

A further four stations  in Barking, Bexley, Pinner and Ruislip  remain under consideration.

Meanwhile plans to open a new police station near Grenfell Tower early next year, for two years only, are to be discussed with the local community.

Mr Khan said police officers would continue to patrol in crime hotspots so they could reach the scene of an emergency quickly.

Dedicated neighbourhood police  whose number will be doubled by the end of this year  will be based at new ward-level hubs closer to communities.

The Mayor said that the plans will save an 8millon  equivalent to the cost of 140 police constables.

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The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: Keeping Londoners safe is my number-one priority, and supporting officers out on the beat in our communities is more important than keeping open buildings that are simply not used by the vast majority of the public, and where just eight per cent of crimes are reported.

Nevertheless, I understand and share some of the very legitimate concerns of Londoners about these closures. That is why we held the widest possible consultation with public meetings in every London borough and we have listened very carefully to the feedback.

Cressida Dick, Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, added: The most effective place for our officers to be is out on the streets. Be that on patrol responding to the public, proactively out tackling crime on operations or in their communities forging stronger, better links gaining vital local information.
A business futurist and a prominent local business leader will address the profound changes in store for American business and life because of artificial intelligence.

Futurist Patrick Schwerdtfeger and Andrew Temte, president of Kaplan Professional, will speak Wednesday morning, Nov. 8, at the Economic Forum, sponsored by the La Crosse Area Development Corp.

Schwerdtfeger says the explosion of big data technologies and the internet of things have led to dramatic advancements in artificial intelligence and machine learning, fueling innovation in predictive analytics, autonomous vehicles, virtual reality and countless other fields.

Based in La Crosse, Kaplan Professional offers a large portfolio of professional development programs and helps people earn industry-recognized licenses, certifications and designations. Temte will explain how artificial intelligence is affecting his work and how it applies to businesses in La Crosse.

The event will be at the La Crosse Center Ballroom, with breakfast starting at 7 a.m. The program begins at 7:15 a.m. Cost is $45, and registration is due Friday. Register at ladcoweb.org.
T IME for a trowel or a mortar board on the catwalk? Maybe  if Alexandra Shulman has her way. Shulman, unleashed from the restraints of editing Vogue after 25 years, has said she would like to see women academics, biologists and gardeners show off the latest fashions.

Shulman was speaking at a Rakuten Fits Me event last night. At Vogue we were restricted in who we could shoot by whether they could actually fit into the clothes, she said at the talk in Tate Moderns Blavatnik building, calling for the fashion industry to stop offering clothes samples in one size.

Shulman, pictured, said: It would be so great if we were able to see women academics, biologists, gardeners, kitted out in the latest trends. She also suggested they could wear their own clothes: A trenchcoat is very useful  it can hide a multitude of bumps.

Shulman has first-hand experience of the issue. Last year she put model Ashley Graham on the cover, and used her editors letter to criticise the brands who refused to send outfits to fit her.

And now the problem follows her to the high street: she said a recent visit to H&M left her disappointed when its size guide classified a small as 10-12. I thought it would be probably the first time in my life that I fitted into a small, she said. But it wasnt to be.

She left with a Halloween costume instead, but unless trick-or-treaters to her house last night were ardent fashionistas, Shulmans very large orange jumper is unlikely to have given anyone a fright.

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Quick thinking from staff at Newsnight. Yesterday the programmes editor, Ian Katz, sent an email to say that he is leaving the show, and indeed the BBC, to replace Jay Hunt as Channel 4s director of programmes. Last nights episode was tweaked accordingly: when Katzs name appeared in the closing credits, a giant crook appeared and pulled it away aggressively. No hard feelings, surely.

Sex drives and high jinks rule at Oxford

COULD the clue to overfriendly Tory MPs lie in the past? As the sleaze spreadsheet does the rounds, The Londoner consulted the archives  in particular, Cherwell, Oxford Universitys student newspaper, in the mid-Seventies when Damian Green was studying PPE at Balliol  on one occasion he was thrown off Magdalen Bridge as part of university high jinks.

A contemporary, Alicia Collinson, is quoted talking about Green. Hes got a very strong sex drive, she said at the time. Hes just not all that discriminating.

Green, who denies any wrongdoing, is now First Secretary of State and Collinson is his wife.

Quote of the day

(Photo by Michael Putland/Getty Images) / Getty Images

"My past meets my present" Madonna pays tribute to the late Jean-Michel Basquiat, as she takes her children to see his exhibition at the Barbican yesterday. The pair dated in the Eighties.

Ghouls make it a fright night to remember

The Londoner chose treat over trick last night as the city got into the Halloween spirit. In Mayfair, Fran Cutler hosted a scary bash at Tramp, while in Shoreditch guests sipped cocktails from blood bags and queued for free tattoos at the launch of Browns East. But presenter Maya Jama was the queen of the night, and the Nile, dressing as Cleopatra to welcome friends to Alberts in South Kensington. Her boyfriend, Stormzy, was a werewolf, model Munroe Bergdorf was a witch and presenter AJ Odudu dressed as Edward Scissorhands. Must have been a nightmare to go to the toilet.

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REGARDING propositions that come back to haunt you, theres always Moira Stuart. Back in the Nineties, at the end of the Six OClock News one evening, John Humphrys, then a presenter on the show, said to his colleague Moira: Youre the most sensationally sexy lady I know. The best thing we can do for the next few hours is make mad passionate love in the basement. The subtitlers for the hard of hearing were still transcribing from their lips.

Tweet of the day

Travel journalist Byzantine Ambassador sees shades of the Russian revolution in recent allegations

Montague on the move

Moving up in the World: Sarah Montague (Photo BBC) / BBC News & Current Affairs via G

THE pay disparities on BBCs Today programme are such that even Justin Webb reportedly raised an eyebrow at how little his fellow presenters get paid. While John Humphrys was earning a robust 600,000, his colleague Sarah Montague didnt make the 150,000 threshold for her salary to be made public.

Speaking for the first time on the subject yesterday, Montague, pictured, said: We sit in that studio and challenge people over being unfair, so the BBC, of all places, should be fair.

Now it seems she is voting with her alarm clock. Montague is said to be jumping from Radio 4s flagship programme to go to World at One. Its a job swap with current presenter Martha Kearney, whose 200,000 pay packet is perhaps more in keeping with the Today programme.

The Londoner asked the BBC if Montagues move will give it a chance to redress the pay balance  the corporation declined to comment.

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Proposal of the day: Keir Starmer suggests a humble address, a request to the Queen to order David Davis to release studies on the Brexit impact. The humble address was all the rage in the 18th century. How old school.

A new cohort to keep Jools in tune

An all-star billing on Later with Jools Holland: Noel Gallagher and actress Rita Wilson appeared on the BBC show last night and posed for a selfie. Wilson, wife of actor Tom Hanks, took to the stage to perform the song she co-wrote with Holland called Youre So Cold. Who knew she could sing?
S hocking new evidence of serious assaults on women at Westminster can be revealed by the Evening Standard today.

A woman victim has told how the Conservative MP she worked for sexually assaulted her in her office at the House of Commons, approaching her from behind and grabbing at her crotch.

She later told the Commons authorities what had happened - but they said there was nothing they could do.

In a second shocking case, a former Conservative Party aide reveals that she went to police after her drink was spiked with a suspected date rape drug in Strangers Bar at the House of Commons, a drinking den reserved for MPs and their guests.

A police officer told her it was not the first time that allegations of drinks being spiked had been made at the Commons.

Damian Green has denied claims he sent a 'suggestive' text to a Tory activist / PA

The horrifying incidents are among the most serious yet to emerge from the ballooning scandal of sexual harassment, intimidation and assaults at Westminster.

Theresa Mays own deputy, First Secretary of State Damian Green, was fighting for his political life after being accused of making advances on a writer 30 years his junior.

He denied the allegation made by family friend Kate Maltby but came under fire from angry women MPs. In normal circumstances that person would be suspended, claimed former Tory minister Anna Soubry.

Theresa May has launched an investigation into her deputy Damian Green / EPA

The new victims who spoke to the Evening Standard are not being named for legal reasons.

The sexual assault victim was on the staff of an MP. It happened four years ago when she was working in his office and the politician approached her from behind and put his hand up her skirt.

She said: He had made comments previously which made me feel a bit uncomfortable but I never felt physically threatened.

I was on my own in the office with him late one afternoon, which was not unusual, when out of nowhere he just put his hand between my legs.

I was totally shocked. I just froze. It was over in seconds and I just ran out of the room. It was never mentioned.

She later started working for another MP and felt emboldened to report the assault to the Commons authorities. They were very nice but they essentially told me I had to talk to the party or to the police, there wasnt anything they could do.

The woman whose drink was spiked said it happened in March when she spent the early evening with old friends at the Strangers Bar, which is known to locals as The Kremlin because it was traditionally a late-night haunt of Labour MPs.

She had a couple of drinks but blanked out after her companions left and was unable to remember anything from 8.30pm.

I got home but I have no idea how, said the woman. I only know I must have taken a taxi because there was a receipt in my pocket.

She had a rage-like episode in the early hours but felt clear-headed in the morning but had no recall of the night. My husband just looked at me and said what on earth happened to you?

Realising that she might have been drugged, she told the local police and was advised to get a blood test. Hospital tests later that morning found no trace of the drug left in her system.

However, when she described what had happed to a doctor, she told her that her account matched the experiences of victims of date rape drugs, saying that such drugs soon break down in the human body.

The victim later spoke to police in central London and was told by an officer: This is not the first incident of its kind at Westminster.

Police investigators pulled CCTV footage from cameras at the Commons. There were no cameras in the Strangers Bar, to protect the privacy of MPs, but they found footage of the victim swaying and crashing into walls as she made her way out of the Palace of Westminster looking incredibly vulnerable but ignored by officials and officers.

The woman said she no longer accepts drinks unless she sees them poured in front of her eyes.

A House of Commons spokesman said: Allegations of criminal activity on the Parliamentary Estate are a matter for the police. Any police investigation carried out as a result of such allegations would have Parliaments full cooperation.
I n A dingy bar with dated decor and the heavy smell of beer in the air, down a dank alley in the underbelly of the Palace of Westminster, I came across my first political dinosaur. I was a new lobby correspondent and had spent the evening drinking with friends in the House of Commons before we tipped into the Sports and Social for a nightcap. It was late but the wood-panelled bar was still packed with young researchers and aides, along with a couple of MPs.

One of my group knew them so we got chatting. As we drained our glasses one of the politicians  twice my age  leaned over, stroked my collarbone with his finger and propositioned me. Id like to say I came up with a cutting put-down but I think I just giggled embarrassedly and beat a swift retreat. That was more than 15 years ago but the Sports has retained its reputation for alcohol-sodden nights and all the inappropriate behaviour that goes with that.

There have been other incidents over the years  the MP who tried to kiss me, the peer who sent increasingly inappropriate text messages, the minister who groped my behind on the dancefloor at a party conference. Each was batted away and the only reporting of them I did was to my journalist and researcher friends  who all had their own stories  to warn them to keep their distance.

They were borderline incidents, we told ourselves, rather than crossing the line. Clumsy passes. Drunken lunges. Misplaced hands. The possibility of complaining further never really seemed like an option. We didnt want to be blacklisted or seen as troublemakers by our (mostly male) bosses. These were, after all, the early 2000s, when the small band of women covering Westminster were referred to by some colleagues as the lezzy lobby.

For many women and some men  in Westminster inappropriate behaviour has just become a fact of life. One journalist told me recently she had never been sexually harassed, but then added: Ive only had the odd bit of groping. Many become almost immune. I dont really get shocked that easily, another confessed. It is relief that a new generation recognises, after sharing war stories on WhatsApp, that such behaviour should be called out. But there is also a tinge of guilt: should we have done more to change the culture back then?

While much inappropriate behaviour falls into a grey area  with its definition depending almost entirely on how the person on the receiving end feels  some is irrefutable. One aide told me how an MP had put his hand on her crotch when they were alone in a room. Terrified, she did nothing, but later tried to report the incident to the parliamentary authorities, who told her there was little they could do to help.

A Westminster insider I spoke to had her drink spiked in Strangers Bar, one of the most popular drinking holes on the estate, earlier this year. After just a couple of drinks she blanked out and has no memory of the rest of the night. When she reported the incident to police the following day they told her she was not the first person whose drink had been spiked at Westminster. A doctor told me it was a classic date-rape drug. I dont know why it happened to me but it has totally changed how I feel about the place, she said.

There are rumours flying around Parliament about a staff member being pinned down by an MP on a foreign trip and one particularly traumatic story of a Tory former minister raping a researcher, though both are unsubstantiated.

At the heart of the problem at Westminster is power: some people (usually men) have a lot of it; others (often, though not always, women) dont. An experienced or confident or powerful woman may feel able to dismiss unwelcome advances as inappropriate behaviour  and even reprimand the man responsible. But a young journalist or researcher, or even a new MP whose future career may depend on the perpetrator, might not.

Women MPs have also been targeted  whether with laddish behaviour like the breast-weighing gestures highlighted by Diane Abbott or harrowing harassment and abuse of the type described by Labour MPs Jess Phillips and Mary Creagh to my colleague Kate Proctor last week.

It is difficult to establish the scale of the problem  the anecdotal evidence suggests dozens of MPs could be culpable, with many of them repeat offenders  but no political party has been immune.

The Lib-Dems were embroiled in a scandal after senior peer Lord Rennard was publicly accused of sexual harassment, which he has denied, by four women in 2013. The Tories have hit the headlines in recent days with international trade minister Mark Garnier facing a Cabinet Office investigation for allegedly making an aide buy sex toys for him, and former minister Stephen Crabb sending a young woman sexually explicit messages.

The latest allegations surround Theresa Mays own deputy, Damian Green, who was today accused of making advances on a writer 30 years his junior.

Labour, for its part, suspended MP Jared OMara last week after revelations emerged about sexist remarks he made on social media. Women members have set up their own website, LabourToo, to collect anecdotes. The party was further shaken last night when a senior activist, Bex Bailey, revealed she had been raped at a Labour event  and was warned off reporting the incident by senior party figures.

So, what next? Speaker John Bercow has made it clear he expects the political parties, rather than the Commons authorities, to lead the crackdown on sexual harassment. Commons Leader Andrea Leadsom has pledged to establish a new independent grievance procedure. Under the existing system MPs are the legal bosses of their staff, who are not covered by the established system, including HR support, for other parliamentary employees.

Yet few practical proposals have come forward for changing the culture at Westminster to make sure perpetrators no longer think they are untouchable. Some have called for more victims to speak out. But Labour MP Jess Phillips said: It is not OK for any of us to pressure victims to come forward as if it is somehow the victims sole responsibility to get abusers off the street. It is not. Perpetrators are always responsible.

In this paper last week broadcaster Tom Bradby suggested it was time for men to do their bit. It shouldnt just be women raging against the abusers and the excusers, but men too. In fact, perhaps it should be especially men, he said.

Sophie Walker, a former political journalist who now heads the Womens Equality Party, believes the problem is more intractable: Theres no silver bullet  the problem is huge and its systemic. The reason we havent fixed it is that every time we bump up against it people rush around saying Whats the one thing we can do to solve this? rather than putting in the painstaking work of actually achieving real change.

There remain concerns that the most serious allegations risk being overshadowed by gossip and tittle-tattle from around SW1. Defence Secretary Michael Fallons apology for repeatedly placing his hand on journalist Julia Hartley-Brewers knee at a conference dinner 15 years ago  which she dismissed as quite amusing  even made the front page of The Sun.

A list of Tory sex pest MPs is currently doing the rounds online  even though the document appears to conflate serious allegations with inappropriate behaviour and, in several cases, completely consensual activity. One senior Westminster figure said: The problem with concentrating on the low-grade stuff, or simply the salacious stuff, is that it detracts from the bigger picture, the very serious allegations of sexual harassment and abuse that do exist.

Tory MP Maria Miller, chair of the Women and Equalities Committee, has warned that Westminster navel- gazing risks taking attention away from the fact ordinary women face harassment every day. There will be victims who havent spoken out yet, watching what happens to women who do, said journalist Gaby Hinsliff. It really matters that everyone in politics gets this right.

Amid all the noise at Westminster about sexual harassment, it is the voices of the genuine victims that risk being drowned out.
T heresa May and Jeremy Corbyn clashed in Parliament amid the growing Westminster sex scandal.

The two party leaders went head to head in Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday at noon.

It comes as more Westminster staffers have come forward - both anonymously and publicly - with allegations of sexual misconduct against MPs.

The scandal was top billing in the chamber today, with May revealing all party leaders are invited to a meeting on the new Commons complaints system.

Lisa Nandy, the MP for Wigan, dropped a bombshell allegation when she claimed she had raised evidence of sexual misconduct - and whips using it - with then-Home Secretary May in the 1990s.

May also was quizzed twice on Universal Credit by opponents of the welfare reform.

Here's PMQs as it happened.
C hefs at a Michelin-starred restaurant have banned customers from posting photographs of their food on Instagram.

Michel and Albert Roux, founders of the Waterside Inn, in Bray, Berkshire, have put up a sign telling diners not to photograph their food.

Speaking to the Daily Mail, Michel Roux said: "I'm really getting so upset about people taking pictures. We put up a card at the door saying 'No photos, please'.

"I mean, what are they doing? Maybe once during the meal you want to take a little photo of something because it's unusual. But what about the flavours?

The Roux brothers, Albert (left) and Michel, receive their OBEs in 2002 / PA

"A picture on a phone cannot possibly capture the flavours."

In 2010, the Waterside became the only restaurant outside France to retain its three Michelin starred rating for 25 years. It is one of only five restaurants in the UK to meet the highest standards of the Michelin rating system.

The Michelin Guide has been rating fine dining establishments since the 1920s, reserving its three star marker only for those "worth a special journey".

The ban follows a similar backlash in France which saw a group of leading chefs band together to renounce the practice in 2014.

A food trends report issued by Waitrose last year found that one-third of those aged 18-34 regularly post pictures of their meals on social media.
A n huge effigy of the disgraced film producer Harvey Weinstein is set to be burned at a bonfire celebration in Kent.

The 36-foot version of Weinstein will be placed on the top of the fire at the Edenbridge Guy Fawkes celebrations on Saturday night.

The village is well known for selecting controversial figures to top the bonfire. Last year an imitation of then newly-elected US President Donald Trump was burnt.

The organisers said they selected Weinstein, who has been at the centre of a sexual harassment scandal in recent weeks, because of allegations of outrageous and despicable conduct against him.

Effigy: The Edenbridge Bonfire Society's 2017 'Celebrity Guy', disgraced US film producer Harvey Weinstein / AFP/Getty Images

The media mogul has been accused of harassment, assault and rape by scores of high profile actresses. Weinsteins lawyer has said the star denies any claims of non-consensual sex.

A spokeswoman for Edenbridge Bonfire Society said: As with last year there were many strong contenders for this years celebrity guy, particularly in the political and cultural world.

Bonfire night: Last year Donald Trump was featured on the fire / EPA

However, Weinstein was the obvious option due to allegations of outrageous and despicable conduct, which we at Edenbridge Bonfire Society obviously found completely abhorrent.

While the burning of the guys is aimed as a light-hearted way to mark the traditional bonfire night celebrations in the UK, there is of course nothing funny about Weinsteins behaviour, so it seemed only fair that he gets his comeuppance in effigy form.

Past targets for the top of the bonfire have included Katie Hopkins, Russell Brand, Jonathan Ross, both of the Blairs, Katie Price, Wayne Rooney, Lance Armstrong, Gordon Brown, John Prescott, Anne Robinson, and Saddam Hussein.
A 'no deal' Brexit could leave the UK short of 5,000 border staff, Brexit Secretary David Davis has said.

Some 3,000 extra civil servants have already been hired across Whitehall departments to help with the process of leaving the EU, it was also revealed.

Speaking at a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Mr Davis focused on a need to "accelerate" preparations for all possible outcomes from Brexit, ranging from "no deal" to what he said was the most likely result of a full free trade agreement.

He said he was confident Britain and the EU could negotiate a deep and special partnership, but that the government needed to ensure the country could cope without a deal.

He told colleagues: Alongside the negotiations in Brussels, it is crucial that we are putting our own domestic preparations in place so that we are ready at the point that we leave the EU.

The additional workers, expected to be taken on next year, will be employed by HM Revenue and Customs as the body looks to implement a new border regime on leaving the bloc.

Mr Davis said, regardless of the outcome of negotiations, "our proposed customs arrangements will require investment in new systems and customs officers by HMRC.

Included among the nearly 3,000 posts already created across government to support Brexit efforts, 300 lawyers had been recruited to the Government legal department in the past year, he said.

Ministers were also told that some 662 million has already been committed for Brexit preparations over the course of this Parliament, with more than 250 million additional funding in 2017/18 and a further 412 million for the period up to 2022.

The sixth round of formal negotiations on the Brexit deal will take place in Brussels on November 9 and 10, as Britain seeks to step up the pace in the hope of securing a green-light for trade negotiations to begin at December's European Council summit.

The dates were jointly announced by Mr Davis and EU chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier, who said an agenda for the talks will be published "in due course".
M odern men are now more likely than ever to take their partners name when they get married, according to a study.

A study conducted by the London Mint Office revealed that one in 10 young men would take their new bride's name.

The study was published to coincide with the wedding anniversary of the Queen and Prince Phillip.

When the couple married in 1947, it was announced that the Queen would not be taking the Dukes surname and that she would be remaining Victoria Windsor as opposed to Victoria Mountbatten.

Prince Phillip was not amused when The Queen chose not to take his surname in 1947

According to reports at the time the Duke was not happy with this turn of events, allegedly shouting I am the only man in the country not allowed to give his name to his own children.

Of the 2,003 adults surveyed, many couples said that they would be prepared to compromise with 11 percent opting to take a double-barrelled surname.

The study also revealed that younger men are twice as likely to bend at the knee when proposing compared to previous generations.

When asked whether or not fidelity should be adhered to, only 36 per cent of the couples asked said yes.

Alongside the study, the London Mint Office will be unveiling a platinum wedding anniversary commemorative coin featuring the Queen and Duke on their wedding day.

The coin is embellished with words that the Queen used to describe her husband on their golden wedding anniversary such as strength and stay.
T ourists are to be banned from climbing the popular site of Uluru in Australia following a decision by national park authorities.

The Uluru-Kata Tjuta national park board voted unanimously to ban the popular practice, ahead of the 34th anniversary of its requisition by Aboriginal locals.

The 1,142 feet sandstone formation, otherwise known as Ayers Rock, is considered a sacred place by many of the Aboriginal Anangu people.

The national park board, consisting of Australian government officials and Anangu representatives, made the decision after consulting with the site's traditional custodians, according to DW.com.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge pose in front of Uluru on a trip to Australia in 2014 / Getty

Sammy Wilson, chairman of the board, said: "It is an extremely important place, not a playground or a theme park like Disneyland.

"The government needs to respect what we are saying about our culture in the same way it expects us to abide by its laws. After much discussion, we have decided it is time."

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visited the sit on a royal tour of Australia in 2014. The Duke called it "quite breathtaking".

More than 30 people have died climbing the rock since the 1950s.
D onald Trump has scrapped a visit to the heavily armed North Korean border on an upcoming tour of Asia, a White House official has said.

The official added that the president will not be visiting the area as it has "become a bit of cliche" following trips by Defence Secretary Jim Mattis and Vice President Mike Pence this year.

However, the spokesman added that Trump will not stop off at the demilitarised zone (DMZ) on the South Korea border as part of a 12-day tour of Asia because there is not enough time on the schedule".

It comes as protesters in South Korea gathered for a rally against a planned visit from the US leader near the country's Embassy in the capital city.

Instead of visiting the DMZ, Mr Trump will head to Camp Humphrey - a military barracks south of Seoul.

"We thought that would make more sense in terms of its messaging, in terms of the chance to address families and troops there," the official said.

Mr Mattis visited the demilitarised zone that divides the Korean Peninsula last week and Mr Pence made the same trip in April.

A South Korean protester speaks during a rally against a planned visit by Trump near the US Embassy in Seoul / AP

The official,who has not been named, noted the two Trump administration forays to the zone. "It's becoming a little bit of a cliche, frankly," they said.

Trump leaves for his first trip to Asia this week and is expected to arrive in Tokyo on October 5.

Separately, two US officials said a decision may be made for the three aircraft carriers currently in the Asia Pacific region to carry out an exercise to coincide with Trump's trip.

The officials said no decision had been made, but it would be the first exercise with three US aircraft carriers in the region since 2007.

A senior State Department official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the build up of naval forces was part of the military component of the Trump administration's strategy to put "maximum pressure" on North Korea, which includes sanctions and diplomatic isolation.

Earlier on Tuesday, the State Department welcomed a decision by China and South Korea to resume normal ties after a year-long standoff over a decision by Seoul and Washington to deploy a missile defence system to counter North Korea's nuclear program.
Trump administration moves to sabotage the Affordable Care Act make the Nov. 1 through Dec. 15 open enrollment period for Obamacare even more crucial for people who dont have health care insurance, U.S. Rep. Ron Kind said Tuesday.

The administration is doing everything it can to undermine sign-ups, drastically reducing advertising and funds to hire navigators to help enrollees, the La Crosse Democrat said during a press conference at the La Crosse Regional Airport before flying back to Washington for the resumption of the congressional session.

The administration is not doing any outreach  so were on our own, Kind said.

The controversy over dueling repeal-and-replace plans with no Plan B have injected widespread confusion and fear over the future of health care, Kind said. Asked whether its a matter of undermining or outright sabotage, Kind said, Its a little bit of both. The administration came in very hostile to Obamacare.

Despite Obamacare critics complaint that insurance premiums have skyrocketed under the ACA, affordable plans are available in the federal marketplace  for as little as $92 for an individual and $105 for a family of four, after factoring in tax credits, Kind said.

When premiums rise, so do tax credits, introducing the ironic possibility that some plans may become more affordable than before, he said.

A substantial number of Wisconsinites  250,000 statewide, including 30,000 in Kinds 3rd Congressional District  have obtained coverage, he said. The ACA is for people who meet certain income requirements and are not covered under insurance at work or other sources.

Kind encouraged people who are uninsured or underinsured to consult a navigator or go to the Healthcare.gov site to check out plans.

Adding to the urgency is the fact that open enrollment closes on Dec. 15 instead of remaining available through years end as in recent years, he said.

Kind expressed particular concern about people in the small group market who dont qualify for plans, saying, Theyre getting hammered.

He said Congress should do three things:

Shore up the Affordable Care Act in areas that need fixing.

Accommodate the needs of small groups seeking plans.

Focus on creating means of affordable health care for all Americans.

Joining Kind at the press conference was Wanda Palmer, one of two ACA health care navigators at Workforce Connections in La Crosse. Palmer echoed the congressmans concern about the confusion swirling around Obamacare because of all the repeal confrontations in Congress this year.

When people are confused, they might not do anything, and thats a concern, Palmer said.

Everyone is one crisis away from bankruptcy, she said, noting that medical care costs are the leading cause of bankruptcy in the United States.

Unless the federal government creates another open enrollment period early in 2018, which happened in the early years of Obamacare to ease the laws enactment but is unlikely now, people who dont sign up wont have access to government-subsidized health insurance for a year, Palmer said.

Workforce Connections covers La Crosse, Buffalo, Crawford, Jackson, Juneau, Monroe, Pepin, Trempealeau and Vernon counties. To arrange an appointment, call 608-790-8136.
F ive friends who travelled to New York for a college reunion were among the victims of the Halloween massacre that left eight people dead and 15 more injured in the deadliest attack in the city since 9/11.

The friends, who all graduated from the same polytechnic in Rosario, Argentina in 1987, were mown down as they pedalled on a cycle path along the Hudson River near Ground Zero in Manhattan yesterday afternoon.

The suspected attacker  named by police as Sayfullo Saipov, 29  drove a pick-up truck at cyclists and pedestrians for more than a mile before ramming into a school bus and jumping out of the vehicle with a fake gun in each hand.

The group of friends had promised to travel to New York together when they graduated school 30 years ago / Facebook

Witnesses said he shouted Allahu Akbar before being shot in the stomach by a police officer. Police said a picture of an Islamic State flag was found in the rented truck, as well as handwritten notes pledging allegiance to IS.

Officers are now waiting to question Saipov, believed to have moved from Uzbekistan to the US seven years ago.

The Argentinian classmates among the dead were today named as Ariel Erlij, Hernan Diego Mendoza, Diego Enrique Angelini, Alejandro Damian Pagnucco and Hernan Ferruchi.

New York terror attack - in pictures 1 /22 New York terror attack - in pictures AP AP Reuters AP AP Reuters AP Reuters Reuters Getty Images Reuters Reuters AP Getty Images Getty Images AP AP

A sixth man in the group, Martin Ludovico Marro, was in hospital with serious injuries.

The scientist lives in Connecticut with his architect wife and was said to be hosting his friends on the visit.

Mr Erlij, 48, an entrepreneur who owns a steel mill in Argentina, paid for two of his former classmates to fly to America for the 30-year reunion.

Argentinian newspaper La Nacion said the group had only been in New York for a few days when they were caught up in the attack.

They had hired Citibikes and were cycling down the bike path on West Street, close to Stuyvesant High School  at the tail end of the killers rampage  when they were struck.

Mateo Estreme, consul general of Argentina to the United Nations, said: We are trying to figure out how to go on  especially the families. They are completely lost about, well, being very far from their relatives. They dont know what to do.

The rented truck mounted a cycle path in Lower Manhattan (REUTERS) / Reuters

They are devastated, he said of the survivors. They are still in shock as they cannot believe this happened.

A Belgian woman was also killed in the attack. Belgiums deputy prime minister Didier Reynders said the victim was visiting New York from Roeselare with her sister and mother.

It was unclear whether the other family members were the remaining two victims.

Calling the terror suspect a very sick and deranged person, President Trump tweeted last night that he had ordered the US government to step up its vetting programme for foreign nationals.

I have just ordered Homeland Security to step up our already Extreme Vetting Program. Being politically correct is fine, but not for this!

Heavily armed police stand guard near the scene in Lower Manhattan / AP

Uzbekistan is not among the countries included in the presidents controversial travel ban.

Saipov was not thought to be in the US illegally. He immigrated from Uzbekistan in 2010 and was holding an identification card listing his home in Tampa, Florida. He is also thought to have lived in New Jersey and Ohio.

In a statement President Donald Trump praised the actions of the first responders and tweeted that the incident "looks like another attack by a very sick and deranged person".
T he truck driver suspected of killing eight people when he ploughed through crowds on a New York cycle lane pledged allegiance to Isis in a note before the attack, officials have said.

The suspect, named as 29-year-old Uzbekistan national Sayfullo Saipov, injured at least 11 other people in the rampage near the World Trade Center memorial site on Tuesday afternoon.

He was shot by police in the abdomen after exiting the car with what turned out to be a fake gun in each hand and shouting "Allahu Akbar".

Police found images of the Isis flag in his rented truck as well as handwritten notes pledging allegiance to the terrorist group, sources told the New York Post.

Suspect: Sayfullo Saipov / AP

The note was reportedly hand-written in a foreign language, possibly Arabic. The contents are being investigated, but officials say the document supported the belief the act was terrorism.

Within hours of the incident, New York's mayor Bill de Blasio called it a particularly cowardly act of terror aimed at innocent civilians.

New York terror attack - in pictures 1 /17 New York terror attack - in pictures AP AP Reuters AP AP Reuters AP Reuters Reuters Getty Images Reuters Reuters AP Getty Images Getty Images AP AP

New York's governor, Andrew Cuomo called it a "lone wolf" attack and said there was no evidence to suggest it was part of a wider plot.

The citys police commissioner, James ONeil said the comments made by the suspect as he fled his truck  witnesses heard him say Allahu Akbar - led them to believe it was a terror incident.

Heavily armed police stand guard near the scene in Lower Manhattan / AP

Meanwhile, Donald Trump had already linked the attack to Isis despite no claim of responsibility from the group itself.

"We must not allow ISIS to return, or enter, our country after defeating them in the Middle East and elsewhere. Enough!" he wrote on Twitter.

He also described the attacker  who is expected to recover from the gunshot wound in hospital - as a sick and deranged person.

On Tuesday night the president said he had ordered the Department of Homeland Security "to step up our already Extreme Vetting Program" in the wake of the attack.

His extreme vetting policy on immigrants entails more stringent investigative measures intended to identify those who may sympathise with extremists or pose a national security risk.

It came as more details began to emerge about the suspect behind the worst terror attack seen in New York since 9/11.

Saipov was named by US media following the attack, with official sources confirming his identity later on. According to NBC, he has been living in the US since arriving in 2010.

One of his friends said Saipov was very friendly and had been living in New Jersey and working for Uber over the past year.

Kobiljon Matkarov, 37, told the New York Post: He is very good guy, he is very friendly he is like little brother he look at me like big brother.

My kids like him too, he is always playing with them. He is playing all the time.

Saipov previously worked as a commercial truck driver and has a minor criminal record for traffic offences in Missouri and Pennsylvania, according to online records.

The incident began when the driver barrelled along a busy cycle path for nearly a mile before slamming into a small yellow school bus.

The mayhem and the burst of police gunfire set off panic in the area and left the pavement strewn with mangled bicycles and bodies that were soon covered with sheets.

New York terror attack: What we know so far

"I saw a lot of blood over there. A lot of people on the ground," said Chen Yi, an Uber driver.

Eugene Duffy, a chef at a waterfront restaurant, said: "So many police came and they didn't know what was happening. People were screaming. Females were screaming at the top of their lungs."

Police closed off streets across the western edge of Manhattan along the Hudson River and officers rushed into the neighbourhood just as people were preparing for Halloween festivities, including the big annual parade through Greenwich Village.

Argentina's foreign ministry has said "Argentine citizens died" in the New York cycle path terror attack, while a Belgian national was also thought to be among the victims.

Theresa May said she was "appalled" by the "cowardly attack" in a statement shared on social media.

"My thoughts are with all affected. Together we will defeat the evil of terrorism. UK stands with NYC," the Prime Minister tweeted.

London mayor Sadiq Khan paid tribute to the victims and said London stands in grief and solidarity with the great city of New York tonight.

He denounced the despicable and cowardly terrorist attack in Manhattan.

He added: "My heart goes out to the victims and their families.

"New Yorkers are strong and resilient - I know they will not be cowed by this assault on the innocent, and on our shared values and way of life."
M embers of Catalonias sacked government were greeted with Spanish flags and insults after flying back to Barcelona from Brussels.

Protesters shouted dogs, prison and stay away and sang Viva Espana as the politicians arrived at El Prat airport shortly before midnight.

Catalonias ousted president, Carles Puigdemont, was thought to have been on the plane  but after it landed it became apparent that he had remained in the Belgian capital.

The 54-year-old father-of-two, who left Spain unexpectedly on Sunday with five of his ex-ministers after the Spanish government imposed direct rule on Catalonia, faces demands for his arrest and extradition if he fails to attend court tomorrow.

He has been ordered to the Audiencia Nacional, Spains central criminal court in Madrid, for questioning along with more than a dozen members of his deposed government.

Spains attorney general Jose Manuel Maza has said he wants them to face charges of rebellion or sedition as well as embezzlement over an illegal referendum held on October 1 and a unilateral independence declaration last Friday. The declaration prompted the Spanish governments removal of the Catalan government and regional police chiefs.

Rebellion is punishable by up to 30 years in prison under Spanish law and sedition carries a maximum 15-year jail sentence.

Mr Puigdemont has hired a specialist human rights lawyer who has defended several alleged ETA terrorists who Spain wanted to extradite from Belgium.

However, he insisted at a press conference yesterday that he was not intending to ask for political asylum but would return home when he had guarantees of a fair trial.
T he man who allegedly mowed down eight people in a rented pick-up truck in an attack described by New York's mayor as a "cowardly act of terror" pledged allegiance to ISIS before carrying out his rampage, it has emerged.

The attacker, named by police as Sayfullo Saipov, 29, careered down a cycle path a few streets from the World Trade Centre memorial killing the cyclists and pedestrians and injuring 11 more.

Police found images of the Isis flag in the rented truck as well as handwritten notes pledging allegiance to the terrorist group, sources told the New York Post.

Five Argentinian friends celebrating 30 years since they finished school were among the victims. They were on a holiday in New York together as part of a reunion as part of a promise they made to each other three decades ago.

New York terror attack: What we know so far

A Belgian national was also killed in the attack.

It came as a group of schoolchildren as young as 15 told of their horror at witnessing the carnage unfold.

Video footage of the attacker at the scene brandishing two weapons which turned out to be fake

The suspect was shot in the stomach by police and arrested after jumping out of the van with what turned out to be a fake gun in each hand and shouting "Allahu Akbar!"

Five Argentinian friends among eight killed in New York terror attack

The neighbourhood was busy with parents and children walking around trick or treating in Halloween costume, while many students at nearby schools and colleges were either on their way home or preparing to leave for the day when the attacker struck.

Saipov, originally from Uzbekistan, has a Florida driving licence but may have been living in New Jersey.

A group of Argentinian friends were among the victims / Facebook

Uber confirmed that Saipov was one if its drivers, and the company said he passed a background check and had been actively driving on the platform for more than six months.

Thomson Lee, 16, from Queens, a pupil at Stuyvesant High School, near the corner of Chambers Street and West Street where the truck came crashing to a halt, said he hid under a table after he heard gunshots and saw people running for their lives.

He said: We were in class and I heard gunshots that I later figured out was the police shooting the suspect. Around that time they [the school] said that we were in lockdown and that is when I realised something was happening.

Armed police patrol the scene after the attack / AP

I looked out and just saw people running towards buildings so they could get in for safety. When I looked out the window and saw people running I knew something was happening and we all just ducked under our seats.

At first most people didnt react because we just heard the announcement and we didnt know how to respond to that. It took us a couple of seconds to understand what was actually happening.

He added: It was pretty stressful for the first couple of hours without being able to get out. Knowing that the threat has been apprehended and in custody is reassuring.

The rented pick-up truck which was used to mow down pedestrians (REUTERS) / Reuters

Fellow pupil Jessica, whose 15th birthday was yesterday and was wearing Minnie Mouse fancy dress, was in Spanish class when the attack took place.

She said: Some of us thought it was a drill at first and then they said that somethings happening outside. Some of us went to the window, I didnt go to the window right away, but there were a lot of cop cars and stuff like that. We all just sat around

One of the victims strewn on the tarmac at the scene / AP

It was pretty scary knowing that it happened right outside

We were put into lockdown mode about 3.15pm. Our classes usually end around 3.35pm but there were no bells, they cancelled the bells, we stayed in school up until now. I was on the fourth floor so when they started they started by the first floor and they were taking us out by floors.

She added: I could see cop cars were coming and ambulance cars were coming. Theres a video that was being sent around [between students] of the shooter with the guns.

Eight people were killed and 11 injured / AP

Zachary Yao, 13, a pupil at IS 289 Middle School, near the scene, said: I was supposed to go to after school but then it [the attack] just happened and after school was cancelled.

One of my friends, she ran in, she saw what happened and then she just ran in to alert everybody of what was happening. She saw the crash and then the guy who came out with the two guns.

I didnt know what to do so I just stayed calm and followed what the teachers were doing. I feel relieved.

Lupe Hernandez, 35, a stay-at-home mother who lives near the scene, feared her son was on the school bus that was hit.

Pedestrians and cyclists were among those killed / AP

She said: My heart sank because he was on a school bus at the time [of the attack] and we were expecting him so we were just happy that he was OKIt was a phone call we got from somebody that was outside and told us. We heard the sirens but we didnt know why or what was going on, it was hard to find out actually.

As well as being home to numerous schools, a college also overlooks the crime scene.

Nursing student Catherine Davis, 45, arrived at Borough of Manhattan Community College, shortly after emergency services arrived.

She said: I was on my way to school [college], I just went upstairs in their nursing department and you could see it from our labI heard a lot of news as I was coming in from Brooklyn.

The attack came as children took to the streets for Halloween (REUTERS) / Reuters

My friend started with saying something really weird is going on outside school and she sent me a pictureI thought it was just the President was coming and she said no and sent me another picture about how there were first responders comingWhen I got to school I ran upstairs and looked out the lab and there were police cars and ambulances and there was deceased individuals with sheets covering themEverybody was really scared.

Residents and employees in nearby apartment blocks said they were first alerted to the incident by gunshots.

Travis Cook, 55, ran out of the building where he works as a concierge after hearing multiple gunshots soon after 3pm as children were starting to come out of the nearby schools.

He said: I heard some gunshots, it was maybe seven, eight, in rapid succession. I knew it was gunshots and then nobody was running or screaming or anything so it was strange.

I didnt see anything, I just heard it. Its tragic, sad.

He added: At first, I knew it was gunshots but I didnt know what reason but now they have all these conflicting stories. I just want to know the truth. People died, its sad.

Leslie Danoff, 66, who lives on the 19th floor of a building overlooking the scene of the attack, said her husband heard the shots form their apartment.

She said: He thought they were firecrackers. Who thinks that, in this very safe neighbourhood, but no neighbourhood is safe which we all know but its very scary.

By the time I looked I think the bodies had already been taken. I saw some people on stretchers, I saw a huge number of policemen and fire trucks and police cars with flashing lights and the tape went up almost immediately.

I saw from my window the Home Depot truck, I could see the busBut there was such a fast response by the policeI walk my dog there all the time so its extremely rattling and I feel so bad for the innocent people who were just riding their bikes.

Although the crime scene and the surrounding area was cordoned off by police late into the night, the neighbourhoods trick or treaters remained unperturbed and Manhattans Halloween Parade took place last night as planned. President Donald Trump tweeted afterwards: In NYC, looks like another attack by a very sick and deranged person. Law enforcement is following this closely. NOT IN THE U.S.A.!

Following the attack, the driver reportedly jumped out of the truck and ran along the West Side Highway holding a paintball gun and pellet gun shouting Allahu Akbar before being shot in the stomach by a police officer.

Five of those killed were reportedly tourists from Argentina on a high school reunion and one was from Belgium.

CNN reported that authorities found a note in the truck claiming that the attack was carried out in the name of ISIS.
A Belgian woman who is mother to two sons has been identified as one of the victims of the New York terror attack.

Ann-Laure Decadt, 31, from a town near Flanders, has been identified as being among the eight victims killed in the carnage in Manhattan.

Her husband Alexander Naessens told the New York Daily News his loss was "unbearable and unthinkable.

Anne-Laure ... was a fantastic wife and the most beautiful mom to our two sons".

Ms Decadt's two sons are aged three and three months.

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Her mother and two sisters were not harmed in the vehicle attack which left eight dead and 11 injured.

Mr Naessens said he received a devastating phone call from Lower Manhattan Hospital on Tuesday night when he was in Belgium.

He has asked for privacy for his family.

Suspect: Sayfullo Saipov / AP

The suspected attacker  named by police as Sayfullo Saipov, 29  drove a pick-up truck at cyclists and pedestrians for more than a mile before ramming into a school bus and jumping out of the vehicle with a fake gun in each hand.

Witnesses said he shouted Allahu Akbar before being shot in the stomach by a police officer.

Police said a picture of an Islamic State flag was found in the rented truck, as well as handwritten notes pledging allegiance to IS.

Calling the terror suspect a very sick and deranged person, President Trump tweeted last night that he had ordered the US government to step up its vetting programme for foreign nationals.

World leaders react to New York terror attack

I have just ordered Homeland Security to step up our already Extreme Vetting Program. Being politically correct is fine, but not for this!

Five Argentinian friends who had travelled to New York for a college reunion were also among the victims

A Belgian woman was also killed in the attack. Belgiums deputy prime minister Didier Reynders said the victim was visiting New York from Roeselare with her sister and mother.

It was unclear whether the other family members were the remaining two victims.
P rime Minister Theresa May and Mayor of London Sadiq Khan have condemned the the despicable and cowardly attack by a truck driver in New York that killed eight and injured at least a dozen more.

In response to the Manhattan atrocity Theresa May said she was "appalled" by the "cowardly attack".

"My thoughts are with all affected. Together we will defeat the evil of terrorism. UK stands with NYC," she tweeted.

Mr Khan paid tribute to the victims and said London stands in grief and solidarity with the great city of New York tonight.

The Mayor of London denounced the despicable and cowardly terrorist attack in Manhattan.

He added: "My heart goes out to the victims and their families.

"New Yorkers are strong and resilient - I know they will not be cowed by this assault on the innocent, and on our shared values and way of life."

New York terror attack: What we know so far

Eight people were killed when a truck careered down a cycle path in an attack the Mayor of New York Bill de Blasio confirmed was a cowardly act of terror aimed at innocent civilians going about their daily lives.

More than a dozen others were injured in the incident, which took place near the 9/11 memorial site in Manhattan on Tuesday.

New York terror attack - in pictures 1 /22 New York terror attack - in pictures AP AP Reuters AP AP Reuters AP Reuters Reuters Getty Images Reuters Reuters AP Getty Images Getty Images AP AP

The driver was shot by police after jumping out of a rented vehicle with what turned out to be two fake guns.

He was taken to hospital and is in police custody.

Incident: New York City Police Officers respond to report of gunfire along West Street / AP

The Foreign Office said it is standing by to provide assistance to any Britons affected by the atrocity.

A spokesman said: "We are in contact with the local authorities and stand ready to provide any assistance but are not aware of any British citizens involved as yet."
T he man suspected of killing eight people in New Yorks worst terror attack since 9/11 has been revealed as a 29-year-old from Uzbekistan.

Sayfullo Saipov, a resident of Tampa, Florida, is suspected of driving a rented truck through crowds on a busy cycle path in Lower Manhattan, injuring at least 11 other people.

The suspect was then shot by police in the abdomen after exiting the car with what turned out to be a fake gun in each hand and shouting "Allahu Akbar"

He was rushed to a New York hospital where he remains in recovery.

Saipov was named by US media following the attack, with law officials confirming his identity later on. According to NBC, he has been living in the US since arriving in 2010.

One of his friends said Saipov was very friendly and had been living in New Jersey and working for Uber over the past year.

Kobiljon Matkarov, 37, told the New York Post: He is very good guy, he is very friendly he is like little brother he look at me like big brother.

My kids like him too, he is always playing with them. He is playing all the time.

Saipov previously worked as a commercial truck driver and has a minor criminal record for traffic offences in Missouri and Pennsylvania, according to online records.

New York Police commissioner James ONeil said the comments made by the suspect as he fled his truck  witnesses heard him say Allhu Akbar - led them to believe it was a terror incident.

President Donald Trump railed against Islamic State following the attack, although law enforcement officials have made no mention publicly of the group's possible involvement, and it has not claimed responsibility.

Mr Trump tweeted: "We must not allow ISIS to return, or enter, our country after defeating them in the Middle East and elsewhere. Enough!"

He added: "My thoughts, condolences and prayers to the victims and families of the New York City terrorist attack. God and your country are with you!"

New York terror attack - in pictures 1 /17 New York terror attack - in pictures AP AP Reuters AP AP Reuters AP Reuters Reuters Getty Images Reuters Reuters AP Getty Images Getty Images AP AP

The incident began when the driver barrelled along a busy cycle path for nearly a mile before slamming into a small yellow school bus.

The mayhem and the burst of police gunfire set off panic in the area and left the pavement strewn with mangled bicycles and bodies that were soon covered with sheets.

New York terror attack: What we know so far

"I saw a lot of blood over there. A lot of people on the ground," said Chen Yi, an Uber driver.

Eugene Duffy, a chef at a waterfront restaurant, said: "So many police came and they didn't know what was happening. People were screaming. Females were screaming at the top of their lungs."

Police closed off streets across the western edge of Manhattan along the Hudson River and officers rushed into the neighbourhood just as people were preparing for Halloween festivities, including the big annual parade through Greenwich Village.

Police officers near the scene after a motorist drove onto a busy bicycle path / AP

"This was an act of terror, and a particularly cowardly act of terror aimed at innocent civilians, aimed at people going about their lives who had no idea what was about to hit them," New York's mayor Bill de Blasio said.

New York's governor, Andrew Cuomo called it a "lone wolf" attack and said there was no evidence to suggest it was part of a wider plot.

President Trump promised his administration's "full support" to New York City's police department in the wake of what he called a "cowardly" terrorist attack.

He said in a statement: "Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims of today's terrorist attack in New York City and their families."

The president also thanked the emergency services "who stopped the suspect and rendered immediate aid to the victims of this cowardly attack".

He said: "These brave men and women embody the true American spirit of resilience and courage."
W hite House Communications Director Hope Hicks will be interviewed by FBI agents investigating Russian meddling in last years US presidential election, it was reported today.

Ms Hicks is one of President Trumps closest and longest-serving aides, and is currently travelling with the president on a 12-day trip to Asia. She is not expected to be quizzed until they return, with Politico claiming the interview is scheduled for mid-November.

At 29, the former model and school lacrosse champion is the youngest ever to hold her position in the White House. She was at Mr Trumps side throughout the election campaign and now works from a desk just outside the Oval Office.

Special Counsel Robert Muellers team is said to be questioning West Wing officials regularly and deliberately in a bid to get to the bottom of allegations that the Trump campaign had ties to the Kremlin.

Investigators are especially keen to interview staffers who were on board Air Force One when a misleading statement about Donald Trump Jr.s meeting with a Russian lawyer at Trump Tower in New York was crafted, according to CNN.

News that an interview with Miss Hicks was being set up came after Mr Mueller announced the first indictments in his probe against former campaign chairman Paul Manafort and his business partner Rick Gates.

Details also emerged about a guilty plea by George Papadopoulos, a campaign foreign policy aide, for making false statements to the FBI about dirt on Hillary Clinton allegedly being offered by the Russian government.

There is no suggestion that the communications chief was involved in any wrongdoing.

The Special Counsels team is also expected to interview three or four other current White House officials as early as this week, according to an administration official. They have already quizzed former press secretary Sean Spicer and Reince Priebus, formerly Mr Trumps chief of staff.

Although Mr Trump has made no secret of his anger over the Russia probe, sources say he has rejected suggestions by some close advisors to try and fire Mr Mueller.

One insider claimed it would be political suicide for the White House to stop cooperating with the FBI investigation, especially in the wake of this weeks unsealed indictments.

Nothing about recent events alters the White Houses commitment to fully cooperate with the office of the special counsel, White House lawyer Ty Cobb told Politico.

Miss Hicks was unavailable for comment today.
A young bride has been arrested for allegedly killing 15 of her in-laws who died after drinking poisoned milk she had prepared to murder her husband.

Newlywed Aasia Bibi, 21, was forced into an arranged marriage with 25-year-old groom Amjad Akram in September in the Punjab province, south-west Pakistan.

But Bibi, who was reportedly unhappy in the match and loved another man, is accused of adding poison to her husbands glass of milk two months into the marriage.

The young womans mother-in-law then used the glass of milk to make Lassi, a yoghurt-based drink, for the whole family.

According to the Mail, 27 people were served the dangerous drink and 15 people are thought to have died in hospital, although the exact number of deaths remain unclear.

The rest are in a critical condition following the incident, which happened in Daulat Paur in Muzaffargarh.

Police reportedly said that Bibi claimed the milk had become tainted by a lizard which had fallen into the glass.

Speaking to reporters, Bibi denied all the allegations facing her.
T hree more men have spoken out against Kevin Spacey following allegations he made a sexual advance towards a child actor in 1986.

A West Sussex barman claimed the House of Cards actor offered him a 5,000 watch when he was 19 to keep him quiet after exposing himself.

Daniel Beal told the Sun how Spacey allegedly sat next to him on a bench as he took a break from his job at a hotel bar, showed him his privates and said: Its big isnt it?

Mr Beal then alleged the 58-year-old actor insisted the barman exchange his 20 casio watch for Spaceys expensive IWC Portofino watch.

Kevin Spacey in 60 seconds

He also claimed Spacey would touch his hand each time he served him a drink at the Goodwood Park Hotel and claimed the actor had invited him to smoke weed in his hotel room.

He told the Sun: Looking back he was trying to manipulate me as soon as he walked into that bar.

Mr Beal also claimed he sold the watch for 3,200 before Spaceys aide called and asked for it to be returned.

The Usual Suspects stars management reportedly then complained to the youngsters employer.

He added: Spacey or his people had obviously complained I had somehow acted inappropriately.

Kevin Spacey at the 2013 Emmy Awards in Los Angeles. / Getty Images

It was not immediately clear when the alleged incident took place. Representatives for Spacey refused to comment.

The sensational claim comes after Star Trek: Discovery actor Anthony Rapp said on Monday that Spacey had climbed on top of him in a hotel room when he was just 14 years old.

The American Beauty actor issued an apology over the claims on Twitter and said he did not remember the encounter but added: If I did act in the way he describes, I owe him the sincerest apology for what would have been deeply inappropriate drunken behaviour.

Spacey also came out as gay in the statement.

Kevin Spacey apologised to US actor Anthony Rapp in a Twitter post / EPA

An unnamed UK journalist also spoke out against Spacey, claiming he propositioned him in a toilet during the Edinburgh TV festival in 2013 while filmmaker Tony Montana alleges that the star drunkenly groped his groin at a Los Angeles bar in 2003.

Mr Montana who was in his 30s at the time, told website Radar: I went up to order a drink and Kevin came up to me and put his arm around me. He was telling me to come with him, to leave the bar. He put his hand on my crotch.

The fresh claims came as Londons The Old Vic has said it is "deeply dismayed" over allegations made against the former artistic director.

Bosses called on anyone with complaints during Spaceys time at the theatre to come forward.

A statement read: The Old Vic would like to respond to recent media reports by making it clear that we are deeply dismayed to hear the allegations levied against former artistic director Kevin Spacey, who was artistic director from 2004-2015.

"Inappropriate behaviour by anyone working at the Old Vic is completely unacceptable.

"We aim to foster a safe and supportive environment without prejudice, harassment or bullying of any sort, at any level, as set out in our joint statement with the theatre industry on 23 October.

"We want our employees to feel confident, valued and proud to be part of the Old Vic family. Any behaviour we become aware of which contravenes these goals will not be tolerated.

Anthony Rapp: accused Spacey of a sexual advance in 1986 / AFP/Getty Images

"If you have been connected with the Old Vic or in our employment and feel you have a complaint that you were unable to raise, please contact us on confidential@oldvictheatre.com. Any experience shared will be treated in the utmost confidence and with sensitivity. We have appointed external advisers to help us deal with any information received."

Production has halted on the sixth season of hit drama House Of Cards, following Rapps historical harassment allegation against Spacey.

A spokesman for the actor told the Sun that Mr Spacey was not available for comment on the new claims.

They come as it was revealed a fourth police force is investigating allegations of sexual harassment by disgraced movie mogul Harvey Weinstein.

The Beverly Hills Police Department made the announcement on Tuesday.

The Met Police and two other US forces are also investigating.
Both leaders of the Republican-controlled Legislature said Tuesday the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. board should be allowed to review the pending $3 billion contract with Taiwanese manufacturer Foxconn before voting on it.

Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau, and Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, who support the deal, said in interviews the board should be able to review the contract.

That puts them at odds with WEDC Secretary Mark Hogan, who has said the agency will follow the usual process of providing the board with a staff review outlining the terms of the agreement, but not the contract itself.

I think they should have access, Fitzgerald said. They should be able to examine the language and know whats in it.

The issue was previously raised by WEDC board member Sen. Tim Carpenter, D-Milwaukee, after the board delayed a vote on the contract two weeks ago for unspecified reasons. Carpenter, who opposes the deal, has said the vote was delayed because the contract as written would have prevented the state from recouping funds from Foxconn if it didnt fulfill its end of the deal.

Vos said in principle the board members should be able to read the contract beforehand, though whether they would receive it a week beforehand or a day is up for discussion.

Its fair to say you should be able to read it before you vote on it, Vos said. Unfortunately sometimes people who are opposed to a project are willing to go to any extreme to try to scuttle it. If the goal is for people to do an adequate review so they know exactly what theyre voting on and know exactly whats in the contract, thats what should happen. If its to release the contract a week beforehand so they can have a press conference and try to bash the proposal and do everything to mischaracterize what it is, well, thats not helpful.

Fitzgerald said he spoke with Department of Administration Secretary Scott Neitzel about the issue on Sunday and that Neitzel agreed the contract should be made available to the board. However DOA spokesman Steve Michels said Tuesday there was a misunderstanding and that Neitzel supports the process the Board has in place and the detailed due diligence WEDC is doing to protect the taxpayers. A Fitzgerald spokesman declined to discuss the conversation further.

WEDC spokesman Mark Maley said Hogan, who is on a trade mission to Israel this week, has provided WEDC board members with several updates on contract negotiations and indicated the Foxconn contract will continue to go through the usual process. The board will review detailed information about the key elements of the contract, including job creation and capital investment requirements, the related tax incentives, the conditions for clawbacks, and the reporting and monitoring requirements, he said.

A spokesman for Gov. Scott Walker didnt respond to a request for comment.

Legislature approved deal

The Legislature has already approved the broad outline of the Foxconn deal, which Walker made with company president Terry Gou. It calls for $2.85 billion in tax credits for construction of the $10 billion facility in Racine County and the creation of up to 13,000 jobs.

The tax credits are refundable and will mostly be paid from existing tax collections because the company also will benefit from a state tax credit that almost eliminates state corporate taxes for all manufacturers. The amount of that benefit to the company is unknown.

The WEDC board is not expected to vote on the Foxconn contract until its next board meeting Nov. 8 at the earliest.

Also on Tuesday, Assembly Minority Leader Gordon Hintz, D-Osh- kosh, named Foxconn critic and gubernatorial candidate Rep. Dana Wachs, D-Eau Claire, to the WEDC board. Wachs replaces former minority leader Rep. Peter Barca, D-Kenosha.

Barca voted in favor of the Foxconn deal, a move that was criticized by his Democratic colleagues before he resigned as minority leader.

In a statement, Hintz said Wachs has the legal expertise and statewide perspective to ensure this contract is given the scrutiny it deserves.

Walkers campaign did not respond to a request for comment about the presence of Wachs on the WEDC board. But Republicans have criticized Wachs for opposing the Foxconn deal.

Wachs record on Foxconn shows that hes been all talk and no action  looking to score cheap political points instead of working to bring tens of thousands of jobs to Wisconsin, Republican Party of Wisconsin spokesman Alec Zimmerman said.
A ctor Jeremy Piven has denied "appalling allegations" against him after he became the latest Hollywood figure to be accused of sexual harassment in the wake of Harvey Weinstein's downfall.

Actress Ariane Bellamar accused the Mr Selfridge star of groping her on two occasions, once on the set of the Emmy winner's show Entourage, and again at the Playboy Mansion.

It was the latest allegation in a scandal that has rocked Hollywood, with several stars facing accusations of inappropriate behaviour, including Kevin Spacey and film-maker James Toback.

In a statement on Tuesday, Piven, 52, said: "I unequivocally deny the appalling allegations being peddled about me.

Actress Ariane Bellamar accused Jeremy Piven of groping her on two occasions / Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images

"It did not happen. It takes a great deal of courage for victims to come forward with their histories, and my hope is that the allegations about me that didn't happen, do not detract from stories that should be heard."

Bellamar, who is credited for roles in Suicide Squad and The Hangover Part III, used Twitter on Monday to detail the alleged harassment.

"Jeremy Piven, on two occasions, cornered me & forcefully fondled my breasts & bum. Once at the mansion & once on set," she wrote.

Network CBS, which broadcasts Piven's latest series Wisdom Of The Crowd, said it was "aware of the media reports and (is) looking into the matter".

HBO, which aired Entourage, said the press reports were the first it had heard of the allegations, adding it has a "zero tolerance" policy on sexual harassment.

On Tuesday, it was announced that production would halt on the sixth season of House Of Cards after an allegation was made against its star Spacey, 58.

Actor Anthony Rapp said he was 14 when a 26-year-old Spacey made a sexual advance on him in the older actor's apartment in 1986.

The two-time Oscar winner was met with widespread condemnation when he chose to come out as gay in a statement where he apologised to Rapp and said he could not remember the alleged incident.

Meanwhile, stars including Julianne Moore, Selma Blair and Rachel McAdams were among a reported 200 women who made allegations of sexual harassment against Toback, who was nominated for an Oscar for writing 1991's Bugsy.

Toback, 72, denied to The Los Angeles Times the accounts of the initial 38 women who spoke to the paper, but could not be contacted for comment on subsequent allegations.

Weinstein was sacked from The Weinstein Company, the studio he co-founded with his younger brother, and is facing police investigations in London, Los Angeles and New York.

Seven women in the UK have made allegations to the police of sexual assault against the disgraced movie mogul, who has denied all claims of non-consensual sex.
A nother man has come forward with an allegation that double Oscar-winning actor Kevin Spacey made an unwanted sexual advance towards him.

The man spoke to the BBCs Victoria Derbyshire programme, alleging that Spacey tried to "be affectionate" with him "in the way a couple would."

The man said the alleged incident happened when he was aged 17. The man, whose identity was protected for legal reasons said: "I'm not 14 - I think there is a difference there. I get it.

"But I am vulnerable and there was no direct explanation of what was going on."

It comes after Star Trek actor Anthony Rapp alleged a drunk Spacey made an unwanted sexual advance towards him when he was aged 14.

Bosses at the Old Vic theatre, where Kevin Spacey was formerly the artistic director, have urged people to come forward with any accounts of inappropriate behaviour

Rapp told how Spacey laid down on top of him in a bedroom during a party at the older man's flat in 1986.

Spacey has said he was "beyond horrified" to hear the story and did not remember the encounter. He also came out as gay in the statement.

Speaking to Victoria Derbyshire, the man said he woke up to find Spacey lying on top of him when he was a teenager in the 1980s.

Kevin Spacey in 60 seconds

"He indicated one side of the bed would be mine. The other side of the bed would be his.

"I thanked him and told him I would rather just sleep on the couch.

"He said no that's ridiculous.

"I said no, thank-you, but I'm going to stay on the couch.

"He got a little testy. He told me he didn't have any blankets or pillows.

"I said that's fine, I'll sleep on the couch and then it was an icy goodnight and I slept in my clothes on the couch.

"I thought I was going to be kicked out in the morning if not before.

"He didn't threaten as much but it just felt like, well, this is not going well at all.

"I had completely misunderstood what was going on. I was up most of the night. As we went to sleep he was sobbing from his bed.

"I knew enough to know that that was likely meant to get me to respond in some way, which I didnt.

"I just sort of tried to make it through the eveniing.

"In the morning I woke up and his head was on my stomach and his arms were wrapped around my torso very affectionately I would suppose.

"He certainly wasn't aggressive but it was affectionate and not something i was comfortable with as a heterosexual male but not something I was going to jump out of a window over."

It comes after three more men spoke out against Spacey earlier on Wednesday.

A West Sussex barman claimed the House of Cards actor offered him a 5,000 watch when he was 19 to keep him quiet after exposing himself.

Daniel Beal told the Sun how Spacey allegedly sat next to him on a bench as he took a break from his job at a hotel bar, showed him his privates and said: Its big isnt it?

Mr Beal then alleged the 58-year-old actor insisted the barman exchange his 20 casio watch for Spaceys expensive IWC Portofino watch.

He also claimed Spacey would touch his hand each time he served him a drink at the Goodwood Park Hotel and claimed the actor had invited him to smoke weed in his hotel room.

It was not immediately clear when the alleged incident took place. Representatives for Spacey refused to comment.

An unnamed UK journalist also spoke out against Spacey, claiming he propositioned him in a toilet during the Edinburgh TV festival in 2013 while filmmaker Tony Montana alleges that the star drunkenly groped his groin at a Los Angeles bar in 2003.

Spacey's representatives have not yet issued a response to the alleged incidents in Edinburgh and Los Angeles.

The fresh claims came as Londons The Old Vic has said it is "deeply dismayed" over allegations made against the former artistic director.

Bosses called on anyone with complaints during Spaceys time at the theatre to come forward.

Production was halted on the sixth season of hit drama House Of Cards, following Rapps historical harassment allegation against Spacey.
T he final of The Great British Bake Off 2017 has attracted the biggest audience in six years for Channel 4, with 7.7 million tuning in to watch Sophie Faldo crowned champion.

Prue Leiths accidental reveal of the winner 12 hours early appears not to have hurt the shows performance in the ratings.

The episode was watched live by 7.3 million people, with the figure rising to 7.7million when combined with those who tuned in to the episode on catch up.

At its peak 8.9million fans watched Sophie beat fellow bakers Steven Carter-Bailey and Kate Lyon, representing a 37.9 per cent audience share.

Difficult Decisions On the Great British Bake Off

Earlier in the day Leith had mistakenly shared the name of the winner in a Twitter blunder, which she claimed was caused by confusion over a time difference.

Tweeting from Bhutan she wrote "Bravo Sophie." She later told fans she was "mortified" by the embarassing gaffe.

Although the figures are much lower than that of the 2016 finale on the BBC, which was seen by 14 million people before rising to 15.9 million with the inclusion of those who watched on catch up services, Channel 4, which is a much smaller broadcaster, is likely to be pleased with the performance.

The Great British Bake Off 2017 - The Contestants 1 /17 The Great British Bake Off 2017 - The Contestants Meet the line-up Prue Leigh and Paul Hollywood will judge this year's batch of hopefuls Mark Bourdillon/Channel 4 Television/PA Wire Kate, 29, from Merseyside A health and safety inspector from Merseyside, Kate also dabbles in blacksmithing, furniture restoration and yoga. She also loves the outdoors. When she's indoors though, indulging in her love of baking, she is a fan of "old-fashioned" baking techniques. She taught herself to bake when she began to grow her own vegetables two years ago PA Sophie, 33, from Surrey A former Officer in the Royal Artillery, Sophie did not discover her talent for baking until she volunteered to make a friend's birthday cake. The psychology graduate, who lives in Surrey with her boyfriend and a cat named Loki, has also developed a passion for patisserie. When she is not baking, Sophie enjoys track cycling, rowing, teaching military boot camps and is also training to be a stuntwoman. PA Flo, 71, from Merseyside Flo is retired and the oldest amateur contestant to appear on Bake Off to date. She was one of 11 children and was raised in Huyton, Liverpool. She met her late husband Richard when she was 21 years old and working at a sausage factory. Following Richard's death two years ago, her son Stephen encouraged her to take up baking. She bakes treats for his restaurant when she's not baking for the family - or 'having a boogie' with friends. PA Peter, 52, from Essex Born in Brixton originally, IT programme manager Peter had a well-travelled youth. He lived in Nigeria from the age of seven and moved back to the United Kingdom when he was 24. He has a wife, Tito and two children - Temi and Toni. He was bitten by the baking bug eight years ago when he started making his own bread. He reckons one of his specialities is making a melt-in-your-mouth Macaron, which is based on a recipe from French pastry maestro Pierre Hermes. When he's not kneading dough he loves running on the beach, spinning, playing chess and badminton PA Tom, 29, from Edinburgh Architect Tom lives in Edinburgh with his partner David, where he can often be found making fresh shortbread for family and friends. Baking has always been a huge part of family life for Tom and his siblings, who were taught to bake by their mother, a home economics teacher. The family cherishes recipe books passed down by grandparents from both sides of the family PA Steven, 34, from Hertfordshire Despite having a background in marketing, Steven's heart lies in the kitchen. His mum, Judi, has been his cooking mentor. He cooks and bakes all of his own food and has lost an impressive five stone thanks to his own home-cooking. He likes putting a twist on recipes from his mum's old cookbooks PA James, 46, from Essex James describes himself as a bald, baking banker - but his friends say he looks more like a bank robber than a banker. He was taught to bake by his father more than 40 years ago and grows his own fruit and vegetables to incorporate into his recipes. James lives in Essex with his wife Ann, sons Oliver and Ethan and their three chickens: Sparkles, Superman and Jeff PA Chris, 50, from Bristol A software developer who loves the science behind baking and developing quirky flavour combinations. He is a cancer survivor and passionate about helping other people whose lives have been affected by cancer. He is married (his wife's name is Catherine), and he loves sailing, travelling (especially visiting bakeries) and writing PA Stacey, 42, from Hertfordshire Former school teacher Stacey has fond memories of helping her grandmother make bread and butter pudding when she was a little girl, but it was during university that she really started to bake seriously. Stacey likes to incorporate her Jewish heritage into her baking, with a traditional homemade Challah with every Friday night dinner PA Julia, 32, from West Sussex Julia has spent three years honing her baking prowess so she could enter Bake Off. She is originally from Kemerovo, Siberia. She met her husband Matt while on holiday in Turkey as a 17-year-old. PA Liam, 19, from North London Hackney-born Liam has been baking for four years and is fondly known as the 'Cake Boy' amongst his university friends. He believes that baking is a universal language that can bring people together from all walks of life, and he wants to make it acceptable amongst his peers and the younger generation PA Yan, 46, from North London Hong Kong-born Yan moved to the UK with her family when she was two. She started to bake seriously 10 years ago when she found herself in between 24 hour shifts, working as a molecular biologist for the NHS. Currently working as a laboratory research scientist, Yan now lives in north London with her wife, Marian and cat Kacey. PA

The finale performed better than other episodes in the series, which have achieved average overnight ratings of around 6 million people.

Bake Off moved from the BBC after Love Productions, the creators of the show, sold the format to Channel 4 for 75million.

The baking competition is set to return to Channel 4 in 2018 with Leith returning to the famous tent with judge Paul Hollywood and presenters Sandi Toksvig and Noel Fielding.

Those wishing to participate in next years series can head to the Great British Bake Off website to apply.
O ur Girls Georgie Lane is to travel to Nigeria for the next instalment of the BBC war drama.

In first-look photos, the army medic played by Michelle Keegan appears in uniform and looks to be being escorted away by two men, also dressed in camouflage clothing.

The description for the forthcoming episodes tease that Lane will find herself caught up in a kidnapping after heading to Northern Nigeria to assist local forces.

It also details that she will be recovering from the news of her former flame Elvis Hartes death after he was dramatically killed off in the final episode of the Nepal tour on Tuesday night.

Our Girl series three - in pictures 1 /14 Our Girl series three - in pictures Michelle Keegan as Georgie Lane BBC/Frans Marais/Geraint Williams Harki Bhambra as Rab Kalil, Salina Shrestha as Tara and Shalom Brune-Franklin as Maisie Richards BBC/Marcos Cruz Harki Bhambra as Rab Kalil and Shalom Brune-Franklin as Maisie Richards BBC/Marcos Cruz Michelle Keegan as Georgie Lane BBC/Marcos Cruz Luke Pasqualino as Elvis Harte BBC/Marcos Cruz Michelle Keegan as Georgie Lane and Salina Shrestha as Tara BBC/Steve Brown Sean Ward as Fingers, Sean Sagar as Monk, Simon Lennon as Brains, Ben Aldridge as Captain James, Michelle Keegan as Georgie Lane, Rolan Bell as Kingy, Shalom Brune-Franklin as Maisie Richards and Harki Bhambra as Rab Kalil BBC/Steve Brown Michelle Keegan as Georgie Lane BBC Rudi Dharmalin-Gam as Milan and Michelle Keegan as Georgie Lane BBC Ben Aldridge as Captain James BBC Shalom Brune-Franklin as Maisie Richards and Michelle Keegan as Georgie Lane BBC

BBC One next year, alongside 2-Section and Special Forces as they are tasked in assisting local forces in Northern Nigeria when a group of school girls are kidnapped, the description states.

Heartbroken and grieving from the death of Elvis, Georgie tries to heal whilst on duty, however she is soon lured back to the front line and as the situation escalates, Georgie is thrown into jeopardy like never before.

The third series of Our Girl consists of 12 episodes split into three blocks of four shows. The first has seen Lane and her 2-Section colleagues travel to Nepal on a disaster relief mission before heading to Afghanistan.

The second tour will take 2-Section to Nigeria, while the location of the third tour has yet to be named.

Our Girl: Nigeria Tour arrives on BBC One in 2018.
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In October 2017, after a year of negotiations over terms, Russia began delivering free military equipment to Serbia. The most visible items were the six MiG-29 fighters that were supposed to arrive in March 2017 but delays were experienced. There was no explanation for the delays but is was believed to be all about the terms of the gift (which includes 60 armored vehicles and various other items). This deal was meant to save Serbia a lot of money but the Russians wanted the Serbs to pay for upgrades to bring these MiG-29s up to the latest standards. The actual costs for this was not announced but it was revealed that Russia was financing the deal. Once the MiGs arrive the upgrades can be scheduled and completed sometime in the unspecified future. If this all sounds rather murky and mysterious, that is normal for the Balkans and especially for the many dealings Serbia and Russia have endured since the 19th century. Both countries remain aware that this relationship played a key role in triggering World War I in 1914.

The MiG-29 saga also goes way back. Serbia got its first MiG-29s (four of them) in the early 1990s when Yugoslavia came apart as a side effect of the collapse of communist rule in East Europe and Russia. At the time Russia told Serbia that it would provide more free or cheap MiG-29s but never did. There were always money (Russia was broke) or political (the West objected to sending more weapons to an unstable area) reasons for not sending Serbia military aid. But in 2016 Russia was making a big deal about keeping an old promise. Thats how Russia diplomacy works in the Balkans.

This deal was not a sudden decision. In late 2014 the Russian president sent some essential supplies to Serbia, as a personal gift, to put some of Serbias MiG-21 and MiG-29 aircraft back in service. The essential supplies consisted of special batteries the MiGs required to operate. Why did the Serbs lack batteries? Therein lies an interesting tale.

Serbian Air Force officials knew in 2013 that they had to obtain additional batteries and asked the Defense Ministry to order them. This was done, but not before someone in the Defense Ministry noted that India offered the same batteries (manufactured for their own MiGs and for export) at a third of what the Russians (the usual supplier) charged. So Serbia ordered from India. Russia found out and demanded that Serbia cancel that order or else Russia would withhold MiG parts and maintenance services only Russia could provide. Serbia protested but was reminded that in 1999 Russia was the only major power that had backed them when they sought, in vain, to prevent Kosovo province from becoming an independent state (something NATO approved of). The Serbs felt they owned their big brother something and gave in. However the Serbs pointed out that money was short and it would be a while before they could scrape together the funds to pay for the pricey Russian batteries.

While all this was going on the air force ran out of batteries. Thus by mid-2014 the Serbian air force revealed that none of its combat aircraft (26 MiG-21s, four MiG-29s and 18 J-22s) were available for duty because the Defense Ministry was having problems buying batteries for the aircraft.

Serbia doesnt have much of an air force to begin with and the cost of maintenance has been a struggle just to take care of basics. By late 2014 the air force insisted that three MiG-21s and three MiG-29s were available for emergency service but no one had seen any of them flying for months. Some of the older aircraft have been out of action for so long that it would take a major refurbishment to get them back into the air. Most of the non-combat aircraft are also grounded because of maintenance problems also related to procurement costs.

At first it was believed that the battery situation was clearly another example of the Defense Ministry procurement bureaucracy getting in the way. In the past the procurement bureaucrats had been involved in some situations where the troops complained of a torturous and lengthy process for ordering equipment. There were even cases where the procurement bureaucrats seemed to ignore how delays in obtaining parts or supplies would impact equipment readiness. But in this case the procurement officials were trying to save some money so that more critical parts or maintenance supplies could also be purchased. Russia, as it has often done to others in the past, gets very disruptive and threatening when anyone seeks to buy MiG parts or services from anyone but Russia.

Normally all this procurement politics is classified as state secrets but word on the battery fiasco got out because of the high handed behavior of the Russians. Thus in this case there were no calls for an investigation to find and prosecute the spy who made this item public. Russia tried to break the deadlock and portray itself as the good guy by donating some of the needed batteries. But many other batteries must be bought at the usual price, which is three times what the Indians charge. Buy Russian, or else and never forget who your Big Brother is.

Mindful of the ill will generated by all this the 2016 MiG-29 deal was accompanied by the donation of 60 used by operation armored vehicles (30 T-72 tanks and 30 BRDM-2 wheeled reconnaissance vehicles). Many Serbs withheld their thanks until Russia actually delivers. Similar situations regularly occur elsewhere in the Balkans. For example in October 2017 Bulgarian pilots refused to fly their MiG-29s because of safety issues. India has had similar problems and in some cases, especially since 1991, some buyers demand, and get, a money back if not satisfied clause in the purchase contract. That clause has been exercised a few times, often in the case of MiG-29s.
State Sen. Leah Vukmir is calling on her Republican U.S. Senate primary opponent, Kevin Nicholson, to apologize for saying U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan has a light footprint in our state and that Ryans perceived lukewarm support for Trump is a problem.

Nicholson is declining to do so, telling the Wisconsin State Journal that he has no beef with Ryan.

The man is Speaker of the House. Hes got a lot of things to do and a lot of different priorities, and I completely understand that, Nicholson said. At the end of the day, hes doing what he can to pass the presidents agenda, and I appreciate that.

Nicholson, a Delafield businessman, political newcomer and Iraq War veteran, and Vukmir, the Assistant Majority Leader of the state Senate from Brookfield, are seeking the GOP nod to oppose Democratic Sen. Tammy Baldwin in 2018.

In the recording first reported by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Nicholson is responding to GOP activists at a recent Jefferson County event who criticized Ryan, with one calling him a closet Democrat and saying his office staffers were too busy to answer his phone call.

One of the activists slams Ryan in the recording for saying, late in the 2016 presidential campaign, that he would not defend or campaign with Trump.

The Trump issue is a problem, I agree, Nicholson responded. He later added that Ryan has a light footprint in our state.

Nicholson, a former Democrat, also defends Ryan to some extent in the recording, saying he was upfront about never wanting the speakers post and give him credit for that.

Vukmir, in a statement, called Ryan a friend of mine and said he has never forgotten where he came from or what matters to the people of (Wisconsins) 1st Congressional District, which Ryan represents.

Anyone who has spent any time in Janesville knows that Paul Ryan is home all the time and is 100 percent Wisconsin. Who will (Nicholson) attack next, Governor Walker? Vukmir spokeswoman Jess Ward said in the statement.

Ryans campaign director, Kevin Seifert, said in a statement that Ryans commitment to Wisconsin is unwavering.

He works tirelessly to represent his employers in the 1st Congressional District when in Wisconsin and in Washington, DC, Seifert said.

Nicholson has touted the support given to him by a super PAC aligned with former Trump strategist Steve Bannon. After leaving the White House to return as chairman of the conservative online news site Breitbart, Bannon declared war on Ryan and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell for, in Bannons view, not sufficiently supporting Trumps agenda.
Iran is making its move to establish a secure route from Iran to the Mediterranean and come one step closer to its goal of destroying Israel. This despite Israel making it clear that they would use whatever resources they had, including nuclear weapons, to defend themselves. Iran seems to consider that a challenge, not an insurmountable obstacle. Besides Iran is run by a religious dictatorship that believes it is on a Mission From God and what could possibly go wrong.

An example of this attitude in action was how Iran had little trouble getting Turkey and Iraqi Arabs to support the recent attacks on the Iraqi Kurds. This was no surprise for those familiar with the history of the nations (Turkey, Iran, Iraq and Syria) where the regions 40 million Kurds live. These nations have never wavered in their willingness to do anything, even go to war with a superpower, to prevent a unified Kurdish state. At the same time the Kurds, a large Indo-European tribe living in eastern Turkey, northern Iraq, northeast Syria and northwest Iran, have continued to seek unity (among themselves) and their own state.

In the last century a Kurdish state seemed close to reality several times. After World War I ( Iran avoids conflicts like that) the Treaty of Sevres (August 1920) carved up post-Ottoman Turkey and the victorious allies (including the United States) promised that an autonomous (and potentially independent) Kurdistan would be organized in eastern Turkey. The threat of losing eastern Turkey to the Kurds played a role in an unexpected, and successful Turkish rebellion against the Sevres treaty. The Greco-Turk War of 1921 and 1922 halted the implementation of the Sevres treaty and in 1923 replaced it with the Treaty of Lausanne. This not only cancelled any Western efforts to help create a Kurdish state but also forced the ancient Greek population from what is now Turkey (Asia Minor) and in return Turks were forced to move back to Asia Minor from their homes on most of the Aegean islands they had conquered (from the Greeks) over the past few centuries. The Kurds protested, but the victorious allies were not willing to fight the Turks again, especially in the Turkish homeland. The new leader of the Turks, Kemal Ataturk, was a pro-West reformer backed by Turks who preferred democracy and separation of church and state (something not recognized by Islamic conservatives). Ataturk supporters preferred to be free of their empire, especially the Arab parts of it. Let the victorious allies deal with that. By the 1930s the allies had helped create independent Syria and Iraq. Both contained Kurdish minorities.

Ever since the 1920s Turkey, Iran, Iraq and Syria had had frequent disputes, even wars, with each other. But all four could agree on the necessity for preventing a Kurdish state. In 1975 the U.S. supported a peace deal between Iraq and Iran that required the Americans to back away from the traditional support of Kurds in the region. That peace deal did not last and by 1980 Iran was torn apart by yet another civil war (an ancient and well documented tradition there) and Iraq took advantage to invade Iran. Thats a less well established tradition and unlike the 7th century Arab attack on a divided Iran this one failed leaving Iran with a religious dictatorship and Iraq in disarray and ripe for more disasters. The Iraqi Kurds remained divided, as Kurds had been for thousands of years, by clan rivalries. In the aftermath of the 1991 war to drive Iraqi troops out of Kuwait American and British special operations troops in northern Iraq helped train and organize the Kurds who, to the surprise of many, were able to unite and drive out the Iraqi government forces and keep them out ever since, at least until 2017.

What happened in 2017 is the result of existing nations exploiting the ancient clan rivalries of the Kurds. While the Iraqi Kurds were autonomous and seemed united since the early 1990s there were some serious divisions. It came down to a pair of clan-based political groups; the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) party (led by the Talibani clan) and the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) (dominated by the Barzani clan). The Turks, Iraqis and Iranians frequently exploit the PUK-KDP rivalry. That seems to be a factor in the current situation because although the Kurds are the most effective Iraqi fighters the internal disagreements over decisions were something Iran and the Turks had been more successful at exploiting than the Arabs. This is what came to mind when the Iraqi Kurds proposed and went through with a September 25th referendum on independence. Kurdish popular sentiment strongly favors an independent Kurdistan and the current Kurdish leadership openly promised a vote on independence in a few years. That was seen as politicians saying the popular thing and not actually doing it because of the repercussions. It doesnt always work, especially when you have Iran next door.

The Iraqi Kurds thought they were safe because if there is one thing the Kurds and Iraqi Arabs can agree on one was that Iran was out to gain more control over whoever was running Iraq. Iran did have a plan and it was the old be my bitch and Ill make you rich divide and conquer strategy that had worked for Iranians over thousands of years of empire building (or rebuilding). In this case the Iranians already has a large minority of Iraqi Arab Shia in favor of the Iranian style religious dictatorship. In the north one of the main Kurds factions, the PUK was suspected of being a little too willing with work with Iran.

Despite efforts to unite, the Kurds continue to sustain and suffer from ancient squabbles. This was happening despite the two Iraqi Kurd parties agreeing to unify in 2006. At first that appeared to work. But with more foreign aid coming in the PUK accused the KDP (which holds most top leadership positions) of taking more than their share. To make this worse Iran began offering direct aid to PUK and, according to the KDP and many in the PUK, trying to divide the Iraqi Kurds. Iran saw an opportunity and, as they usually do, they make the most of it.

The American Threat And Local Opposition

On October 22nd American and Arab officials from Iraq, Saudi Arabia and several other Gulf Arab states gathered in the Saudi capital for the first meeting of the Saudi-Iraqi Bilateral Coordination Council. This is part of an effort to enable Iraq to more easily participate in Saudi and Gulf Arab economic ventures. The Iraqi prime minister attended the meeting. The question of how to handle an increasingly ambitious and aggressive Iran was not an official part of the agenda but was a frequently discussed item between American and Arab officials. The American Secretary of State was trying to encourage Arab unity. At the moment Qatar and Iraq are increasingly dependent on Iran, as Syria has been since the 1980s. Iran is trying to expand its power and influence for the good of Islam as well as potential economic benefits to everyone. But Iran also proclaims (loudly and constantly) that America and Israel must be destroyed because, according the Iran, these America and Israel are the cause of all the woes in the Middle East. Most Arab states used to at least give lip service to that but attitudes have changed in the last two decades and now most Arabs see Iran as the threat while the Americans and Israelis are useful allies. Meanwhile American efforts to get Qatar and the rest of the Gulf Arab states to settle their differences are not progressing. Qatar grows closer to Iran but wants to avoid becoming too dependent on Iran.

Syria

Iran wants to turn Syria into a protectorate where Iran will establish military bases and organize a Shia militia similar to Hezbollah in Lebanon. No one besides Iran is particularly fond of this plan, even current Iranian allies Turkey and Russia. The Iraq government, despite, being controlled by Iraqi Shia Arabs, does not want to submit to any form of Iranian control and Israel has made it clear it will fight rather than allow Iran to set up shop in Syria. Iran is formidable because they are patient and relentless.

Russia and the Syrian government realize that Iran intends to control a post-war Syria and attempt to turn it into a Shia majority nation (via forced conversions and expulsions of stubborn Sunnis). That would make the Assads totally dependent on and subservient to Iran, something that most Assad supporters are not in favor of. But defying Iran does not appear to be a practical option because the most effective troops the Assads have are the 20,000 or so Iranian supplied Shia mercenaries. Israel is also aware, as are Russians, Turks, the Assads and nearly all Syrian Arabs, that Iranian efforts to take control of Syria are unwelcome. Since Iran is currently run by determined clerics any opposition in Syria must be overcome to protect Islam. The Iranians, as far as everyone but Iran is concerned, are simply replacing one brand of Islamic fanaticism with another as the ISIL (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant) presence is extinguished in Syria.

Lebanon

Although Iran backed Hezbollah in Lebanon is increasingly active in the media about how soon its next war with Israel will happen, the reality is somewhat different. Israeli wargames and monitoring of attitudes in Lebanon (among Hezbollah supporters and the majority of Lebanese who are hostile or neutral) indicates that another Hezbollah war now would be unlikely. At the moment Hezbollah military power is crippled by losses in Syria and the continued deployment of about a third of their available forces there. In addition a significant number of veteran personnel are working in Iraq and Yemen supporting local pro-Iran Shia militias. More Hezbollah personnel will be heading back to Gaza now that Hamas has resumed its alliance with Iran.

In the long term (the 2020s) Iran is building something that threatens Israel in a big way. By establishing military bases in Syria and organizing a branch of Hezbollah in Syria Iran has legal justification for stationing Iranian troops in Syria. Unless Israel interferes Iran could rebuild the Syrian military, especially the Syrian ballistic missile stockpile. Iran would have time (and money) to deal with the financial problems that are crippling Hezbollah and Hamas. Thus by the mid-2020s Iran would be in a much stronger position for attacking Israel. That would include the new Israeli natural gas fields off the coast near the Lebanese border.

Gaza

Iran has once more established a presence in Gaza which Egypt, Israel and Fatah all agree is a bad thing. On October 12th a delegation of Hamas officials made a visit to Iran to discuss how Hamas and Iran will cooperate since formal relations were resumed in August. This Iranian presence in Gaza benefits no one, in the long run, buy Iran. Short term, some groups, like Hamas (which has run Gaza since 2007) believe Iranian patronage can be an advantage.

Russia

Russia tries to maintain its alliance with Turkey and Iran while also remaining on good terms with Israel and the Arab oil states in the region. This is a problem for Iran. But then Russia has always been a problem for Iran since the two empires collided in the 18th century. More recently, during a mid-October visit to Israel, the Russian Defense Minister confirmed some modifications to their agreement on what Russia would do to keep Iranian forces (including Iranian backed Shia militias like Hezbollah) away from the Israeli border. Israel wanted the Russians to keep the Iranians at least 60 kilometers from the border but the Russians have agreed to smaller buffer zones (10-20 kilometers) and are willing and able to enforce those buffer zones. In part this is done by telling the Assad government that continued Russian assistance for the Assads is contingent on the Assads cooperating with the Russians in keeping the Iranians away from the border. At the same time the Russians do not interfere with Israeli air and missile strikes on Iranian weapons shipments moving from Syria to Lebanon (for Hezbollah). Syria protests via the media but does little beyond that. This cozy relationship with Israel is more valuable to Russia than any deals it has with Iran. Russia recognizes that Israel has the strongest economy in the region as well as the most capable military and nuclear weapons. After the Russian delegation left a senior Israeli official visiting Japan repeated that Israel would, if necessary, use military force to prevent Iran from getting nuclear weapons.

Russia and Israel have a longer and better relationship than the one Russia has with its new allies (and traditional enemies) Iran and Turkey. It is possible for Russia and Israel to continue working together, as they have done since Israel was created in the late 1940s. Even during the communist period (especially from 1948 to 1991) Russia often worked closely with Israel while also courting Arab states that wanted Israel to disappear. Russia continues this policy of maintaining multiple alliance with Turkey and Iran while also remaining on good terms with Israel and the Arab oil states in the region. Give the Russians credit, they are getting away with it. But it is becoming increasingly difficult.

Yemen

The Arab coalition has internal disagreements which limit what the Arab military coalition there can do. What all the coalition members share (aside from oil wealth) is fear of Iran. What is going on in Yemen reinforces that fear. Iran has created a serious threat to the Gulf Arabs while spending far less than the half billion dollars a month the Yemen effort is costing the Arab coalition. Iran has only a handful of Iranians in Yemen. Most of what are described as Iranians in Yemen are Lebanese (Shia Arabs belonging to Hezbollah). The Iranians have always been able to do a lot more with a lot less and this worries the Arabs more than anything else. Iran wants to replace Saudi Arabia as the guardian of the most holy Islamic sites in Mecca and Medina (western Saudi Arabia near the Red Sea). The GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council, the Arab oil states in the Persian Gulf) and Iran are using Yemen as a battlefield and no one likes this. But for Iran it is a cheap way to annoy and demean the Saudis. There is some blowback because some of the Iranian weapons showing up. Twice in October Shia rebels fired Iranian Qaher M2 ballistic missiles across the Saudi border into Narjan province. These attacks are not very accurate but the use of an Iranian made missile are obvious from an examination of the debris. The UN inspectors have also seen a lot of physical evidence of Iranian weapons in Yemen, including ballistic missiles and large rockets. It is becoming for difficult for Iran to play the innocent bystander.

Economy

A more recent international survey, of Global Competitiveness, ranked 137 countries on how well the local conditions (low corruption, economic freedom and opportunity and robust economy) facilitated the ability of that nation to compete in global markets. The top five were Switzerland, the United States, Singapore, Netherlands and Germany. Iran was 69, Russia was 38, Turkey 53, Israel 16, Qatar 25, UAE 17, Pakistan 115 and so on to the bottom five (Mauritania, Liberia, Chad, Mozambique and Yemen).

October 31, 2017: The head of the IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps) broadcast a speech in which he claimed that Iranian long range (up to 2,000 kilometers) ballistic missile were ready and able to hit American bases throughout the region and would do so if American military forces got in the way of Iran.

In the Central Asian city of Astana (the capital of Kazakhstan) the pro-Assad coalition of Russia, Turkey, Iran and the Assad government resumed their negotiations (also called peace talks) with each other about how to achieve everyones goals. Iran wants access to the Israeli border and suppression of the Syrian Kurds. Turkey wants an end to Kurdish autonomy in northern Syria. Russia wants to get most of its troops out of Syria, declare victory and avoid Iran triggering a war with Israel that could get out of control. The public sessions are propaganda the private meetings, the ones that matter, are kept secret.

October 30, 2017: In the southeast, the first major cargo for Afghanistan arrived at the port of Chabahar. It was 130,000 tons of wheat, the first (of seven) shiploads of the 1.1 million tons of wheat India is shipping to Afghanistan. Without Chabahar there was no way India could economically ship bulk food to Afghanistan. The port is part of the Indo-Iranian project (largely financed by India) that enables cargo shipped by sea to Chabahar to complete its journey to Afghanistan by rail or road. This wheat cargo is the first major test of the Chabahar link to Afghanistan. A recent agreement between Iran and Afghanistan allows that to happen with any additional tax problems or other restrictions. Iran and India are building the 1,300 kilometer long rail line from the port to the Afghan border (near Herat) in the north. Indians are providing over two billions dollars to upgrade the port and build new roads and railroads to Afghanistan and Central Asia. For Iran the Central Asia link is the most valuable one. But for Afghanistan having another way to move most of their imports and exports is a major achievement because Pakistan and Iran will have to complete and that will keep costs down for Afghans and reduce the use of closing the border (which Pakistan has done frequently to coerce the Afghans) because that will just drive more trade permanently to the Iran link. At the same time Iran will have as much economic leverage on Afghanistan as Pakistan has long exercised (and often abused).

October 27, 2017: Iran denied that its military advisors in Iraq (especially those with the Shia militias) are encouraging savage (technically war crimes) reprisals against Sunni Arabs, especially those associated with ISIL. Even the UN has recognized this and named some Iranian advisors or their local deputies as war criminals because the revenge attacks. The Kurds recently benefitted from this while fighting alongside Iraqi forces to drive ISIL out of Hawijah (their last urban stronghold) during September. It was obvious that ISIL personnel in the area believed that if they were captured alive by the Iran-backed Shia militia (allowed to assist Iraqi forces in retaking Hawijah), they could expect torture and death because ISIL had carried out most of its terror attacks against Iraqi Shia and even a few inside Iran itself. Surrender to the Kurds and your risk of torture and execution were much less and if you provided useful information things went even better for you. So the Kurds got most of the ISIL willing (and sometimes eager) to surrender. Iran has faced these accusations before and finds that deny, deny, deny works if followed up by adroit manipulation of international media and UN officials willing to quietly discuss matter for a fee.

October 26, 2017: The Iraqi and Iranian leaders met in Baghdad. Iranian media reported that Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (the head of the religious dictatorship that has run Iran since the 1980s) told Haider al Abadi (the elected leader of Iraq) that the United States could not be trusted and praised Abadi for destroying ISIL, which Khamenei (and many others in the Middle East) believe was invented and secretly supported by the United States and Israel. Iranian media did not report on what Abadi said. Many Iranians (and Iraqis) believe this meeting was not a discussion but an opportunity for Iran to emphasize what the Iraqi Shia must do to survive. Iran apparently believes that the Americans will not assist the Kurds, something which is still unclear. Iraqi is believed waiting to see what the Americans and Saudi Arabia have to offer.

In northwestern Iraq Iran-backed Shia militias joined with Iraqi troops to attack one of the original (since the early 1990s) autonomous Kurdish provinces (Dohuk). The objective of the advance appears to be the Fishkhabour border crossing to Syria. This is also near one of the main border crossings to Turkey. But the crossing to Syria connects Iraqi Kurds with the Syrian province of Hasakah. This would make it more difficult for American troops who aid and advise the Kurds from moving between Syria and Iraq. Turkey wants this as well as Iran and the Syrian Assad government.

October 20, 2017: The Iraqi military and Iran-backed Shia militias have moved into Kirkuk province, which the Kurds claim is part of the autonomous Kurdish north. Apparently, rather than fight a war they know they would probably lose, Kurdish troops and over 100,000 Kurdish civilians fled. There is some fighting near the border between Kurdish northern Iraq and the rest of Iraq. This involves Kurdish forces and advancing Iran-backed Shia militia. These militias have been unpredictable since Iran was allowed to form them in 2014.

Actually there is some confusion over who ordered what in Kurd controlled parts of Kirkuk province. Kurdish officials (from the Barzani clan) accused pro-Talibani Kurdish military commanders in Kirkuk of ordering a withdrawal without permission. Many Barzani supporters believe the Talibanis made a secret deal with Iran to allow the Iran-backed Iraqi Shia militia take over northern Kirkuk province, Kirkuk city and the nearby oilfields. Some Iraqi Kurds accuse the Americans of being in on this as well. It may be a while before it is clear who made deals with who beforehand. Meanwhile it is clear that the Iraqi government had again, as had happened several times in the past, sold out the Kurds to placate Turkey, Iran and others. This is nothing new and is actually part of an ancient conflict. Very ancient rivalries between Kurds, Iranians and Arabs that predate the arrival of the Turks, Europeans and Americans. In this part of the world ancient history tends to be frequently recycled as todays news.

October 18, 2017: In the northwest (outside Mosul) Kurdish forces guarding the Mosul dam opened fire on Iran-backed Shia militia that tried to take control of the area. At least nine people died before the shooting stopped and the Shia militia dug in opposite the Kurdish forces. Elsewhere in Nineveh Province Kurdish forces withdrew, as they had earlier agreed, from the border town of Rabia and the major border crossing with Syria.

October 17, 2017: In Syria the U.S. supported SDF (largely Kurdish) militia declared their effort to take control of the ISIL capital of Raqqa was completed. Now the Syrian Kurds have to decide what to do about the Iraq and Iranian forces attacking the Iraqi Kurdish areas. The SDF suspected the same sort of thing will happen to them. Since mid-2017 Iran led Iraqi Shia militiamen have entered an area (Hasakah province) that has largely been under Kurdish control since 2012 and the Syrian Kurds warned Iraqis to stay out. These accidental incursions apparently had more to do with the Iranian goal of establishing a safe (for Iranian arms shipments) land route from Iran to Lebanon. A major highway crosses the border in the area where the Iraqi Shia militia are operating, now on both sides of the border.

October 15, 2017: In the north Iraqi troops and Iran-backed Shia militias advanced further into Kirkuk province and headed for Kurdish controlled oil fields and Kirkuk city. Kurdish forces did not resist and pulled back to areas that Iraq recognized as under Kurdish control. Iran closed the border crossings with Iraqi controlled northern Iraq.

Iran and Pakistan signed off on new agreements to make it easier for both nations to detect and deal with terrorist threats from each other to each other. For many generations rebel groups in each nation have managed to establish bases or even sanctuaries in the other nation and this has become particularly the case with Iranian and Pakistan Baluchi rebels from each country. There is also a problem with Sunni Islamic terrorists who target Shia Moslems in both nations.

October 14, 2017: In Syria an IRGC general (Abdollah Khosravi) was killed while commanding Shia mercenaries. Khosravi was known to be involved organizing a unit of Shia volunteers from Iran and Iraq.

October 13, 2017: The United States announced that it will not continue to support the 2015 treaty that lifted sanctions on Iran because Iran is not keeping its end of the deal. The U.S. has some political support in the other countries (China, France, Germany, Russia and Britain) that signed the deal but China and Russia still back the treaty and all five of those countries have already sold Iran billions of dollars worth of goods and services and are reluctant to give that up just because Iran is cheating a bit. Russia was particularly critical of the United States for not being a team player and trying to wreck an international agreement.

The Americans are accusing Iran of continuing to develop nuclear weapons. So far both sides appear to have complied with the terms of the 2015 treaty where Iran gave up nuclear weapons research for 15 year, although without any more verification it is uncertain if Iran is still in compliance. Meanwhile Iran has become more of an international troublemaker and a growing number of intelligence analysts in the U.S., Europe and the Middle East believe Iran is still pursuing work on nuclear weapons. Iran appears to justify this effort internally by invoking the Israeli threat that, according to Iran, is sustained by the United States. The Iranian government regularly calls for both Israel and the United States to be destroyed. At the same time Iran is concerned that their Arab neighbors are becoming too strong.

October 11, 2017: Russian and Iranian companies agreed to develop software to connect Iranian and Russian credit card and electronic banking systems. China is also working on developing an alternative to the Western financial system that has been dominant for several centuries.

October 6, 2017: In eastern Syria (Deir Ezzor province) an American airstrike hit a convoy of Syrian government forces (and Iran backed Shia mercenaries) who had moved too close to the U.S. controlled Tanf border crossing (into Iraq). This airstrike killed seven and wounded sixteen and occurred two days after these forces came closer than 55 kilometers to Tanf. The Americans had an arrangement with Russia that if anyone came closer than 55 kilometers the U.S. would first call the Russians (on a special hotline) to warn them that the Americans would attack the intruders. Apparently the Russians could not get the Iran-backed forces to retreat and the U.S. struck. Airstrikes like this have occurred since late May despite repeated warning to the Russians to persuade their allies (the Assads and Iran) to remove forces from the area. The first airstrike (May 20) was carried out because a convoy had entered a de-confliction zone the U.S. and Russia had agreed would be controlled by U.S. backed rebels who operate out of training bases in Jordan and the Tanf base near the Iraq border. The Iranian mercenaries (Hezbollah and Shia from other nations) militia did not try to advance again for a while. In response to the American air strike the Russians accused the U.S. of allowing ISIL and other Islamic terrorists to take shelter in the Tanf no-go zone and from there make attacks outside that zone. No evidence of this has been presented but the Russians have to say something that wont offend their Iranian ally.

September 30, 2017: Turkey threatened Israel for its alleged support of Kurdish independence. This comes after the September 25th referendum in autonomous Kurdish northern Iraq where 92 percent of the voters approved of efforts to establish a Kurdish state. This vote was largely to get some publicity for the Kurds and it did. The outcome was no surprise and neither was the outrage from the nations (Turkey, Iran, Iraq and Syria) where the regions 40 million Kurds live. These nations will go to war to prevent a Kurdish state. Meanwhile Turkey and Iran used the Kurdish threat as an excuse to appear on good terms and make some more security and trade deals. Turkish trust in Iran is another illusion as is the Russian alliance with Iran.

September 29, 2017: The UN has agreed to send a war crimes investigation team to Yemen to try and document accusations that both sides are deliberately using tactics that cause enormous harm to the civilian population. The Arab coalition has resisted this effort, backed by Iran, because the Iran backed Shia rebels have proved better able to keep independent investigations out of their territory and it is easier to hide the efforts to keep food and other aid from hostile civilians than it is to hide the activity of Arab coalition air attacks. The Arab coalition does not trust the UN because the UN officials have proved easy for the rebels to bribe or intimidate. This is a common problem worldwide and the UN would rather not dwell on it.
Microsoft on Monday announced the general availability of SQL Server 2017, now with support for Linux, at its Ignite conference in Orlando. The company first announced its plans for the newest iteration of its database software a year and a half ago.

This is the first version of SQL Server to run on Windows Server, Linux and Docker, noted Scott Guthrie, executive vice president, cloud and enterprise, at Microsoft.

SQL Server 2017 enables in-database advanced machine learning with support for scalable Python and R-based analytics, he pointed out, which means you can train advanced models easily with data inside SQL Server without having to move data.

SQL Server offers mission-critical performance and security, Guthrie said. It now has everything built in, including artificial intelligence, on the platform of your choice.

Adding Linux support to SQL Server is a manifestation of the new Microsoft, noted Rob Enderle, principal analyst at the Enderle Group.

Theyve become operating system-agnostic when it comes to their applications and some of their platforms, he told LinuxInsider.

Oracle in Crosshairs

Adding Linux support to SQL Server should boost its share of the enterprise database market, suggested Matthew Kimball, senior analyst for servers and storage with Moor Insights & Strategy.

With a Windows-only platform, Microsoft is a strong second to Oracle in the market.

This expands Microsofts market considerably, Kimball told LinuxInsider.

Oracle is Microsofts chief competition in the space, he continued, and SQL Server is a fraction of the cost of Oracle with the same functionality.

Microsoft has been able to garner 20 percent of the enterprise database market with its Windows-only offering, noted Donald Feinberg, a data, analytics and information management analyst at Gartner.

Oracles share is about 40 percent, he said.

Microsoft managed to get to half the size of Oracle in a (US)$35 billion market without having Linux, Feinberg told LinuxInsider. You have to ask yourself, if they can now compete in the Linux market, how much further can they go? They answer is, it gives them a lot of runway.

Bashing Portability Barrier

For years, Microsofts competitors database products have supported multiple platforms, which put Microsoft, with its Windows-only approach, at a disadvantage. By adding Linux support, SQL Server becomes as portable as the products of those competitors.

Portability is an important feature. Customers dont go switching around all that much, but they want to know they can, Feinberg said.

Weve talked to a lot of people, he continued, and when I mention SQL Server to them, the answer I get is, We cant use that because it will lock us in to Windows Server. That perception disappears now.

When Microsoft announced SQL Server Linux support last year, it surprised some Microsoft watchers, who believed the company would be unwilling to forgo the potential loss of revenue that could result from the move.

With SQL Server chained to Windows, Microsoft collects licensing revenue from both Windows Server and SQL Server. With the Linux version, it collects revenue only from SQL Server licenses.

Microsoft wont suffer from those losses, suggested Moors Kimball.

Customers who will move from Windows Server to Linux will be more than offset by the growth Microsoft will see in the Linux space, he said.

Not Created Equal

The Linux and Windows versions of SQL Server arent quite equal, Kimball noted. The business intelligence tools arent built into the Linux version as yet, and the company hasnt provided a firm date as to when they will be available.

The extraction, transformation and load tools for data warehousing can be used in a Linux environment, he said, but they cant be authored in Linux. They must be created in Windows and ported over to Linux.

Other business intelligence tools dont run on Linux at all, said Kimball.

Maybe this is Microsofts hook for keeping some SQL instances on Windows for some time, he added.

Nevertheless, all features within the SQL Server relational database engine are available in Linux, including the Always On high availability feature. In addition, performance on the two platforms is comparable.

Raft of Features

In addition to Linux support, SQL Server 2017 supports Python programming. Combined with R Services, that allows machine language models to be created, trained and analyzed in place.

Support also has been added for graph processing. Thats important when working with NoSQL databases often used for big data projects.

Microsoft has added two new batch modes to SQL Server  memory grant feedback and adaptive joins  designed to increase the efficiency and performance of the software.

Operational analytics has become more feasible with SQL Server, thanks to the ability to build and rebuild some Columnstore indexes without taking them offline.

In addition, BLOBS  Binary Large Objects  inside Columnstore indexes can be compressed, which saves disk space, and the indexes can process the compressed information, which can speed backups.

A new resumable index operations feature has been added to SQL Server too, which provides for the resumption of index rebuilds after a database failure or manual abort. Recovering from such disasters previously required a restart from scratch, once the database was back online.
PayPal on Friday announced the immediate availability of its peer-to-peer payment service on Facebook Messenger, making it easy to exchange money between friends and family.

PayPal also introduced its first-ever customer service bot, which gives Messenger customers payment and account support right in the app.

An agreement struck last year with Facebook allowed 2.5 million PayPal customers in the U.S. to connect their accounts with Messenger and use PayPal to shop on Messenger, as well as to communicate with other PayPal users, noted COO Bill Ready.

PayPal is the leader in P2P payments, he pointed out, with US$24 billion in volume during the third-quarter of 2017, up 47 percent year-over-year.

Weve seen interest from the 2.5 million people who have connected their PayPal accounts to Facebook Messenger that they would like to use this as a way to communicate with us, said PayPal spokesperson Juliet Niczewicz.

Further, the new PayPal bot for Messenger will enable people to have meaningful customer service interactions, she told the E-Commerce Times, such as resetting passwords, handling account inquiries, and helping with refunds or payment issues so they can handle their business in the context they are in.

Click Image to Enlarge

PayPal previously entered deals with Apples Siri to do transactions with voice commands, Niczewicz noted. It also partnered with Microsoft to allow money to be sent using Skypes chat function.

PayPal earlier this year launched a bot on Slack that allows users to send payments while inside a Slack conversation, she added.

Payments can be made in Messenger by pressing the blue plus icon when composing a message and then tapping the green payments button.

To use the bot, customers can look for PayPal in the search field, type a message to PayPal, and the bot will appear inside the Messenger app. Customers needing further help can choose to connect to live PayPal customer service.

Expanding Messenger

Facebook originally enabled the sending of payments through Messenger more than two years ago, according to spokesperson Jennifer Hakes. That functionality required customers to enter a Visa or Mastercard debit number issued by a U.S. bank into Messenger, and it offered the option of adding a PIN for greater security.

Facebook has adopted a strategy of creating a broad consumer technology platform and working to keep users within it by offering services through Messenger, observed Jack Kent, director for operators and mobile media at IHS Markit.

Making Messenger more of a platform for commerce and transactions also serves Facebooks wider ambitions to drive platform monetization, he told the E-Commerce Times. Bringing payments and advertising closer together can help drive up the value of ads and promotions inside the app.

Chatbots help customers deal with straightforward transactions like reorders, sending gift cards or paying bills, said Cindy Zhou, principal analyst at Constellation Research.

Promoting commerce inside a messaging app has been a standard tool in Asia for years  for example, with WeChat in China, she told the E-Commerce Times.

It has started to take hold in the U.S., she noted, with rival social media platforms embracing in-app commerce. Pinterest has introduced buyable pins, for example, and users can shop on Instagram.

While there appears to be a heightened in interest in automating these transactions, customers may rebel against having to interact with intelligent bots instead of live customer service agents, suggested Paula Rosenblum, managing partner at RSR Research.

Have customers embraced outsourced, scripted customer service reps who know nothing about the country or the products theyre supporting? No they have not, she told the E-Commerce Times.

The best customer service often results form shaming companies over social media, Rosenblum said, based on her experience.

Otherwise I end up with one of those scripted reps, she said, and it drives me nuts.
Uber has confirmed that Sayfullo Habibullaevic Saipov, the 29-year-old suspected of driving a Home Depot rental truck into pedestrians and cyclists in New York yesterday, had been working for the ride-hailing company.

Eight people were killed during the attack in Manhattan, including five Argentinians celebrating the 30th anniversary of their high school graduation. At least 11 people are injured.

"We are horrified by this senseless act of violence. Our hearts are with the victims and their families," an Uber spokesperson said in a statement.

Saipov recorded more than 1400 trips during the six months he spent driving for the company in New Jersey. Uber said it is now aggressively and quickly reviewing his history with the firm but has so far not found any safety reports that raise concerns.

Uber has offered its assistance to the FBI and will be helping the agency and law enforcement officials with the investigation. Saipov has now been banned from the company's app.

The incident may once again call into question the effectiveness of Uber's background checks, which Saipov passed. The company looks into potential drivers' histories for criminal records and traffic violations. According to CBS correspondent Jeff Pegues, however, Saipov doesn't have an extensive criminal background, and there are only four traffic tickets in his past.

Last year, Uber driver Jason B. Dalton was taken into custody for allegedly killing six people in Kalamazoo, Michigan. He reportedly continued giving rides during the alleged shooting spree. One passenger even asked him if he was the shooter.
On Tuesday, Brazilian President-elect Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva met with envoys from the U.S. and China in the framework of the 27th United Nations Climate Change Conference. | Read More
SEMA 2017 DAILY HIGHLIGHTS  Wednesday, November 1, 2017





SEMA DAILY HIGHLIGHTS  Wednesday, November 1, 2017





Welcome to Day Two of the 2017 SEMA Show. Opening day was filled with a lot of new product announcements, unveilings, celebrity sightings, and more. From the SEMA Award winners announcement to the Top 40 Battle of the Builders announcement, excitement is in the air.





BREAKING NEWS

SEMA Award Winners Announced

What are the most accessory-friendly vehicles on the market? Who would know best than SEMA Show exhibitors? Exhibitors selected this years hottest Coupe, Sedan, Hatch, 4x4/SUV, and Truck, recognizing the most popular vehicles for accessorizing. The winners are:

Hottest Coupe: Chevrolet Camaro

Hottest Sedan: Cadillac CTS-V

Hottest Hatch: Ford Focus

Hottest 4x4-SUV: Jeep Wrangler

Hottest Truck: Ford F-Series





Best New Products Selected

Thousands of products are featured at the SEMA Show. The most innovative and cutting-edge products that will be consumable in 2018 were recognized with the SEMA Best New Product Awards. See all the best new product winners in the SEMA Best New Products Award Release here





Battle of the Builders Top 40 Announced

Building a vehicle for the SEMA Show is a huge honor that few ever accomplish. How do these builders stand out from the others at the premier automotive trade show in the world? The SEMA Battle of the Builders competition recognizes the top builders. Among the breaking news at yesterdays SEMA Show was the announcement of the Top 40 builders, as noted in the press release. See all 40 winners here





Obtain all SEMA Show press releases, fact sheets, press kit materials, and photos at www.semashow.com/media





TODAYS MEDIA ACTIVITIES

11:30-11:50 AM - Battle of the Builders Top 12 Announcement at the Velocity and Discoverys Motor Village

- Battle of the Builders Top 12 Announcement at the Velocity and Discoverys Motor Village 12:00-12:50 PM - New Tech for Old Cars; The Billion Dollar Tech Transformation, SEMA Central, Grand Lobby (lunch provided for media)









Follow the link for the entire SEMA Show Exhibitor Press Conference Schedule.

DONT MISS

In the Gold Lot, Kia Stinger Ride and Drive Experience.

Kia introduced its new Stinger GT on Tuesday, October 31. Show attendees can observe drift demonstrations and can also drive the Stinger GT both rear-wheel and AWD models.





ALL DAY LONG

Visit www.semaphotos.com for high-res images that you can download and use in your editorial stories.Thousands of images of new products are already up. The site will be updated regularly, so bookmark the site. You can even create a customize list of product photography by visiting the New Products Showcase, located on the Skybridge between Central and South halls near the Media Center. Simply stop by to use a complimentary scanner, and you will receive details and photos for the products you want.





UPCOMING EVENTS

Battle of the Builders Judging: Friday, November 3, 10:00 AM - 2:30 PM (V elocity and Discoverys Motor Village)

SEMA Battle of the Builders Top 3 Finalists Announcement: Friday, November 3, 3:30 PM (SEMA Stage, Silver Lot)





SEMA Ignited: Friday, November 3, 3:00 PM -10:00 PM (Gold Lot)



IMPORTANT LINKS

Use these links to see the most recent press releases and press conference schedule to help plan your day:





2017 SEMA Show Textron Off Road Media Center Hours are:

Wednesday, Nov. 1: 7:30 AM  6:00 PM





Thursday, Nov. 2 : 8:00 AM  5:30 PM





Friday, Nov. 3 : 8:00 AM  3:00 PM





To reach the Media Center by phone, call 702/943-3542





BADGE PICKUP

If today is your first day at the SEMA Show, visit the Textron Off Road Media Center first to pick up your badge. Whether youre arriving at the Las Vegas Convention Center by taxi, Monorail or another method, the closest point to the Textron Off Road Media Center is the west side of the South Hall. Click here for directions to the Textron Off Road Media Center. Those arriving via the Monorail should exit at the Convention Center exit.





Media Center hours for today are 7:30 AM  6:00 PM. Photo ID will be required to pick up credentials. Bring your printed confirmation with bar code for faster service.





PARKING
NPRs Washington bureau. Photo: diane39/Getty Images

Michael Oreskes, the head of NPRs news department, is resigning from the company in the wake of sexual-harassment allegations against him. I am deeply sorry to the people I hurt. My behavior was wrong and inexcusable, and I accept full responsibility, Oreskes said in a memo to NPR staff, which was quoted by CNN Wednesday afternoon.

Three women accused Oreskes of harassment on Tuesday. In a Washington Post story, two female journalists accused Oreskes of making unwanted sexual contact with them when he was the Washington bureau chief at the New York Times almost two decades ago. Then, a third accuser  an NPR employee  came forward with a much more recent story. Rebecca Hersher said she filed a human-resources complaint about Oreskes in 2015, alleging that Oreskes hijacked a career counseling session into a three-hour-long dinner that delved into deeply personal territory. She said he talked to her about sex and relationships and at one point referred to a former romantic partner as a sex girlfriend.

According to CNN, Oreskes was placed on leave Tuesday, and he is now officially leaving the company.

In the Post story, two female journalists said Oreskes unexpectedly kissed them while they were meeting with him about working at the newspaper. Per the Post:

Both of them told similar stories: After meeting Oreskes and discussing their job prospects, they said he unexpectedly kissed them on the lips and stuck his tongue in their mouths.

One of the women met Oreskes at the Times offices in Washington, after which he took out a personal ad in the Washington City Paper with the goal of reaching her: Saw you at the Army-Navy Building. Loved hearing your life story and your ideas. Hope you get this message. Let me know. Oreskes allegedly emailed her a week later and she turned down his subsequent offer to have lunch at a hotel. However, she agreed to meet up with him when she flew to New York for a job interview, and he kissed her in a cab.

All The High-Profile Men Accused of Harassment Since the Weinstein Story Broke

The worst part of my whole encounter with Oreskes wasnt the weird offers of room service lunch or the tongue kiss but the fact that he utterly destroyed my ambition, she told the Post.

The second woman allegedly met Oreskes after booking him onto a TV program she was producing. He offered to look at her work  she was interested in transitioning to print reporting  and asked to meet at her apartment. She offered to give him a ride to the airport, and he kissed her at the curb. Two months later, she confronted him about what happened, and he allegedly replied, I was overcome with passion. I couldnt help myself.

The women told the Post they were compelled to come forward after witnessing NPRs coverage of the Harvey Weinstein sexual-harassment scandal. The idea that hes in charge of that coverage is just so hypocritical to me. Its sickening, one woman told the Post.

This post has been updated with details about Hershers accusation and news of Oreskess resignation.
Columbia University. Photo: InSapphoWeTrust/Flickr

A prominent historian has stepped down from teaching duties at Columbia University after a 29-year-old female doctoral student filed a federal lawsuit alleging he forced himself on her and retaliated after she rejected his advances, Gothamist reports. However, Professor William V. Harris is still technically employed by the university.

According to a lawsuit filed last month in Manhattan federal court against the university and the famed academic, Harris allegedly repeatedly groped and kissed the woman while he served as her mentor at Columbia. As the New York Times reports, university officials allegedly turned a blind eye when the student  known as Jane Doe in the lawsuit  reported Harriss behavior, and advised her only to take steps to avoid running into him. The complaint states that Doe was emotionally traumatized by his behavior.

The lawsuit also alleges the university knew Harris had a reputation for harassing young, female students, but did nothing to stop it. But on Monday, the university informed graduate students and faculty in the History, Classics, and Classical Studies department of Harriss withdrawal. Per Gothamist:

Earlier today, students enrolled in Professor William Harriss classes were told that he has agreed with the University to withdraw from his teaching, advising and other student-related activities, it states. We share this information more broadly with you to clarify what has been a subject of considerable discussion and concern. We also want to take this opportunity to reiterate that Columbia must be a place where students and scholars are able to purse [sic] their academic work free from worry about harassment of any sort.

The move comes in the wake of sexual assault and harassment allegations against numerous prominent men, including some in the academic world. I think we are at a cultural tipping point, and I think that tipping point is in part evidenced by what Columbia did, David Sanford, an attorney for Doe, told Gothamist. I think Columbia understands the cultural moment, but  its a cultural moment years too late.
Emergency personal respond after reports of multiple people hit by a truck after it plowed through a bike path in lower Manhattan in New York City on Oct. 31, 2017. According to reports up to eight people have been killed. (Kena Betancur/Getty Images)

At Least 8 Killed in New York City Truck Attack, Suspect Shouted Islamic Phrase

A man in a white pickup truck purposefully drove onto a bike path in downtown New York City on Tuesday, killing at least eight people as he barrelled down several blocks toward the area of the 9/11 memorial, ABC reports.

The attacker crashed the truck near the prestigious Stuyvesant High School, shouted Allahu Akbar while exiting the vehicle and waved two imitation firearms before police shot him twice and apprehended him, according to Fox News and NYPD Twitter. Witnesses heard between 6 and 10 shots fired.

At least nine people were injured by the white Home Depot rental pickup truck, Fox News reported. Photos from the scene show mangled bicycles. A witness described seeing two people dead at the scene with tire marks on their chests.

FBI is treating attack on New York City bike path attack as terrorism, multiple law enforcement officials say https://t.co/trQCgee0Wz pic.twitter.com/x7EFcl3xd8  CNN Breaking News (@cnnbrk) October 31, 2017

Everybody started running, the witness told ABC. Everything was happening so fast.

He kept going all the way down full speed, the witness added. Thank god the trick-or-treaters werent out yet.

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo were on their way to the scene. De Blasio said there was no active threat after being briefed by police.

DEVELOPING: 6 Dead, 15 Injured in N.Y. After Motorist Drove Onto Busy Bike Path, Possible Terror Attack  https://t.co/dcs7CWljBW #OANN pic.twitter.com/ZXjVhw5INe  One America News (@OANN) October 31, 2017

A White House spokesperson told ABC that President Trump was notified of the attack. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has also been briefed.

The FBI confirmed that they were at the scene investigating. A bomb squad was summoned to inspect a suspicious vehicle nearby.

The suspect was holding a paintball gun and a BB gun, a police source told Fox News.

A witness who spoke to local media saw the mans truck crash into a school bus, which continued moving after the impact. Another witness told Fox News that he saw a thin man in a blue tracksuit running and holding a gun while a heavier man was chasing him.

From NTD.tv
Investigators at the scene after a man driving a rental truck struck and killed eight people on a jogging and bike path in Lower Manhattan on Oct. 31, 2017, in New York City. (Don Emmert/AFP/Getty Images)

Belgian Mom of 2 Sons Was Among Those Killed in Manhattan Attack

A woman from Belgium was identified as one of the those killed in the terror attack in Manhattan.

Sayfullo Habibullaevic Saipov, who pledged allegiance to ISIS, deliberately drove a rented Home Depot truck into a busy bike path in downtown Manhattan. He killed at least eight people on Tuesday, Oct. 31, near the World Trade Center, CNN reported.

Ann-Laure Decadt, a mother of 2 boysa 3-year-old and a 3-month-oldwas confirmed dead on Wednesday according to her family, the Daily News reported.

This loss is unbearable and unthinkable, her husband Alexander Naessens said in a statement.

Anne-Laure  was a fantastic wife and the most beautiful mom to our two sons.

Belgian citizen Ann-Laure Decadt, a mother of 2 boys, is one of 8 people killed in the NYC terror attack https://t.co/F3nQOYinAc pic.twitter.com/BJvqthU0pT  Eyewitness News (@ABC7NY) November 1, 2017

Decadt was a 31-year-old originally from the town of Roeselare, Belgium, the Daily News reported. Her mother and two sisters, who were in Manhattan biking with Decadt were not harmed when they were surprised by the danger that came from behind.

Naessens said he first received the news of his wifes death in a phone call. That call came from Lower Manhattan Hospital Tuesday night to Belgium. He asked for privacy for his family.

Decadt had planned to leave the United States on Friday, just days after the deadly attack. She first arrived with her mother and two sisters. The family members arrived in New York last weekend, according to family spokesman Francesco Vanderjeugd, the mayor of Staden, Belgium, told the Daily News.

This is a shock in our city, it is a small community of only about 11,000 people, the mayor told the Daily News.

Vanderjeugd added that Decadts relatives in Belgium do not plan on going to the United States, as they are looking into getting the body of their loved one sent home instead.

Decadts social media page shows her adventurous spirit, with pictures of her bungy jumping and living life.

Three other Belgians were among the injured, Belgian Deputy Prime Minister Didier Reynders said, according to the Daily News.

Among those killed, five Argentine men were celebrating 30 years of friendship.

Authorities in Argentina named them as Hernan Mendoza, Diego Angelini, Alejandro Pagnucco, Ariel Erlij, and Hernan Ferruchi.

From NTD.tv
In this file photo, the Former US deputy assistant secretary of state for East Asia and Pacific affairs Randall Schriver (L) toasts with then-Taiwan's President Chen Shui-bian during a meeting at the Presidential Palace, July 12, 2005 in Taipei. President Donald Trump has nominated Schriver, who enjoys a reputation as a strong supporter of Taiwan, to be assistant secretary of defense for Asian and Pacific Affairs. (JEROME FAVRE/AFP/Getty Images)

Closer US-Taiwan Ties Expected Following Trumps Nomination of Veteran Asia Hand to Pentagon

WASHINGTONTrumps nomination of a Taiwan-friendly Asia policy expert to a key post at the Pentagon has raised expectations that the administration will bring closer ties between the United States and Taiwan, especially in security-related areas. The long speculated appointment has been received warmly by the Taiwanese side as well as some experts who have long called for a renewed attention to Taiwan and other allies and partners of the United States in Asia-Pacific region.

The White House announced on Oct. 27 that Randall Schriver, a founding partner of international consulting firm Armitage International, as well as the CEO and President of the think tank Project 2049 Institute, is being nominated to the key post of assistant secretary of defense for Asian and Pacific Affairs. In that position, Schriver will lead the Pentagons outreach on issues in the Asia-Pacific region.

Schriver had previously worked as deputy assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific Affairs during the Bush administration from 2003 to 2005. Before that, he served for two years as chief of staff and senior policy adviser to Richard Armitage, then deputy secretary of state, from 2001 to 2003.

Schriver has been talked about for a key position in the Pentagon for months. In April, Defense News speculated the veteran Asia policy hand was a potential candidate for undersecretary of defense for policy. The same report also quoted a former official who described Schriver as a very solid candidate for the policy position.

Schriver is known for his long-time working relations and friendship with Taiwan, which trace back to his experience interacting with the island nation while serving under the Bush administration. The White House announcement mentions that Schriver is a recipient of Taiwans Order of the Propitious Clouds for his service in promoting relations between the two sides, which was awarded to him by then-President Chen Shui-bian in 2005.

Schrivers nomination has been warmly welcomed by Taiwans government officials, with the spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs looking forward to the boosting of U.S.-Taiwan relations with Schrivers appointment. Lo Chih-cheng, a Taiwanese legislator who is considered a rising start in the Democratic Progressive Party, described Schriver as a friend of Taiwan.

Russell Hsiao, the executive director of Global Taiwan Institute said that Schrivers nomination is long overdue and provides much needed expertise on Asia for the Trump administration. Randys prior government experiences will help to assure Asian allies and partners of US commitments and staying power in the region during a period of increased uncertainty, said Hsiao.

After Trumps controversial phone call in December 2016 with Tsai Ing-wen, then President-elect of Taiwan, Schriver and fellow Asia policy expert Dan Blumental of the American Enterprise Institute co-authored a piece published in The National Interest that argued that higher-level engagement with Taiwan serves U.S. national interests and values. The article praised Trumps call to Taiwan as a good first step toward rebalancing a trilateral China-Taiwan-U.S. relationship that has been increasingly defined by the Peoples Republic of China.

Defense News noted Schrivers leadership of Project 2049 Institute, a think tank with the goal of guiding decision makers toward a more secure Asia by 2049. The Arlington, Virginia-based think tank is well-known for detailed, critical studies of the Communist Chinese regime and its Peoples Liberation Army, many of which have been widely cited by other policy researchers and news reports.
People and students on the campus of Hunter College of The City University of New York, April 10, 2017, in New York City. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

College Professor Tweets That the Existence of White Nuclear Families Is Racist

A professor at the City University of New York locked her Twitter account after controversial comments blaming white nuclear families for racism and white supremacy.

Part of what Ive learned is that the white-nuclear family is one of the most powerful forces supporting white supremacy, wrote Hunter College professor Jessie Daniels, in one of her controversial tweets. The tweets were screenshotted and obtained by the Daily Mail and other online media before they were made inaccessible.

Daniels calls herself a sociologist and an expert on race and technology in her Twitter profile. Her Twitter header photo shows images of books she has written. Two of them deal with race. One is titled White Lies: Race, Class, Gender and Sexuality in White Supremacist Discourse, and the other is Cyber Racism: White Supremacy Online and the New Attack on Civil Rights.

I mean, if youre a white person who says theyre engaged in dismantling white supremacy, but + youre forming a white family + reproducing white children that you want the best forhow is that helping + not part of the problem? wrote Daniels in over the course of two other tweets.

Hunter College is the largest of the 11 colleges in the City University of New York system. The enrollment is dominantly local, with 80 percent of students from New York City and 14 percent from other parts of New York. The largest percentage of student are white, at just over 34 percent of the student body, according to Forbes.

Professor Daniels went on to also criticize multiracial families for engaging in white supremacy.

If youre white + forming a family w/ multiracial children +not dealing w/ your own racism or systematic white supremacy, hows that helping? she wrote in a tweet following the others.

But Daniels issues extend deeper. She goes on to criticize the family as a concept in general. She brings up an old marxist-feminist critique of the family to add support to her views. She refers to the idea of family as an inherently conservative force in society. Daniels relates the idea of family to white supremacy.

In October this year, a professor at Drexel University, who calls himself a communist, was put on administrative leave after an even more overtly problematic tweet that stated, All I Want for Christmas is White Genocide, Turning Point News reported. Professor George Ciccariello-Maher sent the tweet out on Christmas Eve. He followed it up with another tweet that praises the massacre of whites during the Haitian Revolution. When criticized for being racist by another Twitter user, he replied, White isnt a race.

The university responded with a statement condemning the professors remarks.

Drexel became aware today of Associate Professor George Ciccariello-Mahers inflammatory tweet, which was posted on his personal Twitter account on Dec. 24, 2016. While the University recognizes the right of its faculty to freely express their thoughts and opinions in public debate, Professor Ciccariello-Mahers comments are utterly reprehensible, deeply disturbing, and do not in any way reflect the values of the University.

Ciccariello-Maher has continued to send out similar tweets, and is currently advertising an appearance he is holding to discuss his views at events sponsored by socialist organizations, according to his Twitter account. When Drexel was asked about the professors unceasing hateful tweets, the school replied, The recent social media comments by George Ciccariello-Maher, associate professor of Politics and Global Studies at Drexel University, are his own opinion and do not represent the Universitys views, in a statement from the university, obtained by Fox News.

From NTD.tv
Some non-smoking employees grew frustrated with their smoking counterparts, who take multiple cigarette breaks during the working day. (Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

Company Gives Non-Smokers Extra Six Holiday Days

Its commonplace for smokers to take time out for a break to puff a cigarette during office hours.

But it can be frustrating for non-smoking employees.

In one Japanese company, an employee complained that non-smoking employees were working more hours per day than their smoking counterparts.

The marketing companys head office is on the 29th floor of an office block in Ebisu, Tokyo, that meant anyone wanting a cigarette break would have to go down to the basement level. Non-smokers grew frustrated as each break would last around 15 minutes.

One of our non-smoking staff put a message in the company suggestion box earlier in the year saying that smoking breaks were causing problems, Hirotaka Matsushima, a spokesman for the company told The Telegraph.

He added, Our CEO saw the comment and agreed, so we are giving non-smokers some extra time off to compensate.

The firm now offers non-smokers six days of paid holiday per year.

Matsushima said that around 30 of the companys 120 employees have taken extra days off since the new policy was introduced in September, and four people have decided to give up smoking.

I hope to encourage employees to quit smoking through incentives rather than penalties or coercion, said CEO Takao Asuka, to Kyodo News.

Around 21.7 percent of adults smoke cigarettes, according to the World Health Organization. In the United States around 17.9 percent of adults smoke cigarettes.

The move comes after Japanese companies introduce more policies to encourage people to stop smoking.

In June, the convenience store Lawson started an all-day ban on smoking at its head office and regional offices, per Kyodo News.

A Japanese life insurance company also started an all-day smoking ban at its head office and other branches in Japan.

I am no longer shunned by non-smokers as I have rid myself of the odor of cigarette smoke, said Masayuki Seto, who works for the company and has smoked for 30 years.

Moves to quit smoking have spread among staff working under my supervision, he said.

In July, Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike pushed for a law banning smoking in public places ahead of the 2020 Summer Olympics, reports said.

But the new plans are are likely to not go down well with pro-smoking politicians, restaurateurs, and global giant, Japan Tobacco, that is one-third government owned, according to Reuters.
Fundraiser for Couple Who Died in Car Crash Just Weeks After Surviving Las Vegas Shooting

A couple who survived the mass shooting in Las Vegas died a few weeks later in a devastating car accident. Now, the daughter of Dennis and Lora Carver is starting a fundraiser in their name.

Brooke Carver, the couples oldest daughter, confirmed the couple died less than a half-mile from their home in Riverside County, California, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal. The vehicle hit a metal gate outside their community. Firefighters an hour to put out the blaze.

Weve found some peace in knowing that our parents just loved each other so much that they had to go at the same time, Madison Carver, their 16-year-old daughter, said. They couldnt live without each other.

During the Vegas shooting at the Route 91 Harvest music festivalwhere gunman Stephen Paddock rained gunfire down on a crowd of concert-goersthe couple had escaped with their lives.

Before the crash, Lora started collecting bikes for the Temecula Bike Train, a California organization that donates bikes to kids.

Brooke on Monday started a GoFundMe page to keep Loras dream alive.

Our parents were the most generous and happy people, they lived life to the fullest, wrote Brooke Carver on the page. They always taught me and my sister to work hard, play hard, be someone others can rely on and always give back.

So far, nearly $5,000 has been raised in their name.

With this money, me and my little sister will be purchasing bikes to donate to the Temecula Bike Train and serving underpriviledged kids in the Murrieta and Temecula area. One of our goals is to get 30 new bikes for this amazing organization, she added.

About a week after the crash that killed their parents, Brooke and her sister received a memento in the mail. The FBI found her fathers phone at the site of the shooting and mailed it back.

When we turned it on, all his photos and messages were still there, Brooke said. This is how we know theyre looking down and watching over us.

The daughters described their father as strong and independent, their mother as humble and generous. Three days after the massacre Dennis sent a bouquet of roses to his wife.

He just wanted to give my mom a reason to smile after the shooting, Brooke said. I swear they were more in love those two weeks than the last 20 years.

NTD TV contributed to this report
Night view of an auxiliary telescope and three optical telescopes at the European Southern Observatory (ESO) on Sept. 15, 2008, in Paranal, some 715 miles north of Santiago, Chile. (Martin Bernetti/AFP/Getty Images)

Giant Planet Challenges Planet Formation Theory

Astronomers have discovered a gas giant planet the size of Jupiter circling a star half the size of the suna combination, which current theories of planetary formations would say was impossible.

Astronomers at the University of Warwick describe the new star and planet in an article to be published by the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.

The giant planet, named NGTS-1b, is a gigantic 986-degrees-hot ball of gas revolving around a red M-dwarf star 600 light years from Earth. It is the largest planet compared to the size of its star ever found.

Small stars, according to the currently accepted theories of planet formation, can only produce small rocky planets.

To make it even odder, NGTS-1b orbits extremely close to its sun. The giant planet is less than 3 million miles from its sun. By comparison, Earth is more than 92 million miles from its sun.

#Space : Monster Planet Discovery Challenges Formation Theoryhttps://t.co/Bio4FKd5WP

?: University of Warwick/Mark Garlick pic.twitter.com/r8omDlIa6i  The Royal Vox Post (@RoyalVoxPost) October 31, 2017

Also, NGTS-1b orbits its sun in 2.6 days. The Earth, of course, takes 365 days to complete a solar orbit.

Despite being a monster of a planet, NGTS-1b was difficult to find because its parent star is so small and faint, said professor Peter Wheatley from the University of Warwick. Small stars like this red M-dwarf are actually the most common in the universe, so it is possible that there are many of these giant planets waiting to be found.

If that is so, a large part of current astronomical theory will need revision.

NGTS-1b is the first planet located by the Next-Generation Transit Survey (NGTS), which uses a 12-telescope array to scan the sky. The array scans the night sky looking for tiny rhythmic fluctuation in light from stars, which could mean that a planet is coming between the star and the telescopic array.

By timing the fluctuations, scientists determine the period of rotation.

Once a planet is spotted, scientists can analyze the wobble of the startiny changes in the stars rotationwhich indicate the mass of the circling planet.

Dr. Daniel Bayliss of the University of Warwick is the lead author of the study. He commented, The discovery of NGTS-1b was a complete surprise to ussuch massive planets were not thought to exist around such small stars.

Importantly, our challenge now is to find out how common these types of planets are in the Galaxy, and with the new Next-Generation Transit Survey facility we are well-placed to do just that. This is the first exoplanet we have found with our new NGTS facility, Bayliss continued, and we are already challenging the received wisdom of how planets form.

The NGTS array is run by a coalition of universities: U.K. Universities Warwick, Leicester, Cambridge, and Queens University Belfast, plus the Observatoire de Geneve, DLR Berlin, and Universidad de Chile.

The array is located in the Atacama Desert in Chile, at the European Southern Observatorys Paranal Observatory site.

Wheatley, who leads NGTS, was pleased by his teams results.

Having worked for almost a decade to develop the NGTS telescope array, it is thrilling to see it picking out new and unexpected types of planets. Im looking forward to seeing what other kinds of exciting new planets we can turn up, he said.

From NTD.tv
Zhao Leji, Secretary of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI), stands as he is introduced as a new member of the Communist Party of China's Politburo Standing Committee, in Beijing on Oct. 25, 2017. (Wang Zhao/AFP/Getty Images)

How Xi Jinpings Anti-Corruption Campaign Has Put Chinas Financial Institutions on Notice

Since Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leader Xi Jinping appointed a new official to head the Partys internal anti-graft watchdog organization, there has been a lot of media speculation about what direction Xis anti-corruption campaign will take over the next five years. Now, after the watchdog made personnel changes at three major financial institutions in less than a month, it appears it has already set its targets.

The Partys Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) has appointed one new director each to monitor corruption at Chinas central bank, Peoples Bank of China, and at two state regulators, the Banking Regulatory Commission and Insurance Regulatory Commission.

The changes started on Sept. 30, when the CCDI appointed Li Xinran, drawn from the agencys own ranks, to head the watchdogs effort at the banking regulatory commission. Then on Oct. 10, Lin Guoyao, the former party secretary of Longyan City in Fujian Province took the watchdogs helm at the insurance regulatory commission. Finally, on Oct. 28, Xu Jia-ai, head of the local security apparatus in Zhejiang Province, took up the watchdogs inspection unit at Chinas central bank.

Cleaning Out the Jiang Faction in the Finance Sector

Since the beginning of this year, several high-profile officials in the finance sector and wealthy businessmen with ties to former party leader Jiang Zemin were taken down under Xis anti-corruption campaign, according to the Taiwanese newspaper Liberty Times.

According to the newspaper, the stock market turbulence in the summer 2015, which saw A-shares on the Shanghai Stock Exchange lose a third of their value within a month, was the work of officials belonging to the Jiang faction, carried out for the purpose of creating social disturbance and eventually leading to Xis downfall.

In January, Chinese billionaire Xiao Jianhua, a key money launderer for Jiangs faction, was reportedly taken under Chinese regime custody when he disappeared from his apartment in the Four Seasons Hotel in Hong Kong. According to reports by the BBC and Hong Kong newspaper Apple Daily, Xiao was then held under CCDI investigation.

A high-level source told The Epoch Times that the investigation of Xiao was intended to implicate other members of the Jiang faction, especially Zhang Dejiang, who recently retired from his powerful position in the CCPs top decision-making body, the Politburo Standing Committee.

Lin, the new CCDI director at the insurance regulatory commission, is part of Xis Fujian-Zhejiang New Army, officials who worked with Xi during his career in Fujian and Zhejiang provinces, according to Hong Kong media HK01. Lin was Xis subordinate when Xi served as governor of Fujian Province from 1999 to 2002, and now is expected to intensify the investigation into corruption at the insurance commission.

Prior to Lins arrival, important investigations were launched. In April this year, Xiang Junbo, the former chairman of the insurance regulatory commission, was put under investigation for severe disciplinary violations. For six years while Xiang was at the helm of the commission, the Chinese insurance sector had turned into a den of corporate raiders. For example, insurance companies during Xiangs time moved away from traditional insurance activities and poured money into volatile assets.

Evergrande Life Insurance Company, for example, saw its premiums increase by 40 percent in 2016with much of the proceeds being used for riskier activities, such as buying up large stakes in China Vanke, a real estate developer.

Another of Jiangs money launderers, Wu Xiaohui, the chairman of Anbang Insurance Group who made headlines in 2014 with the purchase of the Waldorf Astoria hotel in New York City, was detained by Beijing anti-corruption investigators in June.

Similarly, at the banking regulatory commission, Xi has placed another ally. According to Hong Kong media, Li had been with the CCDI for over 22 years, and he took part in anti-corruption work against two powerful CCP officials, Bo Xilai and Sun Zhengcai. Both Bo and Sun were members of Jiangs faction and both were implicated in planning a coup attempt against Xi at a briefing at the 19th National Congress.

In May, the commissions ex-assistant chairman Yang Jiacai was placed under investigation, and in August, CCDI announced that he had been shuangkai, meaning he had been simultaneously expelled from the party and stripped of his official title.

At the Securities Association of China, for which the CCDI did not name a new director, one one of its four vice-chairmen, Yao Gang, had been placed under investigation by the CCDI for serious violations in November 2015, a few months after the Shanghai stock exchange turbulence. In July this year, Yao, accused of disrupting the order of the capital market and other charges, was expelled from the party and dismissed from office. A month later, Chinas highest prosecution office Supreme Peoples Procuratorate announced its own investigation into Yao for bribery.

In November 2015, Hong Kong media Oriental Net reported that Yao had a connection to the Chinese tech conglomerate Founder Group, the company from which Ling Jihua, a member of Jiangs faction who had been sentenced to life imprisonment for corruption, had siphoned off millions for overseas investments.
Inconsistencies Emerge in Story of Two Women Lost at Sea for Five Months

Jennifer Appel, Tasha Fuiaba, and their two dogs seemed genuinely happy when the U.S. Navy came to their rescue on Oct. 25. They were lost at sea for about five months, they said.

But when journalists fact-checked their story, some particulars seemed amiss. For starters, they never activated their emergency beacon.

Their boat was equipped with the Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon, or EPIRB, which was capable of alerting authorities to their location within minutes. But they didnt use it.

Appel told The Associated Press she thought the beacon should only be used if one is in danger of dying within 24 hours.

Our hull was solid, we were floating, we had food, we had water, and we had limited maneuverable capacity, she said. All those things did not say we are going to die. All that said, its going to take us a whole lot longer to get where were going.

Yet Appel previously said they thought they would had been dead within 24 hours if the Navy hadnt rescue them.

They also said they had six forms of communication onboard, including radios, satellite phones, and GPS, but they all failed.

The women set sail from Hawaii on May 3. Appel said that on the first day they encountered a Force 11 storm, and it lasted for two nights and three days. Such a storm would have wind speeds of 6472 mph and cause waves 3752 feet high.

But meteorologists detected no such storms around Hawaii on that day or at any time during several subsequent days, Fox reported.

The women met late in 2016 and within a week decided to take a trip together. They wanted to sail to Tahiti on Appels boat, the Sea Nymph, and then travel the South Pacific. Fuiava had never been on a sailing trip before that.

They packed two water purifiers, food for six months, and took their two dogs along. Appel said one of the purifiers didnt work and that they used its parts to maintain the other one.

The Coast Guard made radio contact with a vessel that identified itself as Sea Nymph in June near Tahiti. The captain said they were not in distress and expected to make land the next day.

But they said they never reached Tahiti, because they encountered a 10-knot current that was pushing them west, away from their course, while their engine could only do four knots to push them back.

Then, around May 25, they said they encountered a storm that flooded the ignition of the engine so they couldnt start it anymore.

What happened next still remains a bit of a mystery. That fact is, though, that on Oct. 24 a Taiwanese fishing vessel discovered the Sea Nymph 900 miles southeast of Japanover 3,000 miles west of Hawaii, instead of 2,000 miles south, where Tahiti lies.

Appel said they had used up 90 percent of their food supplies by then.

The next day, the USS Ashland picked them up, unharmed. The Navy took them to Okinawa.
Major Crash on Canada Highway Triggers Massive Fireballs

A 14-vehicle crash along a major highway in Ontario has left at least two people dead and more injured, CTV reported.

The crash took place Tuesday night south of Barrie, Ontario, located near Toronto, Ontario Provincial Police Sgt. Kerry Schmidt told the network.

Two fuel tankers and other transport trucks were involved in the accident.

The crash, he said, caused massive fireballs and massive explosions and utterly destroyed the vehicles. He described them as shells with nothing left.

It is absolutely devastating. I dont think Ive been to a scene that was as incredibly devastating as what this is, Schmidt told CTV News on Wednesday. There are cars everywhere. Twisted transport trucks, destroyed vehicles, metal that is unrecognizable as to whether or not it is a vehicle at all or not.

We have our support team going through the whole area to determine whether or not there are other victims we are yet to identify and account for, he said.

'It is absolutely devastating', at least two people dead following fiery crash on #Hwy400 between #Barrie & #Toronto https://t.co/A1MeK0Zntp  CTV Northern Ontario (@CTVNorthernNews) November 1, 2017

He said that the number of casualties could rise.

Theres a huge environmental spill as well, with fuel that was leaking and burning at the scene. But we are going to wait for first light before we assess what needs to be done first, said Schmidt, CBC reported.

Drivers who were stopped nearby were forced to run from their vehicles as the fire and explosions intensified, motorist Robert Bianchi told the broadcaster.

At least two dead after fiery multi-vehicle crash near Barrie, Ontario https://t.co/0TeRGzkIpG pic.twitter.com/kP4F29gYEL  NEWS 1130 (@NEWS1130) November 1, 2017

Im still shaking. I cant believe what I saw, he told CBC. So I just stepped on my brakes because I didnt want to pass by that fire.

Vincent Di Pinto, another witness, said he saw a large transport slam nose-first into another truck that was carrying cars.

Basically the second vehicle, the white transport, had literally rode right up the vehicle transport, he said.

After that I heard some popping sounds, and then a loud explosion  I got out and looked and it was just explosions, one explosion after another and orange flames that were starting to go up into the sky.

My understanding is by speaking to the driver of the diesel fuel vehicle that it was laden with fuel and it was just flames shooting out maybe 200 or 300-plus feet in the air, Di Pinto said.

Reports stated the fire burned for nearly three hours before it was extinguished at 2 a.m. Wednesday.
Man Who Threw Burning Liquid in Girls Face is Arrested in Queens

He was charged with a hate crime

More details in a Queens attack on a 13-year-old girl have been released.

A man threw an unknown burning substance into the face of a 13-year-old white girl. He yelled, This is for you, white [expletive].

The crime is now being investigated by the NYPDs Hate Crimes Task Force, CBS reported. The incident occurred last Tuesday, as the girl was getting off a bus in the Richmond Hill area.

The suspect in the case was later arrested and identified as 34-year-old Alexis Cabezas.

He was charged with aggravated harassment as a hate crime, acting in a manner injurious to a child, and harassment, police said.

Officers caught Cabezas after he was seen littering, the New York Daily News reported last week. He was arrested less than one mile from where he tossed the liquid in the face of the girl.

According to a later Daily News report, Cabezass lawyer said that hes autistic and couldnt understand his actions.

He was unable to understand the jeopardy of the situation, his lawyer Theodora Saal said in court. It was a spontaneous and irrational action.

Alexis Cabezas is autistic, Saal added. He was diagnosed as a small boy and went through special schooling as a child.

The police who arrested Cabezas, she said, described him as simple.

Normally she travels after school with her buddies, Vincent Evangelista, a doctor, who is the victims father said, but she was part of an after-school program and came back a little later.

Shes going to move on from this incident and not let this in any way affect her in the future, Evangelista said. As long as she feels safe taking the bus she can continue taking the bus, he added.

The girl was taken to the Jamaica Hospital in Queens and is expected to recover.

Its unclear what type of liquid it was.
Mom Allegedly Strapped Son to the Roof of Van to Hold Down Plastic Pool

A mother is accused of strapping her son to the roof of a minivan to hold down a plastic pool, officials in Wisconsin said.

Amber Schmunk of Fredonia is charged with second-degree recklessly endangering safety, Fox6 reported, which added that she could face as many as 10 years behind bars if she is convicted in the Sept. 9 incident.

Officials were called after getting a report of a child riding on a minivan while holding a pool.

Schmunk, 28, pulled over and took her son down from the roof. Then, she folded the pool and put it into the van before she pulled into her sisters driveway.

Police arrived at the sisters home, and Schmunk told them she thought it was OK as her father let her do things like that when she was that age, reads a complaint about her case, Fox6 reported.

Schmunk then told the police that she had no way to strap it down so she had her [son] climb on the roof to hold it down while she drove. She later said the boy was strapped down inside the pool.

In elaborating further, she said the boy rode on the roof for a short timemaybe 20 to 30 seconds, WISN reported.

A Nov. 14 court date was set for Schmunk, who also faces a $25,000 fine, TMJ reported.

As a grandparent right now, I mean, I know the kids have to be strapped in. Thats just common sense, neighbor Barbara Sellin said of the allegations.

You love your kids and take care of them. To put a kid on top of the car is beyond ridiculous, she added.
People surf the internet in a cafe in Shanghai in this file photo. (PHILIPPE LOPEZ/AFP/Getty Images)

New regulations further tighten internet control in China

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is set on further silencing dissent on the Chinese internet with just-released guidelines for the news industry.

On Oct. 30, the CCPs main agency in charge of internet censorship and monitoring, the Cyberspace Administration, issued a notice about content created by what it called internet news information services.

Effective Dec. 1, internet content creators will be required to uphold correct political stances and to direct public opinion in the correct way, per the CCPs directives.

They are to persevere in the news viewpoints of Marxism and the core values of socialism, according to the notice. The rules will apply to instant messaging and video content as well.

A former journalist with the Chinese newspaper Zhejiang Youth Times, Wei Zhenling, said his news stories were often edited beyond recognition before getting the OK to be published.

Effective Dec. 1, internet content creators will be required to uphold correct political stances and to direct public opinion in the correct way

You have to be the Partys mouthpiece. You report only what the Party allows you to. What the Party considers right, you cannot consider it wrong, he said.

He believes the new guidelines are meant to stamp out any remaining free space for self-expression on the internet.

The CCP wants to censor the content that it still hasnt been able to completely control, and ensure that the public only sees the propaganda pushed out by official state media, he added.

In the notice, the Cyberspace Administration also said central authorities and local offices of the administration will establish files on news content creators, create a blacklist, and potentially implement a system to report news writers who dont follow guidelines.

Increasingly, journalists are turning to the internet to release information, some of which may get caught in the crosshairs of Chinese authorities. In China, information is still severely restricted by a firewall, and Chinese authorities constantly censor content that does not toe the Party linefrom politics to the environment, to any news that may put the CCP in an unsavoury light. Staff at internet companies are hired to monitor content and report users who express dissent.

In September, a journalist who published an online story about missing university students in Wuhan City was detained by local police. His story was quickly pulled, but not before it had been reposted many times.

Former journalist Wei noted that many ordinary citizens are also collecting and disseminating first-hand information on the internet, which the CCP views as a threat. If you take a video of something, post it on the internet, the CCP cannot completely control that. So now it is using methods like requiring online registration using your real name, or establishing a credit record [for how someone is behaving online], he said.

In September, a user on the popular instant messaging service WeChat posted evidence of pirated books in the collection of a renowned Beijing library. The library was shut down as a result. In this case, the authorities sided with the WeChat user.

But if a user posts something the authorities dont approve of, they can immediately find out the users identity, as WeChat users are required to register with a cellphone number.

In May, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology mandated that all telecoms operators must require their users to use real names when registering. All cellphone users are also required to register with their real names.

On Chinas Twitter-like microblogging service, Sina Weibo, some netizens reacted to the news sarcastically.

One from Shanxi Province posted, Everything is shut down, and only Peoples Daily, Xinhua, CCTV [all state mouthpiece media] will be left.



Another from Shandong Province simply wrote, A free country.



Xiao Lusheng contributed to this report.
Nurse Alex Wubbels is shown during an incident at University of Utah Hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah, in this still photo taken from police body-worn camera video taken July 26, 2017, and provided Sept. 1, 2017. (Salt Lake City Police Department/Handout via Reuters)

Nurse Alex Wubbels Reaches Settlement Months After Controversial Arrest

The Utah nurse who was at the center of a controversial arresthas reached a settlement months later.

Alex Wubbels, an employee at the University of Utah received a $500,000 payoff, NBC affiliate KFOR reported.

Wubbels, speaking outside the Salt Lake City Police Department while standing next to her attorney Karra Porter, also announced that she will use part of the money to launch a new initiative. The program aims to make body camera videos more accessible in Utah.

I am not in the business of setting anyone up for failure. I want us to be successful in moving forward. And I think this is a small step we can provide to enable that potential success if we are going to start asking the police departments to have body cameras, Wubbels said.

Matthew Rojas, the spokesman for Salt Lake Mayor Jackie Biskupski, said both the city and the university agreed to pay $250,000 each, KFOR reported.

The nurse went on to say that its shocking the current police force do not all have body cameras in todays time.

We all deserve to know the truth. And the truth comes when you see the actual raw footage. And thats what happened in my case. No matter how truthful I was in telling my story, it was nothing compared to what people saw and the visceral reaction people experienced when watching the footage, she told reporters.

Wubbelss July 26 arrest was widely publicized. A Salt Lake detective Jeff Payne, was sent to University hospital to collect blood from a man injured in a crash that killed the driver who caused it. However, Wubbels refused to tell Payne where the patient was or allow him to draw blood, citing hospital policy that was already agreed upon by the police department.

Footage shows the nurse screaming as the detective, with direction from his supervisor that day, Lt. James Tracy, physically pushing her out of the emergency room and held her against a wall while handcuffing her.

The video sparked outrage across the nation and prompted Salt Lake City Mayor Jackie Biskupski and Salt Lake Police Chief Mike Brown to personally apologize to Wubbels over how she was treated.

Wubbels and her attorney never filed a civil lawsuit, instead, she reached a settlement with all U.-related and Salt Lake City-related parties who would have potentially been named if a lawsuit had been filed.

There will be no legal lawsuit. This part of this is over. Were hoping the discussion about body cameras continues, Porter told reporters.

Salt Lake City has been focused first and foremost on ensuring policies and procedures are changed so things like this dont happen again, and we are glad we could come to a resolution with nurse Wubbles, Rojas said.

When the arrest video went public, Porter said Wubbels had several goals: including changes to policy on how police interact with nurses; accountability by the officers involved; starting a public discussion on the importance of body camera video; compensation; and helping others, KFOR reported.

Thanks to Alex, there will be more transparency as body cam footage becomes more readily available in Utah, Porter said.

While Wubbels said she was grateful for how Salt Lake City responded to her arrest and the settlement, she admits she still becomes emotional when looking back.

This landed in my lap. This is not something I sought out. I didnt seek out the last four months, she told reporters. Im incredibly humbled by change thats happened.

This is very emotional, Wubbels added, This is an emotional situation.  Im still processing this. I mean, this is something I never expected to happen. But Im also honored by the weight of it and honored to be the one to help make progress in our society at large.

Porter said body cameras are also important for protecting officers too and praised the good officers in the country.

I literally park where this incident happened. I walk, in the dark, every night to my work, back and forth to my car where this incident happened, Wubbels said, adding the police did a really good thing today. And thats a highlight for what comes out when good cops do good work.

Payne was fired from the police department and Tracy was demoted to the rank of officer, KFOR reported. Both men have since appealed their disciplines, their appeals were pending as of Tuesday.

From NTD.tv
Police investigate a vehicle used to plow into pedestrians and bikers on the West Side Highway in Manhattan, New York, on Oct. 31, 2017. (REUTERS/Andrew Kelly)

NYPD Officer Who Shot Terrorist Suspect Hailed as a Hero

New York City Police Department officer Ryan Nash is credited with shooting and wounding a terror suspect who killed eight people and injured at least 11 in Lower Manhattan on Tuesday, Oct 31.

Nash, 28, is being hailed as a hero after City Councilman Joe Borelli identified him as the officer who responded.

Heres the hero cop the world should be talking about, Borelli tweeted. Police Officer Ryan Nash risked his life to save others. Thank u Ryan, thank u #NYPD

Sen. Chuck Schumer tweeted: We are also gratefuldeeply gratefulto the NYPD & 1st responders, especially Officer Ryan Nash, who was the first on the scene.

Heres the hero cop the world should be talking about. Police Officer Ryan Nash risked his life to save others. Thank u Ryan, thank u #NYPD pic.twitter.com/TqT0inXq7K  Joe Borelli (@JoeBorelliNYC) November 1, 2017

Nash was in the area responding to a report of a suicidal teen at Stuyvesant High School, the New York Daily News reported. About 30 minutes later, he responded to the terror attack.

I want to commend the response of our NYPD officer that was on post near the location who stopped the carnage moments after it began, NYPD Commissioner James ONeill told reporters.

Officials said that Sayfullo Saipov, a 29-year-old truck driver from Uzbekistan, drove a rented Home Depot truck onto a bike path, striking riders and pedestrians before crashing into a school bus. He got out with a pellet gun and a paintball gun, yelling, Allahu Akbar.

When police confronted him, Saipov refused to drop the weapons.

An officer assigned to the area fired, striking him in the stomach, the NYPD wrote on Twitter.

Citing law enforcement sources, CBS News and NBC News later reported that he left a note in the truck pledging allegiance to the ISIS terrorist group. The note read, ISIS Lives Forever, a senior official who was briefed on the investigation told NBC. A knife was also found in the vehicle.

Before moving to the New York City area, Saipov lived in Florida. Kobiljon Matkarov, a fellow Uzbek national who knew him there, said there was no indication that he would carry out a terrorist attack.

He was a very happy guy. He liked the US. He is no terrorist. Hes all the time happy, smiling all the time, Matkarov told NBC.

Saipov entered the United States via a diversity visa lottery program, unnamed U.S. officials told the network.

He was hospitalized late on Tuesday, Nov. 1. Charges against him are forthcoming.
Parent Who Took Teacher Hostage for 7 Hours Has Died: Reports

After he was shot by police, the suspect who held a hostage in a California school for seven hours died early Wednesday, Nov. 1, according to reports.

Officers shot the suspect, Luvelle Kennon, 27, after he took a teacher hostage. He later died at a hospital, Riverside Police Officer Ryan Railsback told the Los Angeles Times.

WATCH #LIVE: Officials give briefing on end of barricade at Riverside school https://t.co/CDKVaWLJl5 pic.twitter.com/WWBF61Ybta  ABC7 Eyewitness News (@ABC7) November 1, 2017

The teacher, Linda Montgomery, 70, wasnt harmed. Railsback said she was grabbed by the suspect and taken into a classroom at Castle View Elementary School in Riverside.

Crisis negotiators tried to communicate with Kennon, but when they didnt hear from Montgomery, they became concerned. Authorities decided to storm the classroom at 6 p.m. According to ABC 7, officials used flash-bang grenades to gain entry into the room.

Its not clear whether Kennon was armed; Witnesses said they didnt see any weapons.

#BREAKINGNEWS Hostage at Riverside school ID'd as Linda Montgomery, 70, who has taught for decadeshttps://t.co/8YbHhCWSkT pic.twitter.com/fiuoBhTinW  ABC7 Eyewitness News (@ABC7) October 31, 2017

Kennon, who has a daughter in first grade, attempted to take the girl from Castle View Elementary School, but was refused at around 11:15 a.m. Thats when he was confronted by a male teacher, who Kennon punched in the face. Kennon then grabbed Montgomery and took her hostage, NBC Los Angeles reported.

Weve been in fear of the victims safety the entire day, Railsback told the Los Angeles Times.

Family members said Kennon had some type of breakdown.

He had a breakdown, and he relapsed again. Thats all, hes not dangerous,Carl Jackson, an uncle, told the ABC 7. Its just a matter of getting in there and talking to him, because we can talk to him. Hell come out for us if police let us, before anything bad happen to him.

Kennon, he said, is not a bad guy, never been in trouble.

#BREAKINGNEWS Barricade at Riverside school ends as SWAT makes entry to classroom; suspect brought out on stretcher https://t.co/NYIRE0p5AK pic.twitter.com/ow3O411kYs  ABC7 Eyewitness News (@ABC7) November 1, 2017

Hes a good kid, just having an emotional breakdown. He doesnt have no access to no weapons, Jackson said.

But police said they saw smoke coming from the room at one point.

When officers did respond, they noticed some type of smoke coming from the room, said Railsback, ABC 7 reported. They dont believe it was related to any type of explosive device. We dont know.

It didnt seem [to be] anything toxic that was harming anybody. We dont know if it was even maybe a fire extinguisher. But it looks like it [has] since dissipated. It didnt seem to be too much of a concern other than it came from the room they were in.
Police ID Man 3 Days After Hes Killed by Airborne Elk

Authorities identified the man from Salmon, Idaho, who was killed by an airborne elk earlier this week.

Trevor Stenlund died Monday, Oct. 30, in Blackfoot Valley, Montana, after a vehicle hit an elk and sent it flying into his truck, Missoula County Sheriffs Office says, according to KPAX.

The incident happened at approximately 7:15 p.m. A woman driving a Toyota Scion hit an elk on Highway 200 and sent the animal flying, Montana Highway Patrol says.

The elk landed on Stenlunds Dodge Ram 3500 pickup truck, which he was driving. The truck then went off the road and hit several embankments. Stenlund died on the scene.

The woman driving the Scion was taken to St. Patrick Hospital in Missoula. She was not hurt in the incident.

Police say both drivers wore seatbelts and that no alcohol or drugs are suspected.

According to his Facebook account, Stenlund lived and attended high school in Salmon, Idaho, a small city with a population of 3,112, according to the 2010 Census. The city is about 200 miles south of the site of Stenlunds death.

Stenlund was an Airman 1st Class at the Malmstrom Air Force Base, KFBB reported. He enlisted in the Air Force on August 25, 2015, and was assigned to the Malmstrom base since March last year.

Our thoughts and prayers are with Trevors family and friends as they deal with this loss, said Colonel Ron Allen, the commander of the 341st missile wing, reported ABC Fox Montana. This is a difficult time as we mourn the loss of a valued member of our Team Malmstrom family.

Stenlunds girlfriend, Baylee Hawkins, posted a message on Facebook in the wake of his death.

My sweetest angel, she wrote. You will forever be my first love and I will always keep you close. Rest easy up there. I love you, baby!

Hawkinss post was accompanied by several photos of the couple spending time together.

According to the Missoulian, this is the 163 highway fatality in Montana this year, compared to 166 at the same time last year.

Stenlund was born in Longview, Washington, his Facebook account says.

His mother, Amy Stenlund, posted a photo of herself with Stelund in his Air Force uniform.

From NTD.tv
Police Shoot Parent Who Took California Teacher Hostage at School

Suspect had an 'emotional breakdown'

Police in Riverside, California, shot a parent who had taken a teacher hostagein a dramatic end to an hourslong standoff inside a school.

The teacher, identified as Linda Montgomery, was hospitalized for a precautionary evaluation, Riverside Unified officials told the Los Angeles Times. TV footage showed a man, presumably the parent who held the teacher hostage, being taken away on a stretcher.

WATCH #LIVE: Officials give briefing on end of barricade at Riverside school https://t.co/CDKVaWLJl5 pic.twitter.com/WWBF61Ybta  ABC7 Eyewitness News (@ABC7) November 1, 2017

Officers swarmed the school, entering the classroom at 6 p.m. local time, seven hours after it started.

Its unclear if the man was armed with a gun.

According to the LA Times:

When the parent arrived on campus, he got into a confrontation with a teacher, said Riverside Police Officer Ryan Railsback. The parent did not appear to follow the school districts safety procedures and check in with the front desk, he added. The parent was confronted by a male teacher and the parent hit that teacher in the face, Railsback said. A witness told KABC that the teachers face was bloodied and his nose was broken. The teacher was treated at a nearby hospital, police said. The parent then went into an empty classroom and took a female teacher hostage, police said. The door to the classroom was blocked with the parent and a female teacher inside for hours.

Officials canceled classes at the elementary school for the week.

Montgomery, 70, is safe after the incident, but she was taken to a hospital as a precaution, KTLA reported.

#BREAKINGNEWS Barricade at Riverside school ends as SWAT makes entry to classroom; suspect brought out on stretcher https://t.co/NYIRE0p5AK pic.twitter.com/ow3O411kYs  ABC7 Eyewitness News (@ABC7) November 1, 2017

#BREAKINGNEWS Hostage at Riverside school ID'd as Linda Montgomery, 70, who has taught for decadeshttps://t.co/8YbHhCWSkT pic.twitter.com/fiuoBhTinW  ABC7 Eyewitness News (@ABC7) October 31, 2017

Police also used a flash grenade to distract the suspect.

Family members told ABC7 that the suspect, who was not identified, had a breakdown.

He had a breakdown, and he relapsed again. Thats all, hes not dangerous, said Carl Jackson, the suspects uncle. Its just a matter of getting in there and talking to him, because we can talk to him. Hell come out for us if police let us, before anything bad happen to him.

Hes a good kid, just having an emotional breakdown. He doesnt have no access to no weapons, Jackson said.

Ariana Montgomery, the teachers granddaughter, told KTLA, I couldnt even imagining this ever happening to her.

Meanwhile on the left coast:

Riverside elementary school teacher is being held hostage by a students parent.

??https://t.co/QUwST304qB pic.twitter.com/QHEI0faLf0  CC (@ChristiChat) November 1, 2017

I was just scared, I was trembling with fear, student Giselle Gomez told KTLA.

Jennifer Sandoval, the mother of a sixth-grader at the school, added, It was scary.
F/A-18C Hornets and F/A-18E/F Super Hornets are lined up on the flight deck of the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan. (Song Kyung-Suk-Pool/Getty Images)

Russian Fighter Jets Intercepted Near US Warship in Sea of Japan

Two Russian bomber jets approached the area of the USS Ronald Reagan aircraft carrier on Oct. 29.

The Ronald Reagan was operating in the Sea of Japan at the time. The two nuclear-capable Tupolev Tu-95MS strategic bombers, nicknamed Bears, were 80 miles away from the aircraft carrier when they were intercepted by two Japanese jets, according to The Diplomat.

The U.S. Navy also sent out F/A-18 fighter jets to escort the Russian bombers away from the ship. Japanese officials say the jets did not enter Japanese airspace. U.S. officials said the Russian aircraft then proceeded in a safe and professional manner without incident, CNN reported.

According to The Independent, Russian defense officials said, Two Russian Tu-95MS Bear bombers carried out scheduled flights over neutral waters of the Sea of Japan and the western part of the Pacific Ocean.

The United States and Russian militaries regularly intercept the aircraft of other nations flying over international waters. They usually pass without incident. A US B-52 bomber was intercepted by Russian jets over the Baltic Sea in June during a planned exercise.

There are a number of intercepts that take place on a regular basis, the U.S. Army Defense Department confirmed a statement to CNN. The vast majority are conducted in a safe manner.

There are currently three U.S. aircraft carriers in the region. The USS Nimitz and USS Theodore Roosevelt joined the USS Ronald Reagan just last week amid heightened tensions in region. The trio of powerful warships came before the presidents arrival.

President Trumps Asia trip is expected to start Nov. 3 in a show of support for U.S. allies as North Korea continues to escalate threats of nuclear war. Trump will visit a U.S. military base in South Korea, along with Japan, China, Vietnam, and the Philippines.

U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis took a trip to Asia ahead of President Trump, in which he visited the heavily-armed border between North and South Korea, NBC News reported. He stood alongside South Korean Defense Minister Song Young-moo and spoke with U.S. and South Korean troops. Mattis also visited the Philippines and Thailand.

After speaking with Mattis, South Korean President Moon Jae-in praised the aggressive deployment of U.S. strategic assets in the region as a deterrent to North Korean aggression. Moon also recently stated he would not pursue nuclear weapons for South Korea, but instead pursue an earlier plan for a denuclearized Korean Peninsula, The Asian Age reported.

From NTD.tv
NYPD officers respond after reports of multiple people hit by a truck after it plowed through a bike path in lower Manhattan in New York City on Oct. 31, 2017. According to reports up to eight people may have been killed. (Kena Betancur/Getty Images)

Suspect in Truck Attack in NYC Identified

A driver in a rented pickup truck mowed down pedestrians and cyclists on a bike path alongside the Hudson River in New York City on Tuesday, killing eight people and injuring about a dozen others in what authorities said was an act of terrorism.

It was the greatest loss of life from a suspected terrorist attack in New York since suicide hijackers crashed jetliners into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in lower Manhattan on Sept. 11, 2001, killing more than 2,600 people.

Tuesdays assault, on the far west side of lower Manhattan not far from the site of the World Trade Center, was reminiscent of several deadly vehicle attacks in Europe during the past 15 months.

The 29-year-old suspect in Tuesdays attack was shot in the abdomen by police and taken into custody after he crashed the truck into a school bus and fled his vehicle, New York City Police Commissioner James ONeill told a news conference.

NY: U/D Photo, 29 y/o Sayfullo Saipov, an Uzbek immigrant identified as the terrorist who killed 8 in today's Manhattan truck ramming attack pic.twitter.com/V5V3Hw9BDa  Yiddish News (@YiddishNews) November 1, 2017

Mayor Bill de Blasio called the attack a cowardly act of terrorism. A spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security called the incident an apparent act of terrorism.

ONeill said police were declining to publicly identify the driver. A source familiar with the investigation identified him as Sayfullo Saipov.

The source would not confirm a CNN report that police believe the suspect is from Uzbekistan and entered the United States in 2010.

Asked at the news conference about reports that the driver shouted Allahu Akbar  Arabic for God is greatest  ONeill said a comment by the suspect when he exited his truck and the general circumstances of the assault led investigators to label the incident a terrorist event.

Governor Andrew Cuomo said the suspect appeared to have acted alone.

UNVERIFIED: image circulating online purportedly showing 29yr Uzbek immigrant-Sayfullo Saipov, moments after collision ? @News_Executive pic.twitter.com/laue8nMvBq  Mikey Kay (@MikeyKayNYC) November 1, 2017

Theres no evidence to suggest a wider plot or a wider scheme. These are the actions of one individual meant to cause pain and harm and probably death, Cuomo said at the news conference.

The driver entered the bike path in lower Manhattan at 3:05 p.m., ONeill said, adding that he was armed with a paint-ball gun and a pellet gun.
A woman is aided by first responders after sustaining injury on a bike path in lower Manhattan in New York on Oct. 31, 2017. (REUTERS/Brendan McDermid)

Terrorist Truck Attack Kills 8 on New York Bike Path

Among the dead are a group of friends celebrating the 30th anniversary of their high school graduation

NEW YORKA man driving a rented pickup truck mowed down pedestrians and cyclists on a bike path alongside the Hudson River in New York City on Tuesday, Oct. 31, killing eight people and injuring about a dozen in what authorities said was an act of terrorism.

The 29-year-old suspect was shot in the abdomen by police and arrested after he crashed the truck into a school bus and fled his vehicle, authorities said. A U.S. law enforcement said the suspect is an Uzbekistan-born immigrant.

CNN and The New York Times, each citing law enforcement sources, reported that investigators found a note left by the suspect claiming he carried out the attack in the name of the ISIS terrorist group.

Five of the dead were Argentine citizens, visiting New York as part of a group of friends celebrating the 30th anniversary of their high school graduation, the Argentina Foreign Ministry said. A sixth member of the group was among those hospitalized after the attack, the ministry said in a statement.

The incident marked the greatest loss of life from a suspected terrorist attack in New York since suicide hijackers crashed jetliners into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in lower Manhattan on Sept. 11, 2001, killing more than 2,600 people.

Tuesdays assault, on the far west side of lower Manhattan, a few blocks from the site of the World Trade Center, was reminiscent of several deadly vehicle attacks in Europe during the past 15 months.

This was an act of terror, and a particularly cowardly act of terror, aimed at innocent civilians, aimed at people going about their lives who had no idea what was about to hit them, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio told a news conference.

A representative of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security similarly called the incident an apparent act of terrorism.

New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo said the suspect appeared to have acted alone.

Theres no evidence to suggest a wider plot or a wider scheme. These are the actions of one individual meant to cause pain and harm and probably death, Cuomo told the same news conference.

Asked later in a CNN interview whether the suspect had been known to authorities before the attack, Cuomo replied: Its too early to give you a definitive answer.

Joint Task Force

New York City Police Commissioner James ONeill declined to publicly identify the driver. However, a source familiar with the investigation told Reuters the drivers name was Sayfullo Saipov.

CNN and NBC News reported that he entered the United States in 2010.

Multiple media outlets, including CNN, cited police officials as saying that the suspect shouted Allahu Akbar  Arabic for God is greatest  when he jumped out of his truck.

ONeill would only say when asked at the news conference that an unspecified comment by the suspect when he exited his truck, and the general circumstances of the assault, led investigators to label the incident a terrorist event.

Related Coverage Multiple People Caught in Another Deadly Attack in NYC

The FBI joined the New York City Police Department and other agencies in a Joint Terrorism Task Force to conduct a probe of the attack, according to an FBI statement.

ABC News reported that Saipov lived in Tampa, Florida. A check of court records related to a traffic citation that Saipov received in eastern Pennsylvania in 2015 showed he listed addresses then in Paterson, New Jersey, and Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio.

The suspect drove onto the bike path in lower Manhattan at 3:05 p.m. and sped south for about 20 city blocks, running down pedestrians and bicyclists along the way before slamming into the side of the school bus.

Two children and two adults were injured in that collision, ONeill said.

The man then climbed out of this truck with what appeared to be a handgun. Police later recovered a paint-ball gun and a pellet gun from the scene, authorities said.

ONeill said the pickup truck driven by the suspect had been rented from the Home Depot hardware chain.

Mangled Bicycles

Mangled and flattened bicycles littered the sunlit bike path, which runs parallel to the West Side Highway along the Hudson River, after the attack.

Of the eight people killed, six were pronounced dead at the scene and two more were pronounced dead at a nearby hospital, ONeill said.

Fire Commissioner Daniel Nigro said 11 survivors with serious but non-life-threatening injuries were taken to hospitals.

Despite the attack, thousands of costumed Halloween revelers turned out hours later for New York Citys main Halloween parade, which went on as scheduled Tuesday night with a heightened police presence just a few blocks from the scene of the carnage.

U.S. President Donald Trump was briefed on the incident, White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said.

Trump, who has pressed for a ban on travelers entering the United States from some predominantly Muslim countries, said on Twitter he had ordered Homeland Security officials to step up our already Extreme Vetting Program. Being politically correct is fine, but not for this!

The president later said in an official White House statement: Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims of todays terrorist attack in New York City and their families. He also paid tribute to the first responders who stopped the suspect and rendered immediate aid to the victims.

Similar attacks in Europe last year killed scores of people.

On July 14, 2016, a suspect drove a large truck into a crowd celebrating Bastille Day in the French city of Nice, killing 86 people and injuring hundreds more in an attack for which ISIS claimed responsibility.

Five months later a Tunisian asylum seeker, who had pledged allegiance to ISIS, plowed a truck into a crowded Christmas market in central Berlin, killing 12 people and injuring 48.

A driver rammed his van into crowds in the heart of Barcelona on Aug. 17 this year, killing 13 people, in an attack authorities said was carried out by suspected ISIS terrorists.

The five Argentine citizens killed in Tuesdays attack were identified by their home government as Hernan Diego Mendoza, Diego Enrique Angelini, Alejandro Damian Pagnucco, Ariel Erlij and Hernan Ferruchi, all from the city of Rosario. Their ages were not given.
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Defense Secretary Gen. Jim Mattis arrive for a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on Oct. 30, 2017. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

US President Has Authority to Strike North Korea With Nuclear Weapon, Top US Officials Say

The President of the United States has the authority to strike North Korea with a nuclear weapon without congressional approval if attacked or if an attack is imminent, two top U.S. officials said on Oct. 30.

Defense Secretary Gen. Jim Mattis said that the president has the responsibility to protect the country.

Mattis said under Article 2 of the Constitution, the president has the authority to strike North Korea in the scenario of a direct attack by the North or if an attack is imminent.

Article 2 states that the President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States.

The Constitution also states in Article 1 that only Congress has the power to declare war.

Testifying before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Oct. 30, Mattis said that in such a scenario Congress might not be consulted in the interest of time.

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said that there are two cases when the president can take action. One is to protect United States persons, property, and national security interests.

The other case is for circumstances that do not rise to the level of a declaration of war.

I think that is the circumstance we have in the Peninsula today in Korea, Tillerson said.

According to Tillerson it is also important for the United States to retain the ability to strike first, as a deterrent.

One of the strengths of the last 70 years has been the deterrencethe fact that no president, republican or democrat, has ever foresworn the first strike capability, that has served us for 70 years, he said.

Sen. Chis Murphy (D-Conn.) has introduced a bill in Congress which would require a pre-emptive strike against North Korea to require congressional approval.

Tillerson said in his testimony that any change to the first strike deterrence option does changein a very material waythe deterrence, the strength of that deterrence.

Military and intelligence officials believe that North Korea is just months away from finalizing its ability to deliver a nuclear warhead on a ballistic missile.

Tillerson admitted in the testimony before Congress, that the United States currently does not know exactly what North Koreas strike capabilities are.

Both Tillerson and Mattis said they believe North Korea is the biggest national security threat that the United States currently faces.

In the actual event of an attack with a nuclear-armed missile by North Korea, the first thing that would happen is U.S. missile defense systems would track and try to take out the missile mid-flight.

Mattis said that these are located at sea, Alaska, and California. They would do what they are designed to do, he said.

Next, it would be up to the president how to respond to such an attack.

We would take the action the president directed, said Mattis.

U.S. allies in the region such as Japan and South Korea would be involved in a counter attack.

We rehearse this routinely, Mattis said.

The United States currently has three aircraft carriers under the command of the 7th Fleet, whose area of responsibility includes the Korean Peninsula, located in the Pacific.

On Tuesday, F-35 fighter jets arrived in Japan as part of the deterrence effort against North Korea.

Over the weekend the United States flew a nuclear strike-capable B-2 bomber over the Pacific.
U.S. Air Force maintainers inspect a B-2 Spirit before it takes off from Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo. on Oct. 28, 2017. The B-2 conducted a long-range mission to the U.S. Pacific Command area of responsibility this weekend. (Airman 1st Class Taylor Phifer)

US Practices Nuclear Deterrent Exercises as North Korea Escalates Threats

A B-2 Spirit stealth bomber, capable of carrying nuclear weapons, flew to the Pacific over the weekend on the eve of drills used to help hone command and control of Americas nuclear forces.

U.S. Strategic Command said sending the bomber demonstrated the United States commitment to partners and allies as North Korea escalates its threatening rhetoric while continuing its frequent missile tests.

The bomber, which flew from Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri, finished its mission just as StratCom began Global Thunderannual exercises meant to hone StratComs cyber, space, and nuclear capabilities.

The drills come amid heightened tensions between North Korea and the United States over the communist regimes nuclear weapons program, and on the heels of massive naval drills.

These exercises achieve the vision of a unified team, integrating all the capabilities of U.S. Strategic Command across the globe wherever and whenever needed, said U.S. Air Force Gen. John Hyten, commander of StratCom in a statement.

Hyten said integration of those capabilities ensured StratCom could deal with any adversary, anywhere in the world, at any time.

A @Whiteman_AFB B-2 flew a long-range mission to @PacificCommand AOR this weekend; these missions demonstrate our commitment to allies. pic.twitter.com/Pzx2hCGHyS  US Strategic Command (@US_Stratcom) October 29, 2017

StratCom reveals little about their annual exercise, but a public affairs officer said Global Thunder helped Stratcom forces prepare for threats against the United States.

Its definitely across the board, any sort of strategic attacks, regardless of what domain that would be in, but nuclear would absolutely be a part of that, said Bekah Clark, a public affairs officer with StatCom.

Global Thunder takes place around this time every year, but this year its launch on Oct. 30 coincided with yet another threat of nuclear attack by North Korea.

According to KCNA Watch, a website that monitors and translates news reports from North Korea, the official newspaper of the regimes ruling Workers Party issued a new threat on Monday.

The threat comes in response to ongoing sanctions against North Korea and recent joint military drills between U.S., South Korean, and Japanese forces.

The U.S., Japan and the south Korean puppet forces should clearly understand that the horrible nightmare, in which U.S. mainland turns into ashes and the Japanese archipelago is buried in the Pacific as a whole and the south Korean land is devastated, can be put into a reality any moment, read the editorial.

North Koreas ongoing provocations and repeated threats of nuclear attack have prompted an increase in joint military drills between U.S. and allied forces.

Those drills have seen U.S., Japanese, and South Korean forces conduct new combined exercises and practice for new capabilities, including joint nighttime air missions.

This year, Global Thunder will wrap up just as President Donald Trump arrives in Japan on Nov. 5 for a major tour of the Asia Pacific region. After Japan, Trump will visit South Korea, China, Vietnam, and The Philippines.

A senior official in the White House said one objective of the trip was to reinforce the United States commitment to its allies in the region.

The official said Trump would visit Camp Humphreys in South Korea, home to the busiest U.S. Army airfield in Asia, and what he described as an excellent example of cooperation between South Korea and the United States.
What We Know About Manhattan Truck Killer Sayfullo Saipov

Sayfullo Habibullaevic Saipov, a 29-year-old Uzbek man, was a father and a small business owner before he drove a truck down a lower Manhattan bike lane, killing eight and injuring at least 12.

In a note he left in his truck, he pledged allegiance to the ISIS terrorist group. Federal agents interviewed him two years ago about connections to suspected terrorists.

Saipov moved to the United States from Uzbekistan in 2010 after he received a green card through the Diversity Immigrant Visa Programthe green card lottery.

After he came to the United States, he lived in Cincinnati, where he registered a company, Sayf Motors Inc., in 2011.

He got married in April 2013 to Nozima Odilova, also from Uzbekistan. At the time, he was 25 and she was 19. They listed an address in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, some 20 miles south of Cleveland.

Saipov put truck driver as his occupation on his marriage certificate. A transport company named Bright Auto LLC was listed in 2013 at his home address in Cuyahoga Falls and under Saipovs name.

He also lived in Tampa, Florida, where he rented an apartment in a complex called Heritage at Tampa, near the Hillsborough River.

Recently, he lived in Paterson, New Jersey, with his wife and three children, Pix 11 reported. For about half a year he drove for ride-hailing company Uber. Uber has since removed him from its app.

Some people who knew Saipov from several years ago described him as friendly and happy.

Kobiljon Matkarov, also an Uzbek, met Saipov when they both lived in Florida.

He was very happy guy, he told NBC. He liked the U.S. He is no terrorist. Hes all the time happy, smiling all the time.

But at least two current neighbors said Saipov wouldnt greet them or talk to them when they saw him, NJ.com reported, which they perceived as unfriendliness in a neighborhood where everybody knows each other.

He doesnt say whats up, Moe Ali, 17, who lives about a block away from Saipov, told Newsday. Hes not polite. Everybody out here, we all know each other.  He would just walk and put his head down. Thats not normal anywhere.

Saipov was a practicing Muslim, but other Muslims in his neighborhood said they only saw him in the local mosque once or twice.

His criminal records show several traffic violations, including one in Missouri and two in Pennsylvania.

In 2015, he was interviewed by Homeland Security agents about possible ties to suspected terrorists, but there was not enough evidence to open a case against him, ABC reported, citing law enforcement officials. He was also connected on social media to people who are or were subjects of terror investigations, investigators found.

He rented a truck from a Home Depot in Passaic, New Jersey, and on Tuesday, Oct. 31, drove it across the George Washington Bridge to Manhattan and sped down the Hudson River bike path, which runs between the Hudson River and the West Side Highway.

He entered the bike lane near Pier 40 and drove down about 4,000 feet, plowing through bikers and pedestrians until he intentionally crashed into a school bus near the Stuyvesant High School, injuring two adults and two children inside.

He then exited the truck, shouting Allahu Akbar (Allah is great in Arabic), brandished a pellet gun and a paintball gun and ran through traffic on the highway until he was shot in the abdomen by NYPD Officer Ryan Nash, 28, who was out on a different call but spotted Saipov and chased him.

Saipov was taken into custody and is expected to recover from his injury.

A note was found in the truck he rented indicating that Saipov carried out the attack for ISIS, law enforcement sources told NBC.
Lifestyle: If You're Not Getting Closer to Achieving Your Goals, Try Using a Different Metric
An Aecon employee looks at Toronto Pearson International Airport's check-in area. A Chinese state-owned enterprise is looking to acquire the Canadian construction firm, necessitating a government review. (Canadian Press/AP, Tobin Grimshaw)

Why Selling Aecon to China Is a Bad Deal for Canada

NEWS ANALYSIS

TORONTOChina is at it again, trying to take over a large Canadian company.

Earlier this year, China said it wanted unfettered access to Canadas economy in a prelude to potential free trade talks. Now, its up to the Trudeau government to determine if Chinese state-owned enterprise (SOE) CCCIs purchase of construction giant Aecon is of net benefit to Canada. Needless to say, the decision will be a critical determinant of Canadas economic relationship with China going forward.

For more than a century, Aecon has helped build many of Canadas most famous infrastructure landmarks including the CN Tower and St. Lawrence Seaway. On Oct. 26, it announced it had received an all-cash bid of $20.37 a share, putting a $1.51 billion price tag on the companya 42 percent premium.

Approval for the deal falls under the jurisdiction of Navdeep Bains, minister of industry, science and economic development.

We will do our homework, we will do our due diligence, Bains told reporters after his interview at the Toronto Global Forum on Oct. 30. We will make sure its in the economic benefit of Canadians.

CCCI, the overseas investment and financing subsidiary of China Communications Construction Company (CCCC) Ltd., says Aecons Canadian employees will be retained as will Canadian management; it will adhere to Canadian standards of corporate governance.

The recent example of another Chinese SOE CNOOCs purchase of Canadian oilsands company Nexen provides a counterexample with senior management being replaced and employees fired.

Frankly, I dont think theres ever any guarantees, said Jack Mintz, Presidents Fellow of The School of Public Policy at the University of Calgary, in a phone interview.

Bad Deal

As part of the governments review process, special considerations are needed as the buyer is an SOE.

Mintz points out that SOEs in China are barely profitable since what matters to them most is gaining market share, not the bottom line.

Worse still, the presence of SOEs creates a unlevel playing field as they can squeeze out more efficient and better-performing private companies that cant compete with a company getting subsidies from a foreign government.

The example of Petro China Co.s US$800 billion loss in the last 10 yearsthe biggest-ever destruction of shareholder wealth, according to Bloombergis a shocking reminder of how poorly a Chinese SOE can perform. Even after this decline, the state-owned energy producer still remains more expensive (as measured by forward price-to-earnings ratio) than its peers.

Its hard to imagine a totally private (i.e. not state-owned) management team keeping its job after generating such wretched returns for such a long time.

We didnt spend a generation undoing and getting the government out of business in order to see another government get into the business of business in Canada, said Tom Kmiec, Conservative member of Parliament and deputy shadow minister for finance on Parliament Hill.

Canada has had success privatizing Crown corporations such as Air Canada and Petro-Canada with Suncor, so a departure from this tack seems counterintuitive.

The Liberal government is on the right track seeking foreign investors to aid with Canadas large infrastructure projects. Foreign private firms can bring new technologies and talent in management, and create greater wealth; however, SOEs may not be primarily motivated by profit and could have other state objectives in mind.

Today, we should be wary of state-owned enterprises making big purchases in Canada, especially from non-democratic governments like China, Kmiec wrote in a Facebook post.

Another important consideration in the CanadaChina relationship is reciprocityor lack thereofwith foreign direct investment. China is very protective of its key companies, which it hopes to develop into global champions.

Its not easy for foreigners to operate in China without agreeing to a whole bunch of rules, Mintz said.

The Chinese government looks to exert control over foreign companies by having them establish branches of the Communist Party within their organizations.

Questionable Partner

China is very actively developing relations around the world through massive infrastructure projects like the Belt and Road Initiative.

While taking over a construction company may not immediately raise the red flags of a threat to national security or theft of intellectual property, the motivation is more subtle.

Theres also foreign policy influence they [China] would be looking to achieve, Mintz said. In 2015, CCCI purchased John Holland, one of Australias largest construction firms.



Free trade talks with China hang in the balance, but Mintz said those wouldnt supplant trade and the ties with the United States as NAFTA renegotiations grow murkier.

I think we should be very careful with free trade with China because were not talking about a market economy, Mintz said. Were talking about more of a socialist economy thats going to be actually increasing in control over time.

Internationally, CCCC has a spotty reputation. The World Bank debarred it in 2011 for fraudulent practices relating to a roads improvement project in the Philippines. CCCC was ineligible for participating in any bridge and road projects financed by the World Bank for eight years as a result.

This is not a good partner on the specifics and I think it would be very strange for Canada to let one of its most important infrastructure companies become owned by a foreign SOE that has actually shown bad corporate behaviour, Mintz said.

Limin Zhou contributed to this report

Follow Rahul on Twitter @RV_ETBiz
Residents from the city of Kherson took to the streets to celebrate Russia's retreat, scientists may have discovered why they keep finding mum
Imagine the outrage in the White House if a schoolyard bully approached Barron Trump and taunted him with expressions of surprise that his father had been able to produce such a fine-looking lad.

Yet, thats exactly what 45 did with several reporters children who had been ushered into the Oval Friday decked out in Halloween costumes as Darth Vader, Princess Leia, a purple-haired unicorn and other characters, real and mythical. (Not a Cheeto costume in the bunch.)

I cannot believe the media produced such beautiful children! he declared to the group of 8- to 10-year-olds  all just a bit younger than 11-year-old Barron.

How the media did this, I dont know, he exclaimed, couching a subliminal message that obviously mystified the children.

However, his toying with the childrens self-images no doubt thrilled his base, who still delight in his media-bashing at the continuing presidential pep rallies that echo his campaign chatter. Those self-love fests to this day strive successfully to stoke the flames of his support in the run-up to Election Day, which ended with that troublesome tally of 65,844,954 votes for Hillary Clinton to his own 62,979,879.

Consider the cacophony of criticism that presidential flak Sarah Chucklebee Sanders would spit out  with her eyebrow upturned like a character from Hansel and Gretel  if a media persona asked Barron whether he would grow up to be like his old man.

Thats what the president did to a little girl, saying, Are you gonna grow up to be like your parents?

Before she could answer, he motioned with his hands that emulating her folks would be a horrific idea.

Motioning toward a young girl that she could have a little box of White House candies, he teased, You have no weight problems, so thats the good thing.

Huh? Whats the message the girl was supposed to take home and ponder? Maybe Am I fat? Will she obsess about the question, and develop the eating disorders like so many others have done after being ridiculed about weight issues in childhood?

What if somebody told Eric Trump his Dracula costume was realistic  when he wasnt wearing one?

The children had mixed reactions, ranging from giggles to nervousness to fear. When one girl was crying, he asked why and motioned her still closer as someone mentioned that she is Japanese.

Almost as if he were surprised that a Japanese girl could be cute, the would-be leader of the free world made it all about him, telling her that he would be visiting Japan soon.

The 71-year-old grandfather motioned for the children to gather round his desk for a photo op. Pointing toward the media, he asked the youngsters whether they knew who the photographers and reporters were.

Answering the question himself, as he is wont to do, he said, They are the friendly media  as if they could divine the satire he aimed to convey.

Continuing to speak way above the kids heads with comments obviously directed at his base, he allowed as how the press treats them better than it does him.

His actions spoke louder than his words, echoing his vitriolic assessments of the media at rallies that media are sick people  truly bad people who hate the United States  and are an enemy of the people.

Clearly, the president made what might have been an innocent, light-hearted photo op into another blatant message to his base. Truly, he bars no holds in his attacks of the media, channeling his hatred through children.

It was unclear whether the laughter in the background came from White House staffers, who should be ashamed if it did, or the media, who should be doubly ashamed for allowing their children to be used and abused for subliminal messages of scorn.

Oddly enough, the incident came just days after the first lady seemed to resurrect her campaign vow to fight bullying when she visited a school in a Detroit suburb to commemorate October as National Bullying Prevention Month.

Among other things, the first lady told a group of students  probably just a bit younger than Barron  at Orchard Lake Middle School. I think its very important to choose kindness and compassion.

In light of her husbands demonic disdain for so many people, the statement is perplexing at the least, and hypocritical at the worst.

Again, read between the lines of the presidents comment: Are you going to grow up and be like your parents? Mmm, dont answer that. It can only get me in trouble. You have wonderful parents, right?

In other words, and for the first time, he acknowledged that he is, indeed, a schoolyard bully  but he does it anyway, daily, to immigrants, to members of Congress, to Gold Star parents, to judges, to the media, to anyone he considers to be enemies.

Youre up to your old tricks, Mr. President. No treats for you.
Just mention the name of optometrist David Larsen, OD, in the community, and people will describe an outstanding eye doctor, respected by his patients and colleagues.

For nearly three decades, Tomah area residents came to know and trust Dr. Larsen for all of their vision needs. He joined the Gundersen Tomah Eye Clinic in December 1990 and is retiring from practice Nov. 9. A retirement open house will be held Saturday, Nov. 4 from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Ground Round, 201 Helen Walton Drive, Ste. 1, Tomah. All are welcome to stop by to honor his contributions and wish him well.

Dr. Larsen is a stellar clinician and a stickler for details. He is a strong advocate for his patients. He will be missed by all of us for his keen insights and astute referrals, says fellow Gundersen optometrist and friend John Sterling, OD.

When Larsen started his career at Gundersen, he was one of three regional optometrists on staff. Fast forward 27 years, and he is now one of 25 optometrists serving more than a dozen Gundersen Health System eye clinics throughout Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa.

Dr. Sterling was a great influence on me and encouraged me to join Gundersen, Larsen said. I liked what I learned about Gundersen Clinic and Dr. Sterling was, and still is, a great Wisconsin optometrist who helped our profession to get to the level that it is now. I thank him for taking a chance on me when I was hired and for his foresight on the future growth of our department.

During his tenure, Dr. Larsen was voted Young Optometrist of the Year (1998) by the Wisconsin Optometric Association. He served several years on the WOA Board of Directors, worked closely with the Wisconsin Paraoptometric Association to advance its profession and was a fellow of the American Academy of Optometry. Larsen said he is proud of his practice.

What stands out for me is the phenomenal care that Dr. Larsen has given our patients. His attention to detail and diagnostic skills are unsurpassed, says dispensing optician Mary Messmer, ABOC, who worked alongside Larsen for 21 years.

I remember when a patient of Dr. Larsens came in late in the day having complications from cataract surgery. Dr. Larsen worked with the patient after the clinic closed for the day to lower the pressure and relieve the pain. The patient and family were forever grateful, said Diane Kincannon, patient liaison at Gundersen Tomah Eye Clinic.

Though Larsen will miss his patients and colleagues who he said have become like family, he looks forward to retirement.

My wife, Lynne, and I enjoy traveling. I look forward to going out and enjoying life while I am still healthy and able to be active, Larsen said.

Tina Flick, clinical manager of Gundersen Optometry-Tomah, enjoyed working with Larsen.

Dr. Larsen has been a wonderful colleague and friend, Flick said. His commitment to the care of his patients and staff is to be commended. Dr. Larsen will be sadly missed, but I know that he will not be a stranger. I wish him and his wife, Lynne, nothing but the best and wish them safe travel adventures.

Dr. Larsens patients will be in the hands of Amy Atherton, OD, Gundersen Tomah Eye Clinics new optometrist. Dr. Atherton provides primary eye care, treatment and management of ocular disease and contact lens care.
Wisconsins rural communities face a unique set of challenges. Thats why were tackling these issues head on with a comprehensive plan to meet the needs of rural communities across the state.

At the annual Governors Northern Economic Development Summit last month, I unveiled our rural agenda, a multi-point plan to bolster Wisconsins rural communities.

One of the top steps is to improve education for schools and students by creating incentives for teachers to teach in rural school districts and significantly increasing sparsity aid. These initiatives are in addition to our already historic $11.5 billion investment in K-12 education.

Another area invests in public safety by removing barriers and creating incentives to protect the community by serving as an EMT or volunteer firefighter.

Another step improves rural access to medicine through programs focused on recruiting more medical personnel to work in and serve rural communities.

In addition, we expand broadband access to underserved areas of the state by providing over $35 million in funding for broadband expansion grants and TEACH grants aimed at supplying fast, reliable internet connections, particularly in rural communities.

We also look to support Wisconsins veterans by funding the continuation of the veteran outreach and recovery program after federal funding expires this year. Were making sure our veterans receive the outreach and resources they need to be successful in reaching their goals.

Well also look to reallocate state resources to other parts of the state to improve the communications and accountability between government organizations and the constituents they serve. The Department of Natural Resources Forestry Division will move its headquarters from Madison to Rhinelander before the end of the year to better include and work with the forestry industry and northern forestry officials.

Plus, well find ways to help continue to improve farming in the state of Wisconsin, Americas Dairyland, which is great not just for dairy products, but for all sorts of products grown here. Were making it easier for our farming families to prosper.

Check out Walker.WI.Gov for more details on our rural agenda.

Indeed, we are working and winning for Wisconsin.
What's next for SD Gov. Kristi Noem as she heads into her second term?
Are Canadas grocers conspiring to fix bread prices?

Canadas Competition Bureau confirmed Tuesday that it is conducting a criminal investigation related to price-fixing in the grocery industry.

The Ontario Superior Court of Justice in Ottawa granted search warrants based on evidence that there are reasonable grounds to believe that certain individuals and companies have engaged in activities contrary to the Competition Act, according to a statement issued by the bureau late in the day.

Bureau officers are conducting searches and are gathering evidence to determine the facts. There is no conclusion of wrongdoing at this time and no charges have been laid.

Both Loblaw Companies Ltd. and Metro Inc. issued news releases late in the day confirming that they are aware of the investigation.

(We) are aware of an industry-wide investigation by the Competition Bureau concerning a price-fixing scheme involving certain packaged bread products, according to the release from Loblaw.

The release from Metro said that the investigation is looking into the supply of commercial bread.

This investigation concerns certain suppliers and Canadian retailers, according to the Metro release.

Spokespeople for both companies declined to comment.

The Competition Act includes civil and criminal provisions. Criminal provisions apply to agreements to fix prices or restrict supply.

Price fixing and bid-rigging are serious criminal offences that harm consumers and businesses by driving up prices and reducing choice, according to a recent report on the Competition Bureaus activities.

A cartel is formed when independent businesses agree to act together instead of competing with each other, according to the Bureau. Rigging bids, fixing prices, agreeing to share sales by territories and restricting output are the most common forms of cartel activity.

The report noted that the Competition Bureau imposed fines of $13.28 million in cartel cases in 2016-2017. The cases resulted in one company being criminally charged.

Metro operates a network of more than 600 food stores in Ontario and Quebec under banners including Food Basics, and more than 250 drugstores.

Loblaw Cos. Ltd. is the countrys largest retailer, employing nearly 200,000 Canadians at banners including No Frills and Shoppers Drug Mart. It has more than 2,300 locations.

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German ancestry will be the topic of our next genealogy class. The class will be held Thursday, Nov. 9, at 10 a.m. at the museum. The guest teacher will be Antje Petty. You might remember that she was originally scheduled to speak in April, but had to change her plans due to illness.

Petty is the associate director and educational outreach specialist for the Max Kade Institute. The Max Kade Institute for German-American Studies is located at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. We are very fortunate to have an instructor from this organization come to Viroqua to teach a class.

The Institute offers genealogy assistance to German-Americans interested in their family histories. According to their website, this assistance includes general information on the immigrant experience, maps to help locate European towns and villages, and a local referral list for transcription and translation services.

All genealogy classes at the museum are free to Vernon County Historical Society members, and $5 for nonmembers. Classes are held in the first-flloor conference room at the museum. New students are welcome to join at any time. This will be the last genealogy class of 2017. After winter break, classes will resume again in February.

The life of German-Americans during World War I is one of the subjects that the museum will be exploring in the upcoming months. After the U.S. entered the war in April 1917, people over age 14 who had been born in a hostile nation and who had not yet become naturalized U.S. citizens were labelled alien enemies and subjected to various restrictions. These laws also applied to any U.S.-born women who had married these alien enemies, because at that time an American woman would lose her citizenship if she married a non-citizen.

The term alien enemies referred primarily to Germans living in the U.S. According to the Wisconsin Historical Society, German-Americans comprised the largest ethnic group in Wisconsin in the 1910s, accounting for more than 45 percent of the states foreign-born population. In Vernon County, the majority of Germans and German-Americans lived just south of La Crosse, in the towns of Bergen and Hamburg. They made up no more than 8 percent of the countys population at any one time.

The museum is interested in local stories about German-Americans during World War I, such as instances of people changing their names to sound more English, and communities changing Germanic names of businesses, streets, foods, etc. We are also looking for Vernon County stories about German books being burned, schools dropping German language classes, German neighbors being harassed, etc. These arent happy stories, but they are important, and will help us to better understand how World War I affected our county.
Well All Be Burnt in Our Beds Some Night by Newfoundland writer and actor Joel Thomas Hynes has won the high-profile fiction portion of the Governor Generals Literary Awards. The announcement was made on the awards website Wednesday morning.

His book was called an act of full-throttle imagination and narrative invention . . . unforgettable, tragic and ultimately transcendent by the panel of peer assessors  Darren Greer, Robert Hough and Padma Viswanathan  who judged the category.

The nonfiction prize was captured by Graeme Wood for The Way of the Strangers: Encounters with the Islamic State, which the panel found to be meticulously researched and fluidly written.

There 14 winners overall, seven each in English and French. Each winner receives $25,000. Each of the shortlisted finalists, who were announced earlier this month, receives $1,000, while the publishers of the winning books receive $3,000 to help with promotion costs. The winners are chosen by a panel of peer assessors.

Toronto writer Cherie Dimaline won for Young Peoples Literature, Text, for The Marrow Thieves, which is also been nominated for the 2018 White Pine Award and the prestigious and, at $50,000, lucrative Kirkus Prize for Young Readers Literature to be announced later this week.

I did get called into my publishers office to have champagne at 8:30 in the morning, of which I thoroughly approve, she said laughing from the offices of Cormorant Books.

About the prize, she said Its validation. Writing is a very solitary job. You work in isolation and you really have no idea what the reception is going to be and you cant care about it when youre doing the work or youll drive yourself crazy. You put it out of your mind  and then someone comes along and says everyones paying attention and this is a great piece of work.

I dont know what to do with it  Every now and then I just stop and laugh. Its quite extraordinary.

The panel called her book speculative fiction with a chilling immediacy. Its unflinching narrative resonates in our disturbing times. Cherie Dimalines exceptional writing and authentic characters pull you into a story that lingers and unsettles.

The poetry award was captured by Calgary writer Richard Harrison for the evocatively titled On Not Losing My Fathers Ashes in the Flood, published by Hamilton, Ont., small press Buckrider Books. Richard Harrisons intimate yet open voice deftly explores subjects as wide-ranging as childhood, middle-age anxiety, dementia and loss with wonder, humour and resilience, said the jury.

Winner of the drama prize was Hiro Kanagawa, from Port Moody, B.C., for Indian Arm, published by Playwrights Canada Press, a timely and evocative manifestation of the characters struggle with their relationship to the land. . . . Mythic. Heartbreaking. Poetic, said the panellists.

Also included in the English-language list were: When We Were Alone by David Alexander Robertson and Julie Flett, published by HighWater Press, which took the Young Peoples Literature, Illustrated Books prize. Translation (from French to English) went to Montreals Oana Avasilichioaei for Readopolis, a translation of Lectodome by Bertrand Laverdure. The translation was published by Toronto indie press BookThug.

Go to ggbooks.ca for a full list of winners.

The Govenor Generals Literary Awards were founded in 1936 and now give away a total of about $450,000 in prize money each year. These days theyre administered and funded by the Canada Council for the Arts, which took over the awards in 1959.

Winners will be presented with their prizes in a ceremony at Rideau Hall in Ottawa on Nov. 29.

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NEW YORKDustin Hoffman is apologizing for the alleged sexual harassment of a 17-year-old intern in 1985, saying it is not reflective of who I am.

Writer Anna Graham Hunter alleges that the 80-year-old actor groped her on the set of TV movie Death of a Salesman and talked about sex to me and in front of me. She was left in tears, she wrote in a column Wednesday in The Hollywood Reporter.

The Oscar-winner replied Wednesday morning in a statement. I have the utmost respect for women and feel terrible that anything I might have done could have put her in an uncomfortable situation. I am sorry. It is not reflective of who I am.

Hoffman is the latest Hollywood name linked to a deluge of sexual harassment and assault allegations that have been levied against producer Harvey Weinstein, director Brett Ratner and writer-director James Toback. Harassment allegations have also been levied against actors Kevin Spacey and Jeremy Piven.

Elsewhere, police in Beverly Hills say they are investigating complaints against Weinstein and Toback.

The Beverly Hills police department did not specify the nature of the assault complaints, but Tuesdays announcement comes less than a month after numerous women accused Weinstein of sexually harassing them at hotels in the city in an expose by the New York Times.

Toback has been accused by hundreds of women of sexual harassment. Toback does not currently have a representative.

Weinstein is now being sued by an actress who accuses him of two sexual assaults in Toronto in 2000. His representative Sallie Hofmeister did not immediately comment on the new investigation. She has said Weinstein denies all allegations of non-consensual sex.

Netflix has suspended production on its final season of House of Cards amid allegations star Spacey made a sexual advance on actor Anthony Rapp when he was 14. Meanwhile, Christian Bale won what embattled Spacey lost: the privilege of being name-checked on This Is Us.

Tuesdays episode of the NBC drama included a 2008 flashback scene in which a struggling actor learns his roommate has gotten a role in a major movie.

In the scene filmed before Spacey was accused of sexual misconduct, the thrilled roommate refers to a Spacey film.

But This Is Us producer 20th Century Fox Television said it decided to remove Spaceys name, citing recent events. Viewers instead heard the project called a Christian Bale movie.

Spacey has said he doesnt remember the alleged encounter detailed by BuzzFeed News last weekend.

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OTTAWACanada is stepping up efforts to put gender issues front and centre in conflict zones, including the deployment of more women soldiers on peace support missions, elements of a strategy that will be part of long-awaited peacekeeping initiatives expected in the coming weeks.

In a possible preview of the priorities for that peace mission, Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland unveiled Ottawas action plan on women, peace and security Wednesday, saying that a feminist foreign policy is needed now more than ever in the face of angry reactionary movements.

We must take courageous action towards gender equality, especially where women are most vulnerable, Freeland said.

The foreign affairs minister denied that such an agenda was about political correctness or virtue signaling. Rather, she said that putting such a focus on foreign issues has practical impacts that bring changes on the ground.

It matters because where women, in all their diversity, are included in our collective security, everyone is safer, she said.

The plan earmarks a total of $17.1 million in all for gender initiatives to encourage the participation of women and girls in efforts to prevent and resolve conflict.

It includes funding to help train female police officers for UN peace missions, improve gender equality in UN operations and promote the inclusion of women in peace building.

The investments support initiatives in places such as Mali, Colombia and Haiti, which have been named as possible locales for Canadas peace deployment.

Elements of the plan, a follow-up to a strategy first rolled out by the Conservatives in 2011, also include cracking down on abuse and sexual assaults by security personnel and peacekeepers.

There can be no impunity for these crimes. Not for soldiers. Not for civilians. Not for those sent to keep the peace or provide assistance, Freeland said.

In a strong show of support for the policy, four of Freeland cabinet colleagues were on hand, including International Development Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau, Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan and Status of Women Minister Maryam Monsef, and several foreign diplomats, among them Kelly Craft, the new U.S. ambassador to Canada.

It comes as Ottawa is closing in on a decision to deploy up to 600 soldiers and 150 police officers on a peace support mission. During the 2015 election, Justin Trudeau pledged that a Liberal government would return Canada to United Nations peacekeeping but his government has dragged its feet on making a decision.

Gen. Jonathan Vance, the chief of defence staff, met with cabinet ministers on Tuesday and its believed that the peace mission was the focus of that discussion.

The Star had reported that while Mali was one likely destination for the deployment its possible that Canadas peace mission  comprising trainers and support, such as transport aircraft and helicopters  will be spread among several countries.

Vance, who was present for Wednesdays announcement, would only say that the government will announce its decision when its made its decision.

But he said that elements of Wednesdays strategy are a priority for the Canadian Armed Forces.

The military deployments that will occur as part of peace-support operations will be announced in due course and will be consistent with exactly what has been briefed today, Vance told reporters.

As the Star has previously reported, Ottawa has committed to deploy more women on the upcoming peace mission and Vance said that can be critical to the success of such operations.

There are clearly instances when a high percentage of women is very valuable in terms of accessing populations, putting in place the kind of measures necessary to protection the population but also to find out what is going on, he said.

But its more than that and I think Canadas ambitions will be higher than that, in terms of how to make peacekeeping more effective overall, Vance said.

Some form of an announcement is now expected before Canada plays host to a UN peacekeeping summit in Vancouver in mid-November.

During an appearance at the Senate earlier in the week, Sajjan cited changing conditions on the ground as one reason for the delayed announcement of a peace mission.

When I talk about the changes on the ground, were talking about the different radical groups, different events, how the corruption are impacting things, the elections as well, he said Wednesday.

But Sajjan said too that Canadas approach to the coming peace mission will involve more than just the military.

While we look at the military role of what they can do, that we also have to keep in mind that this is not just a strictly a military solution and should not just be a military question, Sajjan said.

We have to be looking at it from a whole-of-government perspective and those are some of the initiatives that have been ongoing, he said.

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MEMBERTOU, N.S.The 78-year-old Mikmaq elder cradles the grainy photo of his lost daughter laminated on his smart phone  a reminder of his hope to find her one day.

Its black and white, but Virginia Sue Pictous brown eyes sparkle, and her father Robert James Pictou has added the lines, Forever in my heart. He keeps a full-sized version propped up at breakfast each morning.

The Nova Scotia-born Pictou was brought to a medical centre in Bangor, Maine, by police after being beaten on April 24, 1993.

Read more: Missing and murdered Indigenous women inquiry calls for police to reopen cold cases

But as doctors briefly turned their attention to a shooting victim in the trauma unit, she quietly left, never to be seen again, family members say.

To me, as a father, every time the subject comes up, its just like it happened yesterday. Its all there, the father said during an interview while attending the National Inquiry into Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women and Girls in Cape Breton.

How is she going to rest in peace, could somebody explain that to me?

The family testified at the hearings at Membertou First Nation on Wednesday morning, repeating their account of how they suspect Virginia died violently, and talking of their hope state police will one day locate her remains and make arrests.

Virginia had seven small children at her home in Easton, Maine, two of whom perished in a 1990 fire.

Francis Pictou, 52, testified Wednesday hes convinced Virginia left the hospital to return home to be with her five remaining children because she didnt wish to leave them with her violent husband.

Agnes Gould, the oldest sister, testified that Virginia repeatedly experienced domestic violence and had frequently come to her seeking shelter.

Robert John Pictou, a 54-year-brother, told the commission hed read a police record describing her beating by her husband and brother-in-law on a main street of Bangor on the day she went to the hospital.

Like other families whove spoken before the inquiry during its cross-country hearings, the siblings say theyre determined to continue their search for information on her case.

We followed every lead we could. We searched fields. We searched swamps. We talked to family. We did investigations, we hired private investigators. Its gone nowhere, said Robert John Pictou.

Searches undertaken by Indigenous families that go on for decades  sometimes across borders  have been a frequent theme at the inquiry as it has crossed the country.

On Wednesday, the inquirys commissioners said 900 people have registered to tell their story, and signalled they will be asking Ottawa for an extension and more money to hear the cases.

Gould said shed like others to hear and be inspired by their resolution during the 24-year quest.

As we always say, our case is one in a thousand, she said during the inquiry.

The inquiry into missing and murdered Indigenous women is calling for the creation of a national police force to address concerns from families. Chief commissioner Marion Buller says the inquiry has no police branch. (The Canadian Pre

As the family spoke, the commissioners released an interim report that called for the provinces, territories and federal government to create a national police task force to handle requests from families and survivors to reopen cases and review investigations.

Commissioner Michele Audette said she has repeatedly heard of cases where police forces are failing to adequately respond to cases that have involved missing or murdered Indigenous women.

A spokesperson for the Maine State Police didnt respond to an emailed request for comment in the Pictou case.

However, Robert John Pictou said that the investigation is one among 50 on a cold-case list, and added that a victims advocate from Maine is in contact with the family.

The brother said having a joint National Task Force in Canada would be welcomed by his family, as it might be able to work with American agencies in cases of Indigenous victims.

As it stands right now, we have zero information on our missing sister. That unfortunately is not unusual, he said.

The history of murdered and missing Mikmaq women in the United States goes back for generations, as Mikmaq and Maliseet band members cross for work, marriage and family ties.

One of the cases that led to the push for the national inquiry was the 1974 death of Aboriginal activist Anna Mae Aquash, a Mikmaq from Nova Scotia.

She was killed during a period of protests by the American Indian Movement and prosecutors allege she was murdered on orders from AIM, because the group believed she was an FBI informant.

Her family struggled for years to have investigations re-opened, and to have her body repatriated and buried in her home community.

Francis Pictou said for siblings and parents, the lost women are never forgotten and simply recovering their body and bringing it home would be a source of closure.

We know in our hearts, we know shes gone, he told the inquiry.

Even if it feels like an endless lead, go after it, he said. You might regret it later that you didnt go after that one possibility.

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MONTREALThe Parti Quebecois has been a central force in Quebecs political life for five decades.

On the eve of its 50th anniversary, those days could be coming to an end.

Next falls provincial election could see the PQ relegated to the same marginal role its federal cousin, the Bloc Quebecois, has been consigned to in the House of Commons since 2011.

With less than a year to go to the provincial vote, Quebecs leading sovereigntist party is being elbowed out of the battle for government. The gap in support between the third place PQ and its two main rivals is growing. Its lead on the fourth-place Quebec Solidaire is narrowing.

A Leger Marketing poll published by Le Devoir last weekend pegged support for the PQ at 20 per cent, nine points behind the ruling Liberals and 14 points behind the now-leading Coalition Avenir Quebec.

If those numbers hold, leader Jean-Francois Lisee will lead his once-dominant party to a historical defeat.

As devastating as the Leger numbers might look, they did not come as a big surprise to most observers. Indeed, it was the fall of the Liberals to second place that initially caught everyones eye. The PQ has been steadily losing ground to the CAQ for months. In no small part, it is the author of its own misfortune.

By putting the partys referendum plans on ice until at least 2022, Lisee had hoped to remove an albatross from around his partys neck. But the PQs strategic retreat from the sovereignty front is having the opposite effect.

With the drive to independence on pause, voters on both sides of the issue are feeling freer to shop for an alternative to Premier Philippe Couillards Liberals.

PQ strategists had hoped the showdown between Catalonia and Spain over the formers bid for independence would breathe new life into their own cause. There was a time when the backlash in the rest of Canada over bill 62  the new Quebec law that prescribes that municipal and provincial services be rendered and received with ones face uncovered  would have bolstered support for sovereignty and its main standard-bearer. So far neither issue has translated into support for the PQ.

CAQ leader Francois Legault has been in the lead in pre-election polls before, only to finish back in third place on voting day. He came out of the founding convention of his party in 2011 with an impressive lead but subsequently failed to translate it into votes.

But back then, Legault  who was initially recruited in politics under the sovereigntist banner  had just turned his back on the PQ. Many voters were suspicious of his federalist conversion. More than a few sovereigntists felt he had betrayed the cause.

Over the past six years, there has been a realignment of the Quebec tectonic plates along an axis other than that of federalism-versus-sovereignty. That is most noticeable on, but not exclusive to, the federal scene.

Legault has also ironed out some of his partys more controversial policies. These days one does not hear the CAQ flirt with a two-tier healthcare system. The partys main focus is on the economy.

From its founding in 1968, the impact of the PQ was felt well beyond the confines of the province and not just because of the threat the party posed to the federations unity.

It was a PQ government, under Rene Levesque, that first drove corporate money out of political financing. The federal parties and a number of provinces now operate on variations of the Quebec model.

Leading sovereigntists such as former premiers Jacques Parizeau and Bernard Landry were early backers of free trade between Canada and the United States. Without Quebec support, Brian Mulroneys 1988 free trade agreement would not have survived that years federal election.

Under Lucien Bouchard, the party pioneered a public child-care system that has no equivalent in the rest of the country or for that matter in the rest of North America.

Sovereignty has fallen out of favour with many younger Quebecers. The brand of nationalism promoted by the baby-boomers who increasingly man by default the PQ frontline is out of step with an increasingly diverse Quebec society. But it has also been a long time since the Parti Quebecois has presented Quebecers with the kind of ambitious leading edge policies that beg to be rewarded with a spell in government.

Chantal Hebert is a national affairs writer. Her column appears Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

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The stormy debate over the arrest of a member of Quebecs legislature continued Wednesday as Premier Philippe Couillard said he is leaning toward the creation of an independent committee to monitor the provinces anti-corruption unit.

He told reporters its time to have a discussion on what kind of supervision society should have over its police forces, especially those with investigative mandates.

How can a democratic society like ours ensure proper surveillance or framework for a police body like UPAC that is going to become an independent police institution? he said, referring to a bill that would broaden the powers of the anti-corruption group.

Read more: Quebec legislators rally to defend colleague Guy Ouellette after arrest

Guy Ouellette steps away from Quebec Liberals following arrest in corruption investigation

I was framed for challenging corruption squad, Quebec politician says

His comments came a day after the unit resisted a call to fully clarify why Guy Ouellette was arrested without charges last Wednesday.

Ouellette, 65, was detained in connection with a UPAC investigation into an important information leak to the media last April.

Ouellette told the legislature Tuesday hes being intimidated and muzzled by UPAC in an attempt to keep him quiet.

Later that day, the head of UPAC told reporters the arrest was just one step in a broad investigation and that any charges will be laid only when it is complete.

Robert Lafreniere added he does not intend to allow anyone to dictate his units conduct or how he runs his investigations, even if they involve a member of the legislature.

On Wednesday, Couillard recognized that UPAC has probably said all it can say about Ouellettes arrest, but said he was still strongly considering the surveillance committee.

Couillard also did not reinstate Ouellette into the Liberal caucus on Wednesday, despite expressing admiration for him.

We love Guy, hes a friend of ours, hes a colleague of ours, he wears the same jersey as we do, he said.

Couillard said it was Ouellette himself who made the decision to remove himself from caucus last week until the Crown decides whether to lay charges in the case.

Many legislature members have come to Ouellettes defence in the wake of the arrest.

On Tuesday, Speaker Jacques Chagnon said it is intolerable that police arrested a parliamentarian without any charges having been laid a week later.

In a swipe at UPAC, Chagnon used the French words accuse ou sexcuse to say it should either charge Ouellette or apologize to him.

But on Wednesday, Natural Resources Minister Pierre Moreau came out against his fellow Liberals position, choosing to abstain from voting on a motion in support of Chagnons speech.

He noted it wasnt even possible for UPAC to charge Ouellette, since such decisions are the sole responsibility of the Crown.

Saying charge or apologize makes for a good clip, but its not consistent with the workings of our justice system, he told reporters.

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The Yukon government has spent $2.5 million on settling approximately 40 sexual abuse lawsuits since 2000, the territorys justice minister revealed in a statement.

The statement from Justice Minister Tracy McPhee comes weeks after two Toronto Star stories, also published in the Yukon News, revealed that the territorial government has been quietly settling lawsuits over sexual abuse by a former school principal identified only as J.V. Reporter Jesse Winter uncovered at least seven lawsuits involving J.V. and found that the settlements often involved confidentiality agreements preventing the victims from talking about the settlements.

The Yukon News has since identified at least one more sexual abuse case involving another government-affiliated official settled in a similar fashion.

Some cases have been dismissed or discontinued, and most have been settled. Settlements are tailored to the individual circumstances of each case, therefore not all settlement amounts are the same, McPhee said.

The payouts would include the territorial governments payments, money paid by insurers and, in some cases, the plaintiffs legal costs, the statement says.

The territorial government had previously told Winter  before his stories were published  that it could not disclose how many sexual abuse cases existed or how much it has spent settling them.

The Yukon government and justice department declined to comment on how many of the approximately 40 cases had actually been settled, dismissed or discontinued, if any cases are still active, the range of settlement payouts and how many cases, if any, were launched before 2000.

In an emailed statement, the communications director for the ministers office said McPhee is committed to reviewing the available information and providing as much information as possible to the public.

In the Oct. 30 statement, McPhee said lawyers for the government have never insisted on non-disclosure clauses that would prevent a victim from disclosing their personal circumstances, including any details about any abuse they suffered.

Our focus has always been on ensuring that the actual settlement negotiations and settlement details remain confidential. This is not to deter victims from coming forward but to encourage settlement by allowing for detailed discussions about themerits of each case by all parties, the statement says. We believe that coming to a settlement is always a better alternative for those involved but in particular for the victim.

Whitehorse lawyer Dan Shier, who has represented clients in cases involving J.V., said he thought McPhees statement was a positive step.

He disagreed, however, that confidentiality clauses encourage settlement.

It just doesnt work, Shier said. So what (McPhee is) saying is that theyve never tried to stop people talking about their experience and thats fine, thats never been part of a confidentiality agreement that I know of.

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The Toronto Police Service is dabbling in the news industry, launching a short weekday newscast as part of what it calls an ongoing effort to communicate with the public and officers alike.

Starting Thursday, the force will broadcast a three-minute newscast to talk about what we do here at the Toronto police directly and unfiltered, according to a promotional video the service released this week. The show will air on YouTube and its social media networks at 10 a.m. each weekday.

Meaghan Gray, spokesperson for the Toronto police, said Wednesday that the show is a natural progression from some of the existing communication initiatives, including their website and social media accounts.

Among its objectives is to dispel urban myth that crime is everywhere in the city every day, the video says. That information will be drawn from the Toronto Police operations centre, which tweets out the various calls and occurrences officers respond to throughout the day.

The show will be a chance to provide information about what may have occurred crime-wise in the city overnight or the previous day, but its also an opportunity for us to highlight various projects or initiatives or individuals, Gray said.

The show will not cost any extra money, Gray said, because its using resources already available within the corporate communications section of Toronto police.

That includes media-relations officers who are already working to provide journalists with information about breaking crime news in the city. Those officers will be the hosts, at least in the early days of the show, she said.

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Warning: This article includes graphic details.

He thumped the Bible but he humped the flock.

A whole lotta fornication going on . . .

Bishop Wayne Jones does not deny that he did the horizontal lambada with at least three members of his congregation  and we havent yet got to the defendants version of what occurred with a fourth complainant, the woman who testified that Shepherd Wayne extorted sex to perform an exorcism.

It was all completely consensual carnality, though, Jones insisted on Tuesday, as he took the stand in his own defence against charges of sexual assault, theft and administering a noxious substance  allegedly, drug-laced cherry Kool-Aid.

Jones, 57, has pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

Each of the women has testified that Jones coerced them into sex while he commanded the pulpit at the United Spiritual Baptist Church in Scarborough and its various incarnations over the years. They submitted  gave their bodies, their money and their property  during purification rituals, to chase away voodoo hexes and, in one case, from fear of being reported as an illegal immigrant after over-staying her visitors visa.

These specific accusations hark back decades, when the women  two of them sisters elevated to deaconess status, now in their 60s  all worshipped at Jones Trinidadian-based Baptist church, a religion akin to Anglican Pentecostals or Charismatic Catholics.

We make a lot of noise, Jones told the judge-alone trial, describing the singing and the musical instruments and hallelujah preaching. We use candles, we use perfumes and we read a lot of scriptures.

Jones, who came to Canada from Trinidad in 1984  hes had jobs as a machine operator, in construction, as an assistant teacher and is currently employed as a social worker  was ordained by an archbishop in New York in the mid-80s after taking a crash course at the Ontario Bible College. He was emphatic that voodoo and removing curses have no part in his ministry. We believe in healing. We believe in miracles. But no, we dont believe in voodoo, he said under questioning from defence lawyer Randall Barrs.

After providing a long and convoluted history of his churchs evolution in Toronto  the community faithful started out in the basement of a rented property, known at the time as the Mt. Ararat Baptist Church  Jones plunged into his fraught romantic relationships with the women.

Yes, he was a married man when he first became involved with Delilah  not her real name; the women cant be identified. A poor unemployed single mom with young sons, shed moved into his apartment. His wife was working two jobs and he and Delilah found themselves alone together much of the time.

She had developed a low self-esteem, said Jones of the complainant. We had intense conversations.

They were drawn to each other sexually, he maintains.

Eventually we started kissing. The kiss moved on to more intimate lovemaking. We had sex on the floor.

While we were having sex, my bedroom door was pushed open and it was my wife. She left and slammed the door. And I was left wondering: How do I explain this?

This complainant had earlier told court that Jones invited her for a spiritual rebirth cleansing, in the churchs basement bathroom, which involved getting naked. On that occasion, after Delilah ripped off her blindfold and noticed Jones erection, she bolted lickety-split. In a subsequent incident, court heard, when she had been promised theyd discuss her on-going immigration dilemma, she claimed hed given her a glass of Kool-Aid and the next thing she remembered was waking up some 10 hours later, wearing only her panties. Later, annoyed by her nagging about the immigration matter, Jones told her: Thats why I f------ you and you can do nothing about it.

Jones on Tuesday: That never happened. She was fabricating.

Jones and his wife separated (later reconciling and then splitting again) after she caught him with Delilah. During the couples time apart, he says Delilah gave him a key to her apartment and they had sex four or six times a week.

We were in love.

But Jones admits he was troubled because he had also had an affair with Delilahs older sister, another single parent. But Isobel, unlike her sibling, was in Canada legally, so they were able to make trips to the U.S. together to purchase the oils and unguents he needed for the spiritual baths. Isobel, said Jones, was my getaway haven.

He was sleeping with both of them.

(Isobel) suspected that I was having an affair with (Delilah) but I dont think (Delilah) knew that I was having an affair with (Isobel).

Isobel testified last week that Jones wrangled sex from her over an 18-month period, forcing her to give him a key to her home. If she refused, he threatened to make me walk the streets like a crazy woman and he would destroy my kids.

Both women left the church, joining a breakaway sect.

Jones was originally charged on one count of sexual assault in 2014. Afterwards three other complainants came forward.

On Tuesday, he described the accumulation of accusations as a charade and when Delilah came forward, I could have had a heart attack.

Twenty-three years would pass before the sisters gave statements to police. This came out of some hat, Jones objected, shaking his head.

Barrs then took Jones to the third complainant  well call her Yvonne  who testified about one sexual episode with the pastor, intended to expunge the evil spirits which had been haunting her.

Jones recalled going to Yvonnes rooming house one Saturday afternoon, at her invitation, and sitting on the edge of her bed while the woman moaned about her unhappy love life. One thing let to another. We got talking, we got touching. I laughed because I realized she was not very experienced in kissing.

Yvonne went to the bathroom and came back with no clothes on.

I did not take my clothes off. I undid my zipper.

Im not proud of it.

Jones added: Im not going to sit here and be derogatory. But it was not very enticing. But I was a young man and one thing led to another.

It never happened again, said Jones. She wanted us to continue what wed started. But its not something I wanted.

While not originally claiming sexual assault, this woman took Jones to small claims court over a $1,200 loan hed never repaid, and won.

Which brings us to Complaint No. 4.

Margaret believed a Montreal psychic had placed a voodoo curse on her and implored Jones to lift it. She told court that he claimed there was only one remedy  a sexorcism.

On Tuesday, Jones said hed known Margaret casually for a long time. He was surprised when, during a trip he made to Ghana for the ordination of 22 pastors, he discovered Margaret was staying in the hotel room next door. (Her boyfriend had recently been arrested for dealing drugs and was back in Canada in jail.)

In Ghana, Jones explained, the spiritual Baptists are heavily into prophecy.

It was at a large all-night prophetory service where the local bishop delivered alarming observations aimed at Margaret.

He said, I see a dark cloud over you. He spoke about guns and drugs. And then she started screaming.

That went on for 45 minutes.

At that point in the narrative, the proceedings adjourned.

The trial continues.

Rosie DiManno usually appears Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.

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It was the end of Mueller Monday, a bruising day for U.S. President Donald Trump, and all eyes were on John Kelly, Trumps chief of staff, the man some media called the adult in the room to comment on the shocking developments.

Days later, nobody remembers what Kelly had to say about the federal indictments of Trumps former campaign manager Paul Manafort and Rick Gates, accused of money laundering and committing crimes against the United States, among many charges.

What caused shock waves were his views on the Civil War, which he attributed not to slavery, but a lack of an ability to compromise, on Fox News. And men and women of good faith on both sides made their stand where their conscience had to make their stand.

Very fine people, on both sides.

People gasped, historians groaned. Descendants of abolitionist Frederick Douglass  who escaped slavery himself  called it emblematic of historical whitewashing.

Even the descendant of Confederate general Robert E. Lee said Kelly would be better off keeping Trump from tweeting and enacting racist policies, rather than engaging in a debate over the racist past of the South.

Kellys insistence of goodness on both sides of the Civil War isnt about the nitty-gritty of historical facts. Its a declaration of principles that underpin this administrations motives. If you diminish slavery, you can deny racism.

With his fiction-based revisionism, Kelly prised the Lost Cause out of the grasp of academia and gave it a White House stamp of approval.

His views arent surprising. As a section of the population knows, these attitudes have always existed when it comes to racism.

A few years ago, I was at dinner at someones house when another person showed up without her husband. Hes at home with a friend, she explained awkwardly. And the friend is nice, really nice . . . hes just um . . . hes just a little ah . . . hes kind of racist.

Nice racists.

Ive come to learn that nice racists are those who are capable of pleasantness only to white people.

This is a learning of epiphanic proportions that Ive since placed at the root of the good-people-on-both-sides argument.

Anybody who has tried to speak out against racism knows the conversation goes something like this: Your boot is on my neck, take it off. The response: Are you saying Im not a good person?

This is why systemic police brutality against racialized and Indigenous people is dismissed as individual instances of a few bad apples.

Discriminatory hiring is passed off as meritocracy. The best were hired, they just happen to be mostly white.

Racist Halloween costumes find the good-at-heart defence: Meant no harm.

Historical figures: Flawed heroes. Also, dont apply todays values on them. Orchestrating famines, owning people, killing, kidnapping, mutilating, raping them were the norm. Not criminal or abusive at all.

Thus the cycle continues. We were good people. We are good people.

Its an instinct that television host Stephen Colbert could not resist Tuesday night when he lambasted Kellys words on the Civil War on his show, then said, Or maybe, Kelly knows better, and is just being wilfully ignorant. Because as the chief of staff, hes now forced to defend the positions of an idiot.

Can you hear it, too? Kelly just might be a good person in a bad spot.

In the context of the Civil War, this desire to be labelled good isnt just a Southern fetish.

One of the biggest myths, the New York Times Magazine journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones told the podcast Uncivil, is that the North is not implicated in slavery. That somehow, if your ancestors lived in the North, you have clean hands.

Slavery caused the Civil War, but it doesnt mean the North was fighting to stop it. They were fighting to preserve the Union, which isnt the same thing, she said.

Slavery enriched all the states. The cotton produced by forced Black labour fuelled the Industrial Revolution in the textile-producing North, she said, and it implicated every industry, from shipbuilding to banking.

The Emancipation Proclamation by Abraham Lincoln  considered the good guy in all this  did not in fact, free all slaves. It only freed those who were in places that had left the union. A slave owner living in a state that was in the union could keep his slaves.

Forget both sides, there were no good guys in the Civil War. There were victims, who passed their spirit of resistance to their progeny.

Its they who have become an inconvenient truth challenging a self-woven narrative of goodness. That explains this fact-free revisionism.

Correction - November 8, 2017: This article was edited from a previous version that mistakenly referred to the federal indictment of Manafort's business partner Robert Gates. In fact, Manafort's business partner's name is Rick Gates.

Shree Paradkar writes about discrimination and identity. You can follow her @shreeparadkar

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A publicly funded building that opened two years ago is inaccessible to people with disabilities and is another example of how weak provincial regulations are failing to ensure new buildings can be used by everyone, says a Toronto lawyer.

Ryerson Universitys $112-million Student Learning Centre poses safety risks for people with disabilities, advocate David Lepofsky says.

Lepofsky released a video showing how Ryersons building poses what he says are risks for people with blindness, low vision, mobility disabilities, dyslexia and balance issues.

The video follows Lepofsky walking with his white cane trying to navigate the centres steep staircases and student socializing areas. Several times in the video, he walks into pillars, including one that stands in the middle of the staircase in the path of a handrail.

Two other pillars lean in an angled position, one in front of an elevator and next to a ramp so its difficult for a walking stick to detect.

Ryerson tried to do the right thing, they wanted to make the building accessible, said Lepofsky, head of a grassroots alliance that monitors progress on the provinces landmark Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act.

But the problem is twofold  one: Ontarios building laws are weak and dont require buildings to meet the needs of those with disabilities and two: architects are not properly trained in accessibility and nor do they give it priority.

The eight-storey structure, which opened in February 2015 at the corner of Yonge and Gould Sts., provides space on campus for students to socialize and work. The building won an award from the Canadian Architect Magazine for its proposed design in 2012.

It was designed by the architectural team of Zeidler and Snhetta. Zeidler Partnership Architects could not be reached for comment, while a spokesperson for Snhetta directed all questions to Ryerson.

Andreas Kyprianou, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Accessibility, said the province is well on its way to remove barriers so that people with disabilities can participate in all aspects of daily life but recognizes that there is more to do.

Accessibility in buildings, including accessible washrooms, wheelchair ramps, and elevators, are regulated by Ontarios Building Code and is administered by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs, Kyprianou said in an email. It is the responsibility of municipalities to enforce the Building Code, including reviewing building plans, issuing permits, and conducting construction inspections.

A spokesperson for Ryerson said the university has been taking immediate measures to make the Student Learning Centre more accessible.

The SLC held an open, community wide charrette to hear concerns and share ideas on how to improve accessibility at the SLC, said spokesperson Johanna VanderMaas. Ryerson University is committed to providing an accessible learning and employment environment for students, employees and members of the Ryerson community.

Its the second time that Lepofsky has used a video to show his concerns regarding accessibility laws and new buildings in Ontario. Lepofsky made a video last year showing accessibility issues at Centennial Colleges Culinary Arts Centre shortly after it opened.

In his video released Sunday, Lepofsky highlights how the Ryerson building poses risks for people with blindness, low vision, mobility disabilities, dyslexia and balance issues.

Lepofsky argues that many of the accessibility issues could have been easily avoided but that architects and designers gave priority to the buildings aesthetic look instead of focusing on whether it can be used by everyone.

In the video, he also shows how the award-winning building has angled railings that make it very difficult to climb stairs for people who are blind or have balance issues and how labels written in Braille in the elevators are mislabelled.

People generally assume that new buildings are more accessible than old buildings because we improved the laws and its not something we have to worry about anymore, Lepofsky said. Thats not true, here you see a very new building with significant accessibility problems.

In a letter dated Oct. 23 to the Ontario Ministry of Accessibility, Lepofsky asked the government to launch a new strategy to address the recurring disability accessibility barriers in the province.

The student centre, Lepofsky said, would not have been built with these issues if the Ontario Building Code and Ontarios Disabilities Act had more strict regulations and standards. The government and other institutions need to also focus on training architects on accessibility, he added.

If we dont change the laws and if architects are not being trained sufficiently about accessibility, then we are creating more generations of problems and paying for it, he said. Someone shouldnt be getting a licence to be an architect or a design professional without being really trained to design a building that everyone could use.

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In a rare move, a Toronto man will face a third trial for the same murder.

The Crown is intending to proceed with this prosecution, Crown attorney Julie Battersby told a Superior Court judge Wednesday, in the case of Warren Nigel Abbey, who was sitting in the prisoner's box.

Abbey is accused of first-degree murder in the execution-style shooting death of Simeon Peter, 19, in Scarborough in 2004. His lawyer declined to comment to the Star on Wednesday.

Abbey was acquitted at his first trial in 2007, but after the Crown appealed, he was tried a second time in 2011, at which point he was found guilty. Then Abbey appealed, and last summer, the Ontario Court of Appeal ordered that he should face a new trial.

The decision to proceed to a third trial was ultimately at the discretion of the Crown, which could have chosen to withdraw the charge. The new trial may prove to be an uphill battle for prosecutors, who find themselves without a key part of their evidence against Abbey following the Court of Appeal ruling in August.

The Crown had alleged at Abbey's second trial that he was an associate of the Malvern Crew gang who shot and killed Peter, mistakenly believing he was a member of the rival Galloway Boys, and that Abbey had a teardrop tattooed under his right eye about four months later.

Testifying for the Crown, sociologist Mark Totten said a teardrop tattoo meant one of three things: the individual had lost a loved one or fellow gang member, had spent time in prison or had killed a rival gang member.

But Ontario's top court came down hard on Totten in their ruling overturning Abbey's conviction. After the defence raised fresh evidence  issues surrounding Totten's research and testimony  the court found Totten's testimony contained inaccuracies and even falsehoods.

A three-judge panel found his evidence unreliable, that he misrepresented the sample size of gang members in some of his studies, and that statistics he provided on the stand about gang members with teardrop tattoos are nowhere to be found in his studies.

I have concluded that the fresh evidence shows Totten's opinion evidence on the meaning of a teardrop tattoo to be too unreliable to be heard by a jury. If the trial judge had known about the fresh evidence he would have ruled Totten's evidence inadmissible, Court of Appeal Justice John Laskin wrote for the panel.

And the absence of Totten's evidence would reasonably be expected to have affected the jury's verdict. I would admit the fresh evidence, allow Abbey's appeal, overturn his conviction and order a new trial.

Indeed, at Abbey's first trial, the Crown was barred by the judge from having Totten give evidence, and the jury ended up acquitting Abbey.

There is other Crown evidence, but Laskin noted in his ruling that the rest of the Crown's case was not overly strong, and included poor eyewitness testimony and problematic evidence from three Malvern Crew members whose testimony implicated Abbey. Two of them testified in exchange for being granted immunity on a number of serious offences, while the third member refused to testify at the second trial.

It was ironic that the Court of Appeal ordered a third trial due to Totten's evidence, given the fact that it was the Court of Appeal  albeit a different panel of judges  that allowed the Crown's appeal and ordered a second trial in 2009, finding that Totten should have been allowed to give evidence on teardrop tattoos. (The issues about Totten's evidence that were before the top court this year were not before it in 2009.)

Writing for a unanimous three-judge panel in 2009, Justice David Doherty said that viewed cumulatively, Totten's evidence along with the evidence of Malvern Crew members about the meaning of teardrop tattoos could reasonably present a compelling picture for the Crown.

I do not suggest that a jury would necessarily take that view of the excluded evidence, he wrote. I say only that a reasonable jury could take that view. If it did, the verdict could very well be different.

And it was. Abbey was convicted of first-degree murder by a jury at his second trial in 2011, and sentenced to life in prison without chance of parole for 25 years.

A date for his third trial will be set Dec. 5.

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Ontarians have a bad habit to break when it comes to coffee  and they need some help, says Progressive Conservative MPP Norm Miller.

Hes pushing for all parties at Queens Park to support a law requiring every single-use coffee pods sold in Ontario to be compostable within four years so they can be tossed into the green bin as soon as the cup of Joe is brewed.

The goal is to keep more of the 1.5 billion pods used annually in Canada out of garbage dumps.

Ontario has a waste problem, said Miller (Parry Sound-Muskoka) Wednesday before presenting his private members bill. He cited a recent warning from the provinces environmental commissioner.

While some companies, including Loblaw, McDonalds and Muskoka Roastery Coffee Co., sell java in compostable Keurig-style pods, the majority of pods sold in Ontario are made elsewhere and are not recyclable or compostable, Miller said.

He cited compostable pods, developed by Toronto-based Club Coffee with the University of Guelphs bioproducts development centre, as a model for the rest of the fast-growing, single-serve coffee industry.

Its a Canadian invention, said Miller, downplaying any concerns his bill would involve too much regulation for business.

Its a positive regulation... It simplifies things for business as well.

The compostable pods are made from plant materials and skins from reclaimed coffee beans. They bio-degrade in about five weeks.

Claudio Gemmiti of Club Coffee told a news conference that single-serve coffee pods are a fast-growing part of the market, making the key to waste reduction, on this front, a solution without the consumer having to change their behaviour.

Recyclable pods are finicky to deal with because the cap must be torn off and the coffee grounds rinsed out and the plastic cup thrown in the blue bin, Miller said.

Eliminating them and filling the market with compostable pods would enable more municipal waste systems to accept all pods, he said. The Club Coffee-made compostable PurPod100s have been tested for composting in Muskoka, Orillia, Peel, Guelph and Niagara and are waiting to hear if they will be approved.

Municipalities are hesitant to accept compostable coffee pods into their compost systems because they are afraid that confused consumers will attempt to compost non-compostable coffee pods... contaminating the compost and driving up costs.

Doug Burns of Muskoka Roastery said compostable pods can be part of the next wave of sustainability.

Millers bill will be debated in the legislature on Nov. 23.

Private members bills are rarely passed, but, if Millers effort becomes law, Ontario would be the first jurisdiction in North America to require compostable coffee pods.

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Texting while crossing can be hazardous, but banning it can be hostile.

Thats the logical speed trap people are falling into as politicians debate whether to make distracted walking a provincial offence. Suddenly, pedestrians are paying attention to the proposal  and taking great offence.

The competing narratives go something like this:

One camp has long raged about an imagined war on the car, taking umbrage whenever politicians try to dial down speed limits or ramp up bicycle paths. They point the finger at distracted pedestrians who put themselves in harms way without looking both ways.

The other side bemoans the supposed victory of the vehicle, fuming over the encroachment of automobiles. And asks:

How dare you fault people for dying while walking and talking? A law against texting while crosswalking amounts to victim shaming and blaming, critics say.

Ontarios legislature will soon debate a private members bill that would levy an initial $50 fine on pedestrians caught looking at their phones instead of looking both ways. Honolulu has just passed a similar law, Toronto councillors are keen, but critics wont hear of it.

In the resulting war of words, distracted walkers are dismissed as zombies, while meddling lawmakers are lumped in with the nanny state. And so the subtext of any anti-texting law is this:

Do zombies need nannies?

Setting aside the name-calling, most of us know the limits of texting while multi-tasking. You can lose situational awareness within seconds  whether behind the wheel or in front of a speeding vehicle.

We know that distracted driving has eclipsed drunk driving as the greatest peril on our roadways. Thats why stiff fines have been imposed in recent years with little pushback.

Why are pedestrians so defensive about being required to look up from their phones before crossing the street? A frequent argument is that they do no harm, because they arent the ones driving a speeding mass of steel into an intersection.

But that overlooks the risk to cyclists who might collide with a pedestrian stepping into the road without looking. Or the evasive manoeuvres they take, causing a deadly chain reaction with other vehicles.

In any case, theres nothing wrong with the state protecting us from ourselves. Remember that motorcycle helmets are imposed on bikers to protect themselves from harm, not others. Similarly, seatbelt laws are compulsory for drivers, sometimes to guard against their own folly.

As such, those self-protective seatbelt and helmet laws are the ultimate expression of the nanny state in action. A law that protects distracted pedestrians from self-inflicted peril is little different.

Critics point to statistics showing mobile phones are rarely a factor in pedestrian deaths. But those figures arent the full story, for they dont tell us how often mobiles are a factor in non-fatal injuries, nor do they describe the close calls that are never recorded but cant be denied.

The absence of data doesnt mean we can close our eyes to accidents waiting to happen.

If you are distracted as a pedestrian, you are more likely to get hurt, said Yvan Baker, a Liberal MPP (Etobicoke Centre) behind the legislation. If even one death could be prevented by this bill, then its a death that should be avoided.

No one is expecting police officers at every corner ticketing distracted walkers, just as we dont expect the cops to blitz jaywalkers every day. Yet we keep jaywalking laws on the books as a way of encouraging people to obey the rules at crosswalks.

The difficulties of enforcement need not deter us from enacting laws that have a useful deterrent value.

Just as jaywalking laws are aspirational (and barely enforceable) so too a ban on distracted crosswalking could be educational (and rarely adversarial). The alternative is to keep playing the victim card  cars bad, pedestrians good; your fault, not mine.

Yes, drivers wield an imbalance of power and must yield the right of way. But pedestrians who walk without looking are looking for trouble  right or wrong.

If thats the law, so much the better.

Martin Regg Cohns political column appears Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. mcohn@thestar.ca, Twitter: @reggcohn

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A tract of provincial land in Torontos northwest end will be home to a mix of affordable housing, rental units and market-rate dwellings.

Premier Kathleen Wynne made the announcement Wednesday morning alongside Mayor John Tory and provincial housing and poverty-reduction minister Peter Milczyn.

Were moving ahead to create another new affordable mixed income housing community just north of the 401, Wynne said. Were unlocking a large parcel of land in the Thistletown neighbourhood in Etobicoke with hundreds of new mixed income units for the community. And well be working with the city to transform that provincial land into a community filled with homes of varying sizes and affordability.

She said the area, near Kipling and Finch Aves., will include rental units but it will also include home ownership opportunities for lower income people.

The government and city have previously announced similar plans for surplus sites near Yonge and College, as well as the West Don Lands.

Tory said the governments release of three very substantial pieces of surplus land  are going to allow for hundreds, in fact hundreds and hundreds of affordable housing units and this is going to be a benefit to the people of the City of Toronto; people who are struggling to find affordable housing, people who are in need of the support of all of their governments to make sure they have a life that is fair and that gives them an opportunity.

The Thistletown site, of which one-third will be affordable housing, is located at 51 Panorama Crt., which at one time was the Thistletown Regional Centre. It is 48 acres, with just under half set aside as protected ravine lands.

Wynne and Tory were also asked about a meeting they held just prior to the Wednesday announcement  their first in many months  with Tory joking that the two had been on a summer break.

You know this week alone I have seen the premier I think three times outside of this meeting already and each of those times we have taken a brief moment to talk about something that is of mutual interest to us, Tory said. Our relationship was never in question  in all relationships sometimes you take a little break and its like a summer break. And now we are back here in the fall and we are doing things together and we are doing things for the benefit of the people we both serve and the same with the government of Canada. We are working together.

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NEW YORKThe screams seemed too vivid from the start, too visceral to belong to crowds celebrating a crisp and sunny Halloween in Lower Manhattan. The tragedy had unfolded in just minutes, and for hours it remained too senseless to believe.

Police tape surrounded the white pickup truck that a 29-year-old assailant had transformed into an instrument of terror when he began hitting cyclists and joggers along the West Side Highway bike path. A mangled school bus sat next to it.

Bodies lay strewn along the way. For those who encountered the scene Tuesday, the aftermath was as confusing as it was gruesome.

Read more:

At least eight dead in truck attack on New York City bike path. This was an act of terror, mayor says

Trump orders Homeland Security to step up its vetting program after New York City attack

Tom Kendrick, 36, a lawyer from the West Village neighbourhood, said he was jogging uptown just north of Chambers Street when he began noticing the mayhem on the bike path. He saw a battered body and bicycle in the bushes alongside the path. Further along he found three bodies close together, also battered cyclists.

I approached to see if I could help, and they did not need help  they appeared to be dead, said Kendrick.

They were bloody and unconscious, with some limbs hanging, he said. It was gruesome. It was grisly. It was surreal.

These people were gone, he said. Im in shock. Im looking at dead bodies.

At least eight people lost their lives in what was the deadliest terrorist attack to strike New York City since Sept. 11, 2001, and about a dozen more were injured.

Hiro Kimura, 15, a sophomore at Stuyvesant High School, said that he and his friends heard a big car crash. Then they heard shooting.

We saw flocks of children running from the scene, Hiro said.

The New York City Police Commissioner, James P. ONeill, gave a preliminary timeline of the violence, which he called an act of terror, in a news conference Tuesday evening.

The white truck entered the bicycle path alongside West Street by Houston Street at 3:05 p.m. and headed south, hitting pedestrians and cyclists along the way. The truck, labelled with Home Depot logos, went 20 blocks before ramming into a school bus at Chamber Street. Two adults and two children who were on the bus were reportedly injured in the crash.

The 29-year-old man driving the truck exited the vehicle with what appeared to be two handguns, according to ONeill, at which point a uniformed police officer approached the man and shot him in the abdomen. Early reports suggested that the assailant may have yelled Allahu akbar, Arabic for God is great, after exiting his vehicle. A paintball gun and pellet gun were recovered from the scene later.

Many of the children attending schools in the area were horror-struck.

The mother of a 13-year-old girl who came face-to-face with the suspect said her daughter was too traumatized to talk. The woman, her daughter and two other children were being escorted from the scene by a police officer. She did not want to give her name or her childs name for security reasons, she said. The girls face was red and tear-streaked, and she curled her hands into the sleeves of her blue hooded sweatshirt. Her mother said she was a student at Intermediate School 289 on Warren Street, yards from where the truck came to a rest after crashing into the school bus.

She was right in front of the shooter, the woman said of her daughter. He had two guns. She said she didnt remember much else.

Olivia Raykhman, 14, glimpsed the wrecked school bus in the immediate aftermath of the episode. They were sawing through a school bus window. They broke all of the windows and were trying to pull kids out. There was a man covering a child with a blanket. There was one kid who was stuck, she said.

We ran into the building, and they told us to hide, said Olivia, a freshman.

She took shelter in what she called a cellar with a group that was at first just 15 people. Around 50 more soon joined.

As Olivia and her friends ran inside, students on the upper floors of Stuyvesant recorded video of what was happening on the street. Videos posted on Facebook and then circulated over Snapchat showed what appeared to be the suspect, a bearded man in dark clothing, heading down the street with his weapons in his hands, next to a white pickup truck.

Adria Menezes, 45, said she saw the suspect firing one of his weapons at cars on West Street.

Menezes had just arrived at Public School 89, which shares space with IS 289, at 3:03 p.m. to pick up two children she babysits, when she suddenly heard cars crashing on West Street and saw a yellow school bus drive like crazy.

Then roughly four metres away, she saw a tall man with dark hair and a hat. He was walking quickly, screaming something indiscernible, and shooting at the cars, causing further mayhem.

When I saw the man shooting at all the cars, we threw ourselves to the ground, she said in Spanish by phone from inside the school, which remained locked down.

Marie Hui was visiting New York City with several friends from Vancouver, British Columbia, and had been in the SoHo neighbourhood shopping before the attack. Several of her friends were at the Sept. 11 Memorial at the time and sheltered in place.

Were from Vancouver, she said. This doesnt happen over there.

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FULLERTON, CALIF.Several dozen protesters gathered Tuesday night and at least one fight broke out at a Southern California college before a speech by Milo Yiannopoulos, whose speeches at other campuses have led to violence.

The protesters at the California State University, Fullerton stood outside barricades chanting Black lives matter, and Cops and the Klan go hand in hand. Some carried signs that read immigrants in racists out.

They were mostly peaceful, but one woman attacked another with punches and a person set off pepper spray amid the melee. It wasnt clear what prompted the attack or which side the attacker was on.

Read more: Milo Yiannopoulos appearance at UC Berkeley sparks clash of extremes

At least two people were taken into police custody.

Dozens of police officers, some of them in riot gear, were outside the venue, where hundreds showed up to listen to Yiannopoulos.

We come out and try and be louder than them, said Claudia Brick, 66, who was among those protesting Yiannopoulos. We believe in their right to free speech as well, but we believe we can get our message across louder, and there are certainly more of us.

The event comes after a series of other scheduled speeches by Yiannopoulos have fallen through. He called off a weekend appearance in Arizona after a series of threats, and made a fleeting appearance at the famously liberal University of California, Berkeley last month after a weeklong free speech event he helped organize was called off.

Last February, UC Berkeley police cancelled Yiannopoulos scheduled speech on campus just before it was to begin, citing safety concerns. A large crowd had gathered outside and the peaceful demonstration turned violent when dozens of black-clad anarchists appeared and attacked some demonstrators and later vandalized some businesses near the campus.

Cal State Fullerton is a largely commuter campus serving about 40,000 students. Unlike Berkeley, the school isnt known as a hotbed of political activism, though there has been an increase in rallies and demonstrations over the last year, campus police Lt. Scot Willey said.

Yiannopoulos was invited to speak by the College Republicans. Brooke Paz, a spokeswoman for the group, said the goal was to draw attention to free speech and the presence of politically conservative students on campus.

We really just felt left out of the conversations on campus as conservatives and bringing him has really started this conversation about free speech, she said.

Correction  November 1, 2017: This article was edited from a previous version that misstated the name of California State University, Fullerton.

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The childhood friends from Argentina had been planning the trip to New York City for years.

The men all hailed from Rosario, Argentinas third largest city, about 300 kilometre northwest of Buenos Aires. As teenagers, they had bonded in the halls and classrooms of the Instituto Politecnico, a technical high school in Rosario, and graduated together from there in 1987.

Through the decades  despite job changes, marriage, children, moves to far-flung corners of the world  they remained close friends. And on Saturday, eight of the former classmates gathered to fly to the United States to celebrate their 30th graduation anniversary.

They were in their late 40s now, firmly in the realm of middle age. But as they posed for a photograph just before their departure, the old friends slung their arms over one another and grinned like schoolkids. They donned matching white T-shirts emblazoned with the same word: LIBRE. Free.

It is unclear when exactly they arrived in New York; they had planned to stop in Boston, to meet up with another former classmate. But what is certain is that on Tuesday  a beautiful, brisk fall afternoon in Manhattan  the men rode bicycles along a bike path flanking the Hudson River.

As they pedalled along the West Side Highway, a white rented Home Depot truck turned onto the path as well.

The truck would soon plow into a crowd of pedestrians and cyclists, killing at least eight people  including five of the Argentine men. At least one other former classmate from the group was injured.

The Home Depot truck would later careen into a small school bus, injuring four more inside, officials said.

After leaving behind a trail of chaos, the 29-year-old driver of the truck was shot and arrested by police, ending what authorities described as a terrorist attack. Officials said the suspected attacker, Sayfullo Saipov, left a note pledging his allegiance to Daesh, also known as ISIS and ISIL. New York Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo said Saipov was believed to be a lone wolf who was radicalized domestically after moving to the United States from Uzbekistan six years ago.

The brazen daytime attack, which took place less than 10 blocks from the World Trade Center and 9/11 Memorial, sent shock waves through the city  but also thousands of miles away, as friends and family in Argentina coped with the sudden loss of five of their own.

The Argentine Foreign Ministry identified the five dead Argentine nationals as Hernan Diego Mendoza, Diego Enrique Angelini, Alejandro Damian Pagnucco, Ariel Erlij and Hernan Ferruchi. The New York Police Department said all of the men were 47, except for Erlij, who was 48.

The others killed in the attack were American and Belgian, said police, who identified those victims as Darren Drake, 32, of New Milford, N.J.; Nicholas Cleves, 23, of New York; and Anne Laure Decadt, 31, of Belgium.

The Argentine Foreign Ministry said a sixth member of the group of friends from Rosario, Martin Ludovico Marro, suffered injuries and was hospitalized in the Presbyterian Hospital of Manhattan. He is in stable condition, the government said, citing medical officials.

They were five young entrepreneurs, model citizens in Rosario society, said Argentinas president, Mauricio Macri, in Buenos Aires. We all must stand together in the fight against terrorism.

The mayor of Rosario declared flags to be flown at half-staff for three days of mourning, according to the citys local newspaper, La Capital.

Read more:

This was an act of terror, mayor says

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Trump orders Homeland Security to step up its vetting program after New York City attack

It was Erlij, 48, who had organized the reunion trip for the classmates, paying for those who couldnt afford it, according to Mary Bensuley, a longtime family friend. Erlij was a well-known Argentine businessman who owned Ivanar, an iron and steel works company.

I can say the family has a great spirit of solidarity, Bensuley told The Post. Their trip was to mark the 30-year anniversary after graduation ... Theyre great people. They have a good economic position, and they were always offering to help.

She described Erlijs family as devastated. Like many Argentines on Wednesday, Bensuley was having a hard time processing the motivation for the attack.

Here, everyone lives in peace, and religion has never been a big subject of conversation, she said in a Facebook message. There are big debates about politics and soccer, but religion? Not really. Were Catholics and we have Jewish, atheist and Mormon friends. Muslim friends, too. Our pain is for the innocent and unjust deaths of people who have nothing to do with the craziness that brought people trapped by their fundamentalist ideas to cause such terrible damage.

Erlij was at the airport in Rosario on Saturday, but did not depart with the group, instead catching up with the others in New York on a private flight the following day, according to the Argentine newspaper Clarin.

Erlijs friend, Luciano DAmelio, told The Washington Post he was successful and generous, a gym buff who made time for workouts despite his busy life. Erlij was Jewish, though his wife was not, DAmelio said. The couple had three children, she said.

Im still in shock, DAmelio said in a Facebook message. The incident really hit us. Never in our wildest imaginations did we think something like this could happen.

Jose Lo Menzo, another one of Erlijs friends, described him as an excellent person and father who was also very intelligent.

(Erlij) studied in a public, middle-class school, and he managed to become a successful businessman, without forgetting about his friends, he said. It is a loss without meaning.

At least two of the victims, Ferruchi and Angelini, were architects, according to La Nacion.

Ornee Pagnucco, 18, one of the three daughters of victim Alejandro Pagnucco, told The Post the 48-year-old and his friends had been planning their reunion trip for more than a year. Alejandro Pagnucco worked for a construction materials company and had never travelled much, but he saw New York as iconic. Visiting the city, she said, had been his dream.

After her father left, he sent photos of his hotel room and selfies of him walking through New Yorks streets, Ornee Pagnucco said. She added she knew terrorist attacks had happened there but never considered them a serious risk.

Were shattered, she said. Its been really hard.

Early Wednesday, a friend of Pagnucco posted a Facebook tribute to a good student and son, a great worker.

(The attacker) did not care who you were, did not care about the three beautiful daughters you have. Nor your dear brothers, Gustavo Repizo wrote on behalf of his late friend. You destroyed a family that was not interested in the religious or monetary problems of the world.

Picho, Repizo added, using a nickname for his friend, was a person of peace.

Cecilia Piedrabuena, the wife of Ariel Benvenuto  one of the Argentines who survived the attack  told Rosarios Radio LT8 her husband had been bicycling behind the others when he felt something go past by him.

He saw (the attackers van) veer toward five of his friends, Piedrabuena told the radio station. He said it was going at more than 150 kilometres per hour  terrible.

Her husband had called her from New York shortly after the attack; she listened to him in disbelief, she said, unable to grasp what had happened at first because it wasnt yet on the news.

Piedrabuena described the group of Argentines as being the 10 closest friends from high school. They saw each other frequently, she said, at least a few times a year. They had planned the trip for this year because Erlij had offered to pay for those couldnt afford it, she told Radio LT8.

Their plan that day, Piedrabuena said, had been to bicycle through Central Park, and then over the Brooklyn Bridge.

They didnt make it, she told the radio station.

Estefania Garcia, a Rosario resident and alumna of the high school, told The Post she knows Marro, the man currently hospitalized for injuries from the attack, and spoke with his sister-in-law Tuesday night.

Though details behind the photo of the men in matching T-shirts were not yet confirmed, Garcia said it was no coincidence that they wore T-shirts with the inscription free.

Freedom is one of the essential values taught at their alma mater, Garcia said. She described it as a tight-knit community that leads to lasting friendships. It has a demanding curriculum, with long days of workshops, meaning classmates become very close. She said she was not surprised to hear that a group of alumni were still close friends, three decades after graduating. Garcia herself remains very close with her friends from the high school.

We all love it, she said. Graduates live all over the world.

Marro is a longtime U.S. resident living in the Boston suburb of Newton, and he works as a biomedical researcher at Novartis Institutes in Cambridge, according to Newton City Council member James Cote.

Cote, a Republican, said Marro hosted a fundraiser for him last week that was also attended by Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker. Cote said Marro and his wife, an architect, are not political people but had offered to host the event because Marros wife is a friend of Cotes wife, who is also from Argentina.

Marro has two sons in elementary school in Newton, Cote said, and Marro coaches soccer.

They are very nice, very quiet people, said Cote. They were just in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Mendoza was remembered for being an athlete in his youth who never lost his love of sports.

I had him as a player for many years, before he became an architect, Salvador Capitano, technical director of Renato Cesarini, a soccer school and club in Rosario, said in an interview via Twitter. Throughout his career, we maintained a close relationship. He was an exceptional person in every aspect. A father of three children, he was very happy bringing his son to play soccer. He was a simple, nice and honest person.

The Argentine government expressed its sincere condolences and said its consulate remains in contact with police authorities, hospital staff and the victims relatives in Argentina.

We accompany the families in this terrible moment of deep pain, which all Argentines share, the government statement read.

On the Instituto Politecnico campus, students planned a candlelight vigil Wednesday night in memory of the group of Poli alums who died.

It hurts us as students, because they took the same steps as us, Agustin Riccardi, president of the student centre at the Instituto Politecnico, told The Post. We are all hurting. Its a very close community. Everyone has a family member who went to Poli.

Ricardo Berlot thought it was a bad joke Wednesday morning when he read a WhatsApp message saying five of those killed in the Manhattan attack were rosarinos  from Rosario, his hometown. In fact, they were from the same school he had graduated from 30 years earlier and where Berlot is now a teacher. The victims had been students in his computing class.

What happened affects us as if we were all of one body, said Berlot, 58, speaking to the press outside the school on Wednesday. At this institution, we create strong bonds ... Its absolutely normal that former students get together for an asado (Argentine-style barbecue) and to talk about the school.

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U.S. President Donald Trumps lawyers argued in a new court filing late Tuesday that he was expressing a political opinion last year when he called accusations of sexual misconduct against him false and the accusers liars, seeking to dismiss a defamation complaint by a woman who said he groped her.

Summer Zervos, a former contestant on Trumps reality television show The Apprentice and now a California restaurant owner, filed her lawsuit against Trump in January, three days before his inauguration.

In October 2016, Zervos accused Trump of aggressively kissing her and groping her breasts during a 2007 meeting that took place when she was seeking a job at his company. Her lawsuit claims that he made defamatory statements by describing as liars women who came forward last year to accuse him of misconduct.

Read more: White House stands by Trumps insistence that his sex assault accusers are liars

Marc Kasowitz, an attorney for Trump, said in a statement that there is no merit to her case, adding that it is based on allegations of events that never occurred. He described it as nothing more than a politically-motivated lawsuit stemming from accusations made in a news conference weeks before the presidential election.

In the new 36-page legal filing, Trumps attorneys argue that previous legal cases have established wide latitude for political speech, and that Trumps comments were effectively campaign rhetoric, coming in the context of the heated 2016 presidential campaign.

All of the Statements occurred on political forums  a campaign website, on Mr. Trumps Twitter account, in a presidential debate, and at campaign rallies  where the listeners expect to hear public debate, taken as political opinion rather than a defamatory statement, they argued.

A New York State Supreme Court judge is considering Trumps motion to have the case thrown out.

Zervos is one of 11 women who spoke out during the 2016 campaign and accused Trump, then a Republican presidential candidate, of unwanted touching or kissing.

Trump denied the allegations, calling them pure fiction and labeling the women horrible, horrible liars. He vowed to sue his accusers and promised evidence that would refute their claims, although nearly a year later, neither the lawsuits nor such evidence has materialized.

Trump, asked about the Zervos case last month, called it made-up stuff and disgraceful. White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said last week that the Trump administrations official position is that all of Trumps accusers are lying.

Through her attorney Gloria Allred, Zervos has declined interview requests; Allred said Zervos does not plan to give media interviews during the litigation process.

As part of the case, Zervoss attorneys have sought to subpoena documents from Trumps campaign related to any of the women who have accused him of inappropriate sexual contact. The subpoena remains on hold while Trumps lawyers seek to have the case dismissed.

His attorneys previously argued that a sitting U.S. president cannot be sued in state court.

In their new filing, Trumps lawyers cited a New York State Supreme Court judges ruling in January dismissing a defamation complaint by Cheryl Jacobus, a political strategist and television commentator who claimed that Trump defamed her by insulting her on Twitter. That judge found that his statements were not defamatory.

The presidents lawyers argued that Trump had a First Amendment right to call the claims by Zervos and other women false. They said that by accusing him of sexual misconduct to the media, Zervos was explicitly soliciting Trump to engage in the debate in an effort to affect the election.

This is a politically-driven action, brought against a sitting President for exercising his First Amendment right to speak on political and public matters concerning, among other things, his own qualifications for President, the medias role in the election process, and the tactics of his opponent, Hillary Clinton, his attorneys argued.

Trumps attorneys also said that he did not specifically call Zervos a liar.

Here, Mr. Trump was merely defending his character and qualifications for office from the false attacks Ms. Zervos leveled against him just a few weeks before the Presidential election, they argued.

Trumps attorneys again asked for the dismissal of Zervoss suit, or a stay in the case while Trump is president, saying the claim is a civil action unrelated to his official duties as president.

The closely watched lawsuit is unfolding amid heightened public scrutiny of allegations of sexual misconduct by powerful men.

Trumps accusers complaints were made public during the 2016 campaign following the emergence of an Access Hollywood video that captured Trump bragging in graphic terms about kissing women and grabbing them by the genitals.

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JERUSALEMIsraelis celebrate it. Palestinians despise it. The Balfour Declaration, Britains promise to Zionists to create a Jewish home in what is now Israel, turns 100 this week, with events in Israel, the Palestinian territories and Britain drawing attention to the now yellowing document tucked away in Londons British Library.

Historians still muse about Britains motivations, and its commitment to the declaration waned in the decades after it was issued. Yet the 67 words written by a British Cabinet minister still resonate 100 years later, with both the Israelis and Palestinians seizing the anniversary to reinforce their narratives.

Each side is marking the centenary in starkly different ways, shining a light on the chasm between Israel and the Palestinians that some say was cleaved on Nov. 2, 1917.

Its so divisive even today because Zionists think that the Balfour Declaration laid the foundation stone for modern Israel  and theyre right to think that  and by the same token non-Jewish Palestinians and Arabs see it as the foundation stone of their dispossession and misery, said Jonathan Schneer, a historian who authored a book on the document.

The declaration was the result of discussions between British Zionists seeking political recognition of their goal of Jewish statehood and British politicians embroiled in the First World War. Written by British Foreign Secretary Lord Arthur Balfour and addressed to Lord Lionel Walter Rothschild, a British financier and Zionist leader, the declaration promised British assistance to create a Jewish homeland.

His Majestys government view with favour the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people, and will use their best endeavours to facilitate the achievement of this object, the declaration goes, continuing with a caveat: It being clearly understood that nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine.

British motives for issuing the declaration include imperialist political calculations meant to secure a foothold in the Levant amid the collapse of the Ottoman Empire to the messianism of British politicians steeped in biblical history, hoping to restore Jews to their ancestral home.

The declaration served as the basis for the British Mandate of Palestine, which was approved in 1920 by the League of Nations. The following decades saw a spike in the number of Jews immigrating to Palestine as Zionist state institutions took root. With that came increased friction with the Arab population.

Israel views the pledge as the first international recognition granted to the Jewish peoples desire to return to its historic homeland. It sees Britain as having played a supporting role in a narrative dominated by the determination, heroism and pioneering spirit of the early settlers who fought to build the state.

While the state would not have arisen without settlement, sacrifice and a willingness to fight for it, the international impetus was, undoubtedly, the Balfour Declaration, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said this week.

Israel is planning a major campaign meant to drive home that narrative and highlight its warm ties with Britain, an important ally at a time when the European Union has taken steps against Israels West Bank settlements. Netanyahu will mark the anniversary in London on Thursday at a dinner hosted by the current Lords Balfour and Rothschild and attended by Prime Minister Theresa May. An anniversary concert in London this weekend will feature British performers alongside a Jewish Israeli clarinetist and a pianist who is an Arab citizen of Israel.

The Palestinians say that the Balfour Declaration was a tragedy. It wasnt a tragedy. Whats been tragic is their refusal to accept this 100 years later, Netanyahu said as he left for London Wednesday night.

The Palestinians see the declaration as the original sin, a harbinger of their nakba, or catastrophe, the mass displacement that resulted from the war surrounding Israels creation in 1948. That refugee crisis reverberates across the region today, and the Palestinians have cast Israel, through the declaration and its imperialist British patrons, as a colonial enterprise.

The Palestinians, who have spent recent years seeking recognition for their state at international institutions, are demanding British accountability. They want an apology and have threatened to sue Britain over the declaration.

We asked them to make it right, to make this historical oppression right by recognizing the state of Palestine and apologizing to the Palestinian people, said Palestinian Foreign Minister Riad Malki. He said they have asked Britain to issue a new declaration that would be more favourable to the Palestinians, a request he said London rejected.

Protests are planned in the Palestinian territories, where thousands of students will stand in their schoolyards on Thursday demanding Britain dismiss the declaration, and in Britain, where dozens of cars will be emblazoned with posters condemning the declaration. In Jerusalem, thousands of letters from Palestinian schoolchildren are to be delivered to the British Consulate.

British graffiti artist Banksy organized an event marking the anniversary in the West Bank town of Bethlehem on Wednesday. Children wore helmets with the British flag and a woman dressed as Queen Elizabeth unveiled a curtain to reveal the word Er . . . SORRY underneath an image of a crown on Israels West Bank separation barrier.

Britain, meanwhile, has treaded lightly, casting the anniversary as a commemoration and not a celebration.

We will mark the centenary with pride and respect, but also with a degree of sadness, as issues between Israel and the Palestinians remain unresolved, Middle East Minister Alistair Burt said last week.

By the 1930s, a new government in Britain backed away from its earlier promise to the Zionists, with an official commission of inquiry deciding that Britains mandate over Palestine, with its constant internecine violence, proved untenable. The 1937 Peel Commission recommended that the land be split between Arabs and Jews. Relations between the Jews in Mandatory Palestine and Britain would further deteriorate before Israel declared independence.

Israel would later capture more territory in the 1967 Mideast war, including east Jerusalem, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, land the Palestinians want for their state. The years since have seen repeated spasms of violence and the dwindling of hopes for peace.

The Balfour Declaration is being used by both sides to advance a present agenda, said Martin Kramer, a historian at Jerusalems Shalem College. There are reasons for Israelis to be grateful for it and reasons for the Palestinians to regret it, but its history. It cant be changed.

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U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday belittled former foreign policy adviser George Papadopoulos, who pleaded guilty this week to lying to federal agents investigating Russias interference in the 2016 election, tweeting that few people knew the young, low level volunteer named George, who has already proven to be a liar.

But interviews and documents show that Papadopoulos was in regular contact with the Trump campaigns most senior officials and held himself out as a Trump surrogate as he travelled the world to meet with foreign officials and reporters.

Papadopoulos sat at the elbow of one of Trumps top campaign advisers, then-Sen. Jeff Sessions, during a dinner for campaign advisers weeks before the Republican National Convention, according to an individual who attended the meeting.

Read the latest news on U.S. President Donald Trump

He met in London in September 2016 with a mid-level representative of the British Foreign Office, where he said he had contacts at the senior level of the Russian government.

And he conferred at one point with the foreign minister of Greece at a meeting in New York.

While some top campaign aides appeared to rebuff Papadopoulos persistent offers to broker a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, there is no sign they told him directly to cease his activities or sought to end his affiliation with the campaign.

Emails included in court documents released Monday show that Papadopoulos repeatedly told Trump campaign officials about his contacts with people he believed were representing the Russian government.

Read more:

Papadopoulos claims Trump campaign officials agreed to pre-election meeting with Russia

Former Trump adviser Papadopoulos pleads guilty to lying to the FBI about contacts with Russians

Upstairs at the White House, fuming with the TV on: How Donald Trump digested the Russia indictments

The court documents do not answer a key question: whether Papadopoulos also told his superiors that he had met a London-based professor who claimed to know that the Russians had dirt on Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton, including thousands of her emails.

An FBI agent told the court in July that Papadopoulos lied in an interview with federal agents, saying he did not tell anyone on the campaign about the dirt because he thought the professor was a nothing.

At 29, Papadopoulos had scant experience that qualified him to advise a presidential candidate. He had entered the Trump campaign after a six-week stint working for the campaign of Trumps rival for the Republican nomination, neurosurgeon Ben Carson.

Carsons campaign manager, Barry Bennett, recalled that Papadopoulos was hired after sending him an unsolicited message via LinkedIn seeking a job.

At the time, Carsons campaign was desperate to show it had policy experts advising his campaign, given that most leading Republican foreign policy thinkers had been snapped up by other candidates.

Bennett said his only vetting was to ask a friend at the Washington, D.C.-based Hudson Institute, where Papadopoulos resume indicated he had worked as a researcher, whether Papadopoulos was an OK guy.

I wasnt looking for something stellar, Bennett said. I wanted to make sure he was OK.

For six weeks of work, Bennett said, Papadopoulos was paid $8,500, before he was let go from the campaign at the end of January 2016 as it shed staff.

By March 2016, Trumps campaign, like Carsons before it, was eagerly searching for foreign policy expertise. As Trump rose in the polls and won Republican primaries, the former reality TV host was under pressure to announce a group of advisers with whom he was consulting on foreign policy issues.

The scrutiny intensified early that month after 70 conservative national security experts signed an open letter opposing Trumps candidacy. In mid-March, Trump was asked on the MSNBC show Morning Joe to name people with whom he spoke about foreign affairs.

Im speaking with myself, number one, because I have a very good brain, Trump responded, prompting more calls for a list of formal advisers.

To come up with names, the campaign turned to Sam Clovis, a former Iowa radio host who served as national campaign co-chairman, an attorney for Clovis confirmed Tuesday in a statement.

But the statement did not address how Papadopoulos ended up on the list. Bennett said he was not consulted and would not have recommended his former employee if he had been asked because he found him unimpressive.

On March 21, Trump included Papadopoulos among five men he announced were advising him on matters of national security in a meeting with The Washington Post editorial board. An energy and oil consultant. Excellent guy, Trump said.

If Trump or his team had undertaken even a cursory vetting of Papadopoulos, they would have found that much of his already-slim resume was either exaggerated or false.

While he claimed to have served for several years as a fellow at the Hudson Institute, officials there said he had been an unpaid intern and a researcher under contract to several fellows who were writing a book.

Although he claimed to be U.S. Representative at the 2012 Geneva International Model United Nations, officials at that organization said they had no record of him.

Papadopoulos said he had delivered the keynote address at a leading American-Greek organization in 2008  while a student at DePaul University. But records from the gathering indicate he merely participated in a youth panel with other participants. The keynote was delivered by 1988 Democratic presidential candidate Michael Dukakis.

Though Papadopoulos exaggerated resume issues quickly became public, he remained a part of the Trump advisory panel and soon began urging campaign aides to let him set up a meeting between Trump and Russian officials.

Court documents show he raised the idea at a March 31 meeting of the group attended by both Trump and Sessions, who had endorsed Trumps campaign, telling the group that he had connections that could help arrange a meeting between then-candidate Trump and President [Vladimir] Putin.

He also began appearing in the foreign press. While visiting Israel the next month, he told a group of researchers that Trump saw Putin as a responsible actor and potential partner, according to a column in the Jerusalem Post.

In May, he told the Telegraph of London that Prime Minister David Cameron should apologize to Trump for calling the candidate divisive, stupid and wrong. Camerons comments had come after Trump announced that he supported a ban on Muslims entering the United States.

Papadopoulos comments were big news in Britain  and the campaign took notice.

J.D. Gordon, a former Pentagon spokesman and Trump national security adviser, said campaign officials were displeased, and Papadopoulos was counselled that he should clear future media appearances with campaign staff and keep a low profile.

I was surprised to learn what George Papadopoulos was up to during the campaign, he said Tuesday in a text message. He obviously went to great lengths to go around me and Sen. Sessions.

And yet, Papadopoulos continued to be invited to campaign events. In late June or early July, he attended a dinner at the Capitol Hill Club along with several other national security advisers for the Trump campaign.

Another person who was at the meeting said Sessions also attended; Papadopoulos was seated to Sessions left.

A spokeswoman for Sessions declined to comment.

Media appearances by Papadopoulos continued.

In September, he spoke extensively to Interfax, telling the Russian news agency that Trump has been open about his willingness to usher in a new chapter in U.S.-Russia relations, depending on Russia acting as a responsible stake holder in the international system. He also questioned the effectiveness of U.S. sanctions on Russia.

By that time, WikiLeaks had released emails hacked from the Democratic National Committee that were widely suspected to have been stolen at the direction of the Russian government. Trumps warm rhetoric toward Putin had become a controversial topic on the campaign trail.

Court documents show that Papadopoulos forwarded a copy of the Interfax article to a Russian woman with whom he had been corresponding during the campaign.

British sources said it was around that time that he approached British government officials to say he was travelling to London and asked to be given a meeting with senior government ministers. Instead, he was offered a session with a mid-level official at the Foreign Office in London.

During the meeting, Papadopoulos made a comment indicating he had contacts at the senior level of the Russian government, British sources said. British officials quickly concluded he was not a major or knowledgeable player in the Trump orbit and did not pursue the issue or continue contact.

A spokesman for the Greek Embassy said he met with that nations foreign minister in New York. Spokesman Efthymios Aravantinos said the conversation was conducted as part of a routine effort that the embassy makes to reach out to Greek Americans hoping they have a sentimental attachment to Greece and that we can connect.

It is not clear how much the campaign knew about Papadopouloss activities. But he continued through these months to have contact with other Trump officials.

In September, Papadopoulos emailed another Trump aide, Boris Epshteyn, and told him he planned to be in New York and hoped to set up meetings around the UN General Assembly meeting.

The email was described to The Washington Post in August of this year and is among 20,000 pages of documents that the Trump campaign has turned over to the White House, Congressional committees and defence attorneys.

Papadopoulos wrote that he wanted to connect Epshteyn with a friend, Sergei Millian of the Russian American Chamber of Commerce, the emails said.

Millian would later be identified as a major source for the author of a dossier that included unsubstantiated salacious allegations about Trumps activities in Russia, a claim Millian has denied.

Epshteyn said he never met Millian and declined to comment further. Asked in August to describe his relationship with Papadopoulos, Millian responded by email, I can meet and talk to any person. . . . Its none of your business.

Millian did not respond to a request for comment Tuesday.

Papadopoulos continued to hold himself out as a Trump adviser, even after the November election.

Two days after Trumps inauguration in January, he met in Washington with a group of Israelis headed by Yossi Dagan, a leader of the West Bank settler movement that prepared a video of the session to be shown at home.

We had an excellent meeting with Yossi and we hope that the people of Judea and Samaria  the name used by the Israeli right for the West Bank  will have a great 2017, Papadopoulos said, according to the video. We are looking forward to ushering in a new relationship with all of Israel.

According to an account in the Jerusalem Post, the settler leaders had been invited to attend the inauguration and meet with senators, congressmen and members of the Presidents team. Dagan, reached by telephone Tuesday in Israel, declined to comment on the visit or who had arranged the meeting with Papadopoulos.

While the president now seems to have left Papadopoulos behind, Papadopoulos has continued to highlight the tie. On LinkedIn, he indicates he was a Trump adviser through January 2017 and includes the experience as the first line of his description about himself.

President Trump recommendation about me: George is an oil and gas consultant; excellent guy, Papadopoulos wrote.

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SYDNEY, AUSTRALIAThe 606 men refusing to leave an Australian immigration camp in Papua New Guinea were without power and many of their toilets on Wednesday as reports emerged saying one of them had resorted to harming himself while others needed urgent medical treatment.

The camp inside a Manus Island navy base was declared closed Tuesday afternoon based on the Papua New Guinea Supreme Courts ruling last year that Australias policy of detaining asylum seekers there was illegal and unconstitutional. But the men who have stayed at the camp on Lombrun Navy Base fear for their safety in the alternative shelters available in the nearby town of Lorengau because of threats from locals.

The Sydney-based Refugee Action Coalition said the removal of electricity generators Wednesday morning left the camp without power, including toilets that operate on electrical pumps. They still have tap water, though the coalition says it isnt drinkable.

As the asylum seekers faced a second nervous night at the now-unguarded facility amid ongoing fears of violence from locals, an Iranian man living there, Behrouz Boochani, tweeted: A refugee has harmed himself with a razor. He cut his wrist and chest. Physically hes good now but mentally is out of control.

In another tweet, Boochani said: Some refugees are very sick. They need urgent medical treatment. They have been physically sick for a long time. There is no support for them. He added later that a Rohingya refugee with epilepsy is sick now.

Boochani also tweeted that Papua New Guinea immigration officials had sent a bus to the centre Wednesday morning to take refugees to their alternative accommodation in Lorengau, but that the refugees are still refusing to go. Immigration is saying (its) your choice.

The Refugee Action Coalition has applied to the Supreme Court for an injunction stopping the closure of the camp. Coalition spokesman Ian Rintoul said the first night without security staff guarding the residents had at least passed peacefully.

The men are sitting tight for the moment, Rintoul said. The situation isnt great, but at least there were no attacks during the night.

Rintoul said some locals brought food and drinking water to the perimeter fence, some selling it to the men, others donating it.

Papua New Guinea officials had said the facility would be returned to defence forces on Wednesday and that anyone remaining would be considered to be trespassing on a military base. However, that failed to happen on Wednesday, as a standoff continued.

Australias acting prime minister, Julie Bishop, standing in for Malcolm Turnbull during his visit to Israel, said it made no sense for detainees to remain at the centre, but she could not guarantee their safety if they left the camp.

The Papua New Guinea government is a sovereign government and is responsible for law and order and security on their islands in their nation, Bishop told ABC radio.

She said food, water, electricity and medical services would be provided at alternative accommodation on the island.

For four years, Australia has paid Papua New Guinea, its nearest neighbour, and the tiny Pacific island nation of Nauru to house asylum seekers who attempt to reach the Australian coast by boat. They are Rohingya Muslims from Myanmar, Afghans, Iranians, Sri Lankans and other nationalities.

Australia has recognized that many of the asylum seekers are refugees who cannot return to their homelands, but it refuses to resettle anyone who tried to reach the country by boat in a policy it credits with dissuading such dangerous ocean crossings. Some whose refugee claims were denied have been forcibly sent home.

But Australia and Papua New Guinea still disagree on who has responsibility for the refugees Australia wont accept on its own soil.

The United States has resettled 54 of them in recent weeks and is considering taking almost 1,200 more.

The men are free to come and go from the Manus Island camp, which is no longer a detention centre since the court ruling, but theyve reported robberies and violence directed at them when they go into the community.

Of the 606 men, some 440 have been deemed to be legitimate refugees, while the remainder are categorized as non-refugees, including around 50 who have refused to co-operate with the determination process as they say they were unlawfully transferred to Papua New Guinea.

Papua New Guinea authorities have deployed extra police to the town of Lorengau, where the three new housing centres are located. A protest of about 100 people earlier this week demanded Australia take back the men and they not live in the community.

Australian opposition Greens senator Nick McKim, who is on Manus Island, has labeled Immigration Minister Peter Dutton a monster over his handling of the closure of the centre. He warned that deaths were inevitable and that Dutton could have blood on his hands.

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NEW YORKFederal prosecutors brought terrorism charges Wednesday against the man accused in the truck rampage that left eight people dead, saying he was spurred to attack by Daeshs online calls to action and picked Halloween because he knew more people would be out on the streets.

Even as he lay wounded in the hospital from police gunfire, Sayfullo Saipov asked to display Daeshs flag in his room and said he felt good about what he had done, prosecutors said in court papers. Saipov was brought to court in a wheelchair to face the charges, which could bring the death penalty.

Meanwhile, the FBI said it wanted to question a second person from Uzbekistan  32-year-old Mukhammadzoir Kadirov  and had found him. A law enforcement official said Kadirov may not have a role in the case, but investigators became suspicious when they couldnt find him as he was one of Saipovs few friends. The official wasnt authorized to speak publicly and spoke to AP on condition of anonymity.

Saipov nodded his head repeatedly as he was read his rights in a brief court proceeding that he followed through a Russian interpreter.

His court-appointed lawyer, David Patton, said Saipov was in a significant amount of pain and asked that he get wound care and a wheelchair or crutches in the federal lockup where hes being held without bail.

Outside of court, Patton called for fair treatment of his client.

Police work near a damaged Home Depot truck after a motorist drove onto a bike path near the World Trade Center memorial, striking and killing eight people.





I hope, given all of the attention in this case and all of the attention that its sure to continue to receive, that everyone lets the judicial process play out, he said. I promise you that how we treat Mr. Saipov in this judicial process will say a lot more about us than it will say about him.

Saipov, accused of driving the rented Home Depot pickup truck that barrelled down a bike path near the World Trade Center memorial on Tuesday, was charged with providing material support to a terrorist group and committing violence and destruction of motor vehicles, resulting in death.

Read more:

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Prosecutors said he had 90 videos and 3,800 photos on one of his two cellphones, many of them Daesh-related pieces of propaganda, including images of prisoners being beheaded, shot or run over by a tank.

Saipov left behind knives and a note, in Arabic and English, that included Islamic religious references and said Islamic Supplication. It will endure, FBI agent Amber Tyree said in court papers. It will endure commonly refers to Daesh, also known as ISIS, Tyree said.

Questioned in his hospital bed, Saipov said he had been inspired by Daesh videos that he watched on his cellphone and began plotting an attack about a year ago, deciding to use a truck about two months ago, Tyree said.

During the last few weeks, Saipov searched the internet for information on Halloween in New York City and for truck rentals, the agent said. Saipov even rented a truck on Oct. 22 to practice making turns, and he initially hoped to get from the bike path across lower Manhattan to hit more pedestrians on the Brooklyn Bridge, Tyree said.

He even considering displaying Daesh flags on the truck during the attack but decided against it because he did not want to draw the attention, authorities said.

John Miller, deputy New York police commissioner for intelligence, said Saipov appears to have followed, almost exactly to a T, the instructions that ISIS has put out.

In the past few years, Daesh has exhorted followers online to use vehicles, knives or other close-at-hand means of killing people in their home countries. England, France and Germany have all seen deadly vehicle attacks since mid-2016.

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio says a truck attack in lower Manhattan killed eight people and was a "cowardly" act of terror. (The Associated Press)

A November 2016 issue of the groups online magazine detailed features that an attack truck or van should have, suggested renting such a vehicle and recommended targeting crowded streets and outdoor gatherings, according to the SITE Intelligence Group, a militant-monitoring agency.

Carlos Batista, a neighbour of Saipovs in Paterson, New Jersey, said he had seen the suspect and two friends using the same model of rented truck several times in the past three weeks.

It was not clear whether Saipov had been on authorities radar. Miller said Saipov had never been the subject of a criminal investigation but appears to have links to people who have been investigated.

In Tuesdays attack, Saipov drove his speeding truck for nearly a mile along a bike path, running down cyclists and pedestrians, then crashed into a school bus, authorities said. He was shot in the abdomen after he jumped out of the vehicle brandishing two air guns, one in each hand, and yelling God is great! in Arabic, they said.

In addition to those killed, 12 people were injured.

The aftermath took a political turn Wednesday when U.S. President Donald Trump slammed the visa lottery program that Saipov used to come to the U.S. in 2010. Trump called the program a Chuck Schumer beauty, a reference to the Senates top Democrat.

The program dates to 1990, when then-president George H.W. Bush signed it as part of a bipartisan immigration bill. Trump called on Congress to eliminate it, saying, We have to get much tougher, much smarter and less politically correct.

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio commented on the Oct. 31 attack that left 8 dead. The mayor says that the attack on innocent people would not weaken the spirit of New Yorkers.

Schumer, who represents New York, said in a statement that he has always believed that immigration is good for America, and he accused the president of politicizing and dividing the country.

Assailants in a number of other recent extremist attacks around the world were found to have been lone wolves  inspired but not actually directed by Daesh. In some cases, they never even made contact with the group.

On the morning after the bloodshed, city leaders vowed New York would not be intimidated, and they commended New Yorkers for going ahead with Halloween festivities on Tuesday night.

They also said Sundays New York City Marathon, with 50,000 participants and some 2 million spectators anticipated, will go on as scheduled.

We will not be cowed. We will not be thrown off by anything, said Mayor Bill de Blasio.

While the mayor said there have been no credible threats of any additional attacks, police said they were adding more sniper teams, bomb-sniffing dogs, helicopters, sand-truck barricades and other security measures along the marathon route, in the subways and at other sites.

The attack killed five people from Argentina, one from Belgium and two Americans, authorities said. Nine people remained hospitalized in serious or critical condition, with injuries that included lost limbs and wounds to the head, chest and neck.

A roughly two-mile stretch of highway in lower Manhattan was closed for much of the day for the investigation. Authorities also converged on Saipovs New Jersey apartment building and a van in a parking lot at a New Jersey Home Depot.

Runners and cyclists who use the popular bike path were diverted from the crime scene by officers at barricades.

Its the messed-up world we live in these days, said Dave Hartie, 57, who works in finance and rides his bike along the path every morning. Part of me is surprised it doesnt happen more often.

The slight, bearded Saipov is a legal, permanent U.S. resident. He lived in Ohio and Florida before moving to New Jersey around June, authorities said.

Birth records show he and his wife had two daughters in Ohio, and a neighbour in New Jersey said they recently had a baby boy.

Saipov was a commercial truck driver in Ohio. More recently, he was an Uber driver.

In Ohio, Saipov was an argumentative young man whose career was falling apart and who was not happy with his life, said Mirrakhmat Muminov, a fellow truck driver from heavily Muslim Uzbekistan.

Saipov lost his insurance on his truck after his rates shot up because of a few traffic tickets, and companies stopped hiring him, said Muminov, 38, of Stow, Ohio. Muminov said he heard from Saipovs friends that Saipovs truck engine blew a few months ago in New Jersey.

Muminov said Saipov would get into arguments with friends and family, tangling over even small things, such as going to a picnic with the Uzbek community.

He had the habit of disagreeing with everybody, Muminov said.

He said he and Saipov would sometimes argue about politics and world affairs, including Israel and Palestine. He said Saipov never spoke about Daesh, but he could tell his friend held radical views.

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BARCELONA, SPAINSome members of Catalonias ousted government will appear before a Spanish judge Thursday for questioning in the rebellion investigation stemming from the regions declaration of independence, but the former regional president does not plan to be among them.

A Belgian lawyer representing the sacked Catalan president said Wednesday he was seeking to have Carles Puigdemont questioned instead in Belgium. Puigdemont turned up in Brussels this week along with several of his former Cabinet members.

He is not going to Madrid, and I suggested that they question him here in Belgium, the lawyer, Paul Bekaert, told The Associated Press. Bekaert said such an arrangement was possible, but he didnt know if Spanish authorities would accept the offer.

Read more:

Catalan President Carles Puigdemon flees country for Brussels

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Ive never felt Spanish in my life: Catalan separatists celebrate independence movement

All 14 of the regional officials removed by the Spanish government face possible charges of rebellion, sedition and embezzlement for driving the series of moves that culminated in Catalan lawmakers voting in favour of independence from Spain last Friday.

In a news conference in Brussels on Tuesday, Puigdemont said the Catalan officials who travelled to Belgium were seeking freedom and safety.

Spains chief prosecutor is seeking charges of rebellion, sedition and embezzlement against Puigdemont, his ousted Vice-President Oriol Junqueras and another 12 members of the now-fired Catalan government. Convictions carry potential decades-long prison sentences.

The legal moves are part of the Spanish central governments implementation of extraordinary constitutional powers after Catalan lawmakers voted on Oct. 27 to secede from Spain in an escalation of what has become Spains worst political crisis in decades.

Under that authority, the Spanish government sacked the Catalan Cabinet, dissolved the regional parliament and called an election for Dec. 21.

A statement issued by the ousted cabinet, which described itself as the legitimate government of Catalonia, said some members would travel to Madrid and appear in court to denounce the lack of guarantees of the Spanish justice system.

The statement described the charges sought by prosecutors as disproportionate, saying they were equivalent to crimes such as murder or terrorism. The direction of the criminal probe demonstrates we are facing a political trial brought by orders of the Spanish state, they said.

Puigdemont and other removed Catalan officials intend to remain in Brussels and respond to any criminal charges according to the mechanisms foreseen in the European Union in such circumstances, the statement read without elaboration.

The 14 have been summoned to appear in the National Court in Madrid at 9 a.m. local time Thursday for questioning that is scheduled to last through Friday. Separately, another six ousted Catalan lawmakers have been summoned to appear before Spains Supreme Court in a parallel investigation of potential rebellion.

Nine of the former cabinet members were expected to appear in court as ordered. They include Junqueras, Raul Romeva, who handled the Catalan governments foreign affairs, and former government spokesman Jordi Turull.

Regardless of who appears in court, an investigating magistrate could issue arrest warrants for any of those under investigation. Bekaert, Puigdemonts Belgian lawyer, told Belgian broadcaster VTM on Wednesday that if Spain seeks Puigdemonts extradition, it would be up to Belgian judges, not the government, to make a decision.

The spokesperson for Spains ruling Popular Party, Esteban Gonzalez Pons, said if Puigdemont fails to appear in Madrid on Thursday, therell probably be an extradition petition to Belgium and Belgian police will detain him.

Pons told Spains Onda Cero radio that Puigdemonts lawyer in Belgium would likely be able to prolong the case until after the Dec. 21 Catalan election.

Puigdemont said during his Tuesday appearance in Brussels that he would not return to Spain unless he and his fellow ex-government members received guarantees of a just, independent (legal) process.

Puigdemonts decision to go to Belgium instead of remaining in Catalonia was met with mixed reactions by Catalans, not all of whom supported the regions bid to break away from Spain.

Some were angry at what they perceived as a shirking of responsibilities, while others said he had no choice given Madrids intention to bring criminal charges against him.

This was the only solution he had, said Elena Perez as she walked up a pedestrian street in the seaside town of Vilanova i la Geltru. The reality is that Puidgemont has his home, his family and his daughters. I think he would have rather preferred to stay at his home.

Others were not convinced.

I was disappointed that he left to avoid prison after all the mess he has created, said Lidia Guzman, a resident of the same town. He should have faced the truth. Madrid should not have imposed itself, but he should have faced it.

In Barcelona, about 100 people rallied at a train station in a show of support for two of the six Catalan parliament members who have been summoned before the Supreme Court.

One must support these people, and it looks like the way the justice system is set up they will end up in prison, Jose Pruneda, a 73-year-old pensioner in the crowd, said. We need to pressure somehow, and the only way we know is by coming out to the streets.

Puigdemonts Democratic Party of Catalonia said a delegation from the regions former ruling coalition, Together For Yes, would travel to Madrid to support all 20 ex-government and parliament members summoned before the two courts.

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TOKYOOver the summer, the man told his father that his life had no meaning. Then he went looking for others who felt the same way, and apparently killed them.

The man, Takahiro Shiraishi, was arrested on Tuesday, a day after the police visited his apartment about 48 kilometres southwest of Tokyo and found the dismembered parts of nine bodies. Japan was riveted as the news media disclosed more grisly details from the second day of the investigation, reporting that Shiraishi, 27, had confessed to finding the victims, who he said were considering suicide, on Twitter.

In Japan, a low-crime country, it is the grimmest such case since a former employee of a centre for the disabled went on a knife rampage there, killing 19 people last year.

Shiraishis case, involving social media suicide pacts, connections to Tokyos notorious red-light district and neighbours who did not report a noxious smell coming from the suspects apartment for months, has the hallmarks of a grotesque thriller novel or horror movie.

Japan has the third-highest suicide rate of the worlds richest countries, after South Korea and Hungary, and its government has prioritized suicide prevention, monitoring suicide-related message boards on the internet, among other measures. The Japanese murder rate, by contrast, is one of the lowest in the world, making the news media all the more obsessed with the ghastly details of the current case.

Television reporters spent a good part of Tuesday and Wednesday training their cameras on the building in the city of Zama where Shiraishi lived, or showing footage of the suspect covering his eyes with his hands as the police drove him to meet with prosecutors Wednesday morning.

With the police officially saying very little, it was left to the Japanese media to report details leaked to members-only press clubs for crime reporters.

Although the police have so far charged Shiraishi only with abandoning bodies, news reports on Tuesday described him as a serial killer who sought people who were thinking of killing themselves and who had expressed their dark thoughts on Twitter. The police are expected to charge Shiraishi with murder.

According to news reports, the police discovered body parts from eight women and one man in Shiraishis apartment, along with a saw, ropes and an awl, apparently used to restrain and cut the bodies. The body parts, which included severed heads, were found in cold-storage containers and tool boxes, some covered in cat litter. The national broadcaster NHK reported that Shiraishi had said four of the victims were teenagers.

Kyodo News reported that Shiraishi, who worked as a recruiter for an escort service based in the Tokyo red-light district of Kabukicho, had confessed to sexually assaulting some of the women before killing them.

He also wanted money, according to the Kyodo report, and stole 500,000 yen, or about $5,600, from one of the victims.

The Japanese daily Yomiuri Shimbun reported that Shiraishi had described to investigators telling his father over the summer that his life was meaningless. Then, according to news outlets including Mainichi Shimbun, he created Twitter accounts specifically to attract people with suicidal thoughts.

The Mainichi report said that he had found his first victim on Twitter and had asked to meet up, but that she had come with her boyfriend. The three went out for a drink.

Shiraishi told the police that he later invited the woman to come alone to his apartment, where he killed her. When her boyfriend came looking for her, Shiraishi told the police, he killed him as well.

If the man reported her missing to the police, I thought I would be suspected, so I killed him, the Mainichi report described Shiraishi as saying to the police.

The authorities were initially led to Shiraishis apartment while searching for a missing 23-year-old Tokyo woman who had posted on Twitter that she was looking for someone who will die with me.

Her brother reported her missing late last month, and through her Twitter account found that she had been exchanging messages with Shiraishi. The brother said she had been thinking of killing herself since the death of their mother in June, and that she had disappeared on Oct. 23 from the group home in Hachioji, a suburb of Tokyo, where she was living.

The suspect told the police that he had sent a Twitter message to the woman saying, Lets die together, Kyodo reported.

The police have not yet said whether the womans remains were among those at Shiraishis apartment.

According to The Asahi Shimbun, the brother provided the police with Shiraishis Twitter handle, and investigators identified another woman who had been in touch with the suspect. She agreed to contact Shiraishi and to invite him to meet her at a train station while the police observed.

After the woman identified Shiraishi, the police followed him back to his apartment on Monday.

When they knocked on the door, he answered, and the police saw boxes inside. When they asked Shiraishi if he knew where the missing woman was, according to the Asahi report, he replied, In that cooler.

Neighbours told officers that they had noticed a sewage-like smell for at least two months, but that they had not reported it. According to Kyodo, Shiraishi told the police that he had not discarded the bodies because he was afraid of being caught.

Shiraishis case is not the first involving the killing of suicidal people identified online. A man who lured three people he found on a suicide message board in Osaka was convicted of killing them in 2005 and was given the death sentence. The Asahi Shimbun reported one other case of a killer who had found his victim on a suicide-related website.

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NEW YORKA seething U.S. President Donald Trump is placing blame for the current state of the widening Russia investigation on his son-in-law Jared Kushner, according to a report Wednesday.

As indictments were unsealed against former Trump campaign staff and special counsel Robert Mueller revealed Monday that at least one former Trump campaign adviser has pleaded guilty to federal charges, Trumps frustration with Kushner has grown exponentially, Vanity Fair reported.

The charges against former campaign chairperson Paul Manafort, which Trump himself said happened long before he joined the eventual GOP nominees team, should also worry the president, according to former Trump campaign aide Sam Nunberg.

Read more:

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Papadopoulos claims Trump campaign officials agreed to pre-election meeting with Russia

Heres what Manaforts indictment tells me: Mueller is going to go over every financial dealing of Jared Kushner and the Trump Organization, Nunberg said. Trump is at 33 per cent in Gallup. You cant go any lower. Hes f ---ed.

Manafort and business associate Rick Gates face 12 felony counts, including money laundering, conspiracy and acting as unregistered foreign agents.

In a call Tuesday with former White House Chief strategist Stephen Bannon, Trump laid the blame for the expanding scandal surrounding Muellers probe into Russian election interference squarely on Kushners shoulders, Nunberg told Vanity Fair.

Jared is the worst political adviser in the White House in modern history, Nunberg said. Im only saying publicly what everyone says behind the scenes at Fox News, in conservative media, and the Senate and Congress.

In a statement to congressional investigators, Jared Kushner described four meetings he had with Russians during the Trump campaign and transition. He said there was no collusion. (The New York Times)

Bannon, back at his old role as the head of conservative news site Breitbart, has reportedly advised the president to shake up his legal team and do all he can to pressure Congress to defund Muellers investigation, sources told Vanity Fair.

Mueller shouldnt be allowed to be a clean shot on goal, a Bannon confidant told the magazine. He must be contested and checked. Right now he has unchecked power.

In an interview with The New York Times on Wednesday, Trump insisted he wasnt upset about Muellers moves.

It has nothing to do with us, Trump said.

Asked about another report that hes been angry at everybody, Trump told the paper, Actually, Im not angry with anybody.

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WASHINGTONA high-ranking North Korean defector told a congressional hearing Wednesday that a pre-emptive U.S. military strike on the country would trigger automatic retaliation, with the North unleashing artillery and short-range missile fire on South Korea.

The testimony from Thae Yong Ho, former deputy chief of mission at the North Korean Embassy in London, underscored the high risk in using military force against North Korea. The Trump administration has said this is among its options in stopping leader Kim Jong Un from perfecting a nuclear-tipped missile that could strike the United States.

Thae, the highest-level North Korean defector in two decades, appeared to confirm what has long been suspected but rarely articulated by U.S. officials  that even a selective American strike could rain a potentially devastating North Korean military response on the South Korean capital and its environs, about 40 kilometres south of the heavily militarized frontier.

Read more:

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Thae, who is making his first visit to Washington since his defection last year, said the U.S. and allied South Korea would win a war after a preventive military strike on the North, but there would be a human sacrifice inflicted on the South from the tens of thousands of artillery guns and short-range missiles the North has at the frontier.

North Korean officers are trained to press their button without any further instructions from the general command if anything happens on their side, Thae told the House Foreign Affairs Committee, referring to a U.S. bombing or military strike. We have to remember that tens of millions of South Korean population are living 70 to 80 kilometres away from this military demarcation line.

He urged Washington to use soft power instead  enforcing sanctions and disseminating information challenging North Korean propaganda to turn people against Kims authoritarian government. He also contended that if China allowed an exit route for North Korean defectors without fear of forcible repatriation there would be a massive exodus to the South that would cause the collapse of the North Korean system.

North Korea has called Thae human scum and accused him of embezzling government money and committing other crimes.

Thaes comments come ahead of President Donald Trumps five-nation trip to Asia that will include a stop in South Korea. The U.S. administration says it seeks a diplomatic solution to the nuclear standoff but all options are on the table. Trump has threatened the total destruction of North Korea if the U.S. is forced to defend itself or its allies.

A Congressional Research Service report published last week said that conservative estimates anticipate that in the first hours of a conflict, North Korean artillery situated along the frontier could cause tens of thousands of casualties in South Korea, where at least 100,000 and possibly as many as 500,000 Americans live  including nearly 30,000 U.S. troops. It said a protracted conflict, particularly one in which North Korea uses its nuclear, biological or chemical weapons, could cause enormous casualties on a greater scale.

Some analysts contend the risk of Kim acquiring a nuclear weapon capable of targeting the U.S. homeland is greater than the risks associated with the outbreak of a regional war, the report said.

Democratic Sen. Tammy Duckworth of Illinois wrote to Trump Wednesday calling for him to provide the American public with declassified estimates of potential casualties, costs and outcomes from a limited or full-scale war with North Korea.

I fear the country is being deprived of an accurate assessment of what war against the DPRK would entail, wrote Duckworth, referring to the Norths formal name, the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea. Duckworth, a former U.S. Army helicopter pilot, suffered severe combat wounds in Iraq.

In a separate development, the Senate Banking Committee announced late Wednesday it will take up legislation next week to strengthen and expand U.S. financial sanctions against North Korea.

The bill targets banks and other financial institutions that continue to do business with Pyongyang and anyone else that evades existing sanctions to support with the rogue nation. The legislation also permits states and local governments to divest from or prohibit investments in companies that maintain ties to North Korea.

Congressional oversight of North Korea sanctions also would be strengthened, according to the bill, and the Treasury Department would be given a bigger role in fighting human trafficking.

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The United States voted against a UN resolution condemning Americas economic embargo against Cuba on Wednesday, reversing last years abstention by the Obama administration and reflecting worsening U.S.-Cuban relations.

Israel joined the United States in opposing the embargo resolution, which was overwhelmingly approved in the 193-member General Assembly by a vote of 191-2. That was the same vote as in 2015.

Last October, then-president Barack Obamas administration abstained for the first time in 25 years on the embargo resolution as the U.S. leader and Cuban President Raul Castro moved forward with the historic warming of relations between the two countries.

Diplomatic relations between the United States and Cuba were broken in 1961 after Fidel Castro took power and installed a communist government. Raul Castro, his brother, and Obama officially restored relations in July 2016.

Before Wednesdays vote, U.S. Ambassador Nikki Haley told the assembly: Today, the crime is the Cuban governments continued repression of its people and failure to meet even the minimum requirements of a free and just society.

The United States will continue to oppose the embargo resolution as long as the Cuban people continue to be deprived of their human rights and fundamental freedoms, she said.

Haley said no doubt some people wont understand why U.S. President Donald Trumps administration is energetically opposing Obamas position.

She said the American people chose a new president and the United States will vote against any resolution calling for the lifting of the embargo as long as the proceeds from trade with Cuba go to prop up the dictatorial regime responsible for denying those (human) rights.

The United States does not fear isolation in this chamber or anywhere else. Our principles are not up for a vote, she said. We will stand for respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms that the member states of this body have pledged to protect, even if we have to stand alone.

Read more:

Trump says Cuba is responsible for attacks on U.S. personnel in Havana

U.S. says 2 more government workers hurt in Cuba attacks, raising the total to 24

Tourists to Cuba wonder if they were also targeted by mysterious sound attacks

Cubas Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez condemned Haleys disrespectful, interfering statement, saying she is reflecting the tenor of U.S. politics today.

She speaks on behalf of the leader and empire  an imperialist power behind the majority of those wars being waged today on our globe, which take the lives of innocent people, he said.

During the last few weeks, he said, Trump on four occasions has reiterated that his administration will not lift economic sanctions on Cuba unless Cuba introduces changes in its domestic order.

Today, I say that Cuba will never agree to conditions or anything being imposed on this order, Rodriguez said. We remind the president and his ambassador that this focus ... has never worked and neither will it ever work in the future. He will be one more president implementing a policy that means a return to the past.

The vote came during an ongoing crisis over U.S. government workers in Havana harmed by invisible health attacks which has created a new rift between the U.S. and Cuba and put the restoration of ties in jeopardy.

Last Friday, Cuba presented its most detailed defence to date against U.S. accusations that American diplomats in Havana were subjected to mysterious sonic attacks that left them with a variety of ailments including headaches, hearing problems and concussions.

The U.S. has not accused Cuba of carrying out the attacks, but says that Cuba has not met its obligation to protect diplomats on its territory. Cuba alleged a lack of evidence for the U.S. accusations, arguing that the U.S. had not given Cuba or the public access to the testimony or medical records of U.S. officials who reported attacks, despite three visits to Cuba by U.S. investigators.

Rodriguez went further on Wednesday, saying they lie when they talk of attacks or incidents.

Without possessing the slightest proof of their cause and origin, he said, the United States has used the pretext that some diplomats were affected to adopt new political measures against Cuba which further tighten the blockade and affect bilateral relations as a whole.

Since taking office, Trump has taken steps to partially roll back the rapprochement with Cuba, but has preserved many other changes put in place by Obama.

Rodriguez strongly criticized the Trump administrations recent suspension of visas for Cubans in Havana and cutbacks to Cuban consulate and embassy staff in Washington, calling the measures unjustified.

By forcing Cuba to dismantle its commercial office in Washington, he said the administration was pursuing the evil political purpose of depriving the U.S. business sector ... (of) exploring business interests in Cuba.

General Assembly resolutions are non-binding and unenforceable.

But the 26-year-old exercise, in which the world body has overwhelmingly voted to condemn the embargo, does reflect world opinion and has given Cuba a global stage to demonstrate Americas isolation on its Cuba policy  even after the Obama abstention.

Before the vote, more than 20 speakers from all over the world supported the resolution and denounced the embargo.

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WASHINGTONRoused by the first major Daesh-inspired attack on U.S. soil since he took office, U.S. President Donald Trump urged swift repeal of an immigration program that brought the suspect to America and laid into a political foe he said was responsible for it  though Republican George H.W. Bush signed the law.

Trump insisted Wednesday that Congress must end the visa lottery program under which Uzbek immigrant Sayfullo Saipov entered the country, and he ordered still tighter scrutiny of immigrants already subject to what he calls extreme vetting. But the White House offered no indication of what new steps the president might be planning.

We have to get much tougher, much smarter, and less politically correct, Trump said. He also said the U.S. justice system for dealing with such cases must be strengthened, declaring, What we have right now is a joke and its a laughingstock. Again, there was no elaboration from the White House.

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5 Argentinians, Belgian among the victims of New York terror attack

Trump orders Homeland Security to step up its vetting program after New York City attack

Officials seek motive after cowardly act of terror leaves 8 dead in New York

Trump denounced the 29-year-old suspect in the truck attack, which killed eight and injured many more, as an animal, and said he was open to sending the man to the U.S. prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, instead of to trial in New York. I would certainly consider that. Send him to Gitmo, Trump said.

Spokesperson Sarah Huckabee Sanders said the White House considered Saipov an enemy combatant and had yet to decide whether to seek to move him out of the civilian judicial system to military detention.

A little later, however, prosecutors in New York filed charges in federal court accusing Saipov with providing material support to a terrorist group and committing violence and destruction of motor vehicles.

On the political front, Trump took to Twitter early Wednesday to blame Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, a Democrat who represents New York, for the bipartisan visa program used by the suspect to enter the country in 2010.

The Department of Homeland Security confirmed that Saipov entered the U.S under the Diversity Visa Lottery Program, which gives people from countries with low rates of immigration an opportunity to come to the U.S. Trump branded the program a Chuck Schumer beauty, and called on Congress to immediately begin work to end it.

It was not immediately clear when Saipov was radicalized by Daesh, but the New York City Police Department said he began planning the attack weeks ago.

Schumer did back the lottery program as a member of the House when it was approved with the support of both parties in 1990. It was signed by then-president George H.W. Bush.

Trumps broadside against a senator from the state still reeling from the attack drew bipartisan criticism.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said that Trumps attack against Schumer plays right into the hands of the terrorists, by sowing division at a time when unity is needed. Sen. Bob Corker said it was probably not the best way to bring out the best in our country.

Corker, who has announced he will not run for re-election in 2018, has been increasingly critical of Trumps temperament.

The Senate's top Democrat is hitting back after President Donald Trump faulted him for an immigration program that Trump says allowed the man in the deadly New York City bike path attack to enter the United States. (The Associated Press)

Schumer himself offered this advice: The president ought to stop tweeting and start leading.

Sanders later said Trump has not blamed Senator Schumer and doesnt feel that the senator is responsible for the attack.

Sen. John Cornyn defended Trumps criticism of the visa lottery program.

The diversity lottery visas been criticized by many people as being pretty indiscriminate in terms of whos accepted into the country. I think it needs to be looked at. And I agree with the president that it can certainly be improved by more of a merit-based system.

Sanders dismissed complaints that Trump was politicizing a tragedy, saying his calls for increasing extreme vetting of immigrants are something that frankly the president has been talking about for a long time.

Indeed, Trump has made repeated attempts to restrict entry into the country through various iterations of a travel ban, which have been blocked by federal courts. The administration has argued that it needs a temporary pause on entry from certain countries in order to develop stricter vetting measures and put them in place.

In the meantime, the administration has worked to improve information-sharing with various countries. It also has developed new requirements for entry into the U.S., such as the use of biometric passports that are more difficult to forge.

Officials could not elaborate on what new measures Trump was referring to in his tweet hours after the attack when he said he had just ordered Homeland Security to step up our already Extreme Vetting Program.

Sanders said that, since the tweet, the president had spoken several times with members of his national security team to look and see what more can be done.

But, she said, we have put in place executive orders already since the presidents taken office that help go as far as we can at this point.

Trumps swift political response to the New York attacks contrasts with his wait-and-see approach after the October massacre of 59 people by a Las Vegas gunman. The White House then argued it was premature to discuss a legislative response and says now it is still studying whether to seek a ban on the modifications used by the Las Vegas shooter to fire his rifles at near-automatic rates.

The two responses offer the latest suggestions of how the culture wars that defined Trumps campaign may be colouring his actions.

During the 2016 presidential campaign, Trump proposed a total ban on Muslim immigration to the U.S. before embracing extreme vetting. He has backed legislation that would curb legal immigration and shift the nation toward a system that would place an emphasis on merit and skills over family ties and diversity criteria.

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As if the pile of disturbing evidence wasnt already high enough, the world has learned a couple of more appalling things about Donald Trump since Monday morning.

It learned first that he turned his presidential campaign over to a man now formally charged with money laundering and tax evasion. It was always known that Paul Manafort, who chaired the Trump operation for much of 2016, was an unscrupulous influence-peddler on a global scale. Now hes officially accused of having being an unregistered foreign agent for a Kremlin front-man.

The conventional wisdom is that the charges leveled against Manafort and his associate, Rick Gates, dont actually prove anything about Trump. The illicit activities they are accused of happened before they got involved in the Trump campaign early last year.

But they speak volumes about Trump and the type of people he surrounds himself with. Manafort had been a hired mouthpiece for dictators and strongmen for years, and his offer to chair Trumps campaign free of charge was a transparent attempt to trade on that position. Simply by allowing such a man into his operation, Trump flung open the door wide to potential foreign influence. And, in fact, while Manafort was running the show the Trump campaign did try to use its Russia connections to get dirt on Hillary Clinton.

Thats bad enough, but it comes as no surprise. Manaforts dubious foreign dealings were well known and many commentators predicted no good would come of inviting such a flagrant manipulator into Trumps camp, long before special counsel Robert Mueller dug up evidence that he has committed actual crimes.

The world learned something else about the Trump administration on Monday that actually will come as a surprise to some. It learned that John Kelly, the retired Marine general who has served as White House chief of staff since late July, isnt quite what people thought he was  or who they wanted him to be.

Hes not the moderate adult in the room, the man hired to make sure Trump doesnt spin entirely out of control. In fact, it turns out that hes more like what one CNN commentator aptly labeled Trumps Mini Me.

Invited to weigh in on the controversy about Civil War-era history and what to do with the Confederate monuments littering the southern states, Kelly conspicuously did not take the calming, diplomatic route.

Instead, he waded in enthusiastically, calling the southern general Robert E. Lee an honourable man and blaming the Civil War on a lack of an ability to compromise  instead of, say, slavery. And he resurrected Trumps racially charged both sides language from the white-supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Va., by reflecting that men and women of good faith on both sides fought the war.

These are not the words of a man seeking to calm the waters in the wake of the presidents insensitive, inflammatory and arguably racist language. Just the opposite: they amount to a doubling-down on a tone-deaf discourse that does an injustice to history and slights the perceptions of Black people. Exactly like the language used by Trump, in other words.

Serving a president or president-to-be used to be considered a high honour for anyone aspiring to work in American political life. Among the many damaging things Trump has done is to turn this honour into its opposite.

He has brought men, like Manafort, who are manifestly unfit to serve into the heart of his campaign and the White House. And even those thought to be exceptions, it turns out, cannot withstand the erosion of values that comes with enabling this president. Kelly now stands as a warning to anyone else who believes he can serve Trump and escape with his honour intact.

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Will anyone act to save the caribou? Ontario is not, Oct. 25

Many in the forest sector read with interest this column by Rachel Plotkin of the David Suzuki Foundation and Tim Gray of Environmental Defence.

Like all Canadians, those of us in the forest sector want to ensure that all reasonable measures are taken to help caribou recovery and, like many environmental organizations, believe decisions must be based on sound science and the most recent research.

Caribou are an iconic species and it is important to understand that our forests are complex ecosystems with multiple species. In the boreal forest alone, we are working to support about 500 species of fish, birds and mammals every day.

Numerous factors are contributing to declining caribou populations, including changing forest conditions due to climate change, predation and disease. Recent science tells us that in several areas where there is little or no human activity, caribou populations are still in decline.

The forest sector has and continues to be prepared to sit at the table with government, other industries in the natural resources sector, environmental organizations, Indigenous leaders, municipalities, labour organizations, recreational and tourism groups and other impacted parties to continue scientific discussions and get this right.

These are complex problems that require, science-based solutions that also consider the potential impacts on other species in the forest, as well as the thousands of workers and their families in Ontario and across Canada who could be impacted.

By working together and by using science, we have the ability through sustainable forest management to adaptively manage, as well as create, suitable habitats for caribou and other species into the future.

Derek Nighbor, CEO, Forest Products Association of Canada

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Get back to the bargaining table, premier warns, Oct. 31

I am a fourth-year nursing student at Ryerson/George Brown College. My academic situation is being heavily impacted by the strike at Ontario colleges. While I am still allowed to attend placement, I do not have access to a faculty adviser who can mark my assignments and provide me guidance with my learning plans.

Although I respect the college teachers and think they deserve what they are asking for, I cannot help but wonder what I am paying tuition for? This strike has been going on for almost three weeks. I paid almost $4,000 in tuition, which I am not going to be reimbursed for.

This situation has provided stress and anxiety in an already stressful program. Each week brings about uncertainty and I am trying to finish assignments with little to no guidance on when they might even be due. I am mainly worried about writing my accreditation exam in April. I am hoping I will not lose my semester but, at this point, I am not sure.

We are adults paying for a service so we can enter the job force. I want to enter health care so I can provide a quality service  a service that is already being cut back by Premier Kathleen Wynnes government. Please, publish more stories about this to pressure Ms. Wynnes government to stop this strike.

Please note that I have already sent her multiple letters expressing my opinion, with no reply. I also would like to write my MPP to express my concerns, but Toronto Centre does not currently have one  because Ms. Wynne refuses to hold a byelection.

I am a card-carrying Liberal but, after this fiasco, you can bet I will not be voting red in the next provincial election.

Hannah Norris, Toronto

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Video Transcript:

Michael Ignatieff, in case you were wondering where he went, butted into Spains secession crisis Sunday on CNN. He said Catalonia has no right to independence because they havent been invaded or bombed.

Then he smugly explained how Canada avoided being destroyed by Quebec separatism.

Its nice to see he makes no more sense than he ever did. You dont have to be attacked to ask for your independence. Catalonians have that right. So do Scots. And by the way Canada hasnt been so uniquely sensible or pacific. Mass support for Quebec independence only arose after the federal government sent the army in during the 1970 FLQ crisis.

That led to Quebecs first separatist government and decades of national unity trauma.

Nationalism was the first modern form of identity politics. It comes in both ugly and attractive versions. It isnt going away and it wont have its rules dictated by experts like Ignatieff.

If Canada has something to offer here, it isnt smugness. Its more likely our weirdly proud, even strident brand of nationalism that has no particular content, and encourages every group to be itself. People come here from everywhere else and feel relieved, even if its a little bland. In fact, because its a little bland. Un-nationalism is our contribution nationalism, but its hard to imagine duplicating it elsewhere.

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Don't bottom-fish on struggling Chipotle (CMG) - Get Free Report , Under Armour (UAA) - Get Free Report or Mattel (MAT) - Get Free Report , famed chartist Marc Chaikin says.

"Bottom-fishing is the most expensive sport in America," Chaikin said over the weekend at TheStreet's Financial Success Strategies teach-in. "Just don't do it. It's not worth it."

Bottom-fishing is a trading strategy wherein an investor buys shares of a stock that's recently taken a dive, expecting that the price will recover and make for a profitable investment. But Chaikin said smart investors should particularly avoid bottom-fishing in weak stocks, sectors or industries, as there may be "surprises lurking around every corner." He said the key to maintaining a strong portfolio is to spot "personality changes" in a stock that's moving from outperforming to underperforming the market.

Consider these three examples:

Chipotle

Chipotle shares have cratered some 60% since the first outbreaks of E. coli, salmonella and norovirus hit the chain in 2015, decimating customer traffic. CMG initially shares dropped to roughly $400 from a previous $700 between October and December 2015, but then partly recovered to $530 in March 2016 as some bottom-fishers assumed that Chipotle shares would bounce back.

But that proved to be wrong, Chaikin said. "You had this big momentum move unsupported by fundamentals -- basically wishful thinking, with management telling you they turned it around," he said. The stock plunged again as E. coli problems resurfaced:

Nearly two years later, Wall Street still has doubts that Chipotle will ever recover. TheStreet's Jim Cramer recently said that it seems like Chipotle has lost its way.

Under Armour

This is another stock that Chaikin said bottom-fishers should avoid. He said it's gone from being a large-cap stock to a mid-cap one and could even shrink further to become a small-cap:

UA shares plunged more than 20% on Tuesday after the company badly missed estimates for the fiscal third quarter and provided disappointing guidance for the current period. It looked just a few months ago like Under Armour might make a comeback, but its sales continue to sag in North America, its biggest market.

"Who knows where the bottom is?" Chaikin said. "You do not want to bottom-fish in a stock like this."

Mattel

Struggling toymaker Mattel is also a "poster child" for a stock that bottom-fishers should bypass, Chaikin said.

His Power Gauge Rating has been bearish on Mattel for at least a year, predicting that the stock would underperform the market:

That call proved to be accurate last week, when Mattel reported a negative earnings surprise for the fiscal third quarter. The stock has fallen 11.2% in the last five days and was down 9.2% on Tuesday.

Mattel has been blaming its earnings miss on Toys 'R' Us filing for bankruptcy, but investors shouldn't buy it, Chaikin said.

"Toys 'R Us has been bankrupt for what -- a month, two months?," Chaikin said. "But [Mattel is] ever hopeful."

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The injury toll from a terrorist attack on pedestrians in New York on Tuesday, Oct. 31, has risen to 16, authorities have said, while investigators piece together clues that led to a man killing eight people in the deadliest incident in the financial capital since Sept. 11, 2001.

In scenes that bear a striking and uncomfortable resemblance to similar attacks in Berlin, London, Paris and Nice, France, a man identified by multiple media reports as 29-year-old Uzbekistani immigrant Sayfullo Saipov drove a rental truck into a crowded bicycle lane in Lower Manhattan shortly after 3 p.m. ET, killing eight and injuring 16 others just a few streets away from the former Twin Towers of the World Trade Center.

Saipov was shot by police when he left his vehicle, reports have confirmed, and he was arrested and remains under maximum security in a nearby hospital. Unconfirmed media reports said the man shouted "Allahu Akbar" -- which translates from Arabic to "God is great" -- when he emerged from the truck and confronted police.

"Based on the information we have at this moment, this was an act of terror and a particularly cowardly act," said New York Mayor Bill de Blasio.

Authorities believe the man acted alone, with New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo telling reporters that the incident had all the hallmarks of a "lone wolf" attack similar to those seen in Europe and that there were no indications of a wider threat to the city. Security levels around the financial district, however, and the broader metropolitan area have been stepped-up.

President Donald Trump condemned the attack on Twitter late Tuesday and stressed the need for stricter vetting and border controls.

He later blasted Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer, a Democrat, whom he linked to the creation of current immigration laws which would have allowed Saipov to enter the country.

The president of Uzbekistan, meanwhile, wrote a letter to Trump expressing his own condolences and offering any help to the United States in its investigation of both Saipov and the attack he is alleged to have orchestrated.
A flame has been lit under oil.

Oil prices continued a week-long rally Wednesday, November 1, hitting their highest mark since mid-2015 on expectations that data due out of the US will confirm a sharp dip in reserves while OPEC compliance with its oil production caps continued to crimp supply.

Brent Crude futures for delivery in January traded Wednesday morning in Europe at $61.49, up $0.55 or 0.9%, breaching the $61 mark for the first time since the start of July 2015. US benchmark West Texas Intermediate futures for December climbed even more sharply, hitting an early session high of $55.17 before falling slightly to trade at $55.05, up 0.67 or 1.16%.

The gains came after the American Petroleum Institute forecast US inventories of crude, gas and distillates liked fell 15.9 million barrels last week, a draw down that would be the largest in at least eight years. The figures are expected to be confirmed by the US's Energy Information Administration, when it releases its official survey data on Wednesday.

"Combined with headline production data from the US showing another miss for revised monthly data vs the weekly, and tanker tracker sources suggesting Saudi continue to keep exports at low levels, near term sentiment should remain bullish," noted Goldman Sachs analysts.

Oil prices gained 7% over October, buoyed by OPEC and Russian compliance with supply caps that have drained the market of excess supply that drove prices into the mid-$20 a barrel range in early 2016. Oil price bulls have been further encouraged by suggestions out of Russia and Saudi Arabia that the supply caps, which have sort to remove 1.8 million barrels per day of supply, could be extended through 2018.

OPEC produced an average 32.78 million barrels of oil per day during October, meaning it had met about 92% of the supply cuts pledged by members. That figure was up from about 86% in September.

Despite the recent strong gains analysts and traders remain wary that the bull market will continue to run, amid signs that US shale producers were responding to higher prices by ramping up production and locking in prices.

"The wild card remains North American shale's potential to upend any coordinated moves to keep a lid on global production," noted Saxo Bank analysts on Wednesday.

Goldman echoed those concerns in its note. "Digging into the monthly data in the US shows strong sequential production growth from shale states not impacted by the hurricanes (North Dakota and Colorado in particular stood out), and with the US rig count stabilising and US producer hedging starting to pick up again after a 1 month hiatus, how long before the focus shifts onto the shale production response once more?"

The rising oil price lifted European oil company stocks Wednesday. France's Total SA (TOT) - Get Free Report was up almost 1% at 48.32 ($56.23), Royal Dutch Shell Plc undefined , which is due to report its Q3 number on Thursday, was marginally higher at 2,422.1 pence ($32.21), while BP Plc (BP) - Get Free Report climbed 0.65% to 513.50.

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Apple Inc. (AAPL) - Get Free Report tallied another win Wednesday.

The Irish High Court ruled that an appeal to stop construction of Apple's data center in the country was not in the public interest, clearing the way for Apple to continue building.

After Irish regulators gave Apple the green light to build the data center in their country, two objectors, Allan Daly and Sinead Fitzpatrick, appealed the decision on environmental concerns, according to Ireland's RTE.

An Irish judge ruled that Daly's and Fitzpatrick's argument did not constitute a point of law that was of public importance or was worthy of an appeal in the public interest. The ruling came three weeks after the Irish High Court first rejected the appellants' application seeking to overturn permission granted to Apple to build the data center.

Apple's upcoming Irish data center is the first location in what could become a wider system of similar centers throughout Ireland. According to Irish officials, as many as eight data centers could eventually crop up in the country.

Apple stock was higher 0.14% to $169.27 in premarket trading Wednesday.

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West Texas Intermediate crude oil futures are trading in the mid-$50s per barrel, but they might not go much higher, commodities trader Carley Garner says.

"Technically, there's some resistance in the mid-$50s, between $55 and $56," Garner, a futures and options trader at DeCarley Trading and a columnist for TheStreet's Real Money Pro premium site, said at TheStreet's Financial Success Strategies.

WTI oil futures for December 2017 delivery settled at $54.30 on Wednesday, and Garner noted that most traders have already priced in the latest information from the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).

Jeff Kilburg, chief executive officer of KKM Financial, added that "you've got to give credit to OPEC and OPEC members. They pound that microphone in a very strategic manner. They started their campaign about production cuts when you saw [oil] break through $48."

Kilburg said that while there's global demand for crude oil out there, there's "talk about this $55-to-$58 level being the ceiling because of supply concerns" -- namely, too much supply.

But traders should also keep in mind the upcoming Saudi Aramco initial public offering, which Aramco's CEO recently said is "on track" for 2018. The Saudi national oil-and-gas company, which is reportedly worth at least $2 trillion, plans to list 5% of the company on the market.

"This is their crown jewel, [and] they need crude oil above $52, $53 to really get some wind in that sail," Kilburg said. "So I think [oil] is stuck in this range here, but I think it has to go back and test at $50 level again before the year's over."

Garner noted that oil is regarded as more volatile than other commodities, largely because contracts expire monthly. Most other commodities have only three or four expirations a year.

"Crude-oil futures have a tendency to follow the direction of the trend near expiration dates," Garner said in an interview with TheStreet following this weekend's event. She added that the reason for the increased trading volume is due to traders scrambling to get into the next contract month.

"If we're still up in the low- to mid-$50s two weeks from now, we'll probably get a big spike up," the expert said, adding that the spike would flush all the weak shorts out. "Then from there, I think we'd have a good chance of turning around. But that level could be $56 [or] $57 before coming off."

Garner's advice to investors, particularly someone new to futures trading, is to look "for cheap out-of-the-money calls and puts," as well as cheap options.

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As investors, consumers and grocers alike worry about the impact of private label products and razor-thin grocery margins, Kraft Heinz Co. (KHC) - Get Free Report won't settle the argument: the Pittsburgh- and Chicago-based food conglomerate reported mixed third-quarter earnings.

During the quarter ending Sept. 30, Kraft Heinz sales rose 0.7% year over year to $6.31 billion, shy of the consensus estimate of $6.32 billion, according to FactSet estimates. Earnings of 83 cents per share exceeded analysts' expected 82 cents per share.

The results were in-line with expectations, as analysts expected the quarter to be a bit painful thanks to declining sales in certain core product groups.

"Major categories including processed cheese, lunchmeat, nuts and cream cheese are experiencing continued sales loss due to both market share loss and category weakness," wrote Bernstein analyst Alexia Howard, citing her analysis of Nielsen scanner data. Management "seems positive" about online sales, which aren't tracked by Nielsen. Although the e-commerce segment "only represented ~1% of its US retail sales, it saw more than 60% growth in 2Q this year," she wrote, which could mean long-term growth that could balance poor sales growth.

Kraft Heinz shares are down about 12% over the last three months, Susquehanna analyst Pablo Zuanic noted, underperforming most of its peers in the consumer packaged goods space. Exceptions are J.M. Smucker Co. (SJM) - Get Free Report , Hain Celestial Group Inc. (HAIN) - Get Free Report and TreeHouse Foods Inc. (THS) - Get Free Report , which have fallen about 15%, 18% and 20%, respectively.

"Underlying this pullback is the overall negative sentiment surrounding retail grocery (pricing pressure and private label/hard discounter focus), as well as little in the way of deal chatter," Zuanic wrote. Those pressures are likely to increase further thanks to compressed grocery margins, the fact that Amazon.com Inc. (AMZN) - Get Free Report and Walmart Stores Inc. (WMT) - Get Free Report both expanding their private label businesses and the move from German low-cost grocers Aldi and Lidl to expand their U.S. presences.

Kraft Heinz, renowned for its ability to slash costs at newly-acquired companies, offered $143 billion for Unilever NV (UN) - Get Free Report in February, with the six-month hiatus required under British takeover law expiring in August. Since abandoning the approach, Kraft Heinz has not updated investors on a potential new deal, which Zuanic believes is likely. He predicted a $200 billion deal, with equity investments by private equity firm 3G Capital and Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK.B) - Get Free Report . The two firms orchestrated Kraft Foods and Heinz and together hold a 50.59% stake in Kraft Heinz.

Berkshire's Warren Buffett recently ruled out an acquisition of Mondelez International Inc. (MDLZ) - Get Free Report , which used to be Kraft's snack business. Even if Mondelez isn't an option, thanks to its "lackluster Ebitda trends," Zuanic added that he is "really thinking KHC needs a new deal."

Kraft Heinz shares are down 11% year to date, while the S&P gained 15% during that period. Shares fell 2.5% to $75.75 in after-hours trading.

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Yelp Inc. operates a platform that connects consumers with local businesses in the United States and internationally. The company's platform covers various local business categories, including restaurants, shopping, beauty and fitness, health, and other categories, as well as home, local, auto, professional, pets, events, real estate, and financial services. It provides free and paid advertising products to businesses, which include cost-per-click search advertising and multi-location Ad products, as well as enables businesses to deliver targeted search advertising to local audiences; and business listing page products. The company also offers other services comprising Yelp Reservations that provide online reservations for restaurants, nightlife, and other venues directly from their Yelp business pages; Yelp Waitlist, a subscription-based waitlist management solution that allows consumers to check wait times and join waitlists remotely, as well as businesses to manage seating and server rotation; Yelp Knowledge program that offers business owners local analytics and insights through access to its historical data and other proprietary content; and Yelp Fusion, which offers free and paid access to content and data for consumer-facing enterprise use through publicly available APIs. In addition, it provides content licensing, as well as allows third-party data providers to update and manage business listing information on behalf of businesses. Further, the company offers its products directly through its sales force; indirectly through partners; and online through its website, as well as non-advertising partner arrangements. It has strategic partnership with Grubhub for providing consumers with a service to place food orders for pickup and delivery. Yelp Inc. was incorporated in 2004 and is headquartered in San Francisco, California.
This EAC Trade and Investment Report analyses the trade and investment flows in 2015. Its main purpose is to gauge EAC trade performance in the global macro-economic and trade contexts and particularly analyses the intra-EAC trade in goods for the year under review, EAC trade with the rest of the world, tax exemptions, revenue yield and investment flows of Partner States. It also highlights challenges and provides recommendations to inform policy direction.

The EAC Trade and Investment Report for the last 11 years have shown that intra-EAC trade has grown from $1.5 billion in 2005 to $5.1 billion in 2015 with the highest level being $5.8 billion in 2013. The Revenue collections have also continued to exhibit positive growth on year to year basis in all the Partner States. The EAC has also witnessed exponential growth in Foreign Direct Investment and Intra-EAC investment flows. Although not yet at the desired levels, the trend gives indication that EAC is becoming an attraction of viable investment projects. The flows depicted by these reports are supported by other empirical studies such as the Regional integration Index of 2016 carried out by Economic Commission for Africa and African Development Bank and the improved rankings in the Doing Business Reports of the World Bank.

On the flipside of the positive performance over period since 2005, EAC intra-trade performance in 2015 depicted a downward trend with a decrease of 10 percent from US$5.6 billion in 2014 to US$5.1 billion. Investment flows in 2015 also declined by 16.4% from the previous year although the total investment was nearly double than that of 2012 and 2013. Likewise the trade deficit with the rest of the world continued to increase in 2015. The one year disparity may not be a good measure for the future trends given that 2016 may have experienced a rebound in the fundamental parameters used in the reporting.

The EAC Trade and Investment Report 2015 reveals the challenges that impede trade in EAC as Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs) that raised the cost of doing business; poor infrastructure at the ports and along the main transport corridors; exemption regime that distorts the implementation of the CET; low value addition in the Region that affects the export earnings of the Partner States; lack of human and financial resources by the implementing agencies such as the investment agencies; delays in conclusion of trade agreements; investment related policies and strategies that are not harmonized at the regional level; and cumbersome administrative and regulatory practices with regard to registering a business and getting licenses.

Executive summary

The East African Community is one of the fastest growing integration arrangements in Africa and is set to expand with the application of the Republic of South Sudan to join the bloc. During the year, the EAC continued its quest towards full economic integration with remarkable progress in the implementation of the Single Customs Territory (SCT) including the upgrade of Regional infrastructure especially the ports of Mombasa and Dar es Salaam, roads, airports and border posts. Implementation of the SCT is set to reduce the cost of doing business by eliminating duplication of processes.

EAC is also looking to improve trade beyond the SCT by promoting trade facilitation initiatives with other trading blocs. These initiatives include the EAC-EU EPAs, AGOA, COMESA-EAC-SADC Tripartite Agreement as well as the EAC-US Investment Partnership Agreement.

This EAC Trade and Investiment Report presents the status and analysis of the trade and investment sectors of the five Partner States in the context of the global trade and investment performance in 2015 as well as an analysis of the revenue performance. The data reveals that the East African Partner States economies continued to grow in 2015 despite the global economic slowdown that affected many economies.

The real GDP growth of the East African Region as a whole remained positive, averaging 5.7 percent over the year. Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda maintained positive growth while Rwanda and Burundis economic growth declined over the year. EAC has continued to experience a trade deficit with the Rest of the World (RoW). During 2015, the trade deficit for the EAC grew by 11.3 percent to US$ 23.4 billion up from US $21.0 billion in 2014. While, FDI inflows into the region decreased by 16.4 percent to US$ 7.2 billion from US$ 8.6 billion in 2014 as a result of a decrease in FDI to the United Republic of Tanzania and Uganda while there was growth of FDI inflows into Kenya and Rwanda.

Overall investment inflows into the EAC for 2015 were meagre by global standards accounting for only about one percent of global investment inflows during the year. To encourage investment promotion, the Region continued to offer exemptions and incentives that exempt from import duty and other charges of equivalent effect, imports for manufacture of goods destined for export markets. While the total duty foregone decreased by 0.8 percent to US$ 1.59 billion in 2015 from US$ 1.6 billion in 2014 as a result of elimination of some exemptions by Partner States, it was still substantial and negatively affected the total revenue yield of the Partner States.

In spite of the growth in trade and investment, 2015 exhibited continued sluggish performance that was witnessed in 2014. Trade in goods volumes as well as investment inflows remained flat or declined as a result of a number of challenges: Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs) that raised the cost of doing business and affect intra-Regional trade which decreased by 10.0% in 2015 due to: poor infrastructure at the ports and along the main transport corridors; discretion in the implementation of the exemption regime that distorts the implementation of the CET; and low value addition in the Region that affects the export earnings of the Partner States. Also the Region is yet to develop a comprehensive investment strategy to promote all countries as a single investment destination.

National-level investment promotion agencies at the Partner State level are constrained by lack of human and financial resources and national governments still exercise cumbersome regulatory and administrative policies that impact negatively on investment promotion.

To mitigate this un-favourable trade position in EAC, the report proposes the following key policy recommendations:

Take deliberate steps to reduce the cost of doing business in order to boost exports and investments.

Adopt a more holistic and coherent approach to attract investment through development of policies that support investment promotion.

Conclude trade and investments agreements with key trading partners.

Enhance value addition of EAC export products.

Download: EAC Trade and Investment Report 2015 (PDF, 5.8 MB)
The 37th meeting of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Intergovernmental Committee (IC) opened in Lusaka on 30 October 2017.

The IC brings together Permanent/Principal secretaries to discuss and review implementation of regional integration programmes and activities and making recommendations to the Council of Ministers for decision making.

Zambias Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry Mrs Margaret Mwanakatwe, who officially opened the meeting said the implementation of regional commitments and full-scale participation of all member States in COMESA programmes requires improvement.

The low level of transposition of regional instruments at Member States level has negatively affected the implementation of various programme, she said. In this regard, there is need for Member States to implement agreed Summit Decisions.

The meeting was informed on the progress made towards the realization of a full free trade area. Currently 16 out the 19 countries have joined the free trade area since it was launched in 2000. The Secretariat is providing technical assistance the remaining countries to join the COMESA FTA.

On infrastructure, COMESA is providing leadership in enhancing connectivity by taking a holistic corridor-based approach to infrastructure development and management. This is based on three pillars namely policy and regulatory harmonization, facilitation and development of priority regional physical infrastructure covering transport, information communications technologies and energy.

A report of the COMESA Ministers of Industry who met in September this year was presented to the IC for noting. The ministers adopted the industrial strategy for the region which focuses on energy, textiles and garments, agro-processing, leather and leather products, agro-chemicals and mineral beneficiation among others.

Minister Mwanakatwe appealed to member states to consider appropriate funding of the COMESA budget for us to sustain efforts made so far.

She said: Over the years, the resource envelope has continued to shrink. This has resulted in some of COMESAs flagship programmes being discontinued and more are likely to follow.

She also appealed to the IC to recommend to the Council of Ministers the implementation of the approved organization structure of the Secretariat. This would greatly enable the smooth operationalization of work programmes.

COMESA programmes are guided by the Treaty, the Medium Term Strategic Plan and the decisions of the Council of Ministers and the Summit. These provide a roadmap for deepening the integration process through the consolidation of the FTA.

Other programmes include development of cross border economic infrastructure, development of agriculture and industry, enhancement of peace and security, mainstreaming of gender, climate change adaptation and mitigation, establishment of the Customs Union, the Common Market and the Monetary union among others.
When solar power collecting windows were announced a few years ago, I was a skeptic; they were only 5 percent efficient and I thought (and still think) that they were a dumb idea. I wrote:

First, build an efficient wall with no more glazing than is needed for light and view, to reduce energy demand;

Second, get some power out of the opaque parts; then, maybe, worry about pulling energy out of the glass. But it is really, a very distant third.

 Adam Moerk via ArchitizerThose solar windows came around on many sites including TreeHugger a few weeks ago, and they are still vapourware, still ridiculously inefficient, and I think they are still a dumb idea. Meanwhile, C.F. Mller Architects have completed the Copenhagen International School in Nordhavn that shows how it's done: The building cladding is a giant grid of 12,000 very pretty Swiss solar panels. The windows are windows. Mads Mandrup Hansen, lead architect, is explains to Jennifer Geleff in Architizer:
Other questions~

Hi TA-ers,

I am planning a 1 week trip to Tasmania in the 2nd week of June next year. I will have a big group of 5 adults and 3 kids age 7, 9 & 12. Main purpose is to hope that we can see snow. Reason for choosing Tasmania instead of other states is because we have already been to most of the other parts of Australia.

My questions:

1. Chances of seeing snow. Where do I need to go to have a higher chance of seeing snow?

2. We are hoping to be able to stay together. Is there any place big enough to accomadate all of us? Self contained preferred. Budget can be up to AUD250 per night.

3. This is my first visit to Tasmania. I am trying to get ideas on where to go. I can go out of Hobart or just stay in Hobart throughout the entire week. Interested in theme parks if any and farms for the kids and scenic trips for the adults. And we love food too! Willing to take day trips by tour operator or self drive.

Thank you~
Help - Getting from Puerto Jimenez to SJO for 9:10 AM flight

Help - Getting from Puerto Jimenez to SJO for 9:10 AM flight

Hello,

My 20-year old has to get back half-way through our family vacation to get back to school, I would like to find out if there is a way for her to get to SJO airport on Saturday morning to make a flight to Toronto, leaving at 9:10 AM: Both Nature Air and Sansa have a flight (a bit expensive $150 US) arriving at 7:40 AM, but I do not think this gives her enough time.

I would prefer for her to stay overnight with us in Puerto Jimenez, but realize that she may need to leave on Friday and stay the night in SJO.

Questions:

-is there a chance she could make my flight by arriving in SJO at 7:40 AM?

-Is there a cheaper and not too difficult way for her to travel from Puerto Jimenez to SJO, other than the flight?

-Can you make suggestions for safe places to stay for one night for one person near the airport?

Thank you so much!
Day 5: Hue  I Love Hue photo tour. We had contacted the guys at I Love Hue (ILH) at the same time as we booked the food tour, to ask if they would be able to put something together for us to go and see some of the other attractions in Hue  in particular the Mausoleums/Tombs, and the pagoda. I had mentioned in my contacts something along the lines of to see and have an opportunity to take some photos  they came back with the suggestion of a photography tour, and without really thinking too much more about it I said yes  so this was the plan for the day.

We were met by 2 of the ILH team on their bikes at our hotel, promptly at 8:30  one of them dressed in Ao Dai . We headed off to a little coffee shop, where we met up with another member of the team  a guy who is the photographer/web designer for ILH, who was also there to help/advise on photos. The cafe itself was a lovely little place where people gathered, bringing their birds in cages to watch. Now I have to say this in itself seems a very strange activity. A group of about 100 blokes of all ages, just sitting there in rows, watching the birds (all the same variety) as if they were at a sports event! Each to their own, I guess! Anyhow, this served as a lovely backdrop for our first session of taking photos  not to mention a great coffee into the bargain.

We then set off on the bikes to the Thien Mu pagoda. The front was crowded with tourists, but they really didnt seem to then explore round the back as we were able to spend some very peaceful time round the back of the temple complex. A lovely little spot. Then back on the bikes and into the mayhem of the market again. Being with guides certainly helped my confidence in taking pictures in the open market  just being aware that someone else had your back, looking out for traffic, people and (we were warned) potential pickpockets operating in the area. I was glad we had had the opportunity to return. And at least this time we didnt go through the meat and pickle area, so that was a vast improvement. We got to go upstairs this time as well and had a look round. I know others have reported they found the market very pressurised and quite oppressive  Perhaps it was because we were with locals, but I have to say that compared to (say) the Grand Bizarre in Istanbul I much preferred this experience. Not as pressured or as aggressive. Plus the items on sale are real rather than tourist items.

We then headed out to a lovely little vegetarian restaurant for lunch, and were treated to an absolute feast of food in a lovely temple-like surrounding. Very nice indeed. Then we were off on the bikes again to the abandoned water park. A great place for taking photos - rather strangely there was a wedding party, taking pre-wedding photos all dressed up in Halloween type of gear. Very incongruous but it added to the experience. It was very humid and oppressive on the day we went, which made it atmospheric. We also had the only rather unpleasant experience of the day here, when a couple of Australian back-packers started talking to the guides. Initially they were just asking general questions and seemed pleasant enough, but at one point one of them grabbed one of the girls and tried to kiss her. Of course she pushed him off and we all objected. He just laughed it off and moved on. In retrospect I sort of wish we had taken further action, though realise it would undoubtably have tied us up in more paperwork and time than we had  but it was just unforgivable behaviour, and really doesnt help the image of the backpacker/westerner.

Then onto the final stop of the day  the Mausoleums. It was getting quite late by this point  well beyond the initially allotted time for the tour, mainly because we had been having such a good time just chatting to the ILH guys  so we only visited the one. However, again a great opportunity for photos and I was really glad we had visited.

We were then returned to the hotel in time for our car to the airport. It was a great, great day and again one I would absolutely recommend. The ILH guys are a real credit to their country, their city and their organisation, and it was lovely to see the sights of the city, spending time in their company.

Our return flight from Hue took us to HCMC, where we overnighted at the Ibis close to the airport. A convenient stopover  they provided a shuttle bus service which I was grateful for. Even if it is only just over the road from the airport, I would not have been comfortable carrying cases whilst trying to cross the hectic roads around the airport complex. By the time we were checked in it was late and so unfortunately not much chance to explore. We did however take advantage of the rooftop bar and pool  if you do stay, be aware the prices at the bar are astronomical by Vietnamese standards, and even expensive by Western standards.

The following morning we checked in for our return flight to Singapore, and more than any other time we were grateful for having booked business class. The queue for emigration and security were HUGE  but thanks to being able to use the CIP lanes, we were through in minutes and settled into the rather nice lotus lounge for a spot of breakfast.

SINGAPORE: I know this is on the Vietnam forum, but will quickly mention the highlight and lowlight of our brief stop in Singapore. Highlight: Marina Bay Sands hotel. This was a wonderful experience. The rooms were lovely with huge bathrooms, and lovely, lovely comfortable beds. But the rooftop pool is just brilliant. Not just for the views, but the best bit by far was the entertainment provided by the assorted young couples taking photos in just about every possible pose, to decorate their Instagram accounts! I say couples. What this really means of course is the girls getting their partners to take photos of them! It seems that the whole purpose of the experience was to validate their presence. Very humorous, and we spent much longer up there than we had initially intended. Word of caution though, even though the drinks are already (as would be expected) stupidly expensive, they then insist on adding further service charges.

Lowlight  the Night Safari Zoo. I was really, really disappointed by this. I had been many years ago, and it had left a really good impression on me and I was very keen to take my son (who likes a good zoo) to see it. In my memory it was very enlightened and well laid out, and all the animals seemed to be happy. This time though, several of the animals were seen pacing up and down, up and down, up and down on well worn paths at the front of the enclosure, and did not seem to be happy. I think the only thing we both really thought was great was the Wallaby exhibit. There were many other things we could have done with the evening, and I really regret spending our one evening doing something which, at least for me, was not so great. It was further spoiled a little by our return taxi driver taking us round the houses to get back to the hotel. It was only when we showed him we could see where he was going on the phone, and took pictures of his license that he suddenly reverted to the correct route  and miraculously the fare he charged was significantly less than he had managed to rack up on the meter. Typical  our only experience of a rip off on the last day, and in Singapore!!!

And that was it. The end of a brilliant few days. I am very glad that we did it, despite the short time and long distances and would do it again in a flash. Of course, what I really want to do now is return for a longer, different type of visit  but it gave us both a great experience, and something which will stay with us for a long time. I hope you have enjoyed reading and if anyone gets any value from it, then hopefully it has repaid the collective group for all the information I gained from here.

Once Ive processed photos, Ill add a link to my flickr album
I have done a bit of research on where to visit after I finish a week's tour of Vietnam and I'm split between a few days on Phu Quoc or a visit to Bangkok. I've never been to Asia and will be doing a small group tour of Vietnam for one week then heading back to the UK myself, so looking for somewhere to explore and relax on the way home. I don't need 5* luxury but would like a relaxing, enjoyable few days as this will be my first solo travel experience. I appreciate they are different experiences but I'd love to know what others who have experienced both destinations think and which you would recommend as best to do as a solo female traveller in January 2018. Thanks!
Your point of arrival into Vietnam is HCMC.

When arriving on a Visa Exemption go straight to passport control and they will stamp your passport. They may ask for proof that you are staying less than 15 days so have a printout of your departure flight details handy.

On your 2nd arrival it depends what type of visa you have. If you already have a visa (from the embassy in the UK) or if you have purchased an e-visa the, once again, go straight to passport control. If you have arranged a Visa on Arrival then you will need to go to the VOA desk to get the Visa before you go through passport control

Edited: 5 years ago
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- President-elect Uhuru Kenyatta visited a school in Nairobi to inspect progress of KCPE exams

- Uhuru visited candidates at Westlands Primary School and interacted with them

- The KCPE exams commenced Tuesday, October 31, amid security concerns after a divisive repeat election

President Uhuru Kenyatta on Wednesday, November 1, visited KCPE candidates in a school in Nairobi moments before they sat for their second-day exams.

Uhuru was at Westlands Primary School in Nairobi where he interacted with the candidates as they prepared to sit for their Science paper.

Uhuru was accompanied by Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i and a host of other officials.

Uhuru interacts with students of Westlands Primary School Photo: Facebook/Dennis Itumbi

READ ALSO: Raila is a slow puncture that takes us nowhere - Mutahi Ngunyi

According to State House Director of Digital Communication Dennis Itumbi, the president-elect encouraged the young boys and girls to be courageous as they sit for the exams.

Uhuru's visit was meant to investigate the progress of the exams that kicked off Tuesday, October 31, amid security concerns following a divisive repeat election.

Uhuru interacts with candidates before they sit for a paper Photo: Facebook/Uhuru Kenyatta

As reported by TUKO.co.ke, Uhuru was declared winner of the election which his main rival, NASA's Raila Odinga, boycotted.

READ ALSO: Petition filed to de-register the National Super Alliance and its affiliate parties

The election left the country divided, with some sections, especially Raila's strongholds, failing to vote.

Uhuru jokes with candidates ahead of their Wednesday exam Photo: Facebook/Uhuru Kenyatta

The president-elect has been urged to embark on uniting and healing the country amid fresh strategies from Raila to frustrate his administration.

Raila Odinga speech after Uhuru was declared president on TUKO TV

Source: TUKO.co.ke
- Security was heightened in Kericho-Kisumu border following attacks linked to politics

- More police officers were deployed to the area after youth attacked around 10 passenger vehicles on Tuesday, October 31

- Rowdy youth pelted stones on PSV vehicles belonging to Wareng SACCO sparking tension between Jubilee-affiliated and NASA-affiliated youths

More police officers were deployed along the Kisumu-Kericho border on Wednesday November 1, following attacks on vehicles belonging to the Wareng SACCO in Chemelil.

TUKO.co.ke understands that tension reached fever pitch along the said border following the attacks that occurred Tuesday, October 31.

READ ALSO: Uhuru visits schools to inspect KCPE progress (photos)

The rowdy youths pelted the vehicles with stones in what is believed to be political animosity out of the divisive repeat election held on Thursday, October 26.

President Uhuru Kenyatta won as his main challenger Raila Odinga boycotted and labelled the election a sham.

READ ALSO: Raila is a slow puncture that takes us nowhere - Mutahi Ngunyi

Matatu operators in Kericho were teargassed by anti-riot police when they protested the attacks by the rowdy youth.

Wareng SACCO has suspended operations along the Kisumu-Eldoret highway until calm is restored.

Raila Odinga speech after Uhuru was declared president on TUKO TV

Source: TUKO.co.ke
- Elders from Mombasa county have warned Raila against calling for civil disobedience

- The elders say counties controlled by NASA governors will slow down in terms of development

- The elders also warned against calls for fresh elections

A section of elders from Mombasa county has warned National Super Alliance (NASA) leader Raila Odinga against calling for civil disobedience among his supporters.

The elders warned that civil disobedience and non-cooperation by NASA supporters are a recipe for slow development in NASA controlled counties.

They told the Standard that the countries controlled by NASA governors are likely to lag behind if the calls are heeded.

Elders from NASA stronghold have warned against civil disobedience Photo: Star

READ ALSO: Nairobi Business Community to transform into Jubilee Business Community

The elders also warned against a fresh election as called by NASA after President Uhuru Kenyatta was declared winner in a highly divisive fresh election.

This comes a day after Raila reiterated that his supporters will make Uhuru's leadership a nightmare as they seek to 'restore democracy and the rule of law'.

READ ALSO: Jubilee MP and hundreds mourners forced to flee after swarm of bees attack

Raila dismissed Uhuru's win and urged his supporters to brace themselves to disobey orders from the Jubilee administration.

Mombasa county is one of the 17 counties controlled by NASA governors. Governor Hassan Joho is a close ally of Raila.

Raila Odinga speech after Uhuru was declared president on TUKO TV

Source: TUKO.co.ke
The Ministry of Health is reminding the public of the dos and donts when it comes to dealin
Russian-backed militants launched 17 attacks on positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in ATO area in Donbas in last day.

This is reported by the ATO press center.

"The enemy continues to violate ceasefire, using heavy weaponry. Over the past day, illegal armed groups violated the ceasefire 17 times. The Ukrainian Armed Forces opened fire on the enemy 13 times. As a result of the fighting, one Ukrainian soldier was killed, another five servicemen were wounded," the statement reads.

In Donetsk direction, the enemy used different types of grenade launchers, heavy machine guns and small arms to shell Ukrainian strongholds near Avdiivka (18km north of Donetsk), Zaitseve (67km north-north-east of Donetsk) and Luhanske (59km north-east of Donetsk).

In Mariupol direction, ATO troops came under 122mm artillery, 120mm mortar, grenade launcher and heavy machine gun fire in Shyrokyne (20km east of Mariupol).

In Luhansk direction, Russian-backed militants fired 120mm mortars on Ukrainian servicemen outside Orikhove (75km north of Luhansk).

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It is important for Canada and Canadians that Ukraine achieves success in its development.

Head of the Canadian Parliament Standing Committee on National Defence Stephen Fuhr said this during a meeting with Prime Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Groysman, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

"The success of Ukraine is important for the committee members, the Canadians and Canada as a whole," Fuhr said.

He promised that the Standing Committee on National Defence would prepare recommendations for the Government of Canada, suggesting measures to further support Ukraine.

"I have a suspicion that our recommendations to the Government of Canada will go beyond the usual framework of the defence committee. Therefore, we look forward to submitting recommendations to the government, the implementation of which might help you achieve your goal," the Canadian PM noted.

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One Ukrainian soldier was killed and five servicepersons were wounded in the anti-terrorist operation (ATO) zone in eastern Ukraine over the past day.

Ukrainian Defense Ministry's Spokesperson for ATO issues Andriy Lysenko said this at a press briefing on Wednesday, an Ukrinform correspondent reported.

Unfortunately, yesterday at about 8.45 a.m. as a result of Russian occupied troops attacks on our positions, one defender of Ukraine was killed near Opytne. Also, as a result of enemy attacks near Kamianka, Opytne and Shyrokyne, five servicepersons of the Ukrainian Armed Forces were wounded. They were immediately sent to field hospitals, he said.

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Ukraine is interested in attracting investments from Saudi Arabia and involving Saudi companies in the privatization processes in the country.

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said this during negotiations with Managing Director of the Public Investment Fund of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Yasir Othman Al-Rumayyan, the presidential press service reported.

"We welcome the participation of Saudi state and private capital in the implementation of attractive, mutually beneficial projects on Ukrainian territory, in particular, in such areas as aircraft engineering, agriculture, shipbuilding, defense industry, energy, tourism and recreation infrastructure, as well as in the process of privatization in our country," Poroshenko said.

During the meeting, the sides discussed the possibility of further expansion of investment cooperation between Ukraine and Saudi Arabia.

The president informed the Saudi side of the progress of reforms in Ukraine and measures aimed at improving the business climate and increasing the investment attractiveness of Ukraine. He also invited Saudi companies to take part in privatization in Ukraine.

Yasir Othman Al-Rumayyan, in turn, spoke about the activities of the Public Investment Fund as part of the implementation of an ambitious economic reform plan Saudi Arabia's "Vision 2030," which is aimed at easing the country's dependence on oil revenues. As of 2017, the assets of the fund amounted to $160 billion.

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The Canadian opposition promises to urge the Government to abolish visa requirements for travel of Ukrainian citizens to Canada.

MP of the New Democratic Party Randall C. Garrison said this during a joint meeting of the Standing Committees of the Canadian Parliament on International Trade and National Defense, which was held in the presence of Prime Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Groysman, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

"We will urge Canada to grant Ukrainians with visa-free travel in addition to our Free Trade Agreement," Garrison said.

He also noted the importance of expanding interstate contacts.

"I hope that we will be able to use our contacts, which are quite frequent recently, for the development of closer relations between our parliaments and the deepening of interstate relations," the MP told Groysman.

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President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko is holding talks with the managing director of the Public Investment Fund of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Svyatoslav Tsegolko, the spokesperson for the Head of State, wrote this on Twitter.

"The President is holding talks with the managing director of the Public Investment Fund of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia," the report reads.

As of 2017, the assets of the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia amounted $160 billion.

As reported, the program of the visit included meetings of the Ukrainian President with Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, the Vice Prime Minister, Saudi Defense Minister Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud.

During the meetings, the parties will discuss the issues of bilateral investment, trade, economic and military-technical cooperation.

ish
President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko has called on the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf to protect the rights of the Crimean Tatars.

The Ukrainian president stated this during a meeting with the Secretary General of the Council, Abdullatif bin Rashid Al-Zayani, the presidents press reports.

"The President of Ukraine during the meeting represented leader of the Crimean Tatar people Mustafa Dzhemilev and called on the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf to more actively protect the rights of the Crimean Tatars in Russian occupied Crimea," reads the report.

Also, during the meeting, prospective directions for cooperation between Ukraine and the states of the Arabian Peninsula were discussed.

The parties draw particular attention to the current issues of political and security situation in the Middle East, in particular Qatar, Syria and Yemen.

The interlocutors also condemned the terror attack in New York and stressed on the need to unite efforts in the fight against terrorism.

In addition, following the meeting, the Memorandum of Understanding on the procedure of consultations between the Foreign Ministry of Ukraine and the General Secretariat of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf was signed.

As Ukrinform earlier reported, President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko is on an official visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

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The Polish Foreign Ministry condemns the purchase and supply of anthracite coal from the occupied territories of Ukraine to Poland.

Deputy Foreign Minister Jan Dziedziczak said this after the Polish edition of Dziennik Gazeta Prawna published articles regarding import of anthracite coal from ORDLO to Poland.

"The Foreign Ministry condemns the purchase of anthracite from the occupied territories of Ukraine, which are under control of pro-Russian separatists. I would like to underline that the Polish policy regarding the "separatist republics" remains unchanged and based on their non-recognition, which shows Poland's support for the territorial integrity of Ukraine," Dziedziczak said.

According to him, any activity or cooperation with individuals or entities from the ORDLO should take place with the consent and with the knowledge of the Ukrainian state, which, in accordance with international law, owns this territory.

"Therefore, any form of cooperation between Polish business entities, including the import of goods from the territory of Ukraine, which is under control of separatists, should take place in accordance with Ukrainian legislation," the statement reads.

ish
President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko and King of Saudi Arabia Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud agreed during the meeting to intensify bilateral cooperation in the political, trade and economic, military and technical, energy and investment fields.

This has been reported by the press service of the Head of State.

"President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko held a meeting with King of Saudi Arabia Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud in the framework of the official visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia... Following the meeting, the agreement was achieved to intensify bilateral cooperation in political, trade and economic, military and technical, energy and investment spheres," the report reads.

The Head of State expressed gratitude to the Saudi monarch for supporting the initiatives of Ukraine in the framework of the international organizations aimed at protecting its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The Ukrainian President expressed hope that the official Riyadh would join the international efforts aimed at solving the problems of protecting the rights and interests of the Crimean Tatar people in Crimea.

The King of Saudi Arabia emphasized the friendly nature of relations between the two states. The interest of the Saudi party in the development of mutually beneficial cooperation with Ukraine in the framework of bilateral projects was confirmed.

He stressed that the visit of the Ukrainian President opened new opportunities for the enhancement of personal contacts, interstate relations and people-to-people contacts.

The parties coordinated efforts to ensure regional peace and security, as well as struggle against the international terrorism.

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The North Atlantic Alliance has plans in the event of the escalation of Russian military aggression against Ukraine, but is not obliged to defend the state.

Head of the Mission of Ukraine to NATO Vadym Prystaiko said this in comments to an Ukrinform correspondent in Brussels.

"Of course, planning is underway. Its result is the alliance's response regarding the strengthening of its military presence in the Baltics, Poland, Romania, and Bulgaria. It is no coincidence. It is a response to the growing threat from Russia, which is confirmed by an attempt to annex Crimea and destabilization in the east of Ukraine," Prystaiko said.

At the same time, the diplomat noted, Ukraine did not become a member of the alliance, whose members all the allies are obliged to defend.

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Ukraine and Canada have concluded an agreement that will allow training of more than 1,000 new Ukrainian government employees in line with new standards.

Sehiy Popik, an adviser to the Ukrainian prime minister, said that the agreement was signed between the secretariat of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and the Canadian Development Agency Agriteam.

From now on, we have received a legal and institutional procedure for attracting Canada's resources and capabilities to train government employees in Ukraine. This is unique, it's a great implemented idea," Popik said.

According to him, Canada will help Ukraine in training civil servants, organizing their internships and involving them in various training programs.

"This agreement creates a unique procedure, announcing a competition for 1,200 people. They should be young people with Ukrainian and western education and needed language knowledge," said the adviser.

He added that Canada "cultivates a very high level of standards in the sphere of government employees training.

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The occupation services in Russian-annexed Crimea have completely stopped the movement of vehicles and pedestrians through the administrative border with the temporarily occupied peninsula, the State Border Service of Ukraine has reported.

"Tonight, at 01.30, the occupation services on the territory of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea completely stopped the movement of vehicles and pedestrians through the administrative border with the temporarily occupied peninsula," reads the statement.

The reasons for such actions are not known, because people from the peninsula are also not allowed to the cross the border.

Due to a rather low flow of passengers and vehicles, there were no lines of cars and queues of citizens as of 08.00, border guards said.

In connection with such a situation at the Chonhar, Kalanchak and Chaplynka checkpoints, the State Border Service of Ukraine asked citizens to take into account this information and refrain from trips to Crimea.

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Ministers of education and science of Ukraine and Bulgaria Lilia Hrynevych and Krasimir Valchev discussed the implementation of Article 7 of the Law of Ukraine "On Education."

The ministers held a meeting in Odesa secondary school No. 31 and made relevant statements upon the talks, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

"We have discussed prospects for further Ukrainian-Bulgarian cooperation in learning the Bulgarian language by representatives of the Bulgarian community in Ukraine and the opportunity to study in this language while children learn the Ukrainian language in school. Afterwards, children may study part of the subjects in Bulgarian and another part in the state language in order to fully master Ukrainian," Hrynevych said.

In turn, Minister Valchev stressed that he had been assured that the new law would not impede the study of the Bulgarian language in Ukraine. Today's talks were devoted to the establishment of a network of institutions and deepening the study of the Bulgarian language, Bulgarian minister noted.

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The University of Texas at Arlington is the top four-year university in Texas for adult learners who are over the age of 25, according to Washington Monthlys 2017 College Guide.

Only three Texas institutions made the list. Washington Monthly ranked UTA among the top 50 in the U.S. for serving adult learners and No. 1 in Texas. UTA is also ranked by U.S. News and World Report as the top public university in the nation for graduating students with the lowest average student debt.

The Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area boasts a population of more than 7.1 million people, and the average resident is about 35 years old. The University contributes to the Texas economy and North Texas by providing a number of education options to the workforce interested in retraining, pursuing a degree, continuing education, distance learning or increased social mobility. The Brookings Institution recently ranked UTA among the top 25 leader universities in the U.S. for providing high social mobility and high levels of impactful research, empowering students to pursue advanced careers while maintaining low student debt.

While North Texas is the fastest growing metropolitan area in the U.S., only a third of residents over the age of 25 have an undergraduate or advanced degree. UTA is contributing to a more educated workforce with innovative education opportunities for adult learners, including the Division for Enterprise Development which focuses on improving employability and enhancing job skills for North Texans already in the workforce, providing certificates and professional accreditation. Strong partnerships with community colleges also ensure a seamless transfer of credits and direct pathways to degrees, offering customized advising, tailored orientation sessions and financial aid counseling.

The traditional progression of a student from high school to four-year university to graduate school in a straight linear fashion is no longer the norm, said UTA President Vistasp Karbhari. Employment demands are also changing, requiring students to commit to a lifetime of learning, training and retraining. UTA recognizes this and it is why we provide educational opportunities to help our non-traditional students earn degrees and certifications that will positively impact their social mobility and contribution to the workforce.

Adult education is also a key focus at the state level, and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Boards 60x30TX strategic plan sets forth a goal of 60 percent of Texans ages 25 to 34 having earned a certificate or degree by 2030. UTA contributes to this statewide effort, providing academic excellence, flexibility in programs and affordability. With the conferral of 12,749 degrees in the 2016-17 academic year, a 35 percent increase over the 9,470 degrees conferred during the 2013-14 academic year, UTA is focused not only on ensuring student success but also preparing a highly educated workforce and intelligentsia for Texas.

I'm proud that The University of Texas at Arlington is a clear leader in serving all students, regardless of age," said state Sen. Brian Birdwell, R-Granbury, a member of the Senate Finance Committee. "This designation also bodes well for veterans who have chosen to first serve their country, then pursue higher education after leaving the military. UTA understands its role as a partner in these educational and workforce development efforts.

UTA works closely with the corporate sector to develop degree programs that meet critical workforce needs such as a bachelors degree in construction management introduced in the spring of 2017 and a master of science in construction engineering introduced in 2014. UTAs College of Nursing and Health Innovation began offering five graduate nursing degrees online in spring 2017 to provide greater flexibility to adults returning to earn advanced degrees to advance their careers. Through a comprehensive set of offerings using face-to-face, hybrid and digital modalities UTA ensures that its offerings align with Texass growing workforce needs at the bachelor, master and doctoral levels.

In addition, recognizing that continuing and professional education is a critical component for our workforce to remain at a high level of effectiveness, UTAs Division for Enterprise Development offers diverse training and consulting programs that can lead to enhanced career opportunities.

By 2030, over 60 percent of the available jobs in the Dallas region will require some form of postsecondary credential, said Angela Farley, senior vice president of education and workforce at the Dallas Regional Chamber. In order to meet the regional workforce needs of 60 percent of adult learners holding a post-secondary credential, they must have increased access to higher education and workforce training.

Washington Monthly developed its rankings through an analysis of data from the U.S. Department of Educations Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) and the College Boards Annual Survey of Colleges. The magazine measured seven metrics to determine a universitys ability to serve adult learners:

ease of transfer

flexibility of programs

services available for adult learners

size of adult learner population

earnings potential for graduates

student loan repayment rates

tuition and fees

U.S. News and World Report ranks UTA as one of the top campuses in the nation for ethnic diversity. Diverse: Issues in Higher Education lists UTA as No. 1 in Texas for the number of bachelors and masters degrees awarded to African-American students and No. 21 in the U.S. for bachelors and masters degrees conferred to all minority students.
A European delegation on a two-day visit to Cambodia warned on Tuesday that a deterioration in the countrys human rights situation could affect European Union aid and trade preferences, both of which provide substantial economic benefits to Cambodia, according to a statement released at the end of their visit.

The warning, although vague, was one of the strongest statements to date by one of Cambodias donors over the unfolding political crisis in the country, which has seen the opposition leader jailed and his party under threat of imminent dissolution over charges of treason that human rights groups say are trumped-up.

Werner Langen, a member of the European Parliament who led the six-person delegation on a two-day visit to Phnom Penh this week, said in Tuesdays statement that Cambodia needs "an open and transparent level playing field" in order to guarantee free and fair elections next year. The EU, along with Japan, has in recent years been one of the top donors to Cambodias electoral process and electoral reform.

The government of Cambodia should be aware that the European Parliament is a co-legislator for budgetary and trade issues," Langen said. "A serious deterioration of the human rights situation might have implications for development assistance programmes and trade preferences.

He also called on the government to release the opposition leader, Kem Sokha, to halt the process of dissolving the Cambodia National Rescue Party, and to restore a free space for political parties, media outlets, and civil society organizations, all of which have come under threat in the recent crackdown.

The statement follows a warning from the Swedish government last month that the country would consider downgrading its relations with Cambodia in light of the political situation.

The European Union is one of Cambodias most significant foreign donors, as well as one of the top destinations for Cambodia-made garments and other exports, such as sugar, under the Everything But Arms trade preference scheme, which provides duty-free and quota-free access to European markets for developing countries.

According to Commerce Ministry and EU statistics, Cambodia exported around $4 billion in goods to the EU in 2016, mostly garments, accounting for around 40 percent of the countrys total exports. The EU and its member states also gave over $150 million in aid in 2015.

The delegates visiting Cambodia were all members of the European Parliaments ASEAN Delegation. They met on Monday and Tuesday with officials at the Ministry of Commerce and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as with civil society organizations and the National Election Committee, which the EU has helped fund.

After meeting with the delegates on Tuesday, ruling party lawmaker Chheang Vun told reporters that the EU parliamentarians expressed concern about the arrest of Kem Sokha and potential dissolution of the opposition party. He said he explained to the delegates that Kem Sokha was arrested because he had committed a crime by receiving funding from abroad and causing social instability.

According to a statement released on Monday, Foreign Minister Prak Sokhon also met the delegates and told them that the current political situation was in accordance with the democratic process and that NGOs and newspapers had only been targeted due to their violations of the law.

The closure of The Cambodia Daily newspaper and NDI and the case of the detained opposition leader were measures carried out in accordance with applicable law, aimed at strengthening the rule of law and defending independence and sovereignty against attempts to interfere in internal affairs and overthrow the government.
The Rohingya refugee crisis is an age-old tale of displacement and suffering, but technology is providing new tools to tackle it, rights groups and charities said on Wednesday.

Powerful drone and satellite images are bringing to life the urgent needs of more than 800,000 Rohingya refugees who fled to Bangladesh from Myanmar, while also providing strong evidence of abuses, which could be used to lobby for justice.

We can describe for hours the large numbers of refugees crossing the border and how quickly existing camps have expanded, but one image captures it all, said Andrej Mahecic, a spokesman for the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR).

More than 600,000 Rohingya have fled to neighboring Bangladesh since the military in predominantly Buddhist Myanmar launched a counter-insurgency operation after attacks on security posts by Rohingya militants in late August.

The UNHCR is using videos and photographs shot with drones to show the scale of the displacement crisis and bring it to life to spur action from the public and donors.

It is also using satellites to count and identify refugee families by their location in the Bangladesh camps to target assistance to those most in need, Mahecic told the Thomson Reuters Foundation in an email.

The use of drone footage of refugees entering Bangladesh has boosted donations for medical care, water and food, according to the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC), an alliance of 13 leading British aid agencies.

Rights monitors also hope satellite images can provide evidence that to help bring perpetrators to justice.

Satellite photos were used in the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) to prove mass executions in 1995 in Srebrenica.

But the technology has yet to achieve its potential because of limited budgets and a lack of standardised methodologies accepted by courts, experts say.

Human Rights Watch has shared satellite images showing the burning of almost 300 villages in Myanmar, refugees' mobile phone footage and their testimonies with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.

We have found the debris field in satellite imagery where people were executed, corroborating multiple eyewitness statements, said Josh Lyons, a satellite imagery analyst with the U.S.-based rights group.

The U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad al-Hussein has called the violence against Rohingya in Myanmar a textbook example of ethnic cleansing, and his office is working to determine whether it meets the legal definition of genocide.
An Afghan civil society organization said it is working on its own to organize a meeting in the Gulf later this month between the Taliban and influential members of the Afghan Society.

Khalilullah Safi, a founding member of the Afghanistan Peace Studies Organization, APSO, said local media reports that an international group, Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs, is behind the upcoming two-day interaction are inaccurate.

Pugwash or any other international organization has no role in this meeting directly or indirectly. We are only inviting the United Nations as an observer, said Safi.

The meeting plans to include a high profile delegation of the Taliban from their political office in Qatar as well as politicians, civil society members, parliamentarians, womens rights activists, and people close to the Afghan government.

This is not an official meeting and each person would attend in his or her personal capacity, according to APSO.

Our primary agenda is removing the obstacles to peace and finding ways to improve trust deficit between the two sides so that we can move forward with mutual consent, he said.

However, he added that other important issues like the protection of civilians during the armed conflict, the role of women and youth in the peace process, and freedom of the press would also come under discussion, along with issues like health, education, and human rights.

Pugwash, an international group that touts a tradition of dialogue across divides and has received a Nobel Peace Prize in 1995, has previously organized several similar conferences between Taliban and Afghan government and civil society members.

The confusion about Pugwashs involvement was likely the result of interviews in the local media and in VOAs Pashto Service by one of the attendees, Ziaulhaq Amarkhel. Amarkhel, who runs a civil society organization called Mili Subac (National Stability), is invited to the upcoming meeting. He has also participated in Pugwash organized meetings in the past.

Safi said APSO was going public with information about the conference, which was previously kept quiet, to counter inaccuracies or misconceptions swirling around the event.

The organization is in direct contact with all parties of the conflict and no side, including the government, is putting any obstacles in its way, he said in response to rumors in Kabul that the Afghan government did not want the conference to occur and was requesting governments in the Gulf to withhold visas for the attendees.

Such rumors surged when the conference was postponed earlier this month, but APSO says the change in date was due to logistical issues and it plans to move forward with the meeting.
After what U.S. officials said was several months of deliberation among President Donald Trumps national security team, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson recently took a rather strident tone towards China in a major speech that came just weeks before Trumps first state visit to China.

The United States seeks constructive relations with China, but we will not shrink from Chinas challenges to the rules-based order and where China subverts the sovereignty of neighboring countries and disadvantages the U.S. and our friends, said Tillerson in a major policy speech on Oct. 18 at Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS.)



The remarks, which also hit Chinas continuing reclamation in the South China Sea, are seen as a reflection of U.S. impatience that Beijing is not ceasing its aggressive actions in the South China Sea, a crucial trade route for the worlds largest economies.

Chinas provocative actions in the South China Sea directly challenge the international law and norms that the United States stands for, added Tillerson.

The top U.S. diplomats forceful remarks came as Trump is getting ready to embark on his first travel to Vietnam and the Philippines, two claimants of disputed areas of the South China Sea, attending summit meetings where leaders from Southeast Asia gather.

On Monday, Chinese Ambassador to the United States Cui Tiankai pushed back, saying Washington should not try to interfere in regional efforts to resolve disputes in the South China Sea.

In a press briefing, Cui said maybe it would be better for the U.S. to let the regional countries to find a way of managing the situation.

South China Sea

For years, the United States has been calling for an expeditious conclusion of an effective and binding Code of Conduct between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in the South China Sea.

China has angered four Southeast Asian states by expanding its coast guard and military presence in the South China Sea, a 3.5-million-square-kilometer tract of water rich in fisheries and fuel reserves. Claims by Brunei, Malaysia, Vietnam and the Philippines overlap that of China, which calls nearly the whole sea its own.

While the United States is not a claimant to the sovereignty over disputed islands in the South China Sea, Washington said it is vital to its national interests that various claimants pursue their claims peacefully.

With international attention focused on North Koreas missile and nuclear threats, tensions in the South China Sea have slipped from the headline in recent months.



Harry Kazianis, director of defense studies at the Center for the National Interest in Washington, told VOA Tuesday sadly, the South China Sea will get very little bandwidth during Trump's trip to Asia  one clear way of how China benefits form North Koreas recent missile and nuclear advances.

Positions to fill before trip

Meanwhile, the Trump administration is preparing to fill positions that focus on Asia policy, as the U.S. president departs for East Asia.

The Senate recently confirmed the appointment of Daniel Krintenbrink, a career diplomat, as U.S. ambassador to Vietnam.



Another highly-anticipated nomination is Randall Schriver, a well-respected China hawk, who was tapped last week for the top Asia policy job at the Pentagon. Trump announced his intent to nominate Schriver as assistant secretary of defense for Asian and Pacific affairs.

Schriver has advocated for a strong U.S.-Japan alliance and high-level engagement with Taiwan, which he said serves the U.S. national interests and values. Schriver also has argued the political and security environment in East and Southeast Asia has changed a great deal since 1979, the year that Washington broke diplomatic ties with Taipei and recognized Beijing.

Taiwan is a full-fledged democracy and willing security partner to the United States. Chinas assertiveness threatens peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea, said Schriver.

China claims democratically ruled Taiwan is part of its territory and has never renounced the use of military force to bring the island under Beijings control.

In a letter to Trump on Oct. 26, co-chairs of the Congressional Taiwan Caucus voiced the importance of a value-based strategic partnership with Taiwan.



Taiwan is one of our closest allies in the region, and congressional support of Taiwan remains strong and bipartisan. Our two peoples share many of the same values, and a commitment to democracy and the rule of law, said Republican Representative Mario Diaz-Balart, who serves in the House Committee on Appropriations along with fellow Republican Gregg Harper and Democrats Albio Sires and Gerry Connolly.

Krintenbrink named US ambassador to Vietnam

Former White House National Security Council Senior Director for Asia Affairs Daniel Krintenbrink was confirmed last Thursday as U.S. ambassador to Vietnam.



Krintenbrink told Senate Committee on Foreign Relations in a nomination hearing that one of the U.S. policy priorities is to strengthen maritime security cooperation with Vietnam and to resist coercion in the disputed South China Sea.

Wilder, who worked at the White House National Security Council for former President George W. Bush, said it was important to have Krintenbrink confirmed before Trumps visit there.



The president's trip to East Asia, the longest trip to East Asia by any U.S. president that I remember, will go a long way to addressing the incorrect notion some have had that the United States is withdrawing from the region, said Wilder, adding the new commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific Region shows just how committed the U.S. is to this whole area of the globe.

Mapping the U.S. strategy from the Indian Ocean to the Pacific Ocean, a senior State Department official recently laid out Washingtons vision to deepen security cooperation with three other democratic allies: Japan, Australia, and India.



China, a non-democratic society, was not in U.S. strategic partnership in the Indo-Pacific region.



In response, Chinese Ambassador Cui said on Monday, I don't think any attempts to form exclusive clubs in the region would help anybody.
A suspected Islamist militant wounded two policemen with a knife near the parliament in Tunis on Wednesday and was later arrested, Tunisia's Interior Ministry said.

It was a rare incident in a country that has improved security since deadly attacks in 2015.

The assailant was known to authorities and said after the attack that he considered the police to be "tyrants," the statement said.

One of the policemen was taken to hospital for treatment after being wounded in the neck, while the other was only lightly wounded, it said.

"I saw a young man with a thick beard trying to kill a policeman. He put the knife in his neck before he was pursued by a second policeman," a witness told Reuters. "He shouted, 'Allahu Akbar,' ['God is greatest'] as he attacked the policemen."

The Interior Ministry said Wednesday's suspect had confessed that he "adopted Takfiri thought three years ago and believes that killing security forces is a form of jihad."

"Takfiri thought" refers to a view that Muslims should proclaim other Muslims to be infidels and justify attacks against them.

Large numbers of police were deployed to the Bardo square in the aftermath of the attack, a witness said. Blood could be seen on the ground in the square.

March 2015 attack

The square is opposite the parliament building and close to the Bardo museum, where 21 people, mostly European tourists, were killed in an attack by three gunmen in March 2015.

A security source told Reuters the attacker was 25 and from Ettadamen, one of the largest, poorest suburbs of Tunis.

One of the attacker's neighbors told Reuters that the attacker was the youngest of six brothers and also had a sister "who works in the parliament's administration."

Colonel Major Khelifa Chibani of Tunisia's national guard named the attacker as Zied Gharbi. Security forces raided his house and confiscated his personal computer and other items, he said.

Sofian Sliti, a spokesman for judicial counterterrorism investigations, said that "the attacker planned to join terrorist groups in Libya."

As well as the Bardo killings, Tunisia suffered two other major attacks in 2015, one against tourists at the beach resort of Sousse and the other against presidential guards in the capital.

The 2015 attacks severely damaged the economy, which has a large tourism sector at its Mediterranean beaches. Since then, security has been boosted at strategic sites while authorities have cracked down on militants, dismantling dozens of cells.

Tunisia was the only Arab country where a long-serving leader was toppled in the region's 2011 uprisings without triggering civil war or large-scale violence. Tunisian democracy activists who kept dialogue open between Islamists and secularists were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2015.
Brazil's Senate approved a weaker version of a hotly disputed bill to regulate car-hailing services like Uber Technologies Inc. on Tuesday after the U.S. company's chief executive warned it could make its business unworkable in the country.

Dara Khosrowshahi, who held talks with senior Brazilian officials in the capital Brasilia, had called on senators to remove rules in proposed legislation that would require Uber drivers to be licensed with their local municipalities, like taxis, and to use their own cars.

Uber has said that, if the bill was approved in its original form, it would undermine its ability to operate in Brazil, its second-biggest market, by making it too expensive and bureaucratic for many of its drivers.

That would harm the livelihoods of the 500,000 people driving for the company in Latin America's largest economy, according to Uber.

Following an appeal by Khosrowshahi for greater dialogue and more sensible regulation, senators agreed to amendments dropping requirements that drivers own their cars and have the same red number plates used by public transport vehicles like taxis.

However, lawmakers kept rules that make drivers subject to local city authorities for licensing, taxes and other rules. The bill must return to the lower house for final approval.

The regulatory crackdown in Brazil comes after authorities in London decided not to renew Uber's operating license last month and highlights the legal threats mounting against its fast-growing foreign operations.

Khosrowshahi struck a conciliatory tone in an interview with a Brazilian newspaper, suggesting Uber was open to finding compromise with local lawmakers, a break in style with his pugnacious predecessor, Travis Kalanick.

"In the past we were a bit aggressive, but we have to understand that it's not just about what we want and reach compromises," Khosrowshahi told O Estado de S. Paulo. "We are not against regulation. Regulating services like Uber is totally appropriate."

However, after talks with Finance Minister Henrique Meirelles, the executive said the future of the ride-hailing app in Brazil depended on the decisions made in Brasilia.

Uber, Taxi Drivers Protest

Hundreds of taxi and Uber drivers lined up on opposite sides of the esplanade in front of Brazil's Congress to demonstrate for and against the bill.

Uber's executive spokesman for Brazil, Fabio Sabba, told Reuters he was punched in the face by a taxi driver as he gave a media interview inside the Senate building.

Taxi drivers bused into Brasilia by unions said Uber's lower fares had cut their income by almost half.

"Uber is destroying our age-old profession with unfair competition," said Antonio Barbosa, who traveled 26 hours from the northern state of Bahia to protest.

In a study issued hours before the Senate was due to vote, Brazil's antitrust regulator CADE found that car-hailing apps had improved the market for individual passenger transport by increasing competition. CADE said apps like Uber, Cabify and 99 should lead to less regulation rather than more.

In recent days, car-hailing companies such as Uber and Cabify had urged Brazilians by WhatsApp and social media to press their senators to vote against the measure, which was authored in the lower house by a congressman from the leftist Workers Party backed by taxi cooperatives and unions.

Cabify said the Senate had listened to the outpouring of messages on social media and 825,000 signatures handed in to Congress opposing the original bill.

"The amendments have brought a more balanced bill," Cabify said in a statement.
Political unrest and violence prompted more than 400,000 people to flee Burundi and relocate to nearby countries, primarily Rwanda, Uganda and Tanzania. Despite appeals from Burundi and other central African countries to leave their camps and repatriate, Burundian political refugees say they wouldnt feel safe going back home.

Refugees who spoke to VOA say they fear government persecution if they return to Burundi, where President Pierre Nkurunziza remains in power after defying both domestic and international opposition to pursue a third term in 2015.

One such refugee is Jacqueline Nduwayezu, a former secondary school teacher who is now living with her six children in the Mahama refugee camp in eastern Rwanda.

We are here because there is no security in our country, Nduwayezu told a VOA Central Africa reporter who recently visited the camp. "It was not out of fun that we walked for miles and abandoned our homes and land. It is because the threat was real. People were being killed and are still being killed and dumped in mass graves and rivers."

Eloge Rugemangabo, who heads the refugee community in Mahama, says he was beaten by the pro-government Imbonerakure milita because he was a member of the opposition MSD party.

"I was tortured and discriminated against at work. I slept outside for three days for fear of being killed," he said.

He says conditions must be very different if refugees are to go back.

"We left our parents, houses, brothers and sisters, and in order for us to return we must be assured of security and protection from violence, from being killed and so on," he said.

Burundi: refugees fled 'rumors'

While visiting the Nakivale refugee camp in Uganda early this year, Burundis Home Affairs minister Pascal Barandagiye called on Burundian refugees to come back, adding that the country was ready to welcome its citizens.

We are convincing them to return home and come to build their nation. Many are just scared or fled rumors," he said.

President Nkurunziza made a similar pitch during a visit to Tanzania in July.

Today I want to tell Tanzanians and Burundians that Burundi is now peaceful and I am inviting all Burundi refugees to return home, he said.

Tanzanian President John Magufuli echoed Nkurunziza's remarks saying, "I have been assured, the place is now calm."

But Amnesty International disagrees. The rights group released a report in September which said refugees who return home would be at risk of death, rape and torture from the security forces and the Imbonerakure, who it said continue to commit human rights violations against perceived opponents of the ruling CNDD-FDD coalition.

One man told Amnesty, If you are not CNDD-FDD, you are considered their enemy.

Lets be clear, Burundi has not yet returned to normality and the governments attempts to deny the horrific abuses still taking place within the country should not be given credence," Amnesty's Burundi researcher, Rachel Nicholson, said in the report.

The United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) warns that political and human rights conditions in Burundi continue to prompt increasing numbers of refugees to flee to neighboring countries in search of asylum.

The reasons for flight by most refugees have been the same, says Paul Kenya, head of the UNHCR office that oversees the Mahama camp.

Most of them are fleeing persecution because of their perceived political opinion," he said. "Most of them did not accept the current president to go for a third term. Many of them flee because they were in demonstrations and others are following family members who already fled.

A senior official at the Nakivale camp, John Bosco Sentamu, also reports a continuing influx.

The number of refugees keep going up. We have a lot of walk-ins from Burundi, said Sentamu.

Tough conditions

Earlier this year, UNHCR and partner agencies launched an urgent $429 million appeal to meet the needs of Burundian refugees across the region. But of the requested amount, only 19 percent has been provided, making the Burundians' situation one of the least funded refugee crises in the world.

In camps like Nakivale, refugees live in overcrowded shelters and have to endure shortages of everything, from food to water to healthcare. Sentamu says Uganda is generally hospitable to the refugees and Nakivale residents are given land to grow food. But he adds, "of late we were hit by the drought and for three seasons the refugees have not cultivated."

Felicien Habumugisha, 52, has lived in Nakivale for nearly 10 years, after fleeing an earlier wave of unrest in Burundi.

Food is not sufficient, no education for our children, no sponsorship and no resettlement, especially for Burundians, he said.

But Habumugisha says he is not ready to go back to Burundi. The son of politically active parents who were killed in Burundi, he said he was arrested, released and then "hunted" the last time he lived there.

The politics of Burundi itself is not stable. We dont feel that Burundi is safe today for us to go back," he told VOA.
California Governor Jerry Brown is continuing his international fight against climate change with an 11-day trip to Europe starting Saturday that includes stops at the Vatican and a U.N. conference in Germany.

Brown is a chief adversary to Republican President Donald Trump in the battle over U.S. climate policy, promising to help the country reach its emissions reductions targets even as Trump withdraws from an international climate accord. He's been named the special adviser for states and regions at the U.N. Climate Change Conference in Bonn, Germany.

"While the White House declares war on climate science and retreats from the Paris Agreement, California is doing the opposite and taking action," Brown said in a statement announcing the trip. "We are joining with our partners from every part of the world to do what needs to be done to prevent irreversible climate change."

The nonprofit California State Protocol Foundation, which accepts donations from private businesses, pays for Brown's international travel. Travel for Brown's staff members will be partially covered by money from the nonprofit Climate Registry and the Climate Action Reserve, a program that deals with carbon offset projects, spokesman Evan Westrup said.

Summit next year

Brown's November trip follows visits to China and Russia earlier this year to promote international collaboration on climate change. Next year, he plans to host a summit in San Francisco.

He will give a speech Saturday to the Vatican Pontifical Academy of Sciences symposium. During the week, Brown will address European Parliament leaders and the state parliament in Baden-Wurttemberg Germany, meet with representatives from national scientific academies and serve on several panels at the U.N. conference.

Governors Kate Brown of Oregon, Jay Inslee of Washington and Terry McAuliffe of Virginia, all Democrats, will join him on a panel about states' roles in fighting climate change. California Senate leader Kevin de Leon, also a Democrat, is scheduled to speak Friday at a Vatican workshop on climate.

The trip ends November 14.
Property damage claims from a series of deadly October wildfires now exceed $3.3 billion, California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones said Tuesday.

The figure represented claims for homes and businesses insured by 15 companies and was more than triple the previous estimate of $1 billion. Jones said the number would continue to rise as more claims were reported.

The amount of claims now reported means that the fires caused more damage than California's 1991 Oakland Hills fire, which was previously the state's costliest, with $2.7 billion in damage in 2015 dollars, according to the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America.

Forty-three people were killed in the October blazes that tore through Northern California, including the state's renowned winemaking regions in Napa and Sonoma counties. They destroyed at least 8,900 buildings as more than 100,000 people were forced to evacuate. It was the deadliest series of fires in California history.

Several dozen buildings were also damaged or destroyed in fires in Southern California's Orange County.

"Behind each and every one of these claims ... are ordinary people, Californians who lost their homes, lost their vehicles, in some cases whose family members lost their lives,'' said Jones, a Democrat who is running for attorney general.

Jones said there were just over 10,000 claims for partial home losses, more than 4,700 total losses and about 700 for business property. There were 3,200 claims for damaged or destroyed personal vehicles, 91 for commercial vehicles, 153 for farm equipment and 111 for watercraft.

The figures do not reflect uninsured losses, including public infrastructure and the property of people who were uninsured or underinsured.

Arson suspect's warning

Meanwhile, a man facing arson charges for a wildfire that destroyed two homes south of the San Francisco Bay Area had an ominous message for a prosecutor during a court hearing Tuesday: "You're next.''

Marlon Coy, 54, uttered the words while glaring at Santa Cruz County District Attorney Jeffrey Rosell while he explained four of the felony charges Coy is facing, the Santa Cruz Sentinel reported.

Coy pleaded not guilty to charges of arson of a nondwelling, arson causing bodily injury and being a felon in possession of a firearm, the newspaper reported.

Witnesses saw Coy start the fire on October 16 near a property in Santa Cruz County connected to someone with whom he had a dispute, sheriff's officials said.

Coy was arrested in possession of jewelry and a bicycle taken from a home that had been burglarized while under evacuation, according to sheriff's officials.
October is usually high tourist season in Indian Kashmir, but Imran Dar, who takes visitors for a boat ride in the famous Dal Lake, returned home empty handed on many days last month.

That is no surprise. Wracked with renewed unrest in the past 18 months, the number of visitors to Kashmir this year plunged.

Dar hopes next year will be better. There should be normalcy, tourists should come. Some years were very good, but this year was very bad, says Dar, wistfully recalling a decade when relative peace brought a flood of tourists into the picturesque Himalayan region. Lets see what the government does.

Can the Kashmiri boatman look forward to rowing more people next summer?

Last week, the federal Hindu nationalist government took a key step toward reconciliation in Indias most alienated region by appointing a representative, Dineshwar Sharma, to lead a dialogue with all parties.

I think it is a huge breakthrough, that the government has recognized that they really need to start talking to people, says Radha Kumar, an academician who undertook the same role in Kashmir under the previous government in 2010.

Calling the task hugely daunting, she says, We are at a point of alienation I could not have even dreamed of 15 years ago.

Autonomy or independence

But in the Muslim-majority region that has witnessed a resurgence of demands for independence from India, there is widespread skepticism whether the newly-appointed representative will be able to cool anti-India sentiment or douse anger that has run high since the killing of a local militant leader, Burhan Wani last July.

The decision to reach out to the state is a concession from a hard line government that had indicated dialogue was not possible while violent protests and militant attacks wracked the region. It comes after Prime Minister Narendra Modi stressed the need for engagement during an Independence Day address in August, saying that not bullets and abuses but only hugs for Kashmiris could bring peace.

The government says the former chief of the intelligence bureau, who is familiar with the region, will lead talks to understand the aspirations of Kashmiris.

Political analysts in Kashmir say that people in the region had been craving such a dialogue. However, they point to worrying signals since Sharmas appointment that he may not be able to defuse tensions.



Prominent leaders of the regions main separatist alliance in Kashmir have refused to join the talks, dismissing them as an exercise in futility and a tactic to buy time and fend off international pressure. They said Sharmas statement that he is coming to restore peace rather than address the Kashmir dispute limits the scope of his engagement.

The refusal of the Hurriyat leaders to join the talks is a setback, according to the editor of the Rising Kashmir newspaper, Shujaat Bukhari. The dialogue needs to be done with the people who actually represent the voice of dissent in Kashmir. I dont think it is going that way. He says it is pointless talking to local parties who are in sync with New Delhis position that Kashmir is not disputed territory.

Increasing militancy

There have been longstanding demands in the Himalayan region, which is claimed by both India and Pakistan, for freedom or more autonomy. Those calls had abated after an armed insurgency that wracked the region in the 1990s ebbed, but slogans for azadi (freedom) began ringing out loudly again last year in the streets of its summer capital, Srinagar. Worrying for New Delhi, many young people were among the anti-India demonstrators, including hundreds of angry students.

Security forces have also estimated that more local young people are joining the ranks of militants in the past two years.

After his appointment, Sharma said that reaching out to young people would be his special focus because the top priority in Kashmir is to "deradicalize" the youth and militants and prevent the territory from turning into a Syria of India.

That statement did not go down well in Kashmir, according to editor Bukhari, who dismisses any comparison between Kashmir and Syria, where an anti-regime uprising spiraled into a civil war. It is not a remote chance, he says.

Observers say that signals from the government that more autonomy for Kashmir is not on the table will also make it difficult to make significant headway. It does not help when the government says that they consider autonomy to be secessionist and they wont even consider it,  according to Radha Kumar.

But as Sharma prepares to initiate the talks, he sounds an optimistic note telling reporters his objective will be to find long-term normalcy in the state, one which does not fizzle away quickly.

Twenty-eight -year-old boatman Dar, who has witnessed much tumult as he grew up in the insurgency-wracked region, can only keep his fingers crossed. I have seen a lot. What more is there to see? But OK, I will keep hope that something good will happen, he shrugs.
Catalonia's ousted leader Carles Puigdemont agreed Tuesday to a snap election called by Spain's central government when it took control of the region to stop it breaking away, but he said the fight for independence would go on.

Below are several scenarios of what could happen in the next few days.

Courts

Puigdemont and his sacked cabinet have been ordered to testify before the Spanish High Court on Thursday and Friday after charges of rebellion, sedition and breach of trust were filed against them.

Under Spain's legal system, a judge will then decide whether Puigdemont should go to jail pending an investigation that can sometimes take up to several years  and a potential trial.

Puigdemont traveled to Brussels after the Catalan regional parliament issued a unilateral declaration of independence on Friday, and it was not immediately clear whether he would heed the call to appear before the court.

He had said earlier Tuesday he would return to Spain only when given unspecified "guarantees" by the Spanish government.

The same charges have been drawn up against the Catalan parliament's speaker, Carme Forcadell, and other senior lawmakers but, given they have parliamentary immunity, they will testify before the Supreme Court, which is in charge of handling cases relating to lawmakers or members of the government.

Prosecutors have asked the courts to order Catalan secessionist leaders to deposit 6.2 million euros to cover potential liabilities but they have not sought preventive jail against them.

This could change, however, if Puigdemont and his associates did not show up at the High Court as the judge could deem them to be a flight risk and jail them.

Elections

It is not clear whether a snap regional election will resolve the crisis.

Two recent opinion polls showed support for independence may have started to wane.

But an official regional survey published Tuesday showed some 48.7 percent of Catalans believe the region should be independent, up from 41.1 percent in June and the highest since December 2014.

Based on 1,338 interviews, the Centre d'Estudis d'Opinio poll was the first survey released since the independence declaration though the bulk of it was taken before then, between Oct. 16 and Oct. 29.

Other opinion polls have also shown Catalonia is almost evenly split between pro- and anti-independence supporters.

One key thing to watch will be if pro-independence parties run on a joint ticket or on separate platforms. If they ran separately, they could find it more difficult to reach a parliamentary majority.

They must say whether they intend to run together before Nov. 7, and then put forward their candidates by Nov. 18.

Direct rule

Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy sacked Catalonia's government  including Puigdemont and his deputy Oriol Junqueras  and assumed direct control over the region. Central government ministries assumed the powers of the Catalan administration until a regional election takes place on Dec. 21.

That unprecedented step was implemented smoothly and calls for civil disobedience were widely disregarded.
Veteran FARC leader Rodrigo Londono, known as "Timochenko," will run for the presidency of Colombia next year, with the backing of former FARC rebels, the group's new political party said Wednesday.

However, he and other ex-commanders will most likely face trials for human rights crimes, and it was unclear how they would serve in office if sentenced.

The Marxist FARC demobilized under a peace deal with the government last year, ending more than five decades of war. They are now the Revolutionary Alternative Common Force party, still referring to themselves by the Spanish initials FARC.

The party is guaranteed 10 seats in Congress through 2026 by the accord, regardless of its success in elections. Among senate candidates will be former guerrilla commanders Ivan Marquez, Pablo Catatumbo, Carlos Antonio Lozada and Victoria Sandino, the FARC said Wednesday.

The party will also run candidates for the lower house in five districts.

The group reiterated its willingness to form a coalition with other leftist parties, a tacit acknowledgement it may have little electoral pull among skeptical Colombians.

"We manifest our willingness to hold talks with all social-political groups and movements to make united lists," the FARC said in a statement.

Treatment for stroke

Londono suffered a stroke this year and has received treatment in Cuba.

It remained unclear, after a Wednesday news conference, how the FARC members would complete their terms if tried or sentenced by transitional justice tribunals tasked with bringing former rebels to justice for crimes like murder, kidnapping and rape.

The maximum sentence the tribunals can hand out is eight years, and those convicted will avoid traditional jails, instead doing reparations work like removing land mines.

More than 11,000 FARC fighters and supporters handed over their weapons to the United Nations during demobilization.

Another 1,000 refused to lay down their arms and continue to operate lucrative drug trafficking and illegal mining operations. The FARC has sought to distance itself from the dissidents, and the government has authorized air raids against them.

There is a crowded field for 2018's presidential race, which looks set to focus more on issues like the economy and corruption than on implementation of the deal, the cornerstone of current President Juan Manuel Santos' legacy.

Security does, however, remain on the minds of many voters, especially after farmers were killed in a confrontation with police last month.
Two collisions involving U.S. Navy destroyers and commercial vessels in the western Pacific earlier this year were avoidable and happened due to lax standards and poor preparation, according to the Navys top officer.

In a report made public on Wednesday, the Navy concluded that numerous failures on the part of leadership and the crews contributed to the deadly events. They included failing to plan for safety as well as failures in adhering to sound navigation practice and executing basic watch procedures.

"Both of these accidents were preventable, Chief of Naval Operations Admiral John Richardson said. "We must do better."

The destroyer USS John S. McCain collided with an oil tanker in August off Singapore, leaving 10 U.S. sailors dead and five injured. The USS Fitzgerald, another destroyer, collided with a container ship in waters off Japan in June, killing seven sailors.

The collisions prompted the Navy to conduct reviews of its worldwide operations.

Before the reviews concluded, Richardson blamed the high pace of operations, budget uncertainty and naval leaders who put their mission over safety for the deadly incidents.

Richardson told the Senate Armed Services Committee in September that a failure of leadership throughout the service was the main contributing factor in the Navy's lack of readiness.

"I own this problem," Richardson testified.

The review found that during the incident involving the USS John S. McCain in the Straits of Singapore, the crew lost situational awareness in a busy maritime area due to mistakes in the operation of the ships steering and propulsion system. The crew also failed to follow what the review called the international nautical rules of the road, a system of rules governing vessel maneuvers when risk of collision is present. In addition, watchers operating the ships steering and propulsion systems were found to have insufficient proficiency and knowledge of those systems.

During the USS Fitzgerald incident southwest of Japan, the Navy found that the "watch teams" on the Fitzgerald's bridge failed to carry out basic maritime procedures. They also failed to notify the ships commanding officer when approaching nearby vessels, as required by Navy regulations, and they too failed to adhere by the international nautical rules of the road to remain clear of approaching vessels and, if possible, avoid crossing ahead of them.
An Uzbek national is accused of using a rented truck to mow down pedestrians on a bike path Tuesday in New York City, killing at least eight and injuring 12, in what Police Commissioner James O'Neill called "the worst terror attack in New York City since Sept. 11, 2001."

According to NYPD Deputy Commissioner of Intelligence and Counterterrorism John Miller, the suspect, Sayfullo Saipov, left handwritten notes pledging his support for the Islamic State group.

It's not uncommon following mass-casualty events like the Tuesday attack in New York City that people become confused about whether the incidents amount to terrorism. The U.S. government has a strict legal definition of terrorism, which the FBI describes as an attack motivated by "political, religious, social, racial or environmental" beliefs.

Due to Saipov's Islamic radicalization and his support for IS, authorities quickly labeled his attack as terrorism. After he used his truck to run over pedestrians, authorities say Saipov began shouting "Allahu Akbar," which means "God is great" in Arabic, and is commonly uttered by Islamic terrorists.

Other recent terror attacks in the United States include the 2016 Pulse Nightclub shooting, in which a radical Islamic terrorist, Omar Mateen, murdered 49 people at the gay night club in Orlando, Florida; and the 2014 Charleston church shooting, in which white supremacist Dylann Roof killed nine people in a black church in an effort to start a race war.

Both these instances were labeled terrorism due to the motives of the perpetrators. In the nightclub shooting, Mateen was driven to kill based on his radical Islamic beliefs. In Charleston, Roof targeted a black church due to his hatred of black people.

Race and terrorism

Despite U.S. legal guidelines differentiating terror attacks from other violence, it has not eliminated controversy over how attacks are classified.

Last month, Stephen Paddock opened fire on a crowd of spectators at a country concert in Las Vegas, killing 58 people and injuring an additional 546. Some politicians and members of the media were quick to label Paddock a terrorist, though his motive for the attack is still unknown, so it doesn't meet the official threshold to qualify as terrorism.

Hesitance on the part of authorities to label Paddock a terrorist, and the quick pace with which authorities labeled Saipov a terrorist, has led some to question whether race plays a role in the perception of terrorism.

This speculation on racial motivation behind the use of the word "terror" misses the point, however, as "terrorism" is used to describe the motivation behind an attack, not the attack itself.

Robin Lakoff, a linguist at the University of California, Berkeley, recently told National Public Radio (NPR) that while terror attacks and mass murders may "look alike on the surface; they're different underneath."

"Although acts of war, acts of crime and acts of terror can look very much alike on the surface, they have very different motives, very different reasons for being, and I think that's why people are confused," Lakoff, who has studied the language of war extensively, told the radio network.

In the case of Saipov, he was labeled a terrorist because of his association with a foreign terrorist group, while Paddock's motive is still unknown.

"[Saipov] appears to have followed, almost exactly to a 'T,' the instructions that ISIS has put out in its social media channels before with instructions to their followers on how to carry out such an attack," said NYPD Deputy Commissioner Miller, using an acronym for Islamic State.
The terror attack in New York on Tuesday quickly became a political issue after President Donald Trump blamed a visa program that he said allowed the suspect, Sayfullo Saipov, into the country and called the U.S. justice system a joke for moving too slowly.

Saipov, who told officers he chose Halloween for his attack because he thought more people would be on the streets, was charged on Wednesday in a two-count criminal complaint.

Trump said he wants to immediately work with Congress to abolish the immigration lottery under which Saipov entered the United States.

Those remarks drew criticism from Democrats, who said the president was rushing to politicize a tragedy at a time when law enforcement is trying to determine the facts of what happened.

On Wednesday, Trump, in a Twitter remark, blamed Senate Democratic leader Charles Schumer of New York for allowing the terrorist into the U.S., as part of what is called the Diversity Visa Lottery Program, a Chuck Schumer beauty. I want merit based.

Schumer accused Trump of politicizing and dividing America, which he always seems to do at times of national tragedy. Schumer said he has always believed and continue to believe that immigration is good for America.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo called the presidents tweets unhelpful.

I dont think they were factual. I think they tended to point fingers and politicize the situation. He was referring back to an immigration policy that dealt with a lottery and blaming people who passed that immigration policy. His tweet wasnt even accurate, as far as Im concerned. That was a bipartisan law that was passed that had basically no relevance to the facts of this situation.

Later, White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Trump was not blaming Schumer for the attack and that only Saipov was responsible. She said Trump considers Saipov an enemy combatant.

But she said the lottery immigration system under which Saipov came to the U.S. in 2010 should be revoked because it leaves to chance who gets to come to the United States, with little vetting of their character and background.

The immigration lottery was part of 1990 U.S. legislation that Schumer, then a member of the House of Representatives, sponsored along with 25 other Democrats and six Republicans.

More extreme vetting

Trump has responded to the attack with a call for increased screening of those entering the country.

The United States will be immediately implementing much tougher Extreme Vetting Procedures, he wrote on Twitter late Wednesday. The safety of our citizens comes first!

That echoed a similar statement he made hours after the attack.

Being politically correct is fine, but not for this! he said Tuesday.

Sanders told reporters that some of the measures the administration would like to see include enhanced collection of biometric and biographical data, better sharing of information with other nations, improving U.S. intelligence streams and more thorough review procedures for the countrys border protection agency.

Brian Levin, a professor of criminal justice and director for the Center for the Study of Hate & Extremism at California State University, said it is good to reassess policies, but that he worries that process can result in a response based on bias instead of facts.

"What we have to understand is our problem is more so radicalization, not necessarily immigration, because we have people who are converts or who are unstable that are being radicalized by social media or peer group members, and thats a problem that making a reflexive response with regard to immigration simply isnt going to resolve," he told VOA.

Levin said there should be a focus on scrubbing the internet of extremist content, and that while vetting is necessary, that screening should not single out religion in a way that goes against the country's values of religious pluralism.

WATCH: President Trump Sparks Debate Over Comments on Terror Attack

Uzbekistan not part of travel ban

Uzbekistan is not one of the countries that the Trump administration has highlighted as security threats warranting a ban on travelers.Sanders said no decision has been made on whether Uzbekistan should be added to the travel ban list.

Saipov, according to law enforcement officials, said he had carried out the attack after watching Islamic State videos on his cellphone.

Extremism analyst Bennett Clifford at George Washington University says many become radicalized after they are already in the United States.

I think thats important to take in mind as well that were not only facing an international terrorism problem in terms of people from overseas coming here, Clifford said. Thats less of an issue than I think than the problem of homegrown extreme  extremism where individuals born, raised in the United States are pushed down this same path to violent extremism.

In remarks at the White House on Wednesday, the president also suggested more fundamental changes to the U.S. justice system to address the threat of terrorist attacks. He also seemed to blame the U.S. justice system for attacks like the one in New York Tuesday.

We need quick justice and we need strong justice  much quicker and much stronger than we have right now. Because what we have right now is a joke and its a laughingstock. And no wonder so much of this stuff takes place.
Hundreds of heavily-armed Ethiopian troops have crossed into Somalia, reportedly to assist a Somali government offensive against al-Shabab militants.

Residents in the border town of Dolow, in Somalia's Gedo region, say they saw at least 30 vehicles carrying Ethiopian troops crossing into Somalia late Tuesday.

Witnesses who spoke to VOA Somali on condition of anonymity estimated that 1,000 Ethiopian soldiers entered Somalia. One resident said the troops were riding military vehicles and pickup trucks mounted with machine guns.

Ethiopia has thousands of troops in Somalia as a part of AMISOM, the African Union force fighting al-Shabab.

Regional authorities contacted by VOA on Wednesday confirmed the new Ethiopian military movements.

"The Ethiopian troops as a part of AMISOM have already been in the region, and their current movement is part of the response to the Somali president's call for a massive attack on al-Shabab militants," said Mohamed Husein al-Qadi, the deputy governor of Gedo region.

Local residents say they have not seen such heavy Ethiopian troop movements since 2016, when Ethiopian troops, who were not part of AMISOM, vacated a series of military bases, sparking fears of a militant resurgence and a possible setback for African Union efforts to stabilize Somalia.

The report of the new Ethiopian troops crossing into Somalia came as Somali government troops and their African Union allies prepare for a large-scale offensive against al-Shabab militants, according to multiple witnesses and government officials.

In advance of the offensive, the Somali government's top leaders and the leaders of Somalia's federal member states are meeting in Mogadishu for a second day to resolve political differences over the recent Saudi Arabia-Qatar diplomatic dispute.

During the opening of the forum Tuesday, President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed threatened to retaliate for the truck bombing of a busy Mogadishu intersection on Oct. 14 that killed more than 300 people.

Al-Shabab did not claim responsibility for the blast, but officials blamed the group and few Somalis doubt the accusation.

Somali Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire vowed Wednesday to defeat al-Shabab as he spoke at a graduation ceremony for more than 300 Somali National Army soldiers. The soldiers were trained at a military base in Mogadishu run by the United Arab Emirates.

Khaire said the troops signal the government's commitment to "liberating our country from al-Shabab, the terrorist group. We have a full confidence that these troops will return the image of Somalia by eradicating the terrorists."
European leaders have been offering their condolences and support in the wake of the terror attack in New York, which killed eight people. The suspect, shot and wounded by police, has been named as Sayfullo Saipov, who had lived in the U.S. since arriving from Uzbekistan in 2010.

The attacker used a rented truck to ram cyclists on a bicycle path in Manhattan. Such scenes of carnage are sadly familiar in many European cities.



Britains Prime Minister, Theresa May, wrote on Twitter she was Appalled by this cowardly attack, my thoughts are with all affected. Together we will defeat the evil of terrorism.

But how?

New Yorks governor called it a lone wolf attack with no evidence of a wider plot. It underlines the changing global terror threat, said security analyst Afzal Ashraf of Britains University of Nottingham.



A change that has occurred progressively since the 9/11 attacks, where larger plots are now being replaced by these so-called lone wolf attacks using readily available equipment such as vehicles.

The New York attack echoes recent error incidents across Europe. In June three attackers used a van to hit pedestrians on London Bridge, then used knives to attack passers-by.



Less than three months earlier a lone attacker drove into pedestrians in Westminster before fatally stabbing a police officer.

London authorities have since installed barriers on several key roads. But it is impossible to fully protect against such attacks.



Were talking about an enormous number of areas were talking about billions of dollars worth possibly of protective barriers. And all of these barriers will of course be successful, but the terror threat will move on, said Ashraf.

French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe said Wednesday the New York attack was a stark reminder of the global threat.

The threat level is high around the world and our objective is to provide credible answers, firm answers, and to guarantee a high level of security for French people, Philippe said.



France has suffered more than most, with hundreds killed in recent attacks in Paris and Nice. French President Emmanuel Macron Tuesday signed a new anti-terror law bringing in sweeping powers.



It will also allow for very specific measures to fight against terrorism, by allowing particular raids or by having measures on a case by case basis against identified individuals, President Macron told reporters.



His U.S. counterpart, President Donald Trump, wrote on Twitter that he has ordered more robust 'extreme vetting' of travelers.

Europe is unlikely to follow that path, said Ashraf. Its not at all clear to me that there is a form of vetting which will increase the already present safeguards sufficiently to detect potential terrorists, he said.



Security analysts stress it is almost impossible to fully protect against so-called lone wolf terrorists intent on causing harm.
Former U.S. President Barack Obama said on Tuesday that at a time of political divisiveness, more civic activism was needed to solve community problems across the nation.

Obama kicked off a two-day leadership summit in his hometown of Chicago by saying it marked the start of a wider effort to promote civic activism, a cause that has emerged as a major emphasis of his post-presidency.

"Our goal here is not to create a political movement," Obama said. "What we need to do is think about our civic culture. Because what's wrong with our politics is partly a reflection of something wrong in our civic culture," Obama said in an address that did not mention U.S. President Donald Trump.

Obama addressed 500 young leaders from 60 nations and 27 U.S. states at the first Obama Foundation summit. They will hear from such speakers as Britain's Prince Harry, former Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, Michelle Obama, Chance the Rapper and others.

While Obama has sought to defend policies that Trump has sought to dismantle  including the Affordable Care Act and deportation protections for young immigrants  the former president has, since leaving office, focused on building a new generation of community leaders.

His foundation is hosting training around the United States this fall to teach community leaders to organize to solve problems, foundation officials said.

The summit is being held on the south side of Chicago, where the Obama Foundation plans to build a presidential center near the neighborhoods that gave rise to Obama's own activism and propelled him to two terms in the White House.

He said the summit would lay the foundation for a global platform to help young leaders spark bottom-up change in their own communities.

Earlier Tuesday, former first lady Michelle Obama and Prince Harry surprised students at Hyde Park Academy, a high school across from the planned presidential center, to discuss the issue.

Price Harry was slated to speak about a program he created in Nottingham, England, to combat youth and gang violence.

Other speakers highlighted issues such as rural poverty and economic inequality, and argued that community engagement could help bridge widening political divisions.

"Closing borders and erecting walls are not the answer to today's global challenges," said Marietje Schaake, a Dutch member of the European Parliament.
An official with the French charity ACTED has confirmed that many internally displaced persons (IDPs) angry over not meeting U.S. ambassador to the U.N., Nikki Haley, last week destroyed the agencys office inside the camp.

ACTED country director Robert Simpson said his staff has not been able to access the camp since the incident took place due to security concerns.

IDPs accused ACTED staff of denying them the chance to meet Ambassador Haley in person last Wednesday during her visit to the camp.

Simpson said his agency, which manages the U.N. Protection Of Civilians (POC) site in Juba, was only responsible for facilitating Haleys brief visit to the camp and had little control over who she saw or when she left the camp.

After a certain amount of time and the trip already coming to a close, the decision was taken by the embassy to remove Ambassador Haley so that she could make the flight out of South Sudan. Following her departure there were some ACTED staff and US embassy staff who remained in the POC and as a result of the demonstration becoming a little more agitated and making some threats made to staff, it was necessary to remove the staff we had present at the POC from that environment, Simpson told South Sudan in Focus on Tuesday.

He said after Haley and ACTED personnel left the scene, ACTEDs office was destroyed by demonstrators.

Simpson told VOA he understands that many IDPs wanted to meet Haley in person and express their concerns.

Theres always interest when an outsider with influence enters this environment and with such a large camp and so many people wanting to express certain opinions and a limited time available during the schedule, its possible that there were frustrations around not being able to communicate all the things that wanted to be communicated, Simpson said.

But Simpson denied accusations made by some IDPs last week that ACTED brought a woman from outside the camp to speak with Haley rather than allow her to meet IDPs living inside the camp who were dressed shabbily and had grievances.

While Simpson said that was not the case, he admits that IDPs have legitimate grievances about their living conditions at the camp, some of which were directly related to the visit of Ambassador Haley and others were completely unrelated to the visit of Ambassador Haley.

He called it regrettable that people who had opinions they wanted to share with Haley may not have got the chance to address those opinions directly.

As the camp management agency, Simpson said it is ACTEDs responsibility to listen those grievances and also work to resolve them.

Unfortunately, the method of airing those grievances chosen was a violent demonstration and destruction of property, so it becomes so complicated for us now to address those grievances directly, Simpson said.

Since Wednesdays violent demonstration and looting, ACTED has talked to UN officials, donors, and other partners to resolve the situation and will soon talk with IDPS to resolve the issue.

We are very willing to engage in a direct dialogue to explain very clearly what we had control over and what we didnt and also trying to remove ourselves from any allegation of not wanting to facilitate this visit, said Simpson.

He added that ACTEDs main priority now is to rebuild relationships that have been damaged with those in the camp in the safest way possible and the French charity will ask for a complete list of the grievances the IDPs have and work hard to address them.
Demonstrations in Eritrea's capital, Asmara, have drawn a violent crackdown with reports of gunshots.

The U.S. Embassy reported the protests and gunshots, although the source of the gunfire is unknown. Multiple videos shared via Facebook and Twitter and uploaded to YouTube show demonstrators fleeing along Asmara's downtown streets with sounds of gunshots audible.

Unverified reports state the protests began in the city's predominantly Muslim Akriya neighborhood. There, the Diaa Islamic School of Asmara had been ordered by the government to change its curriculum. The school's board  including an elderly board member, Hajji Muasa Mohamed Nur  refused, and some were arrested, according to a report by Awate.com, an Eritrean news website that is opposed to the government and its policies. The arrests prompted students and others sympathetic to the cause to take to the streets to demonstrate.

According to Radio Erena, a radio station run by Eritrean diaspora journalists in Paris, more than 100 students from the school protested on Oct. 31 following an order by the government to shut down the school. Within an hour, government forces armed with sticks and firearms dispersed the crowd, Radio Erena reported.

Eritrea's Minister of Information, Yemane Gebremeskel, took to Twitter to downplay the importance of the protests, calling them a "small demonstration by one school in Asmara dispersed without any casuality [sic] hardly breaking news."

Protests are exceedingly rare in the Eritrean capital, where free speech and political demonstrations are severely curtailed.
The Islamic militant group Hamas on Wednesday handed over control of Gaza's border crossings with Israel and Egypt to the internationally recognized Palestinian Authority, taking the first tangible step toward implementing a reconciliation deal with the rival Fatah movement.

The group's security forces and border control agents, who have controlled the crossings for a decade, were seen pulling away from the sites, which facilitate the movement of cargo and people in and out of Gaza. Representatives of the Fatah-dominated Palestinian Authority quickly took up positions.

"From now on, we have no relationship with crossings and our employees are not present inside them," Mohammed Abu Zaid, the Hamas-appointed director of crossing points, told reporters.

Hamas seized control from the Fatah-led forces of the Palestinian Authority in 2007. But after a decade of an Israeli-Egyptian blockade, Hamas' new leadership says the group is no longer interested in governing Gaza. The blockade has hit Gaza's economy hard, with over 40 percent unemployment and chronic power outages.

Under Egyptian mediation, the two rivals last month announced a preliminary reconciliation deal, but many issues remain unresolved. The sides are to meet in Cairo on November 21 to continue talks on two of the thorniest issues: the fate of 40,000 employees hired by the Hamas government and control of Hamas' vast arsenal of rockets, mortars and explosives. Hamas' military wing has said it will not give up its weapons.

Weapons, militants targeted

Still, Wednesday's handover marked an important step forward. Officials hope that the handover will lead to an easing of the blockade. Israel, which considers Hamas a terrorist group, and Egypt say the blockade was needed to prevent the flow of weapons and militants in and out of Gaza.

"We finished the first phase of the reconciliation with excellence," Hamas' top leader in Gaza, Ismail Haniyeh, said during a seminar in Gaza City. "We are going to [discuss] big issues."

In Israel, Major General Yoav Mordechai, who heads COGAT, the defense body responsible for Palestinian civilian matters, instructed senior officers to meet with Palestinian Authority representatives to discuss the changes at the border crossings.

"The meeting will define the joint working processes, the Israeli security demands and criteria for the crossings, with an emphasis on having no presence of any Hamas official and anyone on its behalf operating the crossings or be adjacent to them," his office said.

Even so, changes on the ground were quickly visible.

Just outside the Erez crossing at the Israeli border, a large Hamas checkpoint, where people were inspected and interrogated when traveling in and out of Israel, was closed. Hamas officers loaded the furniture and equipment onto pickup trucks that rolled away. Other Hamas workers dismantled trailers used as offices.

Palestinian Authority representatives quickly moved into the area.



At the Kerem Shalom cargo crossing, trucks loaded with construction materials, fruits and consumer goods started trickling into Gaza. Raed Fatouh, a Palestinian Authority official, said tariffs and taxes were now being collected by his government, without additional fees Hamas had imposed.

Millions in revenue

Kerem Shalom has been the prime financial lifeline for Hamas in recent years, generating millions of dollars in revenue each month that it used to pay its employees.



One of the biggest tests will be whether the Palestinians successfully reopen the Rafah border crossing with Egypt, the main gateway for Gaza's 2 million people to travel abroad. Egypt has shuttered the crossing for most of the past 10 years.

At the crossing, huge posters of Egyptian President Abdel Fatah el-Sissi and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas hung outside the departure hall, beside a giant Egyptian flag.

Hamas withdrew all of its officers from the crossing, and Palestinian officials and Egyptian intelligence officials stood as the national anthems played.

Azzam al-Ahmad, a senior Fatah official, said Rafah would reopen in two weeks. The hope is that a European monitoring team will be posted on the crossing, reviving an internationally backed arrangement approved in 2005. The short-lived deal had EU monitors and Palestinian Authority forces running the crossing. It grants Israel monitoring via security cameras, a move Hamas rejects.

The European Union later issued a statement reiterating "its readiness to provide its full support to the efforts to reunite Gaza and the West Bank under one single and legitimate Palestinian Authority." It said that includes its readiness to redeploy its monitoring team, known as EUBAM, "if requested by the parties and as soon as the conditions allow." It said "contacts with all relevant stakeholders on possible EU contributions are ongoing. "

European officials have been talking to Israeli and Palestinian officials in recent weeks and sent a technical team to Rafah last week.

Mkhaimar Abusada, a political science professor at Gaza's al-Azhar University, said the border changes would have no major impact in the short term beyond the reduction of taxes on items entering Gaza.

He said much would depend on Israel, now that Palestinian Authority staff were taking over on the other side.
The highest-level North Korean defector to make it out of the country in 20 years says the West must use "maximum engagement" with the Kim Jong Un regime.

Thae Yong-ho is making his first visit to Washington. The former deputy chief of mission at the North Korean embassy in London defected to South Korea with his family last year.

"I decided that the best gift which I may give to my son is the freedom which is so common to everyone here," Thae told the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington think tank, on Tuesday.

"I strongly believe if we educate the North Korean population, we can change North Korea."

He said nothing can stop what he called Kim Jong Un's "reign of terror," saying Kim would use soldiers and tanks against North Korean street protesters.

He said much more can be done to spread information about the outside in the North, including the use of what young North Koreans call "nose cards"  secure digital cards small enough to smuggle inside a nostril to avoid a body search.

Thae said he believes Kim's intense need to launch missiles and build nuclear weapons came out of his own insecurities and a need to prove his legitimacy after the death of his father, Kim Jong-il.

"Whenever he watched senior leaders' attitude around him, he thought there was a little looking down upon from the senior leaders because he was the third son. A lot of the North Korean population don't know that he is the third son."

Thae says Kim has yet to publicly reveal his birth date or show childhood photos.

North Korean officials call Thae "human scum," and have accused him of numerous crimes, including embezzlement.

Thae plans to speak before a U.S. congressional committee Wednesday.
Hindus who have fled violence in Myanmar since late August and have taken refuge in Bangladesh along with the Rohingya Muslims, say they are not willing to return to their villages in Rakhine state because they are scared of facing violence again.

The Hindu refugees in Bangladesh said that they want to move to India if the Myanmar authorities do not help them resettle in Buddhist-majority areas of the country.

Our village in Rakhine is not safe for the Hindus any more. If [the] Myanmar government helps us move to Rangoon we are ready to go there, Lolimohan Sil, 52, a barber from Bolibazar, told VOA. If Myanmar cannot help us live in a safe and peaceful area of the country we want to move to India. India should help us.

A month after Rohingya insurgents attacked 30 police posts and an army camp killing at least 12 people, triggering a campaign by the army against Rohingya villages, Myanmar authorities reported finding the bodies of 45 Hindu villagers in three mass graves.

Myanmar officials said it was the Muslim Rohingya militants who killed more than 90 Hindus, including those whose remains were recovered from the mass graves. However, the insurgent group Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) denied killing the Hindus, saying it did not target any civilians.

Since August 25, over 600,000 Rohingya Muslims have fled Myanmar and crossed over into Bangladesh. About 800 Hindus have also fled Myanmar.

Immediately after arriving in Bangladesh, the Hindu refugees told local journalists that their loved ones had been killed by the Myanmar security forces and armed local Rakhine Buddhist men.

Changing Stories

But many of the Hindu refugees later changed their story.

Now, none of the Hindu refugees is saying that the Myanmar soldiers or locals killed any Hindus. Some of the Hindu refugees are saying that they could not identify the killers because they were masked, while others are saying Rohingya militants killed their relatives and Hindu neighbors.

Hindu refugee Niranjan Rudra said he would not want to return to his village of Chikonchhori in Rakhine because the Rohingya militants, who he referred to as Kala Party or Black Party, were still active and they would target the Hindus.

Kala Party or Al Yakin men are still a threat to us in our village. They killed so many Hindus. They will kill us if we go back to our village again. There is no police or military there. So, we will not go to our village, said Rudra, who has been in Bangladesh since the end of August.

We will feel safe if we can move to Rangoon (Yangon). We will also find peace if we go to India.

Hindu refugee Milon Sil said the Rohingya militants killed the Hindus and they still pose a threat to the Hindus and so with his family he wants to move to Buddhist-majority areas of Myanmar.

In Bangladesh we have got good hospitality. But, Myanmar is our country. We want to go back to Myanmar. But, Al Yakin men are hiding in the area where we lived, he said. If the government helps us move to Sittwe or Rangoon, we are ready to return to Myanmar.

Surprised Reporters

Some journalists who met Rakhines Hindu survivors as soon as they arrived Bangladesh said they were surprised the way they changed their story over the weeks.

Nurul Islam, Coxs Bazar correspondent of Dhaka-based newspaper New Age, said he interviewed Anika Dhar on August 28 when she said to him that Myanmar soldiers had killed her husband and seven other relatives.

Some other journalists too heard the same story from Dhar in the last week of August. But, when I met her in Coxs Bazar again around the middle of September, she said that she could not identify the killers of her husband and other relatives because they all wore masks, he said.

Dhar was among a group of eight Hindu women who were later returned to Myanmar in a secret military operation. All eight women told the Myanmar media in October that Rohingya militants killed their relatives and Hindu neighbors.

I was stunned when I found that Dhar had changed her story for the second time and blamed the Rohingya militants for the killings. The identity of the killers of the Hindus in Myanmar remains a mystery, Islam said.

Allegations

Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh said the Hindu survivors are telling lies.

Monir Ahmed, a Rohingya neighbour of Dhar said that when the Myanmar soldiers and Rakhine militia members attacked the Rohingya and Hindus in his village of Fakirabazar on August 27, he managed to slip out.

Myanmar military, Border Guard Police and the Rakhine men killed 30 Rohingya Muslims and 40 Hindus in that attack. Of course the Hindus were not killed by Rohingya (militants). If the Rohingya militants killed them those Hindu survivors would have never fled to Bangladesh along with us, he said.

Rohingya refugee Maung Theing Hlaing said the Hindu refugees are telling lies and putting the blame on the Rohingya militants simply to please the Myanmar government.

If the Hindus do not blame the Rohingyas for the killings, they will not be able return to Myanmar. They know if they can please Myanmar government by branding the Rohingyas as the killers they can even occupy the Rohingya-owned lands in Rakhine and live there, he said.

Myanmar has denied allegations that its army has targeted civilians in Rakhine state.
Immigrants from Honduras and Nicaragua who have Temporary Protected Status in the United States will learn by Monday whether that status is to be extended.

If the Department of Homeland Security does not extend TPS for the two countries by November 6, permission to live and work in the U.S. will expire for thousands of Hondurans and Nicaraguans on January 5.

Honduras and Nicaragua became TPS-designated countries in 1999 after Hurricane Mitch cut a swath of devastation through them. In Honduras, "the hurricane killed 5,657 people and displaced approximately 1.1 million people," U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services says on its website. The storm also destroyed about 70 percent of the country's infrastructure.

Nicaragua fared no better. USCIS says 3,045 people were killed and 885 were reported missing.

"Landslides and floods destroyed entire villages and caused extensive damage to the transportation network, housing, medical and educational facilities, water supply and sanitation facilities, and the agricultural sector," the agency says.

Since then, TPS status has been renewed several times for the two countries on the grounds that they were wracked by subsequent environmental disasters and had not fully recovered from Mitch.

Miami immigration attorney Stephanie Green told VOA's Spanish Service the main argument for renewal this time around was economic. "The economy of those countries is not strong," she said. "They're among the poorest countries in the hemisphere."

Meant to be temporary

The Trump administration has indicated it will take a harder line on TPS than previous ones. TPS allows citizens of countries hit by natural disasters or war to live and work in the U.S. until their homelands have recovered.

"We're looking at the fact that TPS means temporary," DHS spokesman David Lapan said about two weeks ago. "It has not been temporary for many years, and we have created a situation where people have lived in this country for a long time."

In September, acting DHS Director Elaine Duke ended TPS status for Sudan though extended it for South Sudan.

In May, then-DHS Secretary John Kelly extended TPS status for Haiti for only six months, not the year Haiti's government had requested.

Kelly, now the president's chief of staff, indicated another extension was unlikely.

He said the six months "should allow Haitian TPS recipients living in the United States time to attain travel documents and make other necessary arrangements for their ultimate departure from the United States, and should also provide the Haitian government with the time it needs to prepare for the future repatriation of all current TPS recipients."

Haiti's TPS designation expires in January, and DHS will have to decide on an extension by a November 23 deadline. "They usually decide on extensions right before a reregistration period occurs. If you get a work permit that's good for a year, maybe three months before the work permit expires, they'll decide whether they are going to extend TPS or not," Green said.

According to the Congressional Research Service, about 50,000 Haitians have TPS status as well as 57,000 Hondurans and 2,550 Nicaraguans.

After TPS

To people who have lived and worked in the U.S. for years, returning home could be a shock.

"None of the countries that currently have TPS in this hemisphere are ready to receive all of the people that might be returned," Green said. "They don't have the resources. They don't have the employment. They don't have the housing. They don't have medical facilities. They don't have educational facilities."

Yet, going home voluntarily may be the best choice available to people who lose TPS status. If they try to stay in the U.S., they do so without "legal authority to be here," Green said.

Anyone who participated in TPS would be easy for immigration officials to track down, simply because of all the information they would have provided on their TPS applications.

"They want to know your name, your date of birth. Of course, they want to know your country of birth. They want to know your telephone number. They want to know where you work. They want to know where you were educated. They want to know everything about you. And, yes, they will have all of your information," Green said.

She added, "They are already deporting thousands of people. There is nothing to stop them from deporting thousands more."

After Honduras and Nicaragua, TPS for El Salvador expires March 9. El Salvador got a TPS designation after earthquakes in 2001. The Congressional Research Service said 195,000 Salvadorans have TPS. A decision on whether to extend the program is due January 8.

Ten countries currently have TPS benefits: El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, Nicaragua, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Nepal and Yemen.

Jose Pernalete of VOA's Spanish Service contributed to this report.
Following the display of the Israeli flag in pro-independence Kurdish rallies, the Iraqi parliament, known as the Council of Representatives, voted Tuesday to ban the Israeli flag, describing it as a Zionist symbol.

"A dangerous phenomenon, representing the hoisting of the Zionist entity flag during public rallies in front of the media, has recently appeared that breaks the basic constitutional principles of Iraq," Salim al-Jabouri, Speaker of the Iraqi parliament, said while announcing the law that vows criminal prosecution against those who raise the Israeli flag in the country.

"This is an exercise that damages the reputation of Iraq and its nation and the law punishes it by the maximum penalties," the speaker added.

The law was introduced by the parliamentary bloc of the Shiite Supreme Islamic Council and was unanimously approved by other members of the Iraqi parliament. It ordered law enforcement to pursue criminal charges against "those who promote Zionist symbols in public rallies in any form, including the hoisting of the Zionist flag."

Israeli flags were appearing frequently during Kurdish rallies in the run up to the Kurdish referendum vote that was held Sept. 25, with 92 percent voting in favor of secession from the central government in Baghdad.

The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has said their hoisting at the gatherings was "spontaneous" and did not reflect the position of the government, which cannot formally establish relations with Israel due to the policy of the government in Baghdad that does not recognize Israel as a state.

'A second Israel'

Some officials of the central government in Baghdad and elements in the neighboring Turkey and Iran have accused Kurdish leaders of secret ties with what they termed "Zionists" and have described the Kurdish bid for independence an orchestrated plan to establish "the second Israel in Middle East."

Israel is denying any involvement in the controversial referendum, but it is the only country that has openly supported the Kurdish aspirations for independence.

"The Kurds demonstrate national maturity and international maturity," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said earlier this month. "We have very great sympathy for their desires and the world needs to concern itself with their safety and with their future."

Other countries  including the United States and EU members which consider the Kurdistan Regional Government a reliable ally, particularly in the current fight against IS  have publicly opposed the Kurdish referendum, arguing that the move diverts attention from the more crucial fight against the Islamic State in the region.

U.S. officials say the cooperation between the Kurdish forces known as Peshmerga and the Iraqi army played a critical role in removing the Islamic State fighters from Iraq's second-largest city of Mosul. They say the Kurdish vote for independence has disrupted that cooperation and resulted in clashes between the region and the central government, particularly on the fate of territories disputed between both sides.
Myanmar is accusing neighboring Bangladesh of delaying the return of Rohingya Muslims forced to flee across the border to avoid a brutal campaign against them by Myanmar's military.

A spokesman for Myanmar de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi, told the state-run Global New Light of Myanmar Wednesday that Dhaka is waiting to begin the repatriation process until it receives $400 million in international aid earmarked to expand shelter for the 600,000 Rohingyas living in crowded refugee camps.

"Over their receipt of this amount, we are now afraid of delaying the program of deporting the refugees," said Zaw Htay.

He added Myanmar is waiting to receive an official list of Rohingyas in Bangladesh. Myanmar has agreed to accept the Rohingya once they prove they had lived in Myanmar.

A Rohingya militant attack on Myanmar police in August sparked a series of reprisals by government security forces, creating an exodus of scores of Rohingya refugees from Myanmar's northern Rakhine state into Bangladesh, mainly to Cox's Bazar. Nearly 60 percent of the refugees are children.

The United Nations has called the government security forces campaign against the Rohingya Muslims ethnic cleansing.

The Rohingya Muslims say they are a long-persecuted minority in Buddhist-majority Myanmar and are often denied the most basic human rights.
The young police officer who confronted and shot the truck attacker who killed eight people on a New York City bike path on Tuesday was being hailed as a hero for quick action that ended the carnage.

Officer Ryan Nash, 28, was at Stuyvesant High School in lower Manhattan on Tuesday afternoon with his partner John Hasiotis responding to a call that a student was threatening to kill himself when people told them of the pandemonium a short distance away.

The officers ran from the school and Nash spotted the suspect, Sayfullo Saipov, 29, shouting and brandishing what turned out to be a paint-ball gun and a pellet gun. Nash immediately opened fire, hitting Saipov in the abdomen and ending the attack.

"He thinks what he did was not an act of heroism. He thinks it's why he joined the police department," New York City Police Commissioner James O'Neill told reporters, referring to Nash. "I don't think we could have found a more humble human being."

Nash, on the NYPD for five years, is assigned to the First Precinct in Lower Manhattan. His commander, Deputy Inspector Mark Iocco, said on Wednesday that he had spoken with Nash.

"He's doing well under the circumstances," Iocco wrote on Twitter. "Thank you for all the thoughtful comments."

Speaking at the news conference alongside O'Neill and New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said Nash deserved all the accolades he was receiving.

"He was very humble about what he did, but what he did was extraordinary and gave people such faith and such appreciation in our police force," de Blasio said. "He thought this was all in a day's work and what a cop does to protect other people."

Patrick J. Lynch, head of the Patrolmen's Benevolent Association, said Nash was first at the scene. He said Hasiotis pinpointed witnesses and Officers Michael Welsome and Kevin McGinn collected the gunman's weapons and with Hasiotis secured the area.

"While we mourn the terrible loss of life and the injuries to innocent people we are proud of and grateful for the quick action of a team of police officers who responded to cries for help and took charge of a chaotic and dangerous situation."
Authorities in New York are trying to determine what led the driver of a rented pickup truck to mow down people on a busy bike path Tuesday in the deadliest terrorist incident in the city since the World Trade Center attacks on September 11, 2001.

At least eight people were killed and 11 others injured in what New York Mayor Bill de Blasio called "a particularly cowardly act of terror aimed at innocent civilians."

New York Police Commissioner James ONeill said around 3:05 p.m. local time, a man driving a rented commercial pickup truck entered the bike path, striking riders and pedestrians. The truck also struck a school bus, injuring two adults and two children.

The man then "exited the vehicle brandishing two handguns, ONeill said. A paintball gun and a pellet gun were later found at the scene. The suspect was shot in the abdomen by police and taken into custody.

Law enforcement officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, told media outlets the suspect was a 29-year-old immigrant from Uzbekistan named Sayfullo Saipov, who entered the United States in 2010. He underwent surgery and is expected to survive.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo told CNN he believes the suspect was "radicalized domestically." News reports indicate a note was found at the scene referencing Islamic State.

In a tweet Wednesday morning, President Donald Trump said, "The terrorist came into our country through what is called the 'Diversity Visa Lottery Program,' a Chuck Schumer beauty. I want merit based."



Tuesday night, Trump said he ordered "Homeland Security to step up our already Extreme Vetting Program. Being politically correct is fine, but not for this!"

There has been no official claim of responsibility from IS, but Greg Barton, a professor of global Islamic politics at Deakin University in Australia, said it seems as if the attacker was inspired by the terror group.

"Islamic State doesnt claim attacks when the attacker is held in custody and so they probably wont claim this one," Barton told VOA. "But theres no question that weve seen many attempted attacks in New York and there will be more attempts in the future."

WATCH: Ramon Taylor reports from the scene

Uzbek reaction

Uzbekistan's president, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, said Wednesday the attack was ruthless and cruel, and that his government stood ready to use all means to assist in the investigation.

"We express our feelings of full solidarity to the people of the United States of America," Mirziyoyev said in a statement posted on the Uzbekistan Foreign Ministry website.

"We strongly condemn the terror truck attack on the innocent civilians in New York City. Our deepest sympathy and condolences to the families who lost their loved ones," said the Turkistanian American Association of New York and New Jersey, on behalf of the Uzbek community, in a statement sent by email to the Voice of America.

The Cato Institute told VOA only about 40,000 Uzbeks have entered the United States as migrants in the last 20 years, and that of those, only 2 percent arrived as refugees.

David Bier, a policy analyst at the Washington-based research institution, said he believed this is the first time an Uzbek national has killed anyone on U.S. soil in a terrorist attack.

Witnesses describe chaos



For some witnesses, the chaos was reminiscent of images of deadly attacks from across Europe.

"It always seems really distant but then when its right next to you, obviously its really shocking and disturbing, and you dont want it to happen to anybody," said Elizabeth Chernobelsky, who witnessed the crime scene.

Others were left in disbelief. College student Jake Saunders, who barely missed a train at a crucial moment, told VOA he considers himself lucky.



"If I had made that train, I would be right where the shooting is, right there, because that was my destination," Saunders said.



Police said the driver shouted "Allahu Akbar,'' Arabic for "God is great," when he got out of the truck. But when O'Neill was asked whether the suspect shouted the phrase, he replied: "Yeah. He did make a statement when he exited the vehicle,'' though he declined to elaborate.

The New York Police Department said they will increase the number of officers throughout the city "out of an abundance of caution."
Investigators said Wednesday that the driver of a rented pickup truck who mowed down people on a busy bike path in New York on Tuesday planned the attack for weeks and carried it out on behalf of Islamic State.

"He did this in the name of ISIS," said John Miller, the New York deputy police commissioner.

Miller told reporters that the suspect, Sayfullo Saipov, a 29-year-old Uzbek immigrant who came to the United States in 2010, "appears to have followed almost exactly to a T" advice that Islamic State jihadists have posted on social media on how to carry out a vehicular attack on pedestrians and bicyclists.

He said notes linked to Saipov were found at the scene in the lower Manhattan area of the city, where a 28-year-old New York policeman, Ryan Nash, shot him in the abdomen, ending the mayhem that was carried out over a 20-block stretch alongside the Hudson River.

Authorities said Saipov was interviewed before he underwent surgery Tuesday evening for the gunshot wound, but declined to say what Saipov told them. Officials also linked Saipov to social media accounts that contain Islamic State-related material. IS has not officially claimed responsibility.

At least eight people were killed and 12 others injured in the attack, with nine still hospitalized with an array of injuries.

New York Mayor Bill de Blasio said the attack was the "definition of terrorism. This was an attack on our values." But he said there are no "additional or credible" threats against the city. He urged New Yorkers to "be strong, be proud, be resilient, show the whole world right now, we will not be moved by terror."

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo called Saipov "a depraved coward" and earlier told CNN that he was "radicalized domestically."

Among those killed were five Argentine nationals who were in New York to celebrate the 30th anniversary of their high school graduation, as well as a Belgian.

Vehicular attacks

Tuesday's incident, involving a rented Home Depot truck, was similar to terrorist vehicle attacks that have been carried out in other Western countries in recent years. New America, a nonpartisan research center, says 15 vehicular attacks have been carried out since 2014, killing more than 140 people.

New York Police Commissioner James ONeill said around 3:05 p.m. local time Tuesday, the truck entered the bike path, striking riders and pedestrians. The truck also struck a school bus, injuring two adults and two children. The driver then "exited the vehicle brandishing two handguns, ONeill said, with the policeman ending the incident by shooting Saipov. A paintball gun and a pellet gun were later found at the scene.

Greg Barton, a professor of global Islamic politics at Deakin University in Australia, said it seems as if the attacker was inspired by IS.

"Islamic State doesnt claim attacks when the attacker is held in custody and so they probably wont claim this one," Barton told VOA. "But theres no question that weve seen many attempted attacks in New York and there will be more attempts in the future."



Uzbek reaction

Uzbekistan's president, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, said Wednesday the attack was ruthless and cruel, and that his government stood ready to use all means to assist in the investigation.

WATCH: RFERL Interview with man who knew suspect

Witness accounts

For some witnesses, the chaos was reminiscent of images of deadly attacks from across Europe.

"It always seems really distant but then when its right next to you, obviously its really shocking and disturbing, and you dont want it to happen to anybody," said Elizabeth Chernobelsky, who witnessed the crime scene.

Others were left in disbelief. College student Jake Saunders, who barely missed a train at a crucial moment, told VOA he considers himself lucky.

"If I had made that train, I would be right where the shooting is, right there, because that was my destination," Saunders said.

The New York Police Department said it will increase the number of officers throughout the city "out of an abundance of caution."
Niger has asked the United States to start using armed drones against jihadist groups operating on the Mali border, raising the stakes in a counterinsurgency campaign jolted by a deadly ambush of allied U.S.-Nigerien forces.

On October 4, Islamist militants with sniper rifles and rocket-propelled grenades killed four U.S. soldiers and at least four of their Nigerien partners in an ambush that exposed the dangers of an expanding U.S. presence in the largely desert nation.

What began as a small U.S. training operation has expanded to an 800-strong force that accompanies the Nigeriens on intelligence-gathering and other missions. It includes a $100 million drone base in the central Nigerien city of Agadez, which, however, now deploys only surveillance drones.

"I asked them some weeks ago to arm them [the drones] and use them as needed," Defense Minister Kalla Mountari told Reuters in an interview in his office. Asked whether Washington had accepted the request, he said: "Our enemies will find out."

The deaths of the U.S. soldiers, at the hands of suspected insurgents with the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara group, shocked Americans, many of whom did not realize their country had such a large presence in Africa's Sahel region.

The incident also highlighted the "mission creep" that has set in and expanded the U.S. role in landlocked Niger, one of the world's poorest and most insecure countries.

Mountari said the team of 12 U.S. Special Forces soldiers and 30 Nigerien troops had been "right up to the Mali border and had neutralized some bandits" just before the ambush took place.

He declined to give further details.

No engagement intended

The U.S. military has been adamant that the October 3-4 mission was not intended to involve contact with enemy forces.

Mountari said: "They [U.S.-Nigerien contingent] came back to Niger, they greeted the population, they gathered intelligence, and it was inside the country, when they didn't expect anything, that the attack happened."

U.S. forces do not have a direct combat mission in Niger, but their assistance to its military does include intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance in their efforts to target violent Islamist organizations.

However, Mountari was clear he saw them as close partners.

"The Americans are not just exchanging information with us. They are waging war when necessary," he said.

"We are working hand in hand. The clear proof is that the Americans and Nigeriens fell on the battlefield for the peace and security of our country."

But a growing U.S. role in Niger could prove unpopular both with Americans, many of whom are tired of costly and sometimes deadly foreign adventures, and in Niger, whose citizens have mixed feelings about foreign forces on their soil.

Drone strikes have been controversial in other parts of the world because of the risk of civilian casualties. At a protest rally over a domestic political issue on Sunday, dozens of demonstrators also began chanting against the presence of foreign troops in Niger, a Reuters witness said.
Twenty months after the killing of Honduran land rights defender Berta Caceres, the masterminds behind the crime have yet to be punished, while other female rights campaigners face growing threats across Central America, Nobel peace laureates said.

Caceres, an award-winning environmental and indigenous rights activist, was fatally shot by gunmen in her home in March 2016 after receiving death threats over her opposition to a hydroelectric dam project.

Her killing sparked an international outcry. So far, eight people have been arrested in connection with the murder and are in jail, according to lawyers leading an inquiry into Caceres' murder at the request of her family.

But during a recent visit to Honduras two Nobel peace prize winners, Yemen's Tawakkol Karman and Shirin Ebadi of Iran, urged the Honduran government to bring to justice those who ordered the killing.

"The government authorities in Honduras told us that the investigation into the murder of Berta Caceres still continues ... but who is behind them, who ordered the killing and who is benefiting from this, is what the investigation should reveal," Karman told Reuters following a visit to Guatemala and Honduras. "The people who kill human rights defenders aren't held accountable. Justice doesn't happen."

Deadliest place on earth

Honduras is the deadliest place on earth for environmental activism, according to a January report by UK-based watchdog Global Witness, with at least 120 activists killed since 2010 but most crimes going unpunished.

Indigenous communities battling often big international companies to preserve their ancestral lands from mining, dams, logging, and other mega-developments are caught in the firing line and are targets.

"We told government officials in Honduras we met about their responsibility to protect human rights defenders and to fulfill their international obligations and agreements on protecting indigenous rights and the environment," Karman said.

Honduras was criticized for failing to protect rights activists in several major reports last year by organizations including the United Nations and the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.

Caceres led a decades-long campaign against the construction of the $50 million Agua Zarca hydroelectric dam that she and local communities said threatened to destroy the livelihoods of the Lenca indigenous people and their water resources.

Both the government and Desarrollos Energeticos SA (DESA), the private Honduran company in charge of building the dam, have repeatedly denied any involvement in Caceres' murder.

International backers of the dam  the FMO, the Dutch development bank, and a Finnish state investment fund, Finnfund  suspended $20 million in funding following the killing. Work to build the dam has been suspended.

Not an 'isolated incident'

Norma Allegra Cerrato, Honduran vice minister of human rights and justice, told Reuters earlier this year the government is working to bring those responsible for Caceres' murder to justice and stem violence against activists and better protect them.

A report on Caceres' murder on Tuesday by a group of five independent lawyers, the International Advisory Group of Experts (GAIPE), said Caceres' murder was not an "isolated incident."

GAIPE was set up last year to lead an independent inquiry into Caceres' murder at the request of her family and rights groups following concerns about the official investigation.

In its report, GAIPE said the threats against Caceres were part of a "strategy" by DESA employees, private security companies and public officials "to violate the right to prior, free and informed consultations of the Lenca indigenous people."

"The strategy was to control, neutralize and eliminate any opposition," the report said.

DESA did not respond to an emailed request for comment on the report. The Agua Zarca dam project said it rejected the findings.

"Agua Zarca is totally disconnected from any act of violence and/or threat that is expressed in the report," the company said in an email Tuesday to Reuters.

"The information ... is taken out of context and does not reflect the reality but it has been created with the intention of doing damage to the Agua Zarca project and generating instability in the country 26 days before the (presidential) elections in Honduras."
3 Heavily armed police guard the Greenwich Village Halloween Parade in New York, Oct. 31, 2017. New York City's always-surreal Halloween parade marched on Tuesday evening under the shadow of real fear, hours after a truck attack killed several people on a busy city bike path in what authorities called an act of terror.
The suspect who carried out a deadly act of terror in New York City Tuesday has been identified by law enforcement sources as Sayfullo Saipov, a 29-year-old legal permanent resident originally from Uzbekistan, a predominantly Muslim central Asian country that was part of the Soviet Union until its collapse in 1991.

Authorities said Saipov arrived in the United States in 2010 and lived in Ohio, Florida and New Jersey. Dilnoza Abdusamatova, 22, said Saipov spent his first two weeks in the U.S. living with her family in Symmes Township outside Cincinnati because their fathers were friends.

"He was really calm," Abdusamatova told The Cincinnati Enquirer. "He always used to work. He wouldn't go to parties or anything."

Saipov's father in Uzbekistan asked Rustam Iskhakov to allow Saipov son to live in his home while Saipov attempted to get his green card, said Abdusamatova, one of Iskhakov's children.

Public records from the Ohio Secretary of State show Saipov registered a business named SAYF MOTORS INC. in May 2011 at the family's address in Symmes Township, to the great surprise of the family.

In August 2013, Saipov registered a transportation company with the U.S. Department of Transportation, Bright Auto LLC, at the same Ohio address that was on his marriage certificate. Records show the company's license was involuntarily revoked more than a year later.

Saipov then relocated to Fort Myers, Florida, where he met fellow Uzbek national Kobiljon Matkarov and found work as a truck driver. Abdusamatova said her family believed Saipov got married sometime after arriving in the U.S. and may now have two children.

Abdusamatova told The Washington Post, "He stopped talking to us when he got married," except when he reportedly invited the family to his wedding.

The suspect lived in an apartment complex in Tampa, Florida, where investigators reportedly interviewed several area residents after the attack.

Saipov then relocated to New Jersey and eventually settled in Paterson, a city with a large Muslim population, where several conspirators of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks resided. Paterson is where he began driving for Uber after passing a background check, an Uber official said. Uber said the company did not identify any customer complaints about Saipov, although he has been removed from the company's app. The truck that was used in the attack was rented in Paterson, reports said.

Paterson is where Saipov, his wife Nozima Odilova, and their children lived most recently. The couple reportedly applied for a marriage license in Akron, Ohio in 2013. Like the suspect, his wife comes from Tashkent.

A law enforcement official who spoke on condition of anonymity said Saipov arrived in the U.S. at Kennedy International Airport. Authorities said he was arrested in Missouri in 2015 on a traffic violation. Court records show Saipov pleaded guilty to a traffic violation two years ago in Pennsylvania and had another traffic-related charge withdrawn in that state in 2012.

An acquaintance of Saipov, Mirrakhmat Muminov, said the two met several years ago through a local Uzbek community in Ohio. Muminov, a truck driver and Uzbek community activist who now lives in Stow, Ohio, told Current Time TV Saipov had "unfriendly" disagreements with some community members, but Muminov saw no signs of radicalism.

"We didn't see [characteristics of] a terrorist in him," said Muminov, who described Saipov as "an aggressive young man" with "a romantic sense of adventure." Muminov noted Saipov "quarreled with a few people" but "there were no fights." Muminov said Saipov never attended the imam's weekly lectures at the local mosque and Muminov did not notice "any surge of radicalism" in Saipov during his time in Ohio.



WATCH: Saipov accquaintance on his interactions with community

Muminov said Saipov had financial and other problems and needed "lots of money...but couldn't find any" to repair his truck after leaving Florida. Muminov speculated that this, "too many [traffic] tickets" and the inability to get insurance, spelled the end of Saipov's truck driving career, resulting in "certain elements of depression in him."

New York City Deputy Police Commissioner John Miller told reporters Wednesday Saipov appeared to have been planning [the attack] for a number of weeks and said Saipov "did this in the name of ISIS."
Journalists in Pakistan say they are facing increasing risks ranging from the government's expanding control over social media to extremist threats that have spread from long-volatile regions to the streets of the capital.

The latest attack left a journalist badly beaten on a street in Islamabad. Earlier this year, security agencies picked up several bloggers from urban centers who said after their release that they had been tortured and humiliated.

Threats to reporters have long been a problem in volatile Baluchistan and the tribal areas along the border with Afghanistan, but the recent incidents have reinforced complaints by media groups that the danger is spreading to the nation's heartland.

The victim of the beating in Islamabad was Ahmad Noorani, a senior reporter for the influential Daily News newspaper, who previously had been warned to close his Twitter account after criticizing the powerful military. The attack attracted widespread condemnation on social media, where many posts blamed Pakistan's intelligence agencies for the attack.

Other journalists have been charged with violating the country's vague Anti-Terrorism Act, which defines terrorism as creating "a sense of fear or insecurity in society." Critics say it has broad potential for abuse.

Several bloggers critical of the government or the military have vanished for weeks, later saying they had been kidnapped by the intelligence services.

Popular blogger Asim Saeed was snatched by unknown men earlier this year. He told the BBC in an interview last week that he was picked up by Pakistan intelligence agencies and tortured during his detention.

Digital media rights activists, meanwhile, are warning that Pakistan is attempting to cut back on internet freedom.

"In my opinion, the government is terrifying the social media activists," Usama Khilji, director of the internet freedom organization Bolo Bhi, told VOA's Deewa service. "Social media is a democratic medium where people can express their thoughts without any restrictions. However, it has been observed, when people share their thoughts, the government feels insecure."

Anwar Iqbal, a Washington-based senior journalist and correspondent for the leading English-language newspaper Daily Dawn, agreed.

"The Pakistani state feels vulnerable in the presence of growing social media and wants to stifle the discourse on topics it considers sensitive," he said.

The state does not want media to discuss sensitive issues like relations with the U.S., China, Afghanistan and India, Iqbal said, particularly in light of President Donald Trump's new policy for the region calling for Islamabad to crack down on terrorist safe havens.

Reports from watchdog groups

Human Rights Watch's 2016 report said media were being deterred from reporting on or criticizing human rights violations by the security services.

"Many journalists increasingly practiced self-censorship, fearing retribution from both state security forces and militant groups. Media outlets remained under pressure to avoid reporting on or criticizing human rights violations by the military in counterterrorism operations," the report said.

Reporters Without Borders, a global media watchdog, in its annual report this year, ranked Pakistan 139 of 180 countries on its Press Freedom Index, despite its reputation having one of the most free media environments in Asia. The report says the nation's media "are targeted by extremist groups, Islamist organizations, and the feared intelligence agencies"  all of which are on the group's list of "Predators of Press Freedom."

Even when the threats come from extremist groups, journalists say, the government has done little to pursue the perpetrators.

But Interior Minister Talal Chaudry defended the government's actions, suggesting the reporters should be doing more to protect themselves.

"We have included insurance for journalists in the journalists 'protection bill," he said. "Sometimes, journalists are not trained or not properly equipped, and that is why they become victims of violence. We understand journalists are sometimes victims of violence, and that is why we are bringing a comprehensive bill for working journalists in the parliament."

Journalists: Situation worsening

But many journalists say things are getting worse. A recent cybercrime bill has become a vehicle for curbing media freedom, allowing the government to censor digital content, criminalize internet user activity and access bloggers' data without judicial review. Media defenders say the country's blasphemy laws also are being used to cut off public debate.

"We have laws in place for social media, but it's not being controlled," Religious Affairs Minister Sardar Yousef told Deewa when asked how the government can avoid the blasphemy law from being misused against social media.

Such problems are longstanding in Pakistan's troubled southwestern Baluchistan province, where newspapers have been shut down and newsstands shuttered for more than a week amid threats from militant groups claiming the local media are too supportive of the central government.

"The resistance [militant] groups are calling on boycotting all media houses, threatening press offices and journalists," Behram Baloch, who is now working from home, told VOA. "To address this issue, we held a meeting here at the press club. We decided to suspend our activities for a while, and press club will remain closed. Our movement is limited, and many of our colleagues have left their jobs."

Militants from separatist groups, banned by the state, threw a hand grenade at an office of a newspaper agency in Turbat, Baluchistan, injuring eight people.

"Journalists as well as the Newspaper Editors Council received threats. As a result, our workers were forced not to leave their homes. They include press workers and hawkers. We were, thus, unable to pick up newspapers [for delivery]," said Mir Ahmed, general secretary of the Newspapers Wholesalers Association.

"Life and death are in the hands of God."
South Sudan President Salva Kiir flew to Khartoum on Wednesday for a two-day summit with his Sudanese counterpart, Omar al-Bashir, to talk about economic issues in the once-rebel-controlled former Unity State.

The minister in the office of the president, Mayik Ayi Deng, who oversees Kiir's activities, told reporters at Juba International Airport upon the president's departure to Khartoum Tuesday morning that Kiir was happy to accept Bashir's invitation and hoped to settle unresolved issues with Sudan this week.

"One is the resumption of oil in former Unity State; second, they are going to discuss the issues concerning the border for trade between the two countries; and, third they are going to discuss the issues concerning trade itself," Deng said.

Resuming oil production in former Unity State could significantly boost South Sudan's rapidly deteriorating economy. Ninety-eight percent of the country's economy relied on oil in previous years. Production in the former Unity State stopped when fighting broke out in late 2013. A peace deal signed in August 2015 has been violated many times over by both warring parties, and pipelines there have remained dormant.

Defense Minister Kuol Manyang, Petroleum Minister Ezekiel Lol Gatkuoth and Information Minister Michael Makuei flew to Khartoum last week ahead of the talks to hammer out deals on many issues ahead of the summit, including how to demarcate a common border and redeploy forces away from the border zone.

Joint deployment

Juba-based Eye Radio reported defense ministers from both Sudan and South Sudan agreed to deploy joint forces along the border and open crossing points that have been closed to traders for several years.

Deng said Kiir's visit was aimed at enforcing the 2012 cooperation agreement, which covers demarcation, oil disputes, citizenship and the final status of the disputed Abyei region but was never implemented.

During last week's visit to Juba by U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, Kiir's adviser on foreign affairs, Nhial Deng Nhial, called on Washington to help the two countries improve relations.

"There were some very complicated matters that arose during the negotiations that led to conclusion of the comprehensive peace agreement in 2005, and the government of the United States played an instrumental role in helping break some of the deadlocks, especially the issues of Abyei," Nhial said.

Nhail said it was "in the same spirit" that Kiir hoped the U.S. would stay engaged in Sudan-South Sudan relations.

Nhial added that the United States had already invested "a lot" in terms of resolving the conflict over Abyei.
The head of the Environmental Protection Agency said Thursday he intends to replace the outside experts that advise him on science and public health issues with new board members holding more diverse views.



In announcing the changes, EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt suggested many previously appointed to the panels were potentially biased because they had received federal research grants. The 22 boards advise EPA on a wide range of issues, including drinking water standards and pesticide safety.



"Whatever science comes out of EPA shouldn't be political science,'' said Pruitt, a Republican lawyer who previously served as the attorney general of Oklahoma. "From this day forward, EPA advisory committee members will be financially independent from the agency.''



Pruitt has expressed skepticism about the consensus of climate scientists that man-made carbon emissions are the primary cause of global warming. He also overruled experts that had recommended pulling a top-selling pesticide from the market after peer-reviewed studies showed it damaged children's brains.



Pruitt said he will name new leadership and members to three key EPA advisory boards soon  the Science Advisory Board, Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee, and the Board of Scientific Counselors.



It was not clear from the EPA's media release if all current board members serving out their appointed terms were immediately dismissed. EPA's press office did not respond to messages seeking clarification on Tuesday.



As part of his directive, Pruitt said he will bar appointees who currently in receipt of EPA grants or who is in a position to benefit such grants. He exempted people who work at state, local or tribal agencies, saying he wants to introduce more "geographic diversity'' to the panels.



The five-page policy Pruitt issued Tuesday makes no mention of other potential conflicts of interest, such as accepting research funding from corporate interests regulated by EPA.



Tuesday announcement comes after Pruitt in May said he would not reappoint nine of the 18 members of the Board of Scientific Counselors to serve a second three-year term, as had been customary.



Current board chairwoman Deborah Swackhamer said the members were already required to follow rules intended to prevent conflicts of interests.



"It obviously stacks the deck against scientists who do not represent corporate special interests,'' said Swackhamer, a retired professor who taught environmental health sciences at the University of Minnesota. "It speaks volumes that people funded by special interests are OK to be advisers, but not those who have received federal grants.''



Senate Environment Committee Chairman John Barrasso, a Wyoming Republican who shares Pruitt's skepticism of mainstream climate science, cheered the move. He said EPA's science boards would now better reflect the views of rural states like his own.



But environmentalists worried that Pruitt will now select board members with financial ties to the fossil fuel and chemical industries.



"The Trump EPA's continued attack on science will likely be one of the most lasting and damaging legacies of this administration,'' said Sen. Tom Udall of New Mexico, the ranking Democrat on the appropriations subcommittee that approves EPA's funding. "Pruitt is purging expert scientists from his science boards  and replacing them with mouthpieces for big polluters.''
Puerto Rico, still reeling from Hurricane Maria, is asking the Trump administration and U.S. lawmakers for help in staving off a Medicaid crisis that has put a quarter of the island's residents at risk of losing medical care.

The territory, which has grappled for years with shortfalls in funding of its Medicaid health care program, is on track to run out of money to pay doctors and hospitals by early next year, leaving as many as 900,000 low-income Puerto Ricans without care.

Puerto Rico Governor Ricardo Rossello has asked Washington to waive the territory's share of Medicaid costs  a step that could cost hundreds of millions. Last week, Rossello returned with another request: an infusion of $1.6 billion per year for at least five years.

A dozen Democratic senators have raised the issue with the Trump administration. Republican Senator Marco Rubio has also expressed support, saying the Medicaid woes could hasten an exodus from the island.

"If you take the storm and you add already all the inconveniences, obstructions that it's created - and combine that with a Medicaid collapse - then you're really going to accelerate the number of people coming to the mainland," Rubio said in an interview.

Seema Verma, head of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, told Reuters that the administration was working on a Medicaid proposal for the island but she gave no details.

"We're looking at everything at this point. We want to make sure that we're supportive of them to deal with this crisis -- but also dealing with some of their baseline issues that they had with the health care system," said Verma, who visited Puerto Rico last week.

The timing and legislative vehicle for any funding are not yet clear. The White House is working on another emergency relief package for Puerto Rico, expected in mid-November.

The Republican-controlled House of Representatives has proposed including $1 billion in stop-gap funding for Puerto Rico Medicaid as part of a bill to renew funding for the Children's Health Insurance Program.

The program cost almost $2.5 billion in 2016, and was projected to be at least $875 million short in funds in 2018.

'We need a plan B'

As Puerto Rico is a territory and not a state, its residents do not pay federal income taxes. Washington, which shares the cost of Medicaid with states, has long capped spending to territories.

The result: low-income states such as Mississippi get 75 percent of their Medicaid bill covered by Washington, while only about 12 percent of Puerto Rico's costs are covered under the cap.

Six weeks after Maria tore through Puerto Rico, the island is struggling to pick up the pieces, and about two-thirds of its residents remain without power.

The territory declared bankruptcy earlier this year and the storm has plunged its economy into deeper uncertainty, exacerbating the Medicaid crisis.

"I am worried about my patients. I am worried about myself. I have a family and obligations," said Ivan Gonzalez-Cancel, a heart surgeon at Centro Cardiovascular de Puerto Rico, who said he expects the territory to run out of Medicaid money in February.

"I have been talking to many people for years saying, 'We need a Plan B,'" Gonzalez said. "They are counting on that money."

The hurricane is one of several massive disasters to hit the United States over the past three months. Congress has approved more than $51 billion in emergency aid since September and will consider another aid request this month.

Carlos Mercader, a spokesman for the governor, said he hoped federal attention to Puerto Rico's hurricane woes would lead to a longer-lasting fix for its Medicaid problems.

But Joe Antos, a health care economist at the American Enterprise Institute, said that might be a tough sell in Washington, given the island's long list of needs.

"They have had no traction on this issue, whatsoever, for decades," Antos said. "This is just a very bitter frosting on a really tough cake."
Tempers flared as U.S. lawmakers grilled Facebook, Twitter and Google representatives about Russia's use of their platforms to spread disinformation during the 2016 presidential campaign, as well as the companies' efforts to prevent a repeat.



"You must do better to protect the American people and, frankly, all of your users from this kind of manipulation," Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Richard Burr, a Republican from North Carolina, told attorneys for the tech giants at a hearing on Wednesday.

WATCH: Social Media Companies Face Tough Congressional Questions on Russian Election Interference





"I don't think you get it," Senator Dianne Feinstein, a Democrat from California, said. "What we're talking about is a cataclysmic change.  What we're talking about is a major foreign power with the sophistication and ability to involve themselves in a [U.S.] presidential election and sow conflict and discord all over this nation."

Feinstein stressed that social media companies bear ultimate responsibility for the material that gets posted on their sites.



"You've created these platforms, and now they are being misused. And you have to be the ones to do something about it -- or we [Congress] will," she said.

Democrats on the House Intelligence Committee released a sampling of content that Facebook, Instagram and Twitter had identified as being linked to Russian actors. The content -- ads, videos and tweets -- covered a range of topics, including race, immigration, Islam, state pride and LGBT issues.



Phony accounts

Facebook, Twitter and Google have acknowledged that entities traced to Russia used phony accounts and other tactics to spread inflammatory messages and fake advertising that reached millions of Americans in 2015 and 2016. Lawyers for the companies stressed they take the problem seriously and are aggressively combating it.



"All of these [phony foreign] accounts and pages violated our policies, and we removed them," Facebook General Counsel Colin Stretch said.

"Going forward, we are making significant investments. We're hiring more ad reviewers, doubling or more our security engineering efforts, putting in place tighter ad content restrictions, launching new tools to improve ad transparency, and requiring documentation from political ad buyers," he said.



Stretch added that fake ads "were a very small fraction of the overall content on Facebook, but any amount is too much."



Holding social media companies to account continued on the other side of the Capitol hours later, when the House Select Committee on Intelligence held a hearing on the same topic, with the same witnesses.

"All three companies have a public responsibility to ensure that the content carried on your platforms is not produced by foreign adversaries seeking to harm our society and our democratic process," Representative Mike Conaway, a Texas Republican, said.



Republicans on the Senate committee zeroed in on data from social media platforms showing Russia's disinformation campaign predated the Republican Party's nomination of Donald Trump last year, suggesting Moscow's overarching aim was to undermine American democracy, not to elect Trump as president.



"This is a whole lot broader than simply the 2016 election," Senator James Risch, a Republican from Idaho, said.



Burr said, "I'm here to tell you, this story does not simplify that easily."

The witnesses concurred.



"The large majority of the material we saw was socially divisive rather than direct electoral advocacy," Google general counsel Kent Walker said.



At the House hearing, Democrats challenged that assertion.



"The Russians mounted what could be described as an independent expenditure campaign on Mr. Trump's behalf," said Representative Adam Schiff, a California Democrat. "Russian ads on Twitter, for example, promoted stories about [Democratic presidential nominee] Hillary Clinton's allegedly poor health or legal problems."

Democrats also accused tech giants of being slow to recognize and combat the threat from abroad.



Senator Mark Warner, a Virginia Democrat, said the committee's concerns, stretching back to the beginning of the year, "were, frankly, blown off by the leaderships of your companies."



"Candidly, your companies know more about Americans, in many ways, than the United States government does. And the idea that you had no idea that any of this [foreign influence campaign] was happening strains my credibility," Warner added.



Twitter's acting general counsel, Sean Edgett, said the company has taken action against suspected Russian trolls, suspending 2,752 accounts. Similar efforts were announced by Facebook and Google, the parent company of YouTube.



Both the House and Senate intelligence committees are conducting yearlong probes of Russia's election meddling, with reports expected from both at a future date.

Meanwhile, bipartisan legislation has been introduced in the Senate that would compel web-based sites to verify and make public the sources of political advertising, just as U.S. broadcasters must do.

VOA's Joshua Fatzick contributed to this report.
Five Malian soldiers and one civilian were killed in central Mali on Tuesday during an ambush on a convoy of the president of the High Court of Justice, the defense ministry said in a statement.

It was not clear who was responsible for the attack, but the high-level target and army deaths pointed to the deteriorating security situation in Mali due to the growing reach of jihadist groups that roam the country's desert expanses.

The convoy of Abdrahamane Niang was traveling between the towns of Dia and Diafarabe in the Mopti region, about 500 kilometers (311 miles) northeast of the capital, Bamako, when it was attacked.

"Mr. Niang and his wife were recovered by the army. However, we report six deaths: five soldiers of the Malian army and the driver of the Honorable Niang," the statement said, adding that others had been wounded.

No other details of the attack were given.

The rise of jihadist groups  some linked to al-Qaida and Islamic State  continues to destabilize Mali, four years after French troops beat back an Islamist insurgency that began in 2012.

About 4,000 French soldiers remain as part of Operation Barkhane, where they work alongside about 10,000 U.N. peacekeepers in Mali. But attacks on peacekeepers, aid workers and the Malian military are common.

Four U.S. Special Forces troops were killed this month in neighboring Niger by fighters thought to belong to a local IS affiliate operating out of Mali.

The G5 Sahel, an anti-terrorism task force of soldiers from Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, Chad and Mauritania, plans to launch its first joint operations this month to target Islamists in the Sahel.
Recent developments in corruption cases against South African President Jacob Zuma make it increasingly possible his party will ask him to step down before the end of his term. However, Zuma continues to fight for his political life.

The many twists and turns in the ongoing, seemingly never-ending corruption scandals plaguing Zuma are too long and complicated to summarize, says David Lewis, executive director of Corruption Watch.



Highlights include a recent court ruling that 783 charges of corruption against Zuma, once dismissed by prosecutors, can be reinstated.

He is also accused of allowing a wealthy Indian family, the Guptas, to choose ministers and otherwise wield extraordinary influence in his government.

Lewis, who heads the South Africa-based monitoring group, says he is concerned about where this saga has left the country after eight years under Zuma.



One of the, arguably, the most critical impact of the whole saga, the whole state capture saga, is the extent to which key institutions have been damaged, and the extent to which people loyal to the president have been appointed to head critical state institutions from the National Prosecuting Authority to major state owned enterprises to South African Revenue Services, to many of the police agencies, Lewis said.

The scandals and Zuma's low popularity have raised speculation that the ruling African National Congress party, at its meeting in December, could push Zuma to resign, in order to spare the party in the 2019 elections.

But Zuma is not going down without a fight. This week, he asked the nations High Court to set aside a bombshell report by the public protector's office that said he and the Guptas used the government for their personal enrichment.

Zuma said he would instead appoint a commission to look into the details.

The opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) party says it will push back against efforts by Zuma to allow anything short of a full judicial inquiry into the influence-peddling allegations.



James Selfe, who heads the DAs federal executive, says Zumas saga will not end after he leaves office, whenever that may be.



Essentially, it is not good enough for the president simply to resign and ride off into the sunset. He needs to be held accountable for his actions, both before he became president and during his term of office as president," Selfe said.

Zumas spokesman did not answer repeated calls from VOA seeking comment from on Wednesday, but Zuma and his office have previously denied all allegations of corruption - and have said they will continue to fight on.


A wind turbine installation vessel, developed in China for use near its coasts, is sparking new hope that the dominant party in a six-way maritime sovereignty dispute will share technology. But analysts warn Beijing seldom brings in outsiders.

The Chinese government has a wide technological lead in the South China Sea sovereignty dispute with Taiwan and four Southeast Asian countries. Its arsenal includes a bathyscaphe, the discovery of an ice-like fuel under the seabed and plans to install an ocean observation network. Beijing also dominates five other governments in military control of the disputed South China Sea.

The deployment Sunday of the Longyuan Zhenhua 3 wind-harnessing vessel could help passing ships and boost international cooperation, a National Institute for the South China Sea research fellow was quoted as saying in Chinese state-controlled media.

At the same time you use that (technology) for military defense in the South China Sea, then you can tell other people that Im contributing data for the greater good of mankind, said Collin Koh, a maritime security research fellow at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore.

Because of sensitivities about the scope of its claim to most of the 3.5 million-square-kilometer sea, experts say China seldom shares much despite periodic statements about involving other countries. Other countries may resist as well.

It is something like tacit acquiescence or acknowledgement of Chinas dominance and recognizing that you are using its goods and thereby you are recognizing that it has control, Koh said.

Pledges to cooperate

The wind-harnessing vessel is just the most recent example of China hinting at cooperation, which would help it be seen as a good neighbor.

In May, Chinas official Xinhua News Agency quoted a government source calling the discovery of combustible ice, an energy source that turned up under the South China Sea after two decades of research, a way to help resolve the energy resource problem and boost economic development and exchanges between countries.

A government document carried by Xinhua in June heralded a blue partnership and called for Sino-foreign maritime cooperation to jointly tackle challenges and crises, thus promoting regional peace and stability.

But aside from helping to supply foreign-registered cargo ships, China hasnt shared much more, said Yun Sun, East Asia Program senior associate at the Stimson Center think tank in Washington.

I havent seen precedent so far, but I think thats how the Chinese portray their buildups in the South China Sea, that these civilian facilities, civilian equipment could someday be treated as an international public good, Sun said. I think thats how they portray it, justify it -- just havent seen specific examples of where the Chinese have welcomed other countries to use what they have.

China has the tools to detect the activity of other countries around the sea with advanced technology such as radar, aerial drones and a satellite covering parts of the seas Paracel and Spratly island chains.

Other countries lack the budget or expertise to vie with Chinas maritime technology. Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam all claim parts of the South China Sea that overlap a tract China calls its own. Chinas claim covers about 90 percent of the sea between its south coast and the island of Borneo.

Barriers to Sino-foreign sharing

China may avoid sharing in part because its technology is too new to offer "junior partners" without losing its innovative edge, said Fabrizio Bozzato, a Taiwan Strategy Research Association fellow Southeast Asia. Some of its discoveries are aimed at extracting fuel and fish from the sea, which is also one of the worlds major shipping lanes.

Scientists, he said, may say nice things following breakthroughs, but policymakers will later realize the technology is better off withheld, particularly for military use.

The technology is actually a leap forward in Chinas implementation of a sophisticated logistical support system, so I believe its quite unlikely that China is willing to share that technology with partner nations, Bozzato said.

Beijing may ultimately feel comfortable sharing non-sensitive data, such as on the marine environment, in parts of the sea that other countries do not challenge, Koh said.

But he added that it would not want other countries to get any data on islets that it holds in the South China Sea.

Other countries run a risk

Southeast Asian nations for their own part may prefer to avoid joint use of Chinese marine technology in disputed waters, analysts say. Their involvement could imply acceptance of Chinas sovereignty claims, a perception that would face public opposition in Vietnam and the Philippines.

For any player in the region it would be naive to share technology with a competitor, Bozzato said.

Search and rescue cooperation using Chinese gear risks the arrest of any foreign nationals who are saved, Sun said. Will they be released or will they be put in a Chinese jail? she asked.
China and South Korea's agreement this week to set aside differences over a U.S. missile defense system, in order to normalize relations after a year-long feud, likely could boost economic ties and stability in northeast Asia.

Beijing restricted South Korean business on the mainland and Chinese tourism to the peninsula after Seoul announced in July 2016 that it would allow the United States to deploy the THAAD system to defend against North Korean missile threats.

Worried the system could be used to monitor Chinese military activity, Beijing said THAAD was a threat to China's national security interests.

"China still strongly argues for withdrawal of THAAD [Terminal High Altitude Area Defense]," said Woo Su-keun, political science professor at Donghua University. "But China also understands South Korea's position, and if China continues to hold its argument, it may not be able to resolve all matters related to South Korea. So, China decided to come out with a position that it will put off the argument. But if a problem occurs due to [the] THAAD issue, there is a possibility China may take it as an issue again."

The number of Chinese tourists, who made up about half of South Korea's 13 million visitors from January 2016 to September 2016, dropped to slightly more than 3 million in the same period this year, reducing overall numbers by nearly a quarter. Beijing claimed Chinese tourism companies were acting on their own.

China also is accused of retaliating against several South Korean companies operating in China, including the Lotte group, which provided the land for the THAAD deployment.

A return to business as usual is expected after South Korean President Moon Jae-in and Chinese President Xi Jinping meet for a summit this month on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings in Da Nang, Vietnam.

Coordination on North Korea

The South Korean and Chinese militaries are expected to restore dialogue channels soon, which Beijing suspended over the THAAD deployment, reported the South Korean news agency Yonhap.

South Korea's nuclear envoy, Lee Do-hoon, went to Beijing on Tuesday for talks with his Chinese counterpart, Kong Xuanyou, on North Korea's nuclear program, reported Yonhap.

"For about a year, both countries did not want to, but the relation[ship] has been flowing in a way that neither country wanted," Woo said. "But both countries agreed that if this [kind of] relation continues, they would not be able to properly respond to sudden changes and situations in northeast Asia. So, both countries decided to put off the THAAD issue and [return back to a] prospective posture."

North Korea in September carried out its sixth and largest nuclear test, claiming it was a hydrogen bomb that can be mounted on an intercontinental missile. Pyongyang fired a ballistic missile over Japan just days later.

Despite tensions with Seoul over THAAD, Beijing has supported tougher sanctions against Pyongyang over its nuclear and missile programs. Beijing in August said it banned imports of North Korean seafood and raw minerals, such as iron, lead and coal, in accordance with United Nations resolutions.

Sanctions against North Korea?

VOA reported Tuesday, however, that in September, China imported 509,000 tons of coal, worth $44 million, from North Korea. This raises doubts about whether Beijing is fully implementing U.N. sanctions against Pyongyang.

China's Commerce Department spokesman, Gao Feng, said at a briefing last Thursday that goods arriving at Chinese ports prior to the ban still would be cleared through customs, and noted a 30-day grace period for contracts signed before the ban took effect on August 5.

It is not clear if China could have received half a million tons of previously contracted North Korean coal in just the first week of September.

Further raising eyebrows, Beijing has been allowing banned North Korean ships to enter coal-unloading ports, although it is not clear if any cargo was unloaded, according to a report Wednesday by VOA's Korean service.

Boost to Trump's trip

The South Korea-China detente comes just days ahead of the first visit to the region by Donald Trump as U.S. president. He has been urging unified pressure against North Korea.

The U.S. State Department on Tuesday said it was pleased South Korea and China have reconciled following the dispute over the THAAD system.

"Of course, the U.S. may show its position that it welcomes improvement of South Korea and China [relations] and it is helpful for stability and prosperity of northeast Asia," said Woo Su-keun. "It may be an opportunity for the U.S. to renew its diplomacy policy for South Korea."

South Korean President Moon Jae-in has urged diplomatic engagement with North Korea, while Trump has favored tough language and repeatedly emphasized that all options are on the table, including military action, if the U.S. sees an imminent threat.

U.S. Central Intelligence Director Mike Pompeo in October warned that North Korea could be just months away from being able to mount a nuclear device on a missile capable of striking the U.S.
South Sudan's media regulator has suspended all press associations in the country while they register for licenses to operate, journalists said, a move that raised concern about a possible crackdown on independent media.

The directive, handed to South Sudan's three associations this week and seen by Reuters on Wednesday, gave them seven days until Nov. 7 to obtain operations licenses or face permanent closure.

"We have applied, but we do not know whether our application will be accepted or not," said Mary Ajith, chairwoman of the Association of Media Development in South Sudan, a grouping of journalists. "This is ... harassment from the media authority that is being done to us."

Officials from both the government information and the National Communication Authority were not immediately available for comment.

Another journalist said the directive would give the National Communication Authority powers to "command every single activity with the support from the national security agency."

The move is the latest example of what rights activists say is an increasingly hostile and restrictive approach by the government toward the press in the world's youngest country.

In July, four news websites and blogs  including the Dutch-backed radio station and website Radio Tamazuj  were either blocked or had transmissions partially restricted.

Foreign correspondents have also faced difficulties in reporting from South Sudan, with at least 20 reporters being denied entry by authorities early this year.

Since its establishment in 2015, journalists in South Sudan say the body has made it extremely difficult to obtain permits to travel outside the capital, Juba, on reporting trips. It also requires prior permission for filming, at a hefty cost.

South Sudan, which won independence from Sudan in 2011, plunged into civil conflict in December 2013.
Authorities charged and arrested a suspect Tuesday following a fatal carjacking of a Chinese student at the University of Utah.

Chen Wei Guo, 23, an international student from China, was found dead in his car near the University of Utah campus at Red Butte Canyon late Monday evening.

After a massive manhunt on foot and by helicopter, police arrested Austin Boutain, 24, of Mississippi, at the Salt Lake City Public Library after a librarian recognized the suspect and alerted security, said University of Utah Police Chief Dale Brophy on Tuesday.

Guo, a first-year student at the University of Utah, came to the United States in 2012 with dreams of opening an accounting firm, and was studying pre-computer science at the University of Utah, according to the Associated Press.

He described by his peers as, "extraordinarily outgoing, creative, smart and extremely engaged."

To think this deadly murder took place right here and the life of a bright innocent young student was taken, give us chills, said Debbie Alvarez, a community member, on Facebook.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said on Wednesday the United States and the Chinese Embassy in the U.S. are providing assistance to the victims family.

Boutain is also suspected of the death of a 63-year-old man in Colorado last week according to police. His wife, Kathleen Boutain told police she was assaulted by her husband while camping at the canyon. She sustained minor injuries.She is also being held on unrelated charges involving theft and drugs, according to police.

The University of Utah canceled classes on Tuesday out of respect for Chen Wei Guo, while holding counseling services for students and faculty.

To honor him and recognize the impact this violent event has had on our campus community, the flags of the University of Utah will be flown at half-staff through Friday, Nov. 3, until sunset, said University of Utah President David W. Pershing in a statement.

Several people and organizations expressed their condolences to the student and his family via social media.

So sad to hear about the Chinese student Chen Wei Guo who was killed at the University of Utah, a victim of senseless violence ... will be praying for him and his family, wrote Jared Ong on Facebook.

My heart hurts...and is full. My daughter was scared but safe. Thank you to law enforcement. You rocked. Love to ChenWei Guo. #UofUShooting, said Jennifer Christensen on Twitter.

Tuesday evening the University of Utah held a gathering in recognition of Guo as well as safety on campus for members of the school community.

Leave us a comment, and visit us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn, thank you.
Indigenous villagers ended a 43-day protest that had halted production in Peru's largest oil block after signing a deal with the government, tribal leaders and officials said Tuesday.

As part of the agreement, the government of President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski promised to apply an indigenous rights law before awarding any new, long-term oil drilling contract for Block 192  a chief demand of protesters, the energy and mines ministry said in a statement.

Canadian Frontera Energy Corp operates Block 192 under a two-year contract but has not produced any oil from it since Achuar, Quechua and Kichwa indigenous tribes seized oil wells on Sept. 18.

Protesters wanted the government to clean up oil pollution in the region and to commit to including tribes in talks on long-term oil drilling plans.

The blockade was one of scores of conflicts that sometimes disrupt mining and energy operations in Peru, the world's second-biggest copper producer and a relatively small oil producer.

Talks between the government and Frontera over a long-term drilling contract ended with no deal, state-owned oil company Petroperu announced earlier this month.

Aurelio Chino, a chieftain in the Pastaza River Basin, told Reuters that protesters were no longer occupying company installations. A statement by the leaders of 16 villages that took part in the protests said the protest would end.

The government also promised villagers that it would start implementation of an emergency health care program in the next 10 days and would form a commission to direct environmental cleanups in Block 192, the ministry said.

Frontera will be summoned to take part in dialogue sessions with villagers to discuss their needs, it added.

Frontera has said that the protest did not have a material impact for the company.
House Republicans, straining to make last-minute changes to their far-reaching tax proposal, on Tuesday delayed the rollout by a day after they failed to finalize the details.

The plan pushed by President Donald Trump and Republican leaders in Congress is a top legislative priority. The details originally were to be unveiled on Wednesday, but that was delayed until Thursday, a senior GOP aide said Tuesday night. The aide spoke on condition of anonymity because the individual wasn't allowed to publicly discuss the schedule.

The tax-writing House Ways and Means Committee had worked throughout the day and evening to produce a plan for the first overhaul of the nation's tax code in three decades.



Although they had settled on some key details  such as a cut in the corporate tax rate to 20 percent and maintaining the top personal income tax rate for the wealthy of 39.6 percent  other elements still had to be resolved.



Trump has intensified his lobbying for the nearly $6 trillion tax overhaul plan, seeking a major legislative achievement after the collapse of the health care repeal. The president predicted a grand signing ceremony before Christmas at the biggest tax event in the history of our country.



The plan originally unveiled by Trump and congressional Republicans called for shrinking the number of tax brackets from seven to three, with respective tax rates of 12 percent, 25 percent, 35 percent. That plan drew immediate criticism from Democrats, who complained it was too favorable to the wealthy and undermined Trump's rhetoric about it benefiting the middle class.

The head of the House tax-writing committee, Rep. Kevin Brady of Texas, did not answer directly when he was asked  while leaving House Speaker Paul Ryan's suite Tuesday  whether the drop in the corporate tax rate would happen immediately. But, he said: I want as much growth right from Day One as I can.
A top Ukrainian official says Russia should provide U.S. investigators with access to former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych, who fled to Russia after his rule was toppled in Ukraine's Maidan revolution of 2014.

Dmitry Shymkiv, the deputy head of the administration of President Petro Poroshenko, said access to Yanukovych could prove vital to an understanding of the work done for Ukraine by indicted former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort.

Shymkiv, whose role is similar to that of deputy chief of staff in the United States, spoke to VOA in response to comments made Tuesday by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who said Washington should further investigate Ukrainian links to Manafort.

Kyiv "has information" about the 2016 U.S. presidential election, Lavrov told a news briefing, according to reports by Russian news outlet RIA.

U.S. investigators probing Russian efforts to interfere in the 2016 U.S. election  which Moscow denies having made  charged Manafort and a business associate on Monday with conspiracy to launder money and other crimes. The charges, some going back more than a decade, center on Manafort's work in Ukraine, specifically for Yanukovych's pro-Russian Party of Regions.

Yanukovych, who fled to Crimea just before it was annexed by Russian forces in February 2014, was not seen again until he held a news conference three weeks later in Rostov-on-Don, Russia.

Ukrainian TV channel TSN has reported that Yanukovych lives in the Rostov region, although Russian officials have never confirmed this.

"We need to understand ... how all of the [ties between Manafort and top Ukrainian officials] took place," said Shymkiv, secretary of the National Reform Council to the president of Ukraine and deputy head of Poroshenko's administration.

Russia, however, has not cooperated with a Ukrainian government arrest warrant for Yanukovych, who stands accused of the "mass murder of peaceful citizens" during the uprising against his administration. Similarly, Shymkiv suggested in a Skype interview with VOA's Ukrainian service, Russian officials would be unlikely to accommodate a U.S. request for Yanukovych to testify in the Manafort trial.

"I believe Yanukovych should be interrogated by the U.S. government, but I don't think the Russians would let the Americans do that," he said, laughing. "But it is absolutely a valid claim, because Yanukovych was the leader of Ukraine's oligarchical structure, the leader of the corrupted vertical that was built in Ukraine since his rise to power in 2012 and up to the 2013 revolution of dignity."

Watch: Ukraine, Russia Urge U.S. to Expand Manafort Probe



In his remarks Monday, Lavrov suggested that the charges over Manafort's work for Ukraine indicated that the U.S. investigators had so far been unable to make a case against Russia, which has been the main focus of the probe headed by special counsel Robert Mueller.

"He has been working for several months. Accused two former Trump campaign managers of what they were doing on behalf of Yanukovych. Even though they were looking for a Russian trace," Lavrov said, according to the Russian news outlet Sputnik International.

Lavrov also hinted at a Ukrainian role in last year's U.S. presidential election, saying Ukrainian officials "can say a lot about their position toward the candidates during the 2016 presidential campaign."

Shymkiv said U.S. investigators should explore whether Manafort was connected to the confiscation of revenue from some Ukrainian businesses while he was serving as a consultant to Yanukovych's party.

"There was very aggressive behavior toward Ukrainian business people, and there was a strong extraction of money from different industries, so [Yanukovych] should be interrogated in this case, or at least be a subject of the case, because Paul Manafort was hired by the Party of Regions, which represented Mr. Yanukovych," said Shymkiv.

Ukraine focus on lobbying

Asked for his reaction to the Manafort indictment, Shymkiv, who is tasked with overseeing post-Maidan reforms under Poroshenko's administration, said that while U.S. news coverage has been dominated by the money-laundering and tax-evasion charges, Ukrainians are focused on U.S.-based lobbying groups in the employ of various Ukrainian politicians.

"[The Manafort trial] puts a significant light on a lot of lobbying activities in the U.S. from international governments or some political forces," he said. "We've seen many Ukrainian politicians hiring lobbyists for different activities  creating, for example, fake hearings in the Congress.

"We appreciate American journalists who investigated it and showed how fake it is. But it is important that through the interrogation of Manafort by U.S. law enforcement agencies, we might get some additional insight into corruption practices, or other similar activities, which were happening in Ukraine during the Yanukovych regime," Shymkiv added. "This can help Ukrainian law enforcement agencies build stronger cases on convicting some Ukrainian individuals."

Ukrainian prosecutors, he noted, are willing to remain in touch with U.S. Justice Department officials.

"As this Manafort case evolves, there will be more stories and more disclosures taking place," he said.

Manafort, who served as Trump's campaign manager for about two months in the summer of 2016, was forced to resign after reports surfaced about his financial relationship with Yanukovych.

This story originated in VOA's Ukrainian service.
The United States voted Wednesday against ending its nearly 60-year-old economic embargo on Cuba at the U.N. General Assembly.

The shift back to a no vote, came a year after Washington abstained for the first time under former President Barack Obamas administration, which was working to normalize ties with Havana at the time. Obamas efforts included making an historic trip to the island nation and reopening an embassy there.

No doubt there will be some here who do not understand how we can take such opposite positions, separated by just 12 months, U.S. Ambassador Nikki Haley told the General Assembly.

She then went on to say that as long as the Cuban people are deprived of rights and freedoms, the United States would not allow trade revenue to prop up the dictatorial regime.

Symbolic Vote

For the past 26 years, the U.N. General Assembly has held an annual vote condemning the economic, commercial and financial blockade, which was imposed during the Cold War. The United States is traditionally isolated, with only Israel joining it in opposition.

That was the case again this year, with 191 countries supporting ending the embargo and only the United States and Israel opposing it.

The United States does not fear isolation in this chamber or anywhere else, Haley said. As long as we are members of the United Nations, we will stand for respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms that the member states of this body have pledged to protect, even if we have to stand alone, she said.

She criticized the annual vote as political theater, noting that the General Assembly does not have the power to end the embargo, only the U.S. Congress does.

Haley then went on to address the Cuban people directly, saying many of them were hopeful about the opening up of bilateral relations and that U.S. friendship towards them would not change.

What you probably dont know is that your government responded to this gesture of good will, not by joining in the spirit in which it was offered, but by expanding its politically motivated detentions, harassment, and violence against those who advocate for political and economic freedom in Cuba, Haley said.

Strange sonic attacks

President Donald Trump has blamed Cuba for mysterious sonic attacks that sickened and injured 24 U.S. diplomats and others earlier this year in Havana. U.S. investigators still do not know exactly who and what caused the injuries, but 15 Cuban diplomats were expelled from Washington in retaliation.

Cubas foreign minister, Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla, dismissed Trumps charges, saying of the administration, they lie when they talk of attacks or incidents. He noted that the Americans lack the slightest proof and that the investigations have not finished.

Without any conclusions from on-going investigations available, the U.S. government has adopted new political measures against Cuba which further tighten the blockade and affect bilateral relations as a whole, he said referring to steps taken by President Trump in June that include new travel restrictions.

Of the embargo, Rodriguez warned that Trump would be one more (U.S.) president implementing a policy that means a return to the past.

U.N. member states overwhelming support lifting the embargo, saying it is the main obstacle to Cuba's economic and social development.
Uzbeks condemned Tuesday's terror attack in New York City, saying it does not represent who they are. But there also was a warning that more attacks could follow from fundamentalists who have been radicalized by repression at home or have been unable to assimilate after moving to the United States.

"We deplore what happened in New York," said Norkhoja Sodiqov of the Vatandosh Uzbek-American Federation in New York. "This act of terror does not represent who we are as Uzbeks. We are peace-loving, hardworking and compassionate people, who are here because we want a better life."

Sayfullo Saipov, 29, who moved from Uzbekistan to the United States in 2010, was identified as the man who drove a truck down a pedestrian and bicycle path in Manhattan, killing at least eight people and injuring others.

"He did this in the name of ISIS, and along with the other items recovered at the scene was some notes that further indicate that," said John Miller, deputy commissioner of Intelligence and Counterterrorism of the NYPD, using an acronym for Islamic State. "He appears to have followed almost exactly to a 'T' the instructions that ISIS has put out in its social media channels before with instructions to their followers on how to carry out such an attack."

WATCH: Acquaintance Speaks Out about Suspect

Gulnoza Said, a journalist and researcher for the Committee to Protect Journalists, is one of many Uzbeks who call New York City their new home. She says the community is shocked and saddened by the attack.

"We are all still processing the news and trying to understand," she told VOA.

Said is among the Uzbeks who live in what she calls a peaceful community of people from many backgrounds in Brooklyn; there are other pockets of Uzbeks in Queens, Manhattan and New Jersey, where Saipov resided.

Said had just returned home from trick-or-treating with her son, both dressed as vampires, when she turned on the TV and heard about the attack.

"It's a terrible tragedy," Said said. "We are shocked, first by the news there was such an attack in NYC and, second, that it was carried out by an Uzbek man.

"We all condemn this attack. It is something that should never happen, not in New York," she said, adding that New Yorkers won't be cowed. "New Yorkers are tough. They are not scared easily. Life will go on."

'Unprepared for a new life'

Sukhrobjon Ismoilov, a lawyer and financial adviser who moved to New York from Uzbekistan five years ago, said he has worked with Central Asians who were persecuted for their religious practices. He said he has been asked repeatedly about what could have driven people from that part of the world to choose a path like Saipov's.

"I think one of the major reasons could be radicalization and marginalization due to several factors," Ismoilov said, citing repression that dates back to before the breakup of the Soviet Union. "Some of them are fully unprepared for a new life here."

He cited language barriers that lead some people to stick with other immigrants from the same country, so they don't embrace local society and traditions. That leads to domestic violence and divorces, he said, while some send their children back to their native country rather than having them raised in the United States.

Ismoilov worries that the attack could be used by President Donald Trump's administration to crack down on immigration. Uzbekistan is not on Trump's list of countries for which immigration has been halted, but that could change. He urged fellow Uzbeks to watch out for individuals who might show signs of radicalization.

"I think the governments of the U.S. and Central Asia, particularly Uzbekistan, should be ready for seeing several more such events coming in the nearest future," Ismoilov said. "There are still some more fundamentalists who were either were marginalized or radicalized."

He urged Uzbeks to "keep their eyes open and their ears open" and report such people to U.S. authorities, pointing out that about 1,500 Uzbeks who went to fight in Syria are going home or going to fight in other countries.

VOA Uzbek contributed to this report
Medics and a Yemeni health official say at least 26 people have died in an airstrike in northwestern Yemen.

The airstrike Wednesday hit a hotel and neighboring market in Saada province, which is located near the border with Saudi Arabia.

Houthi rebels, who took control of Yemen's capital three years ago, blamed a Saudi-led coalition for conducting the airstrike.

Rights groups have accused the coalition of bombing civilian areas since launching its operation in support of Yemen's internationally recognized government in March 2015.
The three countries named in the indictment of former Trump Campaign Chairman Paul Manafort span three separate continents but all have something in common: They're island nations with a legacy of relatively lax oversight of offshore entities and a known history of being a conduit for suspicious money.

Special counsel Robert Mueller has accused Manafort and his business partner Rick Gates of using shell corporations located in the three countries  Cyprus, the Seychelles, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines  as a way to hide assets and keep from paying taxes.

"They don't ask questions about what their banks know about their customers, which is a basic requirement to stop money laundering," said Ted Truman, a fellow at the Peterson Institution for International Economics and an expert on money laundering.

The Mediterranean island country of Cyprus plays an outsized role in Manafort's indictment. The country is listed as the domicile for a dozen of Manafort's shell corporations and the alleged source of millions of dollars in wire transfers in and out of the country.

Cyprus has been a focus for anti-money laundering officials going back to the 1990s, but is probably best known for its alleged ties to money flowing in and out of Russia. The country had been accused in the past of providing lax oversight to potential money laundering, as well as providing ways for Russian and Ukrainian officials to hide assets abroad.

"Russia has become the primary source for investors in Cyprus, usually through banks or companies set up as trusts. Most of the money that goes into Cyprus is then invested back in Russia," said James S. Henry, an economist and former journalist with the Tax Justice Network, which studies offshore tax havens.

Cyprus and Russia have a favorable tax treaty, which has resulted in Cyprus having a cottage industry of bankers and lawyers on the island who primarily exist to set up shell corporations and trusts to help money move in and out of Russia, Henry and other experts said.

Its role has drawn scrutiny from other members of the European Union as well, particularly after Cyprus joined the bloc in 2004. When Cyprus suffered its own financial crisis in 2012 and 2013 and requested a bailout, German intelligence reportedly estimated that Russians had roughly $26 billion in deposits in Cypriot banks. EU authorities, worried that any bailout package would ultimately be going to help out Russian multimillionaires, insisted on tough anti-money laundering laws and regulations as part of any rescue deal. Cyprus banking officials have in recent years started taking tough action and asking uncomfortable questions to suspicious clients, desperate to rebuild confidence in the banking system."

"Since its entry into the European Union in 2004 and especially after the 2013 banking collapse, Cyprus has done much to clean up its act," said Sofronis Clerides, professor and chair of the economics department at the University of Cyprus. "Unfortunately, it takes a long time for the stigma to wash off."

Federal prosecutors became interested in Manafort's activities in Cyprus years ago as part of a broad investigation to recover stolen Ukrainian assets after the ouster of pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych there in early 2014. No U.S. criminal charges were filed in that case.

It's worth noting that setting up foreign companies and bank accounts is not illegal, however using them to evade taxes or hide proceeds from ill-gotten gains is. Manafort and his business partner pleaded not guilty in district court Monday.

The Seychelles

The other two countries in the Manafort indictment play decidedly smaller roles in both Manafort's alleged operations and international money laundering overall.

Located at least a thousand miles from any major continent in the middle of the Indian Ocean, the Seychelles is primarily used by French and African investors as a place to discreetly park money. The country was repeatedly named as a domicile for offshore tax havens in last year's Panama Papers investigation.

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

While not historically an offshore tax haven like the Bahamas or the British Virgin Islands, the Caribbean island nation Saint Vincent and the Grenadines recently has been considered an at-risk place for money laundering. In the indictment, Manafort allegedly had at least two offshore corporations based in the Grenadines.

The Financial Action Task Force, an international watchdog organization for money laundering, placed Saint Vincent and the Grenadines on its so-called "black list" back in 2000 for its lack of money laundering controls, but it was taken off that list a few years later. The Tax Justice League listed Saint Vincent as one of the more secretive places to park money.

Delaware

There's a fourth country worth noting that gets listed repeatedly in the Manafort indictment: the United States, particularly the state of Delaware. Investors and companies have long used Delaware as a place to set up shell corporations to take advantage of Delaware's loose corporate regulations. Manafort himself allegedly had at least nine corporate entities set up in Delaware.
Democratic U.S. senators introduced a bill on Tuesday they said would prevent President Donald Trump from launching a nuclear first strike on North Korea on his own, highlighting the issue days before the Republican's first presidential trip to Asia.

The measure would stop Trump, or any U.S. president, from launching an attack on North Korea, or spending any money on a military strike, without congressional approval, unless North Korea has first attacked the United States.

Tensions between Washington and Pyongyang have been building after a series of nuclear and missile tests by North Korea and bellicose verbal exchanges between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

The CIA has said North Korea could be only months away from developing the ability to hit the United States with a nuclear weapon, a scenario Trump has vowed to prevent.

"I worry that the president's enthusiasm will not be checked by the advisers around him," Democratic Senator Chris Murphy, the legislation's lead sponsor, told reporters on a conference call.

Some Republicans have also expressed concern about Trump's rhetoric, but none co-sponsored the bill, which is backed by seven Democrats and Senator Bernie Sanders, an independent.

Republicans control majorities in both the Senate and House, and there has been no indication that congressional leaders would allow a vote. Similar measures introduced earlier this year have also failed to advance.

However, backers said they might try to pass it later this year by introducing it as an amendment to legislation such as a as a must-pass spending bill.

"I have confidence that if this came to a vote on the floor of the Senate, it would prevail," Murphy said.

Lawmakers have been trying to take back more control over foreign policy from the White House.

Congress passed a bill in July barring the president from lifting sanctions on Russia without lawmakers' approval, and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Monday held a hearing on a new authorization for the use of military force, or AUMF, to exert some authority over the campaign against Islamic State and other militant groups.

At that hearing, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis said Trump does not have the authority to use force against North Korea without an imminent threat, but they did not define what such a threat would be.
November

Tue 15: Jam session @ Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. House trio: Stu Collingwood, Paul Grainger, Sid White.

Wed 16: Vieux Carre Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.

Wed 16: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Rehearsal session (open to the public).

Wed 16: 4B @ The Exchange, North Shields. 7:00pm.

Wed 16: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm.

Thu 17: Vieux Carre Jazzmen @ The Holystone, North Tyneside. 1:00pm.

Thu 17: Student Performances @ King's Hall, Newcastle University. 4:00pm. Free. Inc. Jacob Egglestone (guitar) a regular Black Swan jam session participant.

Thu 17: Mo Scott Band @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Thu 17: Errol Linton Band + Michael Littlefield & Scott Taylor @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Blues.

Thu 17: Tees Hot Club @ Dormans Club, Middlesbrough. 9:00pm.

Fri 18: TJ Johnson @ Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. 7.00. Solo piano. SOLD OUT!

Fri 18: John Settle's Vibe-ology @ Bishop Auckland Town Hall. 1:00pm. 7.00.

Fri 18: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.

Fri 18: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. 5.00.

Fri 18: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms, Monkseaton. 1:00pm.

Fri 18: Castillo Nuevo @ Revolucion de Cuba, Newcastle. 6:00pm.

Fri 18: Elkie Brooks @ Fire Station, Sunderland. 7:30pm.

Fri 18: Abbie Finn Trio @ Traveller's Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm.

Fri 18: Haggis Horns @ Hoochie Coochie, Newcastle. 9:00pm.

Sat 19: TJ Johnson @ St Augustines Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm. 10.00. Solo piano.

Sat 19: Shunyata Improvisation Group @ The NewBridge Project, Shieldfield Centre, Newcastle. 2:00-4:00pm. Free (donations). Multi-media workshops (music improvisation/poetry/drawing) starting at 10:00am. Book at: www.thenewbridgeproject.com.

Sat 19: East Coast Swing Band @ The Exchange, North Shields. 7:00pm.

Sat 19: Film: Shove-it - the Xero Slingsby Story @ the Jam Jar Cinema, Whitley Bay. 7:30pm.

Sat 19: Durham University Big Band + Leeds University Union Big Band @ St Oswald's Church, Durham DH1 3DQ. 7:30pm (7:00pm doors). Tickets: 8.50., 5.00.

Sun 20: Vieux Carre Hot 4 @ Spanish City, Whitley Bay. 12 noon.

Sun 20: Film: Shove-it - the Xero Slingsby Story @ the Star and Shadow Cinema, Newcastle. 1:00pm.

Sun 20: Foundry Jazz Ensemble @ The Exchange, North Shields. 3:00pm.

Sun 20: Paul Wilson Quartet @ Tyne Bar, Newcastle. 4:00pm. Blues band.

Sun 20: Groovetrain @ Hoochie Coochie, Newcastle. 5:30pm.

Sun 20: Milne-Glendinning Band @ Three Tanners Bank, North Shields. 6:00pm.

Sun 20: Dean Stockdale Trio @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Dean Stockdale (piano), Ben Crosland (bass), Dave Tyas (drums). Change of line-up owing to bereavement.

Mon 21: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.

Mon 21: Zoe Gilby Trio @ Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. Blaydon Jazz Club.
drugmakers

Pfizer profit doubles on higher sales

Pfizer doubled its third-quarter profit, thanks to slightly higher sales, lower one-time charges and reduced spending on production and administration. The drug giant edged past Wall Streets profit expectations and improved its 2017 financial forecast.

The maker of Viagra and pain treatment Lyrica on Tuesday said it will decide next year whether to sell or spin off its consumer health business, which sells products including ChapStick, Centrum vitamins and Advil pain reliever.

The New York company has been down this road before. In 2006, it sold a stable of popular consumer products  including Listerine, Nicorette, Visine, Sudafed and Neosporin  to rival Johnson & Johnson for $16.6 billion. Many analysts called that move a mistake. Just three years later, Pfizer ended up back in the consumer business with Advil, Anacin, Preparation H and other well-known brands when it bought rival drugmaker Wyeth for $68 billion.

In the latest period, Pfizer Inc. reported a third-quarter profit of $2.84 billion, or 47 cents per share, up from $1.36 billion, or 22 cents per share, in 2016s third quarter. Excluding one-time items, net income came to $4.06 billion, or 67 cents per share.

Meanwhile, Pfizer posted higher sales for most of its key new drugs, including cancer medicines Ibrance and Xtandi, Xeljanz for rheumatoid arthritis and Eliquis for preventing strokes and blood clots. Top seller Prevnar, a vaccine against ear, bloodstream and other pneumococcal infections acquired in the Wyeth deal, saw sales dip 1 percent to $1.52 billion, but overall, the companys key segment selling newer, patent-protected medicines posted an 11 percent increase in revenue, to $8.12 billion.

Sales from Pfizers essential health business  mostly older drugs facing generic competition  fell 12 percent to $5.05 billion. They were hurt by manufacturing problems dragging on at its Hospira unit, causing U.S. shortages of injected drugs.

 Associated Press

INSURERS

Aetna profit rises, revenue declines

Health insurer Aetna did not provide any hints on reported merger talks with CVS Health when discussing quarterly results on Tuesday and laid out obstacles to 2018 earnings growth.

The company reported a better-than-expected third-quarter profit despite a decline in revenue related to a scaling-back of its Affordable Care Act individual insurance business, on which Aetna expects to lose about $200 million this year.

Aetna said it expects member medical spending to stay low this year, a trend that has benefited health insurers and dragged down hospital revenue, and that the moderated spending would likely continue into 2018.

Aetna chief executive Mark Bertolini started the call by declining to comment on rumor or speculation, referencing last weeks reports that CVS Health offered to buy Aetna for more than $200 per share, or more than $66 billion.

Bertolini said that the company would make a decision about the contract internally by the end of this year and a public decision by mid-2018.

The company said net income rose 39 percent to $838 million. Revenue dipped 5 percent to about $15 billion, partly due to Aetna's reduced presence in the Affordable Care Act business.

 Reuters

Also in Business

ExxonMobil settled air pollution violations with the Trump administration by paying a $2.5 million civil penalty and promising to spend $300 million on pollution-control technology at several plants along the Gulf Coast. Federal officials said Tuesday that the settlement will prevent thousands of tons of future pollution, including cancer-causing benzene, from eight petrochemical plants in Texas and Louisiana.

BP will become the first major European oil and gas company to resume share buybacks since the 2014 price slump, a sign years of austerity have paid off. Tuesday's surprise announcement came as the British oil company reported a doubling in third-quarter profit. The oil major reported third-quarter underlying replacement cost profit, the company's definition of net income, of $1.87 billion.

 From news services

Coming today

10 a.m.: Institute for Supply Management releases its manufacturing index for October.

10 a.m.: Commerce Department releases construction spending for September.

Earnings: Honda, Facebook, Tesla.
Columnist

Living too large is often what brings criminals down.

Topping the news right now is the indictment of two Trump campaign officials as part of the governments investigation into Russias meddling in the 2016 election.

The indictment alleges former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort and his associate Rick Gates earned millions working as agents of the Ukrainian government. They are accused of hiding much of this money, which they allegedly used to pay for their luxurious lifestyles.

The indictment says, In order to hide Ukraine payments from United States authorities, from approximately 2006 through at least 2016, Manafort and Gates laundered the money through scores of United States and foreign corporations, partnerships, and bank accounts.

In such cases, it always comes down to follow the money.

Manafort is accused of laundering more than $18 million. Gates allegedly transferred more than $3 million from offshore accounts.

Im programmed to look for financial lessons in most things. So I was particularly interested in the details coming out about what Manafort and Gates did with their supposed ill-gotten gains. Heres what the indictment says:

Manafort used his hidden overseas wealth to enjoy a lavish lifestyle in the United States, without paying taxes on that income. Manafort, without reporting the income to his tax preparer or the United States, spent millions of dollars on luxury goods and services for himself and his extended family through payments wired from offshore nominee accounts to United States vendors.

Manafort allegedly withdrew money from offshore accounts to purchase multimillion-dollar properties. Some of his spending also allegedly included the purchase of four Range Rovers that cost a total of $210,705 and a Mercedes-Benz for $62,750; landscaping at a Hamptons property; and improvements to a house in Palm Beach, Fla. Manafort allegedly also spent $934,350 on antique rugs at a store in Alexandria, Va.; close to $850,000 on clothing at a mens store in New York between 2008 and 2014; and another half-million dollars at a clothing store in Beverly Hills, Calif.

Gates allegedly used money from offshore accounts to pay for his personal expenses, including his mortgage, childrens tuition, and interior decorating of his Virginia residence.

At this point in the investigation, whats the money lesson for those of us watching all of this unfold? How can we relate this to our everyday lives?

How about this: Why do so many people have a need to show their wealth?

One Princeton University economic researcher examined the need for people to flaunt their financial status. In a 2004 paper, Ori Heffetz wrote, In the signaling game we call life, when deciding upon a course of action, we consider not only the direct effects of our choice on our welfare, but also the indirect (or social) effects resulting from society observing our choice.

Ive often heard people say they look forward to the day they can buy a certain luxury-brand car. Practically speaking, the goal of a vehicle is to get you from point A to point B. So why does it matter so much about the make of the car if everything else is equal in terms of reliability and safety?

It matters to many because it signals theyve arrived at some destination point of social standing. Its a sign of success. People like to tell themselves their BMWs, Mercedes or Range Rovers are far superior to other vehicles. But on Consumer Reports 2017 list of the 10 most reliable cars, half are priced under $30,000.

Often the motivation behind a purchase is the desire to draw attention to the appearance of affluence. If a Timex watch tells the same time as a Rolex, why then are we impressed with the higher-priced timepiece?

In his 1899 book The Theory of the Leisure Class, American economist Thorstein Veblen coined the term conspicuous consumption to describe wealthy people who broadcast their bountiful lives and attempt to boost their reputations by purchasing expensive things.

Conspicuous consumption of valuable goods is a means of reputability to the gentleman of leisure, Veblen wrote.

Conspicuous consumption is now not limited to the rich. People who can least afford to show their wealth are doing so nonetheless. They are doing so at the expense of a secure retirement or having savings for a financial emergency.

In Proverbs, theres a scripture that can keep your conspicuous consumption in check.

It says, One person pretends to be rich, yet has nothing; another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth.

I wonder, if they are convicted, if Manafort and Gates will regret living so large despite the cost.

Readers may write to Michelle Singletary at The Washington Post, 1301 K St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20071 or michelle.singletary@washpost.com. To read previous Color of Money columns, go to http://wapo.st/michelle-singletary .
The Senate Judiciary Committee holds a hearing Tuesday concerning extremist groups and Russian meddling in the U.S. political system through social media with, from left, Colin Stretch, Facebooks general counsel; Sean Edgett, Twitters acting general counsel; and Richard Salgado, Googles director of law enforcement and information security. (Melina Mara/The Washington Post)

Follow The Posts tech blog, The Switch, where technology and policy connect.

Lawmakers grilled executives of three leading tech companies Tuesday in a wide-ranging and sometimes contentious hearing that focused on the ability and willingness of Silicon Valley to combat manipulation of U.S. elections by the Russians and other foreign actors.

The Senate hearing, the first of three to take place on Capitol Hill this week, represented a rare moment in the political spotlight for companies that, despite large lobbying teams in Washington, generally seek to avoid public scrutiny and potentially unpredictable confrontations. A growing number of lawmakers have vowed to expose Russian interference on U.S. technology platforms and work to prevent a recurrence through legislation.

The companies' testimony comes on the heels of revelations that the reach of the Russian-connected disinformation campaign on Facebook, Google, and Twitter was much larger than initially reported. As many as 126 million Facebook users may have seen content produced and circulated by Russian operatives. Twitter said it had discovered 2,752 accounts controlled by Russians, and more than 36,000 Russian bots tweeted 1.4 million times during the election. And Google disclosed for the first time that it had found 1,108 videos with 43 hours of content related to the Russian effort on YouTube. It also found $4,700 worth of Russian search and display ads.

With the threat of regulation looming, lawyers for the companies took pains to appear accommodating as they faced a host of questions about their businesses, their role in democratic societies, their efforts to be transparent and their ability to clamp down on malicious and nefarious content in past and future elections. They said that they were pouring significant new resources into combating foreign meddling but fell short of endorsing proposed legislation that would hold technology companies that publish political ads to the same disclosure standards as television and radio broadcasters.

The foreign interference we saw is reprehensible, Facebook General Counsel Colin Stretch said in his opening remarks. That foreign actors, hiding behind safe accounts, abused our platform and other Internet services to try to sow division and discord  and to try to undermine the election  is an assault on democracy that is directly contrary to our values and violates everything Facebook stands for.

Twitter acting general counsel Sean Edgett said that half the companys approximately 3,000 employees were engaged in fighting abuse of its service. Facebook said it had about 150 employees fighting terrorism alone.

The lawmakers appeared skeptical. Some expressed frustration with the pace of revelations, with Sen. Christopher A. Coons (D-Del.) decrying the companies slow, halting steps to come forward and help lawmakers understand what took place.

The most tense exchanges took place when the companies were asked to explain more about what their services can and cant do  and what capabilities they have to prevent abuse. Sen. John Neely Kennedy (R-La.) challenged Stretch with pointed questions.

Im trying to get us down from La-La Land here, Kennedy said. You have 5 million advertisers that change every year, every month, probably every second . . . You do not have the ability to know about every one of those advertisers, do you?

When Stretch acknowledged that advertisers probably can obscure their identities, Kennedy interrupted him to ask pointedly, Do you have a profile on me? Then he asked whether Facebook knew the movies that his fellow senator Lindsey O. Graham (R-S.C.) liked, the bars he visited and who his friends were.

Stretch replied that Facebook has systems to prevent such invasions of privacy. The answer is absolutely not. . . . We have designed our system to avoid exactly that.

After Kennedy sharply reminded Stretch that he was under oath, Kennedy turned his attention to Google attorney Richard Salgado. The senator demanded to know whether the company was essentially a newspaper, rather than merely a neutral platform, given its role in distributing news reports worldwide. The issue has important consequences because under federal law, technology platforms do not have the same legal responsibility for material they carry as traditional news sources that employ journalists.

We are not a newspaper. We are a platform that shares information, said Salgado, Googles director of law enforcement and information security.

Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) also took aim at Facebook, blasting the company for failing to discover the Russian online influence campaign sooner, especially given that many of the ads were paid for in rubles, the Russian currency. American political ads and Russian money, rubles  how could you not connect those two dots!

Stretch replied: In hindsight, we should have had a broader lens. There were signals we missed.

The most important unanswered question going into the hearing, experts said, is whether the tech companies have evidence that might substantiate allegations that the Russians colluded with President Trumps political campaign, which made Facebook in particular a focus of its election efforts in 2016. Trump and his campaign officials have repeatedly denied allegations of collusion, but questions about the role played by Russia are at the heart of investigations on Capitol Hill and by special counsel Robert S. Mueller III, whose first charges against Trump campaign figures were unsealed Monday.

Intelligence agencies concluded in January that the Russian government engaged in a vast campaign to meddle in the presidential election and tilt the outcome toward Trump.

The hearing, as well as Wednesdays hearings before the Senate and House Intelligence committees, comes amid pushes by Sens. Mark R. Warner (D-Va.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and John McCain (R-Ariz.) to pass new legislation forcing tech companies to disclose information about political ads sold and distributed on their networks.

The bill, dubbed the "Honest Ads Act," would require digital platforms with more than 50 million monthly viewers to create a public database of political ads purchased by a person or group that spends more than $500. The public file would include the ad, a description of the targeted audience, the number of views it generated, the date and time it ran, its price, and contact information for the purchaser.

The companies have tried to get ahead of the bill by introducing their own transparency initiatives. Facebook, and then Twitter and Google, have vowed to publish all federal election-related ads that name a candidate in a public database, as well as the amounts spent on those ads.

But when asked by Klobuchar whether they would support the bill, the executives avoided a direct answer.

We certainly support the goals of the legislation and would like to work through the nuances, Salgado said.

Were not waiting for legislation. . . . We stand ready to work with you, Stretch said.

The same goes for Twitter, Edgett said.

In an interview after the hearing, Klobuchar said she was disappointed that the tech companies declined to support the ad transparency bill.

Theyve been willing to expose a major problem, but they are still opposing a national solution, she said.

We are only 370 days away from the next federal election. And we cant just keep dialoguing about this anymore.
Evan Turk was inspired to write his book when he learned that the storytelling tradition in Morocco was disappearing. Turk and Emily Williamson are scheduled to appear at an event Saturday at the National Museum of African Art. (Bryan Andes)

Water plays an important part in the winners of this year's Children's Africana Book Awards in the young readers category. In "Gizo-Gizo!" (pronounced gee-zo gee-zo) by Emily Williamson, a greedy spider pollutes it, and in "The Storyteller" by Evan Turk, a boy uses it to defeat a powerful desert spirit.

The two books also explore the African art of storytelling, said Brenda Randolph, director of Africa Access and chairwoman of the award committee. Randolph founded the awards 25 years ago to help kids learn more about Africa through books.

There is a strong oral tradition in Africa, she said by phone from her office in Washington. Storytellers often perform for an audience of all ages.

A free family event Saturday at the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art gives you a chance to hear stories and meet Turk, Williamson and other Africana Award-winning authors.

Modern folk tale

Gizo-gizo means spider in Hausa (how-za), one of the languages spoken in Ghana. At the Hassaniyya Quaranic (Ha-sa-nee-ya Ker-an-ic) School in the city of Cape Coast, Williamson and her students wanted to write an original folk tale about a modern problem: pollution. They chose a spider as their main character because tricky arachnids often appear in African tales.



Emily Williamson collaborated with her students in Ghana on a folk tale about pollution. (John Schaidler/Zongo Story Project)

For three years, Williamson and her students wrote, illustrated and refined their story about a spider that throws trash and chemicals into a lagoon that is shared by many animals. But when he eats the lagoons sick fish and becomes sick himself, the spider decides to clean up his mess.

The book owes much to the students memories of listening to their grandparents telling them stories [and to] their everyday experiences and imaginations, said Williamson in an email from Cambridge, Massachusetts, where she is a graduate student in anthropology at Boston University.

Power of stories

Turk wanted to create a book about the power of stories when he visited Morocco in 2012 and learned that the storytelling tradition was disappearing.

Storytellers were mostly not telling stories in public anymore, having become too old to compete with the noise and music there, Turk said in an email from his home in Croton-on-Hudson, New York.

In The Storyteller, a thirsty boy receives a brass cup that fills with water whenever he listens to an old mans stories. When a giant djinn (jin), or spirit, from the nearby Sahara Desert stirs up a sandstorm, the boy retells the stories and uses their water-generating power to push back the djinn.

While researching the book, Turk traveled to Morocco several times and interviewed elderly storytellers. Moroccan art and craft inspired his illustrations. He learned from carpet weavers how to create page borders that resembled carpet patterns. To paint the water, he used a natural dye called indigo. Sugary green tea brushed over paper and held over a flame became the color of sand.

On his most recent research trip, Turk met with some young Moroccans in the city of Marrakesh. They are learning from master storytellers and want to keep the art form alive, Turk said. He interviewed them and watched them tell stories.

I was so excited, Turk said. These new storytellers will carry this powerful tradition into the future.

Correction: An earlier version of this story misidentified author Emily Williamson in photo captions.
Robot Sophia, who was granted Saudi citizenship last week, isnt required to cover up in public as women are. (REUTERS)

Women in Saudi Arabia are angry about the governments decision to grant citizenship to a female robot that, unlike them, does not need a male guardian or need to cover its head in public.

Social media was abuzz with questions about whether the robot, Sophia, which debuted at a technology conference in Riyadh last week, will be treated like women in the conservative kingdom.

It hit a sore spot that a robot has citizenship and my daughter doesnt, Hadeel Shaikh, a Saudi woman whose 4-year-old is not a citizen because the girls dad is Lebanese.

Women in Saudi Arabia who are married to foreigners cannot pass on citizenship to their children.

Shaikh is worried about the future of her daughter, who has only a residency card.

"I want her to feel welcomed even if I am not here," Shaikh told the Thomson Reuters Foundation by phone.

Saudi Arabia also requires a male family member to grant permission for a woman to travel.

Im wondering if robot Sophia can leave Saudi Arabia without her guardian consent! tweeted Saudi feminist Moudi Aljohani, who is based in the United States.

The discussion comes as Saudi Arabia has begun to increase womens rights. The kingdom announced in September that women will be allowed to drive.

 Reuters

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Dear Amy: I am a 30-year-old man. I used to live in New York City, where I worked as an architect.

I met a 22-year-old girl on Tinder two weeks ago in New York.

The first date went well, and we agreed to meet again after I returned from my two-week vacation in Sydney.

The thing I could not tell her was that I would not be taking a two-week vacation. I had to leave the United States because of my visa status, and now I have to live in Sydney until I get this matter resolved.

I would like to return to the United States after resolving this visa situation and see her.

Do you have any suggestions about my situation?

Aussie

Aussie: My suggestion is pretty simple: Don't lie. What you've chosen to lie about is a fairly pedestrian legal issue that most people have the capacity to understand.

Im not sure why you are acting like George Costanza, caught in an Art Vandelay deception, but if this young Tinder date has a brain in her head, she will quickly discern that you are not actually on a two-week vacation in Sydney. She will figure this out either because you tell her, or she will notice that you havent returned, tanned and rested from your holiday.

You could paper over your lie by telling her now that once you reentered your home country, you realized that your visa status was in trouble and that you will be in Australia for an indefinite period.

Tinder makes it very easy to quickly connect with people. This seems to accelerate the whole dating dynamic in all sorts of ways. Not only are people closing the deal much faster, but an ancillary result of this speed-matching is that people are also less interested in putting up with shenanigans. Because Tinder users know that there are always other people out there to meet.

Dear Amy: Being an unashamed animal lover, I recently spent a lot of money on a cat who was very ill and has since recovered because of the expensive treatment I paid for.

A frugal (cheap!) relative of mine heard of my expense and has been broadcasting it to the family, saying that Im foolish and extravagant.

Im no longer speaking to her, and in fact Ive stated that Id never spend near that amount on her if she was ill. Furthermore, I refuse to attend any family gathering that she would attend. So, Amy, am I wrong about this? Dont I have the right to spend what I want on my own animals?

Pet-Friendly Guy

Pet-Friendly Guy: Congratulations, you are in a catfight! And just like catfights involving actual cats, it is undignified and over something trivial.

You are being rude and inconsiderate. Your relative is also being rude and inconsiderate, but unfortunately by slinging insults, you now owe her an apology.

What she did was in poor taste. You could have taken the high road and responded with a simple chuckle and shoulder shrug, or my mothers favorite situation-diffusing line: Okay, and whats your point?

Any number of responses could have put this spat to bed, but you have chosen to escalate it  and are dragging your other relatives into your feud.

I also love my pets like family, and occasionally Ive thought about ditching my family events so I can hang out with the four-legged contingent. Thats when I remind myself that while my pets are lovely, they cant call me on my birthday, pick me up if I get a flat tire or invite me over for a nice dinner after a tough day.

Its time for the fur to stop flying, and for everyone to settle down and lick their wounds.

Dear Amy: Thanks for your response to Lonely Woman. She was a 28-year-old woman who was desperate to find love and was looking in all the wrong places.

She needs to join some organizations. If she wants to meet men, she should go where she will find the kind of men she wants to be with.

Avid Reader

Avid Reader: "Lonely Woman" might easily meet men by joining organizations, but first she has a lot of work to do. She seemed woefully out of touch when it came to her own issues. People can't succeed in their relationships unless they are at least somewhat secure and happy with themselves. That's why I suggested that this woman should take a break from dating.
NPRs senior management was aware of multiple harassment complaints by women against its top newsroom executive during the past two years but took no action to remove him from his job until news reports about his conduct appeared on Tuesday.

The public broadcasting organization formally severed ties on Wednesday with Michael Oreskes a day after The Washington Post reported that he had been accused of making inappropriate advances toward two women when he ran the New York Times's Washington bureau nearly two decades earlier.

NPR itself reported Tuesday night that a third woman, a 26-year-old assistant producer named Rebecca Hersher, had complained to NPR's management about a sexually oriented conversation that Oreskes initiated in October 2015.

NPRs chief executive, Jarl Mohn, and chief legal officer, Jonathan Hart, were aware of all three allegations against Oreskes but didnt act to remove him until Tuesday, after publication of The Post article.

Oreskess behavior, and the organizations response to it, has stirred a virtual rebellion in NPRs newsroom, particularly among female employees. In a draft petition signed Wednesday by dozens of women, including some of its best-known hosts and correspondents, the women wrote: We are profoundly concerned by how NPR has handled sexual harassment reports and senior managements insufficient efforts to create a workplace environment free of harassment and one that ensures equal opportunity for all employees.

The in-house mood is stunned, shocked, angry, Susan Stamberg, one of NPRs founding journalists, said Wednesday. Were trying to talk it through, and figure out effective responses.

Oreskes, 63, is among several journalists who have lost their jobs because of sexual-harassment allegations; the others include political commentator Mark Halperin and editor Leon Wieseltier. The rapid developments follow multiple accusations leveled against film mogul Harvey Weinstein and former Fox News host Bill O'Reilly. The surge in complaints has various industries grappling with how to deal with misconduct allegations that sometimes date back decades.

Current and former NPR employees said Oreskess misconduct was an open secret in the newsroom and expressed dismay that he was allowed to keep such a powerful job despite managements awareness of the accusations.

NPR officials, including Mohn, Hart and NPR board chairman Roger Lamay, either declined interviews or did not respond to The Posts requests for comment.

In a statement Wednesday, Oreskes said, I am deeply sorry to the people I hurt. My behavior was wrong and inexcusable, and I accept full responsibility. He said he was grateful to his colleagues for every minute Ive had to work with each of you. . . . Public radio matters so much and I will always be your supporter.

Mohn said in a statement Wednesday that he asked for Oreskess resignation because of inappropriate behavior. He added, Some have asked me if it took published news reports for us to take action. The answer is that it did not. We have been acting. Some of the steps were visible and others werent. We have a process in place and we followed that process.

The first complaint was lodged by Hersher seven months after Oreskes arrived at NPR in March 2015.

According to NPR spokeswoman Isabel Lara, Oreskes was formally rebuked after Hersher alleged that he had discussed his sex girlfriend during a business conversation with her. Lara said a warning was placed in Oreskess personnel file at the time and that Hersher was satisfied with the action. Hersher declined to comment on Wednesday.

The second complaint was in October 2016, when a woman alleged that Oreskes unexpectedly French-kissed her during a work meeting nearly two decades earlier when he was with the New York Times. The woman told The Post she was motivated to take her information to NPR by the disclosure of an Access Hollywood tape that showed then-candidate Donald Trump talking about groping women.

Mohn and Hart both spoke with Oreskes at the time about the womans allegation, Lara said. The matter was looked into and steps were taken, she said. She declined to say whether there were any disciplinary measures.

The third complaint came in mid-October from another woman who alleged that Oreskes had kissed her and put his tongue in her mouth while he worked at the Times. Around this time, the woman who had complained in 2016 reiterated her complaint, saying she was outraged that NPR permitted Oreskes to oversee coverage of the harassment allegations unfolding against Harvey Weinstein.

Hart and Mohn spoke to Oreskes again about the kissing allegations, Lara said. She again declined to describe the nature of the conversation or say whether any disciplinary action was taken against Oreskes. He remained NPRs editorial director.

In an interview on NPRs All Things Considered Wednesday, Mohn said that after the 2015 incident involving Hersher, We put him on notice that this could not occur again.

Addressing the incidents from the 1990s that were later brought to light, Mohn said: The important distinction here is first, that did not happen at NPR, it was not an NPR employee. It was at the New York Times and it occurred 20 years ago. Had that happened at NPR we would have had a very different reaction to it.

On Oct. 20, Mohn sent a memo to employees reiterating NPRs commitment to a workplace where everyone can do their best work in a safe and productive environment. He recited NPRs policies against harassment and its procedures for filing a complaint. Lara said NPR received no complaints after the memo was circulated. Oreskes continued to run NPRs newsroom.

But NPR acted swiftly after The Post published its article detailing accusations against Oreskes. Within minutes of its appearance on Tuesday, he was placed on indefinite leave. He was forced out on Wednesday.

Lara declined to draw a direct connection between the public disclosure of the allegations against Oreskes and NPRs actions against him. The organization took action, she said, because of the totality of [his] inappropriate behavior and his inability to lead the newsroom.

The newsroom discussion about Oreskes also includes alleged recent behavior. Women said it ranges from suggestions of inappropriate conversations with young female employees to what one described as spontaneous kissing.

One woman, 26 at the time, said Oreskes, then 62, peppered her with messages seeking to have dinner last year after she had contacted him for a media appearance on a program she helped produce a few years before. The woman, who worked for another media organization, said she agreed to do so on Feb. 26, 2016. During the course of their conversation, she mentioned that she sometimes daydreamed. She said Oreskes asked her, Do you daydream about sex?

My whole body went tense, she said. I couldnt believe what I was hearing. Im not sure what I said after that because I was so in shock.

She did not file a formal complaint.

NPR named Christopher Turpin, vice president of news programming and operations, as Oreskess replacement on an interim basis.

Read more:

NPRs top editor placed on leave after accusations of sexual harassment


Cabin, which began service in July, is a hotel on wheels that travels overnight between San Francisco and Los Angeles. Guests sleep in single-person pods with privacy curtains, cushy bedding and outlets. (Cabin)

On an overnight bus from San Francisco to Los Angeles, I asked a woman dressed in comfort clothes  a loose black tank top and pants  for advice on surviving the night.

Double up on sleeping pills, she suggested, before drawing the curtain to her bunk.

A man removing his shoes a la Mister Rogers seconded her suggestion. He then disappeared into his slot for the night.

I had brought only nonprescription aids, a meditation app and East Coast jet lag, but I wasnt too concerned: I have slept on buses before, upright, head swinging like a pendulum. Cabin was an upgrade, with horizontal mattresses and bedding that doesnt work a day job as a coat. I was hoping for full-on R.E.M. sleep but would happily settle for a seriously deep doze.

Cabin, a new start-up begun by two Stanford alumni, began service in mid-July as a third way to bounce between the NorCal and SoCal cities. The self-proclaimed moving hotel is an alternative to the 75-minute flight or 380-mile drive. (Amtrak does not depart directly from San Francisco.) A one-way ticket starts at $85, a budget option, especially if you factor in lodging.

I booked a bunk for September and chose a Sunday because, well, all the popular nights were sold out. Boarding begins at 10:30 p.m., half an hour before the doors close. The bus, which is painted gentlemans-club black with a crescent moon graphic, departs from a dimly lit parking lot near the Bay Bridge. Travelers dragging bags on wheels materialized from the darkness. A car pulled up, dropped off three people and peeled away. Halfway down the coast, passengers in a parallel universe were stepping into an identical double-decker bus.



The double-decker bus contains 20 individual bunks on the top level and two beds on the ground floor, plus seating areas for a morning hot-beverage service. (Cabin)

Accommodations are first-come, first-snooze. Guests can choose from 20 single-person private bunks stacked like freight containers on the second floor. The ground level contains two diner-style booths, an airline-size bathroom and two sleeping pods ideal for passengers with mobility issues, including navigating narrow stairs at highway speed.

A chipper guy with a flashbulb smile stood outside the bus checking off names on a clipboard, no ID requested. I asked Michael, our attendant for the first half of the trip, for suggestions on selecting a bed. He said the back of the bus is more stable but slightly louder and the front section is quieter but wiggles more. I selected a top bunk in the middle: moderate noise and movement, better window views, no feet near my face.

The sleeping chambers measure 75 to 77 inches in length, 25 inches in height and 26 to 31 inches in width. For context, the average size of a casket is 84-by-23-by-28. Fortunately, Michael said we could stash our carry-on bags in the pod without the mattress. Many of us also piled our belongings in a seating area by the stairs.

[In California, these minivans-turned-RVs take car camping to the next level]

The scene onboard was more lights-out on a school night than Saturday evening slumber party. Passengers immediately cinched themselves inside their cubbies. I briefly chatted with two repeat Cabiners. One was a teacher who lives in San Francisco on weekends and works in Los Angeles during the week. On her last trip down, she said, she slept soundly and the bus arrived early, so she didnt have to rush to make the 7:30 a.m. bell. The guy from Los Angeles, meanwhile, had taken the bus the night before and spent 17 whirlwind hours in San Francisco before reboarding. He didnt fare as well.

I was sleepy, he said, but I need a lot of sleep.

Michael joined us upstairs to officially welcome the group aboard. In a soothing nighty-night voice, he told us to release our worries and reminded us to breathe deeply. He informed us that we would sit for 20 minutes, so that we could acclimate to the bus. He also wanted to give the melatonin-spiked Dream Water time to kick in. (Each bunk comes with a grab bag of amenities, including bottled water, ear plugs and shoe covers.) He handed out tiny USB reading lights to the society of night owls.



Cabins sleeping chambers measure 75 to 77 inches in length, 25 inches in height and 26 to 31 inches in width. The service began in summer as an alternative to the 75-minute flight or 380-mile drive. (Cabin)

Passengers in the lower bunks can easily slide into bed. To reach the top cabin, however, I felt like a letter trying to insert myself into a tall mailbox slot. The uppers dont come with ladders, so I had to stand on my toes, lift my body with my arms and slither on my belly until I was securely on the mattress. Then I had to swivel and kick my legs in one direction and my head in the other. Once I was comfortably supine, my feet hit a hard object at the end of the bed: my book. Because of the low ceiling, I had to exit the pod to retrieve it, using the airspace over the aisle as a turning lane. On the return, I nearly toppled out.

I drifted off a few pages later but woke up at 2:22 a.m., when the cradle ceased rocking. We had stopped in Coalinga for a crew switch. I bolted awake two more times: first from shivering (I warmed up by putting on my coat and closing the air-conditioning vent) and later from a vivid Speed-like dream. The next time I popped open my eyes, I saw a pale blue sky and palm-tree trunks. (I couldnt sit up tall enough to see the fronds.) We had arrived in Santa Monica, nearly an hour early.

I wriggled out of bed and greeted the teacher, who was already packed up and heading to Starbucks to change into her work clothes. I found the Los Angeleno outside, a bit dazed. I asked him how he slept.

[In the Bay Area, the Grateful Dead will live  and twirl  forever ]

Not so good. It was bumpy, and I have a stuffy nose, he said. I am going to bed now, for real.

I went back inside the bus for a hot drink, one of the promised perks. The Cuisinart coffee maker was unplugged, and the attendant was a no-show. I asked the driver whether he knew how to work the machine. He didnt, although he acknowledged that he, too, could use a cup of coffee. (Co-founder Tom Currier later explained the mix-up: One of our backup Los Angeles attendants was unable to meet the vehicle in Santa Monica for morning beverage service. This was the first and only time that occurred, and weve already refined our internal process to mitigate any such instances.) A jogger peered through the open door and asked to use the toilet. Seconds later, he ran out, repelled by the messy bathroom.

Several people were still asleep upstairs. The driver said he would grant them 30 more minutes of shut-eye before rousing them. I tidied up my space and brought my bags down. Eventually, the lollygaggers bumbled down the stairs. I said farewell to the driver and headed to the beach. I had planned to take a nap, but I wasnt tired.

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Alexandria

These were among incidents reported by the Alexandria Police Department. For information, call 703-746-4444 or go to alexandriava.gov.

HOMICIDE

Howard St. N., 200 block, 8:45 p.m. Oct. 18. A homicide was reported.

ASSAULTS

Braddock Pl., 1300 block, 12:05 p.m. Oct. 24. An assault was reported. An arrest was made.

Cowling Ct., 5800 block, 10:10 p.m. Oct. 22. An assault was reported.

Custis Ave. E., unit block, 7:08 p.m. Oct. 21. An assault was reported. An arrest was made.

Edison St., 3600 block, 6:25 p.m. Oct. 20. An assault was reported.

Edsall Rd., 6100 block, 12:28 p.m. Oct. 22. An assault was reported. An arrest was made.

Edsall Rd., 6100 block, 10:15 p.m. Oct. 22. An assault was reported. An arrest was made.

Eisenhower Ave., 5000 block, 8:30 p.m. Oct. 23. An assault was reported. An arrest was made.

Executive Ave., 3800 block, 1:12 a.m. Oct. 18. An assault was reported.

Heritage Lane, 5100 block, 11:55 p.m. Oct. 17. An assault was reported. An arrest was made.

Madison St., 1300 block, 5:29 p.m. Oct. 23. An assault was reported.

Montgomery St., 800 block, 12:10 p.m. Oct. 19. An assault was reported. An arrest was made.

Mount Vernon Ave., 2400 block, 7:11 p.m. Oct. 20. An assault was reported.

Paxton St. N., unit block, 7 p.m. Oct. 19. An assault was reported.

Payne St. N., 600 block, 11:49 p.m. Oct. 19. An assault was reported.

Pickett St. N., 200 block, 3:19 a.m. Oct. 22. An assault was reported.

Reynolds St. S., 300 block, 3:23 p.m. Oct. 24. An assault was reported.

Richenbacher Ave., 5400 block, 6:31 a.m. Oct. 22. An assault was reported and property was stolen.

Russell Rd., 3800 block, 2:25 a.m. Oct. 24. An assault was reported.

Taney Ave., 5400 block, 6:10 p.m. Oct. 19. An assault was reported.

Terrett Ave., 2400 block, 8:19 p.m. Oct. 17. An assault was reported. An arrest was made.

Van Dorn St. S., 100 block, 11:05 a.m. Oct. 23. An assault was reported.

Whiting St. S., 200 block, 2:30 p.m. Oct. 18. An assault was reported. An arrest was made.

Whiting St. S., unit block, 12:10 a.m. Oct. 21. An assault was reported.

ABDUCTION

Iverson St. N., 900 block, 11:23 p.m. Oct. 21. Kidnapping was reported.

ROBBERIES

Kenmore Ave., 4800 block, 4:25 p.m. Oct. 21. A robbery was reported.

King St., 3300 block, 4:08 p.m. Oct. 20. A robbery was reported. An arrest was made.

Library Lane, unit block, 9:02 p.m. Oct. 18. A robbery was reported.

Van Dorn St. N., 900 block, 10:44 p.m. Oct. 21. A robbery was reported.

Van Dorn St. N., 2500 block, 10:20 a.m. Oct. 19. A robbery was reported. An arrest was made.

THEFTS/BREAK-INS

Alabama Ave., 3400 block, 11:13 a.m. Oct. 20. A theft was reported.

Armistead St. N., 400 block, 1:40 p.m. Oct. 20. A theft was reported.

Beauregard St. N., 300 block, 6:23 p.m. Oct. 24. A theft was reported.

Beauregard St. N., 2200 block, 7:40 a.m. Oct. 18. A theft was reported and property was damaged.

Bellefonte Ave. E., unit block, 4:08 p.m. Oct. 18. A theft was reported.

Braddock Rd. E., 400 block, 4:16 p.m. Oct. 21. A theft was reported.

Duke St., 4300 block, 1:05 p.m. Oct. 20. A theft was reported.

Duke St., 4400 block, 3:18 p.m. Oct. 18. A theft was reported.

Dulany St., 600 block, 10:43 a.m. Oct. 24. A theft was reported.

Executive Ave., 3800 block, 9:52 a.m. Oct. 23. A theft was reported.

Fairfax St. S., 300 block, 10:01 a.m. Oct. 20. A theft was reported.

Fayette St. N., 600 block, 12:20 a.m. Oct. 21. A theft was reported.

Highview Lane S., 1400 block, 9:47 p.m. Oct. 17. A theft was reported and property was damaged. An arrest was made.

Holmes Run Pkwy., 5300 block, 5:02 p.m. Oct. 20. A theft was reported.

Jefferson Davis Hwy., 3400 block, 7:24 p.m. Oct. 22. A theft was reported.

John Carlyle St., 800 block, 5:57 p.m. Oct. 21. A theft was reported and property was damaged.

Jordan St. S., unit block, 9:30 a.m. Oct. 21. Property was entered. An arrest was made.

Kenmore Ave., 4600 block, 11:30 p.m. Oct. 19. A theft was reported.

King St., 500 block, 1:56 p.m. Oct. 21. A theft was reported.

King St., 500 block, 5:52 p.m. Oct. 17. A theft was reported.

King St., 1600 block, 8:42 p.m. Oct. 20. A theft was reported.

Main Line Blvd., 2900 block, 9:39 p.m. Oct. 19. Property was entered.

Maskell St., 600 block, 6:38 p.m. Oct. 21. A theft was reported.

Mill Rd., 2300 block, 7:30 a.m. Oct. 20. Threats were reported.

Mount Vernon Ave., 2500 block, 1:16 p.m. Oct. 20. A theft was reported.

Patrick St. S., 700 block, 3:23 p.m. Oct. 23. A theft was reported.

Paxton St. N., 1000 block, 7:30 a.m. Oct. 23. A theft was reported and property was damaged.

Pelham St. N., 600 block, 8:01 p.m. Oct. 19. A theft was reported.

Potomac Ave., 1900 block, 11:35 p.m. Oct. 22. A theft was reported.

Ripley St. N., 700 block, 10:40 a.m. Oct. 20. A theft was reported.

Roundhouse Lane, 1400 block, 1:46 p.m. Oct. 21. A theft was reported.

Russell Rd., 3800 block, 11:20 a.m. Oct. 16. A theft was reported.

Saint Asaph St. N., 100 block, 5:03 p.m. Oct. 20. A theft was reported.

Seminary Rd., 4600 block, 2 p.m. Oct. 20. A theft was reported.

Seminary Rd., 5000 block, 3:25 p.m. Oct. 20. A theft was reported and property was damaged.

Van Dorn St. N., 2500 block, 7:54 a.m. Oct. 23. A theft was reported and property was damaged.

Van Dorn St. N., 900 block, 10:56 a.m. Oct. 21. A theft was reported.

Washington St. S., 1200 block, 2:23 p.m. Oct. 18. A theft was reported.

Whiting St. S., 200 block, 11:33 a.m. Oct. 19. A theft was reported.

Whiting St. S., 300 block, 2:45 p.m. Oct. 19. A theft was reported.

Wolfe St., 900 block, 3:30 p.m. Oct. 23. A theft was reported and property was damaged.

Wythe St., 1300 block, 10:37 p.m. Oct. 21. A theft was reported.

MOTOR VEHICLE THEFTS

Patrick St. S., 600 block, 6:13 a.m. Oct. 18. A vehicle was stolen.

Quaker Lane N., 1600 block, 5 p.m. Oct. 19. A vehicle was stolen.

Quantrell Ave., 5800 block, 12:13 p.m. Oct. 23. A vehicle was stolen.

Whiting St. S., 200 block, 1:30 a.m. Oct. 21. A vehicle was stolen.

VANDALISM

Armistead St. N., 400 block, 3:44 p.m. Oct. 19. Property was damaged.

Duke St., 4200 block, 4:22 p.m. Oct. 23. Property was damaged.

Gordon St. N., unit block, 4:23 p.m. Oct. 23. Property was damaged.

King St., 3300 block, 4:08 p.m. Oct. 20. Property was damaged. An arrest was made.

Lincolnia Rd., 6100 block, 5:27 p.m. Oct. 20. Property was damaged.

Myrtle St. E., unit block, 4:40 p.m. Oct. 19. Property was damaged.

Seminary Rd., 5000 block, 6 p.m. Oct. 19. Property was damaged.

Sheffield Ct., 5400 block, 8:07 a.m. Oct. 24. Property was damaged.

Arlington

These were among incidents reported by the Arlington County Police Department. For information, call 703-558-2222 or visit newsroom.arlingtonva.us.

ASSAULTS

Arlington Ridge Rd. S., 1900 block, 7:38 p.m. Oct. 19. Two people fought.

Carlin Springs Rd. S., 700 block, 2:18 a.m. Oct. 22. A group of males chased a male pedestrian and dragged him into the woods where he was threatened at gunpoint. The pedestrian fought back and fled from the scene. Police searched the area with no results. An investigation is ongoing.

Columbia Pike, 5500 block. An assault was reported.

Courthouse Rd. S., 1200 block, 10:50 p.m. Oct. 20. Two people fought.

Fern St. S., 2700 block, 10:08 p.m. Oct. 21. After an argument over a parking space, two men left and returned with a knife and made threats to the other driver. They both fled. No injuries were reported. An investigation is ongoing.

Frederick St. S., 800 block, 3 a.m. Oct. 21. Two people fought.

Glebe Rd. S., 1200 block, 12:46 a.m. Oct. 19. A man threatened and assaulted a male acquaintance inside a residence and then another altercation continued outside. The man fled. An Arlington man, 36, was charged.

Lee Hwy., 3700 block. An assault was reported.

Nelson St. S., 2100 block. An assault was reported.

Stafford St. N., 1300 block. An assault was reported.

Veitch St. N., 1200 block, 8:49 p.m. Oct. 20. An assault was reported.

Wakefield St. N., 800 block, 9:27 p.m. Oct. 20. An assault was reported.

Yucatan St. N., 2700 block. Harassment was reported.

Seventh Rd. S., 5100 block, 7:30 a.m. Oct. 18. An assault was reported.

12th Rd. S., 4200 block, 7:30 p.m. Oct. 18. Two people fought.

26th St. S., 1600 block. Harassment was reported.

STRANGULATION

Glebe Rd. S., 1200 block, 12:40 a.m. Oct. 19. Strangulation was reported.

INDECENT EXPOSURE

Fillmore St. N., 1200 block, 11:01 a.m. Oct. 19. A man was observed exposing himself outside of a business. A 61-year-old man, of no fixed address, was charged.

THEFTS/BREAK-INS

Abingdon St. N., 1300 block, 8:30 p.m. Oct. 19. Property was stolen from a vehicle.

Buchanan St. N., 2500 block, 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Oct. 18. Property was stolen from a residence entered by force. An investigation is ongoing.

Clarendon Blvd., 1900 block. A theft was reported.

Columbia Pike, 2600 block, 12:44 a.m. Oct. 19. A theft was reported.

Columbia Pike, 3700 block, 9:40 p.m. Oct. 19. Property was stolen from a vehicle.

Columbus St. and George Mason Dr. S. A theft was reported.

Courthouse Rd. S., 100 block. Property was stolen.

Crystal Dr., 1500 block, 6 p.m. Oct. 21. Property was stolen from a building.

Dittmar Rd., 4600 block, 3:52 p.m. Oct. 18. A resident returned home and found two females attempting to leave the residence with property. They dropped the items and fled in a vehicle driven by a male. An investigation is ongoing.

Glebe Rd. N., 300 block, 11:30 a.m. Oct. 20. A theft was reported.

Glebe Rd. S., 2900 block. A theft was reported.

Glebe Rd. S., 2900 block. Property was stolen from a vehicle.

Hayes St. S., 1000 block, 2 p.m. Oct. 20. Shoplifting was reported.

Hayes St. S., 1100 block. Two thefts were reported.

Hayes St. S., 1100 block. Shoplifting was reported.

Hayes St. S., 1200 block, 7:07 p.m. Oct. 20. Shoplifting was reported.

Jefferson Davis Hwy., 2300 block. A theft was reported.

Joyce St. S., 1200 block. A theft was reported.

Little Falls Rd., 5100 block, 10:11 a.m. Oct. 23. Responding to a report, police determined that from Oct. 14 to Oct. 16 property was stolen from a residence under construction. An investigation is ongoing.

Monroe St. N., 2100 block. A theft was reported.

Old Dominion Dr., 4300 block, 2 p.m. Oct. 20 to 1:15 p.m. Oct. 22. Property was stolen from a business entered by force. An investigation is ongoing.

Pollard St. N., 900 block, 1:15 p.m. Oct. 18. Property was stolen from a building.

Quincy St. N., 800 block. A theft was reported.

Quincy St. N., 1000 block, 1 p.m. Oct. 18. A theft was reported.

Quincy St. N., 2500 block, 5:30 a.m. Oct. 21. Change was stolen from four vehicles. An investigation is ongoing.

Quinn St. N., 1900 block, 7 p.m. Oct. 17 to 4:20 a.m. Oct. 18. Property was stolen from a business entered by force. An investigation is ongoing.

Stafford St. N., 1300 block, 1:20 p.m. Oct. 20. A theft was reported.

Tazewell St. N., 3800 block. A theft was reported.

Utah St. N., 1000 block. A theft was reported.

Vacation Lane, 4100 block. A theft was reported.

Wakefield St. N., 1500 block, 6 p.m. Oct. 19. Property was stolen from a vehicle.

Wilson Blvd., 1500 block. A theft was reported.

Wilson Blvd., 2700 block, 3 to 11 a.m. Oct. 22. Cash and property were stolen from a business entered by force. An investigation is ongoing.

Ninth Rd. S., 2500 block. A theft was reported.

25th St. N., 3500 block, 4 p.m. Oct. 20. Property was stolen from a vehicle.

27th Pl. N., 4800 block, 4:32 p.m. Oct. 18. Police responding to a report determined that from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 3, property was stolen from a residence.

MOTOR VEHICLE THEFTS

Columbia Pike and S. Dinwiddie St. A vehicle reported stolen was recovered.

Kenmore St. N., 2000 block, Oct. 19. A white 2000 Dodge Caravan was stolen.

Lee Hwy., 3400 block, 8 p.m. Oct. 18. A vehicle was stolen.

Little Falls Rd., 5100 block, Oct. 21. A 2016 Leonard aluminum utility trailer was stolen.

Pershing Dr. N., 4300 block, Oct. 17. An orange 2000 Yamaha motorcycle was stolen.

Randolph St. N., 600 block, Oct. 19. A white 2017 Mercedes C320 was stolen.

Spout Run Pkwy. and Lee Hwy., 11:18 a.m. Oct. 21. A vehicle was stolen.

Eighth Rd. S., 5400 block. A vehicle reported stolen was recovered.

17th Rd. and S. Glebe Rd., Oct. 18. A black moped was stolen.

26th St. N., 3800 block, 11:20 a.m. Oct. 21. A vehicle reported stolen at this location was recovered in Fairfax County. An investigation is ongoing.

VANDALISM

Fillmore St. N., unit block, 6:45 a.m. Oct. 18. Property was damaged.

Fort Scott Dr., 2700 block. A vehicle was damaged.

Harrison St. S., 300 block, midnight Oct. 19. Graffiti was reported.

Thomas St. S., 1100 block, 11:06 a.m. Oct. 19. Property was damaged.

Washington Blvd., 3400 block. A vehicle was damaged.

Wilson Blvd., 2700 block. A vehicle was damaged.

Wilson Blvd., 3900 block, 10:15 a.m. Oct. 22. A vehicle was damaged.

14th St. N., 4600 block. A vehicle was tampered with.

23rd St. S., 400 block. Property was damaged.

23rd St. S., 3500 block. Property was damaged.
Anne Arundel County

The following were among incidents reported by the Anne Arundel County police. For information, call 410-222-8050.

edgewater area

ROBBERY

Mayo Rd., unit block, 6:11 p.m. Oct. 26. Two males entered a fast-food restaurant and demanded cash from the register. One of the assailants implied he had a weapon. The employee did not comply and fled through a rear door. The assailants fled empty-handed in a light-colored vehicle.

GLEN BURNIE AREA

ROBBERY

Crain Hwy., 500 block, 8 p.m. Oct. 24. Two masked males entered a gas station and demanded cash at gunpoint. The clerk complied and the assailants fled.

Ritchie Hwy., 7300 block, 4:35 p.m. Oct. 26. Two men entered a retail gaming store and demanded cash and merchandise at gunpoint. The clerk complied and the assailants fled in a dark-colored vehicle.

MILLERSVILLE AREA

ROBBERY

Old Mill Rd., 600 block, 3:21 p.m. Oct. 26. Two males entered a wireless retail store, demanded cash and merchandise at gunpoint, and fled on foot.

SHADY SIDE AREA

WEAPONS DISCHARGED

Consett Ct. and Still Meadows Dr., 5:25 p.m. Oct. 24. Police responded to a report of gunshots and discovered four vehicles damaged by gunshots. Three males were seen fleeing the area.

SEVERN AREA

ROBBERY

Deerfield Dr. at Deerfield Cir., 9:09 a.m. Oct. 26. A man wearing a pink sweatshirt accosted a male pedestrian and robbed him of cash at knifepoint.

Annapolis

These were among incidents reported by the Annapolis Police Department. For information, call 410-268-9000.

ROBBERY

Riva Rd., 2600 block, 5:56 p.m. Oct. 26. Two males entered a sandwich shop and demanded cash at gunpoint. The employee did not comply and ran to the back of the store. The assailants fled empty-handed in a dark-colored vehicle.

THEFTS/BREAK-INS

Summerfield Dr., unit block, 11:20 p.m. Oct. 23. A person reported seeing a man enter two unlocked vehicles. Nothing was reported missing.

Hanson St., 1000 block, 6:30 p.m. Oct. 24 to 4:20 p.m. Oct. 25. A child's blue Mongoose mountain bike was stolen from the side of a residence.

MOTOR VEHICLE THEFTS

Old Solomons Island Rd., 200 block, 2-4:30 p.m. Oct. 24. A black 2001 Ford F550 flatbed tow truck was stolen.

Whiton Ct., 1800 block, 6 p.m. Oct. 20 to 7 p.m. Oct. 23. A 2005 Kawasaki ZX636 motorcycle was stolen.

Howard County

These were among incidents reported by the Howard County Police Department. For information, call 410-313-2236.

COLUMBIA AREA

ASSAULTS

Campus Dr., 5000 block, 3:45 p.m. Oct. 20. An acquaintance asked a man for a ride. When the driver declined, a second acquaintance pulled out a knife and assaulted the driver. No serious injuries were reported.

ROBBERY

Chatham Rd. N., 3300 block, 5 p.m. July 20. A 20-year-old Columbia man was arrested and charged with armed robbery, conspiracy to commit armed robbery and assault.

Harpers Farm Rd. and Cedar Lane, 2:51 p.m. Oct. 24. Two males accosted a teenage pedestrian and asked him for a dollar. When the teen pulled out his wallet, one of the males grabbed it and they fled. A 17-year-old Columbia male was arrested and charged with robbery. One of the assailants got away.

THEFTS/BREAK-INS

Beech Creek Dr., 10800 block, 4:10 p.m. Oct. 21. Sunglasses and a phone charger were stolen from a vehicle.

Cradlerock Way, 7000 block, 4-5 p.m. Oct. 20. Cash was stolen from a residence entered through an unlocked front door.

Dobbin Center Way, 6400 block, Oct. 24-25. Tools were stolen from a vehicle.

Early April Way, 8900 block, 7:56 p.m. Oct. 21. A license plate was stolen from a vehicle.

Stevens Forest Rd., 5700 block, 6-9:06 p.m. Oct. 22. An attempt was made to enter a residence by force. Nothing was reported missing.

Old Tucker Row, 5400 block, Oct. 24-25. A phone charger was stolen from a vehicle.

River Run, 6400 block, Oct. 24-25. A purse was stolen from a vehicle.

Summer Blossom Lane, 7500 block, 11:50 p.m. Oct. 24. A person reported that a male attempted to enter a neighbor's vacant house. He fled empty-handed.

Tamar Dr., 6200 block, 2:36 a.m. Oct. 22. A vehicle was entered. Nothing was reported missing.

Town Center Ave., 10000 block, 3:58 p.m. Oct. 20. Multiple vehicles were entered. Nothing was reported missing.

White Acre Rd., 9600 block, 3:13 p.m. Oct. 22. Cash was stolen from a vehicle.

VEHICLE THEFT

Dobbin Center Way, 6400 block, 10:01 a.m. Oct. 24. A 2016 Mazda 3 was stolen.

Hayload Ct., 5000 block, 5:19 p.m. Oct. 22. A 2010 Nissan Maxima was stolen.

ELKRIDGE AREA

THEFTS/BREAK-INS

Keeton Rd., 12:33 a.m. Oct. 22. A license plate was stolen from a vehicle.

Washington Blvd., 6500 block, Oct. 19-20. Power tools were stolen from a library under construction.

ELLICOTT CITY AREA

THEFTS/BREAK-INS

Coventry Court Dr., Oct. 19-20. Copper wire was stolen from a residence. No sign of forced entry.

MOTOR VEHICLE THEFTS

Baltimore National Pike, 8500 block, 5:28 p.m. Oct. 23. A 2017 Nissan Murano and a 2017 Nissan Rogue Sport were stolen from an automobile dealership.

JESSUP AREA

THEFT/BREAK-IN

Preston Ct., 8200 block, 8:43 p.m. Oct. 21. A duffle bag was stolen from a vehicle.

LAUREL AREA

ASSAULT

Ice Crystal Dr., 8400 block, Oct. 16. A 17-year-old Reisterstown male was arrested and charged with attempted first-degree murder, first- and second-degree assault, and reckless endangerment.

ROBBERY

All Saints Rd., 9100 block, 8:16 p.m. Oct. 23. A male entered a discount retail store with his face partially covered, implied he had a weapon, took cash from the register and fled.
Fliers saying its okay to be white were found taped to the exterior doors of a Maryland high school Wednesday morning, apparently as part of an effort to spark racial division.

The principal at Montgomery Blair High School in Silver Spring sent a letter home to families informing them that the signs were discovered on 10 doors at 5:45 a.m. and removed by staff before students arrived for classes.

We are taking this seriously and are investigating this incident, wrote Renay Johnson, the schools principal. Our research so far has indicated that this may be part of a concerted national campaign to foment racial and political tension in our school and community. The same flier was posted in other cities and communities this week.

Johnson described the school community as smart, diverse and inclusive and said it would not fall victim to attempts to divide us.

We are committed to providing a safe and welcoming environment for every student, the principals letter said.

Stickers bearing the same message were discovered Wednesday morning on light poles and electrical boxes in Cambridge, Mass., according to a report in the Boston Globe. Similar signs were found on the campus of Tulane University in New Orleans, and in Rocky River, Ohio.

The fliers appear to be part of an online campaign that is detailed on the Web forum 4chan. It directed that the posters should be displayed Halloween night on campuses and elsewhere, and discouraged vandalism.

At the University of Alberta in Canada, one of the posters appeared Tuesday outside the school's Native Studies department, according to a media report. That came a day after a racist jack-o'-lantern was left outside the same academic office.

Messaging or displays that target or marginalize any individuals or groups will not be tolerated, the president of the University of Alberta, David Turpin, said in a statement.
These were among incidents reported by the Loudoun County Sheriffs Office and the Leesburg, Middleburg and Purcellville police. For information, contact your police or sheriffs department.

ASHBURN AREA

THEFTS/BREAK-INS

Afton Terr., 43000 block, 7:57 p.m. Oct. 20. Two males and a female were observed rummaging through a vehicle and fleeing from the scene.

Barborsville Mansion Sq., 43000 block, 1 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 20. A laptop computer was stolen from a vehicle.

Belmont Ridge Rd., 22000 block, Oct. 20 to Oct. 23. Spare keys to buses were stolen.

Flora Springs Terr., 21000 block, Oct. 22 to Oct. 23. Property was recovered after items were stolen from a vehicle.

Ice Rink Plaza, 44000 block, 7 to 7:50 p.m. Oct. 20. A purse was stolen from a vehicle.

Ice Rink Plaza, 44200 block, 1:55 a.m. Oct. 20. Two males attempted to buy cigarettes from a store while a third male wearing a mask grabbed three boxes of electronic cartridges. All three males fled from the scene.

Muirfield Village Ct., 20000 block, Oct. 22 to Oct. 23. Cash was stolen from a vehicle.

Palmer Classic Pkwy., 19000 block, Oct. 22 to Oct. 23. A wallet, a briefcase and sunglasses were stolen from a vehicle.

Partlow Rd., 43000 block, 6:15 to 7:45 p.m. Oct. 22. A wooden flag was stolen from a workshop.

Presidents Cup Terr., 19000 block, Oct. 22 to Oct. 23. A backpack was recovered after it was reported stolen from a vehicle.

Trajans Column Terr., 43000 block, Oct. 19 to Oct. 20. Property was stolen from a vehicle.

Valhalla Sq., 20000 block, Oct. 22 to Oct. 23. Credit cards were stolen from a vehicle.

MOTOR VEHICLE THEFTS

Bristow Cir., 44000 block, 10 p.m. Oct. 21 to 8:30 a.m. Oct. 22. A light blue Toyota Avalon was stolen.

Maison Carree Sq., 22000 block, Oct. 19 to Oct. 20. A 2010 Honda CRV was stolen.

VANDALISM

Greenwich Sq., 43000 block, midnight to 5:30 a.m. Oct. 23. A truck was tampered with.

High Haven Terr., 22000 block, Oct. 20 to Oct. 22. A vehicle was tampered with.

Ivymount Terr., 20000 block, Oct. 23. Windows in a residence were damaged by a BB pellet.

Muirfield Village Ct., 20000 block, Oct. 22 to Oct. 23. A vehicle was tampered with.

Trajans Column Terr., 43000 block, Oct. 19 to Oct. 20. A vehicle was tampered with.

CHANTILLY AREA

MOTOR VEHICLE THEFTS

Tanner Lane, 25100 block, 7:10 p.m. Oct. 19. A vehicle reported stolen from Manassas was recovered at this location.

HAMILTON AREA

THEFTS/BREAK-INS

Hamilton Heights Ct., 17000 block, 1 p.m. Oct. 22 to 5:30 a.m. Oct. 23. A crossbow and hunting supplies were stolen from a truck.

Hughes St. S., unit block, Oct. 22 to Oct. 23. A laptop computer, video game systems and a backpack were stolen from a vehicle.

Saint Paul St., 100 block, Oct. 22 to Oct. 23. A chain saw, a leaf blower, a battery charger and a bicycle pump were stolen from a shed.

VANDALISM

Hughes St. S., unit block, Oct. 22 to Oct. 23. A vehicle was tampered with.

LEESBURG AREA

ASSAULTS

Coltsfoot Terr., 20000 block, 9:43 p.m. Oct. 21. An assault was reported.

Coltsfoot Terr., 20000 block, 10:14 p.m. Oct. 21. An assault was reported.

Curry Springs Pl., 500 block, 2:52 p.m. Oct. 25. Harassment was reported.

Glen Abbey Ct., 18200 block, 4:04 p.m. Oct. 20. Harassment was reported.

Heritage Way, unit block, 7:08 p.m. Oct. 24. A domestic verbal assault was reported.

Hogback Mountain Rd., 19900 block, 4:19 p.m. Oct. 21. An assault with an injury was reported.

Hogback Mountain Rd., 19900 block, 6:14 p.m. Oct. 21. An assault was reported.

Huntmaster Terr., 1100 block, 7:54 p.m. Oct. 23. An assault was reported.

Meadows Lane, 100 block, 4:42 p.m. Oct. 24. Two people fought.

Old Waterford Rd., 17600 block, 10:07 a.m. Oct. 23. Threats were reported.

Thornberry Sq., 43800 block, 10:29 p.m. Oct. 19. Harassment was reported.

Tonquin Pl., 700 block, 9 p.m. Oct. 24. Argument was reported.

Town Branch Terr., 200 block, 7:55 p.m. Oct. 23. Two people fought.

THEFTS/BREAK-INS

Curry Springs Pl., 500 block, 5:02 p.m. Oct. 24. Property was entered.

Fort Evans Rd., 200 block, 11:49 a.m. Oct. 19. Shoplifting was reported.

Hamilton Heights Ct., 17600 block, 6:28 a.m. Oct. 23. A theft was reported.

Hughes St. S., 100 block, 9:28 p.m. Oct. 23. A theft was reported.

Hughes St. S., unit block, 3:16 p.m. Oct. 23. A theft was reported.

Huntmaster Terr., 1100 block, 9:56 p.m. Oct. 23. A theft was reported.

Kalmia Sq., 500 block, 10:53 a.m. Oct. 19. Property was stolen from a vehicle.

Mizner Terr., 19900 block, 12:40 p.m. Oct. 20. A theft was reported.

Muirfield Village Ct., 20000 block, 6:36 a.m. Oct. 23. A theft was reported.

Oakview Dr., 100 block, 6:13 p.m. Oct. 24. Property was entered.

Old Waterford Rd., 300 block, 7:27 p.m. Oct. 23. Property was entered.

Saint Paul St. S., 100 block, 8:11 a.m. Oct. 23. A theft was reported.

Saint Paul St. S., unit block, 5:40 p.m. Oct. 23. A theft was reported.

Shropshire Ct., 18900 block, 10:22 a.m. Oct. 25. A theft was reported.

Smartts Lane, 900 block, 6:38 p.m. Oct. 19. A bicycle was stolen.

VANDALISM

Afton Terr., 43900 block, 7:57 p.m. Oct. 20. A vehicle was tampered with.

Bethpage Ct., 19800 block, 7:46 a.m. Oct. 25. A vehicle was tampered with.

Cattail Lane, 800 block, 12:41 p.m. Oct. 23. Property was damaged.

Gateway Dr., 700 block, 3:21 p.m. Oct. 23. A vehicle was tampered with.

Hamilton Heights Ct., 17600 block, 11:35 a.m. Oct. 25. A vehicle was tampered with.

Meadows Lane, 100 block, 9:13 p.m. Oct. 24. Property was damaged.

Muirfield Village Ct., 20100 block, 10:18 a.m. Oct. 23. A vehicle was tampered with.

Palmer Classic Pkwy., 19900 block, 8:57 a.m. Oct. 23. A vehicle was tampered with.

Plaza St. NE, unit block, 12:04 p.m. Oct. 24. Property was damaged.

Plaza St. NE, unit block, 5:55 p.m. Oct. 23. Property was damaged.

Ryder Cup Sq., 43600 block, 8:32 a.m. Oct. 23. A vehicle was tampered with.

Tantara and Harbor Hills Terr., 1:44 a.m. Oct. 21. A vehicle was tampered with.

PURCELLVILLE AREA

THEFTS/BREAK-INS

Chestnut Grove Ct., 18000 block, Oct. 19 to Oct. 20. Property was stolen from a vehicle.

Chestnut Grove Ct., 18200 block, 9 p.m. Oct. 19 to 7 a.m. Oct. 20. Cash was stolen from a vehicle.

Oak Green Lane, 37000 block, Oct. 19 to Oct. 20. Cash was stolen from two vehicles.

Oak Green Lane, 37000 block, Oct. 19 to Oct. 20. Change was stolen from a vehicle.

Oakridge Hamlet Pl., 18000 block, Oct. 19 to Oct. 20. A vehicle was entered and a garage door opener was used to enter the garage. Items were stolen from a refrigerator.

Oakridge Hamlet Pl., 18000 block, Oct. 19 to Oct. 20. Property was stolen from three vehicles.

VANDALISM

Oak Green Lane, 37000 block, Oct. 19 to Oct. 20. Two vehicles were tampered with.

ROUND HILL AREA

THEFT/BREAK-IN

Mulberry St., unit block, 6:05 p.m. Oct. 21. A man found inside a vacant residence fled. A 23-year-old Round Hill man was charged.

STERLING AREA

ASSAULTS

McClellan Way, 46000 block, 3:34 p.m. Oct. 22. A 31-year-old Sterling man was charged.

THEFTS/BREAK-INS

Cedarhurst Dr., 46000 block, 3 to 5 a.m. Oct. 21. A vehicle was entered and a garage door opener was used to enter a residence. A purse, an iPad and a bicycle were stolen.

Commerce Center Ct., 22000 block, Oct. 20 to Oct. 23. A trailer was stolen.

Dulles Town Cir., 21000 block, Oct. 20 to Oct. 21. Shoplifting from a store was reported. Two Philadelphia men, ages 34 and 59, were charged.

Dulles Town Cir., 21000 block, Oct. 20. Shoplifting from a store was reported. A 22-year-old Sterling female and a male juvenile were charged.

Goldstone Terr., 21000 block, Oct. 20 to Oct. 23. Three computer laptops and two security tokens were stolen from a vehicle.

Loudoun Park Lane, 46100 block, 1:30 to 3 p.m. Oct. 19. Cash and jewelry were stolen from a locker.

Southbank St., 20000 block, 8:45 a.m. Oct. 20. Merchandise was stolen from a store. A 37-year-old Centreville man was charged.

VANDALISM

Salisbury Ct., 1000 block, 1:30 p.m. Oct. 19. A key was used to damage a vehicle.
Montana Gov. Judy Martz in 2006 addresses a crowd at the Christian Women's Conference at Faith Chapel in Billings, Mont. (James Woodcock/AP)

Judy Martz, who served as Montanas only female governor and lieutenant governor and whose strong economic stewardship running the state was overshadowed by scandal and gaffes, died Oct. 30 in Butte, Mont. She was 74.

The cause was pancreatic cancer, said state Attorney General Tim Fox.

Mrs. Martz, a Republican, was governor from 2001 to 2005. She was noted for turning a state deficit into a surplus while reducing taxes and increasing funding for education. However, her term was besieged by missteps. At its low point, her popularity dropped to 20 percent.

Mrs. Martz entered politics in 1996 as Gov. Marc Racicots running mate. She ran for governor after Racicot was barred from seeking a third term.

Mrs. Martz faced backlash following a 2001 drunken-driving crash involving her chief policy adviser, Shane Hedges. Hedges was at the wheel of an SUV that went off a mountain road and killed Montanas House majority leader, who was a passenger. Mrs. Martz was ridiculed for washing Hedgess clothes shortly after the crash, an act she called a motherly reaction.

She was also criticized for comments suggesting that she did not mind being referred to as a lap dog of industry. Her administration came under fire after news reports revealed that some of her staffers used state phones to make political fundraising calls.

Mrs. Martz, who often said she was mistreated by the news media, alluded to her political troubles in making her announcement not to run for reelection in 2003. Among the difficulties, we have dealt with tragedy and adversity, some self-imposed, some stemming from misperception, and some the result of staff, she said.

In the years since she left the governors office, Mrs. Martz routinely addressed Christian organizations throughout the country and was part of a network that prays at locations across Montana.

Judith Helen Morstein was born in Big Timber, Mont., on July 28, 1943. She graduated from high school in Butte in 1961, was named Miss Rodeo Montana and attended Eastern Montana College. She was a member of the U.S. Olympic speed skating team at the 1964 Winter Games.

With her husband, Harry Martz, she owned and operated a commercial solid-waste business in Butte. They had two children. Mrs. Martz was a field representative for U.S. Sen. Conrad Burns from 1989 to 1995.
Prince William County

These were among incidents reported by Prince William County police for this edition of Local Living. For information, call 703-792-5123.

BRISTOW AREA

INDECENT EXPOSURE

Sir Reynard Lane and Shortbread Way area, 3:47 p.m. Oct. 19. A female pedestrian saw a male, possibly a teenager, exposing himself and called police. The female yelled at the male who fled.

GAINESVILLE AREA

THEFT/BREAK-IN

Deming Dr., 14700 block, 10:15 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Oct. 19. Jewelry, medications and a camera were among items stolen from an apartment entered through an unlocked window.

WOODBRIDGE AREA

ASSAULT

Qualey Pl., 5300 block, 6:22 p.m. Oct. 25. A 16-year-old Woodbridge girl was arrested and charged with aggravated malicious wounding.

THEFTS/BREAK-INS

Basin View Lane, 2500 block, 4:25 p.m. Oct. 25. Several rooms of a residence were ransacked and energy drinks were stolen. Police said entry may have been made through an unlocked garage door.

Dale Blvd., 4100 block, 2:43 a.m. Oct. 22. Cash was stolen from a convenience store entered by force through a front door.

Manassas

These were among incidents reported by Manassas police for this edition of Local Living. For information, call 703-257-8000.

HOMICIDE

Cockrell Rd., 9900 block, 3:13 a.m. Oct. 24. Police went to a hotel after a report of an altercation. They found a 27-year-old Texas man with stab wounds. The man was taken to a hospital, where he died. A 23-year-old New York man was arrested and charged with second-degree murder and malicious wounding.

THEFTS/BREAK-INS

Cloverhill Ct., 9400 block, 4 a.m. Oct. 26. A wallet, a garage-door opener and credit cards were reported stolen. The residence was entered through a garage door by using a garage door opener from an unlocked vehicle.

Whispering Pine Ct., 9000 block, 7:49 p.m. Oct. 24. An 8-week-old pit bull was reported stolen from the back yard of a residence. An investigation is ongoing.

Manassas Park

No incidents were reported by Manassas Park police for this edition of Local Living. For information, call 703-361-1136.
Tuesday, October 31, 2017

The Rhode Island Supreme Court imposed the reciprocal sanction of a year and a day suspension based on an attorney''s misconduct in Massachusetts.

There were two client complaints

In the first case, the respondent represented a Massachusetts resident injured at work in the state of Rhode Island. The client received benefits pursuant to Rhode Islands Workers Compensation Act from his employer. He also had potential claims against other parties liable for his injuries, and his wife also had potential claims of her own for loss of consortium. The respondent provided incompetent representation regarding both his clients and his clients wifes potential claims. He failed to make a claim for loss of consortium or even advise the clients wife she had a potential claim. He brought a civil action regarding the clients thirdparty claims in Massachusetts, which lacked jurisdiction to decide those claims. The Massachusetts action was dismissed. The respondent belatedly sought to pursue those claims on his clients behalf in Rhode Island, but those claims were dismissed as time barred pursuant to the applicable statute of limitations.

Additionally, the respondent made material misrepresentations to his client regarding a settlement offer provided by an insurance carrier. He also engaged in a conflict of interest by requiring his client to release him from his own liability to the client as a condition of receiving a settlement, without advising the client he should consult independent counsel prior to signing the release.

In the second matter, the respondent represented the former husband in a child-custody dispute. The ex-wife was represented by her own counsel. During the course of the representation the respondent made unfounded and deliberately false allegations regarding the ex-wife. She and her attorney filed a complaint against the respondent regarding his conduct with the Board of Bar Overseers. The respondent demanded that a withdrawal of the disciplinary complaint be made as a condition of any settlement of the child custody matter. He further threatened to pursue the false allegations against the ex-wife, sue her for defamation, and file a legal malpractice claim against her attorney unless the disciplinary complaint was withdrawn.

The sanction is identical to the original discipline imposed in Massachusetts. (Mike Fr isch)

https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/legal_profession/2017/10/the-rhode-island-supreme-court-imposed-a-reciprocal-sanction-of-a-year-and-a-day-suspension-based-on-an-attorneys-misconduct.html
It was chilly and breezy in Washington Monday morning when the man was walking north on a popular biking and hiking trail and noticed, as he later told police, that two people seemed to be following him.

One of the two who were following the man on the Metropolitan Branch Trail, seized him from behind, grabbing him around the neck in a kind of choke grip, according to a police report. During the ensuing struggle, according to the account, the other member of the pair went through the mans pockets.

The incident which occurred about 9:30 a.m.,Monday, near S Street NE as much of the city was at work or in school, or heading for one or the other, seemed to demonstrate several aspects of Washington life. It showed that although violent crime has declined in the city, it remains a problem.

(Recent figures show that robberies in which no gun is used have been fallen from 1472 last year at this time to 1182, or about 20 per cent.)

Mondays attack may also have exemplified the constant call for specialists in public safety for people to remain aware of their surroundings, although in this case it is not clear what the victim might have done to protect himself.

It may also demonstrate that even on a trail that sees relatively heavy use, there may be moments when the opportunity for crime arises, and that the relative safety or lack of it often various from minute to minute or block to block.

In addition, it indicated the relatively small rewards for which robberies are sometimes carried out, and it provided details about what is done in at least one case, with the proceeds of a robbery.

As outlined in the police report, the robbery occurred on a relatively short stretch of the trail north of S Street NE and south of T Street. The trail there, just west of Metros Red Line tracks, appears to be largely shielded from street view as it runs along a windowless building wall for perhaps 150 yards.

As the victim told police, after being grabbed, he struggled to free himself from his assailant. During the struggle, he said, the assailant yelled to his companion: Go through his pockets.

After taking items from his pockets, the robbers demanded a cell phone the man had. But he refused to give it to them, and he used it to call police. The two robbers ran north along the trail to V Street, where they left it.

One of the items taken, police said, was the mans bank debit card. Police said that after making a purchase at a clothing store, the robbers went to a fast food restaurant and used the debit card to buy something to eat.

In addition to the debit card, police said, the robbers took an identification card, and some coins. According to police, the coins amounted to 52 cents.
President Trump on Wednesday tapped a high-level Justice Department official, Robert K. Hur, to lead the Maryland U.S. attorneys office where he was a longtime federal prosecutor.

If confirmed, Hur will take over one of the countrys busiest U.S. attorneys offices, which has a reputation for handling sophisticated cases involving political corruption, white-collar fraud and vast gang conspiracies that drive violent crime.

Hur has worked closely with Deputy U.S. Attorney General Rod J. Rosenstein at Justice Department headquarters and in Maryland and was previously a special assistant to now-FBI Director Christopher A. Wray.

Hur, who is 44 and lives in Silver Spring, was among seven U.S. attorney nominations the White House announced Wednesday.

Rosenstein, the former U.S. attorney for Maryland and Hurs boss, had high praise for Hur after the announcement.

Rob Hur is a brilliant lawyer who consistently demonstrates exceptional civility, professionalism and humility, Rosenstein said in a statement. As Marylands next United States Attorney, he will maintain the high standards of the office, coordinate effectively with our partners, and bring renewed energy to reducing violent crime and achieving other priorities.

Former colleagues from the U.S. attorneys office in Maryland described Hur as well-liked and humble despite his impressive legal credentials and said he has the right combination of experience and charisma to take the helm of the office based in Baltimore.

Hes highly intelligent, ethical and unwavering in his pursuit of justice, but he also has a great sense of humor and is not afraid to be compassionate and understands the human side of a case, said Jonathan Lenzner, a former federal prosecutor in Maryland who worked closely with Hur.

As an assistant U.S. attorney, Hur prosecuted cases including bank fraud conspiracies and those involving the MS-13 gang. In the bank fraud case, for instance, he illustrated the real-world impact of the crime for the jury by bringing in elderly account holders to testify.

Bill Brennan, a longtime Maryland defense attorney who has tried cases prosecuted by Hur, said in a case involving identity fraud that could have had national security implications, Hur showed discretion when handling the sensitive matter.

Hes a very competent, diligent prosecutor, Brennan said. He can tell the good cases from the bad cases. The people of Maryland are in good shape.

A graduate of Harvard College and Stanford Law School, Hur started his career as a law clerk to then-Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist.

Before becoming an aide to Rosenstein earlier this year as principal associate deputy attorney general, Hur was a partner at King & Spalding LLP in Washington, handling criminal and regulatory cases before federal agencies including the Justice Department and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

At the Justice Department, Hur worked on cases involving counterterrorism and corporate fraud for Wray, who was then assistant attorney general in charge of the departments criminal division.

Hurs return to Maryland would put him in charge of more than 80 assistant U.S. attorneys and an additional 80 support staffers. Last week, the office had five jury trials going at once, unusually busy for the office known for taking on complex and interesting investigations.

Notable cases out of the office include the takedown of former Prince Georges county executive Jack Johnson for bribery, mass corruption among Maryland correctional officers and gang members conducting business from prison, and the current scandal accusing former Maryland legislators of taking cash for votes expanding liquor sales.

Many local lawyers said the next U.S. attorney has big shoes to fill with Rosenstein as predecessor.

Rosenstein led the office for 12 years, building a reputation as a respected, bipartisan prosecutor who was able to withstand changes in Republican and Democratic administrations in Maryland. Rosenstein later became a controversial figure in his new role as deputy U.S. attorney general this year, with the White House saying a memo he penned factored into Trumps dismissal of former FBI director James B. Comey.

In a joint statement, Maryland Sens. Benjamin L. Cardin and Chris Van Hollen, both Democrats, said they plan to back Hurs nomination.

We look forward to supporting Mr. Hurs nomination and working with him should he be confirmed by the Senate, the senators said in a joint statement. We are confident that Mr. Hur can fill the large shoes Mr. Rosenstein has left.
A contractor walks to cut down a tree and clear out space along the Georgetown Branch Trail to make way for the Purple Line on Sept. 27, 2017 in Chevy Chase, Md. (Ricky Carioti/The Washington Post)

Federal judges deciding if Maryland may continue building the Purple Line focused Wednesday on a key question: whether the drop in ridership on Washingtons troubled subway should force the state to reconsider how many people will ride its light-rail line.

The state justified building the $2.4-billion light-rail line to improve east-west transit in the densely developed D.C. suburbs in part by saying it would carry more passengers long-term than bus options. Purple Line opponents say the state must update those ridership numbers and reconsider buses, which they say would be cheaper and less environmentally damaging.

If the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit agrees with Purple Line opponents, it could require the state to stop some construction work, such as tree-cutting that began this fall, until the projects environmental impact study is updated.

A three-judge panel is expected to rule in coming weeks.

[Court ruling allows Purple Line construction to begin, but for how long?]

In oral arguments Wednesday, the judges pressed a lawyer for the Maryland Transit Administration about the states rationale for building the line: to provide faster east-west transit, link communities around the 21 stations, and better connect people to Metro. A light-rail line between Montgomery and Prince Georges counties will meet those three needs even if Metro ceased to exist, a lawyer for the state said.

What if, due to Metros falling ridership, one leg of the three-legged stool collapsed? the judges asked.

One of the purposes falls out  what happens? Judge Judith W. Rogers said.

Rogers asked whether ridership forecasts should be updated by law or become a question for government officials to decide.

Were pushing to understand where the [federal law] line ends and the wisdom of a project begins, Rogers said.

The judges appeared well aware of Metros problems, even if no one brought up the numbers. After peaking in 2008 with 750,000 average weekday boardings, ridership is just over 600,000 average weekday boardings, according to figures released last month.

Metro officials have attributed the trend to commuters teleworking more and people avoiding the aging subways chronic maintenance and reliability problems.

[Teleworking may mean Metros lackluster ridership numbers are here to stay]

Maryland is appealing a lower-court ruling in favor of Purple Line opponents arguments that the state didnt sufficiently consider Metros decline when it estimated the Purple Lines ridership.

That ruling delayed the start of light-rail construction by a year.

However, a different three-judge appeals panel allowed construction to begin this summer while the appeal is heard. The line is scheduled to begin carrying passengers in 2022.

The plaintiffs in the 2014 lawsuit  the Friends of the Capital Crescent Trail and two Chevy Chase residents, John M. Fitzgerald and Christine Real de Azua  are appealing, too.

They say the lower-court judge erred in not finding other flaws in the environmental review.

For example, they said, the state hadnt considered the potential environmental impacts of installing a gravel track bed rather than green tracks previously intended to control storm water runoff into nearby streams.

Getting rid of the green track warrants some additional scrutiny, said Eric R. Glitzenstein, a lawyer for the opponents.

But it was Metro that captured the judges attention.

The 16-mile Purple Line will operate separately from Metro, but Maryland officials say 27 percent of its riders will be Metro passengers.

Chief Judge Merrick B. Garland asked a lawyer for the Federal Transit Administration whether a dramatic change in ridership could affect the environmental impacts of two transit options under consideration.

Is that the kind of change in impacts the law requires you to analyze? Garland asked.

The judge continued, You studied [improved bus service] under an assumption of a number of riders that is no longer good.

Albert M. Ferlo, a private lawyer for the Maryland Transit Administration, said the state had already analyzed Metros decline and determined that a light-rail line was still warranted, even if it carried no Metro passengers.

Even so, Ferlo said, federal law required agencies to consider only circumstances that are reasonably foreseeable  and its not reasonable to assume Metro will disappear.

Yes, there are acknowledged problems [with] Metro, but those are problems that the three jurisdictions are working together  or at least trying to work together  to solve, Ferlo told the panel.

[Local leaders worry where to get money for Metro budget proposal]

The judges also had tough questions for Purple Line opponents. Rogers said it appeared the state already had done a thorough analysis of the Purple Lines potential impacts.

She said it seemed Purple Line opponents were asking the judges to reconsider some of the wisdom of the states decision to build a light-rail line rather than providing new information that required further study.

She noted the state had already considered Metros decline, even if opponents ridership experts disagreed about its impact.

Whats new? Rogers asked.

Its not been adequately addressed, Glitzenstein, the opponents lawyer, said.
THE DISTRICT

Two men shot along H Street corridor

Two adult men were shot early Wednesday along the H Street corridor in Northeast Washington, D.C. police said.

The men have non-life-threatening injuries, police said.

The shooting happened about 2:12 a.m. in the 1200 block of H Street NE. Police said the suspect was an African American man who is about 6 feet tall. He was wearing a dark-colored hoodie with strips on the back.

Some streets in the area were closed at various points during the morning commute as investigators were on the scene.

Anyone with information is asked to call 202-727-9099.

 Dana Hedgpeth

VIRGINIA

Drug dealer sentenced to 36 years in prison

A man who sold fentanyl-laced heroin that caused fatal overdoses has been sentenced to 36 years in prison.

The Virginian-Pilot reported Wednesday that Erskine Dawson Jr. led a heroin ring that operated in Virginia Beach and Chesapeake. Prosecutors blamed Dawson for more than a dozen overdoses. They said Dawson knew that at least two were fatal.

U.S. District Judge Raymond Jackson told Dawson in court that he was involved in some of the most coldhearted drug-dealing the court had seen.

 Associated Press

THE REGION

October ranks as third warmest on record

October supplied plenty of ammunition for all the people complaining about a delayed start to autumn, as well as those concerned about the warming climate.

The month ranked as the third-warmest October on record in Washington, 5.4 degrees warmer than normal.

All but two months in 2017, May and August, have been warmer than normal, and February and April ranked as warmest on record. The year ranks as the second warmest on record so far, narrowly behind 2012.

Washingtons balmy October weather best matched typical conditions in Atlanta, according to the Southeast Regional Climate Center.

 Matt Rogers and Jason Samenow
Sen. Kamala D. Harris (D-Calif.) greets the crowd at an Oct. 29 campaign event at Blue Bee Cider in Richmond. (Julia Rendleman for The Washington Post)

Nearly every evening after work, Monica Hutchinson crunches up and down leaf-strewn sidewalks to remind African American residents that Election Day is Nov. 7 and to deliver this message: "We are the deciding vote."

Hutchinson, a volunteer with the advocacy group New Virginia Majority, has data on her side. African Americans make up about 20 percent of Virginias electorate, and a surge in black voting has been decisive in recent statewide elections. Democratic candidates were the beneficiaries, tilting what had been a reliably red state into full swing status.

But that wave shows signs of ebbing, and some argue that the Democratic ticket led by gubernatorial nominee Ralph Northam hasnt done enough to energize black voters and ensure a big turnout against Republican Ed Gillespie.

Its part of a national problem for Democrats, who are fretting over the way forward in the age of President Trump and struggling to take advantage of demographic shifts that should favor them.

Some black Democrats worry that the party is taking the wrong lesson from Trumps victory, putting too much emphasis on trying to win back working-class whites instead of solidifying the minority electorate that was awakened in 2008 by Barack Obama.



Monica Hutchinson, a volunteer with New Virginia Majority, goes door-to-door in Richmond to urge African Americans to vote. (Julia Rendleman for The Washington Post)

The Democratic Party doesnt seem to have gotten the message, said Phil Thompson, president of the Loudoun County chapter of the NAACP. They just take our votes for granted.

The consequence could be a low turnout, which would probably be fatal to Northam in a close election Tuesday.

African Americans turned out to vote in the 2013 governor's race at roughly the same rate as Virginians overall and made the difference for Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D) in a narrow win. This year, African Americans are somewhat less likely than whites to say they are certain to vote or are following the race closely, according to a Washington Post-Schar School poll released Tuesday.

A new Post-Schar School poll finds Northam leading Gillespie 89 percent to 8 percent among black likely voters, almost identical to McAuliffes margin of 90 percent to 8 percent four years ago.

[A week before Election Day, new poll finds tightening race for Va. governor]

Virginia's Democratic ticket occasionally has hurt its own message to black voters. Last month, the Northam campaign authorized a flier in Northern Virginia that omitted lieutenant governor candidate Justin Fairfax, who would be the first African American elected statewide in more than 25 years. The omission was requested by a union that funded the mailer and had endorsed Northam but not Fairfax.

After the white supremacist violence in Charlottesville over the summer, Northam called for Confederate statues to be removed from public property  then seemed to backtrack, saying it should be a local decision.

View Graphic The latest stories and details on the 2017 Virginia general election and race for governor.

The statues are a tricky issue for Northam. Numerous polls show that most Virginians don't want them taken down. His initial hard-line stance risked alienating white voters, but his "local" compromise waters down a position that many black voters are passionate about.

Gillespie, meanwhile, has played the issue both ways. He has condemned the racial violence of Charlottesville but refused to comment on Trumps equivocation that there were very fine people on both sides of the conflict. And he has aired ads promising to defend Virginias Confederate history and suggesting that illegal immigration leads to Latino gang violence, while also promising to be a governor for all Virginians.

[To become Va. governor in Trumps America, Gillespie embraces culture wars]

At the same time, Gillespie has made overtures to African American voters, attending events large and small and offering positions on issues such as criminal justice reform that bend to the left of Republican orthodoxy. For instance, Gillespie favors raising the threshold for felony larceny and said he would seek to limit the practice of suspending a driver's license for failure to pay court fees  positions similar to Northam's.

The efforts have drawn notice among some black businesspeople and those who are less connected to the Democratic establishment.

Im just looking for the person that says theyre going to do the most in our community. I dont care about the rhetoric, said Jerry Lee, 47, of Richmond, who works with felons to readjust to life outside prison. If youre telling me that youre going to do work in my community, then Im all for giving you a shot, and thats pretty much what Im getting from Gillespie.

He said that both candidates have come to events hosted by his group but that Gillespie took notes and made specific policy recommendations. Northam, he said, was more broad. Lee came away feeling that the Democrat expected support simply because the audience was primarily African American.

Northam has spent most of the year attending multiple black churches on Sundays and regularly speaks to largely black groups and businesses. As lieutenant governor, he established relationships with African American elected officials across the state. They helped mobilize votes for him during the June Democratic primary, when he posted an unexpectedly large win over former congressman Tom Perriello.

The criticism of Northam is not that he ignores the black community; its that he does little to inspire excitement. The NAACPs Thompson said Northam and other Democrats too often stress their work to restore voting rights to felons when speaking with African Americans.

They talk about felony restoration like were all criminals, Thompson said.

Democrats have been curiously low-key in pointing out that Fairfax, the nominee for lieutenant governor, would be the first African American elected statewide since Gov. L. Douglas Wilder.

But Nadia Anderson, 39, a Richmond businesswoman who attended an event with Northam at a beauty salon, said she is glad the party stresses Fairfaxs qualifications and not his skin color. Theyre not saying vote for him because hes black, she said.

In recent days, Democrats have brought in national figures aimed specifically at energizing African American voters.

We can always do more, Sen. Kamala D. Harris (D-Calif.) said Sunday after attending events with voters in Richmond. She had appeared with former U.S. attorney general Eric H. Holder Jr., telling a diverse group at Blue Bee Cider that Virginia has the fate of our country in its hands.

Democrats everywhere, not just in Virginia, can do a better job of turning out those votes in minority communities, she said.

Its critical that we put the resources into reminding all of these communities that they matter, especially when there is so much hate and division that is being spewed, she said.

Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.) were both scheduled to appear for Northam and the Democratic ticket on Wednesday night.

The partys biggest effort to motivate voters in Virginia was a Richmond rally last month with Obama.

[Obama back on campaign trail to rally with Northam in Richmond]

Many of the thousands who attended expressed euphoria at being able to bask in Obamas presence.

I was just reflecting on how great those eight years were with him, Shadi Khalil, 27, a graduate student at the University of Virginia, said shortly after the rally. Asked whether he had similar passion for Northam, he smiled. Im passionate about him defeating Gillespie, he said.

Critics argue that the late effort to mobilize votes doesnt show a long-term investment in wooing minority communities. The consequence is that the enthusiasm generated by Obama and his presidency could be slipping away.

There are signs that energy and mobilization among African American voters was not where we had it once upon a time when we put in the resources and efforts and had a candidate like Barack Obama, said Democratic pollster Cornell Belcher.

Obamas election unlocked a pent-up wave of African American voters nationwide, and Virginia supported a Democrat for president for the first time since Lyndon Johnson. Although just 52 percent of black residents in Virginia participated in the 2004 presidential election, black turnout surged to 68 percent when Obama ran in 2008 and 67 percent in 2012, according to the Census Bureau.

Last year, black turnout in Virginia dropped slightly to 65 percent and fell even more in many places across the country.

Belcher rejects the idea that black voters stayed home because they didnt have a black candidate. Democrats who make that argument are using [Obamas] blackness as an excuse for not putting together the tactics, the strategy and the resources to mobilize these voters, he said.

A spokesman for the Northam campaign said Democrats have spent $3.5 million this year on phone and door-knocking efforts to reach minority voters. An outside group, BlackPAC, says it will spend $1.1 million to mobilize black voters in Virginia. That has included TV and online advertising, mailers and door-to-door canvassing in Hampton Roads.

Theres a tendency to engage with black voters later, to see them as just get-out-the-vote, motivation voters, said Adrianne Shropshire, executive director of BlackPAC. I think thats the wrong approach. We need to see black voters as voters that need to be persuaded.

Which is what Hutchinson has been trying to do almost every day for weeks now.

On a warm night in late October, limping slightly on a reconstructed ankle, Hutchinson walked up to a small white house in eastern Henrico County just as Shirley Christian was taking out the trash.

Her right arm bandaged from dialysis, a scar peeking out of her shirt from recent open-heart surgery, Christian, 59, said she was worried about the cost of health care. Hutchinson unleashed a pep talk about taking a stand for that issue in the upcoming election.

And the first step is voting, she said. When it comes down to it, if an elected official knows that you dont vote, then their job isnt in jeopardy from you. So long as were united in our voting, were essentially telling them, you know . . . 

 . . . This is what wed like to have, Christian said.

Exactly, Hutchinson said. So once we have that united front, things will change.

Scott Clement contributed to this report.
A television ad depicting minority children running from a pickup truck sporting a bumper sticker for Virginia Republican Ed Gillespie is designed to criticize the gubernatorial candidates ties to President Trump  and to address concerns that Democratic candidate Ralph Northam is struggling to connect with minority voters, according to people familiar with the strategy.

The ad was removed late Tuesday after a terrorism attack in New York City involved a pickup truck running down people on a bike path.

But before it was removed, it was designed to appeal to Latino voters. Public polling shows Northam easily beating Gillespie among black and Latino voters, but a recent private poll shared widely among minority advocacy groups sparked worry about the Democrats appeal. Northams campaign urged the groups not to release the polls findings, according to multiple people familiar with the matter  a point not disputed by his campaign.

In the weeks since the poll was conducted, progressive groups have worked to tie Gillespie to Trump, whose approval rating among Latinos nationwide hovers in the teens. They worry that if Gillespie wins, his campaign ads  which raised concerns about illegal immigration and "sanctuary cities" and voiced support for Confederate-era monuments  could be replicated nationwide next year by GOP candidates eager to turn out conservative voters.

If we can respond in a very hard way right now, that causes our people to turn out in force and stomp out that fire. Hopefully we will do that, Latino Victory Fund (LVF) President Cristobal J. Alex said in an interview.



Seeking to shore up support among younger and Latino voteres, Sen. Marco Rubio R-Fla.) campaigned for Virginia GOP gubernatorial candidate Ed Gillespie, spotted to Rubios right in the background, on Oct. 30, 2017, in Sterling Va. (Jahi Chikwendiu/The Washington Post)

Alexs group produced the new ad, American Nightmare, which features four young children  two Latino boys, an African American child and a Muslim girl wearing a headscarf  running from a white man driving a pickup truck adorned with the Gillespie sticker and a Confederate flag. The truck chases the children through a suburban neighborhood into a dead-end alley  at which point the children awake from a bad dream.

[Ad features minority kids chased by truck adorned with Gillespie sticker, Confederate flag]

On late Tuesday afternoon, the LVF removed the commercial from YouTube and deleted its tweet promoting it, citing the suspected terrorist attack, which killed at least eight.

We knew our ad would ruffle feathers. We held a mirror up to the Republican Party and they dont like what they see. We have decided to pull our ad at this time, Alex said. Given recent events, we will be placing other powerful ads into rotation that highlight the reasons we need to elect progressive leaders in Virginia.

The Northam campaign did not ask the Latino Victory Fund to take down the ad, said spokesman David Turner, but believes it is appropriate and the right thing to do.

LVF is a progressive organization that promotes and endorses Latino Democratic political candidates. The group plans to air the ad through Election Day on Spanish-language television stations in the Richmond and Washington markets and during local ad breaks on CNN and MSNBC in the Washington area.

Gillespie brought this on with his relentless attacks on our community, Alex said. This is a direct response.

View Graphic The latest stories and details on the 2017 Virginia general election and race for governor.

Gillespie told Fox News Channel on Tuesday that the ad shows that Northam doesnt just disagree with millions of Virginians who dont share his liberal policy agenda, he disdains us. And he disdains the people who want to have a civil debate about the policies.

[How Ed Gillespie went from big tent Republican to culture warrior]

Northams campaign had nothing to do with the ad, but the candidate defended it on Monday, saying that the tactics used by Gillespies campaign have promoted fearmongering, hatred, bigotry, racial divisiveness. I mean, its upset a lot of communities, and they have the right to express their views as well.

The private poll that caused worry showed Northams support among Latino and black voters lower than expected across the commonwealth, according to multiple people who reviewed the data.

The private poll, published on Oct. 16, was paid for by Americas Voice, an immigration change organization.

Frank Sharry, the groups founder and executive director, did not deny that his group paid for the poll.

Not able to talk about this now, he said in an email. Check back with me after the election.

Turner initially said he was not familiar with the poll, but after checking further he did not deny that the campaign had discouraged its release.

We get a lot of data from a variety of organizations, he said. Generally, unless I am responding to something like this, we do not release our data because theres no benefit to giving Gillespie free polling information.

He added that support from minority voters tends to rise as the election gets closer, and he said that internal polling shows the campaign matching or exceeding the performance of Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D) with Latino and black voters at his election in 2013.

Surveying Latino voters in Virginia is difficult, given that they made up just 4.6 percent of all voters statewide last year, according to the Pew Research Center. But the private poll suggests Northam is lagging slightly behind the Latino support Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton received last year. She won 65 percent of the Latino vote in Virginia, compared with 30 percent for Trump, according to exit polls. Clinton won the state by about five percentage points.

A Washington Post-Schar School poll released Tuesday did not poll enough Latino voters to generate a measurable sample. But among nonwhite voters overall, Northam leads Gillespie 73 percent to 17 percent  similar to Clintons margins in Virginia last year. Other statewide polls conducted last month by the Wason Center and Fox News showed Northam trouncing Gillespie among nonwhite voters.

But out on the trail, the Northam campaigns outreach to Latino voters sometimes appears to fall short.

Two VA Vota happy hours in Northern Virginia marketed to Latino voters drew sparse crowds. More recently, U.S. Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.)  the first female Hispanic elected to the body  met with a small group of Latino student activists at George Mason University, telling them that they need Northam in the governors mansion if they want Virginia to issue drivers licenses and discounted tuition to undocumented immigrants. Only eight student activists attended.

One advocate familiar with the strategy behind the new ad said that years of polling showed that such dramatic messages can work in the closing days of a campaign.

All of us in the political class are talking about the Gillespie MS-13 ads. It turns out that a lot of people werent aware its on TV  he isnt running it on Telemundo, said the advocate, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to speak frankly about strategy. We know from previous efforts that when people feel that threat and feel attacked, they respond.

[Gillespie appears with Sen. Rubio as protesters accuse him of racism]

Colin Rogero, who directed and produced the ad for the LVF, said the commercial is intended to evoke the same kind of visceral emotional reaction that Republicans have successfully used in their own advertising. The pickup truck chasing children is a metaphor for how communities of color feel targeted, he said.

We needed to push back as forcefully as we have been pushed, Rogero said. Lets show people who may not be experiencing this what people feel like and the real kind of palpable fear that exists right now.

The progressive group People for the American Way is also airing a Spanish-language TV message across the commonwealth that tries connecting Gillespie to Trump.

Ed Gillespie talks about us, he demonizes us with divisive and racist language, calling us criminals, an announcer says in Spanish. Lets not allow Trumps policies in Virginia.

[Obama rips into Gillespies MS-13 ads, calls them as cynical as politics gets]

CASA in Action, an immigration advocacy group that is politically active in the Washington region, is also spending roughly $170,000 to air spots on Spanish-language television, radio and websites to promote the Democratic statewide slate.

Were dealing with difficult moments in this community, a young woman says in one of the ads.

Thats why we need leaders who think about us, a young man adds.

Scott Clement contributed to this report.
Al Cardenas, the former head of the American Conservative Union, has long lauded Republican Ed Gillespie for his campaign to diversify the GOP and recruit minority candidates.

Now Cardenas is among a cluster of Republican leaders, operatives and Gillespie associates who are struggling to embrace the rhetoric he's deploying in his race for Virginia governor against Democrat Ralph Northam.

In recent days, they have expressed disapproval over Gillespies campaign commercials, including one defending Confederate monuments and another about MS-13 street gangs that Democrats have cast as being anti-immigrant. A third Gillespie ad, intended to disparage Northams support for restoring felons voting rights, highlighted the case of a convicted sex offender.

[Ed Gillespie evolves from big tent Republican to culture warrior]

Ed Gillespie used to be the champion of diversity in the GOP, Cardenas tweeted Monday.

In an interview, Cardenas said that he remains supportive of Gillespies candidacy but that his ads dont represent the flavor of someone who has been embracing diversity for so long.

These ads are, frankly, very disappointing to me, said Cardenas, the Cuban-born former head of Floridas GOP. Thats the work of consultants who want to ride the wave I find very disappointing in our party  that angry populist wave that seems to be in favor with many. I can just imagine a justification by the campaign, but Im not sure were a better country if we accept these norms.

Gillespie, responding to the general criticism of his ads from GOP allies, brushed off the negative feedback.

They should look at my policies, and theyll see that Im putting forward policies to address the needs we face and the challenges we face in the commonwealth, Gillespie said. People are free to vote  thats one of the great things about this country  and they are free to have their opinion.

[A week before Election Day, new poll shows tightening race]

In recent days, Republican allies and strategists, as well as longtime Gillespie associates, have also voiced critiques, including some on social media.

Gabriel Schoenfeld, an author and former Gillespie colleague who left the Republican Party after President Trumps victory, tweeted last week: I worked with @EdWGillespie on the Romney campaign; a great guy now covering himself in filth.

Six hours later, Norm Ornstein, who taught Gillespie as a professor at Catholic University, responded to Schoenfelds tweet: I knew Ed when he was a college student. Man, how he has fallen! Right into the gutter. The next day, Ornstein followed up with a second tweet that was retweeted 2,500 times: Ed Gillespie is running one of the most vile campaigns I have seen in a long time. He really should be ashamed of himself.

Doug Stafford, a political strategist for Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), tweeted an obscenity to describe his view of one Gillespie ad and, in another tweet, wrote: So the last 3 ads by @EdGillespie are: gangs, people getting their voting rights back and monuments. The dog whistle is a little loud, Ed.

Then Stafford tweeted, I am a conservative Republican and I know Ed personally. And his TV ad campaign is gross. Reached by phone, Stafford said that Gillespie can do better but declined to elaborate except to say that he has not made up my mind whether he would vote for the Republican next week.

Bruce Bartlett, a former adviser to President Ronald Reagan who switched from Republican to independent a decade ago, was a senior fellow at the Heritage Foundation in the 1980s, a period when he knew Gillespie, then Rep. Richard Armeys chief spokesman, as a mainstream Republican.

On Friday, Bartlett tweeted to his 53,000 followers: I will not be able to vote for my old friend Ed Gillespie. His pandering to racists & neo-Confederates is reprehensible.

In an interview, Bartlett said, Based on what I know about him and his character, this is something hes doing under duress  the duress of a campaign thats probably close. He feels he needs to shore up the base of his party, and unfortunately the base of his party is rank scum.

Responding to Bartlett, Gillespies campaign digital director, Eric Wilson, in his own tweet, accused the author of going after Ed Gillespie to gin up sales for his new book. Sadly, the media gives these washed up GOPers a second chance as Republican bashers. Note its never people at the top of their careers.

[Obama tears into Gillespies MS-13 ads, says they are as cynical as politics gets]

As a lobbyist, former counsel to President George W. Bush and Republican National Committee chair, Gillespie personifies the Republican establishment that President Trump railed against in his victorious campaign. And while Hillary Clinton won Virginia, the presidents support in the commonwealth is sufficient enough to force Gillespie  even as he has maintained distance from the White House  to invoke Trumpian rhetoric to attract conservative rural voters.

David Ramadan, a Republican and a former Virginia state delegate who is a Gillespie ally, said that his friend is stuck in a political climate stemming out of Washington that doesnt allow a candidate to posture as pro-immigrant and for a bigger tent and what weve known about Ed Gillespie for the last 15 or 20 years.

Ramadan blamed Gillespies ads on the candidates campaign consultants.

He will be a better governor than his own campaign, said Ramadan, who plans on voting for Gillespie. I know Ed well enough to know that Ed is not a racist. I have no issues with Ed Gillespies morality.

Michael Steele, a Gillespie ally and former RNC chair who has also advocated a more diverse party, said the TV commercials are not indicative of who he [Gillespie] is or what he thinks.

But Steele also chided Northams campaign for not disavowing an ad sponsored by the Latino Victory Fund in which a man driving a pickup truck with a Gillespie bumper sticker is chasing after a cluster of terrified minority children. The group made the ad in response to Gillespies commercials but took it down Tuesday night after the driver of a truck killed eight people in New York in what police are calling a terrorist attack.

[New anti-Gillespie ad sparked by worries that Northams support from Latinos is soft]

Theyre both ads that have no place in the campaign, Steele said. But lets look at this across the board and not just at Ed Gillespie. Both campaigns have gone to that space in an unfortunate way.

Yet Ornstein, who has moderated panels on which Gillespie served, said the imagery evoked by the Republicans campaign shows a level of amorality that even in rough-and-tumble politics is encouraging the worst instincts in people.

These commercials hit me in the wrong way, he said. I get that campaigns can do dirty things or appeal to baser instincts, but maybe I held him to a higher standard that represented what I thought I knew about him. You have choices you make in political life about how far youre going to go, and this, to me, was too far.

Fenit Nirappil contributed to this report.


WOODBRIDGE, VIRGINIA - OCTOBER 27: Volunteers Mary Akemon left) and Alexandra Marcus and, with Let America Vote, talk with Farrukh Kahn as they canvass a neighborhood on Friday, October 27, 2017 in Woodbridge, Virginia. Let America Vote, formed by former Democratic Missouri Senate candidate Jason Kander is debuting its electoral field operations in Virginia with a field office in Manassas that has drawn 114 interns from across the country to help knock on doors for 10 Democratic delegate candidates. (Pete Marovich/For The Washington Post)

On Tuesday, the Virginia governors race will be the biggest show in town.

But further down ballot, the usually sleepy state legislative contests are drawing an unusual surge of interest from Democrats across the country.

President Trumps election sprouted a network of activists who want to flip seats blue. It served as a wake-up call for Democrats to pay attention to lower-profile state races as a way to chart a path back to power.

For a new crop of Democratic groups, Virginia is the opening salvo and a testing ground ahead of what they hope is a wave election in 2018.

[Interested in Virginias governors race? Follow the Virginia governors race]

Virginia is the first state to hold a competitive contest for governor after Trump moved into the White House, and both parties want to win it  the Democrats as a rebuke of Trump, and the Republicans to show they are not blemished by an unpopular president.

Its also a purple state where Democrats have been winning statewide since 2009, but Republicans hold 66 of the 100 seats in the House of Delegates. Democrats are running in 54 GOP-held districts this year, and scores of groups  some well-financed, some loosely organized, are looking to leave their mark on those contests.

Theres a Democratic super PAC planning to spend $1 million  with an eye to a bigger goal of raising $100 million to take control of state houses across the country.

An organization founded by wealthy Virginia donors and bankrolled by a Silicon Valley entrepreneur is beta-testing technology to help low-budget campaigns run more efficiently.

Activists in solidly Democratic states are forming groups to help Virginia from afar, by fundraising and making phone calls.

We certainly had a lot of support in 13 and 15, but the level of the support now is astronomically larger, said Trent Armitage, the executive director of the Virginia House Democratic Caucus. Its incredibly reflective of the energy we have seen across the country, and the fact that Virginia is first in a post-Trump world is making it even more pronounced.

[The other side of the Trump effect: Voters turned out of state politics]

Republican state lawmakers and candidates arent seeing the same influx of outside groups coming to their cause. They benefit from a massive war chest accumulated after years of controlling the chamber, increased financial support from the long-standing Republican State Leadership Committee and the name recognition and legislative record that comes with incumbency.

You can bring all the outside money you want, but we have proven our value in governing Virginia effectively while weve had the opportunity, said Del. C. Todd Gilbert (R-Shenandoah), who is set to be the majority leader if his party maintains control of the chamber.

While Democrats this year have also looked for clues about 2018 in a handful of special elections to fill congressional vacancies around the country, Virginias legislative races may be a better bellwether because the turnout will be similar to the midterms, said David Wasserman of the nonpartisan Cook Political Report.

The House of Delegates races in Virginia this November could tell us more about 2018 than any other election this year, Wasserman said. Democrats will find out whether Trump can motivate enough casual voters to flip seats because they came close to winning a number of these [Virginia] seats in 2013 and 2015.

[Wassermans analysis on most competitive House of Delegates races]

The flood of outside groups also presents challenges for Democrats. Many disagree about whether to pour resources into races perceived as winnable, such as those where the Republican incumbent is retiring or where Hillary Clinton prevailed last year or whether to try to expand the map to red-leaning rural and suburban districts.

Not every lesson from Virginia will translate to other states. Lax finance campaign rules in the Old Dominion allow groups to pour in unlimited sums and directly coordinate with campaigns.

Other state legislative elections are not going to have quite the same national attention paid to them, said Ross Morales Rocketto, co-founder of Run for Something, which helps train and raise money for 10 delegate candidates in Virginia. But its important for us to start learning the lessons from Virginia now, so we can start applying those in 2018 when we dont have as much national focus on one state.

New groups, new tools



Democratic nominee for the 2nd district of the Virginia House of Delegates Jennifer Carroll Foy fires up supporters before they hit the local area in a canvassing event on Oct. 22 in Woodbridge, Va. Shes benefited from a surge of outside groups looking to help Democrats down-ballot. Katherine Frey/The Washington Post)

Democrat Jennifer Carroll Foy, running for an open seat in the Washington exurbs Clinton carried by 17 points, is seen as a prime pickup opportunity for her party.

Foys campaign manager Teddy Smyth (himself plucked from an outside group: the Progressive Campaign Change Committee) has a spreadsheet on his computer keeping track of 73 representatives of outside groups coming to her aid. They include a Sister District program in Massachusetts raising money, a group of Los Angeles filmmakers cutting a campaign ad and a D.C. organization deploying canvassers.

Also on Smyths laptop are portals to technology tools provided by new groups trying to help shoestring campaigns.

[Women are running: Number of female House candidates surge in Virginia]

Mobilize America, a group founded by an Obama staffer turned Silicon Valley executive, seeks to wrangle grass-roots energy with an app connecting people to volunteer events that is synced to their calendars and email inboxes for reminders. That saves campaign staffers time spent calling volunteers.

Win Virginia, a PAC led by former U.S. congressman Tom Perriello  who unsuccessfully challenged Northam for the Democratic nomination for governor in June  is also connecting candidates for the House of Delegates to organizing tools. They range from simple (a portal for supporters to upload video testimonials) to complex (a program to easily send local voters texts about upcoming events and reminders to vote  which Republicans blasted as spam).

Reid Hoffman, the co-founder of LinkedIn and a prolific Democratic donor, has given $300,000 to Win Virginia, nearly a third of its funding.

We are experimenting in different types of technologies, different types of messages, just to see what will reach voters who havent been reached, said Dmitri Mehlhorn, a venture capitalist and political strategist who advises Hoffman.

Chief among lessons to be learned from Virginia: how to tap into voter dissatisfaction with Trump while also focusing on local issues like schools, roads and taxes?

[In diversifying Prince William, minority Democrats hope to win seats]

There is a big debate among Democratic circles on if Democrats should focus just on how horrible the president is, said Ravi Gupta, co-founder of The Arena, which produced digital biography ads for six candidates and is testing what resonates best online. The Virginia race is in so many ways a gateway to discussions folk should be having about 18.

Others are lending their star power to down-ballot races.

Democrat Jason Kander drew national attention in 2016 after nearly unseating Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) in a state Trump handily won. Now he heads Let America Vote, a group that aims to combat gerrymandering and voter suppression.

His call to action has drawn 114 interns since June  some who learned about the group on the popular Pod Save America podcast, others who were among his 240,000 Twitter followers  to a field office in Manassas, Va., where they canvass for Democrats in 10 Northern Virginia races.

Thats success, Kander says. We are going to use the same boots on the ground strategy in five states we expand to in 2018, he said.

Winning strategy



WOODBRIDGE, VIRGINIA - OCTOBER 27: Volunteers Alexandra Marcus and Mary Akemon, with Let America Vote, talk with Javier Soriano as they canvassas a neighborhood on Friday, October 27, 2017 in Woodbridge, Virginia. Let America Vote, formed by former Democratic Missouri Senate candidate Jason Kander is debuting its electoral field operations in Virginia with a field office in Manassas that has drawn 114 interns from across the country to help knock on doors for 10 Democratic delegate candidates. Photo by Pete Marovich For The Washington Post)

Republicans, who are watching these efforts, see it as playing catch up. In 2010, the GOP executed a strategy that helped Republicans win control of 22 additional state legislatures, which allowed the party to redraw legislative districts and solidify its control of Congress.

[The GOPs 2010 takeover of states]

Several Democratic groups are trying to replicate their success.

The National Democratic Redistricting Committee, backed by former president Barack Obama and chaired by his former attorney general Eric H. Holder Jr., has sent more than $1.2 million to Virginia Democrats as part of its strategy to limit GOP influence over redistricting in 2021.

A similar group is Forward Majority, a super PAC founded by Obama campaign alumni, thats using Virginia as its prototype as its eyes as an expansion to states including Wisconsin, Michigan, Georgia and Kentucky.

Forward Majoritys $1 million foray into Virginia involves digital advertising and voter outreach in 12 contests that arent top priorities of party leadership.

The group is experimenting with text messaging and digital advertising as a way to draw voters to the polls in what is traditionally a low turnout election the year after a presidential contest.

Meanwhile, the Republican State Leadership Committee, a national group dedicated to electing Republicans in down-ballot races around the country, nearly tripled its giving to Virginias GOP House leadership from $258,000 in 2013 to $755,000 this year.

The Democratic groups will learn on Tuesday if the attention and money theyve invested in Virginia was worth it.

Failure to deliver and translate momentum into electoral outcomes in Virginia this fall could be very damaging for our overall progress as a party, said Vicky Hausman, co-founder of Forward Majority. With Donald Trump in the White House, now more than ever we should be able to translate this enthusiasm into electoral success.
scholarship, news and new ideas in legal history
Interest was high and lines long at a Montgomery County, Md., health office on Wednesday as the enrollment season started for 2018 coverage through the Affordable Care Act. (Michael Robinson Chavez/The Washington Post)

From coast to coast, the fifth annual season for Americans to buy insurance under the Affordable Care Act opened on Wednesday with scattered reports of crowds, some technical difficulties and a public confused as never before by the political turmoil surrounding the law.

The federal website HealthCare.gov said "2018 Open Enrollment is here," as both it and state insurance marketplaces attracted the year's first customers. They came despite a 90-percent reduction in federal advertising about the sign-up window and a decision by the Trump administration to send advance emails about enrollment to millions fewer Americans than in past years.

The emails went only to people with current health plans through marketplaces created under the law, leaving out most of the names in a database of about 25 million consumers who once had such coverage or at some point explored the federal website HealthCare.gov.

A set of internal documents obtained by The Washington Post also shows a sharp change in the tone and content of the messaging. Absent from the emails is the theme of health plan affordability  which focus groups, surveys and other research during the Obama administration revealed is most powerful in motivating people to sign up.

Unlike the past four years, when the previous administration marked the arrival of each ACA enrollment period with considerable hoopla from the White House on down, the Health and Human Services Department limited its statements to two low-wattage tweets Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday morning.

For his part, President Trump ignored the opening day. His only reference to the health-care law was a tweet urging Congress to repeal an ACA centerpiece  the requirement that most American carry health coverage  as part of a federal tax-cut bill.

The administrations persistent determination to undercut the laws insurance marketplaces have prompted widespread predictions that fewer Americans will end up with coverage when the enrollment periods ends on Dec. 15 in most of the country.

Nonetheless, plenty of people in certain states appeared eager to register Wednesday at places still offering in-person assistance even though federal health officials slashed grants to the groups that provide such guidance.

Randy Lange, a goateed 63-year-old retired cowboy from Scott City, Mo., sat in a rhinestone-button shirt and mud-splattered boots across the desk from a veteran navigator named Gina Harper. Lange, who has long been uninsured, ignored stabbing chest pain while caring for his wife of nearly 20 years. After she died in February, he went to a free clinic screening where he found out that he had an aortic aneurysm.

I dont want to get up in the morning, Lange told Harper, but my buddies are on me like white on rice trying to get me to take care of this. Harper typed his income from Social Security and a small pension into HealthCare.gov to start his enrollment. Thats what buddies are for, she said.

In Maryland, dozens of people had been in line to enroll when the doors of a Silver Spring health office opened at 8:30 a.m. By noon, 145 had signed in for appointments, the downstairs waiting room was standing room only, and organizers were looking for more chairs. School bus driver Aneeta Malcolm, 54, of Takoma Park, was willing to wait several hours to enroll. She said she previously had ACA coverage through Kaiser Permanente but was kicked off in August over confusion about her federal subsidies and whether she had submitted the correct forms.

Malcolm, who has diabetes, has been cobbling medicine from friends and trying everything to stay healthy, she said. I couldnt wait for this day to come.



Aneeta Malcolm talks with Eddie Gamero, an ACA coverage navigator in Silver Spring, on her 2018 health plan options through the ACA. (Michael Robinson Chavez/The Washington Post)

At Connect for Health Colorado, the staff had by midafternoon increased their projections of calls for the day from 2,700 to 4,000. The volume of calls was running ahead of the past two years, and the nearly 650 people who had created accounts on the federal website was already about one-third greater than for the entire first day last year.

And Access Health CT received nearly 5,000 calls by late afternoon and had roughly 1,000 people on its website at any given time, said Juliet Manalan, press secretary for Connecticut Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman (D).

Other sites were quieter. At a table on the campus of the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg, a 32-year-old man with asthma who renewed his coverage in 15 minutes with a navigator was the only enrollee by the afternoon, though other people had picked up brochures.

Yet in at least three parts of the country, insurance seekers were thwarted by HealthCare.gov, which has largely worked well since the initial 2014 enrollment season when serious defects stymied consumers for months.

Elizabeth Alcorn, 56, of Charlottesville, was ready to fill out her first application for an ACA health plan since selling her dental practice this year because of worsening arthritis. But soon after she began, a box popped up on her computer screen saying her identify could not be verified. She made several phone calls for help and, in the end, was told the only way she could shop for plans was to mail two forms of identification for both her and her husband to an address in Kentucky. And then wait.

Im very nervous, Alcorn said. Im older, my husband is 61, insurance is costing us $2,000 a month, and its killing us, she said. I was really excited we could get something cheaper, and I really wanted to see the numbers.

In Houston, a 63-year-old retired chemical engineer named John May tried twice to start his application but got a screen saying, Please wait. He eventually was locked out. This is very familiar to someone who tried it during the terrible days of the initial rollout, he said.

In the absence of a robust federal promotion campaign, Democratic members of Congress, activists, local officials and several celebrities launched a major push Wednesday at events across the country. In Nashville, Mayor Megan Barry (D) was to join musicians Bill Lloyd, Ashley Cleveland, Gary Nicholson and Todd Sharp at a Health Care Rocks event. And nationwide, supporters of the law are tweeting with the hashtag #GetCoveredNow to spread the word that enrollment is underway.

Still, like many of her counterparts in the dozen states that run their own insurance marketplaces under the law, the head of the DC Health Benefit Exchange Authority keeps worrying over whether consumers will know to sign up.

In previous years, about half of its customers found their way to dchealthlink.com by first going to HealthCare.gov and being transferred once they typed in where they live. With so much less federal effort to generate attention, executive director Mila Kofman said, she is not sure that will again happen.

Moreover, administration officials have said that HealthCare.gov will not always be available on Sundays during the 45-day period. Late Wednesday, they announced four separate kinds of maintenance scheduled for between four and 12 hours this coming Sunday.

Read more:

Fifth years ACA enrollment season opening with daunting obstacles

Trump to end key ACA subsidies, a move that will threaten the laws marketplaces

As ACA enrollment nears, administration keeps cutting support of the law

Tony Rehagen in Cape Giradeau, Mo., and Ashley Cusick in Hattiesburg, Miss., contributed this report.
Parents dressed as Wizard of Oz characters wait as their children trick-or-treat at a shopping center in Freeport, Maine. While Halloween celebrations went on as scheduled in Freeport, several other Maine towns postponded the holiday until Friday due to ongoing cleanup from Mondays severe storm. (Robert F. Bukaty/AP)

INDIANA

2 police officers avoid charges in shooting

Two Indianapolis police officers wont face criminal charges for the June shooting death of an unarmed black motorist who crashed his car while fleeing from a traffic stop, a special prosecutor announced Tuesday.

St. Joseph County Prosecutor Kenneth Cotter cited the claims of self-defense from the officers in deciding he wouldnt file charges against them in the death of Aaron Bailey, 45.

Baileys family sued the city in September, contending that officers Michal Dinnsen and Carlton Howard used excessive force and that Bailey posed no threat to them. Dinnsen is white and Howard is biracial.

Authorities say Bailey had been pulled over for a traffic stop about 1:45 a.m. on June 29 when he suddenly drove off. After a short chase, Bailey crashed into a fence and tree. The officers then approached the vehicle and fired.

Howard fired six shots through the cars back passenger window area, while Dinnsen fired five shots through the back windshield area, according to Cotters report. An autopsy found that four bullets hit Bailey in the back.

A judge from Marion County, where Indianapolis is located, appointed Cotter to oversee the shooting investigation on Aug. 22 after Marion Countys prosecutor stepped aside.

Dinnsen and Howard were placed on administrative leave after the shooting and were later assigned to administrative duty, according to the police department.

The FBI and the U.S. attorneys office in Indianapolis said in July they were opening a civil rights investigation into Baileys death, but have not announced any findings.

The federal lawsuit filed on behalf of Baileys adult son and daughter and his sister contends that the officers fired their weapons into Baileys vehicle without prior verbal command or warning after the crash impact deployed its air bags.

 Associated Press

UTAH

Man arrested in fatal Colorado carjacking

Police arrested a man Tuesday who was sought in a fatal carjacking near the University of Utah and in a Colorado homicide.

Austin Boutain, 24, was arrested after surrendering to workers at a Salt Lake City library.

The arrest came after a manhunt following the death of a 23-year-old Chinese student, ChenWei Guo, who was killed Monday during an attempted carjacking near campus.

In addition, police in Golden, Colo., have said they want to question Boutain about the killing of a 63-year-old man whose body was found in a trailer and whose truck had been driven by Boutain in Utah.

His wife, Kathleen E. Boutain, is also a person of interest in the Colorado case. She was in custody in Utah on unrelated drug and theft charges.

Guo was a freshman from Beijing who came to the United States in 2012 and dreamed of owning his own consulting company.

A lockdown at the university ended early Tuesday. About 175 students had to shelter in the library because they couldnt return to their homes.

University officials canceled Tuesday classes.

 Associated Press

CALIFORNIA

Wildfire damage claims top $3.3 billion

Property-damage claims from deadly October wildfires now exceed $3.3 billion, California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones said Tuesday.

The figure represents claims for homes and businesses insured by 15 companies and is more than triple the previous estimate of $1 billion. Jones said the number will continue to rise as more claims are reported.

The amount of claims now reported means that the fires caused more damage than Californias 1991 Oakland Hills fire, which was previously the states costliest, with $2.7 billion in damages in 2015 dollars, according to the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America.

Forty-three people were killed in the October blazes that tore through Northern California, including the states renowned winemaking regions in Napa and Sonoma counties. They destroyed thousands of buildings as more than 100,000 people were forced to evacuate. It was the deadliest series of fires in California history.

The fires are now nearly contained.

Several dozen buildings were also damaged or destroyed in a fire in Southern Californias Orange County.

Meanwhile a man suspected of starting a wildfire on Oct. 16 that destroyed two homes in Northern California is facing multiple arson charges. The Santa Cruz Sentinel reported that Marlon Coy, 54, pleaded not guilty during a hearing Tuesday.

 Associated Press

N.Y. lawmakers vote to legalize dancing in bars: The New York City Council voted Tuesday to repeal a 91-year-old law that banned dancing at most nightspots. The anti-dancing law prohibits dancing in bars and restaurants that don't have a cabaret license. Critics say the law originated as a racist attempt to police Harlem's 1920s jazz clubs and has continued to be enforced unfairly. Mayor Bill de Blasio (D) has said he supports the repeal, which would go into effect 30 days after it is signed.

 Associated Press
A picture taken on November 1, 2017, shows a general view of buildings in downtown Gaza City and the Israeli port city of Ashkelon. (Thomas Coex/AFP/Getty Images)

MIDDLE EAST

Hamas cedes control of Gaza border crossings

The Islamist militant group Hamas on Wednesday handed over control of the Gaza Strips border crossings with Israel and Egypt to the internationally recognized Palestinian Authority, taking the first tangible step toward implementing a reconciliation deal with the rival Fatah movement.

After a decade of rule, Hamass security forces and border control agents were seen pulling away from the crossings, which facilitate the movement of cargo and people in and out of Gaza. Representatives of the Fatah-dominated Palestinian Authority quickly took up positions.

Hamas seized control of Gaza from the Palestinian Authority in 2007. But after a decade of an Israeli-Egyptian blockade, Hamass new leadership says the group is no longer interested in governing Gaza. The blockade has hit Gazas economy hard, with the territory struggling amid more than 40 percent unemployment and chronic power outages.

Under Egyptian mediation, the two rivals last month announced a preliminary reconciliation deal, but many issues remain unresolved. The sides are to meet in Cairo on Nov. 21 to continue talks on two of the thorniest issues: the fate of 40,000 Hamas government employees and control of the groups vast arsenal of weapons. Hamass military wing has said it will not give up its weapons.

Still, Wednesdays handover marked an important step forward. Officials hope that the handover will lead to an easing of the blockade. Israel, which considers Hamas a terrorist group, and Egypt say the blockade was needed to prevent the flow of weapons and militants in and out of Gaza.

 Associated Press

ERITREA

28 killed in protests, opposition group says

At least 28 people have been killed in rare protests in the capital of Eritrea, one of the worlds most reclusive nations, an official with the largest Eritrean opposition group said Wednesday.

The protests in Asmara, which began Monday and escalated Tuesday, also injured more than 100 people, said Nasredin Ali of the Red Sea Afar Democratic Organization, citing people on the ground in Eritrea. The group is based in neighboring Ethiopia.

The U.S. Embassy in Eritrea late Tuesday reported gunfire at several locations in Asmara because of protests and advised U.S. citizens to avoid the downtown area. The statement did not say why the protests occurred.

Alis claims could not be independently verified. He said a demand by Eritreas government to control a Muslim community school in Asmara led to the clashes.

Following the refusal to hand over the school, some 40 people were arrested and this led to the massive protests, he said.

Information Minister Yemane Meskel played down the reports, saying on Twitter that a small demonstration by one school in Asmara dispersed without any casualty.

 Associated Press

FARC's ex-commander to run in Colombia's presidential race: Guerrillas from Colombia's once-largest rebel group said their former top commander, Rodrigo Londono, who is better known by the alias Timochenko, will run for the presidency of the South American nation in next year's election. The announcement was made by the leaders of the political movement started by the now-disbanded Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC. FARC demobilized under a peace deal with the government last year, ending more than five decades of war.

16 killed in blast at Indian power plant: At least 16 people were killed and dozens injured in an explosion at a thermal power plant in northern India, officials said. Sanjay Khatri, the area's top administrative officer, said a pipe carrying ash from the burning coal exploded in a newly installed boiler at the power plant in Unchahar, in Uttar Pradesh state. The explosion spewed hot ash over workers. The state's top administrative officer said 16 bodies have been recovered.

Suspect arrested in knife attack near Tunisian parliament: A suspected Islamist extremist stabbed two police officers near Tunisia's parliament. The attacker, a 25-year-old known to authorities for radicalism, was arrested, the Interior Ministry said. The stabbing occurred near the country's leading museum, the Bardo  itself the target of one of Tunisia's deadliest attacks, when two extremists gunned down tourists in 2015. Tunisia has struggled with Islamist extremism since protesters overthrew the country's authoritarian leader in 2011 and established a fragile democracy.

 From news services
THE STORY OF Harvey Weinstein is partly a story of secrecy: how the Hollywood producer managed to keep his habit of sexually harassing and assaulting women under wraps for so long. The answer, at least in part, involves Mr. Weinstein's use of confidential settlements and non-disclosure agreements that kept his victims and employees from speaking out.

In this sense, Mr. Weinstein's story is far from unique. Powerful men engaged in sexual misconduct often use similar legal tools to bury controversy  as did both Fox News's Roger Ailes and Bill O'Reilly, who negotiated multimillion-dollar settlements to ensure their victims would remain silent. Even now, with the appalling behavior of these men in the public record, some victims remain unable to make their experiences public. Mr. Weinstein's former assistant has chosen to break her confidentiality agreement to speak out, but took the risk of doing so only after news of her employer's behavior became public.

Several types of agreements can prevent a public accounting of harassment and assault. Some employers  including the Weinstein Co. and Fox  require employees to sign away their rights to criticize the company in public or to adjudicate disputes before a judge, rather than in private arbitration. After leaving Fox, former anchor Gretchen Carlson fought to make her harassment case against Mr. Ailes public rather than bring her complaints to arbitration as required by her employment contract. And Mr. Weinstein's employees have now publicly requested that the company's board free them from their non-disclosure agreements to allow them to speak openly about what took place.

Many of the women harassed or assaulted by Mr. Weinstein or Mr. Ailes reached settlements under the condition that they never make their experiences publicly known. While federal law places some limitations on the scope of non-disclosure agreements written into employment contracts, corporations have greater leeway to restrain speech through confidentiality provisions in settlements.

Ms. Carlson is now pushing for federal legislation to prohibit employers from mandating private arbitration for civil rights complaints. On the state level, lawmakers in New York, New Jersey and California plan to introduce legislation to block courts from enforcing non-disclosure agreements in employment contracts and settlements that prevent employees from speaking out about sexual harassment. Many states have similar laws preventing settlements that conceal information on "public hazards," and California already prohibits such agreements in cases involving rape and sexual assault.

Some victims of sexual harassment and assault may desire settlements that allow them to retain their privacy. Legislators should be mindful of these differing needs. Perhaps, as University of Chicago law professor Daniel Hemel suggests, lawmakers could allow confidentiality agreements with a one-sided opt-out provision: The assailant would be barred from speaking publicly unless the victim chose to speak first.

Laws alone cant change a culture in which powerful men feel entitled to prey on those around them. But reducing secrecy would be an important step toward holding predators accountable and diminishing their opportunity to transgress multiple times.
Columnist

That four U.S. Army soldiers lost their lives in an ambush in Niger should spark a reckoning. While U.S. news outlets flood us with reports on President Trump's alleged insults to a widow who lost her husband and the congresswoman who defended her, and probe the tactical details of the ambush, the real question is: What are U.S. soldiers doing in combat in Niger and elsewhere across Africa? Under what authority do they operate? Is national security served by risking soldiers' lives in what appears to be an expanding and enduring shadow war in Africa?

Sen. Lindsey O. Graham (R-S.C.), a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, claimed that he had no idea there were 1,000 U.S. soldiers in Niger, but he has no qualms about the mission. But after briefings by Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, he boasted that "You're going to see more actions in Africa, not less. You're going to see more aggression by the United States toward our enemies, not less; you're going to have decisions being made not in the White House but out in the field."

The senator shamelessly flaunts Congress's utter dereliction of its fundamental constitutional responsibility to declare war. The Founders gave Congress that power because they were worried about the executive's penchant for wars that ended up impoverishing the people. As James Madison wrote to Thomas Jefferson, "The constitution supposes, what the History of all Governments demonstrates, that the Executive is the branch of power most interested in war, & most prone to it. It has accordingly with studied care vested the question of war in the Legislature."

Today, however, Congress is barely more useful than an appendix, its constitutional powers abandoned, its independence defiled. U.S. forces in Niger and elsewhere in Africa  as well as the Middle East and elsewhere  operate under the ridiculous claim that the Authorization for the Use of Military Force, passed immediately after the 9/11 attacks that sanctioned action against groups and nations that participated in that attack, somehow applies 16 years later to missions against organizations that didnt even exist when those attacks took place.

Congress and the American people are woefully uninformed about much more than the 800-plus troops in Niger. The United States is escalating what William Hartung, director of the Arms and Security Project at the Center for International Policy, terms a "shadow war" on the African continent. According to Vice's Nick Turse, U.S. troops are now conducting 3,500 exercises, programs and engagements per year on the African continent, according to the U.S. military's top commander for Africa, Gen. Thomas Waldhauser. That, Turse notes, is "an astounding 1,900 percent increase since the command was activated less than a decade ago."



In this photo released by the U.S. Army, Army Special Forces soldiers observe as Nigerien armed forces service members fire their weapons during training. (Zayid Ballesteros/Agence France-Presse via Getty Images)

Few legislators, much less American citizens, have any notion that U.S. troops are engaged in nearly constant missions and stationed on a growing number of bases, both enduring and temporary, across the continent. Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), a fresh voice on the House Armed Services Committee, says that we have combat troops in action in 17 countries without congressional debate.

These expanding conflicts are, of course, in addition to the wars in Afghanistan (now entering its 17th year), Iraq, Syria, Yemen and elsewhere. U.S. intervention has helped to destabilize that region and likely has generated far more terrorists than it has deterred or killed. Are we now committing to endless wars without victory across Africa?

If so the risks are clear. The United States will be drawn ever more deeply into local and regional conflicts. The reaction will fuel terrorist recruitment. The money flowing in would likely feed corruption, as it has in the Middle East. Strengthened military and security forces can overwhelm vulnerable civilian governments. Already, U.S.-trained officers overthrew Mali's elected government in 2012 and seized power in Burkina Faso in 2014. In country after country, the United States will be blamed for acting or for not acting. This is a recipe for wars that never produce victory and never end.

This week, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee began hearings on whether the Senate should "update" the AUMF or exercise its discarded war powers. Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine (Va.) and Republican Sen. Jeff Flake (Ariz.), not exactly favorites of the Trump White House, have introduced a new war powers resolution that would authorize military force against the Islamic State (just as they are almost completely routed) with a three-year limit. Most members of Congress, however, are loath to act. They are both fearful of putting restrictions on the military and reluctant to write yet another blank check to the executive in a metastasizing war on terrorism.

We need legislators willing to assume the responsibility that the Constitution assigns them. We need in-depth hearings on the war on terrorism, hearings that probe our purpose and strategy, and measure the consequences  intended and unintended. Are we prepared to ignore our own Constitution and shred international law, claiming the right to attack anywhere at will? And if so, how do we avoid the blowback that is likely to be far more dangerous than the terrorist bands we are chasing?

Terrorism is designed to terrorize. The 9/11 attacks reduced a terrorized Congress into surrendering its powers. In the resulting vacuum, our national security state has claimed a charter for intervention across the globe. That intervention has destabilized a swath of the world from Afghanistan to Libya. And now were turning up the heat on Africa. Surely we need a sober reassessment before we end up reaping what we sow.

Read more from Katrina vanden Heuvel's archive or follow her on Twitter.
Columnist

Beware the low-level volunteer.

Virtually unheard of before Monday, when two of President Trump's campaign staffers were indicted on federal charges, George Papadopoulos is either the key to Russian collusion with the Trump campaign during the 2016 presidential election  or a lying "low level volunteer," as the president tweeted early Tuesday morning.

But contrary to Trumps dismissive, never-heard-of-him shrug, Papadopoulos was also known within the campaign as Trumps foreign affairs adviser. It was within the latter capacity that Papadopoulos tried, unsuccessfully, to arrange meetings between the Trump campaign and Russians close to the Kremlin, ostensibly to learn dirt about Hillary Clinton.

He may be the key to special counsel Robert S. Mueller III's investigation that led to Monday's indictments of the president's former campaign manager Paul Manafort and his longtime business associate Rick Gates on charges of money laundering, tax evasion and crimes against the United States. Papadopoulos himself was offered a pre-indictment plea bargain on charges that he had lied to the FBI during an earlier point in the investigation.

In response to the indictments, Trump has done everything but burn an effigy of Hillary Clinton  as a distraction or, well, what? In the swamp, one is never sure whether movements beneath the surface are gators or mere shadows. Trumps history has taught us, however, that when hes under attack, Clinton will feel it. Like the Ghost of Election Past, she haunts Trumps dreamscape.

"But why aren't Crooked Hillary & the Dems the focus?" he tweeted Monday soon after the news broke.

Indeed, on Capitol Hill, some Republicans, who've been scurrying away from the indictment news as fast as their little mice feet can carry them, have moved to open an investigation into the Obama-era sale of Canada-based Uranium One, which had licenses to mine U.S. uranium, to a subsidiary of a Russian state-owned energy corporation. A committee composed of representatives from several U.S. government agencies, including the State Department  at the time led by Clinton  had to approve the sale, which transpired after the Clinton Foundation received $145 million in donations from Uranium One investors.

This would probably be a good time to grab a sheet of graph paper and a pencil. Youre going to need them to chart the many possible overlaps in this Venn diagram of Russian propaganda/possible collusion/corruption/sleaze/lies/more lies  and wires. As of yet, we have seen no videotape, though its possible that Papadopoulos has been wearing a wire in recent months.

Also, keep your eraser handy. People have people, you know, and others get fired. Or pardoned. But speculation that Trump would pardon Manafort and Gates is probably irrelevant. Manafort and Gatess alleged federal crimes almost certainly could not have happened without committing state crimes. State attorneys general could build cases off of Muellers investigation and effectively neuter Trumps power. A president can only pardon federal crimes.

The question now is: Whos next? And what bigger fish could Manafort or Gates offer up in a plea that would spare them potentially up to 80 years and 70 years, respectively, in prison? Former national security adviser Michael Flynns name keeps coming up.

None of this affirms or even bolsters a case that Trump's campaign colluded with Russia to influence the election, especially given that many of Manafort's relevant business dealings preceded his association with the campaign. All we know for certain is that Russia did influence the election, thanks to astounding testimony by social media leaders Tuesday.

Twitter identified 36,746 accounts associated with Russia that generated election-related content; Google found about 43 hours of election content in about 1,100 videos suspected to be of Russian origin; Facebook estimates that about 126 million people were exposed to Russian-produced stories leading up to the election.

If Trump benefited from these virtual incursions, theres no proof that he knew about it. Then again, weve likely only seen the tip of the iceberg, which must loom large to swamp-dwellers. Plus remember, Chicago crime boss Al Capone was brought down not for murder or racketeering, but for tax evasion.

Read more from Kathleen Parker's archive, follow her on Twitter or find her on Facebook.
Columnist

The First Baptist Church of Christ, founded in 1826, is one of the oldest congregations in this central Georgia city. Its towering red-brick sanctuary, dedicated in 1887, occupies a hilltop between downtown and nearby Mercer University  a physical prominence that evokes the stature of the church in local history.

So it was front-page news in the Telegraph, Macons daily newspaper, when First Baptist called an Aug. 27 meeting of its membership to decide whether its stated policy of welcome and inclusion should extend to the celebration of same-sex marriages.

I'll admit that my first reaction, on coming across the story, was surprise that a Baptist church in the Bible Belt reached this crossroads so soon after the Supreme Court's 2015 ruling on equality in civil marriage. Even in the digital age, church time tends to run slowly. After paying a visit, I think there's something more to learn from this story: how to foster respect and civility even amid disagreement.

The news that hit driveways in Macon that Sunday morning had, in fact, been brewing a long time inside the church. First Baptist is one of about 2,000 congregations that have chosen to leave the conservative Southern Baptist Convention over the past 25 years. For the roughly 47,000 churches that remain in the SBC, same-sex marriage is a nonstarter; no church that condones such unions can participate.

But freedom to weigh the subject did not make the weighing easy. When I met with Pastor Scott Dickison and the chair of the church deacons, Bonnie Chappell, two months after the decision, they still spoke gingerly of an exhausting years-long journey that could yet split their membership.

The voyage began with a series of discussions on the Christian ethics of homosexuality even before Dickisons arrival in Macon from a church in Dallas five years ago. Bible verses in both the Old and New Testaments define marriage as a monogamous relationship between a man and a woman, and other verses condemn sexual activity outside of that relationship. Yet for many believers, strict application of those verses conflicts with Christian ideals of outreach and respect  especially for the outcast or downtrodden of society.

For several years after those sessions, First Baptist wrestled with the issue without confronting it head-on. A key moment came when an openly gay man was nominated to become a deacon. The congregations vote to ordain him was a big step away from Baptist tradition  but the step was taken without an explicit airing. We had talked about this subject in hushed tones for so long that it was difficult to make the discussion formal, Chappell told me.

Then the world pressed in. When the Supreme Court took its step, Dickison wrote approvingly on his blog. After last year's terrorist attack on a gay nightclub in Orlando, the pastor confronted the subject from the pulpit. His topic that day was baptism, the sacrament that signals acceptance into faith. Dickison praised the strides his church had made toward recognizing the universal equality of this sacrament  not only in terms of sexuality, but on questions of race and gender as well.

And he mapped where I hoped we would go.

Whispered conversations gave way to communal soul-searching, through which the pastor and deacons were determined to maintain a spirit of mutual respect. To assure that every view was heard, one meeting was designated solely for the expression of each participants thoughts: No one could respond, favorably or unfavorably, to anothers statement.

And a discussion of Scripture focused on the Bible passages most cherished by church members. The same verses came up again and again, and none dealt with sexuality. We reminded ourselves why we listen to Scripture in the first place: not to be a battleground, but to bring us together, Dickison recalled.

Perhaps most important, the church gathered to hear often-wrenching testimony from church members marginalized by teachings on sexuality. One of our older members said to me afterward, Ive been wondering why we are putting ourselves through this, but now I get it,  the pastor told me.

Dickison and Chappell had hoped to avoid voting on a resolution  there is something distasteful about taking a vote on someones humanity, the pastor observed. But Baptist churches are democracies, and the congregation wanted clarity. In a secret ballot of some 230 members, more than 70 percent voted for inclusion.

A few on the outvoted side left over the decision, a result that has the pastor grieving, he said. His hope is that others will stay long enough to find that the essentials of the church experience have not changed.

Indeed, with patience they might discover an even deeper appreciation for a faith large enough to span gulfs of difference  and for a nation large enough, too.

Read more from David Von Drehle's archive.
Gary Abernathy must have had quite a headache after writing his recent piece, "Will the media's anti-Trump fever ever break?" [Washington Forum, Oct. 27]. Emboldened by former president Jimmy Carter's statement about the media being hard on President Trump, Mr. Abernathy tied himself in knots noting a few platitudes on the importance of the administration deserving close scrutiny from the press, while claiming the media has devolved into an opposition party that is simply too tough on the White House.

What instance of lying, taunting or bungling should the media have backed off on?

Mr. Abernathy suggested leading media outlets "require a significant internal overhaul" to "restore the majority of Americans' faith in them." Putting aside the fact that this is a solution looking for a problem (polls show that Americans trust the media more than the White House), maybe we should give editorial boards an opportunity to devise ways of being a little nicer to Mr. Trump. If they fail in this "reform" effort, surely the next step would be to take a closer look at the president's ideas about libel reform and revocation of broadcasting licenses.

Mr. Abernathy should know that it is not the role of the media to pacify Trump supporters or any segment of the population. The fourth estates job is to educate, inform and hold those in power accountable. If that feels like a fever, he might just be allergic to democracy.

Sean Foley, Burke

Gary Abernathy seemed to think that the mainstream media is derelict in not crediting the president for his accomplishments and in using such terms as "sabotage" and "lies" in describing the president's accomplishments and proclivities. President Trump has done what he has promised, to a great extent, without the help of a Republican-led Congress.

If you consider withdrawing from the Paris climate agreement, castrating the Environmental Protection Agency, raising the specter of nuclear war, eviscerating the Affordable Care Act, alienating our closest international partners and lowering our countrys esteem to be accomplishments, he indeed has been quite successful.

As far as the word lies is concerned, Mr. Trump either lies or is pitifully uninformed. I think the mainstream media has a duty to call it as they see it, and I for one am grateful that they fulfill their obligation to keep the public informed of the unfortunate state of our nation.

George Smith, Frederick
William D. Ruckelshaus was administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency from 1970 to 1973 and from 1983 to 1985.

In May 1983, President Ronald Reagan asked me to lead the Environmental Protection Agency for a second time. The first time was when the EPA began. Reagan's first appointed administrator, Anne Burford, had lost the trust of the public and the confidence of Congress. There were serious questions about the management of the EPA's Superfund program and a too-cozy relationship with corporate executives and lobbyists.

On my first day back, I issued what is now called the "fishbowl memo," which laid out my commitment to openness at the agency. We started to release my full schedule and the publication of written communications on a daily basis. We held regular, brown-bag lunches with the reporters who covered the agency, and every reporter knew he or she could attend. Every other Wednesday, I would spend 90 minutes meeting with those reporters, answering questions. Nothing was off-limits. Everything was on the record.

Why was this so important?

Because the EPA is a public-health agency that is just as important to peoples well-being as the Food and Drug Administration or the National Institutes of Health. The statutes the EPA administers are explicit and unmistakable: Set a safe level of exposure to (name your chemical or pollutant or pesticide) with an adequate margin of safety.

Is it safe to breathe this air? Is it safe to drink this water? Or to swim in it? Is that apple free of toxic chemicals? What is that old waste dump doing to the well water? These are the kinds of questions the EPA answers for the American people.

For the agency to be effective in protecting health, it must first be trusted. People have to believe that when the EPA says something is safe, it is. Otherwise well have chaos.

People must believe that the EPA is acting in their interest, the public interest, not on behalf of a special or influential interest. Thats why at a time of crisis for the EPA in 1983, the fishbowl memo was so important, why press access was so important.

Scott Pruitt, the current EPA administrator, is taking the absolute opposite approach.

Pruitt operates in secrecy. By concealing his efforts, even innocent actions create an air of suspicion, making it difficult for a skeptical public to give him the benefit of the doubt.

Its not that Pruitt is meeting too frequently with executives and lobbyists from the industries he regulates. Every EPA administrator does that and should do that. But there should be a public record about what was discussed at the meetings. Any access to a specific interest should be matched by the same grant to all interests. Most often the public hearing process will satisfy any need for individual meetings.

Becoming an advocate for a specific industry raises serious questions that sow doubt about fairness and objectivity. The EPA should have no natural constituency but the public whose health it is mandated to protect.

Pruitt appears to be turning his back on a bipartisan tradition of transparent governance at the EPA. While no administration is perfect on this, Pruitt's history of working intimately with industry makes it all the more important that he allay his critics' fears instead of intensifying them. And the consequence of such conduct is the slow, destructive erosion of public trust in the EPA.

Once trust is lost and warnings of unsafe air or contaminated water are ignored, Americans will pay the price. Without that trust, not only will people question whether they can believe their government but also business and industry will face public backlash. Boycotts and other attacks are no good for industry and may result in more regulation than warranted.

Industry leaders understand that a public regulatory agency gives their businesses a public license to operate. A strong, credible and fair regulatory regime is essential to the smooth functioning of our economy. Unless people believe their health and the environment are being safeguarded, they will withdraw their permission for companies to do business.

To Pruitt and President Trump, I suggest remembering Anne Burfords experience at the EPA. Remember that a loss of public trust can come back to haunt your administration.
Columnist

Has there ever been a covert action that backfired as disastrously as Russias attempt to meddle in the 2016 U.S. presidential campaign?

Granted, we know all the reasons Moscow is gloating: Donald Trump is president; America is divided and confused; Russias propagandization of fake news is now repeated by people around the world as evidence that nothing is believable and all information is (as in Russia) manipulated and mendacious.

But against this cynical strategy there now stands a process embodied by special counsel Robert S. Mueller III, which we will call, as a shorthand: The Truth. Mueller has mobilized the investigative powers of the U.S. government to document how Russia and its friends sought to manipulate American politics. We are seeing the rule of law, applied.

Put aside for the moment what the indictments and plea agreement announced Monday will ultimately mean for Trump's presidency. Already, Mueller has stripped the cover from Russia's machinations: Trump's former foreign policy adviser George Papadopoulos has confessed that he lied to FBI agents about his contacts with individuals connected to Moscow who promised "dirt" on Hillary Clinton; Trump's former campaign chairman Paul Manafort has been charged with laundering $18 million in payoffs from Russia's Ukrainian friends.

Russian meddling is now advertised to the world. This topic will dominate American debate for the next year, at least. In Europe, meanwhile, a similar reaction to Russian influence operations is gaining force. President Vladimir Putin once imagined that Trump would be Russias bridge back from isolation. Not anymore.

Next comes the overtly dangerous part: When covert operations are exposed, nations sometimes adopt more aggressive actions. On the continuum of warfare, Russia has been playing somewhere in the middle, between war and peace. Now, as the world focuses on Russian mischief, will the Kremlin move the dial up or down?

Putin made some comments last week that worry me. Before a meeting of his security council on Oct. 26, Putin announced that he was augmenting cyberwar policies to take into account "that the level of threat in the information space is on the rise." He proposed "additional measures" to combat adversaries and protect Russia. He argued that Russia was simply protecting its citizens from cybercriminals, but his language was emphatic: "It is necessary to be tough as regards those persons and groups that are using the Internet and the information space for criminal purposes."

To me, that sounded as if Putin was doubling down on Russia's bid to shape the "information space," by whatever means necessary. That was reinforced by his call for a "system of international information security," in which Russia would seek to impose new rules for the Internet through the United Nations and other pliable international organizations. That's a threat I noted a week ago, now confirmed explicitly by Putin.

The potential scope of Russia's cyber-operations was highlighted in a little-noticed report by the Defense Intelligence Agency, "Russia Military Power: Building a Military to Support Great Power Aspirations." Its conclusion: "Russia views the information sphere as a key domain for modern military conflict . . . critically important to control its domestic populace and influence adversary states."

The DIA explains how Russian propaganda strives to influence, confuse and demoralize its intended audience. The report describes Russian trolls, bots and cover organizations. Among the major themes of Russian propaganda, the DIA says, is this Steve Bannon-esque message: The Wests liberal world order is bankrupt and should be replaced by a Eurasian neo-conservative post-liberal world order, which defends tradition, conservative values, and true liberty. And remember, this expose of Moscows hidden hand is coming from Trumps Pentagon!

Heres the strategic impact of Muellers investigation: He is probing efforts by Russia and its foreign allies to manipulate our political system; he is unraveling a covert action. Trumps protests of witch hunt and fake news are similar to words used by Moscow-controlled media outlets.

Perhaps we begin to see a timeline: In March 2016, Papadopoulos met with a Russian-linked "professor"; in April, the professor said Moscow had "dirt" on Hillary Clinton from her emails; in June, Donald Trump Jr., Manafort and Jared Kushner met with a Russian who had promised "some official documents and information that would incriminate Hillary"; in July, Trump was touting WikiLeaks's release of documents about Clinton allegedly supplied by Russian cutouts.

Trump may or may not have colluded with Russia during the 2016 campaign; well leave that question for the lawyers. But if Trump seeks to derail Muellers probe, he is implicitly colluding with Russia now. By many peoples definition, that would be aiding a foreign power, which might be deemed a high crime or misdemeanor. Let Mueller finish his job of exposing Russian manipulation.

Twitter: @IgnatiusPost

Read more from David Ignatius's archive, follow him on Twitter or subscribe to his updates on Facebook.
This editorial has been updated.

"FEAR-MONGERING." That is the title of an ad being aired by Virginia Democrat Ralph Northam that takes aim at ads by Ed Gillespie, his Republican opponent for governor, trying to tie Mr. Northam to MS-13 gang violence and to a child pornographer. Mr. Northam is correct in his assessment of the poisonous ads and correct that it is "despicable" to imply he would tolerate anyone hurting a child. But just as despicable is an anti-Gillespie ad created by an independent group that supports Mr. Northam. It behooves Mr. Northam, while he is offering criticism, to make clear that even though the anti-Gillespie spot was not a product of his campaign, his campaign wants no part of it.

The minute-long spot from the Latino Victory Fund depicted a pickup truck being driven by a sinister-looking white man, flying a Confederate flag and sporting a Gillespie bumper sticker as it chased down a group of terrified brown-skinned children. Titled "American Nightmare," the ad ended with the children waking up from a nightmare and adults watching television footage of August's torch-bearing white-nationalist march in Charlottesville. "Is this what Donald Trump and Ed Gillespie mean by the 'American Dream?' " asked the narrator.

There is no question that if this were a race to the bottom, Mr. Gillespie would be the winner, having spent millions of dollars on ads that use specious claims and appeals to race and ethnicity to scare and divide. That he has doubled down in recent days with deceptive ads trying to paint Mr. Northam as an enabler of child predators underscores the lack of character that has marked his campaign. It is one reason we endorsed Mr. Northam.

But just because Mr. Gillespie has resorted to gutter tactics doesnt give others leave to do the same. The Latino Victory Fund ad was vile. Among other faults, it glossed over the fact that Mr. Gillespie condemned the white-supremacist violence in Charlottesville far more directly than did President Trump.

Ralph Northam would not have run this ad and believes Virginians deserve civility, not escalation, a spokesman for Mr. Northam emailed us. That was before the Latino Victory Fund announced Tuesday night that it was pulling the ad, issuing a statement that cited recent events. Maybe that was a reference to Tuesday nights truck attack in Manhattan. It is sad that it took such a tragedy for the group to realize how out of bounds its ad was. Its also sad that someone who promises to be a governor for all Virginians didnt call them out right away.
COZAD  As the one-year anniversary of Rustic & Red approaches the business is preparing for two public events.

Rustic & Red will host a Christmas Open House Nov. 3  4 during Taste of Cozad with giveaways and food samples. On Saturday, Nov. 4, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., John Tucker will be doing live cooking demonstrations on Himalayan salt rocks which are sold at Rustic & Red.

On Nov. 11, Rustic & Red will celebrate the one-year anniversary of opening at 139 W. 8th St. in Cozad. The anniversary open house will feature refreshments and samplings of new products, along with live music by Heather Wellman at 4 p.m.

The business is owned by Tammy Paulsen and Cathy Pflaster, who have been business partners for 19 years. Before opening Rustic & Red, the pair owned and operated Drive-in Videos in downtown Cozad.

Since its opening, Rustic & Red has drawn not only local business but also shoppers from across the state and Midwest, both owners said.

According to the business web site, Rustic & Red is a retail/general store that carries classy gifts with a rustic twist. The shop carries apparel, home decor, accessories, gifts for special occasions, and so much more. Tanning, movie rental and Kodak picture printing are available as well.

"Weve had great word of mouth. We have a lot of return customers," said Paulsen.

"Within our area of Dawson County people have really supported us very well. We get people from the whole county," Paulsen said.

Having the business featured in the Nebraska Passport Program last summer, a program administered by the Nebraska Tourism Department to promote businesses and travel, was beneficial to establishing Rustic & Reds unique brand, both owners said.

"Ive met a lot of great people from across the state of Nebraska who come shop. We have one couple from Kimball who has been here two to three times since the passport program," Pflaster said.

A variety of apparel for men and women, such as gloves, hats, shawls, sweaters, ponchos, Levis jeans for men and apparel for infant/toddlers is available at Rustic & Red.

The store also carries numerous Nebraska products and locally made artistic items as well, Paulsen said.

Not only is the store a popular shopping option, it also has become an attraction for those who want to view its use of repurposed materials. Wood used in the store comes from the old Sumner-Eddyville-Miller gym and tin from the old Majestic Theatre in Lexington.

What sets Rustic & Red apart as a retail store is its unique merchandise and caring staff that are happy to help customers and provide shopping ideas, Paulsen said.

For couples in the process of planning a wedding, Pflaster said, Rustic & Red offers a bridal registry.

Rustic & Red also has a special feature for those shopping for a special lady and who are not sure about what to get, Paulsen said.

"We have a gift list. Ladies come in, put together a gift list. We keep the list on file. Its helpful for family and friends to know what she already likes," Paulsen said.

The business is still a movie rental store and gets new releases every week, Paulsen said.

"We started as a movie rental store and it is still a part of our business," she said.

Rustic & Red gets new items on a monthly basis, with displays of products changing all the time, Paulsen said.

"If you like something when youre here, get it. It might be gone next time," Pflaster said.

With the holidays fast approaching, anyone planning on doing Christmas cards is welcome to use the business Kodak Kiosk, which provides prints, supplies and envelopes.

Both Paulsen and Pflaster said they were thankful for their customers, whose business has made the first year of Rustic & Red a success.

"We want to give a shout out, a thank you, to all our customers for supporting us. Without them this would have never happened. It has been an extremely fun adventure, from getting to purchase merchandise to interacting with customers, which is a big plus for owning a business," Paulsen said.

Rustic & Red is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Please note the business will be closed Nov. 1 and 2 to prepare for the holiday season.
Columnist

The indictment of Paul Manafort and his longtime business partner Rick Gates should have come as no surprise to anyone. Indeed, it was precisely because of news reports in the summer of 2016 on some of the same matters contained in the federal grand jury's indictment  charges of illicit cash payments to Manafort by the party of former Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych and Manafort's assistance with undisclosed foreign lobbying  that Manafort was fired from Donald Trump's campaign (though somehow Gates managed to stay on).

Special counsel Robert S. Mueller IIIs court filing tells a sordid tale of influence-peddling on behalf of Yanukovych, Vladimir Putins man in Kiev. But while Mondays revelations were in no way an indictment of Trump-Russia collusion, they were a searing indictment of Trumps judgment in bringing Manafort into his campaign in the first place.

My first job in Washington, in 1989, was at Black, Manafort, Stone and Kelly, long before Manafort began working for Yanukovych. Trump was a client then and has known Manafort for decades. Did it not occur to Trump that, given Manaforts recent client roster, this was probably not the person he wanted running his presidential campaign  or that hiring him might come back to haunt Trump as president one day? How was being a pro-Putin lobbyist not disqualifying for Trump?

For his part, Manafort is a victim of his own hubris. He would probably not be in legal jeopardy today if he had not raised his head and become the public face of the Trump campaign. In Washington, you can line your pockets with work for Putin-backed clients, or you can be a public figure leading a presidential campaign, but you cant do both. Manafort reportedly tried. According to the indictment, he was engaged in money laundering of his Ukraine payments during his time on the Trump campaign and afterward.

Similarly, the court's "statement of the offense" on George Papadopoulos for providing false statements to the FBI contains no evidence of Trump-Russia collusion but shows bad judgment on the part of Trump's campaign for bringing Papadopoulos aboard. Papadopoulos was such a junior foreign policy figure that his announcement as a member of Trump's foreign policy team in March 2016 was met with this mocking Post headline: "One of Trump's foreign policy advisers is a 2009 college grad who lists Model UN as a credential."

The statement goes into great detail about Papadopouloss efforts to court a Kremlin-connected professor, a niece of Putin (who was not actually his niece) and a Russian [Ministry of Foreign Affairs] connection. But Muellers court filing also shows that those contacts produced little. Papadopoulos was unable to set up the meeting between Trump and Putin in Moscow that the Russians desperately wanted. (A footnote in the plea deal quotes an email between campaign officials that said, We need someone to communicate that DT is not doing these trips.) When it became clear the Putin meeting would not happen, Papadopoulos tried to pitch himself to travel to Moscow to represent the campaign, which also never happened. In other words, Papadopoulos was a peripheral figure whose failing efforts to impress the campaign with his Russian contacts seem to have come to naught.

Still, why bring him on in the first place? We know that in early 2016 Trump was having trouble attracting talented foreign policy advisers, but this was ridiculous. A presidential front-runner doesn't bring people onto his foreign policy advisory team who still consider "U.S. Representative at the 2012 Geneva International Model United Nations" to be resume-worthy. This was a guy who would have a hard time landing a job as a legislative assistant on Capitol Hill, and suddenly, he's conducting back-door diplomacy with Russian officials and doing interviews with the Russian press in the name of the Trump campaign? What could go wrong?

Much has been made of the professor telling Papadopoulos that the Russians had "dirt" on Hillary Clinton and thousands of "emails of Clinton." But the document does not indicate that anyone at the Trump campaign took Papadopoulos up on this. Moreover, WikiLeaks did not release "emails of Clinton" but Democratic National Committee emails  so it's not clear that the professor's offer was any more truthful than his introduction to Putin's "niece." Because Papadopoulos has been a government informant since his arrest in July, perhaps there is more to come on this front. But as former federal prosecutor Andy McCarthy points out, the statement of offense seems to be more exculpatory than incriminating for Trump: If the Russians were offering Clinton emails through Papadopoulos, "that would mean Trump and his campaign had nothing to do with the acquisition of the emails" and thus had not committed a crime. Accepting "dirt" from Russian sources would have been unsavory if it happened. But that's arguably less unsavory than the Clinton campaign paying for dirt on Trump from Russian sources.

In other words, theres still no more public evidence of criminal collusion with Russia than there was before charges were brought. But there is plenty of evidence that the Trump campaign had catastrophically bad judgment in choosing its most senior and junior advisers  and that Russias spy network sought to exploit that weakness.

Read more from Marc Thiessen's archive, follow him on Twitter or subscribe to his updates on Facebook.
Regarding Harry Appelman's Oct. 28 letter, "An unconstitutional tactic":

Although the Supreme Court has upheld the right of boycott under the Constitution, it has not upheld this right in all circumstances. Thus, in the case of NAACP v. Claiborne Hardware Co., the court upheld the right of African American citizens to boycott merchants in Port Gibson, Miss., who discriminated against them in violation of their 14th Amendment right to equal protection of the laws. However, this was a domestic case involving protection of constitutional rights where there was no valid countervailing law prohibiting such a boycott, and the court specifically noted that had there been such a law, its decision might have been different.

The Export Administration Act, which was amended in 1977 to prohibit boycotts against Israel, and the Ribicoff Amendment to the Tax Reform Act of 1976 have the same objective.

Congress made clear that it is the policy of the United States to make it unlawful for any U.S. company to participate in such boycotts. Congress created the Office of Antiboycott Compliance and provided for criminal and administrative penalties against any company violating these laws.

Because participation in an anti-Israel boycott is unlawful under federal law, Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan's (R) executive order cooperates with the federal government and helps prevent Maryland companies from incurring penalties under federal law. People who oppose this law and its underlying policy are free to speak up against it and urge Congress to repeal it.

Norman D. Kline, Bethesda
DID HILLARY CLINTON sell the country's uranium to Russia in return for donations to the Clinton Foundation? Did the Democrats collude with Russian nationals to tip the election against Donald Trump?

No, and no. Which raises a third question: Why is any of this relevant, particularly now? A fair look at the facts suggests only one option. President Trump needs a distraction, and his surrogates, some Republican members of Congress, right-wing media and even some people in mainstream outlets are helping him gin up outrage against a woman who is not, was never and will never be president. It is a measure of the power of partisanship to warp people's judgment that this bald trickery is getting any traction.

Here are the facts. In 2010 Rosatom , the Russian nuclear authority, bought a piece of Uranium One, a Canadian company that held rights to mine a share of U.S. uranium deposits. The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States approved the deal. The State Department, then run by Ms. Clinton, was one of nine agencies represented on that committee, though the Treasury Department had the lead. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission also had to approve the deal, and President Barack Obama had the final call.

The conspiracy theory is that people related to Uranium One had given money to the Clinton Foundation, mostly before the 2008 election, and therefore Ms. Clinton pressed the deal through. But given the structure of the committee, the separate NRC approval and the president's role in the process, it was not really Ms. Clinton's decision to make, even if the Russians had tried to influence her. In fact, a key premise of the conspiracy theory  that the United States gave up a big chunk of its uranium to the Russians  is simply wrong; none of the uranium could legally be exported, anyway.

Claims that the Clinton campaign colluded with Russia are similarly perplexing. Ms. Clinton's campaign helped pay for a dossier of unconfirmed accusations about Mr. Trump, some of which a British former intelligence official gathered from Russian contacts. It's fair for Congress to want the full story on this and to be frustrated that it has been emerging in fits and starts. But U.S. intelligence agencies have concluded that insofar as the Russian government's efforts to sow discord boosted any one candidate, the Kremlin aimed to help Mr. Trump, not Ms. Clinton. The Russian government did not get the dossier's content published on WikiLeaks  as it did a variety of emails it stole from the Democrats  or anywhere else before the election.

The real scandal in all this is the cynicism of the president and others trying to distract Americans and draw moral equivalencies where none exist. Even White House Chief of Staff John F. Kelly, at one time considered to be among the more sober members of the administration, called Monday for an investigation into Ms. Clinton. Mr. Kelly should think about what this does to his credibility  and to the country's. The party in power is demanding the investigation and possible prosecution of its defeated political rival on trumped-up claims of wrongdoing. This is what happens in banana republics, not the world's greatest democracy. Even if this is just a strategy to divert attention, it is unbecoming of the leaders of a rule-of-law state and a disservice to their oaths.
Editors Note An earlier version of this story published on Oct. 31, 2017, referred to previous reporting in The Washington Post that Belarusan-American businessman Sergei Millian had been a source of information for a dossier of unverified allegations against Donald Trump. In November 2021, The Post removed that material from the original 2017 story after the account was contradicted by allegations in a federal indictment and undermined by further reporting. References to the initial report have been removed from this piece.

President Trump on Tuesday belittled former foreign policy adviser George Papadopoulos, who pleaded guilty this week to lying to federal agents investigating Russias interference in the 2016 election, tweeting that few people knew the young, low level volunteer named George, who has already proven to be a liar.

But interviews and documents show that Papadopoulos was in regular contact with the Trump campaigns most senior officials and held himself out as a Trump surrogate as he traveled the world to meet with foreign officials and reporters.

Papadopoulos sat at the elbow of one of Trumps top campaign advisers, then-Sen. Jeff Sessions, during a dinner for campaign advisers weeks before the Republican National Convention, according to an individual who attended the meeting.

He met in London in September 2016 with a mid-level representative of the British Foreign Office, where he said he had contacts at the senior level of the Russian government.

And he conferred at one point with the foreign minister of Greece at a meeting in New York.

[Heres what we know so far about Team Trumps ties to Russian interests]

While some top campaign aides appeared to rebuff Papadopouloss persistent offers to broker a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, there is no sign they told him directly to cease his activities or sought to end his affiliation with the campaign.

Emails included in court documents released Monday show that Papadopoulos repeatedly told Trump campaign officials about his contacts with people he believed were representing the Russian government.

The court documents do not answer a key question: whether Papadopoulos also told his superiors that he had met a London-based professor who claimed to know that the Russians had dirt on Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton, including thousands of her emails.

An FBI agent told the court in July that Papadopoulos lied in an interview with federal agents, saying he did not tell anyone on the campaign about the dirt because he thought the professor was a nothing.

[Whos who in the George Papadopoulos court documents]

At 29, Papadopoulos had scant experience that qualified him to advise a presidential candidate. He had entered the Trump campaign after a six-week stint working for the campaign of Trumps rival for the Republican nomination, neurosurgeon Ben Carson.

Carsons campaign manager, Barry Bennett, recalled that Papadopoulos was hired after sending him an unsolicited message via LinkedIn seeking a job.

At the time, Carsons campaign was desperate to show it had policy experts advising his campaign, given that most leading Republican foreign policy thinkers had been snapped up by other candidates.

Bennett said his only vetting was to ask a friend at the Washington-based Hudson Institute, where Papadopouloss resume indicated he had worked as a researcher, whether Papadopoulos was an okay guy.

I wasnt looking for something stellar, Bennett said. I wanted to make sure he was okay.

For six weeks of work, Bennett said, Papadopoulos was paid $8,500, before he was let go from the campaign at the end of January 2016 as it shed staff.

By March 2016, Trumps campaign, like Carsons before it, was eagerly searching for foreign policy expertise. As Trump rose in the polls and won Republican primaries, the former reality TV host was under pressure to announce a group of advisers with whom he was consulting on foreign policy issues.

The scrutiny intensified early that month after 70 conservative national security experts signed an open letter opposing Trumps candidacy. In mid-March, Trump was asked on the MSNBC show Morning Joe to name people with whom he spoke about foreign affairs.

Im speaking with myself, number one, because I have a very good brain, Trump responded, prompting more calls for a list of formal advisers.

To come up with names, the campaign turned to Sam Clovis, a former Iowa radio host who served as national campaign co-chairman, an attorney for Clovis confirmed Tuesday in a statement.

But the statement did not address how Papadopoulos ended up on the list. Bennett said he was not consulted and would not have recommended his former employee if he had been asked because he found him unimpressive.

On March 21, Trump included Papadopoulos among five men he announced were advising him on matters of national security in a meeting with The Washington Post editorial board. An energy and oil consultant. Excellent guy, Trump said.

[Anyone . . . with a pulse: How a Russia-friendly adviser found his way into the Trump campaign]

If Trump or his team had undertaken even a cursory vetting of Papadopoulos, they would have found that much of his already-slim resume was either exaggerated or false.

While he claimed to have served for several years as a fellow at the Hudson Institute, officials there said he had been an unpaid intern and a researcher under contract to several fellows who were writing a book.

Although he claimed to be U.S. Representative at the 2012 Geneva International Model United Nations, officials at that organization said they had no record of him.

Papadopoulos said he had delivered the keynote address at a leading American-Greek organization in 2008  while a student at DePaul University. But records from the gathering indicate he merely participated in a youth panel with other participants. The keynote was delivered by 1988 Democratic presidential candidate Michael Dukakis.

Though Papadopouloss exaggerated resume issues quickly became public, he remained a part of the Trump advisory panel and soon began urging campaign aides to let him set up a meeting between Trump and Russian officials.

Court documents show he raised the idea at a March 31 meeting of the group attended by both Trump and Sessions, who had endorsed Trumps campaign, telling the group that he had connections that could help arrange a meeting between then-candidate Trump and President [Vladimir] Putin.

He also began appearing in the foreign press. While visiting Israel the next month, he told a group of researchers that Trump saw Putin as a responsible actor and potential partner, according to a column in the Jerusalem Post.

In May, he told the Telegraph of London that Prime Minister David Cameron should apologize to Trump for calling the candidate divisive, stupid and wrong. Camerons comments had come after Trump announced that he supported a ban on Muslims entering the United States.

Papadopouloss comments were big news in Britain  and the campaign took notice.

J.D. Gordon, a former Pentagon spokesman and Trump national security adviser, said campaign officials were displeased, and Papadopoulos was counseled that he should clear future media appearances with campaign staff and keep a low profile.

I was surprised to learn what George Papadopoulos was up to during the campaign, he said Tuesday in a text message. He obviously went to great lengths to go around me and Sen. Sessions.

And yet, Papadopoulos continued to be invited to campaign events. In late June or early July, he attended a dinner at the Capitol Hill Club along with several other national security advisers for the Trump campaign.

Another person who was at the meeting said Sessions also attended; Papadopoulos was seated to Sessionss left.

A spokeswoman for Sessions declined to comment.

Media appearances by Papadopoulos continued.

In September, he spoke extensively to Interfax, telling the Russian news agency that Trump has been open about his willingness to usher in a new chapter in U.S.-Russia relations, depending on Russia acting as a responsible stake holder in the international system. He also questioned the effectiveness of U.S. sanctions on Russia.

By that time, WikiLeaks had released emails hacked from the Democratic National Committee that were widely suspected to have been stolen at the direction of the Russian government. Trumps warm rhetoric toward Putin had become a controversial topic on the campaign trail.

Court documents show that Papadopoulos forwarded a copy of the Interfax article to a Russian woman with whom he had been corresponding during the campaign.

[Timeline: How Papadopoulos tried to work with the Russian government]

British sources said it was around that time that he approached British government officials to say he was traveling to London and asked to be given a meeting with senior government ministers. Instead, he was offered a session with a mid-level official at the Foreign Office in London.

During the meeting, Papadopoulos made a comment indicating he had contacts at the senior level of the Russian government, British sourcessaid. British officials quickly concluded he was not a major or knowledgeable player in the Trump orbit and did not pursue the issue or continue contact.

A spokesman for the Greek Embassy said he met with that nations foreign minister in New York. Spokesman Efthymios Aravantinos said the conversation was conducted as part of a routine effort that the embassy makes to reach out to Greek Americans hoping they have a sentimental attachment to Greece and that we can connect.

It is not clear how much the campaign knew about Papadopouloss activities. But he continued through these months to have contact with other Trump officials.

In September, Papadopoulos emailed another Trump aide, Boris Epshteyn, and told him he planned to be in New York and hoped to set up meetings around the U.N. General Assembly meeting.

The email was described to The Washington Post in August of this year and is among 20,000 pages of documents that the Trump campaign has turned over to the White House, congressional committees and defense attorneys.

Papadopoulos wrote that he wanted to connect Epshteyn with a friend, Sergei Millian of the Russian American Chamber of Commerce, the emails said.

Epshteyn said he never met Millian and declined to comment further. Asked in August to describe his relationship with Papadopoulos, Millian responded by email, I can meet and talk to any person. . . . Its none of your business.

Millian did not respond to a request for comment Tuesday.

Papadopoulos continued to hold himself out as a Trump adviser, even after the November election.

Two days after Trumps inauguration in January, he met in Washington with a group of Israelis headed by Yossi Dagan, a leader of the West Bank settler movement that prepared a video of the session to be shown at home.

We had an excellent meeting with Yossi and we hope that the people of Judea and Samaria  the name used by the Israeli right for the West Bank  will have a great 2017, Papadopoulos said, according to the video. We are looking forward to ushering in a new relationship with all of Israel.

According to an account in the Jerusalem Post, the settler leaders had been invited to attend the inauguration and meet with senators, congressmen and members of the Presidents team. Dagan, reached by telephone Tuesday in Israel, declined to comment on the visit or who had arranged the meeting with Papadopoulos.

While the president now seems to have left Papadopoulos behind, Papadopoulos has continued to highlight the tie. On LinkedIn, he indicates he was a Trump adviser through January 2017 and includes the experience as the first line of his description about himself.

President Trump recommendation about me: George is an oil and gas consultant; excellent guy,  Papadopoulos wrote.

karen.deyoung@washpost.com

om

Dan Balz, Sari Horwitz and Devlin Barrett in Washington and Ruth Eglash in Jerusalem contributed to this report.

Read more:

Three former Trump campaign officials charged by special counsel

This is a nothing burger: How conservative media reacted to the Mueller indictments

Upstairs at home, with the TV on, Trump fumes over Russia indictments
Summer Zervos, right, listens alongside her attorney Gloria Allred during a news conference in Los Angeles in October 2016. (Ringo H.W. Chiu/AP)

President Trump's lawyers argued in a new court filing late Tuesday that he was expressing a political opinion last year when he called accusations of sexual misconduct against him as false and the accusers "liars," seeking to dismiss a defamation complaint by a woman who said he groped her.

Summer Zervos, a former contestant on Trumps reality television show The Apprentice and now a California restaurant owner, filed her lawsuit against Trump in January, three days before his inauguration.

In October 2016, Zervos accused Trump of aggressively kissing her and groping her breasts during a 2007 meeting that took place when she was seeking a job at his company. Her lawsuit claims that he made defamatory statements by describing as liars women who came forward last year to accuse him of misconduct.

Marc Kasowitz, an attorney for Trump, said in a statement that there is no merit to her case, adding that it is based on allegations of events that never occurred. He described it as nothing more than a politically-motivated lawsuit stemming from accusations made in a news conference weeks before the presidential election.

[Trump says sex harassment claims are fake news, but there are corroborators]

In the new 36-page legal filing, Trumps attorneys argue that previous legal cases have established wide latitude for political speech, and that Trumps comments were effectively campaign rhetoric, coming in the context of the heated 2016 presidential campaign.

All of the Statements occurred on political forums  a campaign website, on Mr. Trumps Twitter account, in a presidential debate, and at campaign rallies  where the listeners expect to hear public debate, taken as political opinion rather than a defamatory statement, they argued.

A New York State Supreme Court judge is considering Trumps motion to have the case thrown out.

Zervos is one of 11 women who spoke out during the 2016 campaign and accused Trump, then a Republican presidential candidate, of unwanted touching or kissing.

Trump denied the allegations, calling them pure fiction and labeling the women horrible, horrible liars. He vowed to sue his accusers and promised evidence that would refute their claims, although nearly a year later, neither the lawsuits nor such evidence has materialized.

[My pain is everyday: After Weinsteins fall, Trump accusers wonder: Why not him?]

Trump, asked about the Zervos case last month, called it made-up stuff and disgraceful. White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said last week that the Trump administrations official position is that all of Trumps accusers are lying.

Through her attorney Gloria Allred, Zervos has declined interview requests; Allred said Zervos does not plan to give media interviews during the litigation process.

As part of the case, Zervoss attorneys have sought to subpoena documents from Trumps campaign related to any of the women who have accused him of inappropriate sexual contact. The subpoena remains on hold while Trumps lawyers seek to have the case dismissed.

His attorneys previously argued that a sitting U.S. president cannot be sued in state court.

[In Apprentice defamation case, Trump will argue he is immune from lawsuits in state courts until he leaves office]

In their new filing, Trumps lawyers cited a New York State Supreme Court judges ruling in January dismissing a defamation complaint by Cheryl Jacobus, a political strategist and television commentator who claimed that Trump defamed her by insulting her on Twitter. That judge found that his statements were not defamatory.

The presidents lawyers argued that Trump had a First Amendment right to call the claims by Zervos and other women false. They said that by accusing him of sexual misconduct to the media, Zervos was explicitly soliciting Trump to engage in the debate in an effort to affect the election.

This is a politically-driven action, brought against a sitting President for exercising his First Amendment right to speak on political and public matters concerning, among other things, his own qualifications for President, the medias role in the election process, and the tactics of his opponent, Hillary Clinton, his attorneys argued.

Trumps attorneys also said that he did not specifically call Zervos a liar.

Here, Mr. Trump was merely defending his character and qualifications for office from the false attacks Ms. Zervos leveled against him just a few weeks before the Presidential election, they argued.

Trumps attorneys again asked for the dismissal of Zervoss suit, or a stay in the case while Trump is president, saying the claim is a civil action unrelated to his official duties as president.

The closely watched lawsuit is unfolding amid heightened public scrutiny of allegations of sexual misconduct by powerful men.

Trumps accusers complaints were made public during the 2016 campaign following the emergence of an Access Hollywood video that captured Trump bragging in graphic terms about kissing women and grabbing them by the genitals.

Jenna Johnson contributed to this report.
A push to make anti-sexual-harassment training mandatory on Capitol Hill gathered momentum this week after Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Charles E. Grassley (R-Iowa) urged colleagues to apply the policy to all employees of the upper chamber.

I am convinced that sexual harassment training is vitally important to maintaining a respectful and productive working environment in Congress, Grassley wrote to the leaders of the Senate Rules Committee in a letter Tuesday.

Therefore, I respectfully request that the Committee on Rules and Administration consider the immediate implementation of a policy requiring all new Senate employees . . . as well as all current employees who have not yet received it to undergo online or in-person sexual harassment training, he wrote.

Grassley's endorsement could accelerate a change in policy on Capitol Hill, where new stories of sexual harassment have emerged following a rash of allegations of abuse and misbehavior by movie producer Harvey Weinstein. The Iowa Republican wrote the 1995 law creating some workplace protections for congressional employees, but anti-harassment training is still voluntary, unlike in most federal agencies, as The Post recently reported .

How Congress plays by different rules on sexual harassment and misconduct

His letter, which did not mention mandatory training for lawmakers, was first reported by Politico.

Senator Klobuchar and I are working closely with our colleagues to address the issue in the most effective manner, Senate Rules Committee Chairman Richard C. Shelby (R-Ala.) said in a statement. Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) is the panels ranking Democrat.

New bills in the House are triggering the same debate, though their details vary.

Rep. Jackie Speier (D-Calif.) plans to introduce bipartisan legislation Thursday requiring lawmakers and staff to undergo annual mandatory anti-harassment training. Speier, a longtime advocate for mandatory training, joined the me too social media campaign on Friday by describing her experience with unwanted sexual advances as a congressional staffer in the 1970s.

Many of us in Congress know what its like, because Congress has been a breeding ground for a hostile work environment for far too long, Speier said in a video released by her office.

A separate bill from Rep. Brenda Lawrence (D-Mich.) would require Hill employees to receive training every other year. Introduced last week, it had 51 co-sponsors as of midday Wednesday, including one Republican, Rep. Bruce Poliquin (Maine).

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) supports efforts to require anti-harassment training. Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.) has said systems can always be improved but has not specifically endorsed mandatory training.

The speaker believes the House Administration Committee is right to review the standing procedures and resources available to staff, press secretary AshLee Strong wrote Wednesday in an email to The Post.

How to report sexual harassment claims on Capitol Hill

Speier is also preparing legislation to overhaul the process for resolving workplace disputes on Capitol Hill and to implement a survey to measure the scope of sexual harassment.

The process for reporting harassment has drawn scrutiny in recent weeks.

Under the current rules, congressional employees must undergo months of counseling and mediation through the Office of Compliance before filing a lawsuit against their harassers. Settlements are paid out of a special U.S. Treasury account.

In the executive branch, mediation is an option but not required for employees who want to pursue legal claims, and settlements come out of agency budgets.

Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D. C.) called attention Tuesday to the ways Congress has exempted itself from workplace rules that apply to the rest of the government. She proposed legislation that would end this disparity.

"It is impossible to justify exempting congressional offices from the comprehensive provisions Congress now requires of private employers and federal agencies, especially sexual harassment laws that protect workers, such as requiring employers to post workers' rights or to conduct training," Norton said in a statement.

The Washington Post is examining workplace violations on Capitol Hill and the process for reporting them. To contact a reporter, please email michelle.lee@washpost.com, elise.viebeck@washpost.com or kimberly.kindy@washpost.com .

Read more at PowerPost
Britain's defense secretary Michael Fallon abruptly resigned Wednesday following allegations of inappropriate sexual behavior.

Fallon, 65, is the first British lawmaker to resign amid a growing number of claims against British politicians that have emerged in the wake of the Harvey Weinstein scandal, which has encouraged people around the world to share their stories about sexual harassment and assault.

Earlier this week, the Sun tabloid newspaper ran a front-page story about Fallon  or Sir Michael as he is known now after he was knighted in 2015  repeatedly putting his hand on a well-known radio journalists knee at a dinner in 2002.

The journalist, Julia Hartley-Brewer, dismissed the incident as mildly amusing, and said, no one was remotely upset or distressed.

But British media reported that there may be similar incidents that have occurred more recently.

In his letter of resignation, Fallon wrote, A number of allegations have surfaced about MPs in recent days, including some about my previous conduct. Many of these have been false but I accept in the past I have fallen below the high standards that we require of the armed forces that I have the honour to represent.

He concluded, I have reflected on my position and I am now resigning as defense secretary.

Fallon is a well-regarded defense secretary, with decades of service in a series of top government posts. He was initially opposed to Britain leaving the European Union, fearing that it would strengthen Russias hand on the continent.

Responding to the resignation, British Prime Minister Theresa May said: I appreciate the characteristically serious manner in which you have considered your position, and the particular example you wish to set to servicemen and women and others.

[Read the resignation letter from Fallon and Mays response]

May did not mention the allegations of sexual misconduct in her letter. Instead, she thanked Fallon for his service  in four departments of state under four prime ministers  and wished him well in continuing to serve in parliament.

Before Fallons resignation, Hartley-Brewer recalled the incident in a statement. I calmly and politely explained to him that if he did it again I would punch him in the face. He withdrew his hand and that was the end of the matter.

After Fallon apologized, Hartley-Brewer tweeted that No one was remotely upset or distressed by it. My knees remain intact.

Hartley-Brewer told Sky News on Wednesday evening that she didnt think the resignation was due to knee-gate alone.

Im assuming that there are more allegations to come whether in a tabloid newspaper tomorrow or sooner than that, the journalist said. I doubt very much it was a result of my knee -- and if it is, then I think thats really mad and absurd and crazy.

In the global fallout of the Weinstein scandal, clouds have been gathering over Westminster.

A number of claims have been made against British politicians in recent days.

International Trade Minister Mark Garnier is under investigation following claims that in 2010 he asked his then-secretary to buy sex toys for him and referred to her as sugar t.

Garnier didnt deny the claims, but said that it was good-humored hijinks and didnt amount to sexual harassment.

Stephen Crabb, the former work and pensions secretary, apologized for sending explicit text messages to a 19-year-old woman hoping to get a job in his office in 2013.

The Environment Secretary Michael Gove also apologized for his clumsy joke about Harvey Weinstein during a radio interview.

Asked his opinion of the tough questions often asked during the BBC flagship radio Today program, Gove replied to the host John Humphrys, Sometimes I think that coming into the studio with you John is a bit like going into Harvey Weinsteins bedroom.

Another guest, former Labour leader Lord Kinnock said: John goes way past groping...way past groping.

Gove later apologized for my clumsy attempt at humor.

Another investigation is underway following claims that Damian Green, Mays de facto deputy, made unwanted sexual advances towards a writer 30 years his junior. Green denied the allegations.

A so-called dirty dossier has been making the rounds of Westminster -- a list of 40 Conservative lawmakers accused of inappropriate behavior or unwanted sexual advances. One politician is accused of being handsy at parties, another is dubbed Cop-a-feel.

Some lawmakers have rebutted the allegations. A researcher whose name is on the list tweeted that nothing of the kind implied by my name being included on this spreadsheet ever took place.

In response, May has called for a tougher system to crackdown on abuse at Parliament. She has written to the speaker of the house, John Bercow, calling for the establishment of an independent mediation service for those working in Parliament.

Britian is not the only country facing new allegations of sexual misconduct. In France, the Weinstein scandal has proven particularly resonant, with French women launching their own social media campaign to out their aggressors and marching through the streets of major cities, demanding an end to sexual assault.

The Paris prosecutors office is currently investigating charges of rape by two different women against Tariq Ramadan, a prominent Swiss-born Muslim academic who has vehemently denied the charges.

Ramadan, who currently teaches at the University of Oxford, has taken stances on Muslims in Europe that have earned him few friends among Frances intellectual elite, and this week, he appeared on the cover of the satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo with a visibly erect penis, under the headline the sixth pillar of Islam.

At present, Ramadan has not been suspended from his post at Oxford.

James McAuley in Paris contributed to this article.

Read more:

A British minister admits he made his secretary buy sex toys as #MeToo hits Parliament
Women walk past a roadside poster of Chinese President Xi Jinping on Oct. 24. Xi Jinping Thought will now be taught, researched and promoted in universities across China. (Greg Baker/AFP/Getty Images)

A day after thousands of Communist Party delegates voted to have President Xi Jinping's thought included in the official party dogma, one of the country's elite universities immediately opened a research center dedicated to his ideology.

Within the next few days around 40 universities followed suit, scrambling to set up their own centers for Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics in a New Era.

Its the latest example of the narrowing space for independent thought in modern China, and the ever tighter ideological controls being imposed under Xis rule, foreign and domestic experts said. It is also at odds with Chinas ambitions to be a global power in academia, and undermines the chances of constructive debate over government policy.

This strikes me as a Great Leap Backwards for Chinese academia, said Edward Vickers, an expert in Chinese education at Japans Kyushu University.

In a speech in December, Xi declared that universities should be strongholds of the party, while teachers should be disseminators of advanced ideology and staunch supporters of Communist Party rule.

Six months later, the partys anti-corruption watchdog concluded an inspection of the nations elite universities and accused 14 of them of ideological weakness for not making enough effort to teach and defend Communist Party rule.

[Chinas president takes campaign for ideological purity to schools]

It appears the higher education sector has learned its lesson.

The first to announce a research center dedicated to Xi Jinping Thought was Renmin University of China in Beijing, one of the nations most respected higher education institutions with links to more than 200 other universities around the globe.

It opened the center on Oct. 25, just one day after thousands of party delegates unanimously voted to absorb the phrase into their constitution, alongside Mao Zedong Thought and Deng Xiaoping Theory.

From the aspect of the development of our country, the establishment of the research center is of great historical significance, Liu Wei, president of the university and director of the new center, told Chinese media. It is an important responsibility given to the school by our times.

While the partys ideology does merit serious study, say critics, the point of these centers is mainly to give the party some academic gloss and enhance its legitimacy.

The nations top academics may not take them very seriously: Peking University already has a center dedicated to Deng Xiaoping Theory, and it is arguably peripheral to the main academic work of the university.

Nevertheless, the establishment of so many centers in such a short space of time symbolizes a significant shift in the political climate in which academics and students operate.

While Xi is genuinely popular with many Chinese, attempts to reimpose this sort of crude ideological control in universities are not likely to lead to harmonious relations between academia and the party leadership, Vickers said.

Many professors  especially in social science and humanities disciplines  find this more stringent ideological atmosphere highly demoralizing, though it is unlikely to provoke outright resistance.

The centers will also suck money away from other research projects, warned Wu Qiang, a former politics lecturer from Beijings elite Tsinghua University.

Universities, in the past five years, have transformed into machines and bases for directly serving the needs of ideology and the leadership, he added.

One man who has experienced the growing controls directly is Qiao Mu, a former journalism professor who was demoted at Beijing Foreign Studies Universities for his outspoken views, before resigning and finally leaving China in September to live in the United States.

He sees the centers as shortsighted and a sign of degeneration of Chinese universities as a whole.

The universities, on one hand, want to use these centers to get funding and grants. On the other hand, they want to show their political loyalty, he said. This goes completely against the principles of higher education, which is to promote the spirit of independence and the freedom of thought.

The move to put Xis name in the constitution raised him to the level of Mao and Deng in the Communist Party pantheon. His thought will now become part of the syllabus in compulsory ideology classes taught to Chinese children and students, from primary school up to the university level.

Any challenge to his views will inevitably be seen as an attack on the party as a whole, and therefore as an attempt to undermine national security. Many experts see that as a dangerous path to follow.

Maos attempt to jump-start industrial growth, known as the Great Leap Forward, disintegrated into a famine that killed tens of millions of people in the early 1960s. The party says it has learned the lessons of that period. But critics say the latest developments are symptoms of a party more inclined to lecture than listen.

There is little doubt that the space for critical debate over public policy is being increasingly squeezed, Vickers said. The party is evidently not in listening mode  but is intent on message control, at every level.

Luna Lin contributed to this report.

Read more:

Chinas president takes campaign for ideological purity into universities, schools

Chinas leader elevated to the level of Mao in Communist pantheon

The rise of Chinas Xi Jinping told in six front pages

Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world

Like Washington Post World on Facebook and stay updated on foreign news
Women hold Spanish, Catalan and European flags during a demonstration against Catalonia's independence in front of the European Parliament building in Strasbourg, in eastern France, on October 24. (Patrick Hertzog/AFP/Getty Images)

Catalonia's feisty independence advocates are as pro-European as they come. But they are discovering that E.U. leaders are not returning their love.

Deep into a crisis in which the separatist region declared independence from Spain, only to be taken over by the Madrid government, many pro-E.U. Catalans say they are disappointed that the European Union has done little to defend them. Hopes had been high enough to lead their ousted leader, Carles Puigdemont, to seek a Brussels exile to drum up E.U. support for their cause.

But the European Union has largely followed Madrids lead  that the conflict is domestic and that the E.U. has little right to intrude. With Britains impending divorce from the E.U. and other regions contemplating breakaway attempts, E.U. leaders want to avoid any further cracks in their united front.

The conflict puts European leaders in an awkward position. They could stand by as independence advocates face a bloody response from Spanish police, as happened during Catalonias Oct. 1 independence referendum; or they could push hard against Madrid, which could appear to be an endorsement of a separatist effort that has split Catalonias population in two.

"Many people feel very disappointed by the way that the European Union, the European institutions and European governments have reacted," said Jordi Sole, a pro-independence member of the European Parliament, an elected legislative body of the E.U. where Catalan politicians have received a cold shoulder. He said he thought Catalans' faith in the E.U. had been damaged recently.

Throughout the independence effort, Catalonias leaders have been careful to keep the E.U.s blue-and-gold flag alongside their own, even as they furled the national flag of Spain. Their dreams of living as a free nation are made possible in part by the European ideal that borders are outmoded, and that European citizens can travel and work from Portugal to Estonias frontier with Russia without once flashing a passport.

Economic integration in Europe has helped stateless nations like Catalonia to raise the stakes when it talks about independence, Sole said. Because the fact that there are no borders anymore, no customs, that has decreased the potential cost of becoming an independent state.

But it turns out that many European leaders are not interested in allowing Catalonia to join their club. Some defended Spains tough response to the referendum, a step that Catalan separatists found especially galling.

Let me be clear: Violence does not solve anything in politics. It is never an answer, never a solution. And it can never be used as a weapon or instrument, European Commission First Vice President Frans Timmermans said last month.

None of us want to see violence in our societies, he said. However, it is a duty for any government to uphold the law, and this sometimes does require the proportionate use of force.

That response caused Miquel Bada, a Catalan Internet entrepreneur, to shake his head.

We are upset about this lack of reaction, he said.

The E.U.s predecessor was a particular lodestar for Catalans during the dictatorship of Francisco Franco, when many expressions of Catalan cultural identity were repressed. Spains 1986 membership in the European club heartened many in the region. Now, a European identity is tightly bound into a Catalan one.

The main argument against the independence movement is the possibility of the exclusion from Europe, said Josep Ramoneda, the director of the European School of Humanities in Barcelona. If people think that this is possible, then support for independence falls immediately.

Even as Puigdemont emerged in exile, he hailed European ideals in his plans to further the region's cause.

I have decided to come to Belgium, no, to Brussels, the capital of Europe, to work without threats, Puigdemont said at a crowded Brussels news conference on Tuesday.

But European leaders have largely lumped the Catalans in with the other whirlwind forces challenging the stability of the 28-nation bloc, which will shrink to 27 members after Britain leaves in 2019.

Belgium  where Puigdemont is still debating whether to apply for asylum  is one prime example of the dilemma. Flemish nationalist politicians inside the ruling coalition have welcomed the Catalan leader inside their country, in part because they view Catalonias struggle for independence as akin to their own efforts to form an independent Flanders. But Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel, a pro-unity leader of a different party, has reacted to Puigdemonts presence in his country with exasperation.

Many European officials say they have little alternative than to endorse the rule of the Spanish state, even as they push against violence in private. They also point to opinion polls that show that less than half of Catalan residents actually support independence, even as that percentage is growing.

If we let Catalonia become independent  but its not our business  others will do it, and I wouldnt want that, said European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, who heads the branch of the European bureaucracy charged with enforcing that member states live up to European rules, including human rights.

"I don't want a European Union comprised of 98 states in 15 years," Juncker told students in Luxembourg in mid-October, adding that he had pressed Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy not to allow the situation to spiral out

of control.

European Council President Donald Tusk echoed that sentiment after Catalonias declaration of independence on Friday.

For E.U. nothing changes. Spain remains our only interlocutor. I hope the Spanish government favors force of argument, not argument of force, Tusk wrote on Twitter.

The pushback has frustrated many Catalans.

It was our hope that the more European we would become, the more rights and opportunities we would have, said Ramon Tremosa, a pro-independence member of the European Parliament. In the sense of human rights, we expected more from the European Union.

Some Catalans with E.U. experience say they are not shocked that Europeans have not rallied to their cause. But they say they have been surprised that Europe has not pushed more forcefully against the violence during the referendum and at other efforts to suppress the poll.

Its quite clear that the central E.U. institutions would never support a political movement that would lead to the split of a member state, said Albert Royo, who was the secretary general of the Public Diplomacy Council of Catalonia, the regions foreign affairs organization, until it was shut down by Spanish authorities on Friday.

What is happening in Catalonia is a stress test for the whole of the E.U. Because its quite easy for you to raise your hand when this is happening in Bosnia or Turkey or elsewhere. But when its happening in one of the main E.U. countries, then this is a real challenge, Royo said.

Braden Phillips contributed to this report.

Read more

How Catalonias crisis is turning into a European problem

How Catalonias independence went from dream to defeat in just a month

Catalonia finally declared independence  but Spain vows it wont last long

Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world

Like Washington Post World on Facebook and stay updated on foreign news
Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl has provided a "gold mine" of useful intelligence about the militants who held him captive for years in Pakistan, and his experience has injected valuable lessons into the military's program that instructs troops in how to avoid and escape capture, experts testified during Bergdahl's sentencing Tuesday.

Those experts said Bergdahls decision to abandon his post in Afghanistan in 2009 produced an unintended consequence: His detailed recollections of his captors tactics, methods of detainment and other information were so valuable that intelligence agencies and military doctrine were dramatically improved, potentially adding a new foil to the factors being weighed by a military judge to determine Bergdahls punishment, if any.

Terrence Russell of the Joint Personnel Recovery Agency, the lead Pentagon group for recovering prisoners of war and other captives  which also produces related training and doctrine  testified that Bergdahls debriefing contributed to lessons taught to U.S. troops and allied militaries, adding that Bergdahl still has intelligence that has yet to be collected that could help troops in Afghanistan right now.

Can you give him to me now? I need him now. I needed him three years ago, Russell said. The fact I cant get that information is wrong. Russell added that he has debriefed more than 120 American captives, more than any other U.S. official.

[The Army let a convicted murderer into Bowe Bergdahls trial. He said, I got a firing squad standing by.]



Intelligence analyst Amber Dach leaves the Fort Bragg courtroom facility after testifying for the defense Tuesday. (Andrew Craft/AP)

The defense appeared to use testimony from Russell and a former Defense Intelligence Agency analyst to suggest that there is a national security interest in showing Bergdahl leniency.

Army Col. Jeffery R. Nance, the presiding judge who will determine Bergdahls potential punishment, is expected to announce the soldiers sentence this week.

Bergdahl pleaded guilty Oct. 16 to desertion and misbehavior before the enemy, which carries a maximum of life in prison.

Amber Dach, the lead intelligence analyst tracking Bergdahl, said initial intelligence collection was difficult in the region. The Taliban-linked Haqqani network, which held Bergdahl in Pakistan, executes robust disinformation operations to deceive analysts sifting through large amounts of raw data, she said.

[For those tasked with finding Bowe Bergdahl, deep resentment remains]

That changed weeks after Bergdahl was recovered and offered a gold mine of useful intelligence, including actionable information on militant activity that was immediately sent to commanders in Afghanistan, Dach said.

It reshaped the way we did intel in the area. It confirmed what we knew and what we did not know, she said.

Dach did not elaborate on what kind of information he provided, but she did say Bergdahl helped analysts build a captor network like never before, suggesting that he offered information such as details on key Haqqani leaders, preferences for terrain, and how guards transport prisoners and pick prisoner holding sites for the group, which uses ransom to fund its operations.

The testimony Tuesday contrasts with a slate of other witnesses called by the prosecution  troops who say they were wounded on the battlefield during search-and-rescue operations launched to find Bergdahl.

The defense has suggested that Bergdahl's treatment should be a mitigating factor in determining his sentence. Russell said the brutality and duration of Bergdahl's captivity, which included torture and confinement in a cage, amounted to the worst case of prisoner treatment involving a U.S. service member since the Vietnam War.

[Hoping to avoid prison, Bowe Bergdahl recounts his treatment as a Taliban prisoner]

Nance also will weigh other positive contributions Bergdahl has made since his rescue.

Doctrine and strategies to recover missing personnel are honed to specific regions, but no U.S. soldier other than Bergdahl had ever been captured in Afghanistan, making him a uniquely valuable source of information as the Trump administration increases troop levels there.

Only 32 enemy-held U.S. troops have been recovered since the Persian Gulf War, making each one especially valuable to students learning how to evade capture if alone in hostile territory, Russell said.

Among others, Russell debriefed Michael Durant, a Special Operations pilot captured in Somalia in the 1993 "Black Hawk down" mission.

In the debrief, Durant told Russell that he owed understanding of how to conduct himself as a prisoner from stories told by Jeremiah Denton, a Navy pilot shot down and captured in North Vietnam in 1965. Denton blinked "torture" in Morse code to relay information about his treatment to U.S. authorities.
The main protagonists of the Russia probe stayed largely out of public view on Monday. President Trump surfaced only late in the day for a White House trick-or-treating event, while special counsel Robert S. Mueller III was invisible apart from the signature he affixed to the indictment that was unsealed.

But their clashing dispositions  a contrast in the way they conduct themselves that goes beyond their competing approaches to legal combat  have become a palpable part of the investigation of Russian interference in American politics.

Trump has often treated the probe as a political assault to be met with counterattacks in both public and private, rather than a legal minefield to be navigated carefully. He has fired his former FBI director, lashed out frequently on social media, shuffled teams of lawyers and called for the prosecution of Democrats  all part of a highly public but so far unsuccessful attempt to derail the investigation.

[Its not clear where Muellers next bombshell will land. And that has Washington on edge.]

Mueller, by contrast, has been silently methodical. He has not uttered a single word in public, works from an undisclosed location in Southwest Washington and demonstrated the same discipline and disdain for theatrics that defined his 12-year tenure as FBI director. Submarine-like in approach, Mueller has remained entirely below the surface except when delivering legal strikes that have included the raid of former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manaforts home and the indictments this week.

View Graphic Who has been charged in Russia probe and why

Mueller is the opposite of Trump, the opposite of a showman, opposite of blustery, said Jack Goldsmith, who served as a senior Justice Department official in the George W. Bush administration. Mueller is very quiet, very circumspect, very disciplined, Goldsmith said. But he spoke very loudly and very powerfully through the indictments of Manafort and his longtime business partner Rick Gates as well as the guilty plea of former Trump foreign policy adviser George Papadopoulos that were disclosed on Monday.

The president's defenders remain convinced he will be vindicated, and that Mueller's investigation will fail to find evidence that the Trump campaign colluded with Russia as part of a Kremlin interference campaign that, according to a report by U.S. intelligence agencies, sought to discredit the 2016 U.S. election and help propel Trump to victory.

Here we are and its November, 11 or 12 months into this thing, and still no evidence that Trump did anything, said Barry Bennett, a former campaign adviser to Trump. I dont think Trump even sees [Mueller] as an adversary.

If Trump at times seems unconcerned with the extent to which his statements and actions complicate his legal position, Bennett said, it is because he sees himself as innocent and doesnt even understand why were engaged in this process.

One of Trumps lawyers, Ty Cobb, said Monday that Muellers moves had not been a cause of great agita or angst or activity at the White House.

[Whos who on Muellers special counsel team]

But the statement was belied by Trump's own behavior, according to those close to him who said he spent much of Monday fuming over media coverage and venting to subordinates. He also lashed out in a series of posts on Twitter, saying Tuesday that the "Fake News is working overtime," and that Papadopoulos  an adviser Trump once praised as "an excellent guy"  was "proven to be a liar."

The predictably rapid leak of details about Trumps reaction from inside the White House only highlighted the contrast with Mueller, whose legal team has a lock on the progress of the probe. CNN reported on an indictment Friday night, but there were no reports that it was Manafort and Gates until just hours before it was unsealed. Nothing leaked on the plea and cooperation of Papadopoulos until Mueller chose to disclose it.

Muellers refusal to engage publicly sets him apart from other legal and political adversaries that Trump has encountered since his entry into politics. Trumps combative impulses are often most effective when he can draw opponents into a public skirmish, whether on a crowded debate stage during the Republican primaries or in social media showdowns with members of his own party, including most recently Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.)

Trump has, at times, sought to pressure key players in the Russia probe. He pressed former FBI director James B. Comey for an oath of loyalty before firing him in frustration as the inquiry expanded. More recently, Trump publicly berated Attorney General Jeff Sessions over his decision to recuse himself from matters related to the Russia probe, a decision that cleared the way for installing Mueller as special counsel.

Mueller has been protected from such entanglements, partly because of the nature of his job as special counsel  which, unlike leading the FBI, requires minimal interaction with the White House  but also because of his temperament.

Former associates of Mueller said his stealth approach reflects long-standing views of prosecutorial conduct, but also has the strategic advantage of unnerving targets of investigations, a list that may include Trump.

The net effect of having these two powerful actions in court [Monday] combined with the mystery that has surrounded the investigation up until today has set everyone in Trump world on edge, said Matthew Miller, who served as Justice Department spokesman during the Obama administration.

Miller noted that other special prosecutors have taken a more public role. Kenneth Starr, who led the Whitewater investigation that culminated in impeachment charges against President Bill Clinton, spoke in public during the investigation and even appeared on news programs.

Mueller, by contrast, was not seen entering or leaving the courthouse on Monday. As the Manafort indictment was unsealed, there was no accompanying statement from Muellers office describing the facts of the case  as is typical in Justice Department news releases  leaving reporters to read the extensive court filings to fill in the blanks. Even the location of his office in Southwest Washington is a mystery to many in government.

Mueller did meet with Trump earlier this year when Trump was interviewing candidates to replace Comey as head of the FBI, officials said. But within weeks Mueller was tapped as special counsel and is not known to have had any further contact with Trump since then.

Sari Horwitz, Devlin Barrett, Matt Zapotosky, Philip Rucker, Ashley Parker and Spencer Hsu contributed to this report.

Read more:

Mueller got Manaforts attorney to speak against him once. He may try the tactic again.

Muellers moves send message to other potential targets: Beware, Im coming

Upstairs at home, with the TV on, Trump fumes over Russia indictments
Former North Korean deputy ambassador to Britain Thae Yong-ho testified Wednesday before the House Foreign Affairs Committee. He has urged an information campaign over miitary force. (Ed Jones/Pool photo via AP)

Kim Jong Uns iron grip on the North Korean people is weakening, and an information campaign rooted in soap operas and dramas could help advance a civilian uprising, a prominent defector told a congressional panel Wednesday.

Great and unexpected changes are taking place within North Korea, Thae Yong-ho, a former diplomat in North Koreas Embassy in London, testified before the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

In Thaes view, free markets are increasingly popular. The state welfare system has collapsed under stiff sanctions, making civil servants and military officers dependent on bribes and embezzlement. State propaganda is shunned as more people watch South Korean television programs, forcing the government to allow the sale of DVDs of Soviet-era films and even American animation like Tom and Jerry, The Lion King and Beauty and the Beast.

The changes make it increasingly possible to think of a civilian uprising in North Korea as more people are gradually informed of the reality of living conditions, he said. The North Korean government will either have to change and adapt in positive ways for its citizens, or face the consequences of their escalating dissatisfaction, said Thae, the highest-ranking defector in two decades.

When Thae was a member of North Koreas elite as deputy ambassador to Britain, his appearance in Congress would have been unthinkable. But last year, he took his family and defected to South Korea so his sons would not have to follow in his footsteps as a modern-day slave to a despotic regime.

[Former diplomat: Ive known that there was no future for North Korea for a long time.]

Since then, he has repeatedly told South Korean intelligence officials, think tank academics and journalists that the regime in Pyongyang is inching closer to collapse. He now calls it the worst system in human history and compares its human rights abuses to crimes committed by the Nazis.

In his first visit to the United States, Thae told lawmakers that he thinks all options should be exhausted to forestall the regime's nuclear weapons ambitions before using military force, as President Trump has threatened. Thae said Kim believes he needs a nuclear arsenal to "blackmail" the United States into abandoning the Korean Peninsula, which would lead to foreign investment flight and the crumbling of the South Korean economy.

[Trump threatens fire and fury in response to North Korean threats]

Before any military action is taken, I think it is necessary to meet Kim Jong Un at least once to understand his thinking and to try to convince him that he would be destroyed if he continues his current direction, he said.

Thae urged Congress to maintain tough sanctions and pressure countries such as China to further isolate it by cutting off most trade with its biggest partner. He predicted that if Washington could convince Beijing not to repatriate North Korean defectors but allow them safe passage en route to Seoul, it would cause a mass exodus.

If China opened routes for defectors to go to South Korea, I think the North Korean system would collapse in a short span of time, he said.

But his most intriguing proposal is that Washington spend more money to finance television programming extolling the virtues of freedom, democracy and human rights.

We cannot change the policy of terror of the Kim Jong Un regime, he said. But we can educate the North Korean population to stand up by disseminating outside information.

The U.S. is spending billions of dollars to cope with the military threat, he added. And yet how much does the U.S. spend each year on information activities involving North Korea? . . . Unfortunately, it may be a tiny fraction.

Thae said programming tailor-made to North Korean audiences would help change the mind set in a country where children bow to portraits of Kim Jong Un, and thank him for their daily milk and apples during the harvest season.

The regime established stupid brainwashing that depicted Kim Jong Un as the god, he said. We should try to concentrate our efforts to educate people that Kim Jong Un is not a god. He is just a normal human being. We should touch the Achilles heel of Kim Jong Un.
President Moon Jae-in told lawmakers Wednesday that South Korea would not seek nuclear weapons and would never accept its neighbor North Korea as a nuclear-armed state.

Recent tests by North Korea have led to a renewed debate about nuclear weapons in South Korea.

According to the joint agreement by the two Koreas on denuclearization, North Koreas nuclear state cannot be accepted or tolerated. We will not develop or possess nuclear weapons, either, the president said in his second state-of-the-nation address at the National Assembly, South Koreas parliament.

Although the country sought its own nuclear weapons in the 1970s during the presidency of Park Chung-hee, the United States persuaded South Korea to abandon such ambitions.

The United States stationed nuclear weapons in South Korea until 1991, when President George H.W. Bush withdrew all such tactical weapons deployed abroad. But the country remains under the U.S. nuclear umbrella.

After North Korea conducted its sixth nuclear test, on Sept. 3, a number of politicians suggested that the South should reconsider its own nuclear weapons program. In the weeks following that test, lawmakers from South Korea's opposition party, the Liberty Korea Party, came to Washington to ask for the redeployment of U.S. nuclear weapons to the country.

The debate has also taken place within Moons party, the Democratic Party. The redeployment of tactical nuclear weapons is an alternative worth a full review, Defense Minister Song Young-moo said in early September, before North Koreas latest nuclear test.

Before he was elected U.S. president, Donald Trump also suggested he was open to the possibility of countries such as South Korea and Japan acquiring their own nuclear weapons to deal with the threat of North Korea.

Moon, however, has remained adamant about nuclear weapons and has repeatedly said he would not consider redeployment, because of the possibility of raising tensions with North Korea. During a recent visit by Defense Secretary Jim Mattis to Seoul, Mattis and his counterpart, Song, dismissed the idea of redeploying nuclear weapons.

When considering national interest, its much better not to deploy them, Song said.

Mattis said U.S. strategic assets already provide the necessary deterrence.

Despite Moon's strong opposition to nuclear weapons, recent polls have shown that a majority of South Koreans favor them. A poll conducted by Gallup Korea in September found that 60 percent of South Koreans supported nuclear weapons for their country in theory, a number consistent with other polls conducted recently.

Speaking to the National Assembly on Wednesday, Moon said other options were preferable to military action with North Korea.

Sanctions and pressure are means to bring North Korea to the negotiating table and to make the right choice,  he said. There can never be a military conflict on the Korean Peninsula or military operations without the South Korean governments prior consent.

Yoonjung Seo contributed to this report.

Read more:

More than ever, South Koreans want their own nuclear weapons

A South Korean delegation asks Washington for nuclear weapons

Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world

Like Washington Post World on Facebook and stay updated on foreign news
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 01/11/2017 (1841 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Storytelling bonds people and builds cultures.

A good cookbook can be the platform for that, recounting stories of shared times, detailing ways to preserve and maintain traditions. Cooking with the Wolfman: Indigenous Fusion by David Wolfman and Marlene Finn (Douglas & McIntyre, $29.95) is just such a book filled with the recipes and stories, collected from the families and friends of Wolfman (of the Xaxlip First Nation), with his wife and partner Finn (of the Metis Nation of Ontario).

It honours Indigenous cultural and culinary traditions combined with classical techniques and ingredients and brings it all into the 21st century. This is Wolfmans signature repertoire  he calls it Indigenous fusion.

Collard greens are kissing cousins to cabbage, broccoli and kale and are considered to be among the worlds healthiest foods.

Readers may remember Wolfman from his days as a TV chef on APTN (hes now on FNX and NativeFlix). Hes also a professor at the culinary school at George Brown College in Toronto. Finn is an education consultant, former director of the National Aboriginal Achievement Awards and former vice-president of the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business.

Together, they deliver cooking demonstrations and workshops on Indigenous food and family nutrition, and establish First Nations restaurants. This is their first cookbook.

As Ive been talking about this book, I realized how much Ive been talking about my mom, and how much my mom shared  and I hadnt realized how much I had actually listened, which I thought was quite good, says Wolfman.

Marlene Finn concurs.

I relied on my mom, whos 91, to retell stories that Id heard over and over again, but it wasnt until I sat down to actually type them out that I realized I didnt have all the details, says Finn.

It was difficult to get them right when the ingredients werent always available; it meant a lot of corrections on some of the recipes.

We did get the stamp of approval when we did one of the recipes and Marlenes mom took a bite and she just closed her eyes, says Wolfman.

We made buffalo pemmican for her. My parents moved to Toronto in the 50s, and I dont think shes had pemmican since she was a child, says Finn.

That was a moment and its really hard to put that into words, because its something I wont forget.

Wolfman had a similar experience years ago with his late mother.

I dried salmon in a dehydrator, and when I gave it to my mom, and she ate it and said: Who sent this to you? he says.

It was like she couldnt believe that I had made it, but it was one of those moments. It was like bringing home back to them.

The book is strong on the details of kitchen essentials, food-handling techniques and nutrition. Game is featured in many of the recipe, so this is essential information.

David was insistent from the beginning that this had to be practical and it had to be very explicit in terms of the instructions, the measurements/conversions, and the ingredients, says Finn.

He really wanted it to be very reliable but not too technical, and I think thats due to his training as a professor.

The other thing is that it is also Indigenous fusion, says Wolfman. For example, we fused a lot of the international flavours or methods, or we fused some other ways with our Indigenous cousins in the south or the north with some of the techniques that we used.

Finding authentic ingredients has been tricky in the past.

I remember 20 or 30 years ago, when I was running my catering company if I had to get something and there was no internet says Wolfman.

You had to beg, borrow and steal to get your hands on certain things, says Finn.

But now there are more people selling these unusual types of things  grains that theyre making flour from, wild rice, smoked salmon, birch syrups, heirloom beans and spruce tips.

With better access to traditional foods and an enthusiastic role model in Wolfman, the book has the potential to inspire people who want to pursue a career in the culinary arts.

I think the key is having a passion for it, says Wolfman.

If you have a passion for food and cooking, you wont worry about having to get up in the morning because you love it, and youll stay until the jobs done.

Finn sees interest among Indigenous people.

Were seeing more Indigenous people graduating from culinary school, opening restaurants, getting their names in the paper, and I think over time, that has a tremendous impact on their economic potential, she says.

I think a lot of that is through role-modelling, as well as the fact that a lot of aboriginal people are now developing a greater sense of pride in this type of food.

Were reclaiming our heritage one bite at a time, Wolfman says.

Here are two of Chef David Wolfmans specialty dishes from Cooking with the Wolfman: Indigenous Fusion (recipes and photos reprinted with permission from Douglas & McIntyre, $29.95).

Hot-Smoked Winnipeg Goldeye Chowder

Makes 6 to 8 servings

For this chowder, you could also use store-bought hot-smoked trout or smoked salmon.

SPICE BAG

12 crushed black peppercorns

2 dried bay leaves

5 ml (1 tsp) dried rosemary

5 ml (1 tsp) dried thyme

Make a spice bag with a square of cheesecloth, double-layered. Place ingredients in middle of square and tie four corners together so nothing falls out.



CHOWDER:

2 whole (about 200 g/7 oz each) hot-smoked Winnipeg goldeye

2 l (8 cups) homemade fish stock or store-bought unsalted fish stock

8 oz (225 g) diced bacon

500 ml (2 cups) diced onion

250 ml (1 cups) diced celery

10 ml (2 tsp) finely chopped garlic

500 ml (2 cups) diced potato

5 ml (1 tsp) kosher salt (or sea salt)

1 cob roasted corn or drained canned niblet corn

5 ml (1 tsp) cornstarch

30 ml (2 tbsp) water

250 ml (1 cup) 18 per cent cream

GARNISH: Chopped fresh herbs or sea asparagus (optional)

Prepare the spice bag and set aside.

Remove skin and bones from fish and reserve. The bones are hard to find, so do this job by a sunny window. Flake the flesh into a small bowl and set aside.

Heat stock in a stockpot almost to the boiling point. Add the fish bones, skin, fish head, tail and trimmings, and heat to the boiling point. Lower heat and simmer for 15 minutes. Strain the stock using a fine sieve or strainer into a pitcher.

Clean the pot and return to heat. Add the bacon and saute for five to seven minutes. Add onion and celery, and cook for five more minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the garlic and cook for one minute.

Add potato and strained stock, and bring to a simmer. Add the spice bag and salt, and simmer for 20 minutes.

Add the corn and simmer for another five minutes. Then add the deboned smoked fish flesh.

To thicken the chowder, mix the cornstarch and water thoroughly in a small bowl and pour it into the pot. Bring the chowder back to a simmer and whisk. Add the cream and simmer on medium heat for two minutes.

Remove spice bag before serving the chowder with sea asparagus or a garnish of your choice.

White Bean and Collard Green Ragout

Makes 4 servings

Collard greens are kissing cousins to cabbage, broccoli and kale and are considered to be among the worlds healthiest foods.

15 ml (1 tbsp) pure olive oil

225 g (1/2 lb) diced bacon (or salt pork)

250 ml (1 cup) diced onion

15 ml (1 tbsp) chopped garlic

900 g (2 lb) fresh collard greens

750 ml (3 cup) home made white stock, or store-bought unsalted chicken stock

1 can (560 ml/19 fl oz) white beans, drained and rinsed (preferably navy beans, cannellini beans or great northern beans)

1 can (830 ml/28 fl oz) low-sodium stewed tomatoes, drained and cut into quarters

5 ml (1 tsp) sriracha (or other hot sauce)

2.5 ml (1/2 tsp) ground black pepper

Heat a Dutch oven over very low heat for 10 minutes. Heat oil, and the add bacon, turn up the heat to high and cook for three minutes. Lower heat to medium and cook for ve more minutes or longer if necessary, until meat is crispy and brown. Use a slotted spoon to remove the bacon and place on a plate lined with paper towel.

Add onion to the pot and saute until translucent (about ve minutes). Add the garlic and saute for two minutes.

Rinse and dry collard greens very thoroughly to remove sand. Remove the white centre ribs with a knife. Chop leaves into bite-sized pieces. Add to the pot and saute until the greens start to soften (about two minutes).

Heat the stock in a microwave or on the stovetop almost to the boiling point. Add the stock, beans, tomatoes, sriracha and pepper to the pot. Let the mixture come to a boil.

Lower the heat and return the bacon bits to the pot. Let the mixture simmer over medium to low heat, covered, for 45 minutes.

Note: If you use salt pork instead of bacon you could end up with few, if any, crispy brown bits at the end. This is OK, since it is the liquid fat that will flavour the beans and collard greens.

Twitter: @WendyKinginWpg
Opinion

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Conflicts between levels of government often unfold at a glacial pace.

A wait and see is the preferred approach when governments in Canada disagree. Polite diplomatic language, the weapon of choice for politicians in battle, can obscure underlying conflicts. When pressed by reporters for incendiary language, good politicians often play their cards close to their vests to create time and space for senior bureaucrats to iron out disputes.

Most of the time, thats exactly what happens. That is not, however, the state of relations between Manitoba and Ottawa on climate change.

ADRIAN WYLE / CANADIAN PRESS FILES Environment Minister Catherine McKenna is unimpressed with Pallisters strategy.

Last week, Manitoba unveiled its long-awaited carbon tax strategy, which involves a $25-per-tonne tax starting next year. Although both sides were quiet over the weekend, on Monday Ottawa served notice that Premier Brian Pallisters made-in-Manitoba plan is not going to satisfy the demands of a federal climate change policy.

Ottawa wanted an introductory carbon tax of $10 per tonne introduced in 2018, and to then see it ramp up to $50 per tonne by 2022. Manitoba refused to sign that accord, holding out for a better deal on health care that never materialized.

Realizing that it could not simply ignore Ottawas demands, Pallister devised a plan that would set the carbon tax at $25 and refused to increase it in future years. Pallister has argued he can meet the same carbon reduction targets without increasing the tax.

The federal government had previously indicated some willingness to accept carbon-reduction measures other than a tax if they could be shown to be effective. Still, Environment Minister Catherine McKenna was unimpressed with Pallisters strategy. Manitobas approach is good for the first two years. After that, they will have to go up.

If McKenna had been looking westward from Parliament Hill immediately after uttering those comments, she would have been able to see the mushroom cloud that erupted from Pallisters office on the northeast corner of the Manitoba Legislative building. If Manitobas premier hates anything more than taxes, it is being told what to do by a federal Liberal government.

The official response was left to Manitobas Sustainable Development Minister Rochelle Squires, who immediately returned fire: Manitobans will decide what Manitobans will do. It is an excellent tag line, one worthy of a bumper sticker or T-shirt. It will not, however, defuse this growing conflict.

If there is middle ground here, neither side is doing a very good job of laying it out.

Between it will have to go up and Manitobans will decide for themselves, there seems to be very little room for compromise. Although a court battle seemed a remote possibility even a week ago, suddenly it seems like the preferred option, particularly for Pallister.

A notorious penny-pincher, Pallister has already demonstrated a willingness to invest in legal opinions that fuel his desire to defy Ottawa. That opinion  which suggested Ottawa had the authority to impose a carbon tax on Manitoba but might not if the province devised its own strategy  cost only $40,000. Although thats a paltry sum in relative terms, it was still a colossal waste of money.

Ottawa has the constitutional responsibility to manage the environment. And there is tremendous sense in making sure any national plan is applied consistently across the country. When Ottawa is trying to discourage Canadians from consuming carbon-spewing fossil fuels, it is imperative that motorists in Fredericton pay the same carbon levy for gasoline as motorists in Coquitlam.

Still, if Manitoba really wanted to make the case that it deserves to walk a different path on carbon reduction, it needed to come forward with a more complete strategy. Instead, all the premier could deliver was half measures.

The most glaring omission from the made-in-Manitoba plan was a complete absence of any information about what the province will do with the money generated by the $25-per-tonne levy, estimated to be about $250 million per year. Pallisters claim that he can accomplish the same reduction in carbon emissions with a lower tax rate is without merit unless he explains how he will use the revenue to create incentives to reduce consumption of, or switch away from, fossil fuels.

Pallister claimed he needed more time to consult with Manitobans on the best use of the revenue. It should also be noted that when Pallister says consultation, he really means online survey, the same methodology used to gather public reaction to the possible introduction of a health-care premium and other budget strategies.

The results of that earlier effort were nothing short of hilarious: unscientific in its approach, the online survey only succeeded in creating inconclusive data that was muddled and conflicted.

The premier needs to acknowledge that if he really wants to accurately collect public opinion, he needs to use scientific methods. Otherwise, the online survey is nothing more than group therapy masquerading as consultation. And thats not a good enough reason to hold back on his plans for the carbon tax revenue.

How long will the standoff on carbon reduction last? The rubber meets the road two years from now, when Manitobas $25-per-tonne tax will fall below the rate being charged in other provinces. Until that time, however, the sparring will undoubtedly continue.

Pallister seems determined to hold his ground against what he perceives to be the federal Liberal governments bully tactics. And while Ottawa has done enough to earn the title of bully, the premier should remember one important and indisputable reality of the issue he is waging war over.

A $50-per-tonne tax may not save the environment. But needless fighting with Ottawa only contributes to an oversupply of hot air.

dan.lett@freepress.mb.ca
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This article was published 31/10/2017 (1842 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Canadians who donate to the Rohingya refugee crisis in Bangladesh can double the amount of help theyre sending thanks to the federal governments announcement Tuesday that it will match individual donations thought its new Myanmar Crisis Relief Fund.

Since August, more than 600,000 Rohingya people have fled to Bangladesh to escape violence in Myanmar. They join an estimated 300,000 refugees already in Bangladesh who fled previous spikes in violence. Most are women and children.

Two Winnipeg-based charities issued news releases Tuesday welcoming the federal governments new relief fund and asking Canadians to open their wallets.

The Canadian Foodgrains Bank and Canadian Lutheran World Relief, both headquartered in Winnipeg, say Canadians can double the help received by responding to the appeal that runs until Nov. 28 and is retroactive to Aug. 25.

To donate to Canadian Lutheran World Relief, visit www.clwr.org/donate/rohingya-crisis. Donations to the Foodgrains Bank that are designated to this crisis are also eligible to be matched on a 4:1 basis through its ongoing grant agreement with the federal government. Visit foodgrainsbank.ca to donate.
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This article was published 01/11/2017 (1841 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Stung by federal criticism that Manitoba will have to up its game on climate change in the future, Premier Brian Pallister suggested Tuesday that Ottawa is more interested in imposing its will than lowering greenhouse gas emissions.

On Tuesday, the premier continued to face questions about his governments climate change plan. Last week, he announced that Manitoba would next year impose a one-time carbon tax of $25 a tonne  or roughly the equivalent of five cents per litre on gasoline  instead of gradually meeting a federal requirement of $50 a tonne within five years.

I didnt particularly think that the initial comments from the federal government representatives were thoughtful in respect of things like us having to up our game, Pallister told reporters.

BORIS MINKEVICH / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES Premier Brian Pallister says his governments climate plan is a better alternative to Ottawas guidelines.

If anybody needs to up their game, Ill argue, on an environmental record, the federal government may need to up its game. Manitoba has been the greenest province in the country, arguably apart from P.E.I., for some time now. And we have a record thats pretty good in terms of doing the right things for the environment.

On Friday, after the province announced its climate change strategy, federal Environment Minister Catherine McKenna said the Manitoba proposal would serve it well for the first few years. After that, theyll need to up their game, she said on her Facebook page. The details matter.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also made it clear that Manitoba would have to follow federal guidelines, and McKenna reiterated her expectations for an eventual $50-a-tonne tax this week.

We dont want the federal plan. We want a better alternative. Weve worked very, very hard to develop a better alternative. It works better for our environment. We think it will achieve better results over the five-year period theyve outlined. Were ready to be measured on it and be accountable on it, Pallister said Tuesday.

But to suggest, as this one federal minister did, that we have to up our game. Or that somehow the federal government will arbitrarily increase the level of the carbon tax after a certain preordained time that theyll determine, makes this all about federal power and not about results. To me, this is about results.

When it was suggested to the premier that he was heading for a legal showdown with the federal government, he replied: we wont need to go to court if the federal government is reasonable, thoughtful and has some foresight.

Pallister said federal governments in the past have issued ultimatums and it hasnt worked very well. He said perhaps the federal Liberals are in negotiation mode right now.

Perhaps thats what theyre doing, he added.

On Friday, Sustainable Development Minister Rochelle Squires will represent Manitoba at a meeting of Canadas environment ministers in Vancouver. It will be the first opportunity for Manitoba to make its case for a lower carbon tax to McKenna directly.

NDP Leader Wab Kinew said the prime minister and federal environment minister have made it clear that Ottawa intends to require Manitoba to impose a $50-a-tonne levy down the road.

I dont think a court challenge is going to reduce carbon emissions, Kinew said of a potential federal-provincial legal battle. I dont think a court challenge is going to help our environment. We know that court challenges can be very costly, too.

As hes done since the province released its green plan on Friday, Kinew emphasized Tuesday that the province will be working at cross-purposes if it allows Manitoba Hydro to raise hydroelectricity prices substantially at a time when it should be advocating the use of green hydro energy.

larry.kusch@freepress.mb.ca
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OTTAWA  A troubled federal fish-marketing corporation says it can likely hold onto its 250 Winnipeg jobs, unless an invasive company starts reeling in its most profitable catch.

The auditor general fileted the Freshwater Fish Marketing Corp. in a May report, its third audit in 12 years that found pervasive mismanagement, fishy hiring practices and a lax approach to health and safety training for the 250 full-time and 150 seasonal workers at its Transcona headquarters.

Ottawa established the agency in 1969 to help fishermen in Western and Northern Canada sell their catches from isolated communities to businesses across Canada and abroad.

KEN GIGLIOTTI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Files The Freshwater Fish Marketing Corporation r eceives fish from Manitoba commercial fishers, processes and ships fish all over the world.

FFMC provides ice and supplies to mostly Indigenous fishermen, processes some fish and sells them to clients such as New York City restaurants and Russian caviar connoisseurs (until recent sanctions).

In the 2015-16 year, it brought in $73.2 million, netting a $1.5-million profit. It handles 15 million kilograms of freshwater fish from roughly 1,600 fishermen.

But in recent years, the Crown corporation has been hit by waves of dysfunction. Its last president, Donald Salkeld  hired to clean up management problems  was fired within 14 months.

Assistant Auditor General Clyde MacLellan said Tuesday it was disturbing to see the lack of progress in issues auditors flagged back in 2005. He said FFMC netted two of roughly five adverse opinions given over the past 20 years, of about 90 audits  an exceptional rebuke that effectively means a failing grade.

This year, Manitoba will end its monopoly agreement with FFMC, putting 80 per cent of its business onto the private market. Its a move already taken by other provinces, while Alberta froze all commercial fishing in 2014  that leaves the Northwest Territories as the only part of the monopoly, representing 2 per cent of FFMC business.

Earlier this month, government MPs took the exceptional move of mulling the corporations closure.

Yet on Tuesday, the Crown corporation told the House fisheries committee that its managed to swim upstream. Anticipating Manitobas pullout at the end of the year, FFMC has signed long-term contracts with roughly 80 per cent of its fishermen in that province, similar to the rate in Saskatchewan.

Looking at the demographic of the people who are selling to us, not a lot are going to have access to alternatives in the short term, said David Bevan, chairman of the FFMC board.

Bevan said those contracts should secure the processing capacity that exists in Winnipeg and that Ottawa is doing consultations on how the corporation will run in the future.

A spokeswoman for Fisheries Minister Dominic LeBlanc wouldnt say how long consultations are running, but sent the Free Press a list of 18 formal meetings the department has led since July, mostly in northern Manitoba communities.

Bevan said Ottawa could suggest a sea change in FFMC operations, saying it could emulate the privatization of Air Canada, which was made under commitments to maintain service to remote communities.

The longer the delay, the more risk there will be accruing to the corporation as a result of open market competition, he said.

Even though most FFMC clients have taken the bait of long-term contracts, Bevan said the agency could still take a dive if a private company gobbles up its moneymaking fish.

If somebody wants to invest money in a fish plant in the south, they may be able to siphon off profitable fish, he said, hinting that Ottawa could manage the supply of certain species. We are going to have some challenges going forward if people come in and cherry-pick value off.

Bevan said Ottawa also needs to fill the four vacant seats on the nine-person board, which hasnt been full in years.

dylan.robertson@freepress.mb.ca

FFMC consultations as of Oct. 31, according to Fisheries Minister Dominic LeBlanc
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The Manitoba Museum says its willing to discuss handing over a prized artifact, Louis Riels walking stick, to Metis groups.

But it said repatriation requests are rare and many more collections of artifacts from Indigenous communities are turned over to the museum for safekeeping.

We basically are a storage facility on behalf of Indigenous collections, said Manitoba Museum CEO Claudette Leclerc. There are some huge collections we are responsible for taking care of.

WAYNE GLOWACKI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES Roland Sawatzky, Curator of History at the Manitoba Museum with display featuring Louis Riels willow walking stick.

The museum was responding to a petition begun in Saskatchewan to repatriate the walking stick of the Metis leader and Manitobas founding father.

Petition organizer Jesse Donovan wants Riels staff to be housed at the new Metis museum planned for Winnipeg, most likely at the Upper Fort Garry site.

These are stolen items. They belong to the Metis, said Donovan, a Metis and third-year law student at the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon, in a telephone interview.

The United Nations declaration on rights of Indigenous people states clearly that Canada has a responsibility to return artifacts that are culturally important to Indigenous people.

Donovan recently led a similar campaign that saw the repatriation of Riels crucifix and other artifacts  Riels poetry, knife and articles of clothing  to the Metis National Council. They were being held at the RCMP Heritage Centre in Regina.

The Manitoba Museum obtained Riels staff from the Royal Winnipeg Rifles of Minto Armoury earlier this year. The Rifles loaned the walking stick to the museum for an exhibit called Legacies of Confederation.

But once the Rifles saw the reach of the museum  it hosts 300,000 visitors per year  and the public response to the walking stick, it decided the museum was a better location than the lesser known Royal Winnipeg Rifles Regimental Museum. The Rifles offered the staff and the Manitoba Museum gladly accepted.

Leclerc said plans for the walking stick go beyond the current temporary exhibit. We would very much like to ensure that its always on permanent display, she said.

Unless it is repatriated, of course. Leclerc said there is a legal process to follow for any repatriation, with the museum acting as a repository for the province.

However, the museum must ensure any article is repatriated to the appropriate regional, national or individual party or parties, and that can be tricky. We would need to wade through all of that to ensure repatriation is done appropriately, she said.

For example, Donovan is acting individually and not as an executive member of a Metis association. Donovan said Metis organizations may be timid to repatriate the walking stick because they are reliant on government funding for the museum, which will be called the Metis Nation Museum Centre.

However, Donovans intention is for the walking stick go to the Metis National Council and ultimately the new museum.

Donovans petition had about 160 names as of midday Tuesday at change.org/p/the-repatriate-louis-riel-s-walking-stick

An Manitoba Metis Federation statement issued Tuesday did not address the artifact directly, but said it has been working with the Manitoba Museum and other institutions to obtain pertinent artifacts.

A number of Metis artifacts have been returned to us recently, which will be on display at the Metis Nation Museum Centre here in Winnipeg. The Metis government looks forward to continuing to work with the Manitoba Museum in returning more artifacts where they belong, it said in its statement.

Leclerc said the museum has had ongoing discussions about artifacts with both the Manitoba Metis Federation, and Friends of Upper Fort Garry, which spent several days going through the museums collection.

The museum has always been very open to repatriation requests and has been for decades, she said.

Leclerc said any donation of an artifact to the Manitoba Museum is made free and clear of any conditions but the museum would likely talk to the Royal Winnipeg Rifles about repatriation of the Riel item as a courtesy.

A walking stick was a fashionable accoutrement for men in the 1880s. Riels staff was made of twisting diamond willow, known for its strength.

It was first possessed by the Banbury brothers of Wolseley, Sask. They obtained it as owners of the company contracted to transport Riel from Saskatoon to Regina, where he was tried and hanged for high treason.

The brothers later started a business called Beaver Lumber, a retailer many people will remember. Not wanting to be seen as Riel sympathizers, the brothers gave the staff to friend John Sanders in Stouffville, Ont. It stayed in the family until Sanders granddaughter, Electra, married Captain J. Warren Stewart with the Rifles. They donated the walking stick to the Rifles in the 1970s.

bill.redekop@freepress.mb.ca
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Proponents of an overhaul of city councils governance model found support from a local think-thank whose latest report says Winnipegs strong-mayor model is part of a decades-long attack on local democracy.

The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives-Manitoba released its report  Winnipeg Free for All: Towards Democracy at City Hall  from the courtyard at city hall Wednesday morning.

The reports author, Owen Toews, a post-doctoral fellow at the University of Alberta, said a series of legislative reforms 20 years ago transformed Winnipegs mayor into the most powerful in the country, with the ability to dominate city hall like no other through the power to appoint the executive policy committee and control over the chief administrative officer, who wields absolute power over the administration.

WAYNE GLOWACKI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES Winnipeg City Hall

Toews found that many aspects of city halls governance structure  the strong-mayor model, executive policy committee, the role of the chief administrative officer  are the result of a decades-long reactionary movement to gut local democracy.

Toews urges a series of reforms at city hall, including removing the mayors power to appoint members of executive policy committee and abolishing the post of CAO or weakening the CAOs power over the administration.

Mayor Brian Bowman dismissed Toews report, noting it had been funded by CUPE 500. Bowman said the report is part of the ongoing attack against him from special interests who no longer carry influence at city hall since the 2014 election.

Lets be honest with Winnipeggers with whats really going on here: there are very powerful special interest, unions and certain wealthy developers who used to call the shots at Winnipeg city hall and they are highly motivated to go back to the way things were run in the past, Bowman said. There is a reason why theyre going to be attacking me because theyre not calling the shots any more.

CUPE 500 president Gord Delbridge said he found Bowmans comments to be disturbing, adding that while the union did fund the report, it did not have any input into its writing.

Delbridge said the union supports efforts by councillors Russ Wyatt and Janice Lukes, who are calling for a governance review.

We commissioned the report because we think a governance review is overdue, Delbridge said. We wanted to know what other governance models are operating across the country and we think its time changes were made here.

Born and raised in Crescentwood, Toews got his undergraduate degree at the University of Winnipeg, focusing on urban planning and social justice, and his PhD in human geography at City University of New York. He now lives in the West End.

Toews looked at governance structures at other municipalities and found that only in Winnipeg does the mayor have such a dominating influence. He said he doubts Bowman will support any genuine reform that would undermine the power he now wields over council.

Among Toews recommendations:

 Create smaller wards, providing for more councillors.

 Give more power to people where they live, restoring residents advisory groups and giving those organizations and community committees more power over local decision making and control of how budgets are spent in their neighbourhoods.

 Replace executive policy committee with all of council.

 Weaken the absolute power the CAO has over the administration.

 Impose term limits for mayor.

 Create recall votes on the mayor and councillors between elections.

 Shorten council terms back to two or three years.

 Require council majorities of two-thirds or three-quarters for passage of bylaws and resolutions.

Toews said he recognizes that giving power to the community complicates decision making.

What we should look at is ways to bring everyday people closer to the levers of power. The thing about democracy is it takes a lot more time to come to a decision than dictatorships or authoritarian regimes, he said.

Delbridge said the report is not an attack on any individual and he hoped Bowman takes the time to read it.

You would think that a report on governance review would be pretty boring, but once I got into it I couldnt put it down, he said. There are a lot of ideas and recommendations, which is what we wanted to see. I dont agree with everything (Toews) says but its a starting point for a discussion this city needs.

aldo.santin@freepress.mb.ca

Towards+Democracy+at+City+Hall
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A high school stabbing victims blood was found on a jacket belonging to the teen boy accused of killing him, court heard Tuesday during the second-degree murder trial of a former Kelvin High student.

DNA tests also matched 17-year-old Brett Bournes blood with the droplets found outside the school and on a knife Crown prosecutors say was used to stab him. With Bournes blood on the accuseds jacket, an analysis found that the DNA of a second male on the jacket matched the accused, who was also 17 at the time.

The estimated probability of selecting an unrelated individual at random from the Canadian Caucasian population with the same profile is 1 in 8.1 sextillion, testified Nathalia Biernat, a Vancouver-based reporting scientist for the RCMP. She analyzed the DNA results of tests on two knives, the jacket, an antiseptic wipe and other swabs sent for testing from the high school crime scene.

Biernat was also tasked with giving the jury a quick primer on the basics of DNA testing.

Defence lawyer Greg Brodsky said he accepts all of the findings from the analysis, including that the samples were compared to a legitimate DNA sample from his client. The accuseds DNA was the only known sample, other than Bournes, that police sent to the lab for comparison, court heard.

During his cross-examination of Biernat, Brodsky focused on what the DNA analysis doesnt reveal, suggesting the accused was only trying to protect his friend.

You cant say in this particular case, whether or not the donor of the blood was attacking another individual at the time he stabbed or was stabbed, can you? Brodsky asked.

I cant, that is out of my realm of expertise and DNA will not be able to determine that, Biernat replied.

You cant say that my client, this accused, this young fellow beside me, was trying to protect his friend, whose head was being bashed against the wall at the time of the bleeding? Brodsky continued.

Under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, the now-19-year-old man cant be publicly identified because he was underage at the time of the stabbing.

Publication bans also cover the identities of youth witnesses who have testified during the trial.

The accused allegedly got involved in a fight between Bourne, a former Kelvin student, and another 17-year-old boy, whom Bourne believed was dating his ex-girlfriend at the time.

Bournes ex-girlfriend previously testified shed broken up with the other boy about a week before the stabbing. Crown prosecutors have suggested the accused got a buck knife out of his friends car after he heard Bourne taunting the other teen, stabbed Bourne and then used an X-Acto knife to cut his own forearm, telling police Bourne did it.

Biernat testified no blood or DNA was found on the X-Acto knife. The accuseds DNA was found on an antiseptic wipe. The jury also heard from a Kelvin High art teacher who was called out of her office right after the stabbing by a student who told her about a big fight.

Tracy Woodward testified she saw a teen she would later find out was Bourne facing away from a group of other students. She could tell he and his friend werent students and said she ushered them out the door. She told police she heard Bourne say Ill be back to get you as he walked out the door with his friend, Alastair Guyan.

She testified she didnt know who Bourne was talking to and that he did not seem well.

Moments later, Bourne collapsed outside the school and Guyan pulled up his shirt to show the teacher what she described as a dime-sized wound. She didnt see any blood, she said, and shed never seen a stab wound before. I didnt actually think it was a stab wound, at first, she testified. She said she didnt see any weapons whatsoever on scene.

The trial is set to continue into mid-November.

katie.may@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @thatkatiemay
Opinion

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This article was published 01/11/2017 (1841 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A hate crime involves an act of violence or intimidation, and is directed towards a marginalized group; it is a mechanism of power. Quebecs Bill 62 works the same way. The bill calls itself religiously neutral in a weak attempt to mask its true impact. The new Quebec law is an Islamophobic message to all Muslims, that extends far beyond the three per cent of Muslim women in all of Canada who wear a niqab or burka. Because of this new law, some Muslim women in Quebec will be denied access to public services and made unwelcome in public spaces, according to British Columbia Muslim Association president Daud Ismail.

While there is some relief that the largest cities and transit authorities in Quebec have called the law inapplicable and that it has been denounced by political leaders across Canada, the conversations continue from the Quebec government about the next steps for the bill.

Justice Minister Stephanie Valle commented that while politicians across Canada have voiced their disagreement, it is our right to legislate with regards to social issues that are ours. While Quebec tries to claim this is a unique social issue, it is only the actions of the provincial government that are unique; this is the first law in North America of its kind. Last week, Valle claimed that the law is not repressive, and said women using public transit will only have to show their face while getting on the bus if using photo ID, and can then cover up again. Less than a week ago, Valle said the opposite when explaining that faces will need to remain uncovered while using the public service. These comments, and Valles explanation that the law has no sanctions, attempts to diminish the serious impact of this law while blatantly disregarding what is known about the steady rise of targeted Islamophobic violence in Canada.

Ryan Remiorz / The Canadian Press Files Attacks against Muslims in 2015 were up 60 per cent, according to Statistics Canada.

Debra Parkes, chair in feminist legal studies at the University of British Columbia, comments that Bill 62 is, in my view, quite obviously unconstitutional clearly targeting this group of women, and it has only the thinnest veneer of attempted justification for that by saying that there will some exemption procedures.

While there is a religious exemption within the law, there is nothing clear about how that will be implemented, and the heart the bill cant be excused by its own contradictions. Parkes goes on to say that the whole issue around womens dress being a site of regulation actually contributes to violence against women rather than shifting our conversations.

Statistics Canada shows that attacks against Muslims jumped by 60 per cent, with 159 incidents reported in 2015, while it is known that the numbers of hate crimes are massively under-reported. This year experts shared concerns that hate crimes against Muslims would continue to rise in Canada given the divisive rhetoric from U.S. President Donald Trump. The executive director of the NGO JAN Trust told Time earlier this year that her organization recorded a 31 per cent rise in Islamophobic hate crime directed at Muslim women in 2017 from 2016. Alia Hogben, executive director for the Canadian Council of Muslim Women explains that there has been quite an increase in hate crimes and harassment in the last year or so. We think Trump is in the States, but his influence has passed here.

It was merely nine months ago when one of the worst terrorist attacks in Canadian history took place in Quebec. A gunman opened fired upon worshippers in the Islamic Cultural Centre of Quebec, killing six and wounding 19. With this tragedy so recent, we would hope for laws and policies working against discrimination that denounce violence and hate. Yet, the Quebec government uses its power and resources to design an Islamophobic dress code for women. The laws implementation, potential sanctions and exemptions, and the operational details, are all secondary to this being hate legislation. This law is a threat to freedom, equality, and dignity, and increases the threat of security of an already targeted group.

Haley Hrymak is a Winnipeg lawyer who is currently working on her master of laws degree at the University of British Columbia.
Ten days after the Austrian parliamentary elections, the conservative Peoples Party (OVP) has begun negotiations on the formation of a coalition government with the far-right Freedom Party (FPO).

The 31-year-old leader of the OVP, Sebastian Kurz, had already largely adopted the xenophobic slogans of the far right during the election campaign. Now, he wants to form a government with the FPO, which along with even more strident policies against refugees and foreigners, intends to impose further austerity measures plus a massive buildup of the state forces.

The OVP is a member of the European Peoples Party and aligned with the German conservative parties, the Christian Democratic Union and the Christian Social Union. It is a conservative party with one of the longest histories in Europe. For its part, the FPO is allied in the European parliament to the French National Front, the Italian Northern League, the far-right Dutch PVV led by Geert Wilders and other far-right parties. By opening the door to government participation in Austria, the OVP is also preparing the path for the integration of the far right into government in other European countries.

Kurz, who is seeking to head the new government with the support of the far right, promised talks on an equal footing. After the first round of talks on Wednesday, he said: It was a positive round, it was a positive atmosphere. The leader of the FPO, Heinz-Christian Strache, described the meeting as a positive way of getting to know one another. Both men emphasised that the new alliance should be in place by Christmas.

Both the content of the negotiations and those taking part reveal the course of the future government. Firstly, a budget inventory is planned as the basis for further discussions. The two parties have agreed in principle to massively reduce the countrys debt burden.

Five subgroups were formed to decide policy on a range of social and security issues. The Freedom Party is demanding that the coalition agreement reflect its own political priorities, in particular in the spheres of domestic and social policy. The party is striving to fill the post of interior minister by its leader, Strache.

This means an extreme right-winger will assume responsibility for refugee and immigrant policy in the Alpine Republic. Strache, who took over the leadership of the party in 2005, had joined a German nationalist fraternity at the age of 17 and participated in far-right paramilitary training camps. He joined the FPO in 1989 and was to the right of its leader at the time, Jorg Haider.

In addition to a further tightening of the countrys already restrictive asylum laws, the FPO aims to cut back on social benefits. Among other measures, the party plans to reduce the political influence of social partnership structures. By such structures the FPO means pensions, health care, labour rights and social housing and not the corrupt clique of trade unions, social democrats, and OVP and business heads who have consistently attacked and sought to paralyse the working class.

FPO Secretary-General Herbert Kickl, a member of the negotiating team, is favourite for the post of social minister. Kickl is a far-right ideologue. He is a former speechwriter for Jorg Haider and is behind the xenophobic election campaign slogans of the FPO. He heads the partys education unit and advocates massive cuts in the social sector. In the coalition talks, Kickl lamented uncontrolled immigration from non-EU states as well as the utterly rash opening of the labour market for Eastern EU states.

Another member of the negotiating team is Norbert Hofer of the FPO. At the beginning of the year, Hofer narrowly lost the race for the office of president against the Green Party candidate Alexander Van der Bellen. Hofer is regarded as a candidate for the post of foreign minister.

Norbert Nemeth is also involved in the negotiations. The parliamentary leader of the FPO is a member of the Olympia fraternity, which the Austrian Resistance Documentation Archive has described as right-wing extremist. According to the magazine profil, Nemeth declared in 1996 his solidarity with the then-imprisoned Holocaust denier Gottfried Kussel and attacked the law banning denial of the mass murder of the Jews.

Freedom Party member Anneliese Kitzmuller is also on the negotiating team. She has close links with far-right nationalist circles. She writes for the right-wing academic magazine Aula and plays a leading role in two German nationalist academies for girls. One of the schools Iduna zu Linz has a penchant for ancient Germanic customs. Strictly right-wing, traditionalist and against the anti-fascist culture of remembrance, Kitzmulleras a negotiator of the coalition pactcan be seen as an indicator of the FPOs government orientation, profil wrote.

There is already considerable agreement between the two parties on the issue of strengthening the state. OVP Minister Wolfgang Brandstetter has called for a security package, the focus of which is the extensive monitoring of Internet communication. Police and security agencies are to receive virtually unlimited surveillance powers.

In the election nearly two weeks ago, the FPO won 26 percent of the vote just behind the Social Democrats (SPO) with 26.9 percent and the first-placed party, the OVP with 31.5 percent. Theoretically, a coalition of the OVP and SPO or the SPO and FPO would have a majority for a new government. Prior to the election, both the Social Democrats and the conservatives had ruled out any continuation of the previous Grand Coalition of the two parties. The Social Democrats are also not averse to forming an alliance with the far right, but this is unlikely at the moment due to internal divisions in the party.
About 600 refugees still held at the Manus Island detention centre in Papua New Guinea (PNG) are facing a humanitarian disaster, and possible police-military violence, after the Australian government moved to shut down the facility yesterday.

Contractors employed by the Australian government cut pipes, emptied water tanks, cut off electricity supplies and removed generators, before leaving the centre on Tuesday. Asylum seekers have been left without food, only minimal water, and no security. Heavily-armed PNG police and troops are massed outside the complex, warning they will enter it today unless the refugees leave.

The dire plight of the refugees is the outcome of the criminal policies of successive Liberal-National Coalition and Greens-backed Labor governments. All the major parties have imposed a border force regime that has abrogated the basic democratic right of refugees to seek protection, consigning those who try to reach Australia by boat to concentration camps in the Pacific.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbulls Coalition government announced the closure of the Manus Island centre in August last year. This followed a ruling by the PNG Supreme Court that the facility was illegal under the PNG constitution because it denied detainees their liberty, without charge.

In the lead up to the closure, Australian authorities began shutting down power supplies and other utilities. They also transferred hundreds of refugees to a temporary Refugee Transit Centre near the islands main town of Lorengau, where local authorities have whipped up anti-refugee sentiment. Detainees at that facility have reported numerous robberies and assaults, including with machetes, by locals.

The refugees who remain at the Manus Island centre have refused to be forced into the Lorengau facility, or the Australian-operated detention centre on the Pacific island of Nauru, citing concerns for their safety. They filed an application to the PNG Supreme Court yesterday, hoping to prevent their removal.

Over the past day, in social media posts and comments to the press, the Manus detainees have painted a picture of the conditions they face.

Behrouz Boochani, an Iranian refugee, tweeted this morning: There is not water, power and food. Even the toilets do not work. People gathering in stress. Any time we expect that someone attack us. In another post, Boochani wrote: Some refugees are very sick. They need urgent medical treatment. They have been physically sick for a long time. There is no support for them. Boochani denounced the Australian government for starving people to force them out.

Imran Mohammed, a Rohingya refugee from Burma, told the Australian Broadcasting Corporations Radio National program, Were here because were persecuted in our country we left violence. We want a safe country and we want our freedom.

The refugees have tried to stockpile water in garbage bins, and to collect any rainwater that falls. Aid organisations have warned that sick asylum seekers are not receiving medication, and that the shutoff of utilities could lead to disease outbreaks.

There are also fears for the mental health of the detainees. According to unconfirmed reports on Twitter, one refugee cut his chest and wrists with a razor today. There have been five suicides at the Manus Island facility since 2012, including two this year, as refugees who have fled war and oppression face brutal conditions, and virtually no treatment for mental health issues.

Refugees reported yesterday that the centre was attacked by looters carrying machetes, who took furniture, fans and other items. The police and local authorities made no attempt to prevent the incursion. The asylum seekers have sought to repair a damaged fence to prevent further raids.

Reports have indicated that heavily-armed police and military personnel could be preparing to attack the facility. Kate Schuetze, an Asia-Pacific researcher, told the Guardian that locals had informed her on Monday that three mobile squads and PNG Defence Force squads were arming themselves like its a war.

PNG authorities have overseen assaults on the Manus detainees in the past. On April 17, PNG Defence Force personnel stormed the facility, together with armed locals, firing M16 assault rifles toward buildings housing refugees. The rampage was effectively endorsed by Australian Immigration Minister Peter Dutton, who blamed the detainees for the attack.

Australian authorities have again given the green light for a bloody assault on the refugees.

Dutton yesterday issued an extraordinary denunciation of the asylum seekers. He accused them of having sought to enter Australia, confirming the governments rejection of international law, which recognises the right to seek asylum.

Dutton declared that the refugees were seeking to force a change to the governments border protection program, aided and abetted by so-called advocates and the Greens. Duttons statement echoed previous comments in August, in which he branded lawyers for refugees as un-Australian, with the clear implication that it is illegitimate to oppose the governments attacks on asylum seekers.

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop this morning also backed a PNG police-military intervention, stating: The PNG government is in charge of law and order and security and I understand that they have this matter in hand. She reiterated that the refugees will not be resettled in Australia.

Labor Party MPs, including shadow immigration minister Shayne Neumann, have issued mealy-mouthed denunciations of the government for failing to prepare for the closure of the facility. It was the Greens-backed Labor government of Prime Minister Julia Gillard, however, that in 2012 reopened the Manus detention centre and decreed that the detainees would never be permitted to settle in Australia.

With equal hypocrisy, the Greens have postured as defenders of the refugees. The partys immigration spokesman, Senator Nick McKim, has travelled to Manus Island. Yesterday, he branded Dutton a serial human rights abuser. In 2012, senior Greens MPs repeatedly declared that the persecution of refugees would not affect their alliance with Labor, which allowed it to hold office as a minority government until September 2013.

Labor and the Greens, which both uphold the entire border protection regime, are no less responsible than the current Coalition government for the abuses that have occurred on Manus Island, and the disaster that is now unfolding.

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[1 July 2016]
October 29 marked the five-year anniversary of landfall by the hurricane known as Superstorm Sandy on the New York/New Jersey coast. The storm resulted in at least 182 deaths in the US and the Caribbean, including 43 in New York City, and caused an estimated $71 billion in losses in the US alone. Half a decade on, many are still suffering the impacts of that storm and much of the population remains vulnerable to catastrophic damage from future storms, preparations for which have barely begun or remain totally unaddressed.

Sandy caused severe damage to many coastal communities in New Jersey and New York. And yet, despite the claims of city and state officials, the commitment of resources for reconstruction and storm-protection upgrades has been totally inadequate to address the threat. Even that which has been allocated is far from spent. By the spring of 2015, for storm recovery in New York City alone, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) had pledged $5.8 billion. According to the Daily News, two and a half years later, much of that money has yet to be spent, and mandated deadlines for project completion are fast approaching. In the wake of the recent major hurricanes in Puerto Rico, Texas and Florida, already inadequate FEMA funding will be spread even more thinly.

Among the hardest hit areas in New York City were 33 public housing complexes run by the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA). Many of these developments, occupied by low-income, working class tenants, were built in low-lying parts of the city, next to bodies of water, on filled-in wetlands, which at the time were unattractive and, therefore, cheap real estate. As a result, when Sandy hit, and in many cases for days or weeks afterward, tens of thousands of residents were trapped without electricity, hot water, working toilets or access to food. Evacuation before the storm was disorganized at best or totally nonexistent. Afterward, even emergency medical services for elderly and disabled residents were severely hampered, as a result of inoperative elevators in the high-rise buildings.

Even before Sandy, NYCHA housing, once more of a model of what public housing could be, had suffered from decades of budget cuts, resulting in deteriorating living conditions for hundreds of thousands of residents. Now, five years after the hurricane, many repairs and upgrades to prepare for future storms are still months or years away from completion. Among the 33 affected complexes, planned projects have been completed in only one; 17 are in progress, and 15 have still not begun.

After five years, the citys Build It Back program covering private residences, which was supposed to get families quickly back into their storm-damaged homes, is still only 87 percent completed, with the remaining families living in limbo. The program has been criticized for cost overruns due to inflated charges by major contractors and shoddy work.

Work on many other components of the citys facilities and infrastructure is also unfinished.

Of 42 public schools that were affected by the storm, flood protection upgrades to 17 are still not completed. Much of the planned flood-proofing and upgrades at city hospitals is not completed or has yet to begin.

Among the vital infrastructure projects, construction of a replacement for the North River Tunnel, the only passenger rail link between New Jersey and New York City across the Hudson River, is still only in the preliminary planning stages. The existing tunnel, severely damaged by salt water inundation during Sandy, serves both daily commuters and long-distance passengers along the Northeast Corridor between Boston and Washington. Without a replacement, another flood could destroy the tunnel and cause catastrophic disruption of the entire regions economy. Flooding by Sandy also caused substantial damage to the citys subways.

A large swath of lower Manhattan, home to hundreds of thousands of jobs and residences, which suffered major flooding during Sandy, remains unprotected. Only one 3.2-mile stretch of the East River waterfront, from the Brooklyn Bridge to 23rd Street, is even in the design stage.

The citys Office of Recovery and Resiliency reports that dozens of planned projects are already past their scheduled completion dates.

Even when all the currently planned projects are completed, they will represent only a piecemeal response to these overwhelming storms. New York City, composed of five boroughs, four of which are on islands, has a total coastline of 520 miles. Approximately 400,000 city residents live in floodplain areas. Individual, localized projects cannot protect all of the citys low-lying areas, let alone the associated consequences to the neighborhoods in higher elevations. A study by the citys Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) found that during Sandy, so-called backdoor flooding caused enormous damage and that it could happen again. The New York Times quotes the assessment of one local leader in the Broad Channel neighborhood on Jamaica Bay in the borough of Queens as predicting, All of these neighborhoods, tens of thousands of people, will just get flooded again from the back in another Sandy event.

The bottom line is that, when the next major storm hits the region, the consequences will again be catastrophic. And the situation will be worse in the future. A study recently published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) predicts that floods of 7.38 feet (2.25 meters), close to that of Sandy, could hit New York City as often as every five years between 2030 and 2045. The probability of such events is judged to have been once in every 500 years before 1800 and currently every 25 years. This represents a jump of two orders of magnitude from pre-industrial conditions!

The PNAS study further warns that sea level at New York City could rise more than 8 feet by the end of the century if there is a rapid melt of the West Antarctic ice sheet. Another article in PNAS reports that sea level rise during the twentieth century has been more rapid than in the last 27 centuries. The city has experienced a foot of sea level rise since 1900.

As with the examples of Katrina, prior to Sandy, and more recently Harvey, Irma and Maria, not to mention the huge wildfires in the western US, the capitalist elite is unwilling to address in any effective way either the causes or the consequences of the increasingly devastating effects of climate change. If present trends continue, both the frequency and severity of these events will increase.

In one storm after another, it is working class communities, where people are forced to live in marginal and highly vulnerable areas, which suffer the greatest impacts and are left largely to fend for themselves. Uncontrolled development in such areas exploits workers need for affordable housing and leaves them destitute when their only tangible assets, their homes and personal belongings, are destroyed.

Beyond the absolutely necessary measures to protect vulnerable communities in the near term, not only in the US but around the world, a massive global effort must be undertaken to halt and reverse the human-induced causes of climate change. As experience has shown, this will not happen under capitalism. Only a workers government, implementing sweeping socialist policies, can prevent the otherwise inevitable catastrophe of environmental degradation that will render the planet unlivable.

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[6 September 2017]

Hurricane lays bare social misery in New Yorks public housing complexes

[12 January 2013]
Londons Old Vic, the theater of which Kevin Spacey was artistic director from 2004-2015, has said it is deeply dismayed to hear the allegations of sexual misconduct that recently surfaced against the actor. A statement released today by the venerable venue points to an earlier statement that was made jointly by UK theater bosses that there can be no place for sexual harassment or abuse of power in our industry.

Over this past weekend, Star Trek: Discovery actor Anthony Rapp came forward with allegations that Spacey made sexual advances toward him while the two were working on Broadway in 1986, when Rapp was 14-years-old. Spacey soon apologized for the incident and came out as gay, but his remarks have been blasted by GLAAD and other groups.

Spacey had a storied run at the Old Vic, staging and appearing in star-studded productions. Matthew Warchus took over as artistic director when he stepped down.

The Old Vic has asked for anyone connected with it who has complaints they have felt they were unable to raise to contact them. Heres the full statement:

The Old Vic would like to respond to recent media reports by making it clear that we are deeply dismayed to hear the allegations levied against Kevin Spacey, who was Artistic Director from 20042015. Inappropriate behaviour by anyone working at The Old Vic is completely unacceptable. We aim to foster a safe and supportive environment without prejudice, harassment or bullying of any sort, at any level, as set out in our joint statement with the theatre industry on 23 October. We want our employees to feel confident, valued and proud to be part of The Old Vic family. Any behaviour we become aware of which contravenes these goals will not be tolerated. If you have been connected with The Old Vic or in our employment and feel you have a complaint that you were unable to raise, please contact us on confidential@oldvictheatre.com. Any experience shared will be treated in the utmost confidence and with sensitivity. We have appointed external advisors to help us deal with any information received.

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And below is the joint statement of the theatre industry (made before the allegation against Spacey) whose signatories include the Old Vic, The National and the Royal Shakespeare Company:

Following the reports and allegations of the last two weeks, first in America and, more recently, closer to home, we have come together to make clear that there can be no place for sexual harassment or abuse of power in our industry. We salute the bravery of everyone who calls out this abusive behaviour. We support a theatre culture that empowers people to speak up: a culture where abuse of power is always challenged. We are committed to working together to ensure that theatre is a safe space for all, where everyone is respected and listened to. The Royal Court Theatres Day of Action on Saturday 28 October is one important part of this process. Together, we are developing further ways to support people to speak up and to hold others to account. It is the responsibility of the industry to create and nurture a culture where unacceptable behaviour is swiftly challenged and addressed. We want to be absolutely clear and say again: there is no room for sexual harassment or abuse of power in the theatre. Everyone deserves to enjoy a happy, healthy and safe working environment. We will support you to speak out, and we will hear you when you do.

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London's Old Vic Theater Says 'No Complaints' Were Made About Kevin Spacey During His Time as Artistic Director

A U.K. theater that Kevin Spacey helmed for 12 years says no complaints were ever filed about him following accusations he made sexual advances on a 14-year-old Anthony Rapp.

On Tuesday, a spokeswoman for the Old Vic theater in London  of which Spacey was the artistic director from 2003-15  issued a statement about the actor.

During Kevin Spaceys tenure as artistic director no complaints were made against him, reads the statement obtained by the Evening Standard. No complaints have been made since he left.

The statement came after Victoria Featherstone, artistic director of Londons Royal Court Theater, said there were concerns about Spacey during his time at the Old Vic in an interview on Radio 4.

Asked if she was aware of any egregious conduct by the actor, Featherstone said, I think that many people in the theater and in the creative industries have been aware of many stories of many people over a lot of years, and Kevin Spacey would be one of the people that people have had concerns about, yes.

Spacey, 58, has faced major backlash since openly gay Star Trek actor Rapp, 46, alleged that a then-26-year-old Spacey made inappropriate sexual advances toward him when he was 14.

Spacey responded by issuing a public apology, using the opportunity to also come out as gay.

In his statement, Spacey said he doesnt remember the alleged incident, apologizing for for what would have been deeply inappropriate drunken behavior and announcing, I choose now to live as a gay man.

Spaceys statement was hit with immediate criticism from a slew of high-profile gay actors, including Wanda Sykes and Billy Eichner, with GLAAD cautioning that the actor coming out should not deflect from Rapps allegation.

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I came forward with my story, standing on the shoulders of the many courageous women and men who have been speaking out, to shine a light and hopefully make a difference, as they have done for me, Rapp, who went public with the alleged incident in a BuzzFeed article published Sunday, said in a statement to PEOPLE.

Everything I wanted to say about my experience is in that article, he added. I have no further comment about it at this time.

On Monday, the International Academy of Television Arts and Sciences announced that it will not present Spacey with its 2017 International Emmy Founders Award on Nov. 20.

The Academy had announced the award in June, saying that the Oscar winner and House of Cards actor was an individual who crosses cultural boundaries to touch humanity.

The rescinded award follows Netflixs announcement that it would end House of Cards after its upcoming sixth and final season.
Londons Old Vic theater said Tuesday that it was deeply dismayed by the allegations of sexual misconduct against Kevin Spacey, who was the theaters artistic director from 2004 to 2015.

The Old Vic would like to respond to recent media reports by making it clear that we are deeply dismayed to hear the allegations levied against Kevin Spacey, the theater said in an official statement. Inappropriate behavior by anyone working at The Old Vic is completely unacceptable. We aim to foster a safe and supportive environment without prejudice, harassment or bullying of any sort, at any level.Any behavior we become aware of which contravenes these goals will not be tolerated.

The statement came after actor Anthony Rapp accused Spacey of making an unwelcome sexual advance toward him when he was just 14 and Spacey was 26. Spacey apologized but said he does not recall the alleged encounter.

The Old Vic has said that no complaints were made against Spacey during his 11-year tenure at the theater or in the time since his departure. But the theaters statement Tuesday gave out an email address for current or previous employees to make a confidential complaint. We have appointed external advisors to help us deal with any information received, it said.

Vicky Featherstone, artistic director of Londons storied Royal Court theater, told BBC radio Monday that stories of sexual misconduct were rife in Britains theater community and that Spacey was one of the people that people have had concerns about. One of Featherstones predecessors at the Royal Court, Max Stafford-Clark, was forced to step down because of a complaint of inappropriate sexual behavior.

In the past few days, 19 prominent theater directors in Britain signed a public statement saying sexual misconduct in the theater industry could not be tolerated. Following the reports and allegations of the last two weeks, first in America and, more recently, closer to home, we have come together to make clear that there can be no place for sexual harassment or abuse of power in our industry, the statement said.

Story continues

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WASHINGTON  President Trumps former campaign chairman Paul Manafort surrendered at the FBI field office after he and his former business associate Rick Gates were told give themselves up to federal authorities on Monday morning as part of Special Counsel Robert Muellers investigation into Russian collusion in the 2016 presidential election.

Manafort, 68, and Gates, 45, were indicted on 12 counts, including money laundering, failing to register as a foreign agents and false statements. They also were indicted on seven counts of failure to file reports of foreign bank and financial accounts.

Their work with the Trump campaign was not mentioned in the 31-page indictment but it does allege activity that extended through last year and even into this year.

Between at least 2006 and 2015, Manafort and Gates acted as unregistered agents of the government of Ukraine, the party of regions (a Ukrainian political party whose leader Victor Yanukovych was president from 2010 to 2o14), Yanukovych, and the Opposition Bloc (a successor to the Party of Regions that formed in 2014 when Yanukovych fled to Russia, the indictment stated.

It continued, Manafort and Gates generated tens of millions of dollars of income as a result of their Ukraine work. In order to hide Ukraine payments from United States authorities, from approximately 2006 through at least 2016, Manafort and Gates laundered money through scores of United States corporations, partnerships and bank accounts.

There had been multiple reports that Muellers investigation was extending to Manaforts business ties before he joined the campaign.

The indictment goes on to allege that Manafort and Gates funneled money to foreign accounts and entities in Cyprus, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and the Seychelles, and then hid their existence. It also claimed that they hid from federal authorities work on the behalf of the Ukrainian government and political leaders there.

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The indictment contended that Manafort used his hidden overseas wealth to enjoy a lavish lifestyle in the United States, without paying taxes on that income. It also alleged that Manafort used the offshore money to purchase property in the United States, then used that property as collateral to obtain millions of dollars in loans, without reporting that U.S. currency as income.

Manafort laundered more than $18 million, and that $75 million flowed through the offshore accounts, according to the indictment, and Gates transferred more than $3 million to accounts he controlled.

Manafort, a lawyer and lobbyist, joined Trumps campaign team in March 2016, and was elevated to the role of campaign manager from June to August 2016. He resigned amidst a scandal about his work for pro-Russian Ukrainian oligarchs.

Gates is a former protege of Manafort, and also was his deputy during Manaforts tenure on the Trump campaign. After the campaign, he joined a non profit, America First Policies, but he resigned in March after questions continued to be raised about Manaforts business dealings and Gates work with him.

Manafort and Gates were highly visible figures in the campaign during the Republican National Convention. Manafort was retained by the Trump campaign earlier in the year, during the primary season, to help secure and strategize in the winning of delegates to secure the nomination. Gates stayed with the campaign after Manaforts exit.

Reports that Russia played a role in advocating for Trump and in circulating disinformation critical to his opponent Hillary Clinton have dogged the presidents first months in office. Over the weekend, the Trump team tried to shift focus to reports that the Clinton campaign had funded a dossier of evidence alleging that the former reality TV star and developer was vulnerable to Kremlin blackmail.

In a series of tweets over the weekend Trump railed against Clintons sponsorship of the information and a uranium deal with Russia that was approved under the Obama administration. He implied the probe was a politically motivated witch hunt.

Never seen such Republican ANGER & UNITY as I have concerning the lack of investigation on Clinton made Fake Dossier (now $12,000,000?), he tweeted, adding, The Uranium to Russia deal, the 33,000 plus deleted Emails, the Comey fix and so much more. Instead they look at phony Trump/Russia,collusion, which doesnt exist.

The House and Senate intelligence committees are also investigating Russian influence in the 2016 election, but Republicans have been pressing to wrap up those probes by the end of the year. Last week, the House Republicans announced a new investigation into Clintons use of a private email server when she was secretary of state, and into a deal in which a Russian-controlled firm acquired about 20% of U.S. uranium mining interests with the approval of the Obama administration.

CNN reported on Friday that Mueller had filed the first charges in the case, leading to a whirlwind of speculation over the weekend over who would be the target. Early on Monday, news crews staked out Manaforts home in Alexandria, Va., and he was later shown walking into an FBI field office.

Trumps tweets about the Russia investigation has led to fears that he would move to fire Mueller, just as he dismissed James Comey as FBI director in May.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) alluded to that possibility in a statement reacting to the indictments.

He said that Muellers actions show that the special counsels probe is ongoing in a very serious way. The rule of law is paramount in America and the investigation must be allowed to proceed unimpeded.

The President must not, under any circumstances, interfere with the special counsels work in any way, he added. If he does so, Congress must respond swiftly, unequivocally, and in a bipartisan way to ensure that the investigation continues.

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Best-selling author Ta-Nehisi Coates isnt happy with President Trumps chief of staff John Kelly, who on Monday tried his hand at pontificating about history. In an interview with Fox News Lauren Ingraham, he said the Civil War happened because of the lack of an ability to compromise. Now, Coates is trying to educate the retired four-star Marine general  one of the more respected members of the scandal-plagued White House  deriding Kelly as someone who believe in Santa Claus. But he didnt stop there, diving further into detail.

Notion that Civil War resulted from a lack of compromise is belied by all the compromises made on enslavement from Americas founding, Coates tweeted Tuesday as he began a now-viral Twitter thread. He continued, I mean, like, its called the Three-Fifths Compromise for a reason. But it doesnt stand alone. Missouri Compromise. Kansas-Nebraska Act.

Coates is well-known now for his award-winning non-fiction book Between the World and Me (EWs best book of 2015) and his recent Black Panther comics for Marvel. But first, he was a writer for The Atlantic, where he often wrote about history and the Civil War. Coates has been stressing for years how the Civil War was explicitly fought over slavery, not states rights as Confederate apologists often claim, and that this information is clear from historical primary-source documents. To demonstrate, he posted a link to Mississippis declaration of secession, the literal second sentence of which is, Our position is thoroughly identified with the institution of slavery the greatest material interest of the world.

Civil War revisionist history also applies to the most famous Confederate general, Robert E. Lee, who has recently become a focal point for renewed debates about the period. It was a pending removal of a statue of Lee that inspired white nationalists from around the country to rally in Charlottesville this summer, a violent display that ultimately killed counter-protestor Heather Heyer and injured many others. Though Lee is often praised for his honor, Coates reminded readers that he was a murderer who fought in defense of slavery. Praising Bobby Lee as an honorable man is just sad. Like some kid insisting his deadbeat dad is actually a secret agent away on a mission, Coates tweeted, sharing his Atlantic colleague Adam Serwers recent piece about Lees crimes.

Coates ultimately brought the discussion back to the critique of white supremacy, as a dream that many white Americans are lulled into, which he makes in his own books. His latest book, We Were Eight Years in Power, ends with an essay calling Donald Trump the first white president.

Check out selections from the Twitter thread below.

Dude believes in Santa Claus. https://t.co/CarfoWuhCs  Ta-Nehisi Coates (@tanehisicoates) October 31, 2017

Regarding John Kelly's creationist theorizing on Lee and the Civil War, its worth pointing out a few things.  Ta-Nehisi Coates (@tanehisicoates) October 31, 2017

Notion that Civil War resulted from a lack of compromise is belied by all the compromises made on enslavement from America's founding.  Ta-Nehisi Coates (@tanehisicoates) October 31, 2017

I mean, like, it's called The three fifths compromise for a reason. But it doesn't stand alone. Missouri Compromise. Kansas-Nebraska Act.  Ta-Nehisi Coates (@tanehisicoates) October 31, 2017

Lincoln's own platform was a compromise. Lincoln was not an abolitionist. He proposed to limit slavery's expansion, not end it.  Ta-Nehisi Coates (@tanehisicoates) October 31, 2017

Explicit compromises don't even get at it. Historian James McPherson points to implicit compromises with slavery.https://t.co/Mx7nXP4isn pic.twitter.com/wCDkNYOIea  Ta-Nehisi Coates (@tanehisicoates) October 31, 2017

As historian David Blight pointed out "compromise" with white supremacy was how the country achieved reunion.  Ta-Nehisi Coates (@tanehisicoates) October 31, 2017

This is really basic stuff--easily accessible, not tucked away in archives somewhere.  Ta-Nehisi Coates (@tanehisicoates) October 31, 2017

Shocking that someone charged with defending their country, in some profound way, does not comprehend the country they claim to defend.  Ta-Nehisi Coates (@tanehisicoates) October 31, 2017

Notion that we are putting today's standards on the past is, in itself, racist--implies only white, slave-holding, opinions matter.  Ta-Nehisi Coates (@tanehisicoates) October 31, 2017

Half the people living in states like Louisiana, Georgia, Alabama enslaved--knew full well that enslavement was dead wrong.  Ta-Nehisi Coates (@tanehisicoates) October 31, 2017

Praising Bobby Lee as an honorable man is just sad. Like some kid insisting his deadbeat dad is actually a secret agent away on a mission.  Ta-Nehisi Coates (@tanehisicoates) October 31, 2017

As @AdamSerwer points out Lee wasn't some agnostic pressed into War. He was a dude who thought torture was cool.https://t.co/Mx7nXP4isn pic.twitter.com/z7Ggh8afkK  Ta-Nehisi Coates (@tanehisicoates) October 31, 2017

But you do have to actually read what the people who started the War actually said. https://t.co/BBEg7k6Mfe pic.twitter.com/viIRu9tnQ8  Ta-Nehisi Coates (@tanehisicoates) October 31, 2017

Been a lot of hemming and hawing over the term "white supremacist." Fools who won't be satisfied until Trump literally lynches someone.  Ta-Nehisi Coates (@tanehisicoates) October 31, 2017

But, like, when the "adult in the room" believes a war for slavery was honorable...  Ta-Nehisi Coates (@tanehisicoates) October 31, 2017

Believes that the torturer of humans, vendor of people, who led that war was honorable...  Ta-Nehisi Coates (@tanehisicoates) October 31, 2017

When that dude portrays a sitting member of Congress as some shucking and jiving hustler...  Ta-Nehisi Coates (@tanehisicoates) October 31, 2017

When he sticks by that portrayal of a black women, in the face of clear video evidence, when he has so descended into the dream...  Ta-Nehisi Coates (@tanehisicoates) October 31, 2017
Two New York City policemen have been indicted on formal rape, kidnapping and bribery charges for allegedly forcing themselves on an 18-year-old woman who was in their custody for alleged marijuana possession, PEOPLE confirms.

The alleged rape occurred on Sept. 15 in a police van in Brooklyn while the teen was handcuffed, an NYPD source tells PEOPLE. Both officers have insisted the sex was consensual, according to the source.

Officers Eddie Martins and Richard Hall turned themselves in for arraignment on Monday, the source confirms. A grand jury returned indictments against the men on Thursday, according to a press release from Acting Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez.

It is incomprehensible that two veteran NYPD detectives would allegedly commit such an outrageous act, Gonzalez said. They took an oath to protect and serve, but allegedly violated that oath by raping a young woman who was in their custody. We will now seek to hold them accountable for this flagrant betrayal of public trust.

Martins, 37, and Hall, 32, who had been working as narcotics officers, face between 3 and 25 years behind bars if convicted. Both have also been suspended from the force without pay.

The two men, also facing sexual assault, coercion, and misconduct charges, have both pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Weeks ago, the accuser took to Twitter to relay her story of the alleged rape.

Following her arrest for alleged drug possession, the victim, posting under the alias Anna Chambers, alleges she was driven to a Coney Island parking lot, where Martins raped her. Both men, she alleges, forced her to perform sex acts on them.

No drug charges have been filed against the alleged victim.

Her attorney, Michael David, tells PEOPLE the 50-count indictments validate his clients claims, which, he says, will serve as the basis of an impending civil suit against the police department and the city.

She feels helpless and depressed, and she stays in a room all day, David tells PEOPLE. She was planning to go to college next semester, but she wont be doing that anymore. Two monsters with badges and guns drove off with her in a small minivan and raped her while on duty.

Story continues

 Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Click here to get breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases in the True Crime Newsletter.

The statement from Gonzalez alleges the victim was picked up in Gravesend, Brooklyn. The officers stopped her car, and allegedly found a small quantity of marijuana in the front seat cup holder. The officers instructed the three occupants, including two male passengers, to step out of the car and [they] asked if they had any drugs on them and the young woman responded she had marijuana and two Klonopin pills, it is alleged in the statement.

The detectives handcuffed the woman, told her she was under arrest and would be getting a desk appearance ticket, the statement alleges. They let her companions go and instructed them to retrieve their friend from the precinct in three hours, the evidence showed.

The statement continues that the two men allegedly pulled the van over, and switched places. Detective Martins got behind the wheel and Detective Hall got into the back seat of the van, where he allegedly forced the victim to perform a sex act on him.

They also allegedly gave her back the Klonopin pills, told her to keep her mouth shut and released her.

David says that his client has been the subject of online harassment ever since the allegations first surfaced. She has also been the target of a smear campaign designed to tarnish her character, he says.

 PEOPLEs special edition True Crime Stories: 35 Real Cases That Inspired the Show Law & Order is on sale now.

They are trying to blame the victim here, which is really disgusting, David says, adding that the teen has been attacked for the clothes she is wearing in social media posts.

This girl can dress however she wants and she can post whatever selfies she wants  thats what teenage girls do. Her social media posts have nothing to do with the brutal rape she was forced to endure, David says.

Martins attorney, Mark Bederow, tells PEOPLE that we vigorously contest the central component of these allegations, which is that there was any forcible sexual activity or kidnapping of this young woman off the street.

Halls lawyer did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Martins was ordered held on $250,000 bail and Hall was ordered held on $150,000 bail.

An initial court date has been set for Jan 18, 2018.
Two women who were lost at sea for five months while attempting to sail from Hawaii to Tahiti before being rescued by a U.S. Navy ship have said they already have plans to make another attempt at the crossing.

Jennifer Appel, Tasha Fuiava and their two dogs, Valentine and Zeus, set foot on solid ground at a U.S. Navy base in Japan on Monday, according to TIME, but their statement to the press wasnt just one of relief and gratitude toward their rescuers.

After recounting their harrowing tale of being caught in a storm that flooded their engine and damaged the mast and sails, Appel announced that the pair are already thinking about making another attempt at the crossing as soon as next spring.

We still never got to see the 20,000 islands, so I think that would be the most fantastic trip for May of next spring, Appel said. She announced plans to build an unsinkable and unbreakable boat for the new voyage. Her 50-foot sailboat, the Sea Nymph, was badly damaged and abandoned in the Pacific during the rescue. The 2,700-mile journey should take about one month.

Appel spent years preparing for their first trip. Though she credited her survival to the advice of veteran sailors from Hawaii, according to TIME. They said pack every square inch of your boat with food, and if you think you need a month, pack six months, because you have no idea what could possibly happen out there, Appel recounted. And the sailors in Honolulu really gave us good advice. Were here.

Additional information calling into question elements of the womens story surfaced on Monday, when it was discovered that they had a rescue beacon they did not use. A Coast Guard spokeswoman told the Associated Press, We asked why during this course of time did they not activate the [beacon]. She had stated they never felt like they were truly in distress, like in a 24-hour period they were going to die.

However, in a briefing on Monday, ABC News reported that Appel stated, The crew of the USS Ashland saved our lives. Had they not been able to locate us we would have been dead within 24 hours. During a conference call with the AP and PEOPLE on Friday, Appel did not include the beacon when asked what communication devices she had on board.
Jennifer Appel and Tasha Fuiava, the two women who claim to have been lost at sea for five months after things went awry during their sailing trip to Tahiti, are now facing questions about the veracity of their story.

The two friends left their homes in Hawaii on May 3 for what was supposed to be about a month-long sailing trip to Tahiti in Appels sailing boat, the Sea Nymph, but they said they ran into trouble after a powerful storm flooded their engine, broke their mast and cut off their link to emergency services. But inconsistencies have cast doubt on their account of the five-month journey, which came to an end when they were rescued by the Navy last week.

They Had an Emergency Beacon They Could Have Used to Get Immediate Help

On Friday during a conference call, Appel did not disclose to PEOPLE and the AP that she was in possession of an EPIRB (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon) that could have been used to alert emergency services.

We had two different Garmin GPSes. One failed, and the handheld is the one that we used for the majority of the trip, Appel said, listing off the forms of communication and emergency supplies she brought with her. We had two live springs, 20 flares, 10 of which we actually used trying to get attention from other vessels. We had onboard a brand new VHF, an SSB, an Icom SSB, ham radio, weather sat, and a radiotelephone.

Yet, because their boats antennae failed, none of the devices worked, Appel said, implying they were left without any options to reach emergency services through technology.

We had certain ways to communicate and multiple backups, and none of them actually functioned correctly, she continued, adding she also had an Iridium satellite phone that never seemed to connect.

The US Coast Guard announced Monday that Appel did not use the EPIRB because she says she believed their lives were not in immediate danger, and did not want to distract from other hypothetical emergencies.

Story continues

They Detailed a Powerful Storm That Was Not Recorded by Weather Agencies

The entire ordeal, they claimed, began when they hit a Force 11 storm just days after they set sail from Hawaii. A Force 11 storm can cause waves dozens of feet high due to powerful winds, and would typically be recorded by the NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). When contacted by PEOPLE, the administration had no account of any Force 11 stormor anything close to a storm that powerfulhappening around Hawaii at the beginning of May.

Parts of Their Tiger Shark Attack Account Does Match With Typical Shark Behavior

One of the most thrilling parts of the womens survival story was their detailed account of two separate attacks from groups of tiger sharks.

I was absolutely astonished and down on my knees praying to a higher power that we would hold together, Appel told PEOPLE, describing the way the tiger sharks rammed themselves into her boat in an attempt to knock them over. Ive never been so scared in my whole life It was like an earthquake going off. There was a boom and then everything shakes, even the teeth in my head. There is nothing you can do at that point they would make waves, and they would try to knock down the boat.

In different descriptions, Appel described the sharks as being at least 50-feet long. Though she told PEOPLE they were 20- to 30-feet in length, tiger sharks only grow about 16-feet long on average.

According to George Burgess, director of the International Shark Attack File at the Florida Museum of Natural History at the University of Florida, an instance of sharks jumping out of the ocean to capsize a vessel has never been recorded by other sailors.

Tiger sharks are solitary animals, though they are found in the open sea, they are usually found mostly near some land mass, he says. There has never been a documented case of the kind of behavior youre seeing described, in a shark of any species. Without calling names to these survivors, I would say perhaps hallucinations had set in.

Burgess does say that sharks will slam into the hull of a boat, especially one that has been adrift at sea, since a collection of small animals could have attached themselves to the ship, attracting other fish which the sharks will feast on.

The Women May Have Been in Contact With the Coast Guard Within a Month of Their Ordeal

The US Coast Guard told the AP they made contact with a vessel named the Sea Nymph in June when it was in the waters near Tahiti. A Coast Guard spokesperson said the captain told them they were not in distress and expected to make land the next day. According to Appel and Fuiavas original story, their engine and mast were vastly damaged by then.

An Area They Claim Was Uninhabited Is Home to Thousands of People

After their boat was allegedly adrift with no working engine, Appel said they reached the island nation of Kiribati, but turned away after they feared they would damage their boat further.

One whole half of the island is called Shipwreck Beach for a reason, and it is uninhabited, she told PEOPLE. They only have habitation on the northwest corner, and their reef was too shallow for us to cross in order to get into the lagoon, and there are no protected waters on the outside of the lagoon.

Yet, Christmas Island in Kiribati is home to more than 2,000 people and includes a port that can fit commercial ships, and the women could have used their 20 flares to alert residents and get help. There is also no Shipwreck Beach on the island, but an area on the northeast side of the island is called the Bay of Wrecks.
Photo credit: Getty

From Good Housekeeping

The name Charlotte might be fit for a princess, but the lovely sounding moniker isn't welcome everywhere. In fact, Portugal specifically bans parents from using it, along with other popular picks like Emily, William and Michael.

The republic's not alone. Denmark, Iceland, Hungary and Saudi Arabia also enforce specific naming conventions where common American cognomens might not make the cut. Check out some of the most surprising offenders below:

1. Catherine

While Caterina gets the thumbs up, the Anglicized version is another no-go in Portugal. To keep all of the strict laws straight, the government maintains an 83-page list of approved and unapproved options.

2. Peter

Denmark is another country that maintains a specific register. Both countries prefer monikers that fit their native languages and cultures, so expats might be out of luck if they're hoping to give their children family names.

3. Sarah

Not to be outdone, a special naming committee determines the "introduction of new given names into the culture of Iceland." While Sarah's not on the official list, parents can fill out a special form and request it get added to the register.

4. Linda

In 2014, Saudi Arabia's Interior Ministry released a list of 51 banned names reportedly not in line with "social traditions." While most selections appear to have religious connotations, foreign-sounding options like Linda also got prohibited.

5. George

Sorry, Prince George. Both of the royal children actually go against Portuguese naming laws, along with their dad William.

6. Harriet

There are currently no Icelandic babies with the English name meaning "home ruler" - at least not yet.

7. John

It's the most popular boy's name of the last 500 years in the States, but Denmark omits it from its official list.

8. Stephen

Hungary also maintains a registry of approved names that adhere to its native language. So while Stefan gets approved, the predominant English spelling won't work.

Story continues

9. Thomas

Tom, Thomas and Thomas all get denied under Portuguese law.

10. Maya

Saudi parents need to steer clear of this trending girl's name as well.

11. Lucifer

It's unclear if it's officially banned, but a couple in Germany wanted to name their son Lucifer and a judge quickly put a stop to that. The name is also forbidden in New Zealand.

WATCH: This Has to Be the Coolest Gender Reveal That We've Seen So Far

[h/t The Sun]

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Sequined dress $249 (Photo: Courtesy of H&M)

H&M has been gearing up the past few weeks for its highly anticipated Erdem x H&M collection launch.

The Swedish company previously hosted a collection-specific star-studded runway show in Los Angeles, with Kirsten Dunst and Kate Bosworth sitting front row. Just last week, filmmaker Baz Luhrmann hosted an exclusive premiere party for his film for the collection at H&Ms flagship store in New York.

Now the moment that we can get in on the fun is finally here. On Thursday, Nov. 2, you will be able to shop the collection in its entirety, featuring many Erdem staples, like dreamy holiday floral dresses, lacy Victorian blouses, tailored herringbone tweed blazers, silky pajama sets, and so much more. But to help narrow down your search, we rounded up the top 12 items that will sell out very fast.

Make sure to bookmark these items ahead of time, as past H&M designer collections have sold out within hours. The Erdem x H&M collection will launch on Thursday, Nov. 2, 8:00 a.m. EDT online at hm.com. It will also be available in select H&M stores worldwide. To find your nearest store, you can use H&Ms store locator.

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Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day.
At least eight people were killed and 11 injured when a man in a rental truck plowed through a bike lane in lower Manhattan, New York City, while yelling "Allahu Akbar" on Tuesday.

Five of the eight victims of the attack have now been identified as a group of Argentinian friends who were celebrating the 30th anniversary of their 1987 high school graduation.

Hernan Mendoza, Diego Angelini, Alejandro Pagnucco, Ariel Erlij and Hernan Ferruchi were confirmed dead in a statement by Argentina's foreign ministry.

In this photo, Pagnucco and Erlij, 48, are the second and third people from left.

La imagen del grupo de amigos de Rosario antes de viajar a Nueva York https://t.co/4yyWtphW5ppic.twitter.com/Cp0QWWugpN  LA NACION (@LANACION) November 1, 2017

The five friends were from Rosario, a port city in northern Argentina, and had gone to school together at Rosario's Polytechnic School.

The city has declared a three day mourning period following their deaths.

These are the victims of the New York City terror: attack

The Argentinian government also said that a sixth victim, Martin Ludovico Marro, was hospitalized at New York Presbyterian Hospital and was recovering from injuries sustained during the attack.

An unnamed 31-year-old Belgian woman who was visiting NYC with her mom and two sisters was also confirmed among Tuesday's casualties by the country's deputy prime minister.

I am deeply saddened to announce a belgian victim in #Manhattan - I express my condolences to the family and friends   Didier Reynders (@dreynders) October 31, 2017

The two other victims of the attack remain unidentified.

See photos from the scene of the attack:
Eight people are dead and at least 11 injured after a man in a rented pickup truck drove down a popular bike path in Lower Manhattan Tuesday, hitting several pedestrians and a school bus before being shot by police, officials said. The incident is being treated as an act of terror.

Based on the information we have at this moment, this was an act of terror. And a particularly cowardly act of terror, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said in a press conference two hours after the attack. We know that this action was intended to break our spirit.

At 3:05 P.M, the 29-year-old suspect, who authorities declined to publicly identify, entered the West Side highway in a rented Home Depot pickup truck, and began striking pedestrians as he drove south down the road, NYPD Commissioner James P. ONeil said at the press conference. The truck subsequently collided with a school bus near Chambers Street in Lower Manhattan, injuring two adults and two children, and the driver emerged from the vehicle with two guns, which authorities later identified as paintball and pellet guns. A a law enforcement officer shot the suspect, and he was transported to a hospital after sustaining a gunshot wound.

An investigation is underway, although New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said he believed the suspect acted alone and is not part of a wider plot. A law enforcement official told the Associated Press the suspect shouted Allahu Akbar as he exited the truck.

In the immediate aftermath of the incident the area surrounding Chambers Street was largely blocked off and heavily guarded by law enforcement, although parents who needed to pick their children up from school were allowed to enter the closed off vicinities. The incident ended right by Stuyvesant High School, one of the citys most prestigious specialized schools. This incident is over, said ONeill. It did end right by Stuyvesant High School so we had to make sure all the kids were taken care of, and we held them in place for a while.

Story continues

Another mom who rushed to Stuyvesant to find her child told TIME she had witnesses the suspect crash into the school bus. I saw there was a car crash into a school bus and then i saw aman come out of his car circling around the west side highway and chambers, circling with the [paintball and pellet guns] in his hands.

The White House said President Trump has been briefed on the incident by his Chief of Staff, General John Kelly, and will continue to be updated as more details are provided. Trump also took to Twitter, calling the suspect a very sick and deranged person. Law enforcement is following this closely. NOT IN THE U.S.A.! he wrote.

A little over an hour later, Trump followed up with another tweet, this time about the need to stop ISIS, even though no connection has been established between the attack and the terrorist group.

We must not allow ISIS to return, or enter, our country after defeating them in the Middle East and elsewhere. Enough! he tweeted.

With reporting by Karl Vick.
Sanaa (AFP) - An air strike killed 29 people and wounded 17 others in northern Yemen on Wednesday, the Huthi rebel health service said.

The Huthi-run Saba news agency accused the Saudi-led coalition fighting in support of the government of carrying out the raid in the Sahar district. It reported a toll of 21 killed and nine wounded, all of them civilians.

The rebel health official was unable to tell AFP whether those killed and wounded were all civilians.

According to the official and Saba, the raid hit a crowded marketplace in Sahar, a district dominated by the Huthis.

The rebel agency published photos showing charred bodies and bloody, disfigured faces, the purported victims of Wednesday's strike.

The war in Yemen has pitted forces loyal to the internationally recognised government, which was expelled from the capital Sanaa in September 2014, against the Huthi rebels who drove them out and continue to hold sway in the north.

The conflict intensified in March 2015, when a military coalition led by Saudi Arabia joined the government's fight against the Iran-backed rebels.

According to the United Nations, the conflict in Yemen has left seven million people at risk of famine and an estimated 17 million -- 60 percent of the overall population -- food insecure.
Senator clashes with Colin Stretch over how tech giants apparently missed posts coming from Russia: How could you not connect the dots?

Al Franken questions witnesses from Google, Facebook and Twitter. Photograph: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

A top executive at Facebook struggled to answer on Tuesday as an angry and incredulous Al Franken, a Democratic senator, demanded to know why the social network accepted political advertisements paid for in Russian roubles during the presidential election.

Colin Stretch, vice-president and general counsel at Facebook, admitted that the network could have done better in tracing the source of its ad funding during testimony to a Senate judiciary subcommittee. It is the first of three congressional hearings focusing on how three tech giants  Facebook, Google and Twitter  were exploited by Russia to sway voters.

This is something you guys have to deal with and fix, Franken told Stretch, who was appearing instead of the more recognisable Facebook leaders Mark Zuckerberg or Sheryl Sandberg. You were kind of the canary in the coal mine in 2016.

In a devastating line of questioning, Franken asked irately: How did Facebook, which prides itself on being able to process billions of data points and instantly transform them into personal connections for its users, somehow not make the connection that electoral ads paid for in roubles were coming from Russia? Those are two data points! American political ads and Russian money: roubles. How could you not connect those two dots?

Stretch said Facebook had done an effective job on cyber-theft but admitted: I think in hindsight, we should have had a broader lens. There were signals we missed and we are now focused

But Franken, angry and sardonic, interrupted: People are buying ads on your platform with roubles. Theyre political ads. You put billions of data points together all the time. Thats what I hear that these platforms do: theyre the most sophisticated things invented by man, ever. Google has all knowledge that man has ever developed. You cant put together roubles with a political ad and go hmm, those two data points spell out something bad?

Story continues

Stretch replied: Senator, its a signal we should have been alert to and in hindsight

But Franken cut him off, asking whether Facebook would pledge not to publish a political ad paid for in North Korean won. As Stretch demurred, Franken interjected fiercely: Please answer yes or no, sir. Youre sophisticated. Youre the chief legal counsel for Facebook. Please answer yes or no.

Stretch sought to clarify that currencies did not necessarily indicate the source country of an advert and refused to commit to banning political ads purchased in foreign currencies. But Franken snapped back, asking why a bad actor would choose the North Korean won to conceal his activities. He told the counsel: My goal is for you to think through this stuff a little bit better.

The hearing on Capitol Hill heard how Russias attack via social media began in 2015, before the party primaries, and continued even after last Novembers presidential election. Stretch said there had been an effort to challenge the validity of Donald Trumps election, sowing further division.

Facebook, Twitter and Google defended their security measures and promised to do more to stop the misuse of their platforms by a foreign power. Richard Salgado, director of law enforcement and information security at Google, said: We take this seriously. Weve made changes and will continue to get better.

But some senators were sceptical. Patrick Leahy, a Democrat of Vermont, called the companies Johnny-come-latelies and said: Theres a lot that I think you could have done earlier.

Senator Dianne Feinstein highlighted fake pages such as Black Matters US and United Muslims of America, which Russians used a custom audience tool to target. Stretch described such attempts to exploit divisions in society as vile and cynical and said there have been changes to ad targeting policies with added layers of review.

Senator Chris Coons struck a similar tone to Franken and again Facebook bore the brunt. He drew attention to an advert that claimed Hillary Clinton, along with Barack Obama, was despised by Americans and the army should be withdrawn from her control. Another advertised a non-existent miners for Trump rally. People were duped, Coons said.

Stretch responded: That advertisement has no place on Facebook and we are committed to preventing that sort of behaviour happening again on our platform. Youre right to surface it. It makes me angry, it makes everyone angry.

But Coons said he was concerned that it had taken Facebook 11 months since the election to come forward and address the issue. Stretch disputed this, noting the company had published a white paper in April.

In written testimony to the committee, Facebook said it estimated roughly 29 million people were served content in their news feeds directly from Russias Internet Research Agencys (IRA) 80,000 posts over two years. Posts from these pages were also shared, liked, and followed by people on Facebook, and, as a result, three times more people may have been exposed to a story that originated from the Russian operation.

The company said its best estimate was that about 126 million people may have been served content from a page associated with the IRA at some point during the two-year period. This equals about 0.004% of content in news feed, or about one out of 23,000 pieces of content. Stretch testified that many of those users may never have seen the material.

These organic posts are separate from more than 3,000 ads linked to the agency that Facebook has already turned over to congressional committees. Many of the ads focused on divisive social issues.

Twitter told the same subcommittee that it had found and shut down 2,752 accounts linked to Russias IRA, which is notorious for pro-Russian government positions.

On Twitter, the Russia-linked accounts put out 1.4m election-related tweets from September through 14 November last year  nearly half of them automated. The company also found nine Russian accounts that bought ads, most of which came from the state-backed news service RT, previously known as Russia Today. Twitter said last week it would no longer accept ads from RT and Sputnik, another state-sponsored news outlet.

Twitters acting general counsel, Sean Edgett, said: The investigation continues and we expect to keep the committee up to date on any future discoveries. The other companies also said the investigations continued.

Twitters general counsel claimed that the company could draw lines between organic tweets and advertisements. But Senator Richard Durbin objected: When it comes to drawing those lines, its a challenge for us, and we do it for a living. I think its going to be very hard for you, too.

Google said two accounts linked to the Russian group spent $4,700 on ads on its platforms during the 2016 election. The company also found 18 YouTube channels probably backed by Russian agents. Those channels hosted 1,108 videos with 43 hours of material, although they racked up just 309,000 views in the US between June 2015 and November 2016, Google said.

The Minnesota senator Amy Klobuchar asked the companies whether they would support the honest ads bill she has introduced with Senator Mark Warner, which would bring political ad rules from TV, radio and print to the internet.

Each of the tech giants offered qualified support rather than answering yes. Stretch said: We stand ready to work with you and your co-sponsors on that legislation going forward.

Edgett of Twitter added: The same goes for Twitter.

Salgado of Google said carefully: We certainly support the goals of the legislation and would like to work through the nuances to make it work for all of us.

The committee chair, Lindsey Graham, Republican of South Carolina, quoted Donald Trump as saying that he had won the election based on Twitter. Graham warned that the social media platforms were being used by people who wish us harm and wish to undercut our way of life.

The Republican senator John Kennedy said he was proud of the American companies but added: I think you do enormous good, but your power sometimes scares me. Youve got 5m advertisers and youre going to tell me youre going to be able to tell me the origin of all those advertisers? Im trying to get us down from la-la land.

All three companies will also testify Wednesday before the House and Senate intelligence committees as part of congressional investigations of Russian election interference.
Nurse Alex Wubbels is shown during an incident at University of Utah Hospital in this still photo taken from a police body camera video on July 26, 2017. (Photo: Handout/Reuters)

Alex Wubbels, the Utah nurse who was violently arrested in July for doing her job, has reached a $500,000 settlement with Salt Lake City and the university that runs the hospital where she works. Wubbels said at a Tuesday news conference that she will donate part of the settlement to a local nurses union and apportion some of it to fund legal help for others trying to obtain body camera footage from police.

We all deserve to know the truth and the truth comes when you see the actual raw footage and thats what happened in my case, Wubbels told reporters, per The Salt Lake Tribune. No matter how truthful I was in telling my story, it was nothing compared to what people saw and the visceral reaction people experienced when watching the footage of the experience that I went through.

Press Conference today re: Alex Wubbels case - Many goals have been met - $500,000 settlement to be shared with charities #endnurseabuse pic.twitter.com/RZ8uUmuiHQ  Karra Porter (@KarraPorter) October 31, 2017

Wubbels was arrested on July 26 at University of Utah Hospital in Salt Lake City. Body cam footage showed Detective Jeff Payne manhandling the nurse after she refused to allow him to draw blood from an unconscious patient who had been involved in a car crash.

Im just trying to do what Im supposed to do, thats all, Wubbels, the head nurse of the hospitals burn unit, told the officer in the footage as she explained to him that a warrant or the patients consent would be required before blood could be drawn.

Refusing to take no for an answer, Payne kept insisting that she comply with his demand, eventually chasing the nurse down and handcuffing her as she sobbed and screamed for help.

Payne was fired from the Salt Lake City Police Department last month. His supervisor, James Tracy, was demoted for the role he played in the nurses arrest.

Story continues

No charges were ever filed against Wubbels.

On Tuesday, the nurses attorney, Karra Porter, said Wubbels would not be filing a lawsuit following the settlement with the city and the University of Utah.

Other than using part of the settlement to help others access police body camera clips, Wubbels said she planned to donate some of the $500,000 to the Utah Nurses Association and to support the national #EndNurseAbuse campaign.

Porter added that her law firm, Christensen & Jensen, is committed to providing free legal services to those needing to obtain body cam footage.

Though Wubbels case was settled, Porter said, were hoping the discussion about body cameras continues.

A portion of proceeds going to a fund to help people obtain their bodycam footage @ChrisJenLaw to provide free legal aid for GRAMA requests pic.twitter.com/3J4h9EvDpJ  Karra Porter (@KarraPorter) October 31, 2017

Related Coverage

Nurse Sobs 'Help Me' While Getting Arrested For Simply Doing Her Job

Nurses Endure A Shocking Amount Of Violence On The Job

Officer Who Arrested Utah Nurse In Viral Video Is Now Under Criminal Investigation

Utah Cop Who Violently Arrested Nurse Is Fired

Also on HuffPost

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When Osama bin Laden wasnt planning terrorist attacks, such as 9/11, he was apparently watching YouTube videos like Charlie Bit My Finger.

And that shocks Howard Davies-Carr, who filmed his son Charlie biting the finger of brother Harry in the now-legendary 2007 viral video.

Turns out Charlie Bit My Finger was one of the many videos that Navy SEALs found in bin Ladens collection when they stormed his compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan, on May 2, 2011, according to a CIA press release issued Wednesday.

Davies-Carr filmed the 55-second video in May 2007 just to capture a moment in their lives, and he uploaded it only after reviewing it and finding it funny.

It struck a chord with many, ultimately receiving more than 854 million views.

But Davies-Carr told HuffPost exclusively that he had no idea one of the viewers might be the mastermind of one of the worst terrorist attacks on American soil.

I dont know how to react, Davies-Carr said when contacted by phone at his home in London. Its hard to take in.

You never can tell who has a lighter side. Its hard to imagine hes planning terrible things one minute and then laughing with his family over this the next.

Davies-Carr said his sons, 13-year-old Harry and 11-year-old Charlie, arent surprised by it because theyre too young to know much about 9/11.

However, his wifes first reaction was different than his own.

She wondered, Were they targets? he said.

Charlie Bit My Finger was, perhaps, the strangest film found in bin Ladens video stash, which included old Tom & Jerry cartoons, feature films including Cars and Resident Evil, and a number of crochet tutorials, according to Gizmodo.

Davies-Carr says hes aware of many high-profile people whove seen Charlie Bit My Finger but admits bin Laden is the most notorious.

He prefers the 2014 celebrity tribute Jimmy Kimmel did featuring Tom Hanks, Meryl Streep with Chris and Liam Hemsworth playing Harry and Charlie.

Story continues

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WASHINGTON  Mark Zuckerbergs original motto for Facebook was Move fast and break things. It now appears that the CEO is going to have to answer for moving too fast and breaking too many things.

After years of trying to avoid oversight from Washington, the 2-billion-person social network platform is set for a reckoning. This past week, Facebook faced its first major congressional oversight hearings since it revealed that a Russian troll factory, called the Internet Research Agency, had purchased ads on the site in order to influence the 2016 election.

In three committee hearings, representatives from Facebook, Google and Twitter were grilled about their sites roles in facilitating the foreign influence operation. Lawmakers from both parties poked at the companies failure to reckon with questions about the lack of transparency in online advertising and the vast power they hold over our lives.

Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) took particular umbrage with Facebook: Your power sometimes scares me.

Kennedy got Facebook general counsel Colin Stretch to essentially admit that it was impossible for the company to keep track of the 5 million monthly advertisers on its platform. Stretch also ducked and dodged questions about how much user information his company had on specific individuals and whether it could compromise their privacy in search of advertising dollars.

Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.) told Stretch that he preferred a light regulatory touch on industry and then added that dealing with Facebook was something we hope we dont have to engage in legislatively.

You are going to have to do something about this or else we will, Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) said bluntly.

The hearings may have put the fear of God in the tech companies. Ever since the boom of online commercial activity in the 1990s, Silicon Valley has fought to avoid any kind of regulation, taxation or oversight from government, state, local or federal. Facebook is currently trying to fight off any federal oversight. The company has hired two crisis PR firms and registered two new lobbying firms this year. Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg appeared at official events in Washington ahead of the hearings and gave an exclusive interview to Axios Mike Allen.

Story continues

But what would regulation for Facebook even look like? We asked the experts.

Time to investigate

Determining how to regulate Facebook may first require some kind of definition of what it is.

Reporter Max Read posed this very question in New York Magazine earlier this month. What do you call a website that allows you to share baby pictures with former high school classmates and also receive targeted advertising with the most fine-grained precision possible? Facebook brags about connecting us to our family and friends  and also about directly influencing the outcomes of elections across the globe. It sits on top of industries including journalism, where it, together with Google, essentially controls the distribution channels for online news and, in effect, the way people discover information about politics, government and society.

Facebook, Read argues, is like a four-dimensional object that we catch slices of when it passes through the three-dimensional world we recognize. Its really hard to get a handle on it.

Listen to Paul Blumenthal talk about Facebook on HuffPosts So That Happened podcast at the 16:00 minute mark below.

The best way to figure out exactly what Facebook is and does is to launch a public investigation, argues Matt Stoller, a fellow at the Open Markets Institute, a think tank that supports tougher antitrust enforcement.

We need a select congressional committee to just look at Facebook and figure out all the things it does, Stoller said.

Such a committee could examine Facebooks ownership of multiple social networks (it owns Instagram and tried to purchase Snapchat). An investigation could look at the companys use of virtual private networks (VPNs) to gauge what apps are popular and identify good takeover targets. Or it could check Facebooks massive advertising business and how it is used to influence elections or to target retail ads at users immediately after they look at a product on another site. A committee could determine how such a large corporate enterprise works and examine how this affects populations, suss out anti-competitive behavior, examine and remedy invasions of peoples privacy, and find out if it is undermining human autonomy.

What about legal changes?

While activists like Stoller push for a dedicated committee to investigate Facebook, the federal bureaucracy and some members of Congress are working on fixing the problem of untraceable political advertising.

Sens. Mark Warner (D-Va.) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) are drafting legislation to require large online platforms like Facebook, YouTube (owned by Google), Instagram and Snapchat to maintain public databases of all political advertising, including ad buyer and targeting information. The Federal Election Commission reopened its consideration of disclosure requirements for online election advertising and is currently seeking public comment.

Stoller proposes that Facebook go further by informing each user who was specifically targeted by ads purchased by the Internet Research Agency.

Facebooks Stretch told the Senate Intelligence Committee that the technical challenges of determining which users were exposed to the propaganda and then contacting them are substantial.

But Warner called the idea of reaching out to affected users an interesting question about what obligation you might have. He compared it to legal requirements that medical facilities inform patients if they may have been exposed to a disease.

Yochai Benkler, the Berkman professor of entrepreneurial legal studies at Harvard Law School, has suggested another change: Lawmakers could pass a bill to require social networks to identify bots (automated accounts) and sockpuppets (fake accounts run by real people) so as to detail their role in spreading political advocacy advertising. No legislation has been discussed yet to tackle the problem of social media bots spreading paid propaganda.

Aside from the political advertising issue, Stoller believes that Facebooks dominant position in social media  the company is often referred to as a monopoly  could be remedied by forcing it to become interoperable with other social sites. He likened this to a 2001 Federal Communications Commission edict requiring any new video-chatting service provided through AOL Instant Messenger to be interoperable with its competitors video-chat products.

Sen. Mark Warner is writing legislation to require Facebook and other online platforms to publicly disclose political advertising. (Photo: Aaron P. Bernstein/Reuters)

What about privacy?

To privacy groups, the issue of political advertising is really just a subcategory of problems with large online platforms they have complained about for years. Companies like Facebook and Google derive most of their revenue from advertising. They essentially constitute a duopoly because they have access to the best data about individuals. Every memory, picture, emoji, song, video, link, gripe, fear, hope, want, dream and bad political opinion posted is mined and monetized as data.

The more precise the data, the better advertisers and marketers can target a segmented audience, like Jew haters on Facebook or people who search Google for terms like black people ruin everything. (Those terms have since been disabled for ad targeting.) By having the largest data set, Facebook and Google can target ads more precisely than any other online providers.

At the end of the day, how [Facebook and Google] conduct their businesses undermines privacy and raises questions about ethical behavior in the uses of our information and their role in society, Jeffrey Chester, executive director for the Center for Digital Democracy, a pro-privacy nonprofit, told HuffPost.

Both Chester and Stoller pointed to Europes soon-to-be implemented online privacy rules, known as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), as a way to control privacy abuses and allow users to maintain control over their online lives in the United States. The GDPR will provide individuals with control over their online information by making it accessible and removable at an individuals request. The new regulations will also give an individual the right to refuse to let their data be harvested and used by sites like Google and Facebook or third-party data brokers that collect the information and resell it to ad networks.

Inside the filter bubble

Complaints about Facebooks influence on society extend beyond the way advertising is targeted or the way users sign away their privacy. The distribution of false news designed to inflame users opinions also has activists worried.

In 2011, progressive activist Eli Pariser wrote The Filter Bubble, which warned that social media algorithms were creating and reinforcing divided and insular online communities that did not interact with people or information with which they disagreed. A number of websites  particularly, but not exclusively, those skewed to the right  have figured out how to take advantage of this dynamic to distribute false information about political candidates and hot-button political issues in order to drive up traffic and advertising revenue.

If you were caught in one of these fake-news Facebook bubbles, you might have thought that Pope Francis endorsed Donald Trump, George Soros pays protesters to appear at Trump rallies, Hillary Clinton sold weapons to Islamic State terrorists, the Chobani yogurt chain was importing Muslims to rape Americans, or Clinton and her campaign chairman John Podesta ran a child sex ring out of a pizza shop in Washington, D.C. That last claim led a North Carolina man to fire shots inside the crowded pizzeria in December 2016 in an attempt to rescue the non-existent sex slaves.

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg may ultimately find himself speaking before a congressional committee rather than a product launch audience. (Photo: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

But Facebook isnt legally responsible for the fake news that appears on its site. The Communications Decency Act of 1996 contains a section that states, No provider or user of an interactive computer service shall be treated as the publisher or speaker of any information provided by another information content provider. This section is a fundamental legal building block of most of the online products that people use. Google cannot be sued for showing false or libelous content to people who search for it. The same goes for what people post and share on Facebook.

This piece of law is also the existential problem for large online platforms as it provides too much protection for what gets said on them, according to Jonathan Taplin, a critic of Silicon Valley and author of Move Fast and Break Things: How Facebook, Google, and Amazon Cornered Culture and Undermined Democracy.

Publishers have actual legal responsibility for what they allow onto their sites. The New York Times can be sued based on what it publishes, Taplin noted. Facebook, however, cannot.

They are given protections that no one can sue them for any reason  that is Google and Facebook  thats unlike the protection that your publication has or NBC News has or The New York Times has, Taplin told HuffPost. They are completely shielded from any responsibility for the content that appears on their service.

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Changes to this legal protection (which has been interpreted by judges to provide safe harbor for online platforms even when they pay to distribute others content and decline the option to impose editorial oversight) would likely be devastating to online platforms like Google and Facebook and would transform the way people interact across the entire internet. Without this protection, sites like this one could be held responsible for libelous comments posted by readers, Google could lose lawsuits over potentially false or defamatory information surfacing in search results, and Facebook could be sued for any potentially libelous comment made by anyone on its platform against any other person. The legal bills to defend against libel and defamation claims would be enormous.

Zuckerbergs plan

Zuckerberg is already working to get ahead of any federal regulation. He announced in September that Facebook would create its own database of advertising on its site to create transparency into who is buying what. Critics of Facebook in and outside Congress said this was a positive move, but warned that the public cannot rely on the companys self-regulation.

Sheryl Sandberg, Facebook's chief operating officer, and Elliot Schrage, its vice president of global communications and public policy, meet with lawmakers on Capitol Hill on Oct. 12. (Photo: JAMES LAWLER DUGGAN/Reuters)

And self-regulation can raise more questions than it answers. Facebooks new system for labeling fake news helped to reduce sharing of those links so labeled by 80 percent, according to a BuzzFeed report. But what qualifies as fake news? This program could be used and certainly will be interpreted as a way to suppress disfavored or fringe ideas.

Facebook is too immunized from competition to be left to adopt self-regulation, Benkler, the Harvard law professor, said. There is certainly room for some self-regulation in response to public pressure, but basically these companies are monopolies or near-monopolies in their areas of operation, and the only way to achieve desirable outcomes is through clear, effective regulation.

When asked to comment on possible regulation targeting the company, Facebook spokesman Andy Stone told HuffPost, We are open to working with legislators and reviewing any reasonable legislative proposals.

Congress certainly isnt done with Facebook or the other tech giants. Lawmakers sent Facebooks representative home with a list of questions to answer. They expressed some irritation that Zuckerberg and the CEOs of the two other companies had sent their lawyers to testify before the committees.

I wish we had the executives of your three companies here with us today, Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) said.

On Facebooks quarterly earnings call, which was held immediately after the conclusion of the final congressional hearing, Zuckerberg declared that the usual indicators of corporate success dont matter if our services are used in ways that dont bring people closer together.

Were serious about preventing abuse on our platforms, he said. Were investing so much in security that it will impact our profitability. Protecting our community is more important than maximizing our profits.

Also on HuffPost

It Can Mess With Your Sleep

Heavy social media use can upset sleep patterns, studies have found. And not getting enough sleep can cause you to check Facebook compulsively.



The result is an exhausting feedback loop that could leave you fried.

It Can Make You Depressed

Spending too much time on Facebook could stir up feelings of envy, according to a study published in 2015. Envy, in turn, could make you depressed.



We found that if Facebook users experience envy of the activities and lifestyles of their friends on Facebook, they are much more likely to report feelings of depression, study co-author Dr. Margaret Duffy, a University of Missouri journalism professor, said in a press release.



But, simply being aware that people are presenting their best selves -- and not necessarily their real selves -- on social media could help you feel less envious.

It Can Drain Your Smartphone Battery

Facebook's Android and iPhone apps are real battery sucks. Facebook has said it's addressing the problem. In the meantime, deleting the app from your smartphone could boost your battery by up to 20 percent.



Here's how to do it.

It Can Sap Your Focus

The average attention span is decreasing, according to research. Constant distractions created by our "digital lifestyles" could be changing our brain chemistry and sapping our focus. Yikes!

It Can Ruin Your Relationship

Social networks bring people together, but they can also drive a wedge between married couples, according to psychologists. Constantly checking Facebook can ruin intimate moments, and the ability to connect with old flames online can spark extra-marital trysts.

It Can Make You Socially Awkward

Our dependence on social media could be making it more difficult to connect with others in person. I think its the death of an actual civilized conversation, Justine Harman, features editor at Elle.com, told The Huffington Post in an interview in 2014.



What's more, most of your Facebook friends don't really care that much about you.

It Can Be A Huge Waste Of Time

The more time you spend on Facebook, the worse you feel, according to behavioral science research. That's because Facebook feels to many people like a waste of time.



It appears that, compared to browsing the Internet, Facebook is judged as less meaningful, less useful, and more of a waste of time, which then leads to a decrease in mood, Christina Sagioglou and Tobias Greitemeyer, behavioral scientists at the University of Innsbruck in Austria, wrote in a paper published in 2014.



Facebook doesn't always make us feel crummy. But, if it does, it's time to do something else.

It Can Create An Echo Chamber

Critics of social media have long suggested that Facebook's algorithm -- which determines the posts you see based on posts you've clicked -- can create "echo chambers" online. Being exposed to content you already understand or agree with can insulate you from diverse views, critics argue.



But Facebook disagrees, saying last year that it was not responsible for creating echo chambers. Either way, Facebook still plays a big role in how people consume information online.

It Tracks (And Shapes) Your Behavior

Facebook uses complex machine learning algorithms to decide what you see on the site. If it notices you like posts related to soccer, for instance, it might surface more soccer posts in your feed. But it doesn't always get this right.



Eventually, it may get better at understanding people's preferences -- so much better that some experts fear how precisely future marketing and political campaigns will be able to target people. We might even come to "question whether we still have free will," Illah Nourbakhsh, a robotics expert at Carnegie Mellon University, told HuffPost in an interview.

It Knows When You Go To Bed At Night

Turns out, Facebook has enough information about you that it can be used to track when you turn in for the night and when you wake up in the morning. Danish software developer Soren Louv-Jansen developed a tool that used Facebook data to let people observe their friends' sleep patterns.



Though Facebook asked him to take down this tool, the stunt pointed to a larger issue of data privacy: We all reveal a huge amount of personal information online, and we can't always control how others use it.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
Nations around the world still arent doing nearly enough to limit greenhouse gas emissions that cause global warming, a new report warns.

While progress is being made, a new United Nations report says that collectively countries aren't on track to contain global warming to the level set by leaders in the Paris Climate Agreement. We are currently on course to see between 3 and 3.2 degrees Celsius, or about 5.8 degrees Fahrenheit, of warming by the year 2100.

To put this another way, countries have only committed to about one-third of the emissions reductions needed to meet the Paris Agreement's temperature target, the report found.

SEE ALSO: Earth is seeing an unprecedented surge in carbon dioxide levels, with disturbing implications

Such a rapid and sizable temperature increase would lead to dangerous changes in the climate, from the rapid melting of polar ice sheets, rising sea levels that could swamp coastal cities worldwide, to more frequent and extreme heat waves, wildfires, and heavy precipitation events.

The report cites some of 2017's calamitous events, including Hurricane Harvey, which caused the heaviest rainstorm in U.S. history, as harbingers of what may be to come around the world.

One year after the Paris Agreement entered into force, we still find ourselves in a situation where we are not doing nearly enough to save hundreds of millions of people from a miserable future, said Erik Solheim, head of the U.N. Environment Program, in a statement.

Global temperature departures from normal during the period from 2012-2016, compared to the 20th century average.

Image: nasa giss

This is unacceptable. If we invest in the right technologies, ensuring that the private sector is involved, we can still meet the promise we made to our children to protect their future. But we have to get on the case now.

As Solheim suggests, countries have a short window of time during which they can narrow what the report calls a "dangerous gap" between agreed emissions cuts and what is actually necessary to meet the Paris targets. Unless sizable new emissions cuts are pledged by 2020, it's likely that a 1.5-degree Celsius, or 2.7-degree Fahrenheit, target would be impossible to meet after 2030, and the 2-degree target would be all but lost as well.

Story continues

The gap itself, measured in billions of tons of carbon dioxide emissions per year, is not impossible to narrow or even close altogether, if the right tools are deployed. These include limiting deforestation, deploying more renewable energy installations while limiting the construction of new coal plants, and improving the energy efficiency of everything from automobiles to buildings.

According to the "Emissions Gap Report," published by the U.N. Environment Program and designed to inform diplomats at the upcoming climate summit in Bonn, Germany, the remaining emissions gap is between 11 to 13.5 billion tons of carbon per year compared to scenarios that have a good chance of limiting global warming to 2 degrees Celsius.

People evacuate their homes after the area was inundated with flooding from Hurricane Harvey on August 28, 2017 in Houston, Texas.

Image: Getty Images

The gap is larger, however, when looking at the more ambitious target in the Paris Agreement, which calls for holding warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, or 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit, above preindustrial levels.

Under the Paris Agreement, each country committed to taking particular actions to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, with the hope that collectively, these commitments would add up to meeting the overall temperature target in the treaty. However, that's not yet the case.

"The gap between the reductions needed and the national pledges made in Paris is alarmingly high," the report said.

Many climate scientists have warned that the 2-degree target is unrealistic in light of continued increases in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, and the climate's rapid warming during the past several decades. The year 2016 was the planet's warmest on record, and carbon dioxide levels increased at the fastest rate ever observed between 2015 and 2016.

But other studies have shown that the climate may exceed the 2-degree target before global average temperatures are then reduced in subsequent decades. However, how long the climate exceeds this target will be crucial for determining the fate of the planet's ice sheets, and therefore, the viability of mega-cities like New York, Shanghai, and Mumbai.

The report notes that non-state actors, such as cities and regional coalitions, could help narrow the emissions gap as well, but it's not yet clear how sizable their contribution will be. Cities, in particular, have taken on an outsized role in the U.S. since the Trump administration announced in June that it intends to pull the country out of the Paris Agreement as soon as it is able to under the treaty.

The Paris Agreement boosted climate action, but momentum is clearly faltering, said Edgar E. Gutierrez-Espeleta, the minister of environment and energy of Costa Rica and president of the 2017 U.N. Environment Assembly, in a statement. We face a stark choice: up our ambition, or suffer the consequences.
NEW YORK House Republicans held a hearing on a bill Wednesday that would ban abortions after the fetal heartbeat can be detected  before many women would even realize theyre pregnant.

The proposed 6-week abortion ban has virtually no chance of becoming federal law; even Republican Gov. John Kasich, who opposes abortion, vetoed a similar measure in Ohio last year. The House GOP is likely floating the more extreme bill as a strategy to make one of their legislative goals, the 20-week abortion ban, seem more palatable to moderate senators.

The anti-abortion movement has acknowledged that the 20-week ban is the most likely vehicle for successfully challenging the Supreme Courts 1973 Roe v. Wade decision  and while the House has passed it several times, the Senate so far hasnt had the votes to do so.

They should just state their goal, which is to ban abortion entirely, but they wont because they know they lose when they are honest about their intentions, said Ilyse Hogue, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America. Instead, they are now running a play weve seen before at the state level, which is to introduce bans simultaneously  one more extreme than the last  in order to slowly move the goal posts.

Republicans in Ohios state legislature used the same strategy in 2016. They passed both a 6-week abortion ban and a 20-week ban, allowing Kasich to call himself a moderate by vetoing the former and signing the latter. Mike Gonidakis, president of Ohio Right to Life, thanked him for supporting the pro-life mission  which is, ultimately, to ban abortion.

By signing S.B. 127, the 20-week ban, Governor Kasich will save hundreds of unborn lives each year and he positioned the state of Ohio to directly challenge Roe v. Wade, Gonidakis said in a statement. The 20-week ban was nationally designed to be the vehicle to end abortion in America. It challenges the current national abortion standard and properly moves the legal needle from viability to the babys ability to feel pain.

Story continues

The Supreme Court decided in Roe that women have a constitutional right to access abortion up until the fetus would be viable outside the womb  around 22 to 24 weeks of pregnancy. The 20-week ban aims to inch up that limit based on the medically unsupported theory that fetuses can feel pain at that point.

Fewer than 1 percent of women have abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy, and those who do have often just discovered a severe fetal anomaly that is incompatible with life or health. But forcing the Supreme Court to revisit Roe would give the anti-abortion movement an opening to challenge the legality of the procedure in general.

Republican congressmen were fairly clear about this intention in the House hearing Wednesday, using the most inflammatory rhetoric possible to talk about abortion. They referred to second-trimester procedures as dismemberment and directly compared abortion to slavery and the Holocaust.

Its time to emancipate every little unborn baby, said Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa).

But many womens health advocates are not taking the bait on the 6-week ban. Hogue warned the Senate on Wednesday that there is nothing moderate about limiting abortions at 20 weeks, especially to women who face the most complex medical situations imaginable.

It wont work and should be called what it is: a bait and switch to harm womens lives, she said.

Women dont need Republicans in Congress telling us what to do with our bodies, said Democratic National Committee CEO Jess OConnell in a statement. This hearing is another dangerous and disgusting assault on womens constitutional right to safe and legal reproductive health care.

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This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
Rosario (Argentina) (AFP) - It was a trip to celebrate friendship, an adventure in the Big Apple for 10 once rambunctious and now middle-aged Argentine guys who'd known each other since high school.

But the randomness of terrorism struck them, more than 8,000 kilometers (5,000 miles) from home.

Five of those buddies died on the New York City bike path that was the scene of Tuesday's truck attack by an Uzbek immigrant who says he acted on behalf of the Islamic State group. Another Argentine was injured.

They were class-of-1987 alumni of a prestigious polytechnical school in the northeastern city of Rosario, a school one of its teachers described as so nurturing it was like a home.

The men went on to work as architects or businessmen and did well. One of them, manager of a steel factory, had treated some of the others to the plane fare to New York for the week-long stay, news reports here said.

The five who died were identified as Alejandro Pagnucco, Ariel Erlij, Hernan Ferruchi, Hernan Mendoza and Diego Angelini.

Students at the school -- formally called the General San Martin Higher Polytechnical Institute -- began the day with a minute of silence honoring the victims of the attack, which left a total of eight people dead and 12 injured.

The school board decreed five days of mourning with the flag at half-mast.

- Detachment -

Argentines in general observe with a degree of detachment the terrorist violence that periodically hits the United States, Europe, the Middle East and other parts of the world.

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson called his Argentine counterpart Jorge Faurie Wednesday to express his condolences.

Laura Racca, a class of '87 graduate who once worked with Angelini, a father of four, said the trip these men took illustrated the strong bonds that students form at the polytechnical school. It is public and highly respected, and draws its student body from various socio-economic strata.

"You would think that after 30 years they would not even meet for coffee. But no, they would go on vacation together," said Racca.

Story continues

"This school is like a homeland," said Ricardo Berlot, who teaches computer science and had all five of the slain men as students.

"They were a tight-knit group, rebels. They knew what they wanted and they fought hard to achieve it," said Berlot.

He added: "I could not believe it when I heard it. It is sad. We feel so far removed from all that."

One of the survivors, Martin Ludovico Marro, was hurt in the attack and was being treated at the Presbyterian Hospital in Manhattan with non-life-threatening injuries.

The truck missed another, Ariel Benvenuto, by about eight inches (20 cm).

His wife, Cecilia Piedrabuena, said that minutes after the attack she got a call from a number she did not recognize. It was her husband, saying he and two others of the group were OK but the rest were in bad shape.

Silvia Goldberg, the mother of a teenage student at the school now, said she was speechless when she saw the news on television.

"I can't stop thinking that they took the trip to celebrate their friendship," Goldberg said.
An arrest warrant was issued for Rose McGowan for felony possession of a controlled substance.

The warrant, obtained by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Police Department, was issued on Feb. 1, according to the Associated Press.

Police launched an investigation after they allegedly found traces of narcotics in personal belongings left behind on a United flight arriving at the Washington Dulles International Airport on Jan. 20, the AP reports.

A spokesman for the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Police Department, Rob Yingling, told Deadline investigators believe the personal belongings were McGowans.

Our police have attempted to contact Ms. McGowan so that she can appear in a Loudoun County Virginia court to respond to the charge, Yingling said.

The fact there was a warrant out for the stars arrest surfaced after the actress brought it upon social media on Monday.

The 44-year-old  who has accused Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein of sexually assaulting her  claimed the warrant was part of a conspiracy to silence her.

Are they trying to silence me? There is a warrant out for my arrest in Virginia. What a load of HORSESHIT.  rose mcgowan (@rosemcgowan) October 30, 2017

It is not clear when the actress became aware of the warrant.

Earlier this month, McGowan said she was raped by Weinstein.

Speaking at the Womens Convention in Detroit on Friday, McGowan talked about her life after the alleged assault by the former movie mogul.

I have been silenced for 20 years. I have been slut-shamed. I have been harassed. I have been maligned and you know what? Im just like you, she said. What happened to me behind the scenes happens to all of us in society and it cannot stand and it will not stand.

She is one of more than 50 women who have come forward to accuse Weinstein of sexual misconduct or assault.

A spokesperson for the movie mogul previously told PEOPLE, Any allegations of non-consensual sex are unequivocally denied by Mr. Weinstein.

This article first appeared on People.com.
SYDNEY (Reuters) - Asylum seekers refusing to leave a detention centre in Papua New Guinea began digging wells on Thursday to try find water as their food supplies dwindled, in a stand-off that human rights groups warn could become a humanitarian crisis. Australia and PNG are trying to close the Manus Island centre, one of two remote Pacific camps that Canberra uses to detain asylum seekers who arrive by boat. The camps have drawn widespread international condemnation. The remote Manus Island centre has been a key part of Australia's disputed "Sovereign Borders" immigration policy under which it refuses to allow asylum seekers arriving by boat to reach its shores, detaining them instead in PNG and Nauru in the South Pacific. Around 600 detainees on Manus Island are defying the attempts to close the camp, saying they fear violent reprisals from the local community if they are moved to other "transit centres" in PNG. Behrouz Boochani, a Kurdish asylum seeker and journalist, posted on Twitter that the men were digging into the ground to find water. Photos showed a group of men using wooden poles to dig deep holes, using torches to light their task in the dark. Without running water, advocates fear a rapid decline in sanitary conditions of the camp. Boochani stressed that the men were not on a hunger strike and called on the Red Cross and Medicines Sans Frontiers to take action. "Australian government exiled us, kept us in prison then left us without protection," Boochani tweeted after the men refused to board a bus on Wednesday to a transit centre. "People here are struggling with hunger and with tropical insects." The loss of power also threatens to dampen morale of the detainees, nearly all of whom are suffering from mental health issues, according to a United Nations report in 2015. Many rely on mobile phones to maintain communication with supporters outside the camp. Australia has said the men should move to the new centres, after the Manus camp was ruled illegal by the PNG High Court last year, and had pledged A$250 million ($195 million) worth of food and security for the next 12 months. [nL4N1M05PI] However, Jit Lam, a regional representative for the UNHCR, said accommodation in at least one of the three sites was not ready when he visited on Wednesday. "There was still major earthworks in progress," he told Australian Broadcasting Corp radio. "There was heavy machinery on the ground as well, fences still being constructed." The relocation of the men is designed as a temporary measure, allowing the United States time to complete vetting of refugees as part of a refugee swap deal that Australia hopes will see it no longer responsible for the detention of nearly 1,400 asylum seekers who have been classified as refugees. [nL4N1DE02J] Those not accepted by the United States would likely be resettled in PNG or in another developing country, dashing hopes of coming to Australia. Vehement opposition among Manus residents to the asylum seekers has raised fears within the camp of potential violence, stoked further by the departure of Australian-employed private security guards on Tuesday. [nL4N1N56RM] Lawyers for some of the 600 men filed a last-minute suit in PNG's Supreme Court on Tuesday to prevent the camp's closure and for services to be returned. A ruling is expected later on Thursday, although it has been delayed each day so far. (Reporting By Jane Wardell; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)
By Colin Packham SYDNEY (Reuters) - Hundreds of asylum seekers refused to leave a detention center in Papua New Guinea on Wednesday, even after power and water were cut and food supplies dwindled, in a stand-off that human rights groups warn could become a humanitarian crisis. Australia and PNG are trying to close the Manus Island center, one of two remote Pacific camps that Canberra uses to detain asylum seekers who arrive by boat. The camps have drawn widespread international condemnation. The remote Manus island center has been a key part of Australia's disputed "Sovereign Borders" immigration policy under which it refuses to allow asylum seekers arriving by boat to reach its shores, detaining them instead in PNG and Nauru in the South Pacific. Around 600 detainees on Manus island are defying the attempts to close the camp, saying they fear violent reprisals from the local community. The men refused to board a bus to a transit center on the island on Wednesday, three of the asylum-seekers told Reuters, frustrating Australia's plans to dismantle part of its costly offshore detention program. "They took generators this morning and they cut the main pipes, there is no power in the whole center and no water," Sudanese refugee Abdul Aziz told Reuters. "People are extremely anxious." The asylum seekers, warned that utilities would be cut, had begun to collect rainwater in bins. However, without running water, advocates fear a rapid decline in sanitary conditions of the camp. The loss of power also threatens to dampen morale of the detainees, nearly all of whom are suffering from mental health issues, according to a United Nations report in 2015. "Mobile phones are a lifeline for these men," said Elaine Pearson, director of Human Rights Watch in Australia. "They are completed isolated and they need phones to get real-time information about what is happening elsewhere on Manus, as well as to stay in touch with their families." SHARING FOOD The detainees were sharing what food remained but some of the men Reuters spoke to by phone said supplies were running low. They had been given enough meals to last only until the camp's official closure on Tuesday. Acting Australian Prime Minister Julie Bishop said the men should move to the new centers, which Australia has said it would support with A$250 million ($195 million) worth of food and security for the next 12 months. The relocation of the men is designed as a temporary measure, allowing the United States time to complete vetting of refugees as part of a refugee swap deal that Australia hopes will see it no longer responsible for the detention of nearly 1,400 asylum seekers who have been classified as refugees. Those not accepted by the United States would likely be resettled in PNG or in another developing country, dashing hopes of coming to Australia. Vehement opposition among Manus residents to the asylum seekers has raised fears within the camp of potential violence, stoked further by the departure of Australian-employed private security guards on Tuesday. "We did not sleep, about 30 guys at one time would keep watch for potential attacks," said an asylum seeker who asked to be identified only as Imran, due to fears his application for U.S. resettlement could be jeopardized. Lawyers for some of the 600 men filed a last-minute suit in PNG's Supreme Court on Tuesday to prevent the camp's closure and for services to be returned. A ruling is expected later on Wednesday. PNG's High Court ruled last year that the Manus center, first opened in 2001, was illegal. The United Nations and rights groups have for years cited human rights abuses among detainees in the centers. (Reporting by Colin Packham in SYDNEY,; Editing by Diane Craft and Paul Tait)
Bethlehem (Palestinian Territories) (AFP) - Secretive British street artist Banksy held a special event Wednesday to apologise for the 100th anniversary of the Balfour Declaration outside his hotel in the occupied West Bank.

The typically surreal event involved 50 children hosted by an actor dressed as Queen Elizabeth II for a British-style tea party.

Their party hats were bullet-riddled helmets with British flags on them, while tattered Union Jacks were flown.

The queen revealed a plaque carved in concrete saying "Er, Sorry," playing on the common initials for Elizabeth Regina.

The apology was etched into Israel's controversial separation wall, which in many areas cuts through Palestinian territory.

The children were descendants of Palestinians forced to flee their land in the 1948 war surrounding the creation of Israel.

Thursday marks the 100th anniversary of the Balfour Declaration, when the British government said it viewed "with favour the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people".

Palestinians see the document as giving away their homeland, while Israelis see it as helping pave the way to the founding of their country at a time when Jews were facing persecution elsewhere.

"This conflict has brought so much suffering to people on all sides. It didn't feel appropriate to 'celebrate' the British role in it," Banksy said in a statement.

"The British didn't handle things well here -- when you organise a wedding, it's best to make sure the bride isn't already married."

Gemma Bell, a British woman among a group who walked part of the way from London to Jerusalem to apologise for their government's role in Balfour, hailed the work.

"It's what we should expect from Banksy -- brilliant, unpredictable, dramatic and really getting that message home."

The British government has said it will mark Thursday's anniversary "with pride", with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to attend a dinner in London with his British counterpart Theresa May.

Story continues

Banksy opened the Walled-Off Hotel near Bethlehem in March, with all the rooms facing directly onto Israel's separation wall.

At the time, he said it had the worst view of any hotel in the world.

Dozens of his works are found inside the hotel.

Wissam Salsaa, the hotel's manager, told AFP they wanted to protest against the British government's attitude to Balfour.

"This event is a protest or a commemoration of the disastrous Balfour Declaration that caused a catastrophe for the Palestinian people and a catastrophe for the Middle East," he said.

"The British people and government, represented (here) by the Queen, should apologise to the Palestinian people."

The wall is one of the most striking symbols of Israel's 50-year occupation, and has become a major focus for demonstrations and art work.

Banksy closely protects his identity and was not said to be in attendance Wednesday.
On October 23, the long-awaited sentencing of Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl for his desertion whilst serving in Afghanistan began. He had pleaded guilty.

In an interview with the podcast Serial, a member of Bergdahls company named John Thurman said we all experienced the same thing, but we didnt walk off. For Thurman and other soldiers, many of whom went searching for him in treacherous territory, risking life and limb, Bergdahl broke a sacred bond. That is not something you can ever come back from, he continued. You walked off and you betrayed us.

For me, a former British soldier who served in Afghanistan, my gut reaction to hearing of Bergdahls desertion was similar. It pricked that sense of betrayal in me, even from afar. But that was before I had heard Alan Junipers story.

Juniper was a British conscript in the Second World War. After 551 days of fighting a series of confused retreats in North Africa, he deserted. He became one of approximately 100,000 British and 50,000 U.S. deserters in that war. Arrested, he was thrown in military prison. He later volunteered to return to the fighting in Italy. After experiencing further intense combat, he again reached his limit and deserted. A broken man, he stumbled into a village whose sons had been fighting against the Allies only weeks previously. Unlike Bergdahl, Juniper was not captured by a foe; instead, he became a member of the community.

The battalion war diary, the diaries of other soldiers and family recollections took me through every day of Junipers story. He was eventually diagnosed with PTSD in his eighties. There was an incident he kept returning to in flashbacks: a time when he was trapped during a heavy bombardment in the desert. A shell landed in the doorway of the bunker. But it didnt explode. It just lodged there as the bombardment continued. It seems highly likely that when he deserted he was an undiagnosed psychological casualty.

An Army Sanity Board determined that Bergdahl had schizotypal personality disorder at the time of the alleged criminal conduct. This should be considered. But to do so, it requires us to reconcile the perception of good psychiatric casualties with bad deserters. This is made more complex by the fact that Bergdahl claims he left his post to prove his commanders were unfit  essentially for a moral reason. Bergdahl could be a so-called bad deserter with both good psychiatric and good moral cause for forgiveness. Why do we consider desertion more important than the other two factors?

Story continues

Most WWII deserters were frontline troops like Juniper. Charles Glass in his 2013 nonfiction book The Deserters: A Hidden History of World War II claims that for the most part they left the lines because theyd had nervous breakdownsToo much shelling, close friends killed the daily stresses were too much. Glass notes that few deserters were cowards and claims the people who showed the greatest sympathy to deserters were other frontline soldiers. They had, at one time or another, felt the temptation.

The common reason soldiers give for why they stay is each other. You fight for the soldiers next to you  not ideology, country or president. Deserting breaks this bond. But for the rest of us, it goes farther. We also see soldiers who desert as breaking their bond with society.

We make a moral choice for soldiers: We expect them to sacrifice their individual rights out of duty. But this has metastasized into an incorrect belief that there is something inherently unethical about desertion. Now, when we make that moral choice for soldiers, we often assume that the sacrifice is total, and in doing so we neglect the other half of that equation: that duty is also limited by individual rights.

Soldiers are prepared to forfeit their right to life; in exchange, they have expectations of their leaders. They expect them to clearly define the mission and then provide the tools, support and example needed to give them a reasonable chance of successfully achieving that mission. Bergdahl has claimed that he had no faith in his leaders ability to protect his rights and those of the men next to him; his only way to do so with reasonable expectation of success, he has argued, was to desert. It is fair to suggest that there were less extreme ways to make his point  ways that would not put fellow soldiers at risk. But at the root of this desire are the morals we ourselves expect of soldiers.

Bergdahls decision also in some ways echoes the accusation most difficult to defend about Junipers desertion: that if many others had done the same, the Allies would have lost. Without the sacrifice of those who stayed to fight, evil would have won. But Juniper did more than many and was often let down by his commanders. He fought until he reached his limit. Many did more and are rightly lauded, but what of those who reached their limit  does their desertion make them villains? Many who have not been staged in a remote outpost underestimate the magnitude of the psychological stress it can cause. According to the Army Sanity Board, in Bergdahls case that stress was applied to an already fragile mind.

As with Bergdahl, nobody considers Juniper anything better than imperfect. But I have come to realize that his imperfections should not deprive him of his rights, and this has made it harder for me to condemn him. I hope we can come to see Bergdahl in this light, before we judge him.
(Photo: David Gray / Reuters)

Sir Michael Fallon has resigned as the U.K. secretary of defense, several outlets reported Wednesday.

In a resignation letter to British Prime Minister Theresa May, Fallon reflected on his past behavior, and allegations of harassment and unwanted flirtation that have recently come to light against him.

A number of allegations have surfaced about MPs in recent days, including some about my previous conduct, he wrote. Many of these have been false but I accept in the past I have fallen below the high standards that we require of the armed forces that I have the honour to represent.

May reportedly responded saying: I appreciate the characteristically serious manner in which you have considered your position, and the particular example you wish to set to servicemen and women and others.

The Conservative politician admitted Tuesday that he acted inappropriately toward Julia Hartley-Brewer, a female journalist, by touching her knee in 2002. Hartley-Brewer subsequently responded on Twitter, saying no one was remotely upset or distressed by the incident.

Fallon reportedly quit because he could not guarantee there would not be another story about allegedly inappropriate contact with a female journalist, according to HuffPost UK. His replacement will be announced on Thursday.

If kneegate is the reason behind Fallons resignation, Hartley-Brewer told Sky News, this is the most insane, absurd and ridiculous resignation of a cabinet minister ever.

British Members of Parliament have been tackling the issue of sexual harassment within Westminster in recent weeks, after the news of scores of sexual allegations against American film producer Harvey Weinstein emboldened several female MPs to come forward with their own stories of unwanted sexual advances.

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This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
A leading manufacturer of bump stocks, devices that make semi-automatic weapons function like machine guns, told customers on Tuesday it is resuming sales of them in limited quantities.

We would like to take the time to thank all of our customers for their patience and support throughout this past month! Slide Fire, the company that produces the devices, said in an email, according to The Trace.

The announcement comes just one month after the mass shooting in Las Vegas  the deadliest such shooting in modern U.S. history. Law enforcement officials said the gunman, Stephen Paddock, used weapons modified with bump stocks to kill 58 people and injure over 500 others at a country music concert outside the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino.

Texas-based Slide Fire temporarily suspended sales of bump stocks in the wake of the Oct. 1 attack, and demand quickly spiked for the devices across the country amid fears they would soon be outlawed.

A bump stock device, which fits on a semi-automatic rifle to increase the firing speed, is installed on an AK-47 at a gun store. (Photo: George Frey/Getty Images)

The push in Congress for a legislative ban on bump stocks, however, has stalled. Lawmakers have introduced several bills that would do so, but the effort was kneecapped after the National Rifle Association, the powerful gun lobby, said the matter ought to be handled via existing regulations rather than new laws.

Under such a scenario, the Trump administration would direct the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) to outlaw bump stocks and similar devices. The ATF is reviewing whether it has the authority to do so. Democrats, however, note the agency has previously said it cannot regulate bump stocks under existing laws.

Earlier this week, a bipartisan group of lawmakers introduced legislation that would regulate the purchases of bump stocks  but not ban them outright. The bill, authored by Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.) and Dina Titus (D-Nev.), would require people who wish to purchase a bump stock to register with ATF, pass a background check, and pay a $200 tax.

Anyone who wants a device that modifies a firearm to shoot hundreds of rounds per minute should undergo thorough background checks and oversight, Titus, who represents the city of Las Vegas, said in a statement.

Story continues

Clarification: A previous version of this story called the $200 payment made in order to purchase a bump stock a fee.

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This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
It may be the year of Cardi B, but the current cover star of Rolling Stone magazine isnt above using whatever means necessary to get her glam on.

Cardi Bs stylist uses a clothing iron to straighten her hair. (Photo: Instagram/Cardi B)

The 25-year-old rapper has quickly become known for her amazing and transformative looks, gaining attention for her style during New York Fashion Week, for her nails by the Bronxs Jenny Sui, and for her vastly changing hair looks, thanks to a seemingly endless trove of wigs. But above all, the Harlem native knows how to rock her long, straight locks like no other. And when she showed up to a hotel without a proper straightening iron on Tuesday night, that didnt stop her from getting the look just right.

Babe these sweats are mine now A post shared by Cardi B Official IG (@iamcardib) on Oct 19, 2017 at 7:38pm PDT

In a series of videos on her Instagram story, Cardi showed fans the familiar yet slightly questionable tool that she used to put the finishing touches on her long sleek do: an iron. For clothes. So I need to f***ing flat iron my hair, but I dont have a flat iron, so we just gonna use this, she said as her makeup artist Jazzmin Jordan ran the iron against the lengthy locks of Cardis wig.





Jordan is heard chuckling in the beginning of the clip, seemingly out of nervousness that she might ruin her clients hair. When Cardi asks if they can turn the heat up on the iron, the stylist quickly says no, probably out of precaution. However, the technique isnt new, and has in fact been used for centuries.

Before the straightening irons that we know today became regularly used in the 1990s, women would often turn to clothing irons to flatten their hair  a look that was sought after at the same time that curling hair was becoming popular.

While the curling iron was invented by Marcel Grateau in 1872, the straightening iron didnt even appear in the form of a patent until 1893, from one Ada Harris. According to Racked, the woman from Indianapolis explained the purpose of her product within its patent, saying that she intended it as a service to colored people in straightening their hair. But in the 100 years until her idea fully came to fruition, women looking to try the straight style used the same technique as Cardi.

Story continues

Luckily, the star doesnt have to worry about damaging her actual hair here. For the rest of us, there are a number of tutorials out there that safely demonstrate the tried and true technique.

Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle:

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day.
A Georgia Democratic congressman suggested one of his colleagues may not have been legitimately elected, saying it was quite possible a special congressional election was stolen and given to the Republican candidate in June.

Rep. Hank Johnson (D-Ga.) questioned whether Rep. Karen Handel (R-Ga.) really defeated Democrat Jon Ossoff in a closely watched congressional special election in June. There are lingering questions about the security of Georgias election systems after a server hosting voter information was wiped clean amid a lawsuit over Georgias election systems.

I think its quite possible that Jon Ossoff won that election and the election was stolen from him. Thats my suspicion, Johnson told WXIA on Monday. Handel defeated Ossoff by just over 9,200 votes in the June contest that was closely watched nationally because of Ossoffs unexpected strength in the race.

Candice Broce, a spokeswoman for Secretary of State Brian Kemp (R), who is charged with overseeing the states election systems, dismissed Johnsons claim.

There is zero evidence that Georgias voting equipment has ever been manipulated. We stand by the results. His assertions are ridiculous, she wrote in an email.

In August 2016, a cybersecurity researcher exposed serious holes in Georgias election security network and was able to access voter registration records as well as passwords poll workers used to access a main server on Election Day. A group of voting rights advocates sued in July, challenging the certification of the results. Shortly after the suit was filed, officials at Kennesaw State University, which manages the server, wiped it clean, eliminating any potential evidence of election tampering. The school has said it only wiped the server after the local FBI office made a copy and it was following standard procedures. Its unclear whether the FBI still has its copy of the server, according to The Associated Press.

Johnsons doubt over the election results underscores the lingering uncertainty over the integrity of U.S. election systems after attempted Russian hacking last year. The Department of Homeland Security only recently notified the 21 states Russian hackers targeted last year, and election officials in some states have accused the department of giving them bad information. President Donald Trump has also stoked uncertainty by repeatedly claiming he would have won the popular vote had it not been for widespread voter fraud, a claim not supported by evidence.

Story continues

Ossoff, who once worked for Johnson, said he accepts the election results and Handel is a legitimately elected representative.

Karen Handel is the winner of the Special Election and she is the U.S. Representative for Georgias Sixth District. I accept and have no intention of contesting that outcome, he said in an email to HuffPost. All Georgians, regardless of party, should support efforts to ensure the security and verifiability of future elections by examining any vulnerabilities observed during the Special Election, including data card errors, negligent cybersecurity practices, the theft of voting equipment, and the deletion of data amidst a legal inquiry.

Neither Johnson nor a Handel spokesman returned a request for comment.

But Marilyn Marks, the executive director of The Coalition for Good Governance, a watchdog group that brought the suit challenging the results, said the wiped server made it difficult to reach a definite conclusion

It cannot be determined by anyone as to who won, Marks said in a phone interview with HuffPost. This was not a lawsuit that said Handel won and Ossoff lost. All we said is Handel should not be seated because you cant even come close to saying there is any verifiable evidence that she won. So Representative Johnson can absolutely be right, and those who say hes dead wrong, they could be right as well. No one will ever know.

Also on HuffPost

Taking Security Seriously

Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) talks with Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) before the start of a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing concerning the roles and responsibilities for defending the nation against cyberattacks, on Oct. 19, 2017.

With Liberty And Justice...

Members of Code Pink for Peace protest before the start of a hearing where U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions will testify to the Senate Judiciary Committee in the Hart Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill on Oct. 18, 2017. Committee members questioned Sessions about conversations he had with President Donald Trump about the firing of former FBI Director James Comey, the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) policy, the ongoing investigation about Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election and other subjects.

Whispers

Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.), right, speaks with Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) before a confirmation hearing for Christopher Sharpley, nominee for inspector general of the CIA, on Oct. 17, 2017.

Not Throwing Away His Shot

Lin-Manuel Miranda, creator of the musical "Hamilton," makes his way to a meeting of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment and Related Agencies in the Rayburn Office Building during a round of meetings to urge federal funding for the arts and humanities on Sept. 13, 2017.

Medicare For All

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), center, speaks on health care as Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), left, and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), right, listen during an event to introduce the Medicare for All Act on Sept. 13, 2017.

Bernie Bros

Supporters of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) pack his office on Sept. 8, 2017. Members of the "Draft Bernie for a People's Party" campaign delivered a petition with more than 50,000 signatures to urge the senator to start and lead a new political party.

McCain Appearance

Sen. John McCain, second from left, leaves the Capitol after his first appearance since being diagnosed with cancer. He arrived to cast a vote to help Republican senators narrowly pass the motion to proceed for the replacement of the Affordable Care Act on July 25, 2017.

A Narrow Win

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, center, speaks alongside Sens. John Barrasso, left, John Cornyn, right, and John Thune, rear, after the Senate narrowly passed the motion to proceed for the replacement of the Affordable Care Act on July 25, 2017.

Kushner Questioning

Jared Kushner, White House senior adviser and son-in-law to President Donald Trump, arrives at the Capitol on July 25, 2017. Kushner was interviewed by the House Intelligence Committee in a closed-door meeting about contacts he had with Russia.

Hot Dogs On The Hill

Rep. Frank Lucas (R-Okla.) prepares a hot dog during the American Meat Institute's annual Hot Dog Lunch in the Rayburn Office Building courtyard on July 19, 2017.

And Their Veggie Counterparts

Rep. Jackie Speier (D-Calif.) visits the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals veggie dog giveaway on July 19, 2017, countering a National Hot Dog Day event being held elsewhere on Capitol Hill.

Poised For Questions

Callista Gingrich, wife of former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, waits for a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on her nomination to be the U.S. ambassador to the Vatican on July 18, 2017.

Speaking Up

Health care activists protest to stop the Republican health care bill at Hart Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill on July 17, 2017.

In The Fray

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) speaks to members of the media after announcing the revised version of the Senate Republican health care bill on Capitol Hill on July 13, 2017.

Anticipation

Christopher Wray is seated with his daughter Caroline, left, as he prepares to testify at a Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation hearing on his nomination to be the next FBI director on July 12, 2017.

Up In Arms

Health care activists protest to stop the Republican health care bill at Russell Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill on July 10, 2017.

Across A Table

Speaker of the House Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) meets with South Korean President Moon Jae-in on Capitol Hill on June 29, 2017.

Somber Day

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) speaks about the recent attack on the Republican congressional baseball team during her weekly press conference on Capitol Hill on June 15, 2017.

Family Matters

Rep. Joe Barton (R-Texas), right, and his sons, Jack, 10, and Brad, arrive in the basement of the Capitol after a shooting at the Republican baseball practice in Alexandria, Virginia, on June 14, 2017.

A Bipartisan Pause

Rep. Joe Barton (R-Texas), right, coach of the Republican congressional baseball team, tells the story of the shooting that occurred during a baseball practice while he stands alongside Rep. Mike Doyle (D-Pa.), left, a coach of the Democratic congressional baseball team on June 14, 2017.

Hats On

Rep. Chuck Fleischmann (R-Tenn.) reacts about the shooting he was present for at a Republican congressional baseball practice in Alexandria, Virginia, as he speaks with reporters at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on June 14, 2017.

Public Testimony

U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions is sworn in to testify before a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on Capitol Hill on June 13, 2017.

Comey's Big Day

Former FBI Director James Comey testifies before a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on Russia's alleged interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election on Capitol Hill on June 8, 2017.

Conveying His Point

U.S. Director of National Intelligence Daniel Coats testifies at a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on his interactions with the Trump White House and on the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act on June 7, 2017.

Selfie Time

Vice President Mike Pence takes a selfie with a tourist wearing a "Make America Great Again" hat inside the U.S. Capitol rotunda on June 6, 2017. The vice president walked through the rotunda after attending the Senate Republican policy luncheon.

Budget Queries

Office of Management and Budget Director Mick Mulvaney testifies before the House Budget Committee about President Donald Trump's fiscal 2018 budget proposal on Capitol Hill on May 24, 2017.

Flagged Down By Reporters

Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.), chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, leaves a closed committee meeting on Capitol Hill on May 24, 2017. The committee is investigating possible Russian interference in the U.S. presidential election.

Shock And Awe

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) hold a news conference on the release of the president's fiscal 2018 budget proposal on Capitol Hill on May 23, 2017.

Seeing Double

Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) arrives in the Capitol for the Senate Democrats' policy lunch on May 16, 2017.

Honoring Officers

President Donald Trump speaks at the National Peace Officers Memorial Service on the West Lawn of the Capitol on May 15, 2017.

Whispers

Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Richard Burr (R-N.C.), right, and ranking member Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) talk during a hearing with the heads of the U.S. intelligence agencies in the Hart Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill on May 11, 2017.

Skeptical

Former acting Attorney General Sally Yates arrives to testify before a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. election on Capitol Hill on May 8, 2017.

Differing Opinions

Rep. Glenn Grothman (R-Wis.) gives a thumbs-up to protesters on the East Front of the Capitol after the House passed the Republicans' bill to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act on May 4, 2017. The protesters support the ACA.

Real Talk

United States Naval Academy Midshipman 2nd Class Shiela Craine (left), a sexual assault survivor, testifies before the House Armed Services Committee's Subcommittee on Military Personnel with (2nd from left to right) Ariana Bullard, Stephanie Gross and Annie Kendzior in the Rayburn House Office Building on Capitol Hill on May 2, 2017. Kendzior, a former midshipman, and Gross, a former cadet, were both raped twice during their time at the military academies. The academy superintendents were called to testify following the release of a survey last month by the Pentagon that said 12.2 percent of academy women and 1.7 percent of academy men reported experiencing unwanted sexual contact during the 2015-16 academic year.

In Support Of Immigrants

Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chair Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D-N.M.), center, is joined by dozens of Democratic members of the House of Representatives to mark "Immigrant Rights Day" in the Capitol Visitor Center on May 1, 2017 in Washington, D.C. The Democratic legislators called on Republicans and President Donald Trump to join their push for comprehensive immigration reform.

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This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
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The Dell Black Friday deals kick off Nov. 1 and continue throughout the month, with lots of sales on personal computers, gaming and VR systems, smart home devicesand a few TVs.

Among the TV deals you can snag closer to Black Friday: a 65-inch LG 4K UHD smart TV for $800, and a 60-inch Vizio 4K smart TV for $700. More TV deals are described below, including some you can get right now.

But Dell isn't making it easy to track which Black Friday deal is being offered on what days. The schedule is complicated.

First, some deals start today (Nov. 1, at 8 a.m. EST) but end after a 48-hour window. (Check out the Black Friday deals on Dell laptops.)

TV Deals

Dell has been a good source for TV deals in recent years. Right now there are a handful of TVs listed in the Dell Black Friday ad, but it's possible that new TV offers could be added at any time, especially during Cyber Monday.

In the past, Dell has sweetened some of its sales with bundled items such as Blu-ray players, or by offering Dell gift cards as part of the promotion, and that's the case this year as well. That works out well if you're also interested in other items that Dell sells.

Here's our take on the TV deals we know about (also be sure to check out the company's deals on laptops):

LG 65UJ6300 65-Inch 4K Smart TV, $800

This is an online-only doorbuster deal available at 11:00 a.m. on Nov. 23rd. The LG 65UJ6300 is a model we've tested and included in our TV ratings; it offers very good high-definition picture quality, and very good UHD performance. We bought this set earlier in the year for about $1,100, but right now it's selling for about $900 at several retailers, and you can get it at Best Buy for the same $800 price Dell is listing. However, Dell throws in a $150 gift card, so that appears to be the real savings.

Vizio E60-E3 60-Inch 4K Smart TV, $700

This set, in Vizio's entry-level SmartCast 4K serieswhich sits above the D-series setsis another online doorbuster, available at 11:00 p.m. on Nov. 23rd. This set is currently selling for about $700 at Best Buy and Walmart. We tested the Vizio E60-E3 set, and it had excellent HD picture quality. (Its UHD performance wasn't as good, mainly due to some issues with upconverting HD content to the TV's higher native 4K resolution.) But Dell is offering a $200 gift card with the purchase, so that actually makes this set a pretty good deal if you'll be able to use the gift card. This model uses Vizio's Chromecast-based SmartCast smart TV system, which lets you cast content to the TV from compatible mobile devices.

Story continues

Samsung UN55MU6300 55-Inch 4K Smart TV, $600

The Samsung UN55MU6300, in an entry-level 4K series for 2017, did well in our TV ratings, with excellent HD picture quality, very good UHD performance, and very good sound. It's selling for about $700 currently; since Dell is offering a $100 gift card, that means you can save about $200, provided you can use the gift card.

This isn't listed as a doorbuster, so you should be able to get it immediately.

Vizio M50-E1 50-Inch 4K Smart TV, $500

This set, in a step-up 4K series for Vizio, is listed as an online doorbuster special, available at 4:00 p.m. on Nov. 24. It's currently selling for about $600 at Best Buy and Walmart, and just under $580 at Sam's Club. Dell is offering a $100 gift card with the purchase, so that actually makes this set a pretty good deal if you'll be able to use the gift card. We didn't test this set, but Vizio TVs typically do fairly well in our ratings. This model uses Vizio's Chromecast-based SmartCast smart TV system.

Samsung UN43MU6300F 43-Inch 4K Smart TV, $430

The Samsung UN43MU6300, a smaller set in the same entry-level 4K series as the 55-inch set, above, also did well in our TV ratings, with excellent HD picture quality, very good UHD performance, and very good sound. It's selling for about $600 at several retailers right now, but you can buy it on Amazon for $516from Samsung, no less. Once again, Dell sweetens the pot with a $100 gift card, making it a pretty good deal if other Dell items are of interest.

Like its larger sibling, it's not listed as a doorbuster deal. That means it should be available right away.

Sound Bar and Blu-ray Deals

If you're saddled with a TV that has disappointing sound, you might be looking for a sound bar to remedy your audio woes. Dell has two advertised specials, neither of which are doorbuster specials, so they are available today, and then again from Nov. 15 to 24.

The first is the Vizio SB3651-E6, a 36-inch 5.1-channel system with a wireless subwoofer and rear speakers for $170. We've seen this system selling for between $200 and $250 at other retailers, but we believe that this is the same $150 Vizio sound bar system that will be part of Sam's Club pre-Black Friday sale on Nov. 11th.

Dell will also have the Samsung HW-M360 2.1-channel sound bar system for $120. We saw this model at the Sam's Club sale as part of a bundle with a Samsung TV. We also think it will be the same price at Kohl's Black Friday sale. It's currently selling for about $150 right now.

Finally, if you're looking to play 4K Blu-ray movies on your new 4K TV, Dell has the LG UP870 model for $110. Since this 4K player typically sells for about $200, it's almost half off, making it a great deal. Note that this model doesn't have built-in access to streaming services.

We'll be covering all the best Black Friday TV deals, so keep checking back for our updates.





More from Consumer Reports:

Top pick tires for 2016

Best used cars for $25,000 and less

7 best mattresses for couples





Consumer Reports is an independent, nonprofit organization that works side by side with consumers to create a fairer, safer, and healthier world. CR does not endorse products or services, and does not accept advertising. Copyright  2017, Consumer Reports, Inc.
President Donald Trump hasnt delivered on his campaign promise to create U.S. coal or steel jobs (foreign steel imports are up 27 percent this year), but he is creating a bonanza in the business of fake news. Admittedly a lot of those jobs have been outsourced to Russia, but Trump is also providing plenty of employment at home.

Even before Mondays bombshells from special counsel Robert Mueller  Trumps campaign manager and his business partner have been indicted on multiple counts of laundering more than $18 million from pro-Russian clients in Ukraine, while a Trump foreign policy advisor pleaded guilty to lying about his efforts to solicit Clinton dirt from Russian contacts  Trump and his associates had launched Operation Obfuscation. Their far-fetched claim is that the real collusion isnt between the Trump campaign and the Kremlin. Its between Hillary Clinton and the Kremlin.

It is now commonly agreed, after many months of COSTLY looking, that there was NO collusion between Russia and Trump, Trump tweeted on Friday. Was collusion with HC! Then on Sunday, with the indictments looming, a more desperate version of the same message: There is so much GUILT by Democrats/Clinton, and now the facts are pouring out. DO SOMETHING! And on Monday, after the indictments were announced: [W]hy arent Crooked Hillary & the Dems the focus?????

Picking up the theme, Trumps faithful follower Jeanine Pirro blared on Fox News: Its time to shut it down, turn the tables, and lock her up. Former White House aide Sebastian Gorka did her one better. He implied that Hillary Clinton was guilty of treason, just like the Rosenbergs, and that she too deserves the electric chair!

What, exactly, is the evidence for these hyperbolic claims? White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders asserted: The evidence Clinton campaign, DNC & Russia colluded to influence the election is indisputable. True  if indisputable has been redefined to mean nonexistent. The White House case, based on little more than warmed-over hearsay and discredited conspiracy mongering, relates to two familiar controversies: the Steele dossier alleging Trump-Russia links and the Russian acquisition of a Canadian company that owns uranium mines in America.

Story continues

The Steele dossier, compiled by the respected former MI6 officer Christopher Steele, landed in the news recently when a law firm representing the Clinton campaign admitted to having paid opposition research firm Fusion GPS to compile it. (Earlier, we now know, Fusion had been hired by conservative news site the Washington Free Beacon to research Trump and other candidates.) The horror! If you listen to Trumps defenders, its perfectly proper for Donald Trump Jr. to seek opposition research from Russian agents but a death-penalty offense for the Clinton campaign to try to uncover the Trump-Russia links. In their telling, the investigation of a potential crime is as bad as the crime itself. Huh?

The argument seems to be that because Steele talked to Russian sources in the course of compiling his dossier, he, and thus the entire Clinton campaign, was colluding with the Kremlin. By the same logic, anytime the CIA talks to Russian agents it, too, is colluding with Russia. This is to render the word collusion meaningless  which is precisely the point.

Its perfectly possible, even probable, that some misinformation made it into the Steele dossier. Thats often the case with raw intelligence files. But the veteran CIA officer John Sipher has concluded that a large portion of the dossier is crystal clear, certain, consistent and corroborated.

There is no reason to suppose, as the Trumpkins posit, that the Kremlin fed all this information to Steele in the hopes of discrediting Trump when no one could be certain that the report would ever become public. Why, in any case, would the Kremlin seek to discredit the most pro-Russian candidate ever to pursue the presidency? Why, moreover, would Putin want to help Hillary Clinton, whom he is widely reported to revile for her tough anti-Russia line? And why, if the Kremlin were intent on making Trump out to be a Russian stooge, would its spokesman so vociferously deny that very charge? To believe that the Steele dossier was an elaborate Kremlin ploy requires the same sort of faith-based reasoning necessary to believe that Barack Obama wasnt born in the U.S. or that Ted Cruzs father killed JFK.

In the final analysis, the Steele dossier is a sideshow, and the question of who funded it is a sideshow of a sideshow. Yes, the FBI saw it, but its not the basis for the unanimous assessment released in early January by the FBI, CIA, NSA, and the director of national intelligence concluding that the Kremlin interfered in the U.S. election to help Trump and hurt Clinton. Nor is the Steele dossier the reason why independent counsel Robert Mueller has been appointed to investigate the president. Mueller was appointed only after (1) Attorney General Jeff Sessions recused himself after not having been truthful about his own contacts with Russias ambassador during the campaign and (2) Trump fired FBI Director James Comey in a self-confessed attempt to stop the probe of the Russia thing.

Thus Trump is now being investigated not only for collusion with a hostile foreign power but also for obstruction of justice and probably other offenses as well  and based on the indictments unsealed Monday, special counsel Mueller is making rapid progress. The truth or falsity of the Steele dossier does not affect the outcome of this investigation in the slightest.

What about the uranium deal, which Trump has compared to Watergate and his minister of information, Sean Hannity, has called the biggest scandal  or, at least, one of them  in American history? If you listen to the hype, you would think that in return for donations to the Clinton Foundation, Hillary Clinton allowed the Russians to loot Americas uranium reserves. As Trump said on Oct. 24, 2016: Remember that Hillary Clinton gave Russia 20 percent of American uranium and, you know, she was paid a fortune.

The reality, as numerous media organizations have documented, is rather more prosaic. In 2010, Russias nuclear-energy agency, Rosatom, applied to buy a majority stake in Uranium One, a Canadian firm that controls roughly 20 percent of Americas uranium reserves. The deal had to be cleared by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, which includes a representative of the State Department along with eight other federal agencies. Ultimate approval authority to stop the deal lay with President Obama. The government duly OKd the sale, because it wasnt judged to be a threat to national security. Rosatom was prohibited from exporting any of the uranium, and the mining licenses would remain with U.S. subsidiaries controlled by American citizens.

If you believe the conspiracy-mongers, however, the reason the deal went ahead is that Uranium Ones owner contributed beaucoup bucks to the Clinton Foundation. Fact check: Foundation donor Frank Giustra sold his company to Uranium One in 2007 and says he unloaded his personal stake in the firm at that time  three years before Rosatom tried to buy Uranium One. Bill Clinton did get $500,000 for a speech in Moscow in 2010, but there is no evidence that this was part of any quid pro quo, and there are no records of Rosatom contributing to the Clinton Foundation.

Moreover, Hillary Clinton says she was not personally involved in the review of the sale, and the official who represented the State Department on the review panel backs her up. Even if they are lying, Clintons vote still would have been only one of nine, so the approval of the sale was hardly her doing.

The real scandal may turn out to be Trumps efforts to tar Clinton. CNN has reported that Trump made it clear he wanted the gag order lifted on an undercover informant who played a critical role in an FBI investigation into Russian efforts to gain influence in the uranium industry in the United States during the Obama administration. If true, this would suggest that Trump is actively interfering with the course of justice in order to impugn a political opponent.

This episode recalls Trumps efforts earlier this year to prove that Obama had wiretapped him. In September, Trumps own Justice Department definitively refuted this reckless allegation, writing in a court filing: Both FBI and NSD [National Security Division] have no records related to wiretaps as described by the March 4, 2017 tweets. The only crime that may have been committed was by Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Calif.), the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, who had to step down from overseeing the Kremlingate probe because of accusations that he had leaked classified information to concoct an Obama surveillance scandal.

Now Nunes has directed the House Intelligence Committee to investigate the uranium deal in cooperation with the House Oversight Committee, while the House Judiciary Committee is set to launch the umpteenth probe of Hillary Clintons emails.

The operating principle was laid out by Trump himself in his final debate with Clinton when he responded to her accusations that he was a pawn of Putin by sputtering with his trademark eloquence: No puppet, no puppet. Youre the puppet. This is the reasoning of an elementary school playground: I know you are, but what am I?

That Trumps defenders find this riposte so compelling is an indicator of the extent to which they are willing to suspend their critical faculties in slavish service to their maximum leader. As for the rest of us, we need to ignore the Trumpkins attempts to shift the conversation and focus like a laser on the case that Mueller and his Untouchables are building against the president of the United States and his closest associates.

Correction, Nov. 1, 2017: Russian President Vladimir Putin is widely reported to revile former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for her tough anti-Russia line. An earlier version of this article mistakenly said that it was U.S. President Donald Trump who is reported to revile Clinton for that reason.
Donald Trump Jr. doesnt seem to know how Halloween works.

The whole point of trick-or-treating, of course, is that children get candy  free  from friendly neighbors.

But in a tweet Tuesday, the eldest son of President Donald Trump indicated that he would take half of his daughters Halloween haul and give it away to teach her about socialism.

He wrote:

Im going to take half of Chloes candy tonight & give it to some kid who sat at home. Its never to early to teach her about socialism. pic.twitter.com/3ie9C0jv2G  Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) October 31, 2017

The tweet quickly backfired, with more than 30,000 comments. Many of them looked a lot like these:

You mean the candy that she got for free out of the goodness of strangers' hearts?   (((The Glare ))) (@TheGlare_TM) October 31, 2017

Take 80% of her candy and give it to the top 1% of trick or treaters. You know like your dads' tax plan.  Monteqzuma (@monteqzuma) November 1, 2017

I think sharing with those that are less fortunate than you is a universal human value. Perhaps you could try her that.  Chris B. (@siliconvalleyex) October 31, 2017

Fill her bucket with old candy left by her great-grandfather, then explain that she has more because she's smarter than all the other kids. https://t.co/0lbhHYyFe4  J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) November 1, 2017

We had candy left over. My daughter asked to take it to school to share w/kids whose families don't have $ for luxuries. I'm a socialist. pic.twitter.com/P0uAZTVYMz  BeaglesResist (@BeaglesResist) November 1, 2017

She was given candy for free.

You inherited all your money.

You met with Russian spies.

Its too. https://t.co/Bsf5wkQxST  Zach Braff (@zachbraff) November 1, 2017

Good prep for when Mueller takes half her family and gives it to prison. Makes her costume a tad ironic though.  Adam Burns (@ATWURNS) October 31, 2017

My man, "socialism" was her getting that free candy in the first place. You taking half for reasons she can't understand is capitalism https://t.co/w9x9zB0xLA  The News (@Bearpigman) October 31, 2017

Better idea: have her take out loans, use the money to buy and eat candy, then default and declare bankruptcy. That's the Trump way. https://t.co/juVD1FMq2o  Craig Mazin (@clmazin) October 31, 2017

Sick to use your kid for political ends.  Jeffrey Guterman (@JeffreyGuterman) October 31, 2017

When I was sick on Halloween when I was 6 and had to stay home, my brother gave me half his candy. If her sister was sick, would she share?  Maureen Hickey (@rowdygirlsranch) October 31, 2017

Lesson # 1: Halloween candy is given FREE to children by people who pay for it with their own money.  Scottie Lowe (@AfroerotiK) November 1, 2017

It's "TOO," not "TO." As in it's never TOO late for Chloe to teach you 2nd-grade English.  The Canada Party (@theCanadaParty) November 1, 2017

Decent families call it kindness.  Cassandra See (@cassandraheresy) October 31, 2017

Halloween candy are literally handouts you wooden clod  Twisty Classic (@TwistyOnline) November 1, 2017

Why don't you take a third of it and give it all to people who already have billions of pieces of candy  Elle Oh Hell (@ElleOhHell) November 1, 2017

maybe u should teach her how to visit u and grandpa in prison... u deluded spawn of satan #TrumpRussia #JRitsOVER  ROSIE (@Rosie) October 31, 2017

One day, youre going to have to explain to your daughter that you tweeted a picture of her as a mean-spirited joke. Good luck with that.  Stoop Crone  (@linnieloowho) November 1, 2017

Wait wait wait I just noticed something is she dressed as a cop??? is she there to arrest one of you?  Lori (@LSuds614) November 1, 2017

The no-strings attached candy that she received from strangers? https://t.co/fHZt6B47lb  Kevin J (@kevinmj76) October 31, 2017

That's a wonderful idea, teaching her to share with others who weren't able to participate. Too bad that's not what you meant.  Jennifer Liles (@odanu) November 1, 2017

Yes, it would be HORRIFYING to see your little girl share her free candies with other kids. Let's make sure she's a real Trump.  Audrey Richard (@Drounz) November 1, 2017

Never too early to teach class, integrity, charity, the joy of giving. Instead you teach her snark and entitlement.  smrssss (@madmia2) October 31, 2017

"honey, see this free candy you just got? don't share it with anyone. that's how the Trumps operate. we are selfish."  Patricia BATeman (@Trisha_Bateman) October 31, 2017

She'd probably be okay with it, too, because most kids understand that sharing is a good thing. https://t.co/EF7oIYd1uh  Nat CassidEEEK (@natcassidy) October 31, 2017

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This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
-  2017 Bloomberg Finance LP

Donald Trump has demanded the visa program used by the New York attacker be scrapped as he labeled American border control a joke.

The US President hit out at politically correct opponents and called for more extreme vetting after a terror attack killed eight and injured 12.

He also pledged to consider sending Sayfullo Saipov, the 29-year-old Uzbek immigrant under arrest, to the detention camp at Guantanamo Bay.

But in turn Mr Trump was criticised for politicising the tragedy in a way that would 'play into the hands of the terrorists.

The diversity lottery program Mr Trump wants to close, also know as the green card lottery, gives US permanent resident visas to around 50,000 applicants a year.

Mr Trump said: We have to get much smarter and we have to get much less politically correct. Were so politically correct that were afraid to do anything.

He added: What we have right now is a joke and its a laughing stock and no wonder so much of this stuff takes place.

Fresh details about what happened in the New York attack on Monday - the first major terror incident of Mr Trumps presidency - have now emerged.

Police announced it took just four minutes for Saipov to drive a truck around a mile down a bike path, hitting pedestrians before eventually crashing into a school bus.

The attacker then emerged carrying a paintball and pellet gun shouting Allahu Akbar - meaning God is Great - before being shot by a "hero" cop nearby.

A handwritten note in Arabic found in the rented truck had a message to the effect of the Islamic State will endure forever.

The eight victims who died in the attack included five Argentinians who had traveled to the city for a high school reunion.

It was 30 years since the group had graduated from the Polytechnic School of Rosario, 350 km northwest of Buenos Aires, and they also planned to visit Boston where one of their classmates lives.

Story continues

Saipov, the suspect in the New York City truck attack is seen in this handout photo Credit: REUTERS

Police named the dead as Ariel Erlij, Hernan Diego Mendoza, Diego Enrique Angelini, Alejandro Damian Pagnucco, and Hernan Ferruchi, all aged 48 or 49.

Police later named the Belgian woman who died as Anne Laure Decadt, 31. The other two victims who died were named as Darren Drake, 32, from New Jersey, and Nicholas Cleves, 23, from New York.

The heroic police officer who shot and injured the terror suspect was also named as Ryan Nash, a 28-year-old with just five years of experience.

He was praised as humble after denying that he was a hero, saying he was simply doing his job.

The visa scheme Mr Trump wants to close was set up by George H W Bush, a former president who was also a Republican, in 1990. It allows people from countries not normally granted many visas to get a chance of moving to America.

Mr Trump said Saipov entered America on the scheme and claimed 23 other people came in or potentially came in with him. He said he wanted to end chain migration.

Mr Trump also pointed the finger of blame at the most senior Democrat in the Senate as he sought to tie political opponents to the scheme.

He said the scheme was a Chuck Schumer beauty - a reference for the New York Senator who has clashed with Mr Trump in the past.

Mr Schumer hit back, tweeting that it is never too soon to politicize a tragedy and calling on Mr Trump to scrap cuts to anti-terrorism funding.

New York governor Andrew Cuomo said: I am bothered by an attempt by anyone to try to politicize the situation. That plays right into the hands of the terrorists. Theyre trying to disrupt, they are trying to create mayhem, theyre trying to divide.

The terrorist came into our country through what is called the "Diversity Visa Lottery Program," a Chuck Schumer beauty. I want merit based.  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 1, 2017

We are fighting hard for Merit Based immigration, no more Democrat Lottery Systems. We must get MUCH tougher (and smarter). @foxandfriends  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 1, 2017

"Senator Chuck Schumer helping to import Europes problems" said Col.Tony Shaffer. We will stop this craziness! @foxandfriends  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 1, 2017

Officials identified the New York attacker as 29-year-old Sayfullo Saipov and said he came to the US legally from Uzbekistan in 2010. He has a Florida driver's licence but was reportedly living in New Jersey.

In the immediate aftermath of the attack on Tuesday, Mr Trump tweeted: "I have just ordered Homeland Security to step up our already Extreme Vetting Program. Being politically correct is fine, but not for this!"

He earlier called the attacker a "sick and deranged person", adding: "We must not allow ISIS to return, or enter, our country after defeating them in the Middle East and elsewhere. Enough!"

Sayfullo Habibullaevic Saipov, the 29-year-old suspect Credit: @NYScanner/Twitter

Mr Trump, who changed the banner on his Twitter account to the New York skyline, has pressed for a ban on travellers entering the United States from some predominantly Muslim countries.

Citizens of seven countries face new restrictions on entry to the US under a proclamation signed by the president in September.

The rules, which affect the citizens of Chad, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Syria, and Yemen, went into effect on October 18.
Donald Trump has said he will consider sending the suspected New York City vehicle attacker to Guantanamo Bay.

Responding to a shouted question from a reporter at a Cabinet meeting, Mr Trump said: I would certainly consider that. Send him to Gitmo.

The President earlier vowed to step up controversial vetting measures in the wake of the terror truck attack.

Mr Trump also attacked political correctness following the attack on Halloween, which killed eight people and injured 11.

I have just ordered Homeland Security to step up our already Extreme Vetting Program. Being politically correct is fine, but not for this!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 1, 2017

A rental truck was driven into pedestrians and cyclists on a bike path in Lower Manhattan on Tuesday.

At least 11 others were injured after a man, identified by police as Sayfullo Saipov, 29, from Uzbekistan, drove the rented Home Depot truck on to the path on West Street at around 3pm.

The suspect acted in the name of the Islamic State group, police said.

He did this in the name of Isis, John Miller, deputy police commissioner for intelligence, said at a news conference, citing handwritten notes left by Saipov in his vehicle.

He appears to have followed, almost exactly to a T, the instructions that Isis has put out in its social media channels before with instructions to its followers on how to carry out such an attack.

He was shot by police after jumping out of the vehicle with what turned out to be two fake guns. He was taken to hospital and is in police custody. Officers said his injuries are not life-threatening.

In response to the atrocity  the deadliest terror attack to strike New York since September 11, 2001  Mr Trump ordered the security services to step up vetting procedures.

NEW YORK TERROR ATTACK  MORE FROM YAHOO UK

Why the truck used by the Manhattan attacker is now the urban terrorists weapon of choice

America since 9/11: Timeline of terror on US soil since World Trade Center attack

Group of five friends on graduation anniversary trip among eight killed in New York attack

Everything we know about New York truck attacker Sayfullo Saipov

Story continues

Posting on Twitter, he praised the actions of the emergency services first responders.

The truck used to carry out the attack (Picture: Getty)

He said he had ordered the Department of Homeland Security to step up its already extreme vetting programme, but did not elaborate further.

In NYC, looks like another attack by a very sick and deranged person. Law enforcement is following this closely. NOT IN THE U.S.A.!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 31, 2017

We must not allow ISIS to return, or enter, our country after defeating them in the Middle East and elsewhere. Enough!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 31, 2017

He also added: Being politically correct is fine, but not for this!

Mr Trump also tweeted: We must not allow ISIS to return, or enter, our country after defeating them in the Middle East and elsewhere. Enough!

Eight people were killed and at least 11 injured in the terror attack (Picture: Getty)

The terrorist group has not claimed responsibility for the attack.

My thoughts, condolences and prayers to the victims and families of the New York City terrorist attack. God and your country are with you!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 31, 2017

Mr Trump said it looked like another attack by a very sick and deranged person.

The idea of extreme vetting of immigrants was introduced by Mr Trump during his presidential election campaign.

Donald Trump says he will step up vetting procedures for immigrants (Picture: Rex)

As president, he introduced a controversial ban on arrivals to the US from a number of mainly-Muslim nations  which is the subject of a Supreme Court ruling soon.

The American Civil Liberties Union said extreme vetting is a euphemism for discriminating against Muslims.

New York mayor Bill de Blasio described the attack as a particularly cowardly act of terror that was aimed at innocent civilians going about their daily lives.

(Main picture: PA)
Eight people were killed and 12 were injured Tuesday afternoon when a driver struck several pedestrians on a busy bike path in lower Manhattan  an incident New York City mayor Bill de Blasio called a cowardly act of terror.

Law enforcement officials said Wednesday that the suspect, who they identified as Sayfullo Saipov, had been planning the attack for weeks, and committed the act in the name of ISIS.

The suspect  who exited his rented pickup truck with imitation firearms and was shot by police officers  has been taken into custody, police said.

An investigation into the attack is still ongoing. Heres what we know so far:

Several people were killed

At least eight people were killed and 12 others were seriously injured during the attack, officials said Wednesday, in what New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio earlier called a very painful day in our city.

Two adults and two children were injured when the suspect struck a school bus. A representative for the citys Department of Education said the children were students in the New York City school system, and the adults were staffers contracted to work with the DOE through a bus company. They are among those who sustained injuries that are serious but not life-threatening.

The Argentine Foreign Ministry confirmed that five Argentinians were among the dead, according to a statement. One Belgian was also killed in the attack, Belgian foreign minister Didier Reynders told Belga news agency. Additional Belgian and Argentinian nationals were also among the wounded, according to the Associated Press.

Witnesses described a chaotic scene with victims lying on the ground beside twisted bicycles. Later, parents rushed to nearby schools to pick up their children, dressed in Halloween costumes.

We know that this action was intended to break our spirit, but we also know New Yorkers are strong, New Yorkers are resilient, and our spirit will never be moved by an act of violence, de Blasio said.

Story continues

[New Yorkers] are resilient and wont be deterred. Great to see large crowd at annual Halloween parade in Village. [Thanks] for showing the world who we are, New York City Police Department Commissioner James ONeill said on Twitter.

The suspect has been taken into custody

Police said the suspect  a 29-year-old man  struck pedestrians and cyclists on the bike path around 3 p.m. and continued driving a rented Home Depot pickup truck, colliding with a school bus.

The suspect then exited the vehicle holding a paintball gun and a pellet gun and shouted, Allahu akbar, the Associated Press reported, citing a law enforcement official. The phrase translates to God is great in Arabic.

The suspect has been identified as Sayfullo Saipov. Court records indicate Saipov had an address in Tampa, Fla. He is believed to have been living most recently in Patterson, N.J., where the truck was reportedly rented, with his wife and three children.

Saipov was shot by law enforcement officers, taken into custody and transported to a local hospital, where he underwent surgery. He is now recovering from his injuries.

Uber confirmed that Saipov was a driver on the platform and has been banned from the Uber app. A spokesperson for the company tells TIME: We are horrified by this senseless act of violence. Our hearts are with the victims and their families. We have reached out to law enforcement to provide our full assistance.

Officials called the attack an act of terror

This was an act of terror  and a particularly cowardly act of terror aimed at innocent civilians, de Blasio said.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said there is no evidence of an ongoing threat at this time, and city officials urged New Yorkers to continue with their usual schedules.

The citys annual Halloween parade began as scheduled at 7 p.m. on Tuesday. More law enforcement officers and heavy weapons teams were stationed along the route and at iconic locations throughout the city, police said.

The assault bore similarities to incidents carried out in Europe by attackers affiliated with the Islamic State, including in Nice, France in July 2016, in Berlin in December 2016, in London in June 2017, and in Barcelona in August 2017. While there was no immediate announcement from the Islamic State claiming responsibility for Tuesdays attack, law enforcement officials found a handwritten note declaring allegiance to the group inside the rented truck.

We will be vigilant  more police everywhere, Cuomo said at Tuesdays press conference. Youll see them in the airports, youll see them in the tunnels. Its not because theres any evidence of an ongoing threat or any additional threat. Its just out of vigilance and out of caution.

The attack took place in lower Manhattan

The incident occurred on a popular bike path along the Hudson River near Stuyvesant High School in Lower Manhattan, a few blocks north of the World Trade Center.

We have been tested before as a city very near to the site of todays tragedy, and New Yorkers do not give in in the face of these kinds of actions, de Blasio said. Well respond as we always do. We will be undeterred.

Leaders react: My heart breaks for NYC

President Donald Trump condemned the attack in a series of tweets, emphasizing the threat of the Islamic State in the Middle East and elsewhere before offering his condolences.

In NYC, looks like another attack by a very sick and deranged person. Law enforcement is following this closely. NOT IN THE U.S.A.!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 31, 2017

We must not allow ISIS to return, or enter, our country after defeating them in the Middle East and elsewhere. Enough!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 31, 2017

My thoughts, condolences and prayers to the victims and families of the New York City terrorist attack. God and your country are with you!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 31, 2017

Two and a half hours later, Trump tweeted again, pressing the need for Extreme Vetting by Homeland Security. The latest version of his administrations travel ban, which prohibited entry from six Muslim-majority countries, expired Sept. 24, but is expected to be replaced by new restrictions.

I have just ordered Homeland Security to step up our already Extreme Vetting Program. Being politically correct is fine, but not for this!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 1, 2017

First lady Melania Trump also tweeted, expressing her thoughts & prayers as the investigation proceeds:

My heart breaks for #NYC today. Thoughts & prayers as we monitor the situation.  Melania Trump (@FLOTUS) October 31, 2017

Michelle and I are thinking of the victims of today's attack in NYC and everyone who keeps us safe. New Yorkers are as tough as they come.  Barack Obama (@BarackObama) November 1, 2017

New York's resilience is stronger than a cowardly act of terror. Thinking of the victims, their families, & the responders who saved lives.  Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) November 1, 2017

New Yorkers see this attack for what it isan attempt to sow fear. We stand against terror as we grieve for the victims and thank the @NYPD.  Bill Clinton (@BillClinton) October 31, 2017

Thanks NYPD for rapidly responding to tragic situation downtown. Worried & saddened to hear about injuries & loss of life.  Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) October 31, 2017

This was a cowardly act of terror. It was intended to break our spirit. But New Yorkers are resilient. We will be undeterred.  Bill de Blasio (@NYCMayor) October 31, 2017

Terror will not change New York, we will go forward stronger together. #Manhattan  Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) October 31, 2017

Our hearts are with the victims of this apparent act of terror in New York City. Thank you to all the first responders.  Paul Ryan (@SpeakerRyan) October 31, 2017

PM: Appalled by this cowardly attack, my thoughts are with all affected. Together we will defeat the evil of terrorism. UK stands with #NYC  UK Prime Minister (@Number10gov) October 31, 2017

London stands in grief and solidarity with the great city of New York tonight. pic.twitter.com/ojrxSDnZos  Sadiq Khan (@SadiqKhan) October 31, 2017

Were monitoring the situation in New York City closely  my condolences to the families of all those affected by todays attack.  Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) October 31, 2017

Strongly condemn the terror attack in New York City. My thoughts are with the families of the deceased & prayers with those injured.  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 1, 2017

This is a breaking news story and will be updated.
Dubai (AFP) - African officials, including four heads of state, convened with international CEOs at a summit Wednesday in Dubai, part of its push to position itself as a link for huge potential investments on the continent.

"We are looking at the fastest growing economy of the world ... Six out of the top 10 fastest growing economies are just next to us in Africa," said the president and CEO of the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Hamad Buamim.

Experts at the opening of "Next Generation Africa", Dubai's fourth Global Business Forum on Africa, said the continent's 54 countries -- home to a fifth of the world's population -- require tens of billions of dollars in investment in infrastructure, energy and other sectors.

Investment, Emirati officials hope, will be channeled through Dubai, a trading hub and member of the United Arab Emirates.

"We believe that Dubai's strategic goals can be aligned with Africa's ambitions as it enters a new phase of development," said the Dubai chamber chairman, Majid Saif al-Ghurair.

The number of African companies registered in Dubai jumped to 17,000 last year, an increase of 41 percent from 2015, according to Ghurair.

Trade volume between UAE and Africa totals around $35 billion and has been growing at a double-digit rate annually.

"We see potential of a growing economy that has a lot of future ... Africa is a great market," Buamim told AFP on the sidelines of the two-day forum that has attracted four heads of state from Africa, several ministers and hundreds of investors and experts.

He said the forum is held to help channel investments to Africa through Dubai.

Rwandan President Paul Kagame told the meeting that Africa is witnessing speedy reforms and a faster pace of integration, especially among a number of regional economic blocs formed in the continent.

"A number of steps have been taken and progress has been made ... In the next five to 10 years, we will see progress," in the integration between the various economic blocs, Kagame said.

Story continues

The president said a number of economic unity initiatives had been adopted in Africa in the fields of customs unions, infrastructure projects, electricity links and railway networks.

"Later on, the regional economic communities will join together ... integration is happening," said Kagame, as he called for greater investment inflow into Africa.

The Infrastructure Consortium for Africa (ICA) said last month the continent must double its spending on infrastructure over coming years after a decline in 2016.

Last year, total investment in transport, energy, water and IT/communications amounted to $62.5 billion, down from $78.9 billion in 2015, it said.

Investments worth between $120 billion and $140 billion is needed in the short-term, said the report.
Dustin Hoffman has issued an apology following a woman's account of being sexually harassed by the actor when she was 17 years old.

In an essay penned for Hollywood Reporter, Anna Graham Hunter describes a series of uncomfortable incidents that allegedly took place in 1985, when Hoffman was 48 and she was a high school senior.

Hunter was a production assistant on set of Hoffman's "Death of a Salesman" and admits that at first, she enjoyed the attention from the esteemed actor. However, the joking tone of their interactions quickly turned more sexual, upsetting the teen to the point of tears.

"One morning I went to his dressing room to take his breakfast order; he looked at me and grinned, taking his time," Hunter recounts. "Then he said, "I'll have a hard-boiled egg  and a soft-boiled clitoris."

On another occasion, Hoffman allegedly quizzed Hunter on her sexual activities, asking her, "So, did you have sex over the weekend like I told you?" to which Hunter replied, "No."

"What is this, celibate weekends?" Hoffman continued. Hunter, laughing, said she would next weekend.

"No, I'm talking about last weekend," Hoffman pressed. "You sure you didn't?"

As Hunter continued to laugh, Hoffman said, "Smile if you're lying."

After an occasion during which Hoffman allegedly repeatedly touched Hunter's rear, he accused her in front of the crew of thinking he was a "sexist pig." After she told him she "didn't appreciate his wandering hands or his comments," he apologized profusely, she said.

Hunter's words come from letters she sent at the time to her sister, sharing stories of her experiences on set. Today, rereading the letters, Hunter writes, "My heart aches for the awkward virgin with the bad hair who had only been kissed three times in her life, laughing as the man her father's age talked about breasts and sex. I want to weep that she found this charming."

Hoffman told the Hollywood Reporter, "I have the utmost respect for women and feel terrible that anything I might have done could have put her in an uncomfortable situation. I am sorry. It is not reflective of who I am."
How many pup pictures in a home tour is too many? Asking for a friend. But in all honestly, from fur baby to dream kitchen, this San Francisco pad has a lot of goodies tucked inside. Masterminded by the genius designers MAS design and Simone Howell at Decorist, have a look at modern meets chic with a healthy dose of glam captured by Julia Sperling. Psst...take the full tour right here!

Online interior design service Decorist executed a gorgeous makeover on an early 1900's home in San Francisco. Homeowner Lisa Hauswirth enlisted two Decorist Elite Designers, MAS design and Simone Howell, to guide her through a revamp that took the home from dark and heavy to bright and glam. As you can see from the before and after photos, the transformation is pretty drastic! What's also cool about this project is that Lisa held several non-design positions at Decorist in the past. We love how she came full circle with Decorist and created the home of her dreams with them!

Photography: Julia Sperling | Location: Lisa Hauswirth's Home
Michael Jacksons Thriller is on nearly every curated Halloween party playlist, so it was only a matter of time before the song manifested itself at the ultimate Halloween bash.

Heidi Klum and guests recreated Michael Jacksons Thriller video for her annual Halloween blowout. (Photo: Getty Images)

On Oct. 31, Halloween queen Heidi Klum dressed as the werewolf in the Thriller music video  replete with a cast of zombies  to attend her 18th annual eponymous soiree, held at the Moxy Hotel in New York City and sponsored in part by SVEDKA Vodka. Klum was unrecognizable to those in attendance, including this style writer who unknowingly walked right beside her.

Heidi Klum, right, and designer Zac Posen (Photo: Getty Images)

Given the hype around the party, all the regular people (see: non-celebrities) made major efforts to arrive in their Halloween best. There was no shortage of mermaids and mermen, glamorous skeletons, and Maleficents, dressed so convincingly it was as though they walked off a Hollywood set.

Heather Graham in Dia de los Muertos finery. (Photo: Getty Images)

Of course, the non-celebrities were roped off from the VIP section, where DJ Questlove reigned, guarded meticulously by security.

Heidi Klum, left, with guests Mike Myers and Nick Cannon. (Photo: Getty Images)

Also seen: Mike Myers in military garb, his Austin Powers co-star Heather Graham in Dia de los Muertos garb, designer Zac Posen as a zombie, and Nick Cannon as a Black Panther.

Read more from Yahoo Style + Beauty:

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day. For Twitter updates, follow @YahooStyle and @YahooBeauty.

Alexandra Mondalek is a writer for Yahoo Style + Beauty. Follow her on Twitter @amondalek.
By Gina Cherelus and Barbara Goldberg

NEW YORK (Reuters) - An Uzbek immigrant suspected of killing eight people in New York City by plowing a truck into cyclists and pedestrians on a New York City bike path followed online plans from Islamic State and left a note extolling the militant group, police said on Wednesday.

Police said they had interviewed Sayfullo Saipov, 29, who remained hospitalized after an officer shot him in the abdomen, ending the rampage. They said Saipov appeared to have been planning the attack for weeks and that investigators recovered notes and knives at the scene.

(GRAPHIC: Where the New York truck attack took place - http://tmsnrt.rs/2z3aqZv )

"The gist of the note was that the Islamic State would endure forever," New York Deputy Police Commissioner John Miller told a news conference. "He appears to have followed almost exactly the instructions that ISIS has put out on its social media channels to its followers."

The attack was the deadliest in New York City since Sept. 11, 2001, when suicide hijackers crashed two jetliners into the World Trade Center, killing more than 2,600 people.

Tuesday's attack injured 12 people, some critically, in addition to those killed.

Similar assaults using vehicles as weapons took place in Spain in August and in France and Germany last year. (GRAPHIC: Fatal vehicle attacks since Nice - http://tmsnrt.rs/2h34g4j)

Authorities said Saipov was driving a truck he had rented from a Home Depot store in New Jersey to run down pedestrians and cyclists on the path, just blocks from the World Trade Center site, before slamming into the side of a school bus.

He exited the vehicle brandishing what turned out to be a paint-ball gun and a pellet gun and was then shot by police officer Ryan Nash, 28, who was hailed as a hero by New York Mayor Bill de Blasio and Governor Andrew Cuomo. [L2N1N71K6]

Saipov lived in Paterson, New Jersey, a one-time industrial hub about 25 miles (40 km) northwest of lower Manhattan.

Story continues

TRUMP: "SEND HIM TO GITMO"

Two senior Republican senators urged authorities to treat Saipov as an enemy combatant, which would allow investigators to question him without having a lawyer present.

President Donald Trump said he would be open to transferring Saipov to the military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, where other suspects including alleged Sept. 11 plotters are held.

"Send him to Gitmo. I would certainly consider that," Trump told reporters. "We also have to come up with punishment that's far quicker and far greater than the punishment these animals are getting right now."

Cuomo said Saipov had been radicalized while living in the United States.

The majority of the 18 Islamic State-inspired attacks carried out in the United States since September 2014 were the work of attackers who developed radical views while living in the United States, said Alexander Meleagrou-Hitchens, research director at George Washington University's Program on Extremism.

SAIPOV AND RELIGION

Five of those killed on Tuesday were Argentine tourists, among a group of friends visiting New York to celebrate the 30th anniversary of their high school graduation, and a Belgian citizen was also among those killed. Of the other two people killed, one was a New York resident and one lived in New Jersey.

De Blasio said police would be out in force to protect the New York Marathon on Sunday, one of the world's top road races, which draws some 51,000 runners and 2.5 million spectators from around the globe.

Uzbekistan's president, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, said his government would do all it could to help investigate the "extremely brutal" attack.

Another Uzbek who now lives in Ohio and knew Saipov from the brief time he lived there, said Saipov was struggling to make it in the United States and had few friends and spoke English poorly. He said Saipov "became religious on the spur of the moment" and "couldn't get enough" of the religious freedoms enjoyed in the United States.

Last week, an Uzbekistan citizen living in Brooklyn was sentenced to 15 years in prison for conspiring to support Islamic State.

Saipov had not been the subject of any U.S. investigation, Miller, the New York deputy police commissioner, said. A U.S. government source told Reuters on Wednesday that Saipov had been in contact with a person who was the subject of a Federal Bureau of Investigation probe.

Trump, who has pressed for a ban on the entry into the United States of citizens of some predominantly Muslim countries, criticized the U.S. visa system and blamed Democrats including Senator Chuck Schumer for the visa system that admitted Saipov. Trump said he wanted a "merit-based" immigration program.

"We do not want chain migration, where somebody like him ultimately will be allowed to bring in many, many members of his family," Trump told reporters.

Schumer shot back at Trump from the Senate floor: "Instead of politicizing and dividing America, which he always seems to do at times of national tragedy, (Trump) should be bringing us together and focusing on the real solution, anti-terrorism funding, which he proposed to cut in his most recent budget."

(Additional reporting by Jonathan Allen and Melissa Fares in New York, Joseph Ax in Patterson, New Jersey, and Mark Hosenball and Tim Ahmann in Washington; Writing by Scott Malone; Editing by Bill Rigby and Leslie Adler)
Eight people were killed and 11 others injured Tuesday when a man drove a rental truck through a bicycle path in lower Manhattan, mowing down pedestrians and cyclists and careening into a school bus in what is being investigated as an act of terrorism.

The suspect, 29-year-old Uzbek national Sayfullo Saipov, has been shot by police and is in critical condition, according to the Associated Press. He is expected to survive.

Five of the victims were citizens of Argentina, according to a statement by the countrys foreign ministry identifying them as Hernan Diego Mendoza; Diego Enrique Angelini; Alejandro Damian Pagnucco; Ariel Erlij; and Hernan Ferruchi.

Erlij, a 48-year-old business owner, had paid the fares of some of his schoolmates so that they could attend the reunion, according to local media reports cited by the Guardian.

Argentinas President Mauricio Macri wrote in a tweet: Profoundly moved by the tragic deaths this afternoon in NY. We place ourselves at the disposition of the families of the Argentinian victims.

The ministrys statement, in Spanish, says that the five men who died as a result of the dramatic terrorist attack were all from the Argentine city of Rosario. They were part of a group of friends who had visited New York to celebrate the 30th anniversary of their graduation from a polytechnic school.

An Argentinian man, Martin Ludovico Marro, is also reportedly in hospital recovering from injuries he sustained during the attack.

Belgiums foreign affairs minister Didier Reynders also confirmed the death of one Belgian citizen on Twitter. He later told Belgiums Belga news agency the victim was a woman from Roulers in western Flanders who was on a city trip with with her sister and her mother, according to the Guardian.

In another tweet Reynders said three other Belgians had been injured in the attack.

Two staff members and two children were also injured when the attackers truck collided with the school bus, the New York City schools system said.

This is a developing story.
United Nations (United States) (AFP) - The European Union and Japan asked the United Nations on Tuesday to condemn North Korea for gross human rights violations, drawing a link between severe hunger endured by North Koreans and Pyongyang's missile and nuclear programs.

After the death of US student Otto Warmbier, a draft resolution also said North Korea must provide detained foreign nationals with access to consular services and allow them to communicate with their families.

The measure was presented to the General Assembly's human rights committee which is expected to vote on the text in the coming weeks.

North Korea conducted its sixth nuclear test this year and test-fired a series of advanced missiles, including intercontinental ballistic missiles, even as 18 million North Koreans, or 70 percent of the population, are struggling with food shortages.

The draft resolution condemns North Korea "for diverting its resources into pursuing nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles over the welfare of its people," according to the draft text obtained by AFP.

Over half of North Korea's population face food shortages and nearly a quarter suffer chronic malnutrition, according to UN findings cited in the proposed measure.

The draft resolution "condemns the long-standing and ongoing systematic, widespread and gross violations of human rights" in North Korea, and said those violations have led to severe hunger and malnutrition.

It expresses "very serious concerns" that Pyongyang has carried out torture, summary executions, arbitrary detention and abductions of foreign nationals within and outside its territory.

Warmbier, a 22-year-old student, died in June just days after he was released by Pyongyang and sent home in a coma following his arrest in January 2016 while visiting the North as a tourist.

His parents have said their son showed signs of torture, including teeth that appeared to have been "rearranged," and hands and feet that were disfigured.

Story continues

In February, the half-brother of North Korea's leader, Kim Jong-Nam, was killed with the poisonous nerve agent VS while waiting a crowded airport in Malaysia's capital Kuala Lumpur.

The draft resolution recalled that all UN member-states are barred from providing work permits to North Korean nationals in line with a Security Council resolution.

It also expressed concern that reunions of separated families on the Korean peninsula have been suspended since October 2015.
Brighteye Ventures, a relatively new European VC dedicated to investing in edtech startups, is announcing that it has closed a 50 million first fund.

Eyeing up a slice of the estimated $6 trillion annual education market globally, which, arguably has seen modest digital disruption to date, the firm says it will lead or participate in seed and Series A and B rounds for innovative companies "using technology to enhance learning and creativity".

Specifically, I'm told Brighteye Ventures is on the look out for companies targeting various educational levels, from K-12 to university to lifelong learning. The VC plans to lead investments in Europe and Israel, and co-invest alongside investment partners in the U.S., while the investment amount will range from 500,000 to 3 million per round. That should see Brighteye, whose LPs consist of unnamed European family offices, back around 20 companies over the next three years.

Run out of Paris -- though the fund itself is registered in Luxembourg -- Brighteye Ventures is being managed by Managing partner Alex Spiro with the help of investment partner Benoit Wirz.

Spiro (pictured) has a background in childrens media, and is co-founder of childrens publisher Flying Eye Books, and Minilab Studios, an educational app development studio. Wirz is said to bring nearly 20 years experience of developing and investing in edtech, media, enterprise software and other tech companies, most recently at the Knight Foundation.

Meanwhile, although the closing is only being announced today, as is often the case, Brighteye Ventures has already begun investing from its fund. In May, the VC firm participated in an $8 million series C round for Epic!, a digital content platform for under 12s, and in August it joined Lightneers $5 million seed round. The latter is a learning games studio based in Helsinki and founded by ex-Rovio executives.

To that end, Wirz is talking up Brighteye as "a truly operational VC," claiming that the VC is well-positioned to connect its portfolio companies to clients, educators, advisors and investors in order to "amplify their growth".
WASHINGTON  Documentary filmmaker Ken Burns has weighed in on White House Chief of Staff John Kellys controversial comments about the Civil War, saying that while many factors contributed to the conflict, one caused it: slavery.

Many factors contributed to the Civil War. One caused it: slavery.  Ken Burns (@KenBurns) October 31, 2017

Burnss post to Twitter comes a day after Kelly told Fox News Laura Ingraham that a lack of an ability to compromise led to the Civil War. Kelly went on to defend Confederate monuments, describe Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee as an honorable man who gave up his country to fight for his state, and say that men and women of good faith on both sides made their stand where their conscience had to make their stand.

The backlash was fierce. In a post to Twitter, author Ta-Nehisi Coates said it was shocking that someone charged with defending their country, in some profound way, does not comprehend the country they claim to defend. Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), the sole black Senate Republican, said: There was no compromise to make  only a choice between continuing slavery and ending it.

White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders defended Kellys comments during a briefing Tuesday, saying because you dont like history doesnt mean that you can erase it and pretend that it didnt happen. She also pointed to Burns 1990 PBS documentary, The Civil War.

I dont know that Im going to get into debating the Civil War, but I do know that many historians, including Shelby Foote in Ken Burnss famous Civil War documentary, agree that a failure to compromise was a cause of the Civil War, Sanders said. There are a lot of historians that think that.

Burns later posted to Twitter a quote from historian Barbara Fields that is included in his film.

Historian Barbara Fields ended the film: the Civil War is still going on. It's still to be fought and regrettably it can still be lost.  Ken Burns (@KenBurns) October 31, 2017

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On Tuesday, the Senate Judiciary Committee kicked off the first of three hearings this week examining the relationship between social media and Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. The hearings mark the first time that lawmakers will hear testimony from Google, Facebook and Twitter around how their platforms were and are manipulated as part of Russian political disinformation campaigns targeting U.S. voters.

"This is really a critical hearing," Committee Chair Lindsey Graham declared in his opening remarks. "It marks the first time we will have heard from the three agencies about exactly what is going on and what exactly they are prepared to do to stop it."

Graham struck a friendly note early on, informing the panel that "the purpose of this hearing is to figure out how we can help you."

Predictably, the tech representatives weren't fooled by a group of lawmakers that appears increasingly eager to regulate their ad operations.

As Tuesday's hearing was the first of three, the big question is just how cooperative the three companies would be. All three elected to send their general counsel rather than top executives to the hearing, a move that signaled they'd prefer to remain tight lipped and well within the comfort zones they're used to in friendlier territory. They mostly succeeded, even when things got a bit awkward for a trio of companies far too accustomed to exercising near total control of the narrative around their products.

None of these tech giants are used to having their feet held to the fire, and some members of the committee, particularly Louisiana Senator John Kennedy and Minnesota Senator Al Franken, proved eager to do so. When Facebook General Counsel Colin Stretch, who bore the brunt of the committee's ire, responded tepidly to his line of questioning about the company's responsibility, Franken rebuked the panel explosively.

"You put billions of data points together all the time... you can't put together rubles and a political ad? How did you not connect those two dots?"

Story continues

Kennedy picked up a line of questioning threaded early on by Graham, turning to exactly the kind of rapid fire questions that the tech companies dispatched their legal reps to dodge.

Kennedy: "Did China run ads in the last election cycle to try to impact our election? Did Turkmenistan?" Stretch: "Not that I'm aware of" Kennedy: "How can you be aware? You've got five million advertisers and you're gonna tell me that you can trace the origin of all of those advertisers?" Stretch: "No sir, I cannot" Kennedy: "That's your testimony under oath?"

On the issue of banning foreign currency in political ads  and many other issues, including how they'll deal with shell companies  the trio was non-committal. They refused to endorse Sen. Amy Klobuchar's bipartisan Honest Ads Act when pressed, gesturing that they would be willing to cooperate on legislation but they'd really prefer to self-govern (since that's gone so well). Klobuchar took that opportunity to skewer the regulation-phobic companies. "There wouldn't be an outside enforcer of any of your policies, is that right?," she demanded. They reluctantly admitted she was right and surely took notes for how to handle tomorrow's likely continuation of questioning around that legislation.

That sheepish admission and others were about the only candid moments that the hearing produced, as it swung from Russian intelligence operations to Islamic extremists and even to a predictably useless interlude from Texas Senator Ted Cruz, who squandered his time with a distracting line of questioning that accused the companies of partisanship.

The exchanges set a tone for tomorrow's intelligence committee hearings, which are likely to be meatier and more aggressive, particularly in the Senate. In round one, Google, Facebook and Twitter cooperated, but they weren't particularly helpful, opting to mostly cover their asses with pre-planned statements and platform reports designed to appease lawmakers and stave off regulation. All three were eager to tout their own home remedies for political disinformation campaigns  hire actual humans, build AI, et cetera  but remained unwilling to conduct the kind of deep self examination necessary to inoculate themselves outright.
By David Lawder

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Scott Garrett, who sought to shut down the U.S. Export-Import Bank two years ago as a Republican congressman, vowed on Wednesday to run the government trade lender to the full extent of its legal authority if confirmed as its next president.

But Garrett refused to tell skeptical senators at his confirmation hearing that his past views about EXIM were wrong and did little to explain his change of heart about the institution.

"Rest assured that I am committed to keep the bank fully open and fully operational. Period," Garrett told the Senate Banking Committee.

Garrett's nomination is widely opposed by U.S. business and manufacturing groups and by many Democratic senators, who say that he cannot be trusted to restore the bank's full lending and guarantee capabilities that have been hobbled since a 2015 fight in Congress over its reauthorization.

"Putting Mr. Garrett in charge of EXIM would be like putting an arsonist in charge of the fire department," said Senator Sherrod Brown, an Ohio Democrat who has staunchly supported the bank.

Boeing Co and the Aerospace Industries Association, a trade group representing 346 aerospace and defense companies, also voiced opposition to Garrett on Wednesday.

Garrett's comments "reinforce our greatest concerns about his fitness to lead the bank," AIA President David Melcher said in a statement. "We strongly encourage the Senate to reject his nomination."

The AIA is launching an ad campaign showing a Trojan horse with the caption, 'We've seen this strategy before.'"

Garrett said he would support the next reauthorization of the bank scheduled for 2019. He also said that part of the reason he wants the job is that he believes in President Donald Trump's economic agenda to restore the U.S. manufacturing sector, which requires government efforts to level the global playing field for U.S. companies.

Story continues

Garrett was among the leaders of an effort by conservative Republicans in 2015 to kill the bank by denying a renewal of its charter. Accusing the bank of providing unnecessary welfare to big industrial companies such as Boeing and General Electric , they were successful in halting the bank's lending operations for five months before supporters forced a renewal vote.

But since then, EXIM has been unable to approve loans and loan guarantees exceeding $10 million due to a shortage of board members as some Senate Republicans blocked past nominations. This has effectively shut the trade bank out of financing commercial aircraft, large power turbines and other expensive infrastructure projects readily supported by foreign government export lenders for their own manufacturers.

Several Democratic senators unsuccessfully tried to push Garrett to retract his past statements that EXIM "embodies the corruption of the free enterprise system." But Garrett stuck to his line that he would run EXIM according to the letter and spirit of the law, and implement transparency reforms passed in 2015.

Garrett, a fiscal conservative, lost his northern New Jersey congressional seat to a Democrat in the November 2016 elections.

With Democrats expected to oppose his nomination, Garrett's confirmation would fail if more than two Republicans vote against him.

Two Republican senators who opposed EXIM's renewal in 2015, Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania and Richard Shelby of Alabama, voiced support for Garrett's nomination. But two undecided Republicans on the banking panel, Mike Rounds of South Dakota and Tim Scott of South Carolina, questioned Garrett's newfound commitment to the bank's mission.

The National Association of Manufacturers has been running radio and digital ads in South Carolina urging Scott and fellow Republican Senator Lindsey Graham to oppose Garrett.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce reiterated its opposition to Garrett's nomination following Wednesday's hearing.

"The chairman of the board of the Export-Import Bank is simply too powerful a role to be filled by an individual who cannot clearly articulate a deep-seated belief in the spirit of the organization," the group said in a statement.

The hearing also included nominees for five other EXIM positions, including for three board seats and first vice president. Kimberly Reed, a former U.S. Treasury official during the George W. Bush administration who most recently headed a food industry non-profit group, has been nominated to the latter post.

(Reporting by David Lawder and Alwyn Scott; Editing by Phil Berlowitz and Andrew Hay)
In-Tillit Region (Mali) (AFP) - A joint anti-jihadist force linking countries in the Sahel began operations on Wednesday, the French military mission in the region, which is providing support, told AFP.

"The deployment of Malian, Nigerien and Burkinabe troops in the G5 Sahel force began this morning," said a colonel for France's Barkhane mission, speaking on condition that only his first name of Marc-Antoine was used.

Several hundred troops have been deployed in the initial operation, codenamed Hawbi, he said.

It will "provide a show of strength and demonstrate presence" in the Mali, Burkina and Niger border regions "and impede freedom of movement, which several armed groups have enjoyed for months," Marc-Antoine said.

"The ultimate goal is to boost the power of the G5 Sahel force so that it can relocate by itself in cross-border zones," said Marc-Antoine.

The world's newest joint international force, the five-nation G5 Sahel plans to number up to 5,000 military, police and civilian troops by March 2018.

The 5,000 will comprise two battalions each from Mali and Niger and one each from Burkina Faso, Chad and Mauritania.

The force has been placed under the leadership of a Malian general, Didier Dacko, although for the time being the national contingents will not be integrated.

The idea behind the force dates back to November 2015 as countries on the rim of the Sahara grappled with an escalating wave of jihadist attacks.

Across the region -- vast, poor, arid and politically volatile -- thousands of people have died, many of them in suicide bombings, and tens of thousands have fled their homes.

The crisis leapt on to the front pages and TV screens in the United States last month when four US special forces troops were killed as they patrolled with Nigerien troops near the Niger-Mali border.

The G5 Sahel's activities will be initially confined to Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, where central governments have weak control over remote areas.

Story continues

The first priority will be "taking back control of border areas," targeting jihadists, bandits and human traffickers are major problems, Dacko has said.

France, the G5 Sahel's most vocal backer, has 4,000 military personnel in the Barkhane force.

Its role in Hawbi will be to provide "advice and support" with air and artillery, said Marc-Antoine, speaking from a forward base in the In-Tillit region in central Mali. About a hundred French troops will be involved in this context.

Money remains a major concern for the G5 Sahel.

Estimates for the first year of operations are put at 423 million euros ($490 million), although French officials say the budget can be brought down to around 240 million euros.

At present, it has funding pledges from 108 million euros, including 50 million from the five countries themselves, plus $60 million promised last week by the United States. A donor conference will be held in Brussels in December.
In-Tillit Region (Mali) (AFP) - A joint anti-jihadist force linking countries in the Sahel began operations on Wednesday, the French military mission in the region, which is providing support, told AFP.

"The deployment of Malian, Nigerien and Burkinabe troops in the G5 Sahel force began this morning," said a colonel for France's Barkhane mission, speaking on condition that only his first name of Marc-Antoine was used.

Several hundred troops have been deployed in the initial operation, codenamed Hawbi, he said.

It will "provide a show of strength and demonstrate presence" in the Mali, Burkina and Niger border regions "and impede freedom of movement, which several armed groups have enjoyed for months," Marc-Antoine said.

"The ultimate goal is to boost the power of the G5 Sahel force so that it can relocate by itself in cross-border zones," said Marc-Antoine.

The world's newest joint international force, the five-nation G5 Sahel plans to number up to 5,000 military, police and civilian troops by March 2018.

- Five-country force -

The 5,000 will comprise two battalions each from Mali and Niger and one each from Burkina Faso, Chad and Mauritania.

The force has been placed under the leadership of a Malian general, Didier Dacko, although for the time being the national contingents will not be integrated.

The idea behind the force dates back to November 2015, when countries on the rim of the Sahara grappled with an escalating wave of jihadist attacks.

After Libya fell into chaos in 2011, Boko Haram took over swathes of northeastern Nigeria and Islamist groups linked to al-Qaeda took over northern Mali in 2012.

French-led intervention in January 2013 largely chased out the jihadists from northern Mali, but this region, and the centre of the country, remains chronically violence-prone and attacks have spread to neighbouring countries.

Across the region -- vast, poor, arid and politically volatile -- thousands of people have died, many of them in suicide bombings, and tens of thousands have fled their homes. In areas controlled by jihadists, extreme Islamist law is enforced, with suspected thieves having hands or feet cut off.

Story continues

The Sahel crisis leapt on to the front pages and TV screens in the United States last month when four US special forces troops were killed as they patrolled with Nigerien troops near the Niger-Mali border.

The G5 Sahel's activities will be initially confined to Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, where central governments have weak control over remote areas.

The first priority will be "taking back control of border areas," targeting jihadists, bandits and human traffickers are major problems, Dacko has said.

France, the G5 Sahel's most vocal backer, has 4,000 personnel in the Barkhane force.

Its role in Hawbi will be to provide "advice and support" with air and artillery, said Marc-Antoine, speaking from a forward base in the In-Tillit region in central Mali. About 100 French troops will be involved in this context.

- Funding problem -

Money remains a major concern for the G5 Sahel, whose members are among the poorest nations in the world and whose military are badly under-equipped.

Estimates for the first year of operations are put at 423 million euros ($490 million), although French officials say the budget can be brought down to around 240 million euros.

At present, it has funding pledges from 108 million euros, comprising 50 million from the European Union, 50 million from the five countries themselves and eight million from France, plus $60 million promised last week by the United States.

A donor conference will be held in Brussels on December 14.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has put forward four options to provide help, but has run into heavy US resistance.

They include setting up a United Nations support office in the Sahel and sharing resources from MINUSMA, the 13,000-strong peacekeeping mission in Mali.

He also recommended extra financial backing for equipment including heavily reinforced vehicles and observation capacities, including drones.

But on Monday the US ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, said UN resources, already strained, should not be further overstretched, nor should be they used for non-UN missions.

"We believe that the G5 force must be first and foremost owned by the countries of the region themselves," she told the Security Council.
Gigi Hadidresponded to a hateful Twitter user who attempted to use Tuesdays attack in New York City as a reason to target Muslims.

Laura Loomer, whosebiodescribes her as an alt-right political activist and journalist who has previously worked for Canadas Rebel Media and undercover watchdog group Project Veritas, tweeted a photo of two women wearing hijabs on Manhattans Greenwich Street, not far from the area where 29-year-oldSayfullo Habibullaevic Saipovdrove a pick-up truck down a bike path Tuesday, killing at least eight people and injuring 12 others.

Loomer wrote on Twitter that the women wereaimlessly walking around in hijabs, later adding that you think theyd have the decency not to go near the area of the attack.

Hadid decided to call out Loomers bigotry in response.

Laura, I hate to give you the attention, but I need to tell you- You're a f**king moron.https://t.co/fCezijj2Ao  Gigi Hadid (@GiGiHadid)November 1, 2017

Hadids father, Mohamed Hadid, and boyfriend, Zayn Malik, are Muslim, and the model has been public with her support for the Muslim community in the past.

In January, she marched alongside her sister, Bella, in New York Cityin protest of President Donald Trumps proposed travel ban.

A post shared by Gigi Hadid (@gigihadid)on Jan 30, 2017 at 8:27am PST

Bella has previously discussed how she and her family are proud of their background and heritage, particularly because their Palestinian father immigrated to the U.S. after living in Israel and Syria.

Mydad was a refugeewhen he first came to America, so its actually very close to home for my sister and brother and me, Bella told Teen Vogue when discussing the travel ban. He was always religious, and he always prayed with us. I am proud to be a Muslim.

A post shared by YOLANDA (@yolanda.hadid)on Sep 1, 2017 at 4:37pm PDT

Story continues

Muslim advocacy groupshave spoken outsince Tuesdays deadly attack, condemning Saipovs actions and offering condolences to victims families.

The Muslim Public Affairs Council responded to the incident on Twitter, writing, An attack on one of us is an attack on all of us, and we will never stand for violence against those who are innocent.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
BERLIN (Reuters) - It may take until Friday to free the grounded freighter "Glory Amsterdam" from a sand bar near the North Sea island of Langeoog, German authorities said on Wednesday, but no holes or cracks are evident in the ship's hull to trigger an oil leak. Shallow waters off the island had forced officials to revise initial plans to dislodge the 225-metre (742-foot) freighter, which ran aground during a storm that killed at least six people in Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic. Environmental and fishery groups have warned of dire environmental consequences to the Wadden Sea, a UNESCO World Heritage site, if the ship begins leaking 1,800 tonnes of heavy oil and 140 tonnes of marine diesel on board. Workers on Wednesday attached the first of two towing ships to the freighter with a 1.5-km towline, Germany's Central Command for Maritime Emergencies said in a statement. Once a line is attached to the second towing ship, work will begin to pump out more than 18,000 tonnes of water that the Glory Amsterdam took on board during the storm to keep the ship steady in the water, the command said. Simone Starke, spokeswoman for the command, said authorities had rejected as too risky any effort to transfer the oil and diesel given rough seas and the complications of having to first heat the heavy oil. Preparations are to continue on Wednesday and Thursday, with the towing operation likely to begin on Friday. Officials were keeping a close watch on the ship via overflights and said it remained safe for now. "No holes or cracks have appeared in the ships," Starke said. The non-profit environmental group World Wildlife Fund on Monday said the oil on board continued to pose a significant risk to the Wadden Sea, the largest unbroken system of intertidal sand and mud flats in the world. (Reporting by Andrea Shalal; Editing by Jeremy Gaunt and Andrew Heavens)
The sixth week of HuffPosts Listen To America road trip took us to Livingston, Montana.

Just north of Yellowstone National Park, right on the Yellowstone River, youll find the cozy city of Livingston. The hometown of actors Peter Fonda and Margot Kidder is also a hot spot for fly fishermen and home of the International Fly Fishing Federations museum.

HuffPost spent some time at Livingston Depot Center, a restored rail station built in 1902, and Elk River Books. We spoke to locals about what life is like in the city and held a panel to discuss why its so difficult for people in the rest of the country to really understand the states inhabitants. Heres what our time there looked like:

The HuffPost bus stops in Livingston, Montana, for the "Listen To America" tour on Oct. 16, 2017.

Pedestrians visit the HuffPost bus.

A table with postcards sits at the HuffPost video activation site.

Lei-Anna Bertelsen, Troy Bertelsen and Perry Hofferber chat near the HuffPost tents.

Photographer Allen Russell talks with HuffPost staff before his interview.

HuffPost's video activation site was the Livingston Depot Center building.

Melissa Nootz plays a game of cornhole with her daughters Esme and Iris.

Rebecca Halperin steps into the bus, whose surface reflects the Livingston Depot Center.

HuffPost staffer Samantha Tomaszewski works.

Helen Mulroney and Jo Anne Troxel check out a flyer.

Hayley Miller tries to recruit people to be interviewed.

Patricia Grabow is interviewed.

A view of the Murray Hotel from the Livingston Depot Center.

Moderator Greg Veis (far right) sits with panelists Walter Kirn, Seabring Davis and Jamie Harrison Potenberg during the "Please Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" event at Elk River Books.

Walter Kirn speaks during the "Please Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" event.

The audience fills the event space at Elk River Books to hear the "Please Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" discussion.

Jamie Harrison Potenberg speaks during the event.

Ted Madden ask questions of the panelists during the Q&A part of the forum.

Seabring Davis speaks during the "Please Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" discussion.

Moderator Greg Veis addresses the crowd.

A mural depicts life in Livingston, which lies just north of Yellowstone National Park.

The HuffPost tour bus crosses the Yellowstone River.

Also on HuffPost

The HuffPost bus sits amid cacti during HuffPost's visit to Tucson, Arizona, on Oct. 20 as part of "Listen To America: A HuffPost Road Trip."

People visit the "Listen to America" tents during HuffPost's visit to University of Arizona in Tucson.

Chris Wayne helps Katherine Graves sign up to be interviewed.

Brittany Taylor waits to be interviewed.

A student puts stickers on a water bottle during HuffPost's visit to University of Arizona.

Nate Airulla speaks with James Michael Nichols and Rachel Elman during HuffPost's visit.

Jose Ramirez and Francisco Leon play a game of cornhole.

Students visit the "Listen to America" tents.

Brint Milward signs up to be interviewed.

Brennan Menta and Jazmin J. Morales chat during HuffPost's visit.

Deanna Lewis is interviewed during HuffPost's visit to Tucson.

HuffPost and Peak XV staff fill swag bags.

Emma Reilly hugs Hillary Frey during HuffPost's visit to University of Arizona in Tucson.

People visit the "Listen to America" tents at the University of Arizona.

People visit the "Listen to America" tents.

Shane Blum, Ethan Moos and Ben Norma sign up to be interviewed.

D.J. Munoz plays a game of jumbo Jenga with Ariel Munoz and Andrea Munoz.

People visit the "Listen to America" tents in Tucson, Arizona.

Bus driver Bobby Jansen hugs daughter Nicole Davidtz.

Rachel Elman helps Alora Cohen and Cristina Siqueires to sign up to be interviewed.

Curtis Wong signs up Stuart Teichner to be interviewed.

People visit the "Listen to America" tents.

Gemma Kerbs prepares to be interviewed by Nick Schaffer and Hayley Miller.

Adam Schultz puts a mic on Mindy Bernstein in preparation for an interview aboard the bus.

People are interviewed in tents in Tucson, Arizona.

Michael Phillips is interviewed by Louis Roug.

The HuffPost bus sits amid cacti on the outskirts of Tucson.

Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
As Google gradually builds out its footprint in travel search, the company is also making a move to shut down one of its data feeds to others in the travel space.

The company has quietly announced that in April of next year, it will shut down its QPX Express API, an airfare search feed that launched out of Google's $700 million acquisition of ITA in 2010/2011. (For a blast from the past, read the original announcement of that deal from then-Google search VP Marissa Mayer.)

Google revealed its plans to close the service in an update to the frequently asked questions about the API. It also sent a note to API users (published on HackerNews). The final shut down will take place on April 10, 2018. Between now and then, it will not take on new users, and existing users will get a reduced rate on any API calls. The usage fee will now be $0.02 per query, down from $0.035, after the first 50 queries, which are free.

Google has confirmed the closure to us in an emailed statement, citing low usage.

"We decided to no longer support the QPX Express API given the low interest among our travel partners. Instead, we'll focus on our other enterprise solutions for partners and users," said a Google spokesperson.

A version aimed at larger businesses, QPX Enterprise, will continue to operate, a Google spokesperson confirmed. QPX Enterprise generates the vast majority of revenues in the travel data business, from what I understand.

Google is also shutting down at least one other flight-related service as well. OnTheFly, ITA's mobile flight-search app, will stop to work after December 2017, Google said, suggesting that users instead either use Google Flights or Matrix, ITA's legacy flight search page that still seems to be going.

For those who are affected by the news, Google isn't providing suggestions of alternatives, but some of the other services that provide API access include Fareportal, Skyscanner, Skypicker, and as one developer notes, IATA appears to also be building something, in addition to the QPX Enterprise service.

Story continues

The QPX Express API closure should not come as a surprise for a few reasons. For one, it's not unusual for Google (and others) to shut down services, and APIs that third-party developers depend on are certainly not spared in Google's regular spring cleaning exercises.

It's not clear is how many active users this particular API has currently, or what revenues Google made from the deal, or the reason for the decision. (We've contacted Google with questions and will update as and when we hear more.)

One guesstimate from back in 2011 was that the whole ITA business had annual revenues of between $200 million and $250 million, more than Kayak at the time.

Customers of QPX have included a lot of household names, who would have used the search service and connected it with a separate purchasing platform. Bing Travel, Cape Air, CheapTickets, Kayak.com, Orbitz, Alitalia, American, ANA, United Airlines, US Airways, and Virgin Atlantic have all been named as customers.

A lack of use -- often one of the rationales for pulling a service -- might have been only one reason for the QPX API closure, in any case. As part of its regulatory clearance to buy ITA, Google was required to provide third-party access to the software and data for at least five years from the time that the deal closed. That happened on April 12, 2011, so we're past the final boarding call, so to speak. The QPX Express was launched three years after the deal was announced, in 2013 in an effort to build more long-tail business with a wider group of potential users.

Competitors were okay with Google's ITA acquisition when it was announced, in part because they seemed to think that Google would be subject to closer regulatory scrutiny as a result. (We've reached out to Fairsearch, one of the more vocal groups opposing Google in vertical search, to get a reaction to this latest news and will update this story as and when we hear back.)

At the time, Google noted that it didn't compete against ITA users, so it, too, wanted to keep working with them:

"Because Google doesnt currently compete against ITA Software, the deal will not change existing market shares," the company noted in a statement at the time. "We are very excited about ITA Softwares QPX business, and were looking forward to working with current and future customers. Google will honor all existing agreements, and were also enthusiastic about adding new partners."

More generally, Google appears to be focused these days less on travel tools for developers and more on travel tools for consumers, and perhaps related to that how it can grow its audience to build out ad products around it.

In one of its latest moves, Google ran a test this summer to see if it could take on Airbnb with a vacation rental booking service, aggregating listings from other sites like Booking.com.

Updated throughout with Google comment, and more clarification and detail about the QPX service.
Rafah (Palestinian Territories) (AFP) - Hamas handed over control of the Gaza Strip's border with Egypt to the Palestinian Authority on Wednesday, an AFP journalist said, in a first key test of a Palestinian reconciliation accord agreed last month.

Nazmi Muhanna, the Palestinian Authority's top official for border crossings, formally received control of the Rafah crossing with Egypt from his Hamas counterpart.

At a separate checkpoint with Israel, an AFP photographer also saw Hamas installations being dismantled.

At the Rafah crossing, Palestinian and Egyptian flags were flying, with large pictures of Palestinian Authority president Mahmud Abbas and Egyptian leader Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.

Hisham Adwan, director of information at the Hamas crossings authority, told AFP that Palestinian Authority employees would resume full control of the border.

Under the Egyptian-brokered deal, the Palestinian Authority is due to take full control of Gaza by December 1.

The checkpoints had been due to be handed over by November 1 and were seen as a first key test of the strength of the reconciliation agreement.

Hamas has ruled Gaza since 2007 when the Islamists seized control in a near civil war with Abbas's Fatah, based in the occupied West Bank.

A number of issues, including the future of Hamas' vast military wing, remain uncertain.

Multiple previous reconciliation agreements have collapsed.
White House Chief of Staff John Kelly calls on a reporter during the daily briefing at the White House in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 12, 2017. (Photo: Susan Walsh/AP)

At the White House press briefing Tuesday, spokeswoman Sarah Sanders defended Chief of Staff John Kellys remark that the Civil War resulted from a failure to compromise by both sides. Kelly told Fox News that Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee was an honorable man who gave up his country to fight for his state, which 150 years ago was more important than country, and that the lack of an ability to compromise led to the Civil War, and men and women of good faith on both sides made their stand where their conscience had them make their stand. Historians called this view strange and highly provocative, but Sanders, defending Kelly, told reporters, Because you dont like history doesnt mean you can erase it.

An uproar about the causes of the Civil War shouldnt surprise people who have been following Trumps White House. The president, the chief of staff and other senior White House aides have established a pattern of using history  especially issues of race and heritage  as political weapons, promoting historical myths popular with Trumps overwhelmingly white base of supporters.

Using history in the service of politics is not inherently a bad thing. Every politician  virtually everybody in elective or appointed office  invokes the past at one time or another to advance a policy, justify legislation or score points with voters. Politicians, understandably, view their decisions on hard issues through the lens of their own experiences and their interpretations of the past guide their sense right and wrong.

Gen. Robert E. Lee poses on the back porch of the Lee house in Richmond, Va., in 1865. Lee, who led the Confederate forces, surrendered his army at Appomattox Court House on April 9, 1865. (Photo: Mathew B. Brady/AP)

And the use of history can indeed illuminate some complicated policy debates. During the 2001 debate over President George W. Bushs trillion-dollar-plus tax-cut plan, for example, Democrats argued that Ronald Reagans 1981 tax cuts ultimately yielded much higher federal deficits, evidence against the proposition that cutting tax rates would stimulate the economy to the point of actually increasing revenues. They werent wrong. During the 2002 debate about the congressional resolution authorizing the use of force in Iraq, some war opponents warned that invading Iraq would lead to another quagmire like Vietnam, a war in which more than 58,000 Americans died.

Story continues

These are debates worth having. Why did the U.S. lose the War in Vietnam? What were the roots of stagflation in the 1970s? What triggered the economic expansion of the Clinton years? These legitimate questions can illuminate policy discussions, even if they yield complicated answers. But comments about the Civil War coming from the administration constitute something altogether different and even downright dangerous.

As Columbia University history Stephanie McCurry told the Washington Post, Kellys remarks track very closely with the Jim Crow version of the causes of the Civil War and all of the major talking points of this pro-Confederate view of the Civil War. Kellys comments are also profoundly ignorant, as Yale historian David Blight succinctly put it. The South seceded and waged war against the North to defend their power to enslave millions of African-Americans, as historians have shown through decades of scholarship.

Kelly and Sanderss comments also reflect an ongoing Trump-sanctioned effort to weaponize history to rally white conservative voters on behalf of the most embattled first-term president since the advent of polling. Recall that in February 2016, Trump told CNNs Jake Tapper that he wouldnt reject the support of former Ku Klux Klan Grand Wizard David Duke. Trump gave as his rationale, I know nothing about white supremacists or David Duke, and he had to study them first before saying or doing anything. (He did eventually disavow Dukes support.) But his refusal was actually a way of invoking the Klans history as a white supremacist organization that conducted a reign of terror against African-Americans in the 19th and early 20th centuries to appeal to white Southerners who still harbored racist views.

Trump has argued that in the recent past the politicians have sold out the U.S. to foreign countries (Japan and Germany in the 1980s; China and Mexico today), enriching political elites while Americans suffered. When Trump became a leading advocate of the preposterous charge that President Barack Obama was not born in the U.S., he sent a clear message to some of Obamas most ardent critics (who would become Trump voters): the nations first African-American president was not a natural-born citizen and thus ineligible to be president. Trump was drawing on a shameful history in which white Americans denied the rights of African-Americans, treating them as less than full citizens, to promulgate the idea that an African-American should not be the leader of the free world.

Under the Trump administration, history has become more than a reference point in arguments about policy; it has become the equivalent of Teddy Roosevelts big stick, which Trump uses anytime he feels threatened politically. Trump and his team twist facts and distort reality about some fairly basic questions of the American past for the clear purpose of ensuring that Trumps overwhelmingly white base stays loyal to him. It gives cover to a White House under siege from prosecutors, the press and a large majority of the electorate opposed to his conduct in office.

White House chief of staff John Kelly listens as President Trump speaks during a meeting on tax policy with business leaders in the Roosevelt Room of the White House, Oct. 31, 2017, in Washington. In his three months on the job, Kelly has been credited with bringing order to a chaotic West Wing, but dont call him a moderate. (Photo: Evan Vucci/AP)

Matthew Dallek, an associate professor at George Washington Universitys Graduate School of Political Management, is the author of Defenseless Under the Night: The Roosevelt Years and the Origins of Homeland Security

Read more from Yahoo News:
Did this high school dating guide go too far? (Photo: Getty Images)

A high school teacher in Plainfield, Ind., is under scrutiny for a controversial dating guide published by her students, which covered teen sleepovers, cheating, LGBT relationships, and polyamory.

Plainfield High School English teacher Michelle Burresss students created a 24-page magazine called The Shakedown, which included a Teen Dating Survival Guide. According to a story published by the Indy Star, after 1,700 copies were distributed to staff and students on Oct. 23, parents started complaining.

Per the Indy Star, in a now-private Facebook post, one woman, the daughter of the school board president, wrote, Parents need to be aware that Plainfield High School has published and distributed to students a magazine telling our children that casual sex and even group (sex) is OK.

She also wrote, This and more about what is acceptable when it comes to sex is what our children as young as 14 are being taught at Plainfield High School.

The Indy Star provided a breakdown of the issue: an article on dating codes and friends with benefits, a quiz to determine whether a student is clingy, a survey about players and cheaters, a breakup guide, interviews with students in unfaithful relationships and a police officer on dating safety, date-night ideas, a profile on principal Mel Seifert and other teachers who met their spouses in high school, an essay by a student whose girlfriend slept over, and warning signs of an unhealthy relationship.

The student-created 24-page magazine called The Shakedown. (Photo: The Shakedown magazine)

Sabrina Kapp, the director of communications at Plainfield, sent Yahoo Lifestyle a link to an official school statement, which read in part: In Indiana, students are not afforded complete First Amendment protection. Unlike most states, Indiana considers high school students, when in classes supported by book rental fees and taxpayer dollars, to be outside the shield of Freedom of the Press.

She wrote that the contents of the magazine had not been reviewed by the principal prior to publication but that the students have not been disciplined, the class has not been canceled, and Burress hasnt been fired.

Story continues

Still, Burresss students defended their work and their beloved teacher. We were so excited to put them out, student Kayla Mays, co-editor of the The Shakedown, told the Indy Star. We were so proud. It was completely unlike anything wed done before. She added, We didnt think there was anything to be ashamed of. It was completely unbiased, completely informative.

And Mikayla Robinson, a student at Plainfield, wrote a plea on Facebook in support of the teacher, who was voted Teacher of the Year 2017: She is amazing at what she does, balancing yearbook AND newsmagazine and she doesnt deserve to be shut down.

Burress was scheduled to attend an Oct. 30 school board disciplinary meeting, which was rescheduled for Nov. 9.

Because I might be facing potential disciplinary action, Burress wrote in an email to the Indy Star, my attorney has advised that I not discuss the situation.

Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle:

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The attorneys general of New York and Vermont both announced today that their joint investigation into two Hilton data breaches has resulted in a $700,000 penalty and a promise to strengthen security. In February of 2015, Hilton was made aware of a cybersecurity breach that occurred between November and December of 2014. A second breach that exposed sensitive customer data between April and July of 2015 was uncovered that July, but the company waited until November of that year to inform those affected by the breaches. In all, over 363,000 credit card numbers were exposed.

New York's and Vermont's probe into the matter concluded that Hilton took too long to notify its customers of the breach and failed to properly protect their information. The settlement announced today stipulates that New York will receive $400,000 from Hilton while Vermont will receive $300,000. Hilton has also agreed to change its information security program, which includes designating an employee to supervise it, identifying risks to information security as well as implementing risk safeguards and performing regular testing of their effectiveness.

"Businesses have a duty to notify consumers in the event of a breach and protect their personal information as securely as possible," New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said in a statement. "Lax security practices like those we uncovered at Hilton put New Yorkers' credit card information and other personal data at serious risk. My office will continue to hold businesses accountable for protecting their customers' personal information." TJ Donovan, Vermont's attorney general, said, "We continue to make enforcement of our data breach laws a top priority."
Tegucigalpa (AFP) - State agents and energy company executives participated in the murder of a Honduran environmentalist who opposed the building of a power plant on indigenous land, international experts said Tuesday.

The murder of Berta Caceres, 45, gunned down last year, highlighted the threat to Honduran activists and sparked international outrage.

Caceres opposed plans by the company Desarrollos Energeticos (DESA) to build a hydroelectric dam across a river on which indigenous communities depended.

"The existing evidence is conclusive regarding the participation of numerous state agents (police, military and officials) and senior managers and employees of DESA in the planning, execution and concealment of the murder," the 92-page report compiled by a five member panel of international experts said.

Caceres, a coordinator for indigenous organizations in Honduras, was assassinated in March 2016 by gunmen who entered her house in the community of La Esperanza. A Mexican activist, Gustavo Castro, was wounded in the attack.

The report said the public prosecutor's office had established that the murder was planned in November 2015.

At the time, indigenous and tribal communities were protesting against a project to build a dam on the Gualcarque River, on land belonging to the Lenca ethnic group.

The head of the Honduran Association of Renewable Energy, Elsia Paz, rejected the allegations and told AFP that DESA executives had presented evidence to the experts group that proved the company was "not linked to the crime".

She said the report was an attempt to influence elections next month in which Caceres' daughter is a candidate.

Eight people were arrested, among them an employee of Desarrollos Energeticos. But Caceres' family is demanding the masterminds be brought to justice.

Two Nobel Peace laureates, Tawakkul Karman and Sherin Ebadi, visited Honduras this month and called for the investigation into the murder to be deepened "to discovered all those who benefited from this crime."

Story continues

The two women met Austra Berta Flores, the mother of Caceres, during the visit.

The expert group is comprised of academics and lawyers from the US, Guatemala and Colombia.

It made four trips to Honduras to interview more than 30 people as well as study evidence and reports from international human rights organizations.
Abidjan (AFP) - For 17 of her 20 years, Flora Doume has hidden from the world. Now she nervously waits for the operation to repair her ravaged face, restoring her hope for a normal life.

She was three years old when she became a victim of noma -- a vicious gangrenous disease that starts with tiny ulcers around the mouth and then spreads, often devouring lips, flesh and muscle.

In Flora's case, a growth covered her eye, then spread to the left-hand side of her face, forcing her to hide from a world that shunned or mocked her.

"I stayed indoors all the time. I can't read or write, I never went to school, I can't work," Flora said, ahead of the operation at a private clinic in Abidjan, the economic capital of Ivory Coast.

Noma gets its name from the Greek word nomein, "to devour," and is a bacterial disease that kills nine out of 10 patients, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

The disease -- Latin name cancrum oris -- occurs mainly in young children with weak immune systems and destroys the mucous membranes of the mouth and other tissues, causing survivors to be severely disfigured, often with gaping holes in their faces.

There are an estimated half a million cases around the world, most of them in Africa, according to the WHO.

It can be successfully treated -- but only if identified in time, and if drugs and the right nutrition are available.

"It's a disease of poverty, of malnutrition, of people who live in poor hygiene conditions," said Spanish surgeon Angel Emparanza, who specialises in facial surgery.

Since 2003, he has regularly travelled to Kenya, Nigeria, Ivory Coast or Burkina Faso to carry out life-changing surgery for patients with little or no access to health care.

"Noma has major social repercussions," said Guy Varango, an Ivorian professor of medicine.

"It's a disease. But in the villages, many people blame it on devils or witchcraft. They banish people who suffer from it," he said, referring to Flora as an example.

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The mocking and insults directed at victims can have devastating social and psychological consequences.

- Stigma -

Waiting for her operation, Flora mulls over her regrets, including never being able to have a boyfriend.

"How do you want me to know love?" she said.

"When I went out, people laughed at me."

In the previous week, Emparanza and a team of other volunteers from the Sourire Un Jour (To Smile One Day) association saw more than 100 patients, operating on around 50.

About 30 patients with disfigured faces, often with no lips, nose or gums, wait on plastic chairs at the La Rochelle clinic in Abidjan.

"Patients are ashamed to go out. Everyone looks at them. Imagine the humiliation," said Tieu Huberson, president of a group for handicapped people in the region of Danane, who himself is blind.

Huberson says the group has tried to work with village chiefs to educate the local population and believes surgery can transform the physical and mental well-being of patients.

"Flora was in tears when the doctor said she was going to be operated on," he said.

"We said she was a beautiful girl. It was the first time in her life that she'd received a compliment."

- A future -

Among the patients waiting for treatment is young Abdourahim, who suffers from a cleft palate and plays with his mum Habiba Sawadogo.

"There is still some work to be done but I am happy. I didn't have the money for the treatment," she said.

Sourire Un Jour's help for the destitute includes everything -- the operation, food and transport from the patient's home town to the hospital.

In a nearby room, Herman Goue, 19, smiles with difficulty as he recovers from surgery, where doctors have taken skin from his throat and grafted it onto his face.

He says he is relieved and eager to see how he looks.

Some days later, after a complex surgical procedure, Flora is also in a recovery room.

After years of fearing the mirror as her enemy, she has just seen her new face.

"I am happy," she said. "I'm going to be able to have a husband and children."
Investigators are headed to Uzbekistan to speak with authorities there about New York truck attack suspect Sayfullo Saipov, a Federal official tells PEOPLE.

They plan to meet with their counterparts to hear what, if anything, is known of the suspects activities, the official said. The official is not authorized to communicate with the press, and spoke on the condition of anonymity.

In addition to the investigation overseas, the official said, investigators will scrutinize the suspects activities and contacts within the United States.

He moved around a lot, so this will take in a wide swath, the official said.

The suspects electronic activities also are being examined.

Social media, chat boards, email, things of that nature, the official said. All the standard procedures.

Police and Federal officials are taking the lead on the investigation, the State Department said.

The State Department is closely monitoring the situation, department spokesperson Heather Nauert said in a statement. We are referring all questions about the investigation to the FBI and the New York Police Department. We extend our condolences to the families of the victims and our prayers for recovery to those affected by this terrible act of terrorism in New York City.

Eight people were killed and at least 11 injured when a truck, allegedly being driven by Sayfullo, plowed into cyclists and then into a school bus on Tuesday afternoon in Tribeca.

Sayfullo was shot by an officer and remains in hospital.
Istanbul (AFP) - Iraqi government forces on Tuesday took control of the key border crossing with Turkey in the Iraqi Kurdistan region after weeks of tensions between Baghdad and Arbil, the Turkish prime minister said.

The border crossing "has been handed over to the central government" of Iraq, Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim told his ruling party at a televised meeting in Ankara.

He said all controls at the border will now be carried out by Iraqi and Turkish officials on their respective sides.

The Iraqi forces deployed at the Ibrahim Al Khalil crossing alongside Turkish forces with whom they have been carrying out joint exercises over the last weeks, the state-run Anadolu news agency said.

They were to raise the Iraqi national flag and take down the flag of the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) which had until now controlled the crossing, it said.

The border crossing was closed while the handover was being carried out, leading to long queues, it added. There were no reports of any clashes.

The Kurdish region has found itself increasingly isolated after holding a non-binding independence referendum on September 25 that was opposed not just by Baghdad but also Iran, Turkey and the Kurds' Western allies.

Turkey, which over the last years had cultivated strong trade ties with the KRG, reacted with fury to the referendum, fearing the move could encourage separatism amongst its own Kurdish minority.

Deemed by many analysts to have severely overplayed his hand by holding the referendum, the KRG's leader Massud Barzani said at the weekend that he was stepping down.
James Comey has trolled Donald Trump on Twitter after the Presidents former campaign manager was charged with conspiracy against the United States.

On Monday, Paul Manafort and former business partner Rick Gates ended the day under house arrest on charges that they funnelled payments through foreign companies and bank accounts as part of their private political work in Ukraine.

George Papadopoulos, also a former campaign adviser, faced further questioning and then sentencing in the first  and so far only  criminal case that links the Trump election effort to the Kremlin.

As Robert Mueller struck his first public blow in the probe into Russian meddling in the 2016 election, Mr Comey used his semi-pseudonymous Twitter account to troll the President.

Mans capacity for justice makes democracy possible, but mans inclination to injustice makes democracy necessary, he wrote, quoting the American public theologian Reinhold Niebuhr.

Mr Manafort and Mr Gates, who pleaded not guilty in federal court, are not charged with any wrongdoing as part of the Trump campaign, and the president immediately sought to distance himself from the allegations.

Mans capacity for justice makes democracy possible, but mans inclination to injustice makes democracy necessary. Reinhold Niebuhr

 Reinhold Niebuhr (@FormerBu) October 30, 2017

He said on Twitter that the alleged crimes occurred years ago, and insisted anew there was NO COLLUSION between his campaign and Russia.

Mr Comeys Twitter account, named for the religious thinker who died in 1971, was uncovered earlier this year by Gizmodo journalist Ashley Feinberg.

The FBI director, who was later fired by Mr Trump, responded that he was not even mad about the sleuthing feat and even posted a link to the bureaus jobs site as congratulations.

Story continues

Additional reporting by agencies

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Several parties asked a federal judge in California Wednesday to block the Trump administrations decision to scrap the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program while several lawsuits move forward.

If the request for a preliminary injunction is successful, the Obama-era DACA program would remain in effect after the current March 5 deadline, when the White House has slated to begin phasing it out. DACA allows undocumented immigrants  so-called Dreamers  who arrived in the country as youths to work legally and avoid deportation for a renewable two-year program.

The government will not face any harm if a preliminary injunction is granted, the filing reads. There will be no harm  and much benefit  to the United States if [the Department of Homeland Security] continues to process new applications for DACA status and renewal applications pending a final judgment, the filing states.

U.S. District Judge William Alsup has already written in prior orders that he aims to reach a ruling with plenty of time for appeal before the March 5 deadline. But a dispute over what documents the Trump administration should submit to the court to justify its decision to end DACA has threatened to slow the proceedings.

The injunction request was filed in the Northern District of California, where several lawsuits seeking to overturn the cancellation of DACA have been consolidated into one.

Plaintiffs in the lawsuits against the Trump administration include former Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, who helped create the DACA program, as well as Democratic California Attorney General Xavier Becerra, the city of San Jose, the county of Santa Clara and a group of DACA recipients. Some 200,000 Dreamers live in California, which is home to the countrys largest population of undocumented immigrants.

The Rescission already is causing catastrophic and irreparable harm to DACA recipients, as the threat of deportation  to countries where they have not lived since they were children  forces them to make wrenching choices whether to leave their schools, jobs, and even their U.S. citizen children and other family members, Wednesdays filing reads.

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The lawsuits argue that the Trump administration violated the Administrative Procedure Act and the due process rights of DACA recipients by abruptly announcing on Sept. 5 its decision to phase out the program. A group of 10 states led by Texas had threatened to try to overturn the DACA program in court if the White House didnt nix it.

Attorney General Jeff Sessions, a Republican who has long contended that DACA amounted to an unconstitutional abuse of executive authority, said the program would likely be halted by the courts if Texas and its allies were to sue. The DACA program had hummed along without legal challenge for five years.

America is and has been home to the Dreamers who courageously came forward and applied for DACA, Becerra said in a statement. They have done everything our government has asked of them. They followed the rules directed by DACA, they succeeded in school, at work and in business, and they have contributed in building a better America.

Separate federal lawsuits challenging the Trump administrations dismantling of DACA on similar grounds were filed in the state of New York.

This article has been updated to include Becerras statement.

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This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
Kano -- the startup that teaches kids (and adults) about computers and coding by way of a variety of do-it-yourself hardware building kits -- is announcing an important milestone in its growth today.

The company has raised $28 million in funding, and ahead of the holidays, it will be using that investment to help spearhead a retail push in North America by getting the device into 4,500 stores, as well as move into new categories of computing and consumer technology to develop future products. These will include cameras, exploring ways to help people learn about AI, and virtual and augmented reality.

The growth comes at a time of significant momentum for the company, with 141,000 Kano devices connected to its network (but no detail on how many units the company has sold in total) since shipping its first device in September 2014. There have been some 227,000 apps written using those devices from budding developers in 86 countries, with the youngest coders coming in at six. Time engaged in Kano communities, the company says, averages at 13.5 hours in 30 days, on par with Snapchat.

Now with good usage metrics under its belt, Kano hopes it can boost the number of actual users by making it easier to get its hardware. The list of places where you can buy products like Kano's $249 build-it-yourself laptop will now include all of the Best Buys and Targets in North America, selected Walmart stores, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Best Buy, Indigo, Microsoft, The Source and Toys R Us.

It's an impressive list, and ironically a far cry from where Kano is coming from. Currently, Kano's headquarters are modestly situated in what feels like a large-ish stockroom at the back of a bakery in London's East End, with a giant group meeting area being the first thing that greets you when you walk in, with stacks of empty (older version) Kano computer boxes forming the doorway and makeshift walls of a meeting room to one side.

Kano's offices feel rough and ready, a fitting location for a startup that is both trying to, in the words of CEO Alex Klein (who co-founded Kano with Yonatan Raz-Fridman and Saul Klein, the VC who happens also to be a relative of Alex's), "demystify" the computing experience, as well as to get people to think more about what goes into making technology work the way it does -- something that is becoming increasingly easy not to do, as computing becomes faster and a more seamless part of our lives.

Story continues

In that regard, Kano not only goes against the grain of how consumers are interfacing with technology today, but also how many tech companies are formulated today.

"What we are doing here has not really been attempted for several decades," Klein said. "We are building a computing company end to end."

Klein describes Kano's mission as "80 percent software and 20 percent hardware" in terms of what ultimately gets put out and used by its customers. That emphasis on software is helpful in two ways. For one, i's a way to position how Kano might build out future business models around its software. It's also, potentially, a safeguard against some of the pitfalls of trying to build a consumer electronics company: as the saying goes, hardware is hard.

Another insurance around that is that Kano relies on third parties to build basic components. Tapping into the modern hardware supply chain, Kano's computers are powered by Raspberry-Pi computer boards, and screens, keyboards and other parts are sourced from manufacturers in China who are already making these elements.

On the software front, there will be more to come. Currently, users are able to upload scripts and programs that they write to work on Kano devices, and others are then in turn able to download and use these themselves. It seems ripe for a marketplace down the line, something that Klein said the company is considering as a "possibility", although for now, as it continues to grow, the idea is to keep the apps platform free to use.

The funding, a Series B, is being led by Thames Trust and Breyer Capital, with Index Ventures, the Stanford Engineering Venture Fund, LocalGlobe, Marc Benioff, John Makinson, Collaborative Fund, Triple Point Capital, and Barclays also participating. It brings the total raised by Kano to $45 million -- which also includes another traditional venture round of $15 million, as well as an earlier Kickstarter campaign that went viral, and Klein said the company is not disclosing its valuation with this round, but said that it's up from before.

One other aspect of raising money now and possibly looking to be aggressive in raising more in the future is to try to cement Kano's place as the go-to brand for computer kits, at a time when we are seeing a number of efforts emerge that are also picking up capital and also setting out to build products that make it fun and easy to learn more computer science and engineering skills.

And there are plenty of current and would-be competitors. Just earlier this week, for example, Wonder Workshop, which makes 'chatty robots' to learn about computers and coding, raised $41 million. And pi-top, another Raspberry-Pi-based computing startup out of London, recently released a DIY laptop where you the keyboard can slide out so that you can tinker with and continue to augment the inner workings of the machine.

"Kano has grown into a category leader, with hardware and software that prepares all ages for the future," said Jim Breyer, Founder and CEO of Breyer Capital in a statement. "The financing, expansion into mass retail, and new products will expose the unique Kano experience to millions more."
Raila Odinga at a press conference in Nairobi - EPA

Kenyas opposition leader on Tuesday promised to give the government no peace as he announced a campaign of protests and pickets to overturn President Uhuru Kenyattas controversial re-election.

Deepening the uncertainty clouding Kenyas future, Raila Odinga dismissed the president as the product of a fraud after Mr Kenyatta was handed an equivocal mandate a day earlier when he was declared the winner of a vote boycotted by the opposition.

As many as 14 people have been killed since last Thursdays election, adding to the scores of people who died before Mr Kenyattas first victory in August was overturned by the supreme court.

But Mr Odingas call to mass action perversely helped to calm tensions after he chose not to call for immediate demonstrations. Many of his supporters who had gathered on the streets drifted home, with some admitting confusion over the oppositions lack of clear direction.

Kenya's opposition leader Raila Odinga makes a statement to the media in Nairobi Credit: AP Photo/Ben Curtis

Instead, Mr Odinga appeared to be preparing for a longer struggle against his rival that he said was aimed at forcing a third election that the whole country would judge as credible. Failure to do so, he warned, would see the country drift towards despotism.

This election must not stand, he said. If allowed to stand, it will make a complete mockery of elections and might be the end of the ballot as a means of instituting government in Kenya.

If there is no justice for the people, let there be no peace for the government.

Unveiling a key part of his strategy, Mr Odinga said the opposition would soon convene a peoples assembly that would debate constitutional amendments which would then be sent to regional assemblies for ratification.

Such a move is likely to be interpreted by the government as an attempt to create parallel power structures, setting the stage for further confrontation.

Britain and other western powers have called for political dialogue to resolve the impasse, amid fears that the violence could disintegrate into ethnic bloodshed. At least two people have already been killed in fighting between tribes loyal to the government and those supporting the opposition.

Story continues

While not ruling out the possibility of talks, neither the president nor Mr Odinga have been prepared to commit to them either.

With the opposition also insisting that it would not itself mount a legal challenge to the latest election, amid fears that the supreme court had been intimidated into losing independence, analysts warn that Kenyas political crisis risks rapidly becoming intractable.

Although Mr Odinga would appear to have a rich repository of support after just 39 percent of Kenyans took part in last weeks vote, it remains unclear how strong the appetite genuinely is in opposition areas for a prolonged confrontation with the government.
A guard tower at the entrance of the U.S. prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. (Photo: John Moore/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  President Trump and his occasional congressional critic Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., were in agreement Wednesday on the U.S. federal court systems shortcomings when it comes to prosecuting terrorists.

McCain, the chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee, told reporters that the man accused of running over cyclists and pedestrians in an ISIS-inspired terror attack in New York City Tuesday should be sent to the prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, instead of facing trial in the United States.

Take him to Guantanamo, McCain said of Sayfullo Saipov. Hes a terrorist and he should be kept there and there is [sic] no Miranda rights for somebody who killed Americans.

Miranda rights refer to a required warning to criminal suspects that they have a right to remain silent and not incriminate themselves.

Trump told reporters Wednesday that he would certainly consider sending Saipov to Guantanamo and suggested U.S. federal courts are not capable of prosecuting terrorists.

We need quick justice and we need strong justice  much quicker and much stronger than we have right now, Trump told reporters Wednesday. Because what we have right now is a joke and its a laughingstock. And no wonder so much of this stuff takes place.

The federal court system, meanwhile, was proceeding on the case. The Southern District of New Yorks acting U.S. attorney, Joon H. Kim, announced federal terrorism charges against Saipov Wednesday evening.

Federal courts have taken on the lions share of terrorism cases since 9/11, prosecuting hundreds of accused terrorists. Major terror trials have not even officially begun at the military commissions in Guantanamo. The five men accused of plotting the 9/11 terror attack that killed thousands of Americans still do not have a trial date, more than 15 years later, as lawyers and the military judge have gone back and forth for years on pre-trial motions. The trial for the accused plotter of the USS Cole bombing is also mired in delays, with the judge recently sentencing a military defense lawyer to 21 days confinement for contempt of court.

Story continues

President Trump meets with Cabinet officials. (Photo: Evan Vucci/AP)

Are you kidding me? Have we gone back in time? Did we not learn any lessons? Really? Karen Greenberg, an expert on federal terror prosecutions at Fordham University School of Law in New York, said Wednesday of the presidents suggestion.

Greenberg called Guantanamos military commissions a quagmire, and said Americans will be explaining to their grandchildren why the 9/11 plotters were not tried and convicted.

Asked about the Guantanamo military commissions poor track record thus far, McCain conceded the system is dysfunctional.

It doesnt work well, but it beats the hell out of Miranda rights, the senator said.

But Miranda rights can be suspended under a public safety exemption, Greenberg said, if authorities make the case that the suspect needs to be questioned about other possible attacks before he or she is notified of the right to remain silent. That occurred in 2009 during the questioning of Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, the failed underwear bomber, who tried unsuccessfully to detonate explosives on a flight to Detroit on Christmas Day.

Miranda rights have not gotten in the way of these very high-profile, potentially dangerous cases in the past, Greenberg said.

Trump campaigned on promises to fill Guantanamo with terror suspects and told his supporters at rallies that torture works. But so far, the president has not sent anyone to the military prison, and no new detainee has arrived there since 2008. No one has ever been transferred from U.S. soil to Guantanamo, and doing so would set off a constitutional legal battle that would likely need to be resolved by the Supreme Court.

Anthony Romero, executive director of the ACLU, released a statement Wednesday saying that sending the suspect to Guantanamo would be illegal.

Sending Saipov to Guantanamo or treating him as an enemy combatant would violate due process and the rule of law, Romero said.

Read more from Yahoo News:
PATERSON, N.J.  Police have identified 29-year-old Sayfullo Habibullaevic Saipov as the suspected driver who plowed a Home Depot rental pickup into a bike path in lower Manhattan on Tuesday afternoon, killing at least eight people and injuring at least 12 more. He is a self-described member of the Islamic State, and was charged Wednesday with one count of material support to a terrorist organization and violence and destruction of a motor vehicle.

The details surrounding Saipovs time in the United States remained murky in the hours after the attack. He emigrated legally from Uzbekistan in 2010, first getting his bearings with family friends in Ohio, and has reportedly lived in several states since.

BREAKING: Truck attack suspect enters court in a wheelchair, handcuffed and with feet shackled, to face terrorism charges.  The Associated Press (@AP) November 1, 2017

Saipov apparently had been planning his attack for several weeks and acted in the name of ISIS, John Miller, the New York Police Department deputy commissioner of intelligence and counterterrorism, said Wednesday during a news conference. Saipov  who was not previously the subject of an FBI or NYPD investigation  may have touched subjects of other investigations, Miller said.

Police found multiple knives in the vehicle, in addition to two imitation weapons on the scene, Miller added. The department said the suspect left notes indicating his belief that ISIS would endure forever.

While recovering from a gunshot wound at a hospital in New York, Saipov asked investigators if he could display ISIS flags in his room, according to a complaint released by the United States Attorney Southern District of New York. In court papers, prosecutors noted Saipov said he felt good about what he had done.

The suspect had planned to put ISIS flags on his vehicle but later thought better of it, afraid it would draw attention to him, the complaint says. The Associated Press notes Saipovs cellphones contained about 90 videos and 3,800 photos, many related to ISIS. The images included content of ISIS prisoners being beheaded, shot or run over by a tank.

Story continues

President Donald Trump referred to Saipov as a very sick and deranged person. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said the suspect had been radicalized in the U.S. Shortly before midnight on Wednesday, the president tweeted that Saipov SHOULD GET THE DEATH PENALTY!

NYC terrorist was happy as he asked to hang ISIS flag in his hospital room. He killed 8 people, badly injured 12. SHOULD GET DEATH PENALTY!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 2, 2017

People who knew Saipov  albeit vaguely  offered differing descriptions of him, with some calling him calm and one person characterizing him as sometimes aggressive.

Sayfullo Habibullaevic Saipov is in police custody in New York City. The photo above was provided by the St. Charles County Department of Corrections in Missouri. Saipov was wanted on a April 2016 warrant for failure to pay a Missouri traffic citation. (Photo: ST. CHARLES COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS/AFP via Getty Images)

Saipov passed a background check to become an Uber driver in New Jersey, the ride-sharing company said in statement provided to HuffPost. He was an active driver at the time of the attack, having recorded over 1,400 trips in six months, but has since been banned from the app, Uber said.

We are aggressively and quickly reviewing this partners history with Uber, and at this time we have not identified any related concerning safety reports, the company said, adding that it has been in contact with the FBI.

Lyft also said Wednesday that Saipov had been registered as a driver on the ride-hailing app but did not specify when or for how long.

Saipov had traffic citations in Missouri  he was arrested after not showing up in court for a misdemeanor offense  and Pennsylvania, according to online records. His drivers license reportedly was issued in Florida.

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Saipov had traffic citations in Missouri and Pennsylvania. (Photo: ST. CHARLES COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS/AFP via Getty Images)

An address from 2015 also linked Saipovs name to Stow, Ohio, but he had reportedly been living in Paterson, New Jersey, for the past few months with his wife and two children.

Carlos Batista, 23, one of the familys neighbors in Paterson, first saw a Home Depot truck parked outside Saipovs apartment building about three weeks ago, he told HuffPost. He said Saipov would get in the truck with the same two men almost every day, usually around 9 a.m., and return in the afternoon. All of the men had long beards, Batista said, but only Saipov wore a long robe.

Batista said his interactions with Saipov were mostly limited to neighborly hellos and waves. Once, though, he said he got into a small altercation with the men who rode in the truck with Saipov. They men were upset with Batista for riding a noisy dirt bike up and down the street, Batista said.

Batista said they gave him some attitude, so he gave some attitude back. Thats when Saipov stepped outside.

He was the peacemaker, Batista said of Saipov. He calmed everything down.

From what he could tell, Batista said, Saipov seemed like a good guy.

The exterior of the apartment Saipov was renting in Paterson, New Jersey. (Photo: Christopher Mathias/HuffPost)

An Uzbek immigrant who knew Saipov agreed. He was a very good person when I knew him, Kobiljon Matkarov told The New York Times. He liked the U.S. He seemed very lucky and all the time he was happy and talking like everything is OK. He did not seem like a terrorist, but I did not know him from the inside.

Another acquaintance from Cincinnati, whose family housed Saipov for several weeks in 2010 as he tried to get his green card, described him as hard-working and introverted.

He was really calm, Dilnoza Abdusamatova told The Cincinnati Enquirer. He always used to work. He wouldnt go to parties or anything. He only used to come home and rest and leave and go back to work.

He left after two weeks and moved to Florida, she added. However, public records from 2011 show a business, Sayf Motors Inc., registered under his name at Abdusamatovas home address in Ohio.

Saipov was spontaneously religious, Mirrakhmat Muminov, a truck driver and Uzbek community activist who lives in Stow, Ohio, told Reuters.

He started studying religion in the United States. He was withdrawn, nervous, sometimes aggressive, Muminov said. Because of that he was lonely, he lived in his own world. He was not very popular.

Saipov drove down the bike path along the West Side Highway and hit multiple bikers and pedestrians, police say. He then drove the truck into a Stuyvesant High School bus before exiting the vehicle and waving what police described as imitation firearms. He was confronted by a New York City police officer, shot and then taken to a hospital. He remained in police custody at Bellevue Hospital as of Wednesday.

Hopefully people dont go round discriminating against Muslim people or Arabic people, said Angel Batista, Carlos older brother. This is a Muslim community. We have the mosque, a lot of schools for Muslims ... Theyre not bad people. Theyre nice genuine people willing give up what they have for other people.

Ahmad, a 46-year-old truck driver from Jersey City who asked to be identified only by his first name for security reasons, found the gate locked when he arrived to pray at Omar Mosque on Wednesday. The mosque is believed to be where Saipov worshipped, according to multiple media reports.

Ahmad apologized for his English not being good enough to express how disgusted he was by Saipovs actions.

In our religion, he told HuffPost, if you kill a cat, you go to hell. How [can you] you kill innocent people?

I dont know, Ahmad added. He is not a Muslim. If he is doing that he not a Muslim.

He added that very, very few people misunderstand Islam, saying that they give the world a bad picture of Muslims.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

Christopher Mathias reported from Paterson, New Jersey, and Willa Frej reported from London. Sebastian Murdock and Nick Visser also contributed to this report.

Also on HuffPost

Investigators inspect the truck.

Investigators inspect the truck.

Emergency crews at the the scene of a violent incident on West Street in Manhattan, New York City.

Multiple bikes crushed along a bike path in lower Manhattan.

First responders assist a woman injured on the bike path.

First responders tend to a victim.

A police officer at the scene.

A body covered on West Street in Manhattan.

Emergency personnel at the scene.

Police gather at the scene after reports of multiple people injured after a truck plowed through a bike path in New York City.

The truck drove down a popular biking path in lower Manhattan.

State Police stand near the scene of a pickup truck attack, on West Street in Manhattan, New York, U.S., October 31 2017. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly

Security forces cordon off the area.

New York Fire Department (NYFD) and New York Police Department (NYPD) vehicles sit parked on a blocked off street.

New York City Police Department (NYPD) officers on Chambers Street surround the rented Home Depot Inc..

A pickup truck used in an attack sits on the intersection of West and Chambers Street.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
The driver who killed eight pedestrians and injured at least a dozen people when he barreled down a New York City bike path in a rented pickup truck Tuesday has been identified as Sayfullo Saipov.

Authorities said Wednesday that Saipov had been planning the attack for weeks. He said he committed it in the name of ISIS, authorities added.

The assault bore similarities to incidents carried out in Europe by assailants affiliated with the Islamic State, including attacks in Nice, France in July 2016, in Berlin in December 2016, in London in June 2017, and in Barcelona in August 2017. While there was no immediate announcement from the Islamic State claiming responsibility for this attack, law enforcement officials said Wednesday they found a handwritten note declaring allegiance to the group inside Saipovs rented truck.

Saipov, 29, was taken into custody and hospitalized after he was shot by police following the attack, during which he drove a rented Home Depot pickup truck 20 blocks down a bike path that parallels the Hudson River in Lower Manhattan. After hitting numerous pedestrians and bicyclists, Saipov struck a school bus. He then exited the truck with a paintball gun and pellet gun, and shouted, Allahu akbar, a law enforcement official told the Associated Press. The phrase means God is great in Arabic.

Saipov is still in the hospital, authorities said. He has been interviewed by law enforcement.

Who is Sayfullo Saipov?

The 29-year-old Sayfullo Saipov is originally from Tashkent, Uzbekistan and immigrated to the United States in March 2010, authorities said Wednesday. Saipov initially stayed in Cincinnati for about two weeks with the family of his fathers friend, according to a member of the host family quoted by the Washington Post. He currently holds a green card, law enforcement officials told The New York Times.

Uber confirmed that Saipov was a driver and has been banned from the Uber app. Spokesperson for the company tells TIME: We are horrified by this senseless act of violence. Our hearts are with the victims and their families. We have reached out to law enforcement to provide our full assistance.

Where did Sayfullo Saipov live?

Court records indicate Saipov had an address in Tampa, Fl., and may have also identified as Fayfullo Faipov at one point. He is believed to have been most recently living in Patterson, New Jersey with his wife and three children, ABC reported. Saipov reportedly rented the truck he used to carry out the attack in New Jersey.
TEHRAN (Reuters) - Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Wednesday that Russia regarded an attack in New York that killed eight people as tragic and inhumane and sent its condolences to the people of the United States. An Uzbek immigrant accused of carrying out the attack by driving a rental truck down a riverfront bike path on Tuesday appeared to have acted alone, but the Halloween Day attack had all the hallmarks of terrorism, authorities said. Peskov was speaking in Iran during a visit there by Russian President Vladimir Putin. Uzbekistan was part of the Soviet Union until its collapsed in 1991. (Reporting by Denis Pinchuk; Editing by Andrew Osborn)
In a televised address on October 29, the president of the Iraqi Kurdish region, Masoud Barzani, declared that he would step down from his post. It remains unclear whether Barzani, son of the legendary founder of the Kurdish national movement, Mustafa Barzani, would reemerge as leader in a different guise, but clearly his announcement was not part of a well-laid plan.

To the contrary, it was the latest unintended consequence of his September 25 referendum on Kurdish independencea long-sought aspirationstaged over the strenuous objections of not only the federal government in Baghdad and neighbors Turkey and Iran, but also the United States and the European Union. On October 16, Iraqi forces and Iran-backed Iraqi Shia militias retook the city of Kirkuk and its surrounding oil fields from the Kurds. It was a relatively bloodless affair, thanks to a deal between Abadi and a faction of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), the KDPs political rival, which had opposed the referendum and jumped on the chance to turn the tables on Barzani. Soon, these forces had retaken most of what the Iraqi constitution refers to as the disputed territories: a broad swath of land stretching from the Iranian to the Syrian border with Kirkuk at its center, which both Erbil and Baghdad claim. Kurdish peshmerga affiliated with the PUK and KDP either withdrew or fled.

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Perhaps most shocking to the Kurds was Washingtons opposition to the referendum and response to the Kirkuk takeover. The KRG has received massive military support from Western nations in the fight against ISIS, raising its expectations that they would support the bid for independence. Yet the Trump administration stood by as Iraqi forces and Iran-backed militias advanced.

Why, the Kurds asked, would Washington oppose their inalienable right to self-determination, one that Americans themselves once exercised, after they proved themselves to be Washingtons steadfast allies in Iraq after 2003, especially in the fight against ISIS? And why had America led them to believe they were on the path to independence, only to chastise them when they expressed this deepest aspiration?

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The Kurds have a long history of misreading Americas intentions. A succession of U.S. presidents have reiterated U.S. opposition to changing the Middle Easts existing borders. At the same time, Washington has long needed the Kurds to remain firm allies in wider power struggles against the Soviet Union, Iran, Saddam Hussein, or ISIS. This built a certain ambiguity into the signals Kurdish leaders received, or thought they received. Moreover, after 2003, powerful voices in Washington, including John McCain and Joe Biden, backed the KRG in its relationship with Baghdad and hinted at a certain flexibility on Kurdish independence. And the Kurds, one of the largest non-state nations, wanted to believe.

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The Kurds quest for independence is 100 years old. So is their sense of grievance. They feel as if they have grown up with a non-state nations defective gene on which injustice and betrayal are indelibly imprinted, and which is passed down through the generations without remedy. This is why they so despise the secret agreement struck in 1916 at the height of World War I between Mark Sykes and Francois Georges-Picot, which delineated the future spheres of influence of Britain and France: Not because they produced an actual treaty parceling up the post-Ottoman world, but because the borders they drew represented the very intent to divvy up the spoils over the heads of the former empires subjects. Their agreement was codified in the 1920 by the Treaty of Sevres, which held out the possibility of a Kurdish state. But within three years, that half-promise was abandoned in the Treaty of Lausanne.

What if the colonial powers had allowed the Kurds to establish a state in the early 1920s? The ensuing hypothetical Kurdish frustrations would have remained high, just as Arab frustrations have been over the past century due to the carving up of the Arab world. This is because what France and Britain envisioned for an independent Kurdistan was an expanse encompassing much less than the regions Kurdish-populated areas. A Kurdish nation would have been torn asunder and, just like the Arabs, have experienced a generations-long yearning for unification. Even if the Kurds were to gain statehood today, that sentiment would remain acute. So would their struggle to break free of these constraints. Instead, the Kurds, divided across Turkey, Iran, Iraq, and Syria, for decades have been forced to fight for their rights as a minority group, in an effort to parlay this struggle into a bid for their own state.

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While the Kurds common ethnic identity unites them, as a people, they are as divided as any other ethnic groupby dialect, political ideology, and the personalities and strategic priorities of their leaders. Moreover, their forced immersion into four distinct cultures shaped both their outlook and the form their separate struggles have taken in each environment. For example: The average Kurd from Suleimaniya, speaking the Surani dialect of Kurdish, can barely understand a Kurd from Dohuk speaking the Badinani dialect. And thats just inside Iraq. Such factors account for the range of Kurdish parties working at cross-purposes rather than in lockstep in pursuit of the dream of statehood they share. Politicized Kurds in Turkey follow the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), whose founder, Abdullah Ocalan, competes with Barzani for leadership of the overall movement. The two sides have clashed violently in the past and could do so again, as PKK fighters have expanded their bases in northern Iraq in recent years. Iran, Turkey, Iraq, and Syria have successfully exploited these divisions. The only hope the Kurds have is that these states become so fatally weakenedas Iraq and Syria already have, in their viewthat they will no longer be able to stymie their progress toward statehood, however limited, in some part of Kurdistan.

For a century, Iraqi Kurds have repeatedly invested a disproportionate confidence in the United States to deliver them of the shackles of central control. The relationship dates back to the 1970s, when Mustafa Barzani sought Washingtons help against Iraqs Baathist regime, after its strongman, Saddam Hussein, violated the Kurds understanding of an autonomy agreement signed in 1970. As Barzani returned to insurgency, the Kurds received support from the CIA, which found use in a proxy willing to counter the Soviet-backed Iraqi government. That support never included a promise to support anything beyond Kurdish autonomy inside Iraq, even when Barzani offered Washington access to the Kirkuk oil fields in case of victory.

Mullah Mustafa Barzani in Northern Iraq in February 1963 (AP)

The United States had other factors to consider: When the Shah of Iran brokered a deal with Iraq in 1975 over control of the Shatt al-Arab waterway, he promptly cut off his military support for Barzani. Washington followed suit, and the Kurdish insurgency collapsed. Surviving Kurdish fighters fled into exile in Iran, and Mustafa Barzani sought safety in America, where he died soon after. His personal physician during his brief American exile, Najmaldin Karim, was governor of Kirkuk for six years until Abadis military operation in October of this year put an end to his tenure.

Masoud Barzani assumed his fathers mantle, hoping to finish what he started. But conditions were tough. The KDP suffered debilitating splits. Jalal Talabani, who died in early October, founded the rival PUK. During the Iran-Iraq war in the 1980s, both parties sided with Tehran, while the United States backed Saddam Hussein against the mullahs Islamist fervor and suspected expansionist designs. The result was retaliation and revenge by Saddams military, which received satellite intelligence and other forms of U.S. support, as well as the benefit of a blind eye turned toward its use of chemical weapons to defeat both Iran and the Kurdish rebels. The poison gas attack on the town of Halabja in 1988, in which thousands died, was the culmination of this cynical tolerance of its tactical allys conspicuous war crimes. Saddam also stamped out the Kurdish insurgency in what is known as the Anfal, in which his security forces systematically rounded up and murdered tens of thousands of Kurds.

Massud Barzani and Jalal Talabani pose in front of the painting of Mustafa Barzani (Rabih Moghrabi / Getty)

The Kurds fortunes turned when Saddam invaded Kuwait. They took their fate into their own hands, shaking off Iraqi control throughout the Kurdish region. But once the international coalition had expelled Iraq from Kuwait, the administration of George H.W. Bush appeared content to leave a weakened Saddam in place as a buffer against Iran, threatening Kurdish lives and aspirations. Yet Kurdish flight in the face of Saddams returning army prompted an American rescue: a safe haven and a no-fly zone in the north. The Kurds affection for the United States soared, along with their utter dependence on Washington for their protection.

They never quite understood, though, why Bush failed to finish the job by removing Saddam. They didnt understand why the United States would keep a tyrant in place, while they had shown a readiness, even if not quite the capability, to rid themselves of his brutality. Did Washington not stand on the side of democracy and human rights? The Kurds, who had suffered the most horrendous violations of their human rights at the regimes hands, proposed to become a Western ally in the northdemocratic and open for business. There was no talk of independence yet, merely of self-government within existing borders. Yet the furthest Washington would go was to protect the Kurds from further atrocities. Out of deference for its NATO ally Turkey and its pronounced support for the sanctity of the regions borders, it left it at that.

While the Kurds experienced de facto independence in the following decade, they also struggled under the combined economic chokehold of Turkey, Iran, Syria, and what strength remained in an Iraqi regime laboring under international sanctions. Elections in 1992 produced a power-sharing deal between the KDP and PUK that soon fell apart. Their political visions differed little, but they clashed over the personalities of their leaders (deriving from the post-1975 Barzani-Talabani split) and access to revenues from customs fees at the border crossing with Turkey. This triggered an internecine conflict in 1994-1998, during which, in August 1996, Barzani invited Saddams troops to enter Kurdistan and pursue Talabanis fighters.

To Washington, such Kurdish squabbles were a minor annoyance, but Saddams brief invasion of Kurdistan compelled it to extract U.S. nationals helping to rehabilitate the region, along with their Kurdish partners. Kurdish leaders I spoke to at the time lamented the decision, as in doing so, Washington removed the stratum of promising young professionals whose energies they needed to build a future state. U.S. mediation eventually put an end to the Kurdish civil war. The two parties proceeded to rule the separate territories they controlled, establishing parallel governments and eyeing each other warily even as the specter of a return of Saddams police state continued to hover.

The U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003 brought decisive change. The Kurds were Washingtons staunchest allies, and U.S. military commanders (more than political leaders) are nothing if not loyal to, and protective of, their local partners. This boosted the Kurds fortunesand their hopes. If Washington was ready to back them in their rise, they were ready to overlook U.S. complicity in Halabja and Anfal. Not everyone was so forgiving, however. The late Nowshirwan Mustafa Amin, Talabanis long-time deputy, as well as a thinker with a deep historical understanding and strategic outlook, told me years ago he repeatedly warned against putting all Kurdish eggs in Washingtons basket precisely because of the way it had treated the Kurds in the past.

Iraqis take down a Saddam Hussein statue with help from U.S. Marines in April 2003 in Baghdad, Iraq (Robert Nickelsberg / Getty)

But the administration of George W. Bush grew closer to the Kurds than any of its predecessors. In Iraqs increasingly hostile environment, Bush found them friendly, open, dependable, and a useful counterweight against the perpetually bickering Shia leaders, with their loyalties divided between Washington and Tehran. The United States treasured the calm of the Kurdish region, as well as its economic potential. But it made clear its intent to rebuild the Iraqi state, including its military, and preserve its external borders. All they ever promised the Kurds was business and protection.

Yet the new order offered the Kurds the hope of far more. It allowed them to play mediator in Baghdad, with Talabani as Iraqi president, while expanding their autonomy in what became a federal region under Barzani. Moreover, the Iraqi constitution they helped draft dangled the prospect of incorporating territories into the Kurdish region in which the Saddam regime had tried to replace Kurds with Arabsthe disputed territoriesto consolidate control of the oil-rich strata underneath.

Encouraged by the Bush administration, they put aside their internal strife to mount an effective common front against the new powers in Baghdad, whom they never quite trusted. They came to a strategic agreement that helped them divvy up oil revenues drawn from the Kurdish region. To the extent that the KDP and PUK have fostered prosperity, they have done so by creating a favorable investment climate for outside companies, and by building an extensive patronage network that rewards people for their loyalty more than their skills They formed, in effect, a duopoly based on shared business interests, one of whose main features has been a bloated public sector headed by party loyalists.

Oil deals became more lucrative in 2007 once Turkey decided to work with both Baghdad and, separately, the KRG, rather than against them. The Turkish leadership proposed the complete integration of the Kurdish region into the Turkish economy , and developed strong relations with Kurdish leaders. Washington sponsored this move and benefited from it, as U.S. companies, along with Turkish and European ones, moved in to take advantage of the oil wealth and associated investments in infrastructure and construction. The contracts to pump oil were particularly profitable, as they offered not just revenue but an equity share in oilover Baghdads strong objections. The Kurdish parties exploited the new opportunity to the maximum, leveraging minor oil finds by small companies to lure mid-size and eventually giant companies like Exxon. In September, the KRG signed a contract with the Russian giant Rosneft for a reported $1 billion in investments in gas pipelines.

The exact size of that deal may never be known, however, because the KRG has been notoriously non-transparent in its oil dealings. Hence the high-level corruption that has destroyed peoples hopes that these parties can actually govern and distribute the wealth. It explains why many young Kurds, who were educated abroad but filtered back in after 2003 to rebuild Kurdistan, have fled again, dismayed by corruption and nepotism. It also explains why the 2011 Arab Spring had a Kurdish component. Young people moved into public squares of Kurdish towns just as their Arab peers in Tunis, Cairo, and elsewhere did. Authorities suppressed their protests, but resentment over high-level corruption, limits on political rights, and poor governance, has only grown.

What saved the Kurdish leadership from more widespread unrest was the arrival of ISIS on their doorstep in 2014. There is no better way to make people put aside their concerns over abusive rule than by mobilizing them against a dangerous common enemy. The bitter fight has been costly; a coincidental drop in world oil prices did not help. Civil servants have gone without a salary, or a full salary, for months at a time. Almost 2 million displaced Iraqis in need of assistance have found shelter in the region. While this has been difficult, the KDP-controlled KRG received almost unconditional Western military support, and earned more sympathy for standing up to ISISs brutal practices. Western support, in turn, enabled Barzani to extend his presidential term twice without a vote.

But the Kurdish leadership realized that ISISs approaching defeat might not significantly alter the situation in the Kurdish region. Barzani understood that it was now or never in the Kurds push for statehood. With the fight against ISIS over, the bill had come due in the KRGs view: The United States and its Western allies may have supported the Kurds to fight ISIS, but for the Kurds it was always about using the opportunity to advance their national cause. And they saw signals from Washington that suggested that perhaps the time had arrived, and that it would throw its weight behind their quest.

Whence this interpretation? Western advocates for Kurdish self-determination have been very vocal, and have exerted inordinate influence on the thinking of Kurdish leaders. They have also shaped public opinion in both the Kurdish region and the West, boosted by a strong Kurdish public-relations effort in Washington. These advocates are of four main types, which may overlap.

The first are profit seekers. One day they are diplomats in Iraq engaged in sensitive talks, the next they show up in the Kurdish region as representatives of oil companies or consultants with high-level connections in government and industry, intent on profiting from the advice they provide and the gratitude they incur. The second group are romantics taken in by the Kurds plight and convinced that the only way to protect them from future harm is through statehood. They can be effective lobbyists, because they are loud. A typical example is the French provocateur Bernard-Henri Levy.

The third group comprises those who see the Kurds quest as aligned with Israels interests. Israels link to the Barzanis goes back to the 1960s, when Israeli operatives began supporting the Kurdish insurgency in an effort to divide and weaken a hostile Arab world by supporting non-Arab states and minorities. The KDPs affection for Israel, in turn, has remained undiminished, even though Kurds have more in common with stateless Palestinians. In the 1970s, Israel provided the Kurds with military support as a wedge against Arab unity. In supporting the independence referendum this past September, Benjamin Netanyahu perhaps saw utility in the Kurds as a forward defense against Iran.

Members of the fourth group support Iraqi Kurds because of an anti-Iran animus sparked by their experiences in Iraq a decade ago, when, as American soldiers, they faced attacks by Iranian proxies, or by a much older opposition to the Iranian revolution in general, and what followed in its aftermath. Taking heart from public pronouncements by all these constituencies, Barzani may have thought that now was a golden opportunity to ride the wave of Americas shifting threat perception from ISIS to Iran. He wanted to show that he was a trustworthy ally in the new regional confrontation on the side of the U.S., Israel, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey, and thereby consolidate his own position in the Kurdish region and take another step forward in the drive toward independence.

This always was a risky gamble. If Barzani thought that the Trump administration had the Kurds back through some combination of sympathy, gratitude, and strategic need, he was sorely mistaken. The U.S. has used the KRG (and, in northern Syria, PKK-affiliated Kurds) as virtual security contractors, and continues to insist on a nominally unified Iraq as the primary doorstop against Iranian dominance over an economically weakened and internally riven Kurdish region. Their mutual relationship is based on a voluntary misunderstanding: Washington deliberately refrains from making explicit the terms of contract of U.S. engagement with the Kurds; in turn, the Kurds believe that these terms will eventually lead to U.S. support for statehood. Recent events have shown, once again, that they are wrong.

An Iraqi Kurdish man walks past a mural in the square in the citadel in Arbil, the capital of the autonomous Kurdish region of northern Iraq (Safin Hamed / Getty)

Today the KRG is back to the lines drawn in 1991, when Saddams forces withdrew from the Kurdish region in the wake of the Kuwait war and Kurdish rising in the north. Its a defeat on a par with the collapse of Mustafa Barzanis forces in 1975. In both cases, the Barzanis blamed the U.S., and in both cases Iran played a major role. The sad reality is that Iraqs Kurds remain landlocked, their status determined by the interests of their more powerful neighbors. Internally, they are more divided than they have been in two decades. The KDP shouts treason at the PUK for facilitating the federal forces entry into Kirkuk, but the PUK can parry by reminding Barzani of his decision to invite Saddams forces into the Kurdish region in 1996. And so another circle is completed.

Whether the Barzani dynasty, or the KDP-PUK duopoly, will survive this disastrous setback to the Kurdish drive for statehood is next up. A young Kurd has two aspirations: that the two parties will disappear, to be replaced by more unified, more competent, more democratic, and less corrupt government, and that deepening antagonism between the U.S., Iran, and Turkey will give the Kurds new breathing space and an opportunity to start building again. One thing is certain: their hope for independence will never die.

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Tom Bradys divorce from Gisele Bundchen isnt even a month old yet, but hes made a move signaling that hes looking ahead to the future. Many fans probably didnt notice the difference on his Twitter account, but his supermodel ex no longer has a presence on his page. The header photo on the social media []
The awarding of the Sydney Peace Prize to the Black Lives Matter movement for its work highlighting American race issues is being hailed by local activists as a progressive step, but is also shining a spotlight on Australias own struggles with race relations.

The Sydney Peace Foundation, a body within the University of Sydney that has previously bestowed its prize on individuals such as South Africas Archbishop Desmond Tutu, will deliver its award to the group this week. Its the first time in the awards 20-year history that an organization will receive the honor.

The group has been at the forefront of U.S. activism against police brutality, mass incarceration and racial inequality.

The social media hashtag with which it shares its name began after neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman was acquitted of killing unarmed teenager Trayvon Martin in Florida in 2013. It gained traction when a police officer fatally shot another unarmed black man, Michael Brown, in Ferguson, Missouri the following year, sparking protests.

Black Lives Matter is being awarded for building a powerful movement for racial equality, courageously reigniting a global conversation around state violence and racism, the Sydney Peace Foundation said in a statement.

Patrisse Cullors, one of the groups co-founders, welcomed the award in solidarity with the organizations and organizers of Australia who had and still have faced oppression.

Australian activists say the government and society at large need to do more to address that countrys own racial issues, particularly inequality faced by the countrys aboriginal people, but also its treatment of asylum seekers controversially sent for detention on Pacific Ocean islands.

Some say Australia as a whole needs to adjust its moral compass.

Would I say Australia has lost its heart? Put it this way: Australia  both the government and the people  is very selective about where its heart is placed, said Mark McKenna, a University of Sydney history professor who has worked extensively on Australian social issues.

Theres been a failure of politicians to seriously advance a reform agenda across a number of areas of policy. The indigenous issue is the most glaring example, he said.

Australia remains the only former British colony to have never signed a treaty with its indigenous people, which critics say has led to a damaging history of policies being forced on them from the government rather than allowing them greater self-determination.

Government statistics show Australias indigenous people have a life expectancy about 10 years less than non-indigenous Australians. Its indigenous people have an employment rate of 48.4 percent versus 72.6 percent for non-indigenous. And the rate of imprisonment for indigenous people has doubled since 1991, with aboriginal adults 13 times and aboriginal youths 24 times more likely to go to jail than their non-indigenous peers.

In May this year, a landmark summit of aboriginal leaders called for a national referendum to change the Australian constitution to create a new parliamentary body that would have advised on laws and policies affecting indigenous people.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull rejected the idea last week, saying it was not desirable or capable of winning acceptance and flew in the face of the idea that all Australians have equal civic rights.

Aboriginal writer and activist Michael Mansell said hes beginning to despair substantive change will ever come.

Hard-nosed leaders like [Turnbull] and his party genuinely believe Australia is a white Anglo-Saxon country and any concessions to non-Anglo-Saxons is a serious threat to their Anglo-Celtic cultural upbringing, he said. The government has shown it wants to develop as a political and social policy the protection of whiteness in Australia.

The Office of Indigenous Affairs did not answer questions from The Associated Press but forwarded a speech the offices minister delivered last week saying the government was still committed to constitutional recognition for the countrys original inhabitants.

Australias refugee policy is another area where activists say urgent change is needed.

In hope of stemming the flood of asylum seekers  many from Afghanistan, Iran and Sri Lanka  making a perilous and often deadly journey in rickety boats to its shores, Australia instituted a policy in 2013 that sent asylum seekers arriving by sea to two detention centers. One is in Papua New Guinea and the other Nauru.

The so-called Pacific Solution was orchestrated under bilateral agreements and funded by Australia to the tune of several billion dollars. However, Papua New Guineas top court ruled last year that the detention of asylum seekers there was unconstitutional and the government reached an agreement with Australia to close the center.

Closure day comes today, when the 600 male asylum seekers at the facility inside a naval base will be forced to relocate to three other facilities in the town of Lorengau, which advocacy groups say is far less safe. Many locals have reportedly threatened to use violence to stop the men relocating, prompting PNG authorities to deploy extra police.

In a deal struck with the Obama administration, the U.S. has agreed to take up to 1,250 of the asylum seekers, out of around 1,800 in total on the islands. President Donald Trump has publicly blasted the deal, but not moved to cancel it.

Australia is trying to walk away from its responsibilities in Papua New Guinea, said Elaine Pearson, the Australia director for Human Rights Watch.

Closing the main center there shouldve been a celebration. But its no solution to transfer the asylum-seekers to even less secure facilities on the island, she said. Trevor Marshallsea, Sydney, AP
(Reuters) - A 24-year-old man accused of killing a University of Utah student from China and also suspected in a homicide last week in Colorado was arrested in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, police said. Austin Boutain was taken into custody without incident at a public library, said Detective Keith Horrocks of the Salt Lake City Police Department. Boutain and his wife, Kathleen Boutain, 23, are also wanted in an investigation into a homicide in Golden, Colorado, according to police there. The victim of Monday night's murder in Utah was identified as ChenWei Guo, 23, who was parked near Red Butte Canyon when he was shot dead during what investigators believe was a failed carjacking attempt. The Salt Lake Tribune newspaper, citing police, reported that the couple was camping in the mountains just outside the city and that Kathleen Boutain had gone to the university campus to report that her husband had assaulted her. Guo was killed shortly afterward, the newspaper reported. Kathleen Boutain was being treated for minor injuries and held in jail on unrelated charges following her arrest on Monday night, University of Utah Police Chief Dale Brophy said. Police in Golden said they found the body of a 63-year-old man last week after being asked by Utah police to conduct a welfare check at a trailer park. That death is being investigated as a homicide and the Boutains are suspects, the Golden Police Department said in a statement. Classes were canceled on Tuesday at the University of Utah, where officials remembered Guo as "extraordinarily outgoing, creative, smart and extremely engaged." A pre-computer science student and peer adviser in the school's International Student and Scholar Services Office, Guo also was an interpreter and technology supporter at the Salt Lake City-based Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, according to a social media profile. Speaking in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said the Chinese embassy in the United States immediately requested information from police, and "urged police to quickly break the case" and provide assistance to the family. She also noted that the embassy reminded Chinese citizens in the United States to pay attention to security due to recent prominent social and security issues in some areas, and the frequency of knife and gun incidents. (Reporting by Barbara Goldberg in New York and Dan Whitcomb in Los Angeles; Additional reporting by Brendan O'Brien in Milwaukee, Angela Moon in New York and Michael Martina in Beijing; editing by Dan Grebler and Grant McCool)
Five hundred years ago, on Oct. 31, 1517, the small-town monk Martin Luther marched up to the castle church in Wittenberg and nailed his 95 Theses to the door, thus lighting the flame of the Reformation  the split between the Catholic and Protestant churches. Luthers act is taught as one of the cornerstones of world history, and remains a lasting symbol of resistance five centuries later.

But thats not actually what happened  or at least thats the argument of some historians, even as the Protestant world celebrates the anniversary.

The drama of Luther walking through Wittenberg with his hammer and his nails is very, very unlikely to have happened, says Professor Andrew Pettegree, an expert on the Reformation from the University of St. Andrews, Scotland. The castle church door was the normal noticeboard of the university. This was not an act of defiance on Luthers part, it was simply what you did to make a formal publication. It would probably have been pasted to the door rather than nailed up.

Peter Marshall would go even further. A historian of the Reformation at Warwick University, England, he believes theres a strong case to be made that the Theses were never posted at all, and that the story was invented to suit the political needs of people who came later. The incident was first recorded nearly 30 years after, he says. Luther himself never mentioned it. There was very little discussion of the nailing of the Theses before the first Reformation anniversary of 1617.

In 1617, with the Thirty Years War on the horizon, a local ruler in the Rhineland area had the idea of organizing a centenary celebration to drum up Protestant solidarity, to increase his chances in the forthcoming fight with the Catholic Habsburgs. Its a very good example of history being made because of a current need to create a historical event, says Pettegree, with an air of admiration.

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But even if 2017s big quincentenary isnt quite what it seems, the legend that has grown up around the story of Luther nailing his Theses to the church door follows a precedent of historical events that have been remembered differently from the way they actually happened.

Memorials, whether state-led, socially constructed or personal, often do more than simply commemorate an anniversary.

Over the centuries, that 1517 date has been seen in a number of different ways. During the 400th anniversary in 1917, for example, the First World War was raging. At that time, Marshall says, Germans saw Luthers posting of the Theses as a quintessentially German and nationalist action  he was unser Luther, our Luther. That idea, in turn, was used to bolster German nationalism and morale during the war.

Over the following decades, the image was co-opted for different political ends. The Nazis also appropriated the imagery of the posting of the Theses for their own purposes, Marshall adds. They saw themselves overthrowing a corrupt old order.

Ironically, Luther would have hated to be seen as the calculating revolutionary who overthrew the old order, and most historians agree he wasnt looking to start a Reformation in 1517. Luther always thought of himself as a good Catholic, Pettegree insists.

Today its the Catholic and Lutheran churches, more so than nation states, that are taking the memory of 1517 in their hands. This time last year, on the 499th anniversary, Pope Francis joined leaders of the Lutheran World Federation in Sweden to hold a joint service in a spirit of unity after 500 years of division. We have the opportunity to mend a critical moment of our history by moving beyond the controversies and disagreements that have often prevented us from understanding one another, he told the congregation.

Both churches are keen to use the anniversary to signal a definitive break with the past  another example of the way a memorial can be used for any number of ends.

I suppose the danger with anniversaries is that they can serve to reinforce myths and entrenched narratives of the past, rather than encourage us to look afresh at historical events and processes, Marshall says. And theres been a fair amount, especially in Germany, of uncritical celebration of the achievements or legacies of the Reformation  tolerance, liberal democracy, freedom of expression, scientific rationalism. All things Luther would have hated!
Astronomers have been making something of a habit of discovering exoplanets as of late. Spotting the telltale signs of a planet orbiting a far-away star is still pretty difficult, but powerful telescopes are making it a bit easier, and new planets are being found and documented with impressive regularity. NGTS-1b is one such planet, and scientists just revealed its discovery today, but theres just one problem: it shouldnt even exist.

In theory, it is impossible, researchers from the DLR Institute of Planetary Research say of the discovery that the tiny dwarf star NGTS-1 is hosting a massive gas giant that rivals Jupiter for size. Its an incredible find that could dramatically alter the current understanding of how planets form.

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The planet and its tiny star are the very first discoveries by the brand new Next-Generation Transit Survey (NGTS) installed in Chile, and it sure is a doozy. The system uses a total of 12 telescopes to gaze into space and spot the faint dips in star brightness that serve as hints of orbiting planets.

The gas giant orbits a star that is only about half the size of our own sun, and thats where scientists fail at explaining their relationship. Up until now, dwarf stars like NGTS-1 were thought to be able to host smaller rocky worlds, but nothing remotely as large as NGTS-1b appears to be. It had always been assumed that such tiny stars wouldnt have had the excess material orbiting them to form such massive worlds.

The discovery of NGTS-1b was a complete surprise to us  such massive planets were not thought to exist around such small stars, Daniel Bayliss, lead author of the research, explains. The planet is about 25 percent the radius its host star. This makes is very large compared to its host star! For comparison, Jupiter is only about 10 percent the radius of our sun.

NGTS-1b is orbiting its star at a very close distance, and its orbit causes it to experience a full year in the equivalent of fewer than three Earth days.

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Going forward, the researchers hope to be able to support their findings by discovering other gas giants orbiting dwarf stars, at which point theyll be forced to come up with an explanation as to how they can even exist in the first place.

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It's less than a month till the 2017 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show and we finally know which Angel will have the special honor of wearing the multi-million dollar Fantasy Bra ... it's Lais Ribeiro!

The 27-year-old Brazilian model officially became an Angel in 2015, but she has been working with the brand since 2010. This year, the brunette beauty will walk down the Shanghai catwalk in the "Champagne Nights Fantasy Bra."

The $2 million "Champagne Nights Fantasy Bra" is gold with diamonds, yellow sapphires and blue topaz, featuring a caged-front effect thanks to a decorative necklace. Ribeiro rocked the look with a nude panty featuring a matching gold leaf-patterned waistband.

And the honor was a complete surprise for Lais, who revealed her pretty emotional reaction to the big news: I had no idea that [the fitting] was for the bra -- I came in and when I tried it I cried, it was unbelievable."

The major reveal was made through a hilarious Vogue video, which shows Lais waiting for her big announcement shoot -- only to have it keep getting delayed. To pass the time, she helps take care of errands on set while casually wearing her multi-million dollar bra.

Lais now joins a list of legendary Angels, like Heidi Klum, Miranda Kerr and Gisele Bundchen -- who have donned the Fantasy Bra. Last year, fellow Angel Jasmine Tookes was bestowed with the honor, wearing an Eddie Borgo-designed, Aziz & Walid Mouzannar jewel-embellished number dubbed the "Bright Night Fantasy Bra."

Watch the video above to see Lais' hilarious Fantasy Bra reveal.

RELATED: See photos from the 2016 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show:


Mexico City (AFP) - Mexico's Day of the Dead is a festival of colorful costumes, traditions and sweets, but it has a bittersweet flavor this year as the country remembers those killed in two earthquakes and a wave of violent crime.

The celebration, which has its roots in ancient Aztec customs, is an occasion for Mexicans to remember their departed loved ones.

But for many families, the memories are all too fresh in 2017.

The year has been marked by two powerful earthquakes that killed 465 people in September, as well as a new surge in the already-horrific murder rate that has put Mexico on track to make 2017 its deadliest year.

The exuberant parades, skull-shaped candies and bright marigolds that mark the holiday -- the first two days of November -- jar with the still-raw trauma of the deadly quakes and a drug war that has left a trail of mutilated bodies and mass graves in its wake.

Mario Vergara is one of those who says he doesn't feel like celebrating.

Last week, as officials in Morelia held a press conference to beckon tourists to the western city's elaborate Day of the Dead festivities, Vergara silently protested with a sign demanding to know what happened to his missing brother.

His brother Tomas is one of 30,000 people who have disappeared in Mexico since the government declared war on the country's powerful drug cartels in 2006.

Nearly 200,000 more have been murdered -- including more than 18,500 so far this year.

Tomas Vergara was kidnapped in 2012. His brother, who comes from the troubled southern state of Guerrero, has been looking for him in the unmarked graves that litter the Mexican countryside.

"I think this Day of the Dead business is horrific," said Vergara, 42, as the city readied its traditional parade of skeletons and skulls.

"Our loved ones were abducted and ended up as actual skulls," he told AFP.

"It's our tradition... but for the families of the 'disappeared,' it's horrible."

Story continues

- Laughing at death? -

In many places, people respond to death with black clothes and somber mourning. Day of the Dead is about celebrating your loved ones and reviving a physical sense of their presence in your life.

Some Mexicans believe the dead come back for the day.

Many create elaborate altars for their late family members, decorating them with flowers, colorful paper cutouts and things the person loved.

In the village of Pomuch, indigenous Mayans even dig up their relatives' bones and lovingly wash them.

It's often said Day of the Dead is about laughing at death.

Mexicans are known for their black humor about death, summed up by the holiday's most famous symbol: "Catrina," a skeleton decked out in swank Victorian clothes who was created by cartoonist Jose Guadalupe Posada (1852-1913) as a spoof of Mexican aristocrats' pretentious imitation of European ways.

Today, Catrina and her extravagant threads are imitated in countless Day of the Dead costumes each year.

But anthropologist Jose Mendozal rejects the idea that death is less traumatic for Mexicans than anyone else.

If Mexicans are laughing at death, it's more like nervous laughter, he said.

"It's one thing to look at a caricature of death, it's another thing to see a dead body, and another thing still to see the skeleton of someone who was violently murdered," he told AFP.

The fine line between joy and mourning is all the more delicate this year.

Mexico City's government seemed aware of that in organizing the city's Day of the Dead parade, a new event that the capital began putting on last year after a fictional version proved to be a smash hit in the opening scene of the James Bond movie "Spectre."

This year, the parade was as boisterous and lavish as in the movie -- but opened and closed with rescue workers marching in solemn tribute to the victims of the September earthquakes.

"Mexico City deserves a little joy. Little by little, we are rising up again," said parade organizer Paula Schlaepfer.

But she added: "We're determined to pay tribute (to the victims). It shouldn't just be a party."
South Korea and China announced yesterday that they will work to improve their relationship, which has been badly strained by the deployment of an American missile defense system, with Seoul saying their leaders are set to hold talks next week.

The thaw in relations comes amid increased regional tensions over North Koreas nuclear ambitions and ahead of President Donald Trumps scheduled visit to both countries next week as part of his first Asian tour.

Relations between Beijing and Seoul have been testy since South Korea allowed the U.S. to deploy a contentious missile defense system on its soil, triggering economic retaliation from China. China views the Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense systems powerful radar as a threat to its own security. South Korea and the U.S. say the system is purely defensive and aimed at countering possible North Korean threats.

China and South Korea recently agreed that they should soon normalize their relations and boost cooperation for a peaceful, diplomatic resolution of the North Korean nuclear issue, Seouls Foreign Ministry said yesterday.

The ministry statement said Beijing reaffirmed its opposition to THAAD and asked South Korea to handle relevant issues appropriately, while South Korea reiterated the system doesnt target China. It said military officials of the two countries will discuss Chinese worries about the THAAD system.

Seouls presidential office announced separately that President Moon Jae-in and Chinese President Xi Jinping will hold summit talks next week on the sidelines of an annual regional forum in Vietnam. It would be their second one-on-one meeting since Moons inauguration in May.

Chinas Foreign Ministry in its own statement did not mention a summit. In that statement, Beijing repeated its objection to the anti-missile system but it indicated an interest in improving ties. It said both sides attached great importance to their relationship and were willing to push forward on developing a cooperative partnership.

Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said later that Beijing had noted that South Korea stated it would not consider deploying an additional THAAD battery on its soil and made other gestures toward Chinas concerns.

We hope South Korea can honor its commitments, translate its words into actions and properly deal with the relevant issue, Hua told reporters at a daily news briefing.

Yesterdays South Korean statement didnt mention whether it has agreed not to deploy more THAAD batteries, but the countrys foreign minister, Kang Kyung-wha, told lawmakers in Seoul on Monday that South Korea wasnt considering an additional deployment.

A protracted standoff over the THAAD issue was not expected to benefit either country and restoring ties is seen as in both China and South Koreas best interests.

Many analysts say China appeared to have used its THAAD opposition to bolster its regional clout but that such a stance could push South Korea closer to the United States and Japan for a potential anti-Beijing trilateral alliance.

In South Korea, there have been growing worries about frosty ties with China, which is its largest trading partner and some South Koreans say might one day replace the United States as the worlds sole superpower. In retaliation for the THAAD deployment, Beijing suspended visits to South Korea by Chinese tour groups and trips to China by South Korean entertainers. South Korean retail and auto businesses in China suffered anti-South Korea sentiments.

It remained unclear how quickly China would move to remove its sanctions against South Korea. Staff contacted at travel agencies in northern China said they had yet to receive official word from the government that group tours might resume.

The move to thaw relations with South Korea comes as China grows increasingly frustrated with North Korea, which has relied on Beijing as its main trading partner. As North Koreas last major diplomatic ally, Chinas cooperation is seen as crucial to the success of international sanctions on the Norths weapons programs.

China banned imports of North Korean coal, seafood and textiles and ordered North Korean-owned businesses to close in line with new U.N. sanctions imposed after the North its sixth and most powerful nuclear test in September.

North Korea has vowed to continue its nuclear program and build a more reliable arsenal of missiles capable of reaching the U.S. mainland. It has previously called the THAAD deployment an American plot to bolster its military hegemony in the region.

Yesterdays announcements by Seoul and Beijing came after Xi consolidated his already considerable power at a twice-a-decade Communist Party congress that concluded last week.Hyung-Jin Kim, Seoul, AP
Muslim advocacy groups have condemned Tuesdays deadly truck attack in New York City.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the countrys largest Muslim civil rights group, called the incident a cowardly attack meant to sow discord across America, and offered its sincere condolences to the loved ones of those killed and injured.

Since the goal of such heinous crimes is to divide our nation, it is incumbent on Americans of all faiths and backgrounds to frustrate that criminal objective by standing united in the face of terror, CAIR said in a statement, using the hashtag #NYCStrong.

Praying for the victims of the #ManhattanAttack. New Yorkers are reslient and will over come this tragedy.  Nihad Awad   (@NihadAwad) October 31, 2017

Sayfullo Habibullaevic Saipov, a 29-year-old Uzbek national, is accused of driving a rented Home Depot pickup truck into pedestrians and cyclists on a bike path along the West Side Highway. Although NYPD commissioner James P. ONeill would not confirm reports that Saipov yelled Allahu Akbar upon exiting the vehicle, he did say that the suspect had made a statement that was consistent with a terror attack.

At least eight people died and 11 others were wounded in the incident. Five victims were identified as Argentine citizens and one Belgian was killed, according to their countries foreign ministries. Saipov was shot at the scene but is expected to live.

The Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC) said it was devastated and angered by this act of terror and offered its deepest thoughts and prayers to the victims of the attack.

We as a community of rational, thoughtful humans condemn violence, no matter where the ideology comes from.  MPAC (@mpac_national) October 31, 2017

An attack on one of us is an attack on all of us, and we will never stand for violence against those who are innocent. #NYCStrong  MPAC (@mpac_national) October 31, 2017

Albert Fox Cahn, legal director for CAIRs New York chapter, echoed calls for compassion, saying the city would stand strong after the incident.

Story continues

In the wake of this tragedy, we know that New Yorkers will not only show our citys enduring resilience, but we will prove that our love and compassion are stronger than anyone who attacks and divides us, Fox Cahn said.

Also on HuffPost

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Investigators inspect the truck.

Investigators inspect the truck.

Emergency crews at the the scene of a violent incident on West Street in Manhattan, New York City.

Multiple bikes crushed along a bike path in lower Manhattan.

First responders assist a woman injured on the bike path.

First responders tend to a victim.

A police officer at the scene.

A body covered on West Street in Manhattan.

Emergency personnel at the scene.

Police gather at the scene after reports of multiple people injured after a truck plowed through a bike path in New York City.

The truck drove down a popular biking path in lower Manhattan.

State Police stand near the scene of a pickup truck attack, on West Street in Manhattan, New York, U.S., October 31 2017. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly

Security forces cordon off the area.

New York Fire Department (NYFD) and New York Police Department (NYPD) vehicles sit parked on a blocked off street.

New York City Police Department (NYPD) officers on Chambers Street surround the rented Home Depot Inc..

A pickup truck used in an attack sits on the intersection of West and Chambers Street.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
Myanmar on Wednesday accused Bangladesh of delaying the repatriation of Rohingya Muslims who have fled Rakhine state since August, as conditions worsen for the stateless minority penned into squalid refugee camps.

More than 600,000 members of the Muslim minority have fled a brutal army crackdown in mainly Buddhist Myanmar over the past two months.

After weeks of intense global pressure and UN accusations of ethnic cleansing, Myanmar vowed to take back Rohingya who meet "verification" standards.

But the criteria remains vague, raising fears it will be used to restrict the number of returnees.

On Wednesday Myanmar government spokesman Zaw Htay pointed the finger at Dhaka -- an impoverished country overwhelmed by the influx of refugees -- for allegedly delaying the repatriation.

"The Myanmar government already declared we are ready to receive (the refugees) at any time... but the Bangladeshi government is still considering the agreement between the two countries," he told AFP.

Dhaka has yet to send an official list of the Rohingya who have fled since August 25, he added.

The Myanmar spokesman declined to elaborate on comments he made to the local press linking the delay to $400 million in aid which Dhaka had received to expand housing for Rohingya.

"Currently they have got nearly $400 million. Over their receipt of this amount, we are now afraid of (them) delaying the programme of deporting the refugees," he was quoted as saying.

A senior Bangladesh foreign ministry official denied Dhaka was dragging its feet, telling AFP the two countries were working to overcome differences in drafts of a repatriation agreement.

Myanmar "were themselves not prepared", the official said, requesting anonymity.

Myanmar has said Rohingya will have to prove prior residence in Rakhine in order to return -- but this could be difficult for many members of a stateless minority who lack proper documentation.

The government has previously only issued ID cards to Rohingya willing to identify as "Bengalis" -- a name that brands them as foreigners.

Story continues

Repatriation will also be complicated by the scale of destruction in Rakhine, where hundreds of Rohingya villages have been reduced to ash, allegedly by soldiers and Buddhist mobs.

Relief workers say some refugees have expressed reluctance to return if it would mean living in camp-like settlements or being barred from the land they had before.

Meanwhile, Myanmar authorities have begun a new drive to issue National Verification cards inside Rakhine, where a dwindling number of Rohingya have stayed on despite severe food shortages and soaring communal tensions.

Those who sign up are rewarded with food and mosquito nets, reported the Global New Light of Myanmar newspaper.

Myanmar has steadfastly denied charges of ethnic cleansing, instead blaming the violence on Rohingya militants.

The militants staged deadly attacks on police posts on August 25, prompting a ferocious army backlash against Rohingya communities.
The five men were from this group of Argentinian friends  Hernan Diego Mendoza (far left), Alejandro Damian Pagnucco (second from left), Ariel Erlij (third from left), Diego Enrique Angelini (second from right) and Hernan Ferruchi (third from right) were killed (Facebook)

A group of five friends from Argentina celebrating the 30th anniversary of their graduation were among eight people killed in the New York terror attack.

The men were reportedly part of a group of 10 friends exploring Manhattan on bicycles when a rental truck struck pedestrians and cyclists in Lower Manhattan at around 3pm on Tuesday.

Argentinas foreign ministry named the victims as Hernan Diego Mendoza, Diego Enrique Angelini, Alejandro Damian Pagnucco, Ariel Erlij and Hernan Ferruchi.

The group were marking three decades since their graduation from Polytechnic College in the city of Rosario in central Argentina.

Suspect Sayfullo Saipov ran through the streets after driving into pedestrians (AP)

Bicycles and debris lie on a bike path after a the deadly attack (AP)

Authorities stand near a damaged Home Depot truck used to mow down pedestrians (AP)

The timeline of the deadly attack that saw eight people killed (PA)

A sixth Argentinian man with the group, Martin Ludovico Marro, was taken to the Presbyterian hospital in Manhattan.

A Belgian national was also among the dead, according to the countrys deputy prime minister.

The driver of the truck, who has been identified by police as Sayfullo Saipov, 29, from Uzbekistan, was shot by police after jumping out of the vehicle with what turned out to be two fake guns.

Saipov was associated with Isis, authorities confirmed today, with New York Governor Andrew Cuomo confirming that the suspect was radicalised domestically.

NEW YORK TERROR ATTACK  MORE FROM YAHOO UK

Why the truck used by the Manhattan attacker is now the urban terrorists weapon of choice

America since 9/11: Timeline of terror on US soil since World Trade Center attack

Donald Trump vows to step up vetting measures in wake of Manhattan terror attack

Everything we know about New York truck attacker Sayfullo Saipov

He was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries and is currently in police custody.

On Tuesday night, police investigating the rampage were seen surrounding a white Toyota minivan with Florida number plates in the car park of Home Depot in Passaic, New Jersey.

Saipov had allegedly rented the pick-up truck an hour before the rampage from the state before unleashing terror on the streets of New York.

Story continues

Sayfullo Saipov is the suspect in the New York terror attack (AP)

This image made from a video provided by Tawhid Kabir shows the suspect in a deadly attack being apprehended by police (AP)

A father reacts as he carries his children out of the crime scene (AP)

Heavily armed police stand guard near the scene as New York comes to terms with another attack in the city (AP)

He reportedly shouted Allahu akbar.

The 29-year-old suspect had been working as an Uber driver after passing a background check, according to a spokeswoman for the app.

In a statement, the firm added: We are horrified by this senseless act of violence. Our hearts are with the victims and their families.

We have reached out to law enforcement to provide our full assistance.

New York mayor Bill de Blasio described the attack as a particularly cowardly act of terror while governor Andrew Cuomo said it was a lone wolf attack, and there was no evidence it was part of a wider plot.

As ordered by New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, the spire of One World Trade Centre is illuminated in red, white and blue (AP)

Authorities investigate the scene near a covered body on a bike path after the attack (AP)

In response to the atrocity  the deadliest terror attack to strike New York since September 11  President Donald Trump ordered the security services to step up vetting procedures.

Meanwhile the UK Foreign Office said it was standing by to provide assistance but was not aware of any British citizens involved as yet.

Prime Minister Theresa May tweeted that she was appalled by this cowardly attack, saying the UK stands with New York.

Isis has so far not claimed responsibility for the attack.




A nurse in Oklahoma City has been banned from working at Oklahoma County Jail after she allegedly performed an exorcism on an inmate who died the next day.

Linda Herlong Jackson allegedly performed the exorcism in February on Amanda Lynette Freeman, a 32-year-old woman who was in jail after being arrested on a drug complaint, according to KOCO TV.

Detention officials said that when Freeman started having a seizure, the 67-year-old Jackson was called in to help.

A witness who worked at the facility said Freeman was thrashing around and screaming when Jackson asked other jail employees if anyone would mind if she performed an exorcism.

She then allegedly said, I revoke you demons, rather than provide medical assistance, according to the The Oklahoman.

A sheriffs lieutenant who arrived on the scene stopped the exorcism. Freeman died the next day of an acute coronary event due to methamphetamine use, according to the paper.

Jackson had worked at the jail for six years as an employee of Armor Correctional Health Services, which contracts with the jail. That means that Oklahoma County Sheriff P.D. Taylor couldnt fire her, since she wasnt technically his employee. Instead, he officially banned her from working at the jail on Oct. 20.

Its our position that because of this incident she cannot work in this facility, Taylor told the paper. Her job is to provide medical care. Doing what she was doing was not providing medical care.

Armor Correctional Health Services put Jackson on administrative leave three days after she was banned from the jail.

Company representatives told KOCO that as of Friday, she was no longer employed there.

Jackson denied all exorcism allegations in an interview with The Oklahoman.

Oh, brother, she said. No. ... I didnt do an exorcism.

She also insisted Freemans death the next day had nothing to do with her.

The patient didnt die, by the way, on my shift, she said.I would appreciate if you wouldnt try to sensationalize something thats already been settled  or so I thought.

Story continues

Although Jackson isnt currently facing any criminal charges, KSWO TV reports that the sheriffs office has turned over the findings of their own investigation to the district attorneys office.

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This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
A county jail nurse in Oklahoma is facing possible criminal charges after witnesses allege she performed an exorcism on an inmate who was having a seizure.

Jail employees said the nurse, Linda Herlong Jackson, 67, is no longer working with the Oklahoma County Jail after the inmate, 32-year-old Amanda Freeman, died one day after the Feb. 10 incident.

RELATED: Some of the craziest ways smugglers hide drugs



The nurse was initially called in to help Freeman, but only delayed medical treatment for the combative inmate, who officials said was having a seizure. She declared, "I revoke your demons," while Freeman "kept moving around," The Oklahoman reported.

A jail guard told the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation that the nurse attempted to exercise Freeman, who Jackson later described as having supernatural strength.

According to the autopsy report, the inmate later died from an acute coronary event due to methamphetamine use prior to her arrest three days earlier.

SEE ALSO: Woman found guilty after wearing fake penis and tricking blindfolded friend into having sex

In late October, the Oklahoma County Sheriff P.D. Taylor told the jails medical provider, Armor Correctional Health Services, that Jackson, their former employee of six years, is banned from the jail.

Its our position that because of this incident she cannot work in this facility, the sheriff said, according to the local outlet.

Her job is to provide medical care. Doing what she was doing was not providing medical care.

It is unclear whether or not Jackson will end up facing charges.

However, a sheriff's investigator is scheduled to meet with District Attorney David Prater, who will determine if a criminal charge is warranted.
Pennsylvania, the United States second- largest commercial casino state, is taking an even deeper plunge into gambling and will allow people to bet online, in airports and at truck stops.

With government leaders searching for money to plug holes in the states tattered finances, Gov. Tom Wolf on Monday signed legislation authorizing a major expansion of gambling.

Under the measure, the state will become the fourth to allow online gambling, joining Nevada, New Jersey and Delaware. It also makes Pennsylvania the first state to allow online play for both commercial casinos and its state lottery, as both go in search of newer and younger players.

Wolf, a Democrat, had not been enthusiastic about expanding gambling, but he entertained the idea in dealings with a Republican-controlled Legislature that saw it as a better option to balance the states persistent deficits than a tax increase.

While lawmakers also saw a gambling expansion as a way to bring tax revenue to their districts and pet projects, Wolf had focused on ensuring a gambling expansion wouldnt damage the states existing tax collections from casino revenues or receipts from the struggling Pennsylvania Lottery.

Theres been a lot of pressure from a lot of places in the commonwealth to actually expand this, and we do need some recurring revenue, Wolf said. Again, the goal has been all along to do whats prudent, not cannibalize existing gambling revenue coming to the state, and I think what were settling on will actually do that.

Besides online play, the new law will pepper Pennsylvania with games of chance.

Ten of the states 12 existing casinos can bid on a license for a new, smaller casino with hundreds of slot machines. Bidding would start at USD7.5 million, with a table games certificate costing an extra $2.5 million, for a casino limited to 750 slots and 30 table games. Currently, the states larger casinos can operate up to 5,000 slot machines.

Meanwhile, casinos will be able to offer interactive gambling parlors in eight airports, including Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, while qualifying truck stops can operate up to five slot machine-style monitors called video gaming terminals. Only Nevada and Puerto Rico currently allow airport gambling.

Lawmakers expect the gambling legislation to produce $200 million or more annually from casino license fees and taxes on higher gambling losses.

The legislation was years in the making, and the compromise came together after House leaders dropped their long-standing demand that a gambling expansion favor bars and other liquor licensees, rather than casino owners.

The Northeasts slow population growth and big post-recession casino expansions have drawn warnings that the region is so saturated that new gambling opportunities are cannibalizing existing ones.

Chris Grove, a gambling industry analyst at California-based Eilers & Krejcik Gaming, said Pennsylvanias expected haul of cash from the online licenses, potentially above $100 million, will not go unnoticed by lawmakers in neighboring states.

But Colin Mansfield, a gambling industry analyst for Fitch Ratings, said he did not expect Pennsylvanias move to spur much competitive response from other states. Still, he said, he could envision benefits for casinos and internet poker players if the law leads to an expansion of player pools joining Pennsylvania with New Jersey, which has the nation-leading internet gambling market.

Pennsylvanias casinos rake in more gross revenues than any other states except Nevadas, American Gaming Association figures show. But Pennsylvania is the No. 1 state in tax revenue from the casino industry, netting $1.4 billion in the most recent fiscal year. Pennsylvanias lottery is one of the nations biggest, delivering $1 billion in profits on $4 billion in sales. MDT/AP
(SALT LAKE CITY)  Police say one person is dead after a shooting near the University of Utah campus Monday night.

The Deseret News reports that the university sent an alert at 9 p.m. to students and staff to shelter in place. People on campus remained on lockdown hours later.

Salt Lake City police posted on Twitter officers are searching nearby Red Butte Canyon for 24-year-old Austin Boutain, who is suspected in the shooting. He is considered armed and dangerous.

At least eight law enforcement agencies are on scene, including the FBI. A helicopter was assisting the search.

Salt Lake City Police Sgt. Brandon Shearer said officers werent immediately releasing the victims gender or other details.

Utah Transit Authority says there will be limited light rail service and that buses wont service the campus for the reminder of the night.
Workers board up a broken window at the Mandalay Bay hotel on Oct. 6, where Stephen Paddock killed 58 people and wounded more than 500 in Las Vegas days before. (Photo: Chris Wattie/Reuters)

The shattered windows were boarded up weeks ago, and the crime scene across the street largely cleared of the shoes, bags and other personal effects left behind when thousands of concertgoers ran for their lives.

But one month after Stephen Paddock unleashed a hail of bullets onto the crowd at the Route 91 Harvest music festival from the windows of his 32nd-floor suite at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas  killing 58 people and injuring more than 540 in the worst mass shooting in the nations modern history  the investigation of the crime seems frozen in time.

After weeks of interviewing the lone gunmans family and associates, and combing through his two homes and belongings for clues, police appear to be no closer to understanding why Paddock, a 64-year-old real estate investor and avid gambler with no record of mental illness, or political or religious extremism, became a mass killer. Or if they are, they arent saying.

The lack of understanding is in stark contrast to Tuesdays deadly truck attack in New York City  and numerous other mass killings in recent years  where there were clear ideological or religious motives.

Its been more than two weeks since officials with the Las Vegas police and the FBI briefed the public, bringing an abrupt stop to the flow of information about the case. Until then, investigators had been unusually forthcoming, holding frequent news conferences in the days after the shooting. They released video from police body cameras and put forward police officers who told harrowing accounts of responding to the scene and closing in on the hotel room from which Paddock had unleashed his horror.

But then there were a series of missteps, including the release of a timeline of the shooting that turned out to be wrong. The last time Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo, who has been the face of the investigation, spoke publicly about the case was Oct. 13, when he went before reporters to correct a comprehensive timeline of the shooting he had released previously.

Story continues

A member of the FBI walks among piles of personal items at the scene of a mass shooting Friday, Oct. 6, 2017, in Las Vegas. (Photo: John Locher/AP)

But in doing so, Lombardo only raised more questions about his departments handling of the investigation. A month later, its still unclear why it took officers 12 minutes after the shooting began to reach the hotels 32nd floor, where the gunmans suite was located, and why it took more than an hour after the shooting stopped for cops to enter the room.

And one of the biggest mysteries continues to be what communication there was, if any, between police and Mandalay Bay. Paddock had shot a security guard who approached his room on an unrelated call just before he began shooting out the window. Jesus Campos, the wounded security guard, told talk show host Ellen DeGeneres  in his only public interview  that he immediately radioed hotel security to tell them he had been shot. But its still unclear how or if casino officials communicated that information to the police.

According to the latest timeline released in the case, Campos first discovered something was amiss on the 32nd floor around 9:59 that night, when he found a stairwell door near Paddocks room barricaded with a metal bar. At the time, Campos later told authorities, he heard the sounds of what he thought was a power drill, which he found unusual. He went down to the 31st floor and took another route up to the 32nd floor.

As Campos approached room 135, where Paddock was staying, the gunman  who had been watching the hallway outside his room through a baby monitor he set up on a room service cart  suddenly shot through the door, spraying bullets and wounding the guard in the leg. It was 10:05 p.m., roughly around the time police believe Paddock began shooting across the street toward the site of the Route 91 Harvest festival.

Stephen Schuck, left, and Jesus Campos sit with host Ellen Degeneres during a taping of The Ellen DeGeneres Show at the Warner Bros. lot in Burbank, Calif., on Oct. 17, 2017. Schuck, a building engineer, and Campos, a security guard, were working at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino the night of the mass shooting on Oct. 1. Campos was shot by gunman Stephen Paddock. (Photo: Michael Rozman/Warner Bros./AP)

Though Campos and a hotel maintenance worker who had also arrived on the floor both radioed word of the shooting, police apparently didnt identify where the shots were coming from for several minutes. According to the timeline, police reached the 31st floor at 10:12 p.m., where officers reported that shots were coming from the floor above them. They finally reached the 32nd floor at 10:17 p.m. two minutes after Paddock stopped shooting. Police did not breach Paddocks room until 11:20 p.m. more than an hour later  where they found him dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Police originally said Campos interrupted the shooting, bringing the deadly rampage to a stop. But now they say Paddock stopped firing on his own. Why? Its one of the many enduring mysteries of the case  and one that Lombardo has said may never be answered.

But in recent days, there have been more mysteries. This week, Lombardo confirmed to the Las Vegas Review Journal that police are investigating how an officer accidentally fired his gun inside Paddocks suite after it was breached  though he said it was not in the room where the gunmans body was found.

At the same time, unnamed law enforcement officials told the New York Times and the Associated Press that a hard drive was missing from at least one of the laptops recovered from Paddocks hotel room, further complicating their efforts to uncover a motive in the case. Its unclear whether the hard drive was simply missing or was destroyed  a move that would mimic the actions of other mass killers, like Adam Lanza, who removed and smashed his computer hard drives before he massacred 20 children and six adults at Sandy Hook Elementary school in Newtown, Conn., on Dec. 14, 2012.

Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo left, pauses during a news conference at the Metropolitan Police Department in Las Vegas, as FBI special agent Aaron Rouse, right, looks on, Friday, Oct. 13, 2017. (Photo: Heidi Fang/Las Vegas Review-Journal via AP)

Another mystery surrounds Marilou Danley, the gunmans longtime girlfriend, who was visiting family in the Philippines when Paddock carried out his rampage. Officials quickly described her as a person of interest in the case, in part because Paddock reportedly wired her $100,000 days before the shooting. In a statement released by her attorney, Danley, who returned to the U.S. on Oct. 3, insisted she knew nothing of Paddocks plans and said she believed the money he sent her was a way of breaking up with her.

Danley was questioned by the FBI on Oct. 4 in Los Angeles, where her daughter lives. But its unclear whether she is still cooperating with the investigation or what she has told authorities. Her attorney did not respond to a request for comment. Las Vegas police officials have referred questions about her to the FBI, which has also repeatedly declined to comment. But Lombardo has expressed skepticism that Paddock could have assembled his arsenal of guns and thousands of rounds of ammunition without drawing attention. The sheriff has also said he believes Paddock, who had explosive material and more ammunition in his car, intended to survive the massacre and escape though he has not explained how Paddock might have pulled that off.

The Clark County coroner has completed an autopsy on Paddock; the agency and police have declined to elaborate on what, if anything, was found except to say there was no obvious abnormalities of his brain. Paddocks brain was scheduled to be sent this week to a laboratory at Stanford University, where doctors will perform further forensic analysis, including tissue testing, to look for neurological problems  though medical experts have said its unlikely that will provide an explanation for the rampage.

Stephen Paddocks body is visible in his room at the Mandalay Hotel along with weapons he may have used during his mass shooting at the Route 91 Harvest country music festival in Las Vegas, Nev., on Oct 1, 2017. (Photo: Anonymous)

While Las Vegas officials say they will again brief the public on the case when there is something new to report, some revelations could come through civil lawsuits against Paddocks estate and the casinos parent company, MGM Resorts. At least two suits have been filed so far, including one class action case representing 10 victims.

Among other things, the investigators have sought to uncover information from Mandalay Bay, which has repeatedly declined to comment, citing the ongoing investigation. The victims want access to hotel records, including video, which might offer clues about Paddocks actions. He checked into the casino on Sept. 25  nearly a week before the attack  and witnesses have told police they saw him playing video poker in the casino. Police have said they believe he left the casino and returned to his home in Mesquite, Nev., about 90 minutes west of Las Vegas, at least once that week, and may have visited other casinos on the Las Vegas Strip.

One question is how Paddock got his arsenal up to his room, and whether hotel staff, including housekeepers, sensed anything was amiss. In an interview with 60 Minutes, responding officers said Paddocks room was filled with weapons and gear. It just looked almost like a gun store, Dave Newton, one of the officers, told CBS. There were all kinds of monitors and electrical equipment  a few phones  a couple of laptops. A lot of drills, drill bits  all kinds of tools.

Image released by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department of Marilou Danley in connection to a shooting at the Route 91 Harvest Music Festival in Las Vegas, Oct. 2, 2017.(Photo: Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department/Handout via Reuters)

Lombardo has already said there were no cameras near Paddocks room, only in near the elevator banks down the hall. But officers have said they found evidence that the gunman had been drilling holes in the wall  including one near the front door of his suite  raising questions about his intents and whether staff or other guests reported hearing power tools noise in Paddocks room or in the hallway where he barricaded the door.

On Tuesday, attorneys and legal experts for the victims gained access to the Route 91 site for the first time, walking the grounds from which personal belongings have been removed, but the concert stage and other fixtures have been left untouched. The legal experts and attorneys are expected to gain access to Paddocks suite at the Mandalay Bay hotel in coming days.

Among the lawyers walking the grounds was Craig Eiland, an attorney representing Rachel Shepard, a 26-year-old California women who was shot three times, including in the chest, on that Sunday night. It was a miracle, her attorney said, that she lived. And now she wants to know how this could have happened.

This is about answers first, Eiland told reporters on Tuesday at the scene. How did it happen? And what can be done to prevent it from happening again?

Read more from Yahoo News:
UPDATE: Nov. 2  A man who wished to remain anonymous says Kevin Spacey attempted to rape him when he was 14 years old, New York Magazine reported Thursday.

The man said that Spacey, 24 at the time, told me how he was in love with me before he went to the actors apartment and began a sexual relationship that comprised several encounters. Spacey attempted unwanted penetrative sex in their last encounter, he said, and it ended when the teenager ran outside.

I would call him a pedophile and a sexual predator, the man told New York Magazine.

PREVIOUSLY:

Several men have now shared stories of being sexually harassed by Kevin Spacey after Star Trek: Discovery actor Anthony Rapp came forward with his own story earlier this week.

In an interview with BuzzFeed, Rapp said that the House of Cards star invited him to a party and made a sexual advance toward him on a bed in the 1980s. At the time, Rapp was 14 and Spacey was 26. In response, Spacey posted a widely criticized apology to Twitter on Monday that contained his first public declaration of being gay.

On Tuesday, film director Tony Montana told Radar Online that Spacey groped him in 2003. HuffPost confirmed the story with Montana.

He grabbed me very hard, Montana told HuffPost.

The Overnight documentarian said he was ordering a drink at a bar in 2003 when Spacey put an arm around him and made a joke about the title of a movie hed recently been in. Then he tried to convince Montana to leave with him, the filmmaker said.

Montana told Radar Spacey grabbed my whole package.

This designates ownership, Montana recalled the actor telling him.

Montana said that Spacey then followed him into the bathroom, after which Montana told the actors friends to take him home, and the group ended up leaving.

Montana hopes that sharing his story has an impact not just regarding issues of sexual harassment, but people using power in other threatening manners in Hollywood.

I would hope that is going to lessen, if not go away, he told HuffPost. I hope that this isnt just a phase, it isnt just a cycle thats going to come and go.

Story continues

On Wednesday, a man who wished to remain anonymous shared another story, on BBC 2s Victoria Derbyshire program, saying that he spent a weekend at the actors New York City home as a 17-year-old in the mid-80s. Spacey allegedly pressured the teen into sharing his bed and was sobbing when his guest refused the offer.

In the morning, I woke up and [Spaceys] head was on my stomach and his arms were wrapped around my torso, very affectionately, I would suppose, the man said. He certainly wasnt aggressive, but it was affectionate and certainly not something I was comfortable with as a heterosexual male.

The two had met at a summer theater program. Spacey would have been in his mid-20s at the time.

I was uncomfortable at best, traumatized at worst, the man said, per the BBC.

Another story about the House of Cards star appeared in the British tabloid The Sun on Tuesday. The publication reported that Spacey exposed himself in 2010 to a man named Daniel Beal, who was working as a bartender at an English hotel.

The allegations have been enough to concern Londons Old Vic theater, where Spacey served as artistic director from 2004 to 2015. While the theater claims no complaints were made against Spacey during his tenure there, it released a statement Tuesday expressing its deep dismay about its former employees alleged misbehavior.

We aim to foster a safe and supportive environment without prejudice, harassment or bullying of any sort, at any level, the statement read. Old Vic has opened a tip line, confidential@oldvictheatre.com, for those who have been involved with its productions to share any complaints anonymously.

However, a report published Wednesday in the Guardian claims that a number of people have contacted the publication with stories about misbehavior by Spacey during his time as artistic director at the Old Vic. Citing stories by one anonymous and one named source, the publication accused the theater of ignoring past complaints.

According to Mexican actor Roberto Cavazos, unwanted sexual advances toward younger men were common when Spacey was at the Old Vic. In a Spanish-language Facebook post shared Monday, Cavazos said he personally experienced behavior that was on the borderline of being considered assault. Spacey would allegedly make his advances after inviting younger actors to meet with him to talk about their careers  setting up Champagne picnics on stage as a meeting spot  or else he would approach men at bars.

Those of us who knew him in London when he was director of the Old Vic Theatre know that there will be many more victims who will dare to tell their stories in the next days and weeks, he wrote. I wouldnt be surprised if the numbers were similar to those of Weinstein.

Harvey Weinstein, the now former head of The Weinstein Company, stands accused by more than 50 women of sexual harassment and assault.

Netflix, home of House of Cards, announced this week that the upcoming sixth season of the fan-favorite series would be its last. Production has been suspended while executives address any concerns from cast or crew.

Do you have a story to share? Email sara.boboltz@huffpost.com.

Also on HuffPost

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This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
By Paul Day MADRID (Reuters) - Dismissed Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont said on Wednesday he would ignore a court order to return to Spain to answer charges over the region's push for independence, but he could testify from Belgium. If Puigdemont fails to answer Thursday's High Court summons, an arrest warrant could be issued that would make it virtually impossible for him to stand in a snap regional election called by the Spanish government for Dec. 21. Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy sacked Puigdemont and his government on Friday, hours after the Catalan parliament made a unilateral declaration of independence in a vote boycotted by the opposition and declared illegal by Spanish courts. On Monday, Spain's state prosecutor filed charges of rebellion, sedition and misuse of public funds against Puigdemont for defying the central government by holding an referendum on secession on Oct. 1 and proclaiming independence. Puigdemont traveled to Belgium at the weekend with other members of the dismissed Catalan administration and hired a lawyer. "Those summonses are part of proceedings that lack any legal basis and only seek to punish ideas. This is a political trial," Puigdemont said in a statement signed by "the legitimate government of Catalonia". The High Court summoned Puigdemont and 13 other former members of the Catalan government to testify in Madrid on Thursday and Friday on the prosecutor's charges. A judge will then decide whether those called to testify should go to jail pending an investigation that could take several years and potentially lead to a trial. The judge might also grant them conditional bail or order them to surrender their passports. If Puigdemont and his associates did not turn up, the judge would be more likely to order them jailed as a flight risk. The courts have also told the Catalan secessionist leaders to deposit 6.2 million euros ($7.2 million) by Friday to cover potential liabilities. "OFF TO PRISON"? Three former Catalan government advisors returned to Spain from Belgium late on Tuesday and were greeted at Barcelona's international airport by a small crowd chanting "off to prison". Puigdemont said on Tuesday he would only go back to Spain when given unspecified "guarantees" by the Spanish government. He said he accepted the election called by Rajoy for December and Madrid said he was welcome to stand, though the legal proceedings might prevent that. Uncertainty over how the crisis will play out has prompted more than 1,800 Catalonia-based companies to move their legal headquarters out of the region and the government to lower its national economic forecasts for next year. On Wednesday, rating agency Moody's said the declaration of independence and the suspension of self rule were credit negative for the region and the country, and that associated uncertainty would damage sentiment and consumer spending. Moody's raised Spain's credit rating to Baa2 in 2014 as the country emerged from a prolonged economic slump. On Tuesday, Moody's affirmed Catalonia's long-term issuer and debt ratings of Ba3, saying the government's reinforced control compensated for the increased risks, in particular the region's rapidly deteriorating business climate. (Additional reporting by Emma Pinedo, Hortense de Roffignac in Tielt and Foon Yun Chee in Brussels, Writing by Julien Toyer, Editing by Angus MacSwan and John Stonestreet)
Jim Fruchterman, founder of Palo Alto-based nonprofit Benetech, was very relieved when, at the end of September, he received an email from the U.S. Department of Education.

With one day left to go in the federal fiscal year, the department had renewed funding for a longstanding reading program for the disabled, and it had chosen Benetech for the third time to run the five-year, $42.5 million project. That meant Benetech could continue to operate Bookshare, which provides digitally materials to 500,000 students with reading disabilities, including blindness and dyslexia, and Fruchterman could forget about planned October layoffs at Benetech.

No less important for Fruchterman, a buoyant, 58-year-old Caltech graduate with a more or less constant grin, his frequent trips to Capitol Hill are over for now.

"Its been a huge distraction to have to keep going back to D.C. and say, Hey, were the largest program that serves blind and dyslexic kids. Were 10 times more cost-effective than what you were doing before. Isnt that great? Both Democrats and Republicans like kids with disabilities, right?" Fruchterman rolls his eyes and laughs at his own frustration.

In Silicon Valleys hyper-competitive startup scene, Fruchterman is a highly unusual figure, and not just because he spends a lot of time in D.C. or likes to work on social good projects. Back when no one had heard of social entrepreneurship -- the idea that the energies and skills of entrepreneurs can be used for social good instead of investors profits -- Fruchterman was one of the very early pioneers. And unlike wealthy techies in the philanthropic ranks, like Bill Gates or Pierre Omidyar, Fruchterman didnt wait to do good until he made billions. In fact, he has never made a fortune, and he intentionally dropped out of the Silicon Valley race-to-riches.

Fruchterman instead took a page out of the Silicon Valley playbook to address persistent social challenges, like helping the disabled to read. His approach is to use money from philanthropists in the same way founders use venture seed rounds to get concepts off the ground, and then, if they work out, raise more funding to drive to a self-sustaining, nonprofit revenue model.

Story continues

Bookshare followed this model to the T, starting with foundation grants to deliver reading tools -- by instantaneous, digital means -- for the blind and dyslexic who formerly depended on physical products like Braille books and the U.S. mail. Today, the U.S. Department of Education underwrites the service for students, and adults can also subscribe on their own for $75 a year.

Yet Benetech is about much more than Bookshare alone. Fruchterman created the organization to house a number of ongoing projects, including around human rights, the environment and other fields. In fact, Benetech houses an incubator for new endeavors, like a current initiative to make social services as easy to discover as the closest pizza joint, as well as a consulting service for nonprofits in need of technology help.

"No one else does what Jim does with such focus and dedication," says Sally Osberg, president and CEO of the Skoll Foundation, which has granted nearly $2.6 million to Benetech in the past decade, "His ability to bridge the commercial world of tech innovation and the potential for social impact is his real strength in the field of social entrepreneurship."

Winning the Skoll Award. Sally Osberg is on the left.

The model works, too. Eighty percent of the $13.4 million annual revenue the 70-employee outfit enjoyed last year came from operating projects like Bookshare. The balance came from donors, most of them in Silicon Valley. And in total, Benetech projects have taken in $9 million in nonprofit risk capital and have since attracted nearly $107 million in either follow-on grants or revenue.

I started from single-enterprise entrepreneur, to portfolio-of-enterprises ringleader, to guy who wants to help the entire Silicon Valley software and data ecosystem transform the world of disadvantaged communities and the social sector that serves them.

Fruchterman has accumulated lots of laurels for his work, including a MacArthur Fellowship and the Skoll Award for Social Entrepreneurship, but in a series of interviews with Fruchterman over the past year those accolades never come up. The conversation inclines to what hes learning as he "plays CTO for an hour" to other nonprofits, which provides endless fuel for his key insight: the poor or non-existent use of technology in much of the nonprofit sector.

In a recent piece, Fruchterman called for a "software revolution for the greater social good" to address the fact that "the social sector has not fully benefitted from what Silicon Valley does best: Using software to achieve scale and using the data inherent in software solutions to continuously improve services, identify new opportunities and demonstrate impact."

Thats the Silicon Valley thinker in Fruchterman: The market opening hes after today isnt simply helping the blind read, its marrying the good intentions to hard technology. "This is part of my career evolution," says Fruchterman. "I started from single-enterprise entrepreneur, to portfolio-of-enterprises ringleader, to guy who wants to help the entire Silicon Valley software and data ecosystem transform the world of disadvantaged communities and the social sector that serves them."

T

hirty-six years ago, the young Caltech graduate was no less ambitious, though his main interest then was rockets, or maybe winning a Nobel. It was the early 1980s, in a universe far, far away, when the Reagan administration made it legal for private companies to develop rockets and defense spending boomed thanks to "Star Wars" missile defense programs.

Fruchterman was enrolled at the time in the PhD electrical engineering program at Stanford. He and his friends liked to host entrepreneurs for dinner, and one evening Gary C. Hudson, founder of rocketry startup GCH, Inc., joined them at the Stern dormitory. Hudson was looking for engineers, and he had a simple screening test. He asked Fruchterman two questions:

"Who is your favorite science-fiction author?"

"Poul Anderson," Fruchterman replied, citing the author of A Knight of Ghosts and Shadows, among many others.

Hudson approved and asked, "Who was your favorite Poul Anderson character?

Fruchterman replied that it was Ensign Flandry, the starship pilot-turned-James Bond of the late Terran Empire, in Andersons Technic History series.

Hudson shook his head. The right answer, in his view, was Nicholas van Rijn, the libertarian-minded adventurer, another figure in the same series.

1981

Hudson gave Fruchterman a pass on the second question and offered him a job on the spot. Fruchterman couldn't resist. What sci-fi loving engineer could? In 1981, he took a leave of absence from Stanford and went to work in Sunnyvale for GCH, which had backing from Space Services of Houston, and a real estate investor named David Hannah. Soon after, on August 5, 1981, GCH tried to test-fire its innovative rocket-engine design, Percheron, on a launch pad in Matagorda, Texas. The countdown reached ignition, but the engine blew apart on the launchpad.

Fruchterman picked up part of a rocket fin -- a better startup memento than most -- then he and a couple of his colleagues headed back to Silicon Valley to try to raise $200 million for a new rocket company. There were no takers, but Fruchterman decided nevertheless that he would not be returning to the PhD program.

"Gosh," says Fruchterman, sitting in his Benetech office on leafy California Street, roughly a mile from Stanfords campus. "I realized I found what I wanted to do; I liked to build stuff a lot more than do research.

That "gosh" thing happens strikingly often in conversation with Fruchterman, and its as disarmingly authentic as his Archie-comics good looks and sunny disposition. Its hard to square that sense of Fruchterman with the stubborn, principled engineer who would not let go of a technology product idea that would eventually better the lives of millions of blind people. And this was long before Bookshare and after the rocket disaster.

That part of Fruchtermans story begins at Sirloin & Brew, the now-defunct Silicon Valley hangout on El Camino in Mountain View. Fruchterman and one of his colleagues from GCH, Dave Ross, met with Eric Hannah, a Hewlett-Packard chip designer, who had a new idea for a chip that could work with a scanner and software to recognize the characters on a printed page.

"I got really excited by the idea," says Fruchterman, "because I had this idea in college to make reading machines for blind people using pattern recognition, and here was Hannah saying he had a way of doing that."

Fruchterman joined Ross and Hannah to found what would become Calera Recognition Systems, where they launched one of the first OCR technologies that used machine learning to "read" almost any script, not just pre-programmed ones.

"What we did was gather several million examples of characters, compared them all, clustered them, then built an algorithm that would say, 'This looks like an A,' even though it had never seen that font before."

Through his first seven years at Calera, Fruchterman kept thinking about how the OCR tech could help blind people. In 1987, after the OCR tech was working well, Fruchterman and Ross, who was the VP of engineering, decided to set up a skunk works to figure out if they could get the OCR technology to work with Votrax, an early voice synthesizer technology on a PC.

"It sounded really crappy," says Fruchterman, "but we could scan a page and the voice synthesizer could read it back." He and Ross finally had a prototype that could use a PC and scanner to read text aloud to a blind person.

Fruchterman took the demo to the Calera board, fully expecting an immediate green light to go to market. Instead, the board asked how big the market was. Fruchterman responded that it was probably a $1 million market, which in fact understated the market by 5x, though Fruchterman figured market size was not the issue - helping the blind read was the issue. The board didnt see things that way. Calera had taken on $25 million from investors, and they expected Calera to make a huge return. Small markets were not the road to 20x returns.

"We got into an argument," recalls Fruchterman. "I'm saying, But blind people need it. They're saying, Yeah, but we create jobs and we're investing money for pension funds, and we have to make money to fill our social goals. To work on a million-dollar-a-year product would divert us from making all the money that we promised to make in exchange for our investment, which is a pretty fair statement. I could not really disagree, but I also kind of went, Wow. So good technology wont get built. That really irritated me."

Fruchterman quit. He had been with Calera seven years, held several jobs, from CFO to marketing VP, and was ready for something new. He was also determined to build the reading machine, so he made a proposal to the board that he hoped would make the reading machine possible without losing his shirt.

In exchange for certain non-competes, Calera agreed to license him the OCR technology at barely above cost so that Fruchterman could create two companies: one a for-profit to use the OCR for postal applications (which was a market Calera had chosen not to pursue) and second a nonprofit to build the reading machine for the blind. Fruchterman created RAF and a 501c3 called Arkenstone, respectively, and became CEO of both.

"I told my wife that I would only do the 501c3 for a year or so, and then go full time back to regular tech. But I ended up doing both for six years before I realized I had to choose one way or the other."

Arkenstone performed better than Fruchterman hoped. He shipped the Calera OCR technology, which was a PC co-processor card listing for $6,000, to blind customers for less than half that price and threw in DECtalk voice synthesizer. The market Fruchterman anticipated quickly took off. After three years, Arkenstone was very slightly profitable on $5 million in revenue and 501c3 status, a strange beast in the eyes of the IRS, which associated 501c3 status with hospitals and philanthropies in those days. That prompted an IRS audit, which Arkenstone cleared without issue.

It was pretty clear to me that I liked doing tech for good more than I liked doing regular for-profit.

After several years running both RAF and Arkenstone, Fruchterman realized that he was not headed back to a regular tech job as he had promised his wife, and he wanted to focus entirely on Arkenstone. The financial opening to do so came in classic Silicon Valley fashion: In 1995 his former employer, Calera was acquired by its competitor, the legendary Robert Noyces Caere, and Fruchtermans shares were in the money.

The modest (by todays standards) $600,000 windfall was enough to expand his two-bedroom, one-bath ranch house on Middlefield Road in Palo Alto and help send his three children to college.

"My wife and I said, Gee, do we want to try to make millions more? I realized that I might make more many years out from RAF, but I really felt the tech for good was me, as opposed to buying into the Silicon Valley serial entrepreneur rat race." He resigned from the for-profit RAF, which is still an operating company, to focus on Arkenstone.

"My friends were shocked," he says, "but it was pretty clear to me that I liked doing tech for good more than I liked doing regular for-profit. Theyre both challenging, and frankly, I saw a fallow field. Everyone else is crowding around the for-profit field, always trying to convince VCs to invest more money, while over here, theres no one in tech for good, and you can have a big impact. What really changes are the financial set points. I went from, how do you get to a highly profitable venture, to how do we get to a break-even venture that does good. [The answer was to] give up on making money, just do good tech and find a way to break even."

"Why would anyone do that?" is, of course, the obvious question. Doesnt everyone in Silicon Valley dream of getting rich?

F

ruchterman comes at the question from two directions: family and school. He grew up outside Chicago in a Catholic family with six kids, and his father was a lawyer at International Harvester, so the idea of service was part of his familys ethos. Technology was a big topic in family conversation, but "To us, entrepreneurship meant owning the dry cleaner or a Chinese restaurant, and we sort of thought, Why would you do that? On the other hand, there was always this expectation in our family that you would do good. That was real."

As a high schooler, Fruchterman says he was also deeply impressed by the example at St. Viator, his Catholic all-boys high school, where the teachers were "living a life of service and giving back. They loved computers and math as much as I did. They were really good role models who could have had more lucrative careers, but they chose education instead."

The head of the math department turned him loose on calculus sophomore year and steered him to Caltech, amusing the young Fruchterman by reciting the Caltech "cheer," which was also on the office wall:

"Cosine, Tangent, Hyperbolic Sine,

Three point one four one five nine

E to the X DY DX

Sliderule, Slipstick,

Tech, Tech, Tech!"

"I am a tech geek first," Fruchterman likes to say, "not a social activist," which is about as prideful as the Caltech grad gets, but theres no question that social problems own his imagination and purpose in life.

Even after he was working full time at Arkenstone on technology products for the blind, he was restlessly looking for new issues to address. Human rights violations came up high on the list, especially after revelations in the early 1990s about the cover-up of the 1981 El Mozote massacre in El Salvador, in which Salvadoran soldiers killed at least 800 civilians.

He wondered how technology could have prevented such a travesty, and he took long walks with a friend on the Stanford dish trail -- where many Silicon Valley ideas take shape -- to brainstorm highly improbable high-tech solutions, including force fields to protect vulnerable communities. He concluded that the real opportunity was to deliver timely, actionable information about abuses. El Mozotes perpetrators were disguised as much by the passage of time as anything else.

Fruchterman had ideas about how technology could help, and he took them to groups like Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch. He was surprised to discover "that their technical levels were really low, and they wanted help but had no money." Fruchterman wanted to help, but Arkenstone did not have the money either.

In early 2000, Fruchterman had a surprise break that, like the Caere acquisition of Calera, would create an opportunity to tackle more projects. Out of the blue, a businessman named Dick Chandler offered to buy Arkenstone for $5 million. Chandler also promised to continue producing reading machines. Fruchterman took the offer and used the funds to stake a new 501c3 called Benetech, which borrowed everything but the profit motive from Silicon Valley.

"Essentially we took the standard venture capital model and tweaked every one of the investment criteria for social good. What Benetech does is commands the same set of talents and dynamics. Its just the financial set points are different. We were looking to create break-even ventures that do good."

Jim at the original Benetech office in Moffett Field, 2001

F

ruchterman took advantage of the 1999 dot-com bust to lease the outfits current office at a great rent (including cubicles!) and set out on two tracks: one to raise so-called risk capital -- in effect restricted and unrestricted grants from donors -- because $5 million would not last long, and the second to get projects under way.

One project was the next stage in his work to help the blind read by digitizing virtually all reading materials, from digital audio books (formerly on tape) to digital Braille files that drove an electro-mechanical Braille reader (formerly Braille books), to iPad-based, listen-and-follow systems for dyslexic readers.

The Skoll Foundation, the Omidyar Network and the Social Profit Network kicked in nearly $4 million to develop the technologies, and Benetech won its first Department of Education contract for Bookshare in 2007.

One Bookshare beneficiary is Brian Meersma, a senior at Cornell who is studying industrial and labor relations and who has dyslexia. Meersma has been a Bookshare client since elementary school, where his disability was so severe that basic comprehension was a challenge.

"To get the words, I had to read so slowly that I had no idea about the meaning," he says. Today, Meersma gets his text books, as well as pleasure reading, via Bookshare, which has a mode for iPads that combines sped-up audio with text that highlights in sync with the audio. Meersma frequently sends Bookshare team ideas to improve the service and requests new books be added to the library.

"In a lot of ways," says Meersma. "Bookshare really gave me the opportunity to go to college. The ability to tap into a library that I could read on my own really opened up possibilities."

Human rights was another early ambition at Benetech, and Fruchterman recruited Patrick Ball, a leading expert on human rights data, in 2002 to bring his Human Rights Data Analysis Group (HRDAG) under Benetechs umbrella, where they worked for 12 years on data problems -- like estimating civilian death tolls in inaccessible war zones -- and developed Martus, a self-encrypting and self-replicating information collection and management tool to help human rights investigators keep their data safe from prying eyes.

Martus represented the kind of tool that Fruchterman thought might have helped human rights investigators break the El Mozote story sooner and perhaps bring the Salvadoran civil war to a faster conclusion. Hundreds of human rights groups around the world tried Martus, and a few dozen put the tool into regular use, notably in places like Guatemala, Burma, and countries in central Africa.

"Martus has never had a security-related bug, which is a credit to Benetechs engineers," says Ball. At the same time, he adds, Martus was not as widely adopted as he initially hoped. "What we discovered is that its hard to get people to use tools they are unfamiliar with," says Ball, "and that new tools really raise anxiety. Many would just prefer to use familiar tools like YouTube, WhatsApp, or just paper."

In addition, over the past decade, mobile platforms also became more secure by default just as the nature of threats changed significantly. The original design for Martus worked well for "smash-and-grab" scenarios, like secret police grabbing a computer or hacking a server, but today spear phishing attacks that can drop malware on a device to read data in machine memory are threats outside of Martus scope.

The Martus experience serves as a sort of cautionary tale in Balls eyes. Even the best tech and best intentions sometimes wont deliver the intended results. Ball takes that observation a step further, in a challenge to his evangelical technologist friend and former colleague Jim Fruchterman, to argue that some of the technical innovation coming at the social sector may actually be dangerous to some communities.

For example, data and machine learning about marginal groups, like the homeless or residents of poorer neighborhoods, may end up in the hands of police or informing "predictive crime" algorithms. "Taking risks to get from here to there is what Silicon Valley loves," says Ball, "but (in many projects) the risks are not being borne by people doing the disrupting, they are borne by the communities being disrupted. That is what worries me."

Fruchterman describes the Benetechs projects over the years much the same way a VC would their portfolio: any number of failures, a few singles and doubles, and a very small number of home runs, Bookshare being more like a grand slam.

Fruchterman travels a lot these days hoping to find donors ready to stake new projects and learning from other social entrepreneurs and tech-for-good initiatives. His dream is to raise more risk capital so that his Benetech team can develop more prototype solutions that might lead to the next Bookshare.

Is it possible, for example, to create a smart search interface for social services? Today, people in need of services cant easily discover whats available to them. Google has already mastered that for day-to-day, consumer services, and Fruchterman is working with players in the field to try to unify their work and datasets. Or perhaps homelessness can be addressed if only there were better ways to track client populations, and the causes of their homelessness, and mark progress. Thats another one high on Fruchtermans list.

If Fruchterman knows one thing, its that high-impact projects take lots of time and money to bring about lasting meaningful change. Bookshare was the result of 20 years of work for Fruchterman when it launched in 2007 with the Department of Education. His former colleague, Ball, notes that Benetechs success has as much to do with time and trial as it does with tech.

"These problems dont get solved at overnight hackathons," says Ball. "Benetechs great strength has been its persistence, which allowed for engagement with a lot of people, and lots of iteration."

Those long cycles suggest slow progress, unless more Benetechs take the field. The good news is that Benetech is no longer alone. "For the first 10 years," says Fruchterman, "we thought we were the only ones. Now other teams are showing up, and the quality of what I see coming out of Stanford, Berkeley and Santa Clara has gone way up."

Skolls Sally Osberg sees the changing playing field as well.

"Incredible potential can be unleashed by someone like Jim," she says, "and the rising generation sees this potential. We see incredible talent thats just as drawn to the nonprofits as they are to the commercial sectors."

Fruchtermans example, more than his next single or home run, may be the most important platform he leaves the tech world.
Then-presidential candidate Donald Trump (L) shakes hands with Jerry Falwell Jr. at a campaign rally in Council Bluffs, Iowa, on Jan. 31, 2016. (Photo: Scott Morgan / Reuters)

An evangelical pastor claimed he was kicked out of and permanently banned from Virginias Liberty University after he criticized Jerry Falwell Jr., the Christian schools president, for aligning with the darkest contours of Trumpism.

Jonathan Martin, an author and preacher from Tulsa, Oklahoma, said he was at the university Monday night attending a concert by musical group Johnnyswim, when campus police came to take him away.

Martin had expressed a desire on social media days before to organize a prayer session on Libertys campus. On Monday, he said he was told by police that if he ever returned to the universitys campus, he would face arrest.

Tonight after the @JOHNNYSWIM show, 3 armed @LibertyU police officers (& I think 2 not in uniform)came & escorted me out of their green room pic.twitter.com/eigyE1LjaG  Jonathan Martin (@theboyonthebike) October 31, 2017

They served me papers & took my picture, told me I would be immediately arrested if I ever stepped foot on @LibertyU property again.  Jonathan Martin (@theboyonthebike) October 31, 2017

What does it mean for a college administration to be this afraid of free speech? What precisely do they fear? Martin wrote on Instagram. [Jerry Falwell] openly encourages his students to carry guns, but fears public prayer from Christians who openly embrace nonviolence.

This confirms everything Ive heard about the authoritarianism of Falwell, who, like the president for whom he serves as a full-time apologist, does not easily tolerate robust dissent, Martin wrote.

Story continues

Martin did not immediately respond to a HuffPost request for an interview.

In a statement sent to HuffPost, Liberty University said that Martin was given a trespass warning Monday night for public safety reasons.

The university argued that Martin, who is not a student, faculty member or employee, had not followed proper protocols for scheduling events on campus.

Members of the Liberty University community are always welcome to engage in peaceful debate, intellectual inquiry and protest, but for public safety reasons, organized events by outside groups require advance notice and participating in the appropriate application process, the statement read.

Jerry Falwell Jr. speaks as President Trump is presented with a Doctorate of Laws during a commencement at Liberty University on May 13, 2017, in Lynchburg, Virginia. (Photo: Alex Wong via Getty Images)

Falwell Jr. is the son of Libertys founder, the late Dr. Jerry Falwell Sr., who helped organize the conservative Moral Majority movement in the 1970s and 1980s. Fallwell Jr. has been a prominent and vocal supporter of Donald Trump, defending the president after a video of the then-candidate making lewd comments about women surfaced during the election. Falwells support for Trump didnt waver after the president claimed that there were some very fine people on both sides during a white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, that left one person dead.

More recently, Falwell claimed he was so proud of Trumps former chief strategist, Steve Bannon, for taking on the Republican establishment at the White House. Bannon, executive chairman of the conservative Breitbart News, has claimed in the past that his website is a platform for the alt-right.

Trump gave his first commencement speech as president at Liberty University in May.

Falwells steady support of the president reflects the views of many white evangelicals, who as a group have been overwhelmingly supportive of the presidency. But there have been divisions within American evangelicalism over the presidents goals and tactics, a reality that has played out at Liberty University, where both current students and alumni have expressed displeasure over Falwells overt political ties.

On Oct. 27, Martin wrote on Twitter that he felt led to organize a time of praise & peaceful protest at one of the most hostile environments for the gospel in the US: @LibertyU.

Friends: I do not do this in a light or cavalier way. But I feel like I cant get away from thisIm going to need some prayer & some help.  Jonathan Martin (@theboyonthebike) October 27, 2017

I think its an important site strategically: ground zero for the counterfeit faith that is sweeping many evangelical churches right now, he wrote.

On Oct. 30, Martin encouraged students to gather on Libertys campus at 7 a.m. the next morning to pray, listen & discern together.

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It felt important to get on the ground with some of my Liberty U friends, just to take some to pray, listen, & discern together...  Jonathan Martin (@theboyonthebike) October 31, 2017

Thats all, for now-praying for Gods grace to guide us to know what faithful witness looks like in this unique season, he wrote.

Dustin Wahl, a Liberty University senior who organized a petition protesting the universitys association with Trump last year, told HuffPost he reached out to Martin after reading the tweets.

Wahl said that Martin was receptive to students requests to keep the event focused around prayer.

We spoke, and he was very receptive to student input, Wahl wrote in an email. It seems that he did not intend to lead any kind of a protest when he was here  he wanted merely to pray with however many students wanted to join him in prayer for the school. The prayer was something that a number of students discussed with him. So it was in part his plan, and in part the plan of students.

Due to the late hour of notice about the 7 a.m. prayer, Liberty University said that the only effective way to prevent the unauthorized event from happening was to give Martin a trespass warning.

The judgment was made that it was safer to stop the event before it started than to attempt to turn away an unknown number of people who traveled to Libertys campus. Either option likely gives Mr. Martins cause the publicity he apparently seeks, the statement read. The University cannot be concerned with whether its actions provide additional oxygen to either side of a debate but rather must be concerned about safety and security of its campus.

Donald Trump (then a candidate for the presidency) speaks at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia, January 18, 2016. (Photo: Joshua Roberts / Reuters)

Martin claimed the response from the university was linked to his criticism of Falwell.

This was evidently in response to my strong criticism of @JerryFallwellJrs alignment not only with the darkest contours of Trumpism, but expressly with Steve Bannon & the alt-right he represents, Martin wrote on Twitter. I was openly considering some sort of future action oriented around prayer & repentance, but came this time only for the show & for...a time of prayer tomorrow morning to seek divine guidance as to what faithful, humble-but-clear Christian resistance might look like.

The prayer gathering proposed by Martin took place without him at 7 a.m. on Tuesday, Wahl told HuffPost. A few students also accepted Martins invitation to pray with him off campus.

It seems much of evangelical faith in America has been hijacked, doesn't it? But the future is worth fighting for, friends. Press on.  Jonathan Martin (@theboyonthebike) October 31, 2017

Wahl said that he believes Falwells views dont reflect the values of most students at his university.

Many have the perception that Liberty students are a bunch of mini Steve Bannons which could not be further from the truth. Maybe 1% of campus is like that, Wahl wrote.

Christianity is centered on mans sinfulness and need for forgiveness. It has absolutely nothing to do with Nationalism, or any other creed that craven, dishonest men may want to attach to it.

Also on HuffPost

Jesus: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you.

Trump: When people wrong you, go after those people, because it is a good feeling and because other people will see you doing it. I always get even.

Jesus: Love your neighbor as yourself.

Trump: I will build a great, great wall on our southern border, and I will make Mexico pay for that wall.

Jesus: "The King will say to those on his right, Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me. Then the righteous will answer him, Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you? The King will reply, Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me."

Trump: "I'm putting people on notice that are coming here from Syria as part of this mass migration, that if I win, they're going back!"

Jesus: Those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.

Trump: "Sorry losers and haters, but my I.Q. is one of the highest -- and you all know it! Please don't feel so stupid or insecure, it's not your fault.

Jesus: "I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."

Trump: "Why do I have to repent, why do I have to ask for forgiveness if [I'm] not making mistakes?"

Jesus: "Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy."

Trump: "Im in total support of waterboarding. It has to be within the law, but I have to expand the law."

Jesus: "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth."

Trump: "I fully think apologizing is a great thing. But you have to be WRONG ... I will absolutely apologize sometime in the hopefully distant future if I'm ever wrong."

Jesus: "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God."

Trump: I could stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody and I wouldnt lose voters.

Jesus: "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

Trump: "Part of the beauty of me is that I'm very rich."

Jesus: "This is my body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of me. This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you."

Trump: "When I go to church and when I drink my little wine and have my little cracker, I guess that is a form of forgiveness. I do that as often as I can because I feel cleansed."

This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Francis condemned on Wednesday recent deadly attacks in Somalia, Afghanistan and New York, saying militants were abusing the name of God to justify their violence.

"I am profoundly saddened by the terrorist attacks in these recent days in Somalia, Afghanistan and yesterday in New York," the pope said in an address to mark All Saints Day, adding that he was praying for the victims and their families.

"We ask God to convert the hearts of terrorists and free the world of hatred and of mad murder that abuses the name of God to disseminate death," he said to Roman Catholic faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square.

A man driving a truck mowed down pedestrians and cyclists in New York on Tuesday, killing eight people. CNN and other U.S. media said the attacker had left a note claiming allegiance to Islamic State and that he had shouted "Allahu Akbar" - Arabic for "God is greatest" - when he jumped out of his truck.

Also on Tuesday, as many as eight people were killed by a suicide bomber in the Afghan capital, Kabul. It was the latest of a string of attacks in Afghanistan last month, including one on a Shi'ite mosque that killed more than 50 people.

On Sunday, at least 29 people died in an Islamist attack on a hotel in the Somali capital, Mogadishu. The assault came two weeks after two bombings in the city killed more than 350 people.

Pope Francis has repeatedly condemned Islamist militants in recent years, saying followers of religions who carry out acts of fundamentalism or terrorism are profaning Gods name.

(Reporting by Crispian Balmer, editing by Larry King and Emelia Sithole-Matarise)
Vatican City (AFP) - Pope Francis condemned on Wednesday recent terror attacks around the world, including in New York where eight people were killed, saying he was "saddened" by events.

"I am saddened by the terrorist attacks in recent days in Somalia, Afghanistan and yesterday in New York," the pope said during his Angelus prayer in St Peter's Square.

He asked people to pray that God "converts the hearts of terrorists and frees the world of hatred and murderous madness, which abuses the name of God to disseminate death," adding that he was praying for the victims and their families.

Eight people were killed and 11 injured in Lower Manhattan, New York, on Tuesday when the driver of a pickup truck hit people on a cycle path.

At least 27 people were killed on Saturday in the capital, Mogadishu, in an attack claimed by Al-Qaeda linked Shabaab militants.

In Afghanistan, a teenager blew himself up in Kabul's heavily fortified diplomatic quarter on Tuesday and killed at least five people.
On Monday, supporters of LGBT rights declared that there had been a victory for justice. A court rejected President Trumps ban on transgender people serving in the military, essentially reinstating a previous policy that allowed them to serve.

Transgender people are just as qualified to serve as anyone else, GLADs Jennifer Levi, a lead co-counsel in case, tells TIME. The decision by the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia means that people who are currently in the military cannot be discharged just for being transgender, she says. And it means transgender people have to be allowed to enlist in the military.

The government could decide to appeal the preliminary injunction issued by the court, which prohibits the military from enforcing the ban. The ball is in the governments court, Levi says, adding that the ruling means theres no gray area for now.

Before he left office, President Obama set in motion changes that would end a long-standing ban on the service of transgender troops. About five years after lifting the ban on the open service of gay and lesbian Americans, the Department of Defense announced in 2016 that transgender people could serve openly as well. Many transgender individuals came out, being open about identities they had long hidden for fear of being discharged, and the military started preparing to enlist openly transgender people.

After taking office, Trump moved to undo the changes Obama instigated, saying in a memo that allowing transgender people to serve could disrupt unit cohesion and tax military resources. Some Republicans have objected to taxpayer funds going toward transition-related medical care, such as gender reassignment surgery. And Trump suggested that additional study was required to make sure the implementation of the new policy would not have negative effects.

Many transgender troops who had made their identities public were meanwhile left wondering if theyd accidentally put their jobs at risk. The ban had thrown their lives into chaos, says Levi, who is representing several plaintiffs in the case, six of whom are currently serving in the military on active duty. Rather than be able to count on a career in military service, as they have done, theyd be facing discharge. Other plaintiffs are aspiring service members who feared Trumps ban meant those plans had been thrown out the window.

Levi says that the ruling proves that sufficient study had been done before the ban was initially lifted in 2016. The decision had been reviewed for one year. During that time, the RAND Corporation issued a report finding that the number of openly transgender people serving in the military would likely be a small fraction of the total force and have minimal impact on readiness and health care costs. There is no definite figure for how many transgender people are currently on active duty, but estimates range from about 2,500 to 15,500.

In the opinion, U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly stated that the government had not proven that national defense was at risk. There is absolutely no support for the claim that the ongoing service of transgender people would have any negative effective on the military at all, she wrote. In fact, there is considerable evidence that it is the discharge and banning of such individuals that would have such effects.
In Macau, opinions regarding tattoos are still influenced by a cultural bias. Amid this atmosphere, the Macau Association of Tattoo Art (MATA) is persisting in their attempts to promote tattoo culture.

Interviewed by the Times, Helen Lo, vice president of MATA, expresses her opinion on how tattoo culture can be properly understood in Macau. Ho also says that local tattoo artists involved with the association  which currently has around 100 members  expect the establishment of stricter regulations within the industry, to create a similar standard in the MSAR as there is in Hong Kong.

Macau Daily Times (MDT)  Recently, the Macau Association of Tattoo Art organized a seminar at the Macau Polytechnic Institute. What was the motivation behind it?

Helen Lo (HL)  We organized the event as an association. In fact, tattoos are not very popular. We want, after having organized the event, that people know more of this culture and other things, such as the principles of the tattoo machines, in order to accept tattoos and let other people know that a person with tattoos is not a bad person. A few ideas, indeed, are not clear, and it is difficult [for the public] to know about it. Therefore, we are committed to take the initiative as a dominant role to bring tattoos to the universities. There, the acceptance may be higher.

MDT  What is a tattoo culture in your opinion?

HL  Tattoos are not [part of] mainstream culture. With the progress of times, I think that more and more people will get to know more about it. Teenagers may gather information from other mainstream cultures, or, specially, from social media, and then they may feel compelled to get a tattoo. However, tattoos stay with you for the rest of your life. So, they are our responsibility, and we hope we can promote a positive image that we are not calling them to get a tattoo, [we want them to know] how to get one [properly], not because other people are doing it as well.

MDT  How can you and the association promote tattoos in Macau? Is MATA planning to hold a tattoo convention?

HL  The government is not really supportive of tattoos. But I think that, in Macau, there are a few people who have enough esteem for such culture. Later, we will organize events to promote it. Why dont we give up when nobody else in Macau is trying? Maybe because we can bring some good things to the table, and because we can let people know to not follow the trend [other people who make tattoos]. We hope that in our convention we can share some experiences with local tattoo artists, and share with the participants themes regarding tattoo hygiene, among others.

MDT  Do you see people becoming more open-minded about tattoos?

HL  Yes. Nowadays the situation is much better than in previous years. Thanks to the tattoo influence coming from Europe, [people] are more accepting. I know that more and more people want to get a tattoo, because they probably think that having a tattoo is really cool. But I know more and more people want to get a tattoo [because they appreciate the culture].

MDT  What is the Macau government doing regarding the tattoo industry?

HL  The government completely lacks regulation for the tattoo industry. Within the cosmetics industry, and others, people are required to apply for a license, and they can be listed as medical services. We also open shops, and we also have to apply for operation licenses. We have been contacting all kinds of government departments. The tattoo industry is really a bodiless organism, which can be good and bad at the same time. Commercial things related to tattoos cannot be regulated at all. Some of the [shops] are allowed to open without hygiene regulations. In Hong Kong, there are regulations. There, people younger than a certain age cannot get a tattoo. Even though tattoo culture is not a mainstream culture, there is still a small group of people who will do it.

MDT  What do you expect the government to do for this industry?

HL  The government can promote it a little bit. I think that it can organize events to help people understand more about tattoos. Our association also hopes to organize a few seminars to educate the cultural authority. All depends on whether the government will come up with regulations for this industry. But it seems the government does not care about it at all. Why are there regulations in Hong Kong? Many things are difficult to be regulated, yet Hong Kong did it. This thing, a tattoo, stays with us forever. As such, the part [of societys issues] that concerns the youth should be paid more importance.
The Hague (AFP) - Catalonia's deposed separatist leader Carles Puigdemont will not return to Spain to face a top criminal court on Thursday, as there is a "good chance that he would be detained", his lawyer has said.

Speaking to Dutch public newscaster NOS late Tuesday, Belgian lawyer Paul Bekaert said "as far as he told me that's not going to happen" when asked if his client would go back to Spain having been summoned to appear in a Madrid court.

"That's because we are awaiting further reactions from the Spanish authorities to see what's going to happen," Bekaert said, speaking by phone to the Nieuwsuur news programme.

In a separate interview with the Flemish-speaking VTM news channel, Bekaert also said Puigdemont will not ask Belgium for political asylum.

Puigdemont together with 13 other former members of his administration, dismissed by the Spanish central government last week, has been summoned to appear by the National Court in Madrid, Spain's top criminal tribunal.

On Monday, Spain's chief prosecutor said he was seeking charges of rebellion -- punishable by up to 30 years behind bars -- sedition and misuse of public funds.

The National Court told Puigdemont and his 13 deputies to appear for questioning in Madrid on Thursday and Friday and gave them three days to pay a combined deposit against potential penalties of 6.2 million euros ($7.2 million).

Prosecutors could order their arrest if they failed to appear.

But Puigdemont, 54, is in Brussels, where he surfaced after reportedly driving to Marseille in France and flying to the Belgian capital.

"I don't forsee him going back to Spain within the coming weeks," Bekaert told VTM.

He said he believed "there is a good chance Puigdemont will be detained" should he return.

Asked by NOS whether Puigdemont would face a fair trial in Spain, Bekaert said: "It would be premature (to say), but that would certainly be an argument we would use at an eventual extradition request".

Story continues

He added that an extradition request from Madrid "is not essential".

"I have handled a large number of cases involving Spanish Basques and in those cases an interrogation simply took place here (in Belgium) with local police," he said.

Bekaert told VTM however that "when Spain asks for his (Puigdemont's) extradition a Belgian judge would have to make a decision about it."

"Therefore it's not the (Belgian) government that decides about the extradition, it's the courts," he said, adding his client would not seek political asylum in Belgium.

"You can request asylum, but seldom or never is it given," he said, adding his four previous attempts to win asylum for different clients had all ended in failure.

At a chaotic news conference Tuesday in Brussels, Puigdemont said he was in the Belgian capital "for safety purposes and freedom" and to "explain the Catalan problem in the institutional heart of Europe".

He denied he intended to claim asylum but said he and several other former ministers would only return if they are guaranteed impartial legal proceedings.
https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/themes/techcrunch-2017/features/shortcodes/vidible-callback-js.php?id=0

It's no big secret that Razer (the company best known for building gaming peripherals and laptops) has been building a phone. The company bought fledgling smartphone maker Nextbit earlier this year, and there's been talk of a Razer phone ever since.

Sure enough, here it is: the Android-powered Razer phone. (Not to be confused, of course, with that shining beacon of the early 2000s, the RAZR)

The company announced the device at an event in London this afternoon. Like most things Razer does, this phone is built with a focus on gaming -- which, in this case, means it's got some pretty crazy specs:

Qualcomm's ultra-speedy Snapdragon 835 chip, the same one that powers flagships like the Pixel 2 and the Galaxy S8

A big ol' 4,000mAh battery

8GB of RAM

64GB of internal storage, plus a microSD slot for expansion

Dual 12-megapixel cameras on the rear with different levels of optical zoom -- one wide angle, one telephoto.

8-megapixel cam on the front

As with the Nextbit Robin, they've hidden the fingerprint sensor in the power button on the side

802.11a/b/g/n/AC, Bluetooth 4.2, and NFC

It'll run Android Nougat 7.1.1 at launch, with plans to update to Android Oreo (8.0) in the first quarter of 2018.

A 5.72 inch, 120hz display -- meaning the screen refreshes super-fast for smoother scrolling and animation/movement in games. The iPad Pro tablet has a 120hz screen, but it looks like Razer might be the first to market with a 120hz display in a phone

I got to go hands-on with the device a few days ago, and I'm looking forward to spending more time with it for a review. For now, I'll say: The device looks and feels well-built, the speakers were nice and loud and the 120hz screen seemed buttery smooth.

In what seems to be an unstoppable trend at this point, there's no 3.5mm jack here. The company tells me they needed that space for the battery and the speakers. On the upside, there's a THX certified 3.5mm to USB-C DAC adapter in the box.

Story continues

If you've ever held the previous phone made by the Nextbit team, the Robin, the Razer phone feels a bit like the bigger, badder evolution of that. If there's a parallel universe where Nextbit lived on independently and made a "Robin 2 XL," it'd probably look a lot like this (minus, you know, the Razer logo on the back).

They've understandably dropped some of the software features that were unique to the Robin in its time. The Robin would, for example, automatically back your photos up to the cloud and remove the local copies to save space. Shortly after the Robin's debut, Google rolled similar functionality into Google Photos right within Android and made the whole thing a bit redundant.

The phone will cost $699 at launch. Pre-orders should go live shortly, and it'll ship in North America and Europe on November 17th.
Reddit CEO Steve Huffman took to the site for his "quarterly inquisition," an AMA where he fielded questions from users and moderators on all kinds of topics. The discussion today focused largely on empowering mods to do what they need to do, which should have a knock-on effect in creating functional communities. But he also addressed some politically sensitive issues, from election interference to troublesome subreddits.

The overarching goal over the last couple of years has been updating Reddit from the largely unfiltered sea of blue links (he called it a "dystopian Craigslist") to a truly self-monitoring and self-hosted source of user-submitted content.

Because the site is far too big to be policed by Reddit staff, the monitoring part of the job is delegated to moderators, volunteers who handle everything from setting and enforcing subreddit rules to addressing user complaints. But they can't do their job if Reddit isn't supporting them, and mods have been vocal about needing better tools to keep tabs on the thousands of users they oversee.

"Proper mod tools for mobile are in development now. They'll ship in the next major (4.0) release, which we expect this year," wrote Huffman. "We have a 'moderators' dev team now. At the moment they're working on an enhanced mod queue, subreddit styling, and a new flair system."

Community managers are also being hired  these are the interface between the site's official staff and its many mods and users.

The next part of the challenge is making Reddit easier for people to like. A new "Popular" subreddit was added earlier this year to be a better front page for first-time visitors, and now the priority is getting them to stay. Huffman extemporized on the general trend:

As Reddit has grown, so has our vision. Reddit provides human connection and belonging, for which we believe people have a fundamental need. People come to Reddit to stay informed, to laugh, to learn, to argue, for support, to talk about freaky sex stuff... Reddit means a lot of things to a lot of people, and we want to provide our service for everyone on the planet. Of course, the increase in size means we attract people who want to exploit us. We at Reddit Inc will do our best to prevent this, and the greater Reddit community will fight it as well. Reddit is the most human place on the Internet, we'll fight to preserve this as hard as we can.

Story continues

And part of that is acknowledging the presence of both bad actors and unpopular ones. Several users brought up the question of Russian interference or influence like we've seen on other platforms.

Huffman's responses were necessarily vague, he wrote, because of "the sensitive nature of the situation"  by which he presumably meant he can't be specific about methods because the actors in question would then circumvent them. But he assured people that it was being taken seriously:

This is the domain of the Anti-Evil team that I've mentioned in previous posts. They are the engineering team whose mandate is to prevent those who cheat, manipulate, and otherwise attempt to undermine Reddit. ...we detect and prevent manipulation in a variety of ways, generally looking at where accounts come from, how they work together, and behaviors of groups of accounts that differ from typical behavior. Folks have been trying to manipulate Reddit for a long time, so this is not a new problem for us. Their tactics and our responses do evolve over time, so it's been constant work for us over the years.

He also noted that Reddit is fundamentally less susceptible to this kind of thing, at least in certain ways:

Reddit itself is more resilient than other places online because our community is generally pretty good at sniffing out bullshit, and structure of our site means any one viewpoint isn't seen and accepted by everyone. People have this notion that something is either misinformation or not, but the reality is there is a lot of space between misinformation, satire, people just being wrong, trolling, and biased reporting.

The response that seemed to garner the most disagreement was Huffman's response to the question of why Reddit had not yet banned r/The_Donald, which as you can imagine is a hive of pro-Trump activity but is infamous for its members bullying and trolling other subs. Several users cited many posts and comments that clearly broke the rules of the site  rules that were recently updated to outlaw content that "encourages, glorifies, incites, or calls for violence or physical harm against people or animals."

Huffman's response was that, although he acknowledged that many of the provided comments broke the rules, the subreddit itself isn't fundamentally in violation:

Generally the mods of the_donald have been cooperative when we approach them with systematic abuses. Typically we ban entire communities only when the mods are uncooperative or the entire premise of the community is in violation of our policies. In the past we have removed mods of the_donald that refuse to work with us.

But the second part of his response provoked something of an avalanche of disapproval:

Finally, the_donald is a small part of a large problem we face in this countrythat a large part of the population feels unheard, and the last thing we're going to do is take their voice away.

Users decried this as being needlessly tolerant of a section of the site many see as toxic and filled with multiple offenders of the site's rules. The idea that they're "unheard" is also questionable, considering the population in question did manage to elect a president. They're being heard, all right.

It would, of course, create a different backlash should Reddit institute a ban; accusations of partisan censorship and takeover by social justice warriors would be instantaneous. It may be that admins have their finger on the button and are just waiting for this and other subreddits like it to make a few serious mistakes before pressing it. But the feeling in the thread was certainly that the action is long overdue.

Lastly there was the question of monetization, on which topic Huffman was candid:
Rose McGowan is fighting back after a warrant was issued for her arrest in connection with felony drug possession case.

Read: Rose McGowan Rips Weinstein at Women's Convention: 'The Monster's Face Has Been Everywhere'

Are they trying to silence me? the Scream actress tweeted Monday afternoon. There is a warrant out for my arrest in Virginia. What a load of horses***."

Police say the arrest warrant was issued after McGowan left behind some personal belongings on a United Airlines flight that landed at Dulles International Airport outside Washington back in January. Cops say it tested positive for narcotics.

McGowan was in D.C. to participate in the Women's March on Washington, which took place on the day after President Trumps inauguration.

Cops say they've attempted to contact the Charmed star to appear in court without success.

Read: Angelina Jolie, Gwyneth Paltrow Say Harvey Weinstein Sexually Harassed Them

McGowan has been the most outspoken of the dozens of women accusing movie mogul Harvey Weinstein of sexual misconduct in recent weeks.

She has claimed that Weinstein raped her nearly 20 years ago. He has denied all allegations of non-consensual sex.

Related Articles:
Washington (AFP) - Between March and September 2016, members of the campaign team of presidential candidate Donald Trump held a series of meetings with Russian officials and representatives, the timeline of which is now at the center of the investigation by special prosecutor Robert Mueller.

Here is the sequences of those contacts as outlined in court documents released on Monday:

March 2016: Lobbyist Paul Manafort joins the campaign of presidential candidate Donald Trump. During the preceding decade, Manafort is accused of laundering 18 million dollars amassed through his work for ousted pro-Russian Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovich.

Early March 2016: George Papadopoulos, a young and largely unknown London-based former advisor to presidential candidate Ben Carson, learns he is being named a foreign policy adviser to the Trump campaign team.

March 14: Papadopoulos meets in Italy with a "professor" who claims to have an inside track to the Russian authorities.

March 19: John Podesta, campaign manager for Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton, has his email server hacked. According to US intelligence agencies, thousands of emails are then copied by the Russian secret service. These emails, which contain often embarrassing information, are leaked in early October, just ahead of the November 8 election.

March 24: Papadopoulos meets again with the "professor" in London, as well as with a woman who presents herself as the niece of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

March 31: Papadopoulos attends a national security meeting presided by Trump, during which he boasts of being able to set up a meeting between Putin and Trump.

April 18: Papadopoulos begins a series of email exchanges and Skype calls with a person in Moscow closely associated with the Russian foreign ministry.

April 26: Papadopoulos meets again with the "professor" in London who says he has "dirt" on Hillary Clinton.

April 27: in a speech at the Mayflower hotel in Washington, Tump promises to "ease tensions" with Russia. The Russian ambassador to Moscow, Sergei Kislyak, is present in the room.

Story continues

May 2016: Manafort takes over the running of the Trump of the campaign.

May 4: Papadopoulos' contact in Moscow sends an email saying that the Russian foreign ministry is "open to cooperation".

May 18: James Clapper, director of US national intelligence, reveals his concerns about the risk of cyber-attacks in the election campaign.

June 2016: Briton Rob Goldstone, a friend of the Trump family, exchanges emails with Donald Trump Jr, the candidate's eldest son, saying he has information that would be damaging to Clinton that was provided by Yuri Chaika, the Russian attorney general.

June 9: Donald Trump Jr and Jared Kushner, the candidate's son-in-law, meet in Trump Tower, New York, with Russian lawyer Natalia Veselnitskaya, who they understand to be representing the Russian government and who claims she can provide damaging information about Clinton. The family later claim the meeting was brief and yielded nothing of value.

June 14: CrowdStrike, an American cybersecurity company, reveals that two hacker groups, Fancy Bear and Cozy Bear, have hacked Democratic party computers. CrowdStrike says these groups are linked to the Russian intelligence services.

July 2016: The FBI opens a secret investigation after US intelligence agencies report intensive communications between Trump aides and Russians.

July 7: Carter Page, another Trump campaign adviser, gives a speech in Moscow that is particularly favorable to the Kremlin. Later, on the fringes of the Republican National Convention, Page and another adviser, J.D. Gordon, meet Russian ambassador Kislyak.

July 22: WikiLeaks starts putting out emails stolen from the Democratic Party computer server.

July 27: in a speech, Donald Trump publicly calls on Russia to "find the 30,000 emails that are missing.

August 4 2016: CIA head John Brennan warns that Russian interference in the US elections would have "serious consequences."

August 15: Papadopoulos' superior in the campaign encourages him to go to Moscow for a confidential meeting. In the end, the trip does not take place.

August 19: Manafort is forced to step down as campaign chairman after reports emerge of payments from pro-Russian groups in Ukraine.

September 8: Senator Jeff Sessions, who will be go on to serve as Trump's attorney general, receives Russian ambassador Kislyak in his office.

October 7: WikiLeaks starts publishing Podesta's hacked emails.

November 8: Donald Trump is elected 45th president of the United States.

January 27, 2017: Papadopoulos is questioned by the FBI, and makes false statements about his interactions with the Russians

July 27: He is arrested by the FBI at Dulles Airport in Washington

October 4: He pleads guilty to making false statements
Earlier this week, we learned that over half of Facebook's US audience, 126 million Americans, were exposed to Russia's attempts to influence last November's election on the platform. Now, tech companies are back in front of Congress answering questions on Russian use of their social media platforms to affect the election. Today, Facebook's general counsel Colin Stretch disclosed that an additional 20 million people may have been exposed to 120,000 Russian-backed posts on Instagram.

The figure that the executives shared earlier this week apparently did not take Instagram users into account (Facebook owns the popular image-based social media platform). Sixteen million Instagram users may have been exposed to Russian-backed posts on the service. An additional 4 million may have seen content prior to October 2016, but the data isn't as sound. Adding those 20 million possible users into the numbers shared earlier this week, we're at total of almost 150 million people. In the last census, the entire US population was recorded as 323.1 million people.

Of course, it's likely that there was some overlap between people who saw this content on Facebook and Instagram, but this news is unsettling, to say the least. Facebook's initial claim that the platform didn't influence the 2016 US presidential election at all is looking more and more irresponsible as these new facts come to light.
Manila, Philippines People visit apartment-style tombs of their loved ones during the observance of All Saints Day at Navotas Public cemetery in Metro Manila, Philippines, Nov. 1, 2017. (Photo: Romeo Ranoco/Reuters)

Pope Francis condemned on Wednesday recent deadly attacks in Somalia, Afghanistan and New York, saying militants were abusing the name of God to justify their violence.

I am profoundly saddened by the terrorist attacks in these recent days in Somalia, Afghanistan and yesterday in New York, the pope said in an address to mark All Saints Day, adding that he was praying for the victims and their families.

We ask God to convert the hearts of terrorists and free the world of hatred and of mad murder that abuses the name of God to disseminate death, he said to Roman Catholic faithful gathered in St. Peters Square.

A man driving a truck mowed down pedestrians and cyclists in New York on Tuesday, killing eight people. CNN and other U.S. media said the attacker had left a note claiming allegiance to Islamic State and that he had shouted Allahu Akbar  Arabic for God is greatest  when he jumped out of his truck.

Also on Tuesday, as many as eight people were killed by a suicide bomber in the Afghan capital, Kabul. It was the latest of a string of attacks in Afghanistan last month, including one on a Shiite mosque that killed more than 50 people.

On Sunday, at least 29 people died in an Islamist attack on a hotel in the Somali capital, Mogadishu. The assault came two weeks after two bombings in the city killed more than 350 people.

Pope Francis has repeatedly condemned Islamist militants in recent years, saying followers of religions who carry out acts of fundamentalism or terrorism are profaning Gods name. (Reuters)

Heres a look at people around the world honoring All Saints Day.

See more news-related photo galleries and follow us on Yahoo News Photo Twitter and Tumblr.
DUBAI (Reuters) - An air strike by a Saudi-led military coalition killed 26 people at a hotel and an adjoining market in Yemen's northern Saadah province on Wednesday, according to medics and a Reuters witness. The attack, which struck the Sahar district of the vast territory that borders Saudi Arabia, demolished the budget hotel and reduced market stalls outside to a heap of twisted sheet metal. Medics retrieved corpses from the rubble. The military alliance led by Saudi Arabia has launched thousands of air strikes against Yemen's armed Houthi movement, which hails from Saadah and now controls much of the country. The coalition said in a statement carried on state news agency SPA that it was looking into media reports of the strike and would release its findings after a comprehensive review. The 2-1/2 year war effort has yet to achieve its goal of restoring to power the internationally recognized government, but the conflict has unleashed one of the world's worst humanitarian crises and killed at least 10,000 people. Saudi Arabia and its allies, which receive logistical and intelligence help from the United States, accuse the Houthis of being a proxy of Iran. The Houthi group denies those charges and says it is conducting a patriotic resistance against outside aggressors in thrall to the West. (Writing by Maha El Dahan and Noah Browning; Editing by Robin Pomeroy)
NEW YORK (AP)  The Latest on a vehicle driving onto a bike path near the World Trade Center site and memorial (all times local):12:15 a.m.Uber has confirmed that the man suspected of driving a vehicle down a bike path near the World Trade Center site, killing eight people, was one of its drivers.The ride-hailing service released a statement today (Tuesday night) saying 29-year-old Sayfullo Saipov passed a background check to become an Uber driver and had been actively driving on the platform for more than six months. Saipov has since been banned from the Uber app.The company says it has reached out to law enforcement to provide its full assistance and is aggressively and quickly reviewing the suspects history with Uber.Uber says it is horrified by this senseless act of violence.A U.S. official familiar with the investigation into what happened says Saipov is from Uzbekistan and came to the U.S. in 2010.___10:30 p.m.Argentinas Foreign Ministry says five of the nations citizens were among the eight people killed in the truck attack on a New York City bike path.And the deputy prime minister and foreign affairs minister of Belgium says in a tweet one of the dead was Belgian.Belgians and Argentines also are among the 11 wounded in Tuesdays attack.Argentinas Foreign Ministry says the Argentine victims were in a group of friends who traveled to New York from Rosario. It says they were celebrating the 30th anniversary of graduating from Polytechnic College of Rosario.The ministry says it stands with the families in this terrible moment of deep pain, which is shared by all Argentines.Foreign Minister Jorge Faurie says hes shocked by the events in New York.Police say they shot and wounded the attacker and took him into custody.___10:15 p.m.President Donald Trump says he has ordered the Department of Homeland Security to step up our already Extreme Vetting Program following the deadly truck rampage on a New York City bike path.A man in a rented pickup truck mowed down pedestrians and cyclists along a busy bike path near the World Trade Center on Tuesday, killing at least eight people.Officials not authorized to discuss the investigation say the attacker is from Uzbekistan and came to the U.S. legally in 2010.Trumps extreme-vetting policy on immigrants entails more stringent investigative measures intended to identify those who may sympathize with extremists or pose a national security risk to the United States.Trump tweets, Being politically correct is fine, but not for this!___9:50 p.m.Two law enforcement officials say a note was recovered inside the truck that barreled down a bike path near the World Trade Center, killing eight people.One official says the note was hand-written in a foreign language, possibly Arabic. The contents are being investigated, but the officials say the document supported the belief the act was terrorism.The officials werent authorized to speak publicly about an ongoing investigation and spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity.Police say the trucks driver turned onto the bike path Tuesday afternoon, striking several people before plowing into a school bus. Officials say he got out of the truck waving a pellet gun and a paint gun and was shot by a police officer. Hes in critical condition after surgery.

___

9:25 p.m.

Police investigating a rented Home Depot trucks deadly rampage down a bike path near New Yorks World Trade Center have surrounded a white Toyota minivan with Florida plates parked in a New Jersey Home Depot lot.

The van is parked near the companys rental trucks. Officials tell The Associated Press the man suspected of killing eight people and injuring 11 more on the bike path rented a truck from a Home Depot in New Jersey about an hour before Tuesdays attack.

The man was shot by a police officer and is in custody in critical condition.

The Passaic Home Depot remains open. The minivan is cordoned off.

Home Depot spokesman Matthew Harrigan says the company is fully cooperating with law enforcement. He says the company requires a drivers license, insurance information and a credit card deposit to rent a truck.

___

8:25 p.m.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (KWOH-moh) has increased security at airports, bridges, tunnels and mass transit systems around the state following a vehicle attack on a bike path near the World Trade Center.

The Democratic governor has directed the lights on the spire of 1 World Trade Center be lit in red, white and blue in honor of freedom and democracy. He says additional security personnel are being deployed to high-density areas and large public gatherings.

Eight people were killed and 11 were injured when a man drove a rented truck down a bike path Tuesday afternoon. Police say they shot and wounded the attacker but hes expected to survive.

A U.S. official familiar with the investigation into what happened says the man is from Uzbekistan and came to the U.S. in 2010. Another official says the man has a Florida license but may have been staying in New Jersey.

___

8:10 p.m.

The head of the New York City schools system says two staff members and two students were injured in a school bus that was struck by a motorist who drove a rented truck onto a bike path, killing eight people.

Schools Chancellor Carmen Farina (fah-REEN-yah) says trauma counselors will be provided in the schools Wednesday.

The attack happened Tuesday near the World Trade Center and several schools and is being called by city officials an act of terror. It set off panic in the lower Manhattan neighborhood, with people screaming in fear and the bike path left strewn with mangled bicycles and bodies.

Police say they shot and wounded the attacker and took him into custody.

A U.S. official familiar with the investigation into what happened says the man is from Uzbekistan and came to the U.S. in 2010.

___

7:55 p.m.

A U.S. official familiar with the investigation into a man suspected of driving a rented truck down a bike path near the World Trade center and killing eight people says the man is from Uzbekistan and came to the U.S. in 2010.

The official was briefed on the investigation but wasnt authorized to speak publicly and talked to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity. The official says Sayfullo Saipov rented the vehicle Tuesday afternoon about an hour before the attack.

A law enforcement official says Saipov has a Florida license but may have been staying in New Jersey.

Police say the man was shot by officers and is hospitalized.

The man is in surgery and is expected to survive. He cant be reached for comment while in custody.

Police say the attack is being investigated as an act of terror.

___

7:40 p.m.

Argentinas Foreign Ministry has confirmed Argentine citizens died in the vehicle attack on a bike path near New Yorks World Trade Center site, but it hasnt said how many.

A statement says the Argentine Consulate in New York is working with local officials to identify the victims of Tuesdays truck attack.

The statement says the Argentine government is deeply shocked by what happened.

It says Argentina reaffirms its strongest condemnation of terrorist acts and violence in all its manifestations and reiterates the need to deepen the fight against this scourge.

Eight people were killed. Several others were injured.

Authorities say the attacker was shot by police and is hospitalized.

___

7:30 p.m.

A U.S. official familiar with the investigation says the 29-year-old man suspected of driving a rented truck down a bike path near the World Trade center, killing eight people is from Uzbekistan and came to the U.S. in 2010.

The official was briefed on the investigation but was not authorized to speak publicly and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. The official says the suspect, Sayfullo Saipov, rented the van Tuesday afternoon at about 2 p.m., about an hour before the attack.

A law enforcement official says Saipov has a Florida license but may have been staying in New Jersey. The official wasnt authorized to speak publicly about the ongoing investigation and spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity.

Saipov was shot by police. Hes hospitalized and cant be reached for comment while in custody. He is in surgery and is expected to survive.

Police say the attack is being investigated as an act of terror.

___

7:25 p.m.

President Donald Trump is vowing his administrations full support to New York Citys police department in the wake of what hes calling a cowardly terrorist attack.

A man in a rented pickup truck mowed down pedestrians and cyclists along a busy bike path near the World Trade Center Tuesday, killing at least eight.

Trump says in a statement that, Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims of todays terrorist attack in New York City and their families.

Trump is also expressing thanks to the first responders who stopped the suspect and rendered immediate aid to the victims of this cowardly attack. He says, These brave men and women embody the true American spirit of resilience and courage.

Trumps statement comes after a series of tweets in which he declared Enough! and suggested the Islamic State group might be involved.

___

7:20 p.m.

Boston police say theres no threat to their city after a vehicle attack on a bike path near New Yorks World Trade Center site and memorial left at least eight people dead and 11 others injured.

Authorities say a man in a rented pickup truck mowed down pedestrians and bicyclists along the busy bike path Tuesday. New Yorks mayor calls the attack a particularly cowardly act of terror. The driver was shot by police and taken into custody.

Boston police say theres no known threat to the Boston area.

The police department is reminding officers to be extra vigilant during their Tuesday evening patrols, paying particular attention to areas that tend to attract large crowds.

A state police spokesman tells The Boston Globe police have no plans to step up security measures.

___

7:10 p.m.

President Donald Trump is railing against the Islamic State group after a man drove a rented truck onto a bike path in New York City, killing eight people.

Trump says in a tweet, We must not allow ISIS to return, or enter, our country after defeating them in the Middle East and elsewhere.

Hes declaring, Enough!

New York Citys mayor has labeled the Tuesday attack in Lower Manhattan a cowardly act of terror. But local officials have made no mention publicly of the Islamic State groups possible involvement.

A law enforcement official who was not authorized to discuss the case publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity said witnesses told police the attacker yelled, Allahu akbar! as he got out of the truck.

Trump is also offering thoughts, condolences and prayers to the victims and their families, saying, God and your country are with you!

___

6:55 p.m.

Two law enforcement officials have identified a man suspected of driving a rented truck down a bike path near the World Trade Center, killing eight people.

The officials have knowledge of the probe and have identified the suspect as 29-year-old Sayfullo Saipov. The officials arent authorized to speak publicly about the ongoing investigation and spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity.

The suspect has a Florida license but may have been staying in New Jersey. He was shot by police. Hes hospitalized and cant be reached for comment while in custody. He is in surgery and is expected to survive.

Police say the attack is being investigated as an act of terror.

A U.S. official briefed on the investigation also confirms the mans name.

___

6 p.m.

A law enforcement official says that witnesses told police that the man who drove a rented truck onto a bike path in New York City, killing eight people, shouted allahu akbar.

The official was familiar with the investigation but wasnt authorized to speak publicly and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.

Police Commissioner James ONeill was asked at a news conference whether the suspect shouted the phrase, which means God is great in Arabic, or something like it. ONeill replied: Yeah. He did make a statement when he exited the vehicle, though he declined to elaborate.

ONeill says the method of attack and the suspects statement enabled officials to label this a terrorist event.

He says the 29-year-old man entered the bike path and drove south, hitting pedestrians and cyclists. He then hit a school bus, injuring at least two adults.

He says the man exited the vehicle brandishing a paintball gun and a pellet gun. He was then shot in the abdomen by a police officer and is now hospitalized.

___

5:45 p.m.

President Donald Trump is declaring NOT IN THE U.S.A. after a man in a rented truck plowed into a busy bike path near the World Trade Center, killing at least eight people.

New Yorks mayor has labeled the attack a cowardly act of terror.

Trump says in a tweet, In NYC, looks like another attack by a very sick and deranged person. He says law enforcement is following the attack closely and adds, NOT IN THE U.S.A.!

The driver jumped out of the truck Tuesday with a fake gun in each hand and was shot by police. Hes hospitalized.

Vice President Mike Pence says those responsible for the attack must be held accountable.

___

5:25 p.m.

New York Citys mayor says a truck attack in lower Manhattan killed eight people and was a cowardly act of terror.

Mayor Bill de Blasio says the attack on a bike path near the World Trade Center was an act of terror, and a particularly cowardly act of terror aimed at innocent civilians.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo called it a lone wolf attack. He says theres no evidence to suggest it was part of a wider plot.

Witnesses described a chaotic scene of a white pickup truck hitting bicyclists on a path near the World Trade Center and then slamming into a school bus. They say the driver got out of his vehicle brandishing what appeared to be a gun in each hand.

___

5:15 p.m.

Witnesses have described a chaotic scene of a white pickup truck hitting bicyclists on a path near the World Trade Center and then slamming into a school bus. They say the driver got out of his vehicle brandishing what appeared to be a gun in each hand.

Manhattan restaurant chef Eugene Duffy was crossing a street when he heard something, turned back and saw the pickup truck on the bike path. He says he saw the bodies of two men on the ground, their bikes mangled.

He says he ran south and saw a yellow half-size school bus that appeared to have been T-boned and firefighters trying to get children out.

A law enforcement official says at least six people were killed and at least nine people were injured when a rented van struck them. The case is being investigated as possible terrorism.

___

4:45 p.m.

The White House says President Donald Trump has been briefed on the vehicle that drove onto a bike path near the World Trade Center and struck several people.

White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders says the president and New York native has been briefed by White House chief of staff John Kelly and will be continually updated as more details are known.

Sanders says, Our thoughts and prayers are with all those affected.

A law enforcement official says at least six people were killed and at least nine people were injured when a rented van struck them on Tuesday.

___

4:35 p.m.

A law enforcement official says at least six people were killed and nine injured when a rented van drove on a bike path near the World Trade Center in New York City.

The official was familiar with the investigation but wasnt authorized to speak publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.

The driver of the rented Home Depot van emerged from the vehicle screaming. The official says the man had two imitation firearms.

Police say the man was shot by officers and is in custody.

The official says it is being investigated as a possible case of terrorism.

___

4:25 p.m.

New York City police say there are several fatalities and numerous people injured after a motorist drove onto a busy bicycle path and struck several people, then emerged from the vehicle screaming and firing something that appeared to be a gun.

The department writes on Twitter that the suspect got out of the vehicle displaying imitation firearms and was shot by police officers. Police say the person is in custody.

A man who was riding in an Uber along the West Side Highway near the World Trade Center says he saw several bleeding people on the ground after a truck struck several people.

A witness says the truck had also collided with a small bus and one other vehicle.

___

4 p.m.

Police and witnesses say a motorist drove onto a busy bicycle path near the World Trade Center memorial and struck several people, then emerged from the vehicle screaming and firing something that appeared to be a gun.

An Associated Press photographer on the scene Tuesday witnessed at least two bodies lying motionless on the path beneath tarps.

The New York Police Department posted on its Twitter feed that one person was in custody. The department says its unclear whether anyone was shot.

A man who was riding in an Uber along the West Side Highway near Chambers street says he saw several bleeding people on the ground after a truck struck several people.

A witness said the truck had also collided with a small bus and one other vehicle.

___

3:50 p.m.

Police are responding to a report of gunfire a few blocks from the World Trade Center site and memorial, and witnesses say a vehicle drove down a popular bike path and struck pedestrians and cyclists.

The New York Police Department posted on its Twitter feed that one person was in custody Tuesday.

An Associated Press photographer on the scene saw at least one person lying motionless on the Manhattan bike path.

A large number of police vehicles could be seen near a community college and a high school and a few blocks north of the National Sept. 11 Memorial.

Its unclear how many people have been injured or whether anyone was killed.

___

3:35 p.m.

Police are responding to a report of gunfire a few blocks from the World Trade Center site and memorial.

The New York Police Department posted on its Twitter feed that one person was in custody Tuesday.

A large number of police vehicles could be seen in Manhattan near West Street and Chambers Street, which is near a community college and a high school and a few blocks north of the National Sept. 11 Memorial.

Its unclear if anyone was injured.

AP
Sayfullo Saipov was an Uber driver in New Jersey - AFP

Sayfullo Saipov, the man accused of the New York terror attack on Tuesday, is an Uber driver who lives in New Jersey having emigrated from Uzbekistan seven years ago.

Eight people were killed and 11 injured when a pickup driver mowed down cyclists and pedestrians near the World Trade Center, before striking a school bus.

The driver was shot in the abdomen by police after jumping out of the truck with what turned out to be a fake gun in each hand and shouting what witnesses said was "Allahu Akbar!," Arabic for "God is great".

He underwent surgery and was expected to survive.

Officials speaking on condition of anonymity identified the suspect as Sayfullo Habibullaevic Saipov and said he moved from Uzbekistan in 2010.

Note 'claimed attack was for Isil'

NBC News quoted law enforcement sources as saying the attacker left a note in the truck claiming he committed the attack on behalf of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.

He has a Florida driver's licence but was reportedly living with family in Paterson, New Jersey, sources told local media.

Footage from Snapchat allegedly shows New York terror suspect Sayfullo Saipov

Residents in the area said that Saipov had a wife and two young children.

Saipov was very friendly and was an Uber driver, a friend of the suspect was quoted as saying by the New York Post.

Kobiljon Matkarov, 37, told the newspaper he met Saipov in Florida five years ago and the two bonded over their background.

"He is very good guy, he is very friendly he is like little brother he look at me like big brother, Matkarov was quoted as saying by phone from his home in Miamisburg, Ohio.

My kids like him too, he is always playing with them. He is playing all the time."

Suspect was a taxi driver

Uber confirmed that Saipov was one of its drivers, saying he had passed a background check. Saipov has now been banned from the taxi-hailing service.

The company said it had reached out to law enforcement to provide its full assistance and was "aggressively and quickly reviewing" the suspect's history.

Story continues

The driver barrelled along the bike path in a rented Home Depot truck for the equivalent of about 14 blocks, or around eight-tenths of a mile, before slamming into a small yellow school bus.

How the attack unfolded

Records show Saipov had previously been a commercial truck driver who formed a pair of businesses in Ohio after moving to the U.S, AP reported.

The first business, Sayf Motors Inc, used the address of a family friend near Cincinnati with whom Saipov had stayed for a couple of weeks after his arrival in the country. The second, Bright Auto LLC, used an address near Cleveland.

He lived in a Muslim neighbourhood

A trucking industry website listed Saipov at a Paterson, New Jersey, address that authorities were searching on Tuesday night. Court records related to trucking-related infractions list Saipov with addresses in Paterson and the Cleveland suburbs.

Paterson is a one-time industrial hub known for its large immigrant population. About 25,000 to 30,000 Muslims live in the city, giving it one of the highest concentrations of Muslim people in the New York City area.

The family friend with whom Saipov stayed in Ohio, Dilnoza Abdusamatova, told The Cincinnati Enquirer he was "really calm" and worked hard.

New York terror attack, in pictures

"He always used to work. He wouldn't go to parties or anything. He only used to come home and rest and leave and go back to work," he said.

History of traffic violations

Saipov has a history of traffic violations, according to media reports and court records.

In one incident, he was pulled over in central Pennsylvania for pulling a truck trailer that was longer than permitted by law and "operating unsafe equipment", as well as driving with the wrong operator's licence, state judicial records show.

US president Donald Trump branded the attacker a "very sick and deranged person".

"We must not allow ISIS to return, or enter, our country after defeating them in the Middle East and elsewhere. Enough!" he said.

Governor Andrew Cuomo said the suspect appeared to have acted alone.

Theres no evidence to suggest a wider plot or a wider scheme. These are the actions of one individual meant to cause pain and harm and probably death, he said.

Watch: What we know so far about the New York terror attack
(WASHINGTON)  The head of the Environmental Protection Agency said Tuesday he intends to replace the outside experts that advise him on science and public health issues with new board members holding more diverse views.

In announcing the changes, EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt suggested many previously appointed to the panels were potentially biased because they had received federal research grants. The 22 boards advise EPA on a wide range of issues, including drinking water standards and pesticide safety.

Whatever science comes out of EPA shouldnt be political science, said Pruitt, a Republican lawyer who previously served as the attorney general of Oklahoma. From this day forward, EPA advisory committee members will be financially independent from the agency.

Pruitt has expressed skepticism about the consensus of climate scientists that man-made carbon emissions are the primary cause of global warming. He also overruled experts that had recommended pulling a top-selling pesticide from the market after peer-reviewed studies showed it damaged childrens brains.

Pruitt said he will name new leadership and members to three key EPA advisory boards soon  the Science Advisory Board, Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee, and the Board of Scientific Counselors.

It was not clear from the EPAs media release if all current board members serving out their appointed terms were immediately dismissed. EPAs press office did not respond to messages seeking clarification on Tuesday.

As part of his directive, Pruitt said he will bar appointees who currently are in receipt of EPA grants or who are in a position to benefit such grants. He exempted people who work at state, local or tribal agencies, saying he wants to introduce more geographic diversity to the panels.

The five-page policy Pruitt issued Tuesday makes no mention of other potential conflicts of interest, such as accepting research funding from corporate interests regulated by EPA.

Story continues

Tuesdays announcement comes after Pruitt in May said he would not reappoint nine of the 18 members of the Board of Scientific Counselors to serve a second three-year term, as had been customary.

Current board chairwoman Deborah Swackhamer said the members were already required to follow rules intended to prevent conflicts of interests.

It obviously stacks the deck against scientists who do not represent corporate special interests, said Swackhamer, a retired professor who taught environmental health sciences at the University of Minnesota. It speaks volumes that people funded by special interests are OK to be advisers, but not those who have received federal grants.

Senate Environment Committee Chairman John Barrasso, a Wyoming Republican who shares Pruitts skepticism of mainstream climate science, cheered the move. He said EPAs science boards would now better reflect the views of rural states like his own.

But environmentalists worried that Pruitt will now select board members with financial ties to the fossil fuel and chemical industries.

The Trump EPAs continued attack on science will likely be one of the most lasting and damaging legacies of this administration, said Sen. Tom Udall of New Mexico, the ranking Democrat on the appropriations subcommittee that approves EPAs funding. Pruitt is purging expert scientists from his science boards  and replacing them with mouthpieces for big polluters.
WASHINGTON  Facebook, Twitter and Google representatives could not assure Congress on Tuesday in their first of multiple hearings that they knew the full extent of efforts by foreign governments to influence American elections on their platforms  or that such efforts wont happen again.

Appearing before the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Terrorism, Facebook general counsel Colin Stretch, Twitter acting general counsel Sean Edgett and Google director of law enforcement and information security Richard Salgado faced cutting questions from senators about their role facilitating the dissemination of propaganda paid for by foreign nationals to Americans during the 2016 election.

The tech representatives often stumbled, failing to explain what kind of content they could or could not police and what they will do in response. Senators from both parties didnt just focus on the alleged Russian influence campaign; it also was clear there was some bipartisan agreement that the Silicon Valley companies that package and sell our attention have too much power.

A key and crucial moment in the hearing occurred when Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) directed a tough line of questions to Facebooks Stretch. Kennedy opened up by stating, Your power sometimes scares me. This is nothing to take lightly. In fact, the power of these companies is the key point underlying this scandal.

Facebook and Google are two of the five richest corporations in the U.S. They both hold practical monopolies in their areas of expertise, social media and search, respectively. Theyve amassed this power and wealth by monetizing their users data and attention for advertisers. And now theyre being called to account for users data and attention being used to propagandize to them.

Kennedy asked how many advertisers Facebook has, and Stretch responded that the company has around 5 million different advertisers each month. Did China run ads in last election cycle? Kennedy wanted to know. Did Turkmenistan?

Story continues

Not that Im aware of, Stretch responded, providing the answer Kennedy expected. Kennedy then said it appears theres no way for Facebook to adequately know everyone who is advertising on its site if there are 5 million different advertisers every month  and Stretch admitted as much.

Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) questions Facebook, Google and Twitter representatives during a Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Terrorism hearing titled "Extremist Content and Russian Disinformation Online." (Photo: Drew Angerer via Getty Images)

Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) took Facebooks Stretch to task over the fact that Russians purchased ads about U.S. elections with rubles. While its not strange for foreign advertisers to purchase advertisements in their local currency, Franken asked with a bit of wry humor, You cant put together rubles with a political ad and go, Hmm, those two data points spell out something bad?

Stretch admitted, Its a signal we should have been alert to, but didnt confirm the company wouldnt accept political advertisements paid for in foreign currency in the future. In later questioning, Twitters Edgett said they would not accept foreign currency to pay for political ads. Googles Salgado, however, attempted to explain that they would examine whether the use of foreign money to purchase political ads was a proper signal of inappropriate activity.

Franken pressed Stretch about a ProPublica report that the company allowed advertisers to target paid messages to people who qualified as Jew-haters. Stretch confirmed Kennedys earlier point that the company cant fully know the extent of advertising on the platform. Were not aware of any revenue using those targets, he said.

Later in the hearing, Kennedy returned to his earlier theme asking both Facebooks Stretch and Googles Salgado whether, even if it were against their internal rules, they could know the innermost details of a specific individuals life. He asked about a report showing Facebook allowed advertisers to target teenagers at the exact moments they were most depressed and vulnerable. Stretch said the report was based on an internal document, and the company had already dealt with the issue. He said internal rules forbid the accessing of individual personal user data, but refused to state whether it was possible.

Kennedy replied, You have the ability to give me a list [of users] who are teenagers, who are insecure about their weight. You may not sell that but you have the ability. You may have a policy against it but I believe you can do it.

Googles Salgado admitted that, while there are internal rules against accessing individual user data, We certainly have the ability to look at a users account.

While the focus of the hearing was about the alleged Russian influence campaign, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), the committee chairman, asked, What nations do you worry about other than Russia?

It was a question that none of the tech company representatives had a clear answer for. It appeared the companies had not investigated whether any other foreign nation was involved in any kind of influence or propaganda campaign targeting the United States. Facebooks Stretch said the problem really is a global threat.

Colin Stretch, general counsel at Facebook, Sean Edgett, acting general counsel at Twitter, and Richard Salgado, director of law enforcement and information security at Google, testify during a Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Terrorism hearing. (Photo: Drew Angerer via Getty Images)

Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), who has introduced legislation with Sens. Mark Warner (D-Va.) and John McCain (R-Ariz.) to require online advertising disclosure, asked whether the companies would support her bill, called the Honest Ads Act. The three representatives all said they would like to work with her on the bill, but none definitively said they supported its passage.

The corporate representatives began the hearing by detailing what happened in the 2016 election, and how their companies plan to respond to the alleged Russian influence operation that used false personas to purchase advertisements and disseminate content on the three platforms.

Representatives for Facebook and Twitter both explained that the Russian influence operation began in 2015 but did not specifically manifest as opposition to Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton until 2016. After the election, the operation shifted to one trying to discredit President Donald Trump. As had been reported previously, the campaign took various different angles, making Americans agitate over hot-button issues.

Facebook and Twitter discussed their plans to institute previously announced disclosure policies for online political advertising. Google additionally said it would allow users to see the names of advertisement purchasers by clicking on a button related to the ad.

At times, Googles Salgado attempted to distance his company from both Facebook and Twitter. He stated how little was spent by Russian advertisers on politically relevant ads and how few views their YouTube accounts received in comparison to the larger problems of advertising, fake accounts and bots on the social media platforms.

Sen. Pat Leahy (D-Vt.) was not pleased with the responses from the companies, calling them a lot of Johnny-come-latelys. He added, Theres a lot you could have done earlier. I suspect that your advertising departments watched [their] profits go up.

The absence of company chief executives was also noted negatively. Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) said, I wish we had the executives of your three companies here with us today.

The same three representatives will testify again before the Senate and House Intelligence Committees on Wednesday.

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This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
Seoul (AFP) - South Korea will not develop atomic weapons of its own despite the threat from the nuclear-armed North, President Moon Jae-In declared on Wednesday.

"A push by North Korea to become a nuclear state cannot be accepted or tolerated," Moon said in an address to parliament. "We also will not develop or own nuclear" arms.

In recent months Pyongyang has carried out its sixth nuclear test -- its most powerful by far -- and launched missiles apparently capable of reaching much of the US mainland, raising concerns in Seoul about its security alliance with Washington.

South Korean media and opposition politicians have called for US tactical nuclear weapons, which were withdrawn from the peninsula in the 1990s, to be returned.

Some have suggested that if Washington does not agree -- Defense Secretary Jim Mattis expressed doubts about the concept in a visit at the weekend -- Seoul should develop a nuclear capability of its own, in order to ensure what they dub a "balance of terror" on the peninsula.

But Moon said in his address that Seoul's approach would be "based on the joint declaration to denuclearise the Korean peninsula declared by both Koreas" in 1992.

Then the two Koreas agreed not to develop nuclear arsenal on the flashpoint peninsula, and two years later the North forged an aid-for-denuclearisation deal with the US.

The 1994 deal fell apart in 2002 when the North walked out and resumed its atomic weapons programme after Washington raised suspicions Pyongyang was secretly pursuing nuclear arms.

Pyongyang carried out its first atomic test in 2006, and has made significant progress in its weapons technology under current leader Kim Jong-Un, who has overseen four atomic blasts and numerous missile tests since inheriting power in 2011.

- 'Tragic history' -

The North hails its nuclear arsenal as a "treasured sword" to protect itself from potential invasion by its "imperialist enemy" the US, but has threatened to bracket the US Pacific island of Guam with missiles.

Story continues

Kim and Donald Trump have also traded personal insults in recent months, sparking concerns of a conflict on the peninsula where the 1950-53 Korean War left millions dead.

Tensions escalated further as Trump warned of "fire and fury" against the North and a "calm before the storm".

But Moon insisted there could be no US military action without Seoul's agreement, saying Koreans had to "determine the fate of our nation ourselves".

"There should be no military action on the peninsula without our prior consent," he said.

"We will not repeat the tragic history like colonialisation and division during which the fate of our nation was determined regardless of our will," he added.

Japan colonised the peninsula from 1910 to 1945, and after Tokyo's surrender ended the Second World War it was divided into separate zones of occupation by Russia and the US.

Even some Trump advisers say US military options are limited when any armed conflict on the peninsula is expected to cause massive casualties.

The South's capital Seoul is home to 10 million people and only about 50 kilometres (30 miles) from the border, within range of Pyongyang's artillery.

One study by the Nautilus think-tank in California estimated around 65,000 civilians would die in Seoul alone on the first day of a conventional North Korean attack.

Trump is scheduled to visit Japan, South Korea, China, Vietnam and the Philippines during his first Asia trip this month, with all eyes on his message to the North and Kim.

How to curb the North's threats is expected to top the agenda when Trump visits the South -- a key Asian ally of Washington's, which hosts 28,500 US troops -- for a summit with Moon on November 7.
A white freshman at the University of Hartford is facing charges of criminal mischief and will not be returning to school after bragging about contaminating her black roommate's living space in efforts to drive her from the room.

University of Hartford President Greg Woodward announced Brianna Rae Brochu, 18, was "no longer a student" after she was arrested Saturday for charges regarding an Instagram post in which she boasted about achieving her long-held goal to get rid of her dorm roommate, Chennel "Jazzy" Rowe, who she called "Jamaican Barbie."

After one and a half months spitting in her coconut oil, putting moldy clam dip in her lotions, rubbing used tampons on her backpack, putting her toothbrush places where the sun doesnt shine, and so much more, I can finally say goodbye to Jamaican Barbie, Brochu wrote in the post.

Rowe, who is also a freshman at the Connecticut university, told Fox 61 she had a bad feeling about her roommate the moment she moved in.

I kind of felt unwanted and she was giving off vibes, Rowe told the local outlet.

RELATED: White supremacy in America



It wasn't until Rowe finally moved out weeks later on Oct. 17, that she became aware of her roommate's disturbing sabotage.

She asked me if I was moving out and I simply said Yup, and she made a face and said OK, and then I saw her pick up her phone and automatically start texting, Rowe said.

According to authorities, however, Brochu was actually boasting online then about successfully ridding herself of her roommate.

After learning of the post, Rowe reported Brochu to campus security and later took to Facebook with an hour-long video discussing her experiences with Brochu, which social media users have helped spread to attract more national attention to the story with the viral #justiceforjazzy hashtag.

In the video, Rowe said she had been experiencing recurring throat pain and sickness while rooming with Brochu.

Story continues

She said her doctors prescribed her with antibiotics to take care of "some type of bad bacteria" in her throat that had been causing her pain.

RELATED: These are the most outrageous mugshots and crimes



While Ive been here, Ive been getting sick. Not knowing why, Ive been getting sick. It started with throat pain. I thought maybe because its colder up here, Im just probably catching a cold, Rowe said. The sore throat pain got worse and it was just throat pain. And this was happening for about a month. It got to the point where I had extreme throat pain where I couldnt sleep, to the point where I couldnt speak. Like, Id try to whisper and I could barely whisper.

She described Brochu as a "ghost," detailing her as a distant and rude roommate.

And though her roommate had already been charged by the time Rowe uploaded the video on Facebook earlier this week, she said she posted the video partly because she was frustrated with the amount of time it took for Brochu to be punished.

SEE ALSO: Counterpoint: Experts debate if racism is still alive in America

Rowe said she believed race had been a factor in the school's seemingly delayed response, given the weeks in between her initial report and Brochu's charges.

If the race roles were reversed, I feel like this would have gone down a different route, Rowe said.

The university president, Greg Woodward, said in a statement online Tuesday that Brochu's behavior was "reprehensible," while adding that he was confident the institution pursued the issue seriously.

The university strictly and swiftly followed all procedural and legal processes related to this alleged event; claims to the contrary are based on misinformation, he said. The incident has brought about accusations of racism, and I want you to know that I hear and share your anger and frustration. Acts of racism, bias, bullying, or other abusive behaviors will not be tolerated on this campus.
A white university student bullied her black roommate by rubbing used tampons on her belongings, spitting in her coconut oil, and sticking her toothbrush where the sun doesnt shine, according to court records.

The University of Hartford student, Brianna Brochu, was banned from campus by a local community court judge after allegedly bragging about her bullying tactics online.

After 1 month of spitting in her coconut oil, putting moldy clam dip in her lotions, rubbing used tampons oh [sic] her backpack, putting her toothbrush places where the sun doesnt shine, and so much more, I can finally say goodbye Jamaican Barbie, Ms Brochu wrote on Instagram, according to court records.

Ms Brochu has been charged with criminal mischief and breach of peace, as well as intimidation based on bigotry or bias.

She has admitted to licking her former roommates plate, fork, and spoon and smearing her own bodily fluid on the victims backpack, but denied the other accusations she posted on Instagram, according to the Hartford Courant.

The target of her alleged abuse  former roommate Chenelle Rowe  reported the behaviour to the school and local police after being notified of the Instagram post by a fellow student, Fox61 reports. Ms Rowe recounted the ordeal in a Facebook Live video that has been viewed more than 600,000 times.

As a young African American woman I dont want to become another statistic, Ms Rowe wrote in a separate Facebook post. When it comes to college incidents/crimes and racial cases justice needs to be served.

University President Greg Woodward sent a letter to Hartford faculty and students on Tuesday, calling Ms Brochus alleged behaviour reprehensible.

Acts of racism, bias, bullying, or other abusive behaviours will not be tolerated on this campus, Mr Woodward said. I pledge to do everything in my power to work with our community to address related concerns together.

He added that Ms Rowe had been quickly relocated after she reported the allegations, and that Ms Brochu had subsequently been arrested by the West Hartford Police Department.

Story continues

Still, Ms Rowe said she believes the case would have played out differently if the roles had been reversed, because of her race.

I probably wouldve been locked up, she told Fox61. A whole of a bunch of stuff wouldve been done quickly.

The case has been transferred to Hartford Superior Court, and is scheduled to be heard on 15 November.
Khartoum (AFP) - Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir told his South Sudanese counterpart Salva Kiir on Wednesday that Khartoum is keen to resolve all pending issues with South Sudan in a bid to improve relations, the official news agency SUNA reported.

Bashir's remarks came during a meeting with Kiir, starting a two-day visit to Khartoum to try to resolve border disputes and address mutual accusations of supporting rebels in each other's countries.

It is Kiir's third visit to Khartoum since the Christian-majority south split from the Muslim north in 2011 after a 22-year civil war that killed hundreds of thousands.

"Sudan is keen to resolve all pending issues ... and activate political and security mechanisms in order to take bilateral relations forward," Bashir told Kiir at their meeting, according to SUNA.

"Sudan is supporting South Sudanese people and has kept open its territories to deliver humanitarian aid to South Sudan, and will also step up efforts for peace in South Sudan," Bashir said.

Bashir earlier welcomed Kiir and his delegation at Khartoum airport and the two then held a joint meeting.

Due to unresolved issues, ties between Khartoum and Juba have often been tense since South Sudan gained independence six years ago.

Border rows, economic issues such as Juba's payments for the use of an oil export pipeline through Sudan and building a buffer zone along the frontier are expected to dominate talks during Kiir's visit.

Officials will also attempt to address tensions over alleged support for insurgents.

- Tense ties --

Sudan has regularly accused its neighbour of aiding rebels in its war-torn Darfur, Blue Nile and South Kordofan regions, while Juba has accused Khartoum of aiding Kiir's opponent and former deputy Riek Machar in South Sudan's ongoing civil war.

The status of the contested border district of Abyei also remains an unresolved issue.

"This visit (of Kiir) is aimed at normalising the relations between the two countries which have been tense," South Sudanese Information Minister Michael Makuei told reporters minutes after Kiir arrived in Khartoum, adding the two leaders would decide on a roadmap to boost trading links.

Story continues

"The two countries should cooperate in the interests of their people as they are all one people in two countries."

His Sudanese counterpart Ahmed Bilal said the visit aims to "establish security and stability in the two countries".

Tens of thousands of people have been killed in South Sudan and millions more have been driven from their homes since the war erupted in the world's youngest country in December 2013.

More than 450,000 South Sudanese refugees have poured into Sudan since the war broke out, the United Nations says. Khartoum estimates they number 1.3 million.

Juba said it appreciates Khartoum's efforts to accept the growing number of refugees.

Apart from accepting refugees, the openings of border crossings by Khartoum has also helped trading activities, Juba said in a statement issued before Kiir left for Sudan.

"South Sudan will do all it can to ensure that the Republic of Sudan interests in South Sudan are protected and promoted," it said.

Several senior South Sudanese officials have regularly visited Khartoum while Kiir himself previously visited in 2015.
BEIRUT/AMMAN/ANKARA (Reuters) - Syria's opposition rejected a Russian-sponsored initiative to reach a political settlement to the civil war, as Turkey protested against moves to involve Kurdish groups, in an early setback to Moscow's peacemaking bid. Having intervened decisively in the Syrian war in 2015 in support of President Bashar al-Assad, Russia now hopes to build on the collapse of Islamic State to launch a political process to end the six-year-old conflict. Syria's government has said it is ready to attend the Nov. 18 Sochi congress which is set to focus on a new constitution, saying the time is right thanks to Syrian army gains and the "terrorists' obliteration". But officials in the anti-Assad opposition rejected the meeting on Wednesday and insisted any talks be held under U.N. sponsorship in Geneva, the scene of a string of failed peace efforts. The congress amounted to a meeting "between the regime and the regime", said Mohammad Alloush, a member of the opposition High Negotiations Committee and a senior official with the Jaish al-Islam rebel group. The HNC was surprised it had been mentioned in a list of invited groups and would "issue a statement with other parties setting out the general position rejecting this conference," Alloush told Reuters. The Turkey-based Syrian National Coalition (SNC) political opposition group said the congress was an attempt to circumvent "the international desire for political transition" in Syria. Russian air power played a big part in the defeat of rebels in opposition-held eastern Aleppo and other areas last year. "What kind of Syrian-Syrian dialogue will it be under the sponsorship of the (Russian) criminal?" said Eyad Shamsi, another HNC member and the head of a rebel faction. A Russian negotiator said on Tuesday that Syrian groups who choose to boycott the congress risked being sidelined as the political process moves ahead. Russia has invited 33 Syrian groups and political parties to what it calls a "Syrian Congress on National Dialogue". Russian President Vladimir Putin first mentioned the idea of the congress last month, saying he believed Moscow and the Syrian government would soon finally defeat militants in Syria. TURKEY SAYS PYD INVITE UNACCEPTABLE Helped by Russia's air force and an array of Iran-backed Shi'ite militias, Assad has defeated many of the Syrian rebels who were fighting to topple him, leaving them confined to enclaves in the west. Damascus and its allies have also recovered swathes of central and eastern Syria from Islamic State in recent months, while a separate campaign by U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) has driven IS from other parts of the country. The separate campaigns are now converging on Islamic State's last strongholds in Deir al-Zor province at the Iraqi border. Russia's decision to invite Kurdish groups which dominate the SDF to Sochi triggered objections from Turkey on Wednesday. Ankara, which views the dominant Syrian Kurdish groups as a national security threat, said it was unacceptable that the Kurdish YPG militia had been invited. Turkish presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin said Turkish and Russian officials had discussed the issue and that he had held meetings of his own to "solve the problem on the spot". Turkey views the YPG and its political affiliate, the PYD, as an extension of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which has been waging a three-decade insurgency in Turkey. The head of the PYD indicated on Wednesday his group favored attending the congress. Shahoz Hasan, in written comments to Reuters, said the PYD would advocate for its decentralized model for Syria. Although he did not firmly commit to attending, he said a majority among the PYD and its allies now favored going: "We are discussing it and the majority view is to attend". (Reporting by Suleiman al-Khalidi in Amman, Lisa Barrington in Beirut, and Tulay Karadeniz in Ankara; Writing by Tom Perry; Editing by Larry King and Raissa Kasolowsky)
The first one happened when Annie Thoms was a senior at Stuyvesant High School in New York City in 1993. A bomb exploded in the parking garage underneath the World Trade Center, leaving six dead and injuring more than 1,000. Thoms remembers watching from her school as the West Side Highway filled up with emergency vehicles.

The second one was the scariest. Four days into her second year of teaching, on Sept. 11, 2001, two planes crashed into the World Trade Center, killing nearly 3,000 people. She was just 25 years old, only blocks from the attack and responsible for the lives of her students. Thoms remembers feeling like she had witnessed something that would change the world forever.

The third one happened Tuesday. A man drove a truck into a bike path on the West Side Highway, then hit a Stuyvesant High School bus. The attack, believed to be an act of terrorism, has left at least eight dead and 11 injured.

This time, it didnt feel like the world was changing. The incident was frightening and disturbing, but not shocking.

Unfortunately, when something like todays incident happens, it does not feel like a change. It feels like more of the same. Another event of the steady march of horrible, violent events, Thoms told HuffPost over the phone Tuesday evening.

Thoms has been blocks away from three separate terrorist attacks at three different stages of her life at the same school. On Tuesday, she stayed with her students for over three hours while police outside secured the area.

The incident, the deadliest attack in New York City since 9/11, injured two New York City schools staff members and two students. But Thoms students remained calm: playing games, singing songs, doing homework. Unlike the last time she witnessed a mass killing from inside Stuyvesants walls, or the time before that when she was a teen, technology gave students and staff members a window into the outside world. Students were able to quickly call or contact family and friends to reassure them of their safety.

Story continues

After 9/11, Thoms helped her high schoolers deal with the trauma of the attack through theater. As the theater community faculty advisor at the time, Thoms helped students collect interviews with community members about the terrorist attack. They later performed these interviews in a monologue-based play.

We really tried to get a sense of different perspectives in the community, Thoms told the New York Daily News years ago.

Tuesday was far less chaotic for Thoms and her students than 9/11. But she hopes she doesnt have to deal with something of this magnitude again.

Id be happy if this were the last time.

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This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
Michelin, facing fierce competition from lower-cost Chinese tiremakers as it expands in Asia, is counting on a little luxury splash from haute cuisine to boost its brand image.

The French company is introducing its eponymous restaurant guide for Bangkok in December as part of a broader effort to increase the brands appeal in Asia. In July it bought a 40 percent stake in the U.S.-based Robert Parker wine guide, which hosts tasting events on the continent, including in Singapore, Hong Kong and Macau, where Michelin already has food guides.

While selling tires may seem to have little to with finding a tasty coq au vin at a fancy restaurant, Michelin sees the unprofitable guides as helping to position its brand as high quality as it goes up against Chinas Shandon g Linglong Tyre Co. and Aeolus Tyre Co. The company also is moving upscale thanks to high-tech connected tires such as its airless prototype resembling coral,or light tires designed for electric vehicles.

The guide is part and parcel of our brand image in mature countries, Chief Financial Officer Marc Henry said in an interview. In emerging countries where more and more people are buying a car for the first time, we see that we can re-create a bit of this brand attraction.

Expanding in Asia will help reduce the Clermont Ferrand, France-based companys dependence on Europe and U.S., which together account for more than three-quarters of its sales. Cie Gener ale des Etablissements Michelin, as the company is formally known, also is diversifying into services such as fleet management and insurance.

The so-called red guide was created in 1900 by Andre and Edouard Michelin. At a time when cars werent popular yet, it became a tool to encourage people to drive for longer distances and to stop at restaurants and hotels.

The companys reviewers award stars based on creativity, quality and service. Three stars means the cuisine is akin to art and worth a special journey, two mean excellence and talent that are worth a detour and one means that the restaurant is good in its category, with top ingredients and flavors.

The guide is still a benchmark in the industry, said Pierre-Yves Chupin, in charge of rival publication named Lebey. Restaurants can as much as double their revenue when they receive their first rating from Michelin, according to the company.

Getting or losing a star can result in widely publicized controversies for chefs: Sebastien Bras, who about 10 years ago set up a timekeeper in his kitchen to make sure his aides didnt work longer than the mandatory 35-hour work week, recently asked Michelin to withdraw the 3-star rating of his Le Suquet restaurant in southern France, because of the pressure it entailed. Bookings are still sold out, with menus between 143 euros and 227 euros, according to an aide.

Its hard to quantify, but its a fact that the Michelin brand is known worldwide thanks to the guide, said Michael Foundoukidis, a Natixis analyst. Michelin has a premium image in almost every country, contrary to most of its European competitors. According to a YouGov poll, Michelin ranks fifth among the Frenchs most favorite brands.

Michelin also is eyeing the U.S. market, where it already has guides for New York, San Francisco, Chicago and Washington D.C.s restaurant scenes. Michelins red book is available in 26 countries and is bound to expand as the company aims to double revenues from services by 2020, from 1 billion euros in 2016. Michelin had total sales of 20.9 billion euros (USD24.3 billion) last year.

The French company is investing in the guides even as it cuts costs amid fierce competition in the tire market, leading it to plan for some 2,000 job cuts by 2021, mostly in France. Chief Executive Officer Jean-Dominique Senard aims to make the guide and mapping unit, known as Michelin Travel Partner, profitable. He moved its headquarters from Paris to a close suburb and reduced headcount. Michelin doesnt disclose sales for the business, though it said in a filing that revenue rose sharply last year.

Rating apps such as Yelp or TripAdvisor arent a threat to the guide, because the Michelin inspectors who review restaurants are independent, anonymous and pay for their food, said Claire Dorland Clauzel, the Michelin executive vice president who oversees the guides.

In a world full of fake reviews, we realize that the reassuring nature, the seriousness and the quality of the brand does matter, she said in an interview. The company has expanded to online reservations, including with the purchase of U.K-based BookaTable and Spain-based Restaurantes last year, and is considering other acquisitions.

The company also hosts gourmet food and wine tastings. Dorland Clauzel declined to provide any figures for the business, but said the paid events should help the guide become profitable within a few years.

In any case, the guide is a cheap marketing investment and doesnt weigh on the share price, said senior Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Michael Dean. Michelin shares have returned 30 percent in the past year including dividends, outpacing the 26 percent return for the Stoxx 600 Automobiles & Parts Index.

The guide is an extraordinary tool for our brand, said Dorland Clauzel. Its in our DNA  as much as tires are. Ania Nussbaum, Bloomberg
Date night doesnt get any more depressing this: One of marriage therapist Christine Wilkes clients was so caught up in her phone recently that she didnt realize the date was over.

She had a serious problem with her phone and finally realized it at dinner with her boyfriend, the Easton, Pennyslvania marriage therapist said. The client was so engrossed in her screen that when she finally looked up, he had already paid the bill and was headed for the door.

The woman was hardcore phubbing  ignoring her S.O. and paying attention to her phone. Phubbing, a word that combines phone and snubbing, is becoming increasingly common in our social interactions, especially in romantic relationships.

In a recent Baylor University study of 143 people in romantic relationships, 70 percent said that cell phones sometimes, often, very often or all the time interfered in their interactions with their partners.

In a follow-up survey of 145 adults, 22.6 percent said that phubbing had caused conflict in their relationships and 36.6 percent reported feeling depressed at times because they felt like their partner was putting their phone above them.

Wilkes sees this frustrating dynamic play out all the time in her office.

The couples I see are often craving meaningful connection with each other, but their phones have overwhelmed their lives, she said. They often tell me that it feels like their partner is having an affair with their phone.

Conducting a relationship behind your phone is no way to live. Below, Wilkes and other marriage therapists and counselors from around the country share their best advice for getting a handle on your phubbing ways.

1. Stop feeling like you need to Snapchat or Instagram the entire date.

One of the things that continues to amaze me (and as a therapist, sadden me) is when I see a couple out together where one person is busy posting pictures rather than giving actual attention to the other. Social media has a lot of positive benefits, but it can also cause people to seek immediate gratification rather than experience the satisfaction of the moment. If you are a culprit of look at me! postings rather than actually enjoying your partner, its time to get some discipline. Let go of your obsession to get likes. Of course, this doesnt mean you shouldnt post a cute selfie of the two of you. Just hold off posting until the date is over  or at that very least, wait until your partner goes to the restroom.  Carin Goldstein, a marriage and family therapist in Sherman Oaks, California

Story continues

2. Ditch your phone for at least 30 minutes a day.

One of the assignments I give to my couples is to carve out a 30-minute electronic-free zone each day. This is time where they can have a meaningful one-on-one connection with no outside intrusion. Very often this 30 minutes morphs into a much longer period of time because it becomes a much cherished break for them.  Christine Wilke

3. Take your tech time out to the next level: Go on a phone-free weekend vacation.

I worked with one couple who went to Palm Springs for the weekend and agreed to some electronic ground rules beforehand: The phones must stay powered off and in their suitcase during the course of the weekend. Each were allowed to turn on their phone for just 5 minutes once a day, just enough time to check in and make sure there isnt a crisis waiting for them back home. At the end of their weekend, they raved about how theyd been able to be more mindful of the little things  the refreshing pool, laughs with one another over dinner, and some truly connected intimacy.  Spencer Scott, a psychologist in Santa Monica, California

4. If your partner feels phubbed, acknowledge it and stop.

Agree to let each other know when youre feeling phubbed or have had a phubbing relapse. Since we can all get a bit lost in our phones, we may become unconscious to the fact that were on it once again. Agreeing to being willing to hear when your partner feels phubbed, and then being willing to put the phone down, is a healthy step in maintaining connection.  Kristin Zeising, a psychologist in San Diego, California

5. Dont look at your phone as entirely the enemy.

This may seem counterintuitive, but if what youre craving is time and attention from your partner, try not to view your phone as the root of the problem but rather one tool in the solution. Thoughtful texts throughout the day, or even Snapchats (which take literally two seconds to snap and send) can be a great reminder that you and your partner are thinking of one another during your day. It might help you feel less isolated and resentful.  Spencer Scott

6. Understand that its going to feel weird to put your phone away initially.

Its an addictive habit - it wont be easy to stop. Understand it may take time to master it, but you can do it! You will initially feel what is called cognitive dissonance. Interrupting your phone use wont feel right or normal. It will take almost a month for the new habit (giving your loved ones, friends and family your attention in person rather than your phone) to feel natural. Trust me, though: It will be worth it. -- Barbara Melton, a counselor in Charleston, South Carolina

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This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
President Donald Trump and his White House are using the Tuesday terrorist attack in New York City to push their goal of cutting legal immigration by misleading the public about the diversity visa lottery system. But immigration experts argue that early available evidence indicates the focus should be on preventing radicalization  and that eliminating the diversity lottery or blocking people from certain nations wont prevent such attacks.

White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders falsely said on Wednesday that there is no vetting for the diversity visa lottery, a program that allows 50,000 people to move to the country each year from countries with low immigration rates.

You cant randomly select people, not have them thoroughly vetted and not have the ability to know whether these people want to do bad things or good things when they get here, Sanders said at a press briefing. I dont think its unreasonable to ask that people that want to come to this country go through a vetting process to make sure that when they get here they want to contribute to society and not harm the people of this country.

Trump said something similar earlier in the day when calling for an end to the program.

We dont want lotteries where the wrong people are in the lotteries, he said.

I have just ordered Homeland Security to step up our already Extreme Vetting Program. Being politically correct is fine, but not for this!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 1, 2017

Both Trump and Sanders suggested that people who entered the U.S. through the diversity visa lottery might be more dangerous than those who entered through merit-based system, which is one based on an applicants employer, family, education or other factors. The diversity visa lottery was created in 1990 to give an opportunity for people from countries with low immigration levels to come to the U.S. even if they did not have family or employer ties here.

Story continues

Diversity visa lottery applicants do go through vetting, just like anyone else granted a green card to enter the United States. But like any other immigrant  and native-born U.S. citizens  it can be difficult to predict whether they will be radicalized once they arrive. Officials said that Sayfullo Habibullaevic Saipov, the suspected attacker in Tuesdays attack, was radicalized once he was already in the U.S., meaning that any stricter vetting on the lottery program likely wouldnt have prevented his entry, which took place seven years ago.

Theres no evidence at all that people who might meet a merit-based requirement would somehow be less likely to radicalize than anybody else, Theresa Brown, director of immigration policy at Bipartisan Policy Center, told HuffPost. We just dont know that, we dont have evidence of that, and thats not really what thats about anyway. [The administration is] slamming apples and oranges together into a mush right now.

David Bier, an immigration policy analyst at the Cato Institute who has analyzed terrorism rates among immigrants, said he hadnt seen any evidence that immigration vetting was implicated, although he, like other experts quoted for this article, noted that he only knows what has been reported publicly.

The focus on vetting and thinking that people are trying to get here to commit acts of terrorism is not a legitimate lens to view the bulk of this problem, Bier said.

A Department of Homeland Security intelligence assessment from March confirmed that most foreign-born violent extremists do not come to the U.S. radicalized, but become radicalized once theyve been living here for several years.

Most of the individuals who radicalize tend to be quite well integrated, Lorenzo Vidino, director of George Washington Universitys Program on Extremism, told Politico Magazine last year. He pointed to the examples of attacks in San Bernardino, Calif., Orlando, Florida and Chattanooga, Tenn., which were perpetrated by people whose radicalization was a gradual process that was in no way linked to how they immigrated to the U.S.

DHS does run a Countering Violent Extremism program which works with communities to build and sustain local prevention efforts and promote the use of counter-narratives to confront violent extremist messaging online.

The agency said in the assessment that its seen success with its mentoring and integration services as part of the program, but these are focused on school-aged immigrants and are specific to refugees and asylees. Someone like Saipov, who came to the U.S. at the age of 22 and not as a refugee or asylee, would have been unlikely to be targeted by such services.

It would be more helpful for Trump to focus on policies that can prevent and detect radicalization now, based on current public information about the New York City attacker, said Adam Blickstein, a former Pentagon official in the Obama administration.

The law enforcement community and the intelligence community is probably full bore into what radicalized him, what inspired him, whether he got any operational help in the U.S. or abroad, Blickstein said. Meanwhile, the commander-in-chief is perpetuating this notion that if he was prevented from coming to the U.S. in 2010 that would have solved everything.

Trump typically touts his travel ban following terror attacks around the world, using it as an example of why the U.S. needs a better immigration system. Sanders said Wednesday that the administration wouldnt rule out adding Uzbekistan to the list of targeted countries in the ban (which was temporarily struck down in federal court last month).

If the Trump administration did add Uzbekistan to the list, it would be a reminder of how travel ban lists are often arbitrary, Bier said. The latest travel ban is based on the countries ability to screen their citizens and share information with the U.S., and by not placing Uzbekistan on the list, the government has indicated that the countrys security efforts are up to par.

If Uzbekistan was to be added to this list, it would be even more readily apparent that that really is whats happening here  that the president is the one driving the outcome and not an objective set of criteria developed by experts in immigration vetting, Bier said.

Also on HuffPost

Investigators inspect the truck.

Investigators inspect the truck.

Emergency crews at the the scene of a violent incident on West Street in Manhattan, New York City.

Multiple bikes crushed along a bike path in lower Manhattan.

First responders assist a woman injured on the bike path.

First responders tend to a victim.

A police officer at the scene.

A body covered on West Street in Manhattan.

Emergency personnel at the scene.

Police gather at the scene after reports of multiple people injured after a truck plowed through a bike path in New York City.

The truck drove down a popular biking path in lower Manhattan.

State Police stand near the scene of a pickup truck attack, on West Street in Manhattan, New York, U.S., October 31 2017. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly

Security forces cordon off the area.

New York Fire Department (NYFD) and New York Police Department (NYPD) vehicles sit parked on a blocked off street.

New York City Police Department (NYPD) officers on Chambers Street surround the rented Home Depot Inc..

A pickup truck used in an attack sits on the intersection of West and Chambers Street.

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This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
Welp! (Photo: NICHOLAS KAMM via Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  Two days after the American Bar Association rated Leonard Steven Grasz not qualified to be a judge, the Senate Judiciary Committee held a confirmation hearing Wednesday for Graszs nomination to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit.

It was brutal.

With Grasz sitting in front of the committee, Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) read aloud passages from the ABAs eight-page statement outlining why Grasz earned such a terrible and rarely designated rating by the nations premier legal society.

I assume youre keenly aware that you are the first Circuit Court nominee since 2006 to receive a unanimous not qualified rating from the ABA? Whitehouse asked Grasz. And that the last nominee who had such a rating was withdrawn?

That is my understanding, senator, replied Grasz.

Awkward! It only got worse.

Do you think that this is a matter as to which the committee should have no concern? asked Whitehouse.

I have great respect for the amount of time and effort the American Bar Association put into the process, said Grasz. I respectfully disagree with the result.

The Rhode Island senator noted that the ABA rated Grasz not qualified in a unanimous 14-0 vote. He asked Grasz if he knew that was the tally.

Im not keenly aware of that, said Grasz. I believe there was one abstention.

Thats why its 14, Whitehouse replied. There are 15 of them.... Its the full panel of 14 non-abstaining lawyers.

Here's Leonard Steven Grasz in his confirmation hearing, listening to Democratic senators read aloud all the reasons why he was deemed "not qualified" to be a judge. (Photo: CSPAN)

The ABA interviewed several colleagues of Grasz, who was Nebraskas chief deputy attorney general for 11 years, as part of its evaluation of his fitness to be a judge. Some described him as gratuitously rude. Others expressed an unusual fear of consequences if they said anything bad about him because of his deep connection and allegiance to powerful politicians in Nebraska.

ABA members also raised concerns that Grasz would be unable to separate his role as an advocate from that of a judge, given his record on such issues as abortion. Among other things, he defended Nebraskas ban on partial-birth abortion, and, in a 1999 article, he argued that lower courts should be able to overrule Supreme Court decisions on abortion rights because abortion jurisprudence is, to a significant extent, a word game.

Story continues

In sum, the evaluators and the Committee found that temperament issues, particularly bias and lack of open-mindedness, were problematic, reads the statement submitted by Pam Bresnahan, the chair of the ABAs standing committee that reviews nominees. The evaluators found that the people interviewed believed that the nominees bias and the lens through which he viewed his role as a judge colored his ability to judge fairly.

White House deputy press secretary Hogan Gidley defended Graszs nomination.

Steve Grasz is an outstanding lawyer, who has the full-throated support of the President, both U.S. Senators from Nebraska, and lawyers on each side of the political spectrum, Gidley told HuffPost in a Wednesday statement. The ABA claims to be non-partisan, but the facts show it cannot be trusted to fairly evaluate exceptional nominees.

Sen. Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), who recommended Grasz to Trump, told the Senate committee she was shocked by the ABA rating. She said she didnt come across one single temperament issue when she talked to Nebraskans about Grasz.

I am sad to say that, after thoroughly examining the substance of the ABAs report, it is evident to me the ABA evaluation of Mr. Grasz was a baseless political character assassination, Fischer said.

But Whitehouse pointed out that 40 of the 42 judicial nominees Trump has put forward so far have gotten qualified or well qualified ratings by the ABA. (Charles Goodwin, Trumps pick for a district court in Oklahoma, was the other nominee rated not qualified.)

It would be hard for the committee to ascribe the outcome in this case to a general partisanship of the ABA process, said the Democratic senator. It would not be consistent with the facts.

Its up to the White House to decide if it wants to plow ahead with Grasz. If the president doesnt withdraw his nomination, the Judiciary Committee could vote to advance him to the full Senate in a matter of weeks.

Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), who chairs the committee, said Wednesday that he invited ABA representatives to testify at a Nov. 15 hearing about their Grasz rating. They accepted, he said, so that hearing will happen before Grasz is scheduled for his committee vote.

This story has been updated to include Grassleys comments.

Also on HuffPost

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy (bottom 2nd L) reacts while chatting with Chief Justice John Roberts (C) during a new U.S. Supreme Court family photo including Justice Neil Gorsuch (top R), their most recent addition, at the Supreme Court building in Washington, D.C., U.S., June 1, 2017. Also pictured are Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg (front row, L-R), Justice Clarence Thomas, Justice Stephen Breyer, Justice Elena Kagan (back row, L-R), Justice Samuel Alito and Justice Sonia Sotomayor.

U.S. Chief Justice John Roberts (seated C) leads Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg (front row, L-R), Justice Anthony Kennedy, Justice Clarence Thomas, Justice Stephen Breyer, Justice Elena Kagan (back row, L-R), Justice Samuel Alito, Justice Sonia Sotomayor, and Justice Neil Gorsuch in taking a new family photo including Gorsuch, their most recent addition, at the Supreme Court building in Washington, D.C., U.S., June 1, 2017.

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy (bottom L) chats with Chief Justice John Roberts (bottom R) during a new U.S. Supreme Court family photo including Justice Neil Gorsuch (not pictured), their most recent addition, at the Supreme Court building in Washington, D.C., U.S., June 1, 2017. Also pictured are Justice Elena Kagan (back row, L-R), Justice Samuel Alito and Justice Sonia Sotomayor. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst

U.S. Chief Justice John Roberts (seated L-R), Justice Clarence Thomas, Justice Stephen Breyer, Justice Sonia Sotomayor (top L) and Justice Neil Gorsuch (top R) chat during a new U.S. Supreme Court family photo including Gorsuch, their most recent addition, at the Supreme Court building in Washington, D.C., U.S., June 1, 2017.

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy (L) chats with Chief Justice John Roberts (R) during a new U.S. Supreme Court family photo including Justice Neil Gorsuch (not pictured), their most recent addition, at the Supreme Court building in Washington, D.C., U.S., June 1, 2017.

U.S. Justice Neil Gorsuch (top R) leans in to speak to Justice Stephen Breyer (bottom R) as the members of the U.S. Supreme Court including Chief Justice John Roberts (seated L), Justice Clarence Thomas (seated C) and Justice Sonia Sotomayor (top L) gather for a new family photo with Gorsuch, their most recent addition, at the Supreme Court building in Washington, D.C., U.S., June 1, 2017.

U.S. Chief Justice John Roberts (seated C) leads Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg (front row, L-R), Justice Anthony Kennedy, Justice Clarence Thomas, Justice Stephen Breyer, Justice Elena Kagan (back row, L-R), Justice Samuel Alito, Justice Sonia Sotomayor, and Justice Neil Gorsuch in taking a new family photo including Gorsuch, their most recent addition, at the Supreme Court building in Washington, D.C., U.S., June 1, 2017.

U.S. Chief Justice John Roberts (seated C) leads Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg (front row, L-R), Justice Anthony Kennedy, Justice Clarence Thomas, Justice Stephen Breyer, Justice Elena Kagan (back row, L-R), Justice Samuel Alito, Justice Sonia Sotomayor, and Justice Neil Gorsuch in taking a new family photo including Gorsuch, their most recent addition, at the Supreme Court building in Washington, D.C., U.S., June 1, 2017.

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This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
President Trump lashed out on Wednesday at Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., suggesting he was responsible for protecting the U.S. visa program reportedly used by the suspect in the Manhattan terror attack the day before.

The terrorist came into our country through what is called the Diversity Visa Lottery Program, a Chuck Schumer beauty, Trump tweeted. I want merit based.

The terrorist came into our country through what is called the "Diversity Visa Lottery Program," a Chuck Schumer beauty. I want merit based.  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 1, 2017

I guess its not too soon to politicize a tragedy, Schumer, the Senate minority leader, tweeted in response.

I guess it's not too soon to politicize a tragedy.  Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) November 1, 2017

Officials say the 29-year-old suspect, Sayfullo Saipov, killed eight people and wounded 13 others while driving a rented pickup truck along a bike path in lower Manhattan on Tuesday afternoon. Saipov emerged from the pickup truck after ramming into a school bus, brandishing what police later determined were fake weapons. He was shot in the abdomen and taken into custody. Authorities found a note left by the suspect near the scene claiming allegiance to ISIS.

According to ABC News New York City affiliate, Saipov, a legal permanent resident, immigrated from his native Uzbekistan in March 2010 through the program, which is designed to increase the number of immigrants from countries with low rates of immigration to the United States. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said it appears Saipov was self-radicalized after coming to the country.

At a press briefing Wednesday morning, Cuomo said Trumps tweets were not helpful and that they politicized the situation.

Story continues

I am bothered by an attempt by anyone to politicize this, Cuomo said, adding: That plays in to hands of terrorists.

We are fighting hard for Merit Based immigration, no more Democrat Lottery Systems. We must get MUCH tougher (and smarter), Trump tweeted, tagging his favorite morning show, Fox & Friends.

We are fighting hard for Merit Based immigration, no more Democrat Lottery Systems. We must get MUCH tougher (and smarter). @foxandfriends  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 1, 2017

The president also relayed an apparent Fox & Friends quote from retired Lt. Col. Anthony Shaffer attacking Schumer.

"Senator Chuck Schumer helping to import Europes problems" said Col.Tony Shaffer. We will stop this craziness! @foxandfriends  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 1, 2017

We will stop this craziness! the president added.

The Washington Post notes that in 2013, Schumer was among a group of senators who introduced a bipartisan proposal to revamp U.S. immigration laws that would have eliminated the diversity lottery. The proposal passed the Senate but died in the House.

Actually, the Gang of 8, including @SenSchumer, did away with the Diversity Visa Program as part of broader reforms. I know, I was there https://t.co/QQFJzPyRzC  Jeff Flake (@JeffFlake) November 1, 2017

In a separate statement, Schumer accused Trump of proposing cuts to counterterrorism funding.

I have always believed, and continue to believe, that immigration is good for America, Schumer said. President Trump, instead of politicizing and dividing America, which he always seems to do at times of national tragedy, should be focusing on the real solution  anti-terrorism funding  which he proposed cutting in his most recent budget. Im calling on the President to immediately rescind his proposed cuts to this vital anti-terrorism funding.

President Trump; Sen. Chuck Schumer (Photos: Evan Vucci/AP, Andrew Harnik/AP)

In June, Trump proposed cutting more than $150 million from U.S. antiterrorism grants, the so-called Urban Area Security Initiative, and requiring large cities  such as New York  to pay 25 percent of the costs.

The grant program was created by President George W. Bush after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, but it was scaled back during his second term. In 2017, President Barack Obama proposed even deeper cuts to the antiterror grants.

Hours after Tuesdays attack, Trump tweeted that he had ordered the Department of Homeland Security to step up its extreme vetting program. The president did not specify what those steps would be.

On Wednesday morning, Schumer addressed the attack and Trumps response in a string of nearly two dozen tweets.

I rise this morning with a heavy heart. A city no stranger to terrorism was once again its victim last night  my home city of New York.  Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) November 1, 2017

Yday, a man deliberately drove a truck into groups of pedestrians & cyclists, killing 8 & injuring over a dozen. Some were schoolchildren.  Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) November 1, 2017

Our hearts go out to the victims and their families and we wish all the injured a full and speedy recovery.  Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) November 1, 2017

We are also grateful  deeply grateful  to the NYPD & 1st responders, especially Officer Ryan Nash, who was the first on the scene.  Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) November 1, 2017

As one of the thousands of NYers who regularly ride on the path where this attack took place, it hits close to home.  Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) November 1, 2017

I rode on that path just this past wkend. My daughter went to the school near the scene & used the bike path. It's our territory. Our home.  Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) November 1, 2017

These attacks are meant to confuse and terrorize. But as the world learned after 9-11, and will learn again: New York doesnt scare easy.  Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) November 1, 2017

NYers are resilient. We will bounce back. We wont let terrorists get their way or affect our way of lifewe will never let terror prevail.  Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) November 1, 2017

And true to form  something that made my heart swell with pride  the New York City Halloween parade marched on last night.  Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) November 1, 2017

President Bush, in a moment of national tragedy, understood the meaning of his high office & sought to bring our country together.  Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) November 1, 2017

President Trump, where is your leadership? The contrast btwn Pres Bushs actions after 9-11 & Pres Trumps this am couldn't be starker.  Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) November 1, 2017

Pres Trump, instead of politicizing & dividing America which he always seems to do at times of national tragedy, should bring us together.  Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) November 1, 2017

President Trump should be focusing on the real solution  anti-terrorism funding  which he proposed to cut in his most recent budget.  Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) November 1, 2017

Calling on Pres Trump to rescind his proposed cuts to anti-terrorism funding immediately  our city relies on it to snuff out attacks.  Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) November 1, 2017

The NYPD, who bravely & quickly brought the mayhem to an end yday, depends on anti-terrorism funding to keep our city safe day-in & day-out.  Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) November 1, 2017

Again, Im calling on President Trump to rescind his proposed cuts to the vital anti-terrorism funding immediately.  Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) November 1, 2017

The president ought to stop tweeting and start leading, Schumer told reporters at separate press briefing. The American people long for leadership not divisiveness not finger pointing not name calling. This is a tragedy, its less than a day after it occurred and he cant refrain from his nasty divisive habits.

Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump said he is starting the process of terminating the lottery program.

I am going to ask Congress to immediately initiate work to get rid of this program, he said. Diversity sounds nice. Its not nice. Its not good.

 With Liz Goodwin contributing reporting from Capitol Hill

Read more from Yahoo News:
WASHINGTON  President Donald Trump didnt say yes and he didnt say no to a campaign advisers suggestion last year that he meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to a CNN report citing an unnamed official who was in the room at the time.

Trump foreign policy adviser George Papadopoulos made the suggestion at a March 31, 2016 meeting of Trumps national security team, according to afederal indictmentunsealed on Monday. However, CNNs sources say that now-Attorney General Jeff Sessions, who was leading the national security advisory council at the time, rejected Papadopoulos proposal.

Mondays indictment, part of special counsel Robert Muellers investigation into possible collusion between Trumps campaign and Russia, revealed that Papadopoulospleaded guilty last month to lying to the FBI about being offered dirt from the Russian government on Trumps opponent Hillary Clinton. He is now cooperating with Muellers probe.

According to the indictment, Papadopoulos said hed told other members of the national security team that he had connections that could help arrange a meeting with Putin.

The White House and the Department of Justice did not immediately return requests for comment about the interaction.

Papadopoulos revelations provide the clearest evidence so far of a possible link between Trumps campaign and efforts by the Russian government to influence the 2016 election.

When reporters asked White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders about Papadopoulos on Monday, she dismissed the March 2016 meeting as brief.

Im not sure that the president recalls specific details of the meeting, she said.

On Wednesday, CNNs Jim Acosta asked Sanders whether Trump recalled Papadopoulos raising the idea of meeting with Putin during that meeting.

No, I dont believe he does, she said.

The White House and Trump allies have spent much of the week trying to distance the president from Papadopoulos, as well as Muellers investigation, by downplaying the former advisers role in the campaign.

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In a tweet on Tuesday, Trump called Papadopoulos a young, low level volunteer, whom he claimed few people knew. But last year, Trump had praised him as an excellent guy when naming him to his national security team.

When reporters asked Sanders on Monday about a photo from the March 31 meeting that shows Papadopoulos at a table with Trump and Sessions, she minimized it by saying that the president has thousands of photographs with millions of people.

On Tuesday, former Trump adviser Michael Caputo reduced Papadopoulos role to just a coffee boy for the campaign.

The details of Papadopoulos indictment also raise more questions about what Sessions knew of contacts between Trumps campaign and Russia, since he led the council Papadopoulos was part of. Sessions concealed several meetings with Russian officials and hasrecused himselffrom matters involving the multiple investigations into the Trump campaigns ties to Russia.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
President Donald Trump, left, and Vice President Mike Pence in their newly released White House portraits. (Photo: The White House)

They had to know this would happen.

The White House finally released its official portraits of President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence on Tuesday, more than nine months after they were sworn in.

The images are destined to grace federal offices across the country. But first, they made the rounds on social media, where critics of the president offered a few tweaks that the White House wont be happy about:

Today the WH released the official portrait of Trump and Pence. Very nutritious I mean regal. #itsmeullertime pic.twitter.com/zCtXaHXSqf  Hammilton (@mathewpankratz) October 31, 2017

The @WhiteHouse Releases the Official Portraits of President Donald J. Trump and Vice President Mike Pence... pic.twitter.com/4JhlzGmCIE  Dandelion Dollar (@DandelionDollar) October 31, 2017

White House releases new official Trump portrait pic.twitter.com/a9R9jVIAXg  UnindictedWisco  (@Wisco) October 31, 2017

BREAKING: White House releases official portrait of Trump. pic.twitter.com/ghmp8Plqnj  Steve Elde (@steve_elde) October 31, 2017

Also on HuffPost

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This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
President Trump says he would consider sending the suspect in Tuesdays terror attack in New York City to the U.S. detention center in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

I would certainly consider that, Trump said when asked by a reporter what he would like to see done with the alleged attacker. Send him to Gitmo.

Officials say the 29-year-old suspect, Sayfullo Saipov, killed eight people and wounded 13 others when he drove a rented pickup truck along a bike path in lower Manhattan. Saipov ran from the pickup truck after ramming into a school bus, brandishing what police later determined were fake weapons. He was shot in the abdomen by a police officer, arrested and taken to a New York City hospital. He has yet to be formally charged.

Since the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks, no suspected terrorists detained on U.S. soil have been sent to Guantanamo.

According to the State Department, Saipov, a legal permanent U.S. resident, immigrated from his native Uzbekistan in March 2010 through the Diversity Immigrant Visa program, which is designed to increase the number of immigrants from countries with low rates of immigration to the U.S. through a lottery system.

Trump said Wednesday that he is starting the process of terminating the program.

I am going to ask Congress to immediately initiate work to get rid of this program, he said, adding: Diversity lottery  sounds nice. Its not nice. Its not good.

Related: Trump incorrectly blames Obama for freeing vicious Gitmo detainees

Trump called for quicker and stronger justice for terrorists.

Were so politically correct that were afraid to do anything, he said. What we have right now is a joke. Its a laughingstock.

Trumps suggestion about sending Saipov to Gitmo came after Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., called on the president to treat the alleged attacker as an enemy combatant.

The terrorist attack in New York is the latest brutal, horrific example of the war that radical Islamist extremists are waging against our nation and our way of life, McCain said in a statement Wednesday. From Orlando to San Bernardino and Boston to Manhattan, we must not consider these attacks on our homeland in isolation, but rather recognize them for what they are: acts of war. As such, the New York terror suspect should be held and interrogated  thoroughly, responsibly, and humanely  as an enemy combatant consistent with the Law of Armed Conflict. He should not be read Miranda Rights, as enemy combatants are not entitled to them. As soon as possible, the administration should notify Congress how it plans to proceed with the interrogation and trial of this suspect.

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McCain said he agreed with Trumps criticism of the visa program, which he, along with a bipartisan group of senators, tried to eliminate with a comprehensive immigration reform bill passed in 2013. (The legislation died in the House.)

Now more than ever, Congress should come together to devise and pass legislation to fully and humanely reform our broken immigration system and secure the homeland, McCain said.

Read more from Yahoo News:
The Turkish Prime Minster said on October 31 that Turkey handed over the strategic border crossing of Ibrahim Khalil to the Iraqi government, Anadolu Agency reported.

Iraqi sources said their forces controlled all areas that were held by Kurds after 2003, including the Ibrahim Khalil border crossing .

However, Kurdish sources dismissed the reports that a joint Iraqi and Turkish military took control of the border crossing.

The Ibrahim Khalil gate, also known as the Habur, is the main border crossing between Turkey and Iraq had been controlled by Kurdish forces since 2003.

This video is shared by the Iraqi Directorate of Military Intelligence and it shows Iraqi forces at the disputed border crossing. Credit: Directorate of Military Intelligence via Storyful
Prince Charles and his wife, Camilla, arrived in Singapore yesterday, the first stop of an 11-day trip to strengthen ties between Britain and Asian countries.

They received a ceremonial welcome to kick off a visit to the Southeast Asian island nation in which they will have an orchid named after them and be hosted at a state banquet by Singapores president, Halimah Yacob.

Charles, the heir to the British throne, last visited Singapore in 1979. He is scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, and will lay a wreath at the Cenotaph, which honors soldiers who died during World Wars I and II.

Singapore was a British colony and a valuable trading port. Thousands of soldiers from countries such as Britain, Australia and New Zealand died when Japanese troops moved swiftly down the Malay Peninsula in early 1942.

It was on Feb. 15, 1942, after a week of fierce, last-ditch fighting, that British Lt.-Gen. Arthur Ernest Percival surrendered Singapore and hostilities ceased.

The British returned after the war. Still, locals pushed for self-rule, and Singapore became independent in 1965.

This visit reaffirms the historic and long-standing relationship between Singapore and the United Kingdom, Singapores foreign ministry said in a statement.

The royal couple leaves for Malaysia tomorrow. Theyll cap off their Asia tour with visits to Brunei and India.

British media reported that Myanmar was considered for the trip but was excluded from the itinerary. The mass exodus of hundreds of thousands of minority Muslim Rohingya amid violence in Myanmars Rakhine state has become a major humanitarian crisis, with Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi facing heavy international criticism. Annabelle Liang, Singapore, AP
Sean Edgett, Twitter's acting general counsel, swears in at a U.S. Senate hearing on Tuesday about Russia's use of social media networks to meddle in the 2016 election. (Photo: Bloomberg via Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  For almost two years, @TEN_GOP masqueraded as the Unofficial Twitter account of Tennessee Republicans, but in truth it was part of a Kremlin-directed influence operation. Its contents were the stuff of far-right fever dreams. The account hyped Donald Trump and savaged Hillary Clinton while serving up a slurry of racism, Islamophobia and fake news to its 136,000 followers. @TEN_GOP attacked mainstream media outlets, demonized anti-fascists and Black Lives Matter activists and insisted Russian meddling in the election was a conspiracy theory.

@TEN_GOP also actively promoted the Trump presidential campaign and was retweeted several times by figures such as Donald Trump Jr. and Sebastian Gorka  the first evidence that Trump campaign staffers, wittingly or not, assisted Russias online active measures. The account was even more popular among far-right American propagandists such as Jack Posobiec and Mike Cernovich, both of whom frequently retweeted @TEN_GOP and were in turn retweeted heavily by the account.

Two weeks ago, a Russian news outlet revealed that @TEN_GOP was part of the Internet Research Agency, a troll farm in St. Petersburg that runs online influence operations for the Russian government. The Daily Beast later confirmed the connection. @TEN_GOP operated from Nov. 19, 2015, to Aug. 23 of this year, when Twitter finally shut it down, having ignored multiple previous requests from the actual Tennessee Republican Party to suspend the account.

You had the presidents communications director retweeting this account, Kellyanne Conway. You had the presidents son Donald Trump Jr. retweeting this account, Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) said during a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing Wednesday morning, upbraiding Twitters acting general counsel, Sean Edgett. My question is: Why did it take so long to take this down when the Tennessee Republican Party was asking you repeatedly?

Edgett didnt have a good answer. Executives from Twitter and other social media platforms are testifying before Congress this week about how Russia used their companies services to help influence last years presidential election for Donald Trump, and the smart money says they wont have a lot of good answers.

Story continues

That was an absolute miss, Edgett told Warner. And weve gotten better since. Weve refined our policies around impersonation and parody.

But @TEN_GOP shouldve popped a red flag months ago. In March, I came across it on a list on Reddit of suspected Russian accounts. I shared the list with Susan Bourbaki Anthony, or SBA, a team of data scientists with whom I collaborate to track the spread of propaganda on Twitter. The team began gathering data on @TEN_GOP. While we hardly have everything the Russian account posted, our data collection does include 5,140 direct tweets going back to Dec. 1, 2016, along with several earlier retweets of @TEN_GOP by other nodes in our network.

The tweets are revealing, not just for their content but also for how they were shared, how often and by whom. SBA examined 27 significant nodes connected to @TEN_GOP that range from members of Trumps inner circle, to media sources and personalities, to political operatives. These nodes are just a fraction of the number connected to @TEN_GOP. And the number of times they retweeted the account or were retweeted by it represent the lowest possible count  just what we had in our data collection.

(Photo: Alissa Scheller/Huffpost)

Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump both retweeted the account to push a voter fraud conspiracy theory their father began circulating last October in an attempt to undermine confidence in an election he seemed destined to lose. Donald Jr., who was open to colluding with Russia offline and is a subject of the Department of Justices special investigation, was more active in his engagement with @TEN_GOP, retweeting the account at least five times, including a notable tweet about a riot in an immigrant suburb of Stockholm. (Such messages are designed to stoke anti-immigrant racial tension and are popular among white nationalists.)

Sebastian Gorka, a former foreign policy adviser to Trump with ties to Nazi sympathizers, retweeted @TEN_GOP at least six times. David A. Clarke, the former Milwaukee County sheriff who now works at the pro-Trump super PAC America First Action, retweeted the account at least five times, including when @TEN_GOP quoted Clarke himself on Black Lives Matter: This is a hateful ideology, a dangerous ideology  it needs to be opposed.

Far-right media members, who often advance conspiracy theories and racist views, engaged with @TEN_GOP more regularly, the biggest retweeters being Ann Coulter, Dinesh DSouza and Ezra Levant, the founder of Rebel Media, who retweeted the account at least 57 times but was never retweeted in return. One of his employees, however, was: Tommy Robinson, the co-founder of the English Defence League, a violent anti-Islam group, who earned at least 11 retweets from @TEN_GOP.

Most telling is the relationship between @TEN_GOP and Jack Posobiec, the protege of Roger Stone and a collaborator with other alt-lite dirty tricksters such as Jeff Giesea and Mike Cernovich. As the special projects director for a Trump PAC during the election, Posobiec liaised with pro-Russia alt-right white supremacists in America. He was at one point the Washington bureau chief for Rebel Media but was reportedly fired for plagiarizing the work of Jason Kessler, a white supremacist and former Daily Caller writer who organized the deadly Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville in August.

Posobiec, who has over 219,000 Twitter followers, acted as a bullhorn for the Pizzagate conspiracy theory and in May tried to upset the French presidential election by using his social media reach to create a furor over an email hack that targeted then-candidate Emmanuel Macrons campaign. For months, Posobiec has also tried to cast doubt on the legitimacy of investigations into Russian meddling in the American election. When Twitter temporarily suspended @TEN_GOP in July, Posobiec grew upset. Why is @TEN_GOP suspended?? he wrote.

When BuzzFeed News Kevin Collier contacted him for comment after the account was revealed to be Russian-controlled, Posobiec played dumb.

Fascinating, he told BuzzFeed, waxing professorial. We have to learn more about their operations. Its been their tactic since the KGB in the 70s to turn Americans against one another.

Posobiec then deleted all his tweets mentioning @TEN_GOP. But we have at least 16 of his retweets of @TEN_GOP. The following graphic illustrates one of them: a @TEN_GOP post from Aug. 7 in which the account linked to an article about a Twitter bot that was suspended after Trump had retweeted it. The headline on the story was Trump retweeted a Twitter bot  then it got suspended, but @TEN_GOPs tweet suggests that Twitter punished a Trump fan whod caught the tweeter-in-chiefs eye.

The red arrows indicate nodes that retweeted @TEN_GOP. The thickness of the lines connecting accounts indicates how often they retweeted each other.

(Photo: Alissa Scheller/Huffpost)

Posobiec didnt just retweet @TEN_GOP frequently. He was also retweeted by @TEN_GOP at least 47 times, the most of any account in our data collection. Clearly, he was doing something the Russian government liked. So was Cernovich, who has the second-highest number of retweets by @TEN_GOP. Mike Flynn Jr., who is friends with Posobiec and Cernovich, is another node of interest and, reportedly, another subject of the federal investigation into Russias election meddling. Investigators are looking into the work Flynn Jr. did for Flynn Intel Group, the lobbying firm owned by his father, who was forced to resign as Trumps national security adviser after his connections to the Russian government, which hed lied about, came to light.

Laundering Flynn Sr.s reputation was one of @TEN_GOPs favorite tasks. Unsurprisingly, Flynn Jr. retweeted the Russian propaganda account over 30 times  much of it racist, anti-Semitic, anti-immigrant content. In March, Flynn Jr. retweeted @TEN_GOP on a quote the account attributes to Ben Carson: ISLAM is not Consistent with our Constitution and no Muslim should ever be allowed to be President.

The node in our sample that retweeted @TEN_GOP the most and had the most one-sided relationship with this Russian propaganda hub was @RapinBill, a Twitter account belonging to an unknown American white nationalist troll who last year was named by MIT Media Lab as one of the top 150 influencers on the election. During the campaign, he operated under the handle @Ricky_Vaughn99. As @RapinBill, this mysterious troll retweeted @TEN_GOP 162 times, acting as a force multiplier for Russian-driven racial discord and contaminated political discourse.

But @RapinBill didnt get a single retweet from @TEN_GOP, which could indicate a desire by the Russian governments troll farm to conceal this connection. Instead, retweets were bestowed upon accounts like @polNewsForever, a now-suspended font of racist hate and disinformation fed by 4chan.

The chart below shows the top 15 accounts retweeted by @TEN_GOP in our complete data collection. It is a motley assortment of white nationalists, far-right propagandists, racist trolls, conspiracy theorists and Sean Hannity. It is, in other words, what happens when tech companies let the internet go to seed.

(Photo: Alissa Scheller/Huffpost)

NOTE: Data-driven analysis of propaganda on social media will be an ongoing effort here at HuffPost. Were looking for more information about any of the people mentioned in this story. Or any relevant data. If you can help, please contact luke.obrien@huffpost.com or brigadacapital@protonmail.com.

Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
Belfast (AFP) - Britain's parliament will begin legislating later this month for a new budget for Northern Ireland if the semi-autonomous province's squabbling parties fail to reach an agreement, Northern Ireland Secretary James Brokenshire said Wednesday.

"It has not yet been possible for the parties to reach agreement... I am therefore now taking forward the necessary steps that would enable a budget bill to be introduced at Westminster," he said in Belfast.

"I would expect the budget bill to be considered in parliament after the short November recess," he said.

MPs are due to return from their break on November 13.

Northern Ireland's two main parties, the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) and Sinn Fein, have been locked in months of negotiations since Northern Ireland's power-sharing executive collapsed in January.

Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney said it was "regrettable and deeply concerning" that talks had failed and emphasised the importance of safeguarding the principles of a peace agreement struck in 1998 to end decades of strife in the province.

Brokenshire said he was also seeking legal advice on the salaries that lawmakers elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly are continuing to receive even though it has not been meeting during the deadlock.

He said the passing of a budget would not be a "barrier" to continued political negotiations and the process could be stopped if a deal is reached.

"It remains firmly in the interests of Northern Ireland to see devolved government restored, to see locally elected politicians making decisions for the people of Northern Ireland," he said.
Now is one of the most exciting times to be a budget travelerheaded toEurope. A handful of low-cost European airlineshave started flying from the U.S. in recent years, with deals like$69 one-way from Miami to Iceland and$139 one-way from the West Coast to Sweden. And more are on the way: Last month, Iceland-based Primera Air started selling$99 transatlantic flightsthat will take off this spring.

These fares are no farce, and travel experts call them some of thecheapest the industry has ever seen. Of course, there are drawbacks; often, booking with a low-cost airline meansyou wont be allowed to bring carry-on bags, have an in-flight meal or choose your seat without paying an extra fee.

Low-cost airlines make sense for the frugal traveler who can fit his or her life into a backpack, but those who prefer in-flight perks should be aware that costs can pile up, Zach Honig, editor-in-chief of The Points Guy, told HuffPost.

Is it really possible to fly to Iceland for $200? Sure, if you carry only a backpack, dont select a seat in advance and skip the meals, he said. If you fly like the majority of leisure travelers do, though, the add-on costs can quickly add up.

When deciding whether to fly a low-cost airline to Europe, its all about weighing your options. Compare costs with mainstream carriers on a sitelike Google Flightsto make sure youre getting a deal, then check the budget carriers site to find out if theyll tack on fees for the extras you desire (i.e. a checked bag, a meal or a bigger seat).Research the aircrafts seat size and amenitiesif comfort is a concern, and note that while those sparkly flash sales feature super-cheap one-way flights, the trip back could cost you.

Dont fear, though. These airlines can be a real win, as long as you know what youre getting into. Here are some low-cost airlines to consider for your nexttrip to Europe.

Wow Air

This Icelandic airlineis one of the most prominent low-cost carriers flying from the U.S. to Europe right now, according to Honig. Wow currently fliesfrom 13 U.S. cities to many around Europe, andits website regularly features eye-popping fares like $99 from Boston to London one-way. However, all of Wows flights have layovers inReykjavik, Iceland, and your ticket price wont include seat selection or carry-on bags beyond a backpack. (Baggage fees vary by route.)

Story continues

A post shared by WOW air (@wowair)on Jul 29, 2017 at 3:00am PDT

Norwegian Air Shuttle

Wows closest competition is this Norwegian airline, which also flies from 13 U.S. cities to ones throughout Europe. Honig says Norwegian is preferable because it offers nonstop flights and often flies brand-new Dreamliner planes. Their website homepage displays deals like $99 from New York to Ireland one-way. (A return flight for that trip in mid-January is $180, but its the cheapest youll find right now:Google Flights saysthe next-cheapest option is $469, with an extra stop to boot.) Norwegians ticket prices include a personal item and carry-on bag, though theres a luggage weight limit.

A post shared by Norwegian (@flynorwegian)on Sep 19, 2017 at 12:32am PDT

Primera Air

This Scandinavian carrier announced it would start flying from Boston and NYC to London, Paris and Birmingham, England starting in spring 2018. They celebrated the news with $99 one-way flights, which are still available on select dates. Youll need to be based in Boston or NYC to take advantage of these low fares.

A post shared by Primera Air (@primera_air)on Sep 22, 2017 at 7:40am PDT

Level

This new Spanish carriercurrently flies from Los Angeles and the San Francisco area to Barcelona.We found round-trip flights from the Oakland airport to Barcelona for $442 in mid-January, whileGoogle Flights priced the next-cheapest round-tripat $719 for the same dates. Though routes are limited and the airline only offers flights on select days of the week, theres potential they will expand in the future.

A post shared by LEVEL (@flywithlevel)on Aug 11, 2017 at 1:20am PDT

Eurowings

Based in Germany, Eurowings currently flies from five U.S. cities to Germany, Austria and Switzerland. The airline is one of many offering increasingly cheap flights within Europe, but deals from the U.S. to Europe look slim right now: The cheapest Miami to Berlin flight we found was $474 one-way, which was more expensive than Google Flightss best option. Still, this airline is worth watching, as it may beef up its U.S. service in the future.

A post shared by Eurowings (@eurowings)on Oct 12, 2017 at 12:25am PDT

This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
Washington (AFP) - US President Donald Trump said Monday that US special forces had captured a man linked to the 2012 attack on the American mission in the Libyan city of Benghazi.

"Yesterday, on my orders, United States forces captured Mustafa al-Imam in Libya," Trump said in a statement, which came as the White House was rocked by the indictment of three campaign aides.

Trump said "al-Imam will face justice in the United States for his alleged role in the September 11, 2012 attacks in Benghazi."

Attorney General Jeff Sessions confirmed that the suspect "will face justice in federal court for his role in the attack."

An alleged mastermind of the attack, 46-year-old Ahmed Abu Khattala, is already on trial in the United States, accused of being a commander of the Ansar al-Sharia militia.

The attack killed US ambassador Chris Stevens as well as three other American personnel and became emblematic of conservative opposition to then secretary of state Hillary Clinton.

Several congressional investigations were launched, along with a State Department security review, into both the handling of the attack and how it was described in the media.

Clinton was never convincingly tagged with wrong-doing or negligence, but the issue haunted her failed 2016 presidential campaign and may have contributed to Trump's victory.

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson welcomed Trump's announcement.

"I am deeply grateful to the US military, law enforcement, and intelligence community for their efforts to bring to justice the perpetrators of the September 11, 2012 terrorist attacks," he said.

Tillerson said he had spoken to some of the relatives of those killed in the raid "to underscore the US government's unwavering support."

- Choking on smoke -

On September 11, 2012 -- the anniversary of the 2001 Al-Qaeda attacks on New York and Washington -- Islamist militants launched a surprise attack on a US diplomatic compound in Benghazi.

Story continues

The eastern city had been a hotbed of support for the rebels who the year previously, backed by NATO bombing runs, had overthrown dictator Moamer Kadhafi.

But since the fall of the regime, like many areas of Libya, it had fallen prey to faction fighting among rival militias -- including some inspired by global jihadist groups.

Then president Barack Obama's government was criticized for, in some initial reactions, ascribing the attack to regional popular anger over a US-produced, amateur anti-Islam film.

But it was subsequently concluded that it was a coordinated militant operation.

Ambassador Stevens and Sean Smith, a State Department technician, died of smoke inhalation as armed men attacked and set fire to a building in the diplomatic compound.

The group later fired mortar rounds at a building used by the CIA, killing Glen Doherty and Tyrone Woods, two former members of the Navy SEALs working as contractors.

Trump's statement did not go into detail as to how the latest suspect, Al-Imam, was captured.

But Abu Khattala was captured in 2014 when US special forces carried out a commando raid based on intelligence provided by a friend who received a $7 million reward from the US government.

Abu Khattala was taken to a US Navy ship where he was first subjected to a secret, classified interrogation before being questioned by FBI agents who informed him of his legal rights.

Defense attorneys have since claimed that his 13-day voyage to the United States was dragged out unnecessarily to prevent him from having proper legal counsel. Prosecutors deny this.

- Hunt for justice -

Trump suggested that even the second arrest had not brought an end to the US hunt for justice.

"To the families of these fallen heroes: I want you to know that your loved ones are not forgotten, and they will never be forgotten," he said.

"Our memory is deep and our reach is long, and we will not rest in our efforts to find and bring the perpetrators of the heinous attacks in Benghazi to justice."

He restated US support for the UN-backed reconciliation process in Libya and urged its citizens to supports efforts to build a unified government and military.
By Mukhammadsharif Mamatkulov and Olzhas Auyezov TASHKENT/ALMATY (Reuters) - An Uzbek immigrant accused of killing eight people in New York by driving a rental truck down a bike path became interested in religion after emigrating to the United States, a fellow Uzbek who spoke to him two months ago told Reuters on Wednesday. Police said they had interviewed Sayfullo Saipov, 29, who was shot and arrested by police moments after the rampage in lower Manhattan on Tuesday. He had entered the United States in 2010, police said. CNN, citing police officials, said he had left a note saying he carried out the attack in the name of Islamic State and had shouted "Allahu Akbar" - Arabic for "God is greatest." "He became religious on the spur of the moment," Mirrakhmat Muminov, a truck driver and Uzbek community activist who lives in Stow, Ohio, told Reuters by phone. He said Saipov had previously lived in Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan. "He started studying religion in the United States," said Muminov, adding that Saipov "couldn't get enough" of the religious freedoms enjoyed in the United States after living in the strict confines of Uzbekistan. A Reuters reporter found Saipov's family home in Tashkent, a grey one-storey house, but nobody answered the door on Wednesday and a neighbor said his parents had left earlier in the day. In Uzbekistan, an authoritarian, predominantly Muslim country in Central Asia ruled by Moscow until the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, the practice of Islam is tightly controlled by a government wary of radicalism. Tuesday's attack shines an uncomfortable light on Islamist militancy in the wider region of Central Asia that has supplied Islamic State in Syria and Iraq with thousands of fighters. The rampage in New York was at least the fourth deadly attack by an Uzbek national or ethnic Uzbek this year. A security source in neighbouring Kyrgyzstan told Reuters Saipov had also lived there, receiving temporary identity papers in the town of Uzgen, which lies in the sometimes volatile Ferghana Valley, in 2004. In the United States, Muminov said, Saipov had lived in Stow two or three years ago, they had met through the local Uzbek community, and Saipov had worked as a truck driver. "AGGRESSIVE LONER" Muminov said he had heard about the attack from Uzbeks in the Stow area some of whom he said were getting ready to be questioned by the authorities. He said he had no first-hand information about whether Saipov had carried out the attack and painted a picture of a man who was struggling to make it in the United States, had few friends and poor communication and English-language skills. "He was withdrawn, nervous, sometimes aggressive. Because of that he was lonely, he lived in his own world. He was not very popular, said Muminov. He said Saipov's English was poor and he did not speak Russian very well. Muminov said he had last spoken to Saipov about two months ago. Jahon, Uzbekistan's state news agency, said Saipov was born on Feb. 8, 1988 in Tashkent and had studied finance before taking a job as an accountant in a hotel in the city. It said he had no criminal convictions and had not "in general" caught the attention of the police. Saipov had won a U.S. green (residence) card in a 2010 lottery and left for the United States that same year where he had later married an Uzbek woman living there, Jahon said. He had not returned to Uzbekistan since 2010 or since seen his parents, who live in Tashkent and who the agency said practiced a "traditional" form of Islam and were not known to have any extremist links. The state agency stressed how Saipov had not behaved suspiciously while living in Uzbekistan. "(But) after moving to the United States Saipov became withdrawn and fell under the influence of radical groups," Jahon said. In a letter of condolence to President Donald Trump on Wednesday, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev said Tashkent was ready to use "all its resources" to help investigate the New York attack. It was the bloodiest single attack on New Yorkers since the Sept. 11, 2001, suicide hijackings of jetliners steered into the World Trade Center. It poses a challenge for Mirziyoyev, who assumed office at the end of 2016 and is trying to slowly open up his country after decades of authoritarian rule. On New Year's Day, an Uzbek gunman burst into a nightclub in the Turkish city of Istanbul and killed 39 people. In April, an ethnic Uzbek man born in Kyrgyzstan blew up a metro train in the Russian city of St Petersburg, killing at least 14 people, and that same month an Uzbek man rammed a truck into a crowd in Stockholm, killing four people. (Additional reporting by Hulkar Isamova in Osh; Writing by Andrew Osborn; Editing by Alison Williams and Peter Graff)
TASHKENT (Reuters) - Shavkat Mirziyoyev, the president of Uzbekistan, told U.S. President Donald Trump in a letter of condolences on Wednesday his country was ready to use all its resources to help investigate the deadly New York City attack. The Tashkent government said earlier on Wednesday it was investigating reports that an Uzbek man was behind the attack which killed eight people and injured about a dozen in what U.S. authorities said was an act of terrorism.. (Reporting by Mukhammadsharif Mamatkulov; Writing by Olzhas Auyezov; Editing by Andrew Osborn)
The government is studying the option of using schools as temporary shelters in the event of a future disaster, the director of the Education and Youth Affairs Bureau (DSEJ), Leong Lai, said yesterday, on the sidelines of the Youth Affairs Committees plenary meeting.

The DSEJ will hear the opinions of the Fire Services Bureau, Social Affairs Bureau and other departments regarding the topic. After this consultation period, the government will decide which schools are suitable shelter locations.

As Leong explained, the city needs to enhance the education of students regarding self-rescue, rescuing other people and disaster prevention. She continued by saying the city also needs to both enhance teachers knowledge about all these aspects and improve the structural safety of some school facilities.

In the future, [the government] will organize people to go to mainland China, Taiwan, and Japan to visit works related to disaster and danger prevention, announced Leong.

When talking about other topics concerning education, Leong expressed his hope that next year there will be an increase in the DSEJ budget.

Leong also disclosed that she has already delivered a letter of resignation to her superior. According to Leong, she will retire in February of next year. She believes that the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture already has a candidate to occupy her position.

Further, the acting head of the Education Department of DSEJ, Kong Chi Meng, stated that the construction associated with a school project in Coloane is scheduled to commence before the new year, and that the project will last for two years.
Hernan Diego Mendoza (left), Alejandro Damian Pagnucco (2nd left), Ariel Erlij (3rd left), Diego Enrique Angelini (3rd right) and Hernan Ferruchi (2nd right) were all killed in the attack

Five Argentines and a Belgian were among the eight people killed in the New York terror attack on Tuesday.

A pickup driver mowed down pedestrians and cyclists near the World Trace Center memorial in the worst act of terrorism on New York since September 11, 2001. Eleven others were seriously injured.

Argentina's Foreign Ministry confirmed five Argentine citizens had died in the attack.

It named them as Hernan Diego Mendoza, Diego Enrique Angelini, Alejandro Damian Pagnucco, Ariel Erlij, and Hernan Ferruchi.

New York terror attack, in pictures

The statement said the victims, from the city of Rosario, were part of a group of friends celebrating the 30th anniversary of their graduation from the polytechnic school of that city.

Ariel Erlij, identified as one of the victims of the New York attack Credit: Facebook

According to reports in Argentina, the five victims were part of a group of 10 people. Of them, four were unharmed and communicated with their families in the aftermath of the attack.

Argentina's consul in New York, Mateo Estreme, told La Capital in Rosario that the four survivors in the Argentine group are in a state of shock. Only days earlier, before flying to the US, they had posed for a group photo, all of them wearing T-shirts with the word "Libre," or Free.

Alejandro Damian Pagnucco Credit: Facebook

One of the members of the group - Ariel Erlij - paid for the trip for two of his former classmates, who could not afford the cost of the tickets, reports said.

It said the Argentine government was "deeply shocked" by what happened and "Argentina reaffirms its strongest condemnation of terrorist acts and violence in all its manifestations and reiterates the need to deepen the fight against this scourge".

Didier Reynders, Belgium's foreign minister, said a Belgian national was among the people killed.

Diego Angelini Credit: Facebook

"I am deeply saddened to announce a Belgian victim in Manhattan - I express my condolences to the family and friends," Mr Reynders said on Twitter.

"My thoughts are with the victims of the attack in New York," he said.

Story continues

He later said three Belgian nationals had been injured and were being treated in hospital.

Reynders told the Belga news agency that "it was a woman from Roulers in western Flanders who was on a city trip with with her sister and her mother" in New York.

President Donald Trump wrote on Twitter: "Looks like another attack by a very sick and deranged person. Law enforcement is following this closely. NOT IN THE U.S.A.!"

He blamed the attack on Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant which has encouraged its followers to use vehicles to mow people down. The UK, France and Germany have all seen deadly vehicle attacks in the recent past.
Chicago on Tuesday will play host to the Obama Foundations first summit, a two-day gathering designed to inspire a new generation of leaders.

The summit will feature around 500 speakers and performers, with grassroots leaders participating alongside big names such as Prince Harry and Chance the Rapper.

Whether youre an artist or entrepreneur, organizer or civil servant, youre here because youve demonstrated the passion, optimism, and devotion we need to move the world forward, wrote former President Barack Obama in a welcome note to attendees.

The Obama Foundation will seek to inspire people everywhere to give back, get involved, and recognize that they, too, have the power to make a difference. And that mission depends on more than what you do this weekit depends on you taking what you learn this week back to your communities, and applying it over the dedicated work of a lifetime.

Delegates from 60 countries and 27 U.S. states will attend the summit, as well as 102 native Chicagoans and Barack and Michelle Obama themselves.

Watch Barack and Michelle Obama give a welcome address live above at 4 p.m. ET. The pair will speak as the ongoing investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election intensified Monday with the arrest of several allies of President Donald Trump.
(Photo: HuffPost)

(Photo: Andrew Kelly / Reuters)

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SUSPECTED TERROR ATTACK KILLS 8 IN NEW YORK CITY At least eight people were killed and 11 people injured Tuesday afternoon when a man drove a Home Depot rental truck down a bike path in lower Manhattan, striking several people, authorities said. Take a look at the trail of terror. Heres what we know about Sayfullo Habibullaevic Saipov, the suspect in custody, and the victims of the attack. President Donald Trump responded on Twitter, saying NOT IN THE U.S.A.! This teacherhas witnessed three deadly attacks from inside Stuyvesant High School. And undeterred by terror, New Yorkers enjoyed quite the Halloween. [HuffPost] [Tweet | Share on Facebook]

HERES EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT OBAMACARE OPEN ENROLLMENT, WHICH BEGINS TODAY From understanding the exchanges and financial assistance available to the deadlines in each state. [HuffPost]

SENATORS WENT AFTER SOCIAL MEDIA GIANTS During a hearing about Russian interference in the election, lawmakers hammeredrepresentatives from Facebook, Twitter and Google and asked if they have too much power. And take a look at how Facebook could be regulated. [HuffPost]

ANOTHER DAY, ANOTHER WAVE OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT ALLEGATIONS From a top NPR editor to three Dartmouth college professors. Actor Jeremy Piven was accused of sexually assaulting an actress on the Entourage set. A Greys Anatomy star came forwardwith another James Toback allegation. Questions arose over how much Disney knew about Harvey Weinstein. Netflix has suspended productionon the final season of House of Cards amid the allegations against star Kevin Spacey. And why are we still not talking about Roman Polanski? [HuffPost]

WEST VIRGINIA WATCHES AS THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC RAVAGES ITS RESIDENTS We are losing a whole generation and probably two generations of people. [HuffPost]

ITS ONLY FITTING THIS WORLD SERIES IS GOING TO A GAME 7 Itll be a doozy after the LA Dodgers forced the final deciding game against the Houston Astros. [HuffPost]

Story continues

A BLACK MAN AND A WHITE WOMAN SAT DOWN AT A PUB And then the white supremacists showed up. [HuffPost]

WHATS BREWING

BECAUSE WE CANT HAVE NICE THINGS ANYMORE Experts are questioning the story of two women who were rescued at sea last week after disappearing in May. [HuffPost]

THE CHEF WHO FED PUERTO RICO [Jose Andres] much more than a hero. The situation is that still some people dont even have food. He is all that is keeping them from starving. [NYT]

TALK ABOUT A NIGHTMARE These parents found meth in their kids Halloween candy. [HuffPost]

THIS REPORT GRADES BAIL SYSTEMS IN EACH STATE Only one got an A. [HuffPost]

DIOR CHOSE 25-YEAR-OLD CARA DELEVINGNE AS THE FACE OF ITS ANTI-AGING PRODUCTS Yes, you read that correctly. [HuffPost]

WELL PASS ON THE LIPSTICK SAMPLES After learning you can get herpes in cosmetics wonderlands like Sephora. [HuffPost]

A GERMAN COURT STOPPED THESE PARENTS FROM NAMING THEIR CHILD LUCIFER There were 13 babies named Lucifer in the U.S. in 2016. [HuffPost]

BEFORE YOU GO

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This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
Edenbridge (United Kingdom) (AFP) - An effigy of disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein will be torched this weekend as part of a British town's Bonfire Night celebrations, organisers revealed on Wednesday.

The 11-metre (36-foot) effigy of a semi-naked Weinstein, showing him clutching an Oscar statuette in one hand and a bra in the other, will go up in flames on Saturday in Edenbridge, south of London.

The statue also has an old-fashioned black-and-white film clapperboard held open by a woman over the producer's genitals with the words "Final Cut" on it.

Guy Fawkes Night, or Bonfire Night, is an annual event marking the foiling of a plot by Catholic conspirators to blow up Protestant king James I and the Houses of Parliament with 36 barrels of gunpowder on November 5, 1605.

It is celebrated with bonfires and fireworks displays either on November 5 or the nearest weekend, with effigies of the plotter Fawkes burned.

More than 50 women including stars Gwyneth Paltrow, Angelina Jolie and Mira Sorvino have accused 65-year-old Weinstein of sexual abuse and harassment, although he denies forcing himself on anyone.

Police in New York, Los Angeles and London have all confirmed criminal investigations into Weinstein's activities.

Edenbridge has been poking fun at topical famous figures for 20 years, torching effigies of them alongside the traditional Guy Fawkes.

Last year's effigy was of then US presidential candidate Donald Trump and previous targets have included former FIFA president Sepp Blatter.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Trump administration has not ruled out adding Uzbekistan to a list of countries named in a presidential travel ban, following Tuesday's deadly truck attack, allegedly by an Uzbek immigrant, in New York City, a White House spokeswoman said on Wednesday.

"Look, that's maybe something that's looked at, but that isn't something that we've called for at this time, but we certainly haven't ruled it out," spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said at a regular briefing.

She added that the White House would consider the suspect, Sayfullo Saipov, to be an "enemy combatant" but would not necessarily consider prosecuting him under that status. The enemy combatant designation has typically applied to detainees sent to the United States' Guantanamo Bay prison in Cuba.

(Reporting by James Oliphant; Writing by Eric Walsh; Editing by Jonathan Oatis)
By Natalia Zinets KIEV (Reuters) - The Ukrainian wife of a Chechen man accused by Russia of plotting to kill President Vladimir Putin was shot dead outside Kiev on Monday in an attack that also wounded her husband, Ukrainian interior ministry officials said. Amina Okuyeva and Adam Osmayev were in a car that was shot at from bushes near a railway crossing on the outskirts of the capital, interior ministry advisors Anton Gerashchenko and Zoryan Shkiryak said in separate posts on Facebook. The attack follows a vehicle bombing in Kiev last Thursday, in which two people were killed and three wounded, including Ihor Mosiychuk, a member of the populist opposition Radical Party. Okuyeva had links to Mosiychuk, having once worked for him in an advisory role. "As a result of the injuries she sustained, Amina died. Adam Osmayev was wounded, but will live. I just spoke to him on the telephone," Gerashchenko said. The incident is the second attempt this year on the life of Osmayev, from Russia's mainly Muslim Chechnya region. In June, he survived an attack by a gunman, who was in turn shot and wounded by Okuyeva. Gerashchenko and Shkiryak did not suggest a motive for the latest incident. SPATE OF BOMBINGS Mosiychuk has blamed Russia for last week's bombing, while Ukrainian police have said Russian involvement is one of the possible motives being investigated. Russia has dismissed the accusations as a product of anti-Russian sentiment in Ukraine. Relations between Kiev and Moscow collapsed in 2014 after Russia seized Ukraine's Crimea peninsula and backed a pro-Russian separatist insurgency in eastern Ukrainian regions. Russian authorities accuse Osmayev of being part of a 2012 plot by Islamist rebels to kill Putin with a bomb in central Moscow. Osmayev and Okuyeva are well-known figures in Ukraine, having served as volunteers for the Ukrainian military in the fight against pro-Russian rebels. Moscow has fought two wars with separatists in Chechnya since the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union. The region is now broadly under the control of Moscow, but Chechens are known to have fought both for the pro-Russian rebels and for the Ukrainian army in the conflict in eastern Ukraine. Since fighting broke out in the east in 2014, the number of incidents involving explosives outside the conflict zone has increased. There has been a spate of vehicle bombings over the past 18 months in Kiev, the capital, and elsewhere, but investigators have failed to find those responsible. (Writing by Alessandra Prentice; editing by Ralph Boulton)
After 25 years as a couple, Amy Betters-Midtvedt and Todd Midvedtzs marriage rarely looks Instagram-perfect but thats what makes it so special.

Betters-Midtvedt recently posted a now-viral Facebook post that sums up what everyday love looks like after years together.

Listen up young ones, she begins the letter. This is what your knight in shining armor looks like when you are in your 40s.

Yes, thats my amazing husband who is arriving on the scene with his credit card because what you cant see is me, standing next to a cart super full of groceries that I couldnt pay for because I couldnt find my wallet, the mom of five writes.

Not sure you can tell, but hes smiling at me, Betters-Midtvedt says of the photo. Yup...he had to leave work and he is smiling. His only words of admonishment were, Youre not supposed to be grocery shopping I said Id go this week. Seriously.

From there, the Appleton, Wisconsin-based blogger breaks down all the little ways her husband shows his love.

Love also looks like me coming downstairs to a full pot of coffee every morning because coffee is love, she writes. Love looks like all the lunches being made already so I can enjoy that aforementioned cup of coffee.

The couple on their wedding day, almost 20 years ago. (Photo: Amy Betters-Midtvedt)

The love Betters-Midtvedt writes about isnt showy, but its the kind of love she hopes her kids eventually find in their own lives.

Do not be fooled by big, showy promposals and giant cards with candy bars glued to them with some cute saying or by your name spelled in pepperoni by a boy whos asking you to homecoming, she writes. Watch how he treats you when Instagram isnt looking.

Todd and the couple's five kids. (Photo: Amy Betters-Midtvedt)

In an interview with HuffPost, Betters-Midtvedt said shes teared up a few times reading the tagged comments people are leaving their own partners on the thread. She hopes the young people she addresses throughout the letter are reading, too.

When I watched Todd walking into Aldis after I totally disrupted his day and he was still happy to see me, I just felt like, man, this is it: real love in action, she said. And there are so many ways that he makes me feel loved that have nothing to do with what the world would say romance is.

Story continues

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The couple has been together for 25 years. (Photo: Danielle Kruse of Polkadot Umbrella Photograpy)

How does she reciprocate that love?

I like to make sure he is well fed; food is his love language, Betters-Midtvedt told HuffPost. A good pot of chili is the way to his heart.

Forgetfulness is a shared trait among the couple, but luckily, so is the selflessness the writer describes in the post.

I have been known to drop off a credit card myself, or bring gas when hes stranded or just make sure that things are running smoothly in general, she said. Its all about the little things.

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Also on HuffPost

This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
A mom in Ozaukee, Wis., north of Milwaukee, has been charged with child endangerment after police say she had her 9-year-old son ride atop her minivan to hold down a plastic pool she was transporting.



According to court documents, Amber Schmunk, 28, was trying to get the pool home in Saukville, Wis., but it wouldn't fit in her vehicle. Police said she "decided to put the pool on top of the minivan, but had no way to strap it down, so she had her child climb on the roof and hold it down while she drove." She also reportedly told officers it was "only for a short time, maybe 20-30 seconds," and that she thought it was OK because her father had "let her do things like that when she was that age."



Here's a puzzler to this report. According to Milwaukee's WTMJ-TV, she also told police that she thought it was safe because she had used a strap to hold the boy down. So if she had a strap, it's hard to understand why she didn't use just the strap, rather than the boy-strap combination.



The report doesn't specify how fast she drove nor how far, other than saying it was within her neighborhood. Police were tipped off by a motorist who was behind her, who raises another puzzle, as the motorist reported watching Schmunk stop to put the child and the supposedly too-big-to-fit pool inside the van.



Schmunk is back in court Nov. 14. If found guilty, she faces a possible 10 years in prison and $25,000 fine.



Related Video:















Wisconsin woman accused of driving with child on minivan roof originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 01 Nov 2017 15:00:00 EDT.
When the self-described Islamic State published instructions for truck and car attacks in its propaganda magazine last November, New Yorks law enforcement took notice.

The article in the groups Rumiyah magazine featured photos of Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade, which winds through the middle of Manhattan, and included a caption calling the event an excellent target. In response, New Yorks counterterrorism officials visited 148 truck rental locations to instruct them on how to spot suspicious indicators and alert authorities. After vehicle attacks in Europe in the following months, authorities reached out twice more to reiterate their advice.

But despite the warnings and a range of other security measures in place to stop a vehicular attack, authorities say a 29-year-old man with an allegiance to ISIS managed to kill at least eight people and injure 12 on Tuesday in lower Manhattan as he drove a rented truck down a bike path.

The attack highlights just how difficult it is for cities and law enforcement agencies to protect against terrorism in general, and vehicular assaults in particular. As governments around the world seek to protect urban areas from terror using barriers and increased security, the reality is that there are limits to such safeguards.

Despite intensified efforts, vehicular terrorist attacks such as the one in New York City on Oct. 31, 2017, remain hard to thwart. (Photo: Brendan McDermid / Reuters)

A Surge In Vehicle Attacks

Car and truck attacks have become a preferred method of terrorism because they dont require much planning, training or expensive weapons but can be extremely deadly. Vehicles are readily available, and they avoid the type of suspicion that stockpiling weapons or explosives would bring from authorities.

In London, Berlin, Stockholm, Barcelona, Spain, and Nice, France, such attacks have killed over a hundred people in little more than a year. North America has not been immune to the tactic either, as car rammings occurred in Montreal in 2014 and Columbus, Ohio, last November.

As ISIS loses much of its territory in Iraq and Syria, the group has increasingly emphasized such attacks as a way for its supporters to show their dedication and inflict harm.

Story continues

The locale of the New York City attack. (Photo: Google Maps / Map: Ji Sub Jeong/HuffPost)

New Yorks Anti-Terror Preparations

New York has been ahead of the curve preparing for vehicle attacks. The city has set up early warning systems and has devoted immense resources to counterterrorism.

After the Sept. 11 terror attacks, New York built up barricades to control the flow of foot traffic and increase security near certain landmarks. Many high profile areas of the city, such as Wall Street and around the United Nations building, have heavy barriers and other vehicle mitigation devices to deter attacks.

New York also redesigned its Times Square tourist hub to include more security bollards following recommendations from a counterterrorism official in 2012, who was alarmed by al Qaeda propaganda calling for such attacks.

But cities are not prisons, and its unreasonable to expect heavy security measures and concrete blocks on every corner  nor may it be desirable.

Constructing a hyper-secure urban landscape that restricts movement and mobility, and could discourage people visiting the public realm, will reduce quality of life and livability in any city, Jon Coaffee, an expert on urban geography and security at the University of Warwick in England, told HuffPost.

Police patrol the Christmas market area targeted by a truck attack in Berlin on Dec. 21, 2016. (Photo: ODD ANDERSEN via Getty Images)

Cities Grapple With How To Stop Attacks

Although New York was the latest target, major cities across the world have been forced to deal with how to prevent vehicular terror attacks.

After a truck attack killed 12 people at an open air market in Berlin last December, city Police Chief Klaus Kandt laid out the difficulties in stopping such violence.

There are an almost unlimited number of soft targets, thats simply the fact, so there are many possibilities to kill people with a truck, Kandt said.

London, which has had barriers around its city center since Irish militants carried out bombings in the early 1990s, added additional security bollards near major sites and deployed specialized anti-vehicle netting at events following three deadly vehicle attacks this year. The United Kingdom is also considering putting new restrictions on van rentals.

Other European cities have blocked off streets, put up concrete barriers and increased police presence around tourist hubs in response to vehicle attacks. But incidents have continued, as extremists manage to find new vulnerabilities.

As the concern over vehicle attacks rises, authorities are seeking new ways to mitigate the threat. Even if the attacks arent wholly preventable, new techniques will likely be found to safeguard the places where they could do the most damage.

Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
Donald Trump has blamed a lottery scheme for visa applicants for allowing the suspected New York terror attacker to enter the country.

The US President, citing unconfirmed reports about how Sayfullo Saipov, 29, entered the country, said: The terrorist came into our country through what is called the Diversity Visa Lottery Program, a Chuck Schumer beauty. I want merit based.

We are fighting hard for Merit Based immigration, no more Democrat Lottery Systems. We must get MUCH tougher (and smarter). @foxandfriends.

Senator Chuck Schumer helping to import Europes problems said Col.Tony Shaffer. We will stop this craziness! @foxandfriends.

Just minutes before Mr Trump sent his first tweet, Fox News Fox and Friends programme had posted a clip of Dan Bongino, a former Secret Service agent, railing against the lottery scheme to its Twitter account.

The visa lottery makes available 55,000 immigrant visas, known as green cards, every year for people from countries with low rates of migration to the US.

Mr Saipov, an Uzbek national, entered the US legally in 2010. Officials have not said whether he came via the lottery scheme.

He was arrested after a truck ploughed through pedestrians and cyclists near the World Trade Centre in Manhattan on Tuesday, and then crashed into a schoolbus.

The rampage left eight dead and 11 seriously injured.

Uzbekistan said it was ready to do everything it could to help investigate.

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev made the offer of help in a letter of condolence to Mr Trump in which he condemned the attack as extremely brutal and said there could be no justification for such violence.

The attack is a challenge for Mr Mirziyoyev who assumed office at the end of 2016 and is trying to slowly open up his country after decades of authoritarian rule.

It also shines an uncomfortable light on Islamist militancy in the wider region which has supplied Islamic State in Syria and Iraq with thousands of fighters.

Additional reporting by agencies
President Xi Jinping has promised to open Chinas economy wider during a meeting with American business leaders ahead of a visit by U.S. President Donald Trump amid trade tensions.

Xi spoke this week to members of an advisory board to Beijings Tsinghua University business school that included Apple CEO Tim Cook, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Blackstone Group chairman Stephen Schwarzman.

During the event at the Great Hall of the People, the ceremonial seat of Chinas government, Xi promised to introduce a series of initiatives to promote and expand opening up, the official Xinhua News Agency reported.

A key Communist Party meeting last week elevated Xi to the highest status among Chinese leaders, adding his name to the party constitution alongside those of Mao Zedong, founder of the communist government in 1949, and Deng Xiaoping, who launched economic reforms in 1979.

At the congress, Xi promised more open markets and support for entrepreneurs but also affirmed plans to build up state-owned companies that dominate industries, including banking, energy and telecoms.

The United States and other trading partners are pressing Beijing to give their companies more access to its state-dominated economy. Trumps administration is investigating whether Beijing improperly pressures foreign companies to hand over technology.

Xi said he looked forward to Trumps visit, according to Xinhua.

China is willing to work with the United States to jointly promote Sino- American cooperation with mutual care for each others interests and concerns and properly resolve differences, the president was quoted as saying. We are optimistic about the prospects for Chinese-U.S. relations.

Still, Xi stressed that national security and sovereignty also were priorities for Beijing.

China will firmly uphold its own sovereignty, security and development interests at the same time, he was quoted as saying.

China has steadily tightened controls on internet use and data, prompting complaints by business groups that it is improperly using national security concerns to shield its technology industries from competition.

Earlier this week, the Chinese internet regulator called on website operators to improve employee training to ensure they adhere to Marxist principles and the correct political direction.

Previous censorship measures have hurt companies, including some with U.S.-traded shares. Three popular internet services were ordered to stop streaming video in June after regulators complained they allowed improper comments on sensitive issues. That triggered a fall in the shares of Sina Corp. and its microblog service, Sina Weibo. AP
By Mukhammadsharif Mamatkulov and Olzhas Auyezov

TASHKENT/ALMATY (Reuters) - An Uzbek immigrant accused of killing eight people in New York by driving a rental truck down a bike path became interested in religion after emigrating to the United States, a fellow Uzbek who spoke to him two months ago told Reuters on Wednesday.

Police said they had interviewed Sayfullo Saipov, 29, who was shot and arrested by police moments after the rampage in lower Manhattan on Tuesday.

He had entered the United States in 2010, police said. CNN, citing police officials, said he had left a note saying he carried out the attack in the name of Islamic State and had shouted "Allahu Akbar" - Arabic for "God is greatest."

"He became religious on the spur of the moment," Mirrakhmat Muminov, a truck driver and Uzbek community activist who lives in Stow, Ohio, told Reuters by phone. He said Saipov had previously lived in Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan.

"He started studying religion in the United States," said Muminov, adding that Saipov "couldn't get enough" of the religious freedoms enjoyed in the United States after living in the strict confines of Uzbekistan.

A Reuters reporter found Saipov's family home in Tashkent, a grey one-storey house, but nobody answered the door on Wednesday and a neighbour said his parents had left earlier in the day.

In Uzbekistan, an authoritarian, predominantly Muslim country in Central Asia ruled by Moscow until the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, the practice of Islam is tightly controlled by a government wary of radicalism.

Tuesday's attack shines an uncomfortable light on Islamist militancy in the wider region of Central Asia that has supplied Islamic State in Syria and Iraq with thousands of fighters. The rampage in New York was at least the fourth deadly attack by an Uzbek national or ethnic Uzbek this year.

A security source in neighbouring Kyrgyzstan told Reuters Saipov had also lived there, receiving temporary identity papers in the town of Uzgen, which lies in the sometimes volatile Ferghana Valley, in 2004.

Story continues

In the United States, Muminov said, Saipov had lived in Stow two or three years ago, they had met through the local Uzbek community, and Saipov had worked as a truck driver.

"AGGRESSIVE LONER"

Muminov said he had heard about the attack from Uzbeks in the Stow area some of whom he said were getting ready to be questioned by the authorities.

He said he had no first-hand information about whether Saipov had carried out the attack and painted a picture of a man who was struggling to make it in the United States, had few friends and poor communication and English-language skills.

"He was withdrawn, nervous, sometimes aggressive. Because of that he was lonely, he lived in his own world. He was not very popular, said Muminov. He said Saipov's English was poor and he did not speak Russian very well. Muminov said he had last spoken to Saipov about two months ago.

Jahon, Uzbekistan's state news agency, said Saipov was born on Feb. 8, 1988 in Tashkent and had studied finance before taking a job as an accountant in a hotel in the city. It said he had no criminal convictions and had not "in general" caught the attention of the police.

Saipov had won a U.S. green (residence) card in a 2010 lottery and left for the United States that same year where he had later married an Uzbek woman living there, Jahon said.

He had not returned to Uzbekistan since 2010 or since seen his parents, who live in Tashkent and who the agency said practiced a "traditional" form of Islam and were not known to have any extremist links.

The state agency stressed how Saipov had not behaved suspiciously while living in Uzbekistan. "(But) after moving to the United States Saipov became withdrawn and fell under the influence of radical groups," Jahon said.

In a letter of condolence to President Donald Trump on Wednesday, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev said Tashkent was ready to use "all its resources" to help investigate the New York attack.

It was the bloodiest single attack on New Yorkers since the Sept. 11, 2001, suicide hijackings of jetliners steered into the World Trade Center. It poses a challenge for Mirziyoyev, who assumed office at the end of 2016 and is trying to slowly open up his country after decades of authoritarian rule.

On New Year's Day, an Uzbek gunman burst into a nightclub in the Turkish city of Istanbul and killed 39 people. In April, an ethnic Uzbek man born in Kyrgyzstan blew up a metro train in the Russian city of St Petersburg, killing at least 14 people, and that same month an Uzbek man rammed a truck into a crowd in Stockholm, killing four people.

(Additional reporting by Hulkar Isamova in Osh; Writing by Andrew Osborn; Editing by Alison Williams and Peter Graff)
The man accused of killing eight people by driving a truck down a busy New York cycle path was an Uber driver who may have lived in New Jersey after emigrating from Uzbekistan seven years ago.

As New York City reels from its latest terror atrocity, police have issued the first picture of their suspect, 29-year-old Sayfullo Saipov.

Records show Saipov was a commercial truck driver who formed a pair of businesses in Ohio. He had also driven for Uber, the company said.

Sayfullo Saipov is suspected of mowing down pedestrians and cyclists along a busy bike path near the World Trade Centre memorial St Charles County Department of Corrections/KMOV via AP

An Ohio marriage license shows a truck driver with one of Saipov's addresses and his name, spelled slightly differently, married a fellow Uzbek in 2013.

During his time in Fort Myers, Florida, several years ago, Saipov was "a very good person," an acquaintance, Kobiljon Matkarov, told The New York Times.

"He liked the US. He seemed very lucky, and all the time, he was happy and talking like everything is okay. He did not seem like a terrorist, but I did not know him from the inside," Mr Matkarov said.

He said Saipov later moved to New Jersey and began driving for Uber. San Francisco-based Uber said he started over six months ago.

An acquaintance, Dilnoza Abdusamatova, said Saipov briefly stayed with his family in a Cincinnati suburb upon immigrating.

"He always used to work," Ms Abdusamatova told The Cincinnati Enquirer. "He wouldn't go to parties or anything. He only used to come home and rest and leave and go back to work."

Uzbekistan told President Donald Trump it was ready to do everything it could to help investigate the attack.

Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev made the offer of help in a letter of condolence to Mr Trump, in which he condemned the attack as "extremely brutal" and said there could be no justification for such violence.

"From our side, we are ready to use all our power and resources to cooperate in the investigation of this terrorist act," Mr Mirziyoyev wrote in the letter, which was posted on his country's Foreign Ministry's website.

Story continues

"We express our solidarity with the US people."

CNN and other US media said Saipov left a note saying he carried out the attack in the name of Isis and shouted "Allahu Akbar" - Arabic for "God is great" - when he jumped out of his truck.

Thousands of men from Central Asia have been fighting for Isis in Syria and Iraq, and Uzbek nationals or ethnic Uzbeks have carried out several attacks on civilians in Europe this year.

On New Year's day, an Uzbek gunman burst into a nightclub in the Turkish city of Istanbul and killed 39 people.

In April, an ethnic Uzbek man born in Kyrgyzstan blew up a metro train in the Russian city of St Petersburg, killing at least 15 people, including himself.

That same month, an Uzbek man rammed a truck into a crowd in Stockholm, killing four people.

Police said the attacker rented the truck at about 2pm at a New Jersey Home Depot and then went into New York City, entering the bike path about an hour later and speeding toward the World Trade Centre, the site of the deadliest terror attack in US history.

He barreled along the bike path in the truck for the equivalent of about 14 blocks, or around eight-tenths of a mile, before slamming into a small yellow school bus.

Saipov was shot by a police officer after jumping out of the truck with two fake guns. He was whisked away to a local hospital, where he was recovering from an abdominal wound.

New York City mayor Bill de Blasio described the attack as a particularly cowardly act of terror and New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said it was perpetrated by a lone wolf.

In NYC, looks like another attack by a very sick and deranged person. Law enforcement is following this closely. NOT IN THE U.S.A.!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 31, 2017

We must not allow ISIS to return, or enter, our country after defeating them in the Middle East and elsewhere. Enough!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 31, 2017

Mr Trump tweeted: In NYC, looks like another attack by a very sick and deranged person.

He later added: We must not allow Isis to return, or enter, our country after defeating them in the Middle East and elsewhere. Enough!

Prime Minister Theresa May said she was appalled by this cowardly attack and that the UK stands with NYC.

Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson echoed her statement, adding: We will not give in to terror.

Michelle and I are thinking of the victims of today's attack in NYC and everyone who keeps us safe. New Yorkers are as tough as they come.  Barack Obama (@BarackObama) November 1, 2017

Former president Barack Obama tweeted: Michelle and I are thinking of the victims of today's attack in NYC and everyone who keeps us safe. New Yorkers are as tough as they come.
Tonights episode of NBCs breakout drama This Is Us is being edited to remove a line referring to Kevin Spacey in the wake of recent sexual assault allegations made against the Oscar-winning actor.

In the original version of The 20s episode, Kevins roommate mentions hes booked a role on a movie starring Spacey. The line was written and shot weeks ago, before the allegations against Spacey surfaced. The reference is being removed and replaced, Deadline has confirmed.

The fallout against Spacey has continued since Sunday when Star Trek: Discovery actor Anthony Rapp accused the House of Cards star of making sexual advances against him in 1986 when he was 14 years old. On Monday, Netflix announced that House of Cards would end with its upcoming sixth season. Today, Netflix and series producer MRC said that filming on the upcoming sixth season of the Washington, D.C.-set drama was suspended indefinitely to give us time to review the current situation and to address any concerns of our cast and crew.

The script change was reported first by TVLine.

Related stories

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RICHLAND, Wash. -- Federal and state prosecutors have been working on a possible global plea in the case of a former Granger teacher accused
A Yakima police officer walks by police tape at the scene of a shooting at the Chestnut Court Apartments on South Fair Avenue in Yakima, Wash. on Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2017. Police were actively investigating the shooting, which sent one man to the hospital. (JAKE PARRISH/Yakima Herald-Republic)
As far as I know and can imagine, there was only one time in his life as prime minister and defense minister that Yitzhak Rabin faced the need to lie and say things that werent true.

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It was at the International Convention Center in Jerusalem, at the end of then-US President Bill Clintons trip to Europe. I saw the pleading looks on Clintons face, who was well aware of the fact he was placing on the Israeli prime ministers shoulders something Rabin found totally unacceptable.

Give me a minute to think, Rabin said to him, and I understood his need to avoid having to lie. There were hundreds of journalists waiting in the auditorium for the conclusion of the US presidents trip to Europe, which was aimed at bringing peace between Syria and Israel, among other things.

The man who did so much as a soldier made a name for himself as the person who brought a peace agreement with Jordan and tried to reach a final solution between Israel and the Palestinians (Photo: Yaakov Saar, GPO)

Rabin gave his answer, without lying. He didnt reveal the whole truth either. One of the things he said was that he was taking responsibility for his actions. Rabin took responsibility for his actions on almost every issue. Rabin even took responsibility for issues that werent part of his responsibility.

Today, we are marking 22 years since the murder of the man who took responsibility for everything.

Twenty-two years have passed, and Yitzhak Rabin is still being commemorated. The man who did so much as a soldierincluding as the chief of staff who presided over the Six-Day War victorymade a name for himself as the person who brought a peace agreement with the Jordanian kingdom and tried to reach a final-status agreement in the eternal fight between the Palestinians the Israelis. Rabins murder, almost undoubtedly, prevented the renewal of peace talks with the Palestinians.

We must admit, however, that the two decades that have passed since the day of the murder have taken their toll on Yitzhak Rabins name. We are already beginning to think its no coincidence the nations leaders arent using the word murder when discussing Rabins death.

In the Labor Partyhis own partythe word murder was omitted from the invitations to his memorial ceremony. Even the Palmach website states Rabin passed away.

The leaders are ashamed of themselves, of their people and of their country because of the murder. Its as if leaders havent been murdered in the United States and in other Western countries. We are apparently different: We are ashamed and we are erasing almost everything that was done to a victim who made such a big contribution to the State of Israels safety and security.

From now on, we must say: Yitzhak Rabin wasnt killed in the line of duty, he wasnt a prime minister and defense minister, and he died while slipping on a banana peel on the street. The remembering generations prefers to remember it differently.
GERMANY yesterday marked the 500th anniversary since the day Martin Luther is said to have nailed his theses challenging the Catholic Church to a church door, a starting point of the Reformation. German Chancellor Angela Merkel took part in a service in the famous Castle Church in Wittenberg, where Luther supposedly posted his 95 Theses on Oct. 31, 1517.

CAMBODIAs Supreme Court yesterday authorized the continued detention of opposition leader Kem Sokha, who faces treason charges that critics have denounced as part of a ruling party campaign to crush political rivals.

THAILAND has canceled the passports of former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, who fled the country last month to evade a prison sentence that she said was politically motivated. Yingluck was sentenced to five years in prison in September for negligence in instituting a money-losing rice subsidy program.

BANGLADESH A boat carrying up to 45 Rohingya Muslims fleeing Myanmar capsized in the Bay of Bengal yesterday morning, and a Bangladeshi official said four bodies were recovered.

AFGHANISTAN A suicide bomber struck near the U.S. Embassy in Afghanistans capital yesterday, killing five people in an attack claimed by the Islamic State group. Health Ministry spokesman Wahid Mujro said another 20 people were wounded in the blast, which took place in a heavily-guarded area housing several diplomatic missions.

IRANs supreme leader has restricted the range of ballistic missiles manufactured in the country to 2,000 kilometers, the head of the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard said yesterday, which limits their reach to only regional Mideast targets.

RUSSIA A journalist has joined the ranks of those wanting to run in Marchs presidential election. The 37-year old Yekaterina Gordon declared her intention to run in a YouTube video Monday, saying she plans to focus on defending the rights of women and children.

VENEZUELA-GUYANA Guyanas foreign minister says the United Nations has summoned foreign ministry delegations from Guyana and Venezuela to discuss the decades-old border row between the two nations.

USA Six U.S. states want to intervene in Hawaiis lawsuit challenging President Donald Trumps travel ban. The states of California, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, Oregon and Washington filed a motion Monday asking to be parties in Hawaiis lawsuit. They agree with Hawaii that the ban is unconstitutional.
The recently declassified documents relating to the JFK assassination have disinterred an old conspiracy theory positing that the former dictator of Germany, Adolf Hitler, survived World War II and fled to South America.

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Buried inside the trove of thousands of documents is a report about a Central Intelligence Agency informant who claimed to his operators that not only was Hitler still alive, but that he lived in Colombia in a neighborhood populated with other former Nazis.

In the document dated September 1955, the source told his CIA agent that a man from the SS, who went by the name of Phillip Citroen, was in contact with the Austrian-born Nazi ruler in the Colombian city of Tunja.

CIA documents about Hitler (Photo: Yedioth Ahronoth)

Citroen apparently told the informant that he saw a man who looked extremely similar to Hitler living in a neighborhood, adding that those residing in the same place referred to him by his Nazi title of Fuhrer and gave him the traditional Nazi salute of an outstretched arm each time they passed him.

The Germans living in the neighborhood, the source said, revered the man with an idolatry of the Nazi past, addressing him as der Fuehrer and affording him the Nazi salute and storm-trooper adulation.

Citroen even supplied the source with pictures of the man, who he said now answered to the name Adolf Schritteimayor.

According to the memos on the matter however, the CIA agents were skeptical about the reports, dismissing it as a fantastic story and an apparent fantasy.

Despite the theory and suspicions, Hitler is believed to have committed suicide in his Berlin Bunker on April 30 1945. His body was spirited off by the Red Army, but his corpse was never seen.
WILLARD, Box Elder County  Police arrested a person of interest in Idaho after finding a man dead in his garage in Willard, according to Box Elder County Sheriff's Office investigators.

Deputies responded to reports of a homicide Wednesday morning near 400 S. Main St., according to Dale Ward, a deputy with the Box Elder County Sheriff's Office.

The Department of Public Safety has sent four agents from the State Bureau of Investigation to assist in the homicide investigation.

The victim and the person of interest have not yet been identified and the cause of death has not yet been released.

This article will be updated with more information as it becomes available.
TWIN FALLS  An investigation continues into what Twin Falls police are describing as a hate crime at the Islamic Center of Twin Falls.

A 4-foot cross draped in bacon and pig parts was left in the centers parking lot over the weekend.

Twin Falls Police Lt. Terry Thueson said Tuesday he didnt have any updates on the investigation. No arrests have been made.

Police ask anyone with information about suspicious vehicles or activity in centers parking lot on Friday night or early Saturday to call the police at 208-735-4357.

Imad Eujayl, spokesman for the Islamic Center of Twin Falls, said Tuesday he has received some calls of support following the incident, but no donations or organized response from community groups.

Tammy Stewart wrote in a Facebook message to the Times-News that she plans to donate money to the Islamic Center of Twin Falls so it can install security cameras or whatever else it needs to prevent a similar incident from happening again.

She wrote she knows people who attend the Islamic Center and many, she considers friends.

I am born and raised here, Stewart wrote. I am pro refugee and understand their circumstances and lifestyles before coming here. Nobody has the right to be hateful, especially to people they do not know.

Stewart wrote she doesnt want her grandchildren to be raised in a community that hates people because of skin color, religion, or ethnicity.

Police were dispatched at 7:30 a.m. Saturday to the center at the 400 block of Addison Avenue. The centers caretaker found the cross.

Hate crimes such as malicious harassment are very serious and the Twin Falls Police Department takes these crimes very seriously, Thueson said in a statement Monday. The Twin Falls Police Department will do everything within our means to identify those responsible and hold them accountable. Acts such as this cannot be ignored and will not be tolerated in our community.

The incident is the latest in a string of vandalism at Twin Falls only mosque dating back to 2015, when anti-Muslim sentiments began to take hold as the community debated refugee resettlement.
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TWIN FALLS  A Twin Falls woman has been arrested in connection to the murder of a man in Owyhee County.

Montanna Rae Reed, 20, is charged with conspiracy to commit first-degree murder.

Idaho State Police also arrested a Mountain Home man, Willie Keith Rabey, 34, Tuesday. He is also charged with conspiracy to commit first-degree murder.

The investigation began on Oct. 21 when hunters discovered a mans body in Owyhee County.

Nicholas B. Vandenberg, 27, of Melba, has already been charged with first-degree murder in that investigation.

The two new suspects are known associates of Vandenberg, ISP said. ISP detectives arrested Reed in Twin Falls and Rabey in Mountain Home.

ISP says the two will be extradited to the Owyhee County Jail.

Though the victims identity has not been confirmed through forensic testing, Owyhee County Prosecutor Douglas Emery told the Idaho Statesman that investigators suspect it could be a missing Oregon man, 18-year-old Hunter Smith.

This developing story will be updated as new information becomes available.
TWIN FALLS  Students with the College of Southern Idahos radiologic technology program  the Rad Tech Club  invite prospective students to come to their three-hour career day from 9 a.m. to noon Friday in the Rad Tech lab, room 178, at CSIs health science building on North College Road.

Students and instructors will conduct hands-on presentations and answer questions about the program and careers to which it leads. Snacks and drinks will be provided.

More information: Dr. Gary Lauer at 208-732-6719 or Tamara Janak at 208-732-6716.
TWIN FALLS  Enjoy a bowl of hot pozole or savor the sweet bread of the dead.

Nov. 1 is the day when many Latinos in the U.S. and Mexico celebrate Dia de los Muertos  or Day of the Dead. The holiday tradition on All Saints Day invokes a mix of pre-Columbian Aztec rituals, plus Christian traditions, said Benjamin Reed, a Jerome resident and Spanish-language radio station on-air personality.

But despite the skulls, the Day of the Dead celebration isnt like Halloween because its not all about spirits and ghosts, said Perri Gardner, adviser for College of Southern Idahos Diversity Council. Its about honoring the dead, celebrating their lives and realizing that death is part of life.

They glory in it, to a certain degree, Reed said. Death is really very much a part of the culture.

But while larger U.S. cities such as Boise host sizable celebrations, here in the Magic Valley it appears that many families dont celebrate it at all.

Its kind of a small market, Reed said. Its even hard to find pan de muerto.

Which is why the Diversity Council hosts an annual Day of the Dead celebration. This years event takes place from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday, downstairs in the student union building  on the back side of the Taylor Administration Building at CSI.

We keep doing it because the community really likes it, Gardner said. This is a holiday that has really interesting culture.

Day of the Dead traditions originated with the Aztecs, who made human sacrifices to their gods, Reed said. But Christian influences brought Catholic undertones to the celebration.

Today, the most common symbols of Dia de los Muertos are marigolds, sugar skulls, pan de muerto  or bread of the dead  and altars. Some people write short poems for their deceased loved ones or visit their graves, Reed said.

Mi Pueblo, a Hispanic grocery store in Twin Falls, carries pan de muerto and other treats.

At the CSI celebration, participants can get a taste of some free pozole or eat pan de muerto and other pastries from Mi Pueblo. There will also be horchata and a hot-chocolate type drink thats popular for the holiday, Gardner said.

Pozole, she explained, is a chicken or pork soup with hominy.

Therell be an altar set up where people can leave notes to their loved ones, Gardner said. Last year, People put up some beautiful messages for their loved ones in five or six languages.

A DJ will play music for people to dance to. Additionally, children can get their faces painted for free and will be able to decorate sugar skulls or skull-shaped cookies  Gardner didnt know yet which would be available, since the sugar skulls take lots of time to make.

CSI ran out of food early at its last Day of the Dead event, Diversity Council president Angelica Ortega said, so this time it ordered double the amount in expectation of a crowd. Gardiner recommends showing up early.

The event is done in partnership with the new CSI group Latino Movement.

Also new this year: organizers will have posters up around the building explaining the significance of items such as the marigolds and the skulls, Ortega said.

Were really making it educational for people to learn what Day of the Dead is and what it means, she said.

Ortega said her own family never celebrated Dia de los Muertos while she was growing up. She knew about the holiday mostly because of dual-immersion celebrations she had while attending elementary school in Hailey.

Reed said he usually doesnt make an altar, but he eats pan de muerto with his wife each year. While the celebration hasnt picked up much speed here in the Magic Valley, Reed believes the area will likely have more celebrations in the future, as younger generations see more of their family members die and be buried here.

Its really beautiful, Reed said. Its elegant. Its something that I hope doesnt get lost.
An Idaho credit union has issued an apology after posting photos of several employees of its Post Falls branch dressed in blackface for a Halloween costume depicting the Jamaican bobsled team, drawing criticism on social media.

Really P1FCU you REALLY thought this was an appropriate costume for your employees to dress as, LET ALONE POST IT TO FB only to delete it after someone spoke up about how wrong that is, wrote Savanna Hurst in a Facebook post that has been shared more than 200 times on Wednesday afternoon.

The photo shows four women in black facepaint with what appear to be afro or braid wigs, yellow stocking caps and a cardboard bobsled labeled Jamaica  a nod to the 1988 Olympic team and the popular 90s movie Cool Runnings.

The photo had been deleted from a gallery of Potlatch No. 1 Federal Credit Union employees Halloween costumes, but commenters demanded an explanation. On Wednesday, company president and CEO Chris Loseth posted the following statement on Facebook:

An incident of cultural insensitivity occurred yesterday during Halloween that resulted in the posting of a picture to a personal Facebook page. The picture was meant to be a representation of the first Jamaican national bobsled team who gained fame in the 1988 Winter Olympic Games and whose heroics were made famous in the 1993 movie Cool Runnings. The 4 female employees are shocked and saddened by the results of their depiction of this famous group of Jamaican athletes and meant no harm or disrespect to anyone.

P1FCU did not post this picture on our Facebook page and offers our apologies to those who were offended by the actions of these employees. The employees involved have been reprimanded.

The need for cultural sensitivity among all Americans is well recognized and we will be reinforcing cultural diversity training with our entire staff.

While dozens of other posts and comments on Facebook and Twitter condemned the costume regardless of Loseths statement, others expressed understanding and pledged continued support for the credit union, which operates 14 branches in Idaho and Washington.

I love p1fcu, their customer service always goes above and beyond. I'm sure this was just something innocent and blown out of proportion by snowflakes, wrote Haley Eck.

Thank you P!FCU, it it important to acknowledge when a wrong has occurred and work to correct it. Clearly the insensitivity went beyond those four employees because there was no reprimand while they were at work, commented Jessica Martin on Loseths apology.

In recent years, the topic of blackface and other themes of insensitivity in Halloween costumes has prompted heated debate. In Boise, a restaurant owner apologized this summer after painting his face black for an advertisement that drew intense backlash online.
SHOSHONE  Low-income Shoshone-area residents who dont have health insurance now have access to a free clinic.

Good Samaritan Clinic is operating out of the Shoshone Family Medical Center. It doesnt have regular hours, but is seeking applications from community members in need.

Its only the second free community clinic in the Magic Valley, after the Wellness Tree Community Clinic in Twin Falls. Organizers want to provide an option for low-income patients north of the Snake River Canyon.

The first clinic was the evening of Oct. 24, but no-one scheduled an appointment. For no-one to apply for the first clinic is unusual, said Dr. Keith Davis, owner and medical director for Shoshone Family Medical Center.

He said he doesnt think people know about the clinic yet.

A man who helped start the Wellness Tree Community Clinic contacted Davis with an idea to create a free clinic in Shoshone.

A few years ago, a free clinic was up-and-running in Gooding, and Davis volunteered there. But it ended up closing.

In total across Idaho, there are only about 13 or 14 free clinics, Davis said.

The Good Samaritan Clinic aims to serve low-income community members who dont have health insurance or those who have a very high deductible. They generally cant have Medicare, Medicaid or any commercial insurance, Davis said.

He talks with other free clinics around Idaho via teleconferences to share best practices.

One of the things thats pretty clear, for most free clinics, the biggest problem is getting providers to volunteer, he said.

Its yet to be determined who will volunteer at Shoshones new free clinic, Davis said, and there havent been any formal signs up.

But he said he has received a lot of interest from potential volunteers.
Buried beneath all of the headline screams about sexual harassment and indictments is some very important work on national tax reform. In Idaho, work on the budget has been going on over the summer as JAFC finalizes their plans for the legislative year. In Twin Falls, there was mention of whether to use additional tax money to increase the budget.

Clearly, the governments share of the countrys economy is on legislators minds. And its coming close to Christmas and the end of the tax year, too. We are all facing demands on our income for giving to our loved ones and charitable interests. Its easy to just say no to all of governments demands and live our life as we like it.

Several states, notably Kansas, have tried a bare-bones approach to taxation, and it hasnt worked. George H. W. Bush corrected the tax policies of his predecessor to avoid more debt and was not re-elected. Clearly, there has been a trend toward running for office on promises of cutting taxes even further. How low can we go is the feeling of many.

Just in case this squeezing of public funding began to make no sense, there has also been a steady drumbeat castigating social spending. Why should anyone get money or services from a government when they refuse to work and support themselves? (Like me, who has never had anything given to them).

It is time to get more clarity about the expense of government. At the same time, we need to have more open debate on the proper role of government. As it is now, political maneuvering has obscured these two debates with the call to cut taxes.

In order for citizens in our democracy to exercise their civic duty, they need to be able to select their representatives on real issues rather that ad agency concocted, emotionally charged, pseudo agendas.

There are two questions which need to be asked with every issue. Does government have any role in this issue? How much will it cost for government to fulfill that role? In recent years, there has been some effort to address the latter during the debate on the former. I believe that we citizens should push for even more information on cost, but not reject ideas based on cost alone.

In Idaho, infrastructure costs money. Education costs money. Public health costs money. Regulation costs money. As budgets are considered, I would like to see easier access to the facts. What actions are being funded? What actions are proposed for funding? What is the range of funding proposed and what is the absolute minimum that must be spent to have any positive effect?

If there is a bright spot in the morass of the internet, it is the webpage and its ability to organize data credibly. I want government at all levels to present cost information in a way that any citizen can understand. Ideas are fluid and are the lifeblood of political debate, but as public policy seems to get more complicated, citizens have a need to know whether we can/cant afford it has real meaning to them.

How taxes should be levied is the subject for even more consideration, but my point here is that government has always cost money, and if we dont want to find ourselves in the crisis of many states (and nations) and if we want to govern on reason rather than emotion, we need to pay for the results we want. And I would add, not one penny more.
1. Peter Leeson WTF video for his new book. And The Economist covers Peter on witch trials.

2. Who will be the next president of Harvard?

3. Scientists have called for Kyrgyzstans only mummy to be immediately dug back up after the 1,500-year-old relic was taken from a museum and hastily reburied on the eve of a presidential election in a decision celebrated by self-professed psychics. Link here. And: In 2011, lawmakers ritually slaughtered seven sheep in parliament to exorcise evil spirits. Recommended.

4. The unequal distribution of economic education (pdf).

5. How free tuition can crowd out poorer students.
Not making a profit since 1975! ...And since 2007, one of the Best Left-Wing Book & Culture Review Sites on the Net.
Bahrain has decided to impose visas to Qataris wishing to visit or already residing in the tiny Kingdom for security reasons, as of November 10, another move showing that the deep crisis between Qatar and its neighbors is not about to be defused.

The new measures aim at preventing harming the security and stability of the kingdom of Bahrain particularly in light of the latest repercussions of the crisis with Qatar, said a statement relayed by the official news agency BNA.

Qatar has been facing a regional boycott by Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates (UAE) plus Egypt since June 5 over accusations that it supports terrorism.

The boycotting countries have severed land, sea and air links with Doha.

Bahrain on Sunday said it will not take part in the December meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) if the organization does not freeze Qatars membership.

The GCC encompasses Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman and Qatar. Citizens of member-countries do not need visa to travel within the organization.
The Egyptian army said Monday it destroyed three tunnels running through the Egyptian border into Gaza, a day after Israel destroyed a tunnel between the Palestinian enclave and the Jewish state killing several Palestinian fighters.

Army Colonel Tamer al-Rifai noted on facebook that the operation occurred in the Sinai near the Rafah crossing linking up Egypt to the Hamas-controlled Gaza.

Palestinians in the enclave have built tunnel networks to skirt around crossing restrictions through the Rafah crossing point, which is the only exit for nearly 2 million people living in the Strip facing an Israeli blockade in place since 2007.

Al Sisis Egypt blamed Hamas for using the tunnels to smuggle goods, food, medicine as well as weapons. Cairo also stressed that Islamic State militants fighting its army forces use the tunnels to sneak in and out of the Peninsula to cause mayhem.

Egypt in 2014 set up a buffer zone along its border with the enclave. In the following year, it flooded some tunnels with seawater in a move to eradicate movements in the Sinai.

The armys announcement came a day after several Palestinian fighters from Hamas and the Islamic Jihad died following the destruction of a tunnel by the Israeli army.

The tunnel, according to the Israeli army, was destroyed from within Israel, near the fence with Gaza.

Tel Aviv said it used breakthrough technology to destroy the tunnel running from Gazan city of Khan Younis and crossing into Israel to stop nearly 2 km from the Israeli settlement of Kibbutz Kissufim.
In a move to defuse tension, the central Iraqi government offered to pay the salaries of Kurdish Pershmerga militias and civil servants working for the KRG.

The decision was announced by Iraqi Prime Minsiter Haider al-Abadi in an attempt to win minds and hearts of the Kurds after their region in northern Iraq voted in a referendum in favor of Kurdish independence in September.

The decision would put an end to the economic and military retaliation launched by the Iraqi government.

The semi-autonomous KRG has been struggling to pay the Peshmerga and its employees since 2014, after Baghdad stopped payments to it because of a dispute about oil-sharing revenue.

Baghdad and Erbil are also at loggerheads over control of the border crossing. After the referendum, Baghdad deployed troops on the main border checkpoint with Turkey.

Control of the border region is of crucial importance for the landlocked Kurdish region. An oil pipeline runs from northern Iraq into Turkey, carrying crude exports, which are the principal source of funds for the Kurds.
Stanford has been extremely fortunate to benefit from Anns deep understanding of the issues facing researchers, her strategic vision for new research avenues, and her dedicated and extensive national service in helping key federal agencies develop regulations and policies, Drell said. Ann is one of the most respected research administrators in the country, and she has been a tremendous advocate for enabling research here at Stanford. It is a demanding job and we are all in her debt.

Having a chance to help create opportunities for faculty and students to explore their most promising ideas in an environment that facilitates their success has been a deeply rewarding experience.

The core mission of the research office is to facilitate the many diverse faculty-led research programs, which led to more than $1.2 billion in extramural support at Stanford and SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory in 2016, through the work of seven administrative offices, together with the Office of Research Administration. Major objectives have been helping to provide state-of-the-art shared facilities that are essential for contemporary research  from research computing and nanosciences to digital humanities and the Stanford Center at Peking University, and most recently the Stanford-SLAC cryo-electron microscopy facility  and supporting the faculty and research staff who ensure the excellence of these important facilities.

Arvins work to help forge connections between researchers throughout the university is exemplified by the growth of Stanfords interdisciplinary institutes. Her goal has been to support the dedicated efforts of the faculty directors aiming to create intellectual and physical environments that inspire dialogue across disciplines, enhance innovation and engage faculty and trainees from all seven schools.

Ann has viewed her role as that of a supporter to all of Stanfords research enterprise, and as an advocate to assure our researchers thrive and can easily collaborate, said Stanford President Marc Tessier-Lavigne, PhD. She understands that Stanfords remarkable success in research lies with our innovative, creative faculty, and she has done remarkable work in enabling them to work together, across disciplines, and to be successful even within a challenging environment for research funding.

A visionary leader

During her tenure, five interdisciplinary institutes were launched or became established programs, including the Woods Institute for the Environment, the Precourt Institute for Energy, the Stanford Center for Longevity, the Stanford Neurosciences Institute, and Chemistry, Engineering & Medicine for Human Health (ChEM-H); Spectrum, the Stanford Center for Clinical and Translational Research and Education, was established with the School of Medicine; and the Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences joined Stanford. During this time, Bio-X, the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies, the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research, the Stanford Humanities Center, the Geballe and Ginzton laboratories, and the joint SLAC-Stanford Institute for Materials & Energy Sciences, Photon Ultrafast Laser Science and Engineering Institute, and Kavli Institute for Particle Astrophysics and Cosmology have continued to expand their innovative programs.

These successes are owed to dynamic faculty directors and the commitment of the president, provost, and school deans and associate deans for research, as well as the development team created to support the interdisciplinary centers and institutes and their dedicated volunteer advisory councils, Arvin said.

Ann has been a visionary leader of interdisciplinary themes at Stanford, said Carla Shatz, PhD, director of Stanford Bio-X and professor of biology and of neurobiology. She recognized the power and benefit of creating opportunities for research and training across the university long before many of our peer institutions, and she helped transform the way scientific research is being done.

Arvin has also guided key research support enterprises, including the Office of Environmental Health and Safety; the Export Control Office; the Office of Science Outreach; the Research Compliance Office, which oversees research involving human subjects and animals; and the Office of Technology Licensing. The Office of International Affairs was created under her purview.

During Arvins tenure, new web-based tools have also been developed to aid research, including an online system for financial interest disclosures; the DoResearch site, which gives user-friendly access to policies and procedures; and the expansion of Stanford Profiles to share the research and scholarly interests and publications of faculty and trainees within and beyond the university.

Prior to assuming her role as vice provost and dean of research, Arvin served as associate dean of research from 2001 to 2006, and was chief of the infectious disease division of the Department of Pediatrics and Lucile Packard Childrens Hospital from 1984 to 2006.

Arvin received her bachelors degree in philosophy from Brown University, her masters degree in philosophy from Brandeis University and her medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania in 1972. She completed her pediatrics residency at the University of California-San Francisco, and subspecialty training in infectious diseases at UCSF and Stanford.

Her principal research interests are human herpes viruses and childhood viral diseases and vaccines. She is a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the National Academy of Medicine, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the Infectious Disease Society of America and the American Pediatric Society. She is the recipient of an NIH MERIT award, and has been given honors for basic and translational research, including the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine Distinguished Graduate Award, the Stanford University School of Medicine Deans Medal and Albion Walter Hewlett Award, the E. Mead Johnson Award for Research in Pediatrics and the John Enders Award in Virology.

Arvin said she looks forward to having more time for her laboratory research in virology and to ensuring that her successor as vice provost and dean of research has a smooth transition.
The United States on Monday promised up to $60 million to support the G5-Sahel Joint Forces counter-terrorism efforts, the State Department said in a statement.

The US has been very reluctant to support the G5-Sahel 5,000 troops made up with forces from Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, Chad and Mauritania since the beginning of the negotiations.

The funds pledge will be discussed with the US Congress; Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said in the statement.

The European Union has already committed $56 million to the Sahel force.

France has recently announced that the joint force could start its operation with 260 million, below the 450 million required.

The Niamey command post will pilot the first operation whose date remains unknown.

The primary mandate of the G5 force will be to secure the blocs common borders and fight terrorist and criminal groups.

One of the countries of the G5-Sahel, Mali, is home to the 14,000-strong MINUSMA force, one of the UNs most expensive peacekeeping missions.

Some 86 blue helmets have been killed in militant attacks since MINUSMA was established in July 2013.
The Kenyan electoral commission on Monday declared President Uhuru Kenyatta winner of the rerun presidential election by 98.26% of votes.

The incumbent president of the East African nation garnered 7,483,895 votes representing 98.26% of votes, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission Chairman Wafula Chebukati said.

The opposition candidate Raila Odinga despite his boycott garnered 0.96% of the vote.

Kenya Supreme Court last month cancelled the August 8 polls results citing irregularities.

The main opposition National Super Alliance (NASA) led by veteran opposition leader Raila Odinga boycotted the re-run stating that the reforms ordered by the court had not been undertaken

The poll was not held in 25 constituencies across four counties. However, the IEBC had said the boycott in the four counties did not have an impact on the poll.

In a tweet posted later on Monday, President Yoweri Museveni in his capacity as chair of the East Africa Community (EAC) congratulated the president-elect Uhuru Kenyatta on his successful re-election to serve a second and final term.

Uhuru Kenyatta, 55, is the youngest President in the countrys history when he was sworn in in 2013.

Before his election for his first term, Kenyatta was a deputy prime minister in the Mwai Kibaki government. He is also the son of the countrys first president Jomo Kenyatta.
Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday dismissed two top civil servants over graft allegations in Africas most populous nation.

President Buhari had ordered the sacking of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, and the Director General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ayodele Oke, following a review of a panel report that investigated allegations against them.

The two men are accused of financial crimes and inflating the value of contracts for humanitarian aid projects in parts of the north-eastern region, ravaged by Boko Haram.

Ayodele Oke was the head of NIA when about $43 million were found stashed in a private apartment in an upscale district of Lagos and were claimed by the Agency.

The investigation panel recommended Okes dismissal after looking into the circumstances surrounding the cash haul.

As secretary to the government, David Babachir Lawal was responsible for awarding contracts related to the Presidential Initiative on the North East (PINE), which helps rehabilitate areas of Nigeria ravaged by the Boko Haram insurgency.

According to Transparency International, Nigeria is one of the most corrupt countries in the world. Buhari who was elected in 2015, vowed to fight the endemic graft.
British company plans to increase investments in Georgia

Global investment firm Schroders Investment Management plans to increase investments in Georgia.For this reason managers from Schroders Investment Management is visiting Georgia to explore available opportunities in the country and find proper sectors where there is a need and potential for more investments.Georgias Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili met guests today and personally introduced the managers to the current investment environment in Georgia in addition to previously implemented and planned reforms.Kvirikashvili spoke about Georgias four-point reform plan and the spatial arrangement plan of the country that both aim to further the development of Georgia.Kvirikashvili focused on large infrastructural projects that are planned for Georgia and that are already in the process of implementation.The PM stated that in 2017 alone, a 36 percent growth in infrastructural projects was observed in Georgia.Kvirikashvili also highlighted Georgias achievements and especially the countrys leading positions in various international ratings.British company Schroders is a world-class asset manager operating from 41 offices in 27 countries across Europe, the Americas, Asia and the Middle East.So far Schroders Investment Management has already invested $200 million in Georgia.
Dimitry Kumsishvili to attend second CEO Lunch Tbilisi

Registration of participants for the second CEO Lunch Tbilisi which will take place in Georgia on October 27 is ongoing, First Deputy Chairman and CEO of the Caspian European Club and Caspian American Club Telman Aliyev said.According to him, the registration for the forum at http://www.caspianenergy.org/index.php/ceo-lunch/item/125-ceo-lunch-tbilisi-gruziya-27-10-2017 will be open till October 26.First Vice Prime Minister, Minister of Finance of Georgia Dimitry Kumsishvili and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Azerbaijan to Georgia Dursun Hasanov, First Deputy Minister of Finance of Georgia Giorgi Tabuahsvili, Deputy Minister of Finance Lasha Khutsishvili, Deputy Minister of Finance Nikolas Gagua, Deputy Minister of Finance Giorgi Kakaurdize will attend the event as honorary guests, Telman Aliyev said.Telman Aliyev highlighted personal support and involvement of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Azerbaijan to Georgia Dursun Hasanov who individually spoke to each company-participant of CEO Lunch Tbilisi, inquired about their problems, listened to their proposals on establishment of bilateral economic and business relations between Azerbaijan and Georgia.He also noted that the first CEO Lunch Tbilisi attended by Prime Minister of Georgia Giorgi Kvirikashvili, took place on Septmeber 29 in Georgia within the framework of the official ceremony dedicated to the resuming of the work of Caspian Energy Georgia, third CEO Lunch Tbilisi will be held on December 1.Telman Aliyev added that the 5th International Caspian Energy Forum will be held in March 2018 with the support of the Government of Georgia and Azerbaijan Republic, as well as the Caspian European Club. Prime Minister of Georgia Giorgi Kvirikashvili is expected to attend the opening ceremony of the Forum.CEO LUNCH is one of the key instruments of networking and is held to create opportunities for heads of companies to communicate and establish new contacts in an informal environment. He noted that Caspian European Club and Caspian American Club hold CEO Lunch attended by top-managers of CEIBC member companies every third Wednesday of the month in Baku and each last Friday of the month in Tbilisi.The Caspian European Club, which brings together over 5,000 member companies and organizations from 50 countries, was established in June 2002 with the support of the largest oil and gas companies operating in the Caspian-Black Sea region. The Caspian European Club actively supports the dialogue between the government agencies and the private sector, and provides information and organizational support to projects on development of small and medium-sized businesses and start-ups.
This summers fire outbreaks need immediate attention

By Messenger Staff

Approximately half a million Georgian Lari was spent on extinguishing fires in different parts of Georgia this August. The money was spent on the liquidation of fires that took place all over the country almost simultaneously: in the Borjomi Gorge, Abastumani, Akhaldaba, Akhaltsikhe, Khulo, Kakheti, Tusheti, Pshavi and Tbilisi.According to the information provided by the Ministry of Internal Affairs in total GEL 466, 669 was spent on these actions. GEL 261, 669 was allotted from the budget of the Emergency Management Agency and GEL 205, 000 was allocated from the received assistance. The Ministry of Internal Affairs states that the aviation fuel was not funded by the agency's budget.The fires caused huge damage to Georgias nature in the most touristic areas of the country. In August, Ministry of Internal Affairs declared it was looking at all possible motives and all possible cases were being investigated.Until now, the Ministry of Internal Affairs has not provided any information on the case and the reasons for more than 60 fire outbreaks in the country this summer remain unknown.Many believe that fire outbreaks were deliberate. In this case, proper investigation is as important as restoration of loss.Only if the reasons of fire outbreaks are properly investigated and identified, there could be created a ground for guarantee that the country will be able to prevent such cases in the future.If the case is not properly investigated, then this would lead to misleading solutions and irrational spending of resources.Georgias firefighters are paid low salaries and the country is consistently economizing on expensive equipment that firefighters would need in case of serious fire outbreaks.For now, it is clear the Georgian authorities should pay more attention to this issue and should be hold responsible to public on the measures taken to protect the countrys natural resources from such disasters. It is an obligation of Georgias Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources Protection to support actions that will increase the capacity and resources of National Forestry Agency as well.
The News in Brief

Boris Johnson: Georgias Euro-Atlantic Vocation One of UKs Key Ambitions



As I never tire of saying, and as Prime Minister Theresa May never tires of saying  we may be leaving the EU, but we are not leaving Europe, and we regard the Euro-Atlantic vocation of Georgia as being one of the key ambitions of our policy, British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson told his Georgian counterpart Mikheil Janelidze on October 23.



We are here to deepen and intensify the friendship between Georgia and the United Kingdom, and of course, we regard the defense and security of Georgia as of huge importance for us and our continent, Foreign Secretary Johnson said, adding that his talks with Minister Janelidze would also cover the bilateral trade relations.



I am delighted to see that in the last year there has been 25% increase in the sale of Georgian wine to the United Kingdom and a 25% increase in the export of British tourists. That is obviously an exchange that we mean to intensify and I am looking forward very much to coming to Georgia at the earliest possible opportunity, the Foreign Secretary also noted.



We are proud to stand together for the safety, security and development of the Euro-Atlantic community, Foreign Minister Janelidze responded. We are developing not only our bilateral cooperation but our partnership in multilateral formats. We look forward to establishing strong legal framework after Brexit, including developing free trade and our trade-economic cooperation.



Janelidze also thanked the Foreign Secretary for the United Kindgoms strong and unwavering support, to Georgias territorial integrity and sovereignty, as well as its efforts to end the occupation of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali regions peacefully.



The two diplomats made the remarks in London following the fourth round of the Georgia-UK Wardrop Strategic Dialogue, an annual high-level discussion format on bilateral cooperation in the fields of security, defense and economy. This year, the Wardrop Dialogue was hosted by Alan Duncan, British Minister of State for Europe and the Americas, and attended by Georgias Foreign and Defense Ministers, Mikheil Janelidze and Levan Izoria, respectively.



Relations between the governments of the UK and Georgia are at an all-time high. The dialogue will provide an opportunity to discuss continued co-operation on trade, defence, and mutual values, which underpin the strength of our ties, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office said in its press release the Dialogue.



During his visit to London, the Georgian Foreign Minister will also hold meetings with Mark Pritchard, British Prime Ministers Trade Envoy to Georgia and Armenia; Greg Hands, Minister of State in the Department for International Trade; Jonathan Djanogly, Chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Georgia and other members of the Group. The Defense Minister will meet his British counterpart Michael Fallon. (Civil.ge)







I remain in the team, says Davit Narmania



According to the Mayor of Tbilisi, Davit Narmania, he remains in the team. Davit Narmania made the comment in response to the question of where he will continue to work.



"It is important that I stay in our team. I stay here and after the process of transition is over, the decision will be made," Narmania said.



Asked whether his candidacy is being considered as the ambassador of Georgia to Germany, Davit Narmania said: No abroad.



As for the statement of newly elected Mayor of Tbilisi Kakha Kaladze that personnel changes are expected in the capitals government, Narmania said it was "natural". (DF watch)






@PatriciaMazzei

State Rep. Daisy Baez will resign her Florida House seat Wednesday ahead of pleading guilty to perjury in a criminal case over her legal residency, she told the Miami Herald late Tuesday.

As part of an agreement with the Miami-Dade State Attorneys Office, the Coral Gables Democrat will also pay a $1,000 fine, take an ethics course and serve one year of probation, during which shell be banned from seeking public office.

On November 1, I will tender my resignation as a member of the Florida House of Representatives, Baez said in a statement. I want to thank the residents of Florida, Miami-Dade County and District 114 for giving me the opportunity to serve, its been a great honor.

When I began my service as a Representative last year, I vowed to serve the public interest to the best of my ability and I am confident I have done so. As I return to my life as a private citizen, I pledge to continue fighting for universal healthcare, empowering our teachers, and improving the quality of life for the youngest, most vulnerable Floridians.

Baez was returning to Miami on Tuesday from the Dominican Republic, where she buried her mother, who died last week.

Prosecutors began investigating after the Herald reported on May 16 that Baez did not appear to live in House District 114, as required by the Florida Constitution. She claimed she rented an apartment inside the district.

More here.

Photo credit: Scott Keeler, Tampa Bay Times


@PatriciaMazzei

Coral Gables Democratic Rep. Daisy Baez has officially resigned her seat in the Florida Legislature as part of her agreement to plead guilty to a misdemeanor perjury charge in a case over her legal residency.

Baez sent House Speaker Richard Corcoran, R-Land O'Lakes, her one-sentence resignation letter Wednesday morning.

"Effective immediately, I am resigning my office as a member of the Florida House of Representatives, HD 114," Baez wrote.

Background here.

Read her letter to Corcoran here.

Photo credit: Scott Keeler, Tampa Bay Times
Patronis, 45, of Panama City, is a former Public Service Commission member and Republican House member whose family name has long been synonymous with Captain Andersons, an iconic seafood restaurant. Gov. Rick Scott appointed him to the powerful Cabinet post following the resignation of CFO Jeff Atwater.

Governor Scott appointed me to this post in June and I continue to work closely with him to guard your state tax dollars from fraud and abuse, and make sure government regulations are fair and predictable for Florida job creators, Patronis wrote in a letter to friends and supporters under a letterhead that said Join Jimmy. I get up every day excited to do this job. I love what I do.
A rancher, a forestry educator, a wilderness ranger, and a raptor conservationist and educator were honored on Oct. 17 at the annual awards dinner of the Missoula Conservation Roundtable.

In addition, Travis Ross, an environmental health specialist in Missoula, became the first recipient of the emerging conservationist award.

The Roundtable is a gathering of Missoula area conservationists who are past recipients of awards for their outstanding efforts to nurture and protect natural resources. The oldest award, created by late Montana conservationist Don Aldrich and now named after him, has been presented each year since 1972 to an individual for her or his service in the area of natural resource conservation or environmental protection over a long period.

Jim Stone of Ovando was this years Aldrich award winner. Owner of the Rolling Stone Ranch, Stone was recognized for his outstanding achievements in promoting cooperative conservation in the Blackfoot Valley and throughout Montana, the Intermountain West and the nation. He is well known as a tireless volunteer in community organizations and is among the leaders of the Blackfoot Challenge.

Dr. Diana Six of the University of Montana received the Arnold Bolle award, presented since 1995 in the name of the late UM forestry professor and leading figure in the Montana conservation movement before his death in 1994. Its presented to a professional who makes his or her living in the fields of natural resource management or environmental protection. Six is professor of forest entomology/pathology at UM and chairs the Department of Ecosystems and Conservation Sciences. She developed mentoring programs to increase roles for women in science and has worked to increase the number of Native American students entering graduate school for careers in environmental science. Her research focusing on forest insects and diseases is the subject of articles in publications such as National Geographic.

Jack Ader, a wilderness ranger on the Bitterroot National Forest, West Fork Ranger District, received the Burk/Brandborg Award, named after conservation writer Dale Burk of Stevensville and the late forest conservationists Ruth and G.M. (Guy) Brandborg, whose efforts over several decades inspired individual activism on behalf of natural resources and the environment. The award was first presented in 1998. Ader has outstanding skills in working with people of all ages to encourage their understanding and interaction with wilderness, a press release said. Particularly notable is his mentoring of young people inspiring them to learn and appreciate the concept of wilderness as a national heritage.

Kate Davis of Florence is the 2017 recipient of the Lifetime Conservation Award, given on a periodic basis since 2001. Davis was recognized for almost three decades of passionate and energetic work focused on conservation and education about raptors, the press release said. She has been a force of nature for raptor conservation and education, presenting more than 1,640 educational programs on raptors in 130 schools. Davis has also been an important contributor to basic science and international programs focused on raptor conservation, and has published a number of books featuring her exceptional photographs.

The first Emerging Conservationist Award went to Ross, who in his work for the Missoula Valley Water Quality District has played a lead role in local projects aimed at protecting or improving Missoulas aquatic resources. Ross was feted for his ability to handle diverse topics ranging from hazardous wastes and industrial solvents to homeless camps and riparian areas, and for his solid technical and science background and passion for public education. Most importantly he has the communication and persuasion skills necessary to establish productive long-term relationships and partnerships in the community, according to the release. Travis is the kind of leader that people want to work with.
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks game wardens are looking for information about two spike elk that were killed recently south of Big Timber and illegally left to waste.

An adjacent landowner found the two dead elk on Sunday, Oct. 29, on Forest Service land near Green Mountain, between the East Fork and main stem of the Boulder River.

FWP game warden Derek Fagone said it appears the animals were shot and killed late Friday evening or early Saturday. The perpetrator removed a small amount of meat and teeth from one of the elk, but the remainder of the elk and another spike bull were left to waste. The poacher built a small warming fire next to the two dead animals.
The Travelers' Rest Chapter of the Lewis and Clark Trail Foundation will host a public viewing of National Geographics Lewis & Clark: Great Journey West on a new giant screen at the Lolo Community Center.

The show starts at 7 p.m. Thursday and is free to the public.

In addition to the 40-minute documentary, a behind-the-scenes bonus feature The Making of Lewis and Clark will be viewed. A new high-definition projector and surround-sound system will enhance the experience.

Narrated by Jeff Bridges, the film includes two dozen young river guides from Jackson Hole, Wyoming, who were hired as extras for the challenging paddling of the dugout canoes. The documentary was released in 2002 exclusively for IMAX theaters but is now available on DVD.

For information contact Ritchie Doyle at 406-880-6868.
A deal on fixing the states budget woes could materialize in coming days and a special session could follow shortly after, the governors budget director said Wednesday, however some Republicans are less certain something can be worked out.

Over the last few weeks, Gov. Steve Bullocks office has worked with legislative leadership in an effort to lay the framework of a deal that would plug the $227 million hole in the states budget through a combination of budget cuts, temporary tax increases and moving funds around.

A third of the money to fill the gap would come from about $75 million in temporary tax increases and revenue enhancements. Another third would come from adjustments such as fund transfers and making cuts to budgets not under the governor's control. And the final third would come from cuts the governor would make to state agencies under a law that allows him to reduce agency spending by up to 10 percent.

Dan Villa, the budget director, said lawmakers have made clear they would only raise taxes temporarily to pay for the states firefighting costs, which have reached $74.2 million after more than a million acres burned across the state this summer.

Villa said a deal could be struck this week and a special session to implement changes would follow. He said the hope is for a special session to conclude before Thanksgiving. But Republican Sen. Llew Jones said at this point the cuts are only a "menu" of options and not all Republicans will support the proposals.

Jones, of Conrad, was one of the key architects of the state budget. He said Wednesday breaking the problem down into thirds can help make it solvable, but stressed Republicans are only interested in using temporary tax increases to pay the fire bill.

Jones believes there could be buy-in among the caucus for that third of the problem because of how widely felt the impact of fires was statewide.

Montanans saw the smoke, they smelled the smoke, in some places you could bite the smoke, so there is some belief you could have a two-year potential mix of taxes to deal with the fire bill, he said.

Montana is facing a shortfall after lawmakers adopted a revenue estimate that proved far too optimistic. For the end of the last fiscal year, revenues  while still up over the prior year  were $75 million less than expected.

Updated revenue numbers from the governors office last week showed tax collections after an Oct. 15 deadline were still down from the estimate lawmakers adopted. Villa estimates growth at 4.3 percent, while the estimate the budget was built on assumed growth of 6.6 percent. To climb out of the $75 million hole the state started this biennium in, Villa said growth would need to reach 10 percent.

The governors office has presented options totaling $297 million in temporary tax increases to pay for the fire bill. They include some familiar pitches from the last legislative session, including increasing the tax on beer, wine, liquor, cigarettes and other tobacco products such as rolling papers and e-cigarettes; creating a new income bracket for households that earn more than $1 million; ending the capital gains credit for income over $1 million, and increasing the tax on lodging. Other suggestions include delaying the enactment of laws passed last session, such as an exemption for small oil wells. Additional ideas include online gaming taxes, making the taxes on cellphone service more in line with those charged to traditional landlines and allowing and taxing recreational marijuana.

Tax changes would take effect Jan. 1 and have the potential to carry into fiscal year 2020 before expiring.

Jones said there are a wide range of options, but there will still be Republicans who will not get behind tax increases.

"There will be Republicans, whether temporary or not, who will never vote for tax increases. ... There will be others who say, 'Look we got to pay our fire bill and it's the right thing to do.'"

The governor's office did not provide a list of what cuts are or aren't on the table at this point to get to the $75-80 million for that third of the budget solution. At the start of October, state agencies proposed cuts of up to 10 percent that caused concern and outrage statewide. Cuts were most severe in the Department of Public Health and Human Services, Department of Corrections and the states university system. The reductions would have raised tuition at some colleges up to 19 percent; ended programs that helped the poor, disabled and elderly, and reduced staffing at the state prison, among other cuts.

Villa said Wednesday the governors office would not produce a list of what it would end up cutting until a deal on tax increases and other budget adjustments is reached.

Everything is on the table until these two lists take it off, Villa said. We need a general agreement around these frameworks Shy of those two things materializing, all $227 million in cuts must be realized. The last thing we want to do is tell provider X were good to go on your contract, but then something happens.

The other piece of the puzzle includes cutting money from the legislative and judicial branches, as well as the Secretary of State and State Auditors office  reductions the governor is not allowed to make.

Money could also be swept from accounts like maintenance for the Capital complex and seed money to start a new sub-trust of the coal trust fund for schools. Other money could come from taking a two-month holiday on paying rates to the state employee health insurance plan and pensions for judges, which Villa said would still be adequately funded. The governors office proposed $95.4 million in these types of adjustments to choose from.

One pitch calls for tightening the amount of time liquor stores and bars have to pay back the state for liquor from the state warehouse. Currently they have 60 days, but the proposal would cut that to 30, bringing in nearly $12 million.

Another would charge all landowners who live in a wildland-urban interface a fire assessment, not just property owners on the western side of the state, as was dictated when the payments were first implemented. Property owners covered by a co-op agreement now pay $43.50 per parcel. Under the proposed change the number of property owners paying the assessment would expand to those on the eastern side of the state, but payments would drop.

Jones said there is still tons of disagreement over the potential mix of temporary tax increases and other budget options. One of the biggest potential clogs in the process is a proposal to take roughly $30 million from an escrow fund the state has been paying into so it can one day buy the privately run prison in Shelby that the state now contracts with a company called CoreCivic to run.

Villa said that isn't an option in the eyes of the governor's office, saying it would conflict with the goal of a series of bills passed during the last legislative session aimed at reducing the number of people in jail.

We dont see the wisdom of ignoring all of the work done through justice reinvestment. We want fewer people in prison, we want to spend less on hard beds. Were not giving those a second to work but rather extending a contract for 10 years. There just isnt wisdom in that.

Jones said hes glad the governor is putting forward options, but wants the prison money included on that list.

Theres a strong belief some wont vote for anything that doesnt contain it, Jones said.

He views that $30 million as reducing the amount of money lawmakers would have to come up with for their part of the solution.

It is a real issue," Jones said, saying Bullock could negotiate a shorter contract extension and many Republicans don't see the need for Crossroads Correctional to go away any time soon.

The community jails are overflowing, the public prison is overflowing, he said.
WHITEFISH  Democrat attorney Jared Pettinato says he's running for Montana's at-large U.S. House seat as the field seeking to challenge Republican Rep. Greg Gianforte continues to grow.

Pettinato told The Associated Press Tuesday he wants to boost Montana's economy by expanding its wind energy capacity. He also wants to allow more logging in areas where the forest has become too dense, to cut down on wildfires and add timber jobs.

Pettinato worked for the past decade as a natural resources lawyer for the U.S. Department of Justice.

He's a Whitefish native now living in Bozeman.

Other Democrats in the race include state Rep. Tom Woods and former state Rep. Kathleen Williams, both of Bozeman, Billings attorney John Heenan and former land-trust director Grant Kier of Missoula.

The primary is June 5.
A revised travel plan for Idahos portion of the Great Burn recommended wilderness area allows bikes and motorcycles on a popular trail in summertime, but bans snowmobiles there in winter.

Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest Supervisor Cheryl Probert released a record of decision on the areas travel plan on Tuesday. The ruling resolves a court case started in 2012 by the Idaho State Snowmobile Association and Blue Ribbon Coalition challenging the Forest Services decision to disallow snowmobiles in the mountainous region along the Montana-Idaho border.

Proberts ruling focuses on the Fish Lake Trail, a popular route to one of the biggest lakes inside the Great Burn on the Idaho side.

In making my decision to eliminate most motorized travel within (recommended wilderness areas), I have given the most weight to the Forest Plan goal of retaining wilderness character, Probert wrote. The Forest Service Manual states that any area recommended for wilderness or wilderness study designation is not available for any use or activity that may reduce the wilderness potential of the area.

Forest Service planning officer Zoanne Anderson said on Tuesday that keeping the summertime mechanized use was a compromise that reflected the history of the trail. It was originally built as a bulldozer route, but the 1987 forest plan redesignated it as a recommended wilderness that prohibits motorized use. Nevertheless, Probert decided to credit the volunteer work done by all-terrain vehicle riders to improve the trail and campsite parking area by grandfathering in the summer use.

On the other hand, snowmobile use tended to stray from the trail into other areas.

The trail itself, without access to adjoining lands and without a notable winter destination, provides little in the way of a snowmobile opportunity, Probert wrote. If left open in winter, it more likely than not would facilitate motorized intrusions into adjacent restricted lands.

Probert added she aligned the decision with long-standing policy from the Lolo National Forest across the border, which show that the adjacent portion of the Great Burn roadless area has been restricted for many years to over-snow vehicles.

The ruling frustrated some snowmobile advocates, who have been asking for more access into the Great Burn.

At the end of the day, I think everybody didnt have a good conception of the almost zero environmental impact of snowmobiles in the area were able to access, said Stan Spenser of the Missoula-based Backcountry Sled Patriots group. Only two groups really pushed back on winter access by snowmobiles, and it was on ideology thinking rather than practical thinking. They just didnt want motorized, period. But theres no conflict. Were up there by ourselves, so whats the argument for closing it to us?

Wilderness advocates said it clarified a longstanding federal rule that had grown confusing by the cross-border jurisdiction of two national forests.

The Lolo (National Forest) has said all along that it manages for non-motorized use on the Montana side, said Sharon Sweeney, a board member of the Great Burn Study Group. But the Clearwater, in its old forest plan, allowed some over-snow use. That always created a little heartburn. Now the new forest supervisor is looking at the forest plan and saying this is recommended wilderness, and it should be managed as a recommended wilderness area for the long term until Congress says yes or no.

Montana Wilderness Association Director Zack Porter added that the decision affirms the special nature of the place, which covers much of the 1910 forest fire scar and includes dozens of large and small lakes hidden in deep basins.

The inventoried roadless area is about 280,000 acres, Porter said. Its one of the largest unprotected wild landscapes we have left. This is taking steps to strengthen that wilderness character.
Once again, a driver has plowed into a crowd of innocent pedestrians, turning a car into a lethal weapon.

This time, it was in New York's lower Manhattan, where the driver of a rental truck drove down a busy bicycle path near the World Trade Center. The city joins a list of cities worldwide that have fallen victim to a growing trend.

Here's a look at some recent similar attacks and the possible motives behind them:

Manhattan, New York

Date of attack: October 31, 2017

Number of casualties: At least eight people were killed and about a dozen were injured, authorities said.

What happened: The driver of a rental truck hopped a curb and drove down the bicycle path on the west side of West Side Highway in Lower Manhattan near the World Trade Center. After crashing the truck into a school bus, the suspect exited the vehicle while displaying imitation firearms and was shot in the abdomen by a police officer, according to the New York Police Department.

Officials said the suspect is in police custody and was taken to a hospital for treatment, where he was expected to survive surgery, according to a person familiar with the investigation.

Why it happened: While the cause is unknown, the incident is being investigated as terrorism, officials said. The suspect is a 29-year-old from Uzbekistan who came to the United States in 2010, two law enforcement sources told CNN. He is connected to an address in Tampa, Florida, the sources said.

Witnesses reported the suspect was yelling "Allahu Akbar," according to four law enforcement sources. The FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force is taking over the lead of the investigation.

Barcelona, Spain

Date of attack: August 17, 2017

Number of casualties: At least 13 people were killed and more than 100 were injured, authorities said.

What happened: A van plowed into crowds on the Barcelona thoroughfare of Las Ramblas, a popular stretch filled with cafes, bars and street performers.

Why it happened: Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy labeled the Barcelona attack "jihadi terrorism." The ISIS media wing, Amaq, has said the Barcelona attackers were "soldiers of the Islamic State" but stopped short of explicitly claiming responsibility for the attacks or providing evidence for their claims.

Charlottesville, Virginia

Date of attack: August 12, 2017

Number of casualties: A 32-year-old woman was killed and 19 people were injured.

What happened: A gray Dodge Challenger rammed into the back of a silver convertible on a narrow side street crowded with anti-racism counterprotesters in downtown Charlottesville. The Dodge driver slammed the car in reverse, going back up the street at a high rate of speed, dragging its front bumper.

The attack took place as rallies drew white nationalists and right-wing activists from across the country to the progressive college town.

Why it happened: Authorities have not announced a motive, but the suspect, James Alex Fields Jr., faces charges including second-degree murder. Investigators have not said whether they believe it was an act of terrorism.

Fields' mother told The Toledo Blade that she knew her son was going to an "alt-right" rally, but said she was stunned to learn he is suspected in a deadly attack.

London (London Bridge)

Date of attack: June 3, 2017

Number of casualties: Eight people were killed and more than 40 were wounded.

What happened: Three men drove a van into pedestrians on London Bridge before going on a stabbing rampage at bars at nearby Borough Market. They were shot dead by police.

Inside the van, police found two blowtorches as well as what appeared to be 13 Molotov cocktails. The van also had office chairs and a suitcase. Police believe the attackers told relatives they were using it to move.

Why it happened: Police named the attackers as Khuram Shazad Butt, 27; Rachid Redouane, 30; and Youssef Zaghba, 22.

Butt is believed to have associated with the outlawed radical Islamist group al-Muhajiroun, co-founded by notorious hate preacher Anjem Choudary. Counterterrorism sources told CNN that Butt was considered a potential threat to British security and was still under active investigation at the time he carried out the deadly assault.

In a raid of an east London apartment rented by Redouane, police found an English-language copy of the Koran opened at a page describing martyrdom and materials that may have been used to make the Molotov cocktails.

ISIS claimed responsibility for the attack, although the group provided no evidence for its involvement or details of the attack.

Stockholm, Sweden

Date of attack: April 7, 2017

Number of casualties: Four people were killed and 15 injured, the Stockholm County Council said.

What happened: A stolen beer truck barreled into pedestrians on a busy shopping street in the center of the Swedish capital before it plowed into a department store. Sweden stepped up its security. National counterterrorism, bomb and air assets also provided support.

Why it happened: The attacker, Rakhmat Akilov, had shown sympathies to extremist groups, including ISIS, Swedish police said. Akilov, 39, was from the central Asian republic of Uzbekistan. He admitted to carrying out a "terrorist crime," his lawyer said.

London (Westminster Bridge)

Date of attack: March 22, 2017

Number of casualties: Five people died in the attack, including an American man and an unarmed police officer, and scores of others were injured.

What happened: Police say an assailant rammed his rental car into pedestrians on Westminster Bridge, not far from the UK Parliament. The suspect then entered Parliament grounds and fatally stabbed a police officer before being shot dead by other officers.

Why it happened: The attacker, identified as 52-year-old British man Khalid Masood, acted alone and was inspired by international terrorism, officials said.

He had been convicted on a string of violent crimes and weapons charges, but officials said they weren't sure how he became radicalized.

"Clearly that's the main line of our investigation -- is what led him to be radicalized," said Mark Rowley, Britain's top counterterrorism officer. "Was it through influences in a community, influences from overseas or through online propaganda?"

Nice, France

Date of attack: July 14, 2016

Number of casualties: Eighty-four people were killed and more than 200 wounded.

What happened: Authorities said Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel used a 20-ton truck to strike hundreds of people in Nice, where large crowds gathered to watch Bastille Day fireworks.

After the truck barreled through the crowd for almost a mile, police shot and killed Bouhlel.

Why it happened: ISIS said the attack was retaliation for France's role in the fight against ISIS.

"The person who carried out the run-over in Nice, France, is one of the Islamic State soldiers and carried out the operation in response to calls to target nationals of the coalition which is fighting the Islamic State," the terror group said in a statement.

But French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said Bouhlel had no record of making militant statements and was not believed to be a member of ISIS.

"It seems he became radicalized very quickly," Cazeneuve said.

Berlin

Date of attack: December 19, 2016

Number of casualties: Twelve people killed, at least 48 wounded

What happened: A tractor-trailer rammed into a crowd at a bustling Christmas market, which was filled with holiday shoppers. The suspect, Anis Amri, was killed later in a shootout with police in Italy.

Why it happened: A video showed Amri pledging allegiance to ISIS, and the ISIS-affiliated Amaq news agency said the attack was carried out by "a soldier of the Islamic State" to target citizens of countries fighting ISIS.

But CNN terrorism analyst Paul Cruickshank said ISIS often uses that kind of terminology to refer to attacks by alleged sympathizers in the West.

"This should not be taken to mean the group is claiming it directed this attack," Cruickshank said.

Columbus, Ohio

Date of attack: November 28, 2016

Number of casualties: Eleven people wounded

What happened: Abdul Razak Ali Artan, an Ohio State University student, rammed his car into a group of pedestrians on the campus. He got out and lunged at passers-by with a knife.

Moments later, an Ohio State University police officer fatally shot Artan after he refused to stop.

Why it happened: Authorities said they believe Artan was inspired by terrorist propaganda from ISIS and the late Yemeni-American cleric Anwar al-Awlaki, two law enforcement sources said.

In a Facebook post shortly before the rampage, the Somali immigrant said he was "sick and tired" of seeing fellow Muslims "killed and tortured," federal law enforcement officials said.

He urged America "to stop interfering with other countries, especially the Muslim Ummah," a term for Muslim people at large. "By Allah, we will not let you sleep unless you give peace to the Muslims," he wrote.

Jerusalem

Date of attack: January 8, 2017

Number of casualties: Four soldiers killed, at least 10 people wounded

What happened: Authorities said 28-year-old Fadi Qunbar plowed into a group of Israeli soldiers on a popular promenade overlooking the walled Old City of Jerusalem.

Why it happened: The driver may have been an ISIS sympathizer, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said.

"All signs show he is a supporter of the Islamic State," Netanyahu said. "We know there is a sequence of terror attacks, and it's quite possible that there is a connection between them, from France, Berlin and now Jerusalem."

St.-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec

Date of attack: October 20, 2014

Number of casualties: One soldier killed, one soldier wounded

What happened: Police said Martin Rouleau Couture used his car to strike two Canadian soldiers walking in a strip mall parking lot in St.-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec. After leading police on a chase, Couture got out of his car and was fatally shot.

Why it happened: Authorities said they believe Couture had been "radicalized." He was arrested in July 2013, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police said.

"When he was arrested, he was about to go to Turkey," police spokeswoman Martine Fontaine said. "We stopped him as he was about to leave Canada for terrorist actions. He was questioned when he was arrested."

But authorities lacked enough evidence to keep Couture in custody.

Why vehicle attacks?

While not all vehicle attacks are linked to terrorism, groups such as ISIS and al Qaeda have called on followers to use trucks as weapons.

In fact, an al Qaeda magazine published an article in 2010 titled "The Ultimate Mowing Machine."

The article calls for using a pickup as a "mowing machine, not to mow grass but mow down the enemies of Allah."

It said a four-wheel-drive pickup is needed -- "the stronger the better."

"To achieve maximum carnage, you need to pick up as much speed as you can while still retaining good control of your vehicle in order to maximize your inertia and be able to strike as many people as possible in your first run," the article says.

John Miller, deputy commissioner of intelligence for New York police, has said ISIS calls on supporters to use cars as weapons if they have no other means of attack.

"The ISIS call, as well as that of other terrorist groups, has been to use what you have on hand," Miller said in 2015.

"And that means if you can make a bomb, you're a bomber. But if you can't, use a gun. And if you can't find a gun, use a knife. And if you can't find a knife, use a car. So when we look at that, that is a broad spectrum of threats, and it's something to prepare for."

CNN's Eric Levenson, Matt Wotus, Brynn Gingras and Ray Sanchez contributed to this report.
Butte police reports

Aggravated DUI with infant in car

Police say a 33-year-old Butte woman was arrested for an aggravated DUI Monday night after she allegedly drove a vehicle drunk with her 11-month-old infant in the car.

Officers responded to the 1800 block of Florence Avenue around 11:15 p.m. after the father of the child reported that the woman, Bethany Lynn Lex, 33, had allegedly driven away with the infant and seemed to be intoxicated, police said.

Officers patrolled Florence, where they spotted Lex in her vehicle and pulled her over for making an improper turn. Police said they administered a field sobriety test, which Lex allegedly failed. Lex was then taken to the Butte detention center, where she blew more than twice the legal limit.

Lex remained in the Butte detention center as of Tuesday morning, where she now faces a felony aggravated DUI and a felony charge of child endangerment, in addition to a misdemeanor for making an improper turn.

Assault at Butte jail

Police say a male inmate staying at the Butte detention center was transported to St. James Healthcare Monday afternoon for suspected rib fractures after being assaulted by another male inmate, police said.

Police said the assault occurred around 3:30 p.m. in a day room  a common area that inmates in a cell block share  when the aggressor kicked the victim in the ribs.

The victim was transported to St. James Healthcare, where he was held for overnight observation

Police said they are in the process of investigating video surveillance footage and that charges related to the incident are pending.

Aggravated burglary

Police responded to the 1500 block of Warren Avenue early Tuesday morning after a woman in the area said she had returned home to find a male burglar in her house.

The woman told officers that she shouted at the man to leave the residence, at which time he struck her in the face, police said. The man left the residence after being bitten by one of the womans dogs, according to her account.

Police said they currently are investigating the case and dont have a suspect at this time.
The Environmental Protection Agencys new regional administrator for the Rocky Mountain states, Doug Benevento, will get his first taste of Butte Wednesday.

As part of a larger tour of Montana, Benevento is stopping through Butte before he flies back to Region 8s Denver headquarters Wednesday afternoon. He will meet about 15 community leaders for an hour at the Chamber of Commerce starting at 1:30 p.m.

President Donald Trump appointed Benevento around the beginning of October. He replaces Shaun McGrath, who was an appointee of President Barack Obama.

Restore Our Creek Coalition representatives will be attending the meeting. EPAs Community Involvement Coordinator Robert Moler said EPA worked with Restore Our Creek Coalition to invite a variety of community representatives to sit at the table.

Restore Our Creek Coalition spokesperson Northey Tretheway said he looks forward to the opportunity to meet Benevento. Tretheway plans to ask Benevento about the issue at the heart of his group  the restoration of Silver Bow Creek.

EPA invited Montana Tech Professor and long-time Superfund critic John Ray, who has a long list of questions for Benevento. Ray, who chairs Citizens for Labor and Environmental Justice, plans to ask Benevento about his commitment to environmental justice.

Ray hopes the meeting will lead to meaningful conversation about Buttes various Superfund issues.

I hope Ill get an opportunity to express the frustration with both the pace and the quality of cleanup here in Butte, Ray said.

Beneventos visit comes just ahead of a rally Restore Our Creek Coalition plans to hold in two weeks. Tretheway said the group wants to make sure were building momentum and let everyone know were not going away.

"The cleanup will determine the sustainability of Butte's future," he said.

The rally will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Nov. 14 at the Covellite Theatre, 215 W. Broadway. There will be a number of speakers, including longtime Democratic state official Evan Barrett and Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Stephanie Sorini.
Church continues rummage sale

Because of the success of the first one, the Butte Unity Church will have a second rummage sale from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 4, at 300 S. Montana St.

Items include holiday items, clothes, books, jewelry, knick-knacks, and more. Proceeds go toward the upkeep of the historic church.

Kids Night Out starts Nov. 10

A series of five monthly events called Kids Night Out will start Friday, Nov. 10, at the Butte First Presbyterian Church, Excelsior and Platinum. From 5:30 to 8 p.m., kids in kindergarten through fifth grade will have dinner, play games, and pack Christmas gift boxes for poor children overseas. Future Kids Night Out events will be held the second Friday of every month through April. No registration required. Details: Facebook at First Presbyterian Church Butte.

Yoga event benefits food bank

Cassandra Crnich, a yoga instructor, is holding a special class from 10:30 to 11:45 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 11, at Montana Dance Works, 3105 Harrison Ave. The event is to raise money and/or collect food items for the Butte Food Bank.

The class is free, however, monetary or food donations will be collected and all will go to the Butte Food Bank! It's open to all levels and abilities.

Teachers luncheon set for Nov. 7

The Retired Teachers Luncheon is at noon Tuesday, Nov. 7, at the Butte Country Club, 3400 Elizabeth Warren Ave.

There will be a talk given on Medicare fraud.
It was only two years ago that winter dropped into Butte on Nov. 1 and decided to stay for months.

Even if Wednesday isnt the beginning of de ja vu all over again, folks in Butte and southwest Montana can say goodbye to any fair weather 50s for the next week and probably longer as snow and highs in the 30s take over, forecasters say.

Even the outlook eight to 14 days out calls for below-normal temperatures, said Bob Nester, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Missoula.

Of course, the farther into November it gets, the likelier winter is settling in for the long haul. So Wednesday might kick off a repeat of 2015.

I think its fair enough to say that once we have our first real winter event, its kind of here to stay, Nester said.

A complicated weather pattern was expected to impact the Northern Rockies starting Tuesday night and last through the weekend, first with a cold front pushing in from the east.

Butte was expected to get anywhere from 2 to 6 inches of snow Wednesday into Thursday morning with Homestake Pass getting 8 to 10 inches, the weather service said.

Winter weather advisories were issued Tuesday afternoon for Glacier Park southward through the Seeley/Swan region and into Butte as snow was expected to develop along the Continental Divide and become fairly intense Wednesday morning.

The advisory in Butte was for midnight Tuesday to 6 p.m. Wednesday, with 1 to 2 inches of snow expected during the day Wednesday and rain and snow during the evening, with 1 to 3 more inches of snow possible during the evening.

The high Wednesday was forecast at 39 with similar readings through Saturday before dropping 10 degrees for Sunday. The high that day is forecast at 29.

A warm frontal feature will push the bulk of the moisture into northwest Montana Wednesday night into Thursday. A trough of low pressure was expected to dig along the Pacific Coast on Friday, shifting the moisture and colder air back to the south. Then a cold front swings through the area from the west, pushing moisture into southwest Montana.

Some snow is likely in Butte and surrounding areas Thursday night through the weekend. Lows will be in the lower 20s through Saturday, but only reach the mid- to upper-teens early Sunday and Monday mornings, the weather service said.

November was rather mild in western and southwest Montana last November, but in 2015, Butte got its first significant snow on Nov. 1 and winter was on.

Its too early to say that will happen again, but Nester said it very well could.

The days of temperatures at least in the 50s are basically over, he said.

The average high in Butte on Nov. 1 is 48, dropping to 40 by mid-November and to 32 on Nov. 30, he said.
Several of Missoulas top federal fire scientists have been denied permission to attend the International Fire Congress later this month, leading conference organizers to suspect censorship of climate-related research.

Anyone who has anything related to climate-change research  right away was rejected, said Timothy Ingalsbee of the Association for Fire Ecology, a nonprofit group putting on the gathering. Ingalsbee noted that was his personal opinion, and that the AFE is concerned that a federal travel restriction policy may be more to blame.

Most of the folks from the Missoula fire lab, the vanguard entity in the Forest Service  all but a handful got cut. We were expecting about 44 scientists from the Rocky Mountain Research Station, and only six or seven have been permitted to attend," Ingalsbee said. "Those folks are doing critical analysis on fire suppression effectiveness, which is a new area of research.

I reject that outright, Rocky Mountain Research Station Director Colin Hardy said Wednesday. As a leader of scientists and manager of climate science research, thats simply not true.

Hardy said the Forest Service allowed his lab to send six people to the Orlando conference. He had 20 applicants.

My choices didnt have anything to do with a particular subject, Hardy said. We were offered six slots to fill. There was no criteria or requirement for the kinds of people or things they talked about.

Instead, Hardy said there are four criteria he followed to choose whom to send. They included an applicants potential role at the conference (presenter, organizer), how well their research niche fit the conference goals, and whether attending would have a valuable effect on the persons professional service record.

Hardy said he didnt even get to the fourth criterion, which considers budget efficiency through the federal Meeting Management System. He said because the whole Forest Service was only allotted 50 slots to attend the conference, funding for the travel was not an issue.

The scientists no longer attending include Matt Jolly, who was to present new work on Climate-induced variations in global severe weather fire conditions, Karin Riley on Fuel treatment effects at the landscape level: burn probabilities, flame lengths and fire suppression costs, Mike Battaglia on Adaptive silviculture for climate change: Preparing dry mixed conifer forests for a more frequent fire regime, and Dave Calkin, who was working on ways to manage the human response to wildfire.

None of his crew is coming, Ingalsbee said of Calkins research team. That was another targeted area for rejection, even though the great frontier of fire management is people management. Thats about crew cohesion, safety, public expectations, homeowners  all that stuff. Theyre doing the most amazing work on risk assessment.

"Instead of blindly attacking all fires in all places, be strategic. Where do we put young bodies and taxpayers dollars? That work could save billions of dollars and hundred of lives by being rational and strategic in how we fight fire. All of them got eliminated.

University of Montana fire ecologist Phil Higuera attended the 2015 International Fire Congress and is familiar with the studies of Jolly and Riley.

Theyve both done a lot of valuable and widely recognized work, focusing on how wildland fire is related to climate variability and climate change, Higuera said of Jolly and Riley. I understand restricting travel because of budgets. But when travel is restricted based on the topic youre presenting on, thats really concerning.

Hardy said climate change had no impact on his choice of attendees.

Matt Jolly is a scientist I supervise, Hardy said. Hes a world-renowned researcher of climate-weather fire relationships. Had I chosen just for the impact of a particular single paper, thats the one I would have chosen. Were keen to get that word out. But when you stack up role, niche or service, he didnt make it.

Association for Fire Ecology President and University of Idaho professor Leda Kobziar raised the issue in an Oct. 9 letter to Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue and Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke. She noted that more than 100 federal fire experts hadnt received approval to attend the Orlando conference.

In this epic wildfire season characterized by historic spending on wildfire suppression, there is an urgent need for fire managers and scientists to meet and discuss strategies for how to best provide for the public welfare by effectively managing fire and fuels into the future, Kobziar wrote.For the cost of five retardant loads from a single large air tanker, over 110 federal fire scientists and managers staff could attend a typical fire management conference or workshop.

Ingalsbee noted that travel difficulties for federal officials started under the Obama administration, after a scandalous 2012 General Services Administration conference in Las Vegas resulted in creation of the Meetings Management System. That policy required agency leaders to closely scrutinize all employee travel.

Trump Administration Office of Management and Budget Director Mick Mulvaney relaxed those rules in June, noting the travel reviews had become incredibly burdensome for agencies.

But at the same time, travel restrictions on certain issues became more noticeable. In July, Zinkes office prohibited U.S. Geological Survey scientist Dan Fagre from meeting with Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg during a visit to Glacier National Park. In October, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency officials blocked three federal scientists from presenting work at a climate change conference in Rhode Island.

The 2015 International Fire Congress brought together 578 fire experts, including 180 federal employees. Only 48 Forest Service employees have been approved to attend the 2017 conference, 12 of whom are scientists.

Hardy said he didn't know who made the decision to reduce Forest Service participation. He did say attendance at such significant international conferences are made at the Secretary of Agriculture's office, which oversees the Forest Service.

In the past, I couldnt detect any real pattern in the Meeting Management System, Ingalsbee said. Everyone was equally randomly cut, based on the whims of supervisors. But in this case  wow  it seems not coincidental. No climate change researcher from the Forest Service is permitted to go. Theyre not blatantly rejecting people, just refusing to sign the papers authorizing their travel. Its an insidious means of silencing scientists without blatantly censoring them.
The Montana Supreme Court has voided Marsy's Law, the so-called victims' bill of rights that has been controversial since it was placed on the ballot and approved by voters last November.

The court issued the order Monday, saying the law was unconstitutional because it violated the separate-vote requirement of the Montana Constitution. The separate-vote requirement says that if more than one change is made to the constitution, it can't be done through a single measure.

Last year, voters passed Constitutional Initiative 116 with 66 percent of the vote. It almost immediately was challenged on several fronts, first on the effective date and then on the constitutionality of the initiative.

Marsy's Law created a new section of the state constitution enumerating 18 rights for crime victims, including the right to refuse an interview or deposition and the right to receive notification for all steps of a criminal proceeding. Cities and counties around the state were concerned about the costs of complying with the new law, saying they didn't have enough staff to do what will be required.

In January, ACLU of Montana and a handful of other groups filed a lawsuit arguing that since the initiative amended multiple sections of the Montana Constitution, it required a separate vote for each amendment. The lawsuit asked the court to void the enactment of Marsy's Law, halt all enforcement and decertifiy its passage. In June, Lee Montana newspapers joined the challenge in a friends of the court brief, which argued the initiative had altered the publics right to know about law enforcement and court cases without fully informing citizens of that change.
We, the undersigned Montana business leaders, urge our Legislature to work with our governor and address our states revenue shortfall in a manner designed to minimize the harm done by cutting services.

Three areas are of particular concern:

Public safety: Funding must be sufficient to keep incarcerations secure, and programs of supervision and rehabilitation must continue unabated. Keeping our bad actors from getting worse, and returning them to their neighbors and loved ones, in a contributing and productive mode, is a prime responsibility of a civil society. It remains a priority, but it requires a continuous investment.

Education: K-12, and especially early childhood learning, is the base on which future lifelong learning is built. Deferring or diminishing this base can have long-lasting, even irreversible effects. Lets do no damage. As for our institutions of higher learning, lets reward those that are running lean, efficiently and effectively, and not cut them quite as closely to the bone. Lets recognize and celebrate our best. Above all, lets avoid having to increase tuition for our young people who seek to stay in Montana to go to college.

Our most challenged: Lets not deprive our most physically and mentally in need of the support they require, and will not otherwise receive. The damage done, or left untreated, may never be repaired. Let us not turn our heads.

Lets cut as necessary, yes, but not for principle alone. Where there are ways to shift spending or increase revenue, they must be explored. Lets work together to get the job done  for all of us. It serves our hearts, and our minds, and thats the bottom line.
It has been said that public office is a public trust. A key component of trust is consistency. Inconsistency breeds suspicion. When we delegate to a public official the performance of some public task, we trust them, because we cannot usually directly observe them, to do their best to promote the general good. The Montana Department of Environmental Qualitys (MDEQ) handling of the Montana Pole Plant cleanup turns fundamentally on a question of trust: Do we trust MDEQ to provide a quality cleanup of the Montana Pole Site? MDEQs chronic inconsistency with regard to the Pole Plant destroys citizen trust in the agencys efforts.

Consider:

1. Throughout the whole Pole Plant cleanup process, MDEQ never indicated that they were going to precipitously abandon active treatment of dioxin at the Pole Plant in favor of the usual agency remedy for Butte of cap, fence and declare off limits. Past Five Year Reviews all glowingly concluded that the remedy was, overall, working to protect human health and the environment. Suddenly, a couple of months ago, Butte citizens were told that the remedy was a failure and being replaced by leaving more waste-in-place. The past three Five Year Reviews of the Montana Pole Plant all reached the optimistic conclusion that the remedy was functioning as intended and in the long term would be protective of human health. Trust us. For example, the conclusion of the 2001 Five Year Review stated: The remedy at the Montana Pole and Treating Plant is expected to be protective of human health and the environment upon completion, and immediate threats have been addressed. The 2006 and 2011 Five Year Reviews reached a similar conclusion. The treatment referred to was bioremediation. Suddenly, we are told the remedy is being ditched. Not much consistency here.

2. Although mandated by the record of decision for the Pole Plant, MDEQ has abandoned active, biological treatment at the Pole Plant too quickly. MDEQ has done no investigation of all the recent developments in the area of bio-remediation that could work at the Pole Plant. MDEQ had the gall to say that citizens should do this work for them. Does such action increase trust in MDEQ?

3. Throughout the cleanup process we have been assured that there were sufficient funds available for the cleanup. Now we are told: Sorry, we may run out of money and we dont know where we will get more. Treatment will probably need at least another fifty years or so but there is only money for thirty years. Who will pay when the money runs out? DEQ says dont worry, trust us, we will find it somewhere, somehow. Do we trust them?

4. Now DEQ is saying that a little, very limited industrial end use may be allowed after the cleanup while at last months meetings DEQ said that only recreational, i.e. open spaces, would be allowed. Inconsistent or not? Local government was misled by MDEQ regarding future land use of the Pole Plant. Local government was encouraged to plan for full industrial use but now is told that only limited recreational use will be allowed, maybe. MDEQ has also said that if Butte wants industrial development at the site, local government, i.e. taxpayers, must pay for additional cleanup. MDEQ has waffled and wiggled all over the place on this one.

5. MDEQ constantly said that the significant contamination under the interstate would be addressedtrust us. It hasnt been for decades but trust us we will get to it, sometime. So far, under the cleanup for Montana Pole, the significant dioxin contamination under the interstate has been ignored. Do we trust MDEQ to get it done?

6. A lack of transparency also destroys trust. It is obvious from MDEQs ill-timed/opaque statements that the public as well as local government has been ill-informed by MDEQ and that certainly public outreach at the site has been a failure.

Citizens cannot observe the cleanup of the Pole Plant on a daily basis. We have entrusted to MDEQ the task of adequately cleaning up the site. We trust them to do a good job and to be good stewards of the public trust. Have they been good and faithful trustees? Go figure!
Dissent not part of military training

There seems to be a sense of disbelief, even betrayal, among those people who assumed that Gen. John Kelly was an adult exerting some control on the excesses of President Trump. How this attained general currency is, as most successive marriages, a triumph of hope over evidence.

The president has surrounded himself with generals who will obey the commander-in-chief just as they would expect their lower-ranking officers to obey them. So much for any levies to Trumps floodtide of tweets or verbal offenses. General Kellys mendacious comments regarding Congresswoman Frederica Wilson are easily seen as falling on his sword for his commander.

I can think of no more clear example of military training not being congruent with the demands of democratic leadership. Even the less observant can see this demonstrated by that one-third of Montanas triad of pride in Washington, Ryan Zinke. Why ever would one assume that training as a Navy SEAL would qualify a person for civilian leadership any more than its animal counterpart?

It should be of no small concern that Americas military is the most admired or trusted of its governmental entities!

 Tim Crawford, Belgrade
MUSCATINE  Muscatine Community Development Director Dave Gobin hopes a new online tool will provide residents with information about city activity "on demand."

This week, the city unveiled an interactive map on its website, allowing residents and visitors the opportunity to learn about ongoing or recently completed projects in the area.

The map, Gobin said, includes dozens of pins with "active" or "completed" projects, both from the public and private sectors. By clicking on a pin, people can view construction or project photos, a description of the work being done, plus an anticipated completion date.

While this summer the city released an interactive construction map on the front page of its website, Gobin said that map only showed detours and road closures. He hopes the new tool will help residents comprehend all of the work being done across the city.

"A lot of people ask and call here to find out what's going on," Gobin said. "They see activity over here, then activity over there. So we want to help the population here understand what is going on at a high level."

The activity map provides information about everything from the Mississippi Drive reconstruction to the community dog park, the Port of Muscatine and improvements at the Grain Processing Corporation and Monsanto. Gobin said for now, the map is limited to projects valued at $1 million or more.

In his three years as community development director, Gobin claimed $1 billion has been invested, by both public and private entities, into development in Muscatine.

"And those are projects that are done, in the rear view mirror," he said. "What we have here, roughly up to another quarter-of-a-billion more in active projects. That's really positive for a small community. So we're struggling to make sure people don't get distracted from these activities."

Gobin also pointed out the map shows some Muscatine County projects as well, including the landfill expansion and projects at the SSAB plant on Bill Sharp Boulevard.

In the coming weeks, Gobin hopes to add about half-a-dozen more projects to the activity map. The tool is the latest innovation from the city of Muscatine, which, along with the construction detour map, also launched a page on OpenGov.com this year. The transparency tool allows residents to view the city's budget and expenditures.

According to Gobin, all three tools will give residents a head start in learning more about how the city's government functions.

"There are a lot of inquiries from people who don't know what's going on," he said. "This should help give perspective and I hope people look at see how intuitive it is."

To access the activity map, visit the city of Muscatine's website, click on the "Business & Development" tab, then click "Activity Map."
MUSCATINE  The smell of fresh bread, pasta and cannolis made from scratch is likely to start wafting through Muscatine's downtown and the new Merrill Hotel and Conference Center, starting next week.

Mamma Mia Italian Restaurante will open on the first floor of The Pearl building, 101 W. Mississippi Drive, Muscatine. Brothers and co-owners, Feim and Gony Veseli, hope their business will cater to everyone, from families looking for an affordable lunch and business leaders holding meetings at the new hotel next door.

The Muscatine restaurant will be the second for the Veseli brothers, who have owned Napoli's Italian Restaurant in Marion for more than seven years.

Feim Veseli, previously of Texas, said he has traveled the world but decided to open his next restaurant in Muscatine, to be closer to family and because of the potential for development.

"We operate pretty much like a family business, and to have most of the family here, that means a lot," he said.

The brothers also brought in one of their favorite chefs, Nick Lutvi, who also previously lived in Texas. Lutvi said he has prepared Italian food since 1984.

"My dad had a restaurant in [New] Jersey and it was always Italian food," Lutvi said. "He loved cooking."

Mamma Mia, Lutvi said, will offer a variety of dishes from "sea to land," including steak, lobster, sea bass and filet mignon. Even the desserts, he added, will be made from scratch. At lunch and dinner, meals will be served with soup or salad and homemade bread.

The brothers will also cater events and business meetings, accommodating between 10 and 500 people. The restaurant will seat up to 160 people and includes a party room for conferences or private events, a full bar, patio area and view of the riverfront.

"We want to offer something nobody else has here," Gony Veseli said. "And the view ... I've never seen anything like it."

Developer Tom Meeker said once the Merrill Hotel is finished, the restaurant will overlook a new area of greenspace, with fountains and art pieces. The hotel is also building a walkway that will connect the hotel with the ground level of The Pearl.

Tom, and his wife Ann Meeker, are currently renovating the building's lobby for around $300,000, so hotel guests and visitors will have a seamless transition from the Merrill to restaurants in the building.

While the hotel is also opening a restaurant, Tom Meeker said people can purchase meals at Mamma Mia for less than $10. The restaurant will offer higher-priced seafood items, for around $30 or $40.

"So that's really a double whammy to satisfy the community with, and that's what's nice," he said.

Tom Meeker said he has been searching for two years to find the right restaurant to fill the space on the first floor of his building.

"[The owners] can't wait to open because it's a new restaurant for them, and I can't wait for it to open because I've been sitting on this for two years knowing the new hotel was going to open, trying to find the right people," he said. "I could have rented this space about half-a-dozen times last year."

He believes the Veseli brothers, along with their chef, have the experience to make the restaurant a huge success in Muscatine. For now, the brothers are focused on making a good first impression.

"First, it's hard to bring people in, but we want to make sure we keep them here and see them coming back again and again, bringing friends and family," Gony Veseli said.

The restaurant is closed on Mondays. Mamma Mia will be open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday; and from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday.

Mamma Mia Italian Restaurante can be reached by calling 563-299-1865.
An election that could have a major impact on your daily life is rapidly approaching. City elections take place throughout Iowa on Tuesday, Nov. 7. Although these elections do not receive very much attention, they are every bit as important as the general elections held in Iowa every two years.

As a former mayor of the states second largest city and former president of the Iowa League of Cities, I can assure you that city government plays an important role in the lives of Iowans. That is why all eligible Iowans should make their voices heard and vote on Nov. 7.

Unfortunately, city elections usually have drastically lower turnout than general elections. Iowa is one of the best states in the nation for voter registration and participation, but those numbers do not hold up well for school and city elections. We can and should do better.

When you stop and think about all the things city government oversees that affect you each day, you will realize the importance of city elections. Around 30 percent of your property tax bill goes to city government. Decisions regarding streets, utilities, stoplights, law enforcement, fire departments, garbage collection, and snow removal are all made on the city level. City governments can dictate local ordinances, set curfew hours, decide whether you can use and sell fireworks, and decree what type of pets you can keep. They can dictate whether or not you can build a fence on your property.

Dont you want a say in how all those things are determined? If the answer is yes, then the next steps are simple: Register to vote if you havent already. If you are registered, make sure your information is up-to-date. Visit sos.iowa.gov/registertovote and do it instantly, online. Then, research the candidates for mayor and city council and pick the ones who best represent you and your values. The final step is to be a voter on Nov. 7.

I want all eligible Iowans to make their voices heard in our elections. The way to do that is by being a voter. City elections are about you, your family, and your community. You have a say in how you want your tax dollars spent and your city to operate. On Nov. 7, step up. Be a voter.
Register for more free articles. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading.

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The two women from Hawaii who say they were lost at sea had an emergency beacon on the ship that was not activated during their roughly five months at sea, a Coast Guard spokeswoman tells CNN.

The mariners, Jennifer Appel and Tasha Fuiava, had "one EPIRB (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon) on board, which was properly registered," Coast Guard Petty Officer 2nd Class Tara Molle told CNN.

The emergency beacon, which is found on many vessels, is used to alert rescue locations around the world in the event of an emergency, "by transmitting a coded message on the 406 MHz distress frequency via satellite and earth stations to the nearest rescue coordination center," according to EPIRB.com.

Molle told CNN that "as far as we know, the EPIRB on their sailboat was working properly. I can't speculate as to why they wouldn't have activated it."

The Associated Press first reported that questions were being asked about certain aspects of their account.

Appel released a response to those questions Tuesday, saying that they had decided not to activate the beacon because, while damaged, the boat was still seaworthy. The women had food and a way of generating fresh water, and thought they could make it to a safe haven to complete repairs, she said.

"EPIRB calls are for people who are in an immediate life threatening scenario," the statement said. "It would be shameful to call on the USCG resources when not in imminent peril and allow someone else to perish because of it."

The statement added that their boat had received significant damage while being towed by the Taiwanese fishing that had initially rescued them, leading to a mayday call to the US Navy ship when they knew it was on the way to retrieve them.

"Had they not been able to locate us, we would have been dead within 24 hours," Appel said earlier, during a news conference on the deck of the ship.

"We did a mayday call for assistance only when it was absolutely necessary and help did arrive because the resources were available. We are grateful for that."

Five-month odyssey

Appel and Fuiava, along with their two dogs, were found last week, drifting about 900 miles southeast of Japan.

The women say their journey was derailed by ferocious storms, multiple shark attacks and a breakdown in vital equipment such as their engine, mast and communication devices.

"We didn't have our hand radio and our radio telephone wasn't working. And also our Iridium (satellite) phone was not working," Appel told CNN. "They're dependent on the antenna, and when the antenna went out everything went out.

After being spotted by a Taiwanese fishing boat, which contacted the US Coast Guard in Guam, the two sailors were rescued by the US Navy and brought to the Japanese island prefecture of Okinawa on the USS Ashland.

Appel told the US Navy that they had survived thanks to two water purifiers, one of which failed, and over a year's worth of food -- mostly dry goods such as oatmeal, pasta and rice on the boat.

To add to the two women's woes, Fuiava was a complete novice, who "started this trip without knowing anything about sailing," saying she "didn't even know what a jib was" before departing.

Storm that never happened?

Further confusion about the two women's story also arose when they claimed to have been battered by a strong storm at the beginning of their months at sea.

The two women say they set out from Hawaii on May 3, and the transcript of their interview with the Navy quotes Appel as saying that "on the first night" they encountered a "force 11 storm," which they battled for the following two nights and three days.

However, Norman Hui, a National Weather Service meteorologist in Honolulu, told CNN there were "no organized storm systems near the Hawaiian Islands on the dates of May 3, 2017 or the few days afterward."

The National Weather Service issued a small craft advisory on May 3 for Alenuihaha and Pailolo channels, warning of "strong east-northeast trade winds." Such an advisory covers winds from 20 to 33 knots (23 to 38 mph). There was no storm warning issued.

Appel told CNN that the Alenuihaha Channel and the area between Maui and the Big Island are "notorious as a dangerous channel -- subject to sudden and vicious weather change."

"It was not a gale warning," she said. "It was a storm warning."

Appel told the Navy that four days after the storm abated, the spreader, a part of the ship's mast and sail apparatus, broke. Towards the end of the first month, they say heavy rainfall disabled the starter on the boat's engine.

Thwarted rescue

The two women claimed they were close to being rescued October 1 when they made contact with officials on Wake Island, a tiny US territory in the middle of the Pacific, after they came within two miles of the shore.

"We actually managed to get a hold of someone. We let them know that we'd been drifting for five months and we needed assistance," Appel said. "And they responded. They said, if we could get to the entrance to the harbor, that they would help us.

"But we were on the north side of the island, and the entrance to the harbor is on the south side of the island, and the swell and the wind were pushing (us) west."

CNN has attempted to contact authorities on the island but has not received a response.

Appel and Fuiava say they learned a lot from their doomed adventure at sea. If they take another trip they say they will take "three of everything" in case of mechanical failures.

CNN's Brandon Miller contributed to this report.
Les blattes ou cafards (Blatta orientalis) sont des insectes qui appartiennent a la famille des Blattoptera. Ils se caracterisent par leur forme allongee, leurs ailes []
SAN FRANCISCO  Prompted by President Donald Trumps proposed border wall, the Golden Gate Symphony Orchestra & Chorus, led by Maestro Urs Leonhardt Steiner, opens its 2017-2018 season with Viva Mexico! Beyond Border Walls on Sunday, Nov. 5 at 3 p.m.

The special program of live classical music that celebrates the rich musical traditions and cultures of Mexico and beyond features guest conductor Martha Rodriguez-Salazar and special guests from Mexico and the Bay Area.

The Golden Gate Symphony Orchestra & Chorus invites Bay Area residents to support and celebrate our Latino neighbors with music that connects and elevates us beyond President Trumps divisive call for a border wall, Steiner said. Viva Mexico! Beyond Border Walls will be a dazzlingly eclectic concert, with musical selections that range from Aaron Coplands El Salon Mexico to Jose Pablo Moncayos Huapango, as well as traditional folksongs and contemporary compositions from Bay Area musicians and soloists.

Special guest chorus, Coro Redes y Cantos de Chapala, comes from the state of Jalisco, Mexico. The renowned chorus, led by Moises Real Gomez, will perform their signature mix of ballads and historic folksongs, which have been performed across Mexico since earliest colonial times.

The program for Viva Mexico! Beyond Border Walls will also include:

 Huapango by Jose Pablo Moncayo El Salon Mexico by Aaron Copland

 Canciones de mi Tierra by Nicaraguan composer Carlos Gonzalez Siles

 Coyohuacan by Mexican composer Antonio Flores,

 Culiacan Suite by Mexican composer Eduardo Gamboa

With a mission to reach out to the diverse ethnic communities of the Bay Area and beyond, Maestro Steiner and the Golden Gate Symphony Orchestra & Chorus have been at the forefront of connecting the Latino, Asian, Filipino, and African-American communities in the Bay Area with classical music since 1989.

Last season, we reached out to the Chinese community in order to learn and perform in Mandarin the epic Ask the Sky and the Earth by Hong Kong composer, Tony Wok, Steiner said. Viva Mexico! Beyond Border Walls continues our proud tradition of performing socially relevant music that informs, inspires, and connects us all.

Viva Mexico! Beyond Border Walls l takes place at the Herbst Theatre, 410 Van Ness Ave., San Francisco. To purchase tickets,visit cityboxoffice.com/ggsoc or call 415-392-4400.
SACRAMENTO  Property damage claims from a series of deadly October wildfires now exceed $3.3 billion, California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones said Tuesday.

The figure represents claims for homes and businesses insured by 15 companies and is more than triple the previous estimate of $1 billion. Jones said the number will continue to rise as more claims are reported.

The amount of claims now reported means that the fires caused more damage than Californias 1991 Oakland Hills fire, which was previously the states costliest, with $2.7 billion in damages in 2015 dollars, according to the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America.

Forty-three people were killed in the October blazes that tore through Northern California, including the states renowned winemaking regions in Napa and Sonoma counties. They destroyed at least 8,900 buildings as more than 100,000 people were forced to evacuate. It was the deadliest series of fires in California history.

Several dozen buildings were also damaged or destroyed in fire in Southern Californias Orange County.

Behind each and every one of these claims...are ordinary people, Californians who lost their homes, lost their vehicles, in some cases whose family members lost their lives, said Jones, a Democrat who is running for attorney general.

Jones said there were just over 10,000 claims for partial home losses, more than 4,700 total losses and about 700 for business property. There were 3,200 claims for damaged or destroyed personal vehicles, 91 for commercial vehicles, 153 for farm equipment and 111 for watercraft.

The figures do not reflect uninsured losses, including public infrastructure and the property of people who were uninsured or underinsured.

Meanwhile, a man facing arson charges for a wildfire that destroyed two homes south of the San Francisco Bay Area had an ominous message for a prosecutor during a court hearing Tuesday: Youre next.

Marlon Coy, 54, uttered the words while glaring at Santa Cruz County District Attorney Jeffrey Rosell while he explained four of the felony charges Coy is facing, the Santa Cruz Sentinel reported (http://bayareane.ws/2z1rUCL ).

Coy pleaded not guilty to charges of arson of a nondwelling, arson causing bodily injury and being a felon in possession of a firearm, the newspaper reported.

Witnesses saw Coy start the fire on October 16 near a property in Santa Cruz County connected to someone with whom he had a dispute, sheriffs officials said.

Coy was arrested in possession of jewelry and a bicycle that was taken from a home that was burglarized while under evacuation, according to sheriffs officials.
ST. HELENA  It had been a long day for the St. Helena Fire Department: the Wine Train had hit a tour bus south of town and firefighters from around the area had been called to a fire at an auto salvage yard in American Canyon.

But for the three St. Helena firefighters, the day was about to get worse than they could have ever imagined. That night they spotted an orange glow near Atlas Peak Road northeast of Napa.

Adam Waters, Mark Macias and Elliot Bell were the first firefighters on scene that windy night of Sunday, Oct. 8. They would spend the next two days fighting the Atlas Fire, a wildland blaze that would grow to historic proportions  462 homes destroyed, 51,624 acres blackened.

Bell said he was able to grab a few brief cat naps over the next few days. Other St. Helena firefighters assigned to the Atlas and Tubbs fires said they werent able to get any sleep at all from the time they woke up Sunday morning until they were released from duty Tuesday night.

It was pretty overwhelming at first, said Bell, who had never been assigned to a fire. It was threatening structures when we got there  it was about 150 acres already and moving really fast.

He and other members of the St. Helena Fire Department recalled the frantic early days of the fires during last Thursdays community potluck at Lyman Park, held to thank them and other first responders for their service during the October fires.

Atlas Fire

High winds and dry conditions made it impossible to fight the fast-moving fire, so Waters, Macias and Bell spent much of Sunday night evacuating people from their homes.

Civilians fled in a line of cars headed down Atlas Peak Road. At one point, they started coming back up, telling firefighters that a fallen walnut tree had made the road impassable. The St. Helena crew used chainsaws to cut up the tree, and then Macias used Engine 217 to push clear a parked car that a panicked driver had abandoned in the middle of the road. The fire engine sustained some minor damage, but homeowners once again had a clear escape route.

Some people were afraid to leave their homes. Others were physically unable.

Calls keep coming in every minute at least, of possible entrapments on Soda Canyon Road and Atlas Peak Road, Macias said. Were trying to figure out where theyre at and whether theyre old calls.

The constant radio traffic made it difficult to communicate and gave an idea of how widespread and fast-moving the fires were.

These were the first-, sixth-, 10th- and 16th-most destructive fires (in California history), all started within the same hour, said firefighter Johnnie White of the blazes that covered Napa and Sonoma counties.

Once the area was clear of civilians, Engine 217 switched to structure protection. Fallen trees and heavy smoke made even driving from house to house a struggle.

At one point, the fire was on both sides of the road and the lead engine stopped because they couldnt see anything, Macias said. It was too much for us too, too much smoke, too much fire, it was pushing up against the engine. Smoke was filling up the cab and our eyes were watering. It finally calmed down a little bit and a Cal Fire dozer got in front of us to clear all these trees that kept falling in front of us.

Fire Chief John Sorensen, whod been working the Tubbs Fire, said an Alameda County firefighter later approached him to thank the men of Engine 217 for driving through a wall of fire to deliver a portable pump to his crew, allowing them to siphon water from a pool after their own water supplies had been exhausted.

Later on Monday, Engine 217 was sent east on Monticello Road, near Kenzo Estate, where they spent the next 24 hours protecting more structures from the Atlas Fire.

Tubbs Fire

As the Atlas Fire spread, other St. Helena firefighters were fighting what was to become by far the most destructive fire in California history in terms of structures burned: the Tubbs Fire.

As soon as Johnnie White, Martin Macias and JP Havens arrived at the intersection of Highway 128 and Bennett Lane, dispatch said people were reporting being trapped. Calistogas Engine 419, which at the time was the only other unit on the scene, used its bumper to push open an electric gate. The Calistoga crew then moved on to evacuate other people as a few cars escaped past the open gate and St. Helenas Brush 17 rescued the people in the small neighborhood behind the gate.

As the crew of Brush 17 continued down the road toward a few other houses, all you could see was fire, said White.

The wind was blowing like nothing I had ever seen before, he said. We were just focused on getting people out.

They knocked down two more gates, rescued two more people whod been stranded in a car, and made their first effort at structure protection before heading back to Highway 128 and rendezvousing with the Cal Fire incident commander.

By this time, St. Helena Engine 317  manned by Scott Dale, Nick Solakian and Ryan Smithers  had arrived from the salvage yard fire in American Canyon, having dropped off Smithers in St. Helena to pick up Water Tender 20.

Cal Fire assigned St. Helenas Brush 17 and Engine 317, Angwins Engine 18, and three bulldozers to cut a containment line from Highway 128 to Franz Valley School Road in order to protect the city of Calistoga.

Firefighters laid almost a half-mile of hose up a steep hill. During the ensuing firefight, hoses were burned by encroaching flames and burst from the extreme water pressure required to push water uphill for 2,500 feet.

We realized we were in a bad spot and werent going to be able to do anything, White said.

The fire prevented them from going back down the hill the same way theyd come up, so they and the bulldozer operators hiked cross-country down to Highway 128, where they learned that reinforcements stationed at a higher elevation had been able to continue their work on the containment line, without the disadvantage of having to pump water uphill.

Meanwhile, a battalion chief on Calistoga Road kept radioing for help, but most units were already trying to save neighborhoods and businesses in northern Santa Rosa. When St. Helena firefighters arrived, the grateful battalion chief said hed buy them all a beer if they could keep the fire on the north side of Calistoga Road.

Over the next few hours, the fire jumped the road four times, but they were able to put it out each time and prevent it from spreading to Spring Mountain. (White said hes still looking forward to that beer.)

Crews spent the rest of Monday and Tuesday setting backfires, protecting house after house along Petrified Forest Road, and defending the Petrified Forest Visitors Center.

We saved anything we could, anything with good defensible space, Dale said. The people whod put the time in to protect their own homes, those were the homes we could defend the most.

Whenever they got a chance to listen to the radio, they were shocked to hear the fire had moved from Calistoga to Santa Rosa in barely three hours.

We heard about it jumping 101 and were like What? Were in Calistoga. Must be a different fire, said Dale.

St. Helena firefighters at the Tubbs Fire also rescued an Uber driver whod gotten stranded and said hed just wanted to see the fires, according to Sorensen.

Back at base

Firefighting isnt just about fighting fires. Administrative Assistant Alec Vidler was assigned to stay at the firehouse with the two units being held in reserve to handle emergency calls in St. Helena.

Just hours after Vidler had been celebrating his anniversary with his wife at a restaurant, he and the firefighters who remained in St. Helena were spending Sunday night and Monday dealing with medical aids, false fire alarms, and reports of smoke.

I was doing that while other guys were out fighting the fires on the front lines, doing their hero stuff, he said. I was more in the background making sure everything was running OK. It was a real group effort.
ST. HELENA  St. Helena school officials are looking for ways to compensate for two weeks of classes that were canceled during the October fires. This is an issue also facing other Napa County school districts.

The St. Helena Unified School District canceled 10 school days between Oct. 9 and Oct. 20 due to the fires and poor air quality. The school year was already two days longer than required by state law, and the district has applied for a waiver from the state for the other eight days. District officials expect the waiver to be granted under the extraordinary circumstances.

However, in the interests of student achievement, administrators, district staff, parents and boardmembers are considering ways to squeeze a few days into the remaining 2017-2018 school year.

Trustees batted around various options at Mondays board meeting and told administrators to work with staff on a schedule that would make up at least some of the lost time by shortening the three-week Christmas vacation  which some parents say is too long anyway  and converting minimum days and staff-only vertical articulation days into full school days.

The board did not support extending the school year for another week or two or extending each school day by a few minutes.

Trustees want the schedule to make up the lost time as soon as possible to minimize disruptions late in the school year. The district is already looking at delaying next Mays Advanced Placement (AP) tests and the annual standardized tests for grades 2-8 and 11.

Delaying AP tests would require students to take an alternate test. Some AP students and their parents were worried that the alternate test would be more difficult, but St. Helena High School Principal Ben Scinto and Director of Curriculum and Instruction Mary Allen assured the board that the alternate test is not designed to be more difficult, only different.

Superintendent Marylou Wilson said the district will announce a new schedule on Friday and report to the board on Nov. 9. Trustees did not wish to authorize the plan before administrators release it to the public.

Trustee Maria Haug said shed already heard from parents who didnt want the district to reschedule Christmas or Thanksgiving breaks because theyd already booked flights for family vacations.

Were not going to make everybody happy, she said.
Two Napa County supervisors decided that helping with wildfire recovery trumps going on a previously scheduled, taxpayer-funded trip to Chile for an international wine conference.

Board of Supervisors Chairwoman Belia Ramos and Supervisor Diane Dillon were to be delegates at the Great Wine Capitals meeting from Nov. 5-9 in Valparaiso, Chile. What might be the biggest disaster in Napa County history changed their plans.

Both supervisors said they canceled their trips in the wake of the Atlas, Nuns and Tubbs wildfires that broke out on Oct. 8. Hundreds of homes burned in the Mayacamas Mountains and in the eastern mountains during the subsequent two weeks.

My county needs me here, Ramos said.

Dillon voiced similar sentiments. She said property owners lost structures and have questions about cleaning up debris and rebuilding.

We need to respond to them as quickly as we can, Dillon said.

Napa County for more than a decade has participated in Great Wine Capitals conferences. Recent practice calls for sending two county supervisors and the agricultural commissioner at county expense, with Napa Valley Vintners and Visit Napa Valley paying to send their own representatives.

The Board of Supervisors voted Sept. 12 to send Ramos and Dillon to Valparaiso, Chile for the latest conference at a maximum cost of $17,500. It authorized them to travel out-of-state from Oct. 28 to Nov. 13.
Longtime Golden State Warriors fan and vineyard owner Andy Beckstoffer announced that Beckstoffer Vineyards will match Golden State Warriors superstar Klay Thompsons donation of $1,000 per point he scores to North Bay Fire Relief for a total of three home games.

Our vineyards and our company has been fortunate to have sustained no major damages due to the North Bay wildfires. However, we know that many members of our community and local businesses have been less lucky, Beckstoffer said.
The family of Nadalie companies, including Nadalie USA, Tonnellerie Nadalie, and Tonnellerie Marsannay, and other brands owned by the Nadalie group, have announced that after years of working side-by-side with their parents, the fifth-generation of the Nadalie family are now the owners of the 115-year-old company.

Continuing the legacy established by the generations before them, Christine, Stephane, Guillaume, and Vincent, will own and manage all aspects of the cooperages.

Nadalie USA, founded in 1980, is the first French cooperage in America. Located in Calistoga, the Nadalie USA production facility handcrafts American oak barrels and imports French oak barrels made at the Nadalie cooperages in France.

My siblings and I have been working for the company for many years and have learned a great deal from our parents and other long-serving staff members, said Vincent Nadalie. Honesty, respect for our employees and clients, and the importance of enjoying life, are things we have valued for five generations. We appreciate the legacy we are now overseeing and we look forward to continuing this tradition while adding a new dynamic to the company.

As for their roles in the company, Vincent is now the president of Nadalie USA and will continue to oversee the national sales team. Stephane is the president of the Nadalie Group while Guillaume remains the president of Nadalie Oak Add Ins. Christine remains in the role of vice president of sales for the Nadalie Group, general manager of Marsannay, and will remain the winemaker of her two brands, Beau-Rivage and Clos la Boheme.

The Nadalie family has lived in Medoc, France since the 1930s.
Community Foundation OKs $3 million in fire aid

The Napa Valley Community Foundation announced the distribution of $3 million from its Disaster Relief Fund to help local workers facing serious financial hardships because of the economic slow-down brought about by the recent fires.

Cash aid is now available for low- to moderate-income Napa County workers who need financial assistance as a result of the fires.

Funds will be allocated to help pay for: rent or security deposits, utility and phone bills, auto loans, childcare and health care expenditures.

The Emergency Financial Assistance program is taking applications until Nov. 9. Residents facing financial hardship because of the fires should call to make an appointment at one of the following nonprofit organizations:

Cope Family Center (707-252-1123);

McPherson Neighborhood Family Resource Center (a program of On the Move, 707-251-9432);

Up Valley Family Centers, with offices in Calistoga and St. Helena (707-965-5010, ext. 403).

The fires in our community have created two categories of victims, said NVCF President Terence Mulligan. Those who lost their homes, of which there are roughly 500; and those whove been impacted by the dramatic, short-term decline of our agriculture and hospitality economy, of which there are several thousand.

The Napa Valley Community Disaster Relief Fund is managed by NVCF and was established with a $10 million lead gift from Napa Valley Vintners after the 2014 South Napa Earthquake.
It had been a long day for the St. Helena Fire Department: the Wine Train had hit a tour bus south of town and firefighters from around the area had been called to a fire at an auto salvage yard in American Canyon.

But for the three St. Helena firefighters who spotted an orange glow near Atlas Peak Road, the day was about to get worse than they could have ever imagined.

Adam Waters, Mark Macias and Elliot Bell were the first firefighters on scene at what is now known as the Atlas Fire on the windy night of Sunday, Oct. 8. They would spend the next two days fighting one of the most destructive fires in Napa County history.

Bell said he was able to grab a few brief cat naps over the next few days. Other St. Helena firefighters assigned to the Atlas and Tubbs fires said they werent able to get any sleep at all from the time they woke up Sunday morning until they were released from duty Tuesday night.

It was pretty overwhelming at first, said Bell, who had never been assigned to a fire before. It was threatening structures when we got there  it was about 150 acres already and moving really fast.

He and other members of the St. Helena Fire Department recalled the frantic early days of the fires during last Thursdays community potluck at Lyman Park, held to thank them and other first responders for their service during the October fires.

Atlas fire

High winds and dry conditions made it impossible to fight the fast-moving fire, so Waters, Macias and Bell spent much of Sunday night evacuating people from their homes.

Civilians fled in a line of cars headed down Atlas Peak Road. At one point they started coming back up, telling firefighters that a fallen walnut tree had made the road impassable. The St. Helena crew used chainsaws to cut up the tree, and then Macias used Engine 217 to push clear a parked car that a panicked driver had abandoned in the middle of the road. The fire engine sustained some minor damage, but homeowners once again had a clear escape route.

Some people were afraid to leave their homes. Others were physically unable.

Calls keep coming in every minute at least, of possible entrapments on Soda Canyon Road and Atlas Peak Road, Macias said. Were trying to figure out where theyre at and whether theyre old calls.

The constant radio traffic made it difficult to communicate and gave an idea of how widespread and fast-moving the fires were.

These were the first, sixth, 10th and 16th most destructive fires (in California history), all started within the same hour, said firefighter Johnnie White.

Once the area was clear of civilians, Engine 217 switched to structure protection. Fallen trees and heavy smoke made even driving from house to house a struggle.

At one point the fire was on both sides of the road and the lead engine stopped because they couldnt see anything, Macias said. It was too much for us too, too much smoke, too much fire, it was pushing up against the engine. Smoke was filling up the cab and our eyes were watering. It finally calmed down a little bit and a Cal Fire dozer got in front of us to clear all these trees that kept falling in front of us.

Fire Chief John Sorensen, whod been working the Tubbs fire, said an Alameda County firefighter later approached him to thank the men of Engine 217 for driving through a wall of fire to deliver a portable pump to his crew, allowing them to draw water from a pool after their own water supplies had been exhausted.

Later on Monday Engine 217 was sent east on Monticello Road, near Kenzo Estate, where they spent the next 24 hours protecting more structures from the Atlas Fire.

Tubbs fire

As the Atlas Fire spread, other St. Helena firefighters were fighting what was to become an even worse fire, by far the most destructive in California history in terms of structures burned: the Tubbs fire.

As soon as Johnnie White, Martin Macias and JP Havens arrived at the intersection of Highway 128 and Bennett Lane, dispatch said people were reporting being trapped. Calistogas Engine 419, which at the time was the only other unit on the scene, used its bumper to push open an electric gate. The Calistoga crew then moved on to evacuate other people as a few cars escaped past the open gate and St. Helenas Brush 17 rescued the people in the small neighborhood behind the gate.

As the crew of Brush 17 continued down the road toward a few other houses, all you could see was fire, said White.

The wind was blowing like nothing I had ever seen before, he said. We were just focused on getting people out.

They knocked down two more gates, rescued two more people whod been stranded in a car, and made their first effort at structure protection before heading back to Highway 128 and rendezvousing with the Cal Fire incident commander.

By this time St. Helena Engine 317  manned by Scott Dale, Nick Solakian and Ryan Smithers  had arrived from the salvage yard fire in American Canyon, having dropped off Smithers in St. Helena to pick up Water Tender 20.

Cal Fire assigned St. Helenas Brush 17 and Engine 317, Angwins Engine 18, and three bulldozers to cut a containment line from Highway 128 to Franz Valley School Road in order to protect the city of Calistoga.

Firefighters laid almost a half-mile of hose up a steep hill. During the ensuing firefight, hoses were burned by encroaching flames and burst from the extreme water pressure required to push water uphill for 2,500 feet.

We realized we were in a bad spot and werent going to be able to do anything, White said.

The fire prevented them from going back down the hill the same way theyd come up, so they and the bulldozer operators hiked cross-country down to Highway 128, where they learned that reinforcements stationed at a higher elevation had been able to continue their work on the containment line, without the disadvantage of having to pump water uphill.

Meanwhile, a battalion chief on Calistoga Road kept radioing for help, but most units were already trying to save neighborhoods and businesses in northern Santa Rosa. When St. Helena firefighters arrived, the grateful battalion chief said hed buy them all a beer if they could keep the fire on the north side of Calistoga Road.

Over the next few hours, the fire jumped the road four times, but they were able to put it out each time and prevent it from spreading to Spring Mountain. (White said hes still looking forward to that beer.)

Crews spent the rest of Monday and Tuesday setting backfires, protecting house after house along Petrified Forest Road, and defending the Petrified Forest Visitors Center.

We saved anything we could, anything with good defensible space, Dale said. The people whod put the time in to protect their own homes, those were the homes we could defend the most.

Whenever they got a chance to listen to the radio, they were shocked to hear the fire had moved from Calistoga to Santa Rosa in barely three hours.

We heard about it jumping 101 and were like What? Were in Calistoga. Must be a different fire, said Dale.

St. Helena firefighters at the Tubbs fire also rescued an Uber driver whod gotten stranded and said hed just wanted to see the fires, according to Sorensen.

Back at base

Firefighting isnt just about fighting fires. Administrative Assistant Alec Vidler was assigned to stay at the firehouse with the two units being held in reserve to handle emergency calls in St. Helena.

Just hours after Vidler had been celebrating his anniversary with his wife at a restaurant, he and the firefighters who remained in St. Helena were spending Sunday night and Monday dealing with medical aids, false fire alarms, and reports of smoke.

I was doing that while other guys were out fighting the fires on the front lines, doing their hero stuff, he said. I was more in the background making sure everything was running OK. It was a real group effort.
St. Helena school officials are looking for ways to compensate for two weeks of classes that were canceled during the October fires.

The St. Helena Unified School District canceled 10 school days between Oct. 9 and Oct. 20 due to the fires and poor air quality. The school year was already two days longer than required by state law, and the district has applied for a waiver from the state for the other eight days. District officials expect the waiver to be granted under the extraordinary circumstances.

However, in the interests of student achievement, administrators, district staff, parents and boardmembers are considering ways to squeeze a few days into the remaining 2017-2018 school year.

Trustees batted around various options at Mondays board meeting and told administrators to work with staff on a schedule that would make up at least some of the lost time by shortening the three-week Christmas vacation  which some parents say is too long anyway  and converting minimum days and staff-only vertical articulation days into full school days.

The board did not support extending the school year for another week or two or extending each school day by a few minutes.

Trustees want the schedule to make up the lost time as soon as possible to minimize disruptions late in the school year. The district is already looking at delaying next Mays Advanced Placement (AP) tests and the annual standardized tests for grades 2-8 and 11.

Delaying AP tests would require students to take an alternate test. Some AP students and their parents were worried that the alternate test would be more difficult, but St. Helena High School Principal Ben Scinto and Director of Curriculum and Instruction Mary Allen assured the board that the alternate test is not designed to be more difficult, only different.

Superintendent Marylou Wilson said the district will announce a new schedule on Friday and report to the board on Nov. 9. Trustees did not wish to authorize the plan before administrators release it to the public.

Trustee Maria Haug said shed already heard from parents who didnt want the district to reschedule Christmas or Thanksgiving breaks because theyd already booked flights for family vacations.

Were not going to make everybody happy, she said.
This story begins for me in late 2015, when renowned vintner and environmentalist Volker Eisele said to me, Mike, nearly 50 years ago we protected the valley from development when we established the Ag Preserve, now we need to protect our Ag Watershed.

Unfortunately, Volker passed away a few months later. So in 2016, environmentalists worked on an initiative designed to enhance protections for hillside streams and our beautiful oak woodlands.

An all-volunteer force of citizens collected over 6,300 signatures from voters interested in ensuring water quality and quantity for the future of our children. After all the signatures had been collected and certified, we were told by county counsel that there was a technical flaw in a reference with the measure. Eventually the California Supreme Court ruled in a split decision that kept it off the November 2016 ballot.

In early 2017, I received a call from a staff member at the Napa Valley Vintners (NVV), asking for a dialogue with members of their board, staff and interested parties from the Wine Growers of Napa County and Napa Valley Grapegrowers. That meeting was cordial, but I honestly thought that was the end of it.

Less than a week later, the NVV called to revisit the dialogue, but with fewer participants. They explained that their board and staff recommended a collaborative effort because they were aware that the communitys interest in strengthening protections for our water resources and oak woodlands would win at the polls. With a core principle to protect and enhance the Napa Valley for future generations, they wanted to work with towards a common goal.

Over the course of six months, Jim Wilson and I met with Michael Honig, chairman of the NVV board, Russ Weiss, former chairman and chair of the Community and Industry Issue Committee, and Rex Stults, who represented the NVV staff.

We began with an ideal to reach the high-middle ground which would require trust, compromise and good faith. On several occasions along the process, our collaborative committee presented progress reports to the board of the NVV. Halfway through the project, a unanimous vote was given by their board to continue. This culminated just days before Sept. 1, with the full document presented to the board, who once again voted unanimously to send The Napa County Watershed and Oak Woodland Protection Initiative to the county for inclusion on the June 2018 ballot.

At the same time, we presented the facts of the initiative to all the Napa County Board of Supervisors who welcomed this collaborative effort with enthusiastic support and gratitude.

Not long after, dissent from inside and outside the NVV began to emerge. Many were opposed to this effort on the grounds of process (they werent involved, so therefore they cant support it), while some disagreed with the need for any enhanced protections for our watershed.

This powerful force disrupted the NVVs unanimous support. Realizing that the NVVs solidarity of support was being diminished, we worked for the next three weeks entertaining changes that were deemed necessary to again garner full support.

However, due to the rapidly evolving deadlines, we filed the old abridged 2016 initiative while we continued negotiations just in case no collaborative document was to emerge. But a better collaborative document did emerge, yet these changes did not satisfy the board and they suspended their commitment to the effort.

The NVVs reversal for whatever reason is beyond our own doing, they now want additional negotiations, moving the goal posts and running out the clock. Therefore, last week we refiled the collaborative initiative with a number of changes requested by the wine industry. We now need 3,800 valid signatures from our voters in the county who believe in saving our oaks and water resources; who see the need to honor and defend our precious natural heritage, not just for the good of the community today, but for all future generations.

Some industry members have lost sight of the fact that its about the community uniting around solutions for the critical environmental problems we face; the solutions that science and justice demand.

While on a national level were witnessing an unprecedented assault on our environment, here at home we need the wine industry to show enlightened thinking with respect to their core principles. The NVV board recently took that aspirational goal and appeared ready to proactively implement it; we were united in the goal to set an example right here in our renowned wine-growing region for the entire world to imitate. This was a perfectly sane step forward.

Now, like the dramatic establishment of the Ag Preserve, and reaffirmed by voters for our Measures J and P, lets let the voters decide.

Mike Hackett

Angwin
- Bahrain takes opposition leader to court for "spying" and "colluding with Qatar".





- Blames the opposition leader and Qatar for the heated Arab Springs protest of 2011.





- Salman is already serving a nine-year sentence on charges that include attempting to overthrow the regime and inciting sectarian hatred.

The Bahrain government has charged the leader of the country's main opposition party to court after charges of "spying" and colluding with a foreign nation were levelled against him.





The government suspects that the opposition leader colluded with Qatar and claims this was behind the heated protests of 2011.





Bahrain's public prosecutor charged Ali Salman, secretary-general of the al-Wefaq party, and Hassan Sultan, a former member of parliament, of colluding with Qatar to carry out "hostile acts" in Bahrain and damage its "prestige", a statement on the state news agency BNA said on Wednesday.





"The defendants had received financial support from Qatar for carrying out their activities aimed at harming the status and interests of the kingdom," it said.





It also accused the men of transferring confidential information to Qatar and meeting with officials from the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah.





Salman's wife Alya Radhi wrote on Twitter she had spoken with her husband by phone and he denied all charges.





Salman is already serving a nine-year sentence on charges that include attempting to overthrow the regime and inciting sectarian hatred.





"This new case tries to kill two birds with one stone," Sayed Ahmed Alwadaei, the director of advocacy, at the Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy said.





"On the one hand is Sheikh Ali Salman, who the UN has ruled is arbitrarily imprisoned for his political activity as the leader of the opposition, and on the other is Qatar, whose crisis with Bahrain is being used to further punish dissidents.





"These charges are a vindictive low for the Bahraini regime."




- Saudi-led airstrike on hotel in Yemen kills more than 20 people.





- It is still unclear whether the 21 men killed were civilians or Houthi fighters.





- The Saudi-led coalition began in 2015.

An airstrike conducted by the Saudi-led coalition on a hotel in Yemen's northern Saadah province has killed 21 people.





According to eye witnesses, all the victims from the airstrike were men but it is currently unclear whether they were civilians or Houthi fighters. The Saudi government has continued to allege that the Houthi fighters are backed by Iran.





The attack which took place on Wednesday morning destroyed a hotel located near a market in Suhar region.





The Saudi-led coalition began their military intervention in Yemen since March 2015 in support of the government led by President Abdu Rabu Mansour Hadi and against Houthi rebels, who control the capital Sana'a and stretches of Yemen's west.
File photo taken on July 26, 2017 shows protesters against U.S. President Donald Trump during a demonstration in front of the U.S. Army career center in Times Square, New York. (Xinhua/AFP)

WASHINGTON, Oct. 30 (Xinhua) -- A federal judge on Monday blocked the transgender military ban proposed by the U.S. government, saying the policy was not backed by facts.

U.S. district judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly in Washington D.C. said in the ruling that "there is absolutely no support for the claim that the ongoing service of transgender people would have any negative effect on the military at all."

The ruling targeted a recent policy by the U.S. government that transgender people would not be eligible to enter the military starting March next year, on the grounds that transgender soldiers are "costly" and would cause "disruption."

The ban was cheered by conservatives but enraged liberals as well as the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community, who said the discriminative policy was unconstitutional.

"This is a complete victory for our plaintiffs and all transgender service members, who are now once again able to serve on equal terms and without the threat of being charged," said Shannon Minter, who represented transgender service members.

Carl Tobias, a law professor at the University of Richmond, said the Trump administration is likely to take the case up to the Supreme Court, where it hopes the conservative majority bench will reverse the ruling, as in the case of the travel ban.

White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders told a press briefing Monday that the Justice Department is reviewing the ruling.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-01 01:12:21|Editor: Yamei

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Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (R, front) meets with Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 31, 2017. Medvedev is here for an official visit to China and the 22nd China-Russia Prime Ministers' Regular Meeting. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

BEIJING, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev met here on Tuesday, agreeing on closer cooperation and stronger ties.

Medvedev is the first foreign leader to visit China after the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC). "This has shown the closeness and high level of China-Russia ties," Li said.

China is ready to consolidate trust, expand cooperation and exchanges with Russia, to bring cooperation visions into reality through Prime Ministers' Rugular Meeting as well as other cooperation mechanisms, Li said.

Under the new circumstances, China will further deepen reform and opening-up, nurture new driving forces, and share development opportunities with countries around the world, said the Chinese premier.

Li also briefed Medvedev on the 19th CPC National Congress.

Medvedev congratulated on the success of the congress. Hailing Russia-China comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination as "high-level" and "future-oriented", he said Russia expects joint efforts with China for greater progress of cooperation.

Medvedev is on an official China visit from Tuesday to Thursday. Li and Medvedev will hold the 22nd China-Russia Prime Ministers' Regular Meeting on Wednesday.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-01 02:32:47|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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LISBON, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- Purchases made in Portugal using foreign bank cards reached record levels this summer, the Bank of Portugal revealed on Tuesday.

In the months of July, August and September, 23.5 million transactions were processed using non-Portuguese bank cards, accounting for 1.586 billion euros in spending.

Tourists splashed out 662 million euros in August alone, a record high. Tourism has grown at a tremendous rate in Portugal in recent years.

The July to September period is the peak season for foreign tourists visiting Portugal.

The French and the British were this summer's biggest spendthrifts. Bank cards issued in France accounted for 6.4 million transactions and 339 million euros. British visitors used their cards less but spent more, getting through 348 million euros from 3.4 million transactions.

Spanish, German, Dutch and American visitors were the next biggest consumers.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-01 02:37:50|Editor: huaxia

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STOCKHOLM, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- Several people were injured when two city buses collided at a central square in Helsingborg in southern Sweden on Tuesday afternoon.

A car was also involved in the accident. Several people were lightly injured and one person was brought to hospital, police told Swedish Television.

The accident took place at around 4 p.m. on Tuesday afternoon. Soon after, several ambulances arrived to the spot on the Gustav Adolf square. Police cordoned off the area and traffic was temporarily rerouted, Swedish Television reported. Enditem
Workers work at a steelfactory at the country's largest Hlaing Tharyar industrial zone in Yangon, Myanmar, Nov. 6, 2012. (Xinhua/U Aung)

MOSCOW, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- Russian mining giant Norilsk Nickel said on Tuesday that it has begun commissioning its joint-venture processing plant with a Chinese partner in Bystrinsky, a district near Russia's fareastern border with China.

Highland Fund, a consortium of Chinese investment funds and corporations, has a 13.3-percent stake in the project.

The plant will process ore from the Bystrinsky gold-iron-copper deposit, one of the 10 largest copper deposits in the world, to produce copper, gold and magnetite concentrates.

Full-scale operation is expected to start by mid-2018, a Norilsk statement said. Design capacity will be reached by the end of 2019.

The total ore reserves of some 343 million tons will ensure the plant's utilization for more than 30 years, the statement said.

The construction of the Bystrinsky plant has become the largest greenfield project in the Russian metals and mining sector. It is expected to become a major employer in the Trans-Baikal Territory and generate over 3,000 jobs.

With its annual design capacity of 10 million tons of ore, Bystrinsky is expected to become Norilsk's third major production asset.

Norilsk said it expects to supply the products to Chinese markets.

Norilsk Nickel, a leading producer of refined nickel and platinum group metal palladium, also produces copper, platinum and other non-ferrous metals.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-01 03:38:08|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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LOS ANGELES, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- A young Chinese student was killed in a carjacking incident near the University of Utah's campus in the western U.S. state of Utah, while the suspect has not been located 14 hours after the fatal shooting.

The victim of Monday night's shooting was identified as Chenwei Guo, a 23-year-old Chinese student who has been studying in the university for only one year, Shaw Wood, a Communications Specialist with the university, told Xinhua by phone on Tuesday.

Guo was parked near the gate of campus in Red Butte Canyon when a gunman fatally shot him while attempting to hijack his vehicle, Wood said.

In a statement released Tuesday morning, David W. Pershing, President of the university said, Guo "was killed in a senseless, random act of violence."

"We have been in contact with Chenwei's family in China and they are understandably devastated by the loss of their son. We are working to bring them to Utah as soon as possible and will offer them all the assistance we can," Pershing said.

Guo, was a pre-computer science major and worked as a peer advisor in the University's International Student and Scholar Services Office, according to the statement.

"The university has cancelled classes today in respect of Chenwei Guo," Wood said. "The whole campus feel very sad for the incident."

At a press conference held Tuesday morning, University of Utah Police Chief Dale Brophy disclosed that Guo was shot by a white man about 9:00 p.m. Monday night.

Before the incident, a woman came to the campus and reported that her husband Austin Boutain assaulted her while they were camping in Red Butte Canyon, Brophy said.

Police named the suspect as Boutain, 24.

Local and federal law enforcement hunted Boutain all night, found his camp and rifle, but has not located him, officer of the Salt Lack City Police Department said at the press conference, adding that he has criminal history and was being investigated by police of Colorado state for a homicide case.

Boutain was described as a white male with a tear drop tattoo on his face, as well as tattoos on his neck and an arm. He was last seen wearing black clothing and a beanie-style cap.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-01 03:53:14|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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CAPE TOWN, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- South African Members of Parliament (MPs) on Tuesday voiced concern over an increase in the murder rate, saying the society must find ways to deal with it head-on.

The increase in the murder rate is "totally unacceptable," Chairperson of Parliament's Portfolio Committee on Police Francois Beukman said.

"When communities do not feel safe and live in fear, the country's economic development and the people's well-being are affected," Beukman said in response to crime statistics released last week by Police Minister Fikile Mbalula.

South Africa has seen a rise in violent crimes in the 2016/2017 financial year, with murders up 1.8 percent, Mbalula said while presenting crime statistics to the Portfolio Committee on Police.

According to the figures, 19,016 murders were recorded in 2016/2017.

"The solutions to the high murder rate will not be found in our rules of criminal procedure or laws regulating immigration. The recipe to addressing the problem lies in a partnership among all social structures to build a better life for ourselves and cooperation with our neighbours," Beukman said.

To deal with crime and violence, a partnership between police and communities remains central, he added.

The fight against crime and the high murder rate require a re-focus by the South African Police Service (SAPS) on crime prevention, detection and crime intelligence that will contribute to the reduction of the murder rate, Beukman said.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-01 04:38:28|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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LONDON, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- Britain contributed 25 billion U.S. dollars to the European Union last year, but received billions of U.S. dollars back in rebates and grants, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said Tuesday.

ONS statisticians put the financial relationship between Britain and the EU under the microscope, with the cost of membership continuing to be a major talking point as the terms of Brexit are negotiated.

But there is a difference to what Britain says it pays, compared to what the EU insists Britain contributed.

Whatever the total amount sent to Brussels in 2016 it is a fraction of the 1,076 billion U.S. dollars the British government spent on all aspects of public spending, the ONS statistics show.

ONS said it has looked at the numbers using its own data that account for the UK's official transactions with EU institutions, as well as data from the European Commission.

It took the total amounts paid, and then subtracted funds paid back to Britain under various EU rebate schemes.

ONS said a 6.64-billion-U.S.-dollar rebate from Brussels brought the net payment to 18.5 billion U.S. dollars transferred to Brussels was not the end of the story.

The figures show that a further 5.8 billion U.S. dollars came back to the British public sector and private sector in credits in 2016. That took Britain's net contribution to the EU last year to 9.4 billion pounds, or 12.5 billion U.S. dollars -- roughly half of the total gross contribution it made.

ONS said some have argued that there are other payments that should be taken into account. Money from the EU also comes back to the British private sector, for example to fund research in British universities. ONS data does not separately identify direct flows from the EU to the UK private sector.

Using the latest available figures published by the European Commission, Britain's average annual net contribution to Brussels for the years 2012 to 2016 was 8.1 billion pounds, or 10.75 billion U.S. dollars.

ONS says this figure is arguably a more complete picture of the money that flows between Britain and the EU.

Using that figure, ONS say it means Britain's membership of the EU bloc costs it 207 million U.S. dollars every week, or 163 U.S. dollars a year for every man, woman and child in Britain.

And when the sums are added up it accounts for just one percent of the total British government spending.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-01 05:28:54|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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TUNIS, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- Tunisia is to host an International Investment Forum that gathers 1,200 participants from more than 40 countries, highlighting development and social responsibility, official said Tuesday.

The Tunisia Investment Forum (TIF 2017), scheduled on Nov. 9-10, will focus on themes to highlight "the importance of ... Tunisia in the global value chain," said Khalil Laabidi, director general of the Foreign Investment Promotion Agency (FIPA) of Tunisia and the organizer of the event.

TIF 2017 also aims to consolidate the confidence of the investor, encourage and mobilize the foreign investment to promote the private initiative and the public-private partnership.

Extending the success of the last international forum, Tunisia 2010, with 34 billion U.S. dollars investments mobilized in two days, the TIF 2017 "would be able to reflect the beginnings of recovery of our economic model," said Laabidi.

During the first 10 months of the current year, foreign investment registered a growth of 13.6 percent, of which 41.3 percent was injected into manufacturing industries, a main generator sector of new jobs in the country.

"The only concern," regretted Laabidi, "is the regressive performance of the oil sector, where the decline is close to 9.3 percent as this sector alone constitutes 50 percent of our basket."

Jalloul Ayed, the honorary president of the TIF 2017, said this global economic event "will be the opportunity to reflect a rich, varied and attractive Tunisian potential for all local and foreign investors as well as for Tunisian funding partners."

Ayed, also the prime minister of finance in Tunisia after the popular uprising of January 2011, said the event relies on the new Tunisian economic regulation including the Investment Code and the five-year plan 2016-2020.

He also vowed to enhance investment in renewable energy, and industries based essentially on "the Internet of Things," sub-physical systems and cognitive attitudes.

According to him, "Tunisia has all the assets to make this country a logistical and technological hub compared to the entire African continent. A continent that appears more and more in the radar of all investors around the world."
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-01 06:19:09|Editor: Yamei

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Police officers stand guard near the site of an attack in lower Manhattan in New York, the United States, on Oct. 31, 2017. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio called on Tuesday a truck attack near the World Trade Center "an act of terror," in which eight people were killed and a dozen more injured. (Xinhua/Li Muzi)

NEW YORK, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- Eight people were killed and a dozen more injured after a truck plowed into pedestrians near the World Trade Center in New York City, the mayor said on Tuesday.

Based on the information authorities had at the moment, the incident was "a particularly cowardly act of terror aimed at innocent civilians," Mayor Bill de Blasio said at a press conference.

Speaking at the conference alongside with the mayor, New York City Police Commissioner James O' Neil said the suspect was a 29-year-old man who was not from New York. He said authorities would not release his identity immediately.

At 3:05 p.m., a male driving a rented Home Depot pickup truck entered the West Side Highway bicycle path at Houston Street, according to O' Neil. He said the man began driving southbound, striking a number of pedestrians and bicyclists along the route.

At Chambers Street, the truck collided with a school bus, injuring two adults and two children, according to the police.

After the collision, the driver exited the vehicle, holding up a paintball gun and a pellet gun. He was shot by a uniformed police officer and was then sent to a hospital.

The attack occurred hours before an annual Halloween parade was to take place in Lower Manhattan, which would be packed with thousands of people in costumes.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-01 06:19:10|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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DAMASCUS, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- The Syrian army and allied fighters on Tuesday captured three new areas from the Islamic State (IS) in the capital city of the eastern province of Deir al-Zour, state news agency SANA reported.

The army forces captured the neighborhoods of Matar Qadim, Rasafeh, and the roundabout of Ghassan Aboud, said the report, adding that the forces have advanced toward the neighborhood of Khasarat and Suyouf roundabout in the city.

The Syrian army has been advancing in the battles against IS in the city and its southern countryside, while the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) are fighting the terror-designated group in the northern and northeastern countryside.

Activists said the SDF advanced Tuesday near the Khabour river in the northeastern countryside of Deir al-Zour, capturing the towns of Huraijeh al-Shamali, Ja'ar, and al-Fudain and other areas there.

The Syrian Observatory for Hunan Rights, meanwhile, said as many as 124 fighters with IS had been killed over the past week during battles with the Syrian army.

Now, 65 km separate the Syrian army from reaching the city of al-Bukamal, the last major stronghold of IS in the southeastern countryside of Deir al-Zour near the Iraqi border.

Meanwhile, SANA said the Syrian forces found thousands of tons of wheat in areas that have recently been liberated from IS.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-01 06:59:16|Editor: Liangyu

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LONDON, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- British Prime Minister Theresa May on Tuesday said that she is "appalled by this cowardly attack" in New York City (NYC), in which eight people were killed in the truck-involved incident.

"My thoughts are with all affected," she said. "Together we will defeat the evil of terrorism" and the "UK stands with NYC".

A man driving a rental truck struck and killed eight people and injured more than dozens of others on a jogging and bike path Tuesday afternoon. NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio said, "This was an act of terror."

The sprawling crime scene runs about 10 blocks along the West Side Highway, a few blocks away from One World Trade in lower Manhattan, the downtown NYC.

A suspect is in custody and was identified as 29-year-old Sayfullo Saipov of Tampa in the U.S. state of Florida, reports said.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-01 07:09:17|Editor: Liangyu

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Police officers stand guard near the site of an attack in lower Manhattan in New York, the United States, on Oct. 31, 2017. Eight people were killed and a dozen more injured after a truck plowed into pedestrians near the World Trade Center in New York City, the mayor said on Tuesday. (Xinhua/Wang Ying)

NEW YORK, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- Eight people were killed and a dozen more injured after a truck plowed into pedestrians near the World Trade Center in New York City, the mayor said on Tuesday.

Based on the information authorities had at the moment, the incident was "a particularly cowardly act of terror aimed at innocent civilians," Mayor Bill de Blasio said at a press conference.

Speaking at the conference alongside with the mayor, New York City Police Commissioner James O' Neil said the suspect was a 29-year-old man who was not from New York. He said authorities would not release his identity immediately.

At 3:05 p.m., a male driving a rented Home Depot pickup truck entered the West Side Highway bicycle path at Houston Street, according to O' Neil. He said the man began driving southbound, striking a number of pedestrians and bicyclists along the route.

At Chambers Street, the truck collided with a school bus, injuring two adults and two children, according to the police.

After the collision, the driver exited the vehicle, holding up a paintball gun and a pellet gun. He was shot by a uniformed police officer and was then sent to a hospital.

Reports said that the driver shouted "Allahu Akbar," which means "God is great" in Arabic.

O'Neil was asked to confirm whether the driver made such statement at the press conference. He said that the driver "did make a statement when he exited the vehicle" although he declined to elaborate on it.

Video footage shot by an office clerk working in the 52-story 7 World Trade Center building showed that all main streets around the usually bustling financial district had been vacated, with only police vehicles spotted moving or parking in the area.

The female clerk, who asked to be identified only by her surname Jiang, told Xinhua that she and her colleagues were advised by police to stay in the building until further notice.

An eyewitness named John Williams said "When I was walking down the street towards the incident, I saw a group of women and children were running towards me, one of them was saying 'he has a gun, he has a gun.' I turned around and heard the gunshot about 30 seconds later."

"There was a white pickup truck with Home Depot logos. The front of the truck was completely smashed in and there was smoke," he added.

The attack occurred hours before an annual Halloween parade was to take place in lower Manhattan, which would be packed with thousands of people in costumes.

Authorities said more police officers and resources were invested in iconic places in the city.

Also at the press conference, New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo, who just hours ago wished New Yorkers a safe and happy Halloween, said there was no evidence of ongoing threat after the truck attack.

U.S. President Donald Trump tweeted that, "In NYC, looks like another attack by a very sick and deranged person. Law enforcement is following this closely. NOT IN THE U.S.A.!"

According to preliminary information gathered by Consulate General of China in New York, there were no reports of Chinese nationals killed or injured in the terror attack.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-01 07:14:19|Editor: Mengjie

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LOS ANGELES, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- A 24-year-old American man accused of killing a Chinese student near the University of Utah in the western U.S. state of Utah was arrested on Tuesday, police confirmed.

"Suspect in #homicide is in custody," the Salt Lake City Police Department tweeted at about 12:45 p.m local time.

"Austin Boutain, suspect in fatal shooting Monday, has been apprehended. He is now in custody," the University of Utah also texted the news to its students.

Boutain, a white male with a tear drop tattoo on his face as well as tattoos on his neck and an arm, was identified as the suspect in the killing of a 23-year-old Chinese student on Monday night in a failed carjacking attempt near the University of Utah's Salt Lake City campus.

The victim was ChenWei Guo, who was a pre-computer science major and worked as a peer advisor in the university's International Student and Scholar Services Office, Shaw Wood, a Communications Specialist of the university confirmed to Xinhua.

He "was killed in a senseless, random act of violence," Wood said.

Assisted by a helicopter and snipers, hundreds of local and federal law enforcement hunted Boutain all night on campus and the foothills above the university by walking five meters apart through thick brush, but did not located him.

Police disclosed Tuesday that the suspect, who has a criminal history, and his wife may be connected to a recent suspicious death in the state of Colorado.

The Chinese embassy in Washington paid high attention to the incident and expressed sincerely condolences and sympathy to Guo's relatives, a Chinese embassy official told Xinhua.

The Chinese embassy has made contact with police after the incident, which were urged to have timely investigations of the incident.

The Chinese embassy will closely follow the development of the case, and provide assistance for the relatives while they are in the United States, the official said.
A police officer stands guard near the site of an attack in lower Manhattan in NewYork, the United States, on Oct. 31, 2017. (Xinhua/Wang Ying)

NEW YORK, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- Eight people were killed and a dozen more injured after a truck plowed into pedestrians near the World Trade Center in New York City, the mayor said on Tuesday.

Based on the information authorities had at the moment, the incident was "a particularly cowardly act of terror aimed at innocent civilians," Mayor Bill de Blasio said at a press conference.

Speaking at the conference alongside with the mayor, New York City Police Commissioner James O' Neil said the suspect was a 29-year-old man who was not from New York. He said authorities would not release his identity immediately.

At 3:05 p.m., a male driving a rented Home Depot pickup truck entered the West Side Highway bicycle path at Houston Street, according to O' Neil. He said the man began driving southbound, striking a number of pedestrians and bicyclists along the route.

At Chambers Street, the truck collided with a school bus, injuring two adults and two children, according to the police.

After the collision, the driver exited the vehicle, holding up a paintball gun and a pellet gun. He was shot by a uniformed police officer and was then sent to a hospital.

Reports said that the driver shouted "Allahu Akbar," which means "God is great" in Arabic.

O'Neil was asked to confirm whether the driver made such statement at the press conference. He said that the driver "did make a statement when he exited the vehicle" although he declined to elaborate on it.

Video footage shot by an office clerk working in the 52-story 7 World Trade Center building showed that all main streets around the usually bustling financial district had been vacated, with only police vehicles spotted moving or parking in the area.

The female clerk, who asked to be identified only by her surname Jiang, told Xinhua that she and her colleagues were advised by police to stay in the building until further notice.

An eyewitness named John Williams said "When I was walking down the street towards the incident, I saw a group of women and children were running towards me, one of them was saying 'he has a gun, he has a gun.' I turned around and heard the gunshot about 30 seconds later."

"There was a white pickup truck with Home Depot logos. The front of the truck was completely smashed in and there was smoke," he added.

The attack occurred hours before an annual Halloween parade was to take place in lower Manhattan, which would be packed with thousands of people in costumes.

Authorities said more police officers and resources were invested in iconic places in the city.

Also at the press conference, New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo, who just hours ago wished New Yorkers a safe and happy Halloween, said there was no evidence of ongoing threat after the truck attack.

U.S. President Donald Trump tweeted that, "In NYC, looks like another attack by a very sick and deranged person. Law enforcement is following this closely. NOT IN THE U.S.A.!"
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-01 09:54:47|Editor: Mengjie

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LOS ANGELES, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- A 24-year-old American man accused of killing a Chinese student near the University of Utah in the western U.S. state of Utah was arrested on Tuesday, police confirmed.

"Suspect in #homicide is in custody," the Salt Lake City Police Department tweeted at about 12:45 p.m. local time (0645 GMT, Wednesday).

"Austin Boutain, suspect in fatal shooting Monday, has been apprehended. He is now in custody," the University of Utah also texted the news to students.

Boutain, a white male with a tear drop tattoo on his face as well as tattoos on his neck and one arm, was identified as the suspect in the killing of a 23-year-old Chinese student on Monday night in a failed carjacking attempt near the University of Utah's Salt Lake City campus.

The victim was Chenwei Guo, who was a pre-computer science major and worked as a peer advisor in the university's International Student and Scholar Services Office, Shaw Wood, a communications specialist of the university confirmed to Xinhua.

He "was killed in a senseless, random act of violence," Wood said.

Assisted by a helicopter and snipers, hundreds of local and federal law enforcement personnel hunted Boutain all night on campus and the foothills above the university, but did not locate him.

Boutain was taken into custody without incident at a public library in the city's downtown, Keith Horrocks, detective of the Salt Lake City Police Department, was quoted as saying by local media reports.

The Chinese embassy in Washington paid high attention to the incident and expressed sincere condolences and sympathy to Guo's relatives, a Chinese embassy official told Xinhua.

The Chinese embassy has made contact with the police after the incident, urging timely investigations of the incident.

The Chinese embassy will closely follow the development of the case, and provide assistance for the relatives during their stay in the United States, the official said.

Police disclosed Tuesday that the suspect, who has a criminal history, and his 23-year-old wife Kathleen Boutain may also be related to a homicide committed last week in Golden, Colorado, said the police.

Reports said a 63-year-old man's body was found Tuesday in a trailer in Golden. And police believe Boutain had been driving the man's pickup truck which is still missing.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-01 10:09:55|Editor: Liangyu

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Police officers stand guard near the site of an attack in lower Manhattan in New York, the United States, on Oct. 31, 2017. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio called on Tuesday a truck attack near the World Trade Center "an act of terror," in which eight people were killed and a dozen more injured. (Xinhua/Li Muzi)

NEW YORK, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- Eight people were killed and a dozen more injured after a truck plowed into pedestrians near the World Trade Center in New York City, the mayor said on Tuesday.

Based on the information authorities had at the moment, the incident was "a particularly cowardly act of terror aimed at innocent civilians," Mayor Bill de Blasio said at a press conference.

Speaking at the conference alongside with the mayor, New York City Police Commissioner James O' Neil said the suspect was a 29-year-old man who was not from New York.

At 3:05 p.m., a male driving a rented Home Depot pickup truck entered the West Side Highway bicycle path at Houston Street, according to O' Neil. He said the man began driving southbound, striking a number of pedestrians and bicyclists along the route.

At Chambers Street, the truck collided with a school bus, injuring two adults and two children, according to the police.

After the collision, the driver exited the vehicle, holding up a paintball gun and a pellet gun. He was shot in the stomach by a police officer but survived and arrested. He was then sent to a hospital.

Reports said that the driver shouted "Allahu Akbar," which means "God is great" in Arabic.

O'Neil was asked to confirm whether the driver made such statement at the press conference. He said that the driver "did make a statement when he exited the vehicle" although he declined to elaborate on it.

Local media reported that law enforcement officials who spoke on condition of anonymity identified the driver as Sayfullo Habibullaevic Saipov.

He has a Florida driver's license and may have lived in the city of Tampa. He rented the vehicle in New Jersey, said media.

Reports said the man might come to the United States in 2010 from Uzbekistan.

Local media said that Saipov left a note in the truck claiming he committed the attack on behalf of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.

The police declined to confirm the above information and gave no further details on his background as the investigation is underway to find out his motive for the attack.

Video footage shot by an office clerk working in the 52-story 7 World Trade Center building showed that all main streets around the usually bustling financial district had been vacated, with only police vehicles spotted moving or parking in the area.

The female clerk, who asked to be identified only by her surname Jiang, told Xinhua that she and her colleagues were advised by police to stay in the building until further notice.

An eyewitness named John Williams said "When I was walking down the street towards the incident, I saw a group of women and children were running towards me, one of them was saying 'he has a gun, he has a gun.' I turned around and heard the gunshot about 30 seconds later."

"There was a white pickup truck with Home Depot logos. The front of the truck was completely smashed in and there was smoke," he added.

The attack occurred hours before an annual Halloween parade was to take place in lower Manhattan, which would be packed with thousands of people in costumes and masks.

Authorities said more police officers and resources were invested in iconic places in the city as a precaution, particularly along the route of the Halloween Parade.

Also at the press conference, New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo, who just hours ago wished New Yorkers a safe and happy Halloween, called the incident a "lone wolf" attack.

The governor said there was no evidence to suggest it was part of a wider plot.

U.S. President Donald Trump tweeted that, "In NYC, looks like another attack by a very sick and deranged person. Law enforcement is following this closely. NOT IN THE U.S.A.!"

According to preliminary information gathered by the Consulate General of China in New York, there were no reports of Chinese nationals killed or injured in the terror attack.

The incident is the deadliest terror attack that has hit the U.S. city with a population of over 8.5 million since the infamous 9/11 attacks in 2001.

On May 18 this year, one person was killed and 22 others were injured when a car plowed into pedestrians in Times Square, New York City. Though the incident highly resembled the one happening on Tuesday, authorities said there was no indication that it was an act of terrorism.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-01 10:25:00|Editor: Liangyu

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HAVANA, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- The Cuban government presented on Tuesday the fourth edition of its investment portfolio with 156 new projects out of a total of 456, to seek participation of foreign investors.

After unveiling the portfolio at the 35th International Havana Trade Fair (FIHAV), Rodrigo Malmierca, minister of foreign trade and investment, explained the 156 new proposals could attract over 3 billion U.S. dollars out of a total of 10.7 billion dollars proposed in the portfolio.

Malmierca said that the offer is now "more integral, with greater diversity, and according to the policies defined by the nation."

The investment opportunities are allocated throughout the country, including 50 of them at the Special Development Zone at the mega port of Mariel, but tourism remains the sector with the most opportunities within the portfolio.

Malmierca pointed to the inclusion of cultural activities, which aims to increase the export of national cultural products.

He said the content of the 2017-2018 portfolio corresponds to state plans for the development of the national economy until 2030.

FIHAV is considered the most important business congregation in Cuba, attended by about 3,400 representatives from companies in over 70 countries.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-01 10:30:02|Editor: Liangyu

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SEOUL, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's exports managed to rise in October though the traditional Chuseok holiday reduced business days, a government report showed Wednesday.

Exports, which account for about half of the economy, reached 44.98 billion U.S. dollars in October, up 7.1 percent from a year earlier, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.

The country's exports ended a double-digit growth for the past nine months through September, but the overseas shipments continued to rise for 12 months in a row.

The Chuseok holiday, the South Korean version of Thanksgiving Day, shrank last month's working days by 4.5 days, but the exports kept rising thanks to strong demand for major items such as semiconductors and petrochemicals.

The daily exports averaged 2.5 billion dollars in October, up 33.9 percent from a year ago.

Imports gained 7.4 percent over the year to 37.65 billion dollars in October, sending the trade surplus to 7.33 billion dollars. The trade balance stayed in the black for the 69th consecutive month.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-01 11:05:10|Editor: Liangyu

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RIO DE JANEIRO, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- Brazil joined the International Energy Agency (IEA) as an association country on Tuesday, a move that will further drives the country to develop clean energy.

Brazilian Minister of Mines and Energy Fernando Coelho Filho and IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol signed a three-year working program that details cooperation between the two sides at a ceremony held in the capital of Brasilia.

"We are taking another important step to place Brazil at the center of global debate on key energy policy issues, including renewable energy, energy efficiency, rational use of fossil fuels, energy security and sustainable development," Coelho said.

The IEA said Brazil's decision to join the agency will open "new avenues for cooperation towards a more secure and sustainable energy future with Latin America's largest country."

Brazil relies on hydroelectric power plants and bioenergy. In addition, the country has significant potential in developing wind and solar power.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-01 11:45:18|Editor: Song Lifang

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NEW DELHI, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- India Wednesday condemned the terrorist attack in New York, the United States that killed eight people and injured 11 others, officials said.

The attack took place in New York City, where an attacker drove a truck onto a bike path, mowing down people.

U.S. officials described the attack as an act of terror.

"Strongly condemn the terror attack in New York City. My thoughts are with the families of the deceased and prayers with those injured," Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote on Twitter.

India President Ram Nath Kovind also condemned the attack.

"Shocked to hear of terrorist attack in New York. Our condolences to bereaved families," Kovind in his message said. "India stands by United States."

Indian foreign ministry officials meanwhile said there were no Indian names amongst the casualties.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-01 12:15:22|Editor: Song Lifang

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HOUSTON, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- Energy cooperation between China and Russia is in line with China's interests, and China will also continue to purchase liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the United States to meet its increasing demand, a Houston-based analyst said Tuesday.

Jonathan Z, COO of the consulting company The Oil World, told Xinhua that Yamal LNG cargoes indicate the intimate relationship between China and Russia, which well matches China's Belt and Road Initiative.

Meanwhile, he believed China would also purchase considerable LNG from the United States for the rest of the year to meet its increasing fuel demand.

Located in Sabetta at the northeast corner of the Yamal Peninsula, Russia, Yamal LNG is a liquefied natural gas plant with near operational capacity in 2017.

The first LNG shipment is scheduled to sail to China as an expression of gratitude for China's big support in building the largest Arctic LNG plant -- the Russian Yamal LNG project. Though the accurate date has not been released, the first recipient of this fuel tanker will be China National Petroleum Corp (CNPC).

Mark Gyetvay, deputy CEO of the Moscow-based Novatek company, the main shareholder of the Yamal LNG project, indicated last week that the first cargo to China marks a milestone of the whole Yamal project.

Novatek is Russia's largest independent natural gas producer, and the seventh largest publicly traded company globally by natural gas production volume.

"CNPC, as our client to receive the first LNG tanker, demonstrates not only the successful cooperation with our Chinese business partners, but also Asian-Pacific region as a vital LNG consuming market," Gyetvay said.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-01 12:30:27|Editor: Song Lifang

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HANGZHOU, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- China's sea water desalination capacity has grown for three straight years, with 158 sets of equipment installed as of the end of 2016.

The daily desalination capacity exceeded 1.38 million cubic meters, according to figures made public at a forum on water pollution control and ecological protection that ended Monday in Hangzhou, capital of east China's Zhejiang Province.

Nearly 70 percent of China's desalinated sea water was for industrial use as of the end of last year.

In northern China's Liaoning, Hebei and Tianjin regions, desalinated water mainly supplies the hydropower, steel and chemical industries. In southern China's Zhejiang and Guangdong regions, the water is used for human use in coastal areas and islands.

China is one of only a few countries with the overall capacity to desalinate sea water, said Yang Shangbao with the National Development and Reform Commission.

A work plan for the country's scientific and technological development from 2006 to 2020 considers research on low-cost technology and materials for sea water desalination a key task.

Zheng Genjiang, a senior engineer with Hangzhou Water Treatment Technology Development Center, suggested the government subsidize and better regulate the industry.

The country's Belt and Road Initiative will help domestic producers tap into the international market, Zheng said.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-01 12:30:29|Editor: Song Lifang

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WASHINGTON, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump said Tuesday that he has ordered to step up an "extreme vetting program", after a terrorist attack in New York city killed eight people.

"I have just ordered Homeland Security to step up our already Extreme Vetting Program. Being politically correct is fine, but not for this!" Trump said in a tweet, without specifying which vetting program he was referring to

He has repeatedly called for tighter border control and visa policies to keep out those deemed dangerous to U.S. national security.

White House Chief of Staff John Kelly described extreme vetting during a media interview on Monday, saying "extreme vetting is, we simply interview people and have to satisfy ourselves that the person we are talking to is indeed the person who they claim."

"If we can't verify, I don't think we should let them into the country," Kelly said.

The Trump administration has rolled out multiple travel bans against Muslim-majority countries and in one case against the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and Venezuela, but faced strong backlash within the country, as activists claim such bans are discriminative measures targeting a specific religion.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-01 12:50:34|Editor: Song Lifang

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WASHINGTON, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson met Russian Ambassador to Washington Anatoly Antonov here on Tuesday, seeking solutions to Ukraine and Syria conflicts.

During their talk, Tillerson and Antonov exchanged views on the need to restore Ukraine's territorial integrity and fully implement the Minsk peace agreements, U.S. State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said in a statement.

The two also talked about battles against the Islamic State group in Syria and the United States' continued commitment to the Geneva talks as the best path toward a political solution to the six-year long conflict, according to the statement.

The Minsk agreements, reached in September 2014 and February 2015 respectively, envisaged a series of security and political steps designed to peacefully end the conflict.

The agreements include a cease-fire, a withdrawal of heavy weaponry from the contact line, a prisoner exchange and local elections in Donbas in eastern Ukraine, among other measures.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-01 13:00:36|Editor: Liangyu

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KUNDUZ, Afghanistan, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Air raids against Taliban militants in Chardara district of Afghanistan's northern Kunduz province left four insurgents dead on the spot and injured a few others on Wednesday, an army spokesman in the province, Ghulam Hazrat Karimi, said.

"Acting upon intelligence report, the security forces conducted airstrikes against Taliban hideout in Nawabad area of Chardara district today morning, killing four rebels on the spot and injuring a few others," Karimi told Xinhua.

Taliban militants who are in control of parts of Chardara district and adjoining areas have yet to make comments on the report.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-01 13:30:41|Editor: Mengjie

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HONG KONG, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- The government of China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) vowed on Wednesday to further improve its business environment, after a World Bank annual report re-affirmed Hong Kong's position as one of the world's easiest places to do business.

"In the past 10 years, Hong Kong has maintained its position among the world's top ranking economies in the Doing Business Report, re-affirming our incessant efforts in business facilitation," a HKSAR government spokesman said.

In the World Bank's Doing Business 2018 Report released on Tuesday, Hong Kong ranked the fifth and was commended for its successful implementation of reform measures to make doing business easier, including improving the quality of the land administration system by enhancing its reliability and establishing a complaints mechanism.

"The government would strive to cut red tape, eliminate outdated or unnecessary regulations on business, enhance regulatory efficiency and reduce business compliance costs, with a view to further improving the ease of doing business in Hong Kong," the spokesman added.

The report compares the ease of doing business in 190 economies across 10 indicators. Hong Kong performs well in four indicators, namely "starting a business" (third), "paying taxes" (third), "getting electricity" (fourth) and "dealing with construction permits" (fifth).

Hong Kong's ranking slipped one place to the fifth this year as compared with last year, mainly due to the lower score in the framework of "resolving insolvency" for the corporate sector.

The spokesman said the HKSAR government will "strive to ensure that the corporate insolvency regime keeps up with international standards and development trends" and will "review related policy, legislation and practice from time to time for more effective processing of winding-up cases and better protection of creditors."

The HKSAR government is also preparing a bill for the introduction of a statutory corporate rescue procedure which will help strengthen the relevant regime, according to him.

The government will study the report thoroughly to identify scope for further improving the business environment in Hong Kong, he said, adding that it will also continue to work closely with the business sectors and other stakeholders with a view to reforming the existing regulatory regimes to ensure that regulation is appropriate.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-01 13:45:46|Editor: Liangyu

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NAIROBI, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta was formally declared winner of the country's repeat presidential election on Monday, however, the opposition still dismissed the result.

The international community has called on political leaders to promote national healing after the divisive electioneering season.

Independent Electoral and Boundary Commission (IEBC) Chairman Wafula Chebukati announced that Kenyatta garnered 7.48 million, or 98.26 percent, of the total votes cast, with his National Super Alliance (NASA) rival, Raila Odinga, only managing 73,228 votes, or about 1 percent.

Kenyans went to the polls on Oct. 26 after the Supreme Court nullified the Aug. 8 presidential polls, citing irregularities.

Odinga had withdrawn from the fresh race 16 days to the election, saying the election body, the IEBC, failed to initiate reforms or fire its staffers who he accused of bungling the Aug. 8 polls.

Odinga called the new election a "meaningless exercise" and said the opposition plans to pursue "economic boycotts, peaceful procession, picketing and other legitimate forms of protest."

Odinga dismissed the 38.82-percent voter turnout reported by the IEBC, alleging that no more than 3.5 million Kenyans came out to vote in the repeat exercise.

The opposition leader also announced the establishment of the People's Assembly, which he said is the vehicle through which the coalition will exercise the duty of restoring democracy, constitutionalism and the rule of law.

After the result being announced, Kenyatta has promised to abide by the constitution if his victory in the re-run is challenged in court.

Kenyatta said despite the fact that his major competitor went to court demanding the presidential election be nullified and was granted that annulment, Odinga chose to ignore the rest of the ruling which ordered a fresh election in 60 days conducted by the IEBC.

"Thereafter he chose to abandon the fresh poll. You cannot choose the opportunity to exercise a right and abscond from the consequences of that choice," Kenyatta said.

The European Union (EU) observer mission on Tuesday called on Kenya's leaders to enter into political dialogue to resolve the impasse following the repeat election.

EU Chief Observer Marietje Schaake said actions by rival sides have put Kenya in an extremely difficult position.

The African Union Election Observer Mission on Tuesday said the repeat polls adhered to Kenya's electoral laws and the constitution save for sporadic riots in opposition strongholds and bad weather that marred the exercise in remote parts of the country.

The Intergovernmental Authority on Development's Election Observer Mission (IGAD EOM) on Tuesday commended Kenya for conducting a transparent repeat presidential polls and urged political leaders to promote national healing after the divisive electioneering season.

China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said Tuesday that China hopes relevant parties in Kenya will properly address differences and ensure national peace and stability after the repeat presidential election.

"As a good friend, partner and brother of Kenya, China fully respects the choice made by the Kenyans," Hua told a regular press briefing.

On Monday, U.S. Ambassador to Kenya Robert Godec called for an all-inclusive dialogue to help resolve deep political crisis in Kenya, and said "we are deeply concerned by reports of excessive use of force by the police."

At least six people have lost their lives in electoral offenses across the country in the past week following clashes between the police and the youth in opposition areas who attempted to prevent polls opening by blockading polling stations or intimidating voters.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-01 14:30:57|Editor: Song Lifang

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by Xinhua writer Lu Rui

SEOUL, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- As China and South Korea decided on Tuesday to bring bilateral relations back on the normal track, both countries are faced with a chance to restore their ties strained over the installation of a U.S. missile shield system and work for a better future.

The detente came amid a standoff between China and South Korea that had lasted more than a year since Washington and Seoul announced their decision to deploy the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system in South Korea in July 2016.

However, China and South Korea, the two key players in Southeast Asia, could have built more synergy in handling thorny issues confronting the region and the world and in building common peace and prosperity.

China attaches importance to its relations with South Korea and their booming ties over the past few years have brought tangible benefits to the two peoples.

Since the establishment of their diplomatic relations 25 years ago, the two neighbors have witnessed rapid advancement in bilateral cooperation, especially in the field of economy and trade.

The number of Chinese tourists visiting South Korea hit a record high in early 2016 and people-to-people exchanges continued to flourish, getting the two peoples to better understand each other.

Although some analysts remain prudent about whether the frosty ties between China and South Korea would thaw straight away, both governments have showed strong political resolve to properly handle the THAAD issue and further develop strategic partnership.

South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-hwa told lawmakers on Monday that there has been no change in Seoul's stance that it will not participate in the U.S.-led missile defense system, adding that South Korea is making efforts to build its own system -- the Korean Air and Missile Defense (KAMD).

Kang stressed that Seoul would not seek additional THAAD deployment and that security cooperation between South Korea, the United States and Japan would not develop into a trilateral military alliance.

Nam Gwan-pyo, a security official from the Blue House, also confirmed Tuesday that South Korean President Moon Jae-in would meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the upcoming meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) economies in Vietnam.

"This summit can be seen as the first step to implement the agreement aimed to swiftly put bilateral ties back on the right track," Nam noted.

Indeed, as long as China and South Korea respect and give full consideration to each other's concerns and interests, the two big economies in Asia would have huge potential to jointly cope with a wider variety of global issues.

What's past is past, but it is where one could learn a lesson. Now it's high time for the two Asian neighbors to honor their agreement, prevent the recurrence of similar scenarios and keep bilateral ties on track.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-01 14:41:00|Editor: Liangyu

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SEOUL, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's exports managed to keep its rising momentum for 12 straight months to October though the traditional Chuseok holiday reduced business days, a government report showed Wednesday.

Exports, which account for about half of the economy, grew 7.1 percent from a year earlier to 44.98 billion U.S. dollars in October, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.

The economy ended a double-digit exports expansion for the past nine years through September, but the overseas shipments continued to rise for the 12th consecutive month.

The Chuseok holiday, the South Korean version of Thanksgiving Day, shrank last month's working days by 4.5 days compared with a year earlier, but the exports maintained a growth trend thanks to higher export prices.

Exports volume declined 9.1 percent in the cited period, but export price advanced 17.8 percent.

The daily exports averaged 2.5 billion dollars in October, up 33.9 percent from a year earlier. It kept increasing for the 11th straight month.

Imports gained 7.4 percent over the year to 37.65 billion dollars in October, sending the trade surplus to 7.33 billion dollars. The trade balance stayed in the black for 69 months in a row.

Global demand was strong for major export items such as locally-made semiconductors and ships.

Semiconductor exports surged 69.6 percent in October from a year earlier, maintaining an upward momentum for 13 straight months amid stable memory chip prices and solid demand for chips used in new smartphones.

Display panel shipments rose for 12 months in a row thanks to demand for OLED panels used for mobile phones that offset weaker demand for LCD panels. Computer shipments continued to grow for the seventh straight month.

Steel exports kept rising for seven months on demand for high value-added products and higher global steel prices.

Petrochemical shipments climbed for 13 months amid higher crude oil prices, and oil product exports increased for 12 months in a row.

Ship exports surged 36 percent on orders won by local shipbuilders to build high value-added ships.

However, outbound shipments of general machinery shed on less working days, while those for cars and auto parts declined on soft demand from North American countries.

Exports of telecommunication devices, such as smartphones, kept a double-digit reduction on increased production in overseas factories and fiercer competition.

Shipments of home appliances and textile products also lost ground on reduced working days.

By region, exports to China, South Korea's biggest trading partner, rose by a double digit for three straight months due mainly to demand for semiconductors.

Shipments to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations kept growing for 13 months on demand for chips and display panels, purchased by local companies operating factories there.

Those to Vietnam jumped 33.8 percent on demand for display panels, chips and oil products, with shipments to the European Union (EU) gaining on demand for cars and petrochemicals.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-01 14:46:02|Editor: Song Lifang

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WASHINGTON, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- With more contacts with and better understanding of each other, the United States and China are both better off, Harvard professor Joseph Nye said in a recent interview with Xinhua.

"I think the more that the Chinese and Americans have contact with each other and understand each other, the less likely they are to have worst case analysis of the other," said the U.S. scholar known for coining of the term "soft power."

While it would go against human nature for the two sides to see eye to eye with each other on everything, Nye cautioned that people also "exaggerate the question of other people's intentions" and see others as enemies "when they don't have to be enemies."

"I've often said that with soft power, which is the ability to attract, this can be win-win," Nye told Xinhua. "If China becomes more attractive in the eyes of Americans and America becomes more attractive in the eyes of the Chinese, then we're both better off."

For Nye, the U.S.-China relationship is one of "healthy competition but also cooperation."

"But if the United States and China don't cooperate on issues like financial stability or climate change or terrorism and so forth, we're both going to be worse off," he noted, adding that while cooperation between the two largest economies is a choice, it is "also a necessity if we're going to achieve what we want."

The U.S.-China relationship over the past five years has been, by and large, more positive than negative, Nye added.

"There are some areas where we've had disputes, but there are other areas where we've cooperated and I think that has been win-win," he noted.

For the whole world, it is also a win when a powerful country and a rising power cooperate, said Nye, highlighting U.S.-China cooperation in producing public goods.

"Those (public goods) are good for China and they're good for the United States. But they're also good for other countries," said Nye. "So in terms of producing public goods or a global public goods, that's win-win for everybody."

Early this year, Beijing rolled out the red carpet with thousands for delegates, including more than two dozen heads of state and government, attending the inaugural Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation.

The Belt and Road Initiative, proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2013 to chart out new territories for international cooperation, can be a global public good builder if China uses its finances to create infrastructure which everybody can benefit, said Nye.

"One Belt One Road should be able to produce global public goods. I think it can be," said Nye. "At this stage, it still has to be worked out in details."

According to the scholar, the United States should cooperate with China on the initiative.

U.S. President Donald Trump is to visit China soon as part of his upcoming tour to Asia, which is expected to further enhance cooperation between the two countries.

"I don't see any reason why the United States can't have cooperation with China on many of the types of projects which will go into One Belt One Road," said Nye.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-01 15:01:07|Editor: Xiang Bo

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BEIJING, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- China has channeled more work into improving the air quality in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei area by replacing dirtier coal use and penalizing polluters in its latest efforts to lower the intensity of smog this winter.

Inspection teams have been dispatched to cities identified as sources of pollution and companies in breach of emission rules, according to the Ministry of Environmental Protection (MEP).

Beijing imposed more than 160 million yuan (nearly 25 million U.S. dollars) in fines on sources of pollution in the first ten months of this year, up 77 percent from a year ago, and set up an "environmental protection police" force. Some 1,414 officials were held accountable in Tianjin, which tripled fines on polluting companies to 249 million yuan.

Hebei phased out 33,600 small coal-fired boilers and reduced an oversupply in steel and cement capacity by more than 40 million tonnes and two million tonnes, respectively, to reduce dust emissions.

Thanks to these actions, the air quality has seen improvement this October.

The average density of PM2.5 in 28 cities in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region and nearby areas went down 4.6 percent year on year to 62 micrograms per cubic meter from Oct. 1 to Oct. 27, said Liu Youbin, an MEP official.

The MEP said it will continue to step up measures to control air pollution to reach the targets set for this winter.

Between October 2017 and March 2018, the aforementioned 28 cities should lower both their average PM 2.5 pollution levels and the number of hazy days by 15 percent from the same period last year, according to an MEP plan.

Local authorities have announced their own measures to meet this target. Beijing promised to provide cleaner diesel for heavy-duty vehicles and promote the use of electric vehicles, while Tianjin plans to further cut coal consumption and increase the supply of natural gas.

Hebei said it will continue to toughen supervision by ensuring more accurate air quality data and implementing a stricter accountability system.

Air quality usually worsens in late autumn and winter in northern China due in part to less wind and increased emissions from heating sources. As well as enforcing rigorous environmental regulations, authorities are speeding up research into the causes of smog to find effective solutions to the issue.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-01 15:11:10|Editor: ying

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KUALA LUMPUR, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Britain's Prince Charles will arrive in Malaysia on Thursday for a week-long tour.

He will meet with Malaysian royal rulers and Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak and attend a series of public events, part of the celebrations marking the 60th anniversary of Malaysia-Britain bilateral ties.

In a statement released on Wednesday, the Malaysian Foreign Ministry said this will be the first visit by Prince Charles and his wife Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, who are expected to engage with Malaysians from all walks of life.

This historic visit will contribute to the enhancement of the close and fraternal relations between the two countries, it added.

According to the Foreign Ministry statement, Malaysia is the Britain's second largest export market in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations market and Britain is Malaysia's third largest trading partner in Europe.

There are currently more than 18,000 Malaysians studying in Britain.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-01 15:26:16|Editor: Yang Yi

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Chinese Ambassador to Cuba Chen Xi (2nd L, Front) and Cuba's first deputy minister of foreign trade and investment Antonio Carricarte (3rd L, Front) visit the Chinese pavilion during the 35th Havana International Trade Fair (FIHAV 2017), in Havana, Cuba, on Oct. 31, 2017. Cuba seeks to increase trade with China and join the Belt and Road Initiative as a possible "regional node" for this plan to spread throughout Latin America and the Caribbean, Antonio Carricarte said Tuesday. (Xinhua/Joaquin Hernandez)

HAVANA, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Cuba seeks to increase trade with China and join the Belt and Road Initiative as a possible "regional node" for this plan to spread throughout Latin America and the Caribbean, the island's first deputy minister of foreign trade and investment said Tuesday.

Antonio Carricarte, who inaugurated the Chinese pavilion at the 35th Havana International Trade Fair (FIHAV 2017) along with Chinese Ambassador to Cuba Chen Xi, said the Caribbean nation wants to become a "hub" of maritime and air transport in the region, mainly through the Mariel Special Development Zone.

"This goal of our country can link us with China's Belt and Road Initiative and its purpose of extending this project to the Caribbean and Latin America," he said.

Carricarte said a great opportunity is opening up for Chinese entrepreneurs through the process of Latin American integration, in which Cuba actively participates.

"There are trade cooperation agreements among all Latin American countries within the framework of these integration mechanisms. This opens a door for Chinese companies in their goal of increasing cooperation with the continent," he said.

Meanwhile, Chen said Cuba has maintained a growing trend in its exports to China in recent years.

"According to statistics during the first eight months of this year, the volume of bilateral trade totaled 1.13 billion U.S. dollars, of which China exported 830 million dollars to Cuba while the island exported 300 million dollars to China," the ambassador said, adding that this marked a 56-percent increase year-on-year.

Chen said the main Chinese products exported to the island pertain to the automotive industry, construction machinery, electromechanical items and home appliances, telecommunications and lighting.

"In addition to traditional products such as sugar and nickel, Cuba exported tobacco, biomedical products, seafood and rum to China, as well as seeing a substantial increase in Chinese tourism to the island," he said.

Chen highlighted the new business spaces promoted by Cuba through the annual publication of a portfolio of opportunities in various sectors, the Mariel Special Development Zone and FIHAV itself.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-01 15:36:20|Editor: ying

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MEXICO CITY, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- U.S. pop culture is a force to be reckoned with. Perhaps no country knows this better than Mexico, which shares a porous 3,200-km border with its northern neighbor.

The social and political influence of the United States in the country has always been felt, but it grew more visible in 1994, when Mexico signed the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and threw open its borders to U.S. imports.

Upon that, stores were awash with U.S.-made goods and Mexican consumers fell in step with the rhythm of America's seasonal shopping sprees: gifts for Christmas, party favors for New Year, cards and candy for Valentine's Day, beachwear for summer vacations, knapsacks and other supplies for going "Back to School" in September, and costumes and ghoulish decorations for Halloween in October.

Occurring so close to Mexico's iconic Day of the Dead celebration at the start of November, a time traditionally reserved for remembering family and friends who have passed away, Halloween was a particular concern. Many here are worried the Oct. 31 U.S. holiday would come to eclipse the Day of the Dead.

But it appears Mexicans have come to the conclusion that the two holidays are vastly different and theirs is better, or at least more meaningful.

"Halloween is their holiday and the Day of the Dead is ours," Araceli Loza, a resident of the central State of Mexico, told Xinhua during a visit to Mexico City on Tuesday.

"The Day of the Dead is a time to honor our dead. Halloween is about dressing up in fantastical costumes," said Loza, summing up the essential difference between the two and explaining why the Mexican holiday has not only persevered, but become more popular.

This year, it seemed that more major museums and cultural centers than ever before touted workshops and seminars, many aimed at kids, to learn about the significance of the holiday.

Weekend parades featured cultural icons associated with the Day of the Dead, most famously "La Catrina," a carnivalesque female skeleton in a broad-brimmed hat that gamely represents death.

At least one of the parades was directly inspired by the 2015 James Bond film "Spectre" -- which features a Hollywood version of Mexico's traditional celebration -- but that only shows that like Halloween, the Day of the Dead has universal appeal.

Across the Atlantic, London's Whitechapel Gallery, an art gallery that has been in business since 1901, on Tuesday invited the public to "celebrate the Mexican Day of the Dead with an evening of films, conversation and poetry."

In the U.S. heartland, Deseret News, the local daily of Salt Lake City, Utah, noted last week that "the Day of the Dead ... is about as Mexican as it gets, but this unique holiday has been gaining popularity outside of its native country for a while now."

While younger Mexicans have embraced Halloween -- because no children can resist an excuse to wear a costume and pretend to be someone else -- Mexico's deeply-rooted Day of the Dead is in no danger of extinction for now, and that is partly due to its significance.

According to the age-old tradition, which can be traced back hundreds if not thousands of years to Mexico's original indigenous civilizations, the spirits of the dead return to Earth at this time each year.

To welcome them back, families erect altars offering some of the things their dearly departed most enjoyed in life, like tacos or tequila, and perhaps a pack of cards or set of dominoes.

Altars feature candy skulls with the name of the deceased written across the forehead and those of surviving family members.

It helps that Mexico City and other urban centers have tapped into the Day of the Dead's tourism potential, and are investing to promote and preserve the holiday by organizing or sponsoring related events, including parades, exhibits and other events.

Stephen Miller, a New York architect currently visiting Mexico City, noted that the local tradition has been transformed "into a travel holiday geared towards foreigners."

"It's a total Day of the Dead immersion experience," Miller said.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-01 15:36:22|Editor: ying

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PHNOM PENH, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia has discovered 34 locations that have been affected by war-left chemical bombs, the country's foreign ministry said in a press statement on Wednesday.

The Southeast Asian country has encountered a number of chemical remnants, including chemical bombs found in northeastern Mondulkiri province in 2012 and recently in southeastern Svay Rieng province, the statement said.

"As of present, there are 34 locations known to contain the same type of devices throughout the country," it said, adding that several victims were also identified in Svay Rieng province.

According to the statement, Cambodian Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn wrote last month a letter to Ahmet Uzumcu, director-general of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), to inform him about the discovery of the chemical remnants and to seek OPCW's assistance in this issue.

"The Kingdom of Cambodia wishes to declare that the country is affected by the chemical remnants of war used during the 1960s and 1970s," Prak Sokhonn said in the letter.

"Facing such grave danger, to ensure safety and well-being of Cambodian people, the Royal Government of Cambodia...wishes to seek OPCW's assistance in the verification process of all devices in the known locations, and assistance to support further national survey on chemical weapons contamination as well as future clearance and destruction," he added.

Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen has publicly spoken on many occasions that the chemical bombs were dropped from U.S. warplanes during the Vietnam War era.

It is estimated that, between 1965 and 1973, the U.S. dropped about 2.7 million tons of explosives on 113,716 locations in Cambodia.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-01 15:36:23|Editor: ying

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JALALABAD, Afghanistan, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- An Afghan police officer was killed and six people were wounded following a bomb attack in eastern province of Nangarhar on Wednesday, provincial government spokesman said.

"A mine elaborately placed inside the car of Jan Mohammad, commander of Afghan Local Police (ALP) in Pachir Wagam District, went off at about 10 a.m. local time (0530 GMT) Wednesday, killing him and wounding four ALP members," spokesman Ataullah Khogyani told Xinhua.

Two passing-by children were also wounded and the injured were sent to a hospital, he noted.

No one including Taliban or Islamic State (IS) armed groups has claimed responsibility for the attack yet.

Taliban militants have been on the rampage since April when they launched a so-called annual rebel offensive in different places in Afghanistan, including the capital of Kabul, killing and injuring hundreds.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-01 15:41:25|Editor: ying

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Two women dressed in Halloween costumes attend the annual Halloween Parade in Chicago, the United States, on Oct. 31, 2017. (Xinhua/Wang Ping)

CHICAGO, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Around 1,000 people gathered in north Chicago's Boystown neighborhood for the 21st annual Northalsted Halloween Parade Tuesday night, rated one of the 10 best Halloween parades in the United States by Fodor's Travel Guide.

Hundreds of participants and spectators wore creative and extravagant costumes to celebrate, with many hoping to win the costume contest which awards 1,000 U.S. dollars in four categories: "most original," "best group costume," "best drag," and the "scariest."

Dressed as "cereal killers" this year, three visitors from Battle Creek, Michigan, and Washington D.C., who traveled across the country for the past six Halloweens, were among the spectators.

"We met in the Peace Corps so this started in the Peace Corps and we've been doing it ever since. We've been to D.C., we've been to Kalamazoo and Lansing, Michigan, and now Chicago," Jesse Garrison, dressed as breakfast cereal character Captain Crunch, told Xinhua. "We're thinking about New York or San Diego for (the) next year but we're not sure yet."

Chicago held many events during Halloween, including the Arts in the Dark parade and the Spooky Zoo Spectacular at the Lincoln Park Zoo.

"We've been here for a few days for a couple different events," said David Corsar, dressed as cereal box character Snap from Kellogg's Rice Krispies.

Along with the costumes on parade, a flash mob danced to Michael Jackson's popular Halloween song Thriller.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-01 15:51:29|Editor: ying

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GAZA, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- The ceremony of handing over the Gaza Strip's border crossings with Israel and Egypt began Wednesday with the presence of senior Egyptian security intelligence representatives, Palestinian Authority and Hamas officials.

Hisham Odwan, spokesman of the Hamas-run borders and crossings corporation, said "From now and then, the Palestinian consensus government is the first and last body in charge of the crossing points in the Gaza Strip."

The Palestinian Authority was on Wednesday handed over control on all the borders crossing points, including Rafah crossing with Egypt, Erez and Kerem Shalom border crossing points with Israel.

"The crossings were fully handed over to the Palestinian consensus government without the presence of any employee or any security or police that belongs to Gaza (Hamas authorities) after the PA insisted on this," said Odwan.

The ceremony of handing over Rafah crossing point to the PA began with playing the national anthems of both Egypt and Palestine, amid the presence of PA leaders and officials as well as senior Egyptian security intelligence and Hamas leaders.

"Today is the actual and practical first step of ending an internal Palestinian division that lasted for more than ten years," said Mufid al-Hassayna, minister of housing and construction in the consensus government.

"The Palestinian government announces that it cancelled all the old measures of collecting taxes and customs, adding "from now and then, there is no yellow, green or red, all of us are Palestinians and we will be united," he said.

Flags of Egypt and Palestine as well as pictures of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas were placed inside the Palestinian side of crossing point.

Handing over the crossing points to the Palestinian consensus government is an implementation of an Egyptian-brokered reconciliation agreement reached between Hamas and President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah Party in Cairo in Oct. 12.
Portraits of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas hang at the Rafah border crossing with Egypt on November 1, 2017. (AFP PHOTO)

GAZA, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- The ceremony of handing over the Gaza Strip's border crossings with Israel and Egypt began Wednesday with the presence of senior Egyptian security intelligence representatives, Palestinian Authority and Hamas officials.

Hisham Odwan, spokesman of the Hamas-run borders and crossings corporation, said "From now and then, the Palestinian consensus government is the first and last body in charge of the crossing points in the Gaza Strip."

The Palestinian Authority was on Wednesday handed over control on all the borders crossing points, including Rafah crossing with Egypt, Erez and Kerem Shalom border crossing points with Israel.

"The crossings were fully handed over to the Palestinian consensus government without the presence of any employee or any security or police that belongs to Gaza (Hamas authorities) after the PA insisted on this," said Odwan.

The ceremony of handing over Rafah crossing point to the PA began with playing the national anthems of both Egypt and Palestine, amid the presence of PA leaders and officials as well as senior Egyptian security intelligence and Hamas leaders.

"Today is the actual and practical first step of ending an internal Palestinian division that lasted for more than ten years," said Mufid al-Hassayna, minister of housing and construction in the consensus government.

"The Palestinian government announces that it cancelled all the old measures of collecting taxes and customs, adding "from now and then, there is no yellow, green or red, all of us are Palestinians and we will be united," he said.

Flags of Egypt and Palestine as well as pictures of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas were placed inside the Palestinian side of crossing point.

Handing over the crossing points to the Palestinian consensus government is an implementation of an Egyptian-brokered reconciliation agreement reached between Hamas and President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah Party in Cairo in Oct. 12.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-01 16:31:43|Editor: ying

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ISLAMABAD, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan on Wednesday strongly condemned a suicide bomb attack in the diplomatic area of the Afghan capital Kabul, which reportedly killed at least nine people and injured about 21 others.

"We are grieved at the loss of precious lives in this dreadful terrorist attack. We express our deepest sympathies and condolences to the bereaved families and pray for the speedy recovery of the injured," the Pakistani Foreign Ministry said.

The ministry said Pakistan reiterates its unequivocal condemnation of terrorism in all forms and manifestations and expresses solidarity with the government and people of Afghanistan in their fight against the menace of terrorism.

"We believe concerted efforts by states, and close cooperation among them, are needed for eliminating the scourge of terrorism," it said.

Afghan officials have said in reported comments that a suicide bomber struck Kabul's heavily-security diplomatic area of Wazir Akbar Khan on Tuesday afternoon.

The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the deadly attack.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-01 16:41:48|Editor: ying

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NDALATANDO, Angola, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Angola has collected and destroyed more than 500,000 firearms of various calibers illegally owned by the public, a local official said on Tuesday.

Many of these weapons have been used by criminals causing fatalities and material damages all over the country, said Paulo Gaspar de Almeida, coordinator of the National Technical Sub-commission of the National Commission of the Disarmament of the Civil Population (CNDPC). The firearms have been gathered since 2008.

At an event celebrating the national week of disarmament in the town of Ndalatando in Angola's northern province of Cuanza Norte, he called on the population to voluntarily surrender guns and denounced those who possess them illegally.

Almeida also urged the defense organs in the country to reinforce the system of control and inspection and prevent the weapons from falling into criminal hands.

He also defended heavy fines on those who are found in possession of firearms illegally.

For nearly three decades before 2002, Angola was in a state of civil war, with many former combatants still possessing their weapons. The Angolan government created the CNDPC in 2008 to collect illegal weapons from the public.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-01 16:46:50|Editor: Xiang Bo

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GUANGZHOU, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- China and Vietnam Wednesday began a three-day joint patrol in a common fishing zone in the Beibu Gulf.

This was the second joint patrol by coast guards from the two countries this year. The first was held in April.

The each country sent two patrol ships, which will complete a series of scheduled tasks, including research, maritime search and rescue exercises, and examination of fishing boats.

An officer with the Chinese Coast Guard's South China Sea division said the joint patrols help create a stable environment for fishing, build mutual trust between maritime law enforcement departments, and deepen the friendship between people from the two countries.

China and Vietnam have conducted 14 joint patrols in the common fishing zone since 2006.

Beibu Gulf is a traditional fishery area for fishermen from both countries. China and Vietnam signed agreements on the demarcation of the gulf and cooperation on fishing in 2000.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-01 16:56:51|Editor: ying

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CAIRO, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi visited in hospital on Wednesday the freed policeman who was abducted by terrorists during a recent anti-police attack south of the capital Cairo, the Egyptian state TV reported.

The report showed photos of the President Sisi, accompanied by Interior Minister Magdy Abdel-Ghaffar, visiting police officer Mohamed al-Hayes while the latter was receiving treatment at a military hospital in Cairo.

Hayes was freed by security forces on Tuesday after he was abducted during police confrontations with terrorists in a desert area on the outskirts of Giza southern Cairo, that left 16 policemen killed and 13 wounded. The two-day clashes that started on October 20 also left 15 militants either dead or injured.

On Tuesday, the Egyptian air forces killed "a large number of terrorists" and destroyed three vehicles loaded with weapons, explosives and ammunition during a raid at a mountainous area western Fayoum province south of Cairo.

Last week, the security forces also announced the killing of 12 "very dangerous terrorist elements" in the western desert region of Al-Wahat where the 16 policemen were killed.

Egypt has been battling a wave of terrorism that has killed hundreds of policemen and soldiers since the military toppled former Islamist president Mohamed Morsi in July 2013 in response to mass protests against his one-year rule and his now-outlawed Muslim Brotherhood group.

Terror attacks have been centered in North Sinai before spreading nationwide and targeting the Coptic minority as well, with most of them claimed by a Sinai-based group affiliated with the regional Islamic State (IS) militant group.

The Egyptian military and police have killed hundreds of militants and arrested a similar number of suspects as part of the country's anti-terror war declared by President Sisi, the army chief then, following Morsi's removal.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-01 17:01:53|Editor: Xiang Bo

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SEOUL, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- South Korean stocks kept a record-breaking trend for four trading days on Wednesday as foreign investors scooped up tech stocks that posted positive third-quarter earnings.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) gained 33.04 points, or 1.31 percent, to reach a closing high of 2,556.47. Trading volume stood at 357.9 million shares worth 7.44 trillion won (6.8 billion U.S. dollars).

The record-breaking trend continued for four sessions as foreigners snapped up local stocks. The KOSPI surpassed previous records since Oct. 20, except one session on Oct. 26.

The market capitalization of the main bourse totaled 1,664.9 trillion won, topping the previous high.

Foreigners bought a net 306 billion won worth of domestic stocks. They were net buyers for the past four sessions.

Foreign purchase followed Wall Street gains overnight. Tech stocks gained ground after the announcement of record quarterly earnings from tech giants such as Samsung Electronics.

Market bellwether Samsung Electronics and memory chip giant SK Hynix advanced more than 3 percent.

The agreement between South Korea and China to get the bilateral relations into a normal development track also boosted upbeat sentiment among investors, market watchers said.

South Korea's exports, which account for about half of the economy, managed to keep its growth trend in October despite less business days coming from the traditional Chuseok holiday.

Most of large-cap shares gained ground. Leading chemical firm LG Chem climbed 2.7 percent, and the biggest life insurer Samsung Life Insurance added 1.9 percent. Samsung C&T, the de-facto holding company of Samsung Group, rose 1 percent.

The most-used search engine Naver declined 3.8 percent, and the No.1 auto parts maker Hyundai Mobis shed 0.6 percent. Top steelmaker POSCO lost 0.5 percent.

South Korea's currency finished at 1,114.5 won against the greenback, up 5.9 won from the previous close.

Bond prices ended higher. Yields on the liquid three-year treasury notes fell 2.4 basis points to 2.140 percent, and the return on the benchmark 10-year government bonds dipped 2.4 basis points to 2.547 percent.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-01 19:38:50|Editor: Xiang Bo

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A subway carriage for Boston's orange line is seen at an assembly factory of CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles in Changchun, capital of northeast China's Jilin Province, Oct. 31, 2017. The first China-made subway cars tailored for Boston's orange line rolled off the production line on Oct. 16 in Changchun. The subway cars, which will be delivered to the United States in December, are among a 284-carriage order signed by CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles and Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) in December 2014. (Xinhua/Zhang Nan)
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-01 17:52:12|Editor: Xiang Bo

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FAIZABAD, Afghanistan, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- A total of six Taliban militants were killed and eight others injured as an explosive device exploded inside militants' hideout in Wardoj district of the northern Badakhshan province on Wednesday, a local official said.

"The blast occurred inside Taliban hideout in Chakaran village of Wardoj district today morning killing six insurgents on the spot and injuring eight others," the official told Xinhua.

"All the victims are foreign nationals," the official asserted without identifying their nationalities.

Militants from several countries, according to locals, have been fighting alongside Taliban outfit in Badakhshan and other provinces.

Taliban militants who are in control of parts of Badakhshan province are yet to make comment.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-01 18:02:17|Editor: Xiang Bo

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WELLINGTON, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand police seized 46 kg of cocaine in Tauranga, North Island on Wednesday following a joint operation between New Zealand Police and the New Zealand Customs Service.

"Illegal drugs have no place in our communities. The great work of Police and Customs staff to stop these drugs entering the country and causing havoc is to be applauded," Minister of Police Stuart Nash said.

Based on the Drug Harm Index, the seizure has stopped 62 million NZ dollars (43 million U.S. dollars) of additional social harm to New Zealand communities, Nash said.

The termination of the operation and the resulting arrest of four foreign nationals shows the power of cooperation between different agencies in protecting New Zealand through border security, Nash noted.

"The drugs seized today will cause a significant dent in the supply of the drug across the country and also sends a strong message that New Zealand authorities are actively working to stop the importation of illegal drugs," said Nash.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-01 18:07:18|Editor: Xiang Bo

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LOS ANGELES, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- U.S. police shot and killed a man suspected of holding a 70-year-old teacher hostage for nearly seven hours in a Southern California elementary classroom Tuesday evening.

The teacher, identified as Linda Montgomery, was taken to a hospital for a precautionary evaluation, a police officer told reporters at the scene.

"The situation has been resolved," said Riverside police officer Ryan Railsback. "The teacher is safe." The officer added that the man had been declared dead at a hospital but did not release his name.

The incident began at about 11:15 a.m. (1915 GMT). After 1:00 p.m. police evacuated all students from the campus and began releasing them to their parents, video footage showed.

A Special Weapons And Tactics (SWAT) team entered a classroom at Castle View Elementary School shortly about 6:00 p.m. The shooting occurred shortly afterwards.

Railsback said negotiators had been talking to the man but hadn't heard from the teacher and feared for her life.

Classes have been canceled at the elementary school for the rest of the week.

It's still not clear what prompted the man to enter the school and barricade himself with the teacher, and it remains unclear if the man was armed.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-01 18:07:19|Editor: Xiang Bo

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BEIJING, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- China's gold consumption rose 15.49 percent year on year to 815.89 tonnes in the first three quarters of 2017 due to strong sales of gold bars, new data showed Wednesday.

Consumption of gold bars went up 44.45 percent to 222.07 tonnes, while that for gold jewelry rose 7.44 percent to 503.87 tonnes, said the China Gold Association.

The association attributed the growth to increasing consumption in China's second- and third-tier cities as well as a cooling property market and volatile securities market.

Gold output in the first three quarters stood at 374.981 tonnes, down 3.76 percent from a year earlier, the association said.

Last year, China adopted new rules to raise environmental requirements on solid waste from gold prospecting, leading to a wave of gold mine closures and output declines in the major producing provinces, including Shandong, Jiangxi and Hunan.

Years of intensive gold mining has resulted in falling reserves and production halts in several areas, including Qinghai and Gansu provinces.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-01 18:07:20|Editor: Xiang Bo

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JAKARTA, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia has reaped at least 2.5 million U.S. dollars of potential sales in its tour package sales mission held in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), a senior official said.

Deputy of Tourism Minister for Foreign Market I Gde Pitana said the successful results of Indonesia's sales mission program in UAE were significantly contributed by Bali and awards received by Indonesian tourism from many international competition in the last few years.

"Many visitors were curious about the visit of King Salman and his royal family members in Bali. It has made Indonesia's tourism got more attention in the Middle East region," Pitana said on Wednesday, referring to the vacation of Saudi Arabian ruler in Indonesia's resort island of Bali in March.

He added that most of buyers from the UAE booked traveling packages in Bali for yearend vacations.

During the 2-day program held on Oct. 18-19, Indonesia's sales mission managed to book transactions from 5,883 people intending to travel to Indonesia for vacation, amounted around 34,930 billion rupiah, according to Pitana.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-01 18:07:20|Editor: Xiang Bo

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TIANJIN, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- North China's Tianjin Municipality Wednesday said it plans to ban haphazard coal burning by the end of 2018 in order to reduce air pollution.

A total of 1.21 million households in Tianjin, which borders Beijing, will switch from coal-fired heating sources to gas and electric sources by the end of 2018, said Wen Wurui, director of Tianjin Municipal Environmental Protection Bureau.

Wen said 610,000 households will switch to clean energy by the end of this year, and the rest will shift next year.

Coal burning contributes up to to 25 percent of the PM 2.5, airborne particles smaller than 2.5 microns in diameter, in Tianjin, Wen said.

Local authorities have taken measures to reduce coal consumption, improve coal quality, raise emission standards and curb haphazard coal burning.

Tianjin plans to cut annual coal consumption by another 2.6 million tonnes this year after reducing it by 10 million tonnes between 2013 and 2016.

Meanwhile, it has renovated 41 coal-fired power generators to lower emissions levels.

Authorities in Tianjin and neighboring Hebei Province previously ordered heavily polluting industries, including steel, casting and coking, to restrict production and cut emissions in the winter heating period.

The Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region sits in the heart of the North China Plain where air pollution, particularly winter smog, often occurs as a result of the high concentration of industrial and vehicle emissions, limited air circulation and the burning of coal.

More residents are increasingly worried about the health impacts, particularly of PM 2.5. The smaller particles pose a greater health threat as they can get deeper into the lungs than larger particles.

China has set a target to reduce the average PM 2.5 level by at least 15 percent in the cities around the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region between October 2017 and March 2018, compared to last year's level.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-01 18:17:23|Editor: Xiang Bo

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MANILA, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Philippine authorities detained an Indonesian man suspected of links with the pro-Islamic State militant group that took over the southern Philippine city of Marawi for five months, the military and police said on Wednesday.

John Guyguyon, police chief of Lanao del Sur province, said the suspect is a 22-year-old Indonesian from Medan, the capital of Indonesia's North Sumatra province.

Guyguyon said the suspect was arrested by soldiers and policemen on Wednesday in one of the villages while government security forces were conducting a clearing operation of the area previously controlled by pro-IS militants.

Guyguyon said the suspect confessed to investigators that he entered the Philippines in November last year.

"According to him, he was invited by Isnilon Hapilon to be part of the IS struggle in the Philippines," he said, referring to the Abu Sayyaf leader who was killed last month when troops assaulted the last lair of the extremists.

Guyguyon said the suspect even fought with government troops during a clash between troops and Maute-Abu Sayyaf fighters in Piagapo town, Lanao del Sur in April this year barely a month before the Marawi siege.

Col. Romeo Brawner, one of the military commanders in Marawi, said the Indonesian suspect was further investigated.

Philippine authorities said Indonesian and Malaysian IS fighters helped the Maute-Abu Sayyaf fighters plotting the Marawi attack.

The five-month fierce fighting killed more than 1,000 people, including 165 soldiers and policemen and more than 900 militants, and left the city in complete ruin. The conflict also displaced more than 400,000 residents.
Photo taken on May 27, 2008 provided by Norway's Kongsberg Gruppen ASA shows the test firing of Norwegian Advanced Surface to Air Missile System (NASAMS) at an unspecified location. (Photo courtesy of Kongsberg Gruppen ASA)

OSLO, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia has signed a contract worth 77 million U.S. dollars to buy a medium-range air defence system from Norway's Kongsberg Gruppen ASA, the company said on Tuesday.

The contract, signed by the partially state-owned company and the Indonesian ministry of defence, includes delivery of a complete Norwegian Advanced Surface to Air Missile System (NASAMS), the company said in a statement.

It comprises the system's command posts, radars, launchers, radios and integration as well as training and logistics support, while AMRAAMs, or Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles, will be provided in a separate government-to-government agreement between Indonesia and the United States.

"We are very pleased that Indonesia, as the first nation in its region, chooses NASAMS for its homeland defence," Eirik Lie, president of the Norwegian company's Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace unit, was quoted as saying in the statement.

"The continuous technical evolution and addition of users confirms that NASAMS is the most modern and advanced air defense system in the world," he said.

Several countries have chosen NASAMS, including Norway, Finland, the Netherlands, the United States, Spain, Oman, Lithuania and now also Indonesia, according to the company's statement.

The NASAMS, launched in the late 1990s by Kongsberg in partnership with major U.S. defense contractor Raytheon, is "a world leading solution with unique capabilities to combat modern airborne threats, as well as having the ability to integrate with a variety of different sensors and weapons," the Norwegian company said.

According to Norway's online business newspaper E24, NASAMS is one of the major export successes of the Norwegian defense industry and is used, among other things, to protect critical infrastructure in Washington DC.

The process of landing sales to Indonesia has been going on for several years, Lie told E24.

Deliveries will start in two to three years, but Lie did not specify when the installation will be complete, E24 reported.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-01 18:37:29|Editor: ying

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GHAZNI, Afghanistan, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Up to 25 Taliban militants were killed during its multiple attacks in the eastern Ghazni province since Tuesday, a government official said on Wednesday.

"Taliban militants launched multi-pronged offensives on security checkpoints in seven districts of the province, including Andar, Zanakhan, Qarabagh, Ajrustan, Jaghatu, Arzu and Khawja Omari on Tuesday evening but have been repulsed and the Taliban fled away after leaving 25 bodies behind," provincial government spokesman Aref Noori told Xinhua.

Two policemen and five army soldiers were also wounded in the sporadical fightings, he added.

The Taliban hasn't commented on the report.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-01 18:47:34|Editor: ying

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TEHRAN, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Iran's capital Tehran on Wednesday afternoon for tripartite meeting with his Iranian and Azeri counterparts, stated IRIB TV broadcast live.

Putin will discuss topics of common interest with Iranian President Hasan Rouhani and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.

Aliyev also arrived in Tehran on Wednesday morning to attend the second trilateral summit.

"This would be the second summit. The first was held in Baku. We will also hold bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the summit," Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qasemi was quoted as saying by Tasnim news agency.

In August 2016, Rouhani and his Russian and Azerbaijani counterparts held tripartite summit in Azerbaijan's capital where they discussed ways of enhancing cooperation in the areas of commerce, energy, communications, transport and transit, Tasnim reported.

They also exchanged views on environmental issues as well as the fight against terrorism.
SHENYANG, China, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- A TV documentary series on Chinese World War II veterans is sharing the stories of a group of soldiers who fought hard on battlefield and are now educating their family about the experience of war.

Produced by and airing on China's Liaoning Television, the series titled "Veterans: A Taste of Home" narrates the story of one veteran in each episode. It has sparked much public interest since its release.



One episode features Shi Baodong, 91, whose image as he saluted on the Tian'anmen Rostrum during 2015 V-Day military parade went viral on the Internet.



The documentary highlights that the number of medals he was awarded are as numerous as the injuries he sustained during the war.





Shi recalls in the documentary that Communist Party members always led the charge on the battlefield.



"Everyone admired their bravery. They were really death-defying," he remarks.



Today, the old man leads a family of soldiers. Five of his six children have joined the army. One of his sons says he's deeply moved at the sight of the bullet wound on his father's chest, and is determined to become a soldier like him.



"The country always comes before families," says the veteran in the documentary. "It's a rule in my family to always safeguard our homeland."



The series aims to inspire the audience by demonstrating the patriotism of the veterans and their strict family education, according to the producer of the series.



The film crew has traveled across the country to visit the families and scour historical archives.

The series has received a lot of comments online.

"Thank you, dear soldiers!" said one online viewer who uses the tag "Warrior fans."

"We should never forget our history," said another audience member.


Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-01 18:57:37|Editor: ying

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DUBAI, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- The United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Wednesday condemned the "terrorist attack" in the Manhattan neighborhood of New York City that killed eight people and injured 12 others, the official UAE state news agency WAM reported.

The UAE Foreign Ministry stressed in a statement "the firm and rejecting position of the UAE against various forms of violence and terrorism targeting all without distinction between religion and race and whatever its origin and origin," the report said.

The statement also underlined "the UAE's solidarity with the U. S. government in the face of violence and extremism."

Eight people were killed and a dozen more injured after a truck plowed into pedestrians near the World Trade Center in New York City, an incident called "a particularly cowardly act of terror" by NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-01 19:07:40|Editor: ying

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SUVA, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- With Fiji being the first country in the Pacific and the first emerging market to issue a sovereign green bond, the participation of businesses in this initiative had been tremendous, a Fijian government official said on Wednesday.

Fiji's Economy Minister Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum told a press conference that the week-long tender had aroused overwhelming interest, which resulted in the floated amount of 40 million Fijian dollars (about 19.2 million U.S. dollars) being significantly oversubscribed.

A total of 87.7 million Fijian dollars (about 42 million U.S. dollars) were received in tenders for the two tenures of five year and 13-year bonds respectively, he said.

The minister said Fiji would use all proceeds for environmental projects to achieve a 100-percent renewable energy and reduce its carbon footprints by 30 percent by 2030.

Fiji announced on Oct. 18 that it would issue a sovereign green bond in November, raising 100 million Fijian dollars (about 48 million U.S. dollars) to support climate change mitigation and adaption.

Fiji is also the third country in the world to issue a sovereign green bond, after France and Poland.

Like all Pacific Island states, Fiji is also highly vulnerable to the impact of climate change, with some of its 300 low-lying islands affected by rising sea levels.

Nearly 20 percent of the region's 10 million people could be displaced due to climate change by 2050.

Green bonds are fixed income, liquid financial instruments that are used to raise funds dedicated to climate mitigation, adaptation, and other environment-friendly projects.

The market for green bonds has grown rapidly, particularly since the Paris Agreement was adopted in 2015. It is expected to reach 134.9 billion U.S. dollars in 2017, a 36-percent increase from 2016.
Women cast their votes in Kenya's repeat presidential polls at a polling station in Nairobi, Kenya, Oct. 26, 2017. (Xinhua/Chen Cheng)

NAIROBI, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- African and European election observers have called on Kenya's leaders to engage in dialogue to resolve the political impasse following a controversial presidential re-run last week.

In respective statements, the African Union (AU), the European Union (EU) and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), an eight-country East Africa bloc, made the appeal after incumbent President Uhuru Kenyatta was announced as the winner.

The AU observer mission gave a positive assessment of the repeat presidential polls, but urged political players to engage in dialogue to heal the country from polarization.

Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) verification officer Aisha Mohammed (L, Front) shows the process of verifying forms 34 A and 34 B to Thabo Mbeki, head of African Union elections observer team to Kenyan at the National Tally Centre in Bomas of Kenya, Nairobi, Kenya, Oct. 29, 2017. Voting in Kenya's repeat presidential polls began on Thursday as some polling stations, mainly in opposition strongholds, reported disruptions and low voter turnout. (Xinhua/Allan Mutiso)

"Overall, the stipulated procedures for opening, voting, closing and counting were largely complied with," the statement said. "The AU observer mission noted improvements in the technical conduct of the elections."

Former South African President Thabo Mbeki led the AU team that observed Kenya's repeat presidential polls that were characterized by low voter turnout, protests and boycotts in opposition strongholds.

The AU deployed observers to 20 counties during the Oct. 26 repeat presidential election.

In its statement, the EU observer mission stressed that "More than ever there is a need in Kenya for political leaders to take up their responsibility and find a way out of the impasse through direct talks at the highest level."

"Grievances over the electoral processes should be addressed through judicial channels for legally-mandated remedy. The courts and the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) be given full opportunity to work independently and without undue pressure," the EU observers said.

Despite these problems, polling and counting appeared to be generally well administered and some technical improvements were evident in the results process although further assessment is still needed, they said.

Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta (R, front) receives the certificate as the winner of the repeat presidential election from Independent Electoral and Boundary Commission (IEBC) chairman Wafula Chabukati in Nairobi, capital of Kenya, Oct. 30, 2017. Kenya's Uhuru Kenyatta won the repeat presidential elections boycotted by opposition, garnering 98.2 percent of the vote cast, Kenya's electoral body said on Monday.(Xinhua/Charles Onyango)

EU Chief Observer Marietje Schaake said actions by rival sides have put Kenya in an extremely difficult position.

"These include attacks on the judiciary as well as the IEBC, the introduction of changes to the legal framework without consensus, obstruction of the electoral process and officials, and some disproportionate actions by the security forces," Schaake said.

Meanwhile, IGAD observers commended Kenya for conducting a transparent repeat presidential polls on Oct. 26 and urged political leaders to promote national healing after the divisive electioneering season.

The bloc said that the voting exercise was largely peaceful and transparent in the 79 polling stations within Nairobi where its observers were deployed.

"Most polling centers and stations opened on time and were laid out in an orderly manner. Our observers had free access to the polling centers and election materials were adequately distributed," said the bloc.

National Super Alliance (NASA) leader Raila Odinga addresses his supporters at Uhuru Park in Nairobi, capital of Kenya, Oct. 25, 2017. Kenya's main opposition alliance said on Wednesday that it will transform itself into a national resistance movement. (Xinhua/Nyalwash)

The regional bloc deployed a team of 21 observers to Kenya who met key stakeholders to gauge the country's preparedness to hold a repeat presidential election.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-01 19:22:43|Editor: Xiang Bo

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NANCHANG, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- China's AV500 unmanned helicopter climbed to an altitude of 5,006 meters during a test trial, the maximum achieved by a domestically-made unmanned helicopter.

The aircraft, developed by the Aviation Industry Corporation of China helicopter institute, was tested at Xiahe airport at an altitude of 3,189 meters in northwest China's Gansu Province.

In 2015, the helicopter made a test flight in Alxa, 1,600 meters above sea level, in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and will face another test at an altitude of 4,600 meters.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-01 19:27:45|Editor: Xiang Bo

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BEIJING, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- The World Bank has approved a 120-million-U.S. dollar loan to improve learning and teaching in selected public schools in less developed parts of Guangdong Province.

While China has improved access to education, a disparity in performance between urban and rural areas remains due to a lack of resources, trained teachers, and school management skills, said the World Bank.

"Disadvantaged groups such as children left-behind by migrant parents and children with disabilities are disproportionately affected," noted the bank.

To address the inequality, the Guangdong Compulsory Education Project will introduce technology, build new classrooms, and improve teacher training. A new system of teacher assessment will be introduced, and the quality of education for left-behind children and children with disabilities will be improved.

Focusing on 16 counties with substantially lower per capita GDP than the rest of the province, the project will cost 280 million U.S. dollars, of which the Word Bank loan will lend 120 million dollars.

Scheduled for completion in 2023, the project will benefit approximately 555,000 students, around 40 percent of all students in the counties concerned.

Approximately 23,000 teachers will be trained, around 15 percent of teachers in the counties.

"As China transitions from middle- to high-income status, investment in reducing social inequality and access to high quality education for all will be crucial," said Amer Hasan, World Bank senior economist and project team leader.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-01 19:32:47|Editor: Xiang Bo

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BEIJING, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Dozens of nonagenarians who studied at the wartime alliance of China's most prestigious universities gathered at Peking University Wednesday to honor its legacy.

The National Southwest Associated University (NSAU), known as "Lianda," was a coalition between Peking and Tsinghua universities in Beijing, and Tianjin's Nankai University during the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression. It was formed after the decision to move the three universities south in 1937. Wednesday marked the 80th anniversary of its founding.

The university was opened in Changsha on Nov. 1, 1937. It was moved further south to Kunming in 1938, when Japanese invaders bombed Changsha.` Lianda only existed for nine years, during which time it nurtured some of the country's most prominent scholars and scientists, producing two Nobel Prize laureates and eight scientists who worked on the atomic bomb.

Chen Ning Yang, who won the Nobel Prize in Physics together with Tsung-Dao Lee in 1957, said his seven years at the university laid a solid foundation for his later research.

"I was very lucky to have received such a good education in that difficult time," he said at the ceremony, which gathered more than 90 alumni.

Though it only existed for a few years, its students have made immeasurable contributions, even after the founding of the People's Republic of China, he said.

"The purpose of honoring the university is to carry on its educational spirit and notions to make new achievements in the future," said Pan Jiluan, an academician with the Chinese Academy of Sciences, who studied mechanical engineering at Lianda.

An exhibition on the history of the university is currently being held at Tsinghua University.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-01 19:37:50|Editor: ying

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RAMALLAH, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Nicolay Mladenov said Wednesday that the return of the Rafah border crossings to the control of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) is a "landmark development."

In an emailed press statement, Mladenov said "I welcome the full return of the Gaza crossings to the control of the Palestinian Authority. This is a landmark development in the implementation of the intra Palestinian agreement signed in Cairo on Oct. 12."

Mladenov hoped that this step "should facilitate the lifting of the closures, while addressing Israel's legitimate security concerns, and unlock the increased international support for Gaza's reconstruction, growth, stability and prosperity."

He affirmed that the UN "will continue to work with the Palestinian leadership, Egypt and the region in support of this process, which is critical for reaching a negotiated two state solution and sustainable peace."

On Wednesday morning, the PNA national unity government was handed over control on all the border crossings, including Rafah crossing with Egypt, Erez and Kerem Shalom (Karm Abu Salem) border crossing points with Israel.

Handing over the crossing points to the Palestinian consensus government is an implementation of an Egyptian-brokered reconciliation agreement reached between Hamas and President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah Party in Cairo in Oct. 12.
People wait outside a branch of Bank of Cyprus before the reopening of the bank in Nicosia, capital of Cyprus, on March 28, 2013. (Xinhua/Stefanos Kouratzis)

NICOSIA, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Cypriot sources quoted by local media on Tuesday confirmed that Paul Manafort and Rick Gates, two former associates of U.S. President Donald Trump, had laundered a huge amount of money through shell companies and foreign accounts in Cyprus.

However, they said their operations did not seem to be connected with Trump's presidential campaign as they were stopped a year before his candidacy was announced.

Manafort had been Trump's presidential campaign manager and Gates was a close associate.

They are both accused in the United States of colluding with Russians to tip the presidential election in favor of Trump.

A Bank of Cyprus source had said Manafort did not maintain accounts with the bank itself, but had opened accounts with the Cyprus Popular Bank, commonly known as Laiki, which was wound down as part of the 2013 Cyprus bail-out by the Eurogroup and the International Monetary Fund.

The source said the bank found out about the Laiki accounts after it was folded into the Bank of Cyprus in March, 2013.

He said most of the accounts had been closed by 2012, but the Bank of Cyprus inherited three accounts which were finally wound down in 2014, a year before Trump had announced his intention to run for president.

"The accounts were flagged and reported to the police anti-money laundering squad, MOKAS, before they were ultimately terminated because of suspicious activity," the source said.

Other sources said Manafort and Gates had sent millions of dollars to so-called shell offshore companies in Cyprus between 2005 and 2016 in support of Ukraine's former President Viktor Yanukovych which were not declared to American authorities.

Manafort's indictment lists 12 Cypriot companies which were used for transferring dirty money. Though some were closed, some of them are still active and managed by a law firm which had been named in the Panama Papers scandal.

The indictment said that 75 million U.S. dollars flowed through these accounts, and they funded Manafort and Gates's lifestyles in the United States.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-01 19:42:54|Editor: ying

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By Matt Walsh, Xu Haijing

CANBERRA, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Stephen Parry, Senate President of the Australian Parliament, becomes the latest victim of the dual citizenship fiasco as he received confirmation from the British Home Office on Wednesday that he is a British citizen by virtue of his father's birthplace and therefore has to resign from the parliament.

On Tuesday, Tasmanian Liberal Senator Stephen Parry revealed that he might be a British citizen by descent, meaning he would be ineligible to serve in federal Parliament under Section 44 of the Australian Constitution.

Parry's father was born in Britain, and emigrated to Australia in the 1950s.

Section 44 dictates that anyone who is "under any acknowledgement of ... a foreign power ... shall be incapable of being chosen or of sitting as a Senator or a member of the House of Representatives".

A High Court decision handed down last week found that five of seven "dual citizen" MPs and Senators were guilty of being in breach of the Constitution, meaning they were deemed ineligible to sit.

In the latest twist - in comments published in Wednesday's newspapers, Liberal MP Craig Kelly broke ranks from government counterparts in backing an audit to settle the debacle once and for all.

"There's virtually an informal audit being done by the media, which is like a death of a thousand cuts," Kelly told Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) TV late Tuesday night.

"I think the best way to bring this to a head, to draw a line in the sand, let's have a full audit of everyone's record, put this behind us and move on and then, going forward, everyone will be crystal clear what the rules are."

Putting further pressure on the government to act is that fact that backbenchers from both sides of politics have also come out in support for an audit.

Opposition Labor MP Meryl Swanson told ABC radio on Wednesday that the Australian people "need to be sure that everyone has eligibility", while Nationals MP Llew O'Brien said that he "wouldn't have an issue" with an audit.

But despite growing support for an audit, government Senator Eric Abetz was less enthused by the idea. He said the onus was on federal representatives to "do the right thing."

"I would simply call on all of them to do the right and honorable thing and follow the principled lead of the President of the Senate, Senator Stephen Parry," Abetz said.

Abetz also said it was likely former Liberal senator Richard Colbeck would replace Senator Parry, and said he was confident he would "hit the ground running."

Colbeck was bumped down the Tasmanian Liberal Senate ticket in a factional dispute ahead of the last election.

The most high-profile casualty of last week's dual citizenship High Court decision was Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce, who was found to be a dual Australia-New Zealand citizen.

Joyce has since renounced his New Zealand citizenship, meaning he will need to contest a by-election in his seat of New England in order to regain entry into Parliament.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-01 19:57:58|Editor: ying

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SANAA, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- At least 26 civilians were killed early Wednesday when a Saudi-led coalition airstrike hit a hotel in Yemen's northern rebel-stronghold province of Saada, a provincial security official told Xinhua.

Dozens of others were wounded in the airstrike that hit the hotel in al-Layl popular market in Sahar district in south of the province.

The victims were Khat sellers, workers and shops' owners who used to rest in the hotel which is located at the heart of the market, the official said by phone on condition of anonymity.

The market was also used to be crowded with fighters loyal to Houthi rebel group which is fighting the Saudi troops few kilometers to the north of Sahar on the southern Saudi border city of Najran.

The strike is the latest among a series of airstrikes on the war-torn Arab country since the coalition launched a large-scale air campaign against the rebels in Yemen more than two and a half years ago.

On Oct. 18, a Saudi-led airstrike killed six members of a family, mostly children, in the northeastern province of Jawf, according to local officials and residents.

Saada, which borders the oil-rich Saudi Arabia, is the main stronghold of the Iranian-allied Yemeni Shiite Houthi rebels whom Saudi Arabia considers a major threat to the kingdom's national security and the international navigation in the Red Sea.

In March 2015, the Saudi-led coalition intervened in the Yemeni conflict to back the internationally recognized government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi against the Houthi rebels, who seized most of the country's northern provinces, including the capital Sanaa.

More than 10,000 people, mostly civilians, have been killed in the war with over 3 million others displaced, according to UN agencies.

The country has also been hit by a deadly cholera epidemic and is on the brink of mass famine.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-01 20:08:02|Editor: ying

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RABAT, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Moroccan ministry of energy underlined that the country is on track to produce 42 percent of its electrical power from renewable energy by 2020 and 52 percent by 2030, local media reported on Wednesday.

Citing Morocco's energy ministry new plan for developing energy sector between 2017 and 2021, the financial daily L'Economiste said Morocco will exceed the fixed goals.

In 2008, Morocco launched the National Renewable Energy and Efficiency Plan, an energy program aiming at having 42 per cent of its total energy produced from renewable sources (solar, wind and hydroelectric sources) by 2020.

During the Climate Summit (COP 21) held in Paris in 2015, Morocco's King Mohammed VI announced that Morocco will achieve 52 percent of its electrical power from renewable energy in 2030.

Apart from renewable energy, the ministry revealed that it plans to set up new onshore LNG terminal, near the coastal city of El Jadida, the same source noted.

The site will house storage facilities for at least 5 billion cubic meters of LNG per year, it pointed out.

As for mines, Morocco aims during the period from 2017 to 2021 to triple the sector's turnover, which stands at 1.58 billion U.S. dollars, it said.

Deprived of hydrocarbon reserves on its soil, Morocco imports more than 90 percent of its energy resources.

Morocco has launched ambitious energy plans with the aim to unburden itself from an over-reliance on historic suppliers like Algeria and Spain with a series of shale gas and LNG projects, as well as plans for developing renewable energy.

These projects are partly aimed at coping with the rapid growth of energy demand in the north African kingdom, which is expected to increase by 6.2 percent between 2017 and 2025.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-01 20:08:04|Editor: ying

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TIRANA, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- The business climate in Albania has seen a deterioration in 2017 compared with the previous year, Albanian economy experts said Wednesday referring to data provided in the latest report of the World Bank "Doing Business 2018" published a day before.

In this report, Albania ranked the 65th, seven positions lost compared with the ranking of 58th among the 190 countries and regions last year.

The report mentioned difficulties in payment of taxes or construction permits and also the registration of properties, where Albania ranks 103rd.

It also noted the fact that power supply for businesses still remained a problem.

However, the report pointed out positive aspects of doing business in Albania, such as borrowing or the part that concerns labor market regulation.

"This means that throughout the last year, Albania has improved its business regulations, as captured by the Doing Business indicators in absolute terms, the country is narrowing the gap with the global regulatory frontier. It's a positive move," read the report.

Albanian government also sees the report as an acknowledgement of the reforms that have been done to improve the regulatory framework and other important laws as well as an encouragement to keep working in order to yield better results.

But Albanian opposition leader told reporters Wednesday that the World Bank report was another fact showing the worsening of business climate in Albania.

According to Lulzim Basha, leader of the Democratic Party of Albania, the main opposition party, investors who want to invest in the Balkans see Albania as their last choice.

He said the government's decision to increase taxes in 2018 would severely hit the economy.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-01 20:28:12|Editor: ying

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NAIROBI, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Kenya plans to put in place reforms in order to boost the business climate to help spur investments, a senior government official said on Wednesday.

Cabinet Secretary in the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Cooperatives Adan Mohamed told a media briefing in Nairobi that a number of substantive changes in the regulatory framework have been earmarked to improve the level of investments in the country.

"The reforms will reduce regulatory compliance burden for businesses by reducing the number of processes and the cost to access critical government services," Mohamed said.

"We will also make it easier for individuals and businesses to pay their taxes through the iTax online platform," he added.

The announcement comes one day after the World Bank released its Doing Business 2018 Report which placed Kenya at position 80 out of 190 countries globally, an improvement from last year's 92.

Mohamed said that Kenya's business reforms will continue to gather steam because it is through thriving businesses that the country will be able to create job opportunities and to generate wealth for its citizens.

The ministry of industry has already boosted the ease of starting a business by merging requisite formal procedures.

The cabinet secretary noted that the government is enhancing electricity reliability through investment in distribution infrastructure and the establishment of power restoration response teams in the case of outages.

In order to increase the level of efficiency for businesses, Mohamed noted, there will be prioritization of the reduction of the time required to file documents for importing and exporting goods and services.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-01 20:33:14|Editor: ying

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Blood is seen at the knife attack site in Tunis, Tunisia, Nov. 1, 2017. Two Tunisian policemen were attacked by a suspected extremist with a knife on Wednesday morning near Tunisia's parliament headquarters. (Xinhua/Adel Ezzine)

TUNIS, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Two Tunisian policemen were attacked by a suspected extremist with a knife on Wednesday morning near Tunisia's parliament headquarters.

One of the policemen was taken to hospital for treatmen after being injured in the neck, while the other was only slightly injured.

The attacker, named Zied Mohamed Gharbi, 25-year-old, was quickly arrested, local radio Mosaique FM reported.

The Tunisian Interior Ministry has launched an investigation into the attack.

On March 2015, a group of armed men launched a terrorist attack at Bardo National Museum, just near the Wednesday's attack place, that killed 23 people.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-01 20:33:15|Editor: Xiang Bo

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TAIPEI, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- A total of three million pills of Erimin have been seized by Taiwan customs, the largest quantity of the drug ever seized on the island, the local justice and investigation authority said Wednesday.

The drugs were found hidden in 60 boxes along with office equipment ready to be exported to Malaysia in July. The drugs weighed over 800 kilograms with a street value of about 700 million new Taiwan dollars (23.2 million U.S.dollars).

Two male suspects, surnamed Kao and Wu, were arrested and turned over to the local prosecutor's office for further investigation as the drugs were made at illegal pharmaceutical plants in Taiwan.

Erimin is the street name for a drug called nimetazepam, an intermediate-acting hypnotic drug that should only be bought on prescription.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-01 20:38:18|Editor: Xiang Bo

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HONG KONG, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government is working on the development of the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park at full steam, an official of the HKSAR government said here Wednesday.

Nicholas Yang, secretary for Innovation and Technology of the HKSAR government, said at the HKSAR Legislative Council (LegCo) that the HKSAR government will strive to provide the first developable land for the park, which is in the Lok Ma Chau Loop, situated to the south of the Shenzhen river and falls within the boundary of Hong Kong, by 2021 to start building work.

The HKSAR government will seek funding from the LegCo for the construction of the advance works of the Main Works Package 1 in the first half of next year, Yang added.

To develop an international innovation and technology hub in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, the Innovation and Technology Bureau will maintain close communication with mainland authorities, he said.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-01 20:43:22|Editor: ying

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STOCKHOLM, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- The alarm at Skavsta Airport in Nykoping, south of Stockholm, was lifted on Wednesday, after examination of a suspected explosive object, Swedish Television reported on Wednesday.

"The latest information is that there is no danger and my guess is that we are back inside the premises soon," Joakim Lindholm, vice president at Skavsta Airport, told Swedish TT News Agency.

Earlier, around at 12 o'clock, people at the airport were evacuated due to a suspected explosive object.

"The airport terminal at Stockholm Skavsta Airport has been temporarily evacuated Wednesday for about an hour due to a suspected explosive object found in the security check," the airport said on its website.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-01 20:53:24|Editor: ying

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ASSADABAD, Afghanistan, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- A Taliban key commander, Samiullah Malangyar and his 44 armed men gave up fighting and joined the government-backed peace process in the eastern Kunar province on Wednesday, provincial governor Wahidullah Kalimzai said.

"Taliban key commander Samiullah Malangyar who was active against the government in several districts including Khas Kunar, Chawkai, Sarkano and Norgul over the past few years joined the peace process along with 44 of his armed men and handed over their weapons to local authorities in a ceremony held here in provincial capital Assadabad," Kalimzai told reporters here.

Nearly 700 armed militants, according to the official, have given up fighting and joined the government-backed peace process in the restive Kunar province over the past year.

Taliban militants have not made comments on the report.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-01 20:53:25|Editor: ying

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JAKARTA, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- The anti-terror squad of the Indonesian national police had arrested five alleged militants implicated in killing police personnel, national police spokesman Brigadier General Rikwanto said here on Wednesday.

The five militants were captured in Bima district in West Nusa Tenggara province, the spokesman said.

The arrest was undertaken after the exchange of fire between the squad and militants on Monday in the province that killed two militants.

"A total of five people from Bima terrorist network have been captured in Ambalawi of Bima," Rikwanto said in a statement.

Rikwanto revealed that the five were involved in the deadly shooting of two policemen on Sept. 11 of this year.

Indonesia has witnessed a spate of suicide bombings in the last decade with dozens of casualties.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-01 20:58:26|Editor: Xiang Bo

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BEIJING, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- China welcomes and encourages contact and dialogue in any form between the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and the United States, said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying here on Wednesday.

Hua made the remarks at a routine press briefing while responding to a question regarding recent direct dialogue between the two countries.

"We encourage the DPRK and the United States to carry out engagement and dialogue," Hua said, adding China hopes this can help enhance the understanding and trust between the DPRK and the United States, and help return the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue to a diplomatic track for resolution.

China, as always, is committed to peacefully settling the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue through diplomatic efforts, said the spokesperson.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-01 20:58:27|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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Chinese Vice Premier Wang Yang (R), also member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, meets with visiting Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Tilak Marapana in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 1, 2017. (Xinhua/Ma Zhancheng)

BEIJING, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier Wang Yang met with visiting Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Tilak Marapana in Beijing Wednesday.

Wang said China highly values its relations with Sri Lanka, and regards the country as an important cooperation partner in the Belt and Road Initiative, which aims to build a trade and infrastructure network connecting Asia with Europe and Africa along the ancient Silk Road trade routes and beyond. It comprises the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road.

This year marks the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties between China and Sri Lanka, and the 65th anniversary of the signing of the Rubber-Rice Pact between the two countries.

Wang said China expects to cement solidarity and cooperation with developing countries including Sri Lanka.

Marapana congratulated China on the success of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China.

He said Sri Lanka considers China a close friend and partner, and hopes to participate in the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, and boost cooperation in ports, infrastructure and other areas.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-01 21:03:29|Editor: Xiang Bo

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Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) meets with Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 1, 2017. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

BEIJING, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday stressed China's commitment to developing and deepening relations with Russia during a meeting with Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev.

Xi said China is ready to work with Russia to expand cooperation in various fields, maintain close coordination in international affairs and promote the building of a community of shared future.

The president said he believed the comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination between China and Russia would generate new opportunities and achieve new results.

Xi pointed out China and Russia should give full play to the prime ministers' regular meetings and enhance cooperation on energy, equipment manufacturing, agriculture and aerospace.

He called on both sides to increase the content of technological innovation in their cooperation and integrate the Belt and Road Initiative with the Eurasian Economic Union.

China and Russia should cooperate in the development and utilization of the Arctic navigation channels to create a "Silk Road on the Ice," Xi said.

On people-to-people exchanges, Xi said China and Russia have achieved many results in education, tourism, and media cooperation, which consolidated the public support for bilateral ties.

For his part, Medvedev conveyed sincere greetings from Russian President Vladimir Putin to President Xi.

He congratulated Xi on the success of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and his re-election as the general secretary of the CPC Central Committee.

The congress charted a blueprint for China's future development and carries great significance to both China and the world, said Medvedev.

Since President Xi visited Russia this July, the two countries have made progress in cooperation on economy, energy, investment, innovation, people-to-people exchanges and other fields, he said.

Chinese top legislator Zhang Dejiang also met with Medvedev on Wednesday afternoon, and both sides agreed to strengthen cooperation on legislation and supervision.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-01 21:03:30|Editor: ying

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KHARTOUM, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- South Sudan's President Salva Kiir Mayardit on Wednesday arrived in Khartoum for an official two-day visit to Sudan, that aims at normalizing the bilateral ties.

He was received upon arrival at Khartoum airport by Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir.

"This is a historical visit and it aims for a relationship that we all hope it would be fruitful so that we can work together for the prosperity of our two peoples and for stability, security and peace in both Sudan and South Sudan," Ahmed Bilal Osman, Sudan's information minister and government spokesman, told reporters upon Kiir's arrival.

Michael Makuei, South Sudan's information minister and government spokesman, for his part, said that "this visit tends to improve the relations between the two countries, particularly that the conditions in the two countries necessitate the two governments to work together to achieve the interests of the people in the two countries."

Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir and his South Sudanese counterpart Salva Kiir Mayardit are scheduled to hold talks on bilateral issues at the presidential palace here later on the day.

The South Sudanese president is also set to meet with Sudan's First Vice-President and Prime Minister Bakri Hassan Saleh.

Sudan and South Sudan have failed to implement a comprehensive cooperation agreement they signed in September 2012 in the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa under the patronage of the African Union.

The agreement included a package of understandings relating to security, citizens' status, border and economic issues and others relating to oil and trade.

However, the signed agreement did not tackle the issues of Abyei and border demarcation.

The border issue represents one of the biggest obstacles hindering the settlement of differences between Sudan and South Sudan.
The screenshot of Stockholm Skavsta Airport official website shows the airport opens again.

STOCKHOLM, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- The alarm at Skavsta Airport in Nykoping, south of Stockholm, was lifted on Wednesday, after examination of a suspected explosive object, Swedish Television reported on Wednesday.

"The latest information is that there is no danger and my guess is that we are back inside the premises soon," Joakim Lindholm, vice president at Skavsta Airport, told Swedish TT News Agency.

Earlier, around at 12 o'clock, people at the airport were evacuated due to a suspected explosive object.

"The airport terminal at Stockholm Skavsta Airport has been temporarily evacuated Wednesday for about an hour due to a suspected explosive object found in the security check," the airport said on its website.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-01 21:13:32|Editor: ying

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JERUSALEM, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the deadly terror attack in New York City (NYC) in a message on his Twitter account on Wednesday.

"We stand with our friends in New York and all Americans following yet another horrible Islamist terror attack," Netanyahu wrote in a tweet addressed to U.S. President Donald Trump, Governor of New York Andrew Cuomo, and Mayor of NYC Bill de Blasio.

Netanyahu offered condolences to the families of the victims of the attack, which claimed the lives of eight people. "We pray for the victims and their families. Together we will defeat this scourge," Netanyahu said, referring to terror attacks by Muslim assailants.

A man driving a rental truck struck and killed eight people and injured more than dozens of others on a jogging and bike path on Tuesday afternoon. De Blasio said the incident was "an act of terror."

The sprawling crime scene runs about 10 blocks along the West Side Highway, a few blocks away from One World Trade in lower Manhattan, the downtown NYC.

A suspect is in custody and was identified as 29-year-old Sayfullo Saipov from Tampa, the U.S. state of Florida, reports said.
Riot police are seen in the streets of Milan, Italy, April 30, 2015. Hours before the opening of Expo Milano 2015, security has been tightened in Milan, the Italian northern city that will host the much-awaited world exposition. (Xinhua/Ye Pingfan)

ROME, Nov.1 (Xinhua) -- A Muslim religious leader from Kosovo was expelled from northern Italy for security reasons, local media reported on Tuesday.

Idriz Idrizovic, 39, was deported from near the city of Lecco in the northern Lombardy region, where he lived since 2008, by order of the Italian Interior Ministry, according to Ansa news agency.

The man was allegedly linked to other Muslim preachers from the Balkans, who were also believed to support an extremist view of religion, according to Ansa reports.

Officers from military police Carabinieri stopped the imam at his home on Monday, and a court in Lecco later upheld the ministry's expulsion order on the basis that the man represented a danger for Italy, state broadcaster RAI News 24 also reported. He was to be brought to Milan airport for a flight to Kosovo on Tuesday.

Idrizovic lived in a small town in the province of Lecco with his wife and five children.

According to official data, as of Oct. 25, Italy's Interior Ministry had registered 89 expulsions this year, and 221 carried out from Jan. 1, 2015, all of which concerning people suspected of religious extremism leanings.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-01 21:48:45|Editor: ying

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By Shristi Kafle

KATHMANDU, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Right after the end of the festival in the last week of October, Nepal witnessed three major road accidents which killed more than 50 people and injured dozens, with some still left unaccounted for.

On Oct. 28, at least 31 people were killed and 16 seriously injured as an overcrowded passenger bus drove off the highway and plunged into the Trishuli River in central Nepal.

Two days later, at least 20 people lost their lives in two separate road accidents in the hilly districts of Gulmi and Udayapur.

The common cause of the accidents, according to officials, was that the vehicles were overloaded with passengers and heavy goods, beyond their capacities. With fatal accidents becoming fairly common with numerous road users losing their lives, serious questions have been raised in this small South Asian country about road safety.

"Poor condition of highways, outdated vehicles carrying double their capacity and the negligence of drivers are the reasons for the majority of road accidents in Nepal," DIG Manoj Neupane, Nepal's police spokesperson, told Xinhua on Tuesday.

"Besides, the government's haphazard and flawed issuance and distribution of driving licenses is the primary cause of accidents," DIG Neupane said.

The government's Department of Transport Management has been responsible for the issuance of driving licenses in the country for more than a decade. However, the process is not smooth and transparent, with many economic irregularities often taking place, according to the public and observers.

"We have even found the selling of driving licenses in small shops, which shows how wretched our system is," DIG Neupane revealed.

Despite having the minimal per capita income, the number of vehicles has significantly grown in Nepal as have numbers of drivers. But there remains no strong mechanism to assess the competence of drivers, especially of public transport, which is often blankly dubbed as "unmanageable" by officials.

Although the traffic police are mobilized along both short and long routes, they claim that it is impossible to oversee and monitor every single vehicle.

According to data from the Department of Transport Management, 211,969 units of new vehicles were registered in the country in the first half of the current fiscal year. With this, the number of vehicles registered in the country has reached 2,551,138 units.

The majority of passenger vehicles are operated in the private sector in Nepal. Despite certain rules such as ensuring double drivers for long routes and upholding vehicle capacity rules, transport companies are often found to disregard such regulations.

As a result, Nepal's public transportation system's flaws has resulted in the loss of lives of many innocent people, including children, especially in the mountainous region of the country.

According to the Nepal Police's statistics, at least 2,577 accidents occurred across the country in the duration of three months from mid-July to mid-October, in which 507 people lost their lives. At least 2,384 had died in the fiscal year 2016-2017, which means at least 6 people die every day in road accidents on average.

The cases of road accidents only gain the attention and priority of government bodies when the death tolls are high, while they are seemingly forgotten for the rest of the year. With every big fatality, committees are formed for the investigation of the accident and reports are prepared along with recommendations.

However, the Nepal police accepts that such reports are hardly implemented, and existing laws including punishments for traffic rules' violators are very weak.

On Wednesday, Rajendra Raj Sharma, joint secretary at the Ministry of Physical Infrastructures and Transport, and his team were inspecting the accident site at Trishuli River where 31 people had lost their lives.

"The cause of the accident seems to be that the vehicle was speeding as the road condition is pretty good," Sharma told Xinhua by phone.

"It is true that we have not been able to control the road accidents. We are learning lessons and trying to improve road transportation gradually," Sharma said.

However, transport experts claim that poor road conditions are the primary cause of such accidents. Most of the roads in Nepal are just a single, narrow lane, lacking in regular maintenance, signs and signals, and safety barriers.

Nepal has 80,000 km of road network of which only one-third has been constructed by the Department of Roads with the rest handled by the local bodies and communities.

Most of the roads are constructed only for connectivity with no engineering standards, according to experts. The burden of more vehicles and passengers using the roads is increasing while road infrastructure has not been developing proportionately.

"The roads constructed by authorized government bodies are scientific but there are too many flaws. The lane width is narrow, there are no safety barriers, lane markings or drainage systems in many places, the finishing is very poor," Ashish Gajurel, a transportation engineer, told Xinhua.

According to Gajurel, there is an immediate need of increased monitoring and for upgrading the condition of roads to save the lives of innocent people.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-01 21:58:47|Editor: Xiang Bo

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HONG KONG, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- The Blue House Cluster in Wanchai of China's Hong Kong has won the Award of Excellence in the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government said in a press release on Wednesday.

It is the first time a built heritage conservation project in Hong Kong has received this award.

"The award not only recognizes our efforts in heritage conservation, but also proves that our adaptive re-use of government-owned historic buildings is up to international standards," said a spokesman for the Commissioner for Heritage's Office of the Development Bureau of the HKSAR government.

The Blue House Cluster comprises three tenement buildings constructed from the 1920s to the 1950s - the Blue House, the Yellow House and the Orange House.

The compound has been revitalized into Viva Blue House, a multifunctional complex providing residential accommodation and community services.

The jury of the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation selected Blue House Cluster as the winner of the Award of Excellence from 43 submissions.

Launched in 2000, the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation aim to recognize and encourage conservation and restoration projects under private initiatives and public-private partnership in the Asia-Pacific region.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-01 22:08:49|Editor: ying

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DHAKA, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Bangladesh's apex court on Wednesday upheld the death sentence for one person and life terms for three others in the murder case of Saudi diplomat Khalaf Al Ali.

A three-member bench of the Supreme Court (SC) headed by Justice Md Abdul Wahhab Miah, who is carrying out the duties of the chief justice, however, acquitted another in the sensational murder case.

The convict, whose death sentence was upheld, and three other convicts, who were sentenced to life imprisonment, are all behind the bars while the acquitted person is on the run.

According to sources, the convict is now left with the only option of seeking presidential clemency.

If the president rejects his pleas, the government will fix a date and prison authorities will start the process to execute the verdict.

Khalaf, 45, a second secretary at the Saudi embassy in Dhaka, was shot dead near his Gulshan house in Dhaka's diplomatic enclave in the wee hours of March 6, 2012.

Belying speculations about third-party role, Bangladesh police announced that Saudi diplomat's murder was related to street crime.

This is the first time a foreign diplomat was murdered in the Muslim-majority nation, which enjoys good relations with Saudi Arabia where over 2 million workers from the South Asian nation are living and working.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-01 22:29:00|Editor: ying

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ATHENS, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Greece on Wednesday expressed solidarity with the United States over the terror attack in New York city on Tuesday, which left eight people dead and a dozen injured.

Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos expressed condolences to U.S. President Donald Trump and to the families of the victims in a message conveyed through the U.S. embassy to Greece, according to an e-mailed press announcement.

"Our thoughts go out to New York terrorist attack victims and their families. We stand by the people of U.S. and its government," the Greek Foreign ministry tweeted.

A truck plowed into pedestrians near the World Trade Center in New York City. The attack occurred hours before an annual Halloween parade was to take place in lower Manhattan, which would be packed with thousands of people in costumes and masks.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-01 22:29:01|Editor: ying

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by Julius Gale

JUBA, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- South Sudan has revamped the fight against Guinea-worm disease in a bid to eradicate and be certified free of the parasitic disease by 2019, a senior health ministry official has said.

Makoy Samuel Yibi, director for South Sudan's Guinea-worm disease eradication program, said a massive eradication program launched in 2006 by the government with support from aid organizations has reduced infections from over 20,000 in 2006 to just one case in 2016.

Yibi said this year South Sudan reported zero cases, adding that if the trend continues, the country will be declared free of Guinea-worm disease by 2019.

He attributed the success in combating the Guinea-worm disease to increased investment in surveillance and treatment programs in hard-hit areas.

Yibi said at least 17,000 volunteers have been trained countrywide to monitor new cases and provide information on the disease.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Guinea-worm disease is endemic in South Sudan, Ethiopia and Chad.

Contracted and spread by drinking contaminated water, Guinea worms can grow up to one meter long in the human body. It digs out of the skin through blisters after 10 to 14 months, leaving behind deep wounds.

Though not fatal in most cases, complications of Guinea-worm disease involve deformation of the human body, which may also disrupt the mobility of affected persons.

Yibi expressed concern that conflicts and displacement may still hinder total eradication of the disease in the east African nation.

In a bid to encourage infected people to voluntarily seek treatment, Yibi said, the government has partnered with the charity foundation of former U.S. President Jimmy Carter to offer cash rewards to Guinea-worm disease patients, monitors and health workers.

The cash reward has been increased from 65 U.S. dollars to about 320 dollars per patient who vulnerably report to health centers for treatment, Yibi said.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-01 22:34:04|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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ISLAMABAD, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan and Iran on Wednesday opposed military solution to the Afghan conflict during high-level diplomatic talks in Islamabad, officials said.

The Foreign Ministry said Pakistani and Iranian officials held the first round of informal consultations at the level of Director Generals of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs on regional situation especially the efforts of peace and stability in Afghanistan.

"Underlining that there was no military solution to the prolonged Afghan conflict, they emphasized the need of a credible political process owned and led by Afghanistan for an internal settlement," said a statement issued at the conclusion of the meeting.

In the consultations, the Pakistani delegation was led by Director General (Afghanistan) Mansoor Ahmad Khan from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Iranian side was led by Director General (West Asia) Rasoul Eslami of the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who visited Islamabad for these consultations.

The two directors general reaffirmed commitment and support of Pakistan and Iran to the efforts of Afghanistan and the international community for achieving lasting peace, stability and progress in Afghanistan, which is important for regional stability, a Foreign Ministry statement said.

Recognizing that terrorism is a major threat to global and regional peace, the two sides discussed that threats such as increasing terrorism and violence in Afghanistan, rising drug production and trafficking and expanding foothold of IS especially posed challenge for Afghanistan and its neighbourhood.

"They emphasized the need of concerted efforts and cooperation among all the states in counter-terrorism, border management and combating production and trafficking of narcotics," the statement said.

This was the first round of bilateral consultations with Iran on regional peace and security with focus on the situation in Afghanistan. The two sides agreed to continue these informal consultations as part of their strong commitment to peace, stability and progress in Afghanistan, and the region.

Pakistan delegation stated that it attaches importance to engagement with Afghanistan in political, security, economic and people-to-people interaction to strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-01 22:54:08|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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by Peerzada Arshad Hamid

NEW DELHI, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- The death toll in a boiler blast inside a state-run power plant in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh Wednesday has risen to 10, officials said.

The blast also injured over 100 people.

The blast took place in the evening inside National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) plant at Unchahar Raibareli, about 110 km southeast of Lucknow, the capital city of Uttar Pradesh.

"Ten people were dead and 100 injured in a blast in steam boiler at NTPC Raebareli," a statement issued by India's National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) said.

A senior police official told the media that 10 bodies have been recovered so far from the site.

However, local media reports put the death toll at 15.

"Fifteen people were reported dead and over 100 others injured when a blast took place at NTPC's thermal power plant at Unchahar in Raebareli district on Wednesday," New Delhi-based television news channel News18 said.

According to police, the pressure inside the ash pipe triggered the blast of the boiler.

"It's believed that accumulation of ash inside pipe and furnace of the boiler exploded due to pressure at the power plant," a senior official at Raebareli told Xinhua.

Officials said they have rushed police teams, disaster management personnel, and ambulances to the spot.

Police said a fully equipped National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team consisting of 32 personnel has left Lucknow for Raibareli.

About 150 workers were said to be present inside the plant when the blast took place.

The victims are said to be workers employed in the power plant.

Reports said the blast triggered massive fire, following which the plant was shut down.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who is currently on a three-day visit to Mauritius, has directed the state's officials to send all possible help to the victims.

He has also announced ex gratia relief of 3,095 U.S. dollars for each family that has lost its member in the accident.

NTPC plant is a secured facility and entry is restricted to employees only. The power plant is guarded by paramilitary India's Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), a paramilitary wing mandated to provide security to major installations of India like nuclear installations, space establishments, airports, seaports, power plants, and sensitive buildings.

Hundreds of people including those whose family members are working inside the power plant have gathered at the Rai Bareli district hospital.

Authorities have ordered a probe into the explosion.

NTPC in a statement described the incident as "unfortunate".
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-01 23:04:11|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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by Ronald Njoroge

NAIROBI, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Kenya's local observer group on Wednesday called for radical changes to the electoral laws to help fix irregularities, a few days after conclusion of the Oct. 26 repeat presidential polls.

The reforms should follow a comprehensive audit of the electoral processes, Regina Opondo, chair of the steering committee of the Elections Observation Group, told a media briefing in Nairobi.

"The process of developing new electoral laws should involve as many stakeholders as possible," Opondo said.

On Monday, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission declared President Uhuru Kenyatta as winner of the Oct. 26 repeat presidential polls, which was boycotted by the main opposition alliance, the National Super Alliance.

Opondo said the voter register still remains a contentious issue that must be addressed.

"Our voter register audit indicates that the electoral body has not managed to fully clean up the register," she said.

There is also need for regulations to guide campaign finance, Opondo said. "This area remains weak and thus the competition is not on a level playing field."

The group also called for new electoral reforms to include enforcement of the electoral offenses laws to ensure all political players abide by the constitution.

Opondo also urged continuous and consistent voter education throughout the electoral cycle to help citizens see through fake news and misinformation.
File Photo: Hezbollah fighters fire at a position of the Islamic State (IS) group in Syria's Qalamoun region, on Aug. 26, 2017. (Xinhua/Ammar Safarjalani)

WASHINGTON, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson met Russian Ambassador to Washington Anatoly Antonov here on Tuesday, seeking solutions to Ukraine and Syria conflicts.

During their talk, Tillerson and Antonov exchanged views on the need to restore Ukraine's territorial integrity and fully implement the Minsk peace agreements, U.S. State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said in a statement.

The two also talked about battles against the Islamic State group in Syria and the United States' continued commitment to the Geneva talks as the best path toward a political solution to the six-year long conflict, according to the statement.

The Minsk agreements, reached in September 2014 and February 2015 respectively, envisaged a series of security and political steps designed to peacefully end the conflict.

The agreements include a cease-fire, a withdrawal of heavy weaponry from the contact line, a prisoner exchange and local elections in Donbas in eastern Ukraine, among other measures.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-01 23:09:13|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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MUSCAT, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Oman's biggest desalination firm, Muscat City Desalination Company (MCDC), plans to float an initial public offering (IPO) on the Muscat Securities Market in the second half of November, the company said in a press release on Wednesday.

The promoters of MCDC, Malakoff International (Malaysia), Sumitomo Corporation (Japan) and Cadagua S.A, will divest 35 percent of their shareholdings in favor of investing public through the share offer.

Accordingly, 54.44 million shares will be on offer and the issue is managed by Bank Muscat. However, the offer price is not disclosed.

The company is the owner of Oman's largest water plant contributing to 24 percent of total water capacity in the Interconnected Zone, added the press release.

MCDC has a long-term water purchase agreement until 2034 with the state-owned Oman Power & Water Procurement Company, ensuring stable and predictable cash flows.

The MCDC project, which started operation in February 2016, was established with a capital expenditure of 266 million U.S. dollars to produce 42 million gallons of potable water every day.

Oman's bourse witnessed four IPOs from national insurance firms so far this year: Al Ahlia Insurance, Vision Insurance, Oman Qatar Insurance and National Life and General Insurance.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-01 23:14:14|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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ATHENS, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Greece's former defense minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos returned to jail after an Athens appeals court upheld his sentence for bribery and money laundering.

Tsochatzopoulos' wife Vicky Stamati, also convicted for the same corruption scandal, filed for divorce on Wednesday.

In a statement released by her lawyer to Greek national news agency AMNA, Stamati said that she made the decision to protect their minor son, although she still loves and admires Tsochatzopoulos.

Stamati claims that the only reason she was also sentenced twice along her husband was because she carries his surname.

An appeals court on Monday handed down a unanimous guilty verdict for the former defense official and 15 other defendants, including Stamati and his daughter for receiving kickbacks linked to arms procurement contracts during his term as minister between 1996 and 2001.

The court gave him a 19-year term, which was reduced by one year from his initial sentence in 2013. He was the highest former official convicted for corruption in Greece in decades.

Tsochatzopoulos, 78, stayed in prison until last May when he was released for health reasons after undergoing a bypass surgery.

Following Monday's verdict, eight defendants returned to jail. One passed away during the trial.

Stamati was also due to return to jail, although according to law experts, she was expected to be released soon as she has served a part of her sentence.

Stamati was sentenced to 12 years in prison and was granted an early release in 2015 as mother of an underage child and due to poor health. She had attempted suicide during her imprisonment.

The court has not determined yet the fate of the couple's assets which were seized by the state.

A part of the multi-million-dollar bribes the former minister, his relatives and associates hid in offshore companies has not yet been traced.
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LOS ANGELES, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- A 24-year-old American man accused of killing a Chinese student near the University of Utah in the western U.S. state of Utah was arrested on Tuesday, police confirmed.

"Suspect in #homicide is in custody," the Salt Lake City Police Department tweeted at about 12:45 p.m local time (0645 GMT, Wednesday).

"Austin Boutain, suspect in fatal shooting Monday, has been apprehended. He is now in custody," the University of Utah also texted the news to students.

Boutain, a white male with a tear drop tattoo on his face as well as tattoos on his neck and one arm, was identified as the suspect in the killing of a 23-year-old Chinese student on Monday night in a failed carjacking attempt near the University of Utah's Salt Lake City campus.

The victim was Chenwei Guo, who was a pre-computer science major and worked as a peer advisor in the university's International Student and Scholar Services Office, Shaw Wood, a communications specialist of the university confirmed to Xinhua.

He "was killed in a senseless, random act of violence," Wood said.

"Chenwei was parked near the gate in Red Butte Canyon when the suspect fatally shot him while attempting to hijack his vehicle," David Pershing, president of the university, said in a letter released early Tuesday.

"We have canceled classes today in respect of Chenwei and the impact this violent event has had on our campus community," said Pershing.

"Chenwei Guo (was) seriously one of the kindest guys I've ever met. He offered to come fix my car for me after only meeting one time. He included me when I didn't know anyone, and he was one heck of a dancer. You will be missed. Please pray for his family and friends," Jennifer Stout, one of Guo's friends posted on Guo's facebook.

Guo was also a former missionary at Utah Provo Mission and the Salt Lake City-based Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, according to a social media profile.

"We will miss your smile and jokes whenever you were around. Your faith and testimony will live with us forever. We love you and will miss you so much!" Diandra Subandriyo Guo, the victim's friend posted.

A campus gathering in his honor was being organized for Tuesday night, according to social media.

Assisted by a helicopter and snipers, hundreds of local and federal law enforcement personnel hunted Boutain all night on campus and the foothills above the university, but did not locate him.

Boutain was taken into custody without incident at a public library in the city's downtown, Keith Horrocks, detective of the Salt Lake City Police Department, was quoted as saying by local media reports.

The Chinese embassy in Washington paid high attention to the incident and expressed sincere condolences and sympathy to Guo's relatives, a Chinese embassy official told Xinhua.

The Chinese embassy has made contact with the police after the incident, urging timely investigations into the incident.

The Chinese embassy will closely follow the development of the case, and provide assistance for the relatives during their stay in the United States, the official said.

Police disclosed Tuesday that the suspect, who has a criminal history, and his 23-year-old wife Kathleen Boutain may also be related to a homicide committed last week in Golden, Colorado, said the police.

Reports said a 63-year-old man's body was found Tuesday in a trailer in Golden. Police believe Boutain had been driving the man's pickup truck which is still missing.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-01 23:24:16|Editor: huaxia

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SANAA -- At least 26 civilians were killed early Wednesday when a Saudi-led coalition airstrike hit a hotel in Yemen's northern rebel-stronghold province of Saada, a provincial security official told Xinhua.

Dozens of others were wounded in the airstrike that hit the hotel in al-Layl popular market in Sahar district in south of the province. (Yemen-Airstrike-Kill)

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ISTANBUL -- Four crew members died and six others went missing on Wednesday when a cargo ship sank in the Black Sea near the Asian side of Istanbul, local media reported.

The ship bearing Turkish flag was sailing from Gemlik Port in the Marmara Sea to the Black Sea province of Zonguldak when it disappeared from radar off Istanbul's Sile district, the Hurriyet daily said. (Istanbul-Cargo ship-Sink)

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NEW DELHI -- At least eight people were killed and around 100 others injured after a boiler exploded Wednesday at a state-run power project in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, local media reported.

The blast took place during the evening inside National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) plant at Raibareli, about 82 km southeast of Lucknow, the capital city of Uttar Pradesh. (India-Boiler-Explode)

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ASSADABAD -- A Taliban key commander, Samiullah Malangyar and his 44 armed men gave up fighting and joined the government-backed peace process in the eastern Kunar province on Wednesday, provincial governor Wahidullah Kalimzai said.

"Taliban key commander Samiullah Malangyar who was active against the government in several districts including Khas Kunar, Chawkai, Sarkano and Norgul over the past few years joined the peace process along with 44 of his armed men and handed over their weapons to local authorities in a ceremony held here in provincial capital Assadabad," Kalimzai told reporters here. (Assadabad-Taliban commander-Gave up)

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TOKYO -- Leader of Japan's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Shinzo Abe was reelected as the country's prime minister on Wednesday following the ruling party's sweeping victory in the Oct. 22 lower house election.

Both houses of parliament convened Wednesday for a special session following the Oct. 22 lower house election, which saw the ruling coalition sweep to victory. (Abe-Prime minister-Reelect) Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-01 23:24:17|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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MOSCOW, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Moscow wants the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), commonly known as the Iran nuclear deal, to remain in place despite U.S. threats to abandon it, a senior Russian diplomat said Wednesday.

"There is no doubt that those in the United States who wish to continue widening the spiral of anti-Iran sanctions in spite of everything, in defiance of common sense and (the) logic of the JCPOA, are rather strong," RIA Novosti news agency quoted Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov as telling reporters.

Ryabkov said it was imperative to maintain the JCPOA and avoid imposing sanctions against Iran.

"We must act in accordance with the JCPOA, and this is precisely the message that Iran, Russia, China and European countries are transmitting to Washington," Ryabkov said.

On Oct. 13, U.S. President Donald Trump alleged that Iran had committed "multiple violations" of the accord and threatened to abandon the JCPOA if it was not amended.

Ryabkov said he saw no room for amendments to the agreement, which, according to him, reflected a "very well-measured and delicate balance of interests and compromises."

The responsibility for the potential collapse of the JCPOA will rest entirely with the American side, Ryabkov said.

The JCPOA was signed in 2015 by Iran, China, France, Germany, Britain, Russia and the United States.

Under the deal, Iran agreed to halt its nuclear weapons program in exchange for economic aid and partial lifting of international sanctions.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-01 23:29:19|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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MOSCOW, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Six Russian long-range bombers have destroyed Islamic State (IS) strongholds and arsenals in eastern Syria, the Russian Defense Ministry said Wednesday.

The targets were located near the city of Abu Kamal close to the Syria-Iraq border, one of the last remaining IS strongholds in Syria.

The warplanes returned to their base safely after completing the mission, the ministry said in a statement.

On Tuesday, the ministry said Russian submarine Veliky Novgorod had fired three cruise missiles at IS facilities in the vicinity of Abu Kamal submarine from the Mediterranean Sea.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-01 23:44:24|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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CAPE TOWN, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- So-called "Black Monday" protests against farm murders have sparked a controversy in a South Africa that is still divided over racial lines.

On Wednesday, the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) joined the ruling African National Congress (ANC) in condemning the protests as "racially motivated."

"COSATU has noted with utter disdain the so-called Black Monday march by some white right-wing lunatics, who are nostalgic for a past, where they were superior by law," the organization said.

On Monday, massive protests erupted in major cities across the country against farm murders. Most participants were white people, some of whom were holding apartheid-era South African flags.

The protests were organized amid a sharp increase in farm murders.

Since the beginning of 2017, at least 341 farm attacks have been committed in the country, during which at least 70 people have been murdered, according to lobby group AgriForum.

The group accused police of failing to provide farmers with adequate protection.

But COSATU sees farm murders in a different way.

"The issue of farm killings should be given the same kind of attention that is given to the killing any citizen, nothing more and nothing less," COSATU national spokesperson Sizwe Pamla said.

COSATU denounces the march as nothing but "loutish posturing by some unredeemable and unreformed racists," he said.

"While everyone has a right to protest; we strongly deplore their glorification of the old South African flag, which is nothing but a symbol of hate," Pamla said.

There will be no peace or social stability in South Africa if there is no economic justice, he said.

Thousands of farm workers are killed and illegally evicted everyday in this country not by some unknown criminals but by their own employers, Pamla said.

It is the majority of black people, who remain victims of violent crimes and economic deprivation in the country, Pamla said.

Earlier, the ANC condemned what it described as "despicable and racist behavior" by some protesters, saying farm murders were racially characterized and stoked with racial hatred by some elements in the campaign.

ANC national spokesperson Zizi Kodwa said the ANC-led government "aspires to safety for all South Africans and not only a certain racial group or sector."

"The myopic call for the protection of farmers, referring in particular to white farm owners, points to an ill-conceived sense of special entitlement, gives a biased racial character to crime, brutality and violence which affects all South Africans and ignores and undermines the deaths of farm workers and other persons on farms," Kodwa said.

The ANC also cited reports of inhumane practices by some farmers against their workers and brutal killings of black people on farms.

"Black Monday" organizer Daniel Briers denied that the protests were racially motivated.

He said the event was designed not only to end farm murders but also to forge unity among South Africans.

"Black Monday" protests have again brought people's attention to the issue of land reform.

On Wednesday, Agriculture South Africa (AgriSA), an association of South African farmers, said the organization has always supported land reform.

AgriSA President Dan Kriek said it is not necessary for South Africa to go for a radical route when dealing with the issue of land.

"All we need is a partnership-based approach and the involvement of the private sector. The market does function, the figures are far better than what everyone quotes," he said.

AgriSA has plans in place and all they need is financial help from the government, Kriek said.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-01 23:44:26|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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by Lyu Tianran and Frank Kanyesigye

KIBUNGO, Rwanda, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- The 18th China Medical Team in Rwanda on Wednesday launched a week-long free treatment activity in Rwanda's Kibungo Cell.

Hundreds of local residents gathered at the health post in Kibungo, Eastern Province, around 9:30 a.m. to receive free medical care from the Chinese doctors. The doctors from departments of orthopedics, internal medicine, surgery, stomatology, acupuncture, anesthesiology and maternity provided consultations and treatment, after donating medicines to the health post.

"I have been suffering from painful swollen legs for the past two years and have visited several healthcare centers in my area," said Jean d'Arc Mukandutiye, 47, who got diagnosis, medicines, recommendation of further medical checkup from the Chinese doctors.

"It's expensive to access medical checkup and treatment in hospitals. I tried to get treatment in hospitals but I couldn't afford," said the mother of seven.

The patients at the site reported health problems ranging from dental problems, malaria, hypertension, diabetes, reproductive health, influenza, arthritis, typhoid to skin diseases.

Emmanuel Ndayambaje, who suffered a terrible headache for the past six months, said the health centers he visited failed to diagnose the problem. The Chinese doctors explained to him the cause of the headache, he said.

The 60 years old expressed his gratitude for the free medical services, as it has been difficult for him to access health services in Kigali due to his financial constraints.

Eugenie Imurinde, head of Kibungo health post, thanked the Chinese medical team for the work they have done for the health center.

"Many patients especially in rural areas fail to access treatment even for minor problems, due to lack of money for treatment and sometimes the long distances involved," Imurinde said.

"When our health post can't handle complicated health problems and refer these patients to hospitals, they don't go because of financial difficulties," she said.

Providing free treatment to Rwandans is one of the Chinese medical teams' main assignments, according to the team leader Lu Jun. The team aims to provide Rwandan patients with convenience through such activities, she said.

China started to dispatch medical team to Rwanda in 1982, and there have been hundreds of medical staff working in Rwanda since then.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-01 23:49:28|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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ISLAMABAD, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif told the Senate on Wednesday evening that the United States is "hiding its defeat" in Afghanistan and shifts the blame to Pakistan.

The foreign minister was winding up a discussion in the Upper House of the parliament on the recent visit by U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson to Pakistan.

"I very sincerely and seriously believe that the American policy for Afghanistan has actually been prepared by those American military generals who have faced embarrassment in Afghanistan over the past 15 years," the Pakistani foreign minister said.

"I do not think that specific mindset will form an objective policy. I have said the same in the U.S. and also conveyed it to U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson in Islamabad," he said.

"They (American) in fact hide their defeat when they shift the blame towards Pakistan," Asif said.

He, however, assured the Senate that Pakistan is engaged with the United States to find common grounds for peace and stability in Afghanistan through joint efforts.

"Pakistan wanted the U.S. to provide actionable intelligence to it for prompt action and the same message was conveyed to the secretary of state during the meeting here in Islamabad. He was told that instead of rhetoric the United States should react only if no action was taken on the intelligence provided by it," the minister said.

He informed the Senate that Pakistan took regional and friendly countries before the re-engagement with the United States, adding that he visited for consultations in Beijing, Tehran, Ankara and Riyadh, and also with the foreign minister of Russia on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in September to discuss regional solution to such challenging situation.

"It has been made clear to the United States that there is no military solution to Afghan situation, and India's role in the region as policeman is unacceptable," he insisted.

Asif also called for regional solution to the Afghan issue and urged the regional countries to evolve a regional strategy for peace in the area.

He said Pakistan is also very active on the Shanghai Cooperation Organization's platform and will utilize this forum to sort out regional issues.

He assured the House that Pakistan's foreign policy will be evolved in light of the guidance from the parliament and other stakeholders and it will never be shaped under any foreign influence.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-01 23:54:30|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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UNITED NATIONS, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- The United States will vote against a UN General Assembly draft resolution calling for the lifting of U.S. economic and trade embargo on Cuba, the U.S. envoy to the United Nations said on Wednesday.

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley made the threat ahead of the vote at the UN General Assembly.

She also said the General Assembly has no power to remove the embargo as it is a U.S. law. Dismissing the vote as "political theater," she said only the U.S. Congress can lift the decades-old embargo.

Last year, the United States broke a 24-year voting streak at the United Nations by abstaining from instead of voting against a resolution calling for an end to the trade embargo against Cuba. Haley explained that the about-face is because of the election of Donald Trump as the new president and herself as the new UN ambassador.

The vote was seen as another turning point in the U.S.-Cuba relations since the two countries announced in December 2014 that they would work to normalize ties. The two countries restored diplomatic ties in July 2015.

Earlier this year, the Trump administration announced new restrictions that effectively rolled back Obama administration's Cuban rapprochement.
Sorry, this news has been deleted.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-02 00:09:35|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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PHNOM PENH, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian Minister of Tourism Thong Khon said on Wednesday that China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) will greatly contribute to the development of tourism for all participating countries.

The Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road initiative, known as the Belt and Road Initiative, was proposed by China in 2013 with the aim of building a trade, investment, and infrastructure network connecting Asia with Europe and Africa along the ancient trade routes.

"The Belt and Road Initiative will enhance connectivity, which is a great addition to the development of tourism," he said in a speech during the closing ceremony of the second national tourism forum on "China Ready" in Phnom Penh. "We support the initiative because we regard it as a win-win policy for all."

"Through the initiative, Cambodia's cooperation with China and other countries along the Silk Road would become closer, especially in economics, trade, investment, tourism and culture," he said.

Thong Khon said Cambodia needs to invest more in infrastructure such as roads, tourism ports, and airports in certain tourist destinations in order to attract more international tourists.

"I hope that the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and the Silk Road Fund will become major sources of capital for Cambodia and other countries in the development of tourism," he said.

Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Xiong Bo said tourism is among the priority cooperation sectors between China and Cambodia under the Belt and Road Initiative.

"Under the initiative, I believe that more Chinese enterprises will come to invest in Cambodia's tourism industry," he said during the forum's closing ceremony.

Xiong said China will continue to support Cambodia's tourism development and will open a new consulate in northwestern Siem Reap province, the home of Angkor world heritage site, in the near future.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-02 00:14:36|Editor: Jiaxin

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By Burak Akinci

ANKARA, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Since the expulsion of the Islamic State (IS) from its Syrian and Iraqi headquarters, hundreds of foreign fighters have reportedly returned home including Turkey, likely to be one of their future targets, despite intense counterterrorism activities.

Turkish anti-terror squads have led a massive crackdown against jihadist cells across Turkey, arresting some 150 suspects last weekend.

Some of them were seemingly planning bloody attacks in Istanbul, Turkey's most populated city and economic hub, on Oct. 29, Turkey's Republic Day.

During an investigation of two residences determined to be jihadist cells where fires had broken out on Oct. 28, two plotters were identified as Austrian citizens of Turkish origin, police said in a statement.

The police also found and raided two other cells in Istanbul, which have been identified to have been in the Arnavutkoy district on the European side of Istanbul for the past five years.

The news came after Istanbul police foiled a major planned IS bomb attack and brought down two very significant jihadist cells in the city one day prior to the Republic Day celebrations.

According to police, a car loaded with explosives and a bomb-laden motorcycle were found in the parking lot of a shopping mall in Istanbul's Bayrampasa district on Saturday.

"Objects used in bomb making, including chemical materials ... electronic circuits, cables, batteries and many other similar materials, were found in two houses," the police said in a written statement.

It said 66 home-made explosives with remote control set-ups, suicide vests, two firearms and many bullets were confiscated from the motorcycle and the car.

"It seems that the arrested suspects were planning a massacre during Republic Day. The police did a wonderful job otherwise a lot of blood would have been spilled again," said security analyst Abdullah Agar during an interview to the 24 TV channel.

"Such attacks aim to divide the society where it is planned, to create havoc, chaos and a state of panic among the population," indicated Agar, warning that there is still many risks from IS towards Turkey, and Turks should be very careful.

In a series of new details about this major crackdown, the police told the Anadolu Agency that the arrested suspects were planning no less than four suicide attacks in Istanbul on the same day, aiming to kill dozens of civilians who were chanting and demonstrating in the streets of the metropolis.

According to sources quoted by Anadolu Agency and the local press, the jihadists also planned to attack a shopping mall to carry out a massacre with suicide vests.

Thousands of foreign IS supporters have returned to their home countries after leaving Syria and Iraq over the past two years, especially last weeks.

Last week, the New York-based Soufan Center, an American NGO dealing with security matters, published a report, saying that at least 5,600 people from 33 countries left IS-held areas since two years, with the number increasing as the group began to suffer territorial losses. Some 900 of them have returned to Turkey, according to this report.

More than 40,000 foreigners from 100 different countries joined the jihadist movement after it declared the establishment of a "caliphate" in 2014 after seizing large portions of land in Syria and Iraq.

The group's self-proclaimed capital in Syria, Raqqa, fell to the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in early October, and in June Iraqi forces liberated Mosul from IS fighters, one of Iraq's biggest cities.

After a series of deadly attacks that rocked big cities such as Ankara and Istanbul in the past two years, Turkey, accused by some in the past of turning a blind eye to IS, is waging a full fledged war against the terrorist group.

According to the Turkish authorities, more than 5,000 suspected IS militants have been arrested and some 3,300 foreign fighters have been deported since January 2017.

But the authorities also fear that despite more effective border control (Syria and Iraq) where huge walls have been erected with constant police repression in major cities, there could be an increase of attacks on Turkish soil in order to make up for the damage suffered in Raqqa and Mosul.

"We see that foreign fighters are returning home and Turkey, as a country where militants are coming back to, is surely under threat," told Xinhua Can Acun, a Middle East expert at the Ankara-based Foundation for Political, Economic and Social Research think tank.

Acun mentioned that the Turkish military has managed to sweep up jihadist forces near its borders with the Euphrates Shield operation (September 2016 to March 2017) in Syrian soil.

The expert underlined the increase of intelligence obtained by Turkish security forces since last summer that led to "the collapse in general of the Daesh cells in Turkey," adding the capacity of the extremist movement to organize significant attacks has been severely diminished.

"Of course there are still risks but compared to the past, I think that Turkey is safer now," argued Acun.

The New Year's Eve attack against a night club in Istanbul which killed 39 people was the last major incident linked to IS in Turkey. The gunman was apprehended a few weeks later and is awaiting trial.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-02 00:19:38|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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TEHRAN, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- The trilateral summit of Iran, Russia and Azerbaijan held in Iran's capital Tehran is a good chance for sharing views and reaching agreements, Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qasemi said Wednesday.

The meeting will draw focus on "North-South Corridor," extending from Russia through Azerbaijan to Iran, and expansion of the three countries' economic, commercial, and tourism collaborations, Qasemi said, quoted by official IRNA news agency.

The meeting will also encompass consultations of the three presidents about common challenges and threats such as terrorism.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev joint their Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani on Wednesday for the meeting.

"This would be the second summit. The first was held in Baku. We will also hold bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the summit," Qasemi was quoted as saying.

In August 2016, Rouhani and his Russian and Azerbaijani counterparts held tripartite summit in Azerbaijan's capital where they discussed ways of enhancing cooperation in the areas of commerce, energy, communications, transport and transit, Tasnim reported.

They also exchanged views on environmental issues as well as the fight against terrorism.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-02 00:19:39|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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GUANGDONG, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- South China's Guangdong Province Wednesday released new regulations, empowering the elderly to reject their dependent children, and giving heavier punishments for fraud targeting old people.

According to the document, parents have the right to refuse to give money to grown-up children, and prevent them, or other relatives from seizing or disposing of any legal interests of the elderly.

With regard to increasing fraudulent activities against old people, the regulation bans inducing, deceiving or coercing the elderly into consumption, and urges police to handle such illegal activities in a timely and serious manner.

Governments at all levels in the province should guarantee funds for the aging population. The document also stipulated that a certain proportion of welfare lottery profits will be used to serve the elderly.

Employers should give support to employees who are the only child in their family to care for their hospitalized old parents, according to the regulation.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-02 00:24:41|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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ADDIS ABABA, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Ethiopia's Federal Supreme Court cassation bench on Wednesday suspended bail for prominent Oromo opposition figure Bekele Gerba who is in prison on terrorism charges.

The decision to suspend his bail, granted by a lower court on Monday, followed appeal by prosecutors against his bail.

Gerba, deputy head of the Oromo Federalist Congress (OFC), has been in jail for almost two years over terrorism charges relating to allegations of instigating unrest in Ethiopia's largest regional state Oromia.

OFC is the main opposition party to the ruling coalition Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) in the restive central Oromia regional state.

The Federal High Court criminal bench on Monday approved a 1,110-U.S.-dollar (30,000 Ethiopian birr) bail for Gerba with the charges to be heard with him being outside prison.

Oromia has seen large anti-government protests by ethnic Oromos since the end of 2015, leaving hundreds of dead.

A martial law declared in October 2016 was lifted in August, but deadly anti-government protests renewed earlier this month in Oromia. Release of Oromo opposition leaders, including Gerba, was among demands posed by the protesters.

Oromos, Ethiopia's largest ethnic group making up a third of the country's estimated population of 100 million, have complained of decades of economic, political and social marginalization by successive governments.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-02 00:29:45|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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TEHRAN, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Wednesday called for efforts to enhance economic ties between Iran and Azerbaijan, proposing to use their national currencies in the bilateral trade.

Rouhani made the remarks at a meeting with Azeri counterpart Ilham Aliyev in Tehran, the Tasnim news agency reported.

The Iranian president also hailed the growing ties between Tehran and Baku as "an example of relations for other countries in the region."

The two leaders have held 10 meetings in recent years, which indicates their determination to deepen relations in all spheres, Rouhani said.

He further stressed the need to strengthen economic ties between Iran and Azerbaijan.

For his part, Aliyev called for closer relations with Iran, citing the common history, culture and religion of Iranians and Azeris as a "great" asset that links the two nations.

Aliyev arrived in Tehran on Wednesday to attend the second trilateral summit with Rouhani and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-02 00:29:45|Editor: huaxia

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JOHANNESBURG, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- The Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) surged on Wednesday, supported by a slightly weaker South African rand.

The dual-listed foreign companies which benefit from the weaker rand rallied as the local unit traded R14.05 to the U.S. dollar.

Resource shares led the way, thanks to higher commodity prices, complemented by a weaker rand.

Investors are keeping their ears on the ground following news that the S&P Global Ratings and Moody's will announce the results of their latest reviews on the country's rating later this month.

JSE closed at a record 59,514.11 points with all share up 0.91 percent, while the blue-chip top 40 added 1.35 percent to 53,056.59 points. The resources index advanced 2.67 percent to 38,240.6 points, a new 52-week high. The gold index was 2.22 percent higher.

Anglo American led the gains in big diversified miners, adding 40.1 percent to 275.71. BHP was up 3.03 percent to R263 and Sasol 2.01 percent to R422. Kumba Iron Ore rose 2.82 percent to R279.68, and Assore 4.04 percent to R321.73.

AngloGold Ashanti surged up 3.78 percent to R135.25, Gold Fields 2.27 percent to R57.72 and Sibanye-Stillwater 3.66 percent to R18.98.

The Financial index gained 1.01 percent, with Old Mutual rebounded 1.77 percent to R36.02, following news that it was cutting its interest in Nedbank to 19.9 percent, from 54 percent. Sanlam gained 2.01percent to R72.12, and Investec Plc 0.85 percent to R97.23.

Woolworths rose 1.15 percent to R57. Truworths 2.22 percent to R77.03,and TFG 2.44 percent to R138.8.

British American Tobacco advanced 0.42 percent to settle at R913.78. Enditem
A child receives medical treatment at a separated cholera center in Sanaa, Yemen, on Sept. 19, 2017. The country has been hit by a deadly cholera outbreak and is on the edge of famine. (Xinhua/Mohammed Mohammed)

SANAA, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Aabid Sofan's pregnant wife has already recovered from cholera and gave birth to a daughter early this week.

Sofan's family had survived the deadly disease, which led him to feel happy despite daily tragedies of the ongoing civil war, hunger and unpaid salaries since last year.

"It was very surprisingly severe vomiting and diarrhoea at the mid night and she was in her last month of pregnancy," the 30-year-old agricultural engineer said.

"No money was in my pocket nor I owned a car, and I rushed to ask my neighbor to take us by his car to the hospital," said Sofan, adding that his wife received treatment for four days, and doctors transferred her to the pregnancy section where she gave birth. The newborn child is in good condition without any side effects.

Sofan said his neighbor helped him pay the expenses at the hospital.

"I'm very happy for saving the lives of my wife and my newborn daughter, and I wish the war comes to end," he said.

Sofan, a government employee at the state-run Agricultural Ministry in Sanaa, is like thousands of Yemeni government staff members who have not received their salaries for one year after the government shifted the central bank from Houthi-held capital Sanaa to the southern port city of Aden in September last year.

According to the latest figures from the World Health Organization (WHO), some 884,368 suspected cholera cases have been recorded in the past six months, including 2,184 deaths.

The United Nations spokesman Stephane Dujarric said on Oct. 13 at the UN Headquarters that the cholera outbreak in Yemen is the largest single-year cholera outbreak ever on record.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said last month that the epidemic could hit one million by the end of the year.

However, the epidemic seems to begin slightly subsiding in recent two weeks in the country, perhaps because of UN-backed house-to-house health awareness campaigns.

In a statement on Monday, the medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders) said it is closing most of its cholera treatment centers in Yemen, saying the outbreak appears to have weakened.

MSF said the epidemic was not over, but the suspected cases have decreased significantly.

"The number of cholera cases reported in MSF treatment centers has significantly decreased since the peak of the outbreak. As a result, the medical organization is closing the majority of its cholera treatment centers or reducing their capacity," MSF said in the statement.

On Sunday, WHO said the number of suspected cases of cholera was declining from almost 51,000 cases in a week at the outbreak's peak to 35,000 cases per week in the first two weeks of October.

Most of the deaths were reported from the northern province of Hajjah, while most of the infected cases were reported from the northwestern port province of Hodeidah on the coast of the Red Sea, both under control of Shiite Houthi rebels.

The civil war, which has lasted more than two years and a half, has destroyed the bulk of the country's water and sanitation systems, with more than half of Yemen's health facilities out of service and about 15 million people gaining no access to safe water and basic healthcare.

The war pits Iranian-allies Shiite Houthi rebels against the internationally-recognized government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, which is backed by a Saudi-led Arab coalition.

The war has killed more than 10,000 Yemenis, half of them civilians, and displaced over 3 million others, according to UN humanitarian agencies.

The ongoing war has hit a stalemate, creating the largest humanitarian crisis in the world and pushing the country to the brink of famine, with an estimated 385,000 children suffering from acute malnutrition, thus putting them at heightened risk of acute watery diarrhea and cholera, according to the UN agencies.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-02 00:49:52|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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NAIROBI, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Somalia security forces have captured several villages in southern Somalia from Al-Shabaab, an official said Wednesday.

"The government captured Mukay Dumis, Digta Gosarow and Idow Gudow villages in Lower Shabelle and is now in full control," Abdifitah Haji Abdulle, a local administrator in Lower Shabelle region, told journalists.

Abdulle said the capture followed an operation by the security forces, noting there was no resistance as Al-Shabaab militants vacated the area following reports of troops' movement.

The move came amid a security meeting in Mogadishu chaired by President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed ahead of an expected offensive against Al-Shabaab.

The president who has also sought increased support from neighboring countries pledged to avenge the Oct. 14 truck bombing, which killed over 350 lives.

Mohamed said Tuesday he would be pushing for the quick integration of federal and state security forces to wage a common front against Al-Shabaab. The group still controls large swathes of the Lower Shabelle region.
Women asylum seekers from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) go about their work in Nchelenge District, Luapula Province, about 1,020 kilometers north of Lusaka, Zambia, Oct. 30, 2017. (Xinhua/Elias Shilangwa)

LUAPULA PROVINCE, Zambia, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- The Zambian government has started an emergency plan to help asylum seekers from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as their number grows each day.

Zambian President Edgar Lungu on Tuesday toured a transit center for asylum seekers in Luapula province and appealed to the international community to do more to support the government's efforts.

A refugee from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) displays items for sale in Nchelenge District, Luapula Province, about 1,020 kilometers north of Lusaka, Zambia, Oct. 30, 2017. (Xinhua/Elias Shilangwa)

Lungu said while the government and its partners were doing everything possible to take care of the people, there was the need for more support.

"The needs of the refugees and the host community are many. This is a big challenge," Lungu said when addressing the asylum seekers.

The Zambian leader said the country expects to receive more asylum seekers from the DRC as indications so far show that the situation in DRC was likely to worsen.

An asylum seeker dance group from Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) performs a dance in Nchelenge District, Luapula Province, about 1,020 kilometers north of Lusaka, Zambia, Oct. 30, 2017. (Xinhua/Elias Shilangwa)

He further said the country will face challenges to take care of the asylum seekers when they are moved to a permanent settlement.

The number of asylum seekers has now reached 6,009, according to latest figures released on Tuesday by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

Newly-arrived asylum seekers from Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) wait to be screened and registered at Kenani Transit Center in Nchelenge District, Luapula Province, about 1,020 kilometers north of Lusaka, Zambia, Oct. 30, 2017. (Xinhua/Elias Shilangwa)
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-02 00:59:56|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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MANAMA, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Bahrain's High Criminal Court on Wednesday formally charged the country's top opposition leader for conspiring with Qatar.

The now dissolved Al Wefaq National Islamic Society's secretary general Sheikh Ali Salman has been charged in connection with a phone conversation he had with the former Prime Minister of Qatar in 2011, the Public Prosecution confirmed in a statement.

Details of a 2011 phone conversation between Salman and Qatar's former Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim Al Thani were broadcast by Bahrain Television on Aug. 16.

It exposed the dialogue between Qatar and the Bahraini opposition movement in 2011.

Advocate General Ahmed Al Hammadi said on Wednesday that the Public Prosecution remanded the cleric in custody pending further investigation into the case, and the sentence will be served after he completes his current jail term of four years.

Ali Salman was arrested in 2014 and convicted of charges including trying to overthrow the government, inciting others to break the law and spreading sectarianism.

"Investigations revealed that Qatar had engaged in activities targeting many Arab countries, particularly Bahrain," Hammadi said in a statement.

He explained that Doha since 2010 has mobilized its media to attack the ruling regime in Bahrain and contacted some elements, including Ali Salman and others, for this purpose.

The contacts and meetings, Hammadi stressed, had shown the two sides shared a willingness to carry out hostile acts in Bahrain and exchange information about the movement of the military forces during the 2011 crisis in Bahrain.

He said Salman was quizzed on Wednesday in the presence of his lawyer, and was presented with evidence documents of the charges levelled against him.

A Bahraini court dissolved Al Wefaq in 2016 for inciting terrorism and promoting a coup.

Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, UAE and Egypt on June 5 severed their diplomatic and trade relations with Qatar after accusing it of supporting extremists and funding terrorism.

Bahrain closed its land, air and sea borders with Qatar and has also revoked Qatar Airways' licence to operate here.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-02 01:20:00|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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UNITED NATIONS, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- The United States will vote against a UN General Assembly draft resolution that calls for the lifting of the U.S. economic and trade embargo on Cuba, said a U.S. envoy to the United Nations on Wednesday.

"For the 25th time in 26 years, the United States will vote against this resolution," U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley told the UN General Assembly prior to a vote.

She accused Havana of using the General Assembly vote every year "as a shiny object to distract the world's attention from the destruction it has inflicted on its own people and on others in the Western Hemisphere."

"As long as the Cuban people continue to be deprived of their human rights and fundamental freedoms, as long as the proceeds from trade with Cuba go to prop up the dictatorial regime responsible for denying those rights, the United States does not fear isolation in this chamber (of the General Assembly) or anywhere else."

Haley said the General Assembly has no power to end the decades-old embargo. It is based in U.S. law, which only the U.S. Congress can change, she said. Haley scorned the General Assembly vote as "political theater" and a waste of time.

The United States abstained last year in a similar vote at the General Assembly. Haley explained that the about-face is because the election of Donald Trump as new president and herself as new UN ambassador.

"To those who are confused as to where the United States stands, let me be clear: as is their right under our constitution, the American people have spoken. They have chosen a new president, and he has chosen a new ambassador to the United Nations."
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-02 01:35:04|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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TEHRAN, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Foreign Ministry condemned the recent deadly terrorist attack in New York, Press TV reported on Wednesday.

The terrorist massacre of defenseless civilians on the streets and public areas was indicative of the terrorists' ruthlessness and brutality, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qasemi was quoted as saying.

He offered condolences to the families of the victims.

Terrorism in the Middle East is the result of "the policy that the United States and its allies have at certain junctures adopted," Qasemi also said.

The only way to eradicate terrorism is that all countries should adopt a serious and sincere approach to confront the scourge, he added.

On Tuesday, a pickup truck plowed into the people on a cycle path in Lower Manhattan in New York and killed eight people and injured 11 others.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-02 01:40:07|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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KIEV, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- The Ukrainian State Border Service on Wednesday tightened security measures at the country's border checkpoints, citing the "aggravating tendencies of terrorist risks and threats."

The stricter checks, which will be introduced at all points on the state border, will involve sniffer dogs and special technical equipment, the agency said in a statement.

The officers of the State Security Service will be deployed at some border crossing points, it said.

Recently, a series of incident occurred in Ukraine, which the authorities believed were terror-related.

Last week, two people were killed and three others, including a parliament member, were injured in a motorcycle blast in Kiev, the capital of Ukraine.

On Tuesday, Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council ordered the national police and other law enforcement and security agencies to strengthen counter-terror measures.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-02 01:40:08|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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LONDON, Nov.1 (Xinhua) -- Manchester, the city regarded as the capital of North West England, has been named as a UNESCO City of Literature, it was announced Wednesday.

The city built Britain's first public lending library and gave the world the work of great writers including Elizabeth Gaskell and Anthony Burgess.

UNESCO Cities of Literature are dedicated to pursuing excellence in literature on a local level, engaging as many citizens as possible in a dynamic culture of words and encouraging the creation and sharing of stories.

Manchester's successful bid was coordinated by a consortium involving Manchester City Council, the University of Manchester, Manchester Metropolitan University and the Manchester Literature Festival, along with local writers, publishers and literary organisations. Their bid was endorsed by the Royal Society of Literature and the English Association.

A program of cultural events and community writing projects is to be developed to celebrate Manchester's new City of Literature status. A steering committee has drawn up plans for a program that includes a libraries festival, the establishment of a new writers' hub and far-reaching initiatives to support new writing, promoting writing in translation, music and words, and the writing of Manchester residents

Manchester is home to the world-class Central Library, as well as three historic gems, The Portico, John Rylands, and Chetham's libraries. The legacy of its native authors is celebrated at the International Anthony Burgess Foundation and Elizabeth Gaskell's House.

Prof John McAuliffe, of the Center for New Writing at The University of Manchester, said: "This is a cause for great celebration, which will help us to strengthen our university's many partnerships with the city and its communities.

Manchester City Council's Executive Member for Culture, Luthfur Rahman, said: "We are extremely proud to become a UNESCO City of Literature, as we recognise the power of words to promote greater understanding, well-being and learning across our proudly diverse city."
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-02 02:00:14|Editor: Song Lifang

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Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir (L, center) receives his South Sudanese counterpart Salva Kiir Mayardit (R, center) in Khartoum, Sudan, on Nov. 1, 2017. Presidents of Sudan and South Sudan on Wednesday vowed not to harbor or support any armed group operating against their governments, reiterating commitment to agreements signed by the two sides. (Xinhua/Mohamed Khidir)

KHARTOUM, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Presidents of Sudan and South Sudan on Wednesday vowed not to harbor or support any armed group operating against their governments, reiterating commitment to agreements signed by the two sides.

During talks between Sudan President Omar al-Bashir and his South Sudanese counterpart Salva Kiir Mayardit, Bashir confirmed Sudan's keenness to settle the outstanding issues with South Sudan through dialogue.

"Our position is to support the peace agreement in South Sudan, preserve security and stability of South Sudan, support unity of the brothers in South Sudan and not allowing South Sudanese politicians and leaders in Khartoum to exercise any political or military activities against South Sudan," said Bashir.

Kiir promised that his country would not allow harboring of any Sudanese political groups working against Sudan government.

The South Sudanese president, meanwhile, reiterated his government's commitment to implement the peace deal signed with the South Sudanese opposition, saying "we are committed to implement the deal we signed in August 2015."

Khartoum and Juba have repeatedly exchanged accusations of harboring and supporting opposition armed groups.

Kiir on Wednesday arrived in Khartoum for an official two-day visit to Sudan aiming at pushing the implementation of the cooperation agreement between the two countries.

In September 2012, Sudan and South Sudan signed a comprehensive cooperation agreement in the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa under the patronage of the African Union.

The agreement included a package of understandings relating to security, citizens' status, border and economic issues and others relating to oil and trade.

However, the signed agreements did not tackle the issues of Abyei and border demarcation.

The border issue represents one of the biggest obstacles hindering the settlement of differences between Sudan and South Sudan.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-02 02:05:16|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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OSLO, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- The European Union (EU) believes vessels from its member nations have the right to catch as many snow crabs around the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard as Norwegian vessels, which might lead to strong confrontations, news agency NTB reported Wednesday.

Norway, on the other hand, does not allow fishermen from the EU to catch snow crabs in the fishing zone outside Svalbard without a quota exchange agreement.

Negotiations have been held for months without positive outcome, NTB reported.

Norway has proposed to discuss the matter in connection with the regular fisheries negotiations between Norway and the EU, which are to take place in western Norwegian city of Bergen from Nov. 27 to Dec. 1.

The EU, however, wishes to keep this topic aside and hopes for a special scheme for the catching of snow crabs, NTB quoted a spokesman for the European Commission as saying.

The EU has also rejected a solution in the form of quota exchange agreement that was proposed by Norway. In that case Norway would get something in return for every single snow crab caught by EU vessels.

This year Norway has held a quota of 500 tonnes of snow crabs for possible exchange agreement, while eight times as much - 4,000 tonnes - have been handed over to Norwegian vessels.

According to the Svalbard Treaty of 1920, the archipelago is under Norwegian sovereignty, but the signatory countries have equal rights to exploit its natural resources on the land and its territorial waters.

The dispute is mainly about whether the Svalbard Treaty is in effect outside the 12-nautical-mile (22.2 km) territorial sea. Norway has established a regulated fishery in a 200-nautical-mile (370 km) zone around Svalbard.

The EU has insisted on its interpretation of the Svalbard Treaty, saying it gives all parties of the treaty equal rights to fish in the waters around Svalbard.

Norway, on the other hand, regards only the area that is 12 nautical miles from land as territorial waters. It says the rule of equal treatment does not apply in the fishing zone outside this area.

Relatively new in the area, snow crab was first observed in the Barents Sea by Russian researchers in 1996, and since then the number has continually increased.

After experts assumed that the species can eventually become a lucrative industry for Norway, the country regulated the catch three years ago, excluding the EU vessels.

However, the EU has decided to respond to the Norwegian fishing ban by unilaterally issuing 20 licenses to EU vessels. Eleven of these went to Latvia, while the rest went to Lithuania, Poland, Estonia and Spain.

Law of the Sea experts have also pointed out that the ultimate consequence of the EU's interpretation of the Svalbard Treaty could also lead to Norway having to give up oil and gas resources in the area.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-02 02:15:20|Editor: Liangyu

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TEHRAN, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Russian President Putin said in Tehran Wednesday that the nuclear agreement between Iran and the world powers in 2015 is a "good pact in line with expansion of peace and stability in the region."

The Russian President Vladimir Putin was visiting Iran to attend the tripartite summit of Iran, Russia and Azerbaijan.

Iran's President Rouhani said Wednesday that his administration welcomes the participation of Russian investors and private sectors in joining Iran infra-structural projects, semi-official Mehr news agency reported.

Iran's industry and energy, rail networks, and the "North-South Corridor," extending from Russia through Azerbaijan to Iran, are the areas for cooperating between Tehran and Moscow, Rouhani said.

"So far, good agreements have reached between Iran and Russia in the areas of energy, peaceful nuclear technology, and transportation, but more efforts are needed to put these agreements into practice in the course of growing ties," he said.

"Cooperation of Iran and Russia has been of great influence in the war against terrorism in the region," Rouhani said, adding that this cooperation and exchange of views is still of importance at the closing stages of war on terror in Syria.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran holds that any instability in the region is harmful for all countries of the region," he added.

Therefore, Iran and Russia cooperation "has proved to the world that political settlement and security should be reinforced in Syria," he stressed.

Putin said that bilateral cooperation of Iran and Russia in energy, peaceful nuclear technology, railroad and transportation is developing and voiced Russia companies' readiness for joining project in Iran.

"Russia bears no limit in developing comprehensive ties with Iran and welcomes the growing trend of cooperation," he stressed.

"The tripartite meeting of presidents of Iran, Russia, and Azerbaijan can play a key role in developing transportation and transit, particularly in the North-South Transit Corridor," said Putin.

"Trade transactions between the two countries witnessed a jumping growth in 2016, and this trend should be maintained and accelerated," he said.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-02 02:25:29|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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BEIRUT, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Lebanon's Prime Minister Saad Hariri announced Wednesday a project to increase the capacity of Beirut Rafic Hariri International airport to accommodate 5 million additional annual passengers.

"Last year, more than 8 million passengers went through the airport and this year it will be even more," Hariri said during the opening of the Middle East Airlines (MEA) Training and Conference Center, adding that in August alone "more than 2 million came to the airport."

"Today we stand before a project to increase the capacity by more than 5 million extra passengers thanks to a grant from MEA to the Lebanese government," Hariri added.

Hariri also recalled the doubt that surrounded his martyred father Rafic Hariri's decision to revamp the airport, upping its capacity to 6 million passengers.

"People went crazy and asked where all the passengers would come from," he said, adding "he considered this airport to be the face of Lebanon to the world, and it's the first thing tourists see and it's what we want investors to see in Lebanon."

The hall in which Hariri was speaking would henceforth be known as the Riad Salameh Hall, he said, pointing that "the center would create some of the job opportunities that the Lebanese youth are in need of today."
File Photo: Protestors from the Frontline Socialist Party (FLSP) attend a rally outside the U.S. Embassy in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Oct. 28, 2015. Hundreds of protestors from the political party, the Frontline Socialist Party (FLSP), demonstrated outside the U.S. embassy in the capital, urging the United States to lift economic blockage on Cuba and stop intervention in Syria. (Xinhua/Gayan Sameera)

UNITED NATIONS, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- The United States on Wednesday voted against a UN General Assembly draft resolution that calls for the lifting of the U.S. economic and trade embargo on Cuba.

The draft resolution was approved 191-2, with the United States and Israel being the only countries that voted against it.

In a hawkish speech to the General Assembly prior to the vote, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley blamed Havana for the embargo.

"For the 25th time in 26 years, the United States will vote against this resolution," Haley told the assembly.

She accused Havana of using the General Assembly vote every year "as a shiny object to distract the world's attention from the destruction it has inflicted on its own people and on others in the Western Hemisphere."

"As long as the Cuban people continue to be deprived of their human rights and fundamental freedoms, as long as the proceeds from trade with Cuba go to prop up the dictatorial regime responsible for denying those rights, the United States does not fear isolation in this chamber (of the General Assembly) or anywhere else."

Haley said the General Assembly has no power to end the decades-old embargo. It is based in U.S. law, which only the U.S. Congress can change, she said. Haley scorned the General Assembly vote as "political theater" and a waste of time.

Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla fought back, saying the U.S. blockade is "a flagrant, massive and systematic violation of the human rights of all Cubans" and qualifies as "an act of genocide."

"The human damage caused by the implementation of this policy are incalculable. There is not a single Cuban family or social service that has not suffered the deprivations and consequences resulting from the blockade," he told the assembly prior to the vote.

When explaining the "no" vote after the adoption of the resolution, Haley's deputy said that the Cuban government is to blame for the country's economic failure.

"Even if the U.S. Congress lifted the embargo today, Cubans would not be able to realize their potential without significant political, economic, and social reforms by their own government," said Michele Sison. "This resolution is a distraction from the real problems facing the Cuban people. Therefore, the United States strongly opposes it."

The United States abstained last year in a similar vote at the General Assembly. Haley explained that the about-face is because the election of Donald Trump as new president and herself as new UN ambassador.

"To those who are confused as to where the United States stands, let me be clear: as is their right under our constitution, the American people have spoken. They have chosen a new president, and he has chosen a new ambassador to the United Nations."

The Group of 77 (G77) of developing countries regretted the new policy of Trump aimed at strengthening the embargo against Cuba.

"The group believes this is a setback in the process of achieving normalized relations between the two countries," said Diego Morejon Pazmino, the Ecuadorian ambassador to the United Nations, on behalf of the G77 and China.

The G77 and China expressed their deep concern about the prolonged negative effects that the economic sanctions and travel restrictions have had on Cuba and its people.

From April 2016 to June this year, the impact of the U.S. embargo on Cuba's foreign trade amounts to more than 4 billion U.S. dollars. Limited foreign investment and difficult access to development credits translate directly into economic hardship and humanitarian impacts for the people of Cuba, the Ecuadorian ambassador told the General Assembly.

If these economic sanctions continue, Cuba's development potential will be unfairly undermined and it would be impossible for Cuba to successfully embark on the path toward sustainable development, he warned.

China regretted that previous General Assembly resolutions on the issue were not implemented. The blockade violates the purpose and principles of the UN Charter and causes enormous economic losses to Cuba, said Wu Haitao, the charge d'affaires of the Chinese mission to the United Nations.

"China has always advocated respect for a country to independently choose its own system and path of development, and opposed unilateral sanctions against other states by military, political, economic and other means," Wu told the assembly prior to the vote.

The world is undergoing transformation and peace and win-win cooperation have become a trend, he said. Exchanges and cooperation on equal footing among countries are part of this trend; dialogue on equal footing and friendly consultations represent the best way to resolve differences, he said.

He asked the United States and Cuba to continue the path of normalization of relations, which, he said, is in the interests of both countries. He asked the United States to lift its embargo on Cuba.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-02 02:55:41|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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TIRANA, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama decided Wednesday to dismiss all 12 prefects of the country and immediately replace them with 12 new names, all coming from military ranks.

They all comes from high-level ranks of military, however, Rama said that they were not part of the Albanian Armed Forces.

Rama told reporters at a press conference late Wednesday that it was high time for Albania to have a new team of prefects while he didn't give details about reasons leading him to sack all former prefects at once.

While presenting the new prefects, Rama stressed that they would closely cooperate with Albanian ministry of interior in order to lead a tough war against the cultivation of cannabis.

"We have analyzed the performance of this institution throughout the years. Its role will see a big change," the Prime Minister said, appealing for all criminal to be put behind bars.

"We are determined to go after criminal networks and bring them to justice. The role of prefects takes a special importance. They will be responsible in front of the government for the new situation of the territory. They will be informed in real time for all issues.

Establishing public order will require maximal engagement of Prefects, as real-time mediators between the Prime Minister Office and the Interior Ministry," Rama noted.
Russia's President Vladimir Putin, Iran's President Hassan Rouhani and Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev pose for a picture during a meeting in Tehran, Iran November 1, 2017. (Reuters Photo)

TEHRAN, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Russian President Putin said in Tehran Wednesday that the nuclear agreement between Iran and the world powers in 2015 is a "good pact in line with expansion of peace and stability in the region."

The Russian President Vladimir Putin was visiting Iran to attend the tripartite summit of Iran, Russia and Azerbaijan.

Iran's President Rouhani said Wednesday that his administration welcomes the participation of Russian investors and private sectors in joining Iran infra-structural projects, semi-official Mehr news agency reported.

Iran's industry and energy, rail networks, and the "North-South Corridor," extending from Russia through Azerbaijan to Iran, are the areas for cooperating between Tehran and Moscow, Rouhani said.

"So far, good agreements have reached between Iran and Russia in the areas of energy, peaceful nuclear technology, and transportation, but more efforts are needed to put these agreements into practice in the course of growing ties," he said.

"Cooperation of Iran and Russia has been of great influence in the war against terrorism in the region," Rouhani said, adding that this cooperation and exchange of views is still of importance at the closing stages of war on terror in Syria.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran holds that any instability in the region is harmful for all countries of the region," he added.

Therefore, Iran and Russia cooperation "has proved to the world that political settlement and security should be reinforced in Syria," he stressed.

Putin said that bilateral cooperation of Iran and Russia in energy, peaceful nuclear technology, railroad and transportation is developing and voiced Russia companies' readiness for joining project in Iran.

"Russia bears no limit in developing comprehensive ties with Iran and welcomes the growing trend of cooperation," he stressed.

"The tripartite meeting of presidents of Iran, Russia, and Azerbaijan can play a key role in developing transportation and transit, particularly in the North-South Transit Corridor," said Putin.

"Trade transactions between the two countries witnessed a jumping growth in 2016, and this trend should be maintained and accelerated," he said.
A screenshot taken on March 15, 2016 from Russian Defense Ministry video shows the first group of Russian Aerospace Force aircraft heading back to Russia from Hmeimim, Syria, on March 15, 2016. (Xinhua/Sputnik)

MOSCOW, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Six Russian long-range bombers have destroyed Islamic State (IS) strongholds and arsenals in eastern Syria, the Russian Defense Ministry said Wednesday.

The targets were located near the city of Abu Kamal close to the Syria-Iraq border, one of the last remaining IS strongholds in Syria.

The warplanes returned to their base safely after completing the mission, the ministry said in a statement.

On Tuesday, the ministry said Russian submarine Veliky Novgorod had fired three cruise missiles at IS facilities in the vicinity of Abu Kamal submarine from the Mediterranean Sea.
Representatives from six world powers and Iran attend a meeting on Iran's nuclear deal in Vienna, Austria, on July 21, 2017. (Xinhua/Pan Xu)

MOSCOW, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Moscow wants the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), commonly known as the Iran nuclear deal, to remain in place despite U.S. threats to abandon it, a senior Russian diplomat said Wednesday.

"There is no doubt that those in the United States who wish to continue widening the spiral of anti-Iran sanctions in spite of everything, in defiance of common sense and (the) logic of the JCPOA, are rather strong," RIA Novosti news agency quoted Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov as telling reporters.

Ryabkov said it was imperative to maintain the JCPOA and avoid imposing sanctions against Iran.

"We must act in accordance with the JCPOA, and this is precisely the message that Iran, Russia, China and European countries are transmitting to Washington," Ryabkov said.

On Oct. 13, U.S. President Donald Trump alleged that Iran had committed "multiple violations" of the accord and threatened to abandon the JCPOA if it was not amended.

Ryabkov said he saw no room for amendments to the agreement, which, according to him, reflected a "very well-measured and delicate balance of interests and compromises."

The responsibility for the potential collapse of the JCPOA will rest entirely with the American side, Ryabkov said.

The JCPOA was signed in 2015 by Iran, China, France, Germany, Britain, Russia and the United States.

Under the deal, Iran agreed to halt its nuclear weapons program in exchange for economic aid and partial lifting of international sanctions.
A bullet train drives in Liuzhou City, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, July 15, 2017. China has built one of the world's most extensive high-speed rail networks in just a few years. It has the world's longest high-speed rail network, 22,000 km as of the end of 2016, or 60 percent of the world's total, and the mileage will increase to 45,000 km by 2030. (Xinhua/Li Xin)

BAKU, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- The Baku-Tbilisi-Kars (BTK) railway line is the shortest and reliable link between Asian and European continents, the Azerbaijani political analyst Fikret Sadikhov said in an interview with Xinhua correspondent on Tuesday.

"This route changes the whole transport architecture of the region and makes it very significant. Not only Azerbaijan, but also many Asian and Caspian states can make effective use of it," he said.

The BTK railway line was officially launched on Monday which directly connects Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey with onward access to the European rail. The Heads of state of Azerbaijan and Turkey, along with the Prime ministers of Georgia, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, attended opening ceremony held outside Baku, at the route's eastern terminus.

The Azerbaijani expert underlined the strategic importance of the BTK amid China's Belt and Road Initiative. He called the project an important part of the so-called Silk Road route, which will pave the way for better trade conditions between China and Europe via Azerbaijan.

"I think China will also take advantage of the BTK line," he said.

"Before the implementation of this project, Azerbaijan and China had very close trade and economic ties. I think this route will significantly expand Azerbaijani-Chinese relations in the trade and economic sphere. If this project turns into a strategically important transport route, then it will certainly meet the interests of China and contribute to the further strengthening of the Azerbaijani-Chinese relations and cooperation in many spheres," Sadikhov said.

Other Azerbaijani experts also emphasized the significance of the BTK line in regards to the inter-connectivity between European and Asian continents.

Member of Azerbaijan's parliament Tahir Rzayev told local news agency Trend that the BTK line "will shorten the distance between China and Europe, help increase passenger and cargo transportation and bring great profit to the countries."

Another lawmaker Aydin Mirzazade told local media that the opening of the BTK railway dramatically changes the situation in the region. "Cargo from China to Europe will be delivered faster, and at the same time, this project will strengthen peace and security," he said.

Deputy Executive Secretary of the New Azerbaijan Party, MP Siyavush Novruzov, said the BTK line is a project of international importance.

"I think that other countries of the post-Soviet space can join this project. This railway has an extremely important economic significance. Our country will get profit from both passenger and freight transportation. This project will also boost the tourist potential," said Novruzov.

Addressing the ceremony on Monday, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev called the opening of the BTK railway "a historic and strategic significance." He said the project would play an important role in ensuring the stability and security in the region.

In a statement, the European Union called the opening of the rail link "a major step in transport interconnections linking the European Union, Turkey, Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Central Asia."

The 850-km Baku-Tbilisi-Kars rail project promises to provide an economic boost to the region, increase connectivity between Europe and Asia and encourage more freight to go by rail.

Starting in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, trains will stop in the Georgian capital Tbilisi, pass through the Georgian town of Akhalkalaki and end the journey in the Turkish town of Kars before feeding into Europe beyond.

The line has the capacity to annually transport one million passengers and 6.5 million tons of freight at the initial stage. The railway's peak capacity will be 17 million tons of cargo per year.

The BTK railway will reduce the transport time of goods from China to Europe to 15 days, which is less than half of the time that it takes through sea transportation.

The initial plan was to open the railway in 2010 but it was delayed several times, mainly for financial reasons.
Russia's President Vladimir Putin, Iran's President Hassan Rouhani and Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev shake hands while posing for a picture during a meeting in Tehran, Iran November 1, 2017. (Reuters Photo)

TEHRAN, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Kham Khamenei on Wednesday hailed Iran-Russia cooperation in the fight against terrorist groups in Syria, Press TV reported.

The solution of the Syria crisis requires continued cooperation between Tehran and Moscow, Khamenei said in a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Tehran on Wednesday.

Iran and Russia cooperation in the fight against the terrorist groups, backed by certain countries, has had important outcomes, making Russia an "influential" player in the developments of West Asia, he was quoted as saying.

"The defeat of U.S.-led coalition supporting terrorists in Syria is an undeniable reality, but they keep hatching plots," he said.

Khamenei noted that the Syrian people are the ultimate decision-makers regarding their country's issues.

All issues pertaining to the Damascus government should be solved based on intra-Syrian efforts, and the Syrian government should not be "pressured" into implementing "any plans," he added.

Khamenei stressed the need for regional countries to resolve their issues without foreign interference, saying "Americans seek to interfere in all issues of the region and the world."

Putin described Iran as "a strategic partner" and a "great neighbor," stressing that Russia welcomes expansion of bilateral relations.

Also, Putin hailed Iran-Russia cooperation in the war against terrorism in Syria, calling for "a suitable political process to be considered in the Arab country."

"We proved to the world that we are able to resolve our region's highly important issues without (any help from) extra-regional countries," he said.

Putin is visiting Iran to attend the tripartite summit of Iran, Russia and Azerbaijan.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-02 03:56:03|Editor: huaxia

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ARUSHA, Tanzania, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Tanzania's semi-autonomous archipelago of Zanzibar has embarked on a campaign against mangrove destruction along the isles' coastline.

Sheha Mjaja Juma, Director General of the Zanzibar Environment Management Authority (ZEMA), told Xinhua in an interview on Wednesday that the campaign aimed at protecting and replanting mangrove forests.

"Our aim is to save mangrove forests from extinction as the rate at which mangroves are being cut is worrying. In fact, the rate of replacement does not match with what we are losing," the official said, explaining that the dense root systems of mangrove forests trap sediments flowing down rivers and off the land.

"It helps stabilize the coastline and prevents erosion from waves and storms. In areas where mangroves have been cleared, coastal damage from hurricanes and typhoons is much more severe," Juma said.

Apart from protecting coral reefs and seagrass meadows from being smothered in sediment, mangrove forests also produce numerous good and services both to the marine environment and people, according to Juma.

The strategies will include educating people on the need to protect the environment as well as reinforcing the fight against mangrove cutting along the coastline.

He said the campaign is an effort to deter climate change impacts including flooding and erosion as well as rising of sea level.

The official said in recent years, 145 areas that had been used for farming and settlements in the archipelago have disappeared due to rising sea level and erosion.

Most of the affected areas saw destruction of mangroves, which play a key role in damage mitigation during disasters. It is estimated that Zanzibar has a total of 18,000 hectares of mangroves, with different species. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-02 04:01:05|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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AMMAN, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Jordan on Wednesday condemned a terrorist attack in New York city that resulted in the death of several civilians, the state-run Petra news agency reported.

Jordan's Minister of State for Media Affairs Mohammad Momani said the terrorist attack was a cowardly act, adding that such a crime stresses on the terrorists' darkness and lack of humanity.

The minister called for unified efforts to eradicate terrorism. The minister also voiced solidarity with the US.

Eight people were killed and a dozen more injured after a truck plowed into pedestrians near the World Trade Center in New York City, an incident called "a particularly cowardly act of terror" by NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-02 04:11:09|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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VALLETTA, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Law enforcement authorities in Malta have seized a record amount of drugs so far this year, according to data tabled in parliament this week.

So far this year, the Malta Police Force seized 322 kilograms of cocaine, 600 kilograms of cannabis resin, over 30 kilograms of cannabis grass, and some 13.5 kilograms of heroin between January and September.

The statistics were presented in parliament by Home Affairs minister Michael Farrugia, in response to a parliamentary question by Government MP Glenn Bedingfield.

In his reply, Farrugia noted that in addition to the above-mentioned drugs, the police had also seized 1 kilogram of "synthetic drugs", over 96 million Tramadol tablets, 8 kilograms of the drug "Clonazepam", as well as drugs like ketamine, mephedrone, methamphetamine, and 393 ecstasy tablets.

2017 saw authorities make their largest ever haul of both cocaine and cannabis. Three hundred kilos of cocaine was discovered in a container transiting Malta from Spain last March, while 550 kilos of cannabis were seized by police in a raid last month.

The record cannabis haul comes as Malta is set to commence a national debate, leading to the eventual legalisation of cannabis, as promised in the manifesto upon which the Labour Party was elected to power in last June's general election.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-02 04:11:10|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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DUBLIN, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Irish university students pay the second-highest fees in Europe, according to a new report by the European Commission on Wednesday.

The report, National Student Fee and Support Systems in European Higher Education, compared charges applied across 42 European education systems.

When it comes to undergraduate higher education courses, Ireland comes second only to the United Kingdom in terms of the high fees it requires most students to pay, the report said.

Undergraduate students in Ireland are charged fees of 3,000 euros per year, according to the report.

The report found that 11 systems charge no fees at all for first time undergraduates, including Germany, Denmark, Finland, Greece and Croatia.

A further 14 education systems charge less than 1,000 euros per year. These include France, which charges students just 184 euros per year, and Austria which charges 725 euros per year.

Over the past ten years, government funding for Irish university institutions has declined while student numbers continue to grow.

This leads to problems in universities ranging from class size, accommodation, tutorial issues and even parking if the universities cannot expand with this rise in attendance.

Last month, thousands of Irish students from all over the country took to the streets to call for university education to be publicly funded.
Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson was in an exclusive interview with Xinhua on Oct. 23, 2017 at the Little Rock, the United States. (Xinhua/Liu Liwei)

by Xinhua Writer Gao Lu

LITTLE ROCK, the United States, Oct. 30 (Xinhua) -- Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson has vowed to safeguard Chinese investments in Arkansas and seek more business partnership during his forthcoming China visit.

The governor made the remarks in an exclusive interview with Xinhua recently.

Hutchinson, who has served as the governor of Arkansas since Jan. 13, 2015, is going to visit China for the third time on Nov.1. During the five-day tour, his delegation will visit Beijing, Shandong, Anhui, Jiangsu and Shanghai, meeting government officials and local businessmen.

In an in-depth interview with Xinhua, Hutchinson said there are three main purposes of his trip: to visit the companies that are already committed in Arkansas, to continue marketing Arkansas rice and agricultural products, and to promote Arkansas as a tourist destination for Chinese customers.

According to him, the primary purpose of the trip is to visit Chinese companies that have already invested in Arkansas "to make sure the state government is doing everything it can to facilitate the investment."

There has been big progress of Chinese investment in Arkansas in the past years. Over the last two years, four Chinese companies have announced plans to locate new facilities in Arkansas. These companies will create more than 1,500 new jobs while investing 1.4 billion U.S dollars in the state.

"The primary purpose is to visit the companies that have already indicated they would be interested in investing in Arkansas, just to make sure that those projects go smoothly," Hutchinson said.

In July, China and the U.S. have reached an agreement on inspection and quarantine protocols for U.S. rice exports to China. This was a good news for Arkansas that leads the nation in rice production. Arkansas cultivates more rice than all other U.S. states combined. The untapped Chinese market has the potential to enhance the role that the over 6 billion dollars rice industry plays in Arkansas's economy.

"We are delighted that China has opened up the market with Arkansas rice," said the governor. "This will be an opportunity to convey our thanks and excitement about Arkansas rice being marketed in China."

In terms of tourism, Hutchinson said he hopes more Chinese tourists will consider the state as a destination when traveling in the United States.

"Tourism is our number two industry in Arkansas, and I think that Chinese citizens who have visited the east and west coasts (of the U.S.) would like to visit Arkansas. We want to be able to emphasize that."

Although Arkansas values Chinese market, Hutchinson said the economic collaboration is not one-way only.

"China is an important market for Arkansas, both in terms of our consumer products, going there from rice to electronics. But it's also an important investment country for us," said the governor.

He gave an example of Arkansas-based company Walmart which has been operating in China for over 20 years where it has more than 400 retail locations. Another example is Arkansas Tyson Foods company which produces poultry in China with Arkansas brand.

"Those investments and partnerships are very important to this state," said Hutchinson.

Since 2015 when taking in office as governor, Hutchinson has made every effort in creating jobs. By emphasizing computer science education, he aimed to create the software engineers and the coding talent as needed to sustain and grow the existing industry, and to create new technology type jobs.

Chinese garment companies invested in Arkansas created opportunities for local well-trained talents.

"These are not the old-fashioned garment companies that rely upon massive amounts of human labor. They utilize robotics, they utilize technology so that if students have a good education in computer science, they will be the workforce that is needed for those types of industries," Hutchinson said.

Talking about his impression of China, the governor said the economic growth of China in the past years was remarkable.

"They continue to grow their economy and the standard of living of the Chinese people is increasing day by day. So, all of that is very positive," he said, adding, "It's much more open. And not just the leadership is globally focused, but the citizens are more globally focused as well."

U.S. President Donald Trump is to visit China between Nov. 8 and Nov. 10. That will be his first state visit to China since he took office.

Commenting on the visit, Hutchinson said Trump's visit "is a sign that the U.S.-China global relationship on trade is very important, and we're going to keep it on track."

"I'm very optimistic about the future of our relationship. China has demonstrated its very maturing economy, growing wage base that's matured to the point where you're looking for, and investment opportunities," the governor said.
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during an event highlighting efforts to battle the opioid crisis at the White House in Washington D.C., the United States, on Oct. 26, 2017. Trump on Thursday declared the opioid crisis "a national public health emergency" in the United States and vowed to "build a wall" to confront the growing scourge. (Xinhua/Ting Shen)

WASHINGTON, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump Wednesday said the diversity visa lottery program, through which the New York City attacker allegedly gained U.S. residency, will be abolished.

"I am today starting the process of terminating the diversity visa lottery program. I am going to ask congress to immediately initiate work to get rid of this program," Trump told a cabinet meeting.

"We have to get much less politically correct. We're so politically correct that we're afraid to do anything," Trump said, referring to the concept that immigration that increases diversity in the U.S. society should be encouraged.

The remarks came one day after a 29-year-old immigrant from Uzbekistan conducted a terrorist attack in New York City Tuesday by plowing a pick-up truck through pedestrians, killing eight.

Emergency crews attend the scene of an alleged shooting incident on West Street in Manhattan, New York, U.S., October 31 2017. (Xinhua/REUTERS)

Unconfirmed news reports say the man, Sayfullo Saipov, was admitted into the United States through the diversity visa lottery program, Trump said law enforcement agencies are looking into it.

The United States started the visa lottery program in the 1990s, allocating 50,000 visas each year to people from countries that have relatively few immigrants in the United States.

Citizens from eligible countries who hold a highschool diploma or two years in a professional occupation can put up their names in a pool which a computer will choose from.

Trump said he is considering sending Saipov to Guantanamo Bay detention camp, a prison set up in 2002 as part of the U.S. war on terror.

Trump called for a merit-based immigration system to replace current programs.

"We want a merit-based program where people come into our country based on merit. And we want to get rid of chain migration," he told the cabinet meeting.

"There are bills already about ending chain migration and we have a lot of good bills in there, We are being stopped by Democrats because they are obstructionists," Trump said.

One such bill, which two Republican Senators rolled out in August titled The Reforming American Immigration for Strong Employment, would curb low-level immigration by examining the age, level of education, salary, english proficiency of visa applicants.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-02 05:11:22|Editor: Song Lifang

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File photo taken on Oct. 3, 2017 shows Britain's Defense Secretary Michael Fallon delivers his keynote speech at the Conservative Party's annual conference in Manchester, Britain. Michael Fallon resigned Wednesday night, becoming the first big political casualty of a "sex pest" scandal engulfing Westminster. (Xinhua/Han Yan)

LONDON, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Britain's Defense Secretary Sir Michael Fallon resigned Wednesday night, becoming the first big political casualty of a "sex pest" scandal engulfing Westminster.

Fallon wrote to prime minister Theresa May, telling her he was resigning from her front bench cabinet.

Downing Street confirmed the resignation, saying that May had written to the defense chief, accepting his resignation.

May wrote to Fallon: "I appreciate the characteristically serious manner in which you have considered your position, and the particular example you wish to set to servicemen and women and others."

She praised the way he had championed Britain's armed forces during his three and a half years as Defense Secretary, and the way he had held the job during a time when Britain faced threats of terrorism.

Political commentators said his resignation will come as a major blow to May, losing one of her most supportive and dependable ministers.

The move came just hours after May told MPs in the House of Commons that she had called a meeting of the main party leaders next week to discuss how parliament should handle complaints about sexual harassment by politicians at Westminster.

Earlier this week, Fallon admitted that he had put his hand on the knee of a radio presenter at a dinner 15 years ago at a Conservative Party conference.

In his letter to the Prime Minister, Fallon said: "A number of allegations have surfaced about MPs in recent days, including some about my previous conduct."

"Many of these have been false but I accept in the past I have fallen below the high standards that we require of the Armed Forces that I have the honor to represent. I have reflected on my position and I am therefore resigning as Defense Secretary."

He added in a statement: "It has been a privilege to have served as Defence Secretary for the last three and half years, and I have nothing but admiration for the professionalism, bravery and service of those men and women who keep us safe."

The broadcaster at the center of the knee-touching incident, Julia Hartley-Brewer, had spoken about the incident, but she did not reveal his identity.

"I have had no issues since with the man in question and do not regard the incident as anything but mildly amusing, which is why I have declined to name him."

The Daily Telegraph said the resignation has come amid a growing sexual harassment scandal at Westminster, with some 40 Conservative MPs being named in a so-called "dirty dossier" compiled by party staff of politicians against whom accusations have been made.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-02 05:11:24|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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MINSK, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Belarus has reaffirmed its commitment to become a full-fledged member of the World Trade Organization (WTO), the Belarusian Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday.

The remarks were made by Belarusian Foreign Minister Vladimir Makei during a meeting here with WTO delegation.

The minister put forward a series of proposals on the interaction between Belarus and the WTO Secretariat and member states.

During the meeting, he also shared the vision of the role and capabilities of Belarus as part of the multilateral trading system, the ministry said.

The participants exchanged views on the improvement of the effectiveness of the work to promote national interests of Belarus in the framework of its' accession to the WTO, taking into account Belarus' participation in integration associations, as well as initiatives coming up from foreign partners participating in the negotiations.

In March 2016, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko instructed the foreign ministry to intensify negotiations on the country's accession to the WTO.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-02 05:21:27|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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DAMASCUS, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Israeli warplanes struck Syrian military positions in the countryside of the central province of Homs province on Wednesday, state TV reported.

The attack targeted the industrial Hissia area in the southern countryside of Homs, said the TV.

It added that the Syrian air defense system responded to the attack, firing several surface-to-air missiles.

The report didn't elaborate, but Sky News said four Israeli raids targeted an ammunition manufacturing plant in the industrial area of Hissia.

The Israeli attack is the latest in a string of similar moves that have targeted Syrian military posts on the pretext that the targeted areas contain Hezbollah-bound weapons.

On Oct.21, a military position in the southern province of Qunaitera was targeted by Israel.
Israeli warplanes struck an ammunition manufacturing plant in Syria's Homs Province on Wednesday. (Reuters Photo)

DAMASCUS, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Israeli warplanes struck Syrian military positions in the countryside of the central province of Homs province on Wednesday, state TV reported.

The attack targeted the industrial Hissia area in the southern countryside of Homs, said the TV.

It added that the Syrian air defense system responded to the attack, firing several surface-to-air missiles.

The report didn't elaborate, but Sky News said four Israeli raids targeted an ammunition manufacturing plant in the industrial area of Hissia.

The Israeli attack is the latest in a string of similar moves that have targeted Syrian military posts on the pretext that the targeted areas contain Hezbollah-bound weapons.

On Oct.21, a military position in the southern province of Qunaitera was targeted by Israel.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-02 05:46:35|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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CARACAS, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Wednesday celebrated Cuba's "great victory" at the United Nations, where the international community voted once again to condemn the U.S. trade embargo against the Caribbean nation.

"A great victory for Cuba at the UN, 191 governments and peoples of the world said #NoMasBolqueo (NoMoreBlockade)," Maduro posted on Twitter.

Cuba and its allies argue the embargo is actually a blockade because it blocks not just U.S. companies from doing business with Cuba, but also penalizes international entities.

Venezuelan Foreign Affairs Minister Jorge Arreaza also hailed the outcome of the vote, saying the world "roundly (rejected) the criminal, illegal and anachronistic U.S. blockade against the Cuban people."

Arreaza added, "unilateral blockades and sanctions are illegal according to international law. Multilateralism must stop these inhuman methods."

Earlier, the UN General Assembly currently convened in New York city near unanimously approved a resolution that calls for an end to the five-decade embargo. Only the U.S. and its stalwart ally Israel voted against the measure.

The vote marks the 26th time the U.S. embargo has been condemned at the UNGA.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-02 05:46:36|Editor: Song Lifang

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LONDON, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- The British manufacturing sector continued its run of robust growth in October, benefiting from improved economic conditions globally.

The Markit/CIPS purchasing managers' index (PMI) for October rose from September's 56.0 to 56.3, continuing an unbroken 15-month run of growth.

Markets and experts had expected a slight decline to 55.9, and the PMI figure released on Wednesday is above the long-term trend for this set of data.

Production and new order volumes continued to rise at robust rates, as companies benefited from rising inflows of new export business and strong domestic market conditions. The new orders index rose to 57.7 from 56.6 in September.

The domestic market was the prime source of new contract wins, although new export business also continued its history of growth.

Samuel Tombs, chief UK economist with data analysis firm Pantheon Macroeconomics, told Xinhua: "Developed economies are seeing a rebound in global trade flows and the UK is benefiting from that, being quite an open economy."

Companies saw improved intakes of new work from clients in the USA, mainland Europe, South America and Australia, in some cases aided by the sterling exchange rate.

Sterling has fallen substantially since the Brexit referendum vote, dropping from 1.48 U.S. dollars to 1.33 U.S. dollars on Wednesday.

"Sterling has weakened a lot in the last couple of years and that has now filtered through to the manufacturing sector," said Tombs.

However, the figures reveal a mixed benefit, with the sector growing because of global conditions but still lagging the growth of other developed economies.

Tombs said: "If you look at the UK's manufacturing sector compared to the eurozone, it is lagging behind, because of a slowdown in UK economic growth."
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-02 05:51:38|Editor: Song Lifang

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SANTIAGO, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Chile's state-run copper mining company Codelco could begin to mine lithium in northern Chile in six to seven years, Chilean Mining Minister Aurora Williams said on Wednesday.

At the start of the year, Codelco announced it was looking for a strategic partner to help exploit lithium reserves at the Maricunga and Pedernales salt fields in Atacama in north Chile's desert region.

Codelco President Oscar Landerretche said at least 10 foreign companies have expressed interest in partnering with the state firm.

The two salt fields "are in the very early stages of exploration and development," he said.

Lithium is a basic component in electric car batteries, a sector expected to boom in the coming years, and Chile's reserves are estimated to be the world's largest, holding some 14.3 million tons of the mineral and the deposits are also easily accessible.

Only five companies control nearly 90 percent of the global lithium supply, including Chile's SQM and U.S. transnational Albemarle.

The two companies, both mine the mineral in Atacama, together account for 43 percent of the world supply of lithium.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-02 05:51:41|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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DAMASCUS, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Russia has invited 33 opposition groups to attend the "congress of Syrian national dialogue" planned to take place in Russia's Sochi later this month amid a division in the stances of the opposition.

The congress is supposed to support chances of the dialogue between the opposition and the Syrian government ahead of the fresh round of Geneva talks on Syria set for Nov. 28.

On Tuesday evening, following the end of the Astana talks, the Russian Defense Ministry released a list of 33 opposition groups invited to the congress, including Damascus-based ones, exiled opposition groups, and Kurdish parties as well.

It was deemed by analysts as an "inclusive invitation" to bring the opposition parties to one meeting in a bid to reach a unified vision in the dialogue that is said to include discussing a new constitution to Syria.

But the main hurdle that has been in place for years is still there, which is the division of the opposition.

While some groups welcomed the idea, others said they won't attend.

The Turkey-based Syrian National Coalition (SNC) rejected the Russian invitation, saying the conference in Russia is an attempt to circumvent the peace talks in Geneva. It stressed that it will not take part in any negotiations with the Syrian government outside the framework of the Geneva talks and outside the UN umbrella.

Also, Mohammad Alloush, a member of the Saudi-backed High Negotiations Committee (HNC), slammed the Sochi conference as a "meeting between the regime and the regime."

Both the HNC and the SNC are linked and both are the prominent foreign-backed opposition groups in exile.

For its part, the Cairo Platform opposition group welcomed the Russian invitation, saying it welcomes any move that could lead to a "political transition" in Syria.

"We will deal positively with any move that could achieve this operation and goal," Firas Khalidi, a member of the Cairo Platform said.

Meanwhile, Ahmad Jarba, former head of the SNC, and currently the leader and the founder of Alghad Alsoury Current (The Syrian Tomorrow Current), said the opposition must sit with the Syrian government to reach a political solution in Syria.

He said that there are chances to resolve the crisis in Syria, saying "we have reached to a deadlock in the Syrian crisis and that requires us to hold a dialogue conference.

He said the Russian-sponsored congress of Syrian national dialogue will support the Geneva talks, pointing out that "all components in Syria will take part in it."

"We support the efforts to unify the Syrian opposition," he said.

As for the Russia-based Moscow Platform group, Qadri Jamil, the head of the group, said they haven't received an official invitation yet for the Sochi conference.

He, however, noted that his group supports any step that could push forward the political process.

Among the invitees are Kurdish groups, which are yet to comment on the invitation, but their invitation has sparked the rejection of Turkey, which opposes any participation of Kurdish groups in the talks due to the enmity that has hit a new high with the Kurdish groups increasing their influence in northern Syria near the Turkish border.

The Syrian government said it will take part in the conference.

Bashar al-Jafaari, the head of the Syrian negotiation team to the Geneva talks and Astana talks, said "the national dialogue conference is the result of discussion and coordination between Russia and Syria and we are ready to take part in it, particularly after the advance of the Syrian army in the battle against the terrorist groups."
Invaluable contribution of Sardar Patel in building a modern and unified India needs to be remembered by every Indian: Vice President

New Delhi, Wed, 01 Nov 2017 NI Wire

Inaugurates National Conference on 'Making of a Gandhian Nationalist-A Study of the Life and Times of Sardar Patel'

The Vice President of India, M. Venkaiah Naidu has said that the invaluable contribution of Sardar Patel in building a modern and unified India needs to be remembered by every Indian as the country marches ahead as one of the largest economies in the world. He was addressing the two-day National Conference on Making of a Gandhian Nationalist-A Study of the Life and Times of Sardar Patel, here today. The Minister of State for Culture (I/C) and Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Dr. Mahesh Sharma and other dignitaries were present on the occasion.

The Vice President said that Sardar Patel was a selfless leader, who placed the countrys interests above everything else and shaped Indias destiny with single-minded devotion. He further said that in a truly masterful display of statesmanship, Sardar Patel ensured a smooth integration of the troubled domains by not allowing the situation to deteriorate into civil unrest. There was neither bloodshed nor any kind of rebellion as he went about the task of building a strong India with a missionary zeal, he added.

The Vice President said that acknowledging the monumental contribution of Patel in nation building, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru had said, History will call him the builder and consolidator of new India. He further quoted Mahatma Gandhi as saying, 'Many were prepared to follow me, but I could not make up my mind as to who should be my deputy commander. Then I thought of Vallabhbhai'. Sardar Patel was not only an organizer par excellence but also turned out to be a peoples leader, he added.

Following is the text of Vice Presidents address:

I am extremely pleased to address this National Conference on Making of Gandhian Nationalist: Life & Times of Sardar Patel.

Sardar Patel, the architect and unifier of modern India, was not only a close associate of Mahatma Gandhi but also his ardent follower. Patel was a selfless leader, who placed the countrys interests above everything else and shaped Indias destiny with single-minded devotion.

He fashioned the countrys political integration with the swiftness of a military commander and deftness of a visionary leader.

Displaying the vision of a statesman, tact, diplomacy and pragmatic approach, he prevented the balkanization of the country and ensured the merger of more than 560 princely States with the Union of India at a critical and most turbulent period in the history of the country. What makes this stupendous integration most remarkable is that it was achieved without any bloodshed.

It indeed was a herculean task to bring the rulers of different princely States on board. Adopting different approaches as warranted by the situation, he gave friendly advice in some cases, persuaded the rulers to see reason in others and even used force as in the case of Hyderabad. What is most remarkable is the fact that Sardar Patel achieved a unified India when the rulers of the princely States were given the option of joining either India or Pakistan or remaining independent.

After securing the accession of Junagarh, he ensured the liberation and integration of Hyderabad State with rest of India in a deft and swift action codenamed Operation Polo. The police action ended in just four days on September 18, 1948. Every year, September 17 is being celebrated as Hyderabad Liberation Day in Telangana and parts Maharashtra and Karnataka.

In a truly masterful display of statesmanship, Sardar Patel ensured a smooth integration of the troubled domains by not allowing the situation to deteriorate into civil unrest. There was neither bloodshed nor any kind of rebellion as he went about the task of building a strong India with a missionary zeal.

Undoubtedly, there is no parallel in modern history to what was achieved by him. Acknowledging the monumental contribution of Patel in nation building, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru had this to say: History will call him the builder and consolidator of new India.

After he came under the influence of Mahatma Gandhi, he became his lieutenant and was chosen to lead Kheda satyagraha. He switched over to Indian attire and later embraced khadi. His biggest asset was his down-to-earth disposition.

'Many were prepared to follow me, but I could not make up my mind as to who should be my deputy commander. Then I thought of Vallabhbhai' said Gandhiji. Sardar Patel was not only an organizer par excellence but also turned out to be a peoples leader. He earned the title of Sardar after he spearheaded peasants no-tax campaign at Bardoli in Gujarat.

He also led the relief and rehabilitation operations from the front when Gujarat was ravaged by floods and worked tirelessly during plague outbreak in Ahmedabad.

While he became immensely popular and had earned the title of Sardar after Bardoli campaign, Patel played a major role Salt Satyagraha and was imprisoned with other leaders. During Quit India Movement also, he went around the country giving stirring speeches and was again jailed.

Although, Sardar Patel differed with Gandhiji on certain issues, he always remained loyal to him. Following Gandhijis assassination, he said: I claim to be nothing more than an obedient soldier of him like the millions who obeyed his call. There was a time when everyone used to call me his blind follower. But, both he and I knew that I followed him because our convictions tallied.

His vision for a unified India also saw the creation of All India Administrative Services which he described as the Steel Frame. His exhortation to the probationers to maintain utmost impartiality and incorruptibility of administration is as relevant today as it was then.

We have to shed mutual bickering, shed the difference of being high or low, develop a sense of equality and banish untouchability. We have to restore the conditions of Swaraj prevalent prior to British rule. We have to live like children of the same father, these words of Sardar Patel during the Quit India Movement continue to inspire us.

Following his death, The Manchester Guardian wrote: Patel was not only the organiser of the fight for freedom but also the architect of the new State when the fight was over. The same man is seldom successful as a rebel and a statesman. Sardar Patel was the exception.

It is unfortunate that there has been no proper recognition of the monumental contribution made by Sardar Patel and his legacy in unifying the country at its most critical juncture in the history.

Finally, I would like to conclude by stressing that the invaluable contribution of Sardar Patel in building a modern and unified India needs to be remembered by every Indian as the country marches ahead as one of the largest economies in the world.

Thank you. Jai Hind!

Source: PIB
Doha is envisioning the establishment of sea links with North Africa from its mega Hamad port in a bid to expand foreign trade and dodge the isolation imposed on it by its neighbors.

The future links will also enable the tiny Gulf country to reach European countries to the happiness of businessmen.

The sea route will connect Qatar to Morocco, Tunisia and other Arab countries for the export and re-export of goods from the multi-billion dollar Hamad Port.

New shipping lines are expected to be started from the Hamad Port to North Africa region, said Mohammed bin Ahmed bin Towar Al Kuwari, Vice Chairman of Qatar Chamber.

Qatar in June launched the $7.4 billion mega sea port amid the Gulf crisis opposing it to Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirate (UAE), Bahrain and Egypt.

The four cut off sea, ground and air links with Doha, causing serious damages to Qatars commodities needs.

The new port, which also includes a naval base, is designed to secure Qatars food security and to sustain the countrys trade with the rest of world.

Hamad Port also possesses specialized facilities for the processing, manufacturing and refining of rice, raw sugar and edible oils.

Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and the UN-backed Libyan Government of National Accord (GNA) have adopted a neutral stance in the Gulf crisis.
Over 20 Algerian media organizations expressed their rejection of the crackdown of Algerian authorities on free media after critical news portal TSA was shutdown by the state-owned internet operator.

The media organizations, including websites and news portals, denounced the stifling of the independent press as a violation of the freedom of speech.

They rejected the regimes attempts to silence critical journalists and urged the government to lift the ban on TSA website.

Meanwhile, Algerian news outlet TSA, along with its Arabic version TSA-Arabi, were blocked on Algeria Telecom and its subsidiary Mobilis, while it remains accessible on the mobile networks Djezzy and Ooredoo. Whether this constitutes censorship  and why the sites were inaccessible  remains unclear.

International media watchdogs have often criticized Algeria over the last couple of months for the repressive measures it has taken to intimidate journalists.

On October 7, Reporters Without Borders expressed concerns about the health of blogger Merzoug Touati who has been on hunger strike since September 13.

Touati was held in pretrial detention at Oued Ghir prison in Bejaia for posting a Skype interview with a person described as Israeli diplomat. He is facing up to 25 years in prison under article 71 of the penal code.

Stifling independent journalists is happening at a time Algeria sinks deep in the freedom of the press ranking established by RFS. The freedom of the press in Algeria thus went from bad to worse losing 5 spots to take the 134th rank among the most authoritarian countries in the globe.

In its annual report 2016-17 on the state of human rights in the world, Amnesty International also decried the prosecution in Algeria of peaceful critics, including human rights defenders, in unfair trials, and the forced closure of media outlets.

Last December 11, Mohamed Tamalt, a journalist and an outspoken critic of the Algerian regime, lost his life after a hunger strike while in custody.

Mehdi Benaissa, the chief executive of Algerias KBC news, and Ryad Hartouf, the producer of the channels current-affairs program, were given six-month prison sentences on fabricated charges after they broadcast a political satire that displeased the government.
Morocco has recorded a significant harvest of 112,000 tons of all sorts of dates in 2017 as part of achieving the goal of reaching an annual production of 160,000 tons by 2020, up from 90,000 in 2010.

To reach that goal, Morocco has integrated developing date palm cultivation in the green Morocco plan. The country aims to boost date harvest notably by planting an additional 3 million date producing palms and expanding the palm cultivated area by 17,000 hectares in the region of Tafilalt.

Speaking to the press at the recent International Date Fair in Erfoud, Agriculture Minister Aziz Akhennouch said that Morocco is on track to achieve the Green Morocco Plan goals in the palm sector. He said that 1.8 million palms have been planted so far.

This years output of 112,000 tons, down from 128,000 tons last year, is an achievement in view of the insufficient rainfall in main producing regions, he explained.

The Green Morocco Plan attaches utmost importance to date palm cultivation, which offers 12,000 jobs and accounts for 40 to 60% of houseshold income for 2 million Moroccans.

Morocco counts so far around 6.6 million palm trees spread on 51,000 hectares concentrated mainly in four regions, Tafilalet-Daraa, Souss-massa, Guelmil-Oued Noun and LOriental.

Developing Moroccos date palm industry offers numerous investment opportunities in light of a rising domestic demand as the country continues to import 30,000 to 50,000 tons of dates annually, mainly from Tunisia.

Rising domestic production is aimed at satisfying domestic demand and achieving an export capacity of 5000 tons of high quality dates, including Medjool and Najda, by 2020.

The International Date Fair in Erfoud has brought together 250 exhibitors and 86 associations producing various sorts of dates from Morocco and abroad.
Morocco is about to make a major stride forward in space technology in the region and in Africa at large as it is readying to launch into orbit, in just a weeks time, a state-of-the-art satellite, dubbed the Mohammed VI-A Satellite.

The satellite, which will make of Morocco a space pioneer in Africa, is set to bolster the countrys reconnaissance capabilities.

The main purpose of this equipment will be to monitor what is happening on earth around the clock, with a high quality resolution. The satellite is capable of observing a broad band of some 800 km and is expected to hover at 695 km above the surface of the earth.

The earth observation satellite will be, in particular, used for mapping and land surveying activities, regional development, agricultural monitoring, the prevention and management of natural disasters, monitoring changes in the environment and desertification, as well as border and coastal surveillance.

Actually, this space-based imaging system, piloted from Morocco, will play a key role in the implementation of national socio-economic development strategies, primarily those relating to the agricultural sector, which is a core sector in the countrys economy.

In this vein, the satellite will enable Morocco to manage better its forestry and pastoral resources; as well as its water resources, besides facilitating groundwater prospecting.

The advanced technological equipment will also strengthen the capacities of national agencies in charge of mapping and land surveying activities, the agencies entrusted with the surveillance of road infrastructure, transport networks and the coastline, which extends over 3000 km.

It will likewise offer environmental applications that will help the North African country consolidate its environmental strategy and honor the environmental commitments it made, especially at the COP21 and COP22 held respectively in Paris and Marrakech in 2015 and 2016.

Moroccos entry into the satellite era will also offer new perspectives in the field of spatial planning, through effective monitoring of housing and construction, and a subsequent tighter follow-up of slums eradication operations.

The agreement to build the satellite, signed by Morocco and France in 2013, was shrouded in secrecy and it is only recently, as the spacecraft launch was nearing, that the information was disclosed.

Built by Thales Alenia Space as system prime contractor and Airbus as co-prime, the Moroccan satellite, worth some 500 million, will be launched in the early hours of Wednesday November 8 from the European space port of Kourou in French Guiana using an Italian Vega rocket.
Chief House tax-writer Kevin Brady is under the gun to make the tax bills iffy math somehow work. Photo: Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg via Getty Images

You might well figure congressional Republicans dream and scheme about tax-cut legislation all the time, night and day, weekends and holidays. Its certainly that kind of obsessive preoccupation for them on the campaign trail.

Yet here we are, after having all year to prepare for 2017s big barbecue of tax cuts, and on the very eve of the House GOPs unveiling of its version of tax reform, the process has apparently devolved into sweaty madness, with a strong possibility the whole show will have to be delayed, according to Politico:

House Republicans are racing to finalize their tax reform proposal before its much-anticipated rollout Wednesday morning. But so many key details have yet to be finalized that some congressional sources worry the unveiling may have to be postponed 

[N]ot 24 hours before the bills big reveal, lawmakers had yet to settle on one of the most sensitive questions of all: How to pay for their proposed $5.5 trillion in tax cuts, since any major revenue-generator is certain to antagonize some powerful lobby or group of lawmakers who could defeat it.

As Josh Barro quips on Twitter: Oh, that little detail!

In their budget resolution Republicans gave themselves a ten-year total of $1.5 trillion in deficits they could burn up in tax cuts. But that was not remotely enough. And because they decided not to take the political heat associated with the big spending cuts they always proposed back when vetoes from President Obama made it all theoretical, the GOP now has to come up with revenue offsets to pay for at least that portion of the tax cuts that they cant deem self-financed by the alleged economic growth they are unleashing.

Trial balloons have been lofted over the Capitol repeatedly, carrying possible revenue-raisers. Many have been shot down, beginning with a huge new border adjustment tax that importers and retailers stopped early on.

Yet the scrambling continues. In the last week House tax-writers appeared to cave on new limits for contributions to 401(k) retirement plans, and on a slower phase-in of corporate tax cuts. The White House noisily objected to both those ideas. And the near defeat of the budget resolution at the hands of House Republicans from high-tax states who objected to plans to kill the tax deduction for state and local taxes made that provision suddenly risky. So its all a moving target, which makes the average Republican member of Congress who is expected to be preparing lusty cheers for the unveiling tomorrow a mite nervous.

The vast majority of House Republicans have only an inkling of whats in the legislation. The details, including the key question of who loses under the legislation, have been closely held by party leaders for months in order to keep lobbyists at bay .

[Speaker Paul Ryan] said the committee is turning the dials and getting it to work. Its all last minute stuff, said Scott Hodge, president of Tax Foundation, as he left Ryans office after meeting with the speaker.

Yeah, they might need another day.
Get Chucked. Photo: Chris Kleponis-Pool; Alex Wong/Getty Images

One month ago, in a city where it is legal to openly carry semiautomatic assault rifles, an American-born psychopath armed with such firearms murdered 58 people and wounded 489. One day ago, in a city where assault weapons are illegal  and restrictions on handguns draconian  an Uzbek American psychopath murdered eight people and injured 11 with a Home Depot truck, paintball rifle, and pellet gun.

Witnesses Describe the Manhattan Attack

One rational policy lesson you could draw from these events is that gun restrictions help mitigate the lethality of mass murderers. Alas, the irrational lesson that our president has chosen to draw from the killings is that nonwhite immigrants pose a unique threat to the American homeland. And so, on Wednesday morning, Donald Trump chose to level a bitter diatribe against one of New Yorks senators.

I have just ordered Homeland Security to step up our already Extreme Vetting Program. Being politically correct is fine, but not for this!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 1, 2017

The terrorist came into our country through what is called the "Diversity Visa Lottery Program," a Chuck Schumer beauty. I want merit based.  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 1, 2017

We are fighting hard for Merit Based immigration, no more Democrat Lottery Systems. We must get MUCH tougher (and smarter). @foxandfriends  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 1, 2017

"Senator Chuck Schumer helping to import Europes problems" said Col.Tony Shaffer. We will stop this craziness! @foxandfriends  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 1, 2017

A few pieces of this rant are truthful: Chuck Schumer was instrumental in passing one iteration of the green-card lottery program, which provides visas to 50,000 immigrants annually from parts of the world with relatively low immigration rates over the preceding five years. Immigrants from such countries must have a high-school degree or two years of work experience and no criminal record. Beyond that, theyre selected randomly. Trump also appears to be correct that the alleged perpetrator of Tuesdays attack immigrated to the United States through the program, at least, if ABC7s reporting holds up.

But the lottery system is in no way a specifically Democrat one: The program was passed with bipartisan support and signed into law by George H.W. Bush. Further, Chuck Schumer himself has actually called for the program to be ended. In 2013, Schumer announced that the program would be eliminated as part of comprehensive immigration reform; the lottery had strayed from its original purpose, the senator said, and thus we decided we couldnt continue it.

Whats more, the lottery systems initial intention wasnt really to increase diversity in the current, partisan understanding of that term. The first green-card lottery program was authored by Massachusetts congressman Brian J. Donnelly, as a means of making the incoming pool of immigrants a bit less Mexican, Indian or Chinese  and a lot more Irish. As Amber Jameison recently wrote for The Guardian:

The 1965 Immigration Act had put the focus of immigration policy on skilled workers and family sponsorship visas, meaning green cards were mainly being allocated to just a handful of countries  Mexico, India, China and the Philippines.

Donnelly represented thousands of undocumented Irish immigrants living in Boston after a resurgence in Irish immigration in the late 1980s. In the past, US immigration policy had discriminated against people from Asia; now, those from western Europe and Africa had limited immigration options, explained Donnelly.

Its just a matter of fairness. No one area of the world should have access to the American dream at the expense of others, said Donnelly, who served as a Democratic US congressman from 1979 to 1993.

A lottery would be the fairest way, no favoritism. We literally couldnt think of a fairer way to do it, said Donnelly.

A 2007 report from the Government Accountability Office found that diversity immigrants did not pose a unique threat of terrorism, but did document evidence that the program was vulnerable to fraud.

As Republican senator Jeff Flake noted Wednesday, had the Senate passed comprehensive immigration reform under President Obama, the lottery program would no longer exist.

Actually, the Gang of 8, including @SenSchumer, did away with the Diversity Visa Program as part of broader reforms. I know, I was there https://t.co/QQFJzPyRzC  Jeff Flake (@JeffFlake) November 1, 2017

Schumer responded to Trumps comments by reiterating his support for immigration, scolding the president for politicizing the tragedy, and, then, politicizing the tragedy.

I have always believed and continue to believe that immigration is good for America, the senator wrote in a statement. President Trump, instead of politicizing and dividing America, which he always seems to do at times of national tragedy, should be focusing on the real solution  anti-terrorism funding  which he proposed cutting in his most recent budget.

Attacking politicians for politicizing an act of mass killing is, typically, an incoherent, bad-faith move. One of the governments jobs is to maintain a monopoly on violence and preserve public safety. When it fails to do those things, the question of how such failures can be prevented in the future inevitably arises. And there is no apolitical way to answer that question.

Still, it is reasonable to expect the president not to respond to a terrorist attack in New York City by savaging one of the states senators on Twitter for supporting a policy that said senator has tried to abolish.
Photo: Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo

New York City mayor Bill de Blasio and New York governor Andrew Cuomo both said Wednesday that President Trump has not reached out to them in the aftermath of Tuesdays terror attack in lower Manhattan. Instead, Trump was busy attacking another New York politician, blaming U.S. senator Chuck Schumer for the attack by linking him to the immigration program that allowed the killer into the U.S.

Witnesses Describe the Manhattan Attack

Both de Blasio and Cuomo said they spoke Tuesday to other administration officials, including acting Homeland Security secretary Elaine Duke and Trumps Homeland Security adviser Tom Bossert. Both added that they were not bothered by Trumps lack of a phone call.

NYC mayor and NY gov both say they've heard from senior federal officials, but have not heard from President Trump directly. pic.twitter.com/DRBrOAadZE  BuzzFeed News (@BuzzFeedNews) November 1, 2017

Trumps tweets at Schumer did seem to bother them though. I am not bothered that the president didnt call. I am bothered by an attempt by anyone to try to politicize this situation; that plays right into the hands of the terrorists, Cuomo said.

The presidents tweets, I think, were not helpful, he added.

Cuomo and de Blasio arent the only New York elected officials who havent heard from Trump. Neither have Senator Schumer, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, or Representative Jerry Nadler, who represents the district where the attack took place.
Yes, Lee and Jefferson were both slave owners. But only one of them sought to destroy the United States. Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images, Tom Williams/Roll Call/Getty Images

Conservative opponents of the drive to dismantle the many monuments neo-Confederates erected to honor Confederate leaders often resort to floodgates or slippery-slope arguments that taking this step will lead to some sort of national iconoclastic frenzy wherein history is defaced and national heroes are defiled. Such arguments received a large boost when a historic Virginia church decided simultaneously to relocate from its sanctuary plaques honoring Robert E. Lee and George Washington  who both at one time worshipped there.

Sure enough, at the National Review, Michael Brendan Dougherty seized on the alleged inability of Christ Churchs vestry to distinguish between the slave-holding first president Washington and the slave-holding rebel Lee to pen an elegant if flawed argument that the logic of their position is leading liberals ineluctably down the road to large-scale attacks on the Founders.

The fact that said liberals have not in fact embarked on that road is irrelevant, says Dougherty; they are prisoners of their current political imperatives, and know not what they do:

Right now, most liberals cannot quite envision the toppling of the Jefferson Memorial on account of Jeffersons white-supremacist views. It seems so unthinkable that they genuinely dont allow themselves to contemplate it, much less desire it. And so they are quite reassuring when they say they arent leading us down the slope. But they are, even if they dont know it.

Thus Dougherty briskly dismisses disclaimers from Jamelle Bouie and others that the arguments against Lee monuments are not arguments against monuments to Jefferson or other Founders. But the evidence he adduces for this condescending I-know-where-youre-going-even-if-you-dont claim is hauled in from other issues (the quick transition of same-sex marriage from an aspiration to an established right) and even from other countries (the steadily growing disrepute of the Irish Republics founders among those seeking to reduce the Catholic Churchs influence). In the end, Dougherty simply invents arguments from future liberals for treating Confederates and Founders  perhaps even non-slave-owning Founders  the same.

It is easy to imagine a writer who grew up reading Ta-Nehisi Coates on the First White President looking back at Bouies assertion that we have statues to Jefferson on account of his authorship of the Declaration of Independence with a jaundiced eye. That future man of letters will observe that the Declarations invocations of liberty and its pretensions of universalism were merely Whig propaganda against a King. He will assert that Jefferson did not actually believe that all men were so endowed by their creator. He will hasten to add that as America achieved the political sovereignty, Jefferson became more convinced of white supremacy, more secure in the view that white liberty could be guaranteed only through black bondage. Many reading this argument will conclude that by raising statues to Jefferson we are crediting him only for his hypocrisy, a privilege only white racists and slavers get in America.

And why would a future liberal hold such views? Because, suggests Dougherty, liberals are obsessed with race and diversity to the exclusion of all other values. If white supremacy will be named as the perennial problem of American life going forward, the Founders must eventually fall.

Doughertys belief that liberals or the Left will soon become unable to distinguish the racist Jefferson from the racist Lee misses the rather central point that the latter was engaged in military treason against the Republic established by the former, for the sole purpose of creating an alternative Republic built entirely on the principle that the maintenance and expansion of human bondage was and would eternally remain essential to human progress.

Even more importantly, he misses the central importance to American history of the defeat of the Confederacy, which not only prevented the dismemberment of the United States and the preservation of slavery, but carried in its wake the Reconstruction Amendments to the Constitution, which made possible just about everything most Americans associate with the proud accomplishments of the 20th century. Yes, the legacy of the 14th and 15th Amendments to the Constitution took many years to take root in the legal system, and the country continued to suffer from such continuing disasters as the decimation of the Native American population and the long afterlife of the Confederacy via the Jim Crow system of segregation and African-American disenfranchisement.

But as the timeline for construction of Confederate monuments shows, the fight to honor the Confederacy largely tracked the fight to reverse the Civil Wars results and hang on to white supremacy: to make the Lost Cause an ultimate winner. To a significant extent, the monument-builders were engaged in an intensive and remarkably successful effort to rewrite history to make the Civil War not a life-and-death struggle to promote the egalitarian values Jefferson wrote about in the Declaration, but something very different: a tragic disagreement between honorable men, after which the natural (white) rulers of the South regained their sovereignty. The neo-Confederates, not todays anti-Confederate iconoclasts, were trying to obliterate history and deny American heroes (opponents of the Rebellion north and south) their due. And their efforts did not flag until their true legacy, Jim Crow, was finally dismantled via those same Reconstruction Amendments that were in the end as important as the Bill of Rights.

From this perspective, the Union and Reconstruction leaders who fought the Confederacy were Founders, too, perhaps less important than Washington, Jefferson, and Madison, but still essential to what America ultimately became. And honoring them along with their 18th-century forebears is why fighting the memorials to many decades of neo-Confederate propaganda is an act of historical fidelity and patriotism, not the product of liberal ideology.

But what about that church in Virginia? For one thing, Christ Church in Alexandria did not really remove the plaques honoring Washington and Lee; it removed them from the sanctuary for relocation to a different (and still prominent) site on church property. I would hope no one would think it mandatory that a religious organization forever honor secular political leaders in places normally reserved for worship. That such leaders held fellow human beings in bondage might even make them inappropriately sinful objects of veneration cheek by jowl with images of Jesus, his disciples, and the saints. But in any event, this has nothing to do with monuments in public squares, where Washington and Jefferson will remain long after Lee has been consigned to that corner of history where traitors in a bad cause seek recognition for their redeeming qualities. Thats my prophecy to rival Doughertys.
The scene after the attack. Photo: Craig Ruttle/AP

The Latest

 A note (or notes) found near the vehicle says the attack was carried out in the name of ISIS, according to several outlets.

 Suspect Sayfullo Habibullaevic Saipov, who was shot by a police officer, underwent surgery and is expected to survive.

 Five of the people killed have been identified as Argentine tourists celebrating their 30-year high-school reunion.

The Attack

Eight people were killed and 11 were injured in downtown Manhattan on Tuesday afternoon when a driver in a pickup truck deliberately steered his vehicle into a mile-long stretch of bike path. He then jumped from the vehicle and ran up and down the highway, brandishing a pellet gun and a paintball gun. He was shot in the abdomen by a police officer and taken into custody.

The suspect has been identified as 29-year-old Sayfullo Habibullaevic Saipov. He is an Uzbek national who came to the U.S. in 2010. After living in Florida and working as a truck driver for several years, he recently moved to New Jersey with his wife and children and began driving for Uber. He underwent surgery and is expected to survive.

BREAKING: Exclusive photo of NYC terrorist identified as Sayfullo Saipov of Tampa, Florida https://t.co/cIYPy3QrXk pic.twitter.com/U9cb3dwWl4  The Daily Beast (@thedailybeast) October 31, 2017

Saipov was heard yelling, Allahu Akbar! before he was shot. Several outlets reported that a note found at the scene said the attack was carried out in the name of ISIS. According to CNN, law enforcement sources found one note written in English inside the vehicle. The New York Times reported that investigators found several notes handwritten in Arabic near the truck. Officials said they have yet to find evidence of direct ties between Saipov and ISIS, so theyre treating it as an attack only inspired by the terror group.

This was an act of terror, and a particularly cowardly act of terror, aimed at innocent civilians, aimed at people going about their lives who had no idea what was about to hit them, New York mayor Bill de Blasio said at a press conference.

Governor Andrew Cuomo said that the suspect acted alone, and there is no evidence to suggest a wider plot or a wider scheme. A joint investigation by the FBI and New York Police Department is under way.

Witnesses Describe the Manhattan Attack

Around 3:05 p.m., Saipov entered a stretch of bike path near Houston Street, adjacent to the West Side Highway, and drove for about 20 blocks. He was driving a flatbed pickup truck rented from Home Depot. The New York Daily News reported that a witness watched in disbelief as the driver of the speeding truck ran down a pair of Citi Bike riders about 50 feet apart, catching both from behind on the busy bike path alongside the Hudson River.

Saipov crashed into a school bus at Chambers Street, injuring two adults and two children on the bus. He then exited the truck, brandishing a paintball gun and a pellet gun. Saipov was confronted by NYPD Officer Ryan Nash, who was responding to a call at nearby Stuyvesant High School. When Saipov refused an order to drop his weapons, Nash shot him in the stomach. Nash was treated for tinnitus after the incident.

Heres the hero cop the world should be talking about. Police Officer Ryan Nash risked his life to save others. Thank u Ryan, thank u #NYPD pic.twitter.com/TqT0inXq7K  Joe Borelli (@JoeBorelliNYC) November 1, 2017

The Aftermath

A video apparently taken from the scene showed several bikers on the ground after being hit by the truck.

This video appears to show the immediate aftermath of attack in NYC todaymangled bikes along the West Side Highway pic.twitter.com/3gYBz1Z2lT  Jack Smith IV (@JackSmithIV) October 31, 2017

What happened was there was a car crash  he came out of one of the cars. He had two guns. We thought it was a Halloween thing. He started running around the highway. There was another guy in a green shirt that was chasing him around, a student at Stuyvesant High School told the New York Post.

Another high-schooler caught the aftermath of the attack on video:

Olivia Raykhman, 14, described efforts to rescue children from the wrecked school bus to the New York Times. They were sawing through a school bus window. They broke all of the windows and were trying to pull kids out. There was a man covering a child with a blanket. There was one kid who was stuck, she said.

New Yorks Madison Mills was at the scene, and interviewed an eyewitness who described the incident:

The Victims

Officials said six people were declared dead at the scene, and two died later at the hospital. Eleven other people were taken to the hospital with serious, but non-life-threatening injuries.

Five of the people killed were Argentine tourists celebrating their 30-year high-school reunion. Argentine authorities identified them as Hernan Mendoza, Diego Angelini, Alejandro Pagnucco, Ariel Erlij, and Hernan Ferruchi. A sixth member of the group, Martin Ludovico Marro, was wounded.

According to the Argentine newspaper La Nacion, the friends graduated from a polytechnic school in 1987, and arrived in New York several days ago with five other people.

The were out cycling in downtown Manhattan, Mateo Estreme, consul general of Argentina to the United Nations, told the New York Post. We are trying to figure out how to go on  especially the families  [They] are completely lost about, well, being very far from their relatives. They dont know what to do.

Este es el grupo de rosarinos afectados en el atentando en NY. Promocion 87 del Politecnico. Al menos 1 muerto (Ariel Erlij) y 4 heridos. pic.twitter.com/LIhaVqFKJy  Hernan Funes (@HernanFunes) November 1, 2017

Belgian officials said one person who was killed and three who were injured were from Belgium.

I am deeply saddened to announce a belgian victim in #Manhattan - I express my condolences to the family and friends   didier reynders (@dreynders) October 31, 2017

Reactions to the Attack

President Trump was briefed on the matter, and tweeted multiple times in response:

In NYC, looks like another attack by a very sick and deranged person. Law enforcement is following this closely. NOT IN THE U.S.A.!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 31, 2017

We must not allow ISIS to return, or enter, our country after defeating them in the Middle East and elsewhere. Enough!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 31, 2017

My thoughts, condolences and prayers to the victims and families of the New York City terrorist attack. God and your country are with you!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 31, 2017

I have just ordered Homeland Security to step up our already Extreme Vetting Program. Being politically correct is fine, but not for this!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 1, 2017

As Politico notes, its unclear what Trump was referring to. In August, the Trump administration expanded requirements for some green-card applicants, but federal judges have blocked three iterations of his travel ban from fully taking effect. People from Uzbekistan were not banned under any version of the order.

The incident was similar to vehicle attacks that have taken place in France, Britain, Germany, Sweden, and Spain in recent years.

This certainly bears all the hallmarks of an ISIS-inspired or al-Qaeda-inspired attack, said Representative Adam Schiff, the ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, who was briefed on the attack by the FBI. We have to expect that as the capital of the caliphate has now fallen, there are going to be increasing efforts to show that they remain dangerous and lethal, and to expand the virtual caliphate.

While officials said they do not believe there is any further threat to the city, there will be an increased police presence in the coming days.

Additional officers were deployed to police Greenwich Villages annual Halloween parade on Tuesday night. Im not going to let it scare me, Cathryn Strobl, a 23-year-old New Yorker, told the AP as she waited for the parade to start. You cant let it stop you from living your life.

This post will be updated as more information becomes available.
Police outside Sayfullo Saipovs home. Photo: Mark Makela/Getty Images

The 29-year-old man from Uzbekistan who killed eight people and injured 11 more after driving a truck down a bike path in lower Manhattan Tuesday had been planning the attack for a number of weeks, police said Wednesday. New York Deputy Police Commissioner John Miller would not go into further detail, only telling reporters that the movements of Sayfullo Saipov will be reconstructed day-by-day going backwards.

The New York Post, meanwhile, says Saipov drove into the city several times on October 28, and police are looking into whether he was conducting a dry run of his October 31 attack.

Witnesses Describe the Manhattan Attack

One thing Miller would confirm is that Saipov did this in the name of ISIS. A note found on the scene indicated as much. The gist of the note was that the Islamic State would endure forever, Miller said.

The style of attack was also straight out of the ISIS playbook. He appears to have followed almost exactly to a T, the instructions that ISIS has put out on its social-media channels to its followers, Miller said.

Specifically, Saipov looks to have heeded a call made last November in the ISIS magazine Rumiyah, which encouraged jihadists in the West to run people down in trucks, smashing their bodies with the vehicles strong outer frame while advancing forward  crushing their heads, torsos, and limbs under the vehicles wheels and chassis  and leaving behind a trail of carnage. It also suggested they leave a note behind declaring their allegiance to the group.

Miller added that Saipov was interviewed at Bellevue Hospital where he was taken after an officer shot him to end the attack. Though he declined to go into details about what Saipov said, reports indicate that he was in a celebratory mood.

Hes talking. Hes laughing. Hes very happy with what he did, the Daily News heard from someone who spoke to a hospital staffer. He feels accomplished.

While Saipov was never the target himself of FBI or NYPD investigations, he was linked to people who were, Miller said. It appears he will have some connectivity to some individuals who were subjects of an investigation though he himself was not, he said.

Still, Saipov was not on the governments terrorist watch list, CNN reports.

Government officials may not have seen Saipovs attacks coming, but some people who knew him did. I used to tell him, Hey, you are too much emotional, a preacher at Saipovs former mosque in Florida told the Times. Read books more. Learn your religion first. He did not learn religion properly. Thats the main disease in the Muslim community.

Mirrakhmat Muminov, who knew Saipov when he lived in Ohio, described him in an interview with the Times as someone who failed to live as a strict Muslim and a man with monsters inside.
Bannon, McConnell. Photo: Photo-Illustration: Getty Images; Library of Congress

The Republican Establishment deserves an insurrection. They promised their voters more affordable health care, then tried to make it more expensive; vowed to take on crony capitalism, then gave their favorite firms the right to fleece their clients; touted a middle-class tax cut, then drafted a giant giveaway to the one percent; pledged to reduce the debt and mitigate the opioid crisis  then voted to add $1.5 trillion to the deficit for corporate tax cuts on the same day that they refused to commit a single dollar in new funds to that public health emergency.

Mitch McConnells crew is a pack of gout-ridden French nobleman circa 1788. Their nightmares should gleam with guillotines.

But Steve Bannons rebels deserve a counterrevolution. They promise to wrest control of the GOP agenda away from a family of libertarian billionaires  and then hand it over to a slightly more xenophobic family of libertarian billionaires. They decry the Republican Party for selling out the working class, then assail it for failing to take health insurance away from 20 million people. They sing paeans to the Constitution and individual liberty, while proclaiming unconditional loyalty to the president as the first principle of their politics.

These deplorables look at a party that all but encourages wage theft, financial fraud, and workplace injuries, and then think: The Republican Partys greatest crime against working people is its lack of enthusiasm for deporting undocumented immigrants who were brought to this country as children.

When you contemplate the GOPs civil war for long enough, it starts to feel like the only side worth rooting for is the supervolcano under Yellowstone.

Take the Establishments counteroffensive. After Bannon hopped onto the Roy Moore bandwagon in Alabama; intimidated the Trump-averse Senate Republicans Jeff Flake and Bob Corker into retirement; and recruited a motley crew of oddball reactionaries to primary a (seemingly random) slew of conservative incumbents, McConnells forces finally settled on a strategy for restoring order: Paint any candidate that Bannon supports as complicit in white nationalism. As the Washington Post reports:

[T]he McConnell-allied Senate Leadership Fund (SLF) will highlight Bannons hard-line populism and attempt to link him to white nationalism to discredit him and the candidates he will support. It will also boost candidates with traditional GOP profiles and excoriate those tied to Bannon, with plans to spend millions and launch a heavy social media presence in some states.

This could have been a perfectly admirable line of attack, maybe even enough to win a progressive to McConnells side. Sure, the Senate Majority Leader is the embodiment of all thats corrupt and nihilistic in conservative politics. But Stalin was no great shakes, either  and it was still worth taking his side in a fight against Nazis.

Alas, this spirit of solidarity is difficult to maintain: The Senate Leadership Fund might decry white nationalism on the airwaves, but the actual Senate leadership has endorsed the candidacy of a Bannon-backed theocrat who believes Muslims should not be allowed to serve in Congress  and is imploring congressional Republicans not to say a critical word about the Bannon-aligned candidate in the Oval Office.

The former White House advisers appeals to economic populism ring similarly hollow. Bannon has called for higher taxes on the rich, New Dealstyle public-works projects, and tighter regulation of Silicon Valley giants. In his attacks on the Republican Establishment, Bannon occasionally points to the real villains. Asked by The New Yorkers Jane Mayer about the prospect of a Pence presidency, Bannon replied, Im concerned hed be a President that the Kochs would own.

That is a rational concern. And yet, Bannons website and insurgency is bankrolled by the family of libertarian billionaire Robert Mercer  a man so populist, he (reportedly) told a colleague that the life of a person on food stamps is worth less than that of a house cat. Whats more, Bannons heterodox economic views show up nowhere in the campaigns of his chosen candidates, many of whom are running as more enthusiastic proponents of gutting the welfare state and slashing taxes than Mitch McConnell is.

Thus, the whole Bannon-McConnell feud can look like a fight between servants of an extractive elite pretending they arent racist, and racists pretending that they arent servants of an extractive elite.

And yet: If volcanic winter is off the table, then you probably have to pull for McConnell. While the two sides have few genuine disagreements on health care, tax cuts, or the acceptability of stoking white racism for political gain, there are still two substantive issues in play: First, whether Congress should comport itself as a co-equal branch of government or as the presidents loyal foot soldiers  and second, whether 800,000 American-raised undocumented immigrants should be stripped of legal status.

These arent idle questions. And on both, the GOP Establishments position is preferable to Bannons. Paul Ryan is reportedly committed to putting legal status for DACA recipients into Decembers omnibus spending bill. Bannons candidates are united in their opposition to such amnesty. And while GOP leaders conduct themselves as Donald Trumps sycophants 95 percent of the time, they have occasionally asserted their independence  as when McConnells caucus prevented the president from replacing his Attorney General (and thus, killing the Mueller probe) over their recess. When that probe produced its first indictments on Monday, several Establishment Republican lawmakers reiterated their support for the special counsels investigation. Bannon, meanwhile, implored the president to defund Muellers efforts  and then carried on trying to drum Bob Corker out of public life for having the temerity to inform the public that Trumps military advisers are terrified of his belligerent incompetence.

Best then, for McConnell to reconsolidate his power. The GOP Establishment needs to be overthrown  but for the moment, there are no moderate rebels for its enemies to arm.
Send him to Gitmo, Trump said. Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images

President Trump on Wednesday called the U.S. justice system a joke and said hes open to sending Sayfullo Saipov, the Uzbekistani man accused of killing eight people in New York on Tuesday, to Guantanamo Bay so he receives much tougher treatment.

We have to come up with punishment thats far quicker and far greater than the punishment these animals are getting right now, Trump said. Theyll go through court for years  We need quick justice, and we need strong justice.

Asked directly if he wanted to send Saipov to the U.S. military prison in Cuba, Trump said, I would certainly consider it.

Putting Saipov in the controversial prison was a point on which Trump and Senator John McCain could finally agree. Take him to Guantanamo, McCain said on Wednesday. Hes a terrorist, he should be kept there. Theres no Miranda rights for somebody who kills Americans. Senator Lindsey Graham came out in support of the idea, too, saying Saipov should be held as an enemy combatant.

White House spokesperson Sarah Huckabee Sanders said the Trump administration agrees with that designation, which would allow Saipov to be held and questioned without a lawyer. I believe we would consider this person to be an enemy combatant, yes, Sanders said on Wednesday.

The Center for Constitutional Rights, a legal advocacy group that has defended Gitmo detainees, came out firmly against the idea on Wednesday. Fifteen years has proven no one will ever be successfully tried or brought to justice at Guantanamo, and the President and his supporters within his own party are deluded if they believe otherwise, the group said in a statement.

Criticism of this idea wasnt confined to nonprofit advocacy groups. Fox News legal analyst Judge Andrew Napolitano said on Wednesday that sending Saipov to Cuba would be unfair, unlawful and unconstitutional.
A 2016 photograph of Saipov obtained by the St. Charles County Department of Corrections in Missouri. Photo: ST. CHARLES COUNTY DEPT. OF CORR/AFP/Getty Images

On Tuesday afternoon in lower Manhattan, a truck driver ran through a mile-long section of bike path, leaving eight people dead and 12 injured. He then leapt from the vehicle, shouting, Allahu Akbar! as he brandished a pellet gun and a paintball gun. When he refused orders to drop the weapons, NYPD officer Ryan Nash shot him in the stomach and took him into custody.

On Wednesday, federal prosecutors filed terrorism charges against the suspect, 29-year-old Sayfullo Habibullaevic Saipov. In court documents, they alleged that he was inspired by ISIS and spent months planning an attack that would inflict maximum damage against civilians. Heres what we know about him so far.

Witnesses Describe the Manhattan Attack

Saipovs Background

The Uzbekistani immigrant had lived in Ohio and Florida, and settled in New Jersey last summer. He worked as a truck driver and for the ride-sharing companies Uber and Lyft.

Saipov came to the United States from Uzbekistan in 2010, and had a green card making him a permanent legal resident. ABC Chicago reports that he came under the Diversity Visa Program, which provides a lottery for people from countries with few immigrants in the U.S. He left home at 22, and never saw his hometown of Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan, again.

At the time, he was a moderate Muslim with dreams of making it in the U.S., according to the New York Times. His family was well-off and he studied at the Tashkent Financial Institute, one of the biggest universities in Uzbekistan. After graduating in 2009, he worked as an accountant in a Tashkent hotel.

Saipov hoped to work in the hotel industry once he arrived in the U.S., but with his lack of English, he was unable to find a job. Saipov was staying with his fathers friend, a trucker, in Ohio, and instead wound up in that profession.

Dilnoza Abdusamatova, 24, told the Washington Post that Saipov stayed with her family in Cincinnati for his first two weeks in the country, then relocated to Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. Abdusamatovas family was shocked to learn in recent days that Saipov had registered his trucking business, Sayf Motors Inc., at their address in 2011. He used an address in Cuyahoga Falls to register another business, Bright Auto LLC, and obtain a marriage license in 2013.

Saipov and Nozima Odilova, an immigrant from Uzbekistan nearly six years his junior, have three children  two girls and a boy born last summer.

Saipov did not seem like an extremist when he first arrived in Cuyahoga Falls. Per the Times:

Mr. Saipov liked fancy clothes, a vanity frowned on in conservative Islamic circles. He cursed as if he couldnt help it. He routinely showed up late for Friday Prayer at the Islamic Society of Akron and Kent. He displayed only rudimentary knowledge of the Quran.

However, Mirrakhmat Muminov, a truck driver and local community activist, said Saipov changed over the years, becoming aggressive and growing out his beard. Muminov described him as someone with monsters inside.

I always thought deep in my soul that he would be jailed for beating someone or insulting someone, Muminov said. He had a vulgar character.

The apartment building where Saipov lived in Tampa, Florida. Photo: Joseph Garnett Jr./Getty Images

Though he had registered two businesses, Saipov mainly drove for other companies. At the end of 2015, he moved the family to Florida, but had a hard time finding work.

An imam in Florida told the Times he worried that Saipov was misinterpreting Islam.

I used to tell him: Hey, you are too much emotional. Read books more. Learn your religion first, said Abdul, the imam. He did not learn religion properly. Thats the main disease in the Muslim community.

On Tuesday evening, two plainclothes police officers interviewed residents in a Tampa apartment complex where Saipov once lived. Kyong Eagan, who lives in the complex, told the Daily Beast that Saipov would bring her home-cooked meals, saying he wanted to share his countrys food with her and gave her some household appliances when the family moved last summer. I just cant believe it at all. He was just so genuine. Im just so shocked, she said.

In the spring, Saipov told friends that he wanted to be closer to his wifes family, who live in Brooklyn. The family settled in Paterson, New Jersey, and Saipov began driving for Uber.

Uber confirmed that Saipov drove for the ride-sharing company, and said he had passed a background check. We are horrified by this senseless act of violence, the company said in a statement. Our hearts are with the victims and their families. We have reached out to law enforcement to provide our full assistance.

Saipovs home in Paterson, New Jersey. Photo: Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

ISIS Connection

Over the years, Saipov racked up at least nine traffic citations across the country as part of his job. The most serious was a 2015 fine in Missouri for a cracked right-side brake. Months later, a warrant was issued for his arrest. Saipov was arrested in October 2016, and posted a $200 bond. The money was used to pay his fine when he failed to show up to a court appearance.

However, he had been on the radar of federal authorities. According to the Times, he came up in an unrelated investigation when he attended the Florida wedding of an Uzbekistani man under FBI scrutiny.

That did not trigger a separate investigation of Saipov, but authorities now believe he was becoming radicalized online. According to a criminal complaint, FBI agents found 90 videos and 3,800 photos on Saipovs phone, many of which were ISIS propaganda. This included videos of ISIS fighters killing prisoners and bomb-making instructions. Agents said he was particularly taken with a video in which ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi questioned what Muslims in the United States and elsewhere were doing to respond to the killing of Muslims in Iraq.

The attack closely mirrored instructions for a vehicle attack offered in an ISIS magazine last November. Prosecutors say Saipov had been planning the attack for about a year. He rented a truck from a Home Depot in Passaic, New Jersey, nine days before the attack and practiced driving it. He also ran through the route he used to enter the city while driving for Uber.

The complaint says Saipov considered putting ISIS flags on the truck, but decided it would attract too much attention. A note found at the scene read in Arabic, No god but god and Mohamed is his prophet, and Islamic Supplication. It will endure, referring to ISIS.

While talking with law-enforcement officials in his hospital room, Saipov reportedly asked to put up an ISIS flag in his room, and stated that he felt good about what he had done.

The Charges Against Saipov

Saipov was charged with providing material support to a terrorist group and committing violence and destruction of a motor vehicle resulting in death. He appeared at a hearing on Wednesday in a wheelchair, with his hands and feet chained. Saipov was provided a Russian interpreter, and indicated that he understood what was happening in the proceeding. He has yet to enter a plea.

The vehicle charge carries the possibility of the death penalty, and late on Wednesday night, President Trump tweeted that he believes Saipov should be executed.

NYC terrorist was happy as he asked to hang ISIS flag in his hospital room. He killed 8 people, badly injured 12. SHOULD GET DEATH PENALTY!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 2, 2017

Earlier, Trump said he was open to having him transferred to Guantanamo Bay. However, the charges were filed in civilian court, and Saipov is not being held by the military as an enemy combatant, as Trump and some other Republican lawmakers recommended.

This post has been updated throughout.
From the use of solar panels to small and large hydropower plants, the energy sector is steadily growing, the government has said.

Irene Muloni, the minister for Energy and Mineral Development, said electricity generation capacity has generally improved as well as power consumption. Citing figures from the Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERA), Muloni said power production has grown to 947MW from 300MW in 2002.

Speaking during the 7th annual joint energy and mineral sector review, which was held recently, Muloni noted that the power generation capacity is expected to hit 1,994.5 MW by 2020 when the construction of more energy plants is completed.

Government is focused on its priority of increasing access to clean, reliable and affordable energy to its population. We expect Uganda to be able to consume the power, Muloni said.

She added: Ugandas electricity consumption, which is an important indicator of economic activities, has also registered growth in the past two years as demand for energy expands.

James Banaabe, the acting director at the Energy Resources department, in the ministry, revealed that the recent increase in electricity generation and the continued strengthening of the transmission and distribution network have improved power supply in the country.

Access to electricity has also grown from the baseline statistic of 17 per cent in FY 2014/15 to the current parameter of 22 per cent in FY 2016/17. This is attributed to the improvement of the whole production system, he said.

However, power tariffs remain a source of concern. According to Banaabe, several tariff adjustments and associated revisions to the tariff-setting formula, have considerably improved the sectors financial viability.

The end-user tariffs are set by the Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERA) based on revenue requirements of the generation, transmission, and distribution companies and the terms of various contracts with the private generation and distribution companies.

The basic principle is that the sector is expected to be financially viable and that each generation, transmission, and distribution company meet the performance targets specified in their respective licenses.

High tariffs are partly the reasons for low access to electricity, and government has promised to make power prices affordable in addition to facilitating free connections in priority areas.

Muloni said government is working with various stakeholders to ensure that the power tariffs are friendly and affordable, especially for industrial consumers.

Regarding increased connections for rural communities, government has put in place the connections policy which is awaiting approval by cabinet, she said.

According to Muloni, the connections policy is a strategy document that looks at increasing the access rate through increased connections in rural areas.



DEMAND

Electricity demand grows at an estimated annual average of nine per cent since 2005 with peak domestic demand averaging 508MW, according to Uganda Electricity Transmission Company Limited (UETCL).

Muloni said to meet the needs of the growing economy, providing reliable, affordable, secure and sustainable energy requires exploring a range of options, including maximizing domestic production, diversifying the energy mix and the source of supply.

We are endowed with abundant renewable energy resources, which are fairly distributed throughout the country. However, much of the potentials for renewables have so far not been exploited, she said.

Muloni also explained that government is promoting the adoption of other renewable energy technologies like biogas, solar photovoltaic PV technology for lighting health centers and schools. Wind energy technology, which is currently under study in the Karamoja region, and geothermal energy could be exploited.



QUALITY ISSUES

Although government is working hard to produce more power, industrialists and other power consumers believe the quality and reliability is the biggest challenge.

Gideon Badagawa, the executive director, Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU), said the private sector does not mind about the price of the tariff; rather, the quality and reliability.

He noted that the challenge with unreliable power is that manufacturers lose a lot during the production processes.

Take for instance Roofings Ltd or Nice Plastics: when they start their smelting or designing their products and power goes off, you kill the whole process and lose all that on the production line, he said.

Badagawa added: We have told government several times that industrialists are ready to pay more rather than having unstable power.



justuslyatuu08@gmail.com
Since Matt Bish released State Research Bureau (SRB) almost ten years ago, a lot has changed with the local film industry.

The Ugandan government courtesy of the Uganda Communications Commission has since started a film festival and through Africa Magic Viewers Choice awards, Uganda has at least bagged a continental film accolade.

Recently, at the plush Victoria hall of Serena hotel, Bish premiered probably his most ambitious project yet, with a star-studded cast, promising trailer and career-firsts for some in his cast.

Cinderella Sanyu speaks at Bella premiere

The film was Cinderella Sanyu alias Cindys very first time acting and its selling point as many were curious about her; true to her artistry, she puts up a spirited performance which made many believe that regardless of how the movie fares, it may have opened doors for the dancehall artiste.

Bella is a simple Cinderella story; in fact, besides meeting Prince Charming, it is a mirror of many rags- to-riches tales just that this particular one is told with a musical string to it.

It tells the story of a girl that leaves the village after her impossible father (Abby Mukiibi) has allegedly killed her mother during a fight. Together with another child, they jump onto a track to the city whose streets they stay on until they are separated by death.

The girl grows into a woman on the streets, going around asking for food and at times singing for it. It is a music-driven story with a girl that uses her voice to survive a cruel city.

The cast and crew cut cake at the premiere

And Cindy was amazing throughout; she managed to make the audience forget her dancehall self to appreciate and buy the emotions of Bella.

I received the script almost a year before we started shooting. I read it and understood it, she had earlier told The Observer.

Being a first-time actor, she embarked on acting classes.

I was still intimidated by the cast, these were all professionals and yet I was supposed to be the lead.

Bellas strongest point is brilliant photography executed by actor-turned-photographer Pryce Joel Okuyo, and the strong cast that also features Simon Base Kalema, Stella Nantumbwe, Roger Mugisha and Judith Heard, among others.
The United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goal 10 strives to reduce inequality by empowering and promoting the social, economic and political inclusion of all, including persons with disabilities.

Malengo Foundation, a not-for-profit organization set up to propagate UN SD goals to youths across Africa, has decided to use fashion as one of the tools.

The Hot Pink charity fashion show took place last Saturday evening at the Imperial mall, Entebbe. It was the second edition.

Raphael Kasule (R) walks with Jane, a blind model

Unlike last years edition that was held at UMA multipurpose hall, Lugogo, this one was way bigger in terms of venue, attendance and showcases.

The showcase did more than break myths and send a message that differently-abled people have many strong knacks, it also highlighted their talents and more.

For example, Brenda Areto and Cissy Nagawa showed that indeed disability is not inability and being wheelchair-bound could not stop them from showcasing amazing outfits and accessories, plus footwear.

The kid's showcase

The two joined the likes of Umringa Jewelry, Y and Y and Curiosity Arc, among others. To crown the night was what was referred to as Hot Pink All Stars.

The collection had 10 established designers including Eguana Kampala, Kas Wear, Martha Jabo, Kkoolo and Brenda Maraka, among others.

While Ugandas top models such as Ronald Waiswa, Troy Elimu and Brenda Mutara walked the runway, there was a mix of blind models, amputees and albinos who came out and totally owned the runway.

According to Michelle Omamteker, the brains behind the foundation and event, plans are underway to open up Malengo market in Entebbe.

The market will stock items made by Malengo Ambassadors including Cissy Nagawa. The event showcased more than 100 outfits and went up to midnight.



barangasam@gmail.com
The rift between Igara West MP Raphael Magyezi and the committee on Legal and Parliamentary Affairs has taken an even more fractious turn after the legislator stormed out in protest.

Magyezi walked out on the committee vowing never to return. The committeehas started conducting public hearings on the Constitutional (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill, 2017, recently tabled by Magyezi.



The committee led by its chairperson Jacob Oboth-Oboth, the West Budama MP, invited Magyezi together with Jackson Kafuuzi, the Kyaka South MP and Jinja West MP, Moses Balyeku who seconded the bill, to make their submissions.

During the hearing, Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda, the Opposition Chief Whip tasked Magyezi to provide documentary evidence showing when he was granted leave of Parliament to prepare the bill, when the gazette was made and when the certificate of financial implication was issued.



In his response, Magyezi said the bill was gazetted on September 28, 2017 and the certificate of financial implication issued on the same date. He tabled the gazetted bill and certificate of financial implication, which he said was issued by the finance minister, Matia Kasaija to back his submission.

Raphael Magezi addressing the media after he stormed out of the Legal Affairs committee hearing

Ssemujju asked Magyezi to explain how it was possible to gazette the bill and also get a certificate of financial implication on the same day. In his response, Magyezi noted that the responsibility of printing and gazetting bills lies with the Clerk to Parliament as provided for under Rule 112.



As a result, Ssemujju tasked Magyezi to produce evidence showing that he made a request for the certificate of financial implication in vain.

"I was a member of the 9th Parliament, the honourable Raphael Magyezi locked himself in a room with a female member of parliament from Kalungu and they forged a report for the committee on local government and public service. We debated this matter, if you want evidence I will give you and a select committee was put in place to investigate that act by honourable Magyezi.

He was actually found culpable and that report was thrown out by Parliament. So it is not that am throwing a doubt am actually stating a fact that Magyezi has forged before", Ssemujju said.



Oboth-Oboth ruled that they will invite the clerk to parliament, Jane Kibirige and finance minister Matia Kasaija to explain the authenticity of the submitted documents.



However, some committee members opposed to the bill including Medard Lubega Sseggona, Mathias Mpuuga, Muhammad Nsereko and Monicah Amoding among others insisted that the committee addresses itself to the established rules.



Oboth-Oboth said that this would be done at a later stage. He allowed Magyezi to proceed with his presentation after taking an oath.



However, the committee members repeatedly raised procedural matters that were ignored by Oboth-Oboth. This prompted Monicah Amoding, the Kumi Woman MP and her Busiro East counterpart, Medard Lubega Sseggona to walk over and switch off Magyezi's microphone, saying he should respect the committee.

Monica Amoding attempts to switch off Raphael Magyezi's microphone

Efforts by Oboth-Oboth to calm down the situation didn't yield results as the MPs insisted that Magyezi respects the committee. At this point, Magyezi dropped his submission and walked out in protest. He was followed by his two seconders. Oboth-Oboth said the committee will invite Magyezi another time to present his submission.



The committeealso blocked the Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister, Kahinda Otafire from making his submission on grounds that he had presented unsigned documents. Although Otafiire owned the unsigned documents, he refused to append his signature prompting the MPs to reject them.

Oboth-Oboth decided to dismiss Otafiire, saying he will invite him at a later date. Shortly after storming out of Parliament, Magyezi said he's now considering taking back the bill to the House. He claimed that what transpired in the committeeis a continuation of what happened in the house when he presented the bill in the House.

"Certainly this a serious matter that a bill of this magnitude is sent to the committee and the committee members are not ready to listen to the bill mover. My seconders, nobody even talked. You had them go to KCCA...9th Parliamentin the village - all those diversions. You know, I dont produce the certificate of finance implication and if you question it, go to the minister after listening to us, they would invite the minister, the clerk to parliament. They would invite whoever they want", Magyezi angrily said.



Rule 15 of the rules of procedure states that; "Any member may, with consent of the speaker, move that any rule be suspended in its application to a particular motion before the House and if a motion is carried, the rule in question shall be suspended".



Whenever a bill is read for the first time in the house, it is referred to the appropriate committee appointed. He says the speaker will now take charge of the bill since the committeehas frustrated it, adding that he had done his part.
The arrest of senior police officers last week by the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence, CMI, and their arraignment before the General Court Martial has raised procedural questions, which might expose the entire trial process to legal challenge, sources have suggested.

Julius Odwe, a retired deputy inspector general of police, said the arrest of police officers by CMI was strange.

The normal process could have been, if there was an investigation into any misconduct or criminality by the police, the investigation could have been managed and coordinated by the police under the supervision of the Director of Public Prosecutions in case of criminal proceedings and the Professional Standards Unit, in case of any alleged professional misconduct, Odwe, who retired in 2011, said.

Odwe argues that ordinarily if an investigation reveals that there was some criminality committed by any person; be it a police officer, such a person is supposed to be arrested by the police, if it is done by another person, such a person after effecting the arrest is supposed to surrender the person to police.

Some of the arrested suspects at the General Court Martial

Under Ugandas laws, other security agencies like CMI should ideally intervene in support of a police action.

There is no way that CMI assumes the role of the police because even when the police abdicates its duties or roles, there are in-built mechanisms within the Police Act that enable the same police to deal with its internal weaknesses, Odwe said.

Last week, Okoth Ochola, the deputy inspector general of police, surrendered two senior police officers and seven lower-ranking personnel to CMI. They were later on charged with kidnapping and being in illegal possession of firearms contrary to the UPDF Act.

Those charged include; the commandant of Police Professional Standards Unit, Senior Commissioner of Police Joel Aguma; Senior Superintendent of Police Nixon Agasirwe, former commander of Police Special Operations; Sgt Abel Tumukunde of the Flying Squad, Assistant Superintendent of Police James Magada from Crime Intelligence; Faisal Katende under the Flying Squad and Amon Kwarisima.

Civilians charged were Rene Rutagungira, a retired soldier in the Rwandese military, and Bahati Mugenga Irunga, a Congolese national.

The accused are alleged to have kidnapped and forcefully repatriated Lt Joel Mutabazi, a former bodyguard of Rwandan president Paul Kagame, who had been granted political asylum in Uganda. Mutabazi and Jackson Kalemera were among several other refugees repatriated back home where they faced threats to their lives.

Police spokesman Asan Kasingye has said the force was completely in the dark about the arrests of its people.



PROCEDURE

I cannot tell why the police officers were being arrested, Kasingye said. If this is to do with professional misconduct, that should have been handled in accordance with Part VI of the Police Act.

The section he refers to establishes a disciplinary procedure for all police employees.

Section 49 provides that there shall be established a police disciplinary court at every police unit, thus, (a) force headquarters; (b) regional or extra-regional police headquarters; (c) district or division headquarters; (d) police stations; and (e) police post or police detachment. The police disciplinary court shall upon hearing and determining any disciplinary matter involving a police officer have powers to award any punishment authorised by or under this Act.

It adds: The power of disciplinary control of a police officer (a) of or above the rank of assistant commissioner shall vest in the Police Authority; and (b) below the rank of assistant commissioner shall vest in the Police Council acting through a police disciplinary court. Upon the trial process and a finding of guilt is recorded against a police officer, section 47 of the Police Act provides that the police authority, besides other penalties, shall have the power to dismiss a police officer of or above the rank of assistant superintendent of police.

However, the dismissal of a police officer of or above the rank of assistant commissioner of police shall be subject to the written approval of the president.

It is provided under the Police Act that the existence of disciplinary proceedings is not a bar to criminal proceedings, which proceedings shall take precedence.

Dr David Mushabe, a practicing lawyer who has represented people like Gen David Sejusa before the General Court Martial, said the choice of criminal proceedings against police officers being conducted by CMI was informed by practical prudence, not the law.

It is illegal but the basis for this was that it appears that the police could not have investigated itself, Mushabe said.

Mushabe says the police officers should have been charged in the civilian courts since they are not subject to military law.



UNCONSTITUTIONAL TRIAL?

CMI has justified the trial under section 119 of the UPDF Act, which provides that persons subject to the military law include; every person found in unlawful possession of arms, ammunition or equipment ordinarily being the monopoly of defence forces or other classified stores.

This provision of the UPDF Act has, however, been subject to constitutional interpretation in the case of Attorney General vs Uganda Law Society, wherein Justice Joseph Mulenga (then a justice of the Supreme court) held that, For an offence under an Act other than the UPDF Act to be within the jurisdiction of the General Court Martial, it must have been committed by a person subject to military law.

Other members of the Supreme court panel included; former Chief Justice Benjamin Odoki, Supreme court justices John Wilson Tsekooko, George Wilson Kanyeihamba, Bart Katureebe, James Ogoola and Christine Kitumba.

In the ULS case, the brief facts were that in 2005, Col (Rtd) Dr Kizza Besigye and 22 others were remanded at Luzira prison pending trial by the High court on an indictment for treason and concealment of treason.

On November 16, 2005, the accused persons appeared before the High court (Lugayizi J.) at Kampala, on a bail application.

The judge granted them conditional bail. But before they could be released, a group of heavily armed security agents (the Black Mamba) invaded the court, interrupted the processing of release and as a result the accused persons were returned to Luzira.

The next day, they were taken to the General Court Martial where they were charged with terrorism and unlawful possession of firearms.

Following interpretation of the provisions of the UPDF Act as being against the articles 28 and 44 of the Constitution on fair trial, Mulenga held that; In the instant case it was not alleged, let alone shown, that the accused persons committed either of the two offences while they were subject to military law. Without that link, neither of the two offences can be called a service offence within the meaning of the said definition.

Caleb Alaka, a lawyer leading the police officers legal team, told The Observer yesterday that they plan to focus on the procedural breaches.

We are preparing a constitutional challenge of the entire process. We think they should have taken the police officers to the civilian courts or the police courts. Besides, they are not subject to military law, Alaka said.



skakaire@observer.ug
Lwemiyaga MP Theodore Ssekikubo was decorated with a red headband and a scarf as he concluded his weeklong consultations on the proposed amendment to scrap the constitutional age limit for presidential contestants.

This was just one of many extraordinary scenes, which have played out in many parts of the country as a significant proportion of Ugandans reject President Musevenis bid to extend his rule beyond 2021. Ssekikubo held 23 rallies across the four sub-counties that make up Lwemiyaga in Sembabule district.

Being one of the areas that overwhelmingly vote for NRM, it was unexpected of Ssekikubo to sell a campaign against the interests of President Museveni in the remote constituency. The MP, despite his love-hate relationship with Museveni, has always been cautious in dealing with anti-Museveni rhetoric in his backyard.

Residents of Lwemiyaga raise their hands to vote against the amendment

Through the villages of Lwemiyaga last week, he told his constituents why the constitution should not be amended to allow Museveni extend a 35-year presidency when this term runs out in 2021.

I think the yearning for change has reached a tipping point and cant just be reversed, the fiery MP said.

Locals overwhelmingly voted against the proposal. At Karushonsomezi, 378 voted against the amendment against eight in support. At Lwemiyaga trading centre, 559 voted against while 22 voted for the Raphael Magyezi bill.

At Kyattuba, only seven supported the bill with 271 against, while at Kyeera 617 said no to 24 in support of scrapping presidential age limits.



KABAMBA BARRACKS

The general fear among the constituents is Lwemiyagas proximity to Kabamba military barracks in the neighbouring Mubende district where Museveni launched his first attack on the Obote II government in the early 1980s.

Because of that proximity, locals told Ssekikubo they are likely to suffer the consequences of an armed attack should Musevenis continued hold onto power end in upheaval.

To maintain the achievements, and to save the country from going back to the days of turmoil, it is better Museveni retires after his current term in order for us to consolidate the achievements we have registered over the past 30 years, said Mary Kyewalabye in Kyeera village.

Similar sentiments were raised by Kiganda Rwakaibanda at Lwemiyaga where youths gave Ssekikubo red scarves in recognition of him as a true ambassador of the Togikwatako (dont touch it) campaign.

The Magyezi bill is unpopular [and] what President Museveni can succeed in doing is delaying the passing of the bill. It is up to him to weigh the options at his disposal, he better reads the signs and work towards a transition, Ssekikubo said.

The Lwemiyaga experience is what Mubende Woman MP, also state minister for Kampala, Benny Bugembe Namugwanya, was treated to at the weekend. She held joint consultative meetings with Kassanda North MP Patrick Nsamba Oshabe, a known critic of the Magyezi bill.

Residents of Lwemiyaga in support of the age limit amendment raise their hands

While Namugwanya had already met some local government leaders who passed a resolution in support of the amendment, the voters she met at the weekend urged her to vote against the bill.

Trade and Industry Minister Amelia Kyambadde (a former long-serving principal private secretary to the president), who is also the Mawokota North MP, got the same instructions from her constituents. Kyambadde held a joint consultative meeting with Mpigi Woman MP Sarah Nakawunde Temulanda at Mpigi town council.

This comes weeks after the minister of state for urban development, Isaac Musumba, was told by his Buzaaya county electorate to vote against the amendment.

State minister for ICT Idah Nantaba (Kayunga Woman) was also forced to weigh constituency demands against cabinets principle of collective responsibility.

Nantaba drew the ire of her colleagues in cabinet when she announced that she was likely to go by what the majority of her constituents in Kayunga are saying, instead of the resolution by cabinet binding all ministers to support the bill.



TRAPPED MPs

A number of ruling party MPs are similarly trapped in between the views of the people and the interests of Museveni, their party chairman.

After a series of consultative meetings, Mbale Woman MP Connie Nakayenze Galiwango had a change of heart and is likely to vote against the bill.

The Mbale scenario formed part of the reason why NRM MPs were during the October 13 caucus meeting advised against calling public meetings. They were reportedly told by Museveni to host a few selected NRM leaders.

While some paid heed to this piece of advice from their leaders, the ensuing backlash from their electorates offered serious lessons for those who were yet to hold the meetings.

The minister of state for higher education, John Muyingo, attracted protests from some of his Bamunanika constituents who asked him to explain whether the handful of NRM leaders he consulted at Kamira sub-county headquarters were all that he needs to win an election.

Such cases forced the likes of Buvuma MP Robert Migadde and his woman counterpart, Jennifer Namuyangu Egunyu, to revert to holding rallies where the overwhelming vote was against the Magyezi bill.

Museveni can prevail on Magyezi to withdraw the bill if there is any legacy for him to protect, Ssekikubo told The Observer on Tuesday.

Interviewed by telephone for a comment yesterday, Government Chief Whip Ruth Nankabirwa curtly said: Did you expect every Ugandan to vote in support of the bill?

She did not allow any further questions and hung up. In Manjiya county, Bududa district, an elderly man who spoke in support of the bill at MP John Baptist Nambeshes rally was pushed off the microphone. That also happened to Petero Rwanyamabirizi of Ntyazo village in Lwemiyaga.

Rwanyamabirizi had argued that Musevenis departure was likely to push the country back to political turmoil. But one Ephraim Rwamayombo cut him short.

By Museveni clinging on, he will create problems for those of us that are seen to be his tribesmen, Rwamayombo said.

To try to undo Ssekikubos findings, Sembabule Woman MP Anifa Kawooya, in the company of the resident district commissioner, Henry Baguma, held a meeting of NRM local leaders at Kyeera primary school.

With such continued hostility to the age limit bill, a number of NRM representatives are increasingly leaning towards playing it safe in order to brighten chances of keeping their seats in 2021.

Even the strategy they proposed is only applicable for those not interested in returning to parliament in 2021 I know chief wants to stay in power but I also want to represent my constituency for another term I am going to consult everyone in the open just as I will ask for their votes in 2021, an MP who asked not to be named, said.

Kigulu South MP Andrew Kaluya (NRM-leaning independent) said voters grilled him last weekend to explain why he agreed to a resolution by the Busoga caucus to support amending Article 102(b) without consulting them.

I dont know how the [Busoga MPs] came up with a position that we are all for kugikwatako [amending Article 102 (b)]. I will not at any one time bring my views without reaching all the people in all my sub-counties and what they tell me is what I will present to the house; I dont own a resolution I was never party to, Kaluya told The Observer.

Despite the presence of police, Lusetshe MP Godfrey Watenga, independent but NRM-leaning, last week carefully selected a few people to consult inside a building but they shouted no to the amendment as soon as he mentioned his plans and the meeting came to a swift end.

Usuk MP Peter Ogwang, an active supporter of Magyezis bill, was reportedly chased away from a consultative meeting he organised at Ojuwai village in Katakwi district the moment he, along with Violet Akurut (Katakwi woman), began praising President Museveni.

Earlier, state minister for Tourism Godfrey Kiwanda (Mityana North) and Judith Nabakooba (Mityana Woman) fled a hostile stone-throwing crowd in Kiyoganyi town in Mityana.

Government Chief Whip Ruth Nankabirwa (Kiboga Woman), James Kakooza (Kabula), Jacqueline Aol (Nebbi Woman), Moses Walyomu (Kagoma), Doreen Amule (Amolatar Woman), Jacob Oboth-Oboth (West Budama South), Bunyoro affairs minister Ernest Kiiza, Patrick Kasumba (Bujenje) and Sarah Opendi (Tororo Woman), among others, have all been at the receiving end of the peoples hostility to the proposed amendment.

Nankabirwa told The Observer yesterday by telephone that facing hostility during consultations was okay.

It is okay, this is a world of democracy. Are you not the people who talk about democracy? If during a meeting you get some people who are opposing you, this is okay, you will be able to gauge. Even if you get some people advising you contrary to what you hold, then you can gauge, she said.

And if you are doing sampling, one meeting can have people who support you while in another meeting you find people who are saying you delayed to touch it, Nankabirwa said.



Narrow survival

Hajji Muhammad Muyanja Mbabaali, the Bukoto South MP, narrowly survived a beating by his electorates for supporting the presidential age-limit.

The MP convened a consultative meeting on the proposed scrapping of Article 102(b) of the constitution on Monday at Kiwangala parish in Kissekka sub-county.

However, the MP was forced to call off the meeting prematurely when the electorate turned rowdy and started pelting him with stones.

Tempers flared shortly after the MP asked his electorate to unconditionally endorse the proposed amendment. The voters started heckling Mbabaali forcing him to cut his speech short.

For more than 30 years, support for President Museveni and NRM in Tooro region has been enormous. Since the 1996 elections, the region has overwhelmingly voted for Museveni and his party by 90 percent.

However, the age limit removal bill has brought a new wave of opposition. The people of Tooro especially those in Kabarole district have unanimously agreed to reject the amendment.

Bishop Reuben Kisembo, of Ruwenzori diocese, Bishop Robert Muhiirwa of Fort Portal diocese, Alex Ruhunda, the Fort Portal Municipality MP and Sylvia Rwabwogo, the Kabarole Woman MP, have openly come out to rebuke the move.



namuloki16@gmail.com

sadabkk@observer.ug
Stanley Ndawula

Below is a statement from the Online Media Publishers Association (OMPA) on the arrest and detention of Stanley Ndawula, the proprietor of Investigator News and his reporter Robert Ndawula by Police.

Stanley has particularly been criticised by the Police leadership in the past especially over his investigations and reports into the killing of former Police spokesperson Andrew Felix Kaweesi earlier in March this year. The Investigator has also covered extensively the recent arrest of senior police officers by the Chieftancy of Military Intelligence over various crimes. It has been alleged that some of the arrested police officers have also been linked to the murder of Kaweesi.



OMPA is loose body bringing together the non 'traditional' (mainstream) online media houses.

Uganda Police Force has detained Stanley Ndawula, the proprietor of Investigator News and Robert Ndawula, a reporter of the same online media house.

The duo was arrested on Tuesday night after being interrogated at Polices Criminal Investigations and Intelligence Department (CIID).

Online Media Publishers Association has been informed that Stanley and Robert are being held on charges related to Offensive Communication under the Computer Misuse Act.

Stanley, who has previously criticized the police leadership, alleges some powerful officials in the law enforcement body, want him remanded at Luzira Prison.

He further states he was provided documents to sign for police bond which was not granted to him before being driven to Kiira Road Police Station in Kampala where he is incarcerated.

We condemn the arrests of Stanley Ndawula and Robert Ndawula. Other journalists who appeared at the police station to check on Stanley were also asked to record statements.

We call on Police authorities to stop this arbitrary harassment of journalists and respect freedom of the press, as called for in the country's constitution.

When the publics right to know is threatened, and when the rights of free speech and free press are at risk, all of the other liberties we hold dear are endangered.

A free press is the cornerstone of democracy. We need a free press. We must have it.

We demand Police to always be mindful of Article 20 and Article 221, which require that all organs and agencies of government including security organizations and all persons must observe, uphold and respect human rights and freedoms in the performance of their functions.

OMPA is currently in talks with relevant authorities to secure the journalists unconditional release from detention.

Giles Muhame,

President, OMPA
As primary seven candidates sit their primary leaving examinations (PLE) tomorrow, schools have been warned against involving in any acts of malpractice.



While announcing the start of the exams today, the Uganda National Examinations Board (Uneb) executive secretary, Dan N. Odongo, said all question papers will be escorted by the police from all storage facilities to the sitting centres.

Last week, ahead of the start of UCE exams, papers of Biology, Chemistry and Christian Religious Education (CRE) leaked, with some even posted on social media platforms.

The new measure has been necessitated by the fact that we have had the occasional distributor who stops somewhere along the way and tries to open and access the contents of the envelopes, Odongo said.



All district officials should ensure that the police field force unit provides security on all the routes to ensure that the materials are safe.



Some 646,080 primary seven candidates are tomorrow expected to sit PLE at 12,751 centres across the country. Of the total candidature, 333,495 are female while 312,585 are male. This is the third year the board is registering more girls for PLE examinations.



Odongo said monitoring of the examination will involve 116 district monitors and scouts as well as an unspecified number of security personnel who will operate overtly and covertly.



This, he said, is to ensure that all candidates are given equal opportunities to demonstrate their levels of ability without anyone having unfair advantage over the others.

He added that: Where lunch is provided to the candidates, this must be done within the sitting centres and no candidates must be taken outside the compound on the pretext of going for lunch.



Last year, results of over 1400 candidates were cancelled as a result of malpractice with Kabarole district registering the highest number of affected candidates.



We told districts where results were cancelled to take appropriate action on the implicated people but many of them seem not to have taken any action whatsoever, he said appealing to district authorities to give candidates a chance to write their own examinations.



Meanwhile, according to the timetable, candidates will start with Mathematics and Social Studies and Religious Education before ending on November 3 with Integrated Science and English.



The papers, where no extra time is to be allowed, will last 2hrs and 15 minutes save for Mathematics with 2hrs and 30 minutes. Uneb has, however, given extra 45 minutes for each paper to candidates with special needs.

Of the 900 candidates registered with special needs this year, 47 have sight problems and special papers have been prepared for the candidates.

nangonzi@observer.ug
When President Museveni completes his term in 2021, he will have served our nation for 35 years as a head of state and almost 55 years as a freedom fighter.

He will have amassed immensurable governance experience, probably more than seven US presidents combined. Unlike millions of people who shiver at the thought of retirement, there are numerous safeguards and opportunities of what to do for this gifted son of Kaguta.

Articles 105 (3) (b), 106 and 107 of the 1995 Uganda Constitution envisaged this situation and provided safeguards when the president ceases to hold office. Currently as president, he is paid a salary, allowances and afforded numerous benefits including exemption from personal taxation.

The retirement benefits were operationalized by the 8th Parliament under the Emoluments and Benefits of the President, Vice President and Prime Minister Act 2010. The benefits specified thereof cannot be varied to his disadvantage.

They include an allowance which is 60 per cent of the current presidents salary and a fully furnished house provided by the state.

The Act further provides that he be given an allowance equivalent of Shs 20 million for the procurement of furniture and an additional Shs 10 million for replacement of furniture every five years.

Furthermore, a chauffeur-driven car for town running, attending state functions to which he or she is invited and one trip to his or her country home once a month is guaranteed. He or she is also provided with first-class travel if he or she is required to travel for official business.

Similarly, medical care for him/her and his or her immediate family is provided. President Museveni will receive four government-paid highly trained security guards and a permanent personal secretary to help him with his work, in addition to two domestic staff.

Also, an allowance of Shs 800,000 shall be provided each month to meet expenses on utilities such as electricity, telephone and water.

A retired Museveni can do the following. If he is tired of the public eye and everyday scrutiny, the most convenient way is reside at his country home at Rwakitura, Kiruhura district. There, he will look after his cows and businesses.

Mr Museveni can join Club de Madrid, one of the most exclusive clubs in the world. This is a prestigious organization of more than 95 for- mer presidents and prime ministers whose role is to offer guidance, support and counselling to nations on building of democratic institutions and resolution of political conflicts around the world.

Mind you, this is not a club of only Western democratic countries but Africans too. Former leaders such as Rupiah Banda of Zambia (2008- 2011), Mozambiques Joaquim Chissano (1986- 2005), Alpha Oumar Konare of Mali (1992-2002), John Kufuor of Ghana (2001-2009), Ketumire Masire of Botswana (1980-1998), Thabo Mbeki of South Africa (1999-2008) and Benjamin Mkapa (1995-2005) of Tanzania are members.

Other distinguished former African leaders are Festus Mogae of Botswana (1998-2008) and Olusegun Obasanjo, two-time president of Nigeria (1976-79, 1999-2007). Actually, there are high chances that President Museveni can be voted president of that body.

Using his prominence and the great name acquired during his long presidency, Museveni can promote Uganda further by actively participating as an invited speaker at a wide variety of national, regional and international events.

With his military experience and diplomacy, it would be nice seeing him as a mediator of various conflicts such as the Israel-Palestine conflict especially that he showed immense interest when Benjamin Netanyahu, the current Israeli prime minister, visited Uganda last July.

How I wish he uses his retirement as an opportunity to publish his memoirs, set up a Yoweri Museveni presidential library, promote the NRM party and contribute to our national archives.

ntag3000@yahoo.com

The author is a political analyst and lawyer.
Seven-month-old Esther Margaret Kakasa from Kayunga is so far, I think, the youngest victim of a state crackdown on Ugandans opposed to the removal of the presidential age limit from our Constitution.

This baby was arrested together with her mother Harriet Nakwedde on October 24 when they had gone to Kayunga district police station to visit colleagues arrested for the same offence four days earlier.

It is at Lugazi regional police headquarters that Paul Mwiru and I found the mother and her seven-month-old baby suspect on October 27. They had spent three nights in a uniport at this regional police base after being transferred from Kayunga.

And if you have any doubt about the collapse of the state, please visit Lugazi regional police headquarters. The wooden door shutters to the two-storeyed office block are rotting away with some parts falling off.

To climb to the second floor where the regional CID sits, you have to keep jumping stagnant water on the stairway. I think this water had just been blown inside by wind during a downpour. Policemen and women at this station constructed during the colonial era have fixed polythene in the ventilators to fight off the rainwater.

What used to be a kitchen, a small cubicle, is now the office of the regional CID boss!



Completely in a state of disrepair, one is able to identify it because they removed everything except one hand wash basin. You can also see holes through which pipes used to pass. By the way, this structure with a clay tiled roof (mategula) is still standing.

And it is surrounded by tile-roofed bungalows which I guess are the residences of the dear policemen and women. Of course they are in the same sorry state as the office block. Blame the colonialists for everything else, but they had constructed a strong foundation for our country.

I have written about police stations (residences and offices) before. What has hit Lugazi is what has hit Naguru, Kibuli, Nsambya, Kira, Jinja Road, Wandegeya, etc. They are all in a state of disrepair.

Yet the budget for the police has grown beyond imaginable proportions since the prince of this regime, Gen Kale Kayihura, took it over in 2005. To be exact, the police budget this year is Shs 524 billion. Trouble is that this whole budget is abused, which has become the main feature of this regime.

For example, Shs 95 billion will be used on classified assets, Shs 20.9 billion on classified expenditure, Shs 29 billion on special meals and drinks, Shs 14 billion on training, Shs 16 billion on electricity, Shs 11 billion on water, etc.

As we were in Kayunga, an order came in to drive the Kayunga suspects back to Kayunga. A day earlier, police had driven Dr Besigye back to Rukungiri after a week at Naggalama in Mukono district in a convoy of about five vehicles.

Many of us have been driven around in convoys because the rulers want to demonstrate power. If half of the money collected from Ugandans was spent on their welfare, few would be lining up for visas to go and sweep roads in Dubai, Qatar, Oman and Saudi Arabia where they end up being abused in several ways.

But our taxes are now being used by the regime to rent support. That is how within a flash, the revolutionary leader has found Shs 13 billion to throw at us members of parliament under the guise of consultations.

The official claim is that parliament knows where this money came from. But even a person of average understanding knows that NRM chief whip Ruth Nankabirwa has been the spokesperson of this money.

And in an NRM Central Executive Committee (CEC) meeting at State House Entebbe, regime senior leaders also demanded and were given money. In fact, each CEC member will be given a brand new vehicle and a monthly allowance of Shs 10 million.

And the 600 members of the NRM National Executive Council (NEC) will each be given cash to convene district and sub-county conferences for consultations!

And who knows, NRM village chairpersons may also demand and be given money to consult their spouses and in-laws.

That is where we have reached as a country. And you dont have to be intelligent to know why our public debt is now over $10billion (Shs 35 trillion), nearly 40 per cent of our $27 billion GDP.

Money collected from taxes is being used to rent support for our ageing leader who loves calling himself Jjajja! And I fear many may want to take ad- vantage of his advanced age and associated vulnerabilities.

Some of us have returned the Shs 29 million given to each MP for alleged consultations not because we dont have needs. We are simply saying no to this looting.

There are some simple minds that have tried to equate this money to our allowances and motor vehicle grant. I have proposed a solution for the MPs and other public officials transport but please dont ask me to work in parliament for free; earning a salary is not plunder.



semugs@yahoo.com



The author is Kira municipality MP and FDC spokesperson
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Former Lebanese leader killed in blast Iran under Reza Shah Pahlavi enjoyed best of relations with USA as well as Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Their relations dipped to lowest ebb once Imam Khomeini came to power in March 1979 and the King had to take refuge in Cairo. Iran under Khomeini crashed the twin pillar policy of USA for the Middle East based on Iran and KSA. Islamic revolution in Iran which had a ripple effect in the entire Muslim world including six Muslim Republics of Central Asia was one reason which impelled former Soviet Union to step into Afghanistan in December 1979.



KSA supported Saddam Hussain regime in its nine-year war with Iran (1980-88) owing to its ideological rivalry with Iran. However, KSA led GCC States severed relations with Baghdad when Saddam occupied Kuwait in August 1991. They not only provided military bases to USA but also paid the expenses incurred by US-NATO forces in fighting the First Gulf War in November 1991. The GCC States once again extended support to US-NATO forces in their occupation of Iraq in March 2003, and were on board in 2011 when civil war was triggered in Syria to topple Bashar al-Assad regime, and when Libya was attacked in the same year to knockdown Qaddafi.



Despite the Iran-US antagonism, Iran didnt object to the US invasion of Afghanistan in October 2001 since it was opposed to the Sunni Taliban regime and viewed it as its ideological rival. It helped US-NATO military by assisting the Afghan Northern Alliance (ANA) which it had hosted since 1996, and in league with Indian military had trained and equipped it. Subsequently, Iran provided support to US-NATO forces in their venture against Iraq in March 2003. Iran-US relations strained again when ostracized Iran was ruled by Ahmadinejad and his regime started to actively pursue nuclear program and develop missile power with the help of Russia.



Over the years, the influence of USA waned in Iraq owing to its policy of ruthless persecution of Sunni Muslims and resistance movement launched by the Jihadists and Baathists. In the wake of mounting casualties of American soldiers, the US military had to abandon Iraq in 2011, but it left behind a monster ISIS, which seized bulk of northwestern Iraq including Fallujah and Mosul in 2014. Conversely, Iran enhanced its influence in Iraq substantially mainly because of Shia heavy southern Iraq contiguous to Iran and the installation of Shia heavy regime under Nurul Maliki and later under Haider Al-Abadi in Baghdad.



Later on, Iran spread its influence into Iraqs northern Kurdish region. Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) has been the main backer of Iraqi Shiite paramilitary force. IRGC, Iraqi Shiite militias, Iraqi Kurds together with Iraq National Army managed to oust ISIS from Iraq. IRGC Commander Gen Nasseri was killed in the battle of Mosul.



The US lost the war against the Taliban in Afghanistan and had to pullout bulk of ISAF forces (120,000) from Afghanistan in December 2014, leaving behind a token force of 12000. Iran, which had considerably lost its influence in Afghanistan during the five-year Taliban rule (1996-2001), once again increased its sway in Shias heavy western Afghanistan and Hazaras dominated Central



Afghanistan due to its close ties with ANA heavy government under Hamid Karzai and later under Ashraf Ghani.



Assisted by Afghan refugees and Al-Qaeda which it had hosted for a long time, Tehran established contacts with Taliban groups and allowed them entry into Iran. It is now supplying arms to them covertly. Presence of Daesh (ISIS) in Afghanistan since mid-2014 and desire to have a say in resolution of Afghan tangle are the main reasons behind arming the Taliban. Afghanistan brought Iran-India closer and coolness in Iran-Pakistan relations.



Iran strengthened its nexus with Syria, its most consistent ally since 1979, and Lebanon based Hezbollah, by adding Iraq and Huthis controlled Yemen. Officers and men of IRGC have been taking active part in Syrian war against the rebels and Daesh. Provision of logistics, technical, financial support ($6 billion annually) coupled with deployment of IRGC (up to 10,000 operatives) by Iran and participation of Hezbollah fighters in the war helped Bashar al-Assad regime to stay in power. IRGC suffered 2000 casualties including Brig Gen Abdollah Khosravi in Syria. Entry of Russian air force in September 2015 helped Assad regime to recover territory and regain balance.



Expansion of Shia arc in the Middle East together with Russia assisted nuclear and missile programs of Iran consternated KSA led Gulf States, Israel and USA. KSA feels it has been strategically encircled by Iran and is well poised to create disturbances in Arab States, while Israel feels its dream of establishing Greater Israel has been shattered.



Alarmed by the growing power of Iran, Israel and USA actively worked on contingencies to destroy Irans nuclear installations. Besides imposing four-fold harsh sanctions, hurling threats and developing bunker busting bombs and missiles to be able to hit underground nuclear sites, aircraft carriers were deployed near Suez Canal to dissuade Iran from manufacturing nuclear bomb. In November-December 2011, Israel had come perilously close to exercising the military option but was restrained by USA. Iran managed to keep them at bay due to its nuclear/missile capabilities and Ahmadinejads threats to wipe out Israel off the face of earth and to block Strait of Hurmuz. While speed boats were offensively deployed in the Persian Gulf to counter sea invasion, two intruding US drones were shot down by Iran.



It took Bush/Obama Administrations and CIA over 8 years of covert operations to be able to remove hardliner Mahmoud Ahmadinejad from power and replace him with Reformist Hassan Rouhani in June 2013. After two years of sustained efforts put in by John Kerry, Iran agreed to roll back nuclear program under a deal with the US, China, Russia, France Germany, UK (P5+1) in July 2015 in return for lifting of sanctions which were badly hurting Irans economy. Another reason of cozying up with Iran was to reduce dependence on Pakistan for supplies to ISAF troops and to make use of Afghan-Chahbahar route because of coolness in Pakistan-US relations.



Israel and KSA were unhappy with the nuclear deal, former expressing fears that Iran was continuing to develop weapon-grade uranium bomb. Netanyahu wanted re-imposition of sanctions and to cut Irans potent missile program to size. Although Obama expressed his



reservations that Iran was not living up to the spirit of the deal, but he gradually lifted some of the sanctions and unfroze $1.7 billion assets in foreign banks.



Israel view Iran as an existential threat to Israel because of its nuclear/missile capability, linkage with Syria, Hezbollah and Hamas in Gaza and its bellicosity. Miffed by Obamas disinclination to jeopardize the deal, Israel and American Jewish lobby succeeded in sidelining frontrunner Hillary Clinton and empowering Donald Trump in January 2017.



One of the tasks assigned to Trump was to cancel the nuclear deal, or else restore sanctions to force Iran to curb its missile development program. In compliance with the dictates from Tel Aviv, Trump has adopted a highly confrontational posture against Iran from the very outset. This was evident from his declaration that the nuclear deal is the worst kind of deal which he will tear off. Iran was included in the list of seven Muslim States that were denied US visas.



Iran is accused of violating the nuclear deal by carrying out 12 ballistic missiles tests. IRGC which has been blacklisted is on the hit list and is accused of fomenting instability in the region. Sanctions have been imposed on 25 individuals/entities connected with IRGC and plans are afoot to declare it a rogue outfit. Washington is pressing Europe to stop doing business with IRGC.



Taking advantage of the heightened tiff between Riyadh and Tehran, Trump decided to attend the US-Arab-Islamic Summit in Riyadh in May 2017. During his highly pungent speech, Trump expressed his open ended hostility against Iran. He declared Iran as the biggest sponsor of terrorism in the world. He backed the Saudi led 41-member Islamic Alliance and signed $110 billion defence deal with Riyadh. All this was done to pitch GCC States against Iran and to isolate and contain Iran.



Another significant development which took place soon after the Summit was the standoff between KSA and Qatar. Strengthened by the US support, King Saud decided to take a tough line against Qatar which it felt had become an eyesore on account of its close economic ties with Iran and its support to Muslim Brotherhood (MB). Doha controlled Al-Jazeera which lambasts Gulf States is another point of friction. KSA, UAE, Bahrain and Egypt snapped diplomatic and economic ties with Qatar in June, accusing it of sponsoring terrorism and cozying up with Iran. A de facto blockade was imposed on the country by closing the air, sea and land routes to isolate Qatar.



The US which maintains a large airbase in Qatar stood by Riyadh since tiff between Muslim States suits its overall policy of divide and conquer. To start with President Trump took credit for the Riyadh-Doha tiff, which he implied was an intentional US-led strategy. However, in its bid to isolate Iran, the US is now trying to deescalate tensions between KSA and Qatar but so far no breakthrough has been achieved since Doha is defiant and refuses to cut off support to the MB, break its ties with Iran and close Al-Jazeera media outlet as demanded by Riyadh. Qatar is in the know of KSAs policy of promoting Wahhabism and supporting Salafi Jihadists.



Moving ahead with its policy of isolating Iran, the US under Trump played a role in bringing a thaw in Riyadh-Baghdad relations in 2017. In its bid to wean away Iraq from Iran, US Secretary of



State Rex Tillerson has succeeded in wooing the Gulf allies to cozy up with Iraq with a view to isolate and contain Iran and to counter its growing assertiveness in the region. Haider has assented since he is badly in need of the US monetary assistance to reconstruct war torn Iraq.



The big question is what happens if the nuclear deal is scrapped by Washington? Obviously, Iran will recommence its frozen nuclear program and double its efforts to manufacture a uranium bomb at the earliest irrespective of re-imposition of sanctions. The next question is whether Israel will singly, or backed by USA attack Irans nuclear sites? The problem at hand is that while Netanyahu and his hawkish cabinet are war mongers, Trump is impulsive and will prefer a military action over restraint policy as practiced by Obama. Furthermore, Trumps core national security team was against the nuclear deal and James Mattis consider Iran as single most enduring threat to the stability and peace in Middle East.



On the contrary, Russia, China and most Europe are eager to preserve the deal and to do business with Iran. Russia which has signed S-400 air defence system deal with Riyadh, and is close to Iran and Syria is likely to play the US and Iran off each other to make Iran more dependent upon Moscow. Over one-year breather has allowed Iran to refurbish its economy. It has escape doors in Europe, China, Russia, South Korea and India to export its oil and gas.



Undoing of nuclear deal and sounding of war drums by Israel will have dangerous repercussions for the region which is already in turmoil. Military adventure by Israel will evoke a very strong response from Iran and could trigger war in the region. IRGC Commander has already threatened to raze the US military base in Bahrain and to devastate Tel Aviv with its missiles. Blockade of Strait of Hurmuz will deprive the world of one-thirds of oil trade. Anti-American and anti-Israel sentiments have once again begun to gather steam in Iran. If Iran is ditched by USA, it will hasten to join the block of China-Russia-SCO, towards which Turkey and Pakistan are also inclined.



The US already stuck in the quagmires of Afghanistan and Syria and having no clue how to get out of them, has antagonized nuclear North Korea and is now infuriating Iran. It is also showing eyes to Pakistan. China, Russia, Turkey and most of Middle East countries are wary of USA because of its jingoistic foreign policy, dangerous designs and duplicities. Many European countries are also cagy in their dealings with USA under Trump. Instead of isolating Iran, the US itself is getting isolated. So is the case with India under extremist Modi trying to isolate Pakistan! Without the US intimate support, Israel will become a Pariah State. The warmongering US, Israel and India are spoilers of peace and have made the world insecure. Conversely, China through its One-Belt-One-Road policy has become the leading promoter of peace and development and is on its way to become the leading economic power.



The writer is a retired Brig, war veteran, defence and security analyst, columnist, author of five books, Vice Chairman Thinkers Forum Pakistan, Director Measac Research Centre. asifharoonraja@gmail.com
Pakistan willing to target terrorists if provided information: Rex Tillerson 01 November, 2017



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Woke Bingo WASHINGTON: US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has informed Congress that Pakistan is willing to target terrorists if provided information and Washington plans to give Islamabad the opportunity to prove it.



At a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on Monday night, American lawmakers also warned that if the United States insisted on having the option of first strike against a nuclear-armed nation, it could send a wrong signal to other nations with nuclear weapons. They particularly mentioned India and Pakistan, two nuclear nations with strained relations.



Although the hearing was on the US presidents authority to go to war, Senator John Barrasso, a Wyoming Republican, asked Mr Tillerson to share with the committee what he heard from Pakistanis during his visit to Islamabad last week.



Pakistanis have indicated  if we provide them information they will act. Were going to have to test that, give them an opportunity to do so, Secretary Tillerson replied. So, we are going to enter into an effort to have greater sharing of certain intelligence information.



Senator Barrasso also referred to US President Donald Trumps Aug 21 speech who said that a pillar of his new strategy for Afghanistan was to change the approach in how to deal with Pakistan.



The senator reminded Mr Tillerson that while travelling in South Asia last week, he too talked about setting certain expectations for the government of Pakistan and also about putting in place a mechanism of cooperation through information sharing and action to deny terrorist outfits the ability to launch attacks.



So, could you talk a little bit about what is the change in the approach to Pakistan and maybe some of the expectations that youve articulated for the Pakistani government  in terms of what this cooperation is going to look like? he asked.



Secretary Tillerson said he could only share some broad contours of Islamabad visit in a public hearing and if the senators wanted more, he was willing to sit with them for a closed hearing.



But the conversation with the Pakistani government is for them to recognise that they will be one of the greatest beneficiaries of a successful peace process in Afghanistan, he said.



He noted that Pakistan had two very unstable borders, with Afghanistan and India, so the message he delivered in Islamabad was  You have to begin to create greater stability inside your country and that means denying safe haven to any of these organisations that launch attacks from your territory.



Secretary Tillerson said he hoped his visit will pave the way Pakistan reviews the Afghan situation. Pakistan will find it in their interests to begin to disassociate these long-standing relationships that have developed over time with certain terrorist organisations, he added.



He claimed that Pakistan did have long-standing relations with the Haqqani network and the Taliban, which might have served their purpose for stability in the past but they no longer served that purpose.



And its up to Pakistan I think, to think about their longer-term stability and their future by changing that relationship with these organisations, said the chief US diplomat.



The hearing also focused on the issue of presidential authority to launch a nuclear strike, with the committees chairman Senator Bob Corker noting that the Senate hasnt conducted a hearing on this issue since the 1970s.



Some senators described President Trump as unpredictable and warned that he could order a pre-emptive nuclear assault against North Korea or another country with nuclear weapons.



US Defence Secretary James Mattis and Mr Tillerson, however, said that the president could only order a first strike if Washington felt an imminent threat, but refused to define what that threat might look like.



Senator Edward Markey, a Massachusetts Democrat, asked the two witnesses if Mr Trump could launch a first strike without consulting any members of Congress.



Secretary Mattis avoided a direct answer, but said he could imagine a scenario where its possible if another country were preparing to fire weapons of mass destruction at the United States.



Another lawmaker pointed out that the Bush administration invaded Iraq because it thought Saddam Hussein had nuclear weapons but their assumption was proved wrong.



Mr Mattis said the process for launching nuclear weapons was very rigorous. No US president has forsworn first strike and that has served us well for 70 years, Mr Tillerson added.



A Kentucky Republican, Senator Rand Paul, brought India and Pakistan into the debate, saying keeping the first strike option sends a wrong signal.



What signal does it send to enemies of other nuclear powers? Enemies of Russia, enemies of China, enemies of Pakistan, of India that were reserving the right if we dont like what weapon you have and we think it might reach us, we may as well just take you out, he said.
Interior Minister, Ambrose Dery, says he is prepared to be fired from his position if he fails to deal with the widespread lawlessness caused by pro-New Patriotic Party (NPP) vigilante groups in the country.



Vigilante groups like Kandahar Boys, Delta Force, Invisible Force and others have wreaked havoc and caused a state of insecurity in parts of the country.



The blatant disregard for the rule of law has led stakeholders including former President John Dramani Mahama to doubt the Akufo-Addo-led administrations commitment in ending the menace.



But Mr Dery yesterday on Starr FM in Accra intimated that government was treating the surge in violence with the utmost seriousness it deserves, declaring that he was ready to put his job on the line if a solution was not found.



I am going to do all I can to deal with the issue; I am committed to ensuring that I do not fail the President and the country. Im prepared to pay the price if I dont deliver, anybody can call for my head if I fail to deliver.



Meanwhile, a former Interior Minister, Prosper Bani, has said Mr Dery must do well to deal with the issue with the urgency that it requires.



We need to engage more aspect of government apparatus, stakeholders, media, and chiefs. We need to ensure our security services are well equipped. The Police Service is one of the best and given space, will deliver to the fullest, he urged.





Source: today









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QUEENSBURY  A former school bus driver who was ensnared in an undercover police sting that offered sex with an underage teen pleaded guilty Wednesday to a felony sex count.

Frank L. Gunther, 61, of Mechanicville, pleaded guilty to attempted second-degree criminal sexual act for a June 8 encounter with police who had placed an online classified advertisement that offered a sexual encounter.

When people responded, they were offered an encounter that would include sex with a 14-year-old girl at a Queensbury motel, and 12 men drove to the motel to partake of the offer.

They were met by officers from the FBI, State Police and Warren County Sheriffs Office instead.

Gunther is the first of the dozen to plead guilty, admitting to Warren County Judge John Hall that he drove to the motel with the intent to have sexual contact with a child under the age of 15.

He agreed to serve an 18-month sentence in state prison, to be followed by 10 years on parole and registration as a sex offender.

Gunther, a hulking man who walked with a limp, drove a school bus for the Mechanicville City School District, according to police, and at least one private bus company in the Capital District. Calls to the school district, including one Wednesday, have not been returned since Gunthers arrest.

He is free pending sentencing Dec. 6. Neither Gunther nor his lawyer, Allen Yates, would discuss the case after the hearing.

Also appearing in court on Wednesday was Peter J. Fava, 41, of Halifax, Massachusetts, who police said drove from eastern Massachusetts after coming across the police-posted online ad.

Fava, though, rejected a plea deal offer that would have resulted in him receiving a prison sentenced of 18 months to be followed by 10 years on parole.

He is rejecting that offer, his lawyer, Mark Juda, responded after Hall outlined the offer.

Warren County First Assistant District Attorney Matthew Burin said his office planned to present Favas case to a Warren County grand jury in the coming weeks, in light of the rejection.

Fava is free pending further court action.

Charges are still pending against the 10 other men who were arrested during the sting. They generally face up to four years in state prison, though one faces weightier counts that could bring up to seven years.
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GREENWICH  Ten years ago Wednesday, Cambridge-Greenwich Police Chief George Bell responded to a call about a runaway 12-year-old in the village of Greenwich, thinking it would end quickly with the childs return, as most runaway cases do.

I thought at the time, Hes a runaway, hell be home by Sunday, Bell recalled of the day Jaliek Rainwalker was reported missing. Never in my wildest dreams did I think 10 years later we would still be trying to locate a missing child.

Within hours of the report, however, police suspected that the disappearance of Rainwalker was not a simple runaway case.

Police suspicions that Rainwalker had not left of his own volition spawned a massive investigation that involved the FBI, State Police Major Crimes Unit, National Center for Missing Children and state Department of Environmental Conservation, which continues today.

But despite countless hours put into the investigation, answers as to what became of Rainwalker remain elusive.

One former police investigator who was involved with the case said Wednesday, however, he thinks prosecutors should take a shot with a prosecution of the man suspected in Rainwalkers disappearance.

There is enough evidence there for a winnable case, former State Police Senior Investigator Thomas Aiken said.

Rainwalkers adoptive parents have said they believe he ran away to start a new life elsewhere. Police, though, classified the case as a suspected homicide in 2012, when no clues as to what became of Rainwalker had been found.

Police have labeled the boys adoptive father, Stephen Kerr, as a person of interest in the case, saying he gave conflicting information about his actions the night before Rainwalker was reported missing. In particular, a van that was believed to have been his was seen on a business surveillance camera that night at a time when Kerr said he was home, and cell phone triangulation information seemed to indicate his phone was not in Greenwich that night either, police said.

Kerr was the only person in the Hill Street home with Rainwalker that last night. He told police he awoke to find Rainwalker gone from the home, with an apology note left behind. Kerr refused to take a polygraph test, hired a lawyer and he and his wife stopped cooperating with police within days of the missing person report. The Kerrs moved from Greenwich to West Rupert, Vermont as the inquiry continued.

A $25,000 reward the family offered for information on their sons whereabouts was never paid.

The Kerrs lawyer, Jeffrey McMorris, said his clients have not heard anything new about their son, either.

They (parents Kerr and Jocelyn McDonald) are of the belief he is still out there, McMorris said.

Aiken said he does not believe Rainwalkers body will be found, but that murder and first-degree kidnapping convictions could still be obtained if the case was prosecuted correctly.

I think they should take a shot now, he said. There is a lot more there that you (the media) havent been told about.

Washington County District Attorney Tony Jordan has said his office has met with police periodically to go over the case. He said a prosecution based on circumstantial evidence is difficult, and there are concerns about potential legal double jeopardy if a prosecution was unsuccessful.

We have had meetings and discussed it, Jordan said. But when you go once, you dont get to go a second time.

He pointed out that police in the region have had success recently with cold homicide cases, including one solved last month in Schenectady.

Bell said there have been no new leads since last spring, when a piece of a human skull was found near the Hudson River in Coxsackie. Tests determined it was not from Rainwalker, though.

Thats the last time we had a Jaliek-related lead, Bell said.

There have been periodic searches of the area, and of the Batten Kill and Hudson River, as leads have developed in recent years.

Jalieks adoptive grandmother, Barbara Reeley, appealed to the public this week for help in finally closing the case and allowing Rainwalkers loved ones to finally figure out what happened to him.

That a child is missing for one day and night is agony, Reeley wrote in a letter to media. To endure 10 years of not knowing where Jaliek is has been unbearable.

Reeley said that she believes her grandson was the victim of foul play, but she prefers to think of the happy times with him.

What we do have is our memories of Jaliek as a bright and caring boy, she said. His childhood had a rocky and traumatic start and an unresolved end. In between, I have a little over five years of almost exclusively happy memories.

Jaliek is thought of each day with love, joy ... and sorrow, she added. One day, there will be justice for Jaliek.

Anyone with information in the case was asked to call police at 518-677-3044, and Reeley said those wishing to talk to her can email her at claywoman@gmail.com.
Skidmore College lost one of its own graduates in Tuesdays terrorist truck attack in New York City.

Nicholas Cleves, 23, graduated from Skidmore last year and was living in New York City, working as a software engineer, analyst and web developer, according to a news release from the college.

Cleves was one of eight who was killed in the attack.

Cleves was a computer science major and physics minor, and studied Italian. He also worked as an IT help desk assistant and astronomy tutor.

Our hearts go out to Nicholass mother, Monica Missio, who is a member of the Skidmore class of 1981, the other members of his family, and his closest friends, according to a news release from Skidmore College President Philip A. Glotzbachs office.

An incident of terrorism that takes the lives of innocent people anywhere in the world touches each of us in our fundamental humanity. But the effect is more pronounced  and far more personal  when our community is directly linked to such a horrendous event.

For anyone who needs support, counseling services may be reached at 518-580-5555.
QUEENSBURY  When Yasmin Lopez started as director of SUNY Adirondacks Community Hub earlier this year, she realized there was one area the school needed to add in its outreach to students.

I was seeing that food insecurity is an issue on campus, she said. Students didnt have enough food to eat, and if you are hungry, you cant learn. We had students who were making the decision in spending money for gas to get to school or food to eat.

The hubs Food Source, which is in the Student Center, is already up and operating three days a week. Tuesday, more than 50 people from the school and the outside community gathered for a ribbon-cutting with school President Kristine Duffy.

Duffy talked about a national survey of 33,000 community college students that found half of them did not have a stable housing situation, 14 percent were homeless and two-thirds were food-insecure.

In the richest nation in the world, how is this possible? We understand that education is one of the roads out of poverty, she said. This provides them with basic needs that you and I are privileged to take for granted.

Lopez cited another study, this one of 300 college students, in which 48 percent said they had felt insecurity about getting enough food to eat.

If they dont have food in their bellies, how to we expect them to do homework and write papers? she asked.

The Community Hub offers a variety of services to students, including help with securing health insurance, transportation, family and individual counseling, drug and alcohol counseling, tax preparation and access to the professional clothes closet.

In the past, Lopez has referred students to local food pantries, but many students felt uncomfortable with that, so she pushed for establishment of a pantry, using a different name, at the school.

Theres such a stigma with the those words, Lopez said. They dont want to go to a food pantry, so we make it easier for them here. We do take the students names, and if we see someone coming in a lot, we can offer to help them in other ways.

In a month, the Food Source has served 60 students. The overall hub program is being operated under a federal Community Schools grant.

The Food Source also provides personal care items, and no income documentation is required.

Community members who would like to help stock the Food Source pantry shelves may send a check (made out to SUNY Adirondack) to Food Source, SUNY Adirondack, 64 Bay Road, Queensbury, NY 12804-1445. Please note in the memo line that the funds are for the Food Source.
Editor:

I recently read a letter sent you by a Mr. Doug Herschleb, an apparent Rachel Seeber acolyte, in which he instructs us that; If you are interested in real leadership, transparency and strong fiscal planning, then [we should] vote for Rachel Seeber on Nov. 7. Hence, with this stricture in mind, I undertook an investigation of the property tax records available on the Town of Queensbury website.

Low and behold, it seems that the Seeber/Conine household has failed to pay their property taxes on time on no less than 11 occasions since January of 2010, in some cases rolling their school tax bill into the next years county levy. Financial emergencies arise and to miss a couple of due dates in eight years can happen; however, being late 68 percent of the time appears to be a clear pattern.

Further, this seems a strange practice since both Ms. Seeber and her spouse have been, and continue to be, public employees whose salaries and pensions are funded with taxpayer dollars. Yet, during periods when some of these tax bills remained unpaid, Ms. Seeber shared extensively her traveling, socializing and vacationing, on social media. The candidate might be well advised to apply some of her fiscal expertise to the household budget before she would have us believe she can manage the finances of a town of nearly 30,000.

This sort of laissez faire approach toward her civic responsibilities seems both irresponsible and hypocritical on the part a candidate who is seeking the highest elected office in the town. In addition, it feels like a real slap in the face to those of us Queensbury taxpayers who manage to husband our resources in such a manner as to facilitate the paying of our taxes in a timely fashion.

 transparency and strong fiscal planning  Indeed!

J. Davis OBrien, Queensbury

Editor's Note: The letter-writer provided copies of 11 tax records referenced in the letter. When Rachel Seeber was contacted, she responded that her husband, Kevin Conine, has paid the taxes in full while characterizing this letter as a nasty personal attack that came from the treasurer of the Warren County Democratic Committee.
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Home Regional News East
We are writing this letter in support of Nadine Brockert to fill the Fourth Ward city council seat.

Nadine is open-minded and looking forward to serving the residents of the Fourth Ward and the City of Muscatine. She stands for equal representation for all.

Judy and I believe that Muscatine residents need a new and fair voice that will represent them, and Nadine will fill that need. She stands for economic development that will offer the residents opportunities for good paying jobs.

She supports more commercial options in the Fourth Ward, such as an affordable grocery store. She will work toward infrastructure improvements in the Fourth Ward.

We are asking that you support the Fourth Ward by voting for Nadine Brockert on Tuesday, Nov. 7, at the Mulford Evangelical Free Church, 2400 Hershey Ave. Voting hours are 7 a.m. until 9 p.m.

Judy and Wayne Shoultz

Muscatine
Q. Why aren't there pavement markings on Scott County Road Z16 between F45 and F33? There haven't been any markings for over a month. Driving at night without pavement markings is hazardous. -- Sandra Preston, Iowa

A. We contacted Scott County officials to find out. Angela K. Kersten, P.E., assistant county engineer, Scott County secondary roads department, responded:

"Pavement markings on County Road Z16 from F45 to F33 will be painted within the next few weeks. This section of road received a fog seal and unfortunately the Contractor placing the fog seal ran into delays. Our pavement marking contractor had finished painting county roads before the fog seal was completed. We were able to contract with the pavement marking contractor to come back and paint this section of road, but we have had to wait for them to complete other contract commitments."

Q. So, it seems to me that some of the food truck zones are not working as well as everyone expected. The zone at Bechtel Park doesnt get too much action on Tuesdays and Thursdays in the evenings and under the skybridge only seems to be popular during the Eat the Streets event once a month. Wouldnt it be better for the trucks to just be able to set up where they know they could do a good business? Has the city noticed this and are they considering making any changes?  Beth, an interested citizen

A. We contacted the city of Davenport regarding your questions. Mallory Merritt, assistant to the city administrator, responded:

"The city council adopted two public mobile food vending zones. However, mobile food units are already able to set up on private property locations of their choice so long as they have the property owners permission. Additionally, mobile food units who wish to serve in the right-of-way outside of the two approved public zones may apply for a special occurrence permit which is subject to city council approval. As of this year, there have been several special occurrence permit applications, and none of those have been denied by the city council."

Correction

In the Oct. 26, 2017, edition of Ask the Time a reader asked the following question:

Q. The Quad-City Times published a photograph of Pastor Derrick Johnson of the House of Refuge Church at The Center in Davenport on Monday, Oct. 9, 2017, on page A1. There was a mural on the wall behind the pastor. Can you tell me who created the mural? -- Fascinated Reader

We contacted The Center to find out. Pennie Kellenberger, director of The Center, responded. The name provided by Pennie Kellenberger was incorrect.

Janiece Maddox was the correct name of artist that was involved in the project along with several other Davenport Central High School students.
A Coal Valley man has been indicted on one count of reckless homicide in connection with the death of Leland S. Debord, who was struck while riding his bicycle at the Interstate 74-280 interchange in Moline in June.

A Rock Island County grand jury handed up an indictment against James S. Norton, 47, on Oct. 23.

Two other counts  failure to report a crash involving personal injury and failure to stop after a crash involving personal injury or death  were dismissed.

Reckless homicide is a Class 3 felony punishable by two to five years in prison.

Rock Island County States Attorney John McGehee said Norton turned himself in on Friday and was released from the county jail after posting 10 percent of a $10,000 bond.

He will make an initial court appearance on Dec. 4, McGehee said.

Moline police were called to the scene at 6:22 a.m. June 16 and found a BMX bicycle that had crashed into the sidewall and remained on I-74.

Police say DeBord, 26, of Milan, had gone over the rail and sidewall and landed on I-280 and in traffic.

Police say it appeared that he had been crashed off the bridge by a vehicle.

According to the reckless homicide charge in the indictment, Norton was driving at a time when he consciously disregarded a substantial and unjustifiable risk that he would fall asleep while driving" and fell asleep and struck Debord.

McGehee said Tuesday that it took some time to gather information, such as a toxicology report and the data from the black box in Nortons car, to bring the case to the grand jury.

You just want to be very thorough and very careful and you want to make sure you get all the information, especially when youre going to be bringing it to the grand jury because they always have a lot of questions of law enforcement when you present to the grand jury, he said. Its a very interesting process.
Davenport man charged in shooting

A Davenport man was arrested late this past week in connection with a shooting at a Davenport gas station in October.

Rayshon Antonio Mays, 24, last known address in 2100 block of Mound Street, is charged with intimidation with a dangerous weapon, a Class C felony.

He was booked into the Scott County Jail at 7:19 p.m. Friday and was released a short time later after posting $10,000 through a bail bond company.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Nov. 17. Mays faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted.

According to an arrest affidavit filed by the Davenport Police Department in support of the criminal complaint:

At 11:11 a.m. Oct. 15, Mays approached a man while he was sitting in his vehicle that was being fueled at a gasoline pump.

Mays threatened the man and told him that he would shoot him. He also displayed a handgun and pointed it towards him and used it to beat on the mans windshield.

Mays then fired a shot in the direction of the mans vehicle and broke out a window. A spent bullet was found at the scene and a spent casing was found inside the mans vehicle.

The man identified Mays as the shooter and the incident was captured on video. The two had a documented disagreement over civil property issues, according to the affidavit.

 Tara Becker

Walmart employee charged with theft

A Walmart employee was arrested after police say she stole about $6,500 from the store over more than a year.

Stacey Lynn Gleason, last known address in the 1600 block of Greenbay Court, Davenport, faces one count of second-degree theft, a Class D felony punishable by up to five years in prison.

She was booked into the Scott County Jail at 7:20 p.m. Thursday and was released more than two hours later after posting $5,000 through a bail bonds company.

According to an arrest affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint:

Davenport police responded around 4:30 p.m. Thursday to Walmart, 3101 W. Kimberly Road, for a report of an internal theft.

Gleason admitted to police that she took money from the can room starting from March 2016 through October 2017. She would enter the room designated for returning cans and create a transaction for someone returning cans where there was no customer.

On multiple occasions, Gleason opened the register drawer and took money. She took different dollar amounts each time and would repeat this action at different times of the day, up to several times a day, according to the affidavit.

A Walmart spokesman Tuesday would not say what position Gleason held or when she was hired, but said she no longer works for the company.

 Tara Becker

Two escape Moline fire

Two residents and a pet escaped safely from an early-morning Moline fire today, according to the Moline Fire Department.

Moline firefighters responded shortly before 2 a.m. to a fire at a single-story residence at 2406 47th St., where they found heavy flames and smoke in the northwest corner of a single-story residence. Crews remained on the scene for about two hours searching for fire extension and investigating the cause.

One bedroom had major damage, and there was heavy smoke and water damage through the rest of the house. One occupant suffered minor smoke inhalation but did not require hospitalization, according to a news release.

Estimated damage to the structure and its contents is $50,000.

Moline police, Moline Second Alarmers, MidAmerican Energy and the American Red Cross of the Quad-Cities assisted at the scene.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

 Linda Cook
Why are you running for Davenport City Council?

As a married father of two kids, when I look around at my peers, there exists an unfair stereotype that you need to leave our city to give your kids the best. I believe in Davenport, and so I feel called to serve. I am a parent, small business owner and husband to a union employee. I am someone who has himself reinvested in the central city, and I am a home builder building in the newest areas of our city. I feel Ill be offering unique and balanced, boots on the ground perspectives as issues come before the city council. I have been endorsed by the local business community (Iowa Growth PAC) and the local labor community (Quad-Cities Federation of Labor).

How does your work, public service or volunteer experience translate to serving on the Davenport City Council?

As a member of the homebuilding industry, I have had the opportunity to partner with families, tradesmen, other local small business owners and area municipalities on a day-to-day basis for over 10 years. Every day, it is my job to listen to peoples needs, interpret their needs, and translate them to one of my team members with the skill set to address their needs. I work hard to provide satisfactory outcomes and stay on budget. The job description of Alderman is very similar to what I do naturally.

In your estimation, what are the strengths of the city of Davenport?

The Eastern Iowa Industrial Center has positioned Davenport well to retain major employers, and secure new job creating industry.

The city has recently placed priority spending on roads and infrastructure.

Downtown continues to build on its success with major developments coming online and multiple small businesses sprouting up around them.

We have a talented staff in place, a professional city council, and a system that puts an emphasis on transparency.

What are the areas the city of Davenport can improve on?

A short term and long term strategy for continued residential investment and reinvestment.

Supporting a strong housing stock at all price points in safe vibrant neighborhoods within proximity to schools, parks, and services is interrelated to so many of the challenges our city faces: It supports our school districts. Pushes back on crime. Raises property values. Creates commercial opportunities. Attracts employers.

As Alderman something I would be passionate about is creating short term and long term policy to encourage significant private reinvestment in the citys older neglected neighborhoods. I believe great opportunity exists to begin with areas in proximity to our burgeoning downtown and to build on momentum from there. In the short term I would like to slow down. Currently we are hastily rebuilding on vacant parcels in a neighborhood where surrounding property values cannot support the cost of new construction. If we slow down and work to control more of these parcels, with some patience I believe we could reimagine parts our river bluff neighborhoods.

City Council and staff have noted that suburban sprawl may not be the engine of economic growth it once was. As Davenport works to keep up with maintaining its aging roads and infrastructure it is true we need to be strategic in our growth.

But unless the city plants the seeds of for a dramatic shift of the market place, without suburban sprawl Davenports residential tax base potential will essentially be capped.

The citys role in fostering opportunity for long term major reinvestment is similar to the role it was able to play in land holding and infrastructure investment for the Eastern Iowa Industrial Center where private investors could not feasibly do so.

By creating a unique housing opportunity within the central city, reinvesting where possible and rebuilding where necessary, we create property values that make momentum possible.

What have you identified as priorities or goals should you be elected?

Hold the line on taxes  Davenport has always been a great place to be from, affordable enough to raise a family, and retire. I will be fiscally prudent to ensure taxpayers are protected from increases in taxes and fees.

Revitalize our neighborhoods  I have an understanding of what it will take and how important revitalization is to support our schools, push back on crime, and reinforce property values.

Enhance our infrastructure  Bottom line, successful cities have quality streets and sewers. The current council has a plan in place and I am committed to ensuring that plan is executed.

Protect our riverfront  Our riverfront parks bolster Davenports cultural and economic vitality. My hope is the council will work together with the community to protect our riverfront from overdevelopment while incorporating creative new opportunities to encourage people to utilize our parks more.

Davenports riverfront is often times referred to as its greatest asset. Is Davenport on the right path to develop a world-class riverfront? Do you have a specific vision for what you would like to see or are there certain amenities you would like to incorporate?

Mostly yes, I believe Davenport is on the right path to developing a world-class riverfront. I think frustration is being felt, myself included, that we seemed to be caught flat footed after so many years waiting for the casino to leave, but my hope is that over time our patience will be rewarded.

I am for public access to the river, preserving its natural beauty, and protecting our levy from overdevelopment. But I am not in favor of empty green space that does nothing to engage visitors to utilize the riverfront on a daily basis. An essential ingredient to any urban waterfront is the energy thats felt when its full of people, and I think that is the equation we need to solve.

As we begin to plan once again, I hope we can set a course forward and implement a design for a world class riverfront park that respects the River Vision plan. A world class riverfront park surrounded by a thriving downtown bolsters so many aspects of our citys economic potential.

Davenport NOW was credited with spurring development at a time when construction was lacking. With the program scheduled to sunset next year, would you support continuing the program or what modifications would you like to see?

Davenport continues to face challenges in the new construction marketplace. In the short term I am in favor of continuing the Davenport NOW program.

As the city begins to put more emphasis on reinvestment in older neighborhoods it is important to strike a balance. Presently there is no impactful plan in place to stimulate major neighborhood reinvestment that will result in impactful property value increases. Before we have a plan in place to insure future reinvestment we should not turn away from the benefits new construction has on our residential tax base and the jobs it provides for small business owners and tradesmen.

Crime, particularly related to juveniles, has continued to be a problem in Davenport. How would you assess the citys response to the uptick in crime and what other strategies or measures would help in curbing recidivism?

Positive steps the city has taken:

Davenport used money left over from the 2017 general fund partnered with a matching grant from the Bechtel Trust to hire four new police officers. Two of those officers will be working in the schools which supports community outreach in addition to law enforcement.

The city is putting a renewed emphasis on code enforcement, cracking down on negligent landlords where problems can fester.

The NETS program has been successful in the past and we will need to work to implement it in different neighborhoods.
Cold weather pushing through the region typically means the end of festival season and after reflection, the Downtown Davenport Partnership has declared this year a success.

Executive Director Kyle Carter presented a recap of the partnership's events as well as areas of improvement Tuesday at the Davenport City Council's management update meeting.

Carter said the biggest change this year was the introduction of Alternating Currents, a festival modeled after Austin, Texas, South by Southwest, which showcases live music, comedy, film and art.

"This had replaced our marquee music festival in River Roots Live with a model that was both financially more responsible from our end and also more direct benefits to the downtown businesses," Carter said.

Alternating Currents featured more than 100 performances at 16 existing venues throughout the downtown area.

Because the partnership does not hold a liquor license, Carter said the city was also the recipient of all sales and tax dollars generated from the festival.

The end result was the partnership making money compared with years past, which also allows it to reinvest money into fulfilling its mission and continuing to attract people to the downtown area.

"We have to give people a reason to live here," Carter said. "We have to give people who don't a reason to want to check it out."

Besides the success of Alternating Currents, Street Fest, which is held in conjunction with the Quad-City Times Bix 7, continues to grow.

"We had great crowds and we had to move the stage this year because downtown keeps growing," Carter said. "What used to be a pretty vacant parking lot is now a very active parking lot for the hotel."

With numerous events competing with one another each week, Carter said the city could do better in its communication and coordination of events.

At last week's City Council meeting, the organizers of the Celtic Festival and Highland Games expressed concerns because of their event being disrupted by closed streets and lane closures of another nearby event. The disruption of traffic near one of the entrances to Centennial Park had a drastic impact on attendance for the Celtic Festival.

With all the successes during the summer, Carter also said Davenport could use the introduction of more winter attractions.

After crediting Sean Moller for starting GAS Feed and Seed Festival during the cold months, he said Icestravaganza, which is entering its fifth year, was the partnership's first foray into winter events.

Despite the unpleasant conditions, attendance at the ice sculptures-based event has shown that residents are always looking for another activity downtown.

"Icestravaganza has proven that even when its 20 degrees outside or cooler, people will bundle up and come out and do it because it is something to do," Director of Events Jason Gilliland said.
As national co-chairman of Donald Trump's presidential campaign, northwest Iowa's Sam Clovis encouraged a low-level foreign policy adviser to meet with Russian officials to build relations with the Kremlin, according to media reports Monday.

"Make the trip, if it is feasible," Clovis reportedly wrote in an August 2016 email to George Papadopoulos.

Papadopoulos, 30, a former researcher at the conservative Hudson Institute, was thrust Monday into the center of special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into possible Russian meddling in the 2016 campaign. Papadopoulos, who was secretly arrested in July for lying to federal authorities, has pleaded guilty and is cooperating with Mueller's investigation, according to court papers unsealed Monday.

The campaign supervisor who sent the email to Papadopoulos was not identified in court documents, but the Washington Post and Yahoo News identified the supervisor as Clovis, who now serves as senior White House adviser to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

In his plea filing, Papadopolous admitted that he told Trump and other top campaign national security officials during a March 31, 2016, meeting that he had contact with intermediaries for Russia who said they could set up a meeting between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The statement does not describe Trump's reaction at the time but Papadopoulos continued to email campaign officials about a possible meeting with individuals claiming to work for the Russian government who were offering "dirt" in the form of emails from Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton.

Papadopoulos, who had no formal responsibilities, communicated most with Clovis and campaign chairman Paul Manafort, an official involved with the group told The Associated Press.

A separate raft of charges Mueller announced Monday against Manafort and his longtime aide, Rick Gates, do not appear to be directly related to their work for Trump.

White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders termed Papadopoulos' role with the campaign as "extremely limited."

Clovis "always vigorously opposed any Russian trip for Donald Trump and/or the campaign," Clovis' attorney, Victoria Toensing, said in a statement Monday to the Washington Post.

Toensing said Clovis was "being polite" when he encouraged Papadopoulos to meet with Russian officials in August, adding that the campaign had a "strict rule that no person could travel abroad as a representative of the campaign," the Washington Post reported. Clovis could not stop an American citizen from traveling abroad in his personal capacity, she added.

Clovis, a conservative Republican who joined Trump's campaign months before Iowa's first-in-the-nation presidential caucuses in February 2016, has been nominated by the president to be the top scientist at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The nomination, which has sparked strong objections from environmental groups and some ag organizations, is scheduled for a confirmation hearing before the Senate Agriculture Committee on Nov. 9.

Clovis ran unsuccessfully for U.S. Senate in the Republican primary in June 2014 and lost to Democratic incumbent state Treasurer Michael Fitzgerald that fall. A former Morningside College economics professor, he took an extended leave of absence from the Sioux City school when he joined the Trump campaign as national co-chairman and chief policy adviser in August 2015. He also formerly hosted a Sioux City radio talk show.
U.S. Sen Chuck Grassley is the king of understated code-speak. But Monday was no time for parsing words as indictments and plea deals rolled out of the probe into Russian interference in last year's presidential election.

Either Grassley is willing to protect Special Counsel Robert Mueller from President Donald Trump or he's not.

Grassley wasn't entirely mute after Mueller announced charges against former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort and a plea deal with former adviser George Papadopoulos. But Grassley's position atop the Senate Judiciary Committee basically barred a standard "no comment." Instead, in classic Grassley fashion, he drove headlong into the weeds while offering a smidgen of substance served with a twist of deflection and confusion.

As always, its important to let our legal system run its course," Grassley's statement reads. "While we dont have any more information regarding the current status of the special counsels investigation other than what has already been made public, its good to see the Justice Department taking seriously its responsibility to enforce the Foreign Agents Registration Act."

He then went on about enforcement of FARA, which requires disclosure from those working with foreign entities, which former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort is accused of violating. Nowhere did Grassley mention Manafort, Trump or the campaign. He even offered the old "Democrats do it, too" defense. Later Monday, Grassley turned tail and fled a press conference before reporters could ask about the news of the day.

So, in essence, the only statement with any political weight was "let our legal system run its course."

What does that mean, exactly? And, of greater import, is he prepared to push back should Trump succumb to his rage and crush Mueller's investigation, a possibility that, in less partisan times, would create a legitimate constitutional crisis? Grassley intentionally ducked the matter altogether, a troubling signal to send to a White House with a history of leaning on investigators.

Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, wasn't afraid to demand Mueller's investigation continue without interference. Same goes for Utah peer Sen. Mike Lee. Neither of these men are liberals. Both have a long conservative records. And yet, unlike Grassley, they were willing to unequivocally demand that the White House leave Mueller to his work. It's a testament to the seriousness of the situation.

A pair of bills would make it much more difficult to fire Mueller. But those two pieces of legislation are basically stalled. Yet, legislation in the House that's gaining traction among Trump's allies would hamper Mueller by starving him of cash. These are the realities of the moment. No matter how uncomfortable, Grassley has a duty to defend the judicial system against political meddling. His politically driven lack of clarity was especially concerning due to his incessant attempts at justifying investigations of Democrats who do not reside in the White House, a transparent effort to deflect and distract.

One cannot stress the importance of this moment. Trump's former campaign chairman, the man who kept twitchy delegates in line at the Republican National Convention, faces a raft of charges, including conspiracy and failing to disclose his work for pro-Russian separatists in Ukraine under the Foreign Agents Registration Act. That same day, a plea deal with Papadopoulos was made public. Papadopoulos attempted to collude with Kremlin-linked agents and then lied about it.

Grassley is no small fish here. His committee wields oversight authority over the Justice Department. Several of the president's most reactionary partisan allies -- who have spent weeks attempting to tarnish Mueller's credentials -- again pressed for Mueller's firing. Trump, mind you, couldn't directly sack Mueller. He could, however, summon the ghost of Richard Nixon and purge the Justice Department until he found a lackey who would quash the investigation into Trump's presidential campaign.

But Grassley would rather talk about something --anything -- else.
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NEW VIENNA, Iowa | Authorities are blaming a manure runoff from a dairy farm for killing about 60,000 fish in eastern Iowa.

The farm is situated about 3 miles east of New Vienna. The fish kill was reported Oct. 9 after fish carcasses were spotted in two creeks downstream in Dyersville.

The Iowa Natural Resources Department has issued a notice of violation to the owner, John Hoefler, and is expected to seek restitution for the fish. Among the dead were minnows, white suckers and creek chubs.
WESTMORE, Vt. | Vermont wildlife officials have accused a man of poaching a moose cow out of season, dragging the animal behind his truck for 11 miles and leaving it to rot by the side of the road.

The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department says 20-year-old Gerin Fortin, of Irasburg, was arrested Sunday.

Wardens say the moose was shot at night on Sept. 23 in Westmore. They say the animal was lactating and likely had a calf with it.

Vermont's top game warden, Col. Jason Batchelder, called the case "particularly heinous."

It's not immediately known if Fortin is being represented by an attorney. The Associated Press was unable to reach anyone at a phone number that appeared to be Fortin's.

He's charged with six violations, including taking game by illegal means and in a closed season and two counts of shooting from a motor vehicle.
PIERRE  The South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks (GFP) will host an open house meeting for area landowners on Nov. 7 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. MDT at the Vale community hall in southern Butte County.

The meeting is intended for landowners to learn more about winter-time deer depredation programs and services offered by the department. GFP staff will be on site to provide information, outreach and answer questions related to deer depredation. Additional meetings will be held across western South Dakota to continue conversations with landowners before the upcoming winter.
Belle Joli Winery has experienced some milestones over the years, but being part of the recent christening of the USS South Dakota submarine could be the high-water mark.

The sparkling wine used for the christening ceremony was Belle Joli's 2013 Estate Reserve made with La Crescent variety of grapes from its Belle Fourche vineyard. Processing and bottling were done in the Belle Joli Sparking Wine House in Sturgis.

"It was an absolute honor to be chosen and have our estate wine selected for this event," said Matthew Jackson, enologist for Belle Joli Winery. Matthew, along with his wife, Choi, and Matthew's parents John and Patty Jackson, are owners of Belle Joli Winery.

Choi Jackson said members of the commissioning committee contacted the winery last spring about supplying the sparkling wine for the christening.

"They were looking for a South Dakota-made product they could use and they chose us," she said. "They were excited to learn that the grapes used to make the product are grown in Belle Fourche and that we are 100 percent South Dakota made."

And because the bubbly traditionally used for a boat's christening is champagne, Belle Joli's sparkling wine is made using a champagne methods.

The wine used by USS South Dakota sponsor, Deanie Dempsey, was a bottle smaller than the normal 750 ml. Matthew Jackson said the commissioning committee requested a 375 ml. bottle which was placed in a pewter sleeve before smashed on the bow of the boat.

Matthew said as he understands it, the bottle in the sleeve will be sent to the USS South Dakota memorial in Sioux Falls to be on permanent display there.

The Belle Joli wine also was served Friday, Oct. 13 at the sponsor's dinner in Groton, Conn., home to General Dynamics Electric Boat company.

"Once we found out we were nominated as a supplier of the wine, we pulled about 400 bottles we had left of the Estate Reserve," he said. "We sent three cases out for the dinner. We have about 200 bottles left. We made a special display out here at the Sparkling House, so anyone can come out and buy one."

The Jacksons were amazed at the pomp and circumstance surrounding the entire christening of the boat. They were in an area reserved for the sponsors, chairmen and families.

"We felt so fortunate to be a part of the entire process," he said. "It was absolutely wonderful. We're proud to be from South Dakota and have a business here."

Debra Bodenstedt, chair of the USS South Dakota Commissioning Committee, agreed saying the christening was a fantastic event.

"I was so proud to watch this time honored ceremony. The patriotic music, the red, white and blue bunting, it gave me chills. I was beaming with pride when the sponsor stated 'In the name of the United States. I christen thee South Dakota,'" she said.

Bodenstedt, a Navy veteran who served 28 years active duty, retired to Yankton in 2010 and was chosen in Nov. 2015 to head up the commissioning committee.

"It (the christening) was the culmination of a lot of work by our committee, and a significant milestone for the submarine. All South Dakotans and all Americans should be proud," she said.

Sen. Mike Rounds spoke during the ceremony saying that as a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and its Seapower Subcommittee - which has jurisdiction for the Navy and Marine Corps, a member of the USS South Dakota Honorary Commissioning Committee, and a lifelong South Dakotan, it was truly a privilege to be on hand for the christening.

"On behalf of all South Dakotans, I cannot underscore how excited we are to have this state-of-the-art submarine named after our great state," he said. "It is in keeping with South Dakotans long and proud history of service in our armed forces and their service for years to come. After all, the USS South Dakota is expected to be active for more than three decades, and this is the first time ever we will have a submarine named after our state.

Rounds said the USS South Dakota will play an important role in national security at a critical point in our nations history.

"It will carry out important missions and, with our ballistic missile submarines, it will fulfill a crucial role in keeping Americans safe. I look forward to watching it in action in the decades to come," he said. "And - I know it will make all South Dakotans proud."

Gov. Dennis Daugaard joined Lt. Gov. Matt Michels and Rounds in Groton, Conn., to serve as the keynote speaker at the christening ceremony for the USS South Dakota SSN 790.

South Dakotans can be proud that this Virginia-class submarine bears our states name, Gov. Daugaard said. The boat contains the Navys latest technology and will be lighter and faster than the previous class of submarines.

The christening is the second of three milestones for the USS South Dakota. The keel laying ceremony was held April 4, 2016, to recognize the beginning of construction and a commissioning ceremony to officially admit the USS South Dakota to the Navy is expected in 2018.

In 2016, Gov. Daugaard signed legislation appropriating $100,000 to the South Dakota Department of Military to support the USS South Dakota Commissioning Committees activities. The Committee has since raised additional funds from the private sector.

This boat is the third U.S. Navy vessel to be named after South Dakota, and is the first underwater vessel to bear the states name. The first USS South Dakota, a Pennsylvania-class armored cruiser, was christened in 1904. The ship was attached to the Pacific Fleet during the Mexican Civil War and to the Atlantic Fleet during World War I. It was renamed the USS Huron in 1920 and was decommissioned in 1927.

The second USS South Dakota was the first South Dakota-class battleship and was christened in 1941. This ship, known as Old Incredible, had two tours in the Pacific and one in the Atlantic during World War II. The ships 13 battle stars were matched only by the USS Washington. This USS South Dakota was decommissioned in 1947, and a memorial to the ship in Sioux Falls includes an outline of the ships main deck.

Commander Ron Withrow said the new submarine is not some decorative vessel. The South Dakota is a Virginia class submarine, an attack submarine that is capable of destroying enemy ships, carrying out intelligence missions and participating in mine warfare, among other duties.

Weighing the equivalent of 65 blue whales, the new South Dakota will boast four torpedo tubes and two Virginia Payload Tubes, Withrow said. Each payload tube can hold six Tomahawk missiles that can hit targets 1,240 miles away, slightly farther than the distance from Sioux Falls to New York City.

The South Dakota will host 130 crew members on board and is capable of spending months underwater.

"The only thing that limits our time underwater is the amount of food we can carry on board," Withrow said.
SEATTLE, Wash.- Janice Louise (Fondy) Ames was born Oct. 31, 1928, to Homer/Florence Fondy in Steamboat Springs, CO and passed away at her home in Seattle, Wash., on Aug. 9, 2017.

The family moved to Edgerton, Wyo., in the late 20's and Janice attended school at Midwest, Wyo., until 1941 when they moved to Belle Fourche, SD. Janice graduated from Belle Fourche High School in 1945 and started college at South Dakota State College at the age of 16, graduating with a degree in Journalism.

She was married to William E. Ames in 1949. After graduation, they moved to Ames, IA. In the mid 1950s, they moved to Seattle, WA where Bill became a professor of Communications at the University of Washington. In 1969, Janice received a graduate degree from UW in Librarianship which led to part-time work and eventually Director of the Washington Talking Book and Braille library, retiring in 2003.

Janice is survived by her brother, Vic (Donna) Fondy, Whitewood, SD, sister, Phyllis (John) Skurla, Anchorage, Alaska, daughter, Laurie Ames, Seattle, WA, son, Tim (Cathy) Ames, Seattle, WA and numerous grandchildren.

The full obituary can be read online at https://funerals.coop/obituaries/ which also has an online guest book.
The Carr Family Cowboy Band and cowboy poets Marty Blocker and R.P. Smith will be featured in a Chadron State College Galaxy Series performance at 7 p.m. Nov. 7, in Memorial Halls Auditorium. Tickets for adults are $15, youth and senior are $13, and at the door are $16. Reserve tickets by calling 308-432-6207 or emailing boxoffice@csc.edu.

The Carr Family has been ranching in the Nebraska Sandhills for more than a century. Through music, Ronn, Judy, Anna, Abby and Walter Carr have been able to see the American West together while performing. The Carr Family Cowboy Band was nominated for the Western Music Associations Crescendo Award in 2010. Their signature sound is hallmarked by three violins, a guitar, bass and mandolin. They enjoy working together raising Angus cattle and writing as well as performing their original music and performing many past and current country favorites.

Blocker is a working cowboy and ranch manager for a large cattle operation just west of Cody, Nebraska. His trade gives him a lot of subject matter for his poems and lends authenticity to his works. Besides writing his own poems, Blocker also recites the works of past and present poets.

He was the All-Around High Point Winner of the 2007 National Cowboy Poetry Rodeo in Hot Springs, South Dakota. He was a featured artist at the 2010 National Cowboy Poetry Gathering in Elko, Nevada, and the 2017 Durango Cowboy Poetry Gathering in Durango, Colorado.

Smith is the fourth generation to raise cattle on the Pine Crest Ranch at his home near Broken Bow, Nebraska. For the past 25 years, cowboy poetry has helped him support his ranching and also given him some chances to travel with his family to a few places they would not have seen otherwise.

Smith has shared his poetry in 16 states and Canada and participated in the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering in Elko, Nevada, and state gatherings in Nebraska, Texas, Colorado, and Arizona.
Now that the Whiteclay liquor stores licenses have been revoked, the Nebraska Attorney General is dropping his case against the four businesses that charged them with 22 violations of state liquor laws.

Nebraska AG Doug Petersons office announced the decision last week. Peterson had accused the establishments of a variety of violations, including bootlegging, selling liquor after hours, keeping inadequate records and failing to cooperate with investigators.

The stores shuttered at the end of April when the Nebraska Liquor Control Commission refused to renew their licenses. The states Supreme Court rejected an appeal by the businesses in September.
The American people have had a rough time over the past few years. Fifty percent of Americans consider themselves to be living paycheck to paycheck, while almost a third of voters say they are just $400 dollars away from a financial crisis. Thats not acceptable. Fortunately, there are things we can do about it, starting with comprehensive tax reform.

Comprehensive tax reform is perhaps the single most important thing we can do to provide financial relief to American families and get our economy back on the path to long-term health. Thats why Republicans in Congress have spent several months working with the Trump administration on a tax reform framework that we believe will lead to more jobs, fairer taxes, and bigger paychecks, and why the tax-writing committees in the Senate and the House of Representatives are currently hard at work drafting legislation.

Our tax reform framework prioritizes tax relief for middle-income Americans by ensuring working families receive a much-needed increase in take-home pay. To start with, our plan will lower income-tax rates for hardworking families around the country. We will also double the standard deduction to $12,000 for single filers and $24,000 for married couples who file jointly. While all Americans will benefit from this provision, it will particularly benefit the low-income families who need help the most. Under our tax plan, a family making $24,000 or less per year will not have to pay a dime in federal income taxes.

There is no denying that raising a family in the United States is getting more and more expensive. Thats why we will also help working families by increasing the size of the child tax credit. This will free up money that families can use for anything from dentist bills to college savings. And for low-income families who wont pay income tax under our plan, up to $1,000 of this new, larger child tax credit will be refundable.

In addition to direct relief for working families, our tax plan will also provide for the kind of economic growth needed to give hardworking Americans access to new jobs and opportunities and increase their take-home pay. To start with, our plan will lower tax rates for small businesses and family farms and ranches.

Small and medium-size businesses are an important engine of economic growth, but our tax code makes things more difficult for these job creators by saddling them with high tax rates  at times even exceeding those paid by some large corporations. By lowering tax rates for these businesses, we can help them reinvest more of their earnings into their operations. The Republican tax plan will also allow small and medium-size businesses to recover their costs more quickly, which will also help free up money they can use to grow their business and create new jobs. This is good news for the American worker.

Americans have spent too much of the past decade struggling with high taxes, stagnant wages, and a lack of opportunity. Its time to give them relief. Right now, we have a unique opportunity to implement pro-growth tax reform policies that will provide more jobs, fairer taxes, and bigger paychecks for hardworking individuals and middle-income families across the country. As we move through the legislative process, I will continue to work with President Trump, my fellow members of the Senate Finance Committee, and leadership in the House to ensure that comprehensive tax reform makes it to the presidents desk for his signature.
It often goes unreported, but the House has passed more than 250 bills this year, many following through on the conservative priorities Ive been discussing for nearly a decade. These 250 House-passed bills include the repeal and replacement of Obamacare, resources for President Trumps border wall proposal, protections for unborn children, VA reform, and a rollback of numerous Obama-era regulations.

More than 50 of these bills have become law, including many regulatory repeals and national-security legislation I wrote to bring more women into peace negotiations. Others, such as Obamacare repeal, continue to be debated in the Senate. This was the opening report I gave at a recent town hall in Mobridge  one in a series of town halls and telephone town halls Ive done in recent months.

After that initial report came questions. The first was from Carson, a senior at Mobridge-Pollock High School. He wanted to know what had been done on the issue of abortion. I talked to him about how I helped introduce legislation that would define life as beginning at conception. While we havent had the opportunity to vote on that specific provision yet, the House did recently pass the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, which bans abortions after 20 weeks (the point at which studies indicate babies can feel pain). We were also able to get legislation signed into law this year that would empower states to withhold family-planning funds from organizations like Planned Parenthood.

The next question came from Jayden, who was wondering what I thought of President Trump. I explained that I was pleased the president was strong on national security, which is his number one job. President Trump also campaigned on building a wall on the southern border, repealing Obamacare, and reforming the tax code  all of which are priorities that I share. Additionally, he put a pro-life Supreme Court justice on the bench, which was a huge accomplishment.

Then, a Navy veteran from the area asked about the inefficiency that happens in many government-run agencies. Im incredibly grateful for this mans service and believe his concerns are well founded. Ive fought this kind of inefficiency and waste many times, including through my CUFF Act. This legislation, which has passed the House and is awaiting action in the Senate, would stop certain Social Security benefits from going to people wanted for felonies and parole violations.

The grand finale question came from a young woman interested in my thoughts on unions. South Dakota is a Right to Work state, which means individuals cant be required to join unions or be forced to pay for union dues as a condition of employment (something thats required in other states). I think Right to Work is the right approach.

I was grateful to everyone who made it to my town hall in Mobridge, and I hope to either see you at one in the near future or talk with you during one of my upcoming telephone town halls. In the meantime, dont hesitate to visit one of my offices, give us a call, or send me an email. To get the location of the office nearest you, please visit my website: noem.house.gov
Free and fair trade is vital to South Dakotas economy. Not only does it open up important markets for South Dakota products, it results in higher wages and supports our small businesses and producers. Last year, we exported $1.2 billion in products to other countries, including goods, machinery and electronic equipment. In particular, the North American Free Trade AgreementNAFTAbetween the U.S., Mexico and Canada, South Dakotas top two exporters in 2016, continues to benefit our farmers, ranchers and manufacturers.

Since taking office, President Trump has indicated that he has a desire to renegotiate our trade agreements, and in May of this year, he announced the administration would begin talks with Canada and Mexico to renegotiate NAFTA. I am supportive of him making the best possible deals for American producers, however simply withdrawing from NAFTA, without a similar structure in place, would harm South Dakotas producers.

Just last year, American producers sent $20.5 billion worth of exports to Canada and $17.8 billion worth of exports to Mexico, which is the largest market for U.S. corn and soymeal. Mexico is also the second largest market for U.S. soybeans and the third largest market for U.S. beef. American trade with our NAFTA partners has more than tripled since the agreement took effect, and has increased more rapidly than trade with the rest of the world. Between 1993 and 2016, according to trade data reported by the U.S. International Trade Commission, U.S. trade with Mexico increased by 544 percent and trade with Canada increased 158 percent.

Agriculture is South Dakotas number one industry, and trade contributes to the overall health of the ag economy. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) concluded in a recent report that NAFTA has had a positive impact on North American agriculture over the past two decades. The value of U.S. agricultural trade with our NAFTA partners has increased from $8.7 billion in 1992before the agreement was implementedto $38.1 billion in 2016, while imports rose from $6.5 billion to $44.5 billion. The leading NAFTA-traded products are meat and dairy products, followed closely by grains. South Dakota is a top producer of these products.

I have encouraged the administration to maintain strong ties with our NAFTA partners as they continue their negotiations. I have repeatedly asked our U.S. Trade Representative, Robert Lighthizer, to stand up for the United States agricultural industry abroad, and work to open up new markets for American products. Earlier this year, the administration reached an agreement to allow for U.S. exports of beef into China. This was a win for South Dakota ranchers, who are now able to sell their top-quality beef in a lucrative market.

Canada and Mexico are essential trading partners for our state and nation, and I encourage the administration to continue working with their leaders to maintain an agreement for free and fair trade among our countries. At a time of economic downturn in our agricultural sector, continuing to increase trade with our North American neighbors and other global allies is of vital importance.
Under God the People Rule Motto of South Dakota. ARE WOMEN PEOPLE??

This was the question asked in a column under the heading Womans Realm that appeared in the Dec. 6, 1889, Wessington Springs Herald.

The question of woman suffrage  the legal right of women to vote  was beginning to be discussed throughout the state, according to that Womans Realm column. The column featured articles from other newspapers and information about the suffrage movement, usually compiled by LoElla Blank, the Heralds associate editor.

The suffrage movement in the United States is said to have started when more than 300 people met in Seneca Falls, N.Y., in July 1848, to discuss the social, civil and religious rights of women. Among the resolutions passed was one in favor of woman suffrage.

Dakotans began debating the vote for women in territorial days.

The Dakota Territorial Legislature came within one vote of enfranchising women in 1872. In 1885, Rep. John Pickler of Faulkton promoted a bill for woman suffrage which passed both houses of the Dakota Territorial Legislature. It was vetoed by Gov. Gilbert Pierce.

When South Dakota became a state in 1889, its constitution required that the first legislature submit a constitutional woman suffrage amendment to the voters. The amendment stated that the word male would be stricken from the article of the state constitution that gave the right to vote to every qualified male person in the state. This election was to take place on Nov. 4, 1890.

In the fall of 1889, Susan B. Anthony announced that she and other leaders in the woman suffrage campaign would be focusing on South Dakota until the election.

All the best speakers, all the best workers in the womans suffrage ranks in the United States are to be turned into the field of South Dakota. We have every assurance that we are going to carry the day, Anthony was quoted in the Kimball Graphic as telling a Minneapolis reporter.

Anthony arrived in the state on Nov. 11, 1889, to make a lecture tour.

She set up headquarters in Huron the following April.

The Womans Realm column of May 23, 1890, quoted the Pierre Free Press as stating, The woman suffrage campaign seems to be progressing smoothly. It is generally conceded, even by those who stay on the off side of the fence, that the cause of the ladies will win.

Despite this optimism, there were indications that all was not going well.

The July 25, 1890, Womans Realm reported that at the state Democratic convention, E.W. Miller declared on the floor that no decent woman in South Dakota was asking the suffrage. This statement was reportedly received with deafening applause.

The Farmers Alliance and the Knights of Labor had promised to support woman suffrage. They merged to form the Independent Party, which did not include woman suffrage in its platform. Liquor interests and immigrants were opposed to suffrage. Disagreements among leaders in the suffrage movement gave newspapers the opportunity to make fun of the women and, by association, the suffrage cause, according to Cecelia M. Wittmayer in the article The 1889-1890 Woman Suffrage Campaign: A Need to Organize, published in Vol. 11, No. 3 of South Dakota History.

The two strongest opponents to woman suffrage in South Dakota are the Sioux Falls Press and the Sioux Falls Argus-Leader, stated the Womans Realm of July 4, 1890.

An editorial in the Argus-Leader, endorsed by some other newspapers, argued that if 50,000 women of legal voting age signed a petition in favor of suffrage, it would be granted to them.

The 1895 Census indicates that South Dakota had 72,251 women over the age of 20. Collecting 50,000 signatures was impossible because of the lack of roads, the distance between homes and towns, and harsh weather, according to Wittmayer.

By the time the election rolled around, there had been 1,600 addresses by national and state speakers and under the auspices of the Womans Christian Temperance Union; 400 local and county clubs of womens organizations formed; and literature sent to every voter in the state, according to Dorinda Riessen Reed in The Woman Suffrage Movement in South Dakota.

During the Nov. 4, 1890 election, 68,654 men voted on the amendment for woman suffrage. Of these, 45,632 voted against woman suffrage and 22,972 for it.

Suffragists had not been able to convince voters that women wanted the right to vote or that there would be any gain by adopting an equal suffrage amendment, wrote Reed.

It would not be until 1918 when South Dakota voters approved a constitutional amendment granting women voting privileges in state elections. In 1919, Congress sent a woman suffrage amendment to all the states and South Dakota ratified it in a special session that year. The 19th Amendment was ratified and took effect in 1920, giving women throughout the country the right to vote.
An ordinance to regulate the ride-hailing provider Lyft before its burgeoning expansion into South Dakota fully blossoms passed through the citys Legal and Finance Committee meeting Wednesday afternoon without any discussion.

The unanimous vote by committee members sends the item to the Rapid City Council meeting on Monday, where the full legislative body may discuss the proposed amendments to an ordinance originally written to regulate the citys taxi businesses.

With language applying specifically to companies such as Lyft and Uber, or as the city calls them, transportation network companies, certain new clauses require any TNC to apply for a license from the city before beginning operations. Rapid City would require a $1,500 fee to be paid by TNCs each year to operate within city limits.

Individual drivers will not be required to apply for a license or pay any fees to the city, but information including the driver's name, proof of insurance, active vehicle registration and a background check are required by Lyft from prospective drivers hoping to join Lyft's fleet.

The ordinance prohibits accepting cash payments and picking up passengers attempting to hail taxis without using the transportation network companys digital network.

Lyft officially launched across South Dakota on Oct. 24 and has been in operation since then in Sioux Falls, where Mayor Mike Huether and City Councilor Christine Erickson  who assisted Rapid City in crafting the ordinance  took the inaugural ride.

The amended ordinance will next be discussed at the city councils Nov. 6 meeting. If it moves forward without delay and passes a second reading at the council's Nov. 20 meeting, the ordinance could take effect as soon as late December, city spokesman Darrell Shoemaker said last week.

In other action, committee members:

 Recommended approving the addition of one full-time employee to the Rapid City Police Department as body camera technology is implemented across the department for patrolling officers. The Police Video Evidence Technician, as the position is called in RCPD documents, would manage the storage and retrieval of digital video evidence captured by officers' cameras. The recently awarded Department of Justice grant to RCPD and the Pennington County Sheriffs Office would cover the first two years of the employees salary between $41,677 and $62,797  RCPD Chief Karl Jegeris said at the meeting. At the end of the two-year period, Jegeris said the department plans to absorb the position into its Records Division and cut an employee from the division, meaning the department would not need to request additional funds once the grant money is spent.

 Recommended approving salary raises for nonunion city employees in 2018. Salaries for nonunion employees between steps 1 and 17 will see a 2.5 percent raise while employees between steps 18 and 33 will receive a 1.25 percent raise. Cost-of-living raises will be 25 percent of the citys sales tax percentage growth for 2017, with a minimum of 0.5 percent and maximum of 2.5 percent.

 Acknowledged the citys sales tax collections for the month of August, which came in at $2,345,429, a 2.17 percent increase compared with collections in August 2016. For the first eight months of 2017, collections are up 1.7 percent compared with 2016, at $16,712,117.

 Recommended approving two ordinance changes that will clear the old water and wastewater rates from the citys codes. At the Oct. 16 council meeting the new rate schedule was adopted, which will cause an average Rapid City households water bill to rise by 43 percent over the next five years. Currently, a single-family residence pays an average of $30.72 per month for city water and $24.03 for wastewater services based on an average use of 5,600 gallons of clean water per month and 4,500 gallons of wastewater collected from such residences per month. Assuming the usage was the same in 2018, those rates would rise to $33.74 per month for city water and $25.78 for wastewater services next year, an overall rise of $4.77. By 2022, the water bill would be $46.66 and the wastewater bill would come in at $31.98. The current rates have not increased since 2012.

City Operations Management Engineer Dan Coon said the rate hikes were to cover the increased operating and maintenance costs associated with the city services. The water reserve fund has dropped to $2 million and the wastewater reserve fund has dropped to $159,000. With the rate hikes, the city hopes to raise the water fund to $6.6 million and the wastewater fund to $4.5 million by 2022. The citys aging water treatment plant on Mountain View Road will need to be replaced in the coming years, Public Works Director Dale Tech said.
China will not hold reclamation activities or build structures near Pag-asa island and Scarborough Shoal in the West Philippine Sea, President Rodrigo Duterte said Tuesday.

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China has put it on record that near the Pag-asa island and the ScarboroughChina has committed to us [that it is]not [going]to build anything there. I hope that they would honor that commitment. I really hope and pray, Duterte said.

Yes, [I am holding on to that commitment], because if I commit, as a President of a sovereign state, what comes out of my mouth is what it is. Anything less than commitment, you will lose the respect of others and the rest who are giving us assistance, he added.

The President issued the statement after a working visit in Japan. He and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe discussed freedom of navigation in the South China Sea.

In July 2016, the Philippines won a case against China when the Hague-based United Nations Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) junked Chinas claim on the entire South China Sea based on its nine-dash line theory.

The PCA also ruled that the Panatag Shoal (Scarborough Shoal) is a common fishing ground.

Duterte expressed hope that China will live up to its commitment.

It is not for me to say [what will happen if China does not honor its commitment]. That question should be answered by them. After all, I am not poaching anything. What I have said is that these [islands]are mine, the President said.

Asean concern

Duterte said freedom of navigation is a concern not only for the Philippines but for many countries, especially Vietnam, Malaysia and Indonesia which are also claiming islands in South China Sea.

There are overlapping claims, and we can always resolve it by just talking, the President pointed out. I cannot imagine myself being involved in a violent solution or almost a suicide action. There is no space for violence as an option, we should continue to talk.

Duterte, however, hinted that his administration will have to make China accountable for its words.

The realities on the ground is far different. But there will be a time, and I assure you that, during my term, that I will ask whats really in store for us all. I hope we will reach that stage. And China is a good listener, Duterte said.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) that groups the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Myanmar, Brunei and Indonesia has an existing Declaration of Conduct (DOC) with China on the South China Sea which was signed in 2002.

The DOC provides that parties should undertake to exercise self-restraint in the conduct of activities that would complicate or escalate disputes and affect peace and stability including, among others, refraining from action of inhabiting on the presently uninhabited islands, reefs, shoals, cays, and other features and to handle their differences in a constructive manner.

The DOC, however, is non-binding.
RTCG has announced a public call for songs "Montevizija 2018",

Radio Television of Montenegro (RTCG) has announced a public call for songs "Montevizija 2018", for the selection of Montenegro's song for the Eurovision Song Contest 2018. The application period is open for the next 45 days.

1. Who has the right to participate in the competition

 Authors from all over the world may send their songs in.

 The same author can send in up to two songs.

2. Duration of the submission period

 The submission period is open 45 days from the day of publication on the internet page www.rtcg.me and in the daily newspapers.

3. The subject of the competition

 The subject of the competition are new songs which have not been published and performed before.

4. Terms of the contest

 The lyrics should be written in the official language of the Republic of Montenegro.

 The author of the applied song guarantees that he is the only creator of the work, that the work is his original spiritual creation, and that the work or its parts are not taken over from other's works, through a certificate of registration of the works of the country in which the organization guarantees and protects the rights of the music author.

 No performer can be less than 16 years old on the day of the Final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2018.

 The number of performers on the stage can not exceed six.

 Authors do not have the right to subsequently withdraw their entered songs, and the submitted documentation is not returned.

5. The method of applying

 Authors apply anonymously, and the application needs to contain a five-digit code under which the song will undergo the selection process.

 The application is done by sending in a large white envelope containing a demo record of the song in either USB or CD format. The song needs to last up to 3 minutes, and needs to be sung by the performer who would perform the song in "Montevizija 2018". The envelope must also contain five printed copies of the lyrics.

 In the large envelope, there should be smaller envelope of the same color, which will contain the information on the identity of the author, his biography, as well as the certificate of the competent organization for the protection of copyright and related rights on the recording or registration of the work that has been reported.

This second envelope will be opened if the song goes to the next stage of the selection, which will be decided by the Selection Committee.

 A certificate of Montenegrin citizenship and biography is required for the artist(s) as well.



6. Criteria of the song selection

 Composition - up to 50 points

 Text - up to 30 points

 Production potential of the composition - up to 20 points

The maximum number of points a song can score is 100.

7. Applying

 Applications are submitted by participants in closed envelopes to the following address: Radio-Televizija Crne Gore, Podgorica, Bulevar revolucije 19, Arhiva RTCG - VI floor, with the following note:

Konkurs za Pjesmu Evrovizije 2018. NE OTVARATI.

 On the back of the envelope write down the five digit code under which you apply.

 Untimely applications will not be considered.

By participating in the competition, each participant accepts the prescribed conditions of the competition, as well as the conditions set forth in the Rulebook on the procedure for selecting the composition for the Eurovision Song Contest 2018.

RTCG reserves the right to suggest to the authors of certain changes and amendments to the composition and eventual change of the performer.



For any additional clarifications, during the duration of the competition, potential applicants can be informed by emailing: evrovizija@rtcg.org
eacpe.org - 25 October 2017

Transcript:

Pervez Hoodbhoy: Hello Noam. Itas really good to see you. It must be morning in Arizona. Itas evening here in Islamabad. Are you well?

Noam Chomsky: Okay.

PH: Excellent. Noam! Thereas a whole lot of things that I want to talk to you about, but let me start with this. It appears as if the world is retribalizing. We are going back to our primal tribal loyalties a to religion, to nationalism. You see this just about everywhere. You see this with Brexit, the rise of the ultra-right in Europe, with Donald Trump in United States. And here in Pakistan you have bloodletting with Sunnis killing Shias, and everybody going after the Ahmadis and the Christians and the Hindus. And in India a that seems to be a country that has just gone mad with their protection of the cow. Whatas going on? There was once a time of the European Enlightenment and I know that you admire John Stuart Mill very much. Have we given up on the advances that humans made in those times? Whatas going on?

NC: One thing. Remember my age. I was a child in the 1930s. And I, from a childas point of view, nevertheless, could observe whatas happening. This country was totally collapsing: huge unemployment, starvation, and nothing working. In Europe a Germany, Italy had fallen under fascist rule. Years before I was born, the US was in fact supporting Mussolini, openly. Germany had fallen to Nazism by the early 30s. By 1938, Austria had fallen. Czechoslovakia was taken, Spain was being conquered by fascist government of Franco. As you may know the first article I wrote a that I can remember a was in February 1939 when Barcelona fell. And the article was about the inexorable rise of fascism which looks itas going to take over the world, with everything collapsing here. And without going into details, Japan was carrying out horrendous atrocities in East Asia. It was just horrifying; much worse than now. So itas not new. We have been through much worse period, much worse. In fact, if the war had lasted another year, Germany might have actually won. Itas no joke. Take a look at US now that we know about US planning. In the early years of the war, 1939 to about 1943 of after Stalingrad. US planners were planning on a future world which would be partly US dominated and partly German dominated. That is half part, or large part of Eurasia would be under Nazism. Are we facing that? I mean itas bad but itas not that. So to say that there couldnat have been a harsher attack on the Enlightenment than Nazism a supported by leading figures like Martin Heidegger who was writing in 1935 that Germany under the Nazis is the only hope of saving the magnificent Greek heritage from barbarians, East and West. I mean itas bad now, I agree, but not that. So, first thing I think we should keep the sense of proportion.

Second: under other cases. First World War was just horrifying. Right after the first World War in the United States, Woodrow Wilsonas administration launched a repression, which is the worst repression in US history. Thousands of people were deported; huge numbers imprisoned; the Labor Movement was destroyed; independent thought was destroyed. That was peak, harsh repression, not anything like it since. So, you look over history. Look a little back further, in the 19th century, what was the US doing? It was running the worst, most hideous system of slavery in human history. They were exterminating the indigenous population step by step that was carried out well into late 19th century. The tactics are by now well understood through scholarship to be literally genocidal. Not a pretty history. British were administering famines in India which killed tens of millions of people while there was plenty of food around but it was imperial policy. This went on til 1943, when Churchill decided that people in England needed white bread and so a couple of million people in Bengal had to die. That was then. Itas bad now, but not whatas happened before. Lots have improved.

And whatas happening now? So letas take now. Several things are happening. In the Western world a US and Europe a we hada. take a look at the post-war period, post second World War. Basically two periods. There was period in 50s and the 60s which had the highest growths of American history here. No financial collapses, fairly egalitarian, first opportunities, essential reconstruction for African Americans to somehow enter into the system. Some progress in civil rights. Lots of things were wrong, but there was substantial progress. That lasted into the 70s. 70s had a switch, significant switch in social and economic policies. Reasons werea you look ata one of the main ones is the rate of profit was declining as a result of militancy of labor and other activism. And there were clear statements about it. Our memorandum, our mission reports, others about the excess of democracy, we have to return things to obedience of authoritya thatas across whole cross spectrum (we could get into it). And then come the shifts in neo-liberal policies which had the anticipated effect. They had restored the rate of (profit), there has been growth, not as in past but substantial. Wages and incomes for the majority had stagnated or declined in 2007, the period of euphoria about the amazing new great moderation, the wonders of new classical economics were become solved. 2007, right before the crash, the real wages of American workers were lower than there had been in 1979 when the neo-liberal experiment began. The stagnation or decline to the population and the sharp concentration of wealth is part of the self-reinforcing cycle. The policies contribute to that. The concentration contributes to political power, which carries the policies further. There has been crash after crash with the regulation. We now have a at least outside of the Republican party a a recognition that this is a serious problem but near enough has been done about it. In Europe, in many ways itas even worse. The austerity programs in Europe are run by a troika. The whole way the European system is designed is simply undermining democracy. Democratic decision making is being moved from the hands of people through their national stage to an unelected bureaucracy. European commission unelected, IMF, and the Central Bank. Thatas it. Thatas the troika. The people have almost no say in policies of their governments. They are living with all important issues, and they know it. They are getting a sense of anger all through Europe and US about centrist institutionsa you know what they call center left, center right but the main established institutions, like the political parties, that have been running the countryas institutions have contempt for people. The striking thing about the American elections was the election of a kind of anti-establishment republic. Thatas not so surprising. But the enormous success of the Sanders campaign which broke with over a century of US political history. No contributions from any of the major sources. The media disregarded with contempt the most popular politician in the country. He probably would have won the democratic party nomination if it hadnat been for party managers. Is the center collapsing? The reason I think is traceable back to social political developments that are taking place. There is more. The neo liberal form of globalization that was instituted in the 90s, since has magnified all these problems. They called it free trade, but thatas not free trade. Little to do with trade altogether. Highly protectionist investor rights, systems which are setting working people in competition with one another all over the world.

PH: Thanks for putting things in perspective. And yes, Iam happy that you see that things are not as bleak as they seem to be. But although what you say has a lot of explanatory power for whatas happening in the US or Brexit and so forth. But it doesnat tell me very much about why the Islamic World has exploded in this rage: rage against the US, rage against it own self. Why you have these Gao Rakshaks in India who are just tearing apart Muslims. And then such peaceful people, as the Buddhists, they have gone after the Rohingyas. I just donat understand whatas going on?

NC: Letas take Burma. There was a fairly democratic system a not great a through some kind of parliamentary system. The US at time was going to do everything it could to attack China. And one other thing was setting up Chinese nationalist tribal forces in the north of Burma to carry out attack against China. And that set back, of course. Led to chaos and destruction, and finally a military dictatorship took over. That was the end of Burmese parliamentary democracy. That was a horrible military dictatorship. Finally, in the last couple of years, it slightly relaxed. But not totally. The attacks on Muslim Rohnigyas are disgraceful, monstrous atrocities. The government, including San Suu Kyi, ought to know better than support it.

Indiaas a complicated story. The history is indeed pretty ugly. I mean the caste system in India is just a hideous disgrace. Last time I visited India. Going from Calcutta to Lahore, the difference was shocking. Thereas lot of wealth in India, lot of enlightenment, and lot of awful things. There is the most extreme mixture of wealth, high culture, enlightenment, and hideous poverty, and disgraceful existing living standards that Iave ever seen. Maybe you might see something like it in small countries of Central Africa but this is a huge country. So itas a very mixed story. Right now there is a regression.

In the Islamic World, itas been under attack for hundreds years. Thereas Syria right now, the most awful place. Take a look at Syria a hundred years ago (inaudible) horrendous attack against Syrians. Syria probably lost more people during the war proportionally than any other country. A hundred thousand people were killed. Now, well Syria goes with the rest; there hasnat been an attractive picture.

There was a parliamentary government in Iran. What happened to it? They made a mistake of trying to control their own resources. So the US carried out and instigated a coup which instituted the role of Shah. And it was receiving condemnation from Amnesty International and others. Thereas horrendous human rights record. Then came the overthrow of the government in 1979. What did the US do? It immediately supported an Iraqi attack against Iran. Gave strong support even to the extent of Reagan denying Saddamas responsibility for the awful atrocities against Kurds and trying to blame it on Iran. The US even permitted Saddam, they gave him gift that they barely allowed anyone. He was allowed to attack an American ship, killing several dozen seamen and to get away with the tap on the wrist. A real friend! Israel and the USS Liberty is the only analog that I can think of. Finally, US very much won the war for Iraq. Hundreds of thousands of Iranians got killed; chemical weapons used. We can go on with country after country. Thatas been the Middle East. Itas not just the US. The French, British, plenty of internal criminals. You can run through ita Now, work for less couple of years, the worst atrocities come from ISIS. Where did that come from? Was there ISIS before the US invaded Iraq? Invasion of Iraq, among other crimes, incited sectarian conflict that barely existed before. Now itas tearing not just that country, but the whole region apart. One of the outgrowths was ISIS. Things are not happening in vacuum. Now, you take a look at them, you can see sources for all of them. Anything like these things has multiple causes. But among the causes, and often quite significant among the causes, are the actions of the Muslim sectarian states.

PH: Thanks for that. I pretty much agree with all that you said. But the US is a declining power. Itas now no longer close to anything of what it was 50 years ago. Instead, we are seeing that China is coming up, and itas coming up very rapidly. You see its effects here in Pakistan very visibly. Thereas Chinese-Pakistan Economic Corridor. They are beginning to dominate industry over here. They are building roads and you see Chinese people all over the place now. So I want to ask you, Noam. If we have a world thatas dominated by China rather than the US. Is this going to be a better world, a more humane world? One that runs according to rules, one that will be less imperialistic? Should we expect a more humane outcome now that the US is in decline?

NC: First of all, I donat think this is a remote possibility. I mean itas true that the US is a declining power. Itas been a declining power since 1949. The peak of US power was in 1945. At that point, the US had may be almost half the worldas wealth, incredible security, control over the hemisphere, both oceans. Other industrial societies had been either devastated or severely weakened. The US economy had boomed during Second World War. With huge industrial production they were sitting at the top of the world a in fact planning to run the world. Well, something happened in 1949 a the first blow to this hegemony. The event was called in the US the loss of China. It took many years before people started noticing the presupposition that we own the world and now we lost China. So thatas a terrible claim; it was a major factor in US domestic policy, the basis for McCarthyism, and harsh repression when John F. Kennedy was wondering whether to escalate in Vietnam. He was afraid that head be accused of the loss of Indo-China. This was seen as a huge attack on American power. Then it pretty much declined by the early 70s. The world was economically very much tri-polar, with North American US based center, European German based center, and North East Asian at that point Japan based center. Not comparable in power, but economically independent. Fairly comparable actors. In fact, you might recall in the 1980s Japan was number one in computers, and it might take over the world. Well, the US has somewhat declined since but it was that the US share in world wealth was maybe 25% lower than it had been after the Second World War.

Things are changing with Trump. Trump may in fact contribute to a rapid decline in US power. Heas a special phenomenon. He is isolating the US, even from its close allies. Putting that aside, the long term tendency which I suspect is not going to change much is that the US will continue to be militarily just beyond any comparison. Economically, a very powerful state. Thatas misleading because in the contemporary globalized system, the system thatas developed pretty much since the 1990s. This complicated value chains of corporations. Take Apple computera the profit is mostly in the US, but it is put together, and assembled in China, mostly under the control of Taiwanese companies. The parts and components come from South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, the small enterprises all over the place that are making little pieces of it. There are offices in Ireland a thatas the biggest company in the world. Take a look at the globalized economy thatas developed, turns out that US corporations own about half the world economy. Thatas probably even more than US power in 1950. Now, thatas not the measure which is usually used, but itas becoming a significant measure. The national accounts still mean a lot, but not what they did 50 years ago. And of course, these corporations are based in US, supported in US both in subsidies, and militarily and diplomatically and so on. But they pretty much own the world. China is not anywhere near if we take a look at sector after sector: manufacturing, retail, commerce. US corporations are one, occasionally two. China is nowhere to be seen. China is a growing, developing power. But it has rankings of a poor country. Take a look at rankings in the UN Development Index, I think it ranks around 90. It has enormous internal problems, that the West doesnat have; enormous ecological problems, has demographic problems; there was a bump of a demographic bump for about 20 years of people of working age. Itas moving significantly in many directions, but has enormous problems.

What China is doing a and Pakistan is part of this a is expanding its system of social and economic control out to the West. This been going on for some years with the Shanghai Cooperation Organization with projects going into Pakistan, building Gwadar Port. Trying to avoid the stranglehold that the US and its allies have on the Malacca Straits over the oil supply. Itas building alliances with Pakistan, Iran, Turkey, Europe through the Asian Development Bank. Itas going to become a more and more important country outside of the United States as the US withdraws from world affairs but itas been going pretty slowly. The Chinese influence will of course increase. Is it benign? Far from it. Chinese developments in Africaanow they do build things which the Africans can use. But so did the British in India. That was pretty ugly and you can expect this to be the same. But I donat think China is anywhere near the scale of the United States.

PH: Well, once upon a time the United States had the power to make and break governments here in Pakistan and the US was all over the place. They gave arms, they gave fighter jets, destroyers, whatever to the army, navy, and so forth. They had enormous power but thatas no longer true. Now, theirs is a fading presence over here. Instead, you see that itas the Chinese fighter jets which the Pakistan Air Force has. China is everywhere. Our friendship is supposedly sweeter than honey and higher than Himalayans and all that sort of stuff. Should thinking Pakistanis be worried about whatas going on in terms of our relationship with China?

NC: You should be worried about any great power; China is one. And in Pakistan what you described is quite true. But in the world, thatas still a very partial or small part. I mean Chinaas presence is everywhere. They go to South America, say Brazil; Chinese goods are all over the place. Now, the trading relations in this part of the serious problem of South American failure to develop has been reliance on the rich resources of primary products in recent years being sucked up by China since China sends back cheap manufactured goods which undermine domestic manufacturers and industry. So thatas a real problem. But itas not on the order of overthrowing governments, instituting military regimes, invading massive economic controlsa so itas nowhere near the power of western imperial powers, US obviously, but Britain and France as well.

PH: Noam! here in Pakistan nobody seems to be worrying about nuclear weapons very much, but we have entered an extraordinary dangerous phase, where we have exchanges of artillery fires across the line of control practically every day. Then on the other hand, Pakistan has gone in for tactical nuclear weapons which are relatively easy to use and very hard to control. Similarly, India is going in for nuclear submarines and nuclear submarine launched ballistic missiles and so forth. Now, things seem to be getting very dangerous here, but itas even more dangerous in North Korea, where thereas such a tense nuclear stand-off at the moment with North Korean regime developing missiles and even a Hydrogen bomb. How do you see this panning out? Are things in our control anymore?

NC: Letas take each case on its own. Take India and Pakistan. As you say India developed nuclear weapons. Pakistan then responded. As long as Pakistan tries to match India militarily (inaudible) they just canat compete this India, they canat match India (inaudible) nuclear weapons program, which is a devastating threat, not only to South Asia but to the world. So had it Pakistan firsta Are you still hearing mea the interneta

At first, US opposed Indian nuclear weapons development, and at least formally it did so up to George Bush administration, which decided to support it. Various trickeries which we donat have to go through but it ended up effectively giving US support for Indian nuclear weapons and indeed twisting the arms in the International Nuclear Control Group to get them to be authorized. What about Pakistan? In the 1980s, under Zia-ul-Haq, Pakistan began to develop nuclear weapons. Reagan administration pretended that they didnat know. Inconceivable that they didnat know, as they were holding intelligence assets in Pakistan. They pretended they didnat know. This defies belief. They wanted to keep funding Pakistan to carry out their policies in Afghanistan a nothing to do with helping the Afghans. The CIA chief in Islamabad, as you may recall, made that very explicit: he said we are not there to help the Afghans we want to harm Russians; we want make the Russians bleed. So for that they destroyed Afghanistan, and watched silently while Pakistan developed nuclear weapons. Now, the basic conflict a correct me if you think is wrong a but seems to me the basic India-Pakistan conflict is probably Kashmir. And until that settles in some fashion. I think you can imagine settlements a for example Eqbal Ahmad had some very sensible proposals for settlement. I think they could be pursued. If they could be pursued, then may be India and Pakistan could relax the military confrontation and may be move towards whatas already happened all through the world, partially happened already a setting up those nuclear weapons free zones. We could imagine moving toward South Asian nuclear weapon free zone, as has happened in the western hemisphere apart from the US and Canada. In Africa, almost. Africa has a nuclear weapon free zone, but has never gone into effect because of Diego Garcia. The US insists on maintaining a huge nuclear presence on the island of Diego Garcia which the Africans regard as the part of Africa. Now, Pacific has a nuclear weapon free zone, almost. At first France blocked it because they wanted to carry out nuclear tests in the islands there. And more recently the US has blocked it because wants to have nuclear weapons passage through its possessions there. But it almost works.

The most interesting is the Middle East. Right now, we are facing a major crisis a Iall come back to North Korea a we are facing a major potential crisis in case of Iran. The Trump administration, as you know, has announced theyall decertify Iran. Then comes the question whether Congress will impose sanctions? If they do that kills the US-Iranian deal. Might go on with Europe a that US-Iranian part will drop. Iran may react. And if they do, what happens next? Well, we can listen to the Republican senators, the leading ones on the right like Tom Cotton. So if we find them doing anything weall bomb them. On the other end a I donat know what to call it a the adult end of whatas called the Republican Party or the sort of sane end, you have Bob Corker just retired because he cannot handle the craziness. What he said is: our strategy is to try to drive Iran to some kind of violation, and if they carry out a violation then boom! Thatas the sane side. Thatas what we are facing in Iran. Now whatas the problem with Iranian weapons? Well US intelligence has made it very explicit that the problem is itall be part of their deterrence strategy. And the rogue states a US and Israel a cannot tolerate a deterrent. He didnat say that of course, Iam adding to it, but thatas what it comes down to. So nobody is saying they want to use nuclear weapons but they could be a deterrent. And the states that like to rampage freely in the region donat want to have deterrence around. So if in fact Iran acts in a way which the administration and Congress can claim as a violation, maybe Israel bombs then the US get in to bomb. Then what happens? What the world goes up. No one knows what will happen. Is there a possible answer? Yes, straightforward. The Europeans know the answer, in fact everybody in the world knows the answer. Just continue with the agreement. The agreement in my view is too harsh on Iran a thatas another story. But the specific fact is that they are living up to it, so pursue it. Is there a further possibility? The further possibility is to accept Iranas proposal of establishing a nuclear weapon free zone in the Middle East. That will be very important. Iran is in favor of it. Other non-aligned countries are pushing it for years. And the US and Britain are committed to it. Committed to it! No way they will say it. When they decided the bomb to attack Iran in 2003, as a pretext they invoked a treaty, an agreement with Iran. But after the Kuwait War a now, if you read that agreement a take a look at the Article 14, it says the US and Britain will be committed to establishing a nuclear weapons free zone in the Middle East. No way can they refer to that for obvious reasons but you can find it. Everybody in the world, at least in theory, is in favor of it. This never happens because the US blocks it. Every year in nuclear review sessions everyone says it- last one, 2015. Everyone knows thatas impossible and of course everyone knows why. Exactly one reason a that would mean Israelas nuclear weapons would have to come under international inspection. So, is there a long term solution, yes possibly.

We have covered most of the world, except for North Korea. Is there a possible solution there, yes. In fact, everyone knows what it is, accept the Chinese proposal with Russian support, and North Korean acquiescence. Itas called a double freeze. North Korea freezes its nuclear weapons programs. The US calls off threatening military maneuvers on North Koreaas border, like no nuclear capable bombers flying over the border. That sort of thing. The North Koreans have some memories. I donat want to go into it, but North Korea was absolutely wiped out in a savage assault, mostly after the war had settled down at the 38th parallel. Pure savagery and brutality. Real crimes if you remember, like bombing dams, so on and so forth. Thatas the first step towards solution. What comes next? Negotiations, diplomacy. Could they succeed? They could. Try to look at the record. No time to go through it, but every time when there have been repeated times when an agreement was reached, in fact in 2005, even an agreement in which North Korea had agreed to dismantle its program in return for some concessions by the West, like US ending threat of regression, providing a low uranium enrichment plan for research and medical purposes, not interfering with financial actions and so on. Bush administration merely backed off, so North Korea started building weapons again. Now, in fact itas now a horrible place, no doubt, but itas been planned kind ofa to protect diplomacy. That could continue. So there are possible answers there too.

Now, the Sunshine Policy of South Korea for the time was that to move towards relaxing tensions by commercial, cultural, other interactions that might break into the North Korean system, which is hideous no doubt. But the regime is committed to its own survival, not surprisingly. And it is also committed to economic development. There has been some economic development in the past years that could be exploited as a move towards more peaceful relations a may be towards denuclearization of that region. So I think everywhere you looka and what about major nuclear powers? I tell you they are committed on to Non Proliferation Treaty too, could face efforts to eliminate them. And if thereas enough pressure, may be that could happen. So I think itas a horrible threat and danger, but itas not out of human control. Itas all under human control, every point.

PH: Itas quite incredible Noam that you wrote your first article in 1939. You have had a lifetime of activism. Youave been fighting against all the wrong things that that the US has done. But do you see the world as being better today, as compared to letas say the end of the Second World War, which we can leave out as a period of major atrocities. But subsequent to that, do you see any kind of hope or improvement as time has gone on. You know thereas Steven Pinkeras book aThe Better Angels of our Naturea and of course, you must be familiar with it. He says that over the last 5000 years or so, or since recorded human history, weave been steadily improving. Is that the case? If we look around, it doesnat seem to be so. What do you say about that?

NC: Well, letas put that biggest book asidea I donat think it has many deep problems. Part of it is correct. One major part is that since 1945, the European countries have recognized that they cannot play their favorite game anymore. For centuries, Europe was the most savage place in the world. The Thirty-Years War in the 17th century that probably killed two-third of the population of German. European savagery then expanded over much of the world with consequences I donat have to describe. But they were recognized, and the last cataclysm was of course the Second World War. That was recognized by 1945 that they cannot play their game anymore. If thereas a major war among European powers, we are all finished. So Europe has been at peace, which is not a small thing if you look at the past centuries. Thatas a huge thing. Another document thatas true isa I donat think thereas anything with better angels by nature, there are worst devils of our nature that which created means of destruction which can wipe us all out and recognition of that is a major factor in this very significant change. I should say the scholarly literature has a very different explanation a liberal democracy and so on. Iam skeptical about that.

Another truthful thing is that since the Enlightenment, there has been among a section of the population a period of advance of rationality, moral commitment, recognition of human rights and so on. We should remember that the period of the Enlightenment and afterwards was the worst period of western imperialism with horrible consequences all over the world. In the western hemisphere, population of maybe 80 million people went down to hundreds of thousands. And in the northern part, may be 18 million down to may be a million or something a a huge slaughter. That was the period of Enlightenment. But for part of the world, it is true that there was significant moral, intellectual progress. And that extended in the last I think to the United States. Itas a much more civilized country than it was 60 years ago in many respects. Womenas rights, for example, have enormously changed; civil rights were pretty awful but have improved, opposition to repression has increased substantially. When the US invaded Vietnam, there were no protests appeared against the worst crimes since the Second World War. Took years before they developed relevance. Thatas changed. There is also the beginnings a much too late a but beginnings of serious concerns about environmental catastrophe which is going to do us in unless significant steps are taken. Then finally, there is growing recognition of that. I donat mean enough, but some. I mean all of this is progress, not total progress, there is also regression. Things going in all directions. But I think the general tendency in the long run is towards somewhat more humane, civilized societies.

PH: Well, thanks for that. Itas been a long interview. And I am not going to let you go, but thereas a last question. Youave had a very long life of academics and activism, and youave seen things go downhill. But youave never given up. What is it that keeps you going, what is it that keeps giving you giving hope and keeps giving you that energy to just go for it.

NC: So many things there. Lots of good things, as Iave mentioned. And there are a lot of bad things which means thereas more to do. Very simple.

PH: Oh, you are a terrific guy, Noam. It was such a pleasure talking to you. Take care. Bye.

NC: Pleasure to talk to you. Bye.
Human Rights Commission of Pakistan - October 26, 2017

Joint press release by FIDH a International Federation for Human Rights and Pakistan Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP)

Lahore, Paris, 26 October 2017: Pakistan must protect 285 Turkish nationals from forcible repatriation, arbitrary arrest, and other human rights abuses, FIDH and its member organization Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) said today. This call follows the deportation of a Turkish family of four on 14 October 2017.

aThe Pakistani governmentas deportation of a Turkish family should set off alarm bells. The Pakistani government must ensure the protection of the other 285 individuals who risk being deported to Turkey and put an end to the blatant disregard of its international obligations,a said FIDH President Dimitris Christopolous.

The 285 Turkish nationals, who are teachers associated with the Pak-Turk schools and their families, have been facing deportation to Turkey since November 2016. The 285 now live in fear of raids carried out by the Pakistani police and intelligence services in Pakistan. Should they be deported to Turkey, they are at high risk of arbitrary arrest, judicial harassment, and detention upon arrival. Such detention may be accompanied by torture and other forms of ill-treatment. This occurs in the context of the Turkish governmentas crackdown on teachers, journalists, academics, and human rights defenders in the aftermath of the July 2016 failed coup daAtat in Turkey. Turkey has already succeeded in obtaining the forcible repatriation of teachers linked to the Pak-Turk schools from Malaysia, Myanmar, and Saudi Arabia.

On 27 September 2017, the former head of the Pak-Turk schools in Pakistan, Mr Mesut Kacmaz, was abducted along with his wife and their two children. On 14 October 2017, the Kacmaz family was handed over to Turkish policemen and forcibly repatriated to Turkey in a plane sent by the Turkish government. Since their arrival in Turkey, they have been under police custody. This forcible repatriation occurred despite statements made by Pakistanas Foreign Affairs Minister Khawaja Asif during a visit to the US in early October 2017 that the Turkish teachers and their families would only be deported once delays granted by the Pakistani courts and protection afforded by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) had expired.

The Pakistani governmentas initial deportation order for the Turkish teachers to leave Pakistan by 20 November 2016 has been suspended by several Pakistani high courts. Further, aAsylum Seeker Certificatesa granted by the UNHCR specifically state that the Turkish nationals should be protected from forcible return to a country where they claim they could face threats to their life or freedom. While these certificates have now been extended until 11 October 2018, dozens face broader challenges concerning their status: 85 people have new-born children without passports; others have passports that have expired; and members of one family have been stripped of Turkish citizenship.

The forcible repatriation of the Kacmaz family and the risk of deportation faced by the remaining 285 Turkish nationals are in violation of Pakistanas obligations under international law. In particular, they are in breach of Article 3 of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, which stipulates that a[n]o State Party shall expel, return (arefoulera) or extradite a person to another State where there are substantial grounds for believing that he would be in danger of being subjected to torture.a The abduction of Mr Kacmazas two daughters is also in breach of Pakistanas obligations under Articles 22 and 37 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, to which Pakistan is a state party.[1]

aBy forcibly repatriating the Turkish family, Pakistan flouted its international obligations simply to appease the Turkish government. It must reverse this approach with respect to the 285 Turkish nationals who still face deportation and ensure that it puts their human rights first,a said HRCP Chair Mehdi Hasan.

FIDH and HRCP condemn in the strongest terms the deportation of the Kacmaz family to Turkey and call on the Pakistani authorities to respect the rights of the 285 Turkish nationals remaining in Pakistan a in particular their right to non-refoulement a in accordance with international law. The two organizations also call on the Pakistani authorities to respect the asylum seeker status granted by the UNHCR until October 2018, and to uphold orders by the domestic courts.

Press contacts

Mr. Andrea Giorgetta (English) a Tel: +66886117722 (Bangkok)

Ms. Audrey Couprie (French, English) a Tel: +33648059157 (Paris)

[1] Article 22 provides that aStates Parties shall take appropriate measures to ensure that a child who is seeking refugee status or who is considered a refugee in accordance with applicable international or domestic law and procedures shall, whether unaccompanied or accompanied by his or her parents or by any other person, receive appropriate protection and humanitarian assistance in the enjoyment of applicable rights set forth in the present Convention and in other international human rights or humanitarian instruments to which the said States are Partiesa ; Article 37(b) provides that States Parties shall ensure that aNo child shall be deprived of his or her liberty unlawfully or arbitrarily. The arrest, detention or imprisonment of a child shall be in conformity with the law and shall be used only as a measure of last resort and for the shortest appropriate period of time.a
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Mathew Burciaga is a Santa Maria Times reporter who covers education, agriculture and public safety. Prior to joining the Times, Mathew ran a 114-year-old community newspaper in Wyoming. He owns more than 40 pairs of crazy socks from across the globe.
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 "Trump labels US justice system 'laughing stock' " | Main | Congratulations to new addition to Third Circuit, Judge (and sentencing scholar) Stephanos Bibas 

November 1, 2017

Federal defenders write Senators in support of federal criminal justice reforms including mens rea reforms

A helpful reader pointed me to this lengthy letter sent to the leaders of the Senate Judiciary Committee on behalf of the Federal Public and Community Defenders to urge passage of legislation to reform federal mandatory sentencing laws. The letter's introduction highlights the themes of a document worth a full read:

Federal Defenders represent most of the indigent defendants in 91 of the 94 federal judicial districts nationwide. Over 80 percent of people charged with federal crimes cannot afford a lawyer, and nearly 80 percent of people charged with federal crimes are Black, Hispanic, or Native American. Our clients bear the overwhelming, and disproportionate, brunt of mandatory minimum sentences. Real sentencing reform is desperately needed. The most significant driver of the five-fold increase in the federal prison population over the past thirty years has been mandatory minimums, particularly those for drug offenses. The extreme levels of incarceration come at a human and financial cost that is unjustified by the legitimate purposes of sentencing, and that perversely undermines public safety. The mandatory minimums that Congress intended for drug kingpins and serious traffickers are routinely and most often applied to low-level non-violent offenders. Moreover, mandatory minimums have a racially disparate impact, and have been shown to be charged in a racially disparate manner. The decision to charge mandatory minimums, or not, is entirely in the hands of prosecutors. This provides a single government actor with unchecked power that is wholly inconsistent with traditional notions of legality and due process. In light of the proven, longstanding problems created by mandatory minimums, they should be eliminated altogether. Sentencing authority should be placed back in the hands of neutral judges where it has traditionally resided. Short of those more comprehensive reforms, the Smarter Sentencing Act or the Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act would be a good start. Both bills, in different ways and to different extents, would reduce mandatory minimums and expand judicial discretion, thus reducing unnecessarily harsh sentences and lessening unchecked prosecutorial power. Neither bill is perfect. Congress should pass one or the other, or a combination of the two. Each of these bills represents a compromise, and should not be weakened any further. We urge you not to pass the Corrections Act as a standalone measure. It would provide time off at the end of a sentence only for certain select inmates, and would have little or no impact on the poor and racial minorities who comprise the vast majority of federal prisoners and are most in need of relief. All inmates should have an opportunity to earn time off at the end of their sentences through demonstrated efforts at rehabilitation. This too is consistent with traditional notions of punishment. However, the Corrections Act would make incentives to participate in rehabilitative programming unavailable to those who need it most. We do support the Mens Rea Reform Act of 2017 because it embodies the fundamental principle that a person should be convicted of and punished for a crime only if he or she acted with a guilty mind, and because it would prevent many of our clients with low-level involvement in drug offenses from being over-charged and over-punished for the conduct of others of which they were not aware and that they did not intend. However, mens rea reform is not a substitute for sentencing reform. True criminal justice reform must tackle the single biggest contributor to injustice in the federal system: mandatory minimum sentences.

November 1, 2017 at 05:16 PM | Permalink

Comments

It is high time to end all judge sentencing. They are totally pro-criminal, and biased in favor of lawyer employment. Judges can continue in court, wheeling in the robots into court. The robots will do a 100 times better job than they ever can.

Posted by: David Behar | Nov 1, 2017 9:30:36 PM

David, I am curious to know on what you base your observation that judges are "totally pro-criminal."

Posted by: Tom Root | Nov 1, 2017 9:46:36 PM

They owe their jobs to the criminal. They do not want them hurt, scared, or deterred, or they lose their jobs.

Posted by: David Behar | Nov 1, 2017 11:51:05 PM

Once again, an asinine response from David - yep, let's bring in the robots - unbelievable. Speaking from experience (more than a decade) at the federal level, Judges have an incredibly difficult task and sentencing someone to prison is one of their most difficult jobs. Don't take my word for it, ask one, read about a Judge who has said so, many have and will continue to do and say so. That being said, Judges have more freedom today than they ever have - look to the 3553(a) factors. Booker made the Guidelines advisory and Gall says the Guidelines are the "starting point and initial benchmark." They can go higher or they can go lower, with the exception of mandatory minimums (unless you have a 5K1.1 or 3553(e) motion. So, let's get real and not do as David suggests "It is time to end all judge sentencing."

Posted by: atomicfrog | Nov 2, 2017 8:52:37 AM

Hi, Atomic. What you said has been done in the 1980's. The crime rate soared to double, as criminal dependent,biased judges coddled their defendants. If you want to make race and poverty mitigating factors, elect legislators who will update the algorithm to do so. Judges are making law daily based on their mistaken feelings, and on their rent seeking selfish interests.

Chess has 37 possible moves, each play. Go, the Chinese board game, has a billion. Computers beat the best humans, decades ago in chess, and this year in Go. How many possible moves does judging have at each step, if the real goal is public safety?

Posted by: David Behar | Nov 2, 2017 9:18:20 AM

I have never ever gotten the correct answer on exercises of applications of sentencing guidelines. I would like to hear from experts, like Atomic and Prof. Berman, what they scored on such exercises. As an ordinary citizen, I know I have double the intelligence of every judge in this country, their being the stupidest of the stupidest people in this country. (No one is stupider than a lawyer, not even Life Skills students learning to eat with a spoon.). One has to wonder if every defendant has had mistakes of arithmetic in his sentencing in this country. With robots, there would be rare mistakes. Any detected would be corrected by updates of the algorithm.

Posted by: David Behar | Nov 2, 2017 9:25:15 AM

As a federal practitioner, I'm intrigued by the robot idea. Because I have to say I disagree with Atomic. While judges may say sentencing is difficult, I think most find it quite easy.

Posted by: whatever | Nov 2, 2017 9:28:58 AM

Whatever. If you ever did exercises in sentencing guideline application on hypothetical cases, each with an established answer, what was your score?

Posted by: David Behar | Nov 2, 2017 9:37:16 AM

i've never done that exercise.

Posted by: whatever | Nov 2, 2017 9:47:58 AM

Wow, I agree with David on something - calculating the Guidelines is not a mindless exercise and I can assure you that if I were to present an "easy" exercise for calculating the guidelines, you will miss something, or overlook something, or fail to properly calculate the defendant's criminal history - maybe you will incorrectly begin with a Base Offense Level of 7 at 2B1.1(a) when it should be 6. You might not think that one level makes a difference, but SCOTUS will tell you otherwise. If the Guidelines aren't correctly calculated, the case is coming back to the district court...I've met with federal judges in chambers prior to sentencing, we've had the difficult conversations about a single mother with 2 kids looking at 18-24 months in prison for participating in a check cashing scheme, or the white collar dad with 3 kids, a stay at home wife, facing 121-151 months for a fraud offense. Do they both deserve prison? Do they both need a prison sentence, what are the ramifications of a prison sentence for the single mother, the stay at home mom, the kids, the victims...I'll let the Judge decide that and I can assure you, as whatever says, " I think most find it quite easy"...it's nowhere easy - just ask or in this case read this great article with Judge Denny Chin (Madoff Judge) - http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/09/nyregion/judge-denny-chin-of-federal-court-discusses-sentencing.html



Posted by: atomicfrog | Nov 2, 2017 10:08:25 AM

You've had ex parte discussion with judges prior to sentencing?



Posted by: whatever | Nov 2, 2017 10:53:43 AM

As a federal probation officer - yes. We work for the Court and the Judge- no ex parte issue there.

Posted by: atomicfrog | Nov 2, 2017 10:59:30 AM

As a probation officer do you recommend a particular sentence to the judge?

Posted by: whatever | Nov 2, 2017 11:46:27 AM

Yes - and I imagine your next question may be - how often does the Judge follow the recommendation. Sometimes they do - sometimes they don't. My goal in meeting with the Judge is not necessary to convince the Judge that my recommendation is right, but to simply advise the Judge of all of the factors when imposing a sentence. My job is also not to ensure the defendant gets the highest sentence possible, but instead one that meets the criteria and factors set forth at 3553(a). As you well know, USPO's don't work for the AUSA nor the defense atty, they work for the Court and our obligation is to give the Court as much information as possible so the Court can make an informed decision at sentencing.

Posted by: atomicfrog | Nov 2, 2017 12:09:10 PM

In this computer age, why aren't the facts and the law (organic law) put into the computer input for a diagnosis? Sounds more honest then corrupt judicial system!

Posted by: LC in Texas | Nov 2, 2017 12:14:08 PM

Atomic. I understand better. You are the computer that the judge listens to. You, at least, you provide the facts. You would not lose your job. You would still feed the facts.

You would lose your power and influence, and the ass kissing defendants must demonstrate.

May I ask you about something as an insider?

Probation or Parole Sharking

This is a game several parolees and probationers have told me about. A remedy should be included in any reforms.

Three months before release, the authorities find a violation. Example? Mother's vacuum cleaner is in the trunk of the car. It is not stolen. It is borrowed, with permission, to clean the house. This violation results in a $3500 fine, an extension of 5 years, and impounding of the car and of the vacuum cleaner. The latter is not returned to the mother. There is no legal recourse. The penalties are without any hearing.



Posted by: David Behar | Nov 2, 2017 10:26:45 PM

David, I have never seen what you describe, nor have I heard of it from colleagues. When federal inmates get set for release from the BOP, they typically go to to a halfway house for anywhere from 30 days to 6 months (around 10% of their sentence), to help them reintegrate back into society. While at the halfway house, if they violate the rules there, they will go back to the BOP to finish their sentence (like I said 30 days to 6 months or so). Then once they are released completely from the BOP, they go live with family, bf, gf, uncle, mom, dad, someone who will allow them to live with them and their federal supervision begins. We don't go looking for ways to violate like that is our goal - let's lock them back up - nope! As for your vacuum cleaner example, first of all, when they violate, their supervision can be modified, expanded, or terminated, but the Court cannot impose a fine - not at the federal level. The car would not get impounded. Let's be logical, if an offender presented with the same facts, I'd investigate, talk to mom, see that he borrowed the vacuum, and return it to mom. Common sense problem solving - not, let's look him up and make him pay because he's a "criminal." If the defendant is going to be revoked, he must come back before the original sentencing judge - so there are hearings at the federal level.

Posted by: atomicfrog | Nov 3, 2017 11:08:55 AM

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Four longshoremen in Oakland are taking their accusations of racism to court, reports CBS. They're alleging that the Pacific Maritime Association and SSA Marine are doing nothing to address numerous alleged instances of racism and prejudice in their workplace.

Angela Alioto, the attorney for the longshoremen, described one such incident, which took place directly after the 2016 election. On November 9th, "several Caucasian mechanics" allegedly attached a Confederate flag to the back of a truck and drove around the terminal area at the Port of Oakland while screaming and yelling. The truck itself isn't owned by the Port of Oakland, but rather SSA Marine, which CBS says is based in Seattle, Washington.

Alioto said that both companies "are well aware that the discrimination continues to this day," and that "PMA has not only refused to take the necessary steps to prevent and eliminate the racial harassment and intimidation but has affirmatively obstructed attempts to remedy the harassment."

In addition to this, Alioto also said that one of her clients, Rickie Cox, found a "hangman's noose" attached to a perimeter fence at an SSA Marine terminal in May. Back then, The East Bay Times reported on a mass walk-out of longshoremen at the port, who left and halted operations for hours at the order of union officials. They returned later after those officials conducted negotiations and discussions with the managers at the port. Derrick Muhammad, secretary-treasurer of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, commented on the walkout, saying, "We believe its a bonafide health and safety issue because of the history behind the noose and what it means for black people in America. This is a dangerous occupation already. This adds something that totally makes people feel uneasy, makes people feel unsafe and its distracting. We need our people to be as focused as possible."

Those incidents will also factor into the current lawsuit, along with other incidents of being faced with racial slurs, offensive jokes and comments, and more. CBS points out that Alioto wanted to make it clear that the Port of Oakland was not named in their lawsuit, and that they're suing Pacific Maritime Association and SSA Marine for unspecified damages.

Related: A Brief History Of The Long Tradition Of General Strikes In The Bay Area


The conclusion of a design competition to revamp Harvey Milk Plaza in the Castro has arrived, and a design by local firm Perkins Eastman has emerged the winner. The concept centers around a sloped amphitheater rising from Castro Street and extending up Market, lined with soapbox-like platforms and benches, that the architects describe as a "machine for activism."

As Hoodline explains, the winning design comes after 33 entries were whittled down to three finalists that were then presented for public comment last month.

The Muni station entrance moves to the rear of the site, near Collingwood Street, beneath the uppermost part of the ramp.

Perkins Eastman's design takes its inspiration from the fact that this corner, beginning over a decade before it would be named Harvey Milk Plaza in 1985, has been a nexus of LGBT community activism, with rallies that begin here and have often led to marches down Market Street to City Hall.

In addition to providing a space for gatherings and political rallies, the stepped plaza will include bronze thresholds embedded up its length marking significant moments in the life and legacy of Harvey Milk.







Rendering via Perkins Eastman

The design also calls for a "field of candles" flanking both sides of Market Street as well as Jane Warner Plaza across Castro Street, with LED lights on poles symbolizing the candlelight vigils that have started at this intersection, including the one that marked the night of the assassinations of Harvey Milk and George Moscone.

The candle poles will be used as a fundraising opportunity, with donors being able to purchase the lights and have them engraved with their name and a quote, as Hoodline notes.

While each of the three finalists delivered wonderful concepts for the future plaza, what set the submission from Perkins Eastman apart was their bold, immersive idea; passion for Harveys message; and willingness to iterate the design based on feedback during the competition process," said Castro Community Benefits District director Andrea Aiello in a release.

The plaza redesign is part of a larger SFMTA project to improve accessibility to the Muni station overall, and construction is scheduled to begin in 2020.
To put it in the simplest terms: Senators are unhappy with what they've been hearing from Facebook, Twitter, and Google executives, who are currently being questioned about how their platforms were exploited by Russian agents and interests to influence the 2016 election.

According to the Associated Press's account of the proceedings, Senator Al Franken "shook his head" at one point after the companies refused "to commit to not accepting political ads bought with North Korean currency." That particular line of questioning followed one in which the Senators on the intelligence committee grilled Facebook's general counsel, Colin Stretch, and Google's Law Enforcement and Information Security Director, Richard Salgado, about how they could have identified the accounts responsible for the ads long before the 2016 election season.

Franken said, "People are buying ads on your platform with rubles. They are political ads. You put billions of data points together all the time. ... Google has all knowledge that man has ever developed. You can't put together rubles with a political ad and go like, 'Hmmm, those data points spell out something pretty bad?'" CNet shared Stretch's response, which was to say, "In hindsight, we should have had a broader lens. There were signals we missed."

It was only two weeks ago that Senators Amy Klobuchar and Mark Warner introduced the "Honest Ads Act," legislation that they say would regulate political ads on social media, much like how political ads are already regulated on television and radio. Both Facebook and Twitter have unveiled plans to change their policies around ads to increase transparency, with the former denying that their changes were a response to this potential legislation. Klobuchar commented on these new changes, calling them "patchwork," implying that they still aren't enough. She asked the execs whether they would support the legislation, but they remained noncommittal. Stretch said, "We stand ready to work with you and your co-sponsors on that legislation going forward."

As well, news that Facebook had initially vastly underestimated the number of ad impressions garnered by those Russian ad accounts was brought up, as Kennedy asked whether there were any more Facebook accounts connected to North Korea or China. Wired writes that Stretch said he wasn't aware of any, to which Kennedy replied: "How could you be aware? The truth of the matter is you have 5 million advertisers that change every month, every minute, probably every second. You don't have the ability to know who every one of those advertisers is today, right now." Stretch replied, "To your question about seeing behind the platform to understand if there are shell corporations, of course the answer is no."

Keep in mind that the changes introduced by Facebook and Twitter say that both of the companies will be taking on a lot more responsibility in verifying and vetting political advertising accounts, increasing not only their workload (given that Facebook alone has over 5 million advertising accounts) but also their potential liability. Moreover, neither company had any hard policy changes to report regarding "issue-based ads," which, according to the Washington Post, were more effective at sowing discord and discontent amongst American citizens, further polarizing an election where one candidate, Trump, ran on a platform of grievances and polemics.

Further, the use of social media for political interests is a commonplace practice as of late, which is something very obvious the Senators on the panel. Wired pointed out this interesting (though perhaps a bit ironic) fact, highlighting tweets and Facebook posts from Senate committee members Warner, Klobuchar, Lindsey Graham, and John Kennedy, all of whom reportedly had aides tweeting and posting about the hearing as it went on.

The hearing is scheduled for three parts, and we'll update this post as we hear more.
San Francisco police criminalist and firearms expert Gerald Andrew Smith testified in the Kate Steinle murder trial on Tuesday about the alleged murder weapon's potential for accidental discharge. Smith described the pistol, a Sig Sauer P239, as having an "internal, passive safety," according to KQED's report of the trial. This means that the pistol is prevented from firing unless someone directly pulls the trigger. Such mechanisms are designed to prevent misfires from, say, dropping the pistol. Smith said, "If this gun was dropped, the only way for it to discharge is if something pulled the trigger during the dropping of the gun."

The defense's argument rests solely on the belief that the accused, Jose Ines Garcia Zarate, did not intend to pull the trigger, and that it went off as he was unwrapping it from a bundle of clothing after finding it underneath a chair on Pier 14. Matt Gonzalez, Garcia Zarate's attorney, described what could possibly have happened to trigger that, saying, "If this gun were wrapped in something, most likely Mr. Garcia Zarates hands and fingers would have been probing the object as he handled it. Thats when he could have hit the side of a trigger and depressed it back."

Smith's testimony included testing the pistol to find out how much force it would take to pull the trigger back and fire. The P239 has two "modes," single-action and double-action, each of which requires different amounts of force in order to get the gun to fire. Single-action mode means that the gun's hammer is cocked, or already pulled back and ready to fire, whereas double-action mode means the trigger does the pulling and releasing in one squeeze. CBS' report says that Smith found the single-action mode required the application of 4.8 to 5.5 pounds of force, and the double-action mode required 9 to 9.8 pounds of force. Neither of these were out of the norm for the pistol, which Smith also said was in good condition prior to being thrown into the Bay.

According to ABC 7, Gonzalez told reporters: "I have handled this very firearm, this trigger pull is extremely light, that's why I am so confident that I would like the jury to be able to handle it. And anybody who believes that the gun cannot fire accidentally, I have no doubt that would settle it." Gonzalez has already asked Judge Samuel Feng to allow the jurors to dry fire the gun to see what that kind of force feels like in their hands, says the Examiner. "We want the judge to allow the jury to dry fire it in single-action mode. I am very confident that if you handle this firearm in single-action mode and depress the trigger, its very light." Judge Feng has yet to decide on whether he wants to allow that or not.

This all follows Monday's testimony from John Evans, another firearms expert and retired police investigator, who said that according to his vector analysis, he could trace a path from where Garcia Zarate was standing to the ricochet mark found on Pier 14 to where Steinle fell after being shot. Gonzalez argued that this analysis used insufficient data, as only one of the points was a "fixed point," and determining a proper bullet trajectory requires at least two fixed points. Still, Evans said that he believes Garcia Zarate pointed the gun at Steinle and fired.

All previous coverage of the Kate Steinle shooting on SFist.
New York City is still grieving over Tuesdays Lower Manhattan terror attack that killed eight people and injured 12 more, but the incident is also reverberating at Uber headquarters here in downtown San Francisco. Turns out that the suspect, 29-year-old Sayfullo Saipov, had been an Uber driver, according to the Associated Press. Saipov had passed Ubers background check system, but now stands accused of being the assailant who drove a truck into a bike path in New York Citys deadliest terror attack since September 11, 2001.

We are horrified by this senseless act of violence, an Uber spokesperson said in a statement to TechCrunch. Our hearts are with the victims and their families. We have reached out to law enforcement to provide our full assistance.

Saipov had apparently been an Uber driver for six months, logging more than 1,400 trips in that time, the AP reports. As youd imagine, Uber banned him from the platform in the immediate aftermath of the attacks.

The report adds some additional details on Saipov, a native of Uzbekistan, who moved to the U.S. legally in 2010 and first resided near Cincinnati, Ohio. Hes currently holding a Florida drivers license and public records show his legal home is in a Tampa, Florida apartment complex. But Saipov currently resided in Paterson, New Jersey, and was driving a rented Home Depot truck with which he executed the attacks. He had two small trucking businesses registered in Ohio, one in Cincinnati called Sayf Motors Inc. and another in Cleveland called Bright Auto LLC.

The incident is certain to raise more questions about Ubers famously lax driver background checks, and we here at SFIst have personally experienced murder threats from an Uber driver. But Saipov had no previous criminal record according to NBC News, although the AP adds there was a warrant issued for his arrest in 2016 when he missed a traffic court appointment for not having the proper brakes on a vehicle. He pled guilty and paid a $200 fine.

Related: Trump Blames Terror Attack On Schumer's Support For 1990 Visa Law George Bush Signed
This year, the event was organised outdoor for the first time at the Cuba Street in the centre of Wellington, with the theme V-District: A Step to Vietnam.



It featured performances of Vietnamese students in Wellington and children from Vietnamese language courses. Traditional dishes of Vietnam were also served at the event.

The cultural exchange event is held annually in Wellington by the Vietnamese Students Association in Wellington (VSAW), with support of the Embassy of Vietnam and the Vietnamese community in Wellington.

It aims to promote images of Vietnams people, culture and cuisine to local people and international students in New Zealand.

VNS
The statement was made by Mr. Nguyen Quoc Toan from Farm Produce Processing and Market Development Department yesterday at a press conference on organizing Vietnam Craft Village Fair 2017 in Hanoi.

At present, the country has nearly 5,000 craft villages including 2,000 traditional ones.

According to Mr. Toan, the strategy should comprise planning, human resource training, technology reform and product design diversification.

Especially, relevant agencies must tightly manage product quality and origin, he stressed.

At the conference, chairman of Vietnam Craft Village Association Luu Duy Dan said that Van Phuc village sells lot of Chinese silk products while Bat Trang village also has lot of Chinas Jiangxi potteries and porcelain. Some shops in the two villages even label Chinese products with Van Phuc or Bat Trang brand names for sale.

The situation has not only occurred in the two well-known villages but also many others.

Worse, many craft villages in Vietnam have been withering such as Chuong conical hat making village in Thanh Oai district of Hanoi, Dong Ho painting village in Bac Ninh province and La Khe silk weaving village in Ha Dong, Hanoi.

Mr. Dan said that craft villages have faced many problems from planning to human resource training. The vocational training program for rural residents have not created breakthroughs for the villages to develop.

Mr. Dao Van Ho, director of the Vietnam Trade Promotion Center for Agriculture under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, said that the Vietnam Craft Village Fair 2017 will be organized in Hanoi from November 9-13.

The fair will include by 250 stalls showcasing products of traditional craft villages including one silk stall. The organization board has not invited establishments from Van Phuc village to participate in the event but an artisan whose products have been well estimated by many people from My Duc district, Hanoi.

The board also required the fairs attendees to commit to ensuring goods quality and selling the right products of craft villages.

By VAN PHUC  Translated by Hai Mien
On Tuesday, Sioux City residents will flock to the polls to cast their votes in the 2017 City Council elections.

Still need to learn more about who's running or where they stand on the issues? We've got you covered.

Whether you have 5 minutes or a couple of hours to spare, here are four ways you can research the candidates and the issues before casting your ballot.

1. Read our profile series on the candidates.

The Journal is publishing a series of profiles on each of the six candidates this week. If you don't know much about the candidates and their backgrounds, this is a good place to start.

So far, the Journal has profiled Pete Groetken, Jake Jungers and Dan Moore. We'll add one more per day through Saturday.

For a quicker look at each candidate and their top issues, check out this series of profiles we published prior to the Oct. 10 primary. (The primary eliminated challengers Nick Davidson, John Olson and Brett Watchorn from the race.)

2. Watch their video interviews with the Journal's editorial board.

Over the past two weeks, each of the six candidates has sat down with the Journal's editorial board for a Q-and-A session. The board will outline its endorsements in Sunday's issue of the Journal.

You can find videos of the sessions here to watch each candidate speak in-depth about the issues.

3. Watch the League of Women Voters forums.

Over the past month, the League of Women Voters of Sioux City has held a pair of forums for City Council candidates. The forums have been among the few times the candidates have been together in a forum/debate setting.

Only have a couple of minutes? Read our coverage of Thursday's forum here.

4. Know when, where and how to cast your vote.

There are three ways to vote in this year's election: By mail prior to election day, in person prior to election day, and in person on election day. You'll be able to pick up to three candidates on your ballot.

Residents who opt to vote by mail can fill out a request form with the Woodbury County Auditor's Office to receive a ballot. They can then file the ballots via mail. Residents can also vote absentee in person at the Woodbury County Courthouse prior to Nov. 7.

Voters can alternately choose to cast their votes on Election Day from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. at one of 13 voting centers. Where's the closest one to you? Check out this map to find out:
STORM LAKE, Iowa | Police made a series of arrests in connection with the alleged use and sale of illegal drugs in Storm Lake Tuesday.

A press release said police conducted a controlled purchase of methamphetamine from Veil Jacoby Douglass, 34, of Storm Lake, at a residence at 1123 North Ontario St. last month.

From that, a police tactical team executed a search warrant and arrest warrant on Douglass at that address at 6:15 a.m. Tuesday. Police located and arrested Douglass and also detained Jamal Carter, 20, of Storm Lake, and two juvenile males. Police then allege they detected the odor of burnt marijuana in the home. An additional search warrant for the premises was granted and a quantity of a substance believed to be methamphetamine, cocaine and marijuana was seized. In addition, drug paraphernalia and scales used for the sale of illegal drugs were found, the release said.

During the investigation, police allege that Carter and an unnamed 14-year-old Storm Lake male smoked marijuana in the residence the day before.

Douglass with charged with delivery of a controlled substance  methamphetamine (Class C felony), gathering where controlled substances are used (Class D felony), possession of a controlled substance  meth, possession of a controlled substance  cocaine, child endangerment and possession of drug paraphernalia. Douglass was booked into the Buena Vista County Jail on $10,000 bond.

Carter faces counts of gathering where controlled substances are used, child endangerment, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, possession of a controlled substance  marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. He is being held in lieu of $2,000 bond.

The 14-year-old male faces gathering where controlled substances are used, possession of a controlled substance  marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was processed and released to a family member pending a court date in juvenile court, the release said.

Police also arrested Jennifer Lichtenberg, 39, of Storm Lake, at her place of employment in connection with the investigation. She is charged with conspiracy to deliver methamphetamine (Class C felony), gathering where controlled substances are used (Class D felony), possession of a controlled substance  meth, possession of controlled substance  cocaine, child endangerment and possession of drug paraphernalia. She was booked into the county jail on $10,000 bond.

This investigation is ongoing and additional arrests are anticipated, the release said.
SIOUX CITY | Investigators have traced a Tuesday afternoon fire that damaged a two-story Morningside home to an electrical arc in the building's attic.

Crews responded at 2:48 p.m. Tuesday to 2023 S. Nicollet St., where the fire was visible from the eaves of the single-family structure.

Firefighters located the fire in the second-floor bathroom and found it had extended through the walls and into the attic, according to a news release from Sioux City Fire Rescue.

Eighteen firefighters responded to and extinguished the fire. The structure has been red-tagged, and the American Red Cross is assisting the occupants.

Occupants had reported the fire upon arriving home. No one was injured.

Investigators said in the news release the fire was caused by an electrical arc in the attic space above the second-floor bathroom.
LE MARS, Iowa | A Sioux City man is facing a handful of charges connected to a pair of burglaries at a single residence in rural Le Mars this month.

Brady Lynn Riessen, 32, was charged with two counts of third-degree burglary, one count of second-degree criminal mischief, one count of fourth-degree criminal mischief, one count of fifth-degree theft and one count of operating without owner's consent.

According to court documents, Riessen forcefully entered a residence north of Le Mars on Highway 75 twice between Oct. 11 and Oct. 15. During those two incidents he stole a television, caused damages inside the residence exceeding $4,000, operated the victim's vehicle and caused $2,000 in damages to it by breaking the back window, spray-painting the back hatch and damaging the interior, according to documents.

Riessen was arrested Monday and was being held in the Plymouth County Jail on $5,000 bond.
SIOUX CITY | In 1977, attorney Dan Moore came to Sioux City for a job out of Drake University Law School.

He had sent applications to several of Iowa's largest cities -- Council Bluffs, Ames, Des Moines, Davenport, Cedar Falls -- but a Sioux City firm was the first to extend an offer.

He never found a reason to leave.

Forty years later, the 64-year-old Moore is entering his run for re-election on the Sioux City Council. Looking back on his four decades in Sioux City, Moore, who has four grown children and now seven grandchildren, said it has been an excellent place to raise a family.

"It was a really good city to raise the family," he said. "We liked what Sioux City had to offer, and we had excellent schools, had excellent medical care and really what did it for me were the people."

Moore grew up in West Des Moines. Originally inspired as a kid by courtroom TV dramas like "Perry Mason," he set his sights on entering Drake University Law School in the eighth grade.

He said he was drawn to the challenge and the satisfaction of helping people that a career in law could bring.

"I wanted to learn about law, and I wanted to be a good spokesperson for those who couldn't speak for themselves and try to do what was right by the folks that needed help," Moore said.

Following his graduation, Moore accepted a position in Sioux City in 1977 at what is now the Moore, Heffernan, Moeller, Johnson & Meis Law Firm. Moore is now a senior partner at the firm, primarily practicing real estate law and estate planning. He also serves as the Sioux City Community School District's attorney.

In the Oct. 10 primary election, Moore received the top number of votes. He is one of three incumbents seeking re-election in the Nov. 7 general election.

Moore was elected to his first term on the City Council in 2013. Prior to that, he had spent 25 years on the city Planning and Zoning Commission from 1981 to 2006. He left the commission in 2006 to become vice president of the Iowa State Bar Association, where he would later serve as president in 2008-09.

Moore had also served as president of the Taxpayers Research Council from 1994 to 1995.

Moore, who also serves as the mayor pro tem, told the Journal he is upbeat about the recent development in the city, from the addition of Seaboard Triumph Foods plant to the planned construction of the Bomgaars Ag Expo & Learning Center to numerous updates to parks and trails.

"I think we have made progress," Moore said. "It's really exciting what's going on in Sioux City."

Looking ahead, Moore said a successful term would include continuing to strategically address the city's aging infrastructure and maintaining the city's projects while holding the line on the city's tax rate.

"I hope we continue on a strong path of progress in the average age of our infrastructure, lowering that each year," he said.

Moore has also stressed the need to continue to support public safety and to market Sioux City to increase its workforce.
SIOUX CITY | Northwest Iowa's Sam Clovis, a former top official in Donald Trump's presidential campaign, has been questioned in connection to special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into alleged meddling by Russia in the 2016 campaign, according to media reports.

Clovis, who now is a White House aide to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, testified last week before a grand jury seated in Washington, D.C., NBC News first reported Wednesday.

Clovis, a former Morningside College professor and Sioux City radio talk show host, was propelled into the middle of Mueller's high-stakes probe on Monday with the unsealing of court documents related a guilty pleading by George Papadopoulos, a former foreign policy adviser to the Trump campaign.

Papadopoulos, who was secretly arrested in July for lying to the FYI and pleaded guilty last month to those charges, is cooperating with Mueller's investigation, according to the documents.

As national campaign co-chair and senior policy advisor of the Trump campaign, Clovis was asked to form a national security advisory committee charged by then-Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Alabama. The members included Papadopoulos, who was not approached by the campaign for consultation, other than one meeting he attended in March 2016, Victoria Toensing, the attorney for Clovis, said in a statement to the Journal.

In his plea filing, Papadopolous admitted he told Trump and other top campaign national security officials during the March 31 meeting that he had contact with intermediaries for Russia who said they could set up a meeting between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Papadopoulos continued to email campaign officials about a possible meeting with individuals claiming to work for the Russian government who were offering "dirt" in the form of emails from Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton.

In an August 2016 email, among the court documents uncovered Monday, Clovis urged Papadopoulos to "make the trip, if it is feasible."

To Clovis' knowledge, Toensing said in the statement, all of Papadopoulos' communications with the campaign were "self-generated." Clovis never told Papadopoulos that "a principal foreign policy focus of the campaign was an improved U.S. relationship with Russia," because that was not Clovis' view of Trump's foreign policies priorities, Toensing said.

She added that Clovis "always vigorous opposed" any Russian trip for Trump or staff. If a volunteer made that suggestion, Clovis, "a polite gentleman from Iowa, would have expressed courtesy and appreciation," Toensing said.

"There was a strict campaign rule that no one could travel abroad and claim to be representing or speaking on behalf of the campaign," the statement said. "If someone proposed foreign travel in a personal capacity, Dr. Clovis would have had no authority to prohibit such travel."

Clovis, who taught economics at Morningside, has been nominated by Trump as the top scientist with the USDA, but his nomination has been vigorously opposed by many Democrats, environmental groups and some ag interests. Critics argue he does not have sufficient academic qualifications for the position and has made past statements that question whether climate change is man made.

Clovis scheduled for a confirmation hearing before the Senate Agriculture Committee on Nov. 9.

In a conference call with reporters Wednesday, Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, a member of the agriculture committee, said it's too early to know if Clovis' role in the Mueller investigation will affect his nomination to the USDA post. Grassley noted that Clovis also is cooperating with the Senate Intelligence Committee's own investigation into Russian interference in the election.

Grassley said emails supplied by the Trump campaign show Papadopoulos offered to travel to several countries to meet with Russian officials but never to make a trip to Moscow, as some news organizations have reported, he said.

Editor's note: Changes an earlier version of this story that misstated Clovis' reported interaction with Robert Mueller's investigation and grand jury.
SERGEANT BLUFF | A second-term Sergeant Bluff councilwoman is challenging incumbent Mayor Jon Winkel's re-election bid this November.

Nicole Cleveland, 32, is running against Winkel, 70, who was elected to his first term in 2013.

The contested race comes four years after no names appeared on the November 2013 ballot, leading to Winkel's election via a write-in campaign.

Cleveland, a lifelong resident of Sergeant Bluff, is a 2004 graduate of Sergeant Bluff-Luton High School and a 2008 graduate of Morningside College, where she earned degrees in political science and mass communication. Cleveland, who works at First Financial Bank in Dakota Dunes, won her seat on the Sergeant Bluff City Council in 2011 and again in 2015. Her current term expires in 2020.

Cleveland said she decided to seek higher office after some residents and city employees approached her, looking for a candidate to step up and oppose Winkel.

"Several citizens have concerns on how things are running," she said. "They feel that theres things that are not getting met in Sergeant Bluff as far as day-to-day services and programs and are looking for someone whos community-minded to get back to focusing on infrastructure and quality-of-life programs."

Cleveland said along with those issues, she wants to continue to be progressive with economic development and seeking out new businesses, especially small businesses. She said she also plans to be someone whom staff and community members can come to with their concerns.

"We need to have someone there that's supportive of staff and community members," said Cleveland, a former intern for Sen. Charles Grassley's office. "They've always felt they could talk to me and express their concerns."

Winkel, who served as CEO of Long Lines, a Sergeant Bluffs-based telecommunications provider, for 32 years before his retirement four years ago, said he is running again to help finish the progress that he's helped to begin over the past four years.

"We've accomplished a lot in four years," he said. "But there are some things to be finished."

He pointed to a more than $100 million increase in the city's assessed valuation and the city's completion of the first certified industrial site on the western side of the state. Winkel said he wants to continue expanding the city's commercial tax base and see businesses begin to move into the 130-acre site.

"I'd like to get that off to a really good start and get some of those lots sold and some more businesses here in town," Winkel said. "That helps share the tax burden and it creates jobs. Thats a very important thing to us."

Winkel said he also wants to continue to connect the community through a proposed trail linking Sergeant Bluff to the proposed PlyWood Trail that will stretch from Sioux City to Le Mars, as well as adding a pedestrian overpass on Topaz Drive that will cross South Lewis Boulevard and the railroad tracks.

"We're working to connect our community better internally because it was kind of disconnected around the perimeter," he said.

He also pointed to several completed projects, including 150 new apartment units currently under construction and the new Serenity Point subdivision, which is adding 78 lots to the community. He said the city has secured a senior center for older residents and put in place a bus route for them.

He said the city also has put in place an annual plan to upgrade roads.

In addition to his work with Long Lines, Winkel has been a part of Sergeant Bluff Fire Rescue for 33 years and has been involved with the Woodbury County Sheriff's Department for about 15 years. He lives in Sergeant Bluff with his wife, Nan, who have two children and five grandchildren.

In addition to the mayoral race, three incumbent Sergeant Bluff City Council members -- Carol Clark, Ron Hanson and Bill Gaukel -- are running unopposed to retain their seats.
Todays top picks from our online calendar. Find more events at siouxcityjournal.com/calendar.

Poetry Reading

Jeanne Emmons will discuss and read from her new collection of poetry, The Red Canoe, as part of the Western Iowa Tech Lifelong Learning series Books and Hospitali-Tea 10:30 a.m. in the WIT Advanced Sciences Building, Room L416/417, 4647 Stone Ave. Refreshments will be served, and a discussion and book signing will follow. Call 712-274-6400 for more information.

Art Exhibition

The Vermillion Area Arts Council is paying tribute to four local artists who have passed on. This exhibition includes photography, paintings, original maps, a passante egg or two and so much more, 2 to 7 p.m. at Washington Street Arts Center, 202 N. Washington St., in Vermillion, S.D. Visit www.vermillionareaartscouncil.com for more information.

Fully Involved

In recognition of Fire Prevention Month, 51 firefighting images of Sioux City Fire Rescue by prolific local photographer George Lindblade are on display through Nov. 5 along with two historic International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) Local 7 banners at the Sioux City Public Museum, 607 Fourth St. Visit www.siouxcitymuseum.org for more information.
Its not personal, but Iowa Agriculture Secretary Bill Northey is in political limbo as a U.S. senator holds up confirmation of his nomination for a federal ag position.

Northey, a Republican in his third term heading the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, was nominated in September by President Donald Trump to be undersecretary for farm production and conservation at the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Although the 57-year-old Spirit Lake farmer sailed through a Senate Agriculture Committee hearing, his nomination has run into trouble from Sen. Ted Cruz. R-Texas.

Presumably, it has nothing to do with Bill Northey himself, his qualifications or what he stands for, Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley said Wednesday about the confirmation delay.

Instead, the postponement has everything to do with Chuck Grassley working hard to make sure the (Renewable Fuel Standard) wasnt destroyed by the (Environmental Protection Agency) director, who was not following the presidents promise that he made to voters of this country that hes going to support alternative energy, particularly ethanol, Grassley told reporters.

Cruzs effort is misplaced, added GOP Sen. Joni Ernst on Wednesday. I have spoken with Sen. Cruz, and made clear that Bill Northey is eminently qualified for this position, and his confirmation has nothing to do with the issue Sen. Cruz is raising.

Northey remains optimistic that ultimately he will be confirmed. He noted that Greg Ibach, the former Nebraska state ag director who went through the hearing process with him, was sworn in Monday as a USDA undersecretary.

So it could happen any time and it could be a significant delay, Northey said Wednesday while traveling in southeast Iowa between visits to farms and ag-related businesses. I know there are folks having conversations, seeing if they can make something happen. Well just wait and see when that vote is, when the hold gets dropped.

Cruz and senators from states that produce and refine petroleum want to meet with administration officials about the Renewable Fuel Standard  a federal mandate that requires transportation fuel to contain a minimum volume of renewable fuels.

EPA Director Scott Pruitt had announced the likelihood of decreasing the amount of advanced biofuels that would be required. After being pressed by Grassley, Ernst and other senators from corn-growing states who cited Trumps commitment to corn-based ethanol, Pruitt reversed course.

During the fight for the higher renewable volumes, Ernst temporarily blocked an EPA nominee until the administration supported renewable fuel policies benefiting Midwest farmers and producers.

Now Cruz is using the same tactic by blocking the Northey nomination.

His oil state allies say the price of credits used to show compliance with the rule have been driven up by speculators. Thats increasing costs for refiners, according to Cruz, and risking jobs.

Cruz is using the Northey nomination as leverage to get what they tried to accomplish in the first place that we stopped, Grassley said, adding that he doesnt think Cruz will succeed.

The president isnt going to change his views on ethanol because hes explained them to me three or four times very strongly, he said.

Ernst echoed that, saying the Iowa Republicans have Pruitts commitment to support the spirit and letter of the fuel standard.

Ernst said Cruzs block prevents Northey from being involved in discussion of the farm bill, where his knowledge is greatly needed.

The post Northey would fill is right in the middle of the farm bill, you know, dealing with all of the farm programs, crop insurance and conservation, Grassley said. The portion of the bill in Northeys sphere would take care of the most important things that are related to the family farm.
This Letter is to correct inaccuracies in an Oct. 29 Letter written by Woodbury County Supervisor Jeremy Taylor about mental health funding.

Fact: As Woodbury County attorney, I did not halt direct tax dollars from going to the Sanford Center in 2014 despite the implication otherwise. Only the Board of Supervisors has authority to take such action. I did, however, render an opinion to the board that the method used to allocate funding to the Sanford Center was inadequate. As a supporter of the Sanford Center, Im saddened that the issue ever came up.

Fact: The request for opinion concerning the process by which the Board of Supervisors awarded county funding to the Sanford Center for at-risk youth prevention services was presented to my office, it was not I who questioned the process as suggested in the Oct. 29 Letter. Additionally, the request for opinion did not pertain to the mental health tax levy nor was it a question about the competency of services provided by the Sanford Center to at-risk youths. I am obligated to truthfully respond to such requests which I have done many times throughout my tenure regardless of my personal feelings or interest in a given subject matter, with few exceptions.

Fact: I spent a considerable amount of time drafting an RFP process for the board to consider using during the second half of fiscal year 2015 and going forward regarding county funding of at-risk youth prevention services. Those efforts were to no avail.

Finally, once the board decided not to fund nonprofits during the fiscal year 2016 budgeting process, including any further funding of the Sanford Center although no conflict continued to exist at that time, the RFP became moot. - P.J. Jennings, Sioux City, Woodbury County attorney
It does not take a genius to figure out why a majority of the Woodbury County Board of Supervisors (3) voted not to renew the mental health services agreement they presently have with two other counties. In my opinion, they wanted services the Sanford Center provides to be terminated simply because of racism.

The Sioux City Community School District hired the Sanford Center to work with students who have issues and are in need of assistance. I was informed by the district that it was pleased with the performance of the Sanford Center staff and there were no problems.

So the work that the Sanford Center is hired to do is being done professionally and should remain under the Sanford Center. I suggest that those three supervisors examine the records to see the numerous children and families the Sanford staff have helped move on to better lives. It is obvious.

Racism is alive and well today in America and this is another sorry example of it. - Richard E. Hayes, Sioux City
On Nov. 7, the voters of Sioux City will elect council members for the next four years. I believe we need someone who is dedicated to the job of being a council member, not just on Monday afternoon. I believe that person is Dan Moore. Dan believes in Sioux City and works hard at making it a better city. His decisions are well thought out and he definitely works for the good of all the people of Sioux City. Dan makes the tough decisions, not the popular ones, the ones that are good for all citizens, not just a few. He is a man of integrity and has a passion for this city.
Those who forget history are condemned to repeat it. Where there is a market, someone will supply it.

When alcohol was the national crisis, we tried prohibition. Someone supplied the market  Al Capone.

Then methamphetamine was our national crisis. A fairly crude form of it was manufactured from sinus pills containing pseudoephedrine. We passed a law that limited the amount of pseudoephedrine you could buy. Problem solved, right? Not quite. Mexican cartels stepped in to supply the market. Now there is more methamphetamine out there, stronger and cheaper than ever.

Does anyone actually believe that the same people who can manufacture methamphetamine on a very professional level could not manufacture hydrocodone, OxyContin or fentanyl? Given that it would be no more difficult to smuggle a pound of fentanyl than it would a pound of other drugs, we will very shortly have a much worse problem than we do now. You think a lot of people are overdosing now? Just wait until fentanyl hits the streets en masse.

People take drugs to alter their reality. For a person suffering a painful medical condition, that is just fine. Other people take drugs to alter some unpleasantness in their realities. Until those unpleasant realities are dealt with, they will continue taking whatever is available to them. This is where the problem has to be solved.

Tighter controls wont help at all. Theyll just make it more difficult for people with legitimate needs to get their medication. - Andy Bagley, Sioux City
SOCIEDAD ASIATICA

THE ASIAN SOCIETY

COMISION DIRECTIVA



THE DIRECTIVE BOARD



PRESIDENTE:

Liliana Garcia Daris



Universidad del Salvador.

Argentina

VICEPRESIDENTE:

Won-ho Kim

Universidad de Hankuk de Estudios Extranjeros.

Corea

SECRETARIO:

Luis Diaz Brougton



Universidad de Santiago, Chile



PROSECRETARIO:



Martha Barriga Tello

Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Peru



VOCALES:



Mauricio Martinez



Universidad de los Andes, Colombia



Juan Uriburu Quintana



Universidad de Chenchi, Taiwan

CONSEJEROS ACADEMICOS

ACADEMIC ADVISERS



ASH NARAIN, Roy,

Institute of Social Sciences, New Delhi.

India



GARCIA BAZAN, Francisco,



CONICET, Universidad Argentina John F. Kennedy



MATSUSHITA, Hiroshi,



Universidad de Kobe, Japon



MIEMBROS FUNDADORES



FOUNDING MEMBERS



ALBERT, Liliana



Universidad Nacional de Buenos Aires, Argentina



ANTON PACHECO, Jose Antonio



Universidad de Sevilla, Espana



ANTONIJEVIC, Ingrid



Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile, Chile



BARRIGA TELLO, Martha



Universidad Nacional de San Marcos, Peru



BERGMAN, Sergio

Melton Institute de Jerusalem, Israel



BERTOLINI, Luis



Universidad Nacional de Buenos Aires, Argentina



CABEZON, Jose



Universidad de Santa Barbara, Estados Unidos



CAGNI, Horacio



Universidad Catolica de La Plata, Argentina



CARRANZA, Francisco



Universidad de Dankook, Corea



CASTLETON, Barbara



Ohio State University of Athens



CASTRO, Jorge

Universidad Nacional de Buenos Aires, Argentina



CHAOUL-REICH, Alejandro



Universidad de Texas, Estados Unidos



CHELMICKI, Hanna I.



Universidad del Salvador, Argentina



DIAZ BROUGHTON, Luis



Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Chile



FRANCO, Raul



Universidad del Salvador, Argentina



GADRE, Vasant



Universidad Jawaharlal Nehru, India



GARCIA DARIS, Liliana

Universidad del Salvador, Argentina

GLUCK, Carol



Universidad de Columbia. Estados Unidos

HOPKINS RODRIGUEZ, Eduardo



Pontificia Universidad Catolica del Peru



KIM, Wonho



Universidad Hankuk de Estudios Extranjeros, Corea



KO, Heysun



Univesidad de Dankook, Corea



LOPEZ DEL CARRIL, Luis Maria



Universidad Nacional de Buenos Aires, Argentina



LUCO, Enrique



Universidad del Salvador



MARTINEZ, Mauricio



Universidad de Los Andes, Colombia



MASATERU, Ito



Universidad Nacional de Osaka, Japon



MATSUSHITA, Hiroshi



Universidad de Kobe, Japon



MINKOWICZ, Gabriel

Universidad Nacional de Buenos Aires

MONETA, Carlos Juan



Universidad del Salvador, Argentina



MORROW, John Andrew



Minot State University, Dakota del Norte, USA



NGUYEN, Thiet Son



Academia de Ciencias Sociales de Vietnam, Vietnam

OVIEDO, Eduardo

CONICET. Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Argentina

PEREIRA, Ronan Alves

Universidad de Brasilia. Brasil

PEREYRA, Violeta



Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Argentina

REMETE, Andrea

Universidad del Salvador, Argentina



RIMOLDI DE LADMAN, Eve



Universidad Nacional de Buenos Aires, Argentina



ROMERO CASTILLA, Alfredo



Universidad Autonoma de Mexico, Mexico

TEDIN URIBURU, Virgilio



Universidad de Harvard, Estados Unidos

UEHARA, Alexander



Universidad de Sao Paulo. Brasil

URIBURU QUINTANA, Juan



Universidad de Chenchi, Taiwan



VITTOR, Luis Alberto



Universidad Argentina John F. Kennedy



XU, Shicheng



Academia China de Ciencias Sociales, Republica Popular China
The gravity of the existential threat we face from Islamic Jihad is truly of epic proportions. It is essentially a battle pitting free-civilized man against a totalitarian barbarian. What is at stake is the struggle for our very soul - namely who we are and what we represent. The lives that were sacrificed for individual rights and freedoms that we've come to cherish are being chiseled away from right under our noses by the stealth jihadists. And many of us are in denial and totally clueless.



The left's appeasement and pandering to evil is nothing new. What makes their utopian delusions so infuriating and unpardonable is that it is not only they who will have to pay the consequences, and deservedly, so, they are thwarting and undermining our best efforts at resistance and are thus dragging us down in the process as well.







By Peter Lancz,, the head of the Raoul Wallenberg World Campaign Against Racism.
Le Collectif Cheikh Yassine a organise un certain nombre dactivites et de festivites pour les enfants de Gaza sous le theme  La joie des enfants de Gaza pour lAid . Ces activites ont commence le premier jour de lAid et continue jusquau 4eme jour de lAid dans la bande de Gaza.



Plusieurs activites, ont ete organisees parmi lesquelles : des competitions recompensees par des prix, des jeux, des animations et des chants presentes par un groupe ainsi que des distributions de cadeaux et daides financieres.




A NASA team scanned these terrestrial rock samples, all measuring two to four inches in diameter, to investigate possibilities for future in-space use of non-destructive evaluation techniques. The two rock samples on the bottom are from Earth's newest volcanic island in the Kingdom of Tonga; the sample on the upper left from kilometers deep contains large green olivine crystals and came from Oahu in Hawaii. The sample on the upper right is a 3.7-million-year old impact melt breccia from the Elgygytgyn impact crater in Siberia. NASA/W. Hrybyk

A diagnostic tool, similar in theory to those used to non-invasively image internal organs could be equally effective at triaging extraterrestrial rocks and other samples before they are shipped to Earth for further analysis.

In an effort designed to find creative uses of technology for future robotic and human missions to the Moon, Mars, and asteroids, NASA engineer Justin Jones used an industrial X-ray Computed Tomography, or CT, scanner at NASAs Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, to evaluate volcanic rocks from a newly formed island in the South Pacific and other specimens ensconced inside thick glass and metal enclosures.

Imagine taking something this big and scaling it down to breadbox size, then readying the equipment to be spaceflight worthy, Jones said, referring to the scanner that occupies a small room inside Goddards Non-Destructive Evaluation, or NDE, Laboratory. Such instruments could be tested on the International Space Station and then transitioned to a future deep space gateway where crew members could analyze new samples from the Moon or asteroids or even Mars before shipping them back to Earth for further analysis.

Were thrilled with our results, continued Jones, who carried out his technology-demonstration project with support from Goddards Fellows Innovation Challenge, a research and development program designed to advance high-reward technologies and investigations in new, cross-disciplinary ways. The demonstrations provided a few new insights into the 3-D structure of the samples we tested and underscored the value of potentially creating a CT capability specifically for use in space, especially for triage purposes.

Jones, who helped his management acquire the CT scanner six years ago, doesnt normally spend his days examining rocks. When something fails, when a part fails, engineers want us to diagnose what happened, and we will use a suite of tools like those in the medical industry to help pinpoint the defect, he said.

The beauty of an X-ray CT scanner, which operates like a medical CAT scanner, is that it allows high-resolution, 3-D views inside materials that otherwise would need difficult, often-times destructive sample preparation, including cutting and use of chemicals, just to analyze the samples composition. With Goddards CT system, which is non-destructive, users can see details as small as a couple microns in size, which is several times smaller than a human hair.

Our technology-driven investigation gave us a broader understanding of what our CT system can do, Jones said.

Hunga Tonga Hunga Haapai Volcanic Island Evaluated

With the scanner, Jones and his team from Goddards Materials Branch, including Ryan Kent and Olivia Landgrover, evaluated samples from a newly formed volcanic island, Hunga Tonga-Hunga Haapai, in the Kingdom of Tonga in the southwest Pacific Ocean. This new island formed in January of 2015 after the volcanos explosive eruption  a potential analogue to some volcanic activity on Mars, said Goddard Chief Scientist James Garvin, who, along with his university partners, are using advanced remote-sensing methods to explore the island in a pilot study for NASAs Earth Sciences Division.

CT techniques are permitting rapid assessment for understanding the potential lifetime of the fragile new volcanic landscapes in the region, Garvin said. Already, Justin and his team have identified the possibility of minerals known as zeolites, minerals commonly used in adsorbents that purify water, among other applications, and catalysts that speed up chemical reactions. These findings have a direct bearing on how similar processes could have operated on Mars, Garvin said.

Space-Relevant Rocks Studied

The technology-demonstration project didnt end there. Garvin, who is interested in researching and advancing new technological approaches for studying extraterrestrial rocks and minerals, asked the team to evaluate rocks produced in large impact cratering events here on Earth, as well as meteorites.

Even with samples encased in protective glass and metal cases filled with nitrogen, Goddards CT scanner revealed previously undetected minerals and 3-D arrangements, Garvin said.

The future of in-situ and sample-based planetary exploration will revolve around new measurement techniques that reveal details at new scales and in ways that do not destroy the samples or contaminate them, Garvin continued. Based on Justins work, I believe that someday, astronauts on Mars or the Moon will be able to use off-planet CT laboratory techniques to do the reconnaissance of extraordinary materials on other worlds just as we do in the labs here on Earth today.
Ed Moffatt is an import. An Aussie, from Melbourne, living in Orange County, California. He owns Common Room Roasters in Newport Beach, which sits about 600 meters inland from the ocean. He and Common Rooms co-owner Jeremy Creighton met in South Yarra, while Creightons ad agency, Passport, was on the same street as Moffatts first cafe. Now, a hemisphere away, Passports second office is in the same building as Common Room.

Creighton moved to America first, while Moffatt was still in Melbourne, working as Locales head roaster while owning and running Long Island Brew Bar. At Locale, Moffatt worked under Christiano Portis but had been a part of the Melbourne coffee community since the early aughts. He was established, settled with a wife and kid and house. And then Creighton called.

Apparently, there was no coffee in America. Or at least, there wasnt any coffee good enough and close enough by, by Melbourne standards, for Passports Aussie-majority staff to get any work done.

So over Skype, Moffatt says, Im like, buy this machine, buy this grinder, buy these Acme cups. I didnt say get a Strada, Moffatt admits. I said get a [La Marzocco] Linea.

The setup would become The Common Room, a rolling cart for Passports in-house use that, every Friday, Creighton would wheel out for the public. Between 9am and 11am, Passports neighborsits located in an industrial zone whose occupants include businesses like Salt, RVCA, Hurley, and Vanscould come by for free flat whites and shots of espresso. It didnt take long for them to start knocking on Creightons window every morning, asking if The Common Room was open today?

So now Jeremys like, move to America, Moffatt says. And Im like, Okay. It only takes 12 weeks, and in early 2016, Moffatt makes landfallwaiting for him is Creighton, a warehouse, and a Joper roaster. The Common Room closes, and Common Room Roasters is born.

We basically didnt have any wholesale customers, Moffatt says of the first few months. We were just roasting for ourselves, getting our green supply figured out, and taking time to settle the roaster.

Patch Coffee bought from Common Room in the early days, but it was difficult to attract attention. The cafecharming as it washad become a distraction from the companys wholesaling goals.

So, early in its life, Common Room went through a redesign. Because we had to stop and start, we got the chance to redefine our goals, Moffatt says. Before, we were another coffee shop full of computers. And we were like, hang on, were from Melbourne, were a roastery. We want this to be an interactive, useful space for people who are into coffee. Now, were an operating plant where you can buy coffee.

Moffatt explains that as soon as the switch was flipped, people took notice. Both in Southern California and around the country, cafe owners and restaurateurs, including recent cool kids Gjelina and Gjusta, started ringing him upthe Melbournian roaster living in America.

All the Aussies around herethere are a lot because of the surf industrycome in and its awesome because I get to transport them all back home, one by one with a flat white and an accent, Moffatt says.

The bigger picture for Common Room is not to simply act as a place to buy Melbourne coffee, though, but to help America usher in a specialty coffee wave the size and strength of which hit Melbourne 15 years ago. Of course, America already has specialty coffee shopsas Sprudge readers know, a lot of specialty coffee shopsbut what Moffatt imagines is a movement wherein specialty completely displaces chain coffee, much in the same way it forced Starbucks to shutter the majority of its stores in Australia over the past decade.

Were all of us together against the big boys, Moffatt says of chain coffee. In Australia, our coffee is so good? We want to be better for our consumers. We want people to think that our level is the norm.

Michael Light (@MichaelPLight) is a features editor at Sprudge Media Network. Read more Michael Light on Sprudge.

Photos by Scottie Cameron.
Opening on Valentines Day 2017 with a logo featuring an upside-down heart may seem a bit cheeky to some, but Nemesiss primary owner, Jess Reno (pictured below in plaid), swears it was simply a funny coincidence. The timing just worked out that way, he says. And besides, we have nothing but love for our community. But its love flipped on its axisnot the cheesy kind.

One of Vancouvers newest multiroasters, Nemesis focuses on bringing in some of the best coffee the world has to offer, such as Five Elephant, Talor & Jrgen, Pilot Coffee Roasters, Colonna, and April. By creating strategic partnerships with international roasters, Nemesis is figuring out new ways to make its coffee better every day. This simple quest is already leading the staff down exciting avenues, such as sharing water samples between the roastery and shop floor, all in an effort to innovate and provide the very best cup possible to their customers.

Walking through the space, Nemesis is everything that is right about Vancouver coffee. It is a beautiful cross between Pacific Northwest and Scandinavian styling, with plant life and linear light fixtures accenting the sharp wooden features. The rectangular bar is immaculate except for its custom Synesso MVP Hydra, three Nuova Simonelli Mythos grinders, and two Mahlkonig EK/EKK 43s sitting alongside a V60 brew bar with Marco Uber Boilers. The knowledgeable and well-trained baristas offer a friendly yet methodical service here, providing a welcoming atmosphere to those new to and familiar with specialty coffee.

It would be easy to imagine your average coffee drinker being intimidated by such an atmosphere, but this is simply not the case. Since Nemesis doesnt offer a batch brew option, choosing instead a by-the-cup strategy, any confusion about pour-over and other brew methods is expunged by helpful brew cards providing basic instructions for how to properly use the equipment. Reno is passionate about educating whenever possible and preventing anyone from feeling intimidated in the shop.

Following in the footsteps of local favorites The Birds & The Beets and Bows and Arrows, Nemesis has a food program that doesnt miss a bit alongside their coffee. With a constantly evolving menu from chef Jacob Deacon-Evans, formerly of Vancouvers Wildebeest, food is given just as much attention and detail. Local, seasonal, and sustainably conscious food inspire the menuyou may even catch staff foraging for ingredients whenever possible. Since quality is the most important requirement, the group considers whether any new potential menu items can be made completely in-house. An affogato may sound like a great idea, but Reno is quick to check with his kitchen to find out how hard it would be to make their own ice cream.

As Nemesis slowly evolved into being, the team formed along with it. In addition to Reno, other owners including James Salmon, Michele Zuber, Cole Trepanier, Albert Tang, Josh Shevlin, and Deacon-Evans were added to the team as the notion of opening their doors became a reality. What began as a few friends kicking around a concept has led to a unique group coming from both competitive and international backgrounds. This diversity of experience creates a wonderful atmosphere of shared ideas and ensures that the highest quality product is being delivered. Nemesis has gone a step further in their learning by training all staff on both the food and coffee programs, regardless of title. This creates transparency between the pillars of their shop and it is evident in the way the staff speaks about every item on the menu.

When looking to the future, Reno has a view that goes beyond specialty coffee. Nemesis itself actually began as an idea for a lifestyle magazine that would allow Reno and his friends to share everything that is great about Vancouver with the rest of the world. Without knowing their exact route forward, the prospect of starting as a coffee shop slowly took shape. Having now checked that box, the idea of a magazine is still real with a goal to eventually expand beyond coffee and even Vancouver. We want to push community boundaries through coffee, says Reno. Anchored by Nemesis and specialty coffee, the team hopes to put a fresh perspective on how to engage the community, both local and abroad.

It is clear that Reno and his group have some lofty ambitions, but it is nice to know that for now, they will be discussing them with their customers over some great food and an outstanding cup of coffee.

Peter de Vooght is a freelance journalist and photographer based in Vancouver, British Columbia. Read more Peter de Vooght on Sprudge.
The publicity department for the Grand Circuit has sent out its weekly recap and preview of Grand Circuit races.

This Week: Carl Erskine Trot, Monument Circle, the USS Indianapolis and the Crossroads of America, Hoosier Park, Anderson, Ind.; and Kindergarten finals and consolations, Meadowlands Racetrack, East Rutherford, N.J.

Schedule of events: After hosting the Breeders Crown races the past two weekends, the Grand Circuit remains at Hoosier Park as the track will have four stakes races on the Saturday (November 4) card. Leading the way is the $220,000 (est.) Carl Erskine Trot for three-year-old male trotters. Also on tap will be the $200,000 (est.) Monument Circle for three-year-old male pacers, the $115,000 (est.) Crossroads of America for three-year-old filly trotters and the $115,000 (est.) USS Indianapolis for three-year-old filly pacers.

Also on Saturday, Meadowlands Racetrack will card the four Kindergarten Series finals for two-year-old pacers and trotters. The two-year-old colt trot carries a purse of $214,900, the two-year-old filly trotters will race for $198,000, the purse for the two-year-old colt pace is $150,000 and the two-year-old filly pacers will race for $140,550.

Last time: Hoosier Park was in the Grand Circuit spotlight last weekend as the Indiana oval hosted 12 Breeders Crown finals.

Hannelore Hanover became the first female winner of the Breeders Crown Open Trot in 19 years, as she defeated Crazy Wow by one and a quarter lengths in 1:52.1 in Saturdays (October 28) $526,250 final. Marion Marauder was third.

Crazy Wow led the field around the first turn, with Hannelore Hanover staying to his outside in a move for the lead. She got there just prior to the quarter, reached in :26.3, but held the spot only briefly as Marion Marauder trotted by and took the group to the half in :55.3.

Marion Marauder remained on top as the field hit three-quarters in 1:25, but Hannelore Hanover and driver Yannick Gingras were soon to make a move in the stretch to take the lead for good.

"I honestly didn't see that one coming," said Gingras about Marion Marauder leaving hard off the gate. "I didn't really want to be in a two-hole, I know he is a nice horse, but I didn't want to be behind him. It's just the way it goes and it worked out."

Hannelore Hanover, a five-year-old mare trained by Ron Burke, became the first female winner of the Open Trot since Moni Maker in 1998. The only other mare to win the Open Trot was CR Kay Suzie in 1996.

For the year, Hannelore Hanover has won nine of 16 races and earned $952,879. For her career, the former Indiana Sire Stakes champion has won 35 of 57 races and earned $2.37 million. Hannelore Hanover is owned by Burke Racing Stable, the partnership of Mark Weaver and Mike Bruscemi, Frank Baldachino, and J&T Silva Stables. She is a daughter of Swan For All out of the mare High Sobriety. She was bred by Hanover Shoe Farms.

Beckhams Z Tam out-duelled favourite Downbytheseaside down the stretch to win Saturdays $527,500 Breeders Crown for three-year-old male pacers by a quarter-length in 1:51.1 and touch off an emotional celebration. Miso Fast was third.

Beckhams Z Tam, the third Indiana-bred of the night to capture a Breeders Crown, has spent nearly his entire career racing at Hoosier Park. He was driven by Ricky Macomber Jr. and is trained by his wife, Jamie Macomber, who is a former assistant for Ron Burke in her first year with her own stable. The colt is owned by Bill Matzs Z Tam Stables. It was the first Breeders Crown win for all.

Jamie Macomber greeted her husband with a hug and kiss as he returned to the winners circle with Beckhams Z Tam. A large crowd gathered in and around the winners circle and shouted words of congratulations to the connections.

I never dreamed anything like this, a teary-eyed Jamie Macomber said as she made her way to the trophy presentation. This is his home track. Turning for home I knew he was the winner. I dont know what to say. My husband did it. Its amazing.

All but three of Beckhams Z Tams career races have come at Hoosier Park.

Miso Fast was the early leader in Saturdays final. He took the field to the opening quarter in :26.2. Downbytheseaside claimed the lead prior to the half, reached in :56, and remained on top when he hit three-quarters in 1:24.4.

Beckhams Z Tam was fourth at the three-quarters, following the first-over cover of Macs Jackpot, before surging three wide and making his way to the front. Downbytheseaside remained within striking distance, but was unable to get closer than the final margin.

That horse that was first up, I was a little worried that he wouldnt be able to carry me to around the last turn, and I was more concerned about that half being in :56 flat, Ricky Macomber said. It was a little slow, but he overcame it.

Beckhams Z Tam has won 11 of 19 races this year and earned $500,295. For his career, the son of Always A Virgin out of the mare Saras Lucky Charm, has won 11 of 25 races and $547,994. Beckhams Z Tam was bred by Lavon Miller.

Grand Circuit Standings: In 2017, the Grand Circuit leaders in three categories (driver, trainer and owner) will once again be tracked on a points system (20-10-5 for the top three finishers in divisions/finals and 10-5-2 for the top three finishers in eliminations/legs). Winbak Farms is the sponsor for the 2017 Grand Circuit awards.

Here are the leaders through and including the races on Oct. 28.

Drivers: 1. Yannick Gingras  1,519.5; 2. David Miller  1,268; 3. Tim Tetrick  1,018; 4. Scott Zeron  687; 5. Corey Callahan  505.

Trainers: 1. Ron Burke  1,394.5; 2. Jimmy Takter  1,184.5; 3. John Butenschoen  486; 4. Brian Brown  472; 5. Erv Miller  408.

Owners: 1. Burke Racing Stable  321.3; 2. Weaver Bruscemi  277.5; 3. Determination  271; 4. Emerald Highlands Farm  250; 5. Diamond Creek Racing  207.8.

Looking ahead: Grand Circuit action will take place next week at Dover Downs, as the Delaware track will host the Matron Stakes for two-year-olds of both sexes and gaits on the Thursday (November 9) program.

(Grand Circuit)
Badlands Hanover (p,2,1:50z [$754,772]) is returning to Delaware in 2018. The once No. 1 stallion in Delaware, and the sire of four millionaires on two continents, has been recently standing in Ontario.

Badlands Hanover offspring have earned $67,395,246. Badlands Hanovers success in Delaware is incomparable. His success started with his first crop in 2004. At two, they swept all four Delaware Breeders Fund Finals that year. In continuing years, Badlands Hanovers offspring won a majority of the Finals. In total, his offspring won 50 of the 64 Delaware Sire Stakes Finals.

While in Ontario, Badlands Hanover offspring were very competitive in the Ontario Sires Stakes Gold and Grassroots events. He was a top-five stallion for offspring earnings in the Ontario Sires Stakes for 2012, 2013, 2015 and 2016.

Badlands has also had success with his sons standing at stud. His son, Mr Wiggles, is the sire of the superstar Wiggle It Jiggleit. His son Delmarvalous also stands in Delaware, stated John Celii, syndicate manager for Badlands Hanover.

Winbak Farm is excited to return Badlands Hanover to an already strong Delaware Stallion lineup, stated Winbak Farm General Manager Garrett Bell. We believe this will also strengthen the overall Delaware racing program."

Badlands Hanover will be standing for $4,000 and his book is currently open. For more information, call Winbak Farm at 410-885-3059.



Badlands Hanover (Image courtesy Winbak Farm)

(Winbak Farm)
It's Election season and our editor's mailbox is overflowing. Who do your neighbors support? Read about it here.
Longview City Council will meet Thursday to discuss 2018 revenue sources and city investments.

The council will also hold a workshop at 6 p.m. ahead of the regular meeting to review council meeting procedures and constituents comments.

During the regular meeting, city staff will discuss forecasts for 2018 general fund revenue, and then the council will hold the required public hearing on the projections.

The council is also expected to accept changes to the comprehensive plan and zoning map to convert about 16 acres of residential district land along Ocean Beach Highway to high density residential land to allow construction of multi-family housing. The changes would also include reducing General Commercial land along Ocean Beach Highway to about 5 acres.

The council will also consider approving the investment of city money in the Washington State Local Government Investment Pool.

The council is also expected to approve bids from chemical suppliers to treat city water. The chemical costs for 2018 total about $116,000, which is about $13,000 more than the projected costs for 2017.

Finally, the council will also consider an amendment to the city code to allow a Hearing Examiner to handle State Environmental Policy Act appeals when the proposed action or project involves city property.

The meeting starts at 7 p.m. Thursday in Longview City Hall.

At 8 p.m. there will be an executive session during which the council will review the performance of a public employee, but no action will be taken.
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee appeared in Vancouver on Tuesday afternoon to sound the alarm over a proposal circulating in Congress that he said would victimize hundreds of thousands of Washington taxpayers.

Currently, Washington residents are permitted to deduct their local sales and property taxes from their federal income taxes. Congressional Republicans are considering removing the deduction as part of a larger overhaul of the tax code.

Speaking at the Vancouver Firefighters Local 452, Inslee called it a morally wrong idea that he said would give a sizable tax break to the countrys wealthiest at the expense of Washington residents. Calling the proposal a midnight raid of middle-class families incomes, Inslee called on local congresswoman Jaime Herrera Beutler, R-Battle Ground, to oppose it.

This is an emergency, said Inslee. And its an emergency because Republicans want to do this quickly before anyone finds out whats going on.

Last week, the U.S. House passed a budget resolution, with the support of Herrera Beutler, paving the way for tax reform. The resolution narrowly passed, raising concerns that Republican divisions could sink the effort.Last week, Inslee and leaders of the Washington State Association of Counties wrote a letter to the states congressional delegation asking them to oppose the repeal of the deduction.

Citing federal data, the letter stated that 30 percent of tax filers in Washington claimed the deduction in 2015 at an average value of approximately $7,400 each, or $7 billion in total across the state. According to the letter, repealing the deduction could mean a federal tax increase for over a million Washington residents, 85 percent of which are middle class.

Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell, Washingtons Democratic senators, both issued statements indicating that they shared Inslees concerns that eliminating the deduction would mean higher taxes for Washington residents.
With all of the complaining and protesting going on in the world today, you would think voter turnout for elections would be high. It is not and it is time for citizens to do their civic duty and vote.

In the Oct. 29 edition of TDN, reporter Zack Hale informed us that voter turnout is lagging far behind historical trends. As of Oct. 28, just over 6 percent of registered voters had cast their ballots.

At the same time in 2015, about 9 percent of voters had cast their ballots, so the trend is not good.

So why should you vote?

Some folks say voting allows your voice to be heard, while other folks are quick to point out, if you dont vote, dont complain about what elected officials do.

We suspect people vote for many reasons  some are passionate about keeping taxes as low as possible and others might vote for candidates or issues that might expand government spending to help the needy.

Single issues, such as the Longview School Districts $121.6 million bond proposal, often bring out voters. Our guess is many people are casting ballots this year since the bond issue is at stake. Certainly voters in Toledo are mobilizing both for and against the Toledo school bond issue as well.

Whatever the reason, it is important to cast a vote and have an active role in our community.

Voters are people who care about something, and typically want many of the same things.

While voter turnout tends to be the highest when United States presidents are elected, local elected officials tend to make more decisions which affect our lives.

Whether it is enacting a new car tab fee, homeless shelter zoning, water issues or law enforcement decisions, local elected officials make policies which substantially affects us.

You might say its just as important to cast a vote in a local city council race as it is for president of the United States.

In the years to come, many significant issues will be decided. Additional investments possibly will be considered for addressing the city of Longviews water issue. For many of us who are passionate about our dogs, a new city leash law seems to be gaining some support.

Invariably, in both Longview and Kelso, elected officials will consider raising car tab fees. Each city currently charges a $20 car tab fee to support road maintenance. With construction costs soaring, more money likely will be needed to keep roads in good condition.

If the local economy continues to grow, more focus will be put on quality of place and parks. Over the past eight years or so, park maintenance and upkeep has been challenging. As the recession hit hard, and city budgets were stretched, parks were somewhat neglected.

As weve seen with the Kunz Fund, decisions regarding park spending create quite a bit of controversy.

Some people want to see money spent on the Civic Center in front of the Monticello Hotel, while others would like to see new or upgraded playground equipment established in various parks.

City council members make the final decisions on these issues.

Hopefully, economic development opportunities give the community and city councils something to talk about in the coming years. Longview is continuing to develop the Mint Farm with the Pacific Coast Fertilizer project, and Kelso is in the early stages of developing Anchor Point.

As these projects develop, many decisions and issues need to be decided.

Who you vote for now could potentially change the trajectory of these projects over the next four years.

Various school districts either have a capital bond levy on the ballot or are considering one for a future ballot. If the bond measures dont pass this year, future school board members will make more tough decisions next year.

This means who you vote for in the school board races is very important. School board decisions, like a bond offering, affect property taxes for 20 years.

With so many issues being decided, its a good time to cast your ballot.

Please get out and vote.
Make a difference

As an officer in Cowlitz County Democratic Women, and the Washington State Federation of Democratic Women, I have supported womens rights and the development of well-qualified women to take their place at the table. Not just the kitchen table or the workplace conference table but the hands of governance. Our sole woman Longview Council member is stepping down this year. We have the opportunity to fill her seat and two others with three inspiring candidates for a gender balance on our council, a surge of can-do energy, with impressive resumes of experience and credentials. I urge you to vote for Dianne Quast, dedicated to community service who comes with a remarkable work background in affordable housing. Please cast your ballot for Megan Richie who has been recognized for her volunteerism in everything from supporting LGBTQ youth to feeding the homeless, a tireless worker on behalf of the entire community. She brings an entrepreneurial work resume as a small business owner who also oversaw her fathers chiropractic business finances. Amber Rosewood is well-deserving of your vote as well. She brings a fresh perspective as a single working mother with experience in the health field, community partnerships, and a willingness to do the work for positive change. Your votes can make the difference.

Paul K. McLain

Longview

Reuter for change

Thanks to TDN for publishing their recent articles regarding Kalamas future tax levy proposals and mayoral candidates. Proposition 1 is a $2.7 million bond levy for the police station. A proposed $64 million school bond levy combined with a future increase in utilities and the formation of a stormwater utility district will result in an approximately $100-a-month increase in taxes and utilities on our home. Mayoral candidate

Rosemary Sippola has a tax and spend philosophy. She has been part of a city government that has not adequately planned for the future. We all support our local police and want the best education for children but not at an unacceptable cost. Mayoral candidate Mike Reuter would lead us in the right direction, provide alternatives for the police station and has a positive vision for the future of Kalama. We support Mike Reuter for mayor of Kalama, our choice for change.

John and Teresa Flynn

Kelso

Elect Sharples

We are writing to encourage voters to elect Howard Sharples, for Kelso School Board, in the upcoming election.

Kelso is fortunate to have a candidate of his caliber and dedication. He is extremely qualified, living and working in the Kelso community. From being a parent of two Kelso graduates, volunteering in the schools and community, his dedication in the classroom and receiving Teacher of the Year from the Kelso School District.

His commitment goes far beyond the interests of his own children; he cares about the quality of education for all students, and he is an advocated for students, families, teachers, and administrators.

We have had the good fortune to live in the same neighborhood as Howard and his family for over 25 years. We were pleased that Howard joined the School Board earlier this year when there was vacancy on the board and we now welcome the opportunity to support him in the upcoming election.

We encourage all Kelso voters to elect Howard Sharples, for Kelso School Board.

Monte and Rose Roden

Kelso

Opposites attract

When I consider that the editorials in your paper are for coal and against clean air and water, against collective bargaining and organized labor, against public employees of all ilk, against services for the homeless, I must automatically support the candidates for office who oppose those you support. I believe in taxes to support public services. But I think everyone should pay their share. I am proud to pay my taxes. I shop here in Washington and pay our sales tax rather than shop in Oregon. I pay my property tax and even though I am retired, I pay a healthy income tax. I would not mind an increase in state tax to pay for education or mental health needs. Everyone needs to pay their share. But Im off my point. I will be voting for those wonderful candidates that you dismiss.

Judy DeVoe

Longview

Not welcome

Millennium, we dont want you here in our city. We the people need to band together and speak up against the plant; dont rely on others to speak for you. Millennium is justifying building the site with promised jobs. Are they worth the health problems that come along with the coal dust, the pollution of the Columbia River, our wildlife that rely and live along the river, heavier traffic along Industrial Way? We all need to show up at the Cowlitz County Conference Center on Nov. 2 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Lets show Millennium they are not welcome here. Not now, not ever. Wear red! Lets pack the place with standing room only. We can make a difference. See you there.

Nadine E. Haynes

Longview

Vote for Averett

Doug Averett retired from the Port of Longview after 28 years as part of the administrative staff. After retiring he was appointed to the position he is now running for, port commissioner Position No. 2. The 28 years at the port gave Doug an education I would say very few candidates ever have. Doug is very proud of his years with the port and the records they accomplished for cargo volume. These records were set last year and it looks like the port is on track for a new record this year!

Doug is committed to lowering taxes over a period of years. In the meantime our taxes will provide dollars for needed capital improvements. Doug believes in the port and our community. He truly wants our port to thrive and in doing so our city will thrive as well.

Doug is and has always been a man of integrity. I believe he will serve as port Commissioner with the same integrity he has shown in his personal life. Please join me in casting a vote for Doug Averett port commissioner position No. 2!

Karen Branscom

Longview

Support Makinster

We are supporting Chet Makinster for Longview City Council. Chet is a lifelong resident of Cowlitz County who has a strong understanding of our city and a commitment for economic growth and investment in our infrastructure.

Chet has represented the values and importance of manufacturing and family wage jobs. He has been a strong supporter of policy that encourages education, infrastructure, and social equity that benefits all our residents to have opportunity and be successful.

Chet has worked his entire career in the wood products industry, understands the benefits that capital investment and family jobs and has an ability to balance quality of life, economic development, and their importance in providing great public safety, good roads, parks, library services that this community values. His 10 years of knowledge and experience on our cty council is critical at a time when outside influences are attempting to challenge our ability to continue to provide jobs and tax base that makes Longview a great place to live, work, and play.

Vote Chet Makinster for cty council

Jane Gregory

Longview

Candidate criteria

City council members who love Longview and are involved  that is my goal as I vote this November. One candidate that I know meets this criteria is Megan Richie. I have heard Megan say she is "in love with our community." She started going to our city council meetings almost as soon as she moved here, and is involved and knowledgeable about almost everything city-related I can throw at her. She has been a voice to the council for our youth and elderly. I already have Megan Richie selected on my ballot. If you have any doubts, contact her! missmeganrichie@gmail.com.

Martha Zimmerman

Longview

New project

The Sandbaggers are always looking for projects to help the community and I think I have one for them. I have lived on Louisiana Street for 53 years and have come close to running over those pesky little squirrels several times. The main problem is that the squirrels are grey and the same color as the pavement.

If the Sandbaggers could get together, gather up the squirrels and paint a fluorescent stripe on each squirrel they would be a lot easier to see. If the Sandbaggers need any extra people I could gather up 15-20 great grandkids that live here to help with the project.

Cheryl Judkins Payne

Longview
About me I'm Avi Green

From Jerusalem, Israel

I was born in Pennsylvania in 1974, and moved to Israel in 1983. I also enjoyed reading a lot of comics when I was young, the first being Fantastic Four. I maintain a strong belief in the public's right to knowledge and accuracy in facts. I like to think of myself as a conservative-style version of Clark Kent. I don't expect to be perfect at the job, but I do my best. My profile

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Pakistan plans to build several new nuclear reactors

Pakistan is looking at building nuclear reactors in order to reach its target.

Reuters, Abu Dhabi :

Pakistan plans to build at least three to four big reactors as it targets nuclear power capacity of 8,800 megawatts (MW) by 2030, the country's atomic energy commission chairman said.

Pakistan has five small reactors in operation with combined capacity of just over 1300 MW. The last one in the four-reactor Chashma plant in Punjab province, built by China National Nuclear Corp (CNNC), went into operation in September this year.

It is also building two Chinese Hualong One reactors with a capacity of 1100 MW each near the port city of Karachi.

Muhammad Naeem, Chairman of the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission, told Reuters these two new reactors are now 60 percent and 40 percent complete respectively and should become operational in 2020 and 2021.

Pakistan is now also in the final stages of awarding contracts for an eighth nuclear reactor with 1100 MW capacity which would take the country's total nuclear capacity to about 5,000 MW when it is finished.

"We could award the contracts before year-end," Naeem told Reuters on the sidelines of a nuclear conference in Abu Dhabi.

He declined to say how many contenders are in the race and whether non-Chinese bidders may be in the running.

Pakistan's five operating reactors - including a tiny 125 MW Canadian-built reactor in Karachi in operation since 1972 - generate just five percent of the country's electricity, with the rest coming from oil, gas and some hydropower.

With about one quarter of Pakistan's population having no access to electricity, the government said late last year that it wants to boost nuclear capacity to 8,800 MW, or about 20 percent of power generation capacity, by 2030.

Naeem said Pakistan is looking at building at least three to four more big nuclear reactors before 2030 in order to reach that target.

"We have the plans in place, we are watching for proven technologies," he said, adding that funding would come from the state budget and loans.

He did not specify whether countries other than China may be invited to bid.

Pakistan, which has a nuclear weapons programme, has not signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, which means Western reactor vendors such as EDF cannot sell reactors there. China has defied nuclear trading bans on Pakistan and delivered equipment as well as fuel.
Give women more space in peace negotiation

Shaheen Chughtai :

Whether targeted by perpetrators of sexual violence, oppressed by ideological extremists, or uniquely threatened by the bombing of hospital maternity units, women often bear the brunt of conflicts. Yet when it comes to peace negotiations, women too often don't have a seat at the table. The continuing reality that men, particularly armed men, enjoy an almost exclusive role in peace processes defies both logic and evidence.

It is now 17 years since UN resolution 1325 was adopted - the first Security Council resolution to establish the so-called women, peace and security agenda, which aims to uphold women's rights in war and roles in peace.

Ahead of the Open Debate on Peace and Security at the UN, it is the time reflect and double down both on what promises are left unfilled, as well as what progress has been made - there are examples of both.

There have been some positive signs of headway, as seven subsequent UN Security Council resolutions have helped strengthen policies and norms worldwide over the past decade. Almost 70 countries have national action plans to put women, peace and security aims into practice.

This year, renewed peacekeeping and peace enforcement mandates for Western Sahara, Sudan and Somalia included new language on the importance of women's participation. Hopefully this trend will continue with South Sudan's peacekeeping mandate renewal just around the corner.

And just weeks ago, the US Congress passed the Women, Peace and Security Act.

Among other aims, the act makes it US policy to promote the meaningful participation of women in efforts to address conflict overseas.

But crucial gaps remain - not least, the routine exclusion of women from peace processes.

Why does this matter? Because women missing from peace talks means world leaders are missing opportunities to save countless lives and stabilize an increasingly fractured world.

Analysis of various conflicts and peace processes worldwide shows that when women able to bring crucial perspectives and experiences from civil society and local communities, the chances of peace agreements being reached and sustained rises dramatically.

Worldwide, women already play crucial roles in resolving disputes in their families and communities, and identifying challenges and solutions that influence social cohesion and stability. Tapping into that experience and expertise, a peace that reflects the needs and aspirations of the whole population, benefits everyone, male and female, and is more likely to last.

That simple logic should drive a paradigm shift in international diplomacy to prevent and resolve conflicts. Wars not only take and destroy lives. It is estimated that the total monetary cost of violence and conflict around the world was $13.6 trillion in 2015.

But instead, we hear excuses. Time and time again, key members of the UN Security Council stubbornly stick to strategies that not only struggle to resolve conflicts but offer only hollow rhetoric about supporting women's participation.

All speak loudly in favor of women's rights and role inside the UN Security Council chamber, but for the rest of the year leading governments routinely prioritize other interests when it comes to international diplomacy. The standard group photograph of male delegates at any of the major peace talks on Syria or Yemen gives us a damning snapshot of just how far we still have to go.

When the US Security Council Resolution 2242 was adopted, mandating the UN to double its female police representation and reaffirming support for women in civil society, it enjoyed historic support. Unfortunately, in the time since, there has been very little action to back it up.

Friday's Security Council annual debate will be a chance to reflect on the advances and challenges that have emerged since the adoption of Resolution 2242 and for members to recommit to back up their words with actions.

Several key areas of UN reform would also help: improving the number of women in senior UN positions, including in conflict missions, strengthening gender capacity in peacekeeping missions and assessments, and drastically increasing funding and other support for local women's organizations.

Addressing these specifics will signal progress, but above all, we need a radical shift in mindsets and priorities to accelerate progress, with support for both the quantity and quality of women's involvement in peace processes and political decision-making a key objective.

In a world seemingly frayed by growing divisions, with conflicts on the rise and record numbers of people forced from their homes, the continued male monopoly on resolving and preventing conflicts is not just anachronistic - it is a danger to us all.



(Shaheen Chugtai is Oxfam's Global Women, Peace and Security Policy Lead).


SAU Pro-VC gets BD Edu Leadership Award 2017

State Minister for ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak, MP handing over BD Edu Leadership Award 2017 to Prof Dr Md. Sekender Ali, Pro-Vice Chancellor of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University at South Asian Participation summit on Sunday.

SAU Correspondent :

Prof Dr Md. Sekender Ali, Pro-Vice Chancellor of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University (SAU) was awarded with the Bangladesh Education Leadership Award 2017. The winner Dr Ali is the Professor of the Department of the Agricultural Extension and Information System at SAU.

State Minister for ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak, MP and handed over the award to the winner at South Asian Participation summit on Sunday. The program was arranged by the CMO Asia, a Singapore-based organization dedicated to high-level knowledge exchange, and world education congress.

Dr RL Bhatia, Chief Editor and founder of world CSR day and world sustainability congress, was present at the prize giving ceremony, among others.

The award is presented to Individuals and Institutions who have surpassed several levels of its excellence and set an example of being a role model and exemplary leadership.


Our doctors should mind to have more caring public image

ENRAGED by death of a patient for wrong treatment, relatives of the deceased went on rampage at the coronary care unit (CCU) of Dhaka Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) on Sunday. They have also allegedly attacked on-duty doctors, nurses, law enforcers and other employees of the hospital. Barely 48 hours into the incident and once again treatment at the outpatient department of DMCH remained suspended for about four and a half hours on Tuesday, causing suffering to patients from across the country.





We mark organized chaos becoming rampant in many of our public and also private hospitals. This is not expected in any hospital. Both parties -- concerned doctors and also the relatives of many patients should display a sharp sense of moral obligation to maintain order. Not to forget that for their reckless actions many sick patients are being denied emergency health services. Several dozens of patients who went to the emergency unit of the hospital have been reported waiting as the entrance of the emergency department of the hospital temporarily remained shut. Luckily no avoidable death was recorded.





Barely six months ago the doctors of the BMCH went on strike for an indefinite period, last August a number of surgeons were accused for working at private hospitals during regular office hours and earlier another doctor was beaten up inside a private hospital. We have been experiencing disorder and intermittent disruptions in our healthcare sector. This must stop.







Interns have been reported to have locked the entrance of the department and start agitating -- demanding punishment for those who assaulted their colleagues over the death of a patient on Sunday and the authorities to ensure their security at workplace.





Some doctors and medical officers also joined the demonstration Tuesday morning after serving at the outpatient department. Several hundred patients who bought tickets and queued at different counters were left baffled as doctors came out of their rooms, locking the doors. Doctors mustn't forget that this kind of unprofessional cruel acts goes completely against their work ethics. Also four persons were arrested relating to last Sunday's event, so what was the cause for calling the strike and suspending the outdoor unit?





Our doctors have to decide for themselves the need for a caring public image for their own good and the good of the country. The problem with our ministries is their incompetence and no sense of accountability. All of them feel protected by police power and not people power.
BB seeks account info of 11 global terrorists

Kazi Zahidul Hasan :

Bangladesh Bank (BB) has sought accounts information of eleven individuals, who were deemed as "Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGTs)" by the US State Department, from all commercial banks here to look into their transaction within the country's financial system.

It also asked the banks to freeze their accounts and assets, if found, in compliance with the anti-money laundering and terrorist financing act.

The name of the eleven persons and their nationality could not be known immediately.

Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU), an anti-money laundering arm of the central bank, recently asked for such information from the local banks following request from the US authorities.

Earlier, the US State Department in a letter to the concerned Bangladesh authorities (Finance Ministry, Bangladesh Bank and Intelligence Agencies), sought for an inquiry into the holding of funds and assets and bank transaction by SDGTs and their associates in local banks.

It also requested the local authorities to deny their access to the Bangladesh financial system.

"Bank account details of the SDGTs were sought from the banks as per the request from the US State Department," a senior BFIU official told The New Nation yesterday, on condition of anonymity.

"We asked for information about their accounts to be held in local banks and to investigate whether they were involved in illicit money transaction," he added.

The "Organized Crime Cell" of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has also launched an investigation in this regard.

"The matter is highly sensitive. So, we cannot disclose their names," a CID official told The New Nation on Wednesday.

Last year, the State Department added 51 groups and individuals to the SDGT list under the US executive Order 13224. The framework of the SDGT, which designates foreign individuals and groups as terrorists, was created two weeks after 9/11.

Earlier, the US Department sought account information of the members of the Eurasian crime syndicate, "The Brothers' Circle".

This newspaper also published a report on its November 30, 2014 issue in this regard.
'Influentials enjoy impunity in society'

Staff Reporter :

The full text of the High Court's (HC) judgment on Biswajit murder case has been released. Deputy Attorney General Moniruzzaman Rubel said that the attorney office had received a copy thereof on Wednesday.

In the text the HC said, "We live in a society, where the moneyed and influential persons enjoy some sorts of impunity and can easily influence the outcome of an investigation after committing an offence."

"In many cases, the police and the other investigating/inquiring agencies, doctors and experts come in aid of the offenders by furnishing motivated and false report. They do it under political or social influence or sometime for illegal monetary gain or fulfilment of any other purpose," read the full text.

"These sorts of unfair and motivated investigations must not be allowed to continue and the public servants, who are entrusted with such responsibilities, must be made accountable. If the Judiciary cannot play its due role to ensure justice by punishing the offenders and protecting the innocent citizens, the rule of law will be at stake," read the full text.

The HC also said, "It is surprising that without lodging an FIR, even an unnatural death case, the dead body was sent to the village home of the victim, where he was cremated with all the marks of injuries. Whereas the video footages, paper clippings, testimony of the eyewitnesses clearly proved use of several and indiscriminate blows with kirich (long knife), machete, iron rod and wooden stick and rule on his person, which continued for a considerable time."

The HC bench of Justice Md Ruhul Quddus and Justice Bhishmadev Chakrabortty delivered the judgement on August 6 in 2017.

The HC upheld the death sentence of two BCL men, commuted four to life term and acquitted two in the Biswajit Das murder case.

All the eight accused were handed down capital punishment by a lower court on December 18, 2013.

The HC acquitted two others who were given life imprisonment.

The two BCL activists, whose death sentences were confirmed by the HC, are Rafiqul Islam Shakil and Rajon Talukder.

Rajon is absconding while Shakil is in jail.

Previously death sentenced Mahfuzur Rahman Nahid, Emdadul Haque Emdad, G M Rasheduzzaman Shaon and Noor-e-Alam Limon got life imprisonment. Limon is absconding while the other three are behind bars.

Md Saiful Islam and Quayyum Mia Tipu, both sentenced to death by the trial court, were acquitted.

The HC also acquitted two others namely Golam Mostafa and A H M Kibria, who were earlier awarded life imprisonment.

This court, however, refrained from making any comments about the 11 accused, who were given life imprisonment by the lower court, as they did not move any appeal before the HC.

In the morning of December 9, 2012, a number of bombs were exploded in front of Bahadur Shah Park as the 18-party opposition alliance enforced a road blockade.

Hearing the sounds, pro-government BCL men of Jagannath University unit rushed to the spot, wielding sticks and chased some people suspecting them to be pickets. At one stage, they caught Bishwajit Das, 24, proprietor of Amantron Tailors in Sutrapur, who was passing through the area.

They beat up and hacked him indiscriminately, dragging him down to the streets. Some of them continued pounding on him as he tried to escape.

Bishwajit did manage to break free and cross the road, but collapsed. Some onlookers then put him on a rickshaw that took him to Mitford Hospital in about 10 minutes. He gasped for air in the hospital for 15-17 minutes and then died.

The trial began in July 2013.


BD seeks EU support for sustainable solution

Citing the recent engagements between Myanmar and Bangladesh, Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali on Wednesday expressed hope that the European Union will continue their persuasion with Myanmar until the Rohingyas return to their homeland in safety, security and dignity.

The Foreign Minister sought sustained political support of the EU so that a sustainable solution to this Rohingya problem could be forged in light of the recommendations of the Kofi Annan Commission.

The issue came up for discussion when Christos Stylianides, European Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management, met him at State Guesthouse Padma.

The European Commissioner has just returned from Cox's Bazar after visiting the camps where the forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals have been taking shelter.

He thanked the government and the people of Bangladesh for giving shelter to the distressed Rohingyas of Myanmar and deeply appreciated Bangladesh's humanity and generosity. Christos Stylianides said he is visiting Bangladesh to send a strong message that the EU stands with Bangladesh in this difficult time.

He has also informed the Foreign Minister about the recent initiatives of the EU to cover the increasing humanitarian needs of the Rohingays.

Mahmood Ali briefed him about the current situation regarding the influx of Rohingyas, saying over one million Rohingyas are now living in Bangladesh.

He also mentioned that the presence of this huge number of forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals has created massive socio-economic and environmental challenge for Bangladesh.
Unesco recognition of Bangabandhu`s 7th March speech another milestone: PM

Terming Unesco'srecognition of Bangabandhu's historic 7th March speech as a world documentary heritage anothermilestone in continuation of global recognition, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday said such commendation is a matter of 'great pride' for the Bengali nation and Bengali language.

Bangabandhu's speech has been included in the Memory of the World International Register, a list of world's important documentary heritage, maintained by Unesco.

Unesco Director General Irina Bokova announced the decision at the Unesco Headquarters in Paris on Monday.

On March 7, 1971, Bangabandhu in his fiery speech called on the freedom-loving Bengalis to wage a decisive struggle against the Pakistani oppressors. The speech set the tone for the Liberation War that would officially begin later that month on March 26.

"Ebarer Sangram Amader Muktir Sangram, Ebarer Sangram Swadhinatar Sangram [The struggle this time is a struggle for emancipation, the struggle this time is a struggle for independence]," Bangabandhu proclaimed in a thunderous voice at a mammoth rally at the Race Course Maidan (now Suhrawardy Udyan) that day.

"Turn every house into a fortress, resist the enemy with everything you have ... Having mastered the lesson of sacrifice, we shall give more blood. God willing (Inshallah) we shall free the people of this land," Bangabandhu went on to proclaim.

The speech touched every Bangalee's heart across the then East Pakistan, now Bangladesh, and mobilised the whole nation, excepting a few pro-Pakistani elements, to prepare for the Liberation War.
Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) arrested eight members of a robber gang from Shyamoli near Shishu mela in the city on Tuesday night.
BD's response well: US

UNB, Dhaka :

Deeply appreciating Bangladesh's decision to temporarily shelter over 600,000 forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals, the United States has said Bangladesh responded extremely well to this unprecedented humanitarian crisis.

Visiting acting Assistant Secretary for Population, Refugees and Migration Simon Henshaw from the US Department of State made the remarks during his meeting with State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam at his Foreign Ministry office on Wednesday.

Deputy Assistant Secretary for Democracy, Human Rights and Labour (DRL) Scott Busby, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs (SCA) Tom Vajda, Director of the Office of Mainland Asia Patricia Mahoney and US Ambassador to Bangladesh Marcia Bernicat were also present at the meeting.

The state minister expressed his sincere thanks to the Acting Assistant Secretary for the strong political as well as humanitarian support

of the US government over the Rohingya issue.

He highlighted the five-point proposal placed by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at the 72nd session of the UN General Assembly in September last and also called for continuation of US support in this regard.
We do not expect EU to mislead the world about the kind of solution needed

Editorial Desk :

Foreign Minister A H Mahmood Ali has sought sustained political support of the EU for a sustainable solution to Rohingya problem while discussing the issue with European Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management Christos Stylianides on Wednesday in the city. The EU envoy said in talks with the minister that the EU wants safe and dignified return of Rohingyas to their abandoned homes.

He has made the wish but without initiating effective discussion with Myanmar government and using power and influence such wish stands meaningless. The leadership must come from EU and powerful nations, as Bangladesh is a helpless victim of the exodus of Rohingyas.

Myanmar government is committing ethnic cleansing militarily and the suggestion from Christos Stylianides shows his lack of understanding of the crisis. He could not think of anything other than providing aid to the refugees uprooted from their own homeland. He has left behind a very bad



impression about the role of the European Union that is expected to play.

Against the determined military operation of the Myanmar to uproot the Rohingyas from their once free Rakhine Muslim State Christos Stylianides expressed his thinking that the solution to deep crisis lies in political discussion. We welcome his visit to Bangladesh for his concern to see the human crisis Bangladesh is facing. But the kind of international cooperation needed to force Myanmar to accept that Rakhine State belongs to Muslim Rohingyas and the Burmese Buddhists have no right to keep Rakhine state occupied is missing.

Powerful nations must urgently come up with concrete actions for internationally considered right solution. The Rohingyas are not stateless, they have the Rakhine State for themselves. The Buddhists with the help Myanmar military are making them stateless. We cannot think of any peaceful solution with brutal Myanmar. We do not want the European Union to mislead the world about the kind of solution Rohingyas need.
EU wants Rohingya`s safe return to Rakhine

Staff Reporter :

The European Union (EU) wants "safe and dignified" return of Rohingyas to Myanmar, said EU Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management Christos Stylianides on Wednesday.

"I hope that the Rohingyas will be able to return soon in a safe and dignified way in Myanmar's Rakhine State," he told it journalists after meeting with foreign minister AH Mahmood Ali at the State Guest House Padma in the afternoon.

Stylianides, who earlier, described the Rohingya crisis as the world's "fastest-growing crisis" while visiting their makeshift abodes in Cox's Bazar, stressed the need for political solution of Rohingya crisis through Bangladesh's continued engagement with Myanmar as the crisis originated there.

He said the two governments should continue to engage in dialogue to discuss a lot about the issue as "this is the only way to ensure safe and dignified return of Rohingya people to their homes."

Stylianides described the state of humanitarian and human rights violation in Myanmar's Rakhine State as "beyond imagination" adding that the EU and international community expressed serious concerns over situation in Rakhine state.

He, however, said EU would expand its support for Bangladesh for the cause of forcibly displaced Rohingyas while acknowledging problems caused by the massive exodus of Rohingyas since August 25.

"I am visiting Bangladesh to send a strong message that EU stands with Bangladesh in this difficult time," he said.

The EU Commissioner thanked the government and the people of Bangladesh for giving shelter to the distressed Rohingyas and deeply

appreciated Bangladesh's humanity and generosity.

Earlier, in the meeting the foreign minister briefed the EU Commissioner about the current situation regarding influx of Rohingyas and apprised that over one million Rohingyas are now living in Bangladesh.

He also mentioned that the presence of these vast number of forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals had created massive socio-economic and environmental challenge for Bangladesh.

The foreign minister also sought EU's sustained political support so that a sustainable solution to the crisis could be reached in light of the recommendations of Kofi Annan Commission.

The EU Commissioner arrived Dhaka from Cox's Bazar on Wednesday after visiting the Rohingya camps where the forcibly displaced Myanmar Nationals have taken shelter.




If you are looking for the new Immoral Minority posts, you should know that they can be found here at our new home Please stop by to get caught up on politics, join the conversations, or simply check out the new digs.
We wouldnt dream of abandoning our vast semiannual Most Anticipated Book Previews, but we thought a monthly reminder would be helpful (and give us a chance to note titles we missed the first time around). Heres what were looking out for this month. For more May titles, check out the Great First-Half 2017 Preview, and let us know what youre looking forward to in the comments.

Men Without Women by Haruki Murakami: The seven stories in Murakamis new collection concern the lives of men who, for one reason or another, find themselves alone. In Scheherazade, a man living in isolation receives regular visits from a woman who claims to remember a past life as a lamprey; in Yesterday, a university student finds himself drawn into the life of a strange coworker who insists that the student go on a date with his girlfriend. (Emily)



Between Them: Remembering My Parents by Richard Ford: *SIREN* This is the first work of nonfiction by the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of the extraordinary Bascombe novels. The book, a memoir, explores the lives of Fords Arkansas-born mother and father as people and parents, and illustrates a kind of mid-century American life along the way. Ford recently appeared in The Guardian with this recollected gem, which we may assume is exemplary: Where I was concerned, my mother at best only tolerated (reluctantly) my high school friends, and seemed to prefer I not have any. It was just simpler for her. She consistently disparaged them as if they were criminals (indeed, some were), and would often drive them out of the house because of something theyd said (or she thought theyd said)  usually without ever telling me why. (Lydia)

Woman No. 17 by Edan Lepucki: Our own Lepucki has always had keen insight into the psyches of women  particularly so-called difficult protagonists. Her first novel, California, may have been about a family surviving the end of society, but it was really a post-apocalyptic domestic drama full of sharp wit and observations. Her sophomore effort is more grounded in reality but equally cutting. Lady is a writer struggling to raise her two kids and finish her memoir when she hires S. to help, but the artist becomes more than just a nanny for Ladys eldest troubled son. (Tess M.)

No One Can Pronounce My Name by Rakesh Satyal: Satyals novel takes place in a suburb near Cleveland and tells the story of Harit and Ranjana, who are both Indian immigrants experiencing loss. Harits sister has passed away and hes caring for his mother; Ranjanas son has left to college and shes worrying her husband is having an affair. These two characters form a friendship amidst grief and self-discovery in a novel that is both heartfelt and funny. (Zoe)





The Purple Swamp Hen by Penelope Lively: Across her many wonderful books, Lively has ranged from low farce (How It All Began) to high feeling (Moon Tiger), from childrens literature to a memoir on old age. Now comes her fourth story collection, the first in 20 years. The title story draws on reliably entertaining source material: the meretricious lives of Roman rulers. Robert Graves turned to a stammering Claudius for his narrator, Lively to a less exalted personage: a purple swamp hen. Other stories involve trouble: a husband and wife working their way out of it, and a betrayed wife doing her best to cause some for her husband. (Matt)

A Good Country by Laleh Khadivi: This is a follow-up to The Age of Orphans and The Walking, which respectively tell the story of a conscripted Iranian Kurd during the 1920s, and his son, a young man who comes to California following the Revolution. A Good Country follows the latters son, a teen surfer in Laguna Beach who becomes radicalized through a complex process of alienation from his community, spurred by global and local events, and eventually travels to Syria with his girlfriend. (Lydia)





The Dinner Party by Joshua Ferris: The book after Ferriss Man Booker shortlisted To Rise Again at a Decent Hour is a collection of short stories. The title story, first published by The New Yorker in 2008, is about a couple who invite a boring couple over to dinner (even their goddam surprises are predictable,) only to be surprised when the boring couple manage to surprise by not showing up. The collection pulls together stories that promise the, deeply felt yearnings, heartbreaking absurdity, and redemptive humor of life, for which Ferris is so well known. (Claire)

The Leavers by Lisa Ko. Kos debut novel has already won the 2016 Pen/Bellwether Award for Socially Engaged Fiction, a prize created and selected by Barbara Kingsolver. The contest awards a novel that addresses issues of social justice and the impact of culture and politics on human relationships, and Kos book certainly fits that laudable description. The novel is the story of Deming Gao, the son of a Chinese-American immigrant mother who, one day, never returns home from work. Adopted by white college professors, Deming is renamed and remade in their image  but his past haunts him. (Nick R.)

Kintu by Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi: First published in Kenya to wide acclaim; now published stateside by Oakland-based newcomer Transit Books with an introduction by New Inquiry editor Aaron Bady. Kintu is a retelling of Ugandan history over centuries through a single family. A starred Publishers Weekly review calls it a masterpiece of cultural memory. Book Riot put it thus: passionate, original, and sharply observed, the novel decenters colonialism and makes Ugandan experience primary. (Lydia)



My Life with Bob by Pamela Paul: The editor of The New York Times Book Review has kept a book of books, or Bob, as she calls it, for twenty-eight years. This catalogue of things read has, naturally, taken on a life of its own, coming to serve as a reminder of where its author was in the world and in her career or personal life, and what a particular book had to say to her at that particular moment. Kirkus calls it a thoughtfully engaging memoir of a life in books. (Lydia)



Isadora by Amelia Gray. The endlessly inventive Gray (whose story Labyrinth from The New Yorker is a gem) creates a fictional interpretation of Isadora Duncan, once described as the woman who put the Modern into Modern Dance. A dancer who mixed the classical, sacred, and sensual, Duncan is the perfect subject matter for Gray; if a writer can expertly resurrect the Theseus myth at a small-town fair, then she can do justice to a life as inspiring  and tragic  as Duncans. (Nick R.)







One Day Well All Be Dead and None of This Will Matter by Scaachi Koul. Ah, the current frontrunner for Most Relatable Title of the Year. The Canadian writers debut essay collection is about growing up the daughter of Indian immigrants in Western culture, addressing sexism, stereotypes, and the universal miseries of life. Fans of her work online will be eager to see her on the printed page. Canadian journalist (and Kouls former journalism professor) Kamal Al-Solaylee said of her writing, To me, she possesses that rarest of gifts: a powerful, identifiable voice that can be heard and appreciated across platforms and word counts. (Elizabeth)

Season of Crimson Blossoms by Abubakar Adam Ibrahim: Newly published in the United States by Cassava Republic Press, this debut novel won Nigerias largest award  the $100,000 NLNG prize awarded every four years. The novel received a starred review in Publishers Weekly, with the reviewer describing the book as an excellent first novel [that] tells of the unlikely romance between a Muslim widow and a dope-dealing street tough amidst the troubles that each faces.(Lydia)





Homing Instincts: Early Motherhood on a Midwestern Farm by Sarah Menkedick: An essay collection on motherhood, motherlands, and home from the editor of Vela, a magazine that publishes travel writing by women. Menkedicks journalism has appeared in many outlets (read her latest on The Making of a Mexican-American Dream in Pacific Standard); these essays are written in a meditative, diaristic register, as she trades a peripatetic existence to return to her family farm in Ohio and prepare for the birth of her first child. (Lydia)
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A place to exercise ideas before writing about them with greater discipline.
WEST FRANKFORT  Work has begun on Candy Cane Lane, the most festive street in West Frankfort.

Organizer and chief elf of the event, Tim Murphy, said hes been steady at work since Oct. 3 on his annual Christmas display. At this point he said he is about 20 percent of the way there. He said there is something about this year that seems momentous.

I dont know why, it seems like its going to be a big year, he said, adding that he has made 21 new wooden characters for his display  he said Trolls and Paw Patrol are some standouts  and he is excited about a new white castle and light display. The lights, he said, are likely what he is most excited about.

There could be another reason it seems like a big year, though  while attending a Christmas expo in Nashville, Tennessee, Murphy had a heart attack. He said he was there to replenish his holiday spirit and came back needing a heart stent and a new lease on life.

You never know what can happen, he said. I think thats one of the reasons I want to go all out.

Murphy said he is also hoping to see more neighborhood participation this year. He said in years past some streets do better than others when it comes to decorating for the Christmas holiday.

With all the new items being added, Murphy said its been a bit more work than normal.

Its been almost an all-summer project for me, he said, adding that he usually doesnt get started until October.

With plans to be open to the public Nov. 29, Murphy said its starting to be an all-hands-on-deck operation. He said what takes most of the time in setting up is the structural work  making sure things wont blow over and have safe, reliable power. It can take five days to lay electric cable alone, he said.

Getting his characters set up is the easy part.

A former art teacher in West Frankfort, Murphy said Candy Cane Lane is now his outlet. He said it gives me my passion back.

Its good for me, he said.

He knows it is a lot of work, even admitting that he sometimes thinks hes created a monster. That said, he loves what he does.

If I didnt, I wouldnt do it, Murphy said.

This post has been updated to correct the spelling of stent.
WASHINGTON -- Beware the low-level volunteer.

Virtually unheard of before Monday, when the FBI indicted two of President Trump's campaign staffers, George Papadopoulos is either the key to Russian collusion with the Trump campaign during the 2016 presidential election -- or a lying "low level volunteer," as the president tweeted early Tuesday morning.

But contrary to Trump's dismissive, never-heard-of-him shrug, Papadopoulos was also known within the campaign as Trump's foreign affairs adviser. It was within the latter capacity that Papadopoulos tried, unsuccessfully, to arrange meetings between the Trump campaign and Russians close to the Kremlin, ostensibly to learn dirt on Hillary Clinton.

He may be the key to special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation that led to Monday's indictments of the president's former campaign manager Paul Manafort and his longtime business associate Rick Gates on charges of money laundering, tax evasion and crimes against the United States. Papadopoulos himself was offered a pre-indictment plea bargain on charges that he had lied to the FBI during an earlier point in the investigation.

In response to the indictments, Trump has done everything but burn an effigy of Hillary Clinton -- as distraction or, well, what? In the swamp, one is never sure whether movements beneath the surface are gators or mere shadows. Trump's history has taught us, however, that when he's under attack, Clinton will feel it. Like the Ghost of Election Past, she haunts Trump's dreamscape.

"But why aren't Crooked Hillary & the Dems the focus?" he tweeted Monday soon after the news broke.

Indeed, on Capitol Hill, some Republicans, who've been scurrying away from the indictment news as fast as their little mice feet can carry them, have moved to open an investigation into the Obama-era sale of Canada-based Uranium One, which had licenses to mine U.S. uranium, to a subsidiary of a Russian state-owned energy corporation. A committee composed of representatives from several U.S. government agencies, including the State Department -- at the time led by Clinton -- had to approve the sale, which transpired after the Clinton Foundation received $145 million in donations from Uranium One investors.

This would probably be a good time to grab a sheet of graph paper and a pencil. You're going to need them to chart the many possible overlaps in this Venn diagram of Russian propaganda/possible collusion/corruption/sleaze/lies/more lies -- and wires. As of yet, we have seen no videotape, though it's possible that Papadopoulos has been wearing a wire in recent months.

Also, keep your eraser handy. People have people, you know, and others get fired. Or pardoned. But speculation that Trump would pardon Manafort and Gates is probably irrelevant. Manafort and Gates's alleged federal crimes almost certainly could not have happened without committing state crimes. State attorneys general could build cases off of Mueller's investigation and effectively neuter Trump's power. A president can only pardon federal crimes.

The question now is: Who's next? And what bigger fish could Manafort or Gates offer up in a plea that would spare them potentially up to 80 years and 70 years, respectively, in prison? Former national security adviser Michael Flynn's name keeps coming up, as does Wilbur Ross'. The commerce secretary was vice chair and a major investor in the Bank of Cyprus, the largest bank in a nation known to be a haven for money launderers and tax evaders, especially Russians. According to Monday's indictments, some of Manafort's and Gates' laundered money came from the Cypriot institution.

None of this affirms or even bolsters a case that Trump's campaign colluded with Russia to influence the election, especially given that many of Manafort's relevant business dealings preceded his association with the campaign. All we know for certain is that Russia did influence the election, thanks to astounding testimony by social media leaders Tuesday.

Twitter identified 36,746 accounts associated with Russia that generated election-related content; Google found about 43 hours of election content in about 1,100 videos suspected to be of Russian origin; Facebook estimates that about 126 million people were exposed to Russian-produced stories leading up to the election.

If Trump benefited from these virtual incursions, there's no proof that he knew about it. Then again, we've likely only seen the tip of the iceberg, which must loom large to swamp-dwellers. Plus remember, Chicago crime boss Al Capone was brought down not on murder or racketeering, but on tax evasion.
Here's a roundup of activities going on in Southern Illinois for Veterans Day, which is Saturday, Nov. 11.

BENTON

Veterans Day Ceremony: 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 11, at Veterans Memorial in Benton Masonic and Odd Fellows Cemetery; hosted by VFW Post 2671 and American Legion Post 280. Featured speaker state Rep. Dave Severin. Group also will perform salutes at Benton Civil War Cemetery behind the American Legion Hall. Light lunch will be served at American Legion Post 280.

CARBONDALE

Veterans Day free breakfast: 7 to 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 11, The Landings at Reed Station Crossing, 2100 Reed Station Parkway. Breakfast is free for all veterans; for everyone else, $3.

CARTERVILLE

Veterans Day Tribute: 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 11, at Grand and Division in downtown Carterville at the Veterans Memorial. Hosted by American Legion Post 347. Guest speaker VADM Nancy Brown.

COBDEN

Veterans Meet and Greet: 8 to 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 11, The Old Feed Store, 111 N. Appleknocker Drive. Opportunity to visit with veterans. Refreshments provided.

HERRIN

Veterans Day Program: 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 11, at the Herrin Doughboy. Speakers are Harry Spiller and the Rev. Ralph Brandon; Herrin American Legion and VFW honor guard. Marine Corps League will host breakfast at Knights of Columbus Hall before the program; free veterans' lunch at Herrin Elks following program.

MOUNT VERNON

Berlin Wall program: 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 11, in the Schweinfurth Museum at the Jefferson County Historical Village, 1411 N. 27th St. Chris Lyons, former pilot for U.S. Air Force in Germany offers perspective on the Berlin Wall: the technology, why it came to exist, and circumstances under which it came down. Free.

MURPHYSBORO

Veterans Day Program and Dedication of Purp's Patriot Park: 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 11, Purp's Patriot Park, One Hot Cookie Bakery & Catering, 1290 Business Highway 13; parking at Carruthers and Murphysboro High School with shuttle buses running from 10 a.m. Tent and seating provided. Refreshments served at 10 a.m. Service at 11 a.m. Forms available at One Hot Cookie for those who wish to honor a veteran; complete a form and a rock will be made and placed in the garden for free.

Veterans Breakfast: 7:45 to 8:15 a.m. Monday, Nov. 13, Carruthers Elementary School, 80 Candy Lane. Further celebration of veterans to follow in gymnasium.

PINCKNEYVILLE

Veterans Day Ceremony: 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 11; American Legion Post No. 2504 hosts annual Veterans Day ceremony outside Perry County Courthouse near Veterans Memorial; music by Pinckneyville High School Jazz Band, keynote speaker Perry County Sheriff Steve Bareis, military honors to recognize men and women who served.

Flag and ornament honor: The entire month of November, Pinckneyville Community Hospital Auxiliary will line hospital's circle drive with flags to honor veterans. For every $5 donation in the name of a veteran, the name of the veteran will be placed on a star ornament and hung on an honor tree in the hospital lobby and a flag will be added outside. Donations may be made 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday at Once Upon a Trinket and the hospital gift shop.

VIENNA

Veteran's Day Program: 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 11, Vienna Public Library Lawn. Daniel Hopkins, pastor of Gilead Cumberland Presbyterian Church, will speak; limited seating available, please bring lawn chairs; sponsored by Daniel Chapman chapter of NSDAR
Orangeburg County Sheriff Leroy Ravenell announced detectives are investigating a shooting that occurred near South Carolina State University.

The sheriff said that around 2:45 p.m. Tuesday, a call was received informing investigators that a male was taken by an acquaintance to the Regional Medical Center.

Ravenell said the male had suffered from at least one gunshot wound. His condition is unknown as of late Tuesday afternoon.

The shooting is believed to have taken place at an apartment complex on Buckley Street adjacent to but not on the campus of SCSU.

The campus was placed on lockdown immediately after the shooting. It has been lifted and the university reports students are safe.

At this time investigators are following several leads. If anyone has any information on the shooting, they are asked to call the sheriffs office at 803-534-3550 or Crimestoppers at 1-888-CRIME-SC.
COLUMBIA  The leader of a second South Carolina utility involved in a failed $9 billion project to build two nuclear reactors is stepping aside.

SCANA announced Tuesday that Kevin Marsh is retiring as chairman and CEO of the company and its subsidiary, South Carolina Electric & Gas, at the end of the year. He joins Santee Cooper CEO Lonnie Carter as both men were allowed to leave without being fired.

Lawmakers and others had been putting pressure on both companies to make leadership changes since SCANA and state-owned utility Santee Cooper announced they were abandoning construction of the reactors July 31.

SCANA Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Addison will become the utility's new CEO on Jan. 1. The utility's Senior Vice President Stephen Byrne also is retiring at the same time.

In SCANA's news release announcing its moves, Marsh mentioned only that it has been an honor to work for the utility since 1984 and its CEO for the past six years. The statement leaves Addison and Keller Kissam, who will be SCE&G's new president, to talk about the "challenging time" for the company.

"It pains me that SCE&G and its customers have had to go through this tumultuous time relating to the abandonment of the new nuclear project. It is essential for our customers and our employees that we reach a prompt, reasonable resolution of those issues," Kissam said in the statement.

Kissam is currently SCANA senior vice president and SCE&Gs president of retail operations.

He is a Creston native and the son of L.C. Kissam III and Maud Kissam. He is brother of Luther C. "Luke" Kissam, the chairman, president and chief executive officer of Albemarle Corp.

March's retirement was announced a day after South Carolina House Speaker Jay Lucas demanded Marsh step down because lawmakers and ratepayers had lost faith in him, adding in a statement that Marsh "cannot be trusted to promote or protect its consumers' interests." The Speaker said Tuesday that Marsh should have left months ago.

Gov. Henry McMaster said Marsh's retirement shows SCANA finally understands the consequences of mismanaging the construction of the two reactors at the V.C. Summer plant north of Columbia.

"Any effort to regain the public's trust starts with no longer charging ratepayers for this failed project, and refunding them the money they've already paid for it," McMaster said.

A special panel of House members is working this week on a plan to return money to ratepayers. The House Utility Ratepayer Protection Committee is drafting several bills for lawmakers to consider when they return to the Statehouse in January.

The committee agreed Monday any bill needs to order SCANA to stop charging its customers $37 million a month  or about $27 for each ratepayer  to pay for the reactors that aren't being built.

Committee members also discussed changing the 2007 law that allowed SCANA and Santee Cooper to charge their customers for the nuclear plants long before a single watt of power was generated.

Lawmakers acknowledged whatever action they take may end in a lawsuit, but said they are trying to protect ratepayers.

"What we are doing right now is responding to a crisis," said Democratic Rep. Russell Ott from St. Matthews.
Two men have pleaded guilty in a heroin conspiracy that was investigated with the help of the Orangeburg County Sheriffs Office.

U.S. Attorney Beth Drake stated that 47-year-old Michael Glove Glover and 43-year-old Jihad Salahadeen Pollard, both formerly of Columbia, each pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin.

Glover also pleaded guilty to a money laundering conspiracy.

Senior U.S. District Judge Joseph F. Anderson Jr. of Columbia accepted the pleas and will impose sentence after he has reviewed the presentence investigation reports, which will be prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.

Glover and Pollard were two of 10 defendants charged in April 2014 following a series of court-authorized, DEA-monitored wiretaps over several telephones in the Columbia area.

The investigation revealed that a group of individuals in the Columbia area were obtaining heroin from various sources outside of South Carolina and then distributing it in the Midlands.

Evidence indicated that the suppliers were initially getting the heroin in packages from India. Several packages destined for Columbia and containing heroin were intercepted by law enforcement during the investigation.

Evidence further showed that the co-defendants later obtained heroin in New York and transported it back to Columbia where it was distributed. The New York heroin suppliers were charged and convicted in the Eastern District of New York for their role in the heroin conspiracy.

Glover and Pollard were fugitives until their arrests this past summer in Texas, where they were living under false identities.

Six of their co-defendants were arrested in 2014 and pleaded guilty to their roles in the drug conspiracy in South Carolina and were sentenced in 2015 as follows:

 Eric E Shawn Bradley, 50, of Columbia, was sentenced to 17 and a half years imprisonment with eight years of supervised release.

 Kenneth Crawford, 44, of Washington, D.C., and formerly of Columbia, was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment with eight years of supervised release.

 Charles Bradley, 35, of Columbia was sentenced to almost five years imprisonment with six years of supervised release to follow.

 Anthony Glover, 43, of Columbia was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment with eight years of supervised release to follow.

 Larry Bookman, 64, of Columbia was sentenced to more than five years imprisonment with six years of supervised release.

 Jessany Lyons, 27, of Far Rockaway, New York, was sentenced to more than three years imprisonment with three years of supervised release.

The case was investigated by a the Drug Enforcement Administrations High Intensity Drug Task Force, which includes a number of federal, state and local agencies. It includes the Orangeburg County Sheriffs Office.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Stacey D. Haynes prosecuted the case.
A pair charged with armed robbery in an Oct. 21 incident are now charged with murder in the death of Daniel Escopedo Hernandez.

Christopher M. Pringle, 37, and Terri Lynn Maynard, 46, both of 2428 Shillings Bridge Road, are each facing one charge of murder, according to the Orangeburg Department of Public Safety.

They are being held at the Orangeburg County Detention Center.

Investigators allege that Joe Allen Gartman, 32, of Our Han Court, was the triggerman who killed Hernandez just outside of a Hammock Street residence.

An eyewitness told officers he saw Gartman and Pringle run to the front of the house and then heard a gunshot. Thats when he saw Hernandez on the ground.

Police claim Gartman, Pringle and Maynard were next seen leaving the area in a white Chevrolet Camaro.

Warrants say Maynard and Pringle went to 944 Hammock Street with the intent of committing an armed robbery. During the robbery, co-defendant Joe Allen Gartman did shoot the victim Mr. Hernandez with malice aforethought causing him to die.

Gartman is also charged with murder.
Youve probably heard by now that my office issued an opinion that the law at the heart of S.C. Electric & Gas and Santee Coopers failed nuclear reactors is constitutionally suspect. But you probably have questions about why and what this all really means.

Lets start with how we got here. No company had built a nuclear reactor in the United States in decades. The main reason is the huge cost involved, so investors werent willing to put their money into utilities to build them.

So South Carolina lawmakers passed a law in 2007 called the Base Load Review Act. Other states, including Florida and Mississippi, passed similar laws. These laws allow utilities to start charging their customers more for power plants theyre building, even before the plants are finished and producing electricity. The idea was that if utilities could raise rates during construction, customers wouldnt get hit with huge rate increases all at once when the plants were up and running.

But now we see the drawback to the law  SCE&G and Santee Cooper customers have paid more than $2.2 billion in rate increases for nuclear reactors that have never produced any power and have been abandoned, and they continue to pay those higher rates every month. Utility investors got a guaranteed return on their money but customers got nothing in return for theirs. The utilities and their investors actually were rewarded for abandoning the reactors because they continue to get a guaranteed return. Thats not only wrong, but I think it violates the constitutions of our state and the United States.

Heres why: When deciding how much utilities can charge their customers, our constitution requires a balance between investors and ratepayers. The Base Load Review Act gives everything to the investors and nothing to customers.

The U.S. Constitution also guarantees that the government cant take something from you without due process. Once a project has been approved under the Base Load Review Act, customers are not allowed to question whether that project is a good idea or whether the utility is being careful and using normal judgment. In my opinion, that means customers money has been taken without due process.

And theres another example of this legal issue called a taking. The government cant use a law or regulation to take your property without paying you for the value of it. In this case, the Base Load Review Act allowed SCE&G and Santee Cooper to take customers money for years and the customers got nothing in return. The law basically takes customers private property (their money) and gives it to a utility for a private use  payment to the utilitys investors.

Before the Base Load Review Act, power companies were not allowed to charge their customers for the costs of building new plants until those plants were running and producing electricity. Legal rulings before this said the power plants had to be used and useful before utilities could raise rates to pay for them.

Even though SCE&G and Santee Cooper have decided not to finish their nuclear reactors, this case is not over. Under the Base Load Review Act, they can still raise rates to get back money theyve already put into the reactors and get a substantial return for investors. Yet customers get nothing. In my opinion, that clearly violates longstanding court rulings that require a balance between the interests of the power companies and the interests of their customers.

There are several lawsuits pending brought by ratepayers against the utilities. State lawmakers have also been holding hearings and are expected to take action when they return in January. They might repeal the Base Load Review Act and will also discuss how to get refunds to customers.

My office is also taking part in a case thats now before the Public Service Commission, asking the PSC to require SCE&G to stop charging customers the higher rates that were approved in order to build these nuclear reactors. We are currently working on our brief to the PSC expanding upon our opinion and supporting a rate reduction.

The S.C. Constitution specifically says that state lawmakers can regulate utilities to the extent required by the public interest. And the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that the public interest includes preventing situations that put an excessive burden on consumers.

Keep in mind that an attorney generals opinion is just that  an opinion. But its based on extensive legal research and past cases and represents what I and the experts in my office think would happen if a court were to rule.

The intention of the Base Load Review Act was to protect ratepayers, but it ended up doing the opposite  robbing them of their hard-earned money and their power.
We are now nearly a quarter of the way through the entire Trump presidency -- and, depending how the 2018 elections go, we could be at the halfway mark.

Here are some headlines from that presidency:

 "Defying Turkey, U.S. Decides to Arm Kurds in Syria"

 "Iraqi Leader, in Washington, Gets Trump's Assurance of U.S. Support"

 "Trump Administration Lifts Sanctions on Sudan, Citing Progress"

 "Trump Plans Visit to Asia to Buttress Korea Policy"

There are thousands of 'em, day after monotonous day.

In the last 10 months, has a single manufacturing job been created in Trump's America? Has there been one opioid death avoided? Has 1 foot of the wall been built?

No, just more of this:

 "Trump Praises Philippine President in Call Transcript"

 "Trump's Attempt to End the Saudi-Qatar Stalemate Ends in Recriminations"

Democrats realize that Trump's main campaign issues, immigration and trade, were kryptonite to his opponents. The Democrats, the media, even Republicans threw everything they had at Trump -- a Russian dossier intended to sway the election, an illegally obtained hot-mic tape, 100 percent negative news coverage for 15 straight months.

He still won.

Democrats know how Trump did it -- and, unfortunately, they also know how to use the same kryptonite against him.

You will notice that smart liberals are NOT saying, We need more pussyhats, more angry rhetoric, more Rachel Maddow conspiracy theories! No, the smart liberals are begging Democrats to steal the central components of Trump's death-defying campaign: immigration and manufacturing.

What does a laid-off steelworker, his town drowning in Mexican heroin, think when he reads daily headlines like these:

 "Trump Suggests Bigger U.S. Role in Syria Conflict"

 "U.S. Warship Approaches an Island Claimed by China"

Gosh, I'm glad we elected Trump! I haven't been able to sleep at night, worrying about the Syrians and that island claimed by China.

What do the Angel Moms, whose kids were murdered by illegal aliens, think when reading these bulletins:

 "As Trump's Peacemaker, Kushner Finds Common Goals, and Friction, in Mideast Trip"

 "Trump Won't Move U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem, Yet"

Well, we didn't get the wall, but thank God it's pedal-to-the-metal on resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict!

At the end of Trump's term in office, I promise you, the Israelis and Palestinians will not be living in peace and harmony. Kim Jong-un will not have called for democratic elections. ISIS, al-Shabaab, al-Qaida and the Muslim head-choppers du jour will not have suddenly become pro-life.

The rest of the world will still be a godforsaken cesspool.

That's why Trump's campaign slogan to "MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!" was such a hit. Beyond the self-evident attractiveness of a president caring about us, instead of the rest of the world, fixing our country is at least something that's achievable.

Our tender ministrations in Iraq, Afghanistan and 200 other countries Congress is unaware we've even sent troops to has accomplished nothing good, and all too often a lot that's bad.

We haven't been able to get our leaders to focus on America's problems for 30 years. The seduction of foreign policy is too great. War, military strikes, treaties -- if you're president, these are the antidote to whatever ails you! Presidents wear the mantle of national security like an amulet.

Any international conflict means a president can't be criticized abroad. His short-term poll numbers will go sky-high. Even a dunderhead can feel like a master strategist when threatening to deploy the full force of the U.S. military. (See Nikki Haley.)

The rest of the world's problems will never be solved, but it seems so adult and serious to be "working" on them.

If ever there was a presidential candidate who seemed immune to the siren song of "foreign policy," we thought it was Trump. We voted for a reality TV star. We didn't want "gravitas."

Instead, the smart set's contempt for Trump seems to have sent him headlong into a fevered obsession with the goings-on in North Korea, China, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Guam, Venezuela, Afghanistan, Syria, Iran, Qatar, Niger and little Burkina Faso.

But there will be no change. Not in the rest of the world and not in the country Trump promised to make great again.
It did not take Orangeburg Sen. Brad Hutto long to set the tone at the Orangeburg County Chamber of Commerces Legislative Breakfast this past week.

The Democratic lawmaker opened with a message aimed primarily at the Republican leadership in the Legislature about education in South Carolinas rural and poorest school districts.

Were not going to fix Orangeburg until we fix our education, Hutto said. Not all of our students are getting the quality education that they need.

Hutto said Orangeburg County has made strides in economic development, but its not going to continue if we dont have a pipeline of educated students to fill those jobs.

And this is not just an Orangeburg County issue but a South Carolina issue.

Until we realize that as a whole, that theyre all our children, it doesnt matter if theyre born in Allendale or Orangeburg, Rock Hill or Summerville, he said. The quality of the education is determined by where theyre born and thats not right and thats not fair.

Hutto said the states budgets prove his point: We are not prioritizing education.

The message was echoed by other members of the legislative delegation, with Rep. Russell Ott of Calhoun County citing his House district as an example.

River Bluff High School in Lexington School District 1 looks like a brand new college campus, he said. By contrast, his alma mater Swansea High school in rural Lexington 4 has buildings that are falling apart.

The Legislature is under order to address such disparities in rural South Carolina, with the Supreme Court mandating in the Abbeville case that education in rural districts such as those along the Interstate 95 corridor be improved. The ruling grew from a lawsuit by 40 rural districts in 1993 alleging that the state was not providing the constitutionally required minimally adequate education to all students.

In the three years since the decision, lawmakers have vowed to address the Abbeville ruling. Some actions have been taken regarding teacher pay and improving infrastructure, but major inequities remain.

Ott said, If were going to ultimately improve education in South Carolina, we are going to have to convince folks all across the state to move away from this protectionism type of mentality that we have ingrained in our system to only look out for ourselves.

And Hutto said its going to take leadership from the state and from a governor who cares about education, who makes us focus on education.

On Monday, Henry McMaster said he is a governor who cares.

The Republican met in Holly Hill with leadership of Orangeburg County Consolidated School District 3, one of the Abbeville plaintiffs, and visited school facilities as the first stop on what he is calling a tour of districts affected by the Supreme Courts 2014 ruling.

At Holly Hill-Roberts Middle School, the governor said, I want to understand deeply what we are facing in the future with our workforce and the people who are going to be in it. We have enormous opportunity coming our way in economic growth. But if were not ready, if were not educated and trained for these jobs, we can miss it.

McMaster said, If the rural areas get behind, all of us get behind.

Rural areas are behind and addressing that is what the Abbeville ruling is all about. The governors support will be important.

But as lawmakers warned during the chamber breakfast, the 2018 legislative session falls in an election year  one in which McMaster is seeking a full term as governor. History indicates that is not good for major accomplishments, particularly when they involve significant expenditures.

Heres hoping 2018 will be an exception for education.
The testing of the Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP) will start at the end of 2017, Turkish media outlets quoted Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Berat Albayrak as saying on November 1.

He noted that the first gas will be sent through TANAP to test the pipeline in late 2017.

Albayrak added that TANAP is one of the most important projects for Turkey.

TANAP project envisages transportation of gas from Azerbaijan's Shah Deniz field to the western borders of Turkey. The gas will be delivered to Turkey in 2018 and after completion of the Trans Adriatic Pipeline's construction the gas will be delivered to Europe in early 2020.

The length of TANAP is 1,850 kilometers with an initial capacity of 16 billion cubic meters of gas. Around six billion cubic meters of this gas is meant to be delivered to Turkey, with the remaining volume to be supplied to Europe.

The projects total cost is estimated at $8.5 billion.
By Trend





Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev met with Iranian President Hasan Rouhani in Tehran on November 1.

The role of historical, cultural and religious roots in strengthening of relations between the peoples of Azerbaijan and Iran was noted during the meeting.

Ten meetings held in the last five years between the heads of state were considered as an indicator of the two countries successful cooperation, and the successful development of political relations.

The two sides also discussed the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict at the meeting. President Aliyev spoke about Armenias occupation policy and the negotiation process on settlement of the conflict.

The two presidents discussed military and military-technical cooperation and perspectives in this field. Meanwhile, regional issues were touched upon, and the Azerbaijani and Iranian presidents exchanged views on the fight against terrorism and extremism.

It was noted that the Azerbaijan-Russia-Iran trilateral cooperation has great potential and this format can give good results for cooperation in very important spheres.

Economic cooperation issues were discussed at the meeting. The two presidents praised the fact that the countries trade turnover increased by 70 percent in 2016 and by 33 percent in the first nine months of 2017.

President Aliyev and President Rouhani exchanged views on issues of mutual investments, cooperation in energy, oil and gas, transport.

They also spoke about the successful implementation of the International North-South Transport Corridor project.
















By Trend





A senior official with the Railways of the Islamic Republic of Iran (RAI) has said financing railway projects through public-private partnership, foreign direct investment and leasing are among methods to cooperate with foreign investors.

Nourollah Beiranvand, the deputy for planning and investment at RAI encouraged foreign investors to participate in the countrys projects to develop its railway system, saying that Iranian government offers sovereign guarantee on foreign finances.

"Diversification of financial resources, using modern financial instruments, and luring foreign investment are among the main policies of the Railways of the Islamic Republic of Iran (RAI) to finance its projects," Nourollah Beiranvand told Trend.

Beiranvand added that the railways organization has taken measures in order to launch a specialized leasing company to offer services to private firms involved in providing the railways organization with the required fleet.

"The allocation of loans in the leasing company will take place through the resources of the national development fund of Iran," he said.

Calling on foreign investors to cooperate with Iranian railways in the issue of launching specialized leasing companies, Nourollah Beiranvand said that the RAI has already privatized its fleet of freight and passenger carriages.

He added that about 30 percent of the locomotives of the country have also been handed over to the private sector.

Saying that the RAI looks to maximize the role of the private sector in the issue of providing and utilizing railway fleet, he elaborated on the organizations plans to provide investors with economic incentives.

The official highlighted that the RAI offers guaranteed purchase of services to those privet firms that have acquired locomotives. In the meantime, the railways organization facilitates the allocation process of banking loans to those private firms involved in the manufacturing of freight and passenger carriages.

Another method to support investors is to cover the risks of currency fluctuation up to 10 percent, Berianvand mentioned.

Beiranvand believes that luring investment through the countrys capital market is another way to extend support to private firms involved in supplying railways fleet.

The official said that under the initiative his organization will take measures aimed at covering the risks of the private firms, drawing investment from the capital market.

The RAI in order to develop the countrys railways system has introduced worth of 28 billion euro of investment projects expected to be completed within the next five years.

Over the past year, the organization has finalized worth of three billion euro of investment agreements and it is currently in talks to cement more deals with foreign investors.
By Trend





Kazakhstan plans to hold the first green energy auction in 2018 to purchase energy generated from Renewable Energy Sources (RES), said Kazakh Energy Minister Kanat Bozumbayev during a government meeting on environmental issues, Kazakh media reported Oct. 31.

In 2018, we plan to hold the first auction on RES. I think ensuring attractive conditions for the winner of the auction would help us reduce the RES tariffs and attract major international investors, said Bozumbayev.

He stressed that the auction is expected to result positively for the country, and the tariffs for the Kazakh "green" electricity would be more acceptable for the consumers.

Previously such a practice was applied by Saudi Arabia when the Masdar company won an auction setting a price of 1.8 cents per 800 megawatt.

The minister mentioned that Kazakhstan has agreements with international financial institutions on allocating funds for development of renewable energy sector in the country. In particular the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development will allocate 200 million euros to renewable energy projects in Kazakhstan.
By Trend





Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev expressed his condolences to US President Donald over the terror attack in New York, the Uzbek Foreign Ministry reported.

Mirziyoyev noted that there can be no justification for this ruthless and extremely cruel crime.

"We strongly condemn any forms and manifestations of extremism and terrorism," the president's message says.

Mirziyoyev further stressed that the tragedy once again confirms the need to unite the efforts of the entire international community in countering such inhuman challenges of our time.

"Uzbekistan, for its part, is ready to use all the forces and means to assist in the investigation of this terrorist act," President Mirziyoyev said.

A driver plowed a pickup truck down a crowded bike path along the Hudson River in Manhattan on Tuesday, killing eight people and injuring 11 before being shot by a police officer in what officials are calling the deadliest terrorist attack on New York City since Sept. 11, 2001.

A native of Uzbekistan is suspected of committing the terror attack in New York, reports said.
AkzoNobel, a leading global paints company, has introduced a new brand in decorative paints in Oman, bringing together the home-grown Sadolin brand and the global colour and innovation leader Dulux.



Sadolin Dulux will offer customers in Oman with an amazing range of colours and technology currently offered by Dulux.



AkzoNobel announced the new brand that will feature a completely new product portfolio based on the latest global innovations and technology available. This brings a new colour delivery system with best-in-class accuracy and strength, as well as for the first time in Oman, the choice of customers to have any colour, any product  all colours available in full interior and exterior range.



AkzoNobel also introduced new colour and inspiration tools, such as the Sadolin Dulux Visualizer, an augmented reality mobile app; a portable and handheld paint testing service; new colour collaterals; and new in-store tinting apparatus at the gathering.



Jeremy Rowe, managing director of AkzoNobel Decorative Paints, South East and South Asia, Middle East, said: This is a significant step in further strengthening our operations in Oman. Sadolin is a successful homegrown brand that has enjoyed the trust and confidence of customers. With Sadolin Dulux, we are highlighting a significant evolution of the Made in Oman brand into a global brand that will offer a never-before range of colours and products for our customers here.



AkzoNobel is also introducing its ColourFutures in Oman. This is aimed at providing consumers with inspiration on what their homes can look like, and create colour palettes that will transform their living and working spaces accordingly.



Along with the launch of Sadolin Dulux, we are highlighting our proprietary ColourFutures. Refreshed annually, ColourFutures has been inspiring consumers for 15 years now and is the outcome of expert analysis of social, economic and design trends. Our customers can now easily keep up to speed with the latest trends in decorative paintings for homes and commercial spaces, he added.



The company has also announced Heart Wood as the 2018 Colour of the Year, following extensive research by a team of experts at the AkzoNobel Global Aesthetic Centre into trends, insights and consumer behaviours to predict paint colour palettes relevant to the future.



A subtle and warm tone of grown-up pink, Heart Wood (also known as Pictured Rocks) draws from the tactile qualities of natural wood and leather, conveying comfort and ease in response to consumers wanting to nestle down more and create a welcome home, just in time for Omani residents to give their homes a facelift for the New Year. It comes in four palettes - the Heart Wood Home, the Comforting Home, the Inviting Home and the Playful Home.



The new sub-brands under Sadolin Dulux meet the diverse requirements of customers with Colours of the World 88 Plus, an interior premium top coat paint; EasyClean, a stain resistant, anti-bacterial and washable premium interior paint; and the Ambiance range, one of the most premium aesthetic paints for interiors across the world.



Within the exterior paint range, Sadolin Dulux offers Weathershield 88XT, a premium top coat that offers excellent quality and protection; and Weathershield Powerflexx, with the latest crack proof technology that ensures 8-year protection against a host of exterior weathering elements.



AkzoNobel acquired a 50 per cent stake of Sadolin Paints Oman in 2013 after a joint venture agreement with Omar Zawawi Establishment. Since then, the company has been working on a full range of products in the Oman market. Headquartered in Amsterdam, AkzoNobels portfolio of brands include Dulux, Hammerite, Levis, Sikkens, International and Interpon.  TradeArabia News Service
Heavy equipment auction expert Ritchie Bros. is about to raise its stake in the UAE with the introduction of its new online-only brand - IronPlanet.



Complementing Ritchie Bros onsite auctions, IronPlanet is an online-only marketplace offering new benefits to customers, including selling without transporting items to a centrallised location and the ability to sell items for a fixed price, negotiate offers or set a reserve, said a statement from the company.



IronPlanet also offers a world-class inspection service that gives buyers confidence to buy online, sight unseen, it stated.



"Since IronPlanet launched in the US 18 years ago it has become a leader in online auctions and marketplaces, with 1.9 million users globally," remarked Karl Werner, the president, International, Ritchie Bros.



Ritchie Bros acquired IronPlanet earlier this year, deciding to quickly expand the brand and its service to its customers in the emirates.



With IronPlanet, were now offering a true multichannel solution for our customers, with options to sell, buy and list equipment when, where and how they want, whether onsite or online, said Werner.



Ritchie Bros has been helping businesses in the region sell construction, mining, transportation and other equipment for more than 20 years through its full-service onsite auctions in Dubai.



This year to date, the company has sold more than 5,500 items at its Dubai site and has another massive machinery auction scheduled on December 12 and 13.



Todays customers are much more comfortable with the online sales experience. In 2016, roughly half of the equipment sold in our onsite auctions was sold to online buyers, observed Werner.



Buyers can virtually inspect items online and review detailed inspection reports completed by qualified inspectors. Equipment sold through IronPlanet is backed by the companys IronClad Assurance, guaranteeing the accuracy of the inspection report on each item sold.



Our goal is to be a one-stop shop for all asset management and disposition, as well as providing equipment buyers the largest selection of equipment available anywhere in the region, he added.



Ritchie Bros' solutions in the UAE now include:



*Marketplacee reserved online marketplace: Flexible online auctions offering customers the choice of selling assets at a fixed price, negotiating offers, or setting a reserve (minimum) price. Equipment is not required to be transported to a central location prior to being sold.

*IronPlanets monthly online featured auctions: Regular online-only, unreserved monthly auctions. Equipment is not required to be transported to a central location prior to being sold.

*Ritchie Bros Auctioneers unreserved onsite auctions: Full-service, unreserved auctions with a live auctioneer and real-time online bidding. Equipment is stored at, and the auction is held at, a central Ritchie Bros auction site.



There are four onsite equipment auctions held at the companys Dubai site each year, it stated.



A major buyer and seller of used heavy equipment, trucks and other assets, Ritchie Bros operates in a multitude of sectors, including construction, transportation, agriculture, energy, oil and gas, mining, and forestry.-TradeArabia News Service
UAE-based corporate hospitality company blueground said work has been completed on 150 of its fully-furnished rental apartments located in some of the most popular areas of Dubai and the units are now ready for occupation.



A major player in Dubai, blueground leases and upgrades high-quality properties in the most sought-after locations, and subsequently rents them out to business travelers for mid-to-long term duration.

The company is adding 20 high-quality properties to its portfolio every month in areas such as City Walk, DIFC, the Marina, JBR as well as Downtown, and aims to reach the 500-apartment mark by the end of 2019, said a statement from the company.



Following a successful Series A fundraising earlier this year, blueground has also started operations in New York, with 15 Manhattan apartments already under lease.



Entering more and more new markets, the Dubai-based startup is disrupting the corporate hospitality sector globally, said its top official.



"Our successful experience in Dubai gave us the confidence to expand to the US, where we are already seeing a strong demand for our unique serviced apartment experience," remarked Alexandros Chatzieleftheriou, the chief executive and co-founder of blueground.



In a very competitive real-estate environment, like that of Dubai, blueground has gained the trust of over one hundred apartment owners, since it started its UAE operations in June 2016, he added.



The company offers beautifully furnished and serviced apartments to business travellers and expats, for durations of one month or longer.



It currently offers serviced apartments in the most sought-after locations in Athens, Istanbul, Dubai and New York,



According to him, these investors have rented their properties to blueground because they acknowledge the significant benefits the company offers; long-term and flexible leasing agreements, stable monthly rental income, and complete maintenance management.



Amine Housni, the head of UAE operations and co-founder of blueground, said: "We are very pleased to welcome more and more property owners to our network every month. We strongly believe in Dubais long-term potential as the regions business hub and we will continue to expand our corporate accommodation offering."



Samih Toukan, the chairman at Jabbar Internet Group which participated in the last funding round, said it very impressed by the refreshing synthesis between physical and digital operations that blueground has achieved.



"The company has already made an impact on Dubais business traveler market  undoubtedly one of the most important aspects of the citys economy. bluegrounds solution is innovative and its outstanding product, branding, and quick rollout are all testaments of the teams extraordinary ability to grow the business," he added.



Since 2013, blueground operates more than 600 apartments in Dubai, Istanbul, Athens, and New York, hosting over three thousand business guests. It has raised a total funding of $8.2 million from European, American and Middle East funds.


Gulf Education and Training Exhibition (Getex) Autumn Edition 2017, the latest edition of the leading student recruitment platform, has opened today (November 1) in Dubai, UAE welcoming more than 5,000 learners.



The event will run until November 3 at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre.



The regions most trusted event for higher education features a wide variety of study streams from over 50 regional and international universities located in eight countries, which are set to open their admissions between November 2017 and April 2018. The courses are focused on occupational and industrial skills, continuing education courses and other professional development offerings.



Anselm Godinho, managing director, IC&E and organizer of Getex, said: We are excited to present to students and parents the range of new courses and career options they can choose from in this years Autumn Edition of Getex.



Universities are here to address students concerns and present their course options to learners aspiring to study further. Admissions officers and education counsellors are ready to offer them career guidance on the appropriate program, including advices on scholarship opportunities.  TradeArabia News Service
US-based Emerson, a global technology and engineering company, has announced an extension of its Plantweb digital ecosystem with the new Plantweb Insight Heat Exchanger application.



The new app is an affordable, easy-to-use analytics and asset alert predictive intelligence tool, which provides maintenance staff real-time access to critical heat exchanger diagnostics anytime, anywhere to improve operations in chemical, oil and gas and refining operations, said a statement from the company.



Providing quick return on investment through reduced slowdowns and shutdowns, Emersons Plantweb Insight apps leverage Emersons Pervasive Sensing Strategies to help users instantly make sense of plant data and drive overall enterprise profitability, it said.



Emersons Plantweb Insight Heat Exchanger app joins the previously announced apps for pumps, steam traps and pressure gauges, it added.



Michael Sowell, regional manager of energy distribution, Evonik, said: The web interface with Plantweb Insight is very intuitive. It is easy to get useful information about our steam traps without requiring a lot of user training. This makes it easy for operators and engineers to benefit from the system.



The Plantweb Insight apps employ pre-built algorithms based on decades of process experience and industry-vetted analytics to deliver predictive diagnostics, enabling maintenance prioritisation. The easy to use interface allows maintenance and operations to take instant action within a browser from any laptop, tablet, smartphone or other device connected to the network, said a statement.



Plantweb Insight monitors shell and tube heat exchangers to provide real-time status and alerts including fouling, heat duty and heat transfer coefficient. It does not require integration with the plants existing monitoring and control system. It can operate completely independent of existing or legacy control systems.



The app can also leverage existing data points if desired, using OPC UA to collect data stored in the control system, historian or data base if access is available.



Plantweb Insight apps paired with wireless instrumentation lower the cost to entry for customers looking to implement an Industrial IoT strategy.



Emersons Plantweb digital ecosystem is a next-generation Industrial IoT portfolio that extends the power of automation beyond process control to the entire enterprise, it stated.  TradeArabia News Service
Many organisations worldwide still struggle to comprehend and manage emerging cyber risks in an increasingly complex digital society, said assurance, advisory and tax services provider PwC in a new report.



PwC launched its 2018 Global State of Information Security Survey (GSISS), based on responses of more than 9,500 senior business and technology executives from 122 countries.



Executives worldwide acknowledge the increasingly high stakes of cyber insecurity. Forty per cent of survey respondents cite the disruption of operations as the biggest consequence of a cyberattack, 39 per cent cite the compromise of sensitive data, 32 per cent cite harm to product quality, and 22 per cent cite harm to human life.



Yet despite this awareness, many companies at risk of cyberattacks remain unprepared to deal with them. Forty-four per cent say they do not have an overall information security strategy. Forty-eight per cent say they do not have an employee security awareness training programme, and 54 per cent say they do not have an incident-response process.



How cyber interdependence drives global risk



Case studies of non-cyber disasters have shown that cascading events often begin with the loss of powerand many systems are impacted instantaneously or within one day, meaning there is generally precious little time to address the initial problem before it cascades. Interdependencies between critical and non-critical networks often go unnoticed until trouble strikes. Many people worldwideparticularly in Japan, the US, Germany, the UK and South Koreaare concerned about cyberattacks from other countries.



Tools for conducting cyberattacks are proliferating worldwide. Smaller nations are aiming to develop capabilities like those used by larger countries. And the leaking of US National Security Agency (NSA) hacking tools has made highly sophisticated capabilities available to malicious hackers.



When cyberattacks occur, most victimized companies say they cannot clearly identify the culprits. Only 39 per cent of survey respondents say they are very confident in their attribution capabilities.



The soaring production of insecure internet-of-things (IoT) devices is creating widespread cybersecurity vulnerabilities. Rising threats to data integrity could undermine trusted systems and cause physical harm by damaging critical infrastructure.



Meanwhile, there is a wide disparity in cybersecurity preparedness among countries around the world. In our 2018 GSISS, the frequency of organisations possessing an overall cybersecurity strategy is particularly high in Japan (72 per cent), where cyberattacks are seen as the leading national security threat, and Malaysia (74 per cent).



In May 2017, G-7 leaders pledged to work together and with other partners to tackle cyberattacks and mitigate their impact on critical infrastructure and society. Two months later, G-20 leaders reiterated the need for cybersecurity and trust in digital technologies. The task ahead is huge.



"Often in the Middle East, organisations try to address their cybersecurity issues by buying the latest technology or implementing the best standards, but unfortunately that doesn't work on its own, said Wael Fattouh, PwC Middle East partner, Cyber and Technology Risk.



Effective security must be achieved by smart and effective investments in People, Processes, and Technology together, that is the only way to ensure a proper and resilient level of protection.



Next steps for business leaders



So what can business leaders do to prepare effectively for cyberattacks? PwC recommends three key areas of focus:



C-suites must lead the charge and boards must be engaged: Senior leaders driving the business must take ownership of building cyber resilience. Setting a top-down strategy to manage cyber and privacy risks across the enterprise is essential.



Pursue resilience as a path to rewardsnot merely to avoid risk: Achieving greater risk resilience is a pathway to stronger, long-term economic performance.



Purposefully collaborate and leverage lessons learned: Industry and government leaders must work across organisational, sectoral and national borders to identify, map, and test cyber-dependency and interconnectivity risks as well as surge resilience and risk-management.  TradeArabia News Service
The exhibition features artwork from different periods of Warholscareer which all share Cadillac as the subject.

Cadillac, in partnership with The Andy Warhol Museum, has announced 2017s final exhibition of Letters to Andy Warhol, which is set to take place at UAEs Dubai Design District (d3) as part of Dubais urban lifestyle event, Sole DXB.

Held from December 8-16, the collaborative project between Cadillac and the cultural institution celebrates Warhols legacy through imaginative, co-created content and experiences. It includes five pieces of artwork, across varying mediums and techniques, from different periods of Warhols career, which all share Cadillac as the subject.

As an icon, celebrity and artist, Andy Warhol was among the most influential people who lived in the 20th century. A daring innovator and remarkable entrepreneur, Andy Warhol blurred the lines between art and commerce, celebrating iconic fixtures of American life - the Cadillac a mainstay in his lifes works.

Fresh off the back of announcing a heavyweight cultural billing for the 2017 event that includes Kano, Pusha T, and Hiroshi Fujiwara, Sole DXB has announced additional programming news as Cadillac and the Andy Warhol Museum come together for an archive-led exhibition, which will launch at Sole DXB 2017.

Nadim Ghrayeb, Regional Marketing Manager, Cadillac Middle East, said: We are proud to partner with Sole DXB and bring a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to the Middle East, providing visitors the chance to witness art by one of the worlds most famous pop artists, Andy Warhol. We consider Sole DXB an ideal platform for organizing Letters to Andy Warhol and look forward to welcoming the regions pop fans to the world of Andy Warhol and Cadillac.

Rajat Malhotra, Director, Sole DXB said: Having worked with Cadillac for three years now, this is the level of commitment and caliber of execution weve come to expect from their team. Were thrilled to host the launch of Letters to Andy Warhol at Sole DXB. The exhibition signals how wed like to approach the representation of art, one of our key pillars, going forward. Andy Warhol played a huge role in our understanding of culture, growing up, and we hope that by looking into our past, this will help to design our future.

Letters to Andy Warhol showcases rarely-seen letters from the likes of Yves Saint Laurent, Mick Jagger, the Museum of Modern Art, the New York State Department of Public Works and a mutual friend of his and Truman Capote that offer a glimpse into Warhols most personal experiences and relationships. Each letter has inspired artistic contributions and experiences from a roster of talent including Aimee Mullins, Brian Atwood, Chiara Clemente, Derek Blasberg, David LaChapelle, Francesco Clemente, J.J. Martin, Nick Rhodes, Sean Lennon, Sienna Miller and Zac Posen.

The exhibition provides a unique dialogue between the era of handwritten notes and our technology-filled present. This rare glimpse into Warhols private correspondence reveals the bold spirit of a brilliant American icon  a multi-faceted, sensitive and ambitious artist whose determined self-belief and overarching optimism Cadillac is proud to celebrate at Sole DXB this December, the company said.-TradeArabia News Service
Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy (SGRE), a leading provider of wind power products and solutions to customers around the globe, said the company will supply 310 wind turbines of different types for five projects in the US.



With various output ratings and rotor diameters, the projects feature Siemens and Gamesa technology of the recently merged company, said a statement from the company.



A total of 92 units of the SWT-2.3-108, 144 units of the SWT-2.625-120 and 74 units of the G126-2.625 MW wind turbines will be installed across the various project sites, it said.



Together, these five onshore wind projects will have the potential to provide clean power to nearly 240,000 US homes, it added.



The nacelles and hubs for the SWT-2.3-108 and SWT-2.625-120 will be assembled at the SGRE factory in Hutchinson (Kansas) and the majority of the blades for the five projects will be manufactured at the companys blade facility in Fort Madison (Iowa), with the excess being sourced within the North America manufacturing network, said a statement.



The company has installed more than 9,000 wind turbines (over 17 GWs) in the US and has a strong footprint consisting of manufacturing, service and offices.



Ricardo Chocarro, CEO, onshore, SGRE, said: Im very pleased that our company was selected for these five major orders in the US. These orders demonstrate the confidence that our customers have in our combined product offerings.



With our strong product portfolio we are able to provide competitive products meeting our customers specific needs in North America, a market that is critical to the success of this company, he added.  TradeArabia News Service
A whopping 80 per cent of enterprises are investing today in artificial intelligence (AI), but one in three business leaders believe their company will need to invest more over the next 36 months to keep pace with competitors.



At the same time, enterprises are anticipating significant barriers to adoption and are looking to strategise against those issues by creating a new C-suite position, the chief AI Officer (CAIO) to streamline and coordinate AI adoption. These results come from survey of 260 large organizations that operate globally, conducted by leading technology industry market research firm Vanson Bourne on behalf of Teradata, the leading data and analytics company.



There is an important trend emerging evident in this report  enterprises today see AI as a strategic priority that will help them outpace the competition in their respective industries, says Atif Kureishy, vice president, Emerging Practices at ThinkBig, a Teradata company. But to leverage the full potential of this technology and gain maximum ROI, these businesses will need to revamp their core strategies so AI has an embedded role from the data center to the boardroom.



Companies are doubling down on AI investments

The survey results found that companies are bullish and expect their AI investments to be worth the upfront cost.



The industries where respondents expect to see the most impact from AI are IT, technology and telecoms (59 per cent), business and professional services (43 per cent), and customer services and financial services were tied for third (32 per cent).



The top three challenges where businesses expect AI to drive revenue are product innovation/research and development (50 per cent), customer service (46 per cent), and supply chain and operations (42 per cent). This mirrored some of the top areas of AI investment, which include customer experience (62 per cent), product innovation (59 per cent) and operational excellence (55 per cent).



While adoption rates are high and companies expect AI to prove its worth, there is a lot of opportunity for future implementation:



 80 per cent of respondents report that some form of AI is already in production in their organization, although 42 per cent say that there is lots of room for further implementation across the business.

 30 per cent still believe that their organization isnt investing enough and will need to invest more in AI technologies over the next 36 months to keep up with competitors in their industry.

 On average, the companies surveyed are currently investing $6.47 million in AI technology  that number rises to $8.25 million average spend for companies in APAC.



Challenges lie ahead for AI realisation

Almost all respondents are anticipating barriers to adoption and ROI  as is the case with nearly every emerging technology. Businesses are ready to continue to invest in AI, likely because of the gains executives and IT decision-makers anticipate in cost and time savings, but lack of IT infrastructure and lack of access to talent are cited as the leading barriers. Surprisingly, business leaders are not as concerned about the impact AI and automation will have on employee morale  only 20 per cent see this as a barrier  and even less, 19 per cent, are worried about making a business case for AI.



 91 per cent expect to see barriers to AI realization, with lack of IT infrastructure (40 per cent) and lack of access to talent (34 per cent) leading the challenges, followed by lack of budget for implementation (30 per cent), complications around policies, regulations and rights (28 per cent) and impact on customer expectations (23 per cent). By contrast only 19 per cent view a weak business case for AI technologies as a concern and only 20 per cent are concerned about the impact of AI and automation on employee morale.

 Businesses anticipate about a half-and-half split between revenue increases (53 per cent) and cost/efficiency savings (47 per cent) from their AI investments.

 Only 28 per cent of respondents say that their organisation has enough trained people internally to buy, build and deploy AI.

How businesses are strategising to extract ROI from AI

While executives currently rely on existing technology leaders like CIOs and CTOs to steer AI adoption and strategy, they believe the future of AI will be so relevant for creating a strategy across business practices that they will need a CAIO (Chief AI Officer) to coordinate and mandate implementation throughout the enterprise.



 The CIO (47 per cent) and CTO (43 per cent) are leading the effort today, with 62 per cent of respondents say they are planning to hire a dedicated role  a CAIO  to lead the effort in the future.

 Companies expect a $1.99 ROI in the next five years for every dollar invested today and $2.87 in ROI over the next 10 years.

 The industries that most anticipate positive impacts are: IT, technology and telecoms (59 per cent); business and professional services (43 per cent); consumer services (32 per cent); financial services (32 per cent); and manufacturing and production (31 per cent).



What it means

Tech companies have been promising AI as a robust solution and business strategy for the past few years, and this survey shows businesses are realizing the benefits of AI adoption today.



As we continue to adopt AI solutions across our business, were finding it is a proven differentiator for creating opportunities to streamline our operations and drive revenue, said Nadeem Gulzar, head of Global Analytics, Danske Bank. Finding the right talent is always a challenge in emerging tech fields and having service-based options, as well as off-the-shelf, will be important to fill the gap as we continue to invest in this technology.



Enterprises expect AI to be a technology with longevity, planning to double their investment in five years and triple it within 10 years. But to maximize this ROI, companies realize they must re-imagine how AI will disrupt all aspects of their businesses and create a suitably agile strategy to gain ROI. - TradeArabia News Service


The St. Regis Doha was awarded 'Qatars Leading Resort' and 'Qatars Leading Hotel Suite' at the renowned 2017 World Travel Awards (WTA), held in Dubai last week.



The World Travel Awards are the ultimate in travel recognition, celebrating companies and organisations that have consistently pushed the boundaries of industry excellence in both product and service. They underline the exceptional professionalism, care and determination that teams must deliver and maintain daily when caring for guests needs. World Travel Award winners were selected by online ballot entries between March and August 2017.



The St. Regis Doha, known as The Finest Address in Qatar boasts stunning views of the Arabian Gulf, with 336 rooms and suites, 12 award-winning restaurants and bars, 6,500-sq-m of meeting space and extensive recreational facilities including its famed Remede Spa, as well as an impressive Olympic sized swimming pool and beachfront cabanas, all complete with private jacuzzis for the ultimate relaxation experience  the perfect resort hotel which has been recognised by the presentation of this accolade.



The St. Regis Dohas Presidential Suite is an incredibly impressive 720-sq-m suite being fit for truly worldly travellers that delight in having expectations not only met but exceeded. This two storey suite features two to three bedrooms and a private Majilis, along with the signature St. Regis Butler service and full access to the Hotels recreational facilities. The Presidential Suite is poised to go beyond everyday excellence into another realm, as it merges unsurpassed opulence and luxury with those of the traditional Middle East.



Tareq Derbas, area general manager of The St. Regis Doha, said: We are extremely proud to be awarded two such prestigious accolades from the World Travel Awards. The St. Regis Doha has always prided itself on being the finest address in the country, and it is a wonderful honour to be recognised by for having Qatars Leading Luxury Suite with our stunning presidential suite as well as reinforcing our unparalleled leisure facilities with being voted as Qatars Leading Resort.



The World Travel Awards was launched in 1993 to acknowledge excellence in the travel and tourism industry and is now in its 24th year. Awards are presented across three tiers: country, regional and world awards, based on votes by the public and travel professionals worldwide. - TradeArabia News Service


UAE-based developer Omniyat has announced plans to open its 167-room luxury hotel, The Langham, Downtown Dubai, in the third quarter of 2020.



The hotel, to be managed by Langham Hospitality Group, will be located in the heart of the Marasi development on the banks of Dubai Canal. It is expected to open in time for Expo 2020 Dubai.



In anticipation of the project, Omniyat has announced that it will hold a unique Langham-style experiential demonstration in Dubai next week, which will transport visitors to the famous London hotel and give the UAE its first taste of The Langhams quintessential style and flavour.



The one-day event, to be held at the ballroom of the Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach on November 6 and inspired by The Langham, London, will be designed with authentic Langham furnishings, service and the hotels iconic loose-leaf tea  The Langham, London is credited as being the birthplace of afternoon tea, said the developer.



It is open to members of public and will also act as a fully immersive sales event. This will be the first opportunity for potential buyers to invest in Langham Place Residences, Downtown Dubai, it stated.



Omniyat said it is offering eight per cent guaranteed return on the high-end apartments, as a show of the developers confidence in the iconic brand and the project.



Both the hotel and residences boast stunning views of the new marina on one side and the Burj Khalifa on the other. It will be a 167-room hotel with 239 fully-serviced luxury residences, ranging from one-, two- and three-bedroom suites to duplex penthouses.



Mahdi Amjad, the executive chairman and CEO, said: "Omniyat has always strived to break new ground in Dubais property sector and to collaborate with the worlds most prestigious brands. By finally bringing The Langham to the UAE, we continue this core strength of our work."



The Langham Hotels and Resorts brand is the pinnacle of high-end service and recognised around the world for its richly decorated rooms, contemporary furnishings and its inimitable English air of prestige, stated Amjad.



"Dubai has been longing for a hotel like this to shake the luxury sector and redefine luxury lifestyle in the market," he added.



Andrew Jessop, the senior vie-president of Worldwide Development at Langham Hospitality Group, said: "The arrival of the Langham Hotels and Resorts brand in the Middle East establishes a new territory for us, and it happens to be one of the most evolving hospitality markets in the world."



"Partnering with Omniyat was a natural choice for us, as their iconic property portfolio mirrors Langham Hospitality Groups ethos of operating historic or design-driven buildings," noted Jessop.



Were looking forward to celebrating the opening of The Langham, Downtown Dubai just as the city gets ready to host the world as part of Expo 2020, another landmark occasion in Dubais achievement timeline, he added.-TradeArabia News Service
DEER LODGE, Mont.  U.S. Rep. Greg Gianforte says blocking frivolous lawsuits and boosting emergency spending on wildfires would help restore Montana's forests to better health.

Gianforte made the comments while touring clearcuts in the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest on Monday with U.S. Rep. Bruce Westerman of Arkansas,.

The two Republican congressmen are backing a proposed bill in Congress dealing with forest management.

The two representatives toured parts of the East Deer Lodge Landscape Restoration Project and Sun Mountain Lumber Co.'s Deer Lodge sawmill on Monday. The project includes about 2,500 acres (1,011 hectares) of harvestable timber, as well as other sites where crews cleared out large stands of beetle-killed lodgepole pine.
An eastern coal company recently denied a permit to mine in northern Wyoming is appealing to the courts, but said it will continue working with regulators to clear up what the state has labelled as deficiencies in its mining plan.

In an appeal filed Friday, the companys lawyers argue that there were a number of procedural errors leading up to and following a citizens board decision that Ramaco Carbons mining plan failed to address environmental concerns. The boards opinion was followed by a denial from state regulators.

Ramaco will have to further study how blasting will impact the surrounding community, regulators said, and on what mining will do to water and soil.

In a statement on the appeal, Ramaco CEO Randall Atkins said the company is committed to being a good steward of Wyomings air, water and soil.

The  appeal is simply procedurally necessary, due to the judicial process, Atkins said. We will address all of the alleged deficiencies raised by the [citizens board] in a manner that the State of Wyoming wants.

The mine, and proposed carbon product research facilities linked to the mine, will be an economic boon for Wyoming, he said. The facility would be located in a previously-mined area in northern Wyoming near the small ranching community of Ranchester. It would be the first new coal mine in Wyoming in decades.

Shannon Anderson, lawyer for the Powder River Basin Resource Council, which opposed the companys mining plan, said Ramaco was sending mixed messages.

The company had warned of a legal battle in a strongly worded dismissal of the council decision in September, but following the departments denial of the permit weeks later, Ramaco took a softer turn, expressing its desire to work with state regulators to clear up deficiencies.

The council and the company have been at odds for nearly a year, with locals questioning the companys commitment to the community. One of the points raised during the citizens board hearing was Ramacos failure to hold any public meetings in the Sheridan area that would be impacted by the first mining operations in more than three decades.

The companys appeal to the courts was criticized Tuesday by members of the resource council.

Instead of tilting at legal windmills, it would benefit everyone more if Ramaco put its time and resources into actually fixing the serious deficiencies in its coal mine permit application, said Powder River Basin Resource Council Chairman Bob LeResche, alluding to the novel Don Quixote where the protagonist fights windmills that he thinks are giants.

This appeal tells the residents of the Tongue River Valley and the rest of us in Sheridan County that the company isnt concerned with protecting the important water resources and quality of life of the valley, but instead just wants to push forward with its deficient plan for a coal mine, regardless of the consequences to local citizens.

State regulators were not aware of the appeal Tuesday morning, and could not comment until they had reviewed the court documents, a spokesman said.

It is not unusual for groups to appeal after a citizens board decision. As noted in Ramacos filing, such an appeal is the right of a disgruntled party. But denying a coal mining permit isnt run of the mill, said Anderson, with the Powder River Basin Resource Council.

Everyone will have to dust off their case law.
Thursdays Highlights</&h1>

Thursday support meetings

Alcoholics Anonymous: 6:30 a.m., 917 N. Beech; 8:30 a.m., 500 S. Wolcott; 10 a.m., 328 E. A; noon, 500 S. Wolcott; 2 p.m., 917 N. Beech; 5:30 p.m., 328 E. A; 7 p.m., 500 S. Wolcott, closed; 8 p.m., 328 E. A; 8 p.m., 4600 S. Poplar, closed; 8 p.m., 917 N. Beech. Douglas: 7:30 p.m., 628 E. Richards (upstairs in back). Unless otherwise noted, all meetings are open. Casper info: 266-9578; Douglas info: (307) 351-1688.

Al-Anon: 7 p.m., 500 S. Wolcott, Ste. 200. Douglas: 5 p.m., Congregational United Church, 405 N. 6th St.

Narcotics Anonymous: Noon, 500 S. Wolcott, 12-24 Club; 8 p.m., 4700 S. Poplar (church basement). Web site: http://www.urmrna.org.

Day of the Dead

Come to The Nicolaysen Art Museum from 5 to 8 p.m., for a celebration of life. There will be a community altar where you are invited to bring your own offerings to leave in tribute to friends or family who have departed. In previous years people have left photos, names, playing cards, feathers, etc. There will also be small clay skulls upon which you can leave the name of your loved one. In addition to the community altar, there will be individual and group altars, dance, food by La Cocina and Kiki Rochelle, music, drinks by C85, face painting by A Splash of Color, free crafts for kids in the Discovery Center, lectures about Dia de los Muertos, and a Day of the Dead themed art show with works available for $250 or less. Come as you are or in full costume. The event is free to members and $5 per non-member.

Dean Morgan conferences

Dean Morgan hosts Parent Teacher Conferences from 4 to 6:30 p.m., on both Thursday, Nov. 2 and Tuesday, Nov. 7. Please report to the appropriate grade level hallway to begin. Grade 6 Middle Floor, Grade 7 Bottom Floor, Grade 8 Top Floor. Refreshments will be served.

Turkey bowling at Art Walk

Help raise money to feed hungry people in Natrona County while testing your skill at bowling with frozen turkeys during the November Art Walk at David Street Station.

With a donation to the Central Wyoming Rescue Mission, you can roll a frozen turkey down the lane, and aim to knock over assorted sizes of Pepsi products. If you get a strike (knocking over all the pins), then you win a Pepsi product of your choice.

The event will take place at David Street Station during the Art Walk. Bowling begins at 5 p.m., and will continue while supplies last.

This will be an outdoor event, and the public is encouraged to bundle up in case of cold weather. The Ramkota Hotel has generously donated hot cocoa for all participants.

The event is free and open to all ages, however a donation is required to participate in the turkey bowling.

For a more information about the event, to sign up for the David Street Station newsletter, or to view upcoming events, visit www.davidstreetstaion.com.

First Thursday Art Walk

First Thursday Art Walk from 5 to 8 p.m., will be the opening for the November Exhibits at Art 321, including the Annual Postcards and Pint-sized Art Event. There are also exhibitions by two Wyoming artists. Mary Jane Edwards, artist and executive director of the Jentel Foundation in Banner has staged two distinct shows. Caged Memories, and Homeland Security. Elaine Olafson Henry of Sheridan is a ceramics artist, curator and writer.

Art Walk: Dia de los Muertos

Stop by the Natrona County Library Crawford Room anytime between 5 and 8 p.m. during the Casper Art Walk to celebrate the Day of the Dead by creating papel picado  a decorative craft made out of paper cut into beautiful and elaborate designs. All supplies provided at no cost. Call 577.READ x2 or email reference@natronacountylibrary.org for more information.

Stammtisch meets

The Casper Stammtisch, a group interested in German-American heritage, the German language and fun discussions in both languages invites you to join the following events this fall:

Thursday no-host monthly meeting: November 2 at 5:30 p.m. at The Office restaurant, 520 S. Ash St.
Wyoming voters prefer spending reductions over tax increases to balance the states budget and are open to cutting administrative education spending, according to a poll released Tuesday by the Wyoming Business Alliance.

The survey also showed that voters were opposed to increasing sales and property taxes in order to balance the state budget by a 46 percent margin.

(T)he level of intensity against tax increases is extremely high, Robert Jones, vice president of the GS Strategy Group, which conducted the poll, said in a statement.

The business groups survey contrasts with one released by the Wyoming Education Association in August, which found that more than three-quarters of voters in the state were willing to pay more taxes to fund the cost of public education.

Wyoming is facing a $700 million deficit for the next two-year budget cycle ahead of the Legislatures February session. Of that, the school operations account faces a $340 million funding gap, according to the latest revenue estimates.

At the time of both polls the deficit was significantly higher, close to $1 billion overall, with more than a $500 million deficit in the school operations account. Those gaps shrunk following the release of new state revenue projections last week.

But the two surveys do not directly contradict each other.

Mixed results

The business alliance poll showed that 71 percent of voters opposed increasing sales and property taxes to help balance the Wyoming state budget. When asked which single option was preferable, 69 percent of voters favored spending cuts over tax increases to balance the budget.

However, the survey did not separate sales from property tax and did not specifically ask respondents about using taxes to fund education, instead asking about the entire state budget.

The WEA poll found that while 58 percent of voters said it would be acceptable to increase state sales tax to fund education, only 39 percent said it would be OK to raise property taxes. Solid majorities supported increasing taxes on wind energy and on mining oil and gas.

In the business alliance poll, 80 percent of respondents said that Wyoming can afford to cut school administration costs while just 15 percent said that any cuts would harm the education system.

In the education groups survey, 78 percent said that the Legislature should not cut funding for K-12 education in the state, though the poll did not ask specifically about administrative costs.

WBA President Cindy DeLancey said that the polls results were not meant to encourage the Legislature to exclusively pursue spending cuts to balance that states budget.

Wyoming has options available to it beyond simply raising taxes or cutting spending, DeLancey said in a statement.

Specifically, the group would like the Legislature to change the laws governing how investment revenue can be spent, essentially allowing more of the gains to be spent directly rather than being funneled to reserve accounts or back into the investment accounts corpus. In a question prefaced with a criticism of Wyomings current investment policy, 83 percent of respondents said they would support changing the investment strategy.

Improving our investment performance and taking a real, serious look at administration costs and reforms can bridge (the) funding gap without raising taxes or cutting classroom spending, DeLancey said.

DeLancey was not immediately available to comment on the survey results Tuesday.

The WBA poll surveyed 500 likely voters in Wyoming and was conducted between Oct. 7 and 10. It has a margin of error of 4.38 percent. The research firm that conducted the survey, GS Strategy Group, is an Idaho-based company that works primarily with corporations and business advocacy groups, according to its website.

Independent and Republican voters were more opposed to raising taxes than Democrats. Independents opposed increasing both the sales and property tax by a margin of 48 percent and Republicans by a margin of 56 percent. Democrats were also opposed, but by a much smaller margin of just 5 percent.

Legislatures decisions

Senate President Eli Bebout, R-Riverton, has said he will seek to block any tax increases to fund education before major spending cuts are made. However, the joint revenue committee is considering a handful of options to increase revenue by several-hundred-million dollars, including tax increases.

The release of the business groups poll comes ahead of the committees meeting next week in Cheyenne where it will discuss various proposals for raising revenue.

Lawmakers, including Bebout, have appeared relatively open to a so-called tourism tax that would target the hospitality and recreation industry in a form similar to local lodging taxes currently used by cities and counties to fund travel boards.

Rep. Cathy Connolly, D-Laramie, has also requested that raising the cigarette tax be brought back before the revenue committee next week. However a similar proposal was shot down by the committee over the summer.

Wyoming lawmakers to consider 'menu' of new taxes as education funding crisis looms The Wyoming Legislature is taking baby steps toward considering new taxes in a state known f

Other tax measures to be considered include subjecting services to sales tax, adjusting the property tax assessment rates and increased taxes on alcohol.
The state of Wyoming and a ranching group have entered into the latest in a series of contentious lawsuits over the presence of wild horses in southwest Wyoming, pitting wild horse advocates against the Bureau of Land Management.

On Tuesday, Wyoming and the Rock Springs Grazing Association were granted permission to enter the current dispute over a horse gather in three regions of southwest Wyoming near Rock Springs, where the BLM recently rounded up wild horses in accordance with a 2013 settlement between the ranching group and the federal government.

Wild horse group criticizes BLM roundup in southwest Wyoming A horse advocacy group is accusing the Bureau of Land Management of removing more wild horse

Wild horse advocates have repeatedly argued that the BLM illegally implemented that settlement, which sought to keep the number of wild horses in the region within federal population targets. Livestock operators argue that wild horses damage the range.

The 10th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in favor of the horse advocates last year, determining that the BLMs attempt to remove all wild horses from the checkerboard of public and private land adjacent to Interstate 80 was illegal because it treated both the public portions of that land as though they were private parcels not subject to federal law governing the treatment of wild horses.

But U.S. District Court Judge Nancy Freudenthal declined to halt the most recent gather, which took place over several weeks in October, despite claims by the horse advocates that the BLM failed to properly conduct an environmental review prior to the gather and that it was removing horses less than 1-year-old but not counting those horses against its total removal goal.

Wyoming wild horse roundup continues amid counting dispute CHEYENNE  A roundup of wild horses continued Monday in the desert of southwestern Wyoming a

Delaying the gather would allow the wild horse population to expand, wasting the BLMs scarce resources invested in organizing the proposed gather and forcing the BLM to lose out on the costs it has already incurred, Freudenthal wrote.

Despite the wild horse gather concluding on Oct. 17, the lawsuit is continuing and will likely address both whether the BLM took the steps required before starting the gather and whether the agency may choose not to include young horses within the total removal counts in the future. The State of Wyoming and the grazing association sought to enter the lawsuit shortly after it was filed but the request was only granted on Tuesday.

Senior Assistant Attorney General Erik Petersen wrote in his motion to join the case that Wyoming had a legitimate interest in the case because it owned a significant portion of the land on which the wild horses were being collected.

Domestic livestock use the States land for only a few months of the year, and the State and livestock producers manage the livestock when they are present, Petersen wrote. In contrast, wild horses use the States land year round, but the State cannot manage the wild horse population.
CHEYENNE  A student journalist is accusing Laramie County Community College of mishandling a racial harassment complaint.

Isaiah Colbert is an editor of Wingspan, LCCCs student media organization.

He said a student in his Publications Production course  the Wingspan class  made a racially insensitive joke, which he reported to James Miller, LCCCs interim dean of student life. Colbert is unhappy with the response Miller and other college officials have so far provided.

Colbert said the incident happened several weeks ago while student journalists were preparing their print publication for distribution  adding stamps, etc.

As we were doing that, one of the guys came back from distributing the newspaper into our newsstands on the campus, Colbert said.

Colbert said he asked the student why his hands were so dark and the student explained that the ink rubbed off on him.

Then the person in question said, Oh, were you choking black people or something? Thats where the whole thing really started, he said.

Colbert spoke with his adviser, who helped him file a complaint the day after the incident. He met with Miller a few days later.

Colbert said Miller asked him what happened, who witnessed the incident and what he would like done to fix the situation. He told Miller the student should be removed from the class.

If it were me, I would assume I would be kicked out of class, he said.

Colbert said Miller told him that LCCC isnt a court of law and that consequences must follow college policies and be a learning experience.

Colbert said in this case, the learning experience assigned to the student is a research paper about the problems black people are facing in the world today. She also is required to formally apologize to him following that, he said.

He added that Miller told him the comment the student made was within her First Amendment rights.

This isnt a First Amendment issue. The First Amendment protects the belief, not the conduct, Colbert said.

He added that a person can dislike a group of people, and even say so, and still be protected by the First Amendment.

If you go about making a joke about them that is inflammatory or inciting violence, thats when I think the First Amendment doesnt protect you, he explained.

Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 states that colleges must protect students from discrimination while also protecting First Amendment rights.

It says colleges should do this by communicating a rejection of stereotypical, derogatory opinions and ensuring that competing views are heard.

Colbert said he took his complaint to LCCC Trustee Brenda Lyttle, who then contacted LCCC President Joe Schaffer and Judy Hay, LCCCs vice president of student services.

Colbert said Hay told him the incident wasnt worth the student losing her education over. He argued the student can take the course again next semester.

If you say something like that in a class setting, and its that inflammatory in front of someone who is from that race, you should be removed from class. And that, in itself, is a learning experience.

Colbert said Hay told him he needs to let the investigation process play out.

Hay, Schaffer and Miller all declined to comment on the situation because of the ongoing investigation. They did refer to the Student Discipline Adjudication Procedure, however.

That policy states that when student misconduct is reported, disciplinary proceedings will take place. Students can take part in the investigation and have the right to appeal if they dont agree with the resolution.

The policy states that student sanctions for misconduct usually include a warning or disciplinary probation, which is a written reprimand for violation of the LCCC Student Code of Conduct.

According to the code of conduct, a student has committed verbal harassment if they make comments which are unflattering regarding a persons nationality, origin, race, color, age, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age or disability; this also includes epithets, slurs and negative stereotyping.

Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 requires all colleges  or any institution that receives federal funding  to take immediate and appropriate steps to investigate or otherwise determine what occurred.

If the incident created a hostile environment, the education institution must take steps to ensure the harassment will not occur again.

Colbert said the administrators suggested arrangements could be made to allow him and the other student to attend the class separately, but Colbert said that is nearly impossible because of the type of class it is.

Its the biggest push-off of a punishment that Ive ever seen. It didnt really seem like a solution, he said.

Colbert said he is meeting Wednesday with Miller, the student who made the comment and Zeke Sorenson, LCCCs coordinator of student engagement and diversity.

He added that if the complaint is not handled to his satisfaction, he will consider filing a complaint with the U.S. Department of Educations Office of Civil Rights.
We've collected a few front pages from newspapers.com to give you a look at some Nov. 1 papers in history. With a subscription to newspapers.com you can search the Arizona Daily Star and many other newspapers using keywords or dates, and download articles or pages.
FLORENCE  The former principal of an elementary school outside Phoenix has pleaded guilty to attempting to lure a minor for sexual exploitation after authorities say he had inappropriate conversations with an undercover officer posing as a 14-year-old girl.

The San Tan Valley Sentinel reports that 59-year-old Karl Waggoner on Friday reached the agreement in exchange for supervised probation for at least 10 years. He must also register as a sex offender and undergo treatment.

The former principal of Four Peaks Elementary School in Apache junction was arrested in September after authorities with the Pinal County Sheriff's Office say he posted an online advertisement soliciting sex.
Gov. Doug Ducey may tap the states rainy day fund to keep health-care coverage for 23,000 Arizona children until Congress finally acts.

The governor said Tuesday that both the House and Senate are weighing legislation to restore funding for the Childrens Health Insurance Program. It provides nearly free care for children in families earning up to twice the federal poverty level, or about $40,840 a year for a family of three.

Cash for CHIP ran out when the federal fiscal year ended Sept. 30.

In the interim, the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has used unspent dollars from the just-ended budget year to keep the program alive. But Christina Corieri, the governors health adviser, said those funds are expected to dry up by the middle of December.

After that?

The Arizona law that accepts federal dollars for what is known in the state as KidsCare, spells out that if the federal government ultimately stops funding the program, the state has to stop enrolling children. Thats exactly what happened in 2010 when Arizona lawmakers decided they did not want to pay the states 25 percent share.

Lawmakers voted last year to reinstate KidsCare, but only after Congress agreed to pick up the full cost, as least through the end of the federal budget year. The most recent figures show 23,199 children enrolled.

It is the failure so far to approve the $15 billion annual appropriation to care for 9 million children nationwide going forward that again places health care at risk.

We want to see KidsCare continued, the governor said Tuesday after visiting children on Halloween at Phoenix Childrens Hospital. And Ducey said he has every confidence that Congress will act before the funds run out.

But the governor said the state has the ability to deal with circumstances as they happen.

Its part of the reason weve been fiscally responsible, he said. Thats why weve grown the rainy-day fund.

Ducey would not provide specifics.

What I dont want to do is negotiate what were going to do in the budget in these press gaggles, he told reporters. But when you look at what weve done in the past and where weve put our priorities, youll see this is important for us.

Whats formally known as the budget stabilization fund currently has about $460 million.

That would more than cover any interim costs. In September, the state received $6 million in federal funds for KidsCare.

But with increasing enrollment since the freeze was lifted, the governors office pegs the cost for October through December at $20 million.

Ducey, however, would need legislative approval to shift around those dollars.

An aide to House Speaker J.D. Mesnard said his boss does not want to comment until he sees more details. There was no immediate response from Senate President Steve Yarbrough.

Duceys staff is exploring another option, one he may be able to do on its own. It is based on doing a bit of shifting of dollars  and children  among programs.

The Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System, the states Medicaid program, covers individuals and families earning up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level.

But heres the thing.

The federal government pays about two-thirds of the cost of those up to the federal poverty level. But under the Affordable Care Act, the feds pick up the entire tab for those in the 100 to 138 percent range.

Corieri said while waiting for Congress to act, the state could pay to cover all the children in that 100 to 138 percent band from KidsCare to AHCCCS. She said each month the state makes that shift frees up enough money to cover everyone else for another three months.

And she said that when Congress finally does refinance the CHIP program it is likely to approve backfill dollars to reimburse the state for any funds it spent providing care in the interim.

Duceys current desire to keep KidsCare alive is the latest in what has been a politically mixed relationship between Arizona and the federal government on the issue.

Congress approved CHIP in 1997 to help children in families who dont qualify for Medicaid but cannot afford private health insurance.

Arizona did not join until four years later when Republican Gov. Jane Hull convinced lawmakers the program was a good deal. She noted the federal government was offering $3 for every dollar the state provided, better than the regular Medicaid program.

In 2010, however, with the state facing a deficit, the Republican-controlled Legislature decided Arizona could not afford even its 25 percent match. They approved a freeze on new sign-ups, though those already in the program could stay.

The result was that enrollment, which had reached 45,000, dropped to fewer than 1,000.

Congress last year agreed to pick up the full cost. But even then, Ducey was not interested in restoring KidsCare.

But he was outflanked when Rep. Regina Cobb, R-Kingman, attached restoration of the program to something Ducey and other GOP lawmakers wanted: changes to the program to allow more parents to use public dollars to send their children to private and parochial schools.

Enrollment has been climbing steadily since then, though it is not yet back to pre-freeze levels.

The legislation, however, has the provision requiring a new enrollment freeze if Congress ultimately fails to restore full funding.
NEW YORK (AP)  Facebook, Twitter and Google acknowledged to U.S. lawmakers on Tuesday that Russian-linked accounts began exploiting their services in 2015 to sway last year's presidential election. Lawyers for the companies were grilled about why they didn't notice how their platforms were misused earlier, and about what they have done  and will do  to prevent such abuse from happening again.

Here are five things the companies need to tell Congress:

WHY SO LATE?

The election was nearly a year ago. Why did it take so long for Facebook, Google and Twitter to see how their platforms were used by foreign actors to influence the election?

Congress would really like to know. As Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., put it: "People are buying ads on your platform with rubles. They are political ads. You put billions of data points together all the time, that's what I hear that these platforms do. They are the most sophisticated things invented by man, ever. Google has all knowledge that man has ever developed. You can't put together rubles with a political ad and go like, 'Hmmm, those data points spell out something pretty bad.'"

In hindsight, Facebook general counsel Colin Stretch acknowledged, the company should have had a "broader lens." He also noted that the company published research in April disclosing that governments and other malicious non-state actors were using its social network to influence elections  though the company didn't directly name Russia at the time.

WAS IT JUST RUSSIA?

It's already illegal for Russians and other foreigners to pay for U.S. political ads. But some lawmakers suggested there was no way for tech companies to know if entities from other countries  like China, North Korea, or, in one memorable exchange, Turkmenistan  had also misused their platforms. After all, they didn't know about Russia's efforts for a long time, either.

With 5 million advertisers every month, Louisiana Sen. John Kennedy asked of Facebook, "How can you be aware?" Especially, he said, when companies and others can hide behind shell companies to mask their true identities.

Stretch stopped short of saying with certainty that other countries didn't purchase misleading or false ads on Facebook.

PUBLISHERS OR PLATFORMS?

Kennedy also asked Richard Salgado, Google's director of law enforcement and information security, whether the company is a "newspaper" or a neutral tech platform. Salgado replied that Google is a tech company, to which Kennedy quipped, "that's what I thought you'd say."

The other two companies also consider themselves technology platforms that merely allow newspapers and other media companies to share information. But at a time when millions of Americans count Facebook, Twitter and Google their primary news sources, the companies will likely have to try harder to convince lawmakers and the public that they are not in the media business.

The distinction is important when it comes to regulation. Tech platforms are generally not responsible for the content on their sites. Media companies are.

IS THERE MORE?

Facebook has already disclosed that content generated by a Russian internet agency potentially reached as many as 126 million users. Twitter told the same subcommittee that it has uncovered and shut down 2,752 accounts linked to Russia's Internet Research Agency, which is known for promoting pro-Russian government positions.

And Google said it found evidence of "limited" misuse of its services by the Russian group, as well as some YouTube channels that were likely backed by Russian agents.

But was this all? The companies are not done with their investigations into Russian interference  and Congress may just be getting warmed up.

CAN THEY FIX THE PROBLEMS WITHOUT REGULATION?

Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar pressed representatives of Facebook, Google and Twitter to declare whether they will support the "Honest Ads" bill she has introduced with Sen. Mark Warner, which would bring political ad rules from TV, radio and print to the internet. Each of the tech giants offered only qualified support rather than a straight "yes."

Klobuchar noted that none of the companies included "issue ads" in their updated advertising policies  even though that's what the majority of the Russia-linked ads were. Rather than outright supporting a political candidate, these ads deal with hot-button issues like race and immigration and are designed to sow discord among the public.

"Obviously it would be easier if everyone had the same rules," she said.

__
Re: the Oct. 25 column Decision to retire undermines Flakes warnings.

I couldnt agree more with Tim Stellers view on Sen. Flakes decision to retire rather than fight. Retiring now, 14 months in advance of the end of his term, not only denies Republican voters a choice next fall but relegates Flake to loser or quitter category. His views and words between now and then become irrelevant to his fellow senators and the nation since he has pre-announced he is no longer a player.

Where is the warrior who, despite the odds, will soldier on? As George C. Scott said portraying General Patton, Americans love a winner and will not tolerate a loser. Sure, he may lose in the primaries next year, but that doesnt make him a loser. People remember and respect a fighter that doesnt quit (win or lose) when the going gets rough. A future run for POTUS? FUGETABOUTIT.

Chris Cochran

SaddleBrooke
The District Federal Judge, Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly of the Federal District Court for the District of Columbia, should be commended for exerting the Co-Equal Constitutional Authority/Responsibility of the Federal Judiciary in blocking a Discriminatory attempt by Donald Trump in preventing our Transgender Citizens from serving our Country in the Military; they have been Proudly and with Distinction. This person, Donald Trump, has flouted the very nature of our Constitutional System and, as such, poses a serious threat to our Constitutionally Protected Freedom.
By Afroz Alam Sahil, TwoCircles.net

Support TwoCircles



The same day as Prime Minister Narendra Modi criticized the acts of the so-called cow vigilantes, a man was killed by a mob on the pretext of carrying beef. And if there were hopes that the condemnation by the PM will stop the series of deaths in the country, they have most certainly been dashed away.

When words, however symbolic they may be, of the PM, make so little impact on actions of a certain section of the society (which let us not forget, idolises Modi as their leader), we are only left to wonder. Who is to be blamed for this: the weak laws of our nation, or the rather brazen alliance between these so-called cow vigilantes and the men in power?

To understand this better, TwoCircles.net spoke with Mohammed Sajjad, the founder of Misaal Foundation and the convener of Citizens against hate.

Sajjad has extensively studied 24 incidents of mob lynching in the name of cow protection and prepared a report.

During the conversation, Sajjad touched on several aspects of this apparent madness, including how these acts had been encouraged time and again by people in power. The incident of Mohammed Akhlaq is one he mentions: where a cabinet minister openly sided with the assailants. But the encouragement goes much beyond mere words: Sajjad points out that almost inevitably, the assailants are people who are members of the extended BJP family: the RSS, the VHP, Bajrang Dal, Hindu Yuva Vahini etc. In Bulandshahr, the FIR has been filed against a member of the Hindu Yuva Vahini, in Ramgarh the main accused in the BJP district media cell president while in Pune in the murder of Mohammed Mohsin Shaikh, the main accused is a member of Hindu Rashtra Sena, Sajjad says. In other cases too, things are no different, he adds.

To prepare the report, Sajjad says, they only took the cases where attacks resulted in death. Most of the 24 cases are related to cow protection and they have resulted in the death of 35 people.

We have also found that in places where cow protection may not work as an agenda, the assailants have used various other issues to target minorities. For example, in one incident in Jharkhand, the Adivasi crowd was incited over claims that the alleged perpetrator was kidnapping children while the Hindus were told that he was trading in beef, Sajjad says during the interview.

But what is more worrying, Sajjad says, is that several state governments are way beyond merely encouraging cow protection: they are actively engaging in promoting attacks in the name of cow protection. In Haryana, the act of cow protection has been outsourced to private parties. To implement a law, private parties work with the police. No wonder then, in almost all cases no FIR has been filed against the culprits. Instead, the only time the Police have taken action is when they have filed cases against families who have suffered but are instead blamed for the violence, he says.

Explaining the situation in Haryana, Sajjad adds that the situation has become so dire that the state is now considering issued government ID cards to these so-called cow vigilantes. To complement these vigilantes, there is now a cow-protection commission too. He adds that the situation is no different in Maharashtra, where the government is issuing advertisements in newspapers for volunteers to help implement the cow-protection laws. Such steps are creating an army of vigilantes who are taught to hate a certain community. It is naive to think that the government is not involved in this, Sajjad says.

The study conducted by Sajjad also shows that in most states, this violence is conducted by organized groups instead of a random mob as is often claimed. In Jharkhand, however, even the mob can be of a certain type, he says. He talks of one incident, that of Minhaj Ansari, who died in police custody. But even here, the family of the deceased said they saw the district president of the VHP walk out of the police station the night Ansari was beaten, Sajjad says.

The only thing that is uniform among all the acts is the role of police, which has time and again sided with the assailants.

Sajjad also explains the difference between communal riots and these acts of violence. People who indulge in divisive politics have realized that attempts to attack minorities en masse bring a bad reputation for the government along with bringing in the judiciary. However, with cow protection incidents, there is no death on a large scale. These incidents might kill just one person, but it manages to spread terror across an entire community. Even when I travel, I feel scaredin communal riots, there are certain regions that get affected, but these acts are much more widespread, he says.

To elucidate his point, Sajjad points out the use of video footages recorded almost always by the perpetrators and shared on social media. They know that the video can be circulated because they have the confidence that neither the government nor the police will act against them, Sajjad added.

The fear may have directly affected Muslims in India, but Sajjad believes this issue has impacted a lot of other Indians too. The families of all the deceased have been from lower castes and are unable to afford legal procedures. The society should come together and help them, suggested Sajjad.

In a special appeal to the Muslim community, Sajjad said the community needs to unite and collect more evidence. Along with this, the community needs to help the families of the ones affected and extend the support to Dalits too who have to face such brutalities. Laws are the only recourse we (Muslims) havepeople who deal with cows and dairy products should be made more aware of the relevant laws in their statethe youth should do this, he says. However, Sajjad adds that the brutal truth is that even laws cannot save peoples lives given the level of hatred generated by these so-called cow vigilantes.

Sajjads extensive report is a result of his works with Citizens against Hate, which is a secular and democratic organization committed to creating awareness and fighting hate crimes. The group, which focuses mostly on the legal aspects, is proving the legal help to the families of nine people who died in five separate incidents of mob lynching. Using this report, a PIL has been filed in the Supreme Court.
Help India!

TCN News

On Wednesday, a group of renowned leaders and scholars from different backgrounds demanded the central government to protect the freedom of association guaranteed by our constitution to all sections of society and to refrain from targeting any organization or group as part of political agenda.

Support TwoCircles



The group demanded to stop demonizing social activists, NGOs, impartial media, progressive and minority organisations and indian muslims who seek a peaceful and secured life in harmony with their fellow citizens in this country.

The statement noted that vilification campaign against organization like Green Peace, Sabrang, Centre for Equity Studies, INSAF, PEACE and Minority organizations like Popular Front of India is an attempt by the present BJP government to muzzle the voices of dissent in the country.

The statement issued said that while the hate mongers and extremist outfits connected with Hindutva politics roam free in the country by dividing people and instigating violence on religious minorities and progressive sections, the central government and the state governments under its control remain passive without fulfilling their constitutional responsibilities.

It said, On the other hand, as we have seen in the past, it seems that another round of vilification campaign is being intensified by some government agencies with the help of a section of media that are biased against minorities and progressive groups. The atmosphere of hatred that is being created against them is with a specific and calculated purpose.

On previous occasions, much before the banning certain organisations, their demonization by quoting government agency reports and media trials were on the air. Once again such an atmosphere is being created against certain Muslim groups by putting on them the tag of helping extremist and terrorist elements, said the statement.

They stated that if any of these organisations members are found involved in criminal activities they should be prosecuted according to the law of the land. But they demanded the central government to protect the freedom of association guaranteed by our constitution to all sections of society and to refrain from targeting any organization or group.

The signatories in the joint statement include Prashant Bhushanm K Sachidanandan, Maulana Mahmood Madani, VT Rajashekar, Prof. Nivedita Menon, Prof. Apoorvanand, Dr. Zafarul Islam Khan, Dr. Muhammad Manzoor Alam, Ashok Bharati, Amit Sengupta, Prof. G. Hargopal, Ravi Nair, Vidya Bhushan Rawat, Dr. SQR Ilyas, Prof. A Marx, and Gopal Menon
Help India!

Lucknow, (IANS): At least five persons were killed and more than two dozen injured in an explosion at a boiler unit of the NTPC in Uttar Pradeshs Rae Bareli district on Wednesday evening, police said.

The death toll is likely to rise as many more are feared trapped inside the 500 MW unit boiler at the NTPC, Unchahar.

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A massive fire broke out inside and a huge ball of dust rose after the explosion, making rescue operations difficult, an official told IANS.

Five bodies were pulled out of the unit.

The unit was the sixth at NTPC and was commissioned on March 31 this year, a senior official said.

An alert has been sounded at the community health centre (CHC), district hospital and at other medical centers, after the accident.

Officials said the explosion took place in the boiler which is filled with water in tubes which are heated. This in turn creates steam which moves the turbines and generates electricity.
Help India!

New Delhi, (IANS): Carnatic music vocalist T.M. Krishna, who received the Indira Gandhi Award for National Integration on Tuesday, made a veiled attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the 2002 Gujarat riots, saying a leader who does not have the humility to apologise for genocide under his watch does not help to integrate.

He also rued that national integration has been replaced by an ugly form of nationalism and jingoism.

Support TwoCircles



Lauding former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for apologising for the 1984 riots, he termed it a reflective and essential statement.

Some detractors may say it does not change anything. It cannot change the past, but it definitely, certainly changes the future. A leader who doesnt have the humility to apologise for genocide under his watch, does not integrate, said Krishna in his speech at the 30th Indira Gandhi Award for National Integration.

He also regretted that in the new millenium, this idea of national integration lost its sheen, with instead of socially equalising legislations, such as the RTI of 2005 and NREGA , it has been replaced by an ugly form of nationalism, jingoism.

We are being told what to eat, wear, say, think and be. One monolithic order is being forced on us as Indian culture, he said, stressing that there was no one Indian culture, but several Indian cultures, with the plurality is the signifier of integration.

We are facing one of the greatest challenges posed to our democracy, Constitution, plurality, citizenship and socialism. These cornerstones of India are being subverted, dismantled, maligned and morphosed right before our eyes. The methods being used are not secretive any more, he said.

Krishna also said dissenters have been killed, and all of us who resist are being warned. If there is any time that national integration needs to be brought back into the public thought, is is today. There is no time to waste, said.

This integration is not just about religious minorities, it is as much about Dalits, tribals, ethnic and linguistic minorities.

The basic fabric of India is its cultures and if we allow that to be poisoned, we would have placed on the sacrificial altar our entire civiliztional consciousness. The battle will be lost, he added.
Pregnant Then Screwed, a group who support, empower and ensure the voice of the working mums marched today with hundreds of 'mummies' to highlight maternity discrimination and the need for change. They have a large social media following with over 6437 followers on Instagram and are supported by blogging giants; Mother Pukka, Susie Verill, Toby+Roo and Clemmie Telford as well as MPs Clive Lewis, Jess Phillips and Caroline Lucas.

After getting inspiration from the global womens marches that took place earlier in the year, the march saw the group voice 5 demands.

Demanding Change

Increase the time limit to raise a tribunal claim from three months to at least six months. Require companies to report on how many flexible working requests are made and how many are granted. Give both parents access to six weeks parental leave paid at 90 percent of salary. Give the self-employed access to statuary shared parental leave. Subsidise childcare from 6 months rather than 3 years.

The main march started off in Trafalgar Square and ended up in Westminster to present the five demands for change to MPs, the other five demonstrations took place in Belfast, Cardiff, Glasgow, Newcastle, and Manchester. They were joined by Working Families, The Lullaby Trust, Yess Law, The Organise Platform, Parental Pay Equality on the march, and saw a number of key speakers address the crowds for the cause and present the above 5 demands to Members of Parliament.

Marchers were advised to dress up as Dawn of the Dead Style Mummies to represent the archaic legislation that is in place and to acknowledge it taking place on Halloween.

According to Pregnant Then Screwed over 54,000 women lose their jobs for getting pregnant, and 390,000 working mums experience potentially discriminatory treatment at work.

Maternity discrimination

These figures have doubled within a decade, they advise. They go on to say that motherhood is said to be the course of the widening gender pay gap between childbearing-aged women and men with women getting paid a staggering 33 percent less than their male counterparts.

The group offers free legal advice, a place to post your anonymous story, a flexible working helpline, mentoring for those who wish to act against an employer as well as lobbying for legislative change.

For those who could not take part in the march saw a social media call out for support. Currently, the #marchofthemummies has had over 813 posts on Instagram with many parents rallying behind the cause of highlighting maternity discrimination in the workplace.
Just when we think the Government has turned its full - if limited attention span - we are assailed by yet another scandal in Parliament. Not content with screwing up any Brexit negotiation it appears that those who represent us, like their more glamorous male US Filmmaker counterparts, have terrible trouble with engorged testosterone levels.

Hollywood

It should come as no surprise that Harvey Weinstein has been named as a serial predator, for the rumours have been flying for years, although one can only but ask why it has taken his victims so long to come forward?

Kevin Spacey has just possibly ended this phase of his career by allegations of historic impropriety which he has speedily blindsided saying it was his predilection all along. And certainly, spare a thought for Corey Feldman who lodged abuse claims with the Santa Barbara police department 25 years ago - only to have them ignored - and has been campaigning about abuse issues ever since.

Let's face it, from the Old style Hollywood moguls to predatory producers, abuse has always been the passport to the future There was even the great casting couch scandal of would-be-agents seducing young starlets in order to vie for the part of Scarlett O Hara, back in 1939, while of course, lets not even mention Fatty Arbuckle and Virginia Rappe at the turn of the 20's.

The film industry has always been bombarded with nubile young things of both sexes willing to give their all for the sake of a part, any part in films.

Westminster

Far more serious here in the UK is the sudden sweep of sexual harassment cases that are surfacing almost daily in our own Parliament building, now upwards of 40 claims against MP's as of this morning.

Michael Fallon has been outed and accused as a knee patter, and our Trade Minister apart from worrying about our economic future is offing his secretary to buy marital toys in her lunch hour. Even Mr Speaker - who has certainly had problems of his own - has been saying that the house should clean its act up, but how can they when no matter which side of the political divide you sit on, everyone seems to have slept with everyone else.

But wait a minute, have we not heard all this before? From expense scandals past and present, down to Lords who are not too busy to accept daily attendance money, but cannot wait or be bothered to vote on the very statutes that affect our country that they are paid for. We are lectured on morals and alcohol consumption but we subsidise them on foreign trips and taxpayer fulled booze binges in the many bars in the house.

Nowhere and no one is free from taint, but surely we should Expect more from those that represent us?
The world does many things to protect patriarchy and gender norms. One of them is to shift responsibility away from male perpetrators of violence to their victims in order to downplay the man's role. We have seen this at work forever. Sometimes we see it in mainstream Media headlines, like this one below.

Woman drank six Jagerbombs in ten minutes on the night she was raped and murdered https://t.co/47HGvlWz23 pic.twitter.com/3WYZ1zGDNh  The Sun (@TheSun) July 20, 2016

It's not new. We're not living in an age where violence against women is unheard of, but stories about it are still kept within the walls of family spaces and under legal gag orders.

We still face discrimination in headlines where Rape Culture continues to thrive.

A newspaper in South Africa, IOL Independent Media, published an article about Kwaito star, Mdu, being caught up in what they called "baby mama drama", implying something innocuous. In fact, he was arrested for assaulting Sibahle Dlamini the mother of his 8-month old baby. Vanity Fair tried - admittedly not their best - to bring up Casey Affleck's Sexual Assault case in a headline about him winning an Oscar, but called it "controversy" rather than what it was - an actual crime. Not to mention the Washington Post headline about rapist Brock Turner, described as an "All American Swimmer" as opposed to a rapist. Even his depiction in the media was disturbing - rather than using his mugshot, news outlets opted instead for his gleaming school yearbook photo.

Like most men, he received the once-promising future treatment.

Hypocrisy of media reporting

In reporting on sexual assault, media outlets show a pattern of focusing on the assailant's sterling achievements and bright future and how the case against him could ruin his career. No mention is made of the victim and the fact that they will probably be in therapy for life if they even manage to hang on without permeating suicidal thoughts or tendencies.

Fortunately, times are changing slightly with headlines about Harvey Weinstein and Kevin Spacey calling them out and telling it like it (mostly) is. However, the damage that rape culture has done means that women are still put on the back foot.

Men are being applauded for denouncing sexual assault now while women are being demonized for not reporting it sooner.  OhNoSheTwitnt (@OhNoSheTwitnt) October 11, 2017

Victims are afraid to seek help

In a world that trivialises or excuses sexual violence - shifting responsibility away from perpetrators and onto victims - individuals are less likely to report and respond.

When condoning sexual violence is commonplace, some men are more likely to feel it is okay to behave violently and the public becomes less inclined to support a victim because the general attitude is "she was drunk" or "she was scantily dressed" and other victim-blaming drivel. Victims, in turn, feel afraid to seek help, unsure of the responses they will get from friends, family, the police, and the courts.

The way in which mens and womens relationships are shown in media and popular culture needs to change, and the position the public and our leaders take on this issue has to follow suit.
The cheers are ringing around the haunts favoured by the left wing Bolsheviks. McClusky and McDonnell are illegally inciting insurrection, new and ever more ludicrous policies regarding Brexit are being espoused by Kier Starmer. Jeremy Corbyn is still pulling off the frankly incredible scam that he has a financial or social plan that will not ruin the country within six months of him being elected, to millions of very naive young people from Newcastle to Newquay.

The new favourite didn't last long

Things have become even more favourable lately. The new Conservative Head Boy Jacob Reece Mogg has fallen while apparently challenging to be the frontrunner to replace Mrs. May. He had gone past Boris, David Davis and the hopeless Philip Hammond in the past couple of months and was looking to be the clear champion of the right.

He has a very popular Moggmentum following on Twitter, a clever twist on Labour's Momentum and many people love his excellent debating skills and his clarity in explaining the values of Conservatism to the country. He is a politician of rare ability and true integrity.

What happened? Well, like ex-Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron before him, his firm Christian beliefs have been dragged into the spotlight and unlike Farron, Reece Mogg was not even prepared to vacillate about them. He stated front and centre that he did not believe that gay marriage should be legalised and he did believe that abortion was wrong in every circumstance, even when the woman had been raped. He feels the marriage of same-sex partners is against the Christian teaching that he follows and that the sanctity of life outweighs all other factors.

I happen to disagree with Jacob on both points and very strongly on the latter. That disagreement would not have stopped me voting for him but then I am not a gay person wishing to marry, or a woman who has gone through the terrible ordeal outlined. What I do find objectionable however is that he is not afforded the same tolerance in allowing him to hold his religious views without consequence, that is habitually given to others.

Has anyone enquired of Sadiq Khan, Priti Patel or Naz Shah of their views on the subjects above? No, I have not heard them asked either!

He may not have been the best solution

Having said that I do not think Jacob was the great solution to the leadership problem within the Conservative Party anyway. Even before this latest skirmish, I was worried that many ordinary centrist voters, who must be won over, would think him a Tory toff, too much in the chumocracy class of Cameron and Osborne.

I do not think he is, but his old-fashioned way of talking, acting and dressing would have been hard for many voters in Sunderland and Stoke and Wolverhampton to swallow.

Also, even in accepting the element of unfairness relating to his treatment for the views he recently expressed, those views are and probably should be of a bygone era. We have moved on and the country will not elect a leader who has not moved on with us. I said earlier that the views would not stop me voting for him, what may do is his intransigence (some would say his principle). Most of us would like to believe we are principled, but we all walk a fine line between principle and pragmatism. For me holding to Christian principles at the expense of allowing in the most potentially damaging group of left-wing lunatics seen since the original Russian Bolsheviks would not be the best choice.

That is in practice what Jacob has chosen and that would give me pause to be concerned about his future actions.

When the fire starts we all burn

Even given this the cheering of the Bolsheviks should be more muted. One of the rare politicians of principle has gone from the vanguard of politics. One day the Labour party may gain power, then the country will be socially and economically ruined for years. They should think on, at least the ones with the ability to think. They will have been the cause of the ruin and they will have to share in it with the rest of us.

Oh and good luck Jacob!
US President Donald Trump has been criticised today for politicising last nights terrorist attack in New York, where a suspected Muslim immigrant named Sayfullo Saipov drove a truck through a crowd of people in lower Manhattan near the 9/11 memorial site. He killed eight people and injured 11 others, including two children. Police shot Saipov in the abdomen and arrested him as he exited his vehicle with two fake guns intended for terror.

Trump has been at his usual anti-Muslim rhetoric, saying that in the wake of the attack, he will be upping the ante on his extreme vetting of Muslim tourists and migrants in future.

He has also spoken out against the Democrats, blaming them for allowing people like Saipov to enter the country and orchestrate terrorist attacks, totally undetected.

This is in stark contrast with the Presidents response to the Vegas shooting

This response, taking action against Muslims, is in stark contrast with Trumps response to the Las Vegas shooting recently. That attack was the deadliest mass shooting in American history, but the assailant was a white American man with no religious affiliation, so Trump didnt have much to say about it. He certainly didnt politicise that. When its banning Muslims, hell happily speak up, but after the Vegas shooting, he called the incident a miracle and said absolutely nothing about gun control or the NRA. Talk about a double standard. Terrorist attacks are fine as long as they suit Trumps agenda.
Last night, a Muslim terrorist in lower Manhattan, New York City, drove a truck through a crowd of people on a cycle path, killing eight people and injuring 11 others, including two children on a school bus. It was the deadliest terrorist attack in New York City since 9/11.

According to the deputy commissioner of the New York Police Department, John Miller, whose focus is specifically on intelligence and counter-terrorist measures, the suspected assailant of the Attack, Muslim immigrant Sayfullo Habibullaevic Saipov, committed the atrocity in the name of ISIS. Miller also said that Saipov had been plotting out his attack for a number of weeks, while the New York Governor has said that intelligence agencies believe that the assailant was radicalised domestically.

He wasnt radicalised out in the Middle East and then headed out to the United States to kill people  he was radicalised stateside. Its scary stuff.

Saipov was dedicated to the Islamic State

A handwritten note was found in the truck, scrawled in Arabic language. Both symbols and words were featured on the note, but the basic undercurrent of the whole thing was that the Islamic State will have victory and prosper and things of that nature.
Last night in New York, there was yet another terrorist attack. Will it ever end? Can we go five minutes without a heinous Islamic State terrorist attack, please? Its getting ridiculous. A man who has been named as Sayfullo Saipov drove a truck onto a cycle path in lower Manhattan, near the 9/11 memorial site, and ran through a crowd of people, killing eight people and injuring 11 others. The 11 injured includes two children.

Following the attack, the suspect emerged from the truck and was immediately shot in the abdomen by police officers and arrested.

According to officials investigating the New York terrorist attack, a pellet gun and a paintball gun were found in the attackers truck following the incident. He was likely planning to use these weapons to scare survivors, had the police not responded to the incident so rapidly.

There had also been reports that a handwritten note or a few notes had been found in the assailants rented Home Depot truck, but these reports went unconfirmed by New York officials involved in the investigation for many hours and had been dismissed as hearsay and rumours. However, authorities have since confirmed that a note was found in the truck that made reference to the Islamic State and specifically mentioned ISIS.

Most of the victims were not American

The Islamic States war against western culture and, in the case of the New York attack, specifically America is not seeing many fruits as a result. Of the eight people who were killed in the attack, most of them were from other countries. Five of them were a group of Argentinian friends who were reuniting in Manhattan after a long time apart.

These friends were a part of a larger friendship group who were reconvening in New York to celebrate the 30th anniversary of their graduation from high school.

The five Argentinian friends who were killed in New York last night were the first victims of the incident to be named by authorities. According to the foreign ministry of Argentina, their names are Hernan Diego Mendoza, Diego Enrique Angelini, Alejandro Damian Pagnucco, Ariel Erlij, and Hernan Ferruchi, and there were all in their forties.

If anything, last nights act of terror was an attack against Argentina, not America. Is that on ISISs agenda? Its all very slapdash. They dont orchestrate these attacks very well  theyre just sadistic agents of chaos, killing as many people as they can.

A sixth friend in the Argentinian group, Martin Ludovico Marro, was injured in the New York terrorist attack. Meanwhile, another non-American victim was killed in the incident  a Belgian woman who still has yet to be named. The foreign minister of Belgium, Didier Reynders, confirmed that the woman was visiting New York on vacation with her sister and mother.

Politicians respond

Many politicians have responded to the New York attack, as our side of the world must stand united against the Dark Side of the Force.

US President Donald Trump has pledged to up the ante on his extreme vetting of Muslim tourists and migrants in response to the incident, which had led to him getting some flak for politicising what happened. He did call the assailant a very sick and deranged person, at least he is right about something.

Bill de Blasio, the Mayor of New York City, has responded to the attack, branding it an act of terror that was particularly cowardly in comparison to the other terrorist attacks of late. He pointed out that while the terrorist was attempting to intimidate the city, the people of New York are strong and will not be intimidated by acts of violence or Terrorism. They stand united in the face of such adversity.
The real problem of iran is not the nuclear deal and not even a nuclear bomb; it is the Regime itself. Trumps new policy marks the beginning of a new era, defined by a U.S. strategy that transcends an Iran narrative focused solely on its nuclear weapons program. Aside from the cacophony of voices, here and abroad, debating the positive or negative implications of that new approach, there are a few indisputable facts about the regime that are at the core of the issue.

The nature of the regime

First, you cannot tame a fiend with regulations or negotiations.

As Newt Gingrich pointed out, America is today faced with the same choice with Iran that we had in North Korea in 1994. We now know that during 23 years of talking, posturing, and diplomatic maneuvering, the North Koreans simply kept building their nuclear weapon and missile programs.

It should come as no surprise that this process was repeated in Iran. Even with the JCPOA hanging over their head, the Iranians simply kept developing their advanced missiles and potential nuclear capabilities under the cover of a civilian program controlled by the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC).

A nuclear weapon contains both a warhead and a delivery system, i.e., a ballistic missile. But major military sites in Iran developing ballistic missiles remain uninspected.

Furthermore, Section T of Annex 1 of the JCPOA explicitly prohibits all Activities which could contribute to the design and development of a nuclear explosive device. Yet, Tehran has hampered monitoring of such activities by barring international inspectors from military sites, where the core of the nuclear program exists.

The deal perhaps created a semblance of peace, but the regimes true ambitions eventually reveal themselves. It would be delusional to assume that regulations can effectively change the nature of a corrupt and oppressive regime.

As President Trump said in his policy announcement, History has shown that the longer we ignore a threat, the more dangerous that threat becomes. The correct approach, as history will attest, is to address the full range of Iran's destructive actions and directly confront the regime.

What Iran has done

Secondly, it is crucial to have a clear-eyed assessment of the Iranian dictatorship and to recognize its Human Rights abuses, domestic oppression, sponsorship of Terrorism and its continuing aggression in the Middle East and all around the world. There are mountains of evidence of the Iranian governments brutal treatment of its people: the 1988 massacre of as many as 30,000 political prisoners; juvenile executions; political oppression; and barbaric punishments like amputation, Breitbart reports.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the Iranian Supreme Leaders corrupt personal terror force and militia, is the true culprit behind the war in Syria; terrorism and sectarianism in Iraq; and the crisis in Yemen, Lebanon and the Middle East in general.

The National Council of Resistance of Iran  US Representative Office (NCRIUS) has revealed 15 terrorist training camps in Iran responsible for dispatching troops and exporting terrorism all over the world. NCRIUS also disclosed how the IRGC hijacks Irans economy and robs the Iranian people to fund proxies abroad.

The very existence of the Iranian regime poses a lethal threat to the safety and welfare of Irans people, the U.S. and international security. As President Trump stressed in his speech, We will not continue down a path whose predictable conclusion is more violence, more terror, and the very real threat of Iran's nuclear breakout.

The designation of the IRGC as a terrorist organization by the United States Government must be accompanied by sanctions.

Further, the IRGC must be expelled from regional states. It is apparent that as our case is new, so we must think anew, and act anew. The new policy towards the Iranian regime should allow no tolerance and no ambiguity.

A new policy should aim at empowering the Iranian people

A new approach should not employ U.S. forces directly against the regime but empower the Iranian people. In 2009 President Obama abandoned Iranian protesters and sided with the regime; today President Trump has sided with the people, the Iranian regime's longest-suffering victims. As the President pointed out, the Iranian people are longing to reclaim their country's proud history, its culture, its civilization, its cooperation with its neighbors.

According to Fox News, just two days after the speech, thousands of Iranian protesters spoke out against the regime.

Charging corruption and chanting we dont want a government of sheikhs, they voiced their opposition to the ruling regime in its entirety. Some experts say the protesters were emboldened by Trumps speech. In this age of information, policy can cast a wide net; even a small sign of support can turn a yearning into a revolutionary act. Empowering Irans people is the first step towards the establishment of freedom and democracy in Iran.

If politics brings out the worst in people, maybe people can bring out the best. As NCRI President-elect Maryam Rajavi remarked, It is time that the international community recognizes the aspirations of the Iranian people and stands with the people of Iran and their legitimate right for regime change.
Belgium



Ghent University (exchange program)

Many English taught courses are available.

Available Ghent Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Philosophy; Faculty of Political and Social Sciences; Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences

Available UM exchange term: Fall, Winter and Full Year.

Denmark



Aarhus University (exchange program)

English taught courses are available.

Available UM exchange term: Fall, Winter, Full Year and Summer

France



ISARA - Lyon (exchange program)

Preference given to students in Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences.

English taught courses are available.

Available UM exchange term: Fall, Winter, Full Year and Summer. ISARA- Lyon summer programs are taught in English.

La Salle Beauvais - Institut Polytechnique (exchange program)

Programs may be most relevant for students in Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences and Clayton H. Riddell Faculty of Environment, Earth and Resources.

English taught courses are available.

Available UM exchange term: Fall, Winter, Full Year and Summer. UniLaSalle summer programs are taught in English.

University Clermont Auvergne (exchange program)

Preference given to students who major in French in Faculty of Arts.

At least B2 or upper intermediate level in French language proficiency is required.



Available UCA programs: UFR Lettres, Cultures et Sciences Humaines (Lettres modernes), and Languages, Cultures et Communication (Anglais)

Limited English taught courses are available.

Available UM exchange term: Fall, Winter and Full Year.

Universite d'Angers (exchange program)

At least B2 or upper intermediate level in French language proficiency is required.

English taught courses are available.

Available UM exchange term: Fall, Winter and Full Year.

Universite de Caen Normandie (exchange program)

At least B2 or upper intermediate level in French language proficiency is required.

English taught courses are limited.

Available UM exchange term: Fall, Winter and Full Year.

Germany



Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitat Munchen (exchange program)

At least B2 or upper intermediate level in German language proficiency is required.

English taught courses are very limited in Undergraduate programs.

Available UM exchange term: Fall (LMU's winter), Winter (LMU's summer) and Full Year. Fall term (LMU's winter) ends in February. Students participating in fall term only exchange at LMU are not eligible to take UM winter term courses.

Osnabruck University of Applied Sciences (exchange program)

At least B2 or upper intermediate level in German language proficiency is required.

English taught courses are very limited.

Available UM exchange term: Fall (Osnabrucks winter), Winter (Osnabrucks summer) and Full Year. Fall term (Osnabrucks winter) ends in February. Students participating in fall term only exchange at Osnabruck are not eligible to take UM winter term courses.

Ostfalia University of Applied Sciences (exchange program)

At least B2 or upper intermediate level in German language proficiency is required.

English taught courses are very limited.

Available UM exchange term: Fall (Ostafalia's winter), Winter (Ostafalia's summer) and Full Year. Fall term (Ostafalia's winter) ends in February. Students participating in fall term only exchange at Ostafalia are not eligible to take UM winter term courses.

TUM: Technische Universitat Munchen (exchange program)

More English taught courses are available compared to other German partners, however TUM's programs may be most relevant for students in Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences and Clayton H. Riddell Faculty of Environment, Earth and Resources.

Available UM exchange term: Fall (TUM's winter), Winter (TUM's summer) and Full Year. Fall term (TUM's winter) ends in February. Students participating in fall term only exchange at TUM are not eligible to take UM winter term courses.



University of Greifswald (exchange program)

At least B2 or upper intermediate level in German language proficiency is required.

Preference given to students in Faculty of Arts.

Funding may be available.

English taught courses are very limited.

Available UM exchange term: Fall (Greifswald's winter), Winter (Greifswald's summer) and Full Year. Fall term (Greifswald's winter) ends in February. Students participating in fall term only exchange at Greifswald are not eligible to take UM winter term courses.

University of Trier (exchange program)

At least B2 or upper intermediate level in German language proficiency is required.

Preference given to students in Faculty of Arts.

Funding may be available to students in Faculty of Arts.

English taught courses are very limited in Undergraduate programs.

Available UM exchange term: Fall (Trier's winter), Winter (Trier's summer) and Full Year. Fall term (Trier's winter) ends in February. Students participating in fall term only exchange at Trier are not eligible to take UM winter term courses.

Hungary



University of Szeged (exchange program)

Only courses offered in Szeged's Faculty of Arts (Humanities) are available.

English taught courses are available but may be limited.

Iceland



University of Iceland (exchange program)

English taught courses are available but may be limited in some programs.

Available UM exchange term: Fall, Winter and Full Year.

Netherlands



Radboud University (exchange program)

Many English taught courses are available.

Available UM exchange term: Fall, Winter and Full Year.

Spain

Universidad Politecnica de Valencia (UPV) (exchange program)

At least B2 or upper intermediate level in Spanish language proficiency is required.

English taught courses are very limited.

Preference given to students in Faculty of Agriculture and Food Sciences.

Available UM exchange term: Fall, Winter and Full Year. UPV's Fall term ends in January. Students participating in fall term only exchange at UPV are not eligible to take UM winter term courses.

Sweden



Linkoping University (exchange program)

Many English taught courses are available.

Available UM exchange term: Fall, Winter, Full Year and Summer. The LiU Summer Academy is taught in English.



Swedish University of Agriculture Sciences (SLU) (exchange program)

SLU programs are most relevant for students in the Faculty of Agriculture and Food Sciences. students only. Architecture students who are interested in SLU, please contact the Faculty of Architecture exchange program for assistance.

Available UM exchange term: Fall, Winter and Full Year.

Umea University (exchange program)

Many English taught courses are available.

Available UM exchange term: Fall, Winter and Full Year.

Ukraine



Lviv Polytechnic National University (exchange program)

Upper intermediate level in Ukrainian language proficiency is required.

English taught courses are very limited.

Available UM exchange term: Fall, Winter and Full Year.

United Kingdom - Fall term exams are scheduled in January at all UK partners. Fall terms exchange at UK universities is not recommended for students who must take winter term courses.

Cardiff University (exchange program)

Available UM exchange term: Fall, Winter and Full Year.

University of Birmingham (exchange program)

Available UM exchange term: Fall, Winter and Full Year.

University of Liverpool (exchange program)

Available UM exchange term: Fall, Winter and Full Year.

University of Nottingham (exchange program)

Available UM exchange term: Fall, Winter and Full Year.

University of Plymouth (exchange program)

Available UM exchange term: Fall, Winter and Full Year.
The fascination for Harry Potter and the Wizarding World has remained steady and worldwide these years after the original books and movies based on those books came out. If you a longtime fan or new to this magical world, what fun it would be to become a student of an Advanced Adult Potions class with Professor Paul Stelmack.

It started as an idea

What started out two years ago as a fun idea for a few Ithaca Press Bay Alley business owners to celebrate Halloween with local children and their families has performed a mighty spell of its own over this quiet city and transfigured itself in just three years into a full magical weekend of wizardry and wonderment.

With the power of social media, that first year drew not only local families but unexpectedly 8000 fans of J.K. Rowlings world of Harry Potter, turning this small city nestled in the heart of the Finger Lakes Region of Central NY, into something very special and magical indeed.

The original organizers, as well as the city itself, soon realized that they were onto something unique, so last year the event expanded beyond the tiny Press Bay Alley, where it was first concocted, into the surrounding city streets and onto the three-block pedestrian mall in the heart of the business district. Their instincts were not wrong as 10,000 wizards, young and old, joined in the many events, shopping the vendors, eating goodies, and drinking delectable brews, such as butterbeer.

The magic has continued on again this year and has grown further into a full three-day Wizarding Weekend, going beyond just the world of Harry Potter into all things magic.

Advanced potions class for adults

There was something to experience for everyone and every age. Coltivare, Ithaca's Farm to Table restaurant, hosted an Advanced Potions class for those wizards 21 and older.

There, seasoned wizards experience hands-on beverage mixology from Colitvare's Potions Teacher, Professor Paul Stelmack. In addition to participating in various cocktail demonstrations, the students had an opportunity to taste other delectable potables from local and regional breweries, wineries, and distilleries. Proceeds from this event benefited the Wizarding Weekend itself and the Blue Sky Center for Learning, an agency located in Spencer, New York, offering autism services.

To help make your next magical event be extra special here's two creative drink recipes created by Professor Paul which he brewed up for his Advanced Potions class that you might try.

The Balrog

created by Paul Stelmack

1.5oz Spitball Cinnamon Whiskey

Dash of African Bird Pepper Infused Whiskey

.5oz Spice Syrup

.5oz Lemon Juice

.5oz Apple Juice

Shaken and served on the rocks with a lemon wedge garnish

Health Potion

created by Paul Stelmack

1.5oz Vodka

.75oz Campari

.75oz Raspberry Syrup

.5oz Watermelon Puree

2 dashes Cranberry Bitters

1 dash Lime Bitters

Shaken, double strain in a snifter, no garnish

Enjoy!
As Halloween 2017 approaches, President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump welcomed children to the White House to take part in a Trick-or-Treat event. In response, critics of the president made sure to poke fun at the first couple on social media.

Trump's Halloween

Inside the Oval Office last week at the White House, members of the media brought their children to take part in a Halloween event where their children trick-or-treated and received candy. When the children, dressed in various costumes, met with Donald Trump, an uncomfortable atmosphere was created by the president who proceeded to throw shade at the press, while using their own children in the process.

One young girl appeared to cry, while the former host of "The Apprentice" stated, "I cannot believe the media produced such beautiful children." While giving candy to those at his desk, the president relied "You have no weight problems." Trump then went on to ask the children if they were "going to grow up to be like your parents," before retracting his question and saying, "Dont answer. That can only get me in trouble." Trump received predictable criticism from those who have opposed his presidency, which led to the first couple handing out more candy to children, this time outside the White House, as reported by NBC News on October 30.

WATCH: President Trump and first lady Melania Trump welcome trick-or-treaters to the White House https://t.co/aTbkA9auMu  NBC News (@NBCNews) October 30, 2017

Along with his wife Melania Trump by his side, Donald Trump met with dozens of children looking for early Halloween candy at the White House.

The event came just hours after the news broke that three men linked back to Trump's 2016 campaign had ties to Russia, as the investigation led by special counsel Robert Mueller heated up. Former campaign manager Paul Manafort and his now former assistant Rick Gates were the first to be charged, and have since plead not guilty.

However, former Trump campaign aid George Papadopoulos decided to plead guilty on charges of lying to authorities. As expected, the administration has pushed back.

Paul Manafort and Rick Gates: From top Trump campaign aides to accused partners in crime https://t.co/d1Nx5lP0eU pic.twitter.com/n9P77DEkAh  NBC News (@NBCNews) October 30, 2017

Twitter reacts

In response to the news of the day and the first couple taking part in another Halloween gathering, critics of Donald Trump and his administration wasted no time firing back.

"Trick or Treason..." one tweet read.

Thank you! I am not the only one that thinks this is very awkward...just..off.  Alicia (@rubiesdiamonds) October 30, 2017

The trumps are trick or traitors.    Firehorse Girl (@Firehorsegirly) October 30, 2017

Oh happy day!



Trick or Treat!



I have a subpoena for you!   SarahCA (@sarahTRUMPMORON) October 30, 2017

"He's so awkward with children dear God!" an additional Twitter user added. "Oh happy day! Trick or Treat! I have a subpoena for you!" yet another tweet read.

Shouldn't they be huddling with their lawyers?  Suzanne Kelleher (@SuzanneKelleher) October 30, 2017

Lol totally ignores the large dinosaur walking past! Mind is not on it!  B Barin (@BBarin2) October 30, 2017

And where should he grab it by?  Steven Findlay (@safindlay1980) October 30, 2017

"FINALLY a job he's qualified for, greeting trick or treaters and passing out candy," a social media user wrote.

"Shouldn't they be huddling with their lawyers?" one tweet asked. As critics poured on the trolling, Donald Trump and the White House continued to deny any wrongdoing in regards to alleged collusion with Russia.
Just 24 hours after the first round of charges were filed in the ongoing Russian investigation, the White House is scrambling to defend Donald Trump and distance him from the allegations. On Halloween, Sarah Huckabee Sanders was back in front of the camera to do just that.

Sanders on Russian probe

Ever since Donald Trump defeated Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton last November, speculation has increased over what role Russia played in his campaign. Despite denying any and all allegations that he colluded with the Kremlin, Trump has been forced to hit back against an onslaught of reports from well-respected news outlets and government agencies that say otherwise.

In the last two and a half years since he kicked off his political career, the former host of "The Apprentice" has been surrounded by controversy, with the current investigation into Russia proving to be the one that just won't go away. On Monday, it was revealed that Trump's former campaign manager, Paul Manafort, and his aid Rick Gates, were indicted as a result of the investigation, with former campaign aid George Papadopoulos pleading guilty to lying to authorities. These issues and more were highlighted during an October 31 press briefing at the White House.

Sarah Sanders: "What Papadopoulos did was lie and that's on him, not the campaign." https://t.co/u39ryAFVu0  NBC News (@NBCNews) October 31, 2017

While taking questions from reporters on Tuesday, White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders was quick to defend Donald Trump over the recent charges in the Russian investigation, before bashing the media for allegedly being "obsessed" with the scandal.

When pressed on the guilty plea of George Papadopoulos, Sanders stated "What Papadopoulos did was lie and that's on him, not the campaign." Sanders, like Trump earlier in the day, dismissed the former aid as not being significant enough to the campaign, while doing her best to separate his actions from the president.

(Sanders on media being "obsessed" with Russian scandal.)

Sarah Huckabee Sanders was then asked if the Russian probe and the actions by special counsel Robert Mueller had negatively impacted Donald Trump's ability to perform in the job of commander in chief, which prompted the press secretary to flip the issue back on the media.

"You guys seem completely obsessed with this, while there are a lot of other things happening around the country," she said.

Sanders on John Kelly

In addition to the defense of Donald Trump over the Russian scandal, Sarah Huckabee Sanders was then asked about Chief of Staff John Kelly's recent remarks appearing to defend the South in the Civil War by hinting that the North could have "compromised" to avoid further causalities.

"Was he suggesting that there would be compromise on the ablution of slavery?" one reporter asked. "Look, all of our leaders have flaws, she continued, before adding, "That doesnt diminish their contributions to our country and certainly cant erase them from history."

Sanders on Robert E Lee: "All of our leaders have flaws, that doesnt diminish their contributions to our country

https://t.co/BvLpUU7Sf7  MSNBC (@MSNBC) October 31, 2017

Twitter reacts

Not long after Sarah Huckabee Sanders' press briefing ending, critics of the administration wasted no time hitting back on social media. "So (SHS) can go jump in a hole if she thinks Shelby Foote's word is anywhere near neutral as it relates to the Civil War." one tweet read.

Sarah Huckabee Sanders' voice sounds exactly like what her face looks like  Lorenzo (@LorenzoGCook) October 31, 2017

Are we really stuck with freaking Sarah Huckabee Sanders for the remainder of this cluster fuck?  Sean Scrivner (@scrivcoug) October 31, 2017

So Sarah Huckabee Sanders can go jump in a hole if she thinks Shelby Foote's word is anywhere near neutral as it relates to the Civil War.  C.H. (@Cresean) October 31, 2017

"Are we really stuck with freaking Sarah Huckabee Sanders for the remainder of this cluster f**k?" another tweet noted. "Once you notice that (SHS) always sounds like shes out of breathe, you cant un-hear it godamnit," an additional tweet added.

Once you notice that Sarah Huckabee Sanders always sounds like shes out of breathe, you cant un-hear it godamnit  J Boolvin (@David_A_Beltran) October 31, 2017

Every time Sarah Huckabee Sanders smiles, an angel dies.  Gerard Mulligan (@GerardMulligan1) October 31, 2017

If you didn't need confirmation that Sarah Huckabee Sanders was racist, you got it today.  Gourd-on / Ponza (@PonzaLT) October 31, 2017

"Every time (SHS) smiles, an angel dies," yet another tweet read. "(SHS) voice sounds exactly like what her face looks like," a Twitter user wrote. The backlash continued as the political divide between the left and right showed no signs of slowing down.
On Tuesday afternoon in New York City, a rented Home Depot truck plowed through the streets and killed eight innocent people, while injuring over a dozen. After the suspect exited the vehicle, he shouted "Allahu Akbar" before being shot my police and taken into custody, which has since sparked a partisan war of words.

Trump's blame game

It appeared like any other Halloween in lower Manhattan when 29-year-old Sayfullo Saipov committed an act of terror on the innocent lives of Americans in New York City. Saipov had a pellet gun and a paint-gun that he waved after fleeing his truck, which ultimately led to his arrest.

Law enforcement found ISIS-related propaganda in the truck, and the suspect has been reported to have been celebrating the attack from his hospital bed ever since. In response, Donald Trump voiced his anger on social media, calling for an increase of the "extreme vetting" system since Saipov was originally from Uzbekistan and only came to the United States in 2010. In addition, Trump took to Twitter again on November 1, this time targeting the Democratic Minority leader in the Senate, Chuck Schumer, for what he believes caused the attack.

The terrorist came into our country through what is called the "Diversity Visa Lottery Program," a Chuck Schumer beauty. I want merit based.  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 1, 2017

Taking to Twitter on Wednesday morning, Donald Trump ripped into Sen.

Chuck Schumer for helping to pass what he believes led the attack in question. "The terrorist came into our country through what is called the 'Diversity Visa Lottery Program,' a Chuck Schumer beauty," Trump tweeted out, before adding, "I want merit based."

We are fighting hard for Merit Based immigration, no more Democrat Lottery Systems. We must get MUCH tougher (and smarter). @foxandfriends  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 1, 2017

In a follow-up tweet, Donald Trump elaborated on his thoughts.

"We are fighting hard for Merit Based immigration, no more Democrat Lottery Systems," Trump wrote, while stating, "We must get MUCH tougher (and smarter)." As response, Chuck Schumer wasted no time hitting.

Schumer on Trump

Not long after Donald Trump's critical remarks, Chuck Schumer lashed out at the president in a statement of his own, before doing so on the Senate floor.

After praising how former President George W. Bush handled the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, Schumer went on to compare the current president to his Republican predecessor. "President Trump, where is your leadership?" Schumer asked. "The contrast between President Bushs actions after 9/11 and President Trumps actions this morning could not be starker," he added.

My full statement in response to President Trumps proposed funding cuts to anti-terrorism efforts: pic.twitter.com/L0S6K1WkLX  Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) November 1, 2017

Moving forward, Chuck Schumer then accused Donald Trump of using the attack in New York City to push his own political agenda. The senator said that Trump was "politicizing and dividing America," while adding "he always seems to do at times of national tragedy."
The much-debated dossier about Trumps collusion with Russia during his election campaign has come into focus once again according to a story in USA Today. Details have emerged that political research carried out by anonymous individuals during the Republican Primaries linked Donald Trump to Russia.

Meanwhile, another probe links the Hillary Clinton campaign and the Democratic Election Committee to a private investigation, reportedly funded by the Democrats. But, the US President already claimed the information is politically motivated. And in true Donald J.Trump's style; he dismissed it as phony stuff.

But the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) probe had so far corroborated information provided in the dossier.

Special counsel Robert Mueller and his team are probing the alleged collusion between Russian hackers and then-Republican nominee Donald Trump.

And based on the dossier, the investigative committee interviewed the British private investigator Christopher Steels, who had helped compile the secret file before the FBI probe began. Washington insiders have known about the secret dossier since last year.

Did secret dossier prove Russian hack?

The dossier alleges that collusion occurred between hackers hired by Vladimir Putin and the Trump campaign. President Trump predictably trashed the file calling it patently false, and also went on Twitter to voice his suspicions that the Democrats and Federal agents had funded the creation of the dossier.

Donald Trump also rubbished other reports by the CIA and NSA. The FBI reported that Russia was a significant influence on the US election, and reiterated that Russian hackers intended to obtain an election result that favored Donald Trump over Hillary Clinton.

Anonymous client first requested probe?

The Democrats hired the Perkins Coie law firm after Fusion GPS - a political research firm contacted the lawyer.

Attorney Mark Elias did the compilation of the dossier, the investigation commenced in spring of 2016 and extended until after the November 2016 election.

Furthermore, the chosen law firm had already done an investigation on then-Republican candidate Donald Trump. Reportedly, an anonymous client first requested a secret probe during the hard-fought Republican primaries. Speculations are now rampant that a GOP Senator funded the secret probe against the aspiring US President.
One of the amazing realities of ISIS was the fact that this terror operation explicitly turned back the clock. It is a sign of our actual commitment to progress that we were shocked. ISIS was a case study in the resurrection of primitive cruelty. We did not reckon on such inhumanity. We thought we were past beheading.

Nor did we realize that ancient ruins of high significance were meant to be plundered or destroyed. ISIS was a wake-up call.

A human rights spur

Actually, ISIS might help nudge the field of human rights.

Even now Human Rights Groups tend to value the so-called Laws Of War as a standard for judging the violations of combat forces.

The problem with this approach is that it assumes the inevitability of war. Most wars are not inevitable. We can see that by understanding the present debate about the American Civil War.

A Refusal to Compromise? Civil War Historians Beg to Differ https://t.co/HXKeDO753Z  Stephen C. Rose (@stephencrose) November 1, 2017

To see war as inevitable is to give up on achieving nonviolence as a universal norm. We need to see war as the signature of a binary culture that refuses to think beyond two sides in any dispute. Most arguments can be nipped in the bud by a triadic approach.

Simply ask of any action if it is tolerant, helpful and democratic. These universal values are the test of any action whatsoever.

There is no problem they cannot resolve.

Triadic needs to be explicit

Human rights groups need to make an underlying triadic understanding plain. There is always a third way. As this is accepted, they will be unable to allow justice to be seen as observing the Laws of War.

Laws of War: Where Both Liberals and Realists Are Wrong https://t.co/XDNtGlfZ3i  Stephen C. Rose (@stephencrose) November 1, 2017

Progress in moving to abolish war has been slow but measurable as the recent article noted above suggests.

The existence of nuclear weapons literally littering the globe is unspeakable. The universality of abuse in homes from Manhattan to the rural areas of Manchuria is a preventable scandal. The primitive justice systems that shame us all are still in place. There could be no greater progress than the achievement of universal non-violence.

We do not need laws of war

Existing laws of war make explicit such things as the need to protect hospital ships during wartime. In other words, they see that even in the midst of war there are crimes that might exceed the basic criminality of war itself. The problem with this logic is that it seeks to do good while condoning evil.

Evil is harm of all sorts. We must call it out as it happens. Refusing to flag the big kahuna -- war itself -- is a more and more curious anomaly in an era which calls for the unprecedented as a general approach to everything.
Briana DeJesus has gotten word of a recent chat Kailyn Lowry had with Radar Online, and she isn't happy. As fans may have seen, the "Teen Mom 2" star spoke to the outlet days ago, claiming that if her former husband, Javi Marroquin, is sleeping with their co-star in front of her kids, she should know.

"If my kids were sleeping in the same room as them, I would just like to know that, Lowry told the outlet.

At the end of last month, after facing dating rumors for several weeks, Briana DeJesus spent time with Javi Marroquin in New York City, and during their time together, both parties shared images on social media.

The alleged couple then spent time with one another after Marroquin traveled to Orlando with his son, three-year-old Lincoln, and his step-son, seven-year-old Isaac.

Briana DeJesus and Javi Marroquin are playing coy

Although rumors have continuously swirled in regard to the nature of DeJesus' relationship with Marroquin, DeJesus claims that they are most definitely not sleeping with one another around Lowry's children. "This is trash, and nobody is sleeping with anyone around anyone," DeJesus tweeted.

DeJesus and Marroquin may be spending time with one another and enjoying each other's company, but when it comes to a full-blown relationship, they simply don't have one -- at least not yet. As Radar Online explained, both parties have said that they are open to seeing where their relationship takes them in recent months but failed to acknowledge what their current relationship status is.

Lmao this is trash and nobody is sleeping with anyone around anyone  https://t.co/fwCZC7vMXA  Bri baby (@_BrianaDejesus) October 3, 2017

Kailyn Lowry and Javi Marroquin were married for three years

As fans of "Teen Mom 2" well know, Lowry and Marroquin got married in 2012 and welcomed their son Lincoln one year later, just weeks after they threw themselves a second wedding.

Then, in May 2016, as Marroquin was deployed in Qatar, his now-ex-wife announced her plans for divorce.

Since then, Lowry's relationship with Marroquin has been up and down and currently; they don't seem to be in the best place. That said, they signed on to appear on "Marriage Boot Camp: Reality Stars" last year and soon, fans will watch as they attempt to make amends and better co-parent their son.

To see more of Briana DeJesus, Javi Marroquin, Kailyn Lowry and their co-stars, including Jenelle Evans, Leah Messer, and Chelsea Houska, don't miss the new episodes of the eighth season of "Teen Mom 2." The episodes air on MTV every Monday night at 9 PM.
"Days of our Lives" spoilers reveal that Clyde Weston will soon be seen again. "DOOL" viewers will see actor James Read back in the role of Clyde in the very near future, and his reappearance will give fans some very shocking answers about really happened the day that Will Horton was supposedly killed.

Ben and Clyde return to drop a major bombshell on Salem

"Days of our Lives" fans will soon see Clyde's son, Ben Weston, back in Salem as he interrupts Abigail and Chad and Sonny and Paul's big double wedding. While everyone, especially Abigail will be shocked to see Ben enter the church during the nuptials, Ben's wedding crash won't be the most surprising thing.

According to reports and spoilers, Ben will tell Sonny and everyone else in attendance at the wedding that Will Horton is still very much alive.

It appears that "Days of our Lives" viewers will see that Ben and Clyde's homecoming will go hand in hand. The father and son have obviously been keeping some very big secrets from Salem residents, and the circumstances surrounding Will's death is one of them. "DOOL" fans are itching at the chance to find out what the Weston family could be hiding, and if it will lead to more shocking reveals in the future. As many watchers of the NBC soap opera know, Clyde Weston is also responsible for the death of EJ DiMera. If he had something to do with Will's fake murder, perhaps he also has something to do with a possible EJ return.

Sami is on her way back to search for Will

Alison Sweeney will be reprising her role as Sami Brady in October and fans will see the actress go through all the emotions as she finds out that her oldest son, Will, is actually alive. Sami and other members of Will's family will go on a manhunt for their beloved family member, and "Days Of Our Lives" fans can't wait to see what they find along they way.

Where has Will been, why was his death faked, and what will happen between he, Sonny, and Paul once he returns home alive and well to Salem?

So much drama coming to 'DOOL'

It looks like "Days of our Lives" fans will have a lot of drama to watch unfold this fall in Salem, and they couldn't be more excited about the possibilities of where these storylines will go.

There are sure to be some twists and turns along they way, especially in November for sweeps. Could it be that Will Horton isn't the only one coming back to life? Only time will tell. Be sure to tune in weekday afternoons to NBC to find out how it all goes down.
Jinger Duggar Vuolo was reared in an incredibly conservative household. The young woman, who is now celebrating her one-year anniversary with husband, Jeremy Vuolo, was not allowed to wear anything but long skirts growing up. Her media was restricted to that of only consuming "Godly" things, such as reading Christian books, watching Christian movies and listening to Christian music. Jinger has already made it clear that she is familiar with non-Christian music after endorsing her mother-in-law's charity, "Swan4Kids," which helps children of incarcerated parents through the power of music.

The charity does not only use Christian music in its repertoire, which has shocked some fans.

Jinger posts secular song lyrics

Jinger Duggar stunned her followers when she posted a photo of herself kissing her husband, Jeremy Vuolo, and underneath it was the lyrics to Nat King Cole's song, "L-O-V-E." While Jinger grew up playing a myriad of instruments, the Duggar daughter was not allowed to listen to anything or play anything that wasn't Christian. Recently, a family friend, who produced an AMA (or "Ask Me Anything") on Reddit, stated that none of the Duggar Family members are really rebelling too much, but some have made the decision to watch secular films or participate in playing or listening to secular music.

This decision, however, is typically only made by Duggar children after they have gotten married and left their childhood home.

Jinger the 'rebel?'

Jinger has earned the reputation for being a "rebel" ever since she appeared on Instagram wearing pants. None of her sisters, even those who have gotten married, have dared to wear them, which has made her a bit of an outlier in the family.

Some have also thought she was a rebel due to the fact that she has yet to announce a pregnancy. In the Duggar tradition, almost everyone announces a pregnancy around three months after they get married. Jinger and Jeremy Vuolo have been married for almost a year now and still haven't made a pregnancy announcement. This has some people wondering if the pair is using birth control, against their family's wishes, or if they are unable to have children at all.

The couple has made it clear that they are interested in having children, but are going to do so on their own time instead of what other people want them to do. Jinger's family has already pressured her, however, on an episode of the family's show, "Counting On."
Just recently, most of the peoples attention seems to have been on Apple as they processed pre-orders for the iPhone X. Despite the new handsets luxury-level price, all of its allocated stocks for the first wave of pre-orders were reportedly sold out. Previously announced challenges with manufacturing due to component shortages could delay additional shipments as late as next year. Meanwhile, the long-rumored entry of RAZER to the mobile phone market was confirmed and was set to be officially unveiled on November 1, 2017. A few weeks ago an accidental leak posted some specifications of the RAZER Phone on GFXbench, which revealed a very capable device.

Now, a couple more details have been revealed that further supports its brands gaming pedigree.

RAZER Phone leaks continue

With less than a day before its official unveiling, consumers did not expect to hear more details about the RAZER Phone. However, a report from PhoneArena noted that a mobile phone blog associated with Three UK pointed to a product listing that discloses more information about the smartphone. The product is the end result of the gaming hardware companys collaboration with Nextbit. Earlier this year, they acquired the manufacturer of the Robin smartphone, which jumpstarted all the rumors about a gaming-centric mobile phone.

The latest Leaks reveal a massive 5.72-inch IGZO (Indium Gallium Zinc Oxide), which claims to cram more pixels-per-inch than regular IPS LCD units.

Moreover, it reportedly boasts a Wide Color Gamut and a refresh rate of 120Hz. Its audio performance relies on two (THX-certified) front-firing speakers with Dolby ATMOS sound enhancement technology. Since the smartphone is supposedly designed for gamers, it is expected to equip powerful hardware that will demand more power.

RAZER has supplied a 4,000mAh lithium-ion battery that can be swiftly charged using Qualcomms Quick Charge 4+ technology.

Previously-listed components

The GFXbench listing for the upcoming smartphone also listed a considerable 8GB RAM, which is supposedly paired with 2.4GHz octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 CPU. On the other hand, a leaked picture of the units back cover previously shared by Techbyte also noted its dual-camera setup, which is now confirmed to be a 13-megapixel, F/2.6 zoom and a 12-megapixel, F/1.75 wide-angle combo.

The RAZER Phones announcement has most likely attracted users who love to play games on their mobile devices. Fans of the gaming DNA marketed by the brand will surely love to own a smartphone with the familiar three-headed snake logo on its back. Furthermore, the company seems to have a sense of humor as a low-resolution image presumed to be the device shows 13:37 as the time.
SINGAPOREChina's State oil major Sinopec is evaluating two projects in the United States that could boost Gulf Coast crude oil exports and also expand storage facilities in the Caribbean, two people familiar with the matter said on Tuesday, with US President Donald Trump set to visit Beijing next week.

With US-China energy trade likely to feature prominently during Trump's visit, the people said one of the projects could see Sinopec partnering with US commodities trader Freepoint Commodities and US private equity firm ArcLight Capital Partners.

The trio is mulling building a pipeline to move shale oil from the Permian basin in Texas to the US Gulf Coast for export, the people said.

This project also includes the construction of a terminal that can load 2 million barrels of crude onboard a Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC), they said. This will reduce a big chunk of logistics costs incurred for US crude exports, making the oil more competitive in Asia, the sources said.

ArcLight and Freepoint are among the US energy and commodities firms that will make up a major part of a business delegation visiting Beijing when Trump goes to China next week.

Sinopec and the US firms have also been exploring an expansion of oil storage at Limetree Bay (LB) Terminals in St Croix, US Virgin Islands, in the Caribbean, and restarting an idled refinery at the same site, the people said. They declined to be identified because they were not authorized to speak to media.

The Chinese company, which is Asia's largest oil refiner, ArcLight and Freepoint, declined to comment.

Taking stakes in oil infrastructure is part of Sinopec's ambition to expand its global trading profile. Sinopec already owns part of a Saudi refinery at the Red Sea, although a recent attempt to buy a Chevron refinery in South Africa's Cape Town was thwarted by Glencore.

"There is room for energy cooperation between China and the United States, but the projects will have to be commercially viable before the companies reach any agreement," one of the people familiar with the matter said.

Reuters
PHNOM PENH -- Cambodia aims to double the number of Chinese tourists coming to the Southeast Asian country to 2 million by 2020, Tourism Minister Thong Khon said on Tuesday.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the second National Forum on "China Ready for Cambodia Tourism," the minister said Cambodia welcomed 3.5 million foreign tourists in the first eight months of 2017, up 11.8 percent year-on-year, among whom were 742,586 Chinese tourists, up 44 percent.

"Following the forecast, in 2017, Cambodia will receive approximately 1 million Chinese tourists and increase to at least 2 million in 2020," he told the forum, which was attended by some 600 officials and representatives of tourism-related companies in the two countries.

The minister said China is the largest source of tourists to Cambodia and he attributed the steady growth of Chinese tourists to Cambodia to the comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation that the two countries forged in 2010.

"Following this good and comprehensive strategic cooperation between the two countries, it has led to an increase of the number of Chinese investors as well as Chinese tourists to Cambodia every year," Thong Khon said.

Cambodia launched last year a "China Ready" strategy with the aim of attracting more Chinese tourists to the country.

The strategy listed steps to be taken by tourism authorities to facilitate visits by Chinese tourists, such as providing Chinese signs and documents for visa processing, encouraging local use of the Chinese currency and the Chinese language, and ensuring that food and accommodation facilities are suited to Chinese tastes.

Yang Xiuping, secretary-general of ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations)-China Center, said tourism cooperation between China and Cambodia has maintained a good momentum of rapid development in recent years and lauded Cambodia for its richness in tourism resources.

"Angkor Wat, the World Heritage Site, has become a popular destination for Chinese tourists," she said during the forum's opening ceremony. "This year, more than 1 million Chinese tourists are expected to visit Cambodia."

She said currently, 12 Chinese airlines are operating 155 direct flights each week to Cambodia.

Zhang Hailin, a professor of Guilin Tourism University in southwestern China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, said to attract more Chinese tourists, Cambodia needed to train more Chinese-speaking staff and promote its tourist destinations in Chinese language on websites and social media.

"Chinese people always adhere to their culture and traditions, so the show of respect for their culture is very important," he told the forum, adding that Chinese tourists also like doing shopping and buying souvenirs.

Chhay Sivlin, president of the Cambodia Association of Travel Agents, said she believed that Cambodia would be able to achieve the target of 2 million Chinese tourists in 2020 thanks to Cambodia-China niceties, Cambodia's richness of cultural heritage sites, and better air route connectivity between the two countries.

"Chinese tourism market is a potential market for Cambodian tourism because Chinese people are rich and they are keen to spend their holidays abroad," she said.

Tourism is one of the four sectors supporting the Cambodian economy. Last year, the country received 5 million foreign tourists, up 5 percent year-on-year, and generated total revenue of about $3.4 billion, or 13 percent of the GDP (Gross Domestic Product), according to government figures.

Cambodia has three world heritage sites - Angkor archeological park in northwestern Siem Reap province, Preah Vihear Temple in northwestern Preah Vihear province, and Sambor Prei Kuk archeological site in central Kampong Thom province.

Besides, it has a pristine coastline stretching in the length of 450 km in four southwestern provinces of Koh Kong, Preah Sihanouk, Kampot and Kep.
China's economy will maintain steady growth this year, with a full-year gross domestic product growth of 6.8 percent , 21st Century Business Herald reported citing a government think tank report released Tuesday.

The GDP growth is expected to be 6.8 percent considering R&D expenditures, and 6.6 percent excluding that item, according to the economic blue book published by the Institute of Economics at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

The book said China's economy has had stable growth this year, accompanied by positive signs including macro environmental recovery, effective structural optimization, and a calm response to external shocks.

The biggest change for economic growth is government intensification of supply-side structural reform, the book added.

"It's a positive signal, showing the country is promoting transformation and upgrades," said Zhang Ping, a researcher at the Institute of Economics at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

China's economy has been transitioning from a phase of rapid growth to a stage of high-quality development, said a report delivered to the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China.

Official data showed China's economy displayed strong resilience in the first three quarters of 2017 with GDP expansion holding steady at 6.9 percent year-on-year.

According to the book, the consumer price index will grow 1.5 percent this year, while the producer price index, which measures costs for goods at the factory gate, will be up 4.6 percent year-on-year.

In 2017, the service industry will become the key driver of China's economy, the book added.




China's Global Newspaper





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Bloomberg article suggests China best fit to rewire battered Caribbean island

Since Hurricane Maria knocked out power to Puerto Rico six weeks ago, only 30 percent of the homes and businesses there have had their electricity restored. The government and the Puerto Rico Electricity Authority have been seeking outside help to fix the problem.

None of this has anything to do with China until a Bloomberg article argued that China State Grid Corp is best fit to fix the failing power system on the Caribbean island.

The article, by Adam Minter, came after Puerto Rico officials announced on weekend to cancel the controversial $300 million contract with Whitefish Energy Holdings LLC, a Montana company with just two full-time employees prior to the award, to rebuild its electrical grid.

Minter said Puerto Rico should turn to companies with real expertise in repairing power grids in developing regions. "Of these, none would be better fit than State Grid Corp of China," he wrote.

He realized that the mere idea might raise national-security alarms in Washington. "But it's worth asking: What would it look like if China's biggest power company were given the chance to rebuild Puerto Rico's grid?" he wrote.

Minter has studied the State Grid Corp of China, citing its achievement in building electrical utility in some of the world's most inaccessible terrain. In 2014, State Grid began work on a $1 billion, 945-mile transmission line in a mountainous area between Tibet and Sichuan province that require workers to labor at 12,500 feet, on average. And the project was completed in less than a year, well ahead of schedule.

The Chinese company has become one of the world's leading developers of renewable energy generation and transmission technologies. "Both will be crucial if Puerto Rico is going to wean itself from its financially and environmentally ruinous dependence on imported fossil fuels," he wrote.

The State Grid also has the money and the desire to do the job, according to Minter. The company generates nearly as much revenue in a year as Boeing and Apple combined. It has gone global since 2009 with investments in Brazil, Portugal, Australia, Italy and the Philippines.

Minter noted that there would be some national-security concern, saying that "China could, for instance, threaten to shut down the grid in a theoretical confrontation with the US". But he said that that many of the concerns could be allayed beforehand.

One reader, named JC1010, taunted: "You mean, shut down like it is now?"

"China is the new bogeyman to blame for every wrong in the USA. There's no way such an intelligent forward-looking policy would be allowed in the USA, especially not when it is politically difficult," wrote a reader named Atp34

" Personally I say let the Puerto Ricans contract it out to the Chinese. Trump won't do it though, as the Pentagon will push back on it and his nationalist/populist supporters will howl in rage," wrote another named Elvis.

China has long objected to the fear-mongering of Chinese foreign direct investment in the US. Speaking to press on Monday, Chinese Ambassador to the US Cui Tiankai criticized the US for often using unspecified national security as an excuse to block Chinese investment in the US. "Is this going backwards from the opening up?" he asked.

chenweihua@chinadailyusa.com
A man driving a rented pickup truck barreled down a popular New York City bike path on Tuesday afternoon, killing eight people and injuring more than a dozen others in what authorities said was a terrorist attack.

Police examine a rented truck used by a driver who fatally ran over eight people on a bicycle path on the West Side of Manhattan on Tuesday. [Photo/Agencies]

Of the eight people slain, six were pronounced dead at the scene and two others at a nearby hospital, New York Police Commissioner James O'Neill told a news conference.

New York Fire Commissioner Daniel Nigro said 11 survivors with serious injuries were taken to hospitals.

After crashing into a small school bus, the suspect emerged from his truck waving a paintball gun in one hand and a pellet gun in the other. He was shot in the stomach by an NYPD officer and taken to Bellevue Hospital.

A woman is aided by FDNY members after she was injured at the site where a driver ran down bicyclists in Lower Manhattan on Tuesday. [Photo/Agencies]

Two children and two adults on the school bus were injured.

Asked about reports that the driver shouted "Allahu Akbar" - which is Arabic for "God is great" - O'Neill said that a statement made by the suspect when he exited his truck, along with the circumstances, led investigators to label the incident a "terrorist event".

Two law enforcement officials who spoke on condition of anonymity identified the attacker as Sayfullo Saipov, 29.

According to abc7news.com, Saipov entered the US seven years ago from Uzbekistan under the Diversity Visa Program, a lottery for people from countries with few immigrants to the United States.

The website said that in addition to an address in Tampa, Florida, Saipov lived in Ohio and most recently, in Paterson, New Jersey. Reports said the truck was rented from the Home Depot in Passaic, New Jersey.

The Halloween parade goes on in Greenwich Village with increased police presence after earlier bike-path attack. Zhou Pai / China Daily

At around 3:05 pm, the suspect drove along the bike path  which runs parallel to the West Side Highway on the West Side of Manhattan along the Hudson River  for about 14 blocks before slamming into the school bus. The pavement was strewn with mangled bicycles and bodies.

"I saw a lot of blood over there. A lot of people on the ground," said Chen Yi, an Uber driver.

US President Donald Trump, in a series of tweets, wrote: "My thoughts, condolences and prayers to the victims and families of the New York City terrorist attack. God and your country are with you!  We must not allow ISIS to return, or enter, our country after defeating them in the Middle East and elsewhere. Enough!  In NYC, looks like another attack by a very sick and deranged person. Law enforcement is following this closely. NOT IN THE USA!"

Mayor Bill de Blasio called the attack a "cowardly act of terrorism".

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said the suspect appeared to have acted alone.

Later on CNN, Cuomo said, "Tonight we're at a Halloween parade to say you didn't win and you didn't affect us and we're out and celebrating and we're doing what New Yorkers do."

Similar attacks in Europe last year killed dozens.

AP contributed to this story.

Contact the writers at williamhennelly@chinadailyusa.com.
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Drew Angerer/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) -- President Donald Trump's former political strategist advised him in a phone call on Monday to be more aggressive about slowing down special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into whether Trumps campaign colluded with the Russians, according to three sources close to Bannon.



Bannon has been advocating for "a much more aggressive legal approach short of firing Mueller," a source close to Bannon told ABC News on Monday.



White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said at Tuesdays press briefing that the president does not support defunding of the special counsel. She also added that hes happy with his legal team.



Im not sure what we would push back against since theyve just come up with ways and shown more and more that theres no connection between the Trump campaign and collusion with Russia, Sanders said.



ABC News reached out to Bannon, who declined to comment.



The Breitbart founder and firebrand conservative also previously suggested that Trump should consider replacing his legal team, sources told ABC News.



Bannon has encouraged the president to demand that the Justice Department require more accountability for the resources spent on the investigation, the sources told ABC News on Monday.



Bannon has been an advisor for Trump since he joined the campaign in August 2016. Even though he was forced to resign from the administration in August 2017, he has been a frequent advisor to Trump, whom he often speaks to by phone.



A controversial figure in the White House, Bannon has been an advocate for the travel ban, for example.



He has openly disagreed with the presidents decision to fire former FBI director James Comey, calling it the biggest political mistake in modern history in a recent interview.



Mueller was appointed special counsel in May 2017 to oversee the investigation into whether there was collusion between the Trump campaign and the Russian government. Two people were indicted on Monday -- former campaign manager Paul Manafort and former campaign official Rick Gates. Former campaign foreign policy advisor George Papadopoulos has been charged with making false statements to the FBI.



Jay Sekulow, a member of President Trumps personal legal team, told George Stephanopoulos on This Week, on Sunday: The president has authority to take action. Trump has taken to Twitter to openly question the validity of the investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election, repeatedly calling it a "witch hunt." Trump reportedly asked for legal advice about the possibility of firing Mueller.



However, Sekulow pushed back against this possibility on Good Morning America on Tuesday, telling Stephanopoulos, There is no conversation regarding firing Robert Mueller. And there's no basis to fire Robert Mueller on anything that weve seen.



You could only terminate a special counsel for cause, and we just dont see any basis for cause, Sekulow added.



Shortly after Mueller was first appointed, Trumps allies outside of the White House and in the press launched a campaign against Mueller, questioning whether he has a partisan bias.



Conservative pundit Ann Coulter called on Trump to fire Mueller and conservative writer Byron York suggested that it would be impossible for Mueller to be fair because of his friendship with Comey. Trump ally and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich tweeted: Republicans are delusional if they think the special counsel is going to be fair.



Bannon has encouraged this campaign against Mueller to continue, according to sources close to Bannon, but has suggested that they use legislation, slow down document production and rally conservatives in the House and Senate to get behind slowing down the investigation.



Asked by reporters on Tuesday whether he could be confident that the White House won't pressure Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein to fire special counsel Bob Mueller, Senate Intelligence Committee chairman Richard Burr said, "I can't be confident on anything.



Burr also reiterated what he said in a press conference with the committees vice chairman, Mark Warner, two weeks ago: they "have not come to a conclusion" about any Russian collusion with the Trump campaign.



"It continues to be something that we look at. Its the mission of the investigation, and the vice chairman and I continue to chart a course to answer all the questions," he said.



Copyright  2017, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
HA NOI  Natcom has signed an agreement to provide an electronic document system, N-Office, to the Haitian Ministry of Public Works, Transportation and Communications at a total value of US$60,000.

Natcom is a joint venture between Telecommunications dHaiti S.A.M (Haiti) and Viettel (Viet Nam),

This was the first co-operation service between Natcom and the government of Haiti, paving the way for the telecom provider to further develop an e-government project in Haiti.

The document management software, N-Office, is a new version of the V-Office software, which has been upgraded and optimised in relation to language and functions. Once operational, the system will facilitate the administrative activities of agencies under the government of Haiti.

The Haitian minister of Public Works, Transportation and Communications, Fritz Caillot, said that Viettels product will help improve the ministrys task performance quality.

Natcom CEO Ha The Duong said that the $60,000 N-Office project signals the beginning of further co-operation between the company and the Haitian authorities. This also proved the vision of Viettel in establishing a smart society, especially in developing countries where Viettel is present, he said.

In Viet Nam, V-Office is successfully operating in units of the Nam inh Provincial Peoples Committee.

This has proved that Viettel can provide not only telecommunication services, but also software, to international markets.  VNS
A NANG  The 2017 Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) Summit is a crucial opportunity for businesses throughout central Viet Nam to seek trade partners and export markets as representatives of foreign firms flock to the business forums at APEC from November 5-11, a Nang business people and officials say.

Nearly 2,000 CEOs will attend the CEO Summit in the city. Vice chairman of the citys Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Association (DANASME), Nguyen Van Ly, told Viet Nam News that this would represent a rare opportunity for local firms to show off their capacity.

The city has 21,000 businesses, of which 98 per cent are SMEs and super-small businesses with registered capital of VN90 trillion (US$3.9 billion). They contribute 43 per cent to the citys Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP), and employ 60 per cent of the citys labour force. Eighty per cent of the city businesses operate in trade, service, hospitality, tourism property and retails, making international connections especially important.

a Nang has been a leader in Provincial Competitiveness Index (PCI) for the past decade. It has 408 domestic projects worth $4.5 billion, and 525 foreign direct investment (FDI) projects worth $3 billion.

Tourism real estate remains an investment magnet in this central city, attracting 25 (FDI) projects worth US$1.8 billion. But the citys business community faces challenges that the APEC Summit could help ameliorate.

We have been struggling in seeking a larger export market and long-term strategic partners in service and tourism as well as property. For us, building connections with giant foreign partners is nearly impossible, Ly said. Our small and medium enterprise community faces limited funds and technology, as well as little international exposure. Thats why the APEC Summit is very important to the citys business community.

Ly said he hoped that local businesses would be able to share experiences with CEOs from some of the worlds top firms and join global production processes.

He said the association had received a list of top 100 enterprises in the APECs CEO Summit for business matching. Local businesses are particularly expected to connect with international firms operating in the fields of finance, hi-tech and human resources.

Quality check: A worker inspects the quality of rubber tyres at a factory in a Nang.  VNS Photo Cong Thanh

Tourism boon

The 2017 APEC Summit was a "diamond" chance for a Nangs tourism industry in hosting the worlds top economic leaders and CEOs, as well as officials from 21 member economies and partners, said the citys tourism association, Huynh Tan Vinh.

Vinh said the city received an award for Asia s Leading Festival and Event at the World Travel Awards ceremony for tourism last year. He said that hosting the APEC Summit would confirm the citys tourism prowess.

He said a Nang was also the first city in Viet Nam and the South-east Asian region to host a leg of the Clipper 2015-16 Round the World Yacht Race last year. Because of that event, the symbol of the Ngu Hanh Son Mountain ( Marble Mountain ) and the citys tourism logo, Fantastic City , travelled around the globe.

The APEC Summit is a great promotional opportunity for the citys tourism industry, Vinh said. Well be able to offer international observers an introduction to the city through the first-hand experiences of 10,000 delegates, 2,000 CEOs and 3,000 journalists at the APEC Summit.

He said the city had received huge investment from the central Government and private sectors in infrastructure projects, including airport expansiona new terminal could host about 14 million tourists per yearconvention halls, accommodations, human resource training and decoration projects.

The city has developed 600 hotels and resorts to provide 26,000 rooms for hosting 15 million tourists per year in 2030, Vinh said.

He said a Nang had been designed to serve as a favourite destination for MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conference and Exhibition) in Viet Nam and the region.

Yeon In Jung, the CEO and general director of South Korea s Doosan Heavy Industries Viet Nam (Doosan Vina) said the APEC Summit was an excellent opportunity for Viet Nam to showcase its advantages and encourage firms to invest and open a branch or subsidiary in the country like Doosan did in 1995.

He said the APEC Summit would provide long-term benefit for Viet Nam , its people and businesses; the exposure that Viet Nam would receive is tremendous.

If you think of Viet Nam in terms of a brand, hosting the APEC Summit will introduce key decision makers in Government and business people from all over the world to what is possible in Viet Nam , and that is priceless, he added.

The VIPs that are coming will be able to see firsthand what companies like Doosan have done here and theyll be able to easily see the possibilities for investment. Another side effect will be the millions of people in the leaders home nations who will also be shown what it is like to visit and do business in Viet Nam by their media, so the benefits from APEC will last long after the event and have a knock-on effect that will bring lasting value to Viet Nam for many years to come, he said.
HA NOI Though Viet Nam has become increasingly linked to global trade networks, local small-and-medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) struggle to integrate globally, said Pham Thi Thu Hang, general secretary of the Viet Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), at the workshop Supporting international trade for SMEs in Ha Noi on Tuesday.

Hang said that most small firms had not had the opportunity to join international trade activities. Research by the Asia Institute showed that the Vietnamese SMEs joined world trade at a lower rate than other countries in the region.

SMEs export turnover accounted for less than 20 per cent of the total, though they make up 98 per cent of the countrys total businesses.

In addition, the portion of local SMEs participating in world trade was still low at 21 per cent. In Malaysia, for example, the figure is 46 per cent.

In order to take advantage of increasing opportunities to participate in world trade, SMEs need to update information of the macro-economy, improve financial capacity and international transaction ability.

VCCIs figures show that only 14 per cent of Vietnamese SMEs have foreign partners and investors, while 65 per cent reported facing difficulties finding them.

Given the SME sector is a key contributor to trade, employment and economic growth of Viet Nam, it is critical that the sector receive adequate support to grow strongly and sustainably, she added.

She said the Government should enact policy reforms to help SMEs actively expand their business to the international market.

Nirukt Sapru, CEO of Standard Chartered Viet Nam and ASA Cluster Markets, said that Vietnamese SMEs had problems accessing loans and trade finance. He added that they faced a dearth of information, sale channels and experience in international transactions.

"For the last two decades, Viet Nam has benefited greatly from the expansion of trade and investment links with various countries around the globe  and SMEs play a crucial role in that process. As Viet Nam continues to expand trade with the rest of the world, SMEs will be a key part of this growth: in particular SMEs will be critical to further integrating Viet Nam with global supply chains," he said.

Pham Hoang Tien, director of VCCIs Centre for Supporting SMEs, said in recent years, the Government had promulgated policies to support SMEs, such as improving the business environment to create more favourable conditions for international integration.

The country has already reformed regulations relating to special inspection of goods and updated import-export services following international standards.

The event attracted more than 100 businesses from diverse industries. Attendees discussed key issues for local SMEs, including the latest Government policies to support SMEs, the economys outlook and foreign exchange trends.

Standard Chartered Bank Viet Nam also announced a campaign to offer each firm 50 per cent cash back on their first 10 overaseas payment transactions made before December 30.  VNS
A NANG  The central a Nang Citys Investment and Development Fund has agreed to provide a US$7.9 million loan to the a Nang Port joint-stock company to upgrade and expand the Tien Sa Port.

Director of the port, Nguyen Huu Sia, told Viet Nam News that the 13-year loan was to fund the building an international standard logistics centre in Viet Nam.

He said the loan was just 20 per cent of total investment capital ($49.3 million) needed to complete upgrading the port during the next two years.

Sia said the company would also raise funds from its available funds ($16.6 million or 35 per cent) and from shareholders as well as from the Bank for Foreign Trade of Viet Nam (Vietcombank), the Bank of Investment and Development of Viet Nam (BIDV).

The expanded port has been able to handle 14 million tonnes of cargo, including 800,000 TEUs (20-foot equivalent unit), and become a leading international commercial gateway in the ASEAN region by 2025.

The Tien Sa upgrade is the second investment project in a Nang not to use Official Development Assistance (ODA) funds after the Hoa Lien Water refused non-refundable ODA funds from Japan.

As planned, the Tien Sa, the largest in central Viet Nam, will be expanded to 86,674sq.m, raising the ports total area to about 29ha with total investment of $49.3 million.

The port handled 7.25 million tonnes of cargo and 73 cruise ships last year. It is a key logistics port in Viet Nams central provinces and the Central Highlands, as well as the East-West Economic Corridor that links Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Viet Nam.

Currently, Tien Sa Port allows access to only 30,000 DWT (deadweight tonnage) ships, and plans to be able to berth 70,000 DWT (deadweight tonnage) ships by 2025.

According to the Ministry of Transport, a Nang Citys port system, including Tien Sa, Lien Chieu and Son Tra, will handle 29 million tonnes of cargo by 2030.

The city and the port of Kawasaki in Japan have been planning to open a shipping route connecting the two ports.  VNS
HA NOI  The Bien ong Trade and Investment Joint Stock Company has agreed in principle with a Korean food company to sell 2,000 tonnes of pork per year.

This is being done to grasp opportunities to export pork to the South Korean market, Vu Trong Nghia, director of the Nam inh Province-based company, was quoted as saying by the Vietnam News Agency on Wednesday.

He said that the company has also inked a Memorandum of Understanding with Japans Minami Kyushu University on co-operation in developing agriculture and transferring technologies to process food.

It has completed the building of a clean food processing and green breeding complex, while a slaughtering plant with a capacity of 300 pigs per hour and a cold storage with South Korean technology are due to be put into operation in November 2017.

The company has two safe pig raising farms in the northern province of Nam inh. It has connected with the high-quality livestock breeding centre at Vietnam National University of Agriculture to acquire advanced technology for production.

Nghia said through the VIETGO Company, his firm has received orders of importing around 9,000 tonnes of pork for the first year from Korean businesses.

He hoped the State management agencies will soon open an export market for Vietnamese pork products.  VNS
HCM CITY  HCM City Peoples Committee Chairman, Nguyen Thanh Phong, has asked the police investigation office to investigate and prosecute illegal sand mining cases in the Can Gio sea area.

The recurrence of illegal sand mining operations in Can Gio sea is unacceptable, and the offenders must be criminally prosecuted, Phong was quoted as saying in Thanh nien (Young People) newspaper.

He also said that the city Peoples Committee will hold a meeting this week with the authorities of Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Long An, Ben Tre and Tien Giang, as well as ong Nai and Binh Duong provinces to discuss punishment measures against those involved in the increasing illegal sand mining.

Round-the-clock checkpoints proposed

At a press conference held by the city Peoples Committee on Monday, director of the city Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Nguyen Toan Thang, said that from 2013 until now, the city authorities had not granted any permits for sand mining.

Regarding the serious illegal sand mining at Can Gio beach, Thang said the city had resolutely fought, arrested and strictly handled offenders, but it was still recurring. We absorb information reported by the media to continue to handle it thoroughly," he said.

According to Thang, the Can Gio area was assessed to have large sand reserves and due to the particularity of the area, it had to be preserved to protect the general environment of the city and neighboring provinces. Hence, sand mining was strictly prohibited there.

Answering the reporters question about whether there was a black power of local authorities or individuals who support illegal sand mining, Thang affirmed the environmental police had not detected any evidence to that effect, and that the opinion of the citys leaders was to strictly punish violators. Because preserving the sea of Can Gio is to preserve the green environment for our children," he said.

Meanwhile, Vo Van Hoan, Chief of Office of the city Peoples Committee, said that the Committee required the relevant offices to join the fight against illegal sand mining, because the situation was beyond the control of the Can Gio District authorities.

According to Hoan, receiving information from the media, the city Peoples Committee will ask the department of natural resources and environment to coordinate with related departments to strengthen inspection, supervision and ensure strict punishment.

Border guard forces must conduct checks round-the-clock, he said, Illegal sand mining is occurring 20km from the shore, so the key locations must have checkpoints. It is time to keep a tight watch on sand gathering sites. If the owner cannot prove the origin of sand, the case must be strictly dealt with.

Also at the meeting, Chairman of the Can Gio District Peoples Committee, Le Minh Dung, said, "From the beginning of this year, local authorities have fined 40 cases, of which 29 cases were related to unknown origin of sand and 11 were of illegal sand mining.

In the latest case on Monday morning, police seized four boats of illegal sand miners in the Con Ngua area.

Stricter punishment needed

Tran Thanh uc, deputy commander of the city Border Guard, affirmed a serious increase in cases of illegal mining in the Can Gio sea, recently. We know that if there is a hot spot in the area, the commander of that area must be responsible.

The border guard force has discovered and seized a lot of illegal sand mining boats recently. However, he said that in the process of implementation, there were many difficulties due to the large area and lack of equipment, while the illegal sand miners were becoming more and more mischievous.

He added that the district Peoples Committee had requested the city Peoples Committee to apply a stricter punishment against sand mining criminals, including setting up of watchtowers at Con Ngua sea area.

Colonel Nguyen Hong Dung, head of the city Border Guards drug and crime prevention department, said in 2016, it had detected 20 cases with 41 persons, fined nearly VN2 billion people and confiscated 5,600cu.m of sand.

Over the last 10 months of this year, 29 cases were discovered with 80 people, more than VN1.4 billion fines imposed and more than 1,100cu.m of sand confiscated.

"With the high profit from illegal sand mining, the administrative fine isnt heavy enough. Each vehicle contains between 600 and 700cu.m of sand and the vessel only sucks sand for about an hour and a half," said Dung.-- VNS
QUANG BINH  Farmers in central Quang Binh Province are facing a dilemma as their paddy fields have been affected by salty water following the typhoon Doksuri last September.

The salinity has impacted 110ha of land in the provinces Bac Trach Commune in Bo Trach District, leaving local farmers hesitant about sowing rice for winter-spring crops because of the fear of loss of crops. However, no start for the crops means poverty in the next year.

Nguyen Thi Xoan, head of a village in the commune, said salty water has inundated local fields for a month now, but the villagers have failed to get it to flow out.

Local farmers said strong waves from typhoon Doksuri broke part of the local anti-salinity dyke, paving the way for salty water to occupy the local fields. Nguyen Van Minh, a local, said the saline soil could be washed out with floods from the upper rivers. Unfortunately, local power reservoirs have blocked water for their operational reservoirs and no flood has occurred yet.

Minh said young rice plants would die in the saline soil, and without floodwater, the soil would take a long time to be washed clean.

Nguyen Ngoc Tuan, the communes chairman, said local authorities had released water from an irrigation reservoir, but the fresh water was insufficient to help clean the 110ha of soil.

Tuan said he expected continuous heavy rains would help local farmers out of the situation.

Currently, weeds growing naturally in the field die en mass because of rotten roots affected by salty water.

According to Nguyen Ngoc Phung, director of the provinces Irrigation Department, reinforcing the dyke is a sustainable solution for salinity in the locality. He said, however, insufficient capital for the dyke system hinders the work, suggesting more allocation of funds from the province and State budgets.  VNS
BINH INH  Nearly 16ha of natural forests in Canh Thuan Commune, Van Canh District, Binh inh Province, were recently chopped down, according to a report of the provincial forest protection branch.

Accordingly, as many as 15.754ha of production forests in zone 367 were destroyed in August this year.

Previously, another 29.2ha of natural forests in zone 367 were also destroyed. Acacia trees were planted in this area between late 2015 and 2017. Up to 9.5ha is empty without any planted trees.

According to an investigation by a Vietnam News Agency reporter, the 29.2ha were approved by the districts Peoples Committee to be assigned to 30 poor households for production. However, until now, the locals have not received any land.

All production forests meant for locals are occupied by officials at district and commune levels. These officials reportedly hired locals to chop down natural forests and plant acacia trees for economic profits.

The case is being further investigated. Vietnam News Agency will continue to update readers with the latest developments.

In September this year, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc ordered investigation on a large scale of the serious deforestation case in An Lao District of Binh inh Province. More than 60ha of forests in An Hung Commune were found to be destroyed. Several forest rangers related to the case were disciplined for lacking responsibility in forest protection.  VNS
At 81, Japanese sculptor Katsumi Mukai shows no signs of stopping, continuing to work on big tree trunks to create giant sculptures. Viet Nams beautiful landscapes are an endless inspiration, he says. The famous artist, who has exhibited in many countries, tells Minh Thu that he is determined to work until his last breath and dedicate the rest of his life for art activities in Viet Nam.

You have been part of the Art in the Forest (AITF) programme in Vinh Phuc Province for the last two years. Can you talk about your inspiration to create for this project?

The project was launched by painter Vu Hong Nguyen in 2015. He introduced it to me last year. It impressed me that the project gives artists good conditions, including financial support, to exercise their creativity. There is no limit for us. We find inspiration and decide on the art works content, material and scale. The organiser meets all the demands. I think art is receiving worthy investment and concern in Viet Nam.

Last year, I worked on iron wood. The 26-tonne sculpture, Forest of Sunlight, was inspired by nature. This year, the Family sculpture was made with teak wood, inspired by people.

Nguyen thinks iron wood is too much for my age. So he finds me a teak trunk imported from Myanmar. The material is softer than iron wood.

People have been the constant theme in my works throughout the years. Having participated in many international sculpture camps, with hands-on feelings and opportunities to interact with different cultures, the relationships with people offer a precious chance to revisit ones personal working journey. And my creations are based on such trips, encounters and sense of the self.

When did you first come to Viet Nam?

I came here for the Echoes of Nature exhibition organised by Asia Art Link, the association connecting Asian artists, at the Viet Nam Museum of Fine Arts. I showed some wooden sculptures and paintings with other Asian artists.

I will come back to Viet Nam in May next year to join another exhibition of Asia Art Link. I cant wait.

How does Viet Nam inspire you?

Everyday, the most important thing for me, that urges me to create, is to immerse myself with nature, feeling the scent of the breezes, the sound of falling snow and the chill of fogs.

In Viet Nam, every afternoon, when the sun descends beside my workshop, I let my heart drift away into the many sounds of insects and the colours of the sky. Being immersed in such a space, I can concentrate on creating.

As I carve the wood planks, I am on a journey to confront myself where the only thing that remains in the world is the artwork.

Have you visited many places in Viet Nam?

I just stay at the Flamingo ai Lai Resort in Vinh Phuc Province where the AITF programme takes place. The second place is the Fine Arts Museum in Ha Noi.

Im not a traveller. Im an artist and Im here to work. I totally focus on it.

During the AITF programme, you worked and stayed with other artists in one month. How was that experience?

I get a lot of help from other artists because Im the oldest (smile). We easily understand and sympathise with each other, though language is a barrier. Weve had a memorable time together.

I was very moved when young artist Vu Binh Minh created a 25-tonne Summer Cloud sculpture for me. It will remind me of the wonderful time and of colleagues in Viet Nam when I return to Japan.  VNS
Ha Noi  A collection of Russian poems on the Soviet Unions patriotic war from 1941-1945 entitled Wait for Me has been translated into Vietnamese to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the October Revolution (1917-2017).

The collection includes 180 poems from 24 poets written during the years from 1941 to 1945 when the country was fighting Nazi Germany.

Two Vietnamese translators Nguyen Huy Hoang and Nguyen Van Minh have worked hard to collect the poems from prominent authors such as Konstantin Simonov, Olga Bergholz, Yevgeny Yevtushenko and others.

In 1947, Simonovs Wait for Me was translated into Vietnamese by poet To Huu. It immediately became popular, and held significance among Vietnamese people in the resistance war against the French.

The collection reflects the brutal reality of war through Russian characters and their inner feelings. It shows the tragedy of battle, but is also magnanimous and optimistic.

Lovers of Russian poetry will recognise many poems in this collection that have been set to music, not only in Russia but also in Viet Nam.

It is hoped that the collection will bring the Vietnamese an empathetic understanding and pride for the patriotic war of the Soviet people and Soviet literature.

The Wait for Me poem collection is hoped to act as a bridge between literature of the two countries to contribute to consolidating their close friendship.

It will be launched in Ha Noi on November 3 at the 10th floor in 115 Tran Duy Hung, Cau Giay District.

Those interested in Russia and especially Russian literature are invited to join the event.-- VNS
THE HAGUE  Amsterdam will enforce a new ban on beer-bikes this week after years of complaints by locals about rowdy tourists getting drunk and disorderly while pedalling along its famous canals.

As from Wednesday "the beer bicycle may be banned from the city centre to stop it from being a nuisance," the Amsterdam District Court said in a statement.

"The court agrees with the city council that the combination of traffic disruptions, anti-social behaviour and the busy city centre justifies a ban," it added.

Beer bicycles have become a popular way  especially for tourists celebrating group events, such as stag parties  to travel around Amsterdam.

The contraption is actually a small cart fitted out with a number of bicycle seats arranged around a bar table and which is then powered by patrons, as they pedal along the inner citys historic canals.

But beer bicycles have become a huge headache, even for Amsterdammers who are known for their tolerance.

Last year some 6,000 residents, many of them living in the inner city handed the council a petition to have it banned, calling it a "terrible phenomenon".

"Our citys become a giant attraction park," one resident told the NOS newscaster at the time.

Amsterdams late mayor, Eberhard van der Laan agreed and instituted a ban the bikes, but was taken to court last year by four beer bicycle operators, who accused the city of "imposing on peoples freedom."

At the time, judges struck down the mayors request, saying it was not properly motivated.

In Tuesdays ruling, however, the judges agreed that problems caused by the beer bike including shouting, public drunkenness and lewd behaviour such as urinating in public were causes for the beer bike to be no more.

Amsterdam in recent years have been looking at ways to tame the yearly deluge of some 17 million tourists, which is threatening to swamp the city.

Once a small fishing village, Amsterdam in the 16th and 17th centuries grew into a major trading hub, but now has become a victim of its own success.

Every year the flow of sightseers flocking to the citys 165 canals grows by some 5 per cent as the result of an impressive marketing campaign.

But for the citys 830,000 residents, tourist numbers threaten to become a major annoyance.  AFP
NEW YORK  Rap superstar Kanye West is back nearly a year after suffering a breakdown  making a brief musical appearance in which he appears to keep his feud with Taylor Swift alive.

West, a once omnipresent celebrity with a prolific media presence and high-profile marriage to Kim Kardashian, abruptly ended a tour and was hospitalised in November 2016 after unusual rants on stage.

Making his most visible appearance this year, West contributed a verse on a song released on Tuesday by Cyhi The Prynce, an Atlanta rapper whom West earlier signed to his label imprint.

The song, Dat Side, expounds on the perils of fame and hits back at critics, with West speaking of being African-American in his affluent Los Angeles neighbourhood.

"Neighbours said they think I gave the neighbourhood a black eye," the 40-year-old father of two raps.

He also appears to reference his ongoing rift with Swift. In his 2016 song Famous, West boasts that the pop star may have sex with him as he takes credit for her celebrity  a reference to how he disrupted her at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards.

Swift voiced anger at the lyric and hit back in Look What You Made Me Do, a vindictive track released in August.

West on the latest track references the name of the controversial song as he raps: "The people claim to know you... get famous on you / Then they go and blame it on you / You just good, they cant ignore you."

Wests last major public appearance following his hospitalisation came in December when he unexpectedly showed up at Trump Tower in New York to meet then president-elect Donald Trump  whose aides said he was mulling an official role for the rapper.  AFP
KHANH HOA  Anh Quoc Kiet has dedicated his life to helping fellow gay men seek treatment for HIV/AIDS and overcome discrimination to gain confidence in their lives after what many still see as a shameful diagnosis.

Kiet lives in Ninh Hoa Township in the southern central province of Khanh Hoa. He is a member of Song Bien (Sea Waves) group  a community organisation that promotes HIV/AIDS prevention among prostitutes, drug-addicts, and gay men.

Over the last three years, Kiet has built relationships with 180 gay men in the community, 12 of whom are HIV-positive. He encourages them to practice safe sex, provides information about STDs and encourages them to seek testing, and helps them pursue lives of meaning after a diagnosis, online newspaper Vietnamplus reported in a recent story.

His work is increasingly important: According to latest figures released by the Health Ministry this year, the proportion of HIV-positive gay men has increased, while the number of HIV-positive prostitutes and drug addicts has declined in recent years.

As of May this year, there were 209,754 HIV-positive people and 90,882 died of AIDS since the disease was first diagnosed in the country.

In Khanh Hoa Province, gay people accounted for 18.8 per cent out of a total of 101 HIV-positive individuals, increasing 11.3 per cent against 2015, said Dr. Tran Van Tin, director of the provincial HIV/AIDS Prevention Centre.

In response, public health officials have dedicated more resources to the high-risk group of gay men.

Song Bien is one of three such groups in Khanh Hoa Province. The 18-member organisation was established in 2015 with funds from the Global Fund for HIV/AIDS.

Kiet and his colleagues work at the grass-roots level. They are in constant contact with individuals at risk of contracting HIV/AIDS. They daily lives are occupied with the struggles and fears of others.

Persuading a person who I did not know before to take an HIV test has been a really hard journey, Kiet said. To go from strangers to friends, sometimes becoming even closer than family because I know their secrets, I had to create absolute trust.

Serving his community

He feels he is more effective in his work because he understands the continuing difficulty of being gay in a conservative country.

Homosexual men always feel an inferiority complex, Kiet said. They are hardly able to express their real sexuality, even to family members. So many people have been angry and resentful for a long time, and they respond with a promiscuous sexual life, he said.

This makes them more susceptible to HIV/AIDS.

Because I am a homosexual man too, I feel and sympathise with their pains, Kiet said. So I talk with them easily.

Kiet said many HIV-positive men told him that they felt despair. Sometimes they contemplated taking revenge on life by deliberately infecting their partners with HIV.

I saw many people wanted to kill themselves when they tested positive for HIV, Kiet said. I had to find any way to relieve their fear and bring them back to life.

For the last three years, Kiets life has been full of journeys which he organised for HIV/AIDS-positive men to find encouragement and consolation. The groups take trips to mountains, beaches and islands to help them release their dispiritedness and desperation.

He has successfully persuaded hundreds of gay men to complete HIV tests and seek treatment.

To do his job effectively, he must reach out to strangers and become a trusted friend. He makes face-to-face contacts at events and introduces himself on Facebook, the messaging app Zalo, and online forums of the gay community.

Kiet recalled one case in which it took a great deal of time to persuade a young man to take an HIV test and seek treatment.

He was a 21-year-old young man. He was a callboy, Kiet recalled.

The boy had not used condoms, so he lived under a cloud of fear that he might be infected with HIV, but was not brave enough to do a test. He always wanted to end his life by jumping down from a high mountain, he said.

The boy lived 28km from Kiets house. For a month, Kiet visited the boy everyday to persuade him to do a test.

His efforts were not in vain. After six months of treatment, the boys health had improved and he had renewed optimism about life. He is now working in a local restaurant.

Everyday, Kiet makes phone calls or attends coffee dates to comfort and advise men living with HIV.

Over last three years, Kiet has successfully convinced seven HIV-positive gay men to obtain treatment.

I just want to tell gay men, You should do everything you like but you should be healthy, Kiet said.  VNS
by Kim Young-sun (*)

During Korean Thanksgiving holidays in October, the airport was flooded with people leaving the country. So where were these people going? In fact, the number one travel destination for the South Korean people was once again, ASEAN. More than 600 thousand people travelled to ASEAN during the holiday. To South Korea, ASEAN is a close partner and neighbour, and the two sides have close co-operation and exchanges in a variety of areas.

ASEAN and South Korea became dialogue partners in 1989. From then, for almost three decades, there has been remarkable development in this partnership, with significant milestones achieved. ASEAN is now South Koreas second largest trading partner and destination for investment. South Korea is ASEANs fifth largest trading and investment partner. While the trade volume between the two sides in 1989 was US$8.2 billion, in 2016 it reached $119 billion, a 15-fold increase. Also, Koreas investment to ASEAN increased from $92 million in 1989 to $5.1 billion in 2016, a 55-fold increase. It is worth noting that South Koreas investment in ASEAN surpassed that in China by more than two times this year.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in, soon after his inauguration, recognised the importance of his countrys partnership with ASEAN. This will serve as a critical foundation for another level of development for ASEAN-South Korea relations. In mid-November, President Moon will visit Indonesia, Viet Nam and the Philippines for the APEC and ASEAN Summits. We look forward to having President Moon shed light on South Koreas vision and strategy toward ASEAN, as well as a more concrete action plan to further enhance relations. The partnership between ASEAN and South Korea has become one where they not only need each other, but also want each other. To continue this path, the two sides should not seek immediate benefits, but develop a genuine and long-lasting partnership that will last for hundreds of years.

It is certain that there will be a brighter future. First of all, middle powers in the region that do not have hegemonic intentions, such as ASEAN and South Korea, should work together to forge a genuine partnership. Together, they will be able to play a stabilising role and contribute to regional co-prosperity. This is particularly the case in the Asia-Pacific, where much of the uncertainty in the region is one way or another related to the rivalry among major powers.

Secondly, it is noteworthy that ASEAN and South Korea have complementary economies. Many Korean companies, both large conglomerates and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), have entered ASEAN member states, contributing to the establishment of mutually beneficial economic relations between ASEAN and South Korea. One example is Samsung in Viet Nam, which contributes to more than 20 per cent of the countrys GDP and exports. Another example is the shipping industry in the Philippines, where partnership with South Korea has helped the countrys shipping industry to become number four in the world. Furthermore, the Krakatau-POSCO, jointly established by South Koreas POSCO company and Indonesias Krakatau Steel, is an exemplary case of co-operation in the steel industry. South Korean companies working with partners in ASEAN member states results in win-win outcomes, including economic development, technological co-operation, job creation and human-resource development.

Third, South Korea can assist and take part in ASEANs community-building efforts. While the ASEAN Community was launched at the end of 2015, it continues to be a work in progress. One way to contribute is to strengthen the business links between ASEAN and SouthKorea by establishing and strengthening global value chains (GVCs) and global supply chains. This will also help ASEAN micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) to prosper, which are the backbone of the ASEAN economy. Furthermore, South Korea is the optimal partner for the development of ASEANs digital economy, as it can share knowledge and know-how in its technological advancement.

Fourth, South Korea can share with ASEAN its experience of achieving democracy and a market economy. With its success case of becoming a donor country from an aid-receiving country, South Korea is active in sharing its development strategy and experience with its neighbours and the international community. To note, many ASEAN member states are South Koreas priority partner countries for Official Development Assistance (ODA).

Fifth, there are many cultures and values shared by the peoples of ASEAN and South Korea. Experts say that the similar values such as filial piety and family-oriented traditions are some of the essential elements that allow Korean dramas to become widely accepted in South-east Asia. Furthermore, as much as Korean food is becoming well-known in ASEAN, the cuisines of ASEAN are also popular in Korea. The South Korean Government acknowledges that people-to-people exchange and mutual understanding creates a sound foundation for a solid partnership between the two sides. As one saying goes, you must know each other to really love each other. Therefore, Korea places great importance on enhancing two-way co-operation and exchange, one good example being Koreas initiative to open the ASEAN Culture House in Busan in August this year.

Last but not least, South Korean communities in ASEAN member states are becoming more and more vibrant, while the ASEAN community in South Korea is also becoming bigger and more active. The people of ASEAN have already become members of Korean society through their work, studies, family, and so on. Our peoples work together, live together, and work to prosper together. ASEAN-Korea relations should take another step from just seeking benefits from each other, toward sharinga common destiny. Such efforts are still a progress in the making, but this is the future of ASEAN-Korea partnership.

ASEAN and Korea need to acknowledge that we have a common destiny. It is time that the two sides take another leap in their journey together toward its shared goals. It is certain that this will not only contribute to the development of ASEAN and Korea, but also to the stability and prosperity of the whole region.

(*) Kim Young-sun is Secretary General of the ASEAN-Korea Centre.
Dr o Ngoc Chung and his companys innovative automatic sprout growing machine.  VNS Photo Khanh Duong

Viet Nam News HA NOI - More than 4,000 people, 200 start-ups, 130 international investors and investment funds and 80 big firms are expected to participate in one of the largest annual events for Vietnamese start-up community: Tech Fest 2017 at Grand Plaza Hotel in Ha Noi on November 14 and 15. Tech Fest 2017, hosted by Ministry of Science and Technology with the theme Ecosystem connects, aims to create connections for domestic and foreign stakeholders in the start-up ecosystem to share useful information. According to the ministry, investment matching activities will take place before, during and after Tech Fest so that start-ups can access potential customers, investors, leading tech experts and organizations supporting entrepreneurship. Meanwhile, the event enables big and medium enterprises to find innovative solutions from start-ups. According to Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Tran Van Tung, Tech Fest 2017 has more participants and new features compared with the festivals in 2015 and 2016. There will be six sectors, called villages: Community (organizations supporting start-ups with innovative solutions), AgriTech (Agriculture sector), EdTech (Educational technology), MedTech (Medical Technology), Tourism, Food and Beverage, Emerging Tech (containing potential start-ups) and Frontier and FinTech. Each village will set up its own content. The main activities include an exhibition of startup products and services, panel discussions and workshops, investment matching, the startup discovery competition and an awards ceremony for Viet Nams innovative startups 2017.

Fruits preserved by nano technology are packaged at STV Nano Company in Ha Noi, one of the businesses attending Tech Fest 2017.  VNS Photo Khanh Duong

Deputy Minister Tung said "2017 marks the development of a nationwide startup movement. Innovative start-ups have been developed by a range of ministries, sectors, localities, political-social organizations and associations".

Tech Fest 2017 is part of national efforts to develop a robust and innovative start-up ecosystem in Viet Nam by 2025.

The highlight of the event is the launching of a portal which links start-ups, investors, policy makers and start-up assisting centres, techfest.vn, the Deputy Minister said. The portal will provide a database about domestic and international inventions and technologies being developed in Viet Nam. Start-ups can also find addresses of supporting centres and information about administrative procedures and policies needed when they start their businesses.

Great expectations

Comprehensive Energy Solutions Ltd Company is among the enterprises taking part in Tech Fest this year.

Dr o Ngoc Chung, Chairman of the Members Council of Comprehensive Energy Solutions Ltd Company, said, There have not been many connections between enterprises and scientists. They have not placed confidence in each other.

He hopes that Tech Fest will enable enterprises and scientists to build trust and network.

Chungs two-year old company gathers young people who have passion in research and development (R&D). Chung and his colleagues hope to apply their scientific research to make useful products for consumers. The company has developed and sold out to the market clean vegetable and sprout growing machines, a funnel to avoid water overflowing and floods and chemical-free toothpicks made from polypropylene to protect consumers health. Chung aims to develop his company into a leading R&D centre in Viet Nam and export his products.

Nguyen Thanh Hai, co-founder of Truong Sinh Company, which provides products made from ca gai leo (Solanum procumbens) to cure Hepatitis B, said, For a young start-up like us, the difficulties are human resources and business strategy. The capacity of our core team is limited. We have to develop the project and at the same time develop the capacity of human resources management and financial management.

At Tech fest, we expect to introduce our products made from natural resources in order to promote Vietnamese medicines and contribute to the preservation of Vietnamese medicines, she said. We also want to seek investment sources and receive market consultation from experts towards a slow but strong step in the future.

Any concerned stakeholders can access the websites techfest.vn and investmatch.net for registration and to follow Tech Fests activities. - VNS
The Construction Minister has not completed the draft plan for utilising land once occupied by State agencies headquarters, just a week before the ministry is to submit the plan to the Prime Minister on Monday.  Photo soha.vn

HA NOI  The Construction Minister has not completed the draft plan for utilising land once occupied by State agencies headquarters uhile the ministry was supposed to submit the plan to the Prime Minister late last month.

The ministrys spokesman Nguyen Viet Hung said that the ministry and experts were still considering options and their feasibility, so they could not announce a final draft.

The ministry was charged with developing a plan to utilise land at the sites of old State agency and ministry headquarters. In 2002, the city gave 100ha of land in suburban districts to agencies to construct new headquarters. The city aimed to clear space in crowded downtown districts in order to reduce pressure on the citys infrastructure, ease traffic congestion and create more public space for citizens.

Among 28 ministries and State agencies based in Ha Nois inner districts, ten have moved their headquarters to suburban districts. But the ministries and agencies delayed handing over their old headquarters to Ha Noi Peoples Committee.

The Construction Ministrys land-use plan could be used to mobilise financing from the State budget, and compel the agencies to relinquish their old headquarters buildings.

Chairman of Ha Noi Peoples Committee Nguyen uc Chung said that the city had not revoked any downtown land previously used by ministries and State agencies for their headquarters.

For example, the Ministry of Home Affairs inaugurated its new headquarters on Ton That Thuyet Street, Cau Giay District in December 2010, but its old headquarter on Nguyen Binh Khiem Street, Hai Ba Trung District was transferred to Ministry of Labour, Invalid and Social Affairs.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment as well as the Ministry of Sciences and Technology have delayed handing over their old headquarter buildings, saying that the new headquarters fail to accommodate all of their staff.

National Assembly deputy Tran Thi Quoc Khanh, from Ha Noi, told Lao ong ( Labour) newspaper that the relocation of ministries and State agencies offices was mentioned in laws including Law on Capital and Law on Planning.

She said that the Government should be more determined to move State agencies offices out of crowded inner districts.

Tran Ngoc Hung, president of Viet Nam Construction Association, said that the public was concerned about the use of the land that previously housed State office headquarters.

The relocation of such offices was expected to reduce pressure on infrastructure and particularly traffic in inner districts. But if the land was used for housing projects or trade centres, traffic congestion would not be addressed, he said.  VNS
The VNA is managed by the Ministry of Information and Communications in terms of press, broadcasting and television.  VNA/VNS Photo

HA NOI  The Vietnam News Agency (VNA) is a Governmental agency which is responsible for providing official information and documents of the Party and State, according to a recently released Government Decree.

Decree No 118/2017/N-CP also regulates that the VNA provides information in service of the Party leadership and State management; and collect and provide news through various forms of press and multimedia for mass media agencies, the public and readers of all kinds at home and abroad.

The VNA is managed by the Ministry of Information and Communications in terms of press, broadcasting and television.

The VNA is also responsible for collecting and compiling information for public consumption and reference via various forms of media and multimedia in service of the Party leadership and State management; announcing official viewpoints of the State on hot issues; adjusting direction regarding information that is not in line with national interests; correcting wrongful information; and issuing announcements to reject distorted information when necessary.

Performing its function as a key national external news agency, the VNA collects, compiles and provides information about Viet Nam in different languages for domestic agencies and organisations and foreign media outlets as well as for foreigners and Vietnamese people abroad.

The VNA is also tasked with providing information and publishing news materials for ethnic minority people in their languages.

It is in charge of archiving information, building an information and data bank and managing national photo materials; and providing information and co-ordinating with relevant agencies to provide information in services of national security and defence.

VNA structure

According to the decree, the VNA has a system of news units including the Domestic News Department, the World News Department and the Press Photography Department. It also has several newspapers, both print and online, including the Viet Nam News, Le Courrier du Vietnam and Vietnam Plus. The VNA has representative offices for the South and the Central and Central Highlands regions, in cities and provinces nationwide as well as major cities worldwide.

It also has news support units including the VNA Technical Centre, the VNA Training Centre, the VNA Media Development Centre, the VNA Informatics Centre and the VNA International Co-operation Centre, and five consultancy and functional units to assist the VNA General Director.

The VNA has a General Director and a maximum of four Deputy General Directors.

The VNA General Director and Deputy General Directors are appointed and dismissed by the Prime Minister in line with laws.  VNS
QUANG NAM  A squid fishing vessel sank yesterday when attempting to shelter from bad weather near Song Tu Tay Island of the Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago. One fisherman died and one remains missing.

Pham Van Chau, vice chairman of Tam Giang Communes Peoples Committee of Nui Thanh District in Quang Nam Province, said there were 36 aboard the vessel when the accident happened.

Luong Tan Sy, the owner of the vessel, is currently missing. Another crew member was pronounced dead when brought to land. The border guard force of Song Tu Tay Island was able to rescue the other 34 people. --VNS
The Viet Nam Peacekeeping Centre has coordinated with Military Hospital 175 and partners from Australia and the US to open a training course on first aid by air and trauma care for officers and nurses at the second-level field hospital.  Photo daidoanket.vn

HA NOI  The Viet Nam Peacekeeping Centre has coordinated with Military Hospital 175 and partners from Australia and the US to open a training course on first aid by air and trauma care for officers and nurses at the second-level field hospital.

Australian experts shared experience in first aid by air of the UN peacekeeping mission in South Sudan and instructed trainees to practise a flight to improve their capacity in the field.

Meanwhile, US specialists will provide guidance on trauma care.

After completing the course from October 30-November 5, the trainees will take an exam to get the International Trauma Life Support (ITLS) certificate and prepare to join the UN peacekeeping mission.

Viet Nams first field hospital team is set to join the United Nations peacekeeping mission in South Sudan in 2018.  VNS
A NANG  A British tourist whose right atrium (heart cavity) was punctured in a serious accident near Hoi An City is convalescing after surgery and treatment at the a Nang General Hospital.

Doctor Phan inh Thao from the hospitals cardiovascular surgery department said Isabelle Garrett Peel, 25, a UK national, has recovered well since a heart operation done four days ago.

Peel was on the way from a Nang to Hoi An when she was injured in an accident on Friday afternoon.

Thao said Peel arrived in the hospital with several serious injuries in the heart, lung and chest. Examination found her right atrium broken, right lung crushed and no discernible blood pressure.

She was rushed to the operation room and the surgery was performed in two hours. The doctor said Peel had been recovered and was able to communicate normally.

Last year, a Singaporean sailor was successfully treated after being brought off the coast of a Nang following an accident on a ship. In 2015, doctors at the hospital also saved an Indian captain whod suffered a heart attack.  VNS
QUANG NINH  Mong Cai City police in the northern province of Quang Ninh, in co-operation with the border guard force of the Mong Cai International Border Gate, received a child who was sold to China.

The infant was handed over by Fangchenggang City police (China) on Tuesday.

The trafficked infant named Ha uc Tuan, born on July 1, 2017, belongs to ong Quang Village, ong Lam Commune, Hoanh Bo District (Quang Ninh Province), according to the local police.

Soon after receiving the baby, Mong Cai City police and local doctors carried out a medical examination of the infant and completed necessary administrative formalities to take him to the provinces social support centre.

Earlier, on July 20, Mong Cai City police co-operated with Dongxing City police (China) to investigate some Vietnamese nationals suspected of being involved in the infant trafficking case.

The case was first uncovered by Fangchenggeng City police on July 5.

In Viet Nam, during the investigation process, Mong Cai City police initially verified, clarified and summoned suspects, who admitted to their involvement, according to the city police.

The police are expanding the investigation.  VNS
By Nguyen Hang

The town is agog with gossip and discussions about the KhaiSilk imbroglio, which has shocked the nation.

While it seems like a cut and dry case of cheating on the surface, its implications go much further. It hurts more people than the customers who paid a premium price for the brand.

The bare facts are as follows: On October 23, a customer bought 60 Khaisilk scarves worth VN644,000 (US$28) each, and found one of them having two labels, one made-in-Viet Nam and another made-in-China.

Two days later, Hoang Khai  the group chairman, apologised and admitted to online newspaper zing.vn that the scarves were actually imported from China. He said half the silk used by the group came from China, while the rest came from Vietnamese craft villages.

The latest news on the case is that the Ministry of Industry and Trade on Monday afternoon ordered its Market Management Department to send the case files to the Ha Noi Police Department for investigation. At present, all Khaisilk stores in Ha Noi and HCM City are closed.

There are many levels at which this fraud impacts people.

The obvious one is that the price of a Khaisilk scarf is several times higher than typical made-in-China item. People were willing to pay higher prices for the brand because it had built up a reputation for Vietnamese high-end, high quality products. That trust has vanished in a second.

Nguyen Lan Huong of Cau Giay District said she felt cheated and frustrated.

Ive bought many Khaisilk scarves as gifts for my foreign friends for years. I thought of them not only as made-in-Viet Nam scarves, but also as a luxurious, branded product designed and created by Vietnamese, Huong said.

ao Trung Hieu of Thanh Xuan District, said: I dont know how to explain to my foreign friends, those to whom I have given Khaisilk products as gifts.

Hieu said he used to be proud of the brand when he introduced it to his foreign friends earlier. He also told friends that Khai was a kind businessman with a dream to build a Vietnamese brand that wins regional and international recognition.

But Khai has ruined my trust now, he said.

Hieu said he remembered that Khai had once said that he did his business honestly.

He is a liar, Hieu said, adding: Its so sad for the brand that had taken 28 years to build, he said.

Authorities were not pleased either. Minister and Chairman of the Government Office, Mai Tien Dung, called it unacceptable behavior. Minister of Industry and Trade, Tran Tuan Anh, said that the case showed signs of violating both regulations and business ethics.

More than all this, when a well known, prestigious brand is caught cheating, the country suffers. At a time that the nation is focused on deepening its global integration, this is an inopportune scandal.

The higher you go, the harder you fall, they say. All Vietnamese businesses, not just famous brands, should draw a lesson from the Khaisilk scandal and avoid commiting frauds that will hurt the entire community of entrepreneurs. There is a lot at stake here.

Many top brands have their products made in Viet Nam, but final buyers are fully aware of this, and it enhances the countrys reputation as one where workers have the ability to make world-class quality stuff.

When the reverse happens, it goes beyond hurting immediate customers. It has the potential to taint an industry, even a country.

Businesspeople should always remember that they are public citizens and ambassadors for their country, and their behaviour has to be above reproach, all the time.

Long-term consequences

In Viet Nam, ten years ago, a well-known domestic company specialising in manufacturing locks was also caught in a similar situation. Customers believed they were buying quality made-in-Viet Nam locks, till market watchdogs found it was importing them from China and selling it in domestic market with its own label. After the case, the companys business activities met troubles and seemed to be unprofitable until 2015. The company survived by profiting from real estate transactions, but their locks vanished into obscurity after more than 30 years.

In the world at large, car marker Volkswagen said recently that it would be hit with an additional charge of $2.9 billion for its dieselgate scandal in 2015. The total damage that the firm has suffered from the scandal is estimated at EUR 25 billion ($29 billion).

Khaisilk might also have to face similar consequences, apart from the loss of reputation and customers trust. Its founder has actually said that investment in other sectors, yes real estate again, had diluted focus on what used to be the groups main business. That is no excuse when you are a prestigious brand commanding premium market prices.

As they say: A liar will not be believed, even when he speaks the truth.  VNS
CEDAR FALLS  The directors of Try Pie are in the midst of rolling out something new for the Cedar Valley.

Megan Tensen and Sarah Turner are looking to purchase their own Try Pie storefront in downtown Waterloo.

The pair say they have reached capacity in their current work space at Orchard Hill Church.

We really appreciate the space weve had and the things weve learned being at Orchard, Turner said. The last four years have been a time of natural product development and research. I think both the residents and students are ready for us to take this step.

Try Pie was established in December 2013 as a teen-employment program.

The bakery blends faith and fellowship in a classroom setting with real-life work and customer-service experience for teen girls in the Waterloo, Cedar Falls and surrounding areas. The directors incorporate the following core values into their operations: financial stewardship, job skill development, faith development and reconciling community.

Tensen and Turner say they have an idea of which location downtown theyd like but are not releasing that information until negotiations with developers are complete.

About a year ago, Tensen and Turner began to experience growing pains as product demand and employee numbers increased. Their own space also would give the teen workers additional customer-service experience in a real-world work setting.

I think customer service is a skill that many jobs in their future will require, Tensen said. I think its just a good life skill at a young age. Wed like to give them more opportunities to do that regularly.

So far, fundraising efforts have been launched through social media as well as partnering with local organizations, including Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa. The goal is to have $50,000 to open the store. About $30,000 is still needed.

Its kind of a lot of different little things that hopefully come together, Tensen said.

Sidecar Coffee has joined the efforts by adding a new flavor to the mix: a Try-Pie Bakery Blend coffee, finished with its own logo, available at Sidecar stores toward the end of November.

It goes great with a slice of pie, Turner said.

The store currently employs 10 girls from West and East high schools in Waterloo, Cedar Falls High School and Dike-New Hartford.

If their venture is successful, about 20 students will be able to work for Try Pie.

With a storefront, we have a lot more options with how many hours a week we can offer and nights a week the girls can work, Turner said.

Try Pie, one of several programs under the Link Christian Community Development, is a partnership between Orchard Hill and Harvest Vineyard churches that originated with a focus to better the Walnut neighborhood, just north of downtown Waterloo.

Try Pie can be purchased frozen at Hansens Dairy locations and freshly baked at the Habitat ReStore in Waterloo and Hatchlings and Hens in Cedar Falls on the first Saturday of the month. The operation also has expanded into catering and weddings.

Financial gifts to the fund of any size are welcome. Gifts can be mailed to the CFNEIA at 3117 Greenhill Circle, Cedar Falls, IA 50613. Checks should be made payable to Try Pie Storefront Fund. Gifts can also be made on the Community Foundations secure website at www.fund.cfneia.org/trypie.

For more information about the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa, including how to donate, the various types of funds, and the Endow Iowa 25 percent state tax credit, go to www.cfneia.org or contact Elizabeth Hackbarth, Director of Development for CFNEIA at 243-1354 or ehackbarth@cfneia.org.
Yard waste hours change

WATERLOO  The city of Waterloo compost facility at 2745 Independence Ave. will adjust its hours of operation due to earlier sunsets. Effective today, the sites hours will be 7 a.m. to to 6 p.m.

The site is open to Waterloo residents only. Questions may be directed to the Sanitation Department at 291-4455.

Hydrant flush

set Thursday

WATERLOO  The Waterloo Water Works will flush hydrants Thursday in the area from Kimball Avenue to West Ninth Street between Williston Avenue and East Ridgeway Avenue.

Customers could experience water discoloration, but the discolored water is bacterially safe.

Islamic Center

sets open house

WATERLOO  The Masjid Al-Noor Center of Waterloo-Cedar Falls will host an open house from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. Sunday at 2110 Sager Ave.

Miriam Amer will speak on Muslims in the USA at 1:30 p.m.

There will be tours of the facility from 12:30 to 1 p.m. and 3:10 to 4:30 p.m., along with international refreshments, a workshop in Women in Islam and a 3:40 p.m. Q&A with imam Adin Rasidagic.

Modest dress is requested. There will be a prize drawing at the end of the afternoon.

Talk focuses on

women in war

CEDAR FALLS  During World War I, a group of American women were allowed to serve as Army and Navy reserve camouflage artists, although women were still forbidden to vote or to serve actively in the military.

The story of this exceptional service, illustrated by historic photographs, will be the focus of a talk from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Nov. 11 at University Book and Supply.

The presenter is Roy Behrens, UNI professor of art and distinguished scholar. Internationally known as a camouflage history expert, he has published four books and numerous articles on artists contributions to camouflage.

The event is free and open to the public and sponsored by the bookstore and UNIs American Democracy Project.
McGuire to be

in Charles City

CHARLES CITY  Democratic gubernatorial candidate Andy McGuire and state Rep. Todd Prichard will tour the Floyd County Medical Center at 5 p.m. Thursday to discuss health care issues.

Following the visit, Prichard and his wife, Ann, will hold a meet-and-greet for McGuire at their home, 107 Ferguson St.

Conklin to speak at vets event

FAYETTE  Upper Iowa University invites the public to attend its annual Veterans Day program Nov. 10. UIU President William R. Duffy will provide the welcome address, which is scheduled to begin at 12:15 p.m. in the Student Center ballrooms at UIUs Fayette Campus.

Fayette American Legion Post 339 will present the colors. Emcee Morgan Lavaway, an Iowa National Guard member and UIU criminal justice major from Akron, will introduce guest speaker Iowa Army National Guard Major Bethaney Conklin.

Conklin, now of Bettendorf, enlisted as a combat medic in the Iowa Army National Guard on July 9, 1998. Commissioned in the Iowa Army National Guard as a quartermaster officer from the 185th Regiment, Regional Training Institute in 2001, Conklin later branch transferred to the Medical Service Corps. Conklins first officer assignment was as the 134th Medical Company platoon leader from 2002-2006. During this time, she also served as the rear detachment commander. In January 2007, she transitioned to the 109th Medical Battalion as the Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment commander. Along with these positions, Conklin also held a wide array of command and staff assignments.

Conklin has been deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom with the 109th Medical Battalion as the Company Commander, Headquarters Support Company. During her military service she has earned various awards, including the Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Iowa Commendation Medal, Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Multinational Force and Observers Medal, National Defense Service Medal and Armed Forces Reserve Medal.
WATERLOO  After a month of collecting food and other items such as paper and cleaning supplies, local American Cancer Society volunteers had plenty of donations Monday to pack the bus for Hope Lodge.

The lodge in Iowa City offers 28 rooms for adult cancer patients being treated at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, the Veterans Administration Medical Center or Mercy Hospital. It is open to those receiving outpatient care who live at least 40 miles away. The lodge has been open since 2008 and this is the seventh year Cedar Valley volunteers have organized the collection.

We had a Dollys Party Bus, said organizer Candy Nardini, which was loaded in the Ansborough Avenue Hy-Vee stores parking lot. The party bus was pretty much full of boxes and supplies. Nine volunteers rode along to Iowa City.

A Waterloo Community Schools van also was packed with decorated boxes full of donations from Expo High School. Five or six students plus an administrator and teacher made the trip in that vehicle.

Expo was one of the schools that partnered in the collection along with Kittrell Elementary School in Waterloo and Cedar Heights Elementary School in Cedar Falls. Powers Manufacturing and UnityPoint Cancer Treatment Center collected donations as well.

Organizers worked with the five Hy-Vees in Waterloo and Cedar Falls, where volunteers asked shoppers for donations over three weekends. Organizers are still working on a dollar estimate for the number of donated canned and boxed food and other items.
President Donald Trump has proposed what he calls the biggest tax cut since Ronald Reagan. He also wants vast simplification so Americans can fill out their taxes on a postcard return. Lets hope part of this reform package will be to defang the IRS, which treats Americans as if they are guilty until proven innocent and invades the basic privacy rights of citizens.

Meanwhile, Trumps critics on the left seem to think the tax code is just fine the way it is  although some, like socialist hero Bernie Sanders, want tax rates to go much higher.

So as a primer for why Americans deserve genuine tax relief and reform, here are five reminders of how badly our tax system is broken:

Six trillion dollars of taxes paid and counting: This year, businesses and families will pay an all-time record high $6,000,000,000,000 in federal, state and local taxes. Thats more than the GDP of all but a handful of countries. For millions of Americans, taxes are now the single largest expenditure item in the family budget.

All of this revenue flows into the governments coffers through an endless pipeline of extractions: income taxes, payroll taxes, import taxes, gasoline taxes, cigarette taxes, state income and sales taxes, property taxes, food taxes, beer taxes, soda pop taxes, sewer taxes, water taxes, investment taxes, hotel taxes, stock taxes, energy taxes, health care taxes, prescription drug taxes, airline ticket taxes and more. And after all of that, when you are laid in a casket, you pay a tax for the privilege of dying.

We punish our businesses with the highest tax rates in the world: America is supposed to be the land of the free and a paragon of free markets and free enterprise. Yet today, the 40 percent tax rate in the U.S. is the highest in the world. Yes, higher than socialist Sweden and higher than former communist countries like Russia and China. Our combined federal and state tax rates are almost twice the rate of the countries we compete with. Its almost as if the system were designed by the countries we compete with so they could steal our jobs, factories and businesses.

These high tax rates put American companies at a 20-percentage point disadvantage in global markets. Trump is right when he says the rest of the world is laughing behind our backs.

An 82,000-page monstrosity: The first income tax was just four pages long. Today the code is 10 times longer than Tolstoys War and Peace and 1,000 times longer than the U.S. Constitution. It is four times longer and more complicated than it was in 1970. This benefits no one but the tax accountants, lawyers and lobbyists who feed off the complexity of the tax code.

The tax code should be easily understandable to taxpayers. It is not. It reads as if it were written in Greek and in legalese only a tax lawyer could understand. If Trump wants to drain the swamp, the cleanup must start with the tax code.

The IRS is Americas KGB: Is there any agency in America scarier or more abusive than the IRS? The government can garnish your wages and take money from your bank account without due process of law. It can invade your home or office.

We saw under President Barack Obama how the IRS engages in political witch-hunts against conservative activists and organizations it doesnt like. Today, because of the complexity of the tax system, the IRS employs 82,000 snoopers. It now costs our federal government $12 billion a year just to administer this Byzantine tax system. It costs families and businesses at least this amount just to figure out how much taxes they owe.

Tax loopholes are rigged for the rich and politically powerful: The tax code is crammed with tax write-offs that overwhelmingly benefit the super rich. Only one of three Americans even take advantage of these special interest tax provisions by itemizing their deductions, and under the Trump plan (which doubles the standard deduction) that will fall closer to less than one in 10 tax filers. But 99 percent of millionaires feast on deductions and loopholes.

Why cant we shut down this rigged system? Because of the politically connected and the K Street lobbies and lawyers who spend millions of dollars to keep their tax shelters in place.

By the way, George Soros just stashed $18 billion into the biggest tax shelter in American history. This is money that will never be taxed. Typical liberal: He wants everyone to pay more taxes  except himself.
The release of Warren Commission files pertaining to the Nov. 22, 1963, assassination of President John F. Kennedy includes fascinating documents but lacks any semblance of a smoking gun to placate conspiracy theorists.

Questions have abounded since presumed assassin Lee Harvey Oswald was murdered by nightclub owner Jack Ruby on Nov. 24 while being transported in Dallas police custody.

The JFK Records Act of 1992 had required the final release of the commissions 40,000 documents  3,600 records never disclosed  to the public in 25 years.

However, the president also was given the right to withhold some documents for national security reasons. President Donald Trump released 2,800 records, but allowed the CIA, FBI, the National Security Agency and the Defense Department to vett the others over the next six months.

Oswald, part of a pro-Castro Fair Play for Cuba group, had visited the island two months before the assassination. He had lived in the Soviet Union in 1959. On Sept. 28, he had called the Soviet embassy from the Cuban consulate in Mexico supposedly about a visit.

Yet the records indicate the Soviet Union and Cuba did not want to risk war with the United States, despite their contacts with Oswald. The records also portray CIA efforts to assassinate Cuban leader Fidel Castro, including overtures to the Mafia for assistance.

One memo from FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover suggests the Soviets were involved, but another states the KGB  the Russian spy agency  believed Lyndon Johnson, the vice president from Texas, was behind it.

We also learned Hoover relayed an anonymous tip about a conspiracy to kill Oswald to Dallas police, but to no avail.

We now know David Belin, the Des Moines attorney who grew up in Sioux City and was the Warren Commission counsel, asked the CIAs Richard Helms, Is there any information involved with the assassination of President Kennedy which in any way shows that Lee Harvey Oswald was in some way a CIA agent or agent? The document ends there.

Some of the released materials contain information previously revealed by the 1975 Senate Select Committee to Study Governmental Operations with Respect to Intelligence Activities chaired by Frank Church, D-Idaho, and shed light on CIA assassination attempts against foreign leaders.

In addition, the 1976 House Select Committee on Assassinations, fueled conspiracy theories concluding there was probably a second gunman on the grassy knoll as the Kennedy motorcade moved through Dallas.

During the presidential campaign, Trump perpetuated a discredited National Enquirer story that Rafael Cruz, father of Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Tex., was involved with Oswald, passing out Fair Play for Cuba leaflets.

His father was with Lee Harvey Oswald prior to Oswald being, you know, shot, Trump said. I mean the whole thing is ridiculous. What is this? Right? Prior to his being shot. And nobody even brings it up. I mean, they dont even talk about that  that was reported.

No new information supports that claim, despite claims by far-right conspiracy theorist Alex Jones.

Various theories have been attributed to Presidents Johnson and Richard Nixon.

Trump confidante Roger Stone, a former Nixon aide, had co-authored a book, The Man Who Killed Kennedy, claiming Johnson did so to become president. It quotes Nixon as saying, Lyndon and I both wanted to be President, the difference was I wouldnt kill for it.

Yet Helms later testified Johnson and Nixon believed Kennedy was murdered in retaliation for the death of South Vietnamese President Ngo Dinh Diem following a coup linked to the CIA.

There is absolutely no evidence of this in the agency records and the whole thing has been, I mean rather  heated by the fact that President Johnson used to go around saying that the reason President Kennedy was assassinated was that he had assassinated President Diem and this was just ... justice.  Where he got this from, I dont know.

The release did not include the supposed 332 pages concerning E. Howard Hunt, the former CIA operative involved in the ring that burglarized Democratic Party headquarters in Washingtons Watergate Office Complex in 1972.

Hunt previously led the CIAs failed 1961 Bay of Pigs invasion in Cuba to overthrow Castro. Kennedy was blamed for not providing air support. Hunt maintained before he died in 2007 that several CIA affiliates plotted The Big Event to kill Kennedy.

In 1964 Chief Justice Earl Warren, who headed the commission, told a reporter the full record might eventually be released, But it might not be in your lifetime.

The long-awaited released was a huge tease, but nothing more, leaving many questions unanswered.
Police seek missing Grundy County man

GRUNDY CENTER  Police are seeking a missing man they believe may be in Charles City or Waterloo.

The Grundy Center Police Department says Michael Bruce Johns, 28, was last seen Oct. 24. He is described as 5 feet, 7 inches and 180 pounds.

Photos provided by Cedar Valley Crime Stoppers show Johns having short, light brown hair and a goatee.

Anyone with information should call the Grundy Center Police Department at 825-5523 or the Grundy County Sheriffs Office at 824-6933.

People also can contact Cedar Valley Crime Stoppers at (855) 300-TIPS (8477) or via text by sending the word CEDAR plus the information to CRIMES (274637).

Tips also can be left at www.cvcrimestop.com.

Man charged

with sex assault

CEDAR FALLS  Cedar Falls police have charged a man with sexual assault following an investigation.

Brandon Charles Westendorf, 21, of 2107 College St. No. 31, was arrested Monday for third-degree sexual abuse. He was released from jail Tuesday.

Police said they responded to an apartment complex Sept. 15 to investigate a reported sexual assault. The adult victim reported being sexually assaulted inside the apartment.

Westendorf was arrested as a result of the investigation.

2 arrested

in theft case

WATERLOO  Two Waterloo residents have been arrested in connection with a trailer full of equipment stolen from a Hudson business.

Black Hawk County sheriffs deputies arrested John Henry Wessels, 52, of 1646 Forest Ave., on Monday for one count of second-degree theft. Kurt Charles Dilts, 52, of 373 Nevada St., was arrested Saturday for two counts of second-degree theft.

They were both released from the Black Hawk County Jail.

According to court records, deputies were investigating the theft of a trailer from Gearhead Industries, 650 Fifth St., Hudson, when they searched Dilts auto repair shop on Nevada Street in Waterloo on Oct. 19. Authorities didnt locate the trailer, but they found about $2,000 worth of automobile parts, horns and other items from Gearhead.

Also found at the Nevada Street shop was a repainted tow dolly with the serial numbers ground off, court records state. The dolly was valued at $1,200 and is believed to have been taken from Budget Truck Rental in Waterloo on Oct. 14, records state.

The trailer was found Oct. 19 in an alley behind Wessels Forest Avenue home. According to court records, Wessels was spray painting the trailer another color, and the trailers license plate was found in Wessels garage.

Worker hurt

by tree limb

WATERLOO  A construction worker was taken to the hospital with minor injuries after being struck by a tree limb at the Hartman Reserve Nature Center on Tuesday morning.

Paramedics from Waterloo Fire Rescue were called to the building site at 657 Reserve Drive around 10 a.m., and one worker was transported to a nearby hospital as a precaution, said Mike Hendrickson, executive director of Black Hawk County Conservation, which operates the nature preserve.

The injured person was an employee of a construction company working on a renovation at the nature center building, Hendrickson said. He said company officials said the worker was OK.

The accident happened at the construction site, but it wasnt clear how it occurred.
HIGH POINT, NC  Megan Longstreet is running for an open seat on the High Point City Council. Ms. Longstreet says so far that her religion has not been a factor in the race. The incumbent is not running for reelection, but has endorsed Longstreets challenger, Monica Peters.

Longstreet is the mother of three children and says that a situation, which arose last year involving her oldest child, pushed her from being an activist to running for office. She says her daughter, who has Lupus SLE, was no longer eligible for Medicaid after she turned 21.

She spent ten months battling both the Medicare and Affordable Care Act denials of coverage, after which she was finally able to enroll her daughter in the ACA.

Then in June Longstreets daughter suffered three strokes. She believes it was due to not receiving medical care during those ten months of being uninsured.

While her daughter was in intensive care, she was further diagnosed with a rare vascular condition called Moya Moya. Longstreet says that after the doctor left the room her daughter told her, Mom, if it wasnt for you, Id be dead already. No matter what happens to me, I need you to go out and help as many people as you can. What about all the people out there who dont have a mom? What happens to them?

Longstreet says thats when she made the decision to run for office.

Longstreet is running as a Democrat on a platform of what she calls progressive values. Her platform includes LGBTQ rights, creation of a living wage, ending systemic racism, ending the war on drugs, and universal single payer healthcare.

We spoke with Longstreet more about her religious beliefs and her campaign, and how to the two intersect.

The Wild Hunt: What Pagan religion do your practice?

Megan Longstreet: When I was a small child I was never indoctrinated into any particular religious path. I could often be found lying in over grown fields or sitting in trees. My earliest memories are of talking to trees, plants, rocks or the clouds in the sky. Around the age of 13, I went to my mother and told her that the Earth often spoke to me and I asked her what religion it was that taught about a goddess. I had read many books about religions but just couldnt find where my place was in these religions. She said I should reach out to her longtime friend Pam and that is how I came to learn about Paganism.

I learned about Wicca, carried that label and practiced as a solitary practitioner for many years. I no longer identify strictly as Wiccan and have broadened my path to include many different spiritual practices. I consider myself an earth Witch as I find that my strengths lie in Earth magic and the magic of life and love and growing things.

TWH: Are you involved in your local religious community?

ML: I am a solitary practitioner. I participate in Pagan activities when they come my way, but I also participate in activities with Christian churches, such as food drives. I attend Buddhist ceremonies that I am invited to by my neighbors from Myanmar. I welcome the opportunity to connect with people of all faiths and paths with no restrictions.

TWH: How have your religious beliefs impacted your politics?

ML: I think being a progressive and being an Earth worshiping Pagan go hand-in-hand. I am a visionary and try to see the potential beauty that can be created on a local level. I am open minded and believe that nothing is impossible. For me, being a Pagan is a lifestyle. I look to my faith and to nature to guide me every single day in everything I do. I believe that the goddess regularly puts me where I need to be. I hold the Wiccan Rede close to my heart, An ye harm none, do what ye will. I also believe strongly in the law of three. What you put out into the universe, returns threefold.

I am committed to putting out good intentions to my community. I believe that when I am elected, I will be making choices based on what is best for my community.I find that my spiritual beliefs allow me to see things from all perspectives, from small to global. I have allies within all the local political parties, including Green, Libertarian, Democrat, Republican, Socialist and Communist. I want to build bridges within my community.

From very early on I often found myself in situations where I have used my voice to stand up for others. Whether it was standing up for my fellow students getting bullied on the playground or speaking out about the systemic poisoning of our food systems by giant chemical companies like Monsanto, Im the one at the back of the pack trying to ensure that no one gets left behind.

In this day and age there is no shortage of worthy causes to get behind and I have tried to advocate for as many as I possibly can. Ive advocated on issues such as environmental policies on climate change, pollution, animal rights such as factory farming and humane shelter policies, freedom of religion and keeping the separation of church and state, immigration issues and advocating for immigration reform to keep families together and uphold the American legacy of E Pluribus Unum (Out of Many, One), conquering the systemic racism that holds our country divided and affects people of color at all levels of government including school curriculum and disciplinary practices, womens rights and the patriarchy that perpetuates violence and sexual abuse, LGBTQ+ rights and the right for same-sex marriage, and the corporatization of our federal government where our laws are manipulated to harm the citizens and profits are put over the needs of the people.

TWH: Why did you decide to run as a Democrat in a non-partisan race?

ML: The incumbent is not running again but has endorsed my opponent. My opponent is technically unaffiliated but is backed by a newly formed Super PAC. I identify strongly with Democratic values and wanted to run openly as a Democrat. I believe that nonpartisan races exclude marginalized member of our community and I wanted to make sure that in this off year election that I am doing everything I can to include everyone in my very diverse ward.

TWH: I noticed a canary symbol on your Facebook banner. Is that from the Canary Party? Can you tell me about that?

ML: I am a member of the recently formed Guilford County Progressive Caucus. I joined this caucus in an effort to find and support more progressive candidates in my area. I consider myself a progressive because I support progressive values, such as LGBTQ rights, living wages, ending systemic racism, ending the war on drugs (I am strongly in favor of cannabis legalization), healthcare for all/single payer healthcare, ending prison for profit, incarceration of children, seeking alternative energy sources and ending our oil dependency, etc. We are focused on translating these progressive values into local values and supporting local and state candidates to make changes here in our daily lives.

* * *

High Points city government is comprised of a mayor and eight city council members. Two council members are at large, while six represent wards. Longstreet is running to represent Ward 3. The election is slated for Nov. 7 and The Wild Hunt will update with election results.
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Excavation work starts for Bushehr 2

31 October 2017

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Excavation work has started at the site of unit 2 of the Bushehr nuclear power plant in southern Iran, Atomproekt, the reactor design subsidiary of Russian state nuclear corporation Rosatom, announced today. Construction and installation work formally started on the unit in March.

Russian-built Bushehr 1 was connected to the national grid on 3 September 2011 and became the first nuclear power plant in the Middle East. Bushehr units 2 and 3 are to be completed in 2024 and 2026, respectively.

A ceremony to mark the start of excavation work on the foundation of the main buildings for the unit was opened today by Alexey Likhachov, Rosatom director-general, and Ali Akbar Salehi, president of the Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran.

Atomproekt said today that, before the ceremony, Likhachov and Salehi had visited Bushehr 1, "which has become a symbol of cooperation between Russia and Iran in the sphere of the peaceful atom".

AtomStroyExport (ASE) - another Rosatom subsidiary and the general contractor for the Bushehr project - and Nuclear Power Production and Development Company of Iran signed an EPC turnkey contract for the project to build units 2 and 3, known as Bushehr II, in November 2014. The first foundation stone for the units - VVER-1000 reactors with a combined capacity of 2100 MWe - was laid in a ceremony held in September 2016. Atomproekt said today the start of excavation work marked the launch of the practical implementation of Bushehr II.

German constructor Siemens KWU began work on two pressurised water reactors at Bushehr in 1975, but work came to a halt in 1979. Russian contractors resumed work on unit 1, this time as a VVER-1000 unit, in the late 1990s under a "turn-key" contract. Extensive use was made of the infrastructure that was already in place and the German-designed components that were in storage from the original project, integrated with main reactor components fabricated in Russia, making the finished plant unique amongst VVERs. NIAEP-ASE has been responsible for the project since the 2012 merger of reactor architect NIAEP with ASE. The plant has been constructed and is operating under full International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards.

Atomproekt said today: "The power unit, which Russian nuclear engineers actually developed for the previous contractor, using the original engineering know-how for the Russian VVER design and training Iranian operating personnel, was the first in the Middle East and unique in the global nuclear power industry. Since its launch in 2011, unit 1 has proven its operational reliability."

Welcoming the participants of the ceremony, Likhachov said Russia and Iran had already accumulated experience in cooperation that would assist their nuclear industry specialists in the management of the Bushehr II project. He said: "I'm confident that this, the largest of all Russian-Iranian projects, is a symbol of our cooperation, a symbol for both our generation and the generation of our children. To date, about 25 terawatt hours have already been produced at the first Bushehr unit, which is a real contribution to the Iranian economy that enables additional investment in the development of both the social sphere and the industry of the country."

Salehi said: "We are on schedule and even ahead of schedule. I hope that within seven years we will witness the commissioning of this unit, and two years after that the commissioning of the third unit as part of Bushehr II."

Atomproekt said work on the foundation of unit 3 will start next year and first concrete is to be poured for unit 2 in 2019. Iran is funding the Bushehr II project, it added.

Researched and written

by World Nuclear News

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The dialogue with the opposition has been promoted and mediated by the Dominican President Danilo Medina.

Representatives of the Venezuelan government arrived in the Dominican Republic to resume dialogue with the right-wing opposition, which is expected to attend talks after failing to show up for the last round of scheduled meetings.

"I am accompanying the head of the Venezuelan delegation, Jorge Rodriguez, for the dialogue in the Dominican Republic, reactivating all the details to re-channel the dialogue with the opposition," the president of the National Constituent Assembly Delcy Rodriguez said.

The dialogue with the opposition has been promoted and mediated by the Dominican President Danilo Medina and the former president of Spain Jose Luis Zapatero.

Both sides created a commission made up of Bolivia, Chile, Mexico, and Nicaragua to follow up on the agreements that will be reached. But the talks, which began in September, have been stalled by the opposition, which is in disarray following its losses in recent regional elections.

The new round of talks, the dates of which has yet to be confirmed, will be held in Santo Domingo and is expected to be attended by the opposition, led by Julio Borges and other members of the MUD coalition.

The government and the opposition began a dialogue in 2016, with the support of the Vatican and Unasur, to overcome the Venezuelan political crisis, but the opposition left those talks in January.

Rodriguez also said the country is preparing for municipal elections to be held in December, in a follow-up to the Oct. 15 governor race.
Nov 1, 2017 | By Tess

Belgian architect Vincent Callebaut has won the Rifat Chadirji Prize for his proposal to build five farming bridges made from modular 3D printed housing units. The prize was awarded to the best idea for rebuilding the liberated and heavily destroyed parts of Mosul, Iraq.

Located in northern Iraq along the Tigris river, Mosul has been a contentious location in the war against ISIS, and many of its people and sites have been affected by the violence. It was only this past July, after a drawn out offensive, that Iraqs prime minister announced that the city had been reclaimed from ISIS forces.

Now, however, the question of how to mend the city and its people remains.

Callebaut, an urban planning visionary, has proposed a creative solution to rebuilding and reinvigorating Mosul which consists of building five farming bridges along the Tigris river which would function as affordable housing as well as agricultural space for the people of Mosul.

The general idea of the project is to build a sort of new city over the river, which would provide over 53,000 living spaces for people and use the debris from the war ravaged parts of Mosul as building materials.

The housing units, inspired by muqarnas, an Islamic form of ornamental vaulting, would be constructed using 3D printing technologies and could be organized in modular and adaptable fashion to suit the families or individuals living in them.

Arranged in an almost pyramid-like structure, the 3D printed housing units would also be covered with urban farms and agricultural spaces to allow the residents of the bridge-city to feed themselves and to create a healthy, green environment.

By placing the farming bridges over the Tigris river, Callebaut also envisions a micro-society that uses the water of the river to irrigate the urban farms, and in which used bathroom and kitchen water can be cleaned and recycled by using natural lagoon waterfalls, which feed the water back into the river. To keep crops healthy and thriving, Callebaut has also planned for biomass composting systems.

The concept for the farm bridges relies on five 3D printers that resemble articulated spiders, and which are capable of building 30 housing units a day. Callebaut says that homes would consists of either 2, 5, or 10 modules, which could be arranged in various ways depending on the habitants needs.

The urban planning model can be easily replicated with the goal of rapidly increasing the housing capacity in the city and providing a practical and inspiring solution for war repatriates, says Callebaut. This pioneering concept could change the way to construct buildingsmaking the process faster and less costlyfighting poverty and feeding the post-ISIS Mosul.

Of course, the creative and awe-inspiring farming bridges are still just a concept, and it could take years before a project of this scope could even be feasible. We, for one, would like to see these spider-like construction 3D printers be developed.

Still, Callebaut may be onto something with his Five Farming Bridges proposal, as he was selected as the winner of the Rifat Chadirji competition, which was searching for the most innovative ideas for rebuilding a liberated Mosul.

We wrote about the Belgian architect a few years ago for his equally innovative oceanic cities built from 3D printed algae and plastic waste.

Posted in 3D Printing Application

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Heidi Ledford in Nature:

After years of studying advanced cancers, researchers are now training their DNA sequencers on precancerous growths to learn more about how they develop into the full-blown disease. A three-year pilot project funded this month by the US National Cancer Institute (NCI) as part of the National Cancer Moonshot Initiative, will take this approach with lung, breast, prostate and pancreatic cancer. Investigators hope to create a 'pre-cancer genome atlas' by sequencing DNA from precancerous growths, in addition to sequencing RNA from individual tumour cells and identifying the immune cells that have infiltrated the lesions. Another project  a four-year US$5-million effort funded by the charities Stand Up To Cancer, the American Lung Association and LUNGevity announced on 26 October  will bolster the study in lung cancer by sequencing DNA from precancerous growths in the airway. Doctors sometimes monitor such lesions, taking periodic biopsies to determine if and when they become malignant. One component of this project will track the genetic changes in these biopsies over time. The aim is to find ways to intervene in cancer earlier, when it may be easier to rein in the disease. Theres a tremendous sense that the rate-limiting step for new approaches for either preventing cancers or detecting them early, is the fundamental lack of knowledge about the earliest molecular events, says pulmonologist Avrum Spira at Boston University in Massachusetts, a leader on both projects. We just dont understand whats going on very early. The desire to map those earliest events has been growing, fuelled in part by frustration with the limited success of therapies in patients with advanced cancers. Meanwhile, technological advances in DNA sequencing have made it possible for researchers to glean useful data from tiny tissue samples  a crucial development because physicians tend to take small biopsies of precancerous growths, and there is often little tissue left after the pathologists have analysed them.

However, even with advances in sequencing, sceptics have questioned whether those minuscule amounts of tissue would suffice, says Spira. The Moonshot-funded project is set to last for three years, but Spira and his colleagues have been asked to report back in 12 months so that the NCI can decide whether the approach is feasible and warrants expansion, Spira says. This is the beginning of a much bigger initiative, he says.

More here.
Photographer Dan Tom Believes in Giving It All Up to Explore, Be Afraid, and Try


Quarterly Activities and Cashflow Report

Perth, Nov 1, 2017 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Cardinal Resources Limited ( ASX:CDV ) ( TSE:CDV ) ("Cardinal" or "the Company"), an African gold focused exploration company, is pleased to present to shareholders its Quarterly Activities report for the period ended 30 September 2017. Currently Cardinal holds four tenements within the Bolgatanga Project, with Subranum comprised of a single tenement in central Ghana (see Figure 1 in link below).



HIGHLIGHTS



- On July 10, 2017, the ordinary shares of the Company began trading in Canada, on the TSX, under the symbol "CDV".



- On July 11, 2017 Mr Robert Schafer was appointed to the Board and Mr Derrick Weyrauch was appointed as Chief Financial Officer



- On July 13, 2017, the Company reported that a Large-Scale Mining License for Namdini was granted by the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources of Ghana. Additionally, the Company has executed the necessary documentation to assign the 'Namdini Mining Licence' to a wholly owned subsidiary of Cardinal.



- On July 27, 2017, the Company reported results for Phase Two of its metallurgical test programme at Namdini. Utilizing standard gold recovery techniques, the Company demonstrated a gold recovery rate of 86% with a conventional grind-flotation-regrind-CIL flowsheet.



- On August 14, 2017, the Company announced a 4km long auger drill hole soil gold anomaly on its Kungongo Prospect located 45 Km west of the Namdini Project.



- On August 16, 2017 the Company announced the acquisition of two large scale prospecting licences located in Northeastern Ghana from a subsidiary of Kinross Gold Corp. The licenses are strategically located adjacent to Cardinal's Ndongo tenement and cover 114 square kilometers, thereby increasing the combined Ndongo tenements to 287 square kilometers. The enlarged area significantly increases Cardinal's landholdings over the Namdini major regional shear.



- On September 18, 2017, the Company announced an updated Mineral Resource estimate for the Namdini Gold Project in Ghana, West Africa. The updated Mineral Resource estimated an Indicated Mineral Resource of 120 M tonnes grading 1.1 g/t Au for 4.3 Moz Au and an Inferred Mineral Resource of 84 M tonnes grading 1.2 g/t Au for 3.1 Moz Au, each at a 0.5 g/t Au cut off.



To view the full report, please visit:

http://abnnewswire.net/lnk/OW08Z1I4





About Cardinal Resources Ltd





Cardinal Resources Ltd (ASX:CDV) (TSE:CDV) (OTCMKTS:CRDNF) is a West African gold exploration and development Company that holds interests in tenements within Ghana, West Africa.

The Company is focused on the development of the Namdini Project with a gold Ore Reserve of 5.1Moz (0.4 Moz Proved and 4.7 Moz Probable) and a soon to be completed Feasibility Study.

Exploration programmes are also underway at the Company's Bolgatanga (Northern Ghana) and Subranum (Southern Ghana) Projects.

Cardinal confirms that it is not aware of any new information or data that materially affects the information included in its announcement of the Ore Reserve of 3 April 2019. All material assumptions and technical parameters underpinning this estimate continue to apply and have not materially changed.
Speedcast to Provide VSAT Solutions to the Mawson, Casey and Davis Research Stations, as well as Macquarie Island



SDA provides remote comms to Antarctic Research Stations

Sydney, Nov 1, 2017 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Speedcast International Limited ( ASX:SDA ), the world's most trusted provider of highly reliable, fully managed, remote communication and IT solutions, has been awarded a multi-year, multi-million dollar contract with an Australian government department conducting world-class scientific and environmental research in Antarctica. Speedcast will provide the Australian Antarctic program with mission-critical and life-saving communications to the outside world.



"Being chosen to provide communications in Antarctica is both an honor and a testament to Speedcast's commitment to supporting the Australian government and enabling leading-edge research," said Pierre-Jean Beylier, CEO, Speedcast. "Our team of highly qualified engineers is proud to provide 24/7 support and solutions to enable individuals in these remote and harsh locations to communicate with the outside world for day-to-day communication and in the event they need assistance in case of an emergency. This win is an example of the increase in government spending in satellite communications and Speedcast's ability to grow market share as the government segment continues to expand."



Speedcast will provide VSAT bandwidth, equipment and installation including training, antenna upgrades and repositioning, and network optimization. Speedcast will also provide additional support to other scientific users such as Geoscience Australia at the three Australian Antarctic research stations - Mawson, Casey and Davis, plus the base on Macquarie Island. With the updates Speedcast is making to the satellite links, the research program will have four times more throughput than it had with their previous provider once installations are completed in January 2018.



While there may be up to 120 people on each research station in the summer, during the harsh winters of Antarctica when travel to the icy continent is not possible, the population of each research station is much smaller and satellite communication is their only link to the outside world. The reliability of these links is essential for the well-being of the wintering expeditioners and enables tele-medicine support if required.





About Speedcast International Ltd





Speedcast International Ltd (ASX:SDA) is the world's most trusted communications and IT services provider, delivering critical communications solutions to the Maritime, Energy, Mining, Media, Telecom, Cruise, NGO, Government, and Enterprise sectors. With more satellite capacity than any other provider, Speedcast enables faster, seamless pole-to-pole coverage from a global hybrid satellite, fiber, cellular, microwave, MPLS, and IP transport network with direct access to public cloud platforms. The company also integrates differentiated technology offerings that provide smarter ways to communicate and distribute content, manage network and remote operations, protect and secure investments, and improve the crew and guest experience. With a passionate customer focus and a strong safety culture, Speedcast serves more than 3,200 customers in over 140 countries. Learn more at www.speedcast.com.


JCT HEALTHCARE SECURES CONTRACTS

Melbourne, Nov 1, 2017 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Xped Limited ( ASX:XPE ) ("Xped" or "the Company") is pleased to announce that its subsidiary JCT Healthcare ("JCT") has been successful in recently winning several tenders with its Smart Home Assisted Living Technology Solution.



The Disability sector has been a key focus for JCT over the past 12 months and these contract wins are a demonstration of the industry leading solution that JCT is offering in this sector.



These projects are expected to be delivered, and revenue received in the current financial year, including the previously announced contract with Renewal SA. These new contracts will in total deliver a combined revenue of $1.501 million for the current FY18.



Minda



JCT has been contracted to deliver its Smart Home Assisted Living Technology Solution to Minda's Brighton Dunes stage 2 development. Stage 1 was commissioned in 2014 and the successful deployment and ongoing service JCT has provided to Minda has resulted in JCT being nominated as a key technology provider. JCT has commenced deployment, and commissioning of the first stage of this project.



This project - which delivers the JCT smart home technologies integrated with JCT's leading Nurse Call software solution, NuCams - will be the first to implement JCT's asset tracking Bluetooth solution which utilises proprietary beacon hardware with JCT software. This new asset tracking system will allow JCT to offer both patient and asset tracking solutions to all types of care providers.



Minda is known as one of South Australia's oldest and most respected disability service providers, JCT is proud to be chosen as a key technology provider to Minda.



Achieve Australia



JCT has been contracted by Achieve Australia to deliver the Smart Home Assisted Living Technology Solution to 21 homes within its Crowle Estate development in Ryde, New South Wales.



This project delivers the JCT smart home assisted living technologies, with the solution designed to be non-intrusive and support the dignity, safety and independence of tenants. Features include seizure mats, sensors which recognise patient movements, active lighting, climate control, emergency alarms, and push-button hands-free communication with support workers.



Achieve Australia is one of the largest not-for-profit community organisations in NSW and provides services and support for people with a disability to achieve a life that is meaningful and valued.



Renewal SA



As previously announced in July 2017, JCT won a $649,000 contract to deliver the smart home assisted living technology solution into 30 new properties. JCTs solution - which will be utilised by people living with a disability - is modelled on the technology that was developed for Lightsview. Disability SA will provide the carer services for these homes once tenanted and will utilise JCT's NuCams software and mobile App to provide support for tenants.



Disability SA, as part of the South Australian government's Department for Communities and Social Inclusion (DCSI) provides community support and specialist services to children and adults with disability, their families and carers.



JCT Smart Home Assisted Living Technology Solution



JCTs Smart Home Assisted Living Technology Solution combines smart home functionality with professional healthcare technologies. The technology includes monitoring and control of lights, door locks, air conditioning, shutters, blinds, power switches, cupboards, temperature sensors and smoke detectors, integration with front door cameras and intercom solution to allow for remote viewing and 2-way voice communication. These features are integrated with JCT smart healthcare technologies including activity and agitation detection, fall detection, and wireless panic buttons.



JCTs cloud based NuCams software and next generation mobile App are also part of the solution and their integration with the smart device technologies has been critical in winning these tenders.



JCT is continuing to pursue other tender opportunities across Australia with these similar technology solutions. The JCT smart home assisted living technology solution offers a professional smart health solution that can be implemented in both new build sites as well as retrofitted to existing dwellings. The solution provides independence to the tenant and their family, while still allowing the support worker to provide the support required.



ABOUT JCT HEALTHCARE



JCT Healthcare is a 100% owned subsidiary of Xped. Established in 2002, JCT Healthcare is a quality provider of assistive technology solutions and nurse call systems to the Healthcare sector with products tailored for Hospitals, Aged Care, Independent Living and Disability Care.





About XPED Ltd





XPED Ltd (ASX:XPE) is an Australian Internet of Things (IoT) technology business. Xped has developed revolutionary and patent-protected technology that allows any consumer, regardless of their technical capability, to connect, monitor and control devices and appliances found in our everyday environment. Xped provides technology solutions for Smart Home, Smart Building, and Healthcare.

At Xped, were Making Technology Easy Again(TM)
Distribution of company announcements to the professional platforms, finance portals and syndication of important corporate news to a wide variety of news aggregators and financial news systems.


Annual Report to shareholders

Perth, Nov 1, 2017 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Altech Chemicals Ltd ( ASX:ATC ) provides the Company's Annual Report to shareholders.



During the 2016/2017 year Altech continued to work closely with German government-owned KfW IPEX-Bank on debt finance structuring and the satisfaction of independent project due diligence. From August 2016 the Company was subject to an extensive independent due diligence program by KfW IPEXBank's appointed technical, legal, environmental and market expert consultants. The successful due diligence program concluded in August 2017 with no fatal flaws identified in the HPA project.



A Final Investment Decision Study (FIDS) then confirmed the robust financial metrics for the development of a 4,500tpa HPA plant at Johor, Malaysia and kaolin mine at Meckering, Western Australia. The FIDS incorporated up-to-date project assumptions including the final capital cost estimate, which included a fixed-price lump-sum EPC contract value for the construction of the Malaysian HPA plant by a consortium led by German engineering firm and EPC contractor SMS group GmbH (SMS). Based on the positive FIDS results, the Altech board resolved to proceed to the next stage, the ECA application process.



A positive ECA decision will mean Altech attains the US$165 million "offer of cover" for the majority of the project debt and as the bank approvals process will run in parallel, the total target debt amount of US$ 185 million.



Assuming that the ECA debt component is approved around mid-December 2017, the Company will focus on finalising the equity component of funding in the first half of 2018.



To view the full report, please visit:

http://abnnewswire.net/lnk/PE3HQ0O6





About Altech Chemicals Ltd





Altech Chemicals Limited (ASX:ATC) (FRA:A3Y) is aiming to become one of the world's leading suppliers of 99.99% (4N) high purity alumina (Al2O3) through the construction and operation of a 4,500tpa high purity alumina (HPA) processing plant at Johor, Malaysia. Feedstock for the plant will be sourced from the Company's 100%-owned kaolin deposit at Meckering, Western Australia and shipped to Malaysia.



HPA is a high-value, high margin and highly demanded product as it is the critical ingredient required for the production of synthetic sapphire. Synthetic sapphire is used in the manufacture of substrates for LED lights, semiconductor wafers used in the electronics industry, and scratch-resistant sapphire glass used for wristwatch faces, optical windows and smartphone components. Increasingly HPA is used by lithium-ion battery manufacturers as the coating on the battery's separator, which improves performance, longevity and safety of the battery. With global HPA demand approximately 19,000t (2018), it is estimated that this demand will grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 30% (2018-2028); by 2028 HPA market demand will be approximately 272,000t, driven by the increasing adoption of LEDs worldwide as well as the demand for HPA by lithium-ion battery manufacturers to serve the surging electric vehicle market.


Closes a First Tranche of a Maximum of $250,000 Private Placement in Common Shares

Sydney, Nov 2, 2017 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Explor Resources Inc. ( CVE:EXS ) ( EXSFF:OTCMKTS ) ( E1H1:FRA ) ("Explor" or the "Corporation") announces the closing of a first tranche of a non-brokered private placement of a maximum of 3,571,500 units at a price of $0.07 each, for total gross proceeds of up to CDN $250,000 (the "Private Placement"). Each unit is composed of one common share and one-half common share purchase warrant. Each whole warrant can be exercised at a price of $0.12 for a period of 24 months. The first tranche of the Private Placement closed today consists in the sale of 2,857,143 units, representing 2,857,143 common shares and 1,428,571 warrants, for an aggregate subscription of $200,000, by a related party to the Corporation, namely, Christian Dupont, director and Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation. After the private placement, assuming the exercise of the warrants included in the units purchased by Christian Dupont, Mr. Dupont would hold, directly or indirectly, or exercise control over approximately 4.3 % of the Corporation issued and outstanding common shares.



The net proceeds from the Private Placement will be used by the Corporation for working capital purposes.



The issuance of securities to a related party in the first tranche of the Private Placement constitutes a "related party transaction" within the meaning of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 respecting protection of minority security holders in special transactions ("MI "61-101"), which is incorporated into TSX Venture Exchange Policy 5.9. In its consideration and approval of the first tranche of the Private Placement, the board of directors of the Corporation has determined that such subscription to the related party is exempt from the formal valuation and minority approval requirements of MI 61-101 on the main basis that the fair market value of the subscription to the related party does not exceed 25% of the market capitalization of Explor, in accordance with sections 5.5 and 5.7 of MI 61-101.



The securities to be issued pursuant to the first closing of the Private Placement are subject to a hold period of four months and a day ending March 2th, 2018. The Private Placement is subject to the final approval of the TSX Venture Exchange.



Explor Resources Inc. is a publicly listed company trading on the TSX Venture (EXS), on the OTCQB (EXSFF) and on the Frankfurt and Berlin Stock Exchanges (E1H1).



This press release was prepared by Explor. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the Policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) has reviewed or accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.





About Explor Resources Inc.





Explor Resources Inc. (CVE:EXS) (OTCMKTS:EXSFF) (FRA:E1H1) is a Canadian-based natural resources company with mineral holdings in Ontario, Quebec, Saskatchewan and New Brunswick. Explor is currently focused on exploration in the Abitibi Greenstone Belt. The belt is found in both provinces of Ontario and Quebec with approximately 33% in Ontario and 67% in Quebec. The Belt has produced in excess of 180,000,000 ounces of gold and 450,000,000 tonnes of cu-zn ore over the last 100 years. The Corporation was continued under the laws of Alberta in 1986 and has had its main office in Quebec since 2006.
The charity has finger-pointed army Brigadier-general Etienne Mbunsu Bindu based in Northern Kivu in illicit earning transactions related to gold mining in the region.

The military high ranking officer according to the NGO which investigates illegal exploitation natural resources has been receiving returns of gold mining from Geminaco; the company exploiting the natural resource in the region.

Bindus son according to Global Witness is the screen agent for the illegal operation condemned by the Congolese law. Army officials under the countrys mining act are prohibited from involvement in the exploitation of the countrys natural resources.

The illicit deal according to the charity is still ongoing despite drawing the attention of Goma trade tribunal on the matter.

Some other army officials are also accused of involvement in the illegal mining deals in other parts of the vast and rich African country.

A UN reports in August named Gabriel Amisi Kumba aka Tango Four heading armys division in the countrys first defense zone.

Kumba according to the report owns four boats extracting gold on the Awimi River, near the town of Bafwasende, in the province of Tshopo.

Global Witness in July, in its report titled Regime Cash Machine noted that at least $750 million went missing over three years.

Citing data from the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), the NGO revealed that between 2013 and 2015 over $750 million of payments by mining companies to Congos tax agencies and state mining companies never reached the national treasury.

It also added that the figure could go higher to reach $1.5 billion when other state bodies and a now-defunct provincial tax body are included.
The African Development Bank (AfDB) Tuesday debunked Reuters report indicating that the African lending institution was redirecting $400-million loan requested by the Nigerian Federal government to shore up it 2017 deficit budget.

The African Development Bank (www.AfDB.org) wishes to categorically refute the statement that it has called off loans to Nigeria, as reported in Reuters and credited to AfDB Vice-President for Power, Energy, Climate and Green Growth Amadou Hott, the bank said in a statement.

Confusion over talks between Abuja and the Abidjan-based bank for an assistance floated after Reuters reports following an interview with Vice-President for Power, Energy, Climate Change & Green Growth, Amadou Hott on Monday indicated that the Bank was no longer eager to back the Nigerian governments efforts to overcome the economic and fiscal struggle.

According to Reuters both parties still are discussing conditions for the release of the second tranche ($400 million).

Abuja reportedly refused the terms by the international lenders, including the World Bank, to enact various reforms, including allowing the Naira to float freely on the foreign exchange market.

The AfDB in 2016 approved $600-million loan to the Nigerian federal government to support it to address economic and fiscal challenges cause by the sharp collapse of oil price on the international market.

Tuesday, the Bank reiterated its collaboration with Nigeria noting that it strongly supports the Economic and Growth Recovery Plan and efforts to stem corruption and strengthen fiscal consolidation and efficiency.
The U.S. Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation has provided support for saving three mosques in Tanzania, including the one near Kizimkazi on the island of Zanzibar that is considered one of the oldest Islamic buildings on the coast of east Africa. The 2008 grant allowed for repairs and restoration of the mosques roof, ceiling, doors and windows as well as the mihrab, the ornate alcove that indicates the direction of Mecca.












An Uzbek man shouting God is great ploughed a pickup truck down a crowded bike path near the World Trade Centre on Wednesday, killing at least eight persons and injuring 11 others in an ISIS-inspired plot termed as the deadliest terrorist attack on the city since 9/11.

The 29-year-old suspect was shot in the stomach by a police officer before being arrested. The media named the Uzbek man as Sayfullo Saipov, an immigrant who came to the US in 2010.

The incident took place along the normally gridlocked West Side Highway, a major thoroughfare that runs along the western edge of Manhattan by the Hudson River as Americans celebrated Halloween. Manhattan is the most densely populated borough of the New York City.

The attacker left nearly a half km crime scene  a tree-lined bike path strewn with mangled bicycles and their parts.

Police said the truck drove south after entering a pedestrian and bicycle path, where it struck multiple people. Six men were pronounced dead at the scene on the cycle lane and two other people were dead on arrival at the hospital.

The victims included five Argentinians and a Belgian citizen.

After smashing the truck into a school bus, injuring two adults and two children, the suspect exited the truck displaying imitation firearms and was shot by police, according to the New York Police Department (NYPD).

I heard a truck, a car, something going down the bike path, said witness Eugene Duffy, 44, who was waiting at a red light to walk across West Street.

The driver shouted Allahu Akbar (God is great) after getting out of the vehicle, New York Post reported. A note in English was found in the truck that referred to the Islamic State terror group, media reports said.

A pellet gun and a paintball gun were recovered from the scene, officials said.

At least 11 people were transported to the hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries, according to New York Fire Commissioner Daniel Nigro.

A spokesman for Home Depot confirmed one of the companys rental trucks was part of an incident in lower Manhattan and said the company is cooperating with authorities in the investigation.

The suspect, who hails from Paterson New Jersey, had multiple interactions with law enforcement in several states, online records show. Saipov had traffic citations issued in Missouri and Pennsylvania.

Authorities said the suspect was hospitalised, underwent surgery and was expected to survive.

US President Donald Trump denounced the attack, saying we must not allow ISIS to return. In NYC, looks like another attack by a very sick and deranged person. Law enforcement is following this closely. NOT IN THE U.S.A.! Trump tweeted.

The US Justice Department said in a statement that a joint terrorism task force that included the FBI, the NYPD and others was investigating the attack.
Age of Autism links to Alliance for Human Resesearch Protection for Vera Sharav's damning indictment of the British Medical Journal's intervention in the Wakefield affair. She traces its history from the beginning but focuses on the journal's allegations of fraud in 2011 and its sinister repercussions.



By Vera Sharav

Laffaire Wakefield: Shades of Dreyfus & BMJs Descent into Tabloid Science

Introduction: I have undertaken this review of the case against Dr. Andrew Wakefield because the issues involved are far more consequential than the vilification of one doctor. The issues, as I see them, involve (a) collusion of public health officials to deceive the public by concealing scientific evidence that confirms empirical evidence of serious harm linked to vaccines  in particular polyvalent vaccines; (b) the willful blindness by the medical community as it uncritically fell in line with a government dictated vaccination policy driven by corporate business interests.

Public health officials and the medical profession have abrogated their professional, public, and human responsibility, by failing to honestly examine the iatrogenic harm caused by expansive, indiscriminate, and increasingly aggressive vaccination policies. On a human level, the documented evidence shows a callous disregard for the plight of thousands of children who suffer irreversible harm, as if they were unavoidable collateral damage.

All of the documented evidence and testimonies submitted to the General Medical Council, upon which GMC issued its guilty verdicts against Dr. Wakefield and his two co-defendants in 2010, were subsequently forensically assessed by the UK High Court in March 2012, in the appeal of Professor John Walker-Smith, the senior clinician and senior author of the Lancet case series. The High Court determined that the verdicts of professional misconduct and ethics violations were unsupported by the evidence.

Indeed, the adjudicated evidence refutes the case against Dr. Wakefield; the documents and testimonies demonstrate that there is no evidence whatsoever, to support the charges of professional misconduct, much less the accusation of fraud. The accusation of fraud was hurled by the Editor-in-Chief of the BMJ, a medical journal whose corporate ownership is intertwined with the vaccine manufacturing Behemoths, Merck  with whom BMJ signed a partnership agreement in 2008  and GlaxoSmithKline which provides additional financial support to BMJ. Among their numerous vaccine products, Merck and GSK manufacture the MMR vaccine.

My commentary is buttressed with details from the High Court decision (2012); transcripts of testimony before the General Medical Council (2007- 2010); documents and testimony that have been judicially adjudicated; the sworn deposition of the Deputy Editor of the BMJ with internal BMJ emails(2012); internal correspondence by CDC officials and CDC-commissioned scientists (2000-2009, some uncovered in 2011; new documents obtained in July 2017); the suppressed finding of CDCs first large-scale epidemiological study (1999) and a transcript of the closed door meeting of the Epidemic Intelligence Service at Simpsonwood (2000); a transcript of the closed meeting of the US Institute of Medicine Committee on Immunization Safety Review (2001); the U.S. Grand Jury criminal indictment of Dr. Poul Thorsen (2011); transcripts of the UK Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (1988); a confidential report Re: Infanrix hexa submitted by GlaxoSmithKline to the European Medicines Agency (2012) documenting sudden infant deaths; Cochrane Collaboration MMR reviews (2003, 2005, 2012); HHS Inspector General investigation report  CDC advisory panel corruption (2009); CDC scientists letter of complaint about rogue interests questionable and unethical practices (2016)... Read more at AHRP.org here.








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Filling an open role within your organization is a time-consuming process, and an ideal outcome is far from assured. How can you be sure that the candidates youre considering represent the best fit for your needsand that you hire the most promising of the group?

Look for candidates with the right mix of personal and professional capabilities, not just those who give polished answers to your interview questions.

To be sure, different companies have different needs. These needs change throughout the business lifecycle. The ideal candidate for an early-stage startup might not be the ideal candidate for a larger, more established organization.

Still, these six attributes are widely prized across a broad swath of the business community.

1. Exceptional Work Ethic

A strong work ethic energizes you and your employees to face your challenges head-on, be your best and keep you at the top of your game, writes Forbes contributor Jacqueline Whitmore. In short, employees who go the extra mile are indispensable to your team.

Look for employees whove consistently demonstrated in past positions that they can get the job done. Ask questions about their willingness to work hard, and speak with references to corroborate their stories.

2. Personal Accountability

Honesty and integrity are essential qualities in any workplace.

Quality employees infuse their work with integrity, says Miami entrepreneur George Otte. They take pride in their successes and responsibility for their failures.

Accountability is a key attribute to a healthy work environment and supports the achievement of business growth plans and organizational objectives.

3. Effective Communication Skills

Great employees possess effective written and verbal communication skills. Its important to acknowledge that not all jobs require truly excellent writing or speaking capabilities, but most positions require adequacy on both fronts. Employees with subpar communication skills are more likely to create confusion or avoidable disagreements within their teams.

4. Willingness To Take On New Roles

Flexibility is a crucial attribute in the modern workplace. As your organizations objectives and approaches change, you need to rely on your employees to adjust accordingly. Employees who express an unwillingness to learn new skills or grow into new roles may put you at a competitive disadvantage to companies with more flexible workforces.

5. The Ability To Learn on the Job

A related skill is the ability to learn on the job. On the day theyre hired, even highly qualified candidates dont always have all the competencies necessary for their new roles. Look for individuals who demonstrate a willingness and capability to acquire new skills or certifications that can benefit your organization and positively affect the trajectories of their own careers.

6. Humility

Quality employees are not afraid to admit that they dont have all the answers. Look for candidates who seem genuinely interested in taking lessons from those who have more knowledge and experience than they. Such employees perform better in collaborative environments and are more predictable representatives of your company.
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Entrepreneurs interested in competing in the Auburn Regional of the Alabama Launchpad startup competition can get a step ahead during a Nov. 9 information session.

The Lake Martin Innovation Center, 175 Aliant Pkwy., will host the event Thursday, Nov. 9 from 12 to 1 p.m.

The Auburn Regional Alabama Launchpad Competition is part of the popular state-wide Alabama Launchpad, a program of the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama (EDPA) Foundation.

Auburn's regional looks for ventures that have the potential to grow and impact economic development and job growth in Lee, Chambers, Macon, Russell and Tallapoosa counties.

The competition is for new, independent ventures in the pre-seed, seed, startup or early-growth stages, or for the expansion of an existing business into a new high-growth market.

Leading the information session will be Auburn University's LaKami Baker, managing director of the Lowder Center for Family Business and Entrepreneurship in the Raymond J. Harbert College of Business. Also participating will be Phil Dunlap of the Auburn University Research & Technology Foundation and Andrea Mitchell with the City of Auburn.

Alexander Chamber of Commerce President & CEO Ed Collari said the regional is "a great chance for new, growing or expanding businesses to come learn about participating in what could be a very rewarding experience."

The information session is free to attend and lunch will be provided. Email kim.dunn@alexandercitychamber.com to RSVP or call the Alexander City Chamber of Commerce with any questions at (256) 234-3461.

More information on the Auburn Regional Alabama Launchpad can be found on their website.
Ben Flanagan | bflanagan@al.com

Learn which new films and shows you can stream on Netflix in November, including "Field of Dreams." Ben Flanagan | bflanagan@al.com

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Mudbound

Two men return home from World War II to work on a farm in rural Mississippi, where they struggle to deal with racism and adjusting to life after war. From director Dee Rees, this already has Oscar buzz, featuring an impressive ensemble cast including Carey Mulligan, Garrett Hedlund, Jason Clarke, Jason Mitchell and Mary J. Blige. (Nov. 17)

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Marvel's The Punisher

This long-awaited Marvel adaptation revolves around Frank Castle, who uses lethal methods to fight crime as the vigilante "the Punisher", with Jon Bernthal reprising the role from Daredevil. (Nov. 17)

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She's Gotta Have It

The new comedy-drama series created by Spike Lee, based on his 1986 film of the same name, starring DeWanda Wise, Anthony Ramos, Cleo Anthony and Lyriq Bent. (Nov. 23)

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Godless

An outlaw terrorizing the 1880s American West hunts down his partner turned enemy in a town mysteriously made up entirely of women in this Western miniseries. Netflix's answer to "Westworld" perhaps? (Nov. 22)

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Trailer Park Boys Out of the Park: USA

The popular Canadian mockumentary series returns. The show lost a fan favorite after John Dunsworth, who plays trailer park supervisor Jim Lahey, died in October. (Nov. 24)

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Alias Grace

Based on the true story of a housemaid and immigrant from Ireland who was imprisoned in 1843, perhaps wrongly, for the murder of her employer. From director Mary Harron ("American Psycho") and Sarah Polley ("Stories We Tell"). (Nov. 3)

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The Killer (O Matador)

Set between the 1910s and 1940s, this Brazilian western follows a feared killer in search of a local bandit. (Nov. 10

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Jim & Andy: The Great Beyond

A behind-the-scenes look at how Jim Carrey adopted the persona of idiosyncratic comedian Andy Kaufman on the set of the film "Man on the Moon," which was based on Kaufman's life. (Nov. 17)

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42 (2013)

The story of Jackie Robinson, who become the first African-American to play in Major League Baseball in the modern era when he was signed by the Brooklyn Dodgers, facing considerable racism in the process. Stars Chadwick Boseman, Harrison Ford and Alabama natives Andre Holland and Lucas Black. (Available now)

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Casper (1995)

A paranormal expert and his daughter bunk in an abandoned house populated by three mischievous ghosts and one friendly one. Based on the cartoon, it stars Bill Pullman, Christina Ricci, Cathy Moriarty and Eric Idle. (Available now)

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Chappie (2015)

In the near future, crime is patrolled by a mechanized police force. When one police droid, Chappie, is stolen and given new programming, he becomes the first robot with the ability to think and feel for himself. From "District 9" director Neill Blomkamp, this much-maligned but wholly misunderstood sci-fi action flick is outstanding thanks to awesome special effects an wild performances from Sharlto Copley and South African rap duo Die Antwoord. (Now available)

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Charlotte's Web (2006)

Wilbur the pig is scared of the end of the season, because he knows that come that time, he will end up on the dinner table. He hatches a plan with Charlotte, a spider that lives in his pen, to ensure that this will never happen. (Now available)

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Field of Dreams (1989)

Kevin Costner stars as an Iowa corn farmer who, hearing voices, interprets them as a command to build a baseball diamond in his fields. He does, and the 1919 Chicago White Sox come. Wonderful baseball fantasy that continues to age well. (Now available)

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Men in Black (1997)

A police officer joins a secret organization that polices and monitors extraterrestrial interactions on Earth. Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones star in Barry Sonnenfeld's wonderfully original sci-fi comedy that spawned some lesser sequels. (Now available)

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Michael Clayton (2007)

A law firm brings in its "fixer" (George Clooney) to remedy the situation after a lawyer has a breakdown while representing a chemical company that he knows is guilty in a multibillion-dollar class action suit. Nominated for best picture, won best support actress (Tilda Swinton). (Now available)

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Oculus (2013)

A woman tries to exonerate her brother, who was convicted of murder, by proving that the crime was committed by a supernatural phenomenon. (Now available)

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The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)

A struggling salesman takes custody of his son as he's poised to begin a life-changing professional career. An emotionally draining but ultimately rewarding story about struggle and triumph, featuring arguably Will Smith's best performance. (Now available)

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The Reader (2008)

In post-WW2 Germany, nearly a decade after his affair with an older woman came to a mysterious end, a law student re-encounters his former lover (Kate Winslet) as she defends herself in a war-crime trial. Winslet won an Oscar for her performance. (Now available)

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Scary Movie (2000)

A year after disposing of the body of a man they accidentally killed, a group of dumb teenagers are stalked by a bumbling serial killer. The Wayans brothers spoof modern horror in this silly parody flick, featuring a terrific comic performance from Anna Faris. (Now available)

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Silent Hill (2006)

A woman goes in search for her adopted daughter within the confines of a strange, desolate town called Silent Hill. Based on the video game. (Now available)

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To Rome with Love (2012)

The lives of some visitors and residents of Rome and the romances, adventures and predicaments they get into in Woody Allen's Italy-set comedy. Features a fun performance from Roberto Benigni. (Now available)

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The Whole Nine Yards (2000)

Matthew Perry plays a struggling dentist whose life is turned upside down when a famous gangster (Bruce Willis) moves in next door, and his wife convinces him to inform a notorious mob boss about the gangster's whereabouts. (Now available)

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The Homesman (2014)

Three women who have been driven mad by pioneer life are to be transported across the country by covered wagon by the pious, independent-minded woman (Hilary Swank) who in turn employs low-life drifter (Tommy Lee Jones) to assist her. Grim but terrific directorial effort from Jones. (Nov. 5)

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The Boss Baby (2017)

A suit-wearing, briefcase-carrying baby (voiced by Alec Baldwin) pairs up with his 7-year old brother to stop the dastardly plot of the CEO of Puppy Co. (Nov. 22)

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The Queen of Spain (2016)

A Hollywood star (Penelope Cruz) returns to Spain to film a blockbuster about Queen Isabella I of Castile. (Nov. 28)

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More Movies

Nov. 1

The Bittersweet

Undercover Grandpa

Where the Day Takes You



Nov. 2

All About the Money

It's Not Yet Dark



Nov. 3

Eventual Salvation



Nov. 4

Williams



Nov. 5

The Veil



Nov. 6

The Dinner



Nov. 7

Dizzy & Bop's Big Adventure: The Great Music Caper

The Journey Is the Destination

Killing Ground



Nov. 10

Mea Culpa



Nov. 12

Long Time Running



Nov. 13

Chasing Trane: The John Coltrane Documentary

Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed



Nov. 14

DeRay Davis: How to Act Black

Hickok



Nov. 16

9



Nov. 17

A Christmas Prince

Red, White, Black, Blue Odyssey

Santa Claws



Nov. 20

Piranha



Nov. 21

Beat Bugs: All Together Now

Brian Regan: Nunchucks and Flamethrowers

The Case for Christ

Saving Capitalism



Nov. 22

Cherry Pop

Tracers



Nov. 23

Deep



Nov. 24

Bushwick

Cuba and the Cameraman



Nov. 27

Darkness Rising



Nov. 30

The Details

Winning

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More TV

Nov. 1

Stranger: Season 1

Under Arrest: Season 7



Nov. 2

Ten Percent (a.k.a. Call My Agent!): Season 2



Nov. 3

The Big Family Cooking Showdown: Season 1



Nov. 7

Fate/Apocrypha: Part 1

P. King Duckling: Season 1

Project Mc: Part 6



Nov. 10

Blazing Transfer Students: Season 1

Dinotrux Supercharged: Season 1

Glitter Force Doki Doki: Season 2

Lady Dynamite: Season 2



Nov. 15

Lockup: State Prisons: Collection 1



Nov. 17

Longmire: Final Season

Luna Petunia: Season 3

Shot in the Dark: Season 1

Spirit: Riding Free: Season 3

Stretch Armstrong & the Flex Fighters: Season 1



Nov. 24

Frontier: Season 2

The Many Faces of Ito: Season 1



Nov. 27

Broadchurch: Season 3

My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic: Season 7, Part 2



Nov. 28

Glitch: Season 2

Good Morning Call: Season 2



Nov. 29

Guerra De Idolos: Season 1

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5 Things You Should Watch

While you're at it, here are five of the best things you can currently stream on Netflix, especially if none of the new stuff appeals to you...

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Mindhunter

Set in 1979, this brand new Netflix original series follows an agent in the FBI's Elite Serial Crime Unit as he tracks down serial killers and rapists. Jonathan Groff and Holt McCallany play the agents who interview imprisoned serial killers in order to understand how such criminals think, and apply it to solving ongoing cases. David Fincher and Charlize Theron produced.

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Stranger Things (season 2)

Netflix's incredibly popular sci-fi/horror series returns for a bigger and badder season two just in time for Halloween. The Duffer Brothers bring back pretty much the entire cast for another go-around with this addictive blast from the past. No spoilers, but you've probably already binged.

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The Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected)

Writer/director Noah Baumbach ("The Squid and the Whale," "Greenberg") directs this dramedy about an estranged family who gathers together in New York for an event celebrating the artistic work of their father. Stars Adam Sandler, Ben Stiller, Dustin Hoffman and Emma Thompson. This could have some Oscar potential.

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The Hateful Eight (2015)

In the dead of a Wyoming winter, a bounty hunter and his prisoner find shelter in a cabin currently inhabited by a collection of nefarious characters. Quentin Tarantino's violent western/chamber play sees great performances from Kurt Russell, Samuel L. Jackson, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Walton Goggins and more.

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Eyes Wide Shut (1999)

Stanley Kubrick's masterful meditation on marriage sees a husband (Tom Cruise) attempt a sexual odyssey after his wife (Nicole Kidman) admits that she once almost cheated on him. What a shame that we lost Kubrick shortly before they even finished editing this film, but what a wonderful way to end a legendary career.

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Leaving Netflix in November

Nov. 1

Back to the Secret Garden

Black Books: Series 1-3

Christmas with the Kranks

Get Rich or Die Tryin'

Hard Candy

Hugo

Ravenous

The Brothers

The Legend of Hell House

The Matrix

The Matrix Reloaded

The Matrix Revolutions

The Newton Boys

Thomas & Friends: A Very Thomas Christmas

Thomas & Friends: Holiday Express

Thomas & Friends: Merry Winter Wish

Thomas & Friends: The Christmas Engines

Thomas & Friends: Ultimate Christmas

Twilight

V for Vendetta



Nov. 3

Do I Sound Gay?



Nov. 5

Hannah Montana: The Movie

Heavyweights

Sky High



Nov. 8

The Heartbreak Kid



Nov. 11

Goosebumps



Nov. 13

How I Met Your Mother: Seasons 1-9



Nov. 15

Jessie: Seasons 1-4

The Human Centipede: First Sequence

We Are Still Here



Nov. 16

Cristela: Season 1

Dream House

Joan Rivers: Don't Start with Me

The Break-Up



Nov. 17

Reggie Yates Outside Man: Volume 2

Somewhere Only We Know



Nov. 22

The Warlords



Nov. 25

Gringolandia: Seasons 1-3



Nov. 30

Hatched

Legends: Seasons 1-2

The Gambler

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A Birmingham Public Works employee was shot to death this morning while mowing grass in the city's Wylam neighborhood.

The shooting happened around 10:30 a.m. on 4114 8th Avenue Wylam, Birmingham police spokesman Sean Edwards said. The victim was found deceased, sitting on his city-issued lawn mover.

Edwards said the suspects fled the scene in a vehicle, but investigators have not released the make or model of car. No one is currently in custody.

The victim, a black male in his 50s, was "targeted," Edwards said. "That's very bold and extremely careless and reckless... It's 10:30 in the morning, the individual is at work, and you show up here and end his life."

The shooting happened across the street from Wylam K-8 School. The school was briefly placed on lockdown, but the lockdown was soon lifted and Birmingham police officers were stationed at the school.

Dozens of the victim's family members and neighbors filled the sidewalk near where the victim was found, visibly emotional.

"Really, one homicide in our city is too many," Edwards said.

This story will be updated.

AL.com reporter Carol Robinson contributed to this report.
Survivors of a woman who claimed that Johnson & Johnson's talcum powder contributed to her ovarian cancer are challenging a Missouri appeals court ruling that threw out a $72 million award.

The estate of Jacqueline Fox, of Birmingham was awarded the money in 2016 in the first of several cases in St. Louis claiming talc powder contributed to cancer. Fox died in 2015 at age 62.

A Missouri appeals court ruled last month that the state wasn't the proper jurisdiction, citing a June decision from the U.S. Supreme Court that said there must be a connection between the plaintiff's claims and the state where a lawsuit is filed.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that Fox's survivors on Tuesday sought another review of the case or a transfer to the Missouri Supreme Court.
A Center Point man who told authorities he needed a place to "chill" was arrested for taking a nap - in someone else's apartment.

Jefferson County sheriff's deputies on Monday were dispatched to a report of a burglary in progress at an apartment in the 800 block of Park Brook Trail, said Chief Deputy Randy Christian. The victim, an adult woman, told deputies she arrived home and heard noises coming from her bathroom.

When she went to investigate, she found a stranger in her apartment. He took off running around the back of the apartment complex.

Once deputies arrived on the scene, the victim was able to give them a description of the intruder, which was broadcast to other deputies in the area. They spotted the suspect in the rear of the complex, and he took off running again. He was captured after a short foot chase, with a bag of marijuana in his pocket, Christian said.

The suspect has been identified as 20-year-old Jordan Robinson. Christian said he told deputies he needed a place to "chill'' and charge his phone, so he pushed open a window to the apartment and went inside. He turned on the heat and decided to take a nap, but was interrupted when the resident came home.

Robinson was arrested and charged with third-degree burglary, attempting to elude, second-degree unlawful possession of marijuana and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia.

He was taken to the Jefferson County Jail, and has since been released on $3,400 bond.

"Don't tell the kids,'' Christian said, "but I think we have locked up Goldilocks."
A Florida fugitive was captured in McCalla during a traffic stop by Jefferson County sheriff's deputies.

Authorities on Wednesday identified the woman as 47-year-old Katrina Lynn of Brookwood, Al.

Just after 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, a deputy tried to conduct a traffic stop on a silver Honda at Old Tuscaloosa Highway and Kimbrell-Cutoff Road, said Chief Deputy Randy Christian. The driver - later identified as Loperena's boyfriend - refused to stop, and continued along Kimbrell-Cutoff to Eastern Valley Road where he finally pulled over.

As the deputy got out of his patrol cruiser, the driver sped off traveling east on Eastern Valley Road. The deputy followed as the car turned on to Coleman Lake Road. The driver stopped the car at Coleman Lake Road and Ashton Way before fleeing on foot, leaving two passengers in the car.

Other deputies arrived on scene and detained the two passengers, an adult male and an adult female. A K9 search team arrived to conduct a search for the driver. Sheriff's tracking dogs followed the driver into a wooded area where he was found hiding in a pile of brush. He was taken into custody and returned to the scene.

Loperena was found to have an outstanding felony warrant from Florida for stealing the car, Christian said. She was arrested and charged with being a fugitive from justice and first-degree receiving stolen property. She remains in the Jefferson County Jail with no bond.

The driver, 42-year-old Jason Thomas Green of Duncanville, Al., was arrested and charged with first-degree receiving stolen property and attempting to elude. He reported that he needed medical attention and was taken to an area hospital. Green will be taken to the Jefferson County jail upon release from the hospital. His bond is set at $15,500.

The adult male passenger was not charged and was released.
Madison County District Attorney Rob Broussard says he won't pursue crossover voters in this year's Republican senate primary unless "somebody puts an investigative file in our office" that he can review and take to a grand jury. Broussard took the position in an interview with AL.com news partner WHNT News 19. See the interview below.

Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill said in October names of voters who crossed party lines to vote in last month's Republican Senate runoff would be turned over to the state's district attorneys. His office has identified 674 such voters, Merrill said, and 63 are in Madison County. Voting for one party in a primary and knowingly crossing over to vote in another party's runoff is a Class C felony.

Merrill said he would turn the voters' names over to prosecutors for investigation and possible prosecution. But Broussard told WHNT that, "Until somebody puts an investigative file in our office that we can review and put to a grand jury, we're not doing anything with it because we don't have anything."

Even if investigations were conducted, an attorney interviewed by WHNT said prosecution would be difficult. "To prove intent, the person would pretty much have to confess and say, 'Yeah, I voted in the primary for the Democrat, and I voted in the runoff for the Republican because I wanted this Republican to run against this Democrat,'" attorney Mark McDaniel said.
Children collect sweet things, teenagers watch horror films, adults dress up to frighten each other and many pumpkins become backlit scary faces. This is the tradition of Halloween on October 31 in much of the world.

It is widely believed that many Halloween traditions originated from ancient Celtic harvest festivals, particularly the Gaelic festival Samhain. Such festivals may have had pagan roots; Samhain itself was Christianised as Halloween by the early Christian Church.

This festival is not recognised outside the western world, but the date is climatologically significant in that it ends the three-month climatological autumn. Figures will now be confirmed and compared, by climatological statisticians, with autumn seasons from previous years.

The end of October often sees a change of weather too.

The Indian monsoon withdraws to the tip of India and Sri Lanka and the second cyclone season begins in the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal. The Australian cyclone season officially begins.

Both Australia and South Africa have seen particularly stormy spring seasons and are settling now into summer.

China has entered its winter season with the northeast monsoon now prevalent. In the United States, the last few days of October brought some proper snow to the northern states.

Northern Europe has been battered by a windstorm followed by a big drop in temperature. The system responsible is still covering Belarus in snow. Western Europe, and in particular Iberia, is yet to realise the change of season.
Nairobi, Kenya  After boycotting last weeks rerun of Kenyas presidential election, opposition leader Raila Odinga denounced what he referred to as sham elections with pre-determined outcomes, and called for continued protests by his supporters and a second rerun vote.

Odingas long-time rival, incumbent Uhuru Kenyatta, won the controversial October 26 rerun, garnering about 98 percent of votes cast. Most Odinga supporters stayed well-away from polling stations last Thursday, claiming that no electoral reforms had been made since the Supreme Court nullified an August 8 vote due to irregularities.

The results announcement on Monday sparked protests in Odinga strongholds including the Kawangware, Kibera, and Mathare slums in Nairobi, as well as Kisumu in western Kenya.

In his Tuesday speech, Odinga stressed his supporters should resist with economic boycotts, peaceful procession, picketing and other legitimate forms of protest. However, the periods both before and after the August 8 and October 26 elections were marred by deadly street clashes pitting police against Odingas supporters.





There have also been several incidents of ethnic violence, and in Odinga strongholds ethnically charged rhetoric is frequently utilised as a rallying cry against the Kenyatta government.

In Kawangware on Tuesday, Odinga supporters expressed differing views on the best way forward. In an oft-repeated refrain, many said they were waiting for baba to give them instructions, referring to Odinga with the Swahili word for father. Others said they are ready to die to help put him in power.

Lets not lie that there will be peace. We youth have already decided [against it], said a 27-year-old former soldier in Kawangware who identified himself as Kelvin Omanyo.

Omanyo, like many other Odinga supporters, decried the fact that two tribes rule the country, referring to the Kikuyu, of which President Kenyatta is a member and the Kalenjin, of which Deputy President William Ruto is a member.

Musungu Jackton, a shopkeeper, echoed these sentiments and said many of the deep divisions in the country came down to inequalities based on ethnicity.

Even now, when you go to apply for a job [employers] just look at your name [so] they can tell which tribe you are from, said Jackton, who is from the Teso tribe.

But as Kenyas political impasse drags on into the fourth month and as the county continues to suffer economically, at least some loyal Odinga supporters are growing weary of continued conflict.

I prefer for peace to prevail. Let us just move on because they have already stolen the election, said Pastor Aggrey Sagala of the Holy International Church in Kawangware.

If the Kenyan leaders dont sit down together and we dont stop voting along ethnic lines, we will all perish.
Theresa May will be celebrating the anniversary of the Balfour Declaration. But what is there to celebrate?

We live in a dangerous world. This is the reality in which Prime Minister Theresa May wants to carve out a future as a truly global Britain after Brexit to reach beyond the borders of Europe and play an even more international role. But surviving in a dangerous world  let alone doing any good for yourself or others  requires the ability to learn from the mistakes of the past, stop repeating them and live up to the promises you made. The centenary of the Balfour Declaration on November 2 should provide an ideal opportunity for reflection, learning and action.

The Palestinian conflict shares something in common with a number of other, seemingly unrelated conflicts, such as Kashmir and Myanmar  a legacy of British colonialism. Theres no hope of a truly global Britain unless the country addresses that, helps to start clearing up the mess it made, and does something to defend those it said it would defend.

Recent British prime ministers, including David Cameron and Tony Blair, have offered vague admissions of British culpability when addressing receptive international audiences, but none of these have been sincere apologies, nor have they been followed up with any robust actions to help resolve and ease the situations caused by their predecessors. The divide and rule tactic employed by British colonialism around the world, as well as the violent attempts to curb opposition to its rule and regain independence, have left a deep imprint that is still felt to this day.

{articleGUID}

Yet, far from reflecting on the grave consequences of British colonialism, Prime Minister Theresa May will be doing entirely the opposite by celebrating the centenary of the Balfour Declaration at an elegant London location, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and 150 carefully selected VIP guests.

What about the promise made in the Declaration that nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine? Britain needs to start living up to that, at last.

And whats to celebrate? Perhaps retrospectively, the Declaration enables Europeans to feel better about the horrific murder of six million Jews in Europe during World War II  events which took place 20 years after the original Balfour Declaration. The commitment to view with favour the establishment of a national home for the Jewish people even seems noble from this perspective, and easily distracts from the reality of the use of brutal violence to honour it.

British politicians recognised early on that force would be necessary to remove the Palestinian Arab Christians and Muslims who formed over 90 percent of the population, and who were not consulted about promises made about their land by the British. Winston Churchill was concerned about the financial burden on British taxpayers money as he knew British troops would need to be deployed.

It is heartening that despite the collective amnesia encouraged by our leaders, education system, and the dominant media discourse, ordinary British citizens are awakening to the catastrophic actions that were taken in this country's name and are calling for Britain to acknowledge its responsibilities. by

So should Britain really be celebrating the Balfour Declaration, which has resulted in unimaginable misery, death and destruction faced by the Palestinians for the past 100 years? The 67-word declaration made 100 years ago in the throes of World War I by a British parliamentarian continues to be the raison detre for much misery and trouble in the region.

And the ongoing misery caused by British colonialism is not limited to Palestine.

Britains bloody footprints around the world

In August, India and Pakistan celebrated the 70th anniversary of their creation as part of independence from the British Empire, which had ruled India for 200 years. Fifteen million people were uprooted and between one and two million people died.

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The task of partitioning the country was given to Sir Cyril Radcliffe, a lawyer who had never been there. He drew lines that split apart communities and families, destroying centuries of tradition in one foul swoop of his pen across the country, not unlike the effect of Balfours pen in the Middle East.

Death and destruction inevitably followed such a crude and thoughtless division, with India and Pakistan going to war over the territory of Kashmir almost immediately, an issue still unresolved to this day. Indeed, the very first UN resolution in 1948 refers to the right of Kashmiris for self-determination through a vote. Yet Britain has done very little to uphold that commitment, and Kashmir continues to be a symbol of instability in the region.

Myanmar also gained independence from Britain in 1948, and the genocide that is currently being carried out there by Buddhist nationalists has forced nearly half a million Rohingya Muslims to flee their burning villages to escape rape, murder and violence. This genocide can also be traced back to British colonial policies, and yet the UK governments voice has barely been heard. Of all the countries that should be playing a role in protecting the vulnerable Muslim minority in Myanmar, the UK should be leading efforts, as blame for the conflict is very easily traceable back to British colonial times.

The Rohingya have been living in those lands for over two hundred years, but resentment over the internal displacement of Buddhists stems back to 1826 when Britain annexed the part of Myanmar where most Rohingya Muslims live today. Indian Muslims were brought in large numbers to become labourers and administrators for the British, but, like other places in the world, it is not the colonists who are paying the price for this, but ordinary innocent people.

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Seventy years ago saw the breakup of the British Empire. Now, as Brexit is breaking our ties with Europe and we are looking to build partnerships with the rest of the world, the centenary of the Balfour Declaration provides an ideal opportunity for reflection, learning and meaningful action to address the historic, underlying, unjust British policies that are at the root of ongoing conflict.

It is heartening that despite the collective amnesia encouraged by our leaders, education system, and the dominant media discourse, ordinary British citizens are awakening to the catastrophic actions that were taken in this countrys name and are calling for Britain to acknowledge its responsibilities.

To this end, a national rally is being organised on Saturday, November 4 in London with the theme Make it Right for Palestine, and thousands are expected to attend. It promises to be a very different marking of the Balfour Declaration than the one Theresa May is attending, being open, inclusive and public. And it serves as a reminder that Britains imperial dreams continue to be a living nightmare for thousands across the world.

The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial policy.
Before white settlers racialised the notions of citizenship and immigration, America was a more equal and fair place.

Happy Native American Heritage Month! In this Make America Great Again era, where white nationalists (and your nextdoor neighbours who claim not to be white nationalists) rail against undocumented immigration and yearn for the indeterminate days of yore, its easy to forget that the United States did not spring up, fully-formed, as a nation of native whites.

No, the America of today emerged from lands populated by millions of indigenous peoples  the first Americans. Yet, over time, white people in the United States reshaped the definition of American and its counterpart, the foreigner, to erase indigenous peoples primacy and modern-day existence.

The indigenous peoples of North America created bustling cities and impressive empires (13th-century Cahokia, overlooking modern-day St Louis, and the 18th-century Comanche Empire being two examples) before and after they encountered white and black newcomers.

These foreigners carried no immigration papers (unless a papal bull or a magisterial decree count as such) and they kept coming, bearing disease, advanced weaponry, and new systems of labour and gender hierarchy.

Soon after their arrival, Europeans began to differentiate themselves from Native Americans. They labelled Native Americans savages for many reasons: they bathed too often, owned land in common rather than individually, allowed women the freedom to divorce and have multiple sexual partners, traced ancestry through the female line, and on and on. Most importantly, Native Americans largely did not participate in a capitalist world view.

While chiefs and prominent tribespeople often possessed fancier jewellery or clothing than other tribespeople, for the most part, societal economic equality ruled. For these reasons, Europeans speculated, Native Americans did not deserve the lands they presided over. The English, especially, who hailed from a crowded island nation, sought to settle and repurpose indigenous lands for themselves.

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Already in the 16th century, the English portrayed themselves as deserving inhabitants versus native peoples wasteful unsuitability. In keeping with the English-Christian world view of the time that the land, animals, and environment were meant for human benefit, the English slowly wrested land, resources, and power from Native Americans through war, theft, and inadequate payment.

After years of discord between the English colonies, on the precipice of the American Revolution, an unsettled and much-contested identity as American  in opposition to British  was born. Native Americans were left out of the peace talks that followed the revolution, in which European powers divvied up the land on which native peoples still lived.

As the newly birthed United States moved into the 19th century, Manifest Destiny reigned, and white Americans claimed indigenous land as their own on their westward trek. Indigenous peoples, still not American citizens at that point, became inconvenient occupants within their own homelands.

The mid-to-late 1800s brought increasing immigration from Ireland, Scotland, Germany, and Italy, and as these ethnic groups, originally targeted as foreigners negotiated their assimilation into whiteness, scholars and local historians wrote Native Americans into obscurity, claiming they had died out and thus refuting indigenous claims to land and sovereignty.

While the 1924 Native American Citizenship Act grantedall Native Americans born in the United States citizenship, indigenous peoples had largely disappeared from modern popular culture, surviving principally in retreads of old battles as portrayed in Westerns.

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Even today, while the fervour over the indigenous protests against the Dakota Access Pipeline grabbed headlines and attention due to celebrity participation, the media soon forgot the Sioux peoples whose livelihoods have suffered due to the billion-dollar project.

The latinos/as who have become the face of the undocumented citizenship conversation and the targets of the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement are the descendants of indigenous and mixed-race people who once roamed the modern-day southwestern United States  after all, the Mexican American War was only 169 years ago  not long ago in the scheme of nation-building.

Why is it then, that this discussion around immigration and the call to Make America Great Again obscures the undocumented white immigration that created the United States and the former porousness of the arbitrary border that now separates Mexico and the United States?

The America of old was one in which the mores of immigration constantly shifted and citizenship was not necessarily racialised. But I dont think thats the American greatness white nationalists are referencing.

The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial policy.
Civil rights and security concerns rise as fighters return, with experts urging law should be applied consistently.

Moscow, Russia  Abdulmajid Abakarov, a 12-year-old boy from Russias troubled province of Dagestan, had not seen his mother in three years.

Zagidat Abakarova, 34, and her two younger children were forcibly held in Syria by her husband, who had joined ISIL, Russian officials said.

On October 21, the boy waited for her at the airport in Grozny, the capital of neighbouring Chechnya, in an agitated crowd of civilians, security officers and journalists.

Days earlier, Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov announced the arrival of seven rescued wives and 14 children of Russian ISIL fighters who had been killed, sentenced to death or jailed in Syria or Iraq.

Kadyrov, who rules war-scarred Chechnya and cultivates an image of Russias top Muslim leader, guaranteed the womens safe return.

The most common charge fighters of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) face in Russia is organisation of or participation in an illegal armed group.

It is a crime punishable by up to 10 years in jail, but the charge can be dropped if suspected fighters give themselves up to police.

Abdulmajid knew exactly what he would do when he saw his mother.

I will kiss her, tell her Ill never let her go, the lanky, almond-eyed boy said shyly, in an interview with local media.

But shortly after her arrival, Zagidat and another returnee, Muslimat Kurbanova, were detained by police who drove from Dagestan to apprehend them. On October 24, they were arrested for two months and are awaiting trial. Zagidat is not even allowed to breast-feed her three-month-old daughter.

The arrests undermine further policies of North Caucasus authorities, [federal] Russian authorities, to return Russian nationals from conflict zones, Galina Tarasova of the Memorial human rights group told Al Jazeera.

4,000 Russians fight for ISIL

Soon, very soon, blood will spill like a sea. This is the chorus of a nasheed, a religious chant released in Russian by Al-Ajnad Media, ISILs propaganda branch, in 2015. The lyrics mention the return to Islamic law-based rule of Russian regions where up to 20 million Muslims dominate demographically or form a sizeable minority: the North Caucasus, Tatarstan, the Urals Mountains and annexed Crimea.

Almost 3,500 Russians fight for ISIL, making Russia the largest source of recruits  ahead of Saudi Arabia and Jordan, the Soufan Center, a US-based think-tank, said on October 24.

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As ISIL is nearing collapse, the think-tank warned that the fighters homelands face a huge challenge of returnees who are battle-hardened, indoctrinated and angry.

The Soufan Center said some 400 fighters have so far returned to Russia.

In 2015, Tunisia was the number one source of ISIL recruits (6,000) with Saudi Arabia (2,500) and Russia (2,400) trailing behind, the group said.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on October 25 that he doubts the figures from groups, but did not specify whether the official figure was lower or higher. He added that monitoring the returnees is one of the priorities of Russias security agencies.

But Russian President Vladimir Putin said in February that up to 4,000 Russian nationals fight for ISIL. In June, he said that ISIL is preparing plans to destabilise ex-Soviet Central Asia and Russias southern regions.

Between January and July, 190 suspected fighters were sentenced to jail for organisation of or participation in an illegal armed group, the charge Zagidat is facing, according to the Supreme Courts statistics. Last year, the figure was 245, in 2011  133.

There are no figures on how many of them are linked to ISIL, and rights groups often doubt the accusations.

In many cases, a formal accusation is presented without any veritable proof that the people have really been there, Memorials Tarasova said.

The accusations are rather vague, and, as a rule, are based on confessions of individuals that are often received under pressure or in return for promises to leave their families alone, she said.

The Caucasus conundrum

Most of the Russian ISIL fighters come from the North Caucasus, a southern region that lies close to Iraqs Baghdad or Syrias Raqqa than to Moscow. More than 100 ethnic groups co-exist there amid unemployment, corruption and feuds over resources and power.

One of the North Caucasus provinces is Chechnya, where a secular separatist uprising of the 1990s morphed into the Caucasus Emirate, an armed group that conducted hundreds of attacks, killing thousands of civilians, security officers, officials, pro-Kremlin imams and even owners of alcohol stores.

In 2012, 700 people were killed and 525 wounded in the region making it the hotbed of Europes most violent conflict, the International Crisis Group think-tank said.

The conflict is being constantly fuelled by a string of various factors starting from gravest human rights abuses to corruption, clanship, injustices, very strong social stratification, badly functioning government institutions that have essentially been privatised, Ekaterina Sokirianskaia, director of the Conflict Analysis and Prevention Centre, a Moscow-based think-tank, told Al Jazeera.

Security forces stoke the conflict with abductions, torture and extrajudicial killings of Muslims merely suspected of joining radical groups, Human Rights Watch said. Even if a young man is blacklisted by mistake, interrogations, beatings and threats force him to join the radicals, the group said.

Last December, seven suspected fighters were killed in Chechnya, and four of them were wounded, Memorial said. One of the wounded was 18-year-old Madina Shakhbieva; her relatives were security officers that killed and buried her secretly, the rights group alleged.

Since 2013, North Caucasus fighters started pledging allegiance to ISIL and other groups in Syria and Iraq  and flocked there in droves. Security agencies forced them out of Russia before the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, experts claimed, and the number of killings and attacks plummeted.

The departure of militants, cuts in [foreign] funding, a split among Caucasus Emirate leaders, most of whom pledged allegiance to ISIL and were killed later, decreased the activity of the Islamist underground, Varvara Pakhomenko, one of Russias leading Northern Caucasus experts, told Al Jazeera.

ISIL declared war on Moscow and took responsibility for at least a dozen attacks, including the 2015 bombing of a passenger plane over the Sinai Peninsula that killed 224 mostly Russian tourists returning from Egypt. It became the largest air crash in Russias history, and Moscow stopped flights to Egypt altogether.

A whipping girl

Although most of ISIL recruits come from North Caucasus, an exemplary A-student from Moscow became the poster child of religious extremism.

Varvara Karaulova, a 21-year-old philosophy student, converted to Islam after falling in love with an ISIL fighter she met online. Turkish police detained her in 2015 as she was trying to cross into Syria to marry him, and her odyssey generated enormous media buzz back home.

Charges against her were dropped, and Russian security officers used her social network accounts to identify ISIL recruiters. But Karaulova was later sentenced to four and a half years in jail last December in a trial her father described as a show aimed at frightening other potential ISIL recruits.

What I regretted was that after her return I let them communicate with recruiters on behalf of Varvara, and that [communication] was what she was accused of, Pavel Karaulov told Al Jazeera.

After a month in a training camp, I realised there was no religion; we were just being used. For them, we were cannon fodder, expendable material by Rakhman Bagbekov, 20-year-old returnee fighter now in jail

Given all the pressure returnees face back home, most ISIL fighters opt to stay out of Russia trying to settle in Ukraine, Turkey or Middle Eastern nations.

Few real combatants return, said Sokirianskaia, of the Conflict Analysis and Prevention Centre. The returnees are those who have left recently and quickly got disappointed.

One such returnee was Rakhman Bagbekov, a 20-year-old theology student who was sentenced to 15 years in jail for spending a month at an ISIL training camp in Syria.

After a month in a training camp, I realised there was no religion; we were just being used. For them, we were cannon fodder, expendable material, Bagbekov told the Argumenty i Fakty weekly, speaking from prison.









Others who return prefer to lay low  for now.

There is no danger yet, and those who return have not manifested themselves, Alexey Malashenko, a senior expert with the Moscow-based Institute for the Dialogue of Civilizations, told Al Jazeera.

But if ever there is a crisis, some trouble, and the protest is only expressed in an Islamic way, then these guys who have not had enough of war, who are filled with mujahideen energy, will have their say.
Al Jazeera, the Qatar-based media network, marks its 21st anniversary on Wednesday, amid calls by Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt for its closure.

This years anniversary comes as Mahmoud Hussein, one of the networks journalists remains in an Egyptian jail for over 300 days.

Hussein, an Egyptian national based in Qatar, was detained while on holiday in December 2016.

He was accused of incitement against state institutions and broadcasting false news with the aim of spreading chaos.

Al Jazeera has rejected all the accusations against him and calls for his immediate release.

A number of human rights and press freedom groups have joined Al Jazeera in condemning Mahmouds ongoing detention.

Al Jazeera cannot be shut down

Husseins detention was the latest in a string of arrests by authorities in Egypt and elsewhere, targeting the networks staff.

In fact, throughout the past two decades, Al Jazeera and its journalists have repeatedly come under attack for covering news stories as they unfolded.

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Its offices have occasionally been bombed or shut down in many places, including in Kabul, Baghdad and Gaza.

Reporters have been killed covering war zones in Iraq, Syria and Libya, while others have been jailed or forced to leave their countries following death threats.

This newsroom has transformed the media landscape the world over  but its come at a price, Giles Trendle, Al Jazeera English managing director, said from the Qatari capital of Doha on the networks 21st anniversary.

Many of the journalists here have friends or colleagues who have sacrificed a great deal for the sake of what they consider to be sacrosanct: the right of people to be informed, he added.

Regardless of the continued campaigns against Al Jazeera as a network, Al Jazeera as an idea cannot be shut down.

Changed idea of free speech in the region

In June, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt cut ties with Qatar and imposed a land, sea and air embargo, accusing it of supporting terrorism. Doha has repeatedly denied the allegation.

One of the Saudi-led groups demands, in order to lift the blockade, is the shutting down of Al Jazeera.

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Doha has rejected that demand, insisting that it is the duty of governments to protect basic human rights as enshrined in the Geneva Convention, including the right to information.

When you tell me to close a channel like Al Jazeera, history will write one day in 50, 60 or 70 years how it changed the whole idea of free speech in the region, Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani said in a recent interview with CBS 60 Minutes, while reiterating that the fate of the network was not up for discussion.

Media outlets and press freedom groups, including The Committee to Protect Journalists, Human Rights Watch, Reporters Without Borders, the New York Times editorial board and The Guardian, have all condemned the efforts to pressure Qatar into shutting down Al Jazeera.

Voice of the voiceless

On November 1, 1996, Al Jazeeras Arabic-language satellite channel launched its first broadcast from Doha.





It has since expanded into a media network with several outlets, including the internet, and news channels in multiple languages.

As one of the first Arab news channels, it soon became the most watched TV news outlet in the Middle East and North Africa.

Its non-stop coverage of conflicts and uncensored talk shows were unprecedented in a region where government control of the media is widespread.

Al Jazeera English was established in 2006 and has since won a host of prestigious awards from organisations around the world.
As agreed in the reconciliation talks, Hamas transfers administrative control on Gazas border crossings to the PA.

Hamas has handed over administrative control of five border crossings in Gaza to the Palestinian Authority.

Wednesdays handover, the first in over a decade, is part of a deal agreed on in the latest round of Egypt-brokered reconciliation talks between Hamas and the PA-ruled Fatah political party in Cairo on October 12.

Fatah spokesperson Osama Qawasmeh told Al Jazeera that no conditions were set by Fatah or Hamas for the handover.

The issue is simply a matter of restoring the status quo back under the Palestinian Authoritys control, as was the case before the 2007 split, he said, referring to the political schism that ended with Hamas taking over the Gaza Strip after an attempted coup by US-backed Fatah strongman Mohammad Dahlan.

The PA will take administrative charge of the three cargo crossings including the Karam Abu Salem crossing on the Egyptian border, as well as the Rafah and Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossings  the latter which is controlled by Israel in the north of the Strip.

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In a statement on Tuesday, the PA minister of civil affairs, Hussein al-Sheikh, said the national unity government is prepared to work closely with Egyptian authorities to prepare the Rafah border crossing for operation by November 15, as specified by the 2005 Agreement on Movement and Access.

Rafah, the main border crossing in the south of the Gaza Strip, has been largely closed to Gazas population of two million since Hamas took over.

The other crossing, Erez, is located in the north of the strip and is run by Israel.

The PA will also be in charge of the three cargo crossing points of Karni, Kerem Shalom (Karem Abu Salem) and Sufa.

Better quality of life

Qawasmeh said that this handover would make the lives of Palestinians in Gaza much easier.

This will no doubt help enable a huge part of peoples lives to travel outside the Gaza Strip for whatever reason such as seeking medical treatment, undertaking a scholarship in a university, and leisurely travel, he said.

The movement of products will be facilitated quicker and will make it easier for import and export trade, he added.

Hazem Qassem, a Hamas spokesperson, echoed his counterpart.

We hope that handing over control would lead to a better quality of life for Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, he told Al Jazeera.

He stressed that handing over control was not a security issue, but rather a logistical one.

Governing the mega-prison

However, Alaa Tartir, the programme director of the Palestinian policy network Al-Shabaka, said that the transfer of administrative border control does not necessarily translate into a meaningful national reconciliation and unity.

Assuming that the mere replacement of personnel at the borders and crossings will lift the siege on Gaza is a naive and dangerous assumption, Tartir said.

It is a test to examine the fragility or durability of the recent reconciliation agreement.

It is crucial to acknowledge that Israel, as an occupying power, will remain the de facto holder of power over borders and crossings, he continued.

This will only change when the Israeli occupation ends. The Hamas-Fatah infighting about who will manage the borders and crossings is merely a fight about who will govern the mega-prison.

Since Hamas took over in 2007, Israel has imposed an air, naval and land blockade on the Gaza Strip, a stretch of land measuring 51km in length and 11km in width. Earlier this year, the PA added pressure on Hamas government by requesting Israel to cut off its electricity supply to Gaza.

A matter of protocol

Qawasmeh said that the closure of the border crossings was due to the absence of a legitimate government and that things are finally going back to normal.





He also said that the actual transfer of border control would not have much pomp and fanfare.

The process of handing over control is just a matter of protocol, Qawasmeh said. The real case is the decision of Hamas  which up until now has been positive  to completely transfer all powers to the national unity government as was stipulated in the latest reconciliation agreement.

The next round of reconciliation talks will take place in Cairo on November 21, where Qassem and Qawasmeh said the discussion would focus on logistics of administration and security of the Gaza Strip.

-Additional reporting by Farah Najjar
A total of 185 media workers have been killed in Iraq since 2003, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists.

In the early hours of Monday morning, cameraman Arkan Sharif became the latest casualty of Iraqs perilous media environment.

Eight masked men burst into the 54-year-olds family home in a village south of Kirkuk and stabbed him to death, his employers at the Kurdistan Satellite Corporation said in a statement. The killers left his half-dressed body lying on the floor, blood pooled around his head and shoulders and a knife embedded in his cheek  an apparent warning.

The previous night, an armed mob attacked a television crew outside the regional parliament in Erbil, beating them with sticks.

Meanwhile, the Baghdad-based Communication and Media Commission has banned two media outlets linked to the ruling party in Iraqs Kurdish region, Rudaw and Kurdistan 24, accusing them of inciting violence.

The incidents highlight the risks and difficulties of reporting in what is regularly named the worlds most dangerous country for journalists. A total of 185 media workers have been killed in Iraq since 2003, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists. Some died on the battlefield covering battles between security forces and armed groups such as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS). But most, 111 in all, were murdered  shot or blown up by those their reporting angered.

For Iraqi journalists, there are few safe topics. The killers range from militias associated with security forces to groups such as ISIL or its precursor organisations. But the culprits almost always escape justice, says Alexandra el-Khazen, the head of Reporters Without Borders Middle East desk.

Taboo topics

Working in such an environment means that journalists tend to self-censor. Taboo topics include corruption allegations levelled at senior figures in Baghdad or Erbil, or abuses by armed groups, particularly the Iran-backed mainly Shia militias known as the Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF).

If you mention their leaders in a way they think is bad, they will be upset and they may kill you or do something else to you, said one Baghdad-based journalist, who spoke on condition of anonymity after having been previously targeted.

There are many militias [in the PMF], but with some, especially Asaib Ahl al-Haq or Kataib Hezbollah, you must take care, the journalist said, naming groups that were previously involved in attacks on US forces. The others are probably not going to harm you.

You really want to tell the story, you want to tell the truth, but to do it you have to leave the country or stay and risk your life. by Hawre Khalid, photojournalist

Kurdish media outlets, including Rudaw, have blamed the PMF for Sharifs death, although this has yet to be independently confirmed, as has whether he was killed because of his work. Fear of the PMF is also the reason that a number of Kirkuk-based journalists fled the city when Iraqi forces seized it from Kurdish control on October 16. Several are now in Erbil and believe they will be specifically targeted if they return.

Journalists develop different strategies to deal with these threats. An armed group once sent Baghdad-based journalist Mouataz Majid threats, included a letter with a bullet in it. He moved to a different house and started riding partway to work in the back of an ambulance, then eventually left the country for a time. When he returned home and began to work again, he asked that his name not be included on controversial reports in international media outlets.

We are always here, Majid told Al Jazeera. When the foreign journalists are finished, they go and they leave us behind.

Bribes and blackmail

Sometimes, anonymity does not provide enough protection, and the decision of whether to pursue certain stories can be wrenching, noted Hawre Khalid, a photographer who claimed asylum in Europe after repeated death threats from al-Qaeda in response to a story he was working on.

Thats the worst feeling as a journalist. You really want to tell the story, you want to tell the truth, but to do it you have to leave the country or stay and risk your life, said Khalid, who ultimately decided to return to Iraq to cover the fight against ISIL.

Aside from the direct risk of violence, working conditions can be crippling. Laeth Alrashdy, a journalist from Mosul, says that he and his colleagues are regularly threatened by security forces and allied militias who block them from working.

They forbid us from filming because they say we dont have any authorisation even when we do  then the security personnel ask for bribes or blackmail us, Alrashdy said.

In some cases, the situation has been exacerbated by partisan media outlets with links to political blocs or armed factions, Khazen noted: In Kirkuk, some media outlets were following a specific agenda. Biased reports and photos multiplied and were a contributing factor to raising tensions still further.
The anniversary comes amid calls by Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt for its closure.

Al Jazeera, the Qatar-based media network, marks its 21st anniversary on Wednesday, amid calls by Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt for its closure.

This years anniversary comes as Mahmoud Hussein, one of the networks journalists remains in an Egyptian jail for over 300 days.

Hussein, an Egyptian national based in Qatar, was detained while on holiday in December 2016.

He was accused of incitement against state institutions and broadcasting false news with the aim of spreading chaos.

Al Jazeera has rejected all the accusations against him and calls for his immediate release.

A number of human rights and press freedom groups have joined Al Jazeera in condemning Mahmouds ongoing detention.

Al Jazeera cannot be shut down

Husseins detention was the latest in a string of arrests by authorities in Egypt and elsewhere, targeting the networks staff.

In fact, throughout the past two decades, Al Jazeera and its journalists have repeatedly come under attack for covering news stories as they unfolded.

Its offices have occasionally been bombed or shut down in many places, including in Kabul, Baghdad and Gaza.

Reporters have been killed covering war zones in Iraq, Syria and Libya, while others have been jailed or forced to leave their countries following death threats.

This newsroom has transformed the media landscape the world over  but its come at a price, Giles Trendle, Al Jazeera English managing director, said from the Qatari capital of Doha on the networks 21st anniversary.

Many of the journalists here have friends or colleagues who have sacrificed a great deal for the sake of what they consider to be sacrosanct: the right of people to be informed, he added.

Regardless of the continued campaigns against Al Jazeera as a network, Al Jazeera as an idea cannot be shut down.

Changed idea of free speech in the region

In June, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt cut ties with Qatar and imposed a land, sea and air embargo, accusing it of supporting terrorism. Doha has repeatedly denied the allegation.

One of the Saudi-led groups demands, in order to lift the blockade, is the shutting down of Al Jazeera.

Doha has rejected that demand, insisting that it is the duty of governments to protect basic human rights as enshrined in the Geneva Convention, including the right to information.

When you tell me to close a channel like Al Jazeera, history will write one day in 50, 60 or 70 years how it changed the whole idea of free speech in the region, Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani said in a recent interview with CBS 60 Minutes, while reiterating that the fate of the network was not up for discussion.

Media outlets and press freedom groups, including The Committee to Protect Journalists, Human Rights Watch, Reporters Without Borders, the New York Times editorial board and The Guardian, have all condemned the efforts to pressure Qatar into shutting down Al Jazeera.

On November 1, 1996, Al Jazeeras Arabic-language satellite channel launched its first broadcast from Doha.

It has since expanded into a media network with several outlets, including the internet, and news channels in multiple languages.

As one of the first Arab news channels, it soon became the most watched TV news outlet in the Middle East and North Africa.

Its non-stop coverage of conflicts and uncensored talk shows were unprecedented in a region where government control of the media is widespread.

Al Jazeera English was established in 2006 and has since won a host of prestigious awards from organisations around the world.
The UN has described the Syrian governments siege of Eastern Ghouta an outrage and has asked for an immediate lifting of the siege so that aid can reach the civilians. The isolated population is dying from bombing, hunger and cold weather.

The UN has described the Syrian governments siege of Eastern Ghouta an outrage and has asked for an immediate lifting of the siege so that aid can reach the civilians. The isolated population is dying from bombing, hunger and cold weather.

People in a besieged neighbourhood in Homs were hoping that a lasting ceasefire agreement would eventually be negotiated.

Opposition fighters, their families and civilians are experiencing severe food, water and medicine shortages.

Al Jazeeras Hashem Ahelbarra reports from Gazientep, in neighbouring Turkey.
Ali Salman, leader of the now-banned Al-Wefaq party, and former MP Hassan Sultan accused of hostile acts.

Bahrain has charged the leader of the countrys outlawed main opposition party with spying and suggested the 2011 Arab Spring protests that gripped the country were instigated by a foreign country.

Bahrains public prosecutor charged Ali Salman, secretary-general of the al-Wefaq party, and Hassan Sultan, a former member of parliament, of colluding with Qatar to carry out hostile acts in Bahrain and damage its prestige, a statement on the state news agency BNA said on Wednesday.

The defendants had received financial support from Qatar for carrying out their activities aimed at harming the status and interests of the kingdom, it said.

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It also accused the men of transferring confidential information to Qatar and meeting with officials from the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah.

Salmans wife Alya Radhi wrote on Twitter she had spoken with her husband by phone and he denied all charges.

Salman is already serving a nine-year sentence on charges that include attempting to overthrow the regime and inciting sectarian hatred.

This new case tries to kill two birds with one stone, Sayed Ahmed Alwadaei, the director of advocacy, at the Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy said.

On the one hand is Sheikh Ali Salman, who the UN has ruled is arbitrarily imprisoned for his political activity as the leader of the opposition, and on the other is Qatar, whose crisis with Bahrain is being used to further punish dissidents.

These charges are a vindictive low for the Bahraini regime.

Bahrain, along with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt, cut ties with Qatar on June 5 and imposed a land, sea, and air embargo accusing Doha of supporting terrorism.

Qatar has repeatedly denied the allegations.

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Tensions have been running high in Bahrain where there is a growing gap between the minority Sunni-led government and the islands Shia majority population.

Bahrains Saudi-backed authorities crushed the Arab Spring protests shortly after they erupted on February 14, 2011, and have refused to listen to opposition demands for reforms.

Al-Wefaq, the main opposition party, was shut down last year after the Ministry of Justice accused it of undermining the state, spreading sectarianism, and having connections to terrorist activities.

The party has denied the charges.

Human rights groups have accused Bahrain of clamping down on dissent and violently cracking down on protests.

The government says the protesters are supported and influenced by Iran, but activists insist they are fighting for jobs, housing, and political clout.
Groups raise alarm as security forces open fire on protesting students after government crackdown on Islamic school.

Security forces killed at least 28 people in rare protests in the Eritrean capital, an opposition group has claimed, raising concerns from human rights groups and activists.

The violence witnessed in demonstrations in Asmara on Tuesday also prompted a safety warning from the US embassy in Eritrea, which confirmed receiving reports of gunfire and advised people to stay away from areas where protests were taking place.

The opposition Red Sea Afar Democratic Organization wrote on its Facebook page on Wednesday: This uprising has left 28 martyrs and 100 wounded  we call on the international community and human rights organisations to bring those involved to justice.

Activists told Al Jazeera that the protests began on Tuesday after the government ordered an Islamic school to ban the headscarf and halt religious education.

The violence centred on the predominantly-Muslim neighbourhood of Akriya, where the Diaa Islamic School of Asmara of 3,000 students is located.

Displays of public protests are rare in Eritrea, a country often criticised for human rights abuses.

President Isaias Afwerki has been in power since 1993.

Hundreds of students reportedly joined the protests, and the crowds continued to grow later.

The US embassy has not confirmed the deaths.

Black hawk dawn moment

The government attempted to confiscate Al Diaa Islamic School, an institution established in the late 1960s, Meron Estefanos, an activist based in Sweden, told Al Jazeera.

The current unrest was triggered by the governments arrest of Haj Mussa who was the honourary president of the Al Diaa school.

She claimed that security forces beat students, who retaliated by throwing stones.

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Soon, the rallies spread to the streets of central Asmara where the security forces used brute force to quell the protests, she said.

This moment is the true meaning of a bottled up feelings and years worth of oppression that is now surfacing. I believe the people of Eritrea have tolerated so many things for so long and now it is time to express and stand up for their rights.

But Yemane G Meskel, Eritreas minister of information, dismissed the reports of casualties.

Small demonstration by one school in Asmara dispersed without [casualties] hardly breaking news, he tweeted.

Eritrea, which borders Ethiopia, Sudan and Djibouti, often features towards the very end of indices on freedom of expression, close to countries such as North Korea.

I think its a draconian measure, yet again in controlling the Eritrean public and squeezing out any public space and any freedom of expression, Selam Kidane, a London-based activist, told Al Jazeera.

Asmara is a peaceful city, but this has been described as a black hawk dawn moment  nursery school children were being chased through the streets.

She said that young people have taken matters into their own hands because Eritrea is a country ruled by fear.

People are taking enormous risk and its a courageous step to take, Kidane said.

Bound to happen

In June this year, Sheila B Keetharuth, UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Eritrea, said citizens suffer arbitrary arrest, incommunicado detention, enforced disappearances, and a national service system that amounts to enslavement.

Tuesdays protests have opened a big door, Saleh Gadi Johar, a California-based author and activist, told Al Jazeera.

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They [people] snapped. Even if its quelled for a time, it will rise again. I expect others are inspired. All denominations of Eritreans  particularly the young -have joined.

Johar, who also edits awate.com, a dissident website, said he believes the Eritrean government would arrest anybody it didnt like.

The warning from the US embassy, he said, was not a sign of a major political development.

I dont expect anything from US and West when Eritreans are suffering. Its politics as usual.

Being an Eritrean, I dont wish any bloodshed of violence for my country  people have gone through a lot. I wish for a peaceful transition to calm. But if that doesnt come, then such appeal should be expected. Its sad its happened, but it was bound to happen.

Follow Anealla on Twitter: @anealla
With Irans expanding regional influence, talks between Moscow and Tehran are likely to shape future of the Middle East.

Tehran, Iran  Russian President Vladimir Putin has arrived in Iran on Wednesday for a trilateral summit, which also includes Azerbaijan.

Economic cooperation was at the top of Putins agenda, specifically the completion of a rail link along the North-South Transport Corridor that runs through Iran and Azerbaijan and connects Russia to India.

But bilateral talks between Russia and Iran on Syria and regional security issues also took centre stage.

Photos published online showed Putin holding talks with President Hassan Rouhani and the countrys Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

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On Wednesday, the head of Russias state-controlled oil giant Rosneft also signed a road map with the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) to build joint oil and gas projects worth $30bn.

At any other time, a meeting between leaders of Iran and Russia would be routine diplomacy. However, in a de facto post-ISIL Syria  and Iraq  and with Irans expanding influence in the region, talks between Moscow and Tehran are likely to shape future events in the region.

The Russians have now come to realise that if they have a true partner in this part of the world, it is Iran, said Mostafa Khosh Cheshm, a political analyst based in Tehran.

With Irans support, the Russian foray into Syria has been a battlefield success. Critics had feared it would be an Afghanistan-like quagmire, but instead, it allowed Russia to reposition itself diplomatically and at relatively little cost. Russian casualties have remained in the dozens, despite Moscows multi-year involvement in the war.

Russia has revived its lost role, Khosh Cheshm said. Once it was the former Soviet Union. It decomposed, it collapsed, and it lost everything. Now its back on the stage. Its rising as a regional power that is soon going to be one of the world powers again.

For Iran, having an ally that is much more influential in world equations is of infinite strategic value. Especially an ally it feels it can trust.

President Hassan Rouhani had publicly positioned the 2015 nuclear agreement as a new beginning with the United States. But the devolution of that deal at the hands of President Donald Trump has pushed Iran even closer to Russia.

[Iranian leaders] have come to realise they need to pick up Russia and China as their strategic partners, Khosh Cheshm said. The same approach was in place with President [Mahmoud] Ahmadinejad.

Cooperation in the Syrian conflict established trust between the governments and people of Russia and Iran.

In foreign policy, we never have everlasting friends and everlasting enemies [but] Iran and Russia are developing their strategic ties, and I believe they are in their spring, Khosh Cheshm said. There is much time left to their winter. Theyre just at the beginning.

The day before Putins visit, a Russian company broke ground on two new power plants due to be built at the Bushehr nuclear facility. The project is expected to take 10 years.

The two countries are also dominating the outcome of the Astana talks. A framework for peace in post-war Syria will no doubt take the shape Russia and Iran say it should.

But as the victors of the war, what are their plans for Syrias people?

Davoud Hermidas Bavand was born in 1934 and has spent his entire career as a diplomat. He also served as a member of Irans delegation to the United Nations.

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He says the humanitarian conditions in Syria are a tragedy that cannot be condoned.

I think that Syria turned out to be the victim of rivalry between three powers in the Middle East; Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Iran, Bavand said. But bad or good, it has happened already. So the only way is to try to [come] together to pick up Syria and return refugees to Syria.

Bavand said too much blood had been spilled for President Bashar al-Assad to remain in power. And, although his removal would have seemed inconceivable a year ago, Iranian leaders may be more amenable to the idea now.

Without the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) to fill a power vacuum, Bavand said it might be easier to make a quiet change at the top and focus on the welfare of the Syrian people.

Now the reality is that constructive negotiations continue for a new government and a free election under the auspices of the United Nations, Bavand said.

Ipso facto, Bashar al-Assad would be removed from the position of power and we hope the new government or coalition could be stable enough to maintain peace and security in Syria and the people would be able to return to their hometowns.
Iraq is moving to take control of a key border crossing into Turkey from the Kurdish Regional Government.

Iraq is moving to take control of a key border crossing into Turkey from the Kurdish Regional Government. The Ibrahim Khalil crossing separates the semi-autonomous Kurdish region from Turkey. Iraqi military chiefs visited the Turkish side of the border on Tuesday  but Kurdish officials deny theyve taken control of the crossing.

Baghdad has vowed to take over all Kurdish-controlled crossings, in retaliation for holding an independence referendum last month.

Al Jazeeras Stefanie Dekker reports from the border crossing.
President Uhuru Kenyatta, winner of the elections with 98 percent of the vote, says he expects victory to be challenged.

Nairobi, Kenya  The presidential poll rerun was meant to bring an end to the political crisis that has gripped Kenya since August but two days after the result was announced divisions appear to run deeper than ever.

President Uhuru Kenyatta, who was declared winner of the poll with 98 percent of the vote, said during his victory speech on Monday that he expected his victory to be challenged.

My victory today is likely to be subjected to a constitutional test through the courts. And as I have demonstrated repeatedly, I will submit to this constitutional path no matter its outcomes, Kenyatta, the son of the countrys founding father, said.

Kenyatta was also declared the winner in Augusts poll, with 54 percent of the vote. The presidents victory was challenged in the Supreme Court, which then annulled the result due to illegalities and irregularities in the voting process.

His closest challenger in that poll, Raila Odinga, withdrew from the rerun, claiming the vote would not be free and fair.

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Odinga, who despite withdrawing from the poll got 0.9 percent of Thursdays vote, said opposition demands for reforms at the electoral commission had not been met. Odinga has claimed Thursdays election was a sham.

This election must not stand. If allowed to stand, it will make a complete mockery of elections and might well be the end of the ballot as a means of instituting government in Kenya. It will completely destroy public confidence in the vote, Odinga told reporters on Tuesday.

In early October, the opposition leader said he would not go to court to challenge the result.

Odinga, a former prime minister and son of the countrys first vice president, has vowed to embark on a political campaign to restore democracy in the country. He has called for the establishment of a peoples assembly, economic boycott and picketing, until fresh elections were held in the country.

At least two petitions are currently in the court challenging the validity of Thursdays poll. The Supreme Court is expected to hear the cases in the coming weeks.

Endless court cases, inflammatory rhetoric on the campaign trails and a poll boycott have left the country more divided than ever.

Elections are meant to be a nation-building exercise. They are meant to bring people closer. But this is not case here. The country is more divided than ever, John Githongo, Kenyas former anti-corruption chief, told Al Jazeera.

Businesses are happy to see an end to the political gridlock that has chased away investors and choked the countrys economy.

The market is on its knees. Investors dont want to put their money in a place where there are uncertainties and where there is political violence. The sooner the political crisis comes to an end the better for the business community and the country, Dismas Mokua, a political risk analyst, told Al Jazeera.

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Polls were boycotted in 25 constituencies in the western part of the country, but the electoral board said the boycotts did not affect the outcome of the vote. More than 50 people have been killed in political violence since the August election was annulled.

Opposition strongholds in western Kenya are still tense, with a heavy security presence. Analysts say only the courts can settle this crisis once and for all.

Odinga will not accept Kenyatta won the election. Kenyatta will not accept fresh election. The court needs to bring this to an end, Mokua said.
Human rights groups are accusing police in Kenya of using excessive force against protesters following last weeks presidential election rerun.

Human rights groups are accusing police in Kenya of using excessive force against protesters following last weeks presidential election rerun.

At least six people were killed and dozens were injured in the violence.

More than 30 people have died in protests since August, when the Supreme Court overturned President Uhuru Kenyattas win and ordered the rerun.

Al Jazeeras Catherine Soi reports from Migori in western Kenya.
At least eight people in New York City were killed and 11 injured, here is what we know so far.

At least eight people have been killed and 12 injured in New York City after a driver rammed into cyclists and pedestrians before being shot by police on Tuesday.

Here is what we know so far:

What happened in the New York City attack?

At least eight people in New York City died and 12 were injured after a driver rammed into cyclists and pedestrians before being shot by police, on Tuesday.

According to police officials, a 29-year-old man drove a pick-up truck into a cycle lane in Manhattan shortly after 3:00pm (19:00 GMT), subsequently hitting a number of people on the route.

The driver had reached speeds of around 60mph (100km/h) before hitting a school bus.

After the collision, the driver exited the vehicle brandishing two imitation guns, at which point he was shot by a police officer.

Videos taken by passersby show emergency services treating those wounded with at least two people seen lying on the ground unconscious.

Where did it happen?

The attack happened not far from the World Trade Center.

Who is Sayfullo Saipov?

The New York Police Department identified the suspect in custody as 29-year-old Sayfullo Saipov.

NYPD Commissioner John Miller said that Saipov is a legal, permanent US resident, who arrived in the country from Uzbekistan in 2010.

The suspect was wounded in the abdomen and transferred to a local hospital, police said.

He had rented the pick-up from a Home Depot hardware store in New Jersey.

On Wednesday, Saipov was charged with providing materials and resources to ISIL, as well as violence and destruction of a motor vehicle.

Investigators told federal prosecutors that Saipov began planning the attack about a year ago and he wanted to inflict the maximum damage against civilians.

Investigators also said he was inspired by videos posted by ISIL. In particular, Saipov was motivated to commit the attack after viewing a video in which [ISIL leader] Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi  questioned what Muslims in the United States and elsewhere were doing to respond to the killing of Muslims in Iraq, court documents said.

The complaint also said that during Saipovs interview with police, he requested that ISILs flag be displayed in his hospital room.

Saipov appeared in court later on Wednesday in a wheelchair. He was ordered detained and did not enter a guilty plea or seek bail, according to the Associated Press.

Authorities from the mayors office to the US Department of Homeland Security swiftly branded the attack as an act of terrorism.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo stressed that the suspect was believed to have acted alone.

How many casualties?

At least eight people in New York City have been killed and 12 others injured.

Five of the dead were Argentine citizens: Hernan Diego Mendoza, Diego Enrique Angelini, Alejandro Damian Pagnucco, Ariel Erlij and Hernan Ferruchi. They were visiting New York as part of a group of friends celebrating the 30th anniversary of their high school graduation, the Argentina foreign ministry said. A sixth member of the group, Martin Ludovico Marro, was among those hospitalised after the attack, the ministry said in a statement.

At least one Belgian and two Americans were also killed.

Belgian officials said three of the injured were from Belgium.

How did Trump respond?

Donald Trump responded to the deadly attack in New York via Twitter, saying: In NYC, looks like another attack by a very sick and deranged person. Law enforcement is following this closely. NOT IN THE USA!

In NYC, looks like another attack by a very sick and deranged person. Law enforcement is following this closely. NOT IN THE U.S.A.!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 31, 2017

Trump later added: We must not allow ISIS to return, or enter, our country after defeating them in the Middle East and elsewhere. Enough!

We must not allow ISIS to return, or enter, our country after defeating them in the Middle East and elsewhere. Enough!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 31, 2017

Later, President Trump also offered his condolences: My thoughts, condolences and prayers to victims and families of New York City terrorist attack. God and your country are with you!

My thoughts, condolences and prayers to the victims and families of the New York City terrorist attack. God and your country are with you!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 31, 2017

Trump also said he ordered Homeland Security to step up the US already Extreme Vetting Program.

I have just ordered Homeland Security to step up our already Extreme Vetting Program. Being politically correct is fine, but not for this!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 1, 2017

On Wednesday, the US president vowed to end the US diversity visa lottery programme, saying he wants to replace it with a Merit Based system.

We are fighting hard for Merit Based immigration, no more Democrat Lottery Systems. We must get MUCH tougher (and smarter). @foxandfriends  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 1, 2017

New work City Mayor Bill de Blasio told a news conference on Tuesday that: This was an act of terror, and a particularly cowardly act of terror, aimed at innocent civilians, aimed at people going about their lives who had no idea what was about to hit them.

This was a cowardly act of terror. It was intended to break our spirit. But New Yorkers are resilient. We will be undeterred.  Mayor Bill de Blasio (@NYCMayor) October 31, 2017

Melania Trump also expressed her sadness: My heart breaks for #NYC today. Thoughts & prayers as we monitor the situation.

My heart breaks for #NYC today. Thoughts & prayers as we monitor the situation.  Melania Trump (@FLOTUS) October 31, 2017

In Washington, Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer issued a statement after being briefed by the FBI about the attack: As the investigation unfolds, its critical that we learn what we can from this incident and do everything we can to prevent this from happening again. The scourge of terrorism is unfortunately still with us, and we must remain vigilant as ever.

President Donald Trump said Sayfullo Saipov deserves the death penalty,. He made the comments late Wednesday on Twitter.

NYC terrorist was happy as he asked to hang ISIS flag in his hospital room. He killed 8 people, badly injured 12. SHOULD GET DEATH PENALTY!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 2, 2017

In Pictures








As three aircraft carrier strike groups head towards the Korean Peninsula, state media denounces US muscle-flexing.

North Korea needs nuclear weapons as a deterrent to prevent invasion and plunder by the United States, Pyongyangs official media says.

The online commentary on Wednesday by the Uriminzokkiri website, part of the Korean Central News Agency, also condemned the US and its allies crazy escalation of sanctions, pressure, and military threats against the communist country that will get them nowhere.

The nuclear force of the DPRK has become a strong deterrent for firmly protecting peace and security of the Korean Peninsula and the rest of Northeast Asia and creditably guaranteeing the sovereignty and the rights to existence and development of the Korean nation, it said, using the acronym for the countrys official name, Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea.

North Korea is developing its nuclear weapons so it doesnt endure the tragic situation of the war-torn non-nuclear countries which became the targets of invasion and plunder by the US, it added.

The comments come before US President Donald Trumps two-week visit to the Asia-Pacific region starting on Friday, where the threat of a military confrontation with North Korea will be high on the agenda in Japan, South Korea, and China.

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Tensions remain sky high after North Koreas sixth and most powerful underground nuclear test in September, and a flurry of ballistic missile tests in recent months.

The US has said it will never accept a nuclear-armed North Korea and Trump has threatened to totally destroy the country.

In response, Kim Jong-uns leadership said it may conduct an atmospheric nuclear weapons test.

In advance of Trumps visit, three American aircraft carrier strike groups have been deployed to the region, a move military analysts have described as unusual.

Stratfor, a US-based intelligence analysis company, noted in a report on Tuesday that the US Air Force also will send a dozen F-35A stealth fighter jets to a base in Japan in early November.

The gathering is a rare occurrence  the last time three US aircraft carrier strike groups convened for a combined exercise was in 2007  and will give the United States a powerful force within striking distance of North Korea, Stratfor said.

Taken together, these developments suggest that the United States is preparing for a confrontation. But that doesnt necessarily mean that Washington is gearing up to start a war with Pyongyang, the report concluded.

Michael T Clare, a professor of peace and world-security studies at Hampshire College in the US, wrote on Wednesday in The Nation: There can be only two plausible explanations for this extraordinary naval buildup: to provide Trump with the sort of military extravaganza he seems to enjoy; and/or to prepare for a pre-emptive military strike on North Korea.

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The Uriminzokkiri commentary denounced the military build-up near North Korea.

It is ridiculous for the US to try to browbeat the DPRK through such muscle-flexing as deploying nuclear aircraft carriers and submarines near the Korean Peninsula and its vicinity and flying nuclear-capable strategic bombers on it, it said.
Rights groups say Trumps remarks about potentially sending the suspect to Guantanamo would set a dangerous precedent.

Rights groups have blasted right-wing US President Donald Trumps declaration that he may send the suspect of a deadly attack in Manhattan to the US-run Guantanamo Bay detention centre in Cuba.

On Wednesday, Trump announced he was considering sending Sayfullo Saipov, an immigrant from Uzbekistan who is suspected of killing eight people in Manhattan a day earlier, to Guantanamo Bay.

New York Police Department Commissioner John Miller said at a press conference on Wednesday that Saipov carried out the attack in the name of ISIS, referring to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) group.

Within hours of the attack on Tuesday, Trump tweeted: We must not allow ISIS to return, or enter, our country after defeating them in the Middle East and elsewhere. Enough!

On Wednesday, the president also urged Congress to repeal the State Departments Diversity Visa Lottery Programme, which provides up to 50,000 visas a year, and replace it with a merit-based programme.

Dangerous precedent

Ibrahim Hooper, the national communications director at the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR), said sending the suspect to Guantanamo would be on its face unconstitutional.

It would set a very dangerous precedent for treating Americans differently based on faith, ethnicity or national origin and could create a two-tiered legal system, he told Al Jazeera, arguing that Trump has demonstrated a double standard when responding to violent incidents allegedly carried out by Muslims.

Speaking by telephone on Wednesday morning, Hooper alluded to a mass shooting that left 58 people dead in Las Vegas last month. In that attack, Stephen Paddock, a 54-year-old white man from the US, opened fire on a country music concert. The assailant also took his own life.

In the wake of the attack, Trump urged caution in response to widespread calls for the government to tighten gun laws. A memo distributed by the White House said that new laws wont stop a mad man.

Hooper accused the president of showing a difference in his approach to different incidents based on who the alleged perpetrators are and displaying distrust in authorities ability to execute their jobs.

On Wednesday, Trump said that the US has to come up with punishment that is far quicker and far greater than the punishment these animals are getting right now.

He added: We need quick justice and we need strong justice  much quicker and much stronger than we have right now. Because what we have right now is a joke and its a laughing stock.

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Hooper said that Trumps rhetoric seems to indicate a lack of confidence in the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the New York Police Department, law enforcement and the judicial system, which he has declared as a whole to be a joke.

The Guantanamo Bay detention camp was established by former President George W Bush in 2002 and held 684 detainees at its peak. Most prisoners are held at the facility without charge or trial. Only eight detainees have been convicted in military commissions after trail or following a plea deal, according to Human Rights Watch.

Although Bushs successor, former President Barack Obama, signed an executive order to close the camp in 2009, the facility remains open. As of January 2017, there were at least 41 detainees held in Guantanamo.

Trump has vowed to keep the detention camp open.

During the 2016 presidential campaign, then-candidate Trump said the US was going to load it [Guantanamo Bay] up with some bad dudes.

Neither legal nor effective

Wade McMullen, a lawyer at the Washington, DC-based Robert F Kennedy Human Rights Center, echoed Hoopers criticisms of the presidents comments on Wednesday.

Its not even worth reacting to whether the presidents suggestion of sending this suspect to [Guantanamo] is legal or even effective  its clearly neither, he told Al Jazeera.

McMullen pointed to Trumps response to a deadly attack at a white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, on August 12.

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During that incident, James Alex Fields, who had been photographed marching with neo-Nazis earlier in the day, allegedly ploughed his car into an anti-racist march, killing 32-year-old activist Heather Heyer and injuring 19 others.

Although Trump subsequently denounced the attack and disavowed a host of white supremacist organisations that participated in the rally, he insisted that there were very fine people among both the white supremacists and the counterdemonstrators.

What we should be asking is why is this president is quick to use such radical, extreme language in the wake of the tragedy in New York, but after the terror attack in Charlottesville, could only muster something about how there were very fine people on both sides, McMullen said.

Racism and Islamophobia will never result in sound, legal or effective counterterrorism policy.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), another rights organisation, also condemned Trumps rush to impose sweeping measures in the wake of the attack.

Sending Saipov to Guantanamo or treating him as an enemy combatant would violate due process and the rule of law, Anthony D Romero, executor director of the ACLU, said in a statement on Wednesday.

Its a shame that Trump is using this attack as a platform for pushing his anti-immigrant, anti-Muslim agenda.
Muhammad Ilham Syaputra, who claimed to have played a role in an attack in Indonesia, fought with ISIL-linked attackers.

An Indonesian man, who reportedly played a role in the 2016 attacks in Jakarta, has been arrested near the southern Philippine city of Marawi, where fighters loyal to ISIL fought with the military for five months.

Muhammad Ilham Syaputra was caught on Wednesday while trying to escape from a district in Marawi, where several fighters of the Maute group are in hiding, according to police.

Syaputra reportedly attempted to evade authorities by swimming across Lake Lanao to a town adjacent to Marawi.

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His foreign appearance raised suspicion among residents who reported him to police.

John Guyguyon, chief of police in Lanao del Sur, where Marawi is located, said Syaputra told investigators he is from northern Sumatra in Indonesia, and he came to the Philippines as early as November 2016 to take part in the planned Marawi siege.

Police seized from the suspect a .45 calibre handgun, some Indonesian passports, different currencies and jewellery.

During the interrogation, Syaputra also reportedly claimed to have played a role in the 2016 attacks in Jakartas central business district, which left seven people dead, including attackers.

Syaputra was reportedly among the dozens of foreign fighters from neighbouring Malaysia and Indonesia, as well as from Arab countries, who came to Marawi to join the fight. The number of fighters, however, remains unclear.

In recent weeks, police also killed the suspected financier of the siege, Mahmud Ahmad, a doctor and a Malaysian national.

Guyguyon said the arrest is a big blow to the ISIL-linked fighters, even though he warned others could still launch retaliatory attacks.





Collective effort

In a statement, Zia Alonto Adiong, governor of Lanao del Sur, also praised police and residents for the arrest.

The arrest of Indonesian national involved in the siege of Marawi in the morning of November 1  validates the position that civilian participation is essential in our collective effort to secure our communities from terrorist elements, Adiong said.

The siege of Marawi began on May 23 when security forces tried to serve an arrest warrant against Isnilon Hapilon, the leader of the Abu Sayyaf armed group, and a self-proclaimed leader of Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant in Southeast Asia.





Instead of giving up their arms, Hapilon and his fighters formed an alliance with the local Maute Group  led by Omarkhayam Maute and his brothers  and took over the city by Lake Lanao.

An Al Jazeera 101 East investigation also revealed the fighters had planned the siege for more than a year.

More than 1,000 combatants, including foreign fighters, as well as civilians were killed in the fighting, which also displaced as many as 600,000 people in and around Marawi.

On October 23, President Rodrigo Duterte declared the fighting over following the death of Hapilon and Omarkhayam.

Hapilon had a $5m bounty on his head issued by the US government. The government of the Philippines has also offered $200,000 for his capture, and a separate $100,000 for Omarkhayam.

The other Maute brothers have either been killed or arrested, while their parents have also been detained and charged with aiding the fighters.

While the fighting is now over, analysts warn the attackers could return with a vengeance.

Residents also complained that bombings targeting the fighters were overkill, warning the destruction could fuel anti-government sentiment among displaced locals.
Qatar says the unprecedented measures constitute a flagrant violation of the agreements and resolutions of the GCC.

Qatar has expressed regret over Bahrains decision to impose an entry visa on Qatari nationals and residents amid a political deadlock between the Gulf countries.

Ali Khalfan Al Mansouri, the countrys representative to the United Nations in Geneva, said in a statement on Tuesday that these unprecedented measures in the Gulf states constitute a flagrant violation of the agreements and resolutions of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).

Bahrains move, which will be effective from November 10, reveals its persistence in severing ties of kinship between the Gulf families in contravention of the provisions and principles of the Islamic religion, Al Mansouri continued.

The GCC is a six-nation political and economic alliance that comprises Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Saudi Arabia and Oman. It has been in existence since 1981.

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Before the crisis, citizens of the GCC enjoyed a great deal of freedom of movement between the states, and close tribal ties led to thousands of intermarriages among GCC citizens.

The Bahraini decision, however, comes in the context of a Gulf crisis in which Bahrain, the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Egypt have cut diplomatic ties with Qatar and imposed a sea, land and air blockade since June 5.

In a statement made on its state news agency on Tuesday, Bahrain said the decision was made to preserve the security and safety of the country  especially in light of the latest implications of the crisis with Qatar, including Dohas decision to strengthen its ties with Iran, which has negative effects on the national and regional security.

The countries blockading Qatar accuse Doha of supporting terrorist groups and having close ties to Iran, their principal rival in the region.

Demands made by the quartet include suspension of support for groups, such as the Muslim Brotherhood, cooling of ties with Iran, and the removal of Turkish troops from Qatar.

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Qatar has vehemently denied the accusations and rejected the demands.

They dont like our independence, the way how we are thinking, our vision for the region. We want freedom of speech for the people of the region. And theyre not happy with that. And so they think that this is a threat to them, the Qatari Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, recently said in an interview on the American TV network, CBS.

Over the last week, Bahrain stepped up its measures and threats against Qatar.

On Monday, it said that it would not attend the next GCC summit if Qatar attended and said that the latters membership of the bloc should be frozen until it submits to the demands made by the four countries.
Khartoum, Sudan  South Sudans President Salva Kiir has arrived in Sudan to meet the president on a two-day trip aimed at resolving border disputes and discussing security issues.

Kiir was welcomed by his Sudanese counterpart Omar al-Bashir on Wednesday, according to AFP news agency.

South Sudan gained independence from Sudan in July 2011 after more than two decades of civil war, the longest-running conflict in African history.

There are a lot of agreements between us (Sudan and South Sudan), and now we have agreed to start implementing those agreements as they were signed, Awad bin Auf, Sudans defence minister, told reporters after a meeting with an advance team from South Sudan on Sunday.

We have previously agreed to opening 10 border crossings between the two countries, and we will start by opening four crossings  We have (also previously) agreed on a 20km demilitarised zone  10km from each side, Bin Auf added.

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Relations between the two nations have improved over the past few months.

Only a year ago, Sudan was accusing South Sudan of hiding and harbouring Sudanese rebels on its soil. South Sudan also accused Khartoum of harbouring rebels which had been fighting the government in a civil war since 2013.

Both said their respective rebels were on the others border, crossing to their homeland to fight and retreating into the host nations.

In 2012  less than a year after South Sudans independence  South Sudan invaded Sudans oil-rich area of Heglig, making border security a contentious issue between the two countries.

South Sudan said the invasion came after provocations from Sudan, as skirmishes between forces from the two sides regularly occurred along the nearly 2,000km border.

A joint border monitoring mechanism has already been agreed upon, but with more than 50 percent of the border still under dispute, the implementation of the mechanism has been delayed. The process of demarcating the border is ongoing, with discussions mediated by the African Union in Addis Ababa.

Abraham Mamer, a South Sudanese analyst, said the two countries, as result of their common history, remain deeply intertwined.

If they dont work together, there will be chaos, and there will be instability in the region. South Sudan must be stable for Sudan to be stable, and Sudan must be stable for South Sudans stability, Mamer said.

{articleGUID}

The two countries, despite the 2011 secession, still rely on the same source of revenue: oil  specifically, South Sudans oil, which accounts for 98 percent of its revenue.

However, oil-producing South Sudan lacks the infrastructure to process its production. It is landlocked, forcing the young nation to use pipelines that go through Sudan to export its oil to the international market.

As disagreements over the charges for using the pipelines escalated in 2012, South Sudan shut down its oil production, accusing Sudan of stealing its shipments.

Sudan stated that it was only exercising its right, pointing to South Sudans failure to pay for the use of its pipelines and processing facilities. The two later agreed on a fixed rate for the use of the facilities.

We will be having joint security for the oil fields so that workers can resume production in former Unity state, in Ruweng and Northern Liech states, Ezekiel Lol Gatkuoth, South Sudans minister of petroleum told Al Jazeera.

There will be workers from Sudan coming to South Sudan, and they will need to be protected so both sides will form a joint security force.

{articleGUID}

South Sudans civil war has resulted in the destruction of the countrys northern oil fields, cutting down production to nearly a third, down from 350,000 barrels a day before the war.

This has weakened South Sudans economy as well as Sudans, which relies on the processing and transportation fees for more than half of its gross domestic product (GDP).

Other points of disagreements between the two countries, such as the disputed area of Abyei, will not be discussed, according to a South Sudanese presidential aide, saying that this was to not further complicate the agenda.
Carles Puigdemont was summoned back to Spain to face rebellion charges but  for now  has opted to stay in Brussels.

Barcelona, Spain  Dismissed Catalan President Carles Puigdemont has remained in Brussels instead of returning to Barcelona to face a summons for rebellion, sedition and other charges relative to Catalonias declaration of independence.

Joaquim Forn and Dolors Bassa, the former ministers of the Interior and Labour, returned late Tuesday night.

It was originally reported Puigdemont boarded the plane alongside them, but those reports later turned out to be false.

Forn and Bassa were met by a large group of taunting pro-union demonstrators at Barcelonas airport last night. They chanted Welcome to Spain! and Wheres your Republic? as the dismissed functionaries returned.

Paul Bekaert, Puigdemonts lawyer in Belgium, told Dutch television that the dismissed president will not return to Spain: No, he wont go because he prefers to observe and wait.

{articleGUID}

The Catalan government was sacked after they declared independence last Friday. The Spanish prosecutor submitted a complaint against Puigdemont and 13 members of his government for the declaration of independence.

The former Catalan government is scheduled to appear in court on Thursday and Friday.

The 14 ex-ministers must pay a deposit 6.2m euros ($7.2m). The court has said their property will be seized if they cannot deliver the total amount.

Nuria Bou, a 32-year-old accountant enjoying a coffee in Barcelona on Wednesday morning, said Puigdemont choosing to stay in Brussels was troubling.

People used to escape to Mexico or France under Franco, Bou said, referring to the far-right dictatorship that controlled Spain from 1939 to 1975.

Catalan and other minority languages and public display of culture were made illegal under his rule. Those who tried to institute reforms were either arrested or fled to other countries.

Have we reached that point again? Bou asked.

The accountant went on to say that it was discouraging that Puigdemont chose to stay in Brussels as his ministers returned. He doesnt want to become a martyr, Bou said, but maybe thats what we need.

Josep Costa, a professor of political science at Barcelonas Universitat Pompeu Fabra who specialises in the right of self-determination, cautioned that Catalans should wait for Puigdemonts explanation. People basically expect they will be jailed without trial.

Spain is currently pursuing expedited legal proceedings against the former Catalan government, as well as the former head of Catalonias police force, Josep Lluis Trapero.

{articleGUID}

There are also two pro-independence organisers, Jordi Cuixart and Jordi Sanchez of Omnium Cultural and the Catalan National Assembly, respectively, are currently being held without bail pending trial.

Cuixart and Sanchez were charged with sedition for their separatism. They have become rallying points for pro-independence demonstrators in Catalonia.

Considering their detention, it makes sense that at least the president does not surrender himself, Costa concluded.

Judge Carmen Lamela of the National Audience court is expected to ask the Spanish prosecutor to issue a warrant for Puigdemonts arrest, valid in all of the European Union if the Catalan leader does not appear.

Puigdemont said on Tuesday that he did not go to Belgium to apply for political asylum, though it is one of the few nations that allows citizens of other EU states to apply for political asylum.
Opposition group says Russia cannot be trusted to mediate talks as it is fighting on the side of President Assad.

The Syrian opposition attending the latest round of peace talks in Astana has rejected the Russian call for a Congress in the Black Sea resort city of Sochi.

The Syrian Congress on National Dialogue proposed by Moscow during the two-day talks in the Kazakh capital is expected to discuss the reconciliation between all of the warring parties, political reform and discuss the proposed new Syrian constitution.

This is a Russian deception, said Fateh Hassoun who headed the Syrian opposition military delegation to the 7th round of Astana talks to end six-year-old Syria war.

We dont trust the Russians because they are part of the war and they are fighting on behalf of the regime on the ground, he added.

{articleGUID}

The Astana talks were attended by the Syrian opposition, the Syrian regime, Turkey, Iran and Russia to discuss the implementation of past agreements.

The Russian delegation said the conference would be held on the 18th of this month and can be held either on the Russian Hmeimim military base in Latakia or in Sochi.

But the Syrian opposition accused Moscow of trying to divert and eventually control the peace process in Syria by shifting the venues from Geneva and Astana to a Russian-controlled Hmeimim-Sochi process.

Syrian opposition leader Mohamad Alloush said the proposed conference would be akin to a dialogue between the regime and itself.

Sticking point



Ahmad Ramadan, a spokesman for the Syrian National Coalition, one of the main Syrian opposition groups participating in the talks, said the Coalition would not participate in any negotiations with the regime outside the Geneva venue or without UN sponsorship.

We don't trust the Russians because they are part of the war and they are fighting on behalf of the regime on the ground by Fateh Hassoun

The talks in Astana however, made some progress in terms of getting Russia to commit to maintaining and expanding the de-escalation zones. The opposition has worked to cement the agreement on de-escalation zones in Idlib province and in and around Damascus.

However, the issue of prisoner exchange between the regime and the opposition remained a sticking point during the talks.

The opposition contends that they succeeded in advancing the issue with the help of the Kazakh government, the American and the French delegation, but the Iranian delegation objected to it.

{articleGUID}

The Iranians have been evasive and tried to obstruct the agreements throughout the talks in Astana, Ayman al-Asemi, a member of the Free Syrian Armys military council, told Al Jazeera.

The Iranians are doing in order to prevent any future investigation of their role in committing war crimes inside Syria, he added.

Ahmad Kamel, a Syrian journalist based in France and a supporter of the opposition, said the Russians want complete surrender of the Syrian opposition.

They are practically repackaging the same old Baath regime of President Bashar al-Assad, he said.

But what we are offered here is a 100 percent, inflexible and total control of the same old regime. It would be a betrayal of hundreds and thousands of victims who lost their lives and their homes.

Follow Ali Younes on twitter @ali_reports
US presidents tweets reveal stark difference in responses when victims are people of colour or perpetrators are white.

A vehicle-ramming attack in New York City has drawn a strong reaction from US President Donald Trump, who called the attacker very sick and deranged on Twitter and pledged to step up vetting of those entering the US.

At least eight people died and 11 people were injured late on Tuesday after a man drove a rented pick-up truck into cyclists and pedestrians in New York City, before being shot and wounded by police officers.

The citys mayor, Bill de Blasio, condemned the attack as cowardly and investigators have labelled it a terrorist incident.

{articleGUID}

Local news stations, citing sources in law enforcement, said the attacker, who they named as Sayfullo Saipov, had left a note inside the car in which he pledged allegiance to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant group (ISIL).

We must not allow ISIS to return, or enter, our country after defeating them in the Middle East and elsewhere. Enough! The US president tweeted, later adding: I have just ordered Homeland Security to step up our already Extreme Vetting Program. Being politically correct is fine, but not for this!

In NYC, looks like another attack by a very sick and deranged person. Law enforcement is following this closely. NOT IN THE U.S.A.!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 31, 2017

Trumps reaction is in keeping with his responses to other attacks when the perpetrators are associated with ISIL.

After a non-fatal tube bombing attack in London in September, Trump angrily condemned the suspect as sick and demented.

The US leader was similarly indignant after Junes deadly stabbing attack in the British capital, voicing anger at London Mayor Sadiq Khans response to the killings.

At least 7 dead and 48 wounded in terror attack and Mayor of London says there is "no reason to be alarmed!"  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 4, 2017

{articleGUID}

Similar reactions followed attacks in the Spanish city of Barcelona, and in the French capital, Paris.

In all of the cases, the attackers had expressed sympathy for ISIL or were believed to have been associated with the armed group.

The usual components found in Trumps responses to the attacks include: strong condemnation of whoever is responsible, an expression of sympathy for those affected, and a call to action in some form.

After the shooting attack on police officers on the Champs Elysee in Paris in April, the US president wrote: The people of France will not take much more of this.

Another terrorist attack in Paris. The people of France will not take much more of this. Will have a big effect on presidential election!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 21, 2017

An earlier attack on the Louvre Museum in Paris, drew the response: GET SMART US

Far-right violence

Trumps reactions to attacks perpetrated by the far right, however, take on a starkly different tone, and sometimes do not elicit a reaction at all.

When white supremacist James Alex Fields Jr drove his car into a crowd of anti-racist protesters, killing one and wounding 19 others, Trump wrote: Condolences to the family of the young woman killed today, and best regards to all of those injured, in Charlottesville, Virginia. So sad!

Condolences to the family of the young woman killed today, and best regards to all of those injured, in Charlottesville, Virginia. So sad!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 12, 2017

Any condemnation of the attacker or his ideology was absent, and there was no call by the US president to address the issue of rising white supremacism in the US.

{articleGUID}

In a press conference shortly after the attack, Trump condemned violence on both sides.

While the Charlottesville attack, which was widely labelled a terrorist attack by US media outlets, drew a response from Trump, other attacks have not made it to his Twitter feed.

Just nine days after Trump assumed the presidency, a gunman shot and killed six worshippers at a mosque in the Canadian city of Quebec.

Alexandre Bissonnette, the suspected attacker, had expressed his support for Trumps Muslim ban and white supremacist ideology.

The White House later issued a statement offering condolences to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau but Trumps reaction on his Twitter feed was muted, not mentioning the attack at all.

There was a similar response in June when a man drove a van into worshippers leaving a mosque in London, leaving one person dead.

The White House issued a statement, but Trumps Twitter feed was silent.

Trump was also criticised online for his silence when a white supremacist stabbed two men to death in the US city of Portland after they defended two Muslim teenagers he was abusing.

{articleGUID}

After heavy criticism from his opponents, the US president eventually tweeted a response, which did not include any mention of the attackers ideology or the issue of rising white supremacism in the US.

Trump tweet: The violent attacks in Portland on Friday are unacceptable. the victims were standing up to hate and intolerance. Our prayers are with them.

The tweet was from the official POTUS account, not Trumps personal account, however.

Online reaction

Trumps critics have seized on his reactions to different attacks as evidence of his alleged propensity for far-right ideas.

Under his most recent tweet on the attack in New York, opponents of the US leader accused him of reacting more strongly to attacks committed by Muslims than those by white supremacists.

And where was your extreme gun vetting program after Las Vegas? Oh but wait, were not supposed to talk politics after events like this, asked one Twitter user named Scott Rodgers, referring to the recent mass shooting in the city, in which 58 people were killed and hundreds others were injured.

What's the difference? Oh yeah, this guy's a Muslim. That's literally it.  Pe (@4everNeverTrump) November 1, 2017

Whats the difference? Asked another, before continuing Oh yeah, this guys a Muslim. Thats literally it.
Defence Secretary Michael Fallon was accused of repeatedly touching a journalists knee during a 2002 incident.

Britains Defence Secretary Michael Fallon has resigned from his post, becoming the first casualty of a series of allegations of sexual misconduct against members of parliament.

In a letter sent to Prime Minister Theresa May on Wednesday, Fallon said his conduct has fallen below the high standards required of the countrys armed forces.

I have reflected on my position, and I am therefore resigning as defence secretary, Fallon said in the letter.

Fallon was accused of repeatedly touching a female journalists knee during a dinner in 2002.

May accepted Fallons resignation and praised him for his role in the fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) in Iraq and Syria.

The prime minister has called a meeting to discuss the growing controversy over sexual harassment.
Putuparri is inspired to fight for his indigenous land when he experiences a rainmaking ritual in the Australian desert.

Editors note: This film has been removed from online.

Over the course of 20 years, Tom Putuparri Lawford, navigated the deep chasm between his Western upbringing and traditional Aboriginal culture as he transformed from a rebellious young man into an inspirational leader.

His grandfather Spider taught Putuparri bush knowledge and the Aboriginal Dreamtime myths. For more than 40,000 years, their ancestors lived a nomadic life, knowing they could always retreat to their sacred waterholes when times were hard.

A process of cultural awakening begins when Putuparri returns to his homeland in the desert with Spider and is shocked to learn that the Dreamtime myths are not just stories.

Spurred into action by what he experiences, Putuparri dedicates himself to reclaiming the land taken from his ancestors and battling bureaucracy and political apathy. He is also under immense pressure to preserve an age-old culture while coming to terms with his own turbulent past.

FILMMAKERS VIEW

By Nicole Ma

My first experience of the Kimberley was in 2001, landing on a red dirt runway and thinking, Where am I?

I had never met an Aboriginal person and was here to address the assembled elders at Fitzroy Crossing about participating in a documentary I was making. It was on how communities around the world use dance and music to enter ecstatic states.

I was looking for an Australian component, and I wanted to find out if Aboriginal culture practised going into trance states.

My pitch did not go down well. Instead, they told me that I could go with them on an upcoming desert trip for the old people  the people who were born on their country and had lived a traditional nomadic existence  and that I could film that.

Putuparri is a man who straddles the two worlds of traditional cultural law and today's reality of Fitzroy Crossing. by Nicole Ma, director

After the trip, anthropologist Daniel Vachon gave me his thesis about rainmakers in the Great Sandy Desert. He cited Kurtal as a main ceremonial waterhole where rainmaking rituals were conducted and told me Spider was one of the custodians.

Vachon also gave me a VHS tape of the old peoples first trip to Kurtal in 1994. I didnt look at it, thinking, Ive been there, shot that, I dont need ugly VHS footage and put it away in a drawer.

I continued to return to Fitzroy Crossing over the years, working with various Aboriginal NGOs and befriended many of the old women  in particular, Dolly Snell, who took me under her wing.

Dolly understood that film was a way to preserve their culture for future generations and that I could facilitate that, so she asked me to go to significant events. She instructed me on the Aboriginal culture and the complex relationships that exist in it between humans, Country and spirit, which I was struggling to understand.

Several years after my first visit I was preparing for a shoot, and I found the old VHS tape.

I had recently met the young Aboriginal man who had shot it. His name was Putuparri. It was an amazing experience watching the tape for the first time as it showed the entirety of a rainmaking ceremony involving a mythical snake spirit and ending with a dramatic thunderstorm.

The old people are a vast storehouse of traditional cultural law and Dreamtime stories. Most of them recall their traditional life in the desert with a mixture of joy and sadness.

While there are major issues in Fitzroy Crossing  isolation, a lack of meaningful work, alcohol and drug use, dependence on government funding  I experienced an Aboriginal culture embedded in song and dance, as well as the peoples unique connection to Country.

Aboriginal people have a profound spiritual connection to Country. Aboriginal law and spirituality are intertwined with the land, the people and creation  and this informs their culture and sovereignty.

The health of land and water is central to their culture. The land is their mother. It is steeped in their culture but also gives them the responsibility to care for it. Country is family, culture, identity. Country is Self.

Putuparri is a man who straddles the two worlds of traditional cultural law and todays reality of Fitzroy Crossing.

Brought up by the old people on a cattle station on the edge of the Great Sandy Desert, he moved to Fitzroy Crossing as a young man and succumbed to the vagaries of alcohol and domestic violence.

Putuparris grandparents, Spider and Dolly, believe in him and, despite his setbacks, Putuparri continues his traditional training.

He works as a cultural officer for the Kimberley Aboriginal Law and Culture Centre, supervising a sacred ritual during lawtime, the time of year when boys are initiated, and the singing and dancing during festivals.These responsibilities ensure his continued development as a cultural leader.

At the heart of the film is Putuparris story  the story of a man caught between two worlds who finds redemption through the discovery of his traditional culture and the acceptance of his responsibility for passing it on.

The underlying cultural philosophy  if you take care of Country, it will take care of you  is made manifest through the rituals and ceremonies that Spider performs. These ceremonies are intended to influence the weather through a complex belief system about the spiritual inhabitants of the landscape, one that interweaves family, ancestors and the environment into a holistic cosmology.

As town life takes precedence over traditional life for the young people of Putuparris community, the passing away of the old people further undermines the transmission of their culture.

For his culture to survive, Putuparri must learn to take care of Country and pass this knowledge on to the next generation.




Six-year-old Aidyn Montford, dressed as a skeleton, trick-or-treated with llamas, monkeys and hogs on Halloween.

Aidyn was one of 6,000 attendees who walked along a quarter-mile path at Santa Fe Colleges 23rd annual Boo at the Zoo, collecting candy and taking pictures at themed photo booth areas from 3 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday.

The teaching zoo, which usually costs $5 to $6 for admittance, was open to anyone who donated a canned food item, which was collected by Catholic Charities at the entrance. The canned goods were given to Catholic Charities and Gainesville Harvest, a food pantry at Santa Fe, organizer Haley Wilson said. Last year, 5,000 cans were given to charity.

Students of the colleges zoo animal technology program dressed in costumes and passed out about 60,000 pieces of candy. The volunteers began preparing decorations four months before the event, Wilson said.

(The students had) a very small budget to work with, she said. So they bring a lot of great stuff out of nothing.

Sections of the path had themes including Star Wars, Hercules, Finding Nemo and Peter Pan.

Aidyn and his two younger sisters played in the Minecraft-themed section and giggled at characters dressed in painted cardboard boxes.

His father, Adrian Montford, followed behind his children and said this was the first time the family attended the event.

I was surprised. Its pretty elaborate, he said. And the kids are having a lot of fun.

Catholic Charities Director John Barli said the charity expects to collect even more this year because of higher attendance.

This is kind of a cool idea, Barli said. We can involve the charities and the community in what we do.

Students of Santa Fes zoo animal technology program dressed as pirates and passed out candy during Boo at the Zoo.

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After student outcry, Provost Joseph Glover secured permanent funding for eight new mental health counselors.

At Tuesdays Student Senate meeting, Student Body President Smith Meyers announced the secured funding for eight of the 12 planned new hires.

The Counseling & Wellness Center has been seeking permanent funding for 12 new counselors. The center asked for a student fee raise of 71.4 cents per credit hour, which was denied by the local fee committee Oct. 9.

Though the counselors would still be added with nonpermanent funding, students spoke out at the Oct. 17 Senate meeting about the decision. Meyers said those students helped move the administration to get more permanent funding.

When they see that many students come together and united behind one goal, to get more mental health counselors on campus, that really grabbed their attention, Meyers said.

He said he met with Ernesto Escoto, the CWCs director, and Vice President for Student Affairs David Parrott, who spoke with Glover about the fundings importance.

Meyers praised Impact Party for their efforts in the funding, saying it was not a bipartisan effort. He then criticized Sen. Zachariah Chou (Inspire, Murphree) for his letter to the editor about the CWC funding published in the Alligator. He said it was poorly researched and mislead students to think resources were cut.

Chou stood up to ask questions, and after some debate, Meyers told Chou he could speak to him in office hours. Chou told Meyers: Dont run away.

Chou said Meyers didnt understand his letter and what he was conveying.

I still stand by the article as of this moment, he said.

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Thomas Chouvenc identified a new invasive ant species in his Fort Lauderdale home.

Chouvenc, a UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences researcher, noticed a trail of small, yellow ants marching across his kitchen counter. The invasive ant for Florida, plagiolepis alluaud, is called the yellow ant.

Before the yellow ant came to Floridas mainland, it was found on Caribbean islands.

Two or three ant researchers predicted that (the yellow ant) would be here and sure enough we eventually found it, Chouvenc said.

The ant, a native of Madagascar, could be detrimental to Florida homeowners and the surrounding ecosystem, Chouvenc said. He has been studying the ants relationship with other insects and how to manage its population.

The yellow ants presence has boosted the population density of aphids, ladybugs and other insects, he said. This influx could result in the damage of plant nurseries and other agricultural businesses, he said.

I found it interesting that when these ants show up, all these other pests show up at the same time, Chouvenc said. This ant is really, really good at tending to these insects; we have a symbiotic relationship here.

Chouvenc said the yellow ant is almost impossible to detect until theyre at a high population density, making extermination difficult.

If the population gets fully established, which I think to some extent it already is, this is going to be the new norm, he said.

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UF will host a discussion about Brexit and nationalist politics after receiving a $100,000 grant from the European Union.

The UF College of Journalism and Communications and the Center for European Studies are sponsoring the panel event Thursday at 6:30 p.m. in Gannett Auditorium in Weimer Hall. The Center for European Studies received the Getting to Know the European Union grant in late 2015 and will use it for programs through Spring 2018, said Lisa Booth, the centers assistant director.

The grant is basically aimed at making the general American population more aware of what the European Union does, promotes and sponsors, Booth said.

Thursdays event will focus on the economic impacts of Brexit, which is when United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union, said Amie Kreppel, the director of the Center for European Studies and moderator of the event.

The reason Brexit matters to students is because it is an important international event that will shape the future of trans-Atlantic relations and their own experiences, Kreppel said.

Three panel presenters will speak about whether Brexit and the spread of economic populist movements have an impact on people across the globe, said Sydney Denninger, a member of the Getting to Know Europe program communications team.

It is our duty as college educated students to attend, Denninger said. By attending we can help direct a future we want.
Two Florida men were arrested by police who had heard reports the men were selling drugs behind Mothers Pub and Grill, Gainesville Police said.

Cain

Police questioned Jordan Joseph Cain, 21, and Misike Tyi Marko, 22, after smelling marijuana in the truck located at 1017 W. University Ave., according to an arrest report. An officer noticed a joint in Markos lap that later tested positive for synthetic marijuana.

When police told Marko to step out of the truck, he hesitated and reached for his waistband, according to the report. Police pulled Marko out of the truck and found an unlicensed Glock .22 in his pants. Police said the firearm was reported as stolen to GPD in September.

Marko

Police also found clear bags of 20 grams of a white powdery substance on Marko, according to the report. GPD is investigating the substances identity.

Officers also found 22 Xanax bars and seven grams of synthetic marijuana in the truck, according to the report.

Cain and Marko told police they had smoked before officers arrived but werent selling drugs, according to the report.

Police arrested Cain and Marko on a charge of drug possession with intent to sell. Marko was also arrested on a charge of carrying a concealed weapon. Both were taken to the Alachua County Jail, where they remain, as of press time. Cains bond is set at $8,000, and Markos bond is $30,000.

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Over the past several months, Americans across the country have taken it upon themselves to destroy, deface and rewrite American history with the removal of historical statues and monuments. Virtually unchallenged, this small segment of the public has attempted to bully fair-minded citizens into accepting a new American reality: one without our Founding Fathers.

As a proud American, and as someone who has a deep love for this country and its history, I am deeply saddened by this.

The early attempts to remove statues and monuments were aimed at those that honored Confederates. Or at least thats what the protesters told us. However, I knew these claims were false. I remember telling those close to me at the time, family and friends, that the targeting of Confederate symbols was a ruse. I believed that protesters would eventually come for Washington, Jefferson, Franklin, etc. And they did. That fear was recently proven true.

This past Saturday, Christ Church in Alexandria, Virginia, announced it would be removing two 147-year-old plaques honoring the churchs most famous parishioners: George Washington and Robert E. Lee. In statements released by the church rector and warden, the parish hierarchy said the plaques will be relocated outside the church because they make visitors feel unsafe and unwelcome. I had a feeling that by relocated, the parish meant placed out of plain sight, so on Sunday morning, I decided to pay a visit to the church to get my last glance at the plaques.

The plaques hang at the front of the church, one on each side of the altar. The church is small and humble but rich in history. Washington and Lees pews are marked with small metal plates. It is almost difficult to believe that one can sit where these two men once sat.

Once inside, I spoke to an older gentleman who was both a parishioner and volunteer tour guide of the church. I could tell this man was proud to be a member of this church. In fact, he has been a parishioner for more than 40 years. He was also proud of its history, however conflicted it may be. He informed me that the decision to remove the plaques was made by the 10 members on the churchs board. I was surprised because he also acknowledged that although a majority of the parish is liberal, he believed that most felt that the plaques should remain.Its history. he told me. No man in history is perfect. We should recognize (Washington and Lees) flaws, but also remember their achievements that rose above their mistakes.

The tour guide could not have been more correct. Both Washington and Lee were flawed men in their own ways. Both men owned slaves, and Lee led the Confederate Army during the Civil War. But how much do most Americans, much less these protesters, know about these men? I submit that most Americans know very little.

Washington was perhaps our nations greatest president, and like many of the other founders, did not believe slavery had a place in the future of American society. However, the founders knew the Constitution would not be ratified without the institution of slavery, so they inserted a mechanism for slavery to be eradicated in the future. Washington also emancipated his slaves after his death.

Lee is viewed less favorably. But does he get judged fairly by history? Many historians believe his relationship with slavery is a conflicted one. What you will almost never read is how instrumental Lee was in the reunification of the U.S. Professor James Robertson at Virginia Tech once claimed that no American did a better job of bringing the country back together than Robert E. Lee.

If we are to judge men in history by the worst of their decisions, then can we truly honor anyone? For example, if the same standards apply, then should we stop honoring Martin Luther King Jr. or John F. Kennedy for their alleged personal and extramarital affairs?

This country and its history are under attack. The tour guide in Christ Church inspired me to take a stand and defend my countrys history. My hope is that you will do the same.

Eduardo Neret is a UF finance senior. His column appears on Wednesdays.

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Counseling and mental health services are a top priority at UF and need to be part of continued conversations nationally within higher education and beyond.

Todays college students nationwide are seeking mental health services at higher rates than any previous generation. The 2015 annual report by the Center for Collegiate Mental Health showed between 2010 and 2015, on average, the growth in the number of students seeking services at counseling centers was more than five times (+29.6 percent) the rate of institutional enrollment (+5.6 percent) across 93 colleges and universities in the U.S. In addition, counseling center appointments grew 38.4 percent or at seven times the rate of institutional enrollment during the same period.

UF, like most other colleges and universities nationwide, faces an unprecedented demand for mental health services. The Counseling and Wellness Center, the primary provider for student mental health services on our campus, served 4,401 students in 2015 compared to 5,088 students in 2017. That is a 15 percent increase in the number of students served in three years. Anxiety, stress and depression consistently remain the most common concerns for which UF students seek help at the CWC.

Last Spring, UF, along with the other universities in the state university system, lobbied the state of Florida for support through a legislative budget request. Unfortunately, it did not go through.

Immediately after that, UF administrators, Student Body President Smith Meyers and SG External Affairs Director Haley Smith worked together to find a temporary solution to help address the growing need for more counselors on our campus. The solution was to add four more counselors a year over the course of three years.

Since that time, Provost Joe Glover and Vice President for Student Affairs Dave Parrott have continued to work diligently on a solution to this issue.

Im pleased to announce they have made the funding for the first eight positions permanent. These eight new counselors will provide necessary support to the CWC in our efforts to serve and meet the needs of UF students.

The issues surrounding the mental health needs of our students, including funding, are indeed complex. And, as a university community, we must continue to engage in dialogue as we attempt to meet this challenge and identify ways to increase support for those in need.

Dr. Ernesto Escoto is the director of the UF Counseling and Wellness Center.

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Earlier this week, Star Trek and Rent actor Anthony Rapp revealed to the public the House of Cards star Kevin Spacey sexually assaulted him more than 30 years ago when he attended a party thrown at Spaceys home.

According to CNN, Rapp said the incident took place in 1986 when he was 14 years old and Spacey was 26. Spaceys implied pedophilia has America outraged at the idea their favorite TV president could do such a horrible thing. The popular Netflix series has even suspended filming of its final season.

Although we certainly agree the allegations against Spacey are abhorrent, were noticing an infuriating double standard being set for this fictitious world leader and our actual Commander in Chief.

In case we have all forgotten, which it seems like we have, President Donald Trump has more than a few sexual assault charges connected to his name, as well. According to Vox, a total of 15 women had come forward as of Nov. 5, 2016, claiming Trump has sexually assaulted them. This was just three days before he was elected into office. The offenses range from his notorious grab them by the pussy video, to groping beauty pageant contestants, to, worst of all, raping a 13-year-old child.

These allegations arent new. In fact, many of the incidents themselves occurred far more recently than Spaceys infraction and all were public knowledge before Trump was elected as president of the U.S. So why does America care so much more about the behavior of an actor than they do about the man who is leading our country? Really, wed just like to know.

We believe it is truly revolting our country chose to overlook Trumps allegations when it came down to it.

We expect nothing less than to receive numerous angry comments on this editorial, claiming the allegations against Trump are just that: allegations. Youre right, they are just allegations. He isnt a registered sex offender and he was never officially charged with sexual assault. However, the same goes for Spacey. And Spacey has a much cleaner record.

We understand everyone is innocent until proven guilty, and in cases of sexual assault and misconduct, it can be challenging to provide evidence. But, in that same way, we believe all allegations should be given respect and should be given the same merit.

People are furious over the allegations against Weinstein. He has been ousted in Hollywood and removed from the company he co-founded. People are appalled about the allegations against Spacey, and his hit Netflix show has suspended filming. But when it comes to Trump and the 15 allegations against him, people could not seem to care less.

We arent saying Weinstein and Spacey shouldnt be punished. We arent saying what they did is right or what they did is any more acceptable than what Trump has allegedly done. What we are saying, however, is our president should be held to the same standard as these celebrities.

In our opinion, it is appalling this is even a topic of discussion. Trumps sexual assault charges are something that should have been investigated thoroughly during his campaign. Nonetheless, this is our reality.

While his supporters were busy reeling about Hillary Clintons emails, they neglected the fact that they were electing a sexual offender into office. Women spoke up, and we ignored them. Instead of charging their offender, we made him president.

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By all means, dear reader, we want you to express your upset with people like Weinstein and Spacey  they deserve it. But when you do so, just remember the man you put in office and the hypocrisy behind his election.
The 68th annual student-run Florida Writers Festival will kick off this weekend. This year, festivalgoers can engage with notable writers Lydia Davis, Lawrence Joseph, Rachel Cusk and Paul Muldoon.

The free festival will include readings as well as informative discussions about the craft of writing by all authors, according to the press release.

Andrew Cushen, a 21-year-old UF Spanish senior, went to the festival last year and is attending again after having a great experience.

You get to listen to writers read their work, Cushen said. There are some great craft talks about what they find instructive and useful in their writing, and I think for anyone whos interested in making a successful time of writing poetry or prose, its a really positive experience.

While Cushen praises all of the authors for their work, he said hes most excited to see Cusk and Muldoon this year.

Im looking most forward to seeing Rachel Cusk because she is legitimately making herself known in the literary world right now, but in line-up, Im probably most excited that Paul Muldoon is coming because I love his poetry, and he is, from what I can tell, a talented editor, Cushen said. He just finished being editor of poetry at the New Yorker, and he hosted the New Yorker Poetry podcast, and I think his past position as an editor brings immense prestige to the Writers Festival this year.

Cushen said Gainesville is the perfect place for emerging writers because the wackiness of Florida is the perfect setting for stories, and the tight-knit community of undergraduate and graduate student writers creates endless opportunities for budding authors.

Theres all sorts of events around town like the Writers Festival, but also poetry and fiction readings, readings at Third House Books, the Fine Print, Tea, the undergraduate literary magazine, and I know there are a couple other zines around town, Cushen said. Its important that Gainesville hosts the Writers Festival because it keeps our program and the general population active participants in the important literary movements and turns of our time.

The festival will start Friday at 8 p.m. with readings from Lydia Davis and Lawrence Joseph, according to the press release. Rachel Cusk, Lydia Davis, Lawrence Joseph and Paul Muldoon will discuss their craft Saturday at 1 p.m. The festival ends Saturday at 8 p.m. with readings from Rachel Cusk and Paul Muldoon. All events will be held on campus at the Ustler Hall Atrium.

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English News Shia Waqf Board Chairman unnecessarily offending Indian Muslims over Babri-Mosque

Alwihda Info | Par Hem Raj Jain - 1 Novembre 2017





Bengaluru, India Sub:- Out of unfounded fear of communal riots, Waseem Rizvi unnecessarily betraying Indian Muslims & Islam



---Chairman of the UP Shia Central Waqf Board Waseem Rizvi met Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravishankar on October 31, 2017 and gave a press statement that I met Gurudev Sri Sri ji and insisted that the Ram Temple should be built on the Ram Janmbhoomi site itself and that there was no need to construct a mosque there. The mosque should come up in a Muslim-dominated locality, if required, as there are already enough of them to cater to the Muslim population in Ayodhya and Faizabad. Rizvi further said that if Ram Mandir is not build at disputed site then horrible communal riots will take place all over India in which ordinary Muslims will be killed en-mass and not Mullahs (Muslim religious leaders who are insisting on their legal right to construct Masjid at disputed site.) .



There is every chance of communal riots in case disputed site is given to Muslims as mentioned at http://www.alwihdainfo.com/Prez-PM-should-initiate-process-of-inviting-UNPKF-in-case-of-highly-likely-as-per-ruling-BJP-MP-civil-war-in-India_a52279.html . But this fear is unfounded if Muslims (including Wassem Rizvi) moves Supreme Court of India (SCI) to ask Government of India (GOI) to request UN for keeping UN Peace Keeping Force (UNPKF) ready and make it available to India at short notice of few days, in case of large scale communal riots in India.(when India sends its military to other countries as a part of UNPKF then there is no reason why UNPKF cant come to India for keeping peace)..



Rizvi should understand that if you want to suppress some community then best way is to suppress its religion. It is not a matter of coincidence that only after demolition of Babri Masjid the BJP / Sangh Parivar succeeded in suppressing Indian Muslim. Now Ram Mandir  Babri Masjid dispute is not a matter of religious rituals, practices etc but is a question of rule of law in India. Mutual agreement between Hindus and Muslims about disputed site could have happened before December 6, 1992 (the day on which Babri Masji was demolished by Sangh Parivar). Now after demolishing Babri-Masjid and after killing thousands of Muslims since 1992 till date (including in Muslim Massacre of 2002 in Gujarat) Hindus cant expect Muslims to be generous and accommodating. This is the reason that Sunni Muslims and majority of Shia Muslims too want this matter to be decided by court verdict and not by - mutual agreement, which is nothing but Hindus becoming over-smart as explained above and arm-twisting of Muslims by Hindus (Here it is pertinent to add that because Muslims did not move SCI for the restoration of status-quo-ante of Babri Masjid hence communal Hindus got emboldened and perpetrated said communal riots etc against Muslims).



Rizvi should also know that India and world of 2017 is not same as it was in 1992 (when Babri Masjid was demolished) to 2002 (when massacre of thousands of Muslims took place in Gujarat). In present times global Jihadi terrorist like ISIS, Al-Qaeda etc are waiting to exploit any serious grievances of Muslims in order to carry out terrorism in such countries. If leaders of Indian Muslims capitulate to arm-twisting by Hindus (by way of accepting out of court settlement for Babri Masjid) then it will pave the way for the entry of global Jihadis in India taking advantage of disgruntled Muslims and this will have potential of increased terrorist activities by Jihadis all over India (especially given the fact that Rohingya crisis and Kashmir problem are already inviting Jihadis in and around India)..



Everybody (including Hindus) knows that SCI judgment in this case will come in favor of Muslims for the simple reason that Hindus have built their case on the premise that Lord Rama was born at disputed site whereas according to Muslims this is not true because most authentic religious book of Hindus about Lord Ram (the Ram Charit Manas which was written by Goswami Tulsidas after Babri-Masjid was built) does say that Lord Rama was born in Ayodhya but there is no mention in Ram Charit Manas that Lord Rama was born at disputed site.



As for Sri Sri Ravishankar, he is a well-meaning Saint but tries to meddle in serious disputes without understanding the nature of disputes. This year Sri Sri tried to solve chronic & gory Kashmir dispute also, by talking to Kashmiris but could not succeeded because Sri Sri grossly underestimated the nature of Kashmir problem.



Therefore Waseem Rizvi should desist from poisoning the atmosphere in India and should wait for SCI judgment in Babri Masjid case and should (along with other Muslim leaders both Shia and Sunnis) file two writ petitions and application in SCI :-



(i)- In the interest of avoiding the lowering of the authority of SCI a writ petition and an application in SCI for getting status-quo-ante restored [under section 2 (C ) (i) read with section 15 of Contempt of Court Act 1971] of Babri Masjid which was demolished in presence of the Observer of SCI.



(ii)- For directing GOI to request UN to keep UNPKF ready in case Union and States Governments of Hindu majority India finds it difficult to control the rioting Hindus (on the instigation of Sangh Parivar) in case (A)- SCI judgment goes in favor (which is almost certain) of Muslims and (B)- while restoring the status-quo-ante of Babri Masjid



It is hoped that Waseem Rizvi will realize that this matter of Rule of law effects every citizen of India and if Muslims allow themselves to be cowed-down by high handed Hindus (under the influence of Sangh Parivar) and agree for out of court settlement then it will be fatally harmful for Indian State. Therefore Rizvi should rise to occasion and should endeavor to file above mentioned writ petitions and application in SCI so that Muslims can proudly tell the world that they are more concerned about the good health of secular democratic Indian Republic compared to any other community.



Regards



Hem Raj Jain

(Author of Betrayal of Americanism)

Bengaluru, India



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The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) condemns the airstrikes in a residential neighbourhood in Derna on the night of Monday, 30 October 2017, that caused civilian casualties. According to information received by UNSMIL, at least 12 children and women killed and three adults and four children injured. The mission offers deep condolences to []http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Appa-sourceTheAfric...
Inspector Clouseau pounces!

Shazam! The crack legal team of Herr Robert Mueller have pounced on a real crime (they say), and all the loudest voices in today's politics have agreed on this farce, just as if it were the real thing. Liberals around the country are getting chills up their spines as the official Master Sleuths close in on...whom, exactly? And why, exactly? And in obedience to what principle in the Constitution, or in common law, or in common sense, for that matter? The answer is that there is no legal, moral, or sane principle to be seen. None whatsoever. This is pure, emotional mob scapegoating under color of law  but not any law that adheres to the U.S. Constitution. The American Founders were steeped in the Western Enlightenment of the 18th century, and they would chew up and spit out all the rationalizations of all the liberal witch hunts since Watergate. This is all made up legal fiction, in direct violation of the very basis of civilized legality.

There is actually no sane or rational basis for the special prosecutor. Special prosecutors are really "special"  they are magicked into being from some extra-constitutional fringe of the law, whenever the Democrats and the Monsters of the Deep feel threatened, as happened during the Stalin years (when the State Department featured Stalin agents); during the George W. years (when the Democrats first voted for the Iraq War, and then, when American troops were in the field, stabbed them in the back); and in last year's election, when Ms. Hillary was downed by a fiendish Electoral College, which (according to the Democrats) isn't even in the U.S. Constitution. (Actually, the electors are in there, but you have to look for them. DNC Chief Perez apparently lost his Cliff's Notes to the U.S. Constitution, because he can't find the electors  Article I, Section 2, Clause 1-3, etc.) What do you expect from our lousy education system? So Mr. Mueller has indicted his ham sandwich, responding to the fierce outcry of The American Public (as shown in the New York Times op-ed pages and the WaPo). He is giving us a couple of victims to hang. There, that should make everybody happy. This is pure and simple mob justice, of the kind practiced throughout ancient history under the heading of scapegoating. Remember, in the Book of Leviticus, the scapegoat was an actual goat  quite innocent of any crime  that was driven off to its death in ancient Israel, to carry with it all the sins of the people. The act of scapegoating is not limited to Scripture. It is a human universal, and it belongs in the ancient gallery of emotional defenses against guilt and anxiety. Scapegoating was a favorite practice of European mobs in Poland and Russia, and in Germany and France, and anywhere else where an evil Other could be found. Africans practiced mob scapegoating in Rwanda, and Muslims have been doing it in Sudan for the last thirty years. In Europe, the Jews were convenient scapegoats much of the time, and Russian Orthodox priests scapegoated Polish Catholic priests and vice versa. Catholics did it to Lutherans, and Lutherans did it to Catholics. In Obama's childhood home of Jakarta, the Indonesian Army scapegoated the Communist Party and the Muslims, but then everybody scapegoated the Overseas Chinese, who were easy to recognize as an ethnic group, and they were rumored to be rich, besides. The Klan is the most notorious example of mob scapegoating and yes, murder, in recent American history. The late Robert Byrd could tell you all about that. Now we have the special counsel and his personal buds  Comey, Brennan, and Clapper  who could also explain it all, because they are the ones afraid of headline exposure of their actions during the Obama years. Everybody is afraid of indicting Hillary for crimes committed in plain view, because Hillary might bring down the whole house of cards. But Americans who bother to pay attention to politics have a pretty good idea about the Deepsters and the Democrats under Obama and Hilary. With any luck, the Mueller team will throw us a bone, too. But it won't be the chief perps, because they have protection. So here we are, after months of mighty efforts. Why, it's that old guilty-before-innocent master criminal Manafort and couple of guys I forgot. Whatever it is, they are guilty, guilty, guilty! The so-called "special counsel" is sheer bureaucratic fiction. That office has no constitutional status at all. There are no "special counsels" in the U.S. Constitution, and the very concept of a officially appointed witch-hunter general to get the goods on an accused "criminal" with no specified crime violates English common law, the historical source of American law, including important parts of the U.S. Constitution. (See Article I, Section 9, paragraph 3 of the USC for "ex post facto law" and "Bill of Attainder.") In Stalin's Russia and Hitler's Germany, doing or saying anything that offended the dictator was against the law, ex post facto. Just like Wellesley, Yale, and Harvard today. If you say something offensive to the LGBTX crowd, you're hung out to dry on our college campuses today. It's universal primitive mob logic, and it belongs in the concentration camps of North Korea, if anywhere. It certainly doesn't belong in any civilized, law-abiding nation. Outside a French bedroom farce, nobody believes this stuff. Mueller and his team are the most expensive script-writing and amateur acting team in human history, just like Shakespeare in the Park, which recently stabbed the duly elected president of the United States in effigy, in front of a roaring mob of stoned liberals, today's version of the old Klan rallies of the antebellum South. Why, Kathy Griffin even cut a symbolic mask of Donald Trump "at the neck," as prescribed in the Holy Quran, and paraded the nasty thing in front of even more howling liberals. You can't make this stuff up. Is it even worth saying that real liberals, like Jack Kennedy, Hubert Humphrey, and Ronald Reagan (an FDR liberal), would be puking at this sight? The liberals of 2017 have fallen back on the Stalinist past, before the AFL-CIO threw out the totalitarians. But that would take some history, and it's lost on today's Democrats. Still, the American people are watching. Judging by the last election, they are quietly watching this farce. They aren't laughing.
By Jove, by Jing, by George is the thing! Can we say it isn't so? We thought we knew Washington. As the proverb says, a good name is rather to be chosen than great riches. It's taken some time for the truth to be revealed, though no doubt a special counsel searching for less in good names would have taken even longer to find out whether, among other things, the father of the United States was in collusion with the Russians. But finally he has been unmasked.

The result of the discovery is that a stone plaque that reads "in memory of George Washington," presently on the left side of the altar at the Episcopal Christ Church in Alexandria, Virginia, is being taken down. Washington helped found the church, attended the church for more than 20 years, and bought a pew in 1773 when the Church opened. He would have mixed feelings that a similar plaque erected at same time in 1870, placed on the right side of the altar, honoring General Robert E. Lee, will also be removed. Left and right in the church are said to balance each other and illustrate equal erasing of the history of the two warriors.

General Lee was a regular attendee of the church since infancy, and his daughter left it $10,000 in her will, a significant part of its endowment. As if in automatic response, the church's decision came after the violent rally in Charlottesville over the statue of Lee, and the consequent ongoing debate, physical and political, over the symbols of the Confederacy, the legacy of slavery, and the disenfranchisement of people of color.

Poor Robert E. Lee is now the point man, the national target of the pious and the irreverent alike. Statues of him in a number of Southern cities have him a-moldering in his grave. A church in Washington has changed its name from R.E. Lee to Greek Episcopal Church, and the Washington National Cathedral has removed a stained glass window with the image of Lee lest it affect the sight and the souls of worshipers.

Obviously, more surprising than the erasing of Lee was the decision to remove all traces of Washington, which, according to the rector of the church, Rev. Noelle York-Simmons, was made by a unanimous vote of the vestry. The given reason is that the plaques may make some visitors feel uncomfortable or unsafe, and the congregation bravely if incomprehensibly feels there is a strong need for the church to stand clearly on the side of "all are welcome, no exceptions." Even with a "strong need," it requires a strong secular imagination to see how the plaques create a disturbance in the church or pose an obstacle to its identity and reputation as a "welcoming church."

Everyone knows that Washington did not fight for the Confederacy or for slavery, but he did own slaves. Indeed, he became a slave-owner at age 11 after his father died and left him ten slaves and the large 280-acre family farm. During his life, he bought more slaves, housed at Mount Vernon, as well as acquiring some more owned by his wife's first husband, who had left them to her after he died without a will. Two hundred fifty years later, the pious in Virginia are disquieted by the memory.

One can only commiserate with the parishioners at Christ Church, who are facing certain problems. One is their inability to resort to a compromise proposed elsewhere regarding the removal of monuments: that they be replaced with information about the context regarding the actions of the individual being removed. The church leaders said their place is one of worship, not a museum, and there is no appropriate way to inform visitors about the history of the plaques. Far more important and immediate is the practical dilemma: will the church accept donations of $1 bills with the face of the unacceptable Washington?

We know that George was not alone in his alleged transgressions. In all, twelve United States presidents owned slaves, the last being Ulysses S. Grant, who, in fact, freed his only known slave in 1859, though he managed his father-in-law's large plantation in Missouri. Can we soon expect the citizens of the Upper West Side of New York City to demand the removal of Grant from Grant's tomb in Manhattan?

Other presidents are being disowned. In 2015, State Democratic parties in Iowa, Georgia, Connecticut, and Missouri renamed their annual Jackson and Jefferson fundraising dinners. In view of the success of the musical Hamilton, it is unlikely that this majestic heroic figure will be dishonored, though his story is ambiguous. The author, Ron Chernow, on whose biography the Broadway musical is based, believes that Hamilton may have owned two household slaves and negotiated the sale of slaves. Success on Broadway is more meaningful than rhetorical consistency. Equally ambiguous is the case of James Madison, who viewed slavery as a dreadful calamity and a "blot on our free country, that should be erased" but owned about 100 slaves. No doubt the James Madison Program at Princeton University will prevent his elimination.

One president who did not own slaves was Abraham Lincoln, who came from Illinois, which was a "free state" in which residents could not own slaves. Though Honest Abe early in his career thought colonialization was the solution, so that blacks should be settled in Africa and Central America, he changed his mind and is an honored historical figure with his issuing of the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation of September 22, 1862. He proclaimed that all slaves in states in rebellion against the Union "shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free."

Surely, if one president is to remain universally honored, it should be Honest Abe. But his statue was threatened in 2016 and remains threatened at the University of Wisconsin-Madison by a group of Native American students calling for authorities to "decolonize our campus." Identity politics has run riot there as elsewhere, purportedly seeking redress in the present for grievances of the past. Political and cultural wars continue.

The reason for the campaign against Lincoln is that in 1862, after a rebellion concerning money that had been promised to them but never delivered, the local Sioux Dakota Indians rebelled and killed more than 400 settlers. They were defeated, and 300 were sentenced to death for crimes against civilians. Lincoln, who needed peace in the area while the Civil War raged, pardoned most of them, but 38 were executed.

One of the great Americans, James Madison, warned that factions are sown into the nature of humans. It is high time that public officials, educators, and Supreme Court judges help emancipate those factions from the erasing of American history.
The purported conscience of our Republican Party, righteous Jeff Flake, announced last week his planned retirement from the Senate with a diatribe against both our sitting Republican President and fellow Republicans in the Senate. As a general rule, politicians who by their actions have alienated their voters plan dignified exits for themselves and move quietly into the next stage of life. Flake, however, a "Never-Trumper" par excellence, refuses such a dignified exit and now attempts to play the martyr rather than continuing to support "reckless, outrageous and undignified behavior" coming from the Executive Branch of our government. His newly found ethical sensitivities, however, leave me wondering at his apparent lack of outrage during the previous administration.

I dont recall Senator Flake being as exercised over the carnage resulting from the previous administration's placement of guns in the hands of Mexican drug cartels as he is with the behavior of our President. I dont recall the Senator expressing public outrage when the Obama Administration weaponized the Internal Revenue Service against conservative organizations. When Obama traded five high-value terrorists for an American deserter in Afghanistan, I dont recall Flakes having a great deal to say. Indeed, compared to his continuing outrage over Donald Trump, Mr. Flake seemingly had little to say about these or any of the profusion of scandals occurring during the Obama Presidency.

Consider President Obamas attempt to make gender dysphoria, (a mental disorder) a protected right and clear the way for men to use women's restrooms and locker rooms. Politicians, as we hear over and over again, do everything for the children. What will such an emphasis do to children who as a general rule outgrow their gender confusion? Such encouragement in their aberrant and confused behavior virtually guarantees lives of confusion and difficulty for thousands! Where was Flake on this issue?

Then we come to the recent revelation that FBI, in the midst of an investigation into Russian influence buying and bribery, didnt bother to share their findings in regard to such criminal activity with Congress for its constitutionally mandated oversight, thereby allowing the Obama Administration to transfer to a Russian owned company control over 20% of Americas supply of uranium. What has been Senator Flakes response to this outrage?

With the questionable at best, unethical, illegal and perhaps even treasonous (at worst) actions taken by the previous administration, Senator Flake, his apparent flare for writing notwithstanding, didnt write a condemnatory book. Only Donald Trump, a president nominated by his own political party, calls out the scandal for public castigation.

Can it be that since President Obama was polite, eloquent, and soft spoken, AKA demonstrating a presidential demeanor, that efforts to divide and weaken our nation are deemed insignificant? Instead self righteous vitriol is saved for Trump. Why? Trump isn't nice, Trump says mean things, Trump tweets outrageously, Trump is abrupt, Trump picks battles with the press, Trump coarsens the political discourse in our nation, Trump is not qualified, and Trump may be mentally unbalanced.

Senator Flake, with his self-satisfied smirk, along with his promise-much-deliver-little Republican associates in the Congress, completely failed their constituent voters. In the process, they created the leadership void that Donald Trump filled. Republican weakness and duplicity created the circumstances that made possible President Donald Trump! Had there been no Donald Trump, the many millions of demoralized Americans would have had to find another suitable voice.

What our all-knowing representatives in the Congress even now seem unable to grasp is that Trump's comments, Trump's opinions, Trump's tweets, Trump's expressed values and Trump's willingness to hit back (something Republicans by and large have refused to do) reflect the frustration and anger of the American voter far greater than the self-righteous blathering of self-appointed elites. Trump loves America and understands its voters. His views mirror the views of a likely majority of Americans across party lines who love this country as bequeathed them by its founding fathers, and who don't care to live in a nation that is increasingly hostile to their hopes, beliefs, values and continued freedoms.

There is no mystery in regard to the results of last years presidential election. On November 8, 2016, Americans from all walks of life loudly said we will no longer accept a government that rules against the will of the people. It is time that Republicans in general and Senator Flake in particular divest themselves of their holier than thou attitudes and do the things on which they campaigned for office. America voted for change, America voted for Donald Trump and America expects its elected majority in the Congress to give them the change for which they voted!
In a state Hillary Clinton won by five points, Ralph Northam, the Democratic nominee to succeed longtime Clinton ally Terry McAuliffe as Virginia governor, should be coasting to victory, but several key demographics in the state may not break the right way.

The first key demographic is "expansive growth" in the immigrant population in Northern Virginia, which has been a "major reason for Virginia's steady march toward the Democratic Party."

The problem for the Democrats, according to The New York Times writer Michael Tackett, is that the "lack of engagement from the brimming immigrant population" in the D.C. suburbs "represents a key challenge for Mr. Northam" and "a source of worry for his supporters" in the race against Republican Ed Gillespie.

Mr. Northam, who is from the southern part of the state, is not well known in the vote-rich Washington suburbs, and even some Democrats have said the campaign has failed to generate excitement.

Underlining the concern for Democrats who must win big in the D.C. suburbs to overcome Republican dominance in the rest of the state, The Times adds:

If the core constituency that helped Democrats carry the state in the last three presidential elections does not turn out, it will be that Republican Virginia that prevails.

Further complicating matters for Northam is the off-year election cycle:

In a presidential election year, Democrats have been able to rack up large majorities in the counties near Washington. But turnout drops substantially in off-year cycles, and Republicans can capitalize on a more loyal core of voters.

Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, and Joe Biden have all campaigned for Northam, but, as Matt Vespa at townhall.com says, "something in the internal polling has the Northam camp spooked," apparently leading to this week's controversial attack ad on Gillespie.

A second key demographic is the Bernie Sanders-Elizabeth Warren wing of the Democratic Party. Senators Sanders and Warren had backed Northam's primary opponent, while Northam had the "support of Obama-Clinton Democrats like Governor Terry McAuliffe."

Sanders has "refused to endorse Northam, "a mainstream progressive," in the general election. Albert R. Hunt at bloomberg.com reports that the Sanders organization "endorsed six Democrats in state legislative races but pointedly declined to back Northam," who "doesn't back Sanders's embrace of a single-payer national health-care system and free college education":

Democratic strategists hope that disdain for Trump will matter more to Virginia liberals than the Sanders snub.

A Northam camp that is nervous about the D.C. suburbs has the added worry of the Bernie snub.

A third demographic concern is raised by the liberal magazine The Nation, which has posted an article explained by its title: "The Obsession With White Voters Could Cost Democrats the Virginia Governor's Race." The writer, Steve Phillips, laments the "cataclysmic collapse of black-voter turnout" in the 2016 presidential election, due in part to under-funding for "African-American voter mobilization."

Phillips says the Northam campaign, rather than "heeding last year's wake-up call," is making the same mistake this year. Citing exit polls saying 53 percent of Clinton's "nearly 2 million voters" were "people of color," Phillips says of the $17 million spent by Northam to date:

Logically, if a majority of the target-voter universe consists of people of color, a campaign that wanted to win would spend a majority of its money trying to get those voters to the polls.

According to Phillips, "the Northam campaign's biggest line item  nearly $9 million  consists of funds" used to run television ads "that attack the Republican nominee for his ties to the oil company Enron." Phillips questions the "strategic rationale" of those ads, given the "centrality" of motivating "people of color" to "come out and support the Democratic ticket."

Phillips also contends that the Northam campaign has failed to provide the requisite resources and attention to the black candidate for lieutenant governor, Justin Fairfax. Even worse, as a column by Patrick Wilson at richmond.com describes, the campaign printed "some fliers" that excluded "all references to Mr. Fairfax  including his picture"  to "accommodate a union" that differs with Fairfax on pipeline construction.

To the D.C. suburbs and the Bernie snub we can add apprehension over outreach to people of color, according to Mr. Phillips.

A fourth demographic is "white rural voters" in Southern Virginia, as Vespa at townhall.com reports. In addition to questioning whether Northam cares about rural voters, Vespa adds:

In Southern Virginia, Northam was put off balance by the recent news that the Trump White House would be rescinding the Obama-era Clean Power Plan regulations that impacted coal workers in the state.

Vespa notes that "[l]ocal news stations have stories on coal every day in these areas, and they haven't forgotten Hillary Clinton saying last year 'we're going to put a lot of coal miners out of business.'"

The D.C. suburbs, the Bernie snub, people of color, and white rural voters. Is there any key demographic the Northam campaign is not bungling?
"Drain the swamp" has the memorable rhetorical flourish the president so effectively uses. It encompasses in three words the revulsion of his supporters to the accumulation of special interests he boldly seeks to undo. We should not underestimate the challenge.

Reacting to the reduction or elimination of the mortgage interest deduction, the real estate lobby immediately sought to protect its part of the swamp. Never mind that this sacred deduction to reward homeowners comes at the expense of those who rent and those who have paid off their mortgages. Never mind that countries like Canada without the home interest deduction often have higher rates of home ownership. Never mind that the deduction often benefits the wealthier taxpayers.

The real estate industry is just one of hundreds of special interests who will fight to protect their special privileges.

If the per capita cost of government is x, then every deduction, credit, and tax benefit awarded to one party comes at the expense of another. The main function of lobbyists is to exploit their influence to get tax benefits for their clients. They exist because of the basic principle of lobbying: focused benefits and dispersed costs.

The benefit to an industry or a specific company from specific legislation and regulation can be substantial, making the lobbyist's generous expense account easily justified. The costs, however, are dispersed over millions of taxpayers and are too inconsequential per voter to justify spending political capital to oppose.

The voices for tax cuts obscure the bigger issues of tax reform. Rates matter, but so does consistency, simplicity, and permanence. The variance of tax policy from one industry to another influences capital allocation in ways that cost us beyond the lower rates gifted to influential sectors. The amount of money we spend just to comply with or to circumvent the tax code could be saved by a simplified plan without costing the Treasury a dime. It could even increase revenue. How much talent is wasted on tax issues that could be used on productive and innovative pursuits? How much is spent on estate planning to avoid onerous taxes triggered only by a taxpayer's death?

And how much of any tax reform is neutered by the lack of any faith that the code will remain in place long enough to consider its implication?

I call the difference between the statutory rate and the actual rate the "special interest spread." It is the difference between the official stated rate and the actual rate paid after deductions and credits. True tax reform should seek to reduce this spread to zero.

All tax cuts do not pay for themselves. Laffer illustrates that depending on the point in the curve, tax cuts can generate more revenue, but it depends on the amount of the change, the original rate, and the specific tax. Taxes on earned income are harder to avoid than on capital gains, where timing can be more easily exercised. Productive activity can be influenced by many other friction costs such as regulation, inconsistency, and security. Spending and the debt cannot be ignored.

But there remains a great benefit to meaningful reform in the form of simplification. The influence of the federal government is less because of its growth in size than because of its proxies in the private sector. Nonprofits, state and local agencies, and special interests do the work of the federal government, and much of this is done through tax preferences and benefits. These proxies will all be fighting to retain their part of the swamp.

Taxes should be low and broad-based, as simple and as permanent as possible, while minimizing the "special interest spread" and the marginal rate.

Such a reform castrates much of the federal power over the economy, requiring the separation of operating revenue requirements from their desire to engineer and design social outcomes. Any transition to such a system will not be equally shared, and there is no need to pretend otherwise. Many who lose their mortgage deduction will make it up in lower rates, but some will not. This is the problem with reforming complicated systems with an accumulation of special provisions.

The benefit to the economy, however, would be so strong that those who are comfortable in the swamp should not be allowed to derail it.

Henry Oliner blogs at www.rebelyid.com.
Chris Matthews has put in a strong entry for the title of stupidest reaction to the Halloween jihad massacre in Lower Manhattan. Was there a memo at NBC News that forbade any mention of Islam or Jihad in discussing Sayfullo Saipov? Or is Matthews really that stupid?

Was this madness passed down from the suits at 30 Rock? Or does Chris Matthews wear such huge blinders that he cant connect the dots and see that this attack is like Barcelona, Nice, and several other examples of jihadis renting trucks and mowing down infidels?

screen grab via Newsbusters 4/20/15

His colleague, Brian Williams, the fabulist still employed as a purported newsman at NBC News, expressed equal bafflement.

This will take less than a minute of your life, and should never be forgetten when listening to Matthews spout his analysis.

Here is a hint for Chris: Muslims who follow the scripture of their religion see themselves as members of the ummah (the community of Muslims worldwide), not as citizens of some nation-state, a concept that didnt exist at the time of Mohammeds life, and therefore is something to be shunned. Because seventh century Arabia is the model for all of us to use on living our lives.
It is rare when Hollywood turns on one of its own, especially when it turns on a legitimate star who is widely-acknowledged for having a gift in his field (in this case, acting). Yet Kevin Spacey was unhappily surprised to discover that even his best-actor Oscar and his celebrity status were of little avail to him when a fellow actor outed Spacey  not for being gay  but for being a child sexual predator. In the face of that plausible (and not denied) charge, made recently by an actor who is not only openly gay but who plays an openly gay character in the popular new Star Trek TV series, and who first gained fame for his Broadway and Hollywood portrayals of Mark Cohen in Rent, not even playing the OK, Ill admit it, Im Gay trump card helped Spacey.

Image by Dianny of Patriot Retort

In large measure, this rejection of the hey Im gay, too defense occurred because the world of social media took a stand. Bloggers and tweeters and others with a platform wouldnt put up with that blatant attempt to slough off blame by turning the predator into a victim, too. Apparently, there are some gays in Hollywood who are more gay than others, and when a long-time openly gay actor makes a damning charge against someone whos never before gone gay in public, the openly gay actor wins. But it wasnt just bloggers. GLAAD, and a number of high-profile gay actors, then went public with statements that Spacey coming out should not deflect from Rapps allegations

Here are some of the less-sordid details. Earlier this week, openly-gay actor Anthony Rapp, who plays the openly-gay Science Officer Lieutenant Paul Stamets on the new (and just renewed for Season Two) CBS Streaming series, Star Trek Discovery, charged Spacey  who until this week was not openly gay (though some commentators claim Spaceys gay lifestyle choice was yet another dirty little Hollywood open secret)  had made rather aggressive and unwanted sexual advances against Rapp. This occurred at a drunken party hosted by Spacey when he (then 26) and Rapp (then 14) were starring in different Broadway plays. I wont go into the details of Spaceys failed rape attempt, but theyre gut-churning.

Spacey didnt deny the charges  instead, he claims to not remember. But after admitting that it might have happened, he proceeded to apologize most seriously, then, apparently trying to change the subject, he finally chose to admit that he was also gay, and that from this moment forward hed live an Openly Gay Lifestyle. At other times, in other circumstances, this admission might have saved Spaceys bacon, as Hollywood and the media tend to quickly lionize those with the courage (though how much courage does it take to launch a PR ploy designed to save your career and reputation?) to go public with their gay-ness. Surely, this approach has, in the past, masked the perpetrator in a shield of media-certified victimhood, and Spacey and his PR team had every reason to expect it would happen again. However, there are a lot of people in the social media world  not all of them gay by any means  who are no longer willing to allow a sudden gay admission to shroud heinous behavior in a mask of convenient self-righteous victimhood. Quickly, the strength of the social media blowback was picked up by the media, who realized that they were starting to side with the wrong gay guy  the predator instead of the victim.

Perhaps the media and Hollywood were remembering  was it just last month?  that Harvey Weinstein tried this same ploy, albeit choosing a different target. After announcing that hed go into rehab (for at least a week), he said he would put all of his resources into savaging one of Hollywood and the liberal medias favorite whipping boys  the NRA. Amazingly, that ploy didnt work for Weinstein, and now a similar ploy hasnt worked for Spacey. Hollywood and their media lackeys decided that a 14-year-old almost-rape victim who had lived his life and career as an openly gay man and actor was the more worthy victim to side with. Amazingly, in this one case, Hollywood and the liberal media got that right.

Now the consequences are falling, chip-like, wherever they may. Netflix canceled Spaceys award-winning Netflix-broadcast series, House of Cards, although dont rush to salute them for taking the moral high ground. The series has been canceled  but not until after next seasons run of programs, which are still being shot. And though the show has been canceled (eventually) a decision that had been under consideration before the scandal broke, House of Cards hasnt been removed from the Netflix playlist of programming. So the disgraced Spacey will receive another years worth of royalties, and Netflix will continue to serve undiscriminating viewers. In fact, its not too much to predict that this program, which focuses on a couple whose total lack of moral fiber allows them to rise in politics from the House to the White House. Given that its lead star has now been shown to have no more moral fiber than the murderous character he plays, this might even boost ratings.

On a purely personal note, Im saddened to learn of Spaceys fall from grace; not because I care one whit for his lifestyle choices, but because I refuse to watch anything from Hollywood that rewards pedophiles, and I just recently bought the movie Nine Lives. Thats a cute little movie thats ideal for a Katmandu (cat lover) like me. Its a heartwarming light family comedy with a strong moral message that I like to watch at times when I want to escape from the slime of society, if only for 90 minutes. Scratch that film. I adopted this draconian policy when Woody Allens incestuous semi-pedophilia was revealed; I used to be a huge fan, until what he was doing with and to his adopted daughter become public knowledge. As this decision applies to the current kerfuffle, I dont give a rodents rear end about whether Spaceys gay, but attempting to seduce a 14-year old at a cast party with drinking and (possibly) drugs present is way over any possible line. However, as much as Ill miss Nine Lives (I can always substitute Zootopia, another cute uplifting-message movie), I didnt have to scratch House of Cards from my list. Not quite two seasons was all I could take before the Spacey characters absolute lack of moral standards lost their appeal, which occurred at roughly the same time that I gave up on Breaking Bad and Dexter, for pretty much the same reasons.

Am I calling for a boycott of Spaceys work? Not a chance. Your choices are your own, not mine. Follow my example or ignore it, the choice is yours. But if you choose to keep supporting Hollywood actors and producers and directors whose personal lives make skinny-dipping in a cesspool look attractive by comparison, at least you can be confident that youve got plenty of programming to look forward to. And if you do, please, dont then get all high-horse-holy on the rest of us when you criticize the moral failures increasingly endemic in America.
Does America owe everyone in the world a lottery ticket chance to gain entry to our homeland? Sayfullo Saipov, the jihadi who mowed down bikers and pedestrians in New York City, shouting Allahu akbar! (Allah is supreme!) before being shot and captured, was in this country thanks to the Diversity Visa Process that operates as if our first duty is to make sure everyone has a shot at immigrating here, instead of picking who will benefit Americans. The State Department instructs applicants (as Saipov was years ago):

Section 203(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) provides for a class of immigrants known as diversity immigrants, from countries with historically low rates of immigration to the United States. A limited number of visas are available each fiscal year. The DVs are distributed among six geographic regions and no single country may receive more than seven percent of the available DVs in any one year.

This program blindly prefers ethnic fragmentation (aka, diversity). There is zero weight placed on benefit to Americans. Let public schools try to find teachers who can instruct students in languages like Khmer, Turkish, and Sinhala (languages in which it is possible to apply for diversity visas) and It is the opposite of President Trumps injunction of America first, and unsurprisingly President Trump has proposed ending it.

Neil Munro wrote on August 2:

President Donald Trump today joined with two GOP Senators to introduce his merit-based immigration reform, which is designed to help millions of Americans hurt by the nations current cheap-labor immigration policies. The RAISE Act will reduce poverty, increase wages and save taxpayers billions and billions of dollars, Trump told reporters in the Roosevelt Room of the White House. This legislation demonstrates our compassion for struggling American families who deserve an immigration system that puts their needs first, and that puts America first. The current immigration system, said Trump: has placed substantial pressure on American workers, taxpayers and community resources, and among those hit the hardest  are minority workers competing for jobs against brand new arrivals. It has not been fair to our people, to our citizens, to our workers  [this RAISE act] will give Americans a pay raise by reducing immigration [and] it will restore the sacred bonds of trust between America and its citizens. (snip) The bill was drafted and is being pushed by Georgia Sen. David Perdue and Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton. (snip) Each year, only one-in-15 of the 1 million green card immigrants is accepted because of their ability to grow the economy, said Cotton. It is imperative that our immigration system focuses on high skilled workers who can add value to our economy and ultimately achieve their own version of the American dream, said Perdue.

Tom Cotton later told Breitbart,

The diversity lottery serves no discernible humanitarian or economic interest, Cotton explained to Breitbart News. It is a policy that has far outlived its usefulness and it really doesnt even serve diversity since Europe is one of the primary uses of it. Even in past efforts at amnesty-first comprehensive immigration reform like we saw in 2013 and 2007, most people agree we should eliminate the diversity lottery. I think its a policy that has far outlived its usefulness if it ever had any utility and its time to eliminate the diversity lottery.

John Binder noted:

Center for Immigration Studies National Security Policy Director Janice Kephart testified before Congress about the security risks associated with the visa program. The Diversity Visa Program is an unfortunate blind spot in our immigration system that has outlived whatever purpose it might have had, Kephart explained in her testimony in 2011. The applicants for these 50,000 visa lottery immigration slots require few skills. Neither their qualifications nor identity can be properly vetted. The program does not know, really, who these applicants are or their true purpose in coming to the United States. The program is a national security vulnerability and has been used by terrorists and organized criminals to not only enter the United States but to bring others in as well.

Saipovs horror may at last spur long overdue reform of our visa system. Let the foes of President Trump argue that the most important thing is to be fair to foreigners and make sure we have given everyone a random chance of coming into this country to live, instead of choosing people with skills we need, who will not become a burden on the taxpayers, but will rather contribute to our welfare. Or, in a tiny but lethal percentage of sharia-believing Muslims, inflict horrific terror upon us.
We are still waiting for the Justice Department and the FBI to produce documents subpoenaed by the House Intelligence Committee on the anti-Trump dossier compiled by British intelligence operative Christopher Steele, and funded by the Hillary Clinton campaign and the Democratic National Committee. As Wall Street Journal columnist, William McGurn, indicated in his October 30 column,that thanks to the persistence of the House Intelligence Committee, we may yet learn whether the Hillary Clinton campaign "was able to leverage opposition research based on Russian disinformation to bring about an FBI investigation" of the Trump campaign.

That the Obama administration, working with the Clinton campaign might have turned the FBI into a partisan instrument for the purpose of determining the outcome of the 2016 presidential election is, of course, of no interest to the anti-Trump coalition of disgruntled Bushies and lefties. Consider their rush to underscore the significance of the money-laundering charge brought against Paul Manafort by special counsel (grand inquisitor would perhaps be more apt) Robert S. Mueller III. According to the dictionary, money laundering is "The process of taking the proceeds of criminal activity and making them appear legal."

New York Times columnist Michelle Goldberg, in her October 31 column, referred to Manafort as an accused "money-launderer." She was silent, however, as to the nature of the activity from which Manafort derived the funds he allegedly laundered. But then, according to the indictment, Goldberg was given no basis as to what the money laundering charge entailed.

The money laundering charge is Count Two of the 12-Count indictment brought against Manafort and Richard Gates -- in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. The count mentions "the process of some form of unlawful activity," but offers scant, if any, details.

Count Two does allege that the money laundering occurred from 2006 to 2016. It should be noted that Mueller was FBI director from September 4, 2001 to September 4, 2013. Where was the FBI for seven of the ten years of Manafort's alleged money laundering?

And, as William McGurn, among others, pointed out, what does a money laundering charge against Paul Manafort have to do with Mueller's mandate to probe Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election?

The indictment brought by Mueller is very much in the spirit of this Halloween, as, clearly, it seeks to turn President Trump into the meanest of hobgoblins, who must be removed from office. Goldberg, desperate to divert attention from the real culprits, asserted in her October 31 Times column "it's sometimes hard to grasp the Trump campaign's conspiracy against our democracy," and libeled the president "more gangster than entrepreneur." For the neo-totalitarian left, however, the election of a president loathed by leftists is the actual offense, committed by the American people - demeaned, derided and dismissed by the left and their GOP Never Trump allies.

Indeed, the conspiracy against our democracy and our democratic institutions is the work of the anti-Trump crowd, desperate to maintain as myth, rather than reality, the concept of government of, by and for the people. Attorney General Jeff Sessions must see to it that the Justice Department and FBI comply with all congressional subpoenas on Russiagate if our country is to remain on the democratic straight and narrow.
A high level defector from North Korea says that the west should use "maximum engagement" to solve the crisis with Pyongyang.

Thae Yong-ho, the former deputy chief of mission for North Korea in the United Kingdom is considered the highest level defector in 20 years. Thae addressed the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington think tank, on Tuesday.

VOA:

"I decided that the best gift which I may give to my son is the freedom which is so common to everyone here," Thae told the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington think tank, on Tuesday. "I strongly believe if we educate the North Korean population, we can change North Korea." He said nothing can stop what he called Kim Jong Un's "reign of terror," saying Kim would use soldiers and tanks against North Korean street protesters. He said much more can be done to spread information about the outside in the North, including the use of what young North Koreans call "nose cards"  secure digital cards small enough to smuggle inside a nostril to avoid a body search. Thae said he believes Kim's intense need to launch missiles and build nuclear weapons came out of his own insecurities and a need to prove his legitimacy after the death of his father, Kim Jong-il. "Whenever he watched senior leaders' attitude around him, he thought there was a little looking down upon from the senior leaders because he was the third son. A lot of the North Korean population don't know that he is the third son." Thae says Kim has yet to publicly reveal his birth date or show childhood photos. North Korean officials call Thae "human scum," and have accused him of numerous crimes, including embezzlement. Thae plans to speak before a U.S. congressional committee Wednesday.

These are all fine sentiments but why initiate talks with a regime when it would play directly into their hands? What Kim Jong-un desires most of all is an acknowledgement by the rest of the world of his country's nuclear status. Since the US and the west absolutely and categorically refuse to do that, "engagement" is a hollow recommendation.

Besides, totalitarian regimes are known for prepping would be defectors so they spread false information. It may have been known by the Kim regime that Thae was disgruntled and liable to defect if given the opportunity. Thae may have unknowingly absorbed exactly what the regime wanted him to and then posted him to a place where it would be fairly easy to defect.

I don't doubt the genuineness of his defection. But Thae's recommended course of action is naive.
What's in those JFK files? I don't know and don't plan to read anything more than summaries in the media. I understand that there are some juicy things in the files, but I've been sold on Lee Harvey Oswald shooting President Kennedy since reading Case Closed twenty years ago.

The latest bit of interest has to do with Bolivia. Bolivia, you say? Isn't that where Che Guevara was killed in 1967  four years after JFK was killed?

The issue is fascinating because it deals with Bolivia and Chile, which have been arguing about a border for years. This is from Sabrina Martin:

Bolivian President Evo Morales said this weekend that Chile made a "secret offer" to grant the country access to the ocean in exchange for an alliance against Peru. Morales made the statements this Sunday, October 29 when documents concerning the assassination of John F. Kennedy were released by Unites States President Donald Trump. The documents allegedly contain evidence of the proposed alliance. The alleged "offer" was made in December 1975 during Chile's Augusto Pinochet dictatorship, and includes an offer of a 6.2-mile passage to the ocean. "In exchange for the passage, Chile asked to trade territories and Bolivian fresh bodies of water," Morales tweeted. "They wanted an alliance against Peru."

I guess leftist Morales is also fond of tweeting!

The issue is really a gift to Morales, who is desperately looking for a distraction back home. He has been the subject of a lot of corruption charges and lost a $2-billion petrochemical plant contract with European Firms. And the Economist blasted Morales in 2016 when he tried to change the constitution to stay in power.

Getting into an argument with Chile over a border dispute is good politics for Morales, especially if he can somehow blame the U.S. for the information.

PS: You can listen to my show (Canto Talk) and follow me on Twitter.
The Wall Street Journal again illustrates its willingness to overlook nearly anything as long as we can just get back to making money...regardless of whether privately or by skimming off the public.

Mr. Trump can end this madness by immediately issuing a blanket presidential pardon to anyone involved in supposed collusion with Russia or Russians during the 2016 presidential campaign, to anyone involved with Russian acquisition of an American uranium company during the Obama administration, and to anyone for any offense that has been investigated by Mr. Muellers office. Political weaponization of criminal law should give way to a politically accountable democratic process. Nefarious Russian activities, including possible interference in U.S. elections, can and should be investigated by Congress.

While the second paragraph is correct, the first paragraph is repugnant in the extreme. The Journal continues with the morally antithetical concept:

Partisan bitterness will not evaporate if lawmakers take up the investigation. But at least those conducting the inquiry will be legitimate and politically accountable. And the question of whether Russia intervened in the 2016 election, and of whether it made efforts to influence U.S. policy makers in previous administrations, is first and foremost one of policy and national security, not criminal law.

These mavens of the Washington, D.C. salons are playing for a draw, not a win. By advocating a blanket presidential pardon for everyone (guilty and innocent), they reveal the quaking fear of the Washington, D.C. establishment  the fear that any further investigation will reveal the culpability of far more than a few Clintonistas and will peel back the scab forming over the malfeasance of the Obama administration and the collaboration of GOP establishment figures in the overall debauching of our nation.

The WSJ's aiding and abetting concludes:

The president himself would be covered by the blanket pardon we recommend, but the pardon power does not extend to impeachment. If Congress finds evidence that he was somehow involved in collusion with Russia, the House can determine whether to begin impeachment proceedings. Congress also is better equipped, as part of its oversight role, to determine whether and how the FBI, Justice Department and intelligence agencies might have been involved in the whole affair, including possible misuse of surveillance and mishandling of criminal investigations.

Of course, they are referring to the same Congress that has refused to hold anyone accountable for anything throughout the eight criminally bloated years of Obama. Not to mention that said presidential pardon would extend to those involved in the corruption and the cover-up, rendering any revelations discovered moot, immune to prosecution  making any investigation nothing more than a slavering exercise in worthless feel-good legalism.

The denizens of the swamp are recognizing the danger their criminal enterprise is facing from a populace demanding accountability for criminal and civil corruption and, as evidenced by this prominent op-ed, are willing (for the moment) to set aside their animus for the president if it will result in a get-out-of-jail-free card for them.

Push your representatives to fight hard for a true investigation, and let the chips fall where they may. Anything less may prove mortally injurious to our nation.

The author welcomes visitors to his website dailyherring.com.
Much of what we know about the human anatomy comes from dissecting human cadavers. The practice goes back to classical antiquity. The Greeks and the Romans carried out human dissection, and so did ancient medicine men in India. In Europe, the practice flourished in the 18th and 19th century with a new found medical interest in detailed anatomy, thanks to an increase in the importance of surgery.

Back then, and prior to the Anatomy Act of 1832, the only legal supply of corpses were those condemned to death and dissection by the courts. Executions were common in those days. Hundreds were hanged or guillotined for trivial crimes. But by turn of the 19th century, the number of criminals sentenced to capital punishment came down drastically creating a serious shortage of cadavers needed in order to study anatomy. This ushered in the practice of grave digging, where body snatchers or "resurrectionists" would dig up dead bodies and sell them to medical schools.

Photo credit: Alan Longmuir/Flickr

Body snatching was a lucrative business, a necessary evil even, but a nuisance to the society. It became so rampant that dead bodies often had to be watched over by relatives and friends of the deceased, to prevent them from being stolen. In some church yards watch towers were built and a man appointed to stand guard over night. Some families used coffins made of iron, or graves were protected by a framework of iron bars called mortsafes. Another invention was the mort house, where bodies were stored temporarily until they had decomposed so that they cannot be used for medical dissection. The body would then be buried in its permanent resting place.

One such mort house is located in the old kirkyard at Udny Green, Aberdeenshire, north-east Scotland. Built in 1832, Udny mort house is a windowless, granite chamber with a strong oak door and an inner iron door. Inside there is a turntable on which coffins would be placed. When another body was deposited, the platform would be turned slightly to accommodate the new coffin. When a coffin had rotated one full revolution, it would have decomposed sufficiently to be of no use to body snatchers. Depending on demand, a body would stay in the mort house from seven days to up to three months.

The mort house fell into disuse after the passing of the Anatomy Act 1832, which granted doctors, and teachers and students of anatomy the right to dissect donated and unclaimed bodies.

The mort house is now a category B listed building.

Resurrectionists (1847), by Hablot Knight Browne.

A mortsafe in St Mary's Churchard, Holystone. Photo credit: johndal/Flickr

A mortsafe in Greyfriars Kirkyard. Photo credit: Kim Traynor/Wikimedia

Inside the Udny Mort House. Photo credit: Alan Longmuir/Flickr

Udny Mort House, outer oak door. Photo credit: Sagaciousphil/Wikimedia

Sources: Wikipedia / Wikipedia / blog.kilts-n-stuff.com
Alex Wubbels: nurse assaulted by police gets $500,000

Remember Alex Wubbels. the nurse roughed up by police for doing her job? Well, shes been awarded $500,000 for her ordeal. When she rightly refused police demands to take blood from an unconscious man, the police cuffed, her and dragged her outside. Gratifyingly, the police thuggery was recored on a bodycam.

The money will be paid by Salt Lake City and the University of Utah. Detective Jeff Payne was sacked from his job with Salt Lake City police. No other police were busted  chiefly Paynes colleague who stood by and watched it happen. Payne is taking his dismissal to appeal.

We all deserve to know the truth, and the truth comes when you see the actual raw footage, and thats what happened in my case, says Wubbels. No matter how truthful I was in telling my story, it was nothing compared to what people saw and the visceral reaction people experienced when watching the footage of the experience I went through. Media matters.

Ms Wubbels has donated some of her compensation to a nursing union and plans to use the money to help other abused by police who cant respect the law.

Anorak

Posted: 1st, November 2017 | In: Money, News Comment | TrackBack | Permalink
Alien ranch for sale in Arizona: scene of extraterrestrial battle yours for $5m

As marketing plans go, telling people the home youre selling is on every extraterrestrials bucket list is sure you appeal to many. Add the thrill of anal probing aboard the mothership and kidnapped spouses, and let the auctions begin. John Edmonds is selling his aline-infested 6.97-acre Stardust Ranch in Rainbow Valley, Arizona. Its yours for $5-million.

Edmonds claims he has slain 19 aliens with samurai swords and he and his wife have endured abduction attempts.They actually levitated her out of the bed in the master chamber and carried her into the parking lot and tried to draw her up into the craft, he told NBC-affiliate KPNX.

Under one image of what appears to be dried blood and a katana, he described the method of destroying the greys. Unless you cut the head off and disconnect the antennae, so to speak, they instantly phone home. Even with a razor-sharp sword, it is nearly impossible to decapitate them with one swing, he wrote.

Fancy living on the ranch?

Its not something for a traditional family, but it holds a lot of secrets and what I believe are future opportunities to understand forces that are in the universe, he said. Please be very well grounded because the energy here has the tendency to manifest with whatever is going on with you.

Geekologie has a screen shot of the Facebook chat between Edmonds and interested parties:

Spotter: Geekologie

Anorak

Posted: 1st, November 2017 | In: Strange But True Comment | TrackBack | Permalink
(ANSA) - Rome, October 31 - A 2011 pension reform named after then labour minister Elsa Fornero has "serious defects", Labour Minister Giuliano Poletti said Tuesday. Poletti said "serious discussion" was needed on the type and number of heavy manual jobs that should be exempted from the reform's raising of the pension age to 67 by 2019. "The intervention that was achieved with the Fornero reform in my view had very serious defects: those left without a pension or job, the 'exiled ones', the sharp jump in age, without finding a point of equilibrium, and not foreseeing a diversified treatment on the basis of the (type of) job," Poletti said on prime-time TV chat show Porta a Porta.

He said the Fornero law "did not represent a good solution, so much so that we are correcting it". As for a list of heavy jobs to be listed for earlier retirement, Poletti said "we need a serious discussion on a scientific basis".

Poletti said one of the ideas being looked at, on a proposal from pensions agency INPS chief Tito Boeri, is to make employers' contributions bigger for a range of heavy jobs.

"Raising the contributions for jobs with a higher mortality rate is one of the hypotheses we are considering," Poletti said on Porta a Porta.


The livery is based on the Expo 2020 logo inspired by an ancient gold ring excavated in Dubai and it underlines Emirates support for the vision of Expo 2020 Dubai. Emirates is the Official Airline Partner of Expo 2020 Dubai.

Emirates will be installing three different decal designs to reflect the different themes of Expo 2020- namely opportunity, mobility and sustainability. The theme of the first decal installed was mobility which also relates to Emirates role as a connector of people, places and opportunities, as the airline links over 150 destinations in 84 countries to, from, and via its hub in Dubai. The main theme of Expo 2020 Dubai also revolves around Connecting Minds, Creating the Future.

Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline and Group said: Expo 2020 Dubai will be an important platform facilitating a global exchange of ideas, collaborations and partnerships across a range of industries and domains. Emirates is gearing up for this landmark occasion and championing the vision of Connecting Minds and Creating the Future through the new Expo 2020 decals that will be installed on our aircraft.

Reem Al Hashimy, UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation and Director General Expo 2020 Dubai Bureau said: We are delighted to see Emirates, our first Premier Partner, expressing its support for Expo in this way. We are planning to host the first World Expo where the majority of our visitors will be travelling internationally. By carrying our logo across the world on its aircraft, Emirates is playing an important role in helping us promote that goal.

Emirates will dedicate a total of 40 aircraft from its fleet, both Airbus A380s and Boeing 777s, to be emblazoned with the dedicated Expo 2020 decals starting in 2017 through to the end of Expo 2020 Dubai. In addition, all aircraft in Emirates fleet will also carry a new Expo 2020 nose decal.

The Expo 2020 decal installed by the Emirates Aircraft Appearance Centre is one of the largest decals to be applied on an Emirates Boeing 777 aircraft. It is also the first time that the surface area on top of the aircraft has been covered by a decal. The Expo decal applied on the Boeing 777 covers over 40% of the aircraft fuselage surface area. The design spans over 37.8 metres in length and 12 metres in width. The decal was designed, printed and installed by Emirates in-house graphic shop team. It took a team of 6 staff over 84 hours to complete the decal installation.
The Saudi budget carrier's chief executive, Con Korfiatis said: We're looking at around 50 aircraft including options. This will be with the manufacturers, he said. We expect to issue that RFP very shortly over the next month.

Earlier in October, Saudi Arabian Airlines Group Director General, Saleh bin Nasser al-Jasser, told Reuters talks would focus on a firm order for around thirty aircraft with the A320neo and B737 MAX under consideration.

flyadeal was launched in September and currently operates three A320-200s on flights covering Jeddah, Riyadh, and Gassim. As a low-cost airline, it competes with the privately-owned flynas which, earlier this year, unveiled plans to replace its current fleet of twenty-six A320-200s and two A319-100s with eighty A320neo family aircraft from 2018 through to 2028.
This is the fourth year in a row that Oman Air has taken the titles, which are voted for by travel and tourism professionals from around the world. This is the latest in a long line of awards won by Oman Air.

Acting CEO of Oman Air, Eng. Abdulaziz Al Raisi, said: This is a fantastic achievement for Oman Air to be voted the best, considering the competition we were up against. These awards set the standards for the travel industry and confirm that Oman Air services and standards are of the highest quality. It is immensely gratifying to be recognized for our unique product and overall guest experience in both these two key classes in our industry.
IGA, the contractor and designated operator of the new airport, has brought SITA on board to design and deliver IT solutions that will manage everything from landing to take off as well as all passenger processing and baggage management systems from check-in through to boarding. SITAs systems will be required to support 75 flight departures per hour, 3,500 flight operations per day and 1,000 bags per flight. Upon completion of all phases of the project, the capacity will reach over 200 million passengers annually, making it one of the worlds biggest airports.

Hani El-Assaad, SITA President, Middle East, India and Africa said: Airports are without a doubt one of the most connected public spaces. SITAs role is to provide and integrate all these systems to provide effortless airport management while elevating the passenger experience and satisfaction. We remove the complexity so that IGA can focus on what is really important: the passenger.

In the first phase of the infrastructure development, SITA will deploy passenger processing systems to provide a smooth and efficient experience for passengers. This includes SITAs departure control system allowing multiple airlines to connect and use the same check-in and boarding infrastructure. SITA will also implement automated passenger access control that will validate all types of boarding passes against travel documents at key touchpoints such as security and boarding. In total, SITA will provide 1,041 check-in and boarding workstations and 90 touchpoints where passengers can validate their boarding passes.

SITAs baggage management technology will also ensure airlines flying to the airport are able to track their bags at every stage of the journey, meeting IATAs Resolution 753 requirements from day one.

SITA will deploy key airport management solutions that will allow IGA to proactively manage and oversee every aspect of the airport operation. SITAs Airport Management Solution will make it possible for IGA to centralise flight data information collected from all the systems in the airport and to proactively take smart decisions in managing the resources in the airport. SITA will help IGA take collaboration a step further through the sharing of common airport operational objectives across stakeholders such as airlines, ground handlers and control authorities.

Yusuf Akcayoglu, CEO of IGA Airports Construction said: We fully understand that having the right technology will be essential to the successful operation of the new airport and future-proofing it for decades to come.

It is also critical to ensuring our passengers fully benefit from our new, world-class facilities by providing innovative systems that make the journey through the airport enjoyable and effortless. We are confident that we will conclude this co-operation successfully.

Ersin Inankul, CIO of IGA Airports Construction said: In building a new facility, we have the opportunity to implement technology or the capacity to accommodate new technologies, thereby ensuring we are well prepared to accommodate changing requirements over time. Working with SITA, we have implemented passenger and operational systems that support those evolving demands, assuring the long-term future of Istanbul New Airport.

The construction of the new airport will be carried out in four phases. The first phase will be finalised in 2018 with the opening of three runways and a main terminal building with a capacity of 90 million passengers a year. Close to 100 airlines have committed to begin using the airport once it opens for operations.
Mrs. T and I went to Florida for the first time in 2009. Weve returned each winter since then to see shows. This year, though, were staying home. Thereby hangs a tale that is both frightening and hopeful.

A couple of years before we first met, Mrs. T was diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension, a chronic illness about which I had occasion to write in todays Wall Street Journal. Its an extremely rare disease of the lungs and heart that develops slowly and is unusually hard to diagnoseso much so that Mrs. T almost certainly had it for several years before she, or anyone else, understood what was going wrong with her.

Dont be surprised if youve never heard of pulmonary hypertension. Ive yet to meet anybody other than a doctor whos heard of it, unless theyve got it themselves or know someone who does. Part of the problem is that PH (as its known to those who have it) is an invisible illness. Were you to see Mrs. T sitting down, you wouldnt guess that there was anything wrong with her. This is one of the reasons why shes long been reluctant to talk about it, or to let me discuss it in public. Now shes changed her mind. She feels, as do I, that its time for both of us to start being open about what we deal with every day.

Many people with invisible illnesses encourage their friends to read The Spoon Theory, an essay by Christine Miserandino in which she explains what its like to have a chronic illness. I commend it to your attention, as well as this article by another woman who suffers from PH:

If you try to walk alongside me, you may notice that I need to slow down, or may have to try and catch my breath while speaking. You might notice me gasping for air if we had to walk up a hill or some steps. People with PH are often out of breath by the time they reach the third step in a flight of stairs. I may look perfectly healthy, but I have a lung-heart disease. Those are two very vital organs that needed to do the most basic of tasks that are often taken for granted, such as going up the stairs, or bending down to tie your shoes.

PH gradually wreaks havoc on your stamina, enough so that Mrs. T, who was still able to lead a near-normal life when we met and for a few years afterward, is now quite frail and must use oxygen around the clock. The not-so-quiet purr of her oxygen concentrator has grown so familiar to me that I actually get nervous whenever Im home alone and its turned off.

Pulmonary hypertension is incurable, and its also terminal if left untreated. Palliative therapies can help to relieve the symptoms, though only up to a point. To this end, Mrs. T takes a dozen pills each day and wears a medicine pump and an implanted venous catheter that deliver vasodilators to her lungs around the clock. The drugs that she takes, however, are in some ways as debilitating as the disease itselfshes usually somewhat nauseated and almost always in pain, as if she were on chemotherapyand over time they lose their therapeutic effect.

We are, needless to say, as grateful as its possible to be to the doctors whove kept Mrs. T alive this long. They were betting against the house. When we met, late in 2005, her life expectancy was two years. I found that out by looking up pulmonary hypertension on Wikipedia, which isnt the best possible way to learn the likely lifespan of someone with whom youve just fallen in love. It didnt matterI knew Id met the woman of my dreams and was determined to make the most of whatever time wed have togetherbut it still scared the hell out of me. Fortunately for both of us, brand-new treatments for PH became available shortly thereafter, which is why shes still around.

Weve known all along, though, that a time was coming when the palliative measures that keep Mrs. T afloat would cease to be helpful. In preparation for that day, we entered the lung-transplant program at New York-Presbyterian Hospital in 2010. I say we because you cant enter a transplant program alone: you must also have a spouse, domestic partner, or close friend who is prepared to make a firm, fully informed commitment to helping you get through the surgery and caring for you afterward. The good news is that a double lung transplant removes your diseased organs and gives you a fresh start. It is, to be sure, as drastic a procedure as it sounds, but once you enter the end stages of PH, its also the only alternative towell, lets call it the dark encounter.

Its been evident to both of us for the past year or so that Mrs. T would soon reach the point where there was no longer any alternative to a transplant. The catch is that there simply arent enough donor lungs to go around in the New York transplant region. To donate the organs of a loved one is the greatest gift you can give, but one that not nearly enough people do give. Every fifteen hours, someone in New York dies while waiting for a donor organ.

As this article explains, theres a yawning gap between saying that you believe in organ donation and being willing to walk the walk:

Why dont more people donate? Its a touchy question, something non-donors arent necessarily keen to answer. But experts say there is a large disparity between the number of people who say that they support organ donation in theory and the number of people who actually register. In the U.K., for example, more than 90 percent of people say they support organ donation in opinion polls, but less than one-third are registered donors.

For this reason, Selim Arcasoy, the wonderful doctor at New York-Presbyterian who is in charge of Mrs. Ts care there, suggested to us earlier this year that we should consider simultaneously enrolling her in a second program located in a different transplant region where organs are less scarce. So we had her evaluated last month by Philadelphias Penn Transplant Institute, and Penn subsequently accepted her into its lung-transplant program.

All of which brings us to the reason for this posting. If you need a transplant, the time will eventually come when youre put on an active waiting list. Once that happens, youre on call 24/7. When the call comes, youre expected to go straight from wherever you are to the hospital, with no stops along the way. Very often its a false alarmthe organs, for example, may prove on closer inspection not to be suitable for transplantbut if it isnt, youll be on the operating table a few hours later.

If you read this blog with any regularity, you know that Mrs. T and I have been profoundly happy throughout the decade weve spent together. Nevertheless, she is, as the saying goes, sick and tired of being sick and tired, which is why shes ready to roll the dice and undergo a double lung transplant as soon as organs become available. Dr. Arcasoy and his colleagues think shes ready, too, so New York-Presbyterian will be listing Mrs. T for transplant later this month. We expect Penn to follow suit shortly.

Both of us will soon be keeping our cellphones charged and on at all times, since theres no telling when the call might come. It might be next Saturday at three in the morning, or six months from now. Thats the way it goes with transplants: you never know until the phone rings, though weve been told that you do tend more often than not to get called in the middle of the night.

Weve been through this before, sort of. It looked as though Mrs. T were going to be listed a couple of years ago, and we let ourselves get excited enough to tell our friends that the Great Day was coming. No such luck. It didnt happen, and our disappointment was palpable. This time, though, its definitely the real right thing, not just at one transplant center but in two different cities at once.

Just in case you were wondering, Im proud beyond belief to be the husband of and caregiver to so gallant a woman. It is a joy for me to make her life as easy as I possibly can, and there has never been anyone with whom Ive loved staying home more than her. Donald Hall said it:

Nursing her I felt alive

in the animal moment,

scenting the predator.

Her death was the worst thing

that could happen,

and caring for her was best.

I hasten to add that the caregiving in our little family unit of two has never been a one-way affair! Mrs. T has given me at least as much pleasure and inspiration as Ive tried to give her. I have no idea where she finds the strength to cope with the day-to-day demands of the illness that has slowly gnawed away her physical vitality, or how she manages to keep her spirits so improbably high, even on the increasingly frequent days of total exhaustion that those who suffer from PH refer to as couch days. Alas, shes needed a steadily increasing amount of care in recent years, and will need still more in the weeks and months to come, not just from me but from our family and friends. We have no doubt that they will rise to the occasion, just as Ive tried to do so to the very best of my ability.

Anyway, thats why were not going to Florida in January. Love it though we do, its too far away from New York and Philadelphia for us to respond in a timely way to the Big Call, and Mrs. Ts lungs and heart are no longer up to the stress of air travel. We tried taking a train two years ago, but it didnt work out very well. So the sunshine will have to wait.

I should add that Ill still be flying down to West Palm Beach next Monday to rehearse Billy and Me, my new play. I agreed to do so long before we had any idea that Mrs. T would be listed in November, and shes made it clear that she expects me to honor my promise. While Im gone, shell be watched over by her family in Connecticut. Theyll stand ready to rush her to the hospital if need be, at which time Ill catch the first thing smoking. Otherwise, Ill return to her side as soon as the curtain goes up, putting my traveling shoes in the closet for the duration.

We both know what were getting into. Anyone whos been in a transplant program is left in no doubt about what is to come. Mrs. Ts post-transplant life will be upended in countless ways both large (shell be under close medical supervision for the rest of her life) and small (no more raw oysters ever again!). We know, too, that no transplantto put it very, very mildlyis a sure thing. But if we get lucky and do just what were supposed to do, shell also be able to turn off her oxygen concentrator for good and give it to someone who cant afford one.

And after that? In the short run, shell gladly settle for being able to walk up a flight of stairs without having to gasp for breath. Beyond that, were drawing up a list of Things to Do After the Transplant. Foremost among them is to go back to Florida and spend hours each day walking up and down the shelly beaches of Sanibel Island, our favorite place in the world. Its been a long time since Mrs. T has had enough strength to take such walks with me. Were ready to begin again.

One last thing: if you havent signed up to be an organ donor, please do so now, and encourage your friends to do likewise. The life you save could be that of the woman I love.

* * *

Mabel Mercer and Buddy Barnes perform The Best Is Yet to Come, by Cy Coleman and Carolyn Leigh, at New Yorks Town Hall in 1969:
India has 21 public sector banks, which account for more than two-thirds of the countrys banking assets.

India has set up a panel headed by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley to evaluate proposals for mergers among state-run banks. (Photo: PTI)

New Delhi: Proposals from state-owned lenders for in-principle approval to formulate schemes of amalgamation will be placed before the Alternative Mechanism (AM) for consolidation of the banks, the government said on Wednesday.

The AM panel is headed by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.

"A report on the proposals cleared by Alternative Mechanism will be sent to the Cabinet every three months," the finance ministry said in a statement.

It said the AM, which will receive inputs from the Reserve Bank before according in-principle approvals, may also direct banks to examine proposals for amalgamation.

The other members of the AM panel are Minister of Railways and Coal Piyush Goyal and Minister of Defence Nirmala Sitharaman.

The AM would devise its own procedure for appraisal of amalgamation proposals by banks, and be guided overall by the objectives of the Nationalisation Acts [Banking Companies (Acquisition and Transfer of Undertakings) Acts, 1970 and 1980].

The statement further said that the "Final Schemes" formulated will be approved by the central government, and laid in both the Houses of Parliament.

While announcing the unprecedented Rs 2.11 lakh crore capital infusion roadmap for the public sector banks last month, Jaitley had said, this will be accompanied by a series of banking reforms over the next few months.

The constitution of AM is a movement in that direction.

The Union Cabinet in August had decided to set up an Alternative Mechanism to fast track consolidation among public sector banks to create strong lenders.

The move to create large banks aims at meeting the credit needs of the growing Indian economy and building capacity in the PSB space to raise resources without dependence on the state exchequer.
Assocham believes there is room for more reforms.

India has been ranked 100th among 190 countries and territories in the report released by the World Bank on Tuesday.

New Delhi: Cheered by the countrys 30-notch jump to 100th in the World Banks ease of doing business ranking, India Inc on Tuesday said the improved performance will boost investor sentiment, even as the industry believes a lot more needs to be done on the reforms front.

India has been ranked 100th among 190 countries and territories in the report released by the World Bank on Tuesday.

This, however, does not reflect the latest GST, whose results could be reflected only in next years ease of doing business report. Last year, India was ranked 130th.

Indias climb up in ease of doing index comes on the back of several bold reform measures including Goods and Services Tax, Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, digital drive and involvement of states in faster clearance of projects.

However, a lot more needs to be done and the effort in further scaling up of ease of doing should continue, Assocham said.

India registered reforms in eight of the 10 areas of the report, which in itself is a record. While China continues to be ahead of India, but this year the gap between the two countries has narrowed down.

The report notes that India has adopted 37 reforms since 2003. Nearly half of these reforms have been implemented in the last four years.

The huge improvement in ranking and score will immediately boost investor sentiments. The report validates the commitment of the government to fast-tracking economic reforms, addressing red tape and facilitating business, which it has undertaken in mission mode over the last three years, CII director general Chandrajit Banerjee said.


Goa CM said he got an opportunity to read about Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel when he was defence minister.

Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar said, 'In 1950, Sardar Patel had predicted what would happen in 1965 (India-Pakistan war)...the war that happened with China, even the Dokalam issue, which has come up in the recent times.' (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)

Panaji: India's first home minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel had predicted India's wars with China and Pakistan, fought over a decade later, in 1950, Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar has said.

In a three-page letter written to India's first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru, Patel had also predicted the Dokalam issue, Parrikar said on Tuesday.

He was speaking at a function to mark the birth anniversary of Patel and the death anniversary of Indira Gandhi.

Parrikar said he got an opportunity to read about Patel when he was defence minister.

"I read one of his letters written to Jawaharlal Nehru. In the letter, the subject was about our enemy or adversary along the northern border," Parrikar said.

"In 1950, Sardar Patel had predicted what would happen in 1965 (India-Pakistan war)...the war that happened with China, even the Dokalam issue, which has come up in the recent times," he added.

"He (Patel) was so accurate and perfect," the Goa chief minister said.

Parrikar also made a reference to Kashmir and said the current situation exists because Patel's views were not considered.

India and Pakistan fought wars in 1965 and 1971. The India-China war was in 1962.

Earlier this year, Indian and Chinese troops were locked in a prolonged face-off in Dokalam near Sikkim.
The NIA had recently seized nearly Rs 28 lakhs in cash from the home of Shelly Sumi, wife of self-styled Lt Gen Nikki Sumi of NSCN(K).

The NIA also found evidence that four Nagaland government officers had made the banned insurgent group richer by over `20 crores in just four years by sharing with it funds from the state exchequer.

Guwahati: The NSCN(K) has threatened to drive out all non-Nagas from Nagaland if the National Investigation Agency (NIA), that is probing terror funding cases, continues to target family members of its members.

The anti-talk faction of NSCN(K), in a hard-hitting statement on Tuesday, said the NSCN(K) had been maintaining the maximum restraint despite the endless provocations by the NIA. It may force the outfit to retaliate by committing terrorist activities, said its political wing in a statement to the local media in Kohima.

The NIA had recently seized nearly Rs 28 lakhs in cash from the home of Shelly Sumi, wife of self-styled Lt Gen Nikki Sumi of NSCN(K). The NIA also found evidence that four Nagaland government officers had made the banned insurgent group richer by over Rs 20 crores in just four years by sharing with it funds from the state exchequer.

To what the outfit has described as its retaliatory step, the NSCN(K) threatened to target traders, business people or government officials, accusing them of being collaborators and sympathisers of NIA, who it said must be evicted from Nagaland.

It also alleged that the Government of India has empowered the NIA with unparalleled extra-constitutional and extra-judicial terrorising powers to harass, arrest, torture and imprison Nagas far beyond the legal limits.

Before the arrest of the top NSCN(K) leaders wife, the NIA had arrested four officers  Vilepral Aja (additional director, department of agriculture, Kohima), Purakhu Angami (former director of the department of tourism), Kekhriesatuo Tep (superintendent of fisheries department) and K. Hutoi Sema (executive engineer, irrigation and flood control department) on October 13.

These officers maintained slips and registers in which the exact amount and name of the person to whom the money was to be given are mentioned. The handwriting experts of the Central Forensic Science Laboratory, Gandhinagar, have confirmed that these four officers maintained these registers, security sources said, indicating more arrests by the NIA were likely soon.
Tourism Minister KJ Alphons said the couple, Marie Droze and Quentin Jeremy Clerc, can choose to stay at hotel on dates of their choice.

Tourism Minister KJ Alphons visited the Swiss couple when they were in the hospital. (Photo: Alphonstourism | Twitter)

New Delhi: A Swiss couple who were attacked at Fatehpur Sikri earlier in October have been offered a free two-night stay at a five-star hotel in the national capital as a "token of concern" by Tourism Minister KJ Alphons.

In a letter to the couple, Alphons offered to put them up at the government-run ITDC hotel, The Ashok, after they recovered from their injuries.

He said the couple, Marie Droze and Quentin Jeremy Clerc, can choose to stay at the hotel on the dates of their choice.

"Trust you are recovering fast and would be on your way home soon. As a token of our concern, we would like to offer you a room at our luxury hotel, The Ashok, at Chankyapuri, New Delhi for two nights on the dates of your choice. All expenses at the hotel, including food and beverages, would be covered," he said in the letter.

Set upon 25 acres of prime land in the capital's diplomatic area, The Ashok is situated 2 km from Rashtrapati Bhavan. The tariff per night is around Rs 10,000.

The minister had earlier written to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath over the issue and also visited the couple, who are currently recovering at Apollo Hospital, Delhi, assuring them of help.

On October 22, the couple from Lausanne in Switzerland, were chased and attacked 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.

They later told the media that as they lay on the ground bloodied and bruised, bystanders began making videos of them on their mobile phones.
Kanhaiya Kumar used to take favours for the officials working under the bureaucrat he would meet.

Kanhaiya Kumar was arrested by Delhi Police Special Cell for breaking into Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Office. (Photo: File|PTI)

New Delhi: Delhi Police has arrested a man, Kanhaiya Kumar, for posing as director in Prime Minister's Office (PMO). Kumar, who used the Prime Minister's room number (152) on his visiting card, mentioned the wrong phone number that led to his arrest.

Kumar was arrested by Delhi Police Special Cell for breaking into the Prime Ministers Office (PMO).

Delhi Police Special Cell arrests Kanhaiya Kumar also known as Dr KK who posed as a director in Prime Minister's Office.  ANI (@ANI) November 1, 2017

Reports revealed that Kumar would walk into government offices and would demand a priority appointment with the official by flashing his visiting card which had Modis room number as his address.

Kanhaiya Kumar used to take favours for the officials working under the bureaucrat he would meet.

Kumar drove an SUV which had a Government of India (GOI) sticker pasted to it.

Reports said that Kumar even asked the Central Vigilance Commissioner (CVC) to help an Indian Defence Accounts Services officer secure a preferential post. The CVC contacted PMO and confirmed his appointment in the office.

The Delhi Police was informed on October 17. He was arrested on Monday from Noida's sector 100 and has been taken on a 10-day remand.

The police are also investigating Kumars friend in Hyderabad who got the visiting cards printed.

Kumar has been charged with impersonation, forgery, criminal conspiracy and cheating.
The petitioners also wanted special courts to be set up in each state to dispose of these cases within one year.

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday sought details of the criminal records of MPs and the status of the cases pending against them in various courts, following a submission that 34 per cent of legislators have criminal antecedents as per the disclosures made in the affidavits at the time of contesting elections.

A bench of Justices Ranjan Gogoi and Navin Sinha asked petitioners Ashiwini Kumar Upadh-yaya and others to furnish the details during the course of hearing of a batch of petitions seeking lifetime ban on convicted persons from contesting the Assembly or parliamentary polls. The petitioners also wanted special courts to be set up in each state to dispose of these cases within one year.

The court is examining whether such a ban would violate Article 14 of the Constitution, when such a disqualification has not been provided either under the Constitution or under the Representation of the People Act.

Senior counsel Krishnan Venugopal said in the Executive and Judiciary, when a person is convicted for any criminal offence, he/she is suspended automatically and debarred from his services for life. However, this rule is applied differently in case of convicted person in a Legislature. He said even after conviction and undergoing sentence, a convicted person could form his own political party and eligible to become the office-bearer of any political party. In addition, a convicted person is eligible to contest the election and eligible to become Member of Legislature.
A massive fire broke out inside and a huge ball of dust rose after the explosion making rescue operations difficult.

Lucknow: Sixteen labourers were killed and over 100 injured when a pipe connected to a boiler exploded in the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) unit in Rae Bareli on Wednesday evening. Most of the victims were laborers working at the plant.

ADG (law and order) Anand Kumar confirmed that 16 bodies had been retrieved and rescue operations were on. Four managers of the plant have also been injured. The plant has been shut down after the accident.

Soon after the accident occurred, the NTPC gates were shut and mediapersons were not allowed entry. CRPF personnel were deployed in large numbers on the campus.

The injured labourers were taken to the NTPC hospital for treatment. Those with serious injuri-es were being brought to Lucknow. Some have been admitted in private hospitals in Rae Bareli.

A massive fire broke out inside and a huge ball of dust rose after the explosion making rescue operations difficult. There was no official statement on the incident, but sources said that there were about 150 labourers working on the shift when the mishap took place.

Sources said that the explosion took place in a boiler which is filled with water in tubes that are heated. This creates steam which moves the turbines and generates electricity. A district official said that the ash pipe exploded due to pressure.

UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath, who is presently in Mauritius, has directed the principal secretary (home) to ensure all steps for relief and rescue at the accident.

He also announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh each to the kin of the deceased and Rs 50,000 each for those seriously injured.

Senior officials, including medical teams, reached the site of the accident to supervise rescue operations. Principal ho-me secretary said that a 32 member NDRF team had also reached Rae Bareli.

UP health minister Siddhartha Nath Singh said that all hospitals in adjoining districts had been put on alert.

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi expressed his concern in a tweet and appealed to the district administration to extend all possible help to the victims.

The power plant is one of the coal based power plants of NTPC. In 1992, the UP State Electricity Board had transferred the Unchahar Thermal Power Plant to NTPC against payment overdue and it was later renamed Feroze Gandhi Unchahar Thermal Power Plant.
The police have recovered 13 stolen autorickshaws and a scooty thereby solving six cases of motor vehicle theft.

Two suspected robbers, referred to as 'Jai' and 'Veeru', popular characters of the iconic Bollywood film 'Sholay', were arrested from south Delhi for their alleged involvement in motor vehicle thefts. (Representational Image)

New Delhi: Two suspected robbers, referred to as 'Jai' and 'Veeru', popular characters of the iconic Bollywood film 'Sholay', were arrested from south Delhi for their alleged involvement in motor vehicle thefts, police said on Tuesday.

Jamshed Alam, 18, a resident of Sangam Vihar, and Irshad, 21, who lives in Shiv Park, they said.

The police have recovered 13 stolen autorickshaws and a scooty thereby solving six cases of motor vehicle theft.

On October 29, the police received a tip-off about the accused coming to a specific location following which they laid a trap and arrested the accused.

During an interrogation, both the accused confessed to have committed several vehicle thefts in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR), the polcie said.

"Both the accused are good friends and were inspired by the iconic Bollywood movie 'Sholay' and are known as 'Jai' and 'Veeru' in the locality," the police said.

Initially, both used to drive an autorickshaw on rent to earn livelihood.

Later, to make quick money, they started stealing auto rickshaws from Gurgaon or Faridabad, they said.
The Bharatiya Janata Party leader said it would be a threat to national security and needs to be struck down by the Supreme Court.

New Delhi: A day after the Supreme Court said its constitution bench would start hearing a clutch of petitions challenging the Centres move to make the Aadhaar card mandatory for availaing government benefits, Bharatiya Janata Party MP Subramanian Swamy on Tuesday opposed the governments move.

The Bharatiya Janata Party leader said it would be a threat to national security and needs to be struck down by the Supreme Court.

Dr Swamy tweeted that he would write to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the issue.

I am writing a letter soon to Prime Minister detailing how compulsory Aadhaar is a threat to our national security. SC will I am sure strike it down, the Bharatiya Janata Party MP tweeted.

Dr Swamys reaction came after the apex court said its constitution bench would start hearing the petitions challenging the Centres move to make the Aadhaar card which carries a 12-digit unique identity number  mandatory for those wishing to avail themselves of services and benefits of government welfare schemes from the last week of November.
RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav asks CM to come clean on issue.

Patna: Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar on Tuesday denied allegations leveled against him by the Opposition RJD that he has been patronising liquor mafias.

The Opposition RJD had raised questions on the chief minister after Rakesh Singh, who is accused of running a hooch racket in Bihar, was seen standing with him in a photograph.

Rakesh Singh was the JD(U) block president of Udwantnagar in Bhojpur district but was removed from the partys membership after his photograph was found circulating on various social media platform on Tuesday.

Neither I nor my party was aware of his background. Action against him was initiated immediately after his involvement with liquor business surfaced, chief minister Nitish Kumar said during a programme in Patna.

The photograph in question was taken recently in the drawing room of 1 Anne Marg, the official bungalow of chief minister Nitish Kumar. The RJD leader further explained that Rakesh Singh had met Mr Kumar after he had launched a campaign against dowry and child marriage.

Former Bihar deputy chief minister Tejashwi Yadav had earlier alleged that a nexus existed between the JD(U) and liquor mafia and also accused the ruling party of receiving funds from them.

Nitish Kumar must explain how much fund his party has been receiving from mafias involved in the liquor business. We would also like to know how Rakesh Singh remained JD(U)s office-bearer for so many months despite him being involved in the illegal liquor business in a dry state like Bihar, Leader of the Opposition in the state Assembly Tejashwi Yadav said. According to RJD leaders, Rakesh Singh was one of the main accused in a 2012 Ara hooch tragedy case in which more 20 people, mostly dalits, had died after consuming locally-manufactured spurious liquor. The state government has been under attack after five persons died allegedly due to consumption of spurious liquor in Rohtas district last week.

Observers said the controversy may create hurdles for Mr Kumar, who had launched a state-wide liquor prohibition in Bihar. The complete ban on liquor ban was imposed on April 5, 2016, but the state government enforced a fresh prohibition act on October 2, 2016, after the Patna high court had quashed the previous law. Reacting sharply to RJD leaders statement, JD(U) spokesperson Niraj Kumar said, Tejashwi Yadav should go and visit Bihar to understand how seriously the prohibition rule has been implemented.
Bharti said that key roads in MP were world class and better than those of US.

Bhopal: Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan who has drawn flak for finding roads in MP better than those in US, on Tuesday received supports from an unexpected quarter, his arch-rival Union minister Uma Bharti.

Ms Bharti said that key roads in MP were world class and better than those of US.

I am not saying this to placate the chief minister. But, anybody checks this on the ground, she added.

Not only roads, Madhya Pradesh has done better than US in many other areas, she added.

Indians have a tendency to see everything good in the western world. This is a manifestation of our inferiority complex. We need to shed such mindset, she said.

The Union minister predicted that Bharatiya Janata Party would retain power in Gujarat with a massive mandate, thanks to a negative poll strategy of rival Congress.

Congress seems to be fighting the Gujarat polls on the plank of Modi-bashing. This negative poll strategy will doom Congress in Gujarat elections. Bharatiya Janata Party will get more than 160 seats because of this, she said.

Modi-bashing may increase TRP of TV channels but will not fetch votes, she remarked. She also did not see any threat to Bharatiya Janata Party from Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi.

People do not take Rahul Gandhi seriously. Rahuls biggest challenge is not Modi but his own image, she added.
Feature would help police get real-time information and manage traffic.

With the help of Google Maps, the Delhi traffic police already monitor the nature of congestion at 77 corridors identified in the city.

New Delhi: The Delhi traffic police is coordinating with Google Maps to decongest arterial roads during mega events organised in the city. The feature would help police get real-time information and manage road traffic in the city during peak hours every day.

The service will also be used on Wednesday during India vs New Zealand T20 match at the Feroz Shah Kotla Ground to decongest roads around the stadium for regular commuters.

We have already mailed Google Maps about the roads that will witness heavy traffic on Wednesday due to the match. Google Maps will inform commuters about the alternate routes available for them to reach their destination and they can avoid the congested routes, said Dependra Pathal, the special commissioner of police (Traffic). He added that the service was successfully tested during Chhath puja and Run for Unity when traffic diversions were placed on several routes.

Before any mega event in the city, when traffic diversions will be placed, traffic police will inform Google Maps about the closed routes and they will adequately put it on Google Maps for drivers, he added.

With the help of Google Maps, the Delhi traffic police already monitor the nature of congestion at 77 corridors identified in the city.

We are studying the nature of congestion that could be due to red light, diversion, or any other reason. As per study, required changes will be made on timers of red light to ease traffic movement. A special training session will be called for the ground staff to make them familiar with Google Maps, Mr Pathak added.

At present, traffic situation is being monitored in 10 corridors with the help of Google Maps. If any stretch in a route is seen to be badly affected, a screenshot of the map will be sent on a WhatsApp group to the traffic inspector, ACP, and DCP concerned for corrective actions. The brass will be kept in the loop to ensure prompt response on the screenshot posts.

Routes with different levels of traffic movement will be indicated in different colour codes with yellow indicating medium traffic, red indicating heavy traffic, and green indicating low traffic.

In South Delhi, on stretches like the Rao Tularam flyover, Aurobindo Marg, Mehrauli-Badarpur Road, and Ring Road, there are traffic snarls through the day. But the traffic cops intervene only if they receive complaints from commuters. This plan to employ Google Maps, therefore, changes the monitoring system to make it effective in real- time.
The clash broke out after MNS workers disrupted Feriwala Samman Morcha organised by the city unit of Cong in support of the hawkers.

Workers of the Congress and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) clashed at Dadar in Mumbai on Wednesday morning over the issue of hawkers' eviction. (Photo: ANI | twitter)

Mumbai: Workers of the Congress and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) clashed at Dadar in Mumbai on Wednesday morning over the issue of hawkers' eviction, police said.

The clash broke out after the MNS workers disrupted the Feriwala Samman Morcha (Hawkers' Felicitation March) organised by the city unit of Congress in support of the hawkers, police said.

The workers of the Raj Thackeray-led party also raised slogans against Mumbai Congress chief Sanjay Nirupam.

"Police swung into action and arrested 15 MNS cadres and eight Congress workers," Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone 5) Rajiv Jain said.

He said a case under relevant sections of the Maharashtra Police Act was registered against the workers of both the parties.

Another senior official said mild force was used by the police personnel keep the situation under control.

Shopkeepers and licenced hawkers chose to keep their shops shut during this period.

Nirupam said, "Congress party leaders and workers, mainly Maharashtrians, had organised this morcha to felicitate the Marathi hawkers. But that, too, was disrupted by the MNS. I blame the local police for the entire drama."

"My only aim is to implement the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, which essentially gives rights to the street hawkers as well as licences. I hope this issue comes to the forefront," he added.

The MNS has adopted an aggressive stance against hawkers occupying railway station premises and has been evicting illegal hawkers from the railway station premises in the wake of the Elphinstone Road railway station stampede, which had claimed the lives of 23 people.

However, the Congress has come out in support of the vendors.
When contacted, SGNP officials were not available for comment on the matter.

Mumbai: A sambar deer died after falling from a height of nearly 50 feet behind Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) in Borivali on Monday. A resident happened to see the deer falling down at around 5pm in the evening and immediately alerted PAWS-MUMBAI, a NGO working for the welfare of animals.

Resident Sidhhi Tharave, who saw the sambar plunging down, immediately alerted PAWS-MUMBAI, which informed the SGNP control room after which the animals body was recovered. Ms Tharave said, The location is behind Rushivan of SGNP near a mine. I was at the window when I saw the sambar fall off the side and immediately called PAWS founder-member Sunish Subramaniam. He may have called SGNP officials and at around 6.30pm, two officials came to rescue the sambar but in vain as it had grown dark and they did not have any equipment. They came again the next day by which time, the sambar had died. The sambar was still showing movement when I saw him in the evening and he could have been saved if the officials had come earlier.

PAWS founder-member Subramaniam said, I got a call from Tharave at around 5.15pm and I immediately informed the forest officials on their control room number. The next day, they retrieved the sambars body and conducted a post-mortem. Its not yet clear how he fell off from that area.

When contacted, SGNP officials were not available for comment on the matter. Earlier in May 2017, the carcass of a full-grown leopard was found in a decomposed state at the Malad trail, inside the core forest area of SGNP.
Sherins body was released by the Dallas medical examiner for funeral and her autopsy report is still awaited.

She was adopted by the Indian-American couple, Wesley Mathews and Sini Mathews, from an orphanage in India last year. (Photo: AP/File)

Houston: Sherin Mathews, a three-year-old Indian girl who was found dead in a culvert after being reported missing by her foster father, has been laid to rest in a private ceremony, the family attorneys said on Wednesday, citing intense media glare.

Sherin, reported missing on October 7, was found dead in the culvert under a road about 1 km from her home in suburban Dallas on October 22. Sherins body was released by the Dallas medical examiner for funeral and her autopsy report is still awaited.

She was adopted by the Indian-American couple, Wesley Mathews and Sini Mathews, from an orphanage in India last year.

Her funeral was held according to the religious beliefs and the cultural heritage of her family, attorneys Mitchell Nolte and Gregg Gibbs said in a statement.

The burial location was kept a secret, the attorneys said, who confirmed to WFAA TV that Sini attended the ceremony along with close family and friends.

Because of the intense press and social media attention in this case, the family chose to keep the ceremony private so the focus could be on Sherins future in heaven and not on her tragic death on Earth, the attorneys said.

They said that the family cannot express their gratitude to everyone personally, but appreciates the outpouring of prayers and love during this time.

Sherins 37-year-old father told police that he put her outside at 3 am to discipline her for not drinking her milk.

He changed the story after her body was found in the culvert and told police that he assisted with pouring the milk down Sherins throat and then moved her body after he realised she had choked and died.

Wesley was arrested and charged with felony injury to a child. He is still in the Dallas County jail on a USD 1 million bond.

Sini, a nurse, says she was sleeping during the incident and had nothing to do with Sherins death.

The Mathews biological 4-year-old daughter was taken into state custody by Child Protective Services.
Officials find a note, hand-written in possibly Arabic, inside the truck that barrelled down a bike path near World Trade Center.

Authorities stand near a damaged Home Depot truck after a motorist drove onto a bike path near the World Trade Center memorial, striking and killing several people Tuesday in New York. (Photo: AP)

Washington: In the aftermath of the first deadly attack in New York blamed on terror since the September 11, 2001, carnage in the city, President Donald Trump said on Tuesday he had ordered more robust "extreme vetting" of travellers coming into the United States.

At least eight people were killed and 11 other injured in Lower Manhattan Tuesday after a gunman in a truck plowed through a busy bike path, an incident the US termed as an "act of terrorism".

The suspect, 29-year-old Sayfullo Saipov said to be from Uzbekistan, was shot in the stomach before being arrested.

"I have just ordered Homeland Security to step up our already Extreme Vetting Program. Being politically correct is fine, but not for this!" Trump tweeted.

His administration announced last week that it would resume accepting refugees after a 120-day ban, though arrivals from 11 "high-risk" countries, most of them home to Muslim majorities, will still be blocked.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims of Tuesdays terrorist attack in New York City and their families," Trump had said in a statement after the attack.

Earlier, the US president took to Twitter to decry the attack, saying "we must not allow ISIS to return".

"In NYC, looks like another attack by a very sick and deranged person. Law enforcement is following this closely. NOT IN THE U.S.A.!" Trump tweeted.

"We must not allow ISIS to return, or enter, our country after defeating them in the Middle East and elsewhere. Enough!" he said in another tweet.

Police find handwritten note in attacker's truck

Two law enforcement officials say a note was recovered inside the truck that barrelled down a bike path near the World Trade Center, killing eight people.

One official says the note was hand-written in a foreign language, possibly Arabic. The contents are being investigated, but the officials say the document supported the belief the act was terrorism.

The officials weren't authorized to speak publicly about an ongoing investigation and spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity.

Police say the truck's driver turned onto the bike path Tuesday afternoon, striking several people before plowing into a school bus. Officials say he got out of the truck waving a pellet gun and a paint gun and was shot by a police officer. He's in critical condition after surgery.

Police investigating a rented Home Depot truck's deadly rampage down a bike path near New York's World Trade Center have surrounded a white Toyota minivan with Florida plates parked in a New Jersey Home Depot lot.

The van is parked near the company's rental trucks. Officials tell The Associated Press the man suspected of killing eight people and injuring 11 more on the bike path rented a truck from a Home Depot in New Jersey about an hour before Tuesday's attack.

The man was shot by a police officer and is in custody in critical condition.

The Passaic (puh-SAY'-ihk) Home Depot remains open. The minivan is cordoned off.

Home Depot spokesman Matthew Harrigan says the company is "fully cooperating" with law enforcement. He says the company requires a driver's license, insurance information and a credit card deposit to rent a truck.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (KWOH'-moh) has increased security at airports, bridges, tunnels and mass transit systems around the state following a vehicle attack on a bike path near the World Trade Center.

The Democratic governor has directed the lights on the spire of 1 World Trade Center be lit in red, white and blue in honor of freedom and democracy. He says additional security personnel are being deployed to high-density areas and large public gatherings.

Eight people were killed and 11 were injured when a man drove a rented truck down a bike path Tuesday afternoon. Police say they shot and wounded the attacker but he's expected to survive.

A US official familiar with the investigation into what happened says the man is from Uzbekistan and came to the US in 2010. Another official says the man has a Florida license but may have been staying in New Jersey.
Haley backed strategic alliance with India to fight terrorism and maintain peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

Nikki Haley underscored the importance of the India-US relationship in the global fight against terrorism and also in maintaining peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. (Photo: AP/File)

Washington: The US will not tolerate Pakistan providing safe havens to terrorists, America's envoy to the UN Nikki Haley has said. She also backed the creation of a strategic alliance with India to fight terrorism and maintain peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

Ms Haley, in her keynote address to the 20th annual Legislative Conference of the Indian American Friendship Council, also strongly condemned the terrorist attack in New York that killed eight persons.

She said that the US recently embarked on a new strategy for combating terrorism in Afghanistan and South Asia.

One of the pillars of that strategy is the development of America's strategic partnership with India.

"America's overriding interest in Afghanistan and throughout South Asia are to eliminate the terrorist safe havens that threaten US and to keep nuclear weapons out of the hands of terrorists," Ms Haley said.

The US, she said, would use all of the elements of its national power, economic diplomatic and military to pursue these goals.

"And critically, we will look to our economic and security partnerships with India to help us. We expect India to do more in Afghanistan, particularly in economic and development assistance,"

Read: Hope to see India's greater involvement in development of Afghanistan: Tillerson

The US, she said, is also approaching its relationship with Pakistan differently.

"In many instances Pakistan has been a partner to the United States...But we cannot, tolerate its government or any other government giving safe haven to terrorists who target Americans. We will not tolerate it and we're communicating that message to Pakistan more strongly than in the past," Ms Haley said.

The US expects changes, she asserted.

She underscored the importance of the India-US relationship in not only the global fight against terrorism, but also in maintaining peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

Ms Haley said that the June meeting between US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi was quite successful, as she praised India's responsible role in the international community.

"India has long been a nuclear power. And nobody gives it a second thought. Why is that? Because India is a democracy that threatens no one," she said, adding that more than any other two leaders before them, Donald Trump and PM Modi are committed to building on this partnership of shared values.

"Our goal is to create a new strategic alliance between India and the United States, one that benefits to security and prosperity of both our nations in the world," she said.

Critically, both nations have felt the pain of terrorism, she said.

"We share a commitment to defeating terrorists and the hateful ideology that motivates them," Ms Haley said. Noting that the partnership between India and America is strong and it will keep getting stronger, she said the two countries have a shared vision for global peace security and prosperity.

Of the view that this is an exciting time to be an Indian-American, she said the world centre of gravity is shifting to the Indo-Pacific region.

"When you look at the strongest countries in that broad region, you see healthy and robust democracies like India, Japan and Australia, all countries that share deep values and friendships with the United States," she said.

"Today the United States and India have a great opportunity to create an emerging partnership that dominates economic and technological innovation," Ms Haley said.
Trump and Kim Jong-Un have traded threats of war and personal insults heightening conflict.

Trump has warned of fire and fury and calm before the storm, telling the UN General Assembly that Washington would totally destroy North Korea if it had to defend itself or its allies. (Photo: AP/File)

Seoul: North Korea slammed US President Donald Trump as incurably mentally deranged in a personal diatribe ahead of his first visit to Asia as head of state, amid high tensions over Pyongyangs nuclear ambitions.

Trump and the Norths leader Kim Jong-Un have traded threats of war and personal insults against each other in recent months, heightening worries about a potential conflict on the divided Korean peninsula.

Trump has warned of fire and fury and calm before the storm, telling the UN General Assembly that Washington would totally destroy North Korea if it had to defend itself or its allies.

He dubbed Kim Rocket Man in the same speech - Pyongyang has tested missiles apparently capable of reaching much of the US mainland - and days later Kim responded with a personal statement calling Trump a dotard, an obscure term for a weak or senile old man.

The US president is due in Asia at the weekend and ahead of his arrival, the Norths state-run KCNA news agency lashed out at bellicose and irresponsible rhetoric by the master of invective.

Read: Amid rising tensions between Trump, Kim Jong Un, US pursues diplomatic options

He absolutely needs medicine for curing his psychical disorder, it said.

The US has deployed key military assets including jet fighters and aircraft carriers near the peninsula following the Norths sixth nuclear test in September, which also saw the United Nations impose an eighth set of sanctions on the isolated country.

KCNA described the sanctions drive as desperate efforts that would prove ineffective and Trumps hostile rhetoric as hysteric spasmodic symptoms.

Trump, it said late on Tuesday, disclosed his true nature as a nuclear war maniac before the world and was diagnosed as incurably mentally deranged.

Trumps itinerary includes Japan, South Korea, China, Vietnam and the Philippines, with all eyes on his message to the North and Kim.

Pyongyang says it needs nuclear weapons to defend itself against possible invasion by the US.

During a November 7-8 visit to the South - a security ally of Washington that hosts 28,500 US troops - Trump is due to address Seouls parliament and visit a US military base, although he will not go to the Demilitarized Zone that divides the Koreas.
The confirmation comes months after the ISIS militant group said they had killed the couple.

Beijing: China on Tuesday asked Pakistan to bring the killers of two Chinese nationals to justice, a day after DNA tests confirmed the identities of the couple murdered allegedly by Islamic State militants in the restive Balochistan province.

We hope that Pakistan could continue its all-out efforts to bring the perpetrators to justice, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying told a media briefing here.

Pakistan on Monday said that the DNA reports have confirmed that the two persons killed in Balochistan were the same two Chinese nationals, who were kidnapped from Quetta.

Lee Zing Yang, 24, and Meng Li Si, 26, were killed in June - a month after they were kidnapped from the Jinnah Town area of Quetta on May 24 allegedly by ISIS militants. Pakistan later said the two were were involved in preaching instead of business activities. The confirmation comes months after the ISIS militant group said they had killed the couple.
According to local media, Shiraishi told police he had chopped up the bodies in a bathroom, while a saw was found in his room.

People gather in front of the apartment where police found dismembered bodies in coolers in Zama, Tokyo, on Tuesday. (Photo: AP)

Zama, Japan: Japanese police have found nine mutilated bodies hidden in containers with their heads cut off and flesh stripped in a suburban Tokyo flat, media reported on Tuesday.

Tokyo police have arrested 27-year-old Takahiro Shiraishi who reportedly confessed to hacking the flesh off the bodies and throwing it out with the trash, then sprinkling cat litter over the remains in an effort to cover up the evidence.

According to local media, Shiraishi told police he had chopped up the bodies in a bathroom, while a saw was found in his room.

The suspect reportedly told investigators he had dumped cut flesh and organs in the trash, prompting fears he was a serial killer as police believe he killed all nine victims, according to NHK. Police and journalists swarmed around the nondescript apartment in the quiet residential neighbourhood of Zama, as locals struggled to comprehend how an act of such violence could have occurred so near them. Its really cruel. He used a saw to dismember the bodies or something. He must be abnormal to have done such things, said neighbour Hideaki Hosogaya.

The Sankei Shimbun newspaper quoted another neighbour as saying he had smelled an odour he had never smelled before. I thought it was the smell of sewage, he said.

Police used blue tarps to block views inside the two-storey building, and covered windows of the second-floor room where the bodies were discovered.
The disclosure by Bex Bailey is the most serious to emerge in a series of allegations after the Harvey Weinstein scandal.

I was scared. I felt ashamed. I know that the Labour Party, like any family, loves a good gossip, and I didnt want people to know and I also was worried that I wouldnt be believed if I did, Bex Bailey said. (Photo: Twitter)

London: An activist in Britains opposition Labour Party has said she was raped at a party event when she was 19, and that a party official discouraged her from reporting the attack to avoid damaging her career.

The disclosure by Bex Bailey, 25, is the most serious to emerge from a wave of allegations of sexual misconduct by powerful men that have swept through British politics in the wake of the Harvey Weinstein scandal.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, who has ordered an investigation into the allegation, said Bailey was not given support from the party when she reported what had happened.

Bex Bailey has shown incredible bravery by talking publicly about what has happened to her and has my full support and solidarity, he said in a statement on his Facebook page.

There will be no tolerance in the Labour Party for sexism, harassment or abuse. Whatever it takes, we are absolutely committed to rooting it out.

A party spokesman said: We would strongly recommend that the police investigate the allegations of criminal actions that Bex Bailey has made.

Bailey told BBC radio on Tuesday that she was raped in 2011 by someone in the party who was senior to her. She said she had tried to pretend it hadnt happened and had not reported it to police at the time.

Read: Sleaze dossier of sexual misconduct by Party members shown to British PM Theresa May

I was scared. I felt ashamed. I know that the Labour Party, like any family, loves a good gossip, and I didnt want people to know and I also was worried that I wouldnt be believed if I did, she said.

Two years later, she told a senior party staff member, and it was suggested to her that she should not report it as it might damage her if she did. She was given no advice on what she should do next.

That might be their genuine view, it might be that that was the case, in which case that shows that we have a serious problem in politics with this issue anyway, said Bailey, a former member of Labours National Executive Committee.

She called for an independent agency such as a charity to deal with allegations rather than someone within the party who is inclined to be loyal to the Labour Party.

Prime Minister Theresa May has ordered investigations into two of her ministers after allegations were made against them.

Her deputy Damian Green denies making an advance on a woman three decades his junior, while junior trade minister Mark Garnier has said he was being humorous when he asked his assistant to buy sex toys for him.
Uzbekistan is ready to use all forces and resources to help in the investigation of this act of terror, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev said.

A pickup driver killed eight people in New York on Tuesday, mowing down cyclists and pedestrians, before striking a school bus in the citys first deadly attack blamed on terror since September 11, 2001. (Photo: AFP)

Moscow: The president of Uzbekistan on Wednesday offered to help US authorities in the investigation of the attack in New York where a truck driver, reportedly an Uzbek national, mowed down passersbys, killing eight.

Read: Suspect in Manhattan attack an Uzbek migrant who drove for Uber

Uzbekistan is ready to use all forces and resources to help in the investigation of this act of terror, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev said, offering condolences to US President Donald Trump in a statement on the foreign ministrys website.

Read: Trump orders 'extreme vetting' of foreign travellers as 8 die in New York truck attack

A pickup driver killed eight people in New York on Tuesday, mowing down cyclists and pedestrians, before striking a school bus in the citys first deadly attack blamed on terror since September 11, 2001.

Eleven others were seriously hurt when the truck driver struck in broad daylight just blocks from the 9/11 Memorial, on the West Side of Lower Manhattan, close to schools as children and their parents geared up to celebrate Halloween.
Bangladesh has witnessed a number of Islamist attacks since 2013 on foreigners, liberals and religious minority.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's government blames the JMB for a number of deadly attacks in Bangladesh. Several foreigners, bloggers and rights activists have been targeted by the group in recent years. (Representational Image | Photo: File)

Dhaka: Bangladesh police on Tuesday arrested four persons, including a pilot of the national carrier and his mother, for their alleged links with a banned militant outfit and plotting a dramatic plane attack.

The arrestees were identified as 31-year-old Sabbir Emam, a first officer of Biman Bangladesh Airlines, his mother Sultana Parvin, 55, and two other members of the banned militant outfit Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), said Mufti Mahmud Khan, director of Rapid Action Battalion's (RAB) legal and media wing.

He said the pilot revealed during primary interrogation about a possible plot to crash a plane into the homes of top politicians or hijacking it to Middle East with passengers held hostage.

Based on the information obtained from JMB activist who was arrested in an anti-militancy drive in Narayanganj on October 26, the police came to know about a plot to carry out militant activities involving sabotage of aircraft operation, he said.

"The elite force members then conducted drives at different areas in Mirpur from last night till this morning and detained the four JMB operatives," Mr Khan was quoted as saying by the Daily Star.

Sabbir has been working for the airline since 2014 and used to fly Boeing 737 aircraft as the first officer. Earlier, he had worked with Regent Airways from 2010 to 2014.

An official from the national carrier's public relations department told the newspaper that Sabbir had refused to fly after the anti-militancy raid at a building in Mirpur's Mazar Road in September this year.

Earlier, Bangladesh police had blamed homegrown terror group JMB for the two terror attacks, including the Dhaka cafe siege, in which 22 people, including 17 foreigners, were killed in the brutal late-night attack in Gulshan area of the capital on July 1.

During a joint operation police killed six of the attackers.

Bangladesh has witnessed a number of Islamist attacks since 2013 on foreigners, liberals and religious minority with the Islamic State and the al-Qaeda making competing claims.

The government has consistently dismissed their claims, saying foreign terrorist groups have no presence in Bangladesh and the attacks were carried out by homegrown outfits.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's government blames the JMB for a number of deadly attacks in Bangladesh. Several foreigners, bloggers and rights activists have been targeted by the group in recent years.

The Islamic State claimed the brutal Dhaka cafe attack but the government has insisted that the group has no base in the country and the attacks were carried out by homegrown militant groups like the JMB.
Pakistan is looking at building at least three to four more big nuclear reactors before 2030.

With about one quarter of Pakistans population having no access to electricity, the government said late last year that it wants to boost nuclear capacity to 8,800 MW, or about 20 percent of power generation capacity, by 2030. (Representational Image | Photo: File)

Abu Dhabi: Pakistan plans to build at least three to four big reactors as it targets nuclear power capacity of 8,800 megawatts (MW) by 2030, the countrys atomic energy commission chairman said.

Pakistan has five small reactors in operation with combined capacity of just over 1300 MW. The last one in the four-reactor Chashma plant in Punjab province, built by China National Nuclear Corp (CNNC), went into operation in September this year.

It is also building two Chinese Hualong One reactors with a capacity of 1100 MW each near the port city of Karachi.

Muhammad Naeem, Chairman of the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission, said these two new reactors are now 60 percent and 40 percent complete respectively and should become operational in 2020 and 2021.

Pakistan is now also in the final stages of awarding contracts for an eighth nuclear reactor with 1100 MW capacity which would take the countrys total nuclear capacity to about 5,000 MW when it is finished.

We could award the contracts before year-end, Naeem said on the sidelines of a nuclear conference in Abu Dhabi.

He declined to say how many contenders are in the race and whether non-Chinese bidders may be in the running.

Pakistans five operating reactors - including a tiny 125 MW Canadian-built reactor in Karachi in operation since 1972 - generate just five percent of the countrys electricity, with the rest coming from oil, gas and some hydropower.

With about one quarter of Pakistans population having no access to electricity, the government said late last year that it wants to boost nuclear capacity to 8,800 MW, or about 20 percent of power generation capacity, by 2030.

Naeem said Pakistan is looking at building at least three to four more big nuclear reactors before 2030 in order to reach that target.

We have the plans in place, we are watching for proven technologies, he said, adding that funding would come from the state budget and loans.

He did not specify whether countries other than China may be invited to bid.

Pakistan, which has a nuclear weapons programme, has not signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, which means Western reactor vendors such as EDF cannot sell reactors there. China has defied nuclear trading bans on Pakistan and delivered equipment as well as fuel.

Russias Rosatom has built nuclear reactors in India, but a Rosatom official said earlier this year the firm has not worked with Pakistan.
by Sumon Corraya

It's called Ayin Paramashi and is available online at www.ayinkanun.com. It provides free legal advice to couples in difficulty, over land issues and accidents. An initiative of Fr. Albert T. Rozario, Dhaka lawyer and coordinator of the legal aid group, ahead of pending visit by Pope Francis.

Dhaka (AsiaNews) - In Bangladesh, the first Catholic online legal journal has been published. It is in Bengali and in just a week of life it has already become very popular. It's called Ayin Paramashi (legal assistance) and can be reached at www.ayinkanun.com. It is an initiative of Fr. Albert T. Rozario, a lawyer at Dhaka court and parish priest of Dharenda Catholic Church, who is offering his skills for free. Speaking to AsiaNews he states: "The purpose of the paper is to publish articles on marital problems, accidents, land-related issues and legal relevance. I write articles in Bengali so people can understand it more easily."

The priest reports that since launching the site he had "a great deal of public opinion on the part of Catholics. Many have visited the web pages. Readers thank me. They write me an email and I answer them quickly. "

Fr. Albert is a legal advisor to the archdiocese of the capital. He obtained a masters degree in London; has worked for the Episcopal Commission for Justice and Peace for several years; is coordinator of the legal assistance committee for the upcoming visit of Pope Francis [who will travel to Dhaka from 30 November to 2 December, ndr]. "People face many problems - he says - and they need legal assistance. In the past, several Catholics have asked for advice, even from other dioceses, such as Rajshahi, Dinajpur, and Khulna. That's why I realized that an online page could be the best solution."

A Catholic woman who does not want to reveal her name reports that she has been married for three months and that difficulties have already arisen in the couple. "I read the Ayin Paramashi website and found several suggestions for my marriage problems. I thank Fr. Albert for his timely and valid initiative," she says.

The priest's project is appreciated by other Catholic attorneys. John Gomes, a consultant to the Bangladesh Christian Lawyers Association, comments: "I appreciate and support the initiative. I hope more and more people take advantage of his journal. Fr. Albert did a really good job."
Guest Commentary

By Deanna Horton and Stewart Beck

The transformative Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) represents 40 per cent of the global population and 50 per cent of world trade. Within the 21 member economies of the APEC region, micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) are the drivers of growth of innovation.

They account for 98 per cent of all businesses. They also provide 54 per cent of regional employment and 70 per cent of total export value. If Canada is serious about successfully engaging with partners in rising Asia, this is a good place to start.

Canadian companies, institutions, and organizations are starting to take notice and explore the opportunities inherent in enhancing the connectivity between Canada's MSMEs and those of the APEC region.

The Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada, for example, is spearheading the APEC-Canada Growing Business Partnership, an initiative with Global Affairs Canada to foster economic growth and reduce poverty in APEC developing economies by building the potential of MSMEs and aspiring entrepreneurs through its four-year, $4.49-million initiative.

Meanwhile, the Innovation Policy Lab at the University of Toronto's Munk School of Global Affairs is studying innovation and its impact on growth and society around the worldin particular, the role of public policy in nurturing innovation. The global research hub has sponsored some interesting new research on Canadian high-tech companies in Asia, zeroing in on about 200 Canadian firms that have locations in high-growth Asian markets, and including 120 so-called "micro-multinationals," which in addition to having a presence in Asia, also have locations in either the European Union or the United States, or both.

So, what does this research tell us? First, based on the location data in the Munk School's CanAsia Footprint map, of the 637 locations of Canadian tech firms in Asia that we studied, more than half (53 per cent) are services-related. Second, about two-thirds of the Canadian high-tech firms are MSMEs. And third, and perhaps most surprisingly, more than one-third of these high-tech micro-multinationals bypassed the U.S. entirely in their market expansion plans, and actually went to Asia first, especially in services and analytics, software, and telecom/wireless.

So, where do these high-tech Canadian firms locate in Asia? China and Hong Kong are the markets of choice for large and small companies; MSMEs also prefer countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). For companies headquartered in British Columbia, our research found, there is a greater emphasis on the ASEAN, South Korea, and Taiwan. Ontario has a relatively greater proportion of locations in Japan, while Quebec has a greater proportion of companies in India.

More than 90 per cent of Canadian MSMEs in Asia are from Ontario, Quebec, and British Columbia. Half are headquartered in Ontario, in spite of the fact that Ontario is not the largest trader in Asia. Of these high-tech firms, Ontario has the largest proportion in services and analytics; B.C. in telecoms, clean tech, electronics, and peripherals; and, Quebec in digital media and software.

When we looked at Canada's global digital players, we found that some of the large mobile, web and cloud integration firms were in Asia as early as 1990, followed by advanced manufacturing. The MSMEs tended to arrive a few years later, starting with telecoms and wireless around 2004. And when we explored how Canada is participating in the growing high-tech and consumer markets in Asia, we saw that especially in ASEAN and China/Hong Kong, Canadian companies are present across the high-tech spectrum, indicating the compelling attraction of these far-away markets. We see manufacturing in China/ASEAN; more software in India; more digital and media in Japan; and, more mobile, web and cloud in South Korea.

Clearly, the Asia-Pacific region is at the forefront of modern technology and innovation, with businesses and governments looking for opportunities to establish healthy innovation ecosystems, learn how to catalyze entrepreneurship, and to create collaborative opportunities with trusted trading partners like Canada. Many of our tech companies have already upped their game in Asia. Now we need more Canadian companies to follow the opportunities in the region's growing and innovative marketsthese companies represent the future of the Canadian economy, and Canada will only benefit from deepening its engagement with Asia.

Deanna Horton is a senior fellow at the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada, and a senior fellow at the Munk School of Global Affairs at the University of Toronto. Stewart Beck is the president and CEO of the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada, and former Canadian high commissioner to India.
Aussie actor Chris Hemsworth stars in new Jacobs Creek ad





One of Australias leading global wine brands Jacobs Creek has added star-power to its latest campaign.

A new commercial titled Two Barrels, One Soul is narrated by Australian actor Chris Hemsworth.

The commercial takes viewers behind the scenes of the production of the Jacobs Creek Double Barrel wine range.

The journey begins in a rustic whisky distillery in Scotland. It then crosses continents, ending at the winery in the Barossa Valley, Australia.

Hemsworth commented that he was proud to narrate the story.

Double Barrel is a true example of Australias ingenuity, to create a unique wine, he said.

Global Marketing Director at Jacobs Creek Derek Oliver said that Hemsworth is the perfect embodiment of the confident, inclusive Australian attitude synonymous with Jacobs Creek.

His global stature makes him the right person to share this story with the world and we are extremely excited to be working with him, Oliver said.

Double Barrel is matured in wine barrels and finished in whiskey barrels for a richer, deeper and smoother finish.

Jacobs Creek is one of Australias leading global wine brands.

The brand was launched in 1976, earning over 7,000 medals at wine shows across the brands portfolio over the last 30 years.

Jacobs Creek Double Barrel is available at Australias leading liquor retailers for $24.99.

Related articles
Ban on Aussie beef imports into China lifted





China has lifted a three-month ban on beef imports processed by a group of Australian abattoirs.

The ban had been enforced due to non-compliance with Chinas labelling regulations.

Australian Country Choice, Thomas Foods International, Kilcoy Pastoral Company, JBS Beef City, Prime JBS and Northern Co-operative Meat Company were the six companies banned.

These abattoirs process almost a third of Australias beef trade to China and were banned from exporting to China in July 2017.

Trade Minister Steven Ciobo raised Chinas suspension of exports from the beef processors during meetings in Beijing last month.

Beef exports are big business for the Australian beef industry

Australias beef exports to China were worth more than A$670 million last year, making it Australias fourth largest market.

Total beef exports to China for the year to the end of September 2017 totalled 74,821 tonnes.

This is terrific news for the six affected facilities, great news for their workers and suppliers, Ciobo said.

The industry employs almost 50,000 full time staff throughout its supply chain according to the Australian Meat Industry Council.

Trade into China cannot resume until Chinas Certification and Accreditation Administration puts the six company names back onto their approved list which has not yet occurred.

Australian Food News understands that this is will be a formality, and the suspensions have been lifted.

The Australian beef industry will soon determine when trade re-commences and invoke protocols that ensure these types of regulatory issues do not arise again.

Expansion of beef exports

Those in the beef industry are hopeful that expansion of Australias overall chilled beef trade into China will expand sooner rather than later.

Discussions between the Australian and Chinese governments will occur in Australia on November 19, 2017 with this issue said to be high on the agenda.

At present, only ten companies are eligible for chilled export.

Related articles
FoodLegal almost full in Sydney, limited places available in Melbourne



FoodLegal Principal Charles Fisher

The upcoming FoodLegal Health Claims Standard workshop in November taking place in Sydney is nearly sold out. There still remain spots available to attend the Melbourne workshop.

To find out more about this half-day workshop, click here.

The workshop is being run by Charles Fisher, a Principal of Food Legal and as such he advises many leading Australian and international food and beverage companies.

This FoodLegal workshop will cover;

How to market the healthy angle of your food products

Opportunities and pitfalls of the Health Claims Standard

Nutrition profiling criteria to Food Standards Code

Substantiation of general level health claims

Limitations of existing nutrition claims

Health Star ratings

Australian Consumer Law and ACCC issues in relation to healthy food marketing

and much more

For Sydney: Tuesday 21 November 2017. Register here.

For Melbourne: Thursday 23 November 2017. Register here.
Motor vehicle crashes are more likely to be alcohol-related if they are further away from on-premise alcohol outlets such as bars and pubs, according to research by the Curtin-Monash Accident Research Centre (C-MARC).

The research, presented at the 2017 Australasian Road Safety Conference in Perth, found that a crash was more likely to involve alcohol as the distance to on-premise alcohol outlets increased.

Lead author Dr Michelle Hobday of C-MARC said the research suggests that police enforcement, including random breath testing, should take place closer to residential areas, particularly in the early hours of the morning, as well as near areas containing large numbers of alcohol outlets.
Efforts to rid the world of polio have taken another significant step with a fresh study showing that the Nanopatch  a microscopic vaccine delivery platform first developed by University of Queensland researchers  combats poliovirus more effectively than needles and syringes.

Head of UQs School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, Prof Paul Young, said the breakthrough provided the next step in consigning polio to history. Polio was one of the most dreaded childhood diseases of the 20th century, resulting in limb disfigurement and irreversible paralysis in tens of millions of cases, he said. This most recent study showed the Nanopatch enhanced responses to all three types of inactivated poliovirus vaccines (IPV)  a necessary advancement from using the current live oral vaccine.

Prof Mark Kendall said the Nanopatch targets the abundant immune cell populations in the skins outer layers, rather than muscle, resulting in a more efficient vaccine delivery system. The ease of administration, coupled with dose reduction observed in this study, suggests that the Nanopatch could facilitate inexpensive vaccination of inactivated poliovirus vaccines.

Dr David Muller of the Australian Institute for Biotechnology and Nanotechnology said effectively translating the dose could dramatically reduce the cost. A simple, easy-to-administer polio Nanopatch...
By David Tuffley, Senior Lecturer in Applied Ethics and SocioTechnical Studies, School of ICT., Griffith University

With just a few days to go before the postal vote closes on the same-sex marriage issue, there are plenty of strong opinions on all sides of the debate.

Our detailed study of the opinions expressed on Twitter shows the result could be a narrow defeat of the Yes campaign, with 49.17% support.

That figure is at odds with early opinion polls, some of which predicted up to 60% support and more for the Yes campaign. So how did we reach this lower figure?

Read more: National poll vs sample survey: how to know what we really think on marriage equality

Big data

We used advanced data analytics, developed at Griffith Universitys Big Data and Smart Analytics Lab, which have proven uncannily accurate at predicting the outcomes of hard-to-call polls. Despite strong polling to the contrary, our method predicted the outcome of the US presidential election.

We looked at the publicly available data from 458,565 anonymised Australian tweets making reference to same-sex marriage over October 2017.

We gauged the sentiment of these tweets with a rule-based model that combines a domain-specific lexicon (a dictionary of terms with assigned sentiment weighting) with a series of intensifiers (the punctuation, emoticons and other heuristics). Together, this makes it possible to know which side of the debate the person sits on, and how strongly they feel about it.

Going beyond the sentiment of the Tweet, machine learning determines the gender, age and even educational level of the sender, along with the general intention of the Tweet. All of this is deduced from the persons writing style, vocabulary and various other factors.

Digging deeper

On the face of it, when all the captured Tweets were considered, there appears to be overwhelming support for Yes, with 72% in favour.

But digging deeper, we see that some individuals sent more than 1,000 Tweets in support of Yes. Of the 458,565 Tweets we examined, the number of unique users came down to just 207,287.

Taking the sentiment of the unique users into account, the adjusted figure in support of Yes comes down to 57%. It is acknowledged that the campaign Tweets will have influenced public opinion to some degree.

Over-55s under-represented

Looking carefully at the demographics, it emerges that less than 15% of the total Tweets were sent by people over the age of 55. Of these over-55s, only 34% expressed support for Yes.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), which is conducting the postal vote, from the total number of people in Australia eligible to vote, around 36% are over 55.

If we consider that the same proportion of over-55s and under-55s do not vote, then based on the opinion of the 207,287 unique social media users, the total support for the Yes position comes down to 49%.

So it is likely to be a close-run result, much closer than the earlier polls suggested, and leaning in the direction of No.

How reliable is the result?

One of the problems with predicting poll outcomes is that people are often reluctant to say out loud what they really think about issues. What people say online can often be more accurate than what they say to each other in this age of political correctness.

In the lead-up to the recent US presidential election, the polls pointed to a Hillary Clinton win because many people were publicly saying No to Trump when asked by pollsters. But in the privacy of the booth, people quietly voted according to what they actually thought.

Improvement in big data analytics are made possible through cheaper, faster computers, exponentially greater volumes of data, and more advanced deep learning algorithms. This winning trifecta is creating possibilities and value that did not exist even a few years ago.

The Big Data and Smart Analytics Lab uses the human sensor approach that has greatly improved prediction quality. This takes the whole person into consideration, including the ways they create the meaning that is transmitted on the web.

Privacy concerns are paramount, so all data are legally required to be anonymised.

Read more: Cognitive ability plays a role in attitudes to equal rights for same-sex couples

So how accurate is our result? We will know on November 15 when the ABS announces the result of the postal vote.

As of October 27 the ABS said it had received around 12.3 million survey responses, amounting to 77% of the 16 million eligible voters.

Forms must be received by the ABS by 6pm (local time) November 7 to be included in the count, so there is still time to cast your vote.

Bela Stantic receives funding from: The National Environmental Science Programme (NESP), Gold Coast Hospital and Health Service Private Practice Trust Fund, Sustainable Built Environment - National Research Centre, Queensland Cancer Fund, Australian Institute of Sport, City of Gold Coast and Association of Marine Park Tourism Operators (AMPTO).

David Tuffley does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

Originally published in The Conversation.


(aslysun/Bigstock.com) (aslysun/Bigstock.com)

The extent of how young people in Australia on student and working holiday visas are being exploited by rogue employers has been laid bare with more cases going to court.In one case young people from overseas working in retail kiosks in Melbourne were underpaid while others working in gourmet burger outlets in Brisbane were paid just $10 an hour.The Fair Work Ombudsman is bringing more and more cases to court and has warned young people who work while they are studying and also during their backpacking holiday, to make sure they know what the minimum wage is.The national minimum wage is currently $18.29 per hour or $694.90 per 38 hour week before tax. Casual employees covered by the national minimum wage also get at least a 25% casual loading. It is reviewed on an annual basis by the FWO's expert panel.Melbourne couple Haim Tomer Diamond and Rina Diamond have been penalised $30,600 and $40,000 respectively in the Federal Circuit Court for underpaying overseas workers on student and working holiday visas employed at two retail kiosks in shopping centres. Some were paid just $7.86 an hour.Judge Hartnett found that the contraventions were 'clearly deliberate' and Mrs Diamond was singled out for her lack of genuine contrition, and for threatening one of the workers. He found that she had threatened to notify the Department of Immigration and Border Protection that one international student employee had been working more than the 20 hours per week allowed under her visa unless the student withdrew her complaint to the Fair Work Ombudsman.When Fair Work inspectors received an underpayment allegation and investigated, Mrs Diamond further contravened workplace laws by knowingly providing inspectors with false and misleading records.In a separate case the FWO has begun legal proceedings against the owners of Miel Container outlets for allegedly underpaying eight workers on student and working holiday visas at Brisbane CBD and five at Sunnybank.The FWO investigated the situation after being contacted by the workers. Acting Fair Work Ombudsman Kristen Hannah explained that a decision was made to commence legal action because of the blatant nature of the alleged underpayments and the involvement of vulnerable overseas workers.'We treat exploitation of overseas workers particularly seriously because we know they can be vulnerable if they are not fully aware of their rights, face language barriers or are reluctant to complain. We are committed to actively pursuing and holding to account any employer in Australia who thinks they can get away exploiting overseas workers,' she said.The Fair Work Ombudsman recently published an open letter to international students to encourage them to seek free help from the agency if they experience any issues while working in Australia.'We are seeking to raise awareness among international students that in line with an agreement between the Fair Work Ombudsman and the Department of Immigration and Border Protection, you can seek our assistance without fear of your visa being cancelled, even if you've worked more hours than you should have under your visa,' she added.
6 Benefits of GPS Fleet Tracking for Professional Contractors

Give yourself peace of mind and the edge you need to grow your landscaping business with GPS fleet tracking.

Put yourself in control with visibility into whats going on with your assets and employees at all times.

Get more jobs done with the people and equipment youve already got, especially in an emergency.

Reduce harsh driving habits and help cut down on fuel costs.

Improve customer service with more accurate arrival estimates and billing.

Download this eBook to learn how GPS fleet tracking can help your business run smoother and smarter.

By Verizon Connect
Image courtesy of the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Ford Motor Co. will soon collaborate with Qualcomm Technologies, AT&T and Nokia on a connected-vehicle project in the San Diego area aimed at evaluating the potential of cellular vehicle-to-everything (C-V2X) communications, according to Qualcomm.

C-V2X communications are expected to help improve automotive safety, automated driving and traffic efficiency, Qualcomm said in a released statement. The testing will be conducted in Interstate 15 express lanes, on the southern segment of the South Bay Expressway, and on local streets in the city of Chula Vista.

Qualcomm Technologies' C-V2X technology encompasses vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V), vehicle-to-pedestrian (V2P), vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) and vehicle-to-network (V2N) communications, the company said.

Image courtesy of Qualcomm Technologies.

The trials, using C-V2X platforms installed in Ford vehicles, are expected to begin later this year. Other test participants include McCain Inc., a provider of intelligent transportation solutions, and the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG).

C-V2X allows vehicles to directly communicate with other vehicles, pedestrian devices and roadside infrastructure, such as traffic signs. C-V2X relies on the 5.9 GHz band without the need for a cellular network or subscription.

C-V2X is designed to support 360-degree non-line-of-sight awareness and extend a vehicles ability to see, hear and understand the environment down the road, at blind intersections, and in harsh weather conditions, according to Qualcomm. C-V2X also complements other advanced driver assistance system sensors, including cameras, radar and LiDAR.

The advancement of cellular technology for C-V2X applications is very encouraging, said Don Butler, executive director of connected vehicle and services at Ford. This technology promises to meet, and in some cases exceed, the performance requirements of vehicle communication being proposed by relevant government agencies while leveraging existing in-vehicle connectivity frameworks.

Additionally, Butler said, C-V2X provides a path to technology advancements needed to support automated driving and mobility.
Photo of Toyota's first U.S. headquarters in Hollywood, Calif., courtesy of Toyota.

When Toyota launched its North American headquarters in a Hollywood, Calif., dealership on October 31, 1957, it was, no doubt, a frightening affair. Halloween notwithstanding, a Japanese car company making a foray into the U.S. market was a bold move 60 years ago. And, according to the automaker, its first vehicle the Toyopet Crown didnt turn out to be a screaming success either.

But, since those humble beginnings in a 3,000-square-foot, one-time Rambler dealership, Toyota has woven itself into the cultural fabric of America. Sixty years in, it encompasses a presence in every state, including 10 manufacturing facilities (14 in North America), nearly 1,500 Toyota and Lexus dealerships, and 136,000 direct, dealer and supplier U.S. employees.

And, the company recently unified operations by bringing together its quality engineering, sales, marketing, financial services and corporate functions in one location at a new North America headquarters campus in Plano, Texas.

Celebrating our anniversary isnt just about the products weve sold the past 60 years, said Toyota Motor North America CEO Jim Lentz. Its also about celebrating Toyotas thousands of employees who will help the company embark on the next leg of its American journey and continuing to improve our products and services for our customers.

To commemorate its 60th anniversary, Toyota rededicated a 50th anniversary time capsule originally dedicated at its former Torrance, Calif., headquarters in 2007. The capsule, which includes items like a 2000GT die cast matchbox edition model car, an original key for a 1977 Toyota Hilux truck and a Toyota Formula One racer scale modelwill be re-opened on the 100th anniversary in 2057.

Plano Mayor Harry LaRosiliere, who attended the ceremony, said the capsule marks a new chapter for Toyota.

As Toyota moved their North American corporate offices to Plano over the last three years, the entire region has experienced the positive impact of their team members unique character and culture. The entire organization exhibits a sense of purpose, innovation, and family. We are proud they call Plano home, and we are honored to be part of todays anniversary celebration, LaRosiliere said. We look forward to the next 60 years with Toyota in the City of Plano.

Toyotas American journey has been fueled by the cars it makes.

In the 1950s that meant the Toyopet Crown and the now-legendary Land Cruiser. Introduced in the 1960s, the Corolla would go on to become the bestselling nameplate in the world.

The 1970s got sporty with the Celica and the beloved Supra.

The 1980s introduced the American public to Camry and 4Runner, among others.

In 1989, Toyota launched its luxury vehicle division, Lexus, in the U.S. with two models, the LS 400 and ES 250.

In the 1990s, Toyota filled out its lineup with models like the Tacoma, RAV4, Avalon, and Sienna, and from Lexus, the GS, LX, and RX.

In 2003, Toyota launched Scion to bring in younger customers and to test out revolutionary processes and products.

The 1970s were critical to operations. Toyota marked its first U.S. production, signing Atlas Fabricators of Long Beach (later changed to TABC) to make truck beds. Toyota Technical Center, which just celebrated its 40th anniversary in May, opened its first U.S. R&D facility and Calty Design Research opened its doors in Southern California.

Growth continued into the 1980s with the launch of manufacturing facilities in California and Kentucky. In addition, Toyota Motor Credit Corporation (now known as Toyota Financial Services), began operations in the U.S. in October 1982. In the 1990s and 2000s, Toyota added vehicle and parts plants in Indiana, West Virginia, Alabama, Tennessee, Texas, Missouri, and Mississippi. To support the rapid growth, Toyota consolidated its R&D and manufacturing operations under a single company in 2006.

Over the years, Toyota Motor North America has transformed from just a sales company into a mobility company. In 2016, the Toyota Research Institute launched, leading the way to autonomous vehicles, robotics, vehicle safety and materials science.

In the same year, Toyota Connected was created to use data to personalize the customer driving experience. What started as a single store in Southern California has evolved into an American institution that continues to bring jobs, mobility, and technology to its communities.
Photo courtesy of Zipcar

Zipcar has launched a new mobility option in select cities for members who depend on a vehicle during the week to commute to and from work. The service is available from Monday at 5 a.m. until Friday at 7 p.m.

Zipcars new weekday offering provides unlimited access to a vehicle and a parking spot Monday through Friday. This service is now available to current and prospective Zipcar members in Boston, Chicago, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Seattle, Toronto, and Washington, D.C.

For a monthly fee and per-mile rate, Zipcar provides exclusive access to a dedicated vehicle from Monday at 5 a.m. to Friday at 7 p.m. The cost includes gas, insurance, maintenance and cleaning, as well as a dedicated parking spot.

Members can scan in with their Zipcard any time after Monday at 5 a.m. and then use the vehicle and parking spot at their discretion until Friday at 7 p.m., according to Zipcar.

"Offering dedicated weekday wheels follows our commitment to providing innovative mobility options for our members while continuing to enable more people to live without a personal vehicle," said Tracey Zhen, president of Zipcar. "We know that many city dwellers own a car solely to get to and from work, relying on walking, biking, or public transit on the weekends. A dedicated weekday Zipcar is the perfect solution, enabling access to a vehicle when they need it and eliminating the stress of parking when they don't."

Zipcar provides access to a variety of cars in hundreds of cities throughout 10 countries in North America, Europe, and Asia.
Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism.
More than 70 People died between July and November this year in the hands of Police officers according to data given by the NASA coalition collected from the field. The red cross also got their numbers about the death toll in Kenya during the electioneering period.A Kenyan human rights body announced Wednesday that the 23 people died following the August Elections and another 13, before, during and after the repeat elections done on October 26.The Independent Medico-Legal Unit (IMLU) said there was evidence that the police responded to riots using indiscriminate force with no chance for other models of policing, especially in opposition strongholds.IMLU said it had recorded grievous violations of human rights committed by the National Police Service during the elections period.Executive Director Peter Kiama also questioned the coordination in the security forces, saying that many areas received newly deployed police officers without the knowledge of the officers in charge of the division.Police have denied participating in any killings as ordered by the state. The Inspector general of Police Joseph Boinett has declined the request by activists to give his number of deaths since August.
Kaloleni Mp Hon. Paul Katana in a past event. PHOTO | The counties

The shocking revelation of the Coast region Jubilee votes which was characterized by a scheme of oppressing people in the name of voting on 26th October 2017. Relief food was distributed to Kilifi county and the Jubilee point people took an oath of discriminating the needy people and gave to the ones who voted for Uhuru Kenyatta. The exhibit of voting was the IEBC ink as it was the requirement.The Mining CS Dan Kazungu has been in the limelight after a group of people condemned the Cabinet secretary for discrimination. Led by the Jilore MCA Daniel Chai Chiriba, the resident of Jilore were denied relief food from the Galana Kulalu irrigation scheme maize after the repeat polls. The food was distributed to the people who only voted for Uhuru Kenyatta in the repeat pollsin his Jilore ward.The Kaloleni Member of Parliament Paul Katana also hit hard on the relief food distribution. The Jubilee point people led by Ngowa Kahindi and Thoya Kenga have issued a list of people who perceived to have voted for the Jubilee Presidential candidate Uhuru Kenyatta in the repeat polls which are now being given the relief food."I have a full list of people who gave directions of who to be given food or not. The Jubilee people in Kaloleni constituency work hard on that but we are watching you. It is unfair to distribute relief food to certain people who perceived to have voted for Uhuru Kenyatta. Shame on you." Hon Paul Katana said.People in Magarini and Ganze also got that shock of relief food distribution. The Ganze Member of Parliament Hon Teddy Mwambire promised to take action on the food distribution Jubilee scheme as all people in the Ganze constituency need government support." You can pretend to be smart, fume, despise or distance yourself in these media platforms but the people on the ground know and save every detail of the concern. I already wrote to the DCC and copied to the County commissioner and regional Coordinator so as to get more details and the people who performed the heinous act of distribution of relief food to only those who voted for on 26th October 2017 denying all those who did not vote. Let the schemes and everyone who participated in denying people rights are up for a rude shock." Ganze MP Hon Teddy said."Former Ganze ward MCA Hon Japhet Katana Nzaro publicly shared relief food belonged to Jubilee party or a political party not from the Government of Kenya and the exhibition was IEBC ink posed as a requirement for the distribution. If the food was for the Jubilee People then there was no need to bring it here. Ok, now voting has already taken place, why discriminating extremely needy people? Is this what we call or term leadership? " Hon Teddy Mwambire added.Kilifi county has been a target for the Jubilee party as its candidates who did not clinch even a single seat in the county. The County Governor Amason Kingi is expected to provide his thoughts following the relief food discrimination saga in the county.
Five of the eight victims who died in Tuesday's terrorist attack in New York were friends from Argentina visiting the city to celebrate their 30-year high school reunion.

Police say Sayfullo Saipov entered a Manhattan bike path in a rental truck and drove at high speeds down the path, striking pedestrians and cyclists.

Among the victims was 48-year-old Ariel Erlij. He was a businessman who organized the trip and paid the expenses for those who couldn't afford the cost.

Alejandro Pagnucco, 47, was also on the trip and was an architect who had been planning the visit for more than a year.

His daughter said visiting New York had been her father's "dream."

The others on the trip were Hernan Mendoza, Herman Ferruchi and Diego Enrique Angelini, all of them 47 years old. They had just arrived in Manhattan for the reunion trip.

An Argentinian newspaper on Wednesday posted a picture of the entire group ahead of landing in New York.

They wore T-shirts that said "free" in Spanish.

Belgian national Anne-Laure Decadt, 31, also died in Tuesday's attack. She was the mother of two young boys. She was on a trip to New York with her two sisters and her mom.

The attacker ran her over while she was on a bike.

Darren Drake, 32, of New Milford, N.J. is one of the American victims. He rode his bike every day after recent weight loss surgery. His dad said he will donate his son's bikes to charity.

Nicholas Cleves, 23, had just graduated from Skidmore College when he was killed.

More than a dozen are trying to recover from the terror attack.
Break out the party hats, Mickey Mouse is turning 89.

Mickey Mouse's birthday on Nov. 18

Happy Birthday buttons, merchandise and cake

Sing Happy Birthday to Mickey at Magic Kingdom

Disney will celebrate the occasion at its parks later this month, including Walt Disney World.

Mickeys birthday is Nov. 18, which coincides with the characters debut in the 1928 animated film Steamboat Willie.

Disney World will celebrate with special Happy Birthday, Mickey! buttons, merchandise and Sorcerer Mickey cake.

Magic Kingdom visitors can sing Happy Birthday during Move It! Shake It! Dance & Play It! and the Cosmic Dance Party at Tomorrowland.

The Dapper Dans will also perform a rendition of Happy Birthday throughout the day.

Of course, no birthday celebration would be complete without pictures. Photo props will be located at all four theme parks. If you collect the photos, youll receive a folder with a commemorative sticker.

Other birthday celebrations will take place on Nov. 18 at Disneyland in California, Disneyland Paris, Hong Kong Disneyland, Tokyo Disney Resort and Shanghai Disney Resort.

Mickey will also travel the globe, making stops in Canada, Chile, England and Japan. You can follow Mickeys travels on his official Facebook and Instagram pages.

CHECK OUT ATTRACTIONS INSIDER: Your all-in-one source for news, pictures and video from Floridas theme parks. Just go to our Attractions Insider page. Sign up to get breaking theme park news alerts and subscribe to our newsletter, Theme Park Roundup, delivered to your inbox or mobile phone.
In August, Disneys Animal Kingdom celebrated the birth of two tiger cubsa male and a female.

Well, now the cubs have names.

Jeda, the male cub, and Anala, the female cub, are now two months old. Their names, respectively, mean pause in Malay and fiery in Hindi.

According to Disney, the cubs continue to bond with their mother, Sohni, and show their own personalities.

The cubs wrestle with each other constantly and love jumping on plants and logs, said Erin Heavey, an animal care specialist, in a post on Disneys official parks blog. Jeda in particular loves ripping the bark off the logs and playing with all the pieces that come off. Anala is becoming more adept at sneaking and pouncing and loves hiding behind things, even when she isnt entirely hidden and trying to surprise attack Sohni or her brother.

Jed and Anala will soon be featured on the Maharajah Jungle Trek. In the meantime, visitors can see their parents in the habitat.

The cubs were the first tigers to be born at the theme park. They were bred as part of a species survival plan. There are fewer than 500 Sumatran tigers left in the wild due to habitat loss and poaching.

CHECK OUT ATTRACTIONS INSIDER: Your all-in-one source for news, pictures and video from Floridas theme parks. Just go to our Attractions Insider page. Sign up to get breaking theme park news alerts and subscribe to our newsletter, Theme Park Roundup, delivered to your inbox or mobile phone.
According to media reports, many people are feared dead and more than 10 were injured in a bomb blast in Afghanistans capital, Kabul. Afghanistans public health official reportedly said that three people have lost their lives so far and 10others were taken to hospital in a serious condition.

(Image used only for representational purpose)
Back row from left: Philip Davison, CD Fairfield Capital; Kerry Peacock, Feisfayre; Alan McCall, Sensoteq; Paddy Trainor, Cyphra, and Gareth McAllister, Nimbus CS, with (front from left) Idir Boudaoud, Sensoteq; Moira Loughran, Invest NI, and Ross Harbinson, Hartech Services

A tech company which develops wireless sensors for industrial equipment is among eight Belfast firms to announce a total of 55 new jobs.

The businesses have all received funding from economic development agency Invest NI.

And Sensoteq - led by Idir Boudaoud - is set to invest 360,000 as it creates five jobs in a bid to drive export sales.

Other firms in construction, cybersecurity and consumer products are also announcing the new posts.

In total, the companies' investments in their workforce and operations amount to over 4m being spent in the economy, Invest NI said.

Moira Loughran, Invest NI's eastern regional manager, said: "The investments by these ambitious Northern Ireland companies include plans to create 55 jobs which once in place, will generate 1.9m of additional salaries into the Northern Ireland economy.

"We have provided these companies with very practical support to take their businesses to the next stage in growth.

"The close and continued collaboration we have with SMEs in Northern Ireland is clearly generating results for a range of sectors and will deliver significant benefits to the economy in the longer term.

"Invest NI is working hard to support companies right across Northern Ireland to create jobs, increase their export strength and drive business growth.

"Through access to our extensive suite of funding we will continue to ensure that NI companies receive the support they need to become more competitive and maximise future growth. This is consistent with our approach of becoming a trusted business partner of choice."

Invest NI said 24 of the new jobs have been filled.
A worker at an engineering plant in Co Antrim which makes components for the oil industry has accused its Texan owners of "fast-tracking" closure before oil prices climb.

Schlumberger, which has plants all over the world and customers including oil giants such as Exxon Mobil and BP, announced plans to shut its plant in Newtownabbey as early as March, with the loss of 220 jobs.

But a worker, who wished to be anonymous, has accused the plant of activating closure "around four times faster than usual" - and claimed the US firm could be under pressure to repatriate jobs under the 'America first' policy of President Trump's administration.

"The general consensus of us workers is that they want to fast track the closure because they don't want it to run in line with an upturn in oil prices, which we already see signs of happening.

He added: "This will make it much harder for them to justify the closing of our facility." Oil prices have reached two-year highs of around $60 per barrel of Brent crude - a rise of around 15% over the last two years.

He said workers at the plant needed Stormont to be up and running to help save the plant.

The prospect of redunancy payments was not enough: "I speak for all the workers at our plant when I say this - no money they offer us to close is enough and we don't want a short term payout. We want job security, to be able to tell our loved ones and children Christmas is still on this year and we can still put a roof over their heads."

The company manufactures components used in land and sea mining for oil and gas, including pistons, gauge carriers and hydraulic chambers. It also carries out assembly and testing before components are shipped out.

The worker said: "We have been situated in Northern Ireland for decades. The company was originally Camco before it was bought over by Schlumberger in 1998, and we have guys with 30 to 40 years' experience, that's unheard of in the manufacturing industry."

"The level of expertise we have is world class, and no other Schlumberger facility can even come close in comparison."

But Manufacturing NI chief executive Stephen Kelly said he did not believe the winding-down was being fast tracked. "There are a number of occasions where plants wind down in a much quicker time scale."

And he said the increase in oil prices increased the argument for keeping the plant open.

The company makes drill heads in Newtownabbey for new drilling operations. "Essentially their success depends on new gas and oil fields opening up, as they make equiment for new drilling rather than existing wells.

"The rising price of oil and gas should mean more money for investment to open up new exploration and new well heads. You would hope that would mean a rise in demand for what happens in Newtownabbey."

This week, trade union Unite held a meeting at the Newtownabbey plant. Before the meeting, Unite regional secretary Jackie Pollock said the company had indicated work would be off-shored to China, Mexico or the US. "The former two locations are renowned for their exploitative wage rates - the latter may reflect the priorities of a corporate management team who share the 'America First' perspective propounded by the current protectionist administration in power in Washington."

Schlumberger could not be reached for comment.
Irish journalist Caitriona Perry made headlines this year when Donald Trump singled her out in the White House. As she prepares to return home for a new job with RTE, she tells Donal Lynch why she thinks her admirer will last the course.

It was a moment that Caitriona Perry could hardly have anticipated. Invited into the Oval Office to witness the first call between Donald Trump and the newly-elected Leo Varadkar, RTE's Washington Correspondent suddenly, momentously, found herself the focus of a comment from Trump that would make headlines around the world. It began innocuously enough. Trump told the Taoiseach: "We have a lot of your Irish press watching us right now." So far, so not an international incident.

Then he pointed at Perry, beckoning her over. "We have all of this beautiful Irish press," he purred into the phone like a Miss Universe Emcee.

Then he asked the 37-year-old Dubliner: "Where are you from?"

With poise and calm, she approached the American president and introduced herself. "She has a nice smile on her face so I bet she treats you well," he said to Varadkar, adding: "He thanks you for the newspapers, Caitriona."

And then we all lost our mind over it. The moment lasted all of 22 seconds but it was enough to launch Perry into viral fame.

Like the blue dress, everyone saw what they were already predisposed to seeing - for some flagrant sexism, even misogyny; for others a relaxed, unscripted comment that could only benefit its startled recipient.

In the seconds it took her to reach the door of the Oval Office, the world's media drew its breath and for a moment Perry was the focus of the latest hysterical instalment of Trumpwatch.

Her Twitter and Instagram accounts were mined. Irish commentators lined up to commiserate with her, with The Irish Times divining that she was "clearly uncomfortable and suffering humiliation", while one of her predecessors in the role, Charlie Bird, mused that any reporter would simply be grateful for an audience with the President - whatever the tone. Perry herself watched it all unfold but resisted the urge to wade in.

She explains: "It's almost a cliche but it's also true - no journalist wants to be the centre of a story. In college you're taught not to use the words 'I' or 'me'.

"In some ways it wasn't hard to step back because the furore was so huge; it went all around the world.

"I didn't read the vast majority of what was written about it. It is a little odd when you see so many people talk about how you must have felt.

"It was a good insight for me because usually I'm on the other side of the media. People identified with the incident based on their own life experience - which, it must be said, is what Donald Trump does to people.

"I felt I was in a lose-lose situation - if I said I was uncomfortable I would have been calling the President of the United States inappropriate, whereas if I said it had rolled off me, I would have been offending all these women who took up the cause on my behalf. I had dealt with that kind of comment before, I don't think that there is a professional woman alive who hasn't."

Trump's ill-considered "niceties" continue to make headlines on a weekly basis - witness the furore last week about his insensitive remarks to a war widow. But Perry says she thought of his remarks to her as merely awkward small talk and says the context - somehow lost in the blizzard of commentary - was everything.

"I was the only Irish person in the room, I was the only person who wasn't part of the White House pool of journalists who'd be in and out of his office all day, so probably he was just saying what came into his head.

"I don't think he really meant anything by it. You're in the man's office, if he says, 'C'mere, who are you?' then it's polite to answer. I knew there was no place for me on the phone call and I was reasonably sure that whoever was on the call back in Ireland was also thinking 'What is going on?'"

"Smile-gate", as it debuted to groans, was all the more remarkable for the general anonymity of foreign correspondents in Washington and their relatively lowly place in the media pecking order - made even more lowly by the Trump administration, which, Perry explains, immediately made security clearance more difficult for foreign journalists.

But while she remains professionally tight-lipped on her actual opinions of Trump, she unequivocally sees this is a good time to be beaming news to the hungry eyes back home.

Perry said: "What a time to be doing this. It's been fantastic to be here for the election night, the inauguration and everything that has happened since - as a reporter you wouldn't want to be anywhere else."

There is part wide-eyed wonder, part flinty determination, in her tone when she says this.

While Perry now occupies one of the biggest jobs in Irish journalism it felt, in some ways, like an inevitable progression for such an ambitious young talent.

Colleagues in RTE gush about her and she operates deftly within the burden of being a sober voice of record during a period in American politics which seems equal parts silly and dangerous.

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Her appointment this past week as co-presenter of RTE's Six One news (alongside Keelin Shanley) seems like a natural progression - she has been in America for the standard four years now - but it will mean leaving Washington and moving back to Dublin around Christmas. Perry admits: "It will be bittersweet to leave America but the Six One is such an iconic show and so many great names have sat in that chair, so I'm really thrilled."

Growing up in a middle-class suburb of south Dublin, she says classmates would describe her as "extremely driven and hard working".

She had no connections in media, although all these years later a younger cousin is a motoring journalist with The Times and another edits The Donegal News.

Perry started her career at Newstalk and worked her way up various staff jobs until landing the big one four years ago.

She welcomed it as the culmination of years of hard work but it did require a big upheaval for herself and her husband, who made the move with her. "It was exciting to uproot," she explains. "You're packing up your whole life and it's not like you're 21 and you're moving for adventure."

Moving from being a big fish in the small pond of Ireland to knowing next to nobody in the US would daunt other journalists and Perry says the first year in Washington was characterised by a period of "hyper-networking".

For the time being, she essentially serves as a one-woman bureau for an entire continent.

She sometimes finds herself working 21-hour days - going to bed at 2am and rising again at 7am - to make sure there is enough material for RTE's various bulletins, as well as Morning Ireland.

"I binge sleep at weekends but if I can get five hours sleep, I'm happy with that. I eat really well though - if you were eating junk food you couldn't do this job."

Despite this, Perry has made time for one notable side project.

For her meticulously researched new book, In America, she traversed the so-called Rust Belt states which swept Trump to power and tried to find out what propelled them to make a choice which to the rest of the world looked like a form of electoral self-harm.

Perry says the famous beer test, which the previous polarisation record-holder, George W Bush, passed with flying colours, was turned on its head by Trump voters.

Despite the niggling feeling that all the controversy and opposition must induce burn-out in Trump, even if the investigation into the election doesn't get him, Perry believes she may still be reporting on him for many years to come.

"Whether he will last - that's the question that dominates Washington dinner parties," she says. "I wouldn't rule out a second term - it's very difficult to beat an incumbent president.

"And, as a journalist, I am grateful for him - he is the story of the century."

However, it's a story she will soon view from afar. Returning to Dublin will bring more stability in terms of her schedule and the hours will be more conducive to a good night's sleep one aspect of the move that's daunting is finding a place to live.

Perry says: "There is a housing crisis in Dublin, so I'll be moving home back smack into the middle of that. This is the thing that's causing me so much stress.

"The job itself will be fine, though. It all happened very quickly but I'm ready for the new challenge."

In America by Caitriona Perry is published by Gill Books, priced 19.99
That week for me was all about going backwards - my home dialysis kit going back, back to Daisy Hill this time via A&E and, of course, the clocks went back as well.

Early Tuesday morning at Waringstown we had a huge Baxters truck backed into our driveway. It was Davy the driver calling to pick up the home dialysis machine and kit, which sadly didn't work for me in the end.

But the biggest event of the week for me happened on Saturday, when I spent six hours in A&E at Daisy Hill.

Since Friday I had developed an increasing pain in my left side which I couldn't shake. Dialysis patients are immunosuppressant, so we can't take Ibuprofen - and the paracetamol wouldn't move it.

To be on the safe side, which we are told to be, I was advised to go to A&E at Daisy Hill in Newry to get checked out.

I have said many times that my admiration for our healthcare staff only increases and this was certainly true as mum and I watched them caring so attentively and calmly for an ever increasing throng of patients, including a few late-night Halloween revellers.

After a series of checks and tests I was admitted just as the clocks were being turned back an hour - it felt a little like I was going back in time, but I got confidence from the nurses who looked after me so well throughout that night and kept an eye on me.

After I was settled in and just before mum headed home in the early hours of Sunday morning she told me about a lady who she had been talking to just outside my ward.

She was bedded down with pillows and blankets for the night across some corridor chairs right next to two vending machines.

Mum was so touched by this lady's love and devotion for her elderly dad, who was being looked after in my ward. As we live our daily lives its sometimes very easy to forget the trials and tribulations which so many families go through at the most difficult of times.

However, the one constant in this world is love and devotion to those who return that love and this lady was no exception.

As I'm writing this I'm back on dialysis again in my usual ward and hoping to go home later on now that the pain has so thankfully eased off.

The one thing that hasn't eased off is my burning desire to travel to Switzerland to support Northern Ireland. My granda, brother Elliott and I were thrilled to be lucky enough to secure three tickets earlier this week and are in the final throes of making all the arrangements to travel.

My renal consultant Dr Neal Morgan and the team have been wonderful in helping to accommodate my dialysis to allow me to make the day trip and I am so thankful to them.

So while there have been backward steps this week I am being positive and have my eyes firmly fixed on the future.

Living and growing up in Northern Ireland can sometimes feel a little like living a life in reverse gear. I can't help but thinking that without agreement and consensus the wonderful doctors, nurses and health professionals who help so many patients in the most difficult of circumstances will not get the help they need to make all the positive changes they know need to be made.

If only we could bottle all the enthusiasm and positivity exuded by Michael O'Neill and his boys in projecting 'Our Wee Country' so well on the world stage.

Maybe then we could move forward to a new time of positivity, peace and progress.

Unusually the staff at Ward 11 South at the City Hospital in Belfast won't be seeing me this week, but they will be seeing mum. She's heading down to begin all the medical checks to see if she will be able to donate a kidney to me and will be passing on all the best from me to the super renal staff.

Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers.
Police in Belfast are becoming increasingly concerned for the whereabouts of missing woman, Karen Lane.

The 51-year-old was last seen in the east Belfast area around 10am Thursday 23.

She is described as being 51 tall, of slim build and long dark curly hair tied up in a bun. Karen speaks with a South African accent.

When last seen she was wearing a pink jersey, black leggings, a large grey coat and pink glitter slippers.

Anyone who knows of her whereabouts or has seen Karen, are to contact officers on 101 quoting reference 447 24/10/17.
A Northern Ireland schoolgirl was allegedly given cocaine and raped in the back of a car, the High Court heard today.

The 14-year-old also claims she was forced to perform a sex act in front of others in the vehicle, a judge was told. Prosecution counsel Kate McKay said: "She said she was resisting, banging on windows and shouting to get out."

A 29-year-old man is accused of carrying out the attacks during a late-night journey in May.

The defendant, who cannot be named for legal reasons, faces charges of rape, sexual assault, possessing cocaine and administering a substance with the intention of stupefying or overpowering the alleged victim.

He is out on bail, but was refused a curfew extension to spend more time with his family.

Lord Justice Stephens also directed that anonymity granted to him is to be reviewed at his next remand hearing in three weeks time.

The man denies the charges against him, claiming the girl told him she was 20 and that all sexual contact was consensual.

An older woman had allegedly persuaded the teenager to get into the car when it appeared at a location in Belfast with three men in it, the court heard.

Once inside she was offered drugs and alcohol, according to the prosecution.

Mrs McKay contended: "She made it clear to all parties that she was aged 14 - a schoolgirl."

It was claimed that the accused began touching her and carried out a sexual assault.

Later, he allegedly raped her and then made her carry out a sex act on him in view of the others.

Police were contacted after the girl spoke to a friend at school the following morning.

The accused was present in court with relatives for his failed attempt to vary bail conditions.

As the application was denied, he shouted out: "I'm an innocent man."

Following similar outbursts from his sister, the judge warned anyone responsible for further outbursts would be arrested.

Questioning why reporting restrictions were in place, he was told police had alerted the defendant to a death threat against him.

Lord Justice Stephens agreed to maintain the anonymity for now, but stressed: "The applicant must set out the exact reasons why the order is being sought."
Talks to restore power-sharing ended without agreement last night as the DUP and Sinn Fein failed to meet the Secretary of State's latest deadline.

James Brokenshire is expected to make a statement in Westminster today on the negotiations as the British Government made plans to begin legislating for a budget for Northern Ireland in 12 days' time.

Party whips in the House of Commons have been asked to allow time on the week beginning November 13 for a Bill.

SDLP deputy leader Nichola Mallon claimed this would mark the beginning of direct rule from London and urged Sinn Fein and the DUP to "come clean" and publish their parties' talks papers so the public could decide who was the obstacle to a deal.

Talks sources said they did not believe agreement would be reached this week and said an Irish Language Act remained the major stumbling block to progress.

The DUP and Sinn Fein teams led by Arlene Foster and Gerry Adams were locked in negotiations yesterday.

However, sources said there was no significant movement on several issues and that "very real differences" remained between the two parties.

The talks ended around 8pm. The two parties will return to Stormont to resume discussions today.

Mr Brokenshire had extended his latest deadline by 24 hours to give the parties more time to compromise.

He had previously warned that if agreement wasn't reached by Monday, he would move to introduce a budget for Northern Ireland.

But he intervened to give them a new deadline of last night after reports of progress and "additional requests" the parties put to the British Government.

Stormont sources said Sinn Fein had asked Downing Street to release 150m to fund inquests for Troubles-related deaths. The package was promised as part of the Fresh Start Agreement but has so far not been made available.

The DUP and Sinn Fein last night remained tight-lipped on the state of negotiations, having pledged not to give a "running commentary" to the media.

The British Government said Mr Brokenshire was reflecting on progress at the talks and would brief MPs today.

Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney, who took part in the discussions, tweeted yesterday morning: "Important day for Northern Ireland - with political will and a willingness to work together on all sides there is a deal to be done."

Sinn Fein MLA Conor Murphy said the negotiations had entered a key phase. Speaking at Stormont, he said: "The talks are continuing and we are still in there trying to get the DUP to accept the rights enjoyed by citizens everywhere else on these islands.

"I'm not going to make any comment on those discussions because it would not be helpful at this stage.

"But I do want to take issue with those parties, including the SDLP, who are continually attacking Sinn Fein and who now demand a deal at any price. They should set out what they mean."

Mr Murphy asked "whose rights" the SDLP wanted to "abandon". He called on the party to clarify if it was "families waiting for inquests for 45 years, the LGBT community (or) those of us who demand recognition and acceptance of Irish cultural identity?"

The Newry and Armagh MLA added: "Sinn Fein is committed to securing rights for all of society and not just for one section of citizens."

The party has warned that when Mr Brokenshire moves to introduce a budget, it would mean the talks have failed.
Press Eye Belfast - Northern Ireland 30th October 2017 General view of Stormont in east Belfast where talks have been ongoing between local parties to try and get the Northern Ireland Assembly up-and-running. Picture by Jonathan Porter/PressEye.com

Talks between the DUP and Sinn Fein have broken up for the evening after failing again to reach agreement.

Secretary of State James Brokenshire is expected to update Parliament on Wednesday about the ongoing crisis.

The parties are planning to resume negotiations in the morning in a bid to break the political deadlock.

Earlier on Tuesday Sinn Fein said they were not prepared to accept a deal to save Stormont at "any price".

Sinn Fein negotiation Conor Murphy MLA insisted the party stands firm over the issue of rights for all citizens including language, legacy and gay marriage.

Referring to the SDLP he challenged Sinn Fein critics to say if they want a deal "at any price".

Mr Murphy added this is a "very key time" in the talks process with the DUP, saying: "The people who are criticising us for standing firm in these negotiations need to explain what they mean by get a deal at any price.

"For our part in Sinn Fein we are here engaged, not on party political interests but actually on issues that are rights for people who support us and for many, many people who don't support us.

"We are here to protect people's rights and ensure that any legislation which is put back in place is done so on the basis of the Good Friday Agreement."

Mr Murphy also said that if Mr Brokenshire decides to legislate for a budget for the region at Westminster, "this phase of the talks process is over".

He also admitted there is a "credibility issue" the longer the talks drag on.

Ireland's Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney and Northern Ireland Secretary of State James Brokenshire arrived back at Stormont on Tuesday in a bid to help break the political deadlock.

They said progress was made on Monday between the DUP and Sinn Fein during talks aimed at restoring powersharing.

Both men and the parties arrived back at Stormont on Tuesday morning to resume discussions after a late night of negotiations.

Mr Coveney tweeted that "everyone (is) working hard to get a deal across the line".

Mr Brokenshire has extended the deadline for the parties to reach agreement and will review the situation on Tuesday night.

They were warned by the Secretary of State they had until Monday to produce a written agreement or he would be forced to legislate for a budget for the region at Westminster.

However he decided on Monday night that the parties had made progress and he was going to defer his decision.

In a statement he said: "The parties have made further progress during the course of (Monday). They are making certain additional requests of the UK Government which we need to consider.

"In the light of this, I believe it is right to defer the assessment on whether to introduce legislation to Parliament this week to enable an Executive to be formed.

"The parties will recommence talks in the morning (Tuesday) and I will reassess the position (on Tuesday) night."

The Northern Ireland Executive collapsed in January and the region has been without a powersharing government since then.

Despite endless rounds of discussions, a deal to restore devolution has proved elusive, with the introduction of an Irish language act seen as the main issue.
A Tory MP has accused "extreme nationalist-leaning individuals" in the Northern Ireland justice system of reigniting investigations into British veterans who served during the Troubles.

Richard Benyon, who served in the British Army in Northern Ireland, said many feared the investigations were "a form of retributive politics".

He cited the case of pensioner Dennis Hutchings, who is facing an attempted murder charge linked to the shooting of a man who had learning difficulties in 1974.

Mr Benyon said: "The Northern Ireland director of public prosecutions claimed in January that new evidence had come to light.

"Many fear that we are seeing a form of retributive politics here.

"Extreme nationalist-leaning individuals within the Northern Ireland justice system have decided to reignite such investigations."

The Newbury MP was introducing draft legislation as a 10-minute rule motion that would introduce a statute of limitations, imposing a time limit where action could be brought against British troops for their conduct during combat.

He suggested a 10-year time limit under his Armed Forces (Statute of Limitations) Bill.

"Terrorists who would otherwise be in prison walk free under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement," Mr Benyon said.

"The person who slaughtered seven members of my battalion's band, while they were playing to tourists in Regent's Park, is known to the authorities, but he is not pursued.

"So why is Dennis Hutchings being pursued, and why are we now facing the possibility of potentially many more veterans receiving the knock on the door?"

Mr Benyon, a former minister, told the Commons that 90% of deaths in the Troubles were caused by terrorists, and there was no equivalence between them and security forces whose intention was to protect people.

He added that many feel the "on the runs" letters issued as part of the Good Friday Agreement "effectively give terrorists a statute of limitation".

He also said that since the Iraq War an industry had emerged where "often dishonest lawyers" have used vast amounts of public money to bring cases against British troops.

"The abject failure of the allegations to stick shows how vile and corrupt the process became," he said.

"My Bill would bring to an end to what has become known as 'lawfare'.

"Never again would dreadful individuals like Phil Shiner be able to line their pockets or the pockets of their legal firm with vast amounts of public funds whilst pursuing our veterans into old age.

"My Bill ends this nonsense. With Op Banner ending 10 years ago, so will all pursuits of veterans into old age by a flawed and, some would argue, deeply prejudicial judicial system."

The Bill was listed for a second reading on June 15, but is unlikely to become law in its current form without government support or sufficient parliamentary time.
Charlotte Murray disappeared in 2012 and is believed to have been murdered

The 46-year-old partner of missing Tyrone woman Charlotte Murray, has been refused bail by Dungannon Magistrates' Court, five years to the day, after it is suspected she first went missing.

John Patrick Miller, a chef from Redford Park, who appeared via video link from Maghaberry prison, denies murdering Charlotte, sometime in the 24-hour period between 31 October and 1 November 2012.

Originally from Omagh, but living in Moy, 34-year-old Charlotte was reported missing by her family in 2013. They sat quietly in the gallery of the Dungannon court which heard police believe she was murdered after Miller was sent explicit images of her with another man.

A detective sergeant also claimed that traces of Charlottes blood were found in the bathroom of the Roxborough Heights house. It was around the waste water pipe and spatters were also located on the wall behind the toilet.

"All we know is that it is Charlottes blood. We cannot be sure what else happened in that bathroom. Searches are ongoing for her remains as we speak.

It was also alleged that in the hours after killing her, Miller went online looking for pawn dealers, attempting to sell off her engagement ring.

Opposing bail, the sergeant said police feared Miller, who now knows the extent of the evidence against him, might abscond, as he has associates in France whom he visited in September.

The defendant and Charlotte were in a relationship from around 2011 when they resided and worked on the island of Lusty Beg. The couple them moved to Roxborough Heights Moy.

"They became engaged in February 2012, but Miller would later claim the relationship began to decline shortly after. Charlotte was at this time seeking another job and was offered a position in Belfast just prior to her disappearance," said the sergeant.

The detective also reported at around 5.15am on 1 November, a post appeared on Charlottes Facebook account, saying, Im so p***ed off with life. I have to go away for a while.

While this was later found to have been posted from a different internet address, it was registered at the home the couple had shared. A text was also sent from Charlottes mobile phone to her new employers to say she will not be coming in.

Later that day a friend also received a text from the mobile, stating: Im going away for a while.

Miller was to later claim that with the relationship over, Charlotte left for Belfast, taking only her computer with her.

The sergeant further claimed that: We believe we can prove what the defendant put forward as a statement in 2013 is lies. During three days of interview (from most recent arrest) he gave no comment responses to everything except on the missing computer.

"All these questions we put to him in relation to Charlottes disappearance, which are crying out for answers, but he refused to put forward any responses," he said, before adding:

A former girlfriend of Millers whom we are describing as Witness B has stated theirs was an abusive relationship. She claims she was knocked backwards down a flight of stairs.

However, defence lawyer Peter Corrigan argued, The presence of blood does not signify a murder occurred in that house. Animal blood was also found there. There is no evidence a murder took place in the house.

Further claiming the court "cannot even be sure there has even been a murder, the solicitor said Miller's family were offering him accommodation and willing to post a 20,000 bail bond.

However, Deputy District Judge Bonita Boyd, in rejecting the application, said she was not satisfied any conditions would mitigate any risk of flight or interference with the investigation.

Miller is to appear again by video-link later this month.
Lawyers have applied to the senior coroner for Surrey to resume the inquests on behalf of Ann McKernan

The sister of the Guildford Four's Gerry Conlon has said "justice has no sell-by date" as she called for the 1974 pub bombings inquests to be resumed.

Ann McKernan, 58, said she promised her brother she would continue the fight for justice, not just for him but for "everyone involved", including the families of those killed.

Mr Conlon was one of the quartet wrongly imprisoned for the IRA attacks in the Surrey town which killed five people - four soldiers and a civilian - and injured 65.

The Guildford Four were handed life sentences but had their convictions overturned in 1989, and their case became one of the best known miscarriages of justice in British legal history.

Belfast-based firm KRW Law has applied to the senior coroner for Surrey to resume the inquests on behalf of Ms McKernan and a soldier who survived and who wishes to remain anonymous.

The firm said the application was on the basis that the inquests were never completed following the conviction of the Guildford Four.

Soldiers Caroline Slater, 18, William Forsyth, 18, John Hunter, 17, and Ann Hamilton, 19, and civilian Paul Craig, 22, died in the blast at the Horse and Groom pub on October 5 1974.

Mr Conlon, who was played by Daniel Day-Lewis in 1993 film In The Name Of The Father, died in June 2014, three weeks after he was diagnosed with lung cancer.

His father Giuseppe, who was also jailed as part of a discredited investigation into a supposed bomb making family - the Maguire Seven - died in prison.

His mother Sarah, a tireless campaigner for their freedom, died in 2008, aged 82.

Ms McKernan said she wants justice for all of them, and will fight for it until her "dying breath", telling the Press Association: "Justice has no sell-by date."

She added: "I promised him I would continue to get the proper justice for him. Not only for him, but for everyone involved in this."

She said her mother was "put through hell for 15 years", adding: "What happened to my family, what the British police and judiciary did, was cruel and wicked."

Ms McKernan, who lives in west Belfast, said the families of the victims are also in her thoughts.

"They're going through the same hell as me. It's wrong," she said, adding: "I don't have any contact with the victims' families, but believe me when I think of my family I also think of them families. They're as much victims as we are victims."

Asked if she would like to hear from the victims' families, she said: "I would. I would support them 100%."

Ms McKernan said the whole ordeal has taken a heavy toll on her health, and she is housebound due to advanced Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).

"From a young girl at 14-years-of-age visiting jails, it does take its toll on you," she said.

"But how can you give up on something that can be rectified and put right?

"There's not a day that I don't think about Gerry, my mother, my father."

KRW Law believes the resumption of the inquests would serve the interests of the victims and the wider public interest, adding that its clients still have unanswered questions.

The lawyers said their clients want to know why there was no subsequent police investigation following the release of the Guildford Four and why questions remain over the original prosecution.

The firm said that for its clients these inquests would be "an exercise in their right to truth, justice and accountability".

Last month, the lawyers applied to the Attorney General for England and Wales for him to consider ordering a new police investigation into the bombings, specifically regarding the original investigation by Surrey Police, the original prosecution of the Guildford Four and the subsequent inconclusive findings of judicial inquiry.

Ms McKernan said the families impacted by the miscarriage of justice should be given "some sort of closure", adding: "It will never go away until the right thing is done."
A man and woman have been arrested in east Belfast on suspicion of drugs offences.

The 30-year-old man and a 33-year-old female were arrested in the Bryson Street area on Wednesday morning.

The arrests follow a planned house search.

The 30-year-old male was arrested on suspicion of a number of offences, including possession of a Class A drug with intent to supply.

The 33-year-old female was arrested on suspicion of a number of offences, including possession of a Class C drug with intent to supply.

Both the 30-year-old male and the 33-year-old female are currently in police custody, assisting with enquiries.
Police is Lisburn are appealing for information after a masked man forced entry into the home of a priest and demanded money.

The aggravated burglary happened at the Parochial House on Chapel Road in Glenavy, Crumlin a short time before 9pm on Tuesday night.

No money was taken during the incident.

Appealing to the public, Detective Sergeant McIntosh said: "The male occupant, who was the only one in the house at the time, was not injured during the ordeal.

"The suspect is described as being between 56 and 58 tall and was wearing a dark-coloured overcoat and wellington boots.

"We are appealing to anyone who was in the Chapel Road area between 8.45pm and 9.10pm last night and noticed any suspicious activity, or has information that may assist our investigation to contact detectives in Lisburn Criminal Investigation Branch on the non-emergency number, 101, quoting reference 1609 with the date 31/10/17, or call Crimestoppers charity anonymously on 0800 555 111."
Police officers speak to residents after sealing off the area in west Belfast

ATO carry out searches in the Poleglass area of west Belfast as a security operation enters its third consecutive day on November 1st 2017 (Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph)

ATO carry out searches in the Poleglass area of west Belfast as a security operation enters its third consecutive day on November 1st 2017 (Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph)

ATO carry out searches in the Poleglass area of west Belfast as a security operation enters its third consecutive day on November 1st 2017 (Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph)

A new dissident republican group has claimed it was responsible for planting a suspected roadside explosive device in west Belfast.

Police were called to Pantridge Road at 1pm on Monday, resulting in the evacuation of a number of houses, but left two hours later after finding nothing.

However, officers returned after a group calling itself 'Arm na Poblachta' (Army of the Republic) made coded phone calls claiming it had left an improvised explosive device at a lamppost on Pantridge Road.

The PSNI discovered what appeared to be a spool of wire attached to an unidentified package.

This resulted in Pantridge Road, Bell Steel Road, Pembroke Loop Road and Brians Well Road remaining closed to traffic, forcing many families in the area to stay in their homes.

This is the first time Arm na Poblachta has claimed responsibility for an attack, with police only confirming its existence in August.

Pantridge Road runs alongside a busy housing estate, with families celebrating Halloween and trick-or-treaters walking along the roads in the surrounding area.

An Army bomb disposal robot was deployed to extract the device out of the grass at the side of the road.

Stephen Magennis, a Sinn Fein councillor for the Poleglass area, said that every effort had been made to limit the "major disruptions" in the area caused by the security perimeter.

"It is a sizable area that has needed to be closed off," he said.

"But the police are doing their jobs and doing their best to keep people safe."

Sinn Fein MLA Orlaithi Flynn added the group responsible had "no regard" for the community.

PSNI Superintendent Robert Murdie said: "It is clear that those responsible for this wish to instil fear, disrupt the community and attempt to detract officers from delivering the policing service the local community of west Belfast want and deserve."
Susan Haworth, who was tortured and then shot by bandits

A Northern Ireland man who saw his wife tortured, shot and dumped in a ditch after a raid at their remote South African farm says he suffers daily flashbacks of the horrific night.

Susan Howarth (64) was killed by masked men who robbed the property in Dullstroom in Mpumalanga province earlier this year.

Her Belfast-born husband Robert Lynn survived despite hours of torture and having a bullet lodged in his neck.

Months later, all Mr Lynn has left of his wife is her ashes in a neat wooden box and the flashbacks of what happened.

The 66-year-old says he is haunted by the unnerving silence, mixed with flashbacks and panic each time he hears something suspicious.

The widower was speaking during a protest in South Africa dubbed #BlackMonday.

Mostly white farmers donned black clothing and gathered on motorways and roads in a procession of tractors and trucks, to protest against what they described as a weak state response to "farm murders".

The killing of Ms Howarth, originally from Hampshire, was highlighted when farmers, mostly clad in black, staged a protest at her farm entrance. Among the crowd was her grieving widower.

He stood upright, holding the hands of fellow protesters, his facial expression unmoved by the emotional crowd.

"I am angry. I am so very angry," he said afterwards.

Ms Howarth was murdered on the farm on February 19 when an armed gang broke into the pensioners' isolated property, around 150 miles east of Johannesburg.

The couple were tortured for hours before being bundled into a pick-up truck and driven to a mountain pass. Ms Howarth was shot twice in the head and Mr Lynn, a former electrical engineer, suffered one shot in the neck.

The bullet is still lodged there after doctors deemed it too dangerous to remove.

But worst of all, he had to listen to his wife dying in the dark, unable to help her.

Police later said she was unrecognisable as a result of her injuries.

Mr Lynn added: "What gets me the most is the audacity of it all. To come into someone's house and shoot without saying anything. I thought it was the other way around, you first ask and then shoot."

Three men have been arrested in connection with the attack.

Since their arrest, the murder file was destroyed in a suspicious fire when the Dullstroom detective unit was torched to the ground. As a result, the report had to be recompiled.

Mr Lynn, together with his neighbour and late wife's best friend Claire Taylor, have been following the court case since the first appearance of the three suspects.

When there were rumours of them being released on bail, Mr Lynn's loved ones feared that they might come back for him.

The case is expected to be transferred to the Criminal High Court in Nelspruit for trial.

Worried about the investigation and with little information at his disposal, Mr Lynn has been in contact with the British Consulate to help him get answers.

Clinging to the box containing his wife's ashes, he repeats: "I am angry, I am very angry.

"They say it might take years before I will be able to let go of this anger. My wife wasn't murdered, she was executed."
NIFRS came under attack responding to incidents in Northern Ireland.

Northern Ireland Fire Crews came under attack whilst responding to incidents on Halloween night.

Operational crews came under attack in Armagh, Belfast, Keady and Crossmaglen areas.

No personnel sustained any injures although an appliance was damaged during the Keady incident.

The Fire and rescue Service received 210 calls and and attended 136 incidents across Northern Ireland.

Seven of these calls were reportedly "Hoax calls."

Police in Belfast were called to the Holylands after reports of a large crowd had gathered and a fire was lit in the street.

This Halloween's figures represent a decrease (18%) in both the number or calls received and the number of operational incidents attended for the same period in 2016.
An elderly man from Lurgan has been scammed 1000 for having his driveway power hosed.

Police in Northern Ireland are appealing for witnesses after a 79-year-old was defrauded out of a large amount of money on Tuesday morning.

Around 10am on October 31, two males approached the homeowner in the Kingsway Drive area of Lurgan offering to clean and de-weed his drive and pathways.

The elderly man handed over the money to the two males who then did not carry out the work.

The males, who were in a white coloured van, spoke with what has been described as Newry accents and were aged in their 30s.

PSNI Chief Inspector Jon Burrows described the payment as a "sickening exploitation."

He said: This is a sickening exploitation of a vulnerable 79 year old man

We recognise that not all cold callers are rogue traders or criminals however we want every householder, particularly the more vulnerable, to have the confidence to refuse services they do not require or want.

Neighbours can also play a vital part in helping protect the more vulnerable in their community against this kind of crime. Look out for suspicious vehicles and people and report ALL suspicious activity to Police," Inspector Burrows stressed.

We want to empower residents to discourage those unofficial traders who may overcharge an unsuspecting householder for poor quality work or work that is never completed at all."

The Chief Inspector added: "Rogue trading and its links to burglary can have a significant impact on the vulnerable and elderly within our communities. Often rogue doorstep traders target the most vulnerable in our society. If you would like crime prevention advice please speak the Crime Prevention Officer on 101.
The 100-year-old Strabane man who was robbed in his home on Friday night has said he feels like the world has given him "a big hug" since his frightening ordeal.

Pat Gillespie, a well-known and much-loved figure in the town, has been inundated with messages of support since three masked men forced their way into his Railway Street home.

The gang held him in his chair while they ransacked his bedroom, rifled through his pockets and made off with cash, leaving him shaken.

"I really was shocked at what happened," he said.

"I couldn't understand why it happened to me.

"I was very lucky that I had money in my pocket, because it wouldn't have mattered where you had it hidden, they would have got it anyway. And they would have got it by force.

"When I think that I could have ended up in the hospital, I'm happy enough that I didn't end up there."

Since then the colourful centenarian has kept himself busy in his museum and invention space to lift his mind.

And he has been bowled over by the outpouring of goodwill from people who have got in touch.

He said: "I am beginning to brighten up a bit and be a bit more thankful to the people who called with me and called on the phone," he said.

"One lady brought me a big bag of buns, others sent cards.

"It's like a big hug. It has shown me that there are a lot of great people in the world and it's a great pleasure to meet them."

Pat said that he had decided to try to get something positive from the situation.

He has shown many more people around his museum, which has a collection of wacky cars and 32 bikes, plus number plates from all over the world and miniature vehicles, not to mention his double-fronted Mini Cooper and his cars fashioned from baths.

"I love inventing things and making people laugh. It's what keeps me going," he said.

"When I was at school I didn't like it. Instead, I was always down at Buchanan's Garage on the Railway Road.

"As kids we were allowed to drive the cars into the garage at 6pm. The odd time we would take them for a run around the canal. I worked for 25 years in that garage, I was so interested in cars.

"My first car was an Austin Seven and it cost me 15. Years later I bought two Mini Coopers, I cut them in two and I joined them together to have two fronts.

"I always maintained that they are handy for going up one-way streets. I loved cutting up cars and bicycles and making new things with them.

"I cut up a 100-year-old bed frame and made a bicycle with it, I put handlebars and wheels on it. I rode it up and down the street and people would laugh away.

"It made me think, if people are laughing they must like it and it must be good.

"I had an old-style American police car that had the loudest siren you ever heard. They are just gimmicks, I love to make people laugh and giggle at my antics.

"I always maintain that laughter in Strabane at one time was a very scarce commodity and I wanted to change that."

Pat will celebrate his 101st birthday on December 2. His brother Dan lived until he was 103 and his sister Ginny until she was 97.

He said the secret to a long life was much laughter and keeping the brain ticking over.

"I think the secret is keeping your mind occupied," Pat said. "I'm continually thinking on something, working on something. As long as your mind is thinking on something, you'll be happy.

"And I was always buying, dealing, wrecking, breaking and making things.

"That kept me out of mischief and I love to laugh and hear people laugh. When you laugh, all your troubles go to the one side. I think it's great."

Pat was married to Eileen for 70 years and together they raised eight children - five girls and three boys. His beloved wife died 23 years ago and he misses her every day.

"Eileen and I were married for over 70 years," he said. "She was a fantastic woman, the greatest ever.

"The only time we ever had words, it was about one thing - dancing. She loved dancing and I hated it.

"I miss her terribly but I go out to her (grave) every day on my bike. I never miss a visit."

Pat's home is now covered in cards from all over Northern Ireland and beyond and he has been inundated with messages of support since his story appeared in the Belfast Telegraph.

One woman from Switzerland offered to give him 500 to replace the money that was stolen, but Pat said he would rather meet her than take her money.

"I really don't want anything to do with money," he said. "I feel terrible. I would feel like a beggar and I don't want that.

"I can't believe the lady contacted the Belfast Telegraph from Switzerland. She is the sort of person I'd like to meet.

"I'd love to invite her over to Strabane. I might not have a comfortable bed, but I've a sleeping bag she can have."

Pat said the amazing response to his ordeal has confirmed that there are still "very good, kind people in the world".

He said: "The lady from Switzerland and those who have sent me cards, visited and rung me prove that.

"Someone sent me a card last night and it had 20 in it.

"It is so nice of them, but I really don't want people collecting money for me. I have as much money that will bury me.

"I have that left by and I don't need anything else. I am happy, I don't want money."
The widow of the first PSNI officer to be murdered by terrorists has praised Peadar Heffron's bravery in speaking out about being ostracised by members of his community for joining the police.

Kate Carroll, whose husband Stephen was shot dead by dissidents in 2009, said she hoped the former officer's experiences would not deter other Catholics from joining.

Mr Heffron, who suffered life-changing injuries in a bomb attack in 2010, told how he had been shunned by GAA team-mates after entering the PSNI.

Mrs Carroll said: "The name of the force was actually changed to placate people so that Catholics would be encouraged to join.

"I don't see anything wrong with someone going out and doing a day's work, especially a job as intense as a police officer.

"I think it would be a good step forward if people were allowed to get on with their work instead of being subjected to shootings and bombings.

"I hope people would see that Catholic police officers are trying to come together and make more of the community and help the community."

Mrs Carroll said her husband, a Catholic, was told by a fellow officer to take off a crucifix he was wearing when he first joined.

She said: "Stephen was not bigoted in any way. He could not understand why people would treat him like that.

"His attitude to life was to treat everyone the same. He went out there every day to do a job that was quite dangerous."

Mrs Carroll said she admired anyone who joined the PSNI.

She added: "I have met Peadar a few times and I am glad he is speaking out."

Mr Heffron told earlier this of his anger at the terrorists who planted a bomb under his car in 2010. Due to the severity of his injuries, his right leg had to be amputated.

He also spoke of his disappointment that members of his former GAA club, Creggan Kickhams in Randalstown, shunned him for joining the PSNI in 2002.

Peter Sheridan, chief executive of peace-building charity Co-operation Ireland and a former PSNI Assistant Chief Constable, said more work had to be done to ensure the police force was representative of the community it served.

"The Patten Report was about changes in policing to make it a more acceptable service across the society," he said.

"We have to be careful that things don't go backwards and that we continue to encourage policing to be as reflective of society, in terms of its make-up, as we can."

Speaking to Sunday Independent columnist Joe Brolly, Mr Heffron told how his club turned its back on him as soon as he announced plans to join the newly-formed PSNI in 2002. Asked whether Mr Heffron's experiences would put Catholics off joining the PSNI, Mr Sheridan said: "It could put people off, but it happened 15 years ago - there has been some change.

"But the threat that is out there will no doubt impact on people's minds who live in communities you really want to recruit from.

"On the other side, it demonstrates that people are capable of making up their own minds, even when people are against them.

"Unfortunately in Peadar's case it cost him his health. But it's not the same with everyone. There are a lot of Catholics or nationalists (who have joined the PSNI) who have not suffered to that extent."

Mr Sheridan added that he had seen the GAA make "enormous efforts" to try and bridge gaps between communities since the PSNI was formed.

In a statement, the GAA said it was working closely with the PSNI to develop closer relations and condemned the attack on Mr Heffron.

It said that the organisation had a long-standing policy of opposition to violence and outlined how members worked closely with the PSNI on a range of initiatives.

But DUP MP for South Antrim Paul Girvan has challenged the GAA to ensure that members do not face opposition if they join the police in the future.

He said: "I have written to Creggan Kickhams GAC, the Antrim Board and Ulster Council urging them to make clear that the hate, intimidation and ostracism faced by Peadar Heffron for joining the PSNI was wrong.

"It is also important that the club, board and council each state that any member who wishes to join the PSNI will not face the same displays of bigotry and intolerance, but rather is encouraged to join and serve the whole community."
Prisoners in Northern Ireland have received compensation payouts adding up to more than 700,000 over the last five years. (Paul Faith/PA)

Prisoners in Northern Ireland have received compensation payouts adding up to more than 700,000 over the last five years.

Figures obtained by the Belfast Telegraph reveal there were more than 1,800 injury claims, resulting in payments of 696,348.

Since 2013 some 160 claims for lost or damaged property have been lodged, leading to payouts totalling 19,148.

It already costs 53,408 per year to keep someone locked up - more than double the average salary in Northern Ireland.

Statistics released under Freedom of Information show a sharp rise in claims put forward at Magilligan Prison near Limavady, a medium to low security facility for male prisoners with less than six years on their sentence.

It currently has 425 inmates and a capacity of 570, but in 2016 there were 690 injury claims costing the taxpayer 196,255 in compensation payments.

This was almost 10 times the amount that had been paid out the year before - in 2015 there were only 99 injury claims and 19,900 paid out.

The claims include assaults by prisoners and staff, trips and falls, smoke inhalation and unsafe working facilities.

The steep rise in figures is driven by mass claims from prisoners that their human rights have been breached in Magilligan.

In 2013 and 2014 there were fewer than 10 'breaches of human rights' claims, and a rise to 62 in 2015, but 2016 saw this figure rise to 638, an increase of 929%.

It is thought that some of these may be historical claims from former prisoners who have taken action after their release.

The Northern Ireland Prison Service has said that 90% of these claims relate to the sanitation at Magilligan, where prisoners have been slopping out, meaning that they have been forced to use chamber pots instead of functioning toilets if a member of staff is not present to take them to use the facilities.

TUV leader Jim Allister expressed concern at the compensation payments.

"It's not just the 700,000, because all of those claims will be legally aided and it will be a much higher figure than what these show," he said.

"I think the fault lies with the legal aid situation and prisoners are given unquestioning legal aid, making it easier for them, meaning that the balance is in the favour of the prisoners, as it is cheaper for the State to pay for them instead of paying for the legal and court costs."

The Prison Service said: "The Prison Service receives various claims for compensation from prisoners.

"Each claim is dealt with individually and resolved appropriately.

"Claims in recent years by prisoners in Magilligan have largely been due to unsatisfactory sanitation in a number of accommodation areas of the prison.

"However, this accommodation is being upgraded to ensure it meets with the required standards.

"While compensation payments do place pressures on financial resources, every effort is made to address issues in a way which negates future claims."

Out of the three prisons in Northern Ireland, Hydebank Wood, which accommodates young offenders and female offenders, had the smallest amount of claims over the five years.

A total of 30,250 was awarded in compensation.
Police officers at the scene of a security alert on the Pantridge road in the Poleglass area of west Belfast on October 20th 2017 (Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph)

Police officers at the scene of a security alert on the Pantridge road in the Poleglass area of west Belfast on October 20th 2017 (Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph)

Police and ATO continue to deal with a suspect object in the Poleglass area of west Belfast following a search operation spanning over 24 hours on October 31st 2017 (Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph)

Police and ATO continue to deal with a suspect object in the Poleglass area of west Belfast following a search operation spanning over 24 hours on October 31st 2017 (Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph)

Police and ATO continue to deal with a suspect object in the Poleglass area of west Belfast following a search operation spanning over 24 hours on October 31st 2017 (Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph)

Residents in west Belfast remain out of their homes as a security alert continues into Tuesday evening.

Shortly before 6pm on Monday police reported they were dealing with a security alert in the area of the Bell Steel Road and Pantridge Road.

The PSNI said a number of houses - thought to be at least a dozen - were evacuated.

On Tuesday evening police said the alert was still ongoing.

Officers said progress towards bringing the incident to a close was continuing.

Some cordon control points have been moved as a result of the operation.

Pantridge Road is now open as far as Bell Steele Road.

Pembrooke Loop is accessible from the Brianswell Road.

A section of the Pantridge Road continues to remain closed.

Chief Inspector Kellie McMillan said:- I would like to thank the local community for their patience and understanding during the course of this security operation.

Police have urged anyone who noticed any suspicious activity or saw anything unusual to call police on 999.

A statement added: "If you come across a suspicious object please do not touch it  phone the police immediately."
It is believed 400,000 false breathalyser records were put on the database on top of nearly 1.5 million identified in an audit

It is likely the true scale of gardai recording bogus breath tests will never be known, the force's top oversight body has warned.

The Policing Authority said the latest review of the scandal estimates that there were another 404,700 false records on top of the near 1.5 million already identified.

The watchdog launched an excoriating assessment of the culture and standards across the force and singled out the top brass in the force as responsible.

And in one of its most damning findings it warned that officers should not need training to be honest.

"The fact that the behaviours outlined ... were endemic and seemingly went unnoticed and unchecked over nearly a decade is a serious management and governance failure for which top Garda management are responsible," the watchdog said.

Garda chiefs have been asked to launch further investigations into 2,134 drink and drug-driving checkpoints and associated data which contributed to the massive over-exaggeration of breath tests statistics from 2009 to 2016.

Chairman of the Policing Authority Josephine Feehily, said the issue for the watchdog was also about integrity and culture.

She said: "Unfortunately, the Authority cannot offer an assurance to the community that these problems could not recur, although we hope that they won't."

Ms Feehily said inadequate supervision and poor performance management is at the heart of the controversy.

But she added: "These cannot be explained away simply by issues relating to lack of training and resources."

The report warned that the entire affair r aises questions about the way gardai go about their daily work.

The Policing Authority raised concerns that the Garda has yet to grasped the importance of the issues which were identified as far back as 2015.

It said Garda management looks at the issues as being primarily administrative and technical. It also warned that the excuses of poor training and complex legislation did not lead to figures being underestimated.

"The Commissioner needs to now visibly lead on providing a permanent solution to the issues of culture, supervision and performance management outlined in this report and indeed which also pervade many external reports relating to the Garda Siochana over the past 20 years," it said.

The Policing Authority said there was a culture in the force that displayed a casual approach to data and a lack of appreciation of its value. It said that enabled unethical behaviour by gardai.

"Nothing has displaced the truism that no training is required for behaving honestly and ethically," the authority said.

The Authority raised concerns about why no-one questioned the performance of gardai policing the roads at a time when budgets were being cut.

"It is unlikely that the illogical nature of this went unnoticed and yet it appears it was not raised - nobody spoke up.

"If it did go unnoticed, it raises further questions with regard to management capacity to understand and know what is going on in their organisation," it said.

The report for the Authority by consultants Crowe Horwath found s ome senior Garda management did not know what was in their policing plans and there was a lack of proper supervision probing from sergeant level up to commissioner.

It said it painted a disturbing picture that gardai have significant problems with supervision and that there was a confidence that they would not be held to account.

And the Authority dismissed the Garda's argument that the number of sergeants was slashed in the recession, adding that the ratio of gardai to sergeant remained relatively stable.

It also found many divisional officers failed to respond to the Commissioner adequately or at all when asked to make sure checkpoints were being properly run.

The Garda's internal review, which identified the 1.5 million bogus tests, also came in for criticism for failing to analyse management inadequacies.

The Authority said Garda management do not fully appreciate the impact the scandal has had on public confidence not just for roads policing but how the entire force is m anaged and governed.

It said: "It is a source of concern that there appears to have been no appreciation of the importance of knowing the accurate percentage that failed tests represented of the total number tested.

"Nor did there appear to be any understanding of the importance of that information in the shaping of public policy in an area of behaviour that causes so many deaths and injuries on the roads every year and blights the lives of families the length and breadth of the country."

The Authority said it was troubling that IT and technical fixes do not give the necessary assurance that the issuing of fines, penalty points and summonses or reporting drink and drug driving checkpoints cannot be abused in the future.

Fianna Fail justice spokesman Jim O'Callaghan called for beefed-up oversight powers for the Policing Authority with the bogus breath test scandal worse than previously thought.

"Unfortunately, the poor performance of senior management in An Garda Siochana remains at the fore of these repeated controversies," he said.

Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan said cultural change in the Garda is more important that increasing police numbers or budgets.

"The Policing Authority has stated that some of the problems identified pre-date the recession and were cultural in nature," he said.

"One of the Policing Authority's first acts was to introduce a Garda Code of Ethics. Adherence to that code must become a fundamental part of our policing."

Acting Garda Commissioner Donall O Cualain said the latest review found unacceptable failures in the force's systems, processes, internal oversight, supervision, governance, management and culture.

"These were collective failures and we must now all work together from top down to bottom up to resolve them," he said.

"An Garda Siochana accepts the damage this has done to public confidence. We fully recognise the importance of public support and confidence in the delivery of an effective police service."

The Commissioner added the focus now is on changing systems, practices, behaviours and culture.
The DUP and Sinn Fein failed to meet Mr Brokenshire's Monday deadline to reach agreement to restore powersharing in the region

Secretary of State for Northern Ireland James Brokenshire pictured speaking to the media at Stormont House in east Belfast after local parties failed to reach an agreement to get the Northern Ireland Assembly up-and-running. Picture by Jonathan Porter/PressEye.com

PACEMAKER BELFAST 01/11/2017: Northern Ireland Secretary James Brokenshire pictured making a statement on the way forward to restore power-sharing at Stormont. Picture By; Arthur Allison/Pacemaker Press

Secretary of State for Northern Ireland James Brokenshire pictured speaking to the media at Stormont House in east Belfast after local parties failed to reach an agreement to get the Northern Ireland Assembly up-and-running. Picture by Jonathan Porter/PressEye.com

Theresa May remains committed to a 1 billion investment in Northern Ireland despite the continued deadlock in Stormont powersharing, a senior Downing Street source has said.

The Government is understood to be standing by the controversial deal struck by the Tories in return for Democratic Unionist votes at Westminster, while making preparations to impose a budget on the region by the end of the month.

Secretary of State James Brokenshire said public services in Northern Ireland would begin to run out of money by the end of November.

And while the Prime Minister's official spokesman said the priority was getting the Stormont Assembly back up and running, another senior source in Downing Street insisted that the 1 billion investment still stands.

"The money that has been promised as part of the confidence and supply deal is for the people of Northern Ireland and we are committed to delivering on that undertaking," the source said.

The DUP and Sinn Fein failed to meet Mr Brokenshire's original Monday deadline for a powersharing deal, after Stormont had been effectively in limbo since January.

Irish language rights and other cultural issues are the main sticking points.

And the 10 month long crisis prompted renewed calls for MLAs' pay - 49,500 a year - to be cut.

Steven Agnew, Green Party leader in Northern Ireland, said: " If an MLA is performing two-thirds of a job, they should be paid two-thirds of the wage."

Sinn Fein's northern leader Michelle O'Neill said negotiations had been hampered by the Westminster votes deal.

She said: "This has been compounded by the Tory-DUP pact. The British Secretary of State is wrong when he says that it is only the parties themselves who can reach agreement - he and the Irish Government also have obligations."

DUP MP Gregory Campbell accused Sinn Fein of "rank hypocrisy" over the deadlock at Stormont and said his party was ready to form an executive.

"We want devolution. Arlene Foster has led our talks team and is rightly frustrated that government is being held back by a narrow political agenda," he said.

"We received an overwhelming mandate to ensure any deal was fair. That mandate has to be respected, just as we respect the mandate of others."

SDLP leader Colum Eastwood said the threatened budget was direct rule and warned that people in Northern Ireland were deeply worried.

"A Tory/DUP Government will do nothing for the rights of people in the north. It only strengthens the DUP's intransigence," he said.

"It will do nothing for the rights of Irish language speakers, the LGBT community or victims."

Ulster Unionist Party leader Robin Swann said: "Northern Ireland is now coming slowly and deliberately to direct rule, at the hands of Sinn Fein and the DUP."

Green Party leader Steven Agnew said there had been a blackout on what issues the Sinn Fein and the DUP cannot agree on.

"What we now need from the Secretary of State is a concerted effort to introduce transparency, creativity and inclusivity into negotiations, to end the blackout on what the sticking points are and to listen to alternative approaches," he said.

Mr Brokenshire said important progress has been made in the talks but it was unlikely the Stormont executive could be revived in time for Northern Ireland's politicians to determine the budget by the end of the month.

"No Government could simply stand by and allow that to happen," he said.

Mr Brokenshire said he was taking advice on the issue of pay for MLAs - a 49,500 salary with about 41,250 paid to the 90 MLAs in the months since Stormont has been shut.

He said talks cannot run indefinitely but the latest deadline should not be seen as a reason to abandon them.

"I think there is already a huge amount of frustration out there in Northern Ireland, that people here want to see politics here get on with the job and serving them," he said.

"Yes, this has gone on for an extended period, but I still think it is right that we use renewed efforts to find a resolution to see devolved government get back on its feet again.

"It's because it matters so much - that local accountability, local politicians serving here in Northern Ireland. But they can't merely continue forever and a day."

Ireland's Foreign Minister Simon Coveney, who had been involved in the talks earlier this week, said London was acting reluctantly and delaying a threatened budget as late as possible.

"Both Governments share the view that it is regrettable and deeply concerning that, eight months after the last Assembly election, a powersharing executive is not in place to make the necessary decisions, including on budgetary issues, for Northern Ireland," he said.

In their statements, Mr Coveney and Mr Brokenshire also noted the importance of the Good Friday Agreement.

Mr Coveney said the relationship between the parties was at the heart of the issue.

"The issues under discussion - particularly those on language and culture - go to the heart of the divisions in society here in Northern Ireland and so agreement on them was always going to be very challenging," he said.

"However, I have always believed that it is possible to reach an honourable compromise which reflects the core principles of the agreement - partnership, equality and mutual respect."
David Davis has so far resisted intense pressure to publish the Brexit papers (Daniel Leal-Olivas/PA)

Ministers face the prospect of having to publish Brexit impact studies after Labour secured a Commons victory on the proposal.

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Shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer said the Government cannot ignore the decision by MPs and called on David Davis to urgently set a date for when he will share the assessments.

Following a stormy debate in which confusion reigned about whether the vote would be binding or not, Speaker John Bercow made clear the Government must respond quickly and he could consider contempt of Parliament claims if ministers hinder the work of Parliament by failing to act.

He also said motions of the kind pushed by Labour have traditionally been regarded as binding or effective and cited precedent for his view.

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Labour used an arcane parliamentary procedure in a bid to force a vote on a motion which asks for Brexit Secretary Mr Davis to hand the papers over to the cross-party House of Commons Committee on Exiting the EU.

A humble address, outlined in Labours motion, requests the Queen to direct Mr Davis to release the documents.

Brexit minister Robin Walker confirmed the Government would not oppose the motion but took note of suggestions by Labour about redacting or summarising the information from the 58 studies showing the potential impact of Brexit on different industrial sectors.

It remains now to be seen how the Government responds, with Brexit departmental questions taking place in the Commons on Thursday morning.

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Responding to the motion being approved, Sir Keir said: This is a victory for Parliament and for democracy.

He added: Its completely unacceptable for the Tories to have wasted months avoiding responsible scrutiny and trying to keep the public in the dark. The reality is that it should not have taken an ancient parliamentary procedure to get ministers to listen to common sense.

As the Speaker has made clear, the Government cannot ignore tonights binding decision.

David Davis must now respond to Parliaments ruling and urgently set a date for when he will share these papers.

Expand Close David Davis (Dominic Lipinski/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook

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A Department for Exiting the European Union spokeswoman said: As the minister made clear during the debate, we take all parliamentary votes seriously and recognise that Parliament does have rights relating to the publication of documents.

Ministers also have a clear obligation not to disclose information when doing so would not be in the public interest. We will reflect on the implications of the vote and respond in due course.

Liberal Democrat Brexit spokesman Tom Brake said: Ministers need to publish these reports in full, not subject them to a Whitehall whitewash.
Dozens have died in protests in Eritrea, it is claimed

At least 28 people have been killed in rare protests in the capital of Eritrea, one of the world's most reclusive nations, an official with the largest Eritrean opposition group said on Wednesday.

More than 100 people were injured in the protests in Asmara that began on Monday and escalated on Tuesday, spokesman Nasredin Ali with the Red Sea Afar Democratic Organisation told The Associated Press, citing sources on the ground in Eritrea.

The group is based in neighbouring Ethiopia.

The US Embassy in Eritrea late on Tuesday reported gunfire "at several locations in Asmara due to protests" and advised US citizens to avoid the centre of the city.

The statement did not say why the protests occurred.

Mr Nasredin's claims of deaths and injuries could not be independently verified.

He said the demand by Eritrea's government to control a Muslim community school in Asmara led to the clashes.

"Following the refusal to hand over the school, some 40 people were arrested and this led to the massive protests," he said, adding that Asmara was tense on Wednesday as a funeral ceremony took place.

"The army is bringing forces from outside the capital."

Eritrea's Information Minister Yemane Meskel downplayed the reports of unrest, saying on Twitter that "small demonstration by one school in Asmara dispersed without any casualty hardly breaking news".

Eritrean officials at the African Union mission in Ethiopia's capital, Addis Ababa, were not immediately available for comment.

The small East African nation is a major source of migrants arriving in Europe.

Its government has long faced criticism by human rights advocates over its harsh military conscription laws.

The government has denied allegations of abuses.

According to a State Department report in 2016 on international religious freedom, roughly half of Eritrea's population is Sunni Muslim and the country's government includes Sunni Islam as one of four officially registered religious groups.

Other practices of Islam are banned.

The report also says religious education is allowed in private schools but religious groups are prohibited from any involvement in politics.

AP
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 31: NYPD officers respond after reports of multiple people hit by a truck after it plowed through a bike path in lower Manhattan on October 31, 2017 in New York City. According to reports up to six people may have been killed. (Photo by Kena Betancur/Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 31: Police gather at the scene after reports of multiple people injured after a truck plowed through a bike path in lower Manhattan on October 31, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Andy Kiss/Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 31: NYPD officers respond after reports of multiple people hit by a truck after it plowed through a bike path in lower Manhattan on October 31, 2017 in New York City. According to reports up to six people may have been killed. (Photo by Kena Betancur/Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 31: NYPD officers respond after reports of multiple people hit by a truck after it plowed through a bike path in lower Manhattan on October 31, 2017 in New York City. According to reports up to six people may have been killed. (Photo by Kena Betancur/Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 31: People gather as NYPD officers respond after reports of multiple people hit by a truck after it plowed through a bike path in lower Manhattan on October 31, 2017 in New York City. According to reports up to six people may have been killed. (Photo by Kena Betancur/Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 31: Emergency personal respond after reports of multiple people hit by a truck after it plowed through a bike path in lower Manhattan on October 31, 2017 in New York City. According to reports up to six people may have been killed. (Photo by Kena Betancur/Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 31: NYPD officers respond after reports of multiple people hit by a truck after it plowed through a bike path in lower Manhattan on October 31, 2017 in New York City. According to reports up to six people may have been killed. (Photo by Kena Betancur/Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 31: NYPD officers respond after reports of multiple people hit by a truck after it plowed through a bike path in lower Manhattan on October 31, 2017 in New York City. According to reports up to six people may have been killed. (Photo by Kena Betancur/Getty Images)

Police officers arrive at the scene following a shooting incident in New York on October 31, 2017. Several people were killed and numerous others injured in New York on Tuesday after a vehicle plowed into a pedestrian and bike path in Lower Manhattan, police said. "The vehicle struck multiple people on the path," police tweeted. "The vehicle continued south striking another vehicle. The suspect exited the vehicle displaying imitation firearms & was shot by NYPD." / AFP PHOTO / Don EMMERTDON EMMERT/AFP/Getty Images

Police officers arrive at the scene following a shooting incident in New York on October 31, 2017. Multiple people were hurt in downtown Manhattan, US media reported after police confirmed that they were responding to reports of a shooting. Police said they had mobilized to the scene in Lower Manhattan and that one person was in custody, giving no further details. / AFP PHOTO / Don EMMERTDON EMMERT/AFP/Getty Images

Police officers arrive at the scene following a shooting incident in New York on October 31, 2017. Multiple people were hurt in downtown Manhattan, US media reported after police confirmed that they were responding to reports of a shooting. Police said they had mobilized to the scene in Lower Manhattan and that one person was in custody, giving no further details. / AFP PHOTO / Don EMMERTDON EMMERT/AFP/Getty Images

A young girl reacts as police officers block an area following a shooting incident in New York on October 31, 2017. Several people were killed and numerous others injured in New York on Tuesday after a vehicle plowed into a pedestrian and bike path in Lower Manhattan, police said. "The vehicle struck multiple people on the path," police tweeted. "The vehicle continued south striking another vehicle. The suspect exited the vehicle displaying imitation firearms & was shot by NYPD." / AFP PHOTO / Don EMMERTDON EMMERT/AFP/Getty Images

Authorities respond near a damaged school bus Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2017, in New York. A motorist drove onto a busy bicycle path near the World Trade Center memorial and struck several people on Tuesday police and witnesses said. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)

Bicycles and debris lay on a bike path after a motorist drove onto the path near the World Trade Center memorial, striking and killing several people Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2017. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle)

Police officers secure an area following a shooting incident in New York on October 31, 2017. Several people were killed and numerous others injured in New York on Tuesday after a vehicle plowed into a pedestrian and bike path in Lower Manhattan, police said. "The vehicle struck multiple people on the path," police tweeted. "The vehicle continued south striking another vehicle. The suspect exited the vehicle displaying imitation firearms & was shot by NYPD." / AFP PHOTO / Don EMMERTDON EMMERT/AFP/Getty Images

Police officers secure an area following a shooting incident in New York on October 31, 2017. Several people were killed and numerous others injured in New York on Tuesday after a vehicle plowed into a pedestrian and bike path in Lower Manhattan, police said. "The vehicle struck multiple people on the path," police tweeted. "The vehicle continued south striking another vehicle. The suspect exited the vehicle displaying imitation firearms & was shot by NYPD." / AFP PHOTO / Don EMMERTDON EMMERT/AFP/Getty Images

People watch as police officers secure an area following a shooting incident in New York on October 31, 2017. Several people were killed and numerous others injured in New York on Tuesday after a vehicle plowed into a pedestrian and bike path in Lower Manhattan, police said. "The vehicle struck multiple people on the path," police tweeted. "The vehicle continued south striking another vehicle. The suspect exited the vehicle displaying imitation firearms & was shot by NYPD." / AFP PHOTO / Don EMMERTDON EMMERT/AFP/Getty Images

Police secure an area following a shooting incident in New York on October 31, 2017. Several people were killed and numerous others injured in New York on Tuesday after a vehicle plowed into a pedestrian and bike path in Lower Manhattan, police said. "The vehicle struck multiple people on the path," police tweeted. "The vehicle continued south striking another vehicle. The suspect exited the vehicle displaying imitation firearms & was shot by NYPD." / AFP PHOTO / DON EMMERTDON EMMERT/AFP/Getty Images

Investigators inspect a truck following a shooting incident in New York on October 31, 2017. Several people were killed and numerous others injured in New York on Tuesday when a suspect plowed a vehicle into a bike and pedestrian path in Lower Manhattan, and struck another vehicle on Halloween, police said. A suspect exited the vehicle holding up fake guns, before being shot by police and taken into custody, officers said. The motive was not immediately apparent. / AFP PHOTO / Don EMMERTDON EMMERT/AFP/Getty Images

Authorities stand near a damaged Home Depot truck after a motorist drove onto a bike path near the World Trade Center memorial, striking and killing several people Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2017, in New York. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)

NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 31: Emergency personal respond to reports of possible shooting in Lower Manhattan on October 31, 2017 in New York City. According to reports up to eight people may have been killed. (Photo by Kena Betancur/Getty Images)

Authorities inspect the scene following a shooting incident in New York on October 31, 2017. Several people were killed and numerous others injured in New York on Tuesday when a suspect plowed a vehicle into a bike and pedestrian path in Lower Manhattan, and struck another vehicle on Halloween, police said. A suspect exited the vehicle holding up fake guns, before being shot by police and taken into custody, officers said. The motive was not immediately apparent. / AFP PHOTO / Don EMMERTDON EMMERT/AFP/Getty Images

A man in a rented van mowed down cyclists and pedestrians in New York killing eight people in what the city's mayor called "a particularly cowardly act of terror".

He careered down a popular cycle path a few streets from the World Trade Centre memorial injuring at least 11 people.

The 29-year-old driver was shot in the stomach by police and arrested after jumping out of the van with what turned out to be a fake gun in each hand and shouting "Allahu Akbar!"

His condition was not immediately released, and he has been identified as Sayfullo Saipov, two law enforcement officials said.

The suspect has a Florida driving licence but may have been living in New Jersey.

He is expected to live, the two law enforcement officials have said.

President Donald Trump railed against Islamic State, although law enforcement officials have made no mention publicly of the group's possible involvement, and it has not claimed responsibility.

Mr Trump tweeted: "We must not allow ISIS to return, or enter, our country after defeating them in the Middle East and elsewhere. Enough!"

He added: "My thoughts, condolences and prayers to the victims and families of the New York City terrorist attack. God and your country are with you!"

The driver barrelled along the cycle path for nearly a mile before slamming into a small yellow school bus.

The mayhem and the burst of police gunfire set off panic in the area and left the pavement strewn with mangled bicycles and bodies that were soon covered with sheets.

"I saw a lot of blood over there. A lot of people on the ground," said Chen Yi, an Uber driver.

Eugene Duffy, a chef at a waterfront restaurant, said: "So many police came and they didn't know what was happening. People were screaming. Females were screaming at the top of their lungs."

Police closed off streets across the western edge of Manhattan along the Hudson River and officers rushed into the neighbourhood just as people were preparing for Halloween festivities, including the big annual parade through Greenwich Village.

"This was an act of terror, and a particularly cowardly act of terror aimed at innocent civilians, aimed at people going about their lives who had no idea what was about to hit them," New York's mayor Bill de Blasio said.

New York's governor, Andrew Cuomo called it a "lone wolf" attack and said there was no evidence to suggest it was part of a wider plot.

President Trump promised his administration's "full support" to New York City's police department in the wake of what he called a "cowardly" terrorist attack.

He said in a statement: "Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims of today's terrorist attack in New York City and their families."

The president also t hanked the emergency services "who stopped the suspect and rendered immediate aid to the victims of this cowardly attack".

He said: "These brave men and women embody the true American spirit of resilience and courage."
A man, named by authorities as Sayfullo Saipov, mowed down pedestrians and cyclists along a busy bike path near the World Trade Centre memorial (St. Charles County Department of Corrections/KMOV via AP)

An Uzbek immigrant accused of a deadly truck attack on a New York cycle path has been charged with providing material support to a terrorist group and violence and destruction of motor vehicles.

Suspect Sayfullo Saipov was charged on Wednesday in a criminal complaint following the Tuesday afternoon attack that killed eight people near the World Trade Centre.

He appeared in the New York federal courthouse in a wheelchair, handcuffed and with his feet shackled, and was ordered to be detained.

His lawyers said they were not seeking bail, and Saipov did not enter a plea. A judge set his next court date for November 15.

Federal prosecutors say the man was "consumed by hate and a twisted ideology" when he attacked people on the cycle path on Tuesday.

He is charged with providing material support to the Islamic State terrorist group.

Prosecutors say he was stopped by a "brave" police officer, who shot and wounded him Tuesday. They say he had been planning the attack for months.

The FBI had said earlier on Wednesday that another person was wanted for questioning over the attack that left at least 12 people injured.

The bureau had issued a poster seeking the public's help with information about the man, but at a news conference later, FBI assistant director in charge Bill Sweeney said: "We've found him, and we'll leave it at that."

He did not elaborate on why authorities were seeking the man, who was born in Uzbekistan.

Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close Authorities stand near a damaged Home Depot truck after a motorist drove onto a bike path near the World Trade Center memorial, striking and killing several people Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2017, in New York. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews) AP NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 31: Emergency personal respond to reports of possible shooting in Lower Manhattan on October 31, 2017 in New York City. According to reports up to eight people may have been killed. (Photo by Kena Betancur/Getty Images) Getty Images Investigators inspect a truck following a shooting incident in New York on October 31, 2017. Several people were killed and numerous others injured in New York on Tuesday when a suspect plowed a vehicle into a bike and pedestrian path in Lower Manhattan, and struck another vehicle on Halloween, police said. A suspect exited the vehicle holding up fake guns, before being shot by police and taken into custody, officers said. The motive was not immediately apparent. / AFP PHOTO / Don EMMERTDON EMMERT/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images / Facebook

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Whatsapp Authorities stand near a damaged Home Depot truck after a motorist drove onto a bike path near the World Trade Center memorial, striking and killing several people Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2017, in New York. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)

The authorities said Saipov watched Islamic State videos on his mobile phone and picked Halloween for the attack because he knew more people would be out on the streets.

Afterwards, as he lay injured in hospital, he asked to display the IS flag in his room and "stated that he felt good about what he had done," prosecutors said in court papers.

Saipov left behind knives and a note, handwritten in Arabic, that included Islamic religious references and said "it will endure" - a phrase that commonly refers to IS, FBI agent Amber Tyree said in court papers.

Questioned in his hospital bed, Saipov said he had been inspired by IS videos and began plotting an attack about a year ago, deciding to use a truck about two months ago, the agent said, and he even rented a truck on October 22 to practise making turns.

John Miller, deputy New York police commissioner for intelligence, said Saipov "appears to have followed, almost exactly to a T, the instructions that ISIS has put out".

In the past few years, the Islamic State has exhorted followers online to use vehicles, knives or other close-at-hand means of killing people in their home countries. England, France and Germany have all seen deadly vehicle attacks since mid-2016.

Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close Police officers arrive at the scene following a shooting incident in New York on October 31, 2017. Multiple people were hurt in downtown Manhattan, US media reported after police confirmed that they were responding to reports of a shooting. Police said they had mobilized to the scene in Lower Manhattan and that one person was in custody, giving no further details. / AFP PHOTO / Don EMMERTDON EMMERT/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images Authorities inspect the scene following a shooting incident in New York on October 31, 2017. Several people were killed and numerous others injured in New York on Tuesday when a suspect plowed a vehicle into a bike and pedestrian path in Lower Manhattan, and struck another vehicle on Halloween, police said. A suspect exited the vehicle holding up fake guns, before being shot by police and taken into custody, officers said. The motive was not immediately apparent. / AFP PHOTO / Don EMMERTDON EMMERT/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 31: NYPD officers respond after reports of multiple people hit by a truck after it plowed through a bike path in lower Manhattan on October 31, 2017 in New York City. According to reports up to six people may have been killed. (Photo by Kena Betancur/Getty Images) Getty Images / Facebook

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Whatsapp Police officers arrive at the scene following a shooting incident in New York on October 31, 2017. Multiple people were hurt in downtown Manhattan, US media reported after police confirmed that they were responding to reports of a shooting. Police said they had mobilized to the scene in Lower Manhattan and that one person was in custody, giving no further details. / AFP PHOTO / Don EMMERTDON EMMERT/AFP/Getty Images

A November 2016 issue of the group's online magazine detailed features that an attack truck or van should have, suggested renting such a vehicle and recommended targeting crowded streets and outdoor gatherings, according to the SITE Intelligence Group, a militant-monitoring agency.

Carlos Batista, a neighbour of Saipov's in Paterson, New Jersey, said he had seen the suspect and two friends using the same model of rented truck several times in the past three weeks.

It was not clear whether Saipov had been on the radar of the authorities.

Mr Miller said he had never been the subject of a criminal investigation but appears to have links to people who have been investigated.

In Tuesday's attack, Saipov drove his speeding truck for nearly a mile along a cycle path, running down cyclists and pedestrians, then crashed into a school bus.

He was shot in the stomach after he jumped out of the vehicle brandishing two air guns, one in each hand, and yelling "God is great!" in Arabic.

AP
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 31: NYPD officers respond after reports of multiple people hit by a truck after it plowed through a bike path in lower Manhattan on October 31, 2017 in New York City. According to reports up to six people may have been killed. (Photo by Kena Betancur/Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 31: Police gather at the scene after reports of multiple people injured after a truck plowed through a bike path in lower Manhattan on October 31, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Andy Kiss/Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 31: NYPD officers respond after reports of multiple people hit by a truck after it plowed through a bike path in lower Manhattan on October 31, 2017 in New York City. According to reports up to six people may have been killed. (Photo by Kena Betancur/Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 31: NYPD officers respond after reports of multiple people hit by a truck after it plowed through a bike path in lower Manhattan on October 31, 2017 in New York City. According to reports up to six people may have been killed. (Photo by Kena Betancur/Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 31: People gather as NYPD officers respond after reports of multiple people hit by a truck after it plowed through a bike path in lower Manhattan on October 31, 2017 in New York City. According to reports up to six people may have been killed. (Photo by Kena Betancur/Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 31: Emergency personal respond after reports of multiple people hit by a truck after it plowed through a bike path in lower Manhattan on October 31, 2017 in New York City. According to reports up to six people may have been killed. (Photo by Kena Betancur/Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 31: NYPD officers respond after reports of multiple people hit by a truck after it plowed through a bike path in lower Manhattan on October 31, 2017 in New York City. According to reports up to six people may have been killed. (Photo by Kena Betancur/Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 31: NYPD officers respond after reports of multiple people hit by a truck after it plowed through a bike path in lower Manhattan on October 31, 2017 in New York City. According to reports up to six people may have been killed. (Photo by Kena Betancur/Getty Images)

Police officers arrive at the scene following a shooting incident in New York on October 31, 2017. Several people were killed and numerous others injured in New York on Tuesday after a vehicle plowed into a pedestrian and bike path in Lower Manhattan, police said. "The vehicle struck multiple people on the path," police tweeted. "The vehicle continued south striking another vehicle. The suspect exited the vehicle displaying imitation firearms & was shot by NYPD." / AFP PHOTO / Don EMMERTDON EMMERT/AFP/Getty Images

Police officers arrive at the scene following a shooting incident in New York on October 31, 2017. Multiple people were hurt in downtown Manhattan, US media reported after police confirmed that they were responding to reports of a shooting. Police said they had mobilized to the scene in Lower Manhattan and that one person was in custody, giving no further details. / AFP PHOTO / Don EMMERTDON EMMERT/AFP/Getty Images

Police officers arrive at the scene following a shooting incident in New York on October 31, 2017. Multiple people were hurt in downtown Manhattan, US media reported after police confirmed that they were responding to reports of a shooting. Police said they had mobilized to the scene in Lower Manhattan and that one person was in custody, giving no further details. / AFP PHOTO / Don EMMERTDON EMMERT/AFP/Getty Images

A young girl reacts as police officers block an area following a shooting incident in New York on October 31, 2017. Several people were killed and numerous others injured in New York on Tuesday after a vehicle plowed into a pedestrian and bike path in Lower Manhattan, police said. "The vehicle struck multiple people on the path," police tweeted. "The vehicle continued south striking another vehicle. The suspect exited the vehicle displaying imitation firearms & was shot by NYPD." / AFP PHOTO / Don EMMERTDON EMMERT/AFP/Getty Images

Authorities respond near a damaged school bus Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2017, in New York. A motorist drove onto a busy bicycle path near the World Trade Center memorial and struck several people on Tuesday police and witnesses said. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)

Bicycles and debris lay on a bike path after a motorist drove onto the path near the World Trade Center memorial, striking and killing several people Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2017. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle)

Police officers secure an area following a shooting incident in New York on October 31, 2017. Several people were killed and numerous others injured in New York on Tuesday after a vehicle plowed into a pedestrian and bike path in Lower Manhattan, police said. "The vehicle struck multiple people on the path," police tweeted. "The vehicle continued south striking another vehicle. The suspect exited the vehicle displaying imitation firearms & was shot by NYPD." / AFP PHOTO / Don EMMERTDON EMMERT/AFP/Getty Images

Police officers secure an area following a shooting incident in New York on October 31, 2017. Several people were killed and numerous others injured in New York on Tuesday after a vehicle plowed into a pedestrian and bike path in Lower Manhattan, police said. "The vehicle struck multiple people on the path," police tweeted. "The vehicle continued south striking another vehicle. The suspect exited the vehicle displaying imitation firearms & was shot by NYPD." / AFP PHOTO / Don EMMERTDON EMMERT/AFP/Getty Images

People watch as police officers secure an area following a shooting incident in New York on October 31, 2017. Several people were killed and numerous others injured in New York on Tuesday after a vehicle plowed into a pedestrian and bike path in Lower Manhattan, police said. "The vehicle struck multiple people on the path," police tweeted. "The vehicle continued south striking another vehicle. The suspect exited the vehicle displaying imitation firearms & was shot by NYPD." / AFP PHOTO / Don EMMERTDON EMMERT/AFP/Getty Images

Police secure an area following a shooting incident in New York on October 31, 2017. Several people were killed and numerous others injured in New York on Tuesday after a vehicle plowed into a pedestrian and bike path in Lower Manhattan, police said. "The vehicle struck multiple people on the path," police tweeted. "The vehicle continued south striking another vehicle. The suspect exited the vehicle displaying imitation firearms & was shot by NYPD." / AFP PHOTO / DON EMMERTDON EMMERT/AFP/Getty Images

Investigators inspect a truck following a shooting incident in New York on October 31, 2017. Several people were killed and numerous others injured in New York on Tuesday when a suspect plowed a vehicle into a bike and pedestrian path in Lower Manhattan, and struck another vehicle on Halloween, police said. A suspect exited the vehicle holding up fake guns, before being shot by police and taken into custody, officers said. The motive was not immediately apparent. / AFP PHOTO / Don EMMERTDON EMMERT/AFP/Getty Images

Authorities stand near a damaged Home Depot truck after a motorist drove onto a bike path near the World Trade Center memorial, striking and killing several people Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2017, in New York. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)

NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 31: Emergency personal respond to reports of possible shooting in Lower Manhattan on October 31, 2017 in New York City. According to reports up to eight people may have been killed. (Photo by Kena Betancur/Getty Images)

Authorities inspect the scene following a shooting incident in New York on October 31, 2017. Several people were killed and numerous others injured in New York on Tuesday when a suspect plowed a vehicle into a bike and pedestrian path in Lower Manhattan, and struck another vehicle on Halloween, police said. A suspect exited the vehicle holding up fake guns, before being shot by police and taken into custody, officers said. The motive was not immediately apparent. / AFP PHOTO / Don EMMERTDON EMMERT/AFP/Getty Images

Prime Minister Theresa May has said the UK stands with New York City, following a terror attack which killed eight people.

More than a dozen others were injured in the incident, when a truck careered down a cycle path near the 9/11 memorial site in Manhattan on Tuesday.

The driver, 29, was shot by police after jumping out of the rented vehicle with what turned out to be two fake guns.

He was taken to hospital and is in police custody.

Mayor Bill de Blasio of New York described the attack as "a particularly cowardly act of terror" that was "aimed at innocent civilians going about their daily lives".

And Mrs May tweeted: "Appalled by this cowardly attack, my thoughts are with all affected. Together we will defeat the evil of terrorism. UK stands with #NYC."

London's mayor Sadiq Khan paid tribute to the victims, saying: "London stands in grief and solidarity with the great city of New York tonight after the despicable and cowardly terrorist attack in Manhattan.

"My heart goes out to the victims and their families.

"New Yorkers are strong and resilient - I know they will not be cowed by this assault on the innocent, and on our shared values and way of life."

The Foreign Office said it is standing by to provide assistance to any Britons affected by the atrocity.

A spokesman said: "We are in contact with the local authorities and stand ready to provide any assistance but are not aware of any British citizens involved as yet."

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said it was a "lone wolf" attack, and there was no evidence it was part of a wider plot.

Police said the vehicle, a rented Home Depot truck, entered the cycle path on West Street and mowed down several people.

The truck also smashed into a yellow school bus, injuring two adults and two children.

A paintball gun and a pellet gun were found at the scene, police said.

President Donald Trump tweeted: "In NYC, looks like another attack by a very sick and deranged person."

He said law enforcement "is following" the attack closely and added: "NOT IN THE U.S.A.!"

The president later tweeted: "We must not allow ISIS to return, or enter, our country after defeating them in the Middle East and elsewhere. Enough!"

There have been a number of attacks in the UK and Europe involving the use of vehicles as weapons, where vans or lorries are driven at crowds.

In July last year a lorry drove through crowds gathered to celebrate Bastille Day in Nice, killing 86 people and injuring scores more.

In December 2016, an attacker drove a lorry into a crowded Christmas market in central Berlin, killing 12 people and injuring 56 others.

This year in London vehicles have been used in attacks at Westminster, London Bridge and Finsbury Park.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn tweeted: "Terrible reports of lives lost in NYC terror attack.

"My thoughts and solidarity are with those affected, their families & emergency services."

Mr Trump said in a later tweet: "We must not allow ISIS to return, or enter, our country after defeating them in the Middle East and elsewhere. Enough!"

The terrorist group has not claimed responsibility for the New York attack.

Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson tweeted: "UK stands united w/ US friends following the horrific #NYC attack. My thoughts are w/ everyone affected. We will not give in to terror."

A Belgian national was among the victims in the attack, the country's deputy prime minister and foreign affairs minister Didier Reynders said.

He tweeted: "I am deeply saddened to announce a belgian victim in #Manhattan - I express my condolences to the family and friends."
US President Donald Trump has said a former campaign aide caught up in the Russia probe "has already proven to be a liar".

Mr Trump dismissed George Papadopoulos, who provided key evidence in the first criminal case connecting Mr Trump's team to alleged intermediaries for Russia's government.

The President tweeted: "Few people knew the young, low level volunteer named George, who has already proven to be a liar. Check the Dems!"

Papadopoulos was approached by people claiming ties to Russia and offering "dirt" on Hillary Clinton, court papers say.

Papadopoulos pleaded guilty to lying to FBI agents, the documents added.
Last Sunday church bells all over England rang out in mourning to mark the death of 8,894,355 babies aborted as a result of the Abortion Act passed in 1967 by Parliament and made into law.

Meanwhile, over that same period of time, we in Northern Ireland have, according to an expert professional report by the Both Lives Matter movement, saved approximately 100,000 babies from a similar appalling fate. That is because our laws are life-affirming and give strong legal protection to unborn babies.

Incidentally, this figure of 100,000 saved was contested as being inaccurate by several pro-abortion activists and was the subject of a complaint to the Advertising Standards Authority.

The complaint was fully investigated and the calculation of the figure given robust examination by an independent statistical expert.

The expert concluded that the figure stood up to scrutiny and was probably correct.

The complaint by pro-abortion critics was dismissed, adding further authority to Both Lives Matters' contention that our laws are, in fact, critical to protecting the defenceless life of the unborn in our jurisdiction.

But there is a powerful lobby here who wish to copy the situation in Britain and lawfully permit abortion in Northern Ireland.

This sadly includes the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, which wishes to change the law here so that mothers can have abortions in circumstances of serious malformation of the foetus, rape or incest.

One would have thought that the NIHRC would be out to protect the lives of the unborn child rather than to expose them to the risk of abortion. They also argue - wrongly - that there is a human right to abortion under human rights law.

Whenever the 1967 Abortion Act was passed at Westminster the argument to justify it was that it was only intended in certain limited circumstances to deal with extreme and tragic cases - very similar to the current argument that abortion should be applied in Northern Ireland just to deal with a very limited number of cases of so-called fatal foetal abnormality, rape and incest.

However, over the past 50 years the provisions of the Abortion Act in Britain have expanded, in practice, to become a catch-all for abortion on demand - thus the frightening figure of almost nine million who have been aborted since 1967.

This works out at one in five of all pregnancies in Britain per year.

Britain is not the only country in the world where it was claimed that abortion was to be severely curtailed, but in reality became much wider. This is profoundly disturbing and belies the assertion that abortion can, in fact, be restricted indefinitely to a few special cases.

There is no doubt that what was originally intended to be a very limited procedure has now become a huge, multi-million-pound business.

Over the past decade the NHS has paid out a massive 750m to private sector abortion clinics throughout Britain.

Britain will further add to this abortion bill by subsidising the abortions of women from Northern Ireland.

Wouldn't it be better for all if this additional British money was spent in Northern Ireland on assisting those mothers with difficulties, or the promotion of adoption, or fostering, where mothers cannot cope?

Again, it is clinics like Marie Stopes International that will profit from this act of so-called benevolence from Parliament. It is a leading private sector abortion provider, which has a presence here in Belfast.

Marie Stopes was seriously criticised last year by the British Care Quality Commission, with some services suspended because of inspectors' safety concerns.

The British experience should be a grim warning of what to expect should the law here be changed by the Assembly, or be forced to change by the British judiciary.

Strangely, what is currently argued is that the baby in the womb is only a "potential life" and not a human person and, therefore, does not attract the protection of the law and the human right to life (Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights).

Surely it is wrong that the most defenceless of all - that is the unborn child - is not entitled to be protected under European human rights law?

Human rights law emerged out of the gross inhumanity of the Second World War and its many atrocities.

It was because of that appalling experience that the world - and Europe in particular - pledged itself to prevent such a repetition of human rights abuses and, thereby, created a new, universal law of human rights to protect the most vulnerable in our society.

Its case law has grown and developed over the past 70 years to meet new challenges.

Surely, that law can be further developed to give lawful protection to the unborn and, at the same time, protect the life of the mother?
Rohingya refugee Farhim Urmin stands at the entrance to her hut in Coxs Bazar, Bangladesh, Oct. 30, 2017.

Farhim Urmin shivered as she faced a reporter at the door of her new home, a seaside hut miles from overcrowded Rohingya refugee camps in Coxs Bazar.

The newcomer to Bangladesh seemed wary at first while answering questions. Little by little, she opened up about her experience of fleeing an explosion of violence in neighboring Myanmar and venturing away from the camps to get a job  which officially violates local rules for Rohingya refugees like herself.

I recently started working as a housekeeper in a nearby hotel. They have promised me a salary of 4,000 taka (U.S. $48) a month, Urmin, a 23-year-old mother of two toddlers, told BenarNews. Her husband, too, has found work as a daily-wage laborer, earning about 200 taka ($2.40) a day when he finds work, she said.

The couple is among thousands of newly arrived Rohingya refugees who have given authorities the slip by leaving the refugee camps to search for work in other towns and cities to eke out a meager living, according to local officials.

Urmin and her husband are among more than 600,000 people who fled from Myanmars Rakhine state following an outbreak of violence in late August. The new arrivals joined more than 400,000 Rohingya refugees who had escaped earlier cycles of killings in Rakhine and are concentrated largely in camps along Bangladeshs southeastern border with Myanmar.

Urmins family crossed into Bangladesh on foot last month following a fresh wave of reported pogroms against members of Myanmars Rohingya Muslim minority. The family pays a monthly rent of 1,000 taka ($12) for a single-room tin hut in Samiti Para, a section of Coxs Bazar town.

Some 7,000 Rohingya live in Samiti Para. Of them, about 4,000 are new arrivals. Most of them have found jobs, the localitys municipal councilor, Akhtar Kamal, told BenarNews, adding that many more had moved farther inland and found work in Chittagong and even as far away as Dhaka.

Rohingya refugees work at a fish farm in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh, Oct. 31, 2017. (Rohit Wadhwaney/BenarNews)

We have to be more humane

The new wave of refugees crossed the frontier in the aftermath of a military offensive launched in Rakhine after an insurgent group, the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA), attacked police outposts on Aug. 25. The new refugee arrivals have been given shelter in about 15 camps situated about 30 km (18.6 miles) to 70 km (43.5 miles) from Coxs Bazar.

While Buddhist-majority Myanmar does not recognize members of the Rohingya Muslim minority as citizens, referring to them pejoratively as illegal Bengali immigrants, government officials on the other side of the border refuse to classify them as refugees. Instead, Bangladeshi authorities consider them as forcibly displaced Myanmar citizens.

[T]hey are not being recognized as refugees. They have just sought shelter here in Bangladesh, Shah Kamal, Bangladeshs secretary for disaster management and relief, told reporters in October.

A local security official said Rohingya refugees are not allowed to leave the camps or seek employment outside them.

They are not citizens or permanent residents of Bangladesh. Legally, they are not allowed to work here, Maj. Ruhul Amin of Bangladeshs Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), told BenarNews.

But we are aware that many of them have found odd jobs in bigger towns and cities. Whenever they are caught, we send them back to the camps, he said, adding, We dont arrest them because we need to be sensitive toward the problems they are facing. We have to be more humane and understand that they are going through an extremely difficult situation.

Avoiding checkpoints

Urmin and her family escaped Myanmar after the army set her entire village in northwestern Rakhine ablaze, she told Benar.

Absolutely nothing was left of our village, she said.

The family walked through forested hills for about 10 days before reaching Coxs Bazar.

The Kutupalong refugee camp in Ukhia upazila (sub-district), where her family arrived on Sept. 6, was overflowing with refugees, she said.

It was extremely chaotic and crowded. We stayed there for some days in an open shelter, but didnt feel safe, Urmin said of the largest of the refugee camps along the border.

Her family, along with some other new arrivals, then decided to make a run for Coxs Bazar town, a popular beach resort, where, they were told, some Rohingya had settled and found work.

The 32-km (20-mile) narrow road leading to the town has several check points guarded by Bangladeshi army and the elite RAB, whose personnel stop each vehicle and check I.D. cards of all commuters to prevent Rohingya from leaving the camps.

We didnt come [to town] via the road. We walked overnight through the jungle that runs adjacent to it, Urmin said.

A member of the Bangladeshi security forces carries out a check on a bus to identify Rohingya refugees in Coxs Bazar, Bangladesh, Oct. 29, 2017. (Rohit Wadhwaney/BenarNews)

Forces admit helplessness

Security officials conceded that it is difficult to keep the Rohingya confined to their designated camps.

We are trying our best to ensure refugees dont venture into the cities. But it is near impossible considering the sheer number of them that have entered the country over the last two months, said Maj. Amin of the Rapid Action Battalion.

Every day, we intercept about 100 refugees making attempts to get to cities. But some manage to slip through, he said. The figure, Amin added, was significantly higher in the initial days of the crisis.

They are desperate. No matter how many times we catch them and send them back to the camps, they keep trying to leave, he said.

Urmins neighbor in Samita Para, Mohsana, 25, who arrived in Bangladesh about two months ago, said she left her village after her husband was shot dead by Myanmar army soldiers in front of her eyes. Late last month, she sneaked into Coxs Bazar town from Ukhias Balukhali refugee camp with her three daughters.

We hitched rides, getting off several times along the way and walking through the jungle to avoid check points, she told BenarNews.

Just a day after reaching the Samiti Para area, Mohsana, who declined to reveal her last name, found work at a fish farm. The job fetches her about 3,500 taka ($42) a month.

I remove scales and gut at least 300 fish daily. The fish are then laid out to dry before being packed in boxes and sent out. Most Rohingya living here do the same job, she said.

I stink but I dont mind it. It is much better than life in the camps. Here, it is quieter, cleaner and right next to a beach where the kids can play without fear, Mohsana said.
Indonesian students display a banner during a protest against Valentines Day in Banda Aceh, capital of the northwestern Indonesian province of Aceh, Feb. 13, 2016.

About a fourth of Indonesias college students support fighting for the implementation of an Islamic caliphate system in the worlds most populous Muslim-majority nation, a survey released Tuesday showed.

The Jakarta-based Alvara Research Center and Mata Air Foundation polled 1,800 students from 25 leading universities in Indonesia and 2,400 students from high schools across Java and other islands to determine if early detection of radicalism among campus populations could predict Indonesias future.

We asked about the state ideology with a statement saying, The Islamic state is worth fighting for to implement more consistent Islamic teachings and 23.5 percent of college students agree [with the statement], and 16.3 percent of high school students agree, Alvara CEO Hasanuddin Ali told reporters in Jakarta on Tuesday.

Intolerance has penetrated students life in schools and later grows stronger in campus life through religious studies, Hasanuddin said. If we can start handling it on campus, radicalism will be so much easier to be erradicated among professionals.

Hasanuddin said the survey, conducted on Sept. 1 to Oct. 5, also revealed that 17.8 percent of university students and 18.3 percent of high school students preferred the concept of a caliphate ruled by a Muslim spiritual leader over Indonesias current republic.

The survey found that 18.6 percent of university students and 16.8 percent of high school students preferred Islam over the official Pancasila foundation of five principles as the state ideology. The university and high school students also preferred sharia law at the local level, by 21.9 percent and 19.6 percent, respectively.

Pancasila, the five-pillared official philosophy that underlies Indonesias foundation, espouses unity in diversity along with democracy and social justice.

Red-alert

Nusron Wahid, a prominent member of Indonesias largest Muslim organization, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), said he was shocked by the surveys results.

One person committing a suicide bombing in the name of religion has torn many lives apart. Its worse what those in a 20-percent group can do, Nusron told reporters. Indonesia is facing red-alert status in ideology."

I always believed one who can control universities will control the public, he said. If the idea of a caliphate has its own space in the universities, it will grow bigger in the next few years.

He said he hoped that the survey would motivate the government to revive religious-affairs classes in schools and universities.

And its not just a huge homework assignment for the Ministry of Religious Affairs, but also for Indonesia as a nation. We need to revive the curriculum of religious affairs, because it should be adjusted with the current situation, he said.

Nusron also called on NU and Muhammadiyah, another of the countrys large Islamic organizations, to step up.

Moderate Muslim organizations like NU and Muhammadiyah need to change their style of dakwah [spreading the good messages of Islam] for millenials to understand. [The message] should be light, short yet strong, he said.

Increasing intolerance

Akhmad Muqowam, secretary-general of the Diponegoro University Alumni Association, said the survey revealed an increase in intolerance among students.

A similar 2009 survey, he said, showed that the concept of a caliphate was acceptable to less than 12 percent of respondents.

It should be our main concern, Akhmad said, adding most students fail to understand the difference between religious interest and humanity.

They consider going to Afghanistan and Pakistan [for jihad] is an advanced step in implementing Islam as a whole. Most of the students are too inexperienced in differentiating the concept of state and religious interest, he said.

Didin Wahidin, director of student affairs at the Ministry of Research, Technology and Higher Education, said the survey results would be used to guide his office.

We allow universities to stage extracurricular activities to help implement the values of the state ideology, Pancasila. Meanwhile, our education in religious affairs has been focusing on mere basic teaching of Islam, he said. The nonexistence of moderate Islamic student organizations has allowed other groups to present alien ideologies.

We have set standards in education, research and social responsibility, but not in student affairs. It means, legally, there is no sanction to be given to any university that fails to stage student activities, Didin said.

The survey also found that 29.5 percent of university students and 29.7 percent of high school students did not want non-Muslim leaders to govern in Indonesia. The survey had a margin of error of 2.35 percent for college students and 2 percent for the high school students.

The survey was published two weeks after the new governor of Jakarta, Anies Rasyid Baswedan, took office after being elected in a bitter and tense race that divided Indonesians along religious and racial lines. In April, Anies defeated Gov. Basuki Ahok Tjahaja Purnama, who soon after was sent to prison on blasphemy charges for allegedly making public comments that were perceived as anti-Muslim.
Residents trickle back to their homes in the southern Philippine city of Marawi, a week after officials announced the end of a battle with pro-Islamic State militants, Oct. 30, 2017.

Updated at 11:56 a.m. ET on 2017-11-02

Philippine police arrested a suspected Indonesian militant on Wednesday as troops searched for enemy stragglers and bombs planted by pro-Islamic State (IS) fighters as they fled the ruined southern city of Marawi.

Village marshals caught Mohammad Ilham Syahputra, 23, early Wednesday near Loksadatu, a village in the same district in Marawi where the militants had made their last stand until last week, said Col. Romeo Brawner Jr., deputy commander of Joint Task Force Group Ranao.

He was then turned over to the Marawi police. He is now being investigated by military and police investigators, Brawner told reporters.

City police Chief Supt. Ebra Moxir said village officials found the man soaked with water. The suspect later told police that he swam to cross a lake.

He was noticed by our village marshals because he was wet. He admitted that he was among the foreign fighters from the frontline, Moxir told BenarNews.

Moxir said that an undetermined amount of cash was seized from the Indonesian, whom he described as in poor health.

An Indonesian intelligence source told BenarNews that Mohammad Ilham was a native of North Sumatra province.

In 2014, Mohammad Ilham was employed at an airport cargo company in Malaysia before he returned to Medan, the capital of North Sumatra, said the source, who also explained that the Indonesian joined the militants in the southern Philippines last November.

An Indonesian foreign ministry official told BenarNews that he could not immediately confirm the news of the arrest.

He is part of the initial siege

John Guyguyon, police chief of the province of Lanao del Sur, where Marawi is located, told a news conference that Mohammad Ilham was carrying a bag with a mobile phone, a .45-caliber pistol, a fragmentation grenade, Philippine and Indonesian currencies and Saudi riyals.

Our action is to file a case against him because he is part of the initial siege, Guyguyon said. We are preparing the investigation report so we can file cases of rebellion, terrorism and others.

Guyguyon said the Indonesian had confessed that several gunmen were still hiding in the main battle area in downtown Marawi.

The Marawi battle began on May 23 when soldiers and police moved to arrest Isnilon Hapilon, the acknowledged leader of the Southeast Asian branch of IS who was on the FBIs most-wanted list.

They were met by a huge force of Hapilons fighters, who were backed by militants from the local Maute group and fighters from the Middle East and Southeast Asia, including Malaysians and Indonesians.

Soldiers killed Hapilon and Omarkhayam Maute, one of the Maute group leaders, on Oct. 16.

Mahmud Ahmad, a Malaysian university professor who allegedly funneled money that financed the Marawi attack, was subsequently killed, the military also reported. It said Mahmuds death was witnessed by several hostages who had escaped, but his remains have yet to be recovered.

President Rodrigo Duterte had admitted to underestimating the militant force and was compelled to accept aerial surveillance support from the United States and Australia, two of the countrys closest military allies.

Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore also offered to stop the conflict from reaching their borders by participating in coordinated air and maritime patrols.

The militants ransacked banks, shops and homes in Marawi, a bastion of Islamic faith in the predominantly Roman Catholic country, and seized dozens of civilian hostages, many of whom were freed in the past several weeks as the military closed in on the fighters.

More than 200,000 residents fled their homes during the fighting, which transformed the once-beautiful city into a barren landscape of ruined buildings. Mosques and entire city blocks were reduced to rubble after Air Force jets engaged the militants in daily bombing runs.

Five months of fighting, which stoked fears that IS might gain a foothold in Southeast Asia, killed 942 militants, 165 soldiers and police, and 47 militants, according to the military.

About 6,400 have been cleared to return to their homes.

The Marawi gun battles may have been declared over, but analysts and officials have warned that other militant groups allied with IS in other fronts in Mindanao, the countrys restive south, would carry on with Hapilons cause.

The Indonesians arrest validated the local governments position that civil participation is key to securing local communities from militant elements, Marawi spokesman Zia Alonto Adiong said in a statement.

Crucial in our security effort to fully restore normalcy in the controlled area is to maintain vigilance by our residents, Adiong said, adding that a localized civilian security plan was being drafted to complement the militarys clearing operations.

Felipe Villamor in Manila and BenarNews staff in Jakarta contributed to this report.

Updated to correct the spelling of the arrested Indonesian militant's name.


SC Rep. Sylleste Davis addressed the crowd while receiving her "Legislative Appreciation Award" presented to her at the Berkeley Soil & Water Conservation District's "Affiliate Appreciation Reception," held Nov. 3 at the Wampee Conference Center in Pinopolis. Read moreEyes on the prize
While the event happens deep in rural parts of Berkeley County, it is no less important. It started over two decades ago by a woman once paralyzed from a tumor on her spine. She later beat back the disability enough to walk and get back to work and life. Read moreAnnual Kids Day is back on in Berkeley County
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For Immediate Release, November 1, 2017 Contacts: Allison Melton, Center for Biological Diversity, (970) 309-2008, amelton@biologicaldiversity.org

Amber Reimondo, Grand Canyon Trust, (928) 774-7488, areimondo@grandcanyontrust.org

Abbie S. Fink, HMA Public Relations, (602) 957-8881 x 208, afink@hmapr.com

Kim Crumbo, Wildlands Network, (928) 606-5850, crumbo@wildlandsnetwork.org

Sandy Bahr, Sierra Club  Grand Canyon Chapter, (602) 999-5790, sandy.bahr@sierraclub.org

Kevin Dahl, National Parks Conservation Association, (520) 603-6430, kdahl@npca.org Trump Administration Targets Uranium Mining Ban Near Grand Canyon WASHINGTON The Trump administration wants to roll back a 20-year ban to allow uranium mining near the Grand Canyon, according to a Forest Service report formally released today. Under todays recommendations the Interior Department would revise an Obama-era mining ban that sought to protect tribal resources and drinking water, as well as safeguard critical wildlife corridors and habitat threatened by uranium contamination. This appalling recommendation threatens to destroy one of the worlds most breathtakingly beautiful regions to give free handouts to the mining industry, said Allison Melton, an attorney with the Center for Biological Diversity. The Trump administrations willingness to sacrifice our natural treasures to polluters knows no bounds. But this reckless, shortsighted proposal wont be allowed to stand. The mining moratorium, enacted in 2012 by then-Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, bans new mining claims, exploration and mining  except for pre-existing mining rights  to protect Grand Canyons watersheds from uranium mining pollution. Past uranium mining in the region has polluted soils, washes, aquifers and drinking water. The Forest Service should be advocating for a permanent mining ban, not for advancing private mining interests that threaten one of the natural wonders of the world, said Amber Reimondo with the Grand Canyon Trust. The Grand Canyon and the people and communities that depend on it cannot be left to bear the risks of unfettered uranium mining, which is what will happen if the moratorium is removed. This is a dangerous industry that is motivated by profit and greed with a long history of significantly damaging lands and waters. They are now seeking new mines when this industry has yet to clean up the hundreds of existing mines all over the landscape that continue to damage our home. We should learn from the past, not ignore it, said Havasupai Tribal Chairman Don E. Watahomigie. Hundreds of abandoned uranium mines still await cleanup, including more than 500 on the Navajo Nation. The Kaibab National Forest south of Grand Canyon National Park comprises crucial wildlife habitat for mule deer, cougars, elk and pronghorn, said Kim Crumbo of Wildlands Network. Considered sacred by Native Americans, the forests ponderosa pine, woodlands and wild creatures are vulnerable to the industrial impacts of mining and increased truck traffic should the mineral withdrawal be revoked. In a March 2017 executive order, President Trump required all agencies to review regulations, orders, guidance documents and policies to prioritize fossil fuel extraction and nuclear energy above all other uses on public lands. The uranium mining rollback is among the recommendations from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which oversees the Forest Service. One million acres of public lands around Grand Canyon were protected from destructive uranium mining due to significant public support and recognition of what is at risk  Grand Canyons watershed, its wildlife, and so much more, said Sandy Bahr, director of Sierra Clubs Grand Canyon Chapter. Now, the Trump administration wants to stomp all over the public and the publics lands by rescinding these important protections. Doing so will put at risk Grand Canyons waters and wildlife, as well as the economy of northern Arizona, for the short-term profits of foreign mining companies. We must keep these protections in place.



The USDA report concedes that uranium mining and other minerals do not generate revenue for the United States. In fact, steps to reduce or remove the mining ban would cost taxpayer money. The Trump administration would have to do environmental analysis and produce evidence to support reversing the current finding that uranium mining is harmful to communities, wildlife and water. After an extensive review process and substantial public participation, former Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar made a strong, affirmative decision to protect one of the worlds most enduring landscapes and the sustained health of indigenous communities that live within the watershed of the Grand Canyon, said Kevin Dahl of the National Parks Conservation Association. Any move to allow more uranium mines before we know more fully how their operation would impact underground water essential to Grand Canyon National Park and the Colorado River puts all of us at risk. Nonpartisan polls show 80 percent of Arizona voters and 80 percent of Americans support permanent protection from new uranium mining for lands in the Grand Canyon region. Click here for a fact sheet on why the Grand Canyon mining ban protects water, tribal resources and the greater Grand Canyon ecosystem.
For Immediate Release, November 1, 2017 Contact: Robin Silver, (602) 799-3275, rsilver@biologicaldiversity.org New Study: Groundwater Pumping Will Drain Arizona's Upper Verde River CHINO VALLEY, Ariz. Local groundwater pumping to support sprawling development in Prescott and Prescott Valley, including a proposed $400 million pipeline, will dramatically and permanently reduce the upper Verde River flow, according to a new study. The findings undercut claims from those communities that the water can be replenished. The study, conducted for the Center for Biological Diversity by Integrated Hydro Systems, examined two scenarios which, at best, project a 50-percent reduction in the upper Verde by 2090. One scenario, based on projections of 3 percent growth per decade from the U.S. Geological Survey, estimates 50 percent less water flow in the upper Verde by 2090. The other scenario, using projections of 3 percent growth per year from the Yavapai County Water Advisory Committee and U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, projects a reduction in the upper Verde by about 50 percent by 2050 and at least 75 percent less water flow by 2120. Water loss under either scenario would destroy the riparian ecosystem along the river, including habitat for endangered wildlife. Well lose the upper Verde unless the Prescott pipeline is stopped, said Dr. Robin Silver, cofounder and board member of the Center. Theres a steep price to be paid for unchecked development. We cant sacrifice this beautiful river and the ecosystem it supports. No new groundwater pumping should be permitted until the future of the river can be guaranteed for our children and grandchildren. The study is based on projections regarding groundwater pumping, water use and population growth in Prescott and Prescott Valley. It doesnt include the effects of climate change, the groundwater needs of the massive proposed Yavapai Ranch and Deep Well Ranch developments, or the proposed groundwater-dependent Longview pump generation project. Yavapai County Water Background

After a decades-long fight over water rights, Prescott and Prescott Valley reached a deal with the Salt River Project to siphon as much as 2.6 billion gallons of water a year from the Big Chino aquifer, near Paulden, to support growth. This project is called the Prescott Pipeline. The local source in the Big Chino Valley is called the Big Chino Water Ranch. Protecting the Verde River is a key part of the agreement. The deal required that the communities wells dont pull water from the Verde River, which is a source of drinking water for metropolitan Phoenix. Salt River Project holds rights to the water in the river. Verde River Background

The primary source for the upper Verde River comes from the groundwater of the upper Verde watershed. Several endangered species depend on the upper Verde River for their survival. The upper Verde is designated critical habitat for spikedace and loach minnow and is proposed critical habitat for the Northern Mexican garter snake and narrow-headed garter snake. Most of the upper Verde River is in the Prescott National Forest, and the Verde is one of only two federally designated wild and scenic rivers in Arizona. The irreplaceable upper Verde riparian area is the heart of the Prescott National Forest. Groundwater pumping in the Big Chino Valley intercepts water that belongs to the Prescott National Forest, the Yavapai Apache Nation, the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation and Salt River Project.
A lack of justice in the murders of journalists can perpetuate a cycle of violence and impunity lasting a decade or more, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists' 2017 Global Impunity Index released today.

 alexskopje via 123RF

The 10th annual report highlights countries where journalists are murdered regularly and their killers go free.

Somalia, the worst country on the index, is one of seven to appear every year in the decade CPJ has compiled the list. The others are India, Iraq, Mexico, Pakistan, Philippines, and Russia--showing that while impunity thrives in conflict environments, journalists working in some relatively stable nations that bill themselves as democracies are also murdered in high numbers.

"Impunity is a chokehold on society's free flow of information. When a single journalist is killed without justice, the message to all journalists is either watch what you say or watch your back," said Elisabeth Witchel, author of the report and CPJ's consultant for the Global Campaign Against Impunity. "States on this list must not tolerate impunity year after year but actively take measures to address their failures of justice."

This year, new murders occurred in half of the 12 countries on the index. Afghanistan dropped off the list for the first time because targeted killings of journalists have declined, even as conflict and large-scale violence have continued to cause journalists' deaths in the line of duty.

Safety of journalists

One positive development in the last decade is growing awareness of impunity in the murders of journalists. The United Nations has adopted five resolutions encouraging states to enact justice, and this year marks the fifth anniversary of the UN Plan of Action for the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity.

The Impunity Index is released annually to mark the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists on November 2. The report is calculated by looking at the number of unsolved murders of journalists over a 10-year period as a percentage of each country's population. The report includes a statistical table, report cards by country, and a detailed methodology.

CPJ is an independent, nonprofit organisation that works to safeguard press freedom worldwide.
According to the Direct Selling Association of South Africa's latest figures the number of active male sellers has increased by 51% in 2016. The research shows that of South Africa's nearly half a million active direct sellers 28% are now male, up from 21% two years ago.

Image supplied.

Typically, men tend towards selling financial services and health and wellness products, although not exclusively. The advent of the metrosexual male has challenged the assumption that grooming and anti-ageing are entirely the preserve of women and as a result more men are now selling beauty and even cosmetic products.

While changing societal factors may be providing more opportunities for men in the direct selling, South Africas sluggish economy is almost certainly one reason causing men to look for new ways to earn or supplement their income, says Cornelle van Graan, chairperson of DSASA.

More importantly though is the fact that direct selling is recognised as a valued channel to market products and services; a modern business model driven with purpose by communities and enabled by technology. Entrepreneurial flexibility and independence in the modern society also attracts more men to the direct selling industry.

Van Graan says that we see more men entering the industry from the corporate world for the reasons mentioned above. They have a wealth of business acumen and the transition into the industry is effortless given the training programs offered by direct selling companies.

Another driving factor for the entry of men is often found in the success of their wives or partners in the direct selling industry. Men are seeing the opportunities and success first hand and are joining their partners in building sustainable, strong businesses.

The strength and growth of the direct selling industry as a preferred channel can clearly be seen in it statistics released over the last few months:

Global statistics

Local statistics

Industry ethics and social responsibility

The industry is self-regulated by the Direct Selling Association of South Africa (DSASA) who in turn is a member of the World Federation of Direct Selling Associations (WFDSA). Companies applying to the DSASA are only accepted as members after being assessed for adherence to the DSASAs Code of Ethics which emanates from the WFDSA and also includes legal requirements in South Africa.

Adhering to the DSASAs Code of Ethics is mandatory to continuing membership. The WFDSA pursues the highest level of ethical conduct in the global marketplace which is ensured in South Africa by the efforts and requirements of the DSASA.

Social responsibility is another key pillar of the direct selling industry in South Africa. DSA member companies are recognised for their involvement in Corporate Social Investment that has assisted in improving the quality of life for individuals, groups and communities. This includes areas such as health care, child welfare, community welfare, the care of our environment, education and skills development. In 2016 alone, just under R10m rand was invested by member companies into social responsibility programmes.

For more information about becoming a direct seller or a full list of their member companies, click here.
Finally capping its own medics, Namibia must now retain them and coax them into rural areas.

It took Simon Antindi three hours, two taxis and one jolting ride in the back of an old farm bakkie to reach the state hospital where his father had been admitted  and when he saw it, he was overwhelmed.

Dr Simon Antindi. Photo: Ryan Lenora Brown

The hospital, in the far northern Namibian town of Oshakati, was bigger than any the 11-year-old had ever seen before  a huddled mass of low-slung green and blue buildings that trailed off into the horizon in every direction. Every turn led him deeper into a maze of crowded wards and worried visitors. Doctors whispered to each other in languages he didn't recognise and the whole place smelled vaguely sour, like sickness and cleaning fluid.

And then there was his father. The local primary school principal, this was a man who easily filled a room with his authority and his warmth, a man whose generosity was a long-standing source of local pride.

A few years earlier, when the struggle for independence against South African rule blurred into villages and towns all across this part of what was then South West Africa, his father used to slaughter a goat for each passing band of Swapo guerrillas who trekked through  and often got himself arrested for his trouble.

But at the hospital now, he didn't look like that man at all. Instead, he was small and shrunken against the blank white bed. For the first time in Simon Antindi's memory, his father looked utterly helpless.

"At that time, I knew I wanted to be a doctor," says Antindi, now 31.

But no sooner did the thought enter his mind than he shoved it away. "In my village, in my whole constituency probably, there was no one who became a doctor," he says.

And as he looked around at the Cubans, Russians and South Africans attending to patients all around his dad, he had a sinking thought.

Maybe Namibians don't do this work.

Maybe we can't.

And that was it. As quickly as it had come, the dream fluttered away.

But 700km south, in the capital of Windhoek, many of the country's top medical minds had nearly the same question. It was the late 1990s, nearly a decade since Namibia's independence from South Africa, and still the country had no medical school of its own. For generations, all of Namibia's doctors had been trained abroad  shipped off to places like South Africa, Finland and Russia for a medical education that often translated poorly to local conditions, or else they were foreigners, recruited at great expense from overseas.

"We needed to start training doctors sensitive to local roots, who were prepared to go where the needs were," says Filemon Amaambo, now the associate dean of the University of Namibia's (Unam's) school of medicine  the first in the country  who was then working in government.

Namibia's problem was not unique. Sub-Saharan Africa carries more than a quarter of the world's disease burden but is home to only 3.5% of its healthcare workers and just 1.7% of its physicians, according to a 2012 article in the open-access journal Human Resources for Health.

The region's universities have long struggled to fill that gap. There are 175 medical schools serving a population of about a billion people in sub-Saharan Africa, compared to 488 medical schools for a population of 743million people in Europe.

And six African countries  Cape Verde, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Lesotho, Sao Tome and Principe, and Swaziland  have no medical school at all, according to the World Directory of Medical Schools.

That's a dangerous gap because there is a "strong relationship  between medical school density and physician density", according to research published in the Medical Teacher journal.

In other words, countries with fewer medical schools tend to have fewer doctors too.

Read the full article
Home appliance company, Dyson, has made waves in the hair care market with the launch of its Supersonic hair dryer, which has just arrived in South Africa.

Spending four years in development and with over 100 patents pending, the Dyson Supersonic hairdryer was engineered to address the issues experienced with traditional hair dryers.

Hair dryers can be heavy, inefficient and make a racket. By looking at them further we realised that they can also cause extreme heat damage to hair. I challenged Dyson engineers to really understand the science of hair and develop our version of a hair dryer, which we think solves these problems, says Dyson founder and designer James Dyson.

The hair dryer is said to use a fast but focused airflow, is engineered for balance in the hand and intelligently controls the temperature to help protect hair from extreme heat damage.

The company has invested 50 million in the development of the hair dryer including creating a laboratory dedicated to investigating the science of hair. Engineers studied hair from root to tip, understanding how it reacts to stresses, how to keep it healthy and how to style it. Over four years they tested the product on different hair types and built test rigs which mechanically simulate hair drying techniques  which can differ around the world. To date 1,625 km of real human hair has been used in testing.

Digital motor V9

The appliance is powered by the patented Dyson digital motor V9, created in-house by a team of over 15 motor engineers specifically for this machine. It is Dysons smallest, lightest, most advanced digital motor and is reportedly up to eight times faster than other hair dryer motors and half the weight. The digital motor is small enough to be positioned in the handle rather than the head; because of this, the machine is engineered for balance. Most conventional hair dryers have the motor in the head of the machine.

Intelligent heat control, focused airflow

According to Dyson, the hair dryer's intelligent heat control helps to ensure hair isnt exposed to excessive temperatures. A glass bead thermistor measures the temperature 20 times a second and transmits this data to the microprocessor, which controls the patented double-stacked heating element.

The Supersonic uses Dysons patented Air Multiplier technology. The volume of the air drawn into the motor is amplified by three due to this technology, producing a high-pressure, high-velocity jet of air. Traditional hair dryers can sometimes have a weak airflow, meaning they are slow, while others can have strong airflow, but it is not necessarily controlled. The Supersonic creates a focused jet of air, angled at 20 for controlled, precise drying and styling.

Acoustic engineering

A team of Dyson aero-acoustic engineers sought to understand how the acoustics of this machine could be optimised. By using an axial flow impeller inside the motor they have simplified the pathway of the air reducing turbulence and swirling. And by giving the motor impeller 13 blades instead of the usual 11, the engineers pushed one tone within the motor to a sound frequency beyond the audible range for humans. Also, because the motor is small and compact they have been able to embed it in the handle surrounded by acoustic silencers to further reduce sound.

Settings and attachments

The hair dryer has four heat settings, three airflow settings and a cold shot. There are three magnetic attachments, with 16 patents pending, to further control this airflow, allowing users to achieve a range of different styles.

The smoothing nozzle dries hair gently using smooth, wide air, allowing you to dry and style at the same time, while the diffuser attachment is engineered to disperse air evenly around each curl, which simulates natural drying, helping to reduce frizz and improve definition.

The attachments remain cool to the touch. Using Heat Shield technology the hot air is contained within a sandwich of cold air meaning the surfaces of the attachment stay cool. Being magnetic, each nozzle is easy to attach and adjust.

The Dyson Supersonic carries a two-year guarantee on its parts and labour and retails locally at a recommended price of R6,499. It is available from all Gary Rom salons and online at shop.dyson.co.za, as well as online at @Home and Hirschs.
LONDON, UK - Christopher Bailey, who pioneered the transformation of British fashion brand Burberry in recent years, is stepping down in 2018, the company said on Tuesday.

President and chief creative officer Bailey, 46, joined Burberry in 2001. "In that time, Burberry has grown from a small licensed outerwear business to become one of the world's largest and most admired global luxury brands," Burberry said in a statement.

Following the announcement, Burberry shares were down 1.46% at around 1000 GMT, making the stock the worst performer on a rising FTSE 100 index. After a period of rapid expansion, Burberry has seen sales stagnate in recent years.

In July, Bailey was replaced as chief executive by Marco Gobbetti, former head of French luxury brand Celine. He will step down from his other roles on 31 March next year but will continue to provide "full support" to the team during a transition until 31 December.

"Burberry has undergone an incredible transformation since 2001 and Christopher has been instrumental in the company's success in that period," Gobbetti was quoted as saying in the statement.

Established in 1856, Burberry is a quintessentially British brand which now employees 10,000 people worldwide.

Source: AFP
A new online trade-boosting tool that makes it easier for businesses in developing countries to identify and target market opportunities has been unveiled by the International Trade Centre (ITC) in Paris. The Export Potential Map is a user-friendly, free tool that takes much of the guesswork and second-hand intelligence out of trading decision-making.

The ITC's latest intervention is considered vital to the development of African trade, promising particular value in developing interregional trade. The map makes it faster and easier for traders in emerging economies to connect to one another and the world.

The Export Potential Map is described by ITC executive director Arancha Gonzalez as "an innovative tool that will enable developing countries and their companies to make better export decisions based on rigorous economic analysis".

The map ensures that companies, even the smallest and most remote, can target new markets with knowledge of trade costs and expected demand. "This allows policymakers and trade support institutions to optimise the policy environment and support programmes for existing and would-be exporters," says Gonzalez.

She cites a World Economic Forum trade report that listed 109 countries reporting that they found identifying potential markets as one of the top three problems when exporting.

The map evolved from the need to identify and transmit robust scientific trade analysis in a digestible manner.

"It started when the Dutch Centre for the Promotion of Imports from Developing Countries approached us with a request to assess the export potential of 64 countries," says Gonzalez. "We used the opportunity to enhance the work we had already put in motion focusing on innovation and the latest technology."

The map "is the world's largest database on exports and imports and its market access map is the largest database on tariffs and other requirements. Collecting and analysing data so that it becomes trade intelligence is time-consuming and costly, so we are grateful to our funders, especially the EU, which understands that this initiative is a useful means to translate opportunities into more trade on the ground," Gonzalez says.

"We are now developing a sister method that will explore the export potential of services. This matters because data on trade in services is scarcer than for trade in goods.

"Our reward comes when policymakers use the tool to make better and more sound decisions on trade, when trade promotion organisations provide better services to their customers and when SMMEs [small, micro- and medium-sized enterprises], especially in poorer countries, are better placed to increase and diversify their trade."

Image credit: DataDesign

The Export Potential Map is valuable for trade and investment support institutions seeking up-to-date trading information that will enable them to advise companies on which geographic markets to focus and to advise policy makers which sectors to prioritise for development.

The map allows for sectoral, national and regional assessments by analysing untapped export potential for existing products and markets, as well as opportunities to diversify into new products and markets. It translates economic analysis into practical advice on trade opportunities.

"It pulls in data from a range of sources including import and export data, tariffs, GDP and geographic data," says Gonzalez.

"Based on this data, the tool can quickly carry out evaluations of a country's potential to export: in specific sectors and to what markets.

"This represents a unique opportunity for developing countries to ramp up their exports," she says.

The map also suggests additional markets that offer good demand and tariff conditions for goods exported by least-developed countries. The tool helps to identify options to diversify and expand the range of products these countries export.

"Information on the Export Potential Map is available for 222 countries and territories at a very detailed product level," says Gonzalez. "The web tool has a user-friendly interface and innovative visuals that can be easily downloaded, shared on social media and embedded into reports or websites."

The map was launched quietly in mid-July 2017 and by mid-October had generated more than 3,500 users signing up for about 7,000 sessions.

"This is even more than we expected for such a targeted tool," Gonzalez says. "We also see a high share of recurrent users spending considerable time on the tool to analyse their country's, region's or sector's export potential in-depth."

Quantifiable trade-policy instruments such as tariffs and tariff advantages are part of the method and add to or reduce a country's export potential in a target market.

"Other instruments such as technical standards, certifications, labelling requirements or rules of origin can explain why we observe a gap between the potential and the actual exports of a country.

"Here, additional research is needed, for instance through ITC's programme on nontariff measures and its work on rules of origin."

The most recent initiative of ITC, together with the World Trade Organisation (WHO) and the UN Conference on Trade and Development, is to place all this information into one easy-to-access online portal: the launch of the SME Trade HelpDesk is expected at the WTO's ministerial conference in December.

Monitoring activity generated by the Export Potential Map is the ITC's connections information exchange with users.

"In addition, we use analytical methods to monitor user statistics, downloads and press coverage. We collect information about user satisfaction and additional needs through surveys," Gonzalez says.

She adds that reaching new products and markets is key to trade-led growth.

"Another advantage of the Export Potential Map is its ability to combine export performance indicators with detailed market demand and market access information.

"This allows for the indication of trade opportunities that are feasible for the country and have good chances of export success in the potential target markets.

"An interesting feature for countries with narrow export baskets is also the possibility to detect possibilities for product diversification. Above all, we expect to bring greater transparency to the global trade ecosystem," she says.

The Export Potential Map can be accessed at http://exportpotential.intracen.org/

Source: Business Day
While multiple outbreaks of devastating avian flu have knocked the country's poultry industry, the virus has brought a fresh challenge to both the industry and consumers in the Eastern Cape - a looming egg shortage.

An increasing shortage of eggs in the Western and Eastern Cape provinces is expected to expand into other parts of the country, pushing up prices of what is considered to be one of the cheapest forms of protein.

tookapic via pixabay

Effects of avian flu being felt

The poor, tourism businesses and commercial food industries are expected to bear the brunt of shortages and higher egg prices over the December holiday period.

More than three million birds around the country have been affected by the virus.

Spar Eastern Cape marketing director Abri Swart acknowledged the impending shortage, saying the effects the avian flu had on the poultry industry were already being felt on egg supply locally. The retail group sourced a significant portion of its egg stocks from the hard-hit Western Cape, and shortages were already being experienced at their supplier, Swart said.

"At this stage, we anticipate the shortages could last into January."

Consumers can expect egg price increases

Absa AgriBusiness agricultural economist Karabo Takadi said as a result of the avian flu, the continued culling of chickens and supply shortages, consumers could expect increases in the prices of eggs in the coming months. "The cost impact could flow further to producers of goods that use eggs as ingredients, and ultimately to the consumer," she said.

"In the coming months, consumers can expect to pay as much as R3 more per dozen eggs."

Knock-on effect

Sean Allan, brand manager at East London-based Sunrise Eggs, which supplies major retailers and other businesses across the Eastern Cape, said the shortages which initially arose in the Western Cape would have a knock-on effect in other provinces. "We do expect increasing shortages. This is going to have a very negative impact on the poor, who rely on this cheap source of protein, and on the tourism industry.

"Traditionally, a lot of eggs are consumed in the December period.

"There are a large number of complexities and variables in this industry, which makes it difficult to create a quick solution," he said.

"One cannot, for example, bring in more chickens to lay eggs in a particular area, because of the avian flu."

Allan said prices would certainly increase, not only as a result of the egg shortages but also due to the money poultry businesses had had to invest in protecting their poultry from disease.

Owner of popular Port Elizabeth patisserie and bakery The Pastryworks, Cherilyn Gottschalk, said her business had not yet experienced any shortage of eggs, which they sourced locally. "I think this will affect businesses such as large retailers which buy in bulk and perhaps out of the province," she said. Gottschalk said The Pastryworks used 48 30-egg trays a week to make its products.

Source: Herald
Natural gas developer Renergen will stop funding a hydro-electric project in Ivory Coast so that it can focus on its Tetra 4 project in SA.

Photo: Moneyweb

A month ago, the Petroleum Agency of SA approved Tetra 4's environmental impact assessment. This means Renergen can start building liquefiers next year and produce liquefied natural gas (LNG) from early 2019.

Renergen's investment in the hydro-electric project to date was R12.5m, but it would have to invest another R20m to complete the studies. The project would need an exceptional tariff to provide an acceptable investment return and Renergen believes it would be better to deploy its money at Tetra 4.

At end-August, Renergen held R4.2m cash, including an environmental rehabilitation guarantee, compared with R12.4m at the end of February.

It has since raised R15m from a share issue and the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) has provided a R218m loan to help fund the development and installation of a pipeline for Tetra 4 and expand the plant. Up to another R125m will be raised through a private placement of shares.

Renergen earned R1.4m from sales of compressed natural gas in the six months to August, about three times more than in the same period last year. After expenses the headline loss almost doubled to 21.15c per share from 11.76c.
South African cities leave much to be desired, that is according to the latest released Schroders Global Cities Index , which ranks over 700 cities in order of their attractiveness from a long-term real estate investment perspective. Johannesburg ranked fairly low at 212th, while Cape Town is all the way down at 414th.

Tom Walker, co-head of global real estate securities at global asset manager Schroders, says that the index is the result of thorough research into what makes a city most attractive for real estate investors. The index uses a number of factors to identify the most economically vibrant cities, such as the total population residing in a city aged 15 and over; median household income; university ranking; retail sales; and gross domestic product (GDP). Cities are then ranked in the index to provide a view of where some of the biggest global real estate opportunities lie.

From a long-term real estate investment perspective, the best cities share similar characteristics  diverse economies, strong zoning regulation, world-class universities and developed infrastructure. Together, these ingredients allow select cities to maintain their competitiveness, making them well placed for long-term real estate investment and attractive places to live with diverse cultural and leisure activities, Walker explains.

Why universities are critical

Expanding on why universities are seen as being critical in powering city economies, he says that their focus on innovation and education helps contribute to better earning power for graduates, which is better for both the economy and for real estate. Knowledge-based hubs are growing in economic strength with a positive knock-on to real estate markets in those locations.

Alongside universities, we look at the health of the wider economy and its potential for growth in real estate demand, alongside the number of people and their earnings.

Over and above these factors, Walker believes that there are two significant trends that are shaping the future investment potential of real estate, namely technology and urbanisation. Real estate is being increasingly disrupted by technology  from offices to self-storage and healthcare  look, for example, at how Amazon and online shopping continues to reshape the retail sector.

Urbanisation, on the other hand, which has been called the most defining trend of the 21st century, refers to the constant creation of strong urban hubs, resulting in certain cities offering more opportunities than others and promising greater investment potential as a result. A great example of a city that has become a beneficiary of urbanisation over the years has been Hong Kong, which is ranked sixth on the index.

Los Angeles leads

Leading the pack in the third publication of the index is Los Angeles, followed quite closely by London. Los Angeles jumped from sixth place to first, due to its scale and economic depth, which makes it a compelling location to work and live, says Walker. One of its key economic strengths is that it doesnt have to rely on only one industry, as its diversified across financial services, media, trade and technology.

Looking forward, however, Walker predicts that Miami, currently ranked 27th on the index, is one of the leading global cities of tomorrow. Miami is a hub that plays a crucial role in trade between the US and Latin America. Although already ranking fairly high on the index, we feel that this city is well positioned to continue to grow as it possesses many of the elements we look for when investing in a city: a strong service sector, tourism and its role as a trade hub.

Walker concludes by saying that, interestingly enough, from a real estate perspective, the type of real estate being invested in is actually irrelevant. At the end of the day, it really doesnt matter if you own a data centre, a logistics unit or a health service, as you are ultimately investing in the city and its potential for achieving long-term growth.
The SA Board for People Practices (SABPP) National Leadership Standard was launched at the fifth Annual SABPP HR Standards Conference at the Theatre on the Track in Kyalami on 26 October 2017.

The Standard was developed after a very extensive consultation process with leaders in government, business, the public sector, non-profit organisations and academic institutions.

The South African National Leadership Standard is the worlds first National Leadership Standard. It is the first time that an entire country has agreed what good leadership practice is across the different sectors, whether you are a school principal, Head of a municipality, branch manager at a bank, SABPP CEO, Marius Meyer explains.

The Standard provides a clear guideline for leaders on how to be effective leaders in practice: The idea is to provide leaders with a framework that will make it clear to them what good leadership behaviour is all about. It also gives them an opportunity to reflect on the mistakes they are making and the challenges they are facing. It guides them in terms of being mature enough to look at those issues and then to improve on their leadership practice.

It is applicable to all levels of leadership from the most senior leaders to the most junior supervisors in the organisation. It is also applicable to different types of leaders  functional leaders, Heads of Supply Chain, HR, Finance, the CEO and the CFO. It does not matter whether you are a factory, a private company, government department or municipality or a non-profit organisation. Ultimately, all institutions of society need to be effective and they can only be effective if they have the best leaders in place, Meyer contends.

SABPPs Leadership Standard captures the five elements of good leadership: Leaders need to instil a vision, deliver results which create value, live the values, influence people and reflect for improvement. Any good leader must be able to apply these.

Meyer says the Standard will make a positive difference in South Africa: Leaders in South Africa do not have clear guidelines. You are either appointed or elected into a leadership position and its a case of sink or swim. The guideline provides a huge opportunity. It tells you where you need to start with your leadership practice, how you need to improve your leadership practice and how to take your team with you. The challenge in South Africa is that while there are pockets of excellence and leaders who are brilliant in terms of vision, they are often unable to get their staff to execute the vision.

He would like to encourage all leaders in South Africa, irrespective of position or role to embrace the Standard, and to apply it. It is a tool in your hand that will help you to be a more effective leader. Surely, there cannot be a single leader in the country who wants to fail? The opportunity for you as a leader is to be reflective and to say I have a guideline, and to apply the guideline to the best of your ability. I am absolutely convinced that if you are in private business you can double your profits. If you are in service delivery you will have more effective service delivery, irrespective of whether you are in government or a non-profit organisation. The standard will ensure that leaders are successful in their leadership role, Meyer concludes.
The Gauteng Department of Infrastructure Development (DID) has launched an initiative to recover government buildings that are illegally occupied. The department intends to use these buildings for student accommodation and for other service delivery needs.

On Tuesday, 31 October it said it had identified several properties that are illegally occupied, which pose a risk to surrounding communities. Some of these properties are highly valuable assets, while others are non-core assets, which will be disposed through auctions.

MEC Jacob Mamabolo told the Gauteng Provincial Legislature that the initiative was part of the provincial governments objective to maximise the value of all registered and strategic properties owned by government.

In 2016, the department completed the Immovable Asset Register worth just over R31bn and is already implementing a programme to ensure that these properties provide value to Gauteng residents.

The department has already started reclaiming some illegally occupied properties in the City of Tshwane to make them available to meet the student accommodation needs.

I will be taking this initiative to the other parts of the province to reclaim these properties for the interests of the people of Gauteng, said the MEC.

He said the department has received the go-ahead from the provincial government to ensure that all public properties are managed effectively and efficiently in order to relieve the province of the unnecessary costs such as those related to security and maintenance.

The process of disposing of properties that are non-strategic to the core business of government is already in motion and has seen the official residence of the premier being sold.

The department will enter into medium- and short-term leases with the private sector so that governments property portfolio can be utilised to help boost the economy.

We will also be going to the market to acquire technical capacity to manage these properties, enter into lease agreements and collect revenue to ensure that these assets can serve the needs of the people of our province, said MEC Mamabolo.

As part of modernising its business processes, the department has built an automated electronic asset register that allows for the constant monitoring of the entire property portfolio.

This system is housed in the departments project known as Lutsinga Infrastructure House - a hub to monitor project performance and maintenance.
MTN Group, facing the prospect of a damages claim from rival Turkcell more than four times the size of the 1bn (R14.4bn) settlement it reached last year with Nigerian authorities, is hoping the case will be thrown out by the High Court in Johannesburg on its merits before it is even heard.

 Rabia Elif Aksoy  123RF.com

The JSE-listed mobile telecommunication s group has moved to have the matter, in which the Istanbul-headquartered Turkcell is seeking damages of $4.2bn (about R59bn), thrown out on technical legal grounds. However, if the court decides to reject these "special pleas", MTN will "absolutely not" be seeking an out-of-court settlement, the group's chief legal officer, Michael Fleischer, said in an interview with Business Day, as it believes its defence is rock-solid.

Turkcell's claim dates back 12 years to when MTN Irancell, Iran's second network operator, in which MTN has a 49% stake, was granted an operating licence by the Iranian communications regulator. Turkcell has levelled several serious charges against MTN, accusing the Johannesburg-based group of paying bribes to ensure its rival was ejected from the bidding process in Iran.

MTN on Monday afternoon filed a statement of defence with the high court, arguing that the matter should be thrown out. Former MTN Group CEO Phuthuma Nhleko - who is now its nonexecutive chairman - and former director Irene Charnley have filed separate pleas with the court. Both Nhleko and Charnley, who have been named as defendants, were intimately involved in securing the Irancell licence in November 2015.

MTN wants the high court to dismiss Turkcell's suit given that the Istanbul company has tried unsuccessfully to prosecute the matter in several other forums, including in two arbitration proceedings - one under the auspices of the International Chamber of Commerce and the other under a bilateral investment treaty between Iran and Turkey - as well as in the Iranian and US courts.

It has also argued in its latest filing that Turkcell's suit violates the act-of-state doctrine. Under this doctrine, it is "not permissible or appropriate" for a South African court - or any other court outside Iran - to determine the lawfulness of the conduct of a foreign state within its own borders and under its own domestic laws, it said.

MTN believes Turkcell will have a tough time convincing the high court of its arguments, especially in the light of the findings of the Hoffmann committee, which exonerated the group of any wrongdoing in Iran. That committee, appointed by MTN and headed by retired South African-born British jurist Leonard Hoffmann, found that Turkcell's allegations, which rested on the evidence of former MTN executive Chris Kilowan, were a "fabric of lies, distortions and inventions".

MTN said Turkcell was attempting to relitigate issues already dealt with elsewhere, including in international arbitration proceedings, and that its lawsuit was "opportunistic, an abuse of the process of the court, baseless and without merit". Fleischer said MTN would not allow itself to be "bullied, harassed and oppressed".

In a statement issued late on Tuesday, Turkcell said MTN's pleas "assert a variety of expected and meritless technical legal defences". "Turkcell is confident that they will be rejected by the court and that the case can now be scheduled for trial in the coming months."

It claimed, without elaborating, that MTN had admitted to "many of the allegations asserted by Turkcell that form the basis of its claims".

MTN's share price closed 0.16% lower at R122.77.

Source: Business Day
Airbnb in Africa for the long haul

Chris Lehane, head of global policy and public affairs for Airbnb recently visited South Africa to sign a collaboration agreement with the City of Cape Town to promote the benefits of people-to-people tourism for Cape Town residents and their communities, as well as promoting Cape Town across the world as a unique travel destination. The online marketplace and hospitality service also announced a $1m investment over the next three years to promote community-led tourism projects in Africa.

Chris Lehane, head of global policy and public affairs for Airbnb  Airbnb website Were here for the long haul, Lehane told me when I sat down to chat with him about Airbnbs plans to expand into Africa. We're not just in Cape Town. We don't really have any choice but to go big in Africa because our mission is Belong Anywhere and if were not belonging in Africa, then were not doing our mission. Here Lehane elaborates more on what these plans entail, comments on some of the travel and tourism trends coming up in 2018 and explains how a global brand such as Airbnb remains relevant, resilient and innovative. Can you comment on some of the top disruptor trends we should look out for in 2018 with regards to travel and tourism in particular? Can you comment on some of the top disruptor trends we should look out for in 2018 with regards to travel and tourism in particular?

Broadly, I think that there are larger challenges in the world right now because I think technology has gone pretty far ahead of where the government is and impacting the economy. A lot of stuff, I think, isn't aligned and I think a lot of anxiety and stress that you see with people is a result of those sectors not necessarily being aligned. In particular, technology replacing and displacing people. As well as technology platforms themselves taking responsibility for the roles they play in society.

I obviously drink the Kool-Aid and Im a big believer in the Airbnb model but I think our model is a little bit different and our house makes 97% of the money. We're democratising capitalism. We're spreading it in different types of ways and ultimately, we're using technology to connect people and create that economic opportunity but also connect them so they actually have offline experiences. They are not living in a digital bubble. President Obama when he gave us his farewell address, back in January, in Chicago talks about some of the challenges that we're facing because people are living in a digital bubble. Only interacting with people like themselves. What we do is actually different. We connect people offline from different backgrounds. So, I do think we're bit different from the other technology platforms in that way.

We want to use technology not just for technology's sake, not so that people can live in a digital bubble, not to replace or displace people but to provide a tool to help people achieve economic empowerment.

Specifically, with regards to the trends for the new year, what we're seeing and specifically in terms of Cape Town is that millennial travellers are going to get bigger and bigger and I think they're about 56% of the travellers here. They are going to be 75%+ of the key consumer demographic over the next 10 years. So, they are really going to be shaping a lot of the trends out there  what products and services succeed. They, in particular, are looking for what we would call, authentic experiences or real experiences. They want to be in a real neighbourhood, with real people, having a real experience, living like a local.

And then, within that, you see that people are now travelling based on their passions. Passion for food, art, history, wildlife. There's different types of things that play into one's passions. I think that's one of the reasons Airbnb is succeeding so much in Africa, in South Africa and especially here in Cape Town. There are more hosts/listings in Cape Town than any other place in Africa. And it's because people are having those authentic type of experiences. So, we're taking all the natural beauty that already exists here but then connecting with real people.

Can you elaborate on Airbnb's plans of further expanding into Africa? Can you elaborate on Airbnb's plans of further expanding into Africa?

There is a couple of things that we're going to be doing immediately. We're doing this $1m commitment and that $1m commitment will help us to expand into 15 townships in South Africa. We eventually want to go bigger in 2019. But for 2018 we're going to add 15 more townships and we're going to develop host communities similar to what we have in Khayelitsha.

Secondly, we're doing the Tourism Summit and I think a big part of that Tourism Summit is the focus on company packages and exclusive tours. We can look at what we can do to make sure the technology is acceptable and working as well as possible - the way people are actually living in Africa.

Thirdly, South Africa is amongst our most successful markets since we launched. We launched Experiences with 12 cities and we're up to 50 cities at this point but Cape Town has outperformed virtually every city out there. And I think its because this market, in particular, lends itself to those experiences.

Airbnb is one of the biggest brands in the world today. How do you remain relevant, resilient and innovative on such a huge global scale? How are you getting it right? Airbnb is one of the biggest brands in the world today. How do you remain relevant, resilient and innovative on such a huge global scale? How are you getting it right?

It begins with us meeting with you every time we're here. I think one must stay true to one's mission. We're a community-based brand and we only work if we have a great community. That means we have to put our community first. And I think you should also always understand what your values are and putting those first and never losing sight of those. I think what's special about Airbnb is that its founders have values. I think one of the reasons that we're here is that our platform is designed to help people.

Why do you think entrepreneurship is so important and how does it tie into Airbnbs values and what youre trying to do in terms of empowering communities such as Khayelitsha?

We want to use technology not just for technology's sake, not so that people can live in a digital bubble, not to replace or displace people but to provide a tool to help people achieve economic empowerment. We like to see technology give entrepreneurs a chance. So, we don't want technology to replace these people, we want technology to give more access to people like them.

I do believe there's a big conversation going on in the world right now about open versus closed. People who think that technology is separating people as opposed to people spending time with one another form different backgrounds. So how do we use our platform here in a small way to help people and to connect people? It's a way that you advance the human condition at the end of the day.
With airline passengers in Africa predicted to rise to 350 million by 2035 and a great number of multinationals already embarking on the aggressive expansion into Africa, the attractiveness of the continent for SME and entrepreneurs is growing exponentially, driven in part by improved intra-African air access.

HONGQI ZHANG via 123RF

Airfares for travel on the continent have been exponentially high when compared to other destinations. According to Flight Centre Business Travel, it is 10 times more expensive to fly to Gaborone than to New York when measured by cost per kilometre. A flight from Johannesburg to Gaborone will cost you about R5.58 per kilometre, while a flight to New York will cost 58c per kilometre.

However, limited, difficult and expensive air access is improving, as we see legacy and low-cost carriers expanding their routes across Africa. Fastjet, for example, has been making its mark on the African map this year with newly announced flights to Mozambique, Tanzania and Zimbabwe. The airline reportedly also has plans for expansion into South Africa.

Boosting regional connectivity

SA Airlink has also boosted its regional connectivity with new and increased flights to Livingstone and Botswana; and of course, Ethiopian Airlines has become a true pan-African carrier, partnering with regional carriers to open aviation hubs in Togo and Malawi.

Consumer confidence in African airlines has also been growing steadily. New research from travel technology provider Sabre has revealed that almost six in 10 travellers from the US and UK would consider flying with an African airline when travelling to the continent, suggesting a growing confidence in African aviation. Two-thirds of these travellers were also confident that the experience, price and customer service on African airlines would be the same as that offered by their own country carriers.

Improved consumer confidence, along with better connectivity will in all likelihood lead to a reduction in airfares, according to IATA  this was the case in Europe where sudden increased connectivity in the 1990s led to more flight options, more capacity and a 15% drop in prices.

If just 12 of Africas economies opened their skies to each other, fares could potentially drop by up to 35%, an additional 155,000 new jobs would be created and $1.3bn added to the GDP, according to an IATA study.

Increasing expansion into Africa

A drop in airfares would be good news for South African companies that are increasingly setting their sights on African expansion.

Flight Centre Business Travel recently conducted a ticketing analysis and found Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa recorded the biggest increase in traffic from South Africa with 142% more business travellers this year. This trend is also on the rise for Zimbabwe and Zambia. Victoria Falls saw South African business traveller arrivals increase by 131%, while Livingstone in Zambia registered an increase of 122%.

The benefits of a connected continent are clear, yet much still remains to be done for governments and businesses to leverage the opportunities that come with Open Skies. While for SMEs and entrepreneurs the focus must very much remain on growing ones business, some investment needs to be made into corporate travel as the enabler of business, which is where a specialist travel management company like Flight Centre Business Travel comes in.

Limited resources should be spent wisely and it takes a partner well versed in Africa to ensure companies sweat their travel budget properly.
With human error behind 75% of marine liability losses, there are hopes that autonomous vessels and crewless ships can improve shipping safety.

Photo: Rolls Royce Ship Intelligence, flickr.com.

Rolls-Royce[1], which is working on autonomous technology in the maritime sector, envisages a remotely-operated local vessel being in operation by 2020 and a remotely-operated autonomous vessel in international waters by 2025. Fully autonomous unmanned ocean-going ships could be around by 2035, it says.

In Japan[2], shipping companies are working with shipbuilders to develop self-piloting cargo ships, which could also be in service by 2025. In the Baltic Sea[3], the One Sea ecosystem project, founded in 2016, is aiming to enable fully remote-controlled vessels in three years and to achieve autonomous commercial maritime traffic by 2025.

Meanwhile, on a smaller sized scale, one of the most ambitious timelines involves an effort by Automated Ships and Kongsberg Maritime to build Hronn, the first unmanned and fully automated offshore supply vessel, and have it on the water in 2018.

Clearly, the technology behind such vessels is developing rapidly, including advances that will allow ships to be controlled remotely or operate autonomously.

This could enable ships to monitor their own health and the environment around them, potentially making decisions based on that information.

Indeed, the potential use of automation goes well beyond the vessels themselves, stretching the entire length of the cargo movement chain.

Autonomous technology has the potential to revolutionize the movement of cargo on a scale not seen since containerization was introduced some 50 years ago, says Captain Andrew Kinsey, senior marine risk consultant at AGCS.

Autonomous benefits

There are many potential benefits to be gained from autonomous shipping. Human error often plays a major role in incidents at sea. It is estimated that 75% to 96% [4] of marine accidents can be attributed to human error. In addition, AGCS analysis of almost 15,000 marine liability insurance claims shows that human error is behind 75% of the value of all claims analysed, equivalent to $1.6bn[5]. Given the role of human error in maritime incidents, it is assumed unmanned vessels could be safer.

At the same time the risks inherent in having a crew, such as injury or loss of life, will be significantly reduced or even eliminated.

Then there is the potential to improve both efficiencies and productivity by saving on crew and fuel costs. The current shipping market, affected by a global downturn, faces various challenges. Crew costs can vary from around 10% to 30% of ship-owners operating expenditure (OPEX), depending on the type of vessel. An unmanned ship could free up more space for cargo in place of accommodation and crew support systems.

The introduction of designated automated shipping lanes could make logistics easier, increasing the reliability of cargo transport. It has even been suggested that automation could result in a decline in piracy incidents as there is no crew to be used as leverage for ransom. However, the piracy threat is ever-evolving and there is already evidence that pirates have been abusing holes in cybersecurity to target specific cargoes, so the cybersecurity threat could actually increase in future.

Regulatory framework challenges timeframes

Autonomous shipping is likely to be phased in over time, as there are many legal and regulatory issues that need to be resolved. For example, maritime law and conventions were not drafted with crewless ships in mind and currently require vessels to have crew and a master on board. The International Maritime Organisation said recently it would start exploring how existing international regulation could be applied to autonomous ships.

Yet, despite unknowns and regulatory issues, autonomous shipping will happen. Its just a question of when and how. And it is possible that the current economic pressures on the shipping industry and the need to find efficiencies, could even support and speed up developments in maritime automation, says Kinsey.

Risk management challenges

Safety considerations will be key to the development of automation. A challenge for designers is to convince users, stakeholders, regulators and insurers that such systems are 100% reliable. In future, flawless communication between autonomous ships at sea and the so-called Shore Control Center (SCC), from where the vessels will be controlled, will obviously be crucial.

Although autonomous operation presents a number of risk unknowns the maritime industry does have experience in this area. In some cases, unmanned vessels are not new, having been used for many years in scientific research operations and the defense sector, although these have involved much smaller vessels than what is proposed in future.

The issue of autonomous vessel operation has also been dealt with before onboard ships, when we first started with unattended engine room operations, Kinsey adds. In that case, the vessels were operated in a manned state and engine room alarms were logged and analysed.

List of risk factors

Yet the list of risk factors under consideration remains a long one. For example, only large vessels routinely have tracking devices today, raising questions about the potential for collisions between an automated ship and smaller vessels. Another challenge will be assessing the risk of an environmental disaster. Without a crew, a disaster-containment response team may be hundreds of miles away.

Then there are potential issues around cargo management and safety in the absence of crew; fire protection; stability, draft and hull integrity and security; and cyber risk - which many believe will increase. For example, if an incident occurs on an unmanned vessel, such as a spoofed GPS signal, how long will it take to discover what is happening?

The cybersecurity platform has to become more robust given the large amounts of data transmitted  especially for unmanned ships.

It is hard to see how vessels can operate without crews to deal with emergency situations, says Chris Turberville, head of Marine Hull & Liabilities, UK, AGCS.

Fully automated shipping may be possible from a technical perspective, but on a global scale it may not happen given the navigational challenges of entering ports and congested routes, as well as the challenges of operating in storm conditions.

It could be that automated, or ships controlled from the shore, will operate on local coastal routes. But for more complex transits, the journey towards automation is likely to follow the model of the aviation industry, Turberville believes.

Aircraft have gradually adopted automation, but pilots still play an important role on-board, taking control during an emergency or at certain points, such as take-off and landing.

It has yet to be seen whether the decision-making ability of computers matches that of humans. And I am not yet convinced that the technology is there to navigate difficult conditions, like the Suez Canal or the English Channel, adds Captain Rahul Khanna, head of Marine Risk Consulting at AGCS.

Autonomous technology has the potential to improve safety but a critical element will be whether there will be sufficient backup when things go wrong.

Sources:

There is talk of autonomous shipping within the next five years, but it will probably take longer for the regulatory framework to catch-up. And while autonomous ships could soon operate on simplistic and fixed regional routes, autonomous shipping on a larger scale will take time.

[1] Autonomous ships: The next step, Ship Intelligence, Marine, Rolls-Royce, 2016

[2] Japan to launch self-navigating cargo ships by 2025, BBC News, June 9, 2017

[3] One Sea: Autonomous Maritime Ecosystem, Digital, Internet, Materials & Engineering Co-Creation (DIMECC), 2017

[4] Safety & Shipping 1912-2012 From Titanic to Costa Concordia, Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty

[5] Global Claims Review: Liability In Focus, Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty
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John Mansour from Lebanon was crowned as the winner of the Africa and Middle East (AME) regional leg of the Angostura Global Cocktail Challenge (AGCC) 2018. Mansour competed with four other bartenders from the region.

Mansour completed two cocktails in seven minutes; an amaro cocktail called Blood and Sun and a rum cocktail called Butterfly Effect. Mansours approach to mixology is not just about the best ingredients and a well-balanced delicious cocktail, its also about an unforgettable customer experience.

John Mansour (Winner - Lebanon), George Hunter (Second Place - South Africa), Dido Assaad (Third Place - Tanzania)

With over 13 years of mixology experience, Mansours major achievements include managing a bar that was home to three different concept bars, reaching top three in World Class Lebanon 2015, and consulting for various bars in Beirut.

According to head judge Michael Tomasic, Cape Town outdid themselves, a great competition in a great location held by even better people. The competition from the Africa and Middle East regional final was of a very high calibre, the winner John from Lebanon will represent the region at the Angostura Global Final in Trinidad and Tobago, next year, where he'll take on the rest of the world.

Angostura representative Andy Holmes says, for Angostura, it marks the next stage of the brands development in the region to hold our first Africa and Middle Eastern regional final here in Cape Town. We really value the support of our regional partners and all the passionate bartenders whove supported us in this journey to Cape Town.

John Mansour, Vanessa Nel (DGB Marketing Manager) and Andy Holmes (Angostura Representative)

Mansour will now move on to the final of the AGCC 2018 to be hosted in Trinidad during February 2018. Finalists will be taken on a tour of the Angostura Distillery and Museum, visit local steel bands, and get the the chance to play mas in full costume on Carnival Tuesday. The AGCC 2016 saw the largest number of entrants to date; 287 participants, drawn from 900 entrants, competed from 36 countries.

The winner of The Final Heat will win the title of the AGCC 2018 Champion, $10,000 and a two-year contract to serve as the Angostura global brand ambassador.
In the midst of an excruciatingly tough economic year, SMMEs are undoubtedly in survival mode. No matter their size or sector, South African businesses have to scrutinise their balance sheets and find any cost savings - and efficiencies - that they possibly can.

Fortunately, technology is increasingly able to provide many quick and easy wins, enabling businesses to cut overhead costs while enhancing operational efficiencies. Arguably, the cloud and cloud hosting has been a major enabler here.

But what is cloud hosting, and how can it help your business right now?

In essence, cloud hosting refers to a way of harnessing virtual servers to host your data. These virtual servers get their computing power from physical servers.

Because they are relying on virtual servers, businesses can access their data from anywhere, at any time, provided there is decent connectivity. This leads to significant cost savings because you only pay for what your business actually uses!

Public versus private cloud

When discussing cloud hosting, it is important to distinguish between the public and private cloud. There are pros and cons associated with both, and businesses need to decide on their key objectives when deciding which route to take.

Today, the majority of businesses that use cloud hosting use the public cloud. This cloud gets its resources from publicly shared servers. These public clouds invariably harness strong security features to ensure that data is kept safe and private.

On the other hand, the private cloud is used when security and privacy are of utmost importance. These clouds are powered by on-site servers, or in partnership with a dedicated cloud provider.

IT-as-a-Service

The move to cloud hosting is indicative of a wholesale move within the enterprise to hosted IT solutions. Increasingly, businesses are harnessing the benefits of such offerings that include IaaS (Infrastructure-as-a-Service) and PaaS (Platform-as-a-Service).

Today, cloud hosting can be delivered to a client in one of two ways, either using IaaS or PaaS.

PaaS refers to when the client is provided with software, such as CloudWare, whereby they can access applications and install hardware straight from the cloud. This is easier to use and more suitable for people and businesses that are less technically inclined.

IaaS, on the other hand, is more suitable for experienced IT professionals or teams. Here, the client is provided with the hardware required to access their cloud hosting. This solution is typically used when a client has a complex IT infrastructure.

Reliability is key

Today, every business has to be up and running and responding to customers around the clock. This is where cloud hosting is truly invaluable.

The cloud is 100% reliable due to getting space from a network of many physical servers. If one goes down, you dont!

Added to this, a physical/on-site server has a limited amount of data capacity available, while the cloud doesnt. So if you need to use more cloud space, you can do so at the press of a button (and using a smart, pay-as-you-go model). Notably, due to the cloud being a network of physical servers, you benefit from the advanced security of these servers.

In short, every business today can immediately benefit from cloud hosting. Arguably, those that fail to leverage IT as a Service risk falling behind their more tech-savvy peers in the near future!
25 young scientists from 21 countries were honoured at this year's Green Talents award ceremony. Conferred under the patronage of the German research minister Professor Johanna Wanka for the ninth time, the awards provides young researchers with a platform for sharing their views on green concepts to make our world a better place.

2017 Green Talents awardees

Cape Town's Megan Lukas was one of this year's awardees. She conducted her PhD in Environmental Geographical Science at the University of Cape Town where her research focused on the human connection to the environment in an under-resourced township setting regarding pro-environmental behaviour, sustainable living and place attachment.

This years competition attracted 602 applicants from over 95 countries. For the first time Egypt, Fiji, Iraq, Slovakia, Sweden and Uganda are among the Green Talents winner countries. A high ranking-ranking jury of experts selected the most outstanding green visionaries, who come from an impressively wide range of academic research areas with diverse achievements.

Engaging the science community

This years focus was on 'Sustainable Production and Consumption'. The two-week science tour provided the Green Talents with insights into the German research landscape and with the opportunity to meet leading experts and visit some of the most renowned research institutions in the focus area, including the German Remote Sensing Data Centre (DFD), the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE, the Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies (IASS), the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), the Technical University of Munich (TUM), and VAUDE  the sustainable, innovative outdoor outfitter. By establishing contacts with the science community and exchanging ideas with its key innovators, the winners will be able to lay the foundations for future cooperation. Their efforts are supported by the invitation to return to Germany in 2018 for a fully funded research stay at an institution of their choice.

View the full list of awardees. For more info, go to www.greentalents.de.
Play naked!

If one is going to be a dick, then one should be the Best Dick. At least that's what Mike Sharman believes and to prove his point he put pen to paper and wrote the book, The Best Dick. The book, which observations in business, launched in Johannesburg this week.

Tracey McDonald Publishers Here Sharman shares his motivation for the book, his biggest lesson in business and challenges he is preparing for going forward. What is the motivation for writing the book? What is the motivation for writing the book?

There is so much BS and ego in business. Silicon Valley has lied to us and told us that every business idea will turn you into an entrepreneurial rockstar.

I notice how  every time I get on stage at a marketing or industry conference  calling out any hypocrisy about antiquated thinking and hypothetical data, such as demographics and LSMs, encourages an audience to nod in agreement. Premises plus comedic act outs lead to audience absorption of your conference content.

I love to write, I had a stint as a stand-up comedian in a previous life and my job is that of a professional storyseller. I entertain clients and consumers, daily. Tracey McDonald Publishers approached me to pen my industry insights. There are a LOT of dicks in business. I never want to be the biggest, I want to be The Best Dick, at everything I achieve.

This book is a collection of observations  first hires, the cash flow struggles of small business, networking, told in the uniquely Mike Sharman, candid way. Anecdotes of time spent in Hollywood, as well as fancy dress competitions, and even armed robberies. There's something for both green and seasoned entrepreneurs, as well as people in a corporate role contemplating a departure to start up land.

What is your biggest lesson in business? What is your biggest lesson in business?

Speak spreadsheet. Far too often, creative types (present company included) ostrich their way through finance  with their heads in the sand  but the most well-rounded entrepreneurs have a balance of marketing savvy, coupled with a real understanding of elements such as their business Opex and the other functional, finance jargon that supports your business case.

What is the biggest challenge you see going forward? What is the biggest challenge you see going forward?

Careers are volatile. My job didn't exist at the start of the century and it will continue to evolve and mature over the next decade. It is imperative to hunt the obsession and trends that saw you achieve success as a service provider with early-adopter clients, in order to prevent your redundancy in an era of machine learning and AI.

What is the most fun you have ever had? What is the most fun you have ever had?

Three examples are etched in my mind from projects we have worked on. Nando's Last Dictator Standing with Black River FC, #5GumExperience with Jason Cederwall from Wrigley (at the time) working on an experiential campaign that allowed us to live the Rockstar lifestyle, and most recently, the RocoMamas #ElectionBurger campaign. Making brands go globally viral  that's my narcotic

If you had to do it all again, what would you keep the same and what would you change? If you had to do it all again, what would you keep the same and what would you change?

From a Retroviral perspective  the journey has been my University of Life and 2015-2016 was my MBA of Life. The start-up experience is paved with blemishes, but it's the most free, vulnerable and terrifying choice you can take. If you ever want to truly feel alive...

Life is short. Play naked!

*The Best Dick is available here or at Exclusive Books, CNA and all good book stores mid November.

Mike is the co-founder of Retroviral (a digital communications agency that has won many awards) and Webfluential (a platform that establishes relationships between consumers and brands through influencers) as well as a 2013 Mail & Guardian's top 200 young (under 35) South Africans.

WIN!To win a copy of The Best Dick, send a tweet with #TheBestDick to To win a copy of, send a tweet with #TheBestDick to @mikesharman . The best tweet wins!
Motion Icon's escalator step branding offers unlimited creative visual opportunities for brands looking to a new advertising channel that delivers ROI and hyper proximity communication.
Canada NewsWire

OTTAWA, Oct. 31, 2017

OTTAWA, Oct. 31, 2017 /CNW/ - BluMetric Environmental Inc. (TSXV: BLM), an Ottawa-based cleantech company, today announced that Roger Woeller has entered into an agreement with the Company which will have Mr. Woeller continue as CEO of the Company until November 30, 2017. As previously announced (on May 23, 2017), the Company initiated an executive search for a CEO to succeed Mr. Woeller, who has been assisting in that search process.

Roger Woeller was one of the first employees of one of BluMetric's predecessor companies, Water and Earth Science Associates Ltd. (WESA) in 1980. In the following years at WESA, Mr. Woeller's leadership, drive, and entrepreneurial spirit took him from his early work as a junior hydrogeologist to positions of increasing complexity and responsibility, where he identified new service areas, developed new markets, and promoted innovative solutions for an expanding roster of clients, some of whom he and the Company have served for more than 30 years. In the process, Mr. Woeller built a team of dedicated professionals, whom he led in establishing first WESA and then BluMetric as leaders in the industry. He oversaw the broadening of the company's focus from primarily groundwater resource identification, development, and protection work to a more inclusive view of water resources which included surface water, water and wastewater treatment, beneficial water reuse, and resource recovery.

By 2001, after a management buyout, Mr. Woeller's management skills and industry depth led to his appointment as CEO of WESA Group Inc., a position he held until the creation of BluMetric in 2012. Mr. Woeller returned to the role of Co-CEO in late 2013 and then CEO in March of 2014 in order to lead a turn-around effort toward profitability. The Company's balance sheet has improved with the establishment of a new banking relationship, a new loan arrangement, as well as debt-to-equity conversions in excess of $1.0 million. Mr. Woeller credits the dedicated team of professionals on the management team and the supporting staff for these and other successes.

Under Mr. Woeller's leadership, the Company has continued to expand the range of services and products offered clients through a refocus on research and innovation and the identification of technology partners with innovative approaches and products. This strategy has advanced BluMetric's position in both consulting services and water and wastewater treatment.

"Roger has given many years and much effort to advancing the success of BluMetric and has our profound thanks for his contribution to the Company's accomplishments. His determination and grit as well as his deep commitment to the firm, its people, and the environmental industry, are both acknowledged and respected," said Jane Pagel, BluMetric's Board Chair.

Pursuant to an agreement between the Company and Mr. Woeller, when Mr. Woeller's term as CEO ends, he will remain as a director of the Company. As part of the agreement, Mr. Woeller will receive a severance payment in respect of salary, bonus, and vacation of $250,000, less applicable withholdings and deductions, to be settled by the issuance of common shares of BluMetric at a price of $0.22 per share, subject to both TSX Venture Exchange approval and shareholder approval at the next annual meeting of BLM, expected to be held in March 2018. In the event the appropriate approvals are not received, payment will be adjusted to a partial payment of common shares at a price of $0.22 per share and the remainder in cash payments over a six-month period. Shares will be subject to the required four-month-plus-one-day hold period from the date of issuance.

About BluMetric Environmental Inc.BluMetric Environmental Inc. is a publicly traded cleantech company with a portfolio of industry-leading products, processes, and services in the environment sciences and engineering sectors. We take pride in our strong record of providing sustainable solutions to the world's environmental challenges.

Headquartered in Ottawa, Ontario, BluMetric's award-winning team of industry experts serves clients in Canada, the United States, and Central America.

For more information, visit www.blumetric.ca.

Forward-Looking Statements Some of the statements in this press release, including those relating to the Company's future products, opportunities and cost initiatives, strategies, and other statements that are predictive in nature, that depend upon or refer to future events or conditions, or that include words such as "expects", "anticipates", "intends", "plans", "believes", "estimates", or similar expressions, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of securities laws. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, the information concerning possible or assumed future results of operations of the Company. These statements are not historical facts but instead represent only the Company's expectations, estimates, and projections regarding future events. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update or release any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this document or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as required by law.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE BluMetric Environmental Inc.
PR Newswire

LONDON, November 1, 2017

LONDON, November 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

Quest Apartment Hotels, Australasia's largest and fastest growing apartment hotel operator, has marked the start of its ambitious UK expansion plans, announcing it has signed its first site in Liverpool's city centre with a 10m investment.

Established by entrepreneur Paul Constantinou nearly 30 years ago in Melbourne, the 160 strong Quest Apartment Hotels portfolio has made its name by offering a 'home away from home' to extended stay business travellers in key cities, regional towns and suburban locations across Australia, New Zealand and Fiji. With 27 properties currently in the pipeline and 12 under construction in its home markets - the brand plans to apply its successful model to open ten properties across the country in the next five years.

Quest Liverpool City Centre will open in 2019 and is located on Church Street along one of the city's biggest retail strips and adjacent to the landmark Liverpool ONE complex. The building itself is a 1980s commercial office building with retail on the ground and first floors. Quest will convert the existing vacant office space on levels two, three and four and construct additional levels five and six, creating 100 serviced apartments, reception, conference room, gym and back-of-house facilities.

The announcement comes on the back of new figures from the Association of Serviced Apartment Providers (ASAP) and hotel global benchmarking company STR which shows health and expansion in the sector this year.

Andrew Weisz, Director of UK Development at Quest said: "Hospitality brands have a huge role to play in opening up City Centre locations for business again, but against a backdrop of economic uncertainty - it is clear that businesses want to spend travel budgets wisely. We've immersed ourselves in the UK market in recent months and can see the potential for the aggressive expansion of both our brand and the apartment hotel industry here."

Encouraged by the government's Northern Powerhouse strategy, the brand has chosen Liverpool as the home of its first property outside Australasia.

Michael Ward, British Consul-General and Director General, UK Department for International Trade, Australia and New Zealand said: "We're delighted to have been working with Quest on their UK expansion plans. In the past 12 months alone, DIT has assisted over 100 Australian businesses expand to the UK - more than ever before - an indication of both the ongoing strength of the UK economy and the high level of interest in the UK market from innovative Australasian companies."

About Quest

Quest is the largest and fastest growing apartment hotel operator in Australasia with 160 properties located across Australia, New Zealand and Fiji.

Established in Melbourne, Australia in 1988, the growth of Quest has been achieved through its commitment to meeting the accommodation needs of the extended stay business traveller.

Quest properties are managed by franchisees who follow a proven and successful franchise model.

In July 2017, Quest Apartment hotels announced an extension of its partnership with one of the world's leading serviced residence networks, following an increased investment of 60% in the Quest business by Singapore-based The Ascott Limited (Ascott).

For more information on Quest Apartment Hotels, go to www.questapartments.co.uk

SOURCE Quest Apartment Hotels
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NEW YORK, Nov. 1, 2017

NEW YORK, Nov. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Below are experts from the ProfNet network who are available to discuss timely issues in your coverage area.

You can also submit a query to the hundreds of thousands of experts in our network  it's easy and free. Just fill out the query form to get started: http://prn.to/queryform

EXPERT ALERTS

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EXPERT ALERTS:

'Thank You For Your Service': Helping Veterans Address the Ravages of PTSDBrian AndersonFounder and CEOVeterans AlternativeUntreated PTSD in the military population takes the lives of at least 22 veterans every day. With the upcoming release of the movie "Thank You For Your Service," Anderson is available to discuss how veterans can find the help they need to address the ravages of PTSD, as well as provide background on his own experience in the military and the trauma he experienced when he transitioned back to military life: "The difficulties common veterans have coming back is something that I recognize. One of the biggest challenges that I had coming back was adjusting to the civilian world. I would drive down the road and I would have images of my best friend driving in the car next to me. He was killed Sept. 29, 2010. I would have images of bullets going through my head and rage going through the door. We have a civilian populous that really doesn't understand what war is and what we've gone through. It's almost impossible to tell somebody what it is because they haven't been there and they haven't seen it. They don't understand it when we tell them something is wrong with us. We're actually not focusing on post-traumatic stress, we're focusing on post-traumatic growth. We're trying to replenish the comradery that's so essential to military service. We're training the mind, body and spirit so that we can utilize that wisdom from the battlefield to help our warriors serve our community better."In "Thank You For Your Service," veterans return home with horrific memories and highly-charged emotions that, when not treated, cause aggression, violence and, often, isolation and depression in their newfound civilian life. The sad outcome is seen in staggering statistics of arrests, divorce and suicides by veterans living with super-charged negative memories of their deployment. Anderson, a retired Army Green Beret with 14 years of service, 33 months in combat and three Bronze Stars, is available for interviews. Since his retirement, Anderson has not only worked through the difficult transition to civilian life (with his service dog Hero by his side) but, as a result of his difficult journey, has formed Veterans Alternative, a nonprofit agency dedicated to bringing necessary services to veterans to improve the quality of life. He is located in Tampa, Fla.Website: http://veteransalternative.orgContact: Harry Hammel, [email protected]

The High Cost of Healthcare: Massachusetts as a BellwetherRon PeckSenior VP & General CounselThe Phia Group, LLC"Massachusetts was one of the first states to pass sweeping legislation impacting health insurance, and its law acted as a precursor to what would later be known nationally as the Affordable Care Act, or 'Obamacare.' Years later, Gov. Deval Patrick signed into law new parameters meant to examine what drives the cost of healthcare, and to contain the seemingly out of control costs. Now, in 2017, the Massachusetts State Senate has released a report regarding this very issue, recognizing that simply securing insurance for every citizen is not enough -- that the rising cost of healthcare is being driven by how much providers of healthcare are billing payers. Will Massachusetts take steps to actually cap how much consumers of healthcare can be charged -- not for insurance, but for actual healthcare? Will Massachusetts once again serve as a bellwether for the rest of the nation?"Based in Massachusetts, Peck has been a member of The Phia Group's team since 2006. As an ERISA attorney with The Phia Group, he has been an innovative force in the drafting of improved benefit plan provisions, and spearheaded efforts to combat the steadily increasing costs of healthcare. Peck has been quoted in numerous publications, including Money, Inc. and Self Insurer, and was a contributing author to the book "The CEO's Guide to Restoring the American Dream" (Health Rosetta Publications; September 2017).ProfNet Profile: http://www.profnetconnect.com/ronpeckWebsite: https://www.phiagroup.comContact: Matthew Painten, [email protected]

EXPERT ROUNDUP: Russia Investigation

Following are experts from the ProfNet network who can discuss the investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. elections:

Patrick J. CotterOfficer and Leader of the Government Interaction and White Collar Practice GroupGreensfelder, Hemker & Gale, P.C. (Chicago)Cotter, a former Assistant U.S. Attorney in New York and a longtime white-collar defense attorney, previously worked closely with Robert Mueller and numerous other members of the special counsel team, including Justice Department fraud chief Andrew Weissmann, with whom Cotter prosecuted organized crime cases in New York. Cotter also is very familiar with the work of Mueller, who supervised cases that Cotter defended. Cotter can comment on developments in the special counsel investigation, including the recent indictments of Paul Manafort and Rick Gates, as well as George Papadopoulos' guilty plea for lying to the FBI about his contact with Russia-linked foreign nationals. Cotter also can comment generally about the strategy, tactics and styles of Mueller and Weissmann in the investigation.Cotter was one of the trial prosecutors in United States v. John Gotti, et al. He previously was a consultant to the U.N. Special Rapporteur investigating allegations of war crimes in the former Yugoslavia and was appointed by the International Tribunal to its Panel of Appointed Counsel. Cotter has appeared as a legal commentator on television and radio, including on "Nightline," National Public Radio, Court TV and A&E's "American Justice," and his legal commentary has been published by newspapers and other media outlets in Chicago and around the country.Bio: https://www.greensfelder.com/professionals-Patrick-Cotter.htmlContact: Randy Labuzinski, [email protected]

Matthew SchmidtAssistant Professor of National SecurityUniversity of New Haven"Mueller's indictment of Manafort reflects his understanding of the long money-train between Russian oligarchs and Manafort and, arguably, the Trump Organization, reaching back to the 1990s. Comey was U.S. Attorney at the time of the biggest money laundering case in FBI history was settled. Manafort's fortune comes largely from connections with Oleg Deripaska, who bankrolled Manafort. Deripaska, in turn, is close to renowned mobster Semion Mogilevich, who was implicated in that case, a case that Mueller must know well, either from direct involvement or from Comey. This was a case that turned on billions being washed mainly through two industries -- real estate and casinos -- through the Republic Bank of New York. Comey was U.S. Attorney for Southern District NY from Jan. 7, 2002, to Dec. 15, 2003. The FBI case was settled and signed in May 2003. Mueller was in the FBI at the time. This was the largest money-laundering case in FBI history: $7.5 billion. Manafort is being indicted for relationships and techniques he honed then -- relationships and techniques that started and are likely detailed in the money-laundering case. Interestingly enough, former FBI chief William Sessions represented Mogilevich and lobbied to keep him clear of charges."Schmidt, an assistant professor of national security and political science at the University of New Haven, previously taught military operations planning and political science at the U.S. Army's School of Advanced Military Studies. He holds a Ph.D. in Government from Georgetown University and an M.A. in Russian studies from the University of Kansas.Profile: http://www.newhaven.edu/faculty-staff-profiles/matthew-schmidt.phpContact: Karen Grava, [email protected]

John F. WoodPartnerHughes Hubbard & ReedWood, former U.S. Attorney and former Counselor to the Attorney General, U.S. Department of Justice, has been monitoring the Russian investigation of the Trump campaign closely. He has intimate knowledge of how the Department of Justice operates, and utilizes these perspectives to help explain the complex legal issues involved in investigations in layman's terms. He can address the important legal aspects/ramifications that come in to play vs. the purely political, as issues as the come to light.With regard to the latest developments, Wood says the charges against Manafort are very serious, and he faces the risk of significant prison time. And while the charges do not relate to the Trump campaign, to the extent that Manafort has any information related to Trump or the campaign, these charges give Mueller a lot of leverage over Manafort to get him to cooperate. The breadth and severity of the charges against Manafort are surprising. While it has been known for months that he likely violated the Foreign Agent Registration Act (FARA), the other charges in the indictment are much more serious.Clips: http://video.foxbusiness.com/v/5630312113001/?#sp=show-clipsContact: Ted Mills, [email protected]

James GoodnowLegal and Political CommentatorJames Goodnow is a nationally recognized legal and political commentator. Goodnow, a Harvard Law School graduate, was featured on the cover of the American Lawyer, one of the largest circulated legal publications in the U.S. (March 2016). Having handled some of the highest profile cases in the country, he has offered legal commentary for CNN, "Good Morning America," "Today," The Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, People Magazine and others. Some of Goodnow's possible talking points, including next steps, include: 1) arraignment/initial appearance -- plea of not-guilty likely; 2) bond -- maybe nothing; 3) scheduling news conference.Sizzle Reel: https://vimeo.com/fennemorecraig/review/212336903/28e0556f5cWebsite: http://legalcommentator.comContact: Terence J. Murnin, [email protected]

John Davenport, Ph.D.Professor of Philosophy; Director, Peace & Justice Studies ProgramFordham UniversityDavenport can discuss the possible financial connections between Trump and Putin, Russia's attempts to influence elections in both the U.S. and Europe through social media, what NATO should do, and more.Contact: Rachel Roman, [email protected]

Russian Interference in the 2016 U.S. ElectionDr. James LudesVice President for Public Research; Executive Director, Pell Center for International Relations and Public Policy Salve Regina University "Russia is engaged in a well-financed and determined campaign to undermine democratic political and social institutions, as well as international alliances, and to remove resistance to Russia's foreign policy objectives. Russia has the motive and the means to do so -- Social media is just one aspect of their campaign."Dr. Ludes is co-author of "Shatter the House of Mirrors," a recent study of Russia's attack against American democracy that received coverage from CNN, FoxNews, NPR, and Mother Jones. Most recently, his expertise on Russia's prolonged campaign to use social media platforms in an effort to divide the U.S. has been featured in The Hill, CBSN news and The Providence Journal (RI) among others. He is able to discuss Russia's intervention in the 2016 U.S. election, Russia's use of social media to divide Americans, its use of similar tactics across Europe, and Russia's broader goals in doing so. He can also discuss what the United States can do in response.Website: http://pellcenter.org/dr-james-ludes/Report: http://bit.ly/2lFKVYnContact: Erin Demers, [email protected]

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View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/profnet-experts-available-on-russia-investigation-veterans-and-ptsd-more-300547666.html

SOURCE ProfNet
PR Newswire

NEW YORK, Nov. 1, 2017

NEW YORK, Nov. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The 57th Miss International China Finals was held in Beijing Stars Film & Television Park on Sep 23, 2017. The chairman of China Organizing Committee, the chairman Liu Shuwen of Oriental Flying Films, the vice chairman Zhang Tongsheng of Chinese Photographers Society, the president Li Yihan of Asian Medical Cosmetic Association, the dean Ma Lin of V-Younger International Medical Group, and the general manager Yingdong Qiao of Prettyology on-line shopping mall were invited to attend in this beauty pageant. After voting and careful deliberation among Organizing Committee and industry experts, Wang Shengxu was chosen as winner of the contest. She will attend the 57th Miss International Finals and represent China.

Miss International, first held in 1960 in the Long Beach, California, is one of the three most famous beauty pageants in the world. It has been successfully held for 56 times. Selecting an attendee for the "Miss International Beauty Pageant" has always been an important national activity, so "Miss International Beauty Pageant" is also known as "Beauty Olympics". The purpose of Miss International China is to select "Miss China" to attend the annual Miss International Finals and to represent China. Since China Times Media organized the Miss International China, it has cultivated lots of excellent young candidates, and Miss International China has become an influential beauty pageant in China.

V-Younger International Medical Investment & Management Ltd (5V Group) is a subsidiary of Singapore China Knowledge Investment Holding Group, a comprehensive multinational enterprise involved in many fields. Its head office is located in Beijing. With years of cultivation, 5V Group has accumulated sufficient capital and excellent resources in concerning areas. 5V Group has established 7 clusters globally and 13 subsidiaries in provinces and cities of China, The group owns V-Younger Medical Beauty Clinic, Weijia International, Hongxiang Network, 5V Business College, Qing Wei Fundation and other strategic business units. Currently, the group has several subsidiaries in Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, Chongqing, Zhejiang, Hubei, Hunan, Sichuan, Xinjiang, Inner Mongolia and other key provinces. At the same time, the group has established strategic cooperation with medical organizations in America, Germany, Switzerland, Singapore and Thailand.

The beauty industry has always been involved in the development of Beauty Contest. 5V Group offers customized services for candidates. Prettyology on-line shopping mall is an E-commerce platform which focuses on Chinese people's health and has six themes including skin care, body care, healthy food, health screening and healthy cosmetics.

Wei-Yang charcoal facial mask, for instance, is one of the flagship brands in Prettyology on-line shopping mall. It is a bold innovation incorporating cutting-edge technology and big data. The research and development of this facial mask incorporated the unique characteristics of cosmetics industry and different female skin types. R&D center and large database of 5V Group are key factors involved in the production of Wei-Yang charcoal facial mask.

The support provided by 5V Group in Miss International China Finals indicates the leading position of 5V Group in the beauty industry and its corporate social responsibility. In the 57th Miss International China Finals, skin care products from 5V Group will help candidates to enhance their skins, so they can perform with confidence.

Contact: V-Younger International Medical Group +86 4008115699

View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/v-younger-international-medical-group-could-be-the-best-choice-for-miss-international-300547109.html

SOURCE V-Younger International Medical Group
Reposted by El Profe for Borderland Beat from InsightCrime



Written by Patrick Corcoran





InSight Crime Analysis

A new study from two leading researchers ties Mexico 's current security crisis to the unforeseen consequences of the nation's democratic opening. Guillermo Trejo and Sandra Ley tackle the deep-seated roots of Mexican violence in their new paper , "Why Did Drug Cartels Go to War in Mexico ? Subnational Party Alternation, the Breakdown of Criminal Protection, and the Onset of Large-Scale Violence."As Trejo and Ley point out, Mexican criminal groups enjoyed a longstanding period of peaceful coexistence prior to the 1990s. Violent conflicts disrupt business and attract increased attention from security agencies, making them essentially irrational. So, if it was not a prior mode of business and all participants suffer from criminal warfare, why indeed did Mexico descend from a stable, peaceful equilibrium into the current state of constant battle?The story told by Trejo and Ley dates to the era of democratic turnover at the state level. This began in 1989 with the election of Ernesto Ruffo Appel of the opposition National Action Party (Partido Accion Nacional - PAN) in Baja California, the first time that the governing Institutional Revolutionary Party (Partido Revolucionario Insistucional - PRI) had ever failed to win a statehouse. Over the next decade, the PAN and the Democratic Revolution Party (Partido de la Revolucion Democratica - PRD), the other major opposition force, scored victories in Jalisco, Mexico City, Chihuahua and various other areas.As a result, for years prior to the PRI's loss of the presidency in 2000, growing swaths of the country were under the control of new political leadership. These new administrations changed much in their approach to governance, and as Trejo and Ley document, their first steps on security were to clear out "top- and midlevel personnel in the state attorney's office and the state judicial police." The authors base this contention on interviews with former opposition governors and other officials, giving their conclusions an atypical degree of certainty.The incoming administrations upended the relationships that managed the country's drug trade. Whereas criminal groups used to be able to count on a small cohort of political partners -- and their vast police forces -- for protection in perpetuity, the statehouse turnover and expectations of future uncertainty left them adrift. Kingpins responded by building private militias, essentially as a hedge against changing political winds.The existence of militarized wings in criminal groups across the country, combined with a steady flow of arms and the weakening of political authorities capable of decisively adjudicating underworld conflicts, fostered sustained bloodshed.According to Trejo and Ley, Mexican states that saw the election of opposition governors in the 1990s experienced substantially greater rates of violence. Applying four different models to control for various outside factors, the authors found that having an opposition governor was responsible for between 55 percent and 79 percent more violence from 1995 to 2006.Several examples fit this pattern: Ruffo Appel's election in 1989 preceded the militarization of the Tijuana Cartel , which then spent most of the 1990s engaged in bloody conflicts with rivals from Sinaloa and Juarez. The PRI's loss in Jalisco in 1995 encouraged the Sinaloa Cartel to build militarized wings under the Beltran Leyva brothers and Ignacio Coronel. In Michoacan, the end ofPRI rule brought about the entry of the Zetas and the emergence of the Familia Michoacana.These armed groups not only went to war with one another, but they also often became the centers of gravity of their respective cartels -- or worse still, they became independent organizations. As the traditional capos succumbed to pressure from rivals or from the government, the militarized groups were poised to assume leading roles within the Mexican criminal landscape.One of the virtues of this study is that it takes a longer view of Mexican violence, unlike the more common approaches that begin in 2000 with the PRI's loss of the presidency, or in 2006 with the election of Felipe Calderon. To be sure, Calderon's heavily publicized militarization of Mexican security policy exacerbated problems that were already in evidence for years prior. But the bloodshed that Calderon sought to stem was part of a decade-long trend, and Trejo and Ley appear to have identified a key turning point.Their work suggests that while Mexico 's democratic opening was certainly laudable and probably inevitable, much more work was needed to build political and criminal justice systems capable of guaranteeing security and prosperity. The authors are careful to make clear that they are not calling for a return to a one-party system, but an effective political liberalization required more than just removing the PRI stranglehold on power.It is unclear if the link between gubernatorial turnover and rising violence remains as strong today as it was from 1995 to 2006, but there is little question that politics and public security continue to exert substantial influence over one another.One of the paper's more obvious implications for future security policy is that officials should principally target not kingpins, but rather their armed wings. While this sounds obvious enough, Mexican officials (and their allies within the US government) have prioritized kingpins for decades.However, taking down kingpins creates instability and increases the relative power within armed groups. While arresting or killing famous capos makes for good politics, doing so does not pave the way for greater security.The authors' conclusion that governors contributed to the spiral of violence by removing high-level judicial and police officials also speaks to the need for a professional and non-partisan security bureaucracy. Removing the criminal justice system from the realm of politics would theoretically make public security less susceptible to ill effects stemming from political handovers.At the same time, it is also clear that Mexico needs to establish a security equilibrium that does not rely on collusion between government officials and criminal groups. One way to look at the past 20 years in Mexico is a transition away from such a dynamic, and it remains to be seen how long it will take for the process to be completed.


A representational photo.

New Delhi (PTI): The Indian Air Force (IAF) will participate in a two-week-long multilateral air exercise in Israel beginning Thursday.



It is for the first time the IAF will operate with Israeli air force in a multilateral exercise setting.



A 45-member contingent of IAF left for Israel today to take part in 'Blue Flag-17', the Defence Ministry said in a statement.



Blue Flag is a bi-annual multilateral exercise which aims to strengthen military cooperation among participating nations.



Indian Air Force is participating with the C-130J special operations aircraft along with Garud commandos.



"The exercise would provide a platform for sharing of knowledge, combat experience and in improving operational capability of the participating nations," the ministry said.



The exercise is being conducted at Uvda Air Force Base in Israel from Nov 2-16.






JAMMU (PTI): Troops of Indian and Kazakhstan armies will engage in a 14-day joint exercise from November 2 in Himachal Pradesh to strengthen bilateral relations and exchange skills and experiences.



This is second joint military exercise between the two countries. The first edition of 'Prabal Dostyk' was held in Kazakhstan in 2016, defence spokesperson Col. N N Joshi said.



"Indo-Kazakhstan joint army exercise 'Prabal Dostyk 2017' will be conducted between November 2 to 15 this year in Bakloh belt of Himachal Pradesh," Col. Joshi said.



The participating Indian troops have been drawn from the 3rd Battalion of the 11th Gorkha Rifles, he said, adding approximately 20 troops from both the countries will participate in the exercise.



"The aim of the exercise is to build and promote bilateral army-to-army relations and exchange skills and experiences between Kazakhstan Army and the Indian Army," Col.Joshi said.



He said the exercise is also aimed at strengthening the ties between the two nations and will serve as a platform for exchanging drills for seamless interoperability.



The Indian troops participating in the joint exercise have undergone extensive training in counter terrorism and Low Intensity Conflict Operations at Counter Insurgency & Jungle Warfare School, Vairengte, he added.



"The vast experience and expertise of Indian troops in counter insurgency operations holds special importance to the Kazakhstan Army," he said.






SEOUL (AFP): South Korea will not develop atomic weapons of its own, despite the threat from the nuclear-armed North, President Moon Jae-In declared today.



"A push by North Korea to become a nuclear state cannot be accepted or tolerated," Moon said in an address to parliament. "We also will not develop or own nuclear" arms.



In recent months Pyongyang has carried out its sixth nuclear test -- its most powerful by far -- and launched missiles apparently capable of reaching much of the US mainland, raising concerns in Seoul about its security alliance with Washington.



South Korean media and opposition politicians have called for US tactical nuclear weapons, which were withdrawn from the peninsula in the 1990s, to be returned.



Some have suggested that if Washington does not agree -- Defence Secretary Jim Mattis expressed doubts about the concept in a visit at the weekend -- Seoul should develop a nuclear capability of its own, in order to ensure what they dub a "balance of terror" on the peninsula.



But Moon said in his address that Seoul's approach would be "based on the joint declaration to denuclearise the Korean peninsula declared by both Koreas" in 1992.






VISAKHAPATNAM (PTI): Vice Admiral Karambir Singh, has taken over as the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Naval Command (ENC) at a ceremonial Parade held here.



Vice Admiral Singh inspected the ceremonial guard and reviewed platoons of naval personnel drawn from various ships and establishments of the ENC, a Navy release said on Tuesday.



Singh took the charge from Vice Admiral HCS Bisht, who retired from the Naval Service.



Commissioned into the Indian Navy in July 1980, Vice Admiral Singh is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy.



The Admiral earned his wings as a helicopter pilot in 1982 and has flown extensively on the Chetak and Kamov helicopters.



He is a graduate of Defence Services Staff College, Wellington; College of Naval Warfare, Mumbai and has served as Directing Staff in both these Institutions.



In his career spanning over 37 years, the Admiral has commanded an Indian Coast Guard Ship Chandbibi, Missile Corvette INS Vijaydurg as well as two Guided Missile Destroyers INS Rana and INS Delhi.



He has also served as the Fleet Operations Officer of the Western Fleet.


97% of interns at University Hospital Limerick exchange confidential patient information without their consent.

That's according to a new study in the medical journal BMJ innovations.

The research has found that interns are using instant messengers like WhatsApp because it's the easiest way to share details.

Data experts say the Government needs to fund new communication tools specially designed for the health sector.

Professor Ita Richardson is an Investigator at Lero the Irish Software Research Centre says Ireland spend less on IT than the European average.

She said: "About 0.8% of the HSE budget is spent on healthcare IT, this is much lower than the European average where about 2.5% is being spent.

"Software is a medical device as long as it is dealing with patients. "
Dublin Bus pulled their service from the 79 and 79A route last night because of anti-social behaviour.

The company apologised for any inconvenience but said it wouldn't serve Cherry Orchard Avenue for the rest of the night.
Update 9.00pm: A security incident at Blanchardstown Shopping Centre in Dublin has ended.

Members of the Garda Armed Response Unit were deployed to search the centre at about 5pm, and have now been stood down.

The centre will remain closed for the night, but is expected to re-open as normal tomorrow.

Gardai were responding to a reported sighting of missing Clare teenager Jack Dinan in the car park of the shopping centre.

Members of the Armed Response Unit swept the area twice and have now been stood down after the unsuccessful search.

Jack Dinan

An earlier garda statement said: "Jack is believed to be armed and the public are asked not to approach him, but should contact Gardai at Ennis Garda Station on 065 6848100 or the emergency numbers 999 or 112."

Update 8.40pm: Armed gardai are continuing a security operation at the Blanchardstown Centre in west Dublin this evening.

Much of the centre has been evacuated, shoppers have been turned away, and many local businesses have closed for the rest of the evening on Garda advice.

The adjacent Westend Shopping Park has posted on social media saying it is closed due to a security alert.

Local Sinn Fein Councillor Paul Donnelly says there is huge congestion around the approach roads to the centre.

"All of the roads into the centre are on complete lockdown," he said, saying no buses were allowed in either.

"A lot of people are walking from the centre out onto the periphery...Traffic is chaotic around the centre as people are trying to navigate their way out. Also, people who hadn't heard (about the alert) and who were heading to the centre are trying to turn around now and get back out (of the area)."

Earlier:

Gardai are attending an incident at the Blanchardstown Shopping Centre in Dublin.

A number of armed gardai are at the scene, and the Garda helicopter is in attendance.

The centre has been evacuated, and shoppers are being turned away.

The incident is ongoing, and no further details are being released, for operational reasons.

Dublin Bus have halted services to Blanchardstown Shopping Centre at this time.

At the scene of a security alert at Blanchardstown Centre. Centre is being evacuated. pic.twitter.com/jtOGf28jt7  Paul Hosford (@PTHosford) November 1, 2017
Campaigners for an 850m data centre in Athenry hope work begins as soon as possible now that the objectors have been denied permission to appeal.

They claimed their case raised issues of exceptional public importance but the High Court disagreed.
An investigation is underway after a man was discovered with serious head injuries in Co Meath in the early hours of this morning.

The 24-year-old was found at Metges Lane in Navan just before 2.30am.
A jury has acquitted retired surgeon Michael Shine of four counts of indecently assaulting young male patients.

Mr Shine (85) of Wellington Rd in Dublin had pleaded not guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to seven charges of indecently assaulting five patients at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital and at his private clinic, both in Drogheda, Co Louth, on dates between 1964 and 1991.

Shortly before 4pm the jury of four men and eight women told Judge Cormac Quinn it had reached majority verdicts on some of the counts.

They acquitted Mr Shine of four charges which cover alleged offences against three teenagers on dates in 1964, 1970 and and 1976. Mr Shine has denied ever seeing these patients and there were no medicals records to confirm that he had seen them on the dates of the alleged assaults.

The five complainants were all teenage boys at the time they allege Dr Shine touched them in their genital areas while treating them for injuries such as cuts to a knee, an injury to a finger and an injured toe.

The remaining three counts cover alleged assaults on two teenage patients on dates between 1974 and 1976. Mr Shine admits attending to these patients but denies that anything inappropriate was done during the medical examination.

The jury foreman told Judge Quinn that the jurors were relatively entrenched in their position on the remaining charges but were happy to continue deliberations on these.

In his charge to the jury on Monday Judge Quinn said that corroboration evidence  credible independent evidence of the alleged acts which implicate the accused in those acts  did not exist in relation to any of the complainants.

He warned the jurors: It is dangerous to convict on the uncorroborated evidence of any of the complainants but added that they are nevertheless entitled to find the accused guilty beyond reasonable doubt once they have taken this warning into account.

You have to exercise special care on whether you believe each complainant. You have to exercise caution before acting on unsupported evidence, he said.

He told the jury that it could decide there were similarities in the accounts and evidence of the five complainants. He said the defence position was that the complainants were not independent, may be colluding and were motivated by civil actions.

He said there was an inherent improbability of several persons making up exactly similar stories.

He said the jury must take each count separately but that if it found Mr Shine guilty beyond reasonable doubt on one count, it could consider it more likely that the account of another complainant of a similar incident was true.

The jury began deliberating yesterdayafternoon and continued deliberations this morning.
The Taoiseach begins a three day trade mission in the United States today.

Leo Varadkar will travel to Seattle, Silicon Valley and San Francisco where investment, tourism and Brexit will top the agenda.

The Taoiseach says he wants to highlight Ireland's position as an island at the centre of the world.

During his trip Leo Varadkar will hold a series of meetings with existing and potential investors along with representatives from the IDA, Enterprise Ireland and Tourism Ireland.

In Seattle and San Francisco he'll meet members of the Irish community where one in 10 residents claim Irish ancestry.

Leo Varadkar says the trip is also an opportunity to highlight our strong commitment to Europe, engage with major business leaders and further strengthen the economic relationship between the two countries.
Theresa May remains committed to a 1 billion investment in Northern Ireland despite the continued deadlock in Stormont powersharing, a senior Downing Street source has said.

The Government is understood to be standing by the controversial deal struck by the Tories in return for Democratic Unionist votes at Westminster, while making preparations to impose a budget on the region by the end of the month.

Secretary of State James Brokenshire said public services in Northern Ireland would begin to run out of money by the end of November.

And while the Prime Minister's official spokesman said the priority was getting the Stormont Assembly back up and running, another senior source in Downing Street insisted that the 1 billion investment still stands.

"The money that has been promised as part of the confidence and supply deal is for the people of Northern Ireland and we are committed to delivering on that undertaking," the source said.

The DUP and Sinn Fein failed to meet Mr Brokenshire's original Monday deadline for a powersharing deal, after Stormont had been effectively in limbo since January.

Irish language rights and other cultural issues are the main sticking points.

And the 10 month long crisis prompted renewed calls for MLAs' pay - 49,500 a year - to be cut.

Steven Agnew, Green Party leader in Northern Ireland, said: " If an MLA is performing two-thirds of a job, they should be paid two-thirds of the wage."

Sinn Fein's northern leader Michelle O'Neill said negotiations had been hampered by the Westminster votes deal.

She said: "This has been compounded by the Tory-DUP pact. The British Secretary of State is wrong when he says that it is only the parties themselves who can reach agreement - he and the Irish Government also have obligations."

DUP MP Gregory Campbell accused Sinn Fein of "rank hypocrisy" over the deadlock at Stormont and said his party was ready to form an executive.

"We want devolution. Arlene Foster has led our talks team and is rightly frustrated that government is being held back by a narrow political agenda," he said.

"We received an overwhelming mandate to ensure any deal was fair. That mandate has to be respected, just as we respect the mandate of others."

SDLP leader Colum Eastwood said the threatened budget was direct rule and warned that people in Northern Ireland were deeply worried.

"A Tory/DUP Government will do nothing for the rights of people in the north. It only strengthens the DUP's intransigence," he said.

"It will do nothing for the rights of Irish language speakers, the LGBT community or victims."

Ulster Unionist Party leader Robin Swann said: "Northern Ireland is now coming slowly and deliberately to direct rule, at the hands of Sinn Fein and the DUP."

Green Party leader Steven Agnew said there had been a blackout on what issues the Sinn Fein and the DUP cannot agree on.

"What we now need from the Secretary of State is a concerted effort to introduce transparency, creativity and inclusivity into negotiations, to end the blackout on what the sticking points are and to listen to alternative approaches," he said.

Mr Brokenshire said important progress has been made in the talks but it was unlikely the Stormont executive could be revived in time for Northern Ireland's politicians to determine the budget by the end of the month.

"No Government could simply stand by and allow that to happen," he said.

Mr Brokenshire said he was taking advice on the issue of pay for MLAs - a 49,500 salary with about 41,250 paid to the 90 MLAs in the months since Stormont has been shut.

He said talks cannot run indefinitely but the latest deadline should not be seen as a reason to abandon them.

"I think there is already a huge amount of frustration out there in Northern Ireland, that people here want to see politics here get on with the job and serving them," he said.

"Yes, this has gone on for an extended period, but I still think it is right that we use renewed efforts to find a resolution to see devolved government get back on its feet again.

"It's because it matters so much - that local accountability, local politicians serving here in Northern Ireland. But they can't merely continue forever and a day."

Ireland's Foreign Minister Simon Coveney, who had been involved in the talks earlier this week, said London was acting reluctantly and delaying a threatened budget as late as possible.

"Both Governments share the view that it is regrettable and deeply concerning that, eight months after the last Assembly election, a powersharing executive is not in place to make the necessary decisions, including on budgetary issues, for Northern Ireland," he said.

In their statements, Mr Coveney and Mr Brokenshire also noted the importance of the Good Friday Agreement.

Mr Coveney said the relationship between the parties was at the heart of the issue.

"The issues under discussion - particularly those on language and culture - go to the heart of the divisions in society here in Northern Ireland and so agreement on them was always going to be very challenging," he said.

"However, I have always believed that it is possible to reach an honourable compromise which reflects the core principles of the agreement - partnership, equality and mutual respect."
Trains will be back running by the morning - with the next day of action due on Tuesday.

Unions have already said they're a long way off a deal to call off the other strike days.

It has been a tough commute for thousands of passengers heading home tonight without Irish Rail.

Today's one-day strike has placed a lot of pressure on Bus Eireann, which says it's services have been busier than normal.

Four more strikes are planned over the next couple of months.

Greg Ennis from SIPTU says they're a long way off a deal to call off the other strike days.

"Every dispute is resolved and we didn't want this day to happen.

"Unfortunately after two years of negotiations and procrastination by the management of Iris Rail, the Department for Transport, and ultimately the Department of Finance, we're left with no option.

"Those five days could happen unless there is an intervention between now and then.

"As was said by other speakers, there is a chasm between the trade unions in Irish Rail and the management in the context of a solution to this."
Update: Conor McGregor has arrived at Dublin's Savoy for the premiere of his Notorious documentary.

And Conor McGregors arrived for the world premiere of Notorious @offtheball pic.twitter.com/7zM12078ip  Will O'Callaghan (@willocallaghan) November 1, 2017

Earlier: Conor McGregor says he's "shutting down O'Connell Street tonight".

Notorious, the documentary about his life, is being premiered at Dublin's Savoy cinema.

The MMA star - who'll be on the red carpet - says he's been on a journey that's "too crazy to put into words".
Argentina on Wednesday mourned five victims of the bike path attack near the World Trade Centre who were part of a group of friends celebrating the 30th anniversary of their high school graduation with a trip to New York City.

The victims were among eight friends marking their 1987 graduation from the Polytechnic School of Rosario, Argentina, with a US trip to New York and Boston, near where one of their classmates lives.

In Rosario, a minute of silence was observed at the high school, and the light-blue and white Argentina flag was flown at half mast.

The school planned a candlelight vigil on Wednesday evening.

"It hurts us to think that people that these are people who walked the same school halls as we did or that studied in our same classrooms," Agustin Riccardi, a senior at the school, said.

President Mauricio Macri said on Wednesday that the attack, which killed eight people overall and seriously injured 11, "hit all Argentinians hard", that "there's no place for grey areas" and that everyone must be committed from "head to toe" in the fight against terrorism.

"Five of the victims were from Rosario, young entrepreneurs, members of the city's society. I imagine they had beautiful families," Mr Macri said during a public event in Buenos Aires.

Rosario, Argentina's third-largest city, is an agricultural hub and the hometown of international football star Lionel Messi and guerrilla leader Che Guevara.

Argentina's consul in New York, Mateo Estreme, told La Capital newspaper in Rosario that the four survivors in the group are in a state of shock.

Only days earlier, before flying to the US, they had posed for a group photo, all of them wearing T-shirts with the word Libre, or Free.

"Four died at the scene and another young man died when he was taken away by an ambulance," Jose Nunez, a national deputy who was a friend of several of the men, told Argentina's La Nacion newspaper.

The Argentinian foreign ministry identified them as Ariel Erlij, Hernan Diego Mendoza, Diego Enrique Angelini, Alejandro Damian Pagnucco, and Hernan Ferruchi.

The ministry said classmate Martin Ludovico Marro, of the Boston area, was recovering at Manhattan's Presbyterian Hospital.

The trip was paid for by Mr Erlij, the chief executive of Ivanar, an Argentinian steel products manufacturing company, according to La Nacion.

Several other victims were architects.

The attack killed eight people and seriously injured 11.

The deputy prime minister and foreign affairs minister of Belgium said in a tweet that one of the dead was Belgian.

Mr Marro worked for the Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research in Cambridge, the research unit of Swiss pharmaceutical company Novartis, Newton City Councilor James Cote told The Boston Globe.

He lives in the Chestnut Hill area of Newton, near Boston.

Last week, he hosted a fundraiser for a local Republican candidate that was attended by Massachusetts governor Charlie Baker.

Photos of Mr Marro and his wife posing with Mr Baker were posted to Facebook.

Tom Mountain, a local Republican official and Mr Marro's friend, attended the fundraiser at his home.

He described Mr Marro as "one of the nicest guys you'd ever want to meet" and said he is "very intertwined with the local Argentinian community".

Mr Marro described his trip to New York as a routine social event with friends, he said.

"It was simply a matter of being in the wrong place at the wrong time," Mr Mountain said.

The Belgian town of Staden was in mourning, too.

Ann-Laure Decadt, 31, the mother of two young sons, died in the attack.

Staden mayor Francesco Vanderjeugd was initially thrilled to hear that her family was going to New York, only to be distraught when he heard Ms Decadt had died.

He even sent a message to tell them: "Wow, you'll have a great time there, with Halloween and the New York marathon and all."

"And then this happens," he said.

AP
A runaway seven-year-old girl slipped through security checks at Geneva's airport and onto a plane without a ticket before being spotted by a crew member and handed over to police, officials said on Wednesday.

Acknowledging an "eminently regrettable" incident that could have turned out worse, Geneva airport spokesman Bernard Stampfli said authorities were enhancing measures to make sure that children are accompanied by adults when passing through security checks at the small airport along the French border.

In the incident on Sunday, the girl, who was not identified, initially slipped away from her parents at Geneva's main railway station and travelled by train to the airport.

The girl repeatedly "took advantage of her small size" and employed a "ruse" to make it look like she was travelling with adults ahead or behind her, he said.

After a first attempt failed, she tried again and succeeded, getting aboard an easyJet flight to Corsica.

Mr Stampfli said an alert crew member from Air France, who had spotted the girl trying to board one of its flights, flagged her to the crew of the low-cost carrier which in turn alerted police.

Using video surveillance footage, airport authorities said she was turned away after trying to follow crew members onto a flight. She then quickly blended into the nearby crowd, pretending to join up with her parents, Mr Stampfli said.

The second time, she succeeded by slipping through a gap only large enough for a small child.

EasyJet, in a statement, acknowledged that "an unaccompanied child incorrectly boarded flight EZS1305 from Geneva to Ajaccio", and said an investigation has been launched.

"The crew correctly identified the child should not be onboard and immediately reported it to the police," the statement said.

Geneva airport's Mr Stampfli said representatives of all airport personnel were immediately summoned for a meeting.

"What this shows is that while controls for adults and accompanied children are effective, there are holes to fill when it comes to unaccompanied children," he said.

New measures include confirming that children are accompanied by at least one adult at security checks, he said.

AP
Update 9.30pm: An Uzbek immigrant accused of a deadly truck attack on a New York cycle path has been charged with providing material support to a terrorist group and violence and destruction of motor vehicles.

Suspect Sayfullo Saipov was charged on Wednesday in a criminal complaint following the Tuesday afternoon attack that killed eight people near the World Trade Centre.

The FBI says another person is wanted for questioning over the truck attack that left at least 12 people injured.

The authorities said Saipov watched Islamic State videos on his mobile phone and picked Halloween for the attack because he knew more people would be out on the streets.

Afterwards, as he lay injured in hospital, he asked to display the IS flag in his room and "stated that he felt good about what he had done," prosecutors said in court papers.

Update 7.45pm: President Donald Trump's administration considers the truck driver who mowed down and killed eight people on a New York cycle path to be an "enemy combatant", the White House has said.

Press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Mr Trump is open to sending the attacker to the US prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

She said the actions of the attacker justify the enemy combatant label, and while Mr Trump is not calling on him to be moved to Guantanamo Bay he "certainly would support it if he felt like that was the best move".

Tuesday's truck attack happened near the World Trade Centre and left at least 12 people injured.

Officials say the attacker was shot and wounded by police and has yet to be charged, and Ms Sanders said it has not been decided whether to move him out of the civilian justice system.

Earlier: Trump vows immigration based on 'merit' after New York attack

President Donald Trump on Wednesday urged tougher immigration measures based on "merit" after the deadly vehicle attack in New York City.

Mr Trump, who referred to the suspect as an "animal", noted during a Cabinet meeting that the driver in Tuesday's attack entered the country through the diversity visa lottery programme and called on Congress to "immediately" begin working to eliminate the programme, which applies to countries with low rates of immigration to the US.

Mr Trump added: "We have to get much tougher, much smarter, and less politically correct."

Earlier on Wednesday, Mr Trump called the visa programme "a Chuck Schumer beauty", a reference to the Senate's Democratic leader.

Mr Schumer fired back from the Senate floor, accusing Mr Trump of "politicising" the tragedy.

Officials said the attacker is an immigrant from Uzbekistan who came to the United States legally in 2010.

Mr Trump has backed legislation that would curb legal immigration and shift the nation toward a system that would place an emphasis on merit and skills over family ties.

The comments followed Mr Trump's Tuesday night statement that he had ordered the Department of Homeland Security "to step up our already extreme vetting program".

Mr Trump's policy entails more stringent investigative measures intended to identify would-be immigrants who may sympathise with extremists or pose a national security risk to the United States.

During the 2016 presidential campaign, Mr Trump proposed a total ban on Muslim immigration to the US before embracing "extreme vetting".

Mr Trump's efforts to block immigrants from several Muslim-majority countries have been tied up in federal courts.

The diversity visa programme provides up to 50,000 visas annually by lottery.

Applicants must have a high school diploma or meet work experience requirements.

It was created as part of a bipartisan immigration bill introduced by the late senator Ted Kennedy and signed into law by Republican president George H.W. Bush in 1990.

Mr Schumer, a New York Democrat who was a member of the House of Representatives at the time, proposed a programme for "diversity immigrants" in a bill he offered earlier that year.

Speaking on the Senate floor Wednesday, Mr Schumer said he has "always believed that immigration is good for America".

He also criticised Mr Trump for "politicising" the deadly attack, comparing his response to President George. W. Bush's after 9/11.

"President Trump, where is your leadership?" Mr Schumer asked.

"The contrast between President Bush's actions after 9/11 and President Trump's actions this morning could not be starker."

He said Mr Trump actually had proposed cutting anti-terrorism funding in his most recent budget.

"I'm calling on President Trump to rescind his proposed cuts to this vital anti-terrorism funding immediately," Mr Schumer said.

AP
Update 3.50pm: The driver in New York's deadly vehicle bombing had been planning it for weeks and did it "in the name of Isis", a New York police department official has said.

Deputy Commissioner John Miller made the remarks at a briefing on Wednesday by city, state and US federal officials.

He said there were "multiple knives" in addition to imitation guns displayed by the attacker, who was wounded by a police officer.

Hundreds of detectives worked through the night following the Tuesday attack.

Among other things, they've been "meticulously" collecting security video along the road that the suspect used before mowing down people on a bike path next to the World Trade Centre, killing eight people.

Sayfullo Saipov was argumentative, seemed to harbour radical views and saw his work life spiralling down, a fellow lorry driver said.

Mirrakhmat Muminov said Saipov lived in Ohio for a few years.

He said he knew Saipov because they were both Uzbek lorry drivers.

Mr Muminov said Saipov lost his insurance on his vehicle because of a few traffic tickets and that companies stopped hiring him, so he left for New Jersey.

Mr Muminov said he heard from Saipov's friends that the suspect's lorry engine blew up a few months ago in New Jersey.

He said that "probably hurt him more than anything".

Mr Muminov also said Mr Saipov was "not happy with his life" and would get into arguments with his friends and family.

Authorities have said Saipov left a handwritten note referring to the Islamic State group.

Mr Muminov said Saipov never spoke about the group, but he could tell Saipov held more radical views.

Update 2.20pm: Trump calls for crackdown on 'Diversity Visa Lottery' as attacker gained entry on programme

President Donald Trump has called for "merit based immigration" following the deadly vehicle attack in New York City that killed eight people and injured 11.

Mr Trump said on Twitter on Wednesday that the driver in Tuesday's attack "came into our country through what is called the 'Diversity Visa Lottery Program', a Chuck Schumer beauty."

Mr Schumer is a senior Democrat senator.

Officials said the attacker is an immigrant from Uzbekistan who came to the US legally in 2010.

They have not said whether he came in through the diversity immigrant visa programme, which covers immigrants from countries with low rates of immigration to the US.

Mr Trump tweeted: "We are fighting hard for Merit Based immigration, no more Democrat Lottery Systems. We must get MUCH tougher (and smarter)."

Update: 10.10am: Uzbekistan president offers support to Trump following NY terror attack

Uzbekistan's president has offered his support to Donald Trump following the terror attack in New York.

A suspect from the country, Sayfullo Saipov is thought to have driven a truck which ploughed into pedestrians on a cycle path, killing eight people.

Update 9.52am: A note pledging allegiance to Islamic State found in terror truck

It is being reported that a note pledging allegiance to Islamic State has been found in a truck which crashed into people in New York.

8 people are dead and at least ten are injured after a man drove a truck into people on a cycle path in Manhattan.

A 29-year-old from Uzbekistan has been arrested and is having surgery after being shot by police.

Update 9.50am: Five friends celebrating reunion among eight killed

Five friends from Argentina celebrating the 30th anniversary of their graduation were among those killed when a rental truck was driven into pedestrians and cyclists on a bike path in New York.

The men were reportedly part of a group of 10 friends exploring Manhattan on bicycles when the truck struck in Lower Manhattan on Tuesday.

In response to the atrocity - the deadliest terror attack to strike New York since September 11 - president Donald Trump ordered the security services to "step up" vetting procedures.

Eight people were killed and at least 11 others injured after a man drove the rented Home Depot truck on to the path on West Street at around 3pm local time (7pm GMT).

The driver, who has been identified by law enforcement officials as Sayfullo Saipov, 29, from Uzbekistan, was shot by police after jumping out of the vehicle with what turned out to be two fake guns.

He was taken to hospital and is in police custody.

Officers said his injuries are not life-threatening.

Hours after the attack, the names of the first victims emerged as Argentina's foreign ministry said Hernan Diego Mendoza, Diego Enrique Angelini, Alejandro Damian Pagnucco, Ariel Erlij and Hernan Ferruchi had died.

The group were marking three decades since their graduation from Polytechnic College in the city of Rosario in central Argentina.

A sixth Argentinian man with the group, Martin Ludovico Marro, was taken to the Presbyterian hospital in Manhattan.

A Belgian national was also among the dead, the country's deputy prime minister said.

Last night, police investigating the rampage were seen surrounding a white Toyota minivan with Florida number plates in the car park of Home Depot in Passaic, New Jersey.

Saipov had allegedly rented the pick-up truck an hour before the rampage from the state before unleashing terror on the streets of New York.

He reportedly shouted "Allahu akbar".

New York mayor Bill de Blasio described the attack as "a particularly cowardly act of terror" that was "aimed at innocent civilians going about their daily lives".

The 29-year-old suspect had been working as an Uber driver after passing a background check, according to a spokeswoman for the app.

In a statement, the firm added: "We are horrified by this senseless act of violence. Our hearts are with the victims and their families. We have reached out to law enforcement to provide our full assistance."

President Donald Trump praised the actions of the first responders and said on Twitter that he had ordered the Department of Homeland Security to step up its already "extreme vetting" programme, adding: "Being politically correct is fine, but not for this!"

A number of other officials in both the US and Europe offered condolences on social media.

Argentina's president Mauricio Macri tweeted: "Profoundly moved by the tragic deaths this afternoon in NY. We are at the disposal of the families of the Argentinian victims."

Foreign minister Jorge Faurie said that his heart was with the family and friends of those who had died "at this moment of deep and inexplicable pain".

New York mayor Bill de Blasio described the attack as "a particularly cowardly act of terror" while governor Andrew Cuomo said it was a "lone wolf" attack, and there was no evidence it was part of a wider plot.

The US president also tweeted: "We must not allow ISIS to return, or enter, our country after defeating them in the Middle East and elsewhere. Enough!"

The terrorist group has not claimed responsibility for the attack.

Earlier: Eight dead as truck careers down New York Cycle path in terror attack

A man in a rented van mowed down cyclists and pedestrians in New York killing eight people in what the city's mayor called "a particularly cowardly act of terror".

He careered down a popular cycle path a few streets from the World Trade Centre memorial injuring at least 11 people.

The 29-year-old driver, named by authorities as Sayfullo Saipov, was shot in the stomach by police and arrested after jumping out of the van with what turned out to be a fake gun in each hand and shouting "Allahu Akbar!"

The suspect, originally from Uzbekistan, has a Florida driving licence but may have been living in New Jersey.

Uber confirmed that Saipov was one if its drivers, and the company said he passed a background check and had been actively driving on the platform for more than six months.

He has since been banned from the Uber app.

"We are horrified by this senseless act of violence," the company said in a statement. "Our hearts are with the victims and their families. We have reached out to law enforcement to provide our assistance."

The driver in Tuesday's attack barrelled along the bike path in a rented Home Depot truck for the equivalent of about 14 blocks, or around eight-tenths of a mile, before slamming into a small yellow school bus.

The mayhem and the burst of police gunfire set off panic in the neighbourhood and left the pavement strewn with mangled bicycles and bodies that were soon covered with sheets.

"I saw a lot of blood over there. A lot of people on the ground," said Chen Yi, an Uber driver.

Eugene Duffy, a chef at a waterfront restaurant, said: "So many police came and they didn't know what was happening. People were screaming. Females were screaming at the top of their lungs."

Police closed off streets across the western edge of Manhattan along the Hudson River and officers rushed into the neighbourhood just as people were preparing for Halloween festivities, including the big annual parade through Greenwich Village.

"This was an act of terror, and a particularly cowardly act of terror aimed at innocent civilians, aimed at people going about their lives who had no idea what was about to hit them," New York's mayor Bill de Blasio said.

New York's governor, Andrew Cuomo called it a "lone wolf" attack and said there was no evidence to suggest it was part of a wider plot.

On Twitter, president Donald Trump called it "another attack by a very sick and deranged person" and declared, "NOT IN THE U.S.A.!"

While police did not specifically blame the Islamic State group for the New York bloodshed, Mr Trump railed against the extremist group, tweeting, "We must not allow ISIS to return, or enter, our country after defeating them in the Middle East and elsewhere. Enough!"

Records show Saipov was a commercial truck driver who formed a pair of businesses in Ohio after moving to the US.

The first business, Sayf Motors Inc., used the address of a family friend near Cincinnati with whom Saipov had stayed for a couple of weeks after his arrival in the country.

The second, Bright Auto LLC, used an address near Cleveland.

A trucking industry website listed Saipov at a Paterson, New Jersey, address that authorities were searching on Tuesday night.

Court records related to trucking-related infractions list Saipov with addresses in Paterson and the Cleveland suburbs.

The family friend with whom Saipov stayed in Ohio, Dilnoza Abdusamatova, told The Cincinnati Enquirer Saipov was "really calm" and worked hard.

"He always used to work," Ms Abdusamatova said. "He wouldn't go to parties or anything. He only used to come home and rest and leave and go back to work."

Police said Saipov rented the truck at about 2pm in New Jersey, entering the bike path about an hour later on West Street a few blocks from the new World Trade Centre, the site of the deadliest terror attack in US history.

The truck then turned at Chambers Street, hitting the school bus and injuring two adults and two children.
The hero police officer who shot the man who killed eight people and injured 11 others in Manhattan yesterday has been named as 28-year old Irish American, Ryan Nash.

Mr Nash, from Long Island, has been praised widely after he was identified as the first responder to yesterdays attack by 29-year-old Uzbekistan national, Sayfullo Saipov.

Irish Central report that Nash, a police officer since 2012 and a member of the Emerald Society, was responding to a different call when the gruesome terrorist killings began.

Ryan pursued the killer when he fled his truck and ended the pursuit with a shot to Saipovs abdomen.

Here he is, shot in the abdomen by officials.

Sayfullo Saipov the NYC bike path attacker. pic.twitter.com/DG5U5uMRXE  Lee  (@ScotchAnon) October 31, 2017

NYPD Commissioner James ONeill told reporters at a press conference on Tuesday evening that he wanted to "commend the response of our NYPD officer that was on post near the location who stopped the carnage moments after it began.

New York Mayor Bill De Blasio also singled out the Medford resident while honoring the army of first responders.

I want to thank everyone at the NYPD, all our first responders, for their extraordinary efforts in the midst of this tragedy, the mayor said. Starting with the officer who stopped this tragedy from continuing  all the first responders who came to the aid of those who were injured.

Irish Central go on to report that Nash was in hospital himself for tinnitus in his ears.
The Uzbek immigrant accused of using a lorry to mow people down along a New York bike path, killing eight, did it in the name of the Islamic State group, police said on Wednesday.

Investigators, meanwhile, were at the hospital bedside of 29-year-old Sayfullo Saipov, working to extract information about the attack on Tuesday afternoon near the World Trade Centre memorial that also left 12 people injured, a law enforcement official said.

The official said Saipov was lucid after surgery for wounds suffered when he was shot by police.

"He did this in the name of Isis," John Miller, deputy police commissioner for intelligence, said at a news conference, citing handwritten notes left by Saipov in his rented Home Depot pickup.

Mr Miller said the notes, written in Arabic, essentially said the Islamic State "would endure forever".

In the past few years, the Islamic State has been exhorting followers to use vehicles or other close-at-hand means of killing people in their home countries.

The UK, France and Germany have seen deadly vehicle attacks in the past year or so.

"It appears that Mr Saipov had been planning this for a number of weeks," Mr Miller said.

"He appears to have followed, almost exactly to a T, the instructions that Isis has put out in its social media channels before with instructions to its followers on how to carry out such an attack."

Mr Miller said Saipov had never been the subject of a New York police investigation but appears to have some links to people who have been investigated.

Governor Andrew Cuomo said the suspect was a "depraved coward" who tried to create terror.

"He was radicalised domestically," he said on CNN.

"It's not the first time. It's a global phenomenon now."

In a number of recent extremist attacks around the world, the assailants were found to have been inspired but not actually directed by the Islamic State, and in some cases never even made contact with the group.

On the morning after the bloodshed, city leaders vowed New York would be not intimidated, and they commended New Yorkers for going ahead with Halloween festivities on Wednesday night.

They also said Sunday's New York City Marathon, with 50,000 participants and some two million spectators anticipated, will go on as scheduled.

"We will not be cowed. We will not be thrown off by anything," the city's mayor Bill de Blasio said.

While the mayor said there have been no credible threats of any additional attacks, police announced the deployment of heavy-weapon teams and other stepped-up security along the marathon route, in the subways and other sites, and New York Police Commissioner James O'Neill urged people to be vigilant and tell police if they see "something that doesn't look right".

In Tuesday's attack, Mr Saipov hurtled down the bike path, running down cyclists and pedestrians, then crashed into a school bus, authorities said.

He was shot in the abdomen after he jumped out of the vehicle brandishing air guns and yelling "God is great!" in Arabic, they said.

Mr De Blasio called it "a cowardly act of terror".

The dead consisted of five people from Argentina, one from Germany, and two Americans, authorities said.

Nine people remained in hospital in serious or critical condition, with injuries that included lost limbs and head, chest and neck wounds.

A two-mile stretch of road in lower Manhattan was shut down for the investigation.

Authorities also converged on a New Jersey apartment building and a van in a car park at a New Jersey Home Depot.

President Donald Trump railed against the Islamic State on Twitter and declared "Enough!" and "Not in the U.S.A.!"

On Wednesday, the president took a swipe at the Senate's top Democrat, saying Saipov came to the US under a visa lottery programme,"a Chuck Schumer beauty".

Mr Trump urged tougher immigration measures based on merit.

Mr Schumer, who represents New York, said in a statement that he has always believed that immigration "is good for America".

New Yorkers woke to a heavy police presence Wednesday outside the World Trade Centre and at other locations around the city.

The slight, bearded Saipov is from heavily Muslim Uzbekistan and came to the US legally in 2010, police said.

He has a Florida driver's license but was apparently living in New Jersey, they said.

Records show Saipov was a commercial lorry driver who formed a pair of businesses in Ohio. He had also driven for Uber.

Mirrakhmat Muminov, 38, of Stow, Ohio, said he knew Saipov because they were both Uzbek lorry drivers.

He portrayed Saipov as an argumentative young man whose work was falling apart and who "was not happy with his life".

AP
Latest News On-time property sale settlements hit new heights Almost 90% finalised on first scheduled date, says PEXA

Regional hotspots record sharp falls in value, new data shows Value declines have become more geographically broad-based over the three months to October

Buying your first home will be something you will remember forever. Its an exciting time of your life, but it is also a big financial commitment. The last thing you want is any unexpected costs catching you by surprise. Heres a list of a range of extra costs you may not be aware of that come with most property transactions.If you have never bought a house before, stamp duty can be a big, expensive surprise. Stamp duty is a tax on written documents and certain transactions. Existing mortgages attract stamp duty and, depending on which state you live in, can be quite substantial. It is calculated on the value of a property, and usually includes the duty itself, a transfer fee and a registration fee. Sometimes, governments use the stamp duty lever as a way of encouraging first-home buyers into the market. In Victoria, for example, there are stamp duty concessions if you are buying your first home. In New South Wales, stamp duty for a $500,000 home can be more than $18,000. In Queensland, first-home buyers only pay the transfer and registration fees. As a result, they can pay a little over $1,000 for the same priced home. The good news is that generally, you can add stamp duty to the principal amount of your home loan. To find out how much you can pay in stamp duty where you live, check on Mortgage Houses stamp duty calculator Lenders Mortgage Insurance is a one-off cost that usually applies if you are borrowing more than 80% of the purchase price of your house . As the name suggests, it protects the lender, not the borrower, against loan defaults. Without LMI, your loan could be considered too risky. Therefore, it can be a great tool to help you get into the property market. According to the Reserve Bank, more than one quarter of Australian loans are estimated to be covered by LMI. The cost of it can vary from lender to lender, depending on the amount of the loan and the level of risk. You can purchase it upfront if you wish, or you can capitalise it as part of your loan.There can be a raft of legal and conveyancing fees that come with a mortgage, whether it is your first home or not. They can range from the hundreds of dollars for valuation or loan application fees, to the low thousands of dollars for conveyancing work. A good rule of thumb can be to budget for anywhere between 5% and 10% for all the extras you may not see coming, including stamp duty and legal fees.For most of the past 20 years, Australians have had access to first-home-owner grants, to encourage people to move into the property market and help stimulate the national economy. These grants can be quite substantial, and can offset any unexpected fees and charges when you buy your first home. The grants vary in different states, and often even within states. Grants can be higher if you build your first home than if you buy an existing one, and they can also be higher to encourage house construction in regional areas.All these considerations are important things to know when you are buying your first home. Hop on Mortgage Houses site to find out more about buying your first home, including how much you may be able to borrow, what other calculations you need to know about, and what all the terminology means.
Latest News On-time property sale settlements hit new heights Almost 90% finalised on first scheduled date, says PEXA

Regional hotspots record sharp falls in value, new data shows Value declines have become more geographically broad-based over the three months to October

Sydney-based brokerage PFS Financial Services has nabbed one of the industrys biggest awards after its corporate strategy enhanced productivity and enabled the one man broking band to write $159.7m worth of loans this year.After winning the Commonwealth Bank Broker of the Year  Productivity award at last Fridays Australian Mortgage Awards, Daniel OBrien owner and sole broker at PFS sat down with Australian Broker to discuss how he managed to bring in 400 loans last year and 422 the year before that.As the only one writing loans in a firm with four support staff, OBrien brings in the majority of clients through word of mouth or repeat business without any external advertising.From a productivity standpoint, new clients require more work to win their trust, he said.If its a repeat client, they already know me and I dont even necessarily need to see them in person. If its a word of mouth client, theyve been referred by their best mate or their cousin and the job is half done when I see them.Around 80% of PFSs clientele comes from word of mouth or repeat business through its existing database and network. This was the most productive business to get, OBrien said.The opinions of a third party are far, far stronger than anything that I can say or any glass trophy that I can wave in front of them.While PFS doesnt have any referral bonuses for those bringing in word of mouth clients, the firm sends out a thank you card as well as small gifts such as movie tickets or a scratchie. This applies regardless of whether the loan goes through or not.We dont so much reward the outcomes, we reward the behaviour, he said.Through this focus, OBrien has retained a 35-hour working week despite being the only broker at the firm.Im not overly ambitious in terms of getting numbers for the sake of numbers. I feel like if I maintain a certain standard of quality, itll be a stronger and longer term business anyway.This type of model can work for any established brokerage by following some easy internal strategies, he said.Little things like just making sure our communications are extremely thorough with clients  lots of little touchpoints along the way.Even something as simple as initiating contact with clients and proactively notifying them about delays and updates can save time through a quick 30 second phone conversation, OBrien said.If they call us asking what the hell is going on, in their mind were not on top of things and were not in control so that same information can take a 10 minute call.
University at Buffalo School of Law students to provide on-the-ground legal assistance to Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico is facing not just a natural disaster, but a legal disaster. As electricity and other basics come online in the coming weeks and months, the demand for legal assistance will become paramount."

BUFFALO, N.Y.  The University at Buffalo School of Law has launched a new law clinic, The Puerto Rico Recovery Assistance Legal Clinic, in response to the devastation caused by Hurricane Maria, which has left thousands of Puerto Ricans in critical need of legal assistance.

Through the clinic, a group of specially trained UB law students will learn relevant law in Buffalo, and then travel to Puerto Rico in January to offer hands-on legal assistance, providing direct access to justice for those in urgent need.

Puerto Rico is facing not just a natural disaster, but a legal disaster, says Kim Diana Connolly, professor and vice dean for advocacy and experiential education, and director of the law school's clinical legal education program. As electricity and other basics come online in the coming weeks and months, the demand for legal assistance will become paramount.

The immediate needs are vast, and we are still working with local experts to identify the best projects for UB law students to handle. We know the pressing needs range from direct legal representation of individuals and families to supporting those working within the Puerto Rican legal system trying to help citizens best navigate this tragedy.

Participating students will receive more than two weeks of intensive training by law school faculty, alumni and other legal experts, including attorneys in Puerto Rico. They will identify the most urgent legal needs that residents and local government agencies are currently facing. Students will acquire the skills and substantive knowledge required to address legal aspects of disaster response. Connolly will coordinate the program and classes will take place at the law school.

After the classroom component is completed, students will have an opportunity to travel to Puerto Rico for a 10-day service experience, providing essential legal assistance as supervised student attorneys. In addition to earning academic credit for their participation, students will learn practical skills and first-hand experience applying the rule of law to restore order and justice in an unsettled context.

Luis Chiesa, a criminal law professor at the law school and a native of Puerto Rico, will act as an academic consultant.

It is heartening to know that a group of UB law clinic students will head to my hometown of Puerto Rico to deliver sorely needed legal services, says Chiesa. This will not only benefit Puerto Rico, but also our students, as it affords them the opportunity to apply the legal skills that they have honed during the course of their legal studies.

The greater UB School of Law community will also participate: Alumni and faculty have volunteered to consult long distance in their areas of expertise to support law students serving clients in Puerto Rico.

Access to justice is at the heart of everything we do at the law school and this initiative is a perfect example, says Aviva Abramovsky, dean of the law school. We have a long history of providing pro bono service and teaching our students to view the world with compassion, knowing that regardless of where they ultimately choose to work, they have a moral responsibility, as lawyers and as leaders, to use their skills and knowledge to ensure justice and to give back.

Donations to help offset the cost of sending law students to provide on-the-ground assistance can be made at: www.law.buffalo.edu/support-puerto-rico-clinic. For more information, contact the law schools clinic at 716-645-2167 or law-clinic@buffalo.edu.
Campus News

Ensemble Linea to premiere Felder violin concerto

Ensemble Linea will premiere a new violin concerto by UB faculty member David Felder at its Nov. 8 concert at UB.

UBNOW STAFF

Ensemble Linea, joined by violinist Irvine Arditti, will perform at UB on Nov. 8 in a concert featuring the premiere of a new work by UB faculty member David Felder.

The concert, conducted by Linea founder Jean-Philippe Wurtz, will take place at 7:30 p.m. in Lippes Concert Hall in Slee Hall, North Campus.

The program features the world premiere of Jeu de Tarot, a violin concerto by Felder, SUNY Distinguished Professor of Music, Birge-Cary Professor of Composition and director of the Robert and Carol Morris Center for 21st Century Music.

Other works to be performed are Philippe Lerouxs Posulde a l'epais and Brian Ferneyhoughs Liber scintillarum.

Ensemble Linea is visiting UB as part of the Center for 21st Century Musics guest artist series. In addition to the concert, members of the ensemble will conduct a workshop for UB graduate composers on Nov. 6.

The internationally renowned Linea is regularly invited to play at music festivals and has performed in New York, Paris, Chicago, Seoul, Budapest, Brussels, Bilbao, Berlin, Huddersfield, Geneva, Lyon, Royaumont and Prague, among others. Its concerts have aired on such radio channels as France Musique, the BBC (United Kingdom) and the Sudwestfunk (Germany).

The ensemble encourages and supports young composers by commissioning new works, and organizing composition and performance master classes, as well as performing in concert. Its unique, multicultural approach focuses on developing collaborations with ensembles from all parts of the world and exploring repertoires across continents.

Arditti, first violinist of the Arditti Quartet, has appeared with many distinguished orchestras and ensembles, among them the Bayerische Rundfunk, BBC Symphony, Berlin Radio Symphony, Royal Concertgebouw, Junge Deutsche Philharmonie, Munich Philharmonic and Orchestre National de Paris.

He has given the world premieres of numerous large-scale works written for him. These include Xenakis Dox Orkh; Hosokawas Landscape III, both for violin and orchestra; and Ferneyhoughs Terrain.

Tickets for the Lineas Nov. 8 concert at UB are available through a variety of outlets at the following pricing structure:

UB faculty, staff, alumni, seniors and non-UB students

$10, plus $2 fee online at www.ticketfly.com

$10, plus $4 fee by phone at 877-987-6487 (Ticketfly)

$14 in person at the Center for the Arts (noon to 6 p.m., Tuesday through Friday)

$17 in person at the door (one hour before concert time)

General public

$15, plus $2 fee online at www.ticketfly.com

$15, plus $4 fee by phone at 877-987-6487 (Ticketfly)

$19 in person at the Center for the Arts (noon to 6 p.m., Tuesday through Friday)

$22 in person at the door (one hour before concert time)

UB students are admitted free with ID.
Ocean City's Cris Pannullo could be back on 'Jeopardy!' this week

Ocean City man Cris Pannullo has 11 consecutive wins. His reign was paused while 'Jeopardy!' switched to the annual Tournament of Champions
Are non-smokers more productive as workers? A Japanese firm seems to think so. The company is granting extra paid leaves to employees who do not smoke. The step was taken in September after an employee suggested the measure earlier in the year.
India would likely be the only Asian country in 2018 with declining telecom industry revenue, thanks to an unprecedented price competition spurred mainly by new entrant Reliance Jio, rating agency Moody's has said.
Maruti Suzuki India (MSI), Toyota Kirloskar Motors and Tata Motors on Wednesday reported an increase in sales by 9.5 per cent, 6.45 per cent and 5 per cent respectively. Ashok Leyland reported a 3 per cent jump in total sales. On the other hand, Mahindra and Mahindra reported 1.65 per cent decline in total sales.
The Odisha government has sent a show cause notice to Ltd (CIL) subsidiary Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd (MCL) for excess coal production between 2000-01 and 2010-11.
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The income-tax department has filed five prosecution complaints against corporate lobbyist Deepak Talwar, known for his proximity to politicians and senior government officials, reported The Times of India.
A massive explosion ripped a boiler at NTPCs Unchahar plant in Uttar Pradeshs Raebareli district on Wednesday, killing at least 20 people, while scores suffered severe burns, officials said.

NTPC said in a statement that it had initiated a probe to ascertain the reasons for the blast.

UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who was away in Mauritius on a three-day official visit, announced Rs 2 lakh compensation for the families of those killed and Rs 50,000 for the injured.

He ordered that necessary steps be taken for rescue and relief.

Casualties have been reported, 90-100 were injured in the explosion, UPs Principal Secretary (Home) Arvind Kumar said.

The state-owned power giant said at about 3.30 pm at unit number six of its Unchahar plant, there was a sudden abnormal sound at 20 meters elevation. There was an opening in corner number two from which hot gases and steam escaped, affecting the people working around the area.

It added around 80 people were rushed to the NTPC hospital. Most of them were discharged after giving first-aid.

All possible measures are being taken to provide immediate relief to the families of affected people in close coordination with the district administration, NPTC said.

The Unchahar sub-division in the Raebareli district is around 110 km from the state capital.

Union Power Minister R K Singh, through social media posts, expressed deep anguish at the loss of lives and said he had directed the NTPC Chairman and Managing Director Gurdeep Singh to rush to the site.

UP's ADG (Law and Order) Anand Kumar said all available ambulances were pressed into action and the additional district magistrate and the additional superintendent of police were on the spot to supervise relief and rescue operations.

The CM has taken cognisance of the Unchahar accident and has directed principal secretary (home) to ensure that all steps are taken for rescue and relief, principal secretary (information) Awanish Awasthi, who is accompanying Adityanath, said.

The chief minister expressed his condolences over the deaths of workers in the Unchahar NTPC unit and announced Rs 2 lakh compensation for the family of those killed and Rs 50,000 for the grievously injured besides Rs 25,000 for other injured workers," Awasthi said.

A Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team was also despatched to the explosion site from the state capital for relief and rescue operations, an official said.

The explosion triggered panic among the employees who ran helter-skelter.

Such explosions can generate searing heat, an official said.

An injured employee undergoing treatment at a hospital said that a sudden gush of hot gas with contents of ash-like material engulfed him at the NTPC plant.

The man said he was unable to understand what had happened and found himself on a hospital bed with his body scalded all over, when he regained consciousness.

Congress President Sonia Gandhi expressed shock and horror at the terrible tragedy in her Lok Sabha constituency. Conveying her deepest condolences to the families of the bereaved, Sonia Gandhi urged upon the authorities to provide immediate medical assistance to the injured.

District Magistrate Sanjay Kumar Khatri told PTI that 40 ambulances were immediately pressed into service.

Chief Medical Officer, Raebareli, D K Singh along with a team of 10 doctors were deployed to carry out immediate treatment to the injured, he said.

He also said arrangements have been made to bring the serious cases to KGMU hospital and Civil hospital in Lucknow. Some of the injured were being sent to Raebareli, Khatri said.

CMO Singh said if necessary some of the critical cases could be referred to Delhi by air ambulance.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A new report by a British Sikh group has called for an independent public inquiry into the exact nature of the UK government's assistance to the Indian Army during the 1984 Operation Blue Star, describing a previous internal review as a "whitewash".

'Sacrificing Sikhs: The need for an investigation', to be officially launched in the UK Parliament complex, has been produced by Sikh Federation UK and backed by the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on British Sikhs.

It alleges a cover up by the UK government and dismisses a previous internal review conducted by civil servant Jeremy Heywood in 2014 into alleged British Special Air Service (SAS) involvement in the military operation on Golden Temple in Amritsar as a "whitewash".

"I am deeply concerned with the findings of the report 'Sacrificing Sikhs', which demonstrates that the Heywood Review was a whitewash," said Preet Kaur Gill, the first female Sikh MP to be elected to the House of Commons and chair of the APPG for British Sikhs.

"The British government, knowing full well of the contribution Sikhs made during both the First and Second World Wars, betrayed their trust and are indirectly involved in the persecution of thousands of Sikhs," she said.

She said the report, commissioned by the Sikh Federation, had unearthed facts that cannot simply be ignored and require further investigation.

The report claims that the then British Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher, had sent an SAS officer to advise the Indian Army ahead of the operation at the Sikh shrine in June 1984 and "demonstrated Britain's complete support for a military solution".

"India requested British training and equipment for its police para-military units immediately after the SAS officer had advised on coordinating para-military units for an attack on Amritsar. The Foreign Office wanted to supply India with internal security equipment that it knew could be used to raid Amritsar," it claims.

The report, based on archival UK government documents, adds that immediately after the SAS officer carried out his "reconnaissance" of Amritsar with an Indian special forces unit, Sikhs pulled out of peace talks claiming they had seen a commando unit move into the city.

"The negotiations never recovered, and ultimately lead to the all-out-assault in June 1984," it notes.

The report links British assistance for to Indias position as one of the countrys biggest purchasers of military equipment in the 1980s during the Thatcher-led regime, who herself shared a close relationship with Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi at the time.

British involvement in the Army operation against extremists inside Golden Temple first emerged in January 2014 with the release of documents under the UK's 30-year declassification rule.

Then Prime Minister David Cameron commissioned the Heywood Review in the immediate aftermath, which concluded that the UK's involvement was purely advisory.

Miller, the author of the latest report, claims the UK government is hiding almost a third of historic files that could shed light on SAS involvement in the Indian para- military operation.

"Information about the special forces and intelligence agencies is exempt from disclosure under the Freedom of Information and Public Records Acts, meaning that only an independent inquiry is capable of recovering the truth," he notes.

Opposition Labour party leader, Jeremy Corbyn, who had written to Prime Minister Theresa May earlier this year calling for "a fresh, independent investigation into this episode in British history" is planning to reiterate his stance in another letter to Downing Street in the wake of the latest report.

Bhai Amrik Singh, chair of the Sikh Federation UK, said: "This report casts serious doubts on the adequacy and integrity of the in-house Heywood Review commissioned by Cameron. There has been a massive cover-up and Parliament and the public have been disturbingly misled.

"An independent public inquiry to get to the truth is the only way forward.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Chennai and coastal parts of Tamil Nadu have received heavy rains for a third day in a row. Until now, four people have reportedly died across the state due to heavy rainfall.
Congress Vice President on Wednesday mocked at the BJP government over India's improved global ranking in ease of doing business, asking Finance Minister Arun Jaitley to see how small traders were suffering due to the double blow of demonetisation and hasty implementation of GST.

Gandhi, in a fiery speech in poll-bound Gujarat, accused the BJP governments at the Centre and state of promoting crony capitalism. He said while small farmers, traders and businessmen were suffering hardships "five or 10 big industrialists were reaping benefits".

"These five or 10 big industrialists, I will not name anyone, are ruling in every sector. Be it health, education, power, water, manufacturing," he said.

"The BJP is going to get an electric shock in the Gujarat poll. People have realized the truth. The job-creating menu in Gujarat will be of farmers, poor, traders and not of Modiji's industrialists."

Gandhi lashed out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said his 'Make in India' manufacturing and job creating flagship scheme was a total failure.

"Let me give you some figures. India and China house almost the same number of people. But China creates 50,000 jobs every year. In India, we create only 450."

"Modiji speaks about 'Make in India'. He promised everything will be made in India. But today, three million Gujaratis are jobless," he said.

Targeting the government on the World Bank's Ease of Doing Business report released on Tuesday that saw India jump 30 ranks to number 100, Gandhi said: "Jaitleyji sits in his office and believes a foreign company talking of ease of doing business. Did Jaitleyji go to a small shop owner and ask what is the ease of doing business?

"What is spoken abroad is truth for this government but what the poor say in India is farce for them," he said.

He said the ease of doing business in India was smashed by the government with its note ban decision and hasty implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST).

The Congress leader recalled how Modi had promised to unearth black money with one stroke of his demonetisation decision.

"Modiji doesn't understand that all cash is not black and all black money is not in cash. Much of the black wealth is in real estate, gold or stashed abroad.

"It has been three years since the BJP came to power. How many Swiss bank account holders are behind the bars? What did Modiji do to bring back black money from Swiss banks?"

"Look at Vijay Mallya. He is enjoying himself in London. What did Modiji do?"

He said demonetisation hit a severe blow to the labour class, farmers, small businesses and traders who rely heavily on cash transactions, but they were somehow managing when they were dealt another blow in the form of the GST.

"We warned the government don't implement GST hastily. Do it easily, slowly, kindly. They didn't listen to us. We told them it was not the Congress vs BJP. It is a matter that concerns the nation, the economy."

He again called GST "Gabbar Singh Tax", in a refrain that earnings of the poor were being snatched like the dacoit in the 1975 cult movie "Sholay" used to collect from poor villagers and farmers.

"I have named it Gabbar Singh Tax. Poor people work hard and their earning are snatched away."
At least 16 persons were killed and almost 100 others injured in one of the worst industrial mishaps to hit Uttar Pradesh at the NTPC plant in Rae Bareli, the parliamentary constituency of Congress president Sonia Gandhi.

According to reports, the incident occurred this evening when the boiler of 500-megawatt unit exploded at NTPCs Unchahar plant in Rae Bareli.

Earlier, Rae Bareli (Sadar) additional District Magistrate S Sudhakaran had told Business Standard that the NTPC management had informed the district administration of the mishap around 1600 hrs, following which rescue teams were rushed to the site.

However, given the enormity of the mishap, the death toll is likely to rise as rescue operations continue and grievously injured recover in hospitals.

Additional teams of doctors and rescue personnel have been rushed from Lucknow to join the relief operations at the mishap site, including a fully equipped 32-member Disaster Response Force (NDRF) squad. Senior state government officials have also rushed to the district.

Police and security personnel have been deployed at the site, which has also been made out of bound for outsiders. About 80 ambulances have been pressed into service.

UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath, who is currently in Mauritius for a three-day state visit, has directed for providing best medical care to the injured and prompt rescue operations. He has announced Rs 2 lakh ex gratia to the next of kin of those killed, Rs 50,000 and Rs 25,000 to those sustaining grievous and minor injuries respectively.

All the medical facilities in the district have been put on high alert, while more help is being sought from the neighbouring districts. At the same time, the hospitals in Lucknow and Allahabad have also been put on alert for receiving the grievously injured for treatment.
India has jumped into 100th place on the World Banks ranking of countries by Ease of Doing Business for the first time in its report for 2018, up about 30 places, driven by reforms in access to credit, power supplies and protection of minority investors. The report, based on data from New Delhi and Mumbai, ranked India among the top 10 improvers globally, having done better in eight out of 10 business indicators.
Farmers' organisations in Telangana are planning to disrupt the arrivals of cotton to the major markets in the state from Thursday in protest against low market prices offered by the traders.

The proposed move coincides with sporadic instances of suicides by small farmers in a sign of growing distress among the cotton farmers in this season. Local papers reported three such suicides on a single day on Tuesday.
As cost of land acquisition and rehabilitation around existing national highways rises, the Union government is gradually shifting focus from expansion of highways to execution of green-field expressways. Experts believe the turnaround time for a new expressway is lesser than that of expansion of the existing highway, therefore, executing new projects is a better proposition.
In a boost for the sugar sector, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has raised the basic ethanol price by five per cent, in a bid to get distilleries to increase their supply of the product to oil marketing companies (OMCs) for blending with petrol.

Chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the CCEA approved a price of Rs 40.85 a litre for procurement season 2017-18 (beginning December 2017), up from Rs 38.97 a litre the previous season. The applicable goods and services tax (GST) of 18 per cent and transport charges would be borne by the OMCs.
On November 8 last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the withdrawal of legal tender status to Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes. The move, which drained out 86% of currency in circulation, caused massive economic disruption. While remonetisation subsequently gathered pace, economic activity was disrupted again by the shift to GST. To understand how businesses have fared over the past year, Business Standard spoke to entrepreneurs in Kanpur, Tirupur, Bhiwandi, and Ludhiana.



Just outside Kanpur Central Railway Station, a long line of autorickshaws jostle for space. For the more modern traveller preferring to hail a ride on an app, a group of auto drivers armed with smartphones await.
A total of 158 crorepati candidates are in the fray for the Himachal Pradesh assembly elections -- to be held on November 9 -- while 61 have declared criminal cases against them, says a report.

Himachal Pradesh Election Watch and Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) have analysed the self-sworn affidavits of all 338 candidates.

"Out of the 338 candidates analysed, 158 (47 per cent) are crorepatis. The average assets per candidate contesting in the Himachal Pradesh assembly elections 2017 is Rs 4.07 crore," Delhi-based think-tank ADR said in a report released today.

Among party wise crorepati candidates, 59 out of 68 candidates from Congress INC, 47 of 68 from the BJP, 6 of 42 from the BSP, 3 of 14 from the CPI (M), 1 of 3 from the CPI and 36 of 112 independents have declared assets worth more than Rs 1 crore, it said.

The report further said that among major parties, the average assets per candidate for 68 Congress candidates is Rs 8.56 crore, for 68 BJP candidates is Rs 5.31 crore and for 42 BSP candidates is Rs 46.78 lakh). The same for 14 CPI (M) candidates is Rs 2.31 crore, 3 CPI candidates' is Rs 74.64 lakh and for 112 independent candidates is Rs 3.20 crore.

The top candidates with highest assets contesting in the Himachal Pradesh assembly elections are Balvir Singh Verma of BJP with total asseself-annualRs 90 crore followed by Vikramaditya Singh of the Congress with over Rs 84 crore.

Five candidates have declared self annual income of more than Rs 1 crore. G S Bali, an INC candidate has declared the highest self-income (annual). His annual income is Rs 3.42 crore and he has declared his salary from the Himachal Pradesh government as his source of income, ADR, which works in the area of electoral and political reforms, said.

The other candidates are independent candidate Rajesh Sharma, Balvir Singh Verma of the BJP, Mahender Singh of the BJP and Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh.

The report noted that 71 out of 338 candidates have not declared their sources of income.

Also, a total of 20 candidates analysed have not declared their PAN details.

The ADR report further said, "Out of the 338 candidates analysed, 61 (18 per cent) have declared criminal cases against them adding that 31 (9 per cent) have declared serious criminal cases."



Among party wise candidates with criminal cases, 6 from the Indian National Congress (INC), 23 from the Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP), 3 from the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), 10 from the CPI(M) and 16 independents have declared criminal cases against them in their affidavits, it said.

On education details, the report said 120 candidates have declared their qualification to be between 5th pass and 12th pass, while 214 have a qualification of graduate or above. There is one candidate who is illiterate, while one has not given his educational details.

Besides, 155 candidates have declared their age to be between 25 and 50 years, while 179 between 51 and 80 years.

In the Himachal Pradesh assembly election, 19 women candidates are contesting, the report added.
A Womens group of SEWA from J&K calls on Shri Hansraj Gangaram Ahir

A group of 25 women from Jammu and Kashmir, who are visiting the city on a Bharat Darshan tour programme, called on the Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, Shri Hansraj Gangaram Ahir here today. The group comprises members of the Self Employed Women's Association (SEWA) from Kupwara, one of the worst militancy affected districts of the Kashmir Valley.

With a view to encourage the women of Kupwara associated with SEWA and to develop strong bonds with women in other parts of the country for closer social, cultural and emotional integration, the project for Bharat Darshan tour of four batches (25 women in each group) was approved in September, 2017.

While interacting, the members of SEWA stated about the benefits of joining the SEWA. They told that there is need for marketing their products so as to increase their earnings. Speaking on the occasion, Shri Ahir said that MHA will help support the marketing across the country of products made by the SEWA members from J&K. He said the SEWA centre at Kupwara is augmenting the Prime Ministers objectives of Skill Development and Make in India, and the involvement of women from J&K is especially noteworthy. Self Help Groups are key to the Governments programmes aimed at social welfare and poverty alleviation.

The Women Centric Welfare Scheme is being run in Kupwara through SEWA under the Civic Action Programme (CAP).

Under this, setting up of Resource Centre at Kupwara, J&K by SEWA was approved in 2012. SEWA proposed to train 3,500 women including 500 master trainees of Kupwara in various activities i.e Cutting, Tailoring, Handicraft, Food Processing, Renewable Energy and Agriculture and allied activities. Against the target, SEWA has trained 3,883 trainees and 558 master trainees.

The SEWA Kupwara Centre has now been registered under the Registration of Societies Act VI of 1998 under the name Shehjar District Association Kupwara" on June 20, 2017. Some of the women workers have started their own enterprises like boutique, craft, stitching centre etc. Based on their skill enhancement, some of them are involved in production orders for reputed designers. Further, activities related to Agriculture, Horticulture Supply Chain, Farm Management and Renewable Energy have been conducted in Kupwara. The Kupwara Centre has also tied up with Coca Cola for selling of apples.
Approval of framework for consolidation of Public Sector Banks

An Alternative Mechanism for consolidation of the Public Sector Banks (PSBs) has been constituted under the Chairmanship of the Union Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs, Shri Arun Jaitley. The composition of the Alternative Mechanism will be as under:

Chairperson: Shri Arun Jaitley, Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs.

Member : Shri Piyush Goyal, Minister of Railways and Coal.

Member : Smt.

Nirmala Sitharaman, Minister of Defence.

The proposals received from banks for in-principle approval to formulate schemes of amalgamation will be placed before the Alternative Mechanism. A Report on the proposals cleared by Alternative Mechanism will be sent to the Cabinet every three months.

Alternative Mechanism may also direct banks to examine proposals for amalgamation.

Alternative Mechanism will receive inputs from Reserve Bank of India (RBI) before according in-principle approval.

Alternative Mechanism shall devise its own procedure for appraisal of amalgamation proposals by banks, and be guided overall by the objectives of the Nationalisation Acts {Banking Companies (Acquisition and Transfer of Undertakings) Acts, 1970 and 1980}.

The Final Schemes formulated will be approved by the Central Government, and laid in both the Houses of Parliament.

Alternative Mechanism will be serviced by the Department of Financial Services for this purpose.
King of Bhutan calls on the President

His Majesty Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, the King of Bhutan, along with Her Majesty the Queen and the Royal Prince of Bhutan called on the President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind, at Rashtrapati Bhavan today (November 1, 2017).

Welcoming the King and Queen to India, the President said that it is a privilege to welcome the King on the anniversary of his Coronation Day. He also thanked them for bringing the Royal Prince on his maiden visit to India.

The President complimented the King of Bhutan on the successful completion of the first decade of his reign and his vision for a stable, happy and prosperous Bhutan. He stated that India is delighted to see the rapid progress made in Bhutan while simultaneously preserving its very special culture as well as protecting the environment. India has been happy to share its knowledge, experience and resources with Bhutan. Our development cooperation has been guided by the priorities set by the Government and people of Bhutan.

The President said that India and Bhutan share exemplary bilateral relations.

Our relations are unique and special. Our bilateral ties are based on utmost trust and understanding. We should do everything to make it a model of bilateral cooperation, which will be noted by others in the neighbourhood.

The President said that security concerns of India and Bhutan are indivisible and mutual. He conveyed deep appreciation for the King of Bhutans personal involvement and guidance and the support provided by Bhutan in addressing the recent situation in the Doklam area. He added that the manner in which both India and Bhutan stood together to address the situation in the Doklam area is a clear testimony to our friendship.
Union Minister of Food Processing Industries, Smt. Harsimrat Kaur Badal chaired the Press Conference detailing about the activities to be undertaken in the World Food India 2017 Expo, here today. As India gets ready to host its biggest food event aiming to transform the food economy and double farmers income, Smt. Badal gave a glimpse of the magnitude of the event to media in an interactive session. Minister of State for Food Processing Industries, Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti also graced the occasion with her presence.

Speaking on the occasion, Smt. Harsimrat Kaur Badal said World Food India is a mega event which would showcase the entire value chain in the food sector. 160 Global CEOs will come under one roof. Globally & Nationally it is one of the biggest event. This event is expected to generate Rs. 65000 Crore worth of investment and 10 lakh jobs. She also said that this event will take the varied flavours of India to the world and showcase the healthy multigrain 'khichadi' to the visitors.There has not been any mega event before of this scale where FDI commitment has got crystallized even before the start of the event. "We have a vision of transforming Indian food economy and doubling farmers income by bringing latest technologies evolution and best practices into the system in keeping with the vision articulated by Honourable Prime Minister" said the Minister. "We are working towards easing the process of doing business for Global and Domestic industry players as well as bringing in new talent to achieve Indias greatest potential in the coming years" she said.

As global and Indian food companies prepare to explore business opportunities in India at World Food India 2017, MoFPI and FSSAI, the apex Regulatory body for Food Safety in India announced a powerful new tool called the Food Regulatory Portal. Planned as a single interface for food businesses to cater to both domestic operations and food imports, this portal would be a game changer for effective and transparent implementation of the food safety laws in the country. Aiming to create an enabling environment for businesses to operate, the portal is strategically aligned with Governments mission of One Nation, One Food Law. Smt Badal said that FSSAI's Food Regulatory portal will be a step forward in that direction and she congratulated FSSAI for implementing it. She also said that during World Food India 2017, an Investor Facilitation Portal Nivesh Bandhu will be launched to assist investors to make informed investment decisions. "India is ready with open arms to welcome global food companies" said Smt Badal. The portal would provide information on Central and State Governments investor friendly policies, agro-producing clusters, infrastructure, and potential areas of investment in the food processing sector.

Smt Badal also appealed to each individual to take a pledge  NO WASTE ON MY PLATE- to make India Food Secure. Minister of State for Food Processing Industries, Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti said that after World Food India a good response from investor community is expected in Food Processing Sector. More than 40 countries have committed FDI in Food Processing Sector till now. This is the first time such Exhibition on Food Processing is happening in India.

Spelling out more details of the upcoming three day event, Minister Smt Badal informed that the mega convention is scheduled to be inaugurated by Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi on 3rd November 2017. Mr Maris Kucinskis, Prime Minister of Latvia & Mr Serzh Sargsyan, President of Armenia will also be addressing the Inaugural Session. President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind will address the Valedictory Session on 5th November 2017.

World Food India 2017 will provide global businesses a platform to explore Indian market across the value chain in food processing and food retail, to bring together global & Indian leaders across the food value chain and Showcase the strengths of India in the Food processing & allied sectors; Connect domestic and international businesses for possible partnerships and Facilitate collaboration, investment flow and encourage sourcing from India.

Exclusive CEOs roundtables have been scheduled with Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi, Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs Shri Arun Jaitley and Minister of Commerce and Industry Shri Suresh Prabhu with CEOs of leading global & Indian food processing companies. Illustrative list of Industry Captains participating in World Food India from across the globe and India includes Mr Paul Bulcke , Chairman of the Board of Directors, Nestle, Mr Pieter Boone, Chief Operating Officer & CEO, Metro Cash and Carry, Mr Brian J McNamara, CEO, GSK Consumer Healthcare, Ms. Amanda Sourry, President, Food Unilever; Mr.Sharafuddin Sharaf, Al  Sharaf Group; Mr.Yusuff Ali, Managing Director, LuLu Group, Mr Kishore Biyani, CEO, Future Group; Mr Krish Iyer, CEO, Walmart India; Mr Amit Agrawal, CEO, Amazon, India to name a few. A total of 60 Global CEOs including Asia Pacific (APAC) leadership of leading companies will be interacting with leading CEOs from 100+ top Indian food processing leaders. Over 1000 m B2B meetings are expected to take place over three days.

World Food India 2017 has received tremendous response globally, attracting participation from more than 40 countries, 27 state governments including all the North-Eastern states. Germany, Denmark, and Japan are the partner countries for the event while Italy and Netherlands are the focus countries.

International Ministerial & business delegations with 200+ members from 15 countries will take part in B2B/B2G meetings. The mega event would also host 8 sectoral conferences, 2 plenary sessions on India the preferred destination with the Finance Minister of India as the Guest of Honour and one on One Nation, one food law- an enabling regulatory environment for investment in the food sector in association with the Food Standards and Safety Authority of India. In addition, there are 20 State sessions and 6 country sessions. 7 sectoral publications would be released at the event.

A massive exhibition spread over 40,000 sq mtrs in the verdant C- Hexagon lawns of India Gate is expected to attract significant footfalls. More than 800 global companies representing 22 Countries & domestic companies will be exhibiting. Special focus on Farmer Producer Organizations & Women Entrepreneurs will connect them to corporates  international & Indian- increasing opportunities for sourcing & business.

Ministry of Food Processing Industries Theme Pavilion provides an exciting view of Indias offering to the world in terms of products, a geo mapping of produce availability and mega food parks, through multiple technologies like Virtual & Augmented reality.

A special feature of the Event is the Food Street - a lively vibrant zone, that will showcase Indian and foreign cuisines using Indian ingredients, flavours and fragrances, specially curated by Chef Sanjeev Kapoor. The Food Street is a unique concept that would act as a platform for guests to learn about the globalisation of Indian food through interactive chef talks and demonstrations, experience the traditional flavours as well as modern fusion food and give the attendees a wholesome experience about the diverse uniqueness that Indian food offers.
The screams seemed too vivid from the start, too visceral to belong to crowds celebrating a crisp and sunny Halloween in Lower Manhattan. The tragedy had unfolded in just minutes, and for hours and hours it remained too senseless to believe.
Pakistan plans to build at least three to four big reactors as it targets nuclear power capacity of 8,800 megawatts (MW) by 2030, the countrys atomic energy commission chairman said.
plans to start issuing tourist visas "soon", authorities said on Tuesday, as the ultra-conservative kingdom seeks to attract visitors in a radical overhaul of its oil-dependent economy.

Tourism is seen as a major driver of growth as the kingdom attempts to wean itself off its dependence on petrodollars amid a protracted oil slump.

"Tourist visas will be introduced soon," Prince Sultan bin Salman bin Abdul Aziz, head of the Saudi tourism authority, was quoted as saying in a statement. He did not specify a time frame.

Aside from millions of Muslims who travel to for the annual hajj pilgrimage, most visitors currently face a tedious visa process and exorbitant fees to enter the kingdom.

Prince Sultan's comment comes ahead of Saudi Arabia's first archaeology convention in Riyadh next week as the government seeks to showcase some of its historic sites.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in August announced a massive tourism project to turn 50 islands and a string of sites on the Red Sea into luxury resorts.

Although richly endowed with natural beauty, the kingdom is hardly seen as a tourism hotspot.

Alcohol, cinemas and theatres are still banned in the kingdom, an absolute monarchy and one of the world's most conservative countries.

But authorities in recent months have sought to project a moderate image with a string of reforms, including the decision allowing women to drive from next June.

The kingdom is also expected to lift a public ban on cinemas and has encouraged mixed-gender celebrations  something seldom seen before.

The moves appear designed to project the kingdom in a favourable light as it seeks to attract badly needed foreign investment.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Executives from Facebook, Google and Twitter appeared on Capitol Hill for the first time on Tuesday to publicly acknowledge their role in Russias influence on the presidential campaign, but offered little more than promises to do better. Their reluctance frustrated lawmakers who sought stronger evidence that American elections will be protected from foreign powers.
Eight people were killed on Tuesday when a rented pickup truck plowed down a bike lane that runs along the West Side Highway in Lower Manhattan, officials said. The pickup smashed into a school bus before the driver jumped out and was shot by a police officer, the authorities said.
Shares of select public sector undertaking (PSU) companies were in focus with Dredging Corporation of India and STC India locked in upper circuit of 20% on the BSE on back heavy volumes.
Five Argentinians and one Belgian were among the eight killed in a truck attack near the Trade Memorial in New York today.

According to media reports, Argentina's foreign ministry, in an official statement, confirmed the news and condemned the attack.

The statement by the Argentinan foreign ministry further said that the five deceased men were part of a group of school friends who travelled to New York to celebrate the 30th anniversary of their graduation.

Argentina's President Mauricio Macri tweeted on the same, saying, "Profoundly moved by the tragic deaths this afternoon in NY. We place ourselves at the disposition of the families of the Argentinian victims."

Deputy Prime Minister of Belgium Didier Reynders also confirmed the death of one Belgian national and tweeted, "I am deeply saddened to announce a Belgian victim in #Manhattan - I express my condolences to the family and friends."

According to a local news agency of Belgium, Reynders told that the Belgian citizen killed in the attack was from Roulers in western Flanders, who was on a city trip with with her sister and her mother in New York.

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The Enforcement Directorate on Wednesday arrested businessman Gagan Dhawan, accused in Rs. 5,000 Crore money laundering case and sent him to seven days custody.

According to reports, Dhawan allegedly aided bank loan frauds related to a Vadodara-based company named Sterling Biotech.

His arrest comes after the ED registered a case of money laundering taking cognisance of a case filed by the CBI against Sterling Biotech, its Directors -- Chetan Jayantilal Sandesara, Dipti Chetan Sandesara, Rajbhushan Omprakash Dixit, Nitin Jayantilal Sandesara and Vilas Joshi and several other persons in connection with the alleged bank fraud case.

On August 25, the ED officials had raided Dhawan's office and premises and that of a former Congress MLA Sumesh Shokeen under provisions of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA).

Earlier in 2011, Income Tax officials had raided Arya's residences and a case was registered then.

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The number of overseas students studying Japanese has increased more than 30 times in the last 36 years.

Asia has experienced a 20 per cent increase in the numbers of students learning Japanese in 2016.

Amidst this language boom of Japanese in ASEAN countries, CASIO is working together with teachers and students of Japanese language departments about what kind of learning support devices are necessary for learning Japanese.

Casio has started a pilot program in universities of Asian countries.

The fact that the number of Japanese language classes has increased even in elementary schools in Vietnam shows how popular the Japanese language has become.

Nguyen Thi Thu Hien, a student said, "When I was a child, I loved the Japanese language very much. I enjoyed the Japanese character and wanted to visit Japan in the future. I wanted to learn much more about the Japanese and that's why I began learning Japanese".

Dr. Tran Kieu Hue, Deputy Head of Faculty, University of Languages and International Studies (ULIS) said, "I feel that the support device is useful to support Kanji learning and grammar. And because the pronunciation of Japanese is difficult for Vietnamese, it's very nice to have a function to support the pronunciation of Japanese".

Shusaku Yoshida, Manager, Educational Market Development, Casio Computer Co., Ltd. said, "Casio is going to support Japanese learners and teachers by three ways. First, Casio is developing electronic Japanese learning device, Japanese learning tools by our technologies. Second, we are going to support teachers' activities, events, such as Japanese teaching conventions. Third, like this time, in major universities in Vietnam, we are going to open pilot project providing convenience for them to try new ways of Japanese teaching methods".

With capabilities of technology, the possibilities in language learning become ever greater.

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Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation Jayant Sinha on Wednesday said government has formulated a drone policy which would encourage this industry in the country.

"We have taken a major step regarding drone policy today. We have studied various policies from all across the globe and formulated a drone policy which would encourage this industry. It is on website for public consultation. I believe by January 1 we'll be able to implement it," Sinha told media here.

He added that the drone industry will be very impactful and have a bright future.

"Drone is such a technology that has several purposes. The kind of experimentation that is happening with drone has led to expectations that the delivery of products of e-commerce, medical supplies, photography, shall happen through drones in future. As far as our country is concerned, we need to put some restrictions considering safety measures to avoid misuse of drone. We needed to balance the fact that drone industry should be promoted while also the misuse is avoided," Sinha said.

He also said the policy will be finalized after 30 days.

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Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday condemned the terror attack in New York, and called for sustained global efforts to combat terrorism.

Terming the attack an unacceptable act of brutal terror against innocent citizens, Gandhi said, "Our heart goes out to the families of those who have lost the family members."

She stressed on the continued terror attacks across the globe, and said the New York attack was a "stark reminder that the International community should work towards a concerted and sustained fight against global network of terror."

Gandhi added that India wages a battle against the menace of terrorism everyday and has made innumerable sacrifices in this battle.

At least eight people died and 15 others got injured after an attacker drove a rented truck onto a bike path near the site of the World Trade Center memorial in Manhattan on Tuesday.

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Amid the hawkers rally in Mumbai, the Congress and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) members clashed with each other forcing the police to resort to lathi-charge.

The Congress party came in support of the hawkers earlier today at Dadar station.

A group of at least 30-40 MNS workers reached Dadar and started hurling potatoes at the Congress workers.

The police have arrested workers from both parties for vandalism.

Earlier on October 30, an FIR has been lodged against Mumbai Congress president Sanjay Nirupam for addressing a rally of hawkers in Malad without getting prior permission from the police.

Meanwhile, after the horrific Elphinstone foot overbridge stampede that claimed 23 lives, the MNS has taken up strict actions against the hawkers operating outside railway stations.

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The Election Commission (EC) on Tuesday adjourned the hearing on All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) 'two leaves' symbol case till November 6.

The AIADMK delegation had earlier met EC officials and submitted documents in connection with the case.

The Supreme Court had asked the Election Commission to decide on which of the two factions of the AIADMK should be allowed to use the symbol by November 10.

Following the demise of former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa in December last year, a tug of war had broken out between the two factions over which is the real AIADMK.

Both the factions approached the Commission and asked that the official party symbol be given to it.

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Russian Ambassador to India Nikolay Kudashev on Wednesday said that two-week long joint counter-terrorism exercise between Special Forces of Pakistan and Russian armies was of 'anti-terrorist nature'.

Responding to a question on joint counter-terrorism exercise with Pakistan, Ambassador Kudashev said that the purpose of the drill with Islamabad was of anti-terror nature to support reasonable elements in Pakistan Government to counter terrorism.

He added that as far as Pakistan is concerned "Russia has a desire to have normal inter-state relationship with Pakistan."

Moscow and Islamabad have broadened their defense and economic cooperation in the recent years, possibly giving rise to a new regional alignment following strained relations between Pakistan and the United States, mainly on Afghanistan.

Speaking about the India-Russia relationship, the Russian envoy said Moscow's relationship with "India is privileged strategic partnership, second to none."

On North Korea, the Ambassador said that Russia would welcome de-nuclearisation of (North) Korea and resumption of six-party talks.

Replying on India, US and Japan exercises, he said, "We would welcome larger non-blocked, open regional architecture where there would be space for all. Russia and India are included."

India, US and Japan had this year in July, held naval exercise in the Bay of Bengal whose primary aim was to increase interoperability amongst the three navies of India, US and Japan and to reiterate the strong and resilient relationship between them in many areas, including maritime security operations.

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Where's The DNA? - World's Best Crime Fighting Technology

Panel recommends amendment in Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 and Indian Evidence Act, 1872 to include scientific investigation in crime

Science validates use of DNA as conclusive evidence in heinous crimes

Not enough DNA testing as GTH estimates India's crime labs collectively complete less than 7,500 cases annually

DNA collected stuck in huge backlogs owing to lack of DNA testing infrastructure

'Where's The DNA?', first of its kind platform organised by Gordon Thomas Honeywell-GA (GTH) brings together experts from the law enforcement, judiciary, forensics, victim advocacy, academia and media groups to discuss the imperative need to build conviction, exonerate the innocent and solve crime to expedite the Indian criminal justice system! A call to action, and an appeal to law makers and enforcement groups, it is set to promote the use of DNA evidence, the world's best crime fighting technology!

Supporting the move, Senior Advocate Rupinder Singh Suri, President Bar Association Supreme Court of India, said, "DNA evidence is key to justice delivery system! An invaluable tool, with 100 percent accuracy and reliability for exonerating individuals who have been wrongfully convicted. The conventional methods of investigation by the I.O/police are a passe being obsolete and unproductive. It is the scientific investigation only which kick starts the hunt for the criminal."

There is presently no specific provision under Indian Evidence Act, 1872 and Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 to manage science, technology and forensic science issues. Due to lack of having any such provision, investigating officers have to face trouble in collecting evidences which involves modern mechanisms to prove the accused person guilty. Senior Advocate Ashok Bhan, senior member of executive of Supreme Court Bar Association, added, "There is urgent need to sensitise the law makers to incorporate provisions in CrPC and Evidence act to manage science and technology in investigation of crimes and trials."

The law machinery world over is increasingly relying on DNA forensics to solve crime, whereas, India is way behind in adoption. Lack of scientific methods in investigations and absence of a proper policy framework in the country are hampering justice. "India, needs a more aggressive DNA 'Collect, Test and Compare' approach for faster convictions and disposal of cases by courts," says, Tim Schellberg, President, GTH-GA. He adds, "Over 60,000 DNA tests are completed for crime scenes annually in the United Kingdom and GTH estimates crime labs in India able to complete only 7,500 cases tested annually. This is a shockingly low number considering India's size of population is thirteen times greater than the United Kingdom!"

Explaining the science underlying the use of DNA evidence, Dr. Durgadas Kasbekar, INSA, Senior Scientist, Center for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics (CDFD), further qualifies, "DNA evidence is sufficiently conclusive to solve crime as only monozygotic twins share the same DNA profile. Different tissues; teeth, bones, blood (a drop is enough), spit, semen-detected on cloth using specific staining procedures, skin cells sloughed off with sweat, yield the same DNA profile if they are from the same individual." Therefore, outside of identical twins, no two people have the same DNA pattern.

Sharing his perspective, Senior Advocate, Vivek Sood, Delhi High Court talked about DNA evidence as the right to fair investigation that must be made a part of the DNA of Criminal Justice in India. He said, "Fair and competent investigation in a criminal case is the backbone of criminal justice in any society. Collection of DNA evidence is equally important from the perspective of the prosecution as well as the accused. Hence, collection of DNA evidence, in appropriate cases can be said to be in compliance with Article 21 of the Constitution of India which guarantees to every person the fundamental right to life and liberty."

Talking of strengthening investigations by DNA Profiling, Ravi Kant, Advocate in the Supreme Court of India and President of Human Rights organization, Shakti Vahini (working on anti-human trafficking and issues related to violence against women and children) expressed, "If India has to send a strong message to perpetrators of crimes and to instill the fear of the law we have to ensure that evidence collection has to be strengthened. Crime scenes have to be forensically examined, crucial evidences collected, scientifically examined & analysed. DNA Profiling offers one of the most reliable forensic evidence which can be very helpful in solving of cases".

The session was moderated by Senior Journalist Sidharth Pandey at the Indian Law Institute, New Delhi, witnessing active support from experts, demanding use of DNA evidence and scientific approach to solve crime in India. The panel was represented by:

Tim Schellberg, Founder & President, Gordon Thomas Honeywell Governmental Affairs

Advocate G P Thareja, Retired and Additional District & Sessions Judge

N. Ramachandaran, President, Indian Police Foundation

Dr. Durgadas Kasbekar, INSA Senior Scientist

Senior Advocate Vivek Sood, Delhi High Court

Advocate Ravi Kant, Supreme Court of India

The panel established importance of DNA Profiling Board - A statutory body to be constituted in pursuance of 271st Law Commission Report on DNA Profiling which would undertake functions such as laying down procedures and standards to establish DNA laboratories and granting accreditation to such laboratories; and advising the concerned Ministries / Departments of the Central and State Governments on issues relating to DNA laboratories. The Board shall also be responsible to supervise, monitor, inspect and assess the laboratories. It will frame guidelines for training of the Police and other investigating agencies dealing with DNA related matters. Advising on all ethical and human rights issues relating to DNA testing in consonance with international guidelines will be another function of the Board. It will recommend research and development activities in DNA testing and related issues, etc.

Experts concluded that India must formulate rigorous quality assurance and accreditation programs for DNA testing for implementing the DNA evidence in criminal investigations. This would clearly mark distinction made between human error, attempted fraud and technical failures. While low adoption rate can be attributed to poor infrastructure and lack of policy push, the root of the problem is knowledge gaps and misconceptions about DNA forensics across all levels of our society and this dialogue and campaign on, 'Where's The DNA?' is designed to eliminate just that.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) nearly arrested Chinese officials recently after they entered the United States to try to convince exiled Chinese businessman Guo Wengui to return to China.

Quoting major Taiwanese news source, Liberty Times Network's (LTN) recent report, the Washington-based Chinascope web site reported that China had sent four State Security officials to the United States in May to try to convince businessman Guo Wengui to return to China.

One of the four agents was Liu Yanping, Secretary of the Commission for Discipline Inspection in the Ministry of State Security.

According to the report, Beijing asked Guo to stop talking about topics involving political scandals which he had been doing for months.

As per media reports, Guo has accused high-ranking Chinese officials and prominent businessmen of government-related corruption.

The FBI was about to arrest the Chinese agents as they were boarding their return flight.

It called the move off as the White House, the State Department, the Department of Justice, and the Pentagon failed to reach an agreement on what action was to be taken.

In the end, the FBI confiscated the cell phones of the Chinese officials, while the US government stepped in to protect Guo Wengui as he had deep insider knowledge of Chinese politics and also because of his use as a "bargaining chip.

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Hollywood veteran Mark Hamill has revealed that Harrison ford was the determining factor in his return to the 'Star Wars' franchise.

In 2015, in a galaxy far-far away, Mark Hamill decided that he did not want to return to 'Star Wars' and only agreed to return after learning that Ford would be reprising the role of Han Solo, reports The New York Times.

In an interview, Hamill said, "I was just really scared. I thought, why mess with it? The idea of catching lightning in a bottle twice was ridiculously remote."

But when Ford agreed to return, Hamill had no bluff left to call and realised that he had to come back as well.

"Can you imagine if I was the only one to say no? I'd be the most hated man in nerd-dom," noted Hamill.

Ford wasn't the only co-star who helped Luke find the Force. Hamill said the late Carrie Fisher once noticed he wasn't talking about his Star Wars past, instead emphasised his theater work.

Fisher told him, "What's your problem? I am Princess Leia. You're Luke Skywalker. Get used to it."

His return came in the form of 2015's 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens', although he was largely absent for the majority of the film, with his reintroduction coming right at the very end.

The 66-year-old actor will make his full-time return in the upcoming 'Star Wars: The Last Jedi', which sees Rey seeking help from Skywalker in the ways of learning the force.

'The Last Jedi' is set to feature a number of returning cast members, including Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker), John Boyega (Finn), Daisy Ridley (Rey), Adam Driver (Kylo Ren), Oscar Isaac (Poe Dameron), Lupita Nyong'o (Maz Kanata), Gwendoline Christie (Captain Phasma), Anthony Daniels (C-3PO), Andy Serkis (Snoke), Domhnall Gleeson (General Lux) and the late Carrie Fisher as General Leia.

While Benicio Del Toro, Laura Dern and Kelly Marie Tran are newcomers who have joined the 'Last Jedi' cast.

The flick is slated to release on December 15.

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Chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Union Cabinet on Wednesday gave an ex-post facto approval for trade agreement between India and Ethiopia.

According to the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, the trade agreement which was signed on Oct. 5, during the state visit of the President of India, Ram Nath Kovind, to Ethiopia will strengthen and promote trade and economic co-operation.

The trade agreement will provide for all necessary measures to encourage trade, economic cooperation, investment, and technical co-operation with Ethiopia.

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The Ministry of Finance on Wednesday issued a notification saying that India will sign an agreement with Armenia on cooperation and mutual assistance in customs matters after it is approved by the respective governments.

The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given its approval for signing and ratifying an agreement between India and Armenia.

This agreement shall enter into force on the first day of the second month after both parties notify each other in through diplomatic channels, that the necessary national legal requirements for entry into force of this agreement have been fulfilled.

The agreement will further help in the availability of relevant information for the prevention and investigation of customs offences.

It is also expected to facilitate trade and ensure efficient clearance of goods traded between both the countries.

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Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday said the future of the world will be shaped to a large extent by the political and economic interaction between stake holders in the Indian Ocean Region.

"Goa Maritime Conclave aims to bring together like-minded nations to evolve and formulate collective responses to emerging challenges in the maritime domain. The future of the world will be shaped to large extent by the political and economic interaction between stakeholders in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR)," Sitharaman said during an address at the First Goa Maritime Conclave (GMC) held at the Naval War College in Goa.

She said it is good that the compulsion of globalisation has enabled economies to shape transactional relationships between nations and opaqueness in strategic intent and incoherent behaviour of some nations.

Sitharaman said the impasse in international relationships is a product of many costs such as ideological differences, political insecurity, economic and technological dependency, inequitable access to resources, besides other factors.

"The net impact of these differences is that trust deficits and tensions between nations continue to persist on account of perceived challenges," she added.

Commenting on increasing militarisation in the region, Sitharaman said this phenomena has manifested itself through several interconnected forms in the region. "The first is incremental yet steady increase in the number of warships operating in the region, the second is the emergence of non-state actors, and the third is, increased vulnerability to coastal pollution and natural disasters," she said.

"India follows a defence policy that acknowledges and respects sovereignty. Our cooperation initiatives, directing and enhancing maritime security are undertaken in consensus with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of the Sagar Mala project," she added.

Sitharaman said the Indian defence system is committed to safeguarding its maritime territories and interests but also make its capacities available to other countries.

The defence minister said India is focusing on strengthening the marine oriented research, creating economically-friendly marine industrial technology, encouraging sustainable fishing practices and ensuring protection of the marine environment.

"We are also focused towards enhancing connectivity through sea routes at ports of different states of the Indian Ocean and beyond," she said.

The conclave was attended by naval chiefs and maritime security agency of ten countries.

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The Maharashtra Government on Wednesday exempted farmers from paying fines on pending power bills.

Maharashtra's Power Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule announced that the state cabinet has decided to exempt all fines and interests of farmers and urged them to pay their pending bills to get uninterrupted power supply.

He said farmers will be asked to pay their original bills initially and added that pending bills can be paid in five installments over the next one year. More than 19 crore rupees power bill is pending. A sum of Rs.8100 croress is marked as interest on these bills.

The total amount to be recovered is an estimated Rs. 1100 crores.

However, if pending bills are more than Rs.30,000, they can repay this in ten installments.

Representative farmers' bodies are on a mass protest over a demand for a loan waiver, besides other demands. On Wednesday, they planned to lock the offices of the Maharashtra State Electricity Board (MSEB) across the state as a part of their protest against the disconnection of power connections of agriculture pumps for non-payments of bills.

Earlier on October 19, the Maharashtra Government released Rs.4,000 crores under the first phase of the farm loan waiver scheme. It is expected to benefit more than eight lakh farmers of the state.

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Muttahida Qaumi Movement founder Altaf Hussain has been charged with terror funding and money laundering, after Pakistan's Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) submitted an interim charge-sheet before the administrative judge of the Anti-Terrorism Courts (ATCs).

Citing the charges filed, The Express Tribune reported Hussain, along with others, committed money laundering, while acting against the integrity and sovereignty of Pakistan and creating chaos and terrorism aimed at the country's disintegration.

According to the charges filed, Hussain, along with others, committed money laundering while acting against the integrity and sovereignty of Pakistan and creating chaos and terrorism aimed at the country's disintegration.- REPETATION

Hussain and others were booked by FIA's State Bank Circle earlier this month on the complaint of UK-based businessman Sarfaraz Merchant.

The FIA had named MQM's Senator Babar Ghauri, Karachi Deputy Mayor Arshad Vohra, Khawaja Sohail, Khawaja Rehan and Senator Ahmed Ali as co-accused.

Investigating Officer (IO) Mohammad Ali Abro named the MQM founder as absconder interim investigation report filed on on Tuesday.

However, the charge-sheet does not mention the residential addresses of the absconding accused.

The co-accused have not been named in the charge-sheet, nor shown as exonerated of charges.

The administrative judge of the ATCs sent the case to ATC-II for formal trial.

The FIA said the co-accused sent money to the MQM founder through the Khidmat-e-Khalq Foundation (KKF), the party's charity wing and KKF was used as a source of illegal money transfer to Hussain.

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Cybersecurity consulting firm Network Intelligence has announced appointment of Altaf Halde as Cyber Security Global Business Head.

Halde was instrumental in growing Kaspersky Lab's product business faster than competition, as pointed out by IDC in their Endpoint security survey, 2013-14.

He was also responsible for launching and building the security services arm of Kaspersky Lab with offerings around threat intelligence, cyber security trainings, penetration testing, SCADA security assessments, incident response and digital forensics.

Prior to Kaspersky, Halde headed the business for other cybersecurity MNCs such as Sophos PLC, Utimaco and Pointsec.

"As part of our strategy to become a strong global cybersecurity player, we are ramping up our sales and marketing teams. Altaf is a veteran in the cybersecurity space, and brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the business development function," said CEO Network Intelligence, K. K. Mookhey.

"Under his leadership, we are sure that the Network Intelligence brand will grow even more rapidly in reputation and size. His experience in growing Kaspersky Lab's business will be invaluable as we seek to grow not only our services business but also our products - Firesec and Insight," added Mookhey.

"I am delighted to join Network Intelligence. KK, an industry veteran and Network Intelligence have established a strong reputation in their existing markets as a committed and passionate services company. I have been impressed with the quality, skills, dedication of the team and the reputation it has with its customers. My goal is to help build this into a global brand with my expertise to win new account, setup new alliances and enter new markets," said Altaf Halde on his appointment.

He added that the key is to create value for our clients in cybersecurity initiatives. Without the right strategic approach, clients will not be making the right investments for the most effective cybersecurity initiatives. I am here to help them do so.

Halde has more than 20 years of experience in cybersecurity with responsibilities that have included enterprise account management, channel management, critical infrastructure and government relations.

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With elections just around the corner in Gujarat, Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi condemned the actions of the BJP by saying that petrol prices are rising only in India.

Aiming criticism at the roll-out of GST, he said here on Wednesday, "Once GST is in complete action, prices of commodities are going to sky rocket. This is why, petrol prices are falling everywhere else, but in India, they are rising".

In conclusion, he said the BJP-led government is only interested in public relations, but if the Congress came to power, they would care about the public.

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Shehbaz Sharif, the brother of ousted Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, has been chosen by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) as party's prime ministerial candidate for the 2018 general elections.

According to a Dawn report, the London meeting of the PML-N top leadership has decided to put forward Shehbaz Sharif as prime ministerial candidate after the 2018 elections if party president Nawaz Sharif remains ineligible to run for office.

The meeting, held on Monday, was presided over by Nawaz Sharif and attended by Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif and federal ministers Ishaq Dar, Khawaja Asif and Ahsan Iqbal.

It's coincidental that a survey conducted by a little known US institute Global Strategic Partner in September says that Shehbaz Sharif was the choice of 60 percent of the respondents as the best choice for the prime ministerial job.

Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chairman Imran Khan was the choice of 47 percent of total 4,540 respondents from across the country.

Quoting a senior PML-N leader, Dawn reports that the decision to pitch the Punjab chief minister for the office had been taken in view of the fact that disqualification of the elder Sharif under the Supreme Court orders in the Panama Papers case might not be overturned by the vote due after about nine months.

Nawaz Sharif served as the Prime Minister of Pakistan from 2013 until disqualification by the Supreme Court of Pakistan in 2017. He had previously served as the Prime Minister twice in the 90s (1990-93 and 1997-99) and the Chief Minister of Punjab from 1985 to 1990. He is Pakistan's longest-serving prime minister.

After his disqualification, Sharif had publicly nominated Shehbaz for the PM post but later changed his decision.

The PML-N leader on the condition of anonymity told Dawn that earlier plans of elevating the chief minister to the federal role had to be reverted when the decision led to the emergence of a number of claimants to the office of provincial chief executive.

According to him, at least three members of the Punjab cabinet were among the claimants and appointing anyone of them or any "junior" to the office could have created a rift in the party in its stronghold at a time when it needed unity and harmony the most.

He rejected a perception that there were any two views in the party on the nomination of Shehbaz Sharif for the greater role or that the chief minister lacked the ability to take along all shades of opinion.

The official saw the same claimants behind reports of division in the party on the issue.

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Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Wednesday asserted that terror activities are going on in Kerala in the name of 'love -jihad'.

While briefing the press here, Prasad said," Terror activities are going in Kerala in the name of 'Love Jihad'. The issue of terrorism and security has acquired a menacing dimension in the state of Kerala."

"Such a serious issue of security, radicalisation and terrorism is also being sacrificed at the altar of pure vote bank politics," added Prasad.

In his press conference, Prasad referred to a news report that showed several groups in Kerala claiming to be funded by foreign sources to radicalise people and create an Islamic State.

Warning the Kerala government, Prasad further said, "You have been elected to govern the state of Kerala and maintaining security and safety of the citizen is your primary responsibility. If because of PFI, the life of the citizens in Kerala is under threat, then they must leave politics and take proactive measures."

The Union Minister further took a jibe at Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi over his on Ease of Doing Business ranking tweet.

"How much does Rahul Gandhi know about 'ease of doing business'? Does he know it is not a BJP or Government of India sponsored event. It is a study undertaken by World Bank", said Prasad.

He even said, "The more Rahul Gandhi speaks, the more he exposes himself."

"Rahul Gandhi expresses his views on all issues and the left outs are being expressed via 'Pidi'. A pet dog also has the right to express its views,"Prasad said jocularly.

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Online aggregator for car sharing, Revv on Wednesday announced its tie-up with Mobileye, an Intel company, to install advanced driver assistance systems in their cars with the aim of reducing accidents and casualties on India's roads.

The Ministry of Road Transport & Highways estimates that 84 percent of these are the driver's fault, where drivers lose attention of the road in the critical two or three seconds prior to an accident, which could be while using mobile phones, driving while fatigued, unintentional lane changes etc.

Hence alerting the driver and bringing his or her attention to the road in the crucial seconds before an accident could conceivably prevent over three lakh accidents annually and possibly save more than one lakh lives.

In the past, Revv has already taken measures such as implementing speed warnings and driver behavior monitoring systems to act as safety nets for its customers. Now, with Mobileye's Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS), Revv's drivers will be even safer behind the wheel. Mobileye's ADAS technology alerts the driver prior to a potential accident, allowing them to react accordingly and mitigate or completely avoid the accident.

Mobileye's ADAS technology includes the following five features:

-Forward Collision Warning (FCW): Alerts the driver of an imminent collision with the vehicle ahead.

-Headway Monitoring & Warning (HMW): Shows the driver the distance to the vehicle ahead (in seconds) and alerts if the distance becomes dangerously close.

-Pedestrian and Cyclist Collision Warning (PCW): During daylight hours, alerts the driver of an imminent collision with a pedestrian or cyclist.

-Lane Departure Warning (LDW): Alerts the driver of unindicated (and presumed unintended) lane departure.

-Speed Limit Indication (SLI): Recognises and reads speed limit signs (including electronic signs) and notifies the driver if he or she is speeding.

Revv piloted Mobileye's ADAS over a three month period, with 30 vehicles and over 4,00,000 kms driven; Over this three month period Revv witnessed a 74 percent or four-fold decrease in accident rates (from an accident every 22,000kms to every 84,000kms). As such, Revv is now rolling out the system across its entire fleet of 800 vehicles.

"We pride ourselves in always putting the customer first, including taking corporate social responsibility seriously. India has only one percent of the world's vehicles, but accounts for 10 percent of the world's road fatalities. Given this, we felt that any step to increase the safety of our customers is a step worth taking," said co-founders Revv.

Revv's ideology is in line with the vision of Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari. Gadkari has already taken initiatives aimed at reducing the number of deaths due to road accidents by half, explicitly stating this target in a press conference last year.

"Revv is leading the way with this worthy initiative for the sake of customers, road users and India's road safety mission in general. This is the essence of corporate responsibility and a shining example to all. And we are happy to be playing an important role in realising this mission," said Mobileye's director for India, Michael Hirsh.

Mobileye is an Israeli based hi-tech company that specialises in vision based technology, artificial intelligence and autonomous driving. It was recently acquired by Intel for USD 15.3 billion.

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Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday expressed grief over loss caused post terrible tragedy in Rae Bareli.

14 people have been killed and 100 others sustained injuries after an ash-pipe exploded due to pressure at Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) plant in Unchahar area of Rae Bareli, which is also Sonia Gandhi's Lok Sabha constituency.

Conveying her deepest condolences to the families of the bereaved, Sonia urged upon the authorities to provide immediate medical assistance to the injured.

She has also asked UPCC & Congress workers to provide help in relief operations and provide all possible assistance to the families of the injured.

Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi took to his Twitter handle to express his condolences with the family of the dead. His tweet reads, "I am saddened by the incident at the Rae Bareli's NTPC plant. My heartfelt condolences with the family of the dead. I request the administration to help the injured immediately.

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The 29-year-old terror suspect, Sayfullo Habibullaevic Saipov, who deliberately drove into bicyclists and pedestrians on a bike path in Lower Manhattan on Tuesday, killing at least eight people and injuring many, left a note behind in the rental truck, pledging his allegiance to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syriac (ISIS).

Hours after the attack, the US President Donald Trump said that the United States must not let the ISIS "return to or enter" the country.

"We must not allow ISIS to return, or enter, our country after defeating them in the Middle East and elsewhere. Enough!" Trump tweeted.

Trump's tweets came after the New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio called the incident "an act of terror."

"Based on information we have at this moment, this was an act of terror, and a particularly cowardly act of terror aimed at innocent civilians," Blasio said at a news conference.

According to the NBC News, the attacker was a Uzbek national who came to the US in 2010 and has been living in Florida for the past seven years.

Meanwhile, a friend of the suspect who said he met Saipov five years ago when they both lived in Florida said, "he is no terrorist."

"He was a very happy guy," said Kobiljon Matkarov, who added that Saipov was married with kids and worked as a truck driver. "He liked the U.S."

A senior law enforcement official said that the Federal authorities were treating the incident as a terrorist attack.

"He jumped out of the truck with a pellet gun, yelled, 'Allahu Akbar,' and the First Precinct lit him up," a law enforcement official said.

Officials said it was the deadliest terrorist attack in New York City since 9/11.



(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Congress Rajya Sabha MP from Gujarat Ahmed Patel, while addressing a gathering in poll bound state of Gujarat, on Wednesday alleged that the terrorists arrested in Bhopal have links with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Patel's remark came days after Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani demanded the former's resignation from his post after a nabbed ISIS terrorist was learnt to be working in the hospital associated with him.

"If Ahmed Patel was a patron of hospital from where two suspected ISIS terrorists were arrested then should he be not held responsible," Rupani had said during a press briefing.

However, Patel has refuted the charges and has written a letter to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, urging him to order an 'impartial' probe into the ISIS link row.

October 25, the Gujarat anti-terrorism squad (ATS) arrested two suspected ISIS operatives-- Kasim Timberwala and Aabed Mirza-- ahead of the upcoming Assembly polls.

One of the nabbed terrorists Kasim was employed with a hospital, associated with Patel, as a technician.

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Three accused were arrested on Wednesday from West Bengal's Bijanbari in connection with the killing of police officer Amitava Malik during the clash between Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) and the police.

Earlier on October 25, Manoj Shankar, a close associate of GJM leader Bimal Gurung, was arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of West Bengal in New Delhi.

On October 24, Gurung condemned the West Bengal Government's directive for a CID investigation into the October 13 encounter between the GJM members and the state police that killed Sub-Inspector Malik, and appealed for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe instead.

Gurung appealed the Centre and the state government for a CBI probe into the incident as well as into the bomb explosions in Darjeeling, Kalimpong and other areas of the state.

The GJM supremo had alleged that the incident was part of a political conspiracy to frame the party and enforce dictatorial rule.

Referring to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Gurung said, "We are not anti- to demand Gorkhaland. It is within our fundamental right."

On October 23, probe into the killing of Malik was handed over to the CID.

An exchange of fire between the GJM supporters and West Bengal Police in Darjeeling's Takvar on October 13 resulted into the death of the Sub-Inspector, while at least two others were injured.

Gurung was implicated in Malik's death, with Additional Director General (ADG) of Police, West Bengal, Anuj Sharma stating that the GJM chief had instructed his cadres to attack the police personnel.

Sharma said based on a tip off that Gurung was hiding in the area, the police had conducted raids during which the GJM supporters fired and pelted stones at the police.

The October 13 attack was the first major incident of violence after the 100-day-long strike was lifted in Darjeeling.

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Minister of State (MoS) for Parliamentary Affairs Vijay Goel on Wednesday wrote to Home Minister Rajnath Singh and nominated Indian badminton's new superstar Kidambi Srikanth for the prestigious Padma Shri award.

The last date for Padma nominations had closed on September 15.

Goel in his letter to Rajnath said, "In this scenario, it is imperative to motivate the young sportsman by acknowledging his contribution to this sport in India. He is an idol for the youth of the country and millions of people have aspirations to see his achievements being recognised. Many people have approached me in the capacity of ex-Sports Minister to recommend his name for this year's Padma Shri award."

"Accordingly, in the spirit of reflecting the aspiration of people of India, I recommend name of Shri Srikanth Kidambi for the Padma Shri award," the letter read.

On Sunday, Srikanth continued his rich vein of form as he defeated Japan's Kenta Nishimoto 21-14, 21-13 in the finals of the French Open to become the first Indian and only fourth male shuttler in history to lift four Super Series titles in a calendar year.

Srikanth has been at his menacing form from past few months, having already clinched the Denmark Open Super Series Premier, the Indonesia Open Super Series Premier and Australian Open Super Series earlier this year.

Now, he has overall six Super Series titles to his name, including China Open 2014 and India Open 2015.

Earlier, the Badminton Association of India had also announced a cash reward of Rs 5 Lakh for Srikanth for his French Open Super Series win.

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Karnataka Chief Minister on Wednesday said that people living in Karnataka should learn Kannada and emphasised that not knowing the regional language would mean showing disrespect to it.

was speaking at the 62nd Karnataka Rajyotsava celebrated in Bengaluru's Kanteerava stadium.

"Everyone who lives here is a Kannadiga. Whoever lives in Karnataka should learn Kannada and make their children learn it too," said and added, "I am not against learning any language. But if you don't learn Kannada, it means you're showing disrespect to the language."

The CM also asked the Kannadigas to be more affectionate towards their state's language.

Focusing on preservation of Kannada language, the Chief Minister called for efforts towards creating an atmosphere for learning Kannada and said all schools in the state should teach Kannada.

The CM informed that Karnataka did not succeed in making Kannada a priority in the last 60 years.
Union Minister of State Dr Jitendra Singh on Wednesday said the World Bank report on ease of doing business is an answer to Congress and other political parties which have been targeting the Narendra Modi government over its economic reforms.

India is one of the top improvers in the World Bank's 'Doing Business 2018' report and it ranks among the top 30 countries in three indicators.

Jitendra Singh termed improvement of India's ranking in the World Bank report as a matter of proud not only for the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) but for every Indian.

"This development is historic. We must think how has it become possible? It has become possible due to a series of economic reforms under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. People might had faced initial difficulty during such reforms, like demonetisation or Goods and Services Tax (GST), but they had faith that these steps were in favour of their and their children's future. Congress and other opposition parties, which were opposing economic reforms, have now got an answer," Singh said.

It is notable that Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi has been targeting PM Modi over demonetisation and the GST.

He has even termed GST as Gabbar Singh Tax.

Addressing a PHD Chamber of Commerce programme on October 26, Rahul said, "Prime Minister has forgotten that all cash is not black and all black is not bad. Novermber 8th is the 'barsi' (death anniversary) of note ban. GST or Gabbar Singh Tax has unleashed tax terrorism. Small businesses are crying due to the GST."

Singh also said that the BJP will secure a thumping victory in the Gujarat elections.

He made this comment when he was asked about Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi's three-day campaigning in South Gujarat, which kicked off on Wednesday.

"Every political party has a right to campaign during elections. But, people of Gujarat have made up their mind and there is no need to convince them. The BJP will secure a thumping victory in Gujarat as the people have understood that their future is secured with which political party. In the last 15 years, they have witnessed the revolutionary development in the state under Narendra Modi (12 years as CM and last three years as PM)," Singh said.

He refused to comment on the probability of naming chief ministerial candidate in Gujarat like Himachal Pradesh by saying that it was the prerogative of the BJP high command.

Rahul's 'NavSarjan Gujarat Yatra' would commence from Jambusar in Bharuch district on Wednesday and culminate in Surat on Friday.

This is Rahul's third phase of the planned four-phase 'NavSarjan Gujarat Yatra' to cover all regions of Gujarat, ahead of the December polls.

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Sales rise 17.75% to Rs 2422.13 crore

Net profit of Apollo Tyres declined 37.47% to Rs 127.60 crore in the quarter ended September 2017 as against Rs 204.07 crore during the previous quarter ended September 2016. Sales rose 17.75% to Rs 2422.13 crore in the quarter ended September 2017 as against Rs 2056.97 crore during the previous quarter ended September 2016.2422.132056.9711.7716.09268.39349.65181.54285.23127.60204.07

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Bharti Airtel's consolidated net profit fell 77% to Rs 343 crore on 10% decline in total revenue to Rs 21777 crore on an underlying basis in Q2 September 2017 over Q2 September 2016. The result was announced after market hours yesterday, 31 October 2017.

The company's consolidated earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) declined 15.4% to Rs 8004 crore in Q2 September 2017 over Q2 September 2016. EBITDA margin dropped 1.6% year-on-year at 36.8% in Q2 September 2017, led by India SA margin drop of 5% on an underlying basis (viz. adjusted for Africa/Bangladesh divested operating units and tower assets sale).

In a statement, Gopal Vittal, Bharti Airtel MD and CEO, India & South Asia said, the financial stress in the industry continues due to double digit revenue decline and will be further accentuated by the reduction in IUC rates in the next quarter. This will eventually force operator consolidation and exits as witnessed in the recent past. Airtel remains committed to its goal of increasing revenue market share in this competitive environment by providing superior customer experience and strategically investing behind building more data capacities, Vittal added.

Container Corporation of India's (Concor) net profit rose 41.24% to Rs 222.94 crore on 6.19% growth in total income to Rs 1525.54 crore in Q2 September 2017 over Q2 September 2016. The result was announced after market hours yesterday, 31 October 2017.

Among major earnings, Hero MotoCorp, Tech Mahindra and TVS Motor Company are scheduled to announce Q2 September 2017 results today, 1 November 2017.

Shares of automobile companies will be in focus as these companies announce monthly sales numbers for October 2017 starting today, 1 November 2017.

Tata Power Company announced the commissioning of a 30 megawatts (MW) solar power plant in Palaswade village of Satara district, Maharashtra, developed by its wholly owned subsidiary, Tata Power Renewable Energy (TPREL). The plant will produce over 6.2 crore units of solar power, covering the annual energy needs of over 14,000 Indian households. The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 31 October 2017.

Bajaj Finance said that its debenture allotment committee at its meeting held on 31 October 2017, allotted 4,850 secured redeemable non-convertibles debentures aggregating to Rs 485 crore on private placement basis. The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 31 October 2017.

Allahabad Bank announced reduction in its marginal cost of funds based lending rate (MCLR) in all tenors by 15 basis points with effect from 1 November 2017. The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 31 October 2017.

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The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for signing and ratifying an Agreement between India and Armenia on cooperation and mutual assistance in customs matters.

The Agreement will be signed on behalf of the two countries after it is approved by the respective Governments. This Agreement shall enter into force on the first day of the second month after the Contracting Parties notify each other in through diplomatic channels, that the necessary national legal requirements for entry into force of this Agreement have been fulfilled.

The Agreement will help in the availability of relevant information for the prevention and investigation of Customs offences.

It is also expected to facilitate trade and ensure efficient clearance of goods traded between the countries.

Background :

The Agreement would provide a legal framework for sharing of information and intelligence between the Customs authorities of the two countries and help in the proper application of Customs laws, prevention and investigation of Customs offences and the facilitation of legitimate trade. The draft text of the Agreement has been finalized with the concurrence of the two Customs Administrations. The draft Agreement takes care of Indian Customs' concerns and requirements, particularly in the area of exchange of information on the correctness of the Customs value declared and authenticity of certificates of origin of the goods traded between the two countries.

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Through its subsidiary IDL Explosives

GOCL Corporation announced that its subsidiary, IDL Explosives has been awarded a contract by Coal India a contract worth Rs 322 crore for supply of Bulk Explosives.

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Religare Enterprises, Syndicate Bank, MMTC and Hindustan Copper are among the other gainers in the BSE's 'A' group today, 1 November 2017.

Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) surged 11.81% at Rs 103.20 at 14:47 IST. The stock topped the gainers in 'A' group. On the BSE, 17.22 lakh shares were traded on the counter so far as against the average daily volumes of 2.39 lakh shares in the past two weeks.

Religare Enterprises spurted 9.9% at Rs 45.50. The stock was the second biggest gainer in 'A' group. On the BSE, 17.96 lakh shares were traded on the counter so far as against the average daily volumes of 6.28 lakh shares in the past two weeks.

Syndicate Bank jumped 9.16% at Rs 90 after net profit rose 27.68% to Rs 105.24 crore on 2.36% decline in total income to Rs 6419.21 crore in Q2 September 2017 over Q2 September 2016. The stock was the third biggest gainer in 'A' group. On the BSE, 25.21 lakh shares were traded on the counter so far as against the average daily volumes of 10.53 lakh shares in the past two weeks.

MMTC climbed 8.77% at Rs 68.85. The stock was the fourth biggest gainer in 'A' group. On the BSE, 19.01 lakh shares were traded on the counter so far as against the average daily volumes of 3.92 lakh shares in the past two weeks.

Hindustan Copper rose 8.5% at Rs 75.30. The stock was the fifth biggest gainer in 'A' group. On the BSE, 25.60 lakh shares were traded on the counter so far as against the average daily volumes of 6.44 lakh shares in the past two weeks.

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Bahrain's High Criminal Court has sentenced 10 defendants to life in jail and revoked their Bahraini citizenship on terror charges.

One of the defendant was additionally sentenced to one month in jail for illegally possessing a sword.

"All ten terrorists were convicted on charges of organizing and managing a terrorist group contrary to the provisions of the law, possessing explosives and tools used in making firearms for terror purposes and training in the use of weapons and explosives for the purpose of committing terrorist crimes in Bahrain," said Terror Crime Prosecution Chief Advocate General Ahmed Al Hammadi on Tuesday, Xinhua reported.

"They were trained on how to use weapons and explosives in committing terrorist crimes in the kingdom," he added.

Investigations revealed that an individual recruited Bahrainis and sent them to Iraq and Iran to receive military training on how to use weapons and explosives.

"The individual formed a terrorist group inside Bahrain to carry out terrorist attacks inside the kingdom," Hammadi said. "He tasked them to receive shipments of weapons and materials to use in manufacturing explosives."

The official said when the suspects were arrested, various materials and devices used in manufacturing explosives were found and seized from their homes.

--IANS

pgh/

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Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was re-appointed the nation's leader on Wednesday after his ruling bloc's big election win last month and retained all of his ministers in his new Cabinet.

Abe, 63, was re-elected in a special parliamentary session. He received 312 votes in favour out of 465 in the House of Representatives, where his Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) enjoys an absolute majority.

Abe's Cabinet saw all ministers retain their portfolios following the ruling LDP's sweeping victory in the October 22 lower house election, Xinhua news agency reported.

The Prime Minister, in a bid to ensure his party's political continuity going forward, notably kept his key allies in their posts.

These include Taro Aso who will continue to double as Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister and Taro Kono whose role as Foreign Minister will remain unchanged.

Itsunori Onodera will continue as Defence Minister and the government's top spokesperson. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga has also seen his role unchanged.

With the exception of Keiichi Ishii, who was re-appointed as Environment Minister and is a member of the LDP's coalition Komeito party ally, Abe's Cabinet all belong to the ruling LDP. Abe last reshuffled his Cabinet lineup on August 3.

Before the special session, which will run through December 9, Abe's cabinet resigned en masse, with his fourth Cabinet since the Premier retook the helm in 2012, to be sworn in at an attestation ceremony later in the day at the Imperial Palace.

As Abe's ruling coalition holds a majority in the upper house, the vote for Abe as Prime Minister in the upper chamber, which he also secured, was merely a formality, the report said.

The lower house earlier on Wednesday also re-elected house Speaker Tadamori Oshima and selected Hirotaka Akamatsu, a member of the now main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, as vice speaker.

Abe, who has now become Japan's 98th Prime Minister, will hold talks with Komeito party leader Natsuo Yamaguchi later in the day.

Abe will likely, in the weeks and months ahead, push for parliamentary debate over the first-ever amendment to Japan's pacifist Constitution, with the Japanese leader wanting the supreme charter to explicitly make reference to Japan's Self-Defence Forces.

--IANS

soni/mr

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After setting fire to his pest-affected paddy fields on Tuesday, a frustrated farmer allegedly committed suicide by consuming poison in Odisha's Bargarh district on Wednesday, police sources said.

Agriculture Minister Damodar Rout directed the district administration to inquire into the matter and submit a detailed report within 48 hours.

Villagers spotted Brunda Sahoo lying in his fields in an unconscious state in the morning and rushed him to district hospital where he died.

Sahu, along with some farmers, had set his standing crops, cultivated on a half acre land, on fire on Tuesday.

They complained that the pesticide supplied to them by the government's Cooperation Department was of inferior quality and failed to save their crop from pest attack.

Rout said: "After getting the report of farmer's death and pest attack, I have directed the District Collector to submit a report. Besides, a three-member technical team has been constituted to inquire into the matter."

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Assam government on Wednesday signed MoUs with its Singapore counterpart for skilling over 78,000 rural youths in the state by 2019 and greening Guwahati.

The Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) and Terms of Reference (ToR) for setting up the North East Skills Centre (NESC) and Greening Guwahati City was inked in the presence of Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and Singapore's Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Balakrishnan at the Administrative Staff College here.

The MoU and ToR for NESC was signed between Skill, Employment and Entrepreneurship Department and ITE Education Service of Singapore. The NESC will train up to 400 students each year.

The MoU for Guwahati city's greening was inked between the Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority and Singapore Corporation Enterprise.

"The Assam government aims to create a workforce empowered with upgraded skills, knowledge and internationally recognised qualifications to gain access to employment and ensure India's competitiveness in the dynamic global market with support from government of Singapore," Sonowal said at the event.

The skill development training will be imparted to 78,500 poor rural youths during 2016-19 under the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana.

Sonowal said an innovative project -- Guwahati Open Space and Park Integrator Network -- for the beautification of Guwahati and improvement of quality of life of its inhabitants had been initated.

The Chief Minister highlighted the state's natural resources and tourism potential and sought the Singapore government's cooperation for showcasing it to a global audience.

The Singapore Minister said the joint endeavour will mark the beginning of a lasting friendship, beneficial for both Assam and Singapore.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Climbing on Australia's iconic Uluru landmark will be banned from October 2019, authorities said on Wednesday. The giant red monolith in the Northern Territory is sacred to Aboriginal Australians.

The board of the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park voted unanimously to end the climb because of indigenous sensitivities, the BBC reported.

People have long asked visitors not to climb the outcrop, which was known for many years as Ayers Rock.

Signs at the start of the climb ask people to abstain from going up in respect to the traditional law of the Anangu Aboriginal people, the custodians of the land.

"It is an extremely important place, not a playground or theme park like Disneyland," Board Chairman and Anangu man Sammy Wilson said.

"If I travel to another country and there is a sacred site, an area of restricted access, I don't enter or climb it, I respect it."

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A speeding car of a West Bengal government official knocked down a motor cycle, severely injuring both the riders, here on Wednesday afternoon, police said.

According to police, the car belonged to South 24 Pargana district's Additional District Magistrate Debkumar Nandan. However, the official was not present in the car during the accident in south Kolkata.

"Motor cyclist Sujay Pandey, 28, and pillion rider Narayan Prassad, 32, sustained injuries as their vehicle collided with the speeding government vehicle on SPM Road in south Kolkata's Mudiali," a senior officer of Kolkata police said.

"Both the injured have been admitted to the M.R. Bangur Hospital for treatment," he said.

The situation became tense in the area as the locals agitated outside the Tollygunge police station accusing the government vehicle of violating traffic signal.

Police said they have arrested the driver and seized the car.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Bihar Cabinet on Wednesday approved reservation in contractual appointments made by the state government through outsourcing, an official said.

"The state cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, has approved reservation in contract appointments," Principal Secretary, Cabinet, Brajesh Mehrotra, told media after the meeting.

According to him, there will be reservation in appointments of doctors, engineers, teachers and other posts on contractual basis by the state government.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The BJP on Wednesday demanded a probe into the expose by a TV channel which claimed that Popular Front of India (PFI) carried out massive coversions in Kerala and said that it raises questions about the authencity of such NGOs.

"Today there are such terror groups in India which are trying to establish Islamic State in Kerala. They are receiving funds from foreign countries and radicalising the people. It is a serious issue and must be probed. It is a matter of serious security concern and action should be taken against the culprits," Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said at a press conference.

Prasad was reacting to an expose by India Today which claimed forceful conversions by PFI in Kerala and said that if adequate evidence comes out, the organisation should be banned.

Asked about whether he wants the issue to be probed by central agencies, Prasad said that the matter could be probed in the way the National Investigation Agency conducted probe against Hurriyat leaders into the foreign funding allegations.

"The expose shows that there is a PFI, the Popular Front of India, which is having an organised racket employing people who are owning it up on the channel that they are creating a radical group by some kind of psychological brainwashing," he said adding that the expose raises concerns about the working of such NGOs.

The senior BJP leader described the alleged massive conversions as "extreme case of radicalisation".

"Anyone who volunteraly wants to convert by choice can do that, but allurement or forced conversions are illegal and a serious concern," he said.

Prasad took on Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi and sought his response over the issue.

"Suprisingly Rahul, who speaks on every issue these days, is silent on Hurriyat and Kerala," he said.

The BJP leader also demanded action from Kerala government, saying, "You have been elected to govern. We expect action. You cannot remain silent."

The PFI was formed in 2006 as a successor to the National Democratic Front (NDF) in the form of a federation. It is constituted of Karnataka Forum for Dignity, NDF, and Manitha Neethi Pasarai of Tamil Nadu.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved a proposed law to recognise universities that have been training teachers without permission from a statutory body, making their alumni eligible for government jobs.

The Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved the amendment of the National Council for Teacher Education Act, 1993, which will grant retrospective recognition to universities that are found to be conducting teacher education courses without permission of the NCTE, an official statement said.

The National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) is the statutory body set up under the act in 1995 to formally oversee standards, procedures and processes in the education system.

All institutions running teacher education courses like B.Ed (Bachelor of Education) among others have to now obtain recognition from the NCTE under Section 14 of the Act.

The courses of such universities have to be permitted under Section 15.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday gave ex-post facto approval on the trade agreement between India and Ethiopia for strengthening and promoting trade and economic co-operation between the two countries.

The trade agreement was signed on October 5, during the visit of President Ram Nath Kovind to Ethiopia from October 4 to 6.

"The trade agreement will replace the existing agreement that was signed in 1982. It will provide for all necessary measures to encourage trade, economic cooperation, investment and technical co-operation," an official statement said.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Spain's High Court has summoned sacked Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont and 13 other members of his dismissed government to appear later this week.

It also gave them three days to pay a deposit of $7.2 million to cover potential liabilities, BBC reported on Tuesday.

The summons comes after Spain's chief prosecutor on Monday said he would press charges including rebellion. Puigdemont is in Belgium with several former ministers. He earlier said he was not there to seek asylum.

Carles Puigdemont triggered a crisis in Spain by holding an independence referendum in early October in the semi-autonomous region despite Madrid's opposition and the Constitutional Court declaring the vote illegal.

Spain's central government has now taken direct control of Catalonia.

Puigdemont turned up in Brussels on Monday as Spanish Attorney-General Jose Manuel Maza called for Catalan leaders to face charges of rebellion, sedition and misuse of public funds.

The Audiencia National has now summoned the sacked Catalan officials -- who are yet to be formally charged -- to testify on Thursday and Friday. If they do not appear, prosecutors could order their arrest.

Meanwhile, the speaker of Catalan's dissolved parliament Carme Forcadell and other former lawmakers have been summoned to the Supreme Court because they still have parliamentary immunity.

Puigdemont earlier said he would return to Spain if guaranteed a fair hearing.

Several of Puigdemont's former colleagues who remain inside the country may decide to accept the summons and appear in court.

Prosecutors' arguments against the group were "serious, rational and logical", Judge Carmen Lamela said in a ruling.

The charge of rebellion carries a maximum 30-year jail term.

Speaking at a press conference earlier on Tuesday, Puigdemont said he was not trying to escape justice by travelling to Belgium but wanted to be able to speak freely.

His comments came as Spain's constitutional court suspended the declaration of independence made by the Catalan parliament on Friday.

Mr Puigdemont also said he would accept the result of snap elections in Catalonia on 21 December, which were called by Spain's central government after it invoked Article 155 of the constitution, temporarily suspending the region's autonomy.

"I want a clear commitment from the state. Will the state respect the results that could give separatist forces a majority?" Puigdemont asked reporters.

The Spanish government has previously said he is welcome to take part in the fresh polls.

In a separate development on Tuesday, Spain's Guardia Civil -- a paramilitary force charged with police duties -- raided the offices of the Catalan police force.

According to media reports, they searched eight offices for communications relating to the referendum on October 1.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Terming the CBI 'Compromised Bureau of Investigation' following its clean chit to Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan in the Vyapam scam, the Congress on Wednesday said it will file a private complaint against the agency in a trial court.

The party also pointed fingers at certain appointments made by the government in the Central Bureau of Investigation and the National Investigation Agency.

"The CBI's name has been changed to Compromised Bureau of Investigation after the Vyapam scam probe. Now, we will have to investigate the investigator (CBI). If the country's investigators become traitors, then the Congress will investigate them.

"We will file a private complaint against the CBI in the trial court. Now, we will charge-sheet the agency that files charge sheets. They will be charge-sheeted in Madhya Pradesh. We will urge the court for proper investigation. Everything will be clear," senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal said.

The Congress leader also accused the Narendra Modi government of "vendetta politics" and said government agencies only targetted prominent state Congress leaders.

"In Punjab, it is Amarinder Singh; in Himachl Pradesh, Virbhadra Singh; in Rajasthan, Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot; in Haryana, Bhupinder Singh Hooda; in Uttarakhand, Harish Rawat; in Maharashtra, Ashok Chavan; in Karnataka, D.K. Shivakumar and P. Chidambaram's son Karti Chidambaram," Sibal said.

"The CBI does whatever the government says. This is unfortunate," he added.

Sibal said: "There are documents against the Bharatiya Janata Party as well. Even Prime Minister Narendra Modi is involved in the Birla diaries. There are diaries against other BJP leaders as well. But there is no investigations."

"There is also no probe into allegations against BJP President Amit Shah's son. Now, it is Vyapam. The country in which the investigating agency is biased and violates the rule of law, what happens to its democracy?" the Congress leader asked.

Talking about the Vyapam scam investigation, Sibal said: "The CBI had said a hard disk with data was seized on July 18, 2013. On July 22, it was sent to the Gujarat forensic laboratory.

"A Deputy Superintendent of Police, Dilip Soni, had in fact taken it to the Inspector General's office on July 17. But before that, it was taken to one of the whistle-blowers Prashant Pandey, who took a copy of it in his pen drive.

"If the CBI says it was seized on July 18, how did it reach the IG's office on July 17. It means it was seized before that date. In this period, they manipulated the hard disk and the Chief Minister's initials were removed," he added.

Sibal said: "We sent the same pen drive to the Truth Labs in Hyderabad. They gave a report that it is absolutely right and there was no tampering.

"The CBI did not consider this report. One of the CBI officers, whose name is there in the diary, has been made the Special Director. A person who probed the Gujarat riots has been made the National Investigation Agency chief. If you appoint your own people in such positions, there will be no impartial probes," he added.

The CBI on Tuesday filed a charge sheet against 490 persons in the multi-crore Vyapam examination scam that broke out in Madhya Pradesh in 2013, while giving a clean chit to Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A cabinet committee on Wednesday approved raising the price of ethanol payable under the government's ethanol blending programme to Rs 40.85 a litre applicable for the forthcoming sugar season beginning next month.

"The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved revision in the price of ethanol under Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) programme for supply to the public sector oil marketing companies.

"The revised price of ethanol would be fixed at Rs 40.85 per litre under EBP and will be applicable for the forthcoming sugar season 2017-18," a Petroleum Ministry release said here after a cabinet meeting.

"The revised price will be applicable during ethanol supply period from 1st December 2017 to 30th November 2018," it said.

The current price of ethanol procurement is Rs 39 per litre, which was fixed last year.

The CCEA also decided that the "GST (Goods and Services Tax) and transportation charges will also be payable additionally," it added.

"The approval will facilitate the continued policy of the government in providing price stability and remunerative prices for ethanol suppliers," the ministry said.

"It will also help in reducing dependency on crude oil imports, saving in foreign exchange and benefits to the environment," it added.

Last year, with sugar prices rising and global crude rates falling, which increased losses being incurred by the state-run oil firms, the government had lowered the ethanol price to Rs 39 a litre, from the earlier price range fixed at Rs 48.50 to 49.50 per litre.

The EBP programme was launched in 2003 to promote use of alternative and environmental-friendly fuels and to reduce dependency on foreign fuel imports.

Since 2006, however, oil companies were unable to get offers for the required quantity of ethanol against the tenders floated by them due to various constraints in supply and pricing.

In order to augment the supply of ethanol, the government in 2014 decided to fix the delivery price of ethanol in the range of Rs 48.50 to 49.50 per litre, including taxes and transportation charges.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A court here on Wednesday directed that the lie detector test of arms dealer Abhishek Verma, a witness in a 1984 anti-Sikh riots case against Congress Leader Jagdish Tytler, should be concluded by the end of November.

Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Amit Arora's direction comes after defence counsel gave consent to the appointment of noted advocate B.S. Joon as the commissioner to monitor Verma's polygraph test.

The court slated the matter for December 15 for further hearing.

On October 24, Verma's polygraph test was conducted in the FSL in Rohini here after which he moved an application alleging that forensic lab was unfair and biased.

He sought that a detailed standard operating procedure for conducting polygraph test be filed by the FSL, Rohini in the court to bring on record complete transparency.

The court was hearing a Central Bureau of Investigation plea for permission to conduct the lie detector tests on Verma as well as Tytler, accused of leading a mob in Pul Bangash area in 1984 that led to the killing of three Sikhs.

The Congress leader has refused to undergo the test.

The agency's move came after Verma's accusation that Tytler influenced witness Surender Singh through money and a promise to send his son Narender Singh to Canada.

The CBI had earlier given a clean chit to Tytler in the case but reopened investigation following a December 4, 2015 court order in the wake of Verma's allegation.

On the court's direction, Verma had been provided round-the-clock security till his polygraphy test is conducted after he had told the court that he apprehended serious threat to his life as well as that of his wife and mother.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi's sharp criticism of the government over a World Bank report on ease of doing business and the state of economy on Wednesday triggered a bitter war of words between him and the BJP.

While Gandhi rejected India's improved rank in the latest World Bank report on ease of doing business, asserting the government's demonetisation and GST decisions wreaked havoc with the economy, the BJP hit back, saying the Congress leader was clueless on the subject.

Addressing a public meeting in poll-bound Gujarat, Gandhi said: "Jaitleyji sits in his office and listens to outsiders. I would request him to visit small traders or mid-sized business persons and ask them whether ease of doing business has improved for them or not.

"The entire country will scream in unison that there is no ease of doing business. Your demonetization and GST have hit us hard," he told the gathering of mostly farmers and small traders in Jambusar town of Bharuch, the home district of Congress chief Sonia Gandhi's political secretary Ahmed Patel.

"What is spoken abroad is truth for this government but what the poor say in India is farce," he said, referring to the World Bank's Ease of Doing Business report released on Tuesday that saw India jump 30 ranks to number 100.

He said no section of the society in Gujarat and elsewhere was happy with the Modi government's sudden note ban last year and tardy implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST).

"They have destroyed the economy by demonetization and have ensured that the GDP fell by 2 per cent. But he (Prime Minister) did not stop at that. He introduced GST with multiple tax slabs and a high rate of 28 per cent in one go.

"I have given GST a new name. Gabbar Singh Tax. It means that poor who sweats it out sees his money snatched away from him," the Congress leader said.

Gandhi mocked at the Finance Minister on Twitter with the spoof of a Ghalib couplet, saying everyone knows the "reality" of ease of doing business in India but "Dr Jaitley" prefers to delude himself.

"Sabko maaloom hai 'ease of doing business' ki haqeeqat; khud ko khush rakhne ke liye 'Dr Jaitley' khayal achha hai," Gandhi tweeted.

Jaitley shot back, pointing out the difference between the Congress-led UPA and BJP-led NDA governments.

"The difference between the UPA and NDA -- the ease of doing corruption has been replaced by the ease of doing business," the Finance Minister tweeted.

Replying to Gandhi's charges, the BJP in Delhi said the Congress leader was exposing his lack of knowledge on economy with his "shallow statements".

"Should I presume that he has absolutely no knowledge about what world organisations like the World Bank have to say about India's economy," said Union IT and Law Minister Ravishankar Prasad.

Prasad said Gandhi ought to know that India had been in the range of 130-140 previosly.

"In the last two years, we made it to 131 and 130 spot. This year, we have jumped 30 points to 100. Does he know that this is the highest jump any country has made in World Bank's ease of doing business ranking? He doesn't do any home work, anyway. Those who do it for him also don't have their facts correct," the minister said.

He also mocked at Gandhi's likely elevation to head the Congress, saying he owed this to "the family he belongs to".

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Enforcement Directorate on Wednesday arrested prominent businessman Gagan Dhawan in connection with a money-laundering probe into an over Rs 5,000 crore alleged bank fraud case, officials said.

An official of the financial probe agency told IANS that Dhawan was arrested from his south Delhi residence in a case involving bank fraud of over Rs 5,000 crore by Sandesara Group under the Prevention of Act (PMLA).

He will be produced before a court later in the day, the official said.

According to ED officials, Dhawan allegedly aided bank loan frauds related to a Vadodara-based company named Sterling Biotech.

The ED official said that his involvement with a few other alleged illegal transactions are on their checklist.

His arrest comes after the ED registered a case of taking cognisance of a case filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) against Sterling Biotech, its Directors -- Chetan Jayantilal Sandesara, Dipti Chetan Sandesara, Rajbhushan Omprakash Dixit, Nitin Jayantilal Sandesara and Vilas Joshi and several other persons in connection with the alleged bank fraud case.

According to ED officials, Dhawan is also being probed for allegedly bribing four senior Income Tax department officials as part of an earlier criminal complaint.

On August 25, the ED officials had raided Dhawan's office and premises and that of a former Congress MLA Sumesh Shokeen under provisions of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA).

It is alleged that Dhawan laundered the money of Sandesh Arya through his companies based in Ethiopia and some other countries.

Earlier in 2011, Income Tax officials had raided Arya's residences and a case was registered then.
At least eight persons were killed and more than 40 injured in an explosion at a boiler unit of the NTPC in Uttar Pradesh's Rae Bareli district on Wednesday evening, officials said.

The death toll is likely to rise as many more are feared trapped inside the 500 MW boiler unit at the NTPC, Unchahar, Additional Director General (ADG) Law and Order Anand Kumar said.

Eight bodies have been received at the district hospital, Chief Medical Officer K.K. Singh of Rae Bareli told IANS.

A massive fire broke out inside and a huge ball of dust rose after the explosion, making rescue operations difficult, an official told IANS.

The unit was the sixth at NTPC and was commissioned on March 31 this year, a senior official said.

An alert has been sounded at the community health centre (CHC), district hospital and at other medical centres, after the accident.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who is in Mauritius on a three-day visit, directed Principal Secretary (Home) Arvind Kumar to monitor the situation and brief him regularly.

The Chief Minister has announced ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each to the families of those killed, Rs 50,000 each to those seriously injured, and Rs 25,000 each to those with less grave injuries.

Senior district officials and police officials are at the accident site and overseeing rescue and relief operations, a state government spokesman said.

Officials said the explosion took place in the boiler which is filled with water in tubes which are heated. This in turn creates steam which moves the turbines and generates electricity.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The European Union (EU) observer mission has called on Kenya's leaders to enter political dialogue to resolve the impasse following the controversial election re-run.

"More than ever there is a need in Kenya for political leaders to take up their responsibility and find a way out of the impasse through direct talks at the highest level," the mission said on Monday in its preliminary statement on the October 26 repeat elections, Xinhua news agency reported.

"Grievances over the electoral processes should be addressed through judicial channels for legally-mandated remedy. The courts and the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) be given full opportunity to work independently and without undue pressure," the observers said.

EU Chief Observer Marietje Schaake said actions by rival sides have put Kenya in an extremely difficult position.

"These include attacks on the judiciary as well as the IEBC, the introduction of changes to the legal framework without consensus, obstruction of the electoral process and officials, and some disproportionate actions by the security forces," Schaake said.

The EU said despite these problems, polling and counting appeared to be generally well administered and some technical improvements were evident in the results process although further assessment is still needed.

IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati on October 26 announced Kenyatta as the winner after he garnered 98.3 per cent of the total votes cast, against his National Super Alliance (NASA) rival Raila Odinga's 1 per cent.

Odinga, who withdrew from the race had rallied his supporters to boycott the repeat election, which was marred by low turnout and violent protests in opposition strongholds.

Schaake also called on security agencies to be fully accountable, including by providing public information on forces deployed and actions taken.

"There should be independent investigation into their actions and any casualties, with information made public on subsequent measures taken," she said.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Karnataka celebrated its 62nd formation day with festivity on Wednesday, with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah urging everyone in the state to learn Kannada language.

"Everyone living in the state must learn Kannada and must make their children learn the language. Kannada must be taught in all schools," he told a gathering of thousands at the Kanteerava Stadium here, marking the 62nd Karnataka formation day.

Not learning Kannada was "disrespectful" to the language, he said.

"We urge the central government to formulate a national education policy to provide primary education in the mother tongue. The state has already written to the central government about this," Siddaramaiah stated.

"Being born a Kannadiga is my first identity. Being a Kannadiga is what makes me an Indian."

The state has no "opposition" to Hindi or English but "we do not agree with the imposition of other languages over Kannada", Siddaramaiah asserted.

"The state government has responded to Hindi imposition at the metro stations by implementing a two-language policy of Kannada and English," he added.

Learning in Karnataka comes with many prospects, he insisted, adding that renowned scientists like C.N.R. Rao had learned in Kannada.

Thousands of school students showcased various cultural programmes with pomp and gaiety depicting the culture of the southern state.

The state anthem penned by the renowned poet Kuvempu was sung as a red and yellow flag, which the state government was pushing to be recognised as a 'state flag', was hoisted at the celebrations held across the districts of the state.

Meanwhile, the Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti (MES), a political party from Belagavi, observed the state formation day as black day for non-inclusion of Belagavi in Maharashtra. Belagavi Mayor Sanjot Bandekar also took part in the black day observed by the party.

On November 1, 1956, Kannada-speaking areas of the erstwhile Bombay and Madras presidencies, along with a region of old Hyderabad from erstwhile Nizam state, merged with the old Mysore region as the new Mysore State when the southern states reorganised their boundaries.

The state was renamed Karnataka in 1956. As of 2011 census, the state has a population of 61 million people.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
In what can be seen as a significant diplomatic initiative, the first consignment of wheat from India to Afghanistan that was flagged off by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and her Afghan counterpart Salhuddin Rabbani last Sunday reached the Iranian port of Chabahar on Wednesday.

"The first consignment of wheat assistance to Afghanistan, flagged-off by EAM @SushmaSwaraj & Afghan FM Rabbani, reached Chabahar port today," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted.

"On arrival of first consignment,a welcome ceremony held at Chabahar port on this landmark occasion, attended by dignitaries from 3 countries," he stated.

The shipment to Afghanistan comes in the wake of Afghan President Ashraf Ghani's one-day visit to India on October 24 just before US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson reached here in his first visit in his official capacity. India is a major development aid partner for strife-torn Afghanistan and New Delhi's role was appreciated by Tillerson in a joint address to media with Sushma Swaraj.

While flagging of the shipment on Sunday, Sushma Swaraj also thanked Iran "for providing assistance in facilitating the movement of this gift through Chabahar Port".

"This shows the convergence between the ancient civilisations of India, Afghanistan and Iran to spur unhindered flow of commerce and trade throughout the region," she said.

The shipment is part of a commitment made by India to supply 1.1 million tonnes of wheat for the people of Afghanistan on a grant basis.

This is the first shipment to go to Afghanistan through Chabahar after the trilateral agreement to develop the port as a transport and transit corridor between India, Iran and Afghanistan was signed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Iranian and Afghan Presidents Hassan Rouhani and Ashraf Ghani in May last year.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Eight persons were killed and 12 injured after a truck ploughed into pedestrians in Lower Manhattan in New York on Tuesday. Five of these victims were Argentine nationals, a statement here said.

The five were celebrating their 30th graduation anniversary at the Argentine Polytechnic School of Rosario, Efe news reported.

The statement released by the Argentine Ministry of Foreign Affairs, identified the five as Hernan Diego Mendoza, Diego Enrique Angelini, Alejandro Damian Pagnucco, Ariel Erlij and Hernan Ferruchi.

In addition, Martin Ludovico Marro, an injured Argentine national, has also been admitted to the Presbyterian Hospital in Manhattan. He is safe, according to sources from the hospital.

"The compatriots, from the city of Rosario (east), were part of a group of friends celebrating the 30th anniversary of their graduation at the Polytechnic School of that city (Rosario) when the tragic event occurred," the statement said.

The Argentine government expressed "its sincere condolences" and added that the Consulate General in New York City continues working in "permanent contact" with the police authorities and the hospital where Marro was admitted, as well as with their relatives in Argentina.

Argentine President Mauricio Macri tweeted he felt "deeply moved by the terrorist attack".

The attack took place in the southwest of Manhattan, where a man ploughed with his hired pickup truck into pedestrians and people riding bicycles in a bike lane near the bank of the Hudson River.

The mayor of New York, Bill de Blasio, described the attack as a "particularly cowardly act of terrorism".

The assailant was identified, according to the media, as Sayfullo Saipov, an Uzbek immigrant residing in Florida.

The authorities confirmed that the 29-year-old attacker, who was shot in the abdomen, was taken to a hospital.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Four Maoists, including the top commander of the banned outfit PLFI, were killed in a gun battle with security forces in Jharkhand's Khuti district, police said on Wednesday.

The gunfight took place on Tuesday night near the Karo river. All four slain militants belonged to the People's Liberation Front of India (PLFI), a police officer said.

They included Vivek Gope alias Maina Gope, who was one of the top Maoist commanders of the PLFI. The killing of Gope is being seen as a big setback for the PLFI.

Maoist guerrillas are active in 18 of the 24 districts of the state.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Darjeeling district authorities on Wednesday sealed Gorkha Janmukti Morcha's (GJM) head office in Singhmari, claiming both the land and the structure thereon belongs to the West Bengal government, an official said.

"It was found that both the land and the building are state government property. It was fraudulently recorded in the name of Avinash Gurung, son of GJM chief Bimal Gurung," Darjeeling District Magistrate Joyoshi Dasgupta told IANS.

"We have conducted an inquiry but could not find any document that connected the two. So we checked our records and took it over," she said. She did not elaborate on what the administration planned to do with the property.

The official said the issue of encroachment had somehow escaped district administration's notice.

"It is not just the party office, but also of a few shops running on the ground floor. We have not knocked their doors, as of now. We asked owners of those shops to come forward and tell us who gave those on lease," Dasgupta said.

The office in Singhmari, considered a stronghold of Bimal Gurung, became the epicentre of clashes between police and pro-Gorkhaland agitators many times during the 104-day shutdown in the Darjeeling hills.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
In a bid to help customers build efficient applications on Cloud, Google on Wednesday announced the opening of its first Google Cloud Platform region in Mumbai.

With the India region going live, enterprises will be able to take advantage of the high speeds, low latency and performance benefits uniquely offered by GCP (Google Cloud Platform) services.

Further, the Indian customers will now be able to buy these services directly in Indian currency.

"We are delighted to announce the first GCP region in India. The new region will help customers build applications and store their data, and significantly improve latency for customers and end users in the area," said Dave Stiver, Product Manager, Google Cloud Platform.

The India region offers several services, including compute, big data, storage and networking.

The launch of the Cloud region, which will have three zones, also opens up newer opportunities for several new partners who will benefit from building their services on Google Cloud.

The new Mumbai region joins Singapore, Taiwan, Sydney and Tokyo in the Asia-Pacific region.

"Hosting applications in the new region can improve latency from 20-90 per cent for end users in Chennai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru and, of course, Mumbai, compared to hosting them in the other closest region, Singapore," Stiver added.

Google Cloud Platform enables the developers to build, test and deploy applications on Google's highly-scalable and reliable infrastructure.

"GCP gave us a low latency network and the ability to optimise costs further with custom machine types. The new India region will help us bring our service even closer to Indian consumers," said Manish Verma, Chief Technology Officer, Hungama.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Kaspersky Lab researchers have discovered "CryptoShuffler Trojan", a new malware that cybercriminals are using to steal cryptocurrencies from a user's wallet by replacing their address with its own in the devices.

According to the Russia-based cybersecurity company, criminals are targeting popular cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, Zcash, Dash, Monero and others to steal 23 BTC (nearly $100,000).

"Cryptocurrency is not a far-off technology any more. Lately we have observed an increase in malware attacks targeting different types of cryptocurrencies and we expect this trend to continue," Sergey Yunakovsky, malware analyst at Kaspersky Lab, said in a statement.

In addition, experts have noticed that criminals were starting to use less advanced techniques and were spending less time and resources in this area.

Clipboard hijacking attacks have been known for years, redirecting users to malicious websites and targeting online payments systems.

In most cryptocurrencies, if a user wants to transfer crypto coins to another user, they need to know the recipient's wallet ID -- a unique multi-digit number. Here the CryptoShuffler exploits the system's need to operate with these numbers.

After initialising, the "CryptoShuffler Trojan" starts to monitor the device's clipboard, utilised by users when making a payment.

This involves copying wallets' numbers and pasting them into the "destination address" line of the software that is used to carry out a transaction.

The Trojan replaces the user's wallet with one owned by the malware creator, meaning when the user pastes the wallet ID to the destination address line, it is not the address they originally intended to send money to.

As a result, the victim transfers his or her money directly to the criminals, unless an attentive user spots the sudden replacement.

--IANS

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Global cyber security consulting firm Network Intelligence on Wednesday announced the appointment of Altaf Halde as the company's Cyber Security Global Business Head.

Halde, who has more than 20 years of experience in cyber security, was instrumental in growing the Russian cyber security firm Kaspersky Lab's product business.

"I have been impressed with the quality, skills, dedication of the team and the reputation it has with its customers. My goal is to help build this into a global brand with my expertise to win new accounts, setup new alliances and enter new markets," Halde said in a statement.

At Kaspersky Lab, he was responsible for launching and building the security services arm with offerings around Threat Intelligence, Cyber Security Trainings, Penetration Testing, SCADA Security Assessments, Incident Response and Digital Forensics.

Prior to Kaspersky, Halde headed the business for other cyber security firms such as Sophos PLC, Utimaco and Pointsec.

--IANS

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A court here on Wednesday sent Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin's son Syed Shahid, arrested in a six-year-old terror funding case, to judicial custody till November 27.

Shahid, 42, a Jammu and Kashmir government employee, was arrested on October 24 after he was called for questioning at the National Investigation Agency (NIA) headquarters here. He was remanded in seven day NIA custody last week.

He was presented before District Judge Poonam Bamba, who during the in-camera proceedings remanded him to judicial custody as the NIA did not seek his further custody.

The agency alleged that Shahid was collecting funds from Aijaz Bhat, a Srinagar resident now based in Saudi Arabia and a Hizbul Mujahideen militant, on the direction of his father Salahuddin, who is known to be living in Pakistan.

The NIA said Shahid was one of Bhat's several contacts who were in telephonic touch to "receive the money transfer codes". The money was meant to fund Hizbul Mujahideen's militant activities in Jammu and Kashmir.

Shahid, who lives with his family in Soibugh village in Budgam district, works as a Village Agricultural Assistant in Agriculture Department. His contractual job was confirmed by the government in March.

Shahid is the third son of Salahuddin, who also heads the United Jehad Council, the amalgam of Kashmir militant groups based in Muzaffarabad in Pakistan.

The 2011 terror funding case pertains to money sent through 'hawala' channels by militants based in Pakistan and Saudi Arabia to Jammu and Kashmir.

The NIA had filed two chargesheets against six accused in the case in 2011.

Four of them -- Ghulam Mohammed Bhat, a close aide of hardline Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mohammed Sidiq Ganai, Ghulam Jeelani Liloo and Farooq Ahmad Dagga are currently lodged in Delhi's Tihar Central Jail.

Two accused, Mohammad Maqbool Pandit and Aijaz Bhat, are on the run and have been declared Proclaimed Offenders. Pandit, like Aijaz Bhat, has been an active Hizbul Mujahideen militant and is currently based in Pakistan.

Aijaz Bhat, according to NIA records, received arms training with the Hizbul Mujahideen in Pakistan-administered Kashmir in early 1990s.

--IANS

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Popular Hollywood celebrities like Taylor Swift, Zoe Saldana, Sam Smith and Jared Leto have strongly condemned the attack in Lower Manhattan and paid their condolences to the victims.

Eight persons were killed and 12 injured after a truck ploughed into pedestrians in Lower Manhattan in New York on Tuesday. The suspect has been arrested.

"Quantico" actress Priyanka Chopra said the attack took place just five blocks away from her house here.

"This happened five blocks from my home. As I drive back home from work, dreary sirens remind me that this is the state of the world. NYC. Peace," Priyanka, who keeps juggling between India and the US, tweeted on Wednesday.

Here's what Hollywood celebrities posted over social media after the incident:

Taylor Swift: I love you New York.

Sam Smith: New York. My heart is with you always and forever. Devastating news. My soul and heart is with the victims and their loved ones. Horrific.

Josh Groban: Oh my God, I just heard gun shots and ran with my dog. I hope everyone's OK. Was half a block from me, didn't see it but heard 8-19 quick rounds fired off. Be safe with your kids out there.

Bette Midler: Terror attack in NYC, not far from 9/11. Deepest condolences to the families of those murdered; and those involved who are scarred forever.

Billy Eichner: This is sad and horrifying. Sending love to everyone there.

Patricia Arquette: This is a terrible day. Families will be mourning their loved ones tonight. This is an action is the worst of mankind. #NYC.

Jared Leto: Sending love to NYC on this tragic and heartbreaking day.

Zoe Saldana: My heart is broken. Sending prayers to all the victims whose lives were taken today in NYC.

Ryan Seacrest: My heart goes out to those who have lost loved ones today in NYC. Such a cowardly act.

Boy George: God bless you New York. You are a strong, vibrant, multicultural city and nothing will ever bring you down! My heart is with you!

Will Arnett: I love NY.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Odisha government on Wednesday decided to provide all support to set up a world-class state-of-the-art centre of excellence in the Research and Entrepreneurship Park of IIT -Bhubaneswar to boost startups in the state.

It would be a centre of Virtual and Augmented Reality for Immersive Visualization.

The decision was taken at the second Startup Council meeting held under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi here on Wednesday.

The centre was given a kick-start by philanthropic contribution of Rs 2.5 crore from entrepreneur Susmita Bagchi and a matching grant of Rs 2.5 crore by the state government.

Omkar Rai, Director General of Software Technology Park of India (STPI), assured all support from STPI and appraised that it would provide a fund support of Rs 2.5 crore for the centre.

R.V. Raja Kumar, Indian Institute of Technology-Bhubaneswar Director, said that the centre would have a world-class incubation centre, laboratory, highly-focused courses along with education and skill development programmes.

Meanwhile, 130 start-up ventures in 34 sectors have been recognised and brought under the fold of Odisha Startup Initiative.

The council approved the product development and financial assistance in favour of two new startups in the field of 'automation in Industry maintenance', and 'alternative technology for repair of oil and gas pipelines'.

Besides, various activities for coming six months with estimated expenditure of Rs 15 crore was discussed and approved in the meeting.

"So far, 18 innovative entrepreneurs are getting financial assistance from the council. With today's approval of two more, the number grows to 20," said MSME Secretary Laxmi Narayan Gupta.

"These startups are working in 34 different sectors ranging from agriculture to aeronautics, from analytic to virtual reality, health sector to human resources, IT services to internet of things, renewable energy to robotics and from tourism to transportation."

Chairman of Odisha Skill Development Authority, Subroto Bagchi, suggested having more engagement with sponsoring and evaluating institutions for scouting increasing number of innovations.

The meeting nominated XIMB, Centurial University, IITM, and KIIT for evaluating the startup proposals and sponsoring those to the council.

Earlier, the council had nominated six nodal agencies -- IIT, Bhubaneswar, STPI, Bhubaneswar, NIT, Rourkela, IMMT, Bhubaneswar, OUAT, Bhubaneswar and NIFT, Bhubaneswar -- for evaluating and processing start up applications.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Congress has the highest number of 'crorepati (multi-millionaires) candidates while the BJP has most with declared criminal cases against them in the upcoming Himachal Pradesh assembly polls, according to an analysis of the candidates' affidavits.

The analysis, compiled by Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) of self-sworn affidavits of all the 338 candidates, shows that 59 out of 68 candidates (87 per cent) from the ruling Congress have declared assets worth more than Rs 1 crore.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is close second with 47 out of its 68 candidates (69 per cent) being crorepatis.

The richest candidate in the fray with declared assets worth more than Rs 90 crore - Balvir Singh Verma from Chopal constituency - is from the BJP, and is followed by Congress' Vikramaditya Singh from Shimla Rural who has assets worth more than Rs 84 crore.

Out of the total 338 candidates, 158 (47 per cent) are crorepatis.

In terms of candidates with declared criminal records, the BJP tops the chart with 23 out of its 68 candidates (34 per cent) having criminal cases against them. The Congress is a distant second in this regard with just six of its 68 candidates (9 per cent) having criminal cases against them.

In terms of serious criminal cases including murder, attempt to murder, kidnapping etc. against them, the BJP again pips Congress with nine out of 68 (13 per cent) of its candidates with such cases.

The Congress has three out of 68 (4 per cent) candidates with serious criminal cases against them.

One Congress candidate, Ram Kumar, contesting from Doon constituency, has declared case related to murder against him.

--IANS

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Veteran pacer Ashish Nehra could not have asked for a better send-off as India thrashed New Zealand by 53 runs at the Ferozshah Kotla here on Wednesday to bring up their maiden win against the Kiwis in T20 Internationals.

India's opening duo of Shikhar Dhawan (80 from 52 balls) and Rohit Sharma (80 from 55 balls) blasted identical half tons to set the tone with a 158-run record opening stand and guide the hosts post a massive 202/3.

In reply, the tourists failed to get going as only five of their batsmen -- Kane Williamson (28), Tom Latham (39), Mitchell Santner (27), Ish Sodhi (11) and Tom Bruce (10) could manage to reach double figures.

The Kiwis found both their openers -- Martin Guptill (4) and Colin Munro (7) back in the hut inside the first four overs with just 18 runs on the board.

The credit for Guptill's dismissal went to Hardik Pandya's quick reflexes, latching on to a superb running catch at long-off off leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal.

Munro failed to make full use of the life when he was dropped by Pandya off Ashish Nehra, and was beaten by a pacy yorker from Bhuvneshwar Kumar.

Tottering at 33/2 by the end of the powerplay, the onus was on skipper Kane Williamson (28 off 24 balls) and Tom Latham to take out of troubled waters.

Williamson, who started off by clobbering Bhuvneshwar for a six before enjoying a reprieve from Kohli at mid-off off Nehra, fell prey to Pandya's first delivery of the match, comfortably caught behind by Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

The dismissal of Williamson brought in Tom Bruce (10 from 10b), who started off with a boundary off Pandya but fell immediately to left-arm spinner Axar Patel.

One ball later, Axar dismissed Colin de Grandhomme (0) as the Kiwis found themselves tottering at a precarious 84/5 after 13 overs.

They were soon reduced to 99/7 as the Indian bowlers tightened the noose.

Chahal dealt the final nail on the coffin by dismissing New Zealand's last hope -- Latham, smartly stumped by Dhoni as the asking rate kept on mounting.

Merely a formality with the Kiwis requiring 61 off the last over, Kohli threw the ball to Nehra for one last time in his 18-year-old international career.

As Nehra went back to his run-up to bowl his fourth of the over, a young ball boy took everyone by surprise when he came up running to touch the veteran pacer's feet.

Earlier, India made full use of the horrible fielding effort from the Kiwis to decimate the Kiwi bowlers.

While Dhawan belted a 52-ball 80, to eclipse his previous highest T20I score of 60, Rohit continued his glorious form to smash a 55-ball 80, comprising six boundaries and four sixes.

With the dew setting in, the New Zealanders found it tough to grip the ball, which was well utilised by the Indian duo, reaching 80/0 midway through the innings.

Dhawan had by now reached his third T20 fifty with a single off an inside edge off left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner, who cramped him for room.

The southpaw turned up the heat by smashing a couple of sixes even as Rohit got to his 12th T20I half century by clobbering Santner for a maximum and two consecutive boundaries as India's score crossed the 150-run mark in no time.

Leg-spinner Ish Sodhi, who was till now at the receiving end of Dhawan's onslaught, got the better of the southpaw with a googly outside off.

Dhawan's stay at the crease was ended when he failed to connect the ball and instead nicked back to stumper Latham.

Two balls later, Sodhi packed the dangerous Pandya (0), who was promoted up to accelerate the scoring rate.

With 3.2 overs left, skipper Virat Kohli (26 off 11 balls) walked into the middle amid loud cheers from the capacity crowd and began sending the bowlers to the leather hunt in the company of former skipper Dhoni, who was at 7 off two deliveries.

After the match, Nehra took a lap of honour around the ground with the entire team with him.

His long-time Delhi team-mates Kohli and Dhawan hoisted him up on their shoulders as he waved energetically at the crowd.

With the win, India have taken a 1-0 lead in the three-match rubber and will next face the Kiwis at Rajkot on Saturday.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
In a country where quality healthcare remains a privilege of the rich and influential, a silent army of women, clad in pink sarees, work tirelessly and selflessly to make basic healthcare facilities accessible to those who live on the margins of the growing Indian economy, particularly in the country's vast rural hinterland.

Barely getting time to sleep as calls for help keep coming round the clock, this pink army -- as they are popularly known -- is the backbone of the primary healthcare in India's 600,000 villages, providing a connect between the community and the inadequate public health system. These are the trained female community health activists -- called Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA) -- under the Mission (NRHM) of the Indian government.

Instrumental in bringing down the infant mortality rate from over 50 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2005 (when ASHA was launched) to 34 deaths in 2016, these women provide information to people in rural areas about health, sanitation and nutrition; conduct ante-natal and post-natal checkups; assist women during their deliveries, deliver polio vaccines and conduct health surveys.

With many of them mothers themselves, they often take along their children to the clinics at unearthly hours because they can't leave them behind at home.

Clad in the trademark pink saree, her work uniform, state health worker Godavari Anil Rathore, 23, a resident of Kalaburgi, Karnataka, about 623 km north of state capital Bengaluru, is one of the youngest employed as an ASHA.

"When I was a kid, I remember how my aunt had a baby and lost it just within two months. The baby had contracted malaria after she was born, and my aunt couldn't bear the pain," Rathore told IANS.

"It's an unimaginable pain not to be able to save your own baby, which is one of the reasons why I decided I should help women," she said.

Rathore has helped over 100 women in her district in delivering healthy babies over the last three years that she has been working as an ASHA.

"It makes me extremely happy looking at women living in the remotest parts of the country with not much money to focus on their health giving birth to healthy children.

"Even though it means that we work an average of 12 hours each day, taking health surveys, carrying out polio drives, assisting pregnant women from the district I live in -- right from medical checkups during pregnancy, to the delivery, then getting the baby all the vaccinations, and in the end receiving only about Rs 1,500 for a month."

Rathore said that every woman she works with "becomes family to me, even if they need me at 3 am, I'm there."

For many Indian villages where hospitals aren't accessible easily, 860,000 ASHAs across the country (according to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, 2014) are the only ray of hope in providing medical assistance to thousands of people, and have been working extensively on eliminating polio and malnutrition among infants.

Making sacrifices every day to build a healthier society, these women find it hard to even make ends meet, earning a paltry sum for their services. Over 15,000 ASHAs from Karnataka staged a protest last month at Freedom Park in the heart of the city for a better remuneration from the state so that they could live with dignity.

Rathore, like many other ASHAs, barely sleeps, as calls for help keep coming in from pregnant women round the clock, after a long day of delivering polio vaccines or conducting health surveys. Many a time, she can't leave her two-year-old girl, Lakshmi, behind at home and takes her along.

"Sometimes, I feel I'm raising my child within clinics with my husband not being at home all the time. But I am glad she's growing up learning to be empathetic, knowing that as humans we must be able to help one another without any hesitation," said Rathore with a smile.

ASHAs take pride that they've managed to get their communities talking about health and hygiene.

"We are overwhelmed to see people in villages pay attention to sanitation and building their toilets and purifying their water, which they earlier didn't care much for. These are very important when we talk about health," Rathore explained.

With every right to quit their difficult job, the women say they continue on because the power to be a part of the birth of a healthy life is unparalleled.

Geetha B, 31, from Ballari district, has been an ASHA for nine years now. A mother of two boys, she takes the responsibility of overseeing the health needs of over 1,500 people in Hariginadone village in Ballari district seriously.

"My vision is always towards making the village a better place. I would have assisted at least 300 women in these nine years in their pregnancies and now I see the kids going to school within the village, children I would have helped while growing up to be healthy. It fills me with happiness each time."

"Pregnancy comes with a hope for every family. Our job satisfaction comes from seeing their dreams come true, in helping India's next generation grow up healthy."

A mother of five children, 35-year-old Nagomi K. from Raichur district, about 400 km to the north of Bengaluru, has seen ASHAs help in transforming the villages in the district over the past 12 years that they have been working.

"In many villages, the women are blamed if something happens to the baby. They have to live with guilt that it was their fault that the baby was born prematurely," Nagomi told IANS.

With their constant visits to the villagers' homes for checkups, men also tend to learn from them about their wives' health, which doesn't happen in healthcare centres, where the men are just asked to wait in the waiting rooms, she said.

"Even though many don't recognise the work we do, we are trying to act as bridges involving both man and a woman when it comes to a pregnancy, and having villagers lead better lives in general with better health."

"A lot of times I assist women who cannot even afford a strip of medicine. That's when I give them whatever money I have so that the health of the community is never compromised," Nagomi said.

As Karnataka State ASHA Workers' Association Secretary D Nagalakshmi puts it, "These women are the lifelines for our country in letting those who cannot access medical help get every kind of support. They must be credited with raising a majority of India's next generation."

Each of the 37,000 ASHAs in Karnataka are working despite severe hardships and have some moving stories to tell, but they don't hesitate to make any sacrifice in building a healthier country, she said.

India ranks 131 among 188 countries on the Human Development Index (HDI) 2016 released by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). India was placed behind countries like Gabon (109), Egypt (111), Indonesia (113), South Africa (119) and Iraq (121) among others. The government is working towards improving this rating by creating competition between states to perform better on key social indicators like infant mortality rate, maternal mortality rate and life expectancy.
Insured losses from wildfires raging through the US state of California in October have hit $3 billion, the state's insurance department said.

"As shocking as $3 billion in insured losses are, the number is sure to grow, as more claims are coming," Xinhua news agency quoted Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones as saying.

The figure has increased thrice in just two weeks and is expected to climb higher.

As of Sunday, the California Department of Insurance's consumer services team has provided aid to 1,163 individuals across the state.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
China-based Transsion Holdings on Wednesday launched its brand itel Mobile's "S21" with dual-selfie cameras at Rs 5,990 in India.

itel "S21" comes with 2MP+5MP dual-front cameras and an 8MP rear camera with auto-focus and face detection.

"We have focussed extensively on building market disrupting technologies and this phone is another example of delivering aspirational value to our consumers," said Sudhir Kumar, Chief Executive Officer, itel and Spice Devices, in a statement.

The device offers 16GB internal memory which can be expanded up to 32GB. The smartphone features a 5-inch FWVGA IPS display and has 4G VoLTE connectivity.

It is powered by Android 7.0 Nougat operating system (OS) and fingerprint sensor.

"S21" is powered by quad-core processor Mediatek chipset coupled with 1GB RAM.

The device has 2,700 mAh battery with optimisation technology which gives a long stand-by time of 350 hours, the company claimed.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The government on Wednesday constituted an inter-ministerial committee headed by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley to oversee the merger of public sector banks (PSBs), following the recent announcement of a massive recapitalisation plan for the state-run lenders.

Apart from Jaitley, the "Alternative Mechanism" committee will have Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Railway Minister Piyush Goyal as its members, a Finance Ministry release said here.

The proposals cleared by the committee will be submitted before the Cabinet every quarter, it said.

The alternative mechanism committee may also direct the PSBs to examine proposals of consolidation.

"It will also receive inputs from the Reserve Bank of India before granting an in-principle nod to the proposals," the statement added.

The government said that after it approved the final schemes of banks' amalgation these would be tabled in both Houses of Parliament.

he government had earlier decided to set up an alternative mechanism to expedite the process of PSB consolidation, which would oversee the proposals coming from the PSB boards.

This followed State Bank of India's merger with its five associate banks and the Bharatiya Mahila Bank earlier this year.

In a stimulus package aimed to boost flagging economic growth, create jobs and increase credit flow, the cabinet last week approved a Rs 2.11 lakh crore recapitalisation plan for state-run banks and massive road infrastructure investment of nearly Rs 7 lakh crore over five years.

Of the support to banks, Rs 1.35 lakh crore will be raised through recapitalisation bonds and the remaining sum through budgetary support and market borrowings.

Announcing the package here, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said the details of reform measures for the public sector banks would be unveiled at a later date.

Chief Economic Advisor Arvind Subranmanian clarified that the recapitalisation bonds would count as debt, while their exact nature would be made available in due course.
The BJP government in Haryana headed by Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar is on the defensive following its order asking teachers to carry out religious duties.

The order was issued by the Education Department officials asking teachers to carry out religious duties, including distributing 'prasad', during a religious festival in Yamunanagar district.

The Yamunanagar District Education Officer (DEO), in his note dated October 29, sought an explanation from certain teachers who had failed to report for duty for training for the Kapal Mochan festival of the Hindus.

The government school teachers were asked to get training and carry out the work of priests in view of lakhs of people coming for the festival.

A section of the teachers have protested against the diktat of the Education Department and the Khattar government. They accused the Bharatiya Janata Party government of pursuing a "Hindutva agenda".

BJP spokesman Jawahar Yadav on Wednesday defended the Khattar government's decision saying that teachers were not being asked to perform the duties of priests.

He said that the order given to the teachers was only in connection with making arrangements for the festival at the district level.

Yadav told TV news channels that there was no (Hindutva) agenda behind the move. He said that only 15-20 teachers were directed to carry out duties during the festival as nearly five lakh people were expected for the four-day-long festival which started on Wednesday.

He said that studies of students would not be affected as the duties were assigned during holidays.

Jaidev Arya, state adviser to the Haryana Teachers Association, said that the government order was "unwarranted".

--IANS

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U.K rapper Lady Leshurr will be visiting India for a three-city tour as part of beer brand Bira 91's new hip-hop focused campaign called FreeFlow.

For its first tour featuring Leshurr, Bira 91 FreeFlow will visit Mumbai, Bengaluru and Delhi later this month, read a statement.

Leshurr, who came into the limelight with her "Queen's Speech" YouTube series, is known for her ingenious freestyling that combines mischief, wit and a good comic timing.

Accompanying her on the tour will be Delhi-based rapper Prabh Deep.

From rap to graffiti and fashion, Bira 91 FreeFlow aims to become the one-stop resource for all things hip-hop in India.

Joining the tour will also be acts that have been long standing supports of hip-hop in the country or are inspired by it.

In Mumbai, turntablist DJ Uri will join Leshurr and Prabh Deep on November 16.

On November 17, the two artistes will be joined by audio-visual and sample-driven act Aerate Sound in Bengaluru.

Delhi fans will see Leshurr, Prabh Deep and DJ MoCity hitting the stage on November 18.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
National Award winning actor Manoj Bajpayee says he is excited yet nervous about an upcoming ambitious project.

"I am getting into a very ambitious project, which I wanted to make for the past three and half years to four years. But the content is such that there was hardly any financers who were willing to back it up. Now, eventually, we have got a very courageuous and brave producer to finance and produce the film... I am nervous," Manoj told IANS over phone from Mumbai.

The actor, whose latest release "Rukh" hit the screens last month, has been roped in for a pivotal role for the second instalment of the "Baaghi" franchise.

"I am playing a very important role in 'Baaghi 2'. I just shot for two days. I shall be shooting in December. In January, my part will be over."

Besides "Baaghi 2", Manoj will also be seen sharing screen space with young actor Sidharth Malhotra in the upcoming movie "Aiyaary".

The film, set in Delhi, London and Kashmir, revolves around two strong-minded Army officers having completely different views, yet right in their own ways. It is a real-life story based on the relationship between a mentor and a protege.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday wished the people of Haryana, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala and Karnataka on their foundation day.

"On the occasion of state's foundation day, best wishes to the people of Madhya Pradesh who have made a significant contribution in the development of the nation," he tweeted.

In another tweet, Modi extended his greetings to the people of Chhattisgarh and wished that the state "touches new heights of development".

"Congratulations to the state of Haryana, which is rapidly moving towards development and strongly following the path of 'Jai Jawan Jai Kisan'," he wrote.

He also passed on his greetings to the people of Kerala and Karnataka by writing tweets in their state languages -- Malayalam and Kannada.

--IANS

mg/amit

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Mexican actor Roberto Cavazos and actor-director Tony Montana are the latest celebrities to accuse actor Kevin Spacey of sexual misconduct.

Montana said Spacey groped him in 2003. The filmmaker says he was editing a documentary at Los Angeles hotspot Coronet when the "House of Cards" star walked in with a group of friends.

"I went up to order a drink and Kevin came up to me and put his arm around me. He was telling me to come with him, to leave the bar. (He) put his hand on my crotch forcefully and grabbed my whole package," Montana told radaronline.com.

Montana recalled that a seemingly intoxicated Spacey then said to him, "This designates ownership."

"I put my hand down and turned his thumb back to get his hand off it," Montana added.

Cavazos has taken the social media route to recount his tryst with Spacey.

In a letter written in Spanish on Facebook, he said: "I myself had a couple of unpleasant encounters with Spacey that were on the edge of being called harassment. Moreover, had I been a woman, I probably would not have hesitated to identify him as such, but I suppose that the lack of a more specifically direct or aggressive action led me to justify the incident as 'one of those things'."

The revelations have come following actor Anthony Rapp's claims that Spacey traumatised him by sexually harassing him when he was 14 years old. After this accusation, Spacey came out as a gay earlier this week.

--IANS

sas/rb/bg

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
In a major decision, the BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has cleared the decks permitting restaurants, bars and cafes on rooftops of buildings, officials said here on Wednesday.

The development comes are long efforts made by Hotel & Restaurant Association of Western India (HRAWI) and Indian Hotels & Restaurants Association (AHAR) and Yuva Sena President Aditya Thackeray, with the state government and the BMC.

Lauding the decision, HRAWI president Dilip Datwani said it would unlock the huge potential that terraces offer by allowing them to be operated as leisure or recreational spaces.

"The sky-bars and rooftop cafes are an emerging trend around the world, and Mumbai despite being the commercial capital of India, lacked the policy on this. It will be appreciated by Mumbaikars besides domestic and international tourists," said Datwani, whose HRAWI has a membership of over 2,000 star hotels and restaurants.

With a membership of over 8,000 restaurants and bars, AHAR's Adarsh Shetty said the industry has been pursuing this proposal since years and now finally the authorities have given the green signal to it.

"This is a privilege for Mumbai and the city will join the ranks of cities like London, Hong Kong, Bangkok which have beautiful skylines and some of the best rooftop restaurants in the world," he said.

Earlier, there were a few clubs or private parties allowed on rooftops against payment of daily licence fees of around Rs 15,000, which was scrapped permanently two months ago.

Shetty said that by December, at least 50 rooftop joints, especially those in the vicinity of the Arabian Sea, are likely to come up as they would offer dazzling views of the city, besides reduced noise and air pollution from the traffic below and beating space constraints.

As per the BMC policy, permissions would be granted to open air terraces, in full or part, except on refuge floors of commercial buildings, malls, hotels having eating houses and lodging services, without causing nuisance to the occupants.

The owners cannot claim the terrace areas as a habitable commercial areas approved by the BMC while submitting any redevelopment proposals in future, and no cooking or preparations would be allowed with LPG or open flames.

All other rules shall be applicable as per the Mumbai Police Act and the BMC's Shops & Establishments Act, and the licensees would be liable to take proper safety and security measures on such premises.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
NASA said its Mars 2020 mission will have more "eyes" than any rover before it - a grand total of 23, to create sweeping panoramas, reveal obstacles, study the atmosphere and assist science instruments.

They will provide dramatic views during the rover's descent to Mars and be the first to capture images of a parachute as it opens on another planet.

There will even be a camera inside the rover's body, which will study samples as they are stored and left on the surface for collection by a future mission, NASA said on Tuesday.

When NASA's Mars Pathfinder touched down in 1997, it had five cameras. The subsequent Spirit and Opportunity rovers were designed with 10 cameras each, including on their landers. The Curiosity rover has 17 cameras.

"Camera technology keeps improving," said Justin Maki of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California.

"Each successive mission is able to utilise these improvements, with better performance and lower cost," Maki said.

The cameras on 2020 will include more colour and 3-D imaging than on Curiosity, said Jim Bell of Arizona State University.

"Routinely using 3-D images at high resolution could pay off in a big way," Bell said. "They're useful for both long-range and near-field science targets."

--IANS

gb/mr

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Pakistan International Airlines' (PIA) last flight from New York left behind two bodies, booked for Lahore, at the JFK Airport to the utter shock of the waiting family members back home.

Expressing regret, PIA spokesperson Mashood Tajwar said that the mistake was committed by the agency providing luggage handling service to the airline on the ground at JFK Airport.

The PIA expressed solidarity with the mourning families. The two coffins were meant to be flown to Lahore on October 28, Dawn online reported.

PIA said it "regrets the inconvenience caused due to negligence on part of the airline's ground handling agency... and expresses its sympathies with the family members of the deceased persons".

It was PIA's last New York-Lahore flight as it had just suspended the route, so Etihad Airlines had to step in.

A man who was accompanying the body of his brother, and his family members who were waiting in Lahore, left for New York to locate the body after waiting for two days for any remedial step by the PIA.

"The grieved family had been agonised," said Hasan Mubarak, a relative, who was to receive the body at Lahore airport.

Mubarak said his cousin Nauman Badar, 28, died in the US on October 25. He said the flight arrived at Lahore airport nearly two hours behind its scheduled landing time. And to the utter horror of the waiting family members the body was not found in the luggage area.

They also came across a family from Sialkot who were also trying to find the body of a relative which was expected to reach Lahore by the same flight.

Mubarak said the bodies were enlisted in the cargo list and it was initially found that they were replaced by luggage containing catering items. The bodies lay unattended at JFK Airport for 14 hours and nobody from the PIA knew where they were.

Mubarak said he and his family members contacted the funeral company that had prepared the coffin which actually found the abandoned bodies.

Finally the body of his cousin was retrieved by the funeral company and was being kept in its morgue.

Mubarak said his family members were agonized by the incident. Due to the lack of any commitment by the PIA (as to) how to retrieve the bodies or to transport them to Pakistan, they had to go to New York.

Mubarak's cousin will be buried in Maryland while the other body was being flown by Etihad Airways to Lahore, PIA's statement said.

PIA said it would look after the transfer arrangements, adding that "all expenses will be borne by PIA".

--IANS

soni/bg

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Indian-origin CEOs of tech giants Google and Microsoft condemned the New York terror attack in which at least eight persons were killed and 12 seriously injured after a truck mowed down people on a cycle path in Lower Manhattan in US.

"So sad to see the senseless loss of lives in NYC, thoughts and prayers with everyone affected there. Gratitude to NYPD, FDNY and first responders there #NYCStrong," Google CEO Sundar Pichai tweeted late on Tuesday.

"Our hearts and thoughts are with the victims, their loved ones, and all those in New York City impacted by this horrific act of violence," Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said in a tweet.

Apple CEO Tim Cook also offered condolences on Twitter saying, "Tonight our hearts are with the victims, their families and all the people of New York. Stay safe and stay strong."

The attack took place on Tuesday when the city was celebrating Halloween, one of the most festive days in the New York calendar.

The pavements were crowded with kids in costumes and there were still children trick-or-treating just yards away, the BBC reported.

The spot is also just yards away from Ground Zero, a site which reminds all New Yorkers of the 9/11 attack in 2001. It did not take police long to confirm that the city had once again been the target of terror.

After the collision, the driver exited the vehicle, holding up a paintball gun and a pellet gun. He was shot by a uniformed police officer and was then sent to a hospital.

According to reports, the driver shouted "Allahu Akbar", which means "God is great" in Arabic.

The 29-year-old man who emerged from the white pick-up truck was shot by a police officer and arrested.

The media named him as Sayfullo Habibullaevic Saipov, an Uzbek immigrant who came to the US in 2010 and settled in Florida, a CNN report said.

A note was found in the truck that referred to the Islamic State (IS), a law enforcement source told CBS News.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The BJP on Wednesday hit back at Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi, saying he was exposing himself with his "shallow statements" and knew nothing about the World Bank's take on India's economy and the ease of doing business in the country.

"Should I presume that he has absolutely no knowledge about what world organisations like the World Bank have to say about India's economy," said Union IT and Law Minister Ravishankar Prasad, responding to Gandhi's scathing criticism of the government over the Indian economy.

Addressing a rally in Gujarat, Gandhi criticised the BJP government over its delusion that everything was fine with the economy after the World Bank Ease of Doing Business 2018 report saw India jumping 30 places to the 100th rank among 190 countries.

The bank said the improvement in ranking for India had come on the back of "sustained business reforms" over the last four years.

Gandhi, however, said the BJP government had destroyed Indian economy with the sudden note ban last year and the hastily implemented GST.

Prasad refuted the charges, saying Gandhi was making "fun of the economy" without doing any home work.

"India has been in the range of 130-140. In the last two years, we made it to 131 and 130 spot. This year, we have jumped 30 points to 100.

"Does he know that this is the highest jump any country has made in World Bank's ease of doing business ranking?

"He doesn't do any home work, anyway. Those who do it for him also don't have their facts correct," the minister said.

The BJP leader said Gandhi had no comments to make on the scams that happened during Congress rule.

Prasad also mocked at Gandhi's likely elevation to head the Congress, saying he owed this to "the family he belongs to".

He questioned why the Congress was silent when the NIA found Hurriyat leaders in Kashmir receiving funds from Pakistan to stoke terror in the valley.

"Otherwise, Rahul Gandhi has an opinion on everything or he makes his Pidi to do that," he said, referring to the Congress leader's pet.

"That's his right but now the Congress has to decide where the future of the party lies."

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
India and Russia are set to sign a contract soon for the overhaul of three Mi-26 helicopters for the Indian Air Force, with Moscow also offering long-term maintenance service for IAF's Mi-17 choppers, a Russian official has said.

Russian Helicopters, a part of Rostec State Corporation, is negotiating with the Indian side the financial and technical details of the contract for these overhauls, the official said.

In October, Russian Helicopters completed the repairs of five Mi-17 helicopters and will deliver these to India in the near future for flight tests and repair acceptance.

According to a contract with Rosoboronexport, 30 units of Mi-17 helicopters will be repaired by mid-2018. The repairs will be done in six stages -- five units for each.

The Russians have also offered overhaul service for two Mi-35 helicopters, repair and modernisation of five Ka-31 choppers operated by the Indian Navy, as well as offered to India a long-term agreement for repair and maintenance of the Mi-17 helicopters.

India is one of the largest operators of Russian-made helicopters.

The Mi-17 helicopter fleet of the IAF currently has more than 250 choppers.

The Mi-26, the world's largest load-lifting helicopter, is widely used throughout the world for carrying out transport, evacuation, and fire prevention tasks.

The Mi-26 is capable of transporting up to 20 tonnes of cargo inside its fuselage or on an external suspension.

Russia's Rostec State Corporation was established in 2007 to facilitate development, production and export of high-tech industrial products designed for civilian and military applications. The Corporation comprises over 700 organisations.

--IANS

ao/tsb

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Russia's relations with India are second to none and can't be compared with Kremlin's relations with Pakistan, Russian Ambassador to India Nikolai Kudashev said on Wednesday.

"I do not see any opportunity to equalise relations between Russia and India and Russia and Pakistan. Our relations with India are a special strategic partnership, second to no other country," Kudashev told the media following the India-Russia first tri-service exercise.

The maiden tri-service exercise for India and Russia -- Indra-2017 -- concluded in Russia's Vladivostok on Sunday after 11 days of joint training in counter-terror operations.

The Russian envoy said his country's joint exercises with Pakistan were focused only on anti-terror operations.

"We also have a sincere desire of normal relations with Pakistan. The purpose of the drill was of anti-terror nature, to support reasonable elements in the Pakistan government to counter terror," Kudashev said.

Asked about the Russia-China relationship, and his reaction to China's continuing opposition to declaring and Jaish-e-Muhammad chief and Pathankot terror attack mastermind Masood Azhar a terrorist, Kudashev said China is a "sovereign nation", and added: "We need to fight common threats of terror, drugs and crime to make life easier for all of us".

About his reaction to the India-US-Japan Malabar exercise, he said he was in favour of non-bloc open cooperation.

"My primary preoccupation is our bilateral relations. India is a sovereign nation and can take its own decisions. We would welcome larger non-bloc open regional architectures which will have space for all," Kudashev said.

On the location of the exercise in the eastern part of Russia, an area which is close to China as well as the Korean peninsula, India's Chief of Integrated Defence Staff Lt. Gen. Satish Dua said the location for the exercise was picked by the host Russia, adding that it was possibly because it was possible to carry out land, air and sea exercises there.

Asked if there was any message intended through the exercise, Kudashev said: "The message was friendly."

Asked about the exercise in context of the nuclear threat from North Korea, he said: "As far as the drills are concerned, I do not see any immediate connection."

He however added that Russia would welcome denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula, and resumption of the Six-Party Talks.

Indra 2017 focused on counter terrorism, and saw the participation of more than 900 Indian soldiers, sailors and air warriors along with over 1,000 personnel from the Russian Defence Forces. This is the first time both India and Russia held a tri-service exercise with any other country.

"Exercise Indra 2017 will surely be a benchmark for future exercises of this nature all across the world. The espirit de corps and goodwill generated during the exercise will facilitate further strengthening of bonds between the defence forces of India and Russia enabling them to understand each other's organisations and the methodology of executing joint counter terrorist operations," Lt.Gen. Dua said.

--IANS

ao/vd

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A sedition complaint was filed in a local Dhaka court on Wednesday against Bangladesh opposition leader Khaleda Zia for allegedly holding a "secret meeting" with an official of Pakistan's intelligence agency ISI during her three-month stay in the UK, a media report said.

Bangabandhu Foundation Executive Chairman Mashiur Rahman filed the complaint with the Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's Court on Wednesday.

Khaleda flew to London on July 15 for medical treatment and to spend time with her family. She returned to Dhaka three months later on October 18.

In July, some online news portals reported that BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia had met with the ISI at the St James' Court hotel in London.

Mashiur alleges that the BNP chief held late-night meetings with a Pakistani intelligence official named Zunaid on July 18 and July 19, bdnews24 reported.

Khaleda's meeting was meant to create 'instability in Bangladesh and instigate a state of war between Bangladesh and India', he said.

The Bangabandhu Foundation had made inquiries through their London branch into the allegations and confirmed them after the media reports, Mashiur said.

--IANS

rn

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
In robust support to New Delhi's Act East Policy that aims at greater engagement with Southeast Asia, Singapore has strongly pitched for greater aviation, maritime and digital connectivity between India and the 10-member ASEAN.

"India will have to engage more and not less with southeast Asia," Singapore Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan said at this year's Singapore Symposium on the topic "India, Singapore and Asean: Shared History, Common Future" organised by industry body CII and the Institute of South Asian Studies of the National University of Singapore here on Tuesday evening.

"There is a need for enhanced maritime and aviation connectivity between India and ASEAN," he added.

Balakrishnan said ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) is a global player and is involved in projects in India and Sri Lanka among other places which is why there is a need for more maritime connectivity between the two regions.

"India needs to boldly liberalise its air services," he said, citing figures.

"My favourite statement when I meet Indian bureaucrats on this is the following: interest of state outweighs interest of state airline."

Balakrishnan said that Singapore, with a population of 5.5 million receives more than 16 million tourists every year while India, a country much larger than the city state, only receives half that number.

"If you think about India's size and population, natural resources, and beauty and history and culture, it cannot be that India is content with 8.2 million tourists," he said.

Stating that India is among the five fastest growing aviation markets, he said that a 10 per cent increase in India's air connectivity can increase India's economy by $600 million.

"A more liberalised air services regime will create an entire ecosystem of airports, infrastructure, tourism and business services industry," he stated

Balakrishnan also stressed on digital connectivity, saying it can completely transform the way financial transactions are executed, reducing human interventions and enhancing efficiency.

"We hope that there will be more interaction between Singapore, ASEAN and India vis-a-vis digital connectivity," he said.

He called for linking of Indian and Singaporean electronic payment systems and creation of smart financial centres.

The Singapore Foreign Minister said the city state is the hub for India to do trade with the ASEAN regional bloc.

"In 2016, India was Singapore's 10th largest trading partner, while Singapore is the second largest foreign investor in India," he said.

Balakrishnan said these investments prove that Singapore has always been a strong believer in India's future.

--IANS

ab/amit/vm

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Are you a chain smoker? Beware, smoking cigarettes can have a direct effect on your intestines, leading to the risk of developing Crohn's disease -- a chronic inflammatory bowel disease that affects the lining of the digestive tract -- warned a study.

The findings showed that inflammation in the lungs caused by smoking affects the intestines as the "airways and the intestinal system have a lot in common".

"Crohn's disease is more likely to occur in people with airway diseases, suggesting that inflammation in the lungs is linked with inflammation in the gut," said Hyunsu Bae from the Kyung Hee University in Seoul, South Korea.

Smoking also increases the levels of CD4+ T cells -- a type of white blood cell -- which were releasing a pro-inflammatory protein called interferon-gamma.

These white blood cells activated by cigarette smoke in the lungs, travel to the colon to cause colitis -- an inflammation of the colon resembling Crohn's disease.

"Our results suggest that cigarette smoking activates specific white blood cells in the lung, which might later move to the colon, triggering bowel inflammation," explained Jinju Kim from the varsity.

"Smokers, especially those who also have bowel disease, should reduce their smoking."

For the study, published in the journal Frontiers in Immunology, the team exposed mice to smoke from twenty cigarettes a day, six days a week, for a few weeks. The researchers then examined the presence of inflammation in the mice's lungs and colons.

Compared with mice exposed to clean air, mice exposed to cigarette smoke showed significant inflammation in their lungs.

The researchers also found increased levels of mucus and inflammation in the colon, and blood in the faeces of the smoke-exposed mice.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday expressed shock and horror at a boiler blast in an NTPC plant in her constituency of Rae Bareli that has killed several people and asked party workers to help in the relief operations.

Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi also expressed sadness at the tragedy.

"I express shock and horror at the terrible tragedy in Rae Bareli, where many people lost their lives in a boiler blast in NTPC and several others injured today," Sonia Gandhi said in a statement.

Conveying her deepest condolences to the families of the bereaved, the Congress President urged the authorities to provide immediate medical assistance to the injured.

She asked party workers to provide help in relief operations and provide all possible assistance to the families of the injured.

Sonia Gandhi represents Rae Bareli in Lok Sabha.

At least eight persons were killed and more than 40 injured in an explosion at a boiler unit of the National Thermal Power Corporation in Uttar Pradesh's Rae Bareli district on Wednesday evening.

Rahul Gandhi in a statement said, "I am saddened by the incident at the Rae Bareli's NTPC plant. My heartfelt condolences with the family of the dead. I request the administration to help the injured immediately."

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
South African Members of Parliament (MPs) have voiced concern over an increase in the murder rate, saying the society must find ways to deal with it head-on.

The increase in the murder rate is "totally unacceptable," Chairperson of Parliament's Portfolio Committee on Police Francois Beukman said on Tuesday, Xinhua news agency reported.

"When communities do not feel safe and live in fear, the country's economic development and the people's well-being are affected," Beukman said in response to crime statistics released last week by Police Minister Fikile Mbalula.

South Africa has seen a rise in violent crimes in the 2016/2017 financial year, with murders up 1.8 per cent, Mbalula said while presenting crime statistics to the Portfolio Committee on Police.

According to the figures, 19,016 murders were recorded in 2016/2017.

"The solutions to the high murder rate will not be found in our rules of criminal procedure or laws regulating immigration. The recipe to addressing the problem lies in a partnership among all social structures to build a better life for ourselves and cooperation with our neighbours," Beukman said.

To deal with crime and violence, a partnership between police and communities remains central, he added.

The fight against crime and the high murder rate require a re-focus by the South African Police Service (SAPS) on crime prevention, detection and crime intelligence that will contribute to the reduction of the murder rate, Beukman said.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
From National Award winning directors Madhur Bhandarkar and Nila Madhab Panda to actresses Huma Qureshi and Esha Gupta -- Indian film celebrities condemned the terror attack in New York that left eight people dead.

Twelve persons were also injured after a truck ploughed into pedestrians in Lower Manhattan in New York on Tuesday. The suspect has been arrested.

New York has been among the top favourite destination for Bollywood celebrities, who thronged the city this year when it hosted the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) extravaganza.

Here's what the celebrities tweeted:

Madhur Bhandarkar: Shocked and grieved by the news of Manhattan attack. My deepest condolences and prayers for the victims and their families.

Vishal Dadlani: Terrorists do not have any religion except hatred. When we hate each other because of their deeds, they win. That's exactly what they want.

Vivek Oberoi: Strongly condemn the horrendous Manhattan attack. My prayers go out to those who lost their lives and loved ones in this terrible tragedy.

Nila Madhab Panda: Shocked!!! To hear about the Manhattan attack... Condemn it in strongest terms... My thoughts and prayers for everyone in New York.

Huma Qureshi: So sad, cowardly and inhuman! I will always (love) New York.

Kunal Kohli: How do we fight this? We have security at airports and malls. They use trucks, cars and knives on the street. How do we stop this? NYC strong.

Ashoke Pandit: Sad to know about the terrorist attack in New York. Condolences to bereaved families and will pray fr speedy recovery of d injured.

Esha Gupta: Thoughts and prayers for everyone in New York right now.

--IANS

dc/rb/mr

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Wednesday called on Bhutanese King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, who, along with Queen Jetsun Pema Wangchuk and Prince Jigme Namgyal Wangchuk, is on a four-day goodwill visit to India.

"#EverlastingFriendship. EAM @SushmaSwaraj calls on His Majesty the King of Bhutan. The Royal family is on a 4-day goodwill visit to India," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted.

The Bhutanese royal family's visit assumes significance in the wake of the standoff between Indian and Chinese troops in the Doklam region of Bhutan.

Indian and Chinese troops were locked in an over two-month-long standoff at the Doklam plateau in Bhutan.

The crisis, which erupted in June over Chinese moves to build a road in an area claimed by Bhutan, ended in August, with both sides deciding to "disengage" from the face-off point.

While India and Bhutan said that Beijing's move violated the status quo in the India-Bhutan-China international trijunction, China claimed that it was its territory.

Sushma Swaraj also greeted Prince Jigme Namgyel Wangchuck, who is going to turn two next year.

"#Adorableguest. EAM @SushmaSwaraj greets the Gyalsey (Prince) of Bhutan on his first visit to India as His Majesty and Her Majesty look on," Kumar said in a separate tweet along with a picture.

There are a number of institutional mechanisms between India and Bhutan in areas such as security, border management, trade, transit, economic, hydro-power, development cooperation and water resources.

India has set up three hydroelectric projects (HEPs) in Bhutan totalling 1,416 MW, which are operational and exporting surplus power to India. About three-fourths of the power generated is exported and the rest is used for domestic consumption.

India is Bhutan's largest trading partner. In 2016, bilateral trade stood at Rs 8,723 crore with total imports being Rs 5,528.5 crore (82 per cent of Bhutan's total imports) and exports recorded at Rs 3,205.2 crore including electricity (90 per cent of Bhutan's total exports).

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
US President Donald Trump has ordered extreme vetting of foreign nationals after it was revealed that the perpetrator of an attack in New York City that killed eight people was an immigrant from Uzbekistan.

"I have just ordered Homeland Security to step up our already Extreme Vetting Programme. Being politically correct is fine, but not for this!" Trump wrote on Twitter on Tuesday night.

The President did not specify which programme he was referring to in his tweet nor the measures it entailed.

The White House also did not offer any explanations regarding the announcement.

A few hours earlier, Trump had referred to the Islamic State terror group in another tweet although the organisation has not yet claimed the New York City attack.

Police found a note left by the alleged attacker vowing allegiance to the Islamic State (IS).

"We must not allow ISIS to return, or enter, our country after defeating them in the Middle East and elsewhere. Enough!" Trump wrote.

The US media identified the suspect of Tuesday's multiple hit-and-run in New York City as Sayfullo Saipov, a 29-year-old Uzbek national.

According to ABC News, Saipov entered the US seven years ago under a programme which offered a lottery for people from countries with few immigrants to America.

According to witnesses of the incident, the attacker yelled "Allahu Akbar" ("God is great") when he came out of the pickup truck he was driving after it crashed into a school bus after he had run over dozens of people.

--IANS

soni/bg

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Two girls died on Wednesday due to electrocution in Kodungaiyur in Chennai as heavy rains pounded the city and suburban areas as well as coastal districts of Tamil Nadu for a third day.

Bhavna and Vijayshri, both eight years old, were electrocuted when they stepped on a power cable covered by stagnant rain water in R.R. Nagar.

Another girl escaped after she jumped on a cement slab. The girls were playing near their home as the schools were closed because of the rains.

Eight officials of the Electricity Board, including an Executive Engineer and an Assistant Engineer, were suspended for dereliction of duty, Electricity Minister S.P. Velumani told reporters.

He also announced a solatium of Rs 2 lakh for the kin of the dead.

He said leakage of electricity from the wire from an open pillar box was the reason for the girls' electrocution. A five-member group has been set up in the Electricity Board that would ensure that such incidents do not recur, he added.

Velumani said chances of electrocution were less in Chennai because of underground cabling of electric wires but the accident took place because of the lack of proper upkeep of the pillar box. There were 40,000 such pillar boxes in the city, he added.

Angry residents staged a protest condemning government negligence. They complained that the negligence of the pillar box despite their complaints was the reason for the death of the girls.

As rains continued to lash Chennai and suburbs, low lying areas especially in Mudichur and Selaiyur near Tambaram were marooned.

Varadarajapuram near Mudichur, one of the worst hit areas in the 2015 floods, again presented a picture of plight as residents started leaving for safer places.

The Met office has predicted intermittent rains in Chennai, Kanchipuram and Tiruvallur districts for Thursday.

Schools in these districts were closed for a second consecutive day on Wednesday owing to rains. They were closed on Tuesday owing to rains on Monday.

The weather department has also predicted rain or thundershowers at most places over coastal Tamil Nadu and Puducherry and at many places over interior Tamil Nadu for the next four days.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
House Republicans have decided to delay the release of the bill that would overhaul the US tax code until Thursday, a Republican lawmaker said.

"Ways and Means Committee Members met tonight to discuss the work we are doing on pro-growth tax reform. In consultation with President Trump and our leadership team, we have decided to release the bill text on Thursday," Xinhua quoted the committee's chairman, Kevin Brady, as saying in a statement on Tuesday night.

The committee had planned to release the tax bill on Wednesday. The delay revealed the difficulties Republicans had in resolving how to raise enough money to pay for the massive corporate tax cuts, said analysts.

The unified framework for tax reform that the Donald Trump administration and congressional Republican leaders released last month had called for slashing corporate tax rates to 20 per cent from the current 35 per cent.

According to estimates from the Tax Foundation, a Washington policy group, the corporate tax cut would cost 1.6 trillion USD over a decade.

The Republican leaders are exploring measures to limit the tax bill's net revenue loss to 1.5 trillion dollars in a decade to satisfy the parameters of the budget resolution that the House and Senate have approved.

During a meeting with industry leaders at the White House on Tuesday, Trump said that he wanted to sign a tax bill by Christmas, setting an ambitious timetable for the Republican-controlled Congress.

"I want the House to pass a bill by Thanksgiving. I want all the people standing by my side when we sign by Christmas."

Trump and Republican leaders are under pressure to deliver a major legislative victory on tax reform before next year's Congressional mid-term elections, as they have failed to pass a bill to repeal and replace the controversial Obamacare earlier in the year.

--IANS

amit/bg

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A massive explosion ripped a boiler in the state-run power giant NTPC's Unchahar plant in Uttar Pradesh's Rae Bareli district today, killing at least sixteen persons while scores suffered severe burn injuries, officials said.

The NTPC initiated a probe to ascertain the reasons behind the blast while Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced Rs 2 lakh compensation for the families of those killed and Rs 50,000 for the grievously injured, they added.

Sixteen persons have died while 90 to 100 were injured in the explosion at NTPC's Unchahar plant, UP's Principal Secretary (Home) Arvind Kumar said.

In a statement, the NTPC said that at around 1530 hrs at unit number six of its Unchahar plant, there was a sudden abnormal sound at 20 meters elevation.

There was an opening in corner number two from which hot flue gases and steam escaped affecting the people working around the area, the central public sector undertaking said.

It added that around 80 people were rushed to NTPC hospital, most of them were discharged after giving first-aid.

Union Power minister R K Singh, through social media posts, expressed deep anguish at the loss of lives and said that he had directed the NTPC Chairman and Managing Director Gurdeep Singh to rush to the site.

The Unchahar sub-division in Raebareli district is around 110 km from the state capital.

UP's ADG (Law and Order) Anand Kumar said that all available ambulances were pressed into action and the additional district magistrate and the additional superintendent of police were on the spot to supervise relief and rescue operations.

Chief Minister Adityanath, who was away in Mauritius on a three-day official visit, ordered that necessary steps be taken for rescue and relief.

The CM has taken cognisance of the Unchahar accident and has directed principal secretary (home) to ensure that all steps are taken for rescue and relief, principal secretary (information) Awanish Awasthi, who is accompanying Adityanath, said.

"The chief minister expressed his condolences over the deaths of workers in the Unchahar NTPC unit and announced Rs 2 lakh compensation for the family of those killed and Rs 50,000 for the grievously injured besides Rs 25,000 for other injured workers," Awasthi said.

A National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team was also despatched to the explosion site from the state capital for relief and rescue operations, an official said.

The explosion triggered panic among the employees who ran helter-skelter.

Such explosions can generate searing heat, an official said.

An injured employee undergoing treatment at a hospital said that a sudden gush of hot gas with contents of ash-like material engulfed him at the NTPC plant.

The man said he was unable to understand what had happened and found himself on a hospital bed with his body scalded all over, when he regained consciousness.

The plant area was cordoned off by the police to facilitate smooth running of ambulances.

Congress president Sonia Gandhi expressed shock and horror at the "terrible tragedy" in her Lok Sabha constituency Raebareli. Conveying her deepest condolences to the families of the bereaved, Gandhi urged upon the authorities to provide immediate medical assistance to the injured.

District Magistrate Sanjay Kumar Khatri told PTI that 40 ambulances were immediately pressed into service.

Chief Medical Officer, Raebareli, DK Singh along with a team of ten doctors were deployed to carry out immediate treatment to the injured, he said.

He also said that arrangements have been made to bring the serious cases to KGMU hospital and Civil hospital in Lucknow. Some of the injured were being sent to Raebareli, Khatri said.

CMO Singh said that if necessary some of the critical cases could be referred to Delhi by air ambulance.

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Two Indian nationals were arrested today with an automatic pistol after they allegedly opened fire at a restaurant here, the police said.

Jasbir Singh and Arbind Singh were arrested from Kamalpokhari area with an automatic pistol, a senior police official at Kathmandu Metropolitan Police Circle said.

Local media, however, reported on their online portal that three Indian nationals have been arrested.

The police said that they were yet to ascertain the reason of them opening fire but suspect they might have done so following some dispute.

They entered Kathmandu from SunauliBhairahawa border point in Uttar Pradesh yesterday, the police said, adding that it is not known if they had brought the gun with them.

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Two suspected drug peddlers were arrested for allegedly possessing heroin worth Rs 2.08 crore from Sion here, police said today.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (ANC) Shivdeep Lande told PTI that last night sleuths attached to the Worli Unit of Anti Narcotics Cell laid a trap near Welfare Villa after receiving a tip-off.

The police seized at least 2.08 kg of heroin, worth Rs 2.08 crore in the Indian market, from Gautamshing Omkarshingh (55) and Bunty Ali Quadarat Ali (23) following which they were arrested, he said.

They hailed from Jhalawar district of Rajasthan and had come to the megapolis to sale heroin, Lande said.

A case under relevant sections of The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 was registered. The accused were today produced in a local court which remanded them to police custody till November 9, said Senior Police Inspector of ANC Worli Unit Ninad Sawant.

Sawant claimed the accused had revealed that they were getting heroin from a person who was supplying the contraband in Rajasthan from the last 15 years.

Meanwhile, sources said the ANC sleuths were investigating whether the drugs was brought from Pakistan border or from the suppliers in Madhya Pradesh.

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An explosion ripped a boiler in the state-run power giant NTPC's Unchahar plant in Uttar Pradesh's Rae Bareli district killing at least four persons while scores suffered severe burn injuries, police said.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed his condolences over the deaths and announced Rs 2 lakh compensation for the family of those killed and Rs 50,000 for the grievously injured, an official said.

"Four deaths have been confirmed by the district administration. The toll might go up," ADG (Law and Order) Anand Kumar said.

He said around 40-50 people received burn injuries, and the condition of some of them was serious. All of them were being rushed to hospitals for treatment, he added.

The Unchahar sub-division in Raebareli district is around 110 km from the state capital.

ADG Kumar said that all available ambulances were pressed into action and the additional district magistrate and the additional superintendent of police were on the spot to supervise relief and rescue operations.

SP Shivhari Meena told PTI that as per initial reports "50-60 persons suffered injuries" due to the explosion.

Chief Minister Adityanath, who was away in Mauritius on a three-day official visit, ordered that necessary steps be taken for rescue and relief.

The CM has taken cognisance of the Unchahar accident and has directed principal secretary (home) to ensure that all steps are taken for rescue and relief, principal secretary (information) Awanish Awasthi, who is accompanying Adityanath, said.

"The chief minister expressed his condolences over the deaths of workers in the Unchahar NTPC unit and announced Rs 2 lakh compensation for the family of those killed and Rs 50,000 for the grievously injured besides Rs 25,000 for other injured workers," Awasthi said.

Meena said that relief and rescue operations were launched immediately and the injured were being rushed to nearby hospitals.

A National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team was also despatched to the explosion site from Lucknow for relief and rescue operations, an official said.

The explosion triggered panic among the employees who ran helter-skelter.

The district administration rushed ambulances to the spot and directed health officials to provide prompt treatment to the injured.

The NTPC, in a statement after the incident, said that "an unfortunate accident in the boiler of 500MW under trial unit of NTPC Unchahar occurred this afternoon. Rescue operations are underway in close coordination with the district administration. Injured persons are being shifted to the nearby hospitals".

The NTPC's senior management is rushing to the site to coordinate the efforts, the statement added.

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At least eight people were killed and 11 other injured in Lower Manhattan today after a gunman in a truck plowed through a busy bike path, an incident the US termed as an "act of terrorism".

The suspect, a 29-year-old man, was shot in the stomach before being arrested.

US President Donald Trump denounced the attack, saying "we must not allow ISIS to return".

"In NYC, looks like another attack by a very sick and deranged person. Law enforcement is following this closely. NOT IN THE U.S.A.!" Trump tweeted.

"We must not allow ISIS to return, or enter, our country after defeating them in the Middle East and elsewhere. Enough!" he said in another tweet.

The New York Police Department said the suspect drove down his truck south on the path striking multiple people.

"Eight people were killed, 11 have serious but non-life- threatening injuries," the police said.

The incident that took place in Manhattan, the most densely populated of New York City's 5 boroughs, has sent shocking waves across the country.

"The President has been briefed on the incident in NYC by Chief of Staff (John) Kelly and will be continually updated as more details are known. Our thoughts and prayers are with all those affected," White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders.

Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Elaine Duke has been briefed on the apparent act of terrorism that occurred in New York City, an official statement said.

The department is closely monitoring the situation and working with federal, state and local partners in responding to and investigating this tragedy.

"We are referring all questions about the investigation to the FBI and the New York Police Department," the statement said.

"We have recently seen attacks like this one throughout the world.DHS and its law enforcement partners remain vigilant and committed to safeguarding the American people," it said.

According to the police, at approximately 3:05 pm (local time) the suspect drove a rented Home Depot truck onto the bike and pedestrian path at West St/Houston St driving south.

While driving south on the path the truck collided with a school bus at West St & Chambers St. After colliding with the school bus, the man exited holding two firearms. An officer assigned to the area fired, striking him in the stomach, the police said.

"The driver of the truck was taken into custody. A paintball gun and pellet gun were recovered from the scene," the police said.

Following a briefing from FBI officials, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer as one of thousands of New Yorkers who regularly rides on the path where this attack took place, he is grateful to the NYPD and first responders who work day in and day out to keep people, and to those that responded to the scene today.

"As the investigation unfolds, it's critical that we learn what we can from this incident and do everything we can to prevent this from happening again. The scourge of terrorism is unfortunately still with us, and we must remain vigilant as ever," Schumer said.

This evening, all Americans were "horrified and heartbroken" by the despicable act of terror in Manhattan, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said.

"Tonight and in the days ahead, we join in mourning the dead, praying for the wounded, and sending our love to the people of New York City," she said.

"Aswe await further news, we must continue to be smart and strong to keep the American people safe, not reckless and rash.Our nation's courage and resilience will always defeat the hatred and violence of terrorists," Pelosi said.

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Actor Jeremy Piven is the latest Hollywood figure to be accused of sexual harassment by a woman.

The "Entourage" actor has been accused of sexual misconduct by TV actor Ariane Bellamar, who accused Piven of groping her.

Piven has denied the allegations against him in a statement to Deadline.

The revelations against Piven prompted CBS, the studio behind Piven's "Wisdom of the Crowd" and HBO to issue statements.

"We are aware of the media reports and are looking into the matter," CBS stated in its statement.

HBO also issued a statement following Bellamar's allegations, saying, "Today, via the press reports, is the first we are hearing about Ariane Bellamar's allegations concerning Jeremy Piven."



The studio also said that it has a policy of zero tolerance towards sexual harassment.

"Everyone at HBO and our productions is aware that zero tolerance for sexual harassment is our policy. Anyone experiencing an unsafe working environment has several avenues for making complaints that we take very seriously," it added.

Piven joins the growing list of Hollywood figures to be accused of sexual harassment which started with media mogul Harvey Weinstein.

Actor Kevin Spacey and director James Toback have also been accused of sexual harassment recently.

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Air Force Chief B S Dhanoa is on a five-day visit to Vietnam to enhance bilateral ties, the Air Force said today.

Air Chief Marshal B S Dhanoa is on an official visit to Vietnam from October 30 to November 3. "Aim of visit is to improve Bilateral Relations & #DefenceCooperation," the official handle of the Indian Air Force tweeted.

Last month, Navy chief Sunil Lanba had undertaken a four-day visit to the Southeast Asian nation. The aim of his visit was to "consolidate cooperation" between the armed forces of India and Vietnam and also to "explore new avenues of defence cooperation".

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Seasoned diplomat Ajay Bisaria, currently the Indian ambassador to Poland, has been appointed the country's top envoy to Pakistan.

This was announced by the external affairs ministry tonight.

The 1987-batch IFS officer will succeed Gautam Bambawale, who was last month posted to China.

"He is expected to take up his assignment shortly," the ministry said in an official statement.

Bisaria's posting comes at a time when there is chill in Indo-Pak ties following a series of terror strikes in India, including Uri and Pathankot attacks, by Pakistan-based terror groups.

India had also pulled out of the SAARC summit, to be hosted by Pakistan last year, citing cross-border terrorism from that country.

After training at the Foreign Service Institute here, Bisaria chose Russian as his language of specialisation and was posted at the Indian Embassy in Moscow (1988-1991) where he was attached to the economic and political wings of the Embassy.

Bisaria also held position of the private Secretary to the prime minister from 1999 to 2004.

From January 2015, he has served as India's Ambassador to Poland, based in Warsaw, with concurrent accreditation to Lithuania.

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In a relief to former Uttar Pradesh minister Azam Khan, the Allahabad High Court today set aside a defamation case filed against him in a court here by an IPS officer for alleged use of defamatory language at a press conference in Rampur.

The Lucknow bench of the high court noted that there was no prima facie evidence in the case filed by Amitabh Thakur in the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate here to issue summons to Khan.

Holding that there is no direct witness to the statements alleged to have been made by Khan, the bench said the value of admission of guilt in criminal cases differed at different stages.

Hence, the high court quashed the summoning order and the arrest warrant issued against Khan.

The order has been passed by Justice Pratyush Kumar on the petition of the former minister.

It was pleaded on behalf of Khan that Thakur had nowhere stated in the complaint as to what were the defamatory remarks made by the former minister against him at the press conference in November 2015.

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Andy Dick has been sacked from horror comedy "Vampire Dad" after the actor was accused of sexual harassment by members from the cast.

Producer of the film, Kathryn Moseley, took cognisance of a report about the 51-year-old actor's misconduct, involving at least four members of the production on another film "Raising Buchanan" - an acting job he lost.

According to Moseley, Dick was escorted off the sets due to his "multiple, flagrant acts of improper conduct and inappropriate contact with several crew members."



Resembling his act on the sets of "Raising Buchanan", Dick turned up one day late on "Vampire Dads" after he missed his flight, made advances on several people and was admittedly "loopy" after overdosing on Xanax, a drug prescribed for anxiety and panic attacks.

This triggered his exit from the show, Moseley told The Hollywood Reporter.

The producer did not reveal the details of the actor's alleged behaviour but she said the matter is being investigated by a Beverly Hills law firm.

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The Congress-led UDF today launched a month-long march - Padayaorukkam - against the "anti-people" policies of the CPI(M)-headed LDF government in Kerala and the BJP dispensation at the Centre.

The march, being led by senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala, was flagged off by Congress working committee member A K Antony at Uppala in northernmost Kasaragod district this evening.

This is third such march being undertaken in Kerala after the BJP's 'Janaraksha Yatra' and LDF's 'Janajagratha March'.

Party sources said the march is expected to cover 140 assembly constituencies during which signatures against the "misdeeds" of the two governments will be collected.

The march will conclude at Thiruvanathapuram on December 1, when Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi is likely to address party workers, they said.

In his address, Antony said the march is a "strong warning" to the Modi government which had "caused immense hardships" to the common man through its several policies, including demonetisation and GST.

Hitting out at the BJP government at the Centre, Antony said the hike in LPG prices had made the life of common man difficult.

"This is a birthday gift which the Centre has given to Kerala on its formation day today," he said.

Attacking the Pinarayi Vijayan government for its "anti- people policies and politics of violence," he alleged it was maintaining a "soft" approach towards BJP-RSS.

The two governments have only one aim -- that in the next Lok Sabha elections, the strength of UDF MPs should decrease, Antony said.

He also alleged that the CPI(M)'s aim was to help the BJP grow in Kerala and to not allow opposition unity against the Modi government at the national-level.

Former chief minister Oommen Chandy, IUML leader and MP, P K Kunhalikutty, AICC general secretary in-charge of Kerala, Mukul Wasnick, and leaders of the coalition partners were among those present at the inaugural function.

The march has been launched at a time the government is set to table in the state assembly a judicial commission report on the alleged solar scam at a special one-day session on November 9.

The government has decided to initiate vigilance probe against senior Congress leaders, including Chandy, on the basis of the report.

Several central Congress leaders, including P Chidambaram, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Anand Sharma, Sachin Pilot, and chief ministers of Punjab, Karnataka and Puducherry are expected to address rallies during the 30-day march.

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Argentine nationals were among the eight people killed in the New York truck attack today, the foreign ministry said, as its consulate works with local authorities to identify the victims.

The Argentinian government is "deeply shocked by the death of the compatriots and is working to help the relatives and friends of the victims," the foreign ministry said, declining to indicate how many of its nationals had died.

"Argentina reaffirms its strongest condemnation of terrorist acts and violence in all its manifestations and reiterates the need to deepen the fight against this scourge," it added in the statement.

US officials said eleven people were also seriously hurt in the first deadly attack on the city since the September 11, 2001 Al-Qaeda hijackings.

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The 14th edition of Asian Conference on Diarrhoeal Diseases and Nutrition concluded here with delegates and investigators discussing measures for combating the diseases in a concerted manner.

A salient feature of the three-day international conclave was the participation of 100 young investigators besides 300 delegates from 14 countries, who discussed, in particular, diarrhoea, which has emerged as a major killer disease for children below the age of five.

Dr Firdausi Qadri from Bangladesh assumed charge as the new President post the conference.

The next edition of the ASCODD will be conducted in Bangladesh, organisers said in a release here.

"The 2017 edition of ASCODD has been successful. I am happy to see more youngsters stepping in with newer studies on diarrhoeal diseases. We covered around 10 different areas of diarrhoeal diseases in this edition and would expand more in the next," Qadri said in her concluding address.

The poster presentation at the three-day conference showcased different studies on nature as a source of chemical diversity.

A group of scientists and research scholars from Manipal University presented a poster on anti-microbial activity of young immature coconuts for combating some strains of Vibrio Cholerae, a bacterium that grows in brackish or saltwater and causes cholera.

Over 61 scientists from countries, including the UK, the US, Bangladesh, Germany, India, France and Sweden, attended the conference.

The conference was organised by the Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology in association with International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (ICDDR,B); Translational Health Science and Technology Institute (THSTI), Faridabad; the INCLEN Trust International (INCLEN INT) and the National Institute of Cholera and Enteric Diseases (NICED), Kolkata.

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Assam government today signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) and Terms of Reference (ToR) with Singapore for skilling youth of the state.

The MoU and ToR for North East Skills Centre (NESC) was signed between Skill, Employment and Entrepreneurship Department, of Assam government and ITE Education Service, Singapore in the presence of Foreign Affairs Minister of Singapore Dr Vivian Balakrishnan and Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal here.

An MoU for Guwahati City Greening was inked between the Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority and Singapore Corporation Enterprise.

The Singapore Foreign Affairs Minister termed the occasion as the beginning of a lasting friendship which would be beneficial for both Assam and Singapore.

"Assam is a beautiful land with hills and mountains which are full of greenery. This land is strategically located and has huge potential. We are mandated by the Prime Ministers of both the countries to work for mutual growth", Balakrishnan said.

He further mentioned, "As the economy in the world is rapidly transforming, it is important to provide jobs and skills to our youth. Singapore is partnering with Assam to train the trainers to amplify the impact of the training centre".

Taking part in the signing ceremony of MoUs and ToR, Sonowal expressed the hope that the signing of MoUs between Governments of Assam and Singapore would open new vistas for the youth and requested the Singapore Government to join hands for more such collaborations in future.

Sonowal said Assam Government aims to create a workforce empowered with upgraded skills, knowledge and internationally recognised qualifications to gain access to employment and ensure India's competitiveness in the dynamic global market with support from Singapore Government.

Informing that the state government will provide skill development training to 78,500 poor rural youths during 2016-19 under the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDUJKY), Sonowal expressed the view that the partnership with Singapore would greatly boost the initiative.

"As the state aspires to become the new engine of growth for the country through Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Act East Policy, I am glad to acknowledge Singapore's cooperation towards achieving this goal by skilling our youth through Technical & Vocational Education and Training (TVET) system to usher in a period of rapid socio-economic development by sharing knowledge and building capacity", he said.

The NESC will train up to a total of 400 students each year who would contribute towards generating a skilled human resource pool, the chief minister added.

Sonowal further stated the state government has initiated an innovative project for beautification of Guwahati city and improvement of quality of life of its inhabitants through a Project called 'Guwahati Open Space and Park Integrator (GOPI) Network'.

"Guwahati has a large number of water bodies, open spaces, parks which can be holistically developed as one large potential area for green space.

This unique project is sought to be designed and developed on the model of "Park Connector Network" being implemented by National Park Authority in Singapore", he said.

Highlighting the immense natural resources of the state and its tourism potential, Sonowal sought Singapore government's cooperation for showcasing it to global audience.

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Months after his party fought the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls in alliance with the BSP's arch-rival SP, senior Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia today appeared to be reaching out to Mayawati while he tore into the BJP for "growing attacks" on Dalits in Madhya Pradesh as well as the rest of the country.

"I cannot utter the words that were used by some BJP leaders against bahen (sister) Mayawati in Uttar Pradesh. Had someone from the Congress done this, the leader would have been expelled from the party," Scindia told a Dalit convention organised by his party in Mungaoli in Ashoknagar district.

Scindia was apparently referring to Uttar Pradesh BJP leader Dayashankar Singh, who was booked last year for allegedly using derogatory words against the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo.

Singh was booked under the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and suspended from the party posts. However, his suspension was revoked after his wife won the Assembly polls in March this year.

In his address, Scindia, the Congress chief whip in the Lok Sabha, cited different incidents of "rising atrocities on Dalits across the country".

Raking up the Una incident in Gujarat wherein some Dalit youths were flogged last year, allegedly by cow vigilantes, Scindia said the BJP has destroyed the social accord and communal harmony in the society.

"BJP has shattered the communal harmony in the country. BJP was looking for the caste of Rohith Vemula (a Dalit student of the University of Hyderabad) instead of expressing regret when he killed himself. Atrocities against women and Dalits have gone up since the BJP came to power in Madhya Pradesh," the Guna MP said.

Scindia said "atrocities against Dalits" have also risen in Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan's Assembly constituency Budhni.

"Atrocities against Dalits have reached such a level that 50 Dalits in Chouhan's own constituency have asked for euthanasia. A Dalit woman had committed suicide with a child in Budhni," he said.

Madhya Pradesh is going to polls next year.

Scindia alleged that the BJP wanted to finish reservation in education and government jobs for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes..

"BJP wanted to end reservation. But we will not allow them to do so," he said.

Scindia's attempt to woo Dalits is in line with the party vice-president Rahul Gandhi's outreach to backward classes.

In poll-bound Gujarat, the Congress is trying to win over Dalit leader Jignesh Mevani in a bid to corner the ruling BJP in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's home state.

Scindia termed as "sham" the state government's newly- introduced 'Mukhyamantri Bhavantar Bhugtan Yojana (MBBY) which seeks to compensate farmers when prices fall below the MSP, saying it is not going to benefit farmers.

Earlier in the day, when asked about the clean chit given to Chouhan by the CBI in the Vyapam scam case, Scindia said, "We should wait for the court's verdict. We should not conclude on the basis of the CBI's submission."



The central investigation agency filed the charge sheet in a Bhopal court yesterday.

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Author Anna Graham Hunter has accused veteran Hollywood star Dustin Hoffman of sexually harassing her while she interned as a production assistant on the set of the television film "The Death of a Salesman".

Hunter was 17 at that time.

In an article written for The Hollywood Reporter, Hunter included the notes that she took as a teenager detailing what transpired on the sets in the fives weeks she was there.

The author said she still feels conflicted about the incident and was encouraged not to talk about it at that time.

"This is a story I've told so often I'm sometimes surprised when someone I know hasn't heard it. It begins, 'Dustin Hoffman sexually harassed me when I was 17'," she wrote.

Hunter said she was a senior in high school in New York City, interning as a production assistant. Hoffman asked her to give him a foot massage on her first day on the set and she did.

"He was openly flirtatious, he grabbed my ass, he talked about sex to me and in front of me. One morning I went to his dressing room to take his breakfast order; he looked at me and grinned, taking his time. Then he said, 'I'll have a hard- boiled egg... and a soft-boiled clitoris'.

"His entourage burst out laughing. I left, speechless. Then I went to the bathroom and cried. The first several times I told this story, I left out the soft-boiled clitoris. When I finally started including it, my voice sometimes broke. But it got easier."



Hunter, 49, said she loved being on the set, which also included John Malkovich, Arthur Miller and Charles Durnng.

"And yes, I loved the attention from Dustin Hoffman. Until I didn't," she said.

"I understand what Dustin Hoffman did as it fits into the larger pattern of what women experience in Hollywood and everywhere. He was a predator, I was a child, and this was sexual harassment," she added.

Contacted by The Hollywood Reporter, Hoffman responded, "I have the utmost respect for women and feel terrible that anything I might have done could have put her in an uncomfortable situation. I am sorry. It is not reflective of who I am.

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Axed Catalan separatist leader Carles Puigdemont's lawyer confirmed today that his client will spurn a Madrid court summons to be grilled about alleged rebellion and sedition in his quest for independence.

"He will not go to Madrid and I have suggested that he be questioned here in Belgium," Belgian lawyer Paul Bekaert told Spanish television channel TV3.

Puigdemont, currently in Brussels, and 13 other members of his dismissed Catalan cabinet were told late yesterday to be at Spain's top criminal court today and tomorrow.

The court wants to question them in an investigation over Catalonia's independence drive, which has plunged Spain into its biggest crisis in decades.

On Monday, Spain's chief prosecutor said he was seeking charges of rebellion -- punishable by up to 30 years behind bars -- sedition and misuse of public funds.

The hearing by the National Court, which deals with major criminal cases, could see the 14 formally charged.

Oriol Junqueras, Puigdemont's deputy, will attend, a spokesman for his party said. But it was unclear if others would do too.

Bekaert, a Belgian lawyer hired by Puigdemont, told Dutch broadcaster NOS late yesterday that if his new client travelled to Spain there is a "good chance that he would be detained".

Bekaert also told Flemish-language Belgian TV channel VTM that he did not foresee Puigdemont returning "within the coming weeks".

If Puigdemont, 54, and the others fail to appear before the court, Spanish prosecutors could order their arrest. An international warrant could follow if they are abroad.

Yesterday Puigdemont told a packed conference in Brussels -- before the court summons was announced -- that he would not return until he had guarantees that legal proceedings would be impartial.

He insisted his cabinet remained "legitimate" despite having been dismissed by Madrid on Friday and said he was in Brussels "for safety purposes and freedom".

"We want to denounce the politicisation of the Spanish justice system... and to explain to the world the Spanish state's serious democratic deficiencies," he said.

With its own language and distinct culture, Catalonia accounts for a fifth of Spain's economy and 16 percent of its population.

An October 1 referendum saw ugly scenes as Spanish police tried to prevent people voting. Puigdemont's camp said the result was a "yes" to secession but turnout was just 43 percent.

Puigdemont insists that this gave the Catalan parliament a mandate to declare independence last Friday.

The same day Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy's government sacked the regional government and imposed direct control under a never before used article of the constitution.

There had been speculation that Catalan leaders and civil servants might refuse to cooperate but in the event the takeover of regional powers by Madrid has passed off smoothly.

Rajoy has also called snap elections for December 21 to replace the Catalan parliament. Puigdemont said he would "respect" the result and appealed to Madrid to do the same.

However, divisions appear to be growing in the separatist camp.

Santi Vila, a Catalan minister who resigned last week, accused his former colleagues yesterday of "naivety" and not being ready for independence.

Fernando Vallespin, a political scientist in Madrid, said that Puigdemont, a former journalist, "is more interested in obtaining media attention than escaping justice".

"It's a media war. The aim of (the Catalan executive) has been to try and present the Spanish state as an oppressor state and Puigdemont needs to feed this narrative," he said.

Another expert, Oriol Bartomeus, agreed, saying that Puigdemont's apparent decision to risk being put behind bars by ignoring the court summons is an electoral ploy.

"In an election campaign a free Puigdemont won't boost your score, but a Puigdemont in jail does," Bartomeus, a professor at Barcelona Autonomous University, told AFP.

Puigdemont retains support among some ordinary citizens in Catalonia.

In Barcelona, sales manager Maria Angels Selgas, 60, said he remained Catalan president for her.

"If (the Spanish government) humiliate him then they humiliate also the more than two million Catalans who voted 'yes' in the referendum," she told AFP.

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Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi today accused the Kurds of reneging on an agreement to withdraw their forces from disputed zones in the north of the country.

The Kurds have since "gone back on the accord" reached Sunday on the pullout of Kurdish peshmerga fighters from the disputed areas, notably a border post with Turkey, he told journalists.

"If they do not stick to it we will do what we want, and if our forces find themselves under fire, we will show them the strength of the law," Abadi said.

Hemin Hawrami, an adviser to Kurdish leader Massud Barzani who has stepped down, accused the central government of mounting "an escalation against Kurdistan".

"The Iraqi government has no interest in dialogue," he tweeted, warning of "the drums of war in Kurdistan".

Yesterday, government forces took control of the key border crossing with Turkey after weeks of tensions between Baghdad and Arbil, the capital of autonomous Iraqi Kurdistan, according to Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim.

The two sides clashed last week as Iraqi forces sought to capture the vital oil export point of Fishkhabur on the border, in the latest flare-up of a crisis sparked by a Kurdish independence vote on September 25.

Iraqi forces have since mid-October recaptured almost all the territories disputed by Baghdad and Arbil, much of it without Kurdish resistance.

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Actor Alec Baldwin, who worked with James Toback on two projects, said he was not aware of the director's alleged sexual misconduct.

The 59-year-old actor worked with Toback, 72, on two movies -- "Seduced and Abandoned", a HBO documentary exploring the film financing aspect of film production, and "The Private Life of a Modern Woman".

"In all the time I've known Jimmy (Toback), I never had one conversation about his sex life... In my time with Jimmy, it was absolutely, positively business," the actor told Los Angeles Times, which first broke the story about Toback.

"I don't know that Jimmy has done anything criminal. It sounds like many people are saying he has. That he has assaulted them. If that's true, that's to me," he added.

The actor admitted that he was aware that Toback used to "hit on a lot of women".

"He had an appetite for going up to women and saying salacious and provocative things to them and introducing himself with his credentials and so forth and laying that on people to seduce them.

"I never knew any details of what he did that was assault in nature or rape in nature or criminally actionable. Never, never, never," Baldwin said.

The actor, who impersonates US President Donald Trump on 'Saturday Night Live', said Trump should also be held accountable for his alleged sexual misconduct.

Baldwin said there was a "veneer of complexity" to the entire sexual harassment scandal that has rocked Hollywood after allegations against powerful movie producer Harvey Weinstein became public.

"There is some veneer to it of complexity because they can't get the guy they really want to get. (Donald) Trump is a sexual predator.

"On the record, there's all kinds of evidence that Trump has behaved this way, and he's the president of the United States and that being just one of the things that is horrifying people about Trump, his opinions, his behaviour, his methodology and there's nothing you can do about that. You cannot touch him," Baldwin said.

The Los Angeles Times had published a report on October 22, detailing accusations of sexual harassment against Toback, 72, by 38 women, going back to the '80s. More than 300 women have come forward with their claims against the director after that.

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Bangladesh has demanded an apology from Pakistan after its envoy here posted a "misleading" video claiming that the country's founder Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was not the one who declared its independence in 1971.

The nearly 14-minute video was initially posted on a Facebook page called Pakistan Affairs. It said Bangladesh's military ruler and subsequent president "Ziaur Rahman, not Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, announced Bangladesh's independence".

The Pakistani mission in Dhaka shared the video on its Facebook page, sparking a controversy that prompted it to remove the post.

Secretary (Bilateral) Kamrul Ahsan summoned Pakistani High Commissioner Rafiuzzaman Siddiqui yesterday and handed him a "strongly worded protest note" warning that repeated breach of diplomatic norms by Pakistan would only stand to harm bilateral relations, a Foreign Office statement said.

"The Government of Bangladesh seeks a formal note of apology for this ill-motivated and misleading video post and calls for an immediate withdrawal of the footage from the Facebook page reportedly maintained by the Pakistan High Commission in Dhaka," it said.

The statement said Ahsan told the envoy that Dhaka deeply regretted that notwithstanding Bangladesh's repeated overtures "the malicious campaign by Pakistan and its various agencies against Bangladesh has not come to a halt".

Ahsan said the Pakistani envoy "apologised" saying the incident was "unintentional".

"We told him (envoy) that if this continues it will harm relations between the two countries. History is history. One cannot divert it by spreading propaganda," the Bangladeshi official said.

The diplomatic protest note said the message conveyed in the video that it was not Mujibur who declared the independence of Bangladesh "is a blatant lie and sheer fabrication of historical facts".

"Nothing can be farthest from the truth than claiming that the architect of independent Bangladesh and Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman did not want Bangladesh's independence or that Bangladesh's independence was declared by anybody other than the great leader himself," the note said.

Bangladesh emerged as an independent nation, breaking away from Pakistan after its victory in the 1971 liberation war aided by India.

Bilateral relations have suffered in recent years over the 1971 war crimes trial in Bangladesh and executions of former Bengali war criminals who colluded with the invading Pakistani troops.

A rankled Dhaka repeatedly summoned Islamabad's envoy here during the past three years following protests by Pakistani leaders over the trial and executions of hardline Islamists.

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Producer Harvey Weinstein and director James Toback, who are facing multiple allegations of sexual abuse, are being investigated by the Beverly Hills police department.

The investigation stems from multiple complaints received about the individuals, Variety reported.

"These cases are currently under investigation and no further information will be released at this time," police said in a statement.

Weinstein, 65, has been accused by over 60 women of sexual harassment and in some cases of rape after New York Times ran an expose on October 5 detailing decades of sexual misconduct.

The Los Angeles Times published a report on October 22, detailing accusations of sexual harassment against Toback, 72, by 38 women, going back to the '80s. More than 300 women have come forward since then.

Both Weinstein and Toback have denied all allegations.

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The Bihar cabinet today approved a proposal to introduce reservations in all services being provided in the state by way of outsourcing.

A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting of the state cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, said Brajesh Mehrotra, principal secretary of Cabinet Secretariat Department.

Among other proposals approved at today's meeting were allocation of Rs 150.64 crore for setting up of eight training centres at many Bihar Military Police centres, where 8,000 newly recruited police personnel (including women) will be trained, Mehrotra said.

He said a total amount of Rs 52 crore has been sanctioned out of Bihar Contingency Fund for make-shift tent cities in Patna in fiscal 2017-18, for the closing ceremony of 'Prakash Parv', a year-long celebration of the 350th birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh.

The tent cities will come up at Kangan ghat and Patna by-pass with a capacity of housing 5,000 and 35,000 visitors, respectively.

In a bid to give a boost to technical education in the state, the cabinet also approved 70 posts for teaching staff and 76 for non-teaching ones at two newly-approved polytechnics at West Champaran and Aurangabad districts, the principal secretary said.

In addition, 40 gazetted teaching posts and 16 non-gazetted ones have been cleared at six other polytechnics across the state for the purpose of running new diploma courses, Mehrotra added.

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Alarmed by steep fall in the number of tax payers filing GST returns in Bihar, Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi today said the state has done away with levying of surcharge on delayed filing of returns as incentive to them.

"Following introduction of GST in July this year, 72 per cent of the state's 1.85 lakh tax payers had filed their returns. However, the percentage fell sharply to 55 per cent in August and dropped further to 42 per cent in September", Sushil Modi, who also holds the finance portfolio, said here at the meeting with the state's industrialists and businessmen.

The meeting was convened to receive feedback from industrialists and businessmen of the state on difficulties faced by them under the new tax regime which was rolled out from July 1, 2017.

Sushil Modi said forms for filing returns under Goods and Services tax would be made "more simple" to make the process easier.

The state government has done away with levying of surcharge on delayed filing of returns, he said.

"Those who have deposited the surcharge in the months of July, August and September will be given a refund," he added.

"GST is the largest network of its kind in the country. Number of returns filed under this system has been upto one lakh per hour and 12 lakhs per day. The GST council is committed to providing all facilities to tax-payers", Sushil Modi, who is a member of the GST council, was quoted as saying in a statement here.

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The AIADMK's Sasikala-Dhinakaran faction leader, V Pugazhendhi, today accused the BJP of meddling in internal issues of his party and intimidating members of his camp.

He also said that they had doubts if the Election Commission will function independently in the symbol dispute case with the Palaniswami-Panneerselvam faction.

Citing Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam's meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Pugazhendhi claimed that it was "evident" that the prime minister "had a say" in the AIADMK issues.

"Tamil Nadu BJP leaders are threatening us in the name of raids. With support from the BJP, the ruling faction of AIADMK is pressuring us. I ask Prime Minister Modi why he was involved in the AIADMK affairs," Pugazhendhi told reporters here.

"We doubt if the Election Commission, though an independent body, will function independently in the symbol dispute case," he added.

Asked if his faction was trying to create a "false narrative" to conceal lack of support from party cadres in the symbol dispute case, Pugazhendhi claimed that they had facts to back their accusations.

"In a speech, Tamil Nadu minister K T Rajendra Balaji of EPS-OPS faction had said nobody can shake the AIADMK as long as Prime Minister Narendra Modi supported them.

"Also Panneerselvam had on many instances accepted that he discussed party issues with Modi," he said.

The AIADMK's Karnataka state secretary also hit out at rival faction leader V Maitreyan, accusing him of misleading the Centre and trying to show Sasikala faction in bad light.

"Recently Maitreyan has issued a memorandum seeking disqualification of three Rajya Sabha members belonging to our faction," he said.

"He was in the BJP earlier and because of that network, he is able to meet Union ministers frequently and pass on misleading information about our faction," Pugazhendhi alleged.

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The Bombay High Court today agreed to drop the contempt proceedings against the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) after it informed that in compliance with a court order, it has removed a fire engine stationed at a park in South Mumbai since June.

The BMC's counsel, A S Sakhre, told the court that the civic body also removed the temporary shed constructed in the Priyadarshini Park, located on Nepean Sea Road here, to house the fire engine.

A bench of Chief Justice Manjula Chellur and Justice M S Sonak accepted the BMC's submissions and agreed to drop the contempt proceedings against the corporation.

The court was hearing a plea filed by the Malabar Hill Citizens Forum against the BMC's decision to park the fire engine and erect a temporary shed in the park.

The residents had told the high court that several trees had been damaged and the park's entrance demolished to make way for the fire engine and the parking shed.

They also said that the park's gates had to be kept open even at night for the free movement of the fire engine.

They had filed an application seeking that the civic body be held in contempt of the court for its failure to comply with the high court's order and remove the fire tender and the shed.

While the court was yet to issue any contempt notices to the corporation, on the last hearing held earlier this week, Chief Justice Chellur had warned the BMC that if the high court order to remove the fire engine and the shed was not complied with, the civic body would be held in contempt and its officials would have to risk imprisonment.

The court's directions had come after an independent committee, comprising a member of the Maharashtra State Legal Services Authority, and the high court receiver, inspected the park and submitted a report before the court.

In the report, the committee stating that the fire engine stationed in the park and the temporary shed around it were encroaching upon some parts of the walking and the jogging tracks.

Earlier this month, the court had appointed the committee to inspect the park and submit a report indicating whether the fire engine and its shed were obstructing the movement of joggers or the residents who used the park, and whether the same was causing any other damage to the premises.

The BMC, on its part, had argued that the fire engine occupied only 10 sq m area in the park, which was spread over 6,000 sq m, and that it was parked there for the safety of the residents.

The bench, however, held that several residents used the jogging tracks each morning and children visited it to play and run around, hence they must not be subjected to any danger or obstructions.

Accordingly, it had directed the corporation to remove all obstructions and restore the tracks to its original condition.

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British and EU negotiators are due to resume Brexit talks in Brussels on November 9, London's Brexit ministry said today, correcting an earlier date of November 8 given by the minister.

Brexit minister David Davis and the EU's chief negotiator Michel Barnier have agreed "that the two teams would meet for Article 50 negotiations on 9 and 10 November," the ministry said in a statement.

Davis had told a parliamentary committee on Tuesday that the next round of negotiations would begin on November 8 and continue until November 10.

Davis said the meetings would be the "first stock-take" since a summit in Brussels last month, adding that Britain wanted an "intensification" of talks.

EU leaders are scheduled to hold a summit next month to decide whether or not to begin negotiations on a transition period and future partnership agreement once Britain has left the European Union.

Britain is set to leave the bloc in March 2019.

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Nearly 300 people in Meghalaya have joined a campaign to give up their Aadhaar cards, alleging that the 12-digit identification number could lead to non-indigenous people getting voting rights.

The Aadhaar enrolment process has faced stiff resistance in the north-eastern state ever since registrations began in June this year, with the influential Khasi Students Union (KSU) and churches opposing it on grounds of privacy infringement besides the issue of voting rights for non-natives.

Altogether, 286 people have submitted letters to the Meghalaya People Committee on Aadhaar (MPCA) on the third day of the campaign, requesting deletion of their Aadhaar numbers from the Unique Identification Authority of India's database.

"The campaign is on and will conclude on November 3. We hope to collect enough letters before we could move the authorities concerned for necessary deletion," MPCA secretary Auguster Jyrwa said.

MPCA is an umbrella organisation under the KSU and the Thma u Rangli u Juli (TUR), a progressive people's group. The students union comprises about 5,000 people who have voluntarily not registered for Aadhaar.

The Meghalaya People Committee on Aadhaar is working on a common centre for people across the state to receive the letters from those who want their Aadhaar details to be removed from the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) database, Jyrwa said.

Angela Rangad, MPCA member and convener of TUR, said, "There are enough doubts that the Aadhaar number will be misused in surveillance and control by the powers that be. We have to be extra careful before we commit ourselves to the unknown".

Over 4.6 lakh people in Meghalaya have Aadhaar numbers, and the registration process for new ones is underway, a UIDAI official told PTI.

"Till date, 4.63 lakh of the 3.2 million people (about 14 per cent) in the state have enrolled for Aadhaar," the official said.

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Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling today urged the Centre to allow Tibetan spiritual leader Karmapa Ugen Trinley Dorje to visit Sikkim.

Trinley, who is the head of the Karma Kagyu School of Tibetan Buddhism, is a claimant to the title of the 17th Karmapa Lama and that of the head of Rumtek monastery near here.

The Karmapa was born in 1985 in Tibet and fled to India through Nepal. He reached the Tibetan exile quarters at McLeod Ganj in Himachal Pradesh on January 5, 2000.

"I have been urging the Centre for a long time to allow the 17th Karmapa to visit Rumtek monastery and other shrines of the Tibetan Buddhist sect of Karma Kagyu in Sikkim, but in vain," he said at an election meeting at Phodong in North Sikkim district during his campaign for the coming panchayat polls.

"The Tibetan spiritual leader can stay in India, but can't he be allowed to visit Sikkim by the Centre. Why can't the Karmapa be allowed to visit Sikkim ?" he asked.

Chamling, who is the country's longest serving chief minister, said that he had raised the issue of permission to the Karmapa to visit Sikkim with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit here in January, 2016, and would raise it again during his visit to Delhi on November 7.

Hundreds of Lamas are on a relay hunger strike for more than a year demanding that the Karmapa be allowed to take his "rightful place" in Rumtek monastery.

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A suspected aide of gangster Chhota Shakeel was arrested from northeast Delhi's Jafrabad, the police said today.

The accused was carrying a reward of Rs 50,000 on his head.

Naseem alias Rizwan (28), a sharpshooter and close aide of Shakeel, was in touch with the latter, who was giving directions to him to eliminate Pakistan-born Canadian writer Tarek Fatah, the police said.

The police were on the lookout for Naseem, a contract killer wanted in several cases.

Yesterday, the police received a tip-off that Naseem would come to Jafrabad and a trap was laid accordingly.

When Naseem saw the police personnel, he tried to flee but was nabbed after a long chase, the police said.

A sophisticated pistol, four live cartridges and Rs 1.98 lakh in cash were seized from his possession, they added.

During interrogation, it came to light that Naseem was wanted by the Delhi Police's Special Cell in connection with an alleged conspiracy to kill Fatah.

The Special Cell had, in June, arrested one Junaid Chaudhary for his alleged involvement in the conspiracy to kill Fatah. Naseem was wanted in that case.

He was also involved in robbing a collection agent of a businessman of Rs 10.6 lakh last month, the police said.

Naseem told his interrogators that he was in touch with Chhota Shakeel, said Deputy Commissioner of Police (Northeast) A K Singla.

He was also supposed to meet a criminal called Munna Singh, through another criminal Rashid, who was lodged in the Bijnor Jail, he added.

Singh and Rashid had told Naseem that he would get crores of rupees if he eliminated certain high-profile personalities in Andra Pradesh, the police said.

The accused also told the police that Shakeel had asked him to eliminate a person residing at Dwarka.

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Terming as "shocking" the delay in the arrest of two staff members of a school for allegedly raping a three-year-old girl despite prima facie evidence, the Bombay High Court today ordered two top officers of Mumbai police to supervise the probe and file an action taken report.

The court also expressed displeasure over the probe conducted so far and asked the police why it was reluctant to arrest the accused despite prima facie evidence that the offence of rape and sexual abuse had been committed.

A bench of Justices Ranjit More and Shalini Phansalkar-Joshi said the failure to arrest the accused, six months after the complaint was lodged, made it apparent that the police was trying to "shield" them.

It directed the assistant commissioner of police under whose charge is the Meghwadi police station, which is probing the incident, to head the investigation, and the deputy commissioner of police of the zone concerned to supervise the probe and file an action taken report.

The bench said it was surprised that the police was treating a matter as sensitive as the case of a child's sexual abuse, "without much seriousness".

"This is shocking. Despite the incident having occurred in January this year and a formal police complaint registered by the victim's mother in May this year, the police is yet complete the probe and arrest the accused," the bench said.

"Do you realise how serious this case is? It is clear prima facie that you (police) are trying to shield the accused. We are very surprised at the conduct of the police in this case," the bench said.

The observations came while the bench was hearing a petition filed by the victim's mother alleging that the police was going easy on the accused, and seeking that the probe be transferred to an "independent" agency.

As per the plea, the victim was allegedly abused by the trustee of her school and one of her female teachers on several occasions between November 2016 and January 2017.

However, the incident came to light only in May this year when the victim's mother noticed behavioural changes in the child.

After much prodding, the child identified the accused from their photographs on the school website.

After the complaint was lodged, the police recorded the statements of the accused, who denied all charges against them.

The police also conducted polygraph or lie detector tests on the accused persons. It did not arrest the accused, insisting they had cleared the test.

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The Competition Commission has ordered an investigation against Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) for alleged abuse of dominant position with regard to sale of plots.

After finding prima facie evidence of violation of competition norms, the regulator has ordered the probe based on a complaint by Gurgaon Institutional Welfare Association, a registered group of individual allottees and purchasers of institutional plots in the city from HUDA.

According to a CCI order dated October 31, the complainant had alleged that HUDA restricted its right to transfer the title of plot and building constructed over it without the prior permission of the authority.

For the case, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) considered the 'market for development and sale of institutional plots in the state of Haryana' as the relevant one.

Noting that the Authority "appears to be dominant in the relevant market", CCI said that the condition of seeking prior permission of the Estate Officer, even for plots where sale consideration is fully paid seems to be apparently unfair.

"Contrary to claims of the Opposite Party (HUDA), that it allows for transfer of rights in the property, the Commission notes that prima facie the material on record suggests that it imposes restriction on transfer of rights in the institutional plots allotted by it," CCI said.

The regulator directed its investigation arm, the Director General, to carry out a "detailed investigation" in the matter and submit a report within 60 days, after finding that "a prima facie case of abuse of dominant position" has been made out against HUDA.

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A day after a court in Fazilka summoned Leader of the Opposition in the Punjab Assembly Sukhpal Singh Khaira, the clamour for his resignation grew today with both the ruling Congress and the opposition Akalis questioning the Aam Aadmi Party leader's continuation in the post.

However, Khaira hit back reminding both the parties that their leaders -- Amarinder Singh, Parkash Singh Badal and Sukhbir Singh Badal -- never resigned from their positions despite being summoned and charge-sheeted in corruption cases in the past.

A court in Fazilka sentenced nine people to imprisonment yesterday in a trans-border heroin smuggling racket, which surfaced in 2015, and summoned Khaira on November 30.

Asking Khaira to step down immediately, Punjab Congress president Sunil Jakhar said the AAP leader has lost the moral right to continue in the post of the opposition leader in the Assembly after "serious charges" were levelled against him, and called for his immediate ouster from all political and statutory posts.

Recalling Khaira's previous attempts to corner the state government on drugs issue, the Gurdaspur MP said it exposed the "double-standards" of the party led by Arvind Kejriwal.

Joining the chorus, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) said the face of the AAP had become the face of drugs in Punjab and wondered if Arvind Kejriwal, who is also the Delhi chief minister, would walk the talk and expel him from the party.

Senior SAD leader Maheshinder Singh Grewal demanded apology from Kejriwal to the people of Punjab for appointing Khaira as the Leader of the Opposition.

Meanwhile, Khaira chided Congress and Akali leaders seeking his resignation for "merely being summoned by a Fazilka court".

He reminded the Badals that when the father-son duo took oath as chief minister and deputy chief minister in 2007, they were not only summoned by the court, but also charge-sheeted in a disproportionate assets case.

Similarly even now Sukhbir is facing trial in an attempt to murder case when he beat up a photographer of Kotkapura in a court, Khaira added, daring the junior Badal to resign as the SAD president before seeking his resignation.

Similarly, he said, Amarinder Singh has also been summoned and is facing trial in two corruption cases involving Ludhiana City Centre and Amritsar Improvement Trust.

"Will the Congress leaders advising me, ask Captain Amarinder Singh to resign as chief minister," he said.

Khaira said that in case both Amarinder Singh and Sukhbir Singh Badal offered to resign from their positions to uphold ethics and morality in politics, he would follow suit.

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Giving impetus to its 'Ghar Ghar Rozgar scheme, the Punjab government has decided to conduct a job fair for women on Friday, where 3,400 jobs will be up for grabs.

The 'Rozgar Mela' for women, to be held at the District Industries Centre, Ludhiana, on November 3, will cater specifically to the employment needs of female students from the streams of textile designing, knitting, tailoring and others, a spokesperson for the chief minister's office said here today.

The fair, he said, aims at giving opportunity to qualified young girls, who have passed out from various educational institutions, to kickstart their careers.

Many hosiery and apparel manufacturing companies are expected to attend the fair, the spokesperson added.

The state government launched it ambitious employment mission -- 'Ghar Ghar Rozgar' -- on September 5 in Mohali, where Chief Minister Amarinder Singh handed over appointment letters to 25 youths.

Accoding to the spokesperson, the employment generation department, in collaboration with the industries department, also organised four job fairs in Mohali, Ludhiana, Jalandhar and Amritsar last month, offering a total of 10,207 jobs to the unemployed youth till October 30.

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Calcutta University Pro-Vice Chancellor Sugata Sen has resigned citing personal reasons and West Bengal Education Minister Partha Chatterjee today said he was within his rights to quit before the end of his tenure.

Sen, who confirmed his resignation when contacted, had taken over from Dhrubojyoti Chatterjee in 2015 and was from the commerce faculty. His tenure in office was till 2019.

Chatterjee told a press conference that Sen, had not told him about the move before taking the step.

"How can I say why he took such a step? I can't also comment on why he has quit before the end of his term. If someone wants to return to teaching assignments it is not bad," he said to a question.

Chatterjee said the government was considering some names for the post but did not elaborate.

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A man allegedly inspired by the ISIS ploughed a pickup truck down a crowded bike path in a borough here, killing at least eight people and injuring 11 other in what is being described as the deadliest terrorist attack on the New York City since September 11, 2001.

The suspect, believed to be a 29-year-old Uzbek national, was shot in the stomach before being arrested.

The media named him as Sayfullo Saipov, an immigrant who came to the US in 2010.

The incident took place along the normally gridlocked West Side Highway, a major thoroughfare that runs along the western edge of Manhattan by the Hudson River. Manhattan is the most densely populated borough of the New York City.

Police said the truck drove south after entering a pedestrian and bicycle path, where it struck multiple people. Six men were pronounced dead at the scene on the cycle lane and two other people were dead on arrival at the hospital.

After smashing the truck into the school bus, injuring two adults and two children, the suspect exited the truck displaying "imitation firearms" and was shot by police, according to the New York police department (NYPD).

An official said he rented the truck from a Home Depot in New Jersey.

The victims included a Belgian citizen and five Argentinians.

The truck driver shouted 'Allahu Akbar' after getting out of the vehicle, New York Post reported.

A note in English was found in the truck that referred to so-called Islamic State, reports said.

New York City mayor Bill de Blasio said the incident was being treated as an act of terror, "a particularly cowardly act of terror".

US President Donald Trump denounced the attack, saying "we must not allow ISIS to return".

"In NYC, looks like another attack by a very sick and deranged person. Law enforcement is following this closely. NOT IN THE U.S.A.!" Trump tweeted.

"We must not allow ISIS to return, or enter, our country after defeating them in the Middle East and elsewhere. Enough!" he said in another tweet.

Trump also said he had ordered more robust "extreme vetting" of travellers coming into the US.

The US Justice Department said in a statement that a joint terrorism task force that included the FBI, the NYPD and others was investigating the attack.

Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Elaine Duke has been briefed on the apparent act of terrorism that occurred in New York City, an official statement said.

The department is closely monitoring the situation and working with federal, state and local partners in responding to and investigating this tragedy.

"We are referring all questions about the investigation to the FBI and the New York Police Department," the statement said.

New York has been largely spared from terrorism since nearly 3,000 people were killed in the September 11, 2001, attacks.

The most recent violence from terrorism there came in September 2016, when a man set off shrapnel-packed explosives in the Chelsea neighbourhood of Manhattan. Nobody was killed, but 30 people were injured.

Trucks have become a common weapon for terrorists in recent years.

In July 2016, as thousands of people crammed into the streets of Nice, France, for a Bastille Day celebration, an assailant influenced by Islamic State drove a 19-ton cargo truck into a crowd, leaving 86 dead and 434 injured.

Then in December, a man with ties to Islamic State drove a 27-ton truck into a Christmas market in Berlin, killing 12 people and injuring 56 others.

Three months later, a man drove his car into pedestrians on Londons Westminster Bridge, killing four and injuring dozens more, before jumping out and fatally stabbing a police officer and being shot dead by other officers.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A man allegedly inspired by the ISIS ploughed a pickup truck down a crowded bike path near the World Trade Centre here today, killing at least eight persons and injuring 11 others in the deadliest terrorist attack on the New York City since September 11, 2001.

The suspect, believed to be a 29-year-old Uzbek national, was shot in the stomach before being arrested. The media named him as Sayfullo Saipov, an immigrant who came to the US in 2010.

The incident took place along the normally gridlocked West Side Highway, a major thoroughfare that runs along the western edge of Manhattan by the Hudson River. Manhattan is the most densely populated borough of the New York City.

The attacker left a roughly mile-long crime scene: a tree-lined bike path strewn with mangled bicycles and their parts.

Police said the truck drove south after entering a pedestrian and bicycle path, where it struck multiple people. Six men were pronounced dead at the scene on the cycle lane and two other people were dead on arrival at the hospital.

After smashing the truck into a school bus, injuring two adults and two children, the suspect exited the truck displaying "imitation firearms" and was shot by police, according to the New York police department (NYPD).

"I heard a truck, a car, something going down the bike path," said witness Eugene Duffy, 44, who was waiting at a red light to walk across West Street.

The driver shouted 'Allahu Akbar' after getting out of the vehicle, New York Post reported. A note in English was found in the truck that referred to the Islamic State terror group, media reports said.

At lease 11 people were transported to the hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries, according to New York Fire Commissioner Daniel Nigro.

The victims included a Belgian citizen and five Argentinians.

A spokesman for Home Depot confirmed one of the company's rental trucks was part of an incident in lower Manhattan and said the company is "cooperating with authorities" in the investigation.

The suspect, who hails from Paterson New Jersey had multiple interactions with law enforcement in several states, online records show. Saipov had traffic citations issued in Missouri and Pennsylvania.

Authorities said the was hospitalised after being shot by the police, underwent surgery and was expected to survive.

New York City mayor Bill de Blasio said the incident was being treated as an act of terror, "a particularly cowardly act of terror".

US President Donald Trump denounced the attack, saying "we must not allow ISIS to return".

"In NYC, looks like another attack by a very sick and deranged person. Law enforcement is following this closely. NOT IN THE U.S.A.!" Trump tweeted.

"We must not allow ISIS to return, or enter, our country after defeating them in the Middle East and elsewhere. Enough!" he said in another tweet.

Trump also said he had ordered more robust "extreme vetting" of travellers coming into the US.

The US Justice Department said in a statement that a joint terrorism task force that included the FBI, the NYPD and others was investigating the attack.

Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Elaine Duke has been briefed on the apparent act of terrorism that occurred in New York City, an official statement said.

The department is closely monitoring the situation and working with federal, state and local partners in responding to and investigating this tragedy.

"We are referring all questions about the investigation to the FBI and the New York Police Department," the statement said.

An Uber spokeswoman said Saipov also drove for the popular ride sharing-company, which is cooperating with authorities, New York Daily reported.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo directed the One World Trade Center to be lit in red, white and blue in honour of freedom and democracy, his office said.

New York has been largely spared from terrorism since nearly 3,000 people were killed in the September 11, 2001, attacks.

The most recent violence from terrorism there came in September 2016, when a man set off shrapnel-packed explosives in the Chelsea neighbourhood of Manhattan. Nobody was killed, but 30 people were injured.

Trucks have become a common weapon for terrorists in recent years.

In July 2016, as thousands of people crammed into the streets of Nice, France, for a Bastille Day celebration, an assailant influenced by Islamic State drove a 19-ton cargo truck into a crowd, leaving 86 dead and 434 injured.

Then in December, a man with ties to Islamic State drove a 27-ton truck into a Christmas market in Berlin, killing 12 people and injuring 56 others.

Three months later, a man drove his car into pedestrians on Londons Westminster Bridge, killing four and injuring dozens more, before jumping out and fatally stabbing a police officer and being shot dead by other officers.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry has appealed to the government to file a review petition before the Supreme Court on its decision to impose a ban on usage of Pet Coke and Furnace Oil in Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Haryana, effective from today.

"The MSME segment is highly concerned and aggrieved by the order passed on 24 October 2017 as this sudden ban giving only seven days time for industry to make alternate arrangements will certainly impact the working of industry in the National Capital Region," PHD Chamber President Anil Khaitan said.

He advised the Ministry of Environment as well as Central Pollution Control Board to jointly file the review petition before the Supreme Court urging the apex body to review its decision so that relief is served to the concerned stakeholders.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Following are the top foreign stories at 2100 hours:



FGN32 US-5THLDALL TERROR



New York: A domestically radicalised Uzbek man yelling 'God is great' ploughs a pickup truck down a crowded bicycle path, killing eight people and injuring 11 others in the deadliest terror attack on the city since 9/11. By Lalit K Jha



FGN34 TRUMP-TERROR-IMMIGRATION



Washington: US President Donald Trump calls for tougher "merit-based" immigration measures and doing away with the diversity visa programme after an ISIS-inspired Uzbek man killed 8 people in New York, termed as the deadliest terror attack since 9/11. By Lalit K Jha



FGN18 US-TERROR-INDIANS



New York: No Indian casualties reported in a deadly terror attack in New York city that killed at least eight persons, says the Consulate General of India here.

FGN35 PAK-INDIAN



Peshawar: Indian national Hamid Nehal Ansari, who is languishing in a jail here, files a petition in a high court, pleading that he should not be treated as a spy as he was not involved in "anti-state activities".

FGN33 US-PAK-TILLERSON



Washington: It is in the interest of Pakistan to change its "long-standing" relationship with terrorist organisations, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson says, underlining that the Trump administration will give the country an opportunity to act on actionable intelligence. By Lalit K Jha



FGN16 US-INDIANGIRL-FUNERAL



Houston: Sherin Mathews, a 3-year-old Indian girl who was found dead in a culvert after being reported missing by her foster father, laid to rest in a private ceremony, the family attorneys says, citing intense media glare. By Seema Hakhu Kachru



FGN24 ITALY-INDIANS



Milan/New Delhi: India takes up with police the attacks on two of its nationals in northern Italy and will leave no stone unturned to bring the perpetrators to justice, says the Indian Consulate General in Milan.

FGN23 AUS-INDIA-NAVY



Melbourne: The all-women crew of an Indian Navy sail boat hailed as "heroes" by the State government of Western Australia for taking up an incredibly challenging expedition of circumnavigating the globe. By Natasha Chaku



FGN31 BANGLA-ZIA-SEDITION



Dhaka: A sedition complaint was filed against Bangladesh's former prime minister Khaleda Zia for allegedly holding a "secret meeting" with Pakistan's spy agency ISI during her recent stay in the UK. By Anisur Rahman



FGN26 CHINA-XI



Beijing: Chinese President Xi Jinping begins his second five-year term by firmly displaying his "core leader" status, which equates him with founder of modern China Chairman Mao Zedong, putting himself ahead of other six top leaders for the first time in public. By K J M Varma



FGN21 US-HALEY-PAK



Washington: The US will not tolerate Pakistan providing safe havens to terrorists, says America's envoy to the UN Nikki Haley and backs the creation of a strategic alliance with India to fight terrorism and maintain peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Former President Barack Obama has delivered opening remarks at a Chicago leadership summit hosted by his foundation for hundreds of civic leaders and artists from around the world.

Obama calls the two-day event starting yesterday a "collective conversation" to exchange ideas with young people and help spark change.

He says a goal is to address civic culture, not create a political movement. Obama didn't discuss politics aside from saying, "What's wrong with our politics is a reflection of something wrong in our civic culture."



Other summit guests include Prince Harry. He and former first lady Michelle Obama yesterday visited a Chicago high school near the site of Barack Obama's lanned presidential centre.

The Obama Foundation is raising funds for the presidential centre. Construction is expected to take four years.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Highway projects worth Rs 10,000 crore in Rajasthan came up for discussion during a meeting between Union minister Nitin Gadkari and state Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje here today, an official said.

Raje had called on Gadkari to discuss highways infrastructure, water and irrigation projects in the state.

The projects discussed included schemes worth Rs 10,000 crore including three National Highways to be constructed in the state at Kherwara, Dungarpur, Sagwara and Banswara stretches among others, the official said.

Besides, projects under Sethubharatam were discussed during the meeting.

Rajasthan Road Transport Minister Yunus Khan too attended the meet.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Punjab Police is suspecting the role of an unidentified gangster in the murder of a right-wing activist in Amritsar on Monday, and announced Rs 5 lakh reward to those who will identify the assailant.

"In all probability, some gangster is involved in the murder. But we cannot confirm at this stage," a senior police official said.

Vipan Sharma (45), Amritsar district president of the Hindu Sangharsh Sena, was shot dead by two unidentified men in full public view at Bharat Nagar on Amritsar-Batala road on October 30.

A reward of Rs 5 lakh has been announced to identify the assailant, whose face was caught in CCTV footage when he was firing shots at Sharma, and an advertisement has been given in the newspapers in this regard, Amritsar police commissioner S S Srivastava said over phone.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
BJP leader Golak Mohapatra was today questioned by police for over two hours in connection with the escape of two key accused persons in the murder of a BJD councillor in Chhatrapur civic body in Odisha's Ganjam district last September.

Mohapatra, state BJP spokesperson, was questioned in two phases after he appeared before the police at Chhatrapur, a senior police official said.

The interrogation of the BJP leader took place amidst demonstrations by BJD supporters demanding arrest of Mohapatra alleging that he had helped the two main accused in the murder of Laxmidutta Pradhan, BJD councilor in Chhatrapur Notified Area Council (NAC), to escape.

A team of senior police officers, including ASP (Ganjam) Ajaya Pratap Swain, interrogated him. If necessary, Mohapatra may be called again for questioning, Swain said.

Mohapatra was questioned regarding the escape of Krushna Nayak and Duryodhan Reddy, two local BJP leaders who were arrested last week for their alleged involvement in the murder of Laxmidutta Pradhan on September 16.

Mohapatra, accompanied by senior BJP leaders, went to the police station in a rally. "I appeared before the police as per their summons. I have also answered all the questions asked by them, said Mohapatra after questioning.

Stating that he was innocent, Mohapatra said he was cooperating with the police in their investigation.

While it was alleged that Krushna Nayak had claimed that Mohapatra had helped them in escaping to evade arrest, it was denied by the BJP leader.

Meanwhile, BJD workers and supporters staged a demonstration in front of the office of the SP (Ganjam) demanding immediate arrest of Mohapatra.

MLA (Chhatrapur) Priyanshu Pradhan said Mohapatra should be arrested as his role in arranging shelter to the conspirators of the murder had come to light from the statement of one of the accused persons.

The Chhatrapur councilor was hacked to death by a group of assailants in front of his house in Suryanagar in Chhatrapur. Police had arrested 15 persons in the case, but Krushna Nayak and Duryodhan had managed to escape to Cuttack and then to Kolkata before they moved to Uttarakhand.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Tech giant Google today said it has started retailing its flagship smartphone, Pixel 2 in the Indian market from today, priced at Rs 61,000.

Google had launched the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL in October this year.

The devices, which compete in the premium segment with gadgets like Apple's iPhone 8 and X as well as Samsung's Note 8, will be available in markets like the US, the UK and Australia apart from India.

Pixel 2 will be available in India on Flipkart (online) and through offline partners like Reliance Digital, Croma, Poorvika, Sangeetha Mobiles, Vijay Sales and others for Rs 61,000 (64GB) and Rs 70,000 (128GB), Google said in a statement.

The second edition of Pixel features 5-inch display, 4GB RAM, 12MP rear and 8MP front camera, and 2,700mAH battery.

Google will bring its Pixel 2 XL (6-inch display) into the Indian market from November 15 onwards.

In a separate statement, Google said its first Cloud Region has gone live in Mumbai, a move that will help the tech giant offer cloud platform services to developers and enterprise customers in India.

The India region offers several services including compute, Big Data, storage and networking, Google said.

"The new region will help customers build applications and store their data, and significantly improve latency for customers and end users in the area," Dave Stiver, Product Manager at Google Cloud Platform, said.

He added that hosting applications in the new region can improve latency for end users in Chennai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru compared to hosting them in the other closest region, Singapore.

Google, however, did not disclose the investments made.

The new Mumbai region joins cities like Singapore, Taiwan, Sydney and Tokyo in Asia Pacific that house a similar infrastructure.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Congress today deprecated the touting of India's improved ranking in the World Bank's 'Ease of doing business' index by the Centre and asked it to do a reality check instead of harping on "certificates" from foreign agencies.

The opposition party said the government should also highlight the 'Hunger report' in the same manner in which India was ranked 100th out of a total of 119 countries.

"Where is the ease of doing business? We demand that the government should go for a reality check on the ground," Congress leader Rajiv Shukla told reporters.

Shukla said he has no objection to the world bank report which only talks of Mumbai and Delhi prior to GST implementation.

He said the world bank report does not take into account the effects of demonetisation and GST, which he claimed have hurt businesses.

Shukla also asked the government to go in for a ground reality check on corruption.

He was retorting to Finance Minister Arun Jaitley who said that "the ease of doing corruption has been replaced by the ease of doing business".

Congress leader Kapil Sibal lamented that the World Bank report was not about smaller towns where people were finding it difficult to do business.

"Don't pat your back on the basis of World Bank report. Business has been eased only for those who are technology- savvy.

"What about businessmen in smaller towns like Varanasi, Kanpur, Chandni Chowk in Delhi or in Ludhiana who are not aware. Is this ease of doing business for these small businessmen," Sibal said.

Shukla said the BJP made fun of the UPA when the world bank reports were cited and "asked us whether the government needed certificates from agencies like the world bank".

"The world bank report is based on a survey only in Mumbai and Delhi. What is happening in Kanpur, Bellary and other small towns. The GST factor has not been included in it. I feel it does not even include the effect of the note-ban decision.

"Where is the ease of doing business? Why manufacturing sector is not doing good. There is a contradiction. I appeal to the government to reach out and see the difference on how small businessmen in small towns are doing business and what their problems are," Shukla said.

To another question on the Ram Temple, he said he also visited temple before taking to politics.

"I don't believe in Hindutva. I believe in Hinduism," Sibal said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das said today that his government would provide employment to two lakh youths in the textile sector in the next two years.

"We are continuously working in other sectors as well with an aim to generate lakhs of employment opportunities and check migration (of workers) from the state," Das told a function organised to observe the 40th death anniversary of Dalit community leaders Lilu Bauri, Hiru Bauri and Patal Bauri at Jaitara village under Chas block of Bokaro district.

Das said the 3rd ground breaking ceremony of Momentum Jharkhand-a Global Investors Summit (GIS) will be held in Bokaro in December, according to an official release.

The objective of the ceremony was to promote avenues for industrialisation in and around Bokaro, he said, adding that the government was committed to all-round development of the state.

"My government do not do politics of casteism, communalisam, but politics of development," he said.

The government was working to make women self-reliant, he said, adding that in an attempt to achieve the target, the government has taken initiative to train women under the Entrepreneur Sakhi Mandal and provide them loan.

As many as 4,80,000 women from 32,000 villages of the state would benefit from the scheme, he said.

"Jharkhand is a land of warriors who had made this pious land free of exploitation and injustice," he said, paying tributes to the martyrs.

He appealed to the people to follow the teachings of these martyrs to create a new Jharkhand and reiterated his commitment to eradicate poverty and illiteracy from the state.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been working for the development of poor, farmers and rural pockets rather than indulging in politics of casteism and communalism, he said.

Das said his government would soon discuss with the Union Coal Ministry the issue of re-opening of closed coal blocks in the state.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Hamas handed over control of the Gaza Strip's borders with Egypt and Israel to the Palestinian Authority today in the first key test of a landmark reconciliation accord agreed last month.

The handover signalled that Islamist movement Hamas remained committed to a deal that would eventually see it give up full control of the Gaza Strip and bring an end to a 10- year rift with rivals Fatah.

It not only handed over control of the crossings, but also completely dismantled its own checkpoint along the border with Israel, leaving only the one operated by the Palestinian Authority (PA) there, with trucks carting away furniture and material.

A ceremony was held to formalise the handover at the Rafah border with Egypt.

"There is no yellow and green. All our Palestinian people are under the Palestinian flag," said Mufeed al-Husayna, a PA minister, referring to the flag colours of the political parties that signed last month's reconciliation deal.

Speaking at the Rafah ceremony, Husayna said: "We began today, under the directive of the prime minister (Rami Hamdallah), to exercise our duties by receiving all the crossings."



Palestinian and Egyptian flags were flying at the Rafah ceremony, alongside large pictures of PA president Mahmud Abbas, who is also the leader of Fatah, and his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.

At a separate checkpoint with Israel, an AFP photographer saw Hamas installations being dismantled and carted away, as PA and Hamas officials oversaw the handover.

Hisham Adwan, director of information for the Hamas crossings, told AFP that PA employees would have full control of the borders.

Under an Egyptian-brokered deal agreed on October 12, the PA is due to resume full control of the strip by December 1, with the borders the first test.

The agreement set November 1 as the deadline for handing over control of the borders.

Many issues remain to be resolved, however, particularly the fate of Hamas's 25,000-strong armed wing.

Israel, which has fought three wars with militants in Gaza since 2008, has said it will not deal with any Palestinian unity government that includes Hamas unless the Islamist movement disarms and recognises the country, among other demands.

The United States has also called on Hamas to disarm and recognise Israel.

Hamas has ruled Gaza since 2007, when the Islamists seized control in a near civil war with Abbas's Fatah, based in the occupied West Bank.

Israel has maintained a blockade on Gaza for a decade, citing the need to control Hamas and stop it from obtaining weapons or materials that could be used to make them.

Egypt has largely closed its border as well. The Rafah crossing was not open today despite the official handover.

Azzam al-Ahmad, Fatah's chief negotiator, told Palestinian media that the Rafah crossing would be opened on November 15, but there was no confirmation from Egypt.

The Gaza Strip's two million residents suffer from worsening humanitarian conditions, with only a few hours of power a day and a lack of clean water.

The reconciliation agreement has raised hopes that a more regular opening of the Egyptian border could ease humanitarian suffering.

"The return of the crossings should facilitate the lifting of the closures, while addressing Israel's legitimate security concerns, and unlock increased international support for Gaza's reconstruction, growth, stability and prosperity," Nickolay Mladenov, the United Nations special coordinator for the Middle East peace process, said in a statement.

Israel's government had not responded, but a statement from the Israeli body responsible for affairs in the Palestinian territories said they would meet with PA officials in the coming days to discuss the new situation.

Multiple previous pushes for reconciliation have collapsed and an incident this week threatened to undermine the latest attempt.

On Monday, seven Palestinian militants were killed when Israel blew up a tunnel stretching from the Gaza Strip into its territory. Such tunnels have previously been used for attacks.

The incident raised fears the timetable could be delayed, but both the PA and Hamas stressed they remained committed to the agreement.

Officials from both factions accused Israel of trying to disrupt the deal, while the Israel's army said it was forced to act after its sovereignty was breached.

In another step in the reconciliation process, all major Palestinian factions are due to meet in Cairo later this month to discuss the formation of a unity government.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Hamas handed over control of the Gaza Strip's border with Egypt to the Palestinian Authority today, an AFP journalist said, in a first key test of a Palestinian reconciliation accord agreed last month.

Nazmi Muhanna, the Palestinian Authority's top official for border crossings, formally received control of the Rafah crossing with Egypt from his Hamas counterpart.

At a separate checkpoint with Israel, an AFP photographer also saw Hamas installations being dismantled.

At the Rafah crossing, Palestinian and Egyptian flags were flying, with large pictures of Palestinian Authority president Mahmud Abbas and Egyptian leader Abdel Fattah al- Sisi.

Hisham Adwan, director of information at the Hamas crossings authority, told AFP that Palestinian Authority employees would resume full control of the border.

Under the Egyptian-brokered deal, the Palestinian Authority is due to take full control of Gaza by December 1.

The checkpoints had been due to be handed over by November 1 and were seen as a first key test of the strength of the reconciliation agreement.

Hamas has ruled Gaza since 2007 when the Islamists seized control in a near civil war with Abbas's Fatah, based in the occupied West Bank.

A number of issues, including the future of Hamas' vast military wing, remain uncertain.

Multiple previous reconciliation agreements have collapsed.

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Patidar quota stir spearhead Hardik Patel today held a meeting with senior NCP leader Praful Patel to discuss various aspects related to the next month's Gujarat Assembly polls, including the possibility of a united fight against the BJP, an NCP leader said.

While Hardik Patel did not reveal much as to what exactly transpired during the meet, NCP leader Rajendra Jain said both the leaders talked about the possibility of working together to defeat ruling BJP in the election.

"NCP leader Praful Patel met me today for wishing Diwali greetings. It was a nice meeting," Hardik tweeted after the meeting.

According to Jain, who is the NCP's observer for Gujarat, the discussion largely revolved around exploring possibilities of a united fight against BJP.

"Since it's election time, it is obvious that leaders meet each other. There was no specific agenda of today's meet. Prafulji and Hardik discussed about coming together to fight against BJP, which is facing anti-incumbency," Jain said.

The meeting took place at a time when Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi is in Gujarat for his party's poll campaign.

Last year, Praful Patel, who is the state NCP in-charge, hinted at taking support of the Patel community for the assembly elections.

Though the NCP's relations with the Congress deteriorated after the Rajya Sabha polls after two of its MLAs claimed to have voted for the BJP candidate, Gujarat Congress leaders recently hinted to work with the NCP during the polls.

However, no formal announcement about any pre-poll alliance has been made yet.

Hardik Patel has put forward a set of demands before the Congress as a pre-condition for extending support to the party in the upcoming Gujarat Assembly polls. On Saturday, he asked the Congress to make its stand clear by November 3 on how it would ensure reservation for the community.

The Gujarat Assembly polls are scheduled to be held in two phases -- on December 9 and December 14.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Congress MLA Raghuvir Singh Kadian has moved a notice of breach of privilege in the Haryana Assembly against BJP legislator Mool Chand Sharma accusing him of "divulging" the proceedings of a House panel to the media, a charge denied by the latter.

A section of the media had claimed that the Assembly's Committee on Public Undertakings had on Monday reportedly given clean chit to senior IAS officer Ashok Khemka in a case related to alleged irregularities in purchase of galvalume sheets by Haryana State Warehousing Corporation (HSWC) during his tenure as its managing director in 2009.

They had quoted the panel's chairman Sharma saying that the paragraph regarding charges against Khemka has been dropped.

Kadian today said he has moved the Breach of Privilege Notice under Rule 281 of the Rules of Procedure and for contempt of the House on the charge that Sharma has "divulged the proceedings" of the committee to the media.

"It is a settled practice that the proceedings of the House are treated as confidential and it is not permissible for any member of the panel or anyone who has accesses to those proceedings to communicate directly or indirectly to the media or any other person any information regarding the proceedings including report or any conclusion arrived at finally or tentatively before the report is presented to the House," he said.

Kadian said as the final report in the matter is yet to be prepared and presented to the House, "divulging the proceedings of the committee is clear-cut breach of privilege and contempt of the House."



"I have also written to Speaker Kanwarpal Gurjar to direct Sharma to get my dissenting view on the matter examined by the committee," he said.

When contacted, Sharma denied that he had given any statement to the media.

"I have not given any statement to the media. Who am I to give clean chit to anybody? I have not spoken to anyone about what transpired in the House Committee," Sharma said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Haryana Additional Advocate General Naveen Kaushik was today asked to resign after he was accused of helping the counsel of a man allegedly involved in the killing of 17-year-old Junaid Khan on a train in June, AG Baldev Raj Mahajan said today.

However, Kaushik in his explanation to Advocate General Mahajan denied providing any assistance to the counsel.

The Haryana AG had sought an explanation from the additional AG following media reports alleging that he had provided assistance to the defence counsel of the prime accused in the Junaid Khan murder case.

"After media reports, I sought explanation from him (Kaushik) to which he replied that he is associated with an organisation working for the promotion of different Indian languages. He (Kaushik) said he had supplied material to the concerned counsel in this case and did not assist him," Mahajan told reporters here.

"Since he (Kaushik) admitted that he went to the (Faridabad) court and supplied documents to the counsel, I told him that it is a case in which the state is a party and he must tender his resignation," the AG said.

Mahajan said he asked him to resign and recommended to the government to accept his resignation.

His assistance to the counsel is not justified, even though he submitted that he did not assist in the case. However, the (Faridabad) court observed that he was present during the hearing," he said.

Additional district and sessions judge Faridabad Y S Rathore in his interim order on October 25 had reportedly stated that Kaushik was assisting the counsel of the main accused, Naresh Kumar, during the cross-examination of prosecution witnesses.

Junaid, on board a Mathura-bound train, was stabbed to death when he, along with his brothers, was returning home to Khandawli village after shopping for Eid in Delhi.

His body was dumped close to Asaoti village in Faridabad district.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar today said that a pond management authority would be constituted for the protection, conservation, development and rejuvenation of more than 14,000 ponds in the state.

The chief minister also said that the unspent Rs 60 crore of the Rs 100 crore budget of the Haryana Swarna Jayanti Celebrations Authority would be diverted to initiatives being taken to double farmer's income and conserve water.

Khattar made the announcements at the'National Seminar on Enhancing Efficacy of Usage of Water' in Kurukhsetra on the occasion of 52nd Haryana Day.

The event was organised by the Irrigation Department and the Haryana Irrigation Research and Management Institute.

Magsaysay award recipient and water conservationist Rajendra Singh praised the state government's feat of taking water to the tail ends of southern Haryana and Masani Dam after 30 years, an official release said here.

Former Chief Election Eommissioner of India S Y Quraishi also spoke at the event.

Khattar said that 50 to 60 small lakes would be developed in areas adjoining Delhi to help store and recharge the ground water-table to help the national capital meet its water demands.

Delhi has a population of about 2.5 crore and after adding the population of adjoining districts of Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad and Noida, it reaches up to four crore, he said.

"Keeping all this in mind, it has been decided to develop 50 to 60 small lakes or water bodies in the areas adjoining Delhi so that the water stored could be utilised to meet the growing requirement of water," he said.

The Public Health and Engineering Department would tap the excess water flowing in villages and put the same into ponds, he said.

Digging of ponds would be carried out every year, he said, adding that the water would be used for irrigation of 30 to 100 acresof land.

Emphasising on the need of rain water conservation, the chief minister said that check dams would be constructed at eight to nine places in the Shivalik foothills.

Earlier, in his key note address, Singh said it was for the first time in last 32 years that water has reached to tail ends of the state.

The micro-irrigation projects such as those in Pehowa in Kurukshetra are the need of the hour, he said



Quraishi said that water conservation is the need of the hour for which competitive multiple sectoral management is required.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Delhi High Court today asked the city government to ensure proper medical treatment to those injured in the 2011 bomb blast at its main gate.

A bench of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C Hari Shankar also said that efforts should continue to provide proper medical facilities and rehabiliate the victims.

During the hearing, the Delhi State Legal Services Authority (DSLSA) also filed a report in the court on the status of the victims of the September 7, 2011 terror attack at the reception counter of the High Court that had claimed 15 lives and left 79 injured.

The report filed by DSLSA secretary Sanjeev Jain said they have taken details of the victims, who had lost their lives and those injured, from the investigating officer.

Out of 15 persons killed in the blast, the authority had called the family members of 14 persons for interaction and 45 of the 79 injured persons came forward, the report said.

It said the other injured persons could not be contacted as notices sent to them remained unserved due to insufficient or changed address.

The report said those killed and the injured have already been compensated by the government following the high court's order.

It said the court had awarded compensation of Rs 20,000 and Rs three lakh to persons who received minor or grievous injuries respectively and Rs 10 lakh compensation was paid to the families of those who lost their lives.

A powerful blast had ripped through the reception counter of the Delhi High Court complex on September 7, 2011 that had claimed 15 lives and left 79 injured.

The high court's earlier order had come on plea filed by advocate Gaurav Kumar Bansal, seeking direction to the government to ensure social security for the terror attack victims and their relatives.

Allowing the PIL, the high court had also asked the Centre to consider providing education to the victims' children and directed the Delhi government to provide jobs to eligible children of victims.

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The Calcutta High Court today asked Narada CEO Mathew Samuel if he was willing to undergo a narco-analysis test before the Kolkata Police in connection with a case of extortion in which he is an accused.

Directing him to inform the court by November 9 on whether he was open to the test, Justice Debangshu Basak asked the Kolkata Police "not to alter the situation" till then.

Justice Basak noted that the Narada head had invited investigators to hold a narco test and gave the direction when Samuel's counsel told the court he would have to take instructions from his client in this regard.

Samuel had conducted a sting operation which showed people resembling senior Trinamool Congress leaders receiving money allegedly in exchange for future favours. The sting case is being investigated by the CBI on a Supreme Court order.

Claiming that the Kolkata Police was harassing him in the name of an investigation into an extortion case, Samuel had moved the high court praying that the probe be transferred to the CBI.

Alleging that Samuel was not cooperating with the probe into the case of extortion calls made to a Bihar political leader from a lodge here, Advocate General Kishore Dutta submitted that an accused could not dictate terms on how an investigation had to be carried out.

Dutta submitted that a laptop, mobile phones and SIM cards were recovered from the lodge under the Muchipara police station area earlier this year. These were allegedly used to make the extortion calls and links with Samuel were being probed on specific grounds.

Submitting that the city police had not arrested him in the case though it could in accordance with the law, Dutta produced a letter by the CBI, which, he said, had asked the Kolkata Police not to harass Samuel.

Claiming that the central agency had become a "friend" of Samuel, the AG said, "We have asked the CBI to be present during Samuel's questioning. We have nothing to hide."



Samuel's counsel Bikash Bhattacharya submitted that he was being harassed in the name of the investigation and that he should not be forced to provide any material that he said he did not have.

Bhattacharya claimed the police was insisting on the production of Samuel's personal files which are connected to the CBI investigation into the Narada sting operation.

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Madras High Court today directed the Principal District Judge of Thiruvallur to inspect the Special Sub-Jail in suburban Poonamallee and file a report after a petition alleged that the conditions there were bad.

A bench comprising Justices Rajiv Shakdher and N Sathishkumar directed the Judge to file his report by November 29.

It passed the order on a petition by one Naziakhanum, a city suburb resident, seeking a direction to transfer her husband, a undertrial prisoner now lodged in the Poonamallee jail, to any central prison.

She submitted that her husband Muhamed Mthuagir and 14 others, facing charges under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and Indian Penal Code, had almost become mentally disturbed because of the "worst conditions prevailing in the special sub-jail."



The petitioner further claimed that the jail looked like a 'zoo'.

Though a representation had been given to the state government to shift the prisoners to any other jail, there was no response to it, she added.

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The Madras High Court today issued notice to the police on a petition seeking transfer of probe into a Rs 3-crore cheating case against former DMK MP Rithesh Kumar alias K Sivakumar to the CB-CID.

A criminal original petition by NRI Athinarayanan Subramanian alias Shiva, who hails from the city, came up before Justice M S Ramesh who directed the Commissioner of Police and the Assistant Commissioner of Police, Central Crime Branch III, Vepery, Chennai, to file reply by November 16.

The petitioner, who returned to India from the US in 2013 because of his son's illness, alleged that he paid Rs 3 crore to the former MP for his business purposes.

Earlier, the Madras High Court had directed the Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Central Crime Branch, to probe the cheating complaint against the former DMK MP.

The petitioner alleged that Rithesh has shifted his allegiance from the DMK to the AIADMK and was using his power to influence the case.

Since he is with the ruling dispensation now, the police are reluctant to act against him, he alleged and sought transfer of the investigation from the ACP, CCB, to the CB- CID.

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The Delhi High Court today refused to stay a clause in a circular issued by Delhi government's Directorate of Education (DoE) on the guidelines for implementation of 7th Pay Commission reccomendations in private unaided schools in the city.

The high court declined interim relief sought by an association of 500 private unaided recognised schools in Delhi to stay the circular which states that if a school's managing committee feels necessary to increase tuition fee, it shall hold a meeting with a group of teachers and parents, including at least one parent representative from each section of the school, and present its detailed budget.

The circular contains the guidelines, mode and manner of implementation of 7th Central Pay Commission's recommendations in private unaided recognised schools of Delhi for paying increased salaries and allowances to their teachers and other staff members.

Justice Indermeet Kaur, however, said the court was not inclined to grant the stay on the October 17 circular at this stage and issued notice to DoE seeking its response before February 5, the next date of hearing.

"It is the parents who have to bear the brunt of fee hike. So they must know why there is a hike. It is also true that there is already so much of commercialisation in the education system," the court said.

Senior advocate Dayan Krishnan, appearing for Delhi State Public School Management Association, sought quashing of the particular clause saying that inputs from parents would create unrest in children and parents which will make it difficult for the school to function.

He said asking for member of every section to be present in the meeting and creating extra statutory provision was not permissible under the statute.

Delhi government standing counsel Ramesh Singh said parents' participation was important as it contemplated transparency and they were equal stakeholders and their inputs will not amount to any intereference.

He said as per the circular, inputs would be solicited from the parents and teachers' representatives and the managing committee can either take their suggestions into consideration and revise their proposal or record their dissent.

The association, in its petition filed through advocate Kamal Gupta, said it was challenging only Clause 1(K) of the circular which seeks for parents participation, alleging that it was "absolutely illegal and arbitrary portion" and contrary to provisions of the Delhi School Education Act and Rules.

The petition said a division bench of the high court in August 2011 order had struck down an absolutely identical of the DoE circular of February 2009 and the action of the respondent in re-issuing such direction is not only illegal, but also contemptuous.

"Once the division bench has held that there is no requirement to take any approval of the parents before enhancement of fee, holding of a meeting with a group of parents, presentation of budget and financial statements to them, justifying the need for increase in tuition fee to them, is absolutely unwarranted, inconsequential, not required and utterly mala fide," it claimed.

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A hog deer, which was rescued in a critical condition after having crossed over from Pakistan, died during treatment at Manda Zoo here, a wildlife official said today.

The pregnant deer was rescued when it was being attacked by a pack of dogs atAbdal village of Suchetgarh in R S Pura sector by police and handed over to the Wildlife Department on Monday.

"Unfortunately, the deer died of wounds caused by dog bites and barbed wire fencing around 11.30 pm yesterday. The carcass of the animal was buried after post-mortem," Wildlife Warden, Jammu, Amit Sharma told PTI.

He said the doctors made all out efforts to save the animal.

A police team led by sub-divisional police officer, R S Pura, Surinder Choudhary had acted swiftly after getting information about the deer being attacked by a pack of dogs near the International Border.

The injuries suffered by the deer indicated that it had crossed the fence from the Pakistani side before attacked by a group of nearly a dozen dogs, Choudhary had said.

The animal was provided first aid at the local veterinary hospital before taken to Manda zoo hospital by the wildlife officials.

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Buoyed by CBI's clean chit to him in the Vyapam scam case, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan today said since he had done no wrong, the agency cleared his name.

The state BJP is planning to file a defamation case against Congress leader Digvijaya Singh and others who had alleged that data on the hard disk had reference to "CM", which was erased.

"I was clean, so a clean chit was inevitable. In public life, allegations are levelled, but they should be based on facts. Such (baseless) charges pain the person. I am not worried much, as I was relieved from the beginning," Chouhan told reporters here, reacting to the development.

The Central investigation agency, which filed the charge sheet in a Bhopal court yesterday, said, "There is no grain of truth in the allegation that the HDD (hard disk drive) seized on July 18, 2013 from the office of the then principal system analyst, Vyapam was tampered".

It filed the charge sheet against 490 persons including three Vyapam officials, three racketeers, 17 middlemen, 297 "solver" (impersonators or 'dummies' of real candidates in exams) and beneficiary candidates (who benefited from such impersonation) and 170 guardians of beneficiary candidates in the court of the special judge for Vyapam cases, Bhopal, last evening.

The CBI is probing a case related to alleged irregularities in the Pre-Medical Test (PMT) 2013 conducted by the Madhya Pradesh Professional Examination Board, also known by its Hindi acronym 'Vyapam'.

It is alleged that 'solvers' were arranged for candidates appearing for PMT for a fee.

"In the charge sheet, the CBI also submitted its findings on the allegations of tampering of the Hard Disk Drive (HDD) that had been seized by the MP Police. Based on the CFSL (Central Forensic Science Laboratory) reports and other evidence gathered during investigation, the CBI has concluded that there was no tampering in the HDD," a CBI release said.

State BJP president Nandkumar Singh Chauhan said allegations of tampering was an attempt to tarnish the image of a popular chief minister and for this, the BJP will not spare anyone.

"After taking lawyers' opinion, we will file a defamation case against Congress general secretary Digvijaya Singh and others," he said in a statement.

The CBI yesterday claimed that forensic analysis of the hard disc showed there was no file carrying the word "CM" ever stored on it.

Digvijaya Singh and whistle blower Prashant Pandey had alleged that the word "CM" found in the files in the computer of accused Nitin Mohindra was deleted or changed.

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India and Bhutan have agreed to celebrate 2018 as the golden jubilee of the establishment of formal diplomatic ties between the two neighbours, a statement by the Bhutanese Embassy said.

President Ram Nath Kovind, during his meeting with Bhutan King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, also extended an invitation to him to pay a state visit to India during the golden jubilee year, which was accepted by the visiting dignitary.

"The meetings were held in a very warm and cordial atmosphere, reflecting the spirit of mutual trust and understanding that characterise the exceptionally friendly ties between the two countries," the statement said.

Earlier in the day, Kovind "conveyed deep appreciation for the King of Bhutan's personal involvement and guidance and the support provided by Bhutan in addressing the recent situation in the Dokalam area".

India and China's troops were locked in a 73-day stand- off in Dokalam, a tri-junction between Sino-India and Bhutanese border near Sikkim, from June 16 this year after Indian Army personnel stopped the Chinese Army from building a road in the disputed area.

Apart from the president, Wangchuck also held talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj.

Recalling the "unique and historical ties of friendship and understanding" between India and Bhutan, the leaders exchanged views on bilateral cooperation as well as other issues of mutual interest.

The two sides expressed satisfaction at the "excellent state of bilateral relations" and reaffirmed their commitment to advance the good ties across diverse sectors of cooperation.

"The visit of Their Majesties to India marks an important milestone in the close and friendly relations between the two countries and has contributed significantly towards further strengthening the profound friendship between India and Bhutan," the statement added.

The Bhutan's King also conveyed appreciation for the support India provides for Bhutan's socio-economic development, the statement added.

Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu, senior ministers and officials will also call on the King of Bhutan during the visit from October 31 to November 3.

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India is committed to promoting UNESCO's agenda, Union HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar said today, observing that the UN body's responsibilities have become bigger owing to its work in the field of education, culture and science.

Delving into India's efforts in developing the education sector, the human resource development minister said accessibility, equity, quality, affordability and accountability are five important pillars in this arena.

"Multilateralism needs to succeed. For this, we need to stick to our original agenda. We should maintain line and length and should not divert. It is not confrontational but cooperative federalism. Every member state is sovereign but will come together for common good," he said.

The minister was speaking during the general policy debate at the 39th General Conference of UNESCO here.

"UNESCO's responsibilities to the future has become bigger...So our resolves must be stronger. This is the extraordinary legacy of our partnership with UNESCO from the time of its birth and we would like to see it continue," Javadekar said.

He also recalled that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had discussed with UNESCO about 'an introspection into our different cultures, traditions and religions to overcome the rising tide of extremism, violence and divisions that plague our world'.

"This is our original agenda, education, culture, science and communication. In this, we learn from each other. We share best practises. This is UNESCO's agenda. We must promote it," he said.

Highlighting the Massive Open Online Courses launched in July this year, Javadekar noted that 400 courses have been made available and more than 18 lakh students and citizens have registered for it.

Earlier, on the sidelines of the UNESCO General Conference, the minister had a bilateral meeting with his Afghanistan counterpart and had interaction with E-9 Ministers at E-9 Ministerial lunch.

Bangladesh, Brazil, China, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Nigeria and Pakistan are referred to as the E-9 countries.

Afghanistan sought India's help in curriculum development. India has assured to provide all help to develop a scientific curriculum relevant to Afghanistan.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)


The all-women crew of an Indian Navy sail boat was today hailed as "heroes" by the State government of Western Australia for taking up an incredibly challenging expedition of circumnavigating the globe.

The six crew of the Indian Naval Sailing Vessel (INSV) Tarini, led by Lieutenant Commander Vartika Joshi, started their maiden voyage on September 10 from Goa and is expected to complete it in about eight months.

Last week, the sailing vessel arrived at Fremantle Port, its first and only stopover in Australia. The next stopovers are Lyttleton (New Zealand), Port Stanley (Falklands), and Cape Town (South Africa).

Welcoming the Indian women, the state's Women's Interests Minister Simone McGurk said, "I cannot imagine how much bravery, let alone strength and tenacity, it would take to sail around the globe. These women are heroes.

"As a Women's Interests Minister, I applaud the six crew for what is an incredibly challenging journey and wish them well as they move onto the next leg."



Minister for Tourism, Defence Issues and Citizenship and Multicultural Interests, Paul Papalia also commended the all women crew, saying "I sincerely welcome Lieutenant Commander Vartika Joshi and her crew to Western Australia (WA)."



He said that their journey was being watched by millions of people, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi who met the crew before they set off from Panaji.

"We are grateful for the opportunity to show India, an emerging tourism market, the wonders of our State through the eyes of such a courageous and groundbreaking group of women," he added.

During their stay in Australia, the crew toured some of the best attractions of Perth, including Kings Park and Rottnest Island.

"As a former naval man, I respect the endeavours of the crew of INSV Tarini enormously and wish them well on their journey," Papalia said.

Sharing her experience, Joshi said that the crew had so far experienced a mix of calm weather and rough seas on their about 5,000 nautical mile journey from Goa.

"The boat needs to be prepared for the next leg, which is going to be even tougher as we are going to transit to the Southern Ocean," she was quoted as saying in media reports here.

Joshi also said that there was a need for a couple of repairs and servicing of the onboard equipment INSV Tarini.

INSV Tarini is a 55-foot sailing vessel, which has been built indigenously, and inducted in the Indian Navy earlier this year.

"When we are working on board we don't really bother about gender...at the end of the day it's the work that's most important and it's the goal in front of us that needs to be addressed," she said, adding that the sea, they say, is gender neutral and so is the response to the sea.

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An Indian-origin MP took centre-stage in the UK Parliament today when she claimed that British Prime Minister Theresa May had failed to act over sexual abuse cover-up she had informed her about three years ago.

Lisa Nandy's intervention during the weekly Prime Minister's Questions (PMQs) in the House of Commons came amid an intensifying storm around cases of sexual misconduct involving British politicians.

The Labour party MP for Wigan claimed that she had raised the issue of party whips, in charge of discipline within political ranks, misusing knowledge of sexual abuse cases to their advantage in 2014 when May was UK home secretary in a David Cameron led government.

"Three years ago, I brought evidence to her (Theresa May) in this House that whips had used information about sexual abuse to demand loyalty from MPs. I warned her at the time that unless real action was taken we risked repeating those injustices again today," Nandy said during PMQs.

"On three occasions, I asked her to act and on three occasions she did not," she claimed, demanding that the British prime minister take "concrete action" to tackle the issue now.

Theresa May, who had opened the day's parliamentary proceedings with a statement on the issue of sexual misconduct involving political leaders, said that she had been holding a series of meetings to set up a "common, transparent, independent" grievance procedure.

Responding to Nandys question, she indicated that she did not recall the three instances being referred to but was determined to take firm action.

She said: "I am very clear that the whips office should make clear to people that where there are any sexual abuse allegations that could be of a criminal nature, that people should go to the police.

"We want people to feel confident to bring forward cases and we need to ensure that those cases are properly investigated. I want to see a good process within this Parliament.

The heated exchange in Parliament followed a series of revelations over the last few days involving senior members of the UK Cabinet and political figures across party lines.

May's deputy, First Secretary of State Damian Green, was the latest figure to get caught up in allegations of inappropriate behaviour towards a female Conservative party activist, Kate Maltby, who wrote in 'The Times' that he "fleetingly" touched her knee in a pub in 2015, and in 2016 sent her a "suggestive" text message.

Green has denied the allegations as "completely false" and said he has instructed libel lawyers to pursue a legal route in the matter.

Downing Street confirmed that the prime minister had asked the UK Cabinet Secretary, Sir Jeremy Heywood, to "establish the facts and report back as soon as possible" over the allegations involving her deputy.

The revelations involving Green came soon after a Labour party activist, Bex Bailey, revealed that she was raped at a party event in 2011 and that a senior Labour official discouraged her from reporting the attack.

Opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn said the 25-year-old former member of the Labour's ruling National Executive Committee had shown "incredible bravery" in speaking out and said she had his "full support and solidarity".

The party has launched an independent investigation into the activist's claims.

"There will be no tolerance in the Labour Party for sexism, harassment or abuse. Whatever it takes, we are absolutely committed to rooting it out," said Corbyn, who has offered to meet May to discuss the issue of setting up appropriate channels to deal with such cases early next week.

May has proposed an independent mediation service for staff wanting to raise concerns about MPs behaviour and enforcing a grievance procedure overseen by MPs that is currently voluntary.

A number of MPs are pressing for tougher action, including an independent body to police the conduct of politicians similar to the Independent Standards Authority (ISA), which acts as the watchdog for expenses.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
No Indian casualties has been reported in a deadly terror attack in New York city that killed at least eight persons, the Consulate General of India here said today.

At least eight persons were killed and 11 others were injured after an Uzbek man allegedly inspired by the ISIS ploughed a pickup truck down a crowded bike path near the World Trade Centre.

"Our sources in the New York Police Department (NYPD) indicate there are no Indian names amongst the casualties. So far preliminary information," the consulate tweeted.

The Indian mission is in touch with the NYPD to ascertain more details, it said.

New York city has been largely spared from terrorism since nearly 3,000 people were killed in the September 11, 2001, attacks.

The most recent violence from terrorism there came in September 2016, when a man set off shrapnel-packed explosives in the Chelsea neighbourhood of Manhattan. Nobody was killed, but 30 people were injured.

Trucks have become a common weapon for terrorists in recent years.

In July 2016, as thousands of people crammed into the streets of Nice, France, for a Bastille Day celebration, an assailant influenced by Islamic State drove a 19-tonne cargo truck into a crowd, leaving 86 dead and 434 injured.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Iran today condemned the truck attack in New York that killed eight people but also said that US policies in the Middle East were the "root of terrorism".

"The murder of innocent and undefended citizens in public places demonstrates the cruelty and savagery of terrorist groups like Daesh," Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Bahram Ghassemi said, using an Arabic acronym for the Islamic State group.

He added, however, that Iran considers that "the root of terrorism... is the policies carried out at certain times by the United States and their allies in the Middle East."



The man who drove his pickup truck down a crowded New York bike path yesterday left a note pledging allegiance to IS, US media reported, but there was no immediate claim of responsiblity from the jihadist organisation.

Iran previously expressed its sympathy towards the United States following the shooting massacre in Las Vegas in early October.

IS claimed responsibility for that attack but US authorities have said they have found no connection between the group and shooter Stephen Paddock.

Iran and the United States have not had diplomatic relations for the past 37 years, and the arrival in January of President Donald Trump in the White House has served to boost tensions.

After a double attack claimed by IS that killed 17 people in Tehran in June, Trump said that "states that sponsor terrorism risk falling victim to the evil they promote". Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif denounced his comment as "repugnant".

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A domestically radicalised Uzbek man yelling 'God is great' ploughed a pickup truck down a crowded bicycle path here today, killing eight people and injuring 11 others in the deadliest terror attack on the city since 9/11.

The 29-year-old suspect, a sympathiser of the Islamic State terror group, was shot in the stomach by a police officer before being arrested. The Uzbek man has been identified as Sayfullo Habibullaevic Saipov, an immigrant from the Central Asian country, who came to the US legally in 2010.

The incident took place near the World Trade Centre and along the normally gridlocked West Side Highway, a major thoroughfare that runs along the western edge of Manhattan by the Hudson River as Americans celebrated Halloween.

The attacker left nearly a half km crime scene -- a tree-lined bike path strewn with mangled bicycles and their parts.

Police said the truck drove south after entering a pedestrian and bicycle path, where it struck multiple people. Six men were pronounced dead at the scene on the cycle lane and two other people were dead on arrival at the hospital.

The victims included five Argentinians and a Belgian citizen. Two other victims have not yet been identified.

After smashing the truck into a school bus, injuring two adults and two children, the suspect exited the truck displaying "imitation firearms" and was shot by police, according to the New York Police Department (NYPD).

Officers were able to talk to Saipov before the surgery, but it was unclear if he told them anything, a law enforcement official said.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said Saipov was "radicalised domestically" in the US.

"The evidence shows -- and again, it's only several hours, and the investigation is ongoing -- but that after he came to the United States is when he started to become informed about ISIS and radical Islamic tactics," Cuomo told CNN.

"We have no evidence yet of associations or a continuing plot or associated plots, and our only evidence to date is that this was an isolated incident that he himself performed," he said.

Officials said Saipov left a note declaring his allegiance to the Islamic State, but authorities have not found any connections between him and the terror group or any other organisation.

One witness, Eugene Duffy, told ABC Channel 7 that he saw the truck driving quickly down the cycle path alongside the West Side Highway at full speed as it hit a number of people. He also reported hearing about nine or 10 shots.

The driver shouted 'Allahu Akbar' (God is great) after getting out of the vehicle, New York Post reported.

A pellet gun and a paintball gun were recovered from the scene, officials said.

Eleven people were transported to the hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries, according to New York Fire Commissioner Daniel Nigro.

A spokesman for Home Depot confirmed one of the company's rental trucks was part of an incident in lower Manhattan and said the company is "cooperating with authorities" in the investigation.

The suspect, who hails from Paterson New Jersey, had multiple interactions with law enforcement in several states, online records show. Saipov had traffic citations issued in Missouri and Pennsylvania.

New York City mayor Bill de Blasio said the incident was being treated as an act of terror, "a particularly cowardly act of terror".

US President Donald Trump denounced the attack, saying "we must not allow ISIS to return".

"In NYC, looks like another attack by a very sick and deranged person. Law enforcement is following this closely. NOT IN THE U.S.A.!" Trump tweeted.

Trump also said he had ordered more robust "extreme vetting" of travellers coming into the US.

The US Justice Department said in a statement that a joint terrorism task force that included the FBI, the NYPD and others was investigating the attack.

An Uber spokeswoman said Saipov also drove for the ride sharing-company, which is cooperating with authorities.

The One World Trade Center, the main building of the rebuilt World Trade Center complex destroyed during the September 11, 2001 terror attack, was lit in red, white and blue in honour of freedom and democracy.

New York has been largely spared from terrorism since nearly 3,000 people were killed in the 9/11 attack.

The most recent violence from terrorism there came in September 2016, when a man set off shrapnel-packed explosives in the Chelsea neighbourhood of Manhattan. Nobody was killed, but 30 people were injured in the incident.

Trucks have become a common weapon for terrorists in recent years, with the ISIS encouraging its followers to use them in carrying out deadly attacks.

In July 2016, an assailant influenced by the Islamic State drove a 19-tonne cargo truck into a crowd in the French city of Nice, leaving 86 people dead and 434 injured.

In December, a man with ties to Islamic State drove a 27-tonne truck into a Christmas market in Berlin, killing 12 people and injuring 56 others.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
An Uzbek man shouting 'God is great' ploughed a pickup truck down a crowded bike path near the World Trade Centre here today, killing at least eight persons and injuring 11 others in an ISIS-inspired plot termed as the deadliest terrorist attack on the city since 9/11.

The 29-year-old suspect was shot in the stomach by a police officer before being arrested. The media named the Uzbek man as Sayfullo Saipov, an immigrant who came to the US in 2010.

The incident took place along the normally gridlocked West Side Highway, a major thoroughfare that runs along the western edge of Manhattan by the Hudson River as Americans celebrated Halloween. Manhattan is the most densely populated borough of the New York City.

The attacker left nearly a half km crime scene -- a tree-lined bike path strewn with mangled bicycles and their parts.

Police said the truck drove south after entering a pedestrian and bicycle path, where it struck multiple people. Six men were pronounced dead at the scene on the cycle lane and two other people were dead on arrival at the hospital.

The victims included five Argentinians and a Belgian citizen.

After smashing the truck into a school bus, injuring two adults and two children, the suspect exited the truck displaying "imitation firearms" and was shot by police, according to the New York Police Department (NYPD).

"I heard a truck, a car, something going down the bike path," said witness Eugene Duffy, 44, who was waiting at a red light to walk across West Street.

The driver shouted 'Allahu Akbar' (God is great) after getting out of the vehicle, New York Post reported. A note in English was found in the truck that referred to the Islamic State terror group, media reports said.

A pellet gun and a paintball gun were recovered from the scene, officials said.

At lease 11 people were transported to the hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries, according to New York Fire Commissioner Daniel Nigro.

A spokesman for Home Depot confirmed one of the company's rental trucks was part of an incident in lower Manhattan and said the company is "cooperating with authorities" in the investigation.

The suspect, who hails from Paterson New Jersey, had multiple interactions with law enforcement in several states, online records show. Saipov had traffic citations issued in Missouri and Pennsylvania.

Authorities said the suspect was hospitalised, underwent surgery and was expected to survive.

New York City mayor Bill de Blasio said the incident was being treated as an act of terror, "a particularly cowardly act of terror".

US President Donald Trump denounced the attack, saying "we must not allow ISIS to return".

"In NYC, looks like another attack by a very sick and deranged person. Law enforcement is following this closely. NOT IN THE U.S.A.!" Trump tweeted.

Trump also said he had ordered more robust "extreme vetting" of travellers coming into the US.

The US Justice Department said in a statement that a joint terrorism task force that included the FBI, the NYPD and others was investigating the attack.

An Uber spokeswoman said Saipov also drove for the popular ride sharing-company, which is cooperating with authorities.

The One World Trade Center, the main building of the rebuilt World Trade Center complex destroyed during the September 11, 2001 terror attack, was lit in red, white and blue in honour of freedom and democracy.

New York has been largely spared from terrorism since nearly 3,000 people were killed in the 9/11 attack.

The most recent violence from terrorism there came in September 2016, when a man set off shrapnel-packed explosives in the Chelsea neighbourhood of Manhattan. Nobody was killed, but 30 people were injured.

Trucks have become a common weapon for terrorists in recent years, with the ISIS encouraging its followers to use them in carrying out deadly attacks.

In July 2016, as thousands of people crammed into the streets of Nice, France, for a Bastille Day celebration, an assailant influenced by the Islamic State drove a 19-tonne cargo truck into a crowd, leaving 86 dead and 434 injured.

In December, a man with ties to Islamic State drove a 27-tonne truck into a Christmas market in Berlin, killing 12 people and injuring 56 others.

Three months later, a man drove his car into pedestrians on Londons Westminster Bridge, killing four and injuring dozens more, before jumping out and fatally stabbing a police officer and being shot dead by other officers.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
An Uzbek man yelling 'God is great' ploughed a pickup truck down a crowded bike path near the World Trade Centre here today, killing eight people and injuring 11 others in an ISIS-inspired plot termed as the deadliest terrorist attack on the city since 9/11.

The 29-year-old suspect was shot in the stomach by a police officer before being arrested. The media named the Uzbek man as Sayfullo Habibullaevic Saipov, an immigrant who came to the US legally in 2010.

The incident took place along the normally gridlocked West Side Highway, a major thoroughfare that runs along the western edge of Manhattan by the Hudson River as Americans celebrated Halloween. Manhattan is the most densely populated borough of the New York City.

The attacker left nearly a half km crime scene -- a tree-lined bike path strewn with mangled bicycles and their parts.

Police said the truck drove south after entering a pedestrian and bicycle path, where it struck multiple people. Six men were pronounced dead at the scene on the cycle lane and two other people were dead on arrival at the hospital.

The victims included five Argentinians and a Belgian citizen. Two other victims have not yet been identified.

The deaths of the five Argentines were confirmed by the country's foreign ministry. They were part of a group of 10 friends who came to in New York to celebrate the 30th anniversary of their graduation.

After smashing the truck into a school bus, injuring two adults and two children, the suspect exited the truck displaying "imitation firearms" and was shot by police, according to the New York Police Department (NYPD).

Officers were able to talk to Saipov before the surgery, but it was unclear if he told them anything, a law enforcement source told CNN.

One witness, Eugene Duffy, told ABC Channel 7 that he saw the truck driving quickly down the cycle path alongside the West Side Highway at full speed as it hit a number of people. He also reported hearing about nine or 10 shots.

The driver shouted 'Allahu Akbar' (God is great) after getting out of the vehicle, New York Post reported. A note in English was found in the truck that referred to the Islamic State terror group, media reports said.

A pellet gun and a paintball gun were recovered from the scene, officials said.

Eleven people were transported to the hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries, according to New York Fire Commissioner Daniel Nigro.

A spokesman for Home Depot confirmed one of the company's rental trucks was part of an incident in lower Manhattan and said the company is "cooperating with authorities" in the investigation.

The suspect, who hails from Paterson New Jersey, had multiple interactions with law enforcement in several states, online records show. Saipov had traffic citations issued in Missouri and Pennsylvania.

New York City mayor Bill de Blasio said the incident was being treated as an act of terror, "a particularly cowardly act of terror".

US President Donald Trump denounced the attack, saying "we must not allow ISIS to return".

"In NYC, looks like another attack by a very sick and deranged person. Law enforcement is following this closely. NOT IN THE U.S.A.!" Trump tweeted.

Trump also said he had ordered more robust "extreme vetting" of travellers coming into the US.

The US Justice Department said in a statement that a joint terrorism task force that included the FBI, the NYPD and others was investigating the attack.

An Uber spokeswoman said Saipov also drove for the ride sharing-company, which is cooperating with authorities.

The One World Trade Center, the main building of the rebuilt World Trade Center complex destroyed during the September 11, 2001 terror attack, was lit in red, white and blue in honour of freedom and democracy.

New York has been largely spared from terrorism since nearly 3,000 people were killed in the 9/11 attack.

The most recent violence from terrorism there came in September 2016, when a man set off shrapnel-packed explosives in the Chelsea neighbourhood of Manhattan. Nobody was killed, but 30 people were injured in the incident.

Trucks have become a common weapon for terrorists in recent years, with the ISIS encouraging its followers to use them in carrying out deadly attacks.

In July 2016, as thousands of people crammed into the streets of Nice, France, for a Bastille Day celebration, an assailant influenced by the Islamic State drove a 19-tonne cargo truck into a crowd, leaving 86 dead and 434 injured.

In December, a man with ties to Islamic State drove a 27-tonne truck into a Christmas market in Berlin, killing 12 people and injuring 56 others.

Three months later, a man drove his car into pedestrians on London's Westminster Bridge, killing four, before jumping out and fatally stabbing a police officer and being shot dead by other officers.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A young Islamic extremist stabbed two policemen today in front of the Tunisian parliament, seriously wounding one of them before being arrested, the authorities said.

The early morning attack by theman in his mid-20s left bloodstains spattered on the ground outside an entrance to parliament, next door to the famed National Bardo Museum that was the site of a deadly Islamic State group attack in 2015.

A spokesman for the prosecutor's office, Sofiene Sliti, said the assailant set upon the policemen with a knife at around 8:00 am (0700 GMT) stabbing "one in the back of the neck and another at the level of his eyes".

A medical source told AFP that the seriously wounded officer underwent an operation in hospital and remained in intensive care.

The interior ministry said the assailant was arrested and had confessed to having adopted an "extremist" ideology three years ago. "Killing them (police), he believes, is a form of jihad," it said.

Prosecutors said the assailant -- an unemployed computer science graduate born in 1992 -- was from a suburb of Tunis and did not have a criminal record.

An official at the police station where the man was taken after being detained said the attacker appeared "very aware of what he did".

"He spoke calmly and showed no remorse," the official said, asking to remain anonymous.

"He told us: 'This morning, I prayed and I decided to do something for jihad. I saw the policeman in front of me. To me, he's a 'tyrant'. And I did what I did,'" the official quoted the suspect as allegedly saying.

Since its 2011 revolution, which sparked the Arab Spring, Tunisia's security forces have faced a series of jihadist attacks that have claimed the lives of more than 100 soldiers and police.

After the latest attack, Tunisia's parliament speaker Mohamed Ennaceur called for "solidarity because the danger threatens the whole of society and the country".

In 2015, the North African country was the target of several attacks claimed by the Islamic State group that killed 72 people -- 59 of them foreign tourists.

The country has been under a state of emergency since November 2015, after one of those attacks killed 12 presidential guards in the heart of the capital.

In June 2015, 38 foreign tourists, including 30 from Britain, lost their lives in an IS attack on a coastal holiday resort south of Tunis.

In March the same year, another IS attack at the Bardo museum killed 21 foreign tourists and a policeman.

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The three-day Jharkhand Mining and Minerals Summit organized by the state Government and CII ended today.

The Jharkhand government signed three Memorandum of Understanding (MOUs) during the summit.

It signed MoUs with Mineral Exploration Corporation Ltd (MECL) for undertaking mineral exploration to identify prospective mineral blocks, with Vedanta for setting up a Steel plant and with Shree Cements for setting up a cement plant in the mineral-rich state, according to an official press release here.

Jharkhands MoU with MECL will give mineral exploration in the state a significant boost, the dignitaries present at the Valedictory Session held at the HEC Ground observed.

On the inaugural day of the three-day summit, an MoU was signed between Jharkhand government and Coal India Limited for waste water treatment and supply of water for drinking and irrigation to the people.

The Adani Group had proposed to invest 20,000 crore in the state over the next 5 years which will lead to creation of 10,000 jobs. Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML) on the other hand is also looking to expand its operations in Jharkhand.

Jharkhand Urban Development, Housing and Transport Minister, C P Singh said the state is on the fast track of development work.

"It will create forums like JMS and come up with more and more opportunities for businesses," Singh said.

Secretary, Ministry of Mines, Government of India, Arun Kumar praised the Jharkhand government for its proactive approach in transforming its rich mineral wealth into a source of high economic growth, employment generation and societal happiness.

Jharkhand is doing a commendable job in the utilisation of the District Mineral Fund, Kumar said, adding that the Central Government will continue working shoulder to shoulder with the state Government to help it realize its true potential.

With enabling policies and efficient administration, exploration in Jharkhand will get a boost, Kumar said expressing hope that the future is bright for Jharkhand.

Jharkhand, chief secretary, Rajbal Verma said, "As mentioned by the chief minister, growth of mining industry doesnt only mean extraction of the minerals or export of ore, but development of an entire ecosystem to support the mining activities in the State. Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and OCMs will play an important role to fulfil his vision and State.

"The Government of Jharkhand wanted to provide a platform wherein all the stakeholders involved in the mining landscape could come together and discuss the issues and opportunities in the mining sector in Jharkhand. OEMs, OCMs and other industries were provided a platform where they could demonstrate their technical prowess to their target audience, she said.

Sunil Kumar Barnwal, secretary, Mining and Geology department of Jharkhand government said the success of the maiden summit lies in the fact that in a short time the summit has attracted the attention of leading corporates and their heads.

"About 60 companies dealing in mining, exploration, manufacturing, components, etc, have taken part. This goes to prove that Jharkhand is firmly on course to becoming the Indias No 1 Mining Destination," he said.

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The home ministry is looking into a complaint by a portal alleging that one of its journalists was allegedly detained and assaulted at central Delhi's Ranjit Nagar police station on October 30.

The Delhi Development Authority had carried out a demolition drive on October 30 at the Kathputli Colony in Shadipur and the journalist of 'The Quint', Kshitij Kumar, was covering it.

In the letter, the portal has claimed that Kumar was "arbitrarily and wrongfully taken into preventive detention by the Delhi Police".

Despite Kumar informing the police that he was a journalist, his plea to be freed was disregarded, the letter said.

In its letter to home minister Rajnath Singh, Delhi Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik and Lt. Governor of Delhi Anil Baijal, the portal has demanded appropriate action against the police officer concerned.

They have also demanded an "official apology" from the Ministry of Home Affairs, under whose authority the Delhi Police operates.

A senior Home Ministry official said they are looking into the matter.

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Jadavpur University Vice Chancellor Prof Suranjan Das today participated in an anti-drug abuse rally at the university campus here today.

Das was accompanied by members of Jadavpur University Teachers' Association (JUTA), All Bengal University Teachers' Association (ABUTA), JU chapter and several students from arts and engineering faculty.

"I had previously participated in an anti-drug convention over a month back. Today's rally is a follow-up of that initiative," Das told reporters.

"I will be part of similar moves in future," he said.

ABUTA member Goutam Maity said, "students and faculty members and the VC walked in the rally which is aimed towards stopping any narcotics substance abuse in the campus. We all are united to improve public perception about JU which is considered a centre of excellence all over the country for its academic standard."



However, Arts Faculty Students' Union leader Ushashie Roy said, "although we are against any drug abuse in the campus, the students cannot accept any moral policing."



She said no union member took part in the rally and alleged authorities were planning to form a vigilance squad patrolling the campus in the name of stopping drug abuse.

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The Kremlin today sent condolences to the United States over the New York truck attack that killed eight people, calling it "tragic and inhumane."



"We send our condolences, this is a tragic, inhumane attack," President Vladimir Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov was quoted as saying by Russian new agencies.

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City-based prominent criminal lawyer C P Udayabhanu was today arrested here in a case related to the recent murder of a real estate dealer in Thrissur district, a day after the Kerala High Court dismissed his anticipatory bail plea.

A senior police official, who is part of the team probing the case, said Udayabhanu had been arrested.

Real estate dealer Rajeev was found murdered in a deserted building at Chalakudy in Thrissur district last month.

Justice A Hariprasad of the high court had yesterday turned down the lawyer's anticipatory bail plea, holding that his custodial interrogation was highly essential.

Udayabhanu is the seventh accused in the case.

The prosecution had claimed that Udayabhanu, who has been arraigned the seventh accused in the case, had links with the 46-year-old real estate dealer and the persons arrested in connection with his killing.

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A magistrate cannot question the discretionary power of a police officer to arrest an accused when taking note of the charge sheet in a case, the Delhi High Court has said.

A bench of justices Vipin Sanghi and P S Teji also said that a metropolitan magistrate can return a charge sheet only if he finds the investigation was not complete, or the charge was not borne out from the evidence.

"But he cannot return the same (charge sheet) merely because the accused has not been arrested and produced in custody at the time of filing the charge sheet," the bench said.

It also said that the metropolitan magistrate's view that in offences where the sentence is beyond seven years, the investigating agency should necessarily arrest the accused and produce him in custody at the time of filing the charge sheet "has no basis and is contrary to the statutory scheme".

The finding came on a reference sent by the chief metropolitan magistrate of Karkardooma court in east Delhi on a whether a metropolitan magistrate can examine the discretion exercised by an investigating officer for arresting or non- arresting the accused persons, while considering the charge sheet at the stage of taking cognisance.

Answering the query in the negative, the high court said a "metropolitan magistrate cannot examine whether the discretion of the Investigating Officer (IO) to arrest, or not to arrest the accused, has been properly exercised.

"He is only concerned with the charge sheet, as filed. He may return the charge sheet if he finds that the investigation is not complete, or the charge is not borne out from the evidence collected and filed with the charge sheet."



The high court's observation came after hearing advocate P K Dubey, who was appointed as the amicus curiae, and Rahul Mehra, the standing counsel for the police.

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West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today condemned the terror attack in New York and said terror in any form is unacceptable.

"Terror in any form is unacceptable. Thoughts & prayers from all the great cities in India, to one of America's greatest cities#NewYorkAttack," Banerjee said in a tweet.

A man allegedly inspired by the ISIS, ploughed a pickup truck down a crowded bike path near the World Trade Centre in the New York city of US, killing at least eight people and injuring 11 others in the deadliest terrorist attack on the city since September 11, 2001.

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A man has been arrested for allegedly duping as many as 2,100 people by selling fake "HMT" company watches and American diamond chains to people, police said today.

According to police, the accused Balaji Ramchandra Maddipatla (32), owner of a firm called Vaidik Bazar, was arrested under the relevant IPC sections on Tuesday.

"Maddipatla used to call people and tell them that their numbers have been selected through the lottery and they are entitled to get an HMT watch and an American diamond chain collectively worth Rs 1,899 for just Rs 550," said Nitin Bhosale-Patil, police inspector of Crime Branch (Unit I).

One of the customers, Mahendra Sonawane, who ordered one such parcel from the accused, found that the watch and the diamond chain were fake and approached the police station.

"The name of the brand engraved on the watch was spelt as HWT and not HMT, but the accused, while soliciting over the phone, used to tell the potential customer that he or she has won an HMT watch.

"The diamond chain, too, was fake and during our investigation, it came to light that the actual price of the watch as well as the chain was Rs 70 each," Bhosale-Patil said.

He added that during the investigation it was revealed that the accused, who started his company in September 2017 and since he had duped as many as 2,100 people using the lottery trick.

"We have recovered 650 fake watches and diamond chains all worth Rs 90,000," he said.

He also appealed that those who have been cheated by the accused, can approach police and lodge a complaint.

In 2016, the government had approved the closure of three companies of Hindustan Machine Tools (HMT), India's oldest watch-making company.

The company was incorporated as a Central government undertaking in February 1953. It has developed its unique identity among the countrymen over the years as HMT as a brand was popular among people.

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Veteran actor Max von Sydow will be honoured with Career Achievement Award by the Los Angeles Film Critics Association (LAFCA).

The 88-year-old actor will be presented with the honour at the annual awards dinner on January 13, reported Deadline.

"We are thrilled to give the Career Achievement award to such a magnificently talented actor.

"Over the six decades hes commanded the screen, Mr von Sydow has earned a reputation as the greatest living actor," said LAFCA president Claudia Puig in a statement.

von Sydow has starred in over 100 films, where he played characters as disparate as an assassin, a king, an exorcist, the devil and Jesus Christ - in several languages.

He has also worked with filmmakers ranging from Ingmar Bergman, Bertrand Tavernier, Sydney Pollack, Penny Marshall, Martin Scorsese, Wim Wenders to Steven Spielberg.

The actor will next appear in "Kursk", a drama about the submarine disaster in 2000, directed by Thomas Vinterberg, also featuring Lea Seydoux and Colin Firth.

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British Prime Minister Theresa May today spoke to US President Donald Trump to express her condolences over the terror attack in New York and called for an international approach to tackle poisonous terrorist ideology online.

During her phone call with the US president, May told Trump that the UK stands shoulder to shoulder in the fight to defeat the evil of terrorism.

"The Prime Minister said she was deeply shocked and saddened by the loss of life and that her thoughts and prayers remain with all those affected.

"She reiterated that the UK will continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with the United States in defeating the evil of terrorism," the Downing Street said in a statement.

"The two leaders noted the very strong intelligence and security co-operation between our two countries. The prime minister and President Trump also discussed the need for an international approach to tackling poisonous terrorist ideology online, it added.

Earlier, Mayor of London Sadiq Khan had denounced the "despicable and cowardly terrorist attack in Manhattan".

"My heart goes out to the victims and their families. New Yorkers are strong and resilient I know they will not be cowed by this assault on the innocent, and on our shared values and way of life," said Khan.

Opposition Labour party leader, Jeremy Corbyn, also expressed his "solidarity" with those affected in a tweet soon after the attack.

Eight people were killed and 11 were injured after a truck was driven into a cycleway in lower Manhattan, close to the site of the 9/11 memorial, on Tuesday afternoon.

The suspect, 29-year-old Uzbek national Sayfullo Saipov, was shot in the abdomen by police after he exited the truck in what has been described as the deadliest terror attack in the city since September 11, 2001.

"The terrorist came into our country through what is called the 'Diversity Visa Lottery Programme'," a (Democrat Senator) Chuck Schumer beauty. I want merit based, Trump said in the wake of the attack.

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Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma today said he was yet to enrol himself for Aadhaar as he shared the concern of the people over the right to privacy.

"I have not registered for Aadhaar number. I share the same concern with my people. (Our) right to privacy is important in a democracy else the whole idea of democracy is diluted," Mukul told reporters here.

He said, "I and my (Assam) counterpart (Sarbananda) Sonowalji have discussed and written to the Government of India. We both agreed to move in the right direction and our stand remains and we are moving together."



"The issue is that we are in a situation which is different from other states. The kind of problem due to illegal immigration and influx is a common concern of the people of Meghalaya and Assam and the entire North East," he added.

The chief ministers of Meghalaya and Assam had earlier shot off a letter to the Centre seeking exemption from Aadhaar.

"What we are saying is not to make it compulsory and binding for Meghalaya (and Assam)," he said, adding that the registration is going on in the state for the convenience of students who are studying outside the state.

Sangma claimed there were "lots of confusion" with regards to registration for Aadhaar number and "we want complete clarity on the matter".

"Different authorities are giving diverse directions and inter-ministerial engagement is missing, synergy is missing and dialogue is missing," he said.

In Meghalaya, the registration for Aadhaar number has crossed over 14 per cent of the population, ahead of Assam (as per UIDAI statistics), following the resumption of Aadhaar registration in June this year.

However, there is a group in the state which has been urging the people to demand the Aadhaar authorities to delete the information collected from them in the database.

Over 260 people have submitted a personal letter to the Meghalaya People Committee on Aadhaar (MPCA), an umbrella organisation against Aadhaar enrolment in the state, demanding the data collected from them be deleted from the system.

Several civil society groups, including the Thma u Rangli u Juki (TUR) and the influential Khasi Students Union (KSU), are leading the MPCA.

"The people were coerced into giving their personal details during the enrolment. This is done without having taken the consent of the people concerned and it infringes on their rights to privacy," TUR convener Angela Rangad said.

"There are enough doubts that Aadhaar numbers will be misused in surveillance and control by the powers that be. We have to be extra careful before we commit ourselves to the unknown," she said.

MPCA secretary Auguster Jyrwa said that a campaign to collect signatures would conclude on November 3, after which they would approach authorities concerned seeking deletion of the data.

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Actor Kalki Koechlin said the concept of men contributing equally in domestic chores is still not there in India.

Responding to a question about why women are made to feel guilty if they do not want kids, Kalki said, "It's a cultural baggage that we have because women have been at home, they've been the ones to raise the children. It'll change, but slowly.

"If women are sharing the work space, which they are, men should be sharing the domestic space. That balance hasn't yet arrived, which I think will be there in a generation or two."



The 33-year-old actor next plays the role of a mother in Rakhee Sandilya directed "Ribbon", also featuring Sumeet Vyas.

The film chronicles the story of an urban couple who struggles to balance career and family in a metropolitan city.

The "Shaitan" actor said people warned her about taking up the role of a mother, but she found it a "welcome change" from her previous characters.

"People say don't play a mother otherwise you'll be stuck doing these roles. I personally found it as a welcome change because I've always been cast as a teenager. So I am quite happy to be playing an older, mature mother role.

"This notion that a woman shouldn't work after getting married, or she will do different kind of roles after she's married. I've never understood it. Hopefully, with time it'll change," she added.

Kalki said the emotional complexities that a woman goes through during pregnancy attracted her to the role.

"I had never played the role of a mother so I was very curious to play it. There's a lot to be said about the changes a woman goes through - hormonally, physically, mentally during and post pregnancy. To chronicle all of that on screen was a wonderful thing."



"Ribbon" will hit the theatres on November 3.

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Two personnel of a police team, which had gone to arrest a person in a village in Rajouri district, were injured today after some miscreants pelted stones at them, a senior officer said.

The incident occurred when the team went to arrest a man in Jamola village. The police is trying to identify the perpetrators, he said.

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Workers of the Congress and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) clashed at Dadar here this morning over the issue of hawkers' eviction, police said.

The clash broke out after the MNS workers disrupted the Feriwala Samman Morcha (Hawkers' Felicitation March) organised by the city unit of Congress in support of the hawkers, police said.

The workers of the Raj Thackeray-led party also raised slogans against Mumbai Congress chief Sanjay Nirupam.

"Police swung into action and arrested 15 MNS cadres and eight Congress workers," Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone 5) Rajiv Jain told PTI.

He said a case under relevant sections of the Maharashtra Police Act was registered against the workers of both the parties.

Another senior official said mild force was used by the police personnel keep the situation under control.

Shopkeepers and licenced hawkers chose to keep their shops shut during this period.

Nirupam said, "Congress party leaders and workers, mainly Maharashtrians, had organised this morcha to felicitate the Marathi hawkers. But that, too, was disrupted by the MNS. I blame the local police for the entire drama."



"My only aim is to implement the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, which essentially gives rights to the street hawkers as well as licences. I hope this issue comes to the forefront," he added.

The MNS has adopted an aggressive stance against hawkers occupying railway station premises and has been evicting illegal hawkers from the railway station premises in the wake of the Elphinstone Road railway station stampede, which had claimed the lives of 23 people.

However, the Congress has come out in support of the vendors.

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Rains lashed the metropolis and other coastal districts of Tamil Nadu leading to closure of schools and colleges for the second day today, while two children were electrocuted in a rain-related mishap in the city.

The meteorological office said rainfall occurred here and at Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur districts, besides the Cauvery delta zone including Cuddalore and Nagapattinam, adding there could be overnight rains as well.

Rain is expected in coastal districts and south Tamil Nadu in the next 24 hours, they said.

Moderate to isolated brief heavy spells of rains brought more areas under sheets of water making commute difficult with severe traffic congestion in several areas.

Two girls, aged 7 and 9 years, were electrocuted when they were playing near their homes at Kodungaiyur here. With this, the toll in rain related incidents climbed to seven.

Expressing grief over the deaths, Electricity Minister P Thangamani said the children had stepped on wire submerged under water and it led to electrocution.

The minister said eight Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation employees were suspended for failing to take precautionary measures.

A 5-member team of officials will conduct inspections in Chennai to ensure such incidents are not repeated, he said.

A solatium of Rs 2 lakh will be given to the kin of the each of the deceased by state's power distribution company TANGEDCO (Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation), he said. Also, a solatium will be given from the CM's Relief Fund by Chief Minister K Palaniswami, he added.

Schools and colleges remained closed for a second day today in Chennai, Tiruvallur and Kancheepuram districts. It will remain closed tomorrow also, officials said.

Parts of Vyasarpadi, Perambur, Choolai and Otteri in North Chennai, West Anna Nagar in Central Chennai and Madipakkam and Keelkattalai in South Chennai were inundated.

At the ESI hospital in Korattur, rain waters caused hardship to patients.

The Met department in a bulletin here said that rain or thundershowers are likely to occur at most places over coastal Tamil Nadu and Puducherry and at many places in interior Tamil Nadu tomorrow.

The North East monsoon is active in Tamil Nadu and its neighbourhood, Director of the Area Cyclone Warning Centre, S Balachandran told reporters here.

In the past 24 hours there was rainfall in many parts of the State, the highest being at Ponneri in Tiruvallur district (10 cm), he said.

The upper air cyclonic circulation over the Gulf of Munnar is positioned over Sri Lanka and Southwest Bay of Bengal now and under its influence, in the next 24 hours many places in coastal districts and south Tamil Nadu will receive widespread rainfall.

Barring western districts, interiors of the state will witness moderate showers, he said.

Heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely at some places in coastal districts.

As regards Chennai and neighbouring Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur, there will be intermittent rains and sometimes it could be heavy, he said.

Buses were delayed on several routes due to rains. Traffic snarls were seen at many locations and vehicles were diverted at some points to ease traffic situation.

With the resumption of rains, suburban Mudichur which was already witnessing waterlogging became almost inundated and residents faced acute difficulty in venturing out.

Several homes and retail outlets were shut in Mudichur which falls under Kancheepuram district, and roads wore a deserted look.

Rain water entered some houses at Mudichur and low-lying areas of Madipakkam.

Civic authorities said staffers were being deployed round-the-clock to drain out water from roads and subways.

Trees that got uprooted in some locations were being cleared and Over 400 pumps were being used to clear the roads of water, they added.

Districts including Thanjavur, Nagapattinam and Cuddalore experienced rains yesterday as well. There were brief spells of rain in Chennai and in several parts of Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur districts overnight.

Followed by Ponneri, Cuddalore district recorded nine cm of rain for the 24-hour period ending 8.30 am today.

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Morocco has offered to share its experiences on counter-terror and de-radicalisation initiatives with India, the Union home ministry has said.

This was conveyed during a meeting between Moroccan Interior Minister Noureddine Boutayeb and Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju here last evening.

Boutayeb said Morocco is emerging as a key counter-terror and de-radicalisation partner in North Africa and would like to share with India its experiences in this field, a home ministry statement said.

Rijiju responded positively to the offer and said India has been a long sufferer of terrorism and is taking steps to counter this problem effectively.

The Moroccan minister, who is currently visiting India, is leading a composite delegation from various ministries dealing with information and communication technology and socio-economic programmes and Morocco's National Bank.

During the week-long visit, the team will study the Indian experience of Aadhaar, Crime, Criminal Tracking Network and System (CCTNS) and benefits like direct benefit transfer, gas subsidy and digitised banking systems, the statement said.

Boutayeb expressed happiness over the implementation of the Aadhaar scheme in a big democracy like India with a population of over 1.25 billion in the shortest possible time.

He said Morocco is also in the process of implementing programmes based on the socio-economic model of India and that his delegation's primary focus is to learn from the experiences of India's model of development and socio-economic reforms.

Rijiju also briefed him about various initiatives like CCTNS, a mission mode project under the national e- governance plan which will help modernise the police force and envisages national wide networking enabling share of information between police stations, state officers and security agencies.

He requested the Moroccan side for a liberal visa regime for Indian citizens to enable more people to people contacts and also facilitate visas to the business community on both sides.

Rijiju also requested for expeditious conclusion of Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty. The Moroccan side requested for e-visa facility to Moroccan citizens.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Satya Nadella and Sundar Pichai, the India-born CEOs of tech giants Microsoft and Google, today decried the New York terror attack, describing the incident as a "horrific act of violence" which claimed eight lives.

A 29-year-old Uzbek man, allegedly inspired by the ISIS, today ploughed a pickup truck down a crowded bike-only path in lower Manhattan, in the deadliest terrorist attack in the New York City since September 11, 2001.

At least eight people were killed and 11 others injured in the attack, while the suspect was arrested.

"Our hearts and thoughts are with the victims, their loved ones, and all those in New York City impacted by this horrific act of violence," Nadella, 50, tweeted.

The CEO of the Microsoft Corporation, who is originally from Hyderabad in India, now lives in Washington.

"So sad to see the senseless loss of lives in NYC, thoughts and prayers with everyone affected there. Gratitude to NYPD, FDNY and first responders there #NYCStrong," Pichai posted on Twitter.

The Tamil Nadu-born Pichai, 45, was named the Google chief executive officer in 2015.

Apple CEO Tim Cook also condoled the loss of lives in the attack.

"Tonight our hearts are with the victims, their families and all the people of New York. Stay safe and stay strong," Cook, 56, tweeted.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi today strongly condemned the terror attack in New York.

A 29-year-old Uzbek man ploughed a rental truck down a crowded bike path in Manhattan today, killing at least eight persons and injuring 11.

"Strongly condemn the terror attack in New York in which 8 people were killed and several injured... perpetrators and those who support and shelter them should be punished for this crime against humanity," Naidu said in a series of tweets.

The prime minister said his thoughts are with the families of the deceased.

"Strongly condemn the terror attack in New York City. My thoughts are with the families of the deceased & prayers with those injured," Modi tweeted.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Scientists, using data from NASA's Kepler telescope, have discovered 20 new potentially habitable exoplanets that may host alien life.

The list includes several planets that orbit stars like our Sun. Some take a relatively long time to complete a single orbit, with the longest taking 395 Earth days. The fastest orbit is 18 Earth days.

The exoplanet with a 395-day year is one of the most promising worlds for life on the list, said Jeff Coughlin, part of NASA's K2 Mission, the second phase of the planet humnting Kepler Mission



The planet, called KOI-7923.01, is 97 per cent the size of Earth. It is slightly colder than our planet due to its distance from its star and the fact that the star is slightly cooler than our Sun.

This means it may be a little more like tundra regions on Earth, but is still warm enough to hold liquid water.

The team is 70 to 80 per cent certain that these are solid candidates. They cannot be confirmed yet as more observations are needed, 'New Scientist' reported.

Ground-based observatories or the Hubble Space Telescope will have to take more observations over the coming years to double-check, Coughlin said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Construction major NBCC India Ltd today said it has bagged Rs 400 crore contract to reconstruct Manora Aamdar Niwas building at Nariman Point in Mumbai.

In a BSE filing, NBCC said that the Empowered Committee for reconstruction work of Manora Aamdar Niwas in its meeting dated September 12 decided that reconstruction work in the Nariman Point area be given to NBCC Ltd amounting to Rs 400 crore.

NBCC would get project management consultance (PMC) fee of Rs 6.5 per cent, it added.

Last month, NBCC announced that the Tourism Ministry has accepted its proposal for upgradation and maintenance of Purana Qila in the national capital.

NBCC, which is under the administrative control of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, is present in three main segments -- Project Management Consultancy (PMC), Real Estate Development and EPC Contracting.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
In the aftermath of the first deadly attack in New York blamed on terror since the September 11, 2001 carnage in the city, President Donald Trump said today he had ordered more robust "extreme vetting" of travellers coming into the United States.

At least eight people were killed and 11 other injured in Lower Manhattan today after a gunman in a truck plowed through a busy bike path, an incident the US termed as an "act of terrorism".

The suspect, 29-year-old Sayfullo Saipov said to be from Uzbekistan, was shot in the stomach before being arrested.

"I have just ordered Homeland Security to step up our already Extreme Vetting Program. Being politically correct is fine, but not for this!" Trump tweeted.

I have just ordered Homeland Security to step up our already Extreme Vetting Program. Being politically correct is fine, but not for this!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) 1 November 2017

His administration announced last week that it would resume accepting refugees after a 120-day ban, though arrivals from 11 "high-risk" countries, most of them home to Muslim majorities, will still be blocked.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims of today's terrorist attack in New York City and their families," Trump had said in a statement after the attack.

Earlier, the US president took to Twitter to decry the attack, saying "we must not allow ISIS to return".

We must not allow ISIS to return, or enter, our country after defeating them in the Middle East and elsewhere. Enough!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) 31 October 2017

"In NYC, looks like another attack by a very sick and deranged person. Law enforcement is following this closely. NOT IN THE U.S.A.!" Trump tweeted.

In NYC, looks like another attack by a very sick and deranged person. Law enforcement is following this closely. NOT IN THE U.S.A.!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) 31 October 2017

"We must not allow ISIS to return, or enter, our country after defeating them in the Middle East and elsewhere. Enough!" he said in another tweet.
Expressing grave concern over the deaths due to vector-borne diseases like dengue and chikungunya, the Supreme Court today said the percentage of lives lost was more in Uttar Pradesh which indicated a "problem with the health care system" there.

It said the lack of waste management was the cause for several lives being lost across the country due to the spread of these diseases, adding that there was a rise in the number of deaths in West Bengal, Maharashtra, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

A bench comprising Justices M B Lokur and Deepak Gupta observed that solid waste management was a "crucial issue" and asked the Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF) to file an affidavit within four weeks regarding the implementation of the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016.

Directing the Centre to file a comprehensive affidavit indicating the steps taken by it for implementation of these rules, the bench said "the cause of deaths (due to vector borne diseases) is waste and lack of waste management."



At the outset, the bench referred to the affidavit filed by Delhi government's health department and said the number of cases of vector-borne diseases in the national capital have come down this year compared to last year.

It said though number of deaths in Delhi was less this year, it has increased in states like West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Maharashtra.

"This is a cause of concern for us," the bench said, adding that it would have to look into these aspect for the entire county and not only Delhi.

"In Uttar Pradesh, the number of such cases are less but percentage of death was more. The problem is with the health care system there if they are not able to prevent deaths," it said, adding it was a subject matter of discussion in the national health policy.

Senior advocate Colin Gonsalves, assisting the court as in amicus curiae in the matter, referred to the Solid Waste Management Rules and said these have to be implemented effectively.

When the court was informed about a policy on disposal of garbage in Delhi, the bench observed that if the matter was Delhi specific only, it could be taken up by the Delhi High Court.

The court referred to the solid waste management rules and said that duties of various ministries, like MoEF and ministry of urban development, was specified in it.

It fixed the matter for further hearing on December 12.

Delhi government had earlier told the court that the national capital has witnessed lesser number of dengue and chikungunya cases this year compared to 2016 and the situation was "not bad".

It had said that as per the data compiled by the municipal corporations of Delhi (MCDs) till October 7, 368 chikungunya cases were reported, while the all-India figure till this period stood at 8,726.

It had said that till October 7, 2,152 dengue cases were reported in the national capital which also included one death from the vector-borne disease.

Last year, Delhi had seen an outbreak of chikungunya and dengue. As per data provided by the civic bodies, there were 9,633 and 4,305 dengue and chikungunya cases respectively till December 3, 2016.

As per the data of this year, out of a total of 4,545 dengue cases reported in the national capital, 2,152 were residents of Delhi, while the rest were from other states. Of the 2,152 Delhi cases, 345 were reported this month.

Dengue and chikungunya are caused by the aedes aegypti mosquito, which breed in clear water.

The apex court had in 2015 on its own taken cognisance of the death of a 7-year-old boy due to dengue after being allegedly denied treatment by five private hospitals and subsequent suicide by his parents, and sought response from Delhi government.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Singapore-based NovoFlex today said it expects to garner USD 20 million revenue from the Indian market as it rolls out new technology, sAiL, which simplifies the assembly process of smart cards.

The company has tied up with smart card maker Eastcompeace India, which delivered more than 200 million SIM cards in 2016.

"By 2018, the smart chip (technology) will be rolled out in all Indian states, as well as in various parts of the globe. We are also working on partnership with one of the major French smart card manufacturer, who intends to use these products to gain market share in India," NovoFlex CEO Eric Ng told PTI.

The most compelling reason for expecting wide adoption "is the sizable cost reduction that the technology enables - up to 40 per cent of any smartcard", he added.

Eric said the technology also provides the highest security available in smartcards to almost any devices or application.

"And when intelligent objects in IoT devices connect together, the need for secured identity is paramount," he added.

The process for the new technology -- Secure Authenticable Identification Laminates (sAiL) -- requires less gold to be utilised across all process steps, leading to savings for card manufacturers.

Also, the process is compatible with existing card manufacturing machines, so 'sAiL' can be immediately integrated into current smart card assembly processes, he explained.

Eric said the smart chip market in India grew at 18 per cent in 2016, one of the highest in the world.

The smart chip market size for telecom alone is about 1 billion.

"By December 2018, NovoFlex is looking to generate a revenue of USD 20 million USD from the Indian market," Eric said.

He said sAiL-SIM products have been tested in three countries and piloted it in India as well.

"(About) 12 million modules have been shipped using this technology in India, and this number is fast growing. Considering the significant reductions that this technology enables, we expect all the major smartcard manufacturers to form partnerships with us," he added.

He said the company hopes to bag about 10-15 per cent market share in India in 2018.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Indian-origin scientists at Stanford are encouraging people from across the world to record the annoying high-pitched whine of mosquitoes using their cellphones, in a bid to produce the most detailed global map of the disease-causing insects.

Mosquitoes can carry deadly diseases, including malaria, yellow fever, dengue, West Nile virus, chikungunya and Zika.

Diseases spread by mosquitoes result in millions of deaths each year and the burden of their effects is carried most strongly by places with the fewest resources.

The Prakash Lab at Stanford University in the US, led by assistant professor Manu Prakash, is looking for citizen scientists to contribute to Abuzz, a mosquito monitoring platform.

"We could enable the world's largest network of mosquito surveillance - just purely using tools that almost everyone around the world now is carrying in their pocket," said Prakash.

"There are very limited resources available for vector surveillance and control and it is extremely important to understand how you would deploy these limited resources where the mosquitoes are," he said.

With enough contributions from citizen scientists around the world, Abuzz could create a map that tells us exactly when and where the most dangerous species of mosquitoes are most likely to be present and that could lead to highly targeted and efficient control efforts.

Abuzz is a low-cost, fast, easy way to gain an incredible amount of new data about mosquitoes.

Contributing to this research is as simple as holding a cellphone microphone near a mosquito, recording its hum as it flies and uploading the recording to the Abuzz website.

The researchers take the raw signal, reduce background noise and run it through an algorithm that matches the buzz with the species that is most likely to have produced it.

Once the match is found, researchers will send the person who submitted the recording information about the mosquito they found and mark every recording on a map on the website, showing exactly where and when that mosquito species was sighted.

Critical to the success of Abuzz is the fact that mosquito species can be differentiated by the frequency of their wingbeats, which is what produces their characteristic whine.

Researchers created a mosquito sound library, organised by species, which powers the matching algorithm.

Overall, they captured about 1,000 hours of mosquito buzzing from 18 lab-reared and two wild mosquito species, all of which were species relevant to human health.

Recognizing that people who could benefit most from Abuzz may not have access to the latest smartphones, researchers designed the platform so that it can work off recordings from almost any model of cellphone.

The algorithm has worked using as little as one fifth of a second of sound although recordings that are a second or longer are the most desirable, researchers said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Congress president Sonia Gandhi today expressed shock and horror at the "terrible tragedy" in her Lok Sabha constituency Raebareli, where at least 12 people lost their lives and several others were injured in a boiler blast at an NTPC unit.

Conveying her deepest condolences to the families of the bereaved, Gandhi urged upon the authorities to provide immediate medical assistance to the injured.

She also asked the Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee and party workers to provide all help in relief works and possible assistance to the families of the injured, the party said in a statement.

"Congress president Sonia Gandhi expressed shock and horror at the terrible tragedy in Raebareli," it said.

Gandhi represents the Raebareli parliamentary constituency in the Lok Sabha.

An explosion ripped a boiler in the state-run power giant NTPC's Unchahar plant in Raebareli killing at least 12 people and injuring 90-100 others, according to Uttar Pradesh Principal Secretary (Home) Arvind Kumar.

Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi said he was disturbed by the incident and urged the authorities to provide all help to the injured.

"Disturbed by the NTPC plant incident. My condolences are with the families of those who died. Urge the authorities to provide immediate help to the injured," he said in a tweet in Hindi.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Japanese telecom firm NTT Docomo continues to hold 11.76 per cent stake in Tata Teleservices Maharashtra Limited (TTML) even as it has exited the Indian telecom firm's parent company Tata Teleservices.

"Docomo has ceased to hold any shares in TTSL and consequently the shareholders agreement dated March 25, 2009 entered between TTSL, Docomo and Tata Sons Limited, including all rights of Docomo in relation to TTSL and TTML contained therein, automatically stands terminated," TTML said in a BSE filing today.

Tata Son's has paid over USD 1.2 billion to Japan's largest mobile firm NTT Docomo to honour the agreement between the two firms.

"However, Docomo continues to directly hold 11.76 per cent of the equity share capital of TTML," Tata Teleservices Maharashtra Ltd said in the filing.

DoCoMo in November 2009 acquired 26.5 per cent stake in Tata Teleservices for about Rs 12,740 crore (at Rs 117 per share). This was as per a prior understanding that in case it exits the venture within five years, it will be paid a minimum 50 per cent of the acquisition price.

DoCoMo in April 2014 decided to exit the joint venture that struggled to grow subscribers quickly, and sought Rs 58 per share or Rs 7,200 crore from Tatas.

But the Indian Group offered Rs 23.34 a share in line with the RBI guidelines which stated that an international firm can only exit its investment at a valuation "not exceeding that arrived at on the basis of return on equity".

This led to a dispute between the companies.

In February this year, Tata Sons had said it had reached an agreement with the NTT DoCoMo "on a joint approach to enable enforcement" of a compensation award granted by the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA) in 2016, in favour of the Japanese company.

However, Reserve Bank of India had objected to the transfer which was later rejected by the Delhi High Court in April, thus clearing the decks for the Tatas to pay the amount to the Japanese company.

In a statement on its website, NTT DoCoMo said that concurrent with the receipt of the amount, all shares in Tata Teleservices held by it have been transferred to Tata Sons and companies designated by Tata Sons.

The payment by Tata Sons comes in less than a year after N Chandrasekaran took over as chairman of the salt-to-software conglomerate.

The Tata-Docomo fight was one of the major issues between Ratan Tata and ousted Tata Sons Chairman Cyrus Mistry, and the latter's handling of the dispute was said to one of the triggers for his ouster from the promoter holding company of major Tata firms.

Chandrasekaran, is widely perceived to have speed up the resolution of the dispute between the Tatas and DoCoMo, after he took charge in February.

Tatas, who had been struggling to find a solution to the troubled telecom business, announced last month that Tata Teleservices will merge with Bharti Airtel as part of its plans to exit the mobile telephony business.

The Tata-Airtel telcom deal is on a no-debt, no-cash basis, implying that Airtel is not taking over any of the about Rs 40,000 crore debt with Tata Teleservices and is neither paying any cash.

According to industry observers, the payment to DoCoMo is likely to facilitate closure of the consumer mobile business deal.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Odisha's mines department today issued a show cause notice and slapped a penalty of Rs 20,169 crore on Coal India subsidiary Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL) on charges of violating environment norms and other regulations.

"We have served the notice and asked MCL to pay the penalty for violating environment laws, mining plan and operating the mines without the state government's consent," Director of Mines Deepak Mohanty told PTI.

Mohanty said MCL has been asked to reply to the show cause notice within 30 days from today.

Sources said the notice was issued in pursuant to the judgment of the Supreme Court directing the State to impose a 100 per cent penalty on illegal mining leaseholders.

Meanwhile, sources said the forest and environment department has been verifying if MCL has undertaken activities in forest areas without permission.

Earlier in September this year, the state government had issued notices to 152 mining leaseholders of iron ore for allegedly engaging in illegal mining and not abiding by the environment norms.

Of the 152 leaseholders, 47 mines were located in the Koida Mining Circle (KMC) in Sundargarh. The leaseholders are asked to pay the penalty by December 31, 2017.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
One pilgrim was killed and 34 others were injured when their Kolkata-bound bus hit a truck on the National Highway 2 (GT Road) in Giridih district early today, the police said.

The passengers of the bus were returning to 24-Paraganas district in West Bengal after a pilgrimage at Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh.

The mishap took place when the driver of the speeding bus rammed into the truck from behind near Becko toll plaza under Bagodar police limit, killing one on the spot and injuring 34 others, they said.

A police team shifted the injured to a nearby hospital.

Three seriously injured passengers were referred to Dhanbad.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Osama bin Laden closely followed developments in Kashmir and the trial of Pakistani-American terrorist David Coleman Headley in the 26/11 Mumbai attacks case, indicated the documents seized during the 2011 US raid on a Pakistani compound that killed the al-Qaeda founder.

The Central Intelligence Agency today released 470,000 additional files seized in May 2011 when US Navy SEALs burst into the Abbottabad compound and shot dead Laden.

The files include Laden's son's wedding video and diaries left by the Saudi-born militant.

The documents revealed that Laden closely followed related to the arrest of Lashkar-e-Taiba operative Headley and was a regular reader of some of the top Indian publications.

An Indian Express article titled 'Omar Sheikhs Pak handler Ilyas Kashmiri also handledHeadley' was found from the computer of Laden in Abbottabad. The article was dated November 16, 2009.

An article 'Fears of air-borne terrorists strikes in India, UK' published in Sri Lanka Guardian was also found in a separate file on Ladens computer.

A PTI story, 'Al-Qaeda helping Taliban to destabilise Pak Government: Gates', dated February 9, 2010, was also found on Laden's computer.

Another article found on Ladens computer was about the coded communications between Headley and his HuJI links.

The article was published by The Time of India on November 15, 2009.

Laden also saved on his computer another PTI article, titled: 'India to send magistrate to US to record Headley's statement'.

Laden highlighted in yellow some portion of the article titled 'Pak Major handled Headleys India recce', published on March 16, 2010.

The highlighted portion reads, "The dossiers also sought the custody of Pakistani terrorist, Ilyas Kashmiri. Kashmiri is the chief of the 313 Brigade and acts as the military operations head of the Al- Qaeda. Intercepts reveal that Kashmiri told two attackers inside Nariman House, 'Keep fighting, Brigade 313 has been deployed'.

The documents also revealed that Laden was interested in related to Kashmir and several terrorists especially IIlyas Kashmiri.

An Economic Times story 'US asks Pakistan to find Iyas Kashmiri dated January 7, 2010 was found among the saved documents on Ladens computer.

A February 2009 article Pakistani Kashmiri militants now fighting NATO forces was also found.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A prominent Pakistani cleric, accused of orchestrating the murder of social media celebrity Qandeel Baloch, was today sent to jail on seven-day judicial remand.

Judicial Magistrate Pervaiz Khan hearing the case agreed to send Mufti Qavi to jail on judicial remand as his two-day physical remand expired today, the Daily Pakistan reported.

The police informed the Multan court that they had completed their investigation into the cleric and did not need to probe any further.

The Investigation Officer was ordered to submit further details of the case to the court in the next hearing of the case on November 7.

During the last hearing of the case, Qavi maintained that he had not done anything wrong or illegal, whereas Qandeels father Muhammad Azeem told the magistrate that his daughter had been murdered at the behest of the cleric.

Qavi is accused of inciting Qandeel's brothers to kill her after she allegedly "humiliated" him by posting some objectionable pictures with the cleric on social media platforms.

Qandeel, 26, was found strangled to death in her house in Multan's Karimabad area, some 350-km from Lahore, on July 16, 2016. Her younger brother, Waseem, confessed to police that he had killed Qandeel for disgracing family's honour.

Waseem said he drugged Qandeel before strangling her. "She brought dishonour to the Baloch name due to her risque videos and statements posted on social media," he had said.

"There are other issues as well...Like the maulvi issue, he had said, in an apparent reference to a controversy in the weeks leading up to her death after Qandeel took selfies with Qavi.

The cleric's selfies had gone viral on social media, causing a nationwide furore, after which the clerics membership of the Ruet-i-Hilal committee and the National Ulema Mushaikh Council had been suspended.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Paramount Pictures will distribute Sanjay Leela Bhansali's "Padmavati" in international markets.

The period drama, starring Deepika Padukone in the lead role of Rani Padmavati, Ranveer Singh as Sultan Alauddin Khilji and Shahid Kapoor as Maharawal Ratan Singh, is slated to release worldwide on December 1.

Bhansali became the first Indian to direct an opera in Paris and Rome with Padmavati. The opera made its debut at the 51st Spoleto festival, and will now be retold in the form of a visual cinematic extravaganza.

"We are thrilled to be partnering with Viacom18 Motion Pictures on this exciting new release. Padmavati, has all the makings of a hit film and we are excited to bring Sanjay's incredible vision to audiences across the international market place," said Megan Colligan, spokesperson of Paramount Pictures.

Ajit Andhare COO, Viacom18 Motion Pictures, the producers behind the movie, said the collaboration with Paramount will help take the movie to new places.

"This is a first ever such collaboration with Paramount Pictures releasing a Viacom18 Hindi feature across international markets. We are breaking new ground with Padmavati, its marketing and release strategy. With Paramount coming on board, we will take the film to a whole new level globally," Andhare said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
There is anger among people over GST and demonetisation, and the writing on the wall is clear that the Gujarat assembly election is not just a 'chunav' (poll) for the BJP but also a 'chunauti' (challenge), outspoken party MP Shatrughan Sinha said today.

Sharing dais with Congress leader Manish Tewari at a panel discussion on the latter's book 'Tidings of Troubled Times', Sinha also defended his comments on economic issues, saying "if a lawyer can talk about finances, if a TV actress can be the HRD minister and if a 'chaiwala' can be... then why I cannot talk about economy?"



His remarks were an obvious reference to Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, Information and Broadcasting Minister Smriti Irani, who was earlier HRD minister, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. However, he did not name any of them.

Sinha maintained that he was not challenging his party but "showing mirror to it" in the BJP's and the nation's interest.

"From the writing on the wall and anger among people over GST, demonetisation, unemployment...seeing it, I don't want to say how many seats the BJP will get but certainly this election is going to be a special challenge," he said.

However, the MP from Patna Sahib said the BJP can increase its seats by staying united and should not take the elections lightly.

"I will only say the matter is serious and this is not chunav (election), but chunauti (challenge)," he said.

Without naming anyone, Sinha said he is often told that he may lose ticket for the next general election.

Asked if he could join any other political party, the former cinestar responded with his signature dialogue- "khamosh (keep quiet)".

The government should seek suggestions from "experts and learned people from the opposition" like former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and others in running the country, he said.

The MP also hit out at Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley over the latter's "job applicant at 80" barb directed at senior BJP leader Yashwant Sinha.

"He (Jaitley) may himself lose his job but is suggesting job for others," Sinha quipped.

Sinha claimed "a very big" leader called him up one day and asked him why he was "speaking the language of opposition" on demonetisation and GST. The actor-turned-politician said he told that leader that what he said was in the national interest.

Earlier, during his address, Sinha decribed BJP veteran L K Advani as the "silver lining in the political cloud", but lamented that the former deputy prime minister was denied any post and "cut to size".

"Leave aside making him the president, he was not made even a minister. Despite having made and saved the careers of many, he finds himself in this condition today," he said, without naming anyone.

Noting that the opposition will be observing a 'black day' and the ruling BJP 'anti-black money day' on November 8, the day Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the launch of demonetisation exercise last year, Sinha asked where the black money had gone.

"I will only celebrate Advaniji's birthday on the day and seek his blessings and guidance," he added.

The actor-turned-politician said the main opposition Congress had a "talent pool" and that he admired its chief Sonia Gandhi, its vice president Rahul Gandhi and NCP chief Sharad Pawar and some other opposition leaders.

Sinha, who was reportedly pulled up by the BJP leadership for meeting Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar when the latter was not in the NDA, said the prime minister also meets opposition leaders. "What is right for Peter should be right for Paul too," he said.

Sinha has often criticised the BJP and the Modi government's policies and decisions, including demonetisation and the GST.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The top leadership of Pakistan's ruling party has decided to appoint ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif's brother Shehbaz Sharif as premier if it wins next year general elections, a media report said.

Shehbaz, 66, is the younger brother of Sharif and currently the chief minister of the country's largest province of Punjab.

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz during a meeting in London on Monday decided to project Shehbaz as prime ministerial candidate after the 2018 elections if Sharif remains ineligible to run for office, Dawn reported.

The London meeting was presided over by Nawaz Sharif and attended by Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Shehbaz and federal ministers Ishaq Dar, Khawaja Asif and Ahsan Iqbal.

Sharif, 67, was disqualified as the prime minister by the Supreme Court on July 28 in the Panama Papers scandal.

A senior PML-N leader told the paper that the decision to pitch the Punjab chief minister for the office had been taken in view of the fact that disqualification of the elder Sharif under the Supreme Court orders in the Panama Papers case might not be overturned by the vote due after about nine months.

The decision coincided with a full-page result of a national opinion survey published in an Urdu daily in which 60 per cent of respondents declared Shehbaz as the best choice for the prime ministerial job.

According to the survey, conducted by a little known US institute Global Strategic Partner in September, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chairman Imran Khan was the choice of 47 per cent of total 4,540 respondents from across the country.

A PML-N official, considered close to the Punjab chief minister, said Shehbaz had always been the partys candidate for the office of prime minister after his brothers ouster.

He rejected a perception that there were divergent views in the party on the nomination of Shehbaz for the greater role or that the chief minister lacked the ability to take along all opinion.

Sharif is in London along with his family to be with his ailing wife Kulsoom Nawaz who is still receiving cancer treatment in the British capital.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Pope Francis condemned today recent terror attacks around the world, including in New York where eight people were killed, saying he was "saddened" by events.

"I am saddened by the terrorist attacks in recent days in Somalia, Afghanistan and yesterday in New York," the pope said during his Angelus prayer in St Peter's Square.

He asked people to pray that God "converts the hearts of terrorists and frees the world of hatred and murderous madness, which abuses the name of God to disseminate death," adding that he was praying for the victims and their families.

Eight people were killed and 11 injured in Lower Manhattan, New York, on Tuesday when the driver of a pickup truck hit people on a cycle path.

At least 27 people were killed on Saturday in the capital, Mogadishu, in an attack claimed by Al-Qaeda linked Shabaab militants.

In Afghanistan, a teenager blew himself up in Kabul's heavily fortified diplomatic quarter on Tuesday and killed at least five people.

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President Ram Nath Kovind today expressed his deep appreciation for Bhutan's support in resolving the recent stand-off with China at Dokalam.

The manner in which both India and Bhutan stood together to address the situation in Dokalam "is a clear testimony to our friendship", a Rashtrapati Bhavan statement said.

Kovind, who met Bhutan King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, the queen and the prince at Rashtrapati Bhavan, said the security concerns of India and Bhutan are indivisible and mutual.

The president "conveyed deep appreciation for the King of Bhutans personal involvement and guidance and the support provided by Bhutan in addressing the recent situation in the Dokalam area", the statement said.

India and China's troops were locked in a 73-day stand- off in Dokalam, a tri-junction between Sino-India and Bhutanese border near Sikkim, from June 16 this year after Indian Army personnel stopped the Chinese Army from building a road in the disputed area.

The president said India and Bhutan share exemplary bilateral relations.

"Our relations are unique and special. Our bilateral ties are based on utmost trust and understanding. We should do everything to make it a model of bilateral cooperation, which will be noted by others in the neighbourhood," he said.

The president said India was delighted to see the rapid progress made in Bhutan while simultaneously preserving its very special culture as well as protecting the environment.

"India has been happy to share its knowledge, experience and resources with Bhutan. Our development cooperation has been guided by the priorities set by the government and people of Bhutan," he said.

Kovind also complimented the king of Bhutan on the successful completion of the first decade of his reign and his vision for a stable, happy and prosperous Bhutan.

The royal couple is on four-day visit to India.

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The resignation of Ranjit Kumar as the solicitor general was accepted today, and with this the process to find his replacement has begun, a senior law ministry functionary said.

Kumar had resigned as the second senior-most law officer of the government on October 20 citing personal reasons.

The Appointments Committee of Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi accepted the resignation today.

Now the law ministry will send a list of senior lawyers to the Prime Minister's Office to allow it to select one as the next solicitor general.

Additional solicitors general Tushar Mehta and Maninder Singh are learnt to be the front-runners for the job.

There was speculation a few months ago that the Supreme Court collegium was considering Kumar's name as a judge of the apex court.

Recently, Mukul Rohatgi had written to the government that he was not interested in a second term as attorney general. Senior lawyer K K Venugopal was appointed as new attorney general.

During his over three-year stint, Kumar represented the Centre in the apex court in crucial cases including the pleas against demonetisation and rising pollution. He also assisted the apex court in deciding the issue whether a state government can grant pardon to the death row convicts in cases which are probed and prosecuted by central agencies like CBI.

Kumar had succeeded SG Mohan Parasaran in 2014 after the Narendra Modi government assumed the office. His second term as solicitor general was renewed recently.

Before assuming the office of solicitor general, Ranjit Kumar represented Gujarat government in several cases and assisted the apex court as amicus curiae in cases including the matter pertaining to Yamuna pollution.

Kumar had appeared in the the Sohrabuddin Sheikh encounter case and also represented then Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa in the disproportionate assets case in local Bangalore court.

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Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi will take a break from his ongoing 'Navsarjan Yatra' in poll-bound Gujarat to visit Rae Bareli in Uttar Pradesh tomorrow to meet the families of victims of a massive explosion at an NTPC power plant.

At least 20 people were killed and nearly 100 injured when a massive explosion ripped a boiler at the state-run power giant NTPC's Unchahar plant.

"Due to the unfortunate NTPC accident, I will visit Rae Bareli tomorrow morning. Will join Gujarat Navsarjan Yatra in the afternoon," the Congress leader tweeted.

Rahul Gandhi today began his three-day campaign tour of south Gujarat, where Assembly poll will be held in December.

Congress president Sonia Gandhi, who represents Rae Bareli in the Lok Sabha, in her condolence message said she wanted to be with the families of the victims to share their pain in this hour of grief, but could not do so due to her indisposition.

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The toll in the transformer explosion in Rajasthan's Khatulai village rose to 14 today, police said.

A transformer had exploded in the Khatulai village near Shahpura town of the state yesterday, killing five persons and injuring several others.

Medical Superintendent of SMS Hospital, D S Meena, said nine persons, who were sustaining severe burn injuries, succumbed while undergoing treatment at the SMS Hospital here late last night.

"Women were performing 'Bhaat ceremony' (pre-wedding function) when the incident took place. Five persons had died on the spot and 22 others were rushed to the SMS Hospital. Out of the 22, nine more deaths, mostly that of women, were reported late last night. The casualties also included a pregnant lady. Three persons were discharged and ten are undergoing treatment," DSP Shahpura, Bhag Chand Meena, said today.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje has ordered a high-level probe into the incident after meeting the victims at the SMS hospital here.

Jaipur district collector Siddharth Mahajan announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh for kin of the deceased.

"The Jaipur Vidhyut Vitran Nigam Limited (JVVNL) will give Rs 5 lakh to family of the deceased and additional Rs 5 lakh will be provided through CM relief fund," he said.

Congress leader Sachin Pilot called the incident unfortunate and said the explosion took place due to non-maintenance of the transformer.

"It is a very unfortunate incident and a high-level probe should be ordered to identify the people responsible for the negligence," he said in a statement.

Meanwhile, villagers and local leaders thronged the area in protest against the electricity department for alleged criminal negligence.

The bereaved families also refused to send the bodies for postmortem, until an investigation was ordered and adequate compensation announced.

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The toll in the transformer explosion in Rajasthan's Khatulai village rose to 14 today, with Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje ordering a high-level probe into the incident.

Union Minister and Jaipur Rural MP Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, who visited the affected families today, termed it a "tragic incident" and called for a thorough investigation.

A transformer had exploded in the Khatulai village near Shahpura town of the state yesterday, killing five persons and injuring several others.

Medical Superintendent of SMS Hospital, D S Meena, said nine persons, who had sustained severe burn injuries, succumbed while undergoing treatment at the SMS Hospital here late last night.

"Women were performing 'Bhaat ceremony' (pre-wedding ritual) when the incident took place. Five persons had died on the spot and 22 others were rushed to the SMS Hospital. Out of the 22, nine more deaths, mostly that of women, were reported late last night. The casualties also include a pregnant lady. Three persons were discharged and ten are undergoing treatment," DSP Shahpura, Bhag Chand Meena, said today.

Rathore visited Shahpura town to take stock of the situation. He also met with those undergoing treatment at the SMS Hospital and assured them of best medical care.

"It is a tragic mishap. Such a thing should not happen to anyone. Blast in a transformer is a matter of concern and all aspects of it should be investigated," he told reporters.

Governor Kalyan Singh prayed for courage to the bereaved family members who lost their loved ones in the mishap. He also wished for fast recovery of the injured.

Jaipur district collector Siddharth Mahajan announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh for kin of the deceased.

"The Jaipur Vidhyut Vitran Nigam Limited (JVVNL) will give Rs 5 lakh to families of deceased and additional Rs 5 lakh will be provided through Chief Minister's relief fund," he said.

Congress leader Sachin Pilot called the incident "unfortunate" and said the explosion took place due to non-maintenance of the transformer.

"It is a very unfortunate incident and a high-level probe should be ordered to identify the people responsible for the negligence," he said in a statement.

He also accused the BJP-led state government of not acting beyond ordering a probe and announcing compensation.

The Congress leader said the state government should reveal details of the money spent on replacement and maintenance of equipment.

Rajasthan BJP president Ashok Parnami also met the injured victims earlier in the day.

Meanwhile, villagers and local leaders protested against the electricity department for alleged criminal negligence.

The agitated families also refused to send the bodies for postmortem, until an investigation was ordered and adequate compensation announced.

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The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed a Noida-based water bottling unit to remove two tubewells installed in its premises for which it does not have permission from the Central Ground Water Authority.

A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar directed the authorities to remove the tubewells belonging to the Beltek Canadian Water Ltd along with its pipes, which are upto the ground water level.

However, one tubewell for which the bottling unit has obtained permission will continue to operate, the tribunal said.

It also noted that another unit "A-one Mineral Water Industry" was operating illegally and the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) has already directed disconnection of power supply at its premises in the Surajpur Industrial area at Greater NOIDA in Uttar Pradesh.

"We direct that CGWA and UP Pollution Control Board shall ensure removal of the tubewells/pumps and its pipelines from the site in question belonging to A-one Mineral Water Industry. The District Magistrate and Superintendent of Police of the concerned area are directed to provide full help and assistance to these respondents to execute the order of this tribunal," the bench said.

It directed the CGWA to file an affidavit stating whether the area in question fell under the category of over-exploited area and how was the permission granted to the project.

The green panel had earlier imposed an environment compensation of Rs 10 lakh on the water bottling unit.

It had ordered a joint inspection of Beltek Canadian Water by the CPCB and the UPPCB to ascertain the number of tubewells installed there and the amount of water extracted.

It had directed the inspection team to specify the quantity of the water extracted, the nature of pollutants discharged and whether the area was over-exploited.

The tribunal was hearing a plea filed by Delhi resident Shailesh Singh, through advocate Sudeep Dey, alleging that the unit located in Bisrakh block of Gautam Buddh Nagar district was extracting groundwater through borewells installed in the factory premises without permission from the CGWA.

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Unidentified robbers looted Rs 70 lakh in cash belonging to Bank of Maharashtra on the Pandharpur-Sangola road in Solapur district of western Maharashtra today, police said.

The incident took place today afternoon on a stretch between Sangewadi and Khardi villages, said a police officer.

Amol Bhosle, manager of BOM's Sangola branch, was taking the cash, alongwith another employee, in his car for depositing it in the bank's Pandharpur branch.

When the car reached Sangewadi village, another car started following it, he told police.

It dashed Bhosle's car near Khardi village. As Bhosle stopped his car, four persons got down, broke the windscreen of Bhosle's car and flung chili powder in his and his colleague's eyes, the police officer said.

One of them snatched away two bags filled with cash and the robbers fled from the spot, the officer added.

A complaint was registered at Pandharpur rural police station.

Among other things, police were also probing if any 'insider' was involved in the crime, the officer said.

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The Kerala Government today decided to order safety audit in all public sector units in the state, days after a footbridge in the compound of the Kerala Minerals and Metals Ltd at Chavara collapsed, claiming three lives.

A decision in this regard was taken at a cabinet meeting chaired by chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan here.

A direction on the audit will be given to all PSU officials concerned, a government press release said.

Three women employees of KMML were killed and 50 others injured when the iron footbridge collapsed on October 30.

The cabinet meeting also decided to direct KMML to provide financial assistance of Rs 10 lakh to the next of kin of the three employees.

This was besides the assistance which was due to the families as per law in such incidents, the release said.

The company will also be asked to look into the possibility of providing jobs to a member of the family.

All treatment expenses of the 32 employees who were injured in the mishap, will be met by the company.

Additional Chief Secretary (Industries) Paul Antony, will be conducting a comprehensive probe into the cause of the bridge collapse and file a report within 15 days, according to the release.

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A sedition complaint was today filed against Bangladesh's former prime minister Khaleda Zia for allegedly holding a "secret meeting" with Pakistan's spy agency ISI during her recent stay in the UK.

Mashiur Rahman, a lawyer and supporter of the ruling Awami League, filed the plea with the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) Court here, seeking a sedition suit against Opposition leader Zia and issuance of arrest warrant against her.

"He (petitioner) filed the petition but the magistrate kept it aside saying he will see the matter later," an official of the Metropolitan Magistrate Court told PTI.

The petitioner, who is the chairman of a foundation named after Bangladesh's founder Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, accused Zia of hold a "secret meeting" with Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) officials during her three-month long stay in Britain.

Legal experts said one could bring sedition or treason charges against anyone but the Bangladesh law requires them to be referred to the government for subsequent legal procedures.

Zia returned home last month from London where she had gone on July 15 for medical treatment and to spend time with her elder son and senior vice chairman of Bangladesh Nationalist Party Tarique Rahman.

Rahman has been declared "fugitive" by several courts in Dhaka for failure to appear in several graft and criminal charges.

According to local media reports, Rahman has accused Khaleda of holding the meeting to create "instability in Bangladesh and instigate a state of war between Bangladesh and India".

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Exasperated US senators harshly criticised representatives of Facebook, Twitter and Google at a hearing today for not doing more to prevent Russian agents interfering with the American political process as early as 2015.

At one point, Senator Al Franken shook his head after he couldn't get all the companies to commit to not accepting political ads bought with North Korean currency.

The hearing by a subcommittee of the Senate Judiciary panel was moved last week into a cavernous hearing room usually reserved for high-profile events like Supreme Court confirmations.

About 50 people waited to get in as senators fired pointed questions and waved at cardboard displays of outrageous ads.

"People are buying ads on your platform with rubles. They are political ads," Franken fumed. "You put billions of data points together all the time. ... Google has all knowledge that man has ever developed. You can't put together rubles with a political ad and go like, 'Hmmm, those data points spell out something pretty bad?' "



Technology company representatives fumbled at points. After Franken pointed out foreign spending on US political campaigns is illegal, Google's director of law enforcement and information security, Richard Salgado, replied only that the search giant would refuse political ads paid with foreign currency "if it's a good enough signal on illegality."



"In hindsight, we should have had a broader lens," said Facebook's general counsel, Colin Stretch.

The companies all pledged to do more and politely said they understood the seriousness with which lawmakers are taking the question of Russian meddling.

Senator Amy Klobuchar pressured the representatives to support her "Honest Ads" bill, which she is co-sponsoring with Sen. Mark Warner and Sen. John McCain, and which would bring political ad rules from TV, radio and print to the internet. She dismissed pledges from the companies this week to be more transparent about political ads as an unenforceable "patchwork" of self-policing.

"We're not waiting for legislation," said Stretch, before Klobuchar cut him off and repeated her demand for a yes or no answer.

"We stand ready to work with you and your co-sponsors on that legislation going forward," Stretch replied, echoed by Twitter's and Google's representatives.

Louisiana Senator John Kennedy browbeat Stretch into admitting that Facebook had no way of knowing the true identity of all of the 5 million advertisers that use its platform every month.

"Of course, the answer is no," Stretch said.

The hearing, the first of three this week in which the three tech giants face a public grilling, comes amid the increasing pace of investigations into the Trump administration's possible link to Russia.

Court papers unsealed yesterday revealed an indictment against President Donald Trump's former campaign chairman, Paul Manafort, and a guilty plea by another adviser, who admitted to lying to the FBI about meetings with Russian intermediaries.

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The benchmark BSE Sensex zoomed over 387 points to close at a fresh life-time high of 33,600 while Nifty topped the 10,450-mark for the first time, powered by India's jump on World Bank's 'Ease of Doing Business' list.

India went up by 30 notches to 100th position on the World Bank ranking, released yesterday.

Moreover, eight core sectors growing to a six-month high of 5.2 per cent in September and positive leads from global market accelerated the buying pace that lifted key indices to new highs.

The Sensex settled at a new closing peak of 33,600.27, up 387.14 points, or 1.17 per cent. The index surpassed its previous closing record of 33,266.16, touched on October 30.

Yesterday, the gauge had retreated from record by losing 53.03 points.

Similarly, the broader 50-issue NSE Nifty breached the 10,450-mark for the first time to hit a new intra-day peak at 10,451.65, bettering its record of 10,384.50 hit on October 30.

However, profit-taking at record levels erased gains and finally settled at 10,440.50



Better-than-estimated earnings by some more companies too bolstered trading sentiments.

The market rally was driven by strong buying in telecom, banking, realty, metal, FMCG and PSU counters. Traders said uninterrupted pumping of funds into equities by domestic institutional investors also boosted investor sentiment.

In the Sensex kitty, Bharti Airtel emerged biggest gainer by jumping over 8 per cent even as the company posted sixth straight quarter of drop on earnings as its consolidated net profit plunged 76.5 per cent for the September quarter.

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Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal today urged Singapore Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Balakrishnan to take steps for introducing direct flight from Singapore to Guwahati to boost connectivity in the region and improve trade and commerce between the two countries.

Sonowal made this request to the Singapore Foreign Affairs Minister while holding a discussion with a delegation of Singapore Government on the sidelines of the MoU signing ceremony for setting up of North East Skills Centre and Greening Guwahati in the city.

Stating that better connectivity between Assam and Singapore would lead to higher tourist footfall in both the destinations, the Chief Minister stressed that the move would augur well for trade and commerce as well.

Sonowal also mentioned that improved air connectivity with Singapore would provide greater scope to Assam in showcasing its potential amongst the South East Asian countries.

"Assam is blessed with natural resources and fertile land. The state is known for its tea and one horned rhinos world over. We have recently launched our tourism policy which offers many incentives for entrepreneurial interventions", Sonowal said adding that investors from Singapore could take advantage of the policy.

Informing that Assam Government is actively working to expand its connectivity with South East Asia to emerge as Indias gateway to that region, Sonowal said dredging of river Brahmaputra will start soon to take the initiative forward.

Stating India and Singapore are celebrating 22 years of their friendship, the Chief Minister urged the Singapore Foreign Minister to be a partner state in the forthcoming Global Investors Summit scheduled on February 3 and 4 next year in Guwahati and also to send business delegations to the meeting.

Responding to Sonowals requests, Balakrishnan appreciated Assams natural beauty and said his visit to the state has opened new opportunities for future cooperation.

"Assam is very beautiful and has lots of potential. But there is an urgent need to generate awareness about this place amongst South East Asian countries", the Singapore Foreign Minister said.

Expressing his desire to open avenues for connectivity between Singapore and Assam, Balakrishnan assured the Chief Minister to positively consider his proposal.

He also assured to extend all support to the delegation of ministers who will visit Singapore to promote the Global Investors Summit there.

The Singapore Foreign Affairs Minister termed the relationship between Assam and Singapore as very promising and assured to work in many other sectors apart from skill development and city greening in future.

He also extended an invitation to Chief Minister Sonowal to visit Singapore.

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The Supreme Court today favoured creation of special courts to exclusively deal with criminal cases involving politicians and their speedy disposal, saying such a move would be in the "interest of the nation".

Directing the Centre to place before it a scheme in this regard, the top court asked it about the 1,581 cases involving MPs and MLAs, as declared by the politicians at the time of filing of their nominations during the 2014 elections, and the details of how many of them have been disposed of within one year as per its directions passed in 2014.

It sought details of how many of these 1,581 cases have ended in conviction or acquittal of the accused, the number of criminal cases lodged against politicians from 2014 till date as well as the data on disposal of these matters.

A bench comprising Justices Ranjan Gogoi and Navin Sinha made the remarks after the Centre said decriminalisation of politics has to be done and it was not averse to setting up of special courts to deal with cases involving politicians and expeditious disposal of these matters.

Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Atmaram Nadkarni, representing the Centre, told the bench that the government was "not averse to setting up of special courts and quick and early disposal of criminal cases involving politicians".

He said that recommendations of the Election Commission of India (ECI) and the Law Commission favouring life-time disqualification of politicians convicted in criminal cases was under the "active consideration" of the Centre.

When Nadkarni said "Government of India's stand is that decriminalisation of politics has to be done," the bench shot back, "Can there by any other stand?"



The apex court then referred to a report put forward by one of the parties and asked the Centre that as per details of nominations filed by politicians during 2014 elections, there were 1,581 cases pending against them. The Centre said it would furnish the details as sought by the court.

When the bench said these special courts would deal exclusively with criminal cases involving politicians, the Centre asked whether these courts could be combined with the special CBI courts which already exist across the country.

"No, do not combine it with anything else," the bench said, adding "it is in the interest of nation".

Observing that the average number of cases each court in the country was dealing with currently was over 4,000 in subordinate judiciary, it said unless a judicial official deals exclusively with cases involving politicians, it would be difficult to complete the trial of within a year.

"We direct the competent authority of the Union of India to place before the court the following information: how many of 1581 cases involving MLAs and MPs (as declared at the time of filing of the nomination papers to the 2014 Elections) have been disposed of within the time frame of one year as envisaged by this Court by order dated 10th March, 2014 ....

"How many of these cases which have been finally decided have ended in acquittal/conviction of MPs and MLAs ...," the bench said.

It also sought to know the details of whether any further criminal cases were lodged against any present or former MP or MLA from 2014 till date and details of their disposal.

The bench asked the Centre to place before it a scheme for setting up of special courts and said it should also indicate the amount of funds that could be earmarked for it.

The top court was hearing petitions seeking to declare the provisions of the Representation of People (RP) Act, which bar convicted politician from contesting elections for six years after serving jail term, as ultra vires to the Constitution.

The bench also said the issue of appointment of judicial officers, public prosecutors, court staff and infrastructure for these special courts would be dealt with by it, if needed.

When Nadkarni sought six weeks time to place the details sought by the court, the bench posted the matter for hearing on December 13.

The court also observed that the issue it was dealing with, could be resolved by setting up of such special courts.

During the hearing, the ECI supported the plea seeking life-time disqualification on politicians convicted in criminal cases and said it has already made recommendations on this to the Centre.

"We support the plea that disqualification should be for life," the EC's counsel said, adding that the poll panel has already written to the government to bring in appropriate amendments to the law in this regard.

The Centre told the court that the petitioner has not given a single illustration that any convicted politician has made a come back to either Parliament or the state Assemblies after being convicted in criminal cases and serving the six- year disqualification period.

While Advocate Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay had filed a PIL in the matter, several others have moved the top court as intervenors.

The apex court had on July 12 pulled up the ECI for not taking a clear stand on a plea seeking barring of convicted politicians for life.

The Centre, in its affidavit, had said the prayer sought by the petitioner seeking life-time bar on convicted lawmakers was not maintainable and the plea should be dismissed.

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Leading helmet manufacturer Steelbird Hi-Tech India would foray into crash guards segment as part of plans to tap the growing two wheeler accessories market.

The company has recently commissioned a dedicated manufacturing facility for crash guards in Noida, Steelbird said in a statement.

"The plant is equipped to manufacture 50,000 units which could be scaled up to 70,000 units of guard kits only," it said adding that besides supplying to major two wheeler manufacturers it has plans to export them also.

Steelbird Global Group Head Sales and Marketing Shailendra Jain said: "Taking a clue of growing demands of 2 wheelers in the county Steelbird has also launched a dedicated range of guard kits for domestic retail market as well."



******* EXIM Bank inks pact with Tata Trusts initiative *



Export-Import Bank of India (EXIM Bank) today signed a Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) with the Centre for Microfinance & Livelihood (CML), an initiative of Tata Trusts.

The CML was conceptualized by Tata Trust as a specialized umbrella support organization for capacity building, research and collaborative direct interventions in the development space in Northeast India, EXIM Bank said in a statement.

With its mandate, CML takes forward the vision and mission of the Tata Trusts in the states of Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Mizoram and Sikkim, it said.

The objective is to help grassroots enterprise improve their export competitiveness, inter alia, by complying with global standards of quality and work towards developing viable financing models and best practices for projects, it added.

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Close on the heels of a swiss couple being assaulted in Fatehpur Sikri near Agra, Uttar Pradesh DGP Sulkhan Singh today issued a list of guidelines, including deployment of policemen in plain clothes, more patrolling and installation of CCTV cameras, to prevent such incidents.

Singh has issued directives to all district police chiefs to make necessary arrangements for ensuring security to tourists, a home department spokesman said.

These guidelines require police to take prompt action in cases of eve teasing or sexual assaults on women tourists, lodging of FIRs and action as per the law against the accused, the official said.

The DGP also directed installation of CCTV cameras around places of religious importance, historical sites and other spots of tourist interest besides deploying policemen both in plain clothes and uniform, the spokesman said.

Directions have been issued to identify places frequented by tourists and ensure regular patrolling, the spokesman said, adding that policemen in plain clothes would be deployed to keep an eye on rowdy elements.

The DGP directed deployment of policemen who can speak english in uniform with a badge proclaiming "tourist police', the spokesman said.

Phone numbers of senior police officials should be listed at railway stations, bus stations, malls and cyber cafes for prompt information.

Character and physical verification of people associated with tourism including guides, hotel staff, photographers and taxi drivers was also recommended.

Tourists should also be apprised about the UP-100, Twitter, e-FIR services among others, the guidelines issued by DGP Singh said, according to the spokesman.

A couple from Lausanne in Switzerland was chased and attacked with stones and sticks by a group of youths in the Fatehpur Sikri leaving them battered and bruised recently, triggering widespread outrage.

According to reports Quentin Jeremy Clerc, 24, who came to India on September 30 with his girlfriend Marie Droz, also 24, was quoted as saying that they were strolling near the railway station at the Fatehpur Sikri after a day in Agra when the group started following them and later attacked.

The couple said that as they lay on the ground bloodied and bruised, bystanders began taking videos of them on their mobile phones, according to the report.

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Tata Communications today said it has become a member of the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) that will allow it to protect its customers from online child sexual abuse material.

Tata Communications is the first internet service provider (ISP) in India to become a member of the IWF, it said in a statement.

"With this collaboration, Tata Communications is leading the way towards a safer internet by protecting citizens from online child sexual abuse material," it added.

As a part of IWF, Tata Communications will now be using the URL List service that provides a list of webpages containing child sexual abuse imagery.

"By using the URL List and removing its customers' ability to access these webpages, Tata Communications will provide its customers with the most up-to-date way to protect their networks from child sexual abuse imagery online," it said.

The company said over 28 per cent of the world's internet routes travel over Tata Communications' network, making it the fifth largest global internet backbone service provider.

"In line with our strong corporate values and ethos of integrity, we have adopted and implemented the IWF resources to block child sexual abuse material from the internet," Tata Communications General Counsel India and Company Secretary Manish Sansi said.

Susie Hargreaves OBE, CEO of IWF, said the partnership will help towards achieving a safer internet "by disrupting the hosting and distribution of child sexual abuse material online".

In April this year, the Indian government had directed Internet service providers (ISP) to block distribution and transmission of child sexual abuse content by July 31.

IWF has more than 130 companies as its members, including the likes of Facebook, Google, Microsoft, Cisco, Vodafone and Apple.

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A group of tuberculosis (TB) survivors has written to Union Health Minister JP Nadda, inquiring about a scheme proposed by the Centre to provide direct economic benefits to TB patients undergoing treatment.

The scheme has been proposed in the latest National Strategic Plan for Tuberculosis (2017-2022).

Considering that the disease affects a large number of India's poor due to social, economic and environmental factors, the Survivors Against TB (SATB) has urged the government to extend the benefits under the scheme to all the TB patients, irrespective of whether they seek care from the public or private sector.

"This scheme is a step in the right direction. Global evidence has shown that poverty and TB are inter-connected. The poor people frequently come across economic barriers when it comes to healthcare," Deepti Chavan, a multi-drug resistant (MDR) TB survivor and a member of the SATB, said.

The SATB has sought to know when will the scheme be launched and the first set of payments reach the beneficiaries. It has also requested the government to share a clear implementation plan for the scheme.

The group has suggested key parameters for effective monitoring and evaluation of the scheme, including ease of access, utility of the benefit amount etc.

"We welcome this patient-centric and compassionate policy. However, its impact must be assessed from the perspective of the recipients, that is the patients," Saurabh Rane, an SATB member and an MDR TB survivor, said.

TB costs India close to USD 24 billion each year. As per the WHO (World Health Organisation) TB Report, the disease kills one Indian every minute.

The scheme, if implemented effectively, can bring about a drastic change in how India addresses and manages the TB related economic impact and poverty.

"For the first time in decades, we have the opportunity to ensure that TB-affected families do not become poorer due to a loss of livelihood or the treatment expenses. We hope the government will address our queries," Chapal Mehra, convenor of the SATB, said.

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In a controversial order, government school teachers were asked to attend a training programme to help priests at a religious festival in Haryana's Yamunanagar, triggering angry reactions from the Opposition and teachers' bodies.

The teachers were asked to enrol for a programme for the Kapal Mochan Mela in Yamunanagar by the local administration.

A section of teachers said they were asked to perform odd jobs such as distributing 'prasad' among the devotees at the fair, which began today.

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar told reporters here today his government had not given any such direction.

"This may be a local arrangement, but from our side, there is no such direction," he said.

A senior official of the Yamunanagar district administration said around 600 government employees, including teachers, were deployed to perform miscellaneous tasks such as managing the crowd and assisting the priests.

Twenty-six of the 109 teachers, who were supposed to have attended the training imparted by the administration on October 29, stayed away from it.

The teachers were asked to turn up for the programme at the Kapal Mochan Mela office in Yamunanagar district at 1 pm on October 29.

When many failed to do so, the administration sought an explanation from the district education officer concerned on why they had not participated in the event and asked for departmental disciplinary action against them.

Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala took a dig at the Khattar government on Twitter saying, "Teachers will become priests now, the future of students depends on god."



He also posted a document dated October 29, purportedly signed by the Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO), Bilaspur (which comes under Yamunanagar district), directing the teachers who were absent at the training programme on the said date to attend a similar programme the next day.

The document also warned the teachers of disciplinary action if they failed to do so.

The four-day fair has attracted nearly two lakh pilgrims from several states, including Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and Rajasthan.

The Yamunanagar district administration official said nearly five lakh devotees took part in the event every year.

"It is wrong to say that the teachers were asked to perform the rituals of the priests," he added.

However, Jaidev Arya, the state adviser to the Haryana Teachers' Association, dubbed the government order a "Tughlaki farman (whimsical diktat)" and "unwarranted".

"We oppose this Tughlaki farman. A teacher should not be put on such duties. It is not the duty of the teachers to perform puja and distribute prasad. We oppose such decisions of the state government," he told reporters in Yamunanagar.

Former chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda hit out at the Khattar government saying that on one hand, there was a shortage of teachers in the government schools and on the other hand, teachers were being forced to play the role of priests.

Khattar's ministers and BJP MLAs should perform such tasks instead, Hooda said.

"Ever since the BJP government came to power in Haryana three years ago, the standards of education have gone down. The schools are not being upgraded, there is a shortage of teachers, but the Khattar government is not concerned about this. Rather, it is worried about how to make the teachers distribute prasad and perform puja," he said.

He added that the Khattar government should open a recruitment centre to hire priests to do such jobs at these events.

"Everyone knows that this government has failed on all fronts. So, why does the chief minister not give some work to his ministers and MLAs? They should perform the task given to the teachers, who have a greater responsibility of teaching the students and shape their future," Hooda, who has been the chief minister of the state twice, said.

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Syed Shahid Yousuf, son of globally-wanted terrorist Syed Salahuddin, was today sent to judicial custody by a Delhi court in a 2011 terror funding case.

District Judge Poonam A Bamba sent the accused to custody till November 27 after he was produced before the court on expiry of his 7-day custody of the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

The NIA had earlier alleged that the accused had links with proscribed terrorist organisation like Hizb-ul-Mujahedin.

The NIA said the case was registered on the basis of information regarding funds from Pakistan being sent to Jammu and Kashmir through hawala channels via Delhi to fund terrorism.

The NIA had in 2011 arrested accused persons Ghulam Mohd Bhat and others with Rs 21.20 lakh, it said, adding that Yousuf was "one of the several Indian contacts of Bhat" who had been in telephonic contact with him for receiving money transfer codes.

It was submitted by the agency that Yousuf's involvement was found in collecting funds from a terrorist outfit in Saudi Arabia as well as from other accused on directions of his father Mohd Yousuf Shah alias Syed Salahuddin, self-styled supreme commander of the Hizb-Ul-Mujahiddin.

Syed Salahuddin was declared a Specially Designated Global Terrorist by the US Department of State in June this year.

The NIA has claimed that so far Yousuf has received a total of nearly Rs 4.5 lakh through eight international wire transfers.

The agency has so far filed two charge sheets against six people including Bhat, a close aide of pro-Pakistan separatist Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mohammed Siddiq Ganai, Ghulam Jeelani Liloo and Farooq Ahmed Dagga.

The NIA had also registered two other cases related to terror funding -- one in November 2011 and the other in May this year. It had filed a charge sheet against 10 people including Salahuddin in the April 2011 case.

In the recent case, the NIA arrested 10 people including some close relatives and aides of Geelani.

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Terrorism and radicalisation have acquired "menacing proportions" in Kerala, the BJP said today, adding that these issues of national security were being "sacrificed at the altar of vote bank politics".

Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad highlighted a media sting on Popular Front of India (PFI), a Kerala-based Islamic party, and also refereed to 'love jihad' as he demanded a probe against its leaders.

He said they should be dealt more severely than Hurriyat leaders, who are being probed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for terror funding.

Hurriyat is an umbrella organisation of many separatist parties in Kashmir.

The sting, Prasad said, has caught PFI founding members saying that they received funding from abroad and had converted over 5,000 persons to Islam, and an Islamic state was their final goal.

"You in India are running a terrorist group with an aim of making an Islamic state by taking funds from abroad. Young sons and daughters are being radicalised for this. It is a very serious threat to the national security," he said.

The Information and Technology minister said the NIA was looking into cases of 'love jihad', adding that the agency should also investigate what the media report has highlighted.

Prasad also made a reference to an alleged case of 'love jihad' being heard by the Supreme Court, which has ordered an NIA probe into the matter, and attacked the Left-led Kerala government's contention in the court that there should be no probe in the matter.

The BJP, he maintained, was of the opinion that people can voluntarily convert but there should be no use of inducement, allurement or fear.

Due to the PFI's activities, life of common citizens of Kerala is under threat, the Union minister claimed, urging the state government to take pro-active measures in this regard.

"If the Kerala government maintains silence on the issue, we will have to say that it is sacrificing national interest at the altar of vote bank politics," he said.

He also asked Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and party vice president Rahul Gandhi to speak on the matter.

The BJP has taken up the issue of "jihadi terrorism" in Kerala in a big way. The party looks to widen its appeal in the southern state ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

The saffron party has been traditionally weak in Kerala and could not win any seat from the state in the last Lok Sabha polls.

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In the wake of the killing of two leaders of Hindu outfits within a fortnight, Punjab minister Navjot Singh Sidhu today said there is an "escalating concern" over the killings in the state.

Hindu Sangarsh Sena district president Vipan Sharma (45) was shot dead in full public view by four unidentified men in the Bharat Nagar locality on the Amritsar-Batala road in Amritsar on October 30.

The killing came within a fortnight of the gunning down of RSS leader Ravinder Gosain in Ludhiana on October 17.

Sidhu, without elaborating, claimed that Vipan Sharma used to work for the Congress.

"There is an escalating concern. No doubt about it. Law and order, protection of life and liberty is the fundamental right of any person," he said here today while responding to a question on the killings taking place in the state.

Asked about the law and order situation, Sidhu said there is a concern as well contemplation over this issue.

Yesterday, former Chief minister Parkash Singh Badal had expressed concern over the law and order situation and alleged that Punjab was "fast slipping towards a complete and dangerous anarchy".

Sidhu today refuted SAD chief Sukhbir Badal's allegation that Congress leaders, particularly state minister Navjot Sidhu, were responsible for provoking Congress workers in attacking the Akalis.

Sukhbir had made the accusation following an attack on Amarjot Singh Babbehali, a son of senior Akali leader Gurbachan Singh Babbehali, and his two friends in Gurdaspur yesterday.

Sidhu today said, "Now he (Sukhbir) puts blame on me because I criticise him...

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Hit TV drama "This Is Us" has removed a reference to Kevin Spacey from one of its episodes after the "House of Cards" actor was accused of sexual harassment.

The Tuesday night episode originally included a reference to Spacey in flashback when struggling young actor Kevin (Justin Hartley), then in his 20s, learns his roommate had landed a role in a film starring Spacey, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

"In light of recent events, the producers have decided to remove the brief reference to Kevin Spacey," 20th Century Fox Television, which produces the NBC drama, said in a statement hours before the episode was to be aired.

Spacey is the latest Hollywood figure to be accused of sexual harassment after Harvey Weinstein and James Toback.

"Star Trek: Discovery" star Anthony Rapp recently came forward with claims that "The Usual Suspects" star made unwanted sexual advance towards him 1986 during a house party. Rapp said he was 14-year-old at that time.

Spacey apologised in a statement, saying he did not recall the incident but was "beyond horrified". He, however, was slammed for using the apology to come out as gay.

Netflix and MRC have suspended production on the upcoming sixth and final season of "House of Cards" indefinitely.

In the show, Spacey plays the role of a scheming politician who makes it to the White House. He is also an executive producer.

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The BJP's Tamil Nadu unit today hailed India rising 30 places in the World Bank's 'ease of doing business' ranking, saying a 2014 poll-time assurance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been implemented.

"I will make India a (favourable) destination for foreign investors---(this) 2014 assurance of Modi has come true," BJP state unit President Tamilisai Sounderrajan said in a tweet.

Posting pictures of Modi and BJP President Amit Shah in another tweet, she said "world bank certifies," in an apparent reference to the World Bank rankings.

India had jumped 30 places to 100th position in the World Bank's 'ease of doing business' ranking, helped by a slew of reforms in taxation, licensing, investor protection and bankruptcy resolution.

The Prime Minister had yesterday hailed as "historic" the jump in India's ranking and said it was a result of "all-round & multi-sectoral reform push".

In its annual report 'Doing Business 2018: Reforming to Create Jobs', the World Bank had said that India's ranking reflects nearly half of the 37 reforms, adopted since 2003, implemented in the last four years.

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Federal prosecutors on Wednesday brought terrorism charges against the Uzbek immigrant accused in the truck rampage that left eight people dead, saying he carried out the attack in response to the Islamic State group's online calls to action.

Meanwhile, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) said another person is wanted for questioning in connection with the bloodshed.

Authorities said the driver of the rented Home Depot truck, 29-year-old Sayfullo Saipov, watched ISIS videos on his cellphone and picked Halloween for the attack on a bike lane in lower Manhattan because he knew more people would be out on the streets.

Afterward, as he lay wounded in the hospital, he asked to display the ISIS flag in his room and "stated that he felt good about what he had done," prosecutors said in court papers.

He was charged with providing material support to a terrorist group and committing violence and destruction of motor vehicles.





ALSO READ: Manhattan attack: A mangled school bus, bodies everywhere; 'it was surreal'

Saipov left behind knives and a note, handwritten in Arabic, that included Islamic religious references and said "it will endure", a phrase that commonly refers to ISIS, FBI agent Amber Tyree said in court papers.

Questioned in his hospital bed, Saipov said he had been inspired by ISIS videos and began plotting an attack about a year ago, deciding to use a truck about two months ago, Tyree said. Saipov even rented a truck on October 22 to practise making turns, Tyree said.

John Miller, deputy New York police commissioner for intelligence, said Saipov "appears to have followed, almost exactly to a T, the instructions that ISIS has put out."

In the past few years, the Islamic State has exhorted followers online to use vehicles, knives or other close-at- hand means of killing people in their home countries. England, France and Germany have all seen deadly vehicle attacks since mid-2016.

A November 2016 issue of the group's online magazine detailed features that an attack truck or van should have, suggested renting such a vehicle and recommended targeting crowded streets and outdoor gatherings, according to the SITE Intelligence Group, a militant-monitoring agency.

Carlos Batista, a neighbour of Saipov's in Paterson, New Jersey, said he had seen the suspect and two friends using the same model of rented truck several times in the past three weeks.

It was not clear whether Saipov had been on authorities' radar. Miller said Saipov had never been the subject of a criminal investigation but appears to have links to people who have been investigated.

In yesterday's attack, Saipov drove his speeding truck for nearly a mile along a bike path, running down cyclists and pedestrians, then crashed into a school bus, authorities said. He was shot in the abdomen after he jumped out of the vehicle brandishing two air guns, one in each hand, and yelling "God is great!" in Arabic, they said.

In addition to those killed, 12 people were injured.
US President Donald Trump today spoke over phone with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and discussed the importance of promoting a free and open Indo- Pacific region, ahead of his maiden Asia trip next week.

"Both leaders affirmed the importance of promoting a free and open Indo-Pacific region and maintaining close coordination between the United States and Japan, and with the international community, to maximise pressure on North Korea," the White House said in a readout of the call.

Trump heads to Asia on a 12-day trip on November 3 with Japan being his first stop. Thereafter, he would travel to South Korea, China, Vietnam and Philippines.

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US President Donald Trump has condemned the "terrorist attack" in New York that left at least eight people dead and 11 others injured.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims of today's terrorist attack in New York City and their families," Trump said in a statement after a 29-year-old man, identified as Sayfullo Saipov, plowed a speeding truck through a busy bike path in Lower Manhattan today.

"My administration will provide its full support to the New York City Police Department, including through a joint investigation with the Federal Bureau of Investigation," he said.

Saipov, said to be from Uzbekistan, is under police custody. He was arrested after being shot in the stomach by officials of the New York Police Department.

"We offer our thanks to the first responders who stopped the suspect and rendered immediate aid to the victims of this cowardly attack. These brave men and women embody the true American spirit of resilience and courage.I will continue to follow developments closely," Trump said.

Earlier, the US president took to Twitter to decry the attack, saying "we must not allow ISIS to return".

"In NYC, looks like another attack by a very sick and deranged person. Law enforcement is following this closely. NOT IN THE U.S.A.!" Trump tweeted.

"We must not allow ISIS to return, or enter, our country after defeating them in the Middle East and elsewhere. Enough!" he said in another tweet.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
US President Donald Trump today called for tougher "merit-based" immigration measures and doing away with the diversity visa programme after an ISIS- inspired Uzbek man killed 8 people in New York, termed as the deadliest terror attack since 9/11.

Trump said the attacker Sayfullo Habibullaevic Saipov, who ploughed a pickup truck down a crowded bike path near the World Trade Centre killing eight people and injuring 11 others in an ISIS-inspired plot, was allowed to enter the US on a State Department programme known as the "Diversity Lottery Programme".

"The terrorist came into our country through what is called the 'Diversity Visa Lottery Programme', a Chuck Schumer beauty. I want merit based," Trump said in a tweet.

The diversity visa programme gives green card to people from countries from where they normally don't have merit-based candidates.

Saipov, a 29-year-old Uzbek immigrant, had come to the US legally in 2010, was shot at by New York Police officials yesterday afternoon and is being treated for injuries at a New York hospital.

Local media reports said that he was being subject to preliminary interrogation by investigating officials.

The FBI and New York Police Department are jointly investigating the terrorist attack.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo told a channel that the sole attacker was radicalised domestically.

"The evidence shows - and again, it's only several hours, and the investigation is ongoing - but that after he came to the United States is when he started to become informed about ISIS and radical Islamic tactics," Cuomo told CNN.

"We have no evidence yet of associations or a continuing plot or associated plots, and our only evidence to date is that this was an isolated incident that he himself performed," he said.

Trump has ordered the Homeland Security to step up extreme vetting programme.

In a series of tweets, the President lashed out at Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer for opposing merit-based immigration system.

"Senator Chuck Schumer helping to import Europe's problems.. We will stop this craziness!" Trump tweeted.

"We are fighting hard for Merit Based immigration, no more Democrat Lottery Systems. We must get MUCH tougher (and smarter)," he said.

Schumer, in a statement, said that it was too soon to politicise a tragedy.

"President Trump, instead of politicising and dividing America, which he always seems to do at times of national tragedy, should be focusing on the real solution anti- terrorism funding which he proposed cutting in his most recent budget," Schumer said.

"I'm calling on the president to immediately rescind his proposed cuts to this vital antiterrorism funding," he said.

"This was an act of terror, and a particularly cowardly act of terror aimed at innocent civilians, aimed at people going about their lives who had no idea what was about to hit them," New York Mayor Bill de Blasio said.

New York has been largely spared from terrorism since nearly 3,000 people were killed in the 9/11 attack.

The most recent violence from terrorism there came in September 2016, when a man set off shrapnel-packed explosives in the Chelsea neighbourhood of Manhattan. Nobody was killed, but 30 people were injured in the incident.

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Activists of the Tulunadu Rakshana Vedike staged a protest today in front of the Deputy



Commissioners office here demanding inclusion of Tulu language in the eighth schedule of the Constitution.

Addressing the protestors on the Karnataka Rajyotsavaday, vedike president Yogish Shetty Jeppu said Tulu language was not getting the recognition due to the negligent stance of political parties and the bureaucracy.

Shetty said Tulunadu was split into two on November 1, 1956 and one of the portions was united with Kerala.

Despitebeing a geographically and naturally rich area, Tulunadu hadbeen neglected by successive governments.

He said the fertile agricultural land and the pristine environment of Tulunadu were getting destroyed with mega industrial projects.

Tulu, one among the five Dravidianlanguages spoken by over a crore of people, was not gettingthe Constitutional status due to it because of the neglectfrom the government, he said.

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Popular actor Meghna Malik says the content on the small screen may be changing with the times but TV still has a long way to go when it comes to dumping the stereotypes.

The 46-year-old actor says the artistes have always had to go the extra mile to break the norms.

"I have been lucky to get different kind of shows and roles. (But) the typecast or stereotype has not gone away...

"It is an actor's personal fight to break that perception and it is not easy," Meghna tells PTI.

The actor, who will next be seen in Colors show, "Laado - Veerpur Ki Mardaani" in her memorable role of Ammaji, says despite its tight schedule, television is a fruitful medium of employment for women.

"Doing TV is tough as it demands a lot of time, energy and strength. Sad part is there is (you get) less time for your private life. TV is also a place where no matter how much you want to do exciting stuff, you are not offered good yet different roles on regular basis.

"But at the same time career-wise, TV is more safe for women, as there is always lot of work even if it's same or different kind of an offer," she says.

Celebrities from around the world have raised their voice in wake of multiple sexual allegations levelled against Hollywood media mogul Harvey Weinstein.

Director James Toback, "House of Cards" actor Kevin Spacey, Andy Dick and Jeremy Piven are the latest celebs to be accused of sexual misconduct in different cases.

When asked if Meghna faced sexual exploitation in the industry, the actor says, "People don't mess with me, they stay away. I have never faced it (abuse). It is about how you carry yourself.

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Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat today launched the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) for fertiliser subsidies to farmers, saying it was another step of the government towards 'Digital India'.

The DBT was launched today in five states, including Uttarakhand, to transfer subsidy on fertilisers directly to the bank accounts of farmers, he said at a programme in the Kisan Bhawan here.

The chief minister said that Aadhaar would be mandatory to avail the benefits, and also asked farmers to get it linked with their soil health cards.

This will facilitate efforts being made by the central and state governments to double the income of farmers by 2022, he said.

Rawat also asked farmers to avail schemes meant forthem, including loans up to Rs 1 lakh for small and marginal growers at an interest of 2 per cent.

Soil health cards have been issued to 4.80 lakh farmers of the state out of which 70,000 have been linked with Aadhaar, Agriculture Secretary D Senthil Pandiyan said.

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The University of Hyderabad (UoH) has decided to request a retired High Court judge to advise the varsity on the election of the students' union vice president after a group of students launched a relay hunger strike on the matter yesterday.

The UoH administration has advised the students, who began fast under the aegis of the Tribal Students Federation (TSF) on the UoH campus, to withdraw the protest and has warned of initiating a disciplinary action.

"The Students' Union elections 2017-18 was held on September 21. However, election to the post of vice-president has been kept on hold on allegations that Naresh Lunavath, the contestant, had less than 75 per cent attendance as required by norms," a UoH release said today.

However, protesting students have alleged that Lunavath, a nominee of the Alliance of Social Justice, of which TSF is an ally, had won against his ABVP (Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad) opponent, but a complaint was given alleging that he lacked requisite attendance.

A section of students has been holding protests for the last few days demanding that Lunavath be declared elected as the vice president.

The varsity said they have taken the decision to rope in a retired HC judge to "examine and advise" the UOH on the matter in the wake of students' move to resort to the fast.

"The retired judge will be handed over all records/ documents pertaining to the elections. A committee has been constituted recently to examine the attendance records of the School of Medical Sciences to which Lunavath belongs," the release said.

TSF president Sundar Rathod alleged the UoH move is just a delaying tactic.

"They (UoH authorities) want to just prolong the issue. The relay hunger strike is continuing for the second day today and we will start an indefinite hunger strike if our demand is not met," Sundar said.

However, UOH contended that students remained "defiant" despite its efforts to convince them.

"Since students remained defiant and the matter is litigious, the university has now decided to approach a retired judge for his opinion," it said.

The varsity further appealed to the students to withdraw the protest and wait for the report from the judge, in view of the impending end-semester examinations.

UoH, also known as the Hyderabad Central University, was rocked by the protests in January 2016 following the suicide on campus by Dalit PH.D scholar Rohith vemula.

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It is in the interest of Pakistan to change its "long-standing" relationship with terrorist organisations, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has said, underlining that the Trump administration will give the country an opportunity to act on actionable intelligence.

"The conversation with the Pakistani government is for them to recognise that they will be one of the greatest beneficiaries of a successful peace process in Afghanistan, Tillerson told lawmakers during a Congressional hearing on Monday.

Tillerson, who visited Afghanistan, Pakistan and India last week, was responding to questions on Pakistan's co- operation in the fight against terrorism in the aftermath of Trump's South Asia Policy.

"Pakistan lives with two very unstable borders, one with Afghanistan, one with India and our message to them is -- You have to begin to create greater stability inside your country and that means denying safe haven to any of these organisations that launch attacks from your territory," he said.

"So, we are going to enter into an effort to have greater sharing of certain intelligence information, he said, adding that Pakistanis have indicated that they will act if the US provide them information.

"We're going to have to test that, give them an opportunity to do so," Tillerson said.

"And so, what will change is that Pakistan will find it in their interest to begin to disassociate these long-standing relationships that have developed over time with certain terrorist organisations, the Haqqani network, the Taliban, inside of Pakistan, which may have served their purpose for stability once upon a time but they no longer serve that purpose, he said.

Tillerson said that it is up to Pakistan to think about its long-term stability and it future by changing that relationship with these organisations.

In August, President Trump had unveiled his Afghanistan and South Asia policy in which he had hit out at Pakistan for providing safe havens to "agents of chaos" that kill Americans in Afghanistan and warned Islamabad that it has "much to lose" by harbouring terrorists.

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Vice President Venkaiah Naidu today appealed Naxalites to shun violence and enter the poll arena, asserting that ballot is more powerful than bullet.

He was addressing the inaugural ceremony of Chhattisgarh Rajyotsava- the statehood celebrations- in Naya Raipur late this evening.

"History has shown that bullet and violence have not led to peace and development anywhere in the world. The entire history of the world is very clear that the ballot is more powerful than the bullet.

"Violence is not going to bring any change and any revolution whatsoever if they (referring to naxalites) are and anybody is day dreaming about it, it's better they leave the idea," the vice president said.

Naidu asked ultras to drop weapons and join the mainstream.

"Join the political field if you have conviction, if you have courage and if you have confidence then come to the people and try to win over the people," he added.

The Vice President said Chhattisgarh is a fast developing state in the county but at the same time it is struggling with the menace of left wing extremism.

"Chhattisgarh has achieved speedy growth in a short span of time. While the state is feeling proud over the growth and social and economic development it has attained, on the other hand it is also facing the bitter truth (of naxalism).

"No development will take place if you (Naxalites) kill people, hinder the development, obstruct construction of roads and destroy schools and hospitals. Nothing will change if you do all these things. It is wrong to call it a revolution and this is not the way," he said.

Blaming Naxalism for backwardness in areas of Bastar and Surguja of the state, the vice president said development could not reach the last person due to activities of Maoists.

"No officer, teachers and doctors wanted to go there (naxal-affected areas) fearing violence. My suggestion to them (naxals) is that they should realise that nothing is going to change with this (violence).

"They should believe in democracy which is the only alternative in the world. Violence has no place in the country like India. They should think what they have gained through violence," he added.

Naidu paid tribute to soldiers who have sacrificed their lives in the Maoist violence and praised their bravery.

He expressed happiness over the efforts of the Centre and state governments to bring peace and development in the naxal-hit areas.

"I am happy that both Centre and state governments are stressing on the development in these (naxal-affected) areas. The state government has been using funds sanctioned by the Centre under various public welfare schemes in a good manner," Naidu said.

Lauding various schemes and projects of the Chhattisgarh government, he said the state has witnessed massive development in various sectors but it has to do more in many areas like to bring down poverty and infant mortality rate.

Earlier, thevice president also visited the exhibition stalls at the venue depicting the journey of Chhattisgarh during the past 17 years.

Governor Balramji Das Tandon, Chief Minister Raman Singh, Lok Sabha MP Ramesh Bais and state ministers were present at the opening ceremony.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
UNESCO YOUTHMOBILE: My First Training Assignment as a MIT App Inventor Master Trainer

Oct 31, 2017 karen's Blog

This is a guest blog by MIT Master Trainer Evbi O'Sullivan

Almost exactly one month to the day after I returned from my trip to Boston for the MIT App Inventor Master Trainer Workshop, I received an unexpected email. It was from the head of UNESCO Youthmobile inviting me to attend and lead a MIT App Inventor training session in Mauritius. This was to be part of events celebrating the International Day for the Universal Access to Information. I jumped at this opportunity to put my newly acquired skills to test, particularly as it would involve a Train the Trainer session alongside training students.The sessions were planned as an introduction to MIT App Inventor and its usefulness as a tool to attract students to coding and computer science studies. There were 56 participants drawn from various universities in Mauritius and were evenly split between educators and students. The training format was unique in the sense that rather than have a separate session for educators, each training session was an even mix of teachers and students. This afforded us all (especially the teachers) the opportunity to see how the students responded to building mobile apps from scratch and observe their enthusiasm, difficulties and the learning outcomes.The training sessions commenced with an introductory video to MIT App Inventor and swiftly moved on to building mobile apps. I guided the participants through the building of three different apps. It was interesting to observe the difference in reactions between the teachers and the students. The teachers were very enthused by the opportunity that MIT App inventor provided to generate positive interest amongst their students for coding, whilst engaging with technology from the perspective of creators of content instead of just a user. The sessions showed how MIT App Inventor could complement traditional coding teaching to a generation that is very reliant on mobile technologies. From a students perspective, their enthusiasm was about the possibilities presented to them to build apps that have real world use and to show off their creativity to friends and family. Overall, both groups were eager to know more and to expand on their knowledge of MIT App Inventor.The training was held at Ceridian Training Centre, Quatre Bornes and was part of Africa Code Week 2017. Africa Code Week is in its third year and is supported by SAP, UNESCO YouthMobile and the Galway Education Centre. The goal is to introduce coding to 500,000 young people across Africa. While the code week is mainly focused on teaching Scratch, training on mobile app building was also carried out in a number of countries across Africa. It is my belief that mobile app building will certainly increase substantially in subsequent years.
The Allahabad High Court today asked the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA) if any land was alloted to yoga guru Ramdev's firm Patanjali Ayurved Ltd. directly or indirectly for setting up a food park and sought details if it was done.

The bench comprising justices Tarun Agarwala and Ajay Bhanot also issued notice to Patanjali Ayurved Ltd. on a petition by a man named Ausaf and others of Gautam Budh Nagar who challenged the alleged allotment of 400 acres of land in favour of Patanjali Ayurved Ltd. Noida.

The court asked YEIDA to provide all the records showing details of allotment of land in favour of Patanjali Ayurved Ltd and such other company or firm or industry that directly or indirectly relates to Patanjali Ayurved Ltd along with maps.

The court has fixedNovember 14for the next hearing in the case.

The petitioners alleged that they were allotted land on lease for plantation of trees in 1994 for 30 years but now that land was allotted illegally by YEIDA to Patanjali Ayurved Ltd.

During the course of hearing, the Yamuna Expressway authority said neither its officers went to cut down tree nor any tree existed on the spot.

However, the state government in its affidavit stated that the authority's officers went to the disputed land to cut the trees and at least 300 trees are there.

"It seems that cover-up operations are going on. Neither the government, nor the authority is ready to answer whose JCB machines were used to pull down trees," the court had observed on an earlier date.

Earlier, the court had directed the parties concerned not to make any development or changes in the land in dispute till the next order.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The White House said today it sees the perpetrator of a deadly attack in New York an "enemy combatant," opening the door to his detention without normal rights.

"I think the actions he took certainly justify that," White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said, adding that a final determination had not been made.

The designation would mean 29-year-old suspect Sayfullo Saipov could be denied access to a lawyer and detained indefinitely without charge.

It could also open the door to military justice and transfer to the prison at Guantanamo Bay, something Donald Trump said he was willing to consider earlier yesterday.

After the 9/11 attacks, the "enemy combatant" designation was used to detain hundreds of prisoners at Guantanamo Bay and sites in the greater Middle East.

But amid great controversy, it was the subject of a Supreme Court ruling and would later be abandoned by then President Barack Obama, although some of the provisions would be kept in place.

Supporters say it allows the authorities to detain potentially dangerous terror suspects.

Senator John McCain called for the administration to use the designation.

"We must not consider these attacks on our homeland in isolation, but rather recognise them for what they are: acts of war," he said.

"As soon as possible, the administration should notify Congress how it plans to proceed with the interrogation and trial of this suspect."



Critics say it is unconditional, erodes individuals' rights and the rule of law, and is open to abuse.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Actor Zaira Wasim today visited a school here to promote her new film "Secret Superstar".

"I am very happy to be in Jammu. I am always excited to come to Jammu. It is my request for all to watch my film 'Secret Superstar'," Zaira told reporters after visiting the Heritage School in Sainik colony.

The actor said she visited Jammu last time to promote her debut film "Dangal".

"Now my new film has been released and I am back here to promote it," she said.

Asked about the stone pelting incidents in Kashmir, the "Dangal" star said, "What can I say? I myself am a kid. What advise will I give to them."



The young star, who celebrated her 17th birthday on October 24, said people have appreciated her performance in the movie.

Written and directed by Advait Chandan, "Secret Superstar" revolves around the singing aspirations of a girl.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
- TVS Motor Company Ltd reported a 20 percent rise in quarterly profit on Wednesday, matching analysts' estimates, as it sold about 16 percent more two wheelers than the year-ago quarter.

Profit for the quarter ended Sept. 30 came in at 2.13 billion rupees ($33 million) compared with 1.77 billion rupees last year. http://bit.ly/2z3hULJ

Analysts on average were expecting a profit of 2.13 billion rupees, according to Thomson data.

The company's total two-wheeler sales volume, including exports, rose to 923,000 units from 795,000 vehicles earlier.

($1 = 64.5375 rupees)

(Reporting By Arnab Paul and Samantha Kareen Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Amrutha Gayatri and Biju Dwarakanath)

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
October 31, 2017

University of Montana School of Business Administration alumnus Bill VanSickle has built three highly successful companies from scratch. The most recent, technology firm AIM Consulting Group, generated $100 million a year with 600 employees before VanSickle and his partners sold it in 2016.

We started from zero, VanSickle said. No customers. No employees. Just a vision  just an opportunity really.

While visiting UM as part of the Gilkey Executive Lecture Series on Oct. 26, VanSickle shared some of what hes learned with business students, faculty and staff. His experiences include building one of the first wakeboard companies in the world, which he grew to include distribution channels in more 26 countries. He also co-created the information consulting firm ConsultNet, which produced more than $60 million in annual revenue before it sold in 2004.

Vansickle said compassion toward customers is one of the most valuable business lessons hes learned.

Its straightforward, he said. People want to make it something difficult, but what Ive found is if you care, people get that. It makes a difference. We try to make it a true win-win for our customers and for us. And when we do that, our company seems to win too.

VanSickle led classroom discussions with students and interacted with faculty and staff during his visit, including a morning hike to the M. In lieu of the typical evening public lecture, Jason Weiner, a student in the Master of Business Analytics program, interviewed VanSickle in front of about 150 attendees.

VanSickle said he sees entrepreneurship as creating an engine of opportunity for others.

Its the ultimate path, when its about somebody else, he said. When you see their experience and see them do it better than you, its fantastic.

For VanSickle, the Gilkey Lecture was an opportunity to return to the School of Business Administration for the first time since he graduated in 1985. VanSickle began his career as an accountant at Boeing before becoming an entrepreneur. He has since invested in more than 70 companies in industries such as telecommunications, extreme sports, real estate, health care, gaming and technology.

He said it doesnt matter how much someone makes or where they came from, as long as they are ready to contribute as a team member.

I dont care where you went to school, VanSickle said. I went to UM and can compete against anybody. You shouldnt feel for one moment that youre less than anybody who went to Harvard. Ive worked with these guys. Theyre no different. What you have here is probably more powerful because the people that come from Montana, theyre real and that relationship that you form and the families that you came from, thats everything. Thats a differentiator for me.

UM alumni Harold and Priscilla Gilkey established the Gilkey Executive Lecture Series to enrich business education at UM. Since its founding in 2004, the series has drawn speakers such as BlogHer co-founder Lisa Stone and Potlatch Corporation CEO Michael Covey to address issues across marketing, management, finance, ethics and leadership.

Learn more about the series and to see a complete list of past speakers online at www.business.umt.edu/news-and-events/gilkey.php. Contact officeofthedean@mso.umt.edu with questions.

Photo: VanSickle on stage with School of Business Administration student Jason Weiner.
LITTLESTOWN (PA) - The Delaware Valley University hunt seat team travelled on Sunday, October 29 to compete against other teams at a show hosted by Shippensburg University. Not only was it a great day for the Aggie riders individually, but the team as a whole brought home a solid six-point win over Franklin & Marshall College.Overall, the day was full of great rides and great ribbons. In the Open Fences phase,took home the win within fifth. In Open Flat,was not far behind, also winning her split, followed byand(both in fourth), and(fifth).The Intermediate division also brought back good results. Brooks again won her class whileandwere both in second place in their splits.was third and Timpanaro took home a fifth. Flat riders in the Intermediate division also proved their abilities with Nazzaro in first,in second, Markey in third, andandboth in fourth.Next came the Novice division in which Quinn took first, freshmanwas second,third,fourth,andwere both fifth and freshmanpulled a sixth.Novice Flat gave the Aggies a chance to shine among another large and competitive field. In first was, andtook second, a placing which qualified her for Regionals and moved her up to the Intermediate Flat division. Friedenberg and Mill were third followed by(fourth), Reed (fifth), Terwilliger (sixth) and Jones (sixth).When it came to the afternoon flat classes, Advanced Walk/Trot/Canter proved firsts for freshmenand, along with new member, senior. In the same division,earned a second place anda third to put all of DelVal's riders in that division in the top three spots. In Walk/Trot equitation,rounded out DelVal's day by winning her class.Brooks earned High Point Rider with her two wins in Open Flat and Intermediate Fences.
Leading e-commerce companies Uber, Amazon and Flipkart along with restaurant-listing startup Zomato are among the firms that will be hiring on Day 1 and 2 of the campus recruitment at IIT Delhi this year.

Uber India has the most attractive offer among these internet companies with an annual CTC of Rs 36.6 lakh for a software developer.

While Flipkart's best offer is Rs 26 lakh, Zomato is offering Rs 25 lakh and Amazon India Rs 16 lakh, according to IIT-D students.

After a year of not hiring from Indian Institute of Technology-Delhi (IIT-D), startups Flipkart and Zomato will be back for recruitment at the prestigious institute's campus.

This comes after the IITs blacklisted six startups, including restaurant-listing venture Zomato, last year for making last-minute changes to salary offers and delaying joining dates. However, the ban has now been lifted.

Two years ago, Flipkart also deferred placements. Following the flak it faced, the e-commerce venture founded by IIT-D alumni also did not hire from IITs' 2017 batch.

Students from computer science, mechanical and electrical engineering departments said the companies have registered on the college's placement portal. The site accepts applications from reputed companies that can offer attractive salaries to bag a slot on Day 1 and 2 of IIT-D's first phase of placements that begins on December 1.

While most of them are looking for coding-intensive profiles like software developers or data scientists, assistant product manager positions are also up for grabs at Flipkart.

"While some coding positions are open to us, it is difficult to compete with the IT guys who have been studying machine learning and artificial intelligence for the past four years. Flipkart's assistant product manager (non IT) role with a CTC of Rs 26 lakh per annum is one of the most attractive offers for me so far," said a final-year IIT mechanical engineering student who did not want to be named.

Usually companies vying for slots on Days 1-3 register in advance so that they can be the first to recruit the best students. The companies offer at least one high-paying job in order to grab a spot within the first two days.

A student in the know said more startups have registered with the institute and will soon show on the portal. Companies can register with the college till November 20 for the first phase of placements, the student said.

However, companies coming after the first three days just walk in and conduct interviews. Many startups may also be in that list, students said.

This year startups will reportedly be bunched together on one day called 'Startup Day', which will be slotted way below on the fourth or fifth day of placements. Students may also be told to conduct their own checks before accepting an offer from a startup.

"While there are definitely more companies this time, not a lot of startups have come yet," said a final-year electrical engineering student. He said nearly 100 companies are in the race to hire IIT graduates. "Of the 55-60 companies open for me, there are 7-8 startups," he disclosed.

Most of the startups are looking for software-based profiles. But overall, there is a lot of requirement for analysts and quant researchers as well this time, he added.

Some of the other startups in the list are PayU, FinMechanics, Saavn and GyanDhan.

Students said the campus is abuzz with placement-related activities and the mood is better than it was last year.

The electrical engineering student said 15 entrance tests have been conducted by various companies in the past seven days. "After classes, tests go on till 12 or 1 in the night. Yesterday, I wrote two tests," he said.

While Flipkart has conducted its test, other consumer internet companies have not done so yet, students said.
India jumped 30 spots to secure a place among the top-100 countries on World Bank's ease of doing business ranking list in 2018. With this year's performance, India became the first ever country to record highest jump in World Bank's ease of doing business ranking, said Finance Minister Arun Jaitley during a press conference on Tuesday.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley who addressed a press conference on Tuesday said, "Historically India has been in the rage of 130-140. In last two years, we made it to 131, 130 places. This year we have jumped 30 points to 100. This is the highest jump any country has made in World Bank's ease of doing business ranking."

The Doing Business Report 2018 on ease of doing business 2018 was made public at 7:30pm IST. Although, the copies of report were already sent to the countries, there was an embargo in effect on publishing it till 7:30 pm IST.

Commenting on the India's unprecedented performance in ease of doing business, Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated, "The Government has undertaken an extensive exercise of stakeholder consultations, identification of user needs, government process re-engineering to match government rules and procedures with user expectations and streamline them to create a more conducive business environment. The report acknowledges India as a top improver with the highest jump in rank of any country in Doing Business Report, 2018. India is the only country in South Asia and BRICS economies to feature among most improved economies of the Doing Business Report this year."

The World Bank's Ease of Doing Business index ranks the nation based on the 10 indicators. These indicators are: Starting a business, Dealing with construction permits, Getting electricity, Registering property, Getting credit, Protecting minority investors, Paying taxes, Trading across borders, Enforcing contracts and Resolving insolvency. Each one of these indicators carry equal weightage.

The survey conducted by World Bank covers economies of 190 countries, evaluating them on 10 specific parameters required for doing business. India has improved its standing in 6 out of these 10 indicators, the report shows.

India secured 29th spot in terms of getting electricity connection for a business, he added. Meanwhile, the Indian economy has improved its standing to 103 in terms of resolving insolvency. This is one of the most encouraging parameters for India as we were previously ranked 136 in resolving insolvency, but this year we have jumped 33 positions to finish at 103 number, Jaitley said.

"We are ranked 29th in providing credit. This is a significant position we have achieved. The biggest jump we have made is in taxation reforms. This year we have moved up 53 places to 119. In protecting minority shareholders, we are at number 4," Jaitley said.

Apart from these benchmarks in the Doing Business 2018 report, India has been ranked 164 in Enforcement of Contracts, 181 in Construction Permits, 156 in Starting a Business. Moreover, World Bank listed names of 10 countries which have taken structural reforms, and India is the only major economy to feature in this list. However, Brazil is the only BRICS nation below India in terms of ease of doing business.

With eight reforms making it easier to do business in 2016/17, India was the only economy in South Asia to join the list of the 10 top improvers. India made obtaining a building permit faster by implementing an online Single Window System for the approval of building plans; the new system allows for the submission and approval of building plans prior to requesting the building permit, the report said.

As per the Doing Business 2018, India also streamlined the business incorporation process by introducing the SPICe form (INC-32), which combined the application for the Permanent Account Number (PAN) and the Tax Account Number (TAN) into a single submission. Furthermore, following improvements to the online system in 2016, the time needed to complete the applications for Employee's Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) and the Employee's State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) decreased.

The report noted that the joint application for the Mumbai Value Added Tax (VAT) and the Profession Tax (PT) also was fully implemented in January 2017. India also strengthened access to credit by amending the rules on priority of secured creditors outside reorganization proceedings and adopting a new insolvency and bankruptcy code that introduced a reorganization procedure for corporate debtors. In trading across borders, India reduced border compliance time by improving infrastructure at the Nhava Sheva Port in Mumbai.

Export and import border compliance costs were also reduced in both Delhi and Mumbai after merchant overtime fees were abolished. Thanks to the increased use of electronic and mobile platforms, since July 2016 importers under the Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) program have been able to clear cargo faster through simplified customs procedures.

However, Goods and Services Tax, the biggest tax reform in the country, was not factored in by World Bank while conducting this survey. Since June 1 is the cut off date for ranking economies on the basis of 10 specified parameters, GST implementation was not factored in this year. Jailtey mentioned that GST will be factored in the ease of doing business ranking, which will further improve the ranking ahead.

In the World Bank's 'Doing Business' 2017 report, India's place remained unchanged from last year's original ranking of 130 among the 190 economies that were assessed on various parameters. The government however was not satisfied with the rankings as, it said, the World Bank did not capture the reforms undertaken by the Centre and states.

Soon after 'Doing Business 2017' report, Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked the officials to ramp up the efforts to introduce reforms and push for India's improved rankings. The Prime Minister is known for making business friendly environment and cutting down the bureaucratic interface by introducing online process.
Retail outlets are reportedly planning bumper year-end sales by December to clear their inventories before 2018 ends. Retailers might offer discounts up to 50 per cent on branded goods in light of restrictions on transitional credit under Goods and Services Tax, said a report by The Economic Times.

As per the GST regulations, traders will not be able to claim transitional credit under indirect tax regime for goods bought without corresponding invoices six months after rollout. Retailers are planning to clear stocks of such goods with them before December 31, as they will not be able to set off taxes paid against them on their GST liability.

The retail chains are planning to sell branded apparel, gadgets, kitchen appliances and toys in these clearance sales to get a relief from credit restrictions under GST regime, the report said quoting sources privy to the information, even affording 'wafer-thin margins'.

Meanwhile, several retailers are expecting the government to extend the deadline for claiming transitional credit under GST. Some retailers are planning to hold their stocks of goods without corresponding invoices till November to see whether government changes its stance or not.

Some retailers are even considering legal action if the expected deadline extension does not comes to pass. Two leading Indian retail chains are looking to move Delhi High Court over the issue, the report said, backed by legal opinion that credit restrictions under GST law are infringement of businessmen's fundamental rights.

Experts are hopeful that the government will rule in favour of traders, keeping in mind the dismal sales registered last quarter. Retailers who expected Diwali sales to sweep away the pre-GST stocks were disappointed with tepid sales during the festive season, and now want to be rid of them.

A decision on this front is expected to come in the next GST Council meet scheduled on November 10. Moreover, reports suggest that government officials are looking for daily use commodities and as well as products predominantly produced by small and medium enterprises placed in the higher tax slab. It is expected that the GST Council is all set to slash GST rates on such items in its next meet.
India is in favour of promoting e-commerce, rule making for domestic e-commerce, developing an ecosystem to support exports and protecting the consumers' interest. However, starting negotiations on WTO rules in e-commerce would be premature as the contours of this space are still in the dark, said Sudhanshu Pandey, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Commerce & Industry.

Speaking at an interactive session on 'E-Commerce, Digital Infrastructure, Trade Rules and WTO' organised by FICCI jointly with Centre for WTO Studies on 1 November, Pandey said that while several countries were enthusiastic to negotiate multilateral rules to govern international trade through e-commerce, such rules stand to hurt the interests of most developing countries, including India. "India needs to think whether it was prepared to take on the obligations that would bind its stakeholders to an international policy in a sector, which was still evolving". According to Pandey, India's priority at the moment should be to put in place domestic rules to govern e-commerce.

Abhijit Das, Head, Centre for WTO Studies, said that though there were many challenges in starting international negotiations, but data flows, server and data localization, transfer of technology and mandatory sharing of telecom infrastructure were the keys areas which India needed to look at. He added that India needed a harmonized approach at both the WTO and Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) negotiations while balancing its interests.

India may be very hesitant to be party to e-commerce related negotiations at the WTO level, but the country has been more receptive to such negotiations in at a regional level, particularly the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (Rcep) the proposed free trade agreement with the 10-ASEAN countries (Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam) and its six Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) partners, viz. Australia, New Zealand, Japan, China, Korea and India.
The debate over viability of India's first bullet train project on Mumbai-Ahmedabad route is back again. This time it started with an RTI reply from Indian Railways that revealed over 40 percent of seats on all the trains on this route go vacant. The RTI was filed by Mumbai-based activist Anil Galgali. The RTI reply showed that due to less number of passengers on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad section, Indian Railways-Western Division booked a loss of nearly Rs 30 crore in the last quarter.

Ironically, this is the same section - Mumbai-Ahmedabad - that has been chosen by the Central government for India's first bullet train run. However, the latest RTI revelation raises serious doubts over the viability of upcoming high-speed rail project on this route. Earlier in September, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe had laid the foundation stone for India's first bullet train project in Gujarat.

Anil Galgali in his RTI query had asked about the seats occupancy on all the trains between Mumbai and Ahmedabad. To which, the Western Railways has reportedly responded saying that in the last three months, 40 per cent seats went vacant on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad route and 44 per cent on the Ahmedabad-Mumbai section. Western Railways Chief Commercial Manager Manjeet Singh informed the news agency IANS that between July 1-September 30, there were 32 mail/express trains on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad sector with a total seating capacity of 735,630 seats. However, only 441,795 seats were booked during the period, generating a revenue of Rs 30,16,24,623 against the total estimated expected income of Rs 44,29,08,220. Railways incurred a huge loss of Rs 14,12,83,597 in the this quarter.

"On the Ahmedabad-Mumbai route served by a total of 31 mail/express trains with a seating capacity of 706,446, only 398,002 seats were booked, resulting in a revenue of Rs 26,74,56,982 against the estimated expected income of Rs 42,53,11,471, spelling a massive loss of Rs 15,78,54,489," news agency reported.

According to the report, Shatabdi Express with a capacity of 72,696 seats sold only 36,117 during the July-September period on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad route and in the return direction of the total 67,392 seats, only 22,982 were sold. This train has turned out to be a loss-maker and the revenue of Shatabdi has plummeted during the last quarter, the report said.

All these figure takes us back to one moot question: Is the government's Mumbai-Ahmedabad route for the first bullet train project financially viable? While the government is hopeful that it will transform the Mumbai-Ahmedabad industrial corridor and bring economic development in the region, numbers suggest otherwise. The cost of Ahmedabad-Mumbai High Speed Rail Project is estimated to be Rs 1,10,000 crore. According to a study conducted by IIM-A, Ahmedabad-Mumbai bullet train will need to make 100 trips daily and carry 88,000-118,000 passengers per day to be financially viable. This figure could well be way above the total number of passengers travelling between the two cities on any given day.

However, in the same report, IIM- Ahmedabad said that the Mumbai-Ahmedabad corridor was a good choice for the first route as it connects the country's first and seventh most populous cities with significant economic development in the 500 km corridor between them. The Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail or MAHSR will pass through Sabarmati, Anand, Vadodara, Bharuch, Surat, Bilimora, Vapi, Boisar, Virar and Thane.
Narendra Modi government has cracked the code to put India to the top 100 nations club in terms of business friendliness, as perceived by the World Bank. For the first time ever, India has jumped 30 positions to become the top 100th country in terms of ease of doing business ranking this year. This was announced by the World Bank Group's latest Doing Business 2018: Reforming to Create Jobs report in Delhi on 31, October 2017. The World Bank has attributed the change in India ranking to the sustained business reforms it has undertaken ever since Modi government took charge a little over three years ago.

Last year, India had moved just one point, from 131st position among 190 countries to 130th position, prompting Modi government to question the credibility of World Bank's ranking process. The government had discredited the World Bank's methodology by stating that it failed to consider the federal nature of India and varying levels of development in each state by attempting to rank India on the basis of the feedback it gets from two metros - Delhi and Mumbai. Considering the fact that the World Bank has not made any overt attempt to change its ranking parameters or methodology, the only possible reason for the change in fortunes for India is the proactive action of the government to take sufficient measures to influence the results, where it matters most.

Thus, India's ability to handle insolvency cases, has improved from 136th position last year, to 103 this year. The 33 point jump, which contributed most to help change India's fortunes when it comes to World Bank's Ease of doing business rankings this year was the long pending law the country enacted to fasten the process of winding up loss making companies. Since the law itself has contributed so much to the overall ranking, the practice of the law, which will start reflecting in the rankings in the coming years, should help the country aspire for a higher position.

Among the key parameters, barring insolvency, most of the other parameters showed marginal improvement, or decline. However, the World Bank recognized India's efforts by stating that the country is one of the top 10 improvers in this year's assessment, having implemented reforms in 8 out of 10 Doing Business indicators. India is also the only large country this year to have achieved such a significant shift. On the "distance to frontier metric," one of the key indicators in the survey, India's score went from 56.05 in Doing Business 2017 to 60.76 in Doing Business 2018. This means last year India improved its business regulations in absolute terms - indicating that the country is continuing its steady shift towards best practice in business regulation", a World Bank statement said.

"Having embarked on a strong reform agenda to improve the business environment, the significant jump this year is a result of the Indian government's consistent efforts over the past few years. It indicates India's endeavor to further strengthen its position as a preferred place to do business globally," said Annette Dixon, Vice President, South Asia region.



Marking its 15th anniversary, the report notes that India has adopted 37 reforms since 2003. Nearly half of these reforms have been implemented in the last four years. The report captures reforms implemented in 190 countries in the period June 2, 2016 to June 1, 2017.



This year, the eight indicators on which reforms were implemented in Delhi and Mumbai, the two cities covered by the report are: starting a business, dealing with construction permits, getting credit, protecting minority investors, paying taxes, trading across borders, enforcing contracts and resolving insolvency. Last year the Doing Business report recognized India for reforms in the areas of getting electricity, paying taxes, trading across borders and enforcing contracts.

The World Bank release stated that India continues to perform well in the areas of Protecting Minority Investors, Getting Credit, and Getting Electricity.

"The country's corporate law and securities regulations have been recognized as highly advanced, placing India in 4th place in the global ranking on Protecting Minority Investors. And the time to obtain an electricity connection in Delhi has dropped from 138 days four years ago to 45 days now, almost 20 days less than the 78 days average in OECD high-income economies". It said. India places in 29th place in the global ranking on the Getting Electricity indicator.

While there has been substantial progress, India still lags in areas such as Starting a Business, Enforcing Contracts, and Dealing with Construction Permits. In fact, the time taken to enforce a contract is longer today, at 1,445 days, than it was 15 years ago (1,420 days), placing the country in 164th place in the global ranking on the Enforcing Contracts indicator, it adds.

In Starting a Business, India has reduced the time needed to register a new business to 30 days now, from 127 days 15 years ago. However, the number of procedures is still cumbersome for local entrepreneurs who still need to go through 12 procedures to start a business in Mumbai, which is considerably more than in OECD high-income economies, where it takes five procedures on average.

"Tackling these challenging reforms will be key to India sustaining the momentum towards a higher ranking. To secure changes in the remaining areas will require not just new laws and online systems but deepening the ongoing investment in the capacity of states and their institutions to implement change and transform the framework of incentives and regulation facing the private sector. India's focus on 'doing business' at the state level may well be the platform that sustains the country's reform trajectory for the future" said Junaid Ahmad, Country Director India.


The National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) got a shot in the arm with the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) committing an investment of $1 billion. ADIA is the first institutional investor in NIIFs Master Fund and a shareholder in National Investment and Infrastructure Limited, the NIIF s investment management company.

This is seen as part of the $75 billion investment programme announced by the UAE in August 2015 during a visit by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Abu Dhabi. While that is in place, what India needs now is to identify infrastructure projects that have all clearances but only need financial closure. This could well be the catalyst to drive infrastructure investment in the country.

Anup Jayaram
As Cuba opens up to the world, especially US, India also sees business opportunities. India's trade with Cuba is a mere $38.89 million, and covers primarily export of pharmaceutical products, organic chemicals, and rubber articles. This is much lower than the $300 million trade that existed when the erstwhile Soviet Union provided freight and re-insurance options between India and Cuba.

The ban on clubbing trade to Cuba and other parts of North America resulted in a drastic drop in exports to Cuba. Commerce Minister Suresh Prabhu, however, has set the ball rolling for trade in automobiles, low-cost pharmaceuticals, large engineering projects, textiles, and ITeS. Besides acting as the partner country in the Havana Trade Fair in early November, New Delhi may also rope in Havana for discussions on the Indo-Caricom (Caribbean Community) Fair Trade Agreement.

Anilesh S. Mahajan
The government is providing a shot in the arm to the wind energy industry, which is battling dipping prices and low demand. The Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI), a PSU that promotes renewable energy, will be coming up with three more rounds of bids for wind energy farms, each offering 1,500 MW.

Domestic equipment manufacturing firms, smarting from layoffs, are likely to benefit from the additional 4,500 MW. Unlike solar, in wind, much of the manufacturing is done within the country. Therefore, wind power companies will be in a position to match the falling prices.

The problem began when a February bid invite by SECI brought about a price war. By October, the tariff fell to `2.64 per unit and manufacturers feared extinction. This move by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy may improve the industry's prospects.

Anilesh S. Mahajan
Warning: May contain traces of soy, wheat, lecithin and tree nuts. That you are here

strongly suggests that you are either omnivorous, or a glutton.

And that you might like cheese-doodles.

Please form a caseophilic line to the right. Thank you.
The Dredging Corporation stock on Wednesday hit the upper circuit of 20 per cent after the government today approved the sale of its entire 73.47 per cent stake in the firm which could fetch about Rs 1,400 crore to the exchequer.

The stock closed 20 percent or 111.65 points higher at 669 level on the BSE.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi led Cabinet approved the DCI disinvestment, official sources said after the Cabinet meeting.

The company is under the administrative control of the shipping ministry. It is involved in maintenance dredging, capital dredging, beach nourishment, land reclamation, shallow water dredging, project management consultancy and marine construction.

A core group of secretaries on disinvestment, headed by the Cabinet Secretary, had already approved the sale of DCI.

The government think tank Niti Aayog too had favoured disinvestment. The government currently holds 73.47 per cent stake in DCI.
After a long fight to perch at the top as India's largest thermal power producer, now, a new war is brewing between Tata Power and Adani Power, to become India's largest green energy producer in terms of capacity.

With the commissioning of a 30 MW solar power plant on a 140 acre area in Palaswade, Maharashtra on Tuesday, Tata Power has now taken its solar power portfolio to 957 MW. In June, Adani Power had commissioned a 50 MW solar PV project in Mahoba, Uttar Pradesh, to take its solar capacity to 838 MW.

Tata Power's subsidiary Tata Power Renewable Energy (TPREL) now has a green energy operating capacity of 1487 MW, comprising of 530 MW wind and 957 MW solar capacity, mainly created with the last year acquisition of Welspun's 1140 MW for Rs 10,000 crore. Apart from this, TPREL is implementing nearly 373 MW of renewable assets and is planning to carve out Tata Power's 380 MW clean energy assets from its books into TPREL. With this, TPREL's portfolio grows to about 2200 MW, making it a leading renewable energy company in India.

According to a recent Tata Power Company presentation, non-fossil based capacities will be 30-40 per cent of the total portfolio in future. About 326 MW of projects in pipeline are to be commissioned in FY18, taking the renewable portfolio to reach 2500 MW, out of 3500 Mw of non-fossil fuel capacity. Tata Power has an installed gross generation capacity of 10643 MW, of which 7463 MW is from thermal power and the rest are a mix of hydro, wind, solar and waste heat.

On the other hand, Adani Power, which is now the largest private thermal power producer in India with an installed capacity of 10,480 MW overtaking Tata Power, is betting big on solar to beef up its green energy portfolio. The company was having a 100 MW solar power Plant in Bhatinda and a 40 MW solar plant at Bitta, Gujarat. Adani Power significantly increased the capacity last year with another 648 MW solar power plant at Ramanathapuram district in Tamil Nadu, which is claimed to be the world's largest solar power plant at a single location.

According to an Adani Power press release, by the end of this year Adani Group will be having above 2000 MW of solar installed capacity, making the company the largest player in India's renewable energy sector. Adani Power, which is targeting to create 20,000 Mw of power genertion capacity by 2020, has announced to add about 10,000 Mw of solar by 2022. It is executing a joint venture integrated solar park with the Rajasthan Government at Bhatida in Rajastan, which will be the largest such facility in India.
Japans largest mobile firm NTT DoCoMo today said it has received over USD 1.2 billion (144.9 billion yen) from Tata Sons, bringing the curtains down on a prolonged bitter dispute over their telecom joint venture. The development comes close on the heels of Tata Group announcing the sale of its consumer mobile business to Bharti Airtel.

In a statement on its website, NTT DoCoMo said that concurrent with the receipt of the amount, all shares in Tata Teleservices held by it have been transferred to Tata Sons and companies designated by Tata Sons. The payment by Tata Sons comes in less than a year after N Chandrasekaran took over as chairman of the salt-to-software conglomerate.

The Tata-Docomo fight was one of the major issues between Ratan Tata and ousted Tata Sons Chairman Cyrus Mistry, and the latters handling of the dispute was said to one of the triggers for his ouster from the promoter holding company of major Tata firms.

Chandrasekaran, is widely perceived to have speeded up the resolution of the dispute between the Tatas and DoCoMo, after he took charge in February.

The statement by NTT DoCoMo today said it "has received from Tata Sons payment of the award amount in accordance with the High Court of Delhis decision regarding DOCOMOs stake in Tata Teleservices Limited".

The amount of 144.9 billion yen received by DoCoMo pertains to the arbitration award and includes interest earned and other costs awarded, it added.

In February this year, Tata Sons had said it had reached an agreement with the NTT DoCoMo "on a joint approach to enable enforcement" of a compensation award granted by the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA) in 2016, in favour of the Japanese company.

However, Reserve Bank of India had objected to the transfer which was later rejected by the Delhi High Court in April, thus clearing the decks for the Tatas to pay the amount to the Japanese company.

DoCoMo had, in November 2009, acquired 26.5 per cent stake in Tata Teleservices for about Rs 12,740 crore (at Rs 117 per share). This was as per a prior understanding that in case it exits the venture within five years, it will be paid a minimum 50 per cent of the acquisition price.

DoCoMo in April 2014 decided to exit the joint venture that struggled to grow subscribers quickly, and sought Rs 58 per share or Rs 7,200 crore from Tatas.

But the Indian Group offered Rs 23.34 a share in line with the RBI guidelines which stated that an international firm can only exit its investment at a valuation "not exceeding that arrived at on the basis of return on equity".

Tatas, who had been struggling to find a solution to the troubled telecom business, announced last month that Tata Teleservices will merge with Bharti Airtel as part of its plans to exit the mobile telephony business.

The Tata-Airtel telcom deal is on a no-debt, no-cash basis, implying that Airtel is not taking over any of the about Rs 40,000 crore debt with Tata Teleservices and is neither paying any cash. According to industry observers, the payment to DoCoMo is likely to facilitate closure of the consumer mobile business deal.
HMD Global made its first India-exclusive launch with the Nokia 2. While the USP of the launch event in New Delhi was a hands-on session on a moving metro train, the phone boasts several interesting features of its own. From a 2-day battery to Android Nougat, and a 5-inch HD screen thrown in for good measure, the budget smartphone comes loaded in every department.

With the Nokia 2, HMD Global is planning to tap into the ultra-cheap smartphone segment and increase its market share in the country. Currently, the company's market share is on a steep climb in the feature phone industry with around 8 per cent hold in the market. The company is on the fourth position in the feature phone market.

"Nokia has always been a people's brand, and with the new avatar of Nokia mobiles we are looking to continue to be a people's brand and to bring our full range of portfolio of smart as well as feature phones to the consumers out there. We will continue to be a company and a brand that delivers a device for everyone," said Pranav Shroff, Director (Product and Portfolio), Nokia.

The arrival of Nokia 2 will give the brand a much needed boost in the smartphone segment. Nokia 3, Nokia 5 and Nokia 6, all based on Android operating system, were launched earlier this year and later the company launched their flagship Nokia 8.

According to Qualcomm India head Larry Paulson, Nokia's comeback is a very positive story. He said, "We all know the history of Nokia and how strong it was in India. Yes, 2017 is a different world but it's a big market and there is a lot of room for many brands to be successful. If Nokia executes, they have a solid chance of being a winner in the market."

Commenting on the company's strategy, Paulson commented, "Qualcomm believes in segmentation. We use partitioning in our technology to match up to the price, performance in the market and really believe in the importance of grabbing that consumer."

He added that the 200 series chipsets will enable them to expand their reach by grabbing the right customer."We remove a certain amount of cost but we still provide a solid modem and a really solid feature-set to enable devices in that 75-150USD range," he said.

Here below are the specifications of the Nokia 2:



Processor- Nokia 2 is powered by Snapdragon 212, along with a Adreno 304 GPU. Although details about the RAM on Nokia 2 were not divulged during the launch event, it is expected to come with with 1GB RAM and 8 GB internal storage.

Battery- The Nokia 2 draws power from a 4100 mAh battery. HMD Global has promised 2 days worth of battery life with the Nokia 2, given that the phone is used for 5 hours a days. The modest Snapdragon 212 SoC on the phone is likely to aid the battery life.

Display- One of the biggest selling points of the device is the 5-inch HD screen which comes with a contrast ratio of 13000:1. Moreover, the display comes protected with Corning Gorilla Glass 3.

Camera- Nokia 2 houses an 8-megapixel primary camera and a 5-megapixel front facing camera.

Software- In terms of software, the device will come with Android Nougat 7.1.1 which is a first for a phone in this segment. Nokia has kept the interface pretty close to stock version which will keep it easy on the processor. Moreover, Nokia is promising to keep the Nokia 2 'pure secure and up to date', making it future-proof. This means that the Nokia 2 will receive the update for Android Oreo in due time.

Features- Apart from the stock Android, the Nokia 2 will also feature Google Assistant, with the option to get search results in Hindi. The voice assistant has featured for the first time in the budget phone segment. The smartphone will come with LTE 4G support.

Design- The body of Nokia 2 has been milled from 6000 series aluminium. The phone has a polycarbonate back. The phone will be available in Black, White and Copper colour options.

Price- The Nokia 2 has been priced at 99 euros for global markets, which is a little over Rs 7,000. It will be available in markets from mid-November. Although the price for Indian markets has not been disclosed yet, the Nokia 2 might be priced in the vicinity of Rs 6,000 to Rs 6,500.
How does Nokia plan to take on a market that is already flooded with cheaper options? Well, they have the Nokia brand and the trust that comes with it. However, the first few years of the company in the android ecosystem are still very crucial as they not only have to prove themselves as a viable option but also appeal to the coming generations that skipped Nokia's legendary run in the global phone market.

Nokia 2 might have what it takes for the company to regain its market share in India. Since the re-launch of the Finnish brand, India has been one of the top three countries in terms of sales.

Nokia 2 is the cheapest Android device offered by Nokia and will start selling as early as mid-November. During the launch event in Delhi, the company claimed that this device will take care of the basic needs of a smartphone user. HMD Global claimed that this will be a device that caters to the 30 per cent of the market demands that looks for device under the 150 USD mark.

Coming to the first impressions of the device, Nokia 2 design is reminiscent of the popular Lumia line-up with almost similar fit and finish. Despite that, the company has managed to keep the design modern by giving the edge a metal finish. The back of the device is made of polycarbonate and the company has used 6000 series aluminum for the frame.

All three colours of the phone come with a matte finish which not only takes care of the fingerprints, but also gives the device a good grip altogether. The 5-inch screen on the Nokia 2, looked surprisingly refreshing. Despite being on a tight budget, HMD has managed to equip the device with an HD screen. The touch on the device is as responsive as any mid-range device in the market.

Coming to the camera, the Nokia 2 features an 8Megapixel primary camera and a 5Megapixel front facing camera. Our initial impressions show that the device is capable of handling exposure rather well. However, the 8Megapixel camera might not be as sharp as most smartphone cameras in the segment. The front camera of the device managed to capture fairly decent images but lacked detail.

In terms of performance, the device managed to close and open apps with relative ease. The Snapdragon 212, despite being a entry-level chipset managed to keep the phone responsive. However, application boot-times were slightly longer than expected.

The biggest USP of the Nokia device is its battery. The phone houses a massive 4100mAh battery, without adding too much heft or weight. According to HMD Global, the device is capable of delivering two days of back-up.

HMD Global priced the device at 99 euros, but did not reveal the Indian price yet. A raw conversion takes the price up to Rs 7,400 (approx). Indian price might receive a small cut when the device hits the shelves. So far, Chinese brands have had an unequalled run at the budget segment in the country. However, Nokia's brand value can pose a perceptible threat to these brands.
A lot of us, including our colleagues and friends are in the habit of taking frequent smoking breaks during office hours. After all where else do you complain about the project you have been wanting to wrap up for the past one week? Non-smoking employees of one Japanese firm are not amused with this habit of their colleagues. In order to resolve this matter, the firm, Piala Inc, is giving six extra paid leaves to employees who do not smoke.



Non-smoking employees of the firm complained to the authorities that they were working longer hours than their smoker colleagues. According to reports, the initial complaints were filed after the disgruntled employees noticed that their colleagues would go missing for 15 minutes every time they went on a smoke break as their office is on the 29th floor.



The company spokesperson said that one of their non-smoking employees put a message in the company suggestion box earlier this year stating that the smoking breaks were causing some problems. The CEO also said that they wish to make their employees quit smoking by offering incentives and not through coercion.

The move has proven to be very popular amongst the employees. Thirty out of their 120 employees have already availed these leaves since it was introduced in September.

In Japan, 18 per cent of the citizens are believed to smoke and the country appears at the bottom of a list by WHO on anti-smoking regulations. According to reports, every smoker costs companies in Britain more than Rs 1.5 lakh each, while another report mentions that on an average smoking breaks alone cost companies around Rs 2 lakh each per employee in America.

In fact, according to a 2015 report, 11.2 per cent of the world's smokers are in India. Nevertheless, India, along with Pakistan and Panama stand out for the anti-smoking regulations and the significant decline in daily smoking since 2005.
LOGAN  The American Mothers of Cache Valley is hosting its 28th annual Family Conference on Thursday November 2 at 7 p.m. in the Historic Logan Tabernacle. Chairwoman Diane Wees said the program is free and for the first time ever, men are invited to join.

Wees said she is very excited to announce that Matt Townsend will be the featured speaker.

Hes great on parenting and relationships and all the things that are important, Wees said. He is featured on a radio show. He is so inspiring.

The evening will also feature the Cache Community Band and the Benson Sisters along with a kindergartner. Although there is no charge Wees said the American Mothers strongly support the local refugee program and the Head Start program. She encourages those attending to donate socks for those organizations.
An Albany woman admitted to operating a fake law firm that had more than 400 clients across New York, including Cayuga County.

Antonia Barrone operated the NYS Prisoner Assistance Center and advertised herself as an attorney assisting prison inmates and their families with parole appeals and other legal business. But she is not a licensed attorney and her company did not have any lawyers on staff, according to state Attorney General Eric Schneiderman.

The attorney general's Consumer Frauds and Protection Bureau filed a lawsuit in May accusing Barrone of defrauding clients by claiming she was an attorney. In August, a judge ordered Barrone and the NYS Prisoner Assistance Center to pay a $244,500 penalty and restitution of $23,427.70 to more than 400 consumers who paid her to handle legal matters. She was also banned from practicing law and advertising legal services.

The lawsuit wasn't the end of Barrone's legal woes. The attorney general's Criminal Enforcement and Financial Crimes Bureau launched a criminal investigation into Barrone's conduct from Sept. 1, 2012 to April 30, 2017. Barrone was accused of filing legal documents with forged signatures and fake notary stamps. She also wrote letters for her clients using the letterhead of a fake law firm, "Stacchini & Barrone, Attorneys at Law."

The fake law firm included the name of a licensed attorney who wasn't aware of Barrone's activities. She also used several aliases to carry out her scheme.

"Practicing law without a license undermines our judicial system and puts vulnerable consumers in need of legal services at risk," Schneiderman said. "My office is committed to protecting the legal rights of New Yorkers and will continue to work with our partners in law enforcement to ensure that those who attempt to impair that right are held accountable."

Barrone's reach extended across the state. She had clients in Albany, Cayuga, Clinton, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schoharie, Suffolk, Ulster, Warren and Westchester counties.

Schneiderman credited the state Board of Parole counsel's office, which discovered Barrone's scheme targeting inmates and their families.

Barrone pleaded guilty to first-degree scheme to defraud, a class E felony. She will serve 1 1/2 to 3 years in prison. Her prison term will run consecutively to a separate sentence of 1 1/3 to 4 years in prison she received last year. She was convicted on charges stemming from a high-speed chase in 2016.
| BY Ricki Green |

CopyCon, Australias only dedicated copywriting conference, has announced its return to Sydney on May 5th, 2018.

The conference helps in-house and freelance copywriters create better business outcomes, learn new copywriting skills, and grow revenue through a focus on practical presentations and digging into industry trends and challenges.

Says Kate Toon, founder of CopyCon and The Clever Copywriting School: Its a great time to be a copywriter, but that doesnt mean were not facing challenge the rise of low-pay freelancing sites, artificial intelligence (AI) threatening creative roles, and pleasing the ever-changing SEO Google Gods.

CopyCon gives writers the tools, the network and the support to compete and thrive.

CopyCon covers hot issues such as:

Learning how to cope with the stresses of difficult clients

Building writing confidence across sales copy, press releases and more

Deciding whether to become a generalist or niche copywriter

The secrets to writing compelling copy that converts

Handling client objections through solving their problems, providing real value and packages that appeal, communicating your message The conference features international guests and some of Australias most successful copywriters, with confirmed speakers including:

Joanna Weibe, Copyhackers

Kate Toon, The Clever Copywriting School

Glenn Murray, Divine Write

Kelly Exeter, Swish Design

Robert Gerrish, Flying Solo

Cherie Clonan, The Digital Picnic

+Many more  please see full agenda for speaker line up and sessions

In its second year, the conference program is expanding with exclusive half-day MasterMind workshops on 6th May. In these intimate sessions (only 24 spots available), experts will talk through their personal approach and systems for pitching, process, profile and profit.

Says Toon: With great opportunities to meet other copywriters, share highs and woes, and dig into whats happening in our industry, CopyCon is a must-attend event on the content marketing calendar.
| BY Ricki Green |

Carlton & United Breweries (CUB) has today launched a new brand campaign for Corona, asking Whats on your Bucket List?, encouraging Australians to take some time out during summer, indulge in their wildest bucket list dreams and share on social media using #CoronaBucketList.

The campaign, created and executed in partnership with Monster Children Creative, MKTG, MediaCom and TLA, will be activated across multiple channels including out of home, digital and in-store. The campaign launches with a new 30 content piece released via Corona social channels.

Entitled #CoronaBucketList, the integrated summer campaign will be a fresh expression of Coronas From Where Youd Rather Be creative platform and aims to encourage Australians to share their bucket list dreams. And for a lucky few, Corona might just make their dreams a reality.

CUBs brand director of premium and craft, Brian Phan, said the iconic brand is synonymous with summer and the new campaign provides a compelling proposition for consumers to become a part of the Corona narrative.

Says Phan: Todays society is more hectic than its ever been so we created this campaign to remind Australians to take a break from routine and escape for a while. Our dream this summer is to inspire a nation of connected bucket list conversations filled with good friends, sunsets and buckets of icy cold Coronas.

We should all take the time to reflect  whats on your bucket list?
| BY Ricki Green |

DrinkWise and Clemenger BBDO Melbourne have launched Ghost with Uber, a new campaign in partnership with Uber which aims to help people avoid the peer pressure to keep drinking when all they want to do is call it a night.

In the past, many admirable ghosting attempts  the fine art of sneaking out of pub, club or party unnoticed  were ruined by a lack of available transport on exit. The new ghosting mode on the Uber app, running on Friday and Saturday nights for the next six weeks, allows ghosters to send a custom message to friends letting them know theyve slid right by them to a safe ride home.

Ghost with Uber is based on the insight that people often feel compelled, against their better judgement, to keep drinking and this practical approach from DrinkWise helps discourage bingeing, allowing people to get home safely from a night out.

Says Simon Strahan, marketing director at DrinkWise: You should always look out for your friends, but if theyre urging you to keep drinking when youve had enough, its time to ghost. Our partnership with Uber is about reducing the pressure to drink to excess and providing a safe exit.

Ghosting, smoke-bombing and phantoming are all part of modern vernacular  a lot of people are self-claimed experts at it. The advantage of Ghost with Uber is that it allows you to message friends after leaving, complete with Uber map view of you being driven away  the ultimate ghost.

Says Henry Greenacre, head of cities at Uber Australia and New Zealand: After working together on impactful campaigns in 2016, Uber is proud to once again partner with DrinkWise to help Australians make smarter decisions when drinking. We know peer pressure has a real influence on drinking behaviour, and the Ghost with Uber campaign aims to highlight this and some easy ways to avoid it.

Says Nick Garrett, CEO, Clemenger BBDO Melbourne: Its fantastic to be able to partner with both DrinkWise and Uber in a bid to break down social barriers and influence behavioural change through a fun and engaging campaign that carries an important message.

The campaign will launch with out of home, social and digital activity, street posters, PR and influencer activity and via radio duo, Hamish and Andy on their Fox FM drive show, in addition to the Uber app on Friday 3 November, for six weeks.

You can find more information about the Ghost with Uber campaign at

Client: DrinkWise

Marketing Director  Simon Strahan

Creative: Clemenger BBDO Melbourne

Production company: Flare and Little Projector Company

Illustrations: Jacky Winter Group

Media: Mediacom
A majority of New York voters oppose holding a constitutional convention, according to a new Siena College poll.

The survey of 814 likely voters found 57 percent will vote "no" on the question of whether there should be a constitutional convention. One-quarter of respondents said they will vote "yes" and 18 percent said they didn't know or had no opinion.

There is strong opposition to the constitutional convention among members of both parties and other demographic groups. More than two-thirds of union household members said they would vote no. Labor groups, especially public employee unions, have been leading the campaign against the convention.

Most voters agree that holding a constitutional convention will be "an expensive waste of time," according to the poll. Sixty percent of voters believe it would be, while 29 percent believe it's a great opportunity to improve the constitution.

"Upstaters, downstaters and voters from all parties also strongly agree that (a constitutional convention) is more likely to be an expensive waste of time where nothing good will get done than it is to be a once-in-a-generation opportunity to improve the lives and safeguard the rights of New Yorkers," Siena pollster Steve Greenberg said.

While voters don't want a constitutional convention, there are issues they support that could be discussed at the gathering. There is strong support (84 to 13 percent) for imposing term limits on members of the state Legislature. Nearly the same number of voters (79 to 19 percent) endorse term limits for the governor and other statewide elected officials.

More than three-quarters of voters support eliminating the LLC loophole, a provision in state law that allows limited liability corporations to donate large sums to political candidates and committees.

By a 74 to 17 percent margin, voters support allowing proposed laws to be considered through a ballot initiative process. And 65 percent of voters support establishing a full-time state Legislature and banning outside income for lawmakers.

Voters oppose legalizing the recreational use of marijuana, revising policies protecting the Adirondacks and limiting the collective bargaining rights of public employees.

The state constitution mandates that voters are asked every 20 years whether a convention should be held. The question was last asked in 1997 and voters opted not to allow a convention to proceed.

If New Yorkers vote "yes," delegates would be elected in 2018. Each of New York's 63 state Senate districts would elect three delegates. There would also be 15 at-large delegates.

The convention would be held at the Capitol in 2019.

Supporters of the convention include many good government groups and some elected officials, including Assembly Minority Leader Brian Kolb and Ithaca Mayor Svante Myrick.

The coalition that opposes a constitutional convention includes several labor groups, the Conservative Party, Working Families Party and organizations representing both sides of the abortion debate.

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 7.
| BY Ricki Green |

IAB Australia today announces that it has been working with major Australian publishers, agencies and tech vendors to implement ads.txt, a global IAB initiative designed to eliminate counterfeit inventory in the programmatic advertising ecosystem. It also urges the entire Australian digital advertising industry to adopt ads.txt in order to increase trust and transparency in programmatic advertising.

Ads.txt (which stands for Authorised Digital Sellers) is a simple, flexible and secure method developed by IAB Tech Labs in New York that publishers and authorised partners can use to publicly declare the companies they have sanctioned to sell their digital inventory. Once adopted at scale, buyers can use ads.txt files to shift media spend to authorised supply paths.

Says Vijay Solanki, CEO, IAB Australia: Weve been encouraged by the response so far to ads.txt but we need the entire digital ecosystem to get on board in order to drive wholesale changes and to ensure the full potential of ads.txt is realised. Im calling upon all Australian publishers to adopt ads.txt to help stamp out ad fraud and give buyers the confidence that the inventory they are buying is legitimate. We need to act collaboratively in order to continue to drive progress in our industry and help provide a safe programmatic environment for Australian brands.

Jonas Jaanimagi, IAB Australia executive consultant and recognised ad tech expert has been working with publishers, agencies and programmatic exchanges to support the implementation of ads.txt. To date, over two hundred Australian publishers have adopted and are supporting the technology, including The Guardian Australia, News Corp Australia, Fairfax Media and Mamamia. IAB Australia would like to see this figure increase to over 1,000 to achieve critical mass.

Tony Bell, national sales director at The Guardian Australia, noted that The Guardian has adopted the ads.txt protocol globally: We support all moves to clean up the digital ecosystem and improve transparency of the programmatic supply chain. Ads.txt verified vendors provide buyers with a guarantee that inventory is genuine, and will help eliminate fraud practices in the industry.

Publishers simply post the /ads.txt file on their root domain and any subdomains as needed. This enables programmatic buyers to crawl the web for publisher ads.txt files in order to create a list of authorised sellers for each participating publisher.

Says Jaanimagi: Mass adoption of ads.txt will benefit the entire digital advertising eco system. Sellers will be protected from spoofing and buyers can buy programmatically with greater confidence from domains with this simple solution in place. The wide-scale adoption of ads.txt will give major brands peace of mind that their marketing messages will only appear on verified domains, significantly improving brand safety and eliminating any risk of ad fraud.

Sarah Melrose, programmatic director at Ikon Communications believes it is a win-win situation for the industry: As a buyer, decreasing fraud is a number one priority. Ads.txt automatically gives me increased security in programmatic that hasnt been possible before. Its a win-win for us all. It allows buyers to ensure that we buy the correct inventory and also ensures the revenue intended for publishers actually reaches them, not fraudsters. In the next 3 months our focus will be on buying inventory from publishers that have ads.txt in place to safeguard our clients against fraud.

IAB Australia urges Australian publishers to adopt ads.txt and is committed to supporting the simple process. Ads.txt is a key global priority for the IAB and its development will be discussed at this weeks IAB Global Summit in New York. IAB Australia will also be working with IAB Tech Labs in New York to roll-out a workable update for non-web environments (e.g., mobile apps).

Tim Whitfield, director, technical operations at GroupM is an advocate of ads.txt: GroupM is an advocate of any technology enhancement that improves transparency in the marketplaceAds.txt is one of the key initiatives that help push the industry forward towards a safer environment for all players. The good work that governing bodies, like the IAB, do is key to continuously disrupting, evolving and advancing. We are fully supportive of ads.txt.
Anthony Caristo, who was in his mid-50s, died during a critical incident on Tuesday in his Waramanga home. Police said they found him self-harming and used a stun gun to prevent him causing further injury. After using the Taser he was unresponsive.
An IGE market update released on Tuesday confirmed the company had settled on the sale of the site, with the $2.9 million it had allocated to the purchase to be reallocated to "an alternative site that better meets IGES requirements in relation to its global expansion plans".
The government has been under pressure to update the old policy, particularly in light of the SLA's acquisition of a $4.6 million rural block in Belconnen under the old LDA rules, a month after that agency was officially disbanded.
The danger lies in opportunist political figures like Pauline Hanson linking the ills of overpopulation (congestion, hospital waiting times, housing prices, stalled wages growth and the like) to Muslim immigration. The more that people who profit from high population growth and do not suffer the consequences (business, lobbyists and the politicians they fund) blithely ignore the infrastructure and other stresses it causes, the more chances there will be for opportunists.
"Management need to recognise that the key issue for staff in this dispute is holding onto their existing workplace rights and job security, and that there won't be a resolution until these harsh and unreasonable cuts are taken off the table."
Author Joan Foley Baier has lived in Rochester for decades, but she said her hometown, Auburn, has always occupied special place in her heart.

Baier's latest book, "Prison Break," uses the riot at Auburn Correctional Facility in July 1929 as a backdrop for her fictional characters' story. The young adult novel was released Friday, following the April release of Baier's previous book, "The Heartbeat of the Mountain." A celebration of the release of the books will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 11, at Hoopla Frozen Yogurt in Auburn Plaza on Grant Avenue. The event will include free yogurt samples, prize drawings and slideshows of Baier's research experiences.

The author has penned other books and several short stories. She said Thursday that she was thrilled about "Prison Break's" release.

"I'm more than excited. I bounce when I walk," Baier said.

The story is set in early 20th century Auburn. The two main characters, teenagers named Lizzie Fowler and Dan Moriarty, are separately assaulted during the riot that took place at the Auburn prison. Fowler, the prison warden's daughter, is attacked by inmates at her family's home within the prison. Moriarty, Fowler's boyfriend, has his car taken over by three inmates and is forced to help them flee. The book largely spotlights the couple's survival and trauma stemming from the incident.

Baier remains fond of Auburn, as she still has loved ones in the area and visits when she can. She grew up in an Irish Catholic community and attended the now-defunct Holy Family School from the fourth through 12th grades. She said she was around the same children for years and compared the student body to a family.

One of Baier's childhood friends with whom she's still close with is Dorothy (Short) Noble, who was interested in writing. Baier credits Noble as one of her primary influences in becoming an author.

Baier said she moved to Rochester at 19 to study at the Rochester Business Institute. During that time she met her former husband, John "Jack" Baier, who passed away in 2006. Even while raising children, the writing bug still had a hold on Baier. She recalled sitting at her typewriter after putting her youngsters down for naps. When her four children were young, Baier began seriously pursuing writing. The youngsters supplied her with ideas for short stories published by children's magazines.

The author said small towns are a recurring feature in her books, as she appreciates their "ambiance of closeness." People in smaller areas are more closely associated than in bigger cities, she argued. Baier added that she knows many of the residents of East Rochester, where she lives, whereas she can spend a day in the greater Rochester area and not recognize a single soul.

"I think the small-town background is the perfect venue for stories," Baier said.

Her family has also held sway over her work, as two of her books  "Luvellas Promise" and its sequel, "The Heartbeat of the Mountain"  are set in Muncy Valley, Pennsylvania, the area where her mother, Margaret "Billie" Foley, was born. "Luvella" was her mother's middle name.

Baier said she continues to uncover ideas for stories after decades of writing. For example, she can drive by a farm silo with her friends and ponder how "cool" it would be as a murder site.

"I have a dangerous head. Be careful," Baier said.
After multiple protests about nurse staffing ratios, Auburn Community Hospital and 1199SEIU, United Healthcare Workers East union have reached a three-year labor contract.

The agreement, ratified by a vote on Oct. 31, addresses wage increases and benefits as well as staffing ratios at the 99-bed hospital, according to a release from ACH. The current contract with nurses expired in July.

"After weeks of negotiations and a productive labor management relationship, 1199SEIU nurses at Auburn Community Hospital are pleased to have settled our contract," said Nancy Benton, a registered nurse and the union's chair, in a release. "Important improvements to our staffing ratios will allow all of us to reach our common goal of providing quality care and ensuring a great patient experience at our hospital."

The hospital nor the union provided specific details on how the staffing ratios have changed or of the contract, which covers 180 employees out of the hospital's approximately 1,080.

In a statement to The Citizen on Wednesday, Spurgeon said the hospital's management has recognized the need to recruit and retain quality nurses.

"In light of that, a joint committee of managers and staff will gather routinely in an effort to ensure we are meeting the needs of OUR community," Spurgeon wrote. "We look forward to continuing this collaborative relationship to provide a quality hospital for our community."

ACH President and CEO Scott Berlucchi echoed Spurgeon's sentiments in a release.

"Auburn Community Hospital prides itself on its history of union collaboration," he said. "We also recognize that the process of reaching an agreement during a contract negotiation is not always an easy one. The one thing that has remained consistent throughout this process is our profound respect for the nurses because of their unwavering dedication and commitment to our patients and our community."
Our Promise: Welcome to Care2, the world's largest community for good. Here, you'll find over 45 million like-minded people working towards progress, kindness, and lasting impact.

Care2 Stands Against: bigots, racists, bullies, science deniers, misogynists, gun lobbyists, xenophobes, the willfully ignorant, animal abusers, frackers, and other mean people. If you find yourself aligning with any of those folks, you can move along, nothing to see here.

Care2 Stands With: humanitarians, animal lovers, feminists, rabble-rousers, nature-buffs, creatives, the naturally curious, and people who really love to do the right thing.

You are our people. You Care. We Care2.
OWASCO  Pumpkins made to look like The Lorax, Junie B. Jones, Captain Underpants and other childhood literature favorites were clustered around the library of Owasco Elementary School Tuesday.

The winners of a pumpkin decorating contest, in which each student who entered made their pumpkin look like a character or characters from their favorite book, were announced. A winner from each grade, plus four honorable mentions, were acknowledged on Halloween morning.

A total of 86 pumpkins or pumpkin gourds sat in the library. Students had to work on their entries at home and could receive help from family.

Because of Halloween, students could wear their costumes. Logan Polocvich donned the costume and shield of Captain America and honorable mention winner Luke Siracusa, dressed as a phantom, came to the library in their garb. The pumpkin-filled room was a stop in the school's Halloween parade later that day.

Some entries featured more than just paint. For example, Polocvich's entry depicting "Sesame Street" character Oscar the Grouch  specifically from the book "Oscar's Silly ABCs"  featured items such as his trashcan and lid. An entry of Clifford the Big Red Dog included a doghouse.

Librarian Victoria Calarco said students could pick characters from books based on pre-existing materials, such as a book from the "Pokemon" franchise, so a pumpkin showed the flagship character, Pikachu. Calarco said the contest was meant to help the children connect to reading. She said she was thoroughly impressed by the students' work.

"It's remarkable to see how much time you could tell they put into it," Calarco said.

Mia Holmes, one of the honorable mention winners, worked with her mom, Lisa Holmes, on a pumpkin depicting the Old Lady character from the book "There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed Some Leaves!" The duo handled different duties, such as Mia supplying the leaves and Lisa using hot glue to stick "hair" to the entry's top.

Calarco  who co-created the contest  said she plans to hold it for as long as she has her position.

"If it brings a book and a family together, then why not?" Calarco said.
WASHINGTON (AP)  President Donald Trump is blaming one Democrat for an immigration program that was backed by both parties and signed by a Republican president in 1990. The "Chuck Schumer beauty," as Trump called the program, was also George H.W. Bush's beauty.

A look at Trump's tweets Wednesday as he cast political blame on Schumer specifically and Democrats generally in the aftermath of the deadly truck attack in New York City, allegedly by a citizen of Uzbekistan.

___

TRUMP:

 "The terrorist came into our country through what is called the 'Diversity Visa Lottery Program,' a Chuck Schumer beauty. I want merit based."

'''Senator Chuck Schumer helping to import Europes problems' said Col. Tony Shaffer. We will stop this craziness! @foxandfriends"

THE FACTS:

Schumer, then in the House, now a senator, did back the lottery program. It had bipartisan support in an era when legal immigration was less contentious. He also proposed eliminating it three years ago, colleagues say.

The Homeland Security Department confirmed after the tweets that the accused assailant immigrated under the diversity lottery program. He came to the United States in 2010.

The program is for people from countries with low rates of immigration to the U.S. It provides up to 50,000 visas annually by lottery. Applicants must have a high school diploma or meet work experience requirements. The program was created as part of a bipartisan immigration bill introduced by the late Sen. Ted Kennedy, D-Mass., and signed into law by Bush in 1990.

Schumer indeed proposed a program for "diversity immigrants" that year.

But Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., said on Twitter that Trump was unfairly blaming Schumer for the diversity visa program. Flake, one of Trump's chief Republican foes in Congress, said Schumer was among a group of eight Republican and Democratic senators who proposed eliminating the program three years ago as part of a broader bipartisan bill to overhaul U.S. immigration laws.

Flake, who served on that "Gang of Eight" with Schumer, said: "I know. I was there."

The immigration bill ultimately failed in the GOP-led House after passing the Senate in June 2013, 68-32, with 14 Republicans joining Democrats.

Schumer, meantime, cited cuts proposed by Trump in certain anti-terrorism programs. He mentioned, among other programs, a proposed cut of more than 25 percent in the Urban Area Security Initiative, which helps cities prevent, respond to and recover from acts of terrorism.

In the Trump tweet, his reference to Europe's problems belies the fact that Uzbekistan is in Asia, not Europe. However, the State Department categorizes Uzbekistan and other former Soviet republics under Europe in its lottery program.

The lottery is extended to citizens of most countries, excepting about 20. Among the excluded countries are many that already have high rates of emigration to the U.S., such as Mexico, Canada and India.

In the most recent figures, the State Department selected more than 125,000 people in 2015 for the lottery program, accepting the first 50,000 who applied for visas. Among them, citizens of Cameroon, Liberia, Congo, Iran and Nepal led the list, with about 5,000 visa slots each. Citizens of Uzbekistan also figured prominently in the lottery, with 4,368 selected.

Those numbers don't necessarily reflect who actually came because the number was capped at the first 50,000 who applied for visas after winning the lottery.

___

TRUMP tweet on merit-based immigration:

"We are fighting hard for Merit Based immigration, no more Democrat Lottery Systems. We must get MUCH tougher (and smarter)."

THE FACTS: The president has taken steps to push for a merit-based immigration system but many of those efforts are still under development.

In August, Trump embraced legislation that would dramatically reduce legal immigration and shift the nation toward a system that prioritizes merit and skills over family ties.

The president promoted the bill, which would eliminate the Diversity Visa Program, at a White House event with Republican Sens. Tom Cotton of Arkansas and David Perdue of Georgia. But the legislation has yet to gain any significant traction and is pending in the Senate Judiciary Committee.

The White House has signaled that it may seek some of these changes in coming negotiations with Democrats over a legislative solution that would extend protections first granted under former President Barack Obama's Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, or DACA. Trump is phasing out DACA, but has given Congress time to act before recipients' work permits begin to expire.

A set of immigration principles laid out by the administration last month included calls for a "merit-based" immigration system that would end so-called "chain migration" by limiting family-based green cards to include spouses and minor children. But it remains unclear if Trump will insist on these changes in the DACA talks.
Renowned Volkswagen Group tuning specialist ABT Sportsline has dropped the cover off yet another Audi Q7.



Described as the ultimate of its kind, it features quite a few (easy to spot) sporty upgrades on the outside, resulting in a new and aggressive-looking body kit.

Changes compared to stock Audi Q7 models include the front skirt, fender extensions, rear diffuser with special muffler and pipes, and roof-mounted spoiler. The SUV also gets a few carbon fiber parts on the grille, front lip, and rear skirt.

Letting you know youre sitting in a limited edition model that comes in just 10 examples is the 1/10 badge strapped to the dashboard and door sills, and for an extra effect, the seats have been highlighted with Alcantara inlays and the tuners logo. Rounding up the list of upgrades inside is the carbon fiber trim used on the seat panels, dashboard, and gearshift knob.

For this Audi Q7 Limited Edition, ABT collaborated with Vossen Wheels, which means that the split five-spoke design rims seen in the pictures, with a brushed face and Stealth Grey finish, 1022-inch in size, are signed by the Miami-based wheel manufacturer.

The tuner will be displaying this modded SUV in Las Vegas, at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, until November 3.

PHOTO GALLERY
The long-awaited BMW i8 Roadster will premiere at the LA Auto Show later this month, BMW Blog reports.



While the world doesnt yet know if the car will be dubbed the i8 Roadster or the i8 Spyder, we do know it will come standard with a folding soft top and benefit from all the updated design elements of the facelifted i8 coupe, also set to arrive soon.

BMW refused to comment on the possibility of the car debuting in Los Angeles but even still, previous intel suggests that it wont just be the cars design that distinguishes it from the i8 were familiar with. In fact, the cars battery capacity will be doubled to approximately 14-kWh, therefore improving the current 23-mile (37 km) all-electric range.

Thankfully, the droptop i8 will retain the butterfly doors of the coupe.

PHOTO GALLERY
Hyundai Motor has announced the appointment of Fayez Abdul Rahman as Vice President of Genesis Architecture Development as the premium brand lays out its plans for the future.



Fayez Abdul Rahman was responsible for developing the platforms of several BMW models, including the 7 Series, X models as well as high-performance M cars. His initial focus will be on improving the performance and quality of the Genesis models.

I am very excited to be a part of this dynamic organization and am impressed by the remarkable progress made by Hyundai Motor Group over the past decade, said Rahman. We want to develop a flexible and future-oriented vehicle architecture that is unique to Hyundai Motor Group, to secure competitiveness, especially in the areas of vehicle performance and quality.

Rahman led the concept planning and architecture development of the BMW 7 Series in 1996 while between 2001 and 2008 he played an integral role in the development of the X-line of SUVs. In 2008 he was responsible for the entire vehicle architecture in the M Division as well as the leader in BMWs Nurburgring test center. In 2015 Rahman became responsible for M Equipment, M sport packages, M performance vehicles and BMW Individual for all BMW models.

Genesis future plans involve expanding its three-model line up to a total of six nameplates by 2020 by adding crossovers to the range. Rahmans work on the development of new architectures will be applied eventually to other Hyundai Motor models in a bid to offer more competitive and better cars.

Mr. Rahman is a world-class automotive engineering expert who has developed and led platform and architecture planning for a variety of performance and luxury models, added Albert Biermann, Executive Vice President of Hyundai Motor Group. His experience and knowledge will help us accelerate the development of new Hyundai Motor Group models and play a crucial role in upgrading our technology to move further toward our goal of making the class leading vehicles.

PHOTO GALLERY
A number of automakers have been investing in vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communications technology but the life saving system has just suffered a setback.



According to the Associated Press, the Trump administration has quietly set aside plans to require all new vehicles to be able to communicate with each other. This is a surprising turn of events as former Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said V2V and V2I technology will make our roads safer and save lives.

Of course, it should be noted those determinations were made under the Obama administration which proposed that all new vehicles should come equipped with V2V technology. The AP says two industry officials have confirmed the Trump administration has decided not to pursue a final V2V mandate.

The publication also notes the proposal has been removed from the White Houses list of regulations that are currently under consideration. However, it could be revived in the future as it has been moved to the Office of Management and Budgets long-term agenda.

When asked for comment, Transportation Secretary Elaine Chaos office sent the publication a message saying it is still reviewing more than 460 comments made on the proposal. The message went on to say a final decision has yet to be made.

The delays could prove fatal as the Department of Transpiration estimates V2V technology could prevent or reduce the severity of up to 80 percent of collisions that dont involve drugs or alcohol. The technology was also expected to help to improve the safety of semi-autonomous and autonomous vehicles.

Photo Gallery
Photo: Thinkstock.com

If you're on the Lakeview Water System in West Kelowna, you may notice a brown tinge in your water.

If so, no need for concern.

The city is performing a water main flush of the system in anticipation of the removal of a water quality advisory currently in place.

The process involves sending water at a high velocity through the pipes to remove accumulated sediment. It may cause discoloration during the process.

If you happen to notice a discoloration after the flushing takes place, you should run the cold water tap until the water runs clear.

The advisory has been in place for the Lakeview Water System since the beginning of September due to a higher than normal turbidity level in the Rose Valley Reservoir.
A new sign in Kelowna's Mission Creek Greenway is turning heads for its mangling of grammar and punctuation.

The sign reads: "Kokanee are called Sockeye Salmon where they can migrate to the ocean. Where they are land-locked and spend their entire lives in lakes. They are known as Kokanee. Kokanee are found from Alaska to California."

One park-goer who walks the Greenway regularly says he thought something wasn't right the first time he saw the installation.

"There definitely should have been a proofreading and a lot more attention taken to detail," said Jim Carey.

The Regional District of Central Okanagan, which manages regional parks, says the story boards have been a collaborative effort between RDCO and volunteers with the Mission Creek Society.

"We have been installing 30 interpretive signs along the entire length of the Greenway," said communications spokesman Bruce Smith. "The signs are replacing some of the older, outdated interpretive signs that were there."

After the issue was brought to the attention of the RCDO, Smith said they will review and correct the sign as needed.
Photo: baldymountainresort

With ski and snowboard season roughly a month away, the general manager at Mount Baldy, Andy Foster, hinted that a 'grand opening' is ahead with modifications made at the ski resort.

Mount Baldy re-opened on Dec. 1st of last year, after essentially three full years of being closed.

The ski resort was sold in late-July of 2016, which only allowed four months from receivership to opening day, a timeline that Foster said was a huge task.

Foster said, however, that management felt the public-turnout was great in the ski resort's season of resurrection.

He added that with a full off-season this year, staff have been able to plan ahead, much more than a year ago.

"We really settled down (this summer) and started to look at what we did last season... and just make sure that we're in the right position for the long-term, because we're definitely here for the long-term."

Foster added that many changes have taken place and will soon be unveiled, including additional runs and terrain on the ski hill, updates to the lodge and other infrastructure improvements.

"We are holding back on releasing photos until the grand opening  details of which are coming soon," he wrote in a pre-season update online.

Apart from the ski experience, Foster touched on real estate development at the ski resort in his written update, acknowledging that the resort has been quiet in that aspect.

"The rules around the development have changed a great deal from... 10 years ago. We are happy to say were over nearly all the hurdles and information will be coming out soon."

He anticipates the mountain to be open for ski-season in early-December.
The Okanagan Spirits Craft Distillery Mixoff will take over the Laurel Packinghouse Thursday, and Ayla Reidy of Waterfront Wines showed off her creation Tuesday.

The competition, formerly the Winetenders Mixoff, involves bartenders from around Kelowna using a spirit from Okanagan Spirits Craft Distillery and an Okanagan wine to create a unique cocktail.

Thursday's event will be Reidy's first bartending competition.

While she wouldn't reveal her full recipe prior to the competition, she showed her creation to Castanet on Tuesday.
Photo: Chantelle Deacon The winner for Best Costume.

The costumes definitely did not disappoint at this years Nightmare on Front St. in Penticton.

The annual event brings out people of all ages  and a few dogs  dressed in Halloween costumes.

"It's really fun and it only rained for a minute but it's a great turnout and the kids are really excited," said Jackey Zellweger, events and marketing manager, Downtown Penticton. "The costumes are absolutely amazing this year, there was so much effort put into so many of them."

Among the many costumes was a dog dressed as Raggedy Ann, an Addams Family, a man as Jack Skellington in The Nightmare Before Christmas and a baby dressed as a little chick, which all won awards.

The Penticton IGA donated hot dogs, hot chocolate and cupcakes; available by donation to the Penticton Secondary School dry grad.
Photo: David Ogilvie

Emergency crews were called to Highway 97 and Brown Road Tuesday evening at 5:20 p.m.

Witnesses tell Castanet a cyclist was struck by a southbound vehicle.

Injuries to the cyclist are believed to be minor.
Photo: CTV Police stand by as they continue to secure the scene along a bike path after a motorist drove onto the path near the World Trade Center memorial, striking and killing several people Tuesday.

Uber has confirmed that the man suspected of driving a vehicle down a bike path near the World Trade Center site, killing eight people, was one of its drivers.

The ride-hailing service released a statement Tuesday night saying 29-year-old Sayfullo Saipov passed a background check to become an Uber driver. Saipov has now been banned from the Uber app.

The company says it has reached out to law enforcement to provide its full assistance and is "aggressively and quickly reviewing" the suspect's history with Uber.

Uber says it is "horrified by this senseless act of violence."

A U.S. official familiar with the investigation into what happened says Saipov is from Uzbekistan and came to the U.S. in 2010.
Photo: Google Street View Castle View Elementary School

A man who barged into his child's Southern California elementary school and allegedly held a 70-year-old teacher hostage for nearly seven hours was shot by police who forced their way into a classroom and rescued her Tuesday.

A SWAT team entered the room at Castle View Elementary School, east of Los Angeles, shortly before 6 p.m., Officer Ryan Railsback said.

Negotiators had been talking to the man but hadn't heard from the woman.

"We, of course, had been fearing for the hostage's life all day," Railsback said, but the decision to hurl distracting flash-bang grenades and storm the classroom was made because "the fear for her safety was increasing."

The children were at lunch and were not in the classroom when the man barricaded himself inside with the teacher, said Justin Grayson, a spokesman for the Riverside Unified School District.

The man was seen being wheeled away on a gurney into an ambulance. There was no immediate word on his condition. The teacher was sent to a hospital for examination but didn't appear to be injured, Railsback said.

Family members and the school identified her as first-grade instructor Linda Montgomery, who had taught at the school for about 20 years.

"She's really good with kids," granddaughter Ariana Montgomery told KABC-TV . "She's really helpful and sweet."

It's still not clear what prompted the man to enter the school shortly before 11:15 a.m. and barricade himself with the teacher, and it wasn't immediately known whether he had a weapon although he did bring a backpack onto campus, Railsback said.

The suspect had suffered an "emotional breakdown" that morning, his uncle Carl Jackson told the station.

"He's not dangerous," Jackson said before the standoff ended. "It's just a matter of getting in there and talking to him, because we can talk to him."

The man had barged into the school office, where he failed to sign in, and was later seen grabbing the teacher.

The husband of another teacher was on campus and tried to intervene but the man punched him in the face, knocking him down and breaking his nose, Railsback said.

Students initially were kept inside their classrooms before being ordered to evacuate to a local park, walking down the street in a long line.
Photo: Contributed Kevin Spacey

Hollywood's widening sexual harassment crisis brought forth a second actor's allegation against Kevin Spacey on Tuesday, halted production on his Netflix series "House of Cards" and prompted CBS to check into an actress' claim she was groped by Jeremy Piven.

Mexican actor Robert Cavazos wrote on his Facebook page that he encountered Spacey at the bar of London's Old Vic Theatre, where Spacey was artistic director, and the actor tried to fondle him against his will.

"It was more common for this guy, when he was in the bar of his theatre, grabbing whoever caught his attention," Cavazos wrote. "I didn't stand for it, but I know some people who were afraid to stop it."

Cavazos declined an interview request. There was no immediate reply to a request for comment from representatives for Spacey, who was artistic director from 2004-15.

In a statement Tuesday, the theatre expressed "deep dismay" at the allegations and said "inappropriate behaviour by anyone working at The Old Vic is completely unacceptable."

In recent days, Hollywood has reacted swiftly to allegations of sexual harassment and assault: Harvey Weinstein was fired from the company he founded within days after initial reports of sexual harassment were published in The New York Times earlier this month.

Weinstein has denied engaging in any non-consensual sexual contact.

Dozens of women, including actresses Selma Blair and Rachel McAdams, have alleged that writer and director James Toback sexually harassed or assaulted them.

Toback has denied the allegations.

On Tuesday, however, the Beverly Hills Police Department said it was investigating both men after receiving "multiple complaints," although the department did not specify the nature of the complaints.

On Monday, Netflix said it would end "House of Cards" after its upcoming sixth and final season, although the streaming network said the decision was made before the BuzzFeed News report on Spacey last weekend. The network has not commented on plans for a Gore Vidal biopic starring Spacey that is currently in production.

The pause in production Tuesday shadows the fate of the last season.

Also Tuesday, CBS said it is "looking into" a claim by actress and reality star Ariane Bellamar that Emmy-winning "Entourage" star Piven groped her on two occasions.
Photo: The Canadian Press Environmental Protection Agency administrator Scott Pruitt.

The head of the Environmental Protection Agency said Tuesday he intends to replace the outside experts that advise him on science and public health issues with new board members holding more diverse views.

In announcing the changes, EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt suggested many previously appointed to the panels were potentially biased because they had received federal research grants. The 22 boards advise EPA on a wide range of issues, including drinking water standards and pesticide safety.

"Whatever science comes out of EPA shouldn't be political science," said Pruitt, a Republican lawyer who previously served as the attorney general of Oklahoma. "From this day forward, EPA advisory committee members will be financially independent from the agency."

Pruitt has expressed skepticism about the consensus of climate scientists that man-made carbon emissions are the primary cause of global warming. He also overruled experts that had recommended pulling a top-selling pesticide from the market after peer-reviewed studies showed it damaged children's brains.

Pruitt said he will name new leadership and members to three key EPA advisory boards soon  the Science Advisory Board, Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee, and the Board of Scientific Counselors.

It was not clear from the EPA's media release if all current board members serving out their appointed terms were immediately dismissed. EPA's press office did not respond to messages seeking clarification on Tuesday.
Photo: The Canadian Press

Japanese investigators knocked on the door of a suspect's apartment and asked him about a missing woman. "She is in here," the man reportedly replied, pointing to a cooler box.

More chilling details emerged Wednesday about Takahiro Shiraishi, 27, who police say confessed to killing and dismembering nine bodies found in his apartment. Shiraishi was handed over to prosecutors for further questioning.

Police arrested him Tuesday after finding the bodies  eight females and one male  in cold-storage cases inside his apartment in Zama, a city southwest of the capital. Police say Shiraishi confessed he tried to hide evidence.

Police found the bodies, some covered with cat litter, while searching for the 23-year-old woman who had disappeared after exchanging Twitter messages, allegedly with Shiraishi. They are working to identify the victims.

The gruesome case captured widespread attention in a country known for public safety, topping news with reports that showed the building where the suspect lived in a small studio apartment.

Media reports quoted investigative sources as saying Shiraishi started killing as soon as he moved into his apartment in late August. His first victim was another woman whom he got in touch with via Twitter, offering to assist her suicide wish, then killing her boyfriend to silence him, according to the media reports, including NHK public television. They said Shiraishi used similar tactics to kill seven other women, four of them teenagers.
Photo: The Canadian Press Sam Clovis speaks during a news conference as then-Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump looks on.

President Donald Trump dismissed George Papadopoulos as a "liar" and a mere campaign volunteer, but newly unsealed court papers outline the former adviser's frequent contacts with senior officials and with foreign nationals who promised access to the highest levels of the Russian government.

They also hint at more headaches for the White House and former campaign officials. Papadopoulos is now co-operating with special counsel Robert Mueller as he investigates possible co-ordination between Russia and Trump's 2016 White House campaign.

Records made public Monday in Papadopoulos' case list a gaggle of people who were in touch with him during the campaign but only with such identifiers as "Campaign Supervisor," ''Senior Policy Advisor" and "High-Ranking Campaign Official." Two of the unnamed campaign officials referenced are in fact former campaign chairman Paul Manafort and his business associate Rick Gates. Both were charged with financial crimes in an indictment unsealed Monday.

The conversations described in charging documents reflect Papadopoulos' efforts to arrange meetings between Trump aides and Russian government intermediaries and show how he learned the Russians had "dirt" on Hillary Clinton in the form of "thousands of emails."

Though the contacts may not by themselves have been illegal, the oblique but telling references to unnamed people  including "Professor" and "Female Russian National"  make clear that Mueller's team has identified multiple people who had knowledge of back-and-forth outreach efforts between Russians and associates of the Trump election effort.

Papadopoulos' place on the Trump campaign was formalized in March when Trump adviser Sam Clovis released the names of eight foreign policy advisers amid public pressure on Trump to disclose his foreign policy team.

A lawyer representing Clovis confirmed in a statement that he was the person, identified as the "Campaign Supervisor" in court papers, who brought Papadopoulos onto an advisory committee on national security. In court papers, the unnamed supervisor receives some of Papadopoulos' email exchanges about his attempts to line up a meeting with the Russians, appearing to encourage the effort at one point by responding "Great work." He also later encouraged Papadopoulos to travel to Russia on his own.
Photo: The Canadian Press

Investigators worked Wednesday to determine what led a truck driver to mow down people on a riverfront bike path near the World Trade Center, brandishing air guns and yelling "God is great!" in Arabic as his deadly route of terror ended with a crash, authorities said.

Eight people were killed and 11 seriously injured in a Halloween afternoon attack that the mayor called "a particularly cowardly act of terror." The driver  identified by officials as an immigrant from Uzbekistan  was in critical condition but expected to survive after a police officer shot him in the abdomen. Investigators were trying to speak with him Wednesday.

A roughly two-mile stretch of highway in downtown Manhattan was shut down for the investigation. Authorities also converged on a New Jersey apartment building and a van in a parking lot at a New Jersey Home Depot store. Authorities were scrutinizing a note found inside the attacker's rented truck, according to two law enforcement officials who were not authorized to discuss the ongoing investigation and spoke on the condition of anonymity. Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Wednesday on "CBS This Morning" the note made a reference to ISIS, and that he had been radicalized in the U.S.

Police and the FBI urged members of the public to give them any photos or video that could help.

Law enforcement officials who were not authorized to discuss the investigation and spoke on the condition of anonymity identified the slight, bearded attacker as Sayfullo Saipov, a 29-year-old who came to the U.S. legally in 2010. He has a Florida driver's licence but may have been staying in New Jersey, they said. Investigators were trying to speak with Saipov, who remained hospitalized Wednesday after surgery, one official said.

Records show Saipov was a commercial truck driver who formed a pair of businesses in Ohio. He had also driven for Uber, the ride-hailing company said. An Ohio marriage license shows that a truck driver with one of Saipov's addresses and his name, spelled slightly differently, married a fellow Uzbek in 2013.

During his time in Fort Myers, Florida, several years ago, Saipov was "a very good person," an acquaintance, Kobiljon Matkarov, told The New York Times.

"He liked the U.S. He seemed very lucky, and all the time, he was happy and talking like everything is OK. He did not seem like a terrorist, but I did not know him from the inside," Matkarov said. He said Saipov later moved to New Jersey and began driving for Uber. San Francisco-based Uber said he started over six months ago.

Police on Wednesday were combing the Patterson, New Jersey, neighbourhood where Saipov lived and had blocked off several streets near his home and a mosque.
Photo: The Canadian Press

Mexico's traditional Day of the Dead is opening with a sadder tone than usual Wednesday.

People in Mexico City and nearby states are marking this year's holiday by remembering the 369 people killed in the Sept. 19 earthquake, 228 of them in the capital, where 38 buildings collapsed.

Mexico's traditional view of the dead is not ghoulish or frightful  rather they are seen as the "dear departed," people who remain close even after death. On the Nov. 1-2 holiday, Mexicans set up altars with photographs of the dead and plates of their favourite foods in their homes. They gather at their loved ones' gravesides to drink, sing and talk to the dead.

But this time many of the dead departed so recently that the grief is still fresh.

Nayeli Flores struggled to bring up her two children, working as a legal aide and studying law, so she never had time or money to set up an elaborate Day of the Dead altar as her son, Julian, wanted to do. This year Flores will fulfil his wish for an altar  dedicated to the 11-year-old boy and his 6-year-old sister, Ximena, who died when the quake collapsed their apartment building into a pile of rubble on the city's south side. The two kids had stayed home from school that day while their mom was working.

"My son always complained because we didn't put up an altar," Flores said between sobs. "So this year I am going to do it, in his memory."

Altars are always personalized, with a photo of the dead and candles. Offerings for adults often include their favourite food, drink and even cigarettes. For kids, it is the same, only with candy or toys.

"One of Julian's friends brought me a bag of candy, as a donation for earthquake victims," said Flores, who has kept herself busy since the quake by distributing donated aid. "But I am going to take a few for the altar" for Julian.

Flores wants to make sure there are stuffed animals on the altar, too. "They used to love them; they would fight over them," she remembered.

Many of the residents of the 1960s-era apartment complex Flores called home are still living in tents beside buildings that survived. Some of the structures can be repaired, but others will have to be torn down.

Seven other people died along with Flores' kids in the building that fell. Survivors are erecting a big altar honouring the nine. Yet another altar commemorates all the quake's victims.

"This is going to be difficult, because it is all very recent, but in the end we are honouring their memories," said Carlos Luz, one of Flores' neighbours. "It means a lot to the people who lost family members."
Photo: The Canadian Press

The family of a Mi'kmaq woman who went missing 24 years ago in Maine testified today that they continue hoping for some evidence of what they believe was a violent end to her life.

Virginia Sue Pictou went to the Eastern Maine Medical Centre in Bangor with beating injuries on April 24, 1993.

She walked out of the hospital and was never seen again.

Four of her brothers and sisters and her father testified today at the National Inquiry into Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women and Girls being held at Membertou First Nation in Cape Breton, where Virginia was born.

Her 54-year-old brother, Robert John Pictou, testified how for decades the family members have put up flyers, conducted ground searches, followed up dozens of leads and tried to gain information from her former husband and brother-in-law.

He says it's all gone nowhere, but they are still approaching people they believe might know something about her fate, or perhaps tell them where her body lies.

A spokesman for the Maine State Police was not immediately available for comment.
Photo: The Canadian Press

A Geneva airport spokesman says a runaway seven-year-old girl slipped through security checks and onto a plane without a boarding pass before being spotted by a crew member and handed over to police.

Bernard Stampfli said Wednesday that authorities were enhancing measures to ensure that children are accompanied by adults when passing through security checks.

In the incident Sunday, the girl, who was not identified, initially slipped away from her parents at Geneva's main railway station and travelled by train to the airport. Stampfli said the girl repeatedly "took advantage of her small size" and employed a "ruse" to make it look like she was travelling with adults ahead or behind her.

After a first attempt failed, she tried again and succeeded  getting aboard an EasyJet flight to Corsica.
Photo: The Canadian Press

Pakistani police arrested a newly married woman on murder charges after she allegedly poisoned her husband's milk and it inadvertently killed 17 other people in a remote village, a senior police officer said Wednesday.

District police chief Sohail Habib Tajak said a judge allowed the police to question the woman, 21-year-old Aasia Bibi, for two weeks to determine whether it was the woman's decision or her boyfriend had incited her to kill her husband by poisoning.

"This incident took place last week and our officers have made progress by arresting a woman and her lover in connection with this murder case, which was complicated and challenging for us," Tajak told The Associated Press.

He said Bibi was married against her will in September in a village near the town of Ali Pur, 100 kilometres (60 miles) south of Multan, a city in the eastern Punjab province.

Tajak said Bibi was not happy with her husband and wanted to return to her parents' home.

She apparently obtained a poisonous substance from her boyfriend, Shahid Lashari, last week and mixed it in milk for her husband, who refused to drink it, Tajak also said.

The woman's mother-in-law later inadvertently used the tainted milk to make a traditional yogurt-based drink and served it to 27 members of her extended family, who fell unconscious and were hospitalized.

Seventeen people died and 10 are still being treated in hospital, he said.

Bibi and Lashari appeared before a judge in the city of Muzaffargarh on Tuesday, where she told reporters that she was angered over her parents' decision to marry her to a man against her will. They did not have lawyers.

"I repeatedly asked my parents not to marry me against my will as my religion, Islam, also allows me to choose the man of my choice for marriage but my parents rejected all of my pleas and they married me to a relative," she said.

She said her love affair with her boyfriend continued after she got married.

Bibi said she had warned her parents that she was capable of going to any length to get out of the marriage, but they refused to allow her to get a divorce.

She said Lashari gave her a poisonous substance, which she used to try to kill her husband. She expressed remorse over the deaths, saying her target was only her husband.
Photo: BC Gov

The $8.3-billion Site C dam is unlikely to be completed by 2024 and could end up costing 20 to 50 per cent more than has been budgeted for the project, the British Columbia Utilities Commission concludes in a final report on the project.

The province's fledgling NDP government asked the commission to examine the economic viability of the megaproject, which was a signature job-creation initiative of former Liberal premier Christy Clark.

The commission was asked to confirm whether BC Hydro is on target to complete Site C on budget and by 2024.

It was also asked to provide advice on three possible outcomes: proceeding with the project, suspending construction and keeping the option open to resume until 2024, or terminating the project and proceeding with other energy options.

The commission concludes suspending and restarting the project in 2024 is the least attractive option. The scenario adds at least $3.6 billion to final costs and is by far the most expensive of the three options.

It doesn't make a recommendation on whether the province should proceed with or cancel the dam, but it says terminating the project would cost $1.8 billion while completing it could cost more than $10 billion.

The commission says it increasingly believes viable alternative energy sources including wind, geothermal and industrial curtailment could provide similar benefits with an equal or lower cost.

The government has the final say on the fate of the project. Energy Minister Michelle Mungall said Wednesday she anticipates a decision by the end of the year.

Mungal said she and Scott Fraser, the minister of Indigenous relations and reconciliation, will meet this month with Treaty 8 First Nations that are impacted by the project and take other First Nations interests into account.

"We are going to take the time we need to make a decision on Site C that works for B.C. families, businesses and the sustainability of our environment and economy," she said in a statement.

Mungall said the commission's findings are based on 620 written and 304 oral submissions from individuals and organizations, as well as thousands of pages of information.

The NDP campaigned on having the project reviewed by the commission, a practice that was once standard in B.C. before the previous Liberal government's clean-energy laws allowed some projects to bypass the regulatory agency.

The commission was required to consult with interested parties, including First Nations, and it held public hearings across the province.

The dam is two years into construction and employs more than 2,000 people in northeastern B.C.
Photo: Phil Vallee File photo of Morgan Bridge after the May washout.

You could call it a Christmas present for residents in the Spallumcheen area.

The washed out Morgan Bridge on Heywood Armstrong Road is expected to be repaired by Dec. 22, according to a transportation ministry spokesperson.

We will be adding an extra span on the bridge as well as bank protection to prevent further scour, said Chad Marsh, area manager, in an email. I would like to note a special thank you to the First Nations who have made extra arrangements to meet with us and provide us with very timely feedback.

Marsh pointed to the summer wildfires for the delay in the arrival of materials ordered for the project.

We continue to plan for construction to start by Nov. 27 and be completed by Dec. 22.

We appreciate the publics patience as we ensure all the appropriate steps are taken to make Morgan bridge safe for the public and designed to better withstand potential future events.

Local residents have complained about the long delay in fixing the bridge which, for some, has meant a much longer commute. The washout has also affected bus routes.

Damage to the bridge occurred in May.
Photo: Flickr - Jumbo Glacier

The Supreme Court of Canada is due to release a decision Thursday in a case that hinges on freedom of religion and how Indigenous spirituality should be protected under the Charter of Rights.

The Ktunaxa Nation appealed to Canada's highest court after courts in British Columbia refused to stop a proposed ski resort at the foot of Jumbo Mountain and Jumbo Glacier, 55 kilometres west of Invermere in southeastern B.C.

The Ktunaxa consider the land sacred and say construction of the resort would interfere with religious practices involving the spirit of the grizzly bear.

They argue Charter protection for freedom of religion must include not only spiritual practices, but also underlying sacred sites and spiritual beliefs.

Glacier Resorts says its Jumbo Resort development has been approved after one of the most comprehensive environmental assessments by the province for a project of its kind.

The Jumbo development was first proposed for the Purcell Mountains in 1991 but was challenged in court.

The high court ruling stems from a suit filed by the Ktunaxa in 2012 after Glacier Resorts received B.C. government approval to proceed with construction.

Executive director Josh Paterson of the British Columbia Civil Liberties Association, which intervened in the case, says Ktunaxa are seeking the same protections for their sacred sites as other peoples of faith have sought for centuries.

"Any reasonable person would recognize that a proposal to destroy the holiest sites of other faiths, like the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem or the Temple Mount, would have a deep impact on the people of those faiths," Paterson says in a news release. "Our governments should give the same respect to the faiths that are Indigenous to this land and their holiest sites."

Partly in response to legal delays, and following a request from the Regional District of East Kootenay, the provincial government incorporated Jumbo as a mountain resort municipality in 2012, even though the area had no residents, services or infrastructure at the time.
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Photo: The Canadian Press Chief commissioner Marion Buller listens before the start of hearings at the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, in Smithers, B.C., on Tuesday September 26, 2017. The commissioners of the inquiry into missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls will issue an interim update later today on the progress they've made to date. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

The inquiry into missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls wants governments to create a national police force that would address persistent questions for families and survivors.

Chief Commissioner Marion Buller, who spoke in Ottawa on Wednesday as she unveiled interim findings, said the inquiry does not have a police arm a challenge her commission has confronted from the beginning of its mandate.

"According to our terms of reference, we can refer matters back to police services, other services, for re-investigation when we find new information in particular," Buller said at a press conference. "That's an important distinction."

Buller explained that the need for justice has been consistently raised across the country by families and survivors who want answers, but families do not fall "neatly" into the box that the inquiry can offer.

"They have questions and they desperately want answers about what happened to their lost loved ones, why investigations were stopped, why leads weren't followed up on ... it is vital for their healing that they do find out," Buller said.

In its interim report released on Wednesday, entitled "Our Women and Girls are Sacred," the inquiry also said the federal government's procurement and contracting policies resulted in an eight-month delay setting up offices.

The report said the offices initially had to operate without proper phones, internet and office equipment, and that there were long delays in procuring the material necessary for staffers to do their work.

The commissioners also said the inquiry has to adhere to human resources, information technology and contracting rules that apply to all areas of the federal government  restrictions that they say have badly impaired the inquiry's ability to contract the necessary people and services.

"We have faced several obstacles from a bureaucratic and procedural and policy perspective in getting our national inquiry up and running and mobilized all across Canada," Buller said.

"We need enough time to do the job properly, to hear from families and survivors who want to speak to us, to hear from institutions about their policies and procedures, and to hear from experts in human rights and other topics."

The federal Liberal government has earmarked $53.8 million over two years for the inquiry, which is aimed at examining the patterns and factors underlying violence against Aboriginal women and girls in Canada.
Photo: CTV Police stand by as they continue to secure the scene along a bike path after a motorist drove onto the path near the World Trade Center memorial, striking and killing several people Tuesday.

The Uzbek immigrant accused of mowing people down along a bike path "did this in the name of ISIS" and planned the deadly attack for weeks, following the extremist group's online instructions practically to the letter, police said Wednesday.

Investigators, meanwhile, questioned Sayfullo Saipov in his hospital bed, working to extract information about the truck attack that left eight people dead Tuesday near the World Trade Center memorial. Saipov, 29, was shot by a police officer after jumping from his rented Home Depot pickup.

John Miller, deputy police commissioner for intelligence, said Saipov left behind notes at the scene, handwritten in Arabic with symbols and words, that essentially said the Islamic State group, or ISIS, "would endure forever."

"It appears that Mr. Saipov had been planning this for a number of weeks. He did this in the name of ISIS," Miller said, citing the notes.

In the past few years, the Islamic State has been exhorting followers online to use vehicles or other close-at-hand means of killing people in their home countries. England, France and Germany have seen deadly vehicle attacks since mid-2016.

"He appears to have followed, almost exactly to a T, the instructions that ISIS has put out in its social media channels before with instructions to its followers on how to carry out such an attack," Miller said.

Carlos Batista, a neighbour of Saipov's in Paterson, New Jersey, said he had seen the suspect and two friends using the same model of rented truck several times in the past three weeks.

In Tuesday's attack, Saipov drove his speeding truck for nearly a mile along the bike path, running down cyclists and pedestrians, then crashed into a school bus, authorities said. He was shot in the abdomen after he jumped out of the vehicle brandishing two air guns, one in each hand, and yelling "God is great!" in Arabic, they said.

In addition to those killed, 12 people were injured.
Photo: The Canadian Press

New Democrats are calling on the Trudeau government to withdraw a pension bill which they say puts Finance Minister Bill Morneau in a blatant conflict of interest.

Morneau introduced Bill C-27 a year ago, while he still held about $21 million worth of shares in his family's pension administration and human resources firm, Morneau Shepell.

The bill, which has languished on the order paper since it was introduced, would allow pension administrators to convert direct benefit pension plans to targeted benefit plans  a change for which Morneau Shepell had lobbied.

NDP pension critic Scott Duvall intends to seek unanimous consent today to have the bill withdrawn.

NDP ethics critic Nathan Cullen characterizes the move as "an olive branch" that would get rid of a bad bill and allow Morneau to extricate himself from the worst ethical tangle resulting from his failure to divest his Morneau Shepell shares or place them in a blind trust when he was appointed to cabinet two years ago.

Morneau is now in the process of selling off his shares and placing his other considerable assets in a blind trust.

Two years ago, federal ethics commissioner Mary Dawson advised Morneau that he wasn't required to place the shares in a blind trust because they were indirectly held by a holding company owned by the minister. She recommended that he set up a conflict of interest screen to prevent his involvement in any discussion or decision that could benefit Morneau Shepell.

Morneau followed her advice but last week, in response to a complaint from Cullen, Dawson said she has concerns about the minister's involvement with Bill C-27 and would follow up with him on the matter.

"Clearly, the ethics surrounding this bill, the cloud of suspicion and controversy, makes it untenable for the Trudeau government to continue its pursuit of making pensioners more at risk while protecting companies, which is at the heart of this type of legislation," Cullen said.

Meanwhile, Dawson has posted a notice on her website indicating that she fined Morneau $200 for failing to disclose a private corporation, in which he is a director, that owns a villa in France. The notice indicates that Morneau has paid the fine.

Morneau had disclosed ownership of the villa to Dawson but, due to what his office calls an administrative oversight, failed to disclose that ownership was through a corporation.
Shanghai (Gasgoo) On October 31, Tianjin FAW Xiali Auto Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "FAW Xiali") released 2017 third quarter report. According to the report, the operating income of FAW Xiali in third quarter is about 374 million, a year-on-year decline of 20.26%; net loss attributable to shareholders of listed companies is about RMB 437 million, up 42.86% compared to the same period of in last year. Net loss in the first three quarters of listed companies was RMB 1.123 billion. The loss increased 36.14% compared with the same period last year.

Though FAW Xiali did not elaborate on the reasons for the loss in this report, uncompleted product structure adjustment and small marketing scale may be the main reasons according to its previously released preview. Besides, 15% stake of Tianjin FAW Toyota Motor Co., Ltd. was transferred in 2016, resulting in lower shareholding ratio and decrease in investment income.

Rumors are flying about how FAW Xiali find the way out. News like FAW Xiali merges into FAW Besturn and FAW Xiali is turning to Dong Mingzhu" is endless. However, relevant news is either denied or gets no response. The future of FAW Xiali is still unclear.

According to the announcement of FAW Xiali on Oct. 19, the controlling shareholder of the company intends to transfer part of the shares. After the completion of the share transfer, there will be a change in the controlling shareholder. As approval process is still in progress, the company's stock will continue to be suspended. According to the interpretation of relevant insiders, this announcement means that the proportion of share transfer will be more than 24% and FAW Xiali may also be renamed.




A banner protesting white supremacy and the perceived gentrification of Flagstaff was hung from a crane over the Hub student housing construction site sometime Saturday night or Sunday morning.

The banner depicted a Klansmen being hanged from the neck by a noose with the phrase gentrify in hell painted below the illustration.

The banner was taken down by Flagstaff Police before 8:30 a.m. and is being investigated as a trespass of private property, according to Flagstaff Police Department incident reports.

A website that identifies itself as anti-colonial and anti-fascist called Rage and Resist seemed to take credit for the banner, writing in a post that this crane has been ominously hovering over our streets for long enough, so we figured it to be the ideal space to address how white supremacy & capitalism are driving forces of gentrification.

However, the website claims the banner was not hung in an effort to voice support for preserving the character of Flagstaff.

We care about whats happening to the poor, the unsheltered, the Indigenous, and other People of Color more than we do about the character of this little mountain settlement, the post reads in part.

The post contains a call to action to readers, saying, we must continue to fight like our lives depend on it, because they do.

The post ends by saying, hanging from a tower crane is the only platform any fascist should have.

Attempts to reach the creators of the site were not successful.

The crane is owned by Phoenix-based company Stafford Crane Group.

The companys Director of Operations Jack Stafford said that they were unaware of the sign and described the incident as irrelevant unless the crane was broken.
The states climate appears to have helped hold off, for now, a disease that has afflicted bats during hibernation in at least half of the country.

Experts say Arizona, with its shorter winters and more dispersed bat populations, could act as a barrier against white-nose syndrome, which is most often contracted during the winter, when bats hibernate in moist caves and spread the fungus. The disease causes bats to use up their fat reserves too quickly, forcing them out of hibernation in frigid weather when there may be no food available.

In the East, bats have to hibernate in large colonies, said Angie McIntire, the bat management coordinator for the Arizona Game and Fish Department. Arizona is more dispersed.

She said the 28 species of bats in Arizona are better off than those in other parts of North America.

But others believe it is only a matter of time before the fungus that causes white-nose syndrome reaches Arizona, climate or no.

Philip Garofalo, from the Organization for Bat Conservation, said the fungus is on Arizonas doorstep, and spreading fast. The disease has been found as far west as Texas.

That threat is worrisome, McIntire said, because of the role bats play.

They are important for pollinating plants like the agave and saguaro, she said of pollinating bats. And the remaining are insectivores and are considered the primary predators for tons of moths and insect pests which is important for agriculture.

One of those roles is in the pollination of agave plants, the main ingredient in tequila.

David Suro, the president of the Tequila Interchange Project, said he is not yet worried about white-nose syndrome, which really isnt being detected in these habitats. It is more in the northern parts of the region.

But if the disease does make its way to the Southwest, Suro says it could be catastrophic.

While not worried about the disease yet, Suro is concerned about modern agave cultivation methods that stops the flowering process  and without flowers you are taking away the bats main food source.

These bats have been migrating for millions of years, and now when they come there is little or no food, he said.

Mollie Matteson, a senior scientist with the Tucson-based Center for Biological Diversity, said human-induced changes to the environment can be as big a threat to bats as white-nose syndrome. Matteson said that could come from everything from climate change to residential development or other large construction projects like a border wall.

But Matteson thinks the disease will eventually become be a problem in Arizona.

Completely hazarding a guess, I would not be surprised if the fungus itself is detected within the next 10 years, she said. It is just a matter of time. It will get there eventually.

But Arizona bats will still have things in their favor, she said.

The fact that they are distributed across the state is a protective factor, Matteson said. The dry climate could also be protective.

They could also be helped by the fact that no bats in the state go into complete hibernation, Matteson said. But she added that if hibernating bats in Arizona were infected, its hard to say if it affects other bats across the state  with the ripple effect.

But Suro, who says the tequila industry has been involved in bat preservation for many, many years, remains optimistic.

There are some studies that say it is too late to reverse the damage, but I say we still have time to reverse these damages and help these situations to do better, he said.
Left: Optical microscope image of the MOSCAPs and diamond deep depletion MOSFETs (D2MOSFETs) of this work. Top right: Scanning electron microscope image of a diamond D2MOSFET under electrical investigation. S: Source, G: Gate, D: Drain. Bottom right: D2MOSFET concept. The on-state of the transistor is ensured thanks to the accumulation or flat band regime. The high mobility channel is the boron-doped diamond epilayer. The off-state is achieved thanks to the deep depletion regime, which is stable only for wide bandgap semiconductors. For a gate voltage larger than a given threshold, the channel is closed because of the deeply and fully depleted layer under the gate.

Silicon has provided enormous benefits to the power electronics industry. But performance of silicon-based power electronics is nearing maximum capacity.

Enter wide bandgap (WBG) semiconductors. Seen as significantly more energy-efficient, they have emerged as leading contenders in developing field-effect transistors (FETs) for next-generation power electronics. Such FET technology would benefit everything from power-grid distribution of renewable-energy sources to car and train engines.

Diamond is largely recognized as the most ideal material in WBG development, owing to its superior physical properties, which allow devices to operate at much higher temperatures, voltages and frequencies, with reduced semiconductor losses.

A main challenge, however, in realizing the full potential of diamond in an important type of FET -- namely, metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETs) -- is the ability to increase the hole channel carrier mobility. This mobility, related to the ease with which current flows, is essential for the on-state current of MOSFETs.

Researchers from France, the United Kingdom and Japan incorporate a new approach to solve this problem by using the deep-depletion regime of bulk-boron-doped diamond MOSFETs. The new proof of concept enables the production of simple diamond MOSFET structures from single boron-doped epilayer stacks. This new method, specific to WBG semiconductors, increases the mobility by an order of magnitude.

In a typical MOSFET structure, an oxide layer and then a metal gate are formed on top of a semiconductor, which in this case is diamond. By applying a voltage to the metal gate, the carrier density, and hence the conductivity, of the diamond region just under the gate, the channel, can be changed dramatically. The ability to use this electric "field-effect" to control the channel conductivity and switch MOSFETS from conducting (on-state) to highly insulating (off-state) drives their use in power control applications. Many of the diamond MOSFETs demonstrated to date rely on a hydrogen-terminated diamond surface to transfer positively charged carriers, known as holes, into the channel. More recently, operation of oxygen terminated diamond MOS structures in an inversion regime, similar to the common mode of operation of silicon MOSFETS, has been demonstrated. The on-state current of a MOSFET is strongly dependent on the channel mobility and in many of these MOSFET designs, the mobility is sensitive to roughness and defect states at the oxide diamond interface where unwanted carrier scattering occurs.

To address this issue, the researchers explored a different mode of operation, the deep-depletion concept. To build their MOSFET, the researchers deposited a layer of aluminum oxide (Al2O3) at 380 degrees Celsius over an oxygen-terminated thick diamond epitaxial layer. They created holes in the diamond layer by incorporating boron atoms into the layer. Boron has one less valence electron than carbon, so including it leaves a missing electron which acts like the addition of a positive charge, or hole. The bulk epilayer functioned as a thick conducting hole channel. The transistor was switched from the on-state to the off-state by application of a voltage which repelled and depleted the holes -- the deep depletion region. In silicon-based transistors, this voltage would have also resulted in formation of an inversion layer and the transistor would not have turned off. The authors were able to demonstrate that the unique properties of diamond, and in particular the large band gap, suppressed formation of the inversion layer allowing operation in the deep depletion regime.

"We fabricated a transistor in which the on-state is ensured by the bulk channel conduction through the boron-doped diamond epilayer," said Julien Pernot, a researcher at the NEEL Institute in France and an author of the paper. "The off-state is ensured by the thick insulating layer induced by the deep-depletion regime. Our proof of concept paves the way in fully exploiting the potential of diamond for MOSFET applications." The researchers plan to produce these structures through their new startup called DiamFab.

Pernot observed that similar principles of this work could apply to other WBG semiconductors. "Boron is the doping solution for diamond," Pernot said, "but other dopant impurities would likely be suitable to enable other wide bandgap semiconductors to reach a stable deep-depletion regime."
Fine particulates have numerous sources  not only traffic, which is currently under particular scrutiny. Reducing agricultural emissions could also considerably reduce the particulate levels that are hazardous to health, concludes a study by researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Chemistry in Mainz, Germany. The scientists calculated that especially in Europe and North America, the atmospheric fine particle concentration would decrease substantially by reducing ammonia (NH3) emissions by fertilizer use and animal husbandry. If agricultural emissions were 50 percent lower, more than 250,000 deaths per year, caused by air pollution, could be avoided globally.



According to the World Health Organization (WHO), fine particulate matter with a diameter less than 2.5 micrometers (PM2.5) is particularly harmful to health, because the particles penetrate deep into the lungs and can cause cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. This significantly reduces life expectancy in many regions of the world. According to the Global Burden of Disease, a study that assesses mortality and disability from major diseases, injuries, and risk factors, outdoor air pollution is the fifth-ranked risk factor of global total mortality.

'Currently, the public debate primarily focusses on the particulate load from traffic, while other sources such as agriculture are neglected', says Jos Lelieveld, Director of the Atmospheric Chemistry Department at the Institute in Mainz. Particulate emissions from motor vehicles can make a critical contribution to local air pollution in urban areas, especially near roads with heavy traffic. However, most fine particulates (PM2.5) are the result of chemical processes in the air during transport by the wind. 'The concentration of fine particulates in the atmosphere could be drastically reduced by preventing the release of ammonia from agriculture', says Lelieveld, which is underpinned with recent calculations of his research team.

Ammonia reacts to form the salts that make particulates

In an earlier study, the Max Planck researchers pointed out that 3.3 million people around the globe died in the year 2010 as a consequence of air pollution. Meanwhile the estimates for recent years have increased significantly. The scientists emphasize that in many regions of the world industry and traffic are not the leading sources of air pollution, which is generally assumed, but that agriculture can play an important role, in addition to residential energy use for heating and cooking.

The scientists have identified the release of ammonia from animal husbandry and fertilizer use as a leading cause of air pollution, especially in large parts of Europe. Ammonia contains nitrogen which is an important nutrient for plants, but it escapes to the atmosphere from manure and by fertilizing agricultural crops. It reacts with other substances, such as sulphuric and nitric acid, to form ammonium sulphate and nitrate salts that make up the particulates.

50 percent less NH3 would avoid 250,000 deaths per year globally

In their present study, the scientists concentrate on four regions where particulate air quality limits are frequently exceeded: North America, Europe, South and East Asia. Their calculations show that a 50 percent reduction of agricultural emissions would lead to a global decrease in deaths attributable to air pollution of around eight percent. This figure corresponds to a mortality rate of 250,000 people per year. If ammonia emissions could be fully excluded, about 800,000 deaths from air pollution related diseases would be avoided globally.

'The effect of ammonia reduction on particulate formation is non-linear. Air quality improvement is most efficient after certain reductions have been realized. 'From this point on, however, the effect is exponential', explains Andrea Pozzer, Group Leader at the Max Planck Institute for Chemistry and leading author of the study. A reduction in ammonia emissions of more than 50 percent would, therefore, be highly effective and desirable, Pozzer adds.

Europe, especially, would profit from lower ammonia emissions

The scientists determined mortality rates in two stages: first, with the aid of an atmospheric chemistry model, they calculated how strongly fine particulates would be reduced by decreasing ammonia emissions. The results show that by cutting the global source by half, in Europe 11 percent less PM2.5 particulates would result, in the USA 19 percent and in China 34 percent. In Germany, the average level of fine particulates in the year 2015 was around 14 micrograms per cubic meter of air, meaning that in the 50 percent reduction scenario it would drop to about 12.5 micrograms per cubic meter.

Based on an additional model, which describes the public health impacts that occur for a given particulate exposure, the researchers calculated the influence on mortality by lung cancer, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. In particular Europe would profit from a reduction in ammonia emissions and the consequent decrease of fine particulates: for example, a Europe-wide NH3 reduction of 50 percent would decrease mortality from PM2.5 by almost 20 percent, meaning that about 50,000 deaths per year could be avoided.

Andrea Pozzer and colleagues calculated that an ammonia reduction of this magnitude in the USA would lead to a 30 percent drop in the air pollution related mortality rate. In contrast, the computer models indicate smaller improvements for the same reduction in East Asia, about eight percent, and only three percent in South Asia.

Based on these results, Jos Lelieveld concludes: 'Emission policies, in particular in North America and Europe, should impose more stringent ammonia controls to effectively reduce fine particulate concentrations.' Sulphur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxide (NOx) reduction measures are critically important for clean air, but should be complemented by a reduction of ammonia from agriculture, which can be implemented relatively efficiently and economically.
Shure President and CEO Christine Schyvinck holds a Shure Super 55 microphone Oct. 23, 2017, at Shure's headquarters in Niles. Schyvinck, who has been working at the privately owned company since 1989, took the top post last year. (Jim Young / Chicago Tribune)

When Christine Schyvinck joined Niles-based Shure in 1989, she was a newly minted graduate from the University of Wisconsin at Madison looking to combine her interests in engineering and music. Last year, Schyvinck, 50, became president and CEO of the 92-year-old audio electronics-maker.

Consumers may know Shure for its phonograph cartridges and microphones, including the classic Elvis mic. Some of those early designs are still sold today. But as technology and the music industry have changed, Shure has too.

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The company has an expanding global footprint, with more than 2,000 employees and more than $500 million in annual sales. Its developing new products that use software to make smarter equipment. And its opening a new office in the Loop in the spring, where corporate customers will be able to test-drive its audio conferencing systems  the fastest-growing segment of Shures business.

The following interview has been edited for length and clarity.

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Q: Were you interested in music before you came to Shure?

A: I was actually debating between engineering and music as a high school student. I played French horn and piano. I had this turning point in my life where I was at my French horn teachers house having a lesson one week and hes telling me about how hes worried he doesnt know what his next gig is going to be. I sat there and thought music might be a good hobby, but Im not sure I want to make a living on this gig-to-gig thing. When Shure came to campus, to me it seemed like the blend of two great worlds.

Q: You started out in quality engineering. Did you know at the time you wanted to move into management?

A: About five or six years in I did. There was a moment where there was a management position that was going to open up, and I thought I would get it and I didnt. I talked to the (vice president) of quality, who said, Well, you never said anything. I just thought, Im doing a good job; theyre going to tap my shoulder, but I realized I had to take my career by the reins and make it happen.

Q: How did you come to take on the top post last year?

A: Mrs. (Rose) Shure (who served as company chairman until her death last year) asked me to do that in 2001.

Q: What took so long?

A: Either she was really prescient or she thought I needed a lot of training. That was the way the Shures worked: Everything was about planning for the future. They wanted this company to be this great entity that provides solutions for people way out into the future. I came back the next day and said yes.

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Q: Were there strategic changes you wanted to make when you came in, or were you already part of those decisions?

A: When the passing of the baton was announced, my main theme was stay the course. Were staying the course, but I want to make sure we dont hold back. We have so many opportunities in front of us, and we have really good growth right now. Weve traditionally been pretty conservative. If theres a change Ive brought to the table, its just opening up the conversation and making sure people know that they can ask if they can have a tool or make an investment to make something happen.

Q: Shure has been incorporating a lot more software in its products over the last five to six years, such as the ceiling tile-based conferencing systems for corporate meeting rooms that give people more control over sound. What was going on then that made software more important?

A: We had the transducers, we had the cartridges, we knew about sound information, and we had the digital signal processing capabilities (to make the ceiling tile system), but it was never a thing a consumer or a company could use until the software came to fruition and there was a user interface where they could control what was happening.

If I went back seven years ago, I could count on both of my hands how many software engineers we had. Now we have more software engineers than any other kind of engineer. Its not about being a software company; its the way products have evolved. I call it software that enables hardware.

Q: There have been a lot of changes in the music industry over Shures history. How does that change what Shure does?

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A: Our brand is really well-known with people that grew up when people would get a band together in the garage. What were trying to tap into now is with millennials and Gen Z and understanding how our products can help them with content creation and music-making. Everything is pretty much digital at this point. People who grew up with the garage band and mixers and all the hardcore hardware, its really changed. We do have a lot of tools that up-and-coming musicians can use, and the big push we have right now is trying to make ourselves more present in social media. We have new people we brought on in marketing who really understand how to make that connection between us as a manufacturer and the end user. Were not Kleenex; were not a brand everyone knows.

Q: Do you want to be?

A: I think that in our industry, were Kleenex. But not everybody on the conferencing side of the business knows us. We need to tap into them as much as we need to tap into the 16-year-old trying to create some music on his computer.

Q: Shures business has transformed over the years, from the rise of the professional audio business, to the move to wireless technology, then bringing that technology to boardrooms and consumers. Whats next?

A: Internet of things. You cant turn around without someone hitting you over the head with that one. As we get more into boardrooms, how do we make sure our products plug into the right networks, and with cybersecurity an increasing concern, how do you make sure your product isnt the leak? Were trying to make our customers lives easier through connectivity.

Q: Shure is a private company, but what can you share about how things are going?

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A: We had a great fiscal 2017, which ended in May. Now that we have the first four months (of this fiscal year) under our belt, were growing at healthy double digits compared to last year, and we thought last year was good. And were expanding into different places around the world. When I started we had five locations in North America, and at this point we have more than 25. Some of these products, you have to be able to demo them to sell them.

lzumbach@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @laurenzumbach
A northwest suburban man has been sentenced to 13 years in federal prison and ordered to pay $3.6 million in restitution after pleading guilty to wire fraud in a multiyear scheme to bilk credit card issuers. (Dreamstime / TNS)

A northwest suburban man has been sentenced to 13 years in federal prison and ordered to pay $3.6 million in restitution after pleading guilty to wire fraud in a multiyear scheme to bilk credit card issuers.

Sebastian Deptula, 37, of Medinah, and eight co-defendants were charged with submitting false information to obtain multiple credit cards and rapidly exhausting the spending limits on everything from electronics to cash advances before the cards were frozen or canceled, according to a federal indictment.

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Deptula pleaded guilty in February and was sentenced Tuesday in federal court in Chicago.

The credit card bust-out scheme ran from 2010 to 2014 and involved a number of financial institutions and associates recruited by Deptula, authorities said. In some cases, card balances were paid down from accounts that had insufficient funds, buying extra time to make additional purchases before the cards were canceled.

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Cardholders also disputed entries on account statements to reverse charges or get additional credit to extend the use of the cards, according to the plea agreement. When the cards were maxed out, Deptula instructed his associates to declare bankruptcy to avoid responsibility for the debts.

Deptulas take was typically 20 percent of the credit card limit, payable in goods, cash or cash equivalents, according to the plea agreement.

The FBI began investigating the scheme in 2012, and it came to an end when a search warrant was executed at Deptulas Medinah home in 2014. He was arrested in 2015 and charged with nine counts of fraud.

Investigators pegged the losses suffered by financial institutions at more than $3.5 million, but Deptulas court-appointed attorney argued that the loss amount was significantly lower  about $1.1 million  and questioned the severity of the sentence.

We were disappointed in the sentencing, said Chicago attorney Scott Frankel, who represented Deptula. The court disagreed with us on the loss amount, and were planning to file notice of appeal.

rchannick@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @RobertChannick
Brad Keywell, co-founder and CEO of Uptake, speaks Sept. 14, 2017, at the Chicago Venture Summit at Google's Chicago Headquarters. Keywell, a co-founder of Groupon, is leaving that company's board. (Kristan Lieb / Chicago Tribune)

Groupon on Wednesday announced several changes to its board, including the departure of co-founder Brad Keywell, and said its shifting toward deals that are easier to redeem and intensifying its focus on discounts at local businesses.

I'm proud of where Groupon is headed today, Keywell, who is also the co-founder and CEO of predictive analytics company Uptake, said in a statement. The business is in good hands with its existing board and leadership under the helm of Eric Lefkofsky as chairman and Rich Williams as CEO. Uptake is my primary focus as we continue on our exciting growth trajectory and capitalize on the opportunities that lie ahead.

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Jeff Housenbold, former president and CEO of Shutterfly, is leaving the Groupon board as well, the company said. Housenbold is now at SoftBank.

Joining the board is Deborah Wahl, the former chief marketing officer at McDonalds.

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Wahl will add valuable expertise and guidance as we continue to invest in our customers and merchants, Groupon CEO Rich Williams said, adding the keys to driving its local deals business are building an unmatched customer experience and a leading brand.

The Chicago company also announced a new chief operating officer: Steve Krenzer. Krenzer was most recently CEO of Core Digital Media, an online advertising company.

The announcements were made concurrently with the release of the companys third-quarter results. Groupon swung to a profit in the period, although revenue declined slightly due to a hit from hurricanes in Florida and Texas.

Groupon also raised some of its financial expectations for the full year. It now expects gross profit of between $1.305 billion and $1.355 billion, up slightly from a previous estimate of between $1.30 billion and $1.35 billion.

The company said it will continue to focus on improving profitability, which may come at the expense of revenue. Specifically, Groupon said it will shift its offerings toward a category that includes deals at local businesses and is heavily focused on food and drink, and away from Goods, a category that includes everything from pet beds to fitness trackers. In the third quarter, Goods category transactions fell 30 percent.

Groupon believes that focusing on stronger categories, like coupons for food and drink and other local deals, is the key to driving profit. Its also developing ways to make it easier for customers to get discounts without the hassle of remembering a voucher at a restaurant.

The company last month launched Groupon Plus, which allows customers to get discounts without a voucher. The service, available in 23 markets including Chicago, applies a discount automatically if customers link their Visa or Mastercard.

CEO Williams said that program has expanded to include more businesses, mostly restaurants, bars and cafes, and he expects that to continue, eventually branching out to other categories.

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Groupon also revealed in a regulatory filing on Wednesday that it was paid $19.8 million by GrubHub in September for customer lists and other intangible assets in certain food delivery markets. Groupon said this summer that it inked a deal with GrubHub to join forces on food delivery in the U.S. The deal allowed customers to order through Groupon from GrubHubs slate of 55,000 restaurants.

Shares of Groupon closed at $5.12 Wednesday, up 35 cents, or 7.3 percent.

sbomkamp@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @SamWillTravel
PHOENIX -- Gov. Doug Ducey may tap the state's "rainy day fund'' to keep health care coverage for 23,000 Arizona children until Congress finally acts.

The governor said Tuesday that both the House and Senate are weighing legislation to restore funding for the Children's Health Insurance Program. It provides nearly free care for children in families earning up to twice the federal poverty level, or about $40,840 a year for a family of three.

Cash for CHIP ran out when the federal fiscal year ended on Sept. 30.

In the interim, the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has used unspent dollars from the just-ended budget year to keep the program alive. But Christina Corieri, the governor's health adviser, said those funds are expected to dry up by the middle of December.

After that?

The Arizona law which accepts federal dollars for what is known in the state as Kids Care, spells out that if the federal government ultimately stops funding the program, the state has to stop enrolling children. That's exactly what happened in 2010 when Arizona lawmakers decided they did not want to pay the state's 25 percent share.

Lawmakers voted last year to reinstate Kids Care, but only after Congress agreed to pick up the full cost, at least through the end of the federal budget year. The most recent figures show 23,199 children enrolled.

It is the failure so far to approve the $15 billion annual appropriation to care for 9 million children nationwide going forward that again places health care at risk.

"We want to see Kids Care continued,'' the governor said Tuesday after visiting children on Halloween at Phoenix Children's Hospital. And Ducey said he has "every confidence'' that Congress will act before the funds run out.

But the governor said the state has the ability to deal with circumstances "as they happen.''

"It's part of the reason we've been fiscally responsible,'' he said. That's why we've grown the rainy day fund.''

Ducey would not provide specifics.

"What I don't want to do is negotiate what we're going to do in the budget in these press gaggles,'' he told reporters. "But when you look at what we've done in the past and where we've put our priorities, you'll see this is important for us.''

Whats formally known as the "budget stabilization fund'' currently has about $460 million.

That would more than cover any interim costs. In September, the state got $6 million in federal funds for Kids Care.

But with increasing enrollment since the freeze was lifted, the governor's office pegs the cost for October through December at $20 million.

Ducey, however, would need legislative approval to shift around those dollars.

An aide to House Speaker J.D. Mesnard said his boss does not want to comment until he sees more details. There was no immediate response from Senate President Steve Yarbrough.

Ducey's staff is exploring another option, one he may be able to do on its own. And its based on doing a bit of shifting of dollars--and children--among programs.

The Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System, the state's Medicaid program, covers individuals and families earning up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level.

But here's the thing.

The federal government pays about two-thirds of the cost of those up to the federal poverty level. But under the Affordable Care Act, the feds pick up the entire tab for those in the 100 to 138 percent range.

Corieri said while waiting for Congress to act, the state could pay for all the children in that 100 to 138 percent band from Kids Care to AHCCCS. She said each month the state makes that shift frees up enough money to cover everyone else for another three months.

And she said that when Congress finally does refinance the CHIP program it is likely to approve "backfill'' dollars to reimburse the state for any funds it spent providing care in the interim.

Ducey's current desire to keep Kids Care alive is the latest in what has been a politically mixed relationship between Arizona and the federal government on the issue.

Congress approved CHIP in 1997 to help children in families who don't qualify for Medicaid but cannot afford private health insurance.

Arizona did not join until four years later when Republican Gov. Jane Hull convinced lawmakers the program was a good deal. She noted the federal government was offering three dollars for every dollar the state provided, better than the regular Medicaid program.

In 2010, however, with the state facing a deficit, the Republican-controlled Legislature decided Arizona could not afford even its 25 percent match. They approved a freeze on new sign-ups, though those already in the program could stay.

The result was that enrollment, which had reached 45,000, dropped to fewer than 1,000.

Congress last year agreed to pick up the full cost. But even then Ducey was not interested in restoring Kids Care.

But he was outflanked when Rep. Regina Cobb, R-Kingman, attached restoration of the program to something Ducey and other GOP lawmakers wanted: changes to the program to allow more parents to use public dollars to send their children to private and parochial schools.

Enrollment has been climbing steadily since then, though it is not yet back to pre-freeze levels.

The legislation, however, has the provision requiring a new enrollment freeze if Congress ultimately fails to restore full funding.
Jewel-Osco, the largest traditional grocery store chain in the Chicago area, plans to launch a delivery service  the latest bricks-and-mortar grocery retailer to leap into online sales. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune) (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune)

Jewel-Osco, the largest traditional grocery store chain in the Chicago area, plans to launch a delivery service next week  the latest bricks-and-mortar grocery retailer to leap into online sales.

Beginning Tuesday, most Chicago-area residents will have the option of ordering groceries online for delivery through Jewel-Osco's new e-commerce department, according to the company. Orders will be shopped from 11 stores, covering a large swath of the Chicago area, and delivered for a fee ranging from 95 cents to $9.95 depending on the size of the order, time of day and window of time selected.

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Unlike some competitors, such as Mariano's and Meijer, that partner with third-party services, Jewel is handling order fulfillment and delivery itself  though Jewel shoppers will continue to have the option to use Instacart instead.

"We felt it was important to have our own people doing it," said Doug Cygan, Jewel-Osco president. "We're excited about being able to provide what a lot of people want."

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To accomplish this, Jewel hired 100 employees to staff its fledgling e-commerce department, most of whom will fulfill the orders and make the deliveries. The company also bought a fleet of about 60 delivery trucks fitted with compartments of varying temperatures to accommodate fresh food delivery, Cygan said.

The vast majority of U.S. shoppers still buy their groceries in stores. Many still prefer the time-worn rituals of buying fresh food  feeling fruit for ripeness, glimpsing steak behind the meat counter, lifting the egg carton lid to check for broken shells  to the more sterile online experience.

But shoppers also want convenience and increasingly, grocery stores are trying to give them an online option to prevent losing sales to retailers such as Amazon and Jet.com.

By 2025, online grocery shopping is projected to grow to 20 percent of all grocery spending, or $100 billion in annual sales, according to research from the Food Marketing Institute and Nielsen earlier this year.

"Nobody has a crystal ball, but I think that $100 billion could end up being conservative," said Mark Baum, senior vice president of industry relations for the Food Marketing Institute, noting the projections were made before Amazon bought Whole Foods Market in August.

That $100 billion chunk of grocery spending would be roughly equivalent to almost 4,000 grocery stores, Baum said, meaning at least some of those stores will close as sales shift online.

So far, the models for capturing online sales vary.

Earlier this year, Mariano's announced the launch of its ClickList service, which allows shoppers to order groceries online for pickup for a flat fee of $4.95. Mariano's also offers delivery in some locations by partnering with a third-party service.

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Meijer launched delivery from its suburban Chicago stores over the summer, partnering with a service called Shipt that allows customers to communicate with their paid shoppers in real time to indicate preferences.

And of course, Amazon is widely expected to ramp up its fresh food delivery after buying Whole Foods Market for $13.7 billion. Whole Foods stores in the Chicago area currently provide online shopping and delivery through Instacart, though some industry insiders have speculated that partnership might be approaching an expiration date given Amazon's own prowess in online retail.

Jewel-Osco executives believe their model has some advantages.

For a slightly higher fee, shoppers can have groceries delivered within a one-hour window of time, so they're not waiting for several hours, said Anthony Suggs, vice president of marketing and merchandising. Same-day delivery is available for orders placed before noon.

The fee on most orders will average between $1 and $3, Suggs said. The first delivery is free.

Once the service launches next week, shoppers can place their online orders via the Jewel-Osco website. There's a minimum of $49 on orders for delivery.

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Jewel-Osco parent company Albertsons has rolled out a similar delivery service in other markets in the U.S., Cygan said. The Chicago launch was delayed in part because of the uncertainty over Cook County's sweetened beverage tax, which is now set to end Dec. 1.

Cygan noted that the shift toward delivery is actually a return to the historic roots of the company, which delivered tea as Jewel Tea Co. in the early 1900s. Today Jewel-Osco has 187 stores.

"We're so proud to be able to deliver again," Cygan said.

Jewel-Osco also plans to offer pickup at six stores in the city, but the company wouldn't provide the specific locations for that option.

gtrotter@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @GregTrotterTrib
John Kapoor has stepped down as chairman of Lake Forest-based Akorn Pharmaceuticals less than a week after he was charged with leading a nationwide conspiracy, as the founder of a different company, to bribe doctors and pharmacists to overprescribe an opioid pain medication.

Kapoor resigned from Akorns board Monday, according to a Tuesday filing by the company with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

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Dr. Kapoor indicated that his decision to resign was not a result of any disagreement with the Company on any matter relating to the Companys operations, policies or practices, the filing stated.

Akorns board selected Alan Weinstein, who has served on the board since 2009, as chairman. Kapoor had been Akorns chairman since 1990.

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Neither Akorn nor Kapoors attorney responded to requests for comment by Thursday afternoon.

Kapoor, who is also founder and majority owner of Arizona-based Insys Therapeutics, was arrested Oct. 26 and charged with leading a scheme to bribe doctors to prescribe Subsys, a form of the prescription opioid drug fentanyl, sold by Insys.

The drug is intended to treat patients suffering from cancer pain, but in exchange for the alleged bribes and kickbacks, doctors wrote large numbers of prescriptions for the drug for many patients who did not have cancer, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

Several other Insys executives also have been indicted. Kapoor and the other executives also were charged with defrauding and misleading health insurers that were reluctant to approve payment for the drug when it was prescribed for noncancer patients.

In August, Insys agreed to pay Illinois $4.45 million to settle allegations that it deceptively marketed and sold Subsys for uses not approved by the FDA. Illinois had sued the company in August 2016 in Cook County Circuit Court.

Akorn is in the process of being acquired by German health care company Fresenius Kabi for $4.3 billion. That deal is expected to close by the end of the year, subject to regulatory approval.

Matt Kuhn, a spokesman for Fresenius, declined to comment on Kapoors resignation or Insys. It is a separate company from Akorn and has no impact on our announced acquisition of Akorn, Kuhn said in an email.

lschencker@chicagotribune.com

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Twitter @lschencker
Jim Meehan, pictured recently at Prairie School in Fulton Market, has filled his Bartender Manual with so much rich detail that it will likely serve as the go-to reference for another generation of bartenders and bar owners. (Phil Velasquez / Chicago Tribune)

In the span of a month, acclaimed bartender Jim Meehan has opened a new bar (the West Loops Prairie School), welcomed the birth of his second child and published an expansive 488-page look at the world of bartending. To say Meehan is a busy man is an understatement. As he puts it, Im spinning like a top.

Maintaining control over chaos is just one of the many topics covered in Meehans Bartender Manual, a followup to 2011s The PDT Cocktail Book. Where that book was a snapshot of his renowned New York City speakeasy, the just-published Meehans Bartender Manual takes a deeper dive into the current cocktail and spirits boom, as well as the craft of bartending itself.

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Following in the footsteps of authors like Harry Johnson, who compiled his Bartenders Manual at the end of the 19th century, as well as modern masters like Danny Meyer, who wrote Setting the Table just over a decade ago, Meehan has filled his Bartender Manual with so much rich detail that it, too, will likely serve as the go-to reference for another generation of bartenders and bar owners.

The book notably draws on the collective knowledge and research of some of the industrys largest figures. Meehan uses extensive interviews he conducted with dozens of experts, including legendary bartender Dale DeGroff, Maison Ferrand owner Alexandre Gabriel, Brooklyn Brewery brewmaster Garrett Oliver, bar operator Julie Reiner and historian David Wondrich.

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I'm no natural, says Meehan. My success is the byproduct of the training I've been so fortunate to receive. What I tried to do with the interviews is insert them in my book in parts where I thought that they resonated with what I was writing.

To be sure, the book draws most heavily on Meehans own experiences and knowledge. Fans of cocktail bars will be interested in Meehans detailed look at bar design, using spots such as New York Citys posh NoMad Bar and the more Midwestern Bryants Cocktail Lounge in Milwaukee as case studies.

Its here that Meehan details countless aspects of his idealized bar design. A mix of warm lights that flatter guests complexions and allow for appetizing smartphone photos. Music that casts a veil of privacy around conversations when a room is empty but doesnt require guests to shout when it is full. Steel drip trays wide enough to build cocktails with the smaller shaker tin in front of the larger. A wooden bar top soft enough to prevent glasses from shattering if tipped over but sturdy enough to stand on if the occasion is ever called for.

With the help of Heisler Hospitalitys Matt Eisler and Kevin Heisner, many of these ideals were brought to life at Prairie School. Guests at the bar can see them in everything from service and uniforms to their hyper-seasonal sekki menu, overseen by head bartender Kristina Magro.

I'm very interested in designing things, says Meehan. The opportunity that Kevin and Matt and Kristina gave me in Chicago has really allowed me to put a lot of these ideas into practice.

And while Meehans Bartender Manual delves into many technical details that are directed at industry pros, it will certainly be of interest to home bartenders, as well. More than half of the pages are devoted to approachable recipes for dozens of classic cocktails, such as the Fernet-spiked Hanky-Panky and the rum-forward El Presidente. Meehan also includes some of his own creations, like the boozy Brown Bomber and the refreshing Five Island Flamingo. The recipes are divided into sections classified by spirit and interspersed with succinct lessons on distilling and cultural history. Theres even a section of the book dedicated to building a home bar.

In some ways, I wrote this book for professional bartenders, Meehan says. But I hoped that people other than professional bartenders would be interested in it, as well.

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With his serious, intellectual approach to the subject, Meehan has written a book that is required reading for bar professionals and cocktail enthusiasts alike. His deep knowledge and passion for the world of spirits offer a welcome addition to bookstore shelves too often stocked with giftable cocktail booklets that merely skim the surface of the subject.

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As Meehan describes it, It's the equivalent of asking someone if they want their whiskey straight up or on the rocks. I made the decision to give it to them straight up.

Meehan's Bartender Manual by Jim Meehan, Ten Speed Press, 488 pages, $40.

Prairie School, 326 N. Morgan St., 312-763-6564, www.prairieschoolchicago.com

kmarlatt@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @kenneymarlatt

[ Prairie School, cocktail icon Jim Meehan's ode to Frank Lloyd Wright, opens ]

[ Jolly Pumpkin brings the jolly  but not much pumpkin  to Hyde Park ]

[ First look at Bar Cargo, serving up trendy Roman-style pizza ]
The Navy is investigating whether two members of the Navy's elite SEAL Team Six killed an Army Green Beret in Mali in June, a US official told CNN Sunday.

Naval Criminal Investigative Service spokesman Ed Buice confirmed to CNN the NCIS investigation into the death of Army Staff Sgt. Logan J. Melgar.

Melgar was a Special Forces Engineer Sergeant, according to a statement from the US Army Special Command.

Military officials told CNN that a military examiner ruled Melgar's death while on assignment in the African nation of Mali as a homicide.

A US official told CNN jurisdiction for the investigation shifted from the Army investigation service to the Navy in September. The official said the transfer of jurisdiction indicates that Navy personnel are subjects of the investigation.

The New York Times was the first to report that two members of SEAL Team Six were under investigation for Melgar's death, saying his death was caused by strangulation at a US government compound near the American embassy in Bamako, the capital.

Michelle Melgar, the victim's wife, has been notified her husband's manner of death was a homicide, the official said.

She told CNN: "I ask for privacy during this time -- I hope that you will allow me to tell my story when I'm ready. I knew him best -- he was my best friend. It's all so new -- I'm sorry."

Melgar, a native of Lubbock, Texas, enlisted in the US Army in 2012 and began Special Forces training in 2013, according to the US Army Special Command statement. He served two deployments to Afghanistan.

The report of the mysterious death and resulting homicide investigation comes as the US undergoes heightened scrutiny about its military role Africa following the death of four US service members in Niger earlier this month.

Melgar was a member of the 3rd Special Forces Group, which is the primary unit responsible for Army special operations in northwest Africa, including Mali and Niger. The four American soldiers killed in Niger earlier this month were part of the same group.

Some Senate leaders expressed surprise about the extent of US military operations, renewing the debate over the authority for the United States' sprawling war on terror.

Amid growing questions about what went wrong during the deadly mission, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Joseph Dunford, said the US forces are in "about 53 different countries" in Africa.

Like neighboring Niger, Mali has faced significant, deadly extremism. Gunmen attacked a luxury resort in Mali the same month Melgar died, and in August there were two separate attacks on United Nations missions there.

CNN's Konstantin Toropin contributed to this report.
Manning the cash register at the Goose Island Shrimp House, a squat man with thick, tattooed forearms talks with customers as if theyre old friends. Thats because, in many cases, they are. The mans name is Lamon Eichelberger, and hes been working at the Division Street restaurant for more than two decades. As a tall, gray-haired man picking up a bag of shrimp fills Eichelberger in on the well-being of a mutual pal, other regulars stream through the door  a police officer, a kid and a well-put-together woman who approaches the counter as if on a mission. Ive been coming here since my oldest son was a child, and my oldest son is almost 40, she says.

Its been a long time, continues the woman, Maxine Ray, crossing the floor to talk. Everythings good  shrimp, scallops. I live way down south on 103rd, and I come here all the time.

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Ray grew up in the neighborhood, she says, and discovered the shrimp house when her sister and her sisters friends would visit a long-gone lounge down the street. Like many others, they would stop here afterward for a fried seafood feast.

Sitting near the corner of Division Street and Hickory Avenue, the 44-year-old Goose Island Shrimp House is a Chicago institution, beloved by customers from all walks of life. Its not hard to see why: One heft of a heavily battered, golden-brown jumbo shrimp, and you know this place means business. But the impossibly crisp fried shrimp, scallops, clams and oysters are only one reason the neighborhood favorite has stood the test of time. As straight-to-the-point as its name is, it might be just slightly off: It could be called the Goose Island Shrimp Home. Because thats exactly what its been, not only for visitors over the last four decades, but also for the tight team of friends and family who make it all happen.

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How did I get involved? My best friend got me involved, says Eichelberger, a manager and the de facto spokesperson for the team that helms the fryers, maintains the spotless kitchen and runs the cash register. I was looking for a job, and he got me a job 24 years ago. It started from there.

Eichelbergers long tenure sounds remarkable, but its characteristic of the group of friends from the West Side who all came to work at the shrimp house. Tony Shaw, the friend who got Eichelberger the job, has worked at the restaurant for 27 years. Eichelbergers brothers, Bernard and Donald, have been here for, respectively, about 20 and 15 years. Manager Greg Brown's tenure is also about 15 years. Another friend, who goes only by Ferris, pre-dates them all, having started more than 30 years ago. Known, as the guy with the Jheri Curl who moves real fast, according to Eichelberger, Ferris has taken breaks from the job over the decades but recently returned  to the delight of longtime customers who remember him from a bygone era.

The restaurant is owned by a family that prefers to keep a low profile, making Eichelberger the face of the business. Those who visit the shrimp house almost certainly know, or at least recognize, the 44-year-old. When the restaurant is busy, he can be all business  but its only because he wants to get the crowds served as quickly as possible. A lot of people come in and say, That guy right there is mean and serious, he says with a laugh. Sometimes Im right to the point, working, but I'm not a mean guy. I like to joke a little bit. Once they get to know me, they know Im sweet as pie.

The interior of the shrimp house is untouched by time. It's small, and there are no tables. Its primarily characterized by customer photos, a Ms. Pacman arcade machine and a hodgepodge of ephemera collected over the decades, everything from a wooden ships wheel to a faded Bears poster.

The neighborhood, however, has seen massive change. For decades, it was a stones throw away from the sprawling Cabrini Green housing project. A lot of people said it was horrible and things like that, says Eichelberger of the Cabrini years. It had its moments, but, mostly, it was a beautiful thing. And the people from Cabrini Green still come back to this place, because its home. Theyre family. We grew up with them.

Today, where public housing and vacant land once stood, big-box stores and pricey condos are on the rise, literally and figuratively. When Cabrini was here, the area was more residential, says Eichelberger. And now residential is coming back. Were getting a whole new generation, which is great.

Eat. Watch. Do. Weekly What to eat. What to watch. What you need to live your best life ... now. >

As the day goes by, two older men catch up and share a few laughs, lingering in the corner until their food, fried to order, is ready. Hes been coming here almost every day for 20 years, says Eichelberger after the men shuffle out. Later, Eichelberger tells the story of a boy who, years ago, was known in the neighborhood for selling videos door-to-door. Now grown, living in Wisconsin with a son of his own, he recently stopped by and thanked the crew for looking out for him as a kid.

Of course, its not all commiseration and laughs. The restaurant is open until 4 a.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays and 5 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Eichelberger and the team regularly log long days and nights making the cocktail sauce and secret-recipe batter, serving seafood by the half-pound, three-quarter pound or pound to the throngs of people who gather outside  especially after the bars close. If theres something happening in the city, at the end of the night, its happening here, says Eichelberger. Last Lent, they were so busy that they had to turn down a request to be featured on Diners, Dive-Ins & Dives.

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On the walls hang photos of countless celebrity customers, from the late Michael Clark Douglas to Friday After Next actress Nikki Davis to the cast of Cooley High. Eichelberger can tell story after story of stars stopping in: Steve Harvey, Jack Black, Jamie Foxx, Shaquille ONeal. But ultimately, this place is about the regulars. Its the daily exchange of comfort food and warm friendship among loyalists near and far, visitors and hosts that makes the Goose Island Shrimp House what it is.

To that end, while the institution has given some consideration to signing up with the many delivery services made available to restaurants in recent years, so far, its standing its ground. We've thought about it, Eichelberger says. But I think the experience is to come get it here.

Goose Island Shrimp House, 1011 W. Division St., 312-642-3640, www.gooseislandshrimphouse.com

Matt Lee is a freelance writer.

food@chicagotribune.com

[ Chicago's best cheap eats: 30 days of lunch deals, happy hour specials and more ]

[ Dearly departed: 15 Chicago restaurants Phil Vettel misses the most ]
Muhal Richard Abrams leads the Experimental Band from the piano at the Chicago Jazz Festival in 2015. (Nuccio DiNuzzo / Chicago Tribune)

In 1965, Chicago pianist Muhal Richard Abrams and colleagues formed an organization that would change the course of jazz and much more.

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The Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians dramatically redefined how individuals and ensembles could compose and improvise their works, and how they could take control of their own performances and recordings.

Abrams was integral to those achievements and influenced generations as composer, teacher, organizer and scholar. He died Sunday evening in his New York home with his wife, Peggy Abrams, and daughter, Richarda Abrams, at his side, they said. Muhal Richard Abrams, who was born in Chicago and launched his career here, was 87.

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In co-founding the AACM, He was able to create a community of artists who all respected each other, all shared the responsibility of playing with each other and all actually taught each other, said Wadada Leo Smith, an early AACM member whose Ten Freedom Summers was a Pulitzer Prize finalist in 2013.

Muhal spent his life in service to us, his fellow musicians, composers and the world, said George Lewis, a MacArthur Fellowship winner and author of the definitive study A Power Stronger Than Itself: The AACM and American Experimental Music.

He was a great teacher, but he also taught us to teach ourselves and to teach other people.  Now all four of the (AACM) founders have passed away, and we are on our own, added Lewis, referring to AACM co-founders Abrams, drummer Steve McCall, multi-instrumentalist Kelan Phil Cohran and pianist Jodie Christian. (Recording secretary Sandra Lashley also signed the AACMs articles of incorporation on May 8, 1965.)

Abrams attended DuSable and Wendell Phillips high schools and took classes at Roosevelt University and Governors State University, but he considered himself a mostly self-taught musician.

He used to come to the Roosevelt sessions, remembered Joe Segal, who organized jazz performances at the school starting in 1947.

He was one of many very fine pianists. He was straight-ahead, added Segal, meaning that Abrams was playing in the bebop manner of the day.

In fact, I have some cuts of him playing. If I didnt tell you who it was, youd never guess.

Abrams keyboard prowess won him engagements accompanying major figures who played Chicago, including Max Roach, Kenny Dorham, Hank Mobley, Ray Nance and Sonny Stitt.

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But by the late 1950s and early 60s, the jazz landscape in Chicago was imploding because of changing musical tastes, the rise of rock n roll, disappearing clubs and urban renewal.

Unwilling to give up on music even as opportunities for work were evaporating, Abrams in 1962 formed the Experimental Band, inviting fellow free thinkers to expand stylistic and expressive boundaries. Staffed by such rising figures as saxophonist Fred Anderson, woodwinds masters Joseph Jarman and Roscoe Mitchell, and drummers McCall and Jack DeJohnette, the Experimental Band drew inspiration from Sun Ras Arkestra and set the stage for the emergence of the AACM in 1965.

Not only did Muhal cultivate this community, but we were able to practice a discipline that the world has never seen from a musical organization, said trumpeter-composer Smith.

During those times we never received a single grant, never had any deep pockets from private donors. We walked the streets, posted signs, made mimeographed announcements.

Within a few years, the AACM was gaining fame and admiration in Europe and beyond, thanks to the travels of the Art Ensemble of Chicago and Anthony Braxtons trio. Early AACM bands such as Cohrans Artistic Heritage Ensemble and units led by Abrams, Christian, Jarman and Mitchell opened up new sonic possibilities. Freewheeling ensemble interplay, ancient and invented instruments, age-old New Orleans musical traditions, unabashed dissonance and Afro-centric musical rituals were behind the AACMs motto: Great Black Music: Ancient to the Future.

We had no idea the AACM would catch on as it did, Abrams said in a 1990 Tribune interview. We certainly didnt establish it to be some kind of important institution.

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We werent looking for notoriety, or anything. If we had, it probably wouldnt have turned out that way.

We simply were turning to each other for support, and that was all it took. The resources were within us.

In the late 1960s, Abrams also emerged as a co-founder of the nonprofit Jazz Institute of Chicago, which to this day programs the Chicago Jazz Festival and organizes educational events across the city.

He came to the meetings, though he wouldnt let us put his name on as a board member  but he was very much part of it, said Harriet Choice, a co-founder of the organization and a former Tribune jazz critic.

Abrams also was involved in planning the massive Grant Park jazz concerts of the mid-1970s that led to the creation of the Chicago Jazz Festival, in 1979.

By 1977, Abrams had moved to New York, establishing a chapter of the AACM there and developing into one of the most uncategorizable composer-pianists of the late 20th century. Jazz, classical, blues, avant-garde, folkloric and other musical languages coursed through his work  some meticulously composed, some invented spontaneously at the piano.

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He was a student of esoteric knowledge, said Lewis. He went far beyond the standards of academically acceptable modes of thinking and of knowledge production and transmission.

He was a tireless inventor, constantly searching for new information  voracious appetite and curiosity and love of learning.

Abrams enormously wide view of music was unmistakable when he sat down at the piano, unfurling an epic sweep of sound and ideas. Strands of melody and harmony intertwined, orchestral splashes of color emerged from his fingertips, shades of Alban Berg and Claude Debussy met up with jazz riffs and blue-note figurations. It all attested to Abrams vast knowledge of the breadth of Western and non-Western music.

Muhal, in his later years as a pianist, he had this sort of hypertranscendental mode of performance, observed Lewis.

It was meditative, and it was long-form, and it built up very slowly over time  the emotional fervor of it. And you just had to go with it. It was unpredictable, but it wasnt dictatorial.

Meaning that his music welcomed anyone open to its far-flung influences.

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Abrams was widely recognized for his achievements. He was the first winner of the Danish JAZZPAR Award, in 1990; won a National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Masters Fellowship, the United States highest jazz honor, in 2010; and received an honorary doctoral degree from Columbia University in 2012.

And he never stopped championing bold new ideas in music, leading a new version of Muhal Richard Abrams Experimental Band at the Chicago Jazz Festival in Millennium Park in 2015, to celebrate the AACMs 50th anniversary.

The major issue is still reaching the public, he said in the 1990 Tribune interview, on the eve of the AACMs silver anniversary.

Many musics have been exposed to the public over the past 25 years, so the situation is a little different, but not very much.

In a way, its the same as when we began.

Memorials for Abrams are being planned for Chicago and New York.

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Howard Reich is a Tribune critic.

hreich@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @howardreich

[ RELATED: AACM celebrates a golden anniversary ]

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When we first meet Sam, one half of the potential love match at the heart of Rohina Maliks Yasminas Necklace, hes arguing with his parents over his name. He has changed it for the usual expedient American reasons; they argue he should be more respectful of his Iraqi and Puerto Rican heritage.

This is a common device in plays about identity. And thus we intuit that Sam, who is played by the likable Michael Perez, will, over the course of the next couple of hours, come to learn something about what matters in life, just as his potential match, a uncertain but resilient Iraqi immigrant named Yasmina (Susaan Jamshidi), will need to embrace the hopes of a new nation even as she as is buffeted by its many flaws and prejudices.

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There are, then, no surprises whatsoever in Yasminas Necklace, a nonetheless sincere and warmhearted romantic comedy by the Chicago-based writer Malik, and a humanistic, generously spirited show that has been previously seen at the much smaller 16th Street Theater in Berwyn, a company run by Ann Filmer, whos now directing the play at the Goodman. You have a couple with an affinity for each other but backgrounds that place them in opposition, and then you have a bunch of slightly wacky parents and authority figures bustling around them as they try to find a mutual meeting place. Theres even a genial imam (Allen Gilmore) on hand as a wise counselor as the young people make their journey toward the embrace of love in Chicago.

I did not see the popular staging in Berwyn, but the Goodman production certainly looks like an import from a smaller space. Joe Schermolys set design has to deal with a play set basically in two living areas, flashbacks notwithstanding, but it still doesnt fully fill the stage. And, at times, you can see characters all standing awkwardly in a line. This is a piece that surely benefited from more intimate quarters, or would need a much more detailed restaging for the Goodmans Owen, where the production does not fully feel like it belongs.

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Representation matters and there have been few Chicago-centered plays about the experience of refugees in this city. Much as Chicagos theaters produced gay sitcoms in the early 1990s, when TV was still stuck in its wholly heteronormative practices, so there is a valid argument that the Goodman should play its part in supporting local writers and actors of color, avoiding perfidious Muslim stereotypes and opening up your typical rom-com structure to those traditionally ignored thereby.

All that said, a formula is a formula, and the best parts of Yasminas Necklace flow when the work steps away from that schema, when it feels the most local to Chicago and when it really personalizes its characters. You know, when they feel messier, more real and less like stand-ins in service of a binary structure.

There are most certainly moments when that starts to happen, and Maliks take on the world is so compassionate for all, the best moments of the show feel like a welcome relief from the harsher world beyond the theaters doors. Still, I wish the piece spent less time on the most dramatized problem of identity, as distinct from the numerous seemingly smaller (and maybe stranger) but just as crucial challenges faced by the many diverse refugees in Chicago.

Or, to put all that another way, I wish we saw more of Yasmina, beyond the tracks of her love relationship and further out into our terrifyingly unpredictable city.

Chris Jones is a Tribune critic.

cjones5@chicagotribune.com

Review: Yasminas Necklace (2.5 stars)

When: Through Nov. 19

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Where: The Goodmans Owen Theatre, 170 N. Dearborn St.

Running time: 2 hours, 15 minutes

Tickets: $10-$40 at 312-443-3800 or www.goodmantheatre.org

[ 'In the Next Room, or the Vibrator Play' crackles with electrified desire ]

[ In '1980 (Or Why I'm Voting for John Anderson),' cold-calling for a loser ]

[ Andrew Lloyd Webber says 'School of Rock' was him always looking to the next thing ]
The first emojis were developed in the late 1990s, according to "The Emoji Code." Japanese software engineer Shigetaka Kurita and his team came up with 176 emoji characters for use in the world's first mobile-phone internet system. Kurita drew on the Japanese comic-strip tradition Manga, and on infographics, those universal pictoral symbols for, say, "toilets, " or "smoking prohibited, " that you see in public places. (Picador Publishing)

You've come a long way, smiley face emoji.

You're now officially art, part of the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art, just like the Picassos and the Jackson Pollocks. Your crew has its own movie  aptly titled "The Emoji Movie."

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Your image graces pillows and T-shirts; in 2015 an emoji ("face with tears of joy") was Oxford Dictionaries' word of the year.

And yet, we know, there's something missing. In those quiet moments when the crowds stop texting, there's a yearning for what Rodney Dangerfield wanted and Aretha Franklin demanded: a little something called respect.

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"There's a lot of prejudice against emoji," said British linguist Vyvyan Evans, author of the recent book "The Emoji Code: The Linguistics Behind Smiley Faces and Scaredy Cats."

"A lot of people think it's the adolescent equivalent of a grunt."

We talked to Evans, a big fan of those expressive little faces, about a deceptively simple system of symbols that's taken the world by storm in the past few years. The following is an edited transcript.

Q: You call emojis "the world's global form of communication," which is a pretty strong claim. A lot of people would say English is the global form of communication.

A: There are around 340 million native speakers of English, around 600 million speakers who use it as a second language, so with English you can reach around a billion people, which is pretty heady stuff. English is the primary or official language in 101 countries, from Canada to Cameroon, from Malta to Malawi. The difference between English and Emoji is Emoji (capitalized to indicate the system of emojis) is intuitively accessible. There are 3.2 billion people who have regular internet access in the world, and studies show that 92 percent-plus of those 3.2 billion people regularly send emojis. So from that perspective, Emoji leaves English in the dust, in terms of its use and uptake.

Q: What's the greatest strength of emojis?

A: Think about the default mode of communication, which is face-to-face interaction. Most people think that when we communicate in that default mode, language is what's driving effective communication, and in fact it's not. Communication requires different channels of information  language is just one. The two other important ones are paralanguage, and that's how you're delivering the words, so tone of voice, and the really big one is kinesics, and that has to do with action-based, nonverbal communication.

Emoji functions analogously to tone of voice and to body language in text-speak, and without it we're reduced communicators. This gives rise to what I refer to as "the angry jerk phenomenon." Digital communication (can) suck out the empathy of the message and reduce all the nuance, and someone we know to be otherwise calm and sane comes across as a complete, angry-sounding jerk.

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Q: Do emojis have a weakness?

A: Probably the most significant weakness comes from how it's controlled. It's controlled by Unicode, which is a California-based consortium that was founded in 1988, and this particular organization (provides an international standard for) fonts and scripts, so this is noble and important. The (members include) eight of the North American giants: Adobe, Apple, Google, Microsoft, Facebook, IBM, Oracle and Yahoo. And there are 3 non-North American organizations. These organizations have a number of rules and regulations that govern emoji, and one is that for something to be accepted as a new emoji, it must be iconic in nature, it must be pictographic, so what that means is the thing that does the representing of the idea must look like the idea it's representing.

Q: Is that a problem?

A: The problem is that emoji cannot represent more abstract ideas, because it's limited up front in terms of what the symbols look like or can be. How do you represent feminism using an emoji? You can't. How do you represent iconoclastic? Or memory?

Q: Is there a censorship issue?

A: Emoji is potentially on a slippery slope to censorship. This goes back to (Unicode) rules and regulations and, arguably, the political correctness of Unicode, the gatekeeper, which is a force for good, but also in the overzealous interpretation of what is correct and what is good, this can potentially lead to an Orwellian nightmare. I'm not saying that's where we are, (but) just to give you an example, there have been a spate of court cases the last 18 months or so, where people have been arrested for issuing threats of various kinds (in the form of) sending gun emojis. In a case in France last year, a man in his 20s was sentenced to three months in (jail) for sending a gun emoji directed at his ex-girlfriend. What Apple did in its update last year was to change the representation of the gun, which previously was a revolver, to a water pistol, a harmless child's toy. These companies that sit on Unicode, that have shareholders and images they need to protect, are in essence constraining what the world's 3.2 billion internet users are able to use emoji to express.

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Q: What's your favorite emoji?

A: My favorite is the dancing lady in the red dress.

Q: Oh, I like her too. Why do you like her?

A: I like her because she's inherently sexy. I kept saying this to people when they asked me what's your favorite emoji and my wife said, 'But you never use it!' So I started sending this emoji to my wife.

nschoenberg@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @nschoenberg

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The Emoji Code

By Vyvyan Evans, Picador, 256 pages, $26






As 20 Americans and Brits flew to a Caribbean island for a controversial herpes vaccine trial, many of them knew there were risks.



The lead U.S. researcher, William Halford, openly acknowledged he was flouting Food and Drug Administration regulations in the consent forms they signed. He would be injecting them with a live, though weakened, herpes virus without U.S. safety oversight.



Still, many of them felt upbeat when they arrived on St. Kitts and Nevis in the spring of 2016. They had struggled for years with debilitating, painful herpes. Halford, the creator of the vaccine, sounded confident.



Maybe they could be cured.



"It felt like paradise," one of the participants recalled. "Or therapy combined with vacation."



A year later, their optimism has turned to uncertainty. Memories of kicking back in a Caribbean hotel during the trial have been overshadowed by the dread of side effects and renewed outbreaks.



But they can't turn to Halford, a Southern Illinois University professor. He died of cancer in June.



They also can't rely on his university, which shares in the vaccine's patent but says it was unaware of the trial until after it was over. Because the FDA didn't monitor the research, it can't provide guidance. Indeed, there is little independent information about what was in the vaccine or even where it was manufactured, since Halford created it himself.



At a time when the Trump administration is pushing to speed drug development, the saga of the St. Kitts trial underscores the troubling risks of ambitious researchers making their own rules without conventional oversight.



"This is exactly the problem with the way the trial was conducted," said Jonathan Zenilman, an expert on sexually transmitted diseases at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center in Baltimore. "These people are supposed to have rights as human subjects, but now there's nowhere for them to go. We may never know if this vaccine worked, didn't work or, even worse, harmed anyone."



Rational Vaccines, the U.S. company co-founded by Halford, still hopes to market the vaccine. It touted success online and to other researchers, prompting millions of dollars of recent investment, including from a company run by Peter Thiel, a backer of President Donald Trump.



Thiel, a PayPal co-founder who has excoriated the FDA as too bureaucratic, declined to answer questions about his investment, which occurred after the trial had ended.



Kaiser Health News interviewed five of the 20 participants in the clinical trial and several associates of Halford.



The participants agreed to speak on condition of anonymity because they don't want to be known as having herpes. Most also said they feared retaliation from Halford's company but hoped by speaking out some of their concerns might be addressed.



Their accounts, along with documents, a video and emails obtained by KHN from the offshore trial, pointed to what experts said were serious irregularities:



Halford did not rely on an institutional review board, or an "IRB," which monitors the safety of research trials.



The company has said it doesn't know where Halford manufactured the vaccine, so it isn't known whether he followed U.S. government guidelines when transporting it.



Halford offered booster shots of the unapproved vaccine inside the United States. FDA regulations prohibit such injections.



"The FDA goes after these types of violations," said Holly Fernandez Lynch, a lawyer and assistant professor who specializes in medical ethics at the University of Pennsylvania's Perelman School of Medicine. "(Researchers) can be prosecuted."



SIU, however, did little to discourage Halford. The university, which has a financial interest in the patent, said it learned of "the concerns" only after his death. In August, after KHN asked about the trial, the medical school's IRB launched an investigation into whether Halford violated U.S. regulations or university rules.



In a statement to KHN, Rational Vaccines acknowledged that Halford "discussed a myriad of concerns ... including the potential need for booster shots."



"Unfortunately, Dr. Halford is no longer with us to address all the ways in which he may have investigated his concerns," stated the company. It added, "We nevertheless wholeheartedly intend to continue his line of investigation in a clinical setting to international good clinical practice standards."



Halford first broke with scientific protocols in 2011, shortly after he was diagnosed with nasal cancer and treated with chemotherapy and radiation, according to an account he later posted on his blog.



By then, Halford was in his 40s and had worked almost a decade at SIU's School of Medicine.



Halford, who did not have herpes, realized his cancer might not give him much time. If he submitted to the FDA's oversight, it would take years, he reasoned in his account.



He decided to become his own research subject, injecting himself more than two dozen times with the vaccine.



"There is an ongoing herpes pandemic that demands the scientific community's attention today, not tomorrow," he wrote in his blog, which by his count received thousands of hits.



The experiments on himself, Halford believed, demonstrated the vaccine was safe.



In 2015, Halford set his sights on launching an offshore clinical trial.



However, his unorthodox approach made some of his peers recoil.



"He sat in my kitchen and tried to convince me to join him," said Terri Warren, a nurse practitioner in Oregon who was approached by Halford in 2016 to help with the trial. "He believed so firmly in his vaccine. He said, 'Think of all of the herpes patients who are suffering.'"



Warren had previously worked with Halford on a different, IRB-approved trial studying a new blood test to diagnose herpes. This time, she said, she became concerned about his methods, including how he was selecting his participants.



"I told him absolutely not," she recalled. "I didn't want anything to do with it. I felt bad for him because he was dying, but I thought he had lost perspective."



But Halford did find backers, including Hollywood filmmaker Agustin Fernandez III, whose credits include action films and an award-winning documentary.



Fernandez recently declined to respond to questions. But in an earlier interview this year with KHN, he said he initially contacted Halford to try to help someone he knew who was battling the disease. He said he didn't have herpes, or a background in science.



Fernandez, however, became such a believer in Halford, he said, he allowed Halford to inject him with the vaccine. In 2015, he co-founded Rational Vaccines with Halford and invested his own money into the company. That same year, the company licensed two patents related to the vaccine from SIU.



"I felt like Bill had the answer, and we had to make sure he got a chance to prove it," Fernandez said.



As soon as news began spreading in the tight-knit herpes online community that Halford may have a cure, he began hearing from the most desperate who asked to be included in any future research.



For many, herpes is a mild disease that can be controlled by antiviral medicines. However, for some, it becomes a life-altering disease that destroys any hope of intimate relationships.



To several of the participants, Halford was an empathetic scientist who refused to give up on finding a cure.



"After dealing with doctors who had no answers, it felt like you were finally talking to someone who cared and could help," said a participant in his 30s from the South who had described the trial as "paradise."



There were other perks as well.



Rational Vaccines told some participants they would be reimbursed for their flight and hotel expenses. If they got through the entire trial, they would be given an extra $500.



As Halford organized two groups of 10 participants, he instructed them on drawing their own blood for the trial, according to a video filmed in a medical lab.



He proceeded with the trial from April to August 2016, giving participants three shots over three months.



Once in St. Kitts, many of them quickly bonded with one another and Halford. Even though they ranged in age from their 20s to 40s and came from different regions, they had the disease in common. They commiserated about how herpes had wreaked havoc on their lives.



"It was a relief to meet people who understood what we were talking about," the Southerner said.



But other participants now say they noticed some troubling signs.



They received the injection in a house in St. Kitts, not a medical clinic.



Halford, whose gaunt frame made his cancer apparent by then, at times appeared disoriented.



Fernandez, a constant presence, was introduced to them by name and made some of them uncomfortable when they socialized over drinks and dinner.



Some patients became anxious about their participation soon after receiving the vaccine.



One, a web developer in his 20s, felt ill after receiving just one dose.



"I experienced tiredness and ringing in my ears," said the web developer, who reported the feelings along with "disequilibrium and slurred speech" continue to this day.



He said he decided not to return to St. Kitts for follow-up shots after Halford dismissed his symptoms as arising from a common cold.



Another participant, a Colorado woman in her 40s, said she told Halford she experienced flu-like aches and pains and tingling and numbness soon after the second shot. The symptoms were followed by an "excruciating" 30-day outbreak of herpes.



"I have new symptoms every day," that woman later wrote Halford in an email exchange provided to KHN. "This is terrifying."



Halford initially dismissed her symptoms, speculating they were caused by a mosquito-borne virus, she said.



She returned for the third shot but had her doubts. Halford and Fernandez met her at a cafe to talk about her concerns, she recalled.



"(Fernandez) kept saying, 'You signed the consent form. You knew the risks,'" said the Colorado woman, who said Halford then removed her from the trial.



Another participant, a Californian in his 30s, said he went through with all three shots despite feeling a "terrible pain in my stomach."



Halford then told him he had noticed in his research of mice that another version of the virus entered the gut of the mice and killed them, the participant said.



"I then thought maybe this is dangerous," said the Californian, whose pain went away but whose outbreaks did not.



Warren, the nurse practitioner in Oregon, said two participants tracked her down as a herpes expert. She said that they described possible side effects from the vaccine.



Halford had told participants he would follow up on their reactions to the vaccine for a year, according to the consent form. But he stopped sending questionnaires to the two participants who said they had been dropped from the trial.



Warren said that even when researchers stop administering a vaccine because of possible side effects, known as adverse events, they have a duty to track the subjects' reactions.



"There is no doubt that these were adverse events that should have been reported," Warren said.



Rational Vaccines did not respond to questions about the complaints. In previous public statements, it acknowledged that one of the 20 participants was concerned about possible side effects.



Some participants also wonder where Halford made the vaccine and how he transported it to St. Kitts.



Halford told his business partner he had made it outside of the United States, without disclosing where.



After the trial ended, some participants began complaining that the vaccine hadn't worked. Halford and Fernandez offered booster shots, according to four participants.



One participant, a man in his 40s who was also from California, declined to get the booster. He said he decided to go back to antiviral drugs when his outbreaks returned.



The Southerner said he agreed to allow Halford to give him booster shots at an office in Springfield, Ill., where Halford worked.



"It was between me and him," said the participant. "He was doing me a favor."



"I don't know if it was a different strain or what, but he gave me a set of double boosters at the same time, one in each leg," recalled the Southerner, who said he didn't have records of the injections. He said he received them as Halford continued to collect data for the trial.



Months later, he said, he returned a second time for another set of boosters.



Halford, meanwhile, tried to persuade a U.S. scientific journal to publish a lengthy manuscript detailing the results of both his experiments on himself and his offshore trial. Halford put the cover letter on SIU letterhead.



In December 2016, only months after the trial had ended, Halford's paper was rejected by the journal.



"This manuscript is partly a vision, partly science, and partly wishful thinking. ... Neither safety nor efficacy has been demonstrated by the data presented," said one reviewer for the journal.



Halford asked his former doctoral adviser, Daniel Carr, to attend a Rational Vaccines advisory board meeting. Carr, a University of Oklahoma Health Services Center professor, said he and other invitees heard glowing reports about the trial.



Carr agreed in May to present the trial data at a conference of herpes experts in Colorado.



A published summary of the event listed Carr as a lead author, though he said he wasn't involved in the research.



"I just did it to help him out," said Carr, who asked for his university's permission to be on Rational Vaccines' advisory board and is waiting for word on federal funding to study another version of Halford's vaccine. "I also presented it because I thought that the scientific community would find it interesting."



Despite its patent agreement reached in 2015, SIU said it was in the dark about Halford's offshore activities until October 2016 months after the trial had ended.



Halford, meanwhile, promoted his work at events attended by university officials.



In October 2016, Halford was a keynote speaker at an SIU-sponsored technology and innovation event to discuss his vaccine work.



Then, in April 2017, Halford and Rational Vaccines held a press conference to trumpet an investment pledge by Thiel's company, according to materials handed out at the event. University officials, including SIU's medical school dean, were invited speakers.



The university's IRB is continuing its investigation, which includes scrutinizing whether Halford used university resources.



"If there are areas of concern, SIU will report those findings promptly to Department of Health and Human Services," said SIU spokeswoman Karen Carlson. "We will also communicate our findings with the scientific community and the public."



FDA spokeswoman Lauren Smith Dyer declined to comment on the trial except to say the FDA does not have jurisdiction over offshore trials that don't seek agency approval.



Dyer, however, added that the export from the United States of an unapproved vaccine for research use and the injection of it on U.S. soil would be within the agency's jurisdiction.



Even so, some participants don't regret taking part in the trial.



"When you feel like a disease has ruined your life, you become desperate," said the Southerner, who believes the boosters have lessened his outbreaks. "Some people contemplate suicide. You're willing to do almost anything."



Other participants still hope for some sort of accountability.



"I feel like without a doubt that my symptoms were vaccine-related," said the Colorado woman. "I feel like it triggered something that I'll have for the rest of my life."



No matter what, experts said, the university has a responsibility to conduct an in-depth investigation. So far, the university has not reached out to participants who spoke to KHN.



"This researcher went rogue," said Fernandez Lynch, the lawyer who specializes in medical ethics. "It's true that universities can't stand behind their researchers watching their every move. But when one of their own goes rogue, a university should launch an aggressive investigation, interview the participants and make sure it never happens again."



(Kaiser Health News (KHN) is a national health policy news service. It is an editorially independent program of the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. KHN's coverage of end-of-life and serious illness issues is supported by The Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation and its coverage related to aging & improving care of older adults is supported by The John A. Hartford Foundation.

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Lori Wallace sits on a couch with her 11-year-old son and his new pet snake. It burrows under his armpit, as if afraid. Wallace is sure it's not.

"If he was terrified, he would be balled up," Wallace said. "See, that is why they are called ball pythons. When they are scared, they turn into a little ball."

Wallace is dying of breast cancer, but a stranger wouldn't know. She has a pixie haircut and a warm tan. She is vibrant and chatty and looks you right in the eyes when she talks. Wallace doesn't shy away from what is happening to her. She shows me her cracked feet. They bleed from the chemotherapy pills she takes.

As Wallace's cancer has progressed over the past seven years, she has become more critical of what she sees as excessive positivity in health care marketing. It's everywhere: TV ads, radio commercials, billboards. The advertisements feature happy, healed patients and tell stories of miraculous recoveries. The messages are optimistic, about people beating steep odds. The ads spread false hope, Wallace said, and for a patient like her, they are a slap in the face.

A couple of decades ago, hospitals and clinics did not advertise much to customers. Now, they are spending more and more each year on marketing, according to university professors who study advertising.

Wallace, who lives in San Jose, Calif., said she used to be a hopeful person, someone who believed you could fight through any misfortune. Then she was diagnosed with breast cancer at 39. Her son was 4 at the time. She couldn't believe it.

She is now in her fifth round of chemotherapy and it makes her brain foggy, she said. Her stage 4 cancer has spread throughout her body. It's going to kill her, she said.

"The median survival of a woman with metastatic breast cancer is 33 months," Wallace said. "My 33 months would have been Dec. 6 last year. So I am on bonus time right now."

Wallace pulled up an ad on her computer from UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital, in San Francisco. An announcer intones, "Amid a thousand maybes and a million nos, we believe in the profound and unstoppable power of yes."

There is a similar kind of optimism at the heart of a lot of the ad campaigns by health care providers with slogans like "Thrive" and "Smile Out." Wallace said the subtext of the ads is that people like her who get sick and will die maybe just aren't being positive enough.

"I didn't say 'yes' to cancer," Wallace said. "I have tried everything I can. I have done clinical trials. I have said 'yes' to every possible treatment. And the cancer doesn't care."

Karuna Jaggar is executive director of Breast Cancer Action. She said health care providers are following in the footsteps of other companies.

"It's the basics of marketing," Jaggar said. "In order to sell products or services, you have to sell hope."

She said health care advertisers are adopting the kind of optimistic messaging that really began in force with the pink ribbons and rosy depictions of breast cancer.

"Thirty years ago, breast cancer was the poster child of positive thinking," Jaggar said. " 'Look good, feel better, don't let breast cancer get you down. Fight strong and be cheerful while you do it.' "

Back then, health care providers marketed to physicians more than consumers. The ads were drier, more factual, said Guy David, an economist and professor of health care management at the University of Pennsylvania.

"When the ads are more consumer-facing as opposed to professional-facing, the content tends to be more passionate," David said.

The hospital ads Wallace objects to tug at emotions, just like other advertising that is trying to win over consumers. With increasing health care costs and choices, patients are shopping around for care. These days hospitals have to sell themselves, said Tim Calkins, a professor of marketing at Northwestern University.

"Right now in health care, if you don't have some leverage, if you don't have a brand people care about, if you don't have a reason for people to pick you over competitors well, then you are in a really tough spot," he said.

Hospitals are spending more than ever on advertising, he said, and, as with other products, that advertising is filled with lots of promises. He noted that you don't see the same promises in the pharmaceutical industry. Their ads are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration, which is why they have to list side effects and show scientific backing for their claims.

"Hospitals aren't held to any of those (FDA) standards at all," Calkins said. "So a hospital can go out and say, 'This is where miracles happen. And here's Joe. Joe was about to die. And now Joe is going to live forever.'"

Lori Wallace is not going to live forever. Before cancer, she said, she would have been attracted to the messages of hope. But now, she craves realism acceptance of both the world's beauty and its harshness. She wrote an essay about that for the women in her breast cancer support group.

The essay is titled "F*** Silver Linings and Pink Ribbons." Wallace reads the whole piece aloud, from start to finish, sitting at her kitchen table. Her son is nearby with his pet snake.

Toward the middle of the essay, Wallace writes, "My ovaries are gone, and without them my skin is aging at hyperspeed. I have hot flashes and cold flashes. My bones ache. My libido is shot and my vagina is a desert." The essay is open, funny and unflinching, just like Wallace.

She reads the final paragraph: "I will try to be thankful for every laugh, hug and kiss, and other things, too. That is, if my chemo-brain allows me to remember."

"That's what I wrote," Wallace said. "That's what I wrote. Brutal honesty."

Kaiser Health News (KHN) is a national health policy news service. It is an editorially independent program of the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation.
Mila Kunis, from left, Kristen Bell and Kathryn Hahn decide to do the holidays their own way in "A Bad Moms Christmas." (STX Entertainment)

Of all the things that bug me about the princess fairy tales that Disney spoon-feeds to little girls, the lack of moms bugs me the most.

Belle, Snow White, Cinderella, Aurora, Ariel, Elsa and Anna  all motherless. The beautiful, complicated, tumultuous, breathtaking bond between moms and daughters goes completely unexplored in the stories that occupy such a huge chunk of girlhood, which is a shame. Such fertile territory, passed over time and again to make way for Prince Charming.

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I assume thats why I cried during A Bad Moms Christmas.

I didnt expect to cry. I didnt even expect to laugh, necessarily. I was a big fan of 2016s Bad Moms, but a sequel? Set during the holidays? I had my doubts.

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My doubts have been laid to rest. Its very funny. Its also tender. And if the first one was a superhero fantasy in which good (good fun, anyway) triumphs over evil, A Bad Moms Christmas, which opens Wednesday, is a fairy tale in which the protagonists actually, finally have moms.

Moms played by Susan Sarandon, Cheryl Hines and Christine Baranski, no less.

The three are in town to celebrate Christmas with their daughters  Carla (Kathryn Hahn), Kiki (Kristen Bell) and Amy (Mila Kunis)  and its complicated.

Amys mom is sort of a Martha Stewart-meets-Theresa May, determined to drag her family to a five-hour Russian Nutcracker and decorate her daughters house just so.

Kikis mom lacks boundaries. And hobbies. And any sort of identity outside of mom to Kiki.

Carlas mom has a gambling problem and a habit of forgetting her grandsons name. She only comes around when she needs money.

Lesser actresses might let this setup devolve into stereotypical schlock, but this crew, I have to say, kind of makes it sing.

Five of them were in Chicago for interviews last week  Sarandon, Hines, Kunis, Bell and Hahn. All of them are moms in real life. Sarandon is a grandmother of two. (They call her Honey, she said, and showed me the necklace that says as much.) We talked about mothering on screen and off.

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Comedy is always about desperation, said Sarandon, who brought her puppy, Penny, to the interview. Its people in desperate situations trying to cope in a funny way.

The movie is fun and silly, Hines said, and at the same time, it gives a voice to moms who are overworked and stressed out and really need to take a step back and remember that theyre people first.

Kunis said directors Jon Lucas and Scott Moore gave the original Bad Moms the green light to choose who would play their moms in the sequel.

K-Bells is the funny one, Kunis said. K-Bell worked with one of her best friends.

I did, Bell said. I said, Theres one woman who is, first of all, one of the best improvisers in the industry and, second, a dear friend. I reached out to Cheryl and said, Would you ever play my mom? We can add a line about how you had me when you were 4 years old. She said, Of course. So we had that rapport going in.

(Bell is 37. Hines is 52.)

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I wrote such a love letter to Susan Sarandon, Hahn said. I didnt expect her to say yes. Like, that was it? Susan (expletive) Sarandon? Her body of work is so bananas.

I called Christine Baranskis agent, Kunis said.

I asked Sarandon and Hines if they remember, in real life, when they started to feel more like mothers than daughters.

Im the oldest of nine kids, and I mothered them, so I always felt like a mother more than a daughter, Sarandon said. It took me years not to mother everybody I came into contact with, including my romantic partners.

Hines said her daughter, whos now 13, was 3 when it hit Hines that she was supposed to be in charge.

She wanted to brush her own teeth, so I kept the bathroom door open just a crack to watch her, Hines said. She takes her toothbrush and scrubs the tile on the wall to make it sound like she was brushing. It made me laugh so hard. And then, at the same time, I thought, Oh yeah. Im her mom. I have to actually make her brush her teeth, or theyre going to fall out.

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For an outrageous comedy, A Bad Moms Christmas does a surprisingly good job of teasing out some of those tensions that are so central to motherhood: How do I lead the way when Im a little lost myself? When do I back off and let them live their own lives? How much do I care what my neighbors think of my holiday decorations?

One day I was at a My Gym, and I watched a mom handle a meltdown like a (expletive) superstar, Kunis said. She didnt give a (expletive.) I thought, Shes not embarrassed. I have nothing to worry about when my kid has a meltdown. She has no idea she empowered me as a mom.

I hope on a bigger, larger scale thats what this movie does for other moms, she continued. I always take note of how other people react to their children in ways that I want to, and I think that empowers me to have zero guilt or shame. I hope this movie gives that to people.

I think it does.

I also think it will change the way you watch This Is Us from now on. At least the scenes with Justin Hartley. Id say more, but this is a family newspaper.

hstevens@chicagotribune.com

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Twitter @heidistevens13

[ Related: What a mom really wants for her 43rd birthday ]

[ How to end four generations of mother-daughter bickering ]

[ 'A Bad Moms Christmas' review: The three wise women return ]

[ Dear committee I thought I had time for (a working parent's lament) ]
When a workplace accident left her on bed rest for nine months in 2013, Nastasia Yakoub's future in nursing was uncertain at best.

"I fell into depression because I had studied for four and a half years to became a labor-and-delivery nurse," Yakoub, 30, said. "I needed something to distract me."

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To pass the time, she began posting old snapshots under her Instagram handle, @DameTraveler, a name chosen to share the empowering concept of independent female travelers. After the popular @BeautifulDestinations reposted one of her photos along with its hashtag, Yakoub was inspired to add a hashtag to her own posts. Following an outpouring of attention, she opened the account to the community and began reposting tagged images that caught her eye.

More than 1.5 million posts of young women conquering picturesque world destinations now appear under #DameTraveler, all hoping to be featured on the account, which has 387,000 followers. Many popular travel accounts have implemented the same hashtag-based curatorial methods to gather content, and @BeautifulDestinations tops 9.8 million followers, compared with old-school travel publishers such as Conde Nast Traveler, which has 1.4 million.

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Unlike traditional influencers - adspeak for high-profile people who drive public opinion - the users behind these indie accounts are not the stars of the show. Yakoub occasionally appears on the @DameTraveler feed, but documents her own travels on a personal account, @nastasiaspassport.

She said that it takes her 30 minutes to an hour to pick each DameTraveler image, and she chooses one or two per day from those appearing under the hashtag.

"I'm very picky about the aesthetic and feel," she said. "That quality of the feed is what makes it successful."

In addition to the exposure, a repost - known as regramming - earns the photographer a certain amount of travel-elite street cred.

"About 2 percent of what you see on the account is my photography; the rest is other people's," said Andy McCune, 22, who oversees @Earth, an account with more than 800,000 followers. "We get hundreds of DMs and about 50 to 90 email submissions every day."

McCune got the prime handle from a friend who was an early adopter of the platform. His iteration of @Earth was launched in 2015. McCune curates the feed and seeks out images that reflect his appreciation of nature. A Washington-state native, he favors lush, towering forests, mist-frosted mountain peaks and frothy rushes of water.

In the account's early days, McCune reached out to notable travel photographers with large followings and began to repost work that fit his aesthetic.

"Once I gained three or four relationships, we started getting more intros and the ball kept rolling," he said. "It's given me some of the best friends of my life."

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As the clout of social-media influencers increases, some accounts have become modern-day travel guides. McCune, who splits his time between New York City and Tulum, Mexico, has expanded @Earth's reach by partnering with YouTube vloggers and social media travel mavens to create travel guides, photo journals and video content. (He curates @Tulum, as well as @Traveler and @Forest.) Yakoub did something similar, creating additional handles such as @DameTravelerFoodie and @DameTravelerHotels to zero in on specific categories.

Like McCune and Yakoub, 31-year-old Zach Houghton started out with an Instragram account and ended up with a full-time job.

"I never set out to create something this big," said Houghton, who curates @Passionpassport, an account with almost 900,000 followers. "I first started to showcase the beauty of travel and create editorial content that gives people the opportunity to understand what power travel has in our own lives."

The former trader was working in Hong Kong when he left the world of finance for a nine-month, 15-country trek that he documented in a blog and on Instagram. When the project ended, he opened the account to the community. By 2015, the hashtag had 1 million photos; today, it has more than 10 million.

Houghton ultimately parlayed @Passionpassport into Passport Studio, a company that creates sponsored content around the themes of travel and discovery. The hashtag that started it all remains among Instagram's top travel accounts, and Houghton says that he's still on the lookout for undiscovered photographers with the same spirit that inspired him to start the account.

"Everyone has valid things to do and say and show, if you give them the opportunity to do so," he said. "It's not just those epic, jaw-dropping moments - it's those quiet moments of travel that are worthy to talk about."

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Raczka is a writer based in Boston and New York City. Her website is rachelraczka.com. Find her on Instagram: @rachelraczka.
A broken window where a gunman opened fire from an upper story of Mandalay Bay resort on a country music festival across the street on the Las Vegas Strip on Sunday night, leaving at least 58 dead and more than 500 injured, shown on Oct. 2, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nev. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)

SAN DIEGO  There was a time when checked luggage wasn't scanned at airports, you could bring a Swiss army knife on board an airplane, and your friends and family could accompany you to your departure gate.

Then the terrorist attacks of 9/11 occurred, and security at airports forever changed. Will the Las Vegas Strip massacre that originated from the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay resort now be the seminal event that will forever toughen security in U.S. hotels?

Across the country, and especially in tourist destinations, it is an obvious question, but hoteliers so far are reluctant to suddenly embrace metal detectors and baggage screening in the wake of the deadly shooting.

Locally, hotel operators say that, if anything, the incident is a wake-up call to staff to be even more vigilant and aware of suspicious behavior and to not be shy about reporting it. That is already a typical part of training protocol, they point out.

That the Las Vegas shooter, Stephen Paddock, was able to bring to his hotel suite dozens of firearms over a period of days should be a red flag, said San Diego hotel operator Bob Rauch, although he acknowledges that awareness of that can be more challenging in a huge resort property.

"If any employee were to see a customer alone with multiple suitcases going up the elevator multiple times, they need to speak up," said Rauch, who owns and operates multiple smaller and mid-size hotels in the county. "It's a big red flag and management should engage the guest, ask what their plans are and report it to authorities if necessary."

While the safety of guests is paramount for hotels, so, too, is the premium guests place on privacy and convenience.

"I don't think we want to start using metal detectors," Rauch said. "It's not so much the expense. It's a big inconvenience to the 99.99 percent of hotel guests who are there to enjoy themselves or do business, so to put them through what they've already been put through at the airport, it's not so guest friendly."

Rauch, however, says he will step up his training of staff and add "active shooter" to the training for handling emergencies.

Debra Sanderlin, general manager of the 102-room Bristol Hotel in downtown San Diego, agrees that regular training of staff _ with a focus on the mantra, "If you see something, say something" _ is a hotel's first line of defense in keeping guests safe.

In the case of Paddock, part of his meticulous planning leading up to the shooting was to leave a "Do not disturb" sign on his door for several days.

That kind of behavior, though, can arouse suspicions, and hotel operators do have the right to check in on their guests, said Rauch and Sanderlin.

"We generally have a policy if it goes on for more than a couple of days, we want to double check on the guest because people can get into medical situations," Sanderlin said. "We would rather risk having a guest be a little upset than not being aware they need help. It can be as simple as a quick check in the room."

Operators of some of San Diego's high-rise hotels were reluctant to talk specifically about security precautions, referring questions to their corporate offices.

Matt Adams, general manager of the 1,625-room Manchester Grand Hyatt on the San Diego bayfront, offered the following statement from Hyatt:

"Following the tragic event in Las Vegas, we are reviewing safety and security procedures with our corporate security team and local law enforcement. These reviews include how hotel properties can both further improve security and effectively respond to events. And, as we better understand the facts in the coming days, we will continue to work with law enforcement to evaluate these measures."

Part of the challenge faced by hotels, large and small, is they're considered a "soft target," military parlance for being vulnerable to attack. To effectively place them under lock and key would run counter to the welcoming environment that is the hallmark of hotels, say lodging experts.

Globally, it is not uncommon to see stepped-up hotel security in countries where hotels have been targeted. Following the 2008 terrorist bombing of two hotels in Mumbai, some major hotel chains throughout the country implemented much more intense screening systems such as handheld trace detectors and X-ray scanners to check for explosives and contraband.

In the near term, it's doubtful U.S. hotels will move in that direction, said Jan Freitag, senior vice president of STR, which tracks hotel data.

"This is the first event of this size where a U.S. hotel was involved," Freitag said. "I think there will be a lot more done at the back end of hotels, like investing more training in staff who have guest interaction, such as bellhops, the front desk, housekeeping.

"Of course, it's still too early to know what will change but scanning (luggage), I don't think we're there yet. A more visible security presence and training of staff is the first step."

San Diego State school of hospitality dean Carl Winston says he is highly doubtful hotel security will ever approach the levels common in U.S. airports. That doesn't mean, though, that hotel companies across the country are not seriously examining what can be improved, beyond hiring more security guards and increasing video surveillance.

"I know there are conversations going on in boardrooms across the country, where they're saying, 'Oh man, we need to look at our security,' but crossing the line into the kind of security we have in airports is probably not in the cards for the near term," said Winston, founding director of the L. Robert Payne School of Hospitality & Tourism Management.

"I could see a need for it in Washington, D.C., hotels that have congressional visitors but if it's a roadside inn in Temecula (Calif.), I don't know that I need it."

From Cancun to Cabo, wave of violence keeping tourists away from Mexico

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Tips for holiday air travel: How to find deals and when to book
If youre fit, adventuresome and looking to get away from it all, Adventure Canada is offering a new trip that explores the Keele River in Canadas Northwest Territories by canoe. Planned for July 12-26, 2018, the trip will spend 10 days on the water while navigating through the Mackenzie Mountains wilderness. Though the Keele is described as fast and boisterous, its also large enough that there are smooth paths available, making the trip appropriate for paddlers with limited experience. And, by the time the journey winds down, youll likely be confident enough to tackle more challenging runs. Veteran paddlers will be happy to learn there are no portages required  and not many bugs that time of year. Wildlife thats likely to be sighted includes caribou, grizzly and black bears, eagles and moose. The trip is priced from about $5,452 per person; tax and airfare to the starting point not included. Info: 800-363-7566, http://tinyurl.com/ychym39f

Amusement park plans

Summer is barely over, but the folks at FamilyVacationCritic.com are already looking ahead to the 2018 installment to help you pick an amusement park for a family getaway. The suggestions for best rides are divided up by age group, ranging from toddlers to teens. At Camp Snoopy  Carowinds (formerly Planet Snoopy) in Charlotte, N.C., for instance, there will be five new rides for toddlers and little kids (height requirement 36-42 inches tall). On the other end of the scale, Kings Dominion in Doswell, Va., will unveil Twisted Timbers, a wood and steel coaster with a 109-foot drop, reaching speeds of 54 mph. Find the park for your family at http://tinyurl.com/yajowd85.

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Lots of time at sea

When you have lots of time on your hands, there could be worse ways to spend it than cruising around northern Europe for the better part of a month in the summer. The Online Vacation Center has a 24-night cruise aboard Royal Caribbean International thats priced from $4,499 per person, double occupancy, for an oceanview cabin, including round-trip air from New York. Air add-on from Chicago is $250, and other gateways are available. The itinerary calls for a July 15, 2018, departure from Amsterdam and port calls in Skagen, Denmark; Tallinn, Estonia; St. Petersburg, Russia, for two days; Helsinki; Stockholm; and Copenhagen, Denmark. Then theres a stop back in Amsterdam, and its on to Edinburgh, Inverness and Glasgow in Scotland; Dublin; Holyhead, Wales; Cork (Cobh), Ireland; St. Peter Port, Channel Islands; and Dover, England. The trip ends in Amsterdam. Balcony cabins for these dates are priced from $5,599 per person, double occupancy. Info: http://tinyurl.com/ya6sc72e

Phil Marty is a freelance reporter.

[ Related: Holiday events close to home, plus getaway deals ]

[ New Gary airport flight center aimed at corporate travel boasts sleeping rooms, kitchens ]

[ Monarchs in Mexico allow brush with fragile beauty ]
Americans don't think of Russian strongman Vladimir Putin as a man of letters.

We don't see him as a literary man, but as a man of action, at least in his own mind. In Putin-approved photos, he wrestles wild beasts and bends them to his severe Russian will. He rides horses with his shirt off, that sort of thing.

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So we don't see Putin with pen in hand, at a desk by the fire, with loyal serfs and lickspittle oligarchs bringing him tea as he sketches out a broad outline of chaos in a faraway republic.

Yet with this ongoing Russian business, he couldn't have a more compelling American political drama to enjoy if he'd written it all by himself:

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The anti-Trump liberal media and their allies, the Democrats and the Republican establishment, seeking to topple the president; Trump with his paranoid and angry tweets; the pro-Trump nationalists; and the forgotten middle class devoured by the elites. All of them howling at each other's throats.

Ignored in all the recent partisan political rage is a humble creature, wounded, weakened, perhaps wondering if all the screaming is worth it.

Many years ago, at the close of the Constitutional Convention of 1787, a woman reportedly asked of Benjamin Franklin:

"Well, Doctor, what have we got  a Republic or a Monarchy?"

"A Republic," Franklin said, "if you can keep it."

I'm no drama critic, but the media reaction to the indictment of Paul Manafort  the creepy former campaign manager of President Donald Trump  was just a bit predictable.

But if you've ever watched bloodthirsty American adolescents play one of the more gruesome combat video games in your living room, you wouldn't have been surprised.

With a howl of triumph, the conquering avatar rips the living spine from the vanquished, holding the trophy aloft as virtual proof of righteous victory. And so, as Rachel Maddow smiled, you could almost see saliva dripping from her bicuspids.

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Naturally there was much loathing, snark and manic sarcasm, too, as the Watergate mantra was offered up, again and again by hopeful voices: Trump as Nixon, wandering the White House in a nightshirt.

This came not only from the liberal political media, but from their nominal allies in the big-government Republican establishment, because in all things Trump they are one, having hated him for months.

The boorish vulgarian defeated them, defeated the Republican establishment before he defeated Hillary Clinton, for the simple reason that Americans considered both sides  the Clintons and the establishment GOP  as corrupt and full of lies. And now, with their hold on empire threatened, they want to take Trump down.

But equally predictable was the defensive reaction of the pro-Trumpers from the nationalist right, and it didn't take much imagination at all to write their dialogue. It doesn't take inspiration to write for loyal hounds.

And so the pro-Trumper Sean Hannity kept up his incessant loyal barking, arguing that in special counsel Robert Mueller's indictment of Manafort, there was no there, there.

There was nothing to see, nothing really, at all.

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And others said that the Mueller indictment wasn't all that bad for Trump because the charging documents didn't show the president colluding with the Russians to take the election from Clinton.

But think again. It wasn't just some guy who was indicted. It was the president's campaign manager who was indicted. And Manafort will be squeezed the way the feds have always squeezed people, from mob bosses to politicians.

Their wealth will be squeezed, and their friends and family will be squeezed. All it takes to stop the squeezing is a statement, an admission, a story about someone else close to Trump, like a friend, or a son-in-law, and the thing metastasizes.

So there is something there. There's plenty there, including the likely wiring up of the so-called foreign policy expert, George Papadopoulos of Chicago, who really wasn't much of a foreign policy expert.

If he were an expert  and not some odd, self-important character straight out of a LeCarre novel  he wouldn't have been played by "the professor" and others, running about insisting (according to Mueller's documents) that all Trump had to do was meet with Putin and get damaging info on Clinton.

Papadopoulos allegedly lied to federal investigators. They caught him, broke him and he rolled. Being from Chicago, he probably knows the rules.

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When the big federal bus pulls up, you get on and grab a seat and you wear a wire. Or you take your chances.

Manafort was working on behalf of Putin's boys in Ukraine for years before hooking up with Trump, and as the Manafort indictment dropped, so did another shoe, a Chicago Democratic shoe.

Tony Podesta  brother of Clinton campaign manager John Podesta  resigned from the powerful lobbying firm the Podesta Group, which worked with Manafort on Ukraine.

If Mueller is serious at all about Russian interference in Washington, there's plenty to investigate.

First, of course, Trump and his White House, but also the role of American lobbyists in the employ of Putin puppets, and the origins of that salacious Clinton-Democratic Party-funded Russian dossier on Trump.

It began with a push from never-Trump neoconservative Republicans and was paid for by the Clinton campaign and the DNC.

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Because it was that dossier, instigated by the Republican neocon Free Beacon newspaper and later supported by Clinton and Democratic cash, that started all this.

So let us pray that Mueller investigates everything, all of it, all of them.

Mueller owes the republic.

It's not Putin's republic. It's ours.

And let's see if we can keep it.

Listen to "The Chicago Way" podcast, with John Kass and Jeff Carlin, at wgnradio.com/category/wgn-plus/thechicagoway.

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jskass@chicagotribune.com
A woman was killed when she was hit by a car while riding a bicycle in the Garfield Ridge neighborhood Wednesday morning, Chicago police said.

Lisa Schalk, 50, was heading east just after 8 a.m. near 5700 S. Archer Ave. when she was hit by a car turning onto eastbound Archer from South Lorel Avenue, police said.

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Schalk was taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, where she was pronounced dead at 8:43 a.m. She lived just blocks away in the 5500 block of West 55th Street, according to the medical examiner.

The driver, a 79-year-old man, was issued a citation for failure to show due care in the roadway. He's due back in court Dec. 14.

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The Major Accidents unit was still investigating.
Mayor Rahm Emanuel officially announces the creation of the Civilian Office of Police Accountability, Chicago's new civilian oversight agency, at the South Shore Cultural Center on Sept. 15, 2017. (Abel Uribe / Chicago Tribune)

Chicago aldermen complained Wednesday that Mayor Rahm Emanuels recommended full-year budget for the new police oversight agency is too low, saying they believe it falls below the funding floor that was a point of controversy when the office was created last year.

The 2016 ordinance holds that funding for the Civilian Office of Police Accountability will be no less than 1 percent of the Police Departments budget, excluding grant funds. COPAs recommended 2018 appropriation listed in the mayors budget overview online totals just under $13.3 million, short of equaling 1 percent of the Police Departments recommended allotment of about $1.5 billion in nongrant money.

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The funding floor was added to the ordinance as Emanuel worked last year to build support for creating the agency. The former police oversight agency, the Independent Police Review Authority, was widely seen as insufficiently resourced for the task of overseeing a 12,000-strong police force plagued by allegations of excessive force and misconduct, and reform advocates voiced concern at the time that a new agency could represent a change in name only.

Molly Poppe, a spokeswoman for the Office of Budget and Management, said COPAs funding is above the budget floor and in line with the ordinance. That interpretation is based on adding in employee benefits to the recommendation for COPAs appropriation, bringing the agencys expenses to about $17.5 million. But the calculation is made without adding in the Police Departments benefit expenses. The ordinance says that the appropriations available to pay for the expenses of COPA must equal 1 percent of the Police Departments annual appropriation of all non-grant funds.

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Two aldermen, however, said that is not how they interpret the ordinance and not how they understood it when they voted on it.

It makes little sense to compare COPAs budget with the benefit expenses to the Police Departments appropriation without them, said Ald. Raymond Lopez, 15th.

Its got to be an apples-to-apples kind of thing, he said.

Ald. Scott Waguespack, 32nd, said he believed City Hall was reneging on the promise that was made when we agreed to that.

That was pretty much the only reason that a handful of us finally got on board with the COPA, he said.

At COPAs budget hearing Wednesday, Waguespacktold its interim head, Patricia Banks, that the City Council had worked very diligently on making sure the new agency was fully funded and independent.

This was not what we agreed to, and  this has to change before we come back and vote on this budget, he said.

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Banks deferred to the Office of Budget and Management for an explanation of the numbers, but told aldermen, At this point in time, Im not prepared to say that were not adequately funded right now.

Asked by reporters after the hearing whether COPA is being shortchanged, Banks said she didnt know.

With reference to the budget issue, again, Im going to plead new, she said. Im concerned that we as an agency get our fair share of the budget allotment.

The new agency was forged in the controversy sparked nearly two years ago by the court-ordered release of video of a white police officer shooting black teen Laquan McDonald 16 times. That scandal drew attention to the many shortcomings of IPRA, which was sluggish and prone to clearing officers, even when compelling evidence suggested wrongdoing.

City officials have touted the new agencys expanded staff and revamped practices, but COPA got off to a turbulent start in September when news emerged that Chief Administrator Sharon Fairley, who led the construction of the new office, would leave to run for Illinois attorney general. Her departure, made public just 10 days after the agency opened, added to multiple vacancies in the fledgling organizations top ranks.

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Fairley attended Wednesdays hearing in the gallery of the City Council chambers.

Daywatch Weekdays Start each day with Chicago Tribune editors' top story picks, delivered to your inbox. >

Chicago Tribunes John Byrne contributed.

dhinkel@chicagotribune.com

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Twitter @dhinkel

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The family of a 74-year-old woman sued a South Side funeral home Tuesday after it allegedly presented the grieving family with two wrong bodies before realizing workers had buried the familys matriarch a day before her funeral.

In October 2015, family members of Ella Mae Rutledge arrived at Leak and Sons Funeral Home in the Chatham neighborhood for a last-minute inspection of her body before the viewing, her daughter Monique Williams previously told the Tribune.

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Williams became unsettled when she noticed the complexion and nails of the body were different than her mother's, she said. Williams said he pulled the wig back from the head to confirm her suspicions: Her mother had white hair, unlike the dark-haired woman in the casket.

"We said, 'This doesn't look nothing like mama,' " Williams told the Tribune in 2015. "We knew she would look different but we said, 'Man, she can't look that different.' She had none of my mother's characteristics."

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Spencer Leak Sr., owner of Leaks and Sons Funeral Home, previously told the Tribune that an employee mistakenly tagged Rutledge and the other body. Adding to the confusion, a daughter of the other woman had identified Rutledges body as her mother, Leak said.

"Once we found out and we asked her if she was sure that it was her mom, she said she was having second thoughts about it," Leak said. "She was very distraught and wanted to let the other family know she was very sorry. ... Eighty-three years in business, and this is the first time dealing with someone erroneously interred."

Once funeral home workers viewed photos of Rutledge, they realized they had already buried her a day earlier, the lawsuit says. Her body was then exhumed and returned to the funeral home, according to Leak and the lawsuit.

The lawsuit filed in Cook County circuit court alleges the funeral home was negligent, intentionally inflicted emotional distress, breached their contract and interfered with the familys rights to the body. The family seeks more than $50,000 in damages.

Daywatch Weekdays Start each day with Chicago Tribune editors' top story picks, delivered to your inbox. >

An attorney for the family could not immediately be reached for comment.

Without Rutledge's body, Williams held a memorial service instead of the funeral at the Greater Mount Carmel Missionary Baptist Church for the 300 attendees, many of whom came from out of town.

"It was absolutely devastating," said Eric Harwell, 50, of Country Club Hills, who attended the services told the Tribune in 2015. "She's originally from Alabama, so there were a lot of people who came from there to pay their last respects, and her body is missing. Even the pastor of the church for the last 20 years was shaken by it all."

Rutledge died Oct. 31 of that year after having Alzheimer's disease for several years, Williams said. Rutledge was a longtime Roseland resident but had lived in a South Holland nursing home for two years.

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sschmadeke@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @SteveSchmadeke

[ Family finds wrong body in casket: 'It was absolutely devastating' ]

[ Read the lawsuit against Leak and Sons Funeral Home ]
He may be behind one of the most acclaimed political musicals of our time, but Lin-Manuel Miranda said during an appearance at Chicago's National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture that he has zero interest in running for political office.

"I'm much more comfortable in a costume playing someone else than I am in front of this podium with you," the "Hamilton" creator told reporters. "You'll never see me running for office for anything  not even dog catcher, and I love dogs."

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During his Wednesday morning appearance in Humboldt Park, he said the biggest political statement the musical makes is about the limitations of a representative democracy  specifically how voters don't get to be in the "room where it happens," referencing one of the show's best-known songs.

"The limit of our democracy is we can only elect who we put in the room," Miranda said. "We don't get to say what happens in that room. So if you aren't happy with the way things are going, it's super important that you vote."

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Miranda planned to later rub elbows with former President Barack Obama  also in Chicago  at the high-profile summit organized by the Obama Foundation. The playwright and actor always visits Division Street in Humboldt Park when he's in town. Chicago is home to more than 100,000 people who, like him, are of Puerto Rican descent.

Miranda highlighted local relief efforts that have taken place in the weeks after the Category 4 storm devastated Puerto Rico. Hurricane Maria took out the island's electrical grid. More than a month later, only an estimated 30 percent have electricity, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency's website. While a higher percentage of residents now have water, it still must be boiled before it's used.

Hamilton creator and composer Lin-Manuel Miranda talks about the needs of Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria seen here at a press conference held at the National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture in Chicago on Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2017. (Jose M. Osorio/Chicago Tribune) (Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune)

A communitywide effort resulted in four planes filled with supplies being sent to Puerto Rico from Chicago, said Billy Ocasio, CEO of the museum.

Miranda wrote the song "Almost Like Praying" with proceeds from the song going toward the Hispanic Federation UNIDOS Disaster Relief & Recovery Program.

In September, Trump's criticism of San Juan's mayor prompted Miranda to fire off a tweet saying the president was "going straight to hell."

"I'm not someone who wastes words and those were the only words I had left," Miranda said about the tweet.

Miranda said raising awareness about Puerto Rico has become his full-time job. Some of his own relatives who live outside San Juan are still without water or electricity.

He urged Chicagoans to continue donating to relief efforts. And he encouraged people to speak up if they don't believe aid is being properly handled, noting the recent controversy of the company that had obtained a contract to restore the island's electricity.

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Daywatch Weekdays Start each day with Chicago Tribune editors' top story picks, delivered to your inbox. >

"Your voice is not nothing," Miranda said. "Your voice, as a matter of fact, it is everything."

Jon Seda, who plays detective Antonio Dawson on "Chicago P.D.," also stopped by the museum to show his support for relief efforts. His 99-year-old grandmother remains in Puerto Rico.

"We are all Americans," Seda said. "This is all of us coming together and doing our part in whatever way we can."

emalagon@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @ElviaMalagon

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Local groups rally to provide aid to Puerto Rico, Mexico 






A retired Chicago police officer pleaded guilty Wednesday to criminal damage charges and reimbursed a Naperville homeless man and self-described political protester for burning down his roadside tent last year.

James Povolo, a Naperville resident, entered the plea in DuPage County court after admitting he used an auto flare to burn down a tent belonging to Scott Huber. Povolo, 73, was sentenced to probation and five days with the sheriffs work program.

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He also reimbursed Huber with a $5,000 cashiers check, which Huber collected after giving a statement in court in which he criticized Povolo for destroying a shrine to American freedom. Huber has lived in a tent in Naperville for the past 16 years in what he describes as an ongoing protest against city government.

Authorities say Povolo started the fire July 18, 2016, in the tent pitched near the corner of Ogden Avenue and Naper Boulevard in the northeast part of the city. Huber was at a local restaurant when the blaze started, according to authorities.

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After seeing reports of the fire, Povolo decided to turn himself in to police and admitted starting the blaze, Assistant States Attorney Jae Kwon said in court.

Povolo declined to comment after the court hearing. His attorney, Rick Kayne, described him as a highly decorated former Chicago police officer, albeit one addressing job-related post-traumatic stress issues.

James Povolo has pleaded guilty Nov. 1, 2017, to burning down a homeless mans tent last year. (Naperville Police Department)

Povolo, Kayne said, was not aware of Hubers tent protest, but had become angry after seeing the tent for a lengthy period time near the busy street corner.

He just snapped, Kayne said.

Huber, 66, formerly owned an electronics business in Naperville, but when he lost his business and home he began living in a tent, initially in the citys downtown.

In court, Huber described the tent as his protest headquarters. He said the fire destroyed computer records of his ongoing battle with city officials, information he said may be irreplaceable.

Povolo, Huber said, is part of the same nefarious club of local officials and authorities whom he says have oppressed him.

They really believe they can do anything they please, Huber said.

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After the fire, well-wishers responded with donations to Huber, including two new tents.

Judge Liam Brennan accepted the plea deal, which included admitting Povolo into the DuPage Second Chance program, which means his conviction could be vacated if he completes the probation requirements.

Clifford Ward is a freelance reporter.

RELATED

[ New charge filed in fire at homeless man's campsite; not guilty plea entered ]

[ Man accused of setting fire to Naperville homeless man's tent a retired Chicago cop ]
A 45-year-old woman was struck and killed by a car Tuesday night in Woodridge, according to police and coroners.

Police said the woman, whom the DuPage County coroner's office identified as Cynthia Higgins of Woodridge, was struck by a vehicle near the intersection of Illinois Highway 53 and High Trail Drive.

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At 7:49 p.m., officers were called to the area and found the woman "seriously injured" on the north side of the intersection, police said. The driver of the car that struck her stopped and assisted, police said.

Higgins was taken to Edward Hospital in Naperville, but later died, police said.

After an autopsy Wednesday, coroners found the preliminary cause of death to be blunt force trauma, the coroner's office said.

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Police said they continue to investigate the crash but so far no citations have been issued.

kthayer@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @knthayer
Marcus Norwood, 39, is charged with attempted first-degree murder, robbery and battery after showing up armed at a Near North Side restuarant where an employee was shot Oct. 30, 2017, authorities said. (Chicago Police Department)

A 39-year-old South Side man was charged Wednesday in a robbery at a Near North Side restaurant where he is accused of restraining several employees in a locker room and shooting one of them in the arm, Chicago police said.

Shortly before midnight Oct. 30, police said Marcus Norwood entered a restaurant in the first block of East Ontario Street, pulled a weapon and announced a robbery, police said.

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According to police, Norwood then restrained several employees in a locker room and took their belongings. He then fired his weapon, striking a 28-year-old employee in the right arm.

He fled on foot, but was caught and arrested.

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Norwood, of the 400 block of East 72nd Street, was charged with attempted first-degree murder, three counts of armed robbery with a firearm, two counts of felony aggravated battery with use of a deadly weapon, three counts of aggravated unlawful restraint and one count of misdemeanor obstructing identification, police said.

He was scheduled to appear Wednesday at a bail hearing.
SPRINGFIELD  Fallout from the sexual harassment scandal at the Illinois Capitol continued Wednesday, as a state senator lost his leadership position and top Democrats scrambled to find a leader for the agency tasked with investigating such complaints after letting the job remain vacant for years.

Democratic Sen. Ira Silverstein of Chicago will no longer serve as Senate Democratic majority caucus chair, according to Senate President John Cullerton. The move came a day after Denise Rotheimer, an activist for victims of violent crime, told lawmakers at a public hearing that Silverstein made unwanted comments about her appearance, sent her hundreds of Facebook messages and placed midnight phone calls as she was working with him to pass legislation for nearly 18 months.

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Silverstein has disputed the allegations and said he apologized if I made her uncomfortable. Losing his leadership spot will cost him an $20,649 annual stipend on top of the $67,836 base salary lawmakers get for whats considered a part-time job. Reached by phone Wednesday evening, Silverstein said he was in the middle of grocery shopping at Mariano's and would have to call back.

Cullerton, the Senate president, was largely silent Tuesday, but on Wednesday responded to the growing scandal by announcing that lawmakers will be required to take a sexual harassment awareness training seminar when they return to the Capitol next week.

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Cullerton also said he anticipates an interim legislative inspector general will be named as soon as next week.

That announcement came as a Republican senator questioned why no one has acted on more than two dozen ethics complaints filed at the legislative inspector generals office since 2015. Sen. Karen McConnaughay, who sits on the panel of lawmakers that oversees such complaints, also wanted to know why she was only just now learning that those unresolved complaints existed.

Democratic lawmakers cited two technical reasons. One is that theres no legislative inspector general, so theres no one with the power to turn complaints of any nature into an actual investigation. The other is that sexual harassment is not currently included as a specific violation of the state's ethics act, meaning that the Legislative Ethics Commission cant hold a hearing or issue punishments on such complaints.

The General Assembly has been without a permanent chief watchdog for more than three years. Three of the four legislative leaders have to agree on a nominee before the commission can consider installing the person in the role, said Democratic Sen. Terry Link, who is chairman of the legislative ethics panel.

Cullerton attempted to assign blame to himself on Wednesday. Its our duty to fill that post. I take responsibility for my role in that lapse, and I apologize for it, he said in a statement.

But legislative leaders have failed to hire a permanent legislative inspector general since Tom Homer left at the end of June 2014. The following week, the Chicago Tribune published details of a secret report put together by Homer in the wake of a 2013 Metra scandal that offered new insight into how Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan navigated the intersection of public business and ward-style patronage through his Southwest Side office and Illinois Capitol suite.

The report contained an account of Metra's chairwoman entering Madigan's Capitol office to talk about state issues and leaving with a yellow Post-it note bearing the names of two workers the speaker wanted to see promoted. In another meeting, a Metra lobbyist who was a longtime Madigan aide was spotted leaving the speaker's office with two resumes. Another time, Madigan simply called the cellphone of one of his "better" precinct captains to tell him about a state job, according to the report.

A copy of the unreleased report also gave a rare glimpse into Madigan's thoughts on getting people government jobs and raises. In an interview with Homer, Madigan is quoted as speaking highly of both the work-related credentials and the political experience of one 13th Ward operative the speaker backed for a raise.

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"You can understand that there are many people that are involved with me and campaigns and community service," Madigan said, according to the report. "Among these many people, some are better than others. (He) happens to be one of those who is better than others."

At the time, Madigans spokesman issued a statement saying the speaker asked for the investigation and cooperated fully with it and noted that the legislative inspector general had found no violation of any law.

At Tuesdays public hearing, Madigan was asked if he would commit to finally appointing an inspector general. I don't make the appointment. The appointment's made by a vote of the House and the Senate, Madigan said.

Illinois law tasks the Legislative Ethics Commission to diligently search out qualified candidates and make recommendations to the General Assembly. It's then up to the House and Senate to agree on a joint resolution, which requires a three-fifths vote.

When Madigan was again asked later at the hearing if he would commit to filling the post, he answered, "yes."

It was at that same Tuesday hearing that Rotheimer, the victim rights advocate, leveled her accusations at Silverstein. Cullertons office said it is our understanding there is an open investigation.

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That caught the attention of McConnaughay, the Republican senator from St. Charles. She said that she and other legislative ethics oversight commission members routinely were told by staff that there were no pending cases.

Confused by the discrepancy, McConnaughay contacted the legislative commissions executive director, Randy Erford. McConnaughay said it was explained to her that theres a distinction between what is considered a complaint versus a case. McConnaughay said she was told that complaints like Rotheimers ended up in a binder but were not listed as cases in reports to the commission because the legislative inspector general is required to open a case. Thats the job thats long gone unfilled.

Its all caught up on a technicality, said McConnaughay, who said she was told there were 27 complaints filed between 2015 and now. Erford did not respond to requests for comment.

The senator said she planned to push for an outside attorney to be appointed as a special investigator to handle the backlog of cases, as well as legislation to overhaul the complaint process.

The General Assembly is clearly incapable of policing itself, McConnaughay said.

Link, the Waukegan Democrat who chairs the legislative ethics commission, would not confirm the number of pending complaints.

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"But they're not cases because until the inspector general, which we hope we have somebody very quickly, investigates, then it either becomes a case or it's dismissed, one of the two," Link said.

Link said he's called a Nov. 9 ethics commission meeting and expects that a nominee to fill the role will be voted on.

Madigan, testifying Tuesday in Chicago in support of his bill to require sexual harassment training for legislative employees and lobbyists, said the vacancy at the inspector generals office was regrettable but had not prevented the ethics commission from functioning.

In 2017, Erford had three complaints that he took directly to Link, the commission chairman, Madigan said. In 2016, there were eight complaints, and in 2015 there were 15 complaints, Madigan said.

So the commission has been functioning, Madigan said. Any complaint is brought to the attention of the chairman.

But theres an important distinction between the inspector general and the ethics commission.

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Sexual harassment is not currently included as a specific violation of the state's ethics act, so the Legislative Ethics Commission has no power to hold a hearing on a sexual harassment complaint or punish someone who's been accused of sexual harassment, according to Heather Wier Vaught, Madigan's top lawyer and a former ethics officer for the House Democratic Caucus.

The inspector general (thats the job thats vacant), however, does have the ability to investigate a sexual harassment complaint. Once an investigation is complete, though, the Ethics Commission can't do much with it other than release it to the public. And accusers are typically uncomfortable with going public with their accusations out of fear of retribution.

The legislation proposed by Madigan would add a prohibition against sexual harassment to the state's ethics act, making it possible for the ethics commission to punish those who've been found in violation, Wier Vaught said.

Chicago Tribunes Rick Pearson contributed. Geiger and Pearson reported from Chicago.

mcgarcia@chicagotribune.com

kgeiger@chicagotribune.com

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[ Victim rights advocate says state lawmaker sexually harassed her, complaint went nowhere at Capitol ]
South Korean protesters stage a rally against a planned visit by the U.S. President Donald Trump, near the presidential Blue House in Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2017. (Ahn Young-joon / AP)

WASHINGTON  It has become something of a ritual for U.S. presidents trying to demonstrate their resolve against North Korea's ever-escalating aggression.

Beginning with Dwight Eisenhower's visit to the front lines of wartime Korea, U.S. leaders have traveled to the barbed and mined demilitarized zone dividing the Korean Peninsula, peering across the barren north through binoculars, hearing broadcast propaganda, and reaffirming their commitment to standing with the South.

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After leaving the possibility of the visit dangling, the White House announced definitively Tuesday that President Donald Trump would not be following in their footsteps and will be forgoing a visit to the DMZ as he sets out on his maiden Asia trip.

A senior administration official told reporters during a White House briefing that Trump will instead be visiting Camp Humphreys, a military base about 40 miles south of Seoul, to highlight the U.S.-South Korean partnership and South Korea's burden-sharing. His tight schedule, officials said, wouldn't accommodate both stops.

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The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to provide details ahead of the trip, noted that several Trump administration officials, including Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Vice President Mike Pence, had already made the trip to the border that has separated the North and South for 64 years.

Trump's trip comes amid escalating tensions and rhetoric with North Korea, which has continued to pursue its missile and nuclear programs and ramped up its missile testing. In a recent speech at the United Nations, Trump said he would "totally destroy" the nation, if necessary. He has also derided North Korean leader Kim Jong Un as "little Rocket Man." Kim has returned the favor, calling Trump a "mentally deranged U.S. dotard."

The White House has played down the notion that its hesitation to send Trump to the DMZ stemmed from security concerns. But two people familiar with the administration's thinking said that security issues had been discussed. The Secret Service, which advises on the president's itinerary, did not immediately respond to a request for comment on its recommendations.

U.S. and South Korean officials also argued that a visit to Camp Humphreys, also known as United States Army Garrison-Humphreys, at the invitation of South Korean President Moon Jae-in, serves as a fitting symbol of the countries' ties and South Korea's commitment to contributing to its own defense  a theme the president often pressed during his campaign.

Some experts on the region also breathed a sigh of relief, arguing the trip could have further inflamed tensions between Trump and Kim.

"I would probably be begging him not to (go). No Secret Service likes to," said Dean Cheng, a China expert with the Heritage Foundation. He said that, given the recent exchange of words between Kim and Trump, a visit was "probably more fraught with risk than your average presidential visit."

Others pointed to the symbolism of the president's visit to the base.

"To me it was a no-brainer that he should go to Humphreys, this new base that they've poured all this money into," said Jim Schoff, a former Pentagon adviser on East Asia policy and now senior fellow in the Asia program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

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Schoff said the base was "perfect" for Trump: "It's a big, massive real estate project and it's South Korean-funded. It's the big story of the alliance in recent times and it's a great opportunity to highlight that," he said.

Troy Stangarone, a senior director at the Korea Economic Institute in Washington, agreed that, with the move of United States Forces Korea to Camp Humphreys almost complete, "a visit there sends a stronger signal about U.S. commitment to defend South Korea." A trip to the DMZ , he said, "could instead be misinterpreted and raise tensions on the Korean peninsula."

Visiting the wooded, craggy terrain inside the DMZ is like going back in time to 1953. In July of that year, the Korean War armistice agreement was signed at Panmunjom, the so-called "truce village" bisected by a marker that is the official dividing line between North and South Korea. This is the only area inside the DMZ where soldiers of North and South can stand nose to nose.

In 1983, Ronald Reagan became first U.S. president to enter the DMZ  with South Korean artillery gunners standing poised to fire if necessary to protect him  and every president, barring one, has made the trip since. Trump's predecessor, Barack Obama, visited during a 2012 trip to Seoul and told troops stationed at the border that "the contrast between South Korea and North Korea could not be clearer, could not be starker, both in terms of freedom but also in terms of prosperity."

In 1993, Bill Clinton stood closer to North Korean territory than any Western leader, walking out on the "Bridge of No Return" and looking through binoculars at North Koreans about 50 yards away.

He later recalled seeing young North Korean soldiers looking back at him and thinking: "I wish you could walk over this bridge and I hope it won't be long until you can, until we put down the threat of nuclear war and open up the hand of friendship."

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Pence said his visit earlier this year let North Koreans "see our resolve in my face."

But Evans Revere, a former senior State Department official for East Asia, said that he was disappointed by Trump's decision. He said a visit would have helped the president understand the human toll of any potential military action and see for himself just how close Seoul is to the border.

"By not visiting the DMZ, President Trump can only remind our allies, once again, that he does not view our alliance commitments in the same way as did every one of his predecessors," he said.

Associated Press National Security Writer Robert Burns contributed to this report.
The Utah nurse who drew national attention after she was manhandled and arrested for refusing to let a police detective take blood from an unconscious patient said Tuesday she had reached a $500,000 settlement with Salt Lake City and the university that runs her hospital.

Nurse Alex Wubbels and her attorney, Karra Porter, announced the settlement in a late-afternoon news conference outside the Salt Lake City Police Department, two months after they released body camera footage showing detective Jeff Payne handcuffing her and shoving her into a squad car as she screamed in protest.

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The exact terms of the agreement were confidential, but Porter told The Washington Post that it covered "all potential defendants" involved in the incident. That included the University of Utah, Salt Lake City police and several individual security officers from the university who were present for Wubbels's arrest but declined to intervene, Porter said.

Wubbels and Porter were considering filing a civil rights lawsuit, but the settlement now precludes that. The nurse had previously stressed that her main concern was protecting hospital staff and preventing the same conflict from happening again.

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"Was a lawsuit off the table? It was never off the table, ever, from the very beginning," Wubbels told reporters Tuesday. "But I also feel like as a whole we need to heal from this, we need to move on, we need to progress, and I feel that we've come to a place where we can have that conversation where we can do that."

Wubbels said she will donate some of the proceeds to a fund that will help people obtain body camera footage and provide free legal aid for open records requests. She is also planning to use the money to raise awareness about workplace violence against nurses.

A spokesman for Salt Lake City Mayor Jackie Biskupski told the Deseret News that the city and the university had each agreed to pay Wubbels $250,000. "Salt Lake City has been focused first and foremost on ensuring policies and procedures are changed so things like this don't happen again, and we are glad we could come to a resolution with nurse Wubbles," the spokesman said.

Multiple body camera videos captured the explosive July 26 encounter between Wubbels and Payne, the detective.

Wubbels was working as the charge nurse at the University of Utah Hospital's burn unit that afternoon when Payne arrived and demanded to collect a blood sample from an unconscious truck driver who was severely injured in a head-on collision. State law, federal law and hospital policy all required that police present a warrant or obtain patient consent before drawing blood. Payne had neither.

The nurse politely explained the policy to Payne and even got her supervisor on the phone to back her up. After a tense standoff, Payne grabbed Wubbels by her arms, cuffed her hands behind her back and shoved her into an unmarked car. Hospital security guards stood by as Wubbels cried "help me" and "this is crazy."

Payne and another officer on the scene accused Wubbels of interfering with a police investigation, but she was later released without charges. The truck driver died of his injuries in late September.

Frustrated by the city's initial response to the incident, Wubbels and her attorney got hold of the body camera footage and released it in early September. The videos went viral overnight, drawing a chorus of condemnations from hospital associations across the country and stoking a heated debate about police use of force. Salt Lake City's mayor, police chief and officials from the University of Utah apologized to Wubbels shortly after, saying she should never have been arrested for doing her job.

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A scathing internal review by police found that Payne and his supervisor, James Tracy, had violated a range of department policies and disgraced the force. In mid-October, Payne was fired and Tracy was demoted two ranks from lieutenant to officer. Both men have appealed the decision.

Wubbels, who was an Olympic skier before she became a nurse, said Tuesday she was still processing the chain of events but was optimistic that the fallout from her arrest could ultimately help improve relations between police and nurses.

"This landed in my lap. This is not something I sought out," she said. "But I'm also honored by the weight of it and honored to be the one to help make progress in our society at large."
Debate intensified in President Donald Trump's political circle on Tuesday over how aggressively to confront special counsel Robert Mueller, dividing some of the president's advisers and loyalists as the Russia investigation enters a new phase following charges against three former Trump campaign officials.

Despite his growing frustration with an investigation he has roundly dismissed, Trump has been cooperating with Mueller and lately has resisted attacking him directly, at the urging of his attorneys inside and outside the White House.

But a number of prominent Trump allies, including former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon, have said they believe the president's posture is too timid. Seeing the investigation as a political threat, they are urging a more combative approach to Mueller that would damage his credibility and effectively kneecap his investigation.

Still, Bannon and others are not advising Trump to fire Mueller, a rash move that the president's lawyers and political advisers oppose and insist is not under consideration.

Bannon in recent days has spoken with Trump by phone to relay his concerns about the president's position and to counsel a shift in strategy, according to three people with knowledge of the conversation. The president  so far  has not accepted Bannon's advice, these people said.

Bannon's view has been amplified elsewhere on the right, with talk-radio and cable-news commentators speaking out more forcefully against Mueller and his expanding probe. The Wall Street Journal editorial board has called on Mueller to resign. The Journal is part of News Corp., which is led by Rupert Murdoch, a friend of Trump's who speaks privately with the president.

But many in Trump's orbit recommend Trump stay the course with his strategy of cooperation.

"I like Steve, but his advice is not always the most helpful," said Christopher Ruddy, a Trump friend and the chief executive of Newsmax, a conservative media outlet. "In this case, whatever Steve says, the president should do the opposite."

The tensions extend to Capitol Hill, where Republican lawmakers have mostly split into two camps: those who are wary of weighing in on Mueller's investigation and those who see it as a prime political target.

Bannon is demanding that GOP leaders move aggressively to end congressional probes into Russian interference, undermine Mueller's investigation and increase scrutiny on Democratic controversies.

"The Republicans are like church mice," Bannon said Tuesday. "No support of the president. Totally gutless. The Hill needs to step up."

Senator Judiciary Committee Chairman Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, said he believes Republicans should proceed carefully and called Mueller a "very ethical person."

"I don't know how you could improve things by interfering," Grassley said. "The process just ought to go."

House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes, R-Calif., a trusted Trump ally, has launched an investigation into an Obama-era uranium deal and is preparing to invite witnesses later this week to testify about the FBI's handling of Russia investigations. Nunes intends to issue subpoenas if people decline to appear, according to people briefed on his plans.

Former House speaker Newt Gingrich, an informal Trump adviser who praised Mueller earlier this year after his appointment as special counsel, said he has slowly "soured" on the former FBI director and agreed that Congress should put a harsher national spotlight on him.

"Mueller ought to be held accountable," Gingrich said. He ticked through a series of what he considers questionable moves by Mueller and his team, including their handling of former Trump foreign policy adviser George Papadopoulos, who the government described in Monday's indictment as a "proactive cooperator."

"Congress should look seriously at whether Mueller put a wire on this guy and sent him around to entrap people," Gingrich said. "If that happened, Congress better see the full transcripts, not just the FBI's edited versions. Congress should also ask why they're raiding [former campaign chairman Paul] Manafort's home at 5 a.m. for a white-collar crime from a few years ago."

This sentiment is not heard at the White House, however, where officials have been careful not to antagonize the special counsel.

"Our approach has been to be cooperative and responsive and to see this come to a quick conclusion," White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said. "Have we been aggressive in our comments and our feelings towards the Clinton campaign and the DNC? Yes. But that's where our aggression is seen and nowhere else."

Ty Cobb, the White House lawyer overseeing Russia matters, said following Monday's indictments of Manafort and his longtime deputy, Rick Gates, "Nothing about today's events alters anything related to our engagement with the special counsel, with whom we continue to cooperate."

Cobb added, "There are no discussions and there is no consideration being given to terminating Mueller."

Republicans in Congress said Trump is wise to not try to mess with Mueller.

"There would be an uprising at the Capitol like never seen before if any kind of interference looked like it was taking place," Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., said. "Regardless of which side of the aisle. That's just beyond the pale."

Among Republicans, there is broad agreement to bring attention to past controversies involving Hillary Clinton, Trump's Democratic opponent in the 2016 campaign, which have animated hourly discussions on Fox News Channel and conservative talk-radio stations.

The White House and allies have waged a public relations battle over the Clinton campaign and Democratic National Committee's funding of research that resulted in the now-famous dossier that details Trump's alleged connections to Russia.

The dossier has become a lightning rod, with congressional Republican leaders trying to discredit Fusion GPS, the firm that commissioned the dossier, and the document's author, Christopher Steele, a former British intelligence officer with ties to the U.S. intelligence community.

Republicans also are trying to bring scrutiny to a 2010 uranium deal approved by the Obama administration, while Clinton was secretary of state. The deal  which Trump used as a political cudgel against Clinton during the campaign  allowed a Russian nuclear energy agency to acquire a controlling stake in a Canadian-based company that had mining licenses for about 20 percent of U.S. uranium extraction capacity, although the company cannot export uranium.

Fox News Channel host Sean Hannity, a Trump confidant, decried the lack of investigative attention on Clinton, a point the president and his top aides have made in recent days.

"This is not hyperbole," Hannity said Monday night in his on-air monologue, which the president is known to watch regularly. "I am not overstating the case. We are at a major crisis point in America tonight. Do we have equal justice under the law in this country today?"

Some Republican lawmakers have heeded these calls. House and Senate GOP leaders have announced two investigations into the uranium deal, while at least three congressional committees also are continuing to look into how the FBI handled Clinton's email scandal.

But there appears to be little appetite for legislation that would cut the funding or otherwise limit the scope of Mueller's investigation, something various Trump allies have suggested is necessary.

"My basic philosophy is, once you have an independent counsel, you ought to give him a chance to follow the facts," said Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Ala., a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee and the chairman of the subcommittee that handles the Justice Department's funding. "If somebody's doing a job, you don't want to cut it off."

Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, said, "The idea that Bob Mueller is going to have the scope of his inquiry constrained, or be otherwise restricted, is really out there. I think that's extremely unlikely."

The Washington Post's Karoun Demirjian and Sean Sullivan contributed to this report.
Former first lady Michelle Obama, left, thanks poet Elizabeth Alexander following their talk during the second day of the Obama Foundation summit on Nov. 1, 2017, at the Marriott Marquis on the South Side. (Alyssa Pointer / Chicago Tribune)

The Obama Presidential Center will be a place where art, music and creativity are celebrated and public art will be made available for residents on the South Side, former first lady Michelle Obama said Wednesday.

During her remarks at the Obama Foundations international summit at the Marriott Marquis near McCormick Place, Obama discussed her modest upbringing in Chicago, her time in the White House and the need for leaders to be mindful about what they say on social media.

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But she also emphasized how music and art shaped her sense of self and how she wants to share that with her community.

When you think about how little public art there is on the South Side  (that) is one of the things we hope to do with the Obama Presidential Center, she said. There need to be places for public art outside. Just like downtown. Just like Picasso. Just like The Bean. Theres nothing. Those pieces in communities are few and far in between. And they become the gathering places for a community, not just a place to see beauty and possibility.

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Obama appeared as a main session speaker on the second day of the summit, the foundations largest program of the year.

The gathering has drawn international attention. In addition to the Obamas, attendees included Prince Harry of Wales, hip-hop artists Common and Chance the Rapper and a large contingent of artists, thought leaders and residents who have started nonprofit organizations and foundations.

Singer-songwriter Andra Day kicked off the concert marking the end of the summit Wednesday night with her hit "Rise Up." The show started 20 minutes late in a half-full Wintrust Arena, the new DePaul basketball arena on East Cermak Road.

The Obamas took the stage to express hope that the summit inspires future leaders and to heap praise on Chance the Rapper, who curated the concert. Gloria Estefan also performed.

The summit is being closely watched because the event signals how the Obamas will spend their time after leaving the White House. And the event sets the tone for the foundations goal of bringing hundreds of leaders to Chicago to share ideas with each other and the world.

Speakers on Wednesday told personal stories of how they were moved to action.

Common told Hamilton playwright and actor Lin-Manuel Miranda that he only recently began performing in prisons and working for policy efforts to address mass incarceration because an acquaintance pushed him to do more.

My gateway, my entryway was connecting with somebody who was already doing the work, he said. Sometimes we think weve got to come up with the solutions, come up with all the answers. It starts with the desire and the passion. When you seek that out, you take one step. God takes two steps toward you.

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In his remarks, Bryan Stevenson, who founded a nonprofit that is committed to ending mass incarceration after spending years defending wrongly convicted black men, told attendees that in order to make a change, they have to get closer to the poor, disabled and excluded. He said they would need to change the narrative of fear and anger and the narrative of racial difference. And they have to be willing to do uncomfortable things.

We have the people in this space to change the world, Stevenson said. You should not doubt the power in getting close to the people that you serve. Get close to the people we want to serve and we will find our power.

Former President Barack Obama popped in on one of Wednesday mornings breakout sessions.

He sat quietly and mostly unnoticed in the back while a panel of five discussed ways to get younger and nontraditional residents interested in public service. At one point, he stood along the back wall listening intently, gripping his coffee cup.

It wasnt until panel moderator Caroline Kennedy, a former U.S. ambassador to Japan, asked if anyone in the back of the room would like to speak that the former South Side community activist jumped into the conversation.

Politics matters, he said. The question then becomes, How do we change the culture so that people are not turned off by politics but rather turned on by being engaged in politics? And how do we get some of the best talent to say, at some point, this is an option for them?

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The former president said communities have to be engaged and ready to actively support public servants and elected officials.

You will be able to recruit good candidates when they feel there is a base, a constituency that is going to support them, he said. Right now, were in a negative cycle, young people are cynical about politics, they dont vote, and as a consequence, young, dynamic candidates wont win.

At the summit, much of the public conversation revolved around the language and rhetoric that drove Barack Obamas election and his time in office. Guests talked of creating positive change, equity and opportunity for all and leaving the world a better place.

But there was little direct public talk about racism, police brutality or the growing racial wealth gap that has left African-Americans, Latinos and people living in this country illegally vulnerable and struggling.

There was no mention of President Donald Trump or his policies.

But when Michelle Obama spoke about using words and language responsibly, many in the audience laughed, implying that she was referring to the current president.

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You dont tweet every thought, she said, drawing applause. Im not talking about anybody in particular. Tweeting and social media, that is a powerful weapon.  You need to think and spell it right and have good grammar.

Every word you utter has consequences, she continued. You cant slash and burn up folks because you think you are right. You have to treat people like they are precious  even those you dont agree with.

Instead of directly ruminating about public policy or this moment of upheaval, the guests used the stage to talk about their motivations and what drives their work.

When it comes to human dignity, there is no such thing as an unlikely ally, said Ai-jen Poo, executive director of the National Domestic Workers Alliance, who spoke on a panel about workplace issues. We have to take more risks and be morally courageous in our leadership than we can imagine, she said.

Most of the challenges we are dealing with are not problems any one company can solve alone, she said. All of us need to be in deep, risky conversation.

During her session, Michelle Obama was interviewed by her friend, poet and essayist Elizabeth Alexander.

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Much of her conversation was about how her parents, especially her mother, continue to influence her decisions and how she carries herself. She stayed true to the themes she has talked about before: surrounding herself with good girlfriends who make her laugh, the importance of parents advocating for their children, and spending time with children during her time in the White House.

She said the summit was filling her with inspiration.

Hope is right in this room, she said. This summit, all of you here, the conversations, your voices, your missions, the goals  the possibilities you all have to be leaders in the world. I can sleep better after this because its not just happening here, its happening around the world.

Tracy Swartz contributed.

lbowean@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @lollybowean

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[ Hundreds gather in Chicago for first Obama center leadership summit ]

[ Michelle Obama discusses emotional scars from critics ]
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo speaks during a news conference Nov. 1, 2017, at One Police Plaza in New York in the wake of a truck attack on a bike path that killed eight and injured several others near One World Trade Center. (Craig Ruttle / AP)

Imagine the scene along Chicagos lakefront path on a typical weekday afternoon. Cyclists cruising in both directions, past runners and darting children just released from school.

Now imagine a rental pickup truck barreling down the path, smashing bicycles and pedestrians for a mile or more.

It happened in Lower Manhattan on Tuesday, not far from the World Trade Center memorial. A driver bent on mayhem sped down a bike path beside the Hudson River, sending bodies and bicycles flying. He struck a school bus outside a neighborhood landmark, Stuyvesant High, before crashing the truck. Leaping from his vehicle, he brandished a pellet gun and a paintball gun and was shot by a police officer. Even as they scrambled for safety, some people wondered if this was a Halloween prank. Others reached for their cellphones, capturing snippets of the chaos on video: A figure that appears to be the driver, trying to escape on foot. The wreckage of the truck. Crumpled bicycles. Lifeless bodies.

So the pattern established oceans away now visits America. Hamas terrorists had been so successful with vehicle attacks against Israelis that, in 2014, an Islamic State official urged similar attacks across the West. This resort to terror by the ton  cheap and easy to execute  is a paradoxical tribute to the sophisticated protections that have denied extremists many of the conventional weapons, and the easy access to air transport targets, they enjoyed at the turn of this century.

We don't know if this suspect was heeding an Islamic State call to attack trick-or-treaters on Halloween. Or if only his own twisted thinking drove him to choose this day, this celebration, to attack New Yorkers on this trail in a neighborhood laced with residential buildings and clotted with people traffic  the ultimate soft target.

We've seen enough of these car and truck attacks  in London, Nice, Stockholm, Berlin  to know they are all but impossible to predict or prevent.

Early news reports had Islamic State voices cheering the attack. If so, theyll awaken to the realization that an onslaught in New York  the deadliest attack since 9/11  doesn't diminish the swift and formidable victory of U.S.-backed forces against Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. To the contrary, any terror attack on the West affirms that the job of eradicating this group and others like it isnt finished.

Defeating Islamic State on the battlefields of Mosul and Raqqa has to be followed by a victory in the treacherous terrain of cyberspace. Islamic State can spew hatred and draw terrorist wannabes to its savage cause. It doesn't cost much to brainwash and recruit adherents on the internet.

Our hope is that as Islamic State becomes more desperate to avenge its losses to superior forces in its former caliphate, that the appeal of the group will fade. That's the hope.

The reality is that terrorists humbled in one place can regroup in other countries  in Libya, elsewhere in Africa. That's why the Trump administration recently pledged $60 million to help five African nations build a counterterrorism force.
Rohingya Muslims carry their young children and belongings after crossing the border from Myanmar into Bangladesh on Nov. 1, 2017. (Bernat Armangue / AP)

The Rohingya people of Myanmar have long been despised and persecuted as a Muslim minority in a majority-Buddhist country. Now, they are being slaughtered.

A brutal campaign of terror has driven more than 600,000 of the Rohingya to flee the country to neighboring Bangladesh, and a political and humanitarian crisis is rapidly unfolding. The United Nations calls it a textbook case of ethnic cleansing.

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The exodus was sparked by a disturbing escalation of long-simmering tensions between Myanmars majority-Buddhist military and civilian government and the Rohingya people, who since 1982 have been stripped of their citizenship and classified as stateless by the government.

On Aug. 25, a small group of Rohingya insurgents attacked a number of police posts in Myanmars northern Rakhine State. As retaliation, the military  backed by local Buddhist mobs  began burning Rohingya villages and attacking and killing people, according to international human rights workers who have witnessed the atrocities.

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The Rohingya people began fleeing toward Bangladesh, where they are joining more than 300,000 who had already fled previous waves of violence. And now, as with other crises  Rwanda, Syria, South Sudan  a juggernaut of refugees in Bangladesh and Myanmar poses severe health risks as clean water, food and safe shelter are scarce.

Myanmars civilian government, led by Nobel peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, has been too quiet on the plight of the Rohingya. Suu Kyi, hailed as the Nelson Mandela of Asia for her political activism and decades spent under house arrest, shares power with the military. The civilian government she leads has stymied U.N. efforts to document the brutality against the Rohingya, and Suu Kyi has told diplomats shes frustrated with the U.N.s human rights arm. She is in a delicate political position, but her reluctance to speak out forcefully against the violence has allowed a slaughter to continue unchecked.

The European Union has done little. And the U.N. Security Council is paralyzed, with Russia and China blocking action against Myanmar.

In such a vacuum, the U.S. must step forward and lead efforts toward a resolution.

Last week, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson forcefully condemned the Myanmar militarys violence against the Rohingya, and the State Department said it is considering targeted sanctions under the Global Magnitsky Act, which would allow the U.S. to freeze the assets of, and limit travel by, certain individuals. A U.S. delegation is visiting Myanmar and Bangladesh this week to discuss ways to address the humanitarian and human rights concerns stemming from the Rakhine State crisis and improve the delivery of humanitarian assistance to displaced persons, according to the State Department.

We support imposing the Magnitsky sanctions, at the least, and we urge the Trump administration to increase pressure on Suu Kyi to stem the violence.

There are many reasons why the Trump administration should want to take strong action in Myanmar: to quell the immediate attacks on the Rohingya people, to punish an aggressive military junta that maintains a tight grip on the country, to prevent potential conflict between Myanmar and Bangladesh.

The most compelling reason to President Donald Trump might be the opportunity to reverse U.S. policy toward Myanmar initiated by President Barack Obama.

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The Obama administration embraced the idea that democracy could flourish in Myanmar, even as human rights violations persisted. In 2011, then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton visited the nation and said she was encouraged by the steps the government had taken. We supported that hope then, but cautioned that Myanmars rulers had a long way to go to prove they were serious about real reform.

Myanmars ruthless campaign against the Rohingya people proves that reform remains a distant hope.

Before Trump departs this weekend for his first presidential visit to Asia, he should denounce the attacks against the Rohingya people. The U.S. should reinstate strong sanctions against both the civilian and military arms of the Myanmar government and put pressure on Suu Kyi to intervene to end the violence.
Sen. Ira Silverstein, D-Chicago, watches the Senate vote 42-13 to override Gov. Bruce Rauner's veto of a bill that prohibits creation of local right-to-work areas Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2017 at the Capitol in Springfield, Ill. (Rich Saal/The State Journal-Regi / AP)

The office of state Legislative Inspector General has been vacant for almost three years. That tells us something about the Illinois General Assemblys commitment to policing misconduct among its members.

When victims rights activist Denise Rotheimer alleged that shed been sexually harassed by Sen. Ira Silverstein, D-Chicago, Senate President John Cullerton forwarded the complaint to that same legislative IGs office. That tells us something too.

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Rotheimer went public with her accusations on Tuesday, almost a year after she reported them to Cullertons office. Rotheimer, who is seeking the Republican nomination for a Lake County legislative seat, testified at a hearing on a bill meant to combat sexual harassment in state government.

The bill was filed by House Speaker Michael Madigan last week after more than 200 people signed a letter calling for an end to a culture of sexual harassment in Springfield. The women and men who signed the letter joined a nationwide chorus moved by the #MeToo social media campaign.

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Rotheimer said Silverstein remarked on her appearance, sent hundreds of Facebook messages and temporarily blocked a bill she was advocating because he thought she had a boyfriend. Silverstein disputed her account but said hes sorry if I made her uncomfortable.

Cullertons spokesman said senior staffers met with Silverstein to let him know such allegations are taken seriously and reported them to the IGs office and the Legislative Ethics Commission  which would be a perfectly appropriate response if either of those entities had a track record for punishing ethical lapses. They dont.

On his way out the door in 2014, retiring IG Thomas Homer complained that hed been working for 10 years with his hands tied. Although I can recommend new laws to address what I believe to be inappropriate conduct by legislators, enforcement actions are limited to violations of existing laws and rules, he said. Laws, in other words, that have no teeth.

He left lawmakers with six pages of proposed reforms, most of them inspired by actual cases that I have investigated. The General Assembly has been in no hurry to pass those reforms or even to replace Homer.

Sen. Terry Link, D-Waukegan, who chairs the Legislative Ethics Commission, said the vacancy at the top of the IGs office doesnt prevent it from doing its job, and its not necessarily unusual for a complainant to wait a year or longer to hear back. Some things take a long time, he told reporters.

Theyd take less time, of course, in a fully staffed office with a leader in place. The lack of urgency from Cullerton, Madigan and their majority caucuses is telling, as is the lack of transparency. Link told reporters he couldnt comment on the inspector generals caseload or on how many cases the Ethics Commission has referred to law enforcement. Again: Who made those rules? Whose interest do they serve?

When legislative misconduct is alleged, both accused and accuser deserve a timely resolution. So does the public. That hasnt been the case, but nobody in the General Assembly has lost sleep over it  until now.

The current uproar reflects badly on Cullerton, whose reliance on protocol is no excuse: He referred Rotheimers complaint to an office that he knows full well is rudderless and ineffectual. It is our understanding that there is an open investigation  spoken Tuesday by a Cullerton spokesman  is a pretty hollow assurance.

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This reflects badly, too, on Madigan, who sprang into action only after a groundswell of protest about a culture of creepiness in the Capitol. Madigan desperately wants to avoid looking like he hasnt taken sexual harassment seriously. Too late.
Heres where to drink on a budget this week.

Thursday, Nov. 2

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Hard Rock Cafe Chicago (63 W. Ontario St. 312-943-2252) offers half-price appetizers, $5 glasses of house wine, $5 select well cocktails, and $4 Goose Island, Revolution, Half Acre and Metropolitan drafts from 4 to 6 p.m.

Friday, Nov. 3

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Frontier (1072 N. Milwaukee Ave. 773-772-4322) hosts a Fall Fest Happy Hour from 4 to 7 p.m. featuring $9 spiced hot toddies, $7 boozy hot cocoa, $9 walnut old fashioneds, $13-$16 cans of wine, $8 DIY s'mores and $7 mini-maple cinnamon doughnuts.

Saturday, Nov. 4

Union Sushi + Barbeque Bar (230 W. Erie St. 312-662-4888) offers $1 oysters, $3 beef filet skewers, $6 spicy shrimp sushi rolls, $10 truffled tuna, $5 Moscow mules, $5 glasses of rose and half-price Pride of the City sake from 5 to 6:30 p.m.

Sunday, Nov. 5

Heritage Restaurant & Caviar Bar (2700 W. Chicago Ave. 773-661-9577) offers $1 oysters, $15 wood-grilled baby back ribs, $5 glasses of prosecco, $3 Heritage vodka shots and $6 bloody marys from 4 to 6 p.m.

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Monday, Nov. 6

The Anthem (1725 W. Division St. 773-697-4804) offers Tito's cocktails, hummus plates, waffle fries, slider baskets and jalapeno poppers for $5 from 4 to 7 p.m.

Tuesday, Nov. 7

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The Royal Grocer & Co. (2118 N. Damen Ave. 773-904-7805) offers $1 oysters, $4 craft draft beers and $8 signature cocktails from 4 to 6 p.m.

Wednesday, Nov. 8

Ronero (738 W. Randolph St. 312-600-6105) offers $1 oysters, $5 martinis, $5 glasses of white wine and $6 glasses of sparkling wine from 5 to 7 p.m.

If you have a happy hour deal youd like to see featured in RedEye, email details to laurenchval@redeyechicago.com.

[ Still thirsty? More of RedEye's bar coverage ]
A loaded gun found outside Ivy Hill Elementary School in Arlington Heights earlier this week has been claimed by a resident who told police it fell out of his pocket while he was walking his dog, authorities said. (Karen Ann Cullotta/Chicago Tribune )

A loaded gun found outside Ivy Hill Elementary School in Arlington Heights earlier this week has been claimed by a resident who told police it fell out of his pocket while he was walking his dog, authorities said Wednesday.

Arlington Heights Police Sgt. Andrew Blevins said a 57-year-old man, who police are not identifying, contacted the department and said he believed the .22 caliber, mini-revolver that was found near the school's flagpole Oct. 29 was his gun after reading news reports about the incident.

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The man told police the gun must have fallen out of his pocket during the morning hours Oct. 29 while he was walking his dog in the area, Blevins said.

"He told detectives that when he noticed the gun was gone, he retraced his steps, but was unable to find it in the area," Blevins said.

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While Arlington Heights police have yet to return the gun to the resident, the man does have a valid Firearm Owners Identification card, as well as a valid Illinois Concealed Carry license, Blevins said.

Police are in the process of confirming whether the gun is registered to the resident, said Blevins, who declined to comment on whether police are questioning the man about the reasons why the gun wasn't safely secured near an elementary school.

"We're still looking into a number of things, but it's safe to say there was never any danger to the school," Blevins said.

Officials at Arlington Heights School District 25 have said the school day at Ivy Hill went on as scheduled Oct. 30 after police checked the inside and outside of the school.

The mini-revolver was found later in the morning on Oct. 29 after another resident discovered it on the sidewalk near the school's flagpole while walking the family dog with his son before contacting police about it, Blevins said.

Arlington Heights police said they also are reviewing surveillance video taken near the school during the evening of Oct. 28 that shows someone wearing a white sweatshirt with the hood up appearing to reach into a pocket and tossing a small object on the sidewalk near the flagpole.

Blevins said the footage prompted investigators to initially suspect the object could have been the revolver.

But he said the video  which he described as difficult to decipher  also shows a group of about 10 to 12 people gathering near the school a few minutes before the person in the hooded sweatshirt is seen alone, dropping something near the flagpole.

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kcullotta@tribpub.com

Twitter @kcullotta
Participants watch as their bridge is being tested at the annual 4-H Bridge Busting Competition. This years event is set for Jan. 6 in Yorkville. ( University of Illinois Extension )

The registration deadline is nearing for the annual 4-H Bridge Busting Contest to be held in Yorkville.

Registration will close Nov. 10 for the sixth annual competition, which will be Jan. 6.

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"The annual competition provides an excellent learning and team-building opportunity for youth, teens, classes, clubs, families, and other groups," said Jo Ann Britton, 4-H Youth Development Program Coordinator, in a press release about the event. "Registered teams will design and construct bridges according to competition rules with provided supplies. In January, entries will be judged on aesthetics and tested for structural strength."

Competition participants, ages 10 and older, may enter in one of three categories: youth teams, family teams including adults and youth, and school teams for grades five to 12. Teams must have a minimum of two members, according to the release.

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Registered teams will pick up all project supplies and the official contest packet, which includes general event information, rules and regulations, in November, Britton said.

The contest also offers a demonstration entry choice, which is intended to give younger participants the opportunity to practice engineering and design skills without competition, according to the release.

The event is facilitated by the University of Illinois Extension and 4-H Youth Development of DuPage, Kane and Kendall Counties, and it is supported by Rural King of Plano and Cross Lutheran School in Yorkville.

To learn more or register a team, go to go.illinois.edu/bridgebust4Hdkk. The cost is $40 per team. For information, call 630-553-5823.
Co-founder of YouTube Steve Chen visits with students and alumni as the Center for Innovation & Inquiry is officially opened last spring at the Illinois Math and Science Academy in Aurora. ( David Sharos/The Beacon-News )

The Illinois Math and Science Academy in Aurora was named a winner of a Chicago Innovation Award for its new innovation center, IN2.

The winners were announced at Chicago's Harris Theater on Monday, according to a press release about the awards. The Chicago Innovation Awards, now in its 16th year, is designed to provide recognition of the most innovative new products or services brought to market or to public service each year, according to the release.

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The IN2 Steve and Jamie Chen Center for Innovation & Inquiry at IMSA raised $2 million in private funds from alumni, corporations, foundations and friends, school officials said.

"Our vision is to create a model for U.S. education that empowers young people to transform their ideas into reality and into solutions to the complex social challenges of our time through entrepreneurship and innovation," explains IMSA President Jose Torres in the release.

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IN2 collaborates with corporate partners that include British Petroleum, ComEd, Caterpillar, First National Bank, and organizations such as Illinois Computing Educators, school officials said. Additionally, it has partnerships with Illinois higher education including Illinois Institute of Technology, Northwestern and the University of Illinois.

Community members with specific areas of expertise assist students and community startups in idea development and guide them to take their concept to the next level, according to the release.
The one-time entrance, complete with helipad, to the former Copley Memorial Hospital in Aurora. (Steve Lord/The Beacon-News )

Two days after being sworn in as mayor of Aurora this spring, Richard Irvin was in a car with Jeffery Jeep, driving around the perimeter of the old Copley Hospital property.

Irvin was impressing Jeep, an attorney with the Chicago-based Jeep & Blazer, LLC, which specializes in environmental law, that dealing with the dangerous, dilapidated eyesore the old Copley property has become was a high priority.

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"We had to try something new," Irvin said. "We were coming up with ideas. He came back a day or two later and he had the answer."

That answer, Jeep said, is a federal lawsuit under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, also known as the Solid Waste Act, that would force owners Raghuveer and Anita Nayak, of Oak Brook, to either clean up or demolish the property on South Lincoln Avenue, between Weston Street and Seminary Avenue.

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The entrance to the former nursing school at the old Copley Memorial Hospital on the Seminary Avenue side is one place where no trespassing signs are clearly posted, but people ignore them anyway, city officials said. (Steve Lord/The Beacon-News )

City officials are set to file that lawsuit this week. In late July, the city filed its intent to file the lawsuit, which requires a 90-day waiting period. That was up Tuesday.

Alex Alexandrou, Aurora's chief management officer, said as of Nov. 1, "we expect to be dropping the hammer."

Jeep said the act allows a citizen lawsuit  and for the purposes of this situation the city is considered a citizen  to bring federal court action "where somebody has disposed of solid waste that may have substantial probability of harm." He said officials consider the Copley site a solid waste hazard, a "pile of debris."

"It's not a building," Jeep said. "We don't describe that as a building. It's a dump."

In the notice to file the lawsuit, the city focused on three main things: that there is asbestos inside the building that is now blowing outside through the many broken windows, due to a wind tunnel effect through the building; that children, adults and first responders are entering into the building, legally or illegally, and being exposed to the asbestos; and that the building is no longer a building, but a pile of debris.

Jeep said all three of those meet the standard in federal law of an environmental violation.

The view of the former Copley Memorial Hospital from South Lincoln Avenue. (Steve Lord/The Beacon-News )

Officials point out there is more. Bardwell Elementary School, in the East Aurora School District, is right across Seminary Avenue from the old Copley site, which means at least 100 children a day pass by the site, breathing in the air, officials said.

And many people live around the site, in what was for years known as the Copley neighborhood.

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There are plenty of YouTube videos showing people entering the old Copley building, seeking to steal building materials, adventures or even ghosts  it is considered a prime haunted building for those who chase after such things.

The evidence of many people entering the building is also there in the graffiti and the fact that broken glass on the surrounding lawn, sidewalks and parking lots indicates most of the windows are broken out from the inside.

"Stuff's been thrown into the right-of-way, from inside the building, while people are walking by," said Alexandrou. "Somebody dumped a boat. The last I checked, there's no marina there."

The city has had a lawsuit in state Circuit Court since 2015 seeking to get the owners to clean up or demolish the site. City officials will put that on hold to pursue the federal remedy, because Jeep said the federal way allows the city to go after the building owners. He said the Nayaks are the only principals in their property management company.

"The problem with the state is you go after an empty shell," he said. "The federal statute allows you to go after the people who make the decisions."

The one-time emergency entrance to the former Copley Memorial Hospital building in Aurora. (Steve Lord/The Beacon-News )

Jeep said under the federal statute, the court can issue injunctions forcing the building either be fixed or torn down. It can also force the owners to take immediate action to stabilize the building.

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Also, the city can recover legal costs incurred, as well as future legal costs.

Jeep said the city would seek an immediate emergency order to stabilize the building, and provide 24-hour, seven-day-a-week security to keep people out of the building.

"The long-term solution is to fix the problem," he said. "If you can rehabilitate the building, or tear it down, one way or the other. He's had this property since 2007, he's had 10 years. The judge is not going to give him another 10 years."

The Beacon-News did not get calls back after attempts to reach the Nayaks or their attorney for this story.

Copley Hospital began in 1916 out of the original Aurora City Hospital, which opened in the late 1800s. It expanded several times and functioned as Copley Memorial Hospital at Lincoln and Weston until 1995, when the hospital became part of the Rush system and moved to a new campus on Route 34 in Aurora.

It is now Rush-Copley Medical Center at the new, expansive campus.

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Almost from the moment the hospital left its original location on the near East Side, what to do with it became problematic.

In the waning days of Mayor David Pierce's administration, the city put together a project with a Chicago developer to turn the building into 132 studio and single-family apartments for the elderly.

But in May 1997, shortly after new Mayor David Stover took office, he broke a tie City Council vote to, in effect, quash the deal. He said, in effect, he was against the city subsidizing a private development.

In the early 2000s, another developer attempted to turn the former hospital building into a health center, but was denied a license from the state's Facilities Planning Board. That owner sold the property to the Nayaks in 2007.

As the property has sat unused, it has deteriorated to the current condition, Jeep said. At times the city has stepped in and done some work to try to seal off the building, make it safer and clean up the area around it.

Ald. William Donnell, 4th Ward, whose ward includes the former hospital property, said in the early days of ownership, the Nayaks "were responsive" to city complaints.

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"Those windows were not broken out up to about four years ago," he said.

It is the opinion of city officials that the Nayaks have failed to answer notices sent to them, and even have ignored the state court. Irvin said they have "failed to act, for years, over and over."

"He (Raghuveer Nayak) has made a conscious decision to thumb his nose at the people of this city," Jeep said.

The former Copley's condition has not only become an issue in the neighborhood, but throughout the city. It was one of the most mentioned issues in the recent mayoral election campaign.

Donnell said at his quarterly ward meetings at Bardwell School, it is a regular part of the agenda, and what he called "the number one issue in that neighborhood."

"From day one when I was elected, I've had people call me about it," he said.

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City officials insist they have done much work at the old Copley through the years, and have answered many, many calls. Alexandrou noted that because the city does not own the property, there is only so much it can do.

"It's not our property," he said. "If it were, it would be down by now. We can't afford to post 24-hour security."

By the same token, the city does not want to own the property, because then it would be responsible for the between $5 million and $15 million it is estimated it would take to tear the building down. That's another reason for the federal lawsuit instead of the state action  officials are worried that with the state courts, the city could end up with the building.

Another common thread on social media is the emotional connection between the building and people's memories. Many were born there, or had children born there. Many others were treated there or visited friends and relatives there.

"I was born in Copley," Irvin said. "Many citizens in Aurora find a connection with it. It was a neighborhood hospital."

As far as the future, officials said whether the building is saved or torn down, the property still would be a prime redevelopment site. But Irvin said that is for the future.

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"Right now, we want the danger gone, the safety issues gone," he said. "First things first."

slord@tribpub.com
Brian Barnes puts his arm around his daughter Mia Fields as they listen to principal Steve McWilliams during a protest outside Barrington High School on July 14, 2017.

Brian Barnes puts his arm around his daughter Mia Fields as they listen to principal Steve McWilliams during a protest outside Barrington High School on July 14, 2017. (Jim Young / Chicago Tribune)

Six Barrington High School students who appeared in a photo labeled KKK that ignited a social media firestorm over the summer are suing the school district for defamation.

A hearing on the case is scheduled in federal court Monday.

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The controversial picture, widely circulated on the internet, depicted eight smiling white teenage girls dressed in white shirts, raising their hands over their heads in an ambiguous gesture. The image was captioned with the letters KKK  the initials of the girl hosting the party  and posted to social media, according to the lawsuit.

After the photo was uploaded, another student misconstrued the initials for a reference to the Ku Klux Klan, and tweeted out the photo with a call to involve (Barrington High School) and to induce punishment, the court documents say.

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The photo was retweeted and shared thousands of times, with some in cyberspace interpreting the girls gestures as mimicking Ku Klux Klan hoods. Officials at Barrington Community School District 220 were inundated with demands to take action against the girls.

The lawsuit, filed in August on behalf of six of the girls by their parents, seeks unspecified damages. An attorney representing the girls and their parents did not immediately return phone calls.

Court documents said the photo was shot off-campus at the home of one of the girls during a party that had a white out theme, meaning that those attending were supposed to dress in white-colored clothing. The school has also held similarly themed events, according to media reports.

The white out theme related exclusively to attire, and the party itself was attended by students of various races and ethnicities, including African Americans, the lawsuit says.

In a written statement issued when the photo began circulating in July, Superintendent Brian Harris said the district does not condone the actions of the students in the photo and the matter is under investigation. Once the investigation is complete, we will determine the appropriate consequences, according to our student handbook and board policy."

The lawsuit also points to statements Principal Stephen McWilliams reportedly made to a small group of youths who protested the photo outside the school on July 14. The suit claims he championed the (protesters) cause with comments such as the image burns me to my core.

These damaging accusations, originating from careless, peripheral online commentators, were made exponentially more effective by the public endorsements of the Superintendent and Principal, the lawsuit said. Such statements will undoubtedly inhibit the (girls) future educational and career prospects as well as their future earning potential.

The lawsuit claims the girls free speech rights were violated and they were unconstitutionally banned from participating in extracurricular activities pending a hearing. The principal had summoned the remainder of the girls to school for further interrogations, without identifying a valid charge or any evidence, according to the lawsuit.

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The school district, principal and superintendent denied those claims in court documents filed in September. Attorneys for the school district had also filed a motion to dismiss the case, saying none of the students involved was ever disciplined.

Plaintiffs have not been suspended or expelled from school attendance, nor is discipline even being contemplated by the School District, the court documents say, adding that the students who were involved in extracurricular activities were not barred from participation.

This case arises out of the District 220s unconstitutional discipline of several Barrington High School students because other BHS students  made it their summer project to instigate a virtual internet mob to threaten and pressure District 220 to involve itself and mete out punishment for the thought crime they imagined had occurred, the suit contends.

Attorney Darcy Kriha, who represents the school district, declined to comment any further in a phone interview Wednesday because the case involves student matters.

The lawsuit does not address or explain the way the girls were gesturing in the photo.

But the Southern Poverty Law Center, which tracks hate groups, told the Tribune in July that what was depicted did not appear to match any known Ku Klux Klan hand gestures.

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My first impression on looking at the photo would not be that these girls are doing something racist, a spokesman for the center said.

eleventis@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @angie_leventis





[ Photo of Barrington students labeled 'KKK' sparks protest, claims of racism ]
The Rev. Joseph Pastick, a longtime priest at northwest suburban parishes including Our Lady of the Wayside in Arlington Heights and St. Mary in Buffalo Grove, recently died in Florida at the age of 94. (Archdiocese of Chicago)

Rev. Joseph Pastick, a longtime priest at several northwest suburban parishes, including Our Lady of the Wayside in Arlington Heights and St. Mary in Buffalo Grove, is being remembered for his dedication and compassion.

Pastick died this past October at the age of 94.

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His last assignment was serving as associate pastor of Our Lady of the Wayside Parish in Arlington Heights, where he worked from 1987 until 1993, when he retired from active ministry in the Archdiocese of Chicago.

Rev. Martin Barnum, director of the pastoral internship program at the University of St. Mary of the Lake in Mundelein, recalled first meeting Pastick when he was a child at St. Felicitas Parish on 84th Street in Chicago, where Pastick was associate pastor.

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Their paths crossed again decades later when Barnum became pastor at Wayside.

"I worked with him for four years and found him to be very generous and compassionate  always willing to do anything for his parish," Barnum said.

Rev. Vince Costello, pastor of Holy Cross Parish in Deerfield, said he first met Pastick at Wayside in 1993, describing him as a "very dedicated priest" who continued to work at the parish during the summer months  right up to his retirement.

"He did his best to serve God and the Church," Costello said.

The oldest of eight children, Pastick was born in Chicago on April 8, 1923.

After attending Quigley Preparatory Seminary in Chicago, Pastick went on to the University of St. Mary of the Lake Seminary, where he earned bachelor's and master's degrees, and a Licentiate in Sacred Theology, according to officials with the Archdiocese of Chicago.

Pastick was ordained into the priesthood on May 7, 1949, by Samuel Cardinal Stritch, who was archbishop of Chicago. Pastick celebrated his first Solemn Mass at St. Andrew Parish in Chicago on May 8, 1949, officials said.

After serving as assistant pastor at St. Felicitas Parish from 1949 to 1956, Pastick was named assistant pastor at Annunciation Parish on Wabansia Avenue in Chicago, where he served through 1961.

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Pastick's first work in what was known then as the fledgling northwest suburbs of Chicago happened at St. Mary Parish in Buffalo Grove, where he served from 1961 through 1964 before working at St. George Parish in Tinley Park from 1964 through 1969.

After completing his work at St. Richard Parish in Chicago, Pastick returned to the suburbs in 1975, serving as associate pastor at Our Lady of Humility Parish in Beach Park-Zion, where he was involved in a multitude of parish activities, officials with the Archdiocese of Chicago said.

He also served as associate pastor at St. Emily Parish in Mount Prospect from 1980 through 1987 before taking on his final assignment as associate pastor at Our Lady of the Wayside Parish in Arlington Heights, where he remained until his retirement.

After relocating to Florida, where he assisted with the ministry at Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish in New Port Richey, Fla., Pastick celebrated the 60th anniversary of his ordination into the priesthood in 2009, retiring as sacramental minister in 2011, when he moved to Springhill, Fla.

Rev. Edward Fialkowski was the main celebrant at Pastick's funeral mass Oct. 26 at Wayside, where Bishop Raymond Goedert presided, officials said.

Pastick is survived by a brother, Jerry Pastick.

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kcullotta@tribpub.com

Twitter @kcullotta
Some Tinley Park trustees are challenging Mayor Jacob Vandenberg's appointment of an interim director to oversee the village's Emergency Services and Disaster Agency.

The mayor, in a memo dated Oct. 19 that was sent to trustees, indicated he had named Steve Eberhardt as interim emergency management director.

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The appointment came after the Village Board, at its Oct. 17 meeting, approved the appointment of Pat Carr to assistant village manager. Carr has served as director of emergency management and director of 911 communications and had been serving as interim assistant village manager since May after the departure of Steve Tilton.

The mayor's memo indicated the village would make a formal offer to Eberhardt, a Tinley Park attorney who ran unsuccessfully for mayor in 2013 and several years ago worked in law enforcement.

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It is unclear how much Eberhardt would be paid but Carr made about $100,000 annually.

Within the last couple years, Eberhardt represented a community group in a lawsuit that tried to block the closing of Lincoln-Way North High School.

Tinley Park attorney Steve Eberhardt. (Dennis Sullivan / Chicago Tribune )

In filling a vacancy in the director's job, the mayor can appoint someone in event of the director's absence, resignation, death or inability of the current director to serve, according to the village ordinance. Three trustees at a Oct. 24 Village Board committee meeting voted to nullify the appointment, but it is unclear whether their votes can affect the appointment.

The trustees contend that the mayor's action was not made under emergency conditions.

At the same time, it was uncertain whether Vandenberg would abide by the panel's vote. The mayor did not respond to multiple messages seeking comment.

Trustee Michael Pannitto, who chairs the board's Administration and Legal committee, said his issue wasn't with the person who was appointed but the process under which the appointment was made.

"It's an end-around the board of trustees," he said, noting the board should have a say on the appointment.

The trustee said the village needs to "do it the right way," by advertising the opening internally and externally and interviewing applicants.

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"I think the system has to be fair," he said.

At the committee's Oct. 24 meeting, Pannitto said the provision Vandenberg used to make the appointment is "clearly designed for an emergency," which he argued it wasn't.

Pannitto, along with Trustees Cynthia Berg and Michael Mangin, voted to direct village attorney Patrick Connelly to notify the mayor that the three-trustee panel had deemed the appointment to be invalid.

Carr said at the village board committee meeting prior to the vote he didn't plan to give up emergency management duties.

But Connelly told the trustees that the village's personnel manual prohibits Carr from keeping his new job and his old one. His promotion automatically created a vacancy in his old emergency management position, Connelly said.

According to the village's description of the emergency management position, the job holder should have "thorough knowledge of federal, state and local regulations relative to the operations of local emergency services and disaster agencies" as well as "thorough knowledge of the Incident Command System, Disaster Response and Recovery and Management of Emergency Operations."

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The desired minimum qualifications include a bachelor's degree in emergency management, business, public administration "or a closely related field," and applicable training in "various emergency management areas."

Daily Southtown Twice-weekly News updates from the south suburbs delivered every Monday and Wednesday >

According to Eberhardt's website, he was licensed to practice law in the state in 1982 and worked as an assistant state's attorney for 10 years in divisions including criminal appeals and municipal. He has been in private practice since 1992.

Prior to becoming a lawyer, he worked as a part-time police officer for departments including Hazel Crest and Tinley Park and has experience as a police 911 system operator. According to a Chicago Tribune article, he worked for Tinley Park as a part-time officer and police dispatcher from 1977 until 1982 while attending John Marshall Law School.

While an attorney, according to Eberhardt's bio, he served part-time as commander of the Crestwood police department's detective division.

According to his website, Eberhardt has received "extensive continuing law enforcement as well as legal training over the course of his professional careers from a variety of county, state and federal agencies and task force operations as well as teaching at numerous law enforcement and legal seminars."

Eberhardt did not respond to a message seeking comment.

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mnolan@tribpub.com

Twitter @mnolan_J
Following the release of her memoir, "From Under the Russian Snow," author and journalist Michelle A. Carter, 72, of Belmont, Calif., will appear at 7 p.m. Nov. 16, in the second-floor Veterans Room at the Oak Park Public Library, 834 Lake St. She answered a few questions for the Oak Leaves on Oct. 30.

Q: What's the story behind the book?

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A: It's a memoir, from the year that I lived in Russia as the U.S. Information Agency's journalist-in-residence. I had a grant for the year. I moved to my flat in Moscow on Jan. 3, 1995. My charge was to serve as a midwife to the emerging free press.  I traveled across 11 time zones of that enormous country and worked with newspaper editors.

Q: What was the experience like?

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A: It was fantastic. Newspapers were having to find a way to gather information from sources who don't want to talk to them. They were used to having information provided to them without questioning what was provided to them. Without government subsidies, they had to sell advertising and create a newspaper people wanted to buy.

Q: What's your background?

A: I grew up in Maywood and went to Proviso East High School. I went to journalism school at the University of Missouri. I had a scholarship from Jewel; I was a part-time worker there. And when I got the scholarship, I was interviewed by Studs Terkel.  I've been traveling and writing about Russia and the Soviet Union since 1988. My first book was "Children of Chernobyl: Raising Hope From the Ashes," about the children affected by the explosion in 1986.

Q: What was the memoir writing process like?

A: My favorite quote about memoirs: "Writing a memoir is like dancing naked in the street." It really is. [laughed] There are no secrets. I've been working on this since 1995, on and off. The manuscript was finished a year ago this June. I received three rejections, and the fourth one said, "This is the book we've been waiting for." It was published in September.  The flower on the cover, a podsnezhnik, represents hope and renewal. That part of it is somewhat prescient. It's somewhat humorous, somewhat poignant.

Q: Any thoughts on the current state of journalism in Russia and whether we're seeing any parallels in the U.S. today?

A: Probably the closest parallel to what's happening in Washington, D.C., and Moscow today is this idea of "alternative facts," which of course is just untruths. In Russia, the Kremlin directs the broadcast and publishing of its version of the "facts" to its subsidized news outlets, such as the newspaper Rossiya Gazeta and the state TV channels. In Russia today, resistance to the state version of important events can put a publisher or broadcaster out of business very quickly; it can even cost journalists their lives.

Caitlin Mullen is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
A Chicago man accused in a carjacking attempt last month in Oak Park also was charged with battery and aggravated assault in a separate incident that Oak Park police said took place minutes later.

Oak Park police said they were called at 7 a.m. Oct. 30 in the 800 block of South Scoville Avenue, after a report that a man allegedly attempted to hijack a parked car. Police said the man, later identified as Dantrelle S. White-Dent, 19, of the 5500 block of West Congress Parkway, Chicago, allegedly approached and opened the driver's side door of a parked car and demanded the driver's wallet, police said.

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The driver complied and exited the car, police said. According to police, White-Dent then allegedly threw the driver to the ground, entered the car and attempted to drive away. Police said White-Dent had difficulty driving the car, then got out and fled.

A few minutes later, police said White-Dent came upon a man standing on the parkway in the 900 block of Wesley Avenue. White-Dent allegedly grabbed the man by his arm and implied that he had a weapon in his coat pocket, police said.

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The man identified himself as a car service driver and said he pulled free from White-Dent and fled in his own car, which was parked nearby, police said. Police then stopped White-Dent in the 800 block of South Oak Park Avenue, and he was later identified by both victims, police said.

Police said White-Dent, who also goes by the alias Dantrelle Dent, was charged with felony attempted vehicular hijacking and robbery, and misdemeanor battery and aggravated assault. White-Dent was identified by the Cook County sheriff's police as being wanted on a felony parole violation warrant, police said.

According to the Cook County Sheriff's Office, White-Dent remained in jail as of Wednesday afternoon. His bail was set at $2,000. His next court date scheduled for Nov. 3 in Maywood.

sschering@pioneerlocal.com

Twitter @steveschering
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe gestures as he gives a speech during a press conference at his official residence in Tokyo on Nov. 1. ( Toru Yamanaka/AFP/Getty )

A United States president plans to visit a rising power in Asia, but vast student demonstrations protesting his presence on their sacred soil lead to cancellation of the trip. Is this the latest media melodrama sparked by U.S. President Donald "Turmoil" Trump?

No, the frustrated visitor was President Dwight D. Eisenhower, and the aborted trip was to have been to Japan in 1960. He usually was remarkable for his capacity to capture the wider public. A December 1959 visit to India generated gigantic, welcoming crowds, despite bitter Cold War policy differences between New Delhi and Washington, D.C. Nevertheless, even Ike ran into trouble.

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This history bears directly on the extremely important election held in Japan in September, largely neglected by our media. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has won office again. Despite persistent economic sluggishness over many years, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party continues in power. A fractured opposition contributes to the LDP's success.

Additionally, Abe provides a reassuring presence in uncertain times for a country totally devastated by war in the 20th century. Comparable history helps explain the equally impressive long tenure of Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany. Assuming Abe completes his latest four-year term, he will be the longest serving prime minister in post-war Japanese history.

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There is no shortage of problems domestic and international to occupy Tokyo, including its vexed economy. The substantial military buildup by China rightly receives global attention and concern, and involves a wider regional arms race plus ongoing maritime disputes. North Korea's violent apocalyptic rhetoric  combined with nuclear weapons development  make that country a particularly dangerous wild card.

Last December, U.S. Defense Secretary Ashton Carter visited Japan in his last major overseas trip during the Obama administration. A highlight was touring the new Izumo, Japan's largest military ship since World War II. On Dec. 7, Secretary Carter visited the defense ministry for sustained, detailed discussions with defense minister Tomomi Inada.

Forces from Japan have been in the Indian Ocean in support of the NATO and United Nations military and economic missions in Afghanistan. This is the first time warships flying the Japanese flag have appeared in that part of the world since 1945.

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This past February, Japanese Prime Minister Abe's visit to the United States underscored the vital importance of the strong alliance between our two nations. Our military defense and economic integration continue to intertwine.

Today, free markets and global trade and investment gradually encourage stability and the rule of law in Asia and elsewhere in the world. At the same time, the continuing arms expansion in the Pacific region requires sustained monitoring and countermeasures. Military cooperation between Japan and the U.S. is now imperative.

Since World War II, Eisenhower has been highly regarded by the American people. That resonated in two enormous vote majorities in the presidential elections of 1952 and 1956. Slowly but steadily, academics and journalists have come to share the esteem instinctively expressed by the average woman and man.

Ike's talents included a remarkable capacity for sheer hard work on demanding projects that resulted in success. The highest-stakes plan was the Normandy Invasion of June 6, 1944. Others include military occupations of Lebanon, to forestall revolution, and Little Rock, Arkansas, to ensure school integration.

We should look for leaders with that sort of disciplined, determined approach to getting the job done rather than spending their time on rhetoric, posturing and media spin. Ike's instructive example continues to be timely.

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Arthur I. Cyr is Clausen Distinguished Professor at Carthage College in Wisconsin and author of "After the Cold War."

acyr@carthage.edu
The two Aaron Elsters spoke last week about the importance of remembering the stories of Holocaust survivors who will not always be around to share them firsthand.

On Thursday, Elster stood directly in front of his seated, life-like hologram, a piece of cutting-edge technology from the new Take a Stand Center that just opened at the Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center in Skokie.

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"I would like future generations to know my story, what I overcame to survive," a rendition of Elster's voice on the hologram said after being asked about his legacy. "That's a lesson to them  that they can overcome all kinds of adversity."

The museum had been planning and building the $5 million Take a Stand Center for the last several years, museum officials said.

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Elster was one of several local survivors to spend about a week in California for extensive interviewing so his story would live on forever. It wasn't easy, but participating survivors knew it was necessary, he said.

In the 66-seat theater at the museum, participating survivors share their stories with brief introductions and then their holograms can field specific questions from visitors, answering through sophisticated voice-activation.

"I think the technology puts this museum on a totally new level," Elster said. "It will bring an awful lot more people in here. There will be an awful lot more education going on. It's great for us and it's absolutely fantastic for the museum."

Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center CEO Susan Abrams, right, and Holocaust survivor Aaron Elster talk about new technology the museum introduced Oct. 26, 2017 that includes interactive holograms of some of the survivors. (Mike Isaacs / Pioneer Press )

Illinois Holocaust Museum CEO Susan Abrams said the museum helped advance the project  New Dimensions in Testimony  a collaboration between the USC Shoah Foundation and the USC Institute for Creative Technologies.

"The survivors were filmed in a studio in L.A. of which there are only three in the world," Abrams said. "The survivors were surrounded by over a hundred cameras."

She called the technology "future-proof" meaning that one day the recordings may be able to be shown in a 360-degree venue as technology advances. But for now, survivor testimonies are expressed through a three-dimensional hologram that is as close to the real thing as technology gets, she said.

"It prepares us for the day when our survivors will not be here," Abrams said. "Right now, the 60,000 students and educators who come through plus tens of thousands of general visitors have the incredible privilege to hear directly from a survivor."

In addition to the holograms, the Take a Stand Center highlights 40 historical and contemporary "upstanders" who have fought against injustice and cruelty in various ways.

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Some are better known than others. Visitors will find Nelson Mandela's story here, for example, but they'll also find the story of young Marley Dias who visited the museum last week when the center opened.

As the exhibition recounts, Dias was a sixth grader in New Jersey when she complained that the literature she had to read in school didn't include black girls as protagonists. She began a book drive that ignited into a movement, which is told in detail in the exhibition.

Marley Dias is pictured Thursday, Oct. 26, 2017, beside her story that is featured in the Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Centers new Take a Stand Center. (Mike Isaacs / Pioneer Press )

Dias said she initially was surprised when told the museum wanted to feature her story.

"I was excited because I focus on diversity," she said. "Even though this is a Holocaust museum, they focus on different people from different religions, different backgrounds and who have different ideas. I thought it was very important and very cool that they were sharing my story."

The center also includes an art gallery and a Take a Stand Lab that demonstrates ways in which visitors can make their voices heard.

"The upstanders we feature are both kids and adults," Abrams said. "They are famous and not famous. They could be your neighbor or mine. They are local and they are global. They are all of us."

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misaacs@pioneerlocal.com

@SKReview_Mike
All votes in the CO-3 election won't be counted until the end of this week
By Srinivas Raman

Last year, Michael Jordan finally received a favorable verdict from the Supreme Peoples Court in China. The verdict came after a long drawn out legal battle against Qiaodan Sports, a multi- million dollar Chinese sportswear company who was using the Chinese transliteration of Jordans name as its registered trademark.

After losing several cases before the lower courts, this victory comes as a huge relief for Jordan as well as many foreign firms doing business in that are similarly plagued by trademark squatters liked Qiaodan.

However, this case goes to show risks of trademark squatting and the rigors of Chinese legal system  even internationally recognized brands like Jordans are not safe in China. Other foreign brands  such as Apple, Google, and New Balance  have also faced similar challenges in China and have lost millions of dollars as a consequence.

While foreign businesses have gotten better at understanding how to manage their intellectual property in China, many fail to anticipate local challenges before entering the market.

RELATED: Intellectual Property in Chinas Food & Beverage Industry

What is trademark squatting and why is it common in China?

Trademark squatting is a form of intellectual property rights (IPR) infringement that is especially rampant in China. US firms are typically more vulnerable to trademark squatting in China because unlike the US, China follows the first to file system rather than the first to use.

US firms are often under the wrong assumption that merely by registering their trademarks in the US, they will be recognized in China as well. However, the Chinese system does not recognize trademarks registered in other jurisdictions and will grant protection only to those who file first in China, regardless of the use or intent to use.

Trademark squatters exploit the difference among the legal systems and register international brands in China anticipating their entry China. Once they enter China, the squatters try to sell them back their own trademark for exorbitant sums to earn profits.

Some trademark squatters even use the reputation of the international brand to establish their own companies and make a profit on the original brands value. In these instances, the squatter is registered under the Chinese transliteration of the original brand name, which is effective as most Chinese consumers know the brand by the Chinese transliteration.

To date, Chinese Courts have largely followed the strict interpretation of the statute and ruled in favor of trademark squatters

Establishing bad faith registration and well-known brand claims before Chinese authorities has proved difficult and expensive. These factors have encouraged trademark squatting and made brand protection in China difficult for foreign firms.

Strategies to protect your foreign trademark in China

Business leaders need to identify the right strategies to protect their trademark in China before entering the Chinese market. Below, we outline preventive and ameliorative strategies.

Early registration

Due to the first to file system, the outcome of any trademark dispute primarily hinges on who registered it first in China. Hence, firms anticipating expansion into China should apply for registration at the earliest, particularly as the registration may take considerable time in some cases.

Translate to protect

Registering your brand name as a trademark is more complex in China than in the West. This is because foreign companies often use Chinese transliterations of their original brand name to localize their product to China. For instance, Qiaodan (pronounced chee-ow dahn) is the Chinese transliteration of Jordan. In such cases, registering the English name alone is not sufficient and foreign firms must also register their trademarks under the appropriate Chinese transliteration.

In other cases, direct Chinese transliterations may not make sense, and the words need to be tweaked to make sense to consumers. For instance, the Chinese word for Coca-Cola means delicious happiness. However, this is not a direct transliteration. Rather, Coca-Cola strategically found a descriptive adaptation for its brand that it could promote its products in China by and trademarked this adaptation.

Foreign firms operating in China should ideally invest in finding the right brand name to register their trademark by using a strategic combination of literal translation, phonetic transliteration, and descriptive adaptations. It is definitely advisable to engage the assistance of bilingual experts for this work.

RELATED: Legal & Financial Due Diligence Services from Dezan Shira & Associates

Multiple registrations

Although many foreign firms successfully register their trademarks in China before trademark squatters, they sometimes encounter problems when expanding their products and services. This is because squatters obtain subsequent registrations in other categories and sub-categories and hold firms to ransom by preventing them from expanding their business.

Companies should therefore register under as many categories and sub-categories as financially feasible. Since a single registration may cost as much as RMB 1,000 (US$150) or more for each category, small and medium enterprises should think ahead and register under strategic categories. Even after registering, firms should regularly monitor the trademark register for potential squatting or infringement

Maintain proper records

Companies need to maintain all trademark related documents and other evidence in each office, including overseas offices, to challenge potential trademark squatters applications as well as facilitate renewal, cancellation, and alteration.

Prepare for legal battles

Once a squatter has successfully obtained a trademark, it is almost impossible to avoid significant legal expenses. If you chose to initiate legal proceedings, be prepared for a long and expensive battle.

Negotiation and settlement

Valeria Manunza, International Business Advisory Assistant Manager at Dezan Shira & Associates, warned, Once a squatter has successfully obtained a trademark, it is almost impossible to avoid significant legal expenses. If you choose to initiate legal proceedings, be prepared for a long and expensive battle.

Manunza elaborated, Given the lengthy, expensive, and often unfavorable adjudicatory process in trademark disputes, it may make more commercial sense to negotiate with the squatter to directly purchasing the trademark from the squatter in an out of court settlement. In such cases, it is important to not let personal vendetta and ego influence your decision, and instead think rationally from a commercial perspective. It is also advisable to seek help from legal counsel to assess the feasibility of litigation and negotiation.



About Us China Briefing is published by Asia Briefing, a subsidiary of Dezan Shira & Associates. We produce material for foreign investors throughout Asia, including ASEAN, India, Indonesia, Russia, the Silk Road, and Vietnam. For editorial matters please contact us here, and for a complimentary subscription to our products, please click here. Dezan Shira & Associates is a full service practice in China, providing business intelligence, due diligence, legal, tax, IT, HR, payroll, and advisory services throughout the China and Asian region. For assistance with China business issues or investments into China, please contact us at china@dezshira.com or visit us at www.dezshira.com

Dezan Shira & Associates Brochure

Dezan Shira & Associates is a pan-Asia, multi-disciplinary professional services firm, providing legal, tax and operational advisory to international corporate investors. Operational throughout China, ASEAN and India, our mission is to guide foreign companies through Asias complex regulatory environment and assist them with all aspects of establishing, maintaining and growing their business operations in the region. This brochure provides an overview of the services and expertise Dezan Shira & Associates can provide.

An Introduction to Doing Business in China 2017

This Dezan Shira & Associates 2017 China guide provides a comprehensive background and details of all aspects of setting up and operating an American business in China, including due diligence and compliance issues, IP protection, corporate establishment options, calculating tax liabilities, as well as discussing on-going operational issues such as managing bookkeeping, accounts, banking, HR, Payroll, annual license renewals, audit, FCPA compliance and consolidation with US standards and Head Office reporting.

Chinas Investment Landscape: Identifying New Opportunities

Chinas foreign investment landscape has experienced pivotal changes this year. In this issue of China Briefing magazine, we examine how foreign investors can capitalize on Chinas latest FDI reforms. First, we outline new industry liberalizations in both Chinas FTZs and the country at large. We then consider when an FTZ makes sense as an investment location, and what businesses should consider when entering one. Finally, we give an overview of Chinas latest pro-business reforms that streamline a wide range of administrative and regulatory measures.

Dezan Shira & Associates
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U.S. President Donald Trump will not visit the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) separating the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and South Korea during his upcoming Asian tour due to a tight schedule, the White House said on Tuesday.

Instead, Trump will visit Camp Humphreys, a military base about 60 km south of Seoul, capital of South Korea, during his visit to South Korea, a senior White House official told reporters in a briefing.

The president had to choose between the DMZ and the Camp Humphreys because of the limited time, said the official on condition of anonymity, who also pointed out that no U.S. president has ever visited the Camp Humphreys yet.

The official noted that U.S. Vice President Mike Pence, State Secretary Rex Tillerson and Defense Secretary Jim Mattis have all visited the heavily fortified border.

Trump's travel to Asia is slated for Nov. 3 to Nov. 14, and it will take him to Japan, South Korea, China, Vietnam and the Philippines.

During his trip, Trump will attend the summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) in Vietnam on Nov. 10-11 and the 50th anniversary celebrations of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in the Philippines on Nov. 12.
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Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (R, front) meets with Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 31, 2017. Medvedev is here for an official visit to China and the 22nd China-Russia Prime Ministers' Regular Meeting. [Photo/Xinhua]

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev met in Beijing on Tuesday, agreeing on closer cooperation and stronger ties.

Medvedev is the first foreign leader to visit China after the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC). "This has shown the closeness and high level of China-Russia ties," Li said.

China is ready to consolidate trust, expand cooperation and exchanges with Russia, to bring cooperation visions into reality through Prime Ministers' Regular Meeting as well as other cooperation mechanisms, Li said.

Under the new circumstances, China will further deepen reform and opening-up, nurture new driving forces, and share development opportunities with countries around the world, said the Chinese premier.

Li also briefed Medvedev on the 19th CPC National Congress.

Medvedev congratulated on the success of the congress. Hailing Russia-China comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination as "high-level" and "future-oriented", he said Russia expects joint efforts with China for greater progress of cooperation.

Medvedev is on an official China visit from Tuesday to Thursday. Li and Medvedev will hold the 22nd China-Russia Prime Ministers' Regular Meeting on Wednesday.
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A Spanish judge on Tuesday asked the deposed president of the regional government of Catalonia, Carles Puigdemont, and the 13 other members of his government to appear in court on Thursday and Friday to testify.

Judge Carmen Lamela gave a deadline of three days to pay a combined deposit against potential penalties of 6.2 million euros (US$7.2 million).

The announcement came one day after Spain's Attorney-General Jose Manuel Maza announced on Monday morning that Puigdemont was being sued because of his unilateral declaration of independence last Friday.

The sacked president is being prosecuted for rebellion as well as sedition and misuse of public funds. He could face up to 30 years in prison if found guilty.

Meanwhile, the former speaker of the Catalan Parliament, Carme Forcadell, and five other former members of the Bureau of Parliament must appear in the Spanish High Court on Nov. 2 and 3 for questioning over the same charges.

Puigdemont gave a press conference on Tuesday from Brussels, where he arrived on Monday, and said he was not seeking political asylum there, but came to express himself from the capital of Europe.
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Two A-29 Super Tucano airplanes are seen at a ceremony at the Lebanese Air Force (LAF) Hamat base, north of Beirut, capital of Lebanon, on Oct. 31, 2017. [Photo/Xinhua]

A ceremony was held Tuesday at the Lebanese Air Force (LAF) Hamat base where the Lebanese Air Force received from the United States two A-29 Super Tucano aircraft.

The ceremony was attended by Lebanese Army Commander General Joseph Aoun, the U.S. ambassador to Lebanon Elizabeth Richard and the U.S. Air force Central Commander General Jeffrey Harrigian.

Richard expressed in a speech her country's commitment to continue supporting Lebanon's armed forces to enable it protecting the sovereignty and integrity of its territories.

"The two A-29 Super Tucanos are the first of six that will be delivered over the next several months. The A-29's advanced technology provides the LAF with precision guided munitions and advanced precision strike capability," she said.

The ambassador stressed the LAF will be able to conduct joint combined arms maneuvers with A-29 aircraft in all conditions, day and night, in a way that greatly reduces the risk of collateral damage and the danger to non-combatants.

She also highlighted the partnership between the two armies, noting over the last decade, the U.S. government has invested over 1.5 billion U.S. dollars in training and equipment, and has trained over 32,000 Lebanese troops.

Meanwhile, General Aoun described the relation between Lebanon and the United States as being in a new era of cooperation.

"It is a new era that holds a lot of significance and meanings: firstly, the will of the United States to continue providing qualitative support to the Lebanese Armed Forces; secondly, the trust of the armed forces in protecting Lebanon; thirdly, the commitment of the United States to preserve Lebanon's stability during crisis and events in an unstable region," he said.
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The allegations that Russia has interfered in elections in the United States or the European Union are groundless and their authors are unable to present any proof, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Tuesday.

"It has even been mentioned somewhere that we are not only going to interfere in all the elections, but also will manipulate the environment to create floods," Lavrov said at a meeting with the Association of European Businesses.

"But no one has presented a single proof," he stressed.

Lavrov said the United States and its allies have accused Russia of everything from protests, bankruptcies of some companies, and "maybe even man-made disasters."

The minister also pointed out that the investigation of the Russian interference in the U.S. presidential election has last for nine months already but no proof has been made public.

Lavrov said with so many people involved in the investigation in the U.S. Congress and in the Office of Special Counsel, there should have been a leak to the media by now.

"Therefore, these excuses about secrecy, frankly, are simply ridiculous for people who make such serious accusations against us," said the minister.
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Stephen Parry, Senate President of the Australian Parliament, becomes the latest victim of the dual citizenship fiasco as he received confirmation from the British Home Office on Wednesday that he is a British citizen by virtue of his father's birthplace and therefore has to resign from the parliament.

On Tuesday, Tasmanian Liberal Senator Stephen Parry revealed that he might be a British citizen by descent, meaning he would be ineligible to serve in federal Parliament under Section 44 of the Australian Constitution.

Parry's father was born in Britain, and emigrated to Australia in the 1950s.

Section 44 dictates that anyone who is "under any acknowledgement of ... a foreign power ... shall be incapable of being chosen or of sitting as a Senator or a member of the House of Representatives".

A High Court decision handed down last week found that five of seven "dual citizen" MPs and Senators were guilty of being in breach of the Constitution, meaning they were deemed ineligible to sit.

In the latest twist - in comments published in Wednesday's newspapers, Liberal MP Craig Kelly broke ranks from government counterparts in backing an audit to settle the debacle once and for all.

"There's virtually an informal audit being done by the media, which is like a death of a thousand cuts," Kelly told Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) TV late Tuesday night.

"I think the best way to bring this to a head, to draw a line in the sand, let's have a full audit of everyone's record, put this behind us and move on and then, going forward, everyone will be crystal clear what the rules are."

Putting further pressure on the government to act is that fact that backbenchers from both sides of politics have also come out in support for an audit.

Opposition Labor MP Meryl Swanson told ABC radio on Wednesday that the Australian people "need to be sure that everyone has eligibility", while Nationals MP Llew O'Brien said that he "wouldn't have an issue" with an audit.

But despite growing support for an audit, government Senator Eric Abetz was less enthused by the idea. He said the onus was on federal representatives to "do the right thing."

"I would simply call on all of them to do the right and honorable thing and follow the principled lead of the President of the Senate, Senator Stephen Parry," Abetz said.

Abetz also said it was likely former Liberal senator Richard Colbeck would replace Senator Parry, and said he was confident he would "hit the ground running."

Colbeck was bumped down the Tasmanian Liberal Senate ticket in a factional dispute ahead of the last election.

The most high-profile casualty of last week's dual citizenship High Court decision was Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce, who was found to be a dual Australia-New Zealand citizen.

Joyce has since renounced his New Zealand citizenship, meaning he will need to contest a by-election in his seat of New England in order to regain entry into Parliament.
Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev's visit to China has further cemented the all-round strategic partnership between the two countries, which was already nothing short of substantial, thanks to their cooperation and exchanges in a wide range of areas.

The meeting between Medvedev and Premier Li Keqiang on Tuesday and their holding of the 22nd China-Russia Prime Ministers' Regular Meeting on Wednesday, the first after the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, showcased the closeness of ties that have been forged through frequent high-level talks.

Over the past five years, for instance, President Xi Jinping has been to Russia six times, either for state visits or to participate in international activities, and Xi and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin have talked frequently on the sidelines of different multilateral meetings, which has laid a solid foundation for the countries' increasingly good relations.

And as Xi said in his meeting with Medvedev in Beijing on Wednesday, China's clear objective of advancing and deepening ties with Russia, and its steadfast resolve to do so, will not change.

The economies of both countries are complementary to each other. China's capital, market, infrastructure construction and manufacturing capacity can meet the needs of Russia's development while Russia's advanced technology and resources of both raw material and talent are what China needs for the upgrading of its economy.

Russia's development strategy dovetails with China's, which finds expression in the converging of China's development of its northeast region with Russia's development of its far east. That explains why Russia has supported Chinas Belt and Road Initiative from the very beginning. The economic cooperation between the two countries will be further promoted.

The good bilateral ties have made it easy for both to reach consensuses on a wide range of international issues, which has a bearing on the overall global situation and hot spot issues.

Both are permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, members of the G20, BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and their joint efforts play a key role in maintaining the world's political stability.

Healthy relations between the world's major countries make a huge difference to global stability and the building of a community of shared future for all mankind. The good bilateral China-Russia relations have set a good example and will continue to contribute to these.

China and Russia will further promote their political mutual trust and substantiate their strategic partnership, which will not just be in their own interests but also the interests of the world.
The City of London has started talks with multinational development banks about joining the Belt and Road Investor Alliance, a platform established to encourage further green investment into the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative.

The alliance, led by the City of London, was launched in China in September with support from the Chinese and British governments.

It aims to develop a uniform set of standards to help member organizations invest in projects, and develop voluntary guidelines for Belt and Road projects to better manage their environmental risks and making the projects more attractive to investors.

Sherry Madera, special adviser for Asia at the City of London Corporation, told a news conference on Wednesday that her team is in talks to sign up several development banks to the Alliance. These new members could be unveiled as early as the UK-China Economic and Financial Dialogue later this year, she said.

"We are keen to broaden the alliance membership, and involve multinational development banks from all over the world to most effectively come up with strategies of unlocking financing into environmentally friendly projects along the Belt and Road," Madera said.

Green finance has become popular among investors seeking long-term stability, because certified green infrastructure and energy projects adhere to stricter future climate-friendly regulations, and therefore reduce climate policy risks for investors.

China is already a leader in green finance.

The country issued $36 billion of green bonds in 2016, which was almost 40 percent of the $81 billion of green bonds issued globally.

The City of London is also working with the People's Bank of China to harmonize green bond standards in China with those abroad, so that green bonds issued in China will become more attractive for international investors.

This work builds on a similar initiative developed by the People's Bank of China and the European Investment Bank earlier this year to harmonize green definitions across markets.

Green bonds in China currently account for 2 percent of the total bonds issued, which is substantially higher than the global figure of 0.2 percent.

The UK and China's leadership in developing green finance markets is important in accelerating green capital market integrations, according to Michael Sheren, a senior adviser to the Bank of England.

It will help both the developed as well as the emerging markets in tackling common challenges, he said.
An employee scans a quick response (QR) code displayed on Alipay app at a store in Hong Kong. According to a report released by PayPal on Oct 25, the total transaction value of mobile payment platforms in China reached $5.5 trillion in 2016, much higher than other Asia-Pacific countries. [Photo/VCG]

Global business leaders and analysts have expressed confidence in China's economic development as the country enters a new era characterized by the pursuit of higher-quality growth.

General Secretary Xi Jinping, in a report he delivered at the opening session of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China two weeks ago, said China's economy has been transitioning from a phase of rapid growth to a stage of high-quality development, which he said is pivotal for transforming the country's growth model.

John L. Thornton, chairman of the board at The Brookings Institution, a US-based think tank, said that China's pursuit of higher-quality growth in the new era is good not only for China but also for the world.

"China was going very fast, and the emphasis was on the rate of growth. In the new era, China will grow more slowly, but the emphasis would be on the quality of growth," Thornton said, adding that this is a good sign of economic maturity.

Mike McNamara, CEO of Flex, a US-based technological manufacturer, said that China promotes the role of innovation in economic growth, which will help to further drive the nation's development.

"China has developed rapidly over the years, but over the next five years, we would expect it to develop even more rapidly on the back of more and more innovation," he said.

"We expect China to change from a manufacturing engine to more of a technology innovation engine. One of the things that I would expect of China is there would be more leadership in terms of ideas, products, services and technologies that originate in China," McNamara added.

The report delivered by Xi said that China will be built into "a country of innovators".

"Innovation is the primary force driving development; it is the strategic underpinning for building a modernized economy," the report said, providing a blueprint for development.

Christopher Galvin, chairman of Harrison Street Real Estate Capital in the United States, said, "China is leading in a whole variety of digital technologies... and it's the one country in the world that has significant opportunities for business."
Finnish telecom giant Nokia Corp and German carmaker BMW Group plan to increase their investments in China, reinforcing they are bullish about their future prospects in the country.

Their top executives were part of a delegation of Tsinghua University advisors who were met by President Xi Jinping in Beijing on Monday.

Nokia will ramp up efforts in the fields of 5G technology and promote its commercialization by cooperating with local telecom carriers in the future, said its chairman Risto Siilasmaa.

BMW will invest in the development of electric vehicle technologies as well as new engineering systems for autonomous driving, said its chairman Harald Krueger.

Nokia has been operating in China for 30 years. It is now focusing on the business-to-business or B2B sector.

It provides networks and network equipment to the country's big three telecom carriers.

Among its clients are internet giants Baidu Inc and Tencent Holdings Ltd.

"We have also started a number of initiatives, such as building a completely new business, digital healthcare, which is currently our biggest consumer business," Siilasmaa said.

"The most important one for us is China's commitment to innovation globally.

"China has tremendous assets in many areas and I'm personally very interested in artificial intelligence. For instance, I know that Baidu is investing very heavily in AI and has launched AI-centered strategies. China has huge opportunities in AI."

In May, Nokia signed agreements with the China Huaxin Post & Telecommunication Economy Development Center, a State-owned investment vehicle, to create a joint venture called Nokia Shanghai Bell.

The joint venture will explore opportunities related to the emerging internet of things.

For its part, BMW set up a battery plant in Shenyang, Liaoning province, last week. It is BMW's third such facility worldwide and the first comprehensive center outside of Germany.

"China is already a global leader and BMW's biggest market in the world. Both sides can benefit in terms of developing the country further and investing in high-quality jobs," said Krueger.

"I'd call our joint venture in China, BMW Brilliance Automotive, a win-win cooperation. It showcases how successful a business can be with a partner in China, driving both the business and innovation sides forward and creating high-quality jobs and selling good products.

"The battery plant that opened last week is used for producing more new energy vehicles  We are building and manufacturing electric vehicles here in China tailored for the local market."
ROME -- Rising Chinese tourism to Italy and Europe is the subject of the 160th issue of Mondo Cinese (Chinese World) journal, the Italy-China Foundation has said.

Founded in 1973, Mondo Cinese is Italy's only scientific journal dedicated to studying contemporary China.

Titled "Italian Holidays", the issue presented Monday in Milan is entirely dedicated to Chinese tourism -- a choice that is borne out by the numbers, according to the Italy-China Foundation, which publishes Mondo Cinese.

Last year, 3.79 million Chinese tourists visited Italy, making the Mediterranean country the fourth destination of choice after Germany, the US, and France, according to data from Confturismo trade association and ISTAT official statistics agency.

According to Italian national tourism agency ENIT, 3.38 million Chinese tourists traveled to Italy in 2015, up a whopping 45 percent over 2014.

By 2020, China will likely be the country in the world with the most tourists traveling abroad, according to the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).

These and other data are analyzed in the "Italian Holidays" issue, which includes contributions from Italian professors, journalists, businesspeople and other China experts, as well as Italian Ambassador to Beijing Ettore Francesco Sequi and Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific Airways Italy Country Manager Erika Peng.

The publication comes ahead of the Europe-China Tourism Year in 2018, which will officially kick off on Jan 19 in Venice -- "a key junction in the new Silk Road and a city that Chinese travelers particularly love", the Italy China Foundation said in a statement.
SINGAPORE -- Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) can adapt to complex trading environments since the organization is a purely voluntary and flexible pact, said Executive Director Alan Bollard in a recent interview with Xinhua.

APEC, with less than half of the world's population, accounts for more than half of the world's GDP, the economist noted ahead of the organization's next summit to be held shortly in Da Nang, Vietnam.

Grouping 21 different economies together and joining them up around the Pacific rim, APEC has advantages over some legally binding institutional arrangements. If they disagree on something, then a pathfinder group of economies can try to work things out, noted the executive director.

By bringing together the world's top two economies, namely the United States and China, and some other much smaller ones, APEC can take advantage of what different economies can do best, he said, pointing out the fact that the bloc has helped drive economic growth and improve living standards in the region.

According to Bollard, while all 21 members have demonstrated leadership in one way or another, China has shown strong leadership in APEC on a whole range of initiatives.

China outlined a connectivity blueprint for APEC when hosting a summit in 2014. Moreover, Beijing has made good progress on avoiding the middle-income trap, expanding domestic demand as a growth driver as well as on developing a green economy and supply-chain development.

Bollard said that APEC is highly interested in the China-proposed Belt & Road Initiative, which in his words is about investment in projects and development of infrastructure and would play a role in enhancing connectivity in the region.

Connectivity is one of the four priorities Vietnam has outlined for the upcoming APEC summit on food security and climate change.

"We need to be very careful about any effects of big climatic events, given the fact the majority of APEC population live very close to the coastal and river deltas and very subject to climatic changes," said Bollard.

Moreover, there's a lot of food waste due to inadequate transport or storage facilities, and poor connectivity.

Concerning priority topics involving modernizing small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) through the digital economy, the executive director noted that China and the United States have set examples in that direction, with China now leading in mobile-based e-commerce and the United States on laptop-based e-commerce.

"Most of our businesses are small businesses. Most of them cannot get into the international or regional economic growth drivers at all, but e-commerce opens this up," he said, stressing that revitalizing SMEs through e-commerce has got the potential to "help develop a revolution in APEC."

In addition, many supply chains are now making it possible to guarantee quality, finance, payments and market access for small businesses, he said.

Acknowledging that too many different initiatives are underway for the time being, the so-called Spaghetti Bowl effect -- in which free trade agreements take precedence over global, multilateral rules of trade -- would be there for some time, but APEC would like to see "some improved recipes for cooking the noodles."

He expects to see work continue in the forthcoming summit on identifying the bottlenecks around potential realization of a Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific.

As for the Bogor Goals, set in Indonesia in 1994 to achieve free and open trade among developed economies by 2010 and developing economies by 2020, he admitted that advancements have been good in some areas and slower in others.

While 2020 is fast approaching, Bollard said APEC would decide whether or not to work toward achieving the Bogor Goals after 2020 or look for a new direction.
BEIJING -- The US conclusion on anti-dumping of aluminum foil from China was "a serious distortion" of real situation, the Ministry of Commerce (MOC) said Tuesday.

The MOC made the statement in response to the US decision on China's status as a non-market economy country and launching anti-dumping investigation against aluminum foil imports from China under the "analogue country methodology."

The US ignored China's achievements in building a market economy and the conclusion was a serious distortion of the real situation, the MOC said in an online statement.

Since reform and opening up, China has established and been improving the socialist market economy, which has been widely recognized by the international community, said the MOC.

China urged the US to fulfill international obligations and take action to correct the wrong practice, while China will take measures to protect legal rights of Chinese companies, according to the MOC.

According to WTO requirements, anti-dumping investigations against imports from China under the "analogue country methodology" ceased on Dec 11, 2016. The method calculates the value of products from so-called "non-market economies" using costs of production in a third country. The concept of "non-market economy country" does not exist in WTO rules.
BEIJING - Despite slower expansion in October, China's manufacturing sector remained steady with a major indicator standing above the boom-bust line for a 15th straight month, adding to signs of continued momentum in the wider economy.

The manufacturing purchasing managers' index (PMI) came in at 51.6, falling from 52.4 in September, a more-than-five-year high, and 51.7 in August, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said Tuesday.

A reading above 50 indicates expansion, while below reflects contraction.

NBS statistician Zhao Qinghe mainly attributed the slowdown to a high base in September, a week-long holiday and stricter environmental regulation. "The growth in production and market demand eased to some extent," he said.

Factory activity of high energy consumption and heavy pollution softened as the government stepped up efforts to strengthen environmental protection. Non-metallic mineral products and oil refining went down substantially.

"Despite the retreat, the indicator was still 0.4 percentage points higher than that of a year ago and staying at the average level of this year," Zhao said, pointing to the impetus from high-end manufacturing and the production of consumer goods.

The manufacturing of automobiles, special equipment, electric apparatus, medical devices, food and beverage, textile and garment registered strong increases.

"The PMI stabilized in positive territory after gains of two consecutive months," said Zhang Liqun with the Development Research Center of the State Council. "Stable sub-indices in production, stock and purchases indicate the economy has stronger resilience."

The NBS data also showed milder expansion in the service sector this month as the non-manufacturing PMI went down to 54.3 from 55.4 in September.

Cai Jin, deputy head of China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing, said the non-manufacturing sector was still generally steady, adding that consumption would continue to play a leading role in driving economic growth.

The PMI came as the first major economic indicator for the last quarter, a period that some analysts had predicted would witness a loss of impetus in the economic engine. But the fresh data suggests that lingering downward pressures will be limited.

Steven Zhang, an economist with Morgan Stanley Huaxin Securities, said the inertia of growth impetus from the first three quarters would help ensure the economy to expand at a 6.7-percent pace during the remainder of the year.

The IMF has raised its forecast for China growth for the fourth time this year, estimating the economy to grow 6.8 percent this year and 6.5 percent next year, both 0.1 percentage points higher than previous predictions.

The official growth target set at the beginning of the year was only around 6.5 percent for 2017.

Given less concern on the growth rate, Zhang with Huaxin believes the government is unlikely to loosen its "prudent and neutral" monetary policy.

But some economists still cautioned against over-optimism, saying growth may have peaked.

The NBS data showed the divergence between industrial giants and small manufacturers continued. While large companies sat comfortably above the boom-bust line, small and medium-sized enterprises were in contraction territory with their PMI readings at 49 and 49.8, respectively.

China's GDP expanded 6.9 percent year on year in the first three quarters, holding steady with the 6.9 percent growth in the first half despite a slightly slower 6.8 percent increase in the third quarter.
BAKU -- The Baku-Tbilisi-Kars (BTK) railway line is the shortest and reliable link between Asian and European continents, the Azerbaijani political analyst Fikret Sadikhov said in an interview with Xinhua correspondent on Tuesday.

"This route changes the whole transport architecture of the region and makes it very significant. Not only Azerbaijan, but also many Asian and Caspian states can make effective use of it," he said.

The BTK railway line was officially launched on Monday which directly connects Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey with onward access to the European rail. The Heads of state of Azerbaijan and Turkey, along with the Prime ministers of Georgia, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, attended opening ceremony held outside Baku, at the route's eastern terminus.

The Azerbaijani expert underlined the strategic importance of the BTK amid China's Belt and Road Initiative. He called the project an important part of the so-called Silk Road route, which will pave the way for better trade conditions between China and Europe via Azerbaijan.

"I think China will also take advantage of the BTK line," he said.

"Before the implementation of this project, Azerbaijan and China had very close trade and economic ties. I think this route will significantly expand Azerbaijani-Chinese relations in the trade and economic sphere. If this project turns into a strategically important transport route, then it will certainly meet the interests of China and contribute to the further strengthening of the Azerbaijani-Chinese relations and cooperation in many spheres," Sadikhov said.

Other Azerbaijani experts also emphasized the significance of the BTK line in regards to the inter-connectivity between European and Asian continents.

Member of Azerbaijan's parliament Tahir Rzayev told local news agency Trend that the BTK line "will shorten the distance between China and Europe, help increase passenger and cargo transportation and bring great profit to the countries."

Another lawmaker Aydin Mirzazade told local media that the opening of the BTK railway dramatically changes the situation in the region. "Cargo from China to Europe will be delivered faster, and at the same time, this project will strengthen peace and security," he said.

Deputy Executive Secretary of the New Azerbaijan Party, MP Siyavush Novruzov, said the BTK line is a project of international importance.

"I think that other countries of the post-Soviet space can join this project. This railway has an extremely important economic significance. Our country will get profit from both passenger and freight transportation. This project will also boost the tourist potential," said Novruzov.

Addressing the ceremony on Monday, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev called the opening of the BTK railway "a historic and strategic significance." He said the project would play an important role in ensuring the stability and security in the region.

In a statement, the European Union called the opening of the rail link "a major step in transport interconnections linking the European Union, Turkey, Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Central Asia."

The 850-km Baku-Tbilisi-Kars rail project promises to provide an economic boost to the region, increase connectivity between Europe and Asia and encourage more freight to go by rail.

Starting in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, trains will stop in the Georgian capital Tbilisi, pass through the Georgian town of Akhalkalaki and end the journey in the Turkish town of Kars before feeding into Europe beyond.

The line has the capacity to annually transport one million passengers and 6.5 million tons of freight at the initial stage. The railway's peak capacity will be 17 million tons of cargo per year.

The BTK railway will reduce the transport time of goods from China to Europe to 15 days, which is less than half of the time that it takes through sea transportation.

The initial plan was to open the railway in 2010 but it was delayed several times, mainly for financial reasons.
Kirill Dmitriev, CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund [Photo provded to China Daily]

Editor's Note: The Communist Party of China has just concluded its 19th National Congress in Beijing. China Daily asked business leaders from major multinational companies for their views on economic developments here and the country's global leadership role.

Kirill Dmitriev is CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, Russia's sovereign wealth fund with reserved capital of $10 billion under management.

What do you feel has been China's biggest achievement during the past five years and its most notable change?

The country is now holding important global events such as the Belt and Road Forum, and the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) Summit, as well as last year's G20 meeting. This illustrates China's prominence on the world stage.

China has also been quick to focus on technology and science, and has already become one of the world's leading innovators. Chinese scientists have made great strides in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (the most common cause of dementia).

The country has even unveiled plans for a Chinese-designed supercomputer, proving that the world's second largest economy is now a major force in technology and innovation.

What is the biggest challenge China faces and how can the country overcome it?

There are concerns about protectionist moves by the United States, which could affect Chinese trade. This in turn would impede the recovery in trade volumes across the world.

It is important for China to keep expanding its trading horizons by diversifying its partners. Indeed, Russia and China are growing closer together, and this will benefit both nations.

Could China's experiences and practices be used to solve global problems?

China has always had the ability to adapt and innovate and these qualities should be replicated on the world stage.

The country is a haven for businesses from all over the world, and this openness and willingness to work with diverse nations is something that the RDIF (Russian Direct Investment Fund) and Russia are putting into practice.

To be more precise, the rising role of the renminbi, or yuan, in global trade is an inevitable trend.

It will benefit the world economy in general, and relations between China and Russia in particular. Of course, we need to stimulate trade and investment between our nations in local currencies.

This idea became a cornerstone of our latest breakthrough initiative, which is the partnership with the China Development Bank. We agreed to create the China-Russia RMB (Renminbi) Investment Cooperation Fund. It will help establish a framework for direct investments with settlements in national currencies.

What factors will boost Chinese growth this year and in 2018?

Despite a number of challenges, the Chinese authorities have responded quickly to stabilize the economy.

By doing this, China has bolstered the global economy and played a major role in stimulating growth.

The Belt and Road Initiative, for example, is a positive step forward, and strengthens trade and investment ties with regional and global neighbors.

In addition, the Chinese authorities took crucial steps at the start of this year to restrict capital outflows. This has proved successful and allowed the country to rebuild its foreign exchange reserves. A tightening of liquidity also helped the yuan reverse last year's depreciation. In recent months, the currency has strengthened against the US dollar.

What are the most innovative trends and products in China?

Advances in the field of automation, such as the interactive robot Jia Jia, which was unveiled (last year by the University of Science and Technology of China in Hefei, capital of Anhui province), are truly astounding. At the same time, plans for a supercomputer are also very impressive.

The country is known as a global manufacturing giant, but what will be the nation's "calling card" in the future?

The country is still developing. As it grows and matures, it will not be known for having just one "calling card". Instead, it will have a global "phone directory".
A single trip from Guangzhou to Hong Kong will be reduced to 48 minutes when the high-speed rail connecting Hong Kong, Shenzhen and Guangzhou opens in 2018.

The nine bullet trains manufactured by China Railway Rolling Corporation (CRRC) for the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link (XRL) were delivered to Hong Kong early last month, Securities Times reported.

XRL is a high-speed railway that connects Beijing with Hong Kong via Guangzhou and Shenzhen.

Spanning 26 kilometers, the construction of the final phase of XRL, which connects Shenzhen to Hong Kong, was completed on Nov 18, 2016. It has a design speed of 250 kilometers per hour.

It is scheduled to be open to traffic by the third quarter of 2018, according to Deng Weiyong, general manager of the high speed rail section of Mass Transit Railway, HK's rail company.

The GuangzhouShenzhen section of XRL starts at Guangzhou South Railway Station and ends at Shenzhen Futian Railway Station. It went into operation on Dec 26, 2011 and is one of the busiest railways in China.

With a design speed of 350 km/h, it only takes 29 to 50 minutes for people to commute between the two cities, depending on the number of stops.
HAVANA  Cuba seeks to increase trade with China and join the Belt and Road Initiative as a possible "regional node" for this plan to spread throughout Latin America and the Caribbean, the island's first deputy minister of foreign trade and investment said Tuesday.

Antonio Carricarte, who inaugurated the Chinese pavilion at the 35th Havana International Trade Fair (FIHAV 2017) along with Chinese Ambassador to Cuba Chen Xi, said the Caribbean nation wants to become a "hub" of maritime and air transport in the region, mainly through the Mariel Special Development Zone.

"This goal of our country can link us with China's Belt and Road Initiative and its purpose of extending this project to the Caribbean and Latin America," he said.

Carricarte said a great opportunity is opening up for Chinese entrepreneurs through the process of Latin American integration, in which Cuba actively participates.

"There are trade cooperation agreements among all Latin American countries within the framework of these integration mechanisms. This opens a door for Chinese companies in their goal of increasing cooperation with the continent," he said.

Meanwhile, Chen said Cuba has maintained a growing trend in its exports to China in recent years.

"According to statistics during the first eight months of this year, the volume of bilateral trade totaled $1.13 billion, of which China exported $830 million to Cuba while the island exported $300 million to China," the ambassador said, adding that this marked a 56-percent increase year-on-year.

Chen said the main Chinese products exported to the island pertain to the automotive industry, construction machinery, electromechanical items and home appliances, telecommunications and lighting.

"In addition to traditional products such as sugar and nickel, Cuba exported tobacco, biomedical products, seafood and rum to China, as well as seeing a substantial increase in Chinese tourism to the island," he said.

Chen highlighted the new business spaces promoted by Cuba through the annual publication of a portfolio of opportunities in various sectors, the Mariel Special Development Zone and FIHAV itself.
China needs to further address the problem of reliance on debt, which is still a big challenge amid the country's restructuring and rebalancing of economy currently, experts say.

The International Monetary Fund released its October World Economic Outlook report in Beijing on Oct 31. A forum on China's economy was co-hosted by the IMF and the International Monetary Institute of Renmin University of China at the same time.

Compared with its earlier forecast report in April, IMF has upgraded the growth rate for the world economy to 3.7 percent for 2017, and to 3.8 percent for 2018, both up by 0.1 percentage point.

Meanwhile it upgraded China's economic growth to 6.8 percent for 2017 and 6.5 percent for 2018, up 0.2 percentage point and 0.3 percentage point respectively from the April report.

Alfred Schipke, chief representative of the IMF in Beijing, says that China should work harder to solve the high-debt problem of China's economy. Most concerning is corporate debt, which causes the high debt level and is closely linked to the financial sector.

He says reforms are required, as a large chunk of China's debt comes from State enterprises and zombie firms. Afterwards, it is critical to make sure that credit goes to the most productive part of the economy so that companies can compete with each other on equal footing.

Xiang Songzuo, deputy director of the International Monetary Institute of Renmin University of China, says that China's debt is at a level that all parties think is impossible to continue, and the country's policies are very firm on deleveraging, reducing debt pressure and maintaining sustainable growth. Otherwise, it will face more pressure and loss in the future.
Containers are seen at Yangshan Deep Water Port, part of the Shanghai Free Trade Zone, in Shanghai, Feb 13, 2017. [Photo/Agencies]

Former US treasury secretary Henry Paulson said China and the United States, the two biggest economies, should not let trade tensions get out of hand because of their shared stake in global stability.

Tensions won't benefit anyone, while the two countries will reap greater benefits if they can agree on big issues, said Paulson, chairman of the Washington-based Paulson Institute, a think tank.

Paulson, often regarded as a go-between for Beijing and Washington thanks to his long experience with China, said easing tension takes time. He covered a range of issues related to Sino-US relations on Wednesday in an interview with China Daily.

On Tuesday, the Ministry of Commerce called on the US to stop using the surrogate country approach to bilateral trade, which involves using a third country to calculate production costs. The move was in response to the US decision to impose anti-dumping duties on China's aluminum foil products.

Government officials and trade experts from China and the US have since expressed strong dissatisfaction with a preliminary US decision against Chinese aluminum foil exporters, saying that abandoning global trade pacts leads to uncertainty and harms global growth.

Yao Weiqun, vice-president of the Shanghai WTO Affairs Consultation Center, said Washington's neglect of World Trade Organization rules hurts global stability and confidence.

Both China and the US have significant responsibility for global growth, and they should settle trade disputes through consultation and cooperation, Yao said.

Paulson said the visit of US President Donald Trump next week is set to be positive. "I'm expecting momentum in trade and economic issues between China and the US," he said. "Hopefully, we can see some progress made to rebalance trade and commercial arrangements."

Paulson said the tension won't be solved through just one visit because trade issues are increasingly difficult as the two countries become more competitive in trade.

Paulson said there is no doubt that China's growth will slow, and it will be a good thing. "I don't focus on whether China is growing at 6 or 6.5 percent. I want it to be healthy and sustainable."
Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee,leads the other six members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee in reciting the admission oath as they face the Party flag on Tuesday, during their visit to the memorial hall of the first CPC National Congress in Shanghai. LAN HONGGUANG / XINHUA

The Communist Party of China's newly elected top leadership, headed by General Secretary Xi Jinping, visited two revolutionary historical sites on Tuesday, underscoring the new leadership's firm belief to stay true to the Party's original aspirations and serve the people.

Xi and the other six members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee  Li Keqiang, Li Zhanshu, Wang Yang, Wang Huning, Zhao Leji and Han Zheng  arrived in Shanghai from Beijing by air on Tuesday morning. It is the top leaders' first trip outside Beijing since they were elected last week at the First Plenary Session of the 19th CPC Central Committee.

At the memorial hall of the first CPC National Congress in Shanghai, Xi led the other six leaders in reciting the admission oath in front of the Party flag, reminding Party members to remain true to their original aspirations.

"The words of the Party's admission oath are not too many, and it's not difficult to remember, but it is difficult to observe for one's whole life," Xi said.

In July 1921, 12 delegates attended the first CPC National Congress, representing more than 50 CPC members nationwide. With more than 89 million members, the CPC has become the world's largest political party.

Noting that Chairman Mao Zedong compared the meeting room of the first CPC National Congress to the delivery room of the CPC, Xi said that the room is also Party members' spiritual home.

No matter how far the Party has marched, the original road should not be forgotten, Xi said.

The leaders traveled to South Lake in Jiaxing, Zhejiang province, in the afternoon. In 1921, the first CPC National Congress reconvened in a red boat on the lake after it was interrupted by authorities in what was then the French concession in Shanghai.

Beside the lake, Xi asked about patriotic education at the revolutionary site, saying that the red boat symbolizes the Party's spirit of bravery in taking the lead and devotion to the people.

The leaders then visited an exhibition at the South Lake Revolutionary Memorial. In 2006, when Xi was Party secretary of Zhejiang, he laid the cornerstone of the memorial. The memorial was completed in 2011 ahead of the Party's 90th birthday.

All Party members must adhere to the basic principle of serving the people wholeheartedly, Xi said at the memorial. He also called for joint efforts to fulfill the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

Jose Leon-Manriquez, a professor of Chinese and East Asian history at Metropolitan Autonomous University in Mexico City, visited the site in the afternoon.

"The place hosted this very important meeting that bears great historical relevance," he said, "it's interesting to see this place in person, to learn how a very small group of people started to organize one of the most important revolutions in the 20th century."

Han Yaoguang, 33, a businessman who visited the Shanghai site, said that it is a place that every Chinese person should visit to learn how difficult the founding of the CPC was and cherish the nation's prosperous society now.
People who show disrespect to China's national anthem will face prison terms of up to three years if a draft amendment to the Criminal Law is adopted by the top legislature.

The draft builds on the National Anthem Law, which took effect this month, by providing details of proposed criminal punishments.

Anyone who maliciously modifies the lyrics, or plays or sings the national anthem in a distorted or disrespectful way in public, or with other serious disrespectful practices, will be held liable criminally. According to the draft, penalties can include detention, being deprived of one's political rights or a sentence of up to three years.

The draft was submitted to the bimonthly session of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress for review on Tuesday.

Legal experts said the new proposed rule could be regarded as "a judicial connection" between the National Anthem Law and the Criminal Law.

The National Anthem Law ensures appropriate use of the song and stipulates that those who mock the anthem in public, including distorting it or maliciously tampering with it, will face up to 15 days in administrative detention or even criminal punishment.

Ruan Chuansheng, a criminal defense lawyer in Shanghai, said the proposed new rule is a necessary supplement to the Criminal Law, which now includes punishment for those who disrespect the national flag and emblem but lacks corresponding rules on disrespect for the national anthem.

"The anthem is a symbol like our national flag and emblem. I think it's unfair if we punish people who disrespect the flag and emblem but have no penalty for anthem violators," he said.

The existing Criminal Law says that people who damage the national flag and emblem will be sentenced to up to three years in prison, "so the sentence in the draft (for showing disrespect for the anthem) is reasonable and complies with the principle of the balance between crime and punishment," said Zhou Guangquan, a criminal law professor at Tsinghua University.

China's national anthem, March of the Volunteers, was composed in 1935 and named the national anthem in 1949.
Farmers of an agricultural cooperative in Liuzhou, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, walk back home after a day's work in October. LONG TAO/CHINA DAILY

Draft submitted to lawmakers would extend rental contracts

China will strengthen its protections of farmers' rights and interests by extending the current round of rural land contracts for another 30 years, if a draft revision of the Rural Land Contracting Law is passed by the nation's top legislature.

The proposed change aims to maintain the long-term stability and consistency of rural land contracts. It was submitted at a bimonthly session of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress for its first reading on Tuesday.

The 30-year extension was mentioned in a report delivered by Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China, at the opening session of the 19th CPC National Congress on Oct 18.

Liu Zhenwei, deputy director of the NPC's Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee, said the current law has played a key role in rural economic development, keeping order in rural areas and increasing the incomes of farmers since it took effect in 2003.

"But to meet higher requirements of rural development, it needs a revision," Liu said.

The draft revision will better define the use rights of rural land, so that farmers can enjoy "sufficient and guaranteed protection of their land rights", he said.

Since the country adopted the household responsibility system in the early 1980s, property rights associated with rural land have been divided into two layers: the ownership right, referring to its collective ownership by a rural community (normally a village), and the use right that is held by an individual household that contracts a piece of land from the village.

The draft revision further separates the use right into the "contract right" and "management right", according to Liu, who regarded it as a positive innovation.

The separation, as proposed by the draft, would allow farmers to retain contract right over their allowed land, and only transfer the management right if they choose to lease the land to others, mortgage it to banks or invest it in a cooperative in exchange for shares.

More than 30 percent of rural households have transferred their contracted land, totaling 31.9 million hectares, Liu said.

"In the past, we sometimes hesitated to rent more land out of concern that our business might suffer if the status of the land changed when the contract runs out. That's because the current law limits our leasing rights to 30 years," said Jin Weiran, who has rented rural land to plant vegetables in Rizhao, Shandong province, since 2007. "But now, I feel reassured."

"Xi's report and the draft revision means that what I paid in the rented land in the first several years can be rewarded after the land contract is extended," he said.

Yu Liufen, Party chief of Yanbo village in Guizhou province, said land is the farmers' lifeline, and they will no longer worry about uncertainties if the extension is approved.
BEIJING - Guo Shengkun, secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Committee under the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, has called on the country's political and legal staff to study and implement the spirit of the 19th CPC National Congress.

Guo, also a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and a member of the CPC Central Committee Secretariat, made the remarks in a meeting of the Political and Legal Affairs Committee in Beijing on Tuesday.

Guo said the political and legal workers should take Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era as the guide for work, to advance the building of a safe China, the rule of law, and the building of political and legal workforce in the new era.

Guo urged political and legal staff to fulfill their mission in safeguarding national political security, securing social stability, promoting equality and justice, and making sure the people enjoy a peaceful and prosperous life.

Guo said political and legal workers must unswervingly adhere to the centralized and unified leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Xi at the core.

The 19th CPC National Congress was held from Oct. 18 to 24 in Beijing.
BEIJING - Chinese political advisors Tuesday put their heads together on ways to implement the spirit of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China.

Members attending the 23rd session of the Standing Committee of the 12th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) studied the spirit of the 19th Party Congress in a plenary meeting attended by Yu Zhengsheng, chairman of the CPPCC National Committee.

The political advisors all agreed to align their thoughts with the spirit of the congress and to fulfill the tasks and targets laid out.
Wuhan, Hubei province, launched the world's most advanced civilian quantum communication network on Tuesday, and will soon connect all the city's government bodies, financial institutions and other entities to allow the secure transmission of classified information, according to project managers.

A launch ceremony was held during a laser technology forum in Wuhan hosted by China Aerospace Science and Industry Corp, the major builder of the network. The company mainly develops and produces missiles and carrier rockets but also invests heavily in laser technologies and instruments, which are key components of a quantum communication network.

CASIC said in a news release that the network's operation will ensure the "absolute safety" of the transmission of classified information and will boost the efficiency of such communications.

Quantum communication systems feature ultra high security. It is theoretically impossible to wiretap, intercept or crack information transmitted through them, according to research findings.

Wu Xiaofeng, a senior manager at CASIC who is overseeing the project, said that Beijing and Shanghai; Hefei, Anhui province; and Jinan, Shandong province, have started trials for intracity quantum communication networks, but the Wuhan system is the largest and most advanced civilian network in the world.

He noted that the Wuhan network will also have more users than its predecessors and that it is set to become fully operational before the end of this year. After that, the system will be extended to eight cities surrounding Wuhan in the province, he said.

"The intracity network in Wuhan is the first in the world that has used the cutting-edge technology known as 'wavelength-division multiplexing' in a civilian quantum communication system," said Wang Shaoyi, chairman of Wuhan Space Sanjiang Quantum Communication, a CASIC subsidiary focused on quantum transmission technologies.

China has been allotting considerable resources to quantum technologies in an attempt to be at the forefront of what its leaders believe is one of the most important fields in science and technology.

The world's longest quantum communications network, the 2,000-kilometer Beijing-Shanghai network, was put into service in late September, mainly securing quantum encryption communication by government and military authorities in Beijing and financial institutions in Shanghai.

The network works in conjunction with the world's first quantum experiment satellite, which was launched by China in August last year to verify quantum communication theories.

Wu said his company is working with University of Science and Technology of China in the construction of the 300-km Wuhan-Hefei quantum communication line. The new link will go into operation in 2018 and then will be connected with the Beijing-Shanghai network.
Emigrant artist Marie Antoinette Kelley is making her gallery debut in a holiday show at the Frame Hut & Gallery, 1430 Grand Ave., in Billings on Thursday, Nov. 9.

More than 30 artists will be part of the Frame Hut's annual Holiday Open House from 5 to 8 p.m. on Nov. 9.

Kelley began sketching portraits in 2000 after a friend sent her a video, Yes, You Can Draw. Her friend intended for Kelley to use the video to teach her daughters, who she was homeschooling. Without watching the video, just the idea that she could draw prompted Kelley to began sketching. Her first portrait was of Mother Teresa, showing her weathered hands next to her gentle face with eyes you cant turn away from.

Eyes are the window to the soul. I try to capture that, Kelley said. Im learning to see.

Kelley came to the U.S. from the Netherlands and most of her family is still there. She studied science at Montana State University, earning a Goldwater Scholarship to continue pursuing science, but she felt more connected to her spiritual side.

I wanted to find out what was in here, Kelley said, pointing to her heart. I kept going deeper and deeper. I realized that learning to draw was learning to see people.

For her first gallery exhibit, Kelley will show Santa paintings and her Santa image on a blanket with a matching cup. Two of her pieces have been featured in Rural Montana Magazine and she donated one portrait to the Livingston Hospital.

My mom said, You draw a person and it looks like you have them happier. I like people to be happier. Its healing to see yourself as happy, Kelley said.

Some portraits take as long as her first one, 20 hours, to get the details right. Others are done much quicker.

I am realizing how powerful it is to draw a person. They say, You really got me, Kelly said.
President Xi Jinping's plan to establish an "ecological civilization" is among the best blueprints for green governance, according to James Thornton, a UK-based environmental lawyer and activist.

New data suggests global climate change is increasing at unprecedented rates.

According to a World Meteorological Organization report published on Monday, the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere surged last year at the highest rate in 800,000 years, driven by human activity and drought.

The environment was among the topics addressed at the recently concluded 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China.

In his keynote speech at the event, Xi mentioned the environment 89 times, while the economy was mentioned 70 times, according to Bloomberg Intelligence.

In addition to creating more material and cultural wealth for the population, Xi told delegates that China needs to provide more quality ecological goods to help protect the environment.

Erik Solheim, head of the United Nations environment department, said "global political will and a new sense of urgency" is needed to combat climate change.

The five years since the 18th CPC National Congress have seen great improvements to environmental policy in China, including the first amendments to the country's Environmental Protection Law in a quarter of a century.

Thornton, the founder and chief executive of London-based environmental advocacy agency ClientEarth, was among five foreign experts to advise the Chinese government on the new legislation.

"Which Western country is getting together a global panel of experts to analyze its legal system to see what could change to deliver an ecological civilization? Nobody," Thornton told China Daily.

ClientEarth has taken successful legal action in the United Kingdom on air pollution, and in Poland to prevent the building of new coal-fired power plants.

Thornton said China has taken "profound corrective action" on its environmental policy. The updated law makes it easier for civilians and nongovernmental agencies to bring cases against polluting companies, including State-owned enterprises.

"The government is very eager to do the right thing by its own people, and there is no sense of fighting or pushback, and that is unique in my experience," said Thornton, who is now advising China on the creation of a fund to cover the cost of environmental impact assessments in legal cases.

"If a company has been polluting a forest or a wetland, then a judge needs to write an order for the company to clean up their mess," Thornton said.
About 1,000 tourists - mostly seniors - boarded a train on Monday for an eight-day trip from Harbin, in Northeast China's Heilongjiang province, to Hainan Island in the very south.

"The 4,100-kilometer trip is the longest tourist route by train in China," said Kong Deqi, director of the tourist train department of Harbin Railway International Travel Agency.

"The train will cross the provinces of Heilongjiang, Liaoning, Hebei, Anhui, Hunan and Jiangxi, along with the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region," Kong said.

Those on the inaugural journey can enjoy beautiful scenery and two-day stops in Yingtan, Jiangxi province, and Guilin, Guangxi.

After crossing the Qiongzhou Strait from Zhanjiang to Hainan Island by ship, the tourists will be sent to their final destination - Sanya - by bus.

"In recent years, more seniors in Heilongjiang have been spending the winter in Sanya because of its pleasant climate," she said. "To meet the increasing demand, we developed the tourist train."

Kong added: "The average age of tourists on the train is about 65. "Most of them will stay in Sanya for the whole winter."

To provide better care for the seniors, they are divided into 40 groups, each with a tour leader. A specialized doctor is present for the whole trip.

"We have prepared various activities for the long journey, including performances and chess matches," Kong said. "It will be an entirely new experience for the tourists."

Before departing, Liu Huimin, 79, said: "I am looking forward to the longest trip by train. In recent years, I have chosen Sanya to spend the winter with my wife. In the past, we had to travel by plane, which is not comfortable at all for seniors. The rhythm of the tourist train suits us better. We can gradually adapt to the great change of climate from cold to warm, which can prevent health problems.

"In addition, it will be quite a different experience for me to enjoy such a long trip from the northernmost province to the southernmost one."

Kong said the train will take the seniors home in April.
Three people were sentenced to jail for polluting Taihu Lake - two for dumping and one for committing fraud - the Gusu District People's Court in Suzhou, Jiangsu province, announced on Tuesday.

More than 20,000 metric tons of construction waste, household refuse and electronic waste was dumped into the lake after being transported from Shanghai by a construction company.

The dumping occurred in the vicinity of a drug addiction rehabilitation center on the lake's Xishan Island in May and June 2016.

Wang Juming and Lu Xiaodi, the owners of Kunshan Jin Lu Construction Co, were sentenced to 5.5 years and 5 years in prison, respectively, with fines totaling 550,000 yuan ($83,000), for "severe contamination of the environment".

According to prosecutors in Suzhou, Sun Qiulin, a contractor at the Taihu Drug Addiction Rehabilitation Center, told Wang and Lu that he could let them share in a dumping project approved for the rehabilitation center. He asked for 250,000 yuan to secure the deal in January 2016.

Sun was sentenced to 4.5 years in prison and fined 50,000 yuan for fraud.

Pictures of the illegal dumping were circulated on the internet in June 2016, and the dump was halted by local police the next month.

The site is one of Taihu Lake's protected areas, lying just 2 kilometers from the nearest township water source.

According to an early report from Supreme People's Court, courts nationwide handled 4,636 cases dealing with pollution, illegal treatment of solid waste and misbehavior by environmental officials between July 2013 and October 2016.

Before that, the average was only 20 cases a year, so a tougher attitude toward enforcement is having an effect, the top court said.
China's academic science papers have moved into second place for global citations, behind the United States, according to a report released on Tuesday.

The 2017 edition of Statistical Data of Chinese Science and Technology Papers shows that the nation's science papers have been cited more than 19.35 million times over the past decade, ahead of those from the United Kingdom and Germany.

It also shows the number of highly cited Chinese papers rose 18.7 percent compared with last year's report, reaching 20,131 papers and accounting for 14.7 percent of the global total.

The report has been released annually since 1987 by the Ministry of Science and Technology's Institute of Scientific and Technical Information.

"China's science academic literature has been steadily improving both in quantity and quality in recent years," said Dai Guoqiang, director of the institute.

"It showcases Chinese science workers' increased innovation and research capabilities, which will help transform China into a global technology powerhouse."

Academic paper citation is an indication of a paper's quality. The number of citations has long been treated as a reflection of a nation's strength in scientific research.

China is now the world's most cited country in material science research, with eight other research fields ranking second globally. These are agriculture, chemistry, computer science, engineering, environmental science, mathematics, physics and pharmaceuticals.

China also ranks second behind the US for the seventh consecutive year in the number of articles published in the world's most prestigious science journals, such as Nature and Science.

Regarding global science projects, Chinese scientists contributed to about 25 percent of all the joint science papers in 2016, and cooperated with scholars from 155 countries. China's top six science partners are the US, Australia, the UK, Canada, Japan and Germany.

"China is now fully capable of participating in large-scale global science projects," said Dai, adding that such projects, in fields ranging from astrophysics to biomedicine, typically involve more than 1,000 scientists and 150 organizations around the world.

In these types of projects, China contributed to 225 papers in 2016, a 20 percent year-on-year increase. "Chinese scientists will continue to cooperate with scientists in China and abroad to facilitate scientific development," Dai said.

The report pointed to some shortcomings in China's scientific literature. In recent years, China's research has grown rapidly in applied science and engineering, but medicine and other health fields lag behind the US and European countries.

The report also showed that universities, research institutions and enterprises are the three mainstays of Chinese innovation. However, about 76 percent of the high-quality papers were generated by universities, with around 43 percent of these papers supported by the National Natural Science Fund.
For many Chinese people, Africa is not only far away, but also strange and wild. He Wang, however, has spent most of the past decade living on the continent.

She has just left her 92-year-old mother for the eighth time to visit Africa, where she stays for more than 10 months at a time.

While He was busy packing at home in Changsha, Hunan province, her mother repeatedly came into her room. It seemed the older woman had something to say, but she didn't speak, He recalled.

"When I was leaving, she sighed and said she doubted if she would see me again the following year," said He, who is a researcher with the Hunan Institute of Aquaculture Research.

Yet she said she is determined to continue her work to help Ethiopia develop its aquaculture.

He is one of more than 400 Chinese experts who, since 2001, have taken part in an aid project funded by China's Ministry of Commerce. These experts have worked in 13 agricultural colleges, teaching and drafting textbooks.

Even during her two-month stay at home, He often stayed up until midnight drafting Ethiopia's first fish production textbook.

Before she left on Oct 16, she went to a publishing house in Beijing to talk about the publication of the textbook. The 53-year-old said she has almost finished the draft and expects to use it in her teaching this year.

In addition to the textbook, He has four big suitcases, which contain daily necessities, kitchenware, teaching aids and gifts for her friends in the Alage Agricultural Technical and Vocational Education Training College, where she works.

"Each time I go, I take as much with me as possible, as it's difficult to buy things there," she said.

The nearest town to the college is Bulbula, 50 kilometers away, while Addis Ababa, the nation's capital, is a further 190 km to the north.

Cars are a rare sight on the unsealed road from the college to Bulbula, and are always followed by a thick trail of dust.

When He first went to Ethiopia to teach in 2013, she was astonished to find she had to start from scratch, as there were no textbooks and few facilities available for her to use in the 4,200-hectare college. Students had to travel to a farm more than three hours away for practical experience.

With no machinery or engineering experience, she spent four months digging a 200-square-meter, 1.5-meter-deep fishpond with students and colleagues. The project led to He being given the nickname "the Iron Lady".

So far, 13 fishponds have been built on the college grounds. Students also now have other equipment thanks to He, such as microscopes and pH test strips.

"Power failure is no stranger. Heavy winds and rainfall sometimes result in power failures of up to a week," she said. "Outages cause a lot of trouble. Food in the refrigerator goes bad and there is no internet access or phone services."

There is also usually no water supply to the college in the afternoon, and sometimes after 10 pm, she added.

Before Alage, He worked in the Holeta ATVET College from 2003. In 2009, she went to Zimbabwe for a year.

Although Holeta is only 40 km from Addis Ababa, life there was hard. Without access to phone services, it was difficult to keep in touch with family and friends. The water supply was unstable, and students and teachers had to use a horse-drawn vehicle to travel to the market to buy vegetables.

Over the years, He has helped Ethiopia cultivate more than 1,000 aquaculture experts, many of whom have played key roles in the country's agricultural development. In July, she received an award from the Ethiopian government for her contribution.

With her recommendation, one of her colleagues, Endashaw, completed his master's degree in genetic engineering in the South China Agricultural University and is planning to continue his studies in China.

"Endashaw told me a journal in the United States may publish one of his papers, which will help him to continue studying in China," she said.

She said she felt sorry for her family, as she has spent little time with them in recent years. In November, she had to leave for Ethiopia on the day of her daughter's wedding. But her family has been supportive of her work, He said.

Her husband, Zou Zhongyi, said of his wife: "She has responded to the country's call. Her work is of great significance. We all support her."

Contact the writers at houliqiang@chinadaily.com.cn
A peregrine falcon hovers over the coast in Lyushun, Dalian, on its migration to its winter grounds.Chen Liang / China Daily

Third annual bird-watching race attracts enthusiasts from China, UK, Germany and Russia

Just before John Donegan-Cross left his native Edinburgh to move to China this fall, his grandmother handed him a guidebook - not about the country, but about its birds.

He arrived at Beijing's Peking University to study Mandarin two months ago, and since then has taken every opportunity to travel the country to "see lovely places and meet interesting people" as well as "learn all about local birds".

Armed with a telescope, camera and his trusty guidebook, the 21-year-old Briton was among dozens of competitors who took part in this year's Dalian Lyushun International Bird-watching Race.

The event, now in its third year, was held from Oct 20 to 22 on the southernmost tip of the Liaodong Peninsula, a well-known spot for bird-watching in northeastern China.

Every fall, tens of millions of migrating birds - birds of prey, songbirds and water birds - make a stopover in the peninsula before flying south across the Bohai Sea to their winter grounds.
TOGO, one of the leading companies in China's budding car sharing industry, upgraded its mobile application to 2.0 version and included a higher-end car model of Audi A3 into its fleet on Tuesday after completing its B round of financing.

With the newly added radar push function, users of TOGO app can set a radar area, ranging from 200 to 600 meters, for their current location with a time frame of within 24 hours. When the setting is completed, if there is any available vehicle within the radar area, the app will send users a reminder of cars available.

The upgrade also integrated a member center with six membership levels. Users can enhance the membership level through the cumulative consumed mileages on a quarterly basis.

TOGO also announced its further expansion plan of branching into tourist and capital cities like Chengdu, Nanjing and Xi'an after establishing offices in the four super cities of Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen.

It's also confirmed by Wang Lifeng, TOGOs CEO, that the company attracted $22 million with SIG taking the lead in investment in its B round of financing.

Huashenghaoche, an online car retailer, also agreed to give TOGO a credit of 300 million yuan ($45.3 million), which is roughly equivalent to 5,000 cars after entering into strategic partnership with TOGO.
Hundreds of foreign diplomats and representatives of overseas companies, chambers and organizations sat down Wednesday to hear more about the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China.

Guo Yezhou, vice-minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, briefed them on the meanings of some key words such as new thought, new era and new achievement.

The 19th National congress was especially important as it was held while the country undergoes a decisive period of constructing a moderately prosperous society in an all-round way and the socialism with Chinese characteristics enters a new era, Guo said.

He said "Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era" has been included into the Party's Constitution and it is a political declaration and a guide of action for the Party to start new journey in the new era.

The envoys and representatives enquired about China's diplomatic policies, such as in Africa, and the opening-up policy.

China remained committed to the principle of treating countries, big or small, equal in relationship, Guo said, and the country will push forward a new type of ties and will discuss and collaborate with other nations in building a community of shared destiny for mankind.

He said Xi remarked in a meeting with Tsinghua University advisors recently that the country will firmly stick to the basic national policy of opening-up, and will take more measures to boost opening-up.

The vice-minister said that the Party would like to invite leaders of foreign parties to take part in another event.
China's top judicial authorities presented long-anticipated reports on Wednesday to national legislators on their progress in upholding the law and preventing wrongful convictions in the wake of important judicial reforms in 2013.

The Supreme People's Court and Supreme People's Procuratorate both submitted reports to the bimonthly session of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress on Wednesday.

The top court said it had overturned 37 wrongful convictions since November 2012, including in the high-profile case of Nie Shubin, who was exonerated on Dec 2, 2016, more than two decades after he was wrongly executed for rape and murder.

"We've issued guidelines in recent years to prevent wrongful cases, such as the one regulating evidence reviews by courts, and we've ordered courts not to convict defendants on insufficient evidence," said Zhou Qiang, president of the top court. "The aim is to uphold justice and protect human rights."

Thanks to these efforts, courts acquitted 4,032 defendants in accordance with the law between 2013 and September this year, the report said.

Courts have also been ordered to strictly exclude evidence obtained illegally, including evidence gained by torture, "and not to force anyone to plead guilty", Zhou said.

In Shanghai, for example, between July 2016 and September this year, the city's courts received 24 applications from defense attorneys to strike evidence suspected to have been obtained illegally, leading to 15 reviews on the legality of evidence, he said.

The top prosecuting authority said in its report that it has also improved its work system to guard against wrongful cases.

"What we want is to keep prosecutors from making mistakes or proceeding with unsound prosecutions," said Cao Jianming, procurator general of the top procuratorate.

Since 2013, charges against 870 people have been dropped after discovery of improper or illegal evidence, according to the report delivered by Cao.

Wang Dianxue, a criminal defense lawyer in Beijing, applauded the authorities' efforts to remove improper evidence "because the stricter the review of evidence, the more effective the avoidance of wrongful convictions".

Many courts start their review program when lawyers apply for the exclusion of improper evidence, he said. But improving communication with lawyers so they understand more about the application period also is necessary.
Transport time of goods from China to Europe will be 15 days

ANKARA - A newly built railway line connecting Azerbaijan, Turkey and Georgia was inaugurated on Monday in Azerbaijan's capital city of Baku.

The Baku-Tbilisi-Kars Railway, which will eventually link London to Beijing, will have the capacity to annually transport 1 million passengers and 6.5 million tons of freight at the initial stage.

The first train departed from Baku following an inauguration attended by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili.

"The BTK railway will not only connect Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey, but also Europe and Asia. By this railway cargo and passengers will be transported nonstop from London to China," Erdogan said during the official opening ceremony in Baku.

He also pointed out that the new railway will create great social and economic benefits for the entire region while his Azeri counterpart underlined the "historic" significance of the line.

"It is expected to transport 17 million tons of cargo at the next stage. And then larger volumes will be transported," Aliyev said, adding that "the BTK railway is becoming an important part of Eurasia's transport map".

The BTK promises to provide an economic boost to the region, increase connectivity between Europe and Asia and encourage more freight to go by rail, as China is Europe's second biggest trading partner behind the United States, while Europe is China's biggest trading partner.

The date of the first official run of the 825-kilometer line coincides with the liberation day of Kars, a city in northeastern Turkey and the last stop on the BTK line. The initial plan was to open the railway in 2010 but it was delayed several times, mainly for financial reasons.

Turkish Transportation, Maritime Affairs and Communication Minister Ahmet Arslan said the railway would add significant value to countries hosting the line and revive the regional economy. It will also facilitate the delivery of goods to target markets. The new railway corridor, he said, will enable easier transportation between Turkey and Asia as well as the Caucasus and European countries.

"Transportation of goods manufactured and produced in China as well as raw materials will be facilitated via an uninterrupted line of railways," Arslan said.

"Investors who want to set up logistics centers in Eastern Anatolia and carry goods from the region to other areas are looking forward to the project," he said.

Turkey inaugurated in 2013 the world's deepest underwater railway tunnel under the Bosporus strait in Istanbul, Marmaray, connecting the European and Asian continents for the first time.

Strategic importance

Experts underlined the strategic importance of the BTK amid China's Belt and Road Initiative, which aims to build a trade and infrastructure network connecting Asia with Europe and Africa along and beyond the ancient Silk Road trade routes.

"When this railway is operational, Turkey will play a major role in connecting London to Beijing, through new highways and railways. We always say that Turkey is a bridge between Europe and Asia, but this will then be physically true," said Altay Atli, researcher at the Istanbul-based Sabanci University's Istanbul Policy center.

"The BTK is very appropriate to the logic of the Belt and Road Initiative, and has a global importance in regards to the interconnectivity between the European and Asian continents," said Atli.

The BTK railway will reduce the transport time of goods from China to Europe and vice versa to 15 days, which is less than half of the time that it takes today through sea transportation.

Xinhua

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (second from left), Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev (second from right) and Georgia's Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili (right), inaugurate the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway at a ceremony in Baku, Azerbaijan, on Monday.Associated Press

(China Daily 11/01/2017 page11)
Ani DiFranco admits that motherhood has slowed her down some, but said it has also taught her patience.

Patience allows DiFranco to craft poetic, storm-filled lyrics. Her music is innovative, fusing folk with rap and punk. Shes a rebel and a Grammy winner who never lacked for critical success, even if her music often failed to hit the mainstream.

DiFranco's latest album, "Binary," released earlier this year, continues her theme of feminism but also address our obsession with technology.

Sitting alone at home, staring at a screen, you cant really know anything, because knowing is engaging, DiFranco said.

DiFranco makes her Billings debut with openers Gracie and Rachel on Friday, Nov. 3 at the Babcock Theatre in a 7:30 p.m. show produced by 11:11 Presents.

For a nice reversal of things, fans from Missoula and Bozeman will make the long drive to Billings for the Friday-night show because it's her only Montana stop.

In a telephone interview with The Gazette, DiFranco said Montana is still a place of mystery to her.

I hate to admit it, but I havent played Montana much. Missoula I know is such a college town. I cant think of another town there.

DiFrancos voice is melodic and inviting, not unlike her singing style. But her observations about life and her place in it are blunt and rife with conflict.

After having her daughter in 2007 and her son in 2013, DiFranco said it was hard to get back to what she loves  writing songs.

In essence, motherhood prevents songwriting. That was really hard at first when you love what you do and you just stop because you dont have the energy to do it. Then I realized after some time that I learned a lot of patience. That has made my writing better. I dont ratchet through things. I could write a good song before, but I could write 10 shitty songs, too.

DiFranco is speaking from her home in New Orleans, where she described the beautiful day. She was raised in Buffalo, New York, leaving home at 15 and starting college at 16. By the time she was 18, DiFranco started her own record company, Righteous Babe Records. She released her self-titled debut album the next year in 1990.

She said she learned to turn a discerning eye on the world and to write about it in a blunt, thoughtful way. It wasnt a skill she learned from her family.

I come from a long line of non-communicators. I developed an alter ego to survive that. My bluntness doesnt come naturally in my daily life at all. Im not that kind of person. Im just that kind of writer. Its something I practiced really hard at first.

DiFranco said when you throw your opinions to the world, you have to expect a mixed response.

The more experiences I had of people clutching me, looking into my eyes and saying, Me too,' that propels me. There were also a lot of people along the way that were saying, Shut up. Go away. That never hit me as deeply as the other people.

Early on, DiFranco said she followed one gem of wisdom  follow the people who can teach you.

She said she turned away from the music industry and surrounded herself with the underground world of folk, indie labels, community organizers, activists and artists. These were people who inspired her to create beauty in the world.

My instinct has always been to follow them. Its made my life so much richer.

DiFranco said she often craved company in her music, which she calls radical art. Political and social commentary in music was out of fashion when she was coming into her own voice in the 1980s and 90s. Things are different now.

I feel more energy than I have felt in my whole loudmouth life, more energy and support. I feel less alone in my outrage.
Initiative will 'enormously benefit ASEAN'

China Daily | Updated: 2017-11-01 07:13

PHNOM PENH - China's Belt and Road Initiative will greatly benefit the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations, especially in infrastructure development, officials and academics said at a symposium.

The Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road initiative, known as the Belt and Road Initiative, was proposed by China in 2013 with the aim of building a trade, investment and infrastructure network connecting Asia with Europe and Africa along the ancient trade routes.

Since ASEAN needs huge capital to realize its Master Plan on Connectivity, the Belt and Road Initiative, supported by the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and the Silk Road Fund, will provide great benefits to ASEAN, said Suos Yara, vice-chairman of the Cambodian National Assembly's Foreign Affairs Commission, at a Belt and Road symposium in Phnom Penh on Monday.

A recent report by United Nations Conference on Trade and Development showed that ASEAN would need infrastructure investment of $60 billion to $146 billion per annum up until 2025.

"China has been playing a very active role in building and upgrading physical infrastructure in the region through many initiatives, especially the Belt and Road Initiative," he said.

Mey Kalyan, senior adviser to the Supreme National Economic Council of Cambodia, said the initiative linked very well with the ASEAN Master Plan on Connectivity that would create vast opportunities for ASEAN and China to cooperate and serve as engines for future development and prosperity.

"Among the ASEAN member states, particularly Cambodia, construction and upgrading of infrastructure such as roads, ports and airports are a must," he said at the symposium that was attended by some 200 people, including Cambodian government officials, policy makers, academics and researchers.

"Improved infrastructure is essential for sustaining economic growth as it enhances logistical efficiency, reduces transaction costs and supports greater flow of trade and investment," he said.

Ambassador to Cambodia Xiong Bo said China regarded ASEAN as a key region in advancing the Belt and Road cooperation.

"The connectivity cooperation between China and ASEAN countries including Cambodia is highly compatible with ASEAN Connectivity," he said. "China-ASEAN Belt and Road cooperation is enjoying broad prospects and huge potential."

For Cambodia in particular, Xiong said China and Cambodia shared similar development strategies and have huge potential in cooperation fields such as infrastructure, connectivity, trade and investment.

Song Guoyou, director of Economic Diplomacy Studies Center of Fudan University, said the Belt and Road Initiative would promote regional economic integration and deeper globalization.

"It will also contribute to upholding regional peace and stability," he said.

Neak Chandarith, director of the Cambodia 21st Century Maritime Silk Road Research Center at the Royal University of Phnom Penh, said the Belt and Road Initiative would provide new sources of capital for all participating countries, especially ASEAN nations, for infrastructure development.

ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

Xinhua

(China Daily 11/01/2017 page11)
France's Macron signs controversial anti-terror law

China Daily | Updated: 2017-11-01 07:13

PARIS - French President Emmanuel Macron signed a controversial anti-terror law on Monday that gives authorities permanent powers to search homes, shut places of worship and restrict the movements of suspected extremists.

The new law, which replaces the state of emergency imposed after the 2015 Paris attacks, sailed through France's parliament this month despite criticism from campaigners that it jeopardizes civil liberties.

"This law will allow us to end the state of emergency from Nov 1 while fully ensuring the security of our citizens," Macron said as he signed the bill in front of the cameras.

He added that it could come into force as early as Tuesday, though his office said it would become law when the state of emergency finally expires at midnight on Wednesday after being extended six times.

Macron said there had been "sustained debate" over the bill and said it would be reassessed in two years' time.

The legislation, which sparked weeks of intense debate in parliament, makes permanent several of the measures enacted after the jihadist attacks in Paris which left 130 people dead in November 2015.

Without seeking permission from the courts, authorities will now be able to close religious sites that promote radical ideas and confine suspected extremism sympathizers to their neighborhoods.

Interior Minister Gerard Collomb said 11 places of worship have been closed "for incitement to commit terrorist acts" under the state of emergency and 41 people are under house arrest because they have links to organizations spreading extremism and hatred.

"Everyone noticed we needed a fair balance between security and freedom, and I believe this text meets this need," Collomb said on Monday.

Police will be allowed to carry out more on-the-spot identity checks in border areas, as well as around train stations, ports and airports.

Rights groups have voiced fears that such checks will be chiefly used against migrants and minorities.

France has been hit by a series of attacks since the start of 2015 by known or suspected extremists that have left 241 people dead.

There has been little public resistance to the new anti-terror law, reflecting a hardening of attitudes after nearly three years of periodic attacks.

A poll last month for the daily Le Figaro found 57 percent backed tougher laws, even if 62 percent feared this would come at the expense of basic freedoms.

The bill is the third major piece of legislation Macron has signed since he took power in May, following a law on public ethics and flagship reforms to France's complex labor code.

Afp - Xinhua - Ap

(China Daily 11/01/2017 page12)
Foreign scholars including Dutch Svetlana Kharchenkova (first left) visit the China Ceramics Museum in Jingdezhen, Jiangxi province, as part of the 2017 Visiting Program for Young Sinologists. [Photo by Lan Jian/For China Daily]

A program for young Sinologists is helping academics from all over the world gain a deeper understanding of the country. Xu Lin reports.

At a workshop in Jingdezhen, Jiangxi province, Polina Tsoncheva is carefully pinching clay on a spinning potter's wheel, molding it into a plate.

"It's such an indelible memory! The city is world-famous for its pottery and ceramics, and I get to see the process of how Chinese craftsmen make them," says the assistant professor who teaches Chinese and translation at St. Cyril and St. Methodius University of Veliko Tarnovo, in Bulgaria.

Tsoncheva was on a four-day field trip to Jiangxi's Jingdezhen, Wuyuan and Sanqing Mountain as part of a cultural experience. They visited old villages, ancient porcelain kiln sites and watched traditional operas.

It was part of the recent three-week 2017 Visiting Program for Young Sinologists in Beijing, in which 27 Sinologists from 26 countries participated. With an average age of 36, their research fields include the Chinese language, history and politics.

The Ministry of Culture and the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences co-founded the annual project in Beijing in 2014. This year, it was held in four citiesBeijing, Shanghai, Xi'an and Zhengzhouwith a total of 120 participants.

"Young Sinologists can not only enhance their academic level, but also explore Chinese culture and society," says Zhu Qi, deputy director of the international liaison department of the Ministry of Culture.

"It was the most wonderful three weeks, at least in my last 10 years," says Tsoncheva. "After listening to the lectures given by Chinese scholars in Beijing, interesting ideas for my future research have come to my mind."

She wants to delve into the history of Tongwen Guan, or the School of Combined Learning. Founded in the late Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), the government school taught foreign languages and scientific subjects. In 1902, it was merged with the Imperial University of Peking, which is now Peking University.

"The school was established due to the demands of translators and interpreters. Studying foreign languages allows one to meet different people and learn about the culture, history and traditions of other countries," she says.

She also wants to further her study tracing the earliest time when Chinese literature entered Bulgaria and how it influenced Bulgarian literature. She discovered that in the 19th century, poems by Tang Dynasty (618-907) poets, such as Li Bai and Du Fu, were translated into Bulgarian from Russian or German versions.

"They didn't know Chinese, but their translations capture the Chinese spirit," she says.
A Terracotta Warrior from the tomb of Emperor Qinshihuang, China's first emperor. [Photo/Xinhua]

China's famed "Terracotta Warriors" will go on display in a rare exhibition to be hosted by two US museums.

The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA) will be the first host, the museum announced Monday.

"This exhibition is an exhibit of beauty and history. It is a way to celebrate those thousands of years of cultural history from China," Alex Nyerges, VMFA's director, said at a press conference at the Chinese embassy here.

Titled "Terracotta Army: Legacy of the First Emperor of China", the exhibition will feature more than 130 artifacts, including 10 life-size Terracotta Warriors.

These full-size statues were part of the baked earth army sculpted by artisans for decades so that they could be buried with Qin Shi Huangdi, the first emperor of China (260-210 BC), and serve him in his afterlife. The site in Xi'an city in northwestern China, where the statues were excavated, along with clay chariots and horses, has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and is now part of a museum.

Other artifacts spanning from China's Western Zhou Dynasty, which ruled from 11th century to 771 BC, and the Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC) will also be on display.

The exhibition "will bring us together as people and the two most important countries in the world that have ever been and ever will be," Nyerges said.

Wu Xi, deputy chief of mission at the Chinese embassy, said the 130 cultural relics will serve as a window for people in the United States to learn about Chinese history and culture.

The exhibition will be at VMFA from Nov 18 to March 11, 2018, after which it will move to the Cincinnati Art Museum in Ohio.
When leaves turn red, witches, ghosts, monsters and other scary creatures make an appearance on the spookiest time of the year -- Halloween. Celebrated on October 31 every year, a day before All Saint's Day, this "haunted" holiday gets millions of people around the world to wear their scariest costume while partying or trick or treating.

The festival, also called All Hallows' Eve or All Hallows' Evening, which means to remember the dead, has gradually developed into an entertaining celebration, and has become one of the most popular festivals among children and adults with its traditions for fooling around in costumes.

This spooky festival has long been associated to many English-speaking countries. But apparently, dressing up in scary costumes and "trick-or-treating" to delicious food and fancy parties are now practiced worldwide.

There are surely more ways to celebrate it. So how do people around the globe celebrate it?

Customs: West vs East

Halloween in many Spanish countries is known as "El Dia de los Muertos," the Day of the Dead, which is a three-day event that takes place every year from October 31 to November 2. For Mexicans, it's the time of the year where they put offerings such as flowers and food next to pictures of family members who passed away.

Families in Chile, meanwhile, visit the cemetery and place flowers and other stuff to decorate the tombs of their loved ones.

Although Halloween is not a major holiday in Brazil, there are still local celebrations that include colorful caipirinhas (made with cachaca, brown sugar and lime), batucadas (a Brazilian rhythm technique made by percussion instruments) and colorful parades with drum music.

German people are not so fond of Halloween but they do have some specials to celebrate it, which includes watching horror movies and taking walks at night in spooky places like graveyards and the woods.

In Greece, they do "The Apokrias" or the carnival, which takes place in February when friends get together and knock on other friends' doors to make them guess who is hiding behind the dress-up and the mask.

On the other side of the world, Chinese people also have their own celebration. Near the end of the summer  on July 15th in the Chinese lunar calendar, Chinese people celebrate the Hungry Ghost Festival  a time many believe the gates to the spirit world open and ghosts come out to visit the living. Families place a sumptuous meal on the altar and create paper offerings that look like money or personal items. These will then be burned to be sent back into the spirit world.

Instead of "trick-or-treating" or holding parties, young Japanese invented "costume play". The annual "Hello Halloween Pumpkin Parade" in Tokyo Disney Resort draws thousands of dressed-up children and crowds.
[Photo by Ding Luyang/China Daily]

Fan Zhengyu, 51, a teacher at Jilin University of Finance and Economics, learned pen drawing by himself 31 years ago and has created more than 300 pictures, mainly about ancient architectures and objects in Changchun, capital of Jilin province.

Some of his works have been presented as foreign exchange gifts to US, Australia, Japan and Korea by the university. The works have been well received and have become permanent collections.
Six blockchain application scenarios in China

( chinadaily.com.cn )

Updated: 2017-11-01

Blockchain uses a cryptographic network to provide a single source of truth, enabling different parties to co-create a permanent, unchangeable and transparent record of exchange and processing without relying on a central authority. The new technology has seen more application in China. Let us take a look.

Asset-backed security issue

The Baidu Inc logo is displayed outside the company's headquarters in Beijing, Nov 12, 2014. [Photo/VCG]

A 400 million yuan ($60.4 million) asset-backed security(ABS), which was backed by Baidu's blockchain technology, was issued on the Shanghai Securities Exchange on Sept 19, according to Baidu. The security is the first blockchain-aided exchange-traded ABS in China.

Baidu, as the technology provider, built a blockchain as a service for the ABS, with all participating parties on this consortium blockchain, including Baidu Finance, the security provider, the brokers, the rating agency and the law firm.

Information on the asset and on the fundraising company, which issued the ABS, were both disclosed via the blockchain.
The 2017 World MICE Industry Day was held from Oct 25 to 27 in the eastern coastal city of Qingdao, Shandong province, providing a professional platform for organizers of domestic and international events.

Nearly 600 MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions) industry insiders from 48 countries and regions such as the United States, Germany, South Korea, Slovak, Serbia and India took part in the event.

The 2017 World MICE Industry Day is held from Oct 25 to 27 in Qingdao, Shandong province. [Photo/ ifeng.com]

Themed "Boosting Silk Road Meeting Industry", the event was a grand meeting for MICE people and was designed with a series of activities including forums, business promotions, roundtable meetings, matchmaking fairs and onsite investigative tours.

According to the organizing committee, the event attracted more than 150 exhibitors, over 400 overseas and domestic hosted buyers and over 2,000 participants. It offered an efficient way to acknowledge the latest developments of MICE Industry as well as lead to business cooperation.

In recent years, Qingdao has become one of the most active areas in MICE industry in China. With the completion and operation of the Qingdao International Convention Center's first-stage project and the city's competitive advantages in tourism, marine industry and port industry, Qingdao MICE economy is developing at a rapid pace.

Attendees exchange ideas during a forum held during the 2017 World MICE Industry Day. [Photo/ ifeng.com]

The city has hosted a series of high-end events, including the APEC Small and Medium Enterprises Technology Conference and Fair (APEC SMETC), Qingdao International Horticultural Expo, Qingdao Forum on International Standardization, China (Qingdao) International Fashion Week and China Fisheries and Seafood Expo, which have help to boost Qingdao's international profile in MICE industry.

Michael Schultz-Tholen, president of Bavarian Olympic Society and Federation of International, Lim Chang-yuel, president of KINTEX (Korea International Exhibition), Mei Xiaodan, executive president of WND-2017 and Wan Jianzhong, deputy secretary general of Qingdao municipal government took part in the opening ceremony and delivered speeches.

The 2017 World MICE Industry Day provides a professional platform for organizers of domestic and international events. [Photo/ ifeng.com]

More than 300 industry elites took part in the forums and roundtable meetings and delivered keynote speeches, including Robert Vincze, former director of Slovak Convention Bureau, Igor Kovacevic, CEO of Serbia Convention Bureau, and Chander Mansharamani, vice chairman of India Convention Promotion Bureau.
FOR THE PAST TWO DECADES Wuhan University in Central China's Hubei province has hired six academicians and four professors to teach a basic course. Guangming Daily commented on Monday:

Having six academicians and four professors teach a basic course is an enviable privilege for those students taking it. Even more so given that the 10 prestigious scholars have been teaching the course for 20 years and will continue to do so in the coming years, which has led to debates over whether their academic talents are "wasted" or "well spent".

Some universities such as the National Southwest Associated University (1937-46), built their reputation hiring top scholars to tutor undergraduates, many of whom later managed to achieve academic success thanks to the quality teaching they received.

Tradition aside, according to a guideline issued by the Ministry of Education last year, distinguished scholars including professors and associate professors are required to teach more undergraduate courses and focus on teaching. That is a laudable move, and more has to be done to reform the academic evaluation system to which scholars are subject.

Some researchers find teaching less appealing because their academic credentials are largely built on how many essays they have published in top academic journals and whether their research projects have borne fruit. So the education authorities should make teaching part of the assessments of how good a scholar is.

It is the college freshmen that are in need of guidance from a seasoned professor since their knowledge about higher education and future career options is limited. Having veteran scholars in an elementary course could help students make the right decision regarding their majors, if the scholars take the class seriously rather than using it as a springboard for elevation.
Eleven people who claim interest in the deed of the former St. Francis Upper school building are challenging Billings Catholic Schools' effort to take over the property.

They filed a counterclaim on Oct. 23 in Yellowstone County District Court, saying that a 100-year-old deed to the building grants them stakes in its future.

The filers are Jeanne Mangan, Joan Mangan Smith, Edmund Rueter, Joseph P. Rueter, Jennifer A. Sanczel, Michelle T. Sanczel, Sean E. Sanczel, Stephen P. Sanczel, Andrew J. Smith, Ashley Clarke and Rebecca Smith.

Court documents say they don't live in Montana, and it's unclear what they hope to do with their stake in the building. The Billings attorneys representing the group didn't respond to a phone inquiry on Monday.

The documents request that a judge declare them "interested or potentially interested parties under the terms of the deed at issue."

This stems from a legal filing made in August by the Catholic Diocese of Great Falls-Billings, on behalf of Billings Catholic Schools. The private school system wants to sell the St. Francis Upper school building in downtown Billings now that it's vacant.

All those students now attend St. Francis Catholic School, which was built for students in kindergarten through eighth grade and opened this year on Colton Avenue.

The schools sought a judge's ruling to clarify any ambiguity in the century-old deed to St. Francis Upper. A wealthy Billings heiress, Kate Fratt, donated the property to the diocese in 1916.

The deed stipulated that the property be used as a parochial school. If not, interest in the property would be gained by relatives named by Fratt in the deed and, by extension, their descendants.

An attorney for the diocese sent notices to 434 identified heirs and placed legal ads in 16 newspapers across the country. If a judge grants the diocese sole interest in the property, school administrators plan to sell it and put the money toward paying off the new school.

Janyce Haider, Billings Catholic Schools Foundation president, described the filing as procedural and said they will wait to see if the heirs make more requests for their potential stakes.

Just wait to see if they decide to come through," Haider said. "Then you have to calculate their share.

The diocese has not filed a response to the heirs' claim of interest. A hearing date hasn't been set in the case.
THE DECISION made at the just-concluded 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China to revitalize the countryside marks a turning point to reverse the decline of rural areas in China as a result of its city-centered industrialization and urbanization. Beijing Youth Daily comments:

The authorities should first of all face up squarely to the problems confronting the countryside. Although the incomes of rural residents have grown faster than the incomes of urban residents, there is still a large gap between them in favor of the latter, as well as among different regions. For instance, the average disposable income in Shanghai is nearly eight times that of the farmers in Northwest China's Gansu province.

The comparative poverty of rural areas in terms of income, public services, social security and development opportunities, especially the remote inland regions, constitute the biggest obstacle hindering the revitalization of the countryside.

Unchecked environmental degradation, poor healthcare and education facilities and the low profitability of farming have prompted nearly 300 million rural villagers to seek better lives in cities as migrant workers, even if they cannot enjoy the public services as urban residents. This has created large numbers of left-behind children and senior citizens in rural areas.

Policymakers should not only focus on raising the incomes of rural residents, though it is one of the most important factors in boosting rural development, but also meet their needs for better living conditions, public services and development opportunities.

The government should take concrete measures to promote the flow of funds, technology and talents from cities to the countryside to bridge the development gap, while at the same time protecting the property rights of villagers.
During the 2017 Spring festival holiday period, I was lucky enough to be invited to stay with the family of a close Chinese friend in the countryside of Yong He, north of Lanzhou in Northwest China's Gansu province. My Chinese friend, who goes by the English name Sarah, invited my friend Joe and I to spend the week. Plenty could be said about our stay, each day filled with new sights and experiences that one short story could hardly do justice to. Whether it be how we trudged through the rocky and dusty hills of northern Gansu province to burn money for the Qiang family ancestors; or how after ingesting copious amounts of rice wine it was the children, with whom we usually played loud and rowdy games of cards, who came to take care of the two drunken foreigners; or just the day-to-day struggle with outdoor squat toilets in winter. These glimpses at a week-long adventure into northwest China hardly even scrape the surface. If, however, I had to choose one experience that really left an impression, I would have to speak of our last morning with the Qiang family.

Nelson Landry [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

By the invitation of the eldest of the nine uncles on Sarahs fathers side--a man who was never without a cigarette in hand or a leather fedora slightly tilted forward on his head--Joe and I were asked to partake in a Daoist ritual. The purpose was, so we were told, to keep the ghosts and ghouls who bring calamity upon families from entering their households. We were, of course, honored and gratefully accepted the invitation. On the day of the event, we sat frigid in below freezing temperatures as the truck began to warm up in the driving towards the temple. Arriving at the temple, and having been offered our courtesy cigarette and cup of tea, we sat in the temple caretakers quarters, where we both huddled around the coal stove to keep warm, leaning as close to the furnace as we could without burning ourselves.

As sunrise was upon us, so the men and women began to gather, passing around auspicious red bands that we tied ever so fashionably on our right arms. It was then that they decided: the two foreigners were to be the designated flag-bearers. In accordance with our high rank, we were assigned places in the back of the shoddy old pick-up truck that also carried the huge drum and the cymbals, as well as the men who were to play them. It was a tight squeeze and the air was crisp, so I was glad to find that there was no space in the back of the van. Bleary eyed, I found my way to the front of the truck where I was to fulfill the provisional role of co-pilot. My friend regrettably did not have the luxury of sitting in the heated truck and I smiled inwardly knowing mine was the real seat of honor. The dedicated crew of middle-aged men began to bang their percussion instruments with gusto. Again, I smiled to myself knowing that, as this cacophony started, my friend was right there with them feeling the thunderous vibration of the drum and the cymbals as his fingers slowly lost all circulation and feeling in the frosty early morning. Although my friend was not a smoker at the time, the village people who would greet our passage by setting off deafening Chinese firecrackers and fireworks that whistled up in the air saw that he could not use his hands, so they would put the cigarettes in his mouth and light them for him. I would go back to see him when we would stop, smiling and laughing at how fun all this was, though he did not seem to find the situation as funny as I did. When it was my turn to sit in back, I realized why.

Even as the sun reached a descent height in the sky we continued on our way, making the rounds of the countryside beating our drums, clanging our cymbals and swinging our flag, what was meant to scare the evil spirits away did not seem have the same effect on the winter winds. In fact, it seemed to only get nippier with the quickening tempo of the drums, and though the old man who played with such gusto seemed to almost be working up a sweat, the flag-bearer had to remain inert - a glorified mast freezing in the unforgiving February cold. The driver dauntlessly drove on narrow dirt roads with his band in tow. Peeking over the side of the truck, never daring to lean too far, I could see that we were driving precariously close to a 20-foot drop to the fields below. At the time, I think I was perhaps too cold to know fear, and so I continued to vigilantly grasp my flag, without knowing exactly how or why I was there. Thats when it dawned on me. This was my true lot in life, to lead the van that chased the evil spirits and that invited the king of the law into the homes of those lucky enough to receive him. I was a flag-bearer, and I was bringing peace to the country side with my band of merry ghost hunters. I was told by one and all that I was doing a great job at it, too, and so with such support I doubled my efforts to be an even better frozen flag mast.

By the end, we were both quite glad to be dropped off near the main family home, leaving the important work of making more raucous noise in the expert hands of the old man with no sense of rhythm who was giving the beat for all the other percussionists to follow suit and make as raucous a noise as possible. My delusions of being a flag bearer dissipated and I began to see clearly again as my body began to thaw. However, I couldnt help but feel I had not seen my job to its proper end. There were still spirits to chase away, lest the village meet with some calamity because of me. But then again, even though we were not as safe from evil spirits as the further the van got from us, a bit of peace and quiet is always a welcome thing after a tough morning working as designated flag-bearers in northwest China.
A ship loads containers at a terminal in Qingdao, Shandong province. [Photo/China Daily]

It's a book that takes on conventional thinkingif not biasesheld by many Americans about China, and very simply knocks it down. And it could come at no better time since US President Donald Trump will start his first state visit to China in a few days and misperceptions about China seem to be as rife in the White House as they are in average American households.

Former World Bank China director Yukon Huang talked about his latest book, Cracking the China Conundrum: Why Conventional Economic Wisdom Is Wrong, last week to an audience at World Bank headquarters in Washington.

Huang, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, said at a book talk on Oct 27 that Trump and his advisers had said that too much of US foreign direct investment is going to China, resulting in job losses and declining competitiveness.

According to the White House, "we left jobs overseas, we left jobs to China; we need to bring them back here", but, in fact, only 1.5 percent of US foreign investment goes to China, Huang said, backing up his claim with a slew of diagrams.

"In my book, I explain this by the composition of trade and say if we get the diagnosis wrong, we get the policy recommendations wrong," he said. "It is about how to get more of America's foreign investment to China, rather than worrying that too much is going to China."

Speaking at a panel discussion on "China's 19th Party Congress Outcomes and Analysis" sponsored by the US-China Policy Foundation on Oct 26, Huang said that many average Americans share Trump's sentiment that China is responsible for the US trade deficits.

Those deficits were significant in the 1990s and had surged by 2006 and then they started to moderate. China's trade surpluses were essentially nonexistent until 2004 or 2005, then they started to get very big and then they came down, Huang said.

"America's trade balances and China's trade balances move totally in the wrong direction," he said.

In his book, Huang argued that trade balances are the result of multilateral rather than bilateral relationships.

"How could China be responsible for America's trade problems, when in fact, America's trade problems existed long before China even became an export power and their balances moved in opposite directions?" he writes in his book.

False perceptions about trade have created a wrong impression in the United States about who is the world's leading economic power, according to Huang.

A decade ago, annual surveys of Americans by Gallup and Pew about who is the world's leading economic power would generate a clear answer: America by far was the leading economic power; only 10 percent said it was China, Huang said at the discussion.

Today, the majority of Americans will say China is the world's leading economic power, while the vast majority of Chinese say America is, Huang said.

But the vast majority of China analysts argue that internal rebalancing is needed, and this view has featured prominently in China's policy discussions with the US.

For despite its impressive performance, China's growth process has been internally unbalanced, defined by its exceptionally low share of consumption to GDP and comparatively high share of investment to GDP.

Huang said cracking the conundrum of China is not whether one should be positive or negative about China's economy and its implications for the US, but instead about fitting China into a framework that leads to a better understanding of the reality.

The author is deputy editor-in-chief of China Daily USA.

huanxinzhao@chinadailyusa.com
By 2020, China will likely be the country in the world with the most tourists traveling abroad, according to the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).[Photo/Xinhua]

Rising Chinese tourism to Italy and Europe is the subject of the 160th issue of Mondo Cinese (Chinese World) journal, the Italy-China Foundation has said.

Founded in 1973, Mondo Cinese is Italy's only scientific journal dedicated to studying contemporary China.

Titled "Italian Holidays", the issue presented Monday in Milan is entirely dedicated to Chinese tourism -- a choice that is borne out by the numbers, according to the Italy-China Foundation, which publishes Mondo Cinese.

Last year, 3.79 million Chinese tourists visited Italy, making the Mediterranean country the fourth destination of choice after Germany, the US, and France, according to data from Confturismo trade association and ISTAT official statistics agency.

According to Italian national tourism agency ENIT, 3.38 million Chinese tourists traveled to Italy in 2015, up a whopping 45 percent over 2014.

By 2020, China will likely be the country in the world with the most tourists traveling abroad, according to the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).

These and other data are analyzed in the "Italian Holidays" issue, which includes contributions from Italian professors, journalists, businesspeople and other China experts, as well as Italian Ambassador to Beijing Ettore Francesco Sequi and Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific Airways Italy Country Manager Erika Peng.

The publication comes ahead of the Europe-China Tourism Year in 2018, which will officially kick off on January 19 in Venice -- "a key junction in the new Silk Road and a city that Chinese travelers particularly love", the Italy China Foundation said in a statement.
Cui Tiankai,ambassador to the United States, expresses high hopes for US President Donald Trump's upcoming visit to Beijing. Cui spoke at a news briefing at the Chinese embassy in Washington on Monday. YIN BOGU / XINHUA

US President Donald Trump's first state visit to China, coming at a "historic moment" after the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, is expected to be a successful trip with significant results in trade, the Korean Peninsula and other issues, China's top envoy in Washington said on Monday.

Trump is expected to arrive in Beijing on Nov 8 for what Ambassador Cui Tiankai called a "state visit-plus". It will feature talks, a military honor guard and formal banquet and some "special arrangements", Cui said at a briefing. China will reciprocate the hospitality the US president and the first family showed Chinese leaders at the April meeting at the Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida, he said.

Cui said the recent congress reaffirmed China's commitment to following a path of peaceful development, a strategy of opening-up and efforts to build a community with a shared future for humankind.

Beijing also will ramp up its close and effective coordination with other countries.

Trump will be the first head of state of a major power to visit China at this historic moment, Cui said. President Xi Jinping and Trump are expected to chart the course of development for the world's most important bilateral relationship, he said.

The ambassador said the Korean Peninsula situation will be a priority in the talks.

"I hope they reach more agreement between them and will give us clear guidance on how the two countries can handle this issue together," Cui said. "We are taking measures to implement the (United Nations Security Council) sanctions, although obviously many of the sanctions would be implemented with a high cost for China itself, because we are the DPRK's (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) neighbor."

Cui stressed that the Korean Peninsula issue cannot be solved by China itself. It requires a concerted effort of all the parties concerned.

"It is clear that if only China is making efforts, while others are doing things that could lead to escalation of tensions, this issue would not be solved, and it would become even more difficult, and the end result would hurt everybody's interests," he said.

"I'm sure at the conclusion of the visit, both sides will have something to say about this issue," Cui said.

Cui expressed equal confidence on trade and economic issues, another priority of Trump's visit to China. The ambassador said the two sides already have spent a lot of time and energy on the trade issue and are making progress.

Cui also said that the US has no territorial claim in the South China Sea and should let countries in the region manage their disputes in a "friendly and effective way".

Trump's visit to China would be his third stop in Asia, preceded by Japan and the Republic of Korea and followed by visits to Vietnam and the Philippines from Nov 5 to Nov 14.

huanxinzhao@chinadailyusa.com
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Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov gestures during a meeting with his Surinamese counterpart Yldiz Pollack-Beighle in Moscow, Russia Oct 31, 2017. [Photo/Agencies]

MOSCOW - The allegations that Russia has interfered in elections in the United States or the European Union are groundless and their authors are unable to present any proof, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Tuesday.

"It has even been mentioned somewhere that we are not only going to interfere in all the elections, but also will manipulate the environment to create floods," Lavrov said at a meeting with the Association of European Businesses.

"But no one has presented a single proof," he stressed.

Lavrov said the United States and its allies have accused Russia of everything from protests, bankruptcies of some companies, and "maybe even man-made disasters."

The minister also pointed out that the investigation of the Russian interference in the US presidential election has last for nine months already but no proof has been made public.

Lavrov said with so many people involved in the investigation in the US Congress and in the Office of Special Counsel, there should have been a leak to the media by now.

"Therefore, these excuses about secrecy, frankly, are simply ridiculous for people who make such serious accusations against us," said the minister.
BEIJING - The US conclusion on anti-dumping of aluminum foil from China was "a serious distortion" of real situation, the Ministry of Commerce (MOC) said Tuesday.

The MOC made the statement in response to the US decision on China's status as a non-market economy country and launching anti-dumping investigation against aluminum foil imports from China under the "analogue country methodology".

The US ignored China's achievements in building a market economy and the conclusion was a serious distortion of the real situation, the MOC said in an online statement.

Since reform and opening up, China has established and been improving the socialist market economy, which has been widely recognized by the international community, said the MOC.

China urged the US to fulfill international obligations and take action to correct the wrong practice, while China will take measures to protect legal rights of Chinese companies, according to the MOC.

According to WTO requirements, anti-dumping investigations against imports from China under the "analogue country methodology" ceased on Dec 11, 2016. The method calculates the value of products from so-called "non-market economies" using costs of production in a third country. The concept of "non-market economy country" does not exist in WTO rules.
It's a book that takes on conventional thinking - if not biases - held by many Americans about China, and very simply knocks it down.

And it comes at no better time as US President Donald Trump will start his first state visit to China in a few days and misperceptions about China are somewhat rife at the White House as well as in average American households.

Yukon Huang, former World Bank China director, talked about his latest book, Cracking the China Conundrum: Why Conventional Economic Wisdom Is Wrong, last week to an audience at World Bank headquarters in Washington.

Huang, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, said at the book talk on Oct 27 that Trump and his advisers had said that too much of US foreign direct investment is going to China, resulting in job losses and declining competitiveness.

"So, the issue would be too much so that the White House said we left jobs overseas, we left jobs to China; we need to bring them back here," Huang said.

But in fact, only 1.5 percent of US foreign investment goes to China, he said, using a slew of diagrams at the presentation.

"In my book, I explain this by the composition of trade and say if we get the diagnosis wrong, we get the policy recommendations wrong," he said. "It is about how to get more of America's foreign investment to China, rather than worrying about too much is going over to China."

At a panel discussion, "China's 19th Party Congress Outcomes and Analysis", sponsored by the US-China Policy Foundation on Oct 26, Huang said that many average Americans share Trump's sentiment that China is responsible for US trade deficits.

Those deficits were significant in the 1990s and had surged by 2006, and then they started to moderate. China's trade surpluses were essentially nonexistent until 2004 or 2005, then they started to get very big and then they came down, Huang said.

"America's trade balances and China's trade balances move totally in the wrong direction," he said.

In his book, Huang argued that trade balances are the result of multilateral rather than bilateral relationships.

"How could China be responsible for America's trade problems, when in fact, America's trade problems existed long before China even became an export power and their balances moved in opposite directions?" he writes in his book.

False perceptions about trade have driven a false feeling in the US about who is the world's leading economic power, according to Huang.

A decade ago, annual surveys of Americans by Gallup and Pew about who is the world's leading economic power would generate a clear answer: America by far was the leading economic power; only 10 percent said it was China, Huang said at the discussion.

Today, the majority of Americans will say China is the world's leading economic power, while the vast majority of Chinese say America is, Huang said. In the rest of the world, only Europe said the leading economic power was China until last year.

Huang also has a chapter discussing "China's unbalanced growth" in his book. Despite its impressive performance, China's growth process has been criticized for being internally unbalanced, defined by its exceptionally low share of consumption to GDP and comparatively high share of investment to GDP, Huang writes.

The vast majority of China watchers argue that internal rebalancing is needed, and this view has featured prominently in US policy discussions with China, according to Huang.

"Now if our analysis of these problems is wrong, then our recommendations are likely to be wrong," he said.

"If properly understood, China's internal imbalances would be seen not as a risk but as the unavoidable byproduct of a generally successful growth process that reflects rapid urbanization and regional specialization in production."

In explaining why conventional wisdom is "so often wrong", Huang said the issue is not whether one should be positive or negative about China's economy and its political and foreign policy implications, but instead about fitting China into a framework that leads to a better understanding of the reality.

Contact the writer at huanxinzhao@chinadailyusa.com

(China Daily USA 11/01/2017 page2)
China's National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA) orchestra made its Carnegie Hall debut in New York on Monday, as part of a six-city coast-to-coast US tour, with programs combining Western and Chinese music highlighting cultural exchange between China and the US.

Under the baton of music director and chief conductor Lyu Jia, the orchestra performed the Yellow River Concerto with pianist Zhang Haochen, a gold medal and first-prize winner at the 2009 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition.

A noted arrangement of Xian Xinghai's Yellow River Cantata, the melodic concerto takes classical Chinese musical ideas and weaves them into a Western musical form. The final movement, Defend the Yellow River, brought the audience to its feet for a standing ovation.

"It's a very different experience to perform the Yellow River in the US (compared to China), I feel I have a deeper connection with the piece," said the 27-year-old pianist Zhang. "As the post-'90s generation, we've grown up under a different context from the older generation, so our expression might be more open compared to theirs, but our passion and love for our motherland are the same."

Like Zhang, most of the members of the orchestra are young artists in their 20s and 30s. Lyu said he was impressed by the progress the young ensemble has made in the past few years. The orchestra was established in 2010.

Lyu said most members had received professional training at overseas schools or orchestras, so they had a good understanding of Western music. When they combine what they've learned in the West with Chinese music, it makes for a performance that is unique and impressive, Lyu said.

"Carnegie Hall is very famous in history and cultural tradition," Lyu said. "It also has the best acoustics.

"The cooperation that NCPA has had with Carnegie Hall has been very important for years," said Lyu. "The importance of understanding between nations is through culture, especially music, because music connects the world without any limits of language, cultural background, countries or borders."

During the US National Youth Orchestra's 2015 visit to Beijing, Carnegie Hall and the NCPA formed a special partnership, agreeing to explore areas of mutual interest, particularly opportunities that support cultural exchange between China and the US and in music education.

Anna Weber, general manager of Carnegie Hall, said both the NCPA and Carnegie Hall are committed to cultural exchanges between the two nations to foster communication and deepen understanding.

Besides the Yellow River Concerto, the orchestra also performed the US premiere of Lyuan Tan by Qigang Chen, composer and music director of the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, and Sibelius's Symphony No 2.

ruinanzhang@chinadailyusa.com

(China Daily USA 11/01/2017 page2)
No longer recognized as the Northern Cheyenne Tribes president by both the Tribal Council and the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs, Jace Killsback says he will likely file this week for an elected office he contends he still rightfully holds.

The tribes legislative arm last week set a Thursday deadline for candidates to file for a special election for Northern Cheyenne President. The primary election to select the tribes top elected official is set for Nov. 28, followed by a run-off election for the top two vote-getters at the beginning of next year.

The term would extend until the next regularly scheduled presidential election in 2020, according to a notice published by the council last week.

The Tribal Council voted to oust Killsback on Oct. 6, based on a complaint submitted by Councilman Dana Eaglefeathers that alleged Killsback lacked "the qualifications to hold his position and has failed to perform the duties assigned to him.

Elected to a four-year term as the tribes president just under a year ago, Killsback has maintained that the councils vote to remove him violated a judgment by the Tribal Constitutional Court the day before.

The council, however, has argued that an amended complaint was filed prior to the vote, satisfying the courts initial judgment against Eaglefeathers  notably including a list of specific allegations against the tribal president that was missing from the original complaint.

Through its attorney, the council has refused to make those allegations public, and Killsback maintains he was never served with an amended complaint.

In response, Killsback on Oct. 24 filed a separate complaint with the court, asking the three-judge panel to void the councils vote and affirm his status as the current president. The court has set a Nov. 6 deadline for briefs from the two parties, after this weeks filing deadline for the special presidential election.

I most likely will be filing for candidacy under protest, not waiving my constitutional claim on my presidency, Killsback said.

The councils timing for the election, he added, was motivated by his recent court complaint, although Councilman Benji Headswift, who serves as the sergeant-at-arms and spokesman for the council, previously said he hoped to hold an election as soon as possible.

They have a chance to respond, and thats whats funny about it, while theyre responding theyre holding an election to circumvent the constitutional court, Killsback said. Either theyre hiding something, or theyre not wanting to be accountable to the constitution.

Headswift did not return calls on Monday and Tuesday seeking comment. In an interview earlier this month, he told The Billings Gazette that the council now recognizes Vice President Conrad Fisher as the interim president.
TOKYO - Shinzo Abe, leader of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), was reelected as Japan's prime minister on Wednesday by a majority vote in both chambers of the Japanese parliament.

Both houses of parliament convened on Wednesday for a special session following the Oct 22 lower hose election, which saw the ruling coalition sweep to victory.

Abe, as Japan's 98th prime minister, will hold talks with Komeito leader Natsuo Yamaguchi, and inaugurate a new cabinet later in the day.

Abe is set to reappoint all the members of the outgoing cabinet, informed sources have said.
Tilak Marapana, visiting Sri Lankan Foreign Minister, speaks at a celebration marking the 60th anniversary of China-Sri Lanka diplomatic relationship and the 65th anniversary of the Agreement on Rice for Rubber held by the Sri Lankan embassy in Beijing on Oct 31, 2017. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The Belt and Road Initiative proposed by China will provide hard and soft connectivity in the Indian Ocean that is required for rapid economic and social development, especially in Sri Lanka, said visiting Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Tilak Marapana on Tuesday.

He made the remark at a celebration marking the 60th anniversary of China-Sri Lanka diplomatic relationship and the 65th anniversary of the Agreement on Rice for Rubber organized by the Sri Lankan embassy.

"The longstanding, close and friendly relations between the two countries are built on a solid foundation of historic, economic and cultural ties based on friendship, cooperation, mutual trust and understanding and respect for the territorial integrity of the two countries," said Marapana.

He also noted that Sri Lanka is very keen to reach an early conclusion to the Free Trade Agreement with China in the near future that would expand more trade avenues for both countries.

Karunasena Kodituwakku, the ambassador of Sri Lanka to China, said at the event that his Chinese friends are fully aware about Sri Lanka, its popularity as tourist destination, historical as well as contemporary warm friendship between our two countries.

"Both countries have assisted each other whenever necessity arose," said Kodituwakku. "I wish most sincerely to see friendship between our countries to become more and more stronger."

Kodituwakku also said that China has now committed to the global community, and is prepared to share the prosperity it has accomplished in the past two decades with the rest of the world.
BEIJING -- China and Russia signed nearly 20 deals here Wednesday in areas including investment, energy and space exploration.

The deals came after the 22nd regular meeting between the heads of government of China and Russia held in the Great Hall of the People, Beijing.

During the meeting, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang told his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev that as each other's biggest neighbor, China and Russia have witnessed robust development of the comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination.

Li said for China, the biggest developing country in the world, development is the solution to all problems.

Both China and Russia view each other's development as an important opportunity, therefore there is a broad prospect for both countries to synergize development strategies and further advance all-round cooperation, said Li.

He said closer bilateral cooperation will contribute more to the peace and development in both countries, the region and the world.

Li briefed Medvedev on the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) which was held from Oct 18 to 24 in Beijing.

He said that the CPC National Congress had just elected a new CPC Central Committee with Xi Jinping at the core, established Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era as the guiding spirit of the CPC and mapped out China's future goals of development.

Medvedev, the first head of government to visit China after the congress, congratulated the CPC on the success of the congress and hoped the Chinese people would achieve their goals at an early date.

He said current Russia-China relations are at the apex of history with frequent high-level visits, efficient cooperation on key projects and rapid trade and investment growth.

Russia is willing to enhance traditional cooperation with China in areas such as energy, infrastructure construction and aviation, to expand to new areas including e-commerce and financial investment, and to advance cooperation on cultural and people-to-people exchanges, he said.

China is willing to cooperate with Russia on the basis of mutual respect, equality and common development and promote the building of a new type of international relations featuring win-win cooperation, Li said.

After the meeting, Li and Medvedev signed a joint communique and met the press.

On Wednesday afternoon, Li and Medvedev attended the closing ceremony of the China-Russia Media Exchange Year.

Together with more than 600 representatives from China and Russia, Li and Medvedev watched a video reviewing activities from the past two years, praising the results.

Media exchange year, launched by President Xi and Russian President Vladimir Putin, has shown that China and Russia enjoy a high degree of political mutual trust and mutual understanding in culture, said Li.

Activities, covering the areas of politics, economy, culture and people's daily life, have increased understanding between the two peoples, said Li.

Medvedev said the two countries have held more than 250 activities during the media exchange year, reflecting the deep friendship between the two peoples and the significance of bilateral relations.

Chinese Vice Premier Liu Yandong also attended the closing ceremony.

Also on Wednesday, Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli, Vice Premier Wang Yang and Vice Premier Liu Yandong received a Russian state award, the Order of Friendship, from Medvedev.

The Order of Friendship is a state decoration of the Russian Federation to reward foreign nationals who have made significant contributions to strengthening peace, friendship, cooperation and mutual understanding among nations.
By WILLIAM HENNELY in New York and MO JINGXI in Beijing | China Daily | Updated: 2017-11-02 06:11

An injured woman is aided by first responders after a terrorist attack on Tuesday in New York City. BRENDAN McDERMID / REUTERS

A man driving a rented pickup truck barreled down a popular New York City bike path on Tuesday afternoon, killing at least eight people and injuring more than a dozen others in what authorities said was a terrorist attack.

Of the slain, six were pronounced dead at the scene and two others at a nearby hospital, New York Police Commissioner James O'Neill said.

"We condemn the incident and express sympathy and condolences to the injured and families of the victims," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said on Wednesday. "Terrorism is the common enemy of all people. China is opposed to terrorism of any form and calls for the international community to enhance anti-terrorism cooperation," she said at a daily news conference.

The Foreign Ministry and China's Consulate General in New York considered the incident to be very serious, Hua said, and the consulate general launched an emergency response to verify the details.

"We haven't received reports about any death or injury of Chinese citizens," she said. "We will continue to keep an eye on the incident and provide timely assistance to any Chinese citizens who might be involved."

New York City Fire Commissioner Daniel Nigro said 11 survivors with injuries that were serious but not life-threatening were taken to hospitals. After hitting people on the bike path, the suspect crashed into a small school bus. Two children and two adults on the bus were among the 11 seriously injured who were hospitalized.

The suspect emerged from his truck after hitting the bus and waved a paintball gun in one hand and a pellet gun in the other.

He was shot in the abdomen by an on-duty city police officer and taken to Bellevue Hospital.

Two law enforcement officials identified the attacker as Sayfullo Saipov, 29. Saipov entered the United States seven years ago from Uzbekistan, abc7news.com reported.

The website said that in addition to an address in Tampa, Florida, Saipov lived in Ohio and most recently in New Jersey.

At around 3:05 pm, the suspect drove along the bike path for about 14 blocks before slamming into the school bus. The pavement was strewn with mangled bicycles and bodies that soon were covered with sheets.

Zhang Ruinan, Zhou Jin, AP and Reuters contributed to this story.

Contact the writers at williamhennely@chinadailyusa.com
The world needs a more balanced financial system based on various channels of payments as well as currency reserves to ensure financial stability, visiting Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said on Wednesday.

He made the remarks in response to a question whether the current leading role of the US dollar may lead to imbalance in international financial market when he met the press with Premier Li keqiang on Wednesday in Beijing.

"The global financial market should not be led by the currency of one single country only, because in that case the world market will heavily rely on the economic status of one particular country. That will lead to more instability of the entire global financial market," he said, adding that even developed economy like the US also have problems, and more currencies of payment will lead to a more balanced global financial market.

He said Russia is working to introduce more Chinese payment system into the country, such as the Union Pay.

Li and Medvedev held the 22nd regular meeting between Chinese and Russian prime ministers on Wednesday morning. Medvedev started his three-day visit to China on Tuesday.
President Xi Jinping greets visiting Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing on Wednesday. Medvedev is on a three-day official visit.XIE HUANCHI / XINHUA

President supports nation's joint development of Arctic with Russia

China and Russia should jointly develop and cooperate on the use of the North Polar sea route and build a Silk Road on the ice, President Xi Jinping told visiting Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev on Wednesday.

Close to 20 bilateral cooperative documents were signed on Wednesday in fields such as investment, energy, aerospace and finance.

Russia is China's largest neighbor, and China's clear goals and firm determination to develop and deepen China-Russia relations will not change, Xi said.

Medvedev is on an official visit to China from Tuesday to Thursday and co-chaired with Premier Li Keqiang the 22nd China-Russia Prime Ministers' Regular Meeting on Wednesday.

He arrived in Beijing only a week after the conclusion of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, which saw the election of the Party's new leadership.

Medvedev gave his congratulations on the successful conclusion of the Party congress as well as Xi's re-election as general secretary of the CPC Central Committee.

Russia is satisfied with the bilateral cooperation carried out since Xi's visit to Russia in July and is ready to reinforce the exchange of views and cooperation regarding international and regional affairs, he said.

Xi said the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination, which is at a new starting point, will grasp new opportunities and achieve new results.

Both countries should ensure the good synergy of the Belt and Road Initiative with the Eurasian Economic Union, and better implement projects such as a coastal international transport corridor, Xi said.

On Wednesday, Premier Li Keqiang said at a joint news conference after meeting with Medvedev that Russia's Far East, like central and western China, has huge potential for development and growth.

China and Russia's strengthening cooperation in developing the Far East will introduce new opportunities for cooperation and prove mutually beneficial, Li said.

Feng Yujun, a professor of Russian studies at Fudan University in Shanghai, noted that the recent frequency of high-level contacts between the two countries, including Xi's phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin last week, shows Russia's lasting focus and need for China and its market and capital.

Since the world's efforts in developing Arctic shipping routes are at an initial stage, China and Russia are showing long-term vision in developing the Silk Road on the ice, Feng said.

Both countries share the need to diversify routes for shipping globally, and Russia, next to the Arctic Ocean, has some natural advantages in exploring the polar region, Feng said.

Contact the writers at zhangyunbi@chinadaily.com.cn

Related Editorial: Good China-Russia ties benefit world stability
Met claim success in tackling scooter-enabled crime after Halloween crackdown Chiswick High Road, earlier last night

Scooter Scum pic.twitter.com/3Kt3b1ad4K  ThomastheTaxi (@thomasthetaxi) November 1, 2017 Participate Eight Suspects in Shooting Incident Rounded Up in Chiswick Two Arrests After High Speed Chase Through Chiswick Sign up for our weekly Chiswick newsletter



Comment on this story on the Another high speed pursuit involving mopeds has taken place in Chiswick in the early hours of Wednesday morning (1 November). Three bikes, one with a pillion passenger, were filmed weaving through traffic on Chiswick High Road travelling towards the junction with Goldhawk Road. The footage was published on Twitter by @thomasthetaxi. This is the third such confirmed incident of this nature in the Chiswick area in less than a fortnight including when eight people were arrested in a residential street in north Chiswick after a pursuit involving a helicopter after a report of a firearm being discharged. The police say that targeted intelligence-led operations, new tactics and joint working carried out since the start of the summer are starting to stem the rise in the levels of scooter-enabled crime. The Chiswick area has seen a string of crimes of this nature over the last few months. Since April, the number of scooters stolen has decreased steadily; encouragingly, since July, the number of offences on scooters has also decreased. The police claim this is supplemented by rising arrest rates and convictions of prolific offenders. For Halloween night the police were on the alert for rideouts in which large groups on mopeds congregate with the intention of causing disruption. New tactics have seen the use of forensic tagging, four new purpose built bikes and mobile remote controlled stingers. A crime prevention promotion encouraging scooter owners to increase their security is also resulting in better secured vehicles. The Commissioner, Cressida Dick, said, "I was angered by the apparent perception amongst some criminals that they could operate with near impunity, committing strings of offences using scooters. "We have brought all our tactics and specialists together to use every ethical option to put a stop to the rise; arrest those responsible; disrupt offenders; dismantle the criminal markets that make these offences lucrative and change the public's behaviour to make them a part of our effort." The Met is now using previously successful operations by Trident and Sceptre to roll-out an enhanced taskforce model in a bid to reduce scooter-enabled crime even further, targeted at those committing the most offences. A bespoke intelligence monitoring and tasking function will operate within the Met's 24/7 Pan-London control room to coordinate resources to provide an agile response to intelligence or crimes as they happen. The Commissioner, continued, "Trident has had a huge impact on reducing the risks posed by the highest harm gang members; Sceptre has demonstrated the genuine impact that a specialist taskforce model can bring to bear and our prevention work is making it harder for criminals to operate and then evade arrest. In parallel, we are also targeting criminals' money, and seizing substantial amounts. "We know that our criminal cohort committing crime on scooters also carry knives, have links to networks who handle stolen property and who deal drugs. So if you are a persistent phone thief - using a scooter to commit your crimes - and we can prove your involvement in other offences, such as drug dealing, you will be arrested. "This is where the public can help us. I want to mobilise communities, to channel their outrage as part of a joint effort to make our streets safer. Look after your belongings, follow our security advice and tell us about the people who are responsible for crime in your communities and help us tackle them." Over the last three months - July to September 2017 - there has been a 25 per cent reduction in the theft of powered two wheelers. Over the same period there has been a 24 per cent decrease in scooter-enabled crime.

November 1, 2017
A Crow Agency woman who admitted she was drunk when she drove the wrong way on Interstate 90 last year and crashed into a bridge, seriously injuring a passenger, will spend five years on federal probation.

U.S. District Judge Susan Watters on Wednesday followed a defense recommendation for probation in sentencing Violet Joann Agnes Birdinground, 23, for her guilty plea to assault resulting in serious injury. There was no plea agreement.

Birdinground faced a sentencing guideline range of 21 months to 27 months.

Birdinground apologized to the victim saying she was very truly remorseful and sad for her actions and to the court for violating her pre-trial release conditions by drinking.

Being incarcerated for the past four months, she said, has been a big wake-up call.

Birdinground said her goals are to remain sober, continue her college education, work and to be a mother to her unborn child and her 2-year-old.

Assistant Federal Defender Gillian Gosch recommended probation saying Birdinground needed treatment and has strong family support.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Lori Suek sought a 21-month sentence, noting the serious injuries suffered by the victim and that Birdinground drove the wrong way, would not stop for law enforcement and crashed into a bridge.

The crash happened on Sept. 24, 2016. Officers responded to a 7:30 a.m. call of a driver going the wrong way on I-90 headed from Garryowen to Crow Agency, on the Crow Reservation.

Officers responding to the crash found Birdinground slumped over the drivers seat and the victim in the back seat. A blood test found that Birdinground had a blood-alcohol concentration of 0.164 percent, or about twice the legal limit of 0.08 percent.

In an interview two days later, Birdinground had no memory of the crash but admitted to drinking, the prosecution said.

The victim had emergency surgery for a severe compound skull fracture and suffered multiple scalp lacerations along with facial and orbital fractures.
I had the privilege or reading a pre-release version of "God Shines Forth: How the Nature of God Shapes and Drives the Mission of the Church." Here are 20 quotes from the book, which you should pick up.
Feminist Opposition to Woman Judge Fails

NEW YORK, Nov. 1, 2017 / Christian Newswire / -- Catholic League president Bill Donohue comments on the triumph of Amy Coney Barrett:

Seventeen "women's rights" organizations, all of which complain there aren't enough women in public office, tried to stop the appointment of a woman, Amy Coney Barrett, to the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals. They failed. She was confirmed by a vote of 55-43.

This was also a victory for those who oppose anti-Catholicism, the one prejudice still tolerated, and indeed promoted, by those who say they are opposed to bigotry.

Here is a list of the "women's rights" groups opposed to Notre Dame law professor Barrett:

Advocates for Youth

Catholics for Choice

NARAL Pro-Choice America

National Abortion Federation

National Asian Pacific American Women's Forum

National Center for Lesbian Rights

National Council for Jewish Women

National Health Law Program

National Institute for Reproductive Health

National LGBTQ Task Force Action Fund

National Network of Abortion Funds

National Organization for Women

National Partnership for Women and Families

National Women's Health Network

People for the American Way

Planned Parenthood Federation of America

Secular Coalition for America

What do these "women's groups" have in common? They hate women who disagree with them, they hate the Catholic Church, and they love abortion. And now the three-time losers have lost again.

Maybe if they spent more time trying to defend women and children raped by their Hollywood pro-abortion and anti-Catholic male friends, they would finally win one.


Hot Meals and Food Packets Serve Impoverished Communities with Message of God's Love Through World Food Day events, Gospel for Asia-supported teams alleviate hunger and offer hope to the undernourished



Contact: 972-300-3379,

pressrelations@gfa.org



WILLS POINT, Texas, Nov. 1, 2017 /Christian Newswire/ -- Some of Asia's many outcast and overlooked were invited to the party as guests of honor when GFA-supported (Gospel for Asia) workers celebrated World Food Day.



Photo: Patients at a leprosy hospital were among those who were served hot meals when GFA-supported teams marked World Food Day to demonstrate God's love and care for the poor.



Teams ministering to the poor and needy in impoverished communitiesfrom hospitals and leprosy colonies to slums and orphanagesserved food to groups of often-undernourished men, women, and children as an expression of God's love for them.



Members of GFA-supported Sisters of Compassion women's teams took meals to leprosy patients they care for by cleaning house and changing dressings, while other groups distributed food packets as they visited low-income communities.



The events were organized to mark World Food Day, honoring the founding of the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization, which spearheads efforts to beat world hunger. But, as one group of GFA-supported workers told those they served, "We distribute food not only to observe the day, but to show the love of God to people."



Among the recipients were families living in a village accessible only by foot, who supplement their meager farming income by gathering bamboo shoots and herbs in a nearby forest to sell at a market. After being served a cooked meal, an 80-year-old man living in the village thanked the visitors for the food and told them, "I feel so good that someone who does not know me cared for me and visited me."



Another villager said that no one had ever shown such care before, and she had been prompted to follow their example. "When they went and prayed for the sick people of our village, I felt that I too should visit the sick people in the coming days," she said. "It is a great lesson that I have learned, to love and care for each other."



The World Food Day meals and food distributions were just part of GFA's ongoing work among some of Asia's most needy. GFA-supported workers are involved in a wide range of caring programs, including running Bridge of Hope centers. The centers, where children are fed and receive educational help, also hosted World Food Day programs.



"In scripture, Jesus tells us that those who truly love him will care for people in need, feeding the hungry and visiting the sick," said GFA founder and director, Dr. K.P. Yohannan. "Our prayer is that through these simple efforts, we not only show our love for God, but are also able to show his love to those we are serving."



GFA (Gospel for Asia) has  for more than 30 years  provided humanitarian assistance and spiritual hope to millions across Asia, especially among those who have yet to hear the Good News. Last year, this included more than 75,000 sponsored children, free medical services for more than 180,000 people, 6,000 wells drilled, 11,000 water filters installed, Christmas presents for more than 400,000 needy families, and spiritual teaching available in 110 languages in 14 nations through radio ministry.



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home US GOP faith ambassador resigns, citing party's 'tone deaf attitude' towards voting bloc

The national GOP's first-ever director of evangelical outreach has announced his resignation, citing the political party's "tone deaf attitude" toward a crucial Republican voting bloc.

Chad Connelly, who had served as the Republican National Committee's (RNC) director of the Faith Engagement Initiative since 2013, complained that religious outreach has not been prioritized by the party under the leadership structure implemented by President Donald Trump's administration.

"The treatment I received from the new political department has been disrespectful, antagonistic and unacceptable," Connelly wrote in an email circulated to close friends last week. "GOP Faith in general and me in particular, just don't have the priority I anticipated," he added.

Connelly said that he was surprised by "the treatment I received but mostly at the tone deaf attitude" toward religious voters from RNC officials.

The RNC rejected Connelly's claims and said that his resignation had more to do with concerns about his job performance.

"Chad failed to meet simple metrics, expectations and responsibilities crucial to his duties at the RNC. Because of the importance of faith engagement to the RNC, it was time to move in a new direction in the department in order to expand our efforts," RNC political director Juston Johnson stated, as reported by Associated Press.

Connelly, who previously served as the chairman of the South Carolina Republican Party, was tapped by former White House chief of staff Reince Priebus in 2013 to be the RNC's director of faith engagement.

In his email, he highlighted the importance of the nation's faith community in winning the elections.

"Pastors and faith leaders and people sitting in pews are THE key element in winning elections. An increase in church engagement of only a few percentage points is often the difference in victory and defeat," he wrote.

Trump's victory in the last presidential election has been partially attributed to his popularity among white evangelical voters. He garnered the votes of 81 percent of white evangelical Christians, a figure higher than the GOP's last three presidential nominees.

In 2008, 73 percent of white evangelical Protestants voted for John McCain, a longtime critic of the Christian Right. Mitt Romney, a Mormon, won the votes of 79 percent of white evangelicals in 2012 a the same margin of support that George W. Bush received in 2004.

Johnson had vowed that the RNC's faith and engagement team would have "a larger footprint" in the 2018 midterm elections.
A lawsuit filed six years ago by women who say the Montana Council of Boy Scouts of America committed fraud when it knowingly put them at risk of sexual assault would be the first of its kind to go to trial if a resolution is not reached in mediation later this week.

In 2011, five women who were later joined by a sixth filed a lawsuit against the Boy Scouts of America and the Montana Council, saying the organization committed fraud and was negligent by putting them in danger from a child molester. In the 1970s the women were members of a Kalispell Explorer group led by William Leininger Jr., who was convicted of sexual abuse in 1976 and died in 2002 after a lengthy prison sentence.

Mediation is set for Nov. 2 in Cascade County District Court; if that is unsuccessful, a trial is scheduled for Nov. 27.

Now for the first time we have a fraud claim, said attorney Gilion Dumas, who is representing the women. That would be the first in the nation.

The six women are now in their early to mid-50s. Three still live in Montana, while the other three live in Alaska, Oregon and Missouri. Leininger was the leader of an Explorer Scouting group in Kalispell in the 1970s. Explorer Scouting operated various outdoor, craft, life and career skills training, as well as citizenship, service and character-building programs for adolescent boys and girls.

Though recent news has focused on a decision by Boy Scouts to allow girls into the program, young women ages 15-20 have been extended Explorer membership since 1971.

The women claim Leininger was made a Scout leader without anyone in the Montana Council taking reasonable efforts to check his background or suitability to be a leader. He also was not properly monitored, according to court documents.

The lawsuit also claims institutional fraud, saying the Montana Council misrepresented and failed to disclose the dangers and prevalence of child molesters in scouting. Boy Scouts knew from at least the 1960s that Scout leader and volunteer positions were being used by predatory child molesters to gain access to and victimize children, according to court documents.

Court records state five of the women were sexually assaulted by Leininger under the guise of teaching them first aid bandaging techniques. Documents say he also gave a sixth girl, who was 13 at the time, alcohol during a camping trip and raped her.

According to an order written by former judge Jeffrey Sherlock, appointed special master in this case, the Montana Council knew through volunteer leaders and employees that Leininger had a significant history of alcohol abuse and hospitalization. It also did not do sufficient research when choosing Leininger as a Scout leader and the committee's selection of him did not include proper screening or interviews and consisted only of signing him up, according to Sherlock's order.

Scout rules required all Explorer overnight activities provide separate housing for boys and girls, with an adult female leader housed with and responsible for female participants. Alcohol was not allowed. However, Scout leadership in Kalispell knew Leininger took Scouts on outings where he was the sole adult leader of the co-ed Kalispell Explorer post.

The Montana Council had the means to exercise reasonable care and failed to do so, leaving (the girls) and others exposed to a sexual predator who plied them with alcohol," Sherlock wrote, creating a "zone of risk" under which the Boy Scouts could reasonably foresee some injury resulting to minor female members."

Sherlock said the sexual abuse was foreseeable because of extensive Ineligible Volunteer Files that showed the Boy Scouts organization was aware of sexual abuse occurring within its organization.

Since the 1960s, the Boy Scouts have created "ineligible volunteer files" documenting volunteers with known perversions. The files were released in 2012 after an order by the Oregon Supreme Court and included six men from Montana, including Leininger. The document release followed a 2010 Portland case, of which Dumas was a part, where a jury ordered that Boy Scouts of America pay $18.5 million to a man who was abused by a former scoutmaster.

A representative for the Montana Council has not returned a phone call seeking comment.

Mediation will be held in Great Falls and be handled by a retired Oregon judge, Lyle Velure, who has mediated sexual abuse claims against the Portland Archdiocese. If a resolution and settlement are not reached, a trial is scheduled for Nov. 27 in Cascade County District Court.
home World Scientists say Biblical miracle in Book of Joshua may be oldest recorded solar eclipse

Researchers from Cambridge University have suggested that the miracle described in the Book of Joshua when "the sun stood still, and the moon stopped until the nation took vengeance on its enemies" may have been the earliest recorded solar eclipse.

In a study published earlier this month, the researchers claimed that the said eclipse occurred 3,224 years ago on Oct. 30, 1207 B.C.

The paper, titled "Solar eclipse of 1207 BCE helps to date pharaohs," suggested that the event was not a miracle at all, but an annular eclipse, a type of eclipse when the moon does not completely cover the sun, leading to the characteristic "ring of fire" appearance.

An eclipse has been recorded in China around 4,150 years ago, but the researchers dismissed earlier Chinese and Ugaritic records of eclipses as unreliable and concluded that the Bible contains the only record of a solar eclipse prior to 1000 B.C.

The authors of the study, Colin Humphreys and Graeme Waddington, noted that they were also able to use the eclipse to determine the precise dates of the reign of Rameses II, also known as Rameses the Great.

"If accepted, this appears to be the oldest solar eclipse recorded. When combined with Egyptian records, this eclipse enables us to hone the most accurate dates available for the reign of the famous Egyptian pharaoh Ramesses the Great to between 1276a 1210 BCE," the researchers wrote, according to The Jerusalem Post.

The currently accepted dates for the reign of Ramesses II are 1279a1213 B.C., with his son Merneptah reigning from 1213a1203 B.C.

To determine the date for the reign of the Egyptian pharaoh, the researchers consulted the Merneptah Stele, a granite tablet carved during the fifth year of the reign of Merneptah.

The tablet mainly describes Merneptah's victory over the Libyans, but it also contains several lines describing a campaign in Canaan, making mention of what many scholars translate as "Israel."

Previous scholars have reportedly tried to tie the Biblical account of the sun standing still to an eclipse, but they could not find any eclipses in the timeframe.

However, the previous studies only looked into total solar eclipses, in which the moon completely covers the sun.

The Cambridge researchers looked into annular solar eclipse and found a match on Oct. 30, 1207 B.C. when the path of an eclipse swept through the northeast of what is now Canada, the southwest coast of Portugal and Spain, a swathe through North Africa, and back up into the Near East.

The researchers noted if the interpretation of the Biblical account is correct, the text describes the event as having seen by Israelites in Gibeon, a Canaanite city identified with the modern day Palestinian village of Al Jib, located 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) northwest of Jerusalem.

"From our calculations, we find that the only annular eclipse visible from Gibeon between 1500 and 1050 BCE (using the same generous limits to the possible dates of entry of Joshua into Canaan) was on October 30,1207 BCE, in the afternoon. This eclipse passed directly over the land of Canaan," they concluded.
U.S. airlines are expected to carry 28.5 million passengers during the 12-day Thanksgiving travel period, according to industry trade organization Airlines 4 America.

That's up 3 percent from last year. Low fares and increased availability of seats "continue to make air travel widely accessible," Airlines for America Vice President and Chief Economist John Heimlich said in a news release.
Oil rose to the highest level since early January in New York on expectations that government data will confirm another drop in U.S. crude inventories as the global surplus recedes.

Futures advanced for a fifth day, their longest gain in three months, while Brent crude rose to a new two-year high in London. Crude stockpiles dropped by 5.09 million barrels, while gasoline supplies fell by 7.7 million last week, the American Petroleum Institute was said to report. A Bloomberg survey also forecast a decline in oil inventories -- the fifth in six weeks -- before government data Wednesday.

Global benchmark Brent crude topped $60 a barrel last month for the first time since July 2015, while West Texas Intermediate, the U.S. marker, is set for the highest close in two years as Saudi Arabia and Russia signaled support for extending supply cuts well into 2018. The market was also buoyed by conflict between the Iraqi central government and Kurdish forces that threatened crude production from northern fields in the OPEC nation.

U.S. stock draws have been leading and continue to lead the market higher, said Olivier Jakob, managing director at Petromatrix GmbH in Zug, Switzerland.

WTI crude for December delivery rose as much as 1.5 percent to $55.22 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, the highest since Jan. 3. It traded at $54.99 at 12:41 p.m. London time. Total volume traded was in line with the 100-day average. Prices climbed 5.2 percent last month.

See also: Fracking Hits Midlife Crisis as Investors, Geologists See Limits

Brent for January settlement rose 61 cents, or 1 percent, to $61.55 a barrel on the London-based ICE Futures Europe exchange. The December contract expired Tuesday, up 47 cents, or 0.8 percent, at $61.37. The benchmark traded at a premium of $6.34 to January WTI.

An Energy Information Administration report Wednesday is forecast to show U.S. crude inventories fell by 1.3 million barrels last week, according to the median estimate in a Bloomberg survey of analysts. Gasoline stockpiles probably dropped by 1.55 million barrels. Daily exports of American crude climbed for the sixth time in seven weeks to 1.92 million barrels in the week ended Oct. 20, according to EIA data.

Oil-market news:

Saudi Arabia will need oil to trade at $70 a barrel next year to break even, the Washington-based International Monetary Fund said Tuesday in its Regional Economic Outlook for the Middle East and Central Asia.

Goldman Sachs Group Inc. has hired a slate of traders from rivals to turn around its commodities business after it suffered the worst quarterly performance in the firms history as a public company.

--With assistance from Heesu Lee

To contact the reporter on this story: Grant Smith in London at gsmith52@bloomberg.net.

To contact the editors responsible for this story: James Herron at jherron9@bloomberg.net, Alex Devine, Rachel Graham

2017 Bloomberg L.P.
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ASIA SOCIETY

1370 Southmore; asiasociety.org/texas

"Above the Drowning Sea"A documentary about Jewish refugees from Nazi Europe who found sanctuary in Shanghai. 6 p.m. Friday

ALAMO DRAFTHOUSE CINEMA

531 Mason, Katy; drafthouse.com/houston

"Freaks"

A circus' beautiful trapeze artist agrees to marry the leader of side-show performers, but his deformed friends discover she is only marrying him for his inheritance. 10:45 p.m. Friday

"Planes, Trains & Automobiles"

A man must struggle to travel home for Thanksgiving with a slob of a salesman as his only companion. 7:15 p.m. Saturday

"The Room"

A successful banker's fiancee tempts and manipulates his best friend. 10 p.m. Saturday

"The Shining"

A family heads to an isolated hotel for the winter where an evil and spiritual presence influences the father into violence. 7:30 and 9 p.m. Tuesday

MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS, HOUSTON

1001 Bissonnet; mfah.org

"The Divine Order"

A young housewife challenges the status quo by fighting for women's suffrage in 1971 Switzerland. 7 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. Saturday, 5 p.m. Sunday

MEMORIAL CITY MALL

303 Memorial City Way; memorialcity.com

"Spider-Man, Homecoming"

Peter Parker balances his life as an ordinary high school student in Queens with his superhero alter-ego Spider-Man. 7 p.m. Friday

RIVER OAKS THEATRE

2009 W. Gray, landmarktheatres.com

"The Shining"

A family heads to an isolated hotel for the winter where an evil and spiritual presence influences the father into violence. Midnight Friday and Saturday

RICE CINEMA

6100 Main; film.rice.edu

"We Are in It"

The journey of five Houston residents and their attempt to find refuge in this American metropolis. 6:30 p.m. Friday

"Lessons in Seeing"

The story of Sibhatleab Mebratu, an aging math teacher who spent 25 years as a political prisoner and refugee in Ethiopia. 6:30 p.m. Saturday

DISCOVERY GREEN

1500 McKinney; discoverygreen.com

"Zootopia"

In a city of animals, a rookie bunny cop and a cynical con-artist fox must work together to uncover a conspiracy. 6 p.m. Saturday

HOUSTON MUSEUM OF NATURAL SCIENCE

5555 Hermann Park Drive; hmns.org

"Incredible Predators 3-D"

Deconstructs the world of major predators, taking an intimate look at the remarkable strategies they use to succeed. Multiple screenings daily

"Dream Big 3-D"

Learn how today's engineers are shaping the world of tomorrow. Multiple screenings daily

"Amazon Adventure 3-D"

A Victorian-era naturalist discovers a butterfly that reinforces Charles Darwin's theory of evolution. Multiple screenings daily

MILLER OUTDOOR THEATRE

6000 Hermann Park Drive; milleroutdoortheatre.com

"Sing Along With The Muppet Movie"

The 1979 classic follows Kermit the Frog as he embarks on a cross-country trip to Hollywood. 7 p.m. Saturday

ITALIAN CULTURAL CENTER

1101 Milford; iccchouston.com

"Wait Until Spring, Bandini"

A Colorado family's struggles during the winter of 1925. 7 p.m. Monday
The cafe bakery chain 85C Bakery Cafe, which has been called "the Starbucks of Taiwan," is opening a third Houston area store in Sugar Land on Friday, Nov. 3.

The Taiwanese bakery is known for its pastry (especially egg custards), coffee, and bob teas, was mobbed when it opened its first Houston store in the summer at 9750 Bellaire. A second store followed at 1027 Blalock; the newest store is at 13509 University Blvd., Suite 200, in Sugar Land.

All 85C locations feature an in-store bakery serving Taiwanese and Japanese pastries, breads and buns as well as Danish, European-style breads, cakes, cupcakes, rolls, tea and coffee served at 85 degrees Celsius.
Donald Trump Jr. jokingly threatened to take half of his daughter's Halloween candy to teach her about socialism.

"I'm going to take half of Chloe's candy tonight & give it to some kid who sat at home," he tweeted Tuesday night. "It's never to early to teach her about socialism."
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The son of the former leader of Columbia's Cali drug cartel says Netflix has ruined his reputation by portraying him as an assassin and that he has never killed anyone on behalf of his father.

William Rodriguez Abadia told the Miami Herald that "Narcos," a show about Pablo Escobar and drug cartels, says the show implies that he killed people for his father Miguel Rodriguez Orejuela. Instead, Rodriguez Abadia said he worked as a lawyer on his father's legal issues with the U.S. government.

NETFLIX LIES?: Pablo Escobar's son reviews 'Narcos,' reveals 28 factual errors

"I was not an assassin for my father. I cannot accept their portrayal of me as a criminal, ruthless assassin and psychopath," Rodriguez Abadia said the to Miami Herald.

Now Playing: Pablo Escobar is now more famous than [he] ever was thanks to [a] television series, Escobars son, who goes by the name Sebastian Marroquin, told Euronews in an exclusive interview. But Marroquin says the series tells a different story about his father, one that glorifies him to the point of making him a role model. Hes become a sort of pop star as if the violence, the kidnappings, and the murders didnt exist, I cant believe it. Marroquin said his father has become so famous thanks to Netflixs Narcos that he even gets messages from people saying that his father has inspired them to get involved in the drug trade. Everyday people on social media tell me that they saw Narcos and that they want to be a narco like my father, which is the opposite lecture we learnt from living close to my fathers violence. This is not the first time Marroquin has spoken critically of Narcos. In September 2016, Escobars son published a Facebook post entitled Narcos and its 28 lies, in which he lists 28 facts that he believes the TV series either got wrong or invented. In an interview with El Pais that same year, Marroquin said the show was glorifying his fathers actions too much and that the reality was much grimmer. My father was much crueler than he appears in the show. He terrorised an entire country, Marroquin told El Pais. In his interview with Euronews, Escobars eldest child reiterated how Narcos failed to portray the extent of his fathers violence. My fathers violence was far worse than anything youve seen on TV, not even Quentin Tarantino would be able to imagine it, he said. His fathers violence was the reason Marroquin chose to live another kind of lifestyle and not become Pablo Escobar 2.0. I grew up knowing what he was capable of and the consequences of living in such a violent world and I would never advice anyone to follow my fathers footsteps. Instead Marroquin wishes that young people learn the truth about his father through his books, which he says offer a different narrative to the glorified version sold by the TV series. I would sell millions more [books] if I wrote an ode to my father but I dont, I expose a reality that takes my father off a pedestal and exposes the crimes he committed during his lifetime. Video: Euronews

The son of the cartel leader said his role with the Cali cartel was bribing and lobbying politicians to avoid the possibility of extradition. The Miami Herald reports Rodriguez Abadia spent five years in in U.S. federal prisons and lived in Miami for seven years under parole. The newspaper did not provide years for Rodriguez Abadia's imprisonment and parole.

The character allegedly based on Rodriguez Abadia is fictionalized and renamed David Rodriguez on "Narcos," reports The Daily Mail. Arturo Castro, who portrays David Rodriguez / Rodriguez Abadia on the show, described his character as a "psychopath" and "a very hateable person," reports Vanity Fair.

DANGER FOR 'NARCS': Location scout for Netflix's 'Narcos' found shot to death in Mexico

Rodriguez Abadia told the Miami Herald that he is considering suing Netflix, but doesn't believe he has the funds to wage a legal battle the company.

Other people have threatened to sue Netflix over alleged embellishments of various cartel members. Escobar's brother Roberto De Jesus Escobar Gaviria is suing the streaming company for $1 billion for using Escobar's story without permission, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

For Netflix, filming "Narcos" has led to violence. On Sept. 11, location scout Carlos Munoz Portal was shot to death in Mexico in a remote area near the border of Hidalgo state while taking photographs for locations. Officials have not been able to determine the circumstances behind Portal's death, since the area is so secluded.

Will Axford is a digital reporter for Chron.com. Read more of his stories here and follow him on Twitter.
Houston-area votes are in, as taxpayers approve or deny billions of dollars in school improvements and other public infrastructure.

Some of Houston's fastest growing school districts, such as Tomball ISD, are asking for more money to expand with new facilities.
BILL HABER/AP

A large fire filled the sky overnight at Exxon Mobil's Baton Rouge refinery in Louisiana before being contained this morning.

No injuries were reported at the nation's fourth-largest oil refinery, where a fire ignited at about 2:30 a.m. Wednesday and was contained after 5 a.m., said Exxon Mobil spokeswoman Charlotte Huffaker.
A woman and her teenage daughter are dead after an apparent murder-suicide in the Energy Corridor, according to police.

Houston police made the gruesome discovery after responding to call to an apartment at 15000 Park Row around 6 a.m. Tuesday.
In a recent letter, Tony Schoonen of the Public Lands/Water Access Association discussed a very important topic: the role of the State Land Board in protecting and improving public access to public lands. While I thank Tony for starting this discussion, and appreciate his concerns, I disagree with his assertions about the Keogh Conservation Easement proposal.

The Land Board recently reviewed, and voted down, a proposed $213,000 easement on the Keogh Ranch near Whitehall. The money would have come out of the Habitat Montana program that is funded by hunting licenses. Because funds are extremely limited, and hunters conservation dollars are at stake, it is incredibly important that the Land Board maximize the impact of those dollars and get the most bang for those hunters bucks (no pun intended).

I opposed the Keogh Ranch easement because there are more effective places for us to use those limited funds. The Keogh Ranch already has an existing easement. On page four of that easement, it clearly prohibits changes to fencing, water, and land use that would have a material impact on wildlife habitat or wildlife migration on or through the land. Fish, Wildlife & Parks currently has the authority to keep this property from being developed. An additional easement wouldnt have achieved any benefit to public access, wildlife, or wildlife habitat. Quite simply, there would have been no change on the ground to the public use of the Keogh Ranch with the new easement.

By saving $213,000 on a proposal that would have had no real benefit to hunters or the general public, the Land Board can now put that money toward other projects that would actually improve public access and hunter opportunities. Two examples of places where that money can be better spent are the Dome Mountain easement in Paradise Valley and the Spotted Dog Wildlife Management Area between Elliston and Deer Lodge.

For too long, the Land Board has simply rubber-stamped projects instead of thoroughly reviewing them to maximize the benefit to the public. That is beginning to change, and I thank everyone who provides oversight and input into our work. Even when we disagree over the relative benefits of a specific project, I think we can all agree that improving public access to public lands and opening up new access to previously closed-off lands must be a top priority.

I will continue to work with the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, FWP, and other sportsmens groups to find ways we can actually improve access so hunters and recreationalists have more opportunities to enjoy the incredible lands we are blessed with in Montana. I would love to hear from anyone who has ideas or concerns about land management. My contact information can be found on the State Auditors website at www.csimt.gov.

Together, lets create the best possible outdoor opportunities for existing and future generations. And good luck to everyone this hunting season.
Sugar Land's national award-winning community theate, Inspiration Stage, presents "Annie Jr.," weekends Nov. 10-19, at the historic Sugar Land Auditorium, 226 Lakeview Drive.

With equal measures of pluck and positivity, little orphan Annie charms everyone's hearts despite a next-to-nothing start in 1930s New York City. Annie is determined to find the parents who abandoned her years ago on the doorstep of an orphanage run by the cruel Miss Hannigan. Annie eventually foils Miss Hannigan's evil machinations, finding a new home and family in billionaire Oliver Warbucks, his personal secretary, Grace Farrell, and a lovable mutt named Sandy.

Adapted from the Tony Award-winning Best Musical, with a book and score by Tony Award-winners, Thomas Meehan, Charles Strouse and Martin Charnin, "Annie Jr." features everyone's favorite little redhead in her very first adventure.

The Inspiration Stage production showcases youth from the Sugar Land and Houston area. Directed by Mandy Seymore-Sensat, and with music director Sarah Patterson, "Annie Jr." offers four evening shows and four matinees the weekends of Nov. 10-12 and Nov. 17-19.

In February 2018, the "Annie Jr." cast and crew will take an abbreviated cutting of the show to the Junior Theatre Festival West in Sacramento, for Inspiration Stage's first time to attend the JTF West convention.

Visit www.inspirationstage.com for tickets and information.
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"This week, Sugar Land Mayor Joe Zimmerman voted to cut the Senior Holiday event, voted to cut the New Year's Town Square event, voted to cut the July 4th Fireworks event, and almost allowed closure of the city's only public pool. This is a man who is out of touch with the priorities of our community," said Diana Miller, who has been an active and vocal leader on Sugar Land development issues.

She said those development issues now are negatively impacting the community.
A new online tool will allow parents to apply to five Houston-area charter school networks at once, including KIPP Houston and YES Prep Public Schools.

The website applyhouston,org, which debuts Wednesday, uses one standard application for parents seeking to enter their children into lotteries for the KIPP, YES Prep, Promise Community Schools, A+ Unlimited Potential and Etoile Academy charter networks. The site was created by Families Empowered, a local nonprofit that connects parents with school choice options in the Houston area.
An abandoned supermarket where Stella Link meets South Braeswood is the unlikely home to hundreds of displaced animals at one of Houston's no-kill animal shelters.

Over the weekend, Houston Pets Alive! hosted its first official adoption event at the temporary Hurricane Harvey shelter location. The Pawloween event waived adoption fees for all-aged cats and dogs and aimed to find homes for as many of them as possible.

"We want to make sure that all of our pets get out of here and into their forever homes," said Miranda Hitchcock, a Maddie's Executive Leadership fellow for Austin Pets Alive! "If a free adoption event is what gets the community out here and thinking about it, then that's what we're going to do."

At the event, 29 dogs and 21 cats were adopted.

for Tina Elizondo and daughters Gaby, 10, and Ava, 5, it was a 2-year-old shorthaired tortoise-shell cat that caught their eye.

"It was a surprise for the girls. I saw that there was this event and I thought we could go and see if we can save a kitten," Elizonso said. "My youngest loves animals, and we found the cat that was just perfect for her, they're already in love."

This location of Houston Pets Alive! was a product of the chaos that Hurricane Harvey created. Sister organization Austin Pets Alive! mobilized before the hurricane to clear local shelters to make room for the inevitable foray of strays and rescues that would follow the storm.

"Initially we stayed after the storm to help HPA with the rescue efforts and get animals out of the floodwaters into a safer spot," Hitchcock said. "We found this abandoned supermarket and abandoned bank and set up shop to hold strays and other pets who couldn't go with their owners to the shelters after they evacuated."

Now, the temporary shelter has turned into a massive rescue operation for Houston Pets Alive! They have seen more than 2,000 animals come and go in the past two months, and have since implemented a larger effort to pull animals from municipal shelters where they would otherwise be euthanized.

"Obviously, this is not the ideal facility, and we don't have as many volunteers and staff numbers as we'd like in order to give these animals the care they need, but we'll continue to save lives as long as we can, and we'll rely on this community and events like Pawloween to do it," said Hitchcock.

Hundreds of animals at Houston Pets Alive! are still looking for homes, but volunteers and staff say they are in it for the long haul. The temporary shelter at 8620 Stella Link, will be open for adoptions every day of the week from noon to 6 p.m.
NEW YORK (AP)  The man who police say transformed a New York City bike path into a terror scene was an Uzbekistan native who made 1,400 trips as an Uber driver and formed two commercial truck businesses.

A family friend called Sayfullo Saipov hard-working and neighbors said he would play with the children in a Florida apartment complex. President Trump derided the suspect as "sick and deranged."
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A Harris County judge has abruptly stopped the Houston Housing Authority from moving low-income seniors out of a Harvey-damaged high-rise, saying officials decided to force relocation of residents rather than make needed repairs.

In a sharply worded order critical of HHA, the judge said CEO Tory Gunsolley did not offer credible testimony about what happened.

The building at 2100 Memorial  a complex for seniors on the edge of downtown  flooded during Hurricane Harvey on Aug. 25. But residents never lost power to their units and had water service restored in a few days.

CONNECT WITH OUR COVERAGE: Want to keep up with our post-Harvey stories and investigations, talk with reporters and share your own stories? Join "Houston after Harvey," our private Facebook group for readers.

On Sept. 18, however, residents received five-day notices of lease termination advising them to vacate the premises with their belongings by Sept. 23. The sudden order caused panic among tenants and more than 100 attended the Sept. 19 city council meeting where Mayor Sylvester Turner said officials mishandled the situation. Later that week, Gunsolley told residents that the building's compromised electrical system was dangerous and the agency released details of a relocation plan at no cost to tenants.

Tenants sought an injunction on Sept. 26 to prevent the lease terminations and to require the housing authority to repair the building.

The residents won a reprieve last week after a lengthy court hearing.

"The housing authority is making it unsafe for us," said Connie Castillo, one of 17 plaintiffs in the lawsuit including one fighting cancer. "They are not doing repairs as they should."

Gunsolley testified in court on Oct. 23, as did Castillo and others before Civil District Judge Daryl L. Moore. The judge granted a temporary injunction Friday, slamming the agency head and his credibility.

The judge indicated he did not believe Gunsolley's testimony that "imminent safety issues" were the reason for terminating leases.

A Houston Fire Department inspector testified that the defendants "made no attempts to cure the deficiencies" after receiving a Sept. 8 report "even though the deficiencies could have been cured on or before" an Oct. 13 deadline, the court order said. "Instead, on September 18, 2017, Tory Gunsolley ... sent a letter attempting to terminate the plaintiffs' lease agreements."

The judge also said that by not making the repairs listed in the Sept. 8 report, the defendants "have not made their 'best efforts' to maintain" the building.

Moore continued his criticism.

"Rather than attempt to repair the damage to the fire-protection-and-sprinkler systems, HHA instead made a $250,000 interest-free loan to cover any expenses that would result from moving the residents out of their leased premises," the jurist wrote.

Gunsolley testified that he believed two transformers are "unsafe, could fail, explode, and cause fire and therefore need replacing," according to the seven-page injunction.

"The court finds this testimony incredible as Mr. Gunsolley lacks the qualifications or experience to make that determination," the judge wrote. He said that a journeyman electrician who testified that the devices are "dry transformers" that would not explode if they failed and may not need to be replaced was a "credible" witness.

Moore also said that the plaintiffs proved that deficiencies in the report could be cured for $30,000 to $40,000  which the defendants did not dispute  and that the transformers could be replaced "in a matter of days, without interrupting the electrical service."

The judge also questioned the CEO's compassion after Gunsolley said he considered the hardships caused by relocation on the older residents.

In response to a request on Tuesday for Gunsolley's reaction to the court's opinion of his testimony, the agency declined to comment on pending litigation.

!As Houston rebuilds and recovers from Hurricane Harvey, our top priority remains to ensure the safety and well being of our residents," a statement released by the agency said. "The Houston Housing Authority remains steadfast to its mission of providing safe, affordable and quality housing to low-income, elderly and disabled residents across the city."

Attorney Samuel Louis, who is representing the defendants, also declined to comment on the order.

Rich Tomlinson, one of the Lone Star Legal Aid lawyers representing tenants, said the lawsuit was filed to force the authority to make repairs and to address the legality of lease terminations.

"We've gotten a temporary order," he said. "It doesn't resolve the issue, but that will happen at trial."

Within 10 days of Friday's order, the housing authority must determine whether the transformers pose an "actual or potential safety threat to warrant repair or replacement" and, if so, fix the problem in 45 days.

A trial in the case is set for March 26.

Castillo, who turns 62 this week, is one of the younger of about 185 residents of 2100 Memorial.

She lives on the 11th floor and estimates about 60 units remain occupied. She's relieved by the injunction. For now.

"It sent me in a spiral of depression when I got that five days notice  and we're still fighting," she said. "What have they done to repair the emergency needs that they said were hazardous to us?"
In an unusual hearing Wednesday, two top federal judges will jointly preside over a crowd of lawyers representing residents and business owners who suffered property loss following Hurricane Harvey with the goal of addressing the deluge of incoming lawsuits.

In the two months since the storm, nearly 850 people have sued the federal government seeking more than $100 million for damage caused by controlled releases from the swollen Addicks and Barker reservoirs. The number of claims is expected to rise in the coming weeks, but as of Tuesday, 73 federal and two state lawsuits had been filed on behalf of 843 homeowners and businesses damaged by floodwater. The bulk of the suits were filed in a specialized federal court in Washington, D.C. that handles damage suits against the government.

Now Playing: Homeowners in the Cinco Ranch area  and in other neighborhoods in Harris and Fort Bend Counties were flooded because they live in whats called a flood pool near Barker and Addicks reservoirs. Many claim that they were uninformed about the reservoir when they purchased their homes. Video: Dave Funchess, Houston Chronicle

In addition, Houston lawyer Tony Buzbee said he planned to file claims on behalf of another 300 property owners this week.

The dam release lawsuits target the same government entities for choosing to release the water: The 73 federal suits allege the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is liable for damages, while two suits filed in local civil courts contend the Harris County Flood Control District is responsible; one suit also includes the City of Houston as a defendant.

The bulk of the cases are now before the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, whose judges decide various claims against government departments. As of Tuesday, ten lawsuits are class actions and the rest are individual or multi-party cases. There are enough in the system for the clerk to create a new Hurricane Harvey drop-down menu in the court's electronic search menu.

The aim of the Wednesday hearing at the courthouse in Houston is to sort the cases into sub-groups and assign lead attorneys.

Chief Judge Susan Braden of the federal claims court in Washington, D.C., will oversee the post-Harvey cases at this early phase. Braden recently ruled in favor of a group of New Orleans flood victims in a post-Katrina lawsuit.

Braden has enlisted Chief U.S. District Judge Lee H. Rosenthal  whom she identified in a previous hearing as an old family friend  to help vet the attorneys who have expressed interest in taking on leadership roles. Braden conducted a packed hearing in Houston last month, where lawyers suggested it might help to divide the suits into people claiming damage from upstream overflow and those suffering damage from downstream release from the dams.

Since then 19 Houston law firms have joined in requesting that the cases be consolidated into upstream and downstream groups, and asking the court to set up separate lead counsel for each group.

The vast array of surnames of the property owners who have brought suits  Khoury, Ludwidsen, Reyes, Nguyen, Hollis, Pagnotto, Mumba  reflect not only the vast cultural diversity of Houston but the wide extent of the damage the flooding caused.

The so-called "takings" lawsuits seek damages under the Fifth Amendment. They argue that the government knew that releasing water from the swollen dams would flood homes and businesses and they made the choice to temporarily "take" their property as a floodway.

In addition to the Addicks and Barker dam cases, lawsuits are lining up over post-Harvey releases from another flooded waterway. Four lawsuits have been filed in state court on behalf of 65 parties claiming the government "took" property when it began releasing water from the Lake Conroe dam into the West Fork of the San Jacinto River. Those claims seek damages from the San Jacinto River Authority.

Buzbee, who represents 266 clients harmed by post-Harvey flooding and plans to double those numbers next week, said the crux of his argument is that when the Army Corps knew what it was doing and acted with intention. It opened the flood gates to prevent flooding which could have been more widespread and devastating, he said.

"When the Corps acted, it knew that my clients' homes would flood. The question is not whether the Corps was justified, or had any other choice in a reasonableness analysis, or whether it was the right thing to do, etc.," he said. "The only question is what did it know when it acted. Under that analysis, our case is strong."

Lawsuits may continue to be filed until the statute of limitations runs out in six years.

Determining whether the controlled releases amount to a federal taking of private land calls for a lengthy investigation and environmental law and eminent domain experts have said those suing would need to show that the Army Corps or Flood Control District or the city intentionally flooded their homes, and the government's actions both worsened the flooding and contradicted the official operating agreement.

The two reservoirs, which are west of Houston, were built to hold back floodwaters from Buffalo Bayou and other creeks from harming the downtown area.
President Donald Trump on Wednesday nominated former Houston state judge Ryan Patrick to become the chief federal prosecutor for the Southern District of Texas, a sprawling region where the trafficking of drugs, firearms and undocumented immigrants is rampant.

If confirmed by the U.S. Senate, Patrick, the son of Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, will be the U.S. Attorney in a district on the Texas coast and border area home to more than 8 million residents in Houston, Galveston, Corpus Christi, Laredo and the Rio Grande Valley.

Texas Senators Ted Cruz and John Cornyn  who both serve on the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary that will hold hearings on the U.S. Attorney nominations  issued statements they would work to quickly confirm Patrick's nomination.

OUR STORIES, YOUR INBOX: Get the Morning Report, a free email newsletter sent every weekday with top news from Houston, Texans and beyond. Check it out.

"I'm honored to be nominated by President Trump with the support of senators Cornyn and Cruz," Patrick told the Houston Chronicle. "I look forward to being confirmed by the Senate."

The important federal post has sat empty since March when Kenneth Magidson  along with dozens of Obama-era appointees around the country  was forced to resign by the Trump administration. Abe Martinez, a former FBI special agent and University of Houston Law Center adjunct professor, has served as acting U.S. Attorney since.

Patrick, who worked as a Harris County assistant district attorney for six years before being appointed to a state district court bench by Gov. Rick Perry in 2012, was a popular jurist and became a frontrunner for the federal prosecutor's job.

Harris County Republican Party chairman Paul Simpson congratulated Patrick on the nomination and commended the president's choice.

"Throughout his career, Ryan has shown himself to be a man of high integrity who works very hard and will do a great job," Simpson said. "We look forward to him serving the citizens of the Southern District."

His father, Dan Patrick, is a former radio talk show host who was elected to the second-highest position in the Texas executive branch in 2015. That followed eight years in the Texas senate representing the 7th district in northwest Harris County.

Dan Patrick is an outspoken supporter of President Trump. During last year's presidential race, the elder Patrick chaired Sen. Ted Cruz's campaign but switched to the Trump campaign when Cruz dropped out of the race.

"Jan and I are obviously very proud of our son Ryan," the lieutenant governor said in a statement released Wednesday. "His record as a prosecutor and criminal court judge make him uniquely qualified for this position and we are very happy for him."

The Southern District of Texas has historically been one of the busiest in the country in terms of the number of federal felony cases filed, due primarily to its proximity to a number of major trafficking corridors that cross the Texas-Mexico border. The district, which stretches along the coast from the Beaumont to Laredo, is a major hub for drug and human trafficking going north as well as firearms and cash being transported south into Mexico.

Cruz and Cornyn, the two Texas Republicans who suggested both Patrick and Grayson County District Attorney Joseph D. Brown for the federal posts, issued statements Wednesday after the White House announcement.

Brown, who is in his 17th year as district attorney in the north Texas county, was nominated to the U.S. Attorney post for the Eastern District of Texas, an area encompassing Beaumont, Lufkin, Tyler and Texarkana.

"Both Joe Brown and Ryan Patrick have demonstrated clear reverence and respect for the law through-out their careers as public servants," according to a statement from Cornyn."I look forward to moving their nominations forward and getting them confirmed as soon as possible."

Cruz also applauded the president's decision, praising Patrick and Brown's careers in public service, adding that he hopes to move the confirmation hearings through the committees quickly.

Defense lawyers around Houston had kind words about Patrick's reputation for fairness as a felony court judge.

"We all hope he's going to do a good job and use the judicial temperament that he used on the bench," said Tucker Graves, president of the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association. "I think he's going to get in there and do a fine job."

Ryan was a well-respected jurist at the Harris County criminal courthouse, despite being one the youngest.

Ryan Patrick lost his bid for re-election in the 2016 general election to Democratic candidate Robert Johnson, and since then he has been in private practice as the managing partner of The Law Office of Ryan Patrick, PLLC. Patrick graduated from Baylor University and South Texas College of Law in Houston.

Gabrielle Banks and Brian Rogers contributed to this report.
A tall, fit, silver-haired woman who sported a turtle pin and carried a license-plate purse, Judy Martz was the governor that Montanans would have been pleased to have as a next-door neighbor, too.

She died Monday in Butte after three years of battling pancreatic cancer. Her death at age 74 prompted tributes from Montanas present governor and other top elected officials. They praised her as a trailblazer, Olympic speed skater, successful businesswoman, a faithful, persistent public servant with great love for Montana. Our first female governor and lieutenant governor was all that and more.

She knew from a young age the consequences of serious chronic illness, having donated a kidney to a sister years before she was elected lieutenant governor in Marc Racicots second term as governor.

A Republican from the Democratic stronghold of Butte, Martz was governor when the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks shook the nation and while the subsequent recession took its toll on state revenues In 2003, Montana had its most expensive wildfire year to date, and it burned up the states fire fund.

An unexpected windfall of $50 million in federal funds allowed Martz to replenish the biennial fire fund with $38.8 million, and to reverse some of the budget cuts made by through the Legislature earlier in 2003. Martz directed windfall dollars to education, low-income energy bill assistance, senior programs and legal representation for the state in the NorthWestern Energy bankruptcy case.

A tragic DUI crash cost Martz one of her key advisers early in her administration. But several of her department directors served with admirable distinction, notably replacing an unworkable revenue computer system and steering the Department of Public Health and Human Services through a fiscally challenging four years.

The income tax reform enacted during her administration was either a great accomplishment because Montana no longer had the highest marginal personal income tax rate, or a giveaway to the highest income taxpayers, depending on ones point of view.

In a Christmas Eve 2003 guest opinion published in The Billings Gazette, Martz reflected on Montanas blessings and challenges as she joyfully awaited the birth of her first grandchild:

Some of you may have heard me say from time to time, it's fun to go shopping when you have money to spend, but not so much fun otherwise. We have tried hard this year to bring some joy to those less fortunate, and I can only hope that as we work hard to improve our economy that more of our neighbors will find better opportunities for themselves and their families, she wrote, adding encouragement for Montanans to support local charities.

In closing, Martz wrote: Our rural heritage and our sense of community make us who we are  resilient, resourceful and determined people. We are in this together  and as we start a new year I know in my heart that only together shall we succeed.

Whether or not Montanans agreed with her politics or her decisions in office, her sentiments were sincere.

We offer our condolences to the Martz family. Judy Martz secured a special place in our states history and her memory will be rightfully honored in both the state Capitol rotunda on Friday and in her the Butte Civic Center on Saturday.
Hidalgo County Sheriff's Office

A 44-year-old mom of Pharr, a suburb of McAllen, was arrested last week after she allegedly admitted to having sex with her daughter's teenage boyfriend, according to reports.

Claudia Yaneth Lopez is charged with sexual assault of a child, which is a second degree felony, KGBT-TV reports.
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Police said an Arlington father committed suicide after shooting and running over a 22-year-old man who was with his daughter Friday night.

The victim, Omar Soto, died after Rafael Brena Arteaga, 43, exited his pickup truck and asked Soto for his name before firing multiple rounds from a handgun, the Star-Telegram reports.

When the assailant's daughter, Brena Arteaga, rushed to help Soto, her father used his pickup truck to run them both over, authorities said. Arteaga's daughter survived.

Police later found Arteaga dead in his truck from a self-inflicted gunshot, several miles away from the scene.

BUSTED: Five, including trio of brothers, arrested in Rosenberg home invasion

Lt. Christopher Cook of the Arlington Police Department told reporters that Arteaga was known to be "over protective" and "possessive" of his daughter, who remains hospitalized with serious injuries.

Omar Soto, a University of Texas at Arlington graduate, was with two women including Arteaga's daughter the night of his death. Contrary to reports, Arteaga's daughter and Soto were not dating, according to Soto's longtime girlfriend Ashli Gutierrez who spoke to Chron.com on Wednesday.

"I was not with Omar at the time of the incident," Gutierrez said. "But I am his girlfriend, the only girlfriend his family recognizes at this time."

REPORT: Son of Cali cartel leader says Netflix portrayed him as hitman, ruined his reputation

"[Soto's] family and my family have no idea how that information came across," she said. "It was heart breaking for everyone to hear."

A GoFundMe page has been created for Soto, who was described as humble, intelligent and on his way to become a great architect.

See which Texas cities have the most violent crime above.
The summers final Live on the Waterfront concert was held Wednesday evening at Prince Arthurs Landing. The popular series in Thunder Bay has completed nine weekly shows that began on July 13. Wednesdays concert was unique as it was held one hour later in the evening to mesh with the 10 p.
I am writing in response to Senator Jeff Flake of Arizona, guest opinion on Oct. 28. I have to state here and now, that upon reading Flake's words I whole heartedly agree with his sentiments. My comments are coming from a staunch Democrat. What I read and believe are that an individual had to read between the lines to be able to realize the impact of his well-chosen words. The esteemed senator was speaking on the morals, values and principals, not only of our elected officials of this great nation, but on the same ideals of the people who make up the vast majority of this country. How long can we afford to stay silent and ignore the "elephant" that sits in the four corners of our nation? The "elephant" goes by a wide variety of names: prejudice, bigotry and injustice, to name a few. It's time to open our collective eyes and mouths to see and speak out on the problems each of us face as citizens of this nation. Let not fear, ignorance, discontent or melancholy cause us to prevaricate or to be continually blinded and deaf to the truths that are desperately crying out for our attention. I challenge you, just as Sen. Flake did, to be bold, take a stand and say, "No more." This is our country. We have a say as to how we are governed on the local, state and national platforms. I yield the floor to you, the people of our great nation.
Copiii cu nevoi speciale din Stefan Voda au conditii de reabilitare mai bune, datorita UE si Fundatiei Soros Moldova
AKRON, Ohio - The city of Akron, in partnership with United Way of Summit County, has received a $90,000 grant to create Bank On Rubber City, a coalition to expand affordable basic financial services to residents who don't have access to them.

The grant, awarded by nonprofit Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund as part of its Bank On national initiative, will create a two-year fellowship position at the United Way. The full-time staff position will be tasked with launching and coordinating the Bank On Rubber City coalition. Akron is one of five fellowships currently being funded and the first in Ohio. More than 65 Bank On coalitions exist nationwide.

Bank On coalitions are led by, or work closely with, local governments to make financial products and services accessible to those who rely on alternative, costly services like check-cashing businesses, which often charge exorbitant fees.

The overarching goal of the fund's Bank On initiative is to find ways to provide safe, affordable financial products and services to people who have not had access to them. Bank On equips the fellows with the training, tools and resources they need to ramp up local banking access for people who need it, while generating best practices for other coalitions around the country.

About 13 percent of Akron households are "unbanked," which is nearly twice the national average, while another 20.5 percent of Akron households are "underbanked," according to the nonprofit Corporation for Enterprise Development, now known as Prosperity Now. Without checking or savings accounts, an average full-time worker can spend $40,000 over a lifetime just to cash checks.

A strong urban core, a growing economy and a stable population are necessary for Akron's success, said Mayor Dan Horrigan.

"But, we cannot achieve progress as a city if our residents lack access to healthy financial relationships," he said in a news release. "This Bank On coalition grant will catalyze financial freedom--by equipping us with the manpower, training, tools, and resources we need to empower residents and improve lives."

Earlier this year, United Way announced four "Bold Goals" that will guide its work over the coming years. Bank On Rubber City aligns with Bold Goal #3, which is to financially empower 11,000 Akron residents, especially those who are working, but who are struggling to get traction financially.

"The overall health of our local economy depends on the financial well being of thousands of individual families," said United Way President and CEO Jim Mullen in the release. "Yet 57 percent of Akron households earn less than Ohio's basic cost of living. Providing those families with the resources they need to build stable lives, budget effectively and save for their children's futures is a vital investment in the long-term prosperity of Summit County."

"For millions of adults, meeting basic financial needs--like paying bills or depositing and using their paychecks--is a costly struggle," said Jonathan Mintz, President and CEO of the Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund. "Bank On coalitions across the country do critical work helping consumers access safe, affordable accounts, but often lack vital resources like staff leadership."

The Bank On Fellows initiative is part of Wells Fargo's $1 million investment to support the national Bank On movement.

To learn more about the Bank On Fellows initiative, visit the website.

Want more Akron news? Sign up for cleveland.com's Rubber City Daily, an email newsletter delivered at 5:30 a.m. Monday through Friday.
CLEVELAND, Ohio - An ambitious new strategic plan released today by the Cleveland Museum of Art, sets big goals for the next decade as a way of living up to the potential of a recently completed $320 million expansion and renovation.

Museum Director William Griswold, whose contract was recently extended through 2024, announced last summer that the museum wants to increase attendance to 1 million a year from the current average of 630,000.

The new plan (embedded at the bottom of this post) shows that the museum also plans to grow its endowment from $750 million to $1.25 billion, and to acquire $1 billion worth of art through purchase, bequest and gift.

Big agenda

Other goals include laying groundwork for a new art history institute on the former Cleveland Institute of Art property on East Boulevard, in collaboration with Case Western Reserve University, and to become more of a global presence.

A new capital campaign - whose amount and timing are not part of the plan released today - will help fund those and other new initiatives. The museum also wants to double revenue from membership and annual giving to $15 million a year.

The plan offers a snapshot of a museum striving toward levels of achievement and perfection that will always remain elusive because improvement will always possible.

"An organization like ours will never reach its full potential," Griswold said. "But it's incumbent upon us to be very ambitious."

Traditional policies - such as free general admission - will not change. he said. But the museum's focus on serving the public will intensify.

"If there's one word that summarizes the plan, that word is audience," he said, "and the expansion and diversification of that audience along all lines - ethnic racial economic, geographical, and in terms of age - is really, really essential to our aspirations as an institution."

Up from zero

In the museum's first 100 years, Griswold said, the institution went "from nothing" to become "one of the foremost museums not only in this country, but in the world."

The new plan is set up, he said, "to allow us to sustain the momentum of first hundred years."

Measures of achievement will include attracting 300,000 visitors a year for special exhibitions alone, and increasing the number of visits by schoolchildren by 25 percent a year for the next five years, up from 30,000 a year today, in part by offering free bus transport.

The museum is concerned about its graying audience, and wants to reach a larger and more diverse public, within Northeast Ohio and beyond.

Getting on the map

"Cleveland has the capacity to become a destination for regional tourism, and that its great institutions are critical to that," Griswold said. "Our hotels now have capacity to receive more visitors. We have to invest in making our work better known outside our region."

In collecting, Griswold said the museum faces serious challenges despite its considerable endowment because global billionaires have driven the price of masterpieces into the tens or hundreds of millions of dollars.

"We now have a great collection, but we no longer have the resources to build it at the same level we once did," he said.

"We must have a great Giacometti, we must have a great Dubuffet," Griswold said, referring to two pricey modern masters not represented in the collection. "There are many categories of art that will elude us if we don't build the collection in new ways."

Calling all donors

The museum will pitch wealthy collectors to donate their treasures based on its ability to assure that important works will be conserved, displayed and studied rather than buried in storage, Griswold said.

"We offer a lot to collectors, and we offer something that few other institutions can," Griswold said.

Additionally, the museum plans to expand its presence outside University Circle with increased programming and events at the Transformer Station gallery in Ohio City and its Community Arts Center in a former awning factory at 2937 W. 25th Street, near the West Side's Villa Hispana area.

The plan includes many more specifics among a list of 50 strategies and 107 individual objectives divided among three principal categories that include "Art," "Place," and "Audiences," supported by "Organizational Culture," and "Resources."

The plan states that its objectives can be met at a cost of $52.2 million, and by hiring up to 28 additional employees.

Moderate growth in spending

Griswold said that the new expenses would be folded into an annual budget expected to increase 10 percent over the next five years, up from the present $55 million a year.

And while the plan aims to grow the museum's endowment, it assumes that some of that growth will come from reducing the annual "draw" or funds taken from the endowment, from 5.5 to 5 percent annually.

When asked why the public and donors should continue contributing to the museum in a city struggling with poverty and lack of social mobility, Griswold said the museum could be part of a solution.

"If Cleveland is to turn a corner, now is the time to invest in the great institutions that have made it so strong," he said.
When the West Side Market opened 105 years ago, there were no pink oyster mushrooms for sale, no ice cream frozen before your eyes or stewed greens scented with smoked turkey. But those items are there today, sharing space with the standardized Cleveland fare of pork chops, potatoes and pierogi.

Eight new vendors joined the market this fall, helping contemporize the definition of the market and fill in some stalls that went dark recently. Poultry man Terry Leu, produce seller Melissa DeCaro, and beef cutter Vince Bertonaschi all left this year after generations of service. Only two weeks ago, Kitchen Maid Meats closed, at least temporarily, with the death of Bob Stumpf, ending his family's presence since the market opened in 1912.

Whats new? Those mushrooms, ice creams and greens, plus an iconic Cleveland candy store, Southern prepared foods, houseplants and more.

Story by Debbi Snook, The Plain Dealer

Opening photo by Joshua Gunter, The Plain Dealer

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Photo by Chuck Crow, The Plain Dealer

Still other stands have expanded, or are in the process of expanding. Gregs Produce now stretches into the old DeCaros space. Maple Valley Sugarbush acquired the Walt Jorgensens honey stand, adding in a collection of their maple-flavored mustards. Grandma Campbell has a separate spot for cupcakes. Narrin International, often tightly packed with dry goods and more than 100 hot sauces, has expanded beyond its single stand in the main market building into two additional stands in the produce arcade, with packaged noodles, sauces and more.

Some changes are internal. The Cheese Shoppe is now importing directly from France and Italy. Frickaccios pizza bagel stand has introduced organic pizza dough balls to go. The year-old Jacobs Oasis, in the old Judys Oasis spot, offers small-batch family recipe foods, from hummus to spinach pies. Dohar Meats is expecting to return to its original line of products by the holidays, when its new production facility is complete.

In another bit of welcome news, Tom McIntyre of Kates Fish is planning to refresh the fish arcade next to Mahas Falafels, and run a stand strictly for prepared fish dishes. Construction is expected to start this winter.

Here are the new stands you can find right now:

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Avant Gardens

Photo of Cory Snyder by Thomas Ondrey/The Plain Dealer

With a mushroom farm in Youngstown and 22 acres of vegetable fields over the border in Pennsylvania, this stand is expected to raise the market's quotient of local and specialty produce. The owners expect to expand their partnerships with local farms, especially with those familiar to farmers markets (Red Basket, Huffman, etc.). Corey Maizel and his wife, Bethany, a former produce buyer for Whole Foods and the former Door-to-Door organics are planning to get their hands on lemons from Italy and Hatch chiles from New Mexico, as well as more Amish produce. Maizel calls their specialty, "culinary curiosities."

Owners: Corey and Bethany Maizel, Cory Snyder.

Try: Pink oyster mushrooms. What they say is true: They taste like seafood. And they're beautiful, too.

Stand 70, produce arcade; 330-502-2135.

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B.A. Sweetie's

Plain Dealer File Photo of Swedish Fish

Those years without a classic candy stand in the market are over. You cant get more classic than B.A. Sweeties, a Wonkaville of candy through the ages. Need a box of Mike and Ikes? Burnt French Peanuts? Theyve got em. This satellite shop is a miniature version of the thriving internet business and warehouse-sized candy store further west in Cleveland.

Owner: Tom Scheiman, whose sister Denaj Denujae, operates the stand.

Try: Anything from your childhood that still speaks to you, but also plenty that's meaningful to Cleveland including Lilly Handmade Chocolates, Smart Bark from Sweet Designs and Humphrey's Euclid Beach Park-styled Popcorn Balls.

Stand D6; http://www.sweetiescandy.com; 216-739-2244.

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English Treats

Photo of Dickon Newman by Thomas Ondrey/The Plain Dealer

Weve always known British food was different, and for years that didnt seem like a good thing. But food has improved everywhere, including the U.K. So Englishman and Cleveland IT manager Dickon Newman is here to introduce his favorite packaged goods from Worcestershire-flavored potato chips (called crisps) to Marmite to chocolate. He makes some of his own treats at the Hildebrandt Building on the West Side, such as Golden Jacks, a kind of chewy, buttery, blonde brownie.

Owner: Dickon Newman, familiar to those who tried samples of his goodies at Fabulous Food Show.

Try: His Banoffee Pie, a mix of bananas, a thickly caramelized dulce de leche, whipped cream and chocolate. What's not to like? Check for samples.

Stand 74, produce arcade; golden-jacks.com; 330-209-2499.

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Lakewood Plant

Designed to bring a sign of life to home, office or events, this company offers sales, design and delivery options plus "Sip and Plant" workshops. Want a preview? Check out their work at The Kimpton Schofield Hotel, Georgetown Restaurant and Restore Cold Pressed Juice. A portion of the company's proceeds goes to vocational training for those with autism and developmental disabilities.

Owner: Daniel Gifford.

Try: The stand is starting out with plenty of petite succulents and other plants. Gifford says he's available for questions about growing all houseplants, not just those he sells.

Stand 83, produce arcade; http://www.lakewoodplantcompany.com; 216-860-4020.

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Matthew Produce

Photo of Rambutan, sometimes sold at Matthew Produce

The Egyptian-born owner of this stand often works as an electrical technician. During market hours, however, he and 13-year-old son, for whom the stand is named, sell mainstream, Asian and Hispanic produce. Im going to grow, he said.

Owner: Maged Shehata.

Try: Untested.

Stand 6, produce arcade; 216-533-8387.

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Ora Bell's Southern Cuisine

Photo by Thomas Ondrey

Southern-style prepared foods inspired by Ora Bell Robinson. (See separate story here.)

Owners: Sharon and Terry Robinson.

Try: We found pleasantly bold seasoning in the greens with smoked turkey, decadence in the wings with potent Parmesan and garlic sauce, and corn muffins spiked with cheddar cheese.

Stand F3; https://www.facebook.com/orabells.sells; 216-217-7276.

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Piccadilly Creamery

Watch your ice cream frozen to order as liquid nitrogen (minus 321 degrees) is added to a mixer bowl of flavored cream. This is not just any cream, since the owners have a strong relationship with Amish dairy farmers who specialize in A2 organic milk, known for its digestibility.

Owner: Adrian Bota, owner of Origin Milk and the University Circle location of Piccadilly Creamery.

Try: Any flavor, although lemon is a favorite.

Stand G6; http://www.piccadillycreamery.com/west-side-market; 216-563-1992.

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Prince Produce

Photo of produce arcade entrance by Marvin Fong

Conventional and organic fare.

Owner: Fadi Abouelainein.

Try: Untested.

Stand numbers 35-37, produce arcade; no contact information available.

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CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A federal indictment unsealed Wednesday says that six people, including three Northeast Ohio residents, participated in the shipment of at least a ton of marijuana between western states and Ohio.

The indictment says that at least some of the proceeds was spent on airline tickets, an ATV and drones.

The indictment filed last week names as defendants William Murphy and his wife So Young Park of Kealakekua, Hawaii and So Young Park's mother Young Hee Park, of Broadview Heights. It also includes Michael Spellman of Kealakekua, Hawaii; Peter Reichert of Lyndhurst and Dustin Robinson of East Liverpool.

The U.S. Attorney's Office says their enterprise shipped and received some 1,113 packages with marijuana from California, Oregon and Hawaii to Ohio between 2014 and 2016. Cash from the operation was sent in 965 packages back west. They also deposited at least $348,000 in bank accounts to be laundered, prosecutors say.

Members of the group used the money to pay for living expenses. They also spent nearly $41,000 in airline tickets for trips between Cleveland and Hawaii, $13,062 for drones, more than $10,000 for a greenhouse in Hawaii and a Honda ATV for $11,170, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Charges include conspiracy with intent to distribute more than 200 pounds of marijuana and conspiracy to launder money.

Prosecutors say Murphy grew marijuana in Hawaii and obtained more from Hawaii, California and Oregon.

Spellman, who worked with Murphy, packaged the marijuana inside five-point foil coffee bags among loose coffee beans. He shipped the packages to several places in Northeast Ohio, including one location in Shaker Heights, and Murphy paid Spellman $100 for every mailed package, according to prosecutors.

Reichert received the packages in Northeast Ohio, while Robinson received packages mailed to Pennsylvania. Robinson, in return, mailed back cash from East Liverpool, prosecutors say.

Young Hee Park also received cash payments in Ohio from buyers and mailed money to Murphy, using 25 different post offices in an attempt to avoid detection by authorities, authorities say.

Spellman also opened an account at a Fifth Third Bank in Mentor, and he and Murphy told Ohio residents to deposit cash into the account from at least 15 different branches, officials say. A similar arrangement was made with accounts at PNC Bank.

The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge James Gwin.

If you would like to comment on this story, please visit Wednesday's crime and courts comments section.
WESTLAKE, Ohio - For Lola Sema, opening Luca West is a chance to stretch her artistic touches with decor. For Luca Sema, it's a chance to start with a brand-new kitchen.

For the couple, who own the four-year-old Luca Italian Cuisine at 2100 Superior Viaduct in Cleveland's Flats, the expansion to Westlake offers a blank slate to create a restaurant from scratch and capture customers from Westlake, Rocky River, Bay Village and other West Side suburbs.

The space at 24600 Detroit Road has been a lot of restaurants in the past - Viva Barcelona, Viva Fernando, Ambrosia and others. In fact, in 2008, Luca worked as a line chef at Viva Fernando. Now he and his wife own the space.

The Semas, who live in Westlake, are putting in their own touches, from equipment to decor.

The entire kitchen is new. "I love the space here," Luca said. "It's my favorite."

A fireplace was installed in one of the rooms. Everything inside is brand new, the lighting, flooring, barn doors. The only thing they kept, the couple said, was an operational ice machine. Much of the old equipment was donated to a church. Small trees - olive, Meyer lemon and peach - are scattered throughout the restaurant.

"It's family-run, it's family-owned," said Terry Uhl, whose firm is representing the restaurant.

The space holds a refined rustic look.

A sculpture was imported from Florence, light fixtures above the bar came from London, and lantern-like tableside lights are from Italy. Ceiling beams are reclaimed barn wood, and barn doors slide to close off two private dining areas.

Capacity will be 200 inside - 150 plus 50 in the bar area. Communal tables will seat 10 each. A patio is being worked on for outdoor seating next year with separate bar.

Luca West is part of a complex sunken down on the north side of Detroit Road near other offices. There is a parking lot, and valet will be offered on busy nights, they said.

The menu, in the works, will maintain a similar focus from the downtown location, which offers extensive Italian dishes ranging from pasta to meat to seafood and more. In Westlake, Luca is making all his own bread - Pugliese and Foccacia. The couple understands the food from their Mediterranean heritage; the couple is from Albania across the Adriatic Sea.

Luca West's wine list will contain about 200 bottles with multiple by-the-glass offerings, said Lola, a sommelier. California, Germany and Argentina will be represented but - like the food - Italy will be emphasized.

"It's become more popular to have a glass of wine than a cocktail," she said.

As workers were putting finishing touches on the space Tuesday, Lola noted the opening date is her daughter's 10th birthday.

"What a nice birthday; mom will be working," she said.
CLEVELAND, Ohio - Four potential areas that the Ohio Department of Commerce's Division of Liquor Control see as potential Contract Liquor Agencies are in Cuyahoga County.

The state - viewing liquor sales as a revenue generator - is promoting the areas currently up for grabs. The Division of Liquor Control has identified 20 regions, each a two-mile radius, in 11 counties. The four Cuyahoga County locations:

University Heights-South Euclid-Cleveland Heights.

North Randall-Warrensville Heights-Highland Hills.

North Olmsted-Westlake.

Brooklyn-Parma.

The potential businesses would contract to sell liquor with the state and are typically already established places like mom-and-pop shops or grocery stores. Ohio has 465 contract liquor agencies.

When deciding where to locate expansion agencies, the state examines demographics, market opportunity, revenue potential, population-growth density and nearby places that might increase foot traffic. Division of Liquor Control Superintendent Jim Canepa said the state looks at places that can bring in "$1 million to $3 million in revenue a year, revenue centers and areas that are growing."

It's "not super often" the state seeks agency expansion, said Lindsey LeBerth, public information officer with the Ohio Department of Commerce.

The consignment arrangement is based on having quality choices, Canepa said.

"These are not permits," he said. "These are contracts - personal-service contracts. Essentially, they are an agreement to sell on consignment. The state owns the inventory." Sellers receive a commission on sales.

Only a few spots have opened in the past five years, LeBerth said. Canepa is looking to open 15 to 20 in the next 18 months, she said.

This is the second application wave, with the first, smaller one targeting five areas in Franklin, Greene and Hamilton counties, LeBerth said, adding the state is not assured of filling all prospective slots. The summer search netted two.

"We're hoping for 8-10," Canepa said of the current search.

"Our biggest thing is finding quality applicants," LeBerth said about Cuyahoga County. "We may get all four, we may get one, or we get none."

Added Canepa: "We're casting a wider net. The big objectives here are really to meet demand and expectations for the liquor enterprise. We've experienced real growth on a year-to-year basis, but we've stagnated over the last several years in being thoughtful about how to expand in a fun, fresh, exciting way."

Canepa described "the bars-on-the-windows" stereotype "out the window and gone." He emphasized any new partners meeting the requirements will be responsible and required to take alcohol-server training.

"The marketplace has changed," he said. "It's not about toga parties, it's about dinner parties with discerning customers."

Minimum requirements for applicants include having a certain amount of shelf and storage space, among other criteria.

Deadline for Cuyahoga County is 4 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 29. There is no application cost. Applications and a location map are online, or call 877-812-0013.

"The idea is not volume, it's quality," Canepa said. "If we don't get the applicants we feel are going to run the franchise brand, we will reset the deck and rebid. ... If it's a dry well the first time why keep drilling in that same spot?"
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Like a World Series team on a streak, Cleveland-based Abeona Therapeutics Inc. got hot in October.

Abeona Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing gene and cell therapies for life-threatening rare genetic diseases. Its strategy is to re-engineer viruses - which usually spread disease - to instead save lives.

The biggest news from Abeona's busy October was the expansion of its Carnegie Avenue headquarters to create one of the first commercial gene therapy manufacturing facilities in Ohio. The new facility, called the Elisa Linton Center for Rare Disease Therapies, will include laboratories for producing advanced gene and cell therapies.

The company's October news also included:

Abeona's (Nasdaq: ABEO ) underwritten public offering of 5 million shares of common stock at a public offering price of $16 per share, according to the company's press release.

Nine global foundations granting $13.85 million to Abeona to advance and support gene therapy programs for Sanfilippo syndrome, a genetic disease that causes developmental delays in children.

The formation of a manufacturing partnership with Brammer Bio of Cambridge, Massachusetts, and the hiring of two Ph.D. executives with experience in cell therapy manufacturing.

Abeona President and CEO Tim Miller hopes that the infusion of cash and the new facility will allow his company to continue searching for therapies for rare diseases that have been largely ignored by the pharmaceutical industry.

"It's truly a remarkable time to be involved in gene therapy as we see the fruition of decades of scientific discoveries being translated into clinical and commercial success stories," Miller said in an email. "We're fortunate to have the support of foundations and stakeholders around the world working together with Abeona in the search for potential cures for these devastating diseases."

Most pharmaceuticals stay away from rare diseases because the low numbers of people affected makes the work of developing treatments too expensive. But Abeona seeks to treat six rare disorders with one approach, Miller said.

"Now you have a few thousand patients or more" as potential customers, he said. The new therapies are currently in clinical trials, with hopes they will be made public in late 2019 or 2020.

Among the diseases that Abeona targeted is Sanfilippo syndrome, which occurs when the enzymes needed to break down sugar are missing or defective. Affected children often have learning problems and difficulty walking.

Abeona's goal is to insert a healthy copy of the defective gene into a virus, then release these helpful viruses into the patient's body to correct the problem. "We co-opt a virus to be a delivery vehicle," Miller said.

Another quest focuses on dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (DEB), genetic conditions that cause fragile skin, widespread blistering, vision loss, disfigurement and other serious medical problems. It affects only about 20 infants per 1 million births in the United States.

Abeona is focusing on gene-corrected skin grafts to treat wounds caused by DEB. "This is valid technology that has merit," Miller said.

The headquarters expansion to create the manufacturing facility is the most visible part of Abeona's hot streak.

Beyond Miller's brick-walled office - which features a poster of Han Solo quotes from the "Star Wars" movies - workmen hammered and staffers stepped around piles of construction materials. When completed, these sterile laboratories will manufacture Abeona's medicines.

This is an artist's rendering of Abeona Therapeutics' Elisa Linton Center for Rare Disease Therapies, will include laboratories for producing advanced gene and cell therapies. Construction on the new facility started in October. Credit: Geis Companies

"This expansion allows us to control our destiny," Miller said.

Construction on the new $7 million facility started in October, and is slated for completion in 2018. The expansion will add 6,000 square feet to the company's current 10,000-square-foot office, Miller said.

Northeast Ohio's strong biotech and academic communities made it an ideal location for Abeona's lab. "We have a lot of expertise here," Miller said. "It's a good place to build out." Abeona also has offices in New York and Dallas.

The company's gene therapies were developed at Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus as well as Stanford University, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the University of North Carolina also made contributions, Miller said.

As he steers Abeona into the future, he thinks about Eliza Linton, a Toronto woman who died last year from Sanfilippo syndrome at age 22.

Miller knew Linton and saw how she inspired those around her. That's why he named his company's new facility in her memory.

"She was a champion in the rare disease fight," he said.

STORY SUMMARY

Abeona Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing gene and cell therapies for life-threatening rare genetic diseases.

The company has announced the expansion of its Carnegie Avenue headquarters to create one of the first commercial gene therapy manufacturing facility in Ohio.

Abeona received $13.85 million in grants to advance and support gene therapy programs for Sanfilippo syndrome.
Grand theft, Ford Road: At 11:05 a.m. Oct. 29, a man reported that his pickup truck was stolen from his driveway. The vehicle had last been seen at about 6 p.m. Oct. 28.

The man told police that he subscribes to the security system OnStar. OnStar was able to locate the truck in the area of East 85th Street and Quincy Avenue in Cleveland.

Cleveland police were contacted and soon after found the truck. A chase ensued and, as police followed, OnStar shut down the truck's power. The two suspects ran from the truck, but were soon apprehended. Arrested were Cleveland males, 17 and 18.

Lyndhurst and Cleveland police are still considering charges to be filed on the suspects.

Threats made, Edenhurst Road: At 6:30 p.m. Oct. 29, a woman reported that her male Uber driver threatened her, her family and her residence.

The woman told officers she wanted to file a formal complaint and asked that special attention be paid that night to her home.

Drug abuse, Fairlawn Road:

At 12:35 a.m. Oct. 28, an officer spotted an occupied car parked in the lot of Schaefer Park. Inside the car were two 21-year-old South Euclid men.

The driver was cited for marijuana possession.

Domestic violence, Mayfield Road: At 2:20 a.m. Oct. 26, police received several calls from Scalpers bar, 5718 Mayfield Road, about a woman being assaulted.

A woman told officers that her fiance had assaulted her. Both the woman and her fiance were intoxicated. The woman's mother did not cooperate with officers.

Police could not determine an aggressor and no charges were filed. The woman's sister drove the complainant back to her Westlake home.

Grand theft, Mayfield Road: At 3:05 p.m. Oct. 25, police made a traffic stop of a car due to a traffic violation. It was then learned that the car had been stolen at gunpoint in Cleveland Heights.

The car's driver left the scene of the traffic stop at a high rate of speed and police gave chase.

Prior to the chase, while the car was stopped, a female got out of the vehicle.

Because of the high speed the suspect vehicle was traveling, police called off the pursuit. The car was later seen at Chardon Road and Euclid Avenue in Euclid. Euclid police were unable to stop the car.

Lyndhurst and Cleveland police spoke with the woman, 22, who had been in the car. While speaking with the woman, her sister, who was still in the stolen auto, called her.

Police have identified a suspect, a Cleveland man, 25, and have issued a warrant for his arrest.

Sexual assault, Fairlawn Road: At 2:40 a.m., police received a call from an emergency room employee at Hillcrest Hospital. The caller stated that she was with a girl, 17, who said she had been sexually assaulted between 11 a.m. and noon Oct. 20 while at Schaefer Park.

The girl told officers that she met the male suspect on the online app Tinder.

If you would like to discuss the police blotter, please visit our crime and courts comments page.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The suspect in a New York terrorist attack that left eight people dead once lived in Cuyahoga Falls, according to public records.

Sayfullo Saipov, 29, is in custody of New York law enforcement. Several news outlets reported that Saipov has a Florida driver's license but that he might have been living in New Jersey.

Records from the Ohio Secretary of State show that in May 2011, he incorporated a company in Cincinnati called Sayf Motors. Two years later, he incorporated another auto company called Bright Auto LLC, which was registered to an Americana Drive address in Cuyahoga Falls that is listed in public records as his address.

The website Quick Transport Solutions lists Bright Auto LLC has having one truck and one driver and an "active carrier." Americana Drive is listed as the company's contact address.

A copy of Saipov's marriage license filed in Summit County Probate Court says he married Nozima Odilova on April 12, 2013, when he was 25 years old and she was 19. The marriage was officiated at their apartment by someone named "Abdulloh," according to the certificate.

The application for the certificate lists Saipov's occupation as a truck driver.

Police departments in Cuyahoga Falls and Stow said they have never been called to Saipov's previous address for an incident.

Saipov is being held in connection to the Tuesday afternoon attack near the World Trade Center memorial. A man in a rented pickup mowed down pedestrians on a bike path killing eight and injuring 11 others.

The driver was shot in the abdomen and was taken into custody after he jumped out of the car with what turned out to be a fake gun in each hand. He shouted "God is great" in Arabic, officials said.

Authorities in Ohio have not said if they have launched an investigation into Saipov's connections and residence in the state but have not ruled it out.

"Obviously, if there are leads developed in our area of responsibility to cover we will do so," said FBI spokeswoman Vicki Anderson.

Cleveland.com reporters Eric Heisig and Justin Madden and The Associated Press contributed to this story.
LORAIN, Ohio -- A Bible with rosary beads is placed on a pillow, awaiting a man's return at the new St. Elizabeth Center, a men's homeless shelter in Lorain on Monday. The refurbished building, formerly the Polish American Club, will sleep up to 50 men year-round.

"The church today is filled with joy," Bishop Nelson Perez said just before blessing the space during the dedication of the new center. "Because we are able - in partnering with civic and private leaders in the community - to be able to do not only a good thing, but also do the right thing."

The Catholic Charities shelter will offer over-night beds, hot meals and social services. The men will also have access to hot showers, personal storage and washers and dyers. The new facility, which combined services from the Lorain Family Center and St. Joseph Overnighter Shelter, started housing men on September 20.

According to Bob Tayek, Director of Media and Public Relations at the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland, the 2017 Catholic Charities Annual appeal raised $12.4 million from 48,542 donors which made the St. Elizabeth Center a reality.
CUYAHOGA FALLS, Ohio - The Islamic Society of Akron and Kent said Wednesday that a former Northeast Ohio resident who is accused of killing eight people by driving a truck down a New York City sidewalk previously visited the community center, and that officials there have been in contact with law enforcement.

Sayfullo Saipov, who once lived in Cuyahoga Falls, was charged Wednesday with federal terrorism offenses in connection with Tuesday's attack in downtown Manhattan.

Officials from the ISAK said during a news conference Wednesday evening that Saipov had been to the community center but was not a member, according to live video of the news conference provided by WKYC-Channel 3.

ISAK officials condemned Tuesday's attack and said they have been in contact with law enforcement officials, according to the live video from WKYC.

The ISAK also said in a statement that the killings were "a savage act of murder and mayhem."

"The perpetrator of this heinous act showed no humanity or mercy for his fellow human beings," the ISAK said in the statement. "No religion or community teaches such hate and disregard for human life. No cause justifies murder of innocent people and no community condones such vile acts or intentions. The perpetrator, like other criminal extremists, deserves to be brought to justice."

The full statement can be read at the bottom of this post.

Saipov, 29, was born in Uzbekistan but once lived in Cuyahoga Falls, public records show. Ohio Secretary of State records show he incorporated a company in Cincinnati called Sayf Motors in 2011. Two years later, he incorporated another company called Bright Auto LLC, which was registered to an Americana Drive address in Cuyahoga Falls that is listed in public records as his address.

The Cuyahoga Falls address is also listed as the site where he married Nozima Odilova on April 12, 2013, Summit County Probate Court records show.

The Cuyahoga Falls and Stow police departments said they were never called to Saipov's previous address.

The ISAK also released the following statement:

"The Islamic Society of Akron and Kent is shocked and saddened by yet another wanton and savage act of murder and mayhem perpetrated on innocent people of New York City yesterday. We join all civilized and peaceful people of the nation in condemning this brutal violence in the strongest terms possible. The perpetrator of this heinous act showed no humanity or mercy for his fellow human beings. No religion or community teaches such hate and disregard for human life. No cause justifies murder of innocent people and no community condones such vile acts or intentions. The perpetrator, like other criminal extremists, deserves to be brought to justice.

"Our hearts go out to the families of the victims. We will continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with our fellow Americans of all faiths and backgrounds in this time of grief and distress. Together we must face these challenges, grieve and ultimately prevail, including the nascent Uzbek community, that now calls The United States its new home."

To comment this story, please visit Wednesday's crime and courts comments page.
WASHINGTON - A terrorist rampage in Manhattan blamed on an immigrant from Uzbekistan has led conservatives ranging from President Donald Trump to Ohio Congressman Jim Jordan to blast a visa program that may have let the suspect into the United States.

Trump took to Twitter Wednesday morning to say the man accused of mowing down pedestrians and cyclists with a rented truck - Sayfullo Saipov - came to the United States through a diversity visa lottery program that dispenses 50,000 visas each year to immigrants from countries with low immigration rates to the United States.

The terrorist came into our country through what is called the "Diversity Visa Lottery Program," a Chuck Schumer beauty. I want merit based.  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 1, 2017

Trump also used the attack, which killed eight people and injured 11 others, to blast Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer of New York, who he blamed for the visa program's creation. Trump said he instead wants "merit based" immigration.

Jordan seconded Trump's objections to the visa program during an appearance on CNN later Wednesday morning, saying that he endorses proposed legislation that would end it.

"The underlying point is exactly right," the Champaign County Republican said of Trump's critique. "This is a program that needs to change, this is a program that needs to be eliminated."

Several media outlets have reported that Saipov - a former Cuyahoga Falls resident - used the program to enter the United States.

Schumer responded to Trump's censure by denouncing him for "politicizing and dividing America, which he always seems to do at times of national tragedy," instead of "bringing us together and focusing on the real solution - anti-terrorism funding - which he proposed to cut in his most recent budget."

Arizona Republican Sen. Jeff Flake - one of Trump's most vocal Republican critics - noted on Twitter that a group of senators that included Schumer backed a 2013 package of immigration reforms that would have ended the program. That legislation passed the Senate but was never taken up in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Actually, the Gang of 8, including @SenSchumer, did away with the Diversity Visa Program as part of broader reforms. I know, I was there https://t.co/QQFJzPyRzC  Jeff Flake (@JeffFlake) November 1, 2017

What is the program?

According to a Washington Post account, a 1990 immigration bill by Schumer proposed "making a set number of visas available each year to 'diversity immigrants' from 'low-admission' countries." The rationale behind it was to foster immigration from a diverse range of countries, as a counterweight to policies that provide a large share of visas to family members of previous immigrants to the United States from a handful of countries.

The idea made it into a broader immigration law that President George H.W. Bush signed in 1990. The diversity visa program, administered through a lottery, fully went into effect in 1995.

Applicants for the program must have a high school education or the equivalent, or two years of experience in an occupation that requires at least two years of training or experience. They also must pass background screenings before getting visas and becoming legal permanent residents of the United States.

Has it increased terrorism?

According to the Congressional Research Service, an Egyptian immigrant who shot and killed two people at Los Angeles International Airport in 2002 - Hesham Mohamed Ali Hedayet - obtained legal permanent residence status as the spouse of a diversity immigrant.

A State Department deputy inspector general warned in 2004 that the diversity visa lottery "contains significant vulnerabilities to national security" from state sponsors of terrorism. A 2007 U.S. Government Accountability Office report found the program is vulnerable to fraud and in some countries, "widespread use of fake documents, such as birth certificates, marriage certificates, and passports, presented challenges when verifying the identities of applicants and dependents."

"We found no documented evidence that [diversity visa] immigrants from these, or other, countries posed a terrorist or other threat," the GAO report continued. "However, experts familiar with immigration fraud believe that some individuals, including terrorists and criminals, could use fraudulent means to enter or remain in the United States. This places a premium on mitigating fraud risks."

What is the repeal bill endorsed by Jordan and Trump?

Sen. Tom Cotton, an Arkansas Republican who introduced the legislative proposal to rescind the program, said it is "plagued with fraud, advances no economic or humanitarian interest, and does not even promote diversity."

His bill would eliminate those visas while dramatically reducing the number of legal immigrants allowed into the United States. It would "replace the current permanent employment visa system with a skills-based points system" that prioritizes well-educated English speakers "high-paying job offers," "entrepreneurial initiative" and a record of "extraordinary achievement."

Trump has endorsed the bill, saying it would promote immigration of high-skilled workers and reduce overall immigration numbers to limit low-skilled and unskilled labor entering the United States.

The Migration Policy Institute think tank says the bill's elimination of the diversity visa lottery would "cut off a pathway for new, diverse immigration streams for those who do not have employer or family ties," and the types of immigrants it would prioritize would likely favor workers from English speaking countries and nationals from India and China who already meet high-skill visa requirements but currently face long backlogs.

It nonetheless predicts the bill is "unlikely to gain traction in Congress."
Dear Doctor: Amid all the talk about the Zika virus, I thought we'd stopped worrying about West Nile. Now I see that it's back -- or never left. What are the risks of this? Are they greater than Zika?

Dear Reader: You are correct; West Nile virus continues to be a threat in the United States. Forty-eight states and the District of Columbia have reported cases of West Nile; overall, the U.S. reported 43,937 cases of the virus and 1,911 related deaths between 1999 and 2015. Because many people have only mild symptoms and don't seek medical attention, the actual number of cases is undoubtedly much higher.

The species of West Nile virus in the U.S., which was first detected in New York City in 1999, is believed to have originated in the Middle East. It's transmitted by mosquitos, which starts the disease cycle by infecting birds. There, the virus multiplies within its avian hosts. When another mosquito draws blood from an infected bird, the mosquito then can infect another bird, or a human. Because transmission relies on mosquitos, most cases of West Nile virus occur in the summer and early fall months, when the insects are most plentiful. Humans rarely transfer the virus among themselves; when they do, it's because infected mothers pass the virus to their child in the womb.

The majority of people with West Nile virus infection don't have symptoms; in fact, symptoms are seen in only 20 to 40 percent of cases. Further, early symptoms (fever, muscle aches, headache, fatigue and rash) are not much different from those of many other viruses, so the true cause may go undiagnosed. These symptoms usually last from three to 10 days, but some people report fatigue, muscle aches and difficulty concentrating for up to 30 days or longer after contracting West Nile virus.

In less than 1 percent of people, West Nile virus invades the nervous system. There it can cause inflammation of the brain and surrounding tissues, leading to confusion and even coma or death. The virus can also enter the peripheral nerves, causing muscle paralysis; sometimes, this paralysis involves the respiratory muscles, leaving some people unable to breathe on their own. The death rate when West Nile virus invades the nervous system is 10 percent. Those at higher risk of death from West Nile virus include older adults; people with diabetes, heart disease or chronic hepatitis C; people with a depressed immune system; and people who abuse alcohol.

Patients who survive West Nile virus' assault on the nervous system can have prolonged symptoms. One-third of those with paralysis related to the virus will fail to improve, and if the brain is affected, people can experience significant difficulties with brain function even after a year. One study found that 40 percent of patients reported fatigue and weakness up to eight years after the infection.

As for treatment, anti-viral medications appear to have some effect against West Nile, especially when the drugs are used early in the disease. However, no large human studies have assessed their efficacy. The best way to avoid West Nile virus is by draining areas of standing water or using mosquito repellants.

While other viruses, such as Zika, are understandably worrisome, don't ignore the possibility of infection with West Nile. In the continental United States, Zika transmission is much rarer than West Nile transmission.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A 51-year-old man found dead Monday in the backyard of a vacant home in Cleveland's Collinwood neighborhood is the city's 100th homicide of 2017, according to police and the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner.

Nathaniel Ferguson died of six gunshot wounds to his chest and arms, according to the medical examiner. His death was ruled a homicide. No arrests have been made in the case.

Cleveland has now topped 100 homicides in four consecutive years. Cleveland hit the 100 mark on Oct. 25, 2016 and on Oct. 2, 2015.

There were 106 homicides in the city at this time in 2016, during one of the deadliest year in a decade. There were 136 homicides in 2016, 120 in 2015 and 102 in 2014.

Ferguson's death was also the fifth homicide in a three-day span in Cleveland.

Police initially said it appeared Ferguson died of a drug overdose Monday at the vacant home in the 1100 block of East 141st Street, just south of St. Clair Avenue. Officers found him with a crack pipe in his right hand and a lighter in his left hand, according to police reports.

A tree pruner working on a different home in the neighborhood walked into the backyard of the vacant home to scout for a better angle for his equipment, police reports say. He spotted Ferguson's body about 11:15 a.m. Monday and called 911.

Officers found Ferguson facedown on the ground, according to police reports. A medical examiner investigator told police that it looked like Ferguson had been dead for more than a week, according to police reports.

A family member told police that Ferguson was a regular drug user who would go missing without talking to family members for long stretches of time. He said that no one had heard from Ferguson for about a week, according to police reports. The family member also said Ferguson had been "in and out" of the vacant home for an extended period of time.

To comment this story, please visit Wednesday's crime and courts comments page.
Two weeks after his injury in an officer-involved shooting, the man charged with attacking the officer before being shot has been arrested and handed a no-contact order.

Donald Joseph Miller, 51, is charged with felony counts of robbery with serious bodily injury and simple assault on a peace officer related to his alleged attack on a Bismarck police officer on Oct. 15 at the Bismarck Motor Motel.

He was arrested Friday afternoon and is held at the Burleigh-Morton County Detention Center, pending $150,000 cash bond.

Police have declined to name the officer.

"It is our policy not to release the name of an officer involved in a shooting until the investigation is complete," Sgt. Mark Buschena said, "the same way we dont release any other persons name in a case until that investigation is complete and that person is either charged, or the case is closed and no charges are brought, in which case the name becomes releasable."

Furthermore, the officer has invoked his victim rights under Marsy's Law, Buschena added, "so we wont be releasing his name."

Bismarck Police Chief Dan Donlin previously said he has been with Bismarck Police for three and a half years and is an American military veteran.

The Bismarck Tribune was able to identify the officer as Justin Antonovich through Miller's no-contact order and a current roster of licensed North Dakota peace officers which indicates Antonovich's employment with Bismarck Police.

Miller had allegedly attacked Antonovich in his squad car as he arrived on an unrelated call at the motel on Main Avenue.

Miller allegedly punched him repeatedly in the head and gouged his eyes.

Donlin said the officer tried to fight back and even use his Taser, which failed, before he shot Miller in the abdomen to stop the attack.

Both men were taken to a hospital, where the officer was treated for eye and face injuries and later released. Miller required surgery for his gunshot wound.

The affidavit in the case is sealed under a district judge's order until Miller's preliminary hearing. Miller did make an initial appearance Monday morning.

The officer has returned to work from paid administrative leave, now on restricted duty, Buschena said.

"He can come back to work but will not be performing field duties until the investigation and findings are complete," he said.

The North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation is conducting the probe.

No new court date has yet been posted for Miller. He may have no contact with Antonovich, direct or indirect, via any means.

Miller's charges carry up to 15 years in prison.
November 1, 2017

 History-making astronauts Sally Ride and Mae Jemison now share store shelf space with ninjas, knights and superheroes as the newest LEGO minifigures to launch for sale.



"Women of NASA," a new LEGO Ideas set celebrating the achievements of female pioneers from the space agency's 60-year history, debuted in LEGO stores and toy shops on Wednesday (Nov. 1). The 231-piece set, which is available for $24.99, features four minifigures and three small builds "great for role-playing space exploration missions," LEGO describes on its website.



"Explore the professions of some groundbreaking women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics with the LEGO Ideas Women of NASA set," the company wrote on its online shop.



In addition to Ride, who was the first American woman in space, and Jemison, the first woman of color in space, the "Women of NASA" set includes minifigures modeled after computer scientist Margaret Hamilton, who led the creation of the software for NASA's moon-bound Apollo spacecraft, and astronomer Nancy Grace Roman, known to many as the "Mother of Hubble" for her role in planning the famous space telescope.







Astronomer Nancy Grace Roman and computer scientist Margaret Hamilton minifigures, as part of the "Women of NASA" set. (LEGO)

"My first reaction when I saw the figure was, 'Do I really look like that?' But I quickly realized that it was figurative," Roman wrote in an email to collectSPACE.



The "Women of NASA" set also includes three builds that illustrate the four women's areas of expertise and serve as display stands for the minifigures.



Roman's build features a small model of the Hubble Space Telescope and an image of a nebula. Hamilton's diorama reproduces a famous photo of her standing next to a stack of millions of lines of her Apollo computer code.



Ride and Jemison share a model of NASA's space shuttle Challenger, the orbiter that lofted Ride on her 1983 history- making first flight. Both astronauts' minifigures are dressed in the appropriate flight or pressure suit for their respective missions (Jemison flew in 1992 on the shuttle Endeavour).







Astronauts Sally Ride and Mae Jemison minifigures. (LEGO)

"I worked with LEGO HQ and LEGO designers in Denmark for more than a year on the creation of Sally's minifigure," said Tam O'Shaughnessy, executive director of Sally Ride Science at UC San Diego and the late astronaut's partner. "Although LEGO minifigures are small, the designers have size and other constraints, I'm happy with Sally's likeness."



"Sally's figure has her blue eyes, her confident grin and an accurate STS-7 mission patch. And Sally is holding one of her favorite space tools a camera to take photos of Earth from space," O'Shaughnessy told collectSPACE.



Each of the minifigs have two expressions. By rotating the heads, the four women are either shown happy or serious.



The "Women of NASA" set also includes a booklet about Roman, Hamilton, Ride and Jemison, as well as writer and editor Maia Weinstock, who proposed the set on the LEGO Ideas website.







Real figures behind the minifigures: Nancy Grace Roman, Margaret Hamilton, Sally Ride and Mae Jemison. (NASA)

"I'd say it's quite close to my vision, down to my recreation of the famous Margaret Hamilton Apollo code photo!" said Weinstock in an email to collectSPACE. "I think LEGO did a tremendous job of enhancing the Hubble Telescope and space shuttle system, and the minifigs are quite similar to the ones I'd designed."



"Overall, my vision of highlighting some pioneering women from NASA's history has been realized," she said.



For their part, Roman and O'Shaughnessy said they were hopeful for who the set would reach and inspire.



"The main thing that I hope they take away is that women can be scientists," said Roman.



"My hope is that girls and boys (as well as their parents, teachers and corporate America!) will recognize the critical role women have always played, and continue to play, in the exploration of space," said O'Shaughnessy.







Computer scientist Margaret Hamilton, who led the development of the Apollo flight software, admires her LEGO minifigure. (LEGO)

"From planning space missions to designing and building spacecraft and space telescopes; and from launching into space and orbiting aboard the space shuttle or the station to conducting cutting-edge science, women scientists and engineers have made enormous contributions to science, engineering, astronomy and the U.S. space program," she explained.



Weinstock, who dedicated the set to the memory of Ride, expressed a similar sentiment.



"I hope children will both learn about the women in the set and, of course, enjoy the play experience of building the vignettes and models of some of our most iconic space instruments," she said. "It would be a thrill to learn, in 20 or 30 years, that a woman walking on Mars, or one of the engineers or coders who helped get her to the Red Planet, played with this set and was inspired by it."



For more information or to order the LEGO Ideas "Women of NASA" set, see the LEGO Shop.
After Hurricane Maria ravaged homes and left an entire island without electricity, Lucia Shelley Maluy, an ESL teacher at Mandan High School, said her students from Puerto Rico had no idea whether their family members and friends living there were OK.

MHS senior Solimar Gonzales' grandmother "lost everything," including her home and all of her belongings in the hurricane. Greicha Maldonado, a junior, confirmed most of her aunt's possessions were destroyed when her aunt's house flooded.

The hurricane knocked out power for the 3.4 million people on the island. About 30 percent of electricity has been restored, and efforts are continuing toward that end.

Because of power outages and shoddy cellular service, it took weeks and, in some cases, even a month before these students heard from their loved ones.

"I just wanted to cry with them, because, I mean, how can you perform (at school) not knowing if theyre alive or not?" Shelley Maluy said.

To help their peers and those impacted by the hurricane, students at Mandan High School held fundraisers for Puerto Rico relief efforts. This month, they held a bake sale and charged $1 on student hat day. In total, they raised $1,400.

Students in foreign language clubs involved in the fundraising presented a check on Wednesday to Rob Stotz, disaster program manager for the Red Cross of Western North Dakota.

I think this is fantastic," said Stotz, adding that it shows initiative among the students.

The money collected will go directly toward aid in Puerto Rico, according to Stotz.

"We are really thankful and appreciate it. They worried about us and our families," said Gonzales, who moved to North Dakota three years ago with her parents and brother for career opportunities.

In addition to Gonzales' grandmother's home being destroyed by the hurricane, some of her friends in Utuado, Puerto Rico, also are not doing well.

"A couple of my friends are running out of food and water. It is not a good situation," she said, adding that a friend died two weeks ago after drinking infected water and contracting the bacterial disease, leptospirosis.

Gonzales said her grandmother will leave her life in Puerto Rico behind and travel to Boston next week to live with Gonzales' aunt.

This is the case for many of Shelley Maluy's students whose family members plan to move to the United States to start over. In fact, Shelley Maluy said she anticipates having more students from Puerto Rico enroll in local schools as a result of the hurricane. Currently, she has 17 students.

Michael Pabon, a senior, who has lived in North Dakota for about a year, said his aunt and her son are planning to move here next week.

Maldonado, a junior, whose aunt's belongings were lost due to flooding, said her aunt and grandmother are saving their money to move to Mandan in January, where they'll share an apartment with Maldonado and her parents until they can afford their own place.

Shelley Maluy said she greeted one of her student's grandparents after they arrived in North Dakota this past weekend. She said the grandfather, who is a veteran, lost everything.

"I said, 'How is Puerto Rico?' And the moment I said that he started bawling, because, he said, 'My life is there, and Im going to be 80-something starting a new life here with just the clothes (I) have on,'" she said.
The city of Denver leans heavily on its international airport when building a brand in an increasingly global economy. From Cozumel and Calgary to London, Paris, Panama City, and Zurich, travelers departing from DIA will have direct access 26 international destinations by 2018.





In December, United will begin its nonstop service to Cozumel; a few months later, in March, the airline will take travelers directly to London's Heathrow Airport. All photos by Daniel Tseng.

Aiport officials say more flights will not mean longer lines at security. All photos by Daniel Tseng.

Denver will have direct flights to Paris starting in April. All photos by Daniel Tseng.

Geographically, Denver is situated in the center of the county, and that's appealing to international carriers looking for convenient connectivity to both coasts. All phots by Daniel Tseng.

Last year 2.6 million people came to Denver for conventions and business travel. All photos by Daniel Tseng.

Tourists purchase over $1 billion dollars worth of food and drinks, and their purchases at retail stores hit $660 million in 2016. All photos by Daniel Tseng.

In the wake of Amazons high-profile HQ2 bidding hype, theres been plenty of talk about whether Denver would be a good fit for the worlds largest e-commerce location. In addition to a dense metropolitan population and tax incentives, Amazon is searching, too, for a city with quality transit options  beyond the usual trains, buses, and bike sharing.To be serious about attracting big business, we have to connect to destinations around the world, both conveniently and affordably, says Denver Mayor Michael Hancock, who has been working on linking Denver to international air hubs since he was on city council.The world will have to wait until 2018 for Amazons final site selection announcement  but in the meantime city planners are at full throttle with plans to globalize Denver.Denver International Airport is the states single largest economic generator. I think we all know about the $26.3 billion fiscal impact the airport brings to the region annually, says Eric Hiraga, executive director of the Denver Office of Economic Development.In 2016, the city saw a milestone year marking the first time Denver surpassed 30 million total visitors, says Richard Scharf, president and CEO of Visit Denver.Population-wise, Denvers only the 19th largest metropolitan area in the U.S.  but it has the 6th busiest airport in the country. From Cozumel and Calgary to London, Paris, Panama City, and Zurich, travelers departing from DIA will have direct access 26 international destinations by 2018.When United Airlines began offering daily nonstop service from DIA to Tokyos Narita International Airport, the economic impact was $130 million dollars annually. The Tokyo fights bring in 1,500 jobs, Hiraga adds, referencing not just airport jobs, but ancillary jobs in Denver, too, mainly those related to hospitality.Direct international flights are great economic generators, says Vicky Lea, director of aerospace and aviation for Metro Denver Economic Development Corporation.Copa Airlines, for example, begins year-round nonstop service from Denver to Panama City in December, and the flights are projected to bring in $26 million dollars a year. Lufthansas nonstop flight to Munich  which took off in 2015  has an annual impact of $80 million dollars, and resulted in a 50 percent increase in travel between Munich and Denver. People could get to Denver from Munich before, but all of a sudden its easier with the direct flights, explains Laura Jackson, VP of air service development at DIA.There are plenty more international flights to come.In December, United will begin its nonstop service to Cozumel; a few months later, in March, the airline will take travelers directly to Londons Heathrow Airport the same month WestJet Airilnes, a lost-cost Canadian carrier, launches its direct-to-Calgary flights.The big excitement for everybody is Paris, beginning in April on Norwegian Air, says Lea, noting that Paris is a new entrant to the Denver air market.And on June 4, Edelweiss Air -- a Swiss leisure airline owned by Swiss International Air Lines -- will kick off its seasonal nonstop service between Denver and Zurich, offering two flights weekly, June through September, boosting Denvers annual economy by an estimated $21 million dollars.These flights dont just appear out of the air, says Hiraga. Theyre multi-year efforts, he adds.Take Copas Denver-to-Panama flights: I started meeting with them in 2008 to make a business case for Denver, Jackson says.The courting period for Edelweiss was shorter  about two to three years  but required similar outreach efforts.Airlines have a limited number of aircrafts in their fleets, and were competing with destinations worldwide, says Jackson. We want to show them that they can be the most profitable by putting that aircraft in Denver  which, by the way, is a big commitment.Take a Boeing 787: Thats several million dollars of assets that theyre investing in our market, Jackson notes.While DIA takes the lead on pitching Denver to international carriers, the organization is aided by outreach from Denvers business sector and travel industry, supported by Visit Denver and the Colorado Tourism Office. Its a team effort, and we are excited to have so many new options for travelers, says Jayne Buck, VP of tourism at Visit Denver.Why Denver?According to Jackson, There are a number of reasons airlines are picking Denver.Weve noticed that Denver is an exciting and developing destination in itself, which helped our decision, says Andreas Meier, Edelweiss Airs head of corporate communications.Geographically, Denver is situated in the center of the county, and thats appealing to international carriers looking for convenient connectivity to both coasts. As Meier puts it, We dont just look at cities, but consider our existing broader destination portfolio.Edelweiss Air strongly considered the large variety of connecting options, thanks to our partner airline United, with their excellent hub at DIA, adds Meier.Another selling point it longevity. DIA cares about nurturing the partnerships it forges with airlines like, say, Icelandair, which made its maiden nonstop Denver-to-Reykjavik voyage in May of 2012, and has seen a 120 percent increase in flights over five years.After being canceled in 2008 due to low demand, Lufthansa re-launched its Denver-Munich route in 2015, with service five times weekly. The flight has been so successful this go-around that Lufthansa has since switched to daily nonstop service.Thats the kind of thing we like to see, says Jackson. We like to get new airlines here, but we also like to make sure that once theyre here, they continue to grow.A final draw, Lea notes, is that DIA hasnt yet reached its full potential.DIA is the largest airport in the country by landmass. Its a very well-planned, well-structured airport, says Lea. And unlike other big U.S. airports, DIA still has the capacity to grow: the airport currently utilizes six runways, but has the property to expand to twelve.Consumers, of course, may be concerned that more international will mean longer lines for airport security screening.Theres really nothing to worry about, says Jackson, adding, We have new international gate capacity, and were looking at expanding that to keep up with the growth.Last year 2.6 million people came to Denver for conventions and business travel, and they had easy access to downtown Denver thanks to our citys ongoing efforts to link transportation hubs via, for example, a convenient new rail connection between the airport and Denver Union Station.Business travelers bolster Denvers economy  but not nearly as much as a corporate headquarter might. And when city officials are working to attract new companies to Denver, international connectivity it a big asset.As weve worked on recent and past deals with companies such as Western Union and Panasonic, part of our pitch is to show how easy it is to get to 180 destinations directly from Denver, adds Hiraga.It used to be that people flew into Denver in the winter to ski in the mountains. Now, says Lea, People come here to experience Denver.In 2005, voters approved an increase of tourism marketing dollars, and since then Denver has seen tourism grow nearly three times the pace of the national average, 62 percent for Denver, compared to 22 percent nationally.Denvers rise as a tourism destination has continued into 2016, as the city welcomed 31.5 million total visitors, including 14.2 million day visitors and 17.3 million overnight visitors.Overnight visitors surpassed 2015 totals by nearly one million, a 6 percent year-over-year increase  and they also spent 5 percent more than they did in 2015, establishing a new tourism revenue record for Denver of $5.3 billion. International tourists, by contrast, currently spend over $1.5 billion in Colorado annually, according to Andrea Blankenship, director of international tourism for the Colorado Tourism Office.Over $1.5 billion is spent on lodging, and another $1.5 billion is shelled out for gas, car rentals, and other local transportation purchases. Tourists purchase over $1 billion dollars worth of food and drinks, and their purchases at retail stores hit $660 million in 2016.Like it or not, Denvers turning into an internationally known city  a place where people from across the globe want to come to work and play. In the competitive global arena, you really cant be successful as a tourism destination unless someone can easily get to you, says Buck.
U.S. Sen. John Thune set South Dakota history by winning his fourth Senate term. He became the second South Dakota senator to win four terms, defying what is known in local political circles as the Curse of Karl" because Sen. Karl Mundt was the only politician to accomplish the feat. But it's not clear whether Thune's party will hold the majority after a midterm election in which the GOP failed to meet expectations of a sweeping victory. Thune says he wants to stay focused on solutions, especially on inflation, rather than bombastic politics. He is also pressing for his party to look beyond former President Donald Trump's influence.
CORNWALL, Ontario  On October 31st, 2017 members of the Cornwall Criminal Investigation Division arrested a 26-year-old Cornwall man for a robbery that took place on October 30th, 2017 at a local Jean Coutu store.

D/Sgt Maxwell stated he was grateful members of Cornwall Community Police volunteered to stay late on Halloween evening, diligently investigate and make a quick arrest in the case preventing further incidents. The investigation at this point in time is still fluid and ongoing and more information will become available in the near future.

UNLAWFULLY IN A DWELLING

Cornwall, ON  A 34-year-old Cornwall man was arrested on October 31st, 2017 and charged with unlawfully in a dwelling. It is alleged on October 31st, 2017 the man forced his way into his ex-girlfriends residence and police were contacted to investigate. On arrival the man was located in the residence by police, taken into custody, charged accordingly and held for a bail hearing. His name was not released as it would identify the victim in the matter.
CORNWALL, Ontario  The musician known as Forest Blakk has released a new debut single "Love Me".

Originally from Montreal, Blakk spent several formative years in Cornwall and SD&G having gone to school in Martintown and Cornwall and his family owned a farm in Glen Roy.

He says he remembers being in Cornwall during a tough time in his life when he was homeless. He remembers going to the Agape Centre for support and food and going in and going to school in town.

Blakks relationship with music began at the age of 15 when his grandmother gave him his first guitar. He says that at the age of 21, when he had his heartbroken, he began to pursue ways to express himself musically. He describes how he worked his way up the chain from acoustic nights at different venues, to open mic nights to joining bands.

Blakk has performed in Calgary and New York amongst many other places and is currently based in Germany.

Blakk explained that his current musical experience with this new single has been few years in the making.

I wrote the song a few years ago, he said. There is such a release when its done.

Blakk already has plans to follow-up on Love Me with another single I first found you next month.

He said that right now he will continue to focus on putting out singles before thinking about producing an album, but he said that an album wasnt out of the question.

When you have a show, people want something to take home with them so there is still a place for producing albums, he said.

Blakk told Seaway News he wanted to send out a big thank you to Cornwall.

It has been such a big part of my musical career and up-brining, he said. Cornwall is a rough and tumble town with a lot of hardworking people and great stories.
CORNWALL, Ontario  Ling Goh, Public Safety Officer with Health Canada for the Ontario Region was in Cornwall during the week of Nov. 1 checking to make sure that no recalled items have slipped through the cracks.

Specifically, Goh will be inspecting products on the shelves of independent second-hand stores to ensure that no recalled products have made it to their shelves.

Goh visits Cornwall every two years and this year brought some examples of products she is keeping an eye out for.

These include dolls with styrofoam heads that have eyes that popout, toys that can be choked on, bracelets made with lead.

In addition to recalled products, she also is looking for products that are prohibited in Canada such as re-lighting candles, which serve as a fire hazard.

Goh is also on the look out for products containing hazardous chemicals and its not only lead, but also BPA, arsenic and cadmium.

She said she intended to inspect 10 stores in all while in Cornwall, and that as of Wednesday, had not found any recalled products.

The only adjustments shes made at some stores has been to remove drawstrings from clothes for children below a certain age, as they pose a choking hazard.
DICKINSON  The Bakken oil boom provided a huge influx of money to North Dakota, but the cost of that success was absorbed by so-called Hub Cities, whose request for more aid is under scrutiny.

The problem is the need for more state funds critical to the cities to be able to pay off the debts for the boom.

Most people define a fast-growing metropolitan area or city as 2 percent of annual growth or more, Dickinson City Administrator Shawn Kessel said Tuesday during an Energy Transmission and Development Committee meeting in Dickinson. It was the culmination of a two-day series of tours and presentations to the committee to make the case for why Dickinson should remain a Hub City.

In 2010  the City of Dickinson had 10 percent annual growth. Thats five times what most people consider a fast-growing city. Thats really hard to wrap your mind around, said Kessel, who was among the speakers to testify to the committee, which was led by Senate Majority Leader Rich Wardner. The committee also toured Dickinsons various public institutions, from the Public Works building to the Public Safety Center to the schools and airport -- all places that have in some way been touched upon by the rapid expansion that the oil boom brought to the city.

I would like to express the need for continued funding for hub cities and to reiterate the increases in need for services and infrastructure provided by the county, schools and airport will not go away, Dickinson Mayor Scott Decker said. Oil production and development are once again increasing and with the demand on our police, schools, fire department, landfill and our health facilities we will see an ever-growing demand on our infrastructure and a demand for more dollars.

There was much talk about a resurgence of oil and gas activity in the Dickinson area.

One of the lengthiest presentations came from Shawn Gaddie, a financial group manager for AE2S Nexus, a consulting firm. Gaddie offered projections for further growth of Dickinson that see the population of the city reaching close to 29,000 people by 2023. These projections also project an increase of city staffing needs and expanding the fleet of police, fire, sanitation and other public utility vehicles.

Rep. Gary Sukut, R-District 1, said projections are difficult to work with.

You have to start somewhere, Sukut said. These are probably as good of projections as we have to work with at this point in time.

Wardner echoed that sentiment.

Were looking at todays prices. I think these numbers are as good as were going to get. Thats why were here -- to make sure we can make plans, Wardner said. The price of oil will go up and down. Were just wanting to make sure the oil-producing counties get their fair share of property tax. If it goes down, it goes down, we have to live with that.

Dickinson invested in the infrastructural needs it required in order to be competitive on the energy market as the Bakken is not the only region where oil and gas activity is plentiful.

Gaddie reported that Dickinsons cost of living is over 12 percent higher than the national average.

Kessel said the city mostly made the right decisions in terms of investing oil money and he presented a list of awards and accolades the community has earned over the years, including being named Best Small Town in the U.S. in 2013 by Livability.com.

We must continue to build our great city and county, providing our citizens the quality of life projects to (ensure) they stay here and call southwest North Dakota home, Decker said.

At the close of the meeting the committee issued a few comments -- Sen. David Rust saying that he had wished he had heard more input from other Stark County communities.

Personally I would have wanted to have heard from some of the surrounding cities and schools in Stark County, Rust said. Because a change in the Hub City school funding has significant implications for those counties. If Hub Cities were to go away  these smaller cities, like South Heart and Belfield, would get a  pittance of dollars.

He suggested getting the smaller cities and schools to reach out to the Legislature to emphasize how important the Hub City status is to them.

The final of three planned Hub Cities meetings will be Nov. 29-30 in Minot.
Ease of doing business ranking: Blue 2018, Red 2017

Tax payment analysis is based on pre-GST data There is also an improvement in a few other factors  such as getting credit, from 44th to 29th, protecting minority investors from 13th to 4th, and resolving solvency, from 136 to 103.

Interestingly, a

While overall India is found to be ranking No 2nd in the region (Bhutan is No 1), in dealing with construction permits India ranks 7th, as against Pakistan 5th and Bangladesh 4th. Further, India ranks 5th in enforcing contracts as against Pakistans 4th; 4th in resolving insolvency and trading across border, 3rd in paying taxes, and 1st in getting electricity, getting credit and protecting minority investors.

Titled Doing Business 2018: Reforming to Create Jobs, the new World Bank report praises India for standing out this year as one of the 10 economies that improved the most in the areas measured by Doing Business, other countries being Brunei Darussalam, Thailand, Malawi, Kosovo, Uzbekistan, Zambia, Nigeria, Djibouti and El Salvador.

Even as pointing out that India is among the top improvers, along with Brunei Darussalam and Thailand, for implementing the highest number of business regulation reforms in 2016/17, the World Bank does not fail to note inefficient licensing and size restrictions cause a misallocation of resources, reducing total factor productivity by preventing efficient firms from achieving their optimal scale and allowing inefficient firms to remain in the market. There is also an improvement in a few other factors  such as getting credit, from 44th to 29th, protecting minority investors from 13th to 4th, and resolving solvency, from 136 to 103.Interestingly, a comparison between the eight countries covered for the South Asia region  Bhutan, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan  suggests that, insofar as the factor starting a business is concerned, India ranks 8th, worse than even the backward Afghanistan, which ranks 7th.While overall India is found to be ranking No 2nd in the region (Bhutan is No 1), in dealing with construction permits India ranks 7th, as against Pakistan 5th and Bangladesh 4th. Further, India ranks 5th in enforcing contracts as against Pakistans 4th; 4th in resolving insolvency and trading across border, 3rd in paying taxes, and 1st in getting electricity, getting credit and protecting minority investors.Titled Doing Business 2018: Reforming to Create Jobs, the new World Bank report praises India for standing out this year as one of the 10 economies that improved the most in the areas measured by Doing Business, other countries being Brunei Darussalam, Thailand, Malawi, Kosovo, Uzbekistan, Zambia, Nigeria, Djibouti and El Salvador.Even as pointing out that India is among the top improvers, along with Brunei Darussalam and Thailand, for implementing the highest number of business regulation reforms in 2016/17, the World Bank does not fail to note inefficient licensing and size restrictions cause a misallocation of resources, reducing total factor productivity by preventing efficient firms from achieving their optimal scale and allowing inefficient firms to remain in the market.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi may have tried to extract political capital out of the 30 point jump noted in the World Banks latest Ease of Doing Business report , calling the 100th ranking among 190 countries historic, a result of what he called all-round and multi-sectoral reform push of Team India, but a comparison with the last years report suggests there is little cheer about it. In fact, Indias ranking in what could be considered as perhaps the most important factor for calculating ease of doing business, starting a business, has actually slipped by one point, from 155th to 156th. In yet another factor, which could be considered equally significant, "registering property", Indias ranking has slipped even more  from 138 to 154.While the World Bank also notes slip in two other factors, getting electricity from 26 to 29 and trading across borders from 143 to 146, in a few other factors, the improvement is not as drastic  for instance, the ranking was 185th in dealing with construction permits last year, which reached 181st this year, and enforcing contracts it was 172nd and has come up to 164th.Interestingly, the biggest jump in ease of doing business, from 172 to 119, a 50 point jump, is the factor paying taxes.It is, however, not known how the World Bank experts  who depended on their data for the period up to June 2017  would react to this factor now, as the new tax regime, Goods and Services Tax (GST), began being implemented in India on July 1, 2017. GST is known to be facing all-round opposition from virtually all sections of the business for being implemented in an extremely roughshod manner.
JAMESTOWN  A Jamestown man participated in a survey that precisely determined the location of the grave of President John F. Kennedy about a month after he was assassinated in 1963. Jerry Brickner, who is currently an engineer with the Stutsman County Road Department, still doesnt know why.

Brickner was a 25-year-old member of an Army unit that specialized in making maps. Six soldiers in the unit were tasked with determining the latitude and longitude of the center of Kennedys grave within half-inch accuracy.

In the Army, they told you what they wanted you to know, he said. The rumor was, they were worried somebody would steal the grave.

A month after the assassination, Cold War tensions were high, Brickner said.

In the summer of 1963, Kennedy had spoken at the Berlin Wall. A year earlier, the Bay of Pigs invasion of Cuba had failed.

Now, 54 years later, Brickner wont even speculate on how determining a precise location of the grave would prevent theft or desecration. He does remember the process for determining latitude and longitude back in the days before satellites and electronics.

There was no GPS back then, he said. It was based on Polaris and there was limited times we could take our sightings. Usually about 1 a.m.

The most accurate way to determine a location back then involved taking multiple sightings over multiple days of the North Star. Prior to the sightings, calculations would be made to determine when they could get the best readings. All the sighting information ultimately went into formulas that would yield the latitude and longitude.

It was all very specialized equipment, Brickner said. We didnt have all that digital stuff they do now.

Brickner said a marker was placed about 150 feet from Kennedys grave and measurements taken to determine the position of the marker. The distance from the marker to the grave was then used to calculate the latitude and longitude of the grave.

From the position of the marker where they worked, they could see the eternal flame at the grave and the crowds of people who paid their respects to the late president. The gravesite included the burial place of the late president along with two of his children.

There were so many people, Brickner said. You couldnt believe the people walking by the grave, even at night.

The Arlington National Cemetery website estimates that during the first year after Kennedys burial, about 3,000 people per hour walked past the grave.

In 1967, Kennedys grave and the graves of his children were moved a short distance as part of the creation of a permanent gravesite accommodating more visitors. The temporary and permanent gravesites are located on a slope just below Arlington House and overlook the Lincoln and Washington memorials.

Buried alongside her husband is Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis. The graves of the late Presidents brothers, Robert and Edward Kennedy, are nearby along with a marker for Joseph Kennedy Jr., killed in action in World War II, although his body was never recovered.

Brickner said the equipment used for the survey in 1963 may have been primitive by todays standards, but was highly accurate.

You wouldnt get that close even with professional grade equipment today, he said. You would be sufficiently close with a good grade GPS and that would take about 5 minutes.

It took about 10 days to take the sightings and do the calculations back in 1963.

While the Kennedy administration and assassination have a prominent place in history, Brickner doesnt see his work establishing the location of the grave of importance.

It was so long ago, he said. It was 1963 for Gods sake.
GRAND FORKS  The woman who shot and killed a 24-year-old Grand Forks man at the Flying J truckstop as part of a methamphetamine trafficking ring physically shook throughout a hearing where she was sentenced to 30 years in prison Tuesday.

Krystal Lynn Feist, 32, pleaded guilty to firing a 20-gauge shotgun into Austin Forsmans head in the early hours of March 11, 2016, the result of what court testimony revealed to be a miscommunication regarding the safety of a cousin of the the meth conspiracy ringleader who ordered the shooting.

Im truly, truly sorry, Feist said in a statement of allocution as she began to cry. I understand if you cant forgive me, but I hope one day you can forgive me.

Feist pulled the trigger, but a federal jury last month found Modesto Torrez ordered her to kill Forsman after his cousin, Aaron Morado told him he was stuck with Forsman, whom he owed money for methamphetamine. Morado testified at Torrezs trial he tried to tell Torrez that he wasnt in danger, but that message never made it back to Feist, who testified she shot Forsman after receiving confirmation from Torrez on the phone.

Feist, Torrez and Morado were among 13 charged in a superseding indictment into the murder and methamphetamine trafficking in the Red River Valley. All have either pleaded guilty or been convicted of their roles in the conspiracy.

Feist pleaded guilty to murder in furtherance of a drug conspiracy, death caused by use of a firearm during a crime of violence and conspiracy to possess and distribute a controlled substance.

Damaged life

U.S. Attorney Chris Myers called for a 32-year sentence for Feist, noting she deserved credit for the substantial assistance she gave the federal government by testifying against Torrez.

Her attorney, Grand Forks lawyer Ted Sandberg, said she deserved even more credit, asking the court for a 200-month sentence, just more than 16 years.

Sandberg pointed to Feists childhood in the foster care system, where he said she was physically and sexually abused, leaving her with a desire to find family and belonging, a feeling she received from Torrez.

Krystal has been used and abused her whole life, and this case is no different, Sandberg said.

He said her testimony against Torrez was critical to his conviction and was a risky proposition for someone who is facing a long prison sentence, while acknowledging the U.S. Attorneys Office was being generous with its recommendation.

Ms. Feist put herself in considerable danger by appearing and testifying in open court, Sandberg said.

Erickson agreed, acknowledging Torrez had high-level criminal connections and had spent considerable amount of time in the prison system. But he said he could not sentence Feist for less than 30 years case, considering the premeditated murder and Feists criminal history. He said Feist was a person who had been uniquely damaged in her life.

I think what we have here is the kind of brokenness a person has from a lifetime of chaos and violence and physical and sexual assault, Erickson said.

Still, Erickson said the crime was unfathomable and was senseless to a degree he rarely sees. Forsman may have been a meth user, but he did nothing that would typically get anyone killed in a drug dealing scenario, Erickson noted.

This was a truly innocent dude who did nothing, and they took everything, Erickson said. His life was stolen from him by people who were owed nothing, and that is real.

Erickson sentenced Feist to 23 years for Forsmans murder and 10 years for her involvement in the drug conspiracy to be served concurrently, and an additional 6 years to be served consecutively for the weapon charge. She will be on five years of supervised release after leaving prison and is ordered to pay $9,119 in restitution.

Torrez will be sentenced Dec. 1.
Cisco's Shining Star: Meraki

Leading the charge for Cisco Systems' highly successful Meraki business is Todd Nightingale, who has spent years pulling various Cisco technologies into the Meraki platform and fighting off the competition.

The cloud-based management platform is full of open APIs and rich recurring revenue opportunities for the networking giant's channel community. With more than $1 billion in annualized sales and 13,000 partners currently selling Meraki, Nightingale says market leadership and the innovation engine will continue to grow.

"We really try to focus quite a bit on enabling partners to find new customers because a customer that makes an initial purchase of Meraki, with all the partner services that come with it, that customer tends to quadruple their spend over the next two years," said Nightingale, senior vice president and general manager of Cisco Meraki.

In an interview with CRN for Cisco Partner Summit 2017, Nightingale talks about competition with Hewlett Packard Enterprise-Aruba, Meraki's technology road map, being nonproprietary and his strategy for portfolio expansion.
DICKINSON  The Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, has dominated discussions everywhere from the White House to kitchen tables since the Trump administration took over in January.

Obamacare, passed in 2010 and fully implemented by 2014, has been subject to multiple congressional repeal attempts, several White House executive orders and much fanfare from both sides of the aisle.

In North Dakota and across the country, however, Obamacare enrollment opened Wednesday for a six-week period, about half the length of previous years.

What does all of the action, or inaction, in Washington mean for the roughly 20,000 North Dakotans who rely on health insurance provided by Obamacare exchange markets this year and beyond?

CSRs, Premiums and the Marketplace

North Dakota had a relatively strong and competitive Obamacare marketplace in the last few years with three insurers covering the state.

This year, only Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBSND) is covering the entire state. Sanford Health Plan is offering Obamacare plans in only five counties (Cass, Traill, Burleigh, Morton and Oliver) and Medica decided to pull out of the marketplace entirely.

Medica and Sanford both cited federal cuts to cost sharing reductions (CSR) -- payments made by the federal government to insurance carriers to help low-income consumers with out-of-pocket costs, such as copayments and deductibles -- as reasons why they are exiting or limiting their role in the individual health insurance marketplace.

In a statement in late September on Medica leaving the marketplace, Insurance Commissioner Jon Godfread said his department rejected requests from Medica to include cuts to CSRs while setting premium rates.

We had to make the decision to move forward with rates that assumed payments would be made, Godfread said.

Medica predicted correctly, it turned out a few weeks later.

On Oct. 12 the Trump administration announced the $7 billion CSR cut, and several days later Godfread said there would be no additional rate increases allowed for health insurance premiums.

Tony Piscione, vice president of Actuarial Services for BCBSND, said his company received about $4 million in CSR funding in 2016, and that it will have to cover that cost, or likely a higher cost, entirely by themselves this year.

(Leaving the Obamacare market) this year was a consideration, Piscione said. Ultimately, we decided that we made that commitment to our members in North Dakota and we wanted to stick with that commitment. We'll just need to absorb whatever that financial impact may end up being.

Sanford announced last week that it was withdrawing from the Obamacare marketplace in all but the five North Dakota counties.

When things like the termination of CSRs is made after insurers have set the rates for the year, it makes it very difficult, said Kirk Zimmer, executive vice president for Sanford Health Plan. We worked to continue the exchange (in five counties) in a matter that covers the maximum number of North Dakota consumers and minimizes the losses that we were going to incur because of the CSR.

In Stark County, as in 48 of North Dakotas 53 counties, BCBSND will be the only insurance carrier participating in the Obamacare marketplace. Though premiums would be even higher if CSR funding cuts were factored in, BCBSND premiums are expected to rise on average a little more than 20 percent.

I suspect that some will be priced out of the market this year, said Deb Nelson, executive director of Dickinsons DLN Consulting. People should really study those plans on what option is going to work the very best for them.

In previous years, Nelson helped southwest North Dakota residents looking to get coverage through Obamacare. Though funding for her program was cut this year, she will still help navigate Obamacare on a pro-bono basis this enrollment period.

She said it might be more challenging this year to find an affordable health care plan on the exchange market, but she urges people to do all they can to get coverage.

The big thing is we really encourage people to get insured, one way or the other, Nelson said. Its so important, not only for them and their own health but for everybody else. Insured people end up having to pay the hospital costs (of uninsured patients).

Alexander-Murray

Godfread argued that Medicas exit of the market illustrates that North Dakota will not be insulated from the collapse of the ACA, describing it in a death spiral. Others believe blame for uncertainty in Obamacare exchanges should fall at least in part on the Trump administration.

Andy Slavitt, former acting administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), was in charge of administering Obamacare nationally under the Obama White House and argues that the Trump administration is attempting a synthetic repeal of the law through executive action.

An administration who continually tries to undermine the law of the land is not sustainable and I doubt that it's legal, Slavitt said in a phone interview. If (Trumps) goal is to increase premiums, he's succeeding. If his goal is to reduce the amount of people getting health care coverage, he's succeeding.

In the wake of the CSR cuts, Sens. Patty Murray, D-Wash., and Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., announced they had reached a bipartisan deal to fund the CSR subsidies and other Obamacare outreach programs cut by the Trump administration. The bill, which has the strong support of Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, D-N.D., is still making its way through the Senate.

Alexander and Murray invited non-committee members to participate in the process and over 30 volunteered to go, which is kind of unheard of around here, Heitkamp said. Funding the CSR payments is huge for North Dakota and other states.  This is really what can happen when you use the process that you are supposed to use. I'm very excited about this.

Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D. said he will need to see the final product before making a final decision on the bill, and is also wary of the chances it has to pass into law.

(Rep. Kevin Brady, R-Texas) and (Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah) proposed eliminating individual and employer mandates and that would certainly help bring more support to the bill, Hoeven said, We need to get to a long-term solution that truly gives people choice. North Dakotans need to do what's best for North Dakotans. This one-size-fits-all government-run health care is not working.

In a statement, Rep. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., did not come out firmly for or against the Murray-Alexander proposal.

I support the efforts of the administration and those in Congress who are working to provide relief to Americans suffering under Obamacare, Cramer said. Any appropriations to maintain funding for cost-sharing reduction payments  should be tied to meaningful health policy reform that provides more flexibility for states and better care for the American people.

The Murray-Alexander billhas 12 Republican and 12 Democratic cosponsors in the Senate, but may face stiff barriers in House and White House if it passes in the Senate.
Fotolia / Fotolia

November is American Diabetes Month and Get Healthy Connecticut, an anti-obesity coalition that works in the greater Bridgeport, New Haven and Greenwich regions, is providing some information to help people with diabetes manage their health in its monthly health feature, Diabetes: What You Need to Know, available online at www.GetHealthyCT.org. Featured topics include:

 Free 4-Week Smoking Cessation Program
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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued warning letters to four companies  none of which were in Connecticut  illegally selling products online, derived from marijuana, that claim to prevent, diagnose, treat, or cure cancer without evidence to support these outcomes.

Selling these unapproved products with unsubstantiated therapeutic claims is not only a violation of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, but also can put patients at risk as these products have not been proven to be safe or effective, the FDA said in a statement on its web site. The deceptive marketing of unproven treatments may keep some patients from accessing appropriate, recognized therapies to treat serious and even fatal diseases.
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WASHINGTON  Special prosecutor Robert Mueller is scheduling an interview with White House communications director Hope Hicks as part of his ongoing investigation of links between the Trump campaign and Russia, according to multiple news reports.

Hicks, 29, of Greenwich, is one of several Trump operatives to be called in for interviews in recent weeks. Among the others: Former White House chief of staff Reince Priebus and former White House press secretary Sean Spicer.

Muellers level of interest in Hicks is not clear. But it is likely his team is more interested in what firsthand knowledge she has about the actions of others  including President Donald Trump  than any potential wrongdoing on her part.

As a confidant of Trump from the early days on the campaign trail right up to the present, Hicks has enjoyed access to Trump afforded few others outside the presidents family.

Word of Muellers efforts to arrange an interview with Hicks comes two days after the arrests of former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort, who is part of a New Britain family with deep roots in the Republican Party there, and his associate, Rick Gates.

The two pleaded not guilty to 12 criminal charges, including conspiracy and money laundering. Also Monday, prosecutors revealed that another former Trump campaign aide, George Papadopoulos, had pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about a conversation concerning dirt that Russia had on Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton.

Calm amid the storm

Hicks father, Paul Hicks, is a public relations professional who worked for former Republican Rep. Stewart McKinney. He has worked for the NFL, and also served two terms as a Greenwich Selectman.

In a brief phone call Wednesday, Hicks said he had not been in touch with his daughter since news surfaced of the Mueller teams interview request. He declined further comment.

His daughters attorney in Washington, Robert Trout, did not answer an email inquiry. Trout belongs to a law firm with a long history of defending high-ranking officials caught up in Washington-type investigations.

Hope Hicks lacks a deep background in politics. After a stint as a teen model and post-college work in the New York public relations world, she latched on to the Trump Organization via Trumps daughter, Ivanka.

On the surface, Hicks relationship to Trump would seem to be something of a mystery. For decades, Trump has been a brash, shoot-from-the hip, outer-borough real estate developer with strong political ambitions. Hicks, meanwhile, is more genteel, growing up in Greenwich and becoming co-captain of the Greenwich High School lacrosse team.

At a minimum, she appears to be the calm person around whom the anger and intrigue emanating from the Trump White House swirls.

Trump appears to value her counsel, and is said to look upon Hicks as a virtual family member, calling her The Hopester and Hopie.

Lines of inquiry

Hicks is less of a gatekeeper than a sounding board. According to numerous published reports, she appears willing to let Trump be Trump  accepting the presidents unorthodox way of politics-by-Twitter while attempting to mitigate it.

That very closeness to the president may be of interest to the Mueller team. Interviewers from Muellers office may seek out more details on, for instance, the firing of former FBI Director James Comey in May.

That dismissal came in the wake of Comeys resistance to going easy on Trump associates such as former national security adviser Michael Flynn.

At first, Trump justified the dismissal on the basis of recommendations from the Justice Department that reflected Republican disenchantment over Comeys explanation about why the FBI was dropping its investigation of Clintons use of a private email server while she was secretary of state.

But Trump soon acknowledged in an interview that the firing of Comey was the culmination of a number of objections including, as Trump put it, this Russia thing.

Mueller is widely believed to be investigating whether Trumps firing of Comey and possibly other acts aimed at derailing the Trump-Russia investigation rise to the level of criminal obstruction of justice.

Hicks could be questioned on details related to that subject, or a host of other topics.

dan@hearstdc.com
BRIDGEPORT  Those looking to learn whats fact and whats fiction when it comes to pirates can learn the truth from a historian at a local museum later this month.

Historian John R. Wright will voice a lecture titled Pirates: Fact & Fiction at the Housatonic Museum of Art on Thursday, Nov 16. The museum is located on the Housatonic Community College campus  900 Lafayette Blvd. The free event is open to the public and is scheduled to being in the Burt Chernow Galleries of the museum at 6:30 p.m.
BRIDGEPORT -A local man is facing five years in prison after being found guilty Wednesday of hitting a Danbury woman in the head with a bottle during a birthday bash.

The six-member, Superior Court jury deliberated about three hours before finding Wagner Gomes, 36, of Marion Street, guilty of second-degree assault.
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After four hours of hearings, the legislative Judiciary Committee on Wednesday overwhelmingly approved two state Supreme Court nominees and one Appellate judge for interim posts, pending final votes by the General Assembly next year for eight-year terms.

Appellate Court Judge Maria Araujo Kahn of Cheshire and Appellate Judge Raheem L. Mullins of Cromwell were endorsed for the Supreme Court seats, while William Bright Jr. of Columbia was also approved. They will begin hearing cases immediately.

Kahn, 53, told the committee during a public hearing that when she and her parents, factory workers, arrived in 1975, she could not have imagined her future, including 11 years as a trial judge and a member of the Appellate Court, to which she was appointed earlier this year.

I think it would be an incredible honor to serve Connecticut, to continue my role on the Supreme Court, Kahn said.

Parts of your story resonates with a lot of us, said Rep. William Tong, D-Stamford, committee co-chairman, asking how her life experience has affected her work. I will always apply the law in a neutral and fair manner, she said, I think that shapes, obviously, who we are as individuals, and how it makes us human.

Tong noticed that much of Kahns work has centered on criminal law, although a more-recent civil case involved financial and mortgage law, in which a family lost their house in the wake of the 2008 recession.

The courts are there to apply the law, she said, stressing that in that case, the holder of the mortgage was a bank. Foreclosures are very sad and I dont think I am the only judge in Connecticut who feels for people, she said, adding that the law sometimes is cruel.

In another case, a Fairfield man in possession of child pornography who was confronted by Fairfield and State Police in his home shortly after 6 a.m. one morning in 2012, claimed was not verbally given his rights in a timely manner. It appears you decided that when they first came into the house, Miranda warnings were not required because he was not in custody, Tong said.

Kahn, a Bridgeport Superior Court judge at the time, said she thoroughly reviewed procedures. One of the detectives then said to the defendants Do you know why we are here? before agreeing to go outside with the suspect, who smoked a cigarette during the supposedly private meeting with police. She said that the initial question was ruled outside the investigation.

Is the person in custody, yes or no? Tong asked, to which she replied that she found the circumstances unusual. These are very difficult issues, Tong agreed, adding that he was satisfied with Kahns responses.

In November of 2013, Kahn, sentenced John Spence, a 41-year-old former bus driver to 18 years in prison, suspended after nine years and 20 years probation, for possessing more than 300 images of child pornography, including disturbing videos.

You have certainly seen the law from all sides, said Rep. Rosa Rebimbas, R-Naugatuck, ranking member of the committee, stressing that Kahn has been both a prosecutor, a public defender and a Superior Court judge, as well as a member of the Appellate Court.

I had a great time in Superior Court, said Kahn during the hour-and-15-minute hearing. When you go up to the Appellate Court, youre really reviewing the referee calls. I think what I miss most is the interactions with members of the bar, she said, adding that the Appellate Court is fascinating.

Kahn and Mullins, 39, will fill the seats vacated by Justice Carmen E. Espinosa, who took senior status in July; and Justice Dennis G. Eveleigh, who has reached the mandatory retirement age of 70. But Kahns and Mullins status on the high court would be interim, pending action next year by the full General Assembly. The annual salary of Supreme Court justices is $185,610.

Mullins, the first of his family to go to college, recalled that as a 17-year-old after growing up in a Middletown public housing complex, he became a father. He credited his parents with supporting him.

Youre 39 years old, Tong asked. Are you ready to go to the Supreme Court?

Mullins said he is.

kdixon@ctpost.com Twitter: @KenDixonCT
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Avison Young brokered two land sales that will result in the development of more than 250 units of assisted living, memory care and independent housing for the elderly.

In the first transaction, Sean McDonnell, principal in Avison Young's Fairfield/Westchester office and head of the firm's health care real estate division, joined with Senior Associate Alison Luisi of its Capital Markets Group to arrange the $5 million sale of a 3.81-acre site from Young's Nurseries Inc. at 211 Danbury Road in Wilton to 211 Danbury Road LLC.

The site has been approved for the development of 90 assisted living and memory care units to be operated by Sunrise Senior Living, which operates about 315 assisted living facilities throughout the U.S., Canada and the United Kingdom.

In the second transaction, Sean Cahill, principal and managing director of Avison Young's Fairfield/Westchester office, and Luisi arranged the $3.79 million sale of an 8-acre, pad-ready site at 26 Beard Sawmill Road in Shelton. The seller was Hawk's Ridge of Shelton LLC and the buyer was Shelter Development LLC.

The site has been approved for 160 units of assisted living, memory care and independent living housing to be operated by another national operator, Brightview Senior Living.

Luisi noted that the 65-and-older population has been estimated by Connecticuts Legislative Commission on Aging report to grow by 57 percent between 2010 and 2040  and that the demographic now makes up more than 20 percent of the overall Connecticut population.

We expect this appetite for new development in this sector to continue to grow as long as developers and operators are able to find sites that allow for the density they need, she said.

Although it is somewhat unusual for a real estate firm to help broker land sales for developments that have already been approved  generally, the developer owns or has a purchase option for the land and then approaches planning and zoning boards with their ideas  Cahill explained that these two deals were a little different.

We listed for sale the Shelton property with only preliminary approvals for assisted living, he said. We then went to the market nationally to try and attract a developer who would meet our sellers pricing expectations, have a good track record of closing, and would agree to the terms of our purchase and sales agreement (PSA).

After we got the PSA executed, the buyer had the property under contract with the stipulation that he had 12 months with possible extensions to get full and final approvals for his plan, Cahill said. Then the developer would close and own the property.

Along the way continued negotiation came up as the buyer and seller ultimately decided to begin site work ahead of the closing, he said. In order to attract the buyer we had to do research to prove the market for these units and that the Shelton location would attract people from lower Fairfield County to move there.

The Wilton sale was contingent on getting approval for the project, so there was a risk factor of not getting the approvals and the seller not closing the deal, Luisi said. The buyer had a contract that stipulated that it needed certain criteria in terms of density and building allowances for the deal to happen.

Therefore the seller had a time factor risk as well as approval process risk, she said. If those things dont come through, the value of the property goes down.

In both cases a broker was needed to procure the buyer, Luisi said.

Kevin Zimmerman is a reporter for the Fairfield County Business Journal. For more of his work and that of the journal, please visit westfaironline.com.
The following excerpt is from Perry Marshall, Mike Rhodes and Bryan Todds book Ultimate Guide to Google AdWords. Buy it now from Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iTunes | IndieBound

Imagine you're walking past a sporting goods store and you see an amazing pair of sneakers in the window. You walk into the shop and the sneakers are nowhere to be found. Or worse, a security guard stops you at the door and demands to know your address and phone number.

Not a great first impression.

Your landing page is the same way. When you make a promise in your ad, your visitors expect you to deliver on it when they arrive at your page. They won't stick around otherwise.

Your landing page will perform best when it looks and feels like a natural continuation of your ad. What keywords or phrases made your ad sing? What colors or images got people's attention? What ballsy promise did you make? Don't lose your prospect! Match those same elements on your landing page.

Google's editors look for this same pattern. They want to see an uninterrupted chain of relevance -- a "scent" -- starting from the initial search query, to the keyword, to the ad, right through to the landing page. Provide these key elements on your page and you'll keep Google on your side:

Related: 15 Useful Tech Tools for Your Business

A clear business model

If a Google editor manually reviews your site, they should be able to tell in fewer than 20 seconds what it is you actually do. How do you make your money? Are you selling a course, a product or a service? The editor wants assurance that you're not harvesting emails in order to spam. Your page should describe what will happen once your visitors opt in and what value they'll receive in exchange for their personal information.

Supportable claims

If you have a stellar track record and have won awards or received stellar reviews and you can support it with verifiable third-party data, by all means say so. Beyond that, avoid making money claims or medical and health claims altogether. Google frequently suspends and bans sites that make unsupported promises.

Credible testimonials.

You're free to use testimonials on your landing page. However, if the results they represent aren't typical, Google will likely require you to mark your testimonials with an asterisk and write the appropriate disclaimer. If yours is an eligible ecommerce site, you can sign up with Google Trusted Stores and display their trust badge in your ads and on your pages.

Related: A Step-by-Step Guide To Building Your First Mobile App

Friendly design.

You never get a second chance to make that first impression, as they say. Invest the time and a little money on a professional, well-designed page that's easy to navigate -- the simpler the better. Your content might be fantastic, but if the design is outdated or user-hostile, it's going to cost you. In the first second or two after your prospect lands on your page, they need to think, "Yes, this is relevant to what I was looking for; yes, there's obvious value here; and yes, it's clear what action I'm going to take."

Obvious value.

When your prospect first lands on your page, they don't know you and don't yet trust you. Before you ask them to opt in, convince them that you have informative content. Provide navigation back to your main site in case they want to find out more. Both your prospect and Google want to be assured that you deliver value of some kind without their having to opt in first. What's the benefit of your offer? If your prospect downloads your free white paper, what will they learn?

A link to your privacy policy.

Have this available at the bottom of every page you're sending paid traffic to. It should be easily discoverable in your page footer. If you have a call-to-action button on your form, you can include the link right below it.

Related: 25 Creative Ways to Promote Your App For Free

Contact details.

It's not a hard requirement, but Google prefers that you make your physical address -- not just a P.O. box -- available on your site. This helps build trust as it demonstrates that you're a real business with an actual front door. At the very least, you'll need a working phone number or functional email address.

Appropriate disclaimers.

Have these ready if you're using testimonials. In some cases, Google requires a disclaimer next to every testimonial; this depends on your industry. One main disclaimer in your footer stating that "Individual results may vary" may be adequate.

Related:

The Race for AI Company Acquisitions: Why It's Happening, and Its Lessons for You

The Essential Landing Page Checklist

3 Places to Find New Tech Talent



Copyright 2017 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved



This article originally appeared on entrepreneur.com


Acquisitions have been a long-standing strategy companies use for a wide range of reasons. Some companies acquire others because of strategic benefits like access to a new market, product or service. Others do it to achieve economies of scale, leverage synergies or diversify their portfolios. Also, an acquisition can be a reaction to specific market changes in order to remain competitive, or a means of protecting existing market share.

Related: Freshdesk's 6th acquisition is an AI-based Chatbot Platform

Every industry has experienced acquisition activity -- and that includes emerging business segments. More acquisitions tend to appear when the market starts to realize that a particular segment is offering new revenue opportunities. Thats why numerous niches in technology have become the target of increased acquisition activity in recent years.

The most recent technology niche in the acquisitions races? Artificial intelligence (AI): More than 250 private companies that use AI algorithms across different verticals have been acquired since 2012, with 37 acquisitions taking place in the first quarter of 2017, according to CB Insights.

There are many reasons why the area of AI is ripe for acquisition activity -- and why so many candidates are now being eyed for acquisition. Here are some of those reasons:

Driving factors for AI growth

There are many reasons why AI is growing and showing up in more industries, niches, and applications. The explosion of big data and interest in it have created a need for technology solutions to control, organize and analyze all this information. Companies are now generating huge amounts of data. And this requires a fast and accurate way to understand the data for more effective business decisions and solutions that address competitive pressure.

AI also helps to provide an enhanced customer experience, while offering inexpensive parallel processing power and increased adoption of smart devices.

The competitors in the AI race

The companies behind these AI acquisitions are tech giants that want to reinforce their leadership position in artificial intelligence. At the very least, they are looking to make up for lost ground. Google is the most active acquirer, with 12 acquisitions since 2012. In second place is Apple, with eight acquisitions.

Related: 4 Lesser-Known Ways Artificial Intelligence Is Changing Business Today

Next on the list are Intel, Microsoft and Facebook. Intel acquired three startups in 2016 alone, including Itseez, Nervana Systems, and Movidius. Recently, Facebook acquired Masquerade Technologies and Zurich Eye. Microsoft has also been busy, acquiring Genee and Maluuba. Google's parent company, Alphabet, has completed six acquisitions since 2014.

Other tech brands are also following suit. For example, Amazon bought Graphiq, Harvest.ai, Angel.ai, and Orbeus. BOX acquired Wagon Analytics and Greply while Dropbox purchased Clementine Labs, and Predictive Edge Technologies. IBM recently acquired Expert Personal Shopper, AlchemyAPI, Cognea, and Vivisimo.

Finally, even non-tech companies are getting into AI. Ford Motor Company invested $1 billion in Argo AI in 2017. This AI startup was founded by former executives that were on self-driving teams at Google and Uber.

AI companies on the acquisition radar

Numerous AI companies are on the watch list for being possible acquisition targets by these tech giants and major brands. Here are some of these potential acquisition candidates:

Clarifai. Clarifai specializes in image and video recognition. It automatically tags all your images and video so you can quickly organize, manage and search through content. The user can teach the platform to recognize new concepts with only a handful of data examples. It can then create a custom model for unique cases.

Google and Nvidia are notable investors. Clarifai's customers include Buzzfeed and Unilever. It has been approached about a dozen times by prospective acquirers since it launched in late 2013.

SparkCognition. SparkCognition has proprietary classification and prediction algorithms that collect large amounts of sensor data and transfer it into actionable insight. It offers support root-cause analysis along with a cognitive layer in the form of its DeepArmor deep machine learning anti-malware software. It can simulate most of what a human security analyst can do, but it does so at machine speed and Big Data scale. This enables it to provide predictive threat intelligence for users.

With this type of proprietary technology, this AI company has the potential to create a bidding war among companies that recognize the unique value of this technology.

Textio. Textio is an augmented writing platform for creating highly effective job listings. It takes more than 10 million job posts each month and analyzes the hiring outcomes of those jobs. From this analysis, the AI platform can predict how your listing will do and offer recommendations on how to improve it. Its AI solution has proved valuable to clients like Cisco and Johnson & Johnson, as they use it to recruit better talent.

Textio has raised $20 million in new funding led by Scale Venture Partners and existing investors, such as Bloomberg Beta, Cowboy Ventures, Emergence Capital and Upside Partnership. This level of funding illustrates the value the company has for others interested in using it for many applications.

Findo. Findo emerged with a tool that could provide smart search capability for management. Natural language processing and machine learning give teams a way to find documents without using keywords. The AI-enabled tool can sift through massive amounts of personal and corporate data to find what users describe in their own words. Findo now has other features that extend their value.

Yva Task Assistant is an AI-driven invisible task assistant that identifies the who, what, when and status for tasks found within emails and message. Once it locates those, it then generates task lists and reports. The AI tool also sends reminders about important tasks as a web app and a mobile app.

There is more on the horizon for Findo. In the future, it plans to release Team Performance Supervisor. The objective is to create more efficient HR management by providing a way to identify employee issues before the company loses its best employees. The tool can also help managers see who is being less productive and who is excelling.

X.ai. X.ai has a virtual assistant, "Amy," which helps schedule meetings for users. All you need to do is copy Amy into the email and the technology virtually schedules meetings. Using machine learning and natural language processing, Amy schedules the best time and location for your meeting based on your preferences and schedule. It also provides a way to bring structure to a significant amount of unorganized data.

With so many companies looking to add structure to their data, this tool would offer numerous ways to achieve that goal.

Zoox. Zoox is a robotics company that has pioneer autonomous mobility-as-a-service. It is developing a fully automated electric vehicle fleet along with the supporting ecosystem necessary to scale it for the market. Staffed by some past Apple employees, Zoox has received considerable amounts of funding. So far, seven investors have provided $290 million over the course of two rounds of funding.

The autonomous vehicle industry is expanding and becoming more mainstream, putting Zoox in a good position to be acquired for its capabilities.

Bloomreach. BloomReach is an open, intelligent Digital Experience Platform (DXP). Operating within the cloud, it analyzes big data to help clients identify relevant content through search engines. Applications include content management, SEO, role-based analytics, site search and page management. BloomReach has proven itself working for companies like Staples, Autodesk, Mailchimp, REI, and Neiman Marcus.

The company has raised $97 million in four rounds from six investors. There is more interest already in the wings.

Numer.ai. Numer.ai is a hedge fund that is framed by an artificially intelligent system that chooses all the trades. Since Numer.ai abstracts its financial data, data scientists do not know what the data represents. Therefore, human biases and overfitting are overcome. It also encrypts its trading data before sharing it with the data scientists.

This strategy prevents fund managers from mimicking the fund's trades. Yet, the encrypted data is also organized in a way that enables data scientists to build models that can potentially improve trades.

With so many opportunities converging on the investment industry, this solution could not have appeared at a better time.

Motion.ai. Motion.ai is a chatbot-building platform that relies on natural language processing to bring the bots to life. Companies like SONY, Wix.com, KIA, and T-Mobile are already using this chatbot. The benefits include integration with Messenger, SMS, Slack and email. The company has enterprise solutions. It also provides a team that works with a companys inner resources to further enhance its features list.

Chatbots are one of the hottest growth areas, so this company could potentially provide a larger enterprise with the capability in this area they are seeking.

Fuzzy Logix. Fuzzy Logix speeds the process for getting intelligence from large structured datasets. Its DB Lytix product works within existing databases to perform predictive analytics. The process does not require data export. It takes only hours rather than days. The company has been able to improve cross-company forecasting and deliver analytic solutions to multiple divisions of Fortune 500 companies and across industries like finance, retail, health care and manufacturing.

With the ability to help so many with a unique solution, Fuzzy Logix is one of the most attractive AI acquisition candidates out there.

Prospectify. Prospectify offers intelligence for data-driven revenue teams. It uses machine learning to predict the right emails for outdated contacts on your prospect list. In this way, you can clean up your list and automate the process of lead generation. Prospectify also enables quicker scoring and qualifying, critical context and timely alerts for crucial trigger events.

Numerous companies with sales issues are struggling, so this solution would provide an attractive feature to their toolbox and give them a competitive edge.

Acquisitions predicted to boom

The rest of 2017 and into 2018 will likely be an exciting time for artificial intelligence, natural language processing and machine learning. New applications, tools and platforms will emerge while others will integrate and assimilate into other organizations to meet those company's needs.

Lessons for entrepreneurs

AI startups will enjoy many opportunities as businesses and consumers realize the value it delivers. And even for startups not in the AI environment, this boom in acquisitions has three lessons to teach:

First, always be aware of what is happening within your industry and those impacted by it. This means paying attention to trends and shifts in preferences so you can be prepared to pivot in order to maintain the value you are adding to your audience and to any companies that might consider acquiring you.

Second, a startup must always have an exit strategy in mind. While it may seem unrealistic to be thinking of the potential end to your connection to a business that you are only ramping up, the reality is that you need to be prepared to move on. Acquisitions are one of the most attractive exit strategies. Depending on the situation, you may be able to get a complete buyout or retain a portion of the company and a leadership position.

Third, know what you want should you be approached by a company interested in acquiring your business. Seek advice from legal team and other business advisors who have participated in acquisitions, so they can help shape your response, negotiation and transaction.

Related: With Whole Foods Purchase, Amazon Just Bought a Playground for Big Data

Overall, the AI industrys boost in acquisitions illustrates just how important disruptive companies are to existing and established ones. When looking to create your own startup, focus on how you can generate that value by doing something completely different.

The AI startups listed here all started by recognizing a significant gap and the demand for what they could offer. Do the same: Take the time to develop that angle, and youll be part of your own acquisition race.

Related:

There's a Lot More to AI Than Just Chatbots

The Race for AI Company Acquisitions: Why It's Happening, and Its Lessons for You

4 Ways You Could Be Incorporating Artificial Intelligence Into Your Marketing Strategy



Copyright 2017 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved



This article originally appeared on entrepreneur.com


31 Ekim 2017 Sal, 14:08

CHP Istanbul MP Bars Yarkadas said, Those who are paying a price to enable the people to exercise the right to be obtain news will for sure attain success.



The crowd assembling before the Caglayan Judicial Complex for the Cumhuriyet and Ozgur Gundem newspaper staffers hearings were calling for the release of the detained journalists.



Also in attendance at the meeting organised by the group named the Journalists on the Outside, alongside CHP MPs Bars Yarkadas, Gursel Tekin, Ali Seker, Muharrem Erkek and Sezgin Tanrkulu, were Kadkoy Mayor Aykurt Nuhoglu and Kadkoy Sub-Province Chair Ali Narin.



CHP Beyoglu Sub-Province Chair Bekir Ozcan also gave support to the group. Socialist International Vice President Umut Oran also came to Caglayan for the hearing.



Bars Yarkadas, addressing the crowd prior to the hearing, said, The AKP has put democracy into intensive care. We are struggling to bring democracy to its feet.



Yarkadas spoke as follows:



Welcome to our ordinary Tuesday meeting. Why do I say, ordinary Tuesday meeting? Because every Tuesday we gather in front of a building having justice in its name but having no justice inside for journalists, our colleagues, intellectuals and writers, and, unfortunately, the AKP regime seemingly does not change our fate. There are currently a full 182 journalists behind iron bars in jails and they are paying a heavy price for what they have written, drawn and said, for the tweets they have posted and comments they have made.



The CHP parliamentarian summarised the duress experienced by the journalists and the course of their trials as follows:



Today sees the trial of both Cumhuriyet and Ozgur Gundem newspaper staffers. The Ozgur Gundem staffers have been in detention for a period in excess of 400 days. As to the Cumhuriyet staffers, they have been deprived of their liberty for a full 365 days, that is four seasons. October passed in full anguish and torture for journalists. In October, twelve journalists were arrested and four of them were detained. This was not enough and they launched an investigation into eleven journalists. Many of our journalist colleagues homes were raided and their books were confiscated.



Yarkadas, stating that the regime had put democracy into intensive care, continued as follows:



With the AKP regime having journalists detained and threatening intellectuals and having investigations launched into their writing and artwork, it is bringing democracy to its death throes. Thanks to the AKP, democracy is currently like a patient who has been admitted to intensive care. We are trying with our struggle for freedom, our struggle for the freedom of expression, to bring this patient currently placed in intensive care back onto its feet, back to life and make it prevail on this soil



Rest assured that those who are paying a price for the freedom to express ideas and to enable the people to exercise the right to be obtain news  those who have spent 365 days, 400 days, 450 days in jail - will crown this fight for freedom with success and the people will in the end for sure freely exercise the right to obtain news on this soil.


Some of Bismarck-Mandans homeless are out in the cold and its time for the community to act. There was notice that the Ruth Meiers mens shelter would be closing, but a solution eluded those seeking answers.

Now, we have men sleeping in parks, cars and doorways. They slip into businesses to warm up during nights when the temperatures dip in the 20s and the winds reach the 40s.

Having homeless people in Bismarck-Mandan isnt new. The homeless have been tracked for some time and there are counts on how many people live on the streets of North Dakotas cities. It is new to know that the only shelter that at one time housed 30 to 70 men a night has closed with no replacement available.

Admittedly, many of the homeless are in their situation because of their own actions. They have stumbled in life and, for one reason or another, have been unable to right themselves. Some have been released from prison and havent had an opportunity to get established. There are probably a few among them who dont want to change their lifestyles.

A variety of organizations have been trying to find a way to establish a shelter. The Tribune knows a lot of work has been going on behind the scenes in an effort to help the homeless. The Missouri Slope Areawide United Way, Youthworks, the Heartview Foundation, Ministry on the Margins and other groups have been working on the issue. People do care and are deeply concerned about the situation.

As a community we cant let a problem continue that results in men bedding down in park bushes without a sleeping bag. In times of natural disasters government responds by establishing emergency shelters. During the 2011 floods there were temporary places for people to stay. The Tribune doesnt expect our government officials to establish permanent shelters, but setting up temporary quarters seems like a logical step. There should be space that could be found in the Event Center, armory or other community-owned facility. Cots could be used, volunteers recruited and police used as security. It would provide these men a place to stay during the night until the situation is resolved.

Having these men wandering around at night in search of a warm spot isnt good for anyone. The parks are closed and arent intended for campers. Residents in neighborhoods by the parks shouldnt have to worry about who might be staying there. The homeless shouldnt have to fear getting ill from the cold or dying when the temperatures plummet.

Bismarck-Mandan should treat this like an emergency because it is one. The numbers are small, but lives are at risk. We need to establish a temporary shelter and then find a longterm solution. We need to act quickly because weather conditions could get worse.
A slight majority of Americans oppose banning hateful and offensive speechbut mostly because we cant agree on what speech is hateful and offensive.

Thats a key takeaway from the Cato Institutes new survey report, The State of Free Speech and Tolerance in America. The findings in almost every category are distressing for those who abhor offensive speech but believe it should remain legal to express such sentiments in the public square.

According to the report, only 59 percent of Americans say people should be allowed to express unpopular opinions in public, even those that are deeply offensive to other people, while a substantial minority (40 percent) say government should prevent people from engaging in hate speech against certain groups in public.

The divide is mostly based on race, ethnicity, and partisan affiliation. While solid majorities of Republicans (72 percent) and independents (60 percent) oppose government banning hate speech, Democrats stand out with a slim majority in support (52 percent). However, African American and Latino Democrats largely drive these numbers with a majority (55 percent) of white Democrats saying government should allow public hate speech, but majorities of black Democrats (59 percent) and Hispanic Democrats (65 percent) saying it should prevent such speech in public.

Among college graduates, 64 percent say hate speech should be legal and a third (36 percent) say it should not. But current college and graduate students are equally split on the issue, with nearly half (49 percent) of current students saying government should ban hate speech and nearly half (49 percent) saying it should not.

Libertarians (82 percent) are the most opposed to hate speech laws, followed by Conservatives (75 percent) and a slim majority (53 percent) of Liberals. However, nearly two-thirds of Populists (64 percent) say government should prevent hate speech in public.

It seems the main thing holding back hates speech laws (aside from the First Amendment) is that American cant agree on what constitutes hate speech:

59 percent of liberals and 17 percent of conservatives say its hate speech to say transgender people have a mental disorder

39 percent of conservatives and 17 percent of liberal believe its hate speech to say the police are racist

80 percent of liberals and 36 percent of conservatives say its hateful or offensive to say illegal immigrants should be deported

87 percent of liberals and 47 percent of conservatives say its hateful or offensive to say women shouldnt fight in military combat roles

90 percent of liberals and 47 percent of conservatives say its hateful or offensive to say homosexuality is a sin.

While there is disagreement on what counts as hate speech, you can find almost one-third of Americans who would support banning it for just about any group.

Consider the percentage of Americans who would ban hateful or offensive speech against the following groups: African Americans (46 percent), Jewish Americans (41 percent), immigrants (40 percent), armed service members (40 percent), Hispanics (39 percent), Muslims (37 percent), the police (37 percent), gays, lesbians, and transgender people (36 percent), Christians (35 percent), white people (32 percent).

In fact, you can find almost a third of Americans who consider it morally acceptable to use physical violence against Nazis as a reaction to their speech (32 percent), support banning Holocaust denial (35 percent), and believe revoking a persons citizenship is a reasonable response to flag burning (39 percent).

Perhaps the most disturbing finding of the survey is that more than half of Americans (53 percent) say hate speech is an act of violence. While two-thirds (66 percent) of Democrats say hate speech is violence, 58 percent of Republicans say hate speech is not violence. Independents are split, with 51 percent who disagree hate speech is tantamount to violence.

African Americans (75 percent) and Latinos (72 percent) are nearly 30 points more likely than white Americans (46 percent) to believe hate speech is violence. Instead, a slim majority (53 percent) of white Americans believe it is not.

While nearly two-thirds (63 percent) of women believe hate speech is violence, a majority (56 percent) of men disagree.

Americans under 30 (60 percent) and seniors (57 percent) are also more likely than middle-aged Americans (35-64) to believe hate speech is violence (49 percent).

If speech is violence, how much longer will Americans allow it to be protected by law? And how long do we have before opposing banning hateful speech is considered a hate crime in America?
Investigators found knives, an ISIS flag and notes inside the van used by an Isis-inspired attacker yesterday to mow down eight people and injure 12 on a bike path in New York. The suspect, 29-year-old Sayfullo Saipov, was shot and arrested by a hero cop and remains hospitalized.

A witness tells DailyMailTV he heard screams and saw bodies with tire marks on the ground of the lower Manhattan bike path where he normally enjoys breaks in his day. Watch his account.

The victims include five Argentine men who were celebrating their 30th high school reunion in New York and a Belgian mother. The carnage was halted by a cop now hailed as a hero.

Authorities raided Sayfullo's Paterson, NJ home and are scouring security camera footage to piece together a timeline, they suggest he had planned the attack for weeks. The suspect has been questioned by investigators in the hospital. Former NYPD Detective Nick Casale explains what happens next.

Today marks a decade since Amanda Knox was accused of the gruesome murder of her British roommate in Italy. In a DailyMail.com exclusive, Meredith Kercher's sister is breaking her silence and speaking out about her sister.

On a lighter note, the stars were out in full force for Halloween yesterday. Justin Timberlake's family brought Toy Story to life, and Chrissy Teigen and John Legend went as Carmen Miranda, Groucho Marx with their daughter joining in as an adorable pineapple. Watch the video for a costume roundup.
A young man is being lauded as the Big Brother of the Year after undergoing a very glamorous makeover in the name of helping his little sister.

The brother, who goes by Sugar Siah on social media and appears to be a teenager, didn't let any old-school machismo get in the way of doing his sister a favor  and its paid off with not just her gratitude but lots of kind words from the internet.

Last week, the young man, who is believed to be based in the US, let his sister give him a bright, bold manicure so she could practice her skills for her future career.

Awesome big bro: Twitter user Sugar Siah agreed to let his little sister give him a manicure

Practice makes perfect: She said she wants to be a nail technician and wanted to practice

There for her: The supportive big brother proudly showed off her work when she was finished

Look great, feel great: He even joked that he felt 'like a bad b****' with his new nails

Taking to it: Later, he shared another snap with yellow nails  though it is unclear whether he painted them himself or had help from his sister

'Lil sister wanna be a nail tech or sum s*** like that and she asked if she could practice on me,' he tweeted on October 25, uploading four images from his at-home nail salon session.

His sister, who is not named, seems to be working hard for her future career as a nail technician, and gave Sugar a very dramatic manicure.

She buffed and shaped his nails, glued false ones on top, and painted each of them a bright, shiny shade of red.

In the 'after' pictures, Sugar shows off her handiwork, feeling no shame about helping his sister out even if it meant sporting 'girly' nails for a bit. In fact, he joked, 'not gonna lie I feel like a bad b****'.

And Twitter is impressed; his tweet  which includes images of him posing with a lollipop and holding up a jar of pickles with his colorful nails  has gone viral, earning over 315,000 likes and plenty of compliments.

Way to go! Thousands of Twitter users have applauded him and the pictures

Amazing: They've called him a great big brother for helping his sister out

Wow! Many have been happy to see someone who is so supportive of his siblings

Macho is overrated: Others gave Sugar props for being secure in his masculinity

Thumbs up: They've called him a 'real man' for refusing to let outdated ideas about what is 'manly' stop him from helping his sister

'This is what secured masculinity looks like,' wrote one commenter. 'A MAN! YALL THIS A MAN!!!' wrote another.

'The fact that he was comfortable enough in himself as a man to let her do it?! I love it! Plus the lollipop pic made me scream!' one woman chimed in.

Others  male and female alike  praised him for being such a good guy, writing that he is 'brother of the year'.

'I hope this is real cause that's how you treat a sibling encouraging them and letting them practice on you,' one man tweeted.

And their praise seems to have fueled Sugar's fondness for painted nails; just a few days after posting the images of his long red nails, he shared another image of himself rocking a bright and bold manicure  this time in yellow.

His latest effort saw him modeling his natural nails, rather than long false options, and it is unclear whether he chose to paint them himself, or whether his sister once again came to his aid.

Tweeting the image of himself with his bold new polish color, he simply captioned it with the words: 'I heard yellow was cool.'
An Ohio high school has a very simple dress code rule: the three B's. No boobs, butt or belly button.

Annie Concannon, 17, a senior at Turpin High School in Cincinnati, complied with all of these rules when she wore a fraternity T-shirt and high waisted jeans and sneakers to school and yet multiple teachers found her outfit inappropriate and she was sent to the principal's office with instruction to change her 'provocative' shirt.

The humiliating treatment and reaction from teachers left Annie in tears, clueless as to where she went wrong and why she was now receiving severe backlash for a non-revealing outfit she had sported at school before.

Distressed damsal: Senior Annie Concannon, 17, at Turpin High School in Cincinnati, Ohio, was sent to the principals office because her T-shirt and mom jeans violated the dress code

Expressing herself! The Ohio teen expresses her personality through her clothes, but was left in tears when teachers repeatedly found a problem with an outfit she already wore at school

Annie posted a picture onto her now deleted Twitter account displaying her outfit with a thumbs up and a still tearful face, traumatized by the drama of the day over her clothes.

'I got dress coded for this outfit. Turpin high school. Twitter do your thing,' she tweeted on October 25.

The photo reveals her in a mustard fraternity shirt for Pi Kappa Phi cut to be slightly cropped but not revealing any midriff, blue mom jeans, white socks and white sneakers.

Her trendy look abides by the three B's rule, but still got her into trouble in an incredibly embarrassing way.

'I went into first period with no comments on my outfit, but in homeroom my teacher made a comment in front of my whole class stating my outfit was inappropriate,' Annie shared to Yahoo.

'I questioned her comment because Ive worn that outfit in the past and it seemed completely reasonable to me.

'She then pulled me out into the hallway stating that I should know better because Im a senior and that I should not be making her the bad guy in this situation,' she added.

Against her: Many people on Twitter found problems with Annie's outfit, saying her shirt was slightly cropped and would reveal skin at certain angles

Just saying! Others agreed that the cut of her top was inappropriate for school environments

Rep your letters! Others conjectured that the fraternity letters on her shirt, that was often mistaken for a sorority, were a part of the problem

Throwback? Her outfit reflected a vintage vibe from the 90s which might have triggered unwelcome memories for the teachers on her case

At the end of the day: Other fans said the teacher was clear by stating the shirt was too short, but Annie didn't reveal that the school employees described the target issue in that way

Golden rule! Many Twitter users didn't understand Annie's fuss and rebellion with the rules

Annie struggled to understand why her shirt was controversial as it didn't show skin. But other teachers seemed to disapprove of her shirt displaying Greek fraternity letters or its slight crop that might reveal skin if she lifted her arms.

'I was told to go down to the principals office and find a new shirt to put on over mine. I disregarded her comment and went to my second-period class without changing. I was really frustrated because my outfit wasnt breaking our dress code,' Annie explained.

But much to the teen's dismay, the homeroom teacher who had originally disapproved of her outfit emailed the entire staff to demand that Annie cover her top up.

When the student headed to her third period class, a teacher told her about the email and demanded she wear a jacket.

'As I went to third period, my teacher approached me and told me that I needed a jacket put on immediately. She then explained to me that she received an email from the homeroom teacher that was sent to the entire staff that I needed to be wearing a jacket in every period,' Annie explained.

Realizing she would be chased all day long and harangued for her clothes, she burst into tears.

'At this point I started crying because I was so frustrated by the situation. I have never been dress-coded before, and I felt the staff of my school put a target on my back,' Annie added.

The roughest part of the blow of being dress-coded is that it is a very uncommon violation at the high school.

'People dont often get dress-coded at my school, and I liked to think that they were pretty reasonable about it. I was just really frustrated with how I was treated, and that the dress code at my school is completely one-sided against the female gender.

Better? Annie's argument against the haters was that her outfit didn't break the dress code and show skin, and fans joked that a more fitting look for her might be a handmaiden's cape

In the clear! Many rallied to her side to support her outfit, saying she was wrongfully mistreated by her school because she never broke the rules

Takes one to know one! Other Turpin High School alumna responded with sympathy, sharing they too experienced wrongful dress-code violations that they retaliated against

Got you covered! Twitter user Kit told Annie she also attended Turpin and that compared to students in her years, Annie was wearing a perfectly acceptable school outfit

Fine by me! A grandma even tuned into the conversation to offer her two cents to the teen

Stamp of approval! A father on Twitter agreed that Annie had 'zero wrong' with her outfit

'There are almost no rules in place for the boys at my school, but the girls are completely over sexualized,' she shared, alluding that her slight midriff crop might be the problem.

Despite Annie's tears, she revealed that she is obstinate when it comes to her outfit choices, and she refuses to be shamed into wearing something else, when she never broke a rule in the first place. No teacher, either, told her directly what her outfit violation was.

'I plan on wearing my outfit again because I believe it causes no harm. I will wear what Im comfortable in,' she added.

Her photo sparked an instant Twitter debate over the appropriateness of her wardrobe choice.

'If you lift your arms above your head your shirt is too short and abdominal skin will show #CommonSense #StayClassy,' one Twitter user wrote.

'Sorry. Devil's advocate. Probably because it's a crop top [sic],' another added.

Although she has deleted her Twitter since the debacle, the comments are still streaming in. While many are still against her outfit choice, many, including Turpin alumni are coming to her side.

'Hey, Turpin alumn here. I got in trouble there for my bra showing. I proceeded to take off my bra (still wearing a shirt). Teacher didn't even know what to say to that, didn't say a thing to me after that!' Emilie wrote.

'I was a senior in 09 and I'm in tears from laughing remembering the things girls wore then and didn't get coded for. You're COVERED oh my gosh [sic],' Kit tweeted.
Advertisement

Never mind having a flashy car or the latest flat-screen TV; pantries have been revealed as the new status symbol for proud homeowners - and it's all thanks to the Great British Bake Off.

Interiors experts claim so-called 'pantry porn' is sweeping the internet as cooking enthusiasts and interiors buffs flaunt pictures of their colourful and meticulously organised kitchen shelves online.

And it seems that Bake Off fever has transcended our TV screens and is now inspiring home renovation plans too.

That's according to Houzz UK, an online platform for home renovation and design, who analysed its users' activity and found that pantry cupboards have risen to become one of the most 'saved' photo categories on the site that hosts more than 15 million photos of professionally designed homes.

Does your kitchen look like this? 'Pantry porn' is sweeping the internet after emerging as one of the most popular categories

The third most popular photo in the UK right now is a dark blue-coloured pantry which has been saved over 300,000 times on the site (left); but this cream-coloured installation is equally stylish (right)

In fact, the third most popular photo in the UK right now is a stylish, midnight blue pantry which has been saved over 300,000 times on the site.

The data also reveals that pantry related searches shot up to one of the top 10 searches on the site this September - just days after the latest series of Bake Off returned to our screens.

This followed six months of no pantry related searches in the top 10, leading experts to conclude that the surge in popularity can be attributed to the baking show, which came to a dramatic finale last night.

Kitchen inspo: Interiors experts say so-called 'pantry porn' is sweeping the internet as cookery buffs flaunt their meticulously organised kitchen shelves online - with this pistacchio coloured kitchen unit proving popular

Trendy: Victoria Harrison, editor of Houzz UK, told MailOnline, 'Kitchens and storage are both huge search terms on Houzz, and when you combine the two you get the biggest kitchen trend of the moment - pantry cupboards'

Style-savvy homeowners are flaunting their meticulously-organised kitchen units online, like this dark green number

Storage solution: Glass jars (left) are a practical fix that both look neat and show you when you need to re-stock; while lightweight baskets provide an easy storage solution for loose goods such as fruit and vegetables (right)

Sleek wooden panelling ensures your kitchen gadgets, herbs and spices can be neatly stored away without the clutter

Painting your pantry elegant shades of blue is a clever way of bringing light into an otherwise cluttered kitchen

Growing trend: Houzz UK, an online platform for home renovation and design, analysed its users' activity and found that pantry cupboards have risen to become one of the most 'saved' photo categories on the site

Victoria Harrison, editor of Houzz UK, told MailOnline: 'Kitchens and storage are both huge search terms on Houzz, and when you combine the two you get the biggest kitchen trend of the moment - pantry cupboards.

'A modern take on the traditional larder, these storage workhorses look set to continue to lead the way when it comes to kitchen features, with several examples making their way into the most popular photos on Houzz.

'However we know that organising pantries is not the easiest job, both during renovations and once all your baking goods are piled up there. Luckily the Houzz community has some good ideas into
Princess Mary is known as one of the most stylish royals and yet again she has proven why she deserves that title.

The Australian beauty wowed onlookers with her chic and put together black and white outfit as the Danish Royal Family attended the 500th Reformation Anniversary Ceremony.

The 45-year-old led the arrivals at Christiansborg Palace as the Danish royals gathered in Copenhagen for the occasion.

Princess Mary (pictured) wowed onlookers with her chic and put together black and white outfit as the Danish Royal Family attended the 500th Reformation Anniversary Ceremony

Crown Princess Mary was all smiles as she greeted Queen Margrethe with a curtsey and met with Prince Joachim, Princess Marie and Princess Benedikte.

The stunning brunette chose to wear a fitted white blazer with a black belt at her waist to add some interest.

She teamed this with a black A-line skirt with white abstract flower details which complimented her top half nicely.

Crown Princess Mary met with Prince Joachim, Princess Marie and Princess Benedikte out the front of Christiansborg Palace

Crown Princess Mary was all smiles as she greeted Queen Margrethe with a curtsy

Princess Mary showed that she was all about accessories as this look was accompanied by leather gloves, over sized pearl earrings, a Quidam Alligator Clutch and Gianvito Rossi Patent Pumps.

Gianvito Rossi seems to be one of her favourite shoe designers as this isn't the first time she has been seen wearing their heels.

Mary, who is a mother to four, swept her hair into a loose ponytail and added a black hat to finish the look.

The stunning brunette chose to wear a fitted white blazer with a black belt at her waist to add some interest

She was also photographed clutching onto a beautiful bouquet of flowers which she was seen holding throughout the occasion.

The celebrations didn't stop there, as in the evening the family attended a concert as part of the Reformation celebrations.

The always stylish couple, Princess Mary and Prince Frederik, wore outfits that complimented each other nicely.

This time Princess Mary opted for a glamorous figure hugging dress that stopped at her knees.

The always stylish couple, Princess Mary and Prince Frederik, wore outfits that complimented each other nicely at the evening celebrations

This time Princess Mary opted for a glamorous figure hugging dress that stopped at her knees

The sequins worked perfectly as the flashes from the cameras made them shine as she and Prince Frederik stopped for pictures.

She matched the navy number with a beautiful navy clutch, navy heels and show stopping silver chandelier earrings.

Prince Frederik was dapper as always with a deep navy suit, collared white shirt and dark purple tie.
Fans of Topshop and Topman can now shop for their favourite pieces again, thanks to a new collaboration with Australian online retailer The Iconic.

The British brand made headlines earlier this year after reports surfaced of a $30 million loss which administrators blamed on a counter-seasonal model.

The collapse saw the closure of some of Topshop's regional brick and mortar stores as well as its Australian online outlet.

Now a partnership with The Iconic means the cult clothing label will have a new home alongside 700 brands and 45,000 products on the popular fashion site.

Topshop and Topman's partnership with The Iconic means the cult clothing label will have a new home on the popular fashion site

The e-tailer has already started stocking Topshop denim and menswear ranges

The Iconic has already started stocking Topshop denim and menswear ranges, and the full range, including womenswear will be available by the end of November.

'Our customers are at the heart of everything we do at The Iconic - from curating a world-class range of local and international brands to continuously innovating our technology for a seamless shopping experience, said CEO Patrick Scmidt.

'Topshop and Topman are two brands we know Aussies love - we want to keep bringing our customers the biggest and best brands in the world, which is why we're thrilled to be welcoming TopShop & Topman to The Iconic family.'

'Topshop and Topman are two brands we know Aussies love,' said The Iconic CEO Patrick Scmidt

The Iconic has confirmed it will be stocking 70 per cent of the label's range and curating this to an Australian market

The Iconic has confirmed it will be stocking 70 per cent of the Topshop and Topman range, as well as curating this to an exclusively Australian and New Zealand market.

Commenting on the Topman collection, Tom Simpson head of menswear at The Iconic said, 'Bringing Topman to THE ICONICs men's department is the type of brand weve been wanting to add to our assortment for a long time.

'They offer a brilliant core range combined with the latest trends and I cant wait for our customers to experience Topman through THE ICONIC for the ultimate shopping experience.'

The Iconic's women's fashion expert Lucienne Whealing called the move a 'dream come true'

As well as offering the latest Topshop and Topman designs, The Iconic confirmed it will be stocking the brand's much-coveted range of shoes, bags and lingerie.

The Iconic's women's fashion expert Lucienne Whealing called the move by the e-tailer 'a dream come true.'

'We know The Iconic woman loves to be on trend so having Topshop on board will mean we're now an even more serious player in the fashion field.

'I can't wait for our customers to experience Topshop through The Iconic for the ultimate high street shopping experience.'
A 24-year-old woman has opened up about how she isolated herself after being left paraplegic in a horrific skydiving accident.

Emma Carey, from Queensland, was told she would spend the rest of her life confined to a wheelchair following the Switzerland incident in 2013.

But against all odds, the young woman found the strength to walk again just one year after she plunged from the sky.

Taking to Instagram, Emma revealed how the near-death experience took a toll on her - but eventually, she was able to turn her life around to become a 'new person'.

Emma Carey, from Queensland, has opened up about how she isolated herself after being left paraplegic in a horrific skydiving accident

The photograph taken just seconds before she landed on her stomach with her instructor on top of her - and she suffered a broken spike, shattered pelvis and spinal cord crushed

'A lot of people talk about becoming a new person after a near death experience but you never really hear about how that happens,' she wrote.

'It isn't something that just magically happens overnight, it is something that you MAKE happen.

'My transition period between my old and new life is something I've never really spoken about.

'It was this time four years ago and I didn't even know I was doing it at the time but when I look back now, I can see how I was creating a new person.'

Reflecting back to the fateful skydive, she recalled how she found herself spending time alone because she had struggled to cope.

The woman said she isolated herself because she felt 'embarrassed' to be in a wheelchair

'I had been out of hospital for a few months but was staying at home all day because I hadn't worked out how to live my life in my new body yet,' she said.

'I didn't like socialising because I was scared I was going to p** myself, I didn't like going out because I was embarrassed to be in my wheelchair and I didn't like seeing friends because I couldn't relate to them at all.

'All I wanted to do was stay at home, draw flowers, read poetry and write letters, so that's what I did.'

But despite turning into a recluse, Ms Carey said not once did she ever felt lonely.

'It might sound depressing but it definitely didn't feel like it. It felt like that was exactly where I needed to be,' she said.

'I was by myself a lot but I was never lonely because it was like there was two of me. The old Emma was learning about this new person who had all of a sudden taken up her life.'

Reflecting back to the fateful skydive, she recalled how she found herself spending time alone because she had struggled to cope

Against all odds, the young woman found the strength to walk again just one year after she plunged from the sky

Spending quality time at home to recover, Ms Carey said she learned how to rebuild her life again.

'She was learning that it was ok to change and be someone entirely different. It was ok to not be doing what everyone else my age seemed to be doing,' she said.

'She was learning that she could be anyone she wanted to be but who she wanted to be was someone who didn't exist yet. So she created her.

'Those months were the reason I started to live my life differently. They were hard and they were private and they were scary but they were so important.'

Four years ago, Ms Carey's parachute and emergency chute became tangled during a dive and choked her instructor, who became unconscious.

Spending quality time at home to recover, she said she learned how to rebuild her life again

Ms Carey went on to defy the odds to walk, ride a bike, travel the world, and pretty much everything she once thought she wouldn't be able to do again

The subsequent free fall saw her land on her stomach with her instructor on top of her. She was left with a broken spike, shattered pelvis and spinal cord crushed.

Eventually, Ms Carey began physical therapy at a Sydney hospital, which is when she slowly and steadily learned to walk again.

And she went on to defy the odds to walk, ride a bike, travel the world, and pretty much everything she once thought she wouldn't be able to do again.

'A lot of us are scared of change but we can all do it. You don't need to have a near death experience to have a new life experience,' she said.

'The transition period is hard but what comes after you step into your new life is something magical.

'You will have the feeling of being "home" in your own body and you'll thank yourself for being brave enough to open the door, say hello and let yourself in.'
Imagine a world where you can have avocado for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and even dessert.

It's there topping your toast, dressing your burger, and even inside your french fries and ice cream cone.

What may sound like a millennial fantasy world has turned into a reality in New York, Amsterdam, and now, finally, Australia.

Good Fat, the country's first all-avocado pop-up cafe, opens this week in Sydney, offering 22 delicious dishes that go above and beyond your daily toast.

Good Fat, Australia's first avocado pop-up cafe, opens this week in Sydney, offering 22 delicious dishes including the incredible Avonetto (pictured)

Sach Trikha, 25, was chosen by Good Fat to be the Surry Hills restaurant's 'Head of Avo Control' after proving she was fit to sit in the avo-throne

And they were all tested by Sach Trikha, who won the job a million millennials would supposedly give up a house for.

Sach, 25, was chosen by Good Fat to be the Surry Hills restaurant's 'Head of Avo Control' after proving she was a true avocado aficionado.

The job required Sach - who eats at least one avocado, if not more a day - to taste test the entire menu, which she told Daily Mail Australia 'exceeded expectations'.

Sach also had to make sure the produce was 'spick and span', ensuring that each avocado used was perfectly ripe.

Sach also had to make sure the produce was 'spick and span', ensuring that each avocado used was perfectly ripe

One of Sach's favourite dishes is the Avo Bowla-Rama, which is avocado blended with acai, banana, and blueberry served in the avocado's own skin

She is also a fan of the Avo Zoodles, an avocado spinach pesto tossed through zucchini noodles with roasted baby carrots and goats cheese

'You have to squeeze an avocado gently by the stem. If it squishes and has give, you're right on the money,' she advised.

Sach revealed that her top three favourite dishes at Good Fat were the Avo Fries, served with a lemon aioli, the Avo Zoodles, an avocado spinach pesto tossed with zucchini noodles, and the Avoconetto.

'I was very skeptical at first of the avocado ice cream,' she admitted. 'But it's not too sweet. It's an explosion in your mouth.'

The Avoconetto is a spin on the classic Cornetto, complete with avocado ice cream, sweet pumpkin short bread cream, and drizzled with salted caramel in a waffle cone.

Good Fat Chef Liam Crawley revealed it was his favourite dish to create.

There's plenty avocado and toast on the menu, but those who'd like a spin on the brekkie favourite can try the Avoschetta - made with whipped feta and heirloom tomatoes

The Avo Smash-Up is served in its natural state, topped with poached eggs and Sourdough

'It's really playful, and all ages can enjoy it,' he told Daily Mail Australia. 'I've always liked Cornettos, and now I get to put my own impression on it.'

The Avo Fries, served with a lemon aioli, are deep-fried deliciousness sure to be a hit

Liam revealed that the best part about cooking with avocados was their sheer versatility.

'It doesn't matter if the dish is savoury or sweet, if it's for breakfast or dessert, you can use avocados for anything,' he said. 'It's good across all food groups.'

The chef created 22 recipes that were not only original, but could be reproduced by the home cook.

'We made them achievable to replicate, so that even after Good Fat closes people can still have that experience with avocados,' he said.

And Liam wanted to make sure everything was affordable. The most expensive dish on the menu, a seared beef eye fillet with chunky avocado, will only cost you $20.

Of course, there's plenty of everyone's favourite brekkie on the menu - from a classic smashed style with Vegemite to a sweet variety with banana and cinnamon.

The Avoconetto is a spin on the classic Cornetto, complete with avocado ice cream, sweet pumpkin short bread cream, drizzled with salted caramel in a waffle cone

Sach was joined by a slew of invited guests who couldn't wait to dig into the dishes on Wednesday during a sneak peek before opening night

Also invited was demographer Bernard Salt (pictured center), who became viral when he suggested millennials could save for a home if they stopped buying so much avocado on toast

For those who'd prefer a lighter start to the day, Good Fat offers avocado smoothies and even an acai bowl that comes served in the avocado's own skin.

But there's plenty of food that would also fit right at home in the pub, from the deep-fried deliciousness of Avocado Balls to main dishes of burgers and pork.

Along with the Avonetto, desserts include the Chocado Brownie and the Cho Avo Mousse, a creamy avocado and dark chocolate mousse in an avocado shell.

The adorable restaurant, done up in avocado wallpaper and signs that read 'You Guac My World', will be open from November 2 to November 30.
MOSS POINT, Miss. -- The city of Moss Point will pay tribute the country's finest as it hosts the 17

th

Annual Jackson County Veterans Day Program on Saturday, Nov. 11, 2017, at the Moss Point Veterans Memorial Monument.

The program will begin at 11 a.m. and is open to all citizens, churches, organizations, businesses, youth groups and the public at large, to participate in this annual program, honoring Jackson County's veterans past and present.

All are invited to join for free food and displays on the lawn next to the monument following the program.

The program will begin promptly at 11 a.m. with a welcome by the Mistress of Ceremony, Carla Todd Voda, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce.

After the welcome, there will be the Presentation of Colors, National Anthem, Pledge of Allegiance, invocation, Armed Forces songs and Prisoner Of War/Missing In Action ceremony.

Next, there will be a Presentation of the Wreath for the Fallen, recognizing in memory of the following fallen soldiers: Major Michael Green, United States Army; Master Sergeant Scott E. Pruitt, United States Marine Corps; Master Sergeant Coater DeBose, United States Army; Sergeant First Class Sean M. Cooley, United States Army; and Sergeant Terrance D. Lee, Sr., United States Army.

The program will conclude after the Capt. Torrey M. Garrison delivers the keynote speech, followed by Military Gun Salute and Taps.

The Veterans Committee is encouraging residents of Jackson County to attend the program, bring their American flags to wave and show their support for the veterans of all wars and the active duty personnel serving along the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

If interested in volunteering in this year's Jackson County Veterans Day Program, call Linda Johnson at the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce at 228-762-3391 or email JohnsonL@jcchamber.com.
Identical twins cheated chilling 50 per cent odds of strangling each other in the womb, with this incredible, life-saving hug.

Told at her 10-week scan that the twins were monoamniotic - meaning they shared one amniotic sac - nursery nurse Vicky Plowright, 30, was warned this meant their umbilical cords could become tangled, shutting off their oxygen supply and killing them both.

Vicky, of Godalming, Surrey, whose fiance, Chris Cremer, 32, is also a nursery nurse, said: 'I was with my sister, Georgina, and we were told the twins were monoamniotic, or Mo-Mo (Monoamniotic-Monochorionic), twins.

This is very rare, affecting between one in 35,000 and one in 60,000 twins in the UK, and means they shared one amniotic sac, instead of having one each.

Reuben, left, and Theo, right, shared a single amniotic sac but cheated death in the womb by hugging each other

Everything changed at the 12 week scan, with a specialist sonographer, when Vicky and Chris saw the twins had moved into a lifesaving embrace

'I was devastated, as doctors explained it also meant the babies were at extremely high risk - around 50 per cent - of not surviving the pregnancy, because of their close proximity. They still had two umbilical cords, to deliver nourishment, which could become tangled, strangling them, which was so frightening to even imagine.'

Vicky had gone to the 10 week scan with Georgina, expecting it to be routine and hoping to simply update Chris later. Instead, she said: 'I was in total shock, as I'd just been saying to my sister 'as long as there's not two,' as we already have a daughter, Jocelyn, four, and I didn't think we had the space or energy for two more.'

But the laughter soon stopped when, moments later, the sonographer told them the twins looked worryingly close together.

Immediately given an internal scan, fortunately, any possibility of them being conjoined was dismissed, but doctors were still concerned about the babies.

Chris, Vicky, Jocelyn, Reuben, left, Theo, are now a happy family of five after the twins survived

The condition they survived affecs between one in 35,000 and one in 60,000 twins in the UK, and means they shared one amniotic sac, instead of having one each

Theo, right, Reuben, left, at eight weeks old , are still hugging today and share an exceptionally close bond

'The scan seemed to show our twins were sharing the same amniotic sac,' Vicky continued. 'They said it meant the babies were at high risk and we needed to go back as soon as possible to see a specialist.

'I was hysterical and rang Chris in a total state. I had no idea what this would mean. 'In the space of an hour I'd found out we were expecting twins, but that they could be in danger. It was torture, thinking that we could lose them at any time'.

But everything changed at the 12 week scan, with a specialist sonographer, when Vicky and Chris saw the twins had moved into a lifesaving embrace.

'To our astonishment, at the 12-week scan, we saw that they were cuddling each other and holding hands,' Vicky recalled.

'They were keeping each other alive by staying still, so their umbilical cords didn't get tangled.'

The little boys helped keep each other alive by staying still so their umbilical cords didn't get tangled together and strangle them

Speaking about her twins, Vicky said: 'Before they even knew the world, they knew each other, and grew together in such a small space that I knew they would have a special bond for the rest of their lives'

The twins were kept in the neo natal unit for another five weeks, before being discharged at the end of January

Now, aged 22 months, they could not be closer. 'They are the best of friends,' Vicky beamed

Doctors arranged to see Vicky every one to two weeks for check-ups, until the twins reached 32 weeks, when they wanted to deliver them.

'For the next few months, we were in a constant state of worry,' said Vicky, who discovered at 17 weeks they were having boys. 'I didn't feel I could get excited, because I was so worried we were going to be told at every scan that our twins hadn't survived.'

But, at the 12 week scan, the couple saw something magical - their boys happily hugging each other and holding hands. 'By staying still in that position, they'd stopped the cords from becoming so badly tangled that it killed them,' Vicky said.

'It really was a miracle.' At 13 weeks one twin's cord did wrap slightly around the other, making them lie even closer and stiller. Fortunately, this meant it was less likely for a major knot to form.

Vicky said she didn't feel she could get excited because she was so worried they were going to be told at every scan that the twins hadn't survived

The survival rate for MoMo twins is approximately 50 per cent - and these two beat the odds

Left: Scan showing the twins holding hands. Right: The twins are seen lying side by side

The scan shows the umbilical cord entanglement scan at 13 weeks

The family were overwhelmed when the miracle twins beat the odds to survive. Left: Jocelyn with brother Theo and, right, father Chris with the twins

MoMo twins are rare, occurring in approximately 1 in 35 to 1 in 60 pregnancies

Then, at 32 weeks, Vicky was relieved when she was advised to give birth to her babies, as twin number two, Theo, had stopped growing, because of the limited womb space. So, on December 22, 2015, she was taken to a delivery suite at the Royal Surrey Hospital in Guilford, with Chris by her side, for a caesarean.

WHAT ARE MO-MO TWINS? Mo-Mo (monoamniotic-monochorionic) develop in the same amniotic sac and share the same placenta. Though they share a placenta within their mother's uterus they have two separate umbilical cords for nourishment. They are always identical. MoMo twins are rare, occurring in approximately 1 in 35 to 1 in 60 pregnancies. Unfortunately, monoamniotic twins are at great risk for health complications due to the close proximity of the two umbilical cords in the amniotic sac. This makes it particularly easy for the twins to become entangled in each other's cords or to compress one another's cords, endangering their oxygen and food supply. The survival rate for MoMo twins is approximately 50 per cent. Source: Twins UK Advertisement

With Ed Sheeran's Photographs playing in the background, Reuben arrived at 11.22am weighing 3lb 14oz, followed by his identical twin brother, Theo, just one minute later, weighing 3lb 7oz. 'Both of them came out screaming and, most importantly, they were alive,' Vicky recalled.

'Chris was sobbing next to me, as well. We were just so happy that they'd made it.' Vicky was discharged on Christmas Day, enjoying a festive lunch at her parents Gerry and Rita Plowright's house, then returning to hospital to see the boys that evening.

The twins were kept in the neo natal unit for another five weeks, before being discharged at the end of January. Now, aged 22 months, they could not be closer. 'They are the best of friends,' Vicky beamed.

'Before they even knew the world, they knew each other, and grew together in such a small space that I knew they would have a special bond for the rest of their lives. 'Reuben is the 'do-er' and Theo the 'thinker', but they always have an eye on where the other one is.'

Bliss, a charity for babies born premature and sick, supported Vicky by providing access to information and support services. Parents who find themselves in a similar position to Vicky can visit bliss.org.uk or call 0808 801 0322 for more information.

Vicky says that Reuben, right, is the 'do-er' and Theo the 'thinker', but they always have an eye on where the other one is

Mo-Mo (monoamniotic-monochorionic) develop in the same amniotic sac and share the same placenta

Monoamniotic twins are at great risk for health complications due to the close proximity of the two umbilical cords in the amniotic sac

Vicky was discharged on Christmas Day, enjoying a festive lunch at her parents Gerry and Rita Plowright's house, then returning to hospital to see the boys that evening
She will one day be Queen of Spain and Princess Leonor is already preparing for her royal role at the tender age of 12.

Spain's Casa Real has released the first official solo portrait of the young Princess to mark her 12th birthday, which she celebrated yesterday.

The youngster enjoyed her day privately with friends at school and at the family home, according to Royal Central.

She brought sweets into school for her classmates at Santa Maria de los Rosales in Madrid as she did last year when she baked cookies to share for the occasion.

King Felipe and Queen Letizia are fiercely protective of the privacy of their daughters Leonor and her younger sister Sofia, but the release of the portrait is a sign the monarchy is gradually preparing the elder girl for her future role.

The youngster has appeared in official photoshoots with her parents before, but never on her own.

The Spanish royal family has released the first official solo portrait of future Queen, Princess Leonor to mark her 12th birthday

The portrait was taking on Spain's National Day when Leonor and Sofia made a rare public appearance with their mother Queen Letizia

Leonor's portrait was taken on Spain's National Day when she and her sister Princess Sofia, 10, joined their parents for the official celebrations.

In addition to National Day, the girls are usually seen in public at Easter Mass, and in official portraits with their parents released twice a year.

The family also made a rare public appearance together earlier this year, when they were joined by the former King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia for Princess Sofia's First Communion.

At birth, Leonor was Her Royal Highness Infanta Leonor of Spain, butLeonor became the new Princess of Asturias when her grandfather King Juan Carlos abdicated in June 2014.

The Spanish royals keep their daughters out of the limelight, and they are only pictured on rare occasions such as the annual family holiday photocall in Palma de Mallorca

When she eventually ascends the throne she will be Spain's first queen regent since 1833, when Isabel II became monarch.

Already fluent in English, she studies Mandarin, French and Arabic at school and is expected to follow in her father's footsteps by moving abroad for her university education.

King Felipe studied law at the University of Madrid before taking a Masters in Foreign Service at Georgetown University.

Keen linguist Leonor is already fluent in English and is studying Mandarin, French and Arabic at school
Ivanka Trump shared her excitement over her trip to Japan this week, even as she admitted that she will miss her three children while she is away.

The 36-year-old was pictured leaving her Washington, D.C. home on Wednesday morning to head out on a flight to Tokyo, where she will deliver a speech at the World Assembly for Women 2017 on Friday.

But her little ones won't be accompanying their mom on her travels to Asia, and on Wednesday morning, Ivanka shared a cuddly photo of herself with Arabella, Joseph, and Theodore just before she set off.

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Off she goes! Ivanka Trump was spotted leaving her home for her trip to Japan on Wednesday morning

Last hugs: Before leaving, the 36-year-old shared a photo of herself with her three kids, which appears to have been taken the night before while reading a bedtime story

Sweater weather: She was then seen leaving on Wednesday morning dressed in a black skirt and embellished chunky sweater

'Im looking forward to visiting Japan, but sure will miss these three!' Ivanka wrote on Instagram at around 9am Wednesday morning.

The photo, which appears to have been taken at bedtime the night before, shows Ivanka sitting in a large white bed surrounded by her children.

The first daughter is dressed comfortably in leggings, a black sweater, and socks, and appears to have washed her make-up off for the night.

She is holding a picture book, with six-year-old Arabella sitting to her right in red and white pajamas, her hair freshly washed.

To her left are a very smiley four-year-old Joseph and one-year-old Theodore, who is drinking milk. Both little boys are wearing automobile-themed pajamas: Joe's have cars, while Theo's have a fire truck.

Ivanka is on her way to Japan at the invitation of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. She will be delivering a speech about female entrepreneurship and women's role in the economy at the Tokyo-based event.

Pump it up! She didn't wear tights and accessorized with gray pumps

Mwah: Ivanka wore her hair down and lip gloss on her lips

Ride's here: She is on her way to Tokyo to give a speech about women's role in the economy and female entrepreneurship

Oh, you're here? She spared a glance for the camera as she stepped past the pumpkins still in front of her home

A little help: A team loaded her luggage into the car before she left

Shortly after sharing the snap of her kids, she was pictured leaving her D.C. home to catch her flight.

Dressed for the cooler November weather, she wore a heavy-looking black skirt with a small slit up one leg, layered with a $60 chunky gray sweater from Zara, which was covered in pearl-like embellishments.

She accessorized with a pair of gray suede heels but didn't carry a purse as she walked out to a waiting SUV. Her luggage was carried to the car for her and loaded into the trunk by various staff members.

The first daughter managed to find time to pack despite a busy schedule this week, which included celebrating her birthday on Monday and Halloween on Tuesday - and though neither she nor Jared stayed home to greet trick-or-treaters, they did leave a bowl of candy and a pitcher of what looked like beer for parents outside.

Ivanka's Japan speech is set for Friday, after which she will be heading back home to the US.

Initially, she had been scheduled to accompany her father on his 12-day trip through Asia, but it was reported yesterday that she has been bumped from the plane.

Axios wrote Tuesday that Ivanka, along with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and economic adviser Gary Cohn, will hold tax reform events in the U.S. instead, laying the public opinion groundwork with voters while President Trump is away.

Set up: On Halloween, she and Jared Kushner left buckets of candy out for trick-or-treaters, with what looks like beer for parents

Trick or treat! Families stopped by their home to pick out candy

Keeping 'em honest: It would have been difficult for anyone to be greedy with cameras waiting outside

The White House wouldn't confirm the report with a senior administration official, telling reporters after the story broke that casting decisions for the Asia trip would be announced by National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster later this week.

'I'm not going to go into the specifics of who's where, and when, and at what stop, I'll leave that to later this week with General McMaster,' the official told journalists at a Tuesday morning briefing.

But in the Roosevelt Room about an hour later, the president confirmed that at least Mnuchin and Cohn will be staying home.

'While I'm in Asia, members of my cabinet will be traveling all around the country talking directly to taxpayers and focusing on the regional media, which we've found to be much more credible media to be honest with you,' Trump first said.

He then motioned to Mnuchin and Cohn, who were both attending the meeting, alongside business leaders, who Trump assembled to talk tax reform.

'They'll be staying here and will continue to work closely with all of you,' Trump pledged.

The president, however, did not mention his daughter's plans, and she wasn't on hand at the Tuesday meeting.

Just a quick trip: Ivanka will not accompany her father on his 12-day journey through Asia, as she'll stay home and focus on tax reform

Home front: President Trump confirmed Tuesday that Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin (left) would be among the administration officials staying back

A White House official did confirm to DailyMail.com last week that Ivanka Trump would deliver a speech on November 3 to the World Assembly for Women in Tokyo, two days before her father's arrival.

The first daughter had accepted an invitation from Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

Politico also reported that Ivanka's husband Jared Kushner, also a White House senior adviser, will play a diminished role in the administration's China policy, and thus may also not stay on for the full duration of the trip.

A trip to China for Ivanka Trump could also be bad for optics, as her Chinese clothing factories have attracted negative headlines in recent months.

Axios reported that Ivanka Trump had canceled meetings in both China and South Korea that she had previously booked.

Both Ivanka and Jared accompanied the president on his two previous foreign trips, though they broke off to spend a date night in Rome in May, before peeling off and heading back to the United States.
Queen Maxima of the Netherlands, currently on a tour of Nigeria, got to grips with some rural produce today while meeting farmers in Abuja.

The 46-year-old, who is discussing how Holland can aid Nigeria financially, donned another brightly-coloured outfit for her visit to an outpost of the Diamond Bank.

The royal opted for a chic yellow jacket, which she teamed with a floral dress and coordinating heels.

The mother-of-three looked delighted after she was presented with a large cassava as she met with local producers from rural areas.

The Dutch Queen was snapped holding a cassava as she met women at an outpost of Nigeria's Diamond Bank

Maxima wore a typically vibrant outfit, opting for a floral dress with a yellow jacket and shoes

Maxima was seen enjoying an animated conversation with the women at the bank, as she found out more about their work.

Her visit today comes after she spent time with a group of adorable youngsters during a hospital visit on Tuesday, also opting to wear a bright yellow colour.

She appeared delighted as she greeted a group of young boys and their mother at Subol Hospital in Lagos.

The Dutch royal was visiting the hospital in order to learn more about access to health insurance available to locals from platform PharmAccess.

The Dutch monarch beamed as she posed for pictures with local women at the bank

The mother-of-three was seen enjoying an animated conversation with the women at the bank

But before official proceedings started a typically charismatic Maxima spent time chatting to patients in the waiting rooms.

She appeared particularly charmed by three young triplet boys who appeared fascinated by the brightly dressed royal.

Always one to make a style statement Maxima wore an elegant canary yellow dress for her engagement.

In light of the warm weather in Nigeria the royal opted for bare legs showing off her metallic heels.

Maxima has been discussing how Holland can aid Nigeria financially while in the country

She looked pleased when she was presented with the cassava, appearing to hand over money for the root vegetable

The Argentinian-born royal opted for a few simple accessories to finish her outfit today in the form of beaded hoop earrings and several elegant bracelets.

Maxima kept her famous golden tresses off her face tying her hair back in a simple knotted ponytail.

After spending time with the patients at Subol, Maxima was introduced to staff members where she spent time learning about PharmAccess.

PharmAccess was founded in 2001 by Professor Joep Lange who brought life-saving AIDS treatment to those who needed it most.

It comes after the royal appeared utterly charmed by a group of triplets at Subol Hospital in Lagos on Tuesday

Building on this work on the front lines of HIV/AIDS treatment, their focus has broadened to making healthcare finance and delivery more effective and more inclusive.

Today is Maxima's second day in Nigeria having arrived in the African country on Monday.

This visit will focus on the possibilities for accelerating the process of improving access to financial services.
The Today stars went all out for their country music-themed Halloween episode, but later that night it was their children who stole the show.

Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb, and Jenna Bush Hager were among the Today hosts who took to Instagram on Halloween to show off their kids' creative costumes, which ranged from a 'Doctor-Princess' to a sweet baby bunny.

Savannah, 45, and Jenna, 35, are not only co-stars and friends, they are also neighbors, and on Tuesday evening they continued their yearly tradition of taking their children trick-or-treating together.

Happy Halloween! Today show stars Savannah Guthrie and Jenna Bush Hager took their children trick-or-treating together on Tuesday evening

Creative: Savannah's three-year-old daughter Vale created her own 'Doctor-Princess' costume, while the mom dressed her 10-month-old son Charley as a pineapple

Too cute! Vale held hands with Jenna's four-year-old daughter Mila the entire time

Tuesday's truck attack in Manhattan took place in their neighborhood, just a few blocks away from their homes, and both Savannah and Jenna said they were holding their children a little tighter that night.

'These are my precious Halloween babies: the baby Pineapple and the Doctor-Princess (her creation),' Savannah wrote, while sharing snapshots of her ten-month-old son Charley and three-year-old daughter Vale dressed up in their costumes.

'I'm holding them tighter tonight because terror struck in my neighborhood just as we were about to take them trick or treating,' she added. 'I'm counting my blessings that we are safe, that our friends are safe and my heart aches for those who lost everything today.'

The photos see little Charlie tucked into his red stroller while wearing a fleece pineapple onesie featuring green leaves at the top of his hood for his first Halloween.

She's doing it all! Vale's one-of-a-kind costume featured blue glasses, a stethoscope, a princess crown, a pink fairytale-inspired dress, and a white lab coat

Beauty and brains: The little girl's lab coat had 'Doctor Princess' written on the back in pink gemstones

Meanwhile, Vale's one-of-a-kind costume featured blue glasses, a stethoscope, a princess crown, a pink fairytale-inspired dress, and a white lab coat that says 'Doctor Princess' written on the back in pink gemstones.

The costume may have been a nod to her mother's bestselling children's book, Princesses Wear Pants.

Savannah also posted a snapshot of her children posed with Jenna's daughters, Mila and Poppy, writing: 'The trick or treat tradition goes on with one new little member.'

The Bush-Hager family went with a celestial theme for Halloween. Mila, four, dressed as a rainbow, and little Poppy, two, went trick-or-treating as a gold star.

Universal: The Bush-Hager family went with a celestial theme for Halloween. Mila, four, dressed as a rainbow, and little Poppy, two, went trick-or-treating as a gold star

Feeling blessed: Tuesday's truck attack in Manhattan took place in their neighborhood, and both Savannah and Jenna said they were holding their children a little tighter that night

Proud parents: Hoda and her longtime partner Joel Schiffman put her nine-month-old daughter Haley Joy in a fleece bunny costume for her first Halloween

Heartwarming: Little Haley was all bundled up in her adorable fleece costume

Their parents kept with the theme as well, with Jenna wearing a headband featuring bobbing stars and her husband Henry dressing up as the moon.

'With the reminder (in our neighborhood, so close to home) how precious life is I held my little sunshines even closer last night. #tribeca,' she captioned the family images.

Jenna also paid homage to Mila's close friendship with Vale while posting a picture of the two of them holding hands.

'They wouldn't let go of each other, again. The tradition of LOVE is strong,' the mom noted.

Going all out: Hoda even got a Halloween-themed candy bowl featuring her daughter's name

Outfit change! Hoda bought Haley multiple costumes, and last week she posted a snapshot of her little girl dressed as a pumpkin

Going as himself! Today meteorologist Dylan Dreyer cleverly dressed her 10-month-old son Calvin as Calvin from the cartoon Calvin and Hobbes

Family fun: Dylan dressed as Batgirl, while her husband Brian Fichera looked festive in a black blazer featuring orange jack-o'-lanterns

For her daughter Haley Joy's first Halloween, Hoda Kotb, 53, bought multiple costumes for her adorable little girl.

Just a few days after sharing a snapshot of Haley dressed as a pumpkin, Hoda revealed her nine-month-old daughter ultimately went trick-or-treating dressed as a bunny.

The new mom proudly shared a photo of Haley in her fuzzy costume, along with another snapshot of her daughter posed with her and her longtime partner Joel Schiffman.

Today meteorologist Dylan Dreyer went as Batgirl for her family outing, while she cleverly dressed her 10-month-old son Calvin as Calvin from the cartoon Calvin and Hobbes.

'They were so excited to walk the streets': Sheinelle Jones admitted she hesitated to take her children, Clara, Kayin, and Uche, trick-or-treating after the attack, but she decided to do so

Batty! Weekend Today anchor Craig Melvin and his wife Lindsay Czarniak celebrated their daughter Sibby's first Halloween by dressing up as bats at their son Delano's request

New in town: The youngest trick-or-treater out of the group was Lester's Holt's grandson Henry Holt, who was born on September 5

Out and about: Willie Geist shared footage from his neighborhood while thanking the New York Police Department for keeping everyone safe

Meanwhile, her husband, NBC News cameraman Brian Fichera, looked festive in a black blazer featuring orange jack-o'-lanterns.

Sheinelle Jones admitted she hesitated to take her three children, Clara, Kayin, and Uche, trick-or-treating after the attack, but she ultimately decided to do so.

While sharing a photo of herself dressed up as Superwoman with her children, Sheinelle wrote: 'I'm sure I'm not the only one getting calls from family members all around the country tonight, asking if we're okay here in NYC.

'I hesitated to take the kids out tonight for a brief moment, but realize the kids have no clue what's going on.... and they were so excited to walk the streets. You see their bright happy faces, and you just want peace. Praying for our country tonight.'

Stealing the show! The Today stars went all out for their country music-themed Halloween episode on Tuesday morning

Surprise: Savannah and her co-anchor Matt Lauer dressed in drag to take on the roles of Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton (left), while Hoda dressed up as her crush Blake Shelton (right)

Superheroes! Sheinelle, Jenna, and Dylan (from left to right) dressed up as Superwoman, Wonder Woman, and Bat Girl, respectively

Meanwhile, Willie Geist shared footage from his neighborhood while thanking the New York Police Department for keeping everyone safe.

'New York City carries on. Our kids are trick or treating tonight under police guard, but the streets are packed. Thank you, @NYPD,' he wrote.

Weekend Today anchor Craig Melvin and his wife, ESPN anchor Lindsay Czarniak, celebrated their daughter Sibby's first Halloween by dressing up as bats at their son Delano's request.

'For Sibby's first Halloween, the Melvins were bats this year at Del's request,' he wrote. 'We flapped and flew and had several convos abt the dangers of eating a half pound of candy in two hours.'

And the youngest trick-or-treater out of the group was Lester's Holt's grandson Henry Holt.

The Nightly News anchor's grandson was born on September 5, and the newborn celebrated his first Halloween dressed as skeleton with candy in his belly.
Lingerie model Sarah Stage is known for showing off her incredible figure, but she opted for a demure Princess Leia costume while celebrating her first Halloween as a family of four.

The Los Angeles-based Instagram star, who gave birth to her second child two weeks ago, had her entire family dress up as characters from Star Wars on Tuesday evening, with her husband, Kris Jason, taking on the role of Darth Vader.

Keeping with the theme, Sarah, 33, put her two-and-half-year-old son James Hunter in Chewbacca costume, and she dressed her baby boy Logan Alexander as Yoda for his first Halloween.

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May the force be with you! Sarah Stage and her family dressed up as iconic Star Wars characters for Halloween

Look of love: The Los Angeles-based model wore a demure Princess Leia costume on Tuesday, while she dressed her newborn son Logan Alexander as Yoda

Of course, Sarah took plenty of snapshots including one of herself cuddling little Logan.

'His First Halloween #baby #yoda,' she captioned the image, which sees the little boy decked out in a cozy knit costume complete with a green cap with ears.

Sarah was wearing a form-fitting white dress with bell sleeves, and she had her long brown hair pulled up in two buns in Princess Leia's trademark hairstyle.

Another photo sees Sarah cradling Logan, while Kris is holding little James on his hip.

James looks adorable in his furry Chewbacca costume, and in the picture he is waving his dad's lightsaber in the air.

All bundled up: The two-week-old boy was decked out in a cozy knit costume complete with a green cap with ears

Precious: Earlier in the day, Logan was dressed as a skeleton, and his older brother James Hunter went to school in a Spider-Man costume

'Was thinking this could just be our Christmas card too?' she wrote. 'Happy Halloween everyone!'

Sarah also posted plenty of photos and videos from the day on her Instagram Stories, starting with an image of Logan sound asleep in a skeleton onesie.

For his day at school, her son James dressed up as Spider-Man, and she couldn't resist snapping a photo of him sitting on the front stoop of their house.

Later, when they went to pick him up, Sarah filmed a video of Kris dancing in the car in his Darth Vader costume, writing: 'Dad Goals.'

Happy as can be: The two-and-a-half-year-old looked thrilled to be dressed up as the superhero

'Dad Goals': Sarah's husband Kris Jason dressed up as Darth Vader, and she couldn't resist filming him dancing in the car

The proud wife also shared a heartwarming video of Kris holding James in his arm at the end of the school day.

'Darth Vader came to swoop Jamesy from school,' she explained.

That night, James was all smiles in his Chewbacca costume, and he had plenty of time pointing out 'ghosts' with is dad while trick-or-treating in their neighborhood.

At the end of the night, Sarah posted an adorable video of her eldest son dancing in the dark with two lightsabers.

'Parent life': Sarah and Kris were dressed up when they went to pick James up from school

Adorable: Little James wore a Chewbacca costume to go trick-or-treating that night

'After party': The little boy had a blast dancing with his dad's lightsabers at the end of the night

'After party,' she jokingly captioned the footage.

Earlier this week, Sarah was showing off her incredibly toned stomach in Calvin Kelin underwear  just two weeks after giving birth via C-section.

'Enjoying this newborn phase, its true what everyone says that it goes by so fast its been nice resting, healing and cuddling with the babes,' she captioned the image on Monday.

Sarah went on to give her 2.4 million Instagram followers an update on her recovery following the birth of her son.

She's back! The model showed off her postpartum figure in lingerie on Monday, just two weeks after she gave birth to her son via C-section

Welcome, baby! Sarah wore the same underwear to pose for a similar photo while she was 39 weeks pregnant, and the image was shared on Instagram just one day before she gave birth

Family of four: Sarah and Kris welcomed Logan into the world on October 16

'Still recovering from c section and continuing to take it easy at home,' she explained. 'My goal is to make it all the way through trick or treating tomorrow with the family #csectionrecovery #2weeksold #momlife#2under3Club.'

Sarah wore the same underwear to pose for a similar photo while she was 39 weeks pregnant, and the image was shared on Instagram just one day before she gave birth.

The lingerie model's sexy selfies turned her into an internet sensation during her first pregnancy in 2015.

However, critics attacked her slim physique and charged that her minimal weight gain couldn't be healthy for her unborn child. When she maintained a very fit figure with her second, she came up against similar comments.

Both babies were born at healthy weights, and Sarah insisted her eating habits and exercise routine were approved by her doctor.
He was a lesser-known actor when he starred in hit Christmas film Love Actually back in 2003.

But now a Hollywood star, Martin Freeman has delighted fans with another festive role, this time in a heart-warming Vodafone advert.

In the first part of the phone network's Christmas love story series, the Sherlock actor, 46, is seen falling for a mystery brunette on a train platform - as she watches the movie It's a Wonderful Life.

With his female companion wearing a red coat a la Martine McCutcheon in the famous Richard Curtis movie, the advert certainly appears to have a distinct Love Actually feel about it.

Martin Freeman has a starring role in the new Vodafone Christmas campaign, which is the first in a series of adverts

The actor, 46, is seen falling for a mystery brunette who he meets on a train platform

The pair lock eyes as Freeman quotes the famous line 'I'll give you the moon, Mary', to which the woman replies: 'I'll take it. Then what?'

The Hobbit star, who could perhaps brush up on his chat-up lines, then begins talking to her about the dangers of burning through her data if she watches movies on her phone.

After eventually getting on the train, he is seen berating himself for bringing up mobile phone data, before the mystery woman appears at the window with her phone number.

Fans took to social media to praise the sweet advert, with one viewer writing: 'The fact that Martin Freeman is in a cute Vodafone advert makes my soul eternally happy.'

The pair get speaking after Freeman realises she is watching It's a Wonderful Life on her phone

He quotes the famous line: 'I'll give you the moon, Mary', to which she replies: 'I'll take it'

The Vodafone campaign has officially kicked off the Christmas advert season this year

Freeman has starred in previous Vodafone campaigns, including one in which he plays a bumbling wedding guest.

The actor made a memorable appearance in Love Actually, in which he starred alongside Joanna Page as body doubles for racy sex scenes.

The Vodafone campaign has officially kicked off the Christmas advert season, which has become a great source of excitement among festive fans.

The eagerly-anticipated John Lewis Christmas advert is not expected to air until the second week of November.
She jetted out to New York last week to spend some quality downtime boyfriend Jack Brooksbank and close friend Ellie Goulding.

But Princess Eugenie was back on the London party circuit on Wednesday as she attended a star-studded book launch at the House of Lords.

Eugenie, 27, rubbed shoulders with fashion designers Dean and Dan Caten, and models Daisy Lowe and Neelam Gill at the glitzy event.

The Queen's granddaughter showed off her curves in a vibrant green 460 Alice + Olivia floral print fil coupe chiffon dress adorned with gold flowers.

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Princess Eugenie joins fashion designers Dean and Dan Caten as she returns to the London party circuit on Wednesday for a star-studded book launch at the House of Lords

Eugenie joined a host of stars toasting the release of Be Cool, Be Nice, an interactive book to coincide with the start of Anti-Bulling Month, on November 9th.

And it seems guests at Wednesday night's event couldn't wait to be seen with the princess, with guests including Gill, 22, posing for selfies with her.

The Be Cool, Be Nice movement celebrates the positive power of social media, bringing together influencers and VIPs to launch of the new book.

The international movement is aimed at helping to combat cyber-bullying by encouraging youngsters to communicate and use social media in a positive and proactive way.

The interactive book, which is accompanied by an app, was curated with artistic direction from Lenny Kravitz's Design Studio and Chaos Fashion.

Stylish: The Queen's granddaughter showed off her curves in a vibrant green 460 Alice + Olivia floral print fil coupe chiffon dress adorned with yellow flowers

In demand: Guests at Wednesday night's event couldn't wait to be seen with the princess, with guests including Gill, 22 (pictured), posing for selfies with her

Other Guests at the event included Daisy Lowe,June Sarpong and recording artist FEMME. Dressed in a demure, high-neck dress, Daisy joined guests at the BE COOL BE NICE book launch while

The new campaign celebrates the positive power of social media, bringing together influencers and VIPs at the House of Lords.

Quick change: Earlier that night, she'd been dressed in a covered up dress by Paul & Joe for the Be Cool, Be Nice event

FEMME joined guests with her signature pink hair and a 'Love Music Hate Racism' which is a music-oriented campaign based in Britain attached to the Anti-Nazi League and Unite Against Fascism. The campaign involves concerts aimed at spreading an anti-racist message.

The Musician released her new single 'Angel' last Friday 31st October and is preparing for her Tour which commences end of November.

Talent: FEMME attended the event wearing a Love Music Hate Racism shirt

Cool: June Sarpong spoke at the event for the Campaign launch

Eugenie, the second and youngest daughter of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson, studied at Marlborough College, scooping three A's and a B before studying at Newcastle university.

After graduating she worked in New York for the online auction house Paddle8 before moving back to the UK two years ago to join the Hauser & Wirth contemporary art gallery in London where she was promoted to director earlier this year.

She has repeatedly been forced to deny rumours an engagement is on the cards for her and nightclub boss Jack, who have been together for seven years.
She has been keeping a low profile since rumours of an alleged split with James Middleton began to swirl last month.

But Donna Air put her best foot forward on Wednesday night as she made her first public outing since the rumours emerged.

The socialite, 38, was glowing as she stepped out for a Vodafone event in London's Bankside Vaults attended by stars including rapper Professor Green, Olympian Tom Daley and designer Henry Holland.

Channelling understated chic, the former Byker Grove star opted for a teal satin blouse featuring a knot detail, which showcased her slim frame with a cinched-in waist.

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Donna was glowing as she stepped out for a Vodafone event in London's Bankside Vaults attended by stars including rapper Professor Green, Olympian Tom Daley and designer Henry Holland

Donna, who shares 14-year-old daughter Freya with ex-husband Damian Aspinal, was reported to have split with the Duchess of Cambridge's younger brother James after the pair were not spotted in public since Pippa Middleton's wedding in May.

MailOnline has contacted a representative for Donna for comment.

The couple, who had been dating for four years, were said to have taken a 'relationship sabbatical' beforefinally calling it quits over the summer - despite James declaring he 'wanted children' with his on-off girlfriend.

Speaking in November 2016, he revealed: I love Donna very much. Marriage is absolutely not something Im scared of, but it isnt necessarily the be-all and end-all.

Happier times: Donna was reported to have split with the Duchess of Cambridge's younger brother James after the pair were not spotted in public since Pippa Middleton's wedding in May (the couple are pictured here in 2016)

A message for James? Last month, Donna shared a cryptic Instagram post which read: 'Be open to learning new lessons, even if they contradict the lessons you learned yesterday'

Mystery: She has been keeping a low profile since rumours of an alleged split with James Middleton began to swirl last month

'She makes me very happy. I think I make her very happy. I want children.

And last month a friend told the Mail on Sunday: 'Donna and James have not split up. In fact, they are spending this weekend away together.

The following day, Air, who also works as a style writer and business consultant, shared a cryptic Instagram post which read: 'Be open to learning new lessons, even if they contradict the lessons you learned yesterday.'

Wednesday's star-studded event, near Waterloo station, was held to celebrate the launch of new Vodafone Passes.
It was Paul Hollywood who caused uproar last year when he dunked a Jaffa Cake in a cup of tea.

But this year it was new judge Prue Leith, 77, creating controversy after she declared she was 'too posh' to dunk - before doing it anyway during Tuesday night's Great British Bake Off final on Channel 4.

Fans were outraged at the implication you could be too upper class to dunk a biscuit.

And others said it was a sly dig at former Bake Off judge Mary Berry, who famously scolded Paul, 51, last year for dunking his Jaffa Cake in tea.

Prue caused controversy after declaring she was 'too posh to dunk' after doing it anyway on last night's Bake Off final

The controversial moment Prue dunked her ginger biscuit in a cup of tea

Prue cheekily dunked one of her intricately designed ginger biscuits in a cup of tea after she and Paul had discussed the last ever Technical Challenge for the final three bakers.

It was then she admitted to Paul: 'I'm too posh to dunk, you didn't see this.'

But Paul reassures her by saying: 'You're never too posh to dunk,' before dipping a biscuit in his cup too.

The dunking occurred as Prue and Paul discussed the tricky Technical Challenge to bake and ice ginger biscuits

The biscuits had to be iced with very intricate designs, including one that was decorated to look like lace and another with pretty coloured flowers

Fans were outraged that Prue suggested that someone could be too posh to dunk a biscuit - while others said Mary would be fuming

Some fans interpreted this as a subtle insult to former judge Mary Berry.

She famously scolded Paul last year for dunking a Jaffa Cake in a cup of tea, telling him: 'We don't do that in the south, you know'.

They said Mary 'would be fuming' at Prue dunking her biscuit.

And for an even lower blow, one even said that Mary would never have let slip the winner on Twitter hours before the final aired like Prue did yesterday.

Bake Off final watched by HALF the number that tuned in last year The first ever Bake Off final on Channel 4 was watched by almost half the number that tuned in last year when the show was still on the BBC. Channel 4 bosses will be celebrating today as the final pulled in 7.7 million viewers overnight - the biggest audience since the opening of the Paralympic Games in 2012. That's despite judge Prue Leith's catastrophic Twitter gaffe yesterday, which saw her reveal the name of the winner - Sophie Faldo - hours before the final aired. However the figures are paltry compared to the 14 million who watched Candice Brown triumph last year on the last final to air on the BBC, and the 15 million who saw Nadiya win in 2015. Channel 4 executives had expected a drop in viewers after the transfer, and budgeted for the show to break even if 3.5 million tuned in each week as additional income came from sponsors and advertising. In fact, 6 million on average tuned in each week. Last night's final won a 34 per cent share of the audience, and the viewing figures are expected to rise to 10 million when repeat airings and catch-up services are taken into account. Prue's Twitter blunder doesn't appear to have had too much of a dent on viewing figures. She quickly deleted her too-early congratulatory tweet after the mistake had been made, though screenshots were circulating widely on social media yesterday. She blamed the time difference on her blunder as she was in Bhutan, which is six hours ahead of the UK. A mortified Prue has since apologised to fans, admitting: 'I f***** up'. Advertisement

Prue dunked her biscuit in her cup of tea after telling Paul Hollywood about the tricky last Technical Challenge - even though she implied that one can be too posh to dunk

There was a similar controversy last year after Paul dunked a Jaffa Cake in a cup of tea much to Mary Berry's disgust

Others were just furious with her implication that anyone would be too upper class to dunk a biscuit.

Last year, Mary Berry was disgusted when Paul dunked a homemade Jaffa Cake into his tea.

But not everyone agreed with her.

Thousands took to social media to vent their fury or support for Paul's decision to dunk.

It also opened up the debate over whether a Jaffa cake is in fact a cake or a biscuit.

The answer, confirmed by HMRC (for tax purposes) is that Jaffa cakes are definitely cakes - not biscuits.
JACKSON COUNTY, Miss. -- Jackson County School District Superintendent Dr. Barry Amacker has been named the state of Mississippi's 2018 Superintendent of the Year.

Amacker was nominated for the award by Assistant Superintendent, Dr. Michael Van Winkle, who lauded Amacker for the type of relationship he has with students.

"Dr. Amacker has a wonderful rapport with people of all ages, especially the children," Van Winkle said. "His ability to connect with the students, staff and parents is truly superior. Dr. Amacker can follow through to ensure that the job gets done. He accomplishes these tasks with great initiative and with a very positive attitude. Dr. Amacker always finds a way to get the job completed."

Over the length of his 43-year career, Amacker has worked as a band director, assistant principal, principal, assistant superintendent and superintendent.

Amacker is no stranger to awards as he was recognized as Mobile County Public School System's Teacher of the Year by the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce and St. Martin Attendance Area Administrator of the Year by the Jackson County School District.

Throughout his career, Amacker has served as Chairman of the South Mississippi High School Principals' Consortium, Chairperson of the Gulf Coast Education Initiative Consortium, and on several boards.

In addition, Amacker has taught at the University of Southern Mississippi and the University of South Alabama as an adjunct instructor and has authored and published two books -- "

These Old Shoes" and "Power to Press On

."

In the Jackson County School District, he has served as principal of St. Martin High School, Assistant Superintendent over the St. Martin Attendance Area, and is currently serving in his 10th year as Superintendent of Education.

Amacker said it feels good to be recognized for the honor, but most importantly, it is simply about the kids he said.

"I was truly humbled by the honor," Amacker said. "At the end of the day, it's about standing in the gap for the kids because they are our future. No matter the capacity I have served in whether it be a principal or whatever, the looks on our children faces is the reason for coming to work everyday."
A new blood test could predict from the earliest stage of pregnancy whether a woman will go on to suffer a miscarriage.

The test, carried out in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, can also predict if a woman is at risk of giving birth prematurely or developing pre-eclampsia, a potentially fatal condition causing high blood pressure.

Researchers discovered molecules in the blood that predict these birth complications with up to 98 per cent accuracy.

A new blood test could predict from the earliest stage of pregnancy whether a woman will go on to suffer a miscarriage, give birth prematurely or develop pre-eclampsia, a potentially fatal condition causing high blood pressure (file photo)

More research is needed before the test could be rolled out  but the findings have been hailed as 'very promising'.

Being able to establish if a woman is at risk of such conditions could allow doctors to act early to prevent them. Around one in four women in the UK suffer a miscarriage, while complications including pre-eclampsia and premature birth can cause long-term damage to both mother and baby.

WOMEN WHO DO YOGA ARE MORE LIKELY TO BECOME PREGNANT Women trying for a baby who do yoga are more likely to become pregnant, scientists found. More than 100 women who had already gone through one unsuccessful round of IVF using frozen embryos were randomly assigned into two groups  one did no yoga while the other did it for three months. The ASRM meeting heard 63 per cent in the yoga group became pregnant compared to 43 per cent in the control group. It is thought this could be because yoga helps to reduce stress. The research was carried out by Akanksha IVF Centre in Delhi. Advertisement

Until now, prevention has been a 'significant challenge' as symptoms generally only appear in the second to third trimesters  from the 13th week of pregnancy.

But the US scientists said the underlying problems are thought to start as early as the first week of pregnancy in the placental bed  a membrane that connects the mother's blood vessels to the placenta.

They found signs of future problems could be detected in the first trimester  the first 12 weeks  before symptoms appeared. The blood test screens for molecules called microRNA, which are found in blood cells in the placental bed. These are thought to indicate problems with blood supply, which can trigger birth complications.

The team, from the Laboratory for Reproductive Medicine and Immunology in San Francisco, presented their findings to the annual congress of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) in San Antonio, Texas. They looked at 160 pregnancies, of which 101 had no complications while the others were affected by miscarriage, early onset pre-eclampsia and premature birth.

Examining microRNA at various points during pregnancy, they found accuracy rates typically ranged between 90 and 98 per cent for predicting all the conditions except for pre-eclampsia, which was 82 per cent accurate.

The authors, led by Edward Winger, wrote in their research summary: 'These complications pose a serious risk to both maternal and infant health. Our analysis supports the idea that [they] have a common biological origin early in the first trimester that can be detected throughout the first trimester. Ours is the first to use microRNA to successfully predict multiple pregnancy disorders with high specificity.'

Until now, prevention has been a 'significant challenge' as symptoms generally only appear in the second to third trimesters  from the 13th week of pregnancy

Professor Simon Fishel, an IVF pioneer and managing director of fertility clinic Care Fertility, said the finding could help save some pregnancies, adding: 'Obstetricians have means to help manage such disorders and early recognition of these complications is vital. Further support and evidence for this biomarker could indeed be an important tool in the management of these high risk pregnancies.'

He said that if microRNA is a warning of blood flow problems, potential treatments could include blood-thinning drugs such as heparin.

Tim Child, associate professor of obstetrics and gynaecology at Oxford University, called for more research, saying the numbers in the study were 'quite small' and it is 'not at the stage yet where you could start to us it as a clinical tool'.

But he added: 'The statistical relationship is very, very strong  surprisingly strong, to be honest. It's certainly very promising.'

Barbara Hepworth-Jones, of the Miscarriage Association, said: Much research is still needed ... but this holds real hope for the future.'
Two of the world's biggest drugs firms are threatening to sue the NHS to stop it using a treatment nearly 70 times cheaper than their medication.

Novartis and Bayer made the threat against 12 health boards in Cumbria and North-East England which have advised doctors to use a different treatment for a devastating eye condition.

Doctors have accused the pharmaceutical giants of trying to 'dictate' which drugs they can use.

Doctors in the North East and Cumbria have been using 'off-licence' drugs to treat patients with age-related macular degeneration, or wet AMD, picture posed by models

Medics have been using Avastin, which costs on average 12 per injection

Eylea, which is produced by Bayer costs the NHS on average 742 per dose

The NHS clinical commissioning groups want to use a drug called Avastin for patients with wet age-related macular degeneration, or wet AMD.

They calculate that at 12 per injection, Avastin would save them 13.5 million a year compared to the current drugs they use  Novartis's Lucentis (742 a dose) and Bayer's Eylea (816). They say the saving could pay for an extra 270 nurses in the region.

But Novartis and Bayer have threatened to launch a judicial review, saying the move breaches health rules.

Wet AMD, which affects about 70,000 elderly people in the UK, causes them to rapidly lose their central vision when blood vessels start growing across the retina at the back of the eye.

The treatments, which are injected directly into the eye, stop the growths.

Avastin was initially designed as a breast cancer treatment, and so does not have a licence for use as eye medication. And because its patent expires in 2022, its maker Roche has nothing to gain from an expensive licence application.

Lucentis, pictured, costs on average 742 a dose and is produced by Novartis

But studies have shown it is just as good as Lucentis or Eylea at stopping visual decline, and it is used 'off-label' around the world for elderly eye patients.

If the NHS switched entirely to Avastin, it would save an estimated 500million a year, but off-label use of drugs is permitted only if there is no medical alternative. Novartis and Bayer claim NHS patients have a legal right to be offered drugs that have been approved by drugs watchdog NICE.

David Hambleton, chief officer of South Tyneside clinical commissioning group, last night condemned the companies' aggression.

Writing in the British Medical Journal, he said: 'We have no interest in protracted legal disputes, but pharmaceutical companies should not dictate which drugs are available to NHS patients.

'The choice between three clinically effective drugs should be one for NHS clinicians and patients to make together, not for drug companies.'

He said the 12 health boards had agreed a new policy which would offer patients the choice between the three drugs  but point out the cost of each. 'We intend to share information with patients through accessible media  including leaflets and audiovisual material  about the treatment options available, the evidence base, and the comparative costs, and allow them to make their own choice.

'Every patient who chooses the cheaper alternative drug will help the NHS to fund important medical treatment in other areas.'

Bayer, which said elderly patients with eyesight problems may lack the cognitive capacity to make a fully informed decision about their treatment, and Novartis last night confirmed they were considering legal action.

A spokesman for Bayer said: 'The principle of using unlicensed medicines when licensed and NICE-approved options are available runs the risk of setting a precedent that undermines the regulatory framework and NHS constitution.

'Bayer is currently considering its position including the possibility of legal proceedings.'

A Novartis spokesman accused the health boards of producing 'misleading' information.

She added: 'The framework provides that unlicensed medicines can only be used where there is an unmet medical need. That is not the case here as there are two licensed products available in the UK, both of which have been approved by NICE as clinically and cost-effective.'

Professor Andrew Lotery, an ophthalmologist at Southampton University, told the BMJ: 'It's purely the regulatory framework that is stopping [Avastin's] widespread use in the NHS.'

He said his eye unit was under 'extreme pressure' over costs, and using a cheaper treatment would increase funds for other frontline care.

Prescribing an off-label drug goes against guidance by the General Medical Council, but its assistant director of standards and ethics, Mary Agnew, hinted the organisation was looking carefully at the matter.

She said: 'We hope that some sort of licensing solution for drugs such as Avastin may be forthcoming, or alternatively that the situation is clarified in the courts to give doctors more assurance about when they can prescribe this drug safely and within the law.'
The El Nino which caused havoc to the worlds weather in 2016 may be responsible for the severity of this years deadly plague outbreak in Madagascar.

Experts believe the natural phenomenon dubbed Godzilla triggered an increase in rat populations in rural areas, sparking the beginning of the epidemic which has so far infected at least 1,300 people.

Forest fires have also driven the rats and their plague-carrying fleas towards areas inhabited by humans, local reports state as a reason behind the surge in cases recorded this year.

But Professor Matthew Bayliss, from Liverpool Universitys Institute of Infection and Global Health, suggested floods and heavy rains  triggered by Cyclone Enawo, may also be to blame.

Concerned officials have also warned an ancient ritual, called Famadihana, where relatives dig up the corpses of their loved ones, may also be fueling the spread.

Some 600 cases of plague are reported each year in Madagascar, but this year's outbreak has struck early is set to last another six months, as some are worried it will continue to pick up speed.

Two thirds of the cases are suspected to be pneumonic plague - described as the 'deadliest and most rapid form of plague'. It is spread through coughing, sneezing or spitting and can kill within 24 hours. It has been reported that 50 aid workers are among those infected.

If bubonic plague  which is transmitted by flea bites - is left untreated, it can turn into pneumonic. So far 93 official deaths have been recorded, but UN estimates the toll may be as high as 124, which has prompted warnings in nine nearby countries - South Africa, Seychelles, La Reunion, Mozambique, Tanzania, Kenya, Ethiopia, Comoros and Mauritius.

Fears have been raised that the plague epidemic could spread through air travel and sea trade. However, experts stress the risk of this is low because of the screening protocols that have been implemented to curb the outbreak.

Experts believe the natural phenomenon dubbed Godzilla triggered an increase in rat populations in rural areas of Madagascar, sparking the beginning of the epidemic which has so far infected at least 1,300 people

WHAT IS EL NINO? El Nino, along with its little sister La Nina, are part of a recurring shift in climate that occurs as warm water shifts from one side of the Pacific to the other. It is caused by a shift in the distribution of warm water in the Pacific Ocean around the equator. Usually the wind blows strongly from east to west, due to the rotation of the Earth, causing water to pile up in the western part of the Pacific. This pulls up colder water from the deep ocean in the eastern Pacific. However, in an El Nino, the winds pushing the water get weaker and cause the warmer water to shift back towards the east. This causes the eastern Pacific to get warmer. But as the ocean temperature is linked to the wind currents, this causes the winds to grow weaker still and so the ocean grows warmer, meaning the El Nino grows. This change in air and ocean currents around the equator can have a major impact on the weather patterns around the globe by creating pressure anomalies in the atmosphere. Advertisement

Speaking exclusively to MailOnline, Professor Bayliss warned the particularly aggressive El Nino of 2016 may be behind the aggressive start of this years outbreak, which has seen it hit two heavily populated cities for the first time, including the capital Antananarivo.

2016 was the strongest El Nino on record, and was nicknamed by some Godzilla, he said. Some have suggested the growing burden of climate change was to blame.

It is a change to the movements of water in the Pacific Ocean which then has an effect on climate in many parts of the world, including east and southern Africa.

Our own research suggests that El Nino played a role of the Zika outbreak, but it is also possible that the conditions have facilitated this large scale plague outbreak.

Professor Bayliss, alongside colleagues including climatologist Dr Cyril Caminade, were behind a 2014 study that found outbreaks of plague in Madagascar are linked to the naturally occurring climate event in the tropical Pacific Ocean.

Published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, they found large outbreaks tend to coincide with the fluctuation of air pressure and sea surface temperature, partly driven by El Nino. It was based on data from the previous 48 years.

Officials in Madagascar have warned residents not to exhume bodies of dead loved ones and dance with them because the bizarre ritual can cause outbreaks of plague

More than 1,300 cases have now been reported in Madagascar, health chiefs have revealed, as nearby nations have been placed on high alert

In Madagascar, a sacred ritual sees families exhume the remains of dead relatives, rewrap them in fresh cloth and dance with the corpses

They were also behind another study, released in the same journal in December last year, which found El Nino fuelled the Zika outbreak in South America. It went on to strike more than 70 countries and caused a surge in the number of babies born with abnormally small heads.

The plague outbreak in Madagascar tends to begin in September and ends in April. Tarik Jasarevic of the World Health Organization confirmed it would be no different this year.

He said: 'After concerted efforts of the Ministry of Health and partners, we are beginning to see a decline in reported cases but there are still people being admitted to hospital.

AID WORKER ON THE GROUND REVEALS SCALE OF THE PROBLEM A senior aid worker on the ground in Madagascar has provided MailOnline with an exclusive snapshot of what is happening on the island. Panu Saaristo, the International Federation of Red Cross' team leader, has revealed thousands of infected adults are unwilling to seek help because they are scared of hospitals. Mr Saaristo said the cultural stigma associated with seeking medical help was masking the true scale of the problem as it means many of those who are infected are failing to be diagnosed. At the same time there is also a growing shortage of life-saving tests which can provide a rapid diagnosis. Speaking about the decline in plague cases reported today by Madagascan health officials, Mr Saaristo said he feared this is not really the case and that the true scale of the problem growing. He told MailOnline: 'No-one is happier than us, if that is indeed the case'. Malagasy Red Cross volunteers wait for the emergency evacuation of an infant plague suspect at a hospital 'Fear of the fact if they get diagnosed with the infection and the long time they would have to spend in hospital' could be a factor in many not seeking treatment because they connect 'hospitals to death', he added. 'People start avoiding healthcare that may lead to a situation where people start dying.' He warned this year's outbreak has been 'truly unprecedented', and is 'not the plague as usual'. Figures show that at least 1,300 cases of the plague have been reported so far in this year's outbreak, with 93 official deaths recorded. However, UN estimates state the toll could be in excess of 120. Mr Saaristo warned more deaths are expected unless the urgent shortage of rapid diagnostic tests is immediately addressed, as the majority of plague cases spreading through Madagascar can prove fatal in just 24 hours. Advertisement

'At this time we cannot say with certainty that the epidemic has subsided. We are about three months into the epidemic season, which goes on until April 2018.

'Even if the recent declining trend is confirmed, we cannot rule out the possibility of further spikes in transmission between now and April 2018.'

This outbreak is the first time the disease has affected the Indian Ocean island's two biggest cities, Antananarivo and Toamasina, officials said.

However, amid widespread fears it could reach Europe, the WHO has stressed the overall global risk of an epidemic is low.

A WHO official added: 'The risk of the disease spreading is high at national level because it is present in several towns and this is just the start of the outbreak.'

People carry a body wrapped in a sheet after taking it out from a crypt, as they take part in a funerary tradition called the Famadihana

A plague outbreak sweeping Madagascar has prompted warnings that the ritual, known as the turning of the bones, presents a contamination risk

International agencies have so far sent more than one million doses of antibiotics to Madagascar. Nearly 20,000 respiratory masks have also been donated.

However, the WHO advises against travel or trade restrictions. It has previously asked for $5.5 million (4.2m) to support the plague response.

Despite its guidance, Air Seychelles, one of Madagascar's biggest airlines, stopped flying temporarily earlier in the month to try and curb the spread.

Schools and universities have been shut in a desperate attempt to contain the respiratory disease, with children known to come into contact with each other more than adults, and the buildings have been sprayed to eradicate any fleas that may carry the plague.

The first death this year occurred on August 28 when a passenger died in a public taxi en route to a town on the east coast. Two others who came into contact with the passenger also died.

Experts have long observed that plague season coincides with the period when Famadihana ceremonies are held from July to October.

Willy Randriamarotia, the Madagascan health ministry's chief of staff, said: '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.'

HOW DID THIS YEAR'S OUTBREAK BEGIN? Health officials are unsure how this years outbreak began. However, some believe it could be caused by the bubonic plague, which is endemic in the remote highlands of Madagascar. If left untreated, it can lead to the pneumonic form, which is responsible for two thirds of the cases recorded so far in this year's outbreak. Rats carry the Yersinia pestis bacteria that causes the plague, which is then passed onto their fleas. Forest fires drive rats towards rural communities, which means residents are at risk of being bitten and infected. Local media reports suggest there has been an increase in the number of blazes in the woodlands. Without antibiotics, the bubonic strain can spread to the lungs - where it becomes the more virulent pneumonic form. Pneumonic, which can kill within 24 hours, can then be passed on through coughing, sneezing or spitting. However, it can also be treated with antibiotics if caught in time. Madagascar sees regular outbreaks of plague, which tend to start in September, with around 600 cases being reported each year on the island. However, this year's outbreak has seen it reach the Indian Ocean island's two biggest cities, Antananarivo and Toamasina. Experts warn the disease spreads quicker in heavily populated areas. Advertisement

People dance, sing and play music as they carry the bodies of their ancestors during a funerary tradition called the Famadihana

To limit the danger of Famadihana, rules enforced at the beginning of the outbreak dictate plague victims cannot be buried in a tomb that can be reopened.

WILL IT TRAVEL ON PLANES AND BOATS? Fears have been raised that the plague epidemic which has quickly blighted Madagascar could spread through air travel and sea trade. However, experts stress the risk of this is low because of the screening protocols that have been implemented to curb the outbreak. But, some are concerned frequent flights and ferries between the island and the mainland of Africa could cause the disease to spread. Dr Ashok Chopra, a professor of microbiology and immunology at the University of Texas, said the crisis in Madagascar had yet to peak. He told The Sun: If they are travelling shorter distances and they're still in the incubation period, and they have the pneumonic (form) then they could spread it to other places. 'We don't want to have a situation where the disease spreads so fast it sort of gets out of control.' Advertisement

Instead, their remains must be held in an anonymous mausoleum. But the local media has reported several cases of bodies being exhumed covertly.

Despite the serious risks publicised by the authorities, few in Madagascar question the turning ceremonies and dismiss the advice.

Participant Josephine Ralisiarisoa insisted the plague risk had been exaggerated. 'I have participated in at least 15 Famadihana ceremonies in my life. And I've never caught the plague,' she said.

'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.'

'It's one of Madagascar's most widespread rituals,' historian Mahery Andrianahag told AFP at a festival in Ambohijafy, a village outside the capital Antananarivo.

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.

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.

People in Madagascar believe the ritual honours their dead relatives, who can be 'turned' every five, seven or nine years

Municipal officers clear the ground which blocks the entrance of a family vault during the funerary tradition

'It's one of Madagascar's most widespread rituals,' historian Mahery Andrianahag told AFP at a festival in Ambohijafy, a village outside the capital Antananarivo

One by one, the wrapped remains were carried out into the open and carefully placed on a mat where they were re-wrapped, or 'turned' in the new shrouds.

Oly Ralalarisoa, 45, was overcome with emotion. '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.'

WHAT IS THE FAMADIHANA RITUAL? 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 at a festival in Ambohijafy, a village outside the capital Antananarivo. '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.' 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. 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 soon as the ritual is over, the mats on which the bodies are laid were pulled up. Many participants store them under their mattresses in the belief it will bring them good luck, harboring bacteria. Advertisement

This year's outbreak is expected to dwarf previous ones as it has struck early, and British aid workers believe it will continue on its rampage.

Olivier Le Guillou, of Action Against Hunger, previously said: 'The epidemic is ahead of us, we have not yet reached the peak.'

A Foreign Office spokesman previously said: 'There is currently an outbreak of pneumonic and bubonic plague in Madagascar.

'Outbreaks of plague tend to be seasonal and occur mainly during the rainy season, with around 500 cases reported annually.'

The first death this year occurred on August 28 when a passenger died in a public taxi en route to a town on the east coast. Two others who came into contact with the passenger also died.

El Nino, along with its little sister La Nina, are part of a recurring shift in climate that occurs as warm water shifts from one side of the Pacific to the other.

It is caused by a shift in the distribution of warm water in the Pacific Ocean around the equator.

Usually the wind blows strongly from east to west, due to the rotation of the Earth, causing water to pile up in the western part of the Pacific.

This pulls up colder water from the deep ocean in the eastern Pacific.

However, in an El Nino, the winds pushing the water get weaker and cause the warmer water to shift back towards the east. This causes the eastern Pacific to get warmer.

But as the ocean temperature is linked to the wind currents, this causes the winds to grow weaker still and so the ocean grows warmer, meaning the El Nino grows.

This change in air and ocean currents around the equator can have a major impact on the weather patterns around the globe by creating pressure anomalies in the atmosphere.

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

For Madagascans, the famadihana ceremony is an intense celebration accompanied by music, dancing and singing, fuelled by alcoholic drinks

BUBONIC PLAGUE: WIPED OUT A THIRD OF EUROPE IN THE 14TH CENTURY Bubonic plague is one of the most devastating diseases in history, having killed around 100million people during the 'Black Death' in the 14th century. Drawings and paintings from the outbreak, which wiped out about a third of the European population, depict town criers saying 'bring out your dead' while dragging trailers piled with infected corpses. It is caused by a bacterium known as Yersinia pestis, which uses the flea as a host and is usually transmitted to humans via rats. The disease causes grotesque symptoms such as gangrene and the appearance of large swellings on the groin, armpits or neck, known as 'buboes'. It kills up to two thirds of sufferers within just four days if it is not treated, although if antibiotics are administered within 24 hours of infection patients are highly likely to survive. After the Black Death arrived in 1347 plague became a common phenomenon in Europe, with outbreaks recurring regularly until the 18th century. Bubonic plague has almost completely vanished from the rich world, with 90 per cent of all cases now found in Africa. However, there have been a few non-fatal cases in the U.S. in recent years, while in August 2013 a 15-year-old boy died in Kyrgyzstan after eating a groundhog infected with the disease. Three months later, an outbreak in a Madagascan killed at least 20 people in a week. A year before 60 people died as a result of the infection, more than in any other country in the world. Outbreaks in China have been rare in recent years, and most have happened in remote rural areas of the west. China's state broadcaster said there were 12 diagnosed cases and three deaths in the province of Qinghai in 2009, and one in Sichuan in 2012. In the United States between five and 15 people die every year as a result, mostly in western states. Advertisement

Two women sit on the ground and hold the body of one of their ancestors as they take part in a funerary tradition

Isabel Malala Razafindrakoto carries the wrapped body of her son, who died aged just three years old

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

As part of the tradition, festivalgoers leave the bodies of their ancestors on a straw carpet
Writer Allison Ramirez had a perfume made up blending her vaginal juices and essential oils

The scent we give off  chemicals known as pheromones  are believed to play a big role in attraction.

One woman has gone to extremes to put this to test: by using her own vaginal secretions as an aphrodisiac perfume to attract men.

After carrying out some research into how, writer Allison Ramirez discovered 'you basically just have to stick a finger down there and then use said finger to dab your "natural perfume" on your pulse points.'

According to the history books, this was a method of seduction used by courtesans of medieval Europe, who spritzed their vaginal secretions behind their ears and necks and on their chests.

But Allison felt this was 'a bit uncivilized' and enlisted the help of a perfume maker to create her own personalised scent.

The '20-something' social media manager tested the product on a string of dates and was pleasantly surprised to find it worked. One romantic encounter ended with a smooch in a photo booth and another led to a text to meet up again.

Here she reveals in more detail all about her encounters armed with her 'secret weapon'.

Courtesans of medieval Europe dabbed their vaginal secretions behind their ears and necks and on their chests (stock photo)

The Los Angeles journalist, writing for Cosmopolitan, carried out an experiment to see if her 'natural scent' made her more attractive to men

THE SCIENCE OF ATTRACTION Pheromones are chemicals that are secreted in our sweat and other bodily fluids that are believed to influence the behavior of the opposite sex, such as triggering sexual interest. Several studies have shown that people who produce higher than average amounts of pheromones have greater success with members of the opposite sex. Lots of experiments prove men find women far more attractive and attainable when ovulating than at other time of the month. A team at the University of Texas, Austin discovered that men judge the smell of a T-shirt worn by the woman during fertile phase as more pleasant and sexy than a T-shirt worn by the same woman during her non-fertile phase. Researchers said ovulating women release a signalling chemical, a type of pheromone called a copulin, which could prove a boon for perfume manufacturers. Dating companies have taken notice and attempted to cash in on it. Dating firm Pheromone Parties organises events to match people by their smells and last year Smell Dating became the first 'mail odor dating service' using three-day old T-shirt samples. Advertisement

The Los Angles journalist, who carried as part of an experiment for a Cosmopolitan feature, consulted with Saskia Wilson-Brown, the founder and director of the Institute for Art and Olfaction, who runs perfume making workshops.

She told her that essential oils rose, cinnamon, aniseed, and benzoin have aphrodisiac qualities and could work mixed with her womanly juices.

However, she warned that 'body fluids and sweat are not stable, and probably wouldnt do well in a formula'.

Saskia also informed her scents like pumpkin pie, lavender, licorice, and doughnuts have been found to increase blood flow to a man's erection in a study carried out by the Smell and Taste Treatment and Research Foundation in Chicago.

In the end, Allison settled on creating a sweet-smelling scent of her vagina secretions mixed with cedar, rose and civette.

The results

Armed with her 'secret weapon', Allison then tested out her new perfume by going out on dates.

On the first night, she met up with an old friend and ended up sharing a drunken kiss with him in a photo booth.

'Then all of a sudden, teeth!' she wrote. 'It was funny, but it also kind of hurt.'

She says he replied: 'I can't help it. It's that scent you have.'

The '20-something' social media manager says one date kissed her excitedly and said: 'I can't help it. It's that scent you have.'

Allison said a cashier in McDonald's was 'a little nicer to me than normal' as she wore the scent

Allison added: 'The rest of the night was a blur, but his comment and actions were a pretty good indicator that my perfume was working.'

The next day she reported reapplying the purfume and visiting a McDonald's, where she says 'the cashier was a little nicer to me than normal'.

'He usually rings me up without speaking to me, and this time I got a smile,' she explained.

Days later, Allison wore her scent for a date with a friend of a friend.

She revealed he didn't say or do anything during the date to indicate the perfume had worked but he did text her later saying he had fun and asking her out again.
A new drug that 'melts away' the fat that builds up inside arteries has been hailed as a 'big breakthrough' in the fight against heart disease.

The medication has already been successful in trials for the treatment of breast cancer and diabetes and now scientists at Aberdeen University have discovered it could also boost cardiovascular health.

Just a single dose of trodusquemine tested on mice 'completely reversed' atherosclerosis, a disease that causes most heart attacks and strokes.

The disease causes arteries to become clogged with fatty substances called plaques, which over time, narrows your arteries.

Researchers believe the drug 'mimics' the effects of exercise and activates a protective enzyme. It also inhibits another enzyme that causes prolonged inflammation and hardens arteries.

Experts said their findings have the potential to significantly reduce deaths, given that heart disease is the number one cause of death globally, killing 17.7 million people a year.

Just a single dose of trodusquemine completely reversed atherosclerosis  which causes most heart attacks  in tests on mice (stock photo)

Professor Mirela Delibegovic hopes to test out the drug on humans next

Professor Mirela Delibegovic from the University of Aberdeens Institute of Medical Sciences, who led the study, told Mail Online: We know this drug has been shown to have beneficial effects on reducing prolonged inflammation in type 2 diabetes and because this is also a factor in atherosclerosis we wanted to know if it had cardiovascular benefits too.

And our initial tests on mice show that it does, so this is potentially a big breakthrough.

Essentially, when it comes to the key enzymes in play here, trodusquemine is stopping the bad guy and helping the good guy.

We will now need to carry out further research to see if the same effect is replicated in humans and it can be proven to be safe.

Key findings

The researchers say trodusquemine works by stopping an enzyme called PTP1B, which is normally increased in people with obesity or diabetes.

It is also raised in other conditions involving prolonged inflammation such as sepsis, inflamed diabetic foot ulcers and allergic lung inflammation.

This illustration shows how fatty substances build up and clog arteries, restricting the blood flow and oxygen supply to vital organs (stock photo)

Previous research has shown that having a deficiency in this enzyme has a protective effect against atherosclerotic plaque formation.

Therefore, knowing this, the team wanted to test it to on mice genetically modified to have the disease.

They found that they had less fatty plaques in their arteries, whether they had regular doses of trodusquemine over time or even just a single dose.

They also believe it stimulates the action of another protein called AMPK, which reduces chronic inflammation.

Inflammation plays a major role in all phases of atherosclerosis by thinning connective tissue in plaques and causing them to rupture.

'We all have fatty arteries'

All humans have some level of atherosclerosis, according to Professor Delibegovic.

We all have these fatty streaks inside our arteries to some degree and as we age atherosclerosis is accelerated,' she explained.

Eating sugary and fatty foods contributes to this process which is why the disease is a big problem for people who are overweight.

With the plaques causes the arteries to harden and narrow, blood flow and oxygen supply to vital organs becomes restricted. Blood clots can partially or completely block blood flow.

If blood flow to your heart muscle is reduced or blocked, you can develop angina (chest pain or discomfort) or a heart attack.

When the flow of blood to the brain is blocked, it can cause a stroke. According to The British Heart Foundation, 85 per cent of cases are caused by atherosclerosis.

WHO'S AT RISK OF ATHEROSCLEROSIS? Exactly why and how arteries become clogged is unclear. It can happen to anyone, although the following things can increase your risk: Increasing age

Smoking

Un unhealthy, high-fat diet

Lack of exercise

Being overweight or obese

Regularly drinking excessive amounts of alcohol

Other conditions, including high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes

A family history of atherosclerosis and CVD

Being of south Asian, African or African-Caribbean descent Source: NHS Choices Advertisement

Atherosclerosis doesn't tend to have any symptoms at first, and many people may be unaware they have it.

According to NHS Choices, the condition is largely preventable with a healthy lifestyle.

However, with soaring rates of obesity, any drug that can reduce the harmful effects of being overweight on the heart could have a huge impact.

Professor Delibegovic explained: 'As obesity progresses, fat cells are infiltrated by our immune cells.

'When that happens inflammation starts developing, which promotes the production of more inflammatory cells, worsening the condition further.'

The British Heart Foundation, which funded the 236,000 study, said the research results were promising.

Associate medical director Professor Jeremy Pearson said: Stopping the build-up of fatty plaques in arteries has the potential to significantly reduce deaths from heart attack and stroke.

If we see the same effect in patients, the drug may prove even more useful than currently hoped for.'
Teenagers are bullying themselves online at an alarming rate, a new report warns.

Six percent of teens aged between 12 and 17 admitted to 'self-trolling' or 'digital self-harming' by anonymously posting abusive comments about themselves online, researchers found.

The study published this week, the first of its kind, also revealed that most boys who self-bullied were seeking attention, while girls were usually driven to do so by depression or psychological trauma.

Experts warn the report shows little has been done to crack down on the ominous activity despite two high profile deaths  one in the UK and one in the US  of young teenage girls committing suicide after bullying themselves on social media.

A new study published in the Journal of Adolescent Health reveals that six percent of teens reported that they had anonymously cyberbullied themselves

The findings published in the Journal of Adolescent Health reveal that teens had anonymously posted negative comments about themselves via fake accounts on Instagram, Snapchat and Facebook.

Researchers investigated 5,593 American middle and high school students between August and October 2016 to find out how many participated in digital self-harm and the motivations behind it.

Among the 335 students that admitted to self-cyberbullying, about half said they did it once, about 35 percent said they did it a few times, while 13 percent said they had done it many times.

Sameer Hinduja, Ph.D., study author and criminology professor at FAU, said: 'This finding was totally unexpected, even though I've been studying cyberbullying for almost 15 years.'

Hinduja and his collaborator from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, Justin W. Patchin, Ph.D. revealed that most comments were centered around the themes of self-hate, attention seeking, depressive symptoms, and feeling suicidal.

The research also showed that many who participated in digital self-harm were looking for a response of either encouragement or validation from others.

Hinduja, who is also the co-director of the Cyberbullying Research Center, told DailyMail.com that some students told him: 'I felt down about myself and wanted to feel worse.'

Boys were more likely to cyberbully themselves (seven percent) compared to girls (five percent). However, their reasons varied dramatically. Boys described their behavior as a joke or a way to get attention while girls said they did it because they were depressed or psychologically hurt.

Researcher's say that this finding suggests digital self-harm has a greater possibility of leading girls to attempt suicide.

Hannah Smith, 14, (left) anonymously sent hurtful messages to herself on the social media platform Ask.fm in the weeks leading up to her suicide in 2013. Natalie Natividad, 15,(right) called herself 'ugly' and said 'she should kill herself' on the app After School before her suicide in 2016.

Digital self-harm came into the public spotlight in 2013 when 14-year-old Hannah Smith of Leicestershire, England, had anonymously sent hurtful messages to herself on the social media platform Ask.fm in the weeks leading up to her suicide.

Another teen, 15-year-old Natalie Natividad of Texas, used the app After School to post anonymous messages directed at herself calling her 'ugly' and saying 'she should kill herself'.

After her suicide in 2016, investigators found that Natalie had been the one sending those messages.

Hinduja said he became interested in studying self-cyberbullying due to Hannah Smith's case because 'she couldn't be the only teenager that did this'.

Age and race were not particular factors in measuring digital self-harm, but teens who identified as gay were three-times more likely to bully themselves online.

Victims of cyberbullying by others were nearly 12 times as likely to have cyberbullied themselves compared to those who were not victims.

'We need to closely look at the possibility that digital self-harm behaviors might precede suicide attempts,' said Hinduja. 'We need to refrain from demonizing those who bully, and come to terms with the troubling fact that in certain cases the aggressor and target may be one and the same.'
Acid reflux drugs that are supposed to prevent stomach cancer could double your risk of developing the potentially-fatal illness, according to a new study.

The report, published in the journal Gut, concluded that proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) significantly increase people's risk of being diagnosed with gastrointestinal tumors, which are the third deadliest type.

PPIs such as Prilosec, Prevacid and Protonix are prescribed to wipe out a certain type of bacteria that is linked to the cancer.

But after this happens, if a person continues to take a PPI, their cancer risk surges, according to the research by the University of Hong Kong and University College London.

The study's authors warn their findings show doctors should impose more limits on how many PPIs they prescribe, and for how long.

A new study has found that acid reflux drugs, such as Prilosec, might double one's risk of developing stomach cancer (file photo)

EXPLAINED: STOMACH CANCER Stomach cancer usually begins in cells that line the stomach and produce mucus. The following are symptoms of stomach cancer: fatigue

being bloated after eating

severe heartburn

unintentional weight loss

persistent vomiting

stomach pain

nausea Risk factors that increase one's risk of developing stomach cancer include: smoking

eating high amounts of smoked and salty foods

long-lasting stomach inflammation You can decrease your risk of developing the cancer by: exercising

eat more fruits and vegetables

refraining from smoking Advertisement

For the study researchers looked at data from 63,397 adults. Some treated acid reflux using PPIs only, while others used medications called histamine H2 receptor antagonists (H2 blockers).

The participants were monitored individually until they died, developed stomach cancer or the study ended in December 2015.

The average amount of time that participants were monitored was seven-and-a-half years.

Five percent of the participants - 3,271 people - took PPIs for an average of three years during the study, and 21,729 people took H2 blockers.

The researchers - from Queen Mary Hospital and the Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacy at the University of Hong Kong and University College London School of Pharmacy - found that taking PPIs significantly heightened one's risk of developing cancer and that H2 blockers were safe.

The study said: 'Taking PPIs was associated with a more than doubling in the risk of developing stomach cancer, while taking H2 blockers was not associated with any such heightened risk.'

Your risk parallels the frequency with which you take the drugs. Daily PPI usage more than quadrupled a person's risk of developing stomach cancer.

'The longer PPIs were used, the greater was the risk of developing stomach cancer, rising to five-fold after more than a year, to more than six-fold after two or more years, and to more than eight-fold after three or more years,' the study said.

Previous research has linked PPIs heart attacks, pneumonia and bone fracture.

The study's authors wrote that doctors 'should exercise caution when prescribing long-term PPIs'.

The American Cancer Society estimates that about 28,000 cases of stomach cancer will be diagnosed in the US this year. Additionally, they said it will probably kill about 10,960 people.

The society also said that the average risk of developing stomach cancer is one in 111. Most people diagnosed with the illness are at least 65 years old.

Men are impacted by stomach cancer more than women, and, in the US, Hispanic, black and Asian Americans are more likely to develop the cancer than white people.
The FDA is cracking down on marijuana products marketed as cancer cures.

The agency has sent a letter to four companies, slamming their unsubstantiated promises that patients can treat life-threatening tumors - and even prevent Alzheimer's - by using cannabis oils and creams.

While medical marijuana is now legally prescribed for many ailments in more than half of the United States, the FDA warned that no studies have been done on these products to test their disease-fighting properties.

The firms - two in Colorado, one in Florida and one in California - now have two weeks to remove the claims from their products, or pull the products altogether.

The FDA cited four companies, including That's Natural, in Pueblo, Colorado, which tells customers their products (pictured) 'actually kill cancer cells'

'The FDA has grown increasingly concerned at the proliferation of products claiming to treat or cure serious diseases like cancer,' the agency said.

'Selling these unapproved products with unsubstantiated therapeutic claims is not only a violation of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, but also can put patients at risk as these products have not been proven to be safe or effective.

'The deceptive marketing of unproven treatments may keep some patients from accessing appropriate, recognized therapies to treat serious and even fatal diseases.'

All of the products cited by the FDA use CBD, the relaxant property of marijuana, rather than THC, the psychoactive property which stimulates a 'high'. Neither property can be legally distributed without a prescription.

The CBD product cited including oil drops, capsules, syrups, teas, and topical lotions and creams.

Green Roads in Pembroke Pines, Florida, tells customers that 'almost all studies recognize CBD's potential in preventing both cancer spread and growth'. Pictured: one of their products

Stanley Brothers Social Enterprises brands its hemp oil (pictured) as 'anti-tumoral'

Natural Alchemist, based in El Dorado Hills, California, tells visitors to its website that cannabinoids combat tumor and cancer cells

And all four of the manufacturers - Green Roads, Natural Alchemist, That's Natural and Stanley Brothers - market their products with claims that they may prevent, reverse or cure cancer by killing or reducing tumors.

Green Roads in Pembroke Pines, Florida, tells customers that 'almost all studies recognize CBD's potential in preventing both cancer spread and growth', and 'CBD oil can potentially be therapeutic for: asthma, Alzheimer's disease, arthritis, autism, bipolar disorder, various types of cancer'.

Natural Alchemist, based in El Dorado Hills, California, tells visitors to its website: 'Cannabinoids are found to have particular application... in limiting neurological damage following stroke and trauma, or in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease.' It also says the products 'combats tumor and cancer cells'.

That's Natural, in Pueblo, Colorado, says: 'Scientific research by doctors have shown it actually kills cancer cells and provides a protective coating around our brain cells.'

Stanley Brothers Social Enterprises, in Colorado Springs, says: '[C]urrent studies have reported that CBD is showing promise in how oncologists are looking to treat breast, glioma, Leukemia, thyroid, colon and lung cancer.' It also brands its hemp oil as 'anti-tumoral'.
When the five-day 'public inquiry' - or should I say 'public inequity' - against the JNU Vice-Chancellor concluded on October 28, I was on my way to Bangalore Literature Festival (BLF) 2017.

As an invited speaker in the well-attended weekend event, I wondered how bad the fallout of the mock trial by the kangaroo court instituted by JNU Teachers Association would be.

Frankly, I didn't expect anything good to come out of it; the question was how much damage it would do.

Jagadesh Kumar speaks during a media interaction at Jawaharlal Nehru University

Concern

The reason for my concern was that the BLF had scheduled a concluding plenary panel discussion on 'Nationalism, Populism, and the Threat to the Global Liberal Order'.

Not only was I a speaker on this panel, but some noted Left-liberals of whom the most popular seemed to be Kanhaiya Kumar, former JNU Students Union president, were also on the same panel. The latter himself had faced disciplinary, not to mention sedition, charges.

I thought he might raise the daily 'verdicts' at our latest public tamasha to further malign the 'establishment'.

JNU students agitating for the release of the now former JNUSU President Kanhaiya Kumar, who was on the panel

Though he did rail, in his usual fashion, against the Modi Sarkar, perhaps after the court's warnings, he was not overly provocative. But there was no mention whatsoever of the kangaroo court or its daily diversions.

Indeed, throughout my time at BLF, where I had so many conversations with all kinds of interlocutors of every political stripe, I was never once asked about the JNUTA trial.

The 'hot' topic, instead, was the Raya Sarkar hotlist, on which the feminists who were present were quite divided.

Speaking of kangaroo courts, there's some debate on the origin of the phrase. Some claim that it goes back to the California Gold Rush, first appearing in print in 1853.

Improperly constituted, often mob-appointed, such courts were not expected to deliver justice. Instead, they would arrive at conclusions by 'jumping over', like Kangaroos, all kinds of uncomfortable questions or evidence to arrive at what was often a preordained verdict.

That's why I think the JNUTA-sponsored 'Jan Adalat' was less a kangaroo court than a 'show trial.' Show trials, as the Oxford English Dictionary states, are 'retributive' rather than 'corrective'.

Their main purpose is propaganda. They are an especially dear device of communists, as witnessed by the horrors perpetrated by Stalin and Mao in the 20th century.

In China alone an estimated two million people, many branded as 'landlords', were executed for being 'counter-revolutionaries' after such summary show trials. As recently as 2009, Liu Xiaobo, the Chinese Nobel Peace Prize winner, was subjected to a show trial.

Of course, such trials have also been held in Nazi Germany, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Romania, and more recently in Turkey and Egypt with devastating, sometimes murderous, effect.

Farce

The JNUTA show trial was much more of a farce in comparison. Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar, IIT-Delhi Professor of Electrical Engineering and JNU VC, has been the target of the organised Left and its unorganised supporters, ever since he joined duty in January 2016.

Less than two years after his appointment, his detractors mounted this mock trial against him. But, as the opposition has realised to its dismay, he is a tough nut to crack.

Behind his modest and gracious demeanour is a man with steely determination. I am convinced that Kumar has done more to reform JNU than possibly any other previous Vice-Chancellor.

It is highly improbable that he - or his administration - will let this event deter him from his goals.

Legality

Rather, it must be clearly underscored that the JNUTA's move itself does not enjoy the support of many faculty members.

Usually, no voting is conducted before reaching such far-reaching decisions. Thus, many dissenters cannot effectively record their disagreements or refusal to participate.

Instead, there's often some sort of orchestrated assent, with members streaming out of the hall after supposedly supporting such calls to target the administration.

JNUTA, in other words, itself needs to be questioned on the legitimacy of such a 'show trial'. Under what provision of its constitution did it carry it out? Moreover, what part of the JNU statutes and ordinances authorises it to conduct it? Who decided on the procedures of the 'hearings' or the appointment of the members of the 'jury'? Finally, what legality do such 'verdicts' enjoy?

We don't have to be trained lawyers, constitutional experts, or even university administrators to understand that such mock trials have at best only a populist or performative value.

Last year's 'nationalism' lecturers were widely attended with quasi-academic, some would say real intellectual merit. The JNUTA Jan Adalat, in contrast, was neither supported enthusiastically on campus.

It hardly generated any media interest either, despite live broadcasts by some expected channels. Outside of JNU, there were hardly any repercussions.

Certainly not in Bengaluru, where no one cared enough even to ask what it was about. In the end, the show trial was mostly a flop show.

The author is an academic, his views are his own
India for the first time moved into the top 100 in the World Bank's Ease of Doing Business global rankings on the back of sustained business reforms.

This was announced on Tuesday by the World Bank Group's latest Doing Business 2018: Reforming to Create Jobs report.

Last year the report had ranked India at 130. The report also recognises India as one of the top 10 improvers in this year's assessment, having implemented reforms in 8 out of 10 'doing business' indicators.

India is the only large country this year to have achieved such a significant shift. On the 'distance to frontier metric,' one of the key indicators in the survey, India's score went from 56.05 in Doing Business 2017 to 60.76 in Doing Business 2018.

The report notes that India has adopted 37 reforms since 2003. Nearly half of these reforms have been implemented in the last four years. The report captures reforms implemented in 190 countries in the period June 2, 2016 to June 1, 2017.

'Having embarked on a strong reform agenda to improve the business environment, the significant jump this year is a result of the Indian government's consistent efforts over the past few years,' said Annette Dixon, vice president, South Asia region.

The World Bank Group has placed India on the world's top improvers list. Pictures is the organisation's headquarters in Washington, USA

This year, the eight indicators on which reforms were implemented in Delhi and Mumbai, the two cities covered by the report are: starting a business, dealing with construction permits, getting credit, protecting minority investors, paying taxes, trading across borders, enforcing contracts and resolving insolvency (see attached table for details).

Last year the Doing Business report recognised India for reforms in the areas of getting electricity, paying taxes, trading across borders and enforcing contracts.

India performs well in the areas of protecting minority investors, getting credit, and getting electricity. The country's corporate law and securities regulations have been recognized as highly advanced, placing India in 4th place in the global ranking on protecting minority investors.

One of the areas that has contributed to the boost is the way India deals with construction permits

And the time to obtain an electricity connection in Delhi has dropped from 138 days four years ago to 45 days now, almost 20 days less than the 78 days average in OECD high-income economies.

India places in 29th place in the global ranking on the Getting Electricity indicator.

While there has been substantial progress, India still lags in areas such as Starting a Business, Enforcing Contracts, and Dealing with Construction Permits.

In fact, the time taken to enforce a contract is longer today, at 1,445 days, than it was 15 years ago (1,420 days), placing the country in 164th place in the global ranking on the Enforcing Contracts indicator.

In Starting a Business, India has reduced the time needed to register a new business to 30 days now, from 127 days 15 years ago. However, the number of procedures is still cumbersome for local entrepreneurs who still need to go through 12 procedures to start a business in Mumbai, which is considerably more than in OECD highincome economies, where it takes five procedures on average.

'Tackling these challenging reforms will be key to India sustaining the momentum towards a higher ranking,' said Junaid Ahmad, Country Director India.
The Pennsylvania Association of School Retirees has honored several Lehigh Valley educators and staff members with awards.

From left, Bill Landis and Ruth Gafford

An awards ceremony sponsored by the association was held Oct. 19 at the Hampton Winds Restaurant at Northampton Community College in Bethlehem Township. About 75 people were in attendance.

Honored individually was A. Landis Brackbill of Nazareth and Ruth Gafford of Allentown; as well as several other retirees for recent volunteer efforts.

Landis is an active member of the Northampton County Pennsylvania Association of School Retirees, serving as chapter and regional chairman of its legislative committee. Association member said he demonstrated "outstanding leadership" skills while completing his terms as president and past president and has the knowledge and caring spirit to inspire all chapter members.

Landis was honored with the John Dillon award, which recognizes individuals who have provided outstanding service to the association.

Ruth Gafford, 92, of Allentown, served for 25 years as a school nurse with the Easton Area School District before retiring in 1992. She was honored with the "Volunteer of the Year" award after logging more than 600 hours of community service within the past year.

Gafford's motto: "To serve others in need and help one another enjoy retirement." She also donated proceeds from more than 50 carryall bags that she crafted and sold, according to the association.

Several Northampton County Chapter members also received the "NRTA With Our Youth!" award for assisting the Nazareth Ministerium with its annual summer lunch program. The Nazareth Ministerium is a decades-old group of area churches.

More than a dozen volunteers with the association's Northampton County chapter this past July prepared and distributed more than 400 bagged lunches to needy youth and senior citizens. More than 5,000 lunches were served throughout the summer.

The Rev. Jeffrey Gehris, pastor of the Nazareth Moravian Church, around 2011 developed the idea to distribute lunches to children in the Nazareth Area School District who during the summer months don't have access to federally funded free or reduced price lunches at school.

The lunch program was successful at his former church in Maryland and he wanted to bring something similar to Nazareth, Gehris had said.

The Pennsylvania Association of School Retirees is comprised of members who are all retired employees of statewide public schools. Members of the Northampton County chapter last year provided 10,000 hours of volunteer service to area churches, schools and communities.

Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @pamholzmann. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
We have all have heard about selfie or groupfie, but now the new photo-taking craze sweeping India has taken a bizarre new turn with the advent of the 'cowfie'.

It all began when an NGO in Kolkata announced a two-month-long competition that invites people to take selfies beside a cow and upload it on their website to qualify for an award.

The response for the competition, which started on Gopastami, is such that the website crashed under the sheer amount of contributions. To meet the demand the charity has bought additional server data to keep downloading and storing the thousands of cowfies being submitted.

UDDERLY ridiculous: Thousands of people in India are talking selfies with cows

Another magic mooooment: One enthusiastic selfie taker shares his snap from a beach in Goa

Abhishek Pratap Singh, a senior member of Go Seva Parivar, the organiser of the contest explained: 'The selfie competition has been started to spread awareness about the gaumata (cow).

'We want to make this competition a medium for everyone to understand the importance of cows. We want them to believe that a selfie is not meant to be clicked with friends or celebrities.'

Krishna holding Govardhan hill

The contest, which runs until December 31, has been flooded with entries since it started.

One of the applicants, Rohit Goenka, said: 'I am very fond of clicking selfies. I have come with my entire family. I strongly believe I will win.'

The 6000-member Go Seva Parivar started operating only three years ago, with an aim to bring awareness about cows in urban and rural areas.

This is one of their most successful campaigns.

Vikas Trivedi, another member of the organisation said: 'I want people to be aware of the importance of cow protection, which is known as gauraksha.

This is in fact the main motive behind our initiative of organising the competition.

'We believe a mere selfie will be enough to get people connected with our the gaumata.'

A man takes a traditional selfie on the beach in the Colombo (photo for representation only)

Security staff in Delhi will now arrest anyone who ventures onto the track to take a photo (photo for representation only)

The cow selfie mania has been more popular in the district level. The cowfies can be uploaded on gosevaparivar.org or even via the app available on Play Store.

Goseva Parivar - Vision 'Goseva Parivar wants to see all Mother Cows and their progeny live a full and happy life We want to help the owner of the Mother Cow become prosperous through her dung and urine and keep her forever Present Mother Cow as a necessity as well as a status symbol, irrespective of caste, creed, religion, state, and nation We aspire to re-establish her as the Mother of Universe' Source - www.gosevaparivar.org Advertisement

West Bengal has more than 6,000 gaushalas or cow shelters. Surendra Dalmia, in charge of the Sodepur Gaushala with more than 1,000 cows is flooded with participation requests.

Dalmia explains: '50-60 people are clicking selfies with cows daily. I am happy to witness that the move has been so successful.'

While the Go Seva Parivar campaign has a positive message behind it, India's obsession with selfies is filled with danger and has made the country the world's worst deaths related to the photo craze.

A study by scholars from Carnegie Mellon University and Indraprastha Institute of Information Delhi found that of 127 reported selfie deaths worldwide from March 2014 to September 2016, 76 of them occurred in India.

Earlier this month, three college students were killed by an express train while taking photos of themselves on a track in India - the latest in a long line of similar incidents on the railways.

A cow statue covered in colored powder during the Holi festival in the Banke Bihari temple

Truly mooooving: The website has been inundated with uploads from eager participants

Last November three students died while trying to take a selfie in front of an oncoming train in northern India.

Another student died while clicking a picture on a cliff edge that broke off, sending him plunging to his death into a ravine.

Last year the federal government asked states to ensure there were warning signs at tourist spots deemed dangerous for selfie-lovers.

India's financial capital Mumbai declared 16 no-selfie zones after several deaths at those locations.
Last week the National Investigation Agency (NIA) took suspected ISIS sympathiser into five-day custody after he was deported from Turkey following his third alleged attempt to cross into ISIS territory.

Shahjahan Velluva Kandy, a native of Kerala's Kannur district, has also used Facebook to call Islamic State fighters 'role models' alongside posts on al- Qaeda 'poetry'.

A senior NIA official told Mail Today that Kandy's social media accounts were scanned showing his links to people who are involved in creating fake travel documents and sending people to join the jihad.

Shahjahan Velluva Kandy, a native of Kerala's Kannur district, allegedly used Facebook to post celebrate Islamic State fighters as 'role models'

Many ISIS sympathisers connect to each other through social networking sites and encrypted chats, say sources.

Mail Today accessed Kandy's Facebook account through which he was in touch with several Islamic State supporters along with some of those who have already fled to Syria.

At first glimpse, 32-year-old Kandy's FB account may not throw up anything unusual, with a profile picture of him on a horse and a wide landscape shot of a green hill.

But scroll down a little and a flurry of hate posts stare back. Kandy is an activist of the Kerala-based outfit Popular Front of India (PFI).

Many ISIS sympathisers connect to each other through social networking sites and encrypted chats, say sources

Sources say the group could soon be banned by the government for its alleged links to terrorism and conversion activities.

Kandy was active on Facebook until June 2016 and frequently posted pictures and posts about purported violence against ISIS fighters.

Security agencies say social media has become one of the biggest sources of recruiting new jihadis by instigating them with provocative posts.

When many Facebook users around the world changed their profile picture to a flag of France to condemn a terror strike in Paris, Kandy posted a picture of a burning French flag as a mark of protest against the country's military intervention against ISIS.

His post got five shares and was liked by over 40 people. Security agencies are scanning his friend list and groups he was active in as they suspect the presence of many ISIS recruiters.

Cops have got vital leads from social media sites in breaking the ISIS network in Kerala.

Some of Kandy's Facebook friends faced a crackdown last week when Kerala police arrested five people with suspected links to Islamic State from Kannur.

Thalassery native Manaf and Hamsa had allegedly recruited people from Kasaragod and Kannur districts for the terror group.

Kandy is an activist of the Kerala-based outfit Popular Front of India (PFI)

Hamsa had connections with international leaders of ISIS and he led recruitment from northern Kerala.

The other three  KC Mithilaj, Abdul Razzak and AV Rashid  were reportedly trained by Islamic State in Istanbul and were trying to enter Syria when they were stopped by Turkish police.

They were then deported to Kerala. All of them were connected to Kandy through Facebook.

The Kannur resident during his interrogation also told cops that at least six people from Kerala are fighting for the Islamic State in Syria since February.

Last week, Mail Today reported about an Indian doctor who now goes by the name Abu Muqatil al-Hindi and has become a big worry for security agencies as he is believed to be the man currently heading recruitment of jihadis from India.

Investigators also tried to find out Abu's real identity through Kandy and how he managed to reach Syria.

Kandy through his Facebook account was not only spreading venom by sharing fake news and posts about atrocities against Muslims across India but he openly abused RSS leaders, the central government leadership and even investigating agencies like NIA.

He had put up several posts related to beef ban to instigate people he was in touch with.

All his posts are politically motivated and aimed at provoking the Muslim community. He openly boycotted Republic Day celebrations and came out in support of Rohingya Muslims while sharing posts related to violence against them in Myanmar and in India.

The NIA had re-registered the case probed by Delhi police's special cell. Police said he procured a fake passport using the services of an agent from Chennai.

Shahjahan's passport was detected as fake only after his flight left for Turkey.

Indian officials alerted their counterparts in Turkey and he was immediately sent back.

BJP calls for Popular Front of India ban

India Today TV's sting operation on massive conversions carried out by the Popular Front of India (PFI) in Kerala has raised many questions about the authenticity of such NGOs.

Addressing a press conference on Wednesday, Union law and justice minister Ravi Shankar Prasad raised concerns about the working of such NGOs and called the case of massive conversions an 'extreme case of radicalisation'.

He demanded a detailed probe into the case and said that action should be taken against the culprits.

Union law and justice minister Ravi Shankar Prasad raised concerns about the working of such NGOs and called the case of massive conversions an 'extreme case of radicalisation'

Applauding India Today TV's sting on the PFI's racket of religious conversions, Prasad said anyone who wants to convert by choice can do that, but forced conversions are a 'serious national issue'.

'Why I am specifically complementing India Today is because they did a sting on Hurriyat and its foreign funds. No one from Hurriyat has denied. The second extraordinary initiative is to expose the terror elements in Kerala,' he said.

Targetting the Congress, Prasad said, 'Surprisingly, Rahul, who speaks on every issue these days, is silent on Hurriyat and Kerala. We also demand action from the Kerala government. People have voted them to govern, and not for vote bank politics.'

Reacting to India Today TV's sting operation on PFI on Tuesday, Prasad said the organisation should be banned.

'Your investigation shows that there is a PFI, the Popular Front of India, which is having an organised racket employing people who are owning it up on your channel that they are creating a radical group by some kind of psychological brainwashing,' the Union minister said.

Post the TV expose on forceful conversions by PFI in Kerala, the chief minister's office has asked for a copy of the report and said appropriate action will be taken after the report is received.

India Today TV released a sting operation on Tuesday that shows Zainaba A.S., head of the PFI's women's wing, accepting that the organisation's sister concern Sathya Sarani has carried out massive conversions.

As the report was released, Zainab denied the allegations and termed them 'baseless'. The Kerala CMO has asked for a copy of the report which will be forwarded to the state intelligence department on an urgent basis.

Authorities said the matter will be treated with utmost seriousness. The PFI is also under investigation by the NIA, which is looking into the sting.
The brother of the victim in the 2012 gang-rape in Delhi that shook the nation is ready to start his career as a pilot.

His mother thanks Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi for his effort after the stress and heartbreak of the last five years threatened to consume them.

'Aman (name changed) is a pilot now because of Rahul Gandhi,' said Asha Devi, who fought for years to get justice for her daughter.

'The brutality of the crime against the 23-year-old, who was named 'Nirbhaya'  meaning fearless  provoked intense anger and weeks of protests across Indian cities and also hit headlines around the world.

All the accused were arrested and charged with sexual assault and murder.

One of the accused died in police custody. The four remaining adult defendants were found guilty of rape and murder and sentenced to death.

A juvenile too was convicted and sent to a reform facility for three years.

The tragedy deeply troubled Aman but he stayed strong.

Rahul's regular phone calls motivated him to achieve what he wanted, his mother said.

Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi has kept in touch with the family

When his sister was killed, Aman was in Class 12. He wanted to join the military. But the brutal crime sent him into shock.

'Rahul Gandhi was the one who counselled him and motivated him to achieve something good in life to support the family. After learning that he wanted to join the defence forces, Rahul asked him to pursue a pilot's training course after completion of school,' Asha said.

After his CBSE board examinations in 2013, Aman got admission at Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Uran Akademi in Rae Bareli, the Congress leader's parliamentary constituency.

'While shifting to Rae Bareli, Aman made up his mind that he will prepare for the Indian Army's recruitment examination. But after joining the course, he found it difficult. He never got time to pursue parallel studies,' Asha said, quoting conversations with her son.

During his 18-month pilot's training course, Aman used to get regular updates about the legal proceedings against the accused.

'When he was studying, Rahul used to talk to him over the phone and taught him to adopt a 'never quit' attitude.' she added.

'Even after he completed his studies, he called him to find out about his training-cum-job.'

Aman is now undergoing final training with a commercial airline in Gurugram. He will soon fly a plane. Asha said even Rahul's sister Priyanka calls them over the phone.

'She often asks about our health,' she said. Nirbhaya's youngest brother is studying engineering in Pune.

Their father is a permanent employee at Delhi Airport and has a desk job.

On Wednesday, the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) issued a notice to the city's Tihar Jail administration and the deputy commissioner of police in the south district for delaying the execution of the death penalty awarded to Nirbhaya's rapists.

Asha Devi had complained to the DCW, asking why the criminals have not been hanged as per the Supreme Court order which came five months ago.
One of Britain's highest profile fund managers Terry Smith has today launched an ethical investing fund that excludes morally dubious companies such as those involved with oil, tobacco or gambling.

The Fundsmith Sustainability Fund has been developed from a portfolio of around 22 stocks that Smith initially put together as part of an initiative to raise money for the 'Comic Relief' charity appeal.

Smith generated annual returns of 23.9 per cent for Comic Relief through the portfolio since he began running the money in 2014.

Terry Smith has launched an ethical investing fund that excludes morally dubious companies.

Smith, who is arguably the best known fund manager in the UK market alongside Neil Woodford, said the fund will invest in a maximum of 30 stocks with environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors plugged into the selection process, as well as the underlying investment case.

It is targeted at institutional investors such as pension funds meaning retail investors could be invested indirectly but won't be able to personally hold units as with Smith's other offerings. There is a minimum investment of 5million and annual charge at 0.9 per cent.

'We have long felt that many investors who apply the commonly used factors to identify sustainable investments do so at the expense of the long term economic sustainability of a business,' Smith said.

'By marrying important sector exclusions with the proven sustainable investment process of Fundsmith we have shown that we can deliver superior investment performance.'

Actor Daniel Craig promoting Comic Relief.

'I believe Fundsmith Sustainable Equity Fund will provide a product that institutional investors both need and want,' he added.

Fundsmith head of research Julian Robins and analyst Tom Boles will assist Smith in running the fund.

Smith and other members of the Fundsmith team have invested more than 10million of their own money in the new fund, which will be added to the 70million raised for Comic Relief.

Stocks already in the fund include PayPal, Microsoft, Visa and Marriott.

Smith's flagship fund Fundsmith Equity has been a roaring success, growing rapidly since launch seven years ago to amass 11.9billion in assets under management.
The gulf between Britain's exports to the EU and the rest of the world is getting bigger, according to official figures.

Booming sales of UK goods and services to non-EU nations jumped 8.3 per cent to 311.6billion last year amid rising demand all over the world  from the US and Canada to Chile, Egypt, Pakistan, Japan, Singapore and New Zealand.

By contrast, exports to the EU rose by just 2.8 per cent to 235.9billion, figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed.

It marks the eighth straight year in which exports to the EU have been outstripped by those to the rest of the world.

Brexit boost: Sales of UK goods and services to non-EU nations jumped 8.3% to 311.6bn last year

A separate report showed British manufacturers started the final quarter of this year firmly on the front foot.

Research group IHS Markit said that its index of activity in the sector, where scores above 50 show growth, rose from 56 in September to 56.3 last month.

The report found that exports improved to the US, Europe, South America and Australia as the fall in the pound since the Brexit vote last year boosted business.

'UK manufacturers made an impressive start to the final quarter of 2017 as increased inflows of new work encouraged firms to ramp up production once again,' said IHS Markit director Rob Dobson.

Britain has now exported more goods to the rest of the world than to the EU every year since 2009. Last year the Brussels trading bloc accounted for 43 per cent of goods and services exports  down from 54 per cent a decade earlier.

Brexit campaigners seized on the figures, which underlined how Britain is becoming less reliant on Europe for trade, as evidence that the UK can prosper outside the EU.

Brexit backer and Tory MP Andrea Jenkyns, a supporter of the Change Britain campaign group, said: 'This growth in exports confirms that countries across the globe see 'Made In Britain' as a sign of quality and ingenuity.

'And as our trade with non-EU countries continues to outstrip those to the EU, it highlights the opportunities that await the UK once we take back control of our trade policy and become a beacon of global free trade.'

The Department for International Trade said South Korea was the fastest-growing market for the UK since 2010, with exports up 97 per cent to 6.1billion.

International Trade Secretary Liam Fox said: 'British goods and services are in demand across the globe, and non-EU markets such as South Korea and Japan are becoming more important for UK exports.

'It's a trend predicted by the European Commission themselves, who say 90pc of global growth over the next 20 years will come from outside the EU.

'As an international economic department we will make sure the UK is positioned to benefit, with a dynamic and experienced team to negotiate free trade deals, and more support for British businesses that want to export and international businesses who want to invest in the UK.'

The ONS said the EU accounted for 48.2 per cent of goods exports last year but just 36.8 per cent of services exports.

By the second quarter of this year, the EU made up 36.4 per cent of services exports.
BUILDER BOOST Shares in British builder Morgan Sindall rose after it raised its earnings forecast for the year for the second time in four months. The stock was up 3.8pc, or 55p, to 1499p.

NEW FUND Veteran money manager Terry Smiths Fundsmith has launched a fund which avoids dealing in controversial areas such as weapons, alcohol, tobacco and fossil fuels, and backs companies with ethical credentials.

It is based on Smiths investments for Comic Relief over the past three years.

BRUSSELS OVERSIGHT The London Stock Exchange says it is prepared to accept some Brussels oversight of its lucrative euro clearing business.

The EU wants to ensure it can take action if there is another eurozone crisis.

MADE UP Beauty firm Estee Lauder, whose brands include Tom Ford and Smashbox, saw its sales rise 18 per cent to 1billion in the three months to the end of September.

SWEET DEAL Coffee chain Starbucks is wooing customers by cutting back on the sugar in its festive drinks range by up to 35 per cent.

BITCOIN BET Markets firm CME Group is to allow investors to bet on the future price of digital currency bitcoin by the end of 2017.

ROBOT SPIES Health and safety sensor maker Halma has bought Lancashire-based Mini-Cam, which makes robot cameras to check oil and gas pipelines and other products, for 62million.

PAY RISE Peter Lynas, group finance director of weapons maker BAE, is taking on extra duties and getting a 6.9 per cent pay rise to 626,000.

SUN SPOTS Solar investment specialist NextEnergy Solar Fund has bought eight solar plants in Italy for 116.2million.

OIL SALE The 2.8billion sale of Shells North Sea assets to Chrysaor and BPs 199million sale of Forties Pipeline System to Ineos have completed, prompting industry body Oil & Gas UK to say they would get the most out of what is left of North Sea oil.

WIND STAKE Listed renewable infrastructure fund Greencoat Wind has bought an 80 per cent stake in five wind farms from EDF, for 98million.

RUGBY DEAL Trading group Plus 500 is extending its sponsorship of Australian rugby union team Brumbies, to cover the next three years.
Household names are planning a shopping revolution by cutting out supermarkets and selling direct to consumers.

In a move that could slash consumer bills, hundreds of popular products could be sold straight to customers through a new website.

It would bypass mainstream supermarkets, allowing firms such as Unilever, Reckitt Benckiser and Mars  which are understood to have signed up to the initial proposal  to cut the costs of some of their leading products.

And the service, being developed by tech company INS, poses a new threat to supermarkets already faced with rising numbers of shoppers going online and a push by Amazon to sell groceries.

In a move that could slash consumer bills, hundreds of popular products could be sold straight to customers through a new website

Bosses behind the project say it will help consumer goods firms fight back against an onslaught of cheaper 'own-brand' products, which are squeezing their market share.

But one analyst warned it could spark a war between supermarkets and manufacturers.

Research by Kantar Worldpanel shows the 'Big Four'  Tesco, Sainsbury's, Asda and Morrisons  control almost 70 per cent of the groceries market.

Peter Fedchenkov, the founder of INS, accused UK supermarkets of 'abusing' their position, which meant they could dictate pricing, packaging and promotions, and even threaten to remove products from the shelves if their demands were not met.

He added: 'Our platform would let manufacturers sell directly to customers and run bespoke rewards programmes, much like Air Miles but more advanced, to save them money.

'Today's grocery supply chain is highly inefficient and so, by cutting out parts of it, we can reduce costs.

'In the UK you have 25m households and 7,000 manufacturers but just four big retailers with 70 per cent of the market  that gives so much power to the retailers.'

Last year a row broke out  dubbed 'Marmitegate'  after Tesco pulled Unilever's products from its website and threatened not to replenish supermarket stocks. It came after Tesco refused to pay an extra 10 per cent for goods demanded by Unilever.

The INS website is being developed and is due for a trial run, probably in Moscow, next year. Fedchenkov said it could be rolled out globally in 2019, with the UK seen as a core market.

Nick Carroll, a retail analyst at Mintel, said the proposal was a big challenge to supermarkets and could spark a showdown.

He said: 'If big brands got on board with this, the danger is they could then alienate their supermarket customers, who could decide there is no longer space for their products on the shelves.

'The UK has one of the most advanced online grocery markets and it is still only worth about 6.5 per cent of the grocery market.'

A spokesman for the British Retail Consortium, which represents the Big Four and other retailers, said: 'This platform will no doubt encourage retailers to continue to innovate to deliver the best deal possible for consumers, who are the real winners from the intense competition in British retailing today.'

Mars yesterday confirmed it had signed a memorandum with INS but did not comment further.

A source close to Unilever last night said it was looking at whether it could work with INS, but added: 'There are no plans to do this in the UK or elsewhere at this time.'

A spokesman for Reckitt Benckiser claimed 'no agreement' had been made with INS.
Hit: Schwarzenegger in the FCA advert

Terminator star Arnold Schwarzenegger has sparked more than 1m visits to a watchdog's website over claims for mis-sold payment protection insurance.

The likeness of the former governor of California's is being used in a 42million advertising campaign by the Financial Conduct Authority urging people to complain about PPI mis-selling before the deadline in 2019.

A TV advert features the actor's head driving around a supermarket on tank tracks and calling for shoppers to 'make a decision' on claiming for PPI.

The FCA said its website racked up 1.2m views in the month after it was launched in September and its helpline was called 9,410 times.

Lloyds Bank has set aside 18billion to refund customers mis-sold PPI and it received 16,000 complaints a week after the ad was first screened, though the number has since fallen back to 11,000.
Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl was a 'gold mine' of intelligence, helping the military better understand insurgents and how they imprison hostages, two agents testified Tuesday as defense attorneys sought to show the soldier's contributions since he was returned in a prisoner swap.

The testimony at Bergdahl's sentencing was meant to counter prosecution evidence favoring stiff punishment, including several service members who testified about wounds they suffered on search missions after Bergdahl's 2009 disappearance.

Bergdahl faces up to life in prison after pleading guilty to desertion and misbehavior before the enemy for walking off his remote post in Afghanistan in 2009.

The Army judge has wide leeway to decide Bergdahl's sentence because he didn't strike a plea agreement with prosecutors.

Amber Dach, who spent 16 years in military intelligence, was the primary analyst assigned to Bergdahl's case for the five years after he disappeared.

US Army Sergeant Beaudry Robert 'Bowe' Bergdahl enters the courthouse for the fifth day of sentencing proceedings in his court martial at Fort Bragg, North Carolina on Tuesday

Bergdahl faces up to life in prison after pleading guilty to desertion and misbehavior before the enemy for walking off his remote post in Afghanistan in 2009

She described how eager he was to help intelligence officials at a hospital in Germany days after he was returned to US authorities.

Though his voice was weak and raspy, he helped authorities and even drew diagrams in his downtime to bring to his next debriefing session.

Dach and another official who debriefed Bergdahl both testified that his time in Germany was extended partly so he could offer additional time-sensitive intelligence.

'He was very motivated to just download all of the details that he recalled,' she testified.

Intelligence analyst Amber Dach leaves the Fort Bragg courtroom facility after testifying for the defense at Bergdahl's sentencing hearing. Dach and another official who debriefed Bergdahl both testified that he offered time-sensitive intelligence

Terrence Russell of Joint Personnel Recovery Agency testified on Tuesday that Bergdahl provided invaluable information about survival training

Another witness, Audy Ellingson (above), who supervised Bergdahl's current work as a clerk at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas, said he has been reliable

'It was a gold mine. It really reshaped the way we did intel collection in the area.'

An official from the military agency that helps reintegrate former captives and develops survival training for service members testified that information Bergdahl provided him was invaluable.

Terrence Russell, a division chief for the Joint Personnel Recovery Agency, developed a 1,200-page transcript from debriefing Bergdahl that was turned into a database.

The information produced reports on tactics used by insurgents and hostage-takers in the region that are still used by the military.

Russell said he'd like to learn even more from Bergdahl but the soldier's legal case has impeded that.

'Can you give him to me tomorrow? I need him. I need him now,' he said to a defense attorney.

'The fact that I can't get that information is wrong. I need that.'

He said he'd like to add Bergdahl to a roster of about 30 service members taken captive in recent conflicts dating to the Gulf War who can provide videos or lectures for military survival training.

'We don't have very many examples coming out of Afghanistan,' he said.

He also reaffirmed his previous statements that Bergdahl's captivity was worse than any American prisoner of war has experienced since the Vietnam era.

Before Bergdahl took the stand on Monday, Shannon Allen (pictured) described how her husband, Sgt Mark Allen, had suffered brain trauma after being attacked while searching for him

Allen was shot in the temple during the search. Shannon (pictured with her husband) wept in court as she described how her husband's injury had completely transformed their lives

Allen was left unable to speak and is paralyzed over much of his body. Shannon told the court how he is unable to reach out and touch his daughter, who is now nine

On Monday, Bergdahl began the defense presentation by apologizing to those wounded searching for him.

He also described the brutal conditions he faced, including beatings with copper wire and unending bouts of gastrointestinal problems brought on by squalid conditions.

He said he was kept in a cage for four out of the five years in captivity after several escape attempts.

He said his muscles became so weak he could barely stand or walk.

Russell, who's debriefed more than 100 former hostages and prisoners of war, said Bergdahl's time in the cage was damaging psychologically because he was kept in isolation nearly the entire time.

'They simply shut the door. Long-term isolation. Psychological abuse,' he said.

'It was extreme neglect. They just let him nearly rot inside that cage for four years.'

The defense showed the court images of a replica of the cage that Russell's agency built, using Bergdahl's sketches.

Russell uses it for survival training.

After walking off his post in 2009, Bergdahl (pictured) was held by the Taliban for five years and eventually released in a 2014 prisoner swap criticized by Republicans

Bergdahl's squad leader when he deserted also testified for the defense, calling him an efficient soldier.

'He executed quickly, efficiently - no back talk, no questions,' said former Sergeant Greg Leatherman.

'He wanted to go out and get bad guys.'

Under cross-examination, Leatherman added that Bergdahl complained a lot about the military hierarchy and that the unit was not aggressive enough against the Taliban.

'He wasn't sold on the mission we were fighting,' Leatherman testified at the Fort Bragg military base in North Carolina.

Another witness, who supervised Bergdahl's current work as a clerk at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas, said he has been reliable.

JUDGE THROWS OUT TRUMP CLAIMS Bergdahl's lawyers tried to argue on Monday that criticism by President Donald Trump is preventing him from having a fair sentencing hearing. Trump called for Bergdahl to be shot or thrown out of a plane without a parachute while running for election; he brought the comments back when Bergdahl pleaded on October 16. Military judge Army Col Jeffery Nance rejected the argument, saying the court hasn't been directly affected by Trump's criticism of Bergdahl. He also ruled that a reasonable member of the public would not have doubts about the fairness of military justice because of Trump's comments. The judge did say, however, that he would consider Trump's comments as a mitigating factor in the sentencing. Advertisement

'There was less drama with Sergeant Bergdahl on a daily basis than most of the (non-commissioned officers) in our office,' Audry Ellingson, Bergdahl's former supervisor, testified.

Ellingson is a retired Army major who was serving in a civilian capacity at the time.

Multiple service members called as witnesses by prosecutors spoke of the hazardous conditions they faced in the futile search for Bergdahl, who says he deserted to report 'critical problems' in his chain of command.

Several soldiers fell ill or were badly injured during hastily organized missions to find him.

Master Sergeant Mark Allen, the most critically hurt, was shot in the head, leaving him unable to speak or walk.

Bergdahl, the 31-year-old soldier from Hailey, Idaho, was brought home by President Barack Obama in 2014 in a swap for five Taliban prisoners at Guantanamo Bay.

Obama said at the time the US does not leave its service members on the battlefield.

Republicans roundly criticized Obama, and Donald Trump went further while campaigning for president, repeatedly calling Bergdahl a 'dirty, rotten traitor' who deserved to be executed by firing squad or thrown out of a plane without a parachute.

Bergdahl's sentencing hearing is expected to last several more days.
Current and former officials working for President Donald Trump denied on Tuesday that they encouraged George Papadopoulos, a onetime foreign policy adviser, to meet Russian officials in Moscow during last year's campaign.

'My understanding is there wasnt encouragement,' White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders told reporters at her daily briefing on Tuesday.

'He made multiple attempts at setting up a variety of meetings that were constantly rebuffed.'

Papadopoulos, who joined the Trump presidential campaign in March 2016, pleaded guilty to lying in January about communicating with individuals said to have ties to the Kremlin.

Former Trump foreign policy advisor George Papadopoulos pleaded guilty to concealing information about his conversations with an overseas professor about Russia

The White House on Tuesday denied that anyone connected to the Trump campaign sought to encourage Papadopoulos to travel to Moscow to meet individuals with ties to the Russian government

Sam Clovis, a former senior adviser to Trump's campaign, denies having ever encouraged Papadopoulos to improve relations between the United States and Russia, a lawyer for Clovis said on Tuesday. Clovis is seen above in this August 2016 file photo

Special counsel Robert Mueller's office announced a guilty plea by Papadopoulos, who concealed information about his conversations with an overseas professor said to have ties to the Kremlin

The former campaign aide was allegedly trying to arrange a meeting between then-Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, Special Counsel Robert Mueller said in the documents.

Sam Clovis, a former senior adviser to Trump's campaign, denies having ever encouraged Papadopoulos to improve relations between the United States and Russia, a lawyer for Clovis said on Tuesday.

In a statement provided to Reuters, attorney Victoria Toensing said Clovis never said that 'a principal foreign policy focus of the campaign was an improved US relationship with Russia' and that Clovis opposed any Russian trip by Trump or campaign staff.

Clovis has since been nominated by Trump to a top post at the US Department of Agriculture.

The documents said an unidentified campaign official, believed to be Clovis, advised Papadopoulos around May 2016 that Trump himself 'is not doing these trips' but that 'it should be someone low-level in the campaign so as not to send any signal.'

While not mentioned in the documents, top Trump campaign advisers, including Trumps eldest son, Donald Trump Jr.; his son-in-law, Jared Kushner; and Campaign Manager Paul Manafort met at Trump Tower in New York in June 2016 with Russians claiming to have derogatory information on Democratic rival Hillary Clinton.

It was not known whether that meeting resulted from Papadopoulos efforts.

The special counsel said Papadopoulos - a Chicago-based international energy lawyer - lied to FBI agents about when he learned from an unnamed foreign professor that Russia claimed to have 'dirt' in the form of 'thousands of emails' on Clinton.

Prosecutors said Papadopoulos told agents he had been in contact with the professor before he joined Trumps campaign.

Papadopoulos attended a March 31 national security meeting with Trump and foreign policy advisors where he stated that he had connections that would help arrange a meeting between Trump and Putin, according to the information released by the government. Trump tweeted out a photo of the meeting at the time

Papadopoulos is seen at the middle of the table, at far left in this photo

In fact, they said, Papadopoulos met with the professor after joining the campaign.

Sanders on Monday played down Papadopoulos campaign role, saying it was 'extremely limited' and that he was a volunteer.

'He asked to do things (and) he was basically pushed back or not responded to in any way,' she told a news briefing.

'Any actions that he took would have been on his own.'

Papadopoulos lawyers said in a statement it was 'in the best interest of our client .... that we refrain from commenting on Georges case.'

The documents were released just after indictments charging Manafort and business associate Rick Gates with multiple offenses, including money laundering, conspiracy against the United States and failing to register as foreign agents.

None of the charges against Manafort and Gates, however, directly relate to Muellers investigation into possible collusion between the Trump campaign and what US intelligence agencies concluded was a Russian bid to boost Trumps candidacy.

The prosecutors said Papadopoulos had been emailing with a 'Campaign Supervisor,' 'Senior Policy Adviser' and a 'High-Ranking Campaign Official.'

An official familiar with congressional investigations into alleged contacts between the campaign and Russia said the Senate Intelligence Committee already had copies of an extensive file of Trump campaign emails that included emails between Papadopoulos and the campaign.

One email shows Manafort had been discussing Papadopoulos efforts to arrange a Trump visit to Russia with at least one other campaign official.

Papadopoulos has not spoken publicly since Mueller unveiled his guilty plea on Monday.

He admitted lying to FBI agents in January 2017 about his contacts with individuals claiming ties to Russia, including one who told him that Moscow had 'dirt' on Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton.

Papadopoulos is also cooperating with the investigation into Russian election meddling, catapulting him from obscure Trump campaign adviser to the center of a storm which has engulfed Washington.

Little was known about Papadopoulos when he was named a member of Trump's foreign policy team in March 2016 and the appointment did raise some eyebrows at the time.


Incredible airline news as Qatar Airways is starting its Doha to Penang direct flights from 2018. This comes as a shock to many states in Malaysia on the direct middle east flight to the Pearl of the Orient.









The aircraft used will be the Boeing 787 Dreamliner which will seat approximately 254 passengers and take 8.5 hours one way.



Qatar Airways Doha to Penang Flights

Penang is one of the must-visit destinations in Malaysia, rich with culture, food, and heritage Penang has long been one of the must-visit destinations of Malaysia for many decades, and in the past few years, Penang Island has made international travel headlines where Lonely Planet, CNN Travel, and other international publications have named Penang as one of the top cities in the world to visit. The three times weekly direct flight will start on 8th February 2018 and will be a long haul flight on Qatar Airways.The aircraft used will be the Boeing 787 Dreamliner which will seat approximately 254 passengers and take 8.5 hours one way.Penang has long been one of the must-visit destinations of Malaysia for many decades, and in the past few years, Penang Island has made international travel headlines where Lonely Planet, CNN Travel, and other international publications have named Penang as one of the top cities in the world to visit.





The Pearl of the Orient as it is also known has impressed many high yield tourists from the west for many years.



Penang also comes with over 200 years of solid history, where the British first landed here in 1786, making the island the first spot for the British colonial era.









George Town is the capital of Penang and is also home to one of two UNESCO World Heritage Cities in Malaysia. The other being Melaka.



Penang's very unique and interesting shops in George Town Why Penang is popular, is also due to the highly diverse combination of food, culture, and history, all combined into one destination.



Penang food is world renown and serves some of the best local Malaysian hawker fares. Ask any Malaysia about From that, the island has seen a rich and diverse melting pot of races that have thrived over the centuries.George Town is the capital of Penang and is also home to one of two UNESCO World Heritage Cities in Malaysia. The other being Melaka.Why Penang is popular, is also due to the highly diverse combination of food, culture, and history, all combined into one destination.Penang food is world renown and serves some of the best local Malaysian hawker fares. Ask any Malaysia about Penang hawker food and you will get a thumbs up.









As for facilities, the island has been ready for years and you can find luxurious hotels, resorts, boutique accommodations, and many guesthouses.



Qatar Airways will begin direct flights from Doha to Penang in Feb 2018 Qatar Airways Doha Penang Flight Information

Doha to Penang Inaugural Flight will take off on Feb 6, 2018

Flight QR850 will land in Penang at 2.30 pm local time.

Penang to Doha Inaugural Flight will leave at 8.30 pm on Feb 6, 2018

Flight QR851 will arrive at 11.20 pm Qatar local time.

3 flights weekly will be on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. With news of Qatar Airways flying directly into Penang from Doha, this will surely increase the tourism on the island.As for facilities, the island has been ready for years and you can find luxurious hotels, resorts, boutique accommodations, and many guesthouses.
A controversial political ad that shows a supporter of the GOP's gubernatorial hopeful in Virginia, Ed Gillespie, trying to mow down Latino and Muslim children with his pick-up truck has been taken offline  on the heels of the very real New York City truck terror attack.

'We knew our ad would ruffle feathers. We held a mirror up to the Republican Party, and they don't like what they see,' said Cristobal J. Alex, the president of Latino Victory Project, the group that financed the ad.

However, Alex added, 'We have decided to pull our ad at this time,' he acknowledged, citing 'recent events.'

Scroll down for video

The ad showed a white driver in a pick-up truck, who was flying the confederate flag and had adorned his bumper with an Ed Gillespie for governor sticker

The Latino Victory Fund's ad showed a close up to the Confederate flag - as the truck's engined revved

GOP gubernatorial candidate Ed Gillespie's name is seen as the pick-up truck rushes past - causing immigrant children in the neighborhood to run

The infamous images from Charlottesville's white supremacist rally were also shown, as the ad advises voters to 'reject hate'

White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders (left) strongly condemned the ad at the briefing Tuesday, as it attacked Republican Ed Gillespie (right), who is running for governor of Virginia

Tuesday afternoon, a 29-year-old man identified as Sayfullo Saipov used a rented Home Depot van to run over cyclists and joggers in New York, killing eight and leaving several others injured.

The political ad showed a white driver behind the wheel of a Chevy truck, which was decorated with a Gillespie for governor decal and a 'Don't Tread on Me' sticker, a sign of Tea Party support.

The truck also featured an oversized confederate flag.

One child is heard yelling 'Run! Run! Run!' as a number of non-white kids, including a girl wearing an Islamic head scarf, take off as the truck revs.

Before it hits them, however, the children wake up safe in their beds, as the ad asks Virginia voters to 'reject hate.'

Even before the terror attack, the White House on Tuesday was particularly incensed by the ad.

'Frankly, the only people I see stoking political racism right now are the people in the groups that are running ads like the one you saw take place in Virginia earlier this week,' Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said at Tuesday's press briefing.

She was dealing with her own racially-tinged controversy, after Chief of Staff John Kelly called Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee an 'honorable man' and said the Civil War was caused by a 'lack of compromise.'

She pointed to the Virginia ad, which suggests Virginians should vote for Democratic candidate Ralph Northam, though legally can't make the case, and said, 'That's the type of thing that I really think is a problem.'

While Latino Victory Fund pulled down the ad, it kept up a tweet that said, 'It turns out that racists really, really don't like being called racist.'

The group pointed to an article on the Root's website headlined: 'Va. Governors Race: Conservatives Shed White Tears After Political Ad Calls Out Ed Gillespies Racist Ads,' in which writer Jason Johnson argues that the Latino Victory Fund's pick-up truck spot was in response to Gillespie's already-racist campaign ads.

Gillespie played up one of President Trump's most popular talking points  illegal immigration  which the president used to kick off his campaign back in 2015.

'Ralph Northam cast the deciding vote on sanctuary cities that let illegal immigrants who commit crimes back on the street,' the ad blared, warning Virginians of gangs like MS-13.

Gillespie, a well-known Washington, D.C., lobbyist and former chair of the Republican National Committee, also warned that Northam would 'take our statues down.'

The Latino Victory Fund also brings that issue in by showing imagery of the white supremacists, neo-Nazis and KKK members marching on Charlottesville, Virginia, in August, a gathering they say was inspired by the threat that a Gen. Robert E. Lee statue was being taken down.

'Is this what Donald Trump and Ed Gillespie mean by the American dream?' the controversial ad's narrator says, as the familiar imagery of white supremacists carrying tiki torches plays.

It then asks for Virginians to vote on November 7.
A man charged with fatally stabbing and shooting a popular middle school teacher was engaged to her daughter, police said Tuesday.

Authorities arrested and charged 20-year-old Jeffrey Scullin Jr with aggravated murder. Scullin and the victim's daughter were supposed to be married last Saturday, four days after the slaying, according to an online registry.

Strongsville Police Chief Mark Fender said the suspect had been living in the home where 49-year-old Melinda Pleskovic, a sixth grade teacher at Strongsville Middle School, was found with stab wounds to her back on October 24.

A medical examiner said she died of 'gunshot wounds and sharp force injuries'.

SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO

Jeffrey Scullin Jr, 20 (pictured), has been charged with fatally stabbing and shooting a popular middle school teacher whose daughter he was engaged to

Melinda Pleskovic, 49 (pictured), a sixth grade teacher at Strongsville Middle School in Ohio died of 'gunshot wounds and sharp force injuries'

Calls were made to 911 by both Scullin and Pleskovic's husband, Bruce. Scullin told dispatchers he took the Pleskovics' 18-year-old son who has Down syndrome and his 18-month old daughter that he had with his fiancee Anna out of the house when they got there.

'We just came home. She's on the kitchen floor. I took her son and my daughter outside. Her husband is inside with her now,' he told dispatchers.

'We found her in the kitchen. She's not moving. I took the kids and I walked outside...There's a lot of blood.'

It's not clear yet whether Scullin, who is an HVAC worker, has an attorney. He was being held on a $1 million bond.

The victim's husband told 911 dispatchers after finding Pleskovic's body that people had been trying to break into their home 'all year' and 'now someone killed her'.

Police released little information and would not say whether the suspect was linked to a series of attempted break-ins and suspicious activities at the home in the months leading up to the killing.

Pleskovic blasted Strongsville police for not investigating the strange incidents that were happening at the home.

Calls were made to 911 by both Scullin (far left) and Pleskovic's husband, Bruce (far right). Scullin told dispatchers he got the Pleskovics' 18-year-son and his own young daughter out of the home when they got there

Officers were called in September when Melinda Pleskovic (pictured) told officers a set of car keys were missing and that she kept finding her car unlocked and the alarm kept going off

The victim's husband told 911 dispatchers that people had been trying to break into their home (pictured) 'all year' and blasted Strongsville police for not investigating the strange incidents

ALLEGED KILLER'S CALL TO 911 Jeffrey Scullin Jr: Somebody's been attacked in my house. Dispatcher: They attacked who? Who was attacked? Scullin: Mel Pleskovic. Mel Pleskovic was attacked. Dispatcher: She was attacked by whom? Do you know? Scullin: No. We just came home. She's on the kitchen floor. I took her son and my daughter outside. Her husband is inside with her now. Dispatcher: So the husband attacked her? Scullin:'No. No. No. We just came home. We just came home. Dispatcher You came home and found her injured on the floor? Scullin: We found her in the kitchen. She's not moving. I took the kids and I walked outside. Dispatcher: Did she look like she was beaten, or what? Scullin: She has blood all around her. I didn't look. I just grabbed the child and left. *break in call* Scullin: There's a lot of blood. Dispatcher: How do you know this woman? Scullin:'I live here. I live here. She's my fiancee's mother. Dispatcher: Has she like had anybody trying to harm her? Harass her? Anything like that? Scullin: No. No. Dispatcher: Do you have a dog that lives at that house? Scullin: We have two. We have two dogs. Dispatcher: Are the dogs there, or you don't know? Scullin: I don't know. We just walked in the front door and we left. Advertisement

Just days before, police investigated a report that an unknown man tried to enter the home by forcing open the back door.

Records show police investigated a report of a theft from a car in January, and they went to the house again in July to investigate a suspicious person.

Officers also were called in September when Melinda Pleskovic told officers a set of car keys were missing and that she kept finding her car unlocked and the alarm kept going off.
An Australian minister who warned people not to open their doors to anyone with an Irish accent has been slammed as 'blatantly racist.'

Consumer Affairs Minister Marlene Kairouz made the controversial comment when speaking to raise awareness about travelling conmen during a campaign event on Sunday.

'If anybody knocks on your door that has an Irish accent, automatically ask them to leave,' she said.

Consumer Affairs Minister Marlene Kairouz made the controversial comment when speaking to raise awarenss about travelling conmen at a campaign event (above)

Ms Kairouz was subsequently slammed by Australia's Irish community.

Critics posting in the Irish Around Sydney Facebook page called on her to apologise, with one writing: 'Pure racism against the Irish. It's a disgrace.'

'Just tar us all with the one brush! Narrow minds!' added another.

One user blasted Ms Kairouz as an 'blatantly racist'.

'Racism and marginalisation at its best by a government representative  shameful and then she doesn't have the respect to go back to her forum she attacked the Irish on to sincerely apologise  absolute coward,' another comment said/

She was slammed as 'blatantly racist' after warned people not to open their doors to anyone with an Irish accent

She later took to Twitter to apologise, saying she had 'delivered her message poorly'

Ms Kairouz took to Twitter to apologise, saying she had 'delivered her message poorly'.

'Yesterday I made a comment at a scam awareness campaign launch that caused offence to people with Irish heritage,' she wrote.

'Recent scammers have been backpackers from the UK & Ireland and I was giving this info to the public.

'I admit I delivered this [message] poorly.

She added: 'I sincerely apologise for causing offence and my poor choice of words.'
Two young teenagers were allegedly shot in the face while they were trick or treating during Halloween festivities.

The boys, both aged about 15-years-old, were rushed to hospital after a four-wheel-drive drove past and opened fire on the Sunshine Coast as they were trick or treating.

One of the boys was shot in the face, close to his eye, by an alleged paintball gun shooter while the other young boy was shot in the cheek.

Two young teenagers were allegedly shot in face while trick or treating during Halloween

The boys, aged about 15-years-old, were rushed to hospital after a Toyota Land Cruiser drove past and opened fire on the Sunshine Coast as they were trick or treating with a group

The teenagers driving the four-wheel-drive are believed to be 17 and 18-years-old and allegedly shot the younger boys on Pelican Waters Boulevard, Caloundra.

Paramedics were called to the scene after 7.15 Tuesday night to treat the two boys, who were part of a bigger group of trick or treaters.

The boy who was hit near the eye was rushed to Sunshine Coast University Hospital and is in a stable condition.

Police charged the 17-year-old Little Mountain man and 18-year-old Pelican Waters man with two counts each of assault occasioning bodily harm.

The two teenagers will face Caloundra Magistrates Court on November 22.
Senior Tories named in the dossier branding them 'sleazebags' have said it could lead to men being to scared to ask people on dates and leave their careers in ruins.

Colonel Bob Stewart says the so-called spreadsheet of shame naming 42 Tory MPs is 'appalling' while Michael Fabricant branded it a 'witch hunt'.

Last year Sir Bob sparked a Westminster sexism row by labelling a female reporter 'totty' but said he was just 'old fashioned' and 'actually being really nice'.

Sir Bob says he is being unfairly targeted and has 'never been rude to a woman in my life'.

Colonel Bob Stewart says the the so-called spreadsheet of shame naming 42 Tory MPs including him is 'appalling' while Michael Fabricant branded it a 'witch hunt' and smear campaign

He told The Sun: 'What we've got now is a situation where we are soon going to be in a situation where people that work together can't say 'can I take you out?' How far away are we from that?'

THE 'SEX PEST' DOSSIER IN NUMBERS The controversial dossier runs to 42 names in total, and encompasses all levels of the Tory party. It features six Cabinet-level ministers. There are 12 lower-ranking ministers. Some 10 former ministers, including a handful who served in the highest ranks of government, are also on the roll call. But while a number of the MPs are alleged to have acted inappropriately, around 15 of the claims relate to consensual relationships or personal sexual preferences - without any apparent misconduct. Advertisement

He added: 'Being on some flippant list implying I'm a sleazebag really does actually hurt - because I'm not'.

Michael Fabricant said he was mystified by his inclusion in the document and questioned the motives of its anonymous authors.

He was listed as having been 'inappropriate with a male journalist in a taxi'.

Last night he denied the allegation and warned the claims threatened to undermine action in genuine cases of sexual harassment.

Ministers named in the document, which identifies more than 40 Tory MPs, are threatening to take legal action against social media firms that allowed it to circulate. One said the situation was Kafkaesque. Another fears being dropped by Theresa May as a result.

Mr Fabricant, Lichfield MP and former Tory vice-chairman, said: 'I have seen the spreadsheet, which is on social media. It only lists Conservative MPs and is a strange hotchpotch of rumour and gossip. I am listed over a single incident where I was said to be 'inappropriate with a male journalist in a taxi'. What does that mean?

'Was it a risque joke that I told? If it were anything noteworthy, surely the journalist would have either written it up as a juicy story  or smacked me in the mouth?

'And who was he anyway, and when? For the life of me, I cannot recall having been in a taxi with a journalist though doubtless I must have been over the last 25 years in parliament. This is why we do need to have an independent investigative body which can assess accusations, punish guilty MPs, and also discredit anyone who smears an MP merely for party political or other ends.

'Right-minded people everywhere will condemn unsubstantiated witch hunts.'

The dossier, obtained by the Daily Mail, is said to have been drawn up in secret by a small group of current and former parliamentary researchers.

Who's inside the Tory 'dirty dossier' MARK MENZIES Allegations: Used male prostitutes Reality: He quit as a ministerial aid in 2014 after denying allegations involving 19-year-old Rogerio dos Santos Pinto who claimed the MP had offered him 250 for a two-hour sex session after a tour of Parliament. STEPHEN CRABB Allegations: Inappropriate relationships with women Reality: Former Cabinet Minister Stephen Crabb has admitted sending 'explicit' messages to a 19-year-old woman after a job interview at Westminster. Mr Crabb admitted saying 'pretty outrageous things' to her two days ago. Last year, Mr Crabb announced he was running for the Conservative Party Leadership but stepped down from the race after texting a woman in her twenties that he wanted to kiss her 'everywhere'. His messages were leaked to The Times by a source, who said they were concerned by the hypocrisy of Mr Crabb, who said he could be trusted on his values and judgment. MARK GARNIER Allegations: Inappropriate behaviour with women Reality: The Member of Parliament for Wyre Forest is accused of allegedly asking his assistant to buy two vibrators from a sex shop. Commons secretary Caroline Edmondson also told The Mail on Sunday last week that he called her sugar t*ts in front of witnesses. He said: Im not going to deny it, because Im not going to be dishonest, he said. Im going to have to take it on the chin. The dossier also claims he acted in an inappropriate manner with women. AMBER RUDD Allegations: Workplace relationship Reality: The Home Secretary has been included on the list due to her relationship with Tory MP Kwasi Kwarteng. Ms Rudd, who was previously married to the late A.A. Gill from 1990 to 1995, is understood to have started her relationship with Mr Kwarteng from 2009. STEVE DOUBLE Allegation: Affair with female researcher Reality: The St Austell MP admitted having an affair with aide Sarah Bunt, 26, in June last year after rumours began circulating of their relationship during the summer. Mrs Bunt was hired to work alongside his wife Anne, 51, in his constituency office of St Austell and Newquay. He later confessed to the affair, which lasted for a few weeks, and told newspapers that if he had 'known the grief it has caused I would not have done it [given Mrs Bunt the job]'. Mrs Double said she would stand by her husband. JAKE BERRY Allegations: 'Impregnated' Tory aide Reality: The Rossendale MP has been named after having a son, Milo, with his partner Alice Robinson, a former Tory aide. Speaking to the Manchester Evening News, he said the pair were 'really happy' at their son's arrival in March. Mr Berry, 38, announced in September last year that he and his former wife of seven years, Charlotte Alexa, had divorced amicably. JUSTIN TOMLINSON Allegations: Relationship with researcher Reality: In July last year the MP for North Swindon had 'amicably' split up with his wife and begun a relationship with researcher Katherine Bennett. Mr Tomlinson, 40, confirmed that he had grown apart from his wife Jo Wheeler and the pair divorced in 2015. Ms Bennett, 26, revealed they were in a relationship after posting about it on Facebook. ROBERT HALFON Allegation: Affair Reality: In 2015, the Essex MP admitted to having an affair with PR executive Alexandra Paterson after claiming Tory director Mark Clarke tried to get film of him leaving a London club with Miss Paterson. In a statement released by the Conservative Party, Mr Halfon, who is unmarried but has a long term partner, said: What I did was wrong, and I feel ashamed. I am not proud of myself. The most important thing to me is to continue to repair my relationship with my partner. He told a Sunday newspaper he had kept quiet about the alleged threat until Mr Johnsons death. He said: Mark Clarke is an appalling man  I wish I had never met him. I was stupid. DAMIAN GREEN Allegation: Member of dating website for married men Reality: The First Secretary of State strenuously denied accusations two years ago that he was a member of the Ashley Madison site after his private email address was found among millions leaked by hackers. But a redacted version of the Westminster sex dossier, published yesterday, listed a Cabinet minister together with the words Ashley Madison. Since accused of making inappropriate advances towards a Tory activist three decades his junior, Kim Maltby. Mr Green said last night: It is absolutely and completely untrue that Ive ever made any sexual advances on Ms Maltby. This untrue allegation has come as a complete shock and is deeply hurtful, especially from someone I considered a personal friend. SIR BOB STEWART Allegation: Inappropriate with women Reality: Last year Sir Bob sparked a Westminster sexism row by labelling a female reporter 'totty' but said he was just 'old fashioned' and 'actually being really nice'. He made the jibe at the Spectator's assistant editor Isabel Hardman Sir Bob says he is being unfairly targeted and has 'never been rude to a woman in my life'. MICHAEL FABRICANT Allegation: 'Inappropriate with a male journalist in a taxi' Reality: Mr Fabricant says he's a victim of a smear He said: 'I am listed over a single incident where I was said to be 'inappropriate with a male journalist in a taxi'. What does that mean? 'Was it a risque joke that I told? If it were anything noteworthy, surely the journalist would have either written it up as a juicy story  or smacked me in the mouth?' GRANT SHAPPS Allegation: Affair Reality: Mr Shapps said that it was one of several 'vicious smears' used by opponents during the election. No evidence of any affair LIAM FOX Allegation: Spreadsheet simply says: 'Adam Werritty' Reality: Liam Fox broke the ministerial code in his dealings with his lobbyist friend and best man Adam Werritty . Dr Fox met Mr Werritty on 40 occasions at the Ministry of Defence and on overseas trips despite him having no official role. A register of Westminster lobbying groups was created to try to prevent a repeat of a similar incident. No allegations were of a sexual nature RORY STEWART Allegation: Accused of asking his former aide Sophie Bolsover of doing 'odd things'. Reality: Both deny this. Ms Bolsover tweeted today that 'nothing of the kind implied by my name being included on this spreadsheet ever took place'. 'During my time working in parliament, Rory Stewart was never anything other than completely professional and an excellent employer,' Ms Bolsover wrote. International development minister Mr Stewart retweeted his former staffer's statement, adding: 'This story is completely untrue + deeply hurtful. Neither of us have any idea how our names appeared on the list.' DOMINIC RAAB Allegation: Justice minister accused of injunction for 'inappropriate behaviour with a woman' Reality: In a post on his website, justice minister Mr Raab said: 'Under my own name, the entry reads: Injunction for inappropriate behaviour with a woman,' he wrote. 'And yet, I have never been served with any injunction for anything. Nor have I ever sought one. 'Equally, any insinuation that I have engaged in anything resembling sexual harassment, sexually abusive behaviour or lewd remarks with either Parliamentary colleagues or staff (in any job I have done) is false and malicious. I have already taken legal advice.' Advertisement

Two more ministers and a Tory aide have broken cover to condemn allegations in a controversial sleaze dossier.

MP 'assaulted me in hotel room but officials ignored my complaint' In a letter this year, Kathryn Hudson, the standards commissioner, said she had concerns about the scope of existing procedures for dealing with allegations but was unable to act in this case A Westminster staffer last night claimed she was sexually assaulted by an MP  but that Parliament failed to act after she reported it. The alleged victim, who spoke anonymously and did not identify which party the MP was from, said the man forced himself on her in a hotel room last year. But when she and a senior colleague reported it to several authorities, she claimed they refused to act, adding that officials at best turned a blind eye and at worst actively covered it up. The MPs lawyers were reported to have categorically denied the allegation. The woman, who works for another MP, said she spoke out because she felt Theresa Mays proposals for dealing with sexual harassment allegations in Parliament were inadequate. She said the MP asked to talk to her in his hotel room during a work trip to Europe with colleagues. She said she thought nothing of the request as the pair had a professional relationship. But she told ITV: He was quite insistent on me sitting on the bed ... to the point where he pushed me on the bed and held me by the shoulders and tried to kiss me. I made it very clear that was not what I wanted, but he was insistent, and pushed me back on to the bed and kind of held me there. The shock soon turned into fear, I realised I was in quite a vulnerable situation ... with someone a lot bigger and stronger than me. On his third attempt to kiss her, she fought him off and ran from the room, she said. She reported the incident to the police, the Parliamentary standards commissioner, House of Commons authorities and the MPs party. But she claimed none of those took her complaint seriously except the police, who could not investigate because it took place in another country. She said she was told it was not within the remit of the Parliamentary standards commissioner because she was employed directly by an MP rather than the Commons. MPs can only be investigated over their public life and not their purely private and personal lives, rules state. In a letter this year, Kathryn Hudson, the standards commissioner, said she had concerns about the scope of existing procedures for dealing with allegations but was unable to act in this case. Staff employed by the Commons are governed by an anti-harassment Respect policy  but it does not apply for staff employed directly by MPs. The alleged victim said her colleague tried to set up a meeting with officials to discuss the policy but said it was cancelled several times. She told the Guardian: I was so shocked that they basically didnt want to know. I felt so alone: how could they not care? We also notified the party. But they did nothing ... [They] made no commitment to investigate, respond, do anything and sure enough we never heard any response from them. We dont know whether they had a word with the MP or turned a blind eye. Advertisement

Rory Stewart, his former aide Sophie Bolsover, and Dominic Raab issued statements flatly denying claims in the list.

Mr Stewart was alleged on the document to have 'asked female researcher to do odd things'. Ms Bolsover's name was also included.

But she tweeted today that 'nothing of the kind implied by my name being included on this spreadsheet ever took place'.

'During my time working in parliament, Rory Stewart was never anything other than completely professional and an excellent employer,' Ms Bolsover wrote.

International development minister Mr Stewart retweeted his former staffer's statement, adding: 'This story is completely untrue + deeply hurtful. Neither of us have any idea how our names appeared on the list.'

In a post on his website, justice minister Mr Raab also confronted the allegations.

'Under my own name, the entry reads: Injunction for inappropriate behaviour with a woman,' he wrote.

'And yet, I have never been served with any injunction for anything. Nor have I ever sought one.

'Equally, any insinuation that I have engaged in anything resembling sexual harassment, sexually abusive behaviour or lewd remarks with either Parliamentary colleagues or staff (in any job I have done) is false and malicious. I have already taken legal advice.'

Last night it was freely available on social media, as well as a website based in the US  sparking panic and anger among those named. One minister said: 'The claims against me are scurrilous and libellous. I hope they've got deep pockets.'

An alleged victim of harassment said: 'It's the victims who have their names dragged through the papers, not the MPs.' First Secretary of State Damian Green was yesterday named as being on the list over historic claims that he used the Ashley Madison dating website  an allegation he has always strenuously denied.

One minister said he feared being blacklisted by Mrs May in her next reshuffle as a result of his inclusion in the dossier.

'It is a nightmare,' the MP said. 'The allegations are totally untrue and I don't understand where they have come from. But I have no way of clearing my name.

'Everyone knows how strongly the PM rightly feels about this issue. Will I be overlooked in the reshuffle because of it? I don't know  and probably never will  but I fear I could be.' Another minister threatened legal action anyone who published details of his inclusion on the list, saying: 'The allegations are categorically untrue and anyone circulating this list on the internet is libelling me.'

A third minister also said he would sue anyone who repeated the 'smear' against him in the dossier. 'This is total nonsense and I will come out firing if my name comes out.'

A fourth minister described the situation as Kafkaesque, adding: 'I'm being accused of things I haven't done by people I don't know. I am annoyed and pretty upset about it.'

The spreadsheet of allegations names six serving Cabinet ministers. Many of the claims are either already in the public domain, have been debunked, denied, or do not involve any suggestion of harassment.

Of the 42 Tory MPs named, at least 16 are listed over consensual relationships or involve personal sexual preferences.

International Trade Minister Mark Garnier (pictured at a trans pride event) is accused of calling his secretary 'sugar t*ts' in front of witnesses

St Austell MP Steve Double is also on there for having an affair with his office liaison with Sarah Bunt, 26, but was taken back by his forgiving wife Anne in 2016 (all pictured together)

Home Secretary Amber Rudd (left today) was put on there only because she had a relationship with Eton-educated Tory MP Kwasi Kwarteng (right) after her divorce from AA Gill

Essex MP Robert Halfon is also on the list because the former minister without portfolio had a six-month relationship with a Tory worker behind his long-term partner's back in 2015 - Jake Berry is named on the list over his relationship with a Tory aide, who is now his long term partner and mother of his son

MP Justin Tomlinson, 40, is on the list after he settled down with then 25-year-old aide Katherine Bennett in 2016 when he was already divorced. Theresa May's key ally Damian Green is at the top of Westminster's 'spreadsheet of shame' and repeats claims his email address was on a hacked list the Ashley Madison dating website members, which he has repeatedly denied

Several of the claims appear to have been taken directly from newspaper clippings from the past decade and beyond.

They include Home Secretary Amber Rudd and Kwasi Kwarteng (who were single at the time), a parliamentary private secretary to Philip Hammond, who have long been known to have had an on-off romance, which he has spoken publicly about.

Communities and local government minister Jake Berry is included because he impregnated Alice Robinson, an aide to another MP, even though they have been public about their consensual relationship and announced the birth of their son earlier this year in a local newspaper.

Mark Menzies, 45, quit as a minister's aide in 2014 shortly after being asked about his relationship with rent boy Rogerio dos Santos Pinto, 19, and is named on the so-called sex 'pest list' over the incident

Former minister Justin Tomlinson  who was single  is listed as having a relationship with a researcher, even though he announced this himself last July and it was widely reported.

Mark Menzies is named because of a Sunday newspaper story dating back to 2014, which revealed he used the services of a male prostitute. He resigned in the aftermath but said at the time that a number of the allegations were untrue.

MPs Steve Double and Robert Halfon are accused of affairs, which they have previously admitted publicly.

A senior Tory MP is listed as enjoying intercourse with men who are wearing womens perfume. Whilst the sexual preference may be unusual, there is nothing to suggest any wrongdoing.

Many of the other accusations are vague and lack basic details such as what happened, when and who was involved.

Liam Fox is named on the spreadsheet without any hint of sexual allegations and it says just 'Adam Werritty'. He broke the ministerial code in his dealings with his lobbyist friend and best man Adam Werritty . Dr Fox met Mr Werritty on 40 occasions at the Ministry of Defence and on overseas trips despite him having no official role. A register of Westminster lobbying groups was created to try to prevent a repeat of a similar incident. No allegations were of a sexual nature.

Senior Tories were last night urging Mrs May to avoid a witch hunt against those named in the dossier.

Government sources last night confirmed that Mrs May is very angry about the sex scandal threatening to engulf her government.

Downing Street declined to make any public comment on the dossier, saying it would be wrong to comment on speculation.

But No 10 pointedly declined to say whether the PM retained full confidence in Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon after he admitted putting his hand on a female journalists knee 15 years ago.

The Prime Ministers official spokesman said Sir Michael had been right to apologise to journalist Julia-Hartley-Brewer over the incident, but said there would be no further action as she had not complained.

However, international trade minister Mark Garnier could face the sack within days after admitting referring to a female aide as sugar t*ts and asking her to purchase sex toys for him.

Commons Leader Andrea Leadsom warned MPs on Monday that ministers could face the sack if they make staff feel uncomfortable.

Liam Fox Resigned over breach of ministerial code after suggestions he helped best man Adam Werritty (pictured) but there were no sexual allegations

My drink was spiked with date rape drug in House of Commons bar, claims former Tory aide  who was told by police it wasnt the first time

A date rape drug is said to have been used on a Tory aide's drink in a Commons bar and another woman claims an MP grabbed her by the crotch as the Westminster sex row escalated again today.

The former Conservative aide has claimed that the drugging took place at the Strangers' Bar on the parliamentary estate, which is reserved for MPs and their guests.

She told the Evening Standard she reported the episode at the venue to the police and an officer said it was not the first time it had happened.

The newspaper also reported an allegation that a woman who worked for a Tory MP had been approached by him from behind in her office.

He is said to have grabbed her crotch, but the House authorities apparently told her there was 'nothing they could do'.

A Westminster staffer last night claimed she was sexually assaulted by an MP  but that Parliament failed to act after she reported it

STRANGERS BAR Strangers Bar is one of the most popular drinking dens in the Palace of Westminster. Nestled in the heart of Parliament's labyrinthine corridors and with enviable views of the River Thames, it is a favourite among MPs keen to impress their guests. When Parliament sits late it is packed with MPs who make the most of the subsidised bar by having a drink as they wait to vote. They swap gossip and political stories with each other and the flock of lobby reporters who head their hunting for stories. And while evenings in the bar usually pass off in an environment of friendly socialising, the booze-fuelled evenings have been known to erupt into violence. In February 2012, then Labour MP Eric Joyce headbutted a Tory politician and punched another one after drinking a bottle of win in the bar. Under special parliamentary rules, the bar can stay open long after normal closing times - as long as the House of Commons is still sitting. So while some MPs stay in the Chamber making speeches late into the evening, others opt to enjoy a drink and sometimes to get gently sloshed as they enjoy an evening on its famous terrace. Advertisement

Westminster has been rocked by a slew of allegations, which appear to have been prompted by the Harvey Weinstein scandal in the US.

Another staffer last night claimed she was sexually assaulted by an MP  but that Parliament failed to act after she reported it.

The alleged victim, who spoke anonymously and did not identify which party the MP was from, said the man forced himself on her in a hotel room last year.

But when she and a senior colleague reported it to several authorities, she claimed they refused to act, adding that officials at best turned a blind eye and at worst actively covered it up.

A Tory backbencher today demanded drastic action to reduce the potential for abuses on the estate - saying staff should be kicked out at 6pm and all the bars should be closed.

Nadine Dorries said there was a 'cultural problem' in Westminster with politicians 'who work late sharing restaurants/bars with young researchers who don't'.

She insisted it was time for the exclusive venues to be shut down, adding: 'Westminster is a workplace.'

There are around a dozen bars on the parliamentary estate. Drinks are considerably cheaper than in nearby pubs as the taxpayer subsidises the overheads.

Late votes in the House means they are often frequented by large numbers of MPs and staff members.

Backbencher Nadine Dorries (pictured in the Commons) said there was a 'cultural problem' in Westminster with politicians 'who work late sharing restaurants/bars with young researchers who don't'

Ms Dorries tweeted that there was no reason MPs' staff should stay on the estate past 6pm

Ms Dorries said today: 'There is a cultural problem in Westminster. Its complex. MPs who work late sharing restaurants /bars with young researchers who dont.

'Time for MPs staff to leave the premises at 6pm and for places like the sports and social club to be closed down. Westminster is a workplace

'Staff remain on Westminster premises drinking whilst MPs voting. Why? Plenty of pubs around London. No other workplace provides bars.'

The Mid Bedforshire MP added on Twitter: 'Absolutely no reason whatsoever why any MPs staff should work past 6pm.'

The latest claims come after Bex Bailey waived her right to anonymity to claim she was sexually assaulted by a Labour official when she was just 19

A prominent Labour activist has also claimed she was raped by a senior official at a party event in 2011 but was told not to report it because it would hurt her career.

Bex Bailey has bravely waived her right to anonymity to reveal she was sexually assaulted by the official when she was just 19.

Ms Bailey, a former member of Labour's ruling National Executive Committee, said she plucked up the courage to tell told party officials about it two years later.

But she said telling party bosses was a 'horrible experience' and she was 'not even given a cup of tea' by officials who failed to support her.

The revelation means Labour is now fighting it own sex allegation cloud after the Tories have been rocked by allegations over the past few days.

A dossier naming more than 40 Tory MPs, apparently compiled by staffers, has been circulating with allegations of inappropriate behaviour.

First Secretary of State Damian Green is facing a probe by the Cabinet Secretary over allegations he made a pass at a much younger Tory activist. He vehemently denies the claims.

Separately, Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon has apologised for touching the knee of a female journalist during a dinner more than a decade ago.

PM calls cross-party crisis talks on Westminster sex scandal as she faces demands to suspend her deputy Damian Green over disputed claims he made a pass at Tory activist

Theresa May called cross-party crisis talks on the Westminster harassment row today as she faced calls to suspend her deputy Damian Green over disputed claims of making a pass at a Tory activist.

The First Secretary of State has been referred to the cabinet secretary by Downing Street after it was claimed he sent the woman a text message about how he had admired her in a corset.

Kate Maltby, 31, a critic and academic involved in Conservative politics, revealed the message and described a meeting between them in a bar where they discussed sexual affairs within parliament.

Theresa May was flanked by female ministers at PMQs today, with Mr Green further down the benches. She said she was inviting leaders of other parties to talks next week on a new grievance procedure for MPs' staff

First secretary of state, Damian Green (left) has been accused of making advances towards Kate Maltby, 31 (right)

Doorstepped by reporters as he left for Westminster this morning, Mr Green dismissed the allegations against him as 'completely false'. He has instructed lawyers.

But Tory MP Anna Soubry suggested under 'normal circumstances' he should stand aside while a probe is conducted.

Speaking at PMQs in the Commons this afternoon, Mrs May said she was asking other party leaders to meet early next week to discuss a new and more robust grievance procedure for MPs' staff.

Senior politicians are scrambling to address the growing scandal at parliament, which appears to have been triggered by the fallout from the Harvey Weinstein revelations in the US.

Mr Green was yesterday named as being on a controversial dossier over highly disputed historical claims he used an adultery website.

Miss Maltby (pictured) said Mr Green sent her a text after seeing a photo of her in a corset

According to the latest allegations, Miss Maltby, 31, said he told her his wife was very understanding and put a fleeting hand against my knee - so brief, it was almost deniable.

Writing in the Times, she said the encounter with Mr Green left her feeling angry.

Then following the publication of a photograph of her wearing a corset, Mr Green, who was not a minister at the time, text her.

The message read: Long time no see. But having admired you in a corset in my favourite tabloid I feel impelled to ask if you are free for a drink anytime?

Mr Green said last night: It is absolutely and completely untrue that Ive ever made any sexual advances on Ms Maltby.

He said they had known each other since 2014 and had had a drinks as friends twice a year.

He added: The text I sent after she appeared in a newspaper article was sent in that spirit - as two friends agreeing to meet for a regular catch up - and nothing more.

This untrue allegation has come as a complete shock and is deeply hurtful, especially from someone I considered a personal friend.

As he left his London home this morning, Mr Green told reporters: 'All the allegations are completely false.'

But Tory MP Mrs Soubry suggested he should stand aside while an investigation is carried out.

'I think its really serious. God knows what his wife must feel,' she told Sky News.

'The allegation against Damian Green has been reported to the Cabinet Office and there will be an investigation...

'In normal circumstances that person would be suspended.'

A Downing Street spokesman said: An allegation has been made in relation to the First Secretary of State, which he strongly denies.

The Prime Minister has referred the matter to the Cabinet Secretary to establish the facts and report back as soon as possible.

The First Secretary of State strenuously denied accusations two years ago that he was a member of the Ashley Madison site after his private email address was found among millions leaked by hackers.

But a redacted version of the Westminster sex dossier, published yesterday, listed a Cabinet minister together with the words Ashley Madison.

Westminster is a workplace! Tory MP calls for staff to be KICKED OUT of Parliament at 6pm and exclusive bars to be closed to end sex abuse danger

Staff should be kicked out of Parliament at 6pm and bars should be closed to end the sex abuse danger, a Tory MP said today.

Backbencher Nadine Dorries said there was a 'cultural problem' in Westminster with politicians 'who work late sharing restaurants/bars with young researchers who don't'.

She insisted it was time for the exclusive venues to be shut down, adding: 'Westminster is a workplace.'

The call came with Westminster gripped by the gathering scandal over allegations of sexual misconduct.

Backbencher Nadine Dorries (pictured in the Commons) said there was a 'cultural problem' in Westminster with politicians 'who work late sharing restaurants/bars with young researchers who don't'

Ms Dorries tweeted that there was no reason MPs' staff should stay on the estate past 6pm

MPs from across parties are facing claims of inappropriate or even criminal behaviour - with warnings that there could end up being hundreds of cases.

There are around a dozen bars on the parliamentary estate. Drinks are considerably cheaper than in nearby pubs as the taxpayer subsidises the overheads.

Ms Dorries said today: 'There is a cultural problem in Westminster. Its complex. MPs who work late sharing restaurants /bars with young researchers who dont.

'Time for MPs staff to leave the premises at 6pm and for places like the sports and social club to be closed down. Westminster is a workplace

'Staff remain on Westminster premises drinking whilst MPs voting. Why? Plenty of pubs around London. No other workplace provides bars.'

The Mid Bedforshire MP added on Twitter: 'Absolutely no reason whatsoever why any MPs staff should work past 6pm.'
The mother of a 27-year-old heroin addict who overdosed and died in a Melbourne gutter last year claims her son would still be alive if a safe injecting room had been available to him.

Sam O'Donnell had been detoxing for seven weeks and was awaiting placement in a rehabilitation facility when he died in North Richmond  otherwise known as the heroin rectangle  in August last year, his mother Loretta Gabriel told The Age.

The young man's death was one of several that pushed the Victorian government to rethink its position on creating a safe injecting room.

On Tuesday, Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews announced the opening of a trial facility in North Richmond  just around the corner from where a passer-by discovered Mr O'Donnell's body.

Sam O'Donnell (pictured) had been detoxing for seven weeks and was awaiting placement in a rehabilitation facility when he died in North Richmond  otherwise known as the heroin rectangle  in August last year

The young man's death was one of several that pushed the Victorian government to rethink its position on creating a safe injecting room (pictured is a man shooting up in North Richmond)

On Tuesday, Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews announced the opening of a trial facility in North Richmond (pictured)

Ms Gabriel has campaigned for such a facility since losing her son so that other families don't have to go through the same pain.

'People are dying and it's out of control and leadership was needed, and it was needed now, because it could be anyone's child,' Ms Gabriel told The Age.

'I was really surprised, elated, astonished, it's given me so much comfort... and I'm just so grateful for the other parents out there who now will have this available.

'Sam had all the hallmarks of why there needed to be a safe injecting room.'

The 27-year-old began using heroin when he was just 16, later telling his mother that he had been sexually abused when he was just five-years-old, Ms Gabriel told the ABC.

Teh facility will open just around the corner from where a passer-by discovered Mr O'Donnell's (pictured) body

Ms Gabriel has campaigned for such a facility since losing her son so that other families don't have to go through the same pain

She said even he hated his own addiction and had tried to get clean numerous times.

Ms Gabriel said she knows the injection room will not stop all heroin overdoses but gives users a chance at survival.

'It's not saying that it will eliminate all heroin deaths in a community. It's not saying that drugs are good. It's not saying that we're going to aid and abet heroin addicts,' she told the publication.

'They're using it in your gutters, in your carparks, in your public toilets.

'Your community isn't going to be stumbling on needles, your children aren't going to run into a dead body in the street.'

Richmond resident and activist Judy Ryan (pictured) said Victoria's heroin resurgence has killed 35 people in the small area so far this year

Premier Daniel Andrews made the formal announcement on Tuesday at the North Richmond community health centre

Richmond resident and activist Judy Ryan told ABC Victoria's heroin resurgence has killed 35 people in the small area so far this year.

'This is insane. This is Melbourne,' Ms Ryan, secretary of Victoria Street Drug Solutions, told Daily Mail Australia in September.

'People are dying on the streets. We wouldn't put up with this anywhere else'.

The Victorian Government will introduce legislation in parliament on Tuesday to legalise the facility, which is expected to open its doors mid-2018.

In his announcement, Premier Andrews said the decision was fuelled by the success of a safe injecting room in Sydney which proved to slash the number of fatal overdoses in the New South Wales capital.

'This will work, this will save lives,' Mr Andrews said.
Theresa Mays deputy was yesterday accused of making inappropriate advances towards a Tory activist three decades his junior.

Damian Green, the first secretary of state, was referred to the cabinet secretary by Downing Street after it was claimed he sent the woman a text message about how he had admired her in a corset.

Kate Maltby, a critic and academic involved in Conservative politics, revealed the message and described a meeting between them in a bar where they discussed sexual affairs within parliament.

The revelations came after Mr Green was named as being on the Westminster sexual harassment dossier over highly disputed historical claims he used an adultery website.

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First secretary of state, Damian Green (left) has been accused of making advances towards Kate Maltby, 31 (right)

According to the latest allegations, Miss Maltby, 31, said he told her his wife was very understanding and put a fleeting hand against my knee - so brief, it was almost deniable.

Writing in the Times, she said the encounter with Mr Green left her feeling angry.

Then following the publication of a photograph of her wearing a corset, Mr Green, who was not a minister at the time, text her.

The message read: Long time no see. But having admired you in a corset in my favourite tabloid I feel impelled to ask if you are free for a drink anytime?

Mr Green said last night: It is absolutely and completely untrue that Ive ever made any sexual advances on Ms Maltby.

Miss Maltby (pictured) said Mr Green sent her a text after seeing a photo of her in a corset

He said they had known each other since 2014 and had had a drinks as friends twice a year.

He added: The text I sent after she appeared in a newspaper article was sent in that spirit - as two friends agreeing to meet for a regular catch up - and nothing more.

This untrue allegation has come as a complete shock and is deeply hurtful, especially from someone I considered a personal friend.

A Downing Street spokesperson said: An allegation has been made in relation to the First Secretary of State, which he strongly denies.

The Prime Minister has referred the matter to the Cabinet Secretary to establish the facts and report back as soon as possible.

The First Secretary of State strenuously denied accusations two years ago that he was a member of the Ashley Madison site after his private email address was found among millions leaked by hackers.

But a redacted version of the Westminster sex dossier, published yesterday, listed a Cabinet minister together with the words Ashley Madison.

A Downing Street spokesperson said the Prime Minister had referred the allegations to the Cabinet Secretary to 'establish the facts and report back as soon as possible

Shortly afterwards, Mr Green was named in reports as being the minister identified by the dossier.

THE DOSSIER IN NUMBERS The controversial dossier runs to 40 names in total, and encompasses all levels of the Tory party. It features six Cabinet-level ministers. There are a dozen lower-ranking ministers. Some 10 former ministers, including a handful who served in the highest ranks of government, are also on the roll call. But while a number of the MPs are alleged to have acted inappropriately, around 15 of the claims relate to consensual relationships or personal sexual preferences - without any apparent misconduct. Advertisement

Both he and Downing Street yesterday refused to discuss the contested claim.

The Prime Ministers spokesman would not say whether she had confidence specifically in MrGreen, but said: The Prime Minister has confidence in her government and her ministers in getting on with the job.

The allegation first emerged in 2015 when MrGreens email address appeared on a hacked list of members of the dating site for married people wanting to cheat on their spouses.

The email address was apparently used from a computer in Parliament in 2007 to register with the site.

Whoever enrolled with Ashley Madison typed in the maiden name of Mr Greens mother for the security question.

According to the hacked information, the profile linked to his email address stated: Im looking for some NSA [no strings attached] fun with a woman who has an ache for good sex.

At the time Mr Green, 61, who has been married since 1988 and has two children, categorically denied any involvement with the dating site, saying: I have never registered for an account with Ashley Madison.

And Ashley Madison admitted that it did not verify email addresses so it was possible to use the site with someone elses address.
Australians are believed to have avoided the carnage of a lone wolf terror attack in New York that has claimed the lives of at least eight people.

More than a dozen others were injured when the driver of a rented van ploughed into cyclists and pedestrians on a busy bicycle path near the World Trade Centre site.

Acting Prime Minister Julie Bishop said no Australians were believed to be among the dead and injured 'at this stage'.

Australians are believed to have avoided the carnage of a lone wolf terror attack in New York that has claimed the lives of at least eight people. Witnesses said the attacker did not resist arrest after being shot in the stomach

The man was shot in the stomach by officers after brandishing what appeared to be both a pellet and paint ball gun as he shouted 'Allahu Akbar'

'The State Department has informed us that at this stage they do not believe any Australians are affected but the situation is still unfolding,' she told ABC Radio.

Australia's Consul-General to New York Alastair Walton was in the area along the Hudson River as the attack unfolded.

'He said there are children everywhere in New York today because of course it's Halloween and it's an enormous celebration,' Ms Bishop said.

'We think of those who have been affected by this, particularly those who have been killed, their family and friends must be devastated.'

Ms Bishop advised any Australians in New York to follow the direction of local authorities.

NYPD Police Commissioner James O'Neill said a 29-year-old man - named by US media as Sayfullo Saipov - was shot in the stomach by officers after brandishing what appeared to be both a pellet and paint ball gun as he shouted 'Allahu Akbar'.

Acting Prime Minister Julie Bishop said no Australians were believed to be among the dead and injured 'at this stage'

Ms Bishop advised any Australians in New York to follow the direction of local authorities. Emergency services are seen attending to the injured

He said the driver hit a school bus, injuring two children and two adults before getting out of the van.

New York Mayor Bill De Blasio condemned the attack as a 'cowardly act of terror'.

Anyone in Australia worried about family or friends in New York can call the consular hotline on 1300 555 135.

The attack came just hours after Ms Bishop warned jihadists could be radicalising and recruiting extremists on home soil.

Sayfullo Saipov, 29, a citizen of Uzbekistan who lives in Florida, has been named as the driver by US media

Emergency personnel remove a victim's body after an incident where a man drove a pick up truck along a bike lane in downtown New York

She said dozens of ISIS fighters, many of whom are not behind bars, have returned to Australia from Iraq and Syria.

'The government is concerned that foreign fighters who have gained fighting experience in the Middle East will return to pass this knowledge on to violent extremists in our region,' Ms Bishop told The Daily Telegraph.

'Foreign fighters inspire and incite terror, pass on skills and can attract more extremists to terror networks.'
A Westminster staffer last night claimed she was sexually assaulted by an MP  but that Parliament failed to act after she reported it.

The alleged victim, who spoke anonymously and did not identify which party the MP was from, said the man forced himself on her in a hotel room last year.

But when she and a senior colleague reported it to several authorities, she claimed they refused to act, adding that officials at best turned a blind eye and at worst actively covered it up.

A Westminster staffer last night claimed she was sexually assaulted by an MP  but that Parliament failed to act after she reported it

The MPs lawyers were reported to have categorically denied the allegation. The woman, who works for another MP, said she spoke out because she felt Theresa Mays proposals for dealing with sexual harassment allegations in Parliament were inadequate.

She said the MP asked to talk to her in his hotel room during a work trip to Europe with colleagues. She said she thought nothing of the request as the pair had a professional relationship.

But she told ITV: He was quite insistent on me sitting on the bed ... to the point where he pushed me on the bed and held me by the shoulders and tried to kiss me.

I made it very clear that was not what I wanted, but he was insistent, and pushed me back on to the bed and kind of held me there. The shock soon turned into fear, I realised I was in quite a vulnerable situation ... with someone a lot bigger and stronger than me.

On his third attempt to kiss her, she fought him off and ran from the room, she said. She reported the incident to the police, the Parliamentary standards commissioner, House of Commons authorities and the MPs party.

But she claimed none of those took her complaint seriously except the police, who could not investigate because it took place in another country.

She said she was told it was not within the remit of the Parliamentary standards commissioner because she was employed directly by an MP rather than the Commons.

In a letter this year, Kathryn Hudson, the standards commissioner, said she had concerns about the scope of existing procedures for dealing with allegations but was unable to act in this case

MPs can only be investigated over their public life and not their purely private and personal lives, rules state.

In a letter this year, Kathryn Hudson, the standards commissioner, said she had concerns about the scope of existing procedures for dealing with allegations but was unable to act in this case.

Staff employed by the Commons are governed by an anti-harassment Respect policy  but it does not apply for staff employed directly by MPs.

The alleged victim said her colleague tried to set up a meeting with officials to discuss the policy but said it was cancelled several times. She told the Guardian: I was so shocked that they basically didnt want to know. I felt so alone: how could they not care?

The Prime Minister has proposed an independent mediation service for staff wanting to raise concerns which would enforce a grievance procedure overseen by MPs that is currently voluntary

We also notified the party. But they did nothing ... [They] made no commitment to investigate, respond, do anything and sure enough we never heard any response from them. We dont know whether they had a word with the MP or turned a blind eye.

The Prime Minister has proposed an independent mediation service for staff wanting to raise concerns which would enforce a grievance procedure overseen by MPs that is currently voluntary.

The woman said the measures were not sufficiently independent of political parties to work and that some of the people tasked with fixing the broken system are the same ones who failed to act in her case.

She told the paper: Its inappropriate and I have very little faith or trust that they are suddenly going to have the victims interests at heart. It is all about self-protection.

A spokesman for the standards commissioner said she takes all such allegations seriously but has no power to act as it is not within her remit.

A Commons spokesman said: The house is limited in its ability to intervene in employment matters as MPs employ their staff directly.

The Mail asked the MPs party for a comment.
The Ibrahim clan have fronted a Sydney court looking more like celebrities than accused criminals.

John Ibrahim's brother and son are facing charges for their alleged roles in a billion-dollar tobacco and drug smuggling syndicate, while his model girlfriend is facing separate firearm and ammunition offences.

The Kings Cross nightclub tsar's partner Sarah Budge, 27, wore a designer Scanlan Theodore outfit worth $1000 and was flanked by a high-powered legal team as she made her way into court on Wednesday afternoon.

Ibrahim, who has a property empire worth $52 million but hates the limelight, made a rare public appearance to support Budge, and was photographed walking alongside her near the courthouse in central Sydney.

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John Ibrahim's model girlfriend Sarah Budge, 27, wore a $950 Scanlan Theodore jacket and skirt outfit to court on Wednesday

Budge was supported by her boyfriend John Ibrahim, a Kings Cross nightclub identity with a $52 million property empire, who walked alongside her in the street before her appearance

The 27-year-old was charged with possession of a firearm after a loaded Glock 26 pistol was allegedly found in her bedroom in August

Budge's boyfriend John Ibrahim (pictured together) has not been charged with any offences

Budge, the owner of a ritzy Potts Point bar, was charged with possession of a firearm after a loaded Glock 26 pistol was allegedly found in her bedroom in August.

Ibrahim's younger brother Fadi and son Daniel Taylor also made appearances at Central Local Court in Sydney.

Taylor, 27, is alleged to have handed over a suitcase holding $2.25m to buy smuggled tobacco as part of a deal allegedly masterminded by his uncle, Michael.

The former Army private, who also goes by his father's surname, looked sharp in a smart black suit with large aviator sunglasses shielding his eyes from waiting media.

He appeared in court supported by his friend and former Bachelorette contestant Ryan Jones.

John Ibrahim's son Daniel Taylor, 26, also faced court over his alleged role in an international drug syndicate

Taylor, 26, is alleged to have handed over a suitcase holding $2.25m to buy illegal tobacco as part of a deal allegedly masterminded by his uncle Michael

Budge was flanked by her legal team as she made her way into the court on Wednesday

Police allegedly found a loaded Glock 26 pistol in Budge's (pictured) bedroom in August

Fadi Ibrahim, 43, is not alleged to be have been involved with the drug transactions.

He's accused of mortgaging his house and putting up $800,000 to fund a tobacco importation deal so he could double his money on return.

He was among four men, including brother Michael Ibrahim, extradited from Dubai six weeks after the raids.

Fadi and Daniel Ibrahim's lawyers requested the prosecution provide them with laptops so they can access their briefs.

They were each previously granted strict conditional bail to reside in Sydney's eastern suburbs, with Fadi Ibrahim raising a $2.2 million surety.

Their matters were briefly heard by Magistrate Les Mabbutt in Central Local Court on Wednesday and adjourned to February 7.

Fadi Ibrahim, who was extradited from Dubai with his brother Michael last month, wore a plain black suit with a checkered blue tie and smothering sunglasses

The 43-year-old has been ordered to stay at his $6 million clifftop Dover Heights home in Sydney after being charged with money laundering more than $1 million

Budge looked stony-faced as she made her way into the Central Local Court in Sydney. Her charges have no relation to the alleged drug syndicate

John Ibrahim has not been charged with any offences and Budge's charges have no relation to the alleged drug syndicate.

Michael Ibrahim and nine other co-accused men also had their matters briefly heard on Wednesday and adjourned to the same date in February.

Budge's case will be separated from the others and is due to return to court in January.

All smiles: Budge, who owns a ritzy bar in Potts Point, grinned as she left the court on Wednesday
Did you see that photograph of Kenneth Clarke (nominally Con, Rushcliffe), ex-MP Nick Clegg and Labours Lord Adonis scampering about in Brussels this week?

Those three London men were deep in a foreign country, snapped cosying up to our well, what do we call the European Union these days?

Are they our allies? Opponents? Our future free-traders?

Philip Hammond has called them the enemy and the EUs Donald Tusk has talked of hoping to avoid defeat in the Brexit negotiation. That was the language of battle rather than a friendly discussion. Yet Clarke, Clegg and Adonis felt comfortable pottering off on the sort of freelance diplomatic mission that is not easily distinguished from treachery.

The photograph caught them apparently unawares, hair askew, bellies to the fore. They looked furtive, as well they might.

George Galloway got into all sorts of trouble with the London ruling class when he flew to Baghdad and spoke to Saddam Hussein, saying: I salute your courage, your strength and your indefatigability.

At least that meeting was televised. How do we suppose Ken Clarke and Cleggy addressed the European Commissions Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier? Did they salute him as Mr Galloway addressed Saddam? Were they even warmer?

Ken Clarke, Nick Clegg and Lord Adonis (left to right) were in Brussels to meet with EU officials yesterday - although all three refused to disclose why they had asked for a meeting

Which side was Ken Clarke  the Father of our House of Commons!  trying to help? What was discussed? Can we see minutes of their meeting and hear a tape of their discussions? After all, these are the same Clarke, Clegg and Adonis who demand details about the May Governments Brexit preparations in the name of transparency. Mr Clarke has long traded on his aura of bluff mateyness but with that trip to Brussels he surely tests our amiability.

If he is doing anything other than helping the Governments negotiations, how can he continue to sit on the Governments side of the Commons?

PG Wodehouse was shunned by the Establishment for many years for a lower-level fraternisation with hostile forces. Why are we so relaxed about that tricksy little trio and their Brussels stunt?

Brexit Secretary David Davis was not asked about Mr Clarke yesterday when he appeared in front of the House of Lords EU select committee (a nest of Remainers) but plenty of other things came up. Mr Davis seemed to charm them. He came across as confident, resting his arms languidly on a couple of chairs. He spoke fluently in answer to their polite questions.

Lady Falkner (Lib Dem) claimed that businesses wanted the Government to agree to cough up billions to Brussels before sealing agreement from the Europeans on trade and other matters.

She had just been told so by lots of business types at a senior peoples lunch. Ah, a senior peoples lunch. Now theres a democratic forum. Lady Falkner and her ilk love senior peoples lunches.

They feel jolly important at them and these business executives can lobby them over the Sancerre and turbot. Mr Davis, without the acrimony it deserved, replied that he felt a greater duty to the British taxpayer and to the majority who voted for Brexit in the EU referendum. Lady Kennedy of the Shaws (Lab) was upset that British judges would no longer sit on European courts.

Mr Davis, with more patience than a medieval martyr, said that was the consequence of last summers referendum vote. Sorry, your ladyship.

Lord Liddle (Lab), who once worked for the European Commission, asked several questions, one of which touched on pensions for, er, former employees of the European Commission. Lord Selkirk (Con) asked about the no deal scenario.

Mr Davis explained that a complete absence of agreement was not going to happen. There was bound to be a level of consensus about many shared interests. It was possible that there would be a basic deal or a bare bones deal without a trade agreement but he felt a free-trade agreement, with Britain forging its own way in world trade, was most likely.

I have not seen Mr Davis so relaxed for weeks.
Niama Hassan (pictured), 27, has been missing since Saturday. Police are liaising with her family about a body found nearby

Police searching for a 27-year-old woman who disappeared on Saturday afternoon have recovered a body in the area where she was last seen.

Naima Hassan was last seen at a BP petrol station in Wellington Point in Brisbane's east buying chocolate at about 12.30pm.

Her car was found at Wellington Point reserve the next day, and a body was found by a member of the public on Tuesday evening at Sovereign Waters foreshore in Birkdale - about three kilometres away.

A crime scene was declared and guarded by police overnight, but the woman is yet to be formally identified.

Detectives have been liaising with Ms Hassan's family in relation to the find, a spokesperson for Queensland Police said in a statement.

When Ms Hassan's car, a grey Nissan Qashai, was found, her wallet was still inside, as well as a backpack containing exercise clothing.

Ms Hassan (pictured left and right) was last seen at a BP petrol station in Wellington Point buying a chocolate (right)

A body was found on Tuesday evening at Sovereign Waters foreshore in Birkdale (pictured in background)

Acting Detective Inspector Richard Lacey said it was 'certainly out of character' for Ms Hassan (pictured) to disappear

Her phone and its charger were both missing from the vehicle.

A family member of the missing 27-year-old told The Courier Mail the missing phone last pinged from Birkdale, the suburb the body was found in on Tuesday evening.

Acting Detective Inspector Richard Lacey, Upper Mount Criminal Investigation Branch said on Tuesday police had conducted extensive air and land searches since the woman's car was located.

'We are conducting extensive inquiries into the disappearance of Naima,' he said.

'It is certainly out of character. Naima left home on Saturday morning and we've not seen any indication that she did not plan on returning.'
Experts believe the Australian Amazon website could go live during November

Photos of Amazon warehouse in Melbourne's east revealed earlier this week

Australia Post is planning to work with retail giant for country parcel delivers

Retail super giant Amazon in talks to partner with Australia Post for local launch

Retail super giant Amazon in talks to partner with Australia Post for local launch

Retail super giant Amazon is in advanced talks with Australia Post for a special launch.

Set to land on Australian shores next month, Australia Post is planning to work with the online American store for parcel deliveries.

The company is also focused on helping Australian retailers avoid potentially losing $10 billion in sales when Amazon's first store lands in Melbourne.

Australia Post's chief executive Christine Holgate (pictured) announced the company could be a 'very powerful partner' with Amazon

Set to land on Australian shores next month, Australia Post is planning to work with Amazon for parcel deliveries (pictured)

Australia Post (right) would help keep Australians who are widely dispersed in touch with the retail opportunities of Melbourne's Amazon warehouse (left)

Australia Post's chief executive Christine Holgate told Australian Financial Review while she didn't want to put all her eggs in the Amazon basket, she was confident Australia Post could be a 'very powerful partner'.

'Australia with its huge geographical landscape, people are dispersed and who else has the network to touch every home and business,' Ms Holgate said.

Australia Post's partnership with the super giant would follow the likes of Canada Post and Royal Mail.

When Amazon entered the UK market, Ms Holgate said there was a $10 billion retail loss in three years, understandably making 'retails here ... nervous'.

While Australians already spend up to $700 million on Amazon from international online store, the weeks of waiting for delivery may soon be a thing of the past with Australia Post's new partnership.

Experts believe Amazon's local website will go live some time in November, ahead of the Christmas shopping season.

Australia Post's partnership with Amazon (pictured) would follow the likes of Canada Post and Royal Mail

When Amazon entered the UK market, Ms Holgate said there was a $10 billion retail loss in three years, understandably making 'retails here ... nervous'

Australians already spend $500-700 million with Amazon, ordering various goods from around the world and waiting weeks for delivery just to save money

Photos of the teal and red Amazon building were released earlier this week of the first store to hit Australia in Melbourne's east.

The 24,387sqm site will soon ship hundreds of thousands of products from fridges to clothes and even groceries across the country.

An even bigger disruption to the current Australian market would be its Amazon Fresh business, competing with Coles and Woolworths.
Royal Navy ships and submarines are being increasingly cannibalised in a desperate attempt to keep Britains fleet at sea, a damning report claims today.

Navy chiefs have doubled the amount of times they strip parts from vessels in order to maintain other ships and submarines on patrol, an investigation has found.

Equipment cannibalisation increased 49 per cent from 2012 to 2017, according to the spending watchdog.

Royal Navy ships are being increasingly cannibalised in a desperate attempt to keep Britains fleet at sea, a damning report claims today (pictured, HMS Bulwark which is is facing the axe)

During 2016-17 there were 795 instances of equipment cannibalisation, equating to 66 instances a month. This compared to 30 a month in 2005, the National Audit Office (NAO) found.

The term cannibalisation refers to the removal of a working part from one vessel to put it in another.

The report said budget cuts in the last two years could have increased the need to move parts between vessels and naval helicopters. The report also warned this was affecting morale on the subs and ships.

In some cases it had cost four times more to remove a piece of equipment from one ship and put it in another than it would to buy a new part, wasting millions of pounds, it warned.

Nuclear-powered Astute-class hunter-killer submarines, some of the most modern and advanced vessels in the Royal Navy, experienced the highest level of cannibalisation in the fleet with 59 instances per boat on average.

Official guidance states that cannibalisation should only happen when no other solution is available.

But the NAO said delays in deliveries of spares and a lack of information about when parts will be available contributed to the increase in the practice.

HMS Albion is pictured being escorted by an armed patrol vessel. It could be axed under new proposals

In the last five years, between 0.3 per cent and 1.4 per cent of parts provided to the main classes of ships and submarines have been cannibalised.

Between April 2012 and March 2017 there were 3,230 instances involving 6,378 parts, with 795 instances in 2016-17 alone - the equivalent of 66 a month, up from 30 a month in 2005.

The risk of cannibalisation has increased further with reductions in fleet sizes meaning the armed forces have limited alternative equipment to deploy, the report noted.

The NAO said the Ministry of Defence had taken decisions to cut support, which could have exacerbated the problem of cannibalisation.

In the past two years, the Navy has removed an estimated 92million from its maritime support in-year budgets, the report said.

That amounted to 34 per cent of the total 271million of maritime support budget cuts.

Vanguard-class submarine HMS Vigilant (front right), one of the UK's four nuclear warhead-carrying submarines, with Astute-class submarines HMS Artful (back left) and HMS Astute (back 2nd left)

In the Astute class, some parts were taken from submarines while they were still being constructed adding to delays in the production process and costing the taxpayer millions of pounds.

In the past five years, the three in-service Astute-class submarines had 506 defects, with 28 per cent of the 313 resolved defects in 2016-17 fixed through cannibalisation.

The remainder were fixed by sourcing parts from the supply chain.

An average 1.4 per cent of parts issued to Astute-class submarines involved cannibalisation compared with 0.4 per cent across all ships and submarines.

An estimated 22million of parts from submarines in production have been supplied to in-service parts and the practice delayed the completion of HMS Artful by six weeks, leading to an extra 4.9 million in indirect costs.

The NAO said the Ministry of Defence had identified that cannibalisation has affected submarines currently in production leading to an estimated 40million cost increase.

A Royal Navy spokesperson said: Less than half a percent of parts we use come from swapping components, and we only do this when its absolutely necessary to get ships out of port and back onto operations more quickly. We continue to make improvements to how we manage this long-established practice.
Jumbo shopping trolleys face extinction with a change in food buying habits that has killed off the 'big shop'.

People no longer plan their meals a week ahead and instead many visit food shops at least once a day to see what takes their fancy.

At the same time, people are racing straight for the reduced products as pursuing bargains no longer carries any stigma.

A new survey has predicted the slow demise of the large shopping trolley, file photograph

The changes in shopping trends have been picked up in the annual Waitrose Food & Drink Report.

Historically, families lost large parts of their weekend as they trekked the aisles of vast superstores with a list and a large trolley, and a clear plan for what would be on the menu for the coming week.

However, in an era when both parents are likely to be working, many resent losing their weekends to the chore of supermarket shopping.

Waitrose said: 'Recent years have seen a seismic shift in food shopping habits.

'With fewer of us doing a weekly 'big shop' could this mean the supersize trolleys' days are numbered? If recent trends continue then it looks likely.

'Just a few years ago, an average Waitrose would open with around 200 big trolleys and 150 shallow 'daily shopper' trolleys lined up outside.

'These days the tables have turned, with 250 shallow 'daily shoppers' and just 70 big trolleys needed.'

The annual Waitrose Food & Drink Report has shown a change in shopping habits by customers

Waitrose found that two in three Britons regularly or occasionally visit a supermarket more than once a day.

This group said this style of shopping stops them overbuying, which reduces food waste, and because they don't like to be tied to what they have in the fridge.

It seems many people make their choice based on the bargains they can find in the reduced section.

Some 53 per cent said they buy more products that have been marked down than they did five years ago.

Nine in 10 said they were motivated by a desire to save money. One three said it was because they hate seeing food go to waste and one in four said there was no longer any stigma to buying reduced price food.

Looking ahead, the retailer sees a big future for Indian street food.

Its report said: 'Forget heavy sauces and chicken tikka masala, this trend is about smoked, grilled or seared delicacies, such as scallops in pickled ginger.

'Food trucks selling puris stuffed with zingy vegetables and drizzled in chutney could become a common sight.

'The cuisine lends itself to hybrids, such as spiced burgers or lamb keema tacos. It's Indian food like you've never seen it.'

Waitrose predicts Britain will see a new wave of ethnic restaurants in the form of Izakaya bars, which are extremely popular in Japan, and famed for serving gutsy, indulgent sharing dishes such as Yakitori skewered chicken or deep-fried tofu in broth.

At a time, when popular culture is dominated by a desire to tackle obesity, it might be assumed that future trends would revolve around pressure to eat less.

However, Waitrose believes Britons will increasingly be eating four times and day, rather than having just breakfast, lunch and dinner.

It said: 'There is growing evidence that we are starting to squeeze a small, fourth meal into our daily routine. This is not about gluttony, rather it is about adapting our eating schedules to our busy lives.

'If dinner's particularly early one evening, why not have a mini cheese on toast before you go to bed?

'If you're going to the gym after work, why not have an energy-boosting salad mid-afternoon? Whether it's a healthy snack or an indulgent treat, we expect to see more of this in the future.'

Waitrose managing director, Rob Collins, said: 'Today's shoppers exercise unprecedented control over when they shop, what they buy and how they consume it.

'Our research found people have become more flexible in their shopping patterns, more price-savvy and more single-minded than ever before.

'For example a staggering 65per cent of Britons visit a supermarket more than once a day on a regular or occasional basis.

'Over half of us don't decide what we're having for dinner until lunchtime; and one in 10 of us will decide just before we eat.'
Halloween may be over, but the Westminster witch hunt is only just getting under way.

On Monday, Andrea Leadsom, Leader of the House of Commons, told MPs she would be setting the bar significantly below criminal activity when it came to eradicating inappropriate behaviour by members.

She was speaking in response to allegations of inappropriate sexual conduct made against a number of unnamed MPs by a group of about half a dozen present and former parliamentary researchers in a so-called dirty dossier.

Andrea Leadsom told MPs she would be setting the bar significantly below criminal activity when it came to eradicating inappropriate behaviour by members

Allegations are rather vague and vary wildly, from being handsy at parties to impregnating a woman. Leadsom, by contrast, was unequivocal.

If people are made to feel uncomfortable, then that is not correct, she told the House. In terms of the consequences for the perpetrators, I think I have also been perfectly clear: in the case of staff, they could forfeit their jobs; in the case of Members of Parliament, they could have the whip withdrawn and they could be fired from ministerial office.

Watching her grim expression and hearing her speak, I was reminded of that line in Arthur Millers 1953 play The Crucible: We are what we always were in Salem, but now the little crazy children are jangling the keys of the kingdom, and common vengeance writes the law!

Millers play was about the 17th-century witch trials in Massachusetts; but it was also, of course, about the anti-Communist hysteria that took place in America in the late Forties and early Fifties under U.S. Senator Joseph McCarthy, in which hundreds of people were falsely accused of unpatriotic behaviour.

In many cases the accusations turned out to be trivial or unsubstantiated  or simply made up by people bearing a grudge. The climate of fear it created resonates to this day, and the name of McCarthy will forever be associated with blind persecution of individuals in pursuit of political gain.

Ms Leadsom should be careful, then. She doesnt want to end up being the McCarthy de nos jours. Because make no mistake: this so-called sex scandal has all the hallmarks of a moral panic.

Female staff at Westminster are naming and shaming sex pest MPs on a secret WhatsApp group, it has been revealed

This grab comes from the Conservative party dirty dossier, with names of MPs blacked out

The little crazy children are indeed jangling the keys to the kingdom  and how.

What started as a WhatsApp group of parliamentary employees swapping notes on their bosses has turned into a mob of aggrieved victims claiming a million sexual micro-aggressions against a number of unnamed individuals who, it seems, are not even allowed to know where they are supposed to have overstepped the mark.

Words like handsy and inappropriate seem to make up the bulk of the accusations  terms that can mean almost anything but, in reality, prove nothing.

If someone is upset and an MP puts a reassuring arm around her shoulder, is that inappropriate? If they make a clumsy joke, is that an unwanted advance? Knowing MPs as I do, many of them are so socially inept, they make asking for a cup of coffee sound deeply suspicious. But just because someone is a bit odd, does that make them a pervert? No.

Or perhaps that depends on your point of view. Because there is a strong cultural and generational element to this, too. Most of the accused are over 40; most of the accusers are in their 20s.

In other words, its the revenge of the millennials, many of whom will have had their senses of humour surgically removed at university. Theirs is a generation that seems permanently aggrieved, in a perpetual state of disgust at anyone over the age of 30.

The sensible and sane way to deal with unwanted sexual advances is to adopt the Julia Hartley-Brewer model

They cant take a joke, let alone dictation  so is it any wonder they cant handle the pace at Westminster or the rough and tumble of parliamentary banter.

Anne Robinson put her finger on the button when she pointed out that in the Seventies, pioneering young feminists such as herself had a more robust attitude to men behaving badly than the fragile women of today.

She faced a blizzard of angry snowflakes on Twitter, of course, deriding her for being a dinosaur; but shes completely right.

The sensible and sane way to deal with unwanted sexual advances is to adopt the Julia Hartley-Brewer model in respect of having her knee importuned by then MP, now defence secretary, Michael Fallon: firmly decline  and threaten to punch his lights out if he does it again.

By the way, this incident took place 15 years ago  15!  and Julia, now a radio broadcaster, has said until shes blue in the face that she wasnt remotely distressed or upset.

But the problem with the current generation of young women is that they have somehow got it into their heads that they dont have to stick up for themselves, or take responsibility for their own safety. Feminism has taught them that they are entitled to equality and respect, even if they have done nothing to earn it.

Common sense and the intelligent rules of human behaviour have been replaced by a childish desire to push boundaries and a touchy, uppity tendency to take offence at the slightest thing. Thus you have women waving their breasts around in public in so-called free the nipple protests  and then complaining when men are caught ogling them.

Slut-walks, in which girls dress as provocatively as they can before parading in public, are espoused as expressions of female empowerment, when actually theyre just banal and offensive.

Like that stupid Metoo hashtag that started trending after the Harvey Weinstein scandal broke, these are not real expressions of emancipation: they are empty, attention-seeking gestures.

The real test of feminism is whether, like Hartley-Brewer or Robinson, you can cut the mustard on a par with the men, and give as good  if not better  than you get

The real test of feminism is whether, like Hartley-Brewer or Robinson, you can cut the mustard on a par with the men, and give as good  if not better  than you get. Those two women have proved that they can. They should be held up as role models, not pilloried on social media.

But therein lies the real problem: social media. A place where those who cant find success in the real world find safety in anonymity, and where mediocrity feeds the hunger of the mob to tear down those who dare to rise above the norm as a way of assuaging their own inadequacies.

George Orwell was almost right. It is not Big Brother who threatens our freedoms in the 21st century, but his nastier internet-age sibling, Little Brother: hundreds, thousands, millions of shrill individuals, one toxic groupthink, whipping each other into a self-righteous frenzy of hate before descending like locusts, stripping their victims to the bone and leaving destruction in their wake.

It is that collective hysteria, so common in closed, backward communities, that has begun to infect our society. Already it stifles free speech and debate in schools and universities, in print and in the arts, on the BBC and beyond, forcing us all to conform to a narrow bandwidth of accepted thought.

Now it seeks to do the same to an even more fundamental aspect of our human experience: the relationship between the sexes.

Predatory or perverse sexual behaviour is, sadly, all too common in society. There are indeed monsters out there, of all ages, genders and sexual orientations and in all walks of life  and there is no question that they can and do destroy the lives of innocent people.

That is why it is vital we remain open to the voices of victims. Sadly, in the past, this has not always been the case. We see this not only in high-profile instances such as Jimmy Savile and Rolf Harris, but also in more complex investigations such as the Rotherham grooming gangs.

But it is also important to retain a sense of proportion. Touching a colleagues knee in a taxi after a boozy dinner is not the same as drugging and raping a 14-year-old girl. Fancying a work colleague is not a crime (for many of us, its the start of a happy marriage). Nor is having an affair, or else half the population would be in jail.

Even having odd sexual preferences is not illegal, so long as all parties are consensual. If the puritans at parliament have their way, and are given powers to sack MPs or demote ministers purely on the basis of allegations and without any actual evidence of assault, then we might as well be living in Communist China or North Korea, where you never know when that knock on the door is going to come.

No one person or political party should ever have that kind of power; that is why the position of the judiciary is so vital in our democracy.

The fact that Labour activist Bex Bailey was told to refrain from reporting her assault at the hands of a senior official shows there is much work to be done in reassuring women that they will be taken seriously

If it is the case that a criminal act has taken place, then it should be reported  promptly  to the authorities and dealt with accordingly. No one, however grand, should be above the law.

The idea that anyone at Westminster should feel unable to report a serious sexual assault for fear of it damaging their career is completely unacceptable.

It is vital that all employees, male and female, have full confidence in the police and in Parliaments ability to punish wrongdoers.

The fact that Labour activist Bex Bailey was told to refrain from reporting her assault at the hands of a senior official shows there is much work to be done in reassuring women that they will be taken seriously.

That said, there is such a thing as innocent until proven guilty, and that principle must remain in place regardless of the severity of the alleged crime. Indeed, the more serious the accusations, the more vital this notion is.

If there are employees at Westminster who have been criminally assaulted, let them report their experiences to the police. The CPS will then decide if there is a case to answer, and all parties will be judged in a court of law.

If, on the other hand, it is simply the case that someone has overstepped the mark, or been a little too fruity over the punch, then just grow up and deal with it.

Be fierce: tell them where to get off, put bromide in their tea, laugh at them, embarrass them in public, remind them that they have a wife and children  whatever it takes to get the message across. If that doesnt work, file a complaint and get their wrists slapped.

These are not just rules that apply in the workplace; they apply in all areas of life. Its just part and parcel of belonging to the human race, knowing how to handle yourself with amorous oafs.

Anne Robinson is right to say that there is no point in women having PhDs if they dont also have common sense. And she is doubly right to add that it helps to develop a dont-mess-with- me attitude.

Equality is not about exacting some sort of weird revenge on the opposite sex. All that amounts to is reversing the cycle of repression. Women should be better than that  we are better than that. If men and women are to survive and thrive alongside one another, we must lead by example. And that means not taking advantage of our hard-won positions of power.

Because if a world run by women is a world where every man must fear for his reputation, then I for one dont want any part of it.

Mick Jagger's girlfriend Noor Alfallah (pictured) , 22, is 52 years his junior

So what DOES a 22-year-old see in great grandad Mick

The aphrodisiacal properties of wealth and fame are well-documented.

Even so, its hard to see what a 22-year-old would have in common with a man 52 years her senior.

That is the age difference between Mick Jagger, 74, and his latest companion, Noor Alfallah (pictured).

For context, 22 is three years younger than Micks eldest granddaughter, Assisi, who is also the mother of Jaggers great-granddaughter, Ezra, aged three.

Ezra, in turn, is two years older than her great-uncle (or do I mean great-great-uncle, its all rather confusing), Jaggers youngest child, a son called Devereux, who was born last December to his girlfriend, 30-year-old ballerina Melanie Hamrick.

Goodness me, Christmas at Micks must be fun.

Gordon Brown is right when he says he couldnt succeed in the age of Twitter politics; but he should draw consolation from the fact that he is in very good company.

None of the great Prime Ministers or political thinkers  from David Lloyd George to Margaret Thatcher  would have managed half of what they did in the current Twittermob climate of hysteria.

To those who constantly bemoan the state of politics, all I can say is I would like to see you get your job done with the equivalent of a hysterical toddler tied to your leg.

The problem with Radio 4s Thought for the Day is not that its too religious. Its that all the views expressed are so predictable, theyd be better off playing a recording of paint drying.

The writer of hit Netflix show The Crown, Peter Morgan, has made clear his disdain for the Queen.

Apparently she is a countryside woman of little intelligence.

Anyone with any knowledge of the subject knows this is simply not true. But even if it were, better to be that than a misogynistic metropolitan snob.

Dr Foster's warning to Ewan

So it turns out that darling Ewan McGregor is just another middle-aged man desperate to re-live his youth by swapping the mother of his children for a newer model.

As if that werent crass enough, before the affair started, he even invited his soon-to-be lover  actress Mary Elizabeth Winstead, 32  to his family home in Hollywood for dinner with his wife, Eve Mavrakis, 51, and their children.

Didnt Slimy Simon do something similar in the first series of Doctor Foster? That didnt work out so well for him either.

Researchers at New York University claim that celebrity glossy magazines are misleading women in their 20s into thinking they can put off having babies because of the emphasis they place on older celebrity mothers, such as Halle Berry and Janet Jackson.

If women are stupid enough to take their cues from celebrity magazines, I would respectfully suggest that perhaps they should put off having children indefinitely.

Can anyone explain to me why it is that a child of 14 is not allowed to smoke a cigarette, but the NHS is very happy to pay for him or her to take powerful puberty-blocking drugs that will permanently and irreversibly alter their gender?
This is the moment a furious driver chased another motorist down and punched his window in a shocking road rage attack in Sydney's west.

In dashcam footage posted to Youtube on Tuesday, the driver of a yellow Holden Torana can be seen speeding down an Eastern Creek road in Sydney's west, before getting out of his car and confronting another driver.

The terrifying footage, taken in March, was used as evidence in court on Tuesday when Jason Charles Galea pleaded guilty to negligent driving and a charge of stalking and intimidating in the Penrith Local Court, Sydney.

Scroll down for video

The driver of a yellow Torana can be seen speeding down an Eastern Creek road in Sydney's west, before getting out of his car and confronting the driver filming him

Galea, the driver of the yellow Torana, was ordered to pay a $1000 penalty and court costs of $164.

The road rage incident started when the man with the dashcam pulled up alongside Galea and accused him of speeding.

The confrontation was immediately met with contempt from Galea.

'I don't know, you tell me,' he said to which the driver filming replied 'my camera will tell you' and said he would find out when he uploaded the video to Youtube.

The initial interaction between the two men escalated when Galea yelled out of his window: 'Pull over c***'.

The road rage incident started when the man with the dash cam pulled up alongside Galea, who was driving the Torana (pictured), and accused him of speeding

'Where's your camera, where's your camera you f***ing c***, give me the f***ing camera,' Galea (pictured) shouted

After a few minutes driving almost bumper to bumper, the driver behind the camera tried to escape Galea by taking a left turn.

Moments later, the Torana can be seen in the vehicle's rear view camera.

Galea appeared to do a U-turn in an effort to follow and confront the driver behind the camera.

Moments after he pulls up behind the car, Galea can be seen to get out of the car and run towards the car.

'Where's your camera, where's your camera you f***ing c***, give me the f***ing camera,' Galea can be heard shouting.

With his doors locked, the driver pulls away from Galea and calmly says: 'Well that's good for the police isn't it.'

Moments after he pulls up behind the car, Galea can be seen to get out of the car and run towards the car

Just moments after the previous confrontation, Galea can be seen pulling up behind the driver and running towards the window

The road rage did not stop there.

Galea continued to follow closely behind, in pursuit of the dashcam footage which captured his alleged speeding minutes earlier.

Just moments after the previous confrontation, Galea can be seen pulling up behind the driver and running towards the window.

'Come on motherf***er, come on. Motherf****er,' he shouts.

As the driver who posted the footage online drives off, he can be heard phoning triple zero reporting the incident to the police.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau dressed as Clark Kent, whose alter ago is Superman, for Halloween this year.

Trudeau came down the stairs of the House of Commons dressed as Kent, a bespectacled and introverted journalist for the fictional Daily Planet.

But as he reaches the bottom of the stairs, he rips open his shirt to reveal a Superman logo, video from CBC News shows.

Scroll down for video

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau went as Clark Kent/Superman for Halloween. He is pictured with his son, Hadrien, while participating in Halloween festivities at Rideau Hall

Hadrien dressed as Skye, a character from the animated series Paw Patrol, which airs on Nickelodeon

Governor General Julie Payette walks with Trudeau and his son. Trudeau's decision to dress as the bespectacled journalist, whose alter ego is Superman, comes amid widespread clashes between politicians and the media

Trudeau walks with Hadrien on his shoulders, wife Sophie Gregoire to his left and children Ella-Grace and Xavier, dressed as a wolf

The Canadian leader was on his way to Question Period.

Upon revealing his Superman shirt, he said in both English and French: 'You know, gotta do it.'

He was later photographed at Ottawa's Rideau Hall with his wife and three children, surrounded by fellow Halloween celebrators.

Trudeau surprised journalists at the House of Commons by revealing his Superman t-shirt underneath his Clark Kent costume. Trudeau said in both English and French: 'You know, gotta do it'

Superman is an iconic superhero who frequently saves the world in his story lines.

A DC Comics character, he has appeared in thousands of editions since his 1938 debut.

He has been portrayed by Henry Cavill in 2013's 'Man of Steel,' 2016's 'Batman vs Superman: Dawn of Justice' and 'Justice League,' which will be released in November 2017.

The character has previously been played by Brandon Routh and Christopher Reeve.

Trudeau is pictured enjoying Halloween with his family. They are trick-or-treating on the grounds of Rideau Hall

Trudeau and two of his children stand in front of a table with Halloween themed decorations

Superman is a DC Comics character who has recently been portrayed by Henry Cavill in three films

Trudeau's decision to dress as a journalist comes amid clashes between politicians and the media.

Figures from US President Donald Trump to Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte have adopted hard stances against journalists, who they feel give them unfair coverage.

Trudeau dressed last year as a pilot from 'Le Petit Prince,' a children's book.

The year prior, he dressed as Han Solo, the iconic 'Star Wars' character portrayed by Harrison Ford.
The Manus Island refugees are bracing for clashes with the PNG army as soldiers prepare to move in to clear out the remaining 600 men who refuse to leave.

Authorities are facing a stand-off with the detainees unwilling to go and locals are reportedly blocking the construction of new refugee accommodation, with doubts about whether there are enough beds.

The refugees and asylum seekers who remain inside the compound in PNG have little water left and their electricity generators have either been switched off or let run out of fuel.

Electricity generators (pictured) being removed from compounds at the Manus Island detention centre

Hundreds of former detainees have barricaded themselves inside as the centre is officially closed

The last food packs were distributed to them on Sunday night.

Rohingya refugee Imran Mohammad told RN Breakfast he did not think PNG authorities could protect them, ABC reported.

'We are not here for food, we are not here for electricity, we're not here for water, we're here because we're persecuted in our country we left violence. We want a safe country and we want our freedom,' he said.

Tamil refugee Srirangan told AAP on Tuesday refugees were concerned about dehydration but feared for their lives as well, as the troops roll in on Wednesday.

Authorities in PNG have said they will move refugees and asylum seekers into purpose-built accommodation in the nearby town of Lorengau.

Hussein, originally from Iraqi Kurdistan, said the facility wasn't ready and that locals had blocked and protested its construction.

The deadline for the closure of the Manus Island offshore immigration detention centre has passed but detainees are refusing to leave

Asylum seekers (pictured) refused to leave the Manus Island Detention Centre on Tuesday

Some locals have looted tents, tables, boxes, fire alarms, fans and air conditioners from the decomissioned centre.

PNG lawyer Ben Lomai has lodged a legal application on behalf of detainees to block the centre's closure.

The constitution in PNG held enforceable protections for human rights, which Mr Lomai said had been breached.

The Lombrum centre was forced to close after the PNG Supreme Court ruled in April 2016 that Australia's detention of refugees and asylum seekers there was illegal and unconstitutional.

Refugees and asylum seekers (pictured) at the Manus Island immigration detention centre in Papua New Guinea

Acting Prime Minister Julie Bishop said it made 'no sense' for detainees to remain in the centre, but she won't guarantee their safety if they leave the camp.

'The Papua New Guinea government is a sovereign government and is responsible for law and order and security on their islands in their nation,' Ms Bishop told ABC radio on Wednesday.

'It makes no sense for these people to remain on Manus Island because the essential services have been transferred to alternative accommodation.'

Ms Bishop said food, water, electricity and medical services would be provided.

Electricity has so far been cut to at least half the buildings at the centre at Lombrum Navy Base as detainees refusing to leave for fear of their safety nervously await their future.

A Human Rights Watch report released before the detention centre's closure details claims that refugees have been robbed and stabbed on Manus Island

A looter (pictured) at Manus Island detention centre, Papua New Guinea on Tuesday who was spotted stealing a fan ahead of the closure of the facility

Immigration Minister Peter Dutton was labelled a 'monster' over the closure of the Manus Island detention centre as hundreds of former detainees barricade themselves inside.

Greens senator Nick McKim, who is on Manus Island, said he had seen first hand the suffering of 600 people and anybody who would deliberately cause such harm 'easily qualifies' as a monster.

Mr Dutton on Tuesday attacked Senator McKim for spreading false information and inciting trouble in the tense final hours of the centre's shutdown.

'It's a badge of honour to be attacked by a racist, a fascist, a monster, and a serial abuser of human rights like Peter Dutton,' Senator McKim told AAP from Manus Island on Wednesday.

'I take it as confirmation that I'm on the right track and I should keep on exposing the truth about what's happening on Manus Island.'

Six detainees have died on Manus Island - including one who was murdered - since it was reopened in 2012.
Millions of households could be stung by higher bills under plans to upgrade Britains broadband network.

BTs network arm, Openreach, yesterday said it could give 10million homes cutting-edge internet connections by the mid-2020s  but only if it was allowed to claw back the costs from customers.

The company said the work was likely to cost between 3bn and 6bn and suggested this should be spread fairly across a wide range of customers.

This could mean even those customers who dont benefit could be asked to foot some of the costs.

Openreach believes the upgrade would bring more reliable internet connections and be necessary to meet demand from future technologies such as driverless cars and smart cities.

A typical broadband package provided by BT currently gives speeds of up to 17mbps for 29.99 a month. The planned faster cables would be able to provide speeds of 1,000mb (1gbps).

But under the plans, people who choose to receive lower speeds could still be asked to pay more to help fund the nationwide upgrade.

BTs network arm, Openreach, yesterday said it could give 10million homes cutting-edge internet connections by the mid-2020s  but only if it was allowed to claw back the costs from customers

Clive Selley, Openreachs chief executive, said the benefits from better broadband could be huge but added: Were under no illusions about the challenges that lie ahead.

We need a regulatory environment that encourages investment and we need to agree how the costs of such a huge engineering project can be recovered fairly from all those that stand to benefit.

Of course thats going to be tough, but we need to get into the detail of that now with our customers, with Ofcom and with Government.

It comes as Openreach is under pressure to invest more in Britains broadband network.

The company is responsible for the cables that connect most homes to the phone network and the internet, with providers such as Sky, Vodafone and TalkTalk using them for a fee.

They want Openreach to roll out so-called full fibre connections, where modern fibre cables would run all the way into households and offices.

At the moment fibre cables only go as far as street cabinets, with Victorian-era copper cables used for the last stretch to peoples homes.

The proposals put forward yesterday would involve replacing these copper wires with fibre cables.

After consulting with internet providers this summer, Openreach said there was broad support for the work and that it should be part of a major switchover across the UK  which would see the old copper system retired.

This would mean households would be moved over to the new network after the cables had been installed in their area.

Were under no illusions about the challenges that lie ahead

Openreach said charging a broader number of customers for the upgrade would allow it to keep price increases lower.

It added: A large-scale [full fibre] network is likely to benefit a broad set of customers over time, so Openreach believes the costs should be spread fairly across a broad customer base to reflect that.

But it also admitted there were concerns that customers may not be willing to pay more money just to get the same internet speeds through better wires.

Last night an industry source said it could mean prices being raised across the board.

The source added: The concern is they are already allowed to make lots of excess profit so where is the incentive to invest? They would be able to set their own timetable.

Openreach believes the upgrade would bring more reliable internet connections and be necessary to meet demand from future technologies such as driverless cars and smart cities

Another source said there would need to be guarantees that people would not be forced to upgrade.

There is certainly an argument for moving people over to full fibre but you cannot have a situation where they are forced to pay for something they dont want, the source said.

The plan comes as Openreach is already set for a showdown with the telecoms watchdog, Ofcom, over how much it charges for existing internet services.

The regulator has proposed lowering how much the company can charge for providing the cheapest 40Mbs internet packages.

Openreach has argued against this, saying it will hamper plans to invest in its network.

Sharon White, Ofcoms chief executive, has told MPs Britain is lagging behind countries that we should not be lagging behind.
A woman has accused Dustin Hoffman of sexually harassing her while she interned as a production assistant on the set of the 1985 Death of a Salesman TV film  when she was just 17.

In a column for The Hollywood Reporter , actress Anna Graham Hunter said the actor was openly flirtatious with her, asking for a foot massage, groping her bum and talking about sex to her.

One morning I went to his dressing room to take his breakfast order; he looked at me and grinned, taking his time. Then he said, Ill have a hard-boiled egg  and a soft-boiled clitoris,' Hunter recalled. His entourage burst out laughing. I left, speechless. Then I went to the bathroom and cried.

Although Hunter kept quiet about the alleged harassment until recently, she revealed that she had copies of mailed dispatches to her sister in London from her five weeks on set detailing the encounters.

<img alt="" class="" style="" src="https://peopledotcom.files.wordpress.com/2017/11/dustin-hoffman-1.jpg?w=1600&h=2043" height="2043" width="1600" />

The writer said she felt conflicted about the situation because there were so many positive experiences on the set, including dancing polka with Charles Durning, Arthur Miller calling her by her first two names and hanging out with the crew on long days.

And yes, I loved the attention from Dustin Hoffman. Until I didnt, she wrote.

Even recently, Hunter said she watched All the Presidents Men and asked her sister, Is it weird that I find him kind of sexy in this after what he did?

However, looking back at her experiences with other men, Hunter knows the actor was wrong.

At 49, I understand what Dustin Hoffman did as it fits into the larger pattern of what women experience in Hollywood and everywhere, she said. He was a predator, I was a child, and this was sexual harassment. As to how it fits into my own pattern, I imagine Ill be figuring that out for years to come.

Hoffman told The Hollywood Reporter in response to the story, I have the utmost respect for women and feel terrible that anything I might have done could have put her in an uncomfortable situation. I am sorry. It is not reflective of who I am.
For the growing numbers of young people who, in their naive idealism, seem determined to support Jeremy Corbyn and his Marxist lieutenant John McDonnell, the life and career of a man who died yesterday make for salutary reading.

With his relish for confrontation, Derek Red Robbo Robinson represented all that was worst about the British trades union movement in the Seventies.

In his thuggish obstinacy, he was the personification of the bullying, power-hungry movement that paralysed industry, wrecked the economy and turned Britain into the sick man of Europe.

Derek Robinson, pictured, led more than 500 walk outs at the Longbridge British Leyland plant in Birmingham during the 1970s until he was eventually sacked by management in 1979

Robinson, pictured right, was described as a 'notorious agitator' by Margaret Thatcher

Mr Robinson, pictured centre, was a central figure during the 'Winter of Discontent'

A lifelong communist, his nickname was a badge of pride. Nor did he feel an iota of shame that, as the works convenor at the mighty car giant British Leyland, he brought the company to its knees with his appetite for mindless turmoil.

In his twisted mindset, the workplace was not a place for production, but an arena for extremist intimidation and political confrontation.

Between 1978 and 1979, he presided over no fewer than 523 walkouts at British Leyland, costing the firm at least 200 million in lost output.

Robinson, a member of the Amalgamated Engineering Union (AEU), is one of the reasons that Britain no longer has an indigenous car-maker.

Through his epic irresponsibility, he made the Longbridge plant in Birmingham almost impossible to run.

The culture at the factory, which employed 18,000 people at its peak, was one of utter political oppression.

Strikes would be decided, not by democratic ballots, but by shows of hands at mass meetings, which gave total licence to the union bullies who stalked the workplace.

Mr Robinson, second left, was also national chairman for the Communist Party of Britain

Robinson, pictured in November 1979 after his sacking, was unable to convince his former colleagues to go out on strike to oppose the management's decision

News footage of a vast AEU demonstration in Birmingham in 1979 perfectly illustrates the atmosphere of strident aggression that prevailed. Calls for a walkout were loudly cheered by protesters carrying placards with slogans such as British Leyland equals Bloody Life. Within an hour, the factory had stopped production.

Any industrial action was ruthlessly enforced by picket lines and shouts of scab  and worse at  anyone daring to challenge the mob rule.

Leyland had inherited great motoring marques such as Austin and Rover but, in large part because of Robinsons malign influence and that of others in his thrall, quality and innovation rapidly declined.

Increasingly synonymous with shoddiness, the company struggled to compete in the marketplace  not that Robinson cared. As a far Left ideologue, he did not believe in the market.

But his gospel of permanent workplace revolt exposed a fundamental paradox of Robinsons career: the man who constantly prattled about the protection of workers rights was the greatest destroyer of jobs in the UK motor sector.

Yet there was a positive side to Robinsons addiction to militancy.

Through his spectacular recklessness, he ultimately repelled the British public and paved the way for the election of Margaret Thatcher  she described him in her memoirs as a notorious agitator  with a mandate to tackle the unions. His very name was a vote-winning weapon for the Conservatives in 1979.

It is a rich irony that, in his communist fervour, Red Robbo was inadvertently one of the Tories strongest allies as they embarked on ending Labours disastrous experiment in trades union domination.

And how significant it is that Robinsons death at the age of 90, comes at the very moment Jeremy Corbyn is riding high in the polls, following on from his remarkable advance in the General Election.

Corbyns success was made possible because a large section of the British electorate have either forgotten, or never knew, the lesson of Red Robbos grim reign.

For young voters in particular, the terms British Leyland and the Winter of Discontent  that bleakest of periods in the bitter cold of 1978-79 when Britain was beset by public sector strikes, hospitals took emergency patients only, rubbish went uncollected and the dead in some parts of the country remained unburied  mean absolutely nothing.

But such ignorance is highly dangerous.

For Corbyn, himself a trades union official in the Seventies (for the National Union of Public Employees and for Red Robbos AEU, which had been encouraged by Tony Benn to develop a blueprint for the workers control of British Leyland), is desperate for a return to those dark days.

To him, that era was not a nightmare, but a golden age of Left-wing ascendancy.

If he were to gain office, among his first acts would be the repeal of Conservative trades union legislation which curtailed the power of the bully boys by banning strike action without a ballot of the workers  no more showing of hands  or notice to management; outlawed secondary picketing (in which strike action in one workplace was supported by a walkout in another), and imposed huge fines on unions which flouted the law.

Robinson, pictured during a protest in Longbridge, revelled in his 'Red Robbo' image

It was indeed telling yesterday that Len McCluskey, Labour puppetmaster as hardline leader of the Unite union (into which the AEU was absorbed) and one of Corbyns loudest supporters, was so full of praise for Robinson.

History will show Derek was unfairly maligned by the media as he aimed to find solutions to British Leylands industrial disputes, he said. Those words illustrate just how warped the Corbynista Left really is. The endless industrial disputes were almost entirely of Robinsons making.

Red Robbo may have reached his dangerous peak in the Seventies, but he was a political radical from the start. Born in 1927, he became an apprentice toolmaker at the mighty Longbridge factory during World War II. The communists dominated the local trades union and Robinson was soon an active member.

During subsequent decades, he rose up the Longbridge hierarchy, becoming a shop steward, then, in 1974, works convenor, a position that gave full scope for his spirit of politically motivated rebellion.

His rise to the top came at a time when, nationally, the unions were increasingly flexing their industrial muscles, having seen off all attempts at reform by Harold Wilsons and Ted Heaths administrations. But the seizure of political control went to the union bosses head, and they grew ever more tyrannical.

In the early months of 1979, at the peak of the Winter of Discontent, an incredible 29 million working days were lost. But this madness created its own backlash, even at Longbridge, as workers grew tired of the Red Robbos untrammelled rule.

When he was eventually sacked in November 1979 by the British Leyland management, then headed by the tough British-South African Michael Edwardes, Robinson tried to organise a sympathy strike in his favour. But the tide had turned.

In the ballot, 14,000 workers voted against him, just 600 in favour. It was a watershed moment that, like the election of Margaret Thatcher, signalled a return to sanity.

Robinson remained true to his convictions for the rest of his life. He stayed in the Communist Party and stood, unsuccessfully, in four General Elections in Birmingham. Through the Eighties and Nineties, he was a tutor in trades union studies, teaching a new generation of shop stewards.

He even served for a spell as chairman of the Communist Party, and right up to the end, he could be seen selling Party literature on the streets.

I can sleep sound at night because I never betrayed the workers I was elected to represent, he once said.

In truth, that was just another self-serving delusion. Red Robbos betrayal of workers at British Leyland and elsewhere could hardly have been more shameful.
A teenage barman has claimed Kevin Spacey flashed him as he worked in a hotel bar and then gave him his 5,000 watch to hush him up.

Daniel Beal alleged Spacey, 58, showed him his genitals and said 'it's big, isn't it?' while he was taking a break from serving drinks at the Goodwood Park Hotel, West Sussex, in 2010.

Mr Beal, 19 at the time, claimed he spurned the US actor's advances and returned to the bar, only for him to follow and offer his designer watch to 'keep him quiet'.

Daniel Beal (left) claimed Kevin Spacey (right) flashed him after trying to seduce him while he worked at a hotel bar

Mr Beal, who is now in the Army, told how the Oscar-winning actor had been downing whisky in the hotel's bar when he first started making moves towards him

The allegations from Mr Beal follow the revelations by actor Anthony Rapp, who alleged Spacey made inappropriate sexual advances toward him in 1986, when he was 14.

At the time of Mr Beal's allegations, Spacey, once the artistic director of the Old Vic Theatre in London, was in the area to see a production at Chichester Festival Theatre.

Mr Beal, who is now in the Army, told how the Oscar-winning actor had been downing whisky in the hotel's bar when he first started making moves towards him.

He told the Sun: 'Every time I tried to give him a drink he'd touch my hand in a weird way. He was drinking more and more  he got through a bottle of Jack Daniels.'

When the barman went outside for a cigarette, he said Spacey followed him and asked him if he 'smoked weed'.

Mr Beal agreed to take his watch, but said on reflection Spacey was 'trying to manipulate' him from the moment he arrived in the bar

The then-barman declined and went back to work - only for Spacey to follow him back out on his next break

The actor then said that he had 'loads' in his room and told him to 'come back' with him.

However, the barman declined and went back to work - only for Spacey to follow him back out on his next break.

Mr Beal said: 'Before I had a chance to do anything he got his d*** out. I said ''What the f*** are you doing?''

He claimed that Spacey tried to pull his hand towards his penis, but the barman walked off.

The actor then urged him to trade his 20 Casio watch for his 5,000 IWC Portofino time piece.

Mr Beal alleged Spacey, 58, showed him his genitals and said 'it's big, isn't it?' while he was taking a break from serving drinks at the Goodwood Park Hotel (pictured), West Sussex, in 2010

The actor then urged him to trade his 20 Casio watch for his 5,000 IWC Portofino (example pictured) time piece

Mr Beal agreed, but said on reflection Spacey was 'trying to manipulate' him from the moment he arrived in the bar.

The teen said he felt 'dirty' wearing the watch and sold it for 3,200 the next day.

However, Spacey's team rang the hotel and demanded the watch back.

Mr Beal lied and said he lost it, but was staggered to get a call from Spacey weeks later asking him if he wanted to meet up in London.

Mr Beal said the allegations against the actor convinced him to 'speak up' and that he was a 'creep'.
The FBI this week revealed new allegations of collusion with Russia which could damage President Donald Trump's administration

Already it is becoming the biggest U.S. political scandal since Watergate, and threatens to destroy Donald Trumps presidency.

The FBI this week revealed explosive new allegations of Russian collusion in last years American election as a special prosecutor charged three former aides to the President.

If true, the claims are the clearest suggestion yet that Trump knew the Kremlin was trying to help his campaign by providing dirt on Hillary Clinton.

During the election, the Russian government hacked Democratic computer accounts and released a trove of embarrassing emails related to the political machinations of his Democrat rival which helped put him in the White House.

The characters embroiled in the scandal include Trumps former presidential campaign chief, who is accused of siphoning off $75m (56m) through an offshore account, a Maltese professor living in London said to be a link man with the Kremlin, a woman posing as a niece of Vladimir Putin and Trumps own son.

As Trump scrambles to distance himself from those under suspicion, we describe the dramatis personae at the heart of the political scandal convulsing America.

THE LONDON GO-BETWEEN

George Papadopoulos

Hailed as an excellent guy by Donald Trump after he hired him as a foreign policy adviser, the fresh-faced, London-based American lawyer is now co-operating with the FBI and may be the man who ultimately forces Trump out of the White House.

During the election campaign, Papadopoulos repeatedly tried to arrange a meeting between Trump and the Russian government, which he was told had damaging information about Mrs Clinton, according to FBI files.

The 30-year-old is a graduate of University College London and claimed to have been accepted to study for a second masters at the LSE, but the university said they had no record of him ever studying there or obtaining a degree. He was initially mocked for his youth and inexperience when he was named as foreign policy adviser to the Trump campaign in March 2016.

Former Trump campaign aide, George Papadopoulos, pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about his Kremlin-related contacts

After meeting a London-based academic named Professor Joseph Mifsud  who allegedly has close ties with the Kremlin  while travelling in Italy in mid-March 2016, Papadopoulos was introduced to a woman he wrongly believed was a niece of Russian leader Vladimir Putin.

She later wrote to him: We are all very excited by the possibility of a good relationship with Mr Trump.

Papadopoulos used his new contacts repeatedly to try to arrange a meeting between the Trump campaign and Russian government officials, according to court documents.

He passed back his conversations to the Trump inner circle, outlining offers for Trump to visit Moscow. One of his bosses in the Trump campaign praised his efforts as great work.

After allegations of Russian meddling in the U.S. election emerged, Papadopoulos was first interviewed by the FBI in January this year.

He initially claimed that the contacts hed had with the Russians happened before he joined the Trump campaign.

But he was arrested at Washington Dulles Airport on July 27, where he admitted the charge of lying to FBI agents about the timings, and has since been cooperating with the special prosecutor Robert Mueller.

He faces five years in jail for perjury, which could be reduced as part of a plea deal.

The White House has played down Papadopoulos as a low-level adviser on the campaign.

But Mueller told the court at Papadopouloss indictment hearing last month that he did not want the arrest made public because it would significantly undermine Papadopouloss ability to serve as a proactive co-operator, indicating that he may have agreed to wear a wire to record conversations with some of his former colleagues.

It means he may have spent the past few months secretly gathering incriminating evidence from the inner circle of Trumps campaign staff on behalf of the FBI, which could potentially bring down the administration.

THE MALTESE PROF

Joseph Mifsud

Professor Joseph Mifsud told George Papadopoulos that Moscow had dirt on Hillary Clinton in the form of thousands of emails, the FBI documents claim

The British-based professor with close ties to Russia allegedly acted as the link between Trumps campaign and Putins regime. Professor Mifsud told George Papadopoulos that Moscow had dirt on Hillary Clinton in the form of thousands of emails, the FBI documents claim.

It is alleged that after the former Maltese government official (who works at the London Academy of Diplomacy  which is affiliated to the University of Stirling in Scotland) met Papadopoulos in March 2016 while travelling in Italy, the following month  just days after Trump named Papadopoulos as one of his advisers  they met again in London.

This time, it is claimed, the professor brought a Russian woman who posed as Putins niece, and said she had connections to senior Russian government officials.

Mifsud allegedly later told Papadopoulos that he had just returned from Moscow, where he had learned from high-level Russian government officials that Russia had damaging information on Mrs Clinton.

The academic has confirmed he was the London professor described in the document drawn up by special counsel Mueller, but vehemently denied any wrongdoing. He said his links with Russia were purely academic and nothing to do with the government, adding: I have a clear conscience.

THE CAMPAIGN BOSS

Paul Manafort

President Trumps former campaign chief was the most high profile of the trio charged by the U.S. prosecutors this week.

The veteran Republican strategist is accused of a money-laundering conspiracy that syphoned off $75 million from pro-Kremlin political groups.

The cash is said to have helped fund a lavish lifestyle, with Manafort splashing out millions on property, antiques and designer clothes.

President Trumps former campaign chief Paul Manafort, pictured, was the most high profile of the trio charged by the U.S. prosecutors this week

After hiding the cash in a labyrinth of offshore accounts, its alleged he spent $5 million to refurbish a home in the exclusive Hamptons area of New York state, and moved more than $3 million to his own accounts to pay for his childrens school fees and decorate his mansion in Virginia.

The FBI accuse him of working for the Russia-backed Ukraine government  which was toppled in 2014  and its pro-Kremlin Party of Regions political organisation between 2006 and 2015.

He denies a string of charges of dodging taxes, illegally working as an unregistered agent of a foreign government and making false statements to federal investigators, which carry a maximum sentence of 20 years. But U.S. legal commentators believe the threat of a long spell in jail could prompt him to cooperate with the investigation.

Manafort previously advised the presidential campaigns of Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan and George Bush Snr., while his Washington lobbying firm has represented corrupt dictators Ferdinand Marcos of the Philippines, and Mobutu Sese Seko of the Congo.

He agreed to work without payment for Trump in March 2016 and was quickly made campaign chairman. But he was sacked three months later after the discovery of a ledger indicating he had received millions of dollars in secret payments from the Russian-backed Ukrainian Party of Regions.

Separately, Manafort was also allegedly involved in discussions with campaign aide George Papadopoulos about setting up meetings with the Russian government during the election. Papadopoulos emailed a high-ranking Trump campaign official on May 21, 2016, with the subject line Request from Russia to meet Mr Trump.

Manafort forwarded the email to another campaign official, stating: We need someone to communicate that DT is not doing these trips, referring to a trip to Russia. It should be someone low level in the campaign so as not to send any signal.

Manafort also attended a meeting with Donald Trumps son, Donald Jnr, and a Russian lawyer where Russian dirt on Mrs Clinton was allegedly discussed.

The FBI first swooped on Mr Manaforts home in Virginia in the summer, picking the lock in a pre-dawn raid amid fears he might destroy evidence if they banged on his door.

Mr Manafort this week was allowed to turn himself in and denied the charges at a Washington court, where bail was set at $10 million. He was ordered to live under house arrest.

THE WASHINGTON LOBBYIST

Rick Gates

A long-term business partner of Paul Manafort, having met him as an intern at his Washington consultancy 25 years ago, Gates was this week arrested in the U.S capital. Mr Gates, 45, faces similar allegations of working for the Russia-backed Ukraine government.

In his consultancy work he has sealed private equity deals in Russia and Eastern Europe with pro-Kremlin oligarch Oleg Deripaska, who was barred from entering the United States over allegations relating to links to organised crime. Deripaska denied the allegations.

Rick Gates, 45, faces similar allegations of working for the Russia-backed Ukraine government

Gates joined Trumps campaign as a lobbyist at the same time as Manafort last year and, even after Manafort was forced out, he remained in the inner circle and later played a key role in the President-elects Inauguration committee.

He denies the allegations and was bailed on a $5m surety.

THE PRESIDENTS SON

Donald Trump Junior

The hapless oldest son of the U.S. President has also been dragged into the growing scandal over the Trump campaigns links to Russia.

Trump Jnr joined the Republican campaign manager Paul Manafort in a meeting with a female Russian lawyer in 2016 to discuss dirt they had on Hillary Clinton.

Donald Trump Jnr asked his brother-in-law Jared Kushner  who is married to Ivanka Trump  and Manafort to attend a sit-down meeting with Natalia Veselnitskaya.

Donald Trump Jnr, pictured left with his wife Vanessa Haydon Trump and their daughter, asked his brother-in-law Jared Kushner  who is married to Ivanka Trump  and Manafort to attend a sit-down meeting with Natalia Veselnitskaya

Trump Jnr tried for months to deny the existence of last summers 30-minute meeting on the 25th floor of the Trump Tower in New York. But after a newspaper investigation, he was forced to reveal an email chain setting up the meeting, in which he declared, I love it after being told that Russians had documents that would incriminate Hillary and her dealings with Russia, and would be very useful to your father.

THE POWER BEHIND THE THRONE

Jared Kushner

The multi-millionaire husband of Donald Trumps daughter Ivanka has quickly risen to be the Presidents most trusted aide, despite complaints of nepotism.

Kushner, 36, admits attending the meeting last year with Donald Trump Jnr and the Kremlin-linked lawyer, but said he had no idea it had been arranged in the hope of gaining political leverage over Mrs Clinton.

He also insisted he had been too busy during the election campaign to read an email exchange Donald Trump Jr had sent him that made clear the Russian government wanted to pass on incriminating evidence against Mrs Clinton to help secure a Trump victory.

Jared Kushner, 36, admits attending the meeting last year with Donald Trump Jnr and the Kremlin-linked lawyer, but said he had no idea it had been arranged in the hope of gaining political leverage over Mrs Clinton

Realising the meeting was a waste of time, he claimed, he emailed his assistant to ring him to give him an excuse to leave.

But, disturbingly, he also admitted he had contact with the Russians four times during the election campaign and the transition period before Mr Trump took office, including meetings with Russias U.S. ambassador Sergey Kislyak and Russian banker Sergey Gorkov  a close friend of Putin.

This includes a December 2016 meeting, where its claimed he discussed setting up a secret back channel with Moscow.

He strenuously denies discussing anything improper with Russian officials, and insisted he wasnt guilty of any collusion. But investigators want to know exactly why he failed to disclose these meetings initially.

THE LONG ARM OF THE LAW

Robert Mueller

Former Marine Robert Mueller was appointed special counsel for the Russia investigation in May.

The no-nonsense operator has previously prosecuted crime bosses, foiled terror attacks and faced down earlier Presidents.

The Vietnam veteran took over as FBI director the week before the September 11 attacks and spent the next 12 years transforming the agency into a battle-hardened, terrorism-fighting force.

Former Marine Robert Mueller was appointed special counsel for the Russia investigation in May

He served mainly under George W. Bush, but was so well respected on all sides of the political divide that he was asked to stay on by Barack Obama when he took office.

As a federal prosecutor and later head of the Justice Departments criminal division, he oversaw high-profile prosecutions against such targets as Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega and New York crime boss John Gotti.

Now, hes pursuing a case that is already proving to be the biggest of his career.

FOOTNOTE: The Democrats are far from clean in all this: Hillary Clintons campaign is also alleged to have funded a sleazy dossier by a former British spy into Donald Trumps alleged links with Russia.

The 35-page report compiled by ex-MI6 officer Christopher Steele, which was leaked in January, claimed the U.S. President had been cavorting with prostitutes in Moscow in 2013.

The funding arrangement for the research was brokered by Marc Elias, a lawyer for the Clinton campaign and the Democratic National Committee, it emerged last week.
President Donald Trump is at war with the best and the brightest in his own party

The Trump presidency, dogged by scandal from its first day, reels before charges brought against three of Trumps past associates, related to their links with Russia.

This week, special prosecutor Robert Mueller indicted Trumps former campaign manager Paul Manafort, his lobbying partner Rick Gates and a foreign policy adviser called George Papadopoulos.

The first two stand accused of having worked for the pro-Kremlin Ukrainian government that fell in 2014, while the latter has admitted lying to the FBI about his role as a conduit between Russians and the Trump campaign he advised.

The Democratic opposition and East Coast establishment, which have always loathed Trump and crave his impeachment, see the hounds closing in on a badly wounded president, glimpsing a tantalising vision of his expulsion from the White House.

I am not so sure. For reasons we shall consider below, there still seems a long days march between where we are now and Trumps recall to the TV reality shows from whence he sprang.

What is hard to dispute, however, is that the status of the U.S. as the worlds greatest democracy, which we have taken for granted for so many decades, is no longer assured.

The shortcomings of our own Parliament  and its current preoccupation with sexual harassment by its own members  pale into insignificance alongside the troubles of the U.S. Congress.

Both houses of U.S. government are almost paralysed by divisions that have become much more complex than those between Democrats and Republicans. Ultra-conservatives, informed by social media, Far-right websites and their own TV channel, Fox News, terrorise Republicans on Capitol Hill who refuse to embrace their potty agenda.

The President, though himself nominally a Republican, is at war with the best and brightest in his own party, and fights his battles by direct appeal on Twitter to a populist constituency which is still loyal.

Trump's lobbying partner Rick Gates, right, and a foreign policy adviser called George Papadopoulos are accused of having worked for the pro-Kremlin Ukrainian government that fell in 2014

The Democrats, having suffered a nervous breakdown about losing the 2016 election, show no signs of recovering their senses. Many are lurching to the Left, a place where they have less chance of regaining power than I do of winning Wimbledon.

Worse still, the extent of the corruption of U.S. politics by money  truckloads and container-loads of it  is making New Yorks old Democrats, whose 19th-century scandals turned their Tammany Hall head-quarters into a byword for bent politics, seem almost saintly by comparison.

The President notes that his former campaign manager Paul Manafort has been indicted on charges relating to alleged offences that took place long before he became Trumps campaign manager. But the case against him cited by the special prosecutor is amazing. Manafort is alleged to have laundered more than $18 million from pro-Russia groups in Ukraine through a labyrinth of offshore accounts.

Manafort is alleged to have laundered more than $18 million from pro-Russia groups in Ukraine through a labyrinth of offshore accounts.

If these charges stick against Manafort, who advised the presidential campaigns of Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan and George Bush Senior, then this may become Americas biggest-ever corruption scandal (shrinking into insignificance the 4 million or so  in modern money  that the then U.S. Secretary of the Interior was bribed with to dish out Wyoming oil rights in the infamous 1922 Teapot Dome affair).

The President has attempted to compare this weeks accusations against his former staff members with the actions of the Democrats in the 2016 election, when a Clinton campaign lawyer hired a firm called Fusion GPS in search of dirt on Trump.

This resulted in a dossier compiled by a former British intelligence officer which made allegations about Trumps links to Russia. But the Presidents efforts to claim there is a moral equivalence between these matters do not deserve to succeed, as there is no shred of evidence Fusion GPS had links to the Kremlin.

What the Fusion story does emphasise is how rough U.S. politics has become. The two 2016 candidates spent three-quarters of a billion pounds on their fight, while a staggering 2 billion was poured into all U.S. campaigning last year. A substantial portion of this may not be dirty money, but is certainly ugly money. It is used to buy advertising and support divisive, single-issue campaigns.

Much of this is paid for by tycoons, abusing their wealth to influence the democratic process. Consider the ultra-conservative Koch brothers, whose industrial fortune ranks them 8th on Forbes Magazines list of the worlds richest people.

In 2016, their political network spent almost 600 million on promoting assorted causes, including tax cuts for the rich, and abolition of the Democrats Obamacare health programme.

Trump was on stronger ground last year in highlighting the excesses of the Clintons own financial affairs, with their greed meaning they have taken money from some pretty unpleasant people

Lobbyists working for them make an estimated 10,000 phone calls a year to lawmakers offices. Although they did not back Trump last year, they share many of his enthusiasms, and Vice-President Mike Pence is to shortly deliver the keynote speech at the annual conference in Richmond, Virginia, of their organisation, which critics call the Kochtopus.

While the philanthropy of billionaires like Bill Gates and the Amazon boss Jeff Bezos shows not all rich men are solely self-interested, the technology companies that made the virtual emperors filthy rich fight like tigers, in Congress and out of it, to preserve the global tax avoidance deals that cost the rest of us so dear.

Trumps strategy for repelling the barrage of charges against his past associates is to counter-punch with allegations against Hillary Clinton, notably that as Secretary of State she allowed American uranium to be sold to the Russians at fire-sale prices. This is nonsense, and gets a hearing only in the parallel fake-news universe Trump often inhabits.

He was on stronger ground last year in highlighting the excesses of the Clintons own financial affairs. The familys greed has caused them to take money  a lot of money  from some pretty unpleasant people.

The days are long gone when Harry Truman, president from 1945-1952, could retire to the life of a relatively poor man. A large portion of the people in American politics today take for granted their right to enrich themselves on the back of what only satirists can now call careers in public service.

Unless Robert Mueller finds direct evidence that the President himself was financially entangled with Russia, Max Hastings believe he will escape impeachment

Students of modern American history know there are many giants in the history of Congress, men and women of high principle, both Democrat and Republican. Today, as is also the case in our own House of Commons, we see pathetically few who are worthy of respect.

So there we have it: a president whom much of the world believes exposes America to embarrassment and shame; a legislature of which many members are in thrall either to vociferous minorities of Right or Left, or to big donors, or both; and now a scandal over links to Russia that caused a Washington Post columnist recently to argue that we have entered the crisis stage of the Trump presidency.

We have not even mentioned the weirdness of an administration in which almost the only stable and honest figures are said to be a clutch of military generals  Kelly, McMaster and Mattis.

Trump's personal support remains solid and only a Democrat majority in the House or Senate next year could make impeachment a real possibility

Can we imagine what would be said if Theresa May relied upon even one senior army or Marine officer  never mind three  as her foremost adviser?

Unless the special prosecutor Robert Mueller finds direct evidence that the President himself was financially entangled with Russia  which remains possible, but wholly speculative  I believe he will escape impeachment.

His personal support remains solid, composed of people who loathe his enemies and accusers as members of the East Coast power elite, and believe nothing such people say or write.

Only if the Democrats secure a majority in the House or Senate in next years elections, which is still doubtful, will impeachment become a real prospect. But in the meantime, we must hope that Americas much valued system of checks and balances will restrain Trumps worst excesses.

We should also recognise the risk that Trump will precipitate a constitutional crisis by sacking Mueller and shutting down his Russia inquiry. That would surely be a step too far even for the Republicans in Congress.

The welfare of the U.S.  the health of its democracy  is vital to its friends and allies, which makes its scandals in some degree our own.

How can we make the case that American values are superior to those of China and Russia  as some of us remain assured that most of them are  when allegations such as those aired by the U.S. special prosecutor are thrown at men who walk close to its heart of power?

We must not despair. I retain a lifelong faith in the American genius for regeneration and reinvention.

But these are dark days, unlikely to lighten as long as Trump is in the White House.
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This is the 17-block path an ISIS-affiliated terrorist tore down in New York on Tuesday, killing killing eight people and injuring at least 12 more.

Sayfullo Habibullaevic Saipov, 29, allegedly drove for 4,000 feet down West St, plowing through cyclists and pedestrians - only stopping his rampage when he smashed into a school bus at Chambers Street.

'We got multiple casualties... this is a mass casualty situation here,' one police officer was heard saying on police scanner audio released by the NYPD.

Another is heard saying: 'I need a bus to the bike path ... and traffic needs to be shut down from 14th Street on the West Side Highway. It's going to be a crime scene.'

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Police say Sayfullo Habibullaevic Saipov, 29, drove a rented Home Depot truck down New York's Houston Street before turning left onto West St and driving down a cycle path, smashing into pedestrians and cyclists

The area includes soccer pitches (seen bottom-left), a football stadium, tennis courts, parks and high-class restaurants, and is popular with tourists. Several Argentinians and a Belgian are said to be among the eight killed in the incident

Saipov reportedly swerved toward a school bus at the intersection of West St and Chambers St, a few blocks north of Ground Zero. He then leaped out and brandished replica guns and was shot in the stomach by a cop, police said. He is in custody

Police say the incident began at 3:05pm when Saipov entered a bicycle path at Houston Street on Manhattan's West Side and began driving south at speed.

That continued for 17 blocks, during which he struck several cyclists and pedestrians. Six people were pronounced dead on the scene. Two more were pronounced dead in hospital.

Buildings and areas along the route include a football stadium, soccer pitches, tennis courts several parks and high-class restaurants. Although the identities of those killed and hurt have not been released, they include multiple Argentinians and at least one Belgian.

Saipov only stopped at the intersection of Chambers St when he slammed into the side of a schoolbus - intentionally, according to some witnesses - near Stuyvesant High School, a few blocks north of Ground Zero.

Two adults and two children on the bus were hospitalized; one of the children was in critical condition Tuesday night. Some 11 others were injured in Saipov's rampage.

Footage seen by a DailyMail.com reporter on the ground showed people injured or being treated roughly every 10 feet north of the crash site.

Saipov is said to have then leaped from his vehicle showing 'Allahu Akbar' - 'God is great' in Arabic - and brandishing two realistic replica guns.

Saipov (seen left) allegedly got out of his truck shouting 'Allah Akbar' - 'God is great' in Arabic. The attacker (right) brandished two fake weapons - a pellet gun and a paint gun - and was shot about a block south of the crash

The truck, reportedly rented by Saipov from a New Jersey Home Depot, can be seen here on Tuesday night. The schoolbus that it struck can be seen in the background. Two adult and two children on the bus were hospitalized

One of the children who was in the bus was in critical condition as of Tuesday night. A further 11 people were injured and eight people killed in the rampage, which occurred in a tourist-friendly area of the city, north of Ground Zero

Police are seen looking for evidence on Tuesday night. One witness said Saipov deliberately targeted the schoolbus. It's believed he intended suicide by cop, but instead he was hospitalized and taken in alive

An on-duty police officer, Ryan Nash, opened fire on Saipov about a block south of the crash, hitting him in the stomach. Saipov was ferried to hospital and operated on, and is now in police custody.

Only after he was shot did police find out that the weapons were only capable of firing paintballs or pellets.

Schools in the area were put on a lockdown that did not end until 5:30pm.

Rabi Chaim Zacklos, who works at a school near the scene, told DailyMail.com he was rushing his students away as the FBI and police shouted at them to stay back.

He said the suspect started hitting cyclists on Chambers on the cross section with the West Side bike path. He then got out of the car and was shot by police at the intersection with Warren and the bike path.

He didnt hear anyone shout anything. He was one block south of the shooting on Murray Street at the time.

An NYPD spokesman said that he could not give a breakdown of exactly when each incident occurred, or even a rough outline of how long the incident took to conclude, citing the ongoing investigation.
A Red Rooster business owner is offering $100 worth of free chicken to anyone able to identify an alleged bandit caught on camera.

Kylie Johnson, who runs a franchise in Townsville, was woken up early on Wednesday morning after a drive-through window was smashed with a piece of cement kerbing.

The owner of the Aitkenvale store, in the north Queensland city, was meant to be catching an early flight to Brisbane for a conference.

A Red Rooster in Townsville is offering $100 in free chicken to anyone who knows this man

But instead, she had to cancel her business trip to inspect the damage after an alarm was activated, sending a message to her phone shortly after 3am.

With the alleged robber caught on closed-circuit TV cameras, the good-humoured franchisee has posted his image on Facebook and asked locals if they know him.

'I'll tell you what, it works better than cash,' she told Daily Mail Australia.

'Townsville especially tends to like their Red Rooster.'

So far, two people have come forward about the break-in, which occurred at 2.48am.

The eventual prize of $100 worth of free food will go to whoever is first with information that leads to an arrest.

Franchisee Kylie Johnson says $100 worth of free chicken is a better reward than cash

'It will be the first person who mentions a name,' Ms Johnson said.

The businesswoman, who owns two Red Rooster franchises in Townsville, has suffered a bandit allegedly smashing a drive-through window and crawling into the store.

CCTV footage showed a man then leaving the premises before returning with a face covering 15 minutes later to steal an empty cash register drawer from the front counter.

No cash or food was taken.

'He looked like a bloke who really likes a feed,' Ms Johnson said.

This Red Rooster franchise opened late after a drive-through window was smashed before 3am

She has had enough of crime in Townsville but had plenty of praise for the police who arrived at the scene before she did.

'It's pretty angry when you work seven days a week and you get some clown who decides to do this,' she said.

'It's just the annoyance of my insurance, having to stuff around, lost business this morning but I'm just grateful no one was here.'

The break-in also occurred as the Red Rooster franchise was meant to be celebrating its second birthday.
Details have emerged about the aggressive confidentiality agreements employees working for some of Hollywood's biggest names are made to sign as the industry reels from numerous sexual harassment scandals.

The details include the stars' strict non-disclosure agreements which, in some cases, ban prospective employees from taking legal action on certain matters involving 'offensive (or) inappropriate material' they may be subject to in the workplace.

According to a Los Angeles Times report, which obtained the NDA previously given to employees at Leonardo DiCaprio 's company, Greenhour Corp., stringent rules were set as a way to protect the actor's 'personal safety, well-being and business.'

In the documents, employees were not permitted to speak on the 'the existence of the contractor's business and/or personal relationship with DiCaprio.'

DiCaprio is shown at the 89th Annual Academy Awards on February 26, 2017 in Los Angeles. In documents obtained by the LA Times, the actor banned staff from speaking out on private matters under his company, Greenhour Corp.

Greenhour Corporation, Inc. is pictured at 9255 W Sunset Blvd in West Hollywood, California. The company's NDA demands 'the existence of the contractor's business and/or personal relationship with DiCaprio' remain confidential

Compliant contractors were required to sign off on the agreement which states they may 'acquire information or material of an explicit, graphic, offensive, sexual and/or inappropriate nature.'

Also, 'as part of the creative process, conversations, jokes, banter and behavior may contain explicit references to sex, gender, race, sexual orientation, violence and other protected categories,' the documents read.

Such disclaimers were set into place as a way to prevent employees from suing the company and related parties for the said purposes.

While the rules may seem extreme to some, one lawyer described the agreement to be 'pretty standard' for anyone seeking work in Hollywood.

Producer Harvey Weinstein (L), actress Cameron Diaz, actor Leonardo DiCaprio and director Martin Scorsese pose for photographers in Cannes, France on May 20, 2002

'It's meant to discourage (potential suits),' Sherman Oaks litigator, David Krause-Leemon, told the newspaper.

Another lawyer deemed the rigid protocol to be 'overreaching', and in ways - likely illegal.

'The scope of this is just wildly overboard and I don't believe it would be enforceable,' said Wayne Outten, co-founder of the advocacy organization, Workplace Fairness.

United Talent Agency is shown at at 9336 Civic Center Drive in Beverly Hills, California. The company's NDA states employees may be exposed to 'conduct and speech that openly and explicitly relates to sex'

United Talent Agency in Beverly Hills, California, has an NDA which states employees may be exposed to 'conduct and speech that openly and explicitly relates to sex.'

However, though, the documents did not cite prospects would not permitted to take legal action against them under specific circumstances.

The United Talent Agency 'demand(s) that any disputes related to confidential information be managed in arbitration, a private system in which testimony, documents and rulings are not available to the public,' according to the Los Angeles Times.

DiCaprio (L) and Weinstein are shown at the 63rd Annual Directors Guild Of America Awards January 29, 2011 in Hollywood, California

'DiCaprio's agreement does not call for arbitration, instead demanding that any disputes be handled in court, with the court file sealed and with a protective order prohibiting the release of confidential information.'

In response to the Harvey Weinstein scandal, Chief Executive of United Talent, Jeremy Zimmer, reiterated in an email to the newspaper that his agency would not tolerate any form of oppressive and/or sexual behavior.

'If you feel uncomfortable, threatened or exposed, if a client feels that way, if a colleague does - you are safe to come forward,' Zimmer said in the email.

'UTA respects and protects the boundaries of our colleagues and clients,' he added.
A man who was handed the second-longest jail term in New Zealand history has taken out an injunction against the country's largest production company.

Liam Reid, a convicted rapist and murderer, has applied to the High Court for an injunction against South Pacific Pictures, The New Zealand Herald reported.

Reid was convicted of the murder of deaf woman Emma Agnew in 2007 and the rape, attempted murder and robbery of a 21-year-old just nine days later.

Liam Reid (pictured), a convicted rapist and murderer, has applied to the High Court for an injunction against South Pacific Pictures

Reid was handed the second-longest jail term in New Zealand history in 2008 after raping and murdering deaf woman Emma Agnew (pictured)

The criminal had 61 previous convictions when he appeared in court in 2008 and was labeled an 'evil and dangerous predator' by the judge.

He was sentenced to a minimum of 23-years without chance of parole.

Reid's injunction was called in the High Court on Wednesday morning, and a hearing date has been set for next month.

Little is known about what the injunction is intended to halt, but Reid will be representing himself at the hearing.

His lawyer during his murder trial, Davina Murray, has since married him.

She was struck off the roll when she was found guilty of smuggling an iPhone, cigarettes and a lighter to him.

His lawyer for the trial, Davina Murray (pictured) has since married him in prison and been struck off the roll for smuggling a phone, cigarettes and a lighter to him

A true crime documentary series called Forensics NZ, produced by South Pacific Pictures has recently been airing in a prime time spot.

The show uses forensic detectives and scientists to explain how crimes are solved using hi-tech processes, and how those processes work.

Only three of five episodes have so far been shown, all surrounding the murders of women.

South Pacific Pictures spokeswoman Rachel Keereweer told Daily Mail Australia she was unable to comment as the matter was before the courts.

South Pacific Pictures told Daily Mail Australia they were not able to comment as the matter was before a court

Reid has maintained he was not behind the rape or murder of Emma Agnew, and is reportedly intending to appeal his conviction.

The man was in court last year to try and obtain an injunction against TVNZ, who had reportedly aired a show about him.

He told the Court in December the program contained inaccuracies and could consequently affect his right to a fair trial.
Visitors to Uluru will not be allowed to climb the landmark rock after its traditional owners imposed a ban that will come into effect in two years.

The Uluru-Kata Tjuta management board discussed permanently closing the climbing route on Uluru on Wednesday.

It decided to close the rock to climbers from October 26, 2019  34 years to the day since it was handed back to its traditional owners, the Anangu people, the Northern Territory News reports.

The board's chairman Sammy Wilson was expected to read a speech during the meeting saying that its Indigenous owners have felt intimidated into keeping Uluru open for climbing.

Visitors to Uluru will not be allowed to climb the landmark rock after its traditional owners imposed a ban that will come into effect in two years

'Some people, in tourism and government for example, might have been saying we need to keep it open but it's not their law that lies in this land,' he said, according to Fairfax.

'It is an extremely important place, not a theme park like Disneyland.'

The closure is possible under the terms of the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park Management Plan 2010-2020, which said it can be closed if the proportion of climbers falls below 20 per cent.

Figures show only 16 per cent of visitors made the climb during its open times between 2011 and 2015.

The board's chairman Sammy Wilson (above) said Uluru's its Indigenous owners have felt intimidated into keeping Uluru open for climbing

Signs at the base of Uluru urge tourists not to climb because of the rock's sacredness in Anangu culture

Australian tourists are most likely to climb the rock followed by the Japanese, according to the park's figures.

The board can also close the climb if it believes people will continue to visit the sacred site without being able to climb.

Uluru currently has around 300,000 visitors each year.

The traditional landowners, the Anangu, refuse to climb Uluru considering it sacred and the site is often closed to climbers after the passing of important Indigenous figures as a mark of respect.

Signs at the base of Uluru urge tourists not to climb because of the rock's sacredness in Anangu culture.

It also warns of the dangers of climbing Uluru, including that many have died while scaling the rock.

According to the NT News, 26 people have died on Uluru since the 1950s.
A Gold Coast NRL player bragged about his salary after allegedly assaulting a security guard, a court has heard.

Daniel Sarginson, 24, has pleaded not guilty to one count of assault occasioning bodily harm at the Southport Magistrates Court.

The Gold Coast Titans player is accused of hitting a security guard at a Burleigh Heads hotel in June after he and a friend were refused entry.

Gold Coast NRL player, Daniel Sarginson, (pictured) bragged about his salary after allegedly assaulting a security guard

The Gold Coast Titans player is accused of hitting a security guard at a Burleigh Heads hotel in June after he and a friend were refused entry

During the first day of Sarginson's trial, security guard Kurt Smith said the England international said after the alleged assault: 'I'm on half a mill mate, I can do what I want'

During the first day of Sarginson's trial, security guard Kurt Smith said the England international said after the alleged assault: 'I'm on half a mill mate, I can do what I want'.

Mr Smith said he was struck in the face by Sarginson, and then pinned the rugby league player to the ground by lying on him.

'He was quite strong and aggressive,' Mr Smith said about Sarginson's behaviour.

The court was shown footage of the incident which also showed another security guard appearing to kick and knee one of Sarginson's friends in a scuffle following the alleged assault.

The trial continues.
A male teacher at an elite school in Sydney's Lower North Shore has been charged with the indecent assault of four female students.

Simon William Phillips, 51, was arrested by detectives from the State Crime Command's Child Abuse Squad at a home in the inner-west of Sydney on Wednesday morning.

He was taken to Burwood Police Station and charged with 13 counts of aggravated indecent assault  victim under authority.

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Primary teacher Simon Phillips has been arrested on allegations of sexually assaulting girls as young as 11 years old

The 51-year-old was charged with 13 counts of aggravated indecent assault  victim under authority on Wednesday

It will be alleged Phillips indecently assaulted four different girls this year

Police will allege in court the man indecently assaulted four girls  aged between 11 and 12  on 13 separate occasions at school this year.

It is alleged Phillips' crimes took place at his most recent place of employment, Mowbray Public School.

Phillips has also worked at other prestigious schools, including Scots College, St Joseph's Hunters Hill and St Andrew's Cathedral school.

A search warrant was also executed at his home in Russell Lea, and detectives seized a number of items relevant to the investigation.

He was refused bail to appear at Burwood Local Court later today.

Investigations are continuing.

Anyone with concerns about suspected child abuse or exploitation should call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

The Sydney teacher's alleged victims are all aged between just 11 and 12 years old

Phillips was most recently teaching at Mowbray Public School but has also taught at St Joseph's Hunters Hill and Scots College

Phillips' Linkedin page is full of glowing endorsements, many of which are from delighted parents.

'My son gained so much confidence and faith in himself from Simon's mentoring and coaching in Year 8,' one reads.

'Simon also developed an excellent rapport with the boys through innovative use of popular music,' another parent said.

Phillips describes himself as: 'highly organised, an A+ spider catcher for my wife, a left of centre dad, rugby union tragic, a drummer who places importance on the groove and Van Halen disciple'.

'My central belief is that every individual is a diamond in the rough and by providing them with the appropriate tools and experience invariably this diamond will shine through. Once shining, this diamond lights the path ahead,' his biography blurb reads.

'Specifically the secret to my success has been in translating the education experience in an accessible and engaging way for all, be it young students, teen students, parents, adult learners and recent refugees to Australia. I also make sure it is fun along the way.'
A group of armed men dressed in Halloween costumes who threatened a family during a terrifying home invasion overnight are believed to have targeted the wrong house.

The men pretended they were trick or treating before barging into the Sydney home and tying up two sisters, aged 15 and 18, and their elderly grandparents, the teenagers' older sister Helen Nguyen told 9News.

Armed with a gun and a metal pole, the men knocked on the door of the Belmore house in the city's west about 10pm on Tuesday.

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A group of armed men dressed in Halloween costumes who threatened a family during a terrifying home invasion overnight are believed to have targeted the wrong Sydney house (pictured)

The men pretended they were trick or treating before barging into the Belmore home and tying up two sisters, aged 15 and 18, and their elderly grandparents, the teenagers' older sister Helen Nguyen (pictured) said

Armed with a gun and a metal pole, the men knocked on the door of the Belmore house in the city's west about 10pm on Tuesday

Ms Nguyen, 23, said the group first yelled 'trick or treat' but were told to leave.

They returned 30 minutes later and barged in when one of the teens answered the door.

Ms Nguyen said her grandparents, who are in their 70s and don't speak English, awoke to find weapons being pointed at their face.

The family members were tied up with television cables before the gang ransacked the home looking for drugs and money, before realising they had the wrong home, Ms Nguyen said.

'They were after a Buddhist family apparently,' she told 9News.

'After they noticed that we were Christian they were arguing to themselves like, 'Oh hey we have the wrong house, what the fk, are we being set up?'

'They kind of apologised to my sister like "oh sorry we got the wrong house".'

The men returned 30 minutes later and barged in when one of the teens answered the door

The family members were tied up with television cables before the gang ransacked the home looking for drugs and money, before realising they had the wrong home

Ms Nguyen said she believes her family were initially targeted on Saturday night.

The home's electricity suddenly turned off, but when a member of the family went outside to check it four men charged toward them, she said.

They were scared off when the family started to scream.

The thieves stole property and escaped before the family released themselves and called authorities, police said.

A neighbour who lives across the road told the Seven Network he saw one of the masked men fleeing in a car.

'It's a very quiet street, so this is really surprising that something like this would happen,' Daniel Andreini said on Wednesday.

'My heart goes out to the family, it is disappointing to see something like this occur.'
A thief has been spied escaping to the roof of a busy Melbourne shopping mall during the lunch hour rush.

Police helicopters were circling the CBD in attempts to find the man who escaped to a roof cavity along with a number of police officers on the ground.

The man, believed to be dressed in black, allegedly tried to rob an Elizabeth Street retail store and was later seen on the roof of a business after 1pm Wednesday.

A thief has been spied escaping to the roof of a busy Melbourne shopping mall (pictured) during the lunch hour rush

A number of police officers scaled the nearby roof in attempts to find the man (pictured)

The man allegedly escaped through a roof cavity after trying to rob a nearby retail business

The man, thought to be aged in his mid 20s, was last seen on the roof after 1pm Wednesday

'Local police and airwing conducted a search for the man but no arrests were made,' a Victoria Police spokeswoman told Daily Mail Australia.

Police hunted several rooftops around Melbourne's CBD for the man, who used the roof to allegedly escape a forbidden part of the My Chemist store, according to 9 News.

The search is thought to be near the building where officers reportedly found a duffel bag believed to have a number of allegedly stolen items including shoes and expensive sportswear jacket.

The items are thought to have been taken from earlier robberies, according to the network.

Police also entered the homes of surrounding CBD residents to use their balconies to search for the thief.

Victoria Police said the man is believed to be Asian in appearance, in his mid 20s and could be linked to other burglaries earlier in the day.

The man is still on the run and anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.

A number of Police helicopters also flew over the busy shopping strip in a bid to find the man

The search is thought to be near a My Chemist building where officers reportedly found a duffel bag

Police reportedly had to use the balconies of nearby residents to search for the thief (pictured)
The Fox FM team have been labelled 'poor snowflakes' after the radio station pulled advertisements promoting Milo Yiannopoulos ahead of his Australian tour.

The ads, which plugged the controversial right-wing commentator's second Melbourne show, were banned on Wednesday morning.

It came after a concerned listener questioned why the station was 'accepting money from a travelling Nazi'.

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The Fox FM team have been labelled 'poor snowflakes' after the radio station pulled advertisements promoting Milo Yiannopoulos (pictured) ahead of his Australian tour

The ban came after a concerned listener questioned why the station was 'accepting money from a travelling Nazi'

The advertisement's voice-over said: 'The world's most controversial man Milo Yiannopoulos is coming to Melbourne.

'He's been banned from Twitter. His book Dangerous is on the New York Times bestseller list. He calls Donald Trump ''daddy''.

'Presented by Penthouse magazine, the first show has sold out, so tickets are now on sale for Milo's second show in Melbourne on Monday December 4.'

Daily Mail Australia understands Fox's Head of Content deemed the advert 'too off brand' after receiving 'a number of complaints'.

The advertisement's voice-over said: 'The world's most controversial man Milo Yiannopoulos is coming to Melbourne'

Penthouse Magazine publisher and promoter of Yiannopoulos' Australian tour Damien Costas described the decision as 'weak'.

'I can't believe it... Those poor snowflakes!' he told Daily Mail Australia in a statement.

'This is the same station that has Hamish & Andy, Fifi Box and Brendan Fevola on air every day and they are afraid of a few keyboard warriors complaining on twitter?

'Crazy! What will they do if one of their announcers dares to go to see Milo at his first sold out show or the newly announced second show? Ban them too?

It is not the first opposition the right-wing firebrand has faced since announcing his first ever Australian tour

'Be warned Fox FM that one of your new 2018 drive time team is coming as a special guest to meet Milo in Melbourne on December 4. Will you ask Kate Langbroek not to attend the show now?'

The station's ban is not the first opposition the right-wing firebrand has faced since announcing his Australian tour.

His critics started a failed petition demanding Minister for Immigration Peter Dutton deny him a visa.

And Western Australia Premier Mark McGowan said last week he would not be welcome in state-owned buildings.

Yiannopolous will bring his Troll Academy Tour to Adelaide, Perth, Melbourne, Sydney and the Gold Coast from November 30

'I don't think he's welcome in WA so we will make sure that all government venues are not available to him,' Mr McGowan told Nine News.

Yiannopolous has previously likened feminism to cancer, Islam to AIDS and was once accused of condoning sexual relationships between teenage boys and older men.

The highly-controversial commentator will bring his Troll Academy Tour to Adelaide, Perth, Melbourne, Sydney and the Gold Coast from November 30.

Daily Mail Australia contacted Fox FM's owner Southern Cross Austereo but the agency declined to comment.
Australia's property market has become a tale of two cities based on their relations with foreigners.

Sydney prices slid by 0.5 per cent in October but the story was very different in Melbourne where real estate values actually went up by half a per cent.

It wasn't just a monthly once-off, either, with data from CoreLogic showing Sydney property prices dropping by 0.6 per cent during the quarter as Melbourne prices surged ahead by 1.9 per cent.

Sydney property prices slid by half a per cent in October as banks become stricter on investors (Palm Beach in the city's north pictured)

CoreLogic's head of research Tim Lawless said Victorias record breaking migration rate was creating unprecedented housing demand in Melbourne.

'Additionally, strong jobs growth and a healthier level of housing affordability relative to Sydney are also supporting continued growth in housing values in Melbourne,' he said.

Victoria's population growth is well above the national average, surging by 2.4 per cent in the year to March, compared with 1.6 per cent in New South Wales - a level in line with the national growth average.

Median house prices in Melbourne of $710,420 are also still more affordable than Sydney's $905,917.

Tighter lending rules appear to be turning off investors in Sydney, many of who come from China.

Victoria's high migration rate is driving demand for housing in Melbourne (Flinders Street Station in the city centre pictured)

'Lenders have tightened their servicing tests and reduced their appetite for riskier loans,' Mr Lawless said.

Economists at Swiss financial services giant Credit Suisse are also convinced that a slowdown in Chinese demand for Australian real estate is hitting the Sydney market.

'Over the past year, Chinese capital flows have fallen considerably, in part reflecting the impact of stricter capital controls,' they said in a research paper.

Melbourne house prices surged by 1.9 per cent during the quarter (upmarket Toorak pictured)

Australia's house prices are a tale of two cities, with Sydney going down and Melbourne rising

'This fall foreshadows weakness in New South Wales housing demand in the year ahead.'

A drop in Sydney auction clearance rates to below 60 per cent is seen as another ominous sign of flagging demand from Chinese investors.

'The failure of local variables to explain the housing cycle suggests that there must be a strong foreign component to demand,' Credit Suisse said.
Getting on the property ladder in Melbourne just got a tiny bit easier.

Two cut-price homes will be up for auction in the city later this month, but there is a catch  they're not very big.

Father-son team Paul and Indi Hangan both have years of experience in construction but set up their business, Tiny Homes Australia, earlier this year.

Father-son team Paul and Indi Hangan both have years of experience in construction but set up their business, Tiny Homes Australia, earlier this year

Two cut-price homes will be up for auction in the city later this month, but there is a catch  they're not very big

Now, they will be putting two of their compact properties under the hammer for the first time.

Paul Hangan said that the tiny homes have become quite popular for short-stays  and are on offer on Airbnb for $200 per night.

They are also an attractive option for parents who might need extra space for an older child or those who may want an office space at home.

'Tiny house are interesting because they are sort of a house, sort of a caravan, sort of moveable, and they're definitely cheap,' he told Domain.

'There's lots of people that are interested in them  from a real estate point of view and from a business point of view.'

After noticing their open inspections attracted a lot of interest, they decided to offer two models, fully-furnished, at auction.

Two of the father-and-son duo's compact properties will be under the hammer for the first time

Paul Hangan said that the tiny homes have become quite popular for short-stays on Airbnb

While their smaller model (6-7m long) typically retails for $59,000 and larger model, with a pitched roof and loft bedroom, costs $79,000, buyers could get either for far less when they go under the hammer on November 18.

If the auction goes well, Mr Hangan said they would consider selling more that way.

Usually, the company provides customers with the chance to customise their home at the design, construction and finishing stages.

The auction is taking place at 12pm on November 18 at Tiny Homes Australia's headquarters at 8/36 New Street in Ringwood.

The smaller model (6-7m long) typically retails for $59,000 and larger model, with a pitched roof and loft bedroom, costs $79,000
A Texas mother has been arrested after she allegedly had sex with her daughter's teenage boyfriend.

Claudia Yaneth Lopez was charged with sexual assault of a child after she was arrested on Thursday in Pharr, which is a suburb of McAllen.

The 44-year-old woman was released from the Hidalgo County jail one day later when she posted $10,000 bond.

Claudia Yaneth Lopez (above in arrest photo) was charged with sexual assault of a child after she was arrested on Thursday in Pharr, which is a suburb of McAllen. Police say she had sex with her daughter's teenage boyfriend in August

Pharr police investigators say the teen boy's mother found an explicit text message on her son's phone back in August, KGBT-TV reported.

At the time, the boy, who is younger than 17, was dating Lopez's daughter, but he told investigators that he had sex with Lopez.

When questioned by police in October, Lopez admitted to having sexual intercourse with the boy, court records show.

She faces up to 20 years in prison if she is convicted on the a second-degree felony charge.
The Beverly Hills police department will investigate Harvey Weinstein and James Toback.

The department says that it has received multiple complaints about both men, per a statement seen by Variety.

Police say they will not release any more information at present.

Weinstein, 65, was fired from his own company over sexual harassment accusations and dozens of women, including actresses Selma Blair and Rachel McAdams, have made similar allegations against Toback.

Toback, 72, has said he doesn't remember meeting the women and Weinstein has denied any non-consensual sexual contact.

Messages left for a Weinstein representative weren't immediately returned to the Associated Press. Toback has no listed agent or other representative.

The Beverly Hills police department has announced that is has opened investigations into both Harvey Weinstein (left) and James Toback (right) over multiple complaints

Police have no further information as of yet. This is the first investigation to which Toback will be subject; investigations are underway against Weinstein in both London and New York City

Weinstein is being investigated by police departments in London and New York City for other complaints against him. Toback has not been investigated previously.

Asia Argento has tweeted a list of 93 women who have alleged that Weinstein sexually harassed or assaulted - in some instances, raped - them. Argento, an Italian actress, has alleged that Weinstein raped her.

Weinstein has, as of Monday, been banned for life from the Producers Guild of America.

The guild cut ties with Weinstein after the board voted unanimously on October 16 during a meeting to have him ousted.

Weinstein's rep has repeatedly said in a statement that 'any allegations of nonconsensual sex are unequivocally denied by Mr. Weinstein.'

But the New York Times reported on Monday about allegations dating back to the 1970s against the producer.

Also on Monday, Weinstein reportedly told friends that 'he believes he is a savior' and there's a bigger reason why he's been caught in the hugest sexual misconduct scandal to hit Hollywood this year.

Asia Argento (left) has compiled a list, as of October 30, of the at least 93 women who have alleged that Harvey Weinstein sexually harassed or assaulted them. Rose McGowan (right) has alleged that Weinstein raped her in 1997

The disgraced producer believes that the reason is 'that he was born to take the fall for his behavior in order to "change the world." He is resigned to his punishment  as a martyr for social change,' a source told Page Six.

But a representative for the former Weinstein Co. and Miramax head said 'that's absurd' to Page Six.

Actress Rose McGowan, 44, was allegedly raped by Weinstein at the Sundance Film Festival in 1997, and the New York Times reported earlier this month that she received a $100,000 settlement in the wake of the incident.

Film director James Toback lashed out at those who have accused him of sexually harassing women in the foulest terms possible just before such allegations about him hit the media.

'The idea that I would offer a part to anyone for any other reason than that he or she was gonna be the best of anyone I could find is so disgusting to me,' Toback told Rolling Stone days before 38 women accused him of sexual assault.

'And anyone who says it is a lying c**ksucker or c**t or both. Can I be any clearer than that?'

He added: 'Anyone who says that, I just want to spit in his or her f**king face.'

Toback was confronted with two allegations in the interview, which was performed on October 17.

Selma Blair (left) and Rachel McAdams (right) have come forward to allege that Toback harassed them

Sari Kamin (left) alleged that Toback asked her to undress and humped her while she was naked. Ambika Leigh (right) alleges that he dry-humped her

Natalie Morales (left) and Julianne Moore (right) have also alleged that Toback harassed them

Five days later, the Los Angeles Times reported that 38 women had accused him of sexual assault - a number that grew to more than 300 in the days that followed.

The first claim he was told of during the October 17 interview was that he humped the leg of actress Ambika Leigh until he ejaculated into his clothes under the premise of an 'acting exercise'.

The second was that he told another actress, Sari Kamin, to undress in front of him, inspected her body, then again humped her while fully clothed.

He said Leigh's story was 'a total lie,' adding: 'I never heard that name before in my life. And believe me, I would remember it, because it's a very unusual name.'

And on the subject of Kamin's story, he said: 'This is just too stupid. I mean, these are people I don't know, and it's things I never would have done. And it's just not worth talking about. It's idiotic.'

Toback then attempted to dismiss the claims as a conspiracy of liars, saying that the women 'hear each other. And they gang up. People read things it's all, you know, me too, me too, me too, me too, me too.'

More than 300 women, including actresses Julianne Moore, Selma Blair, Rachel McAdams and Natalie Morales have now claimed to suffer sexual harassment from Toback.

The claims by Blair and McAdams emerged on Thursday, in an interview with Vanity Fair.
A mother has pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of her four-year-old son on the Gold Coast in May 2009.

Heidi Strbak pleaded guilty in the Brisbane Supreme Court on Wednesday to unlawfully killing Tyrell Cobb, who had more than 70 injuries when he was found.

He later died in hospital from internal bleeding and peritonitis - inflammation caused by an infection of the ruptured organ.

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Heidi Strbak (left) has pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of her four-year-old son Tyrell (right)

Tyrell Cobb (pictured), 4, was allegedly 'covered in bruises' and vomiting 'green slime' before he was found unconscious in a Gold Coast home in 2009

Ms Strbak's son Tyrell had more than 70 injuries when he was found unconscious in 2009

Strbak was again released on bail and will return to court on Tuesday for a three-day contested sentencing hearing.

Her ex-partner Matthew Scown walked from court last month after being sentenced to four years jail for manslaughter, having already spent two years and eight months in custody.

Scown, 34, grinned and laughed when questioned by reporters on October 10 after the Supreme Court in Brisbane suspended his sentence.

Scown was sentenced to four years jail for the manslaughter of his stepson Tyrell Cobb, having already spent two years and eight months in custody.

Ms Strbak's ex-partner Matthew Scown (pictured), who watched his four-year-old stepson die, laughed as he left court a free man, despite pleading guilty to manslaughter

Ms Strbak (pictured middle) pleaded guilty in the Brisbane Supreme Court on Wednesday

Justice Martin Burns said Scown was not responsible for the injuries that killed Tyrell but failed in his duty of care.

Tyrell died in May 2009 from internal bleeding and stomach injuries caused by blunt force trauma.

While Scown did not cause the injuries he did not contact authorities or seek medical help, even when Tyrell was vomiting green bile the night before his death.

'You ought to have acted,' Justice Burns said.

'From the time of injury until death every movement including breathing and vomiting would have caused extreme pain.'

Matthew Scown (pictured), 34, grinned and laughed when questioned by reporters on Wednesday, after the Supreme Court in Brisbane suspended his sentence

Scown was sentenced to four years in jail over the death of Tyrell Cobb (pictured), but was released due to having spent almost three years in custody

Scown called the triple-0 emergency line in distress and performed CPR on the boy as paramedics made their way to the Gold Coast home where the pair were staying.

'Looks like he's going to die on me,' Scown told an operator, the court heard.

When paramedics arrived, Scown told them to hurry to the boy as he wasn't breathing.

'He's turning blue,' he said.

This, Justice Burns found, was evidence of Scown's 'extreme concern' for Tyrell.

'Clearly you were very worried about the little boy,' he said.
Accused Australian drug mule Cassie Sainsbury will know by Thursday whether a Columbian judge accepts a plea deal to cut her jail time to six years.

A Bogota court heard in October that the deal had been agreed to by prosecution and defence, with both Sainsbury's lawyer saying they both agreed the man she claims to be behind the illegal operation, known as 'Angelo', does exist.

A judge is expected to announce a decision early on Thursday.

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Cassie Sainsbury could be a free woman by 2019 if her plea deal is accepted by a judge on Thursday

A Bogota court heard in October that the deal had been agreed to by prosecution and defence, but an earlier plea deal for the Adelaide woman fell through in August

Ms Sainsbury is facing 30 years in a Colombian jail (pictured), but now could be released after just 18 months, with time already served and good behaviour taken into account

If the deal is accepted it could mean Sainsbury, who had been facing 30 years in jail, could be released after just 18 months, with time already served and good behaviour taken into account.

Sainsbury was caught trying to fly out of Bogota's El Dorado International Airport in April with 5.8 kilograms of cocaine stuffed into 18 headphones hidden in her luggage after a tip-off from the US Drug Enforcement Agency.

An earlier plea deal was rejected in August.

If the deal is realised, and Sainsbury is granted good behaviour, the 22-year-old could be released in 24 months.

But if time served is considered that will reduce the sentence again by a further six months - giving the South Australian local her freedom by 2019.

Ms Sainsbury was caught trying to fly out of Bogota's El Dorado International Airport in April with 5.8 kilograms of cocaine stuffed into 18 headphones hidden in her luggage

The 22-year-old has now spent more than six months behind bars at Bogota Women's Prison.

The AFP reiterated it was liaising with Colombian authorities on the matter but wouldn't comment further on operational matters.

Her family in Adelaide is thrilled by the news, with her sister Khala Sainsbury telling Seven News: 'It couldn't have gone any better. I believe she'll be okay, she's strong.'

The judge hearing the case earlier granted a request from Mr Herran to close the hearing to all media.

Resembling the first plea bargain - rejected after Sainsbury repeatedly changed her story - the six-year deal was presented on Friday in the Bogota Special Circuit Court.

The sentencing hearing will take place on November 1, but a source within the court said the judge has given it his approval.

The 22-year-old is accused of attempting to smuggle almost 6kg of cocaine into Australia and faces up to 30 years behind bars if found guilty of drug trafficking.
Last week, U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos held a roundtable for advocates for children with dyslexia . Also at the meeting was Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., a long-time advocate for dyslexia issues. We called up Cassidy, whos a member of the Senate education committee, to discuss how the meeting went and what approach he sees DeVos taking on dyslexia and other issues.

This week, our colleague Christina Samuels published a story about the anxiety many special education advocates have felt about DeVos leadership . When we asked Cassidy about whether he shared those concerns before or after the meeting, he said he was focused on dyslexia specifically and praised DeVos willingness to hear out different ideas.

I think the fact that she convened the meeting and was so attentive throughout told us volumes, Cassidy said. It told us that she cares about the issue, that she wants to democratize, if you will, the opportunities for children with dyslexia. Shes going to listen.

And by democratize, Cassidy explained, he meant creating more chances for parents of children with dyslexia to choose better educational options. Hed also like to see the department encourage more screening for dyslexia, and oversee more pilot projects that would track students in an appropriate way to see how they respond to various intervention strategies. Whats needed, he said, is a change from the current lackluster approach to the one in five children who have learning issues that may include dyslexia.

Its awful. Its failed our children and our schools. The fact that she is interested in doing something different, I think that is so positive, Cassidy said.

However, Louisianas senior senator conceded that Senate education committee has a full plate right now with health care and other matters, making any push to expand school choice potentially difficult. (Cassidy spearheaded a recent, unsuccessful attempt to overhaul federal health care law.) So far, Congress has declined to fund the public and private school choice programs DeVos has pushed for. But he said the door isnt closed yet.

I dont think we need to look at this like, they have to get something through in the next six months if they want to succeed, Cassidy said

He was less specific about reauthorizing the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act, the main federal special education law. He said he couldnt answer whether he thought there was any chance of reauthorizing IDEA in the near future. The law was last reauthorized in 2004. DeVos made waves during her January confirmation hearing for appearing not to be familiar with requirements in IDEA.

More Listening, Less Talking for DeVos

Cassidy has been a vocal advocate for issues related to dyslexia. He has spoken publicly and emotionally about his struggles finding the right educational approach for his daughter, who has dyslexia . During negotiations over what became the Every Student Succeeds Act in 2015, Cassidy pushed unsuccessfully to include flexibility for schools to use federal funds to train teachers in educating students with specific learning disabilities .

And last year, he led a Senate hearing focused on mandatory dyslexia screening in schools , and how dyslexia can be particularly problematic for students from disadvantaged households.

Another group at the roundtable last week was Decoding Dyslexia, which Edweeks Christina A. Samuels profiled in late 2015 as a growing force in the special education advocacy world . One parent advocate for Decoding Dyslexias Virginia affiliate, Kristin Kane, was at the DeVos-led roundtable along with Cassidy and others.

Kane said she was pleased with the meeting overall: It was more about her listening than her talking. She recalled that DeVos spent the vast majority of her time listening, not talking, during the roundtable, although she remembered DeVos did focus special attention on the student who participated.

Advocates emphasized to DeVos the importance of appropiate curriculum for those with dyslexia, along with early identification, and teacher training. Kane emphasized to DeVos that many parents of children with dyslexia either dont speak English or dont know how to lobby schools to get their children what they need.

The level of advocacy required to get appropriate services in schools is quite difficult, Kane said.

Photo: Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., speaks with reporters on Capitol Hill. Cassidy has been a consistent advocate for dyslexia and related issues in Congress; he met with Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos last week along with dyslexia advocates to discuss the learning disability during a roundtable.

Follow us on Twitter at @PoliticsK12 .
Text messages hacked from the phone of Paul Manaforts daughter have revealed the extent of the close working relationship between President Donald Trump and the man who was his campaign manager for six months last year.

Manafort was indicted on Monday for a litany of alleged financial crimes, including fraud and money laundering, by the special counsel who is investigating possible collusion between the Russian government and the Trump campaign.

He pleaded not guilty and is under house arrest in Virginia. He faces a maximum sentence of 80 years in prison if convicted.

But a number of remarkably candid text messages sent and received by Andrea Manafort Shand show that despite efforts by Trump and White House officials to distance themselves from her father, he still wielded significant influence over the campaign.

Text messages hacked from the phone of Paul Manaforts (above) daughter reveal on Tuesday the extent of the close working relationship between President Donald Trump and the man who was his campaign manager for six months last year

Andrea Manafort Shand (seen right with her husband Christopher) exchanged text messages with friends about her father's role in then-candidate Donald Trump's campaign

The text messages between Andrea Manafort Shand, her sister, Jessica Manafort (seen above), and a friend were hacked earlier this year by a dark web site known as Krypt3ia

The text messages between Andrea Manafort Shand, her sister, Jessica Manafort, and a friend were hacked earlier this year by a dark web site known as Krypt3ia.

Their contents were reported on Tuesday by Huffington Post.

According to text messages exchanged on March 17, 2016, the Manafort sisters said that Trump turned to their father and asked him to take over the campaign as it headed toward the Republican convention.

Guess who called Dad last night and asked him to run his convention, Jessica Manafort texted to her sister.

Mom told me he was going to call dad, Andrea Manafort Shand replied.

She told me to get ready for Trump to be president and pick the position in the White House I want.

Dad gave him his list of requirements and so long as he can fulfill the list, Dad accepted, Jessica Manafort replied.

Despite efforts by Trump and White House officials to distance themselves from her father Paul Manafort, he still wielded significant influence over the campaign, according to Manafort Shand. Trump (left), Manafort (center), and Ivanka Trump are seen above in July 2016

Later that month, text messages suggest that Manafort was winning his power struggle over the man he would eventually replace as the head of the Trump campaign, Corey Lewandowski.

Dude he is second in command, Andrea Manafort Shand texted to her friend.

Perhaps arguably running it. The campaign manager is all for show. [Corey Lewandowski] doesnt do s***. Trump has been managing his own campaign.

When it became apparent in early April 2016 that Paul Manaforts influence within the campaign was growing, Andrea Manafort Shand texted: He likes the challenge. Thats why hes doing this. Its a game for him. He isnt being paid.

She said that Trump and her father shared many similarities.

This is pure sport. He is a power hungry egomaniac. Yes. He is loving it, Andrea Manafort Shand writes of her father.

Conclusively. Him and Trump are perfect allies for this agenda. Its so weird he is my dad.

Andrea Manafort Shand continued: Its just weird. Like [my dad] doesnt seem that smart. Like he is smart. But I know Im smarter than him.

I hope my dad pulls it off. Then I can sell my memoir with all his dirty secrets for a pretty penny. Andrea Manafort Shand on her father's chances of helping Trump win the election

She offers astonishingly blunt  and often times negative  opinions about her father and his relationship with the truth.

He is very manipulative, Andrea Manafort Shand texts to her friend.

I did inherit that ability. But I dont exploit it like he does. I know all his tactics. They arent that brilliant but they do work.

When her friend texts her that she is different from her father because she has a moral conscience, Andrea Manafort Shand replies: Like he just tells you the sky is green over and over. And eventually you are like is it? I dont possess the ability to just lie like he does.

Its confidence. When you say something unwaveringly, people start to believe it.

She writes that Trump has more morals than her father and that the two were perfect allies.

My dad is a psycho!!! At least Trump let his wives leave him, Andrea Manafort Shand texted.

Plus, Trump has been a good father.

When her friend texts her that she is different from her father because she has a moral conscience, Andrea Manafort Shand replies: Like he just tells you the sky is green over and over. And eventually you are like is it? I dont possess the ability to just lie like he does.

Trump waited a little too long in my opinion, but I can attest to the fact that he has now hired one of the worlds greatest manipulators, Andrea Manafort Shand texted.

I hope my dad pulls it off. Then I can sell my memoir with all his dirty secrets for a pretty penny.

Jessica Manafort also texted her sister, saying: Dad and Trump are literally living in the same building and mom says they go up and down all day long hanging and plotting together.

My dad is a psycho!!! At least Trump let his wives leave him. Plus, Trump has been a good father. Andrea Manafort Shand

A few days later, Andrea Manafort Shand even offers a friend the chance to exploit my dad to better your career.

Are you serious? the friend asks.

Completely, Andrea Manafort Shand replies.

I am on a business email basis with my dad.

My dad is Trumps right-hand man right now and will be through November.

But he wont accept any position in the White House, so his leverage will diminish at that point (assuming Trump wins).

The next day, April 13, Andrea Manafort Shand texts that her father refused to accept a salary from Trump purely out of ego and because he gets off on power.

Yup. Thats a match made in heaven, she says of Trump and her father. Egomaniacs galore.

My dad wants Trump to listen to him and respect him, Andrea Manafort Shand texts to her friend.

[Manafort wants Trump to] view him as an equal, not as staff. So refusing payment makes it so. And makes it clear to Trump why my dad is doing it  because he wants to.

And my dad wont take an appointment either. Trump knows that, too.

Andrea Manafort Shand claimed that her father refused to accept a salary from Trump purely out of ego and because he gets off on power

So this isnt for personal gain for my dad, and thats true - not a game. So why is my dad doing it? Sport.

This is his wheelhouse, Andrea Manafort Shand writes.

And he gets off on power too. My dad loves challenges and this is like a chess game.

He got a mistress because he was bored. Trump is his new mistress.

Trump waited a little too long in my opinion, but I can attest to the fact that he has now hired one of the worlds greatest manipulators Andrea Manafort Shand on her father, Paul Manafort

In her text messages, Andrea Manafort Shand claims that when the Trump campaign planned to officially name Paul Manafort as co-manager alongside Lewandowski, the latter went to Trumps son-in-law, Ivankas husband [Jared Kushner], and burst into tears about how that would ruin him.

Andrea Manafort Shand claims that her father decided to give up the title of co-manager because he doesnt care about titles even though he was effectively a co-manager.

On May 26, Andrea Manafort Shand offered a friend to once again use her father to gain favors for defense contractor Lockheed Martin.

My dad works for Lockheed Martin, and they want to essentially let Trumps transition team know that theyre ready, available, and happy to provide info about defense acquisition and sustainment, the friend texts Manafort Shand.

Manafort Shand wrote: Youre not the first. Its no bother. I am happy to be a conduit. I just cant promise anything other than initial access.

Andrea Manafort Shand claims that it was her father, Paul Manafort, who convinced Trump to name Mike Pence (above) as his running mate

Just being a conduit is amazing! the friend replies.

Zero expectations, just doing what I can for my dad so anything at all is f***ing great.

Totally get it, Andrea Manafort Shand replies.

Not every day you know the man behind the man. Gotta exploit it.

Which is why I am happy to help. Cuz f*** it, hopefully someone can benefit by my relation to the count of Monte Cristo.

Andrea Manafort Shand also claims that it was her father who picked Mike Pence to be Trumps running mate.

In August, when it appeared that Paul Manafort was being demoted in favor of Steve Bannon and Kellyanne Conway, Andrea Manafort Shand said all the talk was bulls***.

No surprise that the media is wrong, she texted.

Again. My dad hired those two people. Interviewed them in Trump Towers.

When Paul Manafort officially stepped down as campaign chairman, it was all for show, according to his daughter.

As I suspected, my dad resigned from being the public face of the campaign but is still very much involved behind the scenes, Andrea Manafort Shand texted on August 19.

Andrea Manafort Shand claims that when the Trump campaign planned to officially name her father co-manager alongside Corey Lewandowski (above), the latter went to Trumps son-in-law, Ivankas husband [Jared Kushner], and burst into tears about how that would ruin him'

In August, when it appeared that Paul Manafort was being demoted in favor of Steve Bannon (left) and Kellyanne Conway (right), Andrea Manafort Shand said all the talk was bulls***. Manafort resigned as campaign chairman on August 19, 2016

This was when news stories were emerging about Paul Manaforts financial ties to the former pro-Putin Ukrainian president, Viktor Yanukovich.

He felt he was becoming a distraction and that would ultimately take a toll on the campaign, Andrea Manafort Shand said of her fathers decision to step down.

She also revealed that her father was trying to make Trump a more disciplined candidate.

On August 18, 2016, Trump delivered a conciliatory speech in Charlotte in which he expressed regret for statements that caused personal pain, according to The New York Times.

Andrea Manafort Shand said that the speech was the result of her fathers influence.

Last nights speech was a speech my dad had been pushing him to make for several weeks, and since it was so well-received, he thinks Trump will be more responsive to doing things a bit differently, she texted.

After Manafort resigned on August 19, 2016 as campaign chairman, a friend texted to his daughter: Thoughts go out to your pops  I can only imagine that hes relieved, angry, hurting, a combination of a lot of emotions. Wishing you and your fam the best.

Andrea Manafort Shand replied: Hahaha, youre so silly. Its all just PR.

The White House, Paul Manafort, and Andrea Manafort Shand declined comment.
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The two American men killed alongside six foreign tourists in a terror attack in New York on Tuesday have been identified.

Darren Drake, 32, and Nicholas Cleves, 23, were both run over on the West Side Highway bike path in Manhattan's Tribeca shortly after 3pm.

Drake, a resident of New Milford, New Jersey, was on a break from work and was trying to keep fit by cycling between meetings.

His family said he was likely listening to an audio book through his headphones when he was hit and would not have heard the terrified screams of people behind him.

Cleves is a recent college graduate who lived in Manhattan. His relatives have been too distraught to speak about his death.

The men died alongside Belgian mother-of-two Ann-Laure Decadt, 31, and Argentinians Hernan Diego Mendoza-Espino, 47, Alegandro Damian Mendoza-Espino, 47, Herman Ferruchi, 47, Diego Enrique, 47 and Ariel Erlis, 48, New Jersey resident Darren Drake, 32, and Manhattan resident Nicholas Cleves, 23.

Terror suspect Sayfullo Saipov, 29, is now facing the death penalty after being charged with federal terrorism offenses on Wednesday.

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Darren Drake, 32, (left) Nicholas Cleves, 23, (right) were both run over on the West Side Highway in Manhattan's Tribeca shortly after 3pm on Tuesday

Twelve others were rushed to the hospital and three have since been released. The nine people who are still under doctors' care include one survivor who was forced to undergo a double amputation to survive.

Terror suspect Sayfullo Saipov, 29, remains in hospital after being shot in the stomach. He is answering police questions.

Belgian mother-of-two Ann-Laure Decadt, 31, died in hospital

On Wednesday, Drake's mother said he was in the 'wrong place at the wrong time'.

He was on an afternoon break from his job at Moody's Investors Services, where he worked as a project manager, when he decided to go for a bike ride to keep fit.

'He was riding his bike in between meetings  I guess he was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

'He was trying to lose weight, trying to stay active. So he signed up for that CitiBike group  he was trying to do everything right. Trying to take care of himself,' Drake's devastated mother Barbara told The New York Post on Wednesday.

She said she hoped he was unaware of the terror surrounding him.

'I hope he was traveling south and he never saw what was coming. He had bruises on his face from where he hit the pavement,' she added.

Cleves' mother was too distraught to speak on Wednesday afternoon. A shop keeper near where he worked said he was a 'good' person.

'Hes absolutely lovely, he was a sweetheart, warm and friendly. He would come in every day. There are some people who are just good and he was,' they said.

Five members of this group of Argentinian friends were also killed. They are Hernan Diego Mendoza (far left), Alejandro Damian Pagnucco (second from left), Ariel Erlij (third from left), Diego Enrique Angelini (second from right) and Hernan Ferruchi (third from right). A sixth friend, Martin Ludovico Marro (not pictured), was injured

Drake's father Jimmy sobbed as he described his son as 'so smart'. Belgian native Decadt was in New York with her mother and two sisters.

Her husband Alexander Naessens told Belgium's HLN newspaper she was cycling on the path when Saipov mowed her down from behind in his rented Home Depot truck.

'She was a wonderful wife and the most beautiful mom of our two-month and three-year-old sons. The loss is unbearable and cannot be overcome,' he said.

Her mother and sisters were not hurt but three other Belgian tourists were injured in the attack, according to the country's Deputy Prime Minister.

The Argentinian victims were in a larger group of nine men who were all celebrating their 30th school reunion.

A sixth man in the group of Argentinians, Martin Ludovico Marro, was also hospitalized in the incident, which killed a total of eight people and injured 12.

Erlij, who runs a steel mill in Argentina, had paid out of his own pocket to ensure two of the members of the group could be there, local news reported.

Tributes poured in to Drake (left) and Cleves (right) who were both described by friends and relatives as 'good' people

Decadt's husband Alexander Naessens said she was a 'wonderful mother and wife'. The woman had two sons aged three and two-months. She died in hospital shortly after being rushed from the scene

The Argentine government confirmed Tuesday night that most of the group - all in the class of 1987 - had flown to New York for a school reunion.

Erlij, 48, who owned the Argentinian steel company Ivanar, had paid for flights for two of his friends so they could attend, according to Infobae.

On arriving in New York, the group was met by Marro, the man who was injured in the attack. Though born in Argentina, he is now a resident of Newton, Connecticut, Wicked Local reported.

All of them had graduated from a polytechnic college in the Argentinian city of Rosario and had been in the city several days when the incident occurred, according to Argentinian newspaper La Nacion.

On Tuesday the group had chosen to enjoy the pleasant, crisp fall afternoon by hiring Citibikes and following the leisurely bike path down West St, which runs alongside the Hudson River.

They were near Stuyvesant High School - at the tail end of the killer's rampage - when he struck them, Mateo Estreme, Consul General of Argentina to the United Nations, told The New York Post.

'We are trying to figure out how to go on - especially the families,' he said. '[They] are completely lost about, well, being very far from their relatives. They don't know what to do.'

Erlij (left) ran a steel mill in his home country, and had paid for the flights of two of his friends. Pagnucco (right, believed to be pictured with his wife and children) was also killed

Angelini (left) was also killed in the attack, as was Mendoza (right). The other man slain in the incident was Hernan Ferruchi. A sixth victim, Argentinian expat Martin Ludovico Marro, was hospitalized

Alejandro Pagnucco (left) took this photograph of himself in New York and shared it with Facebook friends prior to his death. They remembered him as an 'excellent person' and 'a friend to all of us'. Martin Ludovico Marro (right) was injured but survived

And he said that even those that survived have been horribly scarred by the attack. 'They are devastated,' he said. 'They are still in shock because they cannot believe that this happened.'

In its statement, the Argentinian government said that Marro, 'is hospitalized at the Presbyterian Hospital of Manhattan recovering from injuries suffered [and is] out of danger'.

Marro's wife, Mariana Dagatti, who is also from Argentina, is now in New York with her husband, according to their friend, Newton City Councilor James Cote.

The pair had hosted a fundraiser for Cote, a Republican, last week, he said. He added that Marro is a scientist at the Novartis Institutes in Cambridge, while his wife is an architect, and that they have lived in Newton for about seven years.

The cyclists were hit as they traveled south along the bike path of the West Side Highway shortly after 3pm on Tuesday

Shattered bicycles are seen here on the West Side Highway bike path where the victims were hit on Tuesday afternoon

Tom Mountain, chairman of the Newton Republican City Committee, said the couple are 'kind, caring and wonderful people,' and said that the 'horror show' attack had left the committee 'absolutely stunned.'

Before his death, Pagnucco had shared a photograph of himself in New York with a Facebook group dedicated to the multiplayer war video game War Machines, in which he played as a tank commander with the nickname 'Janus'.

In a post on the group, one of its members remembered him as an 'excellent person [with] spotless conduct,' adding, 'you really are a friend to all of us and we're going to miss you... May you rest in peace for all eternity.'

The Argentinian government said in its statement: 'The consulate general continues working in permanent contact with the police authorities and the hospital that received the affected, as well as with the relatives in Argentina.

'We accompany the families in this terrible moment of deep pain, which all Argentines share.'

In the wake of the attack, Argentinian President Mauricio Macri tweeted: 'Profoundly moved by the tragic deaths this afternoon in NY. We place ourselves at the disposition of the families of the Argentinian victims.'

Sayfullo Saipov has been identified by police insiders as the man who ran down more than a dozen civilians in New York on Tuesday from Florida. He's said to be the man on the ground; the terrorist was shot in the stomach after leaving his truck
Uber has confirmed that suspected truck terrorist attacker Sayfullo Saipov (above) previously worked for the company as a driver

Uber has confirmed that suspected truck terrorist attacker Sayfullo Saipov previously worked for the company as a driver.

The popular company issued a statement late Tuesday night about 29-year-old Saipov, who they said passed a background check to work for the ride-hailing service.

'We are horrified by this senseless of violence. Our hearts are with the victims and their families,' the statement reads.

'We have reached out to law enforcement to provide our full assistance.'

The company is now 'aggressively and quickly reviewing' the man's history with Uber to assist with the investigation into Saipov, who is suspected of driving a Home Depot truck down a bike path near the World Trade Center site, killing eight people and injuring 12 others.

Uber also said they have banned Saipov from the app.

Saipov was taken into custody by police after he was shot in the stomach by hero NYPD officer Ryan Nash, 28, while trying to flee the attack scene shouting 'Allahu Akbar'.

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Sayfullo Saipov, 29, is pictured above moments after crashing the rented Home Depot truck as he tried to flee the scene of the deadly attack on Tuesday before being shot, police say

Saipov, the alleged driver of the truck (above) which mowed down and killed eight people on the West Side Highway bike path, is pictured after emerging from the vehicle with two imitation firearms in his hands

Saipov is pictured above on the ground after he was shot in the stomach by hero NYPD officer Ryan Nash, 28

NYPD officer Ryan Nash (above), 28, is being credited by officials with stopping the attack from becoming worse by shooting Saipov

A federal law enforcement source told CBS News that a note was found in the suspect's truck that made reference to ISIS.

Ariel Erlij, Hernan Diego Mendoza, Diego Enrique Angelini, Alejandro Damian Pagnucco and Hernan Ferruchi were all killed when the Uzbek man allegedly drove for 17 blocks down a bicycle path in a scenic area of Manhattan's West Side.

A sixth man in the group, Martin Ludovico Marro, was also hospitalized in the incident, which killed a total of eight people and injured at least 13.

Even more tragically, Erlij, who runs a steel mill in Argentina, had paid out of his own pocket to ensure two of the members of the group could be there, local news reported.

Saipov, who used addresses in both Tampa, Florida and most recently Paterson, New Jersey, is out of surgery and in recovery from his injury at a New York hospital.

Five members of this group of Argentinian friends were killed when a terrorist ran them and others down in New York on Tuesday. The murdered men are Hernan Diego Mendoza (far left), Alejandro Damian Pagnucco (second from left), Ariel Erlij (third from left), Diego Enrique Angelini (second from right) and Hernan Ferruchi (third from right). A sixth friend, Martin Ludovico Marro (not pictured), was injured

Marro (left, with Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker, center, and Marro's wife Mariana Dagatti, right, at a Republican fundraiser last week) is an immigrant scientist who has lived in Newton, Mass., for seven years

The manager of his local grocery store in Paterson, Farm Boy Super Fresh Supermarket on Getty Avenue, claims that Saipov was an 'erratic' customer who berated the cashiers, the New York Post reported.

'Every time he came here he was always erratic or arguing with the cashiers,' the manager told The Post about Saipov.

'He would get angry very fast. he would break the cans, dumb things.'

The manager, who did not want to provide her name, added that Saipov was known for his rude behavior, as he called them 'uneducated.'

'I feel like he was prejudiced to the cashiers - whether they were covered or not in a hijab - he would belittle them,' the manager told The Post.

'He was talking good English, proper, but he would call the cashiers dumb, uneducated - how they didn't know how to scan the items.'

She also said that Saipov, who moved to the U.S. in 2010 from Uzbekistan, argued often about the price of popular Canada Dry Ginger Ale.

The manager of his local grocery store in Paterson, Farm Boy Super Fresh Supermarket (file above) on Getty Avenue, claims that Saipov was an 'erratic' customer who berated the cashiers,

The manager, who did not want to provide her name, added that Saipov (above in 2016 arrest photo) was known for his rude behavior. She said: 'He would get angry very fast. he would break the cans, dumb things.'

'Soda was the problem. He would come here and buy soda,' she told The Post.

'He would give us a hard time on the 12-pack Canada Dry - if it was one price he would want his own price. It was always the soda, always a problem with the 12-pack of cans. Always a problem.'

But Kobiljon Matkarov, one friend to the suspect, said he was 'very friendly'.

The 37-year-old told The New York Post that he met Saipov roughly five years ago in Florida where they became friends.

'He is very good guy, he is very friendly he is like little brother he look at me like big brother,' Matkarov told the Post by phone from his home in Miamisburg, Ohio.

'My kids like him too, he is always playing with them. He is playing all the time.'

He said that Saipov had been living in New Jersey and working for Uber as recently as this past summer.

Matkarov said that Saipov took him to John F. Kennedy Airport back in June when he flew to Uzbekistan with his children and wife.

'He dropped me to the airport with my family I called him and said I needed a ride,' Matkarov stated.

Saipov turned on to the bike track at Houston Street then drove for 17 blocks southbound. The pathway leads from Greenwich Village down to Tribeca. Saipov drove the full distance, only coming to a stop when he hit a school bus at Chambers Street

But Matkarov said that his son asked for a photo when they were departing and Saipov declined.

Matkarov said Saipov got along well with his five kids, who enjoyed playing with him.

'He no like that. He said no,' Matkarov said.

He added that he did not know Saipov to have any terrorist corrections.

According to online records, he worked as a commercial truck driver and had also lived in Ohio previously.

He also has a minor criminal record for traffic offenses in Missouri and Pennsylvania.

The rented Home Depot truck, which plowed through cyclists and runners on a bicycle path on the West Side Highway in lower Manhattan on Tuesday afternoon, is pictured above

The truck came to a stop by crashing into a school bus after plowing through others on the bike path. The two adults and two children inside the bus were injured

Saipov provided an address in St Charles County, Missouri for that traffic violation, which shows the location is registered address for STL Logistics LLC.

That company had a Freightliner tractor and semi-trailer registered, records show.

He was arrested by St. Charles County police after failing to pay a traffic citation.

Court records also show he was stopped in Mount Holly Springs Borough, Pennsylvania on March 26, 2015 by Deputy Ron Hoover of the Cumberland County Sheriff's Department.

Saipov, who provided authorities with an address in Paterson, New Jersey, pleaded guilty to a single charge of maximum length of a single trailer and paid the fees associated with the citation.

He has two businesses registered in Ohio- Sayf Motors Inc. in Hamilton County from May 2011 and Bright Auto LLC in Cuyahoga Falls from August 2013.

According to state records, Sayf Motors Inc. is located at an apartment in Cincinnati and the license remains active.

Bright Auto LLC is also based in an apartment and records show the company is an active carrier registered with the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Records show that the trucking company has one truck and one driver.
Physicist Brian Cox has slammed former prime minister Tony Abbott for his views on climate change.

The celebrity scientist, in Australia for a speaking tour, was responding to Mr Abbott's comments last month that climate change is doing more good than harm.

'Climate change itself is probably doing good, or at least more good than harm,' the former prime minister told the Global Warming Policy Foundation in London.

Physicist Brian Cox (pictured, stock image) has slammed former prime minister Tony Abbott for his views on climate change

The celebrity scientist, in Australia for a speaking tour, was responding to Mr Abbott's (pictured, stock image) comments last month that climate change is doing more good than harm

'It's complete nonsense to say that,' Cox told the The Daily Telegraph.

'It is not only a legitimate question to ask but it is a necessary question to say, what will the climate be like in 10 years, 50 years, 100 years.

'That is the question any responsible politician would ask because it is vitally important. It is very irresponsible for many reasons for a politician to say they don't believe in this [that climate change is harmful].'

Cox went on to claim Mr Abbott's comments suggest the former prime minister believes he is more knowledgeable on the topic than the world's top scientists.

'It's complete nonsense to say that,' Cox (pictured, stock image). 'It is not only a legitimate question to ask but it is a necessary question to say, what will the climate be like in 10 years, 50 years, 100 years.'

Mr Abbott had said the 'so-called settled science of climate change' was 'absolute cr*p'.

'Then there's the evidence that higher concentrations of carbon dioxide (which is a plant food after all) are actually greening the planet and helping to lift agricultural yields,' he said.

'In most countries, far more people die in cold snaps than in heat waves, so a gradual lift in global temperatures, especially if it's accompanied by more prosperity and more capacity to adapt to change, might even be beneficial.'

Cox clashed with former One Nation senator Malcolm Roberts (pictured, stock image) during a fiery debate on live Australian television in August 2016

Cox's tour - Professor Cox Live 2017 - starts in Melbourne on Thursday and will visit Sydney, Brisbane, Canberra, Adelaide and Perth, as well as Auckland and Wellington.

Cox clashed with former One Nation senator Malcolm Roberts during a fiery debate on live Australian television in August 2016.

During the exchange Cox tried to convince Mr Roberts climate change is caused by human activity, only to have Mr Roberts claim NASA is manipulating the data.

Daily Mail Australia contacted Tony Abbott for comment.




Caterina Scorsone is the latest actress to come forward and claim film director James Toback sexually harassed her.

The Grey's Anatomy star, 36, revealed further details on the alleged incident after a more than 300 women recalled similar stories about their own horrific experiences working alongside Toback.

In response to the screenwriter's Rolling Stone interview, where he denied the claims against him, the married mother-of-two shared further details on her revelation from nearly two decades ago - which she first wrote about in an essay from her teen years.

Actress Caterina Scorsone (left) is the latest actress to join the long list of women claiming to be sexually harassed by film director James Toback (right)

Scorsone is pictured on set of Grey's Anatomy episode 'Ain't That a Kick in the Head.' She came forward this week sharing further details on her experience with past sexual harassment

In an Instagram post, the actress shared a personal essay she wrote as a teenager detailing her experiences with the director during an audition in Canada

'In response to James Toback's crass denial in Rolling Stone, I feel I must corroborate the stories of these women. I want to be clear that the predatory director I wrote about in the article I posted a few days back, was James Toback,' Scorsone penned in the post.

'The article was written 17 years ago. Many industry people knew about it and encouraged me to stay silent. I didn't, and it directly affected my career. I stand with all the women who were brave enough to tell their stories.

'I also stand with all the women who don't feel that they can speak up, even now. Let's shine light into all the darkest corners. #metoo @rollingstone @hillelaron'

Rachel McAdams, pictured at a premiere on October 20, 2016, was another actress who came forward accusing the director of harassment

Julianne Moore, shown at 55th New York Film Festival 'Wonderstruck' on October 7, 2017, also shared her story

Selma Blair attends the Grand Opening Party For WeVillage at WeVillage on March 18, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. She is included in the lengthy list of Toback's accusers

A couple weeks prior, the Canadian starlet shared the published article she wrote from years back to her Instagram page - where she initially chose to omit the director's identity.

'I wrote this article 17 years ago. I was a teenager. After it was published, I quit the business in reaction to the veil of silence surrounding this issue,' she said alongside a photograph of the essay.

'I eventually returned to acting as an adult, supported by show runners like Shonda Rhimes.

James Toback is shown at the 30th annual Museum Of The Moving Image Salute to Warren Beatty at 583 Park Avenue on November 2, 2016 in New York City. Toback is yet another Hollywood mogul at the center of controversy

'She is an example of the good side of this industry. These examples exist. Let's be done with the other kind. #metoo'

The disgraced director told the magazine he was 'disgusted' by the allegations against him, while adding: 'anyone who says it is a lying c***sucker or c**t, or both. Can I be any clearer than that?'

The 'Missing' actress alleged the incident took place during an audition for a feature film in Canada at the time, when Toback made it clear there was a 'rider on (her) eligibility for the role (that was explicitly sexual in nature.)'

Scorsone revealed she never did land the role she had hoped for - as she recalled firmly rejecting Toback's aggressive advances.

Alongside Scorsone, hundreds of other actresses have since come forward with their stories, including Rachel McAdams, Julianna Moore, Terri Conn and Selma Blair, to name a few.

Meanwhile, Toback strongly insisted of the said events: I never, never, never have offered a part to anyone who didn't deserve it, and I've never not delivered when I do offer a part. My word is better than a contract,' according to Rolling Stone.
Authorities say a 15-year-old teen is accused of setting fire to the sanctuary of a predominantly black church in Louisiana.

The News-Star of Monroe reports the fire at St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church on Tuesday burned down its new sanctuary but spared the century-old church community's older building.

Witnesses said they talked to the driver of an Entergy Corp. truck leaving the scene shortly before smoke began rising from the church.

It was one of two vehicles he allegedly stole sometime before deputies believe he grabbed gasoline and torched the sanctuary.

By the time deputies and local fire departments arrived, the church was engulfed in flames.

'I couldn't believe it,' Mary Alexander said to MyArkLaMiss.com 'Because we was just here last night for a church meeting and you never expect things like this would happen this close by.'

The fire at St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church on Tuesday burned down its new sanctuary but spared the century-old church community's older building

Flames, smoke and little else is left of the church that had only recently been built

Part of the church that is now just ash and debris was only four months old, but inside were precious one of a kind relics that can never be replaced

The 137-year-old church next door is still standing

The church is at the heart of the community

'We don't know why only God know's why... what's going through that person's mind so we just ask for prayers for that person as well as our church family,' Alexander added.

The part of the church that burned down was just four months old, inside were precious one of a kind relics that can never be replaced.

The 137-year-old structure next door was spared.

Alexander said that despite the church being burned down, the congregation still has faith.

"God is in our heart the church is in us, not the building. We can't stop. Jesus didn't give up so how can we give up?

"Like I said we still have the old building. We're still gonna move forward," she said.

Authorities say the juvenile arrested has been charged with two counts of theft for stealing and will soon be charged with arson

A teenager is facing multiple charges in two parishes after stealing two trucks and setting a church on fire

Authorities found the vehicle with the suspect, confirmed the juvenile is connected to a second Entergy theft, and believe he used one of the utility trucks to ram vehicles at Caldwell Parish High School.

The Caldwell Sheriff's Office took the juvenile into custody.

Gilley said Entergy of Louisiana helped law enforcement track the truck, and its home location.

The vehicle was located in Caldwell Parish Tuesday afternoon along with the suspect, who was still driving it.

Richland Parish Sheriff Gary Gilley says the juvenile will be facing charges of arson in his parish. Charges in other counties weren't immediately available.
A young girl was given a ziplock bag full of drugs instead of lollies when out trick-or-treating with friends near her house.

Ellie Hawes was horrified when her 13-year-old daughter returned from her candy hunt around Blackalls Park on the NSW Central Coast on Tuesday evening.

'We both instantly knew what they were and that it was not right. She was very frightened,' she told Daily Mail Australia.

'I felt sick to my stomach that someone would give drugs to a teenager like this.'

A young girl was given a ziplock bag full of drugs (pictured) instead of lollies when out trick-or-treating with friends near her house

The 13-year-old (pictured posing in costume on Tuesday) was trick-or-treating in Blackalls Park on the NSW Central Coast and didn't find the drugs until she got home

Ms Hawes said after initially being told by police it would be 'too expensive' to look into the incident and to flush the drugs down the toilet, they were now investigating.

Inspector Paul Battley said there were no other reports of children being handed medication, but police were concerned about what was in them.

'Upon reviewing the case police commenced an investigation and are treating the matter very seriously,' he said.

Ms Hawes said: 'A police officer came back this afternoon and questioned my daughter and she indicated on a map the location they walked. They also seized the medication as I didn't "flush" it.'

The concerned mother said her daughter and several friends walked around four streets near their home holding out pillow cases for residents to drop lollies into.

Her mother Ellie Hawes (pictured) said she felt sick to her stomach that someone would give drugs to a teenager

The drugs were not discovered until her daughter emptied the pillow case and she didn't know which house they came from.

'I am hoping it was just a mistake by maybe an elderly person. Can't be taken lightly though because it could very well have made a child sick,' she said.

Ms Hawes warned other parents on community Facebook, and one commenter said the pills looked like over-the-counter and prescription medication.

'The green and white are antibiotics, the pack one is a fancy gastro stop, I think the blue one is a vitamin, and the others I don't know,' they said.

Ms Hawes said after the upsetting experience she would hold a Halloween dress-up party for her daughter and her friends instead of sending her out trick-or-treating.

'A valuable lesson learned no matter how responsible our teens are it's way to easy to become complacent. I won't make the same mistake twice,' she said.
Sophie Mei Lan, 29, claims breastfeeding makes her closer to her child Jasmine (left)

A mother has revealed how she is still breastfeeding her five-year-old daughter.

Sophie Mei Lan, 29, of Wakefield, West Yorkshire, claims it makes her closer to her child Jasmine and has saved thousands of pounds over the years.

But the blogger has admitted that it has caused rows with her chef husband Chris Hale, 30, who wants her to stop because it is making her so tired.

Miss Lan, who also has a two-year-daughter called Arianna, told The Sun: 'I don't think there's anything strange about feeding your children.'

The mother, who goes to bed every night with her children so they can feed then fall back to sleep, added that breast milk is 'nourishing, soothing and free'.

She told Sun reporter Jenny Francis: 'Jasmine started school last year and I told her not many kids in her class would be feeding, but she's not bothered.

Miss Lan says breastfeeding makes her closer to her girls and has saved thousands of pounds

The young mother sleeps every night with her children so they can feed then fall back to sleep

Miss Lan said her chef husband Chris Hale wants her to stop because it is making her so tired

Miss Lan has told how her two-year-old daughter Arianna often stops her for 'Mama Milk'

'When they get molar teeth it's supposed to be harder for them to latch on, so maybe she'll wean herself off when she gets to around seven.'

Miss Lan, of Wakefield, said that people do stare at her when she feeds Jasmine in public

Most mothers stop breastfeeding after six months, and Miss Lan said people do stare at her when she feeds Jasmine in public, making her feel awkward.

But new research this week claimed women who breastfeed for longer will become increasingly attentive mothers throughout their child's first ten years.

The decade-long study by the American Psychological Association is the first to suggest nursing could have prolonged benefits on a woman's mental health.

Breastfeeding has long been associated with positive outcomes for children, such as higher intelligence, better gut health, and stronger immune systems.

Comedian David Walliams once played a 25-year-old man in the hit BBC comedy Little Britain who demands to be breastfed by his mother when he wants, uttering the now-infamous phrase 'bitty'.
A cancer faker who swindled three people including a priest and a nun to fund a string of holidays has been jailed for more than five years.

Serial fraudster Angie Emma Walsh, 40, duped her victims out of $184,151 by falsely telling them she had cancer, the Adelaide Magistrates Court was told.

In an elaborate scam, Walsh told continual and convincing lies over a two-year period as she 'milked' her victims for as long as possible.

A cancer faker (pictured) who swindled three people including a priest and a nun has been jailed for more than five years

Walsh pleaded guilty to more than 45 offences and admitted to breaching several bonds for suspended sentences imposed for similar offending, some dating back almost 10 years.

Appearing from jail by video link, Walsh sobbed as Magistrate Greg Fisher said she had spun a convoluted story over an extended period.

'You are clearly a highly skilled liar and had Sister Swiggs convinced that you were gravely ill and desperately in need of money,' he said.

'Her life has been ruined, she bears the shame of being deceived by you and the responsibility of exposing her sister and Father Brady to you.'

He described her deceptions as elaborate with her long string of lies including her fight against cancer, that she was close to death and that she was desperately in need of money for drugs and treatment.

However, banking and travel records showed trips to the Gold Coast, including trips to Dreamworld and Seaworld.

Walsh also told one of her victims that she was in line for an inheritance worth millions, producing fake documents and text messages to back up her claims.

The 40-year-old's victims included Father Bill Brady, who handed over $77,000, and Sister Theresa Swiggs, who had put Walsh in contact with her own sister, Angela Robinson, who was conned out of more than $100,000.

Serial fraudster Angie Emma Walsh, 40, duped her victims out of $184,151 by falsely telling them she had cancer, the Adelaide Magistrates Court (pictured) was told

The court heard Ms Robinson gave Walsh her entire life savings and took out a loan to give her even more, ABC News reported.

In a victim impact statement, Sister Twiggs said she was utterly devastated and overwhelmed by Walsh's lies.

'Angie gained my trust and then went about manipulating me so deeply that all I have now is a disastrous situation filled with anger, embarrassment and emptiness,' she said.

Father Brady said he felt both angered and embarrassed.

At a previous hearing, Walsh read an apology to the court and said she never intended to hurt or cause hardship to anyone.

'I can never imagine the breach of trust. I am truly sorry for my sins,' she said.

But Mr Fisher told Walsh her victims had suffered significantly.

'Your exploitation of Sister Swiggs was a cruel abuse of the trust she had placed in you and her genuine desire to help someone in need,' he said.

'Once she was trapped by your deceit, you milked the opportunity for as long as you could without any empathy for her, Father Brady or Angela Robinson.

'As a consequence, your victims have been devastated.'

Mr Fisher jailed Walsh for five years and 10 months and set a non-parole period of three years and six months.
South Korea is 'almost 100 per cent certain' that North Korean hackers have stolen the blueprints for their warships and submarines.

The despotic regime is thought to have taken the documents after hacking into Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co Ltd's database in April last year.

North Korea has often been implicated in cyber attacks in South Korea and elsewhere but Pyongyang has either ignored or denied accusations of hacking.

Daewoo Shipbuilding, which was hacked, has built several South Korean warships, including an Aegis-class vessel and submarines/ Pictured: South Korean navy vessels sailing in the East Sea in September exercises

North Korea has often been implicated in cyber attacks in South Korea and elsewhere but Pyongyang has either ignored or denied accusations of hacking. Pictured: North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un celebrates a rocket test in September

'We are almost 100 per cent certain that North Korean hackers were behind the hacking and stole the company's sensitive documents,' Kyung Dae-soo of the main opposition Liberty Korea Party said yesterday.

Daewoo Shipbuilding has built several South Korean warships, including an Aegis-class vessel and submarines. It was most likely North Korea had obtained blueprints for these, he said.

About 40,000 documents are believed to have been taken.

Earlier this month, a different South Korean lawmaker said North Korean hackers had stolen a large number of classified military documents, including South Korea-US wartime operational plans.

The Daewoo hacking was discovered by a division under South Korea's Ministry of Defence in charge of investigating cases of cybercrime, said Kyung, who received a briefing on the investigation.

How sensitive and classified the seized documents were was not known as that was not disclosed by the investigative team, he added.

British authorities said last week they believed North Korea was behind the 'WannaCry' ransomware attack (pictured) in May that disrupted businesses and government services worldwide, including the National Health Service in England

A spokeswoman for Daewoo Shipbuilding said she was unaware of the issue until early yesterday and the company was in the process of confirming the details of Kyung's remarks.

The investigative team came to the conclusion North Korea had hacked Daewoo Shipbuilding because the hacking method was very similar to other attacks that North Korea was thought to be behind, Kyung said.

Hackers in North Korea are believed to have been responsible for a recent cyber heist in Taiwan - the latest in a string of hacks targeting the global SWIFT messaging system.

British authorities said last week they believed North Korea was behind the 'WannaCry' ransomware attack in May that disrupted businesses and government services worldwide, including the National Health Service in England.
The online education news organization Chalkbeat is expanding again. Early next year, it is starting a bureau in Chicago and a one-year pilot in Newark, N.J., the site announced Monday .

The changes come just a year after Chalkbeat launched a Detroit operation which, like the Newark site, started as a pilot before becoming the organizations fifth full bureau. The others cover Colorado, Indiana, New York City, and Tennessee.

Elizabeth Green, the co-founder, CEO, and editor-in-chief of the nonprofit news organization, said in an interview that Chicago was one of two finalists for the newest full bureau, and was chosen over the San Francisco Bay area for several reasons. (Discussions will continue over a future Bay Area site, she said.)

Chicago is a huge urban school system facing poverty, violence, and budget challenges, but which has shown some signs of improvement. Meanwhile, the media landscape and coverage of education in the city has been diminished by financial challenges to its two daily newspapers, the Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun-Times, and by the demise of an independent education publication, Catalyst, which was subsumed by another independent news outlet, the Chicago Reporter.

We would like to do a pretty granular focus on the day-to-day issues facing poor communities in Chicago, said Green. And we want to partner with the existing media there. The media ecosystem in Chicago has a lot of opportunities for partnerships, with [public radio station] WBEZ, the papers, ethnic media, and public television.

The pilot project in Newark came about after conversations over a long period time with community members, philanthropists, and journalists in the city, which is also undergoing sweeping changes in its school system. Facebook founder Mark Zuckerbergs 2010 donation of $100 million to the Newark system sparked efforts to overhaul teacher pay with performance bonuses and to create more charter schools. Meanwhile, the 36,000-student Newark district is returning to local control after years of state oversight.

Green said the Newark Star-Ledger is a formerly wonderful newspaper that just has diminished resources, while a nonprofit news outlet covering education in the state, NJ Spotlight, is laudable but cannot devote significant coverage to Newark.

Weve really seen the power of community journalism, Green said. The Chalkbeat sites continue to provide enterprising local reports, such as an investigative story this week by Chalkbeat Indiana examining online charter schools in the state.

As it looks to hire a bureau chief for Chicago and a fellowship reporter for Newark, Chalkbeat is likely to continue to expand, Green said.

Some big cities such as Los Angeles, which has an independent education news outlet (LA School Report), expanded public radio coverage, and other media, wouldnt rank as high on Chalkbeats list, Green said.

But there are so many communities that dont have strong local education reporting, she said.
Store owners are furious after the parents of a misbehaving child refused to pay for the damage he caused.

CCTV footage captured from inside a Battery World outlet in Adelaide shows a young boy enter the store with his mother before proceeding to make an absolute nuisance of himself.

The child can be seen lying on bench tops, playing with the electronic scanner on the counter and damaging potentially dangerous batteries, causing smoke to billow throughout the building.

'Accidents can happen, I accept that but intentional manipulation and damage of property is another subject all together,' manager Vince Petrozella told Today Tonight Adelaide.

CCTV footage captured from inside a Battery World outlet in Adelaide shows a young boy enter the store with his mother before proceeding to make an absolute nuisance of himself

The child can be seen playing with the electronic scanner on the counter and damaging potentially dangerous batteries, causing smoke to billow throughout the building

The boy initially enters the Modbury store with his mother, but she then leaves with an employee to inspect something outside, leaving him unattended to wreak havoc.

The child can be seen casually strolling around the shop, before pushing down what appears to be a utility box and lying on top of it.

He advances around the store, touching and playing with several other items, including the cashier's scanner.

The child can be seen casually strolling around the shop, before pushing down what appears to be a utility box and lying on top of it

The store even has a warning sign asking parents to keep their children supervised at all times for the safety of everyone

He advances around the store, touching and playing with several other items, including the cashier's scanner

The boy then begins tampering with a battery on the counter, connecting the red and black wires and creating a short circuiting.

'Not only was he not overseen, he managed to cause damage,' Mr Petrozella said.

Ian Cameron, who was working at the time, says multiple sirens started going off as smoke shot out of the $330 battery.

'In case that steam and smoke turned into spark or flame,' he said.

With smoke covering the store, Mr Cameron ran to grab the fire extinguisher, in case the battery caught fire.

Ian Cameron, who was working at the time, says multiple sirens started going off as smoke shot out of the $330 battery

Pictured: The fried battery that short circuited as a result of the young boy

The mother and her son then go to leave the store, but not before staff question them about paying for the broken goods.

'(The father) said 'you're barking up the wrong tree mate, not interested',' Mr Petrozella said.

'I know it's very hard to stop a child but at the end of the day there's got to be some form of parental guidance.'

The store even has a warning sign asking parents to keep their children supervised at all times for the safety of everyone.

Mr Petrozella wants parents to take more care and responsibility with their kids. It is understood the boy received a stern talking to.
Monika Fourie, 34, pictured arriving at Plymouth Crown Court in Devon today, was Ajailed for five years for grievous bodily harm

A judge blasted a scorned wife who poured scalding water over her Royal Marine husband's mistress as he jailed her for five years.

Monika Fourie, 34, of Plymouth, Devon, sobbed uncontrollably as she was led away today with her estranged husband looking on.

She was convicted of grievous bodily harm with intent after a trial last month and released on bail before sentencing to make arrangements to look after her eight year-old daughter.

The Polish-born defendant attacked love rival Hannah Stokes, 24, when she walked in on her with unfaithful Royal Marine husband Wouter.

Sentencing her, Judge Paul Darlow told a sobbing Fourie: 'You boiled the kettle with no intention to make tea.

'You threw a cup straight at Hannah Stokes. What followed added to the horror and excruciating pain that Hannah Stokes was already forced to suffer in your hands.

'She was begging you to stop. But with a kettle in your hand you pulled her hair up trying to expose her face, so you could empty boiling water on it.

'Her injuries could have been far worse. In the result, some of the water went over her chest and torso and in the same ear as that first cup of water.

'At that time your husband Wouter came down as he heard the screams. 'The rage continued and you pursued her into the road.

The Polish-born defendant attacked love rival Hannah Stokes (right), 24, when she walked in on her with unfaithful Royal Marine husband Wouter Fourie (left)

'In the weeks that followed your behaviour towards Hannah Stokes was such to make her feel that she was being stalked. That does you no credit.

'I accept the motivation was to try and save your marriage and warn Hannah off.

'We heard she had suffered scaring to her torso, front and back, and needs plastic surgery she can not afford. She has 25 per cent hearing in one ear with uncertain progress.'

Fourie's South African-born husband had confessed to his affair the day before and his wife had left to stay with friends.

Miss Stokes suffered 'terrible burns' after Fourie poured a mug and then a kettle of boiling water over the head and chest.

She needed treatment for second degree partial thickness burns down to her navel, and had surgery for a perforated eardrum.

Fourie admitted causing grievous bodily harm in the incident on October 24, 2015 but denied it was done with intent.

Miss Stokes sat through much of the trial in the public gallery but did not attend the sentencing

She was found guilty by a jury which rejected her claims that she that had no memory at all of the incident and had not intended to harm Miss Stokes.

Miss Stokes sat through much of the trial in the public gallery but did not attend the sentencing.

She told the court she would have to live with the consequences of her affair for the rest of her life. She said: 'I saw someone full of rage.

'She was hunting me down. I know we both did something wrong in this situation and the reality is that I had an affair.

'But now I am out of the shock, I know I did not deserve what I got. I would have to be sick to exaggerate the hell I have been through.

'I have to live with this every day for the rest of my life with what she did. She had snapped as I was in her house.'

The trial heard Monika first met Wouter in a pub in Hamburg in 2004. She was from a small Catholic family in Poland and he was her first sexual experience.

Plymouth Crown Court heard she quickly fell in love with him and they both moved to England in 2006.

She left her family in Poland behind and was described as a 'devoted wife' after their marriage in 2008.

Fourie told the court she felt like someone was 'stabbing her in the head' when she discovered Miss Stokes at her home

But their marriage hit the rocks after Wouter returned from a Marine training exercise in USA and admitted he was cheating on her.

Fourie told the court she felt like someone was 'stabbing her in the head' when she discovered Miss Stokes at her home in Plymouth, Devon.

She unsuccesfully tried to claim she had no memory of the attack itself and could not remember putting the kettle on.

She said: 'No words can explain what I felt at that time. I had never felt like this before. I was broken. I did not know where my life had gone.

Miss Stokes (above) suffered 'terrible burns' after Fourie poured a mug and then a kettle of boiling water over the head and chest

'I had no idea what he had been up to and no idea there was another woman there. I felt like this pain in my head, like someone was stabbing me repeatedly in my head.'

She added: 'The next thing I remember is for some reason I was walking in the street outside. I do not know how I got there. The pain I can not describe.

'I felt like my whole world crashed. A woman was in my house with my husband with my kid upstairs. I cannot give any further information about what happened.'

Fourie said after the attack she left for her native Poland with her daughter to seek support from her family as she was in a 'mess'.

After being told what she had done, she said: 'I struggled to believe it. It was like he was talking about some horror story, not about me.'

Her barrister Ali Rafati asked the judge for leniency and said: 'She is an intelligent, articulate, caring and loving woman who, prior to 24 October 2015, had behaved impeccably her whole life.

'This has ruined her existence, she has had to live with the course of her actions that day.

'She is an old fashioned girl from an old fashioned family who she left behind for love. She showed utter devotion and love for her husband and daughter.'

The court heard that the military had made assurances that Wouter would not be deployed for 12 months in order to care for their daughter.

Mr Rafiti added that the eight year-old found out her mother would be going to jail from another child in the school playground.

Fourie (pictured today) admitted causing grievous bodily harm in the incident on October 24, 2015 but denied it was done with intent

Mr Fourie, who said he had been twice hit by IEDs in Afghanistan, told how he saw steam coming from his lover's head.

He said: 'I ran downstairs and I could see Monika holding Hannah by her hair and bending down.

'I saw Monika grab a kettle and she had rage in her face like she wanted to hurt Hannah very badly.

'She poured hot boiling water on Hannah's head. I saw the steam. Hannah was in agony.'

As Fourie wept in the dock, Judge Darlow concluded that she was a 'woman of good character' that had the 'love and respect' of those around her.

He said: 'You were devoted to your husband and daughter who were your whole life. On that day you were in an extremely fragile and vulnerable state.

'Your husband had drip fed information to you to try and get you to push him away.

'I bear in mind the provocation to you as a result of what you saw when you returned to your own home. It is understandable but not justifiable.'

Mr Fourie, who was shielded by military press officers, left the court without comment. He is now separated from his wife.
A serial-killer obsessed woman and her bondage-loving housemate have been found guilty of murdering autistic teenager Aaron Pajich, whose body was found in the backyard of their home.

Jemma Victoria Lilley, 26, and Trudi Clare Lenon, 43, have been on trial in the Supreme Court of WA for the past four-and-a-half weeks, accused of killing the 18-year-old at their Orelia house.

The 18-year-old's body was found in a shallow grave and covered with concrete and tiles on June 13 last year.

Jemma Victoria Lilley (left) and Trudi Clare Lenon (right) have been found guilty of killing 18-year-old Aaron Pajich at their Perth house

Lilley and her housemate Trudi Lennon are accused of murdering 18-year-old Mr Pajich (pictured), who has been described as autistic but 'high functioning'

Sharon Pajich, mother of Aaron, leaves court after the guilty verdict on Wednesday

The motive for the murder of teenager Aaron Pajich by Jemma Lilley was it was her 'life's ambition' to kill someone by the time she was aged 25, a West Australian Supreme Court jury was told on Monday.

State prosecutor James McTaggart delivered his closing address at the start of the fifth week of the trial of Lilley and Lennon.

'At the time of the murder, she was a person obsessed with violence and all kinds of unquestionably cruel manifestations of torture and was writing about it,' Mr McTaggart said, referring to Lilley's writings and evidence given by her friend Angela McKibbin of her aim to kill someone before turning 25.

There was 'no doubt' Mr Pajich had been murdered with fatal knife wounds to his chest and neck, the jury heard.

There was also no doubt he was buried in the backyard of the pair's Perth home, a place where a security camera showed the two of them and Mr Pajich on June 13, the last time he was seen.

'Between them, they did all that was necessary to cause Aaron Pajich's death,' Mr McTaggart said.

Once she had fulfilled that 'bucket list' requirement to kill, she was so 'full of herself and euphoric' that she couldn't help boasting about killing someone to colleague Matthew Stray.

Mr Pajich was last spotted on June 13 on CCTV cameras at the Rockingham Shopping Centre taxi rank

Veronica Desmond, the stepmother of Aaron, leaves court after Lilley and Lenon were found guilty of her stepson's murder

The pair buried Pajich's body in a shallow grave covered over with concrete and tiles

She also couldn't help leaving incriminating messages to her 'obsequious and sycophantic' fellow murderer Lenon later that night, talking about how excited she was experiencing things 'she had not felt before'.

Those two errors of judgment contributed to Lilley being charged with murder, he said.

There was evidence of the pair planning the murder, through phone messages discussing killing someone while referring to each other by their bizarre names SOS and Corvina, and buying cleaning products and concrete to cover it up, Mr McTaggart said.

SOS was the name of a serial killer in a book Lilley had written while Corvina was the name Lenon used as a submissive participant in the bondage scene.

Lenon blames Lilley for the murder, but admits to being an accessory.

Lilley denied knowing how Mr Pajich died and claimed to have been asleep when he was last seen with Lenon.
Struggling with the school run while holding down a job, this is the wife of the ousted Catalan president Carles Puigdemont who was left with their two children when he fled fled to Brussels.

Photographed in public for the first time since her husband's audacious escape, Marcela Topor looked stressed and tired as she ferried her two girls home from school.

After dropping them off at home, the 41-year-old Romanian journalist drove off 20 minutes later for her next appointment.

A source close to the family told MailOnline: 'She is having a very difficult time. She doesn't know if she will ever see her husband again.'

Abandoned: Marcela Topor, wife of ousted Catalan President Carles Puidgemont, is pictured doing the school run with the couple's two children as her husband has fled to Brussels

Home alone: Ms Topor, a 41-year-old mother of two has been left at the couple's property near Girona since Mr Puidgemont fled the property on Sunday night and flew to Belgium

Couple: Former president Puidgemont, who is 13 years older than his wife, Ms Topor, spirited himself out of the country on Monday, abandoning his vow to 'peacefully resist' Madrid's efforts to shut down his government

Former president Mr Puidgemont, who is 13 years older than his wife, spirited himself out of the country on Monday, abandoning his vow to 'peacefully resist' Madrid's efforts to shut down his government.

Overnight, Ms Topor found herself becoming the sole career to their children, Magali, 10, and Maria, eight, while her husband evaded arrest in Belgium.

In a press conference at the Press Club in Brussels yesterday, Mr Puidgemont claimed that he did not intend to claim asylum but said he would only return home if he could be assured of a fair trial. He gave no indication of when that might be.

He has been ordered to present himself at the Audiencia Nacional, Spain's Central Criminal Court, on Thursday and Friday, to answer charges of sedition, rebellion and embezzlement. If found guilty, he could face up to 30 years in prison.

Ms Topor, who is known for her shyness, lives with her children in a modest home in Sant Julia de Ramis, about an hour-and-a-half from Barcelona. Her husband normally lives with them, though he also has an apartment in Barcelona.

Ever since the Catalan parliament voted to declare independence on Friday, Mr Puigemont was holed up in the anonymous-looking family home, avoiding the limelight as his country was plunged into chaos.

Ms Topor, a journalist, looked stressed and tired as she ferried her two girls home from school. After dropping them off at home she drove off 20 minutes later to go to her next appointment

Overnight, Ms Topor found herself becoming the sole career to their children, Magali, 10, and Maria, eight, while her husband evaded arrest in Belgium.

He was pictured having lunch at a nearby restaurant and is understood to have watched his local team, Girona, beat Real Madrid at home on Sunday on television.

Ms Topor, who speaks Spanish, English, Catalan and Romanian, is the editor of the English-language magazine Catalonia Today  which was founded by her husband  and also hosts Catalan Connections, a television interview series broadcast on a local station.

Known to her friends as 'Mars', she met Mr Puidgemont in 1996 when she was acting in a play at the International Festival of Amateur Theatre in her future husband's hometown of Girona. He was director of the cultural centre where her play was staged.

Ms Topor, who speaks Spanish, English, Catalan and Romanian, is the editor of the English-language magazine Catalonia Today met her husband Mr Puigdemont in 1996

Close: Known to friends as 'Mars', Ms Topor met Mr Puidgemont when she was acting in a play in her future husband's hometown of Girona where was director of the cultural centre there

The daughter of a modest family from Vaslui, Romania, Ms Topor graduated from the Mikhail Kogalniceanu high school in 1994. According to Romanian media, she is remembered as a 'discreet, hard-working and passionate foreign language student' by her former classmates.

After graduating, she enrolled at the Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iasi in the northeast of the country, where she studied foreign languages.

She became involved in student amateur dramatics and performed in Catalonia when she was in her second year of university, where she met Mr Puigdemont.
Pro-ISIS channels have been sharing propaganda praising the New York terror attacker after he killed eight people in Manhattan yesterday.

Posters commemorating the attack were uploaded online featuring images of the Statue of Liberty exploding and pictures of the carnage caused by 29-year-old Uzbek terrorist Sayfullo Saipov.

While some praised Saipov's actions - calling him a 'brother' - others mocked the low death toll and said they 'would have picked a bigger street'.

Pro-ISIS accounts on anonymous messaging app Telegram have been uploading images commemorating the New York terror attack

Users also praised attacker Sayfullo Saipov, calling him a 'brother', though some said they would have 'picked a bigger street'

A selection of images and messages from anonymous text app Telegram were shared online by New York Times ISIS corespondent Rukmini Callimachi.

ISIS has not yet claimed responsibility for the New York attack, though police reportedly found a note near the van he used which mentioned the terror group.

In its monthly magazine, ISIS has advised attackers to leave notes at the scene pledging their allegiance so they can claim the attack.

Earlier in the day An-Nur Media, a French-language media outlet affiliated with ISIS, published a poster calling for terror attacks on Halloween celebrations.

The poster, published in French, English, Dutch and Russian, was distributed on official Telegram channels under ISIS hashtags, according to terrorist monitoring group MEMRI.

It featured a picture of the Eiffel Tower in the background along with a bloodied hand holding a machete.

Saipov killed eight and wounded dozens when he drove a rented Home Depot truck down a cycle path in lower Manhattan on Tuesday before being shot and arrested

Police have described the attack as a terror incident and ISIS propaganda was reportedly found in Saipov's truck, though the terror group has not claimed responsibility

The French poster said: 'Seize the opportunity of their gatherings; terrorize them, October 31, 2017. #NoChoice. Get going forth before it's too late.'

While there was no attack in Paris yesterday, Ms Callimachi points out that the poster is unusual because ISIS propaganda does not usually feature a specific date.

Saipov is reported to be a legal immigrant who came to the US in 2010 from Uzbekistan and had been living in Ohio, Florida, and most recently New Jersey.

Around 3pm on Tuesday he mounted a cycle path on the lower west side of Manhattan in a rented truck and drove 17 blocks, running down cyclists and joggers.

He then swerved back on to the highway where he slammed into a school bus, critically injuring a child, before jumping out and waving two fake guns.

Saipov was shot in the stomach by an NYPD officer, arrested and taken to hospital where he is now being interrogated.
A nurse who was dragged out of a hospital for refusing a police officer permission take a blood sample from an unconscious patient has been awarded $500,000 compensation.

Alex Wubbels was following hospital policy when she told Detective Jeff Payne he needed a warrant or the consent of the patient to draw blood after a July 26 car crash.

The officer had neither and then arrested Wubbels when she refused his request, dragging her outside the University of Utah hospital in Salt Lake City and handcuffing her as she screamed she had done nothing wrong.

The incident, which occurred on July 26, was caught on camera and caused widespread anger at the time.

Alex Wubbels holding pictures from the body camera footage of her arrest. She has now been awarded $500,000 compensation from the University of Utah and Salt Lake City

Wubbels, who was later released without charge, has now been awarded a payout from the University of Utah and Salt Lake City.

She plans to use part of the money to fund legal help for others trying to get similar body-camera video.

'We all deserve to know the truth, and the truth comes when you see the actual raw footage, and that's what happened in my case,' she said.

'No matter how truthful I was in telling my story, it was nothing compared to what people saw and the visceral reaction people experienced when watching the footage of the experience I went through.

'The police have to police themselves. This is something I never would have expected to happen, but I'm also honored by the weight of it.'

She said she also plans to give a portion of the $500,000 to a nurse's union and help lead a campaign to stop physical and verbal abuse of nurses on the job.

Alex Wubbels was filmed screaming as she was led away in handcuffs after being arrested by detective Jeff Payne

The nurse was following hospital procedures but was dragged out of the hospital by Payne, who has subsequently been fired

Wubbels says she will give the compensation money to the nurses union and to help others fight to obtain body camera footage

University of Utah hospital officials said in a statement they support Wubbels and have changed their procedures and training on how police and health care workers interact to ensure nothing similar happens again.

Salt Lake City Police Chief Mike Brown has since apologized and fired Payne after an internal investigation found he violated department policies.

Brown said in a disciplinary letter that he was 'deeply troubled' by Payne's conduct, which he said brought 'significant disrepute' on the department.

Payne is appealing that decision, saying the firing was an unfair reaction to the negative publicity.

Lt. James Tracy, a police supervisor who ordered the arrest of the nurse, was demoted to officer and also is appealing.

The patient was an off-duty Idaho reserve police officer driving a semitrailer when he was hit by a man fleeing police in a pickup truck. He later died of his injuries.
Simon Price pictured today leaving Birmingham Magistrates Court where he indicated he will admit ten counts of fraud

The boss of an animal charity and his wife have appeared in court charged with fraud and money laundering after almost 1 million in donations went missing.

Simon Price, the former chief executive of Birmingham Dogs Home, is accused of pocketing cash left by animal lovers following a year-long police investigation.

Magistrates heard the 53-year-old was arrested by officers at Birmingham International Airport as he returned from Barcelona on November 10 last year.

Today he appeared in court alongside his wife Alayna, 38, who worked as the commercial manager at the charity in Solihull, West Midlands.

Simon Price is charged with 11 counts of fraud by abuse of position and one money laundering offence between 2012 and 2016.

His wife is accused of six counts of fraud by abuse of position and one count of money laundering.

Both appeared at Birmingham Magistrates' Court for a 15-minute hearing, speaking only to confirm their personal details and indication of pleas.

Mr Price indicated he will admit ten counts of fraud, totalling around 640,000, and will deny the other count of fraud and one count of money laundering.

Mrs Price indicated she will plead not guilty to all seven charges against her.

The pair, from Solihull, were granted unconditional bail and will appear at Birmingham Crown Court on November 29.

Simon Price appeared alongisde his wife Alayna (pictured right outside court today), who is accused of six counts of fraud by abuse of position and one count of money laundering

Birmingham Dogs Home, founded in 1892, had 2.7 million in donations and legacies in 2015 - including one gift of 1 million alone. Simon Price is pictured here when he was manager of the charity in 2012

District Judge Jan Jellema said: 'These matters are not suitable to be dealt with in this court and they are matters which must go to Birmingham Crown Court to be dealt with there.

'Mr Price, your position - you confirm guilty pleas to those matters set out by your advocate.

'There are in all ten guilty pleas - I would look to commit those matters for sentencing at the Crown Court.

'You have already been advised of the probable outcome - I now send the cases of both of you to the Crown Court on November 29 for first hearing.

'These offences to which there are not guilty pleas, I have sent them to the Crown Court to be dealt with there.

Simon Price is charged with 11 counts of fraud by abuse of position and one money laundering offence between 2012 and 2016

The charity helped re-home 3,356 dogs in 2015 and Price was previously hailed 'the real hero' for overseeing a move to a new 5.5 million site near Solihull

'It is suitable all matters should be dealt with in the same venue.

'I am content to grant unconditional bail in respect to both of you - you must both be in the Crown Court on November 29 at 9.30am.

'I am aware, although of course these matters have been hanging over you for a considerable time, you have not had bail conditions since March 9.'

Birmingham Dogs Home, founded in 1892, had 2.7 million in donations and legacies in 2015 - including one gift of 1 million alone.

The charity helped re-home 3,356 dogs in 2015 and Price was previously hailed 'the real hero' for overseeing a move to a new 5.5 million site near Solihull.
Suriyah Bi, 25, an Oxford University graduate, objected to a teacher at Heartlands Academy in Birmingham showing a year seven class with special needs footage of people jumping from the Twin Towers

A Muslim teaching assistant who was fired for raising concerns about 11-year-olds being shown a graphic YouTube video of people dying on 9/11 has won an unfair dismissal case against her former school.

Suriyah Bi, 25, an Oxford University graduate, objected to a teacher at Heartlands Academy in Birmingham showing a year seven class with special needs footage of people jumping from the Twin Towers.

The horrifying video has a rating for people aged 18 and over.

Bi raised the issue the following day, on September 23 2015, and was sacked just over an hour later, less than two weeks after she started the role.

She told MailOnline: 'I'm over the moon with the result, it's been a long time coming. Two years is a long time. It's been two years where I have been feeling so strongly about it.

'This would not have happened if I was not a Muslim.'

The footage was shown when the class were studying a poem called Out of the Blue by Simon Armitage.

The poem is about a victim of the 9/11 terror attacks who eventually jumps from the burning building.

She said: 'Children were subjected to graphic scenes and some were shocked and upset...it raised questions about what safeguards there are in schools to protect children.

'I was in the classroom when the video was shown and I quickly objected. Later I was told to leave the school. I was told to grab my possessions and leave the premises. It all just happened in the blink of an eye.'

A safeguarding checklist written three days after her dismissal mentioned that Bi was head girl at Saltley School, which was implicated in the Trojan Horse affair five years after she left, and she had written a dissertation looking at the effect of the scandal on pupils. Her dissertation was called 'The Child's Centred Perspective on the Trojan Affair...British Rules, Islamic Rules'.

It said she raised concerns about the footage because it offended her as a Muslim.

'We suspect that this girl has done it before,' read the note. 'She was head girl of one of the Trojan Horse schools.'

The teaching assistant won a dismissal case against Heartlands Academy after she was fired for complaining about an 'X-rated' video of the 9/11 attacks shown to children

The school offered Bi 11,000 in compensation for loss of earnings a year after she was first sacked. But she rejected the offer and instead took the case to an employment tribunal

The Trojan Horse scandal started with an anonymous letter in March 2014 describing an Islamic plot to take over schools in Birmingham called 'Operation Trojan Horse'.

The document, later discredited as a hoax, claimed hardline Muslims wanted to take control of governing bodies and replace school leaders with staff who would be more sympathetic to their religious agenda.

That in turn led to 21 schools being inspected by schools inspector Ofsted, which put six schools [including Satley School] in special measures and said five had not done enough to protect children from extremism.

She said: 'Just because I went to a Trojan Horse affair school, which [was involved in the scandal] five years after I left...I was implicated as being an extremist.'

The poem is about a victim of the 9/11 terror attacks who eventually jumps from the burning building

Bi said there was also a senior management meeting on September 29 2015, days after she was fired.

She said: 'They agreed it was inappropriate to show the children the footage. They agreed with me but they were not sacked and the teacher who showed it wasn't sacked.

'It's almost like "shoot the messenger" but would that messenger be shot if they were not a Muslim? No.' There was no action taken against the teacher...they said it was just a judgement of error, or "misguided choice"'.

'The judge said if the matter hadn't go to the media the school wouldn't have investigated it but they had to as it was potentially embarrassing for them.'

The school offered Bi 11,000 in compensation for loss of earnings a year after she was first sacked. But she rejected that and decided to take the case to an employment tribunal.

In March a judge ruled she had been unfairly dismissed but rejected a claim she was discriminated against because of her religion.

In the latest hearing this month, a judge said the 25-year-old had also been victimised under the 2010 Equality Act.

Bi has applied to have her discrimination claim reconsidered, claiming she wouldn't have been dismissed if she hadn't been a Muslim, but said she is open to reaching a settlement with the school.

A remedy hearing is expected to take place next year.

In a statement, a spokesman for E-ACT, the multi-academy trust which runs Heartlands Academy, said: 'Although we are disappointed by the judgment, we respect the tribunal's decision and we continue to further strengthen our processes to ensure that there can be no repeat of the errors highlighted to us during this case.'
Evidence of extraterrestrial activity may have been written across the sky in Australia's North East over the weekend, according to a woman behind some 'unexplainable' photos.

Jenny Morrison captured photos of a bizarre UFO-like object appearing to drift across the sky above the Great Barrier Reef on Saturday afternoon.

The Cairns local was photographing the sunset with her smart phone as she cruised back to shore from a fishing trip off Elford Reef, News.com.au reports.

A Cairns woman captured photos of a bizarre UFO-like object hovering across the sky above the Great Barrier Reef on Saturday

She recalled nothing out of ordinary at the time, but when inspecting her photos later on noticed a strange neon dot surrounded by a saucer-like shadow.

The out-of-place figure seemed to progress further across the skyline near Fitzroy Island with every frame, before disappearing completely.

'There's this little light, that looks just like a bit of water on the lens,' she said.

'I havent edited the photos, or done anything to them.'

The Cairns local was photographing the sunset with her smart phone as she cruised back to shore from a fishing trip off Elford Reef

'When you look through the photos, though, the dot is in the middle of a saucer-shaped shadow thing.'

Ms Morrison likened the 'crazy' sighting to something normally only seen on television.

Far North Queensland has become known for being a UFO hotspot, with 20 sightings recorded throughout the past 20 years in Townsville alone.
A hero cop who shot the New York truck killer was in the right place at the right time after being called to another emergency minutes before the carnage began, it has emerged.

Ryan Nash, 28, had been dispatched to a nearby school in the Lower West Side of Manhattan amid reports of a suicidal 17-year-old girl at 2.35pm on Tuesday.

But half an hour later, he was confronting alleged terrorist Sayfullo Saipov, 29, after a truck was driven down a bike path killing eight before crashing into a school bus on nearby Chambers Street.

The suspect refused to drop his realistic-looking weapons, police said, so Nash shot him in the stomach and arrested him.

Hero cop Ryan Nash (pictured), 28, had been dispatched to a nearby school in the Lower West Side of Manhattan amid reports of a suicidal 17-year-old girl at 2.35pm on Tuesday

The suspect refused to drop his realistic-looking weapons, police said, so Nash shot him in the stomach and arrested him. Officers are seen surrounding the suspect

This is the rented Home Depot truck that plowed through cyclists and runners on the bicycle path. It only stopped when Saipov allegedly deliberately struck a schoolbus at an intersection

In a press conference earlier in the day, NYPD Commissioner James O'Neill applauded Nash's heroism without naming him, saying: 'I want to commend the response of our NYPD officer that was on post near the location who stopped the carnage moments after it began.'

Nash, who had been with the NYPD for five-years, was outside Stuyvesant High School following what turned out to be an unfounded call of a nonviolent, emotionally disturbed person, according to the New York Daily News.

The officer, from Long Island, then rushed to the scene of the terror attack after the perpetrator slammed his pickup truck into a school bus on Chambers Street near the elite high school.

The side of the bus crumpled in, collapsing onto the chairs - and children - inside. Two children and two adults were hospitalized after the crash. One of the children was in critical condition

Shattered bicycles are seen here on the West Side Highway bike path where eight people were killed and 12 more injured. At least five of those who were killed had rented Citibikes before they were hit

The crash area is just seven blocks from Ground Zero and is a stone's throw from City Hall

Saipov (seen left) was allegedly seen moments before he was shot trying to flee the scene. The attacker (right) brandished two fake weapons - a pellet gun and a paint gun - after getting out of the truck, leading to him being shot

Investigators are still trying to determine what led a truck driver to plow down people on a riverfront bike path near the World Trade Center, brandishing air guns and yelling 'God is great' in Arabic.

Eight people were killed and 11 seriously injured in a Halloween afternoon attack that the mayor called 'a particularly cowardly act of terror.' The driver - identified by officials as an immigrant from Uzbekistan - was in critical condition but expected to survive after Nash gunned him down.

A roughly two-mile stretch of highway in downtown Manhattan was shut down for the investigation.

Authorities also converged on a New Jersey home and a van in a parking lot at a New Jersey Home Depot store.

Authorities were scrutinizing a note found inside the attacker's rented truck, according to two law enforcement officials who were not authorized to discuss the ongoing investigation and spoke on the condition of anonymity.
A Washington-based civil rights group has issued a stern reminder to attorneys general in all 50 states and the District of Columbia that all students, regardless of their immigration status, can enroll in K-12 public schools.

The Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law sent the letters as part of an initiative, Let Us Learn: Schools for Every Child, that aims to protect the rights of students, regardless of their immigration status or the status of their parents or guardians.

The letters urge the attorneys general to enforce their responsibilities under the law and provide clear, written guidance to the educators of their states on their constitutional obligations amid the Trump administrations ramped-up immigration enforcement .

Federal law established through the 1982 U.S. Supreme Court decision Plyler v. Doe makes clear that schools and districts cannot adopt enrollment policies that deny or discourage children from enrolling because of immigration status.

That means that a school district cannot: refuse to enroll a student enrollment because he or she does not have a birth certificate; bar a student because of a foreign place of birth and should accept foreign birth certificates when verifying age; or require a drivers license or state-issued identification from a parent.

As part of the initiative, the Lawyers Committee found that the Plyler ruling hasnt stopped some districts from trying discourage enrollment in recent years, especially as unaccompanied minors, many of them fleeing poverty and violence in Central American countries, surged into communities across the country. The letters addressed to the attorneys general identified 30 school districts around the country whose policies appear to be out of compliance with the law.

In 2015, more than 4.7 million foreign-born students were enrolled in U.S. schools, about 6 percent of the American school population, according to the U.S. Department of Education. Another 20 million are children of foreign-born parents.

The Lawyers Committee compiled a list of resources on school enrollment to ensure that those parents, students, and teachers know their rights under the law and created online forms for parents and educators to ask questions about school enrollment and anonymously report school districts whose policies appear out of compliance with the law.

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A 'bogus' cosmetic surgeon gave Botox customers injections filled with beef gelatine which left one looking 50 years older, a court heard today.

Marcelle King, 62, Jozette Sheppard, 46, and Carol Kingscott, 57, suffered an extreme reaction that caused long-lasting damage after being treated by Ozan Melin.

Shocking images of three women's faces left so swollen they could barely see after he allegedly carried out fake Botox treatment on them.

Mrs King, from Poole, Dorset, had to go to A&E after suffering from anaphylactic shock while Mrs Sheppard was unable to eat or speak properly for six months.

Jurors were shown photographs of Marcelle King (left) after she received the Botox treatment (right)

Jozette Sheppard (pictured before the treatment), said she was left unable to 'eat, speak or smile' for six months after having the Botox (right)

Bournemouth Crown Court heard Botox solutions recovered from Melin's assistant Lisa Bolster's house contained 'beef gelatine'.

Forensic plastic surgeon Colin Rayner, who analysed the treatment the women received, told the jury he believed they had been injected with a noxious and extremely dangerous substance.

He said a beef product similar to that used to make jelly which is potentially allergenic when injected and should not be used in Botox, was found in vials seized from Bolster's home.

And the allergic reactions the three women suffered were 'potentially life threatening'.

Mr Rayner said: 'In my opinion these injections contained no active Botox. They certainly didn't receive any of the properly commercially prepared and tested Botox.

'Unpurified bovine gelatine is not an acceptable vehicle to transfer the drug, it is potentially a serious allergenic when injected.

'The reactions experienced by the three individuals in this case had the potential to be life threatening.

'In Marcelle's case she had to take medications to counteract the reaction, had those not been taken she may well have died.

'In Jozette and Carol's case luckily the reaction did not proceed but they were the type of reaction that occurs and has that potential to be life threatening.'

Jozette Sheppard, 46, (left) and Carol Kingscott, 57, (right) both suffered an extreme reaction

He described Melin's actions as 'reckless' and said they fell well below the professional standard.

The court previously heard how Mrs King claimed she was left 'looking 50 years older' and added the treatment felt like she was 'burned with a cigarette end'.

She claims she was told 'no pain, no gain' when she complained to Melin about her agony following one of his procedures.

The three women are unrecognisable in the horrific photographs which show their faces red and puffed up.

Melin is on trial for inflicting grievous bodily harm on them and for fraud for allegedly claiming he was a medically trained doctor when the General Medical Council had no record of him.

He is said to have left the three middle-aged women in severe pain after treating them with large needles and using fake and dangerous Botox solution.

Marcelle King (left, at Bournemouth Crown Court), 62, said she was told 'no pain, no gain' when she complained to Ozan Melin (right outside court), about her agony following a botox procedure

The jury were shown pictures of the women's disfigured faces taken in the hours after they had Botox injections along their forehead and brow as each described their ordeal.

Ms Kingscott, 57, an out-of-hours doctors receptionist, said she decided to have the Botox treatment in November 2011 to give her a boost after her marriage of 27 years broke down.

She paid Melin about 200 to have her brow and the area around her eyes treated.

She told the jury she looked like a 'hamster' afterwards and like she had been punched in the face.

When the swelling went down she was left with a droopy brow and eyelid which made her granddaughter think she had an 'angry face'.

Menin (right) and his wife, Lisa Bolster (left) both deny fraud charges. Pictured, both outside Bournemouth Crown Court

Ms Kingscott said: 'At home firstly I was just getting hot, like I had a bit too much sun. It got hotter and started to swell up.

'The next morning I looked like a hamster. I looked like I had been punched because my eyes had closed so much.

'I knew something wasn't right. I was thinking maybe I'd had a reaction to it and was feeling a bit foolish. I put calamine lotion on it.

'One eyelid dropped completely and it was so sore I could barely open them.

Bolster, who denies three counts of fraud, arrives at Bournemouth Crown Court today

'I was at a particularly low point, my marriage of 27 years had broken up, another reason why I wanted it to give myself a boost. My face was frozen solid after that treatment.

'My brow was low. My granddaughter thought I had an angry face and thought I was always cross with her.'

She said she even applied to a reality TV programme to see if they could help her.

Ms Kingscott added: 'They wouldn't touch it because my face was so frozen and they didn't know what had gone into my skin.'

Mrs Sheppard had treatment at the same time as Ms Kingscott and was left unable to eat, speak or smile properly for six months due to her 'frozen' face.

Mrs King had Botox to her jowls and brow in July 2013 at the home of a beautician.

She texted Melin's then-wife Lisa Bolster to say she 'looked 50 years older' and ended the text with a sad face emoji, the court heard.

Melin, from Uxbridge, Middlesex, ran a mobile clinic called The Smooth Face Botox Company and carried out treatments at beauty salons and customers' homes.

He denies three counts of causing grievous bodily harm and three charges of fraud.

Melin's wife at the time, Lisa Bolster, 50, is also on trial for fraud charges with the prosecution saying she was involved in the business and contributed to the lie that her husband was medically trained.

She also faces a charge of unauthorised use of a trademark after police found counterfeit Botox vials at her home in Lytchett Matravers, Dorset, in 2014.

The trial at Bournemouth Crown Court continues.
The former Catalan president is planning to copy Julian Assange and seek refuge in an embassy in Brussels to avoid charges in Spain, it has been claimed.

Carles Puigdemont, who is said to be staying in a hotel in the Belgium capital, is facing the threat of arrest and extradition if he snubs a court summons in Madrid tomorrow to answer accusations of rebellion, sedition and embezzlement.

But reports in Spain are claiming the 'desperate' 54-year-old may now follow the path of Wikileaks founder Assange, who has been holed up in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London for more than five years after successfully claiming diplomatic asylum once inside.

A Spanish newspaper claimed the father-of-two could seek safe haven in a sympathetic embassy in Belgium or elsewhere to avoid immediate incarceration if he is forced back to Madrid, financial ruin and a possible 30 year jail sentence if convicted of rebellion.

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The former Catalan president Carles Puigdemont (pictured) is planning to copy Julian Assange and seek refuge in an embassy in Brussels to avoid charges in Spain, it has been claimed

reports in Spain are claiming the 'desperate' 54-year-old may now follow the path of Wikileaks founder Julian Assange (pictured), who has been holed up in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London for more than five years after successfully claiming diplomatic asylum once inside

His Belgian lawyer Paul Bekeart has claimed he will not return to Spain, claiming he 'prefers to observe and wait' after Puigdemont's insistence he was unlikely to get a fair trial if he heads back to Barcelona without 'guarantees.'

Respected online news website OKDiario.com said: 'According to sources sounded out by this paper, Puigdemont has begun to consider the possibility of imitating the Wikileaks founder Julian Assange and looking for save haven in a foreign embassy.'

The website highlighted the fact Catalan pro-independence supporters enjoyed the support of some politicians belonging to minority parties in Finland, Lithuania and Estonia, although it was quick to point out their respective governments had ruled out the possibility of becoming early allies of an independent Catalonia.

Most neutral observers believe Puigdemont would struggle to persuade a Belgian court not to extradite him to another European member state, even though he has hired a specialist human rights lawyer who has helped prevent alleged ETA terrorists being forced back to Spain after seeking safe haven in Belgium.

The country's PM Charles Michel has hinted the former Catalan leader does not have his support, insisting he should be 'close to his people' after declaring independence.

Spanish Justice Minister Rafael Catala said he was confident any attempt by Puigdemont to seek political asylum in Belgium, which the former Catalan leader ruled out in a press conference yesterday/on Tuesday, would be over in 'half an hour.'

At a chaotic press conference in Brussels Puigdemont said he had no plans to return unless he was given certain guarantees about his safety from the Spanish Government

PSOE veteran Alfonso Guerra, ex-vice president of the Spanish government, accused the ousted Catalan president of having a 'Dalai Lama' complex and added: 'I don't think he'll ask for political asylum. He's in Europe. He's ignorant. He's probably just having a few drinks in a bar in Brussels.'

Several members of Puigdemont's deposed government travelled with him to Brussels on Sunday - but most have since returned, being met with insults and the sight of protestors waving Spanish flags when they landed at Barcelona's El Prat Airport late last night.

They have also been ordered to attend the Audiencia Nacional, Spain's Central Criminal Court, for questioning tomorrow at 9am along with Puigdemont.

Albert Rivera, the leader of pro-union party Ciudadanos, branded Puigdemont and his allies as hypocrites when it first emerged they had travelled to Brussels by tweeting: 'They ask citizens and civil servants to break the law, but they vote in secret, change the name of their assets or flee to another country.'

Reports earlier this week had claimed Puigdemont could also end up moving on a third country to frustrate attempts to force him back to Spain if any hopes he harbours of staying in Belgium were blocked.

The ousted Catalan leader was due to address the press again at midday today in Tielt near Ghent where his Belgian lawyer Paul Bekaert has his office.

Earlier, two young Catalans were arrested by Spanish police after they took to Facebook to criticise the security services' brutality, local media reported.

Mother-of-two Meritxell Esquerra de Benito (pictured) was held overnight despite protesting that she had two young children at home, she explained

Kenneth Batiste Drudis (pictured) was publicly handcuffed and taken to a police station for questioning before being released. He was informed that he was being held on suspicion of 'incitement to hatred' after he criticised the national police online

Mother-of-two Meritxell Esquerra de Benito and Kenneth Batiste Drudis were publicly handcuffed and taken to a police station for questioning before being released the next day.

The pair, both from Lleida in western Catalonia, were informed that they were being held on suspicion of 'incitement to hatred' after they criticised the national police online.

The Catalan leader was sacked by the Spanish government on Friday after his region's parliament voted to declare independence, before heading to Belgium. But the Belgian leader has said Mr Puigdemont will be 'treated like any other citizen'.

Ms Esquerra, meanwhile, said that the tightness of the handcuffs used in her incitement to hatred arrest injured her wrists. 'They pressed tightly and although I complained about it, they did not loosen them,' she said.

She also alleged that officers ignored the fact that she was celiac. 'One night of stomach ache does not matter,' one officer is reported to have said.

The young mother was detained overnight without being given a blanket in the cold cell, 'not even one that my husband tried to give one of the officers before my arrest,' she said.

Ms Esquerra was arrested at home when local police advised her to stay indoors after her sister warned her by telephone that two national police officers were waiting for her at her workplace.

The local Catalan police, known as the Mossos, and the national police are two different entities. They clashed during the violence of October 1, as some local police tried to defend the referendum and protect citizens from brutality.

Ms Esquerra was held overnight despite protesting that she had two young children at home, she said. 'According to my lawyer, being a mother-of-two I am not a flight risk and I had the right to spend the night at home,' she said.

Belgian prime minister Charles Michel, meanwhile, has made clear that Mr Puigdemont will not receive any special treatment on account of the high office that he held until he was sacked by Madrid on Friday.

He added that Mr Puigdemont came into Belgium under the standard Schengen freedom of movement laws and that 'the state will ensure respect for the rule of law.'

Mr Puigdemont's sacked government ministers were greeted with Spanish flags and insults last night after flying back to Barcelona from Brussels.

Noisy protestors yelled 'Dogs', 'Prison' and 'Stay Away' and sang 'Viva Espana' as they arrived at the city's El Prat airport just before midnight amid chaotic scenes.

Former Catalan president Carles Puigdemont and his wife Marcela Topor arrive at the Catalan parliament in Barcelona before the region's fateful decision to declare independence

A delighted woman celebrates the news in Barcelona after the regional parliament declared independence

The Catalan parliament declared the region independent on Friday. Pictured: Former president Carles Puigdemont voting

Catalan separatist flags are held up as fireworks go off in Sant Jaume Square in front of the Catalan regional government headquarters during celebrations on Friday night after the declaration of independence

Puigdemont was thought to have been on the plane - but it became apparent after it landed that he had stayed in the Belgian capital.

The 54-year-old father-of-two, who left Spain unexpectedly on Sunday with five of his ex-ministers after the Spanish government imposed direct rule over Catalonia, will face demands for his arrest and extradition if he fails to attend court tomorrow.

He has been ordered to the Audiencia Nacional, Spain's Central Criminal Court in Madrid, for questioning along with more than a dozen members of his deposed government.

But Mr Bekeart said his client would not be returning to Spain to appear before a judge to answer charges of sedition and rebellion.

Back to normal? A demonstrator waves a Catalonian pro-independence 'estelada' flag outside Palau de la Generalitat, the Catalonian regional Government Palace, in the first working day after the implementation of the Spanish Constitution's article 155, in Barcelona on Monday

Puigdemont is now staying at a secret location in Brussels, having checked out of his 120-euro-a-night three-star hotel.

At a chaotic press conference in Brussels Puigdemont said he had no plans to return unless he was given certain guarantees about his safety from the Spanish Government.

With no immunity from prosecution forthcoming from Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, it is likely Puigdemont will continue to stay in Brussels where he says he has 'freedom and safety'.

Puigdemont has insisted he is not in Belgium to seek asylum but his lawyer said they would challenge any extradition request from the Spanish Government.

Dismissed Catalonian regional President Carles Puigdemont arrives at the press club ahead of his press conference at the Press Club in Brussels

'We have decided not to file an asylum application, but to challenge any extradition before the court.' Bekaert said.

'Extradition can also be challenged without asking for asylum.'

Puigdemont and his 13 cabinet colleagues have been told to deposit 6.2 million euros in bail by the end of the week with a warning that their property and assets will be seized unless they find the money.

A spokesman for the Belgian Crisis Centre confirmed that it is assessing whether any special protection is needed for Mr Puigdemont and his delegation doing his stay in Brussels  though, unusually, he highlighted that the final decision would not be made public.

Belgian prime minister Charles Michel (pictured) has made clear that Mr Puigdemont will not receive any special treatment on account of the high office that he held until he was sacked by Madrid on Friday

Belgian federal police have beefed up their presence around Mr Puigdemont in the meantime with a particular focus on controlling any demonstrations that may accompany his public appearances.

It comes as Madrid continues to steamroll Catalan autonomy, with three key independence institutions in Catalonia dissolved by Spain's Council of Ministers yesterday.

The ousted Catalan sustainability minister, who defied the Spanish crackdown by tweeting a picture of himself at work on Monday, has been ordered to present himself at the national court in Madrid at 9am tomorrow.

Josep Rull was was given the demand by police who visited his home at 10:44 last night, he said on Twitter. It means that a showdown is imminent, with Mr Rull being forced to either 'peacefully resist' or capitulate to Madrid.

The ousted Catalan sustainability minister Josep Rull (pictured), who defied the Spanish crackdown by tweeting a picture of himself at work on Monday, has been ordered to present himself at the national court in Madrid at 9am tomorrow

Rull was was given the demand by police who visited his home last night, he said on Twitter. It means that a showdown is imminent, with Mr Rull being forced to either 'peacefully resist' or capitulate to Madrid

The Secretariat for the Development of Self-Government, the Office for the Improvement of the Institutions of Self-Government and the Interdepartmental Commission on Self-Government, which were all created in March 2016 to develop Catalan independence, were also annulled by royal decree.

The director of the Institute of Self-Government Studies, Carles Viver Pi-Sunyer, was dismissed.

Speaking in Barcelona, Enric Millo, Madrid's delegate in Catalonia, said: 'It is the first time that such an event has happened due to exceptional circumstances. The government of Catalonia completely departed from the law and the function of the government o Spain was to guarantee the functioning of public services in Catalonia.'

He went on to thank Madrid officials for keeping the region running smoothly during such a time of unrest.


A girl who failed to return from school yesterday has been found this afternoon.

Chloe Humpage, 14, was last seen talking to a man near Iceland in the Cornhill, Bury St Edmunds, Cambridgeshire, at 3.45pm yesterday afternoon.

It was not clear what direction Chloe left in and she was reported missing.

Chloe is described as a white female, 5ft 4in tall, and of slim build. She also has long, dark brown, straight hair and a pale complexion

Suffolk Police appealed for help to trace Chloe and say officers are 'extremely concerned for her welfare'.

Chloe was described as a white female, 5ft 4in tall, and of slim build.

She also has long, dark brown, straight hair and a pale complexion. Chloe was last seen wearing a red jumper and blue jeans.

Suffolk Police this afternoon revealed that she had been found in Bury.
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This is the remarkable moment a wildlife photographer managed to capture a romantic encounter between two male lions.

The two lions were seen sneaking off into the bushes in Kenya's Masai Mara for some privacy, before engaging in affectionate love-making.

Unlike what can often be a violent end to mating between a male and a female lion, this pair were seen nuzzling each other post-mount.

Gay pride: Two male lions were spotted engaging in sexual activity on the Masai Mara in Kenya

Paul Goldstein, from Wimbledon, London, said he first observed them standing side-by-side in Kenya's Masai Mara, before one lay down and was gently mounted by the other. At one point one lion's head was resting on the other's.

Mr Goldstein, a guide for Exodus Travels, says: 'Sometimes you just see something that takes your breath away. I was guiding in the Masai Mara recently and we saw two impressive alpha males in perfect light.

'After a while they stood together, in perfect symmetry. What then happened was remarkable.

'I have heard of this happening in Botswana but with nothing like this vigour, and indeed at various zoos and safari parks, but incarcerated animals will do strange things, who can blame them.

In the jungle: The couple appear to have walked into some bushes to get some privacy

Hakuna matata: One of the lions lie down under the bushes as the other climbs on top of it

Damn, they've seen us: The happy couple then engaged in a love-making session that lasted for at least a minute, according to the photographer

'This however was astonishing. I normally loathe any sort of humanising with animals and our documentary channels are full of it, but this was not only surprising but it was impossible not to smile.

'When lions mate it normally last a few seconds, these two were at it for over a minute and the obvious affection afterwards was very evident, as opposed to the violent withdrawal when male and female mate.

'Even as he dismounted he did not back off as is normal after mating, he crept round to the other male's muzzle, for a nuzzle and threw a conspiratorial wink his way.'

Happy hump-day! Homosexual activity is not unknown among lions, especially males, and scientists report that some eight per cent of all observed mountings in the wild are male on male

Can you feel the love tonight: The photographer observed the couple affectionately nuzzling each other after the mounting

While male lions engaging in sexual activity is a rare occurrence, it is far from unknown.

In fact, studies published in the 20th century indicated that about eight per cent of 'mountings' observed by scientists had been male lions with other males.

Male lions have been observed courting other lions, including showing affection and caressing, as well as mounting. Lionesses are also known to couple up, however this has mainly been observed in captivity.

Lions are by no means the only animal species where homosexual relations exits. Biologists have recorded same-sex sexual activity in more than 450 species including flamingos, bison, beetles and warthogs.

A 2010 study of Alaskan Albatrosses found that a third of the pairs actually consisted of two females.

HOMOSEXUALITY AMONG ANIMALS: CAN ANIMALS BE GAY? Not unheard of: The male lion couple in Kenya According to Darwin, the sexual impulses of animals are designed to cause reproduction, and are therefore necessarily heterosexual. But recent research suggests that homosexual animals  often dismissed by biologists as the exceptions that prove the rule  may be more common than previously thought. Some biologists claim 'gay' animal behaviour has been spotted in 1,500 different species, and reliably recorded in a third of these cases - roughly 450 species. Animals that have displayed homosexual behavior include emus, chickens, koalas, salmon, cats, owls and dolphins. According to research, about a fifth of captive king penguins are gay and it is common for male black swans to raise cygnets as a couple  possibly to provide better protection. Zoologist Petter Bockman, an expert on the subject at the University of Oslo, dismisses those who draw political implications from the scientific findings. He says: 'If you ask: 'Can animals be gay?' The short answer is: 'Yes.' 'Gay' is a human word, however, so we prefer to use the word 'homosexual' for animals. 'Sexuality is not just about making babies, it is also about making the flock work. For some animals, homosexuality is normal flock behaviour.' He says the issue has long been taboo for researchers who are 'fearful of being ridiculed by their colleagues'. Farmers often come across bulls and rams that simply refuse to mate with females, he claims, and, in 2004, Charles Roselli at the Ohio Health and Science University reported that about eight per cent of domestic rams prefer other males. Bockman curated an exhibition Against Nature's Order for the Norwegian Natural History Museum. One Pentecostal minister told him he would 'burn in hell' for his work. Another said the money would be better spent 'curing gay animals'. Sources: The Telegraph and The Daily Mail Advertisement

Mr Goldstein is set to hold several charity lecture evenings with TV presenter Chris Packham, more information can be found here.
Chris Tarrant revealed today how he thought he was going to die at 39,000ft when he suffered a stroke during a 14-hour flight.

The 71-year-old TV presenter said he thought he had cramp while on a plane home to London from Bangkok in 2014, before realising it was far more serious.

The former host of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire said he changed his lifestyle following the incident, including doing 'bizarre' exercises and avoiding whisky.

Chris Tarrant told ITV's Lorraine programme today that he thought he had cramp while on a plane home to London from Bangkok in 2014, before realising it was far more serious

He told ITV's Lorraine programme today: 'I thought I was going to die at 39,000ft somewhere between Bangkok and London. I thought I had cramp.

'I've been very lucky. It was very scary. I ridiculously did not want to go and see a doctor on the plane - where do you land?

'But I got to this fantastic hospital and I got better, but so many don't. I had to do these bizarre exercises for months.

'Usually they will say get to a doctor as fast as you can, every minute makes a difference, but I couldn't - I was 14 hours on a plane. It does make you reassess.'

Tarrant has ruled out returning to the much-loved ITV quiz show Who Wants To Be A Millionaire

He added: 'I've changed my life a bit, my missus is very tough on food - I don't drink whisky at all. It's actually not hard, it's like smoking - you just don't smoke.

Tarrant, 71, at The Pride of Britain Awards in London with his partner Jane Bird on Monday

'I do a bit of exercise and I'm still working. I don't particularly want to work very much now, but I want to keep my brain ticking over.'

He had an intense schedule filming the fourth series of Extreme Railway Journeys for Channel 5, which sees him visit places such as Morocco, Israel and Jordan - and starts next Monday.

But Tarrant, who first found fame in the Seventies hosting ITV children's show Tiswas, does not want to give up his small screen career any time soon.

The presenter has also ruled out returning to the much-loved ITV quiz show Who Wants To Be A Millionaire, which he hosted from 1998 until 2014.

Earlier this week, Tarrant admitted that he has slowed down over the last couple of years, saying: 'I'm not an idiot, I want to live. I was lucky.

'It [the stroke] was terrifying, I honestly thought I was going to die on that plane, it was the scariest - easily the scariest - moment of my life.

'So, I don't work as hard. I worked so hard for so many years, and I thought, 'What the hell did I do that for?'.

Tarrant had an intense schedule filming the fourth series of Extreme Railway Journeys for C5

'I don't drink any whisky any more, ever. I just used to drink too much, I used to drink a lot of whisky. You get into it when you're working.

'I was never drunk on air or anything, but I certainly used to drink a lot when I finished the show.

'I still have a few glasses of wine, I still drink a beer or two. But I don't do scotch, I don't do that at all. I feel good, you know?'

Chris Tarrant is hosting the Life After Stroke Awards tonight, which will be streamed live on Facebook from 9pm. You can watch the event by clicking here
A key ally of Jeremy Corbyn who helped mastermind Labour's election campaign is speaking at an event to celebrate the the Russian Revolution.

Andrew Murray, chief of staff at the Unite union, is due to speak at a conference organised by the 'Russian Revolution Centenary Committee'.

He is joining a line up which includes the daughter of the Argentine revolutionary Che Guevara and the Cuban ambassador to London.

Mr Murray was a member of the British Communist party for 40 years before he quit to join Labour under Mr Corbyn's left-wing leadership.

He has defended the Russian tyrant Stalin, suggesting his regime was better than living in the West.

And he has written an article expressing 'solidarity' with North Korea - which is ruled under the tyrant Kim Jong Un.

Andrew Murray, pictured at a Stop the War event in 2015, is speaking at an event in London to celebrate the centenary of the Russian revolution

Stalin's tyrannical regime saw millions killed through purges and the forced collectivisation of farms.

Andrew Bridgen, Tory MP for north West Leicestershire, told The Telegraph: 'It shows how hard Left Labour and Jeremy Corbyn have become when they can celebrate the ascension to power of a despotic regime which probably oversaw the murder of more than 20 million people.'

While he imposed a police state in which Russians bullied and manipulated into informing on their friends, families and neighbours.

Mr Murray has also voiced his support for North Korea - saying that he has 'solidarity with Peoples Korea'.

Mr Murray is a senior official and Britain's largest union and close to Unite's chief Len McCluskey - dubbed 'red Len for his hard left views.

Russians pictured in St Petersburg under Communist rule. Under Stalin and the dictators who came to power after him , Russians lived in poverty and in in terror of political purges

Other speakers at the event in London this weekend include Aleida Guevara, the daughter of the Argentine Marxist revolutionary Che Guevara and described as a 'Cuban revolutionary' on the billing.

Other speakers include Adrian Weir, an assistant chief of staff at Unite, Tosh McDonald, the Aslef leader and Vyacheslav Tetekin, a former Russian MP.

This year marks 100 years since the Russian revolution - which saw the Tsarist regime overthrown and the Bolsheviks come to power.

But the revolution resulted in nearly a century of dictatorship and oppression to the lives of ordinary Russians.

They were forced to hero worship Lenin and Stalin and view the West as evil imperialists.

The state control of all industry dragged the economy down, meaning that many lived in poverty.
Protesters interrupted a live CNN broadcast from the scene of the New York terror attack on Tuesday night to chant 'fake news'.

Microphones picked up on the group's shouts as Anderson Cooper attempted to cover the Manhattan attack which killed eight and wounded 12.

At another point a man made his way into the back of the shot while holding a banner which read 'CNN is ISIS'.

The group appears to have been led by Laura Loomer, an outspoken Trump supporter who describes herself as a 'independent investigative journalist' online.

Trump has repeatedly branded CNN 'fake news' during his press conferences and while holding rallies with his supporters.

While ISIS has not claimed responsibility for the attack, terrorist Sayfullo Saipov is believed to have been carrying propaganda from the terror group in the truck he used to kill eight people and wound 12.

Pro-ISIS channels on social media have also been praising Saipov and describing him as a 'brother'.

The terror group had also issued a propaganda leaflet earlier on Tuesday calling for attacks that evening, though it had featured a picture of the Eiffel Tower rather than New York.

Saipov drove 17 blocks down a cycle path in lower Manhattan in a rented Home Depot truck before swerving back on to a highway and slamming into a school bus.

He then jumped out of the vehicle waving fake guns before he was shot in the stomach by an NYPD officer and arrested.

Protesters interrupted CNN's live broadcast from the scene of the New York terror attack to chant 'fake news' and wave a banner saying 'CNN is ISIS' last night

Saipov is now in hospital and is being questioned by officers to establish a motive.

He is a 29-year-old Uzbek national who came to America legally in 2010 and lived for a time in Ohio, where he owns two trucking companies, before moving to Florida and most recently New Jersey.

There he qualified as an Uber driver and friends say he spent the summer driving for the ride-sharing app.

Kobiljon Matkarov, 37, who met Saipov five years ago in Ohio, told the New York Times that he was 'very friendly' and good with children.

However, the manager of Saipov's local supermarket in New Jersey described him as an 'erratic' man who berated and belittled the cashiers.

The manager, who wished to remain anonymous, said he was quick to anger and violent - often breaking cans of soda as he argued over the price.
A managing director is facing jail for stealing 55,000 from her company to pay for a luxury holiday to the Far East, gastric band surgery and dog grooming.

Jean Wilson, splurged almost 10,000 on an extravagant trip to Singapore, Bali and Thailand - organised through Audley Travel - where she stayed in luxury hotels.

She also spent more than 9,000 on a gastric band operation which helped her lose more than six stone in just five months.

A court heard Wilson also spent thousands on luxury dog groomers, cleaning bills and vet treatments for her pet dogs.

Jean Wilson, who lived in a rented mansion, blew 55,000 of company cash on a gastric band operation and a lavish two-week holiday

Wilson also diverted cash to pay for dog groomers and vets' bills and to give herself a 'bonus'

Wilson spent company money on holidays, dog grooming and a gastric band operation

The defendant held the position of managing director at Axcis Education Recruitment

Wilson was managing director at Axcis Education Recruitment, a firm hiring special needs teachers for schools.

She would include her own bank details on company invoices, Cardiff Crown Court heard.

Prosecutor Sam Shepard said: 'The defendant has pleaded guilty to deliberately falsifying records including invoices, impersonating clients by email, and of taking large sums of money.

'The defendant presented in most cases invoices purporting to be invoices for legitimate uses for the company's spending money but in actual fact the bank details were that of recipients for the defendant's personal benefit.

'This was an abuse of trust as managing director - the manipulation of invoices was sophisticated, involved planning and was conducted over a significant period of time.'

Wilson boasted how the gastric operation, which took place in August 2015, helped her lose more than six stone in five months

Cardiff Crown Court heard how a bill for 9,380 was made out to Audley Travel and paid for her travel to the Far East in January 2015.

During the two week vacation she downed Singapore Slings cocktails in Raffles and stayed in a luxury suite in the five star Fullerton Hotel.

She boasted about having her own butler while staying in Thailand where she visited temples and went on an elephant safari.

She flew from London Heathrow to Bangkok for the fortnight trip and stayed in top hotels with a friend.

Wilson, pictured enjoying a cocktail in Singapore, during her luxurious two week holiday

Wilson spent almost 10,000 of company money on the extravagant holiday

Wilson, a former teacher, also submitted an invoice for 9,504 supposedly for a bill covering the National College of Teaching, but it was in fact made out to a company called Healthier Weight to pay for her gastric band operation.

She boasted how the operation, which took place in August 2015, helped her lose more than six stone in five months.

Further invoices for the company included bills for a veterinary hospital, dog grooming, dog sitter and a raffle prize at a dog show.

One invoice, purportedly for a special needs magazine, was in fact a 420 bill for a domestic upholstery cleaning company used by a friend of Wilson.

Wilson, who lived in a rented mansion, also engaged with contracts and suppliers for the company and inflated sums to be higher than their actual costs which meant she had an 'additional bonus' at the end of the year.

Wilson's lawyer said her 'manic depression' made her spend money on 'frivolous things'

Robert Goodwin, defending, said his client accepted she had abused her position and agreed there was a level of sophistication to the deception but added it was 'inevitable' she would get caught.

He said: 'She can't remember in detail what she was doing at the time because of her mental health.

'She accepts she took the money but she struggles to identify when she did it or why she did it.'

He added: 'She says her mental health problems and manic depression makes her spend money on frivolous things.

'Her property in Porthcawl was rented out for free while she rented a mansion in Cowbridge. She said she now has no further assets which has led to a deterioration of her mental health.'

Mr Goodwin said Wilson would be willing to give up her pension as means of compensation to the company, which has an office Newport.

Recorder of Cardiff, Eleri Rees, adjourned sentence so mental health reports could be made.

Wilson was granted bail under her sentencing on November 29.
Managing director Robert Deane, 63, from Cheshire, had planned to make a transatlantic call to his wife in California at midnight

A building tycoon was caught drink-driving his 50,000 Porsche back to his 1.5million home, after deciding to 'risk it' rather than wait an hour for a taxi following a lakeside wedding reception.

Managing director Robert Deane, 63, from Cheshire, had planned to make a transatlantic call to his wife in California at midnight.

But whilst at the wedding venue on a millionaire row in Mere, he realised a taxi due to take him back to his home in Bowdon near Altrincham had been an booked an hour later than he had hoped.

And after failing to get another cab, he jumped in his 50,000 Cayenne at 11.30pm and made the 22 minute journey himself so he could make the call as arranged to his wife who had been visiting her terminally ill mother.

Shortly afterwards he was spotted weaving around a dual carriageway by an off duty policewoman who had just finished her shift.

She alerted on duty colleagues and trailed him back to his 1.5m house when Deane stopped his car and nearly reversed into her vehicle when she pulled up behind him.

Tests showed Deane - who runs Wetherby Building Systems based in Golborne, near Wigan was more than twice the limit. The time in California would have been 4pm at the time of his arrest.

At Manchester magistrates court Deane, whose firm is worth an estimated 9m and featured in the Sunday Times Profit Track 100 in 2013, admitted drink driving and was banned from the roads for two years and was ordered to complete 80 hours unpaid work.

Prosecutor Steve Woodman said: 'On Saturday, October 7 this year, at around 11.30pm a Police officer just finished her shift and was off duty.

'She was driving home down the A556 dual carriageway heading towards Altrincham. She noticed a vehicle in front which was veering from one lane to lane two. This caused her some concern.

'She decided to follow that vehicle. She followed him towards Altrincham, she could see him swerving in the road. She was on the phone to her on duty colleagues during the entire time.

'She saw him drive onto the wrong side of the road and almost collide with a parked car. He managed to stop himself and continue driving.

'He arrived near his home and stopped in the middle of the road. He then reversed towards her to which she sounded her horn to make him away of her being there, and he stopped.

'She got out of the car and approached his car. She told him to remain in the vehicle and she removed his keys from the ignition. She noticed he smelt of drink.

'She introduced herself and asked him what he was doing. He told her that he had been at a wedding in Mere. He explained to her that he was supposed to be getting a taxi back with neighbours, but they had booked the taxi an hour later than when he was planning to leave.

'He couldn't get a taxi for himself so he thought he should just risk it.'

Tests showed Deane had 91 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35mg

Tests showed Deane had 91 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35mg.

His lawyer, Brian Koffman, said in mitigation: 'He pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity and cooperated fully with officers at the scene.

'He is genuinely remorseful. He completely understands the consequences to his actions, though he admits at the time he wasn't aware. He also admits he had no excuse to be driving. There was a reading of 91mg, which is relatively high.

'At the time of the offence he was on his way home to phone his wife. She is a US citizen and had travelled to California to be with her mother who was dying. She was very distressed about it.

'They had been invited to a wedding, but he hadn't intended to go. His wife had insisted that he should go. He never intended to drive back. He had driven to the venue but planned to get a taxi home with friends and pick his car up the next day.

'Unfortunately his neighbours had booked a taxi for 12:30pm when he was planning on leaving an hour earlier so he could call his wife. He then tried to get a taxi himself but unfortunately couldn't get one.

'He then decided to take a risk and drive home, which he accepts he should not have done. He has never done anything like this before. He doesn't have any alcohol or drug problems.

'He is the managing director of Wetherby's, who have a number of offices round the country, from a Glasgow to Bridgend.

'There are 67 people employed at this company and he feels responsible for them. If he becomes disqualified this is going to affect his ability to travel round the country and do his job effectively. Their jobs will then be affected as well as the company's annual turnover.

'We have looked into chauffeur companies who would be willing to drive him around to his many meetings, but none are particularly reliable.

He works incredibly hard and would hate for his employees to suffer for the foolish mistake he made.

'This was very much an impulsive decision.'

Passing sentence JP Judith Nuttall told Deane: 'Whilst this is a serious offence, and there could have been a serious accident, luckily there wasn't. We have heard your mitigation and accept this is something that will not happen again in the future.'

Deane was also sentenced to a 12 months community order, was offered a drinking driving awareness course and was ordered to pay 170 court costs.
A friendship between a personal trainer and his client who has Down's Syndrome has captured the hearts of hundreds across the world.

Sammy Callari, 27, from Naples, Florida, started training Parker Seward, 13, last year and the pair have been inseparable ever since.

Parker may be the student, but Sammy said he is the one who hasn't stopped learning since meeting his young client.

A friendship between a personal trainer and his client who has Down's Syndrome has captured the hearts of hundreds across the world

'He's made me a better trainer but he's also made me a better person. A lot of people see him as different but if anyone is different, it's me,' Sammy said.

Sammy said the pair are proud to raise awareness about Parker's condition.

Opening up about his relationship with his young client, he said: 'Parker has changed me, I haven't changed Parker.

'We've been worldwide and it's been awesome sharing Parker's story and our friendship, it's brought a lot of awareness.'

The duo work out together, shoot hoots and they even bicker like brothers.

In a heartwarming clip, Sammy and Parker are car-dancing while listening to Usher's hit Yeah! at full-volume.

Describing the moment in a post to Instagram, he wrote: 'The relationship Parker and I have is unlike any other.

'We feed off each other's energy. If you're not excited about life as Parker is in this video, you need to evaluate yourself! We're just two boys loving life, boosting positivity, and enjoying the ride. You only get one life.'

Sammy revealed he was a nervous the first time he was asked to train a child with Down's Syndrome.

The former mixed martial arts fighter and now a certified personal trainer undertook training courses beforehand.

'I will never forget it,' he said. 'I was a little bit anxious, definitely excited, but anxious because it was going to be a new experience for me. We hit it off. He gave me the nickname 'Luke Bryan' because he thinks that's who I look like.'

Parker started calling his new trainer 'big brother,' and Callari called him 'little brother', Naples Today reported.

'I almost look at him like he's an underdog,' Mr Callari said, 'because I've been in that role many times in my life.'

'I'm very grateful for Sammy,' Annamaria Seward, Parker's mom, said. 'How refreshing for a young person to be just as good with Parker as he is. That Sammy is something special. He's going places.'
Forty-six states and the District of Columbia require private insurers to cover the cost of autism therapies such as applied behavioral analysis, an therapeutic approach that reinforces desired behaviors through rewards.

Those mandates (Idaho, North Dakota, Tennessee and Wyoming have no, or limited, insurance mandates) have made a huge difference for children, according to a recent study in Health Affairs : Children with autism spectrum disorder, particularly younger children, have greater access to autism treatment. The mandates have also produced a significant cost for insurance companies, researchers found.

Eligible children in states with an autism insurance mandate are were on average 3.4 percentage points more likely to use autism-specific services in a month at a cost of about $900 per year, compared to peers living in states without mandates, according to the paper, entitled Effects Of State Insurance Mandates On Health Care Use And Spending For Autism Spectrum Disorder. 

Mandates affected the cost of services to young children the most. For children from birth to 5, a private insurance mandate was associated with about $1,900 more spent per year on outpatient services, compared to children in states without a mandate. For youth age 13 to 21, a mandate made no significant difference on spending. The researchers hypothesize that schools may take over some of these services as children with autism spectrum disorder age. Also, some states mandates only apply to younger children.

There was an effect of these policies, and it was a pretty large effect, said Colleen L. Barry, a professor of health policy and management at Johns Hopkins University and the studys lead author.

Good outpatient care can result in hopefully avoided hospitalizations. Thats what you want to see, she said.

At the same time, the study noted, the increases in health-care spending play into concerns that such mandates might increase insurance premiums.

Autism spectrum disorder, a developmental disability marked by social, communication, and behavioral challenges, has been growing in prevalence since 2000, when the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention first started monitoring it. About 1 in 68 children are now diagnosed with the disorder, up from 1 in 150 in 2002.

Eary intervention is considered highly important for children diagnosed with the disorder, but insurers havent always been willing to pay for treatment, saying that the therapies were experimental or that it would increase their costs.

That has left Medicaid as the single largest payer for health care for people with autism spectrum disorder, according to the study. The private insurance mandates were seen as a way to shift part of the costs to private insurers as well.

Insurance mandates usually come with annual caps of $12,000 to $50,000, the study notes, and about half of Americans covered by private insurance work for self-insured firms that are not subject to state insurance mandates.

What this particular study cant show is whether being in a state with an insurance mandate leads to better health outcomes for children with autism spectrum disorder. Thats the subject of future study, Barry said.

Without good treatment, children with autism spectrum disorder do often end up needing treatment in emergency rooms and hospitals, which also come with a cost, Barry said.

This is always the important question in health care, she said. When you make investments in outpatient care, are you averting uncessary hospitalizations, emergency room costs, by getting people the treatment they need in an outpatient context?
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A remarkable collection of photographs compiled by a high-ranking Nazi revealing the moment the tide turned against Germany in the Second World War has been unearthed.

Field Marshal Wolfram von Richthofen, who was the cousin of the First World War air ace known as the Red Baron, was a commanding officer in the German Luftwaffe during Operation Barbarossa - the invasion of the Soviet Union.

His photos include haunting, never-before-seen images of the brutal Battle of Stalingrad in 1942, which is regarded by historians as the beginning of the end of Hitler's empire.

There are before and after images of Stalingrad, which was flattened by a relentless German aerial bombardment, and poignant photos of people displaced by the brutal fighting.

Field Marshal Wolfram von Richthofen, who was the cousin of the First World War air ace known as the Red Baron, was a commanding officer in the German Luftwaffe during Operation Barbarossa - the invasion of the Soviet Union. His photos include haunting, never-before-seen images of the shockingly brutal Battle of Stalingrad in 1942, which is regarded by historians as the beginning of the end of Hitler's empire. Pictured: One of von Richthofen's snaps shows Stalingrad ablaze in the summer of 1942

The battle for Stalingrad was the turning point of the Second World War. After the German invasion of Russia  codenamed Operation Barbarossa, which began in June 1941  the Wehrmacht continued to head eastward, destroying whole Soviet armies and capturing two million prisoners, most of whom they starved to death. Von Richtofen also designed the so-called Jericho trumpet, the propeller-driven high-pitched sirens on Stuka dive bombers which sent a shudder down the spine of their victims. Pictured: Stukas raiding Stalingrad during the battle

There are before and after images of Stalingrad, which was flattened by a relentless German aerial bombardment, and poignant photos of people displaced by the brutal fighting (pictured). The Nazis lost 728,000 men and the Soviets over a million in gruesome street fighting that descended into savagery and starvation as soldiers fought hand-to-hand and froze in the Russian winter

In Washington and London, leaders wondered gloomily how long the Russians could stave off absolute defeat after the Germans launched their invasion of the Soviet Union. In the spring of 1942, Hitlers legions drove deeper into the Russian heartland, besieging St Petersburg, over-running the Crimea, and threatening the oilfields of the Caucasus. The Fuhrer was convinced the Russians were at their last gasp. He was exultant when in June Operation Blue enabled his armies to occupy new swathes of central Russia. Pictured: Lenin Square in Kursk, seized by the Nazis during the invasion

There is also a photo of Richthofen with General Freidrich Paulus (pictured right with von Richtofen opposite), commander of the Sixth German Army, who incensed Hitler when he surrendered at Stalingrad - rather than fight to the last man as the Fuhrer had ordered

There is also a photo of Richthofen with General Freidrich Paulus, commander of the Sixth German Army, who incensed Hitler when he surrendered at Stalingrad - rather than fight to the last man as the Fuhrer had ordered.

During the horrific battle, which came after the Nazis had destroyed entire Soviet armies in their relentless drive east, nearly two million men on both sides had been killed, captured or wounded.

The Nazis suffered 728,000 casualties and the Soviets over a million in gruesome street fighting that descended into savagery and starvation as soldiers fought hand-to-hand and froze in the Russian winter.

Stalingrad: The beginning of the end of Hitler's empire The battle for Stalingrad was the turning point of the Second World War. After the German invasion of Russia  codenamed Operation Barbarossa, which began in June 1941  the Wehrmacht continued to head eastward, destroying whole Soviet armies and capturing two million prisoners, most of whom they starved to death. In Washington and London, leaders wondered gloomily how long the Russians could stave off absolute defeat. In the spring of 1942, Hitlers legions drove deeper into the Russian heartland, besieging St Petersburg, over-running the Crimea, and threatening the oilfields of the Caucasus. The Fuhrer was convinced the Russians were at their last gasp. He was exultant when in June Operation Blue enabled his armies to occupy new swathes of central Russia. Scenting final victory, Hitler deputed General Friedrich Paulus, a staff officer eager to prove himself as a fighting commander, to lead a dash for the city on the Volga that was named after Stalin, and secure a symbolic triumph, while another German army group swung southwards to grab the oilfields. Hitlers top soldiers were appalled by the perils of splitting the Wehrmacht merely to capture Stalingrad, which was strategically unimportant. Their protests were ignored: the Fuhrer insisted. Likewise in Moscow, when the German objective became plain, Russias dictator Josef Stalin gave the order that his city must be held at any cost. Thus the stage was set for one of historys most terrible clashes of arms, in which on the two sides more than a million men became locked in strife between the autumn of 1942 and the following spring. On September 12, the first German troops entered Stalingrad. From the Kremlin came a new order to the Red Army: Not a step back . . . The only extenuating circumstance is death. The first German air attacks killed between 10,000 and 40,000 people  almost as many as died in the entire London blitz. Shellfire and bombs rained down on the city, day after day and week upon week. Stuka pilot Herbert Pabst wrote: It is incomprehensible to me how people can continue to live in that hell, but the Russians are firmly established in the wreckage, in ravines, cellars, and in a chaos of twisted skeletons of factories. General Vasily Chuikov, commanding Stalins 62nd Army in the city, wrote: The streets of the city are dead. There is not a single green twig on the trees; everything has perished in the flames. The Russians initially held a perimeter 30 miles by 18, which shrank relentlessly as Pauluss men thrust forward to within a few hundred yards of the Volga. Each night, up to three thousand Russian wounded were ferried eastward from the city, while a matching stream of reinforcements, ammunition and supplies reached the defenders. New units were thrust into the battle as fast as they arrived, to join duels in the ruins that often became hand-to-hand death grapples. Both sides were chronically short of food and water. The few surviving civilians suffered terribly, eking a troglodyte existence in cellars. Some soldiers were reduced to cannibalism in order to stay alive in the ruins of the city as the mercury plunged to -40C. The bloodiest battle in Second World War came to an end on January 31, 1943 when Field Marshall Paulus surrendered, disobeying the orders of his Fuhrer to kill himself. Of the 110,000 Germans who surrendered, only 5,000 would survive Stalin's gulags to return to a defeated Germany. The battle cost the German army a quarter of everything it possessed by way of material - guns, tanks and munitions. It was a defeat from which it never recovered and for days afterwards in Berlin all shops and restaurants were closed as a mark of respect. Advertisement

Richthofen served in the First World War in the German Air Force and was in the same squadron as his cousin, Manfred von Richthofen, who was credited with 80 aerial victories.

He was inadvertently responsible for the Red Baron's death as Manfred was shot down while trying to defend the novice pilot during his first flight in 1918.

He trained as an aeronautical engineer between the wars before rejoining the Luftwaffe under Hermann Goering.

The battle cost the German army a quarter of everything it possessed by way of material - guns, tanks and munitions. It was a defeat from which it never recovered and for days afterwards in Berlin all shops and restaurants were closed as a mark of respect. Pictured: A horse pulling bombs to a Dornier Do 17 in the bitter winter of 1941-2

Scenting final victory, Hitler deputed General Friedrich Paulus (right), a staff officer eager to prove himself as a fighting commander, to lead a dash for the city on the Volga that was named after Stalin, and secure a symbolic triumph, while another German army group swung southwards to grab the oilfields. Hitlers top soldiers were appalled by the perils of splitting the Wehrmacht merely to capture Stalingrad, which was strategically unimportant. Their protests were ignored: the Fuhrer insisted

Pictured: Von Richthofen Stukas taking off on another raid in the summer of 1942 as the Germans swept on towards Stalingrad

The first German air attacks killed between 10,000 and 40,000 people  almost as many as died in the entire London blitz. Shellfire and bombs rained down on the city, day after day and week upon week

Both sides were chronically short of food and water. The few surviving civilians suffered terribly, eking a troglodyte existence in cellars. Pictured: Russian prisoners of war in summer 1942

Each night, up to three thousand Russian wounded were ferried eastward from the city, while a matching stream of reinforcements, ammunition and supplies reached the defenders. Pictured: A bridge across the River Don during the winter of 1941-2

Some soldiers were reduced to cannibalism in order to stay alive in the ruins of Stalingrad as the mercury plunged to -40C. Pictured: A burnt out Russian tank in Kursk, taken during the invasion of Soviet Union by Wolfram von Richthofen

Stuka pilot Herbert Pabst wrote of the bombing of Stalingrad: It is incomprehensible to me how people can continue to live in that hell, but the Russians are firmly established in the wreckage, in ravines, cellars, and in a chaos of twisted skeletons of factories

General Vasily Chuikov, commanding Stalins 62nd Army in the city, wrote: The streets of the city are dead. There is not a single green twig on the trees; everything has perished in the flames. Pictured: Russian prisoners held by the Germans

Of the 110,000 Germans who surrendered, only 5,000 would survive Stalin's gulags to return to a defeated Germany. Pictured: A grave with a helmet on top of the cross

Richthofen survived the war but died of a brain tumour in July 1945 and was never put on trial at Nuremberg. Pictured: Some of his Stukas laying waste to Stalingrad in the summer of 1942

This picture is titled 'Children as soldiers'. Auctioneers Dickins, of Middle Claydon, Buckinghamshire, are now selling the three historic albums, which have been consigned by a private collector from Maidenhead, Berkshire, for an estimated 40,000

The albums cover the winter of 1941 as well as the doomed siege of Stalingrad. John Dickins, of Dickins Auctioneers, said: 'It is quite incredible to actually handle the personal album of a field marshal of his calibre'. Pictured: A flattened factory (right) and fuel depot

Dickins went on: 'He was the youngest field marshal in the German army and he would have gone further had he not had disagreements with his superior'. Pictured: Stukas raiding Stalingrad

On September 3, 1942, the German Sixth Army reached the outskirts of Stalingrad. They expected to take the city without major alarm, but discovered that the Russians had built up their defences. In mid-November, as the Germans were running out of men and ammunition, Russian general Georgy Zhukov launched his counter attack to encircle the invaders. Pictured left: Captured weapons. Right: Food for Russian prisoners

On February 2, 1943, General Paulus surrendered. About 150,000 Germans (who were joined in the battle by their Hungarian, Italian, Romanian and Croatian allies) had died in the fighting, almost two thirds of his men. Of the 110,000 German prisoners taken at Stalingrad, half died on the march to Siberian prison camps and nearly as many died in captivity. Only about 5,000 men survived and returned home. Pictured: Men struggle to unload a plane during the winter of 1941-2

He designed the so-called Jericho trumpet, the propeller-driven high-pitched sirens on Stuka dive bombers which sent a shudder down the spine of their victims.

Auctioneers Dickins, of Middle Claydon, Buckinghamshire, are now selling the three historic albums, which have been consigned by a private collector from Maidenhead, Berkshire, for an estimated 40,000.

The albums cover the winter of 1941 as well as the doomed siege of Stalingrad.

John Dickins, of Dickins Auctioneers, said: 'It is quite incredible to actually handle the personal album of a field marshal of his calibre.

Wolfram (pictured) was inadvertently responsible for the Red Baron's death as Manfred was shot down while trying to defend the novice pilot during his first flight in 1918

'He was the youngest field marshal in the German army and he would have gone further had he not had disagreements with his superior.

'The photos of Stalingrad are historically very important because this battle was the turning point in the war.

'Up until then Hitler thought he was invincible - Stalingrad proved he definitely was not.

'One image which stands out to me is that of Wolfram von Richthofen with General Paulus, who famously defied Hitler by surrendering at Stalingrad.

'Hitler wanted them to fight on to the last man.

'The aerial shots of Stalingrad show the devastation of the war and the images of the prisoners and refugees are very poignant.'

On September 3, 1942, the German Sixth Army reached the outskirts of Stalingrad.

They expected to take the city without major alarm, but discovered that the Russians had built up their defences.

In mid-November, as the Germans were running out of men and ammunition, Russian general Georgy Zhukov launched his counter attack to encircle the invaders.

On February 2, 1943, General Paulus surrendered. About 150,000 Germans had died in the fighting, almost two thirds of his men.

Of the 110,000 German prisoners taken at Stalingrad, half died on the march to Siberian prison camps and nearly as many died in captivity. Only about 5,000 men survived and returned home.

The Russians, buoyed by their success at Stalingrad, hit back on the Eastern Front and pushed the enemy back towards Germany. Pictured: Stalingrad in ruins after bombings

The Russians initially held a perimeter 30 miles by 18, which shrank relentlessly as Pauluss men thrust forward to within a few hundred yards of the Volga. Pictured left: A soldier attempts to unfreeze the diesel in a truck by lighting a fire under the engine. Right: A Stuka bombing raid on a Russian monastery in the winter of 1941-2

Captured mortars. Dickins said the battle shattered the myth of the Nazi empire's invulnerability. He explained: 'Up until then Hitler thought he was invincible - Stalingrad proved he definitely was not'

In Moscow, when the German objective became plain, Russias dictator Josef Stalin gave the order that his city must be held at any cost. Thus the stage was set for one of historys most terrible clashes of arms, in which on the two sides more than a million men became locked in strife between the autumn of 1942 and the following spring. Pictured: Von Richthofen, who liked to fly himself around the battlefields in his Stork aircraft

Dickins added: 'The aerial shots of Stalingrad show the devastation of the war and the images of the prisoners and refugees are very poignant'

Pictured: Stalingrad before it was flattened by Nazi bombers in the buildup to the main battle in the city

New Russian units were thrust into the battle as fast as they arrived, to join duels in the ruins that often became hand-to-hand death grapples. Pictured: Stalingrad flattened by bombs

After the Battle of Stalingrad, the Nazis were pushed back from the east by the Soviets until the Red Army reached Berlin in 1945. Pictured: A flattened factory during the battle

Field Marshal Wolfram von Richthofen's three albums will be auctioned on November 3

The Russians, buoyed by their success at Stalingrad, hit back on the Eastern Front and pushed the enemy back towards Germany.

In 1944 the Allies invaded France and forced the Germans to retreat from the west.

Richthofen survived the war but died of a brain tumour in July 1945 and was never put on trial at Nuremberg.

The auction takes place on November 3.
Michael Griffin, 55, was denied parole and given a release date of March 9, 2043

A man who shot and killed a doctor outside an abortion clinic in 1993 should not be released from prison for 25 more years, Florida's parole board decided Wednesday.

The state's Commission on Offender Review set a March 9, 2043, release date for 55-year-old Michael Griffin, who was convicted of shooting Dr. David Gunn, 47, three times in the back on March 10, 1993, as the doctor arrived to work at an abortion clinic in Pensacola, Florida.

Griffin, who is serving a life sentence at Blackwater River Correctional Facility in Milton, was convicted of first-degree murder in 1994. This was the first time that his case came before the commission, due to the state's mandatory minimum sentencing of 25 years.

The commission also voted not to consider Griffin's case again until July 2024, the maximum time they can set. A state investigator had recommended a presumptive release date of April 9, 2018.

Gunn's murder marked the beginning of a wave of deadly anti-abortion violence. He was the first U.S. doctor killed during an abortion protest. The shooting followed clinic bombings and regular protests against abortion in the city.

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Griffin was convicted of first-degree murder for shooting Dr. David Gunn (pictured) three times on March, 1993, outside an abortion clinic in Pensacola

Gunn's murder marked the beginning of a wave of deadly anti-abortion violence. He was the first U.S. doctor killed during an abortion protest (pictured is Griffin being escorted into a courtroom in March 22, 1993)

Gunn's son and daughter testified against Griffin's release, noting that he has not apologized or shown remorse for the murder. They also cited a 2010 interview Griffin gave to 60 Minutes Australia where he said 'the only people who should be in fear and terror are the abortion doctors, they've got to have a reckoning one day with God.'

'They saw the evidence that was provided and the interview, demonstrating he can be a clear and present danger. We are absolutely pleased with the sentence handed down,' said David Gunn Jr. after the hearing. 'He has demonstrated he can hurt people, and who he can influence. Other people have murdered in this state and in this country influenced by him.'

At the time of his death, Gunn was one of the few doctors performing abortions in the South, working at clinics in Montgomery, Alabama, and Columbus, Georgia, when he wasn't in Pensacola. He commuted to work from his home in Eufaula, Alabama, near the Georgia state line.

Months after Gunn was slain, another abortion doctor was shot to death outside another clinic in Pensacola by a gunman who wrote about being inspired by Griffin's actions.

Dr. John Bayard Britton was killed along with a volunteer escort, James H. Barrett, while arriving for work at a clinic in July 1994. Former minister and abortion protester Paul J. Hill was convicted in the slayings and the wounding of Barrett's wife, and was executed in 2003.

The extremist has not apologized for the crime and said in a 2010 interview that 'the only people who should be in fear and terror are the abortion doctors' (pictured)

The National Abortion Federation says there have been 11 killings, 26 attempted killings, 42 bombings and 186 arsons directed at abortion providers. The most recent death was on Nov. 27, 2015, when Robert Lewis Dear killed a police officer and two people accompanying friends to a Planned Parenthood clinic in Colorado Springs. Nine others were also wounded.

Griffin's mother, Lillian Ferreira, and another supporter were supposed to attend the hearing but sent letters asking for an earlier release.

David Gunn Jr. said Wednesday's decision should set a precedent for when other cases come up for parole.

'I certainly hope it will send a message that it will be taken seriously. Every killer that has taken the same action that he took has cited him as an influence,' he said. 'It is and has been a very influential case. Unfortunately it is the wrong kind of influence.'
Furious parents have blasted a secondary school after CCTV cameras were installed in the pupils' toilets.

School bosses claim the cameras, put directly above the boys' urinals and the girls' cubicles, are intended to combat bullying and vandalism.

Head teacher James Bowkett added: 'I can reassure parents and children that no cameras are directed towards sensitive areas including cubicles or urinals.'

Parents at Summerhill School in Kingswinford in the West Midlands have reacted with disbelief, claiming the surveillance is 'intrusive' and 'creepy'.

CCTV cameras have been installed at Summerhill School in Kingswinford, in the West Midlands

One female pupil was so upset at being watched while using the toilet she burst into tears.

One mother, who has a boy and a girl in Year 9, said: 'It's caused a lot of fuss, some of the parents on the Summerhill Facebook group have posted photos of the cameras in the toilets and one looks like overhanging girls' cubicles and another over lads' urinals.

'My children have refused to go to toilet in school, they feel like they are being watched.

'They said, 'can we ring you to take us home to use the toilet? It's absolute madness.

'Some are saying it's to prevent bullying and there's been vandalism, but surely they can put a prefect on duty in the toilets at break times or a teacher, they don't have to video children in toilets.

'A lot of parents are now requesting the footage.'

One female pupil was so upset at being watched while using the toilet she burst into tears

One mother said: 'My son has come back and said he doesn't want to go to the toilet. It's shocking...they may have problems going on in the toilets but they can't do this surely.

'A friend of mine said her daughter came home in tears because she was too scared to use the loo all day and she nearly wet herself in class. It's so intrusive and creepy.'

Another said: 'My daughter has now said she is 'holding it' and not going to the loo and she's not the only one who has said this...I'm disgusted!'

While another added: 'If I went shopping and popped in the toilets, looked up and saw one of these - would you be happy to continue? I think not, it's wrong on too many levels.'

One woman said her daughter had walked out as she couldn't face using the toilets and another said: 'What's stopping some dodgy person recording inappropriate images of our children!'

The school, which caters for 1,016 pupils aged 11-16, received a 'requires improvement' rating after an Ofsted inspection last November.

Despite the verdict, inspectors noted that 'pupils rightly feel safe in school.'

The school, which caters for 1,016 pupils aged 11-16, received a 'requires improvement' rating after an Ofsted inspection last November

Executive headteacher James Bowkett defended the toilet cameras following 'some disappointing behaviour' from pupils.

He said: 'For a number of years we have had CCTV installed in various locations within the school grounds, to not only allow us to monitor student behaviour but also to protect the school - ensuring the safety of everyone in our community.

'Following some disappointing behaviour from our students, who were not maintaining our high standards of behaviour whilst in the toilet areas, we took the decision to extend the network of cameras to these areas.

'I must stress that this it to allow us to monitor who is entering and leaving the communal toilet areas and I can reassure parents and children that no cameras are directed towards sensitive areas including cubicles or urinals.'
These are the three children shot dead by their father before he killed their mother and turned the gun on himself at their farmhouse in Northern France.

Pierre De Bisschop, 47, is believed to have killed sons Baudouin, 12, and Jean, 20, and his daughter Marion, 18, before shooting his wife Celine, 47 and finally committing suicide.

The gruesome murder-suicide has baffled both authorities and friends, who paint a picture of a happy and financially stable family.

Murdered: Jean, 20, Marion, 18, and Baudouin, 12, were reportedly shot and killed by their own father, who then turned the gun on their mother Celine, 47, and then himself

French police were called to the bloody scene in Nouvion-et-Catillon in the Aisne region, roughly 40 miles north of Reims, on Tuesday morning.

De Bisschop's farm workers made the gruesome discovery on Tuesday at around 8.15am after becoming worried that they had not seen him that morning.

A neighbour and family friend described the couple as 'hard working entrepreneurs' adding that 'the explanation is certainly not financial,' according to Le Parisien.

Pictures of the family on social media include holiday snaps where the siblings are happily posing and hugging each other.

According to a woman claiming to be a friend of the family, the brutal killings took place on Mrs De Bisschop's birthday.

Killer: Pierre De Bisschop (left), 47, is said to have shot his whole family, including his oldest son Jean (right), a university student, at their farmhouse in the Aisne region, 40 miles north of Reims

Scene of the crime: De Bisschop's farm workers made the gruesome discovery on Tuesday at around 8.15am when they went into the family home looking for him

Heartbreaking: Marion, an 18-year-old law student who had just started university is seen with her arm around her younger brother in a holiday snap posted on social media

Tragic: The incident has baffled both authorities and friends, who paint a picture of a happy and financially stable family, but one friend says Mrs De Bisschop was 'afraid' of her husband

The unnamed friend told L'Union that Mrs De Bisschop had been 'afraid' of her husband.

The De Bisschops had met as students, both attending IESEG School of Management at Universite Catholique de Lille, France's largest private university.

Mrs De Bisschops had graduated from a private high school in Lille that had been popular with the middle class, according Le Parisien.

His parents meanwhile were farmers, and the couple ended up taking over their business at some point in the late 1990s.

Both Celine and Pierre worked in 'finance' after graduating from university, but when their oldest son Jean was born, the couple bought some land close to his parents in Aisne.

Jean, 20, was a student at the Icam School of Engineering in Lille, while his sister Marion had just enrolled at university to study law.

The youngest son Baudouin was reportedly attending a nearby private school.

Police say they have yet to find a suicide note and have not discovered the reason behind the man's actions.

The family lived in this house Pont-a-Bucy - the farm where they were discovered is located a little further away, towards Nouvion-et-Catillon
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Many of us enjoy Halloween as an excuse to reach into the depths of our fancy dress cupboard - but some people will always take it too far.

Comedian David Walliams sent jaws dropping as he transformed into Kim Jong-Un for Jonathan Ross' Halloween party on Tuesday.

That was just one of many questionable outfit choices, with another attendee at the party turning up as disgraced movie mogul Harvey Weinstein.

Comedian David Walliams(left) sent jaws dropping as he transformed into Kim Jong-Un(right) for Jonathan Ross' Halloween party on Tuesday

That was just one of many questionable outfit choices, with another attendee at the party(left) turning up as disgraced movie mogul Harvey Weinstein(right, at a New York film premiere on September 7)

Meanwhile, social media was awash with insensitive choices. Daniel Gearie, 25, from Dundee, posted the iconic picture of Maddie, who disappeared from her hotel apartment in Portugal in 2007, smiling in her Everton shirt next to an image of himself in the same top with a blonde wig on

These attendees at the 44th Annual Village Halloween Parade in New York City on October 31 went as Vladimir Putin on the back of Donald Trump, in another risque Hallowe'en choice poking fun at Russian interfering in the U.S. election

Meanwhile, social media was awash with other risque garbs, including a man dressed as Madeleine McCann and another as Russian president Vladimir Putin.

In one shocking example, students wear Hallowe'en costumes with the name Freddie Gray, on the back. The death of Gray, a black man, in police custody led to riots in Baltimore.

Another photo shows two white students also dressed in orange overalls with the caption 'n*****s broke out' while a third shows a shirtless man with swastikas and the N-word drawn on his back, CBS Baltimore reported.

Walliams, 46, attracted plenty of criticism for the controversial outfit, with some people accusing him of using 'yellowface'.

He bore a striking resemblance to the dictator as he donned a black suit, complete with red lapel pins portraying previous rulers Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il while he appeared to sport prosthetics on his eyes and changed his skin tone.

After Walliams shared an image of his outfit on Instagram, users soon swarmed the site to lash out at him for 'cultural appropriation', yet others were tickled by the controversial ensemble.

Wei Ming Kam tweeted: 'And this is why I'm never buying any of his books. David Walliams was and still is a racist.'

Other users wrote: 'Could have just kept the hair. No need for the prosthetics on your eyelids... You could have done without yellowfacing...

'You're gonna be the f**king cause to ww3... Could have just kept the hair. No need for the prosthetics on your eyelids... When @kimkardashian does it its cultural appropriation, when d Walliams does it its funny.'

But others defended the comedian, writing: 'Wooow! Best costume I've seen so far... hold on... it is a costume, right?... You win Halloween 2017... Woww Happy Halloween you look like him...

Walliams' sketch show Little Britain previously came under fire for the character Ting Tong - a Thai bride ordered from a magazine.

Kim Jong-un took over the leadership of North Korea upon the death of his father Kim Jong-il in 2011. He is known for his strict regime and ruthless personality. He is a good friend of former basketball player Dennis Rodman.

Yohan Vang from Michigan chose to go the newsy route for his costume this year, dressing up as the United Airlines passenger who was controversially dragged from a plane in Chicago earlier this year

Remember? Dr. David Dao was pulled off the Louisville-bound flight in Chicago, sparking backlash for United Airlines in April

Walliams shot to fame in BAFTA nominated series Little Britain, is a judge on Britain's Got Talent, has released 10 children's books and in 2011 raised more than 2 million for Sports Relief by swimming 140 miles down the River Thames.

He was awarded an OBE in June. Walliams was previously married to Dutch model Lara Stone and the pair share four-year-old son Alfred.

In 2015 they called an end to their five-year union and were granted a decree nisi in a hearing lasting less than 60 seconds on Thursday morning.

Walliams and others clearly weren't following new guidelines from the National Union of Students, which issued a lengthy list warning them of all the potentially offensive costumes they should avoid dressing up as this.

The Scottish branch of organisation listed which outfits they believe are not acceptable and have told students not to wear anything racist, sexist, transphobic, culturally appropriating, ableist, or sl*t-shaming.

A leaflet read: 'This Halloween were encouraging you to Check Your Costume! Check and double-check your costume to avoid the exploitation and degradation of others.'

This reveller in Bristol certainly managed to raise some eyebrows with this unusual costume combination during a Hallowe'en night out yesterday

A woman sparked outrage after she appeared to don 'blackface' while working at a Staples store. Footage filmed by a customer at the Pleasant Hill, California, store, shows them confronting the woman, a contract worker from Marketsource there to promote Hewlett-Packard items, for her inappropriate getup

Hallowe'en costumes with the name Freddie Gray on the back. The death of Gray, a black man, in police custody led to riots in Baltimore
A chilling photograph of an ISIS logo on a cell phone was taken just weeks ago in the exact spot where the Manhattan truck attacker mounted a bike path killing eight, it has emerged.

The image, posted two months ago, shows a man holding a phone on the corner of Houston Street and West Street in Manhattan with skyscrapers including 1 World Trade Center in the background.

On Tuesday, at the same spot, terrorist Sayfullo Saipov drove a hire truck on to West Side Highway before plowing down pedestrians and cyclists along a bike path.

This image of a cell phone with an ISIS flag on it was taken at the junction of Houston and West Street and appeared online just two months ago

It was taken in the exact spot where terrorist Sayfullo Saipov began his terror attack yesterday by mounting a bike path in a rented truck and plowing into pedestrians, killing eight

According to the respected SITE group which monitors terror activity, the image appeared two months ago.

It is not known who was holding the phone in the original photograph.

Saipov, a 29-year-old Uzbek, has been named as the man behind the Tuesday attack.

While ISIS has not claimed responsibility for the attack, it is reported that propaganda from the terror group was found inside his truck.

ISIS had also issued a propaganda poster earlier in the day calling for attacks on Halloween, though it featured an image of Paris rather than New York.

Saipov's method also has all the hallmarks of an ISIS attack, which the group has touted in its monthly magazine - including using a rented vehicle, leaving propaganda inside, and following up the vehicle attack with secondary weapons.

ISIS has not claimed responsibility for Saipov's attack, though it is reported that propaganda from the group was found inside his truck

Saipov crashed his truck into a school bus and ran down West Street holding fake guns before being shot in the stomach and arrested

After mowing down pedestrians and cyclists, Saipov crashed his vehicle into a school bus before running down the highway holding fake guns.

It was there that he was shot in the stomach by a member of the NYPD before being arrested and taken to hospital, where he is now being questioned.

ISIS often does not claim attacks where the perpetrator was arrested, not killed.

Pro-ISIS channels have also been sharing propaganda praising the New York terror attacker after he killed eight people in Manhattan yesterday.

Posters commemorating the attack were uploaded online featuring images of the Statue of Liberty exploding and pictures of the carnage caused by 29-year-old Uzbek terrorist Sayfullo Saipov.

While some praised Saipov's actions - calling him a 'brother' - others mocked the low death toll and said they 'would have picked a bigger street'.
Brexit Britain received a boost today after new figures show that exports are booming - and sales to the US far outstrip those to Germany.

Trade numbers show the UK exports twice as much in services than we import - selling 38.537bn from April to June this year and buying in just 17.762bn.

And Britain sells over three times more to the United States than we do to Germany - our biggest trading partner in the EU.

The Office for National Statistics revealed the UK sold 8.4bn worth of services to the US from April to June - far more than the 2.5bn sold to Germany.

Britain exports around twice as much in services than we import, figures put out by the Office for National Statistics reveal

While sales to Asia have seen the biggest growth - jumping by nearly 1bn to 7.279bn from the first quarter of this year to the second.

The figures will be greeted with cheer by Brexiteers who have called for the UK to focus more on beefing up our trade links with the expanding Asia and US markets rather than focus on the EU.

In a statement to Mail Online, International Trade Secretary, Dr Liam Fox said: 'Today's figures show our exports growing from strength to strength.

'UK services are in high demand across the globe, with nearly two thirds going to markets outside the EU such as Japan and Saudi Arabia.

'It heralds a prosperous trading future for the UK, and it's why the dynamic and experienced team at my international economic department will continue to prepare the ground for future free trade deals, and support more British businesses that want to export.'

Jacob Rees-Mogg, Tory MP for North East Somerset, told Mail Online: 'The great strength of the UK is in services.

'It is striking that the US is our biggest national market and that we are doing well in the high growth Asian markets.

'Over the next generation the sclerotic European economies are the past, Brexit frees us for the future.'

The numbers show the value of British exports in services - excluding industries such as transport, banking and travel - to 54 different countries.

The EU is Britain's biggest single trading bloc - with the 27 other member states collectively buying 36.4 per cent of the UK's service exports.

While the second biggest market is North America which bought more than a fifth (22.9 per cent) of Britain's services exports in the last quarter.

Britain sells around three times more services to the United States than we do to Germany - our biggest EU trading partner

The value of exports to North America rose by 396 million to 8.861bn from the first three months of the year compared to the second.

A surge in sales to the US was the driving force behind this jump, with an extra 397 million of sales going to the States.

ONS said that sales increased to nearly all geographical regions - but the highest surge was in the growing market of Asia.

Sales to Asia increased by 951 million from the first three months of the year to the second, reaching 7.279bn .

China made the single largest contribution to the increase, growing by 246 million over the three months.

The figures are a boost for Chancellor Philip Hammond ahead of the Budget, which he will deliver in three weeks time.

He is under pressure to find extra funds to plough into house building and other public services.
The last member of the so-called 'Evil 8' to face court has been found guilty after a brief judge-alone trial in Perth of raping a 13-year-old girl.

Alfred John Impicciatore, 47, sexually penetrated the girl four times in March 2015 as her father watched and joined in the abuse.

Impicciatore had struck up an online friendship with the father and it was his first visit to their Perth house.

Accused 'Evil 8' paedophile Alfred John Impicciatore has been found guilty of four counts of f sexually penetrating a child during a brief judge-alone District Court of WA trial on Tuesday

Impicciatore previously claimed that his confession shouldn't count because he was stressed

The court heard that Impicciatore and the girls' father both raped the teen at her home in Perth

He confessed to police about two months after the crimes, but his case was repeatedly adjourned after he failed to show up in court and changed lawyers several times.

He had previously claimed that his confession shouldn't count because he was stressed and anxious after a long police interview.

Impicciatore was repeatedly told by magistrates the matter could not drag out any longer and he must enter a plea, but only did so in November last year.

Impicciatore was due to face trial in May but fled to NSW, which prosecutors say demonstrates a consciousness of guilt.

There was also outrage that he twice secured bail.

He was arrested after he refused to go to court on one occasion and instead went to a hospital, claiming he needed treatment for stress and anxiety, and was due to face trial in May but fled to NSW while out on bail the second time.

Impicciatore was extradited to WA, kept in custody and finally faced a brief judge-alone District Court of WA trial last week.

The court also heard DNA on an opened condom wrapper that was found at the house matched Impicciatore's.

On Tuesday, Judge Mark Herron found him guilty of four counts of sexually penetrating a child.

The Perth man allegedly raped the 13-year-old girl at the centre of the horrific case four times

Impicciatore struck up an online friendship with the girl's father and raped her at their house

Defence counsel John Hawkins had claimed his client admitted raping the girl because he was stressed, anxious, cold and tired after a long police interview.

Judge Herron said he was satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt the confessions were truthful and reliable.

During the interview, Impicciatore claimed the girl's father told him she was 17, but that cannot be used as a defence for an accused person who is more than three years older than the victim.

Impicciatore will face a sentencing hearing on March 26.
An Egyptian lawyer has come under attack after stating that women who wear ripped jeans should be raped.

Nabih al-Wahsh said that if a woman wore such trousers she deserved to be sexually assaulted and harassed, and said it was an Egyptian man's 'national duty' to rape her.

The jaw-dropping comments came during a television appearance on satellite channel Al-Assema.

Shocking: Lawyer Nabih al-Wahsh said that if a woman wore ripped jeans she deserved to be sexually assaulted and harassed

Al-Wahsh appeared on the talk show where the invited guests were discussing laws on 'inciting debauchery'.

He said if women wear jeans with rips that show any part of their legs, they are inviting men to harass them, Al-Arabiya reports.

He added that raping women who wear ripped jeans is 'a national duty,' implying that this would not only be what the women deserved but a way for them to learn self-respect.

He said: 'Girls must respect themselves so others respect them. Protecting morals is more important than protecting borders.'

Outrageous: The lawyer also said that it is an Egyptian man's 'national duty' to rape any woman he sees who is wearing ripped jeans

Al-Wahsh made the shocking comments while appeared on a talk show to discuss laws on 'inciting debauchery'

This is not the first time Al-Wahsh has behaved outrageously in a television studio.

Last year, he appeared on a talk show with an Australia-based imam who argued that wearing a hijab - a headscarf - is a choice and not a religious requirement for Muslim women.

This infuriated Al-Wahsh, who took off his shoe and beat the imam round the head with it on live television.
This effigy of Harvey Weinstein will be set alight at a Bonfire Night celebration in southern England this weekend

A famous British Bonfire Night festival will burn an effigy of scandal-hit Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein at this year's event.

A huge wooden likeness of Weinstein has been built by the Edenbridge Bonfire Society in Kent and will go up in flames on Saturday night.

The effigy shows the sex scandal producer in an open-fronted robe clutching an Oscar. His crotch is covered by a star and a movie clapperboard.

The society produces a Guy Fawkes-style dummy to set fire to each year, selecting a villain figure from the news to set alight.

Previous effigies have included Donald Trump, former FIFA president Sepp Blatter and shamed cyclist Lance Armstrong.

Weinstein was picked by the society to be this year's public figurine at the event after he became embroiled in a string of allegations of sexual assaults against female employees and movie stars.

A spokesman for the bonfire society said: 'As with last year there were many strong contenders for this year's celebrity guy, particularly in the political and cultural world.

'However, Weinstein was the obvious option due to allegations of outrageous and despicable conduct, which we at Edenbridge Bonfire Society obviously found completely abhorrent.

'While the burning of the guys is aimed as a light-hearted way to mark the traditional bonfire night celebrations in the UK, there is of course nothing funny about Weinstein's behaviour, so it seemed only fair that he gets his comeuppance in effigy form.'

Weinstein was selected as this year's hate figure by locals in Edenbridge in west Kent

Previous effigies have included Donald Trump in 2016 and EU President Jose Barroso in 2014

Locals also selected FIFA's Sepp Blatter in 2015 and cheat cyclist Lance Armstrong in 2012

Rumours of other names in the frame for this year included North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

Trump and Prime Minister Theresa May, were also considered this year, but society member Laura Burton-Lawrence said it was decided to move away from the political world and look at others.

More than 10,000 people attend the annual event, with families visiting from London, Surrey, Sussex and Kent.

Organised by a team of volunteers, the evening begins at 6.30pm with a torch-lit carnival procession through Edenbridge High Street.

This is led by the a man called 'the Bishop of the Bonfire', his choirboys and the society's effigies as well as visiting societies from Sussex.

The evening ends with a firework display before the effigies are burnt.
If youve been following the teacher evaluation debates at any point over the last decade or so, you know that states and districts have waffled on whether and how student achievement should be incorporated into a teachers rating.

Should value-added scores which aim to isolate how much a teacher has contributed to a students learning, as measured by testsbe a part of the calculation? Should they count for 50 percent of the evaluation rating? Or 35 percent? Or 10?

And there are less-discussed questions about the elements of teacher evaluation: Should student perceptions of a teacher be included? How much should they count for? And out of the total number of points available on an evaluation, how many should a teacher need to earn to be considered effective?

Its fair to say that these decisions have often been made at the state and district levels somewhat arbitrarily. If test scores made up 50 percent of an evaluation and that seemed too high, the state or district might dial that back to 35 percent or 20 percent. (See Washington, D.C. and Tennessee as examples.)

A new study takes an in-depth look at how the weights and thresholds used in an evaluation system affect teachers ratingsand finds that teachers with similar underlying scores (including observation, value-added, and student survey measures) can get significantly different outcomes from one place to the next.

Weve invested huge amounts of time and money and political capital in redesigning teacher evaluation systems, and theres a lot of moving parts in those systems, said Matthew Kraft, an assistant professor of

education and economics at Brown University and co-author of the study. These features are critical.

The researchers looked at data from about 1,300 teachers who participated in the Measures of Effective Teaching study , a large-scale, multiyear research project that was funded by a $45 million grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

We find that teacher proficiency rates change substantially as the weights assigned to teacher performance measures change, says the study, recently published in Educational Researcher . Proficiency rates also change substantially when the same teachers are evaluated using different performance ratings thresholds.

The chart on the right from the report puts evaluation systems from eight districts onto a common scale. (These were systems used in 2013 and 2015.) Teachers are proficient if they are deemed Level 3 or 4. As you can see, teachers in Fairfax County, Va., and Philadelphia needed to earn 50 percent of the total available evaluation points to be deemed proficient. But in Miami-Dade and New York City, they needed to earn closer to 75 percent of the total points.

Ratings Still High Overall

Among the most important findings from this new study: When value-added scores are incorporated into evaluations, the ratings tend to go down. And the more weight a system puts on value-added scoring, the lower the scores are likely to be, the study showed.

Thats because value-added scores tend to be relative measures, explained Kraft. Value added is generally designed to just compare you to your peers, he said. Everybody cant be good with value added.

On the other hand, with classroom observation scores, everyone can be excellent, he said.

And that leads to a huge caveat in all of this: As it stands, despite the variation in systems, almost all teachers across the country continue to get positive ratings .

Thats largely because observation scores make up the meat of most teacher evaluation systems, said Kraft. And as we know from previous research, principals tend to rate their teachers highly .

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New details are emerging about Sayfullo Saipov (left and right) who mowed down more than a dozen innocent people on a New York City bike path on Tuesday

The Muslim immigrant from Uzbekistan accused of carrying out Tuesday's terror attack in Manhattan entered court Wednesday evening in a wheelchair, handcuffed and with his feet shackled, to face terrorism charges filed against him by the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York.

Sayfullo Saipov, 29, wore a gray shirt and was surrounded by five guards while in his wheelchair inside a New York federal courthouse after he was charged with providing material support to a terrorist group and committing violence and destruction of motor vehicles.

His lawyers said Wednesday they were not seeking bail and a judge ordered him to be held in federal jail.

Saipov did not enter a plea to terrorism charges and a judge set his next court date for November 15.

Authorities say the Uzbek national watched ISIS videos on his cellphone and picked Halloween for the attack on a bike lane in lower Manhattan because he knew more people would be out on the streets.

Prosecutors said in court papers that Saipov asked to display the ISIS flag in his hospital room where he was recovering from being shot in the stomach by police ending the attack.

Saipov 'stated that he felt good about what he had done,' according to court papers.

The 29-year-old left behind knives and a note, handwritten in Arabic, that included Islamic religious references and said 'it will endure'  a phrase that commonly refers to ISIS, FBI agent Amber Tyree said in court papers.

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The Muslim immigrant from Uzbekistan (above in court sketches) accused of carrying on Tuesday's terror attack in Manhattan entered court Wednesday evening in a wheelchair, handcuffed and with his feet shackled, to face terrorism charges filed against him by the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York

Saipov, 29, wore a gray shirt and was surrounded by five guards while in his wheelchair inside a New York federal courthouse after he was charged with providing material support to a terrorist group and committing violence and destruction of motor vehicles

His lawyers said Wednesday they were not seeking bail and a judge ordered him to be held in federal jail. Saipov did not enter a plea to terrorism charges and a judge set his next court date for November 15

Questioned in his hospital bed, Saipov said he had been inspired by ISIS videos and began plotting an attack about a year ago, deciding to use a truck about two months ago, Tyree said. Saipov even rented a truck on October 22 to practice making turns, Tyree said.

John Miller, deputy New York police commissioner for intelligence, said Saipov 'appears to have followed, almost exactly to a T, the instructions that ISIS has put out.'

In the past few years, the Islamic State has exhorted followers online to use vehicles, knives or other close-at-hand means of killing people in their home countries. England, France and Germany have all seen deadly vehicle attacks since mid-2016.

A November 2016 issue of the group's online magazine detailed features that an attack truck or van should have, suggested renting such a vehicle and recommended targeting crowded streets and outdoor gatherings, according to the SITE Intelligence Group, a militant-monitoring agency.

Saipov told authorities, according to the compliant, he chose Halloween for the attack because he thought there would be more civilians nearby.

Carlos Batista, a neighbor of Saipov's in Paterson, New Jersey, said he had seen the suspect and two friends using the same model of rented truck several times in the past three weeks.

Overnight, FBI investigators raided Saipov's Paterson, New Jersey apartment, where he lives with his wife and three kids, the youngest of whom is three months old

It's unclear how long Saipov has lived at the address in New Jersey, he seemed to float between Ohio, Florida and New Jersey

A member of the media knocks on the door next to Saipov's apartment on Wednesday

An FBI investigator carries a bag of evidence away from Saipov's home on Wednesday

Trump tweeted Wednesday night that he spoke with the president of Argentina about the five victims who died in the attack on Tuesday

He also tweeted that the US 'will be immediately implementing much tougher Extreme Vetting Procedures'

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo told CNN on Wednesday that Saipov 'radicalized domestically' after moving to America seven years ago, where he had worked as a commercial truck driver and Uber driver.

Reports say that Saipov attended a 'suspicious' New Jersey mosque.

Saipov married in 2013 and has since fathered three children - the youngest of whom is three months old. Overnight, FBI agents raided the couple's Paterson, New Jersey home.

On October 28, Saipov was spotted on the George Washington Bridge, the crossing at the far northern tip of the island between New Jersey and New York.

That same day, his EZ-pass recorded him driving through the Holland Tunnel (which also links New Jersey and New York) twice. The Holland Tunnel is located in lower Manhattan, near where Saipov started his rampage on Tuesday.

Prosecutors released the criminal complaint (above) against Saipov on Wednesday afternoon which describes the charges he's been hit with for Tuesday's deadly attack

Saipov was charged with providing material support to a terrorist group and committing violence and destruction of motor vehicles

The documents also provide details into the background on ISIS as a foreign terrorist organization

The documents say ISIS has 'disseminated a wide variety of recruiting materials and propaganda through social media'

The suspect seemingly lived a quiet life prior to moving to the U.S.

He had spent most of his life living in a single apartment with his parents and three younger sisters in Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan, Radio Free Europe (RFE) reports.

Two neighbors back in Tashkent told RFE that the Saipov family were 'very secular' and 'ordinary Uzbeks who don't stand out in any particular respect'.

'His parents are far from religion,' one of them said, 'They don't even pray.'

Saipov's father, 52-year-old Habibullo, and mother, 50-year-old Muqaddas, run a small clothing stand in their local bazaar, and are relatively well off in their country, owning their own car and home.

The complaint details the deadly attack on Tuesday afternoon in lower Manhattan and also what was found inside the rented Home Depot truck. One of those items was a document that contained Arabic and English text

The complaint also shows a photo showing Saipov at the Home Depot in Passaic, New Jersey renting the truck used in the horrific attack

Saipov was read his Miranda Rights while in the hospital after being shot by an NYPD officer. He waived those rights and began speaking to investigators about what he admitted to doing, according to the complaint

The Uzbek national also said that he was inspired to carry out the attack by ISIS videos he had watched on his cell phone, according to the complaint

Authorities say one of the cellphones found in Saipov's possession contained 90 videos of ISIS-related propaganda

At the age of 22, Saipov moved alone to the U.S. after winning a greencard through the Diversity Visa Lottery.

But a police source in Tashkent told RFE that Saipov lived for a time in Osh, Kyrgyzstan - a city that saw violent ethnic clashes in 1990 and 2010 - before immigrating to the U.S. (DailyMail.com learned that Saipov has close links to Osh, according to Ruslan Leviev, head of the Conflict Intelligence Team, an anti-Kremlin social media monitoring group. He has social media links to friends in the city, also the home of Akbarjon Djalilov, who bombed the St Petersburg metro last year.)

When he first moved to the U.S., acquaintances said that he did not appear to be a 'religious person'. Several years later though, they say he became 'aggressive' and started expressing 'very radical views,' according to sources who spoke to RFE.

Since immigrating, Saipov has lived in multiple states - with addresses in Ohio, Florida and New Jersey. There's some confusion about where Saipov lived when, and for how long, since it appears he moved around frequently.

It's possible that Saipov, working as a trucker, split his time between the three states.

Saipov's mosque in Paterson, New Jersey has been under NYPD surveillance since 2005 (pictured above on Wednesday)

While NBC News reported that Saipov got his commercial driver's license in New Jersey in 2010, and later had it transferred to Florida, sources in Ohio say he lived there right after immigrating.

Dilnoza Abdusamatova, 24, told the Washington Post that Saipov stayed with her family in Cincinnati for his first two weeks in the country because their fathers were friends.

'He always used to work,' Dilnoza said told the Cincinnati Enquirer. 'He wouldn't go to parties or anything. He only used to come home and rest and leave and go back to work.'

She said that he cut off contact with them about a year later, when he got married and moved to Florida to work as a truck driver.

Records show that Saipov married fellow-Uzbek Nozima Odilova in Ohio in 2013. She was 19 years old at the time.

Pictured above is Saipov's former apartment building in Tampa, Florida. He also had an address in Fort Myers

TIMELINE OF THE MASSACRE 2:06pm Saipov rents a truck from the Home Depot in Passaic, New Jersey. 2:43pm Cameras on the George Washington Bridge show Saipov crossing into New York City. 3:04pm Cameras outside the Holland Tunnel show Saipov entering the bike lane at West Street and Houston Street at a high rate of speed. Saipov targets bicyclists and pedestrians in the south-bound lane. Eventually, crashing into a school bus at Chambers Street, where gets out and continues to terrorize bystanders. 3:08pm Police receive more than a dozen 911 calls of a truck driver targeting bystanders in the bike lane, crashing into a school bus and getting out waiving a gun. Two officers who were nearby at Stuyvesant High school for an unrelated call respond to the scene and notice Saipov walking around waiving a gun. Officer Bryan Nash, a 28-year-old who has been on the force for five years, shoots Saipov in the abdomen, bringing the rampage to an end. Advertisement

While Dilnoza says that Saipov started his trucking business in Florida, recrods show he actually started both of them in Ohio - going so far as to use her family's home address for registration.

In 2011, he started Sayf Motors in Hamilton County, Ohio.

Two years later, he started another company in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio - Bright Auto LLC.

Bright Auto LLC is an active carrier registered with the U.S. Department of Transportation. Records show that the trucking company has one truck and one driver. The company said it could not confirm if the suspect had rented the vehicle, but they are cooperating with police.

One fellow Uzbek driver said that Saipov ran into issues working as a truck driver and was a mean-spirited person.

Mirrakhmat Muminov, 38, of Stow, Ohio, portrayed Saipov as an argumentative young man whose work was falling apart and who 'was not happy with his life.'

Muminov said Saipov lost his insurance on his truck after his rates shot up because of a few traffic tickets, and companies stopped hiring him. Muminov said he heard from Saipov's friends that Saipov's truck engine blew up a few months ago in New Jersey.

He also said Saipov would get into arguments with his friends and family, tangling over even small things, such as going to a picnic with the Uzbek community.

'He had the habit of disagreeing with everybody,' Muminov said.

Saipov drove nearly a mile down the Hudson River bike path before his rampage came to an end when he smashed into a school bus

The above graphic shows how Saipov drove off the West Side Highway and onto the Hudson River bike path on Tuesday

But others who knew Saipov had nothing but nice things to say about him - painting a picture of a Jekyll-and-Hyde figure.

Kobiljon Matkarov, 37, said that he met Saipov in Florida about five years ago and they bonded over their shared Uzbek heritage.

'He is very good guy, he is very friendly he is like little brother he look at me like big brother,' he told The New York Post.

Matkarov says Saipov even invited him to his wedding in Ohio, but he couldn't attend.

Matkarov visited New York City recently and said that Saipov drove his family to JFK airport as they were leaving.

Saipov was very friendly, he said, and good with children: 'My kids like him too, he is always playing with them. He is playing all the time,' he said - but added that when one of the children asked to take a photo with him, Saipov refused. 'He no like that. He said no,' Matkarov said.

Matkarov said he was shocked by the claim that his friend had murdered and injured more than a dozen people, and that he didn't know of any terrorist connections he may have had.

Matkarov said he knew his friend had been working for Uber in New Jersey, a fact that the ride-sharing company has confirmed.

Uber said in a statement on Tuesday night: 'We are horrified by this senseless of violence. Our hearts are with the victims and their families. We have reached out to law enforcement to provide our full assistance.'

The company said that he had passed a background check by the company and that they are now 'aggressively' reviewing his history with them, although they had not yet found any 'concerning safety reports.'

The company added that he has been banned from the app.

Saipov (seen being taken into custody on Tuesday) immigrated to the U.S. from his native Uzbekistan in March 2010

People who know Saipov's parents back in Uzbekistan say the family is not religious. Saipov seen above moments after mowing down more than a dozen people on a bike path

Saipov is reportedly seen here holding his two fake guns after climbing out of the Home Depot truck. He ran about a block south of the crash before being shot. Records indicate he worked as an Uber driver and a commercial truck driver

Saipov appears to have lived in both Fort Myers and Tampa, Florida. And though he had been living in New Jersey when he was arrested on Tuesday, he had a Florida driver's license on him.

Neighbors at Saipov's Tampa apartment complex told the Daily Beast that Saipov lived in a modest apartment with his wife, kids and an older woman who appeared to be his mother or mother in law.

They said he was often on the road for two weeks at a time because of his job. They said the family also left every summer. The last time they left, the family told neighbors that they were moving to New Jersey because Saipov's job had been transferred.

Neighbor Melissa Matthews says the women of the household wore head scarves and were cold to her.

'Most people you say hello to and they say hello back, but they didn't,' Matthews said.

But neighbor Kyong Eagan had fonder memories of Saipov.

She says that the terror suspect treated her like royalty, bringing her food, large cases of water and orange juice and household appliances his family no longer needed.

'He always treated me like I was his mother,' Eagan said. 'He was kind of a nice neighbor. A real nice neighbor to have.'

Eagan said Saipov, who she described as soft-spoken, brought her home-cooked meals because he wanted her to learn about his culture.

'I just can't believe it at all. He was just so genuine. I'm just so shocked,' she said.

Other Tampa neighbors said he should 'fry' for his killing spree.

Gloria Bailey, 71, learnt she was living in the alleged mass killer's former apartment when the FBI knocked on her door Tuesday and a helicopter circled overhead.

'If he did what they say he did, they need to fry him. If he took innocent lives they need to burn him. Locking him up isn't good enough,' she told DailyMail.com.

The grandmother of seven moved into the rented $48,000 condo 11 months ago and found the two-bedroom property clean and tidy when she arrived.

'I've never seen the guy, I don't know what was going on. I just know that he was living in my apartment previously because the management told me,' she added.

'All I do is go to work and go to church. But now I feel nervous, I feel scared. I know America is the land of opportunity but they need to do more screening than they do.

'People are killing each other all over the world and they can all come here.'

Residents living at the Heritage At Tampa housing complex said they barely remembered Saipov who is believed to have lived there in 2015 when his driver's license was registered to the address.

A statement issued by the property's management company confirmed he was a former tenant but directed all questions to law enforcement.

Tatiana Colarte, 19, who used to walk her dog past Saipov's former ground apartment every morning, said: 'It's so scary.

'As soon as I saw a picture I recognized it was him. I can't believe the man who carried out that act lived so close to me.'

Police probed an apartment complex address in Fort Myers, Florida on Tuesday night where terror suspect Saipov lived from 2010 to 2011.

Uniformed officers from the Fort Myers Police Department as well as unidentified plain clothed agents were seen entering a second floor condo and speaking to the current occupants, a couple with young children.

A police car was stationed outside the rented two-bed, $50,000 property on the Gulfstream Isles housing complex but law enforcement had left by Wednesday morning.

Neighbors told DailyMail.com they had no idea who Saipov was before they saw his face on the news and couldn't remember him living there.

This is the rented Home Depot truck that plowed through cyclists and runners on the bicycle path. It only stopped when Saipov allegedly deliberately struck a schoolbus at an intersection

The side of the bus crumpled in, collapsing onto the chairs - and children - inside. Two children and two adults were hospitalized after the crash. One of the children was in critical condition

Shattered bicycles are seen here on the West Side Highway bike path where eight people were killed and at least 12 more injured. At least five of those who were killed had rented Citibikes before they were hit

A vehicle is surrounded by a police perimeter in the parking lot of a Home Depot store in Passaic, New Jersey where authorities believe Saipov rented the truck used in the attack

It's unclear how long Saipov has been living in Paterson, New Jersey. Some outlets say he moved in June, but records indicate he was living there at least off-and-on since 2012.

TERRORIST'S ACTIVITIES SINCE MOVING TO THE U.S. March 2010: Immigrates to the U.S. from Uzbekistan. Stays with the Abdusamatov family in a Cincinnati suburb for his first two weeks. April 2011: Gets a traffic violation in Hartford County, Maryland and lists an address in Fort Myers, Florida May 2011: Starts Sayf Motors Inc., registering the business to the Abdumastov's home address April 12, 2013: Marries Nozima Odilova in Ohio August 2012: Gets a ticket in Pennsylvania and lists a Paterson, New Jersey address Sometime in 2012: Meets friend Kobiljon Matkarov in Florida, is allegedly living there at the time. Matkarov says Saipov lived in Fort Myers until 2014 August 2013: Starts Bright Auto LLC in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio March 2015: Gets ticket in Pennsylvania and gives officers a Paterson, New Jersey address April 2016: Gets a traffic violation in Missouri and gives cops an address for Tampa, Florida Late 2016 - Early 2017: Saipov's mother visits him for about two months Around April 2017: Starts working for Uber in NJ September 2017: Saipov tells a friend that he's thinking of moving back to Uzbekistan Advertisement

In August 2012, he was pulled over in Palmyra, Pennsylvania and gave cops a Paterson, New Jersey address. He gave cops a Paterson address again in March 2015, when he was pulled over in Mount Holly Springs Borough, Pennsylvania.

The manager of Saipov's local grocery store in Paterson, Farm Boy Super Fresh Supermarket on Getty Avenue, had a poor opinion of the man.

She claims that Saipov was an 'erratic' customer who berated the cashiers, the New York Post reported.

'Every time he came here he was always erratic or arguing with the cashiers,' the manager, who did not want to provide her name, said.

'He would get angry very fast. he would break the cans, dumb things,' she said, adding that he was known for his rude behavior.

'I feel like he was prejudiced to the cashiers - whether they were covered or not in a hijab - he would belittle them,' she told The Post.

'He was talking good English, proper, but he would call the cashiers dumb, uneducated - how they didn't know how to scan the items.'

She also said that Saipov argued often about the price of Canada Dry Ginger Ale.

'Soda was the problem. He would come here and buy soda,' she said. 'He would give us a hard time on the 12-pack Canada Dry - if it was one price he would want his own price. It was always the soda, always a problem with the 12-pack of cans. Always a problem.'

One neighbor, 64-year-old Slavo Petrov, says he often sees Saipov going to mosque with his wife and kids, but he 'never says good morning and never says good afternoon'.

Investigators work around the wreckage of the Home Depot pickup truck a day after the massacre

Crime scene covered the scene, located in a usually bustling area of Manhattan

A large portion of the West Side Highway remained shut down on Wednesday so that officials could continue to investigate

It has since been revealed that Saipov's mosque was also under surveillance by the NYPD.

According to NorthJersey.com, the NYPD has been studying the Omar Mosque in Paterson, near Saipov's home, as a possible location for 'budding terrorist conspiracies'.

It doesn't appear that criminal activity has been linked to the mosque but the report says it 'is believed to have been the subject of federal investigations'.

ABC News also reports that Saipov was interviewed by federal agents two years ago about his alleged ties to two suspected terrorists.

Law enforcement sources told ABC that Saipov was interviewed as a potential 'point of contact' for two different men who were entered into the Counter-terrorism and Criminal Exploitation Unit's list when they came to the U.S. from 'threat countries'.

One of those men has since vanished and federal authorities are actively searching for him. The other is described as a 'suspected terrorist'.

Saipov was never the center of any investigation, and his interviews with federal authorities did not raise suspicions enough for the FBI to start a case file on him.

Saipov also has a minor criminal record for traffic offenses in Missouri, Pennsylvania and Maryland.

He was pulled over in Maryland in 2011 and gave cops an address in Fort Myers, Florida.

In 2012 and 2015, he was pulled over twice in Pennsylvania and each time gave an address in Paterson, New Jersey

His most recent traffic violation appears to have happened in April 2016, when he got a traffic violation in Missouri and said he was living in Tampa.

Each time he was cited for a traffic violation, Saipov pleaded guilty and paid a fine.

New York City Police Commissioner James O'Neill (center) stands with New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and (left) and Mayor Bill de Blasio during a news conference about the attack on Wednesday

VICTIMS OF THE BIKE PATH TERROR ATTACK Darren Drake, 32 Darren Drake, 32 Drake from New Milford, New Jersey, was taking a 15-minute afternoon break from his job at Moody's Analytics nearby when he was struck. His father said he had recently undergone weight loss surgery and cycled his bike to stay fit. Drake's grieving parents told The New York Post he that he had recently purchased a Citibike membership in a bid to lose weight. They said he was 'so smart' and suggested that he may have been listening to an audio book when he was hit which they said they hoped meant he did not see the truck coming. Nicholas Cleves, 23 Nicholas Cleves, 23 Cleves is a resident of New York. He was identified along with Drake by the NYPD on Wednesday afternoon. Cleves, 23, is a high school graduate and recently completed a degree in computer science from Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs. He lived in Greenwich Street, near to where the truck began its rampage on the West Side Highway at Houston Street. Shopkeepers in the area said Cleves was 'warm' and a 'good person'. It is not clear if he was cycling or walking when he was hit. Belgian tourist Ann-Laure Decadt, 31, Ann-Laure Decadt, 31 Mother-of-two Decadt was in New York with her two sisters and mother and was hit from behind as she traveled south on the bike path. She died in New York Presbyterian Hospital after being rushed from the scene. Her husband said she was a 'wonderful' mother to two young boys aged two and three-months. He was notified that she had died in a phone call from hospital staff on Tuesday evening. The woman's mother and two sisters were not injured. Five Argentinian friends visiting New York Five men from a group of nine Argentinians who were in New York celebrating their 30th school reunion were killed. The men were all on Citibikes and were struck cycling south along the path. They are Hernan Diego Mendoza-Espino, 47, Alegandro Damian Mendoza-Espino, 47, Herman Ferruchi, 47, Diego Enrique, 47 and Ariel Erlis, 48. Five members of this group of Argentinian friends were also killed. They are Hernan Diego Mendoza (far left), Alejandro Damian Pagnucco (second from left), Ariel Erlij (third from left), Diego Enrique Angelini (second from right) and Hernan Ferruchi (third from right). A sixth friend, Martin Ludovico Marro (not pictured), was injured Advertisement

About an hour before the attack on Tuesday, Saipov rented a pick-up truck from a Home Depot in Passaic, New Jersey. He then drove the truck into the city over the George Washington Bridge, at the very northern tip of Manhattan, and made his way all the way down to lower Manhattan.

He crossed onto the Hudson River bike path at Houston Street, and then sped down the path nearly a mile - killing eight and injuring 12 while allegedly shouting 'Allahu Akbar'.

He then waved a paintball gun in one hand and a pellet gun in the other, and was shot in the abdomen by a police officer.

Overnight FBI investigators searched through Saipov's apartment in Paterson, and the white minivan he left behind at the Home Depot parking lot.

Investigators are also collecting video and pictures from the scene of the attack.

In addition to interviewing Saipov, investigators are also talking to his wife and are planning to track down his other contacts. A source told RFE that authorities in Uzbekistan interviewed Saipov's mother, father and 17-year-old sister on Wednesday.

A makeshift memorial stands on a bike path in lower Manhattan on Wednesday where the terror attack was carrier out a day before

Five of the dead were part of a group from Argentina who were celebrating the 30-year anniversary of their high school graduation. Another victim was from Belgium and the other two were American. Two of the injured were staff members on a bus transporting children that Saipov slammed into at the end of his rampage.

Six people died at the scene and two more died at the hospital. Of the 12 others that were hospitalized, three have since been released. Four of the nine still hospitalized were in critical condition but are now stable. The rest are in serious condition. The injuries ranged from a bilateral amputation to serious head and neck injuries, back trauma and trauma to the arms and legs.

Both New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo spoke at the Wednesday press conference.

'This was an attack on the United States of America, an attack on New York City, an attack on our people,' de Blasio said.

'It was the definition of terror - an effort to take away people's hopes and spirit and make them change.

'And what New York has showed already is that we will not be changed. We will now be cowed, we will not be thrown off by anything,' he added.

During the question and answer portion of the press conference, Cuomo criticized President Trump's 'politicization' of the tragedy.

The aftermath took a political turn Wednesday when Trump said Saipov came to the U.S. under a visa lottery program  'a Chuck Schumer beauty,' Trump called it in a reference to the Senate's top Democrat.

Cuomo said it was not the time for such remarks - which he called 'not helpful' and 'not factual'.
This puppy is more than just a man's best friend.

Video footage shows the 10-month-old poodle picking up rubbish and placing them in the bin on streets of south-west China.

Mr Yang, the dog owner, claimed he had started training his puppy for this trick at a young age.

Mr Yang gave a command to his poodle, Xiao Huanghuang and directed it to the rubbish bin

Xiao Huanghuang carried a tissue to the nearest rubbish bin and placed it inside carefully

Mr Yang was seen walking his dog, Xiao Huanghuang, in Banan district of Chongqing on October 19, according to Pear Video.

He pointed the rubbish to Xiao Huanghuang and directed his dog to the rubbish bin.

The poodle listened and followed the master's instruction to pick up litter such as food packaging, tissues or cigarette box.

Then, it placed the litter into the bin just as Mr Yang commanded.

Mr Yang told Pear that he started training his dog to do so when it was two, three months old (left). Xiao Huanghuang has been listening and doing a good job in cleaning the street (right)

The ten-month-old puppy picked up an empty bottle and threw it in the bin (left). Mr Yang gave Xiao Huanghuang a treat after helping out (right)

A street cleaner gave the poodle a pat as it placed a dirty tissue into her dustpan

'I have been training Xiao Huanghuang to pick up rubbish since it's two, three months old,' Mr Yang told Pear.

Xiao Huanghuang can also put the rubbish into a cleaner's dustpan.

The cleaner gave the dog a pat and thanked it for cleaning the street .

Onlookers were surprised to see the dog being helpful and said: 'Xiao Huanghuang is a good dog.
Brutal photos revealing the gruesome injuries suffered by a man who was kidnapped have been released by police as they continue to search for a masked gunman.

A man wearing a black balaclava and armed with a sawn-off gun broke into Andrew Cameron's home in Hanmer on New Zealand's South Island in September, according to Stuff.

Nine people were in the home at the time including Mr Cameron's 19-year-old son and three-month-old baby.

Brutal photos revealing the gruesome injuries suffered by a man who was kidnapped have been released by police as they continue to search for a masked gunman

The attacker smashed Mr Cameron's face with the gun before forcing him to tie up his family members.

With a gun pointed at his head, Mr Cameron was ordered to drive a silver SUV while his attacker sat in the passenger seat.

Mr Cameron was able to escape only once he jumped out of the moving car and sprinted off without shoes on.

The attacker chased Mr Cameron and tried to get back into the house. When he couldn't find a way into the property he drove off in the SUV.

It was found ditched in Christchurch two days later.

Police believe the man entered the home expecting to find a particular person, but when he couldn't find them he searched every room in the house.

The attacker smashed Andrew Cameron's face with the gun before forcing him to tie up his family members

Detective Sergeant Colin Baillie said the attacker made a 'monumental screw up' but he 'continued to terrorise that family for no purpose'.

Mr Cameron said he and his family were 'coping with everything as best we can'.

'You're certainly a bit more nervous when the lights go out,' he said.

'It was just a surreal situation that no one wants to be in.'
A road rage spat ended with a motorist spitting at a cyclist who confronted him about using his phone at the wheel.

The angry episode in episode, which happened in Edinburgh, saw driver Omar Hanif shout: 'Get off my ****ing window' after biker Steven McPherson approached him.

The two were hauled before the courts in the Scottish city last week as Hanif was fined 450 and cyclist McPherson received a caution.

A road rage spat ended with a motorist spitting at a cyclist who confronted him about using his phone at the wheel

At the start of the clip, Hanif, seen driving a silver Toyota Yaris, stops in the left lane of the junction, with the car almost completely inside the box area for cyclists.

McPherson knocks on the driver's window and points to the mobile phone which Hanif can be seen holding to his ear.

Putting down the window, Hanif can be heard saying '**** off my ****ing window' before McPherson smacks the phone out of his hand replying 'get off your ****ing phone.'

Clearly annoyed, Hanf replies 'are you ****ing daft? You wee *****' before pushing the car door open with his leg.

During the shouting match, Hanif is seen spitting at McPherson which can be seen landing on the camera.

McPherson, seen holding onto the driver's door trying to get off his bike, shouts 'get off your ****ing phone' again as the enraged driver goes up to his face replying 'you daft, you want a slap?'

The angry episode in episode, which happened in Edinburgh, saw driver Omar Hanif shout: 'Get off my ****ing window' after biker Steven McPherson approached him

As Hanif gets back in the car, the cyclist can be heard replying 'going to the ****ing police now.'

With Hanif responding: 'I'm going as well, ****ing slapped my window you wee *****. ****ing faggot, you are. You're lucky, I'll punch your **** inman'

Driving alongside McPherson, the motorist continues: 'Look, go to the police station, you hit my window, I want damages.'

As the lights change to green, McPherson replies to the driver: 'You can go and **** yourself how about that' with Hanif signing off: 'I'll **** your mum.'

Hanif appeared before Edinburgh Sheriff Court on October 25 where he admitted the assault charge.

McPherson had already accepted a Section 38 caution for threatening or abusive behaviour.

The two were hauled before the courts in the Scottish city last week as Hanif was fined 450 and cyclist McPherson received a caution

Speaking about the clip today, McPherson said: 'Initially, I went to speak to the driver to tell him he's not supposed to stop in the bike box, and then I realised he was on his phone. When I knocked on the window, I was met with a torrent of abuse, and I stupidly went to slap the phone out of his hand.

'He then spat in my face - visible on the camera lens hence the assault charge. He also threw an aerosol can or something out of his window at me, although it missed me.'

A spokesman for road safety campaign website, SWD Media, who obtained the footage, said: 'While the cyclist could have handled this in a totally different way, there is no excuse whatsoever for the road rage and torrent of abuse coming from the driver, who was in the wrong for being in the cycle box and on his phone.

'To spit on somebody is one of the most disgusting things any human can do.

'As for the abusive language it is nothing short of homophobic abuse and should have been treated as such.

'To give the cyclist a caution was on the face of it the right call but the driver got off lightly with a 450 fine.'
For students in China, the road to success not only depends on how hard they work, but also how quickly they run, as it seems.

A recent viral video has captured the unbelievable moment hundreds of university students raced to get a space in a library so they could prepare for an exam.

Some of these students got up as early as 5am in order to get a good position in the queue, according to People's Daily .

Nobody can stop me: Students at the college in China swarm into the library in early morning

Fighting for space: They scrambled to get into the library so they could secure a seat

The 30-second footage, released by Chinese video website Pear Video, was filmed on October 27 at the Huanghuai College in the city of Zhumadian, Henan Province.

The army of eager learners sprinted into the library as soon as the doors were open.

A teacher could be seen trying to control the flow of people, but he was soon devoured by the large number of students.

A student told a Pear Video reporter that the teacher was trying to stop the students at the back of the queue rushing forward, but he wasn't able to.

The ultimate race: Some of them got up as early as 5am in order to get ahead of the lines

Run, run, run: They are preparing for an upcoming exam and want to find a quiet place to study

The video also showed that a large number of students scrambled to get through the library's front door.

It's understood that these students were studying for the National Postgraduate Admission Examination, which is to be held from December 24 to 26 around the country.

All of them would have prepared for the three-day exam for about a year.
Pope Francis has confessed that he sometimes nods off while praying and claims saints too have been known to grab some Holy shut-eye.

The 80-year-old Argentine head of the Roman Catholic Church often closes his eyes for long periods while bowing his head in prayer.

'When I pray, sometimes I fall asleep,' he said in an episode of a Catholic TV2000 television programme published Tuesday on YouTube.

Pope Francis (pictured) has confessed that he sometimes nods off while praying and claims saints too have been known to grab some Holy shut-eye

'Saint Therese did it too,' he said in reference to a 19th-century French nun, adding that Christians were called to feel like children lying in their fathers' arms - a place conducive to napping, he implies.

Francis radiates energy and enthusiasm when he meets people, but his expression turns very grave when he prays, often bowing his head and closing his eyes.

The pontiff values his sleep and is tucked up in bed each night by 9pm - though he rises with the lark at 4am.

His fast-paced schedule is only possible because he gets his head down for a snooze after lunch, Vatican sources say.

Meanwhile, French Catholic authorities expressed anger yesterday at the court-ordered removal of a cross from a statue of the late pope John Paul II, which prompted outrage from his native Poland.

The 80-year-old Argentine head of the Roman Catholic Church often closes his eyes for long periods while bowing his head in prayer - and sometimes nods off in the process

France's highest administrative court ruled last week that the cross, in the northwestern town of Ploermel, must be taken down due to strict secularism laws separating church and state.

The local Catholic diocese in Vannes deplored the move Tuesday, saying it 'risks exacerbating the tendency to make Christian symbols ever less visible'.

The court move raised the hackles of French rightwingers and the far-right, while the conservative government in Warsaw suggested moving the statue to Poland.

'The Polish government will try to save this monument to our compatriot from censorship and we will propose moving it to Poland,' Prime Minister Beata Szydlo said Saturday.

The statue, by Russian artist Zurab Tsereteli, was erected in a square in Ploermel under an arch topped by a cross following a 2006 decision by local authorities.

The National Federation for Free Thought, a non-profit organisation, took the issue to court alongside two local residents.

The court ruled that the cross breached France's 1905 secularism law, which forbids religious symbols from being displayed on public monuments.
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As animals are unable to communicate with words, it can sometimes be hard for humans to understand them.

However, in the case of this baboon, the message is pretty clear.

It was captured solemnly raising its middle finger to a car full of tourists as it sped away.

Cheeky monkey: The baboon made the rude hand gesture to a group of tourists as they sped away in their car in the Kruger National Park in South Africa

Wildlife photographer Leon Fouche, 34, took the picture while in Kruger National Park, South Africa.

He said: 'It seems like it's a case of "monkey see, monkey do".

'When I pulled up next to the baboon he lifted his arm with his middle finger extended - I couldn't believe my eyes.

'It almost seems like the "hand signal" was intended for the people in the vehicles who had just been looking him and were now driving away.

'It is the most common baboon found in southern Africa known as the "chacma baboon".'

'It happened literally as I pulled up next to the baboon. When I saw what he was doing I stopped the car as quickly as I could being careful not to startle him, aimed my camera and quickly took the shot.

'Fortunately the baboon held that pose for a good few seconds.

'I'm fairly sure I'll never see something like this again in my lifetimes. Perhaps in a zoo, but not in a wildlife reserve.
A court has ordered a cross to be removed from a statue of the late Pope John Paul II in France - prompting fury in his native Poland.

France's highest administrative court ruled last week that the cross, in the northwestern town of Ploermel, must be taken down due to strict secularism laws separating church and state.

The local Catholic diocese in Vannes deplored the move, saying it 'risks exacerbating the tendency to make Christian symbols ever less visible'.

The court move raised the hackles of French rightwingers and the far-right, while the conservative government in Warsaw suggested moving the statue to Poland.

A court has ordered a cross to be removed from a statue (pictured) of the late Pope John Paul II in France - prompting fury in his native Poland

France's highest administrative court ruled last week that the cross, in the northwestern town of Ploermel, must be taken down due to strict secularism laws separating church and state. Pictured: Pope John Paul II, in 2004

'The Polish government will try to save this monument to our compatriot from censorship and we will propose moving it to Poland,' Prime Minister Beata Szydlo said Saturday.

The statue, by Russian artist Zurab Tsereteli, was erected in a square in Ploermel under an arch topped by a cross following a 2006 decision by local authorities - a year after John-Paul II's death.

The National Federation for Free Thought, a non-profit organisation, took the issue to court alongside two local residents.

The court ruled that the cross breached France's 1905 secularism law, which forbids religious symbols from being displayed on public monuments.

Meanwhile, Pope Francis has confessed that he sometimes nods off while praying and claims saints too have been known to grab some Holy shut-eye.

The 80-year-old Argentine head of the Roman Catholic Church often closes his eyes for long periods while bowing his head in prayer.

'When I pray, sometimes I fall asleep,' he said in an episode of a Catholic TV2000 television programme published Tuesday on Youtube.

Pope Francis (pictured) has confessed that he sometimes nods off while praying and claims saints too have been known to grab some Holy shut-eye

'Saint Therese did it too,' he said in reference to a 19th-century French nun, adding that Christians were called to feel like children lying in their fathers' arms - a place conducive to napping, he implies.

Francis radiates energy and enthusiasm when he meets people, but his expression turns very grave when he prays, often bowing his head and closing his eyes.

The pontiff values his sleep and is tucked up in bed each night by 9pm - though he rises with the lark at 4am.

His fast-paced schedule is only possible because he gets his head down for a snooze after lunch, Vatican sources say.
Nazi killer: Friedrich Fritz, 66, shot and killed two of his neighbours in Austria

A massive manhunt is underway for an Austrian neo-Nazi pensioner who murdered two people before fleeing in a van with Heil Hitler! emblazoned on it.

Friedrich Fritz, 66, is said to have shot dead two of his neighbours in the village of Stilwoll near Graz, and seriously injured a third.

He allegedly shot his neighbours in a dispute about access to his land using a rifle that belonged to his wife, a registered hunter.

Police took to social media after the killings to warn people that far-right fanatic Fritz is dangerous and should not be approached.

His white Volkswagen van with 'Heil Hitler!' written on a sign in large black letters, was found abandoned in woodland soon afterwards but he had vanished.

Fritz ran a website which translates as 'judicial violence' in which he railed at judges and prosecutors he claimed had wronged him.

He is a self-proclaimed member of the far-right Reichsbuerger movement.

Far-right supporter: After shooting three of his neighbours, killing two, he then took off in a white Volkswagen van with 'Heil Hitler!' written in large black letters across the back windows

Missing: His white Volkswagen van was found abandoned in woodland soon afterwards, but Mr Fritz had vanished

The Reichsburgerbewegung - the Reich Citizens' Movement - do not recognise the German government or the country's post-WW2 borders.



On Wednesday there was a reported sighting of him in Amstetten 120 miles from his village.

Amstetten was made infamous in 2008 when depraved father Josef Fritzl was arrested for imprisoning his daughter for 24 years in a cellar beneath his home, raping her repeatedly and fathering seven incest children with her. He is serving life in a secure psychiatric hospital.

Police in Amstetten joined the hunt for him but so far he remains st large.
Wayne Marlon Jones, 56, from Canada is charged with sexual assault and three counts of fraud over $5,000

A Canadian bishop has admitted to having multiple affairs with two sisters at the same time - one of whom was living with the him and his wife.

Bishop Wayne Marlon Jones, 56, is currently on trial over allegations that he sexually assaulted four female parishioners and conned them out of thousands of dollars.

'I'm not proud of it,' Jones said repeatedly during his testimony on Tuesday.

According to the Toronto Sun Jones said the sexual relations were all consensual and lasted around 18 months.

Jones told the court that he invited a younger sister and her two sons to live at his home in 1990.

He helped get her at a car factory where he worked at the time and they commuted together.

Wayne Marlon Jones, 56, from Canada was charged with sexual assault and three counts of fraud over $5,000

Jones has admitted to affairs with two sisters but says they were consensual

As his first wife, Debra Jones, worked two jobs, the bishop admitted that he spent lots of time home alone with the woman who was separated from her husband in Trinidad.

Eventually, Debra caught her husband in the act as the bishop made love with his live-in mistress on the living room floor.

Despite the woman then being kicked out of the house, the affairs continued and Jones admitted also sleeping with the woman's sister.

Other allegations that he drugged and raped another alleged victim Jones claimed were complete 'fabrication.

Married bishop from United Spiritual Baptist Church arrested in August 2014

He allegedly told a woman a voodoo curse would be lifted after sex with him

The bishop also said that he never engages in exorcism or any voodoo practices or has acted as a medium.

'We would be the laughingstock of Baptist churches if we did that,' Jones told his lawyer Randall Barrs.

A fourth victim who came forward told of how she turned to Jones for help after a jealous Montreal psychic placed a curse on her by sleeping with seven voodoo practitioners in Cuba.

Jones said that the only cure for her would be to sleep with him.

The woman testified that she had sex with Jones some 30 times and he conned her and her drug-dealing boyfriend out of $20,000, her boyfriend's $5,000 car and some of his jewelry over the course of three years.

Jones has pleaded not guilty to charges of sexual assault and fraud.
The Karen National Union (KNU) said that more than 20,000 local residents have been forced to flee after two consecutive days of airstrikes by the...
Tory grandee William Hague (file image) today said he would be more likely to vote Leave in any second Brexit referendum, warning Britain must commit to last year's decision

Tory grandee William Hague today said he would be more likely tp vote Leave in any second Brexit referendum, warning Britain must commit to last year's decision.

The Remain-supporter said the nation could not keep changing course as he ruled out support for a new poll.

Lord Hague admitted Britain needed a 'breakthrough' in the Brexit talks with the European Union but played down the current impasse.

Calls for a second referendum have grown as the Government steps up preparations for a no deal Brexit amid deadlock in the negotiations in Brussels.

Labour peer Lord Adonis met with EU negotiator Michel Barnier in Brussels this week and today claimed he had been Brexit could have been stopped at any time.

Speaking to the BBC Radio 4 Today programme, the former Tory leader said it was 'inevitable' the UK should prepare for a 'no deal' Brexit but admitted it 'would be a pretty bad scenario'.

Despite the difficulties, Lord Hague was asked if he would change his Remain vote at the June 2016 poll.

Lord Hague said he would be 'more likely' to vote Leave this time, as 'you can't change your mind'.

With negotiations set to resume in Brussels next week, Lord Hague said Britain 'needs a breakthrough' in negotiations with the EU.

He said: 'I think the negotiations so far have taken a fairly predictable course actually.

'And of course, the task now is to make sure there is a breakthrough in the coming months.

'That is incumbent on both sides to make sure that there is that breakthrough.

'The EU needs to respond fully to what Theresa May said in her Florence speech, but if so there can be a reasonable agreement.'

Brexit Secretary David Davis (pictured in Downing Street this morning) yesterday briefed the Cabinet on the latest preparations for Britain's departure from the EU

Lord Hague also rejected the idea the UK should have another Brexit referendum, as he insisted the UK must 'make the best job' of its exit from the bloc.

The Lord claimed another EU referendum would be the 'most divisive' decision, leaving the UK to 'go round in circles'.

Following his talks with Mr Barnier, which also included ex-Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg and Tory grandee Ken Clarke, Lord Adonis said: 'Clear from discussions in Brussels on Monday that UK can stop process of leaving EU whenever it likes before end March 2019.

'We should do so.'

Ukip MEP Patrick O'Flynn hit back immediately, tweeting: 'There we have it - Clegg & co really were in Brussels to overturn a democratic decision.

'Despite Cleggs early support for Ref.'

Britain's negotiations with EU negotiator Michel Barnier (pictured) will resume next week

Brexit Secretary David Davis yesterday briefed the Cabinet on the latest preparations for Britain's departure from the EU.

And in a separate appearance before a parliamentary committee, he warned that that Britain's divorce from the bloc will 'probably favour the Union in terms of things like money and so on'.

The moves indicate the government is gearing up for a no-deal Brexit and while also laying the groundwork for a hefty divorce bill.

Some 250million has already been spent on preparations for all scenarios from a comprehensive deal to crashing out after a failure of talks.

Another 412million will be budgeted for the rest of this Parliament, running up until 2022.

At the same time, thousands more civil servants - including up to 5,000 customs officials - will be hired by the Government.

The announcements came as Mr Davis told a House of Lords select committee he would travel to Brussels on Friday ahead of a resumption of official talks next week.

He added: 'The withdrawal agreement, on balance, will probably favour the Union in terms of things like money and so on, whereas the future relationship will favour both sides and will be important to both of us.'
A meth addict who gave a killer she just met a lift to his crime scene has been acquitted of helping him murder an innocent man.

Tamara Fenton accepted $10 to drive John Evans, 35, to a unit in Terrigal on the NSW Central Coast where, unbeknownst to her, he planned to rob a drug dealer.

However, 'Santa Claus', as the dealer was known, had moved out and beloved retired architect and surfer Leslie Wallace, 65, was unpacking boxes when Evans burst in.

Meth addict Tamara Fenton gave a killer she just met a lift to his crime scene and has now been acquitted of helping him murder an innocent man

She accepted $10 to drive John Evans, 35, to a unit in Terrigal on the NSW Central Coast where he beat beloved retired architect and surfer Leslie Wallace, 65, (pictued) to death

He was tied up with duct tape and beaten to death by Evans in what the NSW Supreme Court heard was a 'prolonged attack'.

The killer was soon caught and pleaded guilty to murder, kidnapping and breaking and entering.

But the mother-of-one was soon facing the same charges after Evans claimed she helped him beat Mr Wallace then drove him to another break and enter nearby.

Evans in exchange received a discounted sentence of 24 years jail with a non-parole period of 18 years, according to the Central Coast Gosford Express Advocate.

It would have been 32 years if he hadn't offered his 'assistance to authorities' to testify against Ms Fenton, Justice Robert Allan Hulme said.

Evans planned to rob a drug dealer known as 'Santa Claus' after Ms Fenton drove him there, but he had moved out and the killer got the wrong man

The killer was soon caught and pleaded guilty to murder, kidnapping and breaking and entering in exchange for dobbing in Ms Fenton

Mr Wallace (pictured) was tied up with duct tape and beaten to death by Evans in what the NSW Supreme Court heard was a 'prolonged attack'.

The accused woman spent two years defending herself while losing friends she'd known since high school as everyone assumed she was guilty.

First she spent eight days on remand coming down from her ice addiction, then four months in jail until she got bail, then reported to police 500 times before trial.

Finally a jury last week found her not guilty of any role in Mr Wallace's death, and she was allowed to walk free and rebuild her life.

'It was over as fast as it began. It didn't take a brain surgeon to know what really happened. I was telling the truth and he was lying,' she said.



Ms Fenton said she knew she was innocent and had no idea what Evans planned to do that night when he offered her $10 for a lift.

'In those days and in those ways, in the drug (world) anything for extra money or extra drugs was fine,' she said.

'Looking back now it's like 'you idiot'. Yuck, you derro, druggie sort of person.'

The mother-of-one (posting this selfie on the first day of her trial) spent two years defending herself while losing friends she'd known since high school as everyone assumed she was guilty

Finally a jury last week found her not guilty of any role in Mr Wallace's death, and she was allowed to walk free and rebuild her life

But Ms Fenton said the experience changed her for the better as it gave her the 'ultimate wakeup call' to get off drugs and make a better life for herself.

'I've lost a ridiculous amount of time. Tears of sadness, tears of joy. Loss of friendships loss of trust over this,' she wrote on Facebook after the verdict.

'Massive appreciation to the 12 jurors! Most of all the wonderful support I've had from my family and friends throughout this time of hardship.

'At the end of the day I've learnt many lessons over this time and am forever thankful and grateful for everything I've got.'
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said he is disappointed Stephen Parry didn't tell him about his dual citizenship sooner.

Mr Parry, the Senate President, resigned after receiving advice from the Home Office that he was a British citizen on Tuesday.

He becomes the sixth federal politician to be forced out of parliament due to dual citizenship, but Mr Turnbull brushed off suggestions all members of parliament and senators should be audited to ensure they are eligible for election.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said he is disappointed Stephen Parry didn't tell him about his dual citizenship sooner

Mr Parry, the Senate President, resigned after receiving advice from the Home Office that he was a British citizen on Tuesday

The Prime Minister delayed a trip to Israel to sort out the mess left by the High Court's decision to disqualify Nationals leaders Barnaby Joyce and Fiona Nash.

'I'm disappointed Senator Parry didn't make public this issue quite some time ago,' Mr Turnbull told reporters in Jersualem.

'I learnt about it the same time as you did, on Tuesday.

'He chose to delay his reporting of it, he should've reported it much earlier and it could've been referred to the High Court together with the other matters that were dealt with the other citizenship-by-descent cases.'

Mr Parry is the first Liberal to be caught up in the citizenship saga.

Mr Turnbull said the matter will be referred to the High Court when parliament returns on November 27.

He said he wasn't sure an audit to ensure there are no more dual citizens breaching the constitution would work.

'Does that mean somebody is going to undertake extensive genealogical research on every member of parliament and senator? Undertake extensive research into foreign laws?' he said.

The Prime Minister delayed a trip to Israel to sort out the mess left by the High Court's decision to disqualify Nationals leaders Barnaby Joyce and Fiona Nash

'It's the responsibility of each member and senator to examine their own affairs, form a view and if they feel they are not in compliance with the constitution they should say so,'

Nationals MPs have been pushing for New South Wales senator John 'Wacka' Williams to fill the role of Senate President but Mr Turnbull said the role has traditionally been held by a Liberal.

Mr Parry is the eighth federal politician to be dragged into the dual citizenship fiasco and the sixth to be forced out of parliament.
The grieving family of a man who tragically died after being tasered by police have spoken out to pay their respects.

When police arrived at Anthony Caristo's home in the Canberra suburb of Waramanga on Tuesday they found him severely injured and armed with a knife.

Covered in his own blood, Mr Caristo was striking himself in the leg with the knife, and had a severed finger and cuts to his arms.

The grieving family of a man who tragically died after being tasered by police have spoken out to pay their respects (pictured is Mr Caristo, left, with his mother)

When police arrived at Anthony Caristo's home (pictured) in the Canberra suburb of Waramanga on Tuesday they found him severely injured and armed with a knife

Police tasered Mr Caristo, aged in his mid-50s, in an attempt to prevent further injury, The Sydney Morning Herald reported.

After officers managed to subdue and handcuff Mr Caristo they discovered he was unresponsive and ACT paramedics were unable to revive him.

'He was a smart man with a big heart and I'll never forget the crazy things we used to do on our weekends together when I was younger,' said Mr Caristo's daughter Carley.

'Tony would do anything for anyone. It's horrible, just horrible,' an old friend of Mr Caristo said, describing him as someone with a 'heart of gold'.

Covered in his own blood, Mr Caristo (pictured with his daughter Carley in 1994) was striking himself in the leg with the knife, and had a severed finger and cuts to his arms

In a statement Mr Caristo's family asked to be left in peace to grieve in private, and called for a thorough investigation into the tragic death.

Neighbours said Mr Caristo was friendly and normal, a man who lived alone with his dog and kept to himself.

Police said the death would be subject to a coronial inquiry, and confirmed Mr Caristo was known to police.

Chief Police Officer Justine Saunders said on Wednesday mental health might have been a factor and officers acted appropriately.
It has been ten years since British student Meredith Kercher was knifed to death in a shared apartment in Perugia, Italy sparking a murder mystery that has gripped the world ever since.

For her family November 1, 2007 is a date still too painful to bear.

But all these years on Meredith's memory still burns bright and the Kerchers will mark the anniversary of their beloved Mez's death as they always do, lighting a candle and remembering the laughter and joy she brought to their lives.

Meredith's older sister Stephanie says family and friends will gather at the cemetery in Croydon, south London and remember 21-year-old Mez in their own way, marking the past 10 years of friendship with her as a celebration rather than the horrific tragedy that it is.

Here in a moving statement given exclusively to DailyMail.com on the anniversary of her death, Stephanie - who still struggles to deal with unanswered questions surrounding the case - shares her feelings and emotions from the past decade.

University of Leeds student Meredith Kercher was found stabbed to death in her apartment while she was studying abroad in Perugia, Italy on November 1, 2007. The 21-year-old became the subject of an international murder trial

Stephanie Kercher, now 34, (pictured with her mother Arline in 2013) opened up on the 10th anniversary of Meredith's death and said she will 'always remember her beautiful sister'

The 34-year-old, who lives in Surrey, England says the day Meredith died could never be more 'vivid' in her mind and she will 'always' remember her 'beautiful sister'.

But after all these years doubts remain over Meredith's death and glaring contradictions and discrepancies in the Italian judge's summary of the case still haunt the Kercher family.

While drifter Rudy Guede was convicted in the murder, it was on the basis that he did not act alone, yet no one else is in the frame.

American Amanda Knox and her Italian ex-boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito were controversially found guilty and later acquitted.

Now the Kercher family is left wondering whether they will ever know what really happened.

'When I touched her frozen cold body for the last time, the determination to live, the struggle and the fight that she put up, despite being outnumbered was clear to see'

Stephanie Kercher writes for DailyMail.com

Ten years ago today, our lives changed forever. Our world was torn apart by what could have been 'another' news story.

Despite being saddened by the ever growing number of deaths appearing on the news, it is still something that you never think would happen to you.

Now I feel ever more deeply for those facing what we have.

November 1st, the day Meredith was cruelly taken from us, could never be more vivid in my mind.

I have of course, been asked how we will be remembering her and how we feel, as this year marks the tenth anniversary. As anyone that has lost someone so close to them, and most certainly those who have had to experience the tragedy and despair of having someone taken from them in such a brutal way, will tell you that the pain and helplessness never ceases.

American student Amanda Knox (pictured arriving in court) - who was roommates with Kercher at the time - became one of the main suspects in the international murder trial along with her boyfriend Italian Raffaele Sollecito. The two were convicted of murder and later acquitted

Meredith's strong character is ultimately what laid the path for her studying in Perugia. She was drawn to the unique beauty of the picturesque town, of Gothic cathedral houses and Renaissance paintings and frescoes. The piazzas evoked the typical Italian lifestyle surrounded by trattorias and bars that she spent her evenings with both English and Italian friends. Meredith was on a four year university course at Leeds University and her third year was to be spent in an Italian city.

There had been some confusion over this placement and Meredith found herself fighting for her place abroad.

She was determined and adamant that she would live like an Italian and immerse herself in the culture and there was no way she would miss out on the infamous chocolate festival! With her place finally secured, she made her way to the beautiful city to find accommodation.

In the brief time that Meredith was in Perugia, she discovered the hidden gems on offer; indescribable views across the city, bars and restaurants she had already grown fond of and more than anything, a group of friends from Leeds University who were also studying out there at the time, who would become some of the best friends she could have asked for.

Friends who still stay in touch with us and have Mez cited firmly in their memories and their current get-togethers. This is also true of her old school friends.

It is almost impossible to put into words how surreal 10 years feels when the pain is as real and consuming as ever, when the images of the crime scene are so firm in your mind it is difficult to know if they will ever fade, and if you can ever truly live in peace.

When her infectious smile and laughter are so clear and you can sometimes swear by the warmth of a cuddle, yet the lapse of time also makes all those things feel so distant that you are terrified of forgetting what they sound and feel like.

Kercher was studying abroad in Perugia, Italy, but was found stabbed to death in the flat she shared with Knox, just months after she moved in

Above, Italian police investigate the crime scene where Meredith's body was found. Her family say they feel let down by the Italian justice system

And the only photos you have, are the same ones you always see as no new memories can be created.

Those new memories have been stolen from me, and I can only try to include her in the life I lead.

We are ever thankful to the public and the people of Italy for their support and kindness and their own remembrance of Mez.

For the girl who felt for Italy like her own home, who was a true friend to those she met, loyal, caring and empathetic but who would also stand up for what she believed in and was true to herself.

If nothing else, I can remain sure that the last time I saw her, when I touched her frozen cold body and lay a kiss on her cheek for the last time, the determination to live, the struggle and the fight that she put up on the evening of November 1st despite being outnumbered was clear to see.

It is difficult to come terms with not knowing exactly what happened that night, as whether you believe the guilt or innocence of the accused there are still contradictions and discrepancies in the judge's summary.

Nor have we heard anything more of a further investigation into who else they think may have been involved.

Rudy Guede, currently serving his sentence was convicted on the basis that he did not act alone, however, with no one else on trial or convicted it does of course raise questions for us as a family and anyone following the case.

The anniversary of Meredith leaving us is not one we really like to mark.

Ivorian national Rudy Hermann Guede's (left) fingerprints were found on the crime scene. He was convicted in the murder but is believed to not have acted alone. Congolese Lumumba 'Patrick' Diya (right) was one of the three suspects in the murder

We prefer to celebrate her birthday instead (December 28).

It is one of the hardest weeks of the year, but by no means the only one.

We will visit the cemetery and remember Mez in our own way as a family and her friends will also be gathering to mark the last 10 years of friendship with Mez as a celebration rather than the horrific tragedy that it is.

I support this idea, as it embraces the core of who she was as a person; someone who would help with lecture notes, listen to your problems and your accomplishments, offer company and advice and go to all lengths possible to be somewhere for you.

She was far wiser than her years but was complemented by a fun and carefree outlook on life.

In the 10 years that have somehow already passed, we know nothing new of what happened to her and as stated before, I wonder if we ever will.

I do feel let down by the Italian justice system as it has contradicted itself on its decisions and has sought no new avenue of investigation. I continue with my life as best I can as do those who knew Mez, but I will not let her fade into the background.

She deserves better than that.

So, to my beautiful sister, we will remember you today as we always do, with your smile and your warmth but with deep sadness and a void that can never be filled.

Not 10 years, 20 years, or more from now, will we miss you any less, and this is always your story - The Meredith Kercher case.
A federal judge has ordered Paul Manafort to wear an ankle bracelet while he's on house arrest so he can't flee the country.

A court filing submitted by Special Counsel Robert Mueller says that Manafort and his former business partner, Rick Gates, 'pose a risk of flight based on the serious nature of the charges' against them, their substantial means and foreign connections.

Manafort has three passports, which he turned over upon his arrest, Mueller's bail memo reveals, and an email and phone that are registered under fake aliases.

SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO

A federal judge has ordered Paul Manafort to wear an ankle bracelet while he's on house arrest so he can't flee the country

A courtroom sketch shows Manafort (standing, center) and his former protege Rick Gates (standing, right) entering their not-guilty pleas before U.S. Magistrate Judge Deborah A. Robinson on Monday

A court filing submitted by Special Counsel Robert Mueller says that Manafort and Gates'pose a risk of flight based on the serious nature of the charges' against them, their substantial means and foreign connections

Gates and Manafort were indicted on Monday on 12 charges that involve their foreign bank accounts and money laundering. According to the government, they had close to $75 million that mostly hid in overseas accounts.

Manafort had assets in the amount of $19 million to $136 million, the court document says, based on various filings he submitted between 2012 and 2016.

Last year Gates claimed he had a net worth of $30 million, although he said a month later that he had just under $3 million worth of assets.

Bail for Manafort, 68, was set at $10 million, while Gates, 45, had his set at $5 million. They are facing 12 separate counts of foreign and financial crimes that face maximum penalties of 15 years and eight months and 12 years and seven months, respectively.

Both men have plead not guilty to the charges. They are due in court again on Thursday.

A bail memo Mueller's team submitted to the court justifying the pair's house arrests and electronic monitoring revealed additional details about conduct the special counsel's office found concerning, like the email address and phone that Manafort registered under an alias.

The phone Manafort took to Mexico in June, and China and Ecuador in May. Manafort registered the alias email address in March, before the Department of Justice approved a special counsel investigation.

Manafort had been under scrutiny long before that, though. He was sidelined and then ousted from Trump's campaign in August of 2016 when he was accused of accepting an off-the-books payment of $12 million from the ex-leader of the Ukrainian government for political consulting work he was known to have done.

GPS FOR PAUL? Manafort and Gates will have to wear ankle monitors during their home confinement as their trials approach

In the past ten years, Mueller says, Manafort submitted as many United States Passport applications that netted three passports, all with different numbers.

'Manafort and Gates are frequent international travelers,' the memo says, 'consistent with the nature of their work for foreign entities.'

Last year alone, Manafort traveled to Dubai, Cancun, Panama City, Havana, Shanghai, Madrid, Tokyo, and the Grand Cayman Island, it states.

Gates and Manfort both traveled to Cyprus, the probe discovered, where their extensive offshore accounts were located.

'Extensive travel of this nature further evidences a risk of flight,' the memo states.

Mueller asked the court to reject any claims that the defendants do not pose a flight risk given that they did not flee the country while they were under federal investigation.

They are now under house arrest. Some pretrial arrangements can come with allowances for leaving the house for work, school, church services and even grocery shopping, but it is not clear if that's the case for Manafort and Gates.
Jesus Campos went back to working security at Mandalay Bay Hotel on Monday, a month after he was wounded during the October 1 massacre that left 58 dead, according to a report.

Campos, 25, resumed his duties while still being lodged at a hotel operated by MGM Resorts International at the expense of the company, reported the Las Vegas Review Journal.

Campos has been staying at the MGM-owned property since the shooting rampage carried out by Mandalay Bay guest Stephen Paddock, 64, who opened fire on a crowd of concertgoers at the Route 91 Harvest Festival across the street.

Back to work: Jesus Campos (pictured right on October 17) on Monday reportedly returned to work at Mandalay Bay Hotel, where he was shot on October 1

The 25-year-old security guard has been staying at an unnamed MGM Resorts property at the expense of his employer since October 4

MGM spokesman Alan Feldman and Campos lawyer Frank Flansburg III told the Review-Journal that Campos has been staying at the unnamed hotel for his own protection, citing intense media scrutiny.

Both Feldman and Flansburg declined to comment Tuesday on Campos' employment status.

'We dont speak about individual employees in the public realm,' the MGM official told the paper.

Campos was the first person to confront Paddock on the night of the music festival massacre, which left him with three gunshot wounds to the leg.

A month after the incident, however, there are still lingering questions about the timeline of the shooting, which has changed several times.

Gunman Stephen Paddock (pictured) shot Campos in the leg during the October 1 massacre that left 58 dead

It is still unclear whether Paddock shot Campos before firing on the country music festival, or during the rampage.

MGM officials and Campos himself have been tight-lipped about the exact sequence of events, and the convalescing security guard has been kept away from the media, save for one public appearance on a daytime talk show.

The 25-year-old had canceled scheduled appearances on five news shows early on, and ultimately went on the Ellen DeGeneres Show last month, but the softball interview steered clear from the hot-button issue of the timeline.

According to MGM, Campos has been staying at the undisclosed hotel since October 4, when he was publicly identified as the guard who was shot by Paddock.

Feldman, the senior MGM executive, said the company was just ensuring the well-being of one of its employees.

'When his name became public, Jesus was inundated with media coming to his home,' he said last week.

Campos gave only one interview since the deadly shooting during his October 17 appearance on the Ellen DeGeneres Show

Campos was not asked by DeGeneres about the timeline of the massacre, which has been the subject of intense scrutiny

'Out of concern for our employee's safety, we provided a room for him. This was a very unusual circumstance, and our first and only concern was his safety.'

He added: 'He went from being a private citizen with no attention to suddenly being in the spotlight, and it was overwhelming while he was trying to recover from the tragedy.'

Police had visited Campos at the hospital and given him the all-clear for a pre-planned and company-approved trip to Mexico, which he took shortly after the shooting.

Last week, MGM released new audio from the night of the shooting to ABC, but it is unclear when the recording was made.

In the audio, Campos can be heard saying, 'Hey, there's shots fired in, uh, [floor] 32 [room] 135.'

A crackling sound that could be gunfire from Paddock's rifles - some of which were modified to fire at auto speed - can be heard behind his voice.

Campos was born in Southern California and moved to Las Vegas as a teenager.
Special counsel Robert Mueller's investigators have scheduled an interview with White House communications director Hope Hicks, who was at the candidate's side throughout his campaign.

Hicks, 29, has been with Trump since before he launched his unlikely bid for president. She worked on communications for the Trump Organization, and worked on his campaign when it was a small operation. The has traveled extensively with the president, serving as a hub for other officials seeking to interact with Trump.

She has scheduled a meeting with Mueller's investigators after she returns from the President's trip to Asia, which begins Friday, Politico reported.

White House communications director Hope Hicks has scheduled a meeting with Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigators

Hicks is in a position to have information about campaign staff efforts to arrange a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The special counsel revealed Monday that former Trump campaign foreign policy advisor George Papadopoulos had pled guilty to lying to the FBI, and had pitched a Putin meeting after meeting with a professor in London who offered dirt on Hillary Clinton.

Mueller's team will also want to glean information from Hicks about whether or not the president obstructed justice when he fired FBI director James Comey. Memos released by the White House at the time hungComey's firing on his handling of the Clinton email scandal.

But the president told NBC Comey's then-Russia probe was on his mind at the time he made the decision. Hicks might be able to shed light on what the president was saying about the firing before and after it happened.

Her interview signals a new phase in the investigation, as Mueller's team focuses on more current and former White House aides.

Hicks rose from a press job in the Trump Organization to become White House communications director

White House Strategic Communications Director Hope Hicks leaves the White House October 11, 2017 in Washington, DC

White House Communications Director Hope Hicks walks down the stairs after US President Donald Trump disembarked from Air Force Oner at Morristown Municipal Airport on September 29, 2017 in Morristown, New Jersey. Investigators will want to probe any knowledge she has about contact with Russians as well as anything she witnessed that might relate to obstruction of justice

Former White House press secretary Sean Spicer has already met with investigators

His team is expected to meet with three or four current officials this week, Politico added, according to a current official. Nothing about recent events alters the White Houses commitment to fully cooperate with the office of the special counsel, White House attorney Ty Cobb told the publication.

Former White House press secretary Sean Spicer, as well as former chief of staff Reince Priebus, have each met with investigators.

Hicks may also be privy to scheduling and other information about business matters that Mueller's team will find of interest. The Mueller indictment unsealed Monday focused heavily on the former Trump campaign chair's business transactions.

Former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon is pushing for ways to counter Mueller, including potentially cutting off funding for his probe  a tactic White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Tuesday the does not support.

'No,' she responded,' asked if the president backed such a plan. 'And I'm not sure what we'd push back against since, so far, all they've done is come up with ways and shown more and more that there was no connection between the Trump campaign and collusion with Russia,' she said.

Hicks' attorney, Robert Trout, a former assistant U.S. attorney and a deputy independent counsel, did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the interview.
Adelaide drug mule Cassie Sainsbury has been sentenced to six years behind bars in Colombia after a judge agreed to a plea deal.

The 22-year-old was initially sentenced to 30 years in prison for trying to smuggle 5.8kgs of cocaine out of the country in April.

Sainsbury is teaching English inside the prison and with time already served, plus her work in jail, she could be released in as little as three years, 9News reports.

Despite the shorter sentence, it is understood Sainsbury could spend two years living in Colombia on parole after leaving the prison.

Sainsbury was also ordered by the judge to pay a nearly $130,000 fine, her lawyer Orlando Herran said after the hearing on Thursday.

The presiding judge agreed with Sainsbury's claim she committed the crime after a man named 'Angelo' threatened her and her family.

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Adelaide drug mule Cassie Sainsbury (pictured at hear plea hearing) has been sentenced to six years behind bars in Colombia after a judge agreed to a plea deal

Sainsbury is teaching English inside the prison and with time already served, plus her work in jail, she could be released in as little as three years

The 22-year-old was initially sentenced to 30 years in prison for trying to smuggle 5.8kgs of cocaine out of the country in April

Sainsbury was flanked by police as she walked into court on Thursday.

Wearing a striped shirt, jeans and white shoes, the 22-year-old was expressionless as she was led through the crowd of media by an officer who gripped her wrist.

Sainsbury's family also attended the court hearing but left without commenting to media, 9News reported.

Mr Herran spoke briefly after the hearing, telling the media Sainsbury was 'lucky'.

'The judge manifestly felt that people who undergo this process are victims,' he told News.com.au.

'The investigation has uncovered a larger operation and investigators suspect she was used as bait to distract the authorities whilst other people smuggled drugs out undetected.'

Mr Herran said Sainsbury's story should serve as a warnings to others.

'She isn't a criminal. She made a mistake, she allowed herself to be tricked and she didn't use the means at her disposal by not asking authorities for help,' he said.

The cocaine was discovered in 18 headphones in Sainsbury's luggage after she was stopped at Bogota's El Dorado International Airport

The presiding judge agreed with Sainsbury's claim she committed the crime after a man named 'Angleo' threatened her and her family

Airport security found the cocaine in the packaging of 18 headphones in Sainsbury's luggage after she was stopped at Bogota's El Dorado International Airport.

She was caught following a tip-off from the the United States Drug Enforcement Agency. She has now spent seven months behind bars at Bogota Women's Prison.

An earlier plea deal was rejected in August.

A Bogota Court was told last September that both the prosecution and defence had agreed to a deal to reduce her jail time.

The court heard that the deal had been agreed to by prosecution and defence, with Sainsbury's lawyer saying they both agreed the man she claims to be behind the illegal operation, known as 'Angelo', does exist.

She has now spent seven months behind bars at Bogota Women's Prison

Despite the shorter sentence, it is understood Sainsbury could spend two years living in Colombia on parole after leaving the prison

A Bogota court heard in October that the deal had been agreed to by prosecution and defence, but an earlier plea deal for the Adelaide woman fell through in August

Sainsbury was also ordered by the judge to pay a nearly $130,000 fine, her lawyer Orlando Herran said after the hearing on Thursday

The AFP reiterated it was liaising with Colombian authorities on the matter before the sentence was announced but wouldn't comment further on operational matters.

Her family in Adelaide is thrilled by the news, with her sister Khala Sainsbury telling Seven News: 'It couldn't have gone any better. I believe she'll be okay, she's strong.'

The judge hearing the case earlier granted a request from Mr Herran to close the hearing to all media.

Resembling the first plea bargain - rejected after Sainsbury repeatedly changed her story - the six-year deal was presented on Friday in the Bogota Special Circuit Court.

If time served is considered that will reduce the sentence again by a further six months - giving the South Australian local her freedom by 2020
An actor described as 'South Korea's Hugh Grant' has died after his Mercedes crashed into a wall - a week after dedicating his first movie award to 'my parents in heaven'.

Grieving film fans packed a Seoul hospital today to pay their respects to Kim Joo-Hyuk, who died on Monday from head injuries.

The 45-year-old was killed when his Mercedes crashed into an apartment wall and flipped over. No other vehicles were involved, police said.

Kim, whose father was also a famous actor, made his debut in 1999 and quickly gained popularity for his roles in several romantic comedies, earning himself the nickname.

An actor described as 'South Korea's Hugh Grant' has died after his Mercedes crashed into a wall - a week after dedicating his first movie award to 'my parents in heaven'. Pictures show the crumpled remains of the vehicle

Grieving film fans packed a Seoul hospital today to pay their respects to Kim Joo-Hyuk (pictured), who died on Monday from head injuries

More recently he moved into grittier parts. He was named Best Supporting Actor at the Seoul Film Awards last week for his role in the movie 'Confidential Assignment', in which he played the leader of an organised crime gang from North Korea.

'It is my first time to win a movie award,' Kim said at the ceremony. 'It is as if my parents, who are in heaven, are giving me this award.'

Several top celebrities went to pay their respects at a remembrance altar set up in the Seoul hospital where his body was taken.

Large arrangements of white flowers - the colour of mourning in Korea - lined the corridors, which were crowded with media and sobbing fans.

Kim's death was one of the most searched words on South Korea's Naver portal on Wednesday.

'He was one of those actors that made me smile. I still can't believe it,' said one user.

'I thought he would become a veteran actor like his father, it's very sad. May he rest in peace,' wrote another.

Kim was the 20th most searched terms on China's Twitter-like Weibo, as overseas fans also grieved his passing.

'Kim Joo-Hyuk was one of the very few South Korean actors I liked, my god,' posted a Chinese commentator.
This blog is looking for wisdom, to have and to share. It is also looking for other rare character traits like good humor, courage, and honor. It is not an easy road, because all of us fall short. But God is love, forgiveness and grace. Those who believe in Him and repent of their sins have the promise of His Holy Spirit to guide us and show us the Way.
A mother has relived the terrifying ordeal when a man slashed her face with an axe in an unprovoked attack.

Ingrid Brown, 35, and her partner Michael Liddell were at their home in the Gold Coast suburb of Coombabah when they say they saw two men lurking in bushland behind the house.

Ms Brown said she saw a man raise 'both his hands above his head' and she registered it was an axe seconds before she was struck in the face on July 1, leaving her scarred for life and facing the possibility of never smiling again.

'It's awful, I just want to smile and play with my daughter,' she told Nine News.

After being struck, Ms Brown says she fell to the ground, holding her wounded face, but said she didn't realise how badly she was injured at first.

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Ingrid Brown (above) relived the terrifying ordeal when a man slashed her face with an axe in an unprovoked attack

Her alleged attacker, Clint Daryn Hall  a 35-year-old crane operator, also from Coombabah  applied unsuccessfully to be released on bail in Brisbane Supreme Court last month.

The court heard that after Mr Liddell saw Hall and his stepbrother Thomas Ealam, 18, behind his home, he asked them what they were doing.

Mr Liddell reportedly confronted the pair accusing them of stealing a copper pipe from a nearby construction site.

Seconds before Ms Brown was attacked, Mr Liddell reportedly shouted to his partner: 'Ingrid, there's a machete.'

Ms Brown's partner Matthew Liddell (above, together) confronted the men about stealing from a nearby construction site, the court heard

Ms Brown said she'd never seen either of the men the men before.

'I don't know why this happened. I didn't provoke them at all,' she added.

It was Hall who called police because he was concerned he'd seriously injured the woman, the court heard.

He allegedly used a martial arts-style sword, between 30cm and 40cm long, to attack Ms Brown and slash Mr Liddell's arm.

Ms Brown spent three days in hospital afterwards.

Ms Brown spent three days in hospital after the vicious attack and Mr Liddell was cut in the arm

Her cheek bone was sliced off in the attack and needed to be secured back in place with three screws.

She also sustained a 20cm cut to her other cheek, which required 24 stitches, and is likely to be left with a permanent scar across her face, according to doctors.

Hall has remained in custody since the incident.

Both he and Ealam face a possible life sentence if convicted of two charges of carrying out acts intended to maim.

Hall is also charged with unlawful possession of suspected or stolen property.
Jeremy Corbyn today revealed nearly 1,000 private jets are registered on the Isle of Man alone and urged Theresa May to investigate claims their owners are dodging tax.

The Labour leader said the 957 business jets registered on the tiny island 'seems a bit excessive for any island anywhere'.

The territory has a population of just 83,737 - meaning there is a private jet for every 88 people on the island.

Mr Corbyn urged the Government to probe claims owners avoid paying VAT by registering them on the island and use it as a base to import the aircraft to the EU.

Raising the case in Prime Minister's Question in the Commons today, Mr Corbyn said: 'Does the Prime Minister think it is acceptable that when it comes to paying taxes there's one rule for the super-rich and another for the rest of us?'

Jeremy Corbyn, pictured in PMQs today, quizzed the Prime Minster over how much tax private jet owners who register their planes in the Isle of Man are paying

Under current rules, private jets registered in the Isle of Man should pay 20 per cent VAT - just as they would if they are based in the UK.

But planes which are used for commercial purposes are exempt from the hefty tax bill.

This has led many owners of the luxury planes to argue they are used commercially for chartered flights and therefore should not have to pay tax.

The Labour leader said the island had been used as a similar back channel for importing luxury yachts until the last Labour Government cracked down on it.

He said: 'In 2010, the Labour government intervened through HMRC to shut down an Isle of Man scheme used to import yachts into the European Union and thus avoid tax.

Theresa May, pictured in PMQs today, said the Government is committed to tackling tax dodging

'A similar scheme has recently been exposed relating to the import of business jets into the Isle of Man.

'So can the Prime Minister assure the House that HMRC investigates these new allegations diligently?'

Mr Corbyn said 957 business jets in the Isle of Man 'seems a bit excessive for any island anywhere, and I hope it's investigated and due tax is collected from those people who are trying to avoid it'.

And pressing for a broad crackdown on tax dodging, he told the PM to 'tackle the scourge of aggressive tax avoidance and evasion' rather than make cuts in the Budget later this month.

He added: 'Estimates of the scale of tax-dodging range from 34 billion, which is around the size of our schools budget, to 119 billion, which is the size of the NHS budget.

There are 957 private jets registered to the Isle of Man, a number which Jeremy Corbyn said seems a 'but excessive for any island anywhere' (file pic)

'The Isle of Man VAT avoidance allegations are part of a wider leak from the Bermuda-based law firm, said to be on a similar scale to the Panama Papers.

'Will the Prime Minister commit HMRC to fully investigate all evidence of UK tax avoidance and evasion from this leak and prosecute where feasible?'

The Prime Minister insisted the Government takes all attempts to dodge tax very 'seriously'.

She said: 'We've secured almost 160 billion in additional compliance revenues since 2010 through a number of measures that we have taken to ensure we clamp down on tax evasion and avoidance.'

The Isle of Man has invited officials from Britain's Treasury to conduct an assessment of the VAT and business jet sector on the island.

A Treasury spokeswoman said: 'Whilst the Isle of Man must apply the same VAT rules as the UK, the administration of the tax is the responsibility of their authorities.

'When asked, we are always happy to provide advice and technical assistance to help them counter evasion or abuse.'
A Dalek operator on Doctor Who has been exterminated by the BBC for branding the corporation 'c****' in a coded message hidden in a magazine article.

Nicholas Pegg, who has operated Daleks since 2005, hid the abuse in a piece for the show's magazine entitled 'A History of Dr Who in 100 Objects'.

Clever Twitter users spotted the hidden message attack on the BBC and the title's printers, Panini, by circling the starting letter of each sentence.

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Nicholas Pegg,(left) who has operated Daleks since 2005, hid the abuse in a piece for the show's magazine entitled 'A History of Dr Who in 100 Objects'. Right: A Dalek

Clever Twitter users spotted the hidden message attack on the BBC and the title's printers, Panini, by circling the starting letter of each sentence

This produced the message: 'Panini and BBC Worldwide are c****.'

The writer, appearing under the pen name The Watcher, finished the article with a hint to readers.

He wrote: If you look hard enough, theres always something hidden in plain sight.

The reasons for Mr Peggs outburst are not clear, but some fans guessed he was annoyed about a decision not to release a DVD of Shada, an unaired serial of the show from 1979-80.

However, the BBC are releasing the DVD on 4th December and most fans are aware of that as it has been announced and covered in the press.

Pegg had not been due to appear in the upcoming series of Doctor Who, reported The Mirror.

BBC Worldwide told the newspaper: The matter was raised with the publisher who have dismissed the writer.

The corporation confirmed to MailOnline Mr Pegg would not be appearing in the next series but refused to answer any questions.

How do Daleks work? An operator sits in the hollow inside of the Dalek on a wooden seat and uses a foot pedal to control its movements, including the exterminators and the flashing lights. The Dalek's voice is performed by a separate actor. Dalek operator Barnaby Edwards told sci-fi now: 'You need very, very good grip trainers and strong legs; those are the principal qualities of a Dalek operator. 'You also need a lack of claustrophobia and the ability to sit for long periods of time in a tin can.' Advertisement

MailOnline has contacted Mr Pegg's representatives for comment.

Daleks are operated by an actor sitting inside them, who is in control of their movement, including the exterminators and flashing lights.

Their voices are performed by a separate actor.

Mr Pegg previously spoke of his life as a Dalek in a promotional BBC video posted on YouTube, where he appeared alongside three other operators.

'I've got used to it over the years that visibility inside is a bit restricted.

'And it is usually to one side, so if you want to look one way it is fine but not the other.'

Dalek operators wear a black mask to obscure their faces.

Mr Pegg added: 'It really is the case that when we are inside and have put on everything people forget you are inside.

'It looks like a Dalek... it is a testament to what a fantastic piece of design it is that people just think it's a Dalek - not just a bloke and a piece of plywood.'

Mr Pegg seen inside a dalek on set in an undated photo. He is wearing one of the black masks that operators have to wear

Mr Pegg previously spoke of his life as a Dalek in a promotional BBC video posted on YouTube, where he appeared alongside three other operators

BBC designer Raymond Cusick is believed to have come up with the form for Daleks after are seeing a futuristic chimney on top of a girls school.

According to residents close to the High School for Girls, Gloucester - where the chimney sits - it is common knowledge.

A spokeswoman at the school told the Sun in 2013: 'Whoever was working on Doctor Who saw it on top of the school.'

It was previously thought Mr Cusick found inspiration for the robots from a pepper pot during a lunch with Dr Who's special effects expert Bill Roberts.

Despite the success of his creation, Mr Cusick admitted that they did not work well from the beginning.

BBC scriptwriter Terry Nation(seen left in an undated photo) is credited with inventing the concept of a Dalek, with Mr Cusick(right, also in an undated photo) designing their appearance

He said that on set when they moved over bumpy pavements 'they rattled like an old biscuit tin', so he had to add extra pneumatic wheels to stabilise them.

Alongside their catchphrase 'exterminate', the gliding movement became one of the Daleks' sinister defining features.

Were Daleks inspired by a CHIMNEY POT? The inspiration behind one of science fiction's most fearsome characters could have been a simple chimney pot. The futuristic chimney on the top of the High School for Girls in Gloucester BBC designer Raymond Cusick is believed to have come up with the form for Doctor Who's most evil nemesis - the Daleks - after seeing the futuristic flue atop a girls school. According to residents close to the High School for Girls, Gloucester - where the chimney sits - it is common knowledge. A spokeswoman at the school told the Sun in 2013: 'Whoever was working on Doctor Who saw it on top of the school.' Advertisement

The actual idea for Daleks came from scriptwriter Terry Nation, who wrote the second Doctor Who serial, The Daleks.

Alongside the absence of Mr Pegg as a Dalek operator, the next series of Doctor Who will see another major change - the lead character led by a woman for the first time.

Jodie Whittaker has told fans 'don't be scared of my gender' after she was revealed as Peter Capaldi's successor as the Time Lord in July following the Men's Wimbledon Final, making her the 13th reincarnation of the much-loved character

However, the decision to cast a female actress in the role, which has previously been played by men and is currently held by Peter Capaldi, divided fans.

While many praised the BBC and the show's writers for choosing a female actress, others slammed the decision as 'political correctness gone mad'.

Twitter user David Stephens said: 'Sorry this is so called equality, women's rights, political correctness gone mad-Dr Who was written/created as a man! End of.'

Clive Walton agreed, writing on his Twitter page: 'No the character is a man not a woman!

'As usual the BBC have to muddy the waters through political correctness that's what they do!'

Responding to the BBC's announcement, former fan Tony Moretta said on the social networking site: 'Well you're one viewer down already.'

Daleks have been a key part of Dr Who since its early beginnings, first appearing in series two in 196364. Pictured: An undated photo of a Dalek next to a Stormtrooper in Blackpool

Tom Baker as Dr Who with his new assistant Lalla Ward as Romana, standing next to a Dalek in 1979
This is the shocking moment a woman is paraded around her office naked while her colleagues cheer her on in a 'morale-boosting stunt' organised by her boss.

In footage reminiscent of a scene in The Wolf of Wall Street, the brunette walks up and down as suited salesmen line up on either side of the office, wolf whistling and cheering her on.

She was wearing nothing but dark sunglasses and black boots as she strutted around the salesroom in Warsaw, Poland.

This is the shocking moment a woman is paraded naked around her office while her colleagues cheer her on in a 'morale-boosting stunt' organised by her boss

In the film The Wolf of Wall Street, Leonardo DiCaprio's character hires a group of strippers to run around the office and dance on tables.

According to local reports, the Polish female employee was paid by her boss to perform the outrageous strip walk to motivate other employees.

At one point the unidentified woman, who works in an office where salesmen and women call customers and persuade them to buy stocks, is seen showing her middle finger to the camera.

Moments later she she gets dressed and goes back at her desk to work.

Viewers have now reacted with fury.

One calling themselves Buu posted: 'The world is ending ... people behave like animals for what .... for a piece of paper they sell themselves, lose their dignity and respect. Sad and pathetic.

Another called Mossad wrote: 'No values, money rules this filthy world.'

While someone called Adam commented: 'The boss should be ashamed of himself. And so should she.'

But others defended the striptease.

Kalksztain posted: 'I do not understand the scandal. The boss challenged the girl and she has nothing to be ashamed of. She has a beautiful figure.'

According to local reports, the Polish female employee was paid by her boss to perform the outrageous strip walk to motivate other employees

While Elf81 wrote: 'I do not understand this indignation. The girl wanted to go naked and did. I do not like it but let's not be so prudish. I get the impression that some here have never seen a naked women before.'

According to local reports, the woman in the video resigned shortly after it appeared on social media.

Psychotherapist Katarzyna Kucewicz told local media: 'The situation she is in is undoubtedly traumatising. This is just like with rape. In the case of rape the trauma grows over time. And here it may be similar, in the first weeks this girl may feel reconciled with what she did, maybe even laugh.

'But we do not know yet whether she will begin to get symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. Our psyche is more fragile than we realise.'
A British man has told of how a dispute with a taxi driver over an unpaid 2 fare in Dubai saw him jailed and trapped in the country for two years.

David Ballantine, 46, had his passport confiscated and was eventually sentenced to 69 days in prison after an altercation with a Dubai taxi driver in May 2013.

Mr Ballantine, a former Tory politician from Edinburgh, claims is was a simple misunderstanding over a fare he had already paid, and it 'ruined his life'.

Jailed: David Ballantine, 46, from Edinburgh, had his passport confiscated and was eventually sentenced to 69 days in prison after an altercation with a Dubai taxi driver in May 2013

Mr Ballantine and a group of friends were starting their taxi journey, but immediately asked the driver to stop due to a misunderstanding of who was meant to ride in the cab.

However, he claims the cabbie continued to drive for about 150 feet, and pulled up near a policeman.

The driver complained to the policeman, who told Mr Ballantine that he would have to pay the minimum amount of AED 10 (2).

Mr Ballantine claims he went to a cashpoint a few feet away, withdrew money and dropped it into the cab window.

'He [the taxi driver] was waiting for me to pay and when he saw in his mirror that I had walked back to my friends, he reversed the taxi aggressively back to where my group was.

'He accused me of not paying. I told him I had, and showed him where it was. He claimed that was his own money.

'He was angry by now, and not wanting to admit that he could be wrong. The driver just became more and more hostile until he physically attacked me.

Mr Ballantine, pictured in Dubai, had his passport taken upon his arrest to stop him fleeing the country, but as proceedings dragged out over two years, he ended up stuck in Dubai

'At this point I became worried. I was in a fight, in Dubai, where I knew the law could be harsh, and I knew the government employed taxi driver would be believed over the Westerner, regardless of evidence.

'I never attacked him back, just avoided him as much as I could.'

Witnessing the exchange, the same policeman came back, and asked for an explanation from the Dubai government taxi driver.

Mr Ballantine says the officer arrested him on the spot without asking him for his side of the story.

I honestly still hoped to put the matter behind me. A small fine, or a night in the cells,' says David.

'The taxi money was paid. We proved this by showing 2 receipts. One for the AED 100 that I had withdrawn in front of the policeman, another for the AED 90 that I had in my pockets when I was taken to the police station.

There was nowhere else I could have spent the money. But nobody was interested.'

Mr Ballantine had his passport taken away in order to prevent him fleeing the country awaiting trial, but the court proceedings were dragged out and he ended up having to spend two years in Dubai.

Accusations: Mr Ballantine is the latest Brit to become caught up in legal proceedings in Dubai

Mr Ballantine, who is also a qualified masseur and claims to have been a stockbroker and financial adviser, says he lost his job as a result.

'I couldn't work legally, so I worked 'off the books' for the first year, until eventually needing to rely on handouts from friends and family over the course of the following year.'

'After two years in limbo, I was sentenced to 69 days in jail. Ironically, one of the charges was 'outstaying my visa' - a charge I could hardly have avoided as the police had confiscated my passport.

'Once those final 69 days were over, I was deported back to Scotland.'

Mr Ballantine is very critical of the British government, claiming they failed to help him with affordable legal support.

'The UK government did nothing to help. They visited once, and gave me a list of lawyers that I couldn't afford.

The only people who have helped following my release are Detained In Dubai, specifically their CEO, Radha Stirling.'

Detained in Dubai and Ms Stirling recently provided support for another Scot jailed in the UAE.

Jamie Harron, 27, was sentenced to three months imprisonment for accidentally brushing the hip of a man in a bar.

He recently returned to the UK after Dubai's ruler Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum waived his conviction.
An American family-of-four are missing in the Amazon after the ferry they were traveling on was robbed by pirates, police have said.

Adam Harris Hearteau, 39, wife Emily Faith, 37, and their daughters Colette, seven, and Sierra, three, were last seen on Sunday when several heavily armed men hijacked the boat they were using to travel down the Amazon River.

Officers say the family's van has been found abandoned in the forest, but there is no sign of the couple or their children.

Adam Harris Hearteau, 39, his 37-year-old wife Emily Faith and their daughters Colette, seven, and Sierra, three, are missing in Brazil after the ferry they were on was hijacked by pirates

Police say the family were traveling down the Amazon River on a ferry when it was hijacked by several heavily armed men around 7pm on Sunday

The passengers and crew were held hostage for several hours before the pirates left. When police arrived they said the Hearteau family were missing

The family van, which they have been using to travel around the world in since 2012, has been found abandoned in the jungle but police say there are no sign of the occupants

'We are urgently searching for the family and hoping they will have been helped by locals in surrounding villages. But as of now they are still missing,' the spokesman added.

According to police the family were on the Swallow ferry when it was attacked by pirates in Rio Furo Grande, north Brazil, at 7pm on Sunday.

The assailants are reported to have forced the ferry into an area known as Porto dos Dias before holding the crew and passengers hostage for hours.

Those on board had everything stolen and were left stranded on the ship.

Police say they have also found a number of boxes taken by the pirates in the jungle close to where the ferry was hijacked, but no sign of the family

Pictured is a ferry similar to the craft the family were traveling on when they vanished

Adam works as an artist while Emily is a fashion designer and cook, according to their blog which says they lived in California before deciding to travel the world

Police say they are scouring social media posts and contacting relatives in America as they search for any sign of the missing family

When police arrived they discovered that the American family had disappeared.

A quantity of items in boxes was ripped open by the pirates and the empty cartons left abandoned in the surrounding jungle.

In a statement a spokesperson from the Ministry of Public Security and Social Defence (Segup) said: 'We have launched a full search with the civil police, military police, air rescue and fire department involved.

'We are searching social networks for any form of contact made by the family and are in touch with their relatives in Florianopolis, where the family have a residence and with their family in the USA.'

Police reported that none of the pirates involved in the robbery have been identified.

The Hearteaus once lived in California, but left the state back in 2012 to start a round-the-world voyage that was supposed to last 12 months, according to their blog.

The family have been traveling around South America for years

The family say their eldest daughter Colette was born in America but their youngest, Sierra, was born in Brazil while they traveled

The family's travels have taken them across South America, including to Chile where this image was taken in January 2014

However, five months into the venture they decided to turn the trip into a lifestyle and have been on the road ever since.

Adam describes himself as an artist working primarily in photography, combining the pictures he takes with collages and drawings to create works of art.

Emily describes herself as a fashion designer and chef, and says she is currently working on a cookbook.

Their last post was uploaded on October 12 to advertise a sale of hand-crafted good from the north of Brazil.

The family live out of a van which has been specially adapted to contain a full kitchen, beds for the parents and children, and enough space to store their lives in.

It is powered by solar panels on the roof and has storage space on the back for spare petrol and their surf boards.
The story of two Hawaii women who claims they were stranded at sea for almost six month appears to be unraveling as navigators, meteorologists and now even shark experts have begun to poke holes in their tale.

Jennifer Appel and Tasha Fuiava said they set out on May 3 for what they thought would be an 18 day trip from Hawaii to Tahiti. But the pair say that just days in, they were hit by a powerful storm that knocked out their engines and damaged their mast and sails.

Since then, they say they braved shark attacks and dangerous storms, making desperate distress calls on a daily basis until they, and their two dogs, were picked up by the US Navy last week, 900 miles off the coast of Japan.

But after their story broke, multiple experts have come forward with questions about their claims.

Jennifer Appel (right) and Tasha Fuiava sit with their dogs on the deck of the USS Ashland on Monday. The Hawaii sailors were rescued on October 25 after being lost at sea for months while trying to sail from Hawaii to Tahiti

They include University of Hawaii professor and veteran shark researcher Kim Holland, who has queried their description of how 20 to 30-foot tiger sharks had started ramming their boat in a coordinated, six hour attack, at one point of the trip.

But there has never been such recorded behavior in sharks, perhaps outside the move Jaws, according to Holland.

He added that tiger sharks only typically grow up to 17ft, while he'd never heard of them jumping out the water, making coordinated attacks or attacking a boat hull, adding that a simple, inert boat hull would have 'nothing there to attract the animals.'

Sailing experts say that the women should never have even attempted the trip without a minimum of three, experienced sailors aboard.

'There's only two of them on board, and it's a 50-foot boat,' Mike Michelwait, owner of the Honolulu Sailing Company, said. 'That's a lot of boat to handle.'

A May 3, 2017 satellite image provided by NASA, showing the Pacific Ocean around Hawaii. The women claim they encountered a massive storm that day, but the National Weather Service says there were no organized storm systems were in the area at the time

While a friend of Appel, Desiree Hattori, said she'd been shocked when she learned they were going to Tahiti because she knew her friend's 'boat wasn't in the best shape.'

The Coast Guard has also disputed claims from Appel's mother Joyce who told The Associated Press she'd called them to report her daughter missing, a week and a half after the sailors set out.

The US Coast Guard say they never received a call from Joyce. The only communication they had was with a male family friend on May 19 - several days before the women were even expected to arrive in Tahiti.

Appel and Fuiava had also claimed initially that they filed a float plan listing their course and other details with some friends and relatives, but when the Coast Guard questioned them about it, they said no such plan existed.

Others have questioned why the pair hadn't activated their rescue beacon when they became stranded at sea or caught up in the storm - particularly after Appel credited the crew of the USS Ashland for having 'saved our lives' after they were rescued by the Navy last week.

A video image of Appel, taken by the Navy, showing the crippled boat that Appel and Fuiava were rescued from on October 25

'Had they not been able to locate us we would have been dead within 24 hours.'

A Coast Guard spokeswoman told the Associated Press, 'We asked why during this course of time did they not activate the [beacon]. She had stated they never felt like they were truly in distress, like in a 24-hour period they were going to die.'

Appel confirmed in an interview Tuesday that she did not turn the emergency beacon on because the pair did not feel they were in imminent danger.

She claimed that in her experience the beacon should only be used when you are in imminent physical danger and going to die in the next 24 hours.

'Our hull was solid, we were floating, we had food, we had water, and we had limited maneuverable capacity,' Appel said in an interview in Japan, where the U.S. Navy took them after their rescue. 'All those things did not say we are going to die. All that said it's going to take us a whole lot longer to get where we're going.'

Previously, Appel and Tasha Fuiava had said they were close to giving up when the U.S. Navy rescued them last week, thousands of miles off course.

The two women met in late 2016, and within a week of knowing each other decided to take the trip together. Fuiava had never sailed a day in her life.

They set off on May 3, planning to sail to Tahiti, then travel the South Pacific and return to Hawaii in October. But when they were finally picked up by the Navy, they were thousands of miles off course.

Appel said she'd spent year preparing for the 2,700-mile trip, which should only have taken a month, and said she only survived because she'd heeded the advice of experienced sailors who recommended she took six times as much supplies as she thought she'd need.

Jennifer Appel, center, waves from the bridge way of the USS Ashland as the ship pulls into White Beach Naval Facility in Okinawa, Japan on Monday

This US Navy photo shows Tasha Fuiava, an American mariner, being rescued by the USS Ashland last week

'They said pack every square inch of your boat with food, and if you think you need a month, pack six months, because you have no idea what could possibly happen out there,' Appel said, adding it turned out to be 'really gave us good advice.'

Key elements of the women's account are contradicted by authorities, and are not consistent with weather reports or basic geography of the Pacific Ocean. The discrepancies raised questions about whether Appel and her sailing companion, Tasha Fuiava, could have avoided disaster.

On their first day at sea, May 3, the two U.S. women described running into a fearsome storm that tossed their vessel with 60 mph (97 kph) winds and 30-foot (9-meter) seas for three days, but meteorologists say there was no severe weather anywhere along their route during that time.

After leaving 'we got into a Force 11 storm, and it lasted for two nights and three days,' Appel said of the storm they encountered off Oahu. In one of the first signs of trouble, she said she lost her cellphone overboard.

'We were empowered to know that we could withstand the forces of nature,' Appel said. 'The boat could withstand the forces of nature.'

But the National Weather Service in Honolulu said no organized storm systems were in or near Hawaii on May 3 or in the days afterward. Archived NASA satellite images confirm there were no tropical storms around Hawaii that day.

Appel (left) and Fuiava on October 25, were rescued by a U.S. Navy vessel about 900 miles southeast of Japan last week. They are now planning another trip next year

Zues, one of the sailor's dogs, is brought aboard the USS Ashland by Navymen, after they were called to rescue a stranded sailboat

Appel and Fuiaba, who underwent medical assessments, and their dogs were given food and rooms to stay in aboard the USS Ashland where they will also stay until it makes its next port of call

The pair said they thought about turning back, but the islands of Maui and Lanai didn't have harbors deep enough to accommodate their sailboat.

At 50 feet (15 meters) long, the vessel is relatively small, and both islands have harbors that would have accommodated them. Plus, the Big Island - the southernmost island in state - has several places to dock.

'I had no idea that we were going to be in this thing for 80 solid hours,' Appel said of the storm of which there is no record.

Still, they pressed on.

Days later, after parts of their mast and rigging failed, they sailed up to another small island, still with a working motor, but decided against trying to land, believing the island was mostly uninhabited with no protected waters.

'It is uninhabited. They only have habitation on the northwest corner and their reef was too shallow for us to cross in order to get into the lagoon,' Appel said.

But Christmas Island, part of the island nation of Kiribati, is home to more than 2,000 people and has a port that routinely welcomes huge commercial ships.

'We could probably nurse it down to the next major island in Kiribati,' Appel said. 'Then we'll be able to stop there and seek safe haven and get up on the mast and fix it.'

The questions that remain over the sailor's story The woman claimed they did not have a standard Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) on their vessel. The Coast Guard found one on board and say it was never activated.

The 'Force 11 storm' they claimed they encountered at the start of their journey, featuring 30-foot high seas and 60 mph winds over three days, was not recorded by meteorologists

They claim that they considered turning back after the storm but could not because the islands of Maui and Lanai did not have harbors deep enough for their boat. There are several places they could have docked

They also claim that, days later, they could not stop at a nearby island to fix their boat because it was 'uninhabited' - but Christmas Island, part of Kiribati, is home to over 2,000 people and often welcomes huge commercial ships

Instead of stopping at Christmas Island, they set a new destination of 1,000 miles away in the Cook Islands - also hundreds of miles beyond their original destination of Tahiti

When off Tahiti in June, the captain of the ship was reported to have told the Coast Guard they were fine and expected to land next morning - but months later they ended up in the western Pacific Advertisement

The island has at least two airfields, and the women had flares aboard to alert people on land. Plus, its widest point spans about 30 miles (48 kilometers), a day's hike to safety from even the most remote area.

When asked if the small island would have been a good place to land and repair their sails, Appel said no. 'Kiribati, um, one whole half of the island is called shipwreck beach for a reason.'

Christmas Island has a place called Bay of Wrecks on its northeast side.

So, instead of stopping for help, they say they set a new destination about 1,000 miles (1,609 kilometers) away and a few hundred miles beyond their original target of Tahiti. They were headed to the Cook Islands.

'We really did think we could make it to the next spot,' Appel said.

Then, they say, another storm killed their engine at the end of May.

The sailors said they got knocked off course by a storm on May 30, which also took out their engine, and were eventually picked up in the western Pacific, 900 miles southeast of Japan

The Coast Guard made radio contact with a vessel that identified itself as the Sea Nymph in June near Tahiti, and the captain said they were not in distress and expected to make land the next morning.

More than five months after they departed, they were picked up in the western Pacific about 900 miles (1,448 kilometers) southeast of Japan. The two women and their dogs were all in good health when picked up by the U.S. Navy.

A retired Coast Guard officer who was responsible for search and rescue operations said that if the women used the emergency beacon, they would have been found.

The EPIRB communicates with satellites and sends locations to authorities. It's activated when it's submerged in water or turned on manually. The alert signal sends a location to rescuers within minutes.

'If the thing was operational and it was turned on, a signal should have been received very, very quickly that this vessel was in distress,' Phillip R. Johnson said Monday in a telephone interview from Washington state.

Johnson described the device as sturdy and reliable, but added that old and weak batteries could cause a unit not to function.

Appel and Fuiava also said they had six forms of communication that all failed to work.

Authorities are questioning why Appel and Fuiava (seen here on Monday) did not activate their emergency beacon after their boat was damaged by a storm and they were lost at sea

Jennifer Appel, Tasha Fuiava and their two dogs, Valentine and Zeus, were picked up by the US Navy last week, around 900 miles off the coast of Japan

'There's something wrong there,' Johnson said. 'I've never heard of all that stuff going out at the same time.'

A friend of the Appel family provided email evidence of their correspondence with the Coast Guard in Hawaii on May 5, which showed that Appel had lost her satellite phone.

'Since Jennifer is well equipped with emergency equipment we are confident that if she ran into a distress situation she would activate her EPIRB and we would get the notification quickly,' the Joint Rescue Coordination Center Honolulu wrote to the reader in a May 19 email.

The two sailors claim are already planning a second attempt at the trip in May 2018.

'We still never got to see the 20,000 islands, so I think that would be the most fantastic trip for May of next spring,' Appel told People.

The civilian sailor announced she plans to build a huge 'unsinkable and unbreakable boat' for the second attempt after her first, the 50-foot sailboat Sea Nymph, had to be abandoned in the Pacific during the rescue.
Farhan Mian is on trial accused of spying on his carers through hidden cameras in his home for sexual gratification

A disabled man in a wheelchair hid cameras around his home to film a carer shaving her pubic hair, a court heard.

Farhan Mian, 32, who suffered from muscular dystrophy and uses breathing apparatus, allegedly made secret videos of three workers at his home in west London.

Mian, who required round the clock care, placed cameras he could control from his computer in the bathroom and bedroom of the house where the nurses lived with him.

Some of the cameras were concealed in the eyes of rabbits painted on a bed headboard, Isleworth Crown Court heard.

Another camera was focused on the bathroom and film has been recovered showing one of the carers shaving her public hair.

Opening the case, prosecutor Tim Starkey said: 'Mr Farhan Mian is a severely disabled male who requires 24 hour care.

'He is accused of using cameras installed in the bathroom and carers bedroom to watch his female carers without their clothes on and carrying out private acts such as going to the toilet or shaving their legs or [pubic hair].

'The prosecution case is that he did this for his own sexual gratification.'

Mian's lawyer claims one woman consented to the cameras and another was for security

The footage was captured from two cameras, one installed in the carers bedroom and one in the bathroom.

They could be controlled by Mian's computer and were capable of swivelling 360 degrees with 'zoom in' capabilities.

One carer told how Mian had redecorated her room pink with the rabbits or bunnies painted on the bed's headboard, while she was away on holiday in June 2011.

She told jurors her world 'turned upside down' when she discovered cameras placed in the eyeholes of the bunnies, directly above her head.

Mian then allegedly offered her 3,000 to 'keep her mouth shout' after she threatened to call the police.

'My sister-in-law discovered I had cameras in my bedroom in the headboard. They were just above my head,' she told the court.

'The cameras were going through the bunnies eyes. The bunnies were painted on the headboard.'

When she asked what they were Mian said they were 'ventilation for his computers' in the cupboard behind her room.

The cameras were set up in Mian's home in an apartment block in this west London street

'I was so angry I pulled the board off the wall, and the cameras were hanging there,' she recalled.

Police were called to his flat in 10 July 2011 following her discovery, but she decided not to provide a statement.

'He apologised to me, saying I know I did wrong,' she said.

Mian's defence counsel, Graham Smith, said setting up the cameras was a consensual decision after they struck up a sexual relationship.

He told the court that Mian fell 'passionately and madly' in love with the carer.

'You became sexually involved with him. You kissed him,' Mian's lawyer told the trial. 'You were married. Your husband was back in Latvia, and you became fond of him.'

'I came to do a job, not get involved with another man,' she responded.

The unusual voyeurism case is being heard at Isleworth Crown Court in west London

Mian's lawyer went on: 'I'm suggesting you became involved with him sexually... the police came as the result of an argument between the two of you.

'The argument that took place was about whether he could film or record you around the house.

'He wanted to spend every waking moment with you be next to you, close to you all the time.

'He asked you if he could film you and watch you on the cameras and you said yes.'

She responded: 'No I did not.'

Another carer discovered the cameras for a second time in September 2015, with police later arresting Mian, the court heard.

He stated they were installed for security reasons after he was the victim of theft in 2014.

Mian, of Shepherd's Bush, west London denies four counts of voyeurism. The trial continues.
A Mormon heir to the Marriott hotel empire is suing his father for forcing him out of the family's $3 billion trust because he got a divorce.

John Marriott III, 56, claims his 85-year-old father Bill Marriott disowned him and forced him out of the family business after he divorced his wife Angela in 2015.

The Marriott family are devout Mormons and strongly discourage divorce.

A lawsuit filed by John in a Washington DC court last week claims Bill, who is hotel company's executive chairman, has attempted to drive his son into financial ruin by cutting him off from his share of the fortune.

John Marriott III, 56, (right in 2005) claims his 85-year-old father Bill Marriott (left) disowned him and forced him out of the family business after he divorced his wife Angela in 2015

The almost $3 billion trust was set up by Bill's parents and founders of the Marriott hotel brand, J. Willard and Alice Marriott.

The lawsuit also names Bill's brother, Richard Marriott, because he shares control of the family's trust.

'To sue my dad and my uncle is the last thing I want to do, and the last thing I ever expected to do. I've always looked up to them, and I've always trusted them, and they've always supported me and been there for me,' John told the Washingtonian.

'Since the divorce, my dad has tried to take away everything that I've earned and everything that my grandparents left for me, basically to punish me for not maintaining the image of the perfect Mormon family.'

A lawsuit filed by John last week claims Bill (above), who is the company's chairman, has attempted to drive his son into financial ruin by cutting him off from his share of the fortune

John claims his father disowned him and forced him out of the family business after he divorced his wife Angela in 2015. The former couple are pictured above

The complaint says when John told his parents of his divorce, Bill responded 'coldly and with no sympathy'. Bill allegedly told his son: 'You're leaving the family.'

The main argument in the lawsuit is that Bill and Richard have breached their fiduciary duties by denying John his share of the trust.

Bill and Richard Marriott's spokesperson said last week: 'The allegations of which we are aware at this time are untrue.'

John, who was a former Marriott executive, started working in the family business as a 15-year-old dishwasher.

John, who was a former Marriott executive, started working in the family hotel business as a 15-year-old dishwasher

The almost $3 billion trust was set up by Bill's parents and founders of the Marriott hotel brand, J. Willard and Alice Marriott (pictured above in 1974)

He then worked his way up before becoming executive vice president of sales and marketing and president of North American lodging.

While many had assumed he would take over from his father, John claims in the lawsuit that his father had started looking for alternatives in 2005.

John left the Marriott in 2006 but remained on the board.

He said in the suit that he had struggled with alcohol and drug addiction his whole life but it never affected his work performance.

The lawsuit says Bill was aware of his son's substance abuse for years but tolerated it because it hadn't caused damage to the family's reputation.
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Guadalupe Lopez says a soft prayer in Spanish as the scent of incense fills her living room, rising from a shrine of more than two dozen cloaked statues. Their faces could not look further from the typical depiction of a saint or benevolent entity; skulls look out from under every hood, and the large, black statue to whom Guadalupe just prayed stares back with glowing red eyes.

This is Santa Muerte  literally translated Saint Death  one of the fastest-growing religious figures in the United States.

Thirty blocks away from Guadalupes house, past the empanada shops, taquerias and 99c stores of Jackson Heights, Queens, Arely Vazquez tends to an even more elaborate shrine in the home she shares with her husband, cousin and two nephews. About 100 statues line the entire wall of her dining room, the central focal point a two-foot tall depiction of the Santa Muerte, adorned in a wig of human hair and a lavish gown sewn by another devotee, a dressmaker.

Guadalupe and Arely  both originally from Mexico  hold meetings, fiestas and pray the rosary at their homes to worship Santa Muerte, who is known by a variety of other names including Bony Lady and White Lady. The women open their shrines to members of the community, who come with offerings or prayers and sometimes even their own statues. Guadalupe points out one large statue currently at her shrine which another woman asked her to clean; the images of the Bony Lady, Guadalupe says, must be specially cleaned with perfume.

Many devotees of Santa Muerte consider her feast day to be November 1, coinciding with the Mexican festival of El Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead  when families memorialize dead relatives with sugar skulls, offerings and parades. Her reputation (both Arely and Guadalupe refer to the folk saint fondly as she) is varied and controversial.

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Arely Vazuez, originally from Mexico, has unwavering devotion to Santa Muerte - and has opened the shrine of about 100 statues in her Queens, New York home to fellow devotees of the unsanctioned folk saint

Guadalupe Lopez, who lives in Elmhurst, Queens, also has a shrine in her living room that is frequented by members of the public. She gives an example of how Santa Muerte helped her personally; when she was in dire need of $500, she asked Santa Muerte for the money- and says the next day she found a wallet without ID that contained $1,000

Ms Lopez sometimes holds prayer ceremonies or festivals in her house or backyard, moving statues outside and arranging offerings such as food, drink and candles; Santa Muerte has a reputation for quickly and efficiently answering petitions

Santa Muerte originated in Mexico, where worshipers visit a huge shrine in Tultitlan; R. Andrew Chesnut, a professor of religious studies, says the figure emerged from a mixture of European imagery, Catholic belief and indigenous death deities

Santa Muerte is infamous for being popular with drug traffickers and other criminals, who often pray for revenge or protection; the majority of her devotees, however, are regular people and families, usually from among the working poor

She has very rapidly developed a reputation as being the speediest and most efficacious miracle worker on the Mexican religious landscape, increasingly on the US religious landscape, and actually throughout the hemisphere, says R. Andrew Chesnut, a religious studies professor at Virginia Commonwealth University, who published a book about Santa Muerte titled Devoted to Death: Santa Muerte, the Skeleton Saint.

Its impossible to track how many devotees to Santa Muerte there are in the United States, but whats undeniable is her explosion in visibility over the past five to ten years. Her image has entered pop culture and made it into the plot of runaway television hit Breaking Bad; statues are not only for sale in religious shops in Hispanic neighborhoods but in mainstream novelty stores, and businesses are emblazoning the skeleton saint on everything from t-shirts to jewelry  with most people unaware of her significance.

Her skyrocketing popularity has been a grave concern to the Catholic Church; in Mexico, theyve been preaching against praying to her for years, reminding devotees that she is not a sanctioned saint and Santa Muerte worship goes against Church beliefs and teachings. US bishops have also joined the fray; in February, Bishop Michael J. Sis of San Angelo, Texas, warned: Involvement with Santa Muerte is spiritually dangerous and it is not Catholic in any way. It should be completely avoided. It is a perversion of devotion to the saints.

Santa Muerte is popular in prisons and with drug traffickers, fueling an association with evil, revenge and malevolence. Most devotees dont deny that many narcos have adopted her, effectively, as a patron saint, but the typical Santa Muerte worshiper is just an average person turning to an increasingly idolized religious figure for help with work, family or love, or asking for protection. The majority come from the urban working class, and offerings tend to reflect worshipers personal preferences  everything from candy and tequila to beer or even marijuana.

People are looking for miracles that many of us who are more affluent might consider mundane, such as finding employment or having a sick family member healed , and shes got a reputation for delivering on those petitions much faster and with more frequency than her rivals, Prof Chesnut says. Many Catholic saints tend to specialize in one or two type of petitions, and Santa Muerte is kind of part of a zeitgeist or spirit of the time.

Shes a potent multi-tasker, he says, reflected by the fact shes symbolized by a rainbow-colored candle.

Many of her followers still consider themselves Catholic and attend Mass; theyve just added Santa Muerte to the list that includes Saint Jude and the Virgin of Guadalupe. Most of the prayers  and there are books distributed of them; Guadalupe even brings out a binder of how to properly worship Santa Muerte  and orations are very similar to those of mainstream Catholicism. The Santa Muerte rosary is basically the same, with Santa Muerte references thrown in. Those who do not celebrate her feast day on November 1 or 2 celebrate it on August 15 - such as Ms Vazquez - which also coincides with the Catholic feast day of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary.

The origin of Santa Muerte, says Prof Chesnut, dates back to European evangelism in Central America.

In just a real nutshell, in Spain and Mediterranean Europe, it really wasnt the grim reaper, it was the grim reapress, he says. Her name in Spanish is La Parca, the parched one. Skeletons are always parched and thirsty, so when the Spanish Catholic Church comes over, as part of their evangelization of the Americas, they bring over the figure of the grim reapress  who for Europeans is a mere representation or artistic representation of death, but not a supernatural miracle-working figure.

Ms Vazquez's shrine contains statues of Jesus and other traditional Catholic images; most followers of Santa Muerte were raised in the Catholic faith and retain most of its beliefs - though the Church has condemned Santa Muerte

Statues and images of Santa Muerte formerly were found almost solely in people's homes or Hispanic stores selling religious items, but she is more visible in mainstream culture now - printed on T-shirts and appearing in popular television shows

Santa Muerte devotees follow very personalized worship of her and the faith is not organized with a hierarchy - though there are various rituals, prayers and offerings that are common (most still rooted in Catholicism)

Ana Karen Vazquez, an immigrant from Puebla, Mexico who is a frequent visitor to Ms Lopez's living room shrine, prays in front of a statue of Santa Muerte - wearing a necklace featuring the saint

Ms. Lopez says the faith is spreading rapidly through word of mouth and the fact that Santa Muerte worship is no longer hidden - though most devotees don't tell their priests

They bring over the figure as a tool of evangelism, not knowing anything about the indigenous people  not knowing they have many death deities.

One important death deity, for example, was the Aztec goddess Mictecacihuatl  and many consider Santa Muerte to be her latest reincarnation.

The proper word is religious syncretism, where you have the fusion of two or more separate or discreet religious traditions: indigenous belief in death deities with the Spanish grim reapress with the Catholic church.

He says the first mention of a skeletal figure was in the annals of the Catholic Church from the inquisition in Mexico, when investigators were sent out to towns in the central portion of the country to check up on indigenous people who seemed to be worshiping a skeleton.

And sure enough, its true  so the inquisitors go down, smash the idol and shut down the devotion. Then Santa Muerte goes kind of off the grid of the Mexican historical records for a century and a half, only to reappear in the 1940s again.

Even for most of the twentieth century, however, the worship of Santa Muerte was underground. Arely and Guadalupe agree that its much more acceptable now to worship her openly than it was in their childhoods  though most people wont admit it to their priests  and that acceptance is contributing to the spread of the White Ladys popularity. Word of mouth is a key component, especially for the devotees who turn up at their respective houses (theres a bit of a rivalry when it comes to different groups and how they celebrate the folk saint.)

Though the open their homes to the shrines, however, the worship of Santa Muerte is highly individualized; theres no real order or hierarchy. You worship her, Arely explains, the best way it appears to you or the best that you can.

Similarly, Guadalupe explains of faith in Santa Muerte: It comes from your heart, what you want to do.

Guadalupe offers an example of help she personally received from Santa Muerte; she was working as a waitress and strapped for money, desperately needing $500 within a few days. She asked Santa Muerte to bring her the money; the next day, she found a wallet with no ID  and $1,000 that she kept, along with spending some of it on flowers and other offerings to the saint.

Arelys great devotion to Santa Muerte started after she fell gravely ill with a pancreatic illness and believed she was dying  but, after praying to the folk saint, everything turned out fine.

Both, like many Santa Muerte admirers, have had her image tattooed on them; its not unusual for devotees to promise the Bony Lady that, if she comes through, theyll have her permanently inked on their body. Guadalupe has three, while Arely pulls up her shirt to reveal a massive Santa Muerte image across her back.

Her popularity has increased so much, however, that Prof Chesnut says non-devotees seem to be opting for the ink.

R. Andrew Chesnut, professor of religious studies at Virginia Commonwealth University, has researched the folk saint's history and written a book titled Devoted to Death: Santa Muerte, the Skeleton Saint

Just because you see tattoos on people doesnt necessarily mean theyre devotees anymore, he says. Shes just become so popular and a pop icon, as well. It used to be the case that there was no doubt, if you saw a tattoo on somebody, they were a devotee  but no longer.

And aside from her reputation for answering prayers and requests, one of the main attractions of Santa Muerte is that death is the great equalizer; for all races, creeds or walks of life, death will come. The emphasis on equality has made her highly popular with members of the LGBTQ community, as well.

Arely, a transgender woman, says: When we realize that the Catholic religion  not only Catholicism, in all different religions  its not accepted or were not seen  we have to believe in something. We have to have faith in something. In this case, we know that Santa Muerte doesnt discriminate  when the cycle of life ends for everyone, what comes? Death. It comes for everyone. Nobodys going to be saved.

Professor Chesnut agrees about the attraction offered by equality: Even though in some ways shes quintessentially Mexican, even most Mexican devotees will tell you that shes not Mexican, because death has no nationality. Death crosses all borders. Particularly in countries, including our own, where the inequalities between the rich and poor are so vast, its really appealing  particularly in parts of Mexico, the fact that her scythe is going to level everybody at the end of the day. So theres some kind of satisfaction or comfort in that.

Ms. Vazquez's shrine contains a donation box; she says she uses the money to fund food and drink at Santa Muerte fiestas

Ms. Vazquez shows off the tattoo of Santa Muerte on her back; it is common for devotees to bargain that, if Santa Muerte answers a prayer, they will ink her likeness onto their bodies - though Prof Chesnut says the Santa Muerte imagery is getting so popular that many non-followers are choosing the tattoo

The central statue of the shrine at Ms Vazquez's home wears a wig of human hair and is clothed in an elaborate dress created by a fellow devotee who is a dressmaker

Ms Vazquez insists that the widespread belief that Santa Muerte is evil or bad can be changed - and that anyone who gets to know her will come to think differently, seeing her as a benevolent and responsive saint

Prof Chesnut adds: You cant ignore the fact that devotion to her has proliferated at the same time that Mexico has become a vast graveyard, second only to Syria, in absolute numbers of deaths in the world. In the last decade, were looking at 200,000 Mexican dead in the ongoing drug war, and this year is looking to be the worst on record of the last ten years. So while we cant ascribe her meteoric rise solely to the drug war, theres no doubt that shes proliferated during this time.

Another contribution to her increasing prevalence, he says, has been social media.

Her cult proliferated at the same time social media proliferated  and so facebook and, secondarily, twitter have been really important platforms in her growth, he says. There are almost 1,000 Santa Muerte groups on Facebook, and now theres at least like ten for English speakers. The largest one for English speakers is called Devoted to Death, he says  the same as the title of his book. I didnt even know it. I didnt the guy who founded it.

He says: Shes already transcended not only her Mexican roots but Latin America; theres already all these facebook groups who are mostly white Americans, also a fair amount of African Americans. Most seem to be coming from a pagan background, and most of them dont speak Spanish. If they ever went to Mexico, they did a fun Cancun vacation. Thats the extent of their connection with Mexico.

Arely encourages people of all races and creeds to give devotion to Santa Muerte a try, regardless of their preconceived notions or ideas.

When they get to know Santa Muerte, I guarantee it will change their way of thinking, she says.

Love for Santa Muerte  its inexplicable.
An actress in Taiwan has been criticised after dressing her toddler daughter as an underwear model for Halloween.

Terri Kwan, 41, posted pictures and a video of the two-year-old girl wearing white lingerie and a pair of Victoria's Secret-style feathered wings on social media on October 30.

Many people condemned the actress for sexualising her child as they called the pictures 'disturbing' and 'sickening'. However, others claimed it was just a Halloween costume and the public should be more tolerant.

Terri Kwan, an actress from Taiwan, posted pictures (above) and a video on social media, which showed her daughter wearing underwear as the costume for her a Halloween party

Speaking to Taiwanese media, Ms Kwan, 41, said said she was a big fan of Halloween and had been dressing her daughter since the girl was born. Above, the actress, who has a daughter and a son, poses during a commercial event on April 6, 2012 in Taipei

The photos and the film clip were shared by Ms Kwan, who has a daughter and a son, on her Instagram account, which has 346,000 followers.

She also put them up on her Weibo account, a Twitter-like social media platform in China.

In her post on Weibo, which has nearly 240,000 followers, Ms Kwan wrote alongside the pictures and asked if anybody had seen such an 'alluring' and 'good-looking' model.

Ms Kwan took the pictures as she prepared her daughter for the Halloween party held by the child's nursery, according to Taiwan's TVBS News.

Apparently, many Instagram users have been infuriated by the pictures. They blasted Ms Kwan for styling her young daughter in such an 'inappropriate' way and demanded her take down the pictures.

However, users on Weibo seemed to be more tolerant. While some said Ms Kwan's move would put her daughter at risk of being targeted by people with ill intentions, others argued that the costume was just for fun and shouldn't be taken so seriously.

The two-year-old girl wore white lingerie and a pair of Victoria's Secret-style feathered wings

Many people condemned the actress for sexualising her child as they called the pictures 'disturbing' and 'sickening'. However, some argued that it was just a fun Halloween costume

Alongside the pictures, Ms Kwan asked if anybody had seen such an 'alluring' and 'good-looking' model as she posted the images on Weibo, a Twitter-like platform in China

The lingerie appeared to be one of several Halloween costumes Ms Kwan had prepared for her daughter. The girl was also dressed as a mermaid, hula dancer, imperial Chinese princess, wedding flower girl and nurse, among others.

During an interview with Apple Daily on October 30, Ms Kwan said she was a big fan of Halloween and had been dressing her daughter since she was born.

Ms Kwan said: 'I fear when she grows up, [she] wouldn't let me dress her like this.'

She also told Apple Daily that some of the costumes had been prepared by her stylists while others had been bought by her online.

It's not the first time pictures of little girls dressed as skimpy underwear models have caused controversy in east Asia this year.

In August, a shopping mall in China's Chengdu city came under fire after staging a fake Victoria's Secret lingerie show with child models.

Young girls could be seen dressed in two-piece lingerie along with decorations such as feathers and gems and most of them were given a massive headpiece.

Web users accused the show's organiser for sexualising underage girls.
A defense lawyer for Nicki Minaj's brother tried to poke holes in the narrative of his 13-year-old former stepdaughter on Tuesday, accusing the girl in cross examination of lying about being raped as part of a multimillion-dollar extortion plot.

The accuser, who spoke at length about the sexual abuse she had allegedly endured at the hands of 38-year-old Jelani Maraj when she was just 11 years old, kept her cool under pressure and pushed back against attorney David Schwartzs assertion that she was lying.

On Monday, the girl detailed for the court how her former stepfather allegedly raped and sodomized her, and claimed that on one occasion in 2015, her baby brother caught Maraj in the act.

The 13-year-old was back on the witness stand at Nassau County Supreme Court Tuesday for a cross-examination, which lasted more than two hours and concluded with Maraj's defense attorney leveling a devastating accusation against the teenager.

Going on the attack: The defense team for Jelani Maraj, Nicki Minaj's brother (pictured exiting the courtroom at Nassau County Court on October 24) accused his 13-year-old stepdaughter on cross-examination of lying that he had raped and sodomized her

Sextortion plot: Maraj's lawyers claim the girl and her mother made up the rape story in an attempt to shake down his sister Nicki (right) for $25million

'This is a complete lie, isn't it?' he asked the underage girl, as Newsday reported.

'What is?' she asked.

'Your whole story,' Schwartz clarified.

'No, it's not,' the 13-year-old shot back.

The girl vehemently denied that her decision to come forward with allegations of rape and sodomy was motivated by greed, or made under duress from her mother, Jacqueline Robinson, whom the defense has portrayed as the mastermind of a scheme to force Maraj's superstar sister Nicki to pay them $25million in hush money.

Having failed to get the payout, the defense attorney suggested that it was now 'all about revenge' for the girl.

A prosecutor asked her star witness on redirect why she failed to report the alleged abuse to Robinson, according to New York Post.

'Because she seemed happy,' the 13-year-old replied. 'I wanted my mother to be happy,'

She also said that she was afraid of Maraj making good on his promise to have her taken away from Robinson.

On Monday, the accuser testified that she 'was on [her] forearms on the bed and [her] pants were pulled down' when her then-eight-year-old brother walked in on Maraj having sex with her. She said that she told her brother not to talk about it because she was scared they'd be 'sent away.'

The girl, who has not been publicly named, also testified that Maraj allegedly threatened to have her taken away from her mother if she didn't follow his plans. She testified that he allegedly instructed her on how to make anal sex less painful while raping her.

'He would call me his puppet and [say] I had no say in what he did to me,' the young girl said in court.

The former stepdaughter on Monday gave horrifying accounts of being sodomized and raped by Maraj (pictured) when she was just 11 years old

The girl said that the alleged abuse began in 2015 when her mother and Maraj lived on Long Island.

Maraj and Robinson were married in August 2015 in a wedding Minaj paid for, heading off soon after on a honeymoon Minaj paid for as well for her brother and his bride.

Four months into the union things took a devastating turn though when Maraj was arrested on a charge of rape.

On Monday, the girl testified that the alleged abuse started with Maraj rubbing his erect penis on her, but escalated when she went to his room one morning to greet him.

'It was a Saturday morning,' she said. 'I had went to him to go say "good morning". I had hugged him as usual. I went to go lie next to him as I usually do.

'When I did that, he told me to go close the door. He told me to take off my pants. Then he told me to come under the covers with him and he started caressing me.'

The girl testified that he allegedly raped her and ejaculated in her mouth.

She said that Maraj then began to allegedly rape her after school frequently.

The alleged attacks began not long after he married the girl's mother, Jacqueline Robinson, in a 2015 wedding ceremony that the rapper paid for (Above Minaj left, Robinson, center, and Maraj, right)

'We would have sex in his bedroom, in my bedroom, in the basement,' she said.

She explained to the court that Maraj would try to make her think the alleged attacks were her fault because she was sending him signals.

'He had mentioned I was brushing myself on him and that I wanted it to happen,' she said.

The girl also testified that over the summer Maraj started sodomizing her.

Maraj's (above in arrest photo) lawyer has alleged that the girl's mother instructed her children to lie to extort $25million from Minaj

'He used lubricant and told me to breathe properly and not to clench so it wouldn't hurt so much,' she said. 'It hurt. I told him to stop and tried to push him away.'

Among the evidence is a pair of the girl's underwear with DNA matching the defendant.

Last week, a doctor called to the stand by the prosecution earlier this week also testified that the young girl's medical exams showed tears that were consistent with penetration.

David Schwartz, Maraj's lawyer, has alleged that the girl's mother instructed her children to lie to extort $25million from Minaj.

He is facing four charges including a felony count of Predatory Sexual Assault Against a Child that carries a 10 to 20 year minimum sentence as a first-time offender if he is found guilty.

There are also two felony counts for Course of Sexual Conduct Against a Child and a misdemeanor count of endangering the welfare of a child.
A Bangladeshi pilot has been arrested after police accused him of plotting to fly a passenger plane into the houses of government chiefs.

Sabbir Enam, 31, was detained on Tuesday and formally arrested yesterday, a senior police official said.

He is a pilot with the national carrier Bangladesh Biman.

Rapid Action Battalion, the special security force of Bangladesh's police, arrested him and three others, including his mother, said Mufti Mahmud Khan, a director of the RAB responsible for the legal and media wing of the force.

Sabbir Enam (pictured), 31, was detained on Tuesday and formally arrested yesterday, a senior police official said

Rapid Action Battalion, the special security force of Bangladesh's police, arrested him and three others, including his mother, said Mufti Mahmud Khan, a director of the RAB responsible for the legal and media wing of the force

He said Sabbir had close links with the terror group Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) and was planning to fly a plane into the homes of government leaders.

'He also had plans to take a flight, keeping passengers as hostage, (and heading) to some Middle Eastern country,' Mufti said.

No further details of the plans, or if or when they were ever to be carried out, were immediately available. The arrested pilot was not available for comment.

JMB is an Islamic militant organisation which in 2005 detonated 500 bombs at 300 locations across the country. Its aim is to set up an Islamic state.

Sabbir is a pilot with the national carrier Bangladesh Biman. Security services said he was flying the Dhaka to Kolkata route as recently as October 30

The RAB said Sabbir trained to be a pilot at the Bangladesh Flying Academy in 2009, according to India Today.

He then worked for another airline in the country before joining Bangladesh Biman.

Security services said he was flying the Dhaka to Kolkata route as recently as October 30.

He flew Boeing 737s, which are capable of taking between 85 and 215 passengers.
This is the incredible moment a kidnap victim escapes from the trunk of her captor's car when he stops at a gas station.

The unnamed woman broke free from his clutches on Monday night in Alabama after he broke into her home in the dead of night, strangled her and demanded money before bundling her into his car, police said.

She ran into the gas station convenience store and approached the clerk, while her captor fled when he realized he had been discovered.

Timothy Wyatt, 36, is accused taking the victim from her house in Autauga County, Alabama, in the early hours of Monday morning.

He was already wanted for attempted murder and his relationship to the victim is not known.

This is the moment a kidnap victim escapes from the trunk of her captor's car when he stops at a gas station in Alabama, USA

He tied her hands behind her back and pulled the victim out of the property and into the boot of his blue Ford Taurus.

After threatening to stab her multiple times while she sat in the back, he bundled her into the trunk of the car.

In shocking CCTV footage, the car can be seen pulling into a petrol station forecourt before Wyatt gets out and walks into the shop entrance on Monday night.

Seconds later, the victim managed to pop open the boot with a lever inside.

She is caught on the camera emerging from the trunk and climbs out, running towards the open shop.

Inside the store, Wyatt can be seen confidently walking up to the till when the victim, a white female with brown hair, rushes past.

He clearly sees her escaping, and appearing to realise he may be in trouble, starts to run too - but heads instead for the direction of the car.

He then fled the gas station

In shocking CCTV footage, the car can be seen pulling into a petrol station forecourt before Wyatt gets out and walks into the shop entrance (pictured)

Local news site 12WSFA reports Wyatt was arrested in connection with the case last night.

According to Chilton County Sheriff John Shearon, Timothy Jabbar Wyatt, 36, was taken into custody yesterday.

Currently, Wyatt is in the Chilton County Jail charged with possession of marijuana second-degree.

Captor: Timothy Wyatt was arrested for kidnapping the woman from her home and bundling her into the trunk of his car

Police found a person sleeping inside the old trade school building and he was later identified as Wyatt, was taken into custody.

The Autauga County Sheriffs Office began searching for Wyatt after an incident early Monday morning.

Wyatt was out on bond in Chilton County for the charge of possession of marijuana, a felony, when the kidnapping incident occurred.

Court records showed he was arrested in April for attempted murder, sodomy first-degree, and robbery third-degree.
President Donald Trump said Wednesday that he would consider sending Sayfullo Saipov, the Uzbek national who plowed a rented truck through a bike lane full of cyclists and pedestrians on Tuesday, to the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

'I would certainly consider that, yes. I would certainly consider that. Send him to Gitmo,' Trump said.

White House press secretary Sarah Sanders told reporters hours later during a briefing that 'the point he was making is that he supports  or would support that, but he wasn't necessarily advocating for it.'

Trump 'certainly would support it if he felt like that was the best move,' she added cryptically.

Separately, Senate Armed Services Committee chairman John McCain, a Republican who has tangled with the president on taxes and Obamacare, said Saipov should be considered an 'enemy combatant' and denied Miranda rights by police.

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President Donald Trump said as he began a cabinet meeting on Wednesday that he would consider sending suspected terrorist Sayfullo Saipov to the Guantanamo Bay military prison

Sayfullo Saipov, the Uzbek national who plowed a rented truck through a bike lane full of cyclists and pedestrians on Tuesday, was admitted to the U.S. in 2010 under the State Department's Diversity Immigrant Visa Program

The president also declared that he is already moving to terminate the State Department's diversity-oriented visa lottery program, which granted Saipov entry into the United States in 2010.

'I am today starting the process of terminating the diversity lottery program. I'm going to ask Congress to immediately initiate or get rid of this program,' he said.

Trump called Saipov 'an animal' during remarks before a cabinet meeting at the White House.

'He came in through the diversity program as you know, and were going to stop it,' the president vowed.

On Capitol Hill, McCain said in a statement that Americans should recognize terror attacks as 'acts of war.'

'As such, the New York terror suspect should be held and interrogated  thoroughly, responsibly, and humanely as an enemy combatant consistent with the Law of Armed Conflict,' McCain added.

'He should not be read Miranda Rights, as enemy combatants are not entitled to them. As soon as possible, the administration should notify Congress how it plans to proceed with the interrogation and trial of this suspect.'

Arizona Republican Sen. John McCain said terror attacks are 'acts of war' and perpetrators should be considered 'enemy combatants'

South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham advocates for holding suspected terrorists without giving them Miranda rights, including the right to have an attorney

South Carolina Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham also suggested grilling terror attackers without giving them the right to remain silent or an attorney.

Graham recommended on the Fox News Channel that authorities 'Hold them for a long period of time, get to know them, interrogate them about what they know, where they got trained  if any training.'

'And we'll find out pretty soon more about this guy if you don't read him his Miranda rights,' he continued, 'because that stops the interrogation.'

The president does not have the authority to unilaterally end the lottery program that was implemented by Congress in 1990.

He has endorsed Senate legislation that would replace it with a merit-based program, but it is not guaranteed to pass even if it comes to the floor for a vote.

The White House could order the State Department to reduce the maximum number of lottery visas awarded annually from 50,000 to as few as zero.

'The "diversity lottery"  sounds nice. It's not nice. It's not good,' Trump told reporters.

'We want a merit-based program' for immigration, Trump said, 'where people come into our country based on merit.'

'And we do not want chain migration, where ultimately someone like him will be allowed to bring in many, many members of his family,' Trump said.

America's heavily fortified Guantanamo Bay prison camp, situated on leased land in Cuba, has been the home of suspected jihadi terrorists for decades

There are only 41 prisoners left at 'Gitmo,' down from 242 when Barack Obama took office in 2009

Trump suggested that Americans were 'suckers' for supporting a system that allowed lax oversight of people allowed to fast-track their visa applications on the basis of a randomly drawn number.

'We want people that are going to keep our country safe. We don't want lotteries, where the wrong people are in the lotteries,' he said.

'And guess what? Who are the suckers that get those people.'

The president also complained about 'being stopped by Democrats' as he attempts to 'get rid of this lottery program.'

'We're going to stop that,' the president insisted.

Saipov was seen on video running through a lower Manhattan street as he yelled 'Allahu akbar,' just after mowing down eight people with a rented pickup truck.

Trump suggested on Wednesday that Americans were 'suckers' for supporting a system that allowed lax oversight of people allowed to fast-track their visa applications on the basis of a randomly drawn number

Trump has vowed to reverse the previous administration's course on closing Guantanamo, which was one of former president Barack Obama's earliest campaign promises  and one he never fulfilled.

Obama largely emptied out 'Gitmo,' as the terror-detention hellhole is known, reducing its population from 242 to just 41.

The prison camp has been the site of infamous torture techniques including waterboarding  which the president supported during his White House campaign.

'Terrorists are constantly seeking to strike our nation and it will require the unflinching devotion to our law enforcement, homeland security and intelligence professionals to keep America safe,' Trump said Wednesday

'We have to get much tougher and we have to get much smarter,' he added. 'And we have to get much less politically correct. Were so politically correct that were afraid to do anything.'
Dustin Hoffman has apologized after a woman claimed the Hollywood legend sexually harassed her and pawed at her rear when she was 17-years-old while on the set of the 1985 TV film Death of a Salesman.

Anna Graham Hunter kept a journal of her time working with the film's various stars as a production assistant. She detailed her interactions over the five weeks she worked alongside Hoffman, which she says became inappropriate when he first asked her for a foot rub- she admits to acquiescing.

Hunter, who tells her story as a contributing columnist for the Hollywood Reporter, says at first she loved the attention from the actor, until things took a darker turn.

'He was openly flirtatious, he grabbed my a**, he talked about sex to me and in front of me. One morning I went to his dressing room to take his breakfast order; he looked at me and grinned, taking his time,' she said.

'Then he said, ''I'll have a hard-boiled egg  and a soft-boiled clitoris.'' His entourage burst out laughing. I left, speechless. Then I went to the bathroom and cried.'

Upon being contacted for the story by the Hollywood Reporter, Hoffman responded: 'I have the utmost respect for women and feel terrible that anything I might have done could have put her in an uncomfortable situation. I am sorry. It is not reflective of who I am.'

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Anna Graham Hunter (left) claims she was sexually harassed by Dustin Hoffman when she was 17-years-old while working with him on the set of Death of a Salesman (1985)

How they were: This photo shows the pair on set during filming

Dustin Hoffman seated next to John Malkovich in this promotional poster for Death of a Salesman. Top row is actors Kate Reid and Stephen Lang

Hunter claims, through the journal entries, that the actor's behavior only grew more aggressive as their time working together continued. The entries she shares begin on January 21 with Hoffman requesting and receiving a foot rub from the young teen.

Hunter says Hoffman's daughter Jenna Bryne, now 47 and from his first marriage to Anne Bryne, was in the room when the foot massage incident occurred.

On January 28, Hunter journaled a bizarre conversation with the actor peppering her with questions about her sexual activity over the weekend.

'Dustin said to me today, ''So, did you have sex over the weekend like I told you?''

'No.'

'What is this, celibate weekends?'

'Next weekend, OK?'

'No, I'm talking about last weekend. You sure you didn't?'

''Yes.'' I was cracking up.'

'Smile if you're lying.'

However by January 31, she writes, her interactions with Hoffman became physical.

'Today, when I was walking Dustin to his limo, he felt my a** four times. I hit him each time, hard, and told him he was a dirty old man. He took off his hat and pointed to his head (shaved for the part) and said, ''No, I'm a dirty young man, I have a full head of hair.''

John Malkovich (left) and Dustin Hoffman (right) in a scene for Death of a Salesman

American playwright Arthur Miller (back) talks to actor Dustin Hoffman during production the television adaptation of 'Death Of A Salesman,' 1985

The now author claims she was not the only one on set to garner unwanted attention from Hoffman. Hunter claims a fellow production assistant, who Hunter calls Elizabeth to protect her identity, also dealt with the brunt of inappropriate comments from the star.

Hunter shares her journal from January 31: 'Today, I realized some things about this business that scare me. First of all, Dustin's a lech. I'm completely disillusioned. After Tootsie, I thought I wanted to marry him.'

'Elizabeth asked him what he wanted for lunch and he said, ''Your left breast.''

'You're disgusting.'

'OK, your right breast.'

''You pig.'' She walked away.'

Hunter also changed the name of an office assistant, who she calls Pam.

'Pam said, ''If [producer] Bob Colesberry had heard that [Elizabeth rejected Hoffman's advances], she would have been gone in a second. I know Dustin would never let that happen, but it's still scary.''

Hunter discusses working with both stars, Malkovich (right) and Hoffman (left) in her journal

Hoffman in his role of Willy Loman in Death of a Salesman, 1985 (left), and at an event in October 2017 (right)

Hunter says there were certainly benefits of being on set, aside from the star power of Hoffman she also writes in her journal about positive interactions she had working alongside actors John Malkovich and Charles Durning, as well as playwright Arthur Miller.

But the good did not out weigh the negative experiences she encountered. She writes that by February 4 of 1985 'Today this business got scarier. Or at least less appealing.'

'This morning when I asked Dustin what he wanted for breakfast, he said something that beat even his lows. It was worse than anything anyone has ever said to me on the street. It was so gross I couldn't say anything. I just turned around and walked out,' she details of her claims about Hoffman asking for a 'soft-boiled clitoris' as part of his breakfast order to her.

'Later I tried to get into a serious conversation with Frankie [his assistant] about why Dustin is like that. I don't know how Dustin knew what we were talking about, but he shouted, ''Anna! Are you badmouthing me? Anna! Get over here, Anna!''

'The whole crew was cracking up, and I ducked behind a set,' Hunter wrote in her journal that day.

'Later, I was delivering lunches when John, Stephen and Dustin came down the hall and he shouted, ''Anna! So you think I'm a sexist pig, huh? Anna!'' The whole f***ing studio heard him. So I told him that I didn't appreciate his wandering hands or his comments. He apologized and said he would stop.'

'After that he was so nice to me I was shocked. Between takes he kept passing me bubble gum. Suddenly a piece would come flying out of nowhere, and then I'd see him smiling. When I was walking up the stairs carrying a box of Cokes, he rushed up and grabbed it for me. I guess he felt really bad. He was like he is around his wife  Mr. Paternity,' she detailed in her entry that day.

Hoffman was at that time married to wife Lisa Hoffman (nee Gottsegen), they married in 1980 and they are still together.

Lisa and Dustin have four children together, two boys Jake and Max Hoffman who born in 1981 and 1984 respectively. Their girls are Rebecca and Alexandra who were born in 1983 and 1987.

Lisa Hoffman with husband Dustin at an event in October 2017. The couple have been together since 1980

Hunter's journal entry that day continues, 'I laugh at most things because I don't want to appear hard-nosed, but sometimes I just can't. You know? Most of this deference is directly because of my sex. I find that hard to deal with. I hope it's over now. Who knows, maybe Dustin respects me because of what I said.

Then one final humiliating entry reveals the day Warren Beatty came to the studio.

'I was standing in the best place possible [to watch filming]. So he and Bob Colesberry stood next to me for 45 minutes. He smiled and I introduced myself. He looked good, but a bit gray.'

'Dustin said to me afterward, ''So Anna, I get Warren tonight, you get him Tuesday?'' Today he said, ''You might as well have undressed yourself. You were saying, 'F*** me, f*** me, Warren.''

The author says in her Hollywood Reporter piece, that while she tried to take the alleged harassment in stride, she was proud of herself for when she did find the voice to speak out against a Hollywood star as a young teen on the set.

She also says she shared her accounts with her sister overseas.

'During my five weeks on set, I detailed my days and mailed dispatches to my sister in London after making copies for myself. Recently, I reread them for the first time in several years.'

Hunter concludes her column with the Hollywood Reporter with a reflection on that time: 'At 49, I understand what Dustin Hoffman did as it fits into the larger pattern of what women experience in Hollywood and everywhere. He was a predator, I was a child, and this was sexual harassment. As to how it fits into my own pattern, I imagine I'll be figuring that out for years to come.'
A neighbor of the 29-year-old terrorist who killed eight and injured 12 in lower Manhattan on Halloween has revealed he recognized the suspect and saw him and his two male friends driving around in a Home Depot truck as recently as two days ago.

Carlos Batista, 23, who lived two doors down from Sayfullo Habibullaevic Saipov in Paterson, New Jersey told DailyMail.com that the Uzbek immigrant had the vehicle for weeks before the attack, but never saw him load or unload anything from it.

'They had this Home Depot truck, like the one he used yesterday, for about three weeks and would park it wherever they could find a spot along Genessee [Avenue],' Carlos said in an exclusive interview.

'I found it odd and suspicious because never did I see [Saipov] or the other two move anything in or out of it, or were they ever in work clothes.

Saipov (seen left) was 'proud' of the attack when questioned in hospital on Tuesday night. He is seen right fleeing the scene on Tuesday with two imitation guns in his hands

Carlos Batista, 23, who lives two doors away from Sayfullo Saipov in Paterson, New Jersey said the Uzbek immigrant had the Home Depot truck for about three weeks and would park it wherever they could find a spot

'I only saw them drive it around. It didn't seem like there was any reason for them to have a truck, since I never saw anything being moved.

He added: 'Knowing what we know now, it's like they were making a test run or something.

'Every time I saw the suspect in the neighborhood he was dressed in traditional robes and wore a cap, while the others, I assume his friends, wore jeans and shirts. All three were about the same age and had beards. But the two guys he hung out with were stocky,' he said.

The ISIS terrorist is reported to have rented a truck from a Home Depot in New Jersey which he used to plow through cyclists and runners on the bicycle path before slamming into a school bus on Chambers Street on Tuesday.

Batista, who works in construction and has lived at his current address for the past year, also recalled getting into a altercation with two of the men this past summer.

Batista, who works in construction and has lived at his current address for the past year, also recalled getting into a altercation with two of Saipov's friends this summer. Pictured above is Saipov's home

Saipov, an Uzbek native, was a Muslim who attended a 'suspicious' mosque (pictured) in New Jersey and was allegedly radicalized sometime after moving to the U.S. seven years ago, it emerged on Wednesday. Omar Mosque is located around the corner from the suspect's home

'I was riding my dirt bike up and down the street one night at around 7.30pm and revving the engine and going at a fast speed,' he said.

'This annoyed two of the guys. They told me in thick accents that I was making too much noise and that I should shut off my bike. That's when the suspect got involved and calmed the situation down.'

Another Paterson local described the Uzbek immigrant as an 'a**hole' who was often seen driving off with his wife who was dressed in a burqa.

Hilmi Hammad an employee at Excel, a knife supplier located across the street from Saipov's home, told DailyMail.com: 'A lot of times his white van would be parked in front of his apartment building.

'I would often see him come out with his wife, in full burqa - just the slits for eyes - and two girls, and drive off.'

DailyMail.com also spoke to a neighbor who described the suspect and his family as 'quiet' and reserved.

Altana Dimitrovska, 63, who lives a few doors down in the same modest brick apartment complex said: 'They were quiet people and kept to themselves.'

'I didn't have any problems with them. They went about their business, as did I. We would say hello and that was it. The mother wore a black robe and her face was covered.

'They have three kids, two girls and a baby boy. The girls looked to be around ages four and six and the son maybe six months old.

'Around the time the son was born they were visited by a set of grandparents. But I'm not sure if they were on the husband or wife's side. They too dressed traditionally and stayed about a month.'

Police examine a van in the neighborhood where Sayfullo Saipov lived in Paterson, New Jersey

Neighbors told DailyMail.com that Saipov's family were seen being whisked away earlier today with luggage and other personal possessions.

Ken (Khader) Abuassab, founder and director of the American Arab Civic Organization, an outreach program in the state of New Jersey and based in Paterson denounced the attack and said Saipov's actions do not reflect the beliefs of Muslim people.

'I am shocked by this violent act, condemn what this individual did and sympathize with our neighbors in New York City. Islam is not responsible for this foolish act. We are a peaceful people and wish to live in harmony with everyone, whether Christian or Jewish,' he told DailyMail.com.

'As a people, we respect the lives of others and it is not our intent to hurt or kill anyone. We have an open door policy at our mosques in New Jersey and welcome all to visit and pray.'

When asked about the surveillance by law enforcement of the nearby Omar Mosque about a decade ago, he said nothing was found untoward and reiterated its open door policy.

And despite the mosque's proximity to the suspect's home - just around the corner from his apartment - he insisted that he had no official affiliation.

However, he did acknowledge that he could have prayed there on occasion. It holds prayer services five times daily.

'We recovered after 9/11, and other incidents in the U.S., and we will heal from this one while continuing to make the point that we are about co-existing in peace and abhor all violent and extremist acts,' he added.

Authorities stand near a damaged Home Depot truck after a motorist drove onto a bike path near the World Trade Center memorial, striking and killing several people on Halloween

The crash area is just seven blocks from Ground Zero and is a stone's throw from City Hall

Saipov, an Uzbek native, was a Muslim who attended a 'suspicious' mosque in New Jersey and allegedly radicalized sometime after moving to the U.S. seven years ago, it emerged on Wednesday.

According to NorthJersey.com, the NYPD has been studying the Omar Mosque in Paterson, near Saipov's home, as a possible location for 'budding terrorist conspiracies'.

He was shot in the stomach during the rampage, and underwent surgery at Bellevue Hospital. When he spoke with authorities at the hospital, he allegedly showed no remorse for the lives he had taken. One source told ABC News that he seemed 'proud' and said he was 'boasting'.

In a press conference on Wednesday, NYPD confirmed Saipov had been planning the attack for weeks but did not give further details.

However, they said that he followed 'exactly to a T' instructions the terrorist group had posted online about how to carry out a terrorist attack.
The secret life that Eric Bolling's son had attempted to hide away from his parents has been laid bare in the aftermath of the college student's fatal drug overdose.

Eric Bolling Jr, the son of the former Fox News host, was found dead in his apartment on September 8, with high levels of cocaine, marijuana, fentanyl and Xanax in his system, according to a police report released on Thursday.

The 19-year-old led a wild college life at the University of Colorado-Boulder, having a SWAT team enter his apartment over the summer, which resulted in him being kicked out of his fraternity.

Bolling had upped his partying in the last months before his death and just hours before his overdose, he bought $350 worth of Percocet and fentanyl pills on two separate drug trips, according to a police report obtained by The Blast.

And as Bolling lay unconscious, concerned friends tried to check on him and left worried texts, including: 'Eric holy s**t dude, you could have died', 'Everyone is worried' and 'I'm praying that you're alive'.

Now the last moments of Bolling's life have been revealed as two of the last people who saw him alive told police that the teen had mistakenly taken the deadly fentanyl, thinking it was Percocet.

Eric Bolling Jr, the son of disgraced Fox News host Eric Bolling, died of an accidental drug overdose in his apartment in Boulder, Colorado, on September 8. The 19-year-old 'panicked' after mistakenly taking a 'lethal' dose of fentanyl hours before he died

A coroner's report released on Thursday shows the college student had high levels of cocaine, marijuana, fentanyl and Xanax in his system when he died

Bolling's autopsy determined he died from an accidental drug overdose as his body was found with high levels of cocaine, marijuana, fentanyl and Xanax.

Just hours before his death, Bolling drove to Denver with Mohammad Althunayan, a fellow college student he met days before, to purchase cocaine and Percocet, according to a police report.

Althunayan told police that the day before, on Wednesday, September 6, the two had also gone to Denver to buy drugs, with Bolling buying five Percocet pills at $35 per pill.

He told police that Bolling took half a pill along with the drug dealer in the car before the two drove back to Boulder where they partied that night.

The two young men set out again on Thursday, September 7, to buy another round of drugs - cocaine and Percocet, according to documents.

Bolling had once again purchased five $35 pills he believed to be Percocet, but when he and the drug dealer each took half a pill, they began panicking when they reacted differently to the drug than the day before.

Althunayan said Bolling realized the drug contained fentanyl and told Althunayan that the opioid was 50 times stronger than heroin and that it could kill him.

According to police, Bolling did cocaine before Althunayan dropped him back off at his apartment in Boulder, with Althunayan noting he seemed to have recovered from the pill.

Mohammad Althunayan said he met Bolling at a party days before he died. The college student had driven Bolling to go pick up drugs in Denver, according to police

Later that night Bolling's on-and-off girlfriend Kayla Harwood (left and right) came over, who told police she observed Bolling doing cocaine and said he even offered her the 'Percocet' pills several times, according to police

Later that night Bolling's on-and-off girlfriend Kayla Harwood, 18, came over to his apartment to watch a movie.

The sorority girl told police that she observed Bolling doing more cocaine and said he even offered her the 'Percocet' pills several times.

Its unclear if Bolling himself took additional pills after realizing they were fentanyl and not Percocet.

Harwood spent the night and left the next morning for class but said she was sure Bolling was still breathing at the time.

She attempted to contact Bolling afterwards but received no reply, causing her to reach out to Althunayan to see if he had heard from him.

According to police, she asked Althunayan what drugs Bolling had done the day before and he replied: 'He was tryna to pick up perc but the dealer f***ked him over and gave him fentenayal (sic) which is really dangerous. I didn't take any.'

After trying to reach Bolling throughout the day, Harwood later went back to Bolling's apartment, where she found him dead in his bed and called the police.

The police report noted that they found Bolling face down with 'fluid' around his mouth and dried blood around his nose.

In his apartment they found plastic baggies that tested positive for drugs, a fake ID, and a rolled up dollar bill next to the licence, according to the report.

Bolling had gone to Denver to purchase five Percocet pills for $35 each from a drug dealer he had previously bought from. Police said that during the deal both Bolling and the drug dealer took half a pill and minutes later both began panicking

When his officials went to check his phone, they saw several unopened messages from his friends asking if he was okay.

Some of the messages read: 'Please call me', 'Yo you alright dog?', 'Yo how are you doin man?', 'I'm praying that you`re alive', 'Eric holy s**t dude, you could have died', 'Everyone is looking for you' and 'Everyone is worried'.

Missed calls and messages specifically from Harwood were also visible, including the messages: 'You need to call me rn Eric', 'This isn`t ok', 'ERIC', 'WTF' and 'Come on don't do this'.

When police questioned Harwood about her relationship with Bolling, she told investigators that she hadn't recently seen Bolling because she learned he had been using heroin and stayed away due to the drug usage.

She also claimed that Bolling had been kicked out of his fraternity when the chapter learned of his drug habit after the SWAT team had entered his apartment in July.

After finding Bolling dead, Harwood messaged Althunayan again to let him know that Bolling was dead, adding: 'I'm just so shocked rn.

'When I got there he offered me "percs" thank goodness I didn't take them dude. I would have died.'

Althunayan responded: 'He offered you????? He knew though it was fentanyl and real dangerous.'

Althunayan quickly blamed the drug dealer for giving Bolling the deadly opioid, saying: 'The dealer f**ked him over without telling him and give him fentanyl.'

In September, Bolling's close friend Wayne Carter (pictured together) told DailyMail.com that Bolling 'partied' the night before he was found dead and was allegedly seen doing drugs, including cocaine, weed and Xanax

In September, Bolling's close friend Wayne Carter told DailyMail.com that Bolling 'partied' the night before he was found dead and was allegedly seen doing drugs, including cocaine, weed and Xanax.

Carter, 21, said Bolling had been out partying - even sending videos of that night's festivities to friends via messaging app Snapchat.

Carter, who is originally from Malibu, California, said that his friend was always fond of socializing but had stepped up his partying over the summer.

He also said he had been told that Bolling had once dabbled in substances such as heroin but insisted that at the time of his death, he was sticking to 'just college drugs  cocaine, weed, alcohol, Xanax sometimes.'

Bolling had been enormously proud of his father's TV career and was deeply affected by the sexual harassment allegations against him that led to him being fired by Fox.

Bolling Sr was accused of sending lewd pictures of his private parts to female colleagues.

After news broke of his father's firing, a friend says Bolling kept most of his feelings bottled up because of his pride in his father but it was 'eating him up inside'

'He was very into his dad and looked up to his dad a lot,' Carter said. 'I'm not saying his life choices revolved around his dad but his dad was a huge role model in his life.

'You'd go to a party and he was a cool guy but he'd be like, "Oh guys, do you know who my dad is?" And we'd be like, "Yes Eric, we know who your dad is!"'

After news broke of his father's firing, Carter says Bolling Jr kept most of his feelings bottled up because of his pride in his father but it was 'eating him up inside'.

Carter added: 'He wouldn't tell me [direct] because he was so proud of his dad. But clearly inside, it was eating him up.'

But Carter said Bolling would never have taken his own life intentionally and said he believes that his partying and drug use is what 'did it for him' in the end.

He said: 'I'll put it like this  he was a partier. I don't think he would have intentionally done it [killed himself]. But I definitely think he upped it once when he heard that news and that's what caused his demise.'

News of the autopsy results last Thursday came the same day that President Donald Trump declared the opioid crisis a national emergency, with opioid overdoses killing an average of 92 people a day across the county.
David Noakes, 64, is pictured arriving at Southwark Crown Court

The creator of a controversial 'wonder drug' made from human blood will stand trial for risking patient safety to pocket millions from the sale of outlawed medicines.

David Noakes, 64, is the CEO and beneficial owner of Immuno Biotech Ltd.

He is said to have used the firm to actively promote products containing GcMAF, made using human blood, by holding it out as a cure for a number of illnesses and conditions including cancer, multiple sclerosis, HIV and autism.

But products containing GcMAF are thought to cause a significant health risk.

Noakes appeared at Southwark Crown Court alongside associate Brian Hall, biochemist Emma Ward and ex-wife and distribution firm director Loraine Noakes.

They denied charges relating to the manufacture, possession and sale of products including the drug.

Noakes also denied money laundering in relation to 7million paid into Immuno's Guernsey bank accounts and a further 2million he raked in personally from sales of GcMAF.

All four will stand trial at the same court next year.

Noakes, of Waldershare, Dover, denied two counts of manufacturing a medicinal product without a manufacturer's licence, two of selling or supplying medicinal products without market authorisation, one of possessing an unauthorised medicinal product without market authorisation and money laundering.

Noakes appeared at Southwark Crown Court alongside associate Brian Hall (pictured) and ex-wife and distribution firm director Loraine Noakes, all of whom deny the charges

Ward, of Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, denied two counts of manufacturing a medicinal product without a manufacturer's licence, two of selling or supplying medicinal products without market authorisation and one of possessing an unauthorised medicinal product without market authorisation.

Loraine Noakes, of Ringwood, Hampshire, denied two counts of selling or supplying medicinal products without market authorisation.

Hall, of New Southgate, north London, denied a single count of possessing an unauthorised medicinal product without market authorisation.

Their trial, expected to last up to six weeks, will take place at Southwark Crown Court on 5 November 2018.
A pair of US Navy fighter jets were scrambled on Sunday to escort two Russian bombers that approached the USS Ronald Reagan in the Sea of Japan.

As CNN first reported on Tuesday, citing two American defense officials familiar with the matter, the interaction between the US Navy F/A-18 Hornets and their Russian counterparts was characterized as safe and professional.

Russia's TU-95MS Bear aircraft then left the area without further incident.

Two US Navy F/A-18 Hornets on Sunday were scrambled from the USS Ronald Reagan (pictured) in the Sea of Japan to escort away two Russian bombers

The TU-95 MS Bears reportedly came within 80 miles of the US aircraft carrier

The Russian news agency Tass.ru reported, citing Russia's Ministry of Defense, that the TU-95s were carrying out scheduled flights over neutral waters of the Sea of Japan and the western part of the Pacific Ocean.

Besides the US fighter jets, Japan's aircraft also followed the Russian bombers, which came within 80 miles of the USS Ronald Reagan.

The 100,000-ton aircraft carrier operating in the US Navy's 7th Fleet area of operations was joined last week by USS Theodore Roosevelt and USS Nimitz in anticipation of a rare military exercise, which is expected to commence around the same time that President Donald Trump is traveling to the region, including visits to South Korea and China.

During a Pentagon briefing last week, Lt. Gen. Kenneth McKenzie, director of the Joint Staff, raised the prospect of the three carriers operating together at some point, but he provided no details. A US official confirmed the plans for an exercise, but wasn't able to discuss the matter publicly so spoke on condition of anonymity.

Three Navy aircraft carriers and the ships that accompany them are currently thousands of miles apart in the Indian Ocean and the Pacific. But they are moving through the region and could be closer together in weeks.

The interaction between the US F/A-18s (picturted) and their Russian counterparts was later deemed safe and professional

The exercise plan has not been publicly announced, and officials would not say exactly where or when it would take place.

McKenzie said the last time three carriers operated together was in 2007. At that time, it was for a naval exercise off Guam.

The US has been moving to increase diplomatic and economic pressure on North Korea, in an effort to counter Pyongyang's nuclear weapons program.

And the Trump administration has made it clear that the US is prepared to take military action if the North does not halt its development of missiles that could strike the US, potentially with a nuclear warhead.

Trump is scheduled to embark on his 12-day trip to Asia beginning on November 3, with planned stops in Japan, South Korea, China, Vietnam, and the Philippines.
Buckle up! Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May will be returning to our screens for The Grand Tour series two on Friday 8 December.

A new trailer released by Amazon Prime Video reveals a taste of what viewers can expect as the adventurous trio tackle some of the globe's most difficult driving terrains for a second time.

'It's so good to be back' Jeremy Clarkson gleams, as James Bond Paul McCartney and Wing's classic 'Live and Let Die' cuts in.

The footage shows the men tackling snowy ski slopes in Colorado driving old Jaguars, before taking on open deserts and mud tracks.

In the action-packed 2:17 trailer, the trio are also seen destroying a small plane before attempting to drive on water.

Clarkson, Hammond and May filmed across five continents, visiting places including Croatia, Dubai, Mozambique, Dubai, Spain, Switzerland and Colorado for the new series of the hit show.

Jeremy Clarkson teeters out of the door of an old Jaguar, ready to bail out, as he, Richard Hammond and James May tackle the snowy slopes of Colorado

Hammond and Clarkson are pictured giving May a countdown as he get gets ready to bite the desert dust

Among the trailer's exhilarating footage, the hapless trio are seen experimenting with a plane, before causing its crash landing

The second series of the hit Amazon Prime Video show covers five contents and is set to air on 8 December

'This is important work,' Clarkson remarks wryly, smirking at the camera as the trailer reveals the show's winter release date.

The trio are currently filming the studio sections of the show.

Clarkson returned to filming the second series in September after getting the all clear from doctors following a pneumonia health scare while on holiday in Majorca, Spain in August.
A High-ranking North Korean defector told a congressional hearing that a civilian uprising in the hermit kingdom is 'increasingly possible'.

Former ambassador to the UK Thae Yong-ho was testifying Wednesday before the House Foreign Affairs Committee when he said an Arab Spring-style revolution could be possible in North Korea.

Thae defected in 2016 as deputy chief of mission at the North Korean Embassy in London.

Former ambassador to the UK Thae Yong-ho was testifying Wednesday before the House Foreign Affairs Committee when he said an Arab Spring-style revolution could be possible in North Korea

Thae warned that there are street protests in North Korea, 'there is no doubt that Kim Jong Un would stomp it out mercilessly with his forces, even tanks'

Thae said Kim's weapons development reflected anxiety, after Arab Spring uprisings against authoritarian governments in the Mideast, about the possibility of the US and other Western nations mounting a 'humanitarian intervention' bombing campaign as occurred in Libya in 2011 and led to Moammar Gadhafi's ouster.

He warned, however, that there are street protests in North Korea, 'there is no doubt that Kim Jong Un would stomp it out mercilessly with his forces, even tanks'.

He said Kim believes that with a nuclear-tipped missile, 'then he can prevent that kind of humanitarian intervention'.

Thae, 55, who now lives in South Korea, is making his first visit to Washington since his 2016 defection as deputy chief of mission at the North Korean Embassy in London.

He said he supported the Trump administration's policy of exerting 'maximum pressure' on Pyongyang, but said it should be coupled with 'maximum engagement' of North Korea's leadership and efforts to end the isolation of the country's 24 million people.

Thae, pictured speaking in Washington DC, defected in 2016 as deputy chief of mission at the North Korean Embassy in London.

Committee chairman Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA) looks on as Thae Yong-ho, former chief of mission at the North Korean embassy in the United Kingdom, is greeted by Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) and Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC) at the start of a House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing on Capitol Hill

Thae said he supported the Trump administration's policy of exerting 'maximum pressure' on Pyongyang, but said it should be coupled with 'maximum engagement' of North Korea's leadership

'I strongly believe in the use of soft power before taking any military action,' said Thae, the most senior North Korean defector since the nation's ambassador to Egypt fled and resettled in the United States in 1997.

Thae, the highest-level North Korean defector in two decades, said the United States and South Korea would win a war after a preventive military strike, but there would be a 'human sacrifice.'

He said North Korea has tens of thousands of artillery guns and short-range missiles at the military demarcation line, and the North's officers are trained to open fire on the South in response to any bombing or a U.S. military strike.

North Korea has called Thae 'human scum' and accused him of embezzling government money and committing other crimes.

Thae said Kim, who was educated in Switzerland, lacked the respect of North Korea's senior leadership after taking power in 2012 as the little-known, third son of his predecessor and father, Kim Jong Il.

To build his legitimacy, Kim Jong Un championed the rapid progress toward a nuclear-tipped intercontinental ballistic missile that could threaten the United States - which now puts him on a path to confrontation with Trump.
Michael Marshall, 50, died in 2015 after he was held face down on his stomach for several minutes and choked on his own vomit

The family of a man who suffocated as Denver sheriff's deputies restrained him during a psychotic episode has reached a $4.6million settlement with the city.

Michael Marshall, 50, died in 2015 after he was held face down on his stomach for several minutes and choked on his own vomit.

Deputies had restrained him because he became aggressive with another inmate and ignored commands.

Marshall was originally arrested for trespassing and disturbing the peace at a motel.

His family's suit claimed that he should not have been jailed in the first place due to his mental illness.

Marshall's death also raised questions about the common police tactic of restraining someone in a prone position.

The family claimed there was excessive force used on the 5'8', 112lb man.

In the surveillance video above Marshall is seen getting agitated. He reportedly was not responding to commands

He was restrained face down on his stomach. He asphyxiated on his own vomit

Deputies are shown caring for Marshall after he asphyxiated. He died in the hospital later

An autopsy said the use of force contributed to Marshall's asphyxiation, though he also suffered a heart attack and had underlying heart problems. His death was ruled a homicide.

Three of the deputies were suspended following the incident.

'Uncle Michael will be missed by our family,' his niece Natalia Marshall said in a statement. 'We will never get to see him at family dinners and on holidays. Nothing can replace him.

'We are glad that we can avoid several years of court battles to obtain justice, and we are glad that Denver is taking responsibility for what happened to Michael.'

'Uncle Michael will be missed by our family,' his niece Natalia Marshall said in a statement. Marshall was homeless and mentally ill

The settlement also requires Denver to make significant reforms in police training. It will require filling two mental health provider positions at its jail facilities and conducting training on mental illness for all deputies.

Family attorneys said the settlement still must be approved by the City Council.

The city said about 25 percent of the Denver jails inmate population receives psychotropic medication and/or services from mental health professionals.

Denver has spent more than $14.5million to settle claims involving the Denver police and sheriffs departments in the past three years, according to the Denver Post.

The Marshall family settlement ranks high among the recent payouts for jail and police incidents.

Experts warn the common but risky police tactic of restraining someone in a prone position can be lethal, especially on those with medical problems and the mentally ill, whose distress is sometimes confused with resistance.

While the method has been linked to several deaths nationwide, some in law enforcement say it remains one of the most effective ways to stay safe while controlling a combative person.

District Attorney Mitch Morrissey said he wouldn't file criminal charges against the deputies involved, saying multiple factors, including lung and heart disease, also contributed to the death.

The settlement also requires Denver to make significant reforms in police training

The Marshall family settlement ranks high among the recent payouts for jail and police incidents
Labour party activists have been invited to anonymously report harassment to an independent probe that will report to party chiefs within weeks.

The 'LabourToo' website was set up as the 'MeToo' campaign spread around the world in the aftermath of the Harvey Weinstein scandal.

It was created by six female members of Labour who have kept their identities hidden for fear of further abuse.

Jeremy Corbyn has vowed to ensure there is 'no tolerance' for harassment and assault in Labour after prominent activist Bex Bailey last night revealed she had been urged by party staff to not report being raped.

The revelation dragged Labour into the heart of a growing scandal in Westminster over harassment and sexual assault.

Jeremy Corbyn (pictured today at PMQs) has vowed to ensure there is 'no tolerance' for harassment and assault in Labour

Prominent activist Bex Bailey (file image) last night revealed she had been urged by party staff to not report being raped

A spokesman for the LabourToo campaign told the Huffington Post: 'We decided to set up the campaign off the back of recent inappropriate and unacceptable comments made by Labour MPs Jared O'Mara and Clive Lewis and the rise of the #MeToo campaign, which saw lots of women sharing their stories.

'Obviously since then the issue has become a lot bigger and we are continuing to ask people to send us their experiences, in complete confidence.

'The focus is very much on Westminster at the moment, but we know it is a problem throughout politics as a whole - affecting people across the whole country - and people have come to us with stories of incidents ranging from harassment and inappropriate comments to sexual abuse.

'It is not just a central government issue that needs to be dealt with - it's local government too.'

At Prime Minister's Questions today, Labour leader Mr Corbyn said he was happy to work with Theresa May on a cross party solution.

He said: 'We need better protections for all, this House must involve workplace trade unions in that but it's also incumbent on all parties to have robust procedures in place to protect and support victims of abuse and harassment.'

Bex Bailey has bravely waived her right to anonymity to reveal she was sexually assaulted by the official when she was just 19

Sources close to Mr Corbyn today said the independent investigation into what happened to Ms Bailey would be concluded as quickly as possible.

Lats night, Ms Bailey bravely waived her right to anonymity to reveal she was sexually assaulted by the official when she was just 19.

Ms Bailey, a former member of Labour's ruling National Executive Committee, said she plucked up the courage to tell told party officials about it two years later.

But she said telling party bosses was a 'horrible experience' and she was 'not even given a cup of tea' by officials who failed to support her.

The Labour source said today: 'You cannot have your own staff looking into allegations about your own staff on something like that, so it will be somebody outside of the Labour party is an expert in investigating these kind of allegations.

'That will be done as quickly as possible.

Ms Bailey's revelation left Labour fighting its own sex allegation cloud after the Tories have been rocked by allegations over the past few days.

Forty Conservative MPs including six Cabinet ministers have been named on a dossier gathered by activists detailing alleged inappropriate behaviour.

Theresa May (pictured at PMQs today) has written to other party leaders inviting them to talks on Monday about cross party solution to the growing crisis

In a statement last night, the Labour Party said it took Ms Bailey's allegations 'extremely seriously' and announced an independent investigation into the incident.

WESTMINSTER STAFFER 'SEXUALLY ASSAULTED BY MP IN HOTEL ROOM' A Westminster staffer today said she was sexually assaulted by an MP in a hotel room while on a business trip to Europe with parliamentary colleagues. She said the MP - who she has not identified by name or party - pinned her to the bed and tried to force himself upon her. The woman, who has not been named, managed to wrestle herself free and ran out of the room, she told The Guardian. Recalling the attack, she said she found herself alone with the MP in a hotel bar when the rest of the delegation went to pack their bags. She said: 'He said: 'Come and talk to me while I pack my bag,' and I honestly didn't think anything of it. I thought we had a very professional relationship. There had been no indication of any flirting or anything at all,' she said. 'But when I got to his hotel room, he said: 'Come and sit on the bed' which made me feel uncomfortable, so I didn't and I was standing near the door. 'But he was quite insistent, so I tried to brush it off, saying: 'Come on pack your bags and we'll go and meet everybody.' 'At which point, he basically pulled me on to the bed and pushed me back, and tried to kiss me. I very clearly said: 'No, this is not what I want.' 'He held me by my shoulders and pushed me back again. On the third time, I managed to push him off again and basically ran out the room. 'Initially I was just really shocked and I didn't expect it but I was quite quickly scared because I knew I was in a vulnerable situation.' She said she took her complaint to the police, the parliamentary standards commissioner, the authorities and the MP's party, but they all failed to take it seriously. Advertisement

It comes as another woman has accused an MP - who she has not named or identified by party - of sexually assaulting her.

Ms Bailey told BBC Radio Four's PM programme: 'I was seriously sexually assaulted at a Labour party event by  it wasn't an MP  but someone who was more senior to me.

'It took me a while - it took me a while to summon up the courage to tell anyone in the party.

'But when I did I told a senior member of staff who told me... it was suggested to me that I not report it.

'I was told that if I did it might damage me and that might be their genuine view, it might be that that was the case, in which case that shows that we have a serious problem in politics.'

Ms Bailey said telling party bosses was a 'horrible experience' and she was 'not even given a cup of tea' much less given proper support.

She said: 'I wasn't given good advice. I wasn't given a procedure when I asked for it so that I could, sort of, see what would happen if I did report it and then make a decision.'

Ms Bailey said she did not report the incident to the police at the time.

She said: 'I was scared, I felt ashamed, I know that the Labour party, like any family, loves a good gossip and I didn't want people to know, and I also was worried that I wouldn't be believed if I did.

'So no I didn't.'

Asked why it took two years to report it to the party, Ms Bailey said: 'At first, I tried to just pretend hadn't happened and just sort of shut away.

'But it was only a couple of years later when I had summoned up the courage to do it that I did say to someone what had happened and just wasn't given the support that I needed.'

Ms Bailey said she was speaking out publicly now, amid the growing Westminster scandal over harassment, to try and secure change for women in politics.

Ed Miliband, who was Labour leader at the time of the attack of Ms Bailey, last night said he was 'shocked by the horrific allegations'

Mr Miliband said the allegations must be properly investigated and victims must in future be supported when they come forward

She said: 'I'm doing it because it, for me personally, feels like the right thing to do and I really want to see the change that I've been fighting for for a long time now and that needs to happen.'

The activist said there should be an 'independent agency' where people can go to report allegations of harassment and assault.

Ms Bailey said: 'So we need an independent agency that people can report these issues to as oppose to members of party staff so that they feel confident that they can report these difficult issues without feeling that they will be penalised.

'And in terms of what that could look like you're talking about a charity or body that is contracted to the Labour party to provide these services so that you as a woman trying to report this can contact them.

'(You can) say what you've experienced and know that you'll be believed, know that you'll be looked after importantly and also they will be able to discuss with you whether you should take it to the police and whether if you do decide not to do that the route that you can go down with the party.

'They could take your report and pass that on to the party if you decide to do that, and they could take the names out of it so that it's anonymous.'

Ms Bailey spoke up for Jeremy Corbyn 'taking forward' the issue of harassment and speaking out against tolerance of abuse.

She said: 'I really hope that we'll see some change and I'd love to work with them on that.

'It's something I obviously really care about and I've been fighting for for a long time and I just really hope that that all the horrible things that we're seeing will at least result in some sort of change in our parties as well as in parliament.'

Miss Bailey, from West Bridgford, Notts, has been one of Labour's leading young activists for several years.

She has worked for Liz Kendall, the Blairite candidate in the party's leadership election. She is also a charity worker and sits on the Labour Women's Network committee. She has written on topics such as homelessness, equality and the NHS.

Mr Corbyn said: 'Speaking out about rape and sexual harassment takes enormous courage. Bex Bailey has shown incredible bravery by talking publicly about what has happened to her and has my full support and solidarity.

'I have asked Labour's general secretary, Iain McNicol, to launch an independent investigation into the allegations that she wasn't given the support from the party she should have received and had the right to expect.

'There will be no tolerance in the Labour Party for sexism, harassment or abuse. Whatever it takes, we are absolutely committed to rooting it out.'

A Labour Party spokeswoman said: 'The Labour Party takes these allegations extremely seriously. It takes great courage for victims of rape to come forward - and all support must and will be made available to them.

'We would strongly recommend that the police investigate the allegations of criminal actions that Bex Bailey has made.

'Labour will also launch an independent investigation into claims that a party employee acted improperly over these 2011 allegations.'

Ed Miliband, who was Labour leader in 2011, tonight tweeted: 'I am shocked by the horrific allegations on PM by Bex Bailey.

'She is showing great bravery and courage in speaking out.

'Victims must be supported when they come forward. These allegations must be properly investigated by the police and the Labour Party.'

Meanwhile, another Westminster staffer today said she was sexually assaulted by an MP in a hotel room while on a business trip to Europe with parliamentary colleagues.

She said the MP - who she has not identified by name or party - pinned her to the bed and tried to force himself upon her.

The woman, who has not been named, managed to wrestle herself free and ran out of the room, she told The Guardian.

The woman said she took her complaint to the police, the parliamentary standards commissioner, the authorities and the MP's party, but they all failed to take it seriously.

Ms Bailey spoke up for Jeremy Corbyn (pictured earlier this week) 'taking forward' the issue of harassment and speaking out against tolerance of abuse.

She told the newspaper she had found herself alone with the MP in a hotel bar when the rest of the delegation went to pack their bags.

She said: 'He said: 'Come and talk to me while I pack my bag,' and I honestly didn't think anything of it. I thought we had a very professional relationship. There had been no indication of any flirting or anything at all,' she said.

'But when I got to his hotel room, he said: 'Come and sit on the bed' which made me feel uncomfortable, so I didn't and I was standing near the door.

'But he was quite insistent, so I tried to brush it off, saying: 'Come on pack your bags and we'll go and meet everybody.'

'At which point, he basically pulled me on to the bed and pushed me back, and tried to kiss me. I very clearly said: 'No, this is not what I want.'

'He held me by my shoulders and pushed me back again. On the third time, I managed to push him off again and basically ran out the room.

'Initially I was just really shocked and I didn't expect it but I was quite quickly scared because I knew I was in a vulnerable situation.'

Former Labour aide says groping and lewd comments are rife in Parliament as she tells of feeling 'alone and ashamed' after she was targeted as a 21 year-old researcher in Westminster

By Kate Ferguson, Political Correspondent for MailOnline

A former senior aide to Ed Miliband has told how sexual harassment and groping is rife in Westminster - and she as just 21 when first targeted.

Ayesha Hazarika said most of her female colleagues in Labour found themselves on the receiving end of lewd comments and 'wandering hands'.

She said male politicians believe making sleazy sexual advances is a 'perk of a job' and make inappropriate remarks which they later dismiss as 'top bantz'.

Ayesha Hazarika said most of her female colleagues in Labour had been on the receiving end of drunken lunges, wandering hands and lewd comments (file pic)

Ms Hazarika, who is now a stand-up comedian and political commentator, said she was not surprised at the flood of allegations emerging from Westminster.

And she called for Parliament to be reformed to drag MPs into the modern era and make them stop acting 'like something out of a Benny Hill sketch'.

Writing about her experiences, she said women who work in Parliament have to put up with a constant stream of drunken lunges and comments.

She said: 'The kind of behaviour will range from totally pointless comments about your appearance  particularly your lady humps and nether regions; random crude attempts at sex joke dressed up as 'top bantz' in the office.'

She said female aides and researchers are inundated by incessant requests to go to boozy nights out where 'which involve a lot of booze; wandering hands; groping; lunging; escalating to full-on late-night demands'.

Ms Hazarika said she was just 21 when she first found herself on the receiving end of these unwanted advances.

Ms Hazarika said sexual harassment is rife in Parliament and called for more to be done to crack down on the abuse and ma ke MPs stop acting as if they are in a Benny Hill sktch

Writing in The Scotsman newspaper, she said: 'I have experienced my fair share of this behaviour and it is not particularly pleasant.

'I was about 21 when it first happened and I felt alone and ashamed.

'I had no-one to talk to as it was a very male-dominated atmosphere, there was no concept of human resources, and I didn't want to be known as a troublemaker.

'These are the emotions people feel when they are powerless, especially when the harasser is someone in a senior position who can make or break their career.'

She said inappropriate, sexist and lewd behaviour is rife in 'is commonplace in the corridors of power' and most of the women she knows working there have fallen victim to it.

And she tore into the reaction among some people who she said have effectively told young women they should 'man up' and get over the harassment.

Ms Hazarika said bullying is also rife in Parliament and much more needs to be done to protect the young staff - who are often in their first job or an internship - from this.

A dossier (pictured redacted by MailOnline) naming 40 MPs is circulating within Westminster

She said: 'They need to be looked after and offered some pastoral care especially if they are being mistreated by an MP.

'But we need more equality of power. Sexual harassment is mostly a product of deep structural imbalances in power which is why senior men have been allowed behave with impunity to junior women and men for such a long time without any challenge.'

She added: 'They make the rules by which we have to live our lives and behave in the workplace. It is only right that they behave to a higher standard, drag themselves into the modern world and stop acting like something out of a Benny Hill sketch.'

A dossier naming 40 MPs accused of sexual impropriety has been circulating in Westminster.

While most of the allegations which have surfaced relate to Tory MPs, insiders say sexual harassment and abuse is a problem in all political parties.
Mother-of-three Salome passed away aged 41 at Bristol Zoo, keepers say

The world's first gorilla to receive fertility treatment to help her conceive has died at her British zoo.

Mother-of-three Salome passed away aged 41 at Bristol Zoo, keepers say.

The Western Lowland gorilla was never got to see the wild after being conceived Bristol Zoo, moved to London Zoo where she was born and hand reared, and then moved back to Bristol Zoo in her twenties.

She gave birth to her first baby at Chessington Zoo in 1988, and in 2004 made history when she became the first gorilla in the world to receive fertility treatment.

Zookeepers noticed she mated regularly but struggled to conceive.

Salome was given the human fertility drug Clomid to help her womb release eggs, and two years later she gave birth to Komale.

Five years later, in September 2011, her third baby, Kukena, was born.

More recently Salome was given medication for heart disease after being diagnosed this summer.

The Western Lowland gorilla was conceived at the zoo and lived there for nearly 20 years after being born and hand reared in London Zoo

She gave birth to her first baby at Chessington Zoo in 1988 (left), and in 2004 made history when she became the first gorilla in the world to receive fertility treatment

She had showed little interest in her favourite foods, lettuce, chicory and peppers which alerted vets who examined her.

Dr Bryan Caroll, chief executive of Bristol Zoo, said: 'Everyone is extremely saddened by Salome's death.

'The zoo has lost one of its most popular animals and one of its great characters.

'So many of us feel we have lost a friend.

'So many people knew her and recognised her by a small ginger patch of hair on her head and they would return time and time again to see her.

'She was loved by our guests and by our keepers and staff alike.'

Salome was given the human fertility drug Clomid to help her womb release eggs, and two years later she gave birth to Komale. Five years later, in September 2011, her third baby, Kukena, was born (left and right)

Salome was one of eight Western Lowland gorillas living at the zoo and was considered the most intelligent.

Visitors often sought her out to watch Salome building nests on the glass above their heads in the 360 degree viewing area in Gorilla House.

She was born after mother Lomie was brought to Bristol Zoo and introduced to male gorilla, Samson.

Bristol Zoo is run by Bristol Zoological Society, which helps to conserve gorillas in the wild in Cameroon where deforestation is putting their survival in jeopardy.

Typically, gorillas live until 35 to 40.
Hillary Clinton fell a shocking 63 spots to 65 on the Forbes list of the world's most powerful women just a year after her US presidential election loss to Donald Trump.

Newcomer to the list UK Prime Minister Theresa May took Clintons spot at No 2 on the list, while German Chancellor Angela Merkel remained at No 1 on the Forbes list for another year.

Clinton's election loss in 2016 left the United States one of the world's few leading democracies to yet see a female leader.

Hillary Clinton fell a shocking 63 spots to 65 on the Forbes list of the world's most powerful women after her 2016 presidential loss to Donald Trump

The former First Lady and former Secretary of State may sit 65 on the world's most powerful women list, but on a list of solely women in politics, Clinton is No 20.

Clinton has moved to the sidelines of politics since her election loss and is now building her organization, Onward Together, which works to recruit future political candidates.

Meanwhile, Merkel and May sit atop both the overall and politics-focused lists of the world's most powerful women.

Merkel, who has been in office since 2005, won a fiercely contested election this year in which she held off the growing far-right influence of the anti-immigration Alternative for Germany (AfD) party.

May, the conservative Prime Minister of the UK, moved into her role after Britons voted to leave the European Union in June 2016, prompting then-Prime Minister David Cameron to resign.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel remained at No 1 on the Forbes list of powerful women for another year

Newcomer to the list UK Prime Minister Theresa May took Clintons spot at No 2 on the list of powerful women

She has spent the last year working to bring the factious coalition government together and has to carry the UK through Brexit by 2019.

Rounding out the top five on the list of the world's most powerful women are Melinda Gates, co-chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Sheryl Sandberg, Facebook COO, and Mary Barra, Chairman and CEO of General Motors.

Gates' foundation has donated more than $3 billion towards providing people with polio vaccinations around the world.

Through her work with the foundation, Gates has focused on working to make gender equality a path to meaningful change in the world.

Along with being the Chief Operating Officer of Facebook, Sandberg is the founder of Leanin.org, which works to empower women to achieve their ambitions.

Earlier this year, Lean In launched the campaign #20PercentCounts, representing the 20 percent less that women make compared with men.

Rounding out the top four on the list of the world's most powerful women are Melinda Gates, co-chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and Sheryl Sandberg, Facebook COO

Mary Barra, Chairman and CEO of General Motors, is fifth on the list of the world's most powerful women

GM boss Barra is the first female CEO of a major global automaker and has recently focused on improving the car company's profitability.

Other political leaders on the list include Trump's daughter and adviser Ivanka Trump, at No 19, and US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, at No 43.

Also on the list are Tsai Ing-wen, President of the Republic of China, commonly known as Taiwan, and Federica Mogherini, the Foreign Policy Chief of the European Union.

The world's youngest leader, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Arder, 37, landed on the list at No 38.

No 78, Estonia President Kersti Kaljulaid has helped launch a digital revolution in her country after being elected last year.

THE 20 MOST POWERFUL WOMEN IN POLITICS 1. Angela Merkel, Chancellor of Germany 2. Theresa May, Prime Minister of the UK 3. Tsa Ing-Wen, President of Taiwan 4. Michelle Bachelet, President of Chile 5. Federica Mogherini, Foreign Policy Chief, European Union 6. Ivanka Trump, Senior Advisor in The White House 7. Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Elena Kagan and Sonia Sotomayor, Supreme Court Justices 8. Queen Elizabeth II 9. Sheikh Hasina Wajed, Prime Minister, Bangladesh 10. Beata Maria Szydlo, Prime Minister of Poland 11. Aung San Suu Kyi, State Counsellor, Myanmar 12. Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi, Minister of International Cooperation & Development, UAE 13. Jacinda Ardern, Prime Minister of New Zealand 14. Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic, President of Croatia 15. Nicola Sturgeon, First Minister of Scotland, UK 16. Nikki Haley, US Ambassador to United Nations 17. Erna Solberg, Prime Minister of Norway 18. Elvira Nabiullina, Governor, Bank of Russia 19. Liyuan Peng, First Lady of China 20. Hillary Clinton, Former US Presidential Candidate Advertisement
Billy Edwards, 63, Alabama, is charged with sex trafficking of a child and is alleged to have paid $20,000 into the scheme

A man from Alabama is accused of paying more than $20,000 to sexually abuse a teen from Honduras who was smuggled by his father into the United States.

Billy Edwards, a 63-year-old from Huntsville, is charged with sex trafficking of a child.

Edwards is accused of molesting the teen for years.

The father brought the teen to the U.S. from Honduras in 2010 when he was 15-years-old and it is alleged that shortly afterwards began to molest him and forced him to have sexual contact with him.

A mound of evidence is stacking up against Edwards including text messages and pornographic photos, including nude pictures of the teen.

The teen was apparently paid 13 times from Edwards but had to give the money to his father.

Bank records show that over a period of 15 months some $20,350 was paid to the teen's dad.

Nothing outside the home would lead passers-by to suspect any of the alleged sex crimes that were being conducted inside its four walls

However, according to Al.com even after the abuse stopped, Edwards kept making payments because the victim's father 'threatened to inform law enforcement about the sexual relationship and payments.'

Edwards initially was arrested in September by the Madison County Sheriff's Office after a search warrant was served at his home.

The search warrant also turned up a contract between Edwards and the father.

Edwards appeared to agree to pay the teen's father a further $25,000 for a cellphone that contained incriminating information that the 63-year-old didn't want police to see.

It is not clear at this stage whether the boy's father has been arrested however court documents allege the man is guilty of trafficking a child for sex.
A young woman was discovered dead by her mother inside their Bronx apartment early Wednesday, with the victims toddler son standing next to her body lying in a pool of blood.

Zoila Feliz was pronounced dead at the scene on Stratford Avenue in the Soundview section of The Bronx just before 12.50am.

Her son, Jaylen, who turned two years old today, was not physically harmed.

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Grisly death: Zoila Feliz, 22, was found dead with her throat slashed inside her Bronx apartment. Her two-year-old son (pictured right) was seen crying next to her body

Police were summoned to the crime scene on Stratford Avenue by Feliz's mother, who made the shocking discovery after midnight Wednesday

The victim's mother climbed this fire escape after Zoila failed to come to the door

Margarita Feliz told News 12 The Bronx in Spanish that her daughter Zoila would always wait up for her to come home from work and greet her at the door.

So when she rang the doorbell shortly after midnight Wednesday and got no response, she grew concerned and asked a neighbor to help her climb the fire escape to enter the apartment.

As soon as she made her way inside, Margarita Feliz came upon a horrifying sight of her daughter lying on the floor with her throat slashed.

The mom recounted through sobs how her grandson, who was standing just feet away from his mother's lifeless body, was in tears and rushed into her arms.

The grandmother whisked the child from the blood-spattered apartment and ran across the street to get help.

Mom's grief: Margarita Feliz (left and right) tearfully described the horrifying moment she stepped inside the apartment and saw her daughter lying in a pool of blood

Zoila had been planning to host a birthday celebration for little Jaylen (left), who turned two on the day of his mother's slaying

Police are investigating the death of the 22-year-old single mom as a homicide

Gremaris Colon, Zoila's friend and co-worker at a local Walgreens pharmacy, told New York Daily News the 22-year-old was a good mother and had no enemies.

She said Zoila's son turned two Wednesday and she was supposed to host a birthday celebration for him.

Police are investigating Feliz's death as a homicide. The Medical Examiner's Office will perform an autopsy to determine the exact cause and manner of death.

As of Wednesday afternoon, no suspects have been identified and no arrests have been made.
On Wednesday, the CIA released 470,000 additional files recovered from the raid on Osama bin Laden's compound, in which Seal Team Six members killed the wanted terrorist, the Al Qaeda leader responsible for the 9/11 attacks.

President Trump's CIA Director Mike Pompeo authorized the release, explaining that it provides, 'the opportunity for the American people to gain further insights into the plans and workings of this terrorist organization,' he said, as bin Laden headed

The trove consists of objects like his bin Laden's journal, with the CIA also referencing a number of American movies the terrorist had on hand, including the 2008 Morgan Spurlock documentary, 'Where in the World is Osama bin Laden?' and the Disney film, 'Cars.'

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On Wednesday the CIA released a trove of documents, videos and audio files that were found at the compound Osama bin Laden (pictured) was living in when he was killed

Terrorist Osama bin Laden is seen watching himself on television in a still from a video released by the Department of Defense in 2011, several days after he died

Videos found at the compound include a number of documentaries and TV specials about the terrorist, behind the 9/11 attacks

Part of the compound where al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden was killed is seen in Abbottabad, Pakistan

Osama bin Laden was killed at the compound he was residing at in Abbotabad, Pakistan. Files from that raid were made available to the public today

Osama bin Laden was killed in May of 2011. Some of the movies he kept in his compound document how he had become the world's most wanted terrorist

President Obama and members of his national security team receive an update on the mission against Osama bin Laden in the Situation Room

That questioned was answered on May 1, 2011, when President Obama announced from the White House that bin Laden had been killed.

Among the videos found at the compound was the Morgan Spurlock documentary, 'Where in the World is Osama bin Laden'

He'd been hiding in Abbottabad, Pakistan, and part of the Seal Team Six mission was getting a hold of his things.

Beyond his journal, the CIA had approximately 18,000 other document files that shed light on Al Qaeda's next moves, including how the terror group planned to mark the 10 year anniversary of Sept. 11, 2001, which was four months away.

The CIA noted that the documents also helped their analysts see how Al Qaeda was using the Arab Awakening to the group's benefit  and how the terrorist leader was trying to keep the far-flung group together.

At the time of bin Laden's death, Al Qaeda was trying to improve its tarnished reputation and some of the propaganda on hand showcased the groups efforts.

'These materials, like those in previous releases, provide insights into the origins of fissures that exist today between Al Qaeda and ISIS; as well as strategic, doctrinal and religious disagreements within Al Qaeda and its allies; and hardships that Al Qaeda faced at the time of bin Ladens death,' the CIA's release noted.

The collection also includes some of the terrorist's personal effects, include video footage of his son Hamza bin Laden's wedding.

Approximately 10,000 video files were released overall.

Because of copyright issues, the CIA couldn't release some of the content found in the compound  so instead released a list that included the many American films the terrorist kept on hand.

Besides, the Spurlock documentary, bin Laden also had the Biography channel's film about himself along with 'CNN Presents: World's Most Wanted.'

The latter film debuted in 2006 and featured the world's top three most-wanted terrorists: bin Laden, his No. 2 Ayman al-Zawahiri, and al-Qaeda in Iraq leader Abu Musab al-Zarqaw, who was killed the same year.

Another CNN film from 2006, 'In the Footsteps of bin Laden,' was also among the terrorist's trove.

Bin Laden also had a number of kids' films including Antz, Batman Gotham Knight, Cars, Chicken Little, Marvel's Heroes of Tomorrow, Home on the Range, Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs and The Three Musketeers.

He had the video games Final Fantasy VII and Resident Evil. And a copy of the Chinese animated film, Storm Rider Clash of the Evils.

The terrorist, who couldn't leave the confines of his compound without putting his life in danger, had a number of films about other places, including Peru Civilization, The Kremlin from Inside and The Story of India.

Bin Laden had a collection of National Geographic films too, along with a copy of the BBC's Great Wildlife Moments.

The CIA said it also did not release any pornography found.
Twin sisters who were 67-years-old have died after being swept out to sea by a rogue 15ft wave as they strolled along the beach during a family vacation in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.

Barbara Thomas and Beverly Skripsky both died after being overpowered by the waves on Sunday.

The pair were on vacation with their husbands at the time and had ventured out from their rented villa to for a morning walk when they were suddenly swept out to sea.

Thomas lived in McKinney, Texas, and Skripsy lived in Scottsdale, Arizona. Both were mothers and grandmothers.

Barbara Thomas and Beverly Skripsky, 67, both died after being overpowered by the waves on Sunday as they walked along the beach in Cabo San Lucas

Thomas's husband Steve said the wave which claimed their lives suddenly grew to 10 or 15ft and carried them out to sea.

Both were found dead in the water a short time afterwards.

'I cant imagine how fast it was moving but it went from 10 feet to 15 feet in second.

'They found two women out at sea and Im thinking "great - they found them." and I say "are they okay?" and he says "Im sorry to tell you sir, but theyre deceased,"' he recalled to NBC Chicago.

The sisters lived in Texas and Arizona with their husbands met regularly took vacations together

Steve Thomas, Barbara's husband (above together), said the wave which overpowered them was 15ft high

Beverly Skripsky is pictured with one of her grandchildren. Both were devoted mothers and grandmothers

Skripsky's grieving children paid tribute to her on social media after learning of her death.

Beneath a picture of her with one of her grandchildren, her son Matt said: 'Every time I see this picture I am in tears, yet it fills my heart with an incredible amount of love.

'I miss you Mom.'

The sisters' deaths are the second instance of a person being killed in the water in the area in just two weeks.

Steven Urycki, 65, of Naperville, Illinois, died while fishing in the region last week.
The Government tonight defied Parliament to refuse publication in full of 58 reports on the impact of Brexit on different sectors of the economy.

Labour passed a Commons motion calling for full publication and drafted it in a way Speaker John Bercow said would 'traditionally' be seen as binding.

Mr Bercow confirmed Labour's motion was a 'different type' to normal opposition motions the Government routinely ignores but stopped short of calling for action against ministers.

The Government has insisted the 58 reports, the existence of which was revealed by Brexit Secretary David Davis this week, are sensitive and publication could damage negotiations in Brussels.

Junior Brexit minister Robin Walker has hinted redacted summaries could eventually be published to satisfy the House of Commons resolution.

Labour tonight passed a Commons motion calling for full publication of 58 reports on the economic impact of Brexit and drafted it in a way Speaker John Bercow (pictured in the Commons tonight) said would 'traditionally' be seen as binding

Junior Brexit minister Robin Walker (pictured during tonight's debate) has hinted redacted summaries could eventually be published to satisfy the House of Commons resolution

Tory MPs abstained when the Labour motion was put to the Commons tonight, meaning it passed unopposed. Tory whips expected to lose if they contested the motion.

The Commons repeatedly descended into farcical procedural rows as furious MPs lashed the Government for defying the will of the House.

Labour used an arcane procedure to format its motion as a 'humble address' to the Queen - meaning in theory the Palace is now supposed to order publication.

Remain supporting MPs claimed defying the resolution would leave the Government in 'contempt' of Parliament.

Shadow Brexit Secretary Sir Keir Starmer led challenges to Speaker Bercow to declare whether ignoring the motion would be a 'contempt of the House'.

Labour's Chris Leslie said it was a 'serious matter' and ministers must be stopped from being 'in contempt' of the House.

Mr Walker MPs said it was important for ministers to receive 'unvarnished' advice without the risk of it being published, noting this was relevant to the Brexit talks.

He added: 'If this motion were to pass we would need to reflect on these various constraints and conflicting responsibilities when it comes to passing information to the Committee for Exiting the European Union.

'I take note of the points (shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer) made about looking at redaction or summary as approaches.

'I think given the generosity of the approach he has taken in that regard, we will not be opposing this motion today.'

Shadow Brexit Secretary Sir Keir Starmer (pictured in the Commons tonight) led challenges to Speaker Bercow to declare whether ignoring the motion would be a 'contempt of the House'

The Commons repeatedly descended into farcical procedural rows as furious MPs lashed the Government for defying the will of the House

Labour's Chris Leslie (pictured raising a point of order to protest the Government behaviour) said it was a 'serious matter' and ministers must be stopped from being 'in contempt' of the House

After the debate, Shadow Brexit Secetary Sir Keir said: 'This is a victory for Parliament and for democracy.

'Labour has been absolutely clear since the referendum that ministers could not withhold vital information from Parliament about the impact of Brexit on jobs and the economy.

'It's completely unacceptable for the Tories to have wasted months avoiding responsible scrutiny and trying to keep the public in the dark. The reality is that it should not have taken an ancient Parliamentary procedure to get ministers to listen to common sense.

'As the Speaker has made clear, the Government cannot ignore tonight's binding decision. David Davis must now respond to Parliament's ruling and urgently set a date for when he will share these papers.'

Lib Dem Brexit spokesman Tom Brake said: 'The government has been keeping people in the dark for too long about the impact of their extreme Brexit plans.

'Parliament has now made its position clear. Ministers need to publish these reports in full, not subject them to a Whitehall whitewash.

'This has nothing do with Britain's negotiating position, and everything to do with the government trying to spare its own blushes.'
Zachary Isaacs, 24, was devastated over missing Rene Alyssa in the US and told his mother 'I can't cope'

A lovelorn man carved his girlfriend's name into his arm and hung himself after feeling distraught that he could not afford to visit her in California.

Zachary Isaacs, 24, was devastated over missing Rene Alyssa in the US and told his mother 'I can't cope'.

He was desperate to see his lover but could not raise enough cash to buy flights, an inquest in Basingstoke heard.

His shirtless body was later found hanged by his father Stephen, in the home they shared together.

Mr Isaacs had become engaged to Ms Alyssa after meeting her while on holiday in the US and they had continued the relationship across the Atlantic.

Stephen Isaacs told the inquest he found his son hanged at home with gashes in his arm which were later revealed to spell his own name and his fiancee's.

The coroner heard how Mr Isaacs was very 'up and down' and prone to mood swings.

His family did not know what happened between him and his partner but said he was 'desperate' to go to see her and begged for money to buy a plane ticket.

Stephen Isaacs said he came home to find his son's body on Sunday, August 20, in Headley Down, Hampshire.

'I opened door to come into hallway,' he said.

'The light was on and I was presented with Zachary with his back to me. He was kneeling on the floor and had no top on. I then saw a belt around his neck and the stairs and instantly knew what had happened.

'I could feel he was cold and I could see his tongue was sticking out which was all blue. He'd harmed his left arm but I couldn't make out what it was. I started to scream out and shouted at him ''why?''

'He was a troubled soul in my eyes and not without his issues. He was very up and down.'

The coroner heard how Mr Isaacs was very 'up and down' and prone to mood swings, the inquest at Basingstoke Coroner's Court heard

A post-mortem examination found the cause of death was hanging, the inquest was told.

Stephen Isaacs said he had paid for a flight for his son's fiancee to come and visit him in the UK.

'I had never met her other than picking her up from the airport,' he added.

'I know he had known her for three years and had met her on a trip out to the United States.'

Mr Isaacs' mother Clare said she had lost contact with her son for a year after she called the police during an altercation he had with his stepfather.

However, shortly before his death he got in touch with her to ask for money and begged her to pay for a fight to America.

'I said I had a small amount of cash and would drop it through the letterbox. I dropped 50 through the front door.

'I texted him to say I'd done it then I texted ''a thank you would have been nice''. He replied to say thank you.

His last text said ''I can't cope''. I said I loved him but didn't see this as a cry for help Clare Isaacs

'I also received a text saying he would be gone in November and I would never have to see him again.

'I said I wished the best for him and loved him. I got another text from Zack almost begging me for money so he could pay for a flight to America. I said sorry, I had given my last 50 and said she was coming here so was confused by this.

'His last text said ''I can't cope''. I said I loved him but didn't see this as a cry for help.'

Ms Isaacs said she had never met her son's fiancee but added: 'I had a message from Rene on Facebook saying she was concerned she had not heard from Zack and was worried.'

In his conclusions the Coroner for North East Hampshire, Andrew Bradley, said the cuts to Mr Isaac's arm were found to spell his own name and his partner's.

He added: 'Zack was clearly a troubled soul and had been for years. The decision that Zack took was not a committed decision, it's not 'let's sit round this table and talk about it' because that's not how it works.

'However defective the reason may be, you decide you don't want to be here anymore and that's what Zack did.

'The carving on his arm appears to be the name of his girlfriend and his name. He was found having hanged himself after suffering from depression.'

The coroner recorded a conclusion of suicide.
One mother's faith was renewed in her local police department when an officer stopped on a routine patrol to join a dance battle with her five-year-old daughter.

'He made me feel like all police aren't bad he pulled up got out played with the kids, asked about school and decided to challenge them in a dance contest,' Marshae White wrote on Facebook.

Officer Casey Chumney with the Prichard Police Department in Alabama made one little girl's day when he danced to the 2014 hit Watch Me with her.

Police Officer Casey Chumney and five-year-old Armani Tripp had a dance battle in Alabama

'I had the music going because she likes to dance,' White told NBC 15.

'And he stopped and he was like what ya'll know about Soulja Boy? And I'm like Soulja Boy, what you know about Soulja Boy? And he was like ya'll know how to crank that?'

Kindergartner Armani Tripp and Chumney broke it down Atlanta rapper Silento's hit.

Chumney was on patrol when he spotted Armani and some other kids dancing and spent 10 minutes breaking it down with them

When asked what Chumney was the best at, Armani said he was great the 'stanky leg.'

Chumney apparently spent about 10 minutes with Armani and some of her friends before returning to patrol.

'After he got through dancing he let the kids jump off the porch into his hands. And he'd spin them around, took pictures with them. He was real nice. Asked them about school, asked how old they were,' said White.
A number of tourists have accused vacation review website TripAdvisor of deleting posts concerning incidents of drugging and rape at luxury Mexico resorts.

Kristie Love has been fighting for the past seven years for her post to remain online, in order as to serve as a warning to other vacationers, according to the Journal Sentinel.

Love, a 35-year-old mother of two from Dallas, Texas, was visiting a highly rated all-inclusive Mexican resort, the Iberostar Paraiso near Playa del Carmen, in 2010, when she says she was raped in the bushes by a security guard after her key card stopped working.

She had tried to report it to staff at the time, who she says refused to call the police, and later Iberostar, who reportedly failed to investigate. Determined to warn other women intent on visiting the resort, Love posted about her harrowing experience on TripAdvisor.

Jamie Valeri, 34, a mother of six from Wisconsin, described how she and her husband had been enjoying a couple of drinks at the same resort during the day when, just barely into their third, they both blacked out (pictured together)

The Valeris are among several tourists who tried to complain about sexual assault at the Iberostar Paraiso near Playa del Carmen (pictured)

But after finding the courage to write about her sexual assault, Love says she received a message from TripAdvisor, informing her that her post had not been accepted.

Apparently, the post was found in violation of the company's 'family friendly' guidelines. Despite several attempts to share her warning, she was unable to post her review.

Within a year, another woman, 19, was reportedly raped at the same resort - by a security guard - while on vacation with her family.

In 2015, with Love's warning still unpublished on TripAdvisor, yet another woman says she was sexually assaulted.

Jamie Valeri, 34, a mother of six from Wisconsin, described how she and her husband had been enjoying a couple of drinks at the same resort during the day when, just barely into their third, they both blacked out.

When they finally woke up, her husband's hand was broken, and Valeri found she'd been sexually assaulted, they said. Both say their last memory, was feeling unwell near the bar.

They claim, once again, the resort was unhelpful but they were able to get records of keycards being used to gain entry to their room while they were passed out, showing multiple entries.

TripAdvisor said its constantly reviewing its practices and was creating a 'badge' system to alert travelers to media stories focusing on security or health concerns

Struggling to take the investigation further, Valeri - like Love - attempted to warn other families about her and her husband's traumatic experience with a post on TripAdvisor.

But she too hit a brick wall after the company labelled her post 'hearsay' and removed it. After several attempts of rewording her sexual assault, she gave up.

Valeri believes that if TripAdvisor had not deleted Love's post, and others like it: 'Maybe we wouldn't have gone or maybe that wouldn't have happened to me.'

Only last month, Josh Resmini, said he tried to post a review on TripAdvisor about his experience at the Grand Velas Riviera in May, where he described how he'd been drugged and sexually assaulted during a massage.

He wrote in his review how hotel management tried to dodge his call and had denied responsibility. But on October 17, a day after post his review, he received an email from TripAdvisor.

His review had been taken down for 'hearsay'.

A lengthy investigation by the Journal Sentinel, which began in July after a Wisconsin college student Abbey Conner, 20, died after passing out in a hotel pool in Mexico, following a shot of suspected tainted alcohol, found widespread problems with tainted drinks, drugging, rapes and other vacationers injured while in the area.

Only last month, Josh Resmini, (pictured) said he tried to post a review on TripAdvisor about his experience at the Grand Velas Riviera in May, where he described how he'd been drugged and sexually assaulted during a massage

Resmini said he'd been at the Grand Velas Riviera (pictured) when the assault took place

Yet there was little to no mention of such problems on TripAdvisor.

Wendy Avery-Swanson of Phoenix, who says her post about suffering blacking from a small amount of alcohol at a swim-up bar was deleted, due to 'hearsay' said the company were 'censoring.'

A consumer expert said the posts that are displayed on TripAdvisor could be misleading.

The company, which sometimes receives commission when tourists book to travel certain hotels, reportedly uses algorithms to determine what customers see when they search for resorts. A certain number of TripAdvisor users, although its unclear whether they are resort staff, tour guides or tourists, also have special privileges which allow them to delete forum posts.

TripAdvisor declined to say how their special privileges are awarded and how many posts have been deleted by such users.

Often, the top matches on TripAdvisor do not match up with other hotel review sites such as Google Hotel Finder.

Bart De Langhe, an associate professor of marketing at ESADE business school, Barcelona, Spain, who specializes in consumer behavior and user reviews said one of the major drawbacks with online reviews is that 'they're heavily skewed.'

He added that positive reviews could result in big bucks for the hotels and restaurants involved.

'We live in this illusion of perfect information  but we don't ask the hard questions and don't realize the information is imperfect and biased.'

Brian Hoyt, spokesman for TripAdvisor, said the company was constantly reviewing its practices and was even designing a new 'badge' system to alert travelers to media stories focusing on major security or health concerns at hotels, restaurants or attractions on its website.

'It's an ever-evolving process,' he said. 'We continue to strive to become better.

'Are we perfect? No.'

Wendy Avery-Swanson of Phoenix, who says her post about suffering blacking from a small amount of alcohol at a swim-up bar was deleted, due to 'hearsay' said the company were 'censoring'

TripAdvisor replied telling her that her review breached their guidelines

Seven years to the day her review was rejected, TripAdvisor has finally posted Love's warning describing her alleged rape. Love says they decision, after years of fighting, has finally brought her some peace.

It was posted in it chronological timeline, as if it was posted seven years ago, under thousands of other posts.

'It's the kind of information we absolutely want published,' Hoyt said, adding that there are plenty of negative reviews on the site, including rape allegations.

TripAdvisor also comes under fire from the opposite side of the coin, for allowing tourist's unverified posts about businesses and employees.

The Massachusetts-based company features more than 535 million user reviews of hotels uses both software and 300 employees to try and weed out fake reviews.

It also says it maintains a distance between its customer-generated content and deals it makes promoted by companies, hotels and online booking sites.

But an August filing, with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, revealed that TripAdvisors' chief financial and accounting officers were focusing in the importance of converting tourists leaving reviews, into hotel and restaurant reservations.

Seven years to the day her review was rejected, TripAdvisor has finally posted Kristie Love's warning describing her alleged rape

The filing warned that they could lose advertisers if their investment doesn't generate bookings.

According to the Federal Trade Commission, if a company is promote publishing 'the good, the bad and the ugly', taking down negative reviews would be misleading, as would ranking certain search results based on payment from those companies, without informing the customer.

The FTC has not taken any enforcement action against TripAdvisor.

But that doesn't mean the firm hasn't found itself in trouble over the years.

In 2011, the UK's standards agency ruled that TripAdvisor couldn't use the slogan 'Reviews you can trust' and should not imply all its reviews were from real travelers and could be trusted.

Italian regulators then fined the firm $600,000 in 2014 for failing to remove fraudulent reviews.

In a statement to the DailyMail.com, TripAdvisor stated: 'TripAdvisor's site includes more than 535 million reviews and opinions from global travellers who write about their experiences at hotels, with airlines, restaurants and local attractions. Like any other content business, we work to adhere to publishing guidelines that are in place to ensure the accuracy and integrity of those reviews.

'TripAdvisor has always maintained - since our founding - a strict separation between our commerce and content businesses. Despite assertions and statements made by a recent USA Today article, there is no tie between commercial relationships with our partners and how our content guidelines are applied to reviews or forum posts published on the site.

'We apologize to the sexual assault victim, reported on in the article, who had her forum post removed 7 years ago on TripAdvisor. Since 2010, when the forum post was removed, our policies and processes have evolved to better provide information like this to other travelers. As a result, when recently brought to our attention, the victim's initial forum post was republished by our staff.

'In fact, a simple Internet search will show numerous reviews from travellers over the last several years who wrote about their first hand experiences that include matters of robbery or theft, assault and rape. We believe any first-hand experience should be posted to our site as a means to communicate to other consumers looking for information on where they should travel.

'We are horrified that this victim experienced this assault on her vacation in Mexico, and other travelers should be aware of this incident.

'In order to better inform consumers and provide them with even more information about their travels, TripAdvisor is creating a 'badge' notification to apply to businesses to alert consumers of health & safety or discrimination issues at that business reported on within the media or other credible sources of information.

'We will continue to work to improve and evolve our moderation and publishing guidelines as we work to provide the most accurate information in the travel industry available online.'
The White House confirmed on Wednesday that the Trump administration considers terror suspect Sayfullo Saipov an 'enemy combatant,' a designation that would make the alleged New York killer ineligible for legal rights afforded to criminal suspects in U.S. courts.

Among those rights, familiar to watchers of TV cop dramas, are the right to remain silent and the right to have an attorney present during questioning.

'I believe we would consider this person to be an enemy combatant, yes,' White House press secretary Sarah Sanders told reporters during a briefing, while cautioning that she wasn't sure how the federal government would 'process' him.

Asked why the 'enemy combatant' label is appropriate, she replied: 'I think the actions that he took certainly justify that.'

Saipov is expected to appear and be charged criminally before a federal judge, not a military tribunal, around dinnertime on Wednesday.

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White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Wednesday that the Uzbekistan immigrant accused of mowing down eight people a day earlier in New York City should be considered an 'enemy combatant'

Sayfullo Saipov was admitted to the U.S. in 2010 under the State Department's Diversity Immigrant Visa Program, and questions have arisen about whether he should have the same legal rights enjoyed by more ordinary criminal defendants

Arizona Republican Sen. John McCain said Wednesday that international terror attacks are 'acts of war' and perpetrators should be considered 'enemy combatants'

South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham advocated for holding suspected terrorists without giving them Miranda rights, including the right to have an attorney

Saipov is the Uzbek national who was arrested Tuesday for plowing a rented truck through a bike lane full of cyclists and pedestrians, killing eight people and injuring another dozen.

He was seen on video after crashing into a school bus, running through a lower Manhattan street as he yelled 'Allahu akbar' and brandished what turned out to be a paintball gun and a pellet gun..

The White House's declaration came on the heels of similar statements from Arizona Sen. John McCain and South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, Republicans who have disagreed publicly with President Donald Trump on a host of legislative issues.

McCain, the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee and a survivor of prolonged torture during the Vietnam War, said in a statement Americans should recognize international terror attacks as 'acts of war.'

WHO CAN TRUMP PUT IN GITMO? The Trump administration is constrained by the terms of the most recent congressional Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF), which dates back to the George W. Bush administration. Dated three days after the 9/11 attacks in 2001, the AUMF authorizes the President of the United States to use force against anyone who 'planned, authorized, committed, or aided the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001, or harbored such organizations or persons.' Previous administrations have used this congressional go-ahead to justify military action against the Taliban, al-Qaeda, and the ISIS terror army  and they've been on solid legal ground. What has never been tested, however, is the idea of taking a terror suspect who was captured in the United States and taking military action against him. Sending a prisoner to Guantanamo Bay  a U.S. Navy facility  would be one example. There are Supreme Court cases that support putting 'enemy combatants' into the hands of military tribunals, and trying them outside the normal criminal court system. But those typically refer to people engaged in an armed conflict on behalf of a country, not a loosely confederated terror movement. The reason putting terror suspects in 'Gitmo' proved attractive for the Bush administration was that the prison camp is not in the United States. Terrorists captured in the Middle East, for instance, could be held indefinitely without even letting them set foot on U.S. soil. The case of Sayfullo Saipov, however, is different: He was arrested in New York City and likely is already entitled to some rights under the U.S. Constitution, plus rights afforded under the Geneva Convention. Advertisement

'As such, the New York terror suspect should be held and interrogated  thoroughly, responsibly, and humanely as an enemy combatant consistent with the Law of Armed Conflict,' McCain added.

'He should not be read Miranda Rights, as enemy combatants are not entitled to them. As soon as possible, the administration should notify Congress how it plans to proceed with the interrogation and trial of this suspect.'

NOT GITMO: Saipov was charged Wednesday at the Daniel Patrick Moynihan federal courthouse in New York City

Graham suggested grilling terror attackers without giving them rights expected by criminal defendants.

He recommended on the Fox News Channel that federal government authorities should 'hold them for a long period of time, get to know them, interrogate them about what they know, where they got trained  if any training.'

'And we'll find out pretty soon more about this guy if you don't read him his Miranda rights,' Graham continued, 'because that stops the interrogation.'

'The one thing I like about President Trump, he understands that we are in a religious war, Graham told Fox News.

'And to the American people, we are fighting people who are compelled by their religious views to kill us all. They kill fellow Muslims who don't agree with their view of Islam. They kill Christians, vegetarians, libertarians, you name it. So we're in a war.'

Asked why the 'enemy combatant' label is appropriate for Saipov, Sanders replied: 'I think the actions that he took certainly justify that'

President Donald Trump said as he began a cabinet meeting on Wednesday that he would consider sending suspected terrorist Sayfullo Saipov to the Guantanamo Bay military prison

America's heavily fortified Guantanamo Bay prison camp, situated on leased land in Cuba, has been the home of suspected jihadi terrorists for decades

Earlier, Trump had told reporters that he would consider sending Saipov to the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

'I would certainly consider that, yes. I would certainly consider that. Send him to Gitmo,' Trump said.

Sanders told reporters hours later during a briefing that 'the point he was making is that he supports  or would support that, but he wasn't necessarily advocating for it.'

Trump 'certainly would support it if he felt like that was the best move,' she added cryptically.

Sanders also said the president had been 'simply expressing his frustration' with how long it takes a federal criminal case to wind its way through the courts.

Trump suggested on Wednesday that Americans were 'suckers' for supporting a system that allowed lax oversight of people allowed to fast-track their visa applications on the basis of a randomly drawn number

The U.S. Justice Department reports that as of the end of 2015 there had been 620 successful civilian prosecutions of terrorism-related cases since the 9/11 attacks in 2001.

That total includes people convicted on both international and domestic terror charges.

Military tribunals, however, have only put eight people behind bars for terror-related offenses, and four of those cases have seen convictions overturned.

The five people accused of carrying out the 9/11 attacks are still languishing at Guantanamo, waiting to go on trial.

Trump has vowed to reverse the previous administration's course on closing the military prison, which was one of former president Barack Obama's earliest campaign promises  and one he never fulfilled.

Obama largely emptied out 'Gitmo,' as the terror-detention hellhole is known, reducing its population from 242 to just 41.

The prison camp has been the site of infamous torture techniques including waterboarding  which the president supported during his White House campaign.

'Terrorists are constantly seeking to strike our nation and it will require the unflinching devotion to our law enforcement, homeland security and intelligence professionals to keep America safe,' Trump said Wednesday

'We have to get much tougher and we have to get much smarter,' he added. 'And we have to get much less politically correct. Were so politically correct that were afraid to do anything.'
Jennifer McLeod, 36, is accused of having an inappropriate relationship with the boy, 17, while teaching him at a Christian school in Indiana

A substitute teacher at a Christian high school has been accused of rubbing a teenage boy's chest and kissing him in her classroom.

Jennifer McLeod, 36, is accused of striking up a relationship with the boy when he was 17 when she was teaching him at Hebron Christian Academy in 2015.

He told police their relationship began in April 2015 when she gave him a ride to a friend's house.

During the journey, he claimed she pulled the car over to show him a religious video and said that she wished he was 18 because they could not have sex until he was.

He then claimed she began sending him text messages, one of which read: 'If I was in high school, you would be my boyfriend.'

On the last day of school, he claims they were alone in her classroom and she asked to kiss him.

He said he agreed and the pair kissed 'romantically' for several seconds. They later kissed again at her home, he said.

On other occasions, she made remarks about his genitalia, he claimed.

McLeod was teaching at Hebron Christian Academy in Hebron, Indiana (above) in 2015 when the pair met. She denies the charges

Another student told police he saw the pair alone in her classroom and that she once rubbed the boy's chest. She was arrested as a result of that other student's reports.

Now 19, her alleged victim testified against her in court in Indiana this week. 'She wanted me, I guess. I liked the attention she was giving me, local newspaper NWI reported from her trial.

McLeod is charged with two felony counts of child seduction by a child care worker engaging in fondling or touching with a child 16 to 17 years old.

She denies them both and claims the boy was not even on school grounds when some of their alleged interactions took place.

McLeod denies the accusations. It is not clear if she is married or single or if she continues to teach in the area.
A bride and groom went ahead and said 'I do' in the midst of tragedy.

Nick Eckes and Danielle Landgraf Eckes were preparing for their wedding rehearsal in Appleton, Wisconsin, on Friday night when they learned that Nick's mother and grandmother had been killed in a wrong-way crash on Highway 57 while on their way to the venue.

The rehearsal and dinner were canceled after hearing about the deaths of Ila Schabow, 84, and Lynn Eckes, 56. His father Kenneth and his sister Kristin, who was driving, were recovering in the hospital.

Despite the tragic circumstances, Nick and Danielle decided to continue with the wedding the next day.

Nick Eckes and Danielle Landgraf Eckes went ahead with their wedding on Saturday (pictured) despite learning Nick's mother and grandmother had been killed the day before

Ila Schabow, 84, and Lynn Eckes, 56, were killed while traveling to the venue. Nick and Danielle (pictured, at their wedding) canceled the rehearsal and rushed to the hospital

The two women were killed when a car going the wrong way down Highway 57 hit their car head on. Nick's father Kenneth (pictured, right, with Lynn) and his sister Kristin, who was driving, were recovering in the hospital

The couple canceled the wedding rehearsal and dinner and rushed to the hospital when they heard the news (Pictured, Ila Schabow, right)

'They decided they wanted to make a statement that love is bigger than death and death doesn't win, life goes on,' Reverend Dan Thews, their officiant, told the Herald Reporter.

'So they went forward with the wedding on Saturday and it was really one of the most powerful and emotional things I've ever experienced in my life.'

Thews said that when Danielle was walking down the aisle, she was in tears. But when she saw Nick, she ran to meet him at the front, where they hugged.

'To see their love and to hear their promises to one another, it just has a new meaning, for better or for worse,' he said.

He said the decision to proceed with the wedding stemmed from their Christian faith and the belief that death is not the end.

'Although they weren't with us physically, I'm telling you, when we were there at that service, the wedding service, you could just feel their love,' Thews said.

'We knew they were there with us and the love that we had with them and the love that we shared with the family and friends that were there at the service was just a real healing already.'

The couple (pictured with their son, Brady) decided to go on with their wedding to make a statement that 'love is bigger than death and death doesn't win'

Their pastor said that when Danielle (right) was walking down the aisle, she was in tears. But when she saw Nick (left), she ran to meet him at the front, where they hugged

The driver of the wrong-way vehicle, Todd Beyer, 38, of Green Bay, also died Investigators are looking into how the crash happened, including why Beyer was going the wrong direction (pictured, scene of the accident)

Thews said the family's church community has been helping the family with prayers, phone calls and food.

On Friday afternoon, just before 2pm, Schabow and Lynn Eckes were killed when the vehicle they were riding in was struck by a wrong-way driver on Highway 57. The Brown County Sheriff's Department said both were in the backseat and wearing seat belts.

The driver of the wrong-way vehicle, Todd Beyer, 38, of Green Bay, also died. He was not wearing a seat belt. He had entered the northbound lanes of Highway 57, heading south from the County DK on-ramp, authorities said.

Investigators are looking into how the crash happened, including why Beyer was going the wrong direction, Brown County Sheriff's Lt John Bain told USA Today.
Two Delta Airlines passengers who were busted performing a sex act in their seats mid-flight are likely not going to be charged and will be hit with $800 fines instead.

A female passenger, 48, was allegedly caught performing oral sex on the 28-year-old man sitting next to her on the Delta flight on Sunday.

The pair, who had only met during the flight, were flying from Los Angeles to Detroit when they allegedly engaged in the lewd act.

A female passenger, 48, was allegedly caught performing oral sex on the 28-year-old man sitting next to her on the Delta flight bound for Detroit on Sunday

Fellow passengers had complained to the flight crew and authorities were subsequently notified.

The pair were met by FBI officials after landing in Detroit and were issued with citations.

The FBI are investigating but sources familiar with the case told the Detroit Free Press the passengers would only have to pay fines of up to $800 each.

Former federal prosecutor Peter Henning said he highly doubted that the pair would face criminal charges, and that they would be likely be cited for lewd and lascivious behavior.

The pair were met by FBI officials after landing in Detroit (above) and were issued with citations

'It's going to be very hard to find that this is criminal conduct under the federal code because it's not a threat to the safety of the airline, or other passengers,' Henning said.

'It's certainly distasteful, but it was not disruptive or interfering with the operation of the plane - and that's typically what (airline incident) charges involve.

'The embarrassment is probably the biggest punishment they can receive.'

Authorities have not released the names of the passengers.

They did confirm that both the man and the woman were booked on connecting flights out of Detroit to Miami and Nashville respectively.
An 18-year-old man has turned himself in to a Texas news channel on Sunday, admitting that he shot and killed his 15-year-old girlfriend but insisting it was an accident.

Sebastian Ramirez-Barcenas, of Fort Worth, was booked into the Tarrant County Jail on a charge of criminally negligent homicide in the death of Makayla Davis.

In his taped confession to CBS11 on Sunday, an emotional Ramirez-Barcenas said he loved Davis and that he did not know the shotgun was loaded.

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Shooting death: Sebastian Ramirez-Barcenas, 18 (left), has been charged with criminally negligent homicide for shooting Makayla Davis, 15 (right) in the neck, killing her

Confession: Ramirez-Barcenas turned himself to the TV station CBS11 on Sunday (pictured giving an interview) while sheriff's deputies were searching for him

The station then called the authorities, who arrived to arrest the 18-year-old suspect

According to an arrest warrant affidavit released on Tuesday - and cited by Fort Worth Star-Telegram - Ramirez-Barcenas and Davis were at her familys home in the 5400 block of Wilson Road when the 18-year-old pulled several firearms from a closet, racked the slide on a 12-gauge pump shotgun and fired.

At the same moment, Davis entered the room and was struck by a bullet in the neck.

By the time Tarrant County Sheriff's deputies responded to the scene, Ramirez-Barcenas had fled.

The 15-year-old victim was found lying mortally wounded in the master bedroom. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Investigators interviewed two teenagers and a 10-year-old girl who were present at the time of the shooting, among them Makaylas 18-year-old brother, Colton Davis.

Makayla (left and right) lost her mother to cancer in 2010. Her boyfriend said he loved her and did not mean to kill her

Colton said that after Ramirez-Barcenas fired the shot, he asked him who loaded the gun, to which the 18-year-old replied that the weapons were always loaded.

The brother said Ramirez-Barcenas then dropped the firearm and ran out of the house, sparking a manhunt that involved drones.

Mugshot: Ramirez-Barcenas is being held on $50,000 bond at the Tarrant County Jail

The next day, Ramirez-Barcenas showed up at the studios of CBS11 with two friends and gave an exclusive interview in which he admitted to shooting his girlfriend, but claimed it was an accident.

He described the moment the shotgun fired in his hands: When I racked it back, it just went off.

Afterwards, Ramirez-Barcenas said the only thing on his mind was: 'I killed my girlfriend. I killed the person I love. I love her a lot. It was an accident.'

He said he fled to the woods because he did not know what else to do and because was scared of Makaylas father, Bryan Davis.

Mr Davis collapsed after his daughter's death and was taken to a hospital, where he remained Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Makayla's uncle, Brandon Davis, has called into question Ramirez-Barcenas' version of events.

'I dont see how its an accident if you point a gun at someone,' he argued.

Makayla, who went by 'Kayla,' lost her mother Aimie to cancer in 2010, and her father Bryan has been raising the teenager and her three siblings on his own.
The FBI and NYPD briefly sought and then found information about a second person of interest in Manhattan's truck terror attack. A wanted poster was released by the FBI for Uzbek national Mukhammadzoir Kadirov (above) on Wednesday

The man named Wednesday as a person of interest in the Manhattan truck attack was a devout Muslim who wore white robes every day and clashed with neighbors over noise.

Locals said 32-year-old Mukhammadzoir Kadirov lived in a two-bed rental at the Wexford Park apartment complex in Tampa, Florida until early summer.

They said he, his wife and their two young children, believed to be around two to three years old, rarely ventured outside but were occasionally seen sitting on the banks of the lake behind their home.

Kadirov drove a Honda van but its not clear whether he had a job.

'They were Muslims. He wore traditional clothes and he always dressed in white. I never saw him go out in the morning so I dont know if he did anything,' said neighbor Jeremy Clemente, 17.

His wife wore a hijab but her face wasnt covered and she wore makeup. She looked young, she would say hi to my mom. She didnt look like an extremist to me.'

Clemente said his mother Vicky Perez, 44, clashed with the couple, who lived directly above, after they repeatedly woke her in the middle of the night.

Every now and again there would be a whole bunch of banging, loud footsteps that sort of thing. It would be between two and three in the morning,' he went on.

'My mom had to wake up and complain to the office. When it carried on she went up there herself and yelled at him.

He yelled back at her but he apologized. He said it was his kids which didnt make much sense as it was the middle of the night.

'I never had a conversation with them. My mom didnt like them.

He looked like a caring dad but he always looked cautious, like he was super aware of what was going around him and always worried.'

A wanted poster was released by the FBI for Uzbek national Mukhammadzoir Kadirov on Wednesday. But during a press conference in the afternoon, the FBI announced they were no longer seeking Kadirov.

Authorities said he has not been named as a suspect Tuesday's horrific attack.

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During a press conference in the afternoon, the FBI announced they were no longer seeking Kadirov

This comes one day after Sayfullo Saipov is accused of driving a Home Depot rental truck down the Hudson River Greenway bike path, hitting and killing five Argentinians, a Belgian national, a New Jersey cyclist and a New York City man before crashing into a school bus.

After the bus crash, the 29-year-old Uzbek national ran through traffic carrying a paintball gun and a pellet gun on West Street before he was shot and wounded by hero NYPD officer Ryan Nash, 28.

Saipov allegedly left a note inside of the rented truck that translated to 'ISIS endures forever'.

The Muslim immigrant from Uzbekistan entered court Wednesday evening in a wheelchair, handcuffed and with his feet shackled, to face terrorism charges filed against him by the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York.

Saipov, 29, wore a gray shirt and was surrounded by five guards while in his wheelchair inside a New York federal courthouse after he was charged with providing material support to a terrorist group and committing violence and destruction of motor vehicles.

His lawyers said Wednesday they were not seeking bail and a judge ordered him to be held in federal jail.

Saipov did not enter a plea to terrorism charges and a judge set his next court date for November 15.

The U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York filed federal terrorism charges against Sayfullo Saipov on Wednesday. The Muslim immigrant from Uzbekistan is accused of killing eight and injuring several others during Tuesday's attack in Manhattan

NYPD officer Ryan Nash (above), 28, is being credited with stopping the attack from becoming worse by shooting Saipov in the stomach. Saipov is still hospitalized for his injury

Meanwhile, new details are being released about Saipov, who is a married father-of-three.

Reports say that Saipov attended a 'suspicious' New Jersey mosque and appears to have radicalized after moving to the U.S. seven years ago.

He immigrated to the U.S. in March 2010 from his native Uzbekistan. Saipov married two years later and has since fathered three children - the youngest of whom is three months old. Overnight, FBI agents raided the couple's Paterson, New Jersey home.

Saipov was shot in the stomach during the rampage, and underwent surgery at Bellevue Hospital. When he spoke with authorities from his hospital bed, he allegedly showed no remorse for the lives he had taken. One source told ABC News that he seemed 'proud' and the New York Post said he was 'boasting'.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo told CNN on Wednesday that Saipov 'radicalized domestically' after moving to America, where he has worked as a commercial truck driver and Uber driver.

It appears that his plans to wreak havoc on innocent New Yorkers was in the works for some time.

Authorities say 29-year-old Saipov watched ISIS videos on his cellphone and picked Halloween for the attack on a bike lane in lower Manhattan because he knew more people would be out on the streets.

Saipov left behind knives and a note, handwritten in Arabic, that included Islamic religious references and said 'it will endure'  a phrase that commonly refers to ISIS, FBI agent Amber Tyree said in court papers.

The rented Home Depot truck, which plowed through cyclists and runners on a bicycle path on the West Side Highway in lower Manhattan on Tuesday afternoon, is pictured above

The truck came to a stop by crashing into a school bus after plowing through others on the bike path. The two adults and two children inside the bus were injured

Questioned in his hospital bed, Saipov said he had been inspired by ISIS videos and began plotting an attack about a year ago, deciding to use a truck about two months ago, Tyree said. Saipov even rented a truck on October 22 to practice making turns, Tyree said.

John Miller, deputy New York police commissioner for intelligence, said Saipov 'appears to have followed, almost exactly to a T, the instructions that ISIS has put out.'

In the past few years, the Islamic State has exhorted followers online to use vehicles, knives or other close-at-hand means of killing people in their home countries. England, France and Germany have all seen deadly vehicle attacks since mid-2016.

A November 2016 issue of the group's online magazine detailed features that an attack truck or van should have, suggested renting such a vehicle and recommended targeting crowded streets and outdoor gatherings, according to the SITE Intelligence Group, a militant-monitoring agency.
There was confusion today as different factions of the militia group holding the brother of the Manchester suicide bomber appeared to argue among themselves over whether he would be extradited to Britain.

British police revealed on Wednesday that they had issued an arrest warrant for Hashem Abedi and prosecutors have asked Libya to extradite him to face 22 counts of murder at a UK court.

Hashem, whose brother Salman killed 22 people in an attack on a pop concert in Manchester in May, is being held by a group called 'Deterrence Force' in the war-torn North African country.

Ahmad Ben Salim, a spokesman for the group, said yesteday: 'We will not extradite Hashem Abedi to UK authorities.'

However the BBC quoted a member of the group as saying they were 'ready to co-operate' with authorities.

And a spokesman for the internationally recognised Libyan government said an official request had been received 'and the Libyan authorities are cooperating to process [it]'.

He added: 'No decision has been taken yet.' Despite that, security sources in the country were said to be 'sceptical' over whether Abedi would be extradited.

An extradition request has on Wednesday been handed to the authorities in Libya where Hashem Abedi, brother of the Manchester bomber Salman Abedi, is currently in custody

Hashem Abedi is understood to be currently held by a militia group in Libya. British Police were granted an arrest warrant for the 20-year-old on 22 counts of murder

Home Secretary Amber Rudd previously agreed to request the extradition from Libya.

Salman Abedi detonated his explosives at the end of an Ariana Grande concert in May, with 353 people, including 175 children, around him in the foyer of the arena venue.

As well as the 22 dead, among the survivors 16 people were very seriously injured including suffering paralysis, loss of limbs, internal injuries, and very serious facial injuries involving complicated plastic surgery and two people remain in hospital.

In all 512 people were either physically injured or left 'profoundly traumatised' Mr Jackson said, with 112 hospitalised.

Police revealed on Wednesday that two of the most seriously injured survivors remain in hospital almost six months on.

Hashem Abedi is also suspected of the attempted murder of those left injured as well as conspiracy to cause an explosion.

But the prospects of him ever standing trial in this country for helping his older brother plan the attack depend on sensitive dealings with a Libyan militia which is currently holding him.

Hashem is currently being kept in a prison in the capital Tripoli by the Special Deterrence Force (SDF), a unit that tackles terrorism and crime which is aiming to prosecute him there.

While the Government insists an extradition treaty with Libya is in place, there are doubts over whether it will be honoured following the overthrow of Colonel Gaddafi in 2011 and the country's current division.

A Home Office official responsible for extradition requests has met with the acting Libyan Attorney General in Rome last month to discuss judicial cooperation on the case.

Both brothers travelled to Libya in April, before Salman (pictured) returned alone before carrying out the attack on May 22, which left 22 dead and hundreds injured after an Ariana Grande concert

Hashem and Salman Abedi travelled to Libya in April, before Salman returned alone before carrying out the attack on May 22.

His bomb has been described as 'substantial' in size, and he had put it inside a tin with the shrapnel, nuts and bolts, placed around it.

Assistant Chief Constable Russ Jackson, of Greater Manchester Police and head of the North West Counter Terrorism Unit (NWCTU) said: 'I can now say that following a review of the evidence by the CPS (Crown Prosecution Service), we have applied for and been granted a warrant for the arrest of Hashem Abedi.

'The arrest warrant relates to the murder of 22 people, the attempted murder of others who were injured and conspiracy to cause an explosion.

'Hashem Abedi is currently detained in Libya and the CPS has now requested that Libyan authorities consider his extradition back to the United Kingdom.

'We are grateful for the Libyan authorities considering this request.

'You will appreciate that we must not do or say anything that might prejudice a fair trial and that this remains an ongoing investigation.'

Mr Jackson said the warrant was issued by a judge at Westminster Magistrates' Court in the last fortnight, approved by the Home Secretary and the extradition request handed over to the authorities in Libya.

Salman (left and right) killed 22 people  seven of them children - and injured or traumatised 512 more when he detonated a home-made device as crowds left an Ariana Grande concert on May 22. Police revealed last night that two of the most seriously injured survivors remain in hospital almost six months on

Following developments in the investigation, Mr Jackson confirmed that 23 people had so far been arrested, 30 addresses had been searched and 11,000 exhibits were seized.

Officers have also taken 1,300 statements and more than 5,000 people were referenced in the inquiry.

GMP also have confirmed that they are currently working through 16,000 hours of CCTV and 8million lines of telephone data as part of their investigation, although they do not believe the Abedi brothers were part of a wide network.

The Abedi family, originally from Libya, fled during the Gaddafi dictatorship with his father returning to fight with opposition forces when the uprising began in 2011.

An extradition agreement between the UK and Libya had been agreed in 2009 but since the overthrow of Gaddafi the country has been split into warring factions with the United Nations-backed, internationally recognized Government of National Accord (GNA) struggling to assert control over swathes of the country in the hands of dozens of different militias including ISIS affiliated groups.

Salman and Hashem Abedi (left, with brother Ismail, centre, who has been arrested in Libya) were both born in Manchester but travelled to Libya together on April 15 before Salman, 22, returned to carry out the attack

Police have previously said they do not think Salman Abedi was part of a wider network but believe others were involved in the planning of the attack and named Hashem as a suspect.

Following the announcement that the warrant had been granted by Libyan authorities, Mr Jackson was keen to provide an update on the families of the victims of the attack.

He claims the police are in 'constant' contact with families and they had been informed of the arrest of Hashem Abedi tonight.

Security Minister Ben Wallace said: 'This was a callous and evil act and the victims and their families deserve and demand justice. They must remain our priority and we will therefore not be commenting further so as not to jeopardise the investigation.

'We have been clear from the outset that we are determined to do everything in our power to ensure that those suspected of being responsible for the Manchester attack are brought to justice in the UK.

Salman killed 22 people  seven of them children - and injured or traumatised 512 more when he detonated a home-made device as crowds left an Ariana Grande concert on May 22 (the scene pictured above)

'That is why the Home Secretary agreed to request the extradition of Hashem Abedi, who has been named as a suspect by Greater Manchester Police, and we continue to work closely with the CPS, police and Libyan authorities to return him to the UK.'

Hashem was arrested in Tripoli along with their father, Ramadan, 51, after the bombing. But the brothers' father - who fled the Gaddafi regime in the 1990s and sought asylum in the UK - is no longer being treated as a suspect by the Libyans.

At the time Libya's chief investigator said: 'All the signs point to Hashem being directly involved and collecting the materials for the suicide bombing that took a lot of innocent lives.'

Hashem is also understood to be suspected of planning his own attacks in Libya, including targeting Peter Millett, the British Ambassador in Tripoli.

Last month a Libyan security official at the prison said the impending trial was 'moving ahead', adding: 'It is highly unlikely Hashem will be handed over to Britain at this time or after the trial is completed.'

British officials fear if that happens, his evidence may not be admissible in UK courts - for example, if there are allegations he has been tortured.

Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has called on Theresa May to put pressure on Libya to bring Abedi back to Britain for trial.
A pregnant woman, a child and two others who were inside a home when a group of men ignited a fire are lucky to be alive.

Three men smashed a window and poured accelerant into the Mackenzie house late on Wednesday before igniting it and escaping in a car, police said.

A 44-year-old man attempted to contain the fire a number of times before emergency services arrived and extinguished the blaze.

A family were inside a home when three men poured accelerant into the window (pictured)

The group set fire to the Mackenzie property before fleeing in a car, police say

Three men smashed a window and poured accelerant into the house (pictured)

'He only stopped doing that when fire services arrived so he was very brave in his efforts to put that fire out,' Inspector Steve Flori told Channel 9.

He sustained serious but non-life threatening injuries and was transported to Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, 9 News reported.

A 33-year-old woman, who is 35 weeks pregnant, who was inside the home was transported to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

A child and a 67-year-old woman, who was a resident of the property, were uninjured.

Acting Inspector Tim Clark said fire services attended and extinguished the fire, which was contained to the front room of the house.

A pregnant woman, 33, inside the home was taken to hospital for observation after men smashed the window and ignited the blaze

'Our crews have gone into action and rescued one occupant with burns from within the premise,' Acting Inspector Tim Clark said.

'All other occupants were lucky that working smoke alarms were working and notified the occupants and woke them up and they were able to exit the house.'

Anyone with any information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Police are hunting the thieves who stole an inflatable rescue boat in Port Melbourne.

But an appeal for information sparked debate about the colour of the vessel on 3AW Breakfast.

Victoria Police believe the offenders used a white ute to break through a fence of a marine facility in Lorimer Street between 1.30am and 2am on August 28.

Police are hunting the thieves who stole an inflatable rescue boat (above) in Port Melbourne

They used the ute to remove the rescue boat, with its motor attached, and its trailer.

Investigators released images of the boat, motor and a vehicle that was seen in the area at the time of the theft in a bid to catch the culprits.

But on 3AW Breakfast, Ross and Burnso argued about the colour of the boat.

Ross believes it is green, while Burnso insists its white.

They used the ute to remove the rescue boat, with its motor (pictured) attached, and its trailer

Investigators released images of the boat, motor and a vehicle (above) that was seen in the area at the time of the theft in a bid to catch the culprits
A Louisiana man who allegedly kidnapped a colleague and held her at gunpoint in his custom dungeon, now faces charges of child pornography possession.

The disturbed ex-janitor, Mario Perez-Roque, now 58, pleaded not guilty to nine counts last week in the Orleans Parish Criminal District Court.

Perez-Roque, currently awaits his November 28 trial stemming from kidnapping charges after he allegedly imprisoned a female co-worker in his 'house of horrors' residence in Kenner, New Orleans in 2015, according to The Times-Picayune.

The newspaper reports the man's arraignment for the new charges had been previously put on hold multiple times for 'failures to transport the defendant from either Jefferson Parish or Louisiana Department of Corrections custody.'

He was charged back in January 2016 with second-degree kidnapping and conspiracy to commit kidnapping of the 36-year-old woman.

Perez-Roque allegedly held the woman hostage at gunpoint before he tied her up in the dungeon where he imprisoned her once before, it has been claimed.

He was finally arrested on Nov. 6, 2015 after the believed-to-be Cuban immigrant escaped from his place where she was held under the horrifying conditions.

Mario Perez-Roque, now 58, is pictured in his mugshot photo from the Orleans Parish Sheriff's Office. The accused kidnapper now faces charges for possession of pornography involving juveniles

The disturbed ex-janitor, pleaded not guilty to nine counts of the crimes last week in the Orleans Parish Criminal District Court in front of Judge Ben Willard (pictured)

Kenner Police (department pictured) and investigators described Perez-Roque's home to be the 'House of Horrors'

The victim apparently had been bound and gagged in an insulated chamber inside Perez-Roque's Mid-City apartment, complete with trap doors, two-way mirrors and hidden cameras.

She was later rescued by a Good Samaritan after being spotted running for her life at a busy intersection, with Perez-Roque allegedly in pursuit.

At the time, details emerged that the woman was allegedly imprisoned in the suspect's 'dungeon' in a prior incident when he tricked her into going to the home.

In that case, Perez-Roque held her against her will all day and night in the shotgun home at some point the month before, she told detectives.

The 36-year-old victim, believed to be an immigrant from Cuba, apparently had been bound and gagged in an insulated chamber inside Perez-Roque's Mid-City apartment (pictured)

During her time in the property, situated in the 100 block of North Lopez Street, the unidentified woman said she had asked her colleague: 'What do you want? Are you going to rape me'.

He had replied neither 'yes', nor 'no', she said.

Perez-Roque (pictured) was arrested on charges of kidnapping a co-worker who had rebuffed his romantic advances

The following morning, the woman fought against Perez-Roque and managed to escape on to the street, where two Hispanic passerby had helped her and urged her to contact police.

But in the instance, the victim had been too afraid to do so, the New Orleans Advocate reported.

Perez-Roque, who worked with the woman at a janitorial company that services the Superdome, had allegedly threatened her not to tell anyone about her kidnapping and imprisonment.

Instead, he had told her she would feel better if she went to church, it is said.

However, less than a month later, the woman, who has a boyfriend and a child, was reportedly abducted by Perez-Roque again - this time, from her home on Martinique Avenue in Kenner.

She was inside her house when her colleague and another unnamed man - who remains at large - allegedly held a gun to her head and forced her into a black Mercury Mountaineer.

She was subsequently driven to Perez-Roque's home, where she was bound and gagged.

In this case, the woman feared she would not be able to flee from her captor's home.

'He's not going to let me just get away this time,' she told herself, the Advocate reported at the time.

'He's going to do something.'

The home was equipped with trap doors, secret tunnels, hidden cameras and two-way mirrors, police said. Above, a New Orleans police investigator looks through Perez-Roque's property

But despite her fears, the victim - who had apparently only been in the country for a few months and does not speak fluent English - eventually managed to slip out of her restraints and escape.

She was running down the street, allegedly being pursued by Perez-Roque, when Good Samaritan Gary Messina drove by with his wife and son - and immediately had an uneasy feeling about the sight.

Mr Messina told WWL he pulled over and got out of his car to see what was going on, saying: 'I didn't know for sure until he grabbed her and turned around and I saw the look on her face.'

He added: 'I just jumped out of the car to try to stop the guy from pulling her back.

'As soon as I jumped out of the car he looked at me and he had her around the neck in a headlock and just wasn't going to let her go.'

Mr Messina said he scared the man off when he told him police were on their way.

After Perez-Roque's arrest, the victim told police he once gave her a ride to work and therefore knew where she lived.

She also said she had turned him down when he had expressed an interest in dating her.

Gary Messina (above) said he was in the car with his wife and son when he spotted the woman being held in a headlock by Perez-Roque

The apartment where the woman was taken was not owned by Perez-Roque but his brother Jose, according to the Advocate, who neighbors say they saw taking things from the apartment around the time of the arrest.

The newspaper reported that Perez-Roque has a previous conviction in Essex County, New Jersey on charges of kidnapping and attempted murder - for which he was sentenced to 29 years.

It is unclear when he was released, but he was arrested on suspicion of stealing from Wal-Mart in 2004, before being booked on the attempted second-degree murder of a man a year later.

Three witnesses told the newspaper that Perez-Roque had threatened to 'spill the brains' of the man after discovering his girlfriend was cheating with him, before shooting him in the head.

However, the gun then jammed and the victim incredibly survived the shooting.

It previously emerged that the woman allegedly had been imprisoned in the suspect's 'dungeon' once before after he tricked her into going there. Above, a U.S. Marshal carry a battering ram SWAT away from the rear of the house in the 100 block of North Lopez on Friday following the woman's escape

After the man left the area, the initial charges against Perez-Roque were dropped and he was charged instead with just one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

He was sentenced to four years and two months in May 2009.

Following his kidnapping arrest, police, investigated whether other women were taken to Perez-Roque's property against their will in the past, given the elaborate set-up.

Kenner police Lt Brian McGregor described the home to be a 'house of horrors'.

'We found restraints. They've got false walls and everything else inside the house,' McGregor told the Advocate. 'That's pretty much what it is, a house of horrors. Who wants to be restrained?
A senior Rebels bikie has been charged by police after allegedly using a forklift to stack two old cars on top of each other after his crew asked them to be moved.

Police allege more than 50 members of the outlaw gang took part in a motorcycle run in Tasmania on Friday afternoon.

They planned to transport the motorcycles by truck to a factory unit in Malaga, Perth, and had asked the owner of a neighbouring building to free up the car park.

A senior Rebels bikie has been charged by police after allegedly using a forklift to stack two old cars on top of each other after his crew asked them to be moved

Police allege more than 50 members of the Rebels Outlaw gang participated in a motorcycle run in Tasmania on Friday afternoon and needed to transport their bikes (stock image)

But when they arrived at the carpark to offload the motorbikes, a Holden Rodeo ute and rundown Daewoo Matiz had been left behind because of mechanical issues.

Police allege a senior member of the Rebels outfit was so incensed by the act that he took matters into his own hands and used a forklift to move the cars.

The vehicles sustained significant structural and mechanical damage worth more than $10,000, according to police.

A 47-year-old Balcatta man, who is a senior Rebels member, was charged with one count of criminal damage.

He will appear in the Midlands Magistrate's Court on November 30.

Gang Crime Squad Detective Senior Sergeant Craig Annesley encouraged members of the public to come forward with information regarding outlaw motorcycle gang activity.
For the second time this year, Snoop Dogg is parodying the assassination of President Donald Trump.

The rapper posted an image of what appears to be the cover of his latest album, Make America Crip Again, on his Instagram account on Wednesday.

The image shows Snoop Dogg standing over a dead body covered with an American flag.

The body is fitted with a toe tag that reads Trump.

Make America Crip Again is the follow-up album to 2016's Coolaid.

Snoop Dogg posted an image of what appears to be the cover of his latest album, Make America Crip Again, on his Instagram account. The image shows Snoop Dogg standing over a dead body covered with an American flag and fitted with a toe tag that reads Trump'

The album cover is nearly identical to that of Ice Cubes 1991 album Death Certificate. Ice Cube is seen on that cover standing over a dead body wrapped in an American flag  only the body is that of Uncle Sam

This is the second time this year that Snoop Dogg has depicted the president as assassinated. Trump is seen above speaking to the cabinet at the White House on Wednesday

The album cover is nearly identical to that of Ice Cubes 1991 album Death Certificate.

Ice Cube is seen on that cover standing over a dead body wrapped in an American flag  only the body is that of Uncle Sam.

A spokesperson for the Secret Service would not comment on Snoop Dogg's album cover.

In March, Snoop Dogg, who was born Calvin Broadus, was criticized for parodying Trump's assassination in his new music video for Lavender.

In the climactic scene the rapper takes out a fake gun and points it towards a clown-like Trump character with painted orange face.

The clip, which was co-directed by Jesse Wellens and James DeFina, focuses on current events including a parody version of Trump named Ronald Klump.

In March, Snoop Dogg released a music video for the song Lavender in which he spoofs a presidential assassination, fake shooting a clown Donald Trump character

The clip focuses on current events with a parody version of Trump named Ronald Klump

At one point Clown-in-Chief Klump holds a press conference to announce the deportation of all dogs, spelled 'doggs'.

Justified actor Michael Rapaport also stars in the video as a suburban clown father who gets stopped by the clown police and shot with a glitter gun.

The message was clear from the musician as he spoke to Billboard about his thoughts on the president.

Snoop said: 'I feel like its a lot of people making cool records, having fun, partying, but nobodys dealing with the real issue with this f**king clown as president, and the sh** that we dealing with out here, so I wanted to take time out to push pause on a party record and make one of these records for the time being.'

The 45-year-old artist explained what motivated him when he was writing the track.

'Making a song that was not controversial but real - real to the voice of the people who dont have a voice. Its not like [Jesse] told me to make a record to express what Im expressing on the song, but there were certain things that he said that brought that feeling, to make me want to express that when I was writing.'

But the hip hop star said he's not looking for any kind of reaction for the video.

'When I be putting sh** out, I dont ever expect or look for a reaction. I just put it out because I feel like its something thats missing. Any time I drop something, Im trying to fill in a void.'

Spoof: In the climactic final scenes Snoop takes out a fake gun to shoot the president who sticks his hands up

The Long Beach born star also listed his grievances with the president as he concluded, 'Its a lot of clown sh-t going on that we could just sit and talk on the phone all day about, but its a few issues that we really wanted to lock into [for the video] like police, the president and just life in general.'

'That record will be a part of my new album that I just finished. Its called Never Left and it should be out [soon], maybe in May.' he told Billboard.

Senator Marco Rubio told TMZ that he disagreed with the rapper's video.

'Snoop shouldn't have done that. We've had presidents assassinated before in this country so anything like that is something people should be very careful about,' Rubio said.

He said people can disagree with policy but if the wrong person sees that and 'gets the wrong idea you can have a real problem.'
Dentists are inventing patients and billing the NHS for work that was never done, health officials have warned.

Along with false claims by patients, the scam is helping fuel fraud that is costing the health service nearly 1.3billion a year.

The head of the new NHS Counter Fraud Authority revealed yesterday that bogus claims by dentists are estimated at 121million a year, 70million of it for non-existent work.

The head of the new NHS Counter Fraud Authority revealed yesterday that bogus claims by dentists are estimated at 121million a year, 70million of it for non-existent work

Cheating GPs are estimated to cost 81million, while NHS payroll and identity fraud account for 91million.

Patients falsely claim 397million a year for exemptions for dental fees and prescription charges. The authority promised to investigate without fear or favour to protect the NHS from the despicable actions.

The estimates are the first to assess the scale of losses across the health service. The sums, which represent about 1 per cent of the NHS budget, could have paid for more than 40,000 staff nurses, or 5,000 ambulances.

The launch of the new authority yesterday follows warnings of a steep drop in successful prosecutions  with only 91 in 2015/16, compared with 393 in 2010/11.

Cheating GPs are estimated to cost 81million, while NHS payroll and identity fraud account for 91million

Sue Frith, head of the agency, has promised a crackdown on fraud committed by professionals and patients in order to protect the honest majority.

She said the actions of individuals were diverting large sums from the public. People may think its just a small amount, but in large volumes it adds up and has an impact, she said.

It is criminal behaviour. It is despicable people would even claim things they are not entitled to. This is money that should be spent on front line patient care.

Scams against GP practices and dentists, where a fraudster poses as a regular supplier and tricks the business into paying them, will also be targeted by the agency, which will be independent and focus solely on fraud.

Its predecessor, NHS Protect, covered security as well. Responsibility for this has now been devolved to local NHS trusts. The budget for tackling fraud has been increased by over 10 per cent.

This will allow more field officers to be appointed to gather evidence and a greater focus on fraud prevention by reviewing contracts and safeguard systems. Health Minister Lord OShaughnessy said the crackdown was the first example of an NHS organisation dedicated to tackling health service fraud and corruption and bringing fraudsters to justice.

He added: Fraud in the healthcare system not only undermines public confidence in the NHS but also diverts valuable resources away from caring for patients.

The British Dental Associations chair of general dental practice called for more clarity on how to claim for treatment.

Henrik Overgaard-Nielsen said: We condemn any action that takes resources away from our patients. Genuine fraud must be exposed, but we are working under a discredited contract system that breeds confusion.

Put ten NHS dentists in a room and youll get nearly half a dozen different views on how to claim for a treatment. Its an insane system, and not even officials can navigate the grey areas. For over a decade this model has failed patients and practitioners alike, and we need ministers to honour their pledges and deliver real clarity.

Two years ago a dentist was jailed for claiming payments totalling 780,000 for work that was never carried out.

Jayantilal Bhikhabhai Mistry, 67, from Willesden, North West London, was sent to prison for three years. Between 1997 and 2013 he routinely invented fictitious patients and forged signatures.

In one case the address he had given as that of a patient in fact belonged to a branch of a bank.

Further inquiries found almost 300 addresses of patients that Mistry used did not exist.
President Trump is becoming exceedingly frustrated with the advice given to him by Jared Kushner, his son-in-law who is also a top White House adviser.

Vanity Fair is reporting that Trump, when speaking on the phone to former White House Chief Strategist Steve Bannon, pointed a finger at Kushner and blamed him for decisions like firing National Security Advisor Michael Flynn and FBI Director James Comey.

Trump's decision to ax Comey in May led directly to the appointment of Special Counsel Robert Mueller, who indicted three Trump associates on Monday.

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President Trump (center) may be souring on his son-in-law Jared Kushner (seated, back left), who he hired to be a top White House adviser

The president (left) placed blame on Jared Kushner (right) for Trump's decision to fire FBI Director James Comey, which resulted in the appointment of Special Counsel Robert Mueller

President Trump (right) also blamed his son-in-law Jared Kushner (left) for firing National Security Advisor Michael Flynn, who may also get ensnared in the Russia probe

President Trump spoke with Steve Bannon (left) and blamed Jared Kushner for some of his decisions, Vanity Fair reported. The president also spoke to Roger Stone (right) who placed blame on Kushner without the president's objection

When Trump spoke this week to Roger Stone, the longtime GOP political strategist who urged the president to run, the president didn't disagree when Stone told him Kushner had given him bad advice.

Sam Nunberg, who's worked for both Roger Stone and President Trump went on the record and bashed Jared Kushner

Trump, instead, agreed, an unnamed source familiar with the conversation told Vanity Fair.

Sam Nunberg, who works under Stone and briefly worked for Trump's campaign, then criticized Kushner on the record.

'Jared is the worst political adviser in the White House in modern history,' Nunberg said. 'I'm only saying publicly what everyone says behind the scenes at Fox News, in conservative media, and the Senate and Congress.'

The White House did not respond to Vanity Fair's request for comment.

To DailyMail.com, Nunberg issued an additional warning.

'If Trump pardons Jared, Trump wont be the 2020 nominee,' he said in an email.

As the Kushner report was coming out, Trump called the New York Times Wednesday afternoon and told reporters Maggie Haberman and Peter Baker that, 'Im actually not angry at anybody.'

Beyond Vanity Fair's reporting, Trump has been portrayed as 'seething' over the indictments of three associates, his former Campaign Chairman Paul Manafort, Manafort's deputy Rick Gates and an unpaid foreign policy adviser, George Papadopolous.

According to several news outlets, Trump spent Monday morning watching Manafort turn himself in on a television in the residence.

The Washington Post reported that Trump was late that day getting to the Oval Office, leaving aides worried.

Countering that storyline, Trump told the Times, 'Im in the office early and leave late; its very smooth.'

'Honestly,' the president said. 'I'm really enjoying it.'
An eruption at Iceland's biggest volcano could be brewing, an expert has warned.

The 6,590ft Bardarbunga volcano, which is hidden under the ice cap of the Vatnajokull glacier, has been rocked by a series of quakes in recent days.

Pall Einarsson, a geophysicist at the University of Iceland, says this shows that pressure in the volcanoes magma chamber is increasing.

He warns that the tremors mean Bardarbunga is 'clearly preparing for its next eruption' in the next few years which could create an ash cloud that will cause travel chaos.

The warning follows the 2010's explosive eruption of Icelandic volcano Eyjafjallajokull, which threw thousands of tonnes of mineral ash into the air.

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An eruption at Iceland's biggest volcano may be imminent, an expert has warned. The 6,590ft Bardarbunga volcano (pictured), which is hidden under the ice cap of the Vatnajokull glacier, has been rocked by a series of quakes in recent days

LINK BETWEEN EARTHQUAKES AND VOLCANOES According to Oregon State University, most earthquakes directly beneath a volcano are caused by the movement of magma. The magma places pressure on the rocks until it cracks the rock. Magma then moves into the crack and begins building pressure again. Every time the rock cracks it makes a small earthquake. Advertisement

Most of this was fine particles that created an ash cloud.

This caused travel chaos causing more than 10 million air passengers to be stranded as a result of its ash cloud and cost the European economy an estimated 4 billion ($4.9 billion).

A similar scenario could take place if Bardarbunga were to erupt.

Bardarbunga is one of the most active of Iceland's 130 volcanoes.

In 2014, a record-breaking volcanic eruption from Bardarbunga spewed lava and ash over Iceland's Highlands for nearly six months, leaving behind the largest caldera formation ever observed.

This eruption was the strongest of its kind in Europe in more than 240 years, and released two cubic kilometres of volcanic material.

Now, the volcano is showing signs of restlessness once again after being rocked by four huge earthquakes last week.

The earthquakes, measuring 3.9, 3.2, 4.7 and 4.7 on the Richter scale, struck the caldera region last weekend.

This suggests that magma could be building up below the surface, which could lead to another eruption soon.

However, Dr Gunnar Gumundsson from the Icelandic Met Office told MailOnline that 'there are no signs it will erupt imminently'.

Pall Einarsson, a geophysicist at the University of Iceland, says this shows that pressure in the volcanoes magma chamber is increasing. Pictured is a plane flying over the Bardarbunga volcano in September 2014

He said there were currently only some small earthquakes on the south part of the Vatnajoekull icecap.

'Probably in the coming weeks there will be some more earthquakes. We cannot predict but it's unlikely Bardarbunga will erupt as a result', he said.

Dr Simon Day, of University College London, told MailOnline activity could 'precede a large explosive eruption and consequent widespread ash fall', but claimed it is 'statistically unlikely.'

'It's not very likely that the current activity will lead to an eruption breaking the ice or erupting along the rift zone', he said.

The warning follows the 2010's explosive eruption of Icelandic volcano Eyjafjallajokull, which threw thousands of tonnes of mineral ash into the air. An aerial photograph shows lava flowing out of the Bardarbunga volcano

'So, a lot more has to happen before the current seismic activity develops into a major eruption and the chance of it doing so is statistically quite small, of order 1 in 100'.

According to Oregon State University, most earthquakes directly beneath a volcano are caused by the movement of magma.

The magma places pressure on the rocks until it cracks the rock.

Magma then moves into the crack and begins building pressure again. Every time the rock cracks it makes a small earthquake.

Einarsson told the Daily Star the latest earthquakes were part of a series that has been 'in progress for two years.'

Bardarbunga is one of the most active of Iceland's 130 volcanoes. Pictured is magma along a one-km-long fissure in a lava field from 2014 which covers part of the Bardarbunga volcano

In 2014, a record-breaking volcanic eruption from Bardarbunga spewed lava and ash over Iceland's Highlands for nearly six months, leaving behind the largest caldera formation ever observed

RECORD-BREAKING BARDARBUNGA ERUPTION Iceland's Met Office issued a 'red alert' at the end of August 2014 after the Bardarbunga volcano, which lies underneath the Vatnajokull glacier, experienced a 'small' eruption. The aviation threat was reduced months later, though scientists at the time warned there was still gas contamination in the area around the eruption site. Bardarbunga is a large central volcano lying underneath Iceland's Vatnajokull glacier, in the centre of the country. It contains a 2,296ft-deep (700 metre) caldera, hidden beneath ice, covered in extensive flank fissures, from where the majority eruptions take place. The most recent eruption began in August 2014, and lasted until February 2015. The Veidivotn fissure extends for over 62 miles (100km) to the south west, almost reaching Torfajokull volcano, while the Trollagigar fissure extends 31 (50km) to the north east, towards the Askja volcano. Advertisement

'The reason for the earthquakes in this place is that the volcano Bardarbunga is inflating, i.e. the pressure of magma in the magma chamber is increasing It has been doing this since the last eruption ended, in February 2015,' he said.

'The volcano is clearly preparing for its next eruption, that may happen in the next few years.'

'The earthquakes last week are just the symptoms of this process, they do not cause the volcano to erupt.'

The Icelandic Met Office has listed activity levels at the volcano as 'high' but has not yet issued a warning.

But Bardarbunga isn't the only volcano that's worrying Einarsson.

In February, he warned that three other volcanoes, Katla, Hekla, Bardarbunga and Grimsvon, are priming to erupt, which could lead to travel chaos.

While all four volcanoes are closely monitored by geophysicists, it is very hard to predict which will erupt, exactly when and the extent of the eruption

Katla

Katla is the least recently-active volcano of the four, which last erupted in 1918.

But according to the Global Volcanism Program, Katla has been showing signs of restlessness recently, with tremors in September exceeding the magnitude three mark.

This level of tremor could be enough to send magma upwards through the crust, and cause it to burst through the surface.

KATLA'S 1918 ERUPTION Katla is among the most frequently erupting volcanoes in Iceland, averaging about two eruptions each century. The volcanic massive is partly covered by the glacier Myrdalsjokull which fills a caldera depression and covers the eruptive vents. The eruptions are accompanied by enormous laharic floods which have formed a vast sandur plain. The last eruption in Katla occurred in 1918. The Southern coast was extended by 5 km by the laharic flood deposits. Advertisement

Speaking to Iceland Review, Kristin Jonsdottir, natural hazard program director at the Icelandic Met Office said: 'It's been a long time since Katla erupted, and this could just as well end with an eruption. It's just impossible to tell right now.'

Another concern is melting under the ice cap of Myrdalsjokull glacier, where Katla sits, which, if it occurred, would cause a glacial outburst flood.

Ms Jonsdottir added, 'This could just as well die down, and nothing would result. We simply can't say at this stage.'

Despite the fears of Katla erupting, Ms Jonsdottir added: 'I think we're all ready for her when she comes. This is well organized.'

In August Katla was moved from yellow back to green, meaning that volcanic activity has subsided and there is little sign of impending eruption.

Katla has been showing signs of restlessness recently, with tremors in September exceeding the magnitude 3 mark

Four volcanoes in Iceland are primed to erupt, according to experts. The volcanoes in question are Katla, Hekla, Bararbunga and Grimsvotn  three of which have already erupted in the last 20 years

Hekla

Hekla, otherwise known as the 'Gateway to Hell', erupted in 2000, sending a cloud of ash up to six kilometres high

Hekla, otherwise known as the 'Gateway to Hell' is located in the southern part of the country and has been quiet for sixteen years.

But data collected in June last year revealed it is building up magma, and its internal pressure is currently higher than before its last two previous eruptions.

The volcano has erupted approximately once every 10 years, from 1970 to 2000, but has remained dormant ever since.

Professor Einarsson told Icelandic news agency Visir, that people should stop visiting the volcano, which is a popular tourist destination, due to an increased risk of eruption.

'Hekla is a dangerous volcano,' said Professor Einarsson.

'We could be looking at a major disaster when the next eruption begins if we are not careful.'

The 4,892-foot (1,491-metre) mountain last erupted in February 2000.

'Hekla is ready  at any moment,' Professor Einarsson said.

'There are also 20-30 planes full of passengers flying right over the top of Hekla every day,' he warns.

Grimsvotn

Grimsvotn is very near Bardarbunga, and is likely to be fuelled by the same source of magma.

In 2011, Grimsvotn erupted, sending a huge plume of ash into the skies, that led to several flights being grounded.

Like its neighbour, Grimsvotn has seen seismic activity steadily rising, which suggests that it could erupt again in the near future.

While all four volcanoes are closely monitor by geophysicists, it is very hard to predict which will erupt, exactly when and the extent of the eruption.
Freeview TVs stopped working across the UK leaving disgruntled viewers taking to Twitter to bemoan their lack of service.

Problems were reported by hundreds nationally, although they are most reported in the south.

The company says there is nothing they could do about the outage, which it blames on high pressure weather systems interfering with TV and radio signals. Signals began to return during Wednesday afternoon.

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Freeview TV coverage across England has stopped working, according to users. Pictured is a UK coverage map of users reporting their TV has stopped working since yesterday evening (red means more reports)

WHAT HAPPENED? - Freeview TV coverage across England has stopped working - The issues are particularly focussed in the south of England, with northern parts of the country also affected - The problems appear to have begun last night around 8pm BST (3pm ET), just as the final of the Great British Bake Off was airing in the UK - Reports contunued to flood in this morning, Downdetector reports - Some suggest unusual weather is responsible for the outage Advertisement

Freeview is the UK's most watched digital TV service and around 19 millions homes use it.

Problems are believed to have started last night at around 8pm (16:00 ET), the time the Great British Bake Off final was on.

'We're unable to remedy this', Freeview wrote on its website.

'TV and radio signals can be affected by atmospheric conditions, including high air pressure (which brings fine weather), heavy rain or snow.

'We're aware that high air pressure is currently affecting TV and radio signals for some viewers,' it said.

Some have said the problem had left them unable to watch their televisions altogether, whereas others said it has created problems with certain channels.

Many users took to Twitter to vent their frustration.

Andy King tweeted; 'Wondering why freeview is down in some areas right now? It's likely freak lift conditions affecting and interfering with radio signals'.

Unusual weather is causing Freeview to go down and leave people unable to watch television, according to reports. The issues are particularly focussed in the south of England (pictured)

Some suggest 'freak' high-pressure weather patterns (pictured) is interfering with radio signals and so is responsible for the outage

The problems began last night around the time the final of the Great British Bake Off was airing in the UK, causing some fans to bemoan the unfortunate timing

User Sophie Arber tweeted 'now if NOT THE TIME FOR FREEVIEW TO GO DOWN #gbbo', suggesting she was one of the viewers who were watching the Great British Bake Off final when it went down.

It appears London and the south of England were worst hit by the outage.

Julie Lamb tweeted at 7am saying some channels were still down in Benfleet in Essex.

Other users tweeted Freeview Advice trying to find out more information about the outage.

A user called Gavin tweeted: 'Can't get any freeview channels and your webpage is down. What's going on?'

The problems appear to have begun last night around 8pm BST (3pm ET), just as the final of the Great British Bake Off was airing in the UK. Reports continued to flood in early this morning

The problem started last night but continued early this morning, with users across the country findings their TVs still don't work a full 12 hours after issues began

Twitter user @gpdixon wrote: 'can't get any freeview channels and your webpage down. whats going on?'

Some have been experiencing poor signal for more than 12 hours, with initial reports coming in at 7pm GMT (15:00 ET) last night.

Hundreds of unhappy viewers also took to DownDetector to register their frustration.

One user wrote on the DownDetector website; 'Poor signal quality across multiple channels BBC1,2 Chan 4, 5 etc on HD and Standard Channels. including bake off final near Dorchester Dorset.'

Launched in 2002, Freeview is a joint venture between BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Sky and Arqiva, with more than 60 channels available.

MailOnline reader Christine Hyland emailed in; 'I live in Whitstable and we have been unable to get many digital channels since last night causing lots of us to miss the final of Bake Off amongst other programmes'.

'This is a frequent occurrence but if it wasn't for our local Facebook page we would think it was an individual problem with our TV or aerial as I have done in the past, calling out and paying someone to check my aerial connection only to be told it's 'atmospherics'.

'When digital TV was rolled out forcing everyone to scrap their existing TVs or buy a digi box it was heralded as 'the way forward' but it's turned out to be a massive backward step', she said.
Russian scientists claim to have created a 'Superman suit' that lets soldiers walk through explosions and searing fire unscathed.

Made of a heat-resistant 'aramid' material that can withstand 30 seconds of direct contact from flames, the suit could give Russian soldiers a huge advantage in battlefields of the future.

The heat-proof suit is still in the testing phase and is expected to be ready for use by 2020, when it may also be available for purchase by civilians.

THE SUPERMAN SUIT The suit is made from heat-resistant 'aramid' material that can withstand 30 seconds of direct contact with flames. Footage released shows a man wearing the suit at an unspecified test facility apparently next to an explosion and walking through flames. Wearers are protected from the sudden heat of explosions such as grenades and mines though the shock wave from an explosion could still harm them, scientists claim. Ratnik suits already have body armour, thermal and night vision monoculars and other high-tech gear. The heat-proof suit is still in the testing phase and is expected to be ready for use by 2020, when it may also be available for purchase by civilians. Advertisement

Footage released shows a man wearing the suit at an unspecified test facility. He appears to walk through flames and stands right next to an explosion.

Wearers are protected from the sudden heat of explosions such as grenades and mines, although the shock wave from an explosion could still harm them, scientists claim.

The 'Superman suit' is part of Ratnik, Russia's future infantry combat system.

The programme develops combat gear which aims to create the next generation of body armour on the battlefield.

Ratnik suits already have body armour, thermal and night vision monoculars and other high-tech gear.

They are made of of strong synthetic aramid fibres that are commonly used on ships and planes.

The programme also focuses on making sure the soldier is in touch with comrades via built-in radios.

Russia says Ratnik suits were used in combat in 2016 though no details were given.

Made of a heat-resistant 'aramid' type material that can withstand 30 seconds of direct contact from flames, the suit could give Russian soldiers a huge advantage in battlefields of the future

Another feature of the system is a built-in GPS chip, showing commanders where each soldier is at any given time.

The unveiling of the suit comes after Russia staged extensive military training exercises on both sea and land in what was thought to be a show of strength by President Vladimir Putin.

Last month, the Russian military unveiled another Ratnik suit that includes an exo-skeleton, designed to boost strength and stamina, body armor and even a watch capable of surviving a nuclear blast.

The all-black kit also has a Stormtrooper-style helmet with a tinted glass visor and a mini task light poking out of the side.

Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Ground Forces Col. Gen. Oleg Salyukov said in an interview in September; 'We are completing the scientific research on creating the future layout of the Ratnik-3 combat gear.

'The implementation of the project will allow to increase the performance of a soldier by 1.5 times in completing various tasks,' he said in the interview with the Krasnaya Zvezda paper.

The heat-proof suit is still in the testing phase and is expected to be ready for use by 2020, when it may also be available for purchase by civilians

Footage released shows a man wearing the suit at an unspecified test facility. He appears to walk through flames and stands right next to an explosion

Wearers are protected from the sudden heat of explosions such as grenades and mines though the shock wave from an explosion could still harm them, scientists claim.

The report says the the Ratnik kit comprises five integrated systems that include life support, command and communication, engaging, protection and energy saving subsystems.

It is designed to be used round-the-clock in all weather conditions.

'The Ratnik comprises a total of 59 items including various bulletproof vests and protective helmets, a combat one-piece garment, a headset with active protection, protective glasses, a grenade launcher, assault rifles, sniper rifles, munition, a combat knife, round-the-clock reconnaissance devices and unified optical and thermal imaging sights,' it says.

Last month, the Russian military unveiled another Ratnik suit that includes an exo-skeleton, designed to boost strength and stamina, body armor and even a watch capable of surviving a nuclear blast

Earlier this year the armour was put on display at the National University of Science and Technology in Moscow.

A model standing more than six-feet tall wore the suit while cradling a fearsome-looking firearm in a pair of black padded gloves.

His arms were covered in fabric patterned with camouflage print and protected by armoured plates marked with the Russian flag.

On his legs were a pair of bulky shoes resembling ski boots, which were supported by a metal frame wrapped around the waist.

A target designation system will be mounted on the helmet`s faceshield, while the bulletproof vest will be able to stop several bullets.

'The watch, which we have included in the Ratnik outfit, retains its properties upon the impact of radiation and electromagnetic impulses, for example, upon a nuclear blast,' Chief Designer for the Life Support System of the Soldier Combat Outfit at the Central Scientific Research Institute for Precision Machine Engineering (TsNIITochMash, part of Rostec) Oleg Faustov said.

The three generation's of Russia's RATNIK combat gear are shown here. A model standing more than six-feet tall wore the suit while cradling a fearsome-looking firearm in a pair of black padded gloves

It was put on display at the National University of Science and Technology in Moscow, where a demonstrator talked through its various features

The watch is equipped with a self-winding mechanism and continues working accurately in adverse climatic and operational conditions, and also in daily routines and during combat operations.

'The level of technology and the reliability of the elements of servicemen's outfit is growing,' said Industrial Director for Rostec's Armament Cluster Sergey Abramov, according to russian news agency TASS.

'Correspondingly, the level of a soldier's capabilities on the battlefield is increasing. This new development by Central Scientific Research Institute for Precision Machine Engineering is another step in this direction.'

Russia also has plans to replace human soldiers with robots to fight on land, air, sea and even outer space.

Lieutenant General Andrey Grigoriev, head of the Advanced Research Foundation, told RIA Novosti last year: 'I see a greater robotization, in fact, future warfare will involve operators and machines, not soldiers shooting at each other on the battlefield.'
The 70-million-year-old remains of an enormous flying predator that feasted on baby dinosaurs have been discovered in Mongolia.

The flesh-eating reptile, which was the size of a small plane with a wingspan stretching 11 metres (36ft), was likely one of the largest animals ever to fly.

It could have walked on all fours using its wings as front limbs to stalk prey on the ground, researchers said, and would have stood as tall as a giraffe.

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The bones of a pterosaur that feasted on dinosaurs have been discovered in Mongolia. The reptile, which was the size of a small plane with a wingspan of 11 metres (36ft), was one of the largest animals ever to fly. Pictured is the similarly-sized pterosaur Quetzalcoatlus

THE NEW SPECIES - The new species was a type of ancient flying reptile called a pterosaur - It was the size of a small plane with a wingspan reaching 11 metres (36ft) - It could have walked on all fours using its wings as front limbs and would have stood as tall as a giraffe - From the ground the species stalked prey including small and juvenille dinosaurs - It lived 70 million years ago during the Late Cretaceous period - The remains were found in a region of Mongolia's Gobi desert known as the Nemegt Formation Advertisement

Because of its size, the new carnivore is thought to have eaten juvenile or small dinosaurs, which were common during the Late Cretaceous period when the animal lived.

The fossil was found in a region of Mongolia's Gobi desert known as the Nemegt Formation, an area where many dinosaur bones have been found before.

It is thought the beast was a pterosaur, a group of giant flying reptiles that lived alongside the dinosaurs.

The animals were the first vertebrates known to evolve the power of flight, and are thought to have been the largest flying animals ever seen on Earth.

While the species unearthed in Mongolia has not yet been identified, researchers were struck by the sheer size of the backbone fragments found.

'I immediately recognised that it might be a pterosaur and was astonished at its gigantic size,' palaeontologist Dr Takanobu Tsuihiji from the University of Tokyo told National Geographic.

'Straight away, we went back to the site and discovered the rest of the specimen.'

Based on the eight-inch (20cm) width of the backbone fragments found, the researchers claim the animal would have been similar in size to the two largest known species of pterosaur.

The huge predators Quetzalcoatlus and Hatzegopteryx probably had wingspans of 10 metres (32ft) and 11 metres (36ft) respectively.

This is the first time the famed Nemegt Formation fossil patch has yielded a pterosaur, showing how far-reaching the group was in the Late Cretaceous period.

Because of its size, the new carnivore is thought to have eaten juvenile or small dinosaurs, which were common in the Late Cretaceous period. The creature was a similar size to the pterosaur Hatzegopteryx (artist's impression)

'Although fragmentary, the specimen is from a gigantic individual... extending the geographic range of gigantic pterosaurs to Asia,' the researchers wrote in their paper.

Palaeontologists with the Mongolian Academy of Sciences first discovered the bones in 2006.

They sent the fossil to the University of Tokyo for further analysis before a re-examination of the site uncovered more remains.

But many of the bones were broken into tiny fragments, meaning it took researchers years to piece them back together.

The new species could have 'walked on all fours' using its wings as front limbs to stalk prey on the ground, researchers said, and may have stood as tall as a giraffe. Pictured is an artist's impression of a similar pterosaur, Quetzalcoatlus

Once they had pieced the fragments back together, the team were left with several backbones from a rare group of pterosaurs known as azhdarchids.

'Whether that equates to a totally new size class of pterosaur is another question,' palaeontologist and pterosaur expert Dr Mark Witton from the University of Portsmouth, who wasn't involved in the study, told National Geographic.

'What we don't have for these pterosaurs is the association of the neck bones with the body to confirm whether they just have much bigger necks, or whether they are much bigger animals.'

Despite this lack of evidence, Dr Witton said the animals likely had a large enough wingspan to push the physical limit for flying in an animal of this size.
While most giraffes now live in Africa, a primitive giraffe lived in modern day Spain nine million years ago.

Archaeologists have discovered the remains of the creature, which had four horns and a short neck, on the Iberian Peninsula for the first time.

The findings suggest that the ancestors of the world's tallest mammal migrated out of Africa - just like humans.

The remarkable discovery could also help shed light on how the giraffe got its long neck - a question that has mystified experts for decades.

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Archaeologists have discovered the remains of the creature, which had four horns, on the Iberian Peninsula for the first time (artist's impression pictured)

THE PRIMITIVE GIRAFFE Decennatherium rex was up to nine feet tall and around the same length - about half the size of a modern giraffe. The new species had a much shorter neck and four horn-like skull protuberances known as ossicones - two over the eyes and two larger ridged ones at the back. Decennatherium was likely the earliest-evolving example of this lay-out, said the researchers. Advertisement

Scientists say the newly described 'giraffid', which is the most complete fossil of its kind, may help trace their evolution.

Named Decennatherium rex, it was up to nine feet tall and around the same length - about half the size of a modern giraffe.

Fossils of prehistoric giraffes have been found all over southern Europe, Africa and Asia - but this is the first from the Iberian Peninsula.

Dr Maria Rios, of the National Museum of Natural History in Madrid, said: 'The recovery of Decennatherium in the Iberian Peninsula also points to the existence of migration between the northern and southern margins of the Mediterranean Sea that probably took place even before the beginning of the late Miocene.'

Decennatherium's 'unusually complete' remains were unearthed at a fossil site known as Cerro de los Batallones situated on a hillside overlooking Madrid.

Skeletons of sabre toothed cats are among prehistoric creatures that have been found there in the past.

Dr Rios said: 'The new four-horned extinct giraffid Decennatherium rex from Cerro de los Batallones sheds light on the evolution of the giraffid family and the extinct giant Sivatherium.'

Named Decennatherium rex, it was up to nine feet tall and around the same length - about half the size of a modern giraffe

HOW THE GIRAFFE GOT ITS LONG NECK The giraffe's extremely long neck has allowed the animals to fill a niche on the African Savannah, by allowing them to reach vegetation high above the ground. This allows them to reach the succulent leaves that other browsers are unable to access. Male giraffes also use their long necks to battle each other in violent fights over females. It is thought that the combination of access to a unique source of food and sexual selection caused them to evolve elongated necks. Advertisement

Sivatherium was a prehistoric giraffe that died out 10,000 years ago. It is thought to have been the largest ruminant that walked the Earth.

The giant relative of modern giraffes lived over one million years ago in both Africa and Asia.

Unlike the giraffes of today, Sivatherium had a short neck, with short, stocky legs. It was almost 10ft tall and weighed up to a ton.

The giraffe's extremely long neck has allowed the animals to fill a niche on the African Savannah, by allowing them to reach vegetation high above the ground.

This allows them to reach the succulent leaves that other browsers are unable to access.

Male giraffes also use their long necks to battle each other in violent fights over females.

It is thought that the combination of access to a unique source of food and sexual selection caused them to evolve elongated necks.

The giraffe's extremely long neck has allowed the animals to fill a niche on the African Savannah, by allowing them to reach vegetation high above the ground. This allows them to reach the succulent leaves that other browsers are unable to access

The new species had a much shorter neck and four horn-like skull protuberances known as ossicones - two over the eyes and two larger ridged ones at the back.

Decennatherium was likely the earliest-evolving example of this lay-out, said the researchers.

The giraffids, a family of ruminants that includes modern day giraffes and okapis, are thought to have existed as far back as the early Miocene epoch.

But while fossils from over 30 extinct species have been described the lack of skulls has been a barrier to determining evolutionary relationships.

Decennatherium's 'unusually complete' remains were unearthed at a fossil site known as Cerro de los Batallones situated on a hillside overlooking Madrid

The new fossilised skeleton is thought to date from the late Miocene and is unusually complete, providing the researchers with new anatomical and phylogenetic data.

Decennatherium may have been the most basal branch of a clade of now-extinct giraffids containing both sivatheres, the largest known giraffids, and samotheres, whose appearance was somewhere in between that of okapis and giraffes.

The inclusion of Decennatherium in the sivathere-samothere clade would extend its timespan back to the early late Miocene and its range as far as the Iberian peninsula, making the clade one of the most successful and long-lived of all the giraffids.

Dr Rios added: 'The late Miocene was a time of extensive giraffid diversification and representatives of this family are found in numerous locations throughout Eurasia and Africa.'
Archaeologists in Egypt have reopened a 'cursed tomb' containing the remains of the people who built the Great Pyramid of Giza to visitors.

It is the first time it has been opened to the public since its discovery almost 30 years ago.

The area dates back 4,500 years and is located in the 'tribal mountain' area, near the Pyramid of Giza.

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It is the first time the 'cursed tomb' it has been open to the public since its discovery almost 30 years ago. Experts believe the man who supervised the workers filled the cemetery with curses to protect the dead from thieves.

THE REAL 'TOMB RAIDER CURSE' In his book Valley of the Golden Mummies, archaeologist Zahi Hawass says that the tombs of the builders of the Great Pyramid of Giza included the warning: 'All people who enter this tomb who will make evil against this tomb and destroy it may the crocodile be against them in water, and snakes against them on land. 'May the hippopotamus be against them in water, the scorpion against them on land.' Advertisement

The Press Office of the Ministry of Antiquities shared the revelation on Instagram with a picture of the area, saying 'Opening the workers cemetery site at Giza Plateau to visit'.

Experts with the Ministry have been working to restore and develop the site as part of a plan to open more archaeological sites to the public to boost tourism.

The Giza Plateau Development Project includes the construction of a visitor's centre, administrative offices, and tourism and antiquities police centres.

Paving all the roads around the plateau and those connecting the entrance gate to the exit is also part of the first phase.

The newly opened area contains a cemetery of workers along with the graves of the supervisor of the royal palace, the supervisor of the construction workers and a man of significance who was buried with the workers, accordingto Newsweek.

The site has been closed off since 1990.

Archaeologists from the Ministry of Antiquities believe the man who supervised the workers filled the cemetery with curses to protect the dead from thieves.

In his book Valley of the Golden Mummies, archaeologist Zahi Hawass says that the tombs of the builders of the Great Pyramid of Giza included the warning 'All people who enter this tomb who will make evil against this tomb and destroy it may the crocodile be against them in water, and snakes against them on land.

'May the hippopotamus be against them in water, the scorpion against them on land.'

The tomb of the royal palace supervisor, known as Nefer Thieth, was well preserved and was found to have two fake doors and inscriptions along the walls, Newsweek said.

He had two wives and eighteen children.

Experts with the Ministry have been working to restore and develop the site as part of a plan to open more archaeological sites to the public to boost tourism.

As well as opening up the three tombs, Ashraf Mohi, director general of the effects of the Pyramids of Giza, said two other tombs discovered in the same cemetery have been reopenedincluding the tomb of Khufu Khaf, the son of King Khufu, who ruled between 25892566 B.C.

His is a double tomb with the north chapel dedicated to his wife Nefretka and the south to the prince himself.

The other tomb is Seshem Nefer 4, which dates to the Sixth Dynasty, around 2340 B.C.

This grave includes images of the cemetery owner with his family, bulls being slaughtered and birds and animals being hunted.

According to archeaologist Zahi Hawass, who worked for the ministry when the tomb was discovered, workers probably worked year round at the site.

Experts believe they are on the brink of finding a hidden 'recess' in Egypt's Great Pyramid of Giza

'Peasant farmers from the surrounding villages and provinces rotated in and out of a labor force organized into competing gangs with names such as 'friends of Khufu' and' Drunkards of Menkaure', he wrote.

'Each gang was divided into groups, Egyptologists call phyles (the Greek word for tribe). There were five phyles, whose names, always the same in each gang, bear same resemblance to ancient Egyptian neuitical terms such as 'great 'or starboard and green or prow.

'Each phyle was divided into groups of ten to 20 men, each named with single hieroglyphs some times representing ideas such as 'life',' endurance' and 'perfection'.'

Experts now believe they are on the brink of finding a hidden 'recess' in the Great Pyramid of Giza.

A project called ScanPyramids is using infrared thermography among other techniques to find out the secrets of this hidden chamber and date artefacts.

Also known as Khufu Pyramid, it stands at 479 feet (146 metres) high and was the world's tallest man-made structure for nearly 4,000 years.

ScanPyramids is among the most ambitious of the projects to demystify the Khufu Pyramid near Cairo, which was completed in about 2560 BC.

'All the devices we put in place are designed to find where the cavity is located. We know there is one, but we're trying to find out where,' said Mehdi Tayoubi, president of the HIP Institute heading the ScanPyramids project.

It is the only surviving monument from the ancient Seven Wonders of the World.

Chemical testing still requires small samples, but advanced techniques coming into use are meant to be non-invasive so as not to damage the ancient relics.

Researchers are also using muography which looks for charged particles to help date artefacts.

THE PYRAMID OF GIZA For more than 4,500 years, Egypt's pyramids have kept their secrets hidden deep within the labyrinth of passages and chambers that lie inside their towering stone structures. But the long-running row over whether the Great Pyramid of Giza is hiding a network of previously undiscovered tunnels behind its stone walls has now been answered. The researchers confirmed the find using cosmic particles known as muons to scan the Great Pyramid of Giza. They used the scans to create maps to reveal the internal structure of the 479 feet (146m) high pyramid. Last year thermal scanning identified a major anomaly in the Great Pyramid, the largest and oldest of the pyramids at Giza and one of the seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Those scans identified three adjacent stones at its base which registered higher temperatures than others. Those scans identified three adjacent stones at its base which registered higher temperatures than others. This led to theories that they may be hiding a secret chamber that had yet to be discovered. A team of experts then set up the ScanPyramid's project to use muons, tiny subatomic particle that are typically produced by cosmic rays smash into atoms on Earth, to peer through the Pyramid's huge stone blocks, some of which weight up to 15 tons. Dr Hawass has in the past been sceptical of the usefulness of conducting such scans. He recently clashed publicly with British Egyptologists over their theory that a secret burial chamber may be hidden behind the walls of Tutankhamun's tomb in his pyramid in the Valley of the Kings. Advertisement

The results are then compared with infrared and 3D images.

Some archaeologists have pinned hopes on using the sophisticated technology to locate the burial place of the legendary queen Nefertiti.

The wife of King Akhenaten, who initiated a monotheistic cult in ancient Egypt, queen Nefertiti remains an enigma, best known for a bust depicting her that is now on exhibition in Berlin's Neues Museum.

A British Egyptologist, Nicholas Reeves, believed her remains were hidden in a secret chamber in the tomb of Tutankhamun, in the southern Valley of the Kings.
Havana is all about the Malecon, the elegant, crumbling coastal boulevard whose early 20th-century buildings face a sea that sprays them with salt and pounds them with massive waves brought in by cold fronts or hurricanes.

That sea is warming and rising.

The hurricanes are getting wetter and more intense. Along with a lack of maintenance, climate change is pushing the Malecon toward collapse and Cuban experts predict it may not be able to last in its current form beyond 2100.

Decades of neglect, intense hurricanes and rising sea levels are combining to batter the famous promenade where thousands of Cubans walk, drink and socialise

Residents walk on Havana's flooded sea wall as the ocean crashes into it, after the passing of Hurricane Irma

Seventy per cent of the buildings along the oldest, most fabled stretch of the Malecon have deteriorated so badly that they require partial or total demolition, according to one recent study.

At least four other buildings are in the process of being demolished after floodwaters lingered on the island last month, highlighting the many signs of the trouble faced by Cuba and the wider Caribbean in an age of rising temperatures.

Cuban experts predict that waters along Havana's northern coast may rise as much as three feet, bringing larger waves and potentially catastrophic flooding.

'It's hard to think that the Malecon will survive as such,' said architect Rolando Lloga, who has written a report on the boulevard and suggests eliminating many buildings and joining it with the next street over. 'Nature is moving faster than the actions that are underway.'

While hundreds of historic and cultural landmarks around Latin America are threatened by climate change, a lack of maintenance has left the Malecon in worse shape than most

After Irma scraped the northern coast of Cuba from September 8 to 10, killing 10 people, the Malecon was closed for three weeks. The hurricane caused cave-ins on the six-lane roadway, sidewalk and seawall, where tens of thousands of Cubans usually sit, drink, eat and enjoy breezes off the Florida Straits.

The five-mile legendary promenade was built on coral reefs and mangrove forests that once provided a buffer between the sea and inland areas. But that buffer is no longer big enough to stop storm damage and is being eroded away by neglect and the effects of climate change.

Because of its inherently exposed position, many of the buildings along the stretch have elevated entrances and other features meant to accommodate flooding. Those early adaptive measures are already getting an update.

Cuba is in the middle of a broad rethinking of its land-use and urban planning policies, which include limiting the size of buildings on the Malecon.

It is rebuilding its seawall with a water-shedding curve, building wave-breaking structures along the coast, and changing the drainage and sewage system so that seawater doesn't enter and erode the Malecon from below.

'The sea will always seek what belonged to it, and we have to find a balance in order to live together, in order to enjoy this public space,' said Patricia Rodriguez, director of the office of the city historian's master plan.

A building is demolished on the Malecon in Havana. Four more are being removed after being mostly destroyed by recent flooding caused by Hurricane Irma

Seventy per cent of the buildings along the oldest, most fabled stretch of the Malecon have deteriorated so badly that they require partial or total demolition, according to one recent study

Still, that may not be enough. While hundreds of historic and cultural landmarks around Latin America are threatened by climate change, neglect has left the Malecon in worse shape than most.

A report by the Havana Historian's Office in January found that 52 of the 72 buildings along the oldest stretch, what's known as the traditional Malecon, are in poor condition and would require demolition.

Of the 726 apartments in buildings on the traditional Malecon, which is home to 2,555 people, only 46 were in good condition, according to the report. Ninety-eight were deemed 'normal,' 162 were 'bad' and 420 were 'terrible.'

Thirty buildings were demolished between 1994 and 2013, according to the report.

For now, demolished buildings will be left as empty lots until the Cuban government finds the funds to build new, climate-adapted structures. Cuban regulations make new private construction virtually impossible, particularly in historic areas.

Havana's history is bound up with the Malecon - it has always been a focus for tourists who want to explore the crumbling communist city in a vintage motor

After Hurricane Irma the Malecon, which means 'breakwater', had to be closed for three weeks after cave-ins were caused by flooding
New York has been usurped as America's premiere gastronomic destination, at least in terms of the Michelin Guide's celebrated three-star ranking.

The Guide's 2018 edition for New York saw celebrity chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten suffer the indignity of being downgraded from three to two stars, leaving the US cultural and financial capital with just five three-star restaurants.

And San Francisco? It has seven.

Most notable for the 2018 Michelin Guide was the loss of three-star status for chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten's (seen in 2007) flagship Jean-Georges, one of the most glittering restaurants in New York

Seventy-two New York restaurants were awarded stars by the celebrated culinary guide, down from 77 in 2016. Michelin said several previously ranked restaurants had been dropped from the list because they had since closed.

But most notable was the loss of three-star status for Vongerichten's flagship Jean-Georges, one of the most glittering restaurants in New York and situated in the Trump International Hotel overlooking Central Park.

It was at Jean-Georges that then president-elect Donald Trump dined on November 30, 2016 with Republican grandee Mitt Romney, whom he was then considering but quickly afterward passed over as a possible US secretary of state.

After eating in the full glare of other diners, Trump let Romney walk out alone after the meal to heap praise on the incoming president before the cameras, offering remarks that contrasted sharply with his criticism on the campaign trail.

Jean-Georges, which opened in 1997 to critical acclaim and has long been the jewel in the French-born chef's empire, is now one of 11 New York restaurants with two stars.

San Francisco now has the most number of three Michelin-starred restaurants in any US city. Chicago has two three-starred restaurants. Washington has none

Instead of the three-star ranking, which Michelin characterizes as 'exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey,' its downgraded status is classified as 'excellent cooking, worth a detour.'

The restaurant's prix fixe dinner starts at $148 a head.

San Francisco now has the most number of three Michelin-starred restaurants in any US city. Chicago has two three-starred restaurants. Washington has none.

New York is home to 56 one-starred restaurants. Six new restaurants joined the star selections, three of which feature Japanese cuisine, the guide said.

While dwarfed by the population of New York, San Francisco is one of the most expensive cities in the country, hugely popular with tourists, famed for its Golden Gate Bridge and which in the 1990s became the hub of the dot-com bubble.
Switzerland's smallest mountain village has come up with an unusual plan to save it from extinction  to become a giant hotel.

The mountain hamlet of Corippo, located in the Italian-speaking canton of Ticino in Switzerland, concluded that it would likely face total extinction in the future as there are only 13 inhabitants left.

The village, at an altitude of 600 metres (1,968 feet) above sea level, once had a thriving community in its small piazzas and in its little church when the population was still 300 people.

Switzerland's smallest mountain village has come up with an unusual plan to save it from extinction  to become a giant hotel

The mountain town of Corippo, located in the Italian-speaking canton of Ticino in Switzerland, concluded that the village would likely face total extinction in the future as there are only 13 inhabitants left

The village, at an altitude of 600 metres (1,968 feet) above sea level, once had a thriving community in its small piazzas and in its little church when the population was still 300 people. Pictured is a bedroom inside one of the cottages

According to local media, Corippo expects to open to visitors in the spring of 2018

Mayor Claudio Scettrini, who at the age of 54 is the only one in town who is not retired, has stepped down from his office together with the two women in the village administration aged 67 and 82, all citing that they lacked motivation.

With a family of three soon leaving the town - which is located in the Verzasca Valley - as well, only 10 villagers will remain.

To save the town from total extinction, a foundation called 'Corippo 75' has now come up with an unusual plan by launching a tourist redevelopment project.

The town, with its beautiful stone houses, narrow alleys and grand mountain vistas will be turned into one big hotel complex to bring life back to it.

The project, called 'Albergo Corippo', will see the restaurant in the main square turned into the hotel reception, while the stone cottages will be turned into hotel rooms.

The village, with its beautiful stone houses, narrow alleys and grand mountain vistas will be turned into one big hotel complex to bring life back to it

The restaurant in the main square will be turned into the hotel reception, while the stone cottages will be turned into hotel rooms

The project got its inspiration from Italy, where similar redevelopment schemes have brought life to ghost towns

The project's foundation began years ago and was started by the municipality of Corippo, the Canton of Ticino and national authorities, and has in the meantime acquired dozens of houses in the village.

Foundation president and architect Fabio Giacomazzi said: 'Every rustico [traditional cottage] will receive the name of the long-established family that once owned it.

'The character of the traditional way of life will remain intact.'

The project got its inspiration from Italy, where similar redevelopment schemes have brought life to ghost towns.

Giacomazzi even wants to repair the old mill and plans to plant terraced rye fields.

He said: 'This way Corippo will bake its own bread, just as our forefathers did.'

Other plans include a shuttle service to bring guests to the nearest bus stop, excursions into the surrounding landscape, museum visits and cooking classes.

A shuttle service will bring guests to the nearest bus stop and excursions to the surrounding landscape and nearby museums will be offered

Claire Amstutz, a 61-year-old who originally hails from the German-speaking part of Switzerland but has been living in the Verzasca Valley for 18 years, called the project 'wonderful'

A night's stay in the town would still be affordable despite the generally steep prices in Switzerland

Giacomazzi said: 'In a second stage, we also want to win over other holiday home owners for our project.'

Claire Amstutz, a 61-year-old who originally hails from the German-speaking part of Switzerland but has been living in the Verzasca Valley for 18 years, called the project 'wonderful'.

She currently runs the small restaurant in the square.

Amstutz said: 'The restaurant will be enlarged. Here not only breakfast will be served, but also half board offered.'

The future plans of Corippo are already a hit in the Swiss tourist industry, as the Swiss hotel association awarded Albergo Corippo this year's Hotel Innovation Award

She is convinced that a traditional experience in Corippo would be a hit with German-speaking Swiss citizens like her.

A night's stay in the town would still be affordable despite the generally steep prices in Switzerland. According to local media, the foundation plans a rate between 100 and 120 CHF (75 and 91) per night including breakfast.

The future plans of Corippo are already a hit in the Swiss tourist industry, as the Swiss hotel association awarded Albergo Corippo this year's Hotel Innovation Award.

According to local media, the town expects to open to visitors in the spring of 2018.
She's the transgender icon known for her authenticity and candour.

But it appeared that not even Caitlyn Jenner was prepared for the intimate request she received on Tuesday after dialing in for a video chat with the Kyle and Jackie O Show.

The 68-year-old began by discussing her Olympic gold medal and her connection to OJ Simpson, before things took a racy turn when shock jock Kyle requested to see her breasts.

'I wouldn't mind seeing Caitlyn's breasts!' Kyle Sandilands had a rather racy request for Caitlyn Jenner when she called in for a video chat on the Kyle and Jackie O Show on Tuesday

'You know what I would like? I wouldn't mind seeing Caitlyn's breasts' Kyle exclaimed, before adding, 'Get 'em out!'

Whilst Caitlyn didn't concede to Kyle's request, the radio host still praised the I Am Cait star's big bust.

'That's an ample bosom! Kyle told Caitlyn through the video link.

'I am very, very pleased with the place I am in life': Caitlyn was coy when asked about her big bust

'Are you happy with those boobs?' he then asked.

Caitlyn, who is a prominent conservative, coyly replied: 'I am very, very pleased with the place I am in life.'

However, Kyle tried one more time to get a peep of the reality's star's assets, asking: 'You're not gonna flop one out? That would be uncouth?'

Co-host: Jackie 0 was listening in and at one point accused Kyle of 'sleazing on Caitlyn'

Keeping her sense of humour, Caitlyn shot back: 'I am a respectable woman'.

Earlier this year, the former Keeping Up With The Kardashians star revealed in her memoir, The Secrets of My Life, that she is done having sex with women.

However, she claimed that she might be interested in having sex with a man at some point in the future.

Busty! The brunette stunner was this week seen on vacation in Mexico, soaking up the sun and putting her bust on display in a a low-cut swimsuit

So when Kyle questioned whether Caitlyn would pick him or Jackie as a 'life partner' the Olympian's reply was somewhat of a surprise.

'Put it this way - I would get along better with Jackie' the Malibu-based beauty responded.

Clearly not taking rejection in his stride, Kyle then stated: 'If you met this face-to-face you'd want this. I can tell!'

'If you met this face to face you'd want this!': Kyle wasn't taking rejection in his stide after Caitlyn picked Jackie as his preferred life partner

'Can you stop sleazing on Caitlyn?' Jackie interjected, before apologising to the iconic celebrity.

Laughing, Cait then said: 'Jackie, I think he's hitting on me!'

The interview appeared to be a huge success, with an at-peace Caitlyn explaining she's happy in life.

'I've got the ultimate double - Olympic Decathlon Champion and Glamor's Woman of The Year. It doesn't get any better than that.'

The brunette stunner was this week seen on vacation in Mexico, soaking up the sun and putting her bust on display in a a low-cut swimsuit.

'It doesn't get any better than that': Caitlyn chatted intimately with Kyle and Jackie O
They went public with their romance in September during a holiday in Miami.

And one month later, Scott Disick, 34, stepped out with his girlfriend Sofia Richie, 19 for lunch at Il Pastaio in Beverly Hills.

The father of three and the teenager were seen leaving the celebrity hot spot on Tuesday.

Italian meal: Scott Disick, 34, stepped out with his girlfriend Sofia Richie, 19 for lunch at Il Pastaio in Beverly Hills on Tuesday

Sofia flashed a hint of her flat stomach in a cropped hoodie with black and red leggings.

The teen, who is the face of the new Adidas Originals Iniki Runner sneakers, donned Nike trainers.

Sofia covered up her eyes with small framed sunglasses while opting for a makeup free face.

The star styled her platinum blonde locks loose with a deep center part.

Never apart: The father of three and the teenager were seen leaving the celebrity hot spot on Tuesday

Following her man: Sofia flashed a hint of her flat stomach in a cropped hoodie with black and red leggings

Meanwhile, Scott donned his usual uniform - a hoodie with jeans and sneakers.

Kourtney Kardashian's ex led the way for his teenage girlfriend.

Scott's outing with Sofia comes just one day after a preview for Sunday's episode of Keeping Up With The Kardashians was released.

Doting boyfriend: They went public with their romance in September during their holiday in Miami

Interesting choice in footwear: The teen, who is the face of the new Adidas Originals Iniki Runner, donned Nike trainers

Sporty: Hailey looked ready for the gym as she stepped out in Beverly Hills on Tuesday

Side by side: The blonde took a quiet stroll with current boyfriend Scott

Who's bad? Scott sported a hooded top emblazoned with an image of Michael Jackson

In the preview clip, Kim Kardashian talked about Scott going to Cannes with his rumored love at the time - Bella Thorne, 20.

The episode, which was filmed in May, was about Kourtney Kardashian going to the French Rivera with her boyfriend Younes Bendjima.

Scott appeared to have taken Bella there to spite his ex love; Kim criticized Scott after being photographed at the airport with Bella while on their way to Cannes: 'They looked so desperate at the airport. Who goes to LAX together? It's not a good look for Scott,' she told Kendall.

Shady: The pair sported matching sunglasses ahead of a lunch date at local restaurant Il Pastaio

'Desperate': In the preview KUWTK clip, Kim Kardashian talks about Scott going to Cannes with his rumored love at the time - Bella Thorne

Sofia and Scott went public with their romance in late September, however they were linked as far back as May.

Last month, they spent time together during a romantic trip to Miami.

Scott and the teen enjoyed a PDA filled trip to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico at the start of October.

Just weeks ago, Sofia and Scott enjoyed a brief holiday in Milan and Venice, Italy.

Looking good: Sofia's fitted outfit drew further attention to her slender physique as they made their way inside

Romantic: Last month, they spent time together during a romantic trip to Miami
She's no stranger to a period costume or two, after appearing as the scheming Margaery Tyrell in the epic series Game of Thrones.

And Natalie Dormer donned another historical get-up on Tuesday night, as she attended Jonathan Ross' annual Halloween bash.

The 35-year-old actress took inspiration from the Renissance era for her look, rocking a pirate costume for the star-studded party in North London.

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Deck-ready: Actress Natalie Dormer, 35, looked like she had stepped out of the 1700s as she rocked a sensational pirate costume for a Jonathan Ross Halloween bash

Natalie rocked a classic red coat adorned with gold buttons for the look, along with loose fitting black trousers and red boots.

The look was adorned with a slew of belts and scarves in all colours and prints, as well as a sinister skull which hung from the waistband of the belt.

Adding to the 18th Century style of the look, Natalie rocked a lace cravat collar with her look, as well as an enormous hat complete with feather detailing.

Where's your hook? Natalie commanded attention with her look, complete with large feathered hat

The Tudors star finished her look with a classic red lip and loosely waved tresses, and Natalie commanded attention in a manner that would have made Captain Hook proud.

In a surprising similarity, Natalie's look bore some resemblance to the one donned by the star in drama The Scandalous Lady W, set in 1781.

Natalie is no stranger to historical looks, breaking onto the scene as the infamous Anne Boleyn in racy drama The Tudors.

It seems Natalie needs a TARDIS to travel around the time periods she has starred in, as well as her Game of Thrones role, the actress also went futuristic for a role in The Hunger Games Mockingjay Part 1 and 2.

Throwback? Natalie's look bore some resemblance to that in her TV drama The Scandalous Lady W

Queen Joan: Dame Joan Collins took notes from French icon Marie Antoinette in a regal Duchess costume

Also taking inspiration for the glamorous Renaissance era, Dame Joan Collins rocked a Duchess costume that could easily be seen on French icon Marie Antoinette.

Joined by her husband Percy Gibson, who rocked a matching custume, the couple certainly gave out a regal presence as they arrived at the event.

Taking note from the 1990s, Stacey Solomon rocked an iconic look as Pretty Woman from the Julia Roberts film.


Momis Congratulates Manu



Anthony Kaybing



101017







The President of the Autonomous Bougainville Government Chief Dr John Momis has congratulated the appointment of George Manu as the Commissioner of the Office of the Bougainville Electoral Commission.



The permanent appointment of the Bougainville Electoral Commissioner will enhance Bougainvilles referendum preparations as it stands on threshold of this important event.



The appointment comes at an important time for the Autonomous Region of Bougainville as it prepares for the referendum; the Commissioner will play a crucial role as a member of the Referendum Commission Board of Commissioners.



President Momis made this statement during the swearing in ceremony of Commissioner Manu when he was sworn in today.



As one of his core functions, Mr Manu will be responsible for the conduct of the referendum in 2019 as well as the Bougainville General Elections in 2020, President Momis said.



The Commissioner will face significant challenges; while I have confidence in his ability to rise to these challenges I want to make it clear that I and all Bougainvilleans have high expectations, Momis added.



I want to take this opportunity to express my sincere desire to see renewed emphasis on the preparations of accurate electoral rolls for Bougainville, ensuring that no one is prevented from exercising their right to participate in the Referendum, Momis said.



The President said that he understands that adequate resourcing will be a challenge in the foreseeable future but he would also like to see work progressing on a review of Bougainvilles constituency boundaries.



President Momis revealed that Mr Manus appointment was made following a rigorous, transparent and merit based process by the Bougainville Senior Appointments Committee as is required by law.



Mr Manu has been acting in the capacity of Bougainville Electoral Commissioner for the last four years before he was sworn in today.



Manu has extensive experience in the Bougainville public service having served Bougainville in various capacities for over forty years.











Ends////


She has bridged the gap between back up dancer and movie star.

And Jenna Dewan took time off from both as she was spotted on a casual outing in Beverly Hills on Tuesday.

The 36-year-old was ready for the autumn weather in a black leather jacket and denim jeans as she traipsed around the tony neighborhood.

Stunner: Jenna Dewan, 36, was spotted on a casual outing in Beverly Hills on Tuesday

Daring to impress, the World Of Dance host paired the look with a grey tee, vintage sneakers, and a red Gucci bag.

The stunning starlet kept her trademark brunette tresses long and loose as they cascaded over her petite shoulders.

The mother of one had returned recently from Germany where she was filming the anthology Berlin I Love You.

The film is the latest feature in the Cities of Love series launched by Emmanuel Benbihy in 2006 with the release of Paris, je taime, followed by New York, I Love You (2008) and Rio, I Love You (2014).

Impressive: Daring to impress, the World Of Dance host paired the look with a grey tee, vintage sneakers, and a red Gucci bag

Jenna will star alongside Helen Mirren, Keira Knightley, Jim Sturgess, Mickey Rourke, Diego Luna, Orlando Bloom, Sophie Turner, Jack Huston, Jared Leto, Patrick Dempsey and Renee Zellweger.

Like the other films in the series, Berlin, I Love You will feature short love stories, this time set in the German capital.

And Jenna has even more on her plate as she is executive producing the YouTube Red series adaptation Step Up: High Water, along with husband Channing Tatum, her co-star in the original Step Up film.

Starlet: The stunning starlet kept her trademark brunette tresses long and loose as they cascaded over her petite shoulders

Sheer wonder! On Tuesday, the beauty stripped down on Instagram, where she credited her World Of Dance boss Jennifer Lopez for inspiring her to show off her body in sheer lingerie

Jenna and Channing, who met filming the 2006 dance film, married on a vineyard in Malibu, California, in 2009.

The genetically-blessed twosome now raise sweet daughter Everly, four, together.

Covering this year's January issue of Cosmopolitan, Jenna had looked back on carrying her daughter, saying: 'We actually got pregnant at the worst time.'

She recalled: 'I found out right after I filmed the pilot for the Witches Of East End, and then we spent six months in London while Chan was doing Jupiter Ascending.

'It was not a planned baby. It was crazy, but we figured it out. Youve just got to trust and follow the flow of life.'
She's a busy mother-of-four and a career-driven businesswoman.

And AFL WAG Rebecca Judd, 34, enjoyed a child-free morning while filming the last episode of Postcards for 2017 on Wednesday.

The Channel Nine presenter clutched a huge wine glass as she posed for a glamorous selfie shared to Instagram.

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It's wine-o'clock! AFL WAG Rebecca Judd, 34, enjoyed a child-free morning while filming the last episode of Postcards for 2017 on Wednesday

Dressed in a baby pink off-the-shoulder top and flashing her huge diamond sparkler, the Jaggad founder looked happy and relaxed during what looked like a wine segment.

She tagged Mornington Peninsula winery Crittenden Wines & Wine Centre, suggesting this is where she may have been filming the show.

Her laid back morning was a far cry from her usually hectic schedule.

Working mum: Her laid back morning was a far cry from her usually hectic schedule

Speaking to the Sydney Morning Herald last year, she previously described an average day as consisting of 'a mix of school pick up/drop-offs... photo shoots ... attending strategy meetings ... a little bit of house work and exercise thrown in.'

Rebecca, who is married to former AFL star Chris Judd, previously touched on the challenges of juggling four small children under the age of 10 despite having help.

'Winning is finally having my morning shower at 8pm. 4 kids solo is farrrrrrrkt,' she wrote on Instagram.

Busy: Speaking to the Sydney Morning Herald last year, she previously described an average day as consisting of 'a mix of school pick up/drop-offs... photo shoots ... attending strategy meetings ... a little bit of house work and exercise thrown in'

Challenging: Rebecca, who is married to former AFL star Chris Judd, previously touched on the challenges of juggling four small children under the age of 10 despite having help

She also told SMH: 'I have a nanny three days a week and fantastic family support. I wouldn't be able to do what I do without them.'

The star is mum to Oscar, six, and Billie, three, one-year-old twin sons Tom and Darcy.

As she continues to build her empire, which includes TV and radio gigs, a fashion line and seemingly endless endorsements, Rebecca previously admitted she often feels 'guilty.'

'Dealing with mother's guilt, I love my work but I still feel bad when I jump in the car and Billie cries at me because she wants me to stay at home with her,' she said.
The Great British Bake Off final all came down to the Showstopper Challenge but there could only be one winner as far as most viewers were concerned.

(No, not just because Prue Leith had already tweeted who it was #PartyAtMaryBerrys #GinAndVictoriaSpongeAllRound)

Kate had threatened to do a naked cartwheel if she won - something no one wanted to see. This was the Great British Bake Off after all even if it was on Channel 4. (Some things are sacred.)

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Victorious: The Great British Bake Off final all came down to the Showstopper Challenge but there could only be one winner as far as most viewers were concerned (Sophie Faldo pictured with her trophy)

Breathtaking: Ode To The Honey Bee was certainly a Showstopper: a marbled white chocolate mirror glazed Entremet with an orange blossom sponge, a blackberry jelly, a caramelised honey custard, a lemon curd, a white chocolate and lavender mousse'

As for Steven, he was such a smug egomaniac he wouldve been unbearable if hed won. Even more unbearable

Thank heavens there was a third candidate and we could all join Prue Leith in cheering: bravo Sophie.

Its hard to say whether Sophie deserved her place in the GBBO Hall of Fame alongside Nadiya Hussain, Frances Thingy, and um, the other five winners.

Unbearable: As for Steven, he was such a smug egomaniac he wouldve been unbearable if hed won. Even more unbearable

Steven's Entremet looked more like a very large blue hockey puck than a yin yang symbol...

What we know for sure is that Steven Carter-Bailey was third/last.

Steven had been fancied to win the series from the outset  particularly by himself.

Rumours about the 34-year-old marketing expert included that he was already a semi-professional caterer and that hed become so big headed after he won Star Baker in the opening three episodes theyd had to order a bigger tent.

Ive ticked every box, he purred in the opening VT of the final. Star Bakers, Paul Hollywood handshakes

Two, not every box then...

Theres one huge box that needs a big tick in it: the winner !

Or the loser as it transpired

Sacred: Kate had threatened to do a naked cartwheel if she won - something no one wanted to see. This was the Great British Bake Off after all even if it was on Channel 4. (Some things are sacred.)

His obsession with winning had been so blatant from the start of the competition it bordered on the pathological, as it had seemingly from an early age.

One of his breads in the Signature Challenge was shaped like a Windsor tie knot he said.

I remember doing knots when I was in the Scouts just because I wanted to get that badge, he recalled slightly psychotically. I did get my badge too. And the one for baking.

Who would doubt it?

Frontrunner: What we know for sure is that Steven Carter-Bailey was third/last. Steven had been fancied to win the series from the outset  particularly by himself

You sensed the judges relished giving Steven their verdicts on his breads more than theyd enjoyed tasting them.

They do look pretty terrible, Hollywood began, almost smiling.

The toasted garlic looks good, consoled Leith, before twisting the knife and adding: but its actually tough.

Stevens spelt bread tasted gluey. Not ideal

To his credit, Steven revived his chances by winning the Technical Challenge.

A very good ginger biscuit, Prue concluded. (Arent they all?)

The result (1. Steven 2. Sophie. 3. Kate) was an exact reverse of the Signature Challenge and meant the whole series came down to the Showstopper.

(An incredible coincidence.)

Terrible: You sensed the judges relished giving Steven their verdicts on his breads more than theyd enjoyed tasting them. They do look pretty terrible, Hollywood began, almost smiling

Sophies second place in the Signature effectively represented a (moral) victory.

Bread! Bread! Bread! I hate bread! she had wailed about the Achilles heel from the early rounds.

Kate ran out of time icing her ginger (as it were) but on the plus side came up with the best line of the night in the process - funnier than anything by Noel Fielding -when she told him: I literally cant give you eye time right now unless youre a biscuit.

Making an Entremet in the final challenge was, Hollywood boasted, the most unforgiving Showstopper in Bake Off history.

Well certainly in Channel 4s Bake Off history anyway.

Redeemed: To his credit, Steven revived his chances by winning the Technical Challenge. A very good ginger biscuit, Prue concluded. (Arent they all?)

An Entremet as we all know is a thing that Sandi knows about, Fielding joked.

Toksvig explained an Entremet was a light multi-layered cake originally served as a dessert between courses  including before dessert, you imagined.

The finalists had five hours to create an Entremet with a minimum of five elements.

As is his wont, Steven elected to do more (14 including caramelised bananas with rum, raspberry coulis, creme brulee, chocolate mousse, and hazelnut genoise) for his

Yin Yang Entremet.

Yin Yang is a representation of light and dark and the two cant exist without one another, Steven proclaimed deeply.

One half of his cake (the Yin?) would have a mirror glaze with a Northern Lights streak and the other one (the Yang?) warm chocolate sprayed on to the frozen surface so it looks like velvet.

The reality was somewhat different.

It looked more like a very large blue hockey puck.

Oops: The mirror glaze hadnt set properly let alone look like the Northern Lights, so when the cake was cut the blue colouring leaked down into the layers inside

Steven's mirror glaze didn't set properly so the blue icing dripped down into the Entremet

The mirror glaze hadnt set properly let alone look like the Northern Lights, so when the cake was cut the blue colouring leaked down into the layers inside.

Yuck.

As for the 14 elements, Hollywood declared: if I were to close my eyes and eat that, to me its a chocolate mousse with a bit of banana in.

Its very rich and sweet, Leith concluded more bluntly. I dont think youd be able to eat a lot of it.

This seemed a pretty basic requirement on the Great British Bake Off.

The looks of dismay on Stevens face as Kate and Sophie presented theirs were a picture  better than his Entremet anyway.

Sophie's stylish marble-effect Entremet won the day and was so good it made Prue's head turn away with a shiver

Kate's Japan-inspired Entremet which featured flavours of yuzu, white chocolate and coconut

Id eat that all day ! Hollywood enthused about Kates which featured a yuzu zest genoise, white chocolate bavarois, and coconut dacquoise decorated with shards of black sesame tuiles, and dragonfruit dice.

(Dont try this at home.)

Meringue and coconut is a stroke of genius ! gasped Prue Leith.

This combination at the heart of Sophies recipe was even more outlandish.

Youre talking about lemon and lavender ! Paul Hollywood spluttered, as if Sophie was serving lavender and gravy.

Ode To The Honey Bee was certainly a Showstopper: a marbled white chocolate mirror glazed Entremet with an orange blossom sponge, a blackberry jelly, a caramelised honey custard, a lemon curd, a white chocolate and lavender mousse.

Even cutting into it impressed Hollywood.

Wow ! he gasped. The knife just fell through !

The overall look is absolutely beautiful. Its original. Its pretty. The marbling is absolutely stunning ! confirmed Leith.

When she tasted it, it was so good she actually turned her head away with a shiver.

That is amazing. Lemon and lavender has got to be the new taste !

This was some compliment, coming from her. (Leith was as eminent in the world of cooking as she was poorly regarded on Twitter.)

War: Sophie had shown quiet determination, resorting to her experience in the forces. Im doing a couple of jobs at the same time, she told Fielding during the Showstopper. This is what we call concurrent activity and is an actual principle of war'

Sophie had shown quiet determination, resorting to her experience in the forces.

Im doing a couple of jobs at the same time, she told Fielding during the Showstopper. This is what we call concurrent activity and is an actual principle of war.

It was just multi-tasking to the rest of us. One of the jobs she was doing was mushing up blackberries, but it showed her resolve.

I could still win.... Steven muttered as the judges considered their verdict, putting a brave face on it but with tears in his eyes. I havent let go of that dream of winning. It left me halfway through the bake but I clawed it back.

He shouldnt have bothered.

Deep in thought: Paul and Prue were damning in their analysis during the final

Paul and Prue were damning in their analysis.

Stevens let himself down a little bit, Hollywood concluded witheringly.

I dont think Stevens was as good as the other two, Leith said simply.

The only surprise was she didnt tweet that too and actually troll him.
Australia is no stranger to controversy when Warner Bros is involved.

And this year was no different, with the production company weathering scandal after scandal thanks to Channel 10's The Bachelor and The Bachelorette.

Following a very rocky year for Warner Bros, we look back at the most shocking controversies to befall Australia's most loved reality show.

From casting criminals and lying about RSPCA approvals to sl*t shaming and terrible living conditions: Warner Bros weathered scandal after scandal this year- with incidents occurring on Channel 10's The Bachelor and The Bachelorette to blame

From casting criminals and lying about RSPCA approvals to sl*t shaming and terrible living conditions, it's no surprise that fans have questioned whether Warner Bros took things too far this year.

Animal welfare concerns

The Bachelor kicked off for another season earlier this year, bringing with it a series of gimmicky group dates designed to supposedly test the romance potential of its contestants.

However, one particular group date became a site of controversy after contestants were challenged to chase and capture piglets for a chance at winning time with The Bachelor's Matty Johnson.

After the segment sparked outrage on Twitter, producers were forced to defend the scene by issuing a statement to Daily Mail Australia, saying: 'Warner Bros ensures any instance involving animals has RSPCA approval and a handler on set.'

Animal welfare concerns: The Bachelor became a site of controversy after contestants were challenged to chase and capture piglets for a chance at winning time with The Bachelor's Matty Johnson

'All participants were briefed by a handler on the humane handling of the pigs for this activity,' they alleged.

Controversially, the RSPCA swiftly refuted that Warner Bros had gained approval to use piglets.

'RSPCA NSW did not approve the use of piglets in the filming of the Bachelor as claimed by Warner Bros,' a statement from RSPCA read.

'Warner Bros ensures any instance involving animals has RSPCA approval and a handler on set': Producers were forced to defend the scene by issuing a statement to Daily Mail Australia

'The submission of a film notification form is a legal requirement to film with animals, but it is not an 'approval'.

'The notification form supplied by Warner Bros in relation to this incident does not align with the events that took place on set, which claimed 'piglets will be in a fenced pen and they will herd them and place them in another fenced pen.'

PETA Australia's Associate Director of Campaigns, Ashley Fruno, meanwhile issued a statement to Daily Mail Australia, also slamming the segment.

'RSPCA NSW did not approve the use of piglets': Controversially, the RSPCA swiftly refuted that Warner Bros had gained approval to use piglets

'Pinning down piglets to win a date is ridiculous, and hardly romantic,' it read.

'Pigs are intelligent, curious, sensitive animals who can recognise their own names, love being scratched and cuddled, and can even learn to play video games.'

'They would be terrified, and not amused, by having yelling, boisterous, fully-grown adults chasing, grabbing and falling on top of them.'

It continued: 'The next time The Bachelor producers wish to include pigs in an episode, we suggest they visit an animal sanctuary get to know these gentle creatures on their own terms.'

'Pinning down piglets to win a date is ridiculous, and hardly romantic': PETA Australia's Associate Director of Campaigns, Ashley Fruno, meanwhile issued a statement to Daily Mail Australia, also slamming the segment

Sl*t shaming scandal

The Bachelor raised ire among viewers following a bizarre story-line that saw former topless waitresses Leah Costa and Simone Ormesher berated for hiding their careers.

While Matty and his sister Kate were surprised at the women's secret pasts, many viewers were more horrified at the apparent 'sl*t shaming' that played out during the episode.

Sl*t shaming scandal: The Bachelor raised ire among viewers following a bizarre story-line that saw former topless waitresses Leah Costa and Simone Ormesher berated for hiding their careers

Many viewers took to Twitter to air their frustration with the tone of the episode, with one Tweeting: 'OK some girls haven't been the nicest but you still don't get to sl*t shame them for their past in topless waitressing. It's 2017.'

Another added: 'Really really really not enjoying the ongoing sl*t shaming in this ep. Not cool,' agreed another Twitter user.

Gogglebox stars Angie and Yvie also weighed in on the fiasco, Tweeting: 'So now Simone's turn to be sl*t shamed. This is pathetic. Matty and his sisters judgments can f*ck right off [sic].'

Outrage: Many viewers took to Twitter to air their frustration with the tone of the episode, with one Tweeting: 'OK some girls haven't been the nicest but you still don't get to sl*t shame them for their past in topless waitressing. It's 2017'

'Terrible' living conditions

According to well-placed insiders, life in the Bachelor mansion was anything but glamorous this season.

Speaking to Daily Mail Australia, one source described the living conditions endured by contestants as 'terrible', revealing that the girls were forced to sleep on uncomfortable single bunk-beds.

The insider also revealed that the contestants' food supply was 'restricted' while filming this season because production staff went over their food budget early in the competition.

'They were given 2/3 of an avocado each a week': Speaking to Daily Mail Australia, one source described the living conditions endured by contestants as 'terrible', revealing that the girls were forced to sleep on uncomfortable single bunk-beds

'They were given 2/3 of an avocado each a week,' the insider said.

There is no dispute that the contestants were given other food and snacks during their say in the Bachelor mansion, however.

According to the insider, contestants weren't allowed to receive food supplies from their families during filming, the only exception being protein bars.

Another insider has revealed that coffee pods were also rationed in the mansion, despite the fact that contestants were pressured to appear awake and lively when filming late into the night.

Coffee rations: Another insider has revealed that coffee pods were also rationed in the mansion, despite the fact that contestants were pressured to appear awake and lively when filming late into the night

Editing out a forced kiss

The Bachelorette also had its fair share of scandal this season.

Following the departure of contestant Sam Cochrane, Sophie Monk appeared on KIIS FM to reveal that Warner Bros had cut out a forced kiss from the show.

Speaking to Kyle Sandilands and Jackie O shortly after their chat with Sam, she revealed he had become quite forceful when she gave him a polite peck on the lips.

'He grabbed my head and made me kiss him': Following the departure of contestant Sam Cochrane, Sophie Monk appeared on KIIS FM to reveal that Warner Bros had cut out a forced kiss from the show

'He said that I kissed him and that they cut it out. What happened is, I gave him a rose and pecked him to be polite, and he goes 'Can I have a peck?' and I go, 'That was a peck', and he grabbed my head and made me kiss him,' she said.

'I didn't really kiss him back and it made me feel really uncomfortable. So if they (producers) cut it out, that's probably why. I did not want to kiss him. The whole time, he made me feel uncomfortable,' she admitted.

Uncomfortable: 'I didn't really kiss him back and it made me feel really uncomfortable. So if they (producers) cut it out, that's probably why. I did not want to kiss him. The whole time, he made me feel uncomfortable,' she admitted

Casting a criminal on the show

In April this year, Bachelorette villain Blake Colman was convicted of a horrifying Perth assault which took place in August 2015.

Perth Now reported that Blake pleaded guilty to the sickening street attack, which left his victim, Tristan Cooper, 'unconscious, paralysed and bleeding from the head'.

Assault: In April this year, Bachelorette villain Blake Colman was convicted of a horrifying Perth assault which took place in August 2015

According to the victim, the incident took place after a night out when Tristan tried to intervene in an argument between two groups of men.

'He just came running up and with all his body weight sort of grabbed me in the back of the head,' Tristan, 31, told the publication.

At the time, Blake released a statement via a Network Ten publicist in relation to the assault, saying: 'I am truly remorseful and accepted full responsibility for my actions.'

'He just came running up and with all his body weight sort of grabbed me in the back of the head': According to the victim, the incident took place after a night out when Tristan tried to intervene in an argument between two groups of men

Revenge porn allegations

Last week it was revealed The Bachelorette's Blake Colman is being investigated in relation to allegations of threatening to sell nude photos of his ex-girlfriend, The Bachelor's Jennifer 'Jen' Hawke.

An insider has since claimed producers Warner Bros. knew about Jen's allegations against Blake, but turned their backs on her to protect the 'Bachelor brand'.

'Warner Bros. knew Blake had threatened to sell nude images of Jen, but didn't help her,' the insider exclusively revealed to Daily Mail Australia this week.

Revenge porn accusations: Last week it was revealed The Bachelorette's Blake Colman is being investigated in relation to allegations of threatening to sell nude photos of his ex-girlfriend, The Bachelor's Jennifer 'Jen' Hawke

New South Wales Police confirmed last Thursday that they have received a report in relation to this revenge porn incident and are investigating, but said that 'due to the ongoing investigation, no further information is able to be provided.'

Jen told police she received a text message from Blake threatening to sell nude images she had sent him during their relationship.

A source also told Daily Mail Australia that Jen has sought an AVO to be taken out on Blake, but police have only confirmed that an investigation is underway.

Blake is reportedly being investigated under new legislation that criminalises the non-consensual distribution of intimate images, otherwise known as 'revenge porn'.

Under these laws, which came into effect in August, offenders who share or threaten to share revenge porn face up to three years in jail and a fine of $11,000.
She's the stunning ex girlfriend of The Bachelor's Matty J.

And Nathalie Darcas is showing him what he's missing in a new sexy Bras N Things' lingerie campaign.

The 23-year-old showcases her incredible figure as she models a series of lingerie sets for the brand.

Showing Matty J what he's missing! The Bachelor's ex Natalie Darcas showcases her incredible physique in latest Bras N' Things underwear campaign

Magic! Her ample assets and taunt stomach are on full display as she poses in several lacy lingerie sets

Her ample assets and taunt stomach are on full display as she poses in several lacy lingerie sets.

Nathalie's blonde locks are styled in soft beachy waves, while her makeup is relatively natural with a defined brow and light pink lip.

Her tanned complexion is complemented by the various sets of underwear, including a baby blue satin and lace set, a dark blue two-piece and white lace ensemble.

Nathalie also models a black lacy body suit in the campaign, which showcases her slimline waist perfectly.

Slender: Nathalie also models a black lacy body suit in the campaign, which showcases her slimline waist perfectly

Matty's former flame recently returned to Bondi Beach in August this year after travelling overseas.

Earlier this year, NW magazine reported that despite Matty J finding love on The Bachelor with Laura Byrne, the former lovebirds, who split due to Nathalie's travel commitments 'could be back in touch'.

'Nat and Matty were smitten with each other when they were together,' an insider reportedly told the publication at the time.

Bronzed: Her tanned complexion is complemented by the various sets of underwear

'They have plenty of mutual friends, so there's every chance they could be back in touch,' they added.

The stunning blonde revealed she was back in Australia via her Instagram account, where she posted multiple snaps geo-tagged with a Bondi Beach location.

In an earlier interview, Matty told NW he didn't even consider starring as The Bachelor during his time with Nathalie.

Natural beauty: Nathalie's blonde locks are styled in soft beachy waves, while her makeup is relatively natural with a defined brow and light pink lip

'While we were together, there was no conversation of The Bachelor, and the idea of me taking on the role never popped in my head until after she'd left,' he confessed.

Matty J is happy in love with his chosen lovebird Laura, and the pair are currently enjoying a romantic getaway in Bali.

Back on home soil: Matty's former flame recently returned to Bondi Beach in August this year after travelling overseas
A reference to Kevin Spacey was removed from Tuesday's episode of This Is Us following recent sexual assault allegations made against the actor.

'In light of recent events, the producers have decided to remove the brief reference to Kevin Spacey,' 20th Century Fox Television said Tuesday in a statement, according to an article by People.

The NBC family drama in its Halloween episode titled The 20's featured a 2008 flashback scene.

Reference removed: This Is Us edited its Tuesday episode to remove a reference to Kevin Spacey, shown in June in London, following sexual assault allegations made against him

Kevin Pearson, played by Justin Hartley, was worrying about finances when his roommate returns excited about landing a role in a Spacey movie.

The roommate then invited Kevin to a party hosted by the director for the cast.

The scene was filmed nearly two months ago and the reference to the 58-year-old actor was purely coincidental.

The episode was edited to remove and replace the Spacey reference.

Hit show: Justin Hartley, who plays Kevin Pearson, is shown in a 2016 still from This Is Us

The fallout against the Oscar-winning actor continues to mount in the wake of the underage sexual assault claim against him.

Star Trek actor Anthony Rapp revealed on Sunday that Spacey attempted to sexually assault him in 1986, when Rapp was just 14.

Spacey, who was aged 26 at the time, claimed he does not remember the alleged attempted assault, but issued a public apology that he also used to come out as gay.

Halloween episode: Parker Bates as Kevin, Mackenzie Hancsicsak as Kate and Lonnie Chavis as Randall are shown in a still from Tuesday's episode titled The 20's

Netflix announced Monday that it was cancelling House Of Cards starring Spacey after its sixth season, which was still in production.

The streaming service announced Tuesday that production on the political drama also starring Robin Wright had been suspended indefinitely.

Spacey, 58, has been criticized for his response to Rapp's allegations for coming out during his public apology and making a connection between homosexuality and pedophilia.

Show suspended: Spacey is shown in a 2014 still from House Of Cards that was suspended indefinitely Tuesday by Netflix

The incident between Spacey and Rapp, 46, allegedly took place at Spacey's apartment in 1986 when the actor invited Rapp to a party while they were both appearing on Broadway.

In an interview with Buzzfeed, Rapp said that he found himself alone in the apartment at the end of the night and that Spacey then began to make his move.

'He picked me up like a groom picks up the bride over the threshold. But I don't, like, squirm away initially, because I'm like, ''What's going on?'' And then he lays down on top of me,' said Rapp, who detailed being pressed up against the bed before being able to squirm away and ultimately leave the house without being assaulted by Spacey.

Spacey would go on to win the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor in 1996 for The Usual Suspects and the Oscar for Best Actor in 2000 for American Beauty.
Nineties supermodel Cindy Crawford donned studded grey skinny jeans to stop by Malibu Eye Center Optometry for a check-up on Tuesday.

The 51-year-old mother-of-two paired her denim with an inexplicable black scarf, white T-shirt, black strappy flats, and a matching Gucci cross-body bag.

The longtime Versace muse was unmistakable thanks to her memorable mole, high-volume brunette locks, and movie star-style shades.

Scroll down for video

Still super! Nineties supermodel Cindy Crawford donned studded grey skinny jeans to stop by Malibu Eye Center Optometry for a check-up on Tuesday

On Friday night, Cindy (born Cynthia) and her second husband Rande Gerber sported seventies costumes at his annual private Casamigos Tequila Halloween bash on the Sunset Strip.

'I love doing this party as it takes me back to my nightlife days,' the 55-year-old nightlife impresario told Page Six.

'We decided to go for disco this year, and I planned every detail of this party to be a big surprise for our friends. We usually arrive at this event as a family, but tonight our kids are doing their own thing, and I get to focus on Cindy, who looks amazing.'

Cold neck? The 51-year-old mother-of-two paired her denim with an inexplicable black scarf, white T-shirt, black strappy flats, and a matching Gucci cross-body bag

Legend: The longtime Versace muse was unmistakable thanks to her memorable mole, high-volume brunette locks, and movie star-style shades

Crawford was transformed into a disco doll thanks to her glam squad - make-up artist Anthony H. Nguyen and hairstylist Peter Savic.

The married couple of 19 years' 16-year-old daughter Kaia channeled Michelle Pfeiffer in Scarface and 18-year-old son Presley wore a groovy button-down.

The nepotistically-privileged siblings signed with IMG Models at the tender ages of 13 and 16, respectively.

'That 70's show!' On Friday night, Cindy and her husband Rande Gerber sported seventies costumes at his annual private Casamigos Tequila Halloween bash on the Sunset Strip

Fierce after 50! Crawford was transformed into a disco doll thanks to her glam squad - make-up artist Anthony H. Nguyen and hairstylist Peter Savic

IMG Models: The married couple of 19 years' 16-year-old daughter Kaia channeled Michelle Pfeiffer in Scarface and 18-year-old son Presley wore a groovy button-down

Party time! Amal Clooney (L), Courtney Love, Seth MacFarlane, and Kim Kardashian West were among the celebrity guests and Grammy-winning band Maroon 5 performed a surprise set

The Malibu High School junior is one step closer to independence after scoring her California driver's license on September 5.

Amal Clooney, Courtney Love, Adrien Brody, Seth MacFarlane, and Kim Kardashian West were among the celebrity guests and Grammy-winning band Maroon 5 performed a surprise set.

Earlier this month, the genetically-blessed foursome were unveiled as the first family to collectively represent the Swiss luxury watchmaker, Omega SA.
Ben Fogle: New Lives In The Wild

Rating:

Dave Gorman: Modern Life Is Goodish

Rating:

You dont want to annoy Maryanne Stroud Gabbani. Shes one of those marvellous ladies who loves animals and fears nobody  sweet-natured as Doris Day, stubborn as Winston Churchill.

Marching into the marketplace near her farm on the outskirts of Cairo, in New Lives In The Wild (C5), she announced to the animal dealers in their dusty headdresses that she wished to buy a sheep.

The men scowled. They waved their arms at her. A white woman had no place here, they said. Then they caught the look in Maryannes eye, and sold her a sheep, sharpish. She even got a discount.

Maryanne, 67, is a Canadian expat, which is a pity. If she were British, we could hire her to head the Brexit talks. That would soon sort out Jean-Claude Juncker.

This was easily the best episode so far of Ben Fogles globe-trotting documentary, profiling eccentrics and hermits who live beyond civilisation. Maryanne was very different to the usual characters, the ones who buy a Pacific island or live by hunting bears in the Yukon.

Maryanne Gabbani & Ben Fogle sitting out in the desert during Ben Fogle's New Lives in the Wild

She didnt set out to scratch an existence in the North African dust. In the Nineties she and her husband, Egyptian businessman Diaa, lived in luxury, with their own yacht and private jet. But when Diaa was killed in a plane crash, Maryanne discovered he had been $250 million in debt . . . and she was now penniless.

This was not a story Maryanne was keen to tell. For days, whenever Ben asked about her past, he got the look  the one that terrified the Bedouin. When he asked how she had resisted pressure to leave Egypt, she growled: If you threaten me and tell me I have to do something, Ill kill you first.

Fundraiser of the month Celebrity Hunted (C4) has been plain ludicrous. I cant believe in any of the CCTV or phone tracking. But its raised a fortune for Stand Up To Cancer  so well done to all those involved. Advertisement

So he cannily changed tack, and began asking about her animals instead. This was a sensitive ploy, a sign that Bens ability as an interviewer is growing deeper with each series. He won Maryannes trust, but he also discovered her vulnerable side.

Asking her about why humans made her angry: Im meaner than they are, she snarled. But turn the conversation to horses and dogs, and she became openly emotional. Her animals were not pets, she said  they were her therapists.

This wasnt just a portrait of a fascinating woman, it was a lesson in TV technique and how to unlock a personality.

The comedian Dave Gorman might be a man its better not to cross either. The host of Modern Life Is Goodish (Dave channel) performs routines about everyday banalities, illustrated by graphs and charts.

His targets are usually mundane: this time, they included the feud between pop star Bobby G and his former bandmates in Bucks Fizz, and supermarket own-brand wheat biscuits.

But the show ended with a blistering attack on a minor showbiz journalist called Neil Sean, who had hosted an unofficial Dr Who DVD littered with errors.

Maryanne was very different to the usual characters, the ones who buy a Pacific island or live by hunting bears in the Yukon

Gorman didnt criticise Mr Sean, he slaughtered him. He battered him to pulp. Even Emperor Ming the Merciless would have thought: Golly! Thats harsh.

Wondering what triggered that, I looked for some history  and sure enough, Neil Sean has upset Gorman in the past.

After Sean was mildly mocked on a previous show, the journalist implied that the comic had somehow incited homophobic hatred against him.

Obviously, that didnt go down well.

Clearly, you pick a fight with Mr Gorman at your peril. So, Dave, if youre reading this, dont take it the wrong way. Its just constructive criticism.
She's accustomed to flaunting her figure in revealing ensembles.

But Charlotte McKinney took a different approach as she was spotted covered up in a casual athleisure wear outfit in Los Angeles on Tuesday.

The Baywatch star, 24, kept a low profile as she stomped the streets in a black hoodie and matching Cotton Citizen high-waisted trousers.

Low profile: Charlotte McKinney took a different approach as she was spotted covered up in a casual athleisure wear outfit in Los Angeles on Tuesday

Daring to impress, the blonde bombshell paired the dark look with a black leather handbag and retro shades.

She kept her trademark golden tresses up in a tight ponytail as the mane swung side to side.

On Friday, the stunner had a wardrobe malfunction at the Casamigos Halloween party as her underwear peeked through her costume.

Stunner: Charlotte kept a low profile as she stomped the streets in a black hoodie and matching Cotton Citizen high-waisted trousers

Impress: Daring to impress, the blonde bombshell paired the dark look with a black leather handbag and retro shades

Charlotte's outing comes after she revealed there are times she feels insecure about her bikini shots on Instagram.

'I think right now we're in a time where everyone is very open with their body, and can post a photo that's not perfect and we're okay with it,' she told DailyMail.com.

For me, it's all about being confident in yourself. Trust me, I have those days, I have those photos, where I'm like, "That's going nowhere!"

Daring do: She kept her trademark golden tresses up in a tight ponytail as the mane swung side to side

'So I can relate to every girl, that one picture you see on Instagram, there's 2000 more that aren't perfect.'

But the actress advises: 'For me, I like to just know I do everything I can to stay healthy and feel good, and I think for the women just getting in shape and feeling good, as long as you feel healthy and you're exercising and eating right, I think that's the best you can do.'

She added that she works out 'almost every day' with a mixture of yoga, zumba, barre and sculpting class to gain her enviably svelte physique.
It was the hugely popular Australian medical drama, which ran for an impressive 12 years before its final episode aired on 27 October 2009.

And eight years after ending, speculation has mounted about a possible All Saints reboot.

On Tuesday, the former co-stars enjoyed a get together, with actress Georgie Parker teasing: 'All Saints reunion of sorts.'

Is a reboot on the way? The cast of All Saints reunite in Sydney with fans questioning whether the medical drama will return to Australian TV

The series was set in the fictional All Saints Western General Hospital and focused on the staff of Ward 17, and later the Emergency Department.

Georgie, who played Sister Terri Sullivan, uploaded a happy snap with her former colleagues, including Tammy Macintosh, Josh Quong Tart and Erik Thomson.

She wrote under the Instagram upload: 'Then this happened. FaceTime with @tassone.paul . With Josh , Erik and beautiful Tammy. All Saints reunion of sorts.'

'All Saints reunion of sorts': Georgie, who played Sister Terri Sullivan, uploaded a happy snap with her former colleagues, including Tammy Macintosh, Josh Quong Tart and Erik Thomson

The setting: The series was set in the fictional All Saints Western General Hospital and focused on the staff of Ward 17, and later the Emergency Department

Getting back in touch? The four stars huddled in for the photo, holding up an iPhone with actor Paul Tassone on screen

The four stars huddled in for the photo, holding up an iPhone with actor Paul Tassone on screen.

Paul also shared a photo from the 'reunion', writing: 'Great to FaceTime with these beautiful people in Sydney last night. They are all saints!'

Georgie, who is now on soap Home And Away, hasn't revealed why the All Saints stars chose to catch up in Sydney this week.

Reboot? Georgie, who is now on soap Home And Away, hasn't revealed why the All Saints stars chose to catch up in Sydney this week

Fans commented on the photo urging for a reboot to be on the cards, but the stars didn't respond to the hopeful pleas.

Now To Love recently speculated the meeting could have been to celebrate late cast member Judith McGrath, who played legendary Von on the show.

Judith sadly passed away last week at 70 years old.


Veterans Commit to Weapons Disposal



Anthony Kaybing



171017







Veterans of the Bougainville Civil Conflict have made a commitment to work together towards achieving a weapons free Bougainville no later than 31st December 2018.



This commitment was made possible through the Former Combatants Intensive Peace Building Training held last month that was facilitated by the ABGs Department of Bougainville Peace Agreements Veterans Affairs Directorate.



The consensus reached during the training focuses on Peace Building, Weapons Disposal, Reconciliation, the Referendum, Rehabilitation and Reintegration of Former Combatants and Collaborative Peace Building and Partnership.



The rationale behind the commitment is to ensure that veterans who are an important stakeholder in peace building on Bougainville are utilised to achieve total weapons disposal and as is consistent within the parameters of the Bougainville Peace Agreement.



We reaffirm our commitment to disarmament and assure the government to secure and strengthen good governance through promotion of democracy and respect for human rights and the rule of law, they said.



Reconciliation between the different factions was also discussed during the training and the veterans recognised this as a vital issue.



The veterans said that reconciliation was needed between Bougainvilleans and members of the PNG armed forces and police, amongst Bougainvilleans themselves and non-Bougainvilleans residing on Bougainville.



In light of the referendum the veterans acknowledged the progress by the ABG and pledged to create a conducive environment for a free and fair referendum through awareness raising and weapons disposal and to support both the ABG and GOPNG to regulate weapons on Bougainville.



The veterans expressed their gratitude to local as well as international NGOs along with the New Zealand and Australian Governments for their continuing support of the peace building efforts undertaken by the ABG and themselves as stakeholders.



A weapons disposal plan is also being developed and will be endorsed through a Former Combatants Summit that will be convened next month.



The summit will be attended by representatives from PNG, Bougainville as well as development partners as a means for the ABG to start making inroads into achieving total weapons disposal before the referendum is held on 15th June 2019.











Ends////


Nineties pop star Taylor Dayne has revealed she was a victim of sexual harassment during a Facebook Live chat.

The artist, known for '80s hit Tell It To My Heart, said she was nearly raped at a New York club several years ago.

The incident occurred during the mid '90s when Taylor was scouting back-up dancers.

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'I bullsh*tted my way out of rape': Nineties pop star Taylor Dayne revealed she was a victim of sexual harassment in a Facebook live chat with The Daily Telegraph's Jonathon Moran on Wednesday

'I've had sexual harassment my whole life in this business,' Taylor told The Daily Telegraph.

Detailing the incident, she said: 'My God I almost got raped in a bathroom just going to find dancers in a club in New York one time. 'It was probably the mid '90s - the guy had no clue (who I was).

Confession: Detailing the incident, she said: 'My God I almost got raped in a bathroom just going to find dancers in a club in New York one time. 'It was probably the mid '90s - the guy had no clue (who I was)'

Taylor continued: 'When he pushed me in the stall and I bullsh*tted my way out of it by saying, "Look my manager is sitting right outside the door and we're just scouring the club for dancers"'

'When he pushed me in the stall, I bullsh*tted my way out of it by saying, "Look my manager is sitting right outside the door and we're just scouring the club for dancers."'

Taylor concluded: 'And yeah it was going down. And that's just one off the top of my head story.'

Taylor's confession comes after several women have spoken out about producer and studio executive Harvey Weinstein's unwanted sexual advances.

Notoriety: Taylor is best known for '80s hit Tell It To My Heart

Harvey, 65, was fired last month from his own film studio, three days after a bombshell New York Times report alleged that he had preyed on young women hoping to break into the film industry.

Weinstein's accusers - who include celebrities such as Rose McGowan and Ashley Judd - say the tycoon had promised to help advance their careers in exchange for sexual favours.

Italian star Asia Argento also accused Weinstein of raping her in 1997 at a party hosted by Miramax at the Hotel Du Cap-Eden-Roc in an article published by the New Yorker.

She claims the mogul led her to an empty room and asked her to give him a massage.

Scandal: Taylor's confession comes after several women have spoken out about producer and studio executive Harvey Weinstein's unwanted sexual advances

She reluctantly agreed, and halfway through he began to perform oral sex on her after forcibly lifting up her skirt despite her repeated requests for him to stop.

More actresses have come out with their allegations of sexual harassment at Weinstein's hands, including Hollywood icons Angelina Jolie and Gwyneth Paltrow.

However, 'any allegations of non-consensual sex are unequivocally denied by Mr. Weinstein,' said his spokesperson Sallie Hofmeister in a statement.

'Mr. Weinstein has further confirmed that there were never any acts of retaliation against any women for refusing his advances.'

She went on to state: 'Mr. Weinstein obviously can't speak to anonymous allegations, but with respect to any women who have made allegations on the record, Mr. Weinstein believes that all of these relationships were consensual.'
Her role as Carrie Bradshaw on Sex And The City rocketed her to international stardom and made her a style icon.

But when Halloween rolled around, Sarah Jessica Parker kept her look casual as she handed out candy to trick-or-treat-ers.

Wearing a hoodie and little to no makeup, the 52-year-old planted herself on the steps of her Manhattan townhouse with a bowl.

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Celebrating the day: When Halloween rolled around, Sarah Jessica Parker kept her look casual as she handed out candy to trick-or-treat-ers

She played up her enviably toned legs in a pair of fitted Nike sweats, which she'd tucked into charcoal socks that stuck out of her black leather high-heeled boots.

The mother of three had a radiant smile on her face as she sat amid some jack-o-lanterns and forked over treats to costumed visitors.

Mrs. Matthew Broderick had flung a black anorak over her look when she was seen away from her stoop, heading up the sidewalk that day.

Stepping out: Wearing an open hoodie and little to no makeup, the 52-year-old planted herself on the steps outside her Manhattan townhouse with a bowl

The look: She played up her enviably toned legs in a pair of fitted Nike sweats, which she'd tucked into charcoal socks that stuck out of her black leather high-heeled boots

This being New York City, there was of course a bulging trash bag laying nearby.

With a chic black metallic-accented purse slung cross-body, Sarah was glimpsed having a chat with some costumed people on the pavement.

Sarah Jessica's Halloween cheer comes on the heels of her Hocus Pocus co-star Bette Midler's denunciation of a remake Disney Channel are percolating.

Enjoying herself: The mother of three had a radiant smile on her face as she sat amid some jack-o-lanterns and forked over treats to costumed visitors

This week: Sarah Jessica's Halloween cheer comes on the heels of her Hocus Pocus co-star Bette Midler's denunciation of a remake Disney Channel are percolating

Background: Bette and Sarah Jessica had starred in the original 1993 version with Kathy Najimy, and had been directed by Kenny Ortega

The 71-year-old, who this year won a Tony for leading a still-running Broadway revival of Hello, Dolly!, said to People on Monday: 'I know its cheap. Its going to be cheap!'

Bette and Sarah Jessica had starred with Kathy Najimy in the original 1993 version, which had been directed by Kenny Ortega.

Despite his involvement with the Disney Channel on the High School Musical films, Kenny is apparently not going to be a part of the remake either.

Step lively: Mrs. Matthew Broderick had flung a black anorak over her look when she was seen away from her stoop, heading up the sidewalk that day
She declared she had fallen in love with her new girlfriend Lara Creber this week.

And Fiona Falkiner looked the picture of contentment as she packed on the PDA while out with her lover in Sydney recently.

The loved-up couple held hands as they walked down the street together.

Sealed with a kiss! Fiona Falkiner and new girlfriend Lara Creber pack on the PDA as Biggest Loser host reveals she's 'fallen in love' with footy player

Fiona, 34, wore a flowing blue dress while her footy-player partner opted for a casual pair of black shorts and matching vest.

The pair stopped for a coffee and a bite to eat at a local cafe before they headed to the supermarket to pick up some groceries.

At the eatery, they shared a few passionate kisses before enjoying their food and beverages.

Smooch: They shared a few passionate kisses before enjoying their food and beverages

Pit stop! The pair stopped for a coffee and a bite to eat at a local cafe before they headed to the supermarket for groceries

Loved up: The loved-up couple held hands as they walked down the street together

Fiona affectionately put her hand on Lara's cheek as she gazed lovingly into her eyes.

The pair then strolled down the road towards the grocery store with their arms around each other.

Lara was beaming from ear-to-ear as she shared a few laughs with her sweetheart.

After exiting the store, they carried their purchases which appeared to be an assortment of fruit and vegetables, including apples and bananas.

Can't keep their hands off each other! The pair then strolled down the street towards the grocery store with their arms round each other.

The duo seemed to not be able to keep their hands off one another, with Fiona declaring she had fallen in love with Lara, earlier on this week.

'This is the first female relationship I've had and I didn't think there would be interest in it because it's just normal life,' Fiona told Cosmopolitan.

Touchy-feely: The duo seemed to not be able to keep their hands off one another with Fiona declaring she had fallen in love with Lara earlier on this week

'I'm at a place in my life where I'm just focusing on what makes me happy and not caring what other people think and focusing inwardly. And Lara was part of that journey.'

The couple has been featured on Fiona's social media accounts since May, when they trekked with a group across South America.

It's a first! 'This is the first female relationship I've had and I didn't think there would be interest in it because it's just normal life,' Fiona told Cosmopolitan

Lara owns her own business which specialises in group fitness sessions, called Healthy Habit Fitness.

She is also the founder of Rainbow Run Sydney, a 'charity organisation that raises money for the Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby and campaigns for same sex marriage.'

Healthy habits: Lara owns her own business which specialises in group fitness sessions, called Healthy Habit Fitness

Fit! Lara is also the founder of Rainbow Run Sydney, a 'charity organisation that raises money for the Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby and campaigns for same sex marriage'

The charity holds runs before the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras and its participants dress in rainbow attire.

In her footy profile, Lara said she wants to open a fitness studio and go travelling.

After exiting the store, they carried their purchases which appeared to be an assortment of fruit and vegetables, including apples and bananas

Plans: In her footy profile, Lara said she wants to open a fitness studio and go travelling

'Off the field I want to be the fittest/healthiest Ive ever been, open a fitness studio and travel to the US and South America too.'

Fiona first rose to fame as a contestant on The Biggest Loser Australia in 2006, losing 30 kilos during the first season.

Earlier this year, the curvy model spoke to Nova 96.9's Fitzy & Wippa about starting a new relationship with a mystery identity.

Difficulty: Fiona, who was an eHarmony ambassador at the time, spoke of finding dating rather difficult as she lived her life in the public eye

'You meet someone, go on a couple of dates, (go) on date three and get papped, and in the headlines the next day, it's "Fiona's found love",' she said

Fiona, who was an eHarmony ambassador at the time, spoke of finding dating rather difficult as she lived her life in the public eye.

'You meet someone, go on a couple of dates, (go) on date three and get papped, and in the headlines the next day, it's "Fiona's found love",' she said.

'I don't want to scare this poor person away!'
They were forced to hit back amid rumours they are fabricating their relationship for the cameras.

And Sophie Monk and Stu Laundy appear every inch the happy couple, having enjoyed a cheeky online conversation this week.

Taking to her Instagram page on Tuesday, blonde bombshell Sophie uploaded a picture of herself modelling an off-the-shoulder red dress on a beach.

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One happy family! Sophie Monk and Stu Laundy appear every inch the happy couple, having enjoyed a cheeky online conversation with Stu's niece Sophie this Tuesday

The caption read: 'When you're trying to look hot but your feet are burning on the sand... it was worth it because I fell in love.'

Stu didn't hesitate to comment on the sultry photo, cheekily writing: 'Who with?'

Sophie continued the gag, responding with: 'The dress. Don't worry babe you can borrow it.'

'Please don't ruin this dress for me': Stu's niece Sophie weighed in on the cheeky conversation about Sophie Monk's dress by leaving a jocular comment

Publican Stu shot back: 'I've got it on now', prompting his niece - who is also named Sophie - to intervene.

'Please don't ruin this dress for me. I really like it. @sophiemonk don't let him near it,' Sophie Laundy begged in a comment.

Despite persistent split rumours that have plagued the controversial couple in the days since, Stu and Sophie say they're moving forward and are even discussing wedding plans.

Say yes to the dress? Speaking in a new interview with Woman's Day, Sophie revealed she'd prefer to elope rather than stay in Australia

Speaking in a new interview with Woman's Day this week, Sophie and Stu dished details on their dream nuptials.

'I'd prefer to elope rather than stay in Australia,' Sophie sensationally told the magazine.

She added: 'I'd want it to be low-key. I just want everyone to have a big party and enjoy themselves. Everyday is like a performance for me due to my job- I just want to relax and have a good time'.

However, before the pair can walk down the aisle, 44-year-old Stu needs to officially divorce his estranged wife, Rachel.

'I'd want it to be low-key': Despite persistent split rumours that have plagued the couple, the pair spoke candidly about their ideal wedding
She's the blonde bombshell who showed her 'cheeky' side when seducing Bachelor Matty J in a sexy teacher outfit on the dating series.

And on Monday, Florence Alexandra flaunted her pert derriere in a sizzling bikini shot at St Kilda Beach.

The Dutch-born stunner, 28, tugged at her one-piece to draw further attention to her trim pins and posterior.

That's cheeky! Bachelor reject Florence Alexandra flaunts pert derriere in SIZZLING snap... but can you spot the photoshop fail?

While fans noticed a 'hot stranger' in the left-hand side of the image 'checking her out', it was something right of frame that appeared out of place.

Standing tall and showing off her curves, the background behind Florence also appeared to curve with an unnatural wave.

The wooden platform she was standing on appeared to have been edited, with noticeably curved lines around her bathers and behind.

What's that? While fans noticed a 'hot stranger' in the left-hand side of the image 'checking her out', it was something right of frame that appeared out of place

Spot it? The wooden platform she was standing on appeared to have been edited, with noticeably curved lines around her bathers and behind

Florence, who was wearing a $36.95 striped swimsuit by Misguided, captioned the snap: 'Yep happy camper. Has anyone seen my tan by the way#firstbirthdayinthesun.'

Daily Mail Australia have reached out to Florence for comment.

The model was an unsuccessful Bachelor contestant vying for Matty J's heart this year, coming third runner-up behind Tara Pavlovic, Elise Stacy and winner Laura Byrne.

Rise to fame: The model was an unsuccessful Bachelor contestant vying for Matty J's heart this year, coming third runner-up behind Tara Pavlovic, Elise Stacy and winner Laura Byrne

She admitted at the time she was relieved by not receiving a rose from Matty J, because she wasn't in love with the Sydney hunk.

Speaking to Yahoo Be, Florence said: 'There's no such thing as 'falling in love' or 'I'm on my way to falling in love with you'. For me it just happens. When I'm in love it just hits me. And it didn't hit me'.

She added: 'When he didn't give me a rose I was relieved because it was over and I didn't have to struggle with the thought of "Am I in love?" or "Will I ever fall in love with him?"'
He might be one of the biggest stars on TV, but he's still very much an everyman.

James Corden was snapped Tuesday in Los Angeles walking with his son Max, six, who was dressed up as the LEGO Batman character.

The 39-year-old funnyman wasn't in costume like his tot, but did put together a colorful ensemble of a red sweater coat with black bat patterns over a black top, and navy blue slacks with white sneakers.

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Trick-or-treat! James Corden, 39, was snapped walking with his costumed six-year-old son Max on Tuesday

The Late Late Show host's hair was unkempt and he had a bit of stubble on the early morning outing.

The Carpool Karaoke mastermind also has a three-year-old daughter named Carey with wife Julia Carey, who's expecting their third child, a girl, in December.

The spooky holiday wraps up what's been a difficult month for the English comedian, who averted a near-career crisis that struck weeks back stemming from his hosting gig at amfAR's Los Angeles Gala October 13.

Caped crusader: Max, the late night host's oldest child, looked adorable in his Halloween outfit

On the movie: The English comic was clad in a red sweater coat emblazoned with silhouettes of bats

Corden came under fire after cracking a stream of off-colored jokes at the gala about producer Harvey Weinstein, who's been accused of sexual harassment, abuse and rape by more than 60 women as of Tuesday. (Weinstein's rep has said repeatedly that 'any allegations of nonconsensual sex are unequivocally denied by' the producer.)

In his monologue at the glitzy event, Corden joked, 'Its so beautiful [tonight], Harvey Weinstein has already asked tonight up to his hotel to give him a massage,' to mild boos from the well-heeled audience. An undaunted Corden cracked, 'If you dont like that joke, you should probably leave now,' before rattling off a few more jokes on the uncomfortable topic.

The backlash was quick, as a number of prominent names linked to the widespread scandal ripped the comic for his humorous take on the serious matter.

Hard at work: Corden has carved a niche in late night with his Carpool Karaoke bit, with singer Sam Smith slated to sit shotgun on Wednesday

Resilient: The entertainer weathered a mini-scandal earlier this month well, emerging unscathed after cracking poorly-received jokes about Harvey Weinstein at an LA gala

Contrite: After receiving backlash for his humor, Corden was quick to apologize and call Weinstein's alleged actions 'inexcusable'

Two women who have accused Weinstein of rape - actresses Rose McGowan and Asia Argento - were quick to condemn Corden with sharp jabs, as McGowan called Corden a 'MOTHERF-----G PIGLET' and 'a close friend of HWs;' while Argento wrote, 'Shame on this pig and everyone who grunted with him.'

Argento's boyfriend, celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain, also razzed the CBS host, writing, 'Mr. Corden is free to tell whatever jokes he likes. As he should be. I'm free to suggest he's a porcine, pandering tool.'

Recoil: Two of Weinstein's accusers shot back at Corden, finding none of his jokes about the accused rapist funny

Concession: The late night host rapidly responded to the backlash, making clear that he was remorseful about the botched attempt at a laugh

A chastened Corden didn't wait long to apologize for the badly-received jokes, as he took to Twitter two days later to make amends.

'To be clear, sexual assault is no laughing matter,' he wrote October 15. 'I was not trying to make light of Harveys inexcusable behavior, but to shame him, the abuser, not his victims. I am truly sorry for anyone offended, that was never my intention.'
Blac Chyna had company when she dressed as a skeleton on Halloween.

Her five-year-old son King Cairo, whose father is Tyga, and her nearly one-year-old daughter Dream, whose father is Rob Kardashian, dressed as skeletons themselves.

The 29-year-old mother of two posed with her little nuggets on Instagram.

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Family afright: Blac Chyna had dressed herself and her two children - five-year-old son King Cairo and infant daughter Dream - as skeletons

'Halloween 2017,' Chyna captioned the image, which showed her and her children standing on some outdoor tiles spread across grass.

Chyna had obscured her face beneath a gleaming black skull mask.

Before posting that photo to Instagram, Chyna had uploaded one of her and King Cairo in what TMZ revealed this July is her 2017 Ferrari 488 Spider.

Mother-son time: Before posting that photo to Instagram, Chyna had uploaded one of her and King Cairo in what TMZ revealed this July is her 2017 Ferrari 488 Spider

Mother-daughter time: Even prior to the Ferrari photo, Chyna posted one of her and her youngest skeleton - baby Dream - sitting on an indoor staircase

The gleaming white convertible features a red and black interior.

Even prior to the Ferrari photo, Chyna posted one of her and her youngest skeleton - baby Dream - sitting on an indoor staircase.

Her Snapchat Story has been awash with images of her posing up a storm - by herself, with her children, and with pals.

Company: She and King Cairo were also joined by a pal of hers in the gleaming white convertible, which featured a red and black interior

History: Chyna had her Dream by Rob Kardashian and King Cairo by Tyga

She had let her long, straight, platinum blonde hairdo flow free from behind the eye-catching mask she had slipped into for the holiday.

The erstwhile exotic dancer accented the look with silver-colored stiletto boots.

Having split from Tyga in 2014, Chyna had been with her Rob & Chyna co-star off and on since early 2015, and she gave birth to Dream last November.

Among friends: Her Snapchat Story has been awash with images of her posing up a storm - by herself, with her children, and with pals

Rob and Chyna split in December - Rob posting a Snapchat video of himself wandering miserably through their empty house - but reunited soon after.

This July saw their latest and most dramatic breakup, with Rob posting explicit photos of Chyna to Instagram during a rant that got his account removed.

In short order, Chyna lawyered up with Gloria Allred's daughter Lisa Bloom and won a restraining order against her rotund used-to-be.

Meanwhile, Rob chose for his attorney Robert Shapiro - who with Rob's father had been a member of O.J. Simpson's defense team during O.J.'s murder trial.

Background: Having split from Tyga in 2014, Chyna had been with her Rob & Chyna co-star off and on since early 2015, and she gave birth to Dream last November

Mum of two: She mugged for the camera whilst sat with her two tykes

The mother of Rob's child gave a press conference featuring Lisa, who has also co-starred in a press conference with Kathy Griffin, as well as one with Quantasia Sharpton, who claimed Usher exposed her to herpes.

Though Chyna has accused Rob of abuse, TMZ reported last month that she let that allegation drop as part of a deal that got her $20,000 in child support a month.

A day after reporting that child support figure, TMZ revealed Chyna was still gunning for a payout of at least $1 million by way of the revenge porn case.

In a bizarre twist, Tyga for some time dated Rob's now 20-year-old half-sister Kylie Jenner, who is rumored to be pregnant by her own current beau Travis Scott.

Poolside: On Halloween Chyna had let her long, straight, platinum blonde hairdo flow free from behind the eye-catching mask she had slipped into for the holiday
She's been no stranger to controversy during her time in the spotlight.

And Lara Worthington (nee Bingle) is at the centre of another bungle after posting a an ill-advised Instagram post to spruik her cosmetic wares.

On Wednesday, the 30-year-old shared an image of 19th-century painting Olympia that had been digitally manipulated to make the subject visibly tanner than originally depicted.

That's one way to sell fake tan! On Wednesday, Lara Worthington (nee Bingle) took to Instagram to share an image of a 19th-century painting Olympia which has been historically criticised for its racist overtones

'Jeanne' "Woman on a bed" wearing Instant Tan Mousse,' Lara captioned the post.

The model then added hashtags '#artseries' and '#justjoking' before directing followers to a link to buy her fake tan.

First posted on her makeup brand The Base by LB just over a week ago, the image has raised eyebrows thanks to its inclusion of such a racially charged artwork.

Throughout history, the painting - created just 15 years after the abolition of black slavery in France - has drawn criticism from black feminists for encouraging harmful stereotypes about people of colour.

Tone-deaf: Lara (pictured) directed followers to a link to buy The Base by LB fake tan after posting the racially charged image

'Jeanne' "Woman on a bed" wearing Instant Tan Mousse': The image had been digitally altered to make the woman's skin visibly tanner than the original artwork (pictured)

Just last month, fellow makeup brand Dove came under fire for an advert it created, which featured a black woman removing her top to reveal a white woman underneath.

Critics suggested the ad echoed racist soap adverts from the 19th and early 20th centuries that showed black people scrubbing their skin to become white.

In the wake of the backlash, Dove were forced to pull the video and issue an apology.

More controversy: It's not the first time a cosmetics brand has come under fire, with Dove last month facing backlash when it shared an ad which featured a black woman removing her top to reveal a white woman underneath

Followers have had mixed responses to Lara's post, with one fan writing: 'Hahaha I was like, something is off here'.

Several fans seemed nonplussed by the image and commented their approval of the photo.

One wrote 'looks amazing' while another summed up their thoughts succinctly by commenting 'awesome'.

Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Lara's representatives for comment.
Elle Fanning was every bit the naughty nurse for Halloween on Tuesday where she wielded a 'poison-filled' syringe in a sheer white uniform.

The 19-year-old SAG Award nominee paid homage to another Elle - Daryl Hannah's Deadly Viper Assassination Squad member Elle 'California Mountain Snake' Driver in Kill Bill: Volume 1.

In the action-packed 2003 vengeance flick, the 56-year-old iconic blonde almost gives comatose Beatrix Kiddo (Uma Thurman) a lethal injection before Bill orders her to 'abort the mission.'

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Time for your medicine! Elle Fanning was every bit the naughty nurse for Halloween on Tuesday where she wielded a 'poison-filled' syringe in a sheer white uniform

The half-blind villain memorably whistled Bernard Herrmann's theme song from the 1968 thriller Twisted Nerve during her suspenseful hospital scene.

The Beguiled beauty - who's never worked with filmmaker Quentin Tarantino - gave her 1.7M Instagram followers several lingering glimpses at her costume.

It's a vampy look for Fanning, who's been specifically targeting roles to distance herself from her squeaky clean characters such as the Disney Princess Aurora in Maleficent.

Elle (born Mary) spent the last few months on the set of director Woody Allen's A Rainy Day in New York, in which her character sleeps with 44-year-old Jude Law - according to Page Six.

Code name California Mountain Snake: The 19-year-old SAG Award nominee paid homage to Daryl Hannah's Deadly Viper Assassination Squad member Elle Driver in Kill Bill: Volume 1

Whistling: In the 2003 vengeance flick, the 56-year-old iconic blonde almost gives comatose Beatrix Kiddo (Uma Thurman) a lethal injection before Bill orders her to 'abort the mission'

Red lips: The Beguiled beauty - who's never worked with filmmaker Quentin Tarantino - gave her 1.7M Instagram followers several lingering glimpses at her costume

Bad girl: It's a vampy look for Fanning, who's been specifically targeting roles to distance herself from her squeaky clean characters such as the Disney Princess Aurora in Maleficent

Many celebrities choose to look the other way when it comes to the controversial 81-year-old, who married ex-partner Mia Farrow's daughter Soon-Yi and allegedly molested her daughter Dylan.

Before that, the Georgia-born beauty spent her summer filming her role as British singing competition contestant Violet in Max Minghella's directorial debut Teen Spirit.

Fans can currently catch the nepotistically-privileged sister of Dakota fronting the Miu Miu 'Croisiere' 2018 campaign inspired by the Autodrome de Linas-Montlhery.

Controversial director: Elle spent the last few months on the set of Woody Allen's (L) A Rainy Day in New York, in which her character sleeps with 44-year-old Jude Law (R)

'The pop sensation has begun': Before that, the Georgia-born beauty spent her summer playing singing contestant Violet in Max Minghella's (L) directorial debut Teen Spirit
As an actress, she can transform into any character.

But Heather Graham took it to another level as she channeled a Day Of The Dead skeleton for Heidi Klum's Halloween party in New York on Tuesday.

The 47-year-old beauty showcased her flawless physique in the skimpy black and white dress that left little to the imagination.

Fright night: Heather Graham, 47, took it to another level as she channeled a Day Of The Dead skeleton for Heidi Klum's Halloween party in New York on Tuesday

Daring to impress, the frightful stunner put her gorgeous gams on center stage as the number cut just about her thighs.

With a perfect rendition of the Mexican folklore makeup on her face, Heather turned heads at the celebrity studded fete.

The Boogie Nights alum even had a reunion with her a former co-star as she posed on the red carpet with Mike Meyers.

The two thespians starred together in the 1999 movie Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me.

Face: With a perfect rendition of the Mexican folklore makeup on her face, Heather turned heads at the celebrity studded fete

Flawless:The ageless beauty showcased her flawless physique in the skimpy black and white dress that left little to the imagination

Meanwhile, Heidi paid homage to Michael Jackson's classic Thriller music video from 1983 as she wore a werewolf costume which looked exactly like the one made famous by the late artist.

The legendary 14-minute John Landis directed video began with a famous scene where Jackson is on a date and morphs into a large, hairy creature.

Heidi's look was a spitting image to the one made famous by the Bad hitmaker as she had grey prosthetic including hands, chest, and feline face.

Gams: Daring to impress, the frightful stunner put her gorgeous gams on center stage as the number cut just about her thighs

Reunited: The Boogie Nights alum even had a reunion with her a former co-star as she posed on the red carpet with Mike Meyers

The crew: Austin Powers legend Mike was posing up a storm with Nick Cannon

Posing it up: It was a mini Austin Powers reunion as Mike and Heather posed up a storm

The intricate ensemble came complete with long grey ears peaking through a long black and grey wig in addition to whiskers coming from the cheeks.

The Project Runway host - who hosts her own star-studded Halloween bash each year - is upping the ante this year after wowing in 2016 with a costume comprised of five clones of herself, as although she wont reveal what her costume will be, she has said shell spend a gruelling six hours gluing her outfit together.

Speaking during an the appearance, she said: 'Tomorrow Im going to be there for six hours gluing all this stuff on. I have a lot of stuff being glued, yeah. Because last year I didnt do anything, I was me with five clones, which I thought was just a fun idea.'

Thriller night: Heidi Klum unveiled yet another instant-classic Halloween costume at her 18th Annual Halloween Party in New York City on Tuesday

A bunch of Heidis! The model routinely goes all out for her costumes, using prosthetics, wild makeup and perfectly positioned wigs (pictured at last year's party in October 2016)
She's made headlines recently for feuding with Australian television personality, Samantha Armytage, and Andy Cohen.

And on Tuesday, American comedian Kathy Griffin was all smiles as she walked into the Astor Theatre in Perth ahead of her comedy show, with boyfriend Randy Bick.

The 56-year-old held hands with her man and wore her favourite blue dress.

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Kathy Griffin can't wipe the smile off her face as she heads to her comedy show with boyfriend Randy Bick (R)...after slamming Andy Cohen and Samantha Armytage

Kathy wore a full face of makeup, including a smokey eye, and black flats.

She was all smiles, appearing to have put everything behind her, at least for the night.

Kathy - who recently shaved her head in support of her sister who battled cancer - had her short locks neatly styled.

Ready for the stage: The 56-year-old held hands with her man and wore her favourite blue dress

The personality and actress has made headlines recently due to her feud with former boss Andy Cohen.

Andy claimed he didn't know who Kathy was in a video - later saying it was a 'joke' - and Kathy hit back, calling him 'deeply misogynistic' and said he treated her 'like a dog' when they worked together.

She also said that he asked her to do drugs when they worked together on Watch What Happens Live.

In a video, Kathy said: 'Right before we went live Andy Cohen privately asked me in an office in embassy row, which is the production company that does that s***show, if I wanted to do blow,' she claimed.

Tiff: The personality and actress has made headlines recently, for her feud with former boss, Andy Cohen (seen)

Claims: She also said in a video, that Andy asked her to do drugs while working together on Watch What Happens Live

'He was asking me to do cocaine with him, that made me very uncomfortable,' she added.

Andy has denied the claims.

Meanwhile, Kathy has also had a tiff with Sunrise star, Samantha Armytage.

In August, Kathy said the Australian journalist was 'full of crap' for criticising her decision to pose with a fake severed bloody head of Donald Trump.

Another fight: In August, Kathy called Australian journalist Samantha Armytage (pictured) 'full of crap' for criticising her decision to pose with a fake severed bloody head of Donald Trump

The clash happened during a heated interview on the show.

When questioned by the Sunrise host about the controversial photo, Kathy fired back: 'Youre full of crap. Stop this. You know this.'

She added: 'Stop acting like my little picture is more important than talking about the actual atrocities that the President of the United States is committing.'

Samantha told Mark Latham's Outsiders recently that she didn't think the joke was 'funny' and added: 'I wasn't applying politics that day I just thought she was a little bit unwell - kooky is one word for it.'

Ouch: Samantha said she didn't think the beheading joke was 'funny' and added: 'I wasn't applying politics that day I just thought she was a little bit unwell - kooky is one word for it'

Kathy hit back at Samantha on KIIS FM's Kyle and Jackie O, saying their feud 'put [Samantha] on the map.'

'I'm happy to challenge her to a cage match - two dogs enter, one dog leaves,' she said.

According to The Daily Telegraph, Kathy joked during her Sydney comedy show that Samantha, Pauline Hanson and Margaret Court were having a sexual relationship.
Jennifer Hawkins and husband Jake Wall have just moved into their new waterfront mansion on Sydney's Northern Beaches.

And on Wednesday, fans got a glimpse of the interior of their stunning home when Jennifer took to Instagram to share a snap of a family get-together there.

Fans couldn't help but marvel at the 33-year-old's stunning outdoor bar, which was stocked with alcohol.

'Look at those liquors!' Fans marvel at Jennifer Hawkins' outdoor bar in her waterfront mansion...that is STOCKED with alcohol. She posted this picture on Instagram, of herself with her brother and family

In the snap, former Miss Universe Jennifer can be seen sitting on a couch with her brother Michael Hawkins and a child, who is believed to be her niece.

Her and Jake's dog Milly is also on the couch.

One fan couldn't help but notice the bar in the background, with one commenting: 'Look at them liquors!'

Luxe: Jennifer Hawkins and husband Jake Wall have just moved into their new waterfront mansion on Sydney's Northern Beaches (seen)

Stunning: The home has a pool that overlooks the water

'Your house is insane,' another remarked.

'Look at this house,' another added.

Jennifer stuns in the snap, with her blonde locks loose and tumbling over her shoulders, her skin looks sunkissed against her white blouse, which she paired with ripped jeans.

Jennifer and builder husband Jake, 34, recently launched their own tequila brand, Sesion Tequila.

Doing it themselves: Jennifer and builder husband Jake, 34, (seen) recently launched their own tequila brand, Sesion Tequila

The couple - who married in 2013 - recently moved into their new Northern Beaches mansion, which Jake built.

The pair have a passion for property and have a number of investments.

Jennifer has previously told News Corp about her finance philosophy, saying she's always worked hard and saved her money.

'I invest my money. I'm not one to throw it around,' she said. 'Even before Miss Universe, I saved hard for my first car. I worked three jobs to get that.'
As the only daughter of late music legend Michael Jackson, she's pop royalty.

And Paris Jackson will be mingling with Australia's racing royalty next week as she appears trackside at the Melbourne Cup.

Speaking to the Herald Sun, the 19-year-old gushed: 'Its always been a dream of mine to visit Australia.'

'Its always been a dream of mine to visit Australia!' Model Paris Jackson to attend Melbourne Cup as VIP guest

Paris will head to Australia for the first time this month as a VIP guest of Myer and the Victoria Racing Club.

'I wasnt familiar with the Melbourne Cup before the opportunity came up to attend this year, but once it was brought to my attention, I asked my Aussie friends about it and heard so many incredible things,' she told News Corp.

First time Down Under: Paris Jackson will be mingling with Australia's racing royalty next week as she appears trackside at the Melbourne Cup

The model and budding actress, who will star in her first feature film Gringo in 2018, said she was excited to experience the iconic racing event.

'They say its 'the race that stops a nation', and Im eager to experience this tradition for myself,' Paris said.

The Herald Sun reports that Paris will enjoy Myer's Fashion On The Fields before taking in the race.

While still only a teenager, Paris is no stranger to fashion and even appeared on the cover of Vogue Australia earlier this year.

Rising star: While still only a teenager, Paris is no stranger to fashion and even appeared on the cover of Vogue Australia earlier this year

She's quickly become a red carpet fixture in the United States thanks to her boho dress style and striking good looks.

This will be the first trip to Australia for Paris, who was raised in the United States by her father Micheal until he died in 2009.

Australia is also where Michael wed Paris' mother Debbie Rowe in 1996, the pair tied the knot in Sydney.

Debbie gave birth to son Michael Joseph 'Prince,' now 20, and Paris, before she divorced Micheal in 1999.
They split in 2014 after welcoming son Bingham during their three year engagement.

But Kate Hudson proved she was on friendly terms with her ex fiance Matt Bellamy, as they went trick-or-treating in LA on Tuesday night- alongside his girlfriend Elle Evans.

The actress, 38, and the Muse frontman, 39, looked in good spirits as they headed to a Brentwood bash in full costume, accompanied by his Blurred Lines video vixen girlfriend, 27.

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Spooky! Kate Hudson proved she was on friendly terms with her ex fiance Matt Bellamy, as they went trick-or-treating in LA on Tuesday night- alongside his girlfriend Elle Evans

Opting for an all-black ensemble, Kate slipped into an off-the-shoulder floor-skimming dress, injecting a touch of cool as she flashed a glimpse of her pins and ankle boots beneath the frock.

Adding a statement velvet witch's hat and covering her pretty face with a netted fascinator, she embarked on night of spooky fun.

She was joined by ex fiance Matt, who appeared to be impersonating a suave vampire, dressed in a crisp suit and red bow tie, along with a spattering of fake blood.

Good terms: The actress, 38, and the Muse frontman, 39, looked in good spirits as they headed to a Brentwood bash in full costume, accompanied by his Blurred Lines video vixen girlfriend

Meanwhile his model flame donned a blood-spattered onesie and beanie hat as they made their way through the festive neighbourhood.

Completing the star-studded outing, they were closely followed by Hollywood hunk Bradley Cooper, with Fifty Shades star Dakota Johnson also spotted trick-or-treating in the neighbourhood.

Elle and Matt started dating in April 2015 and have been inseparable ever since, enjoying several exotic holidays together over the past months- even bringing ex Kate on a break with them to Greece last year.

The model also stars in the music video for Muse's song Mercy, taken from their latest award-winning album.

Suave: Ex fiance Matt appeared to be impersonating a suave vampire, suited in a crisp suit and red bow tie, along with a spattering of fake blood

The former Playboy Playmate of the Week shot to fame with another music video cameo, appearing in Robin Thicke and Pharrell Williams' now infamous Blurred Lines video in 2013.

Matt and Kate announced they had split in December 2014 after a four-year-relationship and Goldie Hawn's daughter discussed the 'painful' split in Allure magazine in December 2015.

In one of her most candid interviews to date, Kate revealed the couple 'had different visions of how [they] wanted to live [their] lives'.

She said: 'Relationships ending are painful, and you can choose to carry that or you can choose to reframe it.

'If Matt and I had a great relationship, we would still be together, but we chose to move on because we had different visions of how we wanted to live our lives,' the Almost Famous star explained.

What a gathering! Dakota Johnson also joined in on the fun, dressed in chunky boots and all black

Knock on our door! She donned cat's ears as she went trick-or-treating in her neighbourhood

'[It] doesnt mean, though, that we cant rebuild something that would be the best thing for the kids. [] We said, We need to try to create something for the kids where they feel like theyre gaining something rather than losing something.

'Being someone who has come from a broken family and has a stepfather, I really benefited from having that very consistent [presence] in my life, and its something I am mindful of and want in my life.'

Kate was previously married to Black Crowes frontman Chris Robinson in 2000, before welcoming their son Ryder in 2004.

The duo divorced in 2006, and Kate got engaged Muse frontman Matt Bellamy in 2011, and the former couple became parents to Bingham the same year, before announcing their split in 2014.
He's reportedly been getting closer to handsome male model, Matt Law.

And Bruno Tonioli, 61, looked taken with the hunky American, 29, as they stepped out for dinner in Los Angeles on Monday evening.

The pair enjoyed a dinner date at West Hollywood restaurant Catch shortly after Italian choreographer Bruno finished taping Dancing with the Stars  the US variant of hit show Strictly Come Dancing.

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Night out: Bruno Tonioli, 61, looked taken with hunky American model Matt Law, 29, as they stepped out for dinner in Los Angeles on Monday evening

Evidently in high spirits, Bruno placed a hand on Matts shoulder as they made their way inside for a seafood meal.

The flamboyant dancer looked relaxed in an open-neck shirt and jeans teamed with a pair of distinctive Cuban heeled boots that added an extra inch to his height.

Strolling alongside Bruno, hunky Matt looked equally casual in a conventionally stylish white T-shirt and skinny jeans teamed with on-trend Gucci trainers.

Adding an extra flourish to his look, the model rounded things off with a denim jacket emblazoned with the words 'Blind For Love.'

Close: Bruno placed a hand on Matts shoulder as they made their way inside local restaurant Catch for a seafood meal

Keep up Bruno: Matt appeared to walk ahead of the fleet-footed dancer as they made their way to t he West Hollywood eatery on Monday evening

Winding down: The pair enjoyed a dinner date at Catch shortly after Bruno finished taping Dancing with the Stars  the US variant of hit show Strictly Come Dancing

Bruno was later spotted emerging from a gym in London sporting a moustache and showing off his muscles in a clingy vest as it's claimed he's taking his fledgling romance with the hunk slow to concentrate on having fun.

A source told MailOnline about the Strictly star's new love interest: 'Its not love, but it's going well.

'They seeing how things are going and they get on well and laugh a lot. Its early days.'

Low key: The flamboyant dancer looked relaxed in an open-neck shirt and jeans teamed with a pair of distinctive Cuban heeled boots that added an extra inch to his height

Casual: Strolling alongside Bruno, hunky Matt looked equally casual in a conventionally stylish white T-shirt and skinny jeans teamed with on-trend Gucci trainers

Walk this way: Bruno pointed to the entrance as they made their way inside

Distinctive: Adding an extra flourish to his look, Matt rounded things off with a denim jacket emblazoned with the words 'Blind For Love'

Upbeat: Bruno flashed a beaming grin as he walked two paces behind Matt

Bruno enjoyed a week in LA last month, during which he missed his first ever Strictly show in 13 years due to commitments with Dancing With The Stars.

The judge was seen enjoying a night on the town with handsome male model Matt at Hollywood's Sunset Marquis - with an onlooker recently telling MailOnline there was 'chemistry' between the pair.

An onlooker said: 'Bruno kept giving Matt hugs. There was definitely chemistry between them but obviously an age gap. Bruno was very touchy-feely! They sat close and everyone were looking over as the table was all laughing.'

Fancy footwear: Bruno wore distinctive Cuban heeled boots that added an extra inch to his height.

Absent: Bruno enjoyed a week in LA last month, during which he missed his first ever Strictly show in 13 years due to commitments with Dancing With The Stars

Love interest: Bruno is said to have 'chemistry' with the model after indulging in some cosy sightings with him during his recent week in Los Angeles

They added: 'Matt is a fitness freak so he is keeping busy in Bruno's absence spending time with their mutual best friend Lizzie (Cundy) keeping fit on the beaches.'

Sources later told The Sun: 'Bruno has really been getting on well with Matt, they enjoy each others company. They have spent the last few days together in the States and he has been introduced to a few of his friends.

'Bruno is growing increasingly fond of Matt and it isnt hard to see why. Hes noticed everywhere they go. They were very touchy-feely over dinner and laughing so loudly that everyone took notice.'

Despite Matt insisting last week that they are 'just friends', a source has revealed that he has 'put a smile back on Bruno's face'.

It was also claimed that the pair are 'having fun' and not taking things too seriously due to their age difference.

The outing was their second night out in a row with Lizzie Cundy - with the group spotted partying in West Hollywood the day before.

Bruno's night out with Matt and Lizzie Cundy came after host Tess Daly revealed that Bruno was unable to appear in Strictly due to a 'a very busy work schedule'.

Loving life: It is also claimed that Bruno and Matt are 'having fun' and not taking things too seriously due to their age difference

Despite simultaneously working on SCD and DWTS, the star had never previously missed a show, leaving fans devastated at his absence.

A BBC spokesman told MailOnline: 'As was always the plan, Bruno Tonioli is not on the judging panel this weekend due to a very busy work schedule.

However, on Saturday he returned with a spooky bang as he dressed up in a Beetlejuice costume for Strictly Come Dancing's Halloween special.
They have been going strong since the beginning of the year.

And Anwar Hadid, 18, and Nicola Peltz, 22, put on a besotted display as they arrived at Delilah's Halloween bash in LA on Tuesday to celebrate Kendall Jenner's 22nd birthday.

The younger brother of models Gigi and Bella Hadid opted to forgo a costume, as he joined his Transformers star girlfriend for the star-studded night out.

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Going strong: Anwar Hadid, 18, and Nicola Peltz, 22, put on a besotted display as they arrived at Delilah's Halloween bash in LA on Tuesday to celebrate Kendall Jenner's 22nd birthday

Standing out in a sea of costumes, blonde Peltz slipped her curves into a plunging sequin-encrusted crop top, teaming it with a pair of racy leather leggings.

Adding a touch of gloss to her noticeably full pout, she held onto her model beau Anwar, whose father is millionaire property tycoon Mohamed Hadid.

He showed off a glimpse of his tattooed arms beneath his simple navy t-shirt and checked trouser ensemble.

Rebels: The younger brother of models Gigi and Bella Hadid opted to forgo a costume, as he joined his Transformers girlfriend for the star-studded night out

The couple started dating earlier this year, and since then have been inseparable.

The romance flourished quickly as Nicola, met the Hadid family not long after getting together with Anwar.

The Transformers actress told WWD back in January: 'He comes from such an amazing family.

'Gigi and Bella are so, so sweet. I just love his family so much. Theyre feminine, strong girls. To have that around is amazing.'

Checkmate: Standing out in a sea of costumes, blonde Peltz slipped her curves into a plunging sequin-encrusted crop top, teaming it with a pair of racy leather leggings as he opted for checked trousers

Here she comes: It is typically a night dedicated to chills, but temperatures rose considerably as Kendall Jenner celebrated her 22nd birthday with a Halloween themed party on Tuesday evening

Back at popular haunt Delilah, the Hollywood set were out in force to celebrate Halloween along with Kendall Jenner's birthday.

Kendall, who turns 22 on November 3rd, came dressed as Buttercup from the Powerpuff girls, clad in a racy satin green ensemble and black wig.

She was joined by model pal Hailey Baldwin, accompanying her as blue-clad Bubbles, complete with a midriff-baring ensemble and Justine Skye as Blisstina.

Star-studded: Models and Kendall Jenner and Haily Baldwin and Justine Skye dressed as Powerpuff Girls as they arrived at the plush Halloween party in West Hollywood

Highly noticeable: The actress added to her look with a black crop top and black leather ankle boots

Offering sisterly support on the night was Kourtney Kardashian, transforming into Bonnie from the famous criminal duo Bonnie and Clyde.

She was joined by boyfriend Younes, who made a perfectly dapper Clyde in a pinstripe suit and top hat.

Modern Family actress Ariel Winter was also in attendance, dressed in a racy pair of denim cut-offs and a leather bralet.

All guns blazing: Kourtney Kardashian arrived as Bonnie, drawing attention to her own slender frame, the 38-year old opted for a fitted skirt with thigh-split over a cropped, vintage themed sweater
Viewers were left in tears when Our Girl season three came to a dramatic end on Tuesday night.

But Michelle Keegan and the BBC have no doubt lifted spirits after announcing that the show will return in an explosive fashion next year.

Sharing the exciting news with a tantalising 'first look image', it looks like season four will see trouble spell for Corporal Georgie Lane.

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Rest assured! Michelle Keegan and the BBC have no doubt lifted spirits after announcing that the show will return in an explosive fashion next year

The still depicts the fierce protagonist with a fearful expression on her face as she is grappled by two rebels.

'FIRST LOOK IMAGE: Corporal Georgie Lane lands herself in jeopardy like never before in #OurGirl  Nigeria Tour. Coming next year to @BBCOne,' the teaser reads.

It comes after Our Girl viewers were left 'in bits' on Tuesday night, after heartthrob Elvis Harte was killed off in the heartbreaking finale.

Remedying their heartbreak: It comes after Our Girl viewers were left 'in bits' on Tuesday night, after heartthrob Elvis Harte was killed off in the heartbreaking finale

The character, played by Luke Pasqualino, had been trying to escape an enemy attack in Kabul when a bomb detonated in front of him - minutes after his love Georgie had agreed to marry him.

Viewers immediately took to Twitter to mourn the hunk's 'devastating' death, and praise Michelle's 'incredible' acting, after her character desperately attempted to revive him.

After weeks of building chemistry on the show, Elvis and Georgie were finally seen getting back together on Tuesday night's episode.

Heartbreak: Elvis, played by Luke Pasqualino, had been trying to escape an enemy when a bomb went off - minutes after his love Georgie Lane (above) had agreed to marry him

Having stood her up on their wedding day last season, Elvis admitted he had 'changed', and gave her a letter with an engagement ring attached - which she soon slipped on her finger, and flaunted to her fellow medics.

However in the heartbreaking scenes that followed, Elvis and the rest of 2 Section were ambushed by the enemy, and forced to flee back to Kabul.

In the chaos of the escape the special forces officer was seen venturing to the rooftop, where he came across a bomb - which was then detonated by a soldier inside the building.

Never forget: Following the heartbreaking ending, Michelle shared an adorable snap of her and actor Luke Pasqualino hugging on Instagram

Put a ring on it: Having stood her up on their wedding day last season, Elvis admitted he had 'changed', and gave her an engagement ring - which she soon slipped on her finger

Bad news: However in the heartbreaking scenes that followed, Elvis (above) and the rest of 2 Section were ambushed by the enemy, and forced to flee back to Kabul

Georgie screamed in horror as her fiance was thrown from the building, and desperately attempted to resuscitate him, before he tragically died in her arms.

Following the shock ending, actress Michelle shared a heartwarming selfie of herself and actor Luke with their arms wrapped around one another following the emotional scene, insisting that their characters love will continue despite Elvis' death.

She captioned the hugging snap: 'That's it... Season 1 finished! Thankyou so much for all your lovely comments!!!Thankyou to everyone who was involved in the making of the 4 eps!  Feel very lucky to be part of such a great show. #elvisandgeorgieforever'.

After the emotional scenes aired, viewers immediately took to Twitter to vent their devastation and frustration at the shock twist.

Not fussed! Luke seems to have taken his Our Girl exit in his stride as he attended an intimate evening hosted by Paul Smith & The Gentleman's Journal to introduce the Paul Smith Bespoke By Appointment service

Smouldering: The actor looked seriously dapper in a checked suit as he mingled inside the event

Dangerous: In the chaos of the escape the special forces officer was seen venturing to the rooftop, where he came across a bomb

Heartbreak: The bomb was then detonated by a soldier inside, and Georgie screamed in horror as her fiance was thrown from the building

Emotional: She desperately attempted to resuscitate him, before he tragically died in her arms

One kicked things off by writing: 'I CANT BELIEVE THEY'VE KILLED ELVIS I knew it would happen and I'm still so shocked'

While another added: 'How can they let Georgie and Elvis finally be happy and then kill him off like that, literally heartbroken.'

Further fans confessed they were distraught by the ending, adding: 'Thanks our girl for breaking my heart into a million pieces tonight' and 'This has actually broken my heart in two how dare they.'

While another particularly passionate fan admitted: 'I think I need compassionate leave from work after that episode of #OurGirl. I'm devastated'

RIP: After the emotional scenes aired, viewers immediately took to Twitter to vent their devastation

'Thanks for breaking my heart': Many claimed they hearts were 'broken' by his death while others vented their shock

Not impressed: However, some fans were left furious by Elvis' death, and claimed the twist had ruined the otherwise entertaining show

One viewer also reasoned the scenes were as realistic as they were heartbreaking, writing: 'What an emotional end to #OurGirl. Makes matters worse that things like that actually happen in real life. Really eye opening.'

However, some fans were left furious by Elvis' death, and claimed the twist had ruined the otherwise entertaining show. While another particularly passionate fan admitted: 'I think I need compassionate

One wrote: 'Never been so angry at the BBC how dare they kill Elvis' as another added angrily: 'Never f***ing watching Our Girl again, how could they think killing Elvis off is a good idea. Absolute joke.'

Yet, a huge number of fans were quick to praise Michelle's portrayal of grief, and claim she is 'underrated' as an actress.

Award-worthy: Yet, a huge number of fans were quick to praise Michelle's portrayal of grief

'She's a legend!': Viewers admitted she was underrated as an actress, after such a 'fantastic' performance in the finale

One viewer said: 'Wow! How incredible @michkeegan is' as another added: 'Michelle Keegan is such an incredible actor, in bits after watching that.'

Further fans claimed she does not get the praise she deserves, interjecting: '@michkeegan is a legend! She doesn't get enough recognition, she's smashed #OurGirl Roll on Nxt year, Well done to the cast & crew'

And: 'Michelle Keegan was wasted in Coronation street. She's one of the best actresses on our televisions #OurGirl #tooemosh.'

Elvis' death had been revealed as a shock twist earlier this week, with show creator Tony Grounds admitting it had been due to actor Luke's busy work schedule.

Farewell: Elvis' death had been revealed as a shock twist earlier this week, with show creator Tony Grounds admitting it had been due to actor Luke's busy work schedule

Speaking to the Radio Times, the writer explained the 27-year-old was unable to film the next series due to his contract with US series Snatch - and that death was the 'bravest' way for his character to go as an army officer.

He said: 'Firstly in terms of honouring that story  it felt like their relationship was brilliant and toxic at the same time and it was a great dramatic way to go with it.'

'We could have sent [Elvis] to prison or on holiday or just not seen him for five years but that seemed a bit daft so we thought let's take this brave way  and he dies on the battlefield in Georgie Lane's arms.

'We were forced into that way of thinking because I love him and I would happily have had Elvis in forever.'
She's been busy working on her latest comedy, Flarsky, with Seth Rogen in Montreal, Canada.

But Charlize Theron made sure she was back home in Los Angeles in time to celebrate Halloween at a party with her children Jackson, five, and August, two, on Tuesday.

The actress, 42, was dressed as Disney's Rapunzel in a cute lilac dress with a laced up corset.

Fairytale life: Charlize Theron made sure she was back home in Los Angeles in time to celebrate Halloween at a party with her children Jackson, five, and August, two, on Tuesday

The fairy tale character's signature long hair lay in a thick braid over her shoulder, decorated with flowers.

On a practical note, Charlize wore sweatpants under her feminine frock and white sneakers so she didn't catch a chill on the cool evening.

The mother-of-two continued her sensible outfit choices with a pair of white Converse trainers on her feet as she ferried her little ones around.

The South African star's princess outfit was certainly a far cry from her hard-as-nails looks in this year's Atomic Blonde and 2015's Mad Max: Fury Road.

Let down your long hair! The actress, 42, was dressed as Disney's Rapunzel in a cute lilac dress with a laced up corset

Sensible: On a practical note, Charlize wore sweatpants under her feminine frock and white sneakers so she didn't catch a chill on the cool evening

Charlize is still filming comedy Flarsky opposite Seth.

He plays an unemployed journalist who tries to woo his childhood crush and former babysitter, who now holds an important government position.

The film will premiere on February 8, 2019.

Hard at work: The South African star has been busy working on her latest comedy, Flarsky, with Seth Rogen in Montreal, Canada (pictured on set last week)

Charlize can next be seen in the film Gringo alongside Amanda Seyfried and Thandie Newton.

The action comedy drama about a business man whose life is thrown into turmoil by an incident in Mexico will premiere on March 9.

Following quickly on its heels, the actress will star alongside Mackenzie Davis in motherhood comedy Tully, set for release on April 20.
Millie Bobby Brown has revealed she's deaf in one ear.

The Stranger Things star opened up about her health issue to Variety, explaining that she was born with partial hearing loss in one ear which slowly faded to deafness after years of tubes.

The 13-year-old starlet explained that while she can't fully hear herself perform, she doesn't let it hold her back, saying: 'I just started to sing, and if I sound bad I don't care, because I'm just doing what I love,'

Millie Bobby Brown has talked about her deafness in one ear which she says hasn't held her back in her pursuit of her acting dream. The actress is seen on Wednesday in NYC

'You don't have to be good at singing. You don't have to be good at dancing or acting. If you like to do it, if you genuinely enjoy doing it, then do it. No one should stop you.'

Her Stranger Things character Eleven doesn't talk much but Millie said she made use of her other senses.

'You can talk with your face,' she explained. 'Its very easy for someone to say, "Im mad. I'm sad. I'm angry.' I have to just do it with my face.'

Strike a pose: The starlet looked chic in an embroidered skirt and jacket combo with turtleneck and boots before changing into a striped dress

Red carpet style: The Netflix star wore her hair swept back in a chignon and wore a little makeup as she posed at the Sirius XM studios

The English actress discussed her love of acting and how she knew from age eight that it's what she wanted to do.

Her parents moved her and her siblings from Bournemouth, England to Orlando, Florida so she could pursue her dream.

'It was like a bug,' she said, 'I know this sounds crazy, but once I find something I want to do, nobodys stopping me. If I dont know how to sew, and I really had that passion to sew, thats it, Im going to sew. Thats also with acting. So here I am.'

Millie looked stylish during an appearance at the Sirius XM studios in New York on Wednesday as she was joined by her Stranger Things costars.

Gang's together: Millie was joined by her Netflix costars Gaten Matarazzo, Sadie Sink, Finn Wolfhard and Caleb McLaughlin for a Q&A

Fun work: The English starlet couldn't stop giggling as she sat down with her pals for a chat about the second season

And she's funny too! The actress worked her infectious personality on the room

She wore a chic embroidered skirt and jacket two-piece over a black turtleneck and ankle boots.

Her brunette locks were swept back in an elegant chignon and she wore just a touch of makeup.

Later in the day as she continued her promo duties Millie changed into a striped fitted mini dress in aqua blue and maroon.

Finishing the look was a pair of funky grey and black sneakers.

The starlet also opened up about how weird it was having so many people watch her have her first kiss while filming the Netflix hit show.

Fashion maven: The actress blew a kiss at onlookers as she headed to TRL

On the move: Millie has a busy schedule with promotional duties for Stranger Things 2

'Having 250 people looking at you kissing someone is like, "Whoa!"'

The actress shares her very first kiss on camera with co-star Finn Wolfhard on season one of the sci-fi series.

And while the kiss wasn't a first for her co-star Finn, Mille said she had some doubts about that.

'He says I wasn't, but I definitely think I was,' the actress said. 'I think he was just trying to be cool.'

Trendsetter: The TV star was later seen in a aqua blue dress and some cool sneakers

On the fashion pulse: Millie finished off her look with some hip tiny sunglasses
He's been hard at work on his new mini-series, Melrose.

And Benedict Cumberbatch threw himself into another day of filming on Wednesday as he was seen on set in Glasgow city centre - which has been transformed to look like 1980s New York.

The 41-year-old British actor is playing troubled playboy Patrick Melrose, a fictional infamous playboy based on the novel series by Edward St. Aubyn.

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On set: Benedict Cumberbatch threw himself into another day of filming on Wednesday as he was seen on set in Glasgow city centre - which has been transformed to look like 1980s NYC

The scenes appeared to be dramatic ones, as Benedict clutched his hands to his stomach, as if to suggest his character had been injured or was concealing something of great experience.

The Doctor Strange star looked dapper for the cameras, dressed in a smart black coat and crisp shirt and tie.

Other actors were seen on set in full costume, sporting eighties inspired looks.

Filming: Other actors were seen on set in full costume, sporting eighties inspired looks

Transformed: The 41-year-old British actor is playing troubled playboy Patrick Melrose, a fictional infamous playboy based on the novel series by Edward St. Aubyn (pictured right)

Playing the titular character Patrick Melrose, Benedict will tell the story of the infamous playboy based on the novel series by Edward St. Aubyn.

Each book will follow one episode of the five-part series, about playboy Melrose and his deterioration into substance abuse after a difficult childhood.

Framed around several intense days in Melrose's life, the series will jump from 1960s South France to 1980s New York to early 2000s Britain.

Something to hide? The scenes appeared to be dramatic ones, as Benedict clutched his hands to his stomach, as if to suggest his character had been injured or was concealing something

Suited and booted: The Doctor Strange star looked dapper for the cameras, dressed in a smart black coat and crisp shirt and tie as he grasped himself

Coming soon: Each book will follow one episode of the five-part series, about playboy Melrose and his deterioration into substance abuse after a difficult childhood

Benedict will executive produce the series as well as star, after revealing in a Reddit Q&A in 2013 if he could play any literary character ever it would be Patrick Melrose.

Fellow big screen stars Hugo Weaving and Jennifer Jason Leigh will star in the series, though an air date has not yet been set.

Fans will be surely be excited to see the star back on screen, though his most recent role has been delayed in light of the Harvey Weinstein scandal.

One to watch: Framed around several intense days in Melrose's life, the series will jump from 1960s South France to 1980s New York to early 2000s Britain

Talented: Benedict will executive produce the series as well as star, after revealing in a Reddit Q&A in 2013 if he could play any literary character ever it would be Patrick Melrose

The Current War, in which the actor plays legendary inventor Thomas Edison, was scheduled for release in November, but the Weinstein Company picture has since been delayed to 2018.

Girls star Alison Williams is also set to take on a guest role in the series, as a woman Melrose encounters during his playboy years in New York.

Far from the Madding Crowd writer David Nicholls will pen all five episodes for the project, which is expected to air some time in 2018.
He recently joked that he had 'coke in his villa' while on holiday with friends - risking 24 years in Turkish prison.

But Jeremy McConnell appeared to cast the drama aside on Wednesday, as he spent a day with a mystery woman in sunny Turkey.

The reality star, 27, took to his Instagram to share a cosy selfie with the pretty brunette - before posting a playful video of the pair dancing in his hotel room, with the tattooed star in nothing but underwear.

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Who's that girl: Jeremy McConnell shared a number of snaps with a mystery woman to his Instagram on Wednesday, while away in sunny Turkey

In the now-deleted image, the former Celebrity Big Brother is seen beaming widely for the camera with his arm around the brunette beauty's shoulder.

While the pair both flashed their pearly whites in the snap, Jeremy labelled the location as 'Sevil Smile Studio' - a dentistry clinic in Turkey - implying the pair may be having their teeth done while away.

Later that evening, Jeremy then shared a clip of him and the brunette dancing around in his hotel room, captioned: 'I am Ricky Martin'.

Shall we dance? Later that evening, Jeremy then shared a clip of him and the brunette dancing around in his hotel room, captioned: 'I am Ricky Martin'

Proving to be having a fun time away, the Irish model was seen performing his moves in nothing but his underpants, as he twirled the beauty around to her delight.

Jeremy's representatives declined to comment when approached by MailOnline.

The status of their relationship is not known, but the social media activity comes amid rumours Jeremy is dating single mum Demi-Leigh Wilson, 21.

Throwing shapes: Proving to be having a fun time away, the Irish model was seen performing his moves in nothing but his underpants, as he twirled the beauty around to her delight

Wild child Jeremy reportedly met his new flame Demi while carrying out his community service after relocating from Ireland to Wales.

The string of posts however also come just one day after Jeremy, who is a recovering addict, claimed to have kept cocaine in his luxury villa.

In video obtained by The Sun Online, the reality star was filmed boasting about his class-A contraband, despite running the risk of being arrested and sentenced up to 24 years if found with the illegal substance.

In the clip, the Dubliner can be seen in a rust-coloured T-shirt, showcasing his intricate tattoos as he addressed his prohibited stash.

Claims: The posts come after Jeremy claimed to have kept cocaine in his luxury villa during a holiday to Turkey with his pals

Speaking to those around him, he said: 'You are all chickens. Ive got coke in that f***ing villa, sitting there waiting for my nose to come. I don't give a f**k.'

According to the Foreign Office, the Irish model could run the risk of falling foul to Turkey's strict drug laws and face 24 years in prison should he be approached by authorities and found with any illegal substances during his trip.

A spokesperson for the star told MailOnline that he was merely joking in the video, saying: 'It is well known that Jeremy is still in recovery from his addiction. Jeremy likes to make light-hearted jokes about drug use which can sometimes be misconstrued.'

It comes days after he was filmed partying in a hotel room next to suspicious white powder before laughing at a host of horrific jokes made by his friends.

Shocking: Jeremy was filmed partying in a hotel room next to suspicious white powder before laughing at a host of horrific jokes made by his friends

The reality star - who is currently in Cardiff carrying out his community service - shared a Snapchat video last week in which he showed the mysterious powder presented in lines on the table.

In other shocking moments, the former CBB star - who was recently charged with assaulting his ex-girlfriend Stephanie Davis - was overheard laughing at jokes made by his friends regarding the mass Las Vegas shooting this month, and even his dead mother.

Jeremy - who attended rehab in April for drink and drug addiction - was seen partying next to the powder as well as empty bottles and glasses.

Trying times: Jeremy, 27 - who is currently in Cardiff carrying out community service - shared a Snapchat which showed the mysterious powder in three lines on the table (top picture)

The image was captioned 'Swear to god mate, 4 trains'. The term 'c-train' is slang for the drug cocaine.

According to the government's guidelines, any misbehaviour while a criminal is carrying out community service could see them being given a warning or sent back to court.

The Mirror then reports that in footage shot the next morning, the former Beauty School Cop Outs star laughs at an impression of his dead mother.

Recovering addict: Jeremy - who attended rehab in April for drink and drug addiction - was seen partying next to the powder as well as empty bottles with a friend in his hotel room

Bad to worse: The Mirror reports that in footage shot the next morning, the Beauty School Cop Outs star laughs at an impression of his dead mother (footage from the night before above)

His friend covers himself in a sheet and pretends to be a ghost as he calls out: 'Jeremy, it's your mother speaking... I'm back from the dead! It's your family back from the dead.'

Jeremy's friend then aims a vodka bottle out of their hotel window at the streets below to mimic a rifle whilst making machine gun sound effects.

The scenes were shockingly similar to the the recent Las Vegas shooting this month that saw Stephen Paddock kill 58 and maim 546 other people with semi-automatic rifles from the window of the Mandalay Bay hotel.

Shocking: Jeremy's friend aims a vodka bottle out of their hotel window (above) at the streets below to mimic a rifle whilst making machine gun sound effects

Imitation: The scenes aired on his Snapchat (above) were shockingly similar to the the recent Las Vegas shooting this month, which saw 58 killed and 546 injured by a semi-automatic rifle

Not fazed by the actions, Jeremy is overheard laughing at the imitation.

Jeremy's representatives declined to comment when approached by MailOnline.

Jeremy's shock footage came after he threw a raucous party in his Cardiff hotel room in the midst of his community service in the Welsh city.

The reality star - who is currently completing the 200 hours of unpaid work for assaulting Stephanie - enjoyed a booze-fuelled night and even documented the evening on his Snapchat.

Traumatised: Former Hollyoaks star Steph, 24, (above) was bruised on her arms and head, bitten on her arm and said she feared for her life

In one clip, the Dublin native sang along to music in a pub, while one of Jeremy's three pals - one man and two women - shared footage of their party once back in the room.

The foursome - including his rumoured new squeeze Demi-Leigh - were filmed ordering a number of bottles of wine from the hotel's room service.

Jeremy is in Cardiff doing 200 hours of unpaid work, after he was convicted of throwing his then pregnant girlfriend Steph 'around like a rag doll' leaving her shaken, battered and bruised on March 9.

Former Hollyoaks star Steph, 24, was bruised on her arms and head, bitten on her arm and said she feared for her life.

Her victim impact statement read at Liverpool JPs' court, said: 'I feel a nervous wreck, like I'm drowning.'

Family: He and Stephanie share a son together, Caben-Albi

Guilty: Jeremy was sentenced to 200 hours of unpaid work, after he was convicted of throwing his then pregnant girlfriend Steph (above) 'around like a rag doll' on March 9

McConnell denied the attack in St Helens, Merseyside, after suspecting Steph of a lesbian affair and fling with a fireman.

He narrowly avoided jail, as the judge slammed him for showing 'no remorse', despite attacking Steph while she held their baby son Caben-Albi in her arms.

Last week, friends of the star said he was taking his community service seriously and is using it as a turning point in his life.

Prior to the assault, Jeremy had spent time at Smarmore Castle, a private rehab clinic in Ireland, to be treated for 'chemical dependency' and battle his addiction with substance abuse.

In April, Jeremy had posted a message his Instagram, revealing he was going to rehab and finally seeking help for the sake of himself and his family, after 'falling into a downward spiral' of drink and drugs.
Coronation Street crew members are reportedly threatening to walk out over their working conditions, blaming long hours and unsatisfactory equipment for their uproar.

In the run up to the intense Christmas shows, the behind the scenes team are said to be dismayed that annual leave has allegedly been cut, and have complained of being overworked.

An insider told The Sun Online: 'Theyre short staffed and overworked and the crew have had enough. Its been made worse since they started filming six episodes a week.'

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Chaos on the cobbles: Coronation Street crew members are reportedly threatening to walk out over their working conditions, blaming long hours and unsatisfactory equipment for their uproar (pictured: Catherine Tyldesley who plays Eva Price on the soap)

Revealing the severity of the problem, they added: 'Corrie bosses are facing a mutiny if nothing is done to change whats happening behind the scenes.

Claiming that they have been forced to work with outdated and broken equipment despite the recent 10 million set revamp, the source added: 'They pay the cast millions every year, but seem to forget they wouldnt have a show if it wasnt for the crew working behind the scenes.'

A spokesperson for Coronation Street told MailOnline: 'We have not been made aware of any broken equipment or issues over scheduling.

'If anyone had such concerns we would expect to be made aware of it directly.'

Disgruntled: In the run up to the intense Christmas shows, the behind the scenes team are said to be dismayed that annual leave has allegedly been cut, and have complained of being overworked (pictured: Helen Flanagan (L) and Brooke Vincent (R) chat with the crew)

The claims come after Coronation Street producers came under fire from viewers over the graphic nature of Pat Phelan's murder scenes last week.

Viewers filed nearly 400 complaints to TV regulator Ofcom over violent murder scenes broadcast pre-watershed.

They watched in horror as kidnapper Pat Phelan (Connor McIntyre) forced captive Andy Carver (Oliver Farnworth) to kill Vinny Ashford (Ian Kesley) before shooting him too in a dark double-bill that aired at 8.30pm on Friday night.

'Appalling': The claims come after Corrie bosses came under fire from shocked viewers after Pat Phelan (Connor McIntyre, pictured) forced captive Andy Carver to shoot Vinny Ashford in violent pre-watershed scenes

Murderer and murdered: Andy was seen wielding a gun with a crazed look in his eye as Pat goaded him into committing the crime, before shooting him dead too

Dozens took to Twitter to complain that the soap had 'gone way too far' and claimed the scenes were 'more like a horror movie' than a family-friendly soap.

Ofcom confirmed that it had received 390 complaints in relation to the broadcast.

A spokesperson added: 'We will assess these complaints before deciding whether or not to investigate.'
It confirmed it would be back for a dramatic third season earlier this summer.

And Stan Lee's Lucky Man looks set to make an explosive return to screens as James Nesbitt got to work filming an intense scene in Greenwich, London, on Wednesday.

The 52-year-old actor looked the ultimate action man as he disarmed an unknown assailant, while flanked by a number of gun-toting officers.

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He's back! Stan Lee's Lucky Man looks set to make an explosive return to screens as James Nesbitt got to work filming an intense scene in Greenwich, London, on Wednesday

Returning as luck-controlling Detective Inspector Clayton, James was typically sharp-suited, while his target was clad in a sinister all black ensemble.

But the chill looked to get the better of the Irish actor between takes as he was pictured banishing the cold with a large padded jacket.

While filming took place in the British capital, it's believed most of the series will be based in Hong Kong.

Stopping them in their tracks! The 52-year-old actor looked the ultimate action man as he disarmed an unknown assailant, while flanked by a number of gun-toting officers

Dressed the part: Returning as luck-controlling Detective Inspector Clayton, James was typically sharp-suited

Cold Feet, James? The chill looked to get the better of the Irish actor between takes as he was pictured banishing the cold with a large padded jacket

Clayton travels to the city in search of more answers about his 'lucky' charm bracelet.

Those following the show from the start will know that the DI can control his own luck after being given the mysterious bracelet by a woman named Eve.

Speaking about the upcoming eight-part series, Nesbitt enthused: 'Stan Les's Lucky Man is such an exciting series to make and the scripts for this season are brilliant.

Pulling out the stops: London's Greenwich was taken over by extras clad as armed police officers

Home and away: While filming took place in the British capital, it's believed most of the series will be based in Hong Kong

'Harry Claytons luck is running out which throws up some interesting storylines. And also takes him, and me, to Hong Kong  the perfect setting for Stan Lee mayhem!

Director of Sky 1, Adam MacDonald, added: 'Stan Lees Lucky Man and Bulletproof are exactly the kind of bold drama that Sky 1 viewers love.

'Were in for quite the ride in this next chapter of Lucky Man and like the shows million-strong fan base, I cant wait to see the return of James Nesbitt as Detective Inspector Clayton.'

Lucky Man will return to Sky 1 in 2018.

Menacing: James' target was clad in a sinister all black ensemble
She's known for her provocative photoshoots but also her butter-wouldn't-melt smile.

And as Daisy Lowe cosied up to a fellow model Lottie Moss in London on Wednesday night, it seemed obvious what they had in common.

Party hopping across town to three different bashes, Daisy made a quick change into a bra top and co-ords for the Vodafone launch and NastyGal parties, across town.

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Woah! Daisy Lowe showed off her bra as she partied around London on Wednesday night

The brunette contrasted the red carpet with her copper co-ord, which was left open to reveal her scalloped bralet.

She layered up her necklaces and pearls for a glamorous touch, but dressed the loose-fitting trousers with comfortable, gig-going trainers.

Daisy joined guests at The Vodafone Vaults to watch Craig David perform his latest hit single Heartline in celebration of the new Vodafone Passes.

The intimate party - which was hosted by comedian Jon Culshaw at Londons Bankside Vaults - saw guests guided through the ever-expanding space and immersed into the world of music, video, chat and social media.

In town: The brunette cosied up to fellow modeal Lottie Moss

Woah! Daisy wore a matching bra and slouchy co-ords to the Vodafone Passes launch

Showing everything off: The brunette showcased her cleavage in the tiny top which offered a look at her ample cleavage and toned stomach

Quick change: Earlier that night, she'd been dressed in a covered up dress by Paul & Joe for the Be Cool, Be Nice event

Be nice: Daisy was helping to support anti-bullying month

Vodafone Passes is a new way for consumers to enjoy more of the video, music, social and chat apps they love without using up their monthly data allowance.

Guests on the night included Marvin Humes, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Roxie Nafousi, Emma Louise Connolly.

She wore the same outfit to end her evening at NastyGal's UK pop-up launch party, just an hour later.

This time, the playful brunette slung the jacket off one shoulder and enjoyed hanging out with socialite Ella Eyre and boyband star Dougie Poynter.

NastyGal: Daisy hot-footed it across town to the NastyGal UK pop-up launch, later that night

Party gals: Daisy hung out with Ella Eyre on the night, who was also seen at the event

Old friends: Daisy also shared a few pictures with boyband hunk Dougie Poynter

Chic: Her comfortable trainers made it light work to move around the city

Fashionista: The model was pose-perfect as she stood in the doorway to the store

Group shot: Ella and Daisy were spotted hanging out with musician MNEK

Earlier that night, Daisy had been dressed in a reserved fashion, as she lent her support to anti-bullying month.

Dressed in a demure, high-neck dress, Daisy joined guests at the BE COOL BE NICE book launch.

The new campaign celebrates the positive power of social media, bringing together influencers and VIPs at the House of Lords.

Poser: Taking the opportunity to stop and pose, Daisy pouted with brown lipstick

By night: She made the quick change into a more revealing outfit, later that night

Comfy: Daisy was ready for the Craig David gig in loose-fitting trousers and trainers

All bronze everything: Her co-ord was matching from top to toe

Playful: Daisy flicked her hair about as she arrived at the launch, acting animated on the red carpet

It Takes Two: Daisy was reunited with her Strictly Come Dancing friend Greg Rutherford at the party with the pair cosying up for a hug

Feisty Daisy is known for standing up for herself - and her female friends.

Daisy hosts her own 'Femme podcast', featuring honest chats about the Highs and Lowes of being woman.

Chatting on the podcast, she recently defended her friendship with former Scrictly co-star Louise Redknapp.

Back on stage: JLS' Marvin Humes treated the guests to a performance on the night

Rocking out: Craig David also delighted the crowds as he took to the stage to perform

Cosy: Donna Air and Henry Holland chatted away as they caught up at the star-studded bash

Glam: Channelling understated chic, Donna Aor opted for a teal satin blouse featuring a knot detail, which showcased her slim frame with a cinched-in waist

In the hood: Professor Green kept things casual in a green hoodie and baggy jeans whilst Naomi Isted upped the glamour in a hooded gold dress and gingham heels

Cute couple: Tom Daley and husband Dustin Lance Black snuggled up at the party

Heartline: Craig David at the intimate party - which was hosted by comedian Jon Culshaw at Londons Bankside Vaults

Crowd pleasing: The Rewind hitmaker performed at the event which celebrated Vodafone's new passes which are split into four categories: The Video Pass; The Music Pass; The Social Pass and The Chat Pass

Seeing the humour in rumours that the two women are in a relationship, she said: 'I'm aware of all the lesbian hints. It actually makes me laugh.'

'People find it strange we are friends. Why? She's an amazing, warm, honest woman. I'm proud of her. This is what women should do, support each other.'

While reports have said that Daisy has been a shoulder for Louise to cry on during her marriage woes with husband Jamie, the London native revealed it was the former Eternal songstress who lifted her spirits after her grandfather passed away.

Looking good: Roxie Nafousi dazzled in a geometric print shirt and culottes as she partied alongside magician Damien O'Brien who donned a leather jacket and skinny jeans

Three of a kind: Kurupt looked chirpy as they posed for snaps at the party

Chic and cheerful: Kat Shoob flashed a hint of leg in a mini skirt and knee high boots whilst Henry Holland rocked eye-catching gingham trousers
She's been winning in the sexy Halloween costume stakes.

But Demi Rose was back on red carpet form on Wednesday night, as she lead guests at the NastyGal UK pop-up launch in a leggy black dress.

Showcasing her curvaceous figure once again, the busty brunette kept things simple in a skintight number that flashed a little leg with a sexy side split.

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Busty look: Demi Rose showed off her ample cleavage as she arrived at the NastyGal UK pop-up launch on Wednesday night in a leggy black dress

Wearing black from top to toe, the curve queen offset her nighttime look with a slick of scarlet lipstick.

She pulled her hair back to draw attention to her pretty features and batted long lashes as she entered the bash to join a star-studded turnout.

Guests included Lottie Moss, Tallia Storm and Daisy Lowe as the American fashion brand brought a pop-up store to London's Carnaby Street.

Queen of curves: Posing inside the store, Demi span to reveal her curvaceous derriere

Leggy look: The dress featured a split in the middle, which she nagivated well

Little black dress: She chose the perfect outfit for showcasing her curvaceous figure

PartyGal! Demi didn't need a jacket for her minimal outfit, and braved the cold instead

Stunning: She pulled her hair back to draw attention to her pretty features and batted long lashes as she headed inside

Snap happy! She posed alongside the new line of clothing inside the venue

What an exit! She left the launch in a flurry of flashes

Demi has been taking Halloween particularly seriously this year, after posing for a special 'dress-up' photoshoot.

Channeling some very sexy superheroes, Tyga's ex proved that there was nothing scary about her take on the spooky season.

She was predominately clad in PVC, from sexy red to vampy black, as she seduced in behind the scenes shots she teased on her Instagram page.

Leggy! She showed off her toned and tanned pins as she left

Chest a glimpse! Demi put on a busty display as she left the bash

Her last but by no means least ensemble was a seductive warrior princess-style number in navy PVC

She then slipped her curves into a racy red devil number, left unzipped all down the front

Her first choice was a ruffled black PVC number which barely covered her chest, worn alongside a long silver wig

Demi had some competition in the curves department on Wednesday night, because model Daisy was in the NastyGal house, too.

The brunette contrasted the red carpet with her copper co-ord, which was left open to reveal her scalloped bralet.

She layered up her necklaces and pearls for a glamorous touch, but dressed the loose-fitting trousers with comfortable trainers.

NastyGal: Daisy Lowe was among the guests at the NastyGal UK pop-up launch

Party gals: Daisy hung out with Ella Eyre on the night, who was also seen at the event

Old friends: Daisy also shared a few pictures with boyband hunk Dougie Poynter

Chic: Her comfortable trainers made it light work to move around the city

Fashionista: The model was pose-perfect as she stood in the doorway to the store

Group shot: Ella and Daisy were spotted hanging out with musician MNEK

Feeling blue! Ella Eyre oozed understated cool in a blue faux fur coat and matching trainers

Pals: Ella posed alongside Daisy Lowe at the bash

Meanwhile, Kate Moss' younger half-sister was spotted shopping for her new season wardrobe, inside the store.

The blonde was dressed in a sophisticated fashion in a blazer dress as she picked from the rails with enthusiasm.

Lottie was accompanied by Tallia Storm, while Daisy rubbed shoulders with Ella Eyre and musician MNEK.

Sophisticated: Lottie Moss was seen shopping for her own new garbs inside the store

Hanging out: Lottie was snapped talking to social butterfly Tallia Storm

Sophisticated: The duo matched in black outfits and pointed heels

An eye for style: Tallia picked out her favourite jacket from the collection

Starry-eyed: Dougie Poynter and Zara Martin were also among the guests

NastyGals: The Goodman sisters Chloe and Lauryn wore their raciest outfits

Brave display: Chloe went completely braless with her chest on show

Turning heads: Liam Payne's ex Danielle Peazer also put in an appearance at the bash wearing a HASAN HEJAZI monchrome minidress
Baruch Levy, whose parents were encouraged to emigrate to British Mandate Palestine by the Balfour Declaration, discusses his life in an interview with AFP in Tel Aviv on October 30, 2017

It was just 67 words written in a faraway country a century ago, but it shaped their lives, Israelis and Palestinians say.

Thursday marks the 100th anniversary of the Balfour Declaration, when the British government said it viewed "with favour the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people".

The anniversary is a joyous occasion for Israelis, the precursor to the creation of their state in 1948, with the declaration encouraging Jews to emigrate to the land of their ancestors.

Michael Oren, an Israeli deputy minister, recently called it the "high-water mark of Zionist diplomacy."

For Palestinians, however, it marks the beginning of a catastrophe -- arguably leading to hundreds of thousands fleeing or being forced from their homes during the war surrounding Israel's creation.

It is also seen as having helped sow the seeds of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and Israel's ongoing 50-year occupation of the West Bank.

Small numbers of Jews, including those having fled anti-Semitic persecution elsewhere, lived on the land before 1917 alongside Palestinian communities.

Zionist leaders were encouraging mass immigration as part of efforts to fulfil their dream of a Jewish state in the land from where their ancient ancestors fled.

But the open letter penned by British foreign secretary Arthur James Balfour provided new impetus for the push.

Baruch Levy's parents left Iraq for Mandate Palestine in 1934, cradling him in their arms. He had been born the year before in Baghdad.

"My parents were Zionist, religious people. They came here I believe following the Balfour Declaration... after the First World War when the British took over," he said.

"That gave them and other communities a kind of push to come."

This handout file photo taken in 1925 and obtained from the Israeli Government Press Office (GPO) on October 24, 2017, shows a copy of the Balfour Declaration dated on November 2, 1917

Relations between Jewish and Palestinian communities had never been perfect, but they worsened as the British mandate in Palestine following World War I wore on, he said.

Levy remembers fighting between the communities from time to time.

"The Jewish goal was from the very beginning building the Jewish home," he said.

"The Arabs, as I see it, were always kind of an obstacle, or putting obstacles to us as Jewish people."

Levy said he remembers the anniversary of Balfour as a day of celebration for Jewish communities.

"As a child we always celebrated the second of November in schools, in streets, in youth movements. It was like the beginning of something."

- 'Destroyed our world' -

Palestinians see it differently.

Mohammed Hilleyel, 94, was born only six years after the letter prescribed a future for the land he came from, but he was not to know of its existence for more than two decades.

While the decision was published in the British press in 1917, Hilleyel said there was no real effort to inform Palestinians living on the land during the British mandate period that ended in 1948, when the state of Israel was founded.

Baruch Levy, whose parents were encouraged to emigrate to British Mandate Palestine by the Balfour Declaration, discusses his life in an interview with AFP in Tel Aviv on October 30, 2017

It was only in 1946, two years before he and his family would have to flee their farmlands near Jaffa and eventually end up in Gaza, that they learned of the British declaration from a military officer.

When told of what in Arabic is called the Balfour promise, he says he was shocked. The British, he said, "destroyed our world".

"What is Britain to me? It's the Balfour agreement."

Other Palestinians, especially in larger cities, did know, and Rima Tarazi, born in 1932, said there were regular protests against British policies during the mandate era.

Despite this thousands of Jews arrived in mandate Palestine during the British period, and Tarazi accused the British of unfair treatment.

"There was no right or justice in the whole Balfour Declaration. How did they have the right to give somebody's land to somebody else? I could never understand that."

She said the declaration has "haunted" the Palestinian people for 100 years.

Despite worsening relations as the British mandate worn on, Tarazi remembers they had Jewish neighbours, the Eisenbergs, whom they were close to.

During World War II as word of atrocities against Jews came out of Germany, the family's mother came to speak to Tarazi's.

"She told her 'If the Nazis ever came here will you promise me to take care of Batia my daughter as your daughter?' My mother said 'of course.'"
A young girl reacts as police officers secure an area following the deadly truck attack in New York

It was supposed to be a day of fun -- trick-or-treating in fancy dress on the annual candy haul. But Halloween turned into a nightmare after a truck driver killed eight people in one of New York's trendiest neighborhoods.

In the wake of what New York's mayor called a "cowardly act of terror," children were evacuated from one nearby elementary school with nervous parents after a 29-year-old man mowed down pedestrians and cyclists before smashing into a school bus.

"It was terrible. We're here every day. This is our route to school, where we walk the dog, go to the supermarket," said Yvonne Villiguer, 52, whose nine-year-old son is dressed as the Grim Reaper, clutching a scythe.

October 31 normally sees TriBeCa, one of the most expensive neighborhoods in Manhattan home to celebrities, wealthy families, gleaming glass condo buildings and luxury boutiques, revel in Halloween festivities.

But this year, children went door to door, sidestepping police and news crews a stone's throw away and hours after a 29-year-old terror suspect, identified by American television networks as an Uzbek citizen from Florida, wrought death.

Villiguer's initial plan was to take her son through the streets for the customary haul of candy. But in the aftermath of the attack, they restricted themselves to the nearby apartment building of some friends.

"This has ruined the holiday," said nearby 41-year-old doorman Conce Dadd on Warren Street, just steps from the scene of the attack as he opens and closes the door to children dressed as Harry Potter and a sumo wrestler.

"That's life. It can happen any moment. There's nothing you can do," he sighed philosophically. "Only thing you can do is to punish the guy who did it."

- 'Super nervous' -

Police officers secure an area following the attack

Angelica Pinera, a 30-year-old mother in a caramel coat ran after girls aged 10 to 12 dressed up as Alice in Wonderland, Minnie the Mouse and Little Bo Beep.

The street was dark save for the bright lights of police cars and fire trucks. Many were afraid to go out asking for sweets when they heard about the attack, but children's excitement built up all year won over for others.

"I'm super nervous and sad," admitted Pinera, outside a primary school that closed its doors for safety.

"It's the last straw when something like that happens. This day is so special and with the kids near the school, it's worrisome."

Ilke Mancov, who lives nearby, said he was very worried about his family when he heard about the attack -- while he was at work.

Some hours later, he kept a watchful eye as he stepped with his children -- one Little Red Riding Hood and one Wolf -- past the police cordon so they could fill their bags with chocolate and candy.

"We live a block away from where everything happened, so I was very worried," the father in his 30s told AFP.

"There are a lot of kids because this happened in between two schools," Mancov said, pointing to an elementary school on one side and a high school on the other.

"It hits home. New York is not the type of place where you can do anything. In fact, it is surprising that it hasn't happened more often," he added.

"It's just how it is. It's the world we live in. If it had happened an hour later, all the kids would have been coming out of school and it would have been much much worse."
The Pistorius trial became a landmark event in South Africa's judicial history. On Friday, the Supreme Court of Appeal will hear a petition from prosecutors that his six-year term for murder was too low

South African prosecutors on Friday will argue for Oscar Pistorius to be given a longer jail sentence, saying the six years he is serving for killing his girlfriend is "shockingly low".

The National Prosecution Authority will present its case to a one-day hearing at the Supreme Court of Appeal in Bloemfontein. Judges are expected to hand down their ruling at a later date.

The Paralympic athlete shot dead Reeva Steenkamp in the early hours of Valentine's Day in 2013, when he fired four times through the door of his bedroom toilet -- an act, he says, that came from mistaking her for a burglar.

Pistorius was originally convicted of culpable homicide -- the equivalent of manslaughter -- in 2014, but the appeal court in Bloemfontein upgraded his conviction to murder in 2015.

Pistorius, 30, who is being held at the Atteridgeville Correctional Centre prison in Pretoria, will not be in court on Friday.

"We believe the sentence is shockingly low," NPA spokesman Luvuyo Mfaku told AFP.

"The court has discretion to deviate from the minimum sentence for murder of 15 years, after considering the circumstances, but we say that you cannot go so far below.

"We cannot allow a situation where we create a precedent for a person sentenced for murder. It is inappropriate if you look at the gravity of the offence."

Mfaku denied that the NPA was pursuing Pistorius due to his fame.

"It is not personal, we are addressing a principle here, we would have done this for anyone," he said.

- 'Pay for his crime' -

A spokesman for the Pistorius family was not immediately available to comment, but his lawyers have previously said they accepted his current sentence.

At his sentencing last year, High Court judge Thokozile Masipa listed mitigating factors, including the athlete's claim he believed he was shooting an intruder.

"He cannot be at peace. I'm of the view that a long term of imprisonment will not serve justice," Masipa said.

But Steenkamp's father Barry told the court that he wanted Pistorius to "pay for his crime".

No caption

Members of the ruling African National Congress (ANC) women's league, who attended many court sessions, have criticised the sentence for failing to send a message against domestic violence in South Africa.

The year before he killed Steenkamp, Pistorius became the first double-amputee to race at the Olympics when he competed at the London 2012 games.

Previously a role model for disabled people worldwide, he was released from jail in 2015 after serving one year of a five-year term for culpable homicide.

He returned behind bars after his conviction for murder.

Pistorius, who pleaded not guilty at his trial in 2014, has always denied the accusation that he killed Steenkamp while in a rage.

He has insisted that he was trying to protect her.

In a television interview, he said he believed an intruder was in the house and "instant fear" drove him to grab his gun and walk on his stumps towards the bathroom.

"All of a sudden I hear a noise, at the toilet. I presumed it was the toilet door opening and before I knew it, I'd fired four shots," he said.
North Korea, known for its florid insults, has described US President Donald Trump as a 'nuclear war maniac' and a 'dotard', an obscure term for a weak or senile old man

North Korea slammed US President Donald Trump as "incurably mentally deranged" in a personal diatribe ahead of his first visit to Asia as head of state, amid high tensions over Pyongyang's nuclear ambitions.

Trump and the North's leader Kim Jong-Un have traded threats of war and personal insults against each other in recent months, heightening worries about a potential conflict on the divided Korean peninsula.

Trump has warned of "fire and fury" and "calm before the storm", telling the UN General Assembly that Washington would "totally destroy North Korea" if it had to defend itself or its allies.

He dubbed Kim "Rocket Man" in the same speech -- Pyongyang has tested missiles apparently capable of reaching much of the US mainland -- and days later Kim responded with a personal statement calling Trump a "dotard", an obscure term for a weak or senile old man.

The US president is due in Asia at the weekend and ahead of his arrival the North's state-run KCNA news agency lashed out at "bellicose and irresponsible rhetoric" by the "master of invective".

"He absolutely needs medicine for curing his psychical disorder," it said.

The US has deployed key military assets including jet fighters and aircraft carriers near the peninsula following the North's sixth nuclear test in September, which also saw the United Nations impose an eighth set of sanctions on the isolated country.

KCNA described the sanctions drive as "desperate efforts" that would prove ineffective and Trump's hostile rhetoric as "hysteric spasmodic symptoms".

Trump, it said late Tuesday, "disclosed his true nature as a nuclear war maniac before the world and was diagnosed as 'incurably mentally deranged'".

Trump's itinerary includes Japan, South Korea, China, Vietnam and the Philippines, with all eyes on his message to the North and Kim.

Pyongyang says it needs nuclear weapons to defend itself against possible invasion by the US.

During a November 7-8 visit to the South -- a security ally of Washington that hosts 28,500 US troops -- Trump is due to address Seoul's parliament and visit a US military base, although he will not go to the Demilitarized Zone that divides the Koreas.
Since taking office in April 2016, Attorney General Farid Hamidi has been throwing open his doors to the public every Monday in an effort to build confidence in the law and root out venal officials

Abdul Qader shuffles into the office of Afghanistan's attorney general a broken man -- his son was slaughtered "like a sheep" and no one has been brought to justice.

The 75-year-old is one of many ordinary Afghans who feel let down by the country's judicial system -- where convictions are hard to secure due to endemic corruption, inefficiency and a lack of resources.

For some their only hope is to travel to Kabul to seek redress.

Since taking office in April 2016, Attorney General Farid Hamidi has been throwing open his doors to the public every Monday in an effort to build confidence in the law and root out venal officials.

Hamidi, a former member of the country's human rights commission, begins receiving the first of dozens of petitioners in his office at 8:00 a.m.

He stays until he has seen the last person, taking a half hour break to eat and pray. The meetings sometimes finish as late as 8:00 p.m.

The cases are a collection of misery and together illustrate the poverty and injustices endured by many Afghans, on top of the violence that has become part of the fabric of the war-torn country.

"My son was decapitated in Herat," Qader, who is blind and almost crippled, tells Hamidi, explaining that his 43-year-old son was a street vendor in a Taliban-controlled area of the province bordering Iran.

"His head was chopped off like a sheep's" 18 months ago while he slept in a hotel room, he said.

Three people were charged with his murder but they were later acquitted by a court. The gruesome case remains unsolved.

"No justice was delivered," Qader tells Hamidi, another son sitting beside him for support. "If you deliver me justice I will pray for you."

Abdul Qader shuffles into the office of Afghanistan's attorney general a broken man -- his son was slaughtered "like a sheep" and no one has been brought to justice

Graft permeates nearly every public institution in Afghanistan, but the judicial system is ranked by Afghans as the most corrupt, Transparency International said last year -- compounding the incompetence and laziness that also hamper the delivery of justice.

Judges, prosecutors and police are frequently bribed and influenced by powerful or wealthy interests seeking to stop investigations or ensure favourable outcomes.

That has deprived many ordinary Afghans of a fair hearing and inadvertently strengthened support for the Taliban in some areas where they are seen as stronger and more efficient than the government on law and order.

- 'He will kill me' -

A woman whose seven-year-old daughter was kidnapped more than two years ago in the northern province of Kunduz and married to an older man begs Hamidi to help retrieve her little girl.

"I can't take my daughter back and I don't have anyone to help me," says the woman, wearing a black hijab as she holds out a photo of her child with her henna-stained hands.

"I can't go there (to her son-in-law's home), he will kill me," she says before she is ushered out of the room sobbing.

Around 30,000 petitions, including those filed by the 6,000 people who have met face-to-face with Hamidi, have been processed by his office. Issues range from property disputes and divorces to kidnappings and murder

Another woman wearing a blue burqa comes into the office accompanied by a small boy, who is the son of her husband's first wife.

With her faced hidden by the shapeless covering, she tells Hamidi that she and her husband were wrongly convicted of murdering the boy's mother.

She served time in jail, but her husband is still behind bars.

"They have brought misery to my life," she says, desperation in her voice.

"They jailed me because they accused me of being the murderer but I wasn't. If a Pashtun woman is jailed what remains of her dignity?" she says referring to the largest ethnic group in Afghanistan.

Around 30,000 petitions, including those filed by the 6,000 people who have met face-to-face with Hamidi, have been processed by his office. Issues range from property disputes and divorces to kidnappings and murder.

The cases are assessed in Kabul and then returned to the local authorities who are required to report back with more information. The attorney general and his advisers then decide what action, if any, to take.

It is not clear how many cases have been resolved through this process, but Hamidi said around 2,000 people wrongly detained have been freed as a result of their work.

Hamidi admits that tackling corruption is "time consuming", but he remains undeterred.

"No country can overcome corruption overnight," he says.

But "when an ordinary person can come to this office and meet the attorney general of the country I think this helps win their trust in the justice system".

While Hamidi's efforts have drawn praise, his petitioners' meetings have been described by some as old-fashioned and lacking transparency.

"We don't know if this has really helped anyone apart from the attorney general himself making an image for himself," said Sayed Ikram Afzali, executive director of Kabul-based advocacy group Integrity Watch.

"We are dealing with a population of 30 million people, we need a better system than this."
Traditional owners and National Park representatives have decided to ban the climbing of Uluru, also known as Ayers Rock, from October 2019 amid fears it was being treated as a 'theme park'

Climbing the world's largest monolith Uluru was banned Wednesday amid concerns it was becoming a "theme park", undermining the giant red rock's deep cultural significance.

Scrambling up the symbol of the Outback, also known as Ayers Rock, is seen by many tourists as a must-do on their visit to Australia.

But they do so against the wishes of the traditional Aboriginal owners, the Anangu, to whom the site is sacred.

At a meeting of the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park Board, made up of traditional owners and National Park representatives, a unanimous decision was made to ban the activity.

It will come into force in October 2019.

"This decision is for both Anangu and non-Anangu together to feel proud about; to realise, of course its the right thing to close it," board chairman Sammy Wilson said.

Speaking to state broadcaster ABC after the decision, he added that the site was not a "theme park".

"Some people in tourism and government for example might have been saying we need to keep it open but it's not their law that lies in this land," he said.

"It is an extremely important place, not a playground or theme park like Disneyland."

The rock's traditional Aboriginal owners' connection to the site dates back tens of thousands of years and it has great spiritual and cultural significance to them.

Wilson urged tourists to respect the ruling.

"If I travel to another country and there is a sacred site, an area of restricted access, I dont enter or climb it, I respect it," he said in the statement.

"It is the same here for Anangu. We welcome tourists here. We are not stopping tourism, just this activity."

Park authorities have long looked to close the climb permanently. It is currently left up to visitors to decide whether to tackle the sandstone monolith, which soars 348 metres (1,148 feet).

About 300,000 people visit each year and, while there are no official figures on how many climb, their numbers are reported to have declined significantly.

Tackling Uluru's sandstone slopes is not an easy exercise and there have been numerous deaths over the years on the rock, where summer temperatures often hit 45 degrees Celsius (113 Fahrenheit).
Sri Lanka policymakers are being urged to tap a source of underutilised labour: the glut of tuk-tuk drivers on Sri Lanka's roads

Asitha Udaya Priyantha has found the dream job: the 22-year-old is already his own boss, cruising Sri Lanka's streets in his autorickshaw, earning good money on his own time.

But this is not what the island government wants its young people doing as one million jobs in booming sectors such as construction go unfilled, and businesses look abroad for labourers to get work done.

It is a puzzling scenario for Sri Lanka, which for decades has exported labour to the Middle East and reaped the foreign exchange flowing back to an island impoverished from years of war.

But now, amid an economic upswing, the government is trying to lure them back, offering competitive wages and other sweeteners to get workers into blue-collar jobs at home where they are needed.

Policymakers are also being urged to tap another source of underutilised labour: the glut of tuk-tuk drivers on Sri Lanka's roads.

There are 1.2 million auto drivers in Sri Lanka -- far more than is needed for a small island of 21 million, says the union representing tuk-tuk drivers.

The United Three Wheel Drivers and Industry Association says most of the newcomers swelling the already oversaturated ranks are young men keen to make a quick buck.

"The trend is for young people to start driving a three-wheeler no sooner they get a licence," said Rohana Perera, association secretary of the national United Three Wheel Drivers and Industry Association.

"If we continue like this we will not have young people to do any other job in the country."

School leavers only need 50,000 rupees ($333) for a down payment on a three-wheeler, money they can raise easily in loans from family, he added.

Priyantha was attracted to the profession after growing tired of the low pay and long hours at his regular job in a photo studio.

"I saved some money and bought a three wheeler and now I am my own boss," Priyantha told AFP.

"I have more freedom and I earn twice as much."

- Radical changes -

The union wants the government to increase the minimum working age for rickshaw drivers from 18 to 35 to curb the flow of new recruits flooding the overcrowded roads.

There have also been calls for an import ban on trishaws from neighbouring India to curtail supply.

The Professional Three Wheel Drivers' Association blames Sri Lanka's lack of vocational training for young graduates getting behind the wheel instead of taking up better paying jobs in under filled sectors.

"Unless there are radical changes to prepare school leavers for gainful employment, they will take a short cut and start driving three wheelers," the association's Nishantha Perera told AFP.

The drain of young workers into tuk-tuks compounds a labour crisis for the government, which has overseen robust economic growth since the 37-year civil war ended in 2009.

The construction industry, undergoing an unprecedented post-war boom, has been forced to turn to India, Bangladesh and Nepal for the 400,000 workers it needs to build the hotels and condominiums springing up in Sri Lanka's cities.

Advertisements aimed at Nepali workers placed in industry magazines promote $450-a-month salaries plus annual return airfares and health and accident insurance.

There are 1.2 million auto drivers in Sri Lanka -- far more than is needed for a small island of 21 million, says the union representing tuk-tuk drivers.

Some construction companies are giving away motorcycles and small cars as incentives to retain skilled workers who commit to two to five years of service.

The government meanwhile hopes rising wages and economic optimism will encourage some of the estimated two million Sri Lankan workers abroad to return home and enjoy the good times.

"Already in the construction industry, the wages are comparable with what is offered in Middle Eastern countries," said Mangala Samaraweera, Sri Lanka's finance minister.

"I am sure many will prefer to return because they will be closer to their families and working conditions are much better here (in Sri Lanka)."

They will be sorely needed. The government expects to create more than a million new jobs within three years as major investments, especially in a new financial zone in the capital Colombo, begin to take shape.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe wants Sri Lankans -- whether at home or abroad -- filling those vacancies.

"I am not asking for a large number of foreign workers to come in, but there should be a way of attracting our own Sri Lankans back here with higher incomes," he said.
China's sole aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, is expected to enter service in 2020

Chinese President Xi Jinping's pledge to build a "world-class army" by 2050 is making his neighbours nervous, but analysts say Beijing's military ambitions do not constitute a strategic threat -- for now.

With purchases and construction of fighter jets, ships and hi-tech weaponry, China's military budget has grown steadily for 30 years, but remains three times smaller than that of the United States.

Now, Beijing wants to catch up.

"We should strive to fully transform the people's armed forces into a world-class military by the mid-21st century," Xi told 2,300 delegates of the Chinese Communist Party, which he heads and which controls the army.

The comments, made during the party's twice-a-decade congress, were aimed in part at domestic nationalists, but also intended to show other countries "China's desire to be strong economically as well as militarily," said James Char, a military analyst at Singapore's Nanyang Technological University.

During China's so-called Century of Humiliation, starting around the mid-19th century, the country lost almost every war it fought, and was often forced to give major concessions in subsequent treaties.

"That's why China, more than any other country, dreams of a strong army. Not to bully other countries, but to defend ourselves," said Ni Lexiong from Shanghai University of Political Science and Law.

- Worried neighbours -

But Xi's call to build a military that can "fight and win" has alarmed China's neighbours, several of whom are embroiled in tense border disputes with the superpower.

This summer India and China engaged in a bitter, weeks-long military confrontation over a disputed area in the Himalayas.

Japan regularly faces off with Chinese maritime patrols close to the Senkaku islands, which are called the Diaoyu in Mandarin and claimed by Beijing.

No caption

And Beijing asserts sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea, despite rival claims from countries including Vietnam, the Philippines and Malaysia.

Beijing has reclaimed islands it controls in the sea in order to cement its claims and installed military aircraft and missile systems on them, causing tensions to spiral in recent years.

"Chinese activities are a security concern for the region encompassing Japan and for the international community," said a recent Japanese defence report.

"It is incontestable that the country's rise as a military power is setting off an arms race in Asia," said Juliette Genevaz, China researcher at the France-based Military School Strategic Research Institute.

"This arms race in Asia has several causes," she said, noting North Korea's nuclear weapons programme as one of the contributors.

But, "China's military build-up and reclaiming activities in the South China Sea is a major factor."

China's military expenditure in 2016 was an estimated $215 billion, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, putting it in first place in Asia, well ahead of India ($56 billion), Japan ($46 billion) and South Korea ($37 billion).

The country has not participated in any conflict since a month-long border war against Vietnam in 1979 that killed tens of thousands of people and a 1988 skirmish, also with Hanoi, over the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea, that left 64 dead.

China's military expenditure in 2016 was an estimated $215 billion, putting it in first place in Asia

But it has been busy boosting its military activities abroad.

This year, Beijing opened its first foreign military base, in Djibouti. Since 2008, its navy has participated in anti-piracy operations off the coast of Somalia and in the Gulf of Aden.

The country is the largest contributor to United Nations peacekeeping operations among the permanent members of the security council, with some 2,500 soldiers and military experts deployed.

The moves are all part of a larger, decades-long effort to modernise the country's military, which had become riddled with corruption, incompetence and waste.

- 'Absolute control' -

But while Xi flexed his muscles at the head of China's central military commission during his first term, he is likely to observe more caution in future, having consolidated his power base by bringing down two of the country's highest-ranking army officers for corruption, said James Char.

He also reaffirmed the party's "absolute control" over the army during the recently concluded congress.

"Now that it's done, he does not need to risk an external crisis any more. Therefore, we can reasonably expect Beijing will conduct less coercive diplomacy in the near- to medium-term," Char said.

"The Chinese military will continue to operate further and further away from China's shores, and probably also establish more overseas bases," he added.

But, while it will continue to aggressively defend its own territorial claims, "it will likely act cautiously abroad and will not engage in overseas constabulary missions such as those carried out by the US military in Iraq or Afghanistan for example."
Investigators inspect a truck following a shooting incident in New York on October 31, 2017

A pickup driver ploughed a truck into cyclists and pedestrians in New York on Tuesday, killing eight people in the first deadly "act of terror" in the city since September 11, 2001.

Vehicles have previously been used as weapons of terror, often by supporters of the Islamic State (IS) group, attacking nations in the US-led coalition fighting the jihadists in Iraq and Syria.

- Barcelona's Las Ramblas -

On August 17, a driver deliberately runs a van into crowds on Barcelona's popular Las Ramblas Boulevard, in what police say is a "terrorist attack".

It is followed hours later by a car attack in the seaside resort town of Cambrils.

Fatal vehicle-ramming attacks in 2017

Fifteen people are killed in the carnage.

All members of the terror cell behind the attacks are either killed or arrested by Spanish police.

- Charlottesville -

On August 12, at a far-right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, a 32-year-old woman is killed and others injured when a car rammed, deliberately according to eyewitnesses, into a crowd of counter-protesters.

- London targeted -

On March 22, 2017, a 52-year-old British convert to Islam, Khalid Masood, mows down pedestrians on Westminster Bridge near parliament and stabs a policeman, killing five people and injuring around 50 before being shot dead by police. The attack is claimed by IS.

A picture shows the Union flag atop the Houses of Parliament flying at half-mast in central London on March 23, 2017

On June 3, the British capital is hit again when three attackers strike pedestrians with a van and go on a stabbing spree wearing fake suicide vests in bars in the London Bridge area. Eight people are killed before the assailants are shot dead by police. The attack is also claimed by IS.

On June 19, a van drives into a crowd of Muslim worshippers near a mosque in London's Finsbury Park area. One man dies and another 11 people are injured. A 47-year-old man is arrested and charged with terrorism-related murder and attempted murder.

- Nice attack, Champs-Elysees hit -

On July 14, 2016, Mohamed Lahouaiej-Bouhlel, a 31-year-old Tunisian, ploughs a 19-tonne truck into a Bastille Day crowd, killing 86 people on the famous beachfront avenue.

IS later claims Bouhlel as one of its followers.

- On June 19, 2017, Adam Dzaziri, a 31-year-old who had sworn allegiance to the IS, is killed when he rams a car loaded with guns and a gas canister into a police van on Paris's Champs-Elysees. No one else is injured.

- On August 19, 2017, a 36-year-old Algerian man, named as Hamou B., drives a BMW into a group of soldiers outside a barracks in the western Paris suburb of Levallois-Perret, injuring six. After a car chase, police shoot and wound the suspect.

- Stockholm shopping street -

An April 7, 2017, a truck attack in the Swedish capital kills five people, including an 11-year-old Swedish girl, a Briton, and one Belgian. Fifteen others are injured.

An Uzbek national, Rakhmat Akilov, 39, confesses to using a stolen beer truck to mow down pedestrians on Stockholm's busiest shopping street Drottninggatan. According to Uzbek police, he had tried to join IS in 2015.

- Berlin Christmas market -

Medics attend to an injured person after a truck crashed into a christmas market at Gedachtniskirche church in Berlin, on December 19, 2016 killing at least nine people and injuring at least 50 people

On December 19, 2016, Tunisian national Anis Amri, 24, hijacks a truck and slams into a crowd of people at a Christmas market in Berlin, killing 12 and injuring 48.

Amri is shot dead by Italian police in Milan four days later after travelling through several European countries. IS claims responsibility.
Special prosecutor Robert Mueller's agressive probe into possible collusion between Donald Trump's presidential campaign and Russia is just getting started, analysts say

Special prosecutor Robert Mueller's explosive charges against three former aides to President Donald Trump's campaign are merely the starting steps of an aggressive probe into possible collusion with Russian election interference, analysts say.

The former FBI chief sent a resounding message of much more to come when he unveiled money laundering charges against Paul Manafort, Trump's former campaign chair, and Manafort deputy Rick Gates, and a plea deal with campaign foreign policy advisor George Papadopoulos for lying about contacts with Russians.

And he also demonstrated in the plea deal with Papadopoulos that five months after taking over the investigation, he has enough evidence to aggressively target anyone linked to Trump, taking the air out of calls to shut down the politically-charged probe.

That was evident in what attorney Aaron Zelinsky, a member of Mueller's team, told the Federal District Court in Washington in the Papadopoulos case in early October.

"There's a large-scale ongoing investigation of which this case is a small part," he said ominously.

- Opening salvo -

"This is very much just the beginning," said Washington attorney Bradley Moss, a specialist in national security cases.

Mueller, who has not been heard from since taking over the Russia probe as independent counsel five months ago, opened his case with blockbuster charges Monday against Manafort, the veteran Republican campaign strategist, and business partner and campaign associate Rick Gates.

Both were both charged with money laundering, hiding offshore bank accounts and related crimes in relation to millions they earned working for former Ukrainian leader Viktor Yanukovych.

While he looms large in the Trump campaign story, said Moss, "Manafort was the shiny object that was distracting everybody. Papadopoulos was the critical piece of the story yesterday."

The case against Papadopoulos, 29 and unknown until March 2016, when he was named a Trump campaign foreign policy advisor, hinges on many communications he had from London with the campaign headquarters.

They show him discussing with several senior campaign officials arrangements for meeting Russian officials, obtaining "dirt" on Trump rival Hillary Clinton, and potentially arranging a Trump meeting with Russians.

The evidence showed little of the campaign's response to Papadopoulos and masked the names of those with whom he communicated.

- Evidence 'quite damning' -

But what was there was tantalizing. In August 2016, one unnamed "campaign supervisor" encouraged Papadopoulos to travel to Moscow for a meeting with Russian officials. Another told him that Trump would not make such a trip, but that "someone low level in the campaign" could.

Critics say the evidence in his plea deal only paints Papadopoulos as an inexperienced person operating on the campaign's margins.

Trump said he was "proven to be a liar" and the White House dismissed him as an unpaid volunteer with no real role.

But Randall Samborn, a veteran of Washington's last major special prosecutor probe, into the unmasking of CIA agent Valerie Plame's identity, called the plea deal a canny opening move by a master investigator.

It signaled that Mueller has a cooperating witness with the sharpest evidence yet that the Trump campaign was actively connecting to Russia.

"We learned that Mueller and his team are laser-focused and making progress on all aspects of their investigation," said Samborn, vice president of Levick, a strategic communications firm.

"We are only seeing snippets of those excerpts that Mueller chose to give us," he noted.

What is there, Samborn added, is "quite damning in terms of their willing participation."

- Still nothing on Trump -

The plea deal did not have to be released now, he noted. But doing so blunted any criticism that Mueller's team was getting nowhere in its work, Samborn said.

None of the evidence in the three cases unveiled Monday implicates Trump, either for Russia connections or for obstruction of justice, one of the allegations against the president that Mueller is known to be pursuing.

But the plea deal at least signals, analysts said, that Mueller has likely already interviewed the senior Trump campaign officials at the other end of the email traffic -- which the Washington Post has identified as including Manafort, Gates, former campaign chair Corey Lewandowski, and national campaign co-chair Sam Clovis.

They and others now have to consider whether to cooperate more closely with Mueller to protect themselves, said Moss. And that includes Manafort and Gates, who face potentially heavy jail sentences on laundering charges that will be hard to beat.

"It's kind of taunting people in Trump's world, saying 'I've got everything. I'm going to give you a sample of what I've got. Now is the time to cut deals, or I'm coming for every single one of you,'" Moss said.

"In white-collar cases, initially people often look to stick together. When push comes to shove, someone will crack."
The Beverly Hills Police Department is investigating "multiple complaints" against Harvey Weinstein (L) and director James Toback (R), both of whom face a slew of allegations of unwanted sexual encounters

The Beverly Hills Police Department said Tuesday it is investigating "multiple complaints" against disgraced producer Harvey Weinstein and director James Toback, who face numerous allegations of unwanted sexual encounters.

Accounts of abuse by Weinstein that were published last month in The New York Times and The New Yorker encouraged others to speak out, unleashing a cascade of allegations of sexual harassment and assault against leading figures in Hollywood and elsewhere.

The police department's statement, which was titled "Recently Reported Assaults," did not provide details about the complaints and said that no additional information would be released at this time.

More than 50 women including stars Gwyneth Paltrow, Angelina Jolie and Mira Sorvino have accused 65-year-old Weinstein of sexual abuse and harassment, although he denies forcing himself on anyone.

The Los Angeles Times interviewed 38 women who accused Toback of unwanted sexual encounters, and the paper said it was inundated with emails and phone calls from more than 200 additional women after the publication of its story.

Like Weinstein, Toback has also denied the allegations.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (C) chats with colleagues in the lower house of parliament

A newly re-elected Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe Wednesday pledged increasing pressure on North Korea to force the nuclear-armed country to the negotiating table, days before a visit by US President Donald Trump expected to be dominated by the threat from Pyongyang.

Kicking off a fresh term in office after he was formally re-elected by parliament, Abe hailed his recent thumping election victory as a means to further squeeze a North Korean regime that has alarmed the region with missile launches and a sixth nuclear test in recent months.

"A strong mandate from the people is a source of strong diplomacy," Abe told a press conference Wednesday, adding that a tough line could persuade Pyongyang to ask for negotiations.

"When President Trump visits Japan, we will spend sufficient time analysing the latest North Korean issues and discussing ways to deal with them," Abe said.

Signs of any message by Trump to the North will be closely watched during his Asian tour, which begins at the weekend and will see him visit Tokyo from Sunday through Tuesday. Trump will also visit South Korea, China, Vietnam and the Philippines.

During his election campaign Abe, a staunch conservative, stressed the need for strong leadership to deal with what he called Japan's "twin crises": a shrinking birth rate and the actions of a belligerent and nuclear-armed North Korea, which has sent missiles over northern Japan in recent months.

- Abe's super majority -

Abe's conservative Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) swept to a two-thirds "super majority" in the 465-seat lower house on October 22. He was reinstated as premier by a huge majority Wednesday and then reappointed all of his cabinet ministers.

The 63-year-old is now on track to become Japan's longest-serving premier.

Abe now has the parliamentary numbers to start a process to change Japan's pacifist constitution -- an ambition he has long cherished.

But he told reporters he will move cautiously on the divisive issue, saying that he will first seek an open discussion on the subject.

Abe also said he will improve the nation's productivity, offer free early childhood education and expand childcare support.

Despite his October poll victory, Abe's popularity ratings are relatively low and most observers attribute his election success to a weak and fractured opposition.

The main opposition party, the Democratic Party (DP), effectively disbanded after Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike launched a new conservative group and vowed to do away with "old school politics".

Several DP lawmakers defected to Koike's new "Party of Hope" and the more left-leaning MPs formed a new party, the Constitutional Democrats.

In the end, Koike's support imploded, mainly because she failed to stand herself in the election -- confusing voters who did not know who would be premier if she won.

The Party of Hope finished with a mere 50 seats while the Constitutional Democrats won 55.

They were both dwarfed by Abe's conservative coalition, which secured 313 lower house seats, obtaining the "super majority" required to change the constitution.
Rohingya refugee receive bananas from a Bangladeshi volunteer

Myanmar on Wednesday accused Bangladesh of delaying the repatriation of Rohingya Muslims who have fled Rakhine state since August, as conditions worsen for the stateless minority penned into squalid refugee camps.

More than 600,000 members of the Muslim minority have fled a brutal army crackdown in mainly Buddhist Myanmar over the past two months.

After weeks of intense global pressure and UN accusations of ethnic cleansing, Myanmar vowed to take back Rohingya who meet "verification" standards.

But the criteria remains vague, raising fears it will be used to restrict the number of returnees.

On Wednesday Myanmar government spokesman Zaw Htay pointed the finger at Dhaka -- an impoverished country overwhelmed by the influx of refugees -- for allegedly delaying the repatriation.

"The Myanmar government already declared we are ready to receive (the refugees) at any time... but the Bangladeshi government is still considering the agreement between the two countries," he told AFP.

Dhaka has yet to send an official list of the Rohingya who have fled since August 25, he added.

The Myanmar spokesman declined to elaborate on comments he made to the local press linking the delay to $400 million in aid which Dhaka had received to expand housing for Rohingya.

"Currently they have got nearly $400 million. Over their receipt of this amount, we are now afraid of (them) delaying the programme of deporting the refugees," he was quoted as saying.

A senior Bangladesh foreign ministry official denied Dhaka was dragging its feet, telling AFP the two countries were working to overcome differences in drafts of a repatriation agreement.

Myanmar "were themselves not prepared", the official said, requesting anonymity.

Myanmar has said Rohingya will have to prove prior residence in Rakhine in order to return -- but this could be difficult for many members of a stateless minority who lack proper documentation.

The government has previously only issued ID cards to Rohingya willing to identify as "Bengalis" -- a name that brands them as foreigners.

Repatriation will also be complicated by the scale of destruction in Rakhine, where hundreds of Rohingya villages have been reduced to ash, allegedly by soldiers and Buddhist mobs.

Relief workers say some refugees have expressed reluctance to return if it would mean living in camp-like settlements or being barred from the land they had before.

Meanwhile, Myanmar authorities have begun a new drive to issue National Verification cards inside Rakhine, where a dwindling number of Rohingya have stayed on despite severe food shortages and soaring communal tensions.

Those who sign up are rewarded with food and mosquito nets, reported the Global New Light of Myanmar newspaper.

Myanmar has steadfastly denied charges of ethnic cleansing, instead blaming the violence on Rohingya militants.

The militants staged deadly attacks on police posts on August 25, prompting a ferocious army backlash against Rohingya communities.
A reef in the Spratly islands, one of the disputed locations in the South China Sea

China and members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have held their largest-ever joint maritime rescue exercise, signalling a lull in South China Sea tensions.

The drill on Tuesday simulated a collision between a Chinese passenger ship and a Cambodian cargo vessel off south China's Guangdong province.

It involved about 1,000 rescuers aboard 20 ships and three helicopters, according to reports in Chinese state media late Tuesday.

China, Thailand, the Philippines, Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos and Brunei took part, with Vietnam notably absent.

The exercise followed meetings between the Chinese and Singaporean defence ministers on the sidelines of the 11th ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting in the Philippines last month.

China asserts sovereignty over almost all of the South China Sea in the face of rival claims from its Southeast Asian neighbours -- including four ASEAN members. It has rapidly reclaimed reefs, creating artificial islands capable of hosting military planes.

Disputes have sometimes spilt over into confrontations as vessels from the competing countries spar over fishing grounds and resource extraction.

But lately some have eased their opposition to China's claims.

Last year a UN-backed tribunal, ruling on an application by the Philippines, rejected Beijing's claims to most of the South China Sea.

Yet current Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has refused to use the decision as leverage, softening his predecessor's policy in favour of billions of dollars in trade and investment from the mainland.

Vietnam, however, has continued to deliver sharp rebukes.

In June a meeting between Vietnamese and Chinese generals over border issues was abruptly cancelled, with both sides citing a sudden scheduling conflict.

Taiwan -- which is not an ASEAN member -- also claims almost the entire area, which is believed to sit atop vast oil and gas reserves.
Palestinian men dismantle a Hamas installation in the Gaza Strip's Beit Hanun near the Erez crossing into Israel on November 1, 2017

Hamas handed over control of the Gaza Strip's border with Egypt to the Palestinian Authority on Wednesday, an AFP journalist said, in a first key test of a Palestinian reconciliation accord agreed last month.

Nazmi Muhanna, the Palestinian Authority's top official for border crossings, formally received control of the Rafah crossing with Egypt from his Hamas counterpart.

At a separate checkpoint with Israel, an AFP photographer also saw Hamas installations being dismantled.

At the Rafah crossing, Palestinian and Egyptian flags were flying, with large pictures of Palestinian Authority president Mahmud Abbas and Egyptian leader Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.

Hisham Adwan, director of information at the Hamas crossings authority, told AFP that Palestinian Authority employees would resume full control of the border.

Under the Egyptian-brokered deal, the Palestinian Authority is due to take full control of Gaza by December 1.

The checkpoints had been due to be handed over by November 1 and were seen as a first key test of the strength of the reconciliation agreement.

Hamas has ruled Gaza since 2007 when the Islamists seized control in a near civil war with Abbas's Fatah, based in the occupied West Bank.

A number of issues, including the future of Hamas' vast military wing, remain uncertain.

Multiple previous reconciliation agreements have collapsed.
Malaysia is investigating a huge breach of data on mobile phone subscribers

Malaysia is investigating an attempt to sell details of more than 46 million mobile phone subscribers that were leaked online in a massive data breach, a minister said Wednesday.

The breach was originally reported by local technology website Lowyat.net after unidentified individuals offered the phone data, from several telecoms companies, and other personal information for sale on a public forum on the site.

Communications Minister Salleh Said Keruak said police and the country's internet regulator were looking into the case.

"We have identified several potential sources of the leak and we should be able to complete the probe soon," he told reporters in parliament.

The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission, the internet regulator, has met telecoms companies to discuss the issue.

Lowyat.net removed the leaked data after getting a tip-off in mid-October. The data was from 46.2 million phone subscribers and included addresses and identity card numbers.

"We are also aware that the same data is being peddled across a number of other online channels," Lowyat.net wrote in a post when it originally reported the breach.

Malaysia has a population of about 32 million.

But many people have several phone numbers and The Star newspaper reported that the leaked list was believed to include inactive numbers and temporary ones used by foreigners.
India's navy currently uses the French-designed Chetak model helicopter, but will purchase 111 new multi-utility aircraft

India will purchase more than 100 armed helicopters for its navy to replace its outdated French-designed fleet in a military deal worth $3.2 billion, an official said Wednesday.

The defence acquisition council approved funding for the purchase of 111 multi-utility helicopters for attack missions, search and rescue, surveillance operations and medical evacuation.

A spokesman for the Indian navy said on Twitter the new aircraft were a huge step toward addressing a "critical void of helicopters" for the naval fleet, which currently uses the French-designed Chetak model.

The government will identify a foreign military hardware company and a local defence firm to develop the helicopters in a joint partnership.

India, the world's largest defence importer, wants to build more of its hardware in country.

Under a new policy, it is inviting global military manufacturers to set up shop as minority partners in India.

It is banking on foreign companies to bring in new technology in the crucial defence sector, which imports 90 percent of its equipment.

India has been investing tens of billions in updating its Soviet-era military hardware to counter long-standing territorial disputes with its nuclear-armed neighbours China and Pakistan.

The navy's ageing light-utility helicopter, the Chetak, is a licensed version of a French model built by India's Hindustan Aeronautics Limited since 1975.
India has a gruesome record of sexual assaults on minors, with 20,000 cases reported in 2015

A fast-track court in India has convicted two men of raping their 10-year-old niece in a case that hit the headlines when her appeal for a late-term abortion was rejected on health grounds, a lawyer said Wednesday.

The girl, who cannot be named, gave birth in August after the Supreme Court rejected her family's plea that she be allowed a late-term abortion on health grounds.

India only allows abortions up to 20 weeks except in cases where the life of the mother is threatened by the pregnancy.

But many child rape survivors do not realise they are pregnant until after the 20-week limit, a problem highlighted by a slew of high-profile cases in recent months.

Lawyer Manjit Singh, who represents one of the two men convicted on Tuesday, said the special court in the northern city of Chandigarh would sentence them on Thursday.

"Both the brothers have been held guilty for rape and other laws on child sexual abuse," he said.

Both men were convicted in the fast-track court, which wrapped up their trials in a month.

India's justice system is notoriously slow, but the country set up fast-track courts to try rape cases following a national outcry over the 2012 gang rape of a young woman on a bus in New Delhi.

India has a grim record of sexual assaults on minors, with 20,000 cases of rape or sexual assaults reported in 2015, according to government data.

Almost 50 percent of the abusers are known to the victims.

The victim in the latest case gave birth in August, a month after her pregnancy was discovered when she went to hospital with a stomach ache.

By then she was 30 weeks pregnant -- beyond the legal limit for an abortion -- forcing her parents to approach the courts for permission.

The Supreme Court rejected the plea when a panel of doctors advised that undergoing an abortion at her stage of pregnancy could endanger her life.

Her baby was later delivered via caesarian section and given to child welfare authorities for adoption.
Two corpses were left behind at a New York airport instead of being flown to Lahore, Pakistan's national airline said, apologizing Wednesday for the latest embarrassing mishap to hit the troubled carrier.

The oversight occurred on Saturday at New York's JFK airport as the airline prepared for its final flight from the US city to Lahore via Manchester, with the route since suspended due to financial losses.

Following the mix-up, the corpse of Pakistani man Nasir Ali was delivered to Lahore Wednesday on a Etihad Airways flight, while the family of another man Nauman Badar has now decided to bury him in Maryland instead.

PIA has been plagued by myriad controversies in recent years. Two corpses were left behind at JFK instead of being flown to Lahore

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) Chairman Musharraf Rasool Cyan has ordered an inquiry into the oversight, a company spokesman told AFP.

PIA 'regrets the inconvenience caused due to negligence... and expresses its sympathies with the family members of the deceased persons,' a spokesman for the airline said in a statement.

PIA was once considered a global leader in commercial aviation until the 1970s but has since been plagued by myriad controversies in recent years and saddled by billions of dollars of debt with a potential government bailout looming.

Domestic flights are often delayed for VIPs while flight employees have been caught smuggling goods ranging from iPhones to narcotics.

Last year two airline employees were killed at Karachi airport during a nine-day strike spurred by plans to privatize the national carrier.

In 2013 one of its pilots was jailed for nine months in Britain for being drunk before he was due to fly from Leeds to Islamabad with 156 people on board.
Portraits of Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas hang at the Rafah border crossing with Egypt on November 1, 2017

Hamas handed over control of the Gaza Strip's borders with Egypt and Israel to the Palestinian Authority on Wednesday in the first key test of a landmark reconciliation accord agreed last month.

The handover signalled that Islamist movement Hamas remained committed to a deal that would eventually see it give up full control of the Gaza Strip and bring an end to a 10-year rift with rivals Fatah.

It not only handed over control of the crossings, but also completely dismantled its own checkpoint along the border with Israel, leaving only the one operated by the Palestinian Authority (PA) there, with trucks carting away furniture and material.

A ceremony was held to formalise the handover at the Rafah border with Egypt.

"There is no yellow and green. All our Palestinian people are under the Palestinian flag," said Mufeed al-Husayna, a PA minister, referring to the flag colours of the political parties that signed last month's reconciliation deal.

Speaking at the Rafah ceremony, Husayna said: "We began today, under the directive of the prime minister (Rami Hamdallah), to exercise our duties by receiving all the crossings."

Palestinian and Egyptian flags were flying at the Rafah ceremony, alongside large pictures of PA president Mahmud Abbas, who is also the leader of Fatah, and his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.

At a separate checkpoint with Israel, an AFP photographer saw Hamas installations being dismantled and carted away, as PA and Hamas officials oversaw the handover.

Hisham Adwan, director of information for the Hamas crossings, told AFP that PA employees would have full control of the borders.

A member of the Palestinian Authority (R) shakes hands with Hamas security men at the Rafah border crossing with Egypt after Hamas handed control of the crossing to the Palestinian Authority, in the southern Gaza Strip, on November 1, 2017

Under an Egyptian-brokered deal agreed on October 12, the PA is due to resume full control of the strip by December 1, with the borders the first test.

The agreement set November 1 as the deadline for handing over control of the borders.

- Worsening conditions -

Many issues remain to be resolved, however, particularly the fate of Hamas's 25,000-strong armed wing.

Israel, which has fought three wars with militants in Gaza since 2008, has said it will not deal with any Palestinian unity government that includes Hamas unless the Islamist movement disarms and recognises the country, among other demands.

The United States has also called on Hamas to disarm and recognise Israel.

Hamas has ruled Gaza since 2007, when the Islamists seized control in a near civil war with Abbas's Fatah, based in the occupied West Bank.

Israel has maintained a blockade on Gaza for a decade, citing the need to control Hamas and stop it from obtaining weapons or materials that could be used to make them.

Egypt has largely closed its border as well. The Rafah crossing was not open on Wednesday despite the official handover.

Azzam al-Ahmad, Fatah's chief negotiator, told Palestinian media that the Rafah crossing would be opened on November 15, but there was no confirmation from Egypt.

The Gaza Strip's two million residents suffer from worsening humanitarian conditions, with only a few hours of power a day and a lack of clean water.

The reconciliation agreement has raised hopes that a more regular opening of the Egyptian border could ease humanitarian suffering.

- 'Positive momentum' -

"The return of the crossings should facilitate the lifting of the closures, while addressing Israels legitimate security concerns, and unlock increased international support for Gaza's reconstruction, growth, stability and prosperity," Nickolay Mladenov, the United Nations special coordinator for the Middle East peace process, said in a statement.

Israel's government had not responded, but a statement from the Israeli body responsible for affairs in the Palestinian territories said they would meet with PA officials in the coming days to discuss the new situation.

Multiple previous pushes for reconciliation have collapsed and an incident this week threatened to undermine the latest attempt.

Palestinians have their IDs checked at a passport control station held by the Palestinian Authority at the northern entrance of the Gaza Strip just after the Israeli-controlled Erez crossing, on November 1, 2017 in Beit Hanun

On Monday, seven Palestinian militants were killed when Israel blew up a tunnel stretching from the Gaza Strip into its territory. Such tunnels have previously been used for attacks.

The incident raised fears the timetable could be delayed, but both the PA and Hamas stressed they remained committed to the agreement.

Officials from both factions accused Israel of trying to disrupt the deal, while the Israel's army said it was forced to act after its sovereignty was breached.

In another step in the reconciliation process, all major Palestinian factions are due to meet in Cairo later this month to discuss the formation of a unity government.
Eritrea is one of the world's most repressive countries and demonstrations are almost unheard of

The United States embassy in Asmara has issued a warning about protests and gunfire in the Eritrean capital, though details of the rare bout of unrest remain unclear.

Eritrea is one of the world's most repressive countries and demonstrations are uncommon, but the embassy had on Tuesday issued a statement about "gunfire at several locations in Asmara due to protests".

"The Embassy advises US citizens to avoid the downtown area where protests appear to be more prevalent. Streets in the downtown area may be closed, and police continue to maintain a significant presence," the embassy said.

Video footage circulating on social media, purported to be from Asmara, showed people running down streets as rapid gunfire boomed.

In a posting on Twitter, Eritrea's Information Minister Yemane Gebremeskel said a "small demonstration by one school in Asmara" was "dispersed without any casualty". In an angrily dismissive message, he insisted it was "hardly breaking news" which had claimed no casualties.

Eritrean website, Asmarino, said the protest was triggered by government plans to nationalise a private Islamic school, with pro-government site Madote saying it is part of an ambition to "secularise" the country's education.

Contacted by AFP on Wednesday, Eritrea's representative to the African Union (AU) declined to comment on the protests or the government's response to them.

The government of President Isaias Afewerki maintains tight control over Eritrea, which has no independent media and is ranked second-to-last in terms of press freedom by Reporters Without Borders.

The country is among Africa's poorest, and hundreds of thousands of people have fled in recent years because of poor job prospects and a national service programme that consigns young people into government work for little or no pay.

Tiny Eritrea sees national service as essential to protect itself from its much larger neighbour Ethiopia, from which it seceded in 1993. Five years later, the two countries fought a costly two-year-long border war that left tens of thousands dead.
Bombed-out buildings in Marawi after the siege

An Indonesian militant who joined gunmen loyal to the Islamic State group in a five-month battle for a southern Philippine city was arrested there on Wednesday, police said.

The Philippine military last week declared the end of fighting in Marawi but admitted there could be "stragglers" in the area after what authorities said was an IS bid to establish a Southeast Asian caliphate there.

Police said they arrested the 22-year-old Indonesian in Marawi after village officials found him trying to flee, adding he would face rebellion and terrorism charges.

"He is part of the siege and an initial (encounter) in Piagapo," provincial police chief Senior Superintendent John Guyguyon told reporters, referring to a military operation in April against the militants in a town 45 minutes away from Marawi.

Hundreds of local and foreign gunmen who had pledged allegiance to IS rampaged through Marawi, the principal Islamic city in the mainly Catholic Philippines, on May 23. They took over parts of the city using civilians as human shields.

An ensuing US-backed military campaign claimed the lives of more than 1,100 people, displaced 400,000 residents and reduced large parts of the city to rubble.

The Indonesian militant arrived in the Philippines last year upon the invitation of the Filipino head of IS in Southeast Asia, Isnilon Hapilon, according to Guyguyon -- citing the gunman's account given to interrogators.

Hapilon, who was on the US government's list of most wanted terrorists, was killed last month along with fellow militant leader Omarkhayam Maute.

The Indonesian fighter, from Medan, said his group was involved in a 2016 suicide attack that killed eight people in the Indonesian capital Jakarta and was claimed by IS, Guyguyon added.

The militants had plotted to bomb military camps in the Philippines but this did not happen because of the Marawi attack, Guyguyon said.

Authorities said they recovered a gun, a grenade and an undisclosed sum in Philippine, Indonesian and Saudi Arabian currency from the arrested militant.

There are still about twenty remaining fighters holed up in Marawi but they are surrounded by troops, Guyguyon said.

"They are not attacking (our forces) but when you enter, they retaliate."
Hong Kong has been a centre for triad organised crime groups

An alleged Hong Kong triad boss known as "Shanghai Boy" was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of laundering more than HK$100 million ($12.8 million), police said.

Businessman Kwok Wing-hung, famed for his ever-present 70s-style sunglasses and swept-forward bowl haircut, was detained in the upmarket Repulse Bay district.

"The investigation revealed that the arrested man was suspected to have laundered more than HK$100 million through four local bank accounts from January 2007 to July 2012," a police statement said, identifying Kwok only by his surname and age of 59.

Local media images showed Kwok in the back of a car looking relaxed in a black suit jacket and trademark sepia-tinted sunglasses after being arrested.

Kwok grabbed headlines in 2012 after he was reportedly seen dining with a campaign director for Leung Chun-ying, who was then a candidate for the city's leadership and secured the post later that year.

Kwok was again in the spotlight in 2015 when he was reportedly punched in the face by a mystery attacker while having afternoon tea at Hong Kong's luxury Peninsula Hotel.

Kwok brushed off the incident, saying he had bumped into a table edge.

Local media said the attack was related either to a dispute over his mistress, or to financial problems with his Macau business.

Before his arrest Wednesday, Kwok was on police bail after being arrested in July 2016 for "conspiracy to commit criminal intimidation, conspiracy to wound with intent and conspiracy to blackmail".

While Hong Kong prides itself on the rule of law, it has also been a hotbed for triad organised crime networks.

During mass pro-democracy protests in 2014, the police and government were forced to deny allegations that they were working with criminals after masked thugs attacked protesters in Mongkok, a known centre of triad activity.
A Saudi-led coalition has been carrying out air strikes against Huthi rebels in Yemen since March 2015

An air strike killed 29 people and wounded 17 others in northern Yemen on Wednesday, the Huthi rebel health service said.

The Huthi-run Saba news agency accused the Saudi-led coalition fighting in support of the government of carrying out the raid in the Sahar district. It reported a toll of 21 killed and nine wounded, all of them civilians.

The rebel health official was unable to tell AFP whether those killed and wounded were all civilians.

According to the official and Saba, the raid hit a crowded marketplace in Sahar, a district dominated by the Huthis.

The rebel agency published photos showing charred bodies and bloody, disfigured faces, the purported victims of Wednesday's strike.

The war in Yemen has pitted forces loyal to the internationally recognised government, which was expelled from the capital Sanaa in September 2014, against the Huthi rebels who drove them out and continue to hold sway in the north.

The conflict intensified in March 2015, when a military coalition led by Saudi Arabia joined the government's fight against the Iran-backed rebels.

According to the United Nations, the conflict in Yemen has left seven million people at risk of famine and an estimated 17 million -- 60 percent of the overall population -- food insecure.
Tunisian forensic police examine the scene of an attack on two policemen in Tunis on November 1, 2017

A young Islamic extremist stabbed two policemen on Wednesday in front of the Tunisian parliament, seriously wounding one of them before being arrested, the authorities said.

The early morning attack by theman in his mid-20s left bloodstains spattered on the ground outside an entrance to parliament, next door to the famed National Bardo Museum that was the site of a deadly Islamic State group attack in 2015.

A spokesman for the prosecutor's office, Sofiene Sliti, said the assailant set upon the policemen with a knife at around 8:00 am (0700 GMT) stabbing "one in the back of the neck and another at the level of his eyes".

A medical source told AFP that the seriously wounded officer underwent an operation in hospital and remained in intensive care.

The interior ministry said the assailant was arrested and had confessed to having adopted an "extremist" ideology three years ago. "Killing them (police), he believes, is a form of jihad," it said.

Prosecutors said the assailant -- an unemployed computer science graduate born in 1992 -- was from a suburb of Tunis and did not have a criminal record.

An official at the police station where the man was taken after being detained said the attacker appeared "very aware of what he did".

"He spoke calmly and showed no remorse," the official said, asking to remain anonymous.

Wednesday's stabbing happened near the Tunisian capital's Bardo museum, where a 2015 attack claimed by the Islamic State group killed 21 foreign tourists and a policeman

"He told us: 'This morning, I prayed and I decided to do something for jihad. I saw the policeman in front of me. To me, he's a 'tyrant'. And I did what I did,'" the official quoted the suspect as allegedly saying.

Since its 2011 revolution, which sparked the Arab Spring, Tunisia's security forces have faced a series of jihadist attacks that have claimed the lives of more than 100 soldiers and police.

After the latest attack, Tunisia's parliament speaker Mohamed Ennaceur called for "solidarity because the danger threatens the whole of society and the country".

In 2015, the North African country was the target of several attacks claimed by the Islamic State group that killed 72 people -- 59 of them foreign tourists.

The country has been under a state of emergency since November 2015, after one of those attacks killed 12 presidential guards in the heart of the capital.

In June 2015, 38 foreign tourists, including 30 from Britain, lost their lives in an IS attack on a coastal holiday resort south of Tunis.

In March the same year, another IS attack at the Bardo museum killed 21 foreign tourists and a policeman.
Since 2014, when Cameroon went to war against Boko Haram, the jihadi group has killed "2,000 civilians and soldiers" and abducted "a thousand people" in the far north of the country, according to the International Crisis Group (ICG)

Five children were killed Tuesday night and two others wounded by a suicide bomber described as a "young girl" in a northern region of Cameroon plagued by Boko Haram attacks, sources said Wednesday.

"A suicide bomber blew herself up (on Tuesday) at around 7.45 pm (1845 GMT)" in the village of Zamga, two kilometres (1.2 miles) from the Nigerian border, said a security officer responsible for the zone, reached from the capital Yaounde.

"Five children were killed and two others wounded," he said on condition of anonymity, adding that the suicide bomber was also killed in the blast.

The attack and the death toll were confirmed to AFP by another security source.

A group of children was playing when "a young girl slipped in" among them, triggering her explosive charge, the safety officer explained.

On Sunday and Monday, at least 20 people were killed in attacks by the Islamist group Boko Haram in Nigeria and Cameroon.

Since 2014, when Cameroon went to war against Boko Haram, the jihadi group has killed "2,000 civilians and soldiers" and abducted "a thousand people" in the far north of the country, according to the International Crisis Group (ICG).

Since its emergence eight years ago, Boko Haram has killed at least 20,000 people in Nigeria, Cameroon, Niger and Chad.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has arrived in Tehran on Wednesday for an official visit, with talks expected to focus on Syria, the Iranian nuclear agreement and bilateral ties

Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Tehran on Wednesday for an official visit, with talks expected to focus on Syria, the Iranian nuclear agreement and bilateral ties.

Putin will also take part in a summit with his Iranian and Azerbaijani counterparts, Hassan Rouhani and Ilham Aliyev.

Putin is to hold separate talks with Rouhani and supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as Russia and Iran cooperate on a range of issues including the conflict in Syria.

The Kremlin said Syria will be a focus of the talks, which come after Russia, Turkey and Iran pledged in Kazakhstan on Tuesday to bring the Syrian regime and its opponents together for a "congress" to push peace efforts.

Russia and Iran, which support President Bashar al-Assad's government, and Turkey, which backs Syrian rebels, have organised a series of peace talks in the Kazakh capital Astana this year, agreeing on the establishment of "de-escalation" zones in various parts of the war-torn country.

Wednesday's talks will also focus on the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, which saw sanctions lifted in exchange for limits on Tehran's atomic programme and which is under pressure from US President Donald Trump.

Tehran signed the deal with six countries including Russia and the United States, but Trump last month refused to certify the agreement, drawing criticism from Moscow which slammed the US president's "aggressive and threatening rhetoric" against Iran.
Workers repair an electricity pylon in Amritsar in April: India's transmission system is in poor shape

At least 13 people including a pregnant woman were killed when an electricity transformer exploded outside a wedding ceremony in western India, police said Wednesday.

Dozens of guests had assembled for the ceremony outside a family home in the western state of Rajasthan when the transformer exploded, spewing hot oil and metal shards.

"Four people died on the spot," local police superintendent Rameshwar Singh told AFP.

"We are ascertaining the cause of the blast."

Singh said several others were being treated for severe burns after the disaster, which triggered protests against the electricity department.

Locals said they had raised concerns about the maintainance of the transformer with officials, but nothing had been done.

They also said a circuit-breaker failed to work after the blast, exacerbating the disaster as live wires fell onto the crowd late Tuesday in the state capital Jaipur.

Transformers are part of the electricity distribution system and help maintain a uniform current.

India's power distribution system is prone to accidents, mostly because of poor maintainance and underfunding in rural areas.

Nearly 10,000 people died due to electrocution in India in 2015, according to the most recent data available from the national crimes records bureau.

Rajasthan chief minister Vasundhara Raje has ordered a high-level inquiry into the incident.
Afghan security personnel gather at the site of Tuesday's suicide bombing in Wazir Akbar Khan

Afghan authorities were warned about lax security at entrances to Kabul's highly fortified diplomatic zone before a suicide bomber struck this week, sources said Wednesday.

The attacker evaded the first security checkpoint on Street 14 in the heart of the capital on Tuesday before blowing himself up inside the "Green Zone", killing at least five people and wounding dozens.

It was the first attack targeting the heavily protected area that is home to many embassies and international organisations since a massive truck bomb detonated on May 31, killing or wounding hundreds.

Since then the Kabul government has ramped up security in the city, installing scanning machines, truck barriers and dozens of checkpoints to prevent militants reaching the diplomatic and downtown areas.

But Afghan authorities had been told that loose security checks at Street 14 posed a threat to those living and working inside the Green Zone, four Western and Afghan diplomatic and security sources told AFP.

Twice "we made it clear (to the National Security Council) that we have a problem with Street 14 -- there is no proper checkpoint because there is no barrier, just a bunch of policemen," a Western embassy official said.

He said another concern was the ability to avoid the first checkpoint by accessing Street 14 through a mosque and a park. The interior ministry said Wednesday that was apparently how the attacker got inside the Green Zone.

"It has been a group effort for a period of time (to warn Afghan authorities)," said a security expert working for a Western embassy, noting careless inspections of vehicles and pedestrians.

"That one (checkpoint) was a worry because it comes towards the British and Canadian embassies."

While security along the perimeter of the Green Zone has improved since the truck blast outside the German embassy five months ago, with more personnel stationed at checkpoints, it remained "porous", the expert said.

"This morning nothing had changed at this checkpoint -- they are sticking to the same procedure," another Western security source told AFP.

"This is like a huge highway in the middle of the Green Zone and besides that a big pedestrian way for all the people working there."

Defence ministry spokesman Dawlat Waziri defended the security arrangements, saying "many attacks are thwarted every day".

"Let's remember there are five or six million people living in Kabul and it is impossible to search everyone," he told reporters.

"This particular incident should also not be interpreted as negligence of Afghan security forces."

Attacks inside the Green Zone, which is heavily guarded and ringed by cement blast walls to protect against vehicle bombs, are extremely rare and Tuesday's assault has rattled some diplomats based in the area.

"It's definitely upsetting," a foreigner working for a Western embassy told AFP.

- Spate of assaults -

Taliban and Islamic State insurgents have launched a spate of suicide assaults on security installations and mosques in recent weeks, signalling their growing intention to strike even heavily defended targets.

"With attacks across the country almost daily and attacks in Kabul... the Taliban and IS are trying to demonstrate a lot of potency before the winter," Vanda Felbab-Brown, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, told AFP.

Last months police seized a lorry packed with 2,700 kilograms of explosives hidden under boxes of tomatoes in Kabul.

But security sources later told AFP the bomb-making material was only discovered because the driver had been involved in a traffic accident.

The penetration of the Green Zone was "highly problematic" and "a reminder of the profound security incapacities of the Afghan state", said analyst Michael Kugelman of the Wilson Center in Washington.

"We check a big number of trucks everyday. We first do a physical check, then sniffer dogs check them and then the trucks go through scanners," said Mohammad Yasin, a policeman at one of the newly established checkpoints near the airport, on a road leading to the diplomatic area.

"The trucks also should have a permission. We are working 24 hours a day with our foreign partners to protect the Green Zone," he said.

But another policeman working at a truck scanning site admitted it was impossible to check every vehicle coming in.

"Kabul has more than a hundred ways to enter the city," he said.

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Children descended from Palestinians forced to flee their land in the 1948 war surrounding the creation of Israel attend an 'apology party' held by secretive British street artist Banksy in the occupied West Bank

Secretive British street artist Banksy held a special event Wednesday to apologise for the 100th anniversary of the Balfour Declaration outside his hotel in the occupied West Bank.

The typically surreal event involved 50 children hosted by an actor dressed as Queen Elizabeth II for a British-style tea party.

Their party hats were bullet-riddled helmets with British flags on them, while tattered Union Jacks were flown.

The queen revealed a plaque carved in concrete saying "Er, Sorry," playing on the common initials for Elizabeth Regina.

The apology was etched into Israel's controversial separation wall, which in many areas cuts through Palestinian territory.

An actor dressed up as Britain's Queen Elizabeth hosts a party organised by secretive British street artist Banksy to apologise for the 1917 Balfour Declaration

The children were descendants of Palestinians forced to flee their land in the 1948 war surrounding the creation of Israel.

Thursday marks the 100th anniversary of the Balfour Declaration, when the British government said it viewed "with favour the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people".

Palestinians see the document as giving away their homeland, while Israelis see it as helping pave the way to the founding of their country at a time when Jews were facing persecution elsewhere.

"This conflict has brought so much suffering to people on all sides. It didn't feel appropriate to 'celebrate' the British role in it," Banksy said in a statement.

An actor dressed as Queen Elizabeth revealed a plaque carved in concrete saying "Er, Sorry" at Banksy's 'apology party' in the occupied West Bank

"The British didn't handle things well here -- when you organise a wedding, it's best to make sure the bride isn't already married."

Gemma Bell, a British woman among a group who walked part of the way from London to Jerusalem to apologise for their government's role in Balfour, hailed the work.

"It's what we should expect from Banksy -- brilliant, unpredictable, dramatic and really getting that message home."

The British government has said it will mark Thursday's anniversary "with pride", with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to attend a dinner in London with his British counterpart Theresa May.

Banksy opened the Walled-Off Hotel near Bethlehem in March, with all the rooms facing directly onto Israel's separation wall.

At the time, he said it had the worst view of any hotel in the world.

Dozens of his works are found inside the hotel.

Wissam Salsaa, the hotel's manager, told AFP they wanted to protest against the British government's attitude to Balfour.

"This event is a protest or a commemoration of the disastrous Balfour Declaration that caused a catastrophe for the Palestinian people and a catastrophe for the Middle East," he said.

"The British people and government, represented (here) by the Queen, should apologise to the Palestinian people."

The wall is one of the most striking symbols of Israel's 50-year occupation, and has become a major focus for demonstrations and art work.

Banksy closely protects his identity and was not said to be in attendance Wednesday.
Odinga has a massive following in Kisumu, the focal point of protests against last week's election

In western Kenya, where thousands hit the streets to block polling in last week's divisive vote, the re-election of Uhuru Kenyatta means nothing.

For them, there can be only one president.

"He's our messiah," nods Gordon Ochyeng sitting in the back row of a church in Nyalenda slum in Kisumu.

The city was the epicentre of violent opposition protests against last week's deeply divisive presidential re-run, called after the Supreme Court overturned an initial August poll.

Over the past three months, Kisumu and the surrounding areas have played a central role in the mass protest movement led by veteran opposition leader Raila Odinga.

The local businessman-turned-politician had urged his followers to a boycott, which was widely observed.

Here, Odinga's word "can be law", says Reverend Francis Omondi, who like most people in the west, comes from the Luo tribe, Kenya's fourth largest ethnic group.

Although his influence over local politics is not what it once was, Odinga's 20-year fight for the presidency continues to embody the Luo's quest for the power they have long felt denied since Kenya gained independence in 1964.

The Odinga dynasty is intertwined with Kisumu. Raila Odinga's father, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, was vice president and led the opposition for three decades

From street signs to the name of the local hospital, the entire city seems to reverberate with the echoes of the Odinga dynasty, which began with his father, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, who was Kenya's vice president before going on to lead the opposition for three decades -- but never the country.

Better known as "Baba", Odinga was born in Maseno, a town near Kisumu, the regional capital, where he still has an interest: a huge property perched on a hill overlooking the nearby city which sits on the northern shores of Lake Victoria.

During the first election on August 8, which was overturned by the Supreme Court in a move that triggered Kenya's worst political crisis in a decade, more than 90 percent of Kisumu and the surrounding areas voted for Odinga.

And when their leader called on them to boycott the October 26 re-run, western Kenya did it emphatically.

- 'We didn't vote' -

Barricades and protests by Odinga supporters ensured that the election boycott was widely followed

On the day itself, voting never took place in four western counties.

Polling staff failed to show up for fear of retaliation and protesters threw up barricades across the city and blocked entry to polling stations, chaining the entrances or in one case, even welding the gates shut.

When Kenyatta's widely-expected landslide victory was announced on Monday evening, it stirred little emotion in Kisumu.

"We don't care that he has been declared president. Why would we care, we did not vote," shrugs 24-year-old Alex Onyango, who works in a timber yard.

"Our president is Baba," nods Robert Okello, 28.

Most feel that the Luos have been cheated out of the presidency, and it's "Raila" who will save them.

"For the Luo, Raila Odinga is the one who will redress the injustices they feel they have suffered," said one Kenyan commentator, speaking to AFP on condition of anonymity and referring to the murder of a number of Luo politicians.

Odinga has perhaps inherited the political misfortune of his father who came within reach of the top but fell out with Kenya's first president, Jomo Kenyatta -- father of the current incumbent -- who had him jailed.

And the family's run of luck doesn't appear to have changed.

Over the past two decades, Raila Odinga has made four failed attempts to win the country's top office, crying foul when he lost, with the 2007 election sparking months of politically-driven ethnic violence that left 1,100 people dead.

- Kikuyus and Kalenjins -

Until the end of the autocratic regime of former president Daniel arap Moi in 2002, there were "tangible signs" that the western Nyanza region "had been marginalised... for decades," says Matthew Carotenuto, professor of Kenyan history at St Lawrence University in New York state.

These days, such marginalisation is mainly limited to the presidency, he said.

The main roads in the region and its local airport have all since been improved with moves to decentralise power handing a significant budget to the regional authorities, he noted.

And although Odinga himself spent time behind bars for political activity in the 1980s, it has not held back the growth of his family fortune, one of the largest in Kenya.

There are other regions in Kenya that are "far more marginalised than western Kenya," Carotenuto said, referring to the largely pastoral north.

"The only comparison that counts is between the Kikuyus and the Kalenjins," the two ethnic groups from central Kenya which has given the country four of its presidents, said an estate agent working in Kisumu's business district.

Such regions "are the richest in Kenya," says the 38-year-old, wearing a spotless white shirt and a luxury watch.

It remains to be seen just how far Odinga's supporters are prepared to go.

Dozens of people who spoke to AFP in Kisumu were unanimous in their support for "Raila", as they often call him.

But some said that while it was easy to boycott an election organised on a public holiday, it was much harder to walk away from your job to stand up to the police.

Carotenuto pointed out that most of the demonstrators were "disenfranchised youth", saying it would be interesting to see how many people would follow Odinga's call for action in the coming weeks.

"When he called for people to strike on August 14, many people just ignored the call, citing that the need to feed their families trumped presidential politics."
A handout photo provided by the office of Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (R) shows him meeting with Russian president Vladimir Putin in Tehran on November 1, 2017.

Russian President Vladimir Putin met Iran's leadership Wednesday, with the two Damascus allies pushing a peace deal on Syria and looking to boost business despite US opposition to a landmark nuclear deal.

The Kremlin strongman's first visit to Iran since 2015 comes as Moscow seeks to turn its game-changing military intervention in Syria into a concerted push to bring a halt to fighting in the country with the help of Tehran, President Bashar al-Assad's other key backer.

"We are working very productively with Iran and we manage to coordinate our positions on Syria," Putin said after talks with Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani and the Islamic republic's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

The Russian leader insisted that thanks to a joint push with rebel supporter Turkey, "the situation on the ground in the fight against terrorism and the negotiating process are developing very positively".

Khamenei said the "good cooperation between Tehran and Moscow in Syria shows that the two countries can realise their objectives even in difficult terrain", and insisted that all solutions to the conflict come "from inside the country".

Russia, Iran and Turkey pledged after a latest round of negotiations in Kazakhstan on Tuesday to bring the Syrian regime and its opponents together for a "congress" to push peace efforts in the Russian city of Sochi on November 18.

The three key players have organised a series of peace talks in the Kazakh capital Astana this year, agreeing on the establishment of "de-escalation" zones in various parts of the war-torn country.

- Rosneft eyes major projects -

Putin's visit -- which in addition involved a three-way summit with Rouhani and the leader of ex-Soviet Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev -- also followed a hike in tensions over the 2015 Iran nuclear deal after US President Donald Trump refused to certify the agreement last month.

Tehran signed the deal, which saw sanctions lifted in return for limits on Tehran's atomic programme, with six countries including Russia and the United States, and Moscow has slammed Trump's "aggressive and threatening rhetoric" against Iran.

A handout photo provided by the office of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani shows him (C), flanked by Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev (R) and Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) during a meeting in Tehran on November 1, 2017.

While Putin said only that the two sides had discussed the deal, Russian companies looked to press on with taking advantage of the business opportunities that it has presented.

State oil giant Rosneft and the National Iranian Oil Company signed a roadmap agreement with an eye to developing joint projects worth up to $30 billion, Rosneft head Igor Sechin was quoting as saying by Russian news agencies.

Sechin said the two sides were looking to seal binding deals within a year to work on a "whole series of fields, oil and gas", and that eventual output could total 55 million tonnes of oil a year.

The potentially mammoth deal would boost Rosneft's push in the Middle East and aid the Kremlin's ambitions of bolstering its influence in Iran and the broader region.

Moscow and Tehran have had close political and economic relations, and in the nuclear field Russia has already built one reactor at Iran's Bushehr plant and just started work on two new ones.

- Syria peace push -

The military might of Moscow and Tehran in Syria has helped prop up Assad's forces and turn the protracted conflict in his favour with a string of key battlefield victories.

Since the start of the year, Russia has looked to cement the gains from its intervention by spearheading the peace push at talks in Kazakhstan, positioning itself as a broker between key players Iran and Turkey and largely bypassing the West.

Up until now the focus has been on quelling the violence on the ground and the three powers have established four "de-escalation zones" around rebel-held territory in the country.

A handout photo provided by the office of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani shows him (C) holding a press conference with Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev (R) and Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) following a meeting in Tehran on November 1, 2017.

The zones were initially credited for bringing about a significant reduction in bloodshed, but international aid groups say they are currently failing to curb the fighting.

Now Moscow seems keen on expanding its peace drive in search of a political settlement.

The push on Syria comes as ties between both countries and Washington have frayed still further since Trump moved into the White House in January.

Despite initial opposition, Trump in August signed off on a sanctions bill targeting Russia, Iran and North Korea after it was passed overwhelmingly by Congress.

Putin's arrival came a day after the US Treasury added 40 Iranian individuals and entities already targeted by sanctions to a counter-terrorism blacklist.
The vice president of the United Arab Emirates and ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum (R), sits next to Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni at the opening of the Global Business Forum on Africa, in Dubai

African officials, including four heads of state, convened with international CEOs at a summit Wednesday in Dubai, part of its push to position itself as a link for huge potential investments on the continent.

"We are looking at the fastest growing economy of the world ... Six out of the top 10 fastest growing economies are just next to us in Africa," said the president and CEO of the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Hamad Buamim.

Experts at the opening of "Next Generation Africa", Dubai's fourth Global Business Forum on Africa, said the continent's 54 countries -- home to a fifth of the world's population -- require tens of billions of dollars in investment in infrastructure, energy and other sectors.

Investment, Emirati officials hope, will be channeled through Dubai, a trading hub and member of the United Arab Emirates.

"We believe that Dubai's strategic goals can be aligned with Africa's ambitions as it enters a new phase of development," said the Dubai chamber chairman, Majid Saif al-Ghurair.

The number of African companies registered in Dubai jumped to 17,000 last year, an increase of 41 percent from 2015, according to Ghurair.

Trade volume between UAE and Africa totals around $35 billion and has been growing at a double-digit rate annually.

"We see potential of a growing economy that has a lot of future ... Africa is a great market," Buamim told AFP on the sidelines of the two-day forum that has attracted four heads of state from Africa, several ministers and hundreds of investors and experts.

Rwanda's President Paul Kagame (L) attends the Global Business Forum on Africa, in Dubai

He said the forum is held to help channel investments to Africa through Dubai.

Rwandan President Paul Kagame told the meeting that Africa is witnessing speedy reforms and a faster pace of integration, especially among a number of regional economic blocs formed in the continent.

"A number of steps have been taken and progress has been made ... In the next five to 10 years, we will see progress," in the integration between the various economic blocs, Kagame said.

The president said a number of economic unity initiatives had been adopted in Africa in the fields of customs unions, infrastructure projects, electricity links and railway networks.

"Later on, the regional economic communities will join together ... integration is happening," said Kagame, as he called for greater investment inflow into Africa.

The Infrastructure Consortium for Africa (ICA) said last month the continent must double its spending on infrastructure over coming years after a decline in 2016.

Last year, total investment in transport, energy, water and IT/communications amounted to $62.5 billion, down from $78.9 billion in 2015, it said.

Investments worth between $120 billion and $140 billion is needed in the short-term, said the report.
Total private employment in the US jumped by 235,000 last month, after a rise of just 110,000 in September, which was the lowest in nearly a year and worse than originally reported, according to payroll firm ADP

The US private sector saw job creation rebound strongly in October, after being tamped down in the prior month by back-to-back hurricanes, payroll firm ADP reported Wednesday.

The surge beat the consensus estimate among economists and was in line with analysts' expectations for an even bigger rebound in the key government jobs report due out Friday.

Total private employment jumped by 235,000 last month, after a rise of just 110,000 in September, which was the lowest in nearly a year and worse than originally reported, according to the data.

The increase was driven by huge improvements in the services sector, which added 150,000 new positions, and the goods producing sector, which increased by 85,000.

Construction added 62,000 jobs, the biggest jump since February 2006, helped by hurricane recovery hiring.

"The job market rebounded strongly from the hit it took from Hurricanes Harvey and Irma," Mark Zandi, chief economist of Moody's Analytics, said in a statement.

"Resurgence in construction jobs shows the rebuilding is already in full swing."

Ahu Yildirmaz, vice president and co-head of the ADP Research Institute, noted that small businesses "rebounded well from the impact of Hurricanes Harvey and Irma, posting very strong gains."

The data showed small businesses, with less than 50 employees, added 79,000 employees after seeing declines in September, while large business added 90,000.

The two hurricanes wreaked havoc in Texas and Florida over a two-week period beginning in late August, although the damage in Florida was less severe than feared.

Economists say the United States is likely to see a rebound in hiring in the months after the storms, with reconstruction efforts causing a bump in demand for services and labor.

The consensus forecast is for total nonfarm payrolls to surge 300,000 in October, with a slightly larger increase for private payrolls, after plunging 33,000 in September.

The ADP report covers 411,000 firms and 24 million workers and as used as a signal on the overall labor market, even while it does not always track the official data closely, since they use different data.
US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson weclomed his belgian counterpart Foreign Minister Didier Reynders to the State Department one day after a Belgian woman was among eight killed in a New York attack

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson warned Wednesday the United States and its allies are still in a global fight to eliminate terrorism, after an attack in New York killed eight.

Tillerson spoke as he welcomed Belgium's Foreign Minister Didier Reynders to the State Department, and officials confirmed that a Belgian woman was among those killed in the assault.

"Once again we've seen the evil face of terror in our own borders, but this is a face that knows no borders," Washington's top diplomat told reporters.

"We welcome and appreciate the strong coalition of all partners in this fight against terrorism globally and we will continue that fight until we can eliminate this threat to all American citizens and all our friends and allies," he vowed.

Tillerson pledged "complete solidarity" with Argentina, which lost five citizens when the attacker ploughed into a bike lane in a pickup, and Belgium, which had one dead and several injured.

Reynders thanked US authorities for their efforts to save and treat the Belgian victims.

"We will continue to fight together against the terrorism," he said. "We need also to exchange the best practices to fight against radicalization, homegrown terrorism."

Police shot the 29-year-old suspect, Sayfullo Saipov, in the abdomen after he crashed into a school bus Tuesday and exited his pickup truck, brandishing paintball and pellet guns.

He remains in custody and is expected to survive.

Saipov has been identified as an immigrant from Uzbekistan. Officials say he became radicalized after moving to the United States and left a note "a note that referenced ISIS."
A Nigerian judge accused the country's former oil minister Diezani Alison-Madueke of trying to "avoid justice" in Britain, as he dismissed an application for her to face corruption charges back home

A Nigerian judge on Wednesday accused the country's former oil minister of trying to "avoid justice" in Britain, as he dismissed an application for her to face corruption charges back home.

Judge Rilwan Aikawa told the Federal High Court in Lagos that an attempt by Diezani Alison-Madueke's lawyers to add her name to a fraud case he was hearing was an abuse of process.

"The action of Diezani is to avoid justice in the United Kingdom. On the whole I found the application to be lacking in merit and accordingly dismissed," he ruled.

Alison-Madueke was one of Africa's highest-profile female politicians, having served under former president Goodluck Jonathan and been the first female president of OPEC.

She has been on bail in London since her arrest in October 2015 as part of a British investigation into corruption and money laundering.

Since then Alison-Madueke, 56, has been part of a number of separate corruption and asset-recovery cases in Nigeria, Italy and the United States.

She has always denied claims that billions of dollars were syphoned from oil deals and state accounts.

In recent months, property worth millions of dollars has been seized in Nigeria, while a British judge has frozen houses linked to the former minister in exclusive areas of London.

Wednesday's case was unusual in that her lawyers sought to have her extradited, charged and tried alongside two other defendants in a $1.4 million fraud case.

Onyechi Ikpeazu tried to justify the move because his client was named as an accomplice in the four-count charge faced by two defendants, one of whom is a former planning minister.

"I know that she will be happy to come and face the trial," he said.

Prosecutor Rotimi Oyedeop said Alison-Madueke could still be charged and tried if and when she returned to Nigeria at a later date.

President Muhammadu Buhari has embarked on a wide-ranging anti-corruption campaign since coming to power in 2015, which has seen several top politicians arrested.
RFI journalists Ghislaine Dupont and Claude Verlon were abducted and killed in northern Mali in 2013

A campaign group for two French journalists murdered in Mali four years ago said Wednesday they had received information that "two or three" people involved in the killings may be in Algeria.

Speaking to the press in Dakar after being briefed on the state of the investigation, the group said they believed "major suspects" had been identified.

Journalists Ghislaine Dupont, 57, and Claude Verlon, 55, working for France's state-owned world news service RFI, were abducted and killed in Kidal, in northern Mali, on November 2, 2013.

The murders have long been suspected to have been revenge for a French military campaign, Operation Serval, that chased out jihadists from the region a few months earlier.

But a rival theory, aired this year in a programme on France 2 television, is that they became ensnared in a hostage drama that was unfolding in Niger -- their deaths suspected to have been ordered by hostage-takers angry that they had not received their share of the ransom for freeing captives.

"Major suspects are believed to have been identified," said Pierre-Yves Schneider, spokesman of the group Friends of Ghislaine Dupont and Claude Verlon.

"Two were 'neutralised' in military operations and one reportedly died in a motorbike accident," he said.

"But two or three others are believed to still be alive, and free, apparently on the Algerian side of the border.

"Everything must be done to have the suspects arrested, even if they are in Algeria. If they are killed or remain free, there will have been no justice."
Smoke billows from buildings following a reported air strike in the Eastern Ghouta rebel stronghold outside the Syrian capital on October 2, 2017

Syrian opposition groups in exile vowed Wednesday to boycott peace talks with President Bashar al-Assad's regime that his ally Russia plans to host later this month, calling them "a joke".

Moscow's proposal to hold a "Congress of Syrian National Dialogue" on November 18 was announced on Tuesday at the end of the latest round of talks on Syria held in the Kazakh capital Astana.

Those talks have run in parallel to negotiations held in Geneva with the backing of the United Nations.

The Syrian National Coalition, an umbrella organisation of opposition groups in exile, "will not participate in any negotiations with the regime outside the framework of Geneva ... and without the sponsorship of the United Nations", spokesman Ahmed Ramadan said.

Russia's foreign ministry website on Tuesday listed 33 Syrian organisations invited to the planned congress in the Russian city of Sochi, including pro-regime forces and the full spectrum of opposition groups.

The proposal "is a joke in bad taste proposed by the regime in cooperation with Russia", said Yehya al-Aridi, a spokesman for the High Negotiations Committee, which represents key opposition groups at the Geneva talks.

"We have dozens of reasons to reject the Russian initiative. The main one is that it does not provide a solution to the Syrian crisis, it does not bring security to Syrians or rid them of a regime programmed to kill them," he added.

"Russia wants to impose opposition factions fabricated by the regime," he said, referring to parties created in Damascus after the conflict erupted in 2011 but which the opposition in exile sees as aligned with the regime.

The head of the Syrian government's delegation to the Astana talks, Bashar al-Jaafari, said the regime "of course is ready to participate" in the Sochi conference, the official SANA news agency reported.

More than 330,000 people have been killed in Syria since the conflict began with anti-government protests.

Recent rounds of talks in Kazakhstan have focused on ironing out the details of a Russia-led plan establishing four "de-escalation" zones in Syria.

A new round of UN-backed Syria talks is scheduled to be held from November 28 in Geneva.
WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 01: U.S. President Donald Trump speaks while meeting with members of his cabinet November 1, 2017 in Washington, DC

US President Donald Trump said Wednesday he would "certainly consider" sending New York terror suspect Sayfullo Saipov to America's military detention center in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

"Send him to Gitmo, I would certainly consider that," Trump told reporters at the beginning of a cabinet meeting, using the nickname for the jail site.

Authorities say Saipov, an Uzbek immigrant who moved to America in 2010 and is not a US citizen, used a rented pickup truck to mow down pedestrians and cyclists along a mile-long stretch of a bike path on Lower's Manhattan's West Side on Tuesday.

Guantanamo gained global notoriety when Islamist fighters who were captured in Afghanistan were put there in the months following the US-led invasion.

The prison only houses non-US citizens, with American accused jihadists processed in federal court.

The population has shrunk from a high of more than 750 down to 41 after years of attempts by Barack Obama's administration to shutter it amid claims of abuse and a lack of due process.

In the face of Republican opposition, Obama never succeeded and Trump has taken a different track, saying as a candidate that he wants to load up Guantanamo with "some bad dudes."
The UN General Assembly passes a resolution condemning the US embargo against Cuba, with only the United States and Israel voting against

The United States on Wednesday voted against a UN resolution condemning the US embargo on Cuba, in a break from last year's abstention by the former administration that highlighted a thaw in relations.

The resolution was overwhelmingly adopted by a vote of 191 to 2, leaving the United States and Israel as the only opposing voices in the General Assembly.

The 193-nation assembly has voted overwhelmingly every year since 1991 to demand an end to the embargo, delivering a rebuke to Washington over its Cuba policy.

But in a first, the United States last year abstained as the administration of former president Barack Obama worked to repair relations with Havana and end more than five decades of enmity.

Taking the floor ahead of the vote, US Ambassador Nikki Haley dismissed the debate as "political theatre" and an attempt by Cuba to "distract the world's attention from the destruction it has inflicted on its own people."

"As long as the Cuban people continue to be deprived of their human rights and fundamental freedoms -- as long as the proceeds from trade with Cuba go to prop up the dictatorial regime responsible for denying those rights -- the United States does not fear isolation in this chamber or anywhere else," she said.

Haley pledged that the US decision two years ago to open diplomatic relations with Cuba would remain unchanged, saying "our friendship and good will toward the Cuban people remain as strong as ever."

The US State Department said the decision to once again vote against the UN resolution was part of a review of US policy that seeks to focus on democratic reforms in Cuba rather than building ties.

Imposed in 1959 at the height of the Cold War, the trade embargo on Cuba has remained in force and can only be lifted by the US Congress, which has steadfastly rejected such a move.

- A government of millionaires -

The resolution presented by Cuba stresses the "necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed" by the United States against Cuba.

It noted that President Donald Trump has rolled back some of the measures taken by Obama.

Addressing the assembly, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez slammed Haley's remarks as "disrespectful, offensive and interfering" and said the current US policy was a "return to the past."

"President Trump does not have the least morale authority to question Cuba," said Rodriguez.

"He is heading a government of millionaires aiming to implement savage measures against low-income families, against the poor people in this country, minorities and immigrants."

"He is pursuing a program that encourages hatred and division."

Trump in June announced new travel restrictions and banned trade with Cuban businesses linked to the military and the intelligence services, a move that put key economic sectors including tourism out of reach to American firms.

The United States restored diplomatic ties with Cuba in July 2015 and a month later re-opened its embassy in Havana. Obama made a landmark visit to the communist-ruled island in March 2016.
Facebook general counsel Colin Stretch, left, along with Twitter's Sean Edgett and Google's Kent Walker testify during a hearing before the Senate Intelligence Committee at a hearing on "Social Media Influence in the 2016 US Elections"

The Russian-led effort to spread misinformation and sow discord ahead of the 2016 US election also used the social network Instagram, parent company Facebook acknowledged in Congress on Wednesday.

Facebook general counsel Colin Stretch told a hearing that Instagram posts by suspect Russian accounts were seen by some 20 million Americans last year.

"We now discovered, in the last 48 hours, 120,000 Russian-based posts on Instagram," Stretch told the Senate Intelligence Committee hearing.

The latest data on Instagram is on top of the estimated 126 million Americans exposed to Facebook posts from Russian entities seeking to create divisions during the election campaign.

"So all told, that gets you to approximately -- a little less than 150 million," Stretch said in response to questioning from Democratic Senator Mark Warner.

The hearing was the second in Congress this week in which social media and internet firms including Google and Twitter have been called to explain how fake news and other disinformation was allowed to spread during the election campaign.

Many of the social media posts came from the Internet Research Agency, which has been linked to Russian intelligence efforts to disrupt the US election.

Twitter told lawmakers on Tuesday it found that nearly 37,000 automated "bot" accounts with Russian links generated 1.4 million tweets that were seen by a potential 288 million people in the three months before the November presidential election.

Google has found accounts linked to Russia which launched ads on YouTube, the video-sharing platform of the internet giant.

Kent Walker, the general counsel for Google, said the company would release a transparency report next year "showing data about who is buying election ads on our platform and how much money is being spent."

- Lawmakers split -

Republican Senator Richard Burr and Democrat Mark Warner offered differing views on the impact of Russian social media manipulation on the US presidential election

Warner, who has become one of the most vocal critics of the internet firms, repeated his claim that the social media operations were misused.

"Russian operatives are attempting to infiltrate and manipulate American social media to hijack the national conversation and to make Americans angry, to set us against ourselves and, at their most basic, to undermine our democracy," the senator said.

Republican Senator Richard Burr however downplayed the Russian role, arguing the media has blown it out of proportion.

"A lot of folks, including many in the media have tried to reduce this entire conversation to one premise; foreign actors conducted a surgical executed covert operation to help elect a United States president," Burr told the hearing.

"I'm here to tell you this story does not simplify that easily. It is shortsighted and dangerous to selectively focus on one piece of information and think that that somehow tells the whole story."

Democrat Dianne Feinstein, who represents California, said the internet firms "have a huge problem" to fix.

"You've created these platforms, and now they are being misused, and you have to be the ones to do something about it, or we will," Feinstein told the lawyers for the companies.

Twitter general counsel Sean Edgett said the messaging platform is "troubled" by the apparent misuse by foreign actors and is working to remedy the problem.

He said less than one percent of election-related tweets people saw came from Russian-linked automated accounts but acknowledged that there were "instances where Russian-linked activity was more pronounced."
Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, pictured in October 2017, told the Kurds, "If our forces find themselves under fire, we will show them the strength of the law"

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi on Wednesday accused the Kurds of reneging on an agreement to withdraw their forces from disputed zones in the north of the country.

The Kurds have since "gone back on the accord" reached Sunday on the pullout of Kurdish peshmerga fighters from the disputed areas, notably a border post with Turkey, he told journalists.

"If they do not stick to it we will do what we want, and if our forces find themselves under fire, we will show them the strength of the law," Abadi said.

Hemin Hawrami, an adviser to Kurdish leader Massud Barzani who has stepped down, accused the central government of mounting "an escalation against Kurdistan".

"The Iraqi government has no interest in dialogue," he tweeted, warning of "the drums of war in Kurdistan".

On Tuesday, government forces took control of the key border crossing with Turkey after weeks of tensions between Baghdad and Arbil, the capital of autonomous Iraqi Kurdistan, according to Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim.

The two sides clashed last week as Iraqi forces sought to capture the vital oil export point of Fishkhabur on the border, in the latest flare-up of a crisis sparked by a Kurdish independence vote on September 25.

Iraqi forces have since mid-October recaptured almost all the territories disputed by Baghdad and Arbil, much of it without Kurdish resistance.
Thae Yong-Ho was testifying before the Foreign Affairs Committee in the House of Representatives at a time of soaring tensions between Pyongyang and the West over the regime's nuclear and missile tests

A North Korean defector on Wednesday told the US Congress a domestic uprising could lead to the collapse of Kim Jong-Un's regime, as he warned against the consequences of military intervention.

Thae Yong-Ho, one of the highest ranking officials to have defected in recent years, was testifying before the Foreign Affairs Committee in the House of Representatives at a time of soaring tensions between Pyongyang and the West over the regime's nuclear and missile tests.

Much of his commentary focused on how his homeland had evolved since Kim came to power in 2011 following the death of his father Kim Jong-Il.

"While on the surface Kim Jong-Un seems to have consolidated his power through this reign of terror, simultaneously there are great and unexpected changes taking place within North Korea," said the former deputy ambassador to Britain, who fled to South Korea in August 2016.

"The free markets are flourishing," he said, adding: "As more and more people get used to free and capitalist style markets, the state-owned socialist economic system becomes increasingly forgotten about."

Thae added that the country's welfare system has collapsed, and that "millions of civil servants, army officers and security forces are dependent on bribes and state assets' embezzlement for their survival."

North Koreans "don't care about state propaganda but increasingly watch illegally imported South Korean movies and dramas," weakening the regime's hold.

"These changes... make it increasingly possible to think about civilian uprising in North Korea as more and more people gradually become informed about the reality of their living conditions," Thae argued.

"Today, Kim Jong-Un thinks that only nuclear weapons and ICBMs (intercontinental ballistic missiles) can help him avert the continuing disintegration of the North Korea system," he added.

While arguing for more counter-narrative efforts inside North Korea, Thae cautioned against military conflict.

President Donald Trump and Kim have traded threats of war and personal insults against each other in recent months, heightening worries about another conflict on the peninsula where the 1950-53 Korean War left millions dead.

"Some people do not believe in soft power but only in military options," said Thae.

"But it is necessary to reconsider whether we have tried all non-military options before we decide that military action against North Korea is all that is left.

"We have to see the human sacrifice from this military option."
A Rohingya refugee looks out from her temporary makeshift shelter at a refugee camp in the Bangladeshi district of Ukhia on November 1, 2017

Muslim countries led by Saudi Arabia want the United Nations to denounce serious rights abuses in Myanmar and demand an end to the military campaign against the Rohingya, according to a draft resolution seen by AFP on Wednesday.

In one of the worst refugee crises in decades, more than 600,000 Muslim Rohingya have fled an army crackdown in Myanmar's Rakhine state since late August.

The draft resolution introduced this week to the General Assembly's human rights committee said UN member-states were "highly alarmed" by the outbreak of violence and "further alarmed by the disproportionate use of force by the Myanmar forces" against the Rohingya.

The non-binding measure is expected to come up for a vote in the committee around November 14 and be discussed in the assembly a month later.

Drafted by the 57-member Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the proposed resolution marks the return of Myanmar to the rights agenda at the United Nations after a one-year break.

Last year, the European Union decided against presenting a measure criticizing Myanmar's rights record for the first time in 15 years after recognizing progress under the leadership of Aung San Suu Kyi.

Together with a separate draft resolution now before the Security Council, the measure reflects growing impatience with the Myanmar authorities as the Rohingya continue to flee across the border to Bangladesh.

Diplomats, however, say China -- a supporter of Myanmar's former ruling junta -- is resisting a push by Britain and France for a council response to the crisis.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who has called for an end to the attacks, is expected to press for action when he joins leaders of the Southeast Asian (ASEAN) bloc at a summit in the Philippines next week.

Myanmar's government says its operations are aimed at rooting out Rohingya militants who staged attacks on police posts in late August.

The draft resolution calls on Myanmar authorities "to end the ongoing military operations" that have "led to the systematic violations and abuse of human rights of persons belonging to the Rohingya community."

It calls on the government to allow access for aid workers to Rakhine state, ensure the return of all refugees and grant full citizenship rights to the Rohingya.

Myanmar's Rohingya have faced decades of discrimination in the Buddhist-majority country and have been denied citizenship since 1982, which has effectively rendered them stateless.

A recent report by the UN human rights office accused Myanmar of seeking to permanently expel the Rohingya by planting land mines at the border with Bangladesh where the refugees are sheltering.

UN rights officials spoke to refugees who gave accounts of soldiers surrounding homes and firing indiscriminately as residents ran for their lives, and of uniformed men gang-raping women and girls.
Avi Gabbay, head of the opposition Labour party, speaks at a conference of Israeli think tank Mitvim, the Israeli Institute for Regional Foreign Policies, in Jerusalem on November 1, 2017

The leader of Israel's opposition Labour party, Avi Gabbay, expressed strong support for a two-state solution with the Palestinians on Wednesday after his recent comments on settlements drew controversy.

Speaking at a conference in Jerusalem, Gabbay said: "I believe in a solution of two states for two peoples."

"I think it's the only solution. I don't know another solution. I believe we need to start negotiating."

He added that any resolution with the Palestinians must also involve regional countries.

Last month, Gabbay provoked criticism by saying that Israeli settlements could be retained in a future peace deal with the Palestinians.

"If you make a peace agreement you can find solutions that don't oblige you to dismantle (settlements)," he said.

Leaders from Israel's Labour party negotiated the 1990s Oslo peace accords with the Palestinians which envisioned a two-state solution.

On Wednesday, Israel held a state memorial for the 22nd anniversary of the November 4, 1995 assassination of former prime minister Yitzhak Rabin, who won the Nobel peace prize for his role in negotiating the accords.

Current Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of the Likud party heads what is seen as the most right-wing government in Israel's history.

Many analysts saw Gabbay's comments on settlements as an attempt to appeal to an Israeli public that has undergone a rightward shift.

Gabbay was elected head of the Labour party in July after having joined it only months before.

The former businessman is unlike many past leaders of Labour, which once dominated the country's politics but whose influence has waned in influence in recent years.
Visiting the CIA's facility at Langley, Vice President Mike Pence got classified briefings from senior official, but also had a less covert mission

Vice President Mike Pence sought to improve the Trump administration's vexed relationship with America's spies Wednesday, during a peacemaking trip to CIA headquarters.

Visiting the agency's facility at Langley, just outside Washington, Pence got classified briefings from senior official, but also had a less covert mission.

"I'm also here to pay a debt of gratitude, and to say those two words that the CIA simply doesn't hear enough: Thank you," he said according to prepared remarks to spooks, seen by AFP.

Trump's derision of the "deep state," his slips in revealing classified information and his dismissal of intelligence about Russia's involvement in his election have soured relations between the White House and America's most high profile spy agency.

Trump, having once compared the CIA to the Nazis, visited the agency's headquarters in the first days of his administration.

He thanked the spies for their service, but also prompted fury by boasting about himself in front of a wall of stars that commemorate officers killed in the line of duty.

Pence took a different tone, launching into a paean about the agency's storied history from the World War II Office of Strategic Services, through the Cold War to the today and the fight against what he called "radical Islamic terrorism."

"You, and the thousands of men and women you direct and work with on a daily basis, are essential to America's security," he said.

"The President and I see the fruits of your labor every day, in our briefings, in the deliberations over policy, in the discussions over breaking events.

"And your sensitive operations, your reporting, and your analysis, day-in and day-out - it's extraordinary."

"Your work informs every consequential foreign policy decision this administration makes. You are an invaluable asset to America."

Despite Trump's wariness, White House officials have come to see the CIA as vital to tackling what they see as two of their major foreign policy challenges -- Iran and North Korea.

"The ayatollahs in Iran continue to sponsor and spread terrorism, with the goal of shedding blood and sowing chaos from the Middle East to the United States" Pence told them.

"The regime in North Korea is advancing its nuclear and ballistic missile programs, with the intention of threatening the American homeland," he added.
The Argentine flag flies at half-mast in city of Rosario as a sign of mourning for the five Argentines, all graduates from a local prestigious school, killed in the IS-inspired truck attack in New York city

It was a trip to celebrate friendship, an adventure in the Big Apple for 10 once rambunctious and now middle-aged Argentine guys who'd known each other since high school.

But the randomness of terrorism struck them, more than 8,000 kilometers (5,000 miles) from home.

Five of those buddies died on the New York City bike path that was the scene of Tuesday's truck attack by an Uzbek immigrant who says he acted on behalf of the Islamic State group. Another Argentine was injured.

They were class-of-1987 alumni of a prestigious polytechnical school in the northeastern city of Rosario, a school one of its teachers described as so nurturing it was like a home.

(L-R) Hernan Ferrucci, Alejandro Pagnucco, Ariel Erlij, Hernan Mendoza and Diego Angelini in Rosario, Argentina moments before traveling to New York on October 28, 2017

The men went on to work as architects or businessmen and did well. One of them, manager of a steel factory, had treated some of the others to the plane fare to New York for the week-long stay, news reports here said.

The five who died were identified as Alejandro Pagnucco, Ariel Erlij, Hernan Ferruchi, Hernan Mendoza and Diego Angelini.

Students at the school -- formally called the General San Martin Higher Polytechnical Institute -- began the day with a minute of silence honoring the victims of the attack, which left a total of eight people dead and 12 injured.

The school board decreed five days of mourning with the flag at half-mast.

- Detachment -

Argentines in general observe with a degree of detachment the terrorist violence that periodically hits the United States, Europe, the Middle East and other parts of the world.

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson called his Argentine counterpart Jorge Faurie Wednesday to express his condolences.

Laura Racca, a class of '87 graduate who once worked with Angelini, a father of four, said the trip these men took illustrated the strong bonds that students form at the polytechnical school. It is public and highly respected, and draws its student body from various socio-economic strata.

"You would think that after 30 years they would not even meet for coffee. But no, they would go on vacation together," said Racca.

"This school is like a homeland," said Ricardo Berlot, who teaches computer science and had all five of the slain men as students.

"They were a tight-knit group, rebels. They knew what they wanted and they fought hard to achieve it," said Berlot.

He added: "I could not believe it when I heard it. It is sad. We feel so far removed from all that."

One of the survivors, Martin Ludovico Marro, was hurt in the attack and was being treated at the Presbyterian Hospital in Manhattan with non-life-threatening injuries.

The truck missed another, Ariel Benvenuto, by about eight inches (20 cm).

His wife, Cecilia Piedrabuena, said that minutes after the attack she got a call from a number she did not recognize. It was her husband, saying he and two others of the group were OK but the rest were in bad shape.

Silvia Goldberg, the mother of a teenage student at the school now, said she was speechless when she saw the news on television.

"I can't stop thinking that they took the trip to celebrate their friendship," Goldberg said.
Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani in Doha last month and now his department has approved a $1.1 billion military deal

The United States government on Wednesday approved a $1.1 billion deal to service Qatar's F-15 fighter jets despite the diplomatic stand-off between the Gulf emirate and its neighbors.

Qatar, home to one of the largest US military bases in the Middle East, is locked in a bitter dispute with Washington's other Arab allies in the region, led by Saudi Arabia.

US President Donald Trump took Riyadh's side in June when Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt cut diplomatic ties with Qatar, accusing it of supporting terrorism.

But Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has taken a more cautious line, attempting to broker an agreement to cool ties and build a regional front against Iranian influence and extremism.

On Wednesday, the State Department announced it had approved a $1.1 billion contract to service Qatar's F-15QA jets and build them ground facilities and hardened bunkers.

"Qatar is an important force for political stability and economic progress in the Persian Gulf region," the department said, in a note from its Defense Security Cooperation Agency.

"Our mutual defense interests anchor our relationship and the Qatar Emiri Air Force plays a predominant role in Qatar's defense."

The new maintenance and training facilities will also come with improved "cyber security services, mission critical computer resources, support services, force protection services."

Tillerson visited both Riyadh and the Qatari capital Doha last month in an effort to curb Iran's influence in the region and urge the Arab monarchies to negotiate away their differences.
BOSTON (AP) - A justice of the highest court in Massachusetts is holding the first hearing in a lawsuit seeking the dismissal of potentially thousands of cases affected by misconduct involving a drug lab chemist.

Sonja Farak was convicted in 2014 of stealing drugs and tampering with evidence at the Amherst lab where she worked.

The case to be heard Tuesday at the Supreme Judicial Court was brought by the Committee for Public Counsel Services and the ACLU of Massachusetts.

It also alleges misconduct by the state attorney general's office and district attorneys in the state.

A trial judge found that state prosecutors intentionally deceived the court and defense lawyers by falsely downplaying the scope of the scandal.
FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) - A panel says ethics charges will proceed against a Kentucky judge who declared his conscientious objection to handling adoption cases involving gay and lesbian adults, despite his resignation last week.

News outlets report the state Judicial Conduct Commission announced Monday that a hearing for Judge W. Mitchell Nance is scheduled for Dec. 15, a day before his resignation takes effect. The 66-year-old Nance has presided over family court cases in Barren and Metcalfe counties in rural south-central Kentucky.

The commission said Nance's April order, which he said was motivated by religious convictions, violated several ethics provisions. That included a rule barring judges from showing bias based on sexual orientation. Several civil rights groups had filed a complaint against Nance.

Nance's attorneys argued for charges to be dismissed after he resigned.
CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) - A South Carolina college is investigating social media posts that appear to show students in "racially insensitive" Halloween costumes, the school's president said.

College of Charleston President Glenn McConnell said in a statement that the school's Division of Student Affairs and Department of Public Safety are probing whether students violated the code of conduct or other college rules.

The school's Black Student Union said one post showed a racial slur written on someone's bare skin, while another showed a student wearing an orange jumpsuit with the name "Freddie Gray," whose death in Baltimore police custody sparked a riot amid complaints about police brutality against black suspects. The caption said "ur going to jail tonight."

That student was a recent graduate of Boys Latin School of Maryland, where the image prompted officials to warn that there's no place for racism in their community.

Other elite private high schools in Baltimore also said their students have been involved in racially offensive Halloween costumes posted on social media.

The Baltimore Sun report ed that the Gilman School and Roland Park Country School identified their students in a photo that shows the teens in orange jumpsuits with a racial slur in the caption. A third school, Mount Saint Joseph High School, said the photo was taken and captioned by one of its students.

Gilman and Roland Park administrators said in a statement that the people who took the pictures, wrote captions on them and shared them online are not the students in the photos. Gilman Headmaster Henry Smyth wrote in a letter to school families that the incident disappointed him.
Transferring from community college to a university should be as simple as basic math: Two years at the first school plus two years at the second equals a bachelor's degree. But the equation is often more complicated.

Many students' classes don't transfer correctly, and they have to spend extra time and tuition dollars finishing their degree, if they complete it at all, according to a May 2017 report from the Community College Research Center.

The vast majority of community college students - 80 percent - intend to earn a bachelor's degree or higher, according to 2011 National Center for Education Statistics data. But only 13 percent of students who start at a community college successfully transfer and earn a bachelor's degree within six years, according to a 2017 report by the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center.

FILE - In this Feb. 1, 2017, file photo, Brooklyn College students walk between classes on campus in New York. Transferring from a two-year college to a four-year school should be simple, but many students encounter problems. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews, File)

Here are five tips for acing the transfer process, so you can beat the odds and earn your bachelor's degree on time and on budget.

FIND OUT HOW YOUR CREDITS TRANSFER

Like piecing together a puzzle, transfer students must figure out how their credits fit into the degree requirements for their new school. Many community colleges have transfer agreements with local colleges and universities - also known as articulation agreements - that map out how specific classes translate at the four-year institution.

It's possible to transfer to a school that doesn't have an articulation agreement with your community college, but you'll have to do extra research and work closely with advisers at both schools.

BEFRIEND AN ACADEMIC ADVISER

Students should meet with an adviser at their community college at least twice a semester, says Laura Riley, coordinator of the advising and transfer center at Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

A community college adviser can help you choose a major, pinpoint potential four-year schools and enroll in courses that will transfer to those schools. If you have questions about the school where you hope to transfer, reach out directly - many colleges and universities have a dedicated transfer office.

CONSIDER A RANGE OF SCHOOLS

What was a "reach" college for a high school senior might be a realistic option for a transfer student, says Kevin Meza, the transfer center coordinator at Glendale Community College in Glendale, California.

Admissions requirements for transfer students are different than those for high school seniors. They vary by school, but many institutions require transfer students from community colleges to have earned a certain number of transferable credits, maintained a certain grade point average and completed prerequisites such as English and math.

To give yourself choices, apply to some safeties, a handful of middle-of-the-road options and a few dream schools.

APPLY FOR FINANCIAL AID

It's crucial to submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. The FAFSA is the application for all federal student loans, grants and work-study programs, and you need to submit it every year you're in school to be considered for this aid. If you submitted the application before, you can file a renewal FAFSA, which is easier and faster.

Next, search for potential scholarships, including awards that are designated for transfer students. For instance, all members of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, a national group for high-achieving community college students, are eligible for scholarships from the group. The average member receives $2,500 disbursed over two years, according to the organization.

EARN A CREDENTIAL FIRST

Community college students who earn an associate's degree before transferring to a four-year institution are more likely to earn a bachelor's degree, according to a 2015 study published in Research in Higher Education.

The type of associate's degree matters. Students intending to transfer should pursue an associate's degree designed for that purpose, such as an associate's of arts or an associate's of science. An associate's of applied science is typically designed for students who want to enter the workforce immediately after community college.

__________________________________________________________

This article originally appeared on the personal finance website NerdWallet. Teddy Nykiel is a writer at NerdWallet. Email: teddy@nerdwallet.com. Twitter: @teddynykiel.

RELATED LINKS:

Community College Research Center: Is it really cheaper to start at a community college?

https://ccrc.tc.columbia.edu/media/k2/attachments/really-cheaper-start-at-community-college-consequences-inefficient-transfer.pdf

National Student Clearinghouse Research Center: Tracking transfer

https://nscresearchcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/SignatureReport13.pdf

NerdWallet: How to get free money for college

https://nerd.me/fafsa-guide
BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) - A large Montana coal mine averted dozens of layoffs on Tuesday after a judge allowed work to proceed on an expansion, even as the government reconsiders the mine's contribution to climate change.

The ruling by U.S. District Judge Donald Molloy allows Signal Peak Energy to remove up to 170,000 tons of coal from federal leases adjacent to its Bull Mountain Mine north of Billings.

Attorneys for the Trump administration had joined Signal Peak in asking Molloy for a reprieve from an earlier ruling that had blocked the expansion. The company remains barred from selling or shipping fuel from the disputed area, pending a new environmental study by federal officials.

FILE - In this Aug. 28, 2009, file photo, heavy equipment moves coal outside Signal Peak Energy's Bull Mountain mine near Roundup, Mont. A judge has given a reprieve to the owners of the central Montana coal mine who had warned layoffs were imminent after the mine's expansion plans were blocked. U.S. District Judge Donald Molloy said Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2017 that preparatory work in the expansion area can proceed while the mine's climate change impacts are further studied. (AP Photo/Matthew Brown, File)

Environmentalists who sued over the project said Tuesday's ruling effectively renders the pending study meaningless.

Signal Peak executives had said 30 workers would be laid off by the end of October and up to 150 more in coming months as they ran out of work on existing leases. The expansion ultimately would give the company access to an estimated 176 million tons of coal that would take more than a decade to mine.

"We're extremely pleased with the decision and also for our employees," said Signal Peak spokesman Mike Dawson. "We will not have to lay people off."

Molloy in August said the Interior Department had understated the climate change impacts of burning fuel from Bull Mountain and overstated its economic benefits.

Bull Mountain is one of the largest underground mines in the U.S. and ships about 95 percent of its coal to Asia.

The Interior Department in 2015 determined that the expansion would not have a significant impact on the human environment. The agency said Bull Mountain's customers would simply go somewhere else if the expansion were not approved, meaning there would be no reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from burning the fuel.

That drew a lawsuit from the Western Environmental Law Center on behalf of the Montana Environmental Information Center and other groups. The environmentalists said the government had not looked closely enough at the effects of the expansion on waterways, air pollution and the health of people who live along the coal's shipping routes.

The new environmental study of the mine already is underway, with public comments due by Nov. 20.

President Donald Trump and Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke have been outspoken in their support of U.S. coal mining - despite growing competition from natural gas and renewable fuels that's eroded market demand for coal.

Anne Hedges with the Montana Environmental Information Center expressed doubt that the administration would come down against the expansion given that mining in the area already will have started.

"They pull it out of the ground, they stockpile it and then they get to burn it down the road as soon as they get a pro forma analysis done by an agency that's already shown its willingness to bend over backward for them," she said. "The analysis is meaningless."

Signal Peak is jointly owned by Ohio-based utility FirstEnergy, Boiche Group and Gunvor Group, an international commodities trading firm.

___

Follow Matthew Brown on Twitter at www.twitter.com/matthewbrownap .
WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. (AP) - The Latest on a proposal to build an aerial tram on tribal land at the Grand Canyon (all times local):

5:20 p.m.

Members of the Navajo Nation Tribal Council voted down legislation to build an aerial tram to take paying visitors to a riverside boardwalk in the Grand Canyon.

This undated photo provided by Confluence Partners, LLC, shows a view upstream on the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon at the site for a proposed aerial tram. Navajo Nation lawmakers will consider a plan Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2017, to build an aerial tram to carry visitors to the bottom of the Grand Canyon. The special session in Window Rock, Ariz., will be the first time the full Tribal Council takes up the bill. (Confluence Partners, LLC via AP)

The council voted 16-2 against the bill during a special session Tuesday in Window Rock, Arizona. It was the first time the full council had taken up the measure since it was introduced last year.

Some tribal delegates raised concerns about the development resulting in more public safety demands, while others questioned a $65 million investment that would be required by the tribe for roads, water, power lines and communications infrastructure.

Critics showed up to urge lawmakers to oppose the project. They have said the area is sacred and that the proposed development would mar the landscape.

___

1:45 p.m.

A project that would build an aerial tram to take visitors to a riverside boardwalk in the Grand Canyon with stores, hotels and restaurants is up for a key vote Tuesday by tribal lawmakers who have been reticent to develop sacred land at one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World.

The special session is the first time the Navajo Nation's full Tribal Council takes up the measure introduced last year.

It needs 16 votes to pass and has so far gotten a cold reception from lawmakers from the nation's largest American Indian reservation.

The development on 420 acres of the reservation that borders Grand Canyon National Park requires a $65 million investment from the tribe for roads, water and power lines, and communications. The legislation prevents other development within a 15-mile radius and along access roads.

Critics showed up to urge lawmakers to oppose the project as discussion got underway Tuesday afternoon.
Tribal lawmakers reticent of developing sacred land at one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World said no Tuesday to a multimillion-dollar project to build an aerial tram to take paying visitors to a riverside boardwalk in the Grand Canyon.

The Navajo Nation Tribal Council voted 16-2 during a special session in opposition of the legislation. It was the first time the full council had taken up the measure since it was first introduced last year.

The proposal had gotten a cold reception from lawmakers from the nation's largest American Indian reservation even before Tuesday's lengthy debate.

This artist rendering provided by Confluence Partners, LLC, depicts a proposed aerial tramway, at right, that would ferry tourists from the cliff tops of the east rim of the Grand Canyon to the water's edge of the Colorado and Little Colorado Rivers below. Navajo Nation lawmakers will consider a plan Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2017, to build an aerial tram to carry visitors to the bottom of the Grand Canyon. The special session in Window Rock, Arizona, will be the first time the full Tribal Council takes up the bill. (Confluence Partners, LLC via AP)

Some lawmakers raised concerns about the development resulting in more public safety demands, while others questioned a requirement that the tribe help fund infrastructure improvements in the remote area.

The development on 420 acres of the reservation that borders Grand Canyon National Park would have required $65 million from the tribe for roads, water and power lines, and communications. The legislation also would have prevented other development within a 15-mile radius and along access roads.

Developers had said the tram and accompanying retail and hotel sites at the East Rim could be running by May 2021 had everything gone as planned. They did not immediately return phone messages seeking comment after the vote.

Critics showed up to urge lawmakers to oppose the project as the debate finally got underway late Tuesday afternoon. Those included families who hold grazing permits and leases to build homes in the area.

They have said the area is sacred and the proposed development would mar the landscape where the Colorado River meets the blue-green waters of the Little Colorado River.

Declaring victory over what they termed a "monster," they praised the council's vote on social media and let out loud cheers outside the council chambers.

"They heard us," activist Renae Yellowhorse said of the council members. "We needed to be a presence there to let them know we're not going to go away. We're going to always be here to defend our Mother, to defend our sacred sites."

Environmentalists and outdoor enthusiasts also decried the measure. Actor Robert Redford released a video last December voicing opposition, and an online petition against the proposal has collected thousands of signatures.

The vote came ahead of a tribal election year and as the tribe prepares for the loss of hundreds of jobs with the expected shutdown of a coal-fired power plant and its supply mine in 2019.

Lamar Whitmer, part of the Scottsdale-based Confluence Partners development group, had said previously that the East Rim project could employ up to 3,500 people on a reservation where half the workforce is unemployed.

The management team includes former Navajo President Albert Hale and others who have helped develop resorts and theme parks.

Under the legislation, the Navajo Nation's share of revenue would have depended on the number of visitors. The tribe would have been guaranteed a minimum 8 percent of gross revenue, developers say.

___

Associated Press writer Susan Montoya Bryan reported from Albuquerque, New Mexico.
SYDNEY (AP) - The 606 men refusing to leave an Australian immigration camp in Papua New Guinea were without power and many of their toilets on Wednesday morning after a nervous first night following the facility's closure.

The camp inside a Manus Island navy base was declared closed Tuesday afternoon based on the Papua New Guinea Supreme Court's ruling last year that Australia's policy of detaining asylum seekers there was illegal and unconstitutional. But the men who've stayed at the camp on Lombrun Navy Base fear for their safety in the alternative shelters available because of threats from locals.

The Sydney-based Refugee Action Coalition said the removal of electricity generators Wednesday morning left the camp without power, including toilets that operate on electrical pumps. They still have tap water, though the coalition says it isn't drinkable.

This photo made from Australia Broadcasting Corporation video taken on Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2017, shows asylum seekers protesting the possible closure of their detention center on Manus Island, Paua New Guinea. Lawyers for 606 asylum seekers in an Australian offshore detention center on Papua New Guinea's Manus Island sought a court injunction to prevent the facility's scheduled closure, as fears mounted of violent confrontations with locals who oppose the asylum seekers living among them. (Australia Broadcasting Corporation via AP)

An Iranian man living there, Behrouz Boochani, tweeted: "They took generators this morning. There is not power in whole centre. The toilets do not work. All refugees woke up again in fear."

The coalition has applied to the court for an injunction stopping the closure of the camp. Coalition spokesman Ian Rintoul said the first night without security staff guarding the residents had at least passed peacefully.

"The men are sitting tight for the moment," Rintoul told The Associated Press. "The situation isn't great, but at least there were no attacks during the night."

Rintoul said some locals brought food and drinking water to the perimeter fence, some selling it to the men, others donating it.

Papua New Guinea officials have said the facility would be returned to defense forces on Wednesday and anyone remaining would be considered to be trespassing on a military base.

For four years, Australia has paid Papua New Guinea, its nearest neighbor, and the tiny Pacific island nation of Nauru to house asylum seekers who attempt to reach the Australian coast by boat. They are Rohingya Muslims from Myanmar, Afghans, Iranians, Sri Lankans and other nationalities.

Australia has recognized many of the asylum seekers are refugees who cannot return to their homelands, but it refuses to resettle anyone who tried to reach the country by boat in a policy it credits with dissuading such dangerous ocean crossings. Some whose refugee claims were denied have been forcibly sent home.

But Australia and Papua New Guinea still disagree on who has responsibility for those Australia has recognized as refugees yet won't accept on its own soil.

The United States has resettled 54 of them in recent weeks and is considering taking almost 1,200 more.

The men are free to come and go from the Manus Island camp, which is no longer a detention center since the court ruling, but they've reported robberies and violence directed at them when they go into the community.

Of the 606 men, some 440 have been deemed to be legitimate refugees, while the remainder are categorized as non-refugees, including around 50 who have refused to cooperate with the determination process as they say they were unlawfully transferred to Papua New Guinea.

Papua New Guinea authorities have deployed extra police to the town of Lorengau where the three new housing centers are located. A protest of about 100 people earlier this week demanded Australia take back the men and they not live in the community.

This photo made from Australia Broadcasting Corporation video taken on Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2017, shows housing of asylum seekers protesting the possible closure of their detention center, on Manus Island, Paua New Guinea. Lawyers for 606 asylum seekers in an Australian offshore detention center on Papua New Guinea's Manus Island sought a court injunction to prevent the facility's scheduled closure, as fears mounted of violent confrontations with locals who oppose the asylum seekers living among them. (Australia Broadcasting Corporation via AP)

In this undated photo released by Refugee Action Coalition, refugees and asylum seekers hold up banners during a protest at the Manus Island immigration detention centre in Papua New Guinea. As Australia moved to close a detention center for asylum seekers it won't allow on its shores, Papua New Guinea's government warned the 600 men who want to stay at the Manus Island facility they may be removed if they stay beyond a Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2017 deadline. (Refugee Action Coalition via AP)
The man who barged into a Riverside, California elementary school shortly after 11am on Tuesday and proceeded to take a teacher hostage for six hours before being shot dead by a SWAT team has been identified as Luvelle Kennon.

Authorities are now saying that Kennon, 27, was a disgruntled father and in the midst of an 'emotional breakdown' when he grabbed Linda Montgomery, 70, and put her in a headlock as he dragged her into a classroom at Castle View Elementary School.

A substitute teacher who is married to a staff member tried to intervene at one point before Kennon got Montgomery into the room, but was beaten bloody by the man and left with a broken nose.

Kennon's motives remain unclear, but he does have a daughter who is in first grade at the school.

He was taken to a local hospital after being shot on the scene where he was later pronounced dead.

Montgomery was also examined and sustained no known injuries.

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Tragedy: Luvelle Kennon (left) was shot dead after taking Linda Montgomery (right) hostage and barricading himself inside a classroom at Castle View Elementary School in Riverside

Stretcher: Authorities are now saying that he was a disgruntled parent whose daughter attended the school, while family members say he had an emotional breakdown (Kennon above being taken away from the school on Tuesday)

The school was placed on lockdown minutes after Kennon entered the building on Tuesday, and after two hours authorities were able to evacuate all the students to a nearby park.

Relatives of Kennon told ABC 7 that the young father was suffering from an emotional breakdown on Tuesday, adding that the family had tried to take his car keys away, but he still managed to get to the school.

'He had a breakdown, and he relapsed again,' said the suspect's uncle, Carl Jackson.

Jackson said his nephew was 'not a bad guy, never been in trouble.'

He also said that that Kennon had 'no access to weapons.'

Police noted that there was smoke seen coming from the classroom at one point, but other than that there was no sign of any weapons or toxic material.

The Riverside Police Department later said in a statement: 'Officers determined the suspect had barricaded himself inside a classroom holding a female teacher hostage. METRO Team officers conducted tactical operations around the building and ENT members began attempting to make contact with the suspect.

'At times, the suspect was communicating with ENT members but the safety and well-being of the teacher was unknown. After hours of trying to convince the suspect to surrender, the METRO Team entered the classroom to rescue the teacher and an officer-involved shooting occurred.

The suspect was shot and the teacher was successfully rescued.'

Rushed off: Students were held in place as the school was put on lockdown for two hours before being evacuated to a nearby park

Meanwhile, the substitute teacher who tried to stop the hostage situation has been heralded as a hero.

'I want to begin by thanking the Riverside Police and Fire Departments, the City of Riverside, and all RUSD staff and administrators who have helped bring this situation to an end,' said Dr. David Hansen, the superintendent of the Riverside Unified School District,

'Safety is our number one priority, and in this case because of the quick work and collaboration of our first responders and RUSD staff, all students, and now all staff, are accounted for and safe.'
'Cowardly act of terror': Truck driver kills 8 on bike path

NEW YORK (AP) - A man in a rented pickup truck mowed down pedestrians and cyclists along a busy bike path near the World Trade Center memorial on Tuesday, killing at least eight and seriously injuring 11 in what the mayor called "a particularly cowardly act of terror."

The driver was shot in the abdomen by police after jumping out of the truck with what turned out to be a fake gun in each hand and shouting what witnesses said was "Allahu Akbar," Arabic for "God is great," authorities said. The man underwent surgery and was in critical condition but was expected to survive.

Officials who were not authorized to discuss the investigation and spoke on the condition of anonymity identified the attacker as 29-year-old Sayfullo Saipov and said he is from Uzbekistan and came to the U.S. legally in 2010. He has a Florida driver's license but may have been staying in New Jersey, they said.

The driver barreled along the bike path in a rented Home Depot truck for the equivalent of about 14 blocks, or around eight-tenths of a mile, before slamming into a small yellow school bus. The mayhem and the burst of police gunfire set off panic in the neighborhood and left the pavement strewn with mangled bicycles and bodies that were soon covered with sheets.

"I saw a lot of blood over there. A lot of people on the ground," said Chen Yi, an Uber driver.

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House GOP leaders delay tax plan release amid changes

WASHINGTON (AP) - House Republicans, straining to make last-minute changes to their far-reaching tax proposal, on Tuesday delayed the rollout by a day after they failed to finalize the details.

The plan pushed by President Donald Trump and Republican leaders in Congress is a top legislative priority. The details originally were to be unveiled on Wednesday, but that was delayed until Thursday, said Rep. Kevin Brady, R-Texas, chairman of the tax-writing Ways and Means Committee.

The committee had worked throughout the day and evening to produce a plan for the first overhaul of the nation's tax code in three decades.

"We are making excellent progress. We are very close," Brady told reporters late Tuesday night. "A lot of work remains with the drafters, they are continuing to work through the night. We are moving forward."

At the White House, an official said Trump looked forward to seeing legislation this week, adding the administration was confident the delay wouldn't affect the ultimate timing of the bill. Brady said his panel plans to vote on the bill next week.

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10 Things to Know for Wednesday

Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about Wednesday:

1. 8 KILLED IN 'COWARDLY ACT OF TERROR' IN NYC

A 29-year-old man in a rented pickup truck mows down pedestrians and bicyclists along a busy bike path near the World Trade Center memorial, leaving bodies in his wake.

2. WHAT'S BEING LEARNED ABOUT GEORGE PAPADOPOLOUS

Newly unsealed court papers outline the former Trump adviser's frequent contacts with senior campaign officials and with foreign nationals who promised access to the highest levels of the Russian government.

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Women rescued by Navy defend their account of ordeal at sea

HONOLULU (AP) - Two women from Hawaii who were rescued after being lost at sea defended their account of the ordeal Tuesday, insisting that a storm was whipping up 30-foot waves and near hurricane-force winds on the night they set sail, despite records that show no severe weather in the area.

The Coast Guard is reviewing records from the days after Jennifer Appel and Tasha Fuiava put to sea in a 50-foot sailboat, but NASA satellite images for the days around their departure show no organized storms in the region where they planned to travel.

There was a tropical cyclone, but it was near Fiji, thousands of miles west of Hawaii. Localized squalls are known to pop up, but a storm lasting three days would have been visible on satellite and would have elicited mass warnings to the public to brace for the weather.

"We got into a Force 11 storm, and it lasted for two nights and three days," Appel said.

Coast Guard officials told The Associated Press on Monday that the two women had an emergency beacon but never turned it on because they did not fear for their lives. If they had, rescue would have been headed their way in a matter of minutes.

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Pruitt guts EPA science panels, will appoint new members

WASHINGTON (AP) - The head of the Environmental Protection Agency said Tuesday he intends to replace the outside experts that advise him on science and public health issues with new board members holding more diverse views.

In announcing the changes, EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt suggested many previously appointed to the panels were potentially biased because they had received federal research grants. The 22 boards advise EPA on a wide range of issues, including drinking water standards and pesticide safety.

"Whatever science comes out of EPA shouldn't be political science," said Pruitt, a Republican lawyer who previously served as the attorney general of Oklahoma. "From this day forward, EPA advisory committee members will be financially independent from the agency."

Pruitt has expressed skepticism about the consensus of climate scientists that man-made carbon emissions are the primary cause of global warming. He also overruled experts that had recommended pulling a top-selling pesticide from the market after peer-reviewed studies showed it damaged children's brains.

Pruitt said he will name new leadership and members to three key EPA advisory boards soon - the Science Advisory Board, Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee, and the Board of Scientific Counselors.

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Ex-Trump adviser's guilty plea poised to rattle White House

WASHINGTON (AP) - President Donald Trump dismissed George Papadopoulos on Tuesday as a "liar" and a mere campaign volunteer, but newly unsealed court papers outline the former adviser's frequent contacts with senior officials and with foreign nationals who promised access to the highest levels of the Russian government.

They also hint at more headaches for the White House and former campaign officials. Papadopoulos, now cooperating with Special Counsel Robert Mueller as he investigates possible coordination between Russia and Trump's 2016 White House campaign, is poised to dish.

Records made public Monday in Papadopoulos' case list a gaggle of people who were in touch with him during the campaign but only with such identifiers as "Campaign Supervisor," ''Senior Policy Advisor" and "High-Ranking Campaign Official." Two of the unnamed campaign officials referenced are in fact former campaign chairman Paul Manafort and his business associate Rick Gates, both. charged with financial crimes in an indictment unsealed Monday.

The conversations described in charging documents cut to the heart of Mueller's investigation, reflecting Papadopoulos' efforts to arrange meetings between Trump aides and Russian government intermediaries and revealing how he learned the Russians had "dirt" on Hillary Clinton in the form of "thousands of emails."

Though the contacts may not by themselves have been illegal, the oblique but telling references to unnamed people - including "Professor" and "Female Russian National" - make clear that Mueller's team has identified multiple people who had knowledge of back-and-forth outreach efforts between Russians and associates of the Trump election effort.

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Senators blast Facebook, Twitter, Google in Russia probe

WASHINGTON (AP) - Exasperated U.S. senators harshly criticized representatives of Facebook, Twitter and Google at a hearing Tuesday for not doing more to prevent Russian agents interfering with the American political process as early as 2015.

At one point, Sen. Al Franken shook his head after he couldn't get all the companies to commit to not accepting political ads bought with North Korean currency.

The hearing by a subcommittee of the Senate Judiciary panel was moved last week into a cavernous hearing room usually reserved for high-profile events like Supreme Court confirmations. About 50 people waited to get in as senators fired pointed questions and waved at cardboard displays of outrageous ads.

"People are buying ads on your platform with rubles. They are political ads," Franken fumed. "You put billions of data points together all the time. ... Google has all knowledge that man has ever developed. You can't put together rubles with a political ad and go like, 'Hmmm, those data points spell out something pretty bad?' "

Technology company representatives fumbled at points. After Franken pointed out foreign spending on U.S. political campaigns is illegal, Google's director of law enforcement and information security, Richard Salgado, replied only that the search giant would refuse political ads paid with foreign currency "if it's a good enough signal on illegality."

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'House of Cards' filming suspended; new Spacey allegations

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Hollywood's widening sexual harassment crisis brought forth a second actor's allegation against Kevin Spacey on Tuesday, halted production on his Netflix series "House of Cards" and prompted CBS to check into an actress' claim she was groped by Jeremy Piven.

Mexican actor Robert Cavazos wrote on his Facebook page that he encountered Spacey at the bar of London's Old Vic Theatre, where Spacey was artistic director, and the actor tried to fondle him against his will.

"It was more common for this guy, when he was in the bar of his theater, grabbing whoever caught his attention," Cavazos wrote. "I didn't stand for it, but I know some people who were afraid to stop it."

Cavazos declined an interview request. There was no immediate reply to a request for comment from representatives for Spacey, who was artistic director from 2004-15.

In a statement Tuesday, the theater expressed "deep dismay" at the allegations and said "inappropriate behavior by anyone working at The Old Vic is completely unacceptable."

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California wildfire insurance claims top $3.3 billion

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - Property damage claims from a series of deadly October wildfires now exceed $3.3 billion, California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones said Tuesday.

The figure represents claims for homes and businesses insured by 15 companies and is more than triple the previous estimate of $1 billion. Jones said the number will continue to rise as more claims are reported.

The amount of claims now reported means that the fires caused more damage than California's 1991 Oakland Hills fire, which was previously the state's costliest, with $2.7 billion in damages in 2015 dollars, according to the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America.

Forty-three people were killed in the October blazes that tore through Northern California, including the state's renowned winemaking regions in Napa and Sonoma counties. They destroyed thousands of buildings as more than 100,000 people were forced to evacuate. It was the deadliest series of fires in California history.

The fires are now nearly contained.

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Turner returns to 3B for Dodgers in Game 6 of World Series

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Justin Turner is back at third base and hitting third in the Los Angeles Dodgers' starting lineup for Game 6 of the World Series, while the Astros juggled the bottom of their lineup.

Turner served as designated hitter in Game 5 after taking a grounder off a knee during Game 4.

Center fielder Chris Taylor leads off Tuesday night for the Dodgers, followed by shortstop Corey Seager, Turner, first baseman Cody Bellinger, right fielder Yasiel Puig, left fielder Joc Pederson, second baseman Logan Forsythe and catcher Austin Barnes. Left-hander Rich Hill starts.

Pederson had been the DH in the first two games in Houston before being dropped in Game 5. Kike Hernandez and Charlie Culberson are dropped.

Center fielder George Springer tops the Astros' order, followed by third baseman Alex Bregman, second baseman Jose Altuve, shortstop Carlos Correa, first baseman Yuli Gurriel, catcher Brian McCann, left fielder Marwin Gonzalez and right fielder Josh Reddick. Right-hander Justin Verlander is on the mound. McCann moves from last to sixth in the lineup and Reddick drops from sixth to last. Evan Gattis, who DH'd in the last game, drops out.
JERUSALEM (AP) - Israelis celebrate it. Palestinians despise it. The Balfour Declaration, Britain's promise to Zionists to create a Jewish home in what is now Israel, turns 100 this week, with events in Israel, the Palestinian territories and Britain drawing attention to the now yellowing document tucked away in London's British Library.

Historians still muse about Britain's motivations, and its commitment to the declaration waned in the decades after it was issued. Yet the 67 words penned by a British Cabinet minister still resonate 100 years later, with both the Israelis and Palestinians seizing the anniversary to reinforce their narratives.

Each side is marking the centenary in starkly different ways, shining a light on the chasm between Israel and the Palestinians that some say was cleaved on Nov. 2, 1917.

FILE - In this photo from 1930, British Foreign Secretary Lord Arthur Balfour poses for camera. The Balfour Declaration, Britain's promise to Zionists to create a Jewish home in what is now Israel, turns 100 this week, with events in Israel, the Palestinian territories and the United Kingdom drawing attention to the now yellowing document tucked away in London's British Library. The 67 words penned by a British Cabinet minister still resonate loudly 100 years later, with each side seizing on the occasion to reinforce its narrative and justify its positions. (AP Photo)

"It's so divisive even today because Zionists think that the Balfour Declaration laid the foundation stone for modern Israel - and they're right to think that - and by the same token non-Jewish Palestinians and Arabs see it as the foundation stone of their dispossession and misery," said Jonathan Schneer, a historian who authored a book on the document.

The declaration was the result of discussions between British Zionists seeking political recognition of their goal of Jewish statehood and British politicians embroiled in the First World War. Written by British Foreign Secretary Lord Arthur Balfour and addressed to Lord Lionel Walter Rothschild, a British financier and Zionist leader, the declaration promised British assistance to create a Jewish homeland.

"His Majesty's government view with favor the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people, and will use their best endeavors to facilitate the achievement of this object," the declaration goes, continuing with a caveat: "It being clearly understood that nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine."

British motives for issuing the declaration include imperialist political calculations meant to secure a foothold in the Levant amid the collapse of the Ottoman Empire to the messianism of British politicians steeped in biblical history, hoping to restore Jews to their ancestral home.

The declaration served as the basis for the British Mandate of Palestine, which was approved in 1920 by the League of Nations. The following decades saw a spike in the number of Jews immigrating to Palestine as Zionist state institutions took root. With that came increased friction with the Arab population.

Israel views the pledge as the first international recognition granted to the Jewish people's desire to return to its historic homeland. It sees Britain as having played a supporting role in a narrative dominated by the determination, heroism and pioneering spirit of the early settlers who fought to build the state.

"While the state would not have arisen without settlement, sacrifice and a willingness to fight for it, the international impetus was, undoubtedly, the Balfour Declaration," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said this week.

Israel is planning a major campaign meant to drive home that narrative and highlight its warm ties with Britain, an important ally at a time when the European Union has taken steps against Israel's West Bank settlements. Netanyahu will mark the anniversary in London on Thursday at a dinner hosted by the current Lords Balfour and Rothschild and attended by Prime Minister Theresa May. An "anniversary concert" in London this weekend will feature British performers alongside a Jewish Israeli clarinetist and a pianist who is an Arab citizen of Israel.

The Palestinians see the declaration as the original sin, a harbinger of their "nakba," or catastrophe, the mass displacement that resulted from the war surrounding Israel's creation in 1948. That refugee crisis reverberates across the region today, and the Palestinians have cast Israel, through the declaration and its imperialist British patrons, as a colonial enterprise.

The Palestinians, who have spent recent years seeking recognition for their state at international institutions, are demanding British accountability. They want an apology and have threatened to sue Britain over the declaration.

"We asked them to make it right, to make this historical oppression right by recognizing the state of Palestine and apologizing to the Palestinian people," said Palestinian Foreign Minister Riad Malki. He said they have asked Britain to issue a new declaration that would be more favorable to the Palestinians, a request he said London rejected.

Protests are planned in the Palestinian territories, where thousands of students will stand in their schoolyards on Thursday demanding Britain dismiss the declaration, and in Britain, where dozens of cars will be emblazoned with posters condemning the declaration. In Jerusalem, thousands of letters from Palestinian schoolchildren are to be delivered to the British Consulate.

British graffiti artist Banksy organized an event marking the anniversary in the West Bank town of Bethlehem on Wednesday. Children wore helmets with the British flag and a woman dressed as Queen Elizabeth unveiled a curtain to reveal the word "Er... SORRY" underneath an image of a crown on Israel's West Bank separation barrier.

Britain, meanwhile, has treaded lightly, casting the anniversary as a commemoration and not a celebration.

"We will mark the centenary with pride and respect, but also with a degree of sadness, as issues between Israel and the Palestinians remain unresolved," Middle East Minister Alistair Burt said last week.

By the 1930s, a new government in Britain backed away from its earlier promise to the Zionists, with an official commission of inquiry deciding that Britain's mandate over Palestine, with its constant internecine violence, proved untenable. The 1937 Peel Commission recommended that the land be split between Arabs and Jews. Relations between the Jews in Mandatory Palestine and Britain would further deteriorate before Israel declared independence.

Israel would later capture more territory in the 1967 Mideast war, including east Jerusalem, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, land the Palestinians want for their state. The years since have seen repeated spasms of violence and the dwindling of hopes for peace.

"The Balfour Declaration is being used by both sides to advance a present agenda," said Martin Kramer, a historian at Jerusalem's Shalem College. "There are reasons for Israelis to be grateful for it and reasons for the Palestinians to regret it, but it's history. It can't be changed."

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Associated Press writers Mohammed Daraghmeh in Ramallah, West Bank, and Jill Lawless in London contributed reporting.

Israeli security fires tear gas during a protest on the anniversary of the Balfour Declaration in Bethlehem, West Bank, Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2017. The Balfour Declaration, Britain's promise to Zionists to create a Jewish home in what is now Israel, turns 100 this week, with events in Israel, the Palestinian territories and Britain drawing attention to the now yellowing document tucked away in London's British Library (AP Photo/Nasser Shiyoukhi)

Palestinians stand around an effigy of Arthur Balfour during a protest on the anniversary of the Balfour Declaration in Bethlehem, West Bank, Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2017. The Balfour Declaration, Britain's promise to Zionists to create a Jewish home in what is now Israel, turns 100 this week, with events in Israel, the Palestinian territories and Britain drawing attention to the now yellowing document tucked away in London's British Library (AP Photo/Nasser Shiyoukhi)

Palestinians carry an effigy of Arthur Balfour during a protest on the anniversary of the Balfour Declaration in Bethlehem, West Bank, Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2017. The Balfour Declaration, Britain's promise to Zionists to create a Jewish home in what is now Israel, turns 100 this week, with events in Israel, the Palestinian territories and Britain drawing attention to the now yellowing document tucked away in London's British Library (AP Photo/Nasser Shiyoukhi)

Tear gas rises around an effigy of Arthus Balfour during a protest on the anniversary of the Balfour Declaration in Bethlehem, West Bank, Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2017. The Balfour Declaration, Britain's promise to Zionists to create a Jewish home in what is now Israel, turns 100 this week, with events in Israel, the Palestinian territories and Britain drawing attention to the now yellowing document tucked away in London's British Library (AP Photo/Nasser Shiyoukhi)

A woman wearing a mask of Queen Elisabeth stands next to the message by the elusive artist Banksy on the anniversary of the Balfour Declaration Bethlehem, West Bank, Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2017. The Balfour Declaration, Britain's promise to Zionists to create a Jewish home in what is now Israel, turns 100 this week, with events in Israel, the Palestinian territories and Britain drawing attention to the now yellowing document tucked away in London's British Library (AP Photo/Dusan Vranic)

A woman wearing a mask of Queen Elisabeth stands next to the message by the elusive artist Banksy on the anniversary of the Balfour Declaration Bethlehem, West Bank, Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2017. The Balfour Declaration, Britain's promise to Zionists to create a Jewish home in what is now Israel, turns 100 this week, with events in Israel, the Palestinian territories and Britain drawing attention to the now yellowing document tucked away in London's British Library (AP Photo/Dusan Vranic)

A woman wearing a mask of Queen Elisabeth cuts a cake in pattern of the Great Britain flag on the anniversary of the Balfour Declaration Bethlehem, West Bank, Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2017. The Balfour Declaration, Britain's promise to Zionists to create a Jewish home in what is now Israel, turns 100 this week, with events in Israel, the Palestinian territories and Britain drawing attention to the now yellowing document tucked away in London's British Library (AP Photo/Dusan Vranic)
SEATTLE (AP) - When political consultant Cathy Allen and others learned the top four vote-getters in Seattle's mayoral primary race were women, she paused to think.

"When was the last time Seattle had a woman mayor?" she wondered. A few prominent women who ran unsuccessfully over the years sprang to mind, but not any who won. So Allen checked and discovered the last female mayor of the Pacific Northwest's largest city was elected in 1926.

"We're sitting here going, 'This can't be,'" she said. "This is our progressive city."

In this photo taken Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2017, Seattle mayoral candidates Jenny Durkan, left, and Cary Moon applaud the audience at the end of a televised debate in Seattle. After 91 years Seattle will elect its second female mayor next week. Voters will choose urban planner Moon or former U.S. attorney Durkan to lead this city dealing with the benefits and headaches of a booming economy for some more than others as e-commerce giant Amazon expands. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

After 91 years, Seattle is poised to elect its second female mayor next week. Voters will choose between urban planner Cary Moon or former U.S. attorney Jenny Durkan to lead this city dealing with the benefits and headaches of an economy booming for some more than others as e-commerce giant Amazon expands. There are the only two candidates on the ballot.

Just a few months ago, neither woman was even in the race. Former Mayor Ed Murray was expected to easily win re-election after pushing through increases to the city's minimum wage and emerging as a vocal opponent of President Donald Trump, who was trounced by Seattle voters in 2016. But Murray dropped his bid in May following accusations of sexual abuse by multiple men. He resigned in September.

In the August primary, Durkan, Moon, community activist Nikkita Oliver and former state lawmaker Jessyn Farrell took the four top spots.

The shock many Seattleites felt when Hillary Clinton lost to Trump could have played a part in the strong showing by this year's female mayoral candidates, Allen said. Two well-known male candidates - state Sen. Bob Hasegawa and former Mayor Mike McGinn - finished a distant fifth and sixth in the primary.

There's been a realization that "women are not nearly as equal as we figured we were," said Allen, who has helped train female candidates in dozens of countries working with the national Women's Political Caucus and the State Department.

Moon said attending the Women's March in January in Washington, D.C., inspired her to run.

"There's been a massive shift," Moon said. "A lot of women are feeling a responsibility to step up and offer a different kind of leadership in politics."

As of July 2016, only 19 percent of U.S. cities had a woman as mayor, according to the U.S. Conference of Mayors. And just 6 percent of the country's top paid CEOs last year were women, an analysis by executive data firm Equilar and The Associated Press found.

"Every job I've ever had I've faced barriers because I'm a woman," Durkan said.

The race between Durkan and Moon has keyed on how the city will respond to changes largely brought by Amazon, which employs about 40,000 people in Seattle. Housing prices have skyrocketed amid constant complaints about traffic and worries that the poor and middle class are being priced out.

Durkan, backed by the city's business and labor establishment, has touted her managerial experience as a prosecutor. Moon, meanwhile, who formerly managed her family's manufacturing business, has stressed her 20 years of activism on transit, waterfront and other city issues. During the campaign, both said they have been treated differently based on gender.

Durkan, who says she's the first openly gay person to become a U.S. attorney, said she no longer looks at social media comments because so many are sexist and homophobic.

"Any woman who's had any job is aware that you're always pulled between various narratives: Are you going to cry, or are you an ice princess?" she said.

Moon said she gets asked if she's tough enough for the job.

"Leadership is not about knocking heads together. It's about leading," she said. "But yes, when it comes time to settle a dispute, of course I can do that. There's nothing in my resume that presumes I couldn't do that."

Bertha Knight Landes was elected Seattle's mayor 16 years after women won the right to vote in Washington and just six years after women won the right to vote nationally.

She had to prove herself in ways that men did not - facing constant scrutiny over whether her dress and demeanor were proper for a woman of the early 20th century.

Newspapers and magazines told readers that Landes was a "plain, unassuming, churchgoing woman" not the "chattering kind" and not a smoker or a threatening "new woman," according to a 1994 biography of Landes by the late University of Idaho professor Sandra Haarsager.

Durkan said a phrase from a conference over 20 years ago sticks with her today: "The first people who break the glass ceiling are going to get a lot of cuts."

Having women in leadership positions has a "society-changing effect," she said. "We want every little girl to think they can be whatever they want, and every little boy."

In this photo taken Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2017, Seattle mayoral candidate Jenny Durkan answers a question during a televised debate in Seattle. Voters will choose urban planner Cary Moon or former U.S. attorney Durkan to lead this city dealing with the benefits and headaches of a booming economy for some more than others as e-commerce giant Amazon expands. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

In this photo taken Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2017, Seattle mayoral candidate Cary Moon answers a question during a televised debate in Seattle. After 91 years Seattle will elect its second female mayor next week. Voters will choose urban planner Moon or former U.S. attorney Jenny Durkan to lead this city dealing with the benefits and headaches of a booming economy for some more than others as e-commerce giant Amazon expands. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

In this photo taken Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2017, Seattle mayoral candidate Jenny Durkan, left, and Cary Moon take part in a televised debate in Seattle. After 91 years Seattle will elect its second female mayor next week. Voters will choose urban planner Moon or former U.S. attorney Durkan to lead this city dealing with the benefits and headaches of a booming economy for some more than others as e-commerce giant Amazon expands. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

In this photo taken Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2017, Seattle mayoral candidates Jenny Durkan, left, and Cary Moon take part in a televised debate in Seattle. After 91 years Seattle will elect its second female mayor next week. Voters will choose urban planner Moon or former U.S. attorney Durkan to lead this city dealing with the benefits and headaches of a booming economy for some more than others as e-commerce giant Amazon expands. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

In this photo taken Thursday, Oct. 19, 2017, Seattle mayoral candidates Cary Moon, left, and Jenny Durkan hold up signs signaling their agreement to one of several questions asked in a brief, quick-question portion of a forum in Seattle. After 91 years Seattle will elect its second female mayor next week. Voters will choose urban planner Moon or former U.S. attorney Durkan to lead this city dealing with the benefits and headaches of an economy booming for some more than others as e-commerce giant Amazon expands. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

In this photo taken Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2017, Seattle mayoral candidate Jenny Durkan walks past audience members as she answers a question during a televised debate in Seattle. Voters will choose urban planner Cary Moon or former U.S. attorney Durkan to lead this city dealing with the benefits and headaches of a booming economy for some more than others as e-commerce giant Amazon expands. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

In this photo taken Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2017, Seattle mayoral candidate Jenny Durkan waits behind curtains before heading to the stage for a televised debate in Seattle. After 91 years Seattle will elect its second female mayor next week. Voters will choose urban planner Cary Moon or former U.S. attorney Durkan to lead this city dealing with the benefits and headaches of a booming economy for some more than others as e-commerce giant Amazon expands. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

In this photo taken Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2017, Seattle mayoral candidate Cary Moon walks past audience members as she answers a question during a televised debate in Seattle. After 91 years Seattle will elect its second female mayor next week. Voters will choose urban planner Moon or former U.S. attorney Jenny Durkan to lead this city dealing with the benefits and headaches of a booming economy for some more than others as e-commerce giant Amazon expands. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

In this photo taken Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2017, Seattle mayoral candidate Cary Moon gives a wave as she heads to a televised debate in Seattle. After 91 years Seattle will elect its second female mayor next week. Voters will choose urban planner Moon or former U.S. attorney Jenny Durkan to lead this city dealing with the benefits and headaches of an economy booming for some more than others as e-commerce giant Amazon expands. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

In this 1925 archive photo, Seattle City Council President Bertha Landes, left, shakes hands with Mayor Edwin Brown in Seattle. Landes was elected mayor in 1926, becoming the first woman to head a major U.S. city. After 91 years Seattle will elect its second female mayor next week. Voters will choose urban planner Cary Moon or former U.S. attorney Jenny Durkan to lead this city dealing with the benefits and headaches of a booming economy for some more than others as e-commerce giant Amazon expands. (The Seattle Times Archive via AP)
FORT BRAGG, N.C. (AP) - Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl's attorneys are nearing the end of their defense for the soldier who pleaded guilty to endangering his comrades by walking away from his remote post in Afghanistan in 2009.

So far, Bergdahl has testified, apologizing to the troops that were wounded in the search for him. And two military agents who debriefed Bergdahl testified Tuesday about how much valuable intelligence he provided when he was returned in a prisoner swap.

Prosecutors presented evidence that the wounds to the troops who searched for him merit stiff punishment. Bergdahl faces up to life in prison. The military judge hearing the case has wide discretion on his punishment because Bergdahl didn't strike a plea agreement with prosecutors when he admitted to desertion and misbehavior before the enemy.

Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl leaves the Fort Bragg courtroom facility after a sentencing hearing on Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2017, on Fort Bragg, N.C. Bergdahl, who walked off his base in Afghanistan in 2009 and was held by the Taliban for five years, has pleaded guilty to desertion and misbehavior before the enemy. (Andrew Craft/The Fayetteville Observer via AP)/The Fayetteville Observer via AP)

The defense plans to call three more witnesses Wednesday. Closing arguments are expected later this week.

The two debriefing specialists said Bergdahl helped the military better understand insurgents and how they imprison hostages.

Amber Dach, who spent 16 years in military intelligence, was the primary analyst assigned to Bergdahl's case for the five years after he disappeared. She described how eager he was to help intelligence officials at a hospital in Germany days after he was returned to U.S. authorities.

"He was very motivated to just download all of the details that he recalled," she testified. "It was a gold mine. It really reshaped the way we did intel collection in the area."

An official from the military agency that helps reintegrate former captives and develops survival training for service members testified that information Bergdahl provided him was invaluable.

Terrence Russell developed a 1,200-page transcript from debriefing Bergdahl that was turned into a database. The information produced reports on tactics used by insurgents and hostage-takers in the region that are still used by the military.

Russell said he'd like to learn even more from Bergdahl but the soldier's legal case has impeded that.

"Can you give him to me tomorrow? I need him. I need him now," he said to a defense attorney. "The fact that I can't get that information is wrong. I need that."

He said he'd like to add Bergdahl to a roster of about 30 service members taken captive in recent conflicts dating to the Gulf War who can provide videos or lectures for military survival training.

He also reaffirmed his previous statements that Bergdahl's captivity was worse than any American prisoner of war has experienced since the Vietnam era.

On Monday, Bergdahl began the defense's sentencing presentation to apologize to those wounded searching for him. He also described the brutal conditions he faced, including beatings with copper wire and unending bouts of gastrointestinal problems brought on by squalid conditions. He said he was kept in a cage for four out of the five years in captivity after several escape attempts. He said his muscles became so weak he could barely stand or walk.

Russell, who's debriefed more than 100 former hostages and prisoners of war, said Bergdahl's time in the cage was damaging psychologically because he was kept in isolation nearly the entire time.

"They simply shut the door. Long-term isolation. Psychological abuse," he said. "It was extreme neglect. They just let him nearly rot inside that cage for four years."

The 31-year-old soldier from Hailey, Idaho, was brought home by President Barack Obama in 2014 in a swap for five Taliban prisoners at Guantanamo Bay. Obama said at the time the U.S. does not leave its service members on the battlefield. Republicans roundly criticized Obama, and Donald Trump went further while campaigning for president, repeatedly calling Bergdahl a "dirty, rotten traitor" who deserved to be executed by firing squad or thrown out of a plane without a parachute.

___

Follow Drew at www.twitter.com/jonldrew

FILE - In this Jan. 12, 2016, file photo, Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl arrives for a pretrial hearing at Fort Bragg, N.C. Former Navy SEAL James Hatch who testified this week at Bergdahl's sentencing hearing on charges he endangered comrades by leaving his post in Afghanistan in 2009, has had eight years to think about the nighttime raid that ended with insurgent AK-47 spray ripping through his leg. Hatch said he's still angry at Bergdahl but doesn't envy the military judge who must decide his punishment after sentencing resumes Monday, Oct. 30, 2017. (AP Photo/Ted Richardson, File)

Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, left, leaves the Fort Bragg courtroom facility after a sentencing hearing on Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2017, on Fort Bragg, N.C. Bergdahl faces up to life in prison after pleading guilty to desertion and misbehavior before the enemy for walking off his remote post in Afghanistan in 2009. (AP Photo/The Fayetteville Observer, Andrew Craft)

Defense witness Audry Ellingson leaves the Fort Bragg courtroom facility after testifying at sentencing hearing for Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl on Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2017, on Fort Bragg, N.C. Bergdahl faces up to life in prison after pleading guilty to desertion and misbehavior before the enemy for walking off his remote post in Afghanistan in 2009. (AP Photo/The Fayetteville Observer, Andrew Craft)

Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, right, leaves the Fort Bragg courtroom facility after a sentencing hearing on Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2017, on Fort Bragg, N.C. Bergdahl faces up to life in prison after pleading guilty to desertion and misbehavior before the enemy for walking off his remote post in Afghanistan in 2009. (AP Photo/The Fayetteville Observer, Andrew Craft)

Defense witness Curtis Aberle leaves the Fort Bragg courtroom facility after testifying at a sentencing hearing for Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl on Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2017, on Fort Bragg, N.C. Bergdahl, who walked off his base in Afghanistan in 2009 and was held by the Taliban for five years, has pleaded guilty to desertion and misbehavior before the enemy. (Andrew Craft/The Fayetteville Observer via AP)

Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl's former squad leader, Greg Leatherman leaves the Fort Bragg courtroom facility after testifying at a sentencing hearing for Bergdahl on Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2017, on Fort Bragg, N.C. Bergdahl, who walked off his base in Afghanistan in 2009 and was held by the Taliban for five years, pleaded guilty to desertion and misbehavior before the enemy. (Andrew Craft/The Fayetteville Observer via AP)

Terrence Russell, of Joint Personnel Recovery Agency, leaves the Fort Bragg courtroom facility after testifying for the defense at a sentencing hearing for Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl on Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2017, on Fort Bragg, N.C. Bergdahl, who walked off his base in Afghanistan in 2009 and was held by the Taliban for five years, pleaded guilty to desertion and misbehavior before the enemy. (Andrew Craft/The Fayetteville Observer via AP)

Intelligence analyst Amber Dach leaves the Fort Bragg courtroom facility after testifying for the defense at a sentencing hearing for Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl on Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2017, on Fort Bragg, N.C. Bergdahl, who walked off his base in Afghanistan in 2009 and was held by the Taliban for five years, pleaded guilty to desertion and misbehavior before the enemy. (Andrew Craft/The Fayetteville Observer via AP)

Army judge Col. Jeffery Nance arrives at the Fort Bragg courtroom facility for Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl's sentencing hearing on Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2017, on Fort Bragg, N.C. Bergdahl, who walked off his base in Afghanistan in 2009 and was held by the Taliban for five years, pleaded guilty to desertion and misbehavior before the enemy. (Andrew Craft/The Fayetteville Observer via AP)
One of the dead was a mother of young sons from Belgium. Five had traveled from Argentina to New York with a tight-knit group of classmates to celebrate the 30th anniversary of their graduation.

The other victims were Americans: One a new college graduate working as a software engineer, the other a doting son who had recently lost nearly 100 pounds and was getting a bike ride in between meetings at his World Trade Center job.

Those killed in the New York bike path attack reflect a city that is a melting pot, a magnet for international visitors, and a business and technology capital.

This Saturday, Oct. 28, 2017 photo provided by the Trevisan family shows from left to right; Hernan Ferruchi, Alejandro Pagnucco, Ariel Erlij, Ivan Brajckovic, Juan Pablo Trevisan, Hernan Mendoza, Diego Angelini and Ariel Benvenuto, gather for a group photo before their trip to New York City, at the airport in Rosario, in the province of Santa Fe, Argentina. Mendoza, Angelini, Pagnucco, Erlij and Ferruchi were killed in the bike path attack near the World Trade Center. They were part of a group of friends celebrating the 30th anniversary of their high school graduation with a trip to New York City. (Courtesy of Trevisan family via AP)

"They saw New York as a special place to be," said Mayor Bill de Blasio, "and we now and forever will consider them New Yorkers."

The victims were mowed down by a rental truck Tuesday afternoon near the World Trade Center. Police called it a terrorist attack, saying the driver was an Uzbek immigrant who "did it in the name of ISIS."

The largest group of victims came from Rosario, Argentina, the country's third-largest city and the hometown of international soccer star Lionel Messi and guerrilla leader Che Guevara. They had made the trip courtesy of one of their well-heeled friends, who was also among those who perished.

"It hurts us to think that these are people who walked the same school halls as we did or that studied in our same classrooms," said Agustin Riccardi, a senior at the victims' alma mater.

President Mauricio Macri said in Buenos Aires that the attack "hit all Argentines hard."

On Wednesday, friends and relatives began remembering the victims - and recounting the circumstances that led them to New York.

___

ARGENTINA: A GROUP OF FRIENDS

Three decades had passed since their 1987 graduation from the Polytechnic School of Rosario, Argentina. But the Argentine victims of Tuesday's truck attack, most of them architects, had remained close friends, getting together several times a year.

The five dead were among a group of 10 friends marking their graduation with a tour of New York and Boston, where a survivor of the group lived.

They had gone on a bike ride through Central Park on Tuesday before turning south, to lower Manhattan.

"They were pedaling in lines of two, chatting, laughing, enjoying the ride. My husband was the last one in the line, when he felt a speeding car, and then the truck that zoomed by" at high speed, Cecilia Piedrabuena, the wife of survivor Ariel Benvenuto, told an Argentine radio station. "The truck took away his friends, and he saw them all scattered on the ground."

One victim, Hernan Diego Mendoza, was an architect and father of three who designed the home of his close friend, Estanislao Beas.

"The news destroyed my wife and I," Beas said. "We had a tight bond. We cared for him so much. It's incredible that this happened to him and that he was there at that time."

Another friend, Cesar Lagostino, attended a candlelight vigil for the victims Wednesday evening outside the school. He remembered Mendoza as an honest and generous person, "among those who deserve to stay in this world."

The Argentine foreign ministry identified the other victims as Ariel Erlij, Diego Enrique Angelini, Alejandro Damian Pagnucco and Hernan Ferruchi.

The reunion trip was partially financed by Erlij, the chief executive of Ivanar, an Argentine steel products manufacturing company, according to Argentina's La Nacion newspaper.

Another classmate , Martin Ludovico Marro, of Newton, Massachusetts, near Boston, was being treated at a Manhattan hospital.

In Rosario, a minute of silence was observed at the high school earlier Wednesday, and the light-blue and white Argentina flag was flown at half-staff.

Only days earlier, before flying to the U.S., they had posed for a group photo, all of them wearing T-shirts with the word "Libre," or "Free" - meaning free from any responsibilities, said Piedrabuena, the wife of survivor Ariel Benvenuto.

___

BELGIUM: ANN-LAURE DECADT

Ann-Laure Decadt, 31, the mother of a 3-year-old and a 3-month-old son, had traveled with her relatives to New York from a rural town in Belgium.

Decadt belonged to a prominent family that owns a venerable animal feed business in Staden, a town of 11,000 some 60 miles (100 kilometers) west of Brussels.

The family said in a statement that "she was riding a bike and apparently was surprised by a vehicle that came from behind." Her husband and children had not traveled with her. Other family members escaped injury.

Decadt grew up in the town and was active in its social scene, taking part in the youth council and village fairs, said Staden's mayor, Francesco Vanderjeugd.

"Ann-Laure meant so much to us in town," he said. "It is an attack in New York, but also one on our community."

Flags flew at half-staff in the village, and a condolence register was opened at the community center Wednesday - All Saints' Day, when Belgium traditionally remembers the dead.

Johan Verstervete, a friend of the family, said: "We knew her as a very spontaneous person, very dynamic, loving her family and her children."

Vanderjeugd said he was delighted when he first heard that Decadt was going to New York. He even sent the family a message saying: "Wow, you'll have a great time there, with Halloween and the New York marathon and all."

"And then," he said, "this happens."

___

NEW JERSEY: DARREN DRAKE

Darren Drake, a 32-year-old project manager for Moody's Investors Service at the World Trade Center, had recently lost a lot of weight - 93 pounds - after undergoing lap band surgery. He was out for a bike ride between meetings when the truck hit and killed him.

"While other people would take cigarette or coffee breaks, he would go out and ride the bike for 15 to 20 minutes," his father, Jimmy Drake, told NJ.com.

Drake, a voracious reader who enjoyed listening to audio books, used to serve on the school board in New Milford, in northern New Jersey, where he was a native and lived with his parents. He had a master's degree in business administration and was working toward a second master's degree, at Stevens Institute of Technology.

Stevens' president, Nariman Farvardin, said in a message to the university community that Drake's death was "a heartbreaking loss for the Stevens community."

Jimmy Drake told NorthJersey.com he and his son were close. They went hunting and fishing together, and Jimmy drove Darren every day to the terminal in suburban Hoboken so he could catch a train to his job in the city.

He sobbed as he recounted seeing his son's body at the morgue.

"Just picture that face. He really looked like he was having a nice dream," he said.

He called the Uzbek immigrant suspected in the attack a "psycho" but said he's "not angry at all."

"I'm hurt," he said. "I'm absolutely hurt."

___

NEW YORK CITY: NICHOLAS CLEVES

Nicholas Cleves, 23, died not far from his home in Manhattan's Greenwich Village. He was a software engineer and web developer.

Online profiles show he went to Elisabeth Irwin High School in New York City and graduated last year from Skidmore College with a degree in computer science. He had been working as a software engineer for the Unified Digital Group.

Cleves described himself on his Facebook page as a "nerdy white boy." The most recent photo posted there showed him posing with some friends next to a Darth Vader figure at a Star Wars exhibit.

"Our hearts go out to Nicholas's mother, Monica Missio, who is a member of the Skidmore class of 1981, the other members of his family, and his closest friends," Skidmore President Philip A. Glotzbach wrote on the school's website.

Outlining his aspirations on LinkedIn, Cleves wrote that he was "searching for ways in which technology can be used to make positive impacts on our everyday lives."

Alex Silverstein, who hired Cleves as a Unified Digital Group intern during his senior year in college, wrote a glowing recommendation on LinkedIn.

"I immediately recognized his intelligence and desire to know more about everything," Silverstein wrote. "He is great with customers - polite, considerate, and patient. This is extremely useful emotional intelligence that you can't put a price on."

___

Rey reported from Rosario, Argentina. Rubinkam reported from northeastern Pennsylvania. Contributing were Associated Press writers Hernan Alvarez in Rosario; Victor Caivano, Almudena Calatrava and Luis Andres Henao in Buenos Aires; Raf Casert in Brussels; David Crary and Claudia Torrens in New York; and Philip Marcelo in Boston.

Jimmy Drake holds a picture of and talks about his son Darren Drake, Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2017, in New Milford, NJ. Darren, a project manager for Moody's Investors Service at the World Trade Center, was among those killed in the bike path attack in New York City. (Ed Murray /NJ Advance Media via AP)

A book of condolence is open next to a portrait of victim of the New York terror attack Ann-Laure Decadt in a community centre in Staden Belgium Wednesday Nov. 1, 2017. Ann-Laure Decadt, 31 and a mother of three-year-old and three-month-old sons, was the Belgian victim in New York's bike path attack near the World Trade Center on Tuesday. (AP Photo/Sylvain Plazy)

Jimmy Drake talked about his son Darren Drake, Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2017, in New Milford, NJ. Darren, a project manager for Moody's Investors Service at the World Trade Center, was among those killed in the bike path attack in New York City. (Ed Murray /NJ Advance Media via AP)

The Argentine national flag flys half mast at the "Monumento a la bandera," in Rosario, Argentina, Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2017. Argentina on Wednesday mourned five victims of the bike path attack near the World Trade Center who were part of a group of friends celebrating the 30th anniversary of their high school graduation with a trip to New York City. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

In this Oct. 23, 2017 photo provided by Tom Mountain, Martin Marro, left, and his wife, Mariana Dagatti, right, pose for a photo with the Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker in Newton, Mass. The Argentine foreign ministry said Marro is recovering from his injuries at a Manhattan hospital after the Tuesday, Oct. 31 bike path attack. (Tom Mountain via AP)

Students play soccer as an Argentine national hangs half mast at the Polytechnic School in Rosario, Argentina, Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2017. Several victims killed in the bike path attack near the World Trade Center in New York on Tuesday were part of a group of friends celebrating the 30th anniversary of their graduation from the school. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

Bahij Chancey, 26, center, holds a photo of his friend and, one of the victims Nicholas Cleves, during an interfaith vigil for peace at Foley Square in response to the Manhattan truck attack, Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2017, in New York. Multiple people were killed and others seriously injured in the Tuesday afternoon attack when, authorities say, Sayfullo Saipov, a 29-year-old from Uzbekistan, barreled along the path in a pickup truck for more than a dozen blocks. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki)

Locals place candles outside the Polytechnic School during a vigil in Rosario, Argentina, Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2017. Five victims killed in the bike path attack near the World Trade Center in New York were part of a group of friends celebrating the 30th anniversary of their graduation from the Polytechnic School of Rosario, Argentina.(AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

A man places a candle during a vigil outside the Polytechnic School in Rosario, Argentina, Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2017. Five victims killed in the bike path attack near the World Trade Center in New York were part of a group of friends celebrating the 30th anniversary of their graduation from the Polytechnic School of Rosario, Argentina.(AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

Locals place candles outside the Polytechnic School during a vigil in Rosario, Argentina, Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2017.Five victims killed in the bike path attack near the World Trade Center in New York were part of a group of friends celebrating the 30th anniversary of their graduation from the Polytechnic School of Rosario, Argentina.(AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

A woman places a candle during a vigil outside the Polytechnic School in Rosario, Argentina, Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2017.Five victims killed in the bike path attack near the World Trade Center in New York were part of a group of friends celebrating the 30th anniversary of their graduation from the Polytechnic School of Rosario, Argentina.(AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

A woman kisses a child as they both hold candles during a vigil outside the Polytechnic School in Rosario, Argentina, Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2017. Five victims killed in the bike path attack near the World Trade Center in New York were part of a group of friends celebrating the 30th anniversary of their graduation from the Polytechnic School of Rosario, Argentina.(AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

A child holds a candle during a vigil outside the Polytechnic School in Rosario, Argentina, Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2017. Five victims killed in the bike path attack near the World Trade Center in New York were part of a group of friends celebrating the 30th anniversary of their graduation from the Polytechnic School of Rosario, Argentina.(AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

People place candles outside the Polytechnic School during a vigil in Rosario, Argentina, Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2017.Five victims killed in the bike path attack near the World Trade Center in New York were part of a group of friends celebrating the 30th anniversary of their graduation from the Polytechnic School of Rosario, Argentina.(AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

People place candles outside the Polytechnic School during a vigil in Rosario, Argentina, Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2017.Five victims killed in the bike path attack near the World Trade Center in New York were part of a group of friends celebrating the 30th anniversary of their graduation from the Polytechnic School of Rosario, Argentina.(AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

Candles are placed outside the Polytechnic School during a vigil in Rosario, Argentina, Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2017.Five victims killed in the bike path attack near the World Trade Center in New York were part of a group of friends celebrating the 30th anniversary of their graduation from the Polytechnic School of Rosario, Argentina.(AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

A woman cries during an interfaith vigil for peace in response to Manhattan Attack at Foley Square, Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2017, in New York. Multiple people were killed and others seriously injured in the Tuesday attack when, authorities say, Sayfullo Saipov, a 29-year-old from Uzbekistan, barreled along the path in a pickup truck for more than a dozen blocks. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki)

A woman holds a candle during an interfaith vigil for peace in response to Manhattan Attack at Foley square, Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2017, in New York. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki)

A woman holds a candle during an interfaith vigil for peace at Foley Square in response to the Manhattan truck attack, Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2017, in New York. Multiple people were killed and others seriously injured in the Tuesday attack when, authorities say, Sayfullo Saipov, a 29-year-old from Uzbekistan, barreled along the path in a pickup truck for more than a dozen blocks. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki)
It'll be a (mostly) white Christmas cup for Starbucks this year. The coffee chain's latest holiday design lets customers color it in themselves.

The company says the cups - which are typically red-themed - will be in stores Wednesday. A cup sleeve to go with the cup will be red.

A plainer red cup from 2015 spurred an outcry from critics upset that it lacked snowflakes, reindeer or specific symbols of Christmas. Even President Donald Trump, who was a candidate at the time, suggested boycotting the chain.

This latest holiday cup is mostly white, for customers to color in themselves

A plainer red cup from 2015 (pictured) spurred an outcry from critics upset that it lacked snowflakes, reindeer or specific symbols of Christmas

This year the cups feature splashes of red and green amid illustrations of presents, snowflakes and a Christmas tree with star on top. But the black-and white illustration is mainly blank for customers to personalize.

'We hope they'll color it in to represent what the holidays means to them,' said Leanne Fremar, a creative director at the company.

Starbucks said it started working on the design in January and decided to go with a color-in version because it said many customers liked to draw on them. The Seattle-based chain said most of its nearly 5,000 U.S. locations will have colored pencils available for customers to borrow.

Last year, it released about a dozen holiday cups that were designed by its customers. The holiday cups have been released since 1997.
NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) - Kenyan ruling party lawmakers are appealing for calm amid ethnic tensions in a rural area following last week's election, which was boycotted by the main opposition group.

The lawmakers on Wednesday noted reports that opposition supporters have blocked roads and hurled stones at vehicles around the border of Kisumu County, an opposition stronghold whose residents are mainly from the Luo ethnic group, and Kericho County, a Kalenjin area that supports the government.

Hillary Kosgei, a Kalenjin lawmaker from Kericho, is condemning the unrest as a "direct invitation to violence" between the factions.

Kenya's opposition leader Raila Odinga leaves after making a statement to the media in Nairobi, Kenya Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2017. In his first public statement since President Uhuru Kenyatta was declared the winner of the Oct. 26 election, Odinga called the election a "sham" and said he wants a new vote to be held. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)

Police say a Luo man was hacked to death in the area last week.

President Uhuru Kenyatta was declared the winner of the Oct. 26 election by an overwhelming margin after opposition leader Raila Odinga refused to participate.
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) - The Islamic militant group Hamas on Wednesday handed over control of Gaza's border crossings with Israel and Egypt to the internationally recognized Palestinian Authority, taking the first tangible step toward implementing a reconciliation deal with the rival Fatah movement.

After a decade of Hamas rule, the group's security forces and border control agents were seen pulling away from the crossings that facilitate the movement of cargo and people in and out of Gaza. Representatives of the Fatah-dominated Palestinian Authority quickly took up positions.

"From now on, we have no relationship with crossings and our employees are not present inside them," Mohammed Abu Zaid, the Hamas-appointed director of crossing points, told reporters.

An employee of the Palestinian Authority stands guard on the Palestinian side of the Erez checkpoint between Israel and Gaza, at Beit Hanoun, Gaza Strip, Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2017. The Islamic militant Hamas group has handed over control of Gaza's border crossings with Israel and Egypt to the internationally recognized Palestinian Authority. Wednesday's handover was the first tangible step in implementing a reconciliation deal between Hamas and the rival Fatah party, which controls the Palestinian Authority. (AP Photo/Adel Hana)

Hamas seized control from the Fatah-led forces of the Palestinian Authority in 2007. But after a decade of an Israeli-Egyptian blockade, Hamas' new leadership says the group is no longer interested in governing Gaza. The blockade has hit Gaza's economy hard, with over 40 percent unemployment and chronic power outages.

Under Egyptian mediation, the two rivals last month announced a preliminary reconciliation deal, but many issues remain unresolved. The sides are to meet in Cairo on Nov. 21 to continue talks on two of the thorniest issues, the fate of 40,000 employees hired by the Hamas government and control of Hamas' vast arsenal of rockets, mortars and explosives. Hamas' military wing has said it will not give up its weapons.

Still, Wednesday's handover marked an important step forward. Officials hope that the handover will lead to an easing of the blockade. Israel, which considers Hamas a terrorist group, and Egypt say the blockade was needed to prevent the flow of weapons and militants in and out of Gaza.

"We finished the first phase of the reconciliation with excellence," Hamas' top leader in Gaza, Ismail Haniyeh, said during a seminar in Gaza City. "We are going to (discuss) big issues."

In Israel, Maj. Gen. Yoav Mordechai, who heads COGAT, the defense body responsible for Palestinian civilian matters, instructed senior officers to meet with Palestinian Authority representatives to discuss the changes at the border crossings.

"The meeting will define the joint working processes, the Israeli security demands and criteria for the crossings with an emphasis on having no presence of any Hamas official and anyone on its behalf operating the crossings or be adjacent to them," his office said.

Even so, changes on the ground were quickly visible.

Just outside the Erez crossing at the Israeli border, a large Hamas checkpoint, where people were inspected and interrogated when traveling in and out of Israel, was closed. Hamas officers loaded the furniture and equipment onto pickup trucks that rolled away. Other Hamas workers dismantled trailers used as offices.

Palestinian Authority representatives quickly moved into the area.

At the Kerem Shalom cargo crossing, trucks loaded with construction materials, fruits and consumer goods started trickling into Gaza. Raed Fatouh, a Palestinian Authority official, said tariffs and taxes were now being collected by his government, without additional fees Hamas had imposed.

Kerem Shalom has been the prime financial lifeline for Hamas in recent years, generating millions of dollars in revenue each month that it used to pay its employees.

One of the biggest tests will be whether the Palestinians successfully reopen the Rafah border crossing with Egypt, the main gateway for Gaza's 2 million people to travel abroad. Egypt has shuttered the crossing for most of the past 10 years.

At the crossing, huge posters of Egyptian President Abdel-Fatah el-Sissi and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas hung outside the departure hall, beside a giant Egyptian flag.

Hamas withdrew all of its officers from the crossing, and Palestinian officials and Egyptian intelligence officials stood as the national anthems played.

Azzam al-Ahmad, a senior Fatah official, said Rafah will reopen in two weeks. The hope is that a European monitoring team will be posted on the crossing, reviving an internationally backed arrangement approved in 2005. The short-lived deal had EU monitors and Palestinian Authority forces running the crossing. It grants Israel monitoring via security cameras, a move Hamas rejects.

The European Union later issued a statement reiterating "its readiness to provide its full support to the efforts to reunite Gaza and the West Bank under one single and legitimate Palestinian Authority." It said that includes its readiness to redeploy its monitoring team, known as EUBAM, "if requested by the parties and as soon as the conditions allow." It said "contacts with all relevant stakeholders on possible EU contributions are ongoing. "

European officials have been talking to Israeli and Palestinian officials in recent weeks and sent a technical team to Rafah last week.

Mkhaimar Abusada, a political science professor at Gaza's al-Azhar University, said the border changes would have no major impact in the short term beyond the reduction of taxes on items entering Gaza.

He said much would depend on Israel, now that Palestinian Authority staff were taking over on the other side.

A Hamas security officer closes the main gate of the Rafah border crossing in the Gaza Strip, Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2017. A Palestinian official said Tuesday that Gaza's crossing with Egypt will operate under an international agreement long opposed by the territory's Islamic militant Hamas rulers. The move comes as Hamas and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah faction work toward reconciliation after a decade of animosity. (AP Photo/Adel Hana)
Business / Companies

by Staff reporter

REDCLIFF based cement manufacturer Livetouch Investments has commenced cement production at its 410 000 tonne a year capacity plant, a senior company executive said.Construction of the $34 million cement plant, the fourth such facility in Zimbabwe and one of the largest, which is part of phase one of the firm's project, started in June last year.Managing director Dongning Wang told The Sunday Mail Business that the plant had started operations and had the second biggest production capacity of all local cement producers.Livetouch Investments becomes the third major cement producing company in the country after forerunners PPC Zimbabwe, Lafarge Zimbabwe and Sino-Zimbabwe.PPC, which is produced from Bulawayo and Gwanda doubled its production capacity to 1,4 million tonnes after recently commissioning a new plant in Harare, its third in Zimbabwe. Lafarge has a cement plant in Harare while Sino-Zimbabwe's also has a plant in Gweru .Zimbabwe currently consumes about 1,14 metric tonnes of cement per year. Producers have to secure markets in the region for the excess production.Livetouch's production is currently being distributed to potential customers to give the potential consumers a feel of the quality of the products."This is only phase 1, which is 85-90 percent complete. Major aspects during this phase were setting up the plant and related facilities to get it running.The capacity is 410 000 metric tonnes per year. Phase 1 is officially complete, what is left are final touches on roads and offices," Mr Dongning said."We are now negotiating with the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development for limestone deposits. Under Phase 2 we will set up another factory close to the deposits to produce clinker, a key ingredient of cement."Right now we are buying (the clinker) from other producers, but we hope one day we can produce (the clinker) ourselves," Mr Dongning added.Acting finance manager Ignatius Mbudaya said discussions were already in progress to create distributorship with large retailers for their cement products."It is going to be one of our key strategies in terms of establishing long-term relationships with wholesale distributors so that we can push our products through those branches for them to be known all over the country," Mr Mbudaya said during an interview at Livetouch in Redcliff.He said the company was confident of the quality of its cement brand  Diamond Cement, and believes it will withstand the stiff competition in the local market due to its high quality and low price.About 200 people will be employed when the plant start running at capacity.It is expected that the number of jobs to be created will double under phase 2.Phase 2 of the projects is planned to be much bigger than the initial investment and should get underway in 6 to 9 months after deposits are secured.Mr Dongning said the decision to invest in production of cement was due to the investors desire to be part of the growth story of the economy of Zimbabwe."We want to grow with this country as such we chose to invest in production of construction material, no matter how you want to develop, the first thing is construction, be it roads or housing," Mr Dongning.As part of corporate responsibility programme, Livetouch donated over 800 bags of cement to the city council for road rehabilitation and to Rutendo Primary school which needs the cement for construction of a new block.
NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) - The Latest on Kenya's presidential election (all times local):

2 p.m.

The head of a Kenyan observers' group says the Oct. 26 repeat presidential election faced challenges that were "not conducive" for a free and fair process.

Regina Opondo, chair of the Elections Observation Group, told Kenyan television on Wednesday that "the environment was not secure" in some areas during the vote, which the main opposition group boycotted.

Opondo says it is doubtful that Kenya's election commission was able to conduct "significant and comprehensive voter education" ahead of the vote, a rerun of the August election that was nullified by the Supreme Court over irregularities.

The Elections Observation Group says ruling party representatives were present in 80 percent of polling stations that the group observed, while representatives from other parties were at just under 3 percent of those stations.

___

12:55 p.m.

Kenyan ruling party lawmakers are appealing for calm amid ethnic tensions in a rural area following last week's election, which was boycotted by the main opposition group.

The lawmakers on Wednesday noted reports that opposition supporters have blocked roads and hurled stones at vehicles around the border of Kisumu County, an opposition stronghold whose residents are mainly from the Luo ethnic group, and Kericho County, a Kalenjin area that supports the government.

Hillary Kosgei, a Kalenjin lawmaker from Kericho, is condemning the unrest as a "direct invitation to violence" between the factions.

Police say a Luo man was hacked to death in the area last week.

President Uhuru Kenyatta was declared the winner of the Oct. 26 election by an overwhelming margin after opposition leader Raila Odinga refused to participate.
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) - An Afghan official says at least one person has been killed after a suicide car bomber targeted the car of a local district police commander in northern Balkh province.

Gen. Abdul Razaq Qaderi, deputy provincial police chief, says nine other people including the commander Nabi Gechi were wounded in Wednesday's attack on Gechi's car. Qaderi added that Gechi did not suffer life-threatening injuries.

At least three students were among those who were wounded in the attack, he said.

Sayed Abrar, Kholem district administrative chief, said the blast was so strong it shattered the windows of a nearby school.

No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, but Gechi was considered an anti-Taliban police commander in Qala-e Zal district of neighboring Kunduz province.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) - Activists on Wednesday asked the United States to suspend a diplomatic visa for a Bahrain prince over allegations that he tortured prisoners during the island kingdom's 2011 Arab Spring protests.

Bahrain long has denied the allegations against Prince Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa. However, as his prominence has risen in recent years, so too have the lingering memories of the 2011 demonstrations, with Bahrain cracking down on all dissent for more than a year now.

Meanwhile, Bahrain announced it had charged the imprisoned leader of what was the country's largest Shiite opposition group over allegedly communicating with Qatar, a country Manama now boycotts with three other Arab nations.

FILE - In this Dec. 5, 2015 file photo, Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the son of Bahrain's king, runs in Bahrain's Ironman 70.3 triathlon in Sekhir, Bahrain. The activist group, Americans for Democracy and Human Rights in Bahrain, sent letters Wednesday to the U.S. State Department and Defense Department on Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2017, asking the U.S. to suspend a diplomatic visa for Prince Nasser over allegations he tortured prisoners during the island kingdom's 2011 Arab Spring protests. (AP Photo/Hasan Jamali, File)

The group Americans for Democracy and Human Rights in Bahrain sent letters to the U.S. State Department and Defense Department over their concerns about Prince Nasser. They asked that his visa be suspended, as well as any defense cooperation with him. The prince was appointed in September to Bahrain's Supreme Defense Council, its highest military authority.

"We are gravely concerned by the U.S. government's open association with Bahraini military officials like Sheikh Nasser, whose leading role in defense procurement and record of malfeasance render him a particularly high risk for further corruption and abuse," wrote Husain Abdulla, the executive director of Americans for Democracy and Human Rights in Bahrain.

Bahrain's government did not respond to a request for comment. Responding to questions from The Associated Press, the State Department called Bahrain "an important U.S. partner."

"Our relationship is built on common interests, including joint efforts to counter terrorism and violent extremism, promote regional security and confront the threat from Iran," the State Department said, without discussing the allegations contained in the letter.

The Pentagon did not respond to a request for comment.

The island kingdom remains a crucial part of American military strategy in the Persian Gulf by hosting the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet. The Trump administration also has approved a multibillion-dollar sale of F-16 fighter jets to Bahrain without the human rights conditions imposed by the State Department under President Barack Obama.

Bahrain's Shiite majority and others demonstrated in 2011 to ask the island's Sunni rulers for more political freedoms. Bahrain put down the protests with the help of Saudi and Emirati forces.

For more than a year, Bahrain has been targeting journalists, activists, Shiite religious leaders and political parties. Some activists have escaped into exile while others have been imprisoned. Independent news gathering there has grown more difficult, with the government refusing to accredit two AP reporters and others.

Amid the crackdown, local Shiite militant groups have carried out several attacks on security forces.

Wednesday's letters come after Prince Nasser attended an event in September at the Los Angeles-based Simon Wiesenthal Center. Rabbis at the event said Bahraini King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa told them the longtime boycott of Israel by Arab countries should end.

As the letters were publicized, Bahrain prosecutors issued a statement Wednesday saying they had questioned and charged Sheikh Ali Salman, the secretary-general of the now-dissolved Al-Wefaq political group. Salman, a central figure in the 2011 protests, is already serving a nine-year sentence on charges including incitement and insulting the Interior Ministry.

A lawyer for Salman did not respond to a request for comment, though activists said the cleric denied all charges against him.

At the time of the protests, Qatar had done some negotiations behind the scenes to ease tensions on the island. Now amid the monthslong boycott of Qatar, intercepted phone calls from that time have been played on Arab satellite channels and have been pointed to as a sign of collusion between Doha and the protesters.

There has been bad blood for decades between Qatar and Bahrain, which have included disputes over islands in the Persian Gulf. On Tuesday, Bahrain's Interior Ministry announced Qatari nationals and residents there must obtain a visa prior to arrival in Manama, breaking the visa-free travel arrangements shared by Gulf Arab nations.

___

Follow Jon Gambrell on Twitter at www.twitter.com/jongambrellap . His work can be found at http://apne.ws/2galNpz .
BUFORD, Ga. (AP) - Georgia prison officials are investigating the deaths of two inmates found unresponsive in their cells on the same day.

A Georgia Department of Corrections statement Wednesday said Demitri Carter was found unresponsive in his cell at Phillips State prison in Buford at 2:10 p.m. on Sunday. Prison medical staff tried unsuccessfully to revive him, and he was declared dead at 2:50 p.m.

Carter, 25, had been sentenced to prison in 2014 for aggravated assault.

James Wheeler, 39, was found unresponsive at Wilcox State Prison and pronounced dead at 7:50 a.m. He was serving time for robbery and theft.

Corrections officials say both inmates apparently killed themselves, but provided no details. Corrections spokeswoman Gwendolyn Hogan said she couldn't provide more information because the deaths are under investigation.
SAUKVILLE, Wis. (AP) - A Wisconsin woman is facing charges after her 9-year-old son was tied to the roof of their minivan to help hold down a plastic pool.

Prosecutors allege 28-year-old Amber Schmunk had her son hold down the molded pool they'd just purchased because it wouldn't fit inside the van. WISN-TV reports a witness called police after seeing the incident on Sept. 9 in Saukville, about 20 miles (32 kilometers) north of Milwaukee.

Police documents allege Schmunk told an officer she thought it was OK because her father allowed her to do similar things when she was young.

Schmunk is charged with recklessly endangering safety, which is a felony. She's due in Ozaukee County Circuit Court on Nov. 11.

Court records don't list an attorney who could speak on her behalf.
Lillian Stone, 25, was charged on Tuesday with one count of felony cruelty to children after she left her son, three, in the car

A three-year-old boy has been hospitalized in critical condition after his mother left him inside a car for three hours.

Lillian Stone, 25, left her son in locked in the car in their driveway in College Park, Georgia, on Tuesday afternoon.

A neighbor noticed the child and called the police.

Before the police got there, Stone reportedly went out to the car to check on the boy and found him unconscious.

The temperature on Tuesday was 72 degrees Fahrenheit, but experts suggest it could have only taken an hour for the inside of the car to get to over 100 degrees.

Paramedics rushed the boy to the hospital, where he is still in critical condition.

Scroll down for video

A neighbor noticed the little boy in the car in Stone's driveway and called the police. He was rushed to the hospital where he is still in critical condition

Stone was charged on Tuesday with one count of felony cruelty to children.

She waived her first court appearance on Wednesday and will remain in jail until a hearing on November 15.

Neighbors said they always see children playing outside, and are surprised a tragedy like this could happen.

'There's a lot of adults over there. It's kinda puzzling everyone forgot the child,' neighbor Loretta Milton told Fox5. 'I'm praying for the child to recover.'

The name of the child has not yet been released.
WASHINGTON (AP) - A federal appeals court has upheld Energy Department decisions approving three projects to export liquefied natural gas.

It's a boost for the Trump administration's strategy to promote gas exports.

The Sierra Club wanted to overturn approvals of export terminals in Maryland, Louisiana and Texas. The group said the projects would increase air and water pollution and contribute to global warming.

But the District of Columbia-based appeals court has rejected that challenge. A three-judge panel says the Energy Department fulfilled its legal obligations.

Dominion Energy's export terminal in Cove Point, Maryland, is scheduled to open in the coming weeks. Cheniere Energy's Sabine Pass facility in Louisiana opened last year. And Cheniere's project in Corpus Christi, Texas, is due to open next year.
KIGALI, Rwanda (AP) - Human Rights Watch is accusing Rwandan officials and security forces of detaining family members who refuse to fabricate stories about their loved ones' deaths.

The group says Rwandan officials threatened or coerced family members into saying their relatives were not killed by security forces.

Rwanda's National Commission for Human Rights has disputed the allegations, saying some of the people Human Rights Watch has reported as killed are still alive. Commission chair Nirere Madeleine says others died of illnesses.

Human Rights Watch accuses Rwanda's government of presenting falsehoods. The rights group says the commission put forward people claiming to be those killed or relatives of those killed in an attempt to discredit the allegations.

Rwanda's government often denies allegations by rights groups of abuses including routine military torture of detainees.
BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) - A judge in Colombia has sentenced an Australian woman to six years in jail after she pleaded guilty to drug trafficking in a high-profile case that has shed light on the plight of foreign drug mules.

Cassandra Sainsbury was accompanied by her family on Wednesday as the judge accepted the plea deal - a huge reduction from the 30 years in jail she faced had the case gone to trial. Her lawyer Orlando Herran said that with good conduct, his client could be released from prison in as little as two years and placed under house arrest even before then. She must also pay a fine of nearly $100,000.

Sainsbury was arrested in April at Bogota's international airport boarding a flight to London after an X-ray machine detected in her luggage about 6 kilograms (13 pounds) of cocaine stashed in packages of headphones that she told police she had purchased to bring back to Australia for her wedding. However she changed her story several times, later claiming she had been set up and threatened by people back in Sydney, where she said she worked as a receptionist at a brothel.

Prosecutors, in seeking leniency, were persuaded that her crimes weren't so black and white, said Herran.

"She's lucky because the amount of the drugs was very big," he told a bevy of Australian journalists who traveled to Colombia after the closed-door hearing.

Sainsbury's arrest garnered top attention in Australia, where tabloids alternated between mocking the Adelaide native as "Cocaine Cassie" and expressing sympathy with the plight of Australia's highest-profile foreign prisoner. But the few Colombians who followed the case at all tended to be deeply offended by her family's early statement that she couldn't receive a fair trial in such a "corrupt country."

Colombia is the world's largest producer of cocaine and its police among the best trained to detect and stop drug smuggling thanks in part to billions of dollars in U.S. anti-narcotics aid that has strengthened law enforcement. Many families have sad tales of loved ones who've spent years behind bars in the U.S. and elsewhere after being drawn by economic hardship into the lower rungs of the drug trade.

As tourism to Colombia has boomed over the past decade, the country's drug cartels are increasingly recruiting foreigners to smuggle cocaine out of the country. So far this year, Colombian police have arrested 67 foreign drug mules.
HOUSTON (AP) - The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals has refused an appeal from a man from the Dominican Republic on Texas death row for the fatal stabbing of a 6-year-old Houston boy.

The state's highest criminal court ruled Wednesday in the case of 50-year-old Obel Cruz-Garcia.

Cruz-Garcia was convicted in 2013 of the 1992 slaying of Angelo Garcia, who was abducted from a Houston apartment. A woman at the apartment also was raped.

Cruz-Garcia was in prison in Puerto Rico for kidnapping when DNA testing in 2007 linked him to the rape and led to the capital murder charges. Evidence showed Cruz-Garcia was one of two masked men who broke into the apartment Sept. 30, 1992, and that he fled the country two days later.

He does not have an execution date.
News / National

by Staff reporter

UNITED Family International Church (UFIC) leader Emmanuel Makandiwa on Sunday 10 July 2016 predicted more political turmoil which could degenerate into anarchy that requires foreign intervention.Makandiwa told congregants in Harare yesterday that Zimbabwe was "on a verge of an implosion" and the situation could slide into serious proportions."There will be a wave of demonstrations, they would stop, and start again and on the fourth time the situation will get out of hand and foreign peace-keepers will be called (sic). Remember, my prophecy about bees flying to come to bite other bees that will be stinging the people," Makandiwa said during his Sunday service streamed live on YouTube.A few days before last week's violent protests, Prophetic Healing and Deliverance Ministries leader Walter Magaya made a similar prediction, saying he foresaw a southern African country in flames.Although Magaya did not specifically mention Zimbabwe, the prediction was immediately linked to the chaotic scenes that rocked Beitbridge Border Post following the government's decision to introduce an import ban on certain goods produced from South Africa.Makandiwa's claims come at a time a group of Zimbabweans have launched a social media campaign to petition United Nations secretary-general Ban Ki-moon under the banner #Protect Zimbabweans pursuing their liberation and #thisflag , after State security agents ruthlessly crushed last week's demonstrations and arrested hundreds of protestors countrywide.The UFIC leader yesterday also blasted Industry and Trade minister Mike Bimha, describing his Statutory Instrument 64 banning imports as a "monumental joke"."I told you that it was a joke (import ban) because I did not think learned people can sit down and talk of industry without asking which industry to protect. Industry is industry because it produces, not just because you have machinery locked inside a precast wall somewhere," he said.Makandiwa, who commands a huge following warned President Robert Mugabe, to be wary of his Cabinet ministers saying some of them were clandestinely pushing Zimbabweans to revolt against him."We have a sad situation where there is no money and when you get some little money, the government is making sure there is nothing to buy. This is deliberate. It's being planned by men who are close to the President. They are the ones planning the demonstrations," he said."Our President is in trouble. There shall come time when these same men shall go door-to-door beating up people to join the demonstrations. They want to foment chaos."Turning to police brutality, Makandiwa said: "Zimbabweans are not asking for teargas, they are asking for bread, even Jesus said there is no father who can give his child a stone when he is asking for bread.""I was standing here in 2014 and I said children of Zimbabwe are going to erupt like a volcano. This is something we cannot afford to ignore," he said.Mugabe and his government ministers have dismissed the protests as a non-event and instead accused South Africa, United States of America and France of engineering the recent wave of protests.Government has also threatened to descend heavily on "social media abusers", but the organisers of the #ShutdownZimbabwe2016 #This Flag grassroots movement frontman Evan Mawarire, #Tajamuka /Sesijikile's Promise Mkhwananzi, and various other pressure groups have vowed to roll out more protests until Mugabe's regime has stepped down to pave way for fresh elections.Mawarire also urged Zimbabweans to stay away again on Wednesday and Thursday to pile pressure on the defiant Mugabe government to resign enmasse.Meanwhile, a man who claims to be a police officer yesterday launched a video urging Zimbabweans to heed the Wednesday and Thursday stay aways or risk heavy battering by riot police officers.In the video clip, which has gone viral on social media platforms, the masked "police officer" warned that riot police officers would beat up anyone seen loitering' on the streets."Fellow Zimbabweans, let us help each other today on a Sunday morning and ensure that my video goes viral like cholera and gets to be seen by many people," he said."I also want to cautionkombi drivers not to drive their vehicles during stay aways to ensure they are also safe. On Wednesday and Thursday during the forthcoming stay away, I caution everyone to ensure they stay at home because I am a policeman, and we have been given instructions to deal harshly with everyone seen on the streets."
NEW YORK (AP) - New York City's Board of Elections has agreed to change how it manages voter registration rolls under a legal settlement reached with federal and state authorities.

The board will overhaul its procedures for purging voters, submit to monitoring, and agree to restore the names of voters who were improperly purged.

The Department of Justice, the U.S. attorney's office in Brooklyn and Democratic state Attorney General Eric Schneiderman announced the agreement Wednesday. Investigators say officials violated federal law by purging names of voters simply because they hadn't voted recently.

About 200,000 voters were stricken from the rolls before the 2016 primary, prompting widespread complaints, a lawsuit and federal and state investigations.

A spokeswoman for the board said the agency has no comment on the settlement, which is subject to court approval.
BOSTON (AP) - Days before most U.S. residents "fall back," a special commission in Massachusetts recommended Wednesday against switching to year-round daylight saving time - and ending the practice of moving clocks forward and back twice a year - unless most other Northeast states also participate.

The panel spent months studying a possible shift from the Eastern to the Atlantic time zone, which would effectively result in 12 months of daylight saving time. The commission said in its final report that such a change could be beneficial "under certain circumstances."

Most notably, a majority of other Northeast states would have to act in concert to adopt the same new time zone, the commission concluded.

FILE - In this Oct. 30, 2008, file photo, Electric Time Company employee Dan Lamoore adjusts the color on a 67-inch square LED color-changing clock at the plant in Medfield, Mass. As most U.S. residents prepare to "fall back," a special Massachusetts commission, examining the possibility of year-round daylight savings time, plans to release its final recommendations. But it's unlikely the state would shift from the Eastern to the Atlantic Time Zone anytime soon -- if at all. Daylight Savings Time ends Sunday, Nov. 5, 2017, at 2 a.m. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola, File)

"Any move to year-round (daylight saving time) should be regional, because acting alone would make Massachusetts a significant outlier, and could disrupt commerce, trade, interstate transportation, and broadcasting," the report says.

Daylight saving time ends Sunday, when clocks will be set back an hour in all but two U.S. states, Arizona and Hawaii.

Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands observe Atlantic time, as does Nova Scotia and part of Quebec. Seventeen U.S. states are in the Eastern Time Zone.

"There is a real compelling argument to be on one time all year round, said Thomas Emswiler, a public health advocate who first proposed the study commission and was later appointed to serve on it.

After moving to Boston a few years ago, Emswiler said he was horrified to see the sun set around 4 p.m. on cold winter days.

The commission, which voted 9-1 to accept the report, listed several benefits a time zone change could bring: savings in energy costs; an economic boost from an additional hour of daylight for shoppers; and potential reductions in traffic accidents, workplace injuries and seasonal depression, all of which statistically rise after clocks are changed.

"It seems like a 20th century policy that has outlived its usefulness in the 21st century world," said Democratic state Rep. Daniel Cahill, of daylight saving time.

But Cahill joined other commission members in rejecting any notion that Massachusetts act alone.

"That would be foolish, and some would say insane," he said.

The idea of changing time zones has been broached in a handful of other Eastern states. Lawmakers in Maine voted earlier this year to adopt Atlantic time if Massachusetts and New Hampshire also did so.

In a significant wording change from an earlier draft version of the report, the panel said a majority of "Northeast" states, rather than simply New England states, would have to join with Massachusetts in adopting year-round daylight saving time.

Limiting cooperation to New England, critics said, would exclude New York and raise the possibility of Boston and New York City being in different time zones several months a year, a situation that could wreak havoc with financial markets, airline schedules and broadcast programming among other things.

"If we don't have New York, this is a no-go," said Republican state Rep. Paul Frost, who had been the panel's most skeptical member throughout its public meetings and the only one to vote against the final report.

Frost argued the report gave less attention to other potentially negative impacts of a time zone change, including disruptions of public school schedules.

___

This story has been corrected to show Cahill's first name is Daniel, not Timothy.
WASHINGTON (AP) - President Donald Trump's nominee for NASA chief is promising to run the space agency on a consensus agenda driven by science.

Republican Rep. Jim Bridenstine's assurances, however, failed to placate Senate Democrats at a contentious confirmation hearing on Wednesday, with several revisiting the Oklahoma lawmaker's past statements on climate change, gays and immigrants and his brief management of a Tulsa museum that lost money during his leadership.

Florida Sen. Bill Nelson, the top Democrat on the Senate Commerce panel, called Bridenstine "divisive and extreme." Nelson highlighted Bridenstine's past statements attacking Democrats and fellow Republicans, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, Arizona Sen. John McCain and former House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio, for bipartisan efforts.

"These are some of the most divisive tactics that this senator has ever seen in any party and this is just attacking people in your own party," Nelson said. "How do you keep NASA from being dragged down in a divisive political background?"

Bridenstine said politics ends for him when it comes to space and national security issues.

"I want to make sure that NASA remains, as you said, apolitical," he told Nelson.

Nelson and other Democrats said past NASA chiefs were not political and mostly scientists and ex-astronauts, but Bridenstine pointed to legendary NASA chief James Webb , who shepherded the Apollo program in the 1960s, as a veteran political appointee. If confirmed Bridenstine would be the first administrator who was a former elected legislator, but the U.S. Navy Reserve pilot said that shouldn't disqualify him.

Calling his fellow Oklahoman a leader on weather issues, Sen. Jim Inhofe quoted others and said, "It doesn't take a rocket scientist to run NASA."

Democrats pressed Bridenstine to acknowledge that humans cause global warming because of past statements of his that questioned the science. He did. He even explained a bit how carbon dioxide changes the climate.

"I'm happy to say it to anyone else because it's the truth," Bridenstine said. However, despite pressing by Democrats he wouldn't say whether humans are the main cause of climate change, which is what NASA says.

Bridenstine vowed not to allow politics to interfere with science even on climate change, even if the Trump administration insists.

"I think in the end the votes will be there," Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee Chairman John Thune said. "The Democrats came trying to rough up the NASA nominee. That was pretty clear."

Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., questioned Bridenstine over his leadership of the Tulsa Air and Space Museum, noting that before Bridenstine ran the museum it had a surplus, but once he took over it had more than a $300,000 deficit.

Initially, Bridenstine said those numbers "are not true."

Later Nelson and Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., produced the IRS tax filings. Those filings show a $73,288 surplus in 2008 before Bridenstine and deficits of $311,655 in 2009 and $308,305 after Bridenstine was hired as director.

Bridenstine said it was the first time he had seen the filings in seven years and the museum was using cash reserves with the board's approval on big projects: an air show and a failed attempt to lure a retired space shuttle to Tulsa.

For his part, Bridenstine tried to focus on the agency's future not his past. He said that soon Americans will be launching to orbit on American-built rockets from the United States.

"I believe in this administration's vision of getting to Mars and using the moon as a proving ground," Bridenstine said.

___

Follow Seth Borenstein on Twitter at @borenbears. His work can be found here
FORT DIX, N.J. (AP) - A federal prison inmate serving a lengthy sentence for trafficking in child pornography has admitted possessing a removable storage card that contained dozens of child porn images.

Federal prosecutors in New Jersey say Erik Smith pleaded guilty Wednesday. The 36-year-old Iron Mountain, Michigan, man is now serving a 19-year sentence at Fort Dix and could receive an additional 20-year term when he's sentenced in February.

Prosecutors say the memory card contained 263 child porn images, mostly of young boys. Smith admits he downloaded those and other child porn images from a cloud account on behalf of other inmates.

Smith was one of five Fort Dix inmates accused in April of using storage cards and contraband cellphones to share child pornography inside the prison.
DETROIT (AP) - Electric car maker Tesla Inc. swung to a $671 million loss in the third quarter as it struggled to ramp up production of its new Model 3 small car.

The loss, of $3.70 per share, compared to a profit of 15 cents per share in the July-September period a year ago.

That was far bigger decline than Wall Street had predicted. Analysts polled by FactSet forecast a loss of $2.85 per share.

FILE - This Friday, Sept. 30, 2016, file photo shows the logo of the Tesla Model S on display at the Paris Auto Show in Paris. Tesla Inc. reports earnings Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2017. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena, File)

Sales of Tesla's Model S sedan and Model X SUV rose 4.5 percent to 25,915. But investors' eyes were on the Model 3, the $35,000 car that's intended to move Tesla from a luxury niche automaker into the mainstream.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk had promised that the Model 3, which has more than 500,000 potential buyers on its waiting list, would be simpler to make than Tesla's previous vehicles and not plagued with the same delays. But Tesla produced just 220 Model 3s in the third quarter, far lower than the 1,500 Musk promised.

And the problems will continue. Because of delays at its battery facility in Nevada, Tesla said it now expects to be making 20,000 Model 3s per month by the end of the first quarter. Musk had initially set a target of December for that production.

Tesla's revenue rose 30 percent to $2.9 billion for the quarter, in line with analysts' expectations. Tesla said installations for its energy storage business more than doubled from a year ago.

Tesla's shares fell 3 percent to close at $321.08 Wednesday. They have risen 45 percent since the start of this year.
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards lost his latest legal battle Wednesday over his executive order aimed at protecting the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people in state government.

A three-judge panel of Louisiana's 1st Circuit Court of Appeal upheld a lower court's December decision that the Democratic governor's executive order was an unconstitutional attempt to expand state law. The unanimous appellate ruling was a victory for the Republican state attorney general, Jeff Landry, who had challenged the executive order. Landry had refused to approve various state agency contracts for appointment of legal counsel if the contracts contained the gender identity protection.

"The Governor's Executive Order in this case goes beyond a mere policy statement or a directive to fulfill law, because there is no current state or federal law specifically outlining anti-discrimination laws concerning and-or defining sexual orientation or gender identity," Judge Toni Higginbotham wrote on behalf of the unanimous panel.

The other 1st Circuit judges were Allison Penzato and Guy Holdridge.

"This ruling affirms a notion of basic civics that the Legislature makes the law, not the Governor," Landry said in a written statement.

Efforts to pass LGBT protections have failed in the Legislature. Edwards had contended he has the authority to issue a policy governing employment and contracting standards in the executive branch. He said in an emailed release Wednesday afternoon that his administration was reviewing the new ruling before deciding its next move. It could ask Louisiana's Supreme Court to hear the case.

"Discrimination in state government and by state contractors is wrong, makes us weaker, and is bad for business and economic development," Edwards' said.

Two groups that advocate for LGBT people - Forum for Equality and Louisiana Trans Advocates - also touched on economic development issues. SarahJane Guidry, executive director of Forum for Equality, noted the NBA's decision to pull this year's All-Star game from Charlotte, North Carolina, because of a state law limiting anti-discrimination protections for lesbian, gay and transgender people. The 2017 game was played in New Orleans. Charlotte has since been named the 2019 All-Star host after changes were made to the North Carolina law.

Edwards had agreed to comply with state Judge Todd Hernandez's December order while pursuing an appeal.

Left unsettled by the 1st Circuit ruling was a related dispute over the extent of the attorney general's role in approving the hiring of outside lawyers for the state or the governor's power to overrule the attorney general. The appeals court said there was no need to deal with those questions once the executive order was deemed unconstitutional.

Landry is seen as a potential challenger to Edwards in the 2019 governor's race. The two men, both in their first terms, have repeatedly clashed over issues of authority and finances since they took office in January of 2016.

___

McGill reported from New Orleans.
DENVER (AP) - The family of a man who suffocated in jail as Colorado sheriff's deputies restrained him during a psychotic episode has reached a $4.6 million settlement that also requires changes at Denver's jails, attorneys said Wednesday.

Michael Marshall, 50, died two years ago after he was restrained in a prone position for several minutes by deputies because he became aggressive with another inmate and ignored commands. He choked on his own vomit, lost consciousness and died later at a hospital.

Marshall was homeless when he was arrested Nov. 7, 2015 on suspicion of trespassing and disturbing the peace and jailed, his relatives have said. He was restrained at the jail on Nov. 11 and died nine days later.

FILE - In this Nov. 11, 2015, file frame from jailhouse surveillance video recorded at Denver's Downtown Detention Center, released by the Denver Department of Safety via the law firm Killmer, Lane & Newman, LLP, 50 year-old homeless man Michael Marshall is wheeled out in a restraint chair by Denver sheriff's deputies during a psychotic episode in which a "spit mask" was placed over his face after he vomited. He choked on his vomit and suffocated. Attorneys representing Marshall's family say they have reached a proposed $4.6 million settlement with the city in his death. (Denver Department of Safety/Killmer, Lane & Newman, LLP via AP, File)

Attorneys for Marshall's family and the city of Denver said the settlement also requires the sheriff's department to add two mental health provider positions at its jail facilities and provide mental health coverage 24 hours a day, conduct training on mental illness for all deputies and change other procedures.

The agreement also requires the city to provide regular updates on its progress to Marshall's family and their attorneys, said Darold Killmer, one of the family's attorneys.

"If there would have been this type of mental health expertise at the jail the night that Michael Marshall was, he very well could be alive today," Kilmer said. "The number of lives this measure alone could save in the future is uncountable. But it's certain to make an impact."

Marshall's family members didn't want a lengthy trial but were committed to convincing the city to change Denver's approach to inmates with mental health issues, said Natalia Marshall, the man's niece. Marshall said her uncle's death is "still unbelievable" for her family.

"I want this never to happen again," she said.

City Attorney Kristin Bronson called Marshall's death "a tragic incident which has had a significant impact on his family, the community and the sheriff's department, including the deputies involved."

The settlement must be approved by the City Council, which plans to vote Nov. 13.

The city announced in April that two jail deputies and a supervisor would be disciplined in Marshall's death. Prosecutors have declined to file criminal charges, saying the deputies were not trying to hurt him.

Bronson said deciding to settle any case is difficult but an investigation into Marshall's death showed that a settlement was a better approach than a lengthy and expensive trial.

"It is our hope the settlement proposed to City Council will foster an environment of collective healing," Bronson said.

The settlement came after the city paid $6 million in 2014 to the family of Marvin Booker, a homeless street preacher who died after a struggle with jail deputies. That was among the largest awards Denver has paid.

Denver's former prosecutor also declined to file charges in that case.

In September, Denver District Attorney Beth McCann asked a grand jury to reinvestigate Booker's 2010 death based on new information his family raised in a federal civil rights lawsuit.
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Latest on Congress and North Korea (all times local):

6:00 p.m.

Members of the Senate Banking Committee say they've reached an agreement on legislation to strengthen and expand U.S. financial sanctions against North Korea.

FILE - In this Jan. 25, 2017, file photo, former North Korean deputy ambassador to the UK, Thae Yong Ho, center, speaks with media at the Foreign Correspondents Club in Seoul, South Korea. The highest-level North Korean defector in two decades says America should bring change peacefully by challenging the totalitarian regime's grip on information rather than resorting to military action. (Ed Jones, Pool Photo via AP, File)

The committee is scheduled to consider the measure next week. The bill targets banks and other financial institutions that continue to do business with Pyongyang and anyone else who evades existing sanctions to support the rogue, nuclear-armed nation. The legislation also permits states and local governments to divest from or prohibit investments in companies that maintain ties to North Korea.

Sen. Mike Crapo of Idaho, the committee chairman, says, "the time has come for the U.S. to take the lead to ensure that all nations work together to isolate the (Kim Jong Un) regime until it has no choice but to change its dangerous, belligerent behavior."

___

1:11 p.m.

A high-ranking North Korean defector has told a congressional hearing that a pre-emptive U.S. military strike would trigger automatic retaliation, with the North unleashing artillery and short-range missile fire on South Korea.

Thae Yong Ho (tay yong ho) was testifying Wednesday before the House Foreign Affairs Committee. He defected in 2016 as deputy chief of mission at the North Korean Embassy in London.

Thae said the U.S. and South Korea would win a war after a preventive military strike, but there would be a "human sacrifice."

He said North Korea has tens of thousands of artillery guns and short-range missiles at the military demarcation line, and the North's officers are trained to open fire on the South in response to any bombing or a U.S. military strike.
MIAMI (AP) - President Donald Trump said Wednesday he would consider sending the suspect in the New York bike path attack to the Guantanamo Bay detention center. But just a few hours later, the government filed federal terrorism charges against suspect Sayfullo Saipov, signaling an intent to prosecute him within the U.S.

The one-two developments marked a sharp disconnect between the president and his administration.

Trump had professed himself to be open to the idea of sending Saipov to Guantanamo in a seemingly off-the-cuff answer to questions from reporters.

The wreckage of a rental truck used in the deadly attack on Tuesday, is seen near an overpass for Stuyvesant High School, blocking a bike path along the Westside Highway, Wednesday Nov. 1, 2017, in New York. Investigators continue working to determine what led the driver to plow down people on a riverfront bike path near the World Trade Center. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)

"I would certainly consider that, send him to Gitmo," Trump said, using the familiar shorthand for the detention center. The White House later reinforced that idea by saying it considered Saipov to be an "enemy combatant."

But with the filing of federal charges, there was little indication that the threat of Guantanamo was anything more than tough talk.

No one held within the U.S. has been sent to Guantanamo since the detention center opened in January 2002 to hold suspected members of al-Qaida and the Taliban. Still, elected officials routinely raise the prospect of doing so after attacks as a way to signal toughness in the fight against terrorism.

Trump joined those ranks a day after a driver veered into a city bike path in Manhattan killing eight people. The president agreed that the U.S. base in Cuba would be an option for Saipov, an immigrant from Uzbekistan who authorities say was inspired by the Islamic State.

The U.S. has to come up with a method of punishment that is "far quicker and far greater than the animals are getting right now," Trump said.

It is an open question whether the administration could send Saipov to Guantanamo Bay, in part because courts have not ruled whether the 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force - which permits the government to detain enemy combatants for the duration of a military conflict - applies to the Islamic State and its followers, said Stephen Vladeck, a national security law professor at the University of Texas at Austin.

The Islamic State did not exist when the authorization was passed.

Vladeck noted that American criminal courts, which have secured hundreds of terrorism-related convictions since Sept. 11, have been more efficient than the military tribunal process at Guantanamo Bay.

Just seven men have been convicted either by trial before military commission or through plea bargains, including four whose convictions were later overturned on appeal or invalidated.

There are another seven held at Guantanamo still facing trial, including five men charged in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attack and another accused of orchestrating the 2000 bombing of the USS Cole. Those cases are bogged down in pretrial litigation and are likely years from resolution.

"If the goal is to actually punish the perpetrator, then sending him to Guantanamo is just about the worst thing you can do," Vladeck said.

The only advantage that Guantanamo might have is that men can be held there indefinitely without charge, said Bryan Broyles, the former chief defense counsel for the commissions, which combine elements of military and civilian court.

"There is no other benefit to Guantanamo," Broyles said. "It's more expensive. It's harder to use. It's slower to use and it lacks the legitimacy in the international community."

Amnesty International USA said it would be a "grave mistake" to send Saipov to Guantanamo. "He's a criminal suspect and should be treated as such by the U.S. justice system," said Daphne Eviatar, director of the group's security with human rights program.

Trump said during the campaign that he wanted to fill Guantanamo with "bad dudes." But the Justice Department last week opted to send a man accused of playing an instrumental role in the 2012 Benghazi attacks to federal court in Washington to face charges - not Guantanamo. Similarly, the U.S. on Wednesday indicted 36-year-old Mirsad Kandic in federal court in New York. Prosecutors say he recruited and facilitated the travel of foreign fighters to join the Islamic State and extradited him from Bosnia.

In at least a physical sense, there are no practical reasons why the U.S. couldn't hold someone at Guantanamo. The detention center, which reached a maximum population of about 680 in the summer of 2003, is now down to just 41, and there is plenty of space for more. Asked if there were any plans to add anyone, a detention center spokeswoman had no immediate comment.

The Pentagon and a base spokeswoman referred questions to the Justice Department.

___

Associated Press writers Eric Tucker, Sadie Gurman and Ken Thomas in Washington contributed to this report.
NEW YORK (AP) - On his way to work each morning, Antonio Collac stops to light a candle at St. Peter's Roman Catholic Church, a stone-columned sanctuary two blocks from lower Manhattan's ground zero.

There, beneath a vaulted roof that was pierced by the landing gear from one of the jets that felled the World Trade Center, and before the altar where firefighters laid the broken body of Mychal Judge - the chaplain often counted as Sept. 11's first victim - the tragedy of that morning 16 autumns ago is anything but abstract. Collac, a designer who has worked in the neighborhood for many years, says he, too, is a vessel for memories of that day.

But on Wednesday morning, Collac came to offer a new prayer - this one for the eight people killed and 12 seriously injured when terror again targeted lower Manhattan the day before, again just a few blocks away. The attack served as a reminder, he said, for a neighborhood that has been transformed by construction and washed over by a tide of tourism in the years since 9/11. For all the area's success in pushing to remake itself, people here acknowledge that the memories of its past still help shape their state of mind.

FILE--This Sept. 11, 2017, file photo shows a man standing at the edge of a waterfall pool at ground zero during a ceremony on the 16th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks in New York. Since September 11, 2001, the neighborhood at the base of the World Trade Center has been transformed by new construction, and washed over by a wave of tourism. But this week's attack has reminded those who live, work, study and visit here of latent fears that this neighborhood would once again find itself in the crosshairs. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)

"You know, this area is Target A. We know. Everybody knows," Collac said, pausing at the bottom of the church steps. "But there is nothing we can do, my friend. We have to continue and the only thing we can do is pray."

It is not clear whether Sayfullo Saipov, a 29-year-old immigrant from Uzbekistan who mowed down bikers and pedestrians Tuesday with a rented pickup truck, knew just how close he was to the site of the 2001 terror attack. When his truck struck a school bus and came to a halt, just five short blocks separated him the crowds that flock to the 9/11 Memorial. On Wednesday morning, the chop from the police helicopters deployed to keep watch over the new terror site overwhelmed the sound of the waterfalls that continuously fill the memorial's reflection pools.

But for many of the thousands who live, work and study in this neighborhood, the notion that it might again find itself in the crosshairs of a terrorist attack was hardly surprising.

Most days, caught up in their rush from the subways to the area's new condominiums and office towers, they said it is easy to forget what seem like existential worries. Then, they walk around the corner and gaze up at the new Freedom Tower and remember that for all the neighborhood's new wealth and cosmopolitan energy, for much of the rest of the world it remains defined by what came before. This week's attack, if anything, is just a fresh, albeit horrifying, confirmation.

Postal worker Lorraine Bell took a cigarette break at the base of the glassy new 7 World Trade Center tower, in a triangular pocket park dedicated to those who survived 9/11. In September 2001, Bell said, she was working at a union office about 2 miles away when a TV began showing images of the smoke billowing from the Trade Center. She rushed out to a supermarket and headed downtown, handing out bottles of water to those stumbling out of the complex, covered head to toe in white soot.

Now, with a new job in this neighborhood, she marvels at what it has become.

"They did almost a 360 degree turn," she said.

But that has not stopped Bell from worrying that some of the grime that gathers on the ground here is not from construction, but residue of ash from the 2001 attack, even around the newest buildings. Her discomfort with the neighborhood is not unique, she said.

"People go along every day like its normal," she said. "But do you know there are lots of people who don't want to work down here?"

Samantha Aponte, 19, is too young to remember 9/11, but she, too, knows that feeling. Long before this week's attack, she said, she had spent years in school watching documentaries about the 2001 attack and hearing about it from those who went through it. When she was admitted last year to the Borough of Manhattan Community College, a commuter school with more than 27,000 students that sits between the memorial site and the location of this week's attack, she told her mother she felt uncomfortable with the idea.

On Wednesday, when just seven of the 21 students enrolled in her math class showed up for the lecture, it occurred to her that she may not be alone in her doubts.

"I feel as though this is a targeted place," Aponte said.

Aponte is quick to note that, after more than a year of classes here, her relationship with the neighborhood has changed. When the weather is nice, she loves sitting by the river. The bike path where Saipov ran down tourists borders a park that fringes the Hudson for miles, filled with runners in the morning, office workers at lunch time and free yoga classes on summer evenings.

In streets once cordoned off by rescuers, students from Stuyvesant High School and the community college now fill benches and fast-food joints on weekday afternoons. On some blocks, sidewalks are thronged by young couples with babies in strollers, residents of the many buildings that have been converted into luxury apartments.

Since the 2001 attacks, "it's like God threw money to this area," said Louisa Lopez, who lives nearby and stopped in Wednesday at St. Peter's.

Within hours of this week's attack, kids in costumes were out trick or treating and by Wednesday morning, tourists were flocking again to the Memorial, threading streets choked with honking traffic. They meant the victims no disrespect, people said, but it is a sign of the necessary adjustments that this neighborhood - and the world that has watched it rebuild - have made since 9/11.

After hearing about the attack Tuesday night, David Dodds of Wayne, New Jersey, said his daughter suggested he put off a long-planned visit to the 9/11 Museum. On Wednesday, though, Dodd stood by the reflecting pools, thinking about the two people he knew who'd escaped the World Trade Center before it fell, and one who did not make it. It didn't matter that terrorism had again found this neighborhood. He needed to be here, he said.

"I have that same feeling here as when I go to the Vietnam War Memorial. It's that same kind of quiet, grateful feeling," Dodd said, sitting on a stone block at the edge of the memorial plaza.

"We have to move on, but we have to remember the past," he said. "Do we have a choice? Of course we're here. What are you guys going to do, hibernate? Then for sure, they've won."

FILE - This Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2016, file photo shows One World Trade Center, left, and 7 World Trade Center, in New York. Since September 11, 2001, the neighborhood at the base of the World Trade Center has been transformed by new construction, and washed over by a wave of tourism. But this week's attack has reminded those who live, work, study and visit here of latent fears that this neighborhood would once again find itself in the crosshairs. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, File)

FILE- This Sept. 11, 2012, file photo shows the Tribute in Light, left, shining above a reflecting pool at the National September 11 Memorial in New York. Since September 11, 2001, the neighborhood at the base of the World Trade Center has been transformed by new construction, and washed over by a wave of tourism. But this week's attack has reminded those who live, work, study and visit here of latent fears that this neighborhood would once again find itself in the crosshairs. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, File)
News / National

by Staff reporter

THE Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) has said it is unacceptable for political figures among other people acting as commissioners of oaths to pre-sign affidavits used to register for the 2018 elections.Political figures that include councillors and MPs across the country's political divide are allegedly signing affidavits beforehand and giving them to people who need proof of residence to just fill in their names and ID numbers on the forms.There is speculation that some of the political figures are distributing the pre-signed affidavit on partisan lines.In an interview on Monday, Zec chairperson Justice Rita Makarau said it was illegal for those acting as commissioners of oaths to pre-sign the affidavit forms.She said affidavit forms confirming an individual's place of residence can only be signed on the spot."Affidavits cannot be pre-signed it's not allowed. Those that want to sign the affidavits should be at the registration centres," she said.Justice Makarau said the electoral commission has dealt with cases where those in authority were pre-signing affidavit forms."We have heard about it from our provincial elections officers. We have told them that it is unacceptable and it must be stopped."We do not have information on the political parties that are doing it but we have been told by our officers that they have seen people who are issuing out pre-signed affidavits," said Justice Makarau.To ease the challenges faced by those who do not have proof of residence, Zec has engaged the Ministry of Home Affairs so that it accords voter registration supervisors commissioner of oaths status.This means that a person without proof of residence who wants to register can now approach Zec offices and fill affidavit forms confirming their place of residence.Zec on Sunday entered Phase Two of the Biometric Voter Registration exercise and more than 1,2 million registered during the first phase while 28 515 were turned away.Zec said those who were turned away had wrong documents such as the driver's licence, defaced identity documents, being under age or failed to produce proof of residence.
MEXICO CITY (AP) - Two severed heads were dumped on a street corner near Mexico City's historic colonial core early Wednesday, a rare instance in the capital of the kind of grisly killings and public displays of murder victims more commonly seen in other parts of the country.

A statement from the city prosecutor's office reported that a man left the heads in two black bags in the morning at an intersection about eight blocks from the city's Zocalo, or main square, and about four blocks from the notoriously gritty neighborhood of Tepito.

Prosecutors said later that relatives had identified one of the victims as a 19-year-old from the Gustavo A. Madero borough. They were working to determine when and where the victims died. There was no immediate word of any arrest.

In areas of Mexico that are drug cartel strongholds, gangs have often murdered and mutilated victims and then left the remains in public as a warning to foes or people who defy them. Such displays have been rare in the capital, however, which has often been said to be a relative oasis from the worst of the country's cartel violence.

But those perceptions have been changing recently as drug gang influence increasingly appears to be felt in Mexico City. In July, road blockades and a sustained gunbattle between gang members and about 1,300 heavily armed marines and police left eight dead in Tlahuac, a poor neighborhood on the city's southern outskirts.
Theresa May has confidence in her Government and ministers, Downing Street said, amid allegations of sexual impropriety at Westminster.

The Prime Ministers official spokesman said Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon, who has apologised for putting his hand on a female journalists knee, will not be investigated by the Cabinet Office.

Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon, right, leaving today's Cabinet meeting (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

It is separately probing whether international trade minister Mark Garnier breached the ministerial code after he admitted asking his secretary to buy sex toys.

As an unverified list of sexual misconduct allegations, which includes serving Cabinet and junior ministers, circulated around Westminster, the spokesman told reporters: The Prime Minister has confidence in her Government and her ministers in getting on with the job.

The incident concerning Sir Michael involved radio host Julia Hartley-Brewer, who says she does not regard it as anything but mildly amusing.

This "incident" happened in 2002. No one was remotely upset or distressed by it. My knees remain intact. I refer you to my earlier statement pic.twitter.com/TWTj0nnsWb  Julia Hartley-Brewer (@JuliaHB1) October 30, 2017

The spokesman refused to say whether the PM has full confidence in Sir Michael, adding: The Defence Secretary has said that he apologised for an incident which took place some time ago, I dont believe there is a complaint that has been made against him.

Asked whether the incident involving Sir Michael would be investigated by the Cabinet Office, the spokesman said: No. As I said, he apologised and in this instance there isnt a complainant who has come forward.

It is right that Sir Michael apologised for the incident, the spokesman added.

Asked if Sir Michael had offered his resignation, he replied: I have nothing to add on this, Im not getting into running commentary, speculation.
New Yorks deadliest terror attack since 9/11 dominates the front pages on Wednesday, as eight people died when a rental truck was driven into pedestrians and cyclists on a bike path in Manhattan.

Above a picture of the scene near the World Trade Centre, the Independent writes Terror returns to New York. It leads on claims by a Labour activist who alleges she was raped at a party event. The Labour Party has launched an investigation.

Guardian front page, Wednesday 1 November 2017: Westminster shaken by two new claims of sexual assault pic.twitter.com/nYfL38RFLe  The Guardian (@guardian) October 31, 2017

Tomorrow's Times front page: Labour tried to cover up rape pic.twitter.com/mJoM4XSQh0  The Times and The Sunday Times (@thetimes) October 31, 2017

The Guardian and The Times carry a similar picture of a damaged pick-up truck surrounded by police tape and emergency services.

What the papers say - November 1

The Guardian details how one witness described the suspect as seeming to be very calm while being led away by police. The Times also reports that witnesses reported the driver shouting Allahu akbar.

The Daily Mirror, meanwhile, describes the events in New York as Carnage on the streets, quoting mayor Bill de Blasio who said it was a particularly cowardly act of terror.

Elsewhere, The Sun reports reports on the slip-up by Prue Leith, with the Metro carrying the headline You doughnut after the Bake Off host accidentally revealed the competition winner before the programme went to air. Crumbs indeed.

Tomorrow's front page: Brit says shamed Kevin Spacey flashed at him outside a hotel - then handed over 5k watch to hush him up pic.twitter.com/gVktnAXkxT  The Sun (@TheSun) October 31, 2017

Jeremy Hunts call to social media companies to help tackle mental health problems among children in the UK makes the front page of the Daily Telegraph. The Health Secretary wants them to consider pop-up messages for youths who spend too long online.

The front page of tomorrow's Daily Telegraph: 'Labour official 'told party activist not to report rape'' #tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/wBae9La53L  The Telegraph (@Telegraph) October 31, 2017

And Brexit doesnt escape the front pages, with the Financial Times reporting of fears that a no-deal will lead to a need for 5,000 extra border staff.
Prince Harry said he believes young people hold the solutions to some of the worlds biggest problems as he spoke at the inaugural summit of Barack Obamas foundation in Chicago.

The Prince, who attended the event a year on from when news of his relationship with American actress Meghan Markle hit the headlines, said the younger generation had turned me into an optimist, as he talked about meeting young people across the world.

He said they gave him all of my passion and inspiration, adding: The younger generation are the best connected, the most passionate I think weve ever had.

Prince Harry at the Obama Foundation Summit in Chicago

"The younger generation in the world has turned me into an optimist." Prince Harry to young civic leaders at the #ObamaSummit  The Obama Foundation (@ObamaFoundation) October 31, 2017

So what we need to do is we need to create a platform so they can be heard, because they have the solutions to the some of the worlds biggest problems.

The 33-year-old spoke openly about how his late mother Princess Diana had inspired him to use his role to help others, and talked of the work of the Royal Foundation, which he set up alongside his brother Prince William in 2009.

He was joined at the summit by Chantelle Stefanovic, a project coordinator at the Full Effect programme in Nottingham, which is supported by the foundation.

The project, which Harry has visited several times to see its work in action, aims to inspire youngsters away from youth violence and gang-related activities.

HRH will share the stage with Chantelle Stefanovic from St Anns. He had the honour of introducing Chantelle to @BarackObama earlier today pic.twitter.com/5ikp8EhWA4  The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) October 31, 2017

Ms Stefanovic, who grew up in the citys suburb of St Anns, told the summit of her difficult upbringing surrounded by deprivation and crime.

She said: When you are growing up knowing that your mum is missing her dinner to feed you, all you want to do is help, and you help by any means necessary. The solution for me when I was younger was to help in a way that was quite negative.

She eventually turned her life around, becoming involved in community projects, and now uses her experiences to help other young people create a better life for themselves.

Prince Harry will be sharing the stage with Chantelle Stefanovic - you can read about their work on Full Effect here https://t.co/TmARh12dzY  The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) October 31, 2017

She was praised by the Prince for the effect she has had on the people in her community.

He said: Shes making sure they have better choices and that they dont end up making bad choices.

Before she was around, primary school kids of the age of seven or eight years old were being used by their older brothers to move knifes, to move drugs around.

She herself at a young age was used in that sense as well. Shes using her experiences to make sure other young kids dont have to go what she went through.

#WorldMentalHealthDay has made us excited for what's ahead, helping those in schools, workplace & military have mental health conversations  Heads Together (@heads_together) October 10, 2017

The Prince also spoke of the Heads Together mental health campaign, which is led by The Royal Foundation in partnership with eight mental health charities.

He said he believed the UK was ready for that discussion, adding: Everybody started to realise not only do I know people who might have suffered, I might have suffered as well.

Then you realise more people might have suffered a mental health issue than havent.

Prince Harry and @michelleobama made a surprise visit to students at Hyde Park Academy in Chicago. pic.twitter.com/dMAuIzSYsZ  The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) October 31, 2017

Earlier in the day, Prince Harry and Michelle Obama had surprised students at Hyde Park Academy high school, in the south of Chicago.

He talked to the students about how young people can use their voices to change the world.
The head of Frankfurts financial lobby group is appealing for further housing investments just weeks after launching a fast track work permit programme to deal with an influx of workers ahead of Brexit.

Frankfurt Main Finance has released analysis pointing to rising demand for both residential and commercial property in the city in the wake of the EU referendum, but warned that the inflow of bankers could be curbed if housing is in short supply.

Managing director Hubertus Vath told the Press Association that the lobby group is appealing to investors, property developers and politicians to try to avoid a bottleneck.

He said: We want to further encourage investment and we further want to sort of speed up some development and planning processes, particularly in the residential area, because where we will see a shortage is in residential.

He warned that without new homes, it could curtail (relocations), definitely.

London is expected to lose thousands of jobs as a result of Brexit (PA)

Andreas Trumpp, Savills Investment Managements head of research for Germany, echoed those concerns.

Frankfurt offers a wide range of affordable office space and could effortlessly absorb a further 10,000 office workers. The inflow could only be limited by the lack of available housing.

Mr Vath said Frankfurt Main Finance has already successfully pushed for 1,000 additional school spaces as part of its Brexit preparations and also set up a special body that allows both corporate and individual tax applications to be filed in English.

It is now rolling out a programme that helps financial services firms fast track their work permit applications.

It is applicable for companies that relocate in Frankfurt and they get a bit of hand-holding by the city agencies, he said, adding that existing infrastructure was at its limits.

He said that Brexit-related demand for work permits was leading to long queues, with applicants left waiting from morning but unable to have their case reviewed by days end.

We can be helpful and know how to speed up the process and make sure that theyre not in line and being frustrated, Mr Vath said.

However, he said it was not a long-term solution.

At the start of the year, Mr Vath predicted that between 12 and 20 financial services firms would be filing licensing applications in Frankfurt by the end of 2017.

At present, that number is around 16, he said.

Clearly by the end of the first quarter 2018, its going to be somewhere between 20 and 25. Im pretty confident about that.

Goldman Sachs chief executive Lloyd Blankfein has been one of the most vocal banking bosses to comment on Brexit plans in recent weeks.

He took to Twitter in October to note that he had just left Frankfurt and would be spending a lot more time there, and earlier this week raised concerns that the US banking giant may not be able to fill its new European headquarters in London due to Brexit.

In London. GS still investing in our big new Euro headquarters here. Expecting/hoping to fill it up, but so much outside our control.#Brexit pic.twitter.com/XwrIcqwM1t  Lloyd Blankfein (@lloydblankfein) October 30, 2017

Earlier this month it was reported that Goldman  which employs around 6,500 people in the UK  had signed a contract to lease eight floors of a skyscraper in the city, capable of holding 800 staff.

It is just one bank which has helped Frankfurt emerge as a main EU beneficiary of Brexit.

Standard Chartered has committed to expanding or establishing offices in Germany, while Citigroup has notified its bankers of plans to bolster its Frankfurt office, creating 150 jobs, and Morgan Stanley is on track to move as many as 200 staff.

Mizuho will join a raft of Japanese banks which have chosen the city as an EU hub, including Daiwa, Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group (SMFG) and Nomura.

JP Morgan is taking a similar approach to Goldman Sachs by planning to spread staff across a number of European cities, including Frankfurt.
The UK will stand shoulder to shoulder with the United States in defeating the evil of terrorism, Theresa May has told Donald Trump, after eight people were killed when a pick-up truck ploughed into pedestrians and cyclists on a New York bike path.

PM: Appalled by this cowardly attack, my thoughts are with all affected. Together we will defeat the evil of terrorism. UK stands with #NYC  UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) October 31, 2017

Five friends from Argentina celebrating the 30th anniversary of their graduation were among those killed in the deadliest terror attack to strike New York since the September 11 atrocity in 2001.

Police said the attack was carried out in the name of the Islamic State (IS) terror group, also known as Isis.

The US president has ordered the security services to step up vetting procedures following the attack on Tuesday afternoon.

In a phone call with the president, the Prime Minister said she was deeply shocked and saddened by the loss of life, a Downing Street spokesman said.

She reiterated that the UK will continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with the United States in defeating the evil of terrorism.

The two leaders also discussed the need for an international approach to tackling poisonous terrorist ideology online.

The attack, near the site of the World Trade Centre memorial, left 12 people injured, according to officials.

Map locates terror attack in New York

The driver, who has been identified by law enforcement officials as Sayfullo Saipov, 29, from Uzbekistan, was shot by police after jumping out of the rented vehicle with what turned out to be two fake guns.

John Miller, deputy police commissioner for intelligence, said Saipov left behind notes at the scene, handwritten in Arabic with symbols and words, that essentially said IS would endure forever.

It appears that Mr Saipov had been planning this for a number of weeks. He did this in the name of Isis (another name for IS), Mr Miller said, citing the notes.

Sayfullo Saipov

Argentinas foreign ministry said Hernan Diego Mendoza, Diego Enrique Angelini, Alejandro Damian Pagnucco, Ariel Erlij and Hernan Ferruchi had died in the terrorist outrage.

The group were marking three decades since their graduation from polytechnic college in the city of Rosario in central Argentina.

A Belgian national was also among the dead, the countrys deputy prime minister said.

New York mayor Bill de Blasio described the attack as a particularly cowardly act of terror that was aimed at innocent civilians going about their daily lives.

As we move forward, we start with giving prayers to the families of the eight who were killed. pic.twitter.com/ZBafMuRgZZ  Mayor Eric Adams (@NYCMayor) November 1, 2017

The 29-year-old suspect had been working as an Uber driver after passing a background check, according to a spokeswoman for the app.

In a statement, the firm added: We are horrified by this senseless act of violence.

Our hearts are with the victims and their families. We have reached out to law enforcement to provide our full assistance.

President Trump said he had ordered the Department of Homeland Security to step up its already extreme vetting programme, adding: Being politically correct is fine, but not for this!

The US president also tweeted: We must not allow ISIS to return, or enter, our country after defeating them in the Middle East and elsewhere. Enough!

Irish premier Leo Varadkar said the attack was vicious and heartless.

Those who have been killed and injured were innocent victims going about their day, completely unaware of what was about to happen, he said.

I would like to express our solidarity with New Yorkers, who have faced considerable adversity in the past. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of the victims.
WASHINGTON, Oct 31 (Reuters) - The Pentagon said on Tuesday that U.S. forces had moved a person who is under 18 years old to Iraq from Syria and two U.S. officials said the minor was a pregnant American.

"U.S. forces recently relocated a minor from Syria safely to Iraq," the Pentagon said in a statement.

The U.S. officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said she was in the hands of State Department officials in Iraq and would travel back to the United States, although they did not say when. (Reporting by Idrees Ali; editing by Grant McCool)
By Arshad Mohammed and Matt Spetalnick

WASHINGTON, Oct 31 (Reuters) - The United States is quietly pursuing direct diplomacy with North Korea, a senior State Department official said on Tuesday, despite U.S. President Donald Trump's public assertion that such talks are a waste of time.

Using the so-called "New York channel," Joseph Yun, U.S. negotiator with North Korea, has been in contact with diplomats at Pyongyang's United Nations mission, the official said, at a time when an exchange of bellicose insults between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has fueled fears of military conflict.

While U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on Oct. 17 said he would continue "diplomatic efforts ... until the first bomb drops," the official's comments were the clearest sign the United States was directly discussing issues beyond the release of American prisoners, despite Trump having dismissed direct talks as pointless.

There is no sign, however, that the behind-the-scenes communications have improved a relationship vexed by North Korea's nuclear and missile tests, the death of U.S. university student Otto Warmbier days after his release by Pyongyang in June and the detention of three other Americans.

Word of quiet engagement with Pyongyang comes despite Trump's comments, North Korea's weapons advances and suggestions by some U.S. and South Korean officials that Yun's interactions with North Koreans had been reined in.

"It has not been limited at all, both (in) frequency and substance," said the senior State Department official.

Among the points that Yun has made to his North Korean interlocutors is to "stop testing" nuclear bombs and missiles, the official said.

North Korea this year conducted its sixth and most powerful nuclear detonation and has test-fired a volley of missiles, including intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) that, if perfected, could in theory reach the United States mainland.

The possibility that Pyongyang may be closer to attaching a nuclear warhead to an ICBM has alarmed the Trump administration, which in April unveiled a policy of "maximum pressure and engagement" that has so far failed to deter North Korea.

NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg has urged all United Nations members to fully and transparently implement sanctions against North Korea, which he said has emerged as a global threat.

Speaking at the United Nations on Sept. 19, Trump vowed to "totally destroy" North Korea if it threatened the United States or its allies, raising anxieties about the possibility of military conflict.

Twelve days later, after Tillerson said Washington was probing for a diplomatic opening, Trump said on Twitter that his chief diplomat was "wasting his time trying to negotiate with Little Rocket Man" - his mocking nickname for the North Korean leader.

Democratic U.S. senators introduced a bill on Tuesday they said would prevent Trump from launching a nuclear first strike on North Korea on his own, highlighting the issue days before the Republican's first presidential trip to Asia.

'BROADER MANDATE' FOR DIPLOMACY

At the start of Trump's presidency, Yun's instructions were limited to seeking the release of U.S. prisoners.

"It is (now) a broader mandate than that," said the official, declining, however, to address whether authority had been given to discuss North Korea's nuclear and missile program.

The New York channel is one of the few conduits the United States has for communicating with North Korea, which has itself made clear it has little interest in serious talks before it develops a nuclear-tipped missile capable of hitting the continental United States.

The last high-level contact between Yun and the North Koreans was when he traveled to North Korea in June to secure the release of Warmbier, who died shortly after he returned home in a coma, the official said.

The Trump administration has demanded North Korea release three other U.S. citizens: missionary Kim Dong Chul and academics Tony Kim and Kim Hak Song.

Warmbiers death was a factor in the chilling of U.S.-North Korean contacts around that time but the biggest impact came from Pyongyangs stepped-up testing, the official said.

The official said, however, that "the preferred endpoint is not a war but some kind of diplomatic settlement" and suggestions that Washington is setting up a binary choice for Pyongyang to capitulate diplomatically or military action were "misleading."

Diplomacy, the official said, "has a lot more room to go."

But Trump's threats against North Korea are believed to have complicated diplomatic efforts.

(Reporting by Arshad Mohammed and Matt Spetalnick; additional reporting by Patricia Zengerle; Editing by Yara Bayoumy and Grant McCool)
TASHKENT, Nov 1 (Reuters) - Uzbekistan is investigating media reports that the man who killed eight people in New York by mowing them down in a truck is a citizen of the Central Asian nation, an Uzbek Foreign Ministry official told reporters on Wednesday.

The official provided no other information.

A man driving a rented pickup truck mowed down pedestrians and cyclists on a bike path in New York City on Tuesday, killing eight people and injuring about a dozen in what authorities said was an act of terrorism. (Reporting by Mukhammadsharif Mamatkulov; Writing by OLzhas Auyezov; Editing by Andrew Osborn)
By Roli Srivastava

MUMBAI, Nov 1 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Mumbai police have arrested 30 men trying to fly to Kuwait on fake tickets and visas and are looking for the unlicensed recruitment agents who charged them 100,000 rupees ($1,500) to arrange their travel to jobs in the Gulf state.

The men from Uttar Pradesh state in northern India were arrested on Tuesday when they tried checking in at the airport with fake tickets, police said. The men have been charged with cheating and forgery and are being held in custody.

Lata Sirsat, senior inspector with the Mumbai police, said a police team was going to Uttar Pradesh to find the unauthorised recruitment agents who duped these men with fake documents.

"All the men are in their 30s and poor," she told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.

Indian officials are trying to crack down on unauthorised agents who promise to organise well paid jobs as cleaners and labourers in the Gulf states but cheat people along the way with complaints ranging from non-payment of wages to physical abuse.

Adverts asking workers seeking jobs overseas to only go through licensed agents are played on the radio daily.

Vivek Sharma, the protector of emigrants in Uttar Pradesh, said this case of fraud was rare.

"This fake ticket fraud and on such a scale involving 30 people is the first such instance that I have come across," Sharma told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.

Uttar Pradesh is among the poorest states in India and poverty and lack of jobs force many to migrate to major cities such as Mumbai but campaigners said seeking jobs in the Gulf states is a new development.

"This trend started about two to three years ago and now most people going to the Gulf are from Uttar Pradesh. They are very poor people and in many cases their villages don't even have roads," said migrant rights activist Bhim Reddy.

Government figures show there are some six million Indian migrants in the six Gulf states of Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Oman.

($1 = 64.5850 Indian rupees) (Reporting by Roli Srivastava @Rolionaroll; Editing by Belinda Goldsmith; Please credit Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters, that covers humanitarian news, womens rights, trafficking, property rights, climate change and resilience. Visit news.trust.org)
News / National

by Stephen Jakes

Zimbabwean national Dumisani Moyo, who has been described as a poaching kingpin by the Zimbabwean media, has lost his bid to halt his extradition to Botswana where he is due to stand trial for a criminal charge.Late last week, Moyo pleaded with the Harare Magistrates' Court to protect him and stop his extradition by the International Police (Interpol). Interpol Harare had approached court requesting for an extradition certificate in order to send Moyo to Botswana.Although details of the outcome of the extradition case are still sketchy, The Monitor has learnt that the magistrate ruled in favour of Interpol and granted the extradition certificate. The Botswana Police Service (BPS) spokesperson, Near Bagali also confirmed that Moyo will be extradited to Botswana."It is indeed true that the court has ruled in favour of Interpol. We are waiting for government officials in Zimbabwe to rubber stamp the extradition process. He will be in Botswana soon," Bagali said in an interview. Added Bagali: "In Botswana, he was charged with an offence of illegal possession of a government trophy. To be specific, he was found in possession of a rhino horn". Rhino horns are in high demand in Asia where it is widely believed that they can cure certain illnesses. They are also used as a symbol of wealth and status by some within the Asian community. The 52-year-old Moyo has allegedly been on the run from Botswana authorities since 2012 after he was granted bail by the Francistown magistrate.He was reportedly found in possession of a rhino horn during a roadblock in Francistown. Moyo, who has been on Interpol red notice for some time, was arrested in Kwekwe (Zimbabwe) two months ago, and he hasoften been linked to several rhino poaching and related activities in Mozambique, Botswana, Tanzania, Zimbabwe and Zambia amongst other countries. It is reported that after his arrest in Botswana, he was placed on a P10,000 bail and subsequently sneaked back into Zimbabwe illegally and hid in the Midlands city. During his court appearance, Moyo claimed that he illegally crossed into Zimbabwe since his passport had been confiscated by the Botswana authorities as part of his bail conditions.According to the Zimbabwean media, Moyo who appeared before magistrate Josephine Sande, told the court that he feared the harsh treatment he is likely to receive at the hands of security organs in Botswana who have adopted a hard line stance towards poachers."Your Worship, do not be cheated by the State, they only want me to go to Botswana to face harsh treatment for the case I did not commit. I do not know if this country's authority can allow its citizen to face that harsh treatment by Botswana's security authorities," Moyo said according Newsday.Moyo, who was not represented, reportedly pleaded with the court to postpone the matter to enable him to seek the services of a lawyer.Prosecutor Sebastian Mutizirwa countered him arguing that he is a flight risk. According to the Zimbabwean media in January this year, the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority named Moyo as one of the most wanted cross-border poachers linked to several poaching activities at the country's Rhino Intensive Protection Zones.
By Tim Cocks and Abdoulaye Massalatchi

NIAMEY, Nov 1 (Reuters) - Niger has asked the United States to start using armed drones against jihadist groups operating on the Mali border, raising the stakes in a counter-insurgency campaign jolted by a deadly ambush of allied U.S.-Nigerien forces.

On Oct. 4, Islamist militants with sniper rifles and rocket propelled grenades killed four U.S. soldiers and at least four of their Nigerien partners in an ambush that exposed the dangers of an expanding U.S. presence in the largely desert nation.

What began as a small U.S. training operation has expanded to an 800-strong force that accompanies the Nigeriens on intelligence gathering and other missions. It includes a $100 million drone base in the central Nigerien city of Agadez which, however, at present only deploys surveillance drones.

"I asked them some weeks ago to arm them (the drones) and use them as needed," Defence Minister Kalla Mountari told Reuters in an interview in his office. Asked if Washington had accepted the request, he said: "Our enemies will find out."

The deaths of the U.S. soldiers, at the hands of suspected insurgents with the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara group, shocked Americans, many of whom did not realize their country had such a large presence in Africa's Sahel region.

The incident also highlighted the "mission creep" that has set in and expanded the U.S. role in landlocked Niger, one of the world's poorest and most insecure countries.

Mountari said the team of 12 U.S. Special Forces soldiers and 30 Nigerien troops had been "right up to the Mali border and had neutralised some bandits" just before the ambush took place. He declined to give further details.

The U.S. military has been adamant that the Oct. 3-4 mission was not intended to involve contact with enemy forces.

Mountari said: "They (U.S.-Nigerien contingent) came back to Niger, they greeted the population, they gathered intelligence and it was inside the country, when they didn't expect anything, that the attack happened."

U.S. forces do not have a direct combat mission in Niger, but their assistance to its military does include intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance in their efforts to target violent Islamist organisations.

However, Mountari was clear he saw them as close partners.

"The Americans are not just exchanging information with us. They are waging war when necessary," he said.

"We are working hand in hand. The clear proof is that the Americans and Nigeriens fell on the battlefield for the peace and security of our country."

But a growing U.S. role in Niger could prove unpopular both with Americans, many of whom are tired of costly and sometimes deadly foreign adventures, and in Niger, whose citizens have mixed feelings about foreign forces on their soil.

Drone strikes have been controversial in other parts of the world because of the risk of civilian casualties. At a protest rally over a domestic political issue on Sunday, dozens of demonstrators also began chanting against the presence of foreign troops in Niger, a Reuters witness said. (Reporting by Tim Cocks; editing by Mark Heinrich)
By Lee Mannion

LONDON, Nov 1 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - The Rohingya refugee crisis is an age-old tale of displacement and suffering, but technology is providing new tools to tackle it, rights groups and charities said on Wednesday.

Powerful drone and satellite images are bringing to life the urgent needs of more than 800,000 Rohingya refugees who fled to Bangladesh from Myanmar, while also providing strong evidence of abuses, which could be used to lobby for justice.

"We can describe for hours the large numbers of refugees crossing the border and how quickly existing camps have expanded, but one image captures it all," said Andrej Mahecic, a spokesman for the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR).

More than 600,000 Rohingya have fled to neighbouring Bangladesh since the military in predominantly Buddhist Myanmar launched a counter-insurgency operation after attacks on security posts by Rohingya militants in late August.

The UNHCR is using videos and photographs shot with drones to show the scale of the displacement crisis and bring it to life to spur action from the public and donors.

It is also using satellites to count and identify refugee families by their location in the Bangladesh camps to target assistance to those most in need, Mahecic told the Thomson Reuters Foundation in an email.

The use of drone footage of refugees entering Bangladesh has boosted donations for medical care, water and food, according to the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC), an alliance of 13 leading British aid agencies.

Rights monitors also hope satellite images can provide evidence that to help bring perpetrators to justice.

Satellite photos were used in the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) to prove mass executions in 1995 in Srebrenica.

But the technology has yet to achieve its potential because of limited budgets and a lack of standardised methodologies accepted by courts, experts say.

Human Rights Watch has shared satellite images showing the burning of almost 300 villages in Myanmar, refugees' mobile phone footage and their testimonies with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.

"We have found the debris field in satellite imagery where people were executed, corroborating multiple eyewitness statements," said Josh Lyons, a satellite imagery analyst with the U.S.-based rights group.

The U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad al-Hussein has called the violence against Rohingya in Myanmar "a textbook example of ethnic cleansing", and his office is working to determine whether it meets the legal definition of genocide. (Reporting by Lee Mannion @leemannion. Editing by Katy Migiro. Please credit the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters, that covers humanitarian news, women's rights, trafficking, property rights, climate change and resilience. Visit http://news.trust.org)
WASHINGTON, Nov 1 (Reuters) - A computer recovered in the 2011 U.S. special forces operation that killed Osama bin Laden contained a video collection that included kids' cartoons, several Hollywood movies and three documentaries about himself.

The list of the videos was included in the release on Wednesday by the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency of nearly 470,000 files found on the computer seized in the May 2, 2011, U.S. raid on the al Qaeda founder's hideout in Abbottabad, Pakistan.

It is the fourth tranche of materials taken from the walled compound where bin Laden and his family lived to be made public by the U.S. government since May 2015.

Materials that still have not been released are being withheld because they could harm national security, are blank, corrupted or duplicate files, are pornographic or are protected by copyright, said a CIA statement.

The copyright-protected materials include more than two dozen videos such as "Antz," "Cars" and other animated films, the role-playing game "Final Fantasy VII" and "Where in the World is Osama bin Laden" and two other documentaries about the al Qaeda leader, the CIA said.

"Todays release of recovered al-Qaeda letters, videos, audio files and other materials provides the opportunity for the American people to gain further insights into the plans and workings of this terrorist organization," said CIA Director Mike Pompeo. "CIA will continue to seek opportunities to share information with the American people consistent with our obligation to protect national security."

The materials released on Wednesday are posted on line - https://www.cia.gov/library/abbottabad-compound/ - in their original Arabic.

They include bin Laden's personal journal and 18,000 document files, about 79,000 audio and image files and more than 10,000 video files, the CIA said.

The CIA said that the materials, like those released in the past, provide insights into the origins of the differences between al Qaeda and Islamic State, disagreements within al Qaeda and its allies, and the problems al Qaeda faced at the time of bin Laden's death. (Reporting by Jonathan Landay; Editing by Tom Brown)
BRASILIA/SAO PAULO, Nov 1 (Reuters) - Representatives of U.S. private equity firm TPG Capital Management LP and state-owned China Telecom Corp Ltd met with Brazil's solicitor general on Monday to discuss a possible takeover of debt-laden telecom provider Oi SA.

The parties did not address reporters after the meeting in Brasilia.

The two groups have approached Oi about purchasing the company once it emerges from bankruptcy protection, in a process that would involve a capital injection, an executive told Reuters in September.

Grace Mendonca, the solicitor-general, is part of a government working group that is trying to assuage differences between shareholders and creditors before a key Nov. 10 meeting in which bondholders will vote on a restructuring plan. The government has billions of dollars tied up in the company through state banks and unpaid regulatory fines.

TPG and China Telecom are interested in taking over the company, the sole fixed-line operator in a third of the country's 5,500 municipalities, via a 10 billion-real capital injection, newspaper Folha de Sao Paulo reported earlier on Monday.

As part of the deal, TPG would be the majority partner and China Telecom would take a minority stake, a source told Reuters.

At the meeting, the groups were set to condition their bid on a new telecoms reform going into effect, Folha reported. The regulatory overhaul would make more flexible government requirements for investments by telecoms operators, analysts say.

They also required renegotiation of 20 billion reais in outstanding regulatory fines that the company holds.

China Telecom is offering to construct fiber optic cable to the homes of clients in more than 2,000 municipalities, the newspaper reported. After that, it said, China Telecom will discuss a potential tie-up with Brazilian competitor TIM Participacoes SA.

TPG declined to comment. China Telecom did not respond to a comment request sent outside normal business hours.

Mendonca also participated in an afternoon meeting with Nelson Tanure, an influential shareholder in Oi, who has partnered with foreign distressed debt funds to push for a plan that would imply a 73 percent haircut on bondholder debt.

After the meeting Tanure reaffirmed a previous commitment to support the restructuring plan put forth by the government.

A Tanure spokesman did not respond to a request for comment. (Reporting by Leonardo Goy, Tatiana Bautzer, and Gram Slattery; Editing by Christian Plumb and Marguerita Choy)
By Michael Scherer (c) 2017, The Washington Post  Oct 31, 2017 -

WASHINGTON - The hardest part for official Washington, D.C., is not knowing what happens next.

Amid the fast-moving criminal investigation into Russian involvement in the 2016 election, every corner of the city finds itself preparing for the unexpected. Democrats fret that President Donald Trump might try to shut down the inquiry. Republicans worry that their last best hope for a legislative win, a tax overhaul, could fall victim to the scandal. And the presidents denial that his campaign worked in any way with Russia continues to be tested by new disclosures. The only person with any significant control over events, Special Counsel Robert Mueller, offered no hints Monday on his next move beyond the days bombshells - a series of legal filings, including the indictment of two former Trump campaign officials and the guilty plea of a third.And the possibilities seemed only to grow as the day wore on. Hours after the first indictments landed, a leading Democratic lobbyist, Tony Podesta, announced that he would leave his firm, after his firms apparent role in a Ukrainian lobbying campaign was described in court papers.

The release of the charges followed the disclosure that a prominent Democratic lawyer and a news outlet backed by a major Republican donor had at different times paid a firm that compiled opposition research on Trump alleging ties to Russian interests that could threaten national security.



Mueller has signaled that he will seek to turn every stone in his search and use all available legal tools. Mondays court papers revealed that he had decided to file charges under the Foreign Agents Registration Act, a nearly 80-year-old law that regulates lobbying for foreign powers but that rarely leads to criminal charges.



Legal experts say the Mueller investigation is likely to bring more charges, not to mention a protracted legal process that is likely to distract from other priorities.



Already, there are signs that the growing scandal has begun to distract from a key week for Republicans looking to build momentum behind tax legislation.



On Capitol Hill, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., avoided questions from reporters on the indictments. At a separate event, House Speaker Paul Ryan said this when asked about the indictments: I really dont have anything to add, other than nothings going to derail what were doing in Congress.



Even the president found himself caught off guard, when he prematurely tweeted his own absolution hours after indictments were announced of his former campaign chairman, Paul Manafort, and a top deputy, Rick Gates. At 10:25 a.m., Trump felt it safe to boast that the announcements did not directly reference his campaign.



Sorry, but this is years ago, before Paul Manafort was part of the campaign, Trump wrote on Twitter. Also, there is NO COLLUSION!



Minutes later, Muellers team announced a previously secret guilty plea of a third Trump campaign adviser, George Papadopoulos, who worked on foreign policy in a volunteer capacity. In court papers, Papadopoulos described in detail his 2016 efforts to arrange contacts with people he knew to be Russian agents, including one person who had told him about Russian dirt on Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton, including thousands of emails.



Papadopoulos pleaded guilty to giving false statements to federal agents in his initial interviews about the interactions. He now says that he discussed the Russian overtures he had received with several other people in the Trump campaign, including a senior policy adviser, campaign supervisor and a high-ranking campaign official. Among the campaign officials he emailed were campaign manager Corey Lewandowski, campaign chairman Paul Manafort and national campaign co-chairman Sam Clovis.



The campaign officials are not identified in court documents, but some of the emails cited by federal prosecutors match messages described in August to The Washington Post by people familiar with their contents.



White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders chose not to acknowledge that confession later in the day. Todays announcement has nothing to do with the president, has nothing to do with the presidents campaign or campaign activity, she said, arguing that the work by Papadopoulos to coordinate a Russian meeting with the campaign did not amount to a campaign effort.



Podestas decision to leave his firm amounted to the first collateral damage for Democrats from the Russian investigation. One of the partys most powerful lobbyists and effective fundraisers, he is also the brother of Clintons 2016 campaign chairman, John Podesta.



The Manafort and Gates indictments described the efforts of Company B, which appears to be Tony Podestas firm, the Podesta Group, to help the government of Ukraine. A principal from Podestas firm is described as privately warning Gates that his talking points on work on the lobbying contract could be contradicted by lots of email traffic.



Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer put out a warning to Trump not to interfere with the ongoing probe. If he does, Congress must respond swiftly, unequivocally and in a bipartisan way to ensure that the investigation continues, he said in a statement.
Going by the rhetoric and the text pertaining to constitutional reform currently being debated in Parliament, it is all about two things. 1) Expunging of the clause supposedly privileging Buddhism, and 2) Devolution of power.

Tamil National Alliance MP, M. Sumanthiran, has stated the stand of his party and by and large the group of anti-Sinhala, anti-Buddhist NGO lobby: Our stand is that there should be a secular constitution where there is no special identification for a single religion, and instead all religions should be given equal status in the country.

The bone of contention is Article 9: The Republic of Sri Lanka shall give to Buddhism the foremost place and accordingly it shall be the duty of the State to protect and foster the Buddha Sasana, while assuring to all religions the rights granted by Articles 10 and 14(1)(e). These other assurances are as follows:

Article 10: Every person is entitled to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, including the freedom to have or to adopt a religion or belief of his choice.

Article 14 (1) (e) The freedom, either by himself or in association with others, and either in public or in private, to manifest his religion or belief in worship, observance, practice and teaching. Taken together, Article 9 stands in effect negated.

What is not noted either in constitution or in rhetoric is the fact that certain religions are invasive simply because the relevant doctrines distinguish between adherent and non-adherent in ways that make for interpretations prompting aggression of one kind of another. So the practice element in Article 14 (1) (e) can sanction acts that infringe upon freedoms and general co-existence and can be defended in the name of religious freedom.

The easy answer is Customary Law. Well, if it is about custom then it is also about culture

There are other things that the secularist lobby deliberately ignores. If secular is the way to go, there cannot be half-way measures. You cant take away the only privilege that Buddhism has (and that too, as pointed out, a mere lip-servicing and nothing more) while being silent on the privileges enjoyed by other religious communities.

Lets begin with religious holidays. Back in the day, there were 49 Buddhist holidays, four poya days every month and an extra holiday on the day following Vesak. That number was slashed to one-fourth plus one, i.e. 13. Christians, on the other hand, have 54: Sundays, Easter and Christmas. Hindus are grossly underrepresented in comparison, having just Pongal and Mahasivarathri. Muslims have three official holidays: Idul Fitr, Idul Adha and Milad-un-Nabi. In addition, consider the following:

Muslims are given two hours of leave from 1 pm every Friday. Thats the equivalent of 13 work days if you want to be mathematically clinical about such things. During the Ramadan period, Muslims have the privilege of obtaining special leave to take part in prayers. A Muslim woman is given leave of four months and ten days in the event her husband dies and three months following divorce.

We can also add that school terms were arranged so that Christmas fell during a long holiday. We can note that Christian schools, although required to finance themselves from 1962, were subsequently accorded public grants (since 1978).

There are other special laws that are certainly at odds with the secularist vision, which would indicate a single legal system, for example the Thesavalami Law and the Kandyan Marriage Law. More pernicious by way of contradicting constitutionally guaranteed freedoms would be the Muslim Marriage Law.

Thus, if equality is the objective, then all these should be erased off the constitution along with Articles 9, 10 and 14 (1) (e). That is if we need to separate state and church (or religion). What is being proposed is to remove Buddhism and allow other religions to entrench their already privileged position in the Constitution. Thats progressive? That makes for peaceful co-existence and reconciliation?

The easy answer is Customary Law. Well, if it is about custom then it is also about culture. If that is a factor important enough to be considered, then one needs to take note of two reailties: 1) no community, religious or otherwise, has had as overpowering an influence on the history, heritage and culture of this country as Buddhists, and 2) what Article 9 does is but a weak correction of a historical injustice done to Buddhists by the British who arbitrarily abrogated the clause in the Kandyan Convention related to the protection of Buddhism.

As things stand, religion-wise, this state is chock-full of religion and its mostly non-Buddhist. And for those like Sumanthiran who are upset by a few innocuous words in a single article, they would do good to reflect on the the pervasive privileges enjoyed by Christians (and theists in general given the overwhelming presence of God in constitutions) in officially secular nations in Europe and of course the status of non-Islamic religions in Quranic states.

A quick note on devolution is necessary. First, the lines (as pointed out by President Sirisena) were the work of British political cartographers and are not drawn from any substantiable historical narrative. Second, theres no discussion on whether or not grievances stated warrant devolution (decentralization sorts many if not all issues). Third, demography rebels against devolution as mechanism to resolve grievances (even if they are not stripped of the frills of aspiration and myth-mongering); almost half the Tamils live outside the so-called traditional homelands which, let us note, are also the regions which the archaeological record indicates is the heartland of Buddhism in this island. Fourth, provincial councils as per the 13th Amendment, are veritable white elephants and do little more than groom thugs, miscreants and thieves for higher office. Throw in enduring Tamil chauvinism a la the mouthing of Northern Province Chief Minister Wigneswaran and devolution is a recipe for abiding conflict.

As things stand, religion-wise, this state is chock-full of religion and its mostly non-Buddhist

Heres the danger. The twin assaults on the majority community could have been deliberate for the simple reason that compromise can be reached, dumping one for the other. For example, it could come to a point where one is thrust as a bargaining chip to obtain the other, in the give-and-take spirit.

What must be remembered is that these are two separate issues. Both reccommendations smack of subterfuge. Both are bombs, to use the word in the street. Bombs in Parliament which can precipitate much suffering outside. They need to be defused.

Malinda Senevirtatne is a freelance writer.

malindasenevi@gmail.com. www.malindawords.blogspot.com
CIC group subsidiary Chemanex PLC said yesterday it was ceasing its export business, as such operations have been deemed to be unviable.



Accordingly, Chemanex director board has recommended winding up operations of its flagship exports company, Cal Exports Lanka (Pvt) Ltd., and Chemanex Exports (Pvt) Ltd.



The board has also decided to cease operations in the retail paints business in a managed manner since it does not have the required scale to move forward as an independent business operation, Chemanex said in a stock exchange filing.

Chemanex PLC will at present focus on its chemical trading business in Sri Lanka, it added.

Meanwhile, Chemanex board plans to implement a voluntary retirement scheme for its staff, given the limited staffing requirement following the proposed rationalization of operations.



Chemanex intends to obtain support services from its parent for the chemical trading business, which the company believes will further reduce cost of operations.



In addition, Chemanex said its board of directors is in the process of reviewing and formulating a plan on the companys existing resources and assets.
The CIC group subsidiary, Chemanex PLC, said on Tuesday it was ceasing its export business, as such operations have been deemed to be unviable.



Accordingly, the Chemanex director board has recommended winding up the operations of its flagship exports company, Cal Exports Lanka (Pvt.) Ltd and Chemanex Exports (Pvt.) Ltd.



The board has also decided to cease the operations in the retail paints business in a managed manner since it does not have the required scale to move forward as an independent business operation, Chemanex said in a stock exchange filing.



Chemanex PLC will at present focus on its chemical trading business in Sri Lanka, it added.

Meanwhile, the Chemanex board plans to implement a voluntary retirement scheme (VRS) for its staff, given the limited staffing requirement following the proposed rationalization of operations.



Chemanex intends to obtain support services from its parent for the chemical trading business, which the company believes will further reduce the cost of operations..

In addition, Chemanex said its board of directors is in the process of reviewing and formulating a plan on the companys existing resources and assets.
KUTUPALONG AFP Oct30, 2017-The Rohingya boys and girls shrieked with delight as the clowns juggled hoops and somersaulted, their red-nosed antics provoking a sound rarely heard in the worlds largest refugee camp -- childrens laughter.



The clowns have been providing much-needed levity in the crowded Bangladesh camps, where hundreds of thousands of traumatised Rohingya children spend long days in bleak and difficult conditions. Mohammad Noor lives with his mother and three siblings in a makeshift shanty in the teeming Kutupalong camp, where a lack of food and water means a constant struggle to survive.



The 10-year-old fled Myanmar last month after his father was killed in brutal violence by the army that the United Nations has likened to ethnic cleansing.
While rejecting the direction issued by the Vice Chancellors of State Universities for all medical students to engage in their academic work with immediate effect, the Medical Faculty Students' Action Committee (MFSAC) today said that the university students belonging to eight medical faculties have decided to continue boycotting lectures in protest of the South Asian Institute of Technology and Medicine despite the latest stand taken by the government regarding it.

MFSAC Convener Ryan Jayalath told the Daily Mirror that the governments decision to abolish the SAITM and convert it into a not for profit institution coming under the University Grants Commission (UGC) was a fraud done by the government to cheat on the people.

Through this decision, the ownership of the SAITM will be the only thing that would change. The ownership of it will be handed over to some other party. But the deceitful procedure of the SAITM will be continuing even in the future. The main issue here is the privatization of free education, he added.

He said that no solution had been granted for the issues which had been created through the privatization of free education, by this decision. He also said that the main reason behind the governments attempt to change the name of the SAITM was that it had already been rejected from the medical councils in Britain, Australia and Maldives.

He said that university students attached to all medical faculties in the country would continue boycotting lectures uninterruptedly for the tenth month.

However, the Committee of Vice Chancellors and Directors (CVCD) said in a statement that this series of proposals could be accepted as a positive and constructive series of proposals for the purpose of solving the issue arisen on the Medical Faculty of SAITM.

Accordingly, since a positive situation has been created for all medical students of state universities to continue their education and clinical training, we, the Vice Chancellors, insist them to engage in their academic work with immediate effect, it said. (Kalathma Jayawardhane)
News / National

by Staff Reporter

Maphenduka's point that a Prince's child has the right to his/her father's inheritence, is supported. African traditions and culture agree with it, therefore, Nyamande had all the rights to inherite Lobengula's throne.



His point on two States in Zimbabwe, is not agreed to because it gives legitimacy to a conqueror.

(i) It relies on invasion and force for its legitiimacy, e. g, the Europeans calling the Berlin Conference in 1885 for the purpose of colonizing Africa.



(ii) They went on to say that "African History", begins with the History of the colonizer.



(iii) Compare it with Southern Rhodesia's white settlers who invaded the country more or less when the Zwangendaba invaded Zimbabwe. Does Southern Rhodesia have a claim to Zimbabwe?



(iv) Mapenduka's reliance on colonizers' Historians, is an attempt to remind readers of his master's voice for any authenticity or legitimacy to whatever he says.



Like "umthwakazi or the Shona Protectorate", this too, is the figment of his imagination - wishful thinking or day dreaming exercise.

A Bulawayo24.com reader, Tembedza Chigovanyika, has responded to Jonathan Maphenduka's The amaNdebele monarchy ' opinion article.Chigovanyika said:
A Green politico recently suffered a heavy fall from power which those close to him attributed to the malefic influence of Saturn. Now they claim that Saturn has turned benefic following its recent ingress into a new sign and the man is about to get back his high office and other status he lost.



Those peddling this story also say that the politico will get back the prestigious finance subject as well.



Meanwhile, a Buddhist monk residing in a temple in the outskirts of the city, a frequent visitor to a well-known party head office in Pitakotte area has reportedly told a group of Diyawanna members that no power on earth could take away what a benefic Saturn would bestow on one.



Nevertheless, the politico continues to make offerings and conduct Poojas to propitiate the deities, they say.



The man is said to be firm in his belief that the time is not far away when he could begin shining as brightly as he did before. However, not even a faint sign of a green light to come from the palace is in sight so far, they say.
Following are excerpts of the speech made by TNA MP M.A. Sumanthiran at the Parliament debate on the Interim report of the Steering Committee of the Constitutional Assembly.

This is indeed the first time that a party representing the Tamil people of this country is agreeing with some proposals, although incomplete and still at the proposal stage.

I am saying this referring to the position paper that we have provided, which is part of the Interim Report that has been placed before this Assembly for Debate during these three days. We have stated our positions very clearly and I want to elaborate on some of them now.

We have very clearly stated that Sri Lanka shall be a secular State

nri Lanka must be a federation - a Federal State

Many in our community have left this country and they arent proud to call themselves Sri Lankans

We have very clearly stated that the country must remain one

We have very clearly stated that Sri Lanka shall be a secular State and I say this with responsibility: any Constitution that seeks to treat all of its citizens as its equals must be a secular Constitution. I am not a Buddhist and I cant be told that I am second class in this country.

A Constitution that provides a particular religion with the foremost place cant be a Constitution that treats all of its citizens as equals. Now, it is up to this House to decide whether you want a Constitution that doesnt treat all of its citizens equally. Even having said that, that should be the ideal, we have gone on to say, but, if the Buddhist people wish that a certain status be given to Buddhism, we wont stand in the way.

But, it is an indefensible position for the Buddhists to take. We, who are non-Buddhists, are saying, we dont mind it (Buddhism) being given a foremost place. But, how will a Buddhist say, our religion must have the foremost place; others can have other places? How can any Buddhist who defends equality ever stand up and say that? But yet, if you want it, we have said, we are willing to grant it.

I am saying all of this to show that the call for federalism came from Mr. S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike, Mr. Pieter Keuneman, Mr. A. Vaidialingam and more importantly, from the Kandyan Chiefs in the 1930s



We have very clearly said that Sri Lanka must be a federation - a Federal State. I want to say a few things about this idea of a Federal State. There is a wrong conception or a wrong view that has been spread in this country that the call for federalism comes from the Tamil people because they want to be separated from this country. Nothing can be furthest from the truth. The federal idea was introduced to this country by the founder of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party, S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike in 1926. There were six letters that he wrote to The Ceylon Morning Leader on federalism.

Not only that, the Left of this country in 1944 held the same view. Even before that, the Communist Party made a resolution that the country must be federal. The Pieter Keuneman - A. Vaidialingam Report of the Communist Party of 1944 very clearly articulates that Ceylon must be a federal country.

I am saying all of this to show that the call for federalism came from Mr. S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike, Mr. Pieter Keuneman, Mr. A. Vaidialingam and more importantly, from the Kandyan Chiefs in the 1930s before the Donoughmore Commission and later in the 1940s, before the Soulbury Commission. They articulated three units with the North and East as one.

I am not a Buddhist and I cant be told that I am second class in this country. A Constitution that provides a particular religion with the foremost place cant be a Constitution that treats all of its citizens as equals

So, those who oppose federalism and those who oppose the North and East Province as one unit must remember that that proposal came from the Kandyans first, not once, but twice before two imperial commissions. So, you all must disabuse your minds of the view that this is somehow a Tamil project, a first step to separation. We have very clearly stated that the country must remain one.

We have said that very clearly. We are participating in this process in the most responsible way possible and we ourselves have said that the country must remain one. Our view is that if the country is to remain one, different people in this country must have a share of the governance of this country. It cant be a system of Government in which a simple majoritarian rule prevails.

This country consists of different people and it is in order to remain as one that we are seeking maximum possible devolution of power; maximum possible power sharing arrangement, so that all the people in this country have a share in that. Otherwise, sovereignty, which is said to rest in the people, will become meaningless; sovereignty will be exercised only by one majority, one people of this country, if it is a simple majoritarian rule.

Until we are treated as equals, not by mere words, but actual access to government power being given to our people, we will never be in a position to say we are proud of this country; we will never be in a position to say we are Sri Lankans.

Many in our community have left this country and they arent proud to call themselves Sri Lankans. They call themselves Canadian-Tamils, they call themselves Australian-Tamils, because they have been driven out of this country through violence. They have been denied of the due share that they must have in the Government.

That must change. The reason why the Tamil National Alliance participates in this level in this Constitution-making process is to change that, to erase that bitter past so that we can, together with you, say our language is equal - that was corrected in 1987, but must be implemented in full - our religions are equal, no foremost place to anybody, everybody is foremost in this country; we must be able to say we have due share in the governance structures of this country.

Now, these are proposals, none of them that are being placed here have gone beyond anything that the seven Chief Ministers and their Opposition Leaders other than the North East Provincial Council made before the Steering Committee. All of the Chief Ministers in the seven other provinces, other than the North East, want to share power. They came before the Steering Committee. They want law and order, they want land powers, they want the powers of the Governor reduced.

I am saying this because one must remember that in 1987 when the Thirteenth Amendment was being passed, several Opposition MPs, then the SLFP, gathered at Pettah, outside the bus stand and performed a hartal.They said the country is going to be divided by this Thirteenth Amendment. Mahinda Rajapaksa was there personally leading the protest saying if this Amendment is passed, the country will be divided. He is the one, as the Leader of the House recalled, who repeatedly said when he assumed power, I will implement the Thirteenth Amendment in full and go beyond it and make power sharing meaningful.

Today when the provincial council elections are postponed, it is he and Members associated with him who are protesting and saying, Do not postpone the provincial council elections. The man who said, Country will divide if you create provincial councils, is screaming his head off today saying, Do not postpone provincial council elections. That is the violation of our sovereignty.

Prof. GL Peiris petition to the Supreme Court- on which the Determination on the Twentieth Amendment was made- was made on the basis that a postponement of the provincial council electionaffectsthe sovereignty of the people and they dont want it postponed. So, the creation of provincial councils hasnt resulted in the country being divided.

I also have with me the 2000 August Draft Constitution Bill that was presented to this House by the Peoples Alliance Government of that day of which the Hon. Mahinda Rajapaksa was a Cabinet Minister; a Bill which was certified by the Cabinet of Ministers as a Bill that is intended to be passed by this Parliament by a two-thirds majority and approved by the people at a referendum. He was a Cabinet Minister who approved of this Bill and what does that Bill say? These proposals before us today say, we are one country. Therefore, we can call ourselves, talSh rch, meaning of which will say,

  or   - one country. This doesnt even say that. This says, Sri Lanka is a Union of Regions. All the Cabinet Ministers at that time supported this, in this House. The UNP supported that principle. The UNP burned a copy of this Bill in this House because there was a transitional provision with regard to the Executive Presidency, not because of power sharing, not because of change of status of the country.

When you were in power you approved of a Draft Bill that went far beyond, far beyond what is contemplated by this Interim Report. Is it not to mislead the people of this country, and prevent a final resolution to the national question that has plagued this country ever since Independence? Dont we want a reasonable resolution regarding this? If you ask the question what is the biggest problem this country has faced, obviously it is the national question. This country hasnt faced a war for three decades on account of anything else, not on account of any other issue, it is only with regard to these issues that actually parts of the country were ruled by others, also for certain durations.

So, we are now in a process. As responsible representatives of our people, we are Tamil Members of Parliament from the North and East - except two, all others belong to the Tamil National Alliance - we have an overwhelming mandate from our people to resolve this question within a united, undivided country and we have gone one step further and said, an indivisible country even in the future. So, when we are participating like that, our people have misgivings of this Interim Report.

Our people are saying, We told you it must be a Federal State. Our people are saying, There must be one unit of devolution. Our people are saying, It must be a Secular State, is it not a reasonable thing? You are compromising beyond the mandate that we have given you. They are right. We do not want to compromise beyond the mandate given to us, but we want to see that through negotiation a reasonable position is reached.
oDoc, a Sri Lankan startup linking patients with doctors on-demand, emerged winners in the Telemedicine category at the recently concluded Commonwealth Digital Health Awards.

Developed over 12 months, the award-winning platform provides a 360 degree solution for both patients and doctors  providing pre-consultation notes on an electronic health record, video consultations, and a valid prescription sent to your smartphone.



This saves users from the hassle of waiting in rooms and traffic jams with the advantages of better diagnoses and treatment augmented by modern technology.



The Commonwealth Digital Health Conference and Awards ceremony, held at the Cinnamon Grand Colombo, marked the launch of the Commonwealth Digital Health Initiative followed by the adoption of the Commonwealth policy brief on Digital Systems for One Health. The highlight of the conference was the digital health mall, which showcased 35 shortlisted digital health innovations from India, Singapore, Malaysia, Malta, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Norway and South Africa.

Speaking after the awards ceremony, Heshan Fernando, founder and CEO of oDoc said, We put medical consultation and e-prescriptions into the palm of your hands and we are doing this by combining mobile technology and artificial intelligence with the best clinical expertise. Fernando highlighted pediatric and dermatological consultations as popular use cases. He also pointed to the option for anonymous consultations through oDoc being particularly useful for those seeking sexual and mental health consultations.



Explaining oDoc further, Fernando stated, You can basically book appointments in seconds and see a doctor fully registered with the Sri Lanka Medical Council whenever you want, wherever you are, through just three taps of your Smartphone. Once you request your consultation, the doctor will then video call you, assess your condition and provide you with a valid prescription with the doctors seal, right to your phone. All within a matter of 10 minutes. The showing of lab reports and follow-up visits could take place the same way. Studies have shown nearly 75 percent of all regular doctor visits could be handled effectively through video just like this.



Similar services have seen wide-scale adoption internationally. HealthTap based out of Palo Alto, California has over 100,000 doctors offering their services on its platform. Babylon Health, claims 1 in 100 citizens of the UK as users and recently partnered with the NHS.



The founders of oDoc are convinced that with the current level of smartphone and internet penetration in Asia, the time is ripe for the convenience of telemedicine to improve the lives of millions in Sri Lanka and the region.



Doctors also stand to see added convenience. All of Sri Lanka now becomes accessible to medical practitioners through oDoc beyond the usual 10 to 25km radius from where they could see patients in the past. The platform also gives doctors a better work-life balance where working from home more often becomes a viable option. For those opting to go fully digital, a virtual practice would help avoid the hassle and overheads involved in running a private clinic.



Dr. Janaka Wickramasinghe, who is a practicing doctor and a founder of oDoc explains, The benefits of this system dont end with just convenience. We built an Electronic Medical Record (EMR) platform from the ground up just to assist these video consultations. This allows a doctor to document a consultation digitally rather than through written notes.



Doctors hadnt already moved on to doing this because it invariably takes longer than writing something on paper. So, what we did was approach this as a design problem, not a medical or IT problem and designed something which is super-fast and easy, where anyone can use it, without needing much IT knowledge. Through features like this, oDoc helps doctors provide better-informed more holistic healthcare to their patients.



oDoc have to-date has signed on 10 companies including MAS Active, Union Assurance, Expolanka, Hela, Akbar Brothers, and Brandix, and will have a total of 20,000 users on their cards. The platform together with its fast adoption rate has also drawn the attention of investors, with the startup raising US$ 1 million in funding  Sri Lankas largest seed round investment  from Ajit Gunawardena, Brandix and LOLC.



The nascent Sri Lankan startup ecosystem is on the path to gain a boost if startups like oDoc gain traction and can scale operations.
By Loveday Morris  (c) 2017, The Washington Post  Oct 31, 2017 -

JERUSALEM - Israels military said Monday that it destroyed an attack tunnel that led into its territory from the Gaza Strip, killing at least seven Palestinian militants, including a senior commander of the Islamic Jihad group and two members of Hamas.



The tunnel crossed from the area of Khan Younis in Gaza and was still under construction, according to Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus, a spokesman for the Israeli military.



Islamic Jihad, the second-largest armed faction in Gaza after Hamas, said five of its members were killed, including the commander of its military wing in central Gaza. The group described the destruction of the tunnel as a dangerous escalation and said it reserved the right to respond to the terrorist aggression.



Hamas said two of its militants were killed during a rescue mission after the tunnel was targeted. Israel has been working on new technology to detect and destroy tunnels since its 2014 war with Hamas, when the group used underground warrens to launch attacks and defend themselves from airstrikes.

A total of 67 Israeli soldiers and six Israeli civilians were killed in the conflict, while 2,251 Palestinians died, according to the United Nations.



Israel also is constructing an underground barrier to prevent tunnels from crossing into Israel. The Palestinian enclave is already fenced off above ground.



I told you many times before that we are developing breakthrough technology to deal with the tunnel threat, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told local media on Friday. We are implementing it. Today, we located a tunnel, and we destroyed it.



Conricus declined to give further information on the new technology but said it was used for the first time in detecting a tunnel. The tunnel ended just over a mile from the Israeli village of Kissufum, which he said was the assumed target.



We have no interest in an escalation, he said, but he added that Hamas, which has controlled Gaza since 2007, would be held responsible for any aggressive action from the area.



Hamas, which is in the process of reconciling with its rival Palestinian faction, Fatah, accused Israel of attempting to sow discord and ruin efforts to restore Palestinian unity.
Experts from South Asia and Africa meeting in Dhaka called for strengthening processes to ensure the right to information of all persons, and for ensuring integrity of Information Commissions and recognition of Governments as key stakeholders. Members and staff of Information Commissions, along with lawyers, journalists and civil society members from 6 countries - Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Sri Lanka in South Asia and Kenya and South Africa met in Dhaka on October 26-27, 2017. The Social Architects (TSA), Research Initiative Bangladesh (RIB) and Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST) hosted the meeting.

Discussions during the conference sessions focused on procedures for seeking information and performance of governments and public authorities in bedding down the transparency regime, appeal and complaint procedures before Information Commissions, the role of the courts in relation to RTI proactive and routine information disclosure, including both low tech and high tech solutions.

Panellists discussed the selection process of Information Commissions, ensuring transparency in the process and guaranteeing insulation from political interests. They highlighted the need for capacity building of RTI service providers/officers. Panellists urged governments and Information Commissions to put in place accessible and disabled friendly access to information, digitalization of public records and information management. Based on the urgency in matters relating to information about the life and liberty of an individual under threat, they called for a RTI Commissions in the region to prioritize the queries of information pursuers.

Social media can be an ally in the promotion of peoples access to truthful and reliable information on the working of public authorities in the age of post-truth and alternative facts. Participants also urged government bodies and NGOs to collaborate in spreading awareness among the people about RTI laws.

In order to encourage public authorities and civil servants to implement the law effectively, a scheme to incentivise performance, should be instituted along the South African model. Panellists also addressed exemptions to RTI including privacy/data protection  and the role of Information Commissions, Governments, civil society and the media in promoting awareness of RTI.

Participants shared best practices, with a particular focus on the provision of new remedies to protect fundamental rights, and on ensuring accountability of both public and private authorities. The regional meeting made an overall assessment of the status of implementation of the RTI legislation, examining the use of RTI in country specific contexts in the context of civil and political and economic and social rights, mapped out challenges and evaluating successes.
Finance State Minister Eran Wickramaratnes comments that the government will cut red tape in issuing visas to fill critical skill gaps is a welcome development as it will help Sri Lankan businesses grow faster, win bigger contracts and employ more people.



Shortages are apparent in several sectors as Sri Lankas labour market, with unemployment falling to 4.4 percent in 2016 from 6.5 percent in 2006. Tourism, agriculture and construction sectors are among those complaining. The leisure sector not only needs well-trained workers until domestic training catches up but also specialists with Chinese language and cooking skills to cater to a sudden influx of tourists from China.



Firms in the information technology and business process outsourcing (IT/BPO) sector also find it difficult to get specialist workers in particular.



The difficulty in getting specialist skills has stifled an entire ecosystem of small, medium and start-up companies that are emerging, preventing them from winning bigger contracts and growing faster. A growing IT sector, where more small companies expand rapidly or which drawn outside investments can also help retain some of the most talented IT professionals who are now migrating due to lack of upward career growth.



The tech entrepreneurs complaining of skill shortages are also IT professionals.



Fear psychosis

The proposal to streamline the process of sourcing labour from overseas has triggered a protest from one group of IT workers.



Though it is understandable that these workers fear that they may lose jobs, IT workers-turned SME entrepreneurs say there is not enough awareness in the country about the dynamics of the market, which are fast changing and how cutting red tape will bring benefits for everyone, including the workers themselves.



Those chasing short-term gains and protection will not only deny an opportunity for Sri Lanka to grow but may also hurt themselves in the long term by denying opportunities for career growth. Meanwhile, other countries are not standing still. Countries like Vietnam, which are more open in multiple ways, are already ahead of Sri Lanka in the BPO game and are overtaking others.



Past experience has shown that clearing bottlenecks and removing roadblocks can unleash growth and employment.



Sri Lankas IT service sector got a firmer foothold in the global market in 1990s when the then telecom minister broke a monopoly held by Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT) by introducing competition. An international voice and data monopoly was broken a few years later, ending another protection afforded to SLT, cutting costs and making the IT sector competitive.



Though SLT lost the market share, its business is now part of a bigger pie and the firm is better positioned to deal with competition from services such as Viber and WhatsApp. The entire country also has access to cheaper telephony and faster data services. Many people have found work in businesses connected to the telecom sector.



The fee levying Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT) was also set up in the late 1990s, partly with the intermediation of the Board of Investment, giving economic freedoms to many students who would otherwise have been hurt by a road block in the form of a taxpayer-funded state monopoly in IT degrees.



At the time there was no government IT officers association, like in the medical sector or any such body to prevent these freedoms from being given to the students and the country, after resistance from SLT was dealt with.



It is therefore important to understand the issues and dynamics at play in the software and IT market, particularly in the small, medium and start-up sector and why tech entrepreneurs want foreign specialists to grow faster.



Skill gap

The Sri Lanka Association of Software and Service Companies (SLASSCOM) says about 3,000 students qualify from state universities each year. Reliable estimates are unavailable of private sector output or migration. The best graduates are snapped up by the largest players. Some are also absorbed by firms catering to the domestic market. Some qualify in hardware and networking areas.



But it is a fact that large companies like Google and Microsoft, which employ 1,000 or more workers in a location, are not coming to Sri Lanka. The IT/BPO industry is estimated to employ around 80,000 people of various disciplines. Understandably, the existing industry players may also be comfortable with this situation as the entry of any big name can lead to poaching and a steep rise in wages.

The problem of attracting large tech companies, which need a large volume of labour, is one side of the coin. The lack of specialist skills is another one.



Given that Sri Lanka is a small market, students tend to go on a more general route. It may not make economic sense to go for additional qualifications especially when it is quite easy to get a well-paid job with expertise in general areas.



But the industry is changing fast and new skills are needed. At one time, a programming language like Python may be hot. At another time, there may be a shortfall of good user interface and user experience (UI/UX) specialists, who will design and build the front end of an application so that the users can do their work easily and with as less training as possible.



The list goes on and it changes rapidly.



Unleashing SME ecosystem

Industry watchers say there is a trend where entrepreneurial software engineers with several years of experience under their belt are setting up small outfits to cater to the international market. They have know-how, some management skills and customer relationships to work with foreign clients.

For a small company, getting the right mix of specialist skills is not easy, especially when requirements change rapidly.



For example, a Sri Lankan SME bidding for a contract in Europe may require 30 software engineers but the client asks for five certified usability testers. Another deal may require five qualified data scientists. The company may have 25 staff but lack the five specialists. They will have to give up the job, when specialists are not available even if the client firm is willing to engage them.



Sometimes such talent may be available from a larger company but poaching them at high prices may make the bid unviable. Due to the lack of specialist skills, many SME founders say they are now hitting a roadblock.



IT entrepreneurs say that Indian or Filipino developers are not necessarily cheaper to more employable than Sri Lankans, with living costs in Sri Lanka are also higher than countries like India.



Migration and lack of career growth

A fast-growing industry will also help reduce the migration of seasoned professionals, which is a big problem dogging the industry.



Currently, the IT professionals who gain experience and reach lower management level find that there are not enough opportunities for career growth due to the slow expansion of the industry.



By the time a tech professional gains mid-level experience, the salary gap between Sri Lanka and other markets widens. With limited options at home, these professionals migrate.



If the industry grows faster, more experienced IT professionals will remain in the country. By opposing measures that may make an industry grow faster a section of IT workers may be denying themselves and their colleagues opportunities for career growth.



Lagging behind

As it happened with product exports, there are fears that Sri Lanka is lagging behind, though the country may have been a pioneer in removing the first state controls.



In the Global Services Locations Index compiled by AT Kearney, Vietnam was ranked 19th in the world in 2007, with a People Skills and Availability score of 0.99 points. Sri Lanka was only slightly behind with a score of 0.96. By 2017, Vietnam had moved to the sixth place, overtaking the Philippines. Vietnam had radically improved its score in People Skills and Availability to 1.39. Sri Lankas score in the People Skills and Availability sub-index had only improved to 1.07 points.



The Philippines had been a leader in East Asia due to its English ability. Vietnam had an early start serving the Japanese market but big Western firms are now moving in. AT Kearney noted that a significant percentage of the predominantly young Vietnamese population is now fluent in English.

Young Vietnamese are learning English quickly due to a booming formal and informal private education system staffed with teachers from the US, UK and Australia, who are moving to the country easily.



Clearing roadblocks

The start-up boom and the wide adoption of software in the local market offer hope. But it can be realized by being open to investment and talent.



When more Sri Lankans work with specialists, they will also acquire some of the know-how as knowledge diffusion occurs faster when people move.



SLASSCOM, the industry body, has recommended that a programme be launched to attract diaspora and international knowledge workers, a non-resident type dual citizen scheme be introduced and easier visa and work-permit process for knowledge workers similar to an existing programme to attract regional headquarters of global companies to Sri Lanka be offered.



Sri Lanka should not just think about clearing red tape for easier sourcing of specialist skills as the government plans but move beyond and think about a structured skilled visa programme along the lines of other countries that are technology hubs.



Other countries are moving even further. Thailand recently announced a four-year smart visa for business professionals without the need for a work permit.



Sri Lanka plans to be a service hub for the Indian Ocean. These lofty goals cannot be reached without quick access to knowledge workers who will in turn impart their knowledge to Sri Lankans.

(Advocata Institute is a Colombo-based free-market think tank)
There is a popular saying that the best things in society are for childrens use. Despite the presence of many human rights organizations, Womens Groups and NGOs involved in the protection of the childrens rights- especially those of girls- there are less affluent families who suffer enormously due to misdirected priorities of the authorities. It is ironic that the children who are entitled to education have lost this basic right. This is one such tragic tale about the suffering of a female student with the connivance of the Government authorities.

This student had been expelled from her school recently by the disciplinary committee of the school under the impression that she was pregnant. What had led the authorities at the school to take such a decision was her vomiting inside the school premises. The vomiting had been caused because she had attended school that day without having breakfast. She was a grade 10 student of Madatugama Rewatha Maha Vidyalaya in Kekirawa. The Human Rights Commission in Colombo had informed the girls parents in writing to present the student for further investigations.

The students mother, D.M.Somawathi( 57), said that she had never been to Colombo. Her father N.H. Kiribanda (66) said that he had been to Colombo Fort area in the 1940s to engage in the job of unloading vegetables from lorries.

The problem these parents face is that they arent in a position to bear even the bus fares necessary to travel to Colombo. This is because they have got used to eking out a living through manual labour. The monies raised this way barely suffice for them to have one meal a day. We went to their house on October 28 (Saturday) evening in order to show their house to three people with lion hearts who arrived from Trincomalee to provide this family with food stuff after having read their woeful story in the newspaper.



It was only then that we went to Dambulla Hospital. The doctors in that hospital were like Gods. They proved that the allegations levelled against her were false. The fire that had inflamed in my mind had extinguished

At that time, the girl, who had suffered this injustice, and her mother were at home. The mother told us that her daughter wasnt given an opportunity to be enrolled in a school so far. Her mother revealed that several teachers had decided to leave this school if the teachers and parents association decided to readmit the girl concerned back to the school.

When we inquired from the mother whether this student has a pair of shoes, a school bag and clothes to attend school, they displayed the pair of shoes she used. The shoes were in a pathetic condition.

She said that her daughter now had no school to attend and that the principal nor any other person had told them that a school will be provided for her daughter. Her former class teacher had promised to take her back, but nothing has happened so far

Her father Kiri Banda said that his family, which lives in the throes of poverty, had to face innumerable hardships. He said that as a result of having to travel to Anuradhapura and Dambulla Police stations regarding various investigations, he was denied of the opportunity to earn his daily wages.

He further said that he wished there was an inquiry against the teacher who influenced the principal to expel her daughter from school. He added that the principal had merely signed the leaving certificate and the directive to expel her had been carried out by another teacher.

A young woman who came from Trincomalee had given them Rs.1000 so that they could reach Colombo, as requested by the Human Rights Commission.

It was on October12 while we were working that we were summoned by the school. Then, another teacher told us that our daughter was pregnant and she could not be kept in school. The teacher concerned scolded us thoroughly and compelled us to remove her from the school. It was only then that we went to Dambulla Hospital. The doctors in that hospital were like Gods. They proved that the allegations levelled against her were false. The fire that had inflamed in my mind had extinguished, said the girls mother.

She said that her daughter now had no school to attend and that the principal nor any other person had told them that a school will be provided for her daughter. Her former class teacher had promised to take her back, but nothing has happened so far. She had gone to Anuradhapura for various investigations, spending hard earned money, and had to return home starving.

I have never been to Colombo. Nor have I seen Colombo. How can we get to Colombo? We dont know where the Human Rights Commission is. It is a great help if somebody accompanies us to our destination. If we dont go, they would say that our girl is guilty. It is a great trouble. We dont know what we should do, the girls mother said.

We dont want anything more than a school for our daughter to sit for her examination. The principal was extremely sad regarding this issue because she was the one who gave the leaving certificate. But it was another teacher who scolded her. I had to leave and was unable to listen to what he had told. He spoke in an insulting manner. The parents and the teachers who had participated in the meeting, conducted by the disciplinary committee, had planned to blame us. Nobody spoke to us. We were named as the wrong doers along with the gentlemen who represented the electronic and print media. They blamed us accusing us of creative this situation. We dont harbour a grudge against the principal despite she having signed the leaving certificate of our daughter. This was done under the influence of another teacher. However, we have become the wrongdoers in the end. What can we do? This is the outcome of abject poverty, the girls father said.

Perspectives of professionals

Children should be afforded the dignity and worth of the human person-Marini De Livera- Chairperson of the National Child Protection Authority (NCPA)

While this isnt the first time a childs rights have been violated, this incident will certainly be talked about in the history of child rights violations. Speaking to NCPA Chairperson Marini De Livera, the Daily Mirror inquired about the actions taken so far by the authority regarding this incident. The NCPA must take action, so that a similar incident could be prevented from from occurring.

The preamble of the United Nations Child Rights Convention that Sri Lanka is party to, eloquently declares that a child should be afforded the dignity and worth of the human person. It speaks of the full and harmonious development of the child that the child has to grow up in an atmosphere of happiness, love and understanding. It further states that the child should be brought up in a spirit of peace, dignity, tolerance, equality and solidarity, said De Livera, explaining the extent to which the said allegation has violated the childs rights.

De Livera mentioned that the NCPA was informed of the incident via its 24-hour child line, the moment it took place. The matter was referred to the ASP in charge of the NCPA Police Unit who is handling the investigation. Statements from relevant parties were obtained. The JMO is due to submit his report and once it is received the NCPAs Law Enforcement Unit will take action after consulting the Attorney General, she said.

Occasional incidents of rights violation underscore the necessity of taking steps to ensure that such incidents arent repeated in the future. The impact that these violations have on the victims live is traumatic. Therefore it is of utmost importance to take strict measures to prevent such violations. Especially the various reports of student assaults and child abuse that spring up indicate the lack of awareness on the consequences of law violation.

Sensitisation of school principals and Teachers on Human Rights and Duties, especially on Child Rights and Legal Literacy, is important. The strict enforcement of prevailing laws should be made, De Livera stressed. At the end of the day, it boils down to the fact that the protection of the countrys future generation is the duty of every citizen. All members of the community working together to promote and protect the Rights of the Child is necessary to promote the protection of children in the country, she concluded.

The preconceived accusation that this child is pregnant is unacceptable,- Professor Harendra De Silva-Paediatrician and former chairman of the NCPA

It is very surprising to learn the extent of action taken regarding the vomiting of a student following accusations not supported with proof. Many questions have been raised regarding this incident. Dr. Harendra De Silva when contacted said, There are many reasons that a child may vomit. It is very rare that the cause behind a child vomiting is due to pregnancy. I find it very irrational and absurd that such a drastic action to expel a student was taken without even investigating into the issue and confirming it, he commented.

I believe that whoever is at fault should definitely be punished. Teachers should be suspended regarding this kind of behaviour. These kinds of people shouldnt even be allowed to work as teachers, let alone be principals. These kinds of incidents should not be taken lightly and be brushed under the carpet. Strict measures have to be taken against the perpetrators. Once they are found guilty of such violations, the teachers should not be allowed to continue unless they undergo counselling or engage in a rehabilitation programme, Prof. De Silva opined.

There are many reasons that a child may vomit. It is very rare that the cause behind a child vomiting is due to pregnancy. I find it very irrational and absurd that such a drastic action to expel a student was taken without even investigating into the issue and confirming it-prof.Harendra

It is a fundamental right of a child to learn with dignity. According to Prof. De Silva, a right to education with dignity should be available even if the child is pregnant. Emotionally running down a child is unacceptable. This accusation may have been made due to a personal grudge against the child, the presence of impartiality due to poverty or a previous wrong impression of the child. Whatever the cause, the preconceived notion that this child is pregnant is unacceptable, he accentuated.

It is reported that the issue will be inquired into by the Ministry of Education. However Prof. De Silva doesnt agree with this ministry conducting an inquiry. I do not believe that the Ministry of Education should be the authority to conduct an inquiry regarding the incident. Inquiries should be carried out by a legal authority. An internal inquiry will prove useless. I am a doctor. It is like asking one doctor to judge the actions of another doctor. Or an accused being judged by ones own relative. Such a judgement would be biased. This case is similar. Normally these types of incidents are brushed under the carpet. But I believe that the perpetrators have to be punished against child rights violations, he stressed.

This particular incident, where the child was expelled without proof, is an offence under the grounds of cruelty to children. The student should be allowed to continue with her schooling again in another school, which will provide her with a standard education, he continued. There is no doubt about the trauma that a student faces when allegations of such nature are made. This student is a tenth grader. Such an incident can affect a childs mentality and her studies, especially when she is just about to sit for her Ordinary Level Examination.

Teachers should be able to deal with students sensitively. The root of this problem was a health issue. Even when the child is innocent, the child gets abused. Teachers should be held accountable for their actions. A teacher should be removed from his or her post and appropriate punishment should follow when the individual is proven guilty. Action should be taken regardless of whether the wrong doer is sent to jail or for rehabilitation, he concluded.
Initial observations on the Officer Corps perception of the root causes of ethnic violence

There are no grievances specific to Tamils - Udaya Gammanpila, Western Provincial Council Minister, 2014

There are no minorities now - Mahinda Rajapaksa, May 2009

Following the defeat of the LTTE in May 2009 popular understanding of the root causes of ethnic violence congealed around a single dominant narrative. This narrative consists of three premises and a conclusion.

Premise I: The root cause of the ethnic conflict was the greed and power lust of Tamil elites, who led a misguided Tamil population.

Premise II: These elites were empowered by interventionist foreign States who were (i) primordially anti-Sri Lanka, (ii) manipulated by the diaspora or (iii) concerned with geo-political intrigue.

Premise III: There were few, if any, unaddressed political or economic grievances specific to the Tamil community that led to violence.

Conclusion: There were no important political or economic causes for violence and therefore there was no need for reform to address grievances. Therefore, a solely military response is sufficient for preventing recurrence of violence.

The essay argues that, at the very least, there is no consensus within the military on this issue. In fact, analysis of officers writings finds views within the Officer Corps that often directly contradict the dominant narrative, or at least seek to qualify it substantially.

The dominant narratives line of reasoning is often extended to argue that recurrence of violence can be prevented by centralising power in the State, ensuring totalitarian control of the Tamil population, pursuing an isolationist foreign policy and homogenising the diverse Sri Lankan polity by establishing the ascendency of Sinhalese Buddhist civilization.

Preventing violence does not require a political response because there are no genuine political grievances.

Those who disagree with these claims are often labelled traitors who were sacrificing our war heroes.

The upshot of this narrative is the unarticulated assumption that the war heroes themselves unequivocally endorse the dominant narrative.

This essay argues that, at the very least, there is no consensus within the military on this issue. In fact, analysis of officers writings finds views within the Officer Corps that often directly contradict the dominant narrative, or at least seek to qualify it substantially.

In the absence of any significant research on security in Sri Lanka, there is little scholarly evidence that can be easily marshalled and deployed to test this thesis.

Despite two Marxist insurgencies and a thirty-year civil war, bibliographies on Sri Lanka have no sections on defence and strategic studies. The very few books that have been written from a security perspective are largely on the security implications of relations with external powers.

Where studies on the military aspects of domestic conflict exist, their number pales in comparison to Sri Lankas voluminous literature on the conflict from the human rights, legal, historical, political science and anthropological perspectives. Meanwhile, the few biographies written by military officers with first-hand experience of the war have been largely narrative in nature rather than analytic.

Despite this paucity of research, one useful resource that can be used to examine the perceptions of the Officer Corps are the publicly available theses of Sri Lankan military officers following the end of the war. At the time of writing eleven theses, written by officers from the three services, were publicly accessible. Although there are a few methodological limitations that this sample presents,these limitations do not diminish the argument that the militarys strategic thought is often at odds with the dominant narrative.

One reason for this is that methodological limitations may cancel each other out. For example, there may be a propensity of thesis writers to write for the examiner  in this case US military college instructors. But there is also a propensity to write for the political masters, who in this case endorsed the dominant narrative in the immediate post-war period.

Causes of War: Ethnic discrimination, failure to share power and human rights abuses

Five of the eleven theses discuss the root causes of violence and conflict. Of these five theses, all of them demonstrate understanding of the roles discrimination, failure to devolve power, human rights abuses and economic opportunities played as drivers of conflict, radicalisation, and ultimately violence.

First, discrimination and unequal citizenship were identified as pivotal drivers of conflict. Wing Commander Chaminda Wickremaratne argues that in contrast to the stabilising effect of D.S. Senanayakes multicultural, non-discriminatory policies, The stability achieved in 1948 in the democratization process had eroded by 1956 when SWRD Bandaranaike became the Prime Minister and introduced a Sinhala Only Official Language Act. It was seen as an abandonment of the multi-racial policy and agitated the Tamil minority.this laid the seed for a demand for autonomy for the Northern and Eastern Provinces where a majority of the Tamils lived.

This view is echoed in Commander A.I.P de Silvas comment that the 1978 Constitution ensured that Tamils would continue to occupy a subservient position in their relations with all subsequent Sinhalese governments.

Senior DIG Merril Gunaratne cites failure to devolve power in the 1990s, loss of economic opportunities for Tamil youth in the South as a result of the Sinhala Only Act and the 1983 riots as important drivers of the LTTEs popularity within the Tamil population.

Second, failure to devolve power is also often cited as a cause for violent inter-ethnic conflict. For example, Lieutenant E.M. Chandradasa suggests: if the Sri Lankan state was structured in a manner that addressed these grievances [Relating to devolution of power] and accommodated differences of opinion in its policy-making mechanisms, a thirty-year civil war might have been avoided.

Lt. Col. I. Herath meanwhile tacitly supports this view by writing in approving terms of elder, mature Tamil political leaders who eschewed separatism in favour of devolution.

Third, violation of human rights is often cited as a catalyst for violence. De Silva notes that President Jayewardenes policies of controlling Tamils further escalated the militant struggle in Sri Lanka...he introduced the Prevention of Terrorism Act in 1979. With that act security forces could arrest and detain Tamil youths up to eight months. Chandradasa also disparages Sinhalese extremist attempts to prevent the securing of minority rights and the resolution of the conflict: The governments ability to implement...minority rights was met with large opposition by the extremist elements of the Sinhalese community.

Some officers go so far as to argue that human rights violations or complicity in them constituted a tipping point for abandoning political agitation and embracing violence. For example, Lt. Nishantha Manage notes: Above all the Sri Lankan government agents had, over time, become more involved in the riots. This solidified the perception among more and more Tamils that the Sri Lankan State was not only disingenuous, but also overtly violent toward Tamils. The largest and most damaging riot came in 1983, which signalled not only the apex of anti-Tamil ethnic violence to date, but radicalised many Tamils against the Sri Lankan State.

Finally, authors noted that the economic effects of discrimination played a catalytic role in mobilising violence, especially in contrast to the newly opened opportunities for Sinhala-speakers.

Wickremaratne notes that the The lack of opportunities stemming from irregularities and lack of opportunities in bureaucratic, commercial, and educational spheres, mobilisation of the Tamil youth slowly took place, transforming into a freedom struggle by the latter part of the 1970s.

Chandradasa too identifies State structured economic inequalities as an important enabler of conflict, arguing that The Sri Lankan State was inadequately structured to deal with social, economic, and political inequalities in an equitable manner, thus resulting in ethnic tension between the Sinhalese and the Sri Lankan Tamils.

Corroborating Evidence

The views of the above officers demonstrate continuity in thinking over time among the Sri Lankan Officer Corps.

There is no substantial contrast between the theses written following the defeat of the LTTE and the theses of Sri Lankan officers prior to the end of the war. The following extracts provide some insight into understanding of national security thinking during the war.

Major-General Kulatunga, writing in 2003, is forceful in concluding that Sinhala Only policy of the government was the reason for the Sri Lankas ethnic conflict. Writing in 1997, Major Ruwan Wanigasooriya pre-echoes the thesis highlighting the central role of ethnic riots in mobilising for violence, Countrywide attacks on Tamils (in July 1983)...induced Tamil youth to join the militant groups, which vastly expanded. His view is supported in Major Kularatnes thesis written in 2006 in which he says, The inability or unwillingness to protect Tamils in 1983 encouraged new recruits to join the Tamil militants and violent attacks by guerilla groups accelerated.

Lt. Col. Raj Vijayasiri provides a more comprehensive analysis arguing that Sinhala Only Legislation Alienated the Tamils as many Tamil government Servants were discriminated against due to this policy.

He noted that students were admitted to the universities according to ethnic ratios rather than merit. This barred many Tamil youths that got high marks from entering universities, and many of them were attracted to the militant groups. Vijayasiri also noted that chauvinists in the Sinhala majority became a threat to national security.

If the causes of violence were primarily political, then preventing recurrence of violence and ensuring long-term national security requires a fundamentally political response

He observes that when the subject of devolution of powers to Tamil areas was taken up, chauvinistic elements in the Sinhalese majority blocked it and that several communal clashes took place from 1956 to 1983, during which Tamil houses and businesses were burned and looted, and Tamil people killed. In addition to violence against the Tamil population, discussions on standardisation, the Sinhala Only Act and failure to devolve power feature extensively in the officers theses.

General Cyril Ranatunga, also supports this view arguing that the heavy handedness of the government drove many Tamil youth into the hands of the terrorist groups. This resulted in the drying up of support for the security forces.

Senior DIG Merril Gunaratne, former Director of the National Intelligence Bureau, in Cop in the Crossfire, cites failure to devolve power in the 1990s, loss of economic opportunities for Tamil youth in the South as a result of the Sinhala Only Act and the 1983 riots as important drivers of the LTTEs popularity within the Tamil population. In fact, he notes that the LTTE could not have transformed from rag-tag insurgent group to a conventional army without the popular support arising from these grievances.

His view is that, terrorism, in effect guerrilla groups operating in extremely small numbers with concealed weapons and using the element of surprise so as to avoid confrontation, could not possibly have progressed sans popular support.

Conclusion: A Political Problem Requires a Political Response

Based on the theses of military officers and corroborating evidence, it is clear that many serving officers within the Sri Lankan security forces have views that differ from the dominant narrative. In fact, their analysis of the causes of conflict bear significant resemblance to the grievance based analysis of most political scientists, historians and activists.

In conclusion, the dominant narrative is not as widely endorsed as is often believed. More importantly, there is substantial evidence to suggest that it is an inaccurate account of the past. This is crucial because our analysis of the past shapes our strategy for the future.

If the causes of violence were indeed primarily political, as many in the military think they were, then preventing recurrence of violence and ensuring long-term national security requires a fundamentally political response.

In other words, addressing political grievances  especially those relating to equal rights and devolution of power - appears to be a national security imperative.

[All sources are cited in the online version of this article.]

Daniel Alphonsus is studying public policy and security at Harvards Kennedy School of Government. His last publication on this theme was an article on the states response to the root causes of the JVP insurgency titled Preventing Post-LTTE Violence.
Following are excerpts of a statement issued by former Justice and Buddha Sasana Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe PC regarding the much talked about Interim Report of the Steering Committee presented to parliament for debate.

Interim Report submitted by the purported steering committee dated 21st September 2017 has no validity and authority

Whose need is to have a new constitution devolving the powers enabling the conversion of this country to a federal state

The Tamil population, forming the majority, in north and east amounts to 1,597,000

It was a sole victory gained by the UNPers through their blood, tears and sweat

Since the Soulbury Constitution hadnt provided the authority and a procedure to adopt a new constitution by repealing the existing one, the Government elected in 1970 had no option except to establish a Constitutional Assembly operating outside the Parliament. Since there were no such barriers in the constitution of 1972, J. R. Jayewardene entrusted the task of drafting a new constitution to one of his allies Prof. Alfred Jayaratnam Wilson, a political science expert and the son-in-law of late TULF Leader S. J. V. Chelvanayagam. The draft he prepared was received with the assent of the cabinet of ministers and then presented to the National State Assembly in terms of Article 51 of the 1972 constitution. Similarly Article No. 82 of the 1978 Constitution has conferred the powers and authority on the Parliament enabling it to promulgate a new constitution by replacing it.

What should be noted here is that under no circumstances, power has been conferred by the 1978 constitution on the Parliament to establish a Constitutional Assembly in Parliament. If the Parliament is not competent to draft a new constitution in an ordinary manner, the only procedure to be adopted in terms of the constitution is to seek assistance of a parliamentary select committee which could consist of members who are skillful and competent in making appropriate recommendations. Accordingly the purported Constitutional Assembly is null and void per se as well as ab initio. Similarly the the Steering Committee appointed for the said purpose was also null and void per se as well as ab initio.

The Judiciary has ample jurisdiction to declare that the Constitutional Assembly is null and void

It is an accepted and time-honoured convention in democracies all over the world, that no court should entertain or hear cases against an act committed or omitted by the parliament, since it is an organ of the Government which should function and operate independently of the other organs. There are already set precedents on this issue by both the courts as well as the parliament. This privilege of parliament is extended to its sub organs too, such as select committees, standing committees, special committees and the committee of whole parliament. The purported constitutional assembly which is unconstitutional in law is neither covered by the purview of the constitution nor by the standing orders of the parliament.

Since the constitution has already provided a crystal clear and unambiguous procedure for adopting a new constitution, the constitutional assembly which is unconstitutional per se, court has ample jurisdiction to declare the illegality of it. Similarly the steering committee appointed by the purported constitutional assembly itself is null and void and no avail of law. Accordingly the so-called Interim Report submitted by the purported steering committee dated 21st September 2017 has no validity and authority and automatically becomes ineffective.

When analyzing the results of the presidential elections, held in January 2015, it is evident that out of the total 6.2 million votes received by President Maithripala Sirisena about 2.5 million were of both Sri Lanka and Indian Tamils and Moors

Responsibility of Parliamentarians

In democratic forms of States, people elect their representatives with the prime objective and aspirations that their elected representatives are competent and skillful in making laws to ensure the national security and public well-being and they incur a substantial amount of money for the maintenance of the parliament and its members. In punishing offenders in criminal cases court impose punishment on them presuming that all such accused have committed offences knowing that they were prohibited by law. Similarly people also presume that their elected representatives are making laws with a comprehensive understanding of them and their consequences.

When Mrs. Sirimavo Bandaranaike and Mr. J. R. Jayewardene wanted to enact new constitutions in 1970 and 1977 respectively, they didnt seek advice of any overseas experts or spent public funds in millions for expertise advice. If the members of the legislature arent competent and have the capacity to make the laws necessitated for the country, what is the use of maintaining such a Parliament? The whole parliament must be ashamed of spending public funds for seeking advice of so-called foreign experts for making the laws for the country.

When considering the political and social turmoil that had been created in the country, expectations are far remote to have a new constitution adopted

New Constitution  for whose need?

Whose need is to have a new constitution devolving the powers enabling the conversion of this country to a federal state with the right of self-determination for Tamils in North and East and also by removing the foremost place and protection given to Buddhism? Political leaders in the Government say that the devolution of power is needed not for the politicians, but for the people. The only criterion that they put forward to justify their argument is that the incumbent President Mr. Maithripala Sirisena, received a vast amount of votes from minority ethnicities.

It is appropriate to analyze the said situation. While the population of the country is 20,359,000, the number of registered voters for the 2015 elections was 14,268,000. According to the statistics, seven out of every ten citizens are eligible to be voters. The Tamil population, forming the majority, in north and east amounts to 1,597,000. In that manner, seven out of ten means 1,117,000. The total population in both North and East when compared to the total population in the Island is only 7.84%.

When analyzing the results of the presidential elections, held in January 2015, it is evident that out of the total 6.2 million votes received by President Maithripala Sirisena about 2.5 million were of both Sri Lanka and Indian Tamils and Moors. When we subtract the said 2.5 million votes of both Sri Lankan and Indian Tamils and Muslims, the remaining 3.7 million votes came from the Sinhala majority. President Sirisena didnt receive even 1% of votes from the SLFP vote base. It was a sole victory gained by the UNPers through their blood, tears and sweat. Not a rupee was spent by any of the SLFPers during that election.

Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa received 5,768,000 votes in the said election. Many people argue that he didnt receive any votes from the minority ethnicities. In that context if we have to hypothesize that the votes received both by Mahinda Rajapaksa and Maithreepala Sirisena amount to 9.4 million, obviously they came from the Sinhala voters. The present question that has arisen is whether a new constitution should be promulgated just to satisfy the said 2.5 million voters of the minority communities, ignoring 9.4 million votes of the Sinhalese. The next question is whether there is any country in the world which has devolved the powers to a greater extent for a minority community which amounts to 7.84% out of the total population?

The majority Buddhists, as well as non-Buddhists are of the opinion that the nature of Sri Lanka shall remain unitary (more appropriately solitary) as provided in 1972 and 1978 constitutions. Even when the British Empire captured this country, they had assured by Article 5 of the Kandyan Treaty in 1815 that they will protect Buddhism in Sri Lanka foremost. Even his Eminence Cardinal and some other Tamil and Muslim leaders also assented to the said idea. It is the heritage of the people in this country. But it doesnt mean by inserting the said Article there could be any discrimination or injustice to the other religions.

The present question that has arisen is whether a new constitution should be promulgated just to satisfy the said 2.5 million voters of the minority communities, ignoring 9.4 million votes of the Sinhalese

It is the duty of the State as well as of the majority Buddhists to protect the rights of the other religious groups. Religious reconciliation is a duty collectively passed upon to all the devotees of every religion. There are reports that at least 20 attacks against Muslims are being carried out daily in London. In that context we are much better in maintaining religious harmony compared to UK and performed more credibility than those preachers of the west harping on equality and human rights of the people.

Can a person from the minority assume leadership?

Lakshman Kadiragamar was an exemplary leader who earned high respect from all the people irrespective of their ethnicity, religion or language. He was assassinated by LTTE rebels. At present we cant see that kind of statesmen emerging within the minority communities.

It is not due to any deformity or deficiency of the constitution. There had been many persons from the minority communities who had held high ranking offices such as the Chief Justice, the Attorney-General, IGP, military commanders, etc. In the past we have observed the leadership given to the nation by late Lakshman Kadiragamar and late A.C.S. Hameed as national leaders, not as leaders of their communities. Today we cant see such national leadership from minority communities because they are mostly promoting communal feelings and emotions than contributing towards the advancement of national policy.

What should be done?

When considering the political and social turmoil that had been created in the country, expectations are far remote to have a new constitution adopted. Although a positive environmental prevailed in the country in 2015, now that atmosphere has completely disappeared as a result of maladroit conduct on the part of the Government. Obtaining a 2/3 majority in the Parliament for the proposed constitution is only a figment of imagination.

Even if it is passed with a 2/3 majority in the Parliament it cant become a law unless it is approved by the people at a referendum. It is certain that it is similar to pursuing a mirage. The vast majority of Sinhala and Muslim people also have expressed their opposition to the proposed constitution.

Considering the present environment of the country, the Government will have to take a prudent decision to discuss with party leaders and to agree on suitable amendments to the existing constitution with the aim of making it more meaningful and vibrant. The priorities of the needed amendments could be set in the following manner.

1. To change the proportional representative electoral system by introducing a more favorable system to the people.

2.To introduce the reforms into the judicial system to enhance its efficiency and thereby to minimize the laws delay. (I have already submitted an appropriate amendment to the system, but it is kept aside with the expectation that they could incorporate the same into the proposed new constitution).

3.To make necessary restructures to provincial councils and local Government institutions enabling them to be more efficient and functional. More administrative powers could be devolved in a symmetric way.

4.To establish a mechanism/reinforce the existing mechanism for accountability of the public sector.
The country witnessed a major uproar after the Steering Committee released its interim report outlining proposals for constitutional changes.

The political forces and Maha Sangha, sensitive to the character of the Constitution in the making and the status to be accorded to Buddhism, took up cudgels against the process arguing that the proposed changes, if enacted, would relegate the primacy of Buddhism enshrined in the current Constitution, and give a new lease of life to separatist forces.

Upheaval reached its climax with people taking to the streets at the behest of these political parties, mainly the Joint Opposition.

As things unrolled in this manner, President Maithripala Sirisena, who kept himself aloof from any direct involvement in Constitution making, entered the scene last Monday as he said he would call for an All Party Conference to initiate discussion with all the stakeholders.

It appears that it is his political strategy that he would not directly become party to any process dealing with controversial matters, yet intervene at the last moment to subdue flaming fires if it spins out of control.

It appears that it is his political strategy that he would not directly become party to any process dealing with controversial matters, yet intervene at the last moment to subdue flaming fires if it spins out of control. More or less, the President acted in the same fashion during the last couple of years in the office when and where such issues, controversial in nature, arise.

It was the very same strategy he adopted in regard to the issue involving South Asia Institute of Technology and Medicine (SAITM) commonly called the private medical college of Malabe. The protests raged in for months in the country, with university students, backed by their teachers, parents and some trade unions, demonstrating and holding protest marches almost on every single day. The police had to expend a lot of tear-gas canisters in their arsenal to disperse the protesting students, and on occasions, it led to the arrest and incarceration of student leaders. Doctors were striking work constantly over the SAITM issue.

Finally, the Presidents committee offered a solution, and it was accepted, though with scepticism, by the Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA). In that sense, the President subdued the fire to an extent rather than allowing it to snowball further. It is not Higher Education Minister Lakshman Kiriella who could do something about this.

More or less, the President acted in the same fashion during the last couple of years in the office when and where such issues, controversial in nature, arise.

It has created a fear psychosis that the Presidents move would supersede the current process. But, most were unaware of what the President is up in this regard as of now. The fear has gripped those keen to have the new Constitution enacted.

His latest intervention in the constitutional making process is looked at seriously by political watchers. The move comes in the wake of heat mounted by Maha Sangha representing all the chapters against the proposed constitution. The intervention would have been meant to cool the heat in this regard. Or else, he would have intended to take over the constitution-making process, leaving out the Steering Committee from the task.

It has created a fear psychosis that the Presidents move would supersede the current process. But, most were unaware of what the President is up in this regard as of now. The fear has gripped those keen to have the new Constitution enacted.

Tight security for MR in Maharashtra

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who was an on a visit to India, met with Chief Minister of Maharashtra Devendra Fadnavis for 40 minutes at his office. Mr. Rajapaksa, accompanied by former External Affairs Minister Prof. G.L.Peiris, was there primarily to attend an International Buddhist Conference in Aurangabad. He also visited Ajanta and Ellora caves in the area. Maharashtra has a population of 11 million, five times the size of Sri Lankan population. Also, more than 15 percent of the population is Buddhists.

Prof. Peiris said, for the Chief Minister, it was a happy occasion because the meeting coincided with his third year in office.

The State Government had assigned tight security for Mr. Rajapaksa with the assignment of 17 vehicles for his escort and a contingent of commandos.

Mahinda Deshapriya cracks jokes with Basil

Ahead of the local authorities election, the Elections Commission met with the representatives of the political parties last week to brief them about electioneering under the new system and to seek their views for streamlining the mechanism.

Former Minister Basil Rajapaksa, who now spearheads Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna under the Flower Bud symbol, attended the meeting and directed a series of questions at Elections Commissions Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya.

Mr. Deshapriya was also curious to know why it was only Mr. Basil Rajapaksa raising so many questions. So, he said, I wonder why you are having so many questions.

In reply Mr. Rajapaksa, Mine is a novel political party with no experience in electioneering. As a novice party, we would like to know more.

Mr. Deshapriya, who burst into laughter upon hearing it, dubbed it as the biggest joke he ever heard during the day.

I know how you operated electioneering at that time at Temple Trees with the use of a highly advanced computerised system. If you say you do not know electioneering, it will be nothing but a joke for me, he said in lighter vein.

Laugher reigned in the meeting which was otherwise serious.

President intervenes to secure funds for Champikas waste project

Megapolis and Western Development Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka, who lamented about of lack of annual grants for some development work in Colombo, was in for a rude shock once again when the Finance Ministry had reservation about an allocation of Rs. 14 billion for his waste management project in Aruwakkalu, Puttalam.

However, President Maithripala Sirisena came to his rescue at Tuesdays Cabinet meeting. The President instructed the Finance Ministry to release money without any reservation to execute this project.

Today, the country is virtually stinking with waste. It has to be addressed. Therefore, Minister Ranawaka should be given a helping hand to deal with the matter, he said.
News / National

by Staff reporter

Women and youths in Beitbridge district are set to benefit from the establishment of a Mopani worm processing plant after the government sourced funding from the African Development Bank for the project.Amacibi (mopani worms) are an important source of proteins for the rural folk in the province and have been sustaining many families.The Deputy Director for Community Development in the Ministry of Women Affairs, Gender and Community Development, Ms Chido Tsinakwadi said in a bid to ensure that women and youths benefit meaningfully from the natural resource, the government through funding from the African Development Bank and support from the International Labour Organisation (ILO) will establish a processing plant in Beitbridge."The project will support the Mopani worm value chain," she added.The Minister of State for Matabeleland South Province, Ambassador Aaron Maboyi expressed confidence that the project will have a significant impact on the livelihoods of the benefiting communities and economy of the province as a whole.The initial beneficiaries of the project will be a group of 18 women who run the Rovhona Raita Mopani worm project in ward 4, Masthiloni area in Beitbridge.Under the same programme, the African Development Bank is also funding various projects in Mutasa, Marondera, Lupane and Guruve.
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"A Latina In Museums" Is Smashing Stereotypes In The Art World

Karen Vidangos has always had a passion for the arts, but as a Latina she rarely saw herself represented in the cultural institutions she visited. So she decided to create an Instagram account to share her own photos, which quickly grew into a collaborative movement of Latinxs in museums all over the country. Her personal account @latinainmuseums and the collaborative @latinxcurated aim to represent Latinxs in the art world, whether as visitors to museums or curators and academics. Karen recently graduated from the George Washington Universitys museum studies program and plans to build a career in the arts.

Tell us a bit about yourself.

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I was born and raised in the DMV (DC, Maryland, Virginia). I live about 30 minutes outside of D.C. now. My immediate family live in the area as well, although the rest of my family live in La Paz, Bolivia. The last time I went to Bolivia was well over 18 years ago so I am due for a long family reunion where I hope to stay for a month or more. My hobbies are all museum related. I love attending events, talks, and exhibition openings. Outside of that, you can usually find me scheming on my next travel adventure or reading a good book.

What inspired you to start A Latina In Museums?

I had been doing research throughout my two years in graduate school and thinking a lot about the marginalization of brown communities in the museum field, both as a worker and visitor. But what got me started on ALIM was a sudden impulse to see more of myself, really. It was a lazy Saturday morning and I was browsing Instagram looking at all the art accounts I follow and kept seeing the same face over and over. I did not see a single brown girl with dark hair, something Ive faced my whole life in many other scenarios. At that moment I knew I had to create something, even if just for myself, to showcase my community in the museum spaces I love so much.

How have people responded to your work?

I have connected with so many amazing people across the U.S. and beyond that I might not have met if not for ALIM. What surprised me the most were the messages from Latinx followers who were happy a platform like mine existed because I expressed some of the same concerns about working in the museum field that they had.

One of the funniest moments on the Instagram account happened the day after the Oscars, when Moonlight received the Academy Award for Best Picture and Viola Davis gave a phenomenal speech for her Oscar win. I created a post that featured four Latina actresses with overlaid text that read, A Latina Has Never Won The Oscar For Best Actress. I congratulated both Viola Davis and the Moonlight cast for their amazing Oscar wins and explained that diversity has a long way to go in the arts, including cinema. I posted the image the morning after the Oscars before I went in to the Hirshhorn Museum (where I interned at the time) and by lunch when I looked at my phone, I had over 1,000 notifications. There were arguments in the comments section, a huge jump in engagement, and both Gina Rodriguez and Andrea Navedo liked the post. I was so overwhelmed and excited.

I also got a chance to meet Diane Guerrero who was in D.C. to advocate for an American Latino Museum. When I saw on Facebook that she was in D.C. I dashed out, grabbed an Uber, and headed straight to Capitol Hill to find her and let her know I was excited about her support for the museum. I was able to do just that and get a selfie as well. So now it has become a small, personal goal of mine to get the whole Jane the Virgin cast to follow my account. That would mean everything to me especially since their show is also so significant to breaking Latinx stereotypes.

What are your wider goals for the movement?

I would like ALIM to become a large community where ideas are shared, questions are asked, guidance is found, and where the museum can become an accessible place for all. The Latinx perspective is such an underrepresented voice in the field and I want to provide that space for the community to discuss and share all things museum related, whether they work in museums or not.

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Why do you think representation is so important in the arts?

What is presented to us can shape our views of the world, but presenting a single narrative meant to encompass all is disingenuous to the core mission and purpose of our cultural institutions as educational spaces. Art can mean so many things to so many people but if museum institutions expose their audiences to a very limited selection of artists and themes, then we will only ever be exposed to one side of a story, marginalizing communities that could very well be their biggest supporters.

Who is your favourite Latina artist? Who inspires you?

I dont have favorite artists, that is like asking a parent who their favorite child is! But an artist whose oeuvre of over 50 years, I am currently learning more about is Marta Minjuin. Shes a conceptual artist from Argentina who has most recently created a spectacular installation this past summer in Kassel, Germany for Documenta 14. She created a full scale replica of the Parthenon using 100,000 books that had once been banned. She is a brilliant artist with the most fabulous sense of style, too.

Who or what inspires me is not a fixed list. Inspiration can come from so many people and places. Lately though, seeing other Latinas succeed has been the biggest inspiration for me to continue pursuing my own dreams. I have absolutely loved seeing the success of Erika Sanchezs book, I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter, for example.

How do you feel as a Latina in the U.S. right now, given the current political situation?

I am trying to remain strong and not let the political environment derail my ambitions. I know that tensions are high and that there are segments of my community that are facing real threats, be it the dismantling of DACA or racial discrimination. There are so many social issues that demand our attention from gender inequality to education to police brutality, and our cultural institutions have a responsibility to be part of that conversation and not hide from it. All of these social issues are as important for me in my personal life as they are in the context of the arts and I hope that by addressing the inequality current in our cultural institutions, and helping lift Latinx voices in museum spaces, that the gap between the two can begin to close.

Read more about Karen's work on her blog or follow her on Instagram.

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Molly McLaughlin is a travel and culture writer currently based in Mexico City. Her work has appeared in publications including Lonely Planet, Refinery29 and Ms. Magazine. You can find her on Twitter and Instagram at @mollysgmcl.
Solvvy Raises $12 Million to Fix Customer Service Industry with AI

Solvvy announced it has raised $12 million in Series A funding, led by Scale Venture Partners. The round included participation from existing investors Pear Ventures, Signatures Capital, and True Ventures, increasing the companys total funding to $16.5 million.

Customer service is often viewed as a painful experience, but it doesn't have to be. Recognizing that intelligent automation is the new competitive battleground for customer experience, the most admired brands are turning to us to keep their customers happy. This new investment will allow us to accelerate product development, focus on expanding our team and growing our customer portfolio, said Mahesh Ram, Founding CEO of Solvvy.

Annually, $300 billion is spent on call center agents globally, with 80 percent of companies claiming to deliver superior customer service. However, only eight percent of their customers agree with the claim. This is frequently the result of businesses routing customers to articles and bots that fail to answer their questions or offering the wrong solutions because the technology just is not advanced enough.

Solvvys self-service platform was created by Ph.D graduates from Carnegie Mellon University. It utilizes AI and natural language processing to understand questions and deliver answers in real time, even if the questions are complex. When human assistance is needed, the technology instantly sends the customer to a live agent. The system is constantly learning and evolving over time, based on the companys knowledge base. It is estimated that by 2022, Solvvys natural language learning algorithm will achieve 90 percent automation of real-time transactional requests.

There is so much hype around artificial intelligence  everywhere you look, companies are branding themselves as AI companies. I've been investing in AI technologies for the past twenty years, and I can tell you that very few AI claims these days are credible, said Rory O'Driscoll, founding partner at Scale Venture Partners. Solvvy is one of the few to deliver on the promise of AI.

In its inaugural year, Solvvy attracted several global brands, including GoFundMe, Peloton, Rover, TaskRabbit, and Upwork. It now supports 200 million users with an average resolution time of one minute. Using this platform, customers have saved over $15 million this year alone. AI is touted as a transformational technology for businesses and Solvvy seems to be in the midst of it.

Edited by Erik Linask
Christopher Cantwell, a self-professed white nationalist arrested in the days after the violent demonstrations in Charlottesville in August, has been hosting an internet radio show from the confines of the Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail for more than two months.

Cantwell was prominently featured in a Vice News documentary about violence in Charlottesville, where another white nationalist, James Fields Jr., is accused of driving into a crowd, killing 32-year-old counter-protester Heather Heyer during the Aug. 12 Unite the Right rally.

After the rally, Cantwell was charged with one count of malicious bodily injury by means of a caustic substance and two felony counts of illegal use of tear gas. He has been at the jail since he turned himself in to police after posting an emotional video about his arrest warrant.

In response to the video, he was widely dubbed the crying Nazi on social media.

Since then, Cantwell, 36, has called into white nationalist Internet radio shows while also hosting his own from jail  all without violating jail rules. He discusses current events; solicits donations for his legal defense; refers to himself as a talk-radio personality and political prisoner; and appears with other white nationalists such as David Duke, Mike Enoch and Unite the Right organizer Jason Kessler.

Cantwells recordings are sometimes titled Live from Seg or Letters from a Charlottesville Jail  a take on the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.s famed Letter from Birmingham Jail, written in 1963 after he was incarcerated for participating in Alabama civil rights protests. In one episode, Cantwell said he was reading books sent by allies to become a real expert anti-Semite and described seeing Fields, who is housed in the same unit.

In his most recent recording, dated Oct. 26, Cantwell criticized members of the alt-right who have distanced themselves from white nationalism in the wake of Aug. 12.

This is a war, he said. [If] you want to just play the center in a war between ideological extremes, all youre going to be doing is getting shot at by both sides.

Martin Kumer, superintendent of the jail, said administrators know about Cantwells recordings but cant stop them because inmates have a right to freedom of speech. He said Cantwells calls, except for those to legal counsel, are monitored.

We certainly dont allow a podcast from a cellblock. He merely calls someone else whos recording his phone conversation, they digitize the phone conversation, they put it on the blog, Kumer said. Its not as though we provide him with equipment to assist in this matter or condone it, we just dont have any control.

Jonathan M. Smith, executive director of the Washington Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs, said the First Amendment protects Cantwells speech behind bars.

Unless hes running a criminal enterprise using the telephone or encouraging criminal conduct through broadcasts or phone conversations, theres very little that correctional officials can do to prevent it, he said.

Paul Wright, who was released from prison in 2003 after serving time for felony murder, is the editor of Prison Legal News, a magazine that reports on criminal justice issues. He said prisoners, from former Black Panther and convicted murderer Mumia Abu-Jamal to white nationalists, are allowed to broadcast messages from prison in different ways. From about 1998 to 2000, Wright broadcast a radio show himself from a prison in Washington state.

Just because we disagree with the guy, Im not going to be the one that says, Lets shut him down, he said of Cantwell.

Cantwell and other white nationalists have been largely exiled from the internet since the Charlottesville attack. Links from Cantwells website to his Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube accounts indicate that the accounts are no longer available or were suspended.

In the Oct. 26 broadcast, Cantwell said he hopes to be released after a preliminary hearing Nov. 9.
A Charlottesville High School student was arrested Tuesday afternoon after police said he took a loaded gun onto the schools campus.

School staff found out about the gun at around 1 p.m., and police approached the student shortly after, according to a news release from the Charlottesville Police Department.

The 17-year-old student was taken into custody without incident on charges of possession of a firearm on school grounds and carrying a concealed weapon.

He and another student, who was arrested on an unrelated charge, are being held at the Blue Ridge Juvenile Detention Center.

School and police spokespersons did not respond to questions about whether the school was placed on lockdown, where on grounds the student was apprehended and if the two students were together.

No threats were made to students or staff, according to a statement from the school officials.

The school says it is planning a time for administrators and police to discuss safety measures and address questions.
FREDERICKSBURG  A small airplanes parachute system failed to prevent a fatal crash in Orange County last year because of the manufacturers inadequate design, according to a federal agencys final report on the accident.

The National Transportation Safety Board concluded in September that the plane lost control, and the two occupants tried to activate a large parachute capable of carrying the single-engine aircraft. But the parachute did not properly deploy, preventing them from safely recovering on May 24 of last year, according to the NTSB report.

The report did not say why the 2007 Jihlavan Skyleader 500 plane lost control, but noted that its speed dropped from 108 to 71 mph, which is consistent with slow flight and stall practice. The previous owner told investigators he had to be vigilant during such practice because the aircraft would twist abruptly right and spin  more so than any other airplane he had ever flown, the NTSB stated.

The pilot, Charles Neal Caldwell, 57, of Florida, recently had purchased the plane and was receiving flight instruction to meet an insurance requirement. His flight instructor, John Joseph J.J. Quinn, 81, of Culpeper County, was in the passenger seat.

Both died from blunt-force trauma after the plane nosedived en route to Orange County Airport from Culpeper Regional Airport.

The report cited a toxicology test and stated Caldwell was likely impaired by a combination of medicine  including sedatives and an opioid  to treat chronic pain and other medical conditions. But investigators said they did not find evidence that his impaired condition contributed to the crash.

Quinn did not have alcohol or drugs in his system, according to the report.

Federal investigators said the parachute was built to support up to 1,350 pounds, or about 21 pounds more than the combined weight of the plane and occupants. The total weight did exceed the aircrafts maximum takeoff weight by about 50 pounds, though investigators did not attribute the accident to that fact.

The parachute had been tested on the ground but never in flight, the report stated. It had four risers attached to the plane, two of which shared an anchor bolted to an aluminum surface behind the aircrafts seats.

That front anchor, designed to carry most of the weight, separated from the airframe during the crash, likely because the planes thin aluminum skin could not handle the force of the parachute, the NTSB wrote. The inadequate design of the front parachute anchor attachment structure caused the equipment to fail.

The airplane manufacturer was unable to provide any data or testing of the amount of shock force the surrounding aluminum skin could withstand, the report stated.

A marketing representative for the Czech Republic-based Skyleader manufacturer did not immediately return an email for comment. The companys latest model has two front anchors for the parachute rather than one.

NTSB notified the plane manufacturer and the Federal Aviation Administration of its findings. A search of FAA data showed 15 other Skyleader 500 planes registered in the U.S., according to the report.

Several witnesses to the Orange crash told investigators they heard what sounded like thunder or a loud crack. They then saw a parachute deploy as the airplanes nose pointed straight down before hitting the ground.

One witness took a photograph of the plane descending with the parachute still attached and partially inflated. The parachute was found in trees about 100 yards east of the wreckage.

The pilot had nearly 121 hours of flight time, while the instructor had 32,480 hours.

Quinn, the flight instructor, was a retired United Airlines pilot and volunteer for Angel Flight Mid-Atlantic, a nonprofit that provides air medical transport for low-income patients.
A week before the election for local and state offices in Virginia, a candidate for the Charlottesville City Council said she thinks the city should reconsider a previously established target for publicly supported housing in the city.

Democrat Heather Hill delivered her remarks at a joint news conference Tuesday with her party running mate, Amy Laufer. While Hills comments focused primarily on housing issues, Laufer shared the duos vision for developing the citys middle class.

Two council seats are up for grabs in next weeks election. Incumbent Councilor Bob Fenwick lost to Laufer and Hill in a June primary. Two-term Councilor Kristin Szakos declined to run for re-election.

Hill said the city should be more ambitious and work toward having more than 15 percent of the citys housing stock supported by public funding or other mechanisms to ensure affordability for residents making less than 80 percent of the area median income (approximately $75,000) by 2025.

The city and community housing organizations have struggled to keep pace with private developers since the housing policy objective was first adopted by the council in 2010. In those seven years, the city has not been able to increase the ratio of supported affordable housing above 11 percent.

Hill, who is president of the North Downtown Residents Association, said the city will need more than 100 affordable housing units developed every year over the next eight years to reach the current goal. That scenario supposes no new private development during the eight-year period, however.

While this may be doable, we must also reconsider the goal itself, she said. If over a third of people in the area cannot afford to pay market rates for housing, the 15 percent goal is not ambitious enough.

Hill said the city also will need to remain committed to helping the citys housing authority and community agencies maintain existing affordable units.

We need broad commitment, as making headway is going to require additional investment but also bold thinking, aggressive action and a decisive departure from business as usual, she said.

When asked whether she was prepared to peg a new target, Hill said further study is needed.

The housing system is complex and I am not convinced we have all of the data we need to determine what the true percentage goal may be, she said. If 35 [percent] to 40 percent of people in Charlottesville are struggling to find decent housing, and housing is recognized as a basic human right, then we need to do the work to better understand the barriers that exist on an individual basis.

Laufer, a member of the city School Board, continued to promote her Piedmont Promise, which proposes subsidizing tuition for qualifying Charlottesville High School graduates to attend Piedmont Virginia Community College.

Laufer estimated that $800,000 could be use to support about 100 students per year.

Combined with continued support for the Charlottesville Works Initiative and the Charlottesville Investment Collaborative, which support job training programs and local entrepreneurs, respectively, Laufer said the Piedmont Promise would create a three-pronged approach to achieving policy goals.

Our city has had multimillion-dollar budget surpluses for the past seven years. We believe that we can use less than a million of those dollars to grow our middle class, she said about funding for the tuition subsidy program.

These students will be equipped to go on to a four-year degree or go on to become entrepreneurs or train for technical jobs, she said. We can create the atmosphere our community needs to position ourselves as a leader in the new Virginia economy.

After listening to their remarks Tuesday, independent candidate Paul Long said he thinks the two Democrats are promoting a progressive agenda. However, he said hes skeptical of whether they can pursue it if elected.

With the incumbents on council, who are beholden to private business interests, I think itd be hard for them to do that, Long said, adding that hes hopeful that another independent candidate, Nikuyah Walker, will win in next weeks election.

He added that he thinks another independent also could win the second seat thats up for grabs this year.

The other council candidates are independents Kenny Jackson and John Hall.
Due to the recent rain, the water level of the South Fork Rivanna Reservoir has increased  but mandatory water restrictions will remain in place for the time being.

According to the Rivanna Water & Sewer Authority, about 200 million gallons were added to the reservoir between Saturday and Tuesday and storage increased from 69 percent to 95 percent of reservoir capacity. The water level is currently only half a foot below the top of the spillway.

While we are very pleased with this increase, we will continue to coordinate with the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality to monitor the reservoir level and drought management measures, the RWSA said in a news release Tuesday. Our plan is to continue mandatory water restrictions and reduction of the minimum in-stream release until high water levels have been sustained in the reservoir for an extended period. VDEQ indicates the forecast is for an abnormally dry winter.

Additionally, the authority on Thursday will begin transferring about 4 million gallons of water per day from the Sugar Hollow Reservoir to the Ragged Mountain Reservoir. The RWSA said the transfer is to increase the water level in the Ragged Mountain Reservoir by about 350 million gallons to full capacity of 1.5 billion gallons. The transfer is expected to continue for about six months, the release said.
United States Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. JEFFREY IHM, Defendant-Appellant. No. 17-10523 Decided: October 31, 2017

Before MARCUS, MARTIN and ANDERSON, Circuit Judges.

Jeffrey Ihm appeals his total 140-month sentence, imposed within the guideline range, after he pleaded guilty to 14 counts of wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C.  1343 (Counts 114), and 5 counts of aggravated identity theft, in violation of 18 U.S.C.  1028A (Counts 1519). On appeal, Ihm argues that: (1) his total sentence was substantively unreasonable because the district court failed to weigh all of the 18 U.S.C.  3553(a) factors equally; and (2) his sentence was substantively unreasonable because the district court failed to consider his argument that had he been equipped with better legal representation at the beginning of his case, he would have accepted the government's initial plea offer of a 116-month sentence. After careful review, we affirm.

We review the sentence a district court imposes for reasonableness, which merely asks whether the trial court abused its discretion. United States v. Pugh, 515 F.3d 1179, 1189 (11th Cir. 2008) (quoting Rita v. United States, 551 U.S. 338, 351 (2007)). The party challenging a sentence has the burden of showing that the sentence is unreasonable. United States v. Barrington, 648 F.3d 1178, 1204 (11th Cir. 2011).

In reviewing the  substantive reasonableness of [a] sentence imposed under an abuse-of-discretion standard,  we consider the  totality of the circumstances.  Pugh, 515 F.3d at 1190 (quoting Gall v. United States, 552 U.S. 38, 51 (2007)). The district court must impose a sentence sufficient, but not greater than necessary to comply with the purposes listed in 18 U.S.C.  3553(a). The court must consider all of the  3553(a) factors, but it may give greater weight to some factors over others -- a decision which is within its sound discretion. United States v. Rosales-Bruno, 789 F.3d 1249, 1254 (11th Cir. 2015). However, a sentence may be substantively unreasonable when a court unjustifiably relies on any single  3553(a) factor, fails to consider pertinent  3553(a) factors, bases the sentence on impermissible factors, or selects the sentence arbitrarily. Pugh, 515 F.3d at 1191-92; see also United States v. Crisp, 454 F.3d 1285, 1292 (11th Cir. 2006) (holding that a district court cannot focus single-mindedly on one factor to the detriment of all others). A sentence that suffers from one of these symptoms is not per se unreasonable; rather, we must examine the totality of the circumstances to determine the sentence's reasonableness. Pugh, 515 F.3d at 1192. [W]e will not second guess the weight (or lack thereof) that the [court] accorded to a given [ 3553(a)] factor  as long as the sentence ultimately imposed is reasonable in light of all the circumstances presented. United States v. Snipes, 611 F.3d 855, 872 (11th Cir. 2010) (quotation, alteration and emphasis omitted).

Although we do not automatically presume a sentence within the guideline range is reasonable, we ordinarily expect such a sentence to be reasonable. United States v. Hunt, 526 F.3d 739, 746 (11th Cir. 2008). A sentence imposed well below the statutory maximum is another indicator of reasonableness. See United States v. Gonzalez, 550 F.3d 1319, 1324 (11th Cir. 2008) (stating that the sentence imposed was not substantively unreasonable because, among other things, the sentence was well below the maximum sentence).

In this case, Ihm's 140-month sentence is not substantively unreasonable. The sentence met the goals encompassed within 18 U.S.C.  3553(a). As the record reveals, the court expressed concern regarding Ihm's criminal history, and the impact that his criminal conduct had on the victims. Ihm had six prior felony convictions, and a history of both community control and probation violations. Four of Ihm's prior convictions involved fraud, false representation, and identity theft. In executing the instant offense, Ihm victimized over 10 financial institutions and businesses, stole the identities of more than 5 real persons, and managed to fraudulently obtain over two million dollars from these victims. On this record, it was well within the district court's discretion for it to conclude that Ihm's criminal history demonstrated a need to promote deterrence and respect for the law, and the need to protect the public from his future criminal conduct. 18 U.S.C.  3553(a)(2)(A)(C).

Furthermore, Ihm's total sentence of 140 months is within the applicable guideline range, and well below the statutory maximum sentence the court could have imposed. Ihm's 92-month sentence on Counts 114 represented the lowest end of the applicable guideline range, the kind of sentence we ordinarily expect to be reasonable. Hunt, 526 F.3d at 746. The total sentence was also well below the 20-year statutory maximum penalty allowed per each count of wire fraud, suggesting substantive reasonableness. Gonzalez, 550 F.3d at 1324. Moreover, it was entirely within the court's discretion to impose consecutive sentences for two of Ihm's five aggravated identity theft convictions. See 18 U.S.C.  1028A(b)(4) (providing that where, as here, a defendant has multiple convictions under  1028A, the court has discretion to determine whether these sentences should run concurrently with each other).

Although Ihm argues that the court placed too much emphasis on his criminal history and victim impact, the record indicates that it did not do so single-mindedly to the detriment of all the other  3553(a) factors. Crisp, 454 F.3d at 1292. Rather, the district court took note of Ihm's personal characteristics and familial circumstances, including the remorse he expressed. And in any event, the weight given to a particular factor is within the discretion of the court. Rosales-Bruno, 789 F.3d at 1254. As for Ihm's argument that his counsel at sentencing would have advised him differently than his previous representation, it is irrelevant since, based on the  3553(a) factors, the record indicates that the sentence is reasonable. Pugh, 515 F.3d at 1191.

In short, Ihm has not shown that his 140-month sentence is substantively unreasonable, and we affirm.

AFFIRMED.

FOOTNOTES

. The  3553(a) factors include: (1) the nature and circumstances of the offense and the history and characteristics of the defendant; (2) the need for the sentence imposed to reflect the seriousness of the offense, to promote respect for the law, and to provide just punishment for the offense; (3) the need for the sentence imposed to afford adequate deterrence; (4) the need to protect the public; (5) the need to provide the defendant with educational or vocational training or medical care; (6) the kinds of sentences available; (7) the Sentencing Guidelines range; (8) the pertinent policy statements of the Sentencing Commission; (9) the need to avoid unwanted sentencing disparities; and (10) the need to provide restitution to victims. 18 U.S.C.  3553(a).

PER CURIAM:
Weve been talking about gerrymandering, and its worth pointing out here that Albemarle County has been oddly chopped into four different House of Delegates districts.

Nowhere is this disadvantage more obvious than in the 59th: Republican incumbent Matt Fariss of Rustburg pays little attention to this part of his district.

For this and other reasons, were endorsing independent David Ball.

Buckingham resident Ball previously was elected to the Soil and Water Conservation District, serving on numerous committees and study groups and gaining experience with government.

Portions of his platform are traditionally conservative: support of the First and Second Amendments; support of economic growth; opposition to big government and big spending; opposition to unbridled use of eminent-domain land seizures.

But he also backs conservation of Virginias land and water, including protecting existing tax credits for agricultural and forestry uses.

And he promises to be accountable. He promises to listen to constituents and regularly report to them  all constituents. He promises to be available to local governments  all of them. Thats a nice change.

We also like the fact that Mr. Ball has a wide and varied background. Hes both sold real estate and developed it; hes worked as an engineering consultant and owned his own business. He holds five different associates degrees, in areas ranging from business to psychology, from science to education. This indicates an inquisitive and flexible mind  surely an advantage for any legislator.
The 25th House of Delegates District, which includes western Albemarle County and part of the Shenandoah Valley, has seen another spirited race this year between Republican Del. Steve Landes and Democrat Angela Lynn, who also challenged Mr. Landes two years ago.

Weve admired Ms. Lynn since that time. She is a passionate candidate and an articulate campaigner.

However, based on his record and his service to the district, our endorsement goes to Del. Landes.

Both candidates have rightly condemned partisan gerrymandering. But Mr. Landes has proved himself by having actually submitted legislation to reform the practice, bucking his party  and unfortunately losing that fight.

A more recent piece of legislation must be addressed: The delegates effort to dislocate the Charlottesville-Albemarle County revenue-sharing agreement. He was forced to withdraw his proposed legislation when other communities statewide objected that its unintended consequences would unfairly harm them.

Despite this misstep, we find Mr. Landes ideas on other issues to be sound.

He notes that because Virginias economic recovery is lagging at such a slow pace, more must be done to encourage business  especially small business.

Small businesses are loyal to the community, he said. They are less likely to uproot and move elsewhere in search of better and bigger government incentives.

Although tax breaks to lure high-profile companies have their place, support to help grow small businesses may be the best overall approach for local communities.

Mr. Landes also advocates for more attention to job readiness in post-secondary education. On the secondary level, he believes in improving and reducing the complicated, unpopular Standards of Learning and giving schools more flexibility in achieving accreditation.

We believe Mr. Landes understands and serves his district well. He has decades of experience to bring to bear on behalf of constituents.
I am a lifelong resident of Albemarle County and a 2017 graduate of Albemarle High School. I voted for the very first time in a general election and was proud to cast my early ballot for Rob Bell while I was home from college on fall break.

As a first-year student at Christopher Newport University, campus safety is important to me. Rob Bells campus safety bill, HB1930, passed in 2015, requires Virginia higher-education employees to immediately report sexual assaults on campus, requires all Virginia colleges and universities to form sexual assault response teams and requires campus police and law-enforcement agencies to notify the commonwealths attorney about assaults on campus. I appreciate his work on this issue.

I hope you, too, will consider voting for Rob Bell for the 58th District seat in the Virginia House of Delegates.

William B. Elvgren, Albemarle County
United States Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit. United States of America Plaintiff - Appellee v. Jedediah Stout Defendant - Appellant No. 16-4139 Decided: October 31, 2017

Before WOLLMAN, GRUENDER, and BENTON, Circuit Judges.

Jedediah Stout directly appeals the sentence the district court imposed after he pleaded guilty to arson and other offenses. His counsel has moved for leave to withdraw, and has filed a brief under Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738 (1967), questioning the substantive reasonableness of Stout's prison term and the propriety of a restitution order.

Upon careful review, we conclude that the district court did not impose a substantively unreasonable sentence, see United States v. Feemster, 572 F.3d 455, 461-62 (8th Cir. 2009) (en banc) (reviewing sentence under deferential abuse-of-discretion standard; discussing substantive reasonableness), and that the court did not err in ordering restitution, see 18 U.S.C.  3663A(c) (authorizing restitution). In addition, having independently reviewed the record pursuant to Penson v. Ohio, 488 U.S. 75 (1988), we find no nonfrivolous issues for appeal. Accordingly, we grant counsel leave to withdraw, and we affirm.

FOOTNOTES

. The Honorable Brian C. Wimes, United States District Judge for the Western District of Missouri.

. We decline to enforce an appeal waiver in Stout's plea agreement. See United States v. Boneshirt, 662 F.3d 509, 515-16 (8th Cir. 2011).

PER CURIAM.
Gunman opens fire from Home Depot truck and plows four bike riders, one man in custody https://t.co/4UFTnzTKDk pic.twitter.com/hjpPjGjWxQ

 New York Daily News (@NYDailyNews) 31 octobre 2017



La police n'a pas immediatement confirme qu'il y avait des blesses, indiquant simplement dans un tweet qu'une personne avait ete arretee.Un porte-parole a evoque des "informations sur une fusillade" non loin de la mairie de New York, sans autre detail sur la nature de l'incident.
United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit. STEPHEN STETSON, individual and all others similarly situated; SHANE LAVIGNE, individual and all others similarly situated; CHRISTINE LEIGH BROWN-ROBERTS, individual and all others similarly situated; VALENTIN YURI KARPENKO, individual and all others similarly situated; JAKE JEREMIAH FATHY, individual and all others similarly situated, Plaintiffs - Appellants, v. WEST PUBLISHING CORPORATION, a Minnesota Corporation, dba BAR/BRI; KAPLAN, INC., Defendants - Appellees, SETH BRYANT GRISSOM; JAMES RALPH GARRISON, III; DUSTIN KENNEMER; NATHAN HUNT; JOHN KELLEY; JOHN AMARI, Objectors - Appellees. No. 16-56313 Decided: October 30, 2017

Before: REINHARDT, PAEZ, and M. SMITH, Circuit Judges.

MEMORANDUM*

Plaintiffs-Appellants appeal from an award of attorney's fees and costs issued on remand after a previous appeal. We have jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C.  1291, and we affirm in part, vacate in part, and remand.

1. In a common-fund case such as this one, the district court has discretion to apply either the lodestar or the percentage-of-the-fund method in calculating a fee award. Stetson v. Grissom, 821 F.3d 1157, 1165 (9th Cir. 2016). In our previous opinion, we held that the district court acted within its discretion in using the lodestar method. Id. Our remand instructions directed the district court to clearly provide reasons for the factors in its lodestar computation. Id. at 1167. Therefore, the district court did not err in once again employing the lodestar method to determine a new fee award on remand.

2. Attorneys in common fund cases must be compensated for any delay in payment. Fischel v. Equitable Life Assurance Soc'y, 307 F.3d 997, 1010 (9th Cir. 2002). The lodestar should be computed either using an hourly rate that reflects the prevailing rate as of the date of the fee request, to compensate class counsel for delays in payment inherent in contingency-fee cases, or using historical rates and compensating for delays with a prime-rate enhancement. Grissom, 821 F.3d at 1166. On remand, Appellants submitted supplemental briefing on these two delay compensation methods as well as a declaration with updated hourly and prime rates as of June 22, 2016. However, the district court's fee award omitted any mention of delay compensation methods or updated 2016 hourly rates and instead cited a 2013 filing for class counsel's claimed rates. The district court erred by failing to update the lodestar calculation to compensate for the delayed payment.

3. The district court based its decision to deny a risk multiplier solely on its conclusion that class counsel's hourly rates already reflected the risks of this action. See id. (quoting Stanger v. China Elec. Motor, Inc., 812 F.3d 734, 741 (9th Cir. 2016)). Because its determination of the hourly rates was in error, that determination cannot support the denial of a risk multiplier. Furthermore, the district court based its assessment of the hourly rates on counsel's 2013 rates and the 2015 Real Rate Report, a publication that is not in the record. The district court's decision reveals nothing of the report's methodology. Use of the Real Rate Report may, however, be appropriate if supported by findings that the report reflects contemporaneous rates. On remand, the district court should consider anew whether to apply a risk factor using class counsel's updated hourly rate. We emphasize that regardless of whether or not the district court ultimately finds that this case requires application of a risk multiplier, it must fully and adequately explain the basis for its decision. Stanger, 812 F.3d at 741.

4. A district court has discretion to adjust the lodestar upward or downward using a multiplier that reflects a host of reasonableness' factors, known as the Kerr factors. Grissom, 821 F.3d at 116667 (internal quotation marks omitted) (quoting In re Bluetooth Headset Prods. Liab. Litig., 654 F.3d 935, 94142 (9th Cir. 2011)). [T]he Kerr factors only warrant a departure from the lodestar figure in rare and exceptional cases.  In re Bluetooth Headset Prods. Liab. Litig., 654 F.3d at 942 n.7 (quoting Fischer v. SJB-P.D., Inc., 214 F.3d 1115, 1119 n. 4 (9th Cir. 2000)). Appellants have not shown that the district court abused its discretion in determining that this was not a rare and exceptional case.

5. The district court denied costs for expert fees because the amount requested for two experts was not justified and the time records submitted by Appellants did not reveal which fees were attributed to which expert. Appellants rely on a declaration that reveals nothing more specific about the contributions of these two experts to the litigation than that Appellants engaged in extensive communications with them and consulted with [them] regarding both the range of possible damages and the various ways in which settlement might be achieved. This is a vague foundation upon which to rest an entitlement to $29,000 in costs. We review a denial of costs for abuse of discretion, see Escriba v. Foster Poultry Farms, Inc., 743 F.3d 1236, 124748 (9th Cir. 2014), and Appellants have not shown that the district court abused its discretion in denying costs for these expert fees.

We therefore vacate the award of fees and remand for the district court to update the lodestar figure with a delay compensation method and to reconsider whether or not to apply a risk multiplier. We affirm the award of costs. Each party shall bear its own costs on appeal.

AFFIRMED IN PART, VACATED IN PART, REMANDED.
New Delhi: Shares of Axis Bank surged 8 per cent on Tuesday, adding Rs 9,295.5 crore to its market valuation, amid reports of fund raising. The scrip zoomed 8 per cent to settle at Rs 523.05 on BSE. During the day, it jumped 9.22 per cent to Rs 529.

At NSE, shares of the company soared 8 per cent to end at Rs 523.15. The stock was the biggest gainer on both the key indices. The company's market valuation rose sharply by Rs 9,295.5 crore to Rs 1,25,413.50 crore.

In terms of equity volume, 24.36 lakh shares of the company were traded on BSE and over 3 crore shares changed hands at NSE during the day. Earlier in the day, BSE had sought clarification from the company with reference to the news that Bain Capital and others are in talks with Axis Bank to pick up 5 per cent equity stake.

Later, the company in a clarification to BSE said, "As regards the news item under reference, which has appeared in the media today, kindly note that the Bank in the ordinary course of its business continues to explore various means of raising capital/funds through issuance of the securities (equity and debt) to diverse set of investors, in order to meet its business/ regulatory requirements, subject to compliance with prescribed procedures and receipt of statutory /regulatory approvals."

We are cognizant of our disclosure requirements under the Listing Regulations and the Bank shall keep your exchange duly informed as and when any decision is taken by it with respect to any capital/fund raise exercise, it added.
Globally, it has 60 million SIM cards, which have been sold to be used for IoT solutions. (Photo: PTI)

Mumbai: British telecom giant Vodafone on Tuesday said it is witnessing up to 180 per cent growth in SIM cards used for internet of things (IoT) devices in the country on a smaller base. Its solutions are being used to serve diverse segments like smart tractors and earthmovers, its country head Sunil Sood told repoters here.

"Even in India, these numbers are zooming up. We are growing at about 150-180 per cent a year. Yes, the numbers are small and the market is emerging," Sood, the managing director and chief executive for the second largest telco, which is set to merge with smaller rival Idea Cellular, said.

The company is also working on the smart cars segment, he said, without divulging the client names. Globally, it has 60 million SIM cards, which have been sold to be used for IoT solutions.

IoT is an emerging technology wherein devices are connected and capable of 'speaking' to each other. It can be noted that the smart cities initiative of the government will use a lot of IoT solutions, which global vendors are keenly eyeing.

Sood was speaking on the sidelines of a company event, where it launched a new brand positioning in India, after the similar launch at the global level earlier this month.

The company refused to quantify the spends on the campaign in the country, but hinted that a lot of focus will be on the digital media.

When asked if the impending merger will have any bearing on the new identity campaign, its India chief operating officer Balesh Sharma hinted that both the brands will continue to operate even after the merger for the near future.

He, however, added that the merger is not yet through. Sood later told reporters that the merger is on track and the process of approvals is moving as per expectations.
The Union Cabinet on Wednesday gave its ex-post facto approval to the trade agreement between India and Ethiopia. (Photo: PTI)

New Delhi: The government on Wednesday gave its ex- post facto approval to the trade agreement between India and Ethiopia to strengthen economic ties between the two countries, an official statement said.

The decision was taken by the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi here.

The trade agreement will replace the existing pact signed in 1982.

The Cabinet "has given its ex-post facto approval for the trade agreement between India and Ethiopia for strengthening and promoting trade and economic co-operation", the statement read.

The pact was signed on October 5 during the state visit of the president of India to Ethiopia.

"The trade agreement will provide for all necessary measures to encourage trade, economic cooperation, investment and technical co-operation," it added.

The bilateral trade between India and Ethiopia declined to USD 840.5 million in 2016-17, from USD 854.6 million in the previous fiscal.
October manufacturing PMI data comes in sharp contrast to the robust show by India on World Bank's Ease of Doing Business ranking.

New Delhi: Manufacturing activity in India slackened in October as new orders stagnated in the wake of subdued demand conditions, largely due to "negative impacts" of GST, a monthly survey said today.

The Nikkei India Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) fell to 50.3 in October, from 51.2 in September, indicating a "broad stagnation" in the manufacturing sector.

This is for the third consecutive month that the index has come in above 50 that separates expansion from contraction.

The decline in manufacturing activity was mostly because of stagnation in new business as "negative impacts" of GST led to subdued demand conditions. Moreover, new export orders dropped at the fastest pace since September 2013.

"India's manufacturing companies struggled somewhat as the recent recovery enjoyed by the sector lost impetus in October," said Aashna Dodhia, Economist at IHS Markit and author of the report, adding that "manufacturing production rose at the weakest pace in the current sequence of growth".

Dodhia further noted that "inflows of new orders stagnated as the negative effects arising from implementation of GST continued to dampen demand levels. Furthermore, overseas demand for Indian goods dipped to the greatest extent since September 2013".

The silver lining, however, is firms added to their payroll numbers at a similar pace to that of September in response to greater volumes of outstanding business. On the price front, input cost pressures rose at the fastest pace since May.

Subsequently, firms reportedly raised their output prices to pass on greater cost burden to clients and protect their profit margins. Meanwhile, the level of business confidence eased to the weakest since February.

"Business confidence eased to the weakest since February as some firms expressed concerns over negative GST effects. However, those manufacturers that were optimistic forecast benefits of GST materialising over the next 12 months," Dodhia added.

The October manufacturing PMI data comes in sharp contrast to the robust show by India on World Bank's Ease of Doing Business ranking. India jumped 30 notches to the 100th place in the latest compilation.
Prices of subsidised LPG cylinders on Wednesday were hiked by Rs 4.6 per cylinder. (File Photo)

Mumbai: Prices of subsidised LPG cylinders on Wednesday were hiked by Rs 4.6 per cylinder, effective from the same day.

A subsidised LPG cylinder of 14.2 kilograms will now cost R. 495.69 in Delhi, Rs 498.43 in Kolkata, Rs 498.38 in Mumbai and Rs 483.69 in Chennai, as per data available on according to the Indian Oil website.

Non-subsidised LPG cylinders of 14.2 kilograms will cost Rs 93-94 more in the metro cities from November 1. Each non-subsidised LPG cylinder will cost Rs 742 in Delhi, Rs 759.5 in Kolkata, Rs 718.5 in Mumbai and Rs 750 in Chennai.

Oil marketing companies in India have been hiking the price of LPG in tune with rising global oil rates.

The government earlier this year had asked state-run oil companies to increase subsidised LPG prices by Rs 4 per cylinder every month to put an end to subsidies by March, 2018. Currently, every household is entitled to 12 cylinders of 14.2-kg each at subsidised rates in a year.

There are as 18.11 crore customers of subsidized LPG in the country.
Beyond Textbooks: Civil Rights Movement History from the Bottom Up, a presentation by Emilye Crosby, Ph.D., professor of history at SUNY Geneseo, will be held Monday, Nov. 6 at 6 p.m. at the University of Tennessee Chattanoogas UC Auditorium at 615 McCallie Ave. This presentation is free and open to the public.



"While there is ample information concerning the Civil Rights Movements visible leaders like Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. and major legislation like the Voting Rights Act, Crosbys presentation focuses on grassroots organizing," officials said. "These efforts include the slow, dangerous work often initiated by the young people of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, founded by the college students who initiated the sit-in movement; the crucial role of ordinary people in insisting on their citizenship rights and pushing for broader freedom; and the reality of armed self-defense that was often found in conjunction with voter registration in rural communities."

Too often, the civil rights struggle in the United States is presented as a movement with a few national leaders, who with the help of the federal government, transformed the United States, said Michelle Deardorff, Ph.D., department head of political science and public service at the University of Tennessee Chattanooga. When students are taught this narrative and then look around our nation in 2017, they see an immense disconnect. Dr. Crosby is an award-winning scholar whose focus is on the ways in which our local stories of struggle help make change possible. She has spent years listening to the stories of communities who challenged inequities and changed the power structures in their cities. It is this story, in which we are all change agents, that gives us hope for lasting political transformation and a more perfect union.



"The presentation will highlight bottom-up movement history, highlighting a wide range of tactics beginning before the big marches and extending after the passage of landmark legislation. This angle demonstrates the importance and power of taking action, even when there is no immediate tangible success, and perhaps most importantly, it highlights the role of unexpected actors. In particular, this presentation showcases how women dominated the movement numerically and were essential participants, strategists, organizers and speakers," officials said.



Dr. Crosby is a professor of history and coordinator of black studies at SUNY Geneseo. She is the author of A Little Taste of Freedom: The Black Freedom Struggle in Claiborne County, Mississippi and editor of Civil Rights History from the Ground Up.



This presentation is sponsored by the Adolph S. Ochs, professor of government, the UTC Department of Political Science and Public Service, the UTC Department of History and the Downtown Council of the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce.






The finance ministry is working on capital infusion strategy for the public sector banks (PSBs) and it is expected to be finalised by December.

New Delhi: The finance ministry is working on capital infusion strategy for the public sector banks (PSBs) and it is expected to be finalised by December, according to official sources.

The Department of Financial Services is assessing the capital needs of various banks based demands made by them, sources said.

There are various parameters which are being looked at for capital infusion exercise, including NPA ratio, credit growth, insolvency proceeding etc, sources said, adding that the second quarter result would also give clarity on the capital requirements for the current fiscal.

Various factors are being considered before arriving at the exact number and the final output is likely by next month or December, they said.

Besides providing capital for meeting regulatory requirements, the ministry is looking at providing capital to performing state-run banks to boost credit disbursement.

One of the options on the table is issuance of capitalisation bond for meeting their capital needs but no final decision has been taken yet.

The government followed a similar strategy in 2008 when it sold bonds worth about Rs 10,000 crore to subscribe to nearly 60 per cent of State Bank of India's rights issue.

Last week, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said the government, faced with a 'catch-22 situation' over the issue of non-performing assets, is working on a plan to rebuild the capacity of India's banking sector so as to support growth.

Banks are facing mounting non-performing assets (NPAs) or bad loans to the tune of Rs 8 lakh crore of which PSBs alone account for Rs 6 lakh crore. The bank NPAs are skirting the double digit mark at present and expected to grow further.

Although the Indradhanus scheme has assigned Rs 10,000 crore for the current fiscal, it may prove insufficient due to high provisioning requirement for bad loan resolution through various processes, including insolvency and bankruptcy proceedings.

Last year, the ministry provided capital to banks in two tranches. As many as 13 public sector banks together got Rs 22,915 crore in the first tranche announced in July 2016.

In the budget speech on February 1, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley announced capital infusion of Rs 10,000 crore for the current fiscal.
Defence acquisition council approved funding for the purchase of 111 multi-utility helicopters for attack missions. (Photo: PTI)

New Delhi: India will purchase more than 100 armed helicopters for its navy to replace its outdated French-designed fleet in a military deal worth $3.2 billion, an official said Wednesday.

The defence acquisition council approved funding for the purchase of 111 multi-utility helicopters for attack missions, search and rescue, surveillance operations and medical evacuation.

A spokesman for the Indian navy said on Twitter the new aircraft were a huge step toward addressing a "critical void of helicopters" for the naval fleet, which currently uses the French-designed Chetak model.

The government will identify a foreign military hardware company and a local defence firm to develop the helicopters in a joint partnership.

India, the world's largest defence importer, wants to build more of its hardware in country.

Under a new policy, it is inviting global military manufacturers to set up shop as minority partners in India.

It is banking on foreign companies to bring in new technology in the crucial defence sector, which imports 90 per cent of its equipment.

India has been investing tens of billions in updating its Soviet-era military hardware to counter long-standing territorial disputes with its nuclear-armed neighbours China and Pakistan.

The navy's ageing light-utility helicopter, the Chetak, is a licensed version of a French model built by India's Hindustan Aeronautics Limited since 1975.
Interestingly, Madhuri Dixit was supposed to play Anil Kapoor's wife in Zoya Akhtar's Dil Dhadkne Do, but later got replaced with Shefali Shah.

Mumbai: Indra Kumar has approached Madhuri Dixit Nene for the third franchise of the Dhamaal series, to play the romantic lead opposite Anil Kapoor. The film is the third in the installment of Dhamaal series. With Double Dhamaal having been released back in 2011, the two actors have been reported to be approached for third part, Total Dhamaal.

Total Dhamaal features Ajay Devgn, Riteish Deshmukh and Arshad Warsi as of now, who will start filming from early next year. Says a trade source, Indra Kumar approached Madhuri Dixit Nene a couple of months ago and is currently in talks with her. The negotiations are in the final stages."

If the actress gives her nod to the film, it will be her first movie after Gulaab Gang (2014), though she had made her appearances as a judge on various reality shows on television.

Anil Kapoor and Madhuri Dixit have worked together in several films like Dil, Raja, Ram Lakhan, Tezaab, Beta, Pukar. If they become a part of the cast, this will be their first movie together after a sixteen year gap.

With one of Bollywoods most popular comedy franchises ready to roll next year with such a top cast, Total Dhamaal seems a sure-shot family entertainer right now.
Shah Rukh Khan usally produces film he stars in, but made an exception for Sidharth Malhotra-Sonakshi Sinha starrer 'Ittefaq.'

Mumbai: Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan, co-producer of 'Ittefaq', claimed that the upcoming Bollywood thriller will be 'liked, loved and appreciated' for its content.

While talking to media at a press conference, the 51-year-old confessed thriller was one of his favourite genres.

"The important thing to know is, normally we make a lot of films, which are template driven. Most of them are similar," he said.

"But I think this film will be liked and loved and appreciated for the content, more than anything else. Not any less for the acting, obviously, or the direction. I think the content is really important for the film. The less spoken about it, more seen and presented would be better for 'Ittefaq'," the 'Raees' star added.

The movie stars Akshaye Khanna as a police officer, who is investigating a double murder case that has only two witnesses, who are also the prime suspects.

The suspects - Vikram (Sidharth Malhotra), an acclaimed writer and Maya (Sonakshi Sinha), a young homemaker, have different narratives about the events of that fateful night.

The film is slated to release on November 3.
Mumbai: Akshay Kumar could perhaps be called the pioneer in the trend of actors promoting films of their colleagues, having got many of them to record videos when his films are up for release.

Be it Rustom or the recent Toilet: Ek Prem Katha, his Brother Sidharth Malhotra has been one to oblige and Akshay had also returned the favour by shooting a special video for the former's A Gentleman.

But for his upcoming Ittefaq, Akshay has not just promoted the film, but gone one step ahead and also shared an important message.

In a video on Twitter, the actor revealed how, considering the murder mystery genre, it was important that fans should not reveal the suspense after watching the film. While urging fans, he also revealed that its possible that even he could be a murderer in the film.

He said, Friends, theres a film Ittefaq releasing on November 3, which is a vantage point murder mystery, a suspense thriller. Theres my brother Sidharth Malhotra, my heroine Sonakshi Sinha and my close friend Akshaye Khanna. I request you to please be careful about this film. While we should take care of every film, but this one especially because its a suspense film. After watching the film, please dont reveal who is the murderer, whether it is Sidharth Malhotra, Sonakshi Sinha or Akshaye Khanna, and its even possible that Im also there in the film and even I could be the murderer. So guys dont be a spoiler, dont give out the suspense.

Thanks a ton @akshaykumar for doing this! For requesting everyone to NOT reveal the spoilers!!! Thank you my friend....#IttefaqThisFriday pic.twitter.com/ryNCS8JBnQ  Karan Johar (@karanjohar) October 31, 2017

The team of the film have been on a no-spoiler campaign for the film with Shah Rukh Khan, Karan Johar and Sonakshi Sinha also posting videos to spread the message.

When you give out a spoiler, you become one! #SayNoToSpoilers and watch #IttefaqThisFriday pic.twitter.com/EJQ0Ax2FGL  Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) October 30, 2017

Itefaq, directed by Abhay Chopra, is a remake of the Yash Chopra 1969 film of the same name starring Rajesh Khanna and Nanda.
It looks like Tamil cinema is slowly welcoming ideas like adult comedies, live-in relationships, etc. which were once considered as taboos. After Mani Ratnams hit film O Kadhal Kanmani on live-in relationships created a stir, here is VZ Dhorais (who has worked with the likes of Ajith and Bharath) trying out a similar genre in his upcoming film A-Maali.

Though the story is kept under wraps, sources tell us that filmmaker-turned-actor Samuthirakani who gave bulk dates for the film will be seen in a strong role opting for a living in relationship. Giving him company is the Bengaluru girl Roshini. The source also reveals that there is an intrguing element to Kanis character.

Yet another interesting buzz we hear is that Athulya of Kadhal Kan Kattudhe fame who plays the lead heroine will be seen in a bold role.
According to the NGO, an estimated 3 million people are characterized by insecurity of wages, dangerous working conditions, and lack of access to any kind of welfare in todays society.

Mumbai: An NGO, Mumbai Mobile Creches (MMC) is all geared up to hold its first ever Health Exhibition at Mancherji Joshi Hall, Dadar, on November 7 and 8.

While all of us have a house to live and a space to stay, we tend to forget about the children whose parents are busy making our lives comfortable. And making our homes. According to the NGO, an estimated 3 million people are characterized by insecurity of wages, dangerous working conditions, and lack of access to any kind of welfare in todays society.

A 3D model made by children of MMC

While a number of NGOs across India are doing all they can to make lives of these often overlooked children fighting penury, Mumbai Mobile Creches, on its part, specialises in providing creche facilities for those needy children who face the brunt of construction sites, a dangerous place where often children are left to fend for themselves while their parents are fighting hard to make daily ends meet.

While MMC has been in operation since 1969, for the very first time they will hold a "Health through Art Exhibition" to create an awareness about the community of migrant construction workers.

MMC Health Exhibition installation

The theme of the exhibition will be "Health Lifescapes of Migrant Communities" which will rotate around topics such as environment (hygiene and sanitation), community participation, hand-washing, nutrition, immunization, and pregnant women.

Speaking about the event, Vrishali Pispati - Chief Executive, MMC, says, MMCs health exhibition will throw light on the vulnerability and health issues migrant communities living on construction sites and their children face by using art as a medium. There will be a combination of health related themes presented through various forms of art to gain public attention regarding issues on health of migrant communities. The focus will also be on communicating MMCs role in the well-being of migrant construction workers and their children.

Mumbai Mobile Creches specialises in providing creche facilities for those needy children who face the brunt of construction sites

According to Pispati, these children and the community are mostly unseen in the eyes of the public, the theme has been created with a focus towards dissolving that barrier and showcasing how MMC helps ameliorate life on a construction site.

Highlighting the issues faced by these children, 3D models installations will be on display for public viewing. These art works will depict their live before and after their introduction to MMC. These are made by teachers and Children of MMC with the help of Art experts.

Pispati further adds, We wish to create an awareness, realization and acknowledgement of the health issues of migrant construction workers in Mumbai and their children as well as MMCs role in their well-being.

MMC has been in operation since 1969

MMC has planned a fun way of engagement for all the visitors in the ways of different and unusual activities.

As for what next, Pispati concludes, Mumbai Mobile Creches' vision is for all children to have a nurturing and happy childhood.
Washington: Pregnant women who consume two to three servings of fish a week are as likely to protect their newborns from developing asthma, finds a recent study.

Researchers at the University of South Florida in Tampa, Florida, found that children whose mothers consume high-doses of Omega-3 fatty acids daily during the third trimester are less likely to develop such breathing problems. However, co-authors Richard Lockey and Chen Hsing Lin suggest pregnant women receive the same benefit following the Food and Drug Administration and Environmental Protection Agency's recommendation to consume 8-12 ounces (2-3 servings) of low mercury fish a week.

The team examined two studies. The New England Journal of Medicine study included 346 pregnant women in their 3d trimester who took omega-3 fatty acids daily and 349 who took a placebo. The investigators also divided the trial population into three groups based on their blood levels of omega-3 fatty acids.

The population with the lowest blood levels benefited the most from fish oil supplementation. The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology randomised pregnant women in their 3rd trimester into fish oil, placebo and "no oil" groups.

The fish oil group took omega-3 fatty acids daily as did the placebo (olive oil) group. The "no oil" group was informed of the trial proposal and therefore could consume fish oil or fish during the 3rd trimester if they chose to do so. The findings indicated that the fish oil and the "no oil" groups took less asthma medication as they aged to 24 years old, inferring both groups developed less asthma.

"Omega-3 fatty acids cannot be synthesized by humans and therefore are essential nutrients which are derived exclusively from marine sources," said Lin. "It may be premature to recommend daily high dose fish oil supplementation during the 3rd trimester," Lin added. "With almost equal to slightly higher cost, consuming 8-12 ounces (2-3 servings) of fish a week not only may attain the same asthma protection, but strengthens the nutritional benefits to infant growth and development," said Lockey.

The research appears in Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.
Eating alone often can cause various health issues, new study claims. (Photo: Pexels)

Risk of a metabolic syndrome is high for those who eat alone, a new study claims.

Researchers from Dongguk University Ilsan Hospital in Seoul, South Korea found men were especially at risk of developing health issues, according to a report by the Daily Mail.

For the study they examined the relationship between loneliness and health in 7,725 adult males and females, who all eat alone.

Men developed obesity by 45% and had a 64% chance of developing a metabolic syndrome, the study found. Women were 29% likely to develop a metabolic syndrome if they ate two or more meals alone daily.

Because a growing number of people live alone in this day and age, researchers wanted to understand how loneliness leads people to make unhealthy choices when it comes to food.

Feeling alone or isolated can cause someone to turn to junk food instead of a healthy meal previous research has indicated. This therefore causes many to develop prediabetes, high blood pressure and various other health issues.

The study was originally published in Obesity Research & Clinical Practice.
One cannot deny that the day dedicated to the dead has seen a number of sinister and often macabre occurrences. (Photo: AFP)

At least eight people were killed and around a dozen more seriously injured in a "particularly cowardly act of terrorism" after a rented truck ploughed through people on a bike path in lower Manhattan on Halloween.

While the act in itself is heinous, this is not the first time that murderous incidents have taken place on Halloween. While some might argue that it is perhaps just a coincidence, one cannot deny that the day dedicated to the dead has seen a number of sinister and often macabre occurrences.

We list 13 such stories of macabre murders that took place on Halloween.

Man kills girlfriend over missing bag of Halloween candy: The incident took place in Chicagos South Side in 2011 when a man, Ledell Peoples blames his girlfriend of stealing his bag of Halloween treats, and following an argument, stabbed his girlfriend Maria Adams multiple times, killing her. He was 55, and still fighting over Halloween candy.

Man confronts kids who shoot him dead, on Halloween: Computer programmer Karl Jackson was driving his girlfriend and her son home through South Bronx on Halloween in 1998, when his car was egged by a couple of kids. After a brief confrontation, he left the spot, only to be pursued by the kids who caught up with him a few blocks later and shot him in the head.

Seven-year-old shot dead while trick-or-treating: Another macabre incident from 1994, seven-year-old Tony Bagley was wearing a skeleton costume and trick-or-treating with his sister, mother, and aunt on the north side of Las Vegas when a man in a hooded sweat suit leaped out of nowhere and fired at the family before hopping in a getaway car, which peeled away with its lights off. Bullets hit Tonys sister in the liver, his aunt in the leg, and his mother in the chest, but they all survived. Tony did not. Tonys murder remains unsolved.

Man answers front door, is shot to death: A case from 1957, Peter Fabiano from Los Angeles was having marital issues that led to his wife Betty leaving the house briefly to live with a woman named Joan Rabel. After the couple had reconciled, she moved back leaving Rabel consumed with jealousy. She conspired with another woman, Goldyne Pizer, to murder Fabiano on Halloween, reasoning that it was the best night of the year to wear a mask without engendering suspicion. Rabel put together a costume for Pizer consisting of red gloves, face paint, and a mask. The pair sat for two hours outside the Fabiano residence on Halloween night waiting for the houses bedroom lights to be turned off. When the lights went out, Pizer walked up to the house and rang the doorbell. Fabiano answered, probably anticipating a late-night trick-or-treater. Pizer shot him dead in the chest.

Trick-or-treaters knock on mans door and he kills them with an AK-47: A 2008 case, convicted drug dealer Quentin Patrick of Sumter, SC heard a knock on his door. Assuming it was rival gang members, he grabbed his full-auto AK-47 and blasted at least 29 bullets through his front door at them. Eleven of those bullets hit 12-year-old trick-or-treater T. J. Darrisaw, killing him.

Preacher strangles woman to death, then dresses her son up for Halloween: John D. White became romantically involved with a female resident a few trailers down and would frequently babysit the womans three-year-old grandson. On Halloween night 2012while the three-year-old boy was in the trailerWhite knocked the boys mother out with a rubber mallet and strangled her to death with a plastic zip tie. He stuffed her in a garbage bag and dumped her in the woods. Then he returned to the trailer and dressed the boy in a Halloween costume, whereupon the boys father came by to pick him up. After being arrested for murder, White told police his crime was part of a lingering fantasy to have sex with a corpse, but that hed forgot whether or not he completed that act.

Teen allegedly rapes elderly nun and stabs her to death, on Halloween: In 1981 when Garrett was 17, a 76-year-old nun in Amarillo, TX was raped and stabbed to death in the early morning hours of Halloween. Garretts fingerprints were found on her headboard. In a statement that he refused to sign, police quote him as confessing to the murder: Garrett later denied murdering her and instead claimed to have burglarized the convent a few days before Halloween. Still, he was convicted of murder and sentenced to death. While later there were contradictory reports on the event, Garrett was still executed in 1992.

Man stabs and kills woman in Betty Boop costume: A drifter and self proclaimed ladies man, Jeremy Bryan Jones befriended a woman who allowed him to stay at her home. On Halloween night 2012, after dolling up the womans 12-year-old son and the boys friend in makeup so theyd resemble Ace Frehley and Gene Simmons of the rock group KISS, Jones went to a popular tavern in Douglasville, GA, where he stabbed a woman wearing a Betty Boop costume to death in the parking lot.

Man wearing Scream mask shoots and kills Brooklyn teen: A man wearing a ghost-face mask that resembled the killer in the movie Scream shot and killed 19-year-old Anthony Seaberry on the streets of Brooklyn, NY. The case remains unsolved.

Man rapes, tortures, and kills nine-year-old girl: Another one from 1973, nine-year-old Lisa French of Fond du Lac, WI dressed up as a hobo and went trick-or-treating. After she rang the doorbell of neighbor Gerald Turner, he took her into his house and shut the door behind her. He raped her, killed her, stuffed her body in a plastic bag, and dumped it in a field. Although he was convicted of her murder, he was later paroled and would go on to file a discrimination complaint when Waste Management of Madison refused to hire him.

Serial killer cuts girl into three pieces, buries her: The man, Richard Biegenwald had a childhood stuffed to the gills with beatings and trauma. Very early on, he also displayed psychotic behavior of his own. At five, he set fire to the family house and at nine, he received electroshock therapy. At eleven, he attempted to set himself on fire.

One of his estimated five murders occurred on Halloween night in 1981. Seventeen-year-old Maria Ciallella of Brick, NJ had been out trick-or-treating late at night. Shortly after midnight, a patrolman spotted her walking alone on Route 88 in the direction of her house. Around 10 minutes later he had turned around back to offer her a ride, but she was already gone. Her corpse was later found chopped into three pieces and buried in the yard of Biegenwalds mothers house on Staten Island.

Tool Box Killers torture a female hitchhiker to death while tape-recording it: Lawrence Bittaker and Roy Norris were known as the Tool Box Killers because they routinely employed implements such as pliers and hammers in their unconscionably vicious series of kidnap/rape/torture/murders of five teenage California girls in 1979. The last of these was that of 16-year-old Shirley Ledford who was picked up in their van, and over the course of hours, they bound and gagged her, smashed her elbow repeatedly with a hammer, sodomized her with pliers, and finally strangled her to death with a wire coat hanger before dumping her on a random front lawn. During the course of Ledfords murder, they tape-recorded themselves taunting her while she screamed for mercy.

Father poisons his son with Halloween candy: This old case from Texas involves a father who laced his sons Pixy Stix with cyanide with the intent of killing him for insurance money. It was 1974, and Ronald Clark O-Bryan fell so deeply in debt that he thought up this macabre way of clawing out.He purchased potassium cyanide, sprinkled it inside five Pixy Stix straws, crudely stapled them all shut, and handed them out to his son, daughter, and three other neighbourhood kids. To avoid suspicion, his plot was to kill them all and blame a neighbour.

11-year-old Timothy, apparently at his fathers urging swallowed the treats and was soon vomiting uncontrollably and was dead before reaching the hospital. OBryan was found guilty of murder and died via lethal injection. He is best remembered as The Candy Man and The Man Who Killed Halloween.
The historic Read House hotel is set to commence a $25 million rebirth and renovation in November. The phased renovation will allow the hotel to retain its status as the longest continuously operating hotel in the South. The Read House opened its doors in 1872 and has always welcomed guests every day since then.

The first phase of the renovation will focus on the historic Read House building while the Manor building, added in 1962, will remain open. We are excited to get started on this long overdue revival of one of Chattanoogas most well-known structures, said Jonathan Weitz, owner of Avocet Hospitality Group, which purchased the hotel in August of 2016. Everyone in Chattanooga has fond memories or a compelling story to tell when The Read House was the place to see and been seen. Our plan is to restore the hotel to its former greatness and bring back the feeling of the Roaring 20s with its opulence and grandeur. We want the people of Chattanooga to once again be proud of the hotel that has played such a large part in the history of the city."

The first phase of the renovation is slated to be complete by July or August of 2018.

Avocet Hospitality Group plans to completely start over with the guestrooms. We are removing everything from the guestroom floors and starting over. We could not provide the required guest experience using the current room configuration. Our guests deserve spacious modern bathrooms, the latest in technology, and new furnishings, said Mr. Weitz.

In addition to the guestrooms, all the public areas will be renovated and restored to their former greatness. Experts in plaster repair and skilled artisans are being retained to completely restore all the architectural and artistic details of famous The Silver Ballroom and the grand lobby ceiling. The Russian Walnut paneling in the lobby will be completely restored and re-varnished. The renovation will bring back elements of the original hotel built in 1872  including a lobby bar, a billiards room, and a library. In addition, a new restaurant will be built in the space currently occupied by Porters Steakhouse. The concept for the new restaurant is in development, and Avocet Hospitality will announce plans for this reimagined space as they emerge. The Green Room will return to the hotel as a meeting space.

In preparation for the renovation, Porters Restaurant will close after dinner service on Saturday Nov. 11. The historic portion of The Read House will close on Monday, Nov. 13. Guest staying in the Manor Building will continue to arrive in the valet parking area located on Broad Street. Given that the hotel consists of two separate buildings, guests staying in the Manor Building will not be impacted by the renovation. The recently renovated Starbucks located on Broad Street will also remain open during the renovation.

Regarding Room 311  the haunted room, Mr. Weitz explains, The room will remain in the exact location as it exists today. Our intent is to decorate this room with historically accurate furnishings and to have people experience it as we believe it looked in the 1920s. Guests will be able to book Room 311, but only by special request.

The updated design is a collaboration between Avocet Hospitality Group, Deborah Forrest of Dallas-based Forrest Perkins, and Rick Thompson of Chattanooga-based Artech Design Group. Construction will be completed by TU Parks Construction Co.

For more information, visit NewReadHouse.com.
Bengaluru: The CCTV footage of policemen beating up hotel staff in Khanapur and forcing them to open the shutters, well past midnight, has now gone viral on social media sites.

The police have ordered an investigation by an officer of DCP rank and the report will be submitted shortly.

The incident, which came to light on Tuesday, actually took place on October 21, around 1.20 am, while the Diwali festivities were still on.

Before this attack on Shantisagar Hotel staff, two groups had clashed at a bar nearby. But when the police arrived, all those involved had fled.

The police then beat up the hotel watchman, who was sleeping outside. They then got the shutters of the closed hotel open and assaulted the hotel staff asleep inside.

The police then arrested several staff members and took them to Khanapur police station.

In a complaint, hotel owner Sharat Kumar Shetty stated that the police officers did not provide any response regarding the assault and arrest of the hotel staff. He wanted stringent action against the guilty.

Meanwhile the Khanapur police also file a counter case against Shetty under various sections for assaulting them.

According to sources the police staff in Khanapur police station had resorted to similar attacks in the past, but no action was taken. This time also if they were caught on camera, they would have carried out a cover-up, they added.

They also alleged that several police personnel were regularly staying in the same hotel and enjoyed all facilities for free. Sometimes, police officials deputed on special duty also used to stay there without settling the bills.

Sources claimed that the police personnel have so far incurred a bill of more than Rs 2 lakh. Whenever the hotel owner asked the police officials to settle the bills, they used to resort to such clashes with the staff, they added.
Hyderabad: A girl student studying in Class 4 at Sujatha High School, Abids, was sexually assaulted by the school watchman for about a fortnight, according to the police.

The incident was reported to the police on October 26 by the childs mother, and came to light on Tuesday when the Abids police arrested the watchman, Kamal Bhan, 30, a native of Uttar Pradesh.

According to the police, the eight-year-old child complained to her parents on October 21 that the school watchman used to take her into the cellar during the lunch hour and grope her. When the girl protested, Kamal Bhan would threaten her against complaining to anyone. She mustered up the courage to tell her mother on October 26.

Based on the complaint, Abids police registered a case under the PoCSO Act and Section 376 (2), 354 (Assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 354A (Sexual assault) of IPC and arrested Kamal Bhan on Wednesday.
Citing TN Deputy CM OPS' meeting with Modi, Pugazhendhi claimed that it was 'evident' that the prime minister 'had a say' in the AIADMK issues. (Photo: File)

New Delhi: The AIADMK's Sasikala-Dhinakaran faction leader, V Pugazhendhi, on Wednesday accused the BJP of meddling in internal issues of his party and intimidating members of his camp.

He also said that they had doubts if the Election Commission will function independently in the symbol dispute case with the Palanisamy-Panneerselvam faction.

Citing Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam's meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Pugazhendhi claimed that it was "evident" that the prime minister "had a say" in the AIADMK issues.

"Tamil Nadu BJP leaders are threatening us in the name of raids. With support from the BJP, the ruling faction of AIADMK is pressuring us. I ask Prime Minister Modi why he was involved in the AIADMK affairs," Pugazhendhi said.

"We doubt if the Election Commission, though an independent body, will function independently in the symbol dispute case," he added.

Asked if his faction was trying to create a "false narrative" to conceal lack of support from party cadres in the symbol dispute case, Pugazhendhi claimed that they had facts to back their accusations.

"In a speech, Tamil Nadu minister K T Rajendra Balaji of EPS-OPS faction had said nobody can shake the AIADMK as long as Prime Minister Narendra Modi supported them. Also Panneerselvam had on many instances accepted that he discussed party issues with Modi," he said.

The AIADMK's Karnataka state secretary also hit out at rival faction leader V Maitreyan, accusing him of misleading the Centre and trying to show Sasikala faction in bad light.

"Recently Maitreyan has issued a memorandum seeking disqualification of three Rajya Sabha members belonging to our faction," he said.

"He was in the BJP earlier and because of that network, he is able to meet Union ministers frequently and pass on misleading information about our faction," Pugazhendhi alleged.
BENGALURU: Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB), which had in January set up two vigilance squads to act against illegal water connection, has detected 800 violations and registered 700 cases at the jurisdictional police stations for further action.

Sharing information about the raids, a senior BWSSB official said, "Through our unaccounted for water project we have successfully curbed illegal connections in the core areas. But we have lot to do on the city outskirts, because that is where the water board is losing lot of its rightful revenue."

Without the knowledge of our divisional engineers, people illegally divert water from our main lines. They even take the help of local plumbers to get the job done, he explained.

Another major area of concern is the tampering of water meters, he said. So to curb all these kind of illegalities, these two squads were set up.

These teams carry out surprise visits and check if there is any illegal connection or meter tampering. They also collect information from people and carry out raids based on tip offs.

Once an illegal connection is found, the offender is slapped with a notice. In addition, the water board has powers, under Section 108 of the BWSSB Act, 1964, to file criminal cases against the guilty, the senior BWSSB maintained.

Those who were served notices have the option of getting the connection regularised by paying a fine from the date the building got connection or face action, The ones who are not willing to regularise the connection, will be referred to the local police station, who will register an FIR, he explained.
Chennai: Shahid Arashad, 13, from a poor family in Pudukottai, survived fatal liver collapse, thanks to the benevolence of a surgeon and his hospital, but is now unsure of survival as the cost of post-operative maintenance of his transplanted organ is prohibitively expensive.

The son of a hotel worker, he was brought to the Fortis Hospital in Bengaluru in an unconscious state due to the rare Wilsons Disease that leads to rapid liver failure and requires quick transplant to save life. First taken to the CMC Hospital in Vellore, he was referred to Fortis due to lack of donors at CMC.

Shahids father Shahul Hameed was distraught at the boys condition, particularly since he had lost his wife and brother-in-law to the same Wilsons Disease.

He had exhausted all his resources and even sold the small property for settling the debts. I did not know what to do. It was almost like my boy was going the same way as my wife and brother-in-law, recalled Shahul. According to director of Centre of Hepatobilary Sciences and Liver Transplant, Dr Kapali Neelamekam, the child suffers from an inherited copper metabolism disease, which is known to have sudden and rapid liver failure.

Only a liver transplant can help to save the child who was already in a state of drowsiness, we had to act immediately and listed him for transplant of the liver. We started on plasmapheresis, an exchange transfusion using human albumin to bring down his deranged function. After the patient was brought to the hospital with deranged liver function test on October 9, we received a matching liver from a cadaver on 12th October. We performed the transplant and Shahid is recovering now, but he will be on follow up treatment and check up for at least three months, he added.

Though the transplant has been completed with aid from the hospital authorities that provided clearance for a nearly free treatment for the child, Shahids father is at lack of resources to provide follow up treatment required for his son.

The total cost of the surgery was Rs 30 lakh, but the hospital authorities had given high priority to my son and operated with only partial fees. But after having spent every single penny possessed, I fear not being able to bear the follow up treatment and medication charges that will cost around ` 5 lakh said Shahul Hameed, fighting back tears.
Tourism Minister KJ Alphons visited the Swiss couple when they were in the hospital. (Photo: Alphonstourism | Twitter)

New Delhi: A Swiss couple who were attacked at Fatehpur Sikri earlier in October have been offered a free two-night stay at a five-star hotel in the national capital as a "token of concern" by Tourism Minister KJ Alphons.

In a letter to the couple, Alphons offered to put them up at the government-run ITDC hotel, The Ashok, after they recovered from their injuries.

He said the couple, Marie Droze and Quentin Jeremy Clerc, can choose to stay at the hotel on the dates of their choice.

"Trust you are recovering fast and would be on your way home soon. As a token of our concern, we would like to offer you a room at our luxury hotel, The Ashok, at Chankyapuri, New Delhi for two nights on the dates of your choice. All expenses at the hotel, including food and beverages, would be covered," he said in the letter.

Set upon 25 acres of prime land in the capital's diplomatic area, The Ashok is situated 2 km from Rashtrapati Bhavan. The tariff per night is around Rs. 10,000.

The minister had earlier written to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath over the issue and also visited the couple, who are currently recovering at Apollo Hospital, Delhi, assuring them of help.

On October 22, the couple from Lausanne in Switzerland, were chased and attacked 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.

They later told the media that as they lay on the ground bloodied and bruised, bystanders began making videos of them on their mobile phones.
The man Kanhaiya Kumar, also known as Dr KK, posed as director in Prime Minister's Office. (Photo: PTI)

New Delhi: Delhi Police on Wednesday arrested a man, Kanhaiya Kumar, for posing as director in Prime Minister's Office (PMO). Kumar, who used Modi's room number (152) on his visiting card, mentioned the wrong phone number that led to his arrest.

Kumar, also known as Dr KK, was arrested by Delhi Police Special Cell for breaking into the Prime Ministers Office (PMO).

According to reports, Kumar would walk into government offices and would demand a priority appointment with the official by flashing his visiting card which had Modis room number as his address.

Kanhaiya Kumar used to take favours for the officials working under the bureaucrat he would meet.

Kumar drove an SUV that had a Government of India (GOI) sticker pasted to it.

Reports said that Kumar even asked the Central Vigilance Commissioner (CVC) to help an Indian Defence Accounts Services officer secure a preferential post. The CVC contacted PMO and confirmed his appointment in the office.

The Delhi Police was informed on October 17. He was arrested on Monday from Noida's sector 100 and has been taken on a 10-day remand.

The police are also investigating Kumars friend in Hyderabad who got the visiting cards printed.

Kumar has been charged with impersonation, forgery, criminal conspiracy and cheating.
Patel has refuted the charges and has written a letter to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, urging him to order an 'impartial' probe into the ISIS link row. (Photo:

Bharuch: Congress Rajya Sabha MP from Gujarat Ahmed Patel, while addressing a gathering in poll bound state of Gujarat, on Wednesday alleged that the terrorists arrested in Bhopal have links with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Patel's remark came days after Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani demanded the former's resignation from his post after a nabbed ISIS terrorist was learnt to be working in the hospital associated with him.

"If Ahmed Patel was a patron of hospital from where two suspected ISIS terrorists were arrested then should he be not held responsible," Rupani had said during a press briefing.

However, Patel has refuted the charges and has written a letter to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, urging him to order an 'impartial' probe into the ISIS link row.

October 25, the Gujarat anti-terrorism squad (ATS) arrested two suspected ISIS operatives -- Kasim Timberwala and Aabed Mirza -- ahead of the upcoming Assembly polls.

One of the nabbed terrorists Kasim was employed with a hospital, associated with Patel, as a technician.
Both universities are also hamstrung by the lack of faculty members. Getting faculty and other staff appointed is proving to be another hurdle for their officials, adding to their uncertainties.

After the division of Bengaluru University into three divisions on July 1, the Bengaluru Central University and the Bengaluru North University are yet to flourish because of the lack of promised funds that they are to receive from the state government. With both divisions running solely on the initial Rs 3 crore, their worries are set to increase as the new academic year approaches. Ralph Alex Arakal speaks to experts on whether the trifurcation of Bengaluru University has truly become a boon or a bane to education institutions all over Bengaluru.

It has been four months since the trifurcation of Bangalore University (BU) on July 1, but the newly formed Bangalore Central University (BCU) and Bangalore North University (BNU) are still waiting for the promised funds from the state government.

Both universities are currently running on the Rs 3 crore seed fund given to them by their parent university, but their demands are likely to grow with the start of the academic year nearing and worry is setting in about how they will get things done in time.

With as many as 233 colleges in its jurisdiction, the BCU had initially submitted a proposal for Rs 874 crore for its first four years. But in the absence of a response from the state government, it later submitted a revised proposal of Rs 194 crore in June this year, but has received no response to this as well.

BCU Vice-Chancellor, Prof. S. Japhet, says it has been doing its preparatory work using the seed money from its parent university. We are waiting for the next instalment, which will include the affiliation fee collected by the parent university during the last academic year to further our plans and begin the official processes necessary for the coming academic year, he adds. The colleges covered by the university are in the Shanthinagar, Byata rayanapura, Yelahanka, Malles waram, Hebbal, Shivajinagar, Gandhinagar, Chamarajpet, Chickpet, Basavanagudi, BTM Layout, Jayanagar and Rajajinagar Assembly constituencies of Bengaluru urban district,

Meanwhile, BNU, which will have its headquarters in Kolar and 224 colleges in its jurisdiction, has also submitted a proposal for Rs 355 crore to the government. While this was done in December last year , it is still waiting to receive the money and also for approval of 172 acres from the revenue department in Chickballapur.

The department of higher education has presented our proposal to the state cabinet. But we are still waiting for the initial funding of Rs 15 crore from the state government to provide the minimal infrastructure before the start of the next academic year, says Vice Chancellor, Prof. T.D. Kemparaju. The university will cover colleges in K.R Puram, C.V. Raman Nagar, Pulkeshi Nagar, Mahadevpura, Sarvagnanagara, Hosa kote, Devanahalli, and Doddaballapura in Bengaluru and in the assembly segments of Kolar and Chikkaballapur districts.

Both universities are also hamstrung by the lack of faculty members. Getting faculty and other staff appointed is proving another hurdle for their officials, adding to their uncertainties. An official of the higher education department, however, assures that Rs 10 crore has been sanctioned by the state government for both universities. The newly formed varsities will get an amount of `5 crore each , which will be channelled to them through the parent university as soon as possible, he promises.

BCU has still not received the final approval

The governments delay in transferring funds to the newly formed Bangalore Central University (BCU) and Bangalore North University (BNU) has heads of their affiliated colleges worried.

If the university is talking about being short of funds even before the affiliation process for the year is completed, things may become difficult once the academic year starts, says the principal of a college affiliated to the BCU, adding that the university should take into consideration the views of college principals to ensure transparency and efficiency in its functioning right from its inception.

BCU registrar, prof. C.M. Thyagaraja, however, assures that colleges dont need to worry about money matters as the university is up to the challenge. With funds coming in to us in the form of affiliation fee and examination fee, we should be able to manage with the resources we have, he claims.

Registrar (evaluation) of BNU, Prof. Sundar Raj Urs too says that the delay in funds from the government will only affect the timely completion of new buildings but not academic or other activities.

We are still waiting for the parent university to complete the option exercise to arrive at the exact number of employees we will need for our operations, he adds.

Prof Thyagaraja, for his part, reveals that the BCU has still not received the final approval for the Board of Studies (BOS), Board of Examinations (BOE), Academic Council and the Syndicate, which are equally important for its efficient functioning.

An official of the higher education department makes another revelation. The two new universities, have still not appointed the heads of their accounts departments to take care of transfer of money allocated for them in the state budget and other such important matters, he discloses.

A nascent university needs infrastructure, faculty: Dr SN Hegde, former VC, University of Mysore

Political decisions apart, a university should be established based on the report of an expert committee, which must spell out the need for it, its objectives, location, priorities, the funding required and so on to help the government finalise things before formally issuing the notification and appointing a Vice-Chancellor. I have no idea what the special officers did at the initial stages of these new universities.

A nascent university needs infrastructure, faculty, administrative missionary, preparation of a master plan, a road map for planned development, constitution of authorities, establishment of postgraduate departments of studies and research, preparation of curricula, and a host of other academic and supporting activities. Without adequate funds, at least Rs 50 crore in the first instance, it is difficult to lay a good foundation.

I have learnt that the government has funds for various social, religious and cultural programmes across the state. Therefore, the minister for higher education must use his good offices to get a substantial amount of money based on the identified requirements of these universities. In the past, Kuvempu, Music, Davangere and other varsities had support at the formative stages due to inadequacy of funds, faculty and other staff. Initial setback affects the development of a university significantly and it then takes years to resurrect it. In todays competitive world, poor university degrees are of no consequence.

As the government is a creator, it is both obligatory and mandatory that it extends full support, including financial, to help the new universities stabilise their academic endeavours.
At least 100 people have suffered injuries after a boiler exploded at the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC)'s plant in Raebareli. (Photo: PTI)

Lucknow: A massive explosion ripped a boiler in the state-run power giant NTPC's Unchahar plant in Uttar Pradesh's Rae Bareli district on Wednesday, killing at least sixteen people while scores suffered severe burn injuries, officials said.

The NTPC initiated a probe to ascertain the reasons behind the blast while Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced Rs 2 lakh compensation for the families of those killed and Rs 50,000 for the grievously injured, they added.

Sixteen persons have died while 90 to 100 were injured in the explosion at NTPC's Unchahar plant, UP's Principal Secretary (Home) Arvind Kumar said.

In a statement, the NTPC said that at around 1530 hrs at unit number six of its Unchahar plant, there was a sudden abnormal sound at 20 meters elevation.

There was an opening in corner number two from which hot flue gases and steam escaped affecting the people working around the area, the central public sector undertaking said.

It added that around 80 people were rushed to NTPC hospital, most of them were discharged after giving first-aid.

Union Power minister R K Singh, through social media posts, expressed deep anguish at the loss of lives and said that he had directed the NTPC Chairman and Managing Director Gurdeep Singh to rush to the site.

The Unchahar sub-division in Raebareli district is around 110 km from the state capital.

UP's ADG (Law and Order) Anand Kumar said that all available ambulances were pressed into action and the additional district magistrate and the additional superintendent of police were on the spot to supervise relief and rescue operations.

Chief Minister Adityanath, who was away in Mauritius on a three-day official visit, ordered that necessary steps be taken for rescue and relief.

The CM has taken cognisance of the Unchahar accident and has directed principal secretary (home) to ensure that all steps are taken for rescue and relief, principal secretary (information) Awanish Awasthi, who is accompanying Adityanath, said.

"The chief minister expressed his condolences over the deaths of workers in the Unchahar NTPC unit and announced Rs 2 lakh compensation for the family of those killed and Rs 50,000 for the grievously injured besides Rs 25,000 for other injured workers," Awasthi said.

A National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team was also despatched to the explosion site from the state capital for relief and rescue operations, an official said.

The explosion triggered panic among the employees who ran helter-skelter.

Such explosions can generate searing heat, an official said.

An injured employee undergoing treatment at a hospital said that a sudden gush of hot gas with contents of ash-like material engulfed him at the NTPC plant.

The man said he was unable to understand what had happened and found himself on a hospital bed with his body scalded all over, when he regained consciousness.

The plant area was cordoned off by the police to facilitate smooth running of ambulances.

Congress president Sonia Gandhi expressed shock and horror at the "terrible tragedy" in her Lok Sabha constituency Raebareli. Conveying her deepest condolences to the families of the bereaved, Gandhi urged upon the authorities to provide immediate medical assistance to the injured.

District Magistrate Sanjay Kumar Khatri said that 40 ambulances were immediately pressed into service.

Chief Medical Officer, Raebareli, DK Singh along with a team of ten doctors were deployed to carry out immediate treatment to the injured, he said.

He also said that arrangements have been made to bring the serious cases to KGMU hospital and Civil hospital in Lucknow. Some of the injured were being sent to Raebareli, Khatri said.

CMO Singh said that if necessary some of the critical cases could be referred to Delhi by air ambulance.
Tennessee Health Commissioner John Dreyzehner, MD, MPH joined other state and local officials at the Tennessee State Capitol Tuesday to announce the first BEST for Babies awards to celebrate hospital efforts to reduce infant deaths and give babies and their families the best possible start. Erlanger  Baroness Hospital and Tennova Healthcare  Cleveland were among seven hospitals being honored.

TDH has partnered with Tennessee birthing hospitals since 2014 to promote safe sleep practices for infants. The BEST for Babies award is the next step forward in helping give Tennessee babies a great start to life.

We are pleased and grateful to continue partnering with the Tennessee Hospital Association and birthing hospitals across our state in this initiative, said Commissioner Dreyzehner. These awards recognize our partners dedication and success as they strive to ensure Tennessee hospitals are the BEST places for babies to be born."

The BEST award stands for breastfeeding, early elective delivery reduction and safe sleep for Tennessee babies. Hospitals must meet the following criteria to receive the award:

Breastfeeding  an increase of five percent in newborn breastfeeding initiation rates from 2015 to 2016, or a minimum breastfeeding initiation rate of 90 percent in 2016

Early elective delivery  hospitals should have early elective delivery rates at or lower than five percent for 2016

Safe sleep  hospitals must have received Cribs for Kids national safe sleep certification at a minimum of bronze level, submitted the TDH annual safe sleep hospital policy report for 2016 and demonstrate a minimum of 90 percent of cribs as safe in crib audits in the 2016 report

The criteria for the BEST recognition are challenging but not impossible, said Tennessee Hospital Association Quality Improvement Specialist Jackie Moreland, RN, BSN, MS. We encourage all birthing hospitals to continue to meet the BEST criteria.



Commissioner Dreyzehner recognized seven Tennessee birthing hospitals with BEST recognition on Tuesday:

Erlanger  Baroness Hospital, Chattanooga



Hardin Medical Center, Savannah



Indian Path Medical Center, Kingsport



Laughlin Memorial Hospital, Greeneville



Northcrest Medical Center, Springfield



Saint Thomas Midtown Hospital, Nashville



Tennova Healthcare  Cleveland, Cleveland

The BEST award will be given annually to qualifying hospitals.

TDH partnerships with birthing hospitals are an important factor in the success of improving benchmarks for infant health. Breastfeeding rates in Tennessee have increased from 67 percent of infants in 2010 to nearly 80 percent in 2016. Babies are not fully developed until they reach at least 39 weeks of pregnancy. Thanks to the efforts of clinicians and hospitals, rates of babies electively delivered before 39 weeks have plummeted from more than 13 percent of Tennessee births in 2012 to consistently less than two percent through 2016.

"The BEST recognition is an important part of our ongoing work to prevent infant deaths, said TDH Assistant Commissioner for Family Health and Wellness Morgan McDonald, MD. Hospitals and their staff members are invaluable partners in modeling the best standard of care for babies and helping give Tennessee newborns the best start in life.

Learn more about the BEST for Babies Award at www.tn.gov/assets/entities/health/attachments/BEST_for_Babies_Award_applicaton_-_updated.pdf.




Siddaramaiah was speaking at the 62nd Karnataka Rajyotsava celebrated in Bengaluru's Kanteerava stadium. (File photo)

Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday said that people living in Karnataka should learn Kannada and emphasised that not knowing the regional language would mean showing disrespect to it.

Siddaramaiah was speaking at the 62nd Karnataka Rajyotsava celebrated in Bengaluru's Kanteerava stadium.

"Everyone who lives here is a Kannadiga. Whoever lives in Karnataka should learn Kannada and make their children learn it too," Siddaramaiah said. "I am not against learning any language. But if you don't learn Kannada, it means you're showing disrespect to the language," he added.

The chief minister also asked the Kannadigas to be more affectionate towards their state's language.

Focusing on preservation of Kannada language, the Chief Minister called for efforts towards creating an atmosphere for learning Kannada and said all schools in the state should teach Kannada.

The chief minister informed that Karnataka did not succeed in making Kannada a priority in the last 60 years.
Children take part in a cultural programme on the occasion of 62nd Karnataka Rajyotsava celebrations at Shree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru on Wednesday. (Photo: DC)

Bengaluru: Making an aggressive pitch for Kannada in what is considered a populist move ahead of Assembly polls, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah spoke up about primacy for regional languages as medium of instruction in primary education and urged non-Kannadigas to learn the local language as well.

They have to get adjusted to local culture, and should learn the local language. It is the responsibility of native Kannadigas to teach outsiders the local language, he said during his address at Kanteerava Stadium here on the occasion of Kannada Rajyotsava on Wednesday.

Mr Siddaramaiah said he would write yet again to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to introduce an amendment to the Constitution to accord primacy to regional languages. Parents long for their children to study in English, which is not a good tendency. Learning in mother tongue makes a subject easy to understand. Sir M. Visvesvaraya became a world-renowned engineer by learning the subject in Kannada and (Bharat Ratna recipient) C.N.R. Rao too earned prominence in science by learning the subject in Kannada, he added.

Earlier, Mr Siddaramaiah delivered a radio address in which he reaffirmed his commitment to protect the interests of the state.

President of Kannada Sahitya Parishath, Manu Baligar, who hoisted the flag, said, People who do not respect Kannada language and the state, are free to leave. We should learn to respect the culture and language of the state we reside in. Besides, Kannadigas should use the language in their daily activities. There are several companies from foreign countries operating in the state and the government should bring in a law to provide jobs for the local people first, he added.
Telangana State Road Transport Corporation conductor from Nizamabad-I depot launched a campaign against the government during the Singareni elections stating that the government will cheat Singareni workers as it did not keep its promise made to RTC workers. (Representational image)

Hyderabad: D Sanjeev, conductor of the Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC), was suspended from service for posting comments on social media against the state government and the Chief Minister.

The conductor from Nizamabad-I depot launched a campaign against the government during the Singareni elections stating that the government will cheat Singareni workers as it did not keep its promise made to RTC workers. He also criticised Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao. In his Facebook and WhatsApp posts he flayed the government.

Based on a report by the manager, the vigilance and security officer of the Karimnagar zone conducted a probe and submitted a report, stating that the conductor misguided the public and criticised the Chief Minister. Following the report, the depot manager on Monday issued the suspension order. Opposing the decision of the management, Bahujan Workers Union of TSRTC has given a call to all workers and employees to attend duties wearing black badges on Thursday.
Lucknow: 20 persons were killed and over 100 injured when a pipe connected to a boiler exploded in the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) unit in Rae Bareli on Wednesday evening.

Most of the victims were labourers working at the plant. ADG (law and order) Anand Kumar confirmed that 16 bodies had been retrieved and rescue operations were on. The death toll could go up as search operations are still gong on.

Four managers of the plant have also been injured. The plant has been shut down after the accident.

Soon after the accident occurred, the NTPC gates were closed and mediapersons were not allowed entry.

Personnel of the CRPF were deployed in large numbers on the NTPC campus.

The injured labourers were taken to the NTPC hospital for treatment. Those with serious injuries were being brought to Lucknow.

NTPC ash pipe exploded under high pressure

According to reports, a massive fire broke out inside and a huge ball of dust rose after the explosion making rescue operations difficult.

There was no official statement on the incident but sources said that there were about 150 laborers working in the shift when the mishap took place.

Sources said that the explosion took place in a boiler which is filled with water in tubes that are heated. This creates steam which moves the turbines and generates electricity.

A district official said that the ash pipe exploded due to pressure. UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who is presently in Mauritius, has directed principal secretary Home to ensure all steps for relief and rescue at the accident. He also announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh each to the kin of the deceased and Rs 50,000 each for those seriously injured. Senior officials, including medical teams, reached the site of the accident to supervise rescue operations.
Chennai: The callous attitude of authorities led to the deaths of two young girls in Chennai on Wednesday when two girls, both aged 8, got electrocuted as they stepped on a live wire that had been submerged under stagnant rainwater in Kodungaiyur.

The girls were identified as P. Bhavana and M Yuvashri, residents of F Block in RR Nagar. They were class 3 students at a government school in the neighbourhood.

Owing to a school holiday due to heavy rains, the girls were playing on the streets outside their homes on Wednesday afternoon when the incident happened. Another eight-year-old girl had a close shave as she managed to jump onto a cement slab.

Akshaya, the eight year old who watched her friends swoon in the water told mediapersons that she was playing with the duo when she noticed them falling into the water. "I became afraid and jumped onto a slab nearby. I fainted in a while", Akshaya said.

A few residents who noticed the incident rushed to the aid of the children only to find out that they had been electrocuted. Power supply was cut off and the children were moved to a hospital nearby where they were declared brought

dead.

On Wednesday, flat owners who saw water entering their parking lots in PTC colony moved their cars out a safe distance away and began clearing things from the ground floor. The situation of around 600 families in Goodwill Nagar is equally bad, said Karunkara Pandian, secretary, Goodwill Nagar Residents welfare association.

Anjugam Nagar in Tambaram is already flooded and people have been evacuated.

The heavy rains in Kancheepuram district for the third consecutive day also increased the flow of water in Aadhanur and Paapan Canal and there is a breach in Aadhanur canal and if this not attended, there is every possibility of the repeat of 2015 flash floods, Mr Pandian cautioned.

Except the untoward death of two children in north Chennai due to electrocution, the situation is very much under control. We are attending the monsoon issues on war footing and if there are no rains tonight the city will be normal by Thursday noon, a senior state official told DC.

We are ready with the trained state disaster response force personnel and the situation is being monitored. So far there is no need for evacuations. Special officers and collectors are on the field speeding up the official machinery, commissioner of disaster management K Satyagopal said.

Lakes are under surveillance and the desilting of water bodies has helped us to store 1.75 TMC of storm water, the official said.

Arterial roads connecting Chennai with Tiruvallur and Kancheepuram also witnessed crawling traffic due to potholes and waterlogging. Chennai Central, Saidapet, OMR, Egmore and Kodambakkam witnessed traffic snarls.

Vyasarpadi, Perambur, Choolai and Otteri in North Chennai continued to suffer waterlogging and medical camps were set up by the corporation but there is no much improvement as water is not receding, said social activist V. Sathiabalan.
They asked them to come sit with them and offered them aerated drinks spiked with alcohol saying that it was apple juice.

Visakhapatnam: A cook working at the Integrated Hostel of Backward Classes in Cheepuripalle in Vizianagaram district, and his assistant, deceived three minor students into consuming alcohol.

Though the incident occurred on Sunday evening, it only came to light on Tuesday night. Cook A. Ramulu and his assistant K. Simhadri were drinking at the hostel on Sunday evening when they spotted the students playing in front of the hostel.

They asked them to come sit with them and offered them aerated drinks spiked with alcohol saying that it was apple juice. The students, all of whom were below the age of 11, believed them and consumed the drink.

Soon after that the boys began vomiting and felt unwell. According to sources, the cook and his assistant warned the students not to tell anyone about the incident, but one of the boys who suffered from a headache and pain in his stomach, narrated the episode to his teachers.

Upon learning about the incident, parenrs of the students went to the hostel on Tuesday and filed a complaint against the cook and his assistant with the BC Welfare Department.

District BC Welfare Officer Kushboo Kothari said that the cook, his assistant and three wardens of the hostel had been suspended in relation to the incident.

Some students of the hostel, on condition of anonymity, said that the cook and his assistant were often inebriated while discharging their duties and that they ended up ignoring the wardens instructions and ruining the meals they were preparing.
Bengaluru: Sensing trouble during Tipu Jayanti celebrations on November 10, the Kodagu district administration has prohibited BJPs Nava Karnataka Parivarthana Yatras entry into the picturesque district, triggering criticism from leaders of the state unit of the party.

Flaying the state government for its decision to prevent the entry into Kodagu district and thus make a detour to enter Dakshina Kannada district on November 9, general secretary and co-in charge of the Yatra, Shobha Karandlaje, MP, told the media: We had requested the Kodagu district administration for permission to conduct public meeting in Madikeri, but officers have refused to grant permission. With no option left we have skipped Kodagu and decided to halt in Sullia taluk, she added.

State unit president, B.S.Yeddyurappa, said, all arrangements are in place to kick start the Yatra on November 2 by party president Amit Shah in Bengaluru. Over three lakh party workers would attend the rally at International Exhibition ground, he added.

Mr Yeddyurappa said, Mr Siddaramaiahs statement that the PM was afraid of him is the joke of the year.
The lone wolf terror attack on a bicycle path by the Hudson river in New Yorks Manhattan will intensify the political debate over immigration and security in the United States. America was subjected to its first European-style attack in which an ISIS-inspired terrorist drives a vehicle through a street running over people, as seen earlier in France, Britain, Germany, Sweden and Spain. As irony would have it, this Uzbek-born terror acolyte managed to kill five Argentinians and a Belgian visiting New York among his eight victims. The ISIS may have been soundly defeated in Iraq, driven out of their last bastions of Mosul and Raqqa, but those indoctrinated by the caliphate will continue such attacks, particularly against the West. The price of freedom is eternal vigilance, and society must find ways to cope with the anxieties of those attacked while just going about their daily activities.

Islamist attacks arent the only type of terror to hit the United States, whose gun laws are so lax that it takes only a brief loss of mental balance over an itchy trigger finger to rain death on people, as Las Vegas showed recently. The Trump administration has decided to tighten immigrant screening in its extreme vetting programme, with Donald Trump tweeting: Being politically correct is fine, but not for this!

Each Islamist terror attack will only harden President Trumps stand. While fighting terrorism, there cant be any compromises, even if it means some peaceful refugees from the killing fields of West Asia are denied their dream of reaching the land of opportunity. One can only sympathise with the innocent who are killed amid this pointless rage against humanity.
Its time to look afresh at regional autonomy

Devender Singh Rana

The interlocutors role is futile if the Centre is unwilling to discuss autonomy for J&K.

Jammu and Kashmir is at the crossroads of history. The idea of J&K is under threat. The pluralistic ethos of the state is being challenged and there is an attempt to demolish the identity of the state and its people. The people of all the three regions of the state are in a state of quandary. A sense of uncertainty is prevailing because one size fits all cant work in J&K.

The last three years have seen variegated policies on dealing with J&K. The rhetoric that there is no issue like the Kashmir issue or the Kashmir issue is settled only exposes the political naivety of those who say it. The issue exists and has political overtones. Sagacity is the need of the hour.

The statesman like statement of Prime Minister Narendra Modi from the ramparts of the Red Fort  Na goli se na gali se baat banegi gale lagane se  has generated hope. The missive was followed by home minister Rajnath Singhs visit, and his five Cs formula seemed to be an extension of that fresh narrative.

Everybody wants the PMs statement to fructify on the ground so that peace returns to J&K and acts as a salve to bruised minds and bodies.

The recent announcement on the appointment of a new interlocutor seems to be an extension of the same call. Dineshwar Sharma has been asked to talk to all stakeholders, which received a jaded response for its wash, rinse, repeat feel, though. It still can be termed a tiny flicker in an otherwise dark alley, notwithstanding confusing signals emerging from various quarters of the government about his role. Much is at stake for this step to be a day late and a dollar short. Mr Sharma must talk, and talk to one and all, so that there is a palpable element of sincerity in finding a lasting solution to J&K.

The National Conferences Autonomy Report, passed by both Houses of the state legislature in 2000, puts forward a roadmap for a solution to the Kashmir imbroglio.

The party goes a step further and walks the talk by saying that if there is a solution better than the solution offered in the autonomy report, which is acceptable to all stakeholders in J&K, meets their aspirations and urges, the party will embrace that solution.

However, it is unfortunate and dispiriting that while the restoration of autonomy is only seeking what is guaranteed to the state by the Constitution of India through Article 370, it is now being termed as subversive and separatist. Article 370 in fact puts into the constitutional framework the accession of J&K to the country, as per the Instrument of Accession signed by Maharaja Hari Singh on October 26, 1947. A majority of people in the state feel that the constitutional guarantee provided to them has been gradually eroded in a bid to crush their identity and their aspirations.

The demand for autonomy cant be termed as illegitimate, but should be discussed threadbare. In the last three years, while there has been an deliberate attempt to make J&K a theatre of politics for the rest of the country, the hardliners have got well entrenched, leading to an ugly communal, regional divide.

There is an immediate need to address the aspirations within the state as well and therefore, the time to look afresh at regional autonomy for providing succour, sense of self-importance and self-worth, under the all-engulfing umbrella of the state. Else the virtual trifurcation may become more a reality than a myth, which will have dangerous connotations for the state and the country.

The writer is an MLA and National Conference provincial president for the Jammu region

The mandate given to Sharma has raised hopes

Harish Khurana

The Narendra Modi government on Monday announced it would start a sustained dialogue process with all stakeholders, including separatists, and appointed former Intelligence Bureau director Dineshwar Sharma as its special representative.

Home minister Rajnath Singh said the move was to carry forward the the conviction and consistency in the governments Kashmir policy. We have decided that a sustained dialogue process should begin in Jammu and Kashmir.

The home minister said Mr Sharma, who would hold the rank of a Cabinet Secretary, would have complete independence in deciding whom to hold talks with, indicating that talks with separatist leaders were also possible. He was replying to a question on whether Mr Sharma would hold discussions with the Hurriyat Conference.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had talked to all political parties as to what could be done to find a solution to the Kashmir problem. People told us that the dialogue process should be started. We are doing this, the home minister said, and recalled the Prime Ministers August 15 speech, which said: Neither by bullet, nor by abuses but by embracing the people we can solve the problems in Jammu and Kashmir.

The measure is significant because the BJP government at the Centre had constantly maintained a tough line on opening peace talks with separatists in Kashmir, particularly after the 2016 unrest that left over 100 civilians dead. The Congress on Monday termed the development as an admission of a blunder by the Modi government and of the failure of its muscular approach.

Mr Sharma has his work cut out. The ink hadnt even dried on the order appointing him when a political skirmish broke out between the Congress and the BJP. The core issue is an old one  autonomy.

The statement by a former Congress minister that many seeking azaadi or independence were actually seeking autonomy raised the hackles of the BJP which termed such utterances anti-national.

The National Conference, which hasnt held a so-called delegates meeting in 15 years decided to do so and released a statement supporting more autonomy for Kashmir.

Still the governments response, which seems to suggest its opposition to calls for more autonomy, does have the potential to hobble Mr Sharmas efforts.

It would have perhaps done well to hold its counsel and watch Mr Sharmas progress in engaging with all stakeholders.

The atmosphere has so far been conducive to Mr Sharmas mission. Violence in the Valley has reduced (relatively at least) and the Army has been very successful in thwarting terrorists. And the home minister has made it clear that Mr Sharma is free to engage with whoever he wants to, indicating an openness to talk with hardline separatist groups.

Issues related to national and internal security are non-negotiable, but other issues, specially those related to the daily lives of various sections of Kashmiri society, are not.

Mr Sharma isnt the first interlocutor appointed by a government keen on solving the Kashmir problem. The mandate given to Mr Sharma has raised fresh hopes that some progress can be made, despite the fact that reports of other interlocutors have remained largely unimplemented. Lets hope the recent political slugfest hasnt hurt them.

The writer is a Delhi BJP spokesperson
The tour included giving more than three dozen reporters rides in Chrysler Pacifica minivans traveling through faux neighborhoods and expressways that Waymo has built on a former Air Force base located in the Californian Central Valley city of Atwater.

Google's self-driving car spin-off is accelerating efforts to convince the public that its technology is almost ready to safely transport people without any human assistance at all.

Waymo, hatched from a Google project started eight years ago, showed off its progress Monday during a rare peek at a closely guarded testing facility located 120 miles (193 kilometers) southeast of San Francisco. That's where its robots complete their equivalent of driver's education.

The tour included giving more than three dozen reporters rides in Chrysler Pacifica minivans traveling through faux neighborhoods and expressways that Waymo has built on a former Air Force base located in the Californian Central Valley city of Atwater.

The minivans smoothly cruised the roads - driver's seat empty and passengers in the back - at speeds of up to 35 mph (56 kph). By contrast, the Waymo-powered minivans that have been driving volunteer riders in the Phoenix area still use safety drivers to take over control if something goes wrong.

But Waymo's real goal is to get to the point where people in cars are nothing but passengers.

Waymo CEO John Krafcik told reporters that the company will be making some cars and freight trucks totally driverless fairly soon, though he didn't provide a specific timetable. "We are really close," he said. "We are going to do it when we feel like we are ready."

Since Google began working on self-driving cars in 2009, dozens of established automakers such as General Motors and Ford Motors have entered the race, along with other big technology companies, including Apple and ride-hailing service Uber. The competition is so fierce and the stakes so high that Waymo is currently suing Uber, alleging that one of its former managers stole its trade secrets and took them with him when he joined Uber in 2016 as part of an elaborate scheme. The trial in that high-profile case is scheduled to begin in early December.

Waymo is hoping to infuse its technology into ride-hailing services such as its current partner, Lyft, and big-rig trucking companies. It also intends to license its automated system to automakers such as Fiat Chrysler Automobile, which is already using it in 100 Pacifica minivans.

Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter.
Man Charged With Killing Mom, Dumping Her Dismembered Body In Lincoln Park Lagoon

By Stephen Gossett in News on Oct 31, 2017 10:20PM



Brian Peck / Elgin Police Department Prosecutors reportedly said Brian M. Peck told investigators he killed his mother after a confrontation boiled over when she said he was playing Jimi Hendrix too loud.

Brian Peck faces two counts of first-degree murder and one count of concealment of a homicidal death in the death of his mother, Gail Peck, 76, Elgin police announced on Tuesday.

Human remains were discovered inside two duffel bags in the Lincoln Park Lagoon on Saturday morning after a fisherman called authorities, according to Chicago police. The police department began working with Elgin detectives after Peck's disappearance was reported "as to the possibility that the body found was Gail Peck."

"Evidence that the body was that of Gail Peck was obtained after thorough research by investigators, and DNA testing is also currently being conducted to verify this evidence," Elgin police said in a release on Tuesday.

Brian Peck was the one who reported his mother missing, on Friday afternoon, according to Elgin police. Peck told police that his mother went for a walk with her dog. The dog returned home, but she did not, Peck reported, according to police.

Prosecutors reportedly said that Gail Peck was killed on Wednesday.

Brian Peck told authorities that his mom pulled out a military knife during an argument after she complained that his music was too loud, prosecutors said at a bond hearing on Tuesday, according to the Courier-News. He said he then kicked out his mother's legs and stomped on her legs and neck, prosecutors reportedly said.

Brian Peck pleaded guilty to domestic battery last year after his mother said her son punched her in the face and tried to choke her, according to the Courier News.

Peck was ordered held without bail on Tuesday.
Authorities stand near a damaged Home Depot truck after a motorist drove onto a bike path near the World Trade Center memorial, striking and killing several people Tuesday. (Photo: AP)

Washington: In the aftermath of the first deadly attack in New York blamed on terror since the September 11, 2001, carnage in the city, President Donald Trump said on Tuesday he had ordered more robust "extreme vetting" of travellers coming into the United States.

At least eight people were killed and 11 other injured in Lower Manhattan Tuesday after a gunman in a truck plowed through a busy bike path, an incident the US termed as an "act of terrorism".

The suspect, 29-year-old Sayfullo Saipov said to be from Uzbekistan, was shot in the stomach before being arrested.

"I have just ordered Homeland Security to step up our already Extreme Vetting Program. Being politically correct is fine, but not for this!" Trump tweeted.

His administration announced last week that it would resume accepting refugees after a 120-day ban, though arrivals from 11 "high-risk" countries, most of them home to Muslim majorities, will still be blocked.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims of Tuesdays terrorist attack in New York City and their families," Trump had said in a statement after the attack.

Earlier, the US president took to Twitter to decry the attack, saying "we must not allow ISIS to return".

"In NYC, looks like another attack by a very sick and deranged person. Law enforcement is following this closely. NOT IN THE U.S.A.!" Trump tweeted.

"We must not allow ISIS to return, or enter, our country after defeating them in the Middle East and elsewhere. Enough!" he said in another tweet.

Police find handwritten note in attacker's truck

Two law enforcement officials say a note was recovered inside the truck that barrelled down a bike path near the World Trade Center, killing eight people.

One official says the note was hand-written in a foreign language, possibly Arabic. The contents are being investigated, but the officials say the document supported the belief the act was terrorism.

The officials weren't authorized to speak publicly about an ongoing investigation and spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity.

Police say the truck's driver turned onto the bike path Tuesday afternoon, striking several people before plowing into a school bus. Officials say he got out of the truck waving a pellet gun and a paint gun and was shot by a police officer. He's in critical condition after surgery.

Police investigating a rented Home Depot truck's deadly rampage down a bike path near New York's World Trade Center have surrounded a white Toyota minivan with Florida plates parked in a New Jersey Home Depot lot.

The van is parked near the company's rental trucks. Officials tell The Associated Press the man suspected of killing eight people and injuring 11 more on the bike path rented a truck from a Home Depot in New Jersey about an hour before Tuesday's attack.

The man was shot by a police officer and is in custody in critical condition.

The Passaic (puh-SAY'-ihk) Home Depot remains open. The minivan is cordoned off.

Home Depot spokesman Matthew Harrigan says the company is "fully cooperating" with law enforcement. He says the company requires a driver's license, insurance information and a credit card deposit to rent a truck.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (KWOH'-moh) has increased security at airports, bridges, tunnels and mass transit systems around the state following a vehicle attack on a bike path near the World Trade Center.

The Democratic governor has directed the lights on the spire of 1 World Trade Center be lit in red, white and blue in honor of freedom and democracy. He says additional security personnel are being deployed to high-density areas and large public gatherings.

Eight people were killed and 11 were injured when a man drove a rented truck down a bike path Tuesday afternoon. Police say they shot and wounded the attacker but he's expected to survive.

A US official familiar with the investigation into what happened says the man is from Uzbekistan and came to the US in 2010. Another official says the man has a Florida license but may have been staying in New Jersey.
The 29-year-old suspect was shot in the stomach by a police officer before being arrested. (Photo: AFP)

New York: An Uzbek man shouting 'God is great' ploughed a pickup truck down a crowded bike path near the World Trade Centre in New York on Wednesday, killing at least eight people and injuring 11 others in an ISIS-inspired plot termed as the deadliest terrorist attack on the city since 9/11.

The 29-year-old suspect was shot in the stomach by a police officer before being arrested. The media named the Uzbek man as Sayfullo Saipov, an immigrant who came to the US in 2010.

The incident took place along the normally gridlocked West Side Highway, a major thoroughfare that runs along the western edge of Manhattan by the Hudson River as Americans celebrated Halloween. Manhattan is the most densely populated borough of the New York City.

The attacker left nearly a half km crime scene - a tree-lined bike path strewn with mangled bicycles and their parts.

Police said the truck drove south after entering a pedestrian and bicycle path, where it struck multiple people.

Six men were pronounced dead at the scene on the cycle lane and two other people were dead on arrival at the hospital.

The victims included five Argentinians and a Belgian citizen.

After smashing the truck into a school bus, injuring two adults and two children, the suspect exited the truck displaying "imitation firearms" and was shot by police, according to the New York Police Department (NYPD).

"I heard a truck, a car, something going down the bike path," said witness Eugene Duffy, 44, who was waiting at a red light to walk across West Street.

The driver shouted 'Allahu Akbar' (God is great) after getting out of the vehicle, New York Post reported.

A note in English was found in the truck that referred to the Islamic State terror group, media reports said.

A pellet gun and a paintball gun were recovered from the scene, officials said.

At lease 11 people were transported to the hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries, according to New York Fire Commissioner Daniel Nigro.

A spokesman for Home Depot confirmed one of the company's rental trucks was part of an incident in lower Manhattan and said the company is "cooperating with authorities" in the investigation.

The suspect, who hails from Paterson New Jersey, had multiple interactions with law enforcement in several states, online records show. Saipov had traffic citations issued in Missouri and Pennsylvania.

Authorities said the suspect was hospitalised, underwent surgery and was expected to survive.

New York City mayor Bill de Blasio said the incident was being treated as an act of terror, "a particularly cowardly act of terror".

US President Donald Trump denounced the attack, saying "we must not allow ISIS to return".

"In NYC, looks like another attack by a very sick and deranged person. Law enforcement is following this closely. NOT IN THE U.S.A.!" Trump tweeted.

Trump also said he had ordered more robust "extreme vetting" of travellers coming into the US.

The US Justice Department said in a statement that a joint terrorism task force that included the FBI, the NYPD and others was investigating the attack.

An Uber spokeswoman said Saipov also drove for the popular ride sharing-company, which is cooperating with authorities.

The One World Trade Center, the main building of the rebuilt World Trade Center complex destroyed during the September 11, 2001 terror attack, was lit in red, white and blue in honour of freedom and democracy.

New York has been largely spared from terrorism since nearly 3,000 people were killed in the 9/11 attack.

The most recent violence from terrorism there came in September 2016, when a man set off shrapnel-packed explosives in the Chelsea neighbourhood of Manhattan. Nobody was killed, but 30 people were injured.

Trucks have become a common weapon for terrorists in recent years, with the ISIS encouraging its followers to use them in carrying out deadly attacks.

In July 2016, as thousands of people crammed into the streets of Nice, France, for a Bastille Day celebration, an assailant influenced by the Islamic State drove a 19-tonne cargo truck into a crowd, leaving 86 dead and 434 injured.

In December, a man with ties to Islamic State drove a 27-tonne truck into a Christmas market in Berlin, killing 12 people and injuring 56 others.

Three months later, a man drove his car into pedestrians on London's Westminster Bridge, killing four and injuring dozens more, before jumping out and fatally stabbing a police officer and being shot dead by other officers.
At least eight people were killed and 11 others injured in the attack, while the suspect was arrested. (Photo: AFP)

New York: Former US presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton on Wednesday expressed solidarity with the victims of the New York terror attack that claimed eight lives.

A 29-year-old Uzbek immigrant, allegedly inspired by the ISIS, ploughed a pickup truck down a crowded bike-only path in lower Manhattan, in the deadliest terrorist attack in New York City since the 9/11 incident.

At least eight people were killed and 11 others injured in the attack, while the suspect was arrested.

Michelle and I are thinking of the victims of todays attack in NYC and everyone who keeps us safe. New Yorkers are as tough as they come, Obama, 56, said in a tweet, which was retweeted by former first lady Michelle Obama.

Michelle and I are thinking of the victims of today's attack in NYC and everyone who keeps us safe. New Yorkers are as tough as they come.  Barack Obama (@BarackObama) November 1, 2017

Bill Clinton, 71, also took to the social media site to express his condemnation for terrorism.

New Yorkers see this attack for what it is- an attempt to sow fear. We stand against terror as we grieve for the victims and thank the @NYPD, the 42nd president of the United States tweeted.

New Yorkers see this attack for what it isan attempt to sow fear. We stand against terror as we grieve for the victims and thank the @NYPD.  Bill Clinton (@BillClinton) October 31, 2017

Former White House contender Hillary Clinton, 70, denounced the attack as a cowardly act.

New Yorks resilience is stronger than a cowardly act of terror. Thinking of the victims, their families, & the responders who saved lives, she posted on Twitter.

New York's resilience is stronger than a cowardly act of terror. Thinking of the victims, their families, & the responders who saved lives.  Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) November 1, 2017

Republican Senator and Chairman of Senate Armed Services Committee John McCain said, Praying for all those impacted by the tragedy in #NewYorkCity. Thanks to first responders & law enforcement for their quick action.
Trump has warned of fire and fury and calm before the storm, telling the UN General Assembly that Washington would totally destroy North Korea if it had to defend itself or its allies. (Photo: AP/File)

Seoul: North Korea slammed US President Donald Trump as incurably mentally deranged in a personal diatribe ahead of his first visit to Asia as head of state, amid high tensions over Pyongyangs nuclear ambitions.

Trump and the Norths leader Kim Jong-Un have traded threats of war and personal insults against each other in recent months, heightening worries about a potential conflict on the divided Korean peninsula.

Trump has warned of fire and fury and calm before the storm, telling the UN General Assembly that Washington would totally destroy North Korea if it had to defend itself or its allies.

He dubbed Kim Rocket Man in the same speech - Pyongyang has tested missiles apparently capable of reaching much of the US mainland - and days later Kim responded with a personal statement calling Trump a dotard, an obscure term for a weak or senile old man.

Read: US pursues diplomacy with N Korea despite Trump writing it off

The US president is due in Asia at the weekend and ahead of his arrival, the Norths state-run KCNA news agency lashed out at bellicose and irresponsible rhetoric by the master of invective.

He absolutely needs medicine for curing his psychical disorder, it said.

The US has deployed key military assets including jet fighters and aircraft carriers near the peninsula following the Norths sixth nuclear test in September, which also saw the United Nations impose an eighth set of sanctions on the isolated country.

KCNA described the sanctions drive as desperate efforts that would prove ineffective and Trumps hostile rhetoric as hysteric spasmodic symptoms.

Trump, it said late on Tuesday, disclosed his true nature as a nuclear war maniac before the world and was diagnosed as incurably mentally deranged.

Trumps itinerary includes Japan, South Korea, China, Vietnam and the Philippines, with all eyes on his message to the North and Kim.

Pyongyang says it needs nuclear weapons to defend itself against possible invasion by the US.

During a November 7-8 visit to the South - a security ally of Washington that hosts 28,500 US troops - Trump is due to address Seouls parliament and visit a US military base, although he will not go to the Demilitarized Zone that divides the Koreas.
South Korean media and opposition politicians have called for US tactical nuclear weapons, which were withdrawn from the peninsula in the 1990s, to be returned. (Photo: File/AP)

Seoul: South Korea will not develop atomic weapons of its own, despite the threat from the nuclear-armed North, President Moon Jae-In declared on Wednesday.

A push by North Korea to become a nuclear state cannot be accepted or tolerated, Moon said in an address to parliament. We also will not develop or own nuclear arms.

In recent months Pyongyang has carried out its sixth nuclear test - its most powerful by far - and launched missiles apparently capable of reaching much of the US mainland, raising concerns in Seoul about its security alliance with Washington.

South Korean media and opposition politicians have called for US tactical nuclear weapons, which were withdrawn from the peninsula in the 1990s, to be returned.

Some have suggested that if Washington does not agree - Defence Secretary Jim Mattis expressed doubts about the concept in a visit at the weekend - Seoul should develop a nuclear capability of its own, in order to ensure what they dub a balance of terror on the peninsula.

But Moon said in his address that Seouls approach would be based on the joint declaration to denuclearise the Korean peninsula declared by both Koreas in 1992.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi with the six women officers of the Indian Navy who are expedition of circumnavigating the globe on the sailing vessel INSV Tarini in New Delhi on August 16, 2017. (Photo: PTI | File)

Melbourne: The all-women crew of an Indian Navy sail boat was on Wednesday hailed as heroes by the State government of Western Australia for taking up an incredibly challenging expedition of circumnavigating the globe.

The six crew of the Indian Naval Sailing Vessel (INSV) Tarini, led by Lieutenant Commander Vartika Joshi, started their maiden voyage on September 10 from Goa and is expected to complete it in about eight months.

Last week, the sailing vessel arrived at Fremantle Port, its first and only stopover in Australia. The next stopovers are Lyttleton (New Zealand), Port Stanley (Falklands), and Cape Town (South Africa).

Welcoming the Indian women, the states Womens Interests Minister Simone McGurk said, I cannot imagine how much bravery, let alone strength and tenacity, it would take to sail around the globe. These women are heroes.

As a Womens Interests Minister, I applaud the six crew for what is an incredibly challenging journey and wish them well as they move onto the next leg.

Minister for Tourism, Defence Issues and Citizenship and Multicultural Interests, Paul Papalia also commended the all women crew, saying I sincerely welcome Lieutenant Commander Vartika Joshi and her crew to Western Australia (WA).

He said that their journey was being watched by millions of people, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi who met the crew before they set off from Panaji.

We are grateful for the opportunity to show India, an emerging tourism market, the wonders of our State through the eyes of such a courageous and groundbreaking group of women, he added.

During their stay in Australia, the crew toured some of the best attractions of Perth, including Kings Park and Rottnest Island.

As a former naval man, I respect the endeavours of the crew of INSV Tarini enormously and wish them well on their journey, Papalia said.

Sharing her experience, Joshi said that the crew had so far experienced a mix of calm weather and rough seas on their about 5,000 nautical mile journey from Goa.

The boat needs to be prepared for the next leg, which is going to be even tougher as we are going to transit to the Southern Ocean, she was quoted as saying in media reports here.

Joshi also said that there was a need for a couple of repairs and servicing of the onboard equipment INSV Tarini.

INSV Tarini is a 55-foot sailing vessel, which has been built indigenously, and inducted in the Indian Navy earlier this year.

When we are working on board we dont really bother about gender...at the end of the day its the work thats most important and its the goal in front of us that needs to be addressed, she said, adding that the sea, they say, is gender neutral and so is the response to the sea.
I was scared. I felt ashamed. I know that the Labour Party, like any family, loves a good gossip, and I didnt want people to know and I also was worried that I wouldnt be believed if I did, Bex Bailey said. (Photo: Twitter)

London: An activist in Britains opposition Labour Party has said she was raped at a party event when she was 19, and that a party official discouraged her from reporting the attack to avoid damaging her career.

The disclosure by Bex Bailey, 25, is the most serious to emerge from a wave of allegations of sexual misconduct by powerful men that have swept through British politics in the wake of the Harvey Weinstein scandal.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, who has ordered an investigation into the allegation, said Bailey was not given support from the party when she reported what had happened.

Bex Bailey has shown incredible bravery by talking publicly about what has happened to her and has my full support and solidarity, he said in a statement on his Facebook page.

There will be no tolerance in the Labour Party for sexism, harassment or abuse. Whatever it takes, we are absolutely committed to rooting it out.

Read: Theresa May shown sleaze dossier of sexual misconduct by Party members

A party spokesman said: We would strongly recommend that the police investigate the allegations of criminal actions that Bex Bailey has made.

Bailey told BBC radio on Tuesday that she was raped in 2011 by someone in the party who was senior to her. She said she had tried to pretend it hadnt happened and had not reported it to police at the time.

I was scared. I felt ashamed. I know that the Labour Party, like any family, loves a good gossip, and I didnt want people to know and I also was worried that I wouldnt be believed if I did, she said.

Two years later, she told a senior party staff member, and it was suggested to her that she should not report it as it might damage her if she did. She was given no advice on what she should do next.

Read: Mark Garnier told secretary to buy sex toys

That might be their genuine view, it might be that that was the case, in which case that shows that we have a serious problem in politics with this issue anyway, said Bailey, a former member of Labours National Executive Committee.

She called for an independent agency such as a charity to deal with allegations rather than someone within the party who is inclined to be loyal to the Labour Party.

Prime Minister Theresa May has ordered investigations into two of her ministers after allegations were made against them.

Her deputy Damian Green denies making an advance on a woman three decades his junior, while junior trade minister Mark Garnier has said he was being humorous when he asked his assistant to buy sex toys for him.
A pickup driver killed eight people in New York on Tuesday, mowing down cyclists and pedestrians, before striking a school bus in the citys first deadly attack blamed on terror since September 11, 2001. (Photo: AFP)

Moscow: The president of Uzbekistan on Wednesday offered to help US authorities in the investigation of the attack in New York where a truck driver, reportedly an Uzbek national, mowed down passersbys, killing eight.

Read: Suspect in Manhattan attack an Uzbek migrant who drove for Uber

Uzbekistan is ready to use all forces and resources to help in the investigation of this act of terror, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev said, offering condolences to US President Donald Trump in a statement on the foreign ministrys website.

Read: Truck attack kills 8 in New York; Trump steps up 'extreme vetting'

A pickup driver killed eight people in New York on Tuesday, mowing down cyclists and pedestrians, before striking a school bus in the citys first deadly attack blamed on terror since September 11, 2001.

Eleven others were seriously hurt when the truck driver struck in broad daylight just blocks from the 9/11 Memorial, on the West Side of Lower Manhattan, close to schools as children and their parents geared up to celebrate Halloween.
Cairo: An Egyptian lawyer has said that it is a national duty to harass and rape girls who wear revealing clothing such as ripped jeans, sparking outrage.

Nabih al-Wahsh, a prominent conservative, made the remarks during a TV panel show discussion debating a draft law on prostitution.

Are you happy when you see a girl walking down the street with half of her behind showing? the lawyer said on Al-Assema earlier this month. I say that when a girl walks about like that, it is a patriotic duty to sexually harass her and a national duty to rape her.

His comment has sparked fury across Egypt. The National Council for Women has said it plans to file a complaint against the channel, Independent reported. It also issued a plea for media outlets to refrain from providing a platform for individuals who make incendiary remarks that incite violence against women.
Domestic flights are often delayed for VIPs while flight employees have been caught smuggling goods ranging from iPhones to narcotics. (Photo: AFP)

Islamabad: Two corpses were left behind at a New York airport instead of being flown to Lahore, Pakistan's national airline said, apologising Wednesday for the latest embarrassing mishap to hit the troubled carrier.

The oversight occurred on Saturday at New York's JFK airport as the airline prepared for its final flight from the US city to Lahore via Manchester, with the route since suspended due to financial losses.

Following the mix-up, the corpse of Pakistani man Nasir Ali was delivered to Lahore Wednesday on an Etihad Airways flight, while the family of another man Nauman Badar has now decided to bury him in Maryland instead.

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) Chairman Musharraf Rasool Cyan has ordered an inquiry into the oversight, a company spokesman said.

PIA "regrets the inconvenience caused due to negligence, and expresses its sympathies with the family members of the deceased persons," a spokesman for the airline said in a statement.

PIA was once considered a global leader in commercial aviation until the 1970s but has since been plagued by myriad controversies in recent years and saddled by billions of dollars of debt with a potential government bailout looming.

Domestic flights are often delayed for VIPs while flight employees have been caught smuggling goods ranging from iPhones to narcotics.

Last year two airline employees were killed at Karachi airport during a nine-day strike spurred by plans to privatise the national carrier.

In 2013 one of its pilots was jailed for nine months in Britain for being drunk before he was due to fly from Leeds to Islamabad with 156 people on board.
Chicagoist's Guide To November: 20 Fun Things To Do This Month



ZooLights image courtesy of Lincoln Park Zoo.

The holiday season is just around the corner with ZooLights, Christkindlmarket and The Magnificent Mile Lights Festival all beginning this month. Here are 20 of our favorite eventsfestive and beyond-- to make the most of November in Chicago.



RED BULL SOUND SELECT 30 DAYS

November 1-30

Red Bull Sound Select has chosen Chicago for its 30 Days Festival. Thats right, 30 days of music, photography and more. In addition to concerts at venues all over the city, the festival is highlighting local outlets like Fake Shore Drives 10th Anniversary show and the Crate Diggers Record Fair. Tickets are $15 or less per show. Check out their website for more information and schedules.





CINEPOCALYPSE

November 2-9

Horror fans will flock to Music Box Theatre for the debut Cinepocalypse Genre Film Festival beginning Thursday. The Chicago-based festival will award director Larry Cohen and actor Antonio Fargas and include films like opener Sweet Virginia and closer Beyond Skyline. Visit Music Boxs website for the full schedule.





Image via SOFA's Facebook page.

SOFA EXPO

November 2-5

More than 80 galleries converge for SOFA Chicago at Navy Piers Festival Hall this weekend. Contemporary art and design including glass blowing, ceramics, wood, glass, fiber, jewelry, metal, design, painting, photography and more will be showcased at the long-running Sculpture, Objects and Functional Art and Design fair. Tickets are $20 in advance.





John Lydon. Image via cimmfest's website.

CIMMFEST #9

November 9-12

The Chicago International Movies and Music Fest is back with film screenings, concerts and a conference at venues across the city. This year features more than 50 movie-centric films, including a "rotten" John Lydon post-Sex Pistols doc. Check the lineup for all the live performances, DJs, panels and more.



A (MOSTLY) VEGGIE AFFAIR

November 9

Green City Market gets veggie-friendly for Fall with A (Mostly) Veggie Affair at Lakeshore Beverage at 6:30 p.m. The 9th annual fundraiser features vegeterian fare from Publican Anker, Forbidden Root, Floriole, Farmhouse Chicago, Here.Co, Goose Island, Scofflaw/Heavy Feather, and more. Tickets start at $60.





Image courtesy of LuxeHome.

CHILL

November 9

LuxeHome and Wine Spectator Magazine host the 11th annual international wine and culinary event, CHILL. Sample bites and meet chefs from more than 40 hot local restaurants like Cafe Spiaggia and Maple & Ash while enjoying wines from around the globe. Tickets are $145.





Image courtesy of Ravenswood Chamber of Commerce.

TASTE OF RAVENSWOOD

November 10

Brewers, distillers and chefs from Malt Row cook up special bites and pairings for the 3rd annual Taste of Ravenswood from 6 to 10 p.m. The event takes place at the Ravenswood Event Center with collaborations between spots like Beard & Belly and Begyle Brewing Co., Lucilas Homemade and KOVAL Distillery, and Amys Candy Bar and Ampersand Wine Bar. Tickets are $70.





The Price of Right image courtesy of Fremantle Media.

THE PRICE IS RIGHT LIVE

November 11

Live your Come on down! dream at Rosemont Theatre on Saturday with two showtimes. The Price Is Right Live will bring all the familiar games like Plinko, The Big Wheel, and, yes, even the Showcase Showdown where audience members can win cash, vacations or even a new car! Tickets start at $26.





A GOLDEN CELEBRATION OF DANCE

November 12

50 years ago Auditorium Theatre re-opened its doors to the public and theyre celebrating that golden anniversary with a one-night-only Celebration of Dance. The theatre has a rich dance history that continues today. The mixed repertory program will feature dancers from Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, American Ballet Theatre, Het Nationale Ballet - Dutch National Ballet, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, The Joffrey Ballet, MOMIX, New York City Ballet,Parsons Dance, The Suzanne Farrell Ballet, Wiener Staatsballett, and The Washington Ballet. Tickets start at $41.





ADVENTURE FILM FESTIVAL

November 12

The 3rd annual Adventure Film Festival bowls into Music Box Theatre on Sunday. Sierra Club ICO will present screenings of award winning films from a community of risk takers, provocateurs, artists, dreamers, athletes and activists. Tickets start at $20.





Image via MSI's website.

CHRISTMAS AROUND THE WORLD + HOLIDAYS OF LIGHT

November 16-January 7

Celebrate Christmas Around the World at the Museum of Science and Industry this holiday season. Their long-running tradition (since 1942 to be exact) features a forest of more than 50 trees and displays representing holidays from countries and cultures around the world. Theyll also have live performances on the weekends.





Image via Christkindlmarket's Facebook page.

CHRISTKINDLMARKET

November 17 - December 24

Christkindlmarket has all the schnitzel, gluhwein and potato pancakes you can handle. The traditional German market in Daley Plaza is a Chicago tradition, as are the collectable mugs that they sell each year. Heres hoping 2017 is a boot-mug year! Free.





Image courtesy of Millennium Park.

CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY

November 17

The 104th Annual Chicago Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony takes place at 6 p.m. right in Millennium Parks Wrigley Square. The local tradition sets the skyline with a little extra sparkle through January 1.





MAGNIFICENT MILE LIGHTS FESTIVAL

November 17-18

Kick off the holiday season with a parade Grand Marshalled by none other than Mickey Mouse during the Magnificent Mile Lights Festival. Family friendly activities and concerts abound at Pioneer Court (aka Lights Festival Lane) Friday evening and Saturday until the parade steps off at 5:30 p.m. at Oak and Michigan Ave.





Parade image via City of Chicago's website.

THANKSGIVING DAY PARADE

November 23

The annual McDonalds Thanksgiving Day Parade marches down State Street from Congress to Randolph with all the requisite balloons, marching bands and performances. It will also be broadcast on WGN just in case you cant get out of bed Thanksgiving morning. Parade steps off at 8 a.m.





Image via DCASE.

CAROLING AT CLOUD GATE

November 24-December 15

Of all the events weve seen popping up with and at the Bean, heres one thats actually happing. Meet at the Bean every Friday beginning November 24th for some festive cheer in the form of song. Local choral groups will lead carolers from 6 to 7 p.m. each week through December 15. Free.



ZOOLIGHTS

November 24-January 1

The Lincoln Park Zoo tradition is back for its 23rd year. ZooLights puts more than 2.5 million lights up, and features visits from Santa, ice sculptors, festive activities, sweet treats and new this year, a Light Maze. There are also some special ticketed events like BrewLights and a Holiday Market. ZooLights runs Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights until December 8. and then nightly through year end. Free.





Image courtesy of Chicago Trolley.

TROLLEY LIGHTS TOUR

November 24-December 23

Once the Magnificent Mile Lights are lit, tour the twinkling avenue and other seasonal landmarks with the Chicago Trolley Holiday Lights Tour beginning after Thanksgiving. They'll take you to Christkindlmarket, the Macys Holiday Windows, ZooLights and more, beginning with a complimentary Sprinkles Cupcake. Tickets start at 18.





Image via ChillFest's website.

CHILLFEST

November 25

Chilly weather may not evoke visions of music festivals, but ChillFest isnt a traditional music fest. The Wicker Park and Bucktown event has musical performances from local artists popping-up in all kinds of unexpected places from 2 to 6 p.m. Twenty storefronts from local boutiques to gas stations will host the free performances. See all the artists and locations on the ChillFest website.





Photo by Shannon Braniff.

BRUNCH WITH SANTA

November 25

Take the family to a special Brunch With Santa atop the John Hancock building. The Signature Room hosts the annual event from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. with a buffet of Banana Nut Bread French Toast, Fried Chicken & Waffles and more from Executive Chef Cardel Reid. There will also be a bunch of fun activities like cookie decorating and face painting. Tickets are $65 for adults and $30 for children under age 12. Reservations are required, and can be made by calling 312-280-0465.
With about one quarter of Pakistans population having no access to electricity, the government said late last year that it wants to boost nuclear capacity to 8,800 MW, or about 20 percent of power generation capacity, by 2030. (Representational Image | Photo: File)

Abu Dhabi: Pakistan plans to build at least three to four big reactors as it targets nuclear power capacity of 8,800 megawatts (MW) by 2030, the countrys atomic energy commission chairman said.

Pakistan has five small reactors in operation with combined capacity of just over 1300 MW. The last one in the four-reactor Chashma plant in Punjab province, built by China National Nuclear Corp (CNNC), went into operation in September this year.

It is also building two Chinese Hualong One reactors with a capacity of 1100 MW each near the port city of Karachi.

Muhammad Naeem, Chairman of the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission, said these two new reactors are now 60 percent and 40 percent complete respectively and should become operational in 2020 and 2021.

Pakistan is now also in the final stages of awarding contracts for an eighth nuclear reactor with 1100 MW capacity which would take the countrys total nuclear capacity to about 5,000 MW when it is finished.

We could award the contracts before year-end, Naeem said on the sidelines of a nuclear conference in Abu Dhabi.

He declined to say how many contenders are in the race and whether non-Chinese bidders may be in the running.

Pakistans five operating reactors - including a tiny 125 MW Canadian-built reactor in Karachi in operation since 1972 - generate just five percent of the countrys electricity, with the rest coming from oil, gas and some hydropower.

With about one quarter of Pakistans population having no access to electricity, the government said late last year that it wants to boost nuclear capacity to 8,800 MW, or about 20 percent of power generation capacity, by 2030.

Naeem said Pakistan is looking at building at least three to four more big nuclear reactors before 2030 in order to reach that target.

We have the plans in place, we are watching for proven technologies, he said, adding that funding would come from the state budget and loans.

He did not specify whether countries other than China may be invited to bid.

Pakistan, which has a nuclear weapons programme, has not signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, which means Western reactor vendors such as EDF cannot sell reactors there. China has defied nuclear trading bans on Pakistan and delivered equipment as well as fuel.

Russias Rosatom has built nuclear reactors in India, but a Rosatom official said earlier this year the firm has not worked with Pakistan.
New Delhi: Naval heads from 10 of India's maritime neighbours meet in Goa as India continues to build on its attempt to emerge as a net security provider in the Indian Ocean region.

Navy chiefs or the heads of maritime agencies of India, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Maldives, Malaysia, Mauritius, Myanmar, Seychelles, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Thailand congregate in the coastal state to discuss issues of mutual interest.

The conclave will focus on emerging maritime threats, force structuring, maritime domain awareness, maritime security architecture and challenges in the Indian Ocean region, said a Navy officer. Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will address the conclave on Wednesday.

The gathering comes at a time when India and China are vying for supremacy in the strategically important Indian Ocean region. The Indian Navy has not only expanded its footprint, but has also decided to keep an eye on important sea lanes, including the Malacca Strait, throughout the year.

With the US support, the blue water force seeks to emerge as the net security provider in the Indian Ocean region.

The Goa conclave comes days after the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting (ADMM Plus) in the Philippines, where several defence ministers from the region had their first interaction with US defence secretary Jim Mattis.

Before the ASEAN meeting, Mattis met Nirmala in Delhi to discuss issues related to regional stability, among others.

Nirmala too was present at ASEAN, where India's role in resolving the Doklam crisis through diplomacy was well appreciated.

"As the Indian Ocean region becomes the focus of the 21st century strategic landscape, it is natural for the Indian Navy to play a constructive role in bringing together uniformed and non-uniformed personnel from neighbouring maritime countries, who have a stake in the formulation of policies, strategies and implementation of operational concepts in the maritime domain," said the officer.

On the second day of the conclave, bilateral interaction between the Navy Chiefs is planned.

DH News Service
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Tuesday spoke to one of the Indian students attacked recently at Milan in Italy and learnt that the assault was not racist in nature.



"Attack on Indian students in Italy - I have spoken to the concerned Indian student in Milan. He has told me that this was a case of robbery and not a racial attack," Sushma posted on Twitter.

Some Indian students at Milan in northern Italy were assaulted in a string of incidents, even as Prime Minister Narendra hosted his Italian counterpart Paolo Gentiloni on Monday and the two leaders agreed to breathe fresh life into the bilateral relations between New Delhi and Rome.

The Consulate General of India in Milan on Monday issued an advisory for Indian students studying in the main city of Lombardy Region of Italy, asking them not to panic. The advisory was issued after the CGI received reports about some incidents of assaults on Indian students studying in academic institutions in Milan.

"The consulate has received reports of unfortunate incidents of attacks on the Indian students in Milan. All Indian students are urged not to panic. The consulate is taking up this matter with the highest level of law and order authorities in Milan," the CGI said in the advisory posted on Twitter. It was posted on the day Modi and Gentiloni agreed to add new momentum in bilateral ties, which were strained in the past few years since the arrest and trial of two Italian Navy personnel in connection with the Enrica Lexie case in February 2012.

The CGI did not mention in its advisory if the attacks on Indian students appeared to be racially motivated.

One of the incidents took place on October 17 and another on Sunday, sources said.

The CGI in Milan advised the Indian students in the city to be in touch with each other, especially when they go out, as well as with it. It also advised the students to spread information among other students from India about the areas where they had experienced "such incidents" so that such areas could be avoided or approached with greater caution by others.

The students also met Consul General of India Charanjeet Singh and reported the incidents.

"I appreciate @cgmilan1 for providing all help," tweeted Sushma, who earlier on Tuesday received a report from the CGI in Milan about the incidents.
In an embarrassment to the BJP government in UP, the police investigation ordered by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had confirmed that the minister's car had mowed down a five-year-old boy.



The incident happened in Gonda district a few days ago, where minister Om Prakash Rajbhar's vehicle had crushed to death a five-year-old when the minister was seated in the car.

The child, identified as Shiva Goswami, was playing on the side of a village road. While the child died on the spot, the minister's cavalcade sped on without stopping.

Rajbhar had claimed that he was 25 kilometres away from the accident spot. "I tried to go to the spot, but the police advised against it. They said there could be security issues since people were very angry," the minister said.

The dead child's parents said the vehicle that hit him had flower petals on it and the minister was in one of the cars. Police conducted forensic test on the vehicles in the convoy and confirmed that the minister's car had crushed Shiva.

The car driver, arrested after the incident, also confirmed that the minister was sitting in the vehicle. Chief Minister Adityanath had asked the police to probe the matter and punish the guilty.

Rajbhar had earlier courted controversy by threatening to lock up parents refusing to send their children to school in jail without food and water.

He also threatened to resign from the cabinet for the government's refusal to transfer Ghazipur District Magistrate.
President Donald Trump said today he had ordered more robust "extreme vetting" of travellers coming into the US in the aftermath of the first deadly terror attack in New York since the September 11, 2001 carnage in the city.



At least eight people were killed and 11 others injured in Lower Manhattan today after a gunman in a truck ploughed through a busy bike path, an incident the US termed as an "act of terrorism".

The suspect, 29-year-old Sayfullo Saipov said to be from Uzbekistan, was shot in the stomach before being arrested.

"I have just ordered Homeland Security to step up our already extreme vetting programme. Being politically correct is fine, but not for this!" Trump tweeted.

Trump also changed the banner on his Twitter account to the New York skyline.

His administration announced last week that it would resume accepting refugees after a 120-day ban, though arrivals from 11 "high-risk" countries, most of them home to Muslim majorities, will still be blocked.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims of today's terrorist attack in New York City and their families," Trump had said in a statement after the attack.

Earlier, the US president took to Twitter to decry the attack, saying "we must not allow ISIS to return".

"In NYC, looks like another attack by a very sick and deranged person. Law enforcement is following this closely. NOT IN THE U.S.A.!" Trump tweeted.

"We must not allow ISIS to return, or enter, our country after defeating them in the Middle East and elsewhere. Enough!" he said in another tweet.

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said authorities are treating the incident as a terrorist attack. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said there's no evidence to suggest there's a wider threat or plot, warning that people will still see more security forces out of caution.
President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday condemned the terrorist attack in New York, even as preliminary report indicated no Indian was among the people who were killed or injured in the incident.



"Shocked to hear of terrorist attack in New York. Our condolences to bereaved families. India stands by United States," Kovind posted on Twitter, hours after a man drove a truck onto a busy bicycle path near the World Trade Center in Manhattan, killing eight people and injuring at least 12 others.

"Strongly condemn the terror attack in New York City. My thoughts are with the families of the deceased & prayers with those injured," tweeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The Consulate General of India in New York tweeted that the preliminary information it received from the New York Police Department had indicated that no Indian was amongst the casualties of the terror attack on Tuesday.
Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday hit out at the Narendra Modi government saying that there was no ease of doing business for small traders in the country.



He said that while the government may claim that India has jumped 30 spots to be among the top 100 countries on the World Bank's ease of doing business ranking list in 2018, it is not the case in the country.

"Jaitley ji sits in his office and listens to outsiders. I would request him that he visit small traders or mid-sized business persons and ask them whether ease of doing business has improved for them or not. The entire country will in one voice say that there is no ease of doing business. Your demonetisation and Goods & Services Tax (GST) has hit us hard," Rahul Gandhi said at a rally in Jambusar, Bharuch district, South Gujarat.

Rahul is on his third leg of the three-day visit to poll-bound Gujarat from Wednesday.

During this leg his four-phase Navsarjan Gujarat Yatra, Rahul will cover 30 Assembly constituencies across Bharuch, Tapi, Navsari, Valsad and Surat districts in south Gujarat.

Addressing farmers and small traders, Rahul said there was a massive anger across the country, courtesy implementation of demonetisation and the GST.

"They have destroyed the economy by demonetisation and have ensured that the GDP fall by 2%. But he (prime minister) did not stop at that. He introduced GST with multiple tax rates and high rate of 28% in one go," he said. "I have given GST a new name - Gabbar Singh Tax. It means that the poor who sweats sees his money stolen."

On prime minister's promise to unearth black money in Swiss Bank accounts, Rahul said Modiji did not understand that not all the money is black.

"It's been three years of Modi government. Show me one person whom they have put in jail for having black money in Swiss BanksaLook at Vijay Mallya, he is enjoying in London. What has Modi ji done?"

Hitting out at the Gujarat model of development, he said this model has left every community in the state sad and angry.

"The only people who are not unhappy are the 5-10 industrialists who are supporting Modi ji and the BJP. Everyone else is on the streets agitating," he said pointing at series of ongoing protests by Patels, Dalits, OBCs and farmers.

"The Gujarat model is take water, electricity and land of the people and give it to industrialists. In this model, if you do not have money no work will be done."

Earlier at the rally, Ahmed Patel, political advisor to Congress President Sonia Gandhi, countered allegations levied against him of having links with two Islamic State (IS) terror suspects caught from South Gujarat recently. One of the suspects worked in a hospital where Ahmed Patel was a trustee till 2015.

Chief Minister Vijay Rupani had questioned Ahmed Patel on what links he had with the IS suspects. "I did research and found that he worked in hospitals instituted by BJP leaders. Care Hospital, where IS suspect Mohammed Kasim worked was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi," Patel said.

He added that it does not augur well for a person of the stature of the chief minister to levy such allegations.
The issue of illegal hawkers on the railway premises turned ugly on Wednesday when workers of Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) clashed with Congress activists at Dadar in central Mumbai.



The hawkers issue gained momentum after a stampede at Elphinstone Road-Parel foot overbridge (FoB).

On Wednesday, the police had to use mild lathicharge to disperse the clashing activists.

The Congress workers supporting the hawkers protested against the attack on them on the railway premises in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region by MNS workers over the past few days.

It may be recalled the September 29 stampede claimed 23 lives and injured 38 people in one of the biggest stampede incidents of Mumbai.

On October 5, Thackeray met A K Gupta, general manager of Western Railway (WR) and D K Sharma, general manager of Central Railway (CR) and called upon the railway administration to remove encroachments on the railway premises.



On October 11, he had met BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) commissioner Ajoy Mehta urging him to clear the hawkers from occupying streets outside the suburban railway stations.

After the meeting, he had given 15 days time to clear illegal hawkers. After deadline ended there were several incidents of forcible eviction and vandalisation reportedly by MNS workers.

Mumbai Congress president Sanjay Nirupam had opposed the attacks on hawkers.



Tension still prevails in some parts of central Mumbai and additional security arrangements have been made.
The ruling Congress in Himachal Pradesh on Wednesday released its manifesto, promising to strengthen the farm sector by granting interest-free loans to farmers, creation of 1.50 lakh jobs in the government sector and free laptops to 50,000 college students.



Restoration of the pre-2004 pension scheme, regularisation of contract employees after two years, enhanced daily wages, social security pension and appointment of anti-corruption grievances commissioner were the other promises made in the manifesto.

Himachal Pradesh goes to polls on November 9.

Chief minister Virbhadra Singh, Health Minister Kaul Singh, who is also chairman of manifesto Committee and AICC general secretary Sushil Kumar Shinde released the manifesto. It claimed that the Congress had fulfilled 95% of poll promises and would implement the remaining promises and fresh promises in the next term, if voted to power.

Singh said his government has ensured the speedy and uniform development of the entire state which is visible on the ground and development and welfare of all sections of people would be the main poll plank.

Kaul Singh said the Congress provided government jobs to 75,000 youth during the present term and 1.50 lakh jobs would be given in the next five years. For land acquired by the government, four times the market value will be provided as compensation.

Private bus permits would be given to youth to generate self-employment, interest-free loan of Rs 1-lakh would be given to farmers for purchasing agricultural inputs and 90% subsidy on anti-hail nets.

The Congress government promised to reduce the period of contractual employees and daily wagers from five years and ten years to three years and five years and now it has promised to regularise contract employees and daily wagers after two and three years respectively.

The manifesto also promises enhancement of pension by 5%, 10% and 15% after the age of 65, 70 and 75 years, additional increments to employees after fourth, ninth and fourteenth year of service, increasing daily wages to Rs 350 and free laptops to 50,000 college students.

The Congress also promised decentralisation of administrative and financial powers down to panchayat level and continue food subsidy scheme to control price rise.

Speaking to reporters, Virbhadra Singh said the BJP's decision to filed P K Dhumal would have no impact on prospects of the Congress.
The government is working with the World Bank to recognise over 200 reforms that will help propel India into the top-50 bracket in ease of doing business, according to Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) secretary Ramesh Abhishek.



"We have already implemented 122 reforms this year, and are working with World Bank to recognise these. We will further initiate 90 more ease of doing business reforms this year," Abhishek told reporters on the sidelines of the CII Invest North conclave.

India yesterday jumped 30 places to rank 100th in the World Bank's 'ease of doing business' ranking, helped by a slew of reforms in taxation, licensing, investor protection and bankruptcy resolution.

"A jump of 30 positions in the World Bank rankings is extremely commendable. Now the aim is to move into the top-50 countries bracket," he added.

Abhishek said his department has already started meeting stakeholders and taking feedback from them on the reform measures taken by the government to improve business climate.

"This exercise has helped us a lot. This time we focused mainly on taking feedback from stakeholders. All nodal ministries were taking feedback," he said.

The Secretary also said the World Bank report has acknowledged that GST (Goods and Services Tax) is a substantial reform and "hopefully it will have a positive impact on the country's ranking next year".

He urged the states to address issues like inadequate infrastructure and inflexible labour policies to make them more competitive.

"States should invest in skilling and need to come up with policies for fixed term employment like the government has worked our for the apparel sector. We are also working on a similar package for leather and footwear sector," added Abhishek.
Chicago's Top Independent Restaurant Made More Than $24 Million Last Year

By Anthony Todd in Food on Nov 1, 2017 3:51PM



A steak at Gibson's. Photo via Facebook.

As I've talked about constantly for the last several months, the restaurant scene is facing a lot of challenges and plenty of places are closing. On the other hand, a small group of independent restaurants in Chicago is doing exceptionally well. Who are the winners in this game?

Every year, Restaurant Business releases a list of the top grossing independent restaurants in America. Chicago always has a few entries high on the list. A quick note on the definition of "independent": this means a concept that has less than five locations, though they can be a part of a restaurant group (for example, Shaw's, part of Lettuce Entertain You, is on the list).

What Chicago spots made it?

The top grossing Chicago spot, surprising no one, is Gibson's, with $24.7 million in sales (number 10 on the overall list). No wonder they opened a new location last week! Also on the list are:

20. Joes Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab, $21,200,000

26. Primehouse, $19,200,000

38. Chicago Cut Steakhouse, $17,200,000

41. Shaws Crab House, $17,100,000

70. Harry Carays Italian Steakhouse, $14,800,000

80. Hugos Frog Bar & Fish House, $14,269,812

88. Quartino Ristorante & Wine Bar, $13,790,000

93. Tavern on Rush, $13,409,416

Also of note is Bob Chinn's Crab House, in Wheeling, which comes in at #30 on this list with $17.99 million in sales.

So, what do these places have in common? They're all incredibly business friendly, they tend to sell simple food with very high margins (seafood, steaks, expensive wine) and they've been around forever.
The Madras High Court might have banned cut outs and banners of living persons in public places. But AIADMK cadres in Tamil Nadu were clever enough to counter its direction by releasing huge balloons in the air with photographs of their leaders during a public meeting.



In one such incident, Coimbatore AIADMK party functionaries on Wednesday raised balloons with photographs of Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami, his deputy O Panneerselvam, Municipal Administration Minister S P Velumani and MLAs.

As Palaniswami arrived in the textile city to inaugurate a flyover constructed at a cost of Rs 195 crore, the workers were in confusion whether to place banners and erect cutouts following the court order.

To counter the order, legislator Amman K Arjun, elected from Coimbatore south constituency, decided to release balloons, which has the picture of Palaniswami, Panneerselvam, and Velumani.

Besides Arjun portrait, the pictures of Coimbatore North MLA P R G Arunkumar also got a place on the balloon.

In a blanket order, the Madras High Court on October 24 banned depiction of pictures of living persons on banners and hoardings, even if prior permission was obtained for erecting them, and the pictures of those sponsoring them in it.
Spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravishankar's initiative to resolve the vexed Ram temple-Babri masjid dispute in Ayodhya may have created ripples in political circles but it has not enthused the warring sides.



Both the Hindu and Muslim plaintiffs in the Ram Janambhoomi-Babri Masjid Title suits expressed doubts if Sri Sri's initiatives would bear fruits.

''Any effort to resolve the dispute through mutual discussions is welcome but Sri Sri should first put his compromise formula on the tablelet us see thathe should also make it clear if he is representing the Centre,'' said Mahant Dharm Das, one of the Hindu plaintiffs, in Ayodhya.

Haji Mehboob, one of the Muslim plaintiffs in the suits, also echoed similar sentiment. ''It should be made clear if Ravishankar is authorised to speak to the parties concerned we also want a peaceful settlement of the dispute but Ravishankar is not a party in the case,'' Mehboob said.

Oldest litigant in the suits Hashim Ansari's son Iqbal Ansari said that the spiritual guru should visit Ayodhya and hold talks with the parties concerned. ''Merely making announcements in the media will not serve the purpose,'' he said.

Former BJP MP and Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Ram Vilas Vedanti had also rejected Ravishankar's mediation efforts and questioned his locus standi.

'First visit temple'

"How can a person (Ravishankar), who has never paid obeisance at the makeshift Ram temple, mediate in the matter,'' Vedanti had said. He asked Sri Sri to first visit the makeshift Ram temple and then start his initiatives.

Ravishankar had on Tuesday met the Shia Waqf Board chairperson Waseem Rizvi in Bengaluru as part of his initiative to resolve the dispute.

The matter is currently pending in the Supreme Court, which is likely to start hearing the case from December 5.
US President Donald Trump today called for tougher "merit-based" immigration measures and doing away with the diversity visa programme after an ISIS- inspired Uzbek man killed 8 people in New York, termed as the deadliest terror attack since 9/11.



Trump said the attacker Sayfullo Habibullaevic Saipov, who ploughed a pickup truck down a crowded bike path near the World Trade Centre killing eight people and injuring 11 others in an ISIS-inspired plot, was allowed to enter the US on a State Department programme known as the "Diversity Lottery Programme".

"The terrorist came into our country through what is called the 'Diversity Visa Lottery Programme', a Chuck Schumer beauty. I want merit based," Trump said in a tweet.

The diversity visa programme gives green card to people from countries from where they normally don't have merit-based candidates.

Saipov, a 29-year-old Uzbek immigrant, had come to the US legally in 2010, was shot at by New York Police officials yesterday afternoon and is being treated for injuries at a New York hospital.

Local media reports said that he was being subject to preliminary interrogation by investigating officials.

The FBI and New York Police Department are jointly investigating the terrorist attack.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo told a news channel that the sole attacker was radicalised domestically.

"The evidence shows - and again, it's only several hours, and the investigation is ongoing - but that after he came to the United States is when he started to become informed about ISIS and radical Islamic tactics," Cuomo told CNN.

"We have no evidence yet of associations or a continuing plot or associated plots, and our only evidence to date is that this was an isolated incident that he himself performed," he said.

Trump has ordered the Homeland Security to step up extreme vetting programme.

In a series of tweets, the President lashed out at Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer for opposing merit-based immigration system.

"Senator Chuck Schumer helping to import Europe's problems.. We will stop this craziness!" Trump tweeted.

"We are fighting hard for Merit Based immigration, no more Democrat Lottery Systems. We must get MUCH tougher (and smarter)," he said.

Schumer, in a statement, said that it was too soon to politicise a tragedy.

"President Trump, instead of politicising and dividing America, which he always seems to do at times of national tragedy, should be focusing on the real solution anti- terrorism funding which he proposed cutting in his most recent budget," Schumer said.

"I'm calling on the president to immediately rescind his proposed cuts to this vital antiterrorism funding," he said.

"This was an act of terror, and a particularly cowardly act of terror aimed at innocent civilians, aimed at people going about their lives who had no idea what was about to hit them," New York Mayor Bill de Blasio said.

New York has been largely spared from terrorism since nearly 3,000 people were killed in the 9/11 attack.

The most recent violence from terrorism there came in September 2016, when a man set off shrapnel-packed explosives in the Chelsea neighbourhood of Manhattan. Nobody was killed, but 30 people were injured in the incident.
Russian President Vladimir Putin met Iran's leadership today in Tehran as the two Damascus allies push a Syria peace plan and the Kremlin offers its backing for a landmark nuclear deal facing US opposition.



Putin -- on his first visit to Tehran since 2015 -- held talks with President Hassan Rouhani, before he was due to meet supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

The Kremlin strongman will also take part in a three-way summit with Rouhani and the leader of ex-Soviet Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev aimed at bolstering economic ties between their energy-rich nations.

Moscow said Syria will be a focus of Putin's visit, which comes after Russia, Iran and Turkey pledged after negotiations in Kazakhstan yesterday to bring the Syrian regime and its opponents together for a "congress" to push peace efforts.

Russia and Iran, key military supporters of President Bashar al-Assad, and Turkey, which backs Syrian rebels, have organised a series of peace talks in the Kazakh capital Astana this year, agreeing on the establishment of "de-escalation" zones in various parts of the war-torn country.

Today's talks will also focus on the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, which saw sanctions lifted in exchange for limits on Tehran's atomic programme and which is under pressure from US President Donald Trump.

Tehran signed the deal with six countries including Russia and the United States, but Trump last month refused to certify the agreement, drawing criticism from Moscow which slammed the US president's "aggressive and threatening rhetoric" against Iran.

Ahead of Putin's arrival, Iran's official IRNA news agency reported Russia's chief of staff Valery Gerasimov flew into Tehran for talks with his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Bagheri to discuss "Syria...and the fight against terrorism."

The military might of Moscow and Tehran in Syria has helped prop up Assad's forces and turn the protracted conflict in his favour with a string of key battlefield victories.

Since the start of the year Russia has looked to cement the gains from its game-changing intervention by spearheading the peace push at talks in Kazakhstan, positioning itself as a broker between key players Iran and Turkey and largely bypassing the West.

Up until now the focus has been on quelling the violence on the ground and the three powers have established four "de- escalation zones" around rebel-held territory in the country.

The zones were initially credited for bringing about a significant reduction in bloodshed, but international aid groups say they are currently failing to curb the fighting.

Now Moscow seems keen on expanding its peace drive in search of a political settlement and on Thursday got Iran and Turkey to agree an initiative for a "Congress of Syrian National Dialogue" that aims to bring together some 33 delegations in the Russian city of Sochi on November 18.

Putin and the Iranian leadership are also set to find common cause in their fierce opposition to Trump's stance on the 2015 deal to curb Iran's nuclear ambitions.

The US leader's decision not to certify the deal has been opposed by the other international powers that signed off on it as they insist the agreement is working.

The lifting of the sanctions under the nuclear deal has opened Iran up for business and Russian firms are competing to bolster their involvement in the country.

Moscow and Tehran have had close military and economic relations for some time, and in the nuclear field Russia has already built one reactor at Iran's Bushehr plant and just started work on two new ones.

Putin's arrival in Iran comes a day after the US Treasury added 40 Iranian individuals and entities already targeted by sanctions to a counter-terrorism blacklist.

Despite initial opposition, Trump in August signed off on a sanctions bill targeting Russia, Iran and North Korea after it was passed overwhelmingly by Congress.
The bountiful southwest monsoon has brought many waterfalls alive, including the Chunchi Falls off Kanakapura Road. But tourists visit the falls at their own risk as officials are elusive about who will manage security.



The falls are located just 60 km from Bengaluru, enroute to Sangam and Mekedatu, in Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary. The falls come under Ramanagaram police division and are located just a few kilometres away from MP D K Suresh's party office in Kanakapura.

On any given day, between 50 and 100 people visit the spot, with the numbers tripling during weekends. With help from locals, tourists trek through rocky and muddy pastures to get a glimpse of the "mini Jog Falls" and revel in its waters. The two falls are formed by the Arkavathy and Vrushabhavathy rivers which join Cauvery just before Sangam.

A senior police officer at Ramanagaram said: "There have been no incidents at the waterfall this year. Hence, there is no need for round-the-clock security. Routine inspection is done during weekends. But if there is any special need, arrangements can be made."

The tourism department, which claims to have installed cautionary and no-selfie zone boards at tourist places like waterfalls and nature adventure sites, seems to have ignored Chunchi Falls. Tourists are instead greeted with a photograph of two girls who died at the falls and another board which lists 32 deaths and advises safety, with no timeline or department signature.

"We have handed over the management of the location to the Ramanagaram district administration. They have to look into it," said a senior tourism department official.

Ramanagaram deputy commissioner B R Mamta said a project report to provide facilities like toilets and a checkpost at a cost of Rs 10 lakh had been prepared. She said two home guards were deployed a year back at the waterfalls, but no check was made on them after that.

A proposal has been placed before the state government to increase security.

K D Srinivas, assistant conservator of forests, Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary said: "I will look into the matter of security since it has nothing to do with the tourism department. Complaints of illegal activities have also come to my notice."

Tourists are also greeted with the sight of empty soft drink bottles, chips and plastic packets littered all over. Locals collect all plastic bottles, packets and littered food items and set them on fire every day. "We are aware of the environmental hazards, but we cannot let the junk pile up. There is no garbage collection facility here. Tourists are irresponsible," said Leelamma, a local.
BJP National President Amit Shah will launch the partys 75-day Nava Karnataka Nirmana Parivarthana Yatra in Bengaluru on Thursday.



The BJP is planning to make it the biggest ever yatra launch in poll-bound Karnataka. As many as two lakh BJP workers on one lakh bikes from each and every polling booth in 16 disticts of southern Karnataka will arrive at Bangalore International Exhibition Centre (BIEC) grounds, off Tumakuru Road, the venue of the launch. Besides, another one lakh workers will be present at the venue during the launch as part of show of strength of the party.



Former Deputy Chief Minister R Ashoka, who has been appointed as one of the convenors of the yatra, said Shah will land at the HAL airport at 11.30 am and take the helicopter route to land directly at the venue. This has been done to prevent any traffic snarls.



Two drones will be deployed to monitor the crowd and also film the event, Ashoka said. The main aim of the yatra is to expose the misdeeds of the Congress government.



Ashoka said the party has planned the participation of several leaders including Union ministers at various places as the yatra criss-crosses all the 224 Assembly constituencies. Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh is scheduled to launch the second leg of the yatra for north Karnataka districts at Hubballi on December 21.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the yatra on its concluding day in Bengaluru on January 28.



Ratha readied



Final touches are being given for a specially designed ratha that will be the lead vehicle during the yatra. Built at a cost of Rs one crore, the ratha was to be unveiled before the media at the BJP office in Malleswaram, but the event could not be held as the vehicle developed some technical glitches. However, BJP functionaries said the vehicle will arrive at the launch venue on Thursday. The Congress MLA from Channapatna C P Yogeeshwara and Kuduchi MLA P Rajeev of the BSR Congress will join the BJP in the presence of Shah on Thursday, Ashoka added
IL State Rep: I Won't 'Subject Myself' To Sexual Harassment Training

By Stephen Gossett in News on Nov 1, 2017 4:52PM



The dome of the Illinois State Capitol Building in Springfield, Illinois. Photo by Aaron Cynic.

As Springfield continues to come to grips with its alleged culture of widespread sexual harassment, a northwest suburban state representative says he won't take part in sexual harassment traininga concept he undercut with ironic scare quotesand chastised lawmakers who took aim at the culture without naming harassers.

Republican Rep. Steve Reick, of the 63rd District, said in a decidedly tone-deaf post on his website, "I'm not saying Im blameless, but Im damned sure not going to allow myself to be painted with their broad brush, nor will I subject myself to whatever 'training' is imposed."

Reick was responding specifically to the previous night's episode of WTTW's Chicago Tonight, which welcomed Senator Heather Steans and representatives Chris Welch, Robyn Gabel and Sara Feigenholtzall of whom are among the hundreds who have signed the open letter that alleges widespread sexual misconduct in the state capital, "ranging from daily microaggressions to acts of pure viciousness."

Reick criticized Feigenholtz, who said on the show that she didn't know who was specifically at fault among lawmakers, saying Feigenholtz "doesnt get around much, because one thing thats certainly more widespread in Springfield than sexual harassment is gossip." And he added that Steans "dodged the question" when she declined to name the person who personally harassed her. Steans said the incident happened eight or nine years ago and stressed the need for a system in the future that has real accountability when an investigation determines misconduct.

Training is definitely part of it, but its not sufficient, Steans said. You need to have a clear process of reporting and accountability if there is a finding of wrongdoing."

A bill introduced by House Speaker Michael Madigan would mandate annual sexual harassment training for legislators and set up a method for handling allegations. It would also require lobbyists to prove they have undergone similar measures.

Reick in his post makes repeated overtures to decrying sexual misconduct in Springfield ("I have no sympathy for [sexual harassment], and if guys want to walk around acting like cave men with a club, count me out.") but adds bizarre, counterproductive retorts like this one, in response to Steans: "In that regard, Senator Steans is right, training won't be enough. Nothing will be enough until human nature bends toward androgyny." Oof.

Reick said he also "wouldnt know a 'microagression' from a microwave. It sounds to me like a subjectively insignificant action that would be better handled with a puppy or a juice box."

He kept on:



"But if my colleagues want me to sign on to this, theyre certainly not doing it the right way... By implying that Im part of the problem simply by occupying a seat on the House floor or through the accident of birth of having been born male, theyre giving me every reason to say no. I assume the culture extends beyond Ira Silvertein. If they want my support, then name names."

(Ira Silverstein was accused by legislative activist Denise Rotheimer of sexually harassment while the two worked on drafting legislation. "What I dealt with Silverstein, I ended up six weeks in a crisis," she said at a hearing this week.)

Many survivors of sexual harassment of course hesitate with coming forward with names for fear of retribution. A study by Lilia Cortina, professor of psychology and women's studies at the University of Michigan, found that two-thirds of public employees said they were retaliated against after reporting complaints.

Reick's full missive is available to read here, in all its cringeworthiness.

[H/T Capitol Fax]
Glasgow scientists have reprogrammed human cells using leftover skin tissue from surgery to replicate wounds from diabetic foot ulcers.

The work is part of a three-year project which researchers hope could lead to the development of new treatments for diabetic foot ulcers which do not need to be tested on animals.

Glasgow Caledonian University accessed skin tissue samples from people with type 2 diabetes who donated their tissue to the universitys Skin Research Tissue Bank. The researchers then created batches of human stem cells from the samples which can be reprogrammed into different types of cells, including brain cells and nerve cells.

One example of this reprogramming was the creation of a 3D model mimicking a diabetic foot ulcer. This has enabled comparisons to be made with cells from people without diabetes and also provided the ability to try out new treatments.

A spokesman for Animal Free Research UK, which has funded the research, said: Using human tissue has many advantages over using tissue from animals  it gives a much better idea of how drugs that are used in the laboratory could be developed into medicines in the future.

In addition, the use of human tissue and cells replaces the need for animal experimentatio, and reduces the use of animal products in research.

Professor Ann Graham, lead author of the study, told The Herald: Over 135 diabetes-related amputations are carried out each week in the UK. We know that this is a growing problem and we hope that our work can inform research and aid others who require access to human material for medical research.

Subsequent research will comprise skin cells from people with diabetes reprogrammed to examine links between type 2 diabetes and Alzheimers disease, as well as investigations into conditions which affect the skin, such as diabetic wound healing and psoriasis.
FEMA: Agency didn't OK contract in Puerto Rico for tiny Montana firm

By MICHAEL BIESECKER

Associated Press

WASHINGTON  Federal Emergency Management Agency officials had nothing to do with approving a pricey no-bid contract to restore the power grid in Puerto Rico, the head of the agency told Congress on Tuesday.

FEMA Administrator Brock Long told the Senate homeland security committee there was a lot wrong with the controversial $300 million contract awarded to Whitefish Energy Holdings, a tiny Montana company from Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke's hometown.

Long testified that FEMA officials only learned about the deal after it had already been signed by the board of the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority last month, just days before Hurricane Maria slammed unto the territory. The head of the troubled utility, Ricardo Ramos, said Sunday he would seek to cancel the contract, amid scrutiny from multiple federal and congressional investigations.

There's no lawyer inside FEMA would have ever agreed to the language in that contract, Long said.

He said no federal dollars had yet been provided to pay for the repairs. Long said his agency has serious concerns about some of the prices listed in the document are competitive.

A price list attached to the Whitefish contract reviewed by The Associated Press sets rates for workers and equipment to be paid by the utility: $20,277 an hour for a heavy lift Chinook helicopter, $319 an hour for a journeyman lineman and $286 an hour for a mechanic. Each worker also gets a daily allowance of $80 for food and $332 for a hotel room.

Whitefish Energy Holdings is headquartered in Whitefish, Montana, which has a population of about 7,200. Zinke, a former Montana congressman, knows Whitefish CEO Andy Techmanski but has denied playing any role in helping the company land the big deal.

Whitefish has also denied any wrongdoing.

Long said his agency is now spending about $200 million a day on the ongoing emergency response to hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria, as well as a recent spate of devastating wildfires.

About 25 million Americans had been affected by natural disasters in the last 50 days, he said, with more than 4 million now registered for emergency aid. Long told the senators more money may eventually be needed than the $52 billion in emergency relief allocated so far.

Pressed by members of the committee on how FEMA would ensure that electricity service on Puerto Rico is restored as quickly as possible, Long said he would need additional legal authority from Congress to spend federal funds to rebuild the island's power grid better than it was.

About 67 percent of the residents on the island are still without power, while nearly 1 in 5 Puerto Ricans still don't have reliable access to drinking water.

Maj. Gen. Donald Jackson, who oversees work by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Puerto Rico, told the senators the current goal is to have electricity restored to at least half the island by the end of November.

About 450 soldiers are assigned to the effort, he said, with about 400 government generators now providing power to such critical facilities as hospitals and water treatment plants.




Subscriber content preview

By MICHAEL LIEDTKE

AP Technology Writer

ATWATER, Calif.  Google's self-driving car spin-off is accelerating efforts to convince the public that its technology is almost ready to safely transport people without any human assistance at all.

Waymo, hatched from a Google project started eight years ago, showed off its progress Monday during a rare peek at a closely guarded testing facility located 120 miles southeast of San Francisco. That's where its robots complete their equivalent of driver's education.





. . .
Michelle Obama & Prince Harry Surprise-Visited South Side High Schoolers Ahead Of Global Summit

By Stephen Gossett in News on Nov 1, 2017 6:59PM



Twitter / Kensington Palace

With the likes of Lin-Manuel Miranda, Common and (of course) the former First Couple themselves, the Obama Foundation's inaugural global summit isn't wanting for star power. But all that celebrity wattage is there for a more grounded mission: to activate young leaders and nurture civic engagement. So it follows that former First Lady Michelle Obama and Prince Harry of Wales carved out some time before the big event on Tuesday to give some South Side high schoolers the surprise of their young lives.

Michelle Obama and Prince Harry spoke with about twenty students at the Hyde Park Academy.

Caroline Adler Morales, communications director for Michelle Obama said of the pop-in-to-remember:



The warm and wide-ranging conversation, lasting over an hour, covered how the Obama Presidential Center will showcase the South Side of Chicago for a global audience, the importance of young people staying inspired and hopeful, and the transformative power of students using their voices to change the world."



The former First Lady sent out a thank-you tweet to the "outstanding students" that hosted the pair.

Thanks to my friend Prince Harry for joining me in my hometown to surprise these outstanding students! #ReachHigher #ObamaSummit https://t.co/QH7vwnKUBN  Michelle Obama (@MichelleObama) October 31, 2017

Kensington Palace shared photos of the visit on Tuesday.

Prince Harry and @michelleobama made a surprise visit to students at Hyde Park Academy in Chicago. pic.twitter.com/dMAuIzSYsZ  Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) October 31, 2017 The high school is across from the future site of the Obama Presidential Center on the South Side of the city. pic.twitter.com/jjSav1neEQ  Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) October 31, 2017 The warm and wide-ranging conversation, lasting over an hour, covered how the Center will showcase the South Side of Chicago to the world. pic.twitter.com/84lQfvF9iH  Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) October 31, 2017 They spoke about the importance of young people staying inspired and the power of students using their voices to change the world. pic.twitter.com/Ah1unCjBn2  Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) October 31, 2017

Prince Harry spoke at the summit later that day. Michelle Obama spoke with poet Elizabeth Alexander on Wednesday, discussing topics such as self-care, work-life balance and whether parents raise boys to feel entitled and self-righteous. See a clip of her sharing her thoughts below.

.@MichelleObama: "Are we protecting our men too much, so that they feel a little entitled, a little self-righteous?" pic.twitter.com/EyAaCJP5AW  ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) November 1, 2017

The Obama summit closes tonight with a community event/concert featuring Chance the Rapper, The National, Gloria Estefan and other performers.
Defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman has expressed concern over the increasing militarisation of the Indian Ocean with extra-regional nations setting up ''near permanent presence'', in an otherwise peaceful region. In an apparent reference to the expanding Chinese presence in the region, Sitharaman said there is an ''incremental yet steady'' increase in numbers of warships operating in the region, adding, this militarisation ''increases the complexities for the countries of this region.'' ''We have also witnessed extra-regional nations maintain near permanent presence within the region on one pretext or the other. In order to sustain such a presence through operational turn around, these countries which are extra-regional are creating naval outposts as well as dual-use infrastructure in the region,'' Sitharaman said. She was addressing the first Goa Maritime Conclave (GMC) of Navy Chiefs of Indian Ocean littoral states hosted by the Indian Navy at the Naval War College in Goa. The GMC, which will be held every year, aims to ''bring together like-minded countries to evolve collective responses to challenges in the maritime domain.'' "Goa Maritime Conclave aims to bring together like-minded nations to evolve and formulate collective responses to emerging challenges in the maritime domain. The future of the world will be shaped to large extent by the political and economic interaction between stakeholders in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR)," Sitharaman said. She said it is good that the compulsion of globalisation has enabled economies to shape transactional relationships between nations and opaqueness in strategic intent and incoherent behaviour of some nations. The impasse in international relationships is a product of many costs such as ideological differences, political insecurity, economic and technological dependency, inequitable access to resources, besides other factors, she added. Sitharaman said that land-based disputes and riparian issues which are predominantly a legacy of colonial rule are key causes for conflict. ''As international behaviour in the maritime domain is influenced considerably by land-based imperatives, cordiality or latent hostility prevalent among nations on land tends to get reflected in the seas too,'' she stated. "The net impact of these differences is that trust deficits and tensions between nations continue to persist on account of perceived challenges," she added. In the last few years, China has set up or acquired stakes in a series of infrastructure facilities in the region and has recently opened its first overseas military base at Djibouti in the Horn of Africa. The Chinese Navy has also maintained a steady presence of warships and submarines in the Indian Ocean under the garb of anti-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden. The Indian Navy has now put in place a new concept of 'mission-based deployment' to maintain round the clock surveillance on India's vital areas of interest across the length and breadth of the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).








The Defence Acquisition Council, the top decision-making body of the defence ministry, has approved a proposal to acquire 111 multi-utility helicopters for the Indian Navy, at cost of Rs21,738 crore, in a move to enhance the country's naval strike capability. The long-pending proposal was cleared at a meeting of the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday. The DAC accorded approval for what is technically termed as an ''acceptance of necessity''. The helicopters will be procured under the strategic partnership model, under which foreign firms will collaborate with Indian firms and help enhance indigenous military industrial manufacturing capabilities. The DAC also cleared procurement of nine sonar systems at a cost of Rs450 crore that will help in detection of submarines. This will also be acquired under the strategic partnership model. The copters, which will be based on decks of sea-going ships, will be capable of carrying out routine operations like search and rescue, medical evacuation and communication as well. The government will now start the process of identifying a foreign helicopter maker and an Indian defence firm for a joint venture for the project. Procurement of these copters that are equipped with specialised radars, sensors and torpedoes to track and hunt submarines, has been necessitated by a surge in the number of Chinese submarines frequenting the Indian Ocean. These submarines, with anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capabilities, carry sea-dunking sonars for detecting a submarine and is considered potent to hit underwater submarines. The over-flying copters cannot be targeted by a submarine. Of the 111 copters, termed the Naval Utility Helicopters (NUH), 16 will be taken in a flyaway condition and the remaining will be built under the ''Make in India'' initiative. The Navy, in its global request for information (RFI) - seen as first step towards procuring the equipment - made it clear that it wants copters with lightweight anti-submarine torpedo along with radar and sensor package required for target detection of submarines. Currently, the Navy uses the Sea King Mk42B and the Kamov-28 copters in an ASW role. Both are of the 1980s vintage design and are now being upgraded. There are about 20 such copters. Marine helicopters are rugged-ized versions of helicopters used by land or air forces. Sea salinity necessitates a different paint coating while equipment, avionics and radars are totally different. In June this year, the US Department of Defence had, in its report ''Military and Security Developments Involving the People's Republic of China 2017'', said: ''These submarine patrols demonstrate the PLAN's Meanwhile, China has been expanding its access to logistics in the Indian Ocean through submarine patrols, demonstrating the PLAN's emerging capability both to protect China's sea lanes of communication and to increase China's power projection into the Indian Ocean. Beijing also recently opened a military base in Djibouti on the North-Eastern coast of Africa and is slated to establish additional hubs over the next decade. Last year, China signed a pact with Pakistan for the sale of eight submarines. The first four will be built in China, with the remaining four in Pakistan.








A County Longford woman who stabbed a Donegal Town mother with a scissors at a drunken house party in the town, has told a court the victim was like a mother to her.

24-year-old Shannan Kavanagh, Newtownforbes, County Longford lunged at Nicole Wilson with a scissors at a house party at Drumrooske Estate, Donegal Town on November 18, 2015, Donegal Town Circuit Court was told.

She stabbed Nicola Wilson on the top of the head and blood streamed from the wound, and was all over the kitchen.

The victim, who had previously taken the defendant in and put a roof over head was taken to Letterkenny University Hospital where she needed 13 stitches and staples. She was kept overnight after a vicious unprovoked attack.

In a victim impact statement read out in court, Nicola Wilson said her life had changed since the assault and she suffered from anxiety and depression.

She added that she had turned to alcohol for a period to black out the nightmares since the stabbing.

In an emotional public apology, the defendant, Ms Kavanagh said: I am genuinely sorry Nicola. You are the last person I would want to hurt. I love you and you looked after me and I stayed in your house and you were like a mam to me.

Both the defendant and her victim were weeping quietly at this juncture. When asked by defence counsel Peter Nolan, instructed by Rory OBrien, solicitor, why she stabbed the victim, she replied: I was not in my right mind and it makes me sick to think I did that to you."

Mr Nolan then read out a letter of apology from the defendant that stated: I know I can never take back what I did. When I first came to Donegal Town you were like a second mother to me and I really did love you.

Turned her life around

The defendant added that her head was all over the place with drink and drugs. She was away from her baby son and family and did not care about anyone or anything. She said she had now turned her life around and was in a better place.

I am genuinely sorry for what happened, the letter added.

The defendant pleaded guilty to a charge of assault causing harm to Nicole Wilson at Drumrooske Estate Donegal Town on November 18th last.

State Prosecutor, Dara Foynes, read a written statement from the victim that stated the incident happened at a house party in the previously mentioned location and date.

Nicola Wilson was at the party, as was the defendant. Both had been friends since Ms Kavanagh left her Longford home to be with her father in Donegal, the court heard. The statement added that there was drink at the party, but she had not much drink taken, and at one stage, the accused was having her hair cut. There had been no rows and she remembered getting up to dance at one stage. Suddenly Shannan Kavanagh lunged at her with a scissors in the kitchen and stabbed her with a scissors and blood was flowing everywhere.

Garda evidence

Garda Charlie Gallagher told the court he got a call from an ambulance that was at 436 Drumrooske Estate. There was a lot of commotion in the house and a female was sitting in a chair in the kitchen. A man was applying pressure to the wound and there was a lot of blood on the floor. He spoke to a number of people who did not want to give a statement. The garda said it was a house party and some people were drunk.

On August 1st, 2016, he interviewed the defendant under caution. She admitted being at the party in Donegal Town, was taking tablets and drinking heavily at the time. The defendant did not remember using a scissors, but did remember seeing a lot of blood on the floor. She also admitted that Ms Wilson had offered her a place to stay and fed her free of charge and they had got on well.

The garda added that it was a party that had gotten out of hand due to excessive consumption of alcohol. The court was told the defendant had previous convictions for assault, obstruction and public order matters. The garda said the defendant was no stranger to the county, and visited the county regularly in her teens.

Victims impact statement

The victim Nicola Wilsons impact statement, which was read out in court, stated she had to always wear her hair down and could not bring her son or her grandson to the swimming pool since the stabbing.

She said it had been a very traumatic time for her and her family and all she was seeking now was closure. Her confidence had been shattered.

Judge John Aylmer was shown photographs of the injuries inflicted on the victim.

Defence counsel Peter Nolan, said his client was very drunk, and those at the party had been drinking from around 1 pm to 7.20 pm when the garda got the call.

Garda Gallagher agreed under cross-examination by Mr Nolan that it was impossible to get a statement from anyone at the party because of the level of alcohol being consumed.

The garda agreed that the defendant was going through a very dark period when the incident happened. She had left her mother and son in Longford and was taking excessive drugs and alcohol at the time.

Mr Nolan said a subsequent period in Coolmine had sparked a sea change in her attitude.

She was off drink, was regularly tested for drugs, and was back with her mother and caring for her son in Newtownforbes.

Guilty plea

Mr Nolan said she pleaded guilty early, had shown clear remorse and was now contributing to society with a view to becoming a chef in Longford.

She was classed as being at a moderate risk of re-offending according to a Probation report read to the court.

The defendant was gone from Donegal Town.

Mr Nolan asked the court to put the defendant on her mettle to see if she would continue her rehabilitation.

Judge John Aylmer said this was a spontaneous, violent, unprovoked and vicious attack on Ms Wilson who suffered a very serious injury to her head.

It was lucky that it was not more serious and the defendant would be before a higher court.

The judge added that the victim had been scarred for life.

He added that three years in jail was the appropriate sentence, but reduced this to two years and four months given a number of mitigating factors.

Genuine remorse

There was genuine remorse, significant understanding of the effects of the assault on Ms Wilson whom the defendant had previously considered to be one of her closest friends.

The defendant was fully co-operative with gardai and her previous convictions for assault were not at the level of the matter before the court.

She had asked for a custodial sentence for other previous matters elsewhere and this seems to have had a positive effect.

The judge said he was going to give her a last chance by reducing the three years jail sentence to two years and four months, and suspending the sentence.

The defendant was bound to the peace and to be of good behaviour on her own bond of 100 euro.

The sentence was suspended for two years and six months.

She was also remain drug and alcohol free and to have urine analysis to check for the presence of drugs in her system.

The defendant was to be under the supervision of the Probation service and to co-operate with their directions, courses and the psychological/psychiatric recommendations.
A Raphoe man with 102 previous convictions, who rammed a garda car twice during a high-speed chase as he fled towards Northern Ireland in the early hours of April 13 last year was jailed for two years for burglary, at Donegal Town Circuit Court.

42-year-old Jonathonh Ayton, The Close, Raphoe was driving at speeds in excess of 170 kph as he drove a Toyota Avensis car that was taken from the home of a Killybegs couple in the early hours of April 13 last year.

The defendant had been released from prison just three days before the high-speed chase.

He has 72 previous convictions from courts in Northern Ireland and 30 convictions from courts in the Republic of Ireland including several from Letterkenny courts and a court in Galway, the court was told.

When gardai apprehended the defendant after the high-speed chase at Meenbog on a road that led to Castlederg, County Tyrone, he was wearing plastic yellow gloves that he threw into a stream.

Before his capture, a tyre on the Avensis burst, but the defendant continued to drive the vehicle, the court was told.

The defendants boot prints were found at the home of Sean and Anne Rodgers, Fintra Road, Killybegs where the burglary happened, the court heard.

42-year-old Jonathn Ayton, The Close, Raphoe admitted charges of burglary at Fintra Road, Killybegs on April 13 last year. He also pleaded guilty to dangerous driving at Meenbog, Ballybofey on the same date.

The defendant was given a five months concurrent jail sentence for this offence. The defendant was to get credit for time already served.

Related charges of unlawful use of a vehicle and dangerous driving on the same date, were taken into account before Judge John Aylmer, at the Circuit Court.
Wiregrass Area United Way Food Bank executive director David Hanks got a bit of a surprise recently thanks to the National Peanut Festival.

For the past six years, the Alabama Peanut Producers Association has donated a pallet (1,440 jars) of peanut butter to the Food Bank. This year, the National Peanut Festival decided to up the ante and partnered with the peanut producers to offer a second pallet of peanut butter.

The donations were officially presented to Hanks and the United Way Wednesday at the National Peanut Festival fairgrounds. NPF Jason Rudd said the extra donation sheds light on the importance of peanuts and the annual food drive the festival conducts.

Our board really likes to obviously promote peanuts, and what a better way to do it than to have a food drive, Rudd said. With the Wednesday food drive at the Peanut Festival where youll get a discounted ticket if you bring peanut butter and/or some cans of food, we just felt that peanut butter was the perfect thing to donate to the food bank.

Hanks said the gift comes at a critical time for the food bank, especially after the 2017 hurricane season has severely impacted areas of the southeastern United States.

This is our busiest time of the year, October through December going into January, he said. Our inventory is low because a lot of our resources have been diverted to Florida and Texas. Weve come out of the summertime, which is a low food drive time then the storms hit and then our inventory drops down, so were trying to make up for that deficit.

Caleb Bristow, executive director for the peanut producers association, said the donation to the food bank is symbolic on many levels.

The festival is about the celebration of the harvest. Eighty percent of (peanuts) we produce here goes into peanut butter, he said. What a better way to celebrate the harvest than to give peanut butter to the food bank?

Bristow noted the donations were made possible through the Peanut Proud program, a humanitarian outreach of the national peanut industry.

The donation of peanut butter benefits the local United Way and its customers in several ways. Peanut butter is packed with several nutrients, does not have to be refrigerated and can be quite filling.

You got to think about the people we serve. A lot of them are senior citizens, and its one person or two people in the household, Hanks said. A jar of peanut butter you can open and dont have to worry about storage. Everybody knows with peanut butter, you can take that and put it on some bread, and you have a nutritious meal.

The NPF will contribute to the food bank through the aid of festivalgoers next week. On Wednesday, if a person brings one jar of peanut butter or three canned goods, he or she will receive a $2 discount off an admission ticket and $5 off a ride armband.
Mongolian businessmen take full advantage of China-Mongolia Expo to expand their distribution channels and promote cultural communications.

A clock designed by Ochir is exhibited at 2nd China-Mongolia Expo in Hohhot, capital of north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, on Sept. 26, 2017. [Photo by Zhao Shan/China.org.cn]

"I appreciate this opportunity to promote my Mongolian crafts and enter China's market. I design all of my products personally, ensuring that they have a profound connection to Mongolian history and culture. This has attracted more and more Chinese people to buy my products," said Erdenechuluun Ochir, CEO of Craftsman, a Mongolian craft company, at the Inner Mongolia International Convention and Exhibition Center in Hohhot. It's the main venue of the second China-Mongolia Expo, covering a total exhibition area of 49,000 square meters.

It's the second time for Ochir to participate in the China-Mongolia Expo. Since the Expo was first held in 2015, Ochir has sold his handicrafts to Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. "I can network with many Chinese and Russian businessmen at the Expo. It's a perfect opportunity for businessmen from different countries to expand their distribution channels. I'm now seeking opportunities to cooperate with Chinese agents. I hope to accumulate enough commercial resources to lay the foundation for setting up my factory in Hohhot," Ochir explained.

Abu, the chief designer of a Mongolian company named Natural Textile Group, has also attended the China-Mongolia Expo twice. "I gained a lot at each Expo I went to. Before 2015 when I attended the 1st China-Mongolia Expo, I had no Chinese customers. But now, my products have not only entered the Inner Mongolian market, but also attracted many customers from places as far away as Guangzhou and Shenzhen in south China," he said.

"I met my first Chinese agent from Guangzhou at the first China-Mongolia Expo. He showed great interest in my carpets and was very keen to cooperate with me. He told me that people from south China prefer light colors to dark ones," Abu recalled. "Since then, I have put forward design solutions aiming at market expansion in south China. Sales figures for the past two years went beyond my expectations."

"I think Chinese people like my carpets because of the strong local ethnic culture captured in their patterns. Not only can the China-Mongolia Expo serve as an engine for market expansion, but it can also open a window for people to discover the charm of different cultures," Abu said. "Two years ago, I couldn't imagine that I would expand my market to south China. But now, through this Expo, people from south China and from Mongolia can gather for business exchanges and cultural communications. It's amazing."

"Thanks to China's Belt and Road Initiative, our Mongolian businessmen can enjoy vast potential for future development. I hope I can make Mongolian culture more well-known worldwide through selling my crafts. This Expo is a starting point for me to realize that dream," said Ochir.
A newly-issued planning report has recommended that Drogheda be granted city status.



Its author Dr Brian Hughes argues that the Louth town should be granted city status as the population of the countrys largest town and the surrounding area has topped 83,000 and exceeds the size of Waterford.

He backs Drogheda and the fast-growing nearby towns of Laytown, Bettystown and Mornington in east Meath becoming the countrys newest city as the area has the States fifth largest population, bigger than the countrys fifth city, Waterford.

Commissioned by the Drogheda City Status lobby group, the report says that the population of the municipal borough of Drogheda, along with the neighbouring rural areas of Louth and Meath, has increased by almost 80 per cent over two decades, rising from 46,451 to 83,042 in the 2016 census.

According to last years census, Drogheda had a population of 40,956, an increase of 6.2 per cent since 2011, but the surrounding area  part of the Dublin commuter belt  pushes that population to more than 80,000. That includes the east Meath towns of Laytown, Bettystown and Meath that have a population of 10,000 people and are expected to reach 15,000 or more by the next census in 2021.

The Belfast-Dublin economic corridor is growing at a major pace. Drogheda, thanks to its air, motorway, sea and rail links, is growing faster than anywhere else along this corridor, said Dr Hughes.



But we look like we are going to repeat the sins of the past by not providing practical, administrative urban districts. What worries me is the published draft framework proposal ignored Droghedas city status request. This is despite the fact that in seeking submissions, the Government said the final policy would be based on evidence. They have the evidence in his report. They need to act and act now.
A TWIN town initiative between Dundalk and Drogheda is preferable to granting city status to Drogheda, according to a local councillor.

Dundalk Town Cllr Conor Keelan said that a submission has been made to the draft National Planning Framework (NPF) arguing for the inclusion of a border corridor between the towns.

I don't want to get into a Dundalk versus Drogheda political argy bargy. I'm aware there's a campaign for Drogheda to be granted city status, said Cllr Keelan.

However, Louth County Council has already put forward a submission recommending a twin town initiative for Dundalk and Drogheda.

Cllr Keelan added: We're stronger working together rather than operating separately. I think the twin town plan is very positive.

The submission calling for Drogheda to be recognised as a city in the draft National Planning Framework will now go before the Minister for Housing and Planning Eoin Murphy as a recommendation of the Dail Committee tasked with examining the plan.

Louth Fine Gael TD Fergus O'Dowd believes the proposed Drogheda City could be the existing census town of Drogheda which already includes parts of East Meath and South Louth.

The Government published Ireland 2040  Our Plan for its final round of public consultations earlier today (Wednesday, 1 November).

The public can make submissions to the strategic planning framework for Ireland until Friday, November 10 at noon.
A local artist from Blackrock, who has just returned from humanitarian work in Africa alongside her mother and her son, will display new pieces at Irelands premier art fair Art Source, at the RDS from November 10th-12th.

Over 15,000 people are expected to attend the years biggest art show, which will also give Irish art lovers the unique chance to get their hands on 100 pieces of original artwork for 100 each on a first-come, first-served basis.

Among these will be Adrienne Finnerty who divides her time between her native Blackrock and her new home in Barna, Co Galway.

The incessant traveller is just home from a month-long trip to Africa where she and family members helped build schools and orphanages in Kenya, Tanzania and Ethiopia.

While travelling the globe, Adrienne takes photographs of location landscapes and then draws her own abstract interpretation

I dont paint reality. Im inspired by it, especially the colour in everything, she said.

My work is an emotional response to life in paint on canvas.

Adriennes work is informed by her subsequent interest and practice of hypno-psychotherapy and movement, sound and colour therapy.

I had stopped painting for years and it was only when I took a course in colour and art therapy that I was hooked on painting again.

This years Art Source sold out in record time and features over 130 contemporary artists and 20 Irish and international galleries gathering together to showcase painting, sculpture, photography, illustration, prints and ceramic art.

Art Source offers visitors the opportunity to purchase a one-off affordable artwork to make their home unique and also the opportunity to meet the artists and hear about their work, said show organiser Patrick OSullivan.

There is a huge emphasis on visitor involvement at Art Source, and this year the show features interactive oil and resin painting demonstrations and there are free childrens art workshops for under 12s.

Gormleys Fine Art will be showing a selection of original screen prints by the anonymous British-based artist and political activist Banksy who has built a huge following despite his identity remaining a mystery.

Among the pieces being shown by Gormley's are Banksy's iconic Flying Copper image of a policeman with a yellow smiley face, his Girl With A Balloon and his Tesco Tomato Soup Can parody on the work by Andy Warhol.

A world-first cookbook is going to be a recipe for success at Art Source as two brothers undertake to raise funds to change the lives of impoverished children and displaced people abroad.

Andrew and Calvin Sweeney, the founders of Syrias Vibes, will be selling The Artist's Cookbook which features creative recipes, illustrated by the artwork of 100 Irish and international artists.

Art Source takes place at the RDS, Dublin, from November 10-12, admission is 10 adults, 8 OAPs. Children under 16 free only if accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Opening times: Friday Nov 10: 11am-9pm, Sat Nov 11: 10am-6pm, Sun Nov 12: 10am-6pm
A jury has acquitted retired surgeon Michael Shine of four counts of indecently assaulting young male patients.

Mr Shine (85) of Wellington Rd. in Dublin had pleaded not guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to seven charges of indecently assaulting five patients at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital and at his private clinic, both in Drogheda, Co Louth, on dates between 1964 and 1991.

Shortly before 4pm the jury of four men and eight women told Judge Cormac Quinn it had reached majority verdicts on some of the counts.

They acquitted Mr Shine of four charges which cover alleged offences against three teenagers on dates in 1964, 1970 and and 1976. Mr Shine has denied ever seeing these patients and there were no medicals records to confirm that he had seen them on the dates of the alleged assaults.

The five complainants were all teenage boys at the time they allege Dr Shine touched them in their genital areas while treating them for injuries such as cuts to a knee, an injury to a finger and an injured toe.

The remaining three counts cover alleged assaults on two teenage patients on dates between 1974 and 1976. Mr Shine admits attending to these patients but denies that anything inappropriate was done during the medical examination.

The jury foreman told Judge Quinn that the jurors were relatively entrenched in their position on the remaining charges but were happy to continue deliberations on these.

In his charge to the jury on Monday Judge Quinn said that corroboration evidence  credible independent evidence of the alleged acts which implicate the accused in those acts  did not exist in relation to any of the complainants.

He warned the jurors: It is dangerous to convict on the uncorroborated evidence of any of the complainants but added that they are nevertheless entitled to find the accused guilty beyond reasonable doubt once they have taken this warning into account.

You have to exercise special care on whether you believe each complainant. You have to exercise caution before acting on unsupported evidence, he said.

He told the jury that it could decide there were similarities in the accounts and evidence of the five complainants. He said the defence position was that the complainants were not independent, may be colluding and were motivated by civil actions.

He said there was an inherent improbability of several persons making up exactly similar stories.

He said the jury must take each count separately but that if it found Mr Shine guilty beyond reasonable doubt on one count, it could consider it more likely that the account of another complainant of a similar incident was true.

The jury began deliberating yesterday/Tuesday afternoon and continued deliberations this/yesterday (WEDS) morning.
IRISH Water customers in Louth who have changed address are being urged to register their new details to get their refund.

A dedicated refunds website page water.ie/refunds was launched today (Wednesday, 1 November) to enable the refunding of household water charges.

An Irish Water spokesperson told The Dundalk Democrat that Irish Water is currently unable to provide a county breakdown for the number of refunds due to be issued to Louth customers.

If a customer's address or personal details haven't changed, they will not have to contact Irish Water to get their refund.

Refunds will made via cheque to the account holder at the address they provided to Irish Water.

The two big questions that customers have is how much they will receive and when they will receive it, said Irish Water Head of Customer Operations Eamon Gallen.

Household customers can be assured that they will receive the full amount they paid, and customers will shortly be able to check online exactly how much they are due and when there are likely to receive their refund.

Mr Gallen added: Our priority is to ensure that those who paid their household charges get their refund as quickly and efficiently as possible.

This is why I would urge any customers who have not informed us of a change of address to do so now so that their details are up to date and there is no delay in issuing their cheque.

Customers can contact Irish Water on 1850 448 448 if their address has changed and they have yet to update their details.
For every dollar spent at a small business in Australia, 42 cents, on average, is reinvested back into their local community, according to a research report released by American Express to kick-start its month-long Shop Small campaign.

Running throughout November, the national campaign encourages the business community as well as governments and consumers to support small businesses.

The Shopping Small: Keeping it in the Community Report reveals what American Express describes as the Boomerang Dollar effect  namely, small businesses return more than two fifths of every dollar they earn to their local community in the form of salaries for residents (27 cents), payments to local suppliers (12 cents) and contributions to local charities, schools and sponsorships (3 cents).

Although two in three consumers indicated they would choose a small business or recommend one if it supported other local businesses, just 29% reported increasing their small business expenditure over the past year  a drop from 37% in 2016.

Nevertheless, the research also found that 43% of small businesses had increased turnover in the past year, with a further 41% holding steady. Further, businesses with strong neighbourhood networks reported increased sales through referrals (53%), a sense of satisfaction from supporting neighbourhood economies (43%), and increased customer reach (41%). Relevantly,

Commenting on the findings, Katrina Konstas, Vice President for Small Merchants at American Express said, What goes around comes around. Independent businesses have long been recognised as a source of employment and neighbourhood character, but the multiplier effect of choosing to spend money at small businesses is less well known.

The Boomerang Dollar effect shows that almost $38 billion** is reinvested into our communities every year through local spending  thats a huge amount thats going back into business tills, workers pockets and towards worthy community causes. Shopping small can have an enormous effect.

Peter Strong, CEO of the Council of Small Business of Australia (COSBOA), observed: Australia is a nation of neighbourhoods where we put down roots we keep planted for years, so we invest in the places we call home. Loyalty may be an old-fashioned concept, but when you consider that the majority*** of Australians have lived in their local area for three years or more, the longevity of local businesses is important. From years of supporting Shop Small, and the role I play every day at COSBOA, I know the importance of culture and community: which is why I encourage all Australians to join the movement this November.

*Businesses were asked to break down the proportion they spent on local community rather than detail the entire range of their outgoings.

**Figure calculated using ABSs data on average weekly household expenditures of $750.36 for a range of consumer goods and services and 9,270,000 households in Australia. Consumer respondents claimed 24.6% of expenditure is in small business, totalling $88,978,069,462 annual expenditure of selected consumer goods spent in local small businesses. Small business owners were asked to break down the proportion they spent on local community, which accounted for 42 per cent of turnover.

***82 per cent of the survey respondents claimed they have lived in their area for three years or more
Every business owner understands that the rewards of running their own company are immeasurable, but the tradeoff is that you also bear the brunt of the consequences if things go wrong. This is why its important to have a risk management plan in place. Having a strategy for the common pain points that your business may encounter will reduce the impact should anything go wrong.

Below are some of the more common risk factors that small business owners face, and how best to prepare for them.

Youre overly reliant on a small number of clients or customers

If your company is niche, its natural your pool of customers will be quite small. So if you lose one of them, this impacts greatly on revenue. You can decrease the risk by taking the following actions:

Build a pipeline  continually seek out new and profitable customers. Facebook is ideal for targeting specific audiences. Do this regularly, even when profits are at their peak, so you are prepared for any unexpected surprises.

Get more formal  know who your biggest customers are and see if you can lock them into long term contracts. Sometimes this requires an increase in your product offering, so think about investing in growth.

Upsell and cross-sell  transform your smaller customers into bigger ones by offering extra services or incentives like exclusive deals or bundle offers.

Your business is under threat from competitors

Competition is not always negative  it can lead you to create the best version of your product/service. However, there are threats from competitors that are tricky to overcome, for example if they offer significantly lower rates for what seems like a similar service. You can mitigate the risk of ongoing competition by taking the following measures:

Build strong customer relationships that will lead to long-term loyalty. Build on this by asking for honest feedback about what you can do better, and then acting on it.

Understand your industry  attend relevant events and read related publications so that you are at the cutting edge of your field. Knowing your sector will also allow you to benchmark your performance against industry averages, so you know where to improve, and where you excel.

Actively promote the products or services that are already performing well, and see how you can apply elements of their success to other aspects of your business.

Your companys technology is not up to scratch

Technology is central to any business, and it can accelerate company growth and performance. With so many companies heavily reliant on IT infrastructure, its important to take steps to reduce the risk of any technical difficulties:

Software and hardware should all be as up-to-date as possible: you can hire an expert to conduct a review if this is not your area of expertise! Your team will operate better with the right tools, so consider investing in new tech if youre running on old or outdated equipment.

Ensure all your data is backed up and stored off-site or in the cloud.

Ensure your networks and servers are not at risk from an outside attack  customer trust is integral to any business, and cyber security should be a consideration no matter how small your business.

Youre having trouble maintaining your cashflow

For your business to maintain a risk management plan, you will require a baseline level of liquidity. You can meet your short-term debt obligations through the following techniques:

Cash flow is one of the biggest stress points for small business owners. Stay on top of unpaid invoices, see where you can cut back on expenses and ensure your suppliers are offering the best deal possible.

Are all your assets necessary? Eliminate any unproductive assets in your business: if they are not generating revenue, they arent contributing to the liquidity of your company.

If you find yourself in a position where your liquidity cannot cover short term debt, look into a short-term business loan.

About the author

Rebecca James is the Chief Marketing & Enterprise Officer at online small business lender Prospa.
A court in Guangzhou has sentenced an elderly mother to probation for killing her mentally handicapped son, reports thepaper.cn.

The 83-year-old fed her 46-years old son with sleeping pills and then smothered him to death at their shared home in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province on May 9, 2017. She turned herself into the police on the same day.

The mother, only identified by her surname Huang, describes it as a mercy killing, saying her son - who born with a brain disorder - was starting to suffer physically after being bed-ridden.

She also testified that she feared for her son's future due to her own concern that she was going to die, leaving him helpless.

"With my care, he had better food and better company," said Huang, after being asked why she didn't seek hospice care for her son.

Huang's other son, along with other family members, petitioned the court to show mercy in the case.

While she has been found guilty of intentional homicide, the court says it's based its sentence on her voluntary confession, her advanced age and the pleas of her family.

"It's a special case in which the mother killed her son out of love. This is hugely different compared with other violent homicide cases," said Wan Yunfeng, head of the court in Yuexiu District in Guangzhou.
Wuyuan county in Jiangxi Province is famous for the large pieces of rape flowers. But in fact, it becomes more poetic when autumn comes. In late autumn, Changxi Village is shore with deep and vivid tints. The maple trees growing in the front and back of the village turn to burning red. The tall trees contrast finely with the Mau Tou Wall (Horse Head Wall). The red maple leaves, white walls and black tiles blend into a unity, making a unique sight in this ancient village. [China.org.cn]

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The only thing Jane Lumm is independent of is Ann Arbors values

Jane Lumm, incumbent candidate for Ann Arbors city council in the 2nd Ward, ran as a Republican from 1993 until 2011. Tuesday, shell be on the ballot as an independent.

You may not have believed Maya Angelou when she said, When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time. But you can probably believe theres a reason that the chairman of the Michigan GOP and his wife donated $400 to Jane Lumms campaign this year.

And its not because shes an independent.

Lumms history of political donations also gives you a good idea of where she stands. She gave money to Rick Snyders campaign. Bill Schuettes, too. And she served on the GOP Washtenaw Executive Committee for George W. Bush.

In April, Lumm cast the only no vote against an ordinance which would limit when police and other public servants could ask about someones immigration status. And though pretending to be fiscally responsible, she was the primary force behind Ann Arbors deer cull, spending more than half million dollars (thousands per deer, even) without data to prove it was even needed for anything other than her neighbors lawn care.

As the only member on Ann Arbors city council who was reluctant to support a resolution to recognize Indigenous Peoples Day instead of Columbus Day, Lumm said last year she hoped the city could find a way to honor bothand not one at the expense of the other. Like Columbus honored indigenous people?

Fortunately for Lumm, shes been able to run under the independent moniker on odd-year elections, while gathering coffers fit for a Republican. This period, shes received over $27,000 in campaign contributions. Her Democratic opponent? $6,360.

I received a notice from the so-called Democrats for Jane Lumm, but it seems like if she were honest, shed run under the party that accurately reflects her stance on immigrants and Columbus. And these so-called Democrats would look into her values a bit more.

But that would mean valuing honesty. In the 2015 campaign, Lumm said, This is the last time Im going to run. Shes saying it again, this year.
 Flash

A 24-year-old American man accused of killing a Chinese student near the University of Utah in the western U.S. state of Utah was arrested on Tuesday, police confirmed.

"Suspect in #homicide is in custody," the Salt Lake City Police Department tweeted at about 12:45 p.m. local time (0645 GMT, Wednesday).

"Austin Boutain, suspect in fatal shooting Monday, has been apprehended. He is now in custody," the University of Utah also texted the news to students.

Boutain, a white male with a tear drop tattoo on his face as well as tattoos on his neck and one arm, was identified as the suspect in the killing of a 23-year-old Chinese student on Monday night in a failed carjacking attempt near the University of Utah's Salt Lake City campus.

The victim was Chenwei Guo, who was a pre-computer science major and worked as a peer advisor in the university's International Student and Scholar Services Office, Shaw Wood, a communications specialist of the university confirmed to Xinhua.

He "was killed in a senseless, random act of violence," Wood said.

Assisted by a helicopter and snipers, hundreds of local and federal law enforcement personnel hunted Boutain all night on campus and the foothills above the university, but did not locate him.

Boutain was taken into custody without incident at a public library in the city's downtown, Keith Horrocks, detective of the Salt Lake City Police Department, was quoted as saying by local media reports.

The Chinese embassy in Washington paid high attention to the incident and expressed sincere condolences and sympathy to Guo's relatives, a Chinese embassy official told Xinhua.

The Chinese embassy has made contact with the police after the incident, urging timely investigations of the incident.

The Chinese embassy will closely follow the development of the case, and provide assistance for the relatives during their stay in the United States, the official said.

Police disclosed Tuesday that the suspect, who has a criminal history, and his 23-year-old wife Kathleen Boutain may also be related to a homicide committed last week in Golden, Colorado, said the police.

Reports said a 63-year-old man's body was found Tuesday in a trailer in Golden. And police believe Boutain had been driving the man's pickup truck which is still missing.
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(Photo: Glascher/EKD)Bishop Heinrich Bedford-Strohm preaching at the Oct. 31, 2017 service to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the Reformation at Wittenberg's Castle Church in Geramny.

Church and political leaders have marked the 500th anniversary of the Reformation in Wittenberg, Germany where on 31 October 1517 Martin Luther's is said to have published his 95 Theses denouncing church abuses.

"It was an act of liberation when, 500 years ago today, the Augustinian monk Martin Luther posted his 95 Theses in Wittenberg, perhaps even a few meters from here, on the door of this church," said Bishop Heinrich Bedford-Strohm, the World Council of Churches reported.

The bishop is chairperson of the Council of the Evangelical Church in Germany and was delivering a sermon at the Oct. 31 service at Wittenberg's Castle Church.

"A spiritual renewal went out from Wittenberg, to people in Germany, Europe and worldwide. To men and women from all social classes," said Bedford-Strohm.

The service opened with the singing of Luther's hymn "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God" whose words are inscribed around the tower of the Castle Church, and included music by 18th century composer Johann Sebastian Bach.

German president Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Chancellor Angela Merkel joined church leaders at the service, including Cardinal Reinhard Marx, president of the German Bishops' Conference, and the general secretary of the World Council of Churches, Rev. Olav Fykse Tveit.

The World Evangelical Alliance took part in a separate commemoration in Bad Blankenburg, German.

It said in a statement, "500 years after Martin Luther asserted the vital importance of Scripture in his famous 95 Theses, which became a watershed moment in the lead up to the Protestant Reformation, evangelical Christians across the world have been re-affirming the Bible's role in Christian discipleship."

"While only some of our churches trace their heritage back to Luther, we are all bound together by the spirit of Reformation that desired to bring the Church back to the essence of its faith: Solus Christus, Sola Scriptura, Sola Gratia & Sola Fide  Christ alone, Scripture alone, by grace alone & by faith alone," WEA said.

The events set in motion by Luther's 95 Theses led to the separation of Western Christianity into Roman Catholic and Protestant churches.

However, "Luther did not want to found a new church but to call the Church of Jesus Christ back to its Lord," said Bedford-Strohm.

The Reformation pitted Roman Catholics and Protestants against each other for centuries.

But today Christians understand that the church must not longer be divided, said the bishop.

"No one should think that we can be induced to stray from the path towards visible unity in reconciled diversity," said Bedford-Strohm.

During the service, Bedford-Strohm presented Cardinal Marx with a cross of reconciliation from St Michael's church in Hildesheim, where Protestant and Roman Catholic leaders held an ecumenical service for "healing of memories" in March 2017.

"For the first time in history, it not the building up of barriers but reconciliation that is at the centre," said Bedford-Strohm handing the cross to Cardinal Marx as the two church leaders stood side by side in front of the congregation.

"We have taken steps toward each other, and do not want to go back again, said Cardinal Marx.

The cross was then offered by the two church leaders to president Steinmeier, as a symbol, said Marx, of the churches' commitment to reconciliation in society.

Bedford-Strohm said he hoped the process of reconciliation between churches could send a message to a world threatened by conflicts and divisions.

The Reformation year began on 31 October 2016 with a service at Lund cathedral in Sweden where Pope Francis and leaders of the Lutheran World Federation gathered to repent for past divisions and to commit themselves to common witness and service in the world.

In his sermon, Bedford-Strohm paid tribute to the pope's signs of reconciliation between churches.

But the bishop also acknowledged Luther's invectives against Jews and Lutheran persecution of Anabaptists for which Protestants had now asked forgiveness.

WCC general secretary Tveit was presented as a representative of churches worldwide with a facsimile of the 95 Theses, symbolising the contribution of Reformation churches to the whole of world Christianity.

'POWER TO FORGIVE'

"Give us the power to forgive and courage to practise reconciliation" said Tveit during the intercessory prayers. "Lead us on the path to unity in Jesus Christ.

Speaking after the service, Tveit described the commemoration as a sign of hope for the church and for humanity.

"For the first time in five centuries, we have been able to commemorate the Reformation ecumenically," Tveit said. "We have together offered repentance for the divisions of the past and affirmed what we have in common in Jesus Christ.

"This is a powerful symbol of our mutual accountability and one that has enormous potential for strengthening hope as we demonstrate a real willingness to repent, to change, to see what is wrong, and to contribute to changes and transformation toward just peace."
 Flash

Photo taken from a Kyodo News helicopter on Oct. 31, 2017 shows an apartment house in Zama, Kanagawa Prefecture where police found nine bodies in one of its units. [Photo/VCG]

Police in Tokyo arrested a man in his 20s after discovering body parts of nine dismembered people while searching for a 23-year-old missing woman, local media reported on Tuesday.

Takahiro Shiraishi, 27, has admitted to killing the nine people, including eight women and one man, since he moved into his apartment on Aug. 22.

He admitted that he killed the victims for stealing money and that he had also attempted to rape some of the women.

He told the police that he couldn't throw away the bodies because he was afraid of being caught.

Shiraishi was arrested on suspicion of body disposal and the police were expected to file murder charges later.

According to Japan's public broadcaster NHK, investigators from the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department were investigating the disappearance of the young woman from Hachioji City in the suburbs of Tokyo.

The woman was reported missing last Tuesday.

The investigations led them to an apartment in Zama City near Tokyo, where Shiraishi was arrested on suspicion of body disposal.

Police suspect the dismembered body parts include those of the missing woman.

They believe the woman may have come into contact with Shiraishi on an Internet website for people with suicidal thoughts.

A message was posted on the woman's Twitter account on Sept. 20, according to Kyodo News, saying she was "looking for someone who will die with me." The message said she "wants to die, but is scared of dying alone."

Subsequent investigations revealed that she had been exchanging messages online with Shiraishi.

Surveillance camera footage also showed the pair walking together on Monday last week at Hachioji station in Tokyo, and at another station near the man's apartment, NHK said.

During the police's initial search of Shiraishi's apartment they found a cooler box with the dismembered body parts of two people, local media reported.

The remains of seven other people in his apartment were subsequently found, local media quoted police investigators as saying.

Police said Shiraishi confessed to killing of the woman soon after he met her, saying he used the bath to cut up the bodies and dumped some of the body parts in the garbage.

They retrieved a saw from his apartment believed to have been used to dismember the bodies.

While some residents in the same apartment building had noticed a foul smell coming from his room since August, others described Shiraishi as being "a cheerful, kind and polite man."
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 Flash

A 19-year-old Syrian national has been arrested in Germany on suspicion of plotting a terrorist attack, German police told reporters on Tuesday.

According to a statement from the Federal Prosecutor General's Office, the individual identified as Yamen A. is under "strong suspicion" of having taken concrete preparatory steps to carry out an "Islamist-motivated" terror attack in Germany.

The suspect is believed to have aimed to kill as many civilians as possible with a highly-explosive TATP bomb and acquired chemicals and other necessary components towards this end from July 2017 onwards.

The 19-year old was taken into custody when special forces from the Federal Police and Federal Criminal Police Office raided his apartment in the Northern German town of Schwerin early on Tuesday morning.

It remained unclear at a subsequent press conference whether the suspect had already chosen a specific location to carry out his purported attack.

Police spokesperson Ulf Wundrack confirmed that other locations aside from the suspect's Schwerin apartment were searched by security forces as well, including in the port city of Hamburg.

Wundrack told reporters that police had hereby offered "administrative support" for the Federal Criminal Police Office. A further witness in Hamburg was questioned, but no arrests were made.

While Yamen A. had contacted a self-described "soldier of the caliphate", who was a supporter of the Islamic State, on the Internet prior to his arrest, police were unclear about the identity and role assumed by this second individual in the terror plot.

Security forces said there was no evidence as yet that Yamen A. was a member of a larger terrorist organization.

Yamen A. had been under permanent supervision from special forces after the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution and the Federal Criminal Police Office launched criminal investigations into his case on Oct. 21.

In response to the widely-publicized arrest, German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere thanked security authorities for preventing a "serious terror attack in Germany" and praised them for their "excellent work".

Nevertheless, de Maiziere warned that the risk of a terror attack against civilians in Germany remained high.

Germany is facing increasing terrorist attack risks after over a million refugees, many from Middle East countries, entered the country since 2015.

Last July, a 27-year-old Syrian refugee detonated an explosive device outside a music festival in the southern German town of Ansbach, killing himself and wounding 15 people.
Jeremy Calvert is back on social media and back to publicly chatting with his ex-wife, Leah Messer, which typically means that he has again split from on-again, off-again girlfriend Brooke Wehr.

Just weeks after Brooke Wehr confirmed on Instagram that she and Calvert had reconciled after spending months apart earlier this year, the single mom from Ohio returned to social media to share an odd post that hinted at yet another breakup.

In her Oct. 30 post, Wehr shared a meme which suggested that the man in her life had been getting some inappropriate messages from Teen Mom 2 fans -- and failed to shut them down in they way a good man should. In the caption, Wehr included the hash tags "shady" and "b***hes."

"True...some chicks will do anything for attention. What matters is how your man responds to it," one fan wrote, In response to Wehr's post. In turn, Wehr shared the "100 percent" emoji.

"There will always be shady bitches.. but the man needs to put them in check! That's what needs to be done first," responded Wehr.

"Absolutely agree," she wrote in her post, also adding the hash tag, "Be a man not a boy."

Calvert and Wehr began dating one another in 2015 after he split from Messer after calling her out for cheating on him with Robbie Kidd, who she also cheated with while married to first husband Corey Simms. Although Messer denied Calvert's claim, their divorce was finalized in June and around the same time, he went public with Wehr.

Calvert and Wehr then began spending time with one another during production on Teen Mom 2 and Wehr was frequently seen on the show until earlier this year after they called it quits amid allegations of Calvert's alleged cheating with multiple women.

Following Wehr's claims that Calvert had cheated on her numerous times during their relationship, Calvert denied her accusations and accused her of being crazy. However, months later, the drama between them subsided and after Calvert was spotted at a bar in Charleston, West Virginia with Messer, the mother of his four-year-old daughter, he and Wehr reconciled.

To see more of Jeremy Calvert and his costars, including Leah Messer, Chelsea Houska, Jenelle Evans, Kailyn Lowry, and Briana DeJesus, tune into new episodes of Teen Mom 2 season eight on Mondays at 9 p.m. on MTV.

No word yet on whether or not Wehr will be seen on any further episodes of the show.
Wendy Williams might have had an elaborate costume for Halloween but thats not what put her in the headlines Tuesday.

The talk show host, who was dressed up as Lady Liberty, was introducing the annual Halloween costume contest when she started to slur her words. She then had a pretty scary look on her face as she backed away from the podium, froze and ultimately fainted. Her producers and cameramen on hand rushed to her side immediately.

The show cut to commercial right away. When it returned, Williams didnt waste time in letting fans know it was not a stunt as many speculated if she was playing a Halloween prank. She then explained what made her lose consciousness briefly.

I overheated in my costume and I did pass out, she said. But you know what, Im a champ. Im back.

She then went on with her show as the audience screamed and cheered.

Once the show was over, Williams took to Instagram to explain further what she believes happened in the scary moment.

Everybody relax. Im doing just fine, just need some water and electrolytes. On another note, I slayed and laid Halloween, LOL!

She then thanked her Glam Squad and Ceaser Galindo, who was the brains behind the costume.

A post shared by Wendy Williams (@wendyshow) on Oct 31, 2017 at 9:49am PDT

She vowed that she would let fans know more on Wednesdays show.

Interestingly enough, just before the now viral moment, Williams said that she was not a fan of Halloween, to begin with.

Its just so not my holiday. All sorts of freaks and weirdos walking around

The moment comes after Williams has faced lots of drama in her personal life. Her husband, Kevin Hunter, was accused of having an affair with another woman for the last ten years. Williams has spoken out about it and said that it is completely false and that she actually knows the woman who scoured headlines as Hunters mistress. Word spread shortly after that it was one of her producers on set who leaked the story to the media. She reportedly fired a handful of them on the spot. Word is she didnt only give them the axe because the story was not true at all, but also because it proved that they arent loyal to her or her personal life once she leaves the stage.

Williams has also been known to feud with major celebrities from rapper T.I. to reality star NeNe Leakes.

Be sure to keep up with Enstars for more.
When China started offering economic benefits to poor African countries in exchange for their votes in the United Nations on the issues that mattered most to Beijing, Europe was judgmental. Something like this could never happen in the civilized and principled Europe, Brussels thought then. Now, faced with Greece blocking the EU from speaking out on human rights abuses in China, we have to think again.

Greece, just like many others, has become increasingly dependent on the economic benefits delivered by China. There are many signs of that. Last year, Greece was one of the countries that prevented the EU from declaring that China should stick with a ruling by the International Court of Justice in The Hague regarding Beijings activities in the South China Sea. We ourselves facilitated the growing Greek dependence on China by making Greece follow the very strict austerity rules that have made the Greek economy contract more than 25% since 2008.

In contrast, the German economy grew by 10% during the same time period, thus giving the Greek people the impression that the austerity measures were more in the interest of richer Western members than in the interest of their country. In 2010, Greece was forced to privatize much of its public property to pay off its debts. The fact that the harbor of Piraeus fell in the Chinese hands has much to do with the EUs policy. China had already owned part of the harbor and its further involvement during the crisis made the Greek feel that it could expect more benefits coming from Beijing than from Brussels. This should be a warning sign to the EU.

Greece is slowly getting into Chinas sphere of influence and the EU is letting this happen by sticking to its ideology combined with strict austerity measures with a focus on the privatization of public goods. Obviously, China is also playing an active role in making this happen. Its activities in Greece are part of its Chinese Belt & Road initiative, which  wanted or not  divides Europe at the end of the day. China presents this plan as a grand opportunity for the world to develop together with it by showing that it is a new and benevolent leading force in creating future prosperity in the world.

Within Europe, Beijing mainly focuses on cooperation with eastern and southeastern European countries, some of them members and some non-members of the bloc. Much of the focus of Chinas global initiative is on construction but what it offers here in Europe is essentially superfluous to what the EU is offering. In 2014, Brussels published its own plan to better connect the north to the south and the east to the west: the trans-European transport network with funding of about 25 billion EUR.

If China wants to play a role in these plans, it should be invited to join the debate and take part in these plans based on European needs and rules. But if we join the Chinese Belt & Road without discussing and contemplating it first, we will lose out  we will be serving Chinese needs rather than our needs. But more importantly, such Chinese involvement will lead to more politically tainted project and will ultimately divide Europe while Chinas influence in Europe grows stronger.

Chinas Belt & Road Initiative: Nice for China, Not for Europe  Opinion by Garrie van Pinxteren  Clingendael / Netherlands Institute of International Relations.

(The Opinion can be downloaded here)
The seventh round of talks on the Syrian civil war ended in Astana yesterday (31 October) with a deal between the three guarantor states  Russia, Iran and Turkey  for a congress of national dialogue to be held in the Russian city of Sochi despite some naysaying from the side of the Syrian opposition. While Turkey supports the opposition, Russia and Iran back Bashar al-Assads regime.

Kazakhstan is offering its capital to be a neutral venue for peace talks on Syria, though the Astana negotiations do not replace the Geneva peace process but rather supplement them by focusing on humanitarian issues. The European Union is not represented in the Astana talks. They are a platform for the three guarantors or the ceasefire regime, the Syrian government and the Syrian opposition represented by a number of groupings as well as observers  the United Nations, the United States and Jordan.

The previous Astana meeting was held in May and the participating parties agreed to establish de-escalation zones in the city of Idlib and some parts of Latakia, Homs, Aleppo and Hama as well as Daraa, Eastern Ghouta and Damascus. The main topics of this round were humanitarian access, demining, exchange of prisoners and the dead and search for the missing persons. It was also reported by diplomats that Russia would like to hold the talks under its auspices, possibly also aiming to work on a new constitution for the war-stricken Syria. Since the war began in 2011, it has claimed more than 400,000 lives, according to the United Nations, and more than 11 million people have been forced from their homes.
Scientists from China and the United Kingdom have successfully used gene editing to make pigs leaner, improving their overall health and making them cheaper to feed.

A team from the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing used CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing technology to introduce genes from mice into pig embryos, resulting in young with 24 percent less body fat.

Pigs carry white fat - or lard - and are not capable of producing brown fat, which is better for insulation. The scientists used special proteins to insert mice genes involved in the production of brown fat into pig embryos.

The Chinese researchers successfully reared 12 piglets who carried the new gene.

They found the modified pigs stayed warmer in cold temperatures. Brown fat takes less energy to create so the pigs have a better "feed conversion ratio" - they need less food to grow.

"Pork is the number one meat consumed in China, so it's an important industry," said Zhao Jianguo, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Sciences and an author on the report. "China spends a lot of money trying to improve economic production and efficiency in the pig industry."

In the CRISPR/Cas9 system, special proteins act as a molecular "copy and paste" tool, targeting precise areas of DNA and removing or inserting genes.

Scientists have observed such proteins at work in the natural world for decades, and were first able to artificially replicate the system in human cell cultures three years ago.

The new research was published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States.

John Speakman and Catherine Hambly of the UK's Aberdeen University were involved in testing activity and energy consumption in the piglets.

The sale of animals that have undergone gene editing is not yet licensed in China, though Zhao said the cutting-edge technology has the potential to become commonplace.

Many crops, including the majority of the world's soy and maize, are now genetically modified after techniques were first developed in the 1980s, Zhao noted.

China accounts for half of all global pork consumption. It is restructuring its pig sector to boost domestic supply.

Imports of pork have grown at an annual rate of 150 percent since 2007. UK pork exports to China amounted to 76,000 metric tons last year, compared with 2,000 tons in 2007,making China the biggest export destination for British pork for the first time.

The pork industry in China is moving away from small production units to larger operations that invest in genetic and technical advancements. The hope is this will make it easier to control disease and improve herd health, reducing reliance on foreign imports.
The perception of Africa is changing among European policymakers. Rather than seeing it as a charity case, they have come to recognize the continent as an increasing security threat and as such doing more to develop impoverished African economies is getting higher and higher on the EUs agenda.

Brussels game plan for alleviating poverty and creating jobs in Africa is, however, hung upon wishful thinking. Instead of boosting development budget as it was done in the past, Brussels now hopes and expects that European companies will step in with investment. Last months EU-Africa summit that brought together about 60 European and African leaders discussed Europes investment plan on the African continent. The plan that was presented about a year ago aims to provide 44bn into business start-ups in Africa, giving a huge boost to the EUs development effort.

The long-term objective is obviously to stem the influx of migrants seeking a better life in Europe. With the African population bound to double to more than 2.5 billion by mid-century, todays flow is at the risk of turning into a deluge of economic migrants and refugees from conflicts and climate change. Finding a solution to the migrant crisis has become acute  hence the new focus on growth in Africa. Berlin is calling for a Marshall Plan for Africa to motivate potential migrants to stay at home, although there is so far little money to finance it.

The European Investment Bank (EIB) is spearheading the plan and hoping to double the 2.6bn that it currently has available. Last week, the banks president Werner Hoyer said that tackling the root causes of Africas emigration pressures is a major challenge. He added that the number of jobless young Africans is expected to rise before very long from around 35 million today to more than 100 million.
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Good afternoon



Hoping someone could help. I have to provide CIC with my birth certificate which is Lithuanian. I have got translated and certified copy of my birth certificate but it was done 7 years ago. Is there any validity time of this translation and certify or do I have to do this again?



Many many thanks
Ernst & Young plans to create up to 600 full-time jobs in San Antonio in exchange for incentives from the city, county and state worth up to $3.4 million, the company said in a statement today.

The company, a major financial services firm that already has 200 workers downtown, will spend at least $8.5 million to complete and furnish a 54,000-square-foot client service center in the Farinon Business Park on the Northwest Side. San Antonio was competing against Atlanta and Jacksonville, Florida, for the offices, said Rene Dominguez, director of the citys Economic Development Department.

City Council is slated to vote next week on an incentive package that will include a six-year, 100 percent tax abatement worth about $243,000 in return for creating the 600 jobs, Dominguez said. The package will also include a grant capped at $309,000 over five years awarding $1,000 to the company for every job the company creates that pays over $50,000 a year, he said.

The average salary for jobs created by Ernst & Young is expected to be $55,000 a year, Dominguez said. The employees would provide high-level technical and operational support for the companys financial services office, he said.

Its a great opportunity for our young people, he said. With it being located by UTSA, and the number of college grads we have, its a great opportunity.

Bexar County commissioners also are expected to vote on an incentive package in two weeks. The incentives would include a six-year, 100 percent property tax abatement worth about $149,558, as well as a grant of up to $100,000 based on the company creating 100 new jobs paying at least $50,000 a year, according to Bexar County Precinct 3 Commissioner Kevin Wolff.

The state has approved a Texas Enterprise Fund grant worth about $2.6 million in connection with the new jobs, according to a news release sent by Governor Greg Abbotts office on Wednesday afternoon.

The city and countys incentive programs have come under scrutiny after City Council and Commissioners Court approved more than $8 million in incentives from Credit Human, a local credit union, to move its headquarters from the North Side to The Pearl and hire another 50 workers.

While voting for the incentives, Kevin Wolff and District 6 City Councilman Greg Brockhouse questioned whether the city and county should still offer such large amounts, especially for companies to locate in thriving areas such as The Pearl.

Im usually not a big supporter of incenting things in areas that are growing fast, and my precincts one of those, said Wolff, whose precinct would include the new office. But for the community as a whole I think its a good thing. I think its certainly the types of jobs we want to attract.

The city and county have both been talking with Ernst & Young since spring about the new office, representatives said.

Ernst & Young plans to hire financial and information-technology professionals who will be supporting its advisory business in delivering financial services to clients that include major banks, insurance companies and wealth-management firms, said Randy Cain, the firms vice chair and managing partner in its Southwest region.

The work Ernst & Young does for clients includes providing risk management, advising on regulatory issues and improving their businesses processes.

Most of the hires the company plans to make will be college graduates, but not all, Cain said. It expects 125 workers will be hired by 2019, but its committed to getting to 600 workers within five years.

The advisory business for the financial service sector has grown dramatically, he added in explaining the reason for the firms expansion.

Ernst & Young recently opened its first client service center in Jacksonville. That center employs about 450 people.

Securing another EY office in San Antonio is yet another affirmation of San Antonios growing potential to attract and have world-class companies experience positive growth in our city, Mayor Ron Nirenberg said in the statement.

rwebner@express-news.net | pdanner@express-news.net
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WASHINGTON  Amid confusing signals from the White House and Congress, pro-immigrant organizations are stepping up protests in the U.S. Capitol and around the country demanding a vote on Dream Act legislation to protect young undocumented immigrants in danger of deportation.

Dismayed by a seeming lack of progress toward a solution, the groups intend to deploy a variety of tactics from fasting to confronting members of Congress to a walkout of college and high school classes Nov. 9.

U.S. Rep. Will Hurd, R-San Antonio, has been a protest target of immigrant groups  some aligned with the Democratic Party  and will continue to be a focus of their efforts, activists said.

Leaders also are organizing a massive gathering in early December that they hope will draw 50,000 people to Washington, a protest that would be combined with events around the country.

We need to agitate endlessly until legislation passes, said Kica Matos of the Center for Community Change, a Washington-based advocacy group. Our demand to legislators has been very clear: Pass legislation quickly and before the end of the year or we will be in your face until you do so.

A protest in California turned violent last week when a man drove his car into a crowd at an intersection near the Brea office of U.S. Rep. Ed Royce, R-Calif., target of a pro-immigrant protest. No serious injuries were reported. A 56-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of felony assault with a deadly weapon.

The tenor of the protests has grown increasingly urgent in the weeks since President Donald Trump declared on Sept. 5 that the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program will expire in March. He gave Congress six months to come up with a solution.

For nearly two months, some 800,000 DACA recipients and their families and allies have been buffeted by dashed hopes and changing scenarios in Washington.

A week after Trumps announcement, Democratic congressional leaders emerged from a White House meeting to declare that they had struck a deal with the president to protect so-called Dreamers in legislation without provisions for building a border wall

But earlier this month, the White House put out a 17-page list of principles for such a deal that included building the border wall and dramatically limiting the ability of new U.S. citizens to sponsor relatives for legal status.

Last week, Trump told reporters he would love to forge a deal to protect Dreamers but we have to get something very substantial for it, including the wall.

In Congress, reports surfaced that House Speaker Paul Ryan had told an alliance of ardent conservatives in the Republican caucus that a DACA fix would be part of a must-pass government spending bill. On Thursday, Ryan denied that such a plan existed.

No decision has been made about the timing and nature of DACA, how it will be structured and when it would occur, Ryan, R-Wis., told reporters.

With mass deportations an approaching reality, immigration activists are getting increased support from labor unions and liberal groups to expand pressure tactics.

Corinne Ball of MoveOn, a leading liberal advocacy group and political action committee, described giving young undocumented immigrants a pathway to citizenship as the priority in the progressive movement.

We are united to demand action from legislative leaders. Immigrant youth should not spend another day in limbo, said Ball, one of a half-dozen immigrant advocates who spelled out plans to reporters Friday.

The activists said theyre stepping up plans to confront members at their offices in Washington as well as in their districts.

While the main effort is directed at Republicans, Democrats are getting pressure to withhold their votes on critical spending legislation absent an agreement to protect young immigrants.

Hurd has been the focus of protests throughout the district, many of them demanding that he sign on as a co-sponsor to the Dream Act  legislation that has been offered in Congress in one form or another for 16 years but never advanced into law.

The bill, short for Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors, would grant conditional permanent resident status for people who have been in the United States for at least four years and were 17 or younger when they arrived if they met certain requirements including graduation from high school or admission to college.

Adrian Reyna of United We Dream, which bills itself as the nations largest immigrant youth-organization, asserted that Hurds predominately Hispanic district is heavily affected by the DACA uncertainty.

What we need Congressman Hurd to do at this moment is not just say, I support the Dreamers, I want to do something for them. He has to be a model of the kind of leadership we want from members of Congress and say, I want Congressman Ryan to push this for a vote and urge other Republicans to be in favor of the Dream Act, he said.

Hurd is part of a small group of Republicans assigned by Ryan to come up with a solution. He has insisted that joining the handful of Republicans who have agreed to sponsor the Dream Act would compromise his effectiveness.

In an interview, Hurd said he has met with DACA recipients and that his group continues working toward a bipartisan solution. They met as recently as last Thursday.

Im one of the people who is trying to find a solution to this, he said.

Hurd said he would like to see the solution modeled after a proposal offered in Washington earlier this month by the Bipartisan Policy Center and co-authored by Henry Cisneros, the San Antonio business leader, former mayor and past Housing and Urban Development secretary, and Michael Chertoff, homeland security secretary in the George W. Bush administration.

That proposal recommends immediate protection from removal and a path to a green card after meeting conditions related to work, study or military service.

The plan advises against comprehensive reforms at this time, noting that it could derail legislation. As far as a border wall, it advocates physical barriers in appropriate sectors along with other security measures.

I see that as a framework we should be looking at to find a bipartisan solution to make sure that young men and women who have only know the United States of America as their home get to stay, Hurd said.

There are a number of good conversations were having and were trying to come to a resolution of this as quickly as possible. I think everybody recognizes the need to remove the uncertainty so many people are feeling.

blambrecht@express-news.net
Fairytale princesses, superheroes and all kinds of characters of myth and magic assembled at Methodist Childrens Hospital on Tuesday afternoon to bring Halloween to young patients not able to take part in their own neighborhoods.

More than 60 hospital staff members formed two lines in the lobby as a parade of costumed infants and youngsters made their way down the lines, colorful bags open wide to catch handfuls of candy.

At the front of the line, Emanii Younassoghlous wide smile was only half-hidden by a white surgical mask, as her IV pole trailed behind her. As the 13-year-old received hugs from costumed staffers, a blue land shark shoveled treats into her purple bag, decorated with Jack Skellington from the 1993 Disney movie The Nightmare Before Christmas.

She was followed by two small Spider-Men and a little girl in a red-and-white polka-dot dress sporting Minnie Mouse ears. A staff member dressed as a NASA engineer pushed a teen boy in a wheelchair who was wearing an old-school ghost costume made of a sheet with two holes cut out for eyes. Hazel, the hospitals facility therapy dog, was dressed up, too, in a pink tutu. She attracted plenty of the youngsters attention as she sat with one of her handlers, Jo Anna Hendricks.

A wide-eyed tot, sitting in a wagon draped in crepe paper streamers, looked up in wonder as she was pulled through the line. At the end of the procession, a trio of Jedi knights held glowing light sabers in the air as Emanii and her fellow trick-or-treaters joined Wonder Woman, Captain America, Batman and Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz.

I was surprised, Emanii said amid a flurry of fist bumps and high fives. It was pretty cool. It helped cheer me up.

Its pretty good, considering theyre all stuck here in the hospital, said Emaniis mother, Krystal Settles, 36, , but they made it where they dont miss Halloween.

The costume parade kicked off an afternoon of Halloween activities for hospitalized kids that began on the first floor and wound its way to the patients on the third, fourth and sixth floors who werent able to leave their rooms. Caitlin Pearce, director of child life services, said hospital staff started the reverse trick-or-treating three years ago. She said staff get excited and those who are off for the day often volunteer their time for the event. Their motto is the bigger the line, the better.

Halloween is an essential part of childhood, said Pearce, dressed in an orange NASA flight suit. Our job at Methodist Childrens Hospital is to make sure we provide all of those essential life experiences, whether theyre in the hospital or not. Its important to bring Halloween to them just as much as its important for us to get them better and out of here.

On the fourth floor, the costumed characters went room-to-room, where they handed out gobs of treats to patients. Out in the hallway of the oncology unit, a tiny Darth Vader sidled up beside an adult version of the Sith Lord and Chewbacca the Wookie for photos as the rustle of candy wrappers mixed with the buzz of lively greetings.

Hospital patient Jorge Herrera, 16, didnt dress up, but he enjoyed watching the cavalcade of costumed characters as they whisked their trick-or-treat tour past the nurses station on the fourth floor.

I think its a great idea for events like this, so the kids can feel alive, so they can be happy and have some distraction from whats going on, he said.

vtdavis@express-news.net
The L.E. Phillips Libertas Treatment Center in Chippewa Falls, an affiliate of HSHS St. Josephs Hospital, announced a partnership Wednesday that could have far-reaching ripples in local economy and healthcare circles.

Libertas, a drug and alcohol addiction and mental health treatment center at 2661 County Highway I, will become a member of the Hazelden Betty Ford patient care network, effective immediately.

A perk of a Hazelden membership: access to tools for recovery and recent addiction research.

The HSHS Sacred Heart and St. Josephs system received a state grant in 2016 to expand treatment for heroin and opioid addiction, said system CEO Julie Manas at a Wednesday press conference. The partnership is Libertas chance to join the national conversation on addiction.

Libertas offers both inpatient  38 total beds for detoxification and treatment  and outpatient services. It has roughly 5,000 visits per year, with an upswing in the winter season, said Toni Simonson, director of the Libertas Center.

Dr. Erik Dickson, chief physician for HSHS hospitals, said the Hazelden resources will put Libertas at the cutting edge of addiction treatment. Becoming a Hazelden member is going to be extremely helpful for providers throughout the Chippewa Valley to get to the next level of evidence-based treatment, he said.

The merger also has the potential to bring more employees and patients to the area. I do think that well have more patients that want to serve us, so wed likely need to hire more staff, especially in our outpatient service area, director Simonson said. My dream is for us to outgrow our outpatient space and have to create a whole new clinic that we can then add staff.

By the end of a second year under the new systems, Libertas may be able to map out possible expansion, Simonson said.

The Center City, Minnesota-based Hazelden is the nations largest nonprofit addiction treatment provider, according to its website, and just launched its network program in August.

Hazelden, with operations in eight other states, has cut nearly five dozen jobs this year because of discounted payment rates from health insurers and installation of a new electronic records system. The Star Tribune of Minneapolis reports a Hazelden financial statement says the transition from self-pay patients to those covered by health insurance happened faster than expected, resulting in greater discounts.

The nonprofit Hazelden has been known as Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation since it merged with the California-based Betty Ford Center in 2014.

While Libertas in Chippewa Falls is Hazeldens most recently-named partner, the foundation launched its network in August and has been quickly adding addiction centers around the country: a center in South Dakota joined Hazeldens network in September. A month later, centers in Toledo, Ohio and Houston, Texas announced their participation.

For more information about both organizations, visit www.libertascenter.org and www.hazeldenbettyford.org.
The brainchild of high-profile business owner Gina Rinehart, the National Farmers Federation (NFF) will take the lead in running National AgDay, supported by the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources and former deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce and a host of farm industry groups.
The current AWI board is representing all grower interests by implementing measures to drive the highest return for our Merino product all the way up the supply chain, from successful on-farm shearer and shed-hand training, Lifetime Ewe workshops, the revolutionary introduction of the Wool Exchange Portal and to the continuation of a highly successful marketing program involving more than 500 leading brands such as Adidas and Nike
A comprehensive tax overhaul  an elusive pursuit in Wisconsin politics  will be the focus of a new Assembly Republican effort leading up to the 2018 election and 2019 state budget deliberations.

The announcement Wednesday comes as a similar federal effort has reached a critical juncture. Congressional Republicans on Thursday are scheduled to announce a plan to rewrite the federal tax code.

Rep. John Macco, chairman of the Assembly Ways and Means Committee, said his committees mission for the rest of the session is to study tax law changes.

He offered few details Wednesday and didnt set a firm deadline for delivering a detailed proposal, but said the goal would be to keep it revenue neutral, meaning lower taxes in one area would be offset by higher taxes elsewhere.

For example, he said, income tax rates could be lower while some sales tax exemptions are eliminated. Transportation taxes and fees will also be scrutinized, he said.

We are trying to come up with what is the best ways and means to generate revenue for the state of Wisconsin, Macco said in an interview. Im going to tell them how to do that in the smartest way possible.

Macco, R-De Pere, said the effort would be different from previous ones because lawmakers are stepping outside the immediate legislative process to study taxes.

Democrats were skeptical that Republican lawmakers would deliver the middle-class tax cuts they favor and instead would benefit corporations and the wealthy.

The goal has to be providing relief to those individuals who need it most, said Rep. Chris Taylor, D-Madison. Thats not the population John Macco is going to target.

Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, said the process for coming up with a plan will be transparent, include ample public input and develop a new tax code that is fair and simple with lower rates.

Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau, didnt respond to a request for comment.

New members

on committee

Maccos committee, which historically hasnt had the same tax-writing oversight as the powerful House Ways and Means Committee in Washington, D.C., is adding four new members: three Republicans and one Democrat. It will have four subcommittees devoted to sales and use tax, personal and corporate income taxes, local government taxes and funding and excise taxes and fees. Each committee will be expected to report on the history and purpose, current problems and possible changes to their respective form of taxation.

Jon Peacock, research director for liberal-leaning Kids Forward, applauded Macco for reviewing how the tax code can be simplified, noting there is broad agreement that the state and federal tax codes have too many special-interest tax breaks. But he was also skeptical about the effort.

Although state-level tax reform could be positive, I worry that it might resemble the latest federal proposals that are primarily intended to create new and larger tax exemptions for the very wealthy, to the detriment of low- and middle-income taxpayers, Peacock said in a statement.

Todd Berry, president of the Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance, said he has been interested in fundamental tax simplification and reform since the 1970s. He said he has been encouraged by continuing interest from Assembly Republicans on the topic.

It is rare that such impetus comes from the legislative branch, Berry said. In the past, major reform initiatives have come from the executive branch, and particularly the Department of Revenue.

Walker open to idea

Gov. Scott Walker declined to take questions on issues unrelated to his trip to Israel during a call with reporters on Wednesday, but a spokesman said of Maccos effort that the governor is open to further reform so long as we keep driving the tax burden down for the hard-working taxpayers.

Department of Revenue Secretary Rick Chandler said in a statement that Wisconsins overall tax burden as a percentage of personal income has fallen below the national average and the states tax ranking is the best it has been in 50 years.

We are always interested in finding ways to further improve Wisconsins tax climate, he said.

Republicans cut income tax rates in the 2013-15 budget that reduced taxes by $423.6 million per year, according to Department of Revenue data. Walkers office says his tax changes since taking office in 2010 have cumulatively reduced taxes by $8 billion.

If the tax reform pitch a year before an election sounds familiar, it could be because four years ago Walker launched a series of tax reform meetings led by Chandler and Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch.

After 22 closed-door, invite-only meetings and hundreds of online comments, Chandler and Kleefisch issued a 19-page report in December 2014 concluding taxes are too high and too complicated. The report offered no recommendations for changes.

Also in 2014, the conservative Milwaukee-based Wisconsin Policy Research Institute (now the Badger Institute) released a study showing how Wisconsin could boost its economy without bankrupting state government by cutting income and property taxes, while broadening its sales tax on consumer goods and services  including groceries.

I cant say that weve had a big impact with that, Badger Institute president Mike Nichols said.

Nichols noted a recent Tax Foundation report ranked Wisconsins business tax climate 38th in the nation, and said the states mix of high income and property taxes is harmful to the economy.

In response to the WPRI report, Walker said in 2014 his goal was to cut taxes in each budget, but it isnt specific to a particular tax or form of tax  its what will ultimately have the biggest bang for the buck in terms of driving more prosperity, more opportunity and more jobs to the state.

Property tax is focus

In the past two budgets, the focus has been on lowering property taxes. Walker proposed cutting income taxes in his latest budget proposal, and Assembly Republicans came forward with a proposal to raise transportation revenue while moving toward a 4 percent flat income tax, but both proposals were ultimately scuttled.

Macco pointed to other efforts to rewrite the tax code in 1997 and 2004 that didnt work out, but he said the difference this time is he will be driving the process with the support of legislative leadership.

Im not at all interested in doing an exercise for exercises sake, Macco said. The problem weve had in the past in tax policy is we discuss it within the framework of what we have now and Im saying, Lets get out of that box and have the entire conversation. 
Other issues revolve around the provenance of the raw material and the requirement to prove high standards of animal welfare. The discerning consumer now requests that the product they buy can be traced back to the source and they wish to be comfortable that the animal and the environment were not harmed in the process. Reda has been proactive in this area by promoting and sponsoring schemes with the highest standards for both their raw material suppliers, (namely SustainaWOOL boasting 700 accredited farms in Australia) and their own production in Crocemosso.
Horror/comedy is a weird little sub-genre when it comes to literature. For starters, its hard to define what qualifies a book as horror/comedy. Does it have to be scary? Does it have to be overtly funny? Can it be a spoof? Does black comedy count? Given that murkiness, its not surprising to find that people dont always agree on which books belong in the genre. Even some of the acclaimed authors in the category dont think of themselves as horror/comedy writers. For example, I spoke about the subject with Grady Hendrix, author of Horrorstor, My Best Friends Exorcism and Paperbacks from Hell. When asked how he approaches the balance of terror and laughs, he replied, I was caught totally off-guard when people told me they found Horrorstor or My Best Friends Exorcism funny.

Demon Freaks

Here are ten great horror/comedy stories you might want to check out if you love this weird little sub-genre. Please note, my list is not exhaustive. There are far more excellent horror/comedy stories than I have space to mention. Also note that I am not ranking these books. They are all wonderful in their own ways, so Ive listed them by the dates they were written.

Bubba Ho-Tep Joe R. Lansdale (1994). In this short story, an aging Elvis Presley, mistaken for a mere impersonator, is living out his unhappy last days in a retirement home when an Egyptian mummy attacks. Teamed up with an elderly African American man who believes he is John F. Kennedy (skin dyed and minus his brain, which is in a jar in the White House), the King of Rock decides its up to them to take care of business.

Blood Sucking Fiends Christopher Moore (1995). The first in a light-hearted vampire/comedy/romance trilogy. Jody is a young, single woman living in San-Francisco, until she is killed in a vampire attack, wakes up under a dumpster and has to figure out how to survive as an undead blood-sucker. Enlisting the aid of Tommy, a would-be writer and night manager at Safeway, she not only has to wrestle with understanding the intricacies of her new nature, but must also unravel the mystery of her creator who may be trying to destroy her.

Resume with Monsters William Browning Spencer (1995). Philip Kenan is not only stuck in a series of dead end jobs, but Lovecraftian nightmares as well. A would-be novelist, slaving away in a soul-sucking (literally?) office, he has to save his girlfriend and the world from the dark designs of Cthulhu and his gang of Elder Gods. Or is Philip just crazy?

TickTock Dean Koontz (1996). Tommy Phan just wants to be an all American boy, but his Vietnamese past has other, horrifying plans for him. What starts off as a very scary horror novel gets progressively more and more screwball without letting go of its notes of terror.

The Goon Eric Powell (1999). Absurd, over the top, hilarious and tragic all describe this series of graphic novels. The hulking titular character must battle gangsters, zombies, mad scientists and evil robots with ultra-violence and the help of his blank-eyed sidekick, Frankie. Knife to eye!

Dead Until Dark Charlaine Harris (2001). Sookie Stackhouse is a telepathic waitress, solving murder mysteries in a world in which vampires have recently come out of hiding and the undead, werewolves, shape shifters and fairies are vying for her affections. This is the first book in the series on which the HBO show True Blood is based.

Undead and Unwed MaryJanice Davidson (2004). Betsy Taylor gets run over by a car and wakes up in a coffin, now a vampire. But Betsy is a special vampire. She doesnt burn in sunlight. She isnt repulsed by religious artifacts. And, she isnt beholden to the 500-year-old lord of the undead. Does that mean she is the prophesied Queen of the Vampires?

John Dies at the End David Wong (2007). First published as web-serial starting in 2001, this is the first in a trilogy of hilariously terrifying, mind-bendingly bonkers novels, including This Book is Full of Spiders and What the Hell Did I just Read? David and his friend John ingest a bizarre drug called Soy Sauce that opens their eyes to cosmic horror.

Damned Chuck Palahnuik (2011). 13-year-old Maddy dies and goes to hell, only to find that the place is both worse than and not as bad as what she thought it would be like. Palahnuik has described it as, kind of like The Breakfast Club set in hell. Sarcastic, witty and horrifying.

Horrorstor Grady Hendrix (2014). Amy works at ORSK, an IKEA-style superstore that turns out to be haunted because it was built on the site of a prison/asylum. Starts off pretty light and just goes darker and darker and darker.
Playing Aaron Brennan in Neighbours, keeping on top of his personal fitness and travelling the world whenever he gets the opportunity, its fair to say that actor Matt Wilson is one of the busiest men in soap! We decided to catch up with Matt to not only talk about his upcoming storylines in the Australian television series, but find out a little bit more about his passion for travel and fitness, as well as gaining some tips on how we can all be a little more healthy in our day-to-day lives!

Matt Wilson plays Aaron Brennan in Australian soap Neighbours

First up, what can you tell us about your upcoming storylines in Neighbours?

Things are going well with Tyler and his Dad. So well that Hamish is turning Tyler away from his own brothers. Aaron notices a crack in Hamishs story which sends Aaron to Paris in search of answers. Aaron will unveil a secret about Hamish that will catapult the show into the biggest storyline of the year.

How has been a long-standing member of the shows cast changed your life?

Going from a building site to the film set was the biggest fork-in-the-road moment of my life. Every day Im grateful for the opportunity Ive been given at Neighbours. I feel like Ive found what I was meant to do.

Youre obviously in great shape; can you tell us a little bit about your fitness routine and what constants you have in your routine each week?

Thank you! Years ago I would work out five to six times a week like a mad man. Now, Im just careful with what I eat and train because it feels good, not because I feel like I have to. Ill run five to 10 km per week and spend a day or two in the local gym on a good week. I dont mind a yoga session here and there either.

What tips do you have for those who have zero experience with exercise, but who want to introduce fitness into their lives?

Do it with a friend. Not only is it more fun; theyll keep you accountable too. [Also], learn to love the pain. I will always train so I can feel it the next day. It becomes something to crave for. [Finally], do your research. Understanding your body is crucial. Not only is it safer, youll know when youre on the right track and get your results faster.

Do you have any advice for those who are extremely busy with work and who can only dedicate a small amount of time to exercise?

Find a gym that holds classes. Your rest times are governed by the instructor. There is no time for laziness or to think up an excuse to go home early. And food is everything. Eat clean and keep your serving size modest.

For those who are always travelling, whats the best way to stay on top of your fitness?

Hotel gyms are OK at best. Youll have to keep your workouts simple. Ill usually create a three station circuit and rotate four to five times through that. For example, a five-minute sprint on a treadmill, then 30 seconds of mountain climbers, then 30 seconds of ab twists.

Where are some of your favourite places youve travelled to?

Two of the greatest moments Ive had; in Morocco waking up on the sand dunes in the Sahara Desert next to a camel after spending a night there under the stars; and hiking through snow to the top of a mountain ridge in Japan where the trees turn into snow ghosts and everything is white, as far as you can see.

Which places havent you been to yet that are on your to-do list?

[Id] love to join a wildlife conservation expedition through Africa, and see Antarctica.

Finally, what can you tell us about the coming months and what youre getting up to before Christmas?

Neighbours will once again go out with a bang this year, with the Brennan brother being heavily involved! We are currently in the middle of filming more heavy episodes which will be going to air next year. For me [personally], Ill be keeping my head down working, then [Im] off to Tasmania to hike Cradle Mountain!

by Daniel Falconer for www.femalefirst.co.uk

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Miranda Hart will "smash a glass ceiling" as the first female solo host of the Royal Variety Performance.

Miranda Hart

The 44-year-old comic is proud to be takinng the reins of the prestigious show, which will take place at the London Palladium on 24 November, because she always loved watching the event at home when she was younger.

She said: "If you don't mind me I am just going to smash a glass ceiling and be the first woman to host the Royal Variety. That felt good!

"It's thrilling for me because of that, and because I am hugely proud to be part of such an important event in our comedy and variety heritage as the Royal Variety Performance.

"The young-wannabe-comedian me who watched the show every year would be just as excited to hear that grown-up me is going to be hosting - only I'll be doing it without the 1970s pudding bowl haircut that made me look like a young male monk!"

This year's Royal Variety Performance will see performances from the likes of The Killers, Louis Tomlinson, Seal, James Blunt, The Script, Michael Ball and Alfie Boe and Paloma Faith.

'Frasier' actor Kelsey Grammer will also take to the stage, as will the casts of 'Big Fish', 'Annie', and '42nd Street', West End divas Beverley Knight, Cassidy Janson and Amber Riley, 'Britain's Got Talent' winner Tokio Myers and comedians Jason Manford and Tom Allen.

While Miranda is the first female solo host of the event, 'Crossroads' actress Noele Gordon was the first woman to helm the show alongside Ted Rogers in 1974, while the likes of the late Cilla Black, Cat Deeley and Emma Forbes have also taken the reins in part in the past.

Last year's show was fronted by David Walliams.
To celebrate World Vegan Day- Anna Chapman kindly talked to us about her journey into the plant based lifestyle.

Anna Chapman

What prompted you to go vegan?

I love cooking and had fallen into a pattern of cooking all of the same routine meals. I saw an advert for a University Challenge to go vegan for the month of February. I had been reading about veganism and I was interested in it, I wanted to see what I could cook and what changes it would make in my life. The last animal product I ate was at dinner whilst on a dissertation research trip to Milan the night before I went vegan. I have not touched animal products since  that was Sunday January 31st 2016. It was during the first few weeks of that trial month that I really began to look into veganism and read about animal cruelty, our environmental impact and the health benefits, that is when I really felt the impact of veganism not just on me but on my surroundings. The literature available on the subject is extensive, interesting and well researched.

What were the biggest changes you noticed once making the switch?

Increased energy- in general I have felt a lot better and a lot less sluggish.

Was there anything you struggled with during the transition?

Initially I think I struggled with meal composition. Most of us are raised to believe that your plate needs a central meat/protein and then sides of vegetables and carbohydrates. Suddenly your meals become a variety of what before would have been side dishes. I did not struggle with this so much at home but in restaurants where fish/chicken/steak took a leading role in the menu and vegans are often condemned to a medley of vegetable side dishes. That is now no longer a problem and I am lucky enough to live in London where restaurants almost always have an option and, if not, I have become adept at asking for replacements/changes to the menu and restaurants are always so lovely about it! After about 6 months I was also feeling a bit weaker (my family have a predilection to anaemia and and B12 which prevents this is found mainly in animal foods). A friend of mine who had been vegan for a while recommended that I buy some B12 supplements and they work like magic.

You were at the University of Manchester until last year so how did you find student life while being a vegan?

I found student life as a vegan very easy. Buying vegetables and beans etc. is much cheaper than meats and cheeses! We are also lucky enough to live in a society where soya/almond/all manner of nut milks are available so necessary coffee at the library was never a problem. I would pack all of my lunches and snacks so had control over the variety of nutrients/foods in my life. That being said, supermarkets now provide a whole host of vegan products so buying breakfast/lunch/snacks is not hard. There are so many restaurants that either have vegan options or will happily change the menu for you.

You also moved to London in 2016 so how easy is it to be vegan in the capital?

There are so many places to eat in London! I actually feel like a bad vegan sometimes because I have not tried out all of the amazing looking places that I see featured in Time Out and on Instagram. I am lucky because my family and friends are all really up for trying out vegan places with me.

Where is your favourite place to eat out?

A friend of mine recently introduced me to Juice Baby which was amazing, I have also tried a Ms Cupcake cookie in Brixton and Yorica ice cream, both of which were delicious. My favourite place hands down though is a restaurant called Counter Culture in Clapham. It is not strictly vegan but the chef has twice adapted the menu for me with amazing results  served like tapas, the food there has most decadent and amazing flavours.

How big a role do animals play in your life?

My knowledge of the reality of animal food production has grown exponentially since becoming vegan. Documentaries such as Earthlings, Cowspiracy, What the Health, Forks over Knives and Foodmatters are well researched and really insightful. Whilst hard to watch, they reiterate the cruelty we inflict on farmed animals for the food they provide us with, our environmental impact and our health, all of which are the findings of researchers the world over.

Athough I live in London, and so have very little interaction with livestock and wild animals, I do have two cats, a dog and tank full of fish which bring me and my family a lot of joy.

What is your favourite vegan dish to eat at home?

I love Lebanese food and adore making foods like tabblouleh, falafel, hummus and babaganoush. I also really love making aubergine, sweet potato or chick pea curries.

What vegan and cruelty free products are staples in your home?

I love vegan products from lush like the Feeling Younger skin illuminator and I am currently using the coconut body wash from Natural Source which smells incredible.

What is your advice for others who are thinking of going vegan?

Most people will occasionally have the odd vegan day without even realising it. If you want to, give it a go and see how you feel, you may find yourself feeling happier/sleeping better/feeling less sluggish. It is so much easier than you think and, if you think you are the kind of person who will struggle without cheese and meats and yogurts etc, there are so many delicious vegan alternatives, many of which taste better!
Operation Save America's Press Conference Scheduled at the Governor's Mansion in Indiana "He who rules over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God" (2 Samuel 23:3b)



Contact: Rev. Rusty Lee Thomas, 254-715-3134; Pastor Matt Trewhella, 262-370-2954



INDIANAPOLIS, Ind., Nov. 1, 2017 /



There will be street activities in the morning as Christians take the salt out of the salt shaker and the light from under the bushel to confront the culture of death with the Gospel of the Kingdom. In the afternoon, from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m., at the Aletheia Church, there will be leadership training sessions for pastors and civil magistrates. The topics covered at these training sessions will range from the Doctrine of the Lesser Magistrate, the Doctrine of Interposition and the obligation of the church and state to do their duty to end the abortion holocaust in Indiana God's way.



On Thursday, Nov. 2nd, OSA, the Lesser Magistrate Project, along with a contingency of local Indiana pastors will conduct a press conference at 9 AM. The location chosen is the Governor's Mansion at 4750 N Meridian St, Indianapolis, IN 46208. Christian leaders will gather together to deliver a letter that calls upon the Governor to do his duty to ignore and defy Roe vs. Wade, establish justice, and abolish all abortions now in Jesus' name!



Rev. Rusty Lee Thomas, National Director of Operation Save America states, "If a state like Colorado can defy the Feds for the dubious practice of smoking dope, how much more should decent states in America ignore the federal judiciary when it comes to the two most crucial issues concerning our survival as a people, the defense of innocent life and the preservation of the God-ordained family."



Pastor Matt Trewhella of the Lesser Magistrate Project states, "For 44 years this slaughter of the preborn has gone on. Yet, not one governor, not one attorney general, not one legislature, not one mayor, not one common council has stood in interposition against the lawless opinion of the Supreme Court in Roe v. Wade. They have all hid behind the lie 'The Supreme Court has ruled - all we can do is obey.' Judicial supremacy is a fiction. The duties of all other branches (whether federal, state, county, or local) are to defy the branch playing the tyrant and defend the preborn."



Share Tweet Contact: Rev. Rusty Lee Thomas, 254-715-3134; Pastor Matt Trewhella, 262-370-2954INDIANAPOLIS, Ind., Nov. 1, 2017 / Christian Newswire / -- From Nov. 1st-4th, Operation Save America will conduct a regional event. The theme for this conference is called "Leaders a Time like This Demands!" There will be rallies held for four nights from Wednesday, Nov. 1st-Saturday, Nov. 4th, at the Aletheia Church, 7816 S. Madison Avenue, Indianapolis, IN 46227. The rallies start at 6:30 p.m. and all our welcome to attend.There will be street activities in the morning as Christians take the salt out of the salt shaker and the light from under the bushel to confront the culture of death with the Gospel of the Kingdom. In the afternoon, from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m., at the Aletheia Church, there will be leadership training sessions for pastors and civil magistrates. The topics covered at these training sessions will range from the Doctrine of the Lesser Magistrate, the Doctrine of Interposition and the obligation of the church and state to do their duty to end the abortion holocaust in Indiana God's way.On Thursday, Nov. 2nd, OSA, the Lesser Magistrate Project, along with a contingency of local Indiana pastors will conduct a press conference at 9 AM. The location chosen is the Governor's Mansion at 4750 N Meridian St, Indianapolis, IN 46208. Christian leaders will gather together to deliver a letter that calls upon the Governor to do his duty to ignore and defy Roe vs. Wade, establish justice, and abolish all abortions now in Jesus' name!Rev. Rusty Lee Thomas, National Director of Operation Save America states, "If a state like Colorado can defy the Feds for the dubious practice of smoking dope, how much more should decent states in America ignore the federal judiciary when it comes to the two most crucial issues concerning our survival as a people, the defense of innocent life and the preservation of the God-ordained family."Pastor Matt Trewhella of the Lesser Magistrate Project states, "For 44 years this slaughter of the preborn has gone on. Yet, not one governor, not one attorney general, not one legislature, not one mayor, not one common council has stood in interposition against the lawless opinion of the Supreme Court in Roe v. Wade. They have all hid behind the lie 'The Supreme Court has ruled - all we can do is obey.' Judicial supremacy is a fiction. The duties of all other branches (whether federal, state, county, or local) are to defy the branch playing the tyrant and defend the preborn."
Myanmar SUMEC Win Win Garments Co. Ltd, Myanmars largest garments exporter and a subsidiary of SUMEC Textile and Light Industry Co. in China, recently opened a new factory in Shwe Pyi Thar industrial zone in Yangon. More Chinese firms are now investing in Myanmar with its economy opening up, Chinese ambassador Hong Liang said at the inaugural function.The new factory is designed to host 50 production lines  40 operational at present  with the annual capacity to produce 4 million pieces of garments. The company's yearly capacity can be upgraded to 10 million pieces, raising its export to $100 million, according to a Chinese news agency report.

Myanmar SUMEC Win Win Garments Co. Ltd, Myanmar's largest garments exporter and a subsidiary of SUMEC Textile and Light Industry Co. in China, recently opened a new factory in Shwe Pyi Thar industrial zone in Yangon. More Chinese firms are now investing in Myanmar with its economy opening up, Chinese ambassador Hong Liang said at the inaugural function.#

Preferential policies and a vast labour market offer Myanmar a great advantage in the textiles and garment sector and the new factory will create more jobs and contribute to the country's economic growth, U Aung Htoo, deputy minister for commerce said. (DS)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk  India
INEOS will take over the Belstaff Group from JAB Luxury. On completion, this iconic, British brand with close to 100 years of heritage, goes back to British ownership. INEOS, Britains largest private company, is the 200th largest company in the world. It is a fast growing entrepreneurial business employing 18,500 people across 105 sites in 22 countries.With sales of $40 billion, INEOS is also Britains largest private company.

INEOS will take over the Belstaff Group from JAB Luxury. On completion, this iconic, British brand with close to 100 years of heritage, goes back to British ownership. INEOS, Britain's largest private company, is the 200th largest company in the world. It is a fast growing entrepreneurial business employing 18,500 people across 105 sites in 22 countries. #

In 1924 the Belstaff business began producing jackets in Stoke-on-Trent. It was the first company in the world to use waxed cotton to manufacture 'breathable' yet waterproof clothing. Its near 100 year heritage is firmly established, with clear links into exploration, aviation and motorsport. Today its brand is known around the world. With outlets in the EU, US and Asia the business employs around 200 people.The acquisition and transfer of ownership is targeted to complete within Q4 this year, subject to the receipt of regulatory approvals. Belstaff will be a separate INEOS entity. It is not part of IGH SA Group, INOVYN or INEOS Styrolution. (SV)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk  India
The Indian Government has invested Rs 690 crore in projects in 24 districts under the North East Region Textile Promotion Scheme (NERTPS) to counter Chinas growing silk production, Central Silk Board (CSB) chairman KM Hanumantharayappa has said. Six such projects are in Assam, one in Sikkim, two each in Meghalaya and Manipur and the rest in other states.The scheme is being implemented under two broad categories: the Integrated Sericulture Development Project (ISDP) and the Intensive Bivoltine Sericulture Development Project [IBSDP] covering mulberry, eri and muga, a news agency report quoted Hanumantharayappa as saying.

The Indian Government has invested Rs 690 crore in projects in 24 districts under the North East Region Textile Promotion Scheme (NERTPS) to counter China's growing silk production, Central Silk Board (CSB) chairman KM Hanumantharayappa has said. Six such projects are in Assam, one in Sikkim, two each in Meghalaya and Manipur and the rest in other states.#

The scheme is aimed at a holistic development of sericulture in all its spheres from plantation development to production of fabrics with value addition at every stage of production chain.Northeast India produces all four commercially-exploited varieties of silk  mulberry, muga, eri and tasar, contributing about 21 per cent of the total silk production in the country. Eri silk production reached 3,600 tonnes in 2016-17.The central government has funded a pilot mulberry project for three years worth Rs. 29 crore at Thadlaskein in West Jaintia Hills district In Meghalaya and also at the government farm at Laban. It has identified three districts in Meghalaya and an intensive awareness campaign will be launched to help draw back silkworm farmers to the trade, he said.The integrated project for eri, mulbery and muga is in West Jaintia Hills district, Williamnagar in East Garo Hills and Trikkikilla in West Garo Hills district, he added. (DS)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk  India
Pakistans commerce and textile minister Muhammad Pervaiz Malik recently informed the senate standing committee on commerce and textile industry of his resolve to revive the textile sector through the PKR 162-billion trade enhancement package announced by the former prime minister. The committee meeting was chaired by senator Syed Shibli Faraz.After the execution of trade enhancement package, the zero rating for textile sector would be introduced, senior commerce ministry officials told the committee, according to a Pakistani news agency report.

Pakistan's commerce and textile minister Muhammad Pervaiz Malik recently informed the senate standing committee on commerce and textile industry of his resolve to revive the textile sector through the PKR 162-billion trade enhancement package announced by the former prime minister. The committee meeting was chaired by senator Syed Shibli Faraz.#

About Rs. 946 million was allocated under the Public Sector Development Program 2017-18 for three textile projects, the committee was informed. (DS)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk  India
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - October 31, 2017) - Blackrock Gold Corp. (TSXV: BRC) ("Blackrock") is pleased to announce that it has entered into a lease agreement (the "Lease") with Pescio Exploration LLC (the "Lessor") with respect to 552 unpatented lode mining claims situated in Elko, Nevada, and known as the Silver Cloud Project (the "Property"). The Lease affords Blackrock all rights and privileges incidental to ownership, including rights to explore, develop, and mine the Property. The term of the Lease is 10 years from October 27, 2017 and so long thereafter as a) exploration and/or development is taking place on the Property and/or b) the Property is held by Blackrock or it successors and assigns, unless earlier terminated in accordance with the terms of the Lease. The arrangements with respect to the Lease are subject to prior approval by the TSX Venture Exchange (the "Exchange").

To acquire and maintain the Lease in good standing, Blackrock will be required to: (a) within 5 days of Exchange approval, pay US$50,000 and issue 500,000 common shares of Blackrock to the Lessor at a deemed price of $0.06 per share; (b) on December 20, 2017, pay an additional US$50,000 and issue to the Lessor an additional 500,000 common shares of Blackrock; (c) perform a minimum total of 15,000 feet of drilling on the Property during the first 3 years of the term of the Lease; and (d) make additional payment amounts totaling US$3.65M over the following 8 years, and (e) drilling an additional 90,000 feet from years four to nine.

Blackrock will also pay a royalty of 3.5% of the gross value of production on the sale of minerals from the Property All annual payments made by Blackrock and described above will be credited cumulatively against Blackrock's commitments pursuant to the Gross Royalty. Furthermore, Blackrock has an option to buy down the Gross Royalty by 1.5% to 2.0% by payment to the Lessor of US$3M at its sole discretion and at any time on or before October 28, 2022.

The Silver Cloud property is a large, 4,537-hectare (11,210acres) claim block, located near the confluence of the Carlin Trend and the Northern Nevada Rift within north-central Nevada, the richest gold mining area in North America. The property is located 8 km (5 miles) west of the Hollister mine of Klondex Mines which has a Measured and Indicated Resource of 0.43Mt @ 16.6g/t gold (for 208,000oz) and an Inferred resource of 0.18Mt @ 14.4g/t gold (for 74,000oz) and is expected to produce 30,000 - 35,000oz of gold in 20171.

Silver Cloud, like both Midas and Hollister are low-sulphidation epithermal Au-Ag banded vein deposits. The property has received only limited previous drilling and has no historic resource.

Commenting on proposed transaction, Interim CEO, Amit Kumar stated, "The Silver Cloud Project provides Blackrock with an expanded portfolio of properties that we can explore and develop. The terms of the Lease agreement afford us some time to review and update the available geological information in order to identify drill targets. Acquiring the Silver Cloud project, located only 8km west of the Hollister mine of Klondex Mines in Nevada, could provide us with a viable alternative to our existing BC properties."

A finders' fee involving the issuance of up to 600,000 shares of Blackrock is payable in connection with the transaction. Payment of the finders' fee is also subject to approval by the Exchange.

____________________

1. Klondex Mines Ltd websites and corporate presentations

About Blackrock

Blackrock is a junior resource exploration company focused on acquiring mineral properties and exploring for economically viable mineral resources. Blackrock has mineral property interests in the Kamloops and Cariboo Mining Districts of British Columbia including the D.D. Property acquired in 2003.

For further information, please contact:

Amit Kumar, Interim Chief Executive Officer

Blackrock Gold Corp.

Phone: 604 317-3848

Email: blackrockgoldcorp@gmail.com

The TSX Venture Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the accuracy or adequacy of this release. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This press release contains forward-looking statements. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, constitute "forward-looking statements" and include any information that addresses activities, events or developments that the Company believes, expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future including the Company's strategy, plans or future financial or operating performance and other statements that express management's expectations or estimates of future performance.

Forward-looking statements are generally identifiable by the use of the words "may", "will", "should", "continue", "expect", "anticipate", "estimate", "believe", "intend", "plan" or "project" or the negative of these words or other variations on these words or comparable terminology. These statements, however, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed, implied by or projected in the forward-looking information or statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ from these forward-looking statements include but are not limited to the ability of the Company to attract financing and the general market conditions of the industry in which the Company operates, and the other factors discussed in the sections relating to risk factors discussed in the Company's continuous disclosure filings on SEDAR.

There can be no assurance that any forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, the reader should not place any undue reliance on forward-looking information or statements. Except as required by law, the Company does not intend to revise or update these forward-looking statements after the date of this document or to revise them to reflect the occurrence of future unanticipated events.
LONDON, November 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

Quest Apartment Hotels, Australasia's largest and fastest growing apartment hotel operator, has marked the start of its ambitious UK expansion plans, announcing it has signed its first site in Liverpool's city centre with a 10m investment.

Established by entrepreneur Paul Constantinou nearly 30 years ago in Melbourne, the 160 strong Quest Apartment Hotels portfolio has made its name by offering a 'home away from home' to extended stay business travellers in key cities, regional towns and suburban locations across Australia, New Zealand and Fiji. With 27 properties currently in the pipeline and 12 under construction in its home markets - the brand plans to apply its successful model to open ten properties across the country in the next five years.

Quest Liverpool City Centre will open in 2019 and is located on Church Street along one of the city's biggest retail strips and adjacent to the landmark Liverpool ONE complex. The building itself is a 1980s commercial office building with retail on the ground and first floors. Quest will convert the existing vacant office space on levels two, three and four and construct additional levels five and six, creating 100 serviced apartments, reception, conference room, gym and back-of-house facilities.

The announcement comes on the back of new figures from the Association of Serviced Apartment Providers (ASAP) and hotel global benchmarking company STR which shows health and expansion in the sector this year.

Andrew Weisz, Director of UK Development at Quest said: "Hospitality brands have a huge role to play in opening up City Centre locations for business again, but against a backdrop of economic uncertainty - it is clear that businesses want to spend travel budgets wisely. We've immersed ourselves in the UK market in recent months and can see the potential for the aggressive expansion of both our brand and the apartment hotel industry here."

Encouraged by the government's Northern Powerhouse strategy, the brand has chosen Liverpool as the home of its first property outside Australasia.

Michael Ward, British Consul-General and Director General, UK Department for International Trade, Australia and New Zealand said: "We're delighted to have been working with Quest on their UK expansion plans. In the past 12 months alone, DIT has assisted over 100 Australian businesses expand to the UK - more than ever before - an indication of both the ongoing strength of the UK economy and the high level of interest in the UK market from innovative Australasian companies."

About Quest

Quest is the largest and fastest growing apartment hotel operator in Australasia with 160 properties located across Australia, New Zealand and Fiji.

Established in Melbourne, Australia in 1988, the growth of Quest has been achieved through its commitment to meeting the accommodation needs of the extended stay business traveller.

Quest properties are managed by franchisees who follow a proven and successful franchise model.

In July 2017, Quest Apartment hotels announced an extension of its partnership with one of the world's leading serviced residence networks, following an increased investment of 60% in the Quest business by Singapore-based The Ascott Limited (Ascott).

For more information on Quest Apartment Hotels, go to www.questapartments.co.uk
HONG KONG, Nov. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- NetCurrency.com, a fintech startup company based in Hong Kong,announces the beta release of world's first digital currency, dubbedNeco, for global forex trading and asset management, a USD 5 trillion daily market.

Net Currency (Neco, or NTC) is a geo-political neutral digital currency portfolio monetary system, and fundamentally different from crypto-currency or virtual currency such as Bitcoin. Net Currency is not issued by any central bank nor generated by computer algorithms, instead it is issued and funded by a community of users and consists of a portfolio of underlying world sovereign currencies, with percentages of each currency agreed upon by its members.

Net Currency combines the legitimacy, stability, and liquidity of the world sovereign currency, with the speed, connectivity, and innovations of the evolving Internet. Net Currency's built-in equilibrium mechanism enables user communities to reduce the risk of currency fluctuation and discourage currency speculation.

"By introducing peer-to-peer community model and currency basket concept, supported by our proprietary Redstar Block Chain technology that offers fastest response time required by real-time financial transactions, Neco is leading a new era for global forex and asset management market with efficiency, fairness, and completeness," said Tong Li, founder and CEO of NetCurrency.com.

"Neco is much more than a digital currency, it is proposing a collaborative global fintech standard, which like Visa, can be used by any financial institution, bank, or community, anywhere in the world. We intend to develop it as an open source project," Tong said.

Tong is a MIT trained technology entrepreneur who has worked on quantitative trading systems for Merrill Lynch in New York before its acquisition by Bank of America. Tong is also the founder of two other leading fintech companies in China: Yoopay.cn, China's largest event ecommerce platform, and LanhuHealth.com, China's the first healthcare insurance search engine.

NetCurrency.com is beta-testing the system with launching partners, including banks and financial institutions. The company expects to issue the world's first batch of Neco in January 2018.
TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 10/31/17 -- VVC Exploration Corporation ("VVC" or the "Company") (TSX VENTURE: VVC) is pleased to provide an update on its equity and debenture financings previously announced on September 26, 2017 and to announce a conversion of indebtedness ("Debt Conversion").

Equity Financings and Debt Conversion:

A total of 33,073,600 Shares and 15,768,050 Warrants are being issued for aggregate value of CA$ 1,653,680 pursuant to equity financing and Debt Conversion.

Today the Company completed the 1st Closing of its non-brokered equity private placement offering (the "Offering") for units of the Company ("Units") at a price of CA$ 0.05 per Unit, whereby each Unit consists of one common share (a "Share") and one-half of one common share purchase warrant (a "Warrant") of the Company. Each full Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one additional common share of the Company for a period of three years, at an exercise price of CA$0.06 per share. The Offering which was increased from a maximum of CA$1 million to CA$2 million will remain open for an additional month and a 2nd Closing will take place on or before November 30, 2017.

Pursuant to the 1st Closing, an aggregate of 29,003,600 Shares and 850,000 Warrants are being issued for proceeds of CA$1,450,180. The proceeds will be used for ongoing drilling program, maintenance fees and option payments on the Corporation's Samalayuca Copper Project, and for fees and work related to its Cumeral and La Tuna projects in Mexico and for working capital. There are no commissions or finders' fees payable on this financing. The Company has obtained the conditional acceptance of the TSXV Exchange. Insiders of the Company having subscribed for an aggregate of CA$ 200,285 will receive 4,791,700 Shares and 2,395,850 Warrants which represents 16.5% of the aggregate offering.

In addition, the Company has completed a Debt Conversion of CA$ 203,500 of indebtedness whereby the subscribers are receiving Units with the same terms as the Equity Financing subscribers as disclosed above. The Debt Conversion subscribers are receiving an aggregate of 4,070,000 Shares and 1,266,250 Warrants. The Debt Conversion is subject to acceptance by the TSXV of the Company's filing. Insiders of the Company have subscribed for CA$76,875 and will receive 1,537,500 Shares, but will not receive any Warrants.

Debenture Financing:

Previously the Company also announces a non-brokered convertible 3-year Debenture private placement financing of up to US$2 million whereby the Debenture will be convertible into common shares at a conversion rate US$0.04 per share in the first year and at US$0.08 per share in years 2 and 3. The Company obtained conditional acceptance of the TSXV for this Debenture Financing and has requested to keep it open until the end of November.

The financings described herein are subject to all necessary regulatory requirements including the final acceptance of the TSXV. All securities issued pursuant to the offering will be subject to the applicable statutory, exchange and regulatory hold period of four months.

VVC Exploration Corporation - News Release of October 31, 2017 Page 2

About VVC Exploration Corporation

VVC is a Canadian exploration and mining company with projects in Mexico and Canada, including the Samalayuca copper property in Chihuahua State, and gold and silver prospects in Sonora and Sinaloa States, Mexico. The Company also has a grassroots gold/VMS prospect in the Timmins area of northern Ontario. Visit our website at: http://vvcexpl.com.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

Michel J. Lafrance, Secretary-Treasurer

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Contacts:

Patrick Fernet

(514) 631-2727

pfernet@vvcexploration.com




- Alliance on biopharmaceutical manufacturing and biologics process development

- Merck would supply Mobius single-use systems, cell line, cell culture media and chromatography to accelerate biologics development

DARMSTADT, Germany, Nov. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --Merck, a leading science and technology company, today announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Samsung BioLogics for a strategic alliance on biopharmaceutical manufacturing and biologics process development.

The alliance would accelerate process development and clinical material production at small biotech start-ups focusing on novel drug development for which Samsung BioLogics acts as a contract manufacturer. Under the agreement, Merck would provide process development and support technical training, in addition to its Mobius single-use systems to Samsung BioLogics.

The new MoU is an extension of a MoU signed in 2014 that encompasses a long-term supply agreement where Merck would provide raw materials for biopharmaceutical manufacturing.

"Our collaboration with Samsung continues to strengthen with this agreement," said Udit Batra, Member of the Merck Executive Board and CEO, Life Science. "Merck's process development expertise and Mobius, the wide single-use bioprocessing portfolio, will allow innovations to reach patients faster."

Merck has been the key solution provider for Samsung BioLogics' 30KL facility and 152KL facility in Korea, and has trained Samsung BioLogics team on building a robust biologics development process.

"This alliance will create synergy and maximize our technology potential," said Dr. Tae-Han Kim, President and CEO of Samsung BioLogics.

Merck's portfolio of Mobius single-use systems delivers greater flexibility and continuity for scale-up, reducing the need to retrain operators. These are some of the multiple reasons that companies such as Samsung BioLogics have become early adopters of Merck's technologies.

At Merck's M Lab' Collaboration Centers, customers work with the company's scientists and engineers in a shared exploratory environment to solve customers' toughest biomanufacturing challenges and help accelerate development of new therapies. Merck has nine M Lab' Collaboration Centers around the world, including one in the U.S. and one in Korea.

Merck is a premier supplier of process development and clinical-stage manufacturing solutions, materials and services needed to produce biopharmaceutical drugs. The company is committed to delivering superior bioreactor technology to manufacturers, several of which are already collaborating with the company in that space in North America, Europe and Asia.

In the growing biopharmaceutical market, manufacturers are moving toward end-to-end solutions - from process development and scale-up through to manufacturing for pre-clinical, clinical and commercial supply - as they seek to cut costs while increasing quality and efficiency. At the same time, single-use, disposable equipment and systems have increased in popularity because they offer many advantages over conventional stainless steel systems, such as improved batch success rates, less cross-contamination risk, decreased water and waste water requirements, shortened project duration and reduced project costs.

About Samsung BioLogics

Samsung BioLogics is a global full-service provider of quality-driven contract process development and cGMP manufacturing to the global biopharmaceutical industry. Our facilities are custom designed for monoclonal & recombinant production with maximum flexibility. Our one-stop services include cell line generation, process and analytical method development, analytical services, clinical and commercial bulk cGMP manufacturing of drug substance and drug product including quality assurance, quality control, regulatory compliance standards & support for our customers. For additional information about the company, please visit www.samsungbiologics.com.

All Merck news releases are distributed by email at the same time they become available on the Merck website. Please go to www.merckgroup.com/subscribe to register online, change your selection or discontinue this service.

About Merck

Merck is a leading science and technology company in healthcare, life science and performance materials. Around 50,000 employees work to further develop technologies that improve and enhance life - from biopharmaceutical therapies to treat cancer or multiple sclerosis, cutting-edge systems for scientific research and production, to liquid crystals for smartphones and LCD televisions. In 2016, Merck generated sales of  15 billion in 66 countries.

Founded in 1668, Merck is the world's oldest pharmaceutical and chemical company. The founding family remains the majority owner of the publicly listed corporate group. The company holds the global rights to the Merck name and brand. The only exceptions are the United States and Canada, where the company operates as EMD Serono, MilliporeSigma and EMD Performance Materials.

Photo - http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/592939/Merck_Samsung_handshake.jpg
MOUNTAIN VIEW (dpa-AFX) - Google has launched a new video conferencing system with a camera, speaker-mic, and associated gear aiming to make it easier for companies to conduct and broadcast corporate business meetings. The search giant's new video conferencing gear works with Google's Hangouts Meet video conferencing software. The system is said to be an upgraded version of equipment that Google introduced in 2014. In the system, a touchscreen controller syncs with Google Calendar, helping people to more easily access scheduled meetings, while an Asus Chromebox works in sync to let offices coordinate meetings. Google's new video conferencing gear costs $2,000 plus $250 annually. In the gear, the 10.1-inch touchscreen controller lets one to schedule events on Google Calendar, to pin or mute team members, control the camera, and add people to a call. The user can connect the controller to a laptop through an HDMI cable and has a 1280 x 800 display. Further, the speaker has a 360-degree pickup with four cardioid mics and a 250-square-foot range. In larger room meetings, up to five speaker-mics can be chained together with a wire. The camera in the package has a wider-angle lens that can show more people in a conference room than a typical laptop camera. Google designed the conferencing gear, but many of the items in the bundle are built by several hardware companies. Asus manufactured the Chromebox computer that powers the system, while camera is by Huddly, and the touchscreen is by display technology company Mimo. Scott Johnston, a Google product management director, reportedly said that the new Google equipment is better because it is compatible with various Google apps like the Google Drive for storing a video archive of past meetings. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
Regulatory News:

Euronext (Paris:ENX) (Amsterdam:ENX) (Brussels:ENX), the leading pan-European exchange in the Eurozone, announces the signing of the renewal of its agreement with LCH SA on the continued provision of derivatives and commodities clearing services for a period of 10 years. This follows the announcement of 8 August 2017.

The new long-term agreement covers the clearing of financial and commodity derivatives for a period of 10 years. It provides continuity of clearing services for members, saving the cost and disruption associated with a migration at a time where client bandwidth is stretched due to MiFID II implementation and Brexit planning. Euronext and LCH SA will work together to develop new products for the benefit of clearing members and market participants, and to focus on providing a lower cost service for members. In addition the agreement provides a comparable revenue sharing mechanism delivering a continued clearing income stream for Euronext.

Euronext entered into definitive agreements to swap its current 2.3% stake in LCH Group for an 11.1% stake in LCH SA. This transaction is subject to regulatory review and is expected to close in the next few months. Euronext will recognise a net capital gain following the share swap of around 24m. This transaction will strengthen the long-standing relationship between Euronext and LCH SA, and cement the strategic future of LCH SA.

Euronext will remain on the Board of LCH SA following completion of the share swap. Euronext will also nominate one representative to LCH SA Audit Committee and will continue to be represented at LCH SA Risk Committee. A new Consultative Committee dedicated to Euronext derivatives business will be created.

Euronext will have certain minority protection rights connected with its new shareholding in LCH SA, including a pre-emption right in circumstances where LCH Group decides to sell more than 50% of the shares of LCH SA. The pre-emption right involves a right of first offer and subject to certain conditions, a matching right. In addition, LCH Group has a pre-emption right over a transfer of shares by Euronext and the ability to buy back Euronext's shares in certain circumstances where the derivatives agreement is terminated.

About Euronext

Euronext is the leading pan-European exchange in the Eurozone with nearly 1,300 listed issuers worth close to 3.6 trillion in market capitalisation as of end September 2017, an unmatched blue chip franchise consisting of 24 issuers in the Morningstar Eurozone 50 Index? and a strong diverse domestic and international client base. Euronext operates regulated and transparent equity and derivatives markets. Its total product offering includes Equities, Exchange Traded Funds, Warrants Certificates, Bonds, Derivatives, Commodities and Indices. Euronext also leverages its expertise in running markets by providing technology and managed services to third parties. In addition to its main regulated market, Euronext also operates Euronext GrowthTM (formerly known as Alternext) and Euronext AccessTM (formerly known as the Free Market). For the latest news, find us on Twitter (twitter.com/euronext) and LinkedIn (linkedin.com/euronext).

About LCH

LCH is a group of leading multi-asset clearing houses that provides proven risk management capabilities across a range of asset classes. As demand for robust clearing services continues to grow, LCH is committed to maintaining the highest standards of risk management across all our services.

As the markets' partner, LCH operates an open access model, offering a choice of execution venues, delivering unprecedented choice and efficiencies to the marketplace.

LCH operates clearing houses around the world, with clearing houses incorporated in the UK, France and the United States with additional offices in the Asia Pacific region. It offers clearing services across asset classes including OTC and listed rates; CDS and FX; fixed income; commodities; cash equities and equity derivatives.

LCH is majority owned by London Stock Exchange Group (LSE.L), an international markets infrastructure business that sits at the heart of the world's financial community.

Further information on LCH can be found at www.lch.com

Disclaimer

This press release is for information purposes only and is not a recommendation to engage in investment activities. This press release is provided "as is" without representation or warranty of any kind. While all reasonable care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the content, Euronext does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness. Euronext will not be held liable for any loss or damages of any nature ensuing from using, trusting or acting on information provided. No information set out or referred to in this publication may be regarded as creating any right or obligation. The creation of rights and obligations in respect of financial products that are traded on the exchanges operated by Euronext's subsidiaries shall depend solely on the applicable rules of the market operator. All proprietary rights and interest in or connected with this publication shall vest in Euronext.

This press release speaks only as of this date. Euronext refers to Euronext N.V. and its affiliates. Information regarding trademarks and intellectual property rights of Euronext is located at www.euronext.com/terms-use.

2017, Euronext N.V. All rights reserved.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171101005743/en/

Contacts:

Media:

Pauline Bucaille (Europe): +33 1 70 48 24 41; pbucaille@euronext.com

Alice Jentink (Amsterdam): +31 20 721 4488; ajentink@euronext.com

Pascal Brabant (Brussels): +32 2 620 15 50; pbrabant@euronext.com

Sandra Machado (Lisbon): +351 210 600 614; smachado@euronext.com

Aichata Tandjigora (Paris): +33 1 70 48 24 43; atandjigora@euronext.com

or

Analysts & investors:

Aurelie Cohen (Europe) +33 1 70 48 24 17; ir@euronext.com
SHANGHAI, Nov. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Organised by UBM Trust, the 3-day concurrent shows successfully concluded on September 22 at SNIEC in Shanghai, China, attracting 32,645 global visitors from 118 countries/regions and welcoming international VIP buyer delegations from the USA, Korea, Australia, Iran, Japan and Germany.

New Elements to Lead the Industry Trend

Featured with new technologies, new equipments, new resources, new media and new digital signage innovations, the shows cover 8 exhibitions with 80,000sqm. Exhibits range from upstream to downstream, including: laser engraving/cutting machine, signage, lightbox, advertising machine, acrylic panel, POP, indoor and outdoor inkjet printer and ink, printing material, bending machine, LED display, LED illuminant, LED lighting, LED packaging, chips and testing device, OLED and digital signage.

905 exhibitors from the fields of signage, advertising, LED and digital signage participated at this definitive event to showcase their latest products and the most innovative ideas. To name just a few:

RUIJIE, BODOR, HAN'S YUEMING, MDK, SENFENG;

WIT-COLOR, FLORA, SYNNEX, TECKWIN, DOCAN;

NAR, YUANYUAN, HAILIDE, GUOSHUN, GANGLONG;

DONGHUA, BANNERMATE, BDX, HAWK, LIYU;

LIANTRONICS, UNILUMIN, ABSEN, DISOLOR, SANSI.

The full exhibitor list can be viewed online at www.SignChina-sh.com.

Innovation Theater - more net-working opportunities

18 exhibitors with high industry recognition were invited to present at the Innovation Theatre with inspiring speeches and new eye-catching models.To name just a few:

JINAN BODOR : F1530 Cutting Machine;

: F1530 Cutting Machine; LIANTRONICS: V0.8, VL1.2 Series Display; Rental Display RA1 & RA3T Series;

MAGNIMAGE: V8 Series Seamless Display;

ABSEN: CR Series Photonics Display; A27 Series Commercial Display.

A perfect face-to-face sharing and learning opportunity for those who seek for new technology and solution on small-pitch display, green printing and LED display application in the digital era.

FSA Summit and White Paper - the industry milestone

The 1st Future Sign Academy Summit was held concurrently onsite. 13 guests from senior management of different fields were invited to speak at the summit. UBM Asia Vice President Margaret Ma Connolly, A.E. SMITH (CHINA) President Danny Gu, Google China General Manager of Key Account Industry Chengyun Xu, Nielsen-CCData Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer Eric Zhang, Sands Cotai Central Director of Facilities Michael Littlewood, Geely Auto Consultant Mario Cavolo, andAirmedia Marketing Vice President Degang Dong,to name a few.Subjects focused from digital signage with big data to future signage application. Moreover, the release of 2017 Sign & Advertising Industry White Paper by UBM Asia Vice President Margaret Ma Connolly set a milestone for the industry.

2018 - Better Service and Non-stop Endeavor - See You There

The success of SIGN & LED CHINA 2017 reveals that the Chinese market of sign, LED and digital signage has been developing rapidly. Mr. David Tang, Managing Director of UBM Trust said: "UBM Trust has never stopped building the most complete and the most international trading platform for the sign and LED industry. With the feature of the Five New Elements, our product range has been further extended. With such solid approval from our buyers and exhibitors, we will continue our endeavor to build an international trading platform and to provide more business opportunities andbetter service to all our show participants. Thank you for your on-going support!"

The next editions of the shows, SIGN CHINA 2018, LED CHINA 2018 and DIGITAL SIGNAGE 2018, expected to cover 100,000sqm+ exhibition area with 1,200+ exhibitors, will be held from September 19 to 21, 2018at SNIEC in Shanghai, China. For more details, please visit www.Signchina-sh.com , www.LEDChina-sh.com or www.DigitalSignage-sh.com.

About UBM Trust ( www.ubmtrust.com )

UBM Trust is a joint venture company of UBM Asia, which is owned by UBM plc listed on the London Stock Exchange.It has anextensive experience in organizing large-scale exhibitions covering different industries in China, as well asassisting Chinese enterprises to participate in famous fairs abroad.Its flagship events serve the sign and LED industries. Among the definitive exhibitions of this kind in the world, these two eventsserve asimportant catalysts for the development and upgrading of China's sign and LED industries, offering a comprehensive one-stop trading platform for exhibitors and visitors. UBM Trust takes pride in providing professional high-quality services to itscustomers.

Contact: Echo Gong

Tel: +86-21-6157-7215

Email: echo.gong@ubm.com
LINKOPING, Sweden, Nov. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --The Board of Directors of international medical imaging IT and cybersecurity company Sectra(SECT-B.ST) has decided to change the publication date of the company's nine-month interim report for the 2017/2018 fiscal year. The new date is Monday, March 12, 2018, at 8:00 a.m. (previous planned publication date was March 6, 2018).

The change was made due to the fact that the original report date coincides with important industry trade fairs that management need to attend.

Sectra's financial reporting calendar

December 8, 2017, 8:00 a.m. (CET): Six-month interim report

December 8, 2017, 10:00 a.m. (CET): Teleconference/Presentation of Sectra's six-month report

March 12, 2018, 8:00 a.m. (CET): Nine-month interim report

May 29, 2018, 8:00 a.m. (CET): Year-end report 2017/2018:

For more information about Sectra's financial events and reports: http://www.sectra.com/investor/calendar/

Subscribe for information

To subscribe for financial reports, invitations and information from Sectra via e-mail, please fill in your contact information at www.sectra.com/prenumerera.

This information constitutes information that Sectra AB (publ) is obliged to make public. The information was submitted to the media for publication, through the agency of the contact person set out below, at 8:20 a.m. (CET) on November 1, 2017.

For further information, please contact:

Dr. Torbjorn Kronander

CEO and President

Sectra AB

+46(0)705-23-52-27

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

http://news.cision.com/sectra/r/new-date-for-sectra-s-nine-month-interim-report-2017-2018,c2379641

The following files are available for download:
MOSCOW, November 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

Vnesheconombank and the Export - Import Bank of China signed a framework line of credit agreement in Beijing. The amount to be financed under the CNY agreement will be up to three billion US dollars.

The agreement was officially signed in the presence of Dmitry Medvedev, Chairman of the Russian Government, and Li Keqiang, Premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China. The agreement was signed on the margins of the 22nd Meeting of Prime Ministers of Russia and China by VEB Chairperson Sergey Gorkov on the part of VEB and by Chairperson Hu Xiaolian on the part of the Export-Import Bank of China.

The Agreement provides for long-term lending to finance Russian projects in the area of infrastructure and high technology as well as knowledge intensive and innovative projects being launched in Russia, including the projects creating synergies in the context of the EAEU integration initiatives and China's The Belt and Road Initiative.

"VEB and China Exim Bank have been working together over a large span of time, and we have achieved great outcomes. With the new agreement signed today, we will be able to expand Russia-China cooperation commercially and economically and to boost interaction across the high technology sectors," Sergey Gorkov commented after the agreement was officially signed.

The Export-Import Bank of China (China Exim Bank) was founded in 1994. It is a state bank solely owned by the Chinese government and under the direct leadership of the State Council. China Exim Bank headquarters are based in Beijing.

The mission of China Exim Bank is to put into action China's national industrial development and manufacturing policy, to promote China's economic interests internationally and to implement the national financial policy to foster exports in sectors such as machine manufacturing, electronics and integrated equipment. The Export-Import Bank of China is also tasked to develop viable businesses that will act as project contractors and investors abroad, and to encourage international ties and commercial and economic cooperation.

VEB PRESS OFFICE


LONDON (dpa-AFX) - UK-based insurer Old Mutual plc (ODMTY.PK, OML.L) said it will hold a showcase Wednesday, 1 November 2017, on Old Mutual Limited or OML, the new South African holding company for Old Mutual Emerging Markets or OMEM, the 54 percent stake in Nedbank Group Limited, and residual elements of Old Mutual plc.



OML will have its primary listing on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, and secondary listings on the London Stock Exchange and other African exchanges in 2018.



The showcase will feature presentations as well as question & answer sessions from the OML and Nedbank leadership teams - including Peter Moyo, Chief Executive Officer designate of OML, and Mike Brown, Chief Executive of Nedbank.



OML also said it has agreed with Nedbank that subsequent to the unbundling of the majority of its shareholding, the remaining minority holding will be 19.9 percent, thus providing a foundation for the continued strategic relationship between the two businesses.



On 30 October 2017, Old Mutual Group Holdings Limited, the South African intermediate holding company for OMEM and Nedbank, announced the appointment of additional non-executive directors. It is planned that this will become the new board of directors for OML.



Separately, Nedbank Group said that the 19.9 percent strategic minority shareholding to be retained by Old Mutual in Nedbank will be held by OML.



As previously announced, the decrease in OML's shareholding in Nedbank Group to 19.9 percent will be achieved through the distribution of the balance of OML's majority shareholding in Nedbank Group to its shareholders, at an appropriate time and in an orderly manner, post the listing of OML. OML said it does not intend to sell any part of its shareholding in Nedbank Group to a new strategic investor.



Further, Old Mutual said that Nonkululeko Nyembezi will be stepping down from the Old Mutual Board on 31 December 2017.



Nyembezi joined the Old Mutual Board in 2012 and has served on the Board Risk and Nomination and Governance Committees since 2013.



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de
BRACKNELL, England, November 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

Saba enhances focus in the region with strategic appointments of General Manager, channel and talent industry experts

Saba, a leading provider of people-centric talent management solutions, has announced the expansion of its strategic leadership team in the EMEA region, naming industry veterans to key posts.

To accelerate regional go-to-market strategies and local market expansion, Saba has appointed Christian Foerg as General Manager EMEA Region. James Frampton will lead new customer acquisition and take on responsibility for the company's partner expansion initiatives in the region. Saba veteran Dipak Patel will expand his solution consulting leadership and accelerate industry thought leadership programmes.

Technology, skills and globalisation rank highly on European C-level agendas for 2017. Fifty-two per cent of CEOs in the UK alone plan to increase headcount, but struggle to find skilled talent, with 77 per cent concerned that a shortage of key skills could impair their company's growth.[1]Executives, HR and learning leaders across EMEA are faced with unique and diverse business challenges, which are driving investment in talent management solutions.

"Our deep understanding of market dynamics and our strong customer and partner relationships have helped Saba establish a strong and growing business in EMEA," said Pervez Qureshi, CEO of Saba. "Our newly appointed EMEA leadership team, led by Christian Foerg, will build on and accelerate our success in the region, and more importantly, help our customers build a transformative workplace through the power of talent management."

Since joining Saba in 2011 as Regional Vice President in EMEA, Christian Foerg has lead programmes to drive customer success. An experienced HR leader himself, Christian has led HR systems teams in companies like HP, Compaq and Media-Saturn. He has a strong understanding of the market dynamics and business needs of customers. As Saba's General Manager in EMEA, Christian will oversee all go-to-market operations for Europe, Middle East and Africa.

In addition to new customer acquisition, Saba Regional Vice President, James Frampton, brings 19 years of channel experience from organisations like BMC Software and Epicor. He will lead the expansion of Saba's strategic channel partnerships throughout the region. An important facet of Saba's go to market strategy in EMEA, the company regards partner channels as an extension of its own expertise and an integral part of business operations.

Dipak Patel, Regional Vice President of Solution Consulting and a 10-year Saba veteran, will expand his leadership responsibilities to include strategic account management as well as the growth of Saba's product and thought leadership evangelism in EMEA. Dipak has collaborated with hundreds of talent leaders in the region throughout the past decade leveraging Saba solutions and services to address their learning, performance and engagement and business needs.

About Saba

Saba delivers a cloud-based intelligent talent management and engagement solution used by leading organizations worldwide to hire, develop, engage, and inspire their people. With machine learning at its core, Saba Cloud offers proactive, personalized recommendations on candidates, connections and content to help employees and businesses lead and succeed. It is purpose-built on a highly scalable platform that exceeds industry security and reliability standards. Following the acquisition of Halogen Software, Saba is now one of the largest independent talent management providers in the world. For more information, visithttp://www.saba.com.

[1] PWC 20th CEO Survey, 2017

Elias Rassi, Public Relations Manager, Saba Software, T: +1-613-270-1011 x 4990, E: erassi@saba.com
OSAKA, Japan, November 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

New meta-analysis provides a comprehensive view of real-world data and furthers understanding of Entyvio as an important treatment option for patients with ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease

Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited (TSE: 4502) ("Takeda") today announced the presentation of real-world evidence from two analyses evaluating the safety profile of Entyvio (vedolizumab), during the 25th United European Gastroenterology (UEG) Week in Barcelona, Spain (October 28-November 1). It includes a systematic review and meta-analysis of real-world safety outcomes reported for Entyvio in ulcerative colitis (UC) or Crohn's disease (CD), as well as a database analysis of the real-world use of immunosuppressive (IM) therapy in people living with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) who initiated Entyvio treatment in the U.S.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of real-world outcomes screening 218 published studies from MEDLINE-, Cochrane-, and EMBASE-indexed publications and conference abstracts from May 1, 2014-January 10, 2017 examined safety events reported after use of Entyvio in patients with UC or CD. A total of 33 studies reported data on 2,857 Entyvio-treated patients (CD: 1,532; UC: 829) over an Entyvio exposure/follow-up period ranging 0.5-18 months. In the meta-analysis, pooled adverse event (AE) rates in Entyvio-treated patients were reported for infections, serious AEs and serious infections. These reported rates were consistent with previous vedolizumab clinical trial results in patients with moderate to severe UC or CD and support the long-term safety profile of Entyvio in clinical practice.

"Real-world data furthers our understanding of the efficacy and safety signals we see in placebo-controlled registration trials, which have strict selection criteria and may not be illustrative of the patient population seen in clinical practice. A meta-analysis adds stability to such real-world observations, especially when based on very large patient numbers. In this case, vedolizumab real-world data were systematically collected and analyzed with the rates of serious infections, infusion-related reactions and malignancies consistent with data previously reported in clinical trials in patients with moderate to severe UC or CD," said Stefan Schreiber, M.D., Ph.D., Professor of Medicine and Gastroenterology, Translational Inflammation Research, Christian Albrechts University, Kiel, Germany.

Results from a second U.S-specific analysis assessing the real-world use of immunosuppressives (IM) across a total of 567 patients, identified via The Explorys Universe database, also provide information on the safety profile of Entyvio. Of the 567 patients (58.6% female; 41.4% male), 68.4% had CD and 31.6% had UC. The mean age at index was 44 and on average, patients initiated vedolizumab 4.5 years following their initial diagnosis. The findings report, in real-world clinical practice, of the 45.4% of patients without a history of IM therapy, 87% of patients treated with Entyvio were not on IM therapy during follow-up. Of the 54.6% of patients with a history of IM therapy, 61% of patients treated with Entyvio were not on IM during maintenance treatment during follow-up. In this analysis, lower rates of healthcare resource utilization were observed among patients without a history of IM use.

"These data provide additional insight on the usage patterns, long-term safety profile and outcomes of Entyvio use in real-world clinical practice," said Mona Khalid, Senior Director, Head of Evidence and Value Generation, Takeda Pharmaceuticals. "We look forward to the continued expansion of our body of knowledge on the safety profile of Entyvio treatment in ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, and are pleased to present these real-world results at the UEG Week in Barcelona."

In addition to these real-world analyses, other Takeda-sponsored posters presented at the UEG Week meeting include evaluations of post-marketing safety, risk factors for postoperative infection following lower gastrointestinal surgery, treatment discontinuation, flares and hospitalizations among biologic-naive IBD patients, as well as post-hoc analyses of GEMINI 1, a pivotal Phase 3 placebo-controlled study of Entyvio induction and maintenance treatment in patients with moderately to severely active UC. For a full list of poster titles and authors, visithttp://www.ueg.eu/week/programme/scientific-programme.

About Entyvio (vedolizumab)

Vedolizumab is a prescription medicine approved for adults with moderate to severe ulcerative colitis (UC) or Crohn's disease (CD). In people with UC and CD, there's an increased number of inflammatory white blood cells entering the mucosal lining of the bowel. The presence of these inflammatory cells can lead to the symptoms most commonly seen in people who have UC or CD. Vedolizumab is designed to reduce this inflammation by blocking the movement of the white blood cells into the inflamed gut tissue. Mucosal addressin cell adhesion molecule 1 (MAdCAM-1) is preferentially expressed on the endothelial lining of blood vessels in the lymphoid tissue of the bowel. The alpha4beta7 (a47) integrin is expressed on a subset of circulating white blood cells. Vedolizumab specifically binds to the a47 integrin and blocks its interaction with MAdCAM-1, therefore inhibiting the white blood cells from entering the inflamed gut tissue, thus decreasing inflammation.

About Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn's Disease

Ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD) are two of the most common forms of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Both UC and CD are chronic, relapsing, remitting, inflammatory conditions of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract that are often progressive in nature. UC only involves the large intestine as opposed to CD which can affect any part of the GI tract from mouth to anus. CD can also affect the entire thickness of the bowel wall, while UC only involves the innermost lining of the large intestine. UC commonly presents with symptoms of abdominal discomfort, loose bowel movements, including blood or pus. CD commonly presents with symptoms of abdominal pain, diarrhea and weight loss. The cause of UC or CD is not fully understood, however recent research suggests hereditary, genetics, environmental factors and/or an abnormal immune response to microbial antigens in genetically predisposed individuals can lead to UC or CD.

Therapeutic Indications

Ulcerative colitis

Vedolizumab is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis who have had an inadequate response with, lost response to, or were intolerant to either conventional therapy or a tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFa) antagonist.

Crohn's disease

Vedolizumab is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with moderately to severely active Crohn's disease who have had an inadequate response with, lost response to, or were intolerant to either conventional therapy or a tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFa) antagonist.

Important Safety Information

Contraindications

Hypersensitivity to the active substance or to any of the excipients.

Special warnings and special precautions for use

Vedolizumab should be administered by a healthcare professional equipped to manage hypersensitivity reactions including anaphylaxis, if they occur. Appropriate monitoring and medical support measures should be available for immediate use when administering vedolizumab. Observe all patients during infusion and until the infusion is complete.

Infusion-related reactions

In clinical studies, infusion-related reactions (IRR) and hypersensitivity reactions have been reported, with the majority being mild to moderate in severity. If a severe IRR, anaphylactic reaction, or other severe reaction occurs, administration of vedolizumab must be discontinued immediately and appropriate treatment initiated (e.g., epinephrine and antihistamines). If a mild to moderate IRR occurs, the infusion rate can be slowed or interrupted and appropriate treatment initiated (e.g., epinephrine and antihistamines). Once the mild or moderate IRR subsides, continue the infusion. Physicians should consider pre-treatment (e.g., with antihistamine, hydrocortisone and/or paracetamol) prior to the next infusion for patients with a history of mild to moderate IRR to vedolizumab, in order to minimize their risks.

Infections

Vedolizumab is a gut-selective integrin antagonist with no identified systemic immunosuppressive activity. Physicians should be aware of the potential increased risk of opportunistic infections or infections for which the gut is a defensive barrier. Vedolizumab treatment is not to be initiated in patients with active, severe infections such as tuberculosis, sepsis, cytomegalovirus, listeriosis, and opportunistic infections until the infections are controlled, and physicians should consider withholding treatment in patients who develop a severe infection while on chronic treatment with vedolizumab. Caution should be exercised when considering the use of vedolizumab in patients with a controlled chronic severe infection or a history of recurring severe infections. Patients should be monitored closely for infections before, during and after treatment. Before starting treatment with vedolizumab, screening for tuberculosis may be considered according to local practice. Some integrin antagonists and some systemic immunosuppressive agents have been associated with progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), which is a rare and often fatal opportunistic infection caused by the John Cunningham (JC) virus. By binding to the a47 integrin expressed on gut-homing lymphocytes, vedolizumab exerts an immunosuppressive effect on the gut. Although no systemic immunosuppressive effect was noted in healthy subjects, the effects on systemic immune system function in patients with inflammatory bowel disease are not known. No cases of PML were reported in clinical studies of vedolizumab however, healthcare professionals should monitor patients on vedolizumab for any new onset or worsening of neurological signs and symptoms, and consider neurological referral if they occur. If PML is suspected, treatment with vedolizumab must be withheld; if confirmed, treatment must be permanently discontinued. Typical signs and symptoms associated with PML are diverse, progress over days to weeks, and include progressive weakness on one side of the body, clumsiness of limbs, disturbance of vision, and changes in thinking, memory, and orientation leading to confusion and personality changes. The progression of deficits usually leads to death or severe disability over weeks or months.

Malignancies

The risk of malignancy is increased in patients with ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. Immunomodulatory medicinal products may increase the risk of malignancy.

Prior and concurrent use of biological products

No vedolizumab clinical trial data are available for patients previously treated with natalizumab. Caution should be exercised when considering the use of vedolizumab in these patients. No clinical trial data for concomitant use of vedolizumab with biologic immunosuppressants are available. Therefore, the use of vedolizumab in such patients is not recommended.

Vaccinations

Prior to initiating treatment with vedolizumab all patients should be brought up to date with all recommended immunizations. Patients receiving vedolizumab may receive non-live vaccines (e.g., subunit or inactivated vaccines) and may receive live vaccines only if the benefits outweigh the risks.

Adverse Reactions include: Nasopharyngitis, Headache, Arthralgia, Upper respiratory tract infection, Bronchitis, Influenza, Sinusitis, Cough, Oropharyngeal pain, Nausea, Rash, Pruritus, Back pain, Pain in extremities, Pyrexia, and Fatigue.

Please consult with your local regulatory agency for approved labeling in your country.

For U.S. audiences, please see the fullPrescribing InformationincludingMedication Guidefor ENTYVIO.

For EU audiences, please see the Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) for ENTYVIO.

Takeda's Commitment to Gastroenterology

More than 70 million people worldwide are impacted by gastrointestinal (GI) diseases, which can be complex, debilitating and life-changing.Takeda is driven to improving the lives of patients with GI diseases through innovative medicines, dedicated patient disease management support and the evolution of the healthcare environment. Takeda is leading in gastroenterology through the delivery of innovative medicines in areas associated with high unmet needs, such as inflammatory bowel disease, GI acid-related diseases and GI motility disorders. Our GI research & development team is also exploring solutions in celiac disease and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), as well as scientific advancements through microbiome therapies. With more than 25 years of experience in this area, our broad approach to treating many diseases that impact the GI system and our global network of collaborators, Takeda aims to advance how patients manage their disease.

About Takeda Pharmaceutical Company

Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited is a global, R&D-driven pharmaceutical company committed to bringing better health and a brighter future to patients by translating science into life-changing medicines. Takeda focuses its research efforts on oncology, gastroenterology and central nervous system therapeutic areas. It also has specific development programs in specialty cardiovascular diseases as well as late-stage candidates for vaccines. Takeda conducts R&D both internally and with partners to stay at the leading edge of innovation. New innovative products, especially in oncology and gastroenterology, as well as its presence in emerging markets, fuel the growth of Takeda. More than 30,000 Takeda employees are committed to improving quality of life for patients, working with our partners in health care in more than 70 countries. For more information, visit http://www.takeda.com/news.
GUILDFORD, ENGLAND -- (Marketwired) -- 11/01/17 -- Angle PLC (AIM: AGL) (OTCQX: ANPCY)

For immediate release 1 November 2017

ANGLE plc ("the Company")

Completion of Fundraising and Acquisition

ANGLE plc (AIM:AGL OTCQX:ANPCY), a world-leading liquid biopsy company, is pleased to announce that further to the announcement of 30 October 2017 and General Admission earlier today, the Fundraising and Acquisition of certain assets of Axela Inc. is now complete.

Capitalised terms not otherwise defined in this announcement shall have the same meaning ascribed to such terms in the announcement entitled "Acquisition and Fundraising" released on 5 October 2017 unless the context requires otherwise.

For further information ANGLE:

ANGLE plc +44 (0) 1483 343434 Andrew Newland, Chief Executive Ian Griffiths, Finance Director finnCap Ltd (NOMAD and Joint Broker) +44 (0) 207 220 0500 Corporate Finance - Adrian Hargrave, Simon Hicks, Kate Bannatyne Corporate Broking - Alice Lane, Nikita Jain WG Partners (Joint Broker) +44 (0) 203 705 9330 Nigel Barnes, Nigel Birks, Andrew Craig, Chris Lee FTI Consulting Simon Conway, Mo Noonan, Stephanie Cuthbert +44 (0) 203 727 1000 Kimberly Ha (US) +1 212 850 5612

Notes for editors

About ANGLE plc www.angleplc.com

ANGLE is a world-leading liquid biopsy company commercialising a disruptive platform technology that can capture cells circulating in blood, such as cancer cells, even when they are as rare in number as one cell in one billion blood cells, and harvest the cells for analysis.

ANGLE's cell separation technology is called the Parsortix system and it enables a liquid biopsy (simple blood test) to be used to provide the cells of interest. Parsortix is the subject of granted patents in Europe, the United States, Canada, India, China, Japan and Australia and three extensive families of patents are being progressed worldwide. The system is based on a microfluidic device that captures live cells based on a combination of their size and compressibility. Parsortix has a CE Mark for Europe and FDA authorisation is in process for the United States.

ANGLE has established formal collaborations with world-class cancer centres. These Key Opinion Leaders are working to identify applications with medical utility (clear benefit to patients), and to secure clinical data that demonstrates that utility in patient studies. Details are available here http://www.angleplc.com/the-company/collaborators/

The analysis of the cells that can be harvested from patient blood with ANGLE's Parsortix system has the potential to help deliver personalised cancer care offering profound improvements in clinical and health economic outcomes in the treatment and diagnosis of various forms of cancer.

The global increase in cancer to a 1 in 3 lifetime incidence is set to drive a multi-billion dollar clinical market. The Parsortix system is designed to be compatible with existing major medtech analytical platforms and to act as a companion diagnostic for major pharma in helping to identify patients that will benefit from a particular drug and then monitoring the drug's effectiveness.

As well as cancer, the Parsortix technology has the potential for deployment with several other important cell types in the future.

ANGLE stock trades on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol AGL and in New York on the OTC-QX under the ticker symbol ANPCY. For further information please visit: www.angleplc.com

Contacts:

RNS

Customer

Services

0044-207797-4400

rns@londonstockexchange.com

http://www.rns.com




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LogBox prioritizes patient and healthcare provider privacy and confidentiality and offers an affordable and personalized user experience

SANTA CLARA, California, Nov. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --Based on recent analysis of the African patient data logging market, Frost & Sullivan recognizes LogBox with the 2017 Customer Value Leadership Award. Founded in South Africa in 2010, LogBox is a digital identity management solution developed in collaboration with EPI-USE. It is available on both Android and iOS devices, designed and developed by doctors and other key stakeholders to store and transfer medical data, demographic information, and academic records electronically. The aim of the app is to improve efficiency and attenuate the administrative burden placed on patients, healthcare providers, and academics.

Prior to launch, LogBox validated its app via a pilot study involving 5,000 patients at the Wits Donald Gordon Medical Centre. According to the results from a survey conducted during the study, almost 90% of respondents said they find it frustrating and time consuming to complete or update personal information forms when visiting several medical practices.

"LogBox developed its app to enhance the user's experience with a user-friendly platform," stated Frost & Sullivan's Siddharth Saha, Vice President of the Transformational Health Practice. "Yet, ease of use is not the only contributing factor, as the company ensures maximum data protection at every level of the platform-critically important for patients' medical data."

The LogBox app targets three user groups, resulting in the following products:

LogBox Practice: Allows healthcare professionals to communicate with patients, invite them to their practice and create customized questionnaires.

LogBox Patient: An enterprise-grade platform that allows patients to own and manage their demographic data and share with the provider of their choice.

LogBox Academic: An electronic logbook and portfolio-of-evidence for medical specialist trainees.

A large proportion of established healthcare professionals in South Africa are adverse to adopting and using innovative technology as part of their practices. To counter this, the use of LogBox is mandatory among trainee specialists and registrars affiliated with the Colleges of Medicine of South Africa.

"By targeting training physicians, LogBox is ensuring its growth with future physician users-those who will transition from the LogBox Academic app to the LogBox Practice app," said Saha.

The creators of LogBox also use Google Analytics to conduct in-depth analyses to monitor the performance of all three versions of the app. These analyses focus on key factors including drop-off rates, user behavior, user experience, and penetration rates.

"LogBox seeks to offer the best tested solution to maximize value to its users," adds Saha.

LogBox operates on a business-to-business model, allowing it the opportunity to integrate simultaneously with multiple stakeholders. This exclusivity provides infinite opportunities for the company to grow and develop. Plans are also in place to expand and trial the LogBox healthcare app in the public health sector in South Africa. The healthcare app will also pilot in San Diego in the United States.

Each year, Frost & Sullivan presents this award to the company that strives to be best-in-class in three key areas: understanding demand, nurturing the brand, and differentiating from the competition.

Frost & Sullivan Best Practices awards recognize companies in a variety of regional and global markets for demonstrating outstanding achievement and superior performance in areas such as leadership, technological innovation, customer service, and strategic product development. Industry analysts compare market participants and measure performance through in-depth interviews, analysis, and extensive secondary research to identify best practices in the industry.

About LogBox

E: info@logbox.co.za

P: +27861564269

About Frost & Sullivan

Frost & Sullivan, the Growth Partnership Company, works in collaboration with clients to leverage visionary innovation that addresses the global challenges and related growth opportunities that will make or break today's market participants. For more than 50 years, we have been developing growth strategies for the global 1000, emerging businesses, the public sector, and the investment community. Contact us: Start the discussion.

Contact:

Andrea Steinman

P: 210.477.8425

F: 210.348.1000

E: andrea.steinman@frost.com

Logo - http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/594439/LogBox_Award.jpg
LONDON, November 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

EMEX (www.emexlondon.com) and its community is returning to the ExCeL Centre inLondonon 22nd and 23rd November with a packed programme spread across 4 free-to-attend CPD-accredited seminar theatres. EMEX is the must-attend energy management show that connects all energy users with leading experts, policy makers, suppliers and technical solutions.

EMEX is over 150 exhibitors and 100 free-to-attend CPD-accredited seminars spread across 4 theatres:

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

Water & Energy Strategy

Facilities, Technology & Innovation

Renewables, Supply and Storage

Content provided at EMEX is curated by the Energy Managers Association and its Board of major energy users and will include the opportunity for you to meet with top industry experts, peers and numerous leading suppliers that will unveil the latest technology and energy efficiency strategies available right now.

1.Are you aware about the latest technology and innovation?

With over 150 exhibitors ranging from major utilities to brokers and consultants, equipment manufacturers to training companies and showcasing a broad range of energy efficient solutions and services under one roof, EMEX has become a unique opportunity to learn about the new technology, systems and services available in this fast-changing environment.

Participants include E.ON Energy Solutions, Siemens, Vinci Facilities, ScottishPower, Dong Energy, Good Energy, ABB, Affinity for Business, Carlo Gavazzi, Kingspan Light + Air, Carbon Trust, BRE Global, Ecopilot, Harvard Technology, Grundfos, Lightsource, Argand Solutions, EcoCooling, Enercon, Integrated Environmental Solutions (IES), EATON Electric, ebm-papst, Green Energy Consulting, Savills, Sabien Technology, SMA, SES Business Water, Thorlux Lighting, Vattenfall, Wilo, Wilson Power Solutions and many more.

2.Have you got the skills, knowledge and experience to promote your energy efficiency projects within your organisation?

In addition to the technical expertise and data analysis, the role of the energy management team is evolving. Influencing and negotiation, communication and stakeholder engagement skills are becoming ever more important.EMEX seminars will cover a vast range of energy management strategies and experiences across various sectors, providing attendees with vital knowledge and new skills on how to build a robust business case for investment in energy efficiency and renewable energy projects, and gain buy-in from senior stakeholders.

Wendi Wheeler, Energy & Carbon Strategy Manager at Network Rail; Rodrigo Matabuena, Energy Manager at London Borough of Sutton; Mohammad Rafique, Energy and Environment Officer at Surrey Police; Rachel Ward, Sustainability Manager at London Metropolitan University; Tristan Wolfe, Energy Manager at University of Aberdeen; Ian Lane Head of Sustainability at University of the Arts London will share their learning on how to make the business case for a successful energy management plan and to gain 'buy-in' to their energy projects within such complex and highly regulated environments.

Luke Richardson, Environmental Partnership Manager at Virgin Trains East Coast, will share his approaches and outline the key learning points he has identified in securing successful bids and persuading directors, managers and operational staff to engage with energy and environment issues.

Scott Armstrong, Group Head of Energy and Sustainability at Bourne Leisure will discuss about the importance of investing in Team. In 2017, Bourne Leisure decided to enhance its traditional annual Sustainability CAPEX programme by investing in the creation of a team of energy champions.

3.Does your business require flexibility in energy supply?

The UK's energy mix is fast changing and demand reduction is a key area the government is very keen on. Demand Side Response (DSR) is a fast-growing market that enables National Grid to balance Britain's electricity system cost-effectively, while our energy landscape changes rapidly. If your business has the flexibility to increase, decrease, or shift its electricity use, then the power is in your hands to take full advantage.

In this context, EMEX has launched the 'Flexible Power Zone' in partnership with Power Responsive (National Grid). This area is designed for the uninitiated to understand and evaluate this widely talked about opportunity. A dozen participating DSR and Battery Storage partners of National Grid will each give a presentation (schedule below) and be available to talk with you one on one. It's your opportunity to find a supplier that talks your language and makes sense for your business. Participants confirmed so far in the Flexible Power Zone include Dong Energy, EDF Energy, E.ON, ENDECO Technologies, Energy Pool, EnerNOC, Flexitricity, Open Energi, Orginami Energy and Scottish Power.

Lord Redesdale, CEO at the EMA, explores how changes in the electricity codes are developing so trading energy demand reduction through the use of batteries can become a compelling investment for businesses with onsite renewables and balancing mechanism units.

4.Does your organisation keep on top of the coming taxes and regulations?

Gary Shanahan, Head of Business and Industrial Energy Efficiency, Tax and Reporting at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), will provide an update on business and industrial energy efficiency, including the development of a streamlined energy and carbon reporting, preparations for the next phase of the Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (ESOS) and progress on the Climate Change Agreements (CCAs) and the CRC Energy Efficiency Schemes.

Evan Joanette, Policy Manager at the Consumer Council for Water; Adam Yarnall, Network Utilities Manager at Camping & Caravanning Club; and James Tiernan, Group Energy & Environment Manager at Unite Students, will reveal how they approached the opportunity offered by the recently deregulated water retail market. They will also discuss the barriers and the opportunities they unveiled as they switched their service.

ISO 50001 energy management system is being revised into the new structure and is expected to be launched in 2018. Attendees will get a brief on the 6 key tools in ISO 50001 and how organisations can prepare, implement and transitions to the new ISO 50001.

With such diverse solutions, knowledge and expertise on offer, it is not surprising that thousands of small and medium businesses, as well as household names such as NHS, British Airways, Harrods, Hilton Worldwide, Boots, RBS, TATA, British Land, Ministry of Defence, AstraZeneca, Sodexo, Bellrock, BAE Systems, Co-Operative Group, Ofgem, Network Rail, MITIE, CBRE, Whitbread, Mitchells and Butlers, British Telecom, House of Fraser and many county and city councils are already registered to attend.

EMEX will be opened on Wednesday 22nd and Thursday 23rd November at ExCeL in London.

Register for free at www.emexlondon.com/register-now
WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - A terrorist attack in New York has killed eight people and injured 11 others, prompting US President Donald Trump to order more robust 'extreme vetting' of foreign travelers. A truck driver plowed through a busy bike path in Lower Manhattan Tuesday night, mowing down pedestrians and cyclists before hitting a school bus and shooting with an imitation gun. The assailant, who was found running from the crash site, was arrested after police shot him in the stomach. The suspect has been identified as 29-year-old Sayfullo Saipov, an Uzbek immigrant who arrived in New York in 2010, reports say. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
BlackRock Commodities Income Investment Trust plc

LEI - 54930040ALEAVPMMDC31



The European Union Alternative Investment Fund Managers' Directive which came into effect in July 2014, required BlackRock Commodities Income Investment Trust plc ('the Company') to appoint a Depositary to perform certain functions. Consequently the Company appointed BNY Mellon Trust & Depositary (UK) Limited to act as the Company's Depositary on 2 July 2014.

The Company now announces that with effect from 1 November 2017, the role of the Depositary will be transferred from BNY Mellon Trust & Depositary (UK) Limited to its indirect parent company, The Bank of New York Mellon (International) Limited due to a streamlining of the legal structure of The Bank of New York Mellon.



Contact:

Sarah Beynsberger

for and on behalf of BlackRock Investment Management (UK) Limited

Company Secretary



Date: 1 November 2017
BRUSSELS/FRANKFURT/PARIS (dpa-AFX) - French shares rose on Wednesday as encouraging consumer confidence data underpinned the U.S. dollar and investors looked ahead to the FOMC decision later in the day. While no policy changes are expected, investors may get some clues in the policy statement as to whether the U.S. central bank is on track to raise rates in December. The benchmark CAC 40 was up 25 points or 0.46 percent at 5,528 in late opening deals after gaining 0.2 percent in the previous session. Banks traded mixed, with Credit Agricole rising 0.3 percent and Societe Generale adding half a percent while BNP Paribas shed 0.6 percent. Groupe PSA and BNP Paribas have announced the closing of their joint acquisition of the financial operations of Opel and Vauxhall. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
Helsinki, Finland, November 1, 2017 at 12.00 pm - The City of Vantaa has chosen QPR Software (QPR) as a provider of consulting services in enterprise architecture. The estimate for annual average non-binding need for enterprise architecture related services is approximately one thousand (1,000) man-days. The agreement ends on March 31, 2020 at the latest.



The service to be delivered consists of multiple components that are connected to strategic financial and operational objectives. Some of the key tasks will include the design of various reference, target, and solution architectures. The service can also include training and different types of information system and technology related reports.



"We are happy for the decision made by the City of Vantaa. The City's enterprise architecture work is directed by national and regional architecture work of which we have strong experience," says Jari Jaakkola, CEO of QPR Software.



The Ministry of Finance of Finland has ordered enterprise architecture modeling software-as-a-service from QPR. This service is available for all entities that are engaged in the Finnish public sector enterprise architecture development, and are approved by the Ministry.



The City of Vantaa takes advantage of the service which enables the city to model its processes and enterprise architecture in a systematic way, centrally manage models, and distribute them outside of its organizational boundaries. Customers of QPR's consulting services will be better equipped to meet the recommendations and requirements of the regional government reform and EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).



About QPR Software Plc



QPR Software provides solutions for strategy execution, performance and process management, process mining and enterprise architecture in over 50 countries. QPR Software allows customers to gain valuable insights for informed decisions that make a difference.



With 25 years of experience, 2 000 customers and over a million licenses sold, QPR's products are highly regarded by industry analysts and customers alike.



Dare to Improve. www.qpr.com



For additional information, please contact:



Miika Nurminen, SVP, Consulting and Advisory Services +358 40 503 1982 miika.nurminen(at)qpr.com



For additional information on QPR EnterpriseArchitect and related solutions, please visit:



https://www.qpr.com/products/qpr-enterprisearchitect



https://www.qpr.com/solutions/enterprise-architecture



https://www.qpr.com/solutions/business-process-management

Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 1, 2017) - PreveCeutical Medical Inc. (CSE: PREV) (OTCQB: PRVCF) (FSE: 18H) (the "Company" or "PreveCeutical") is pleased to announce that it has received approval (the "Approval") from the Environmental Hazards Unit of the Queensland Government (the Australian state-level authority) to acquire, store and use high-quality cannabis oil and dried cannabis plant extracts. The Approval is a significant milestone which enables PreveCeutical's Chief Research Officer, Dr. Harendra Parekh, to apply for an importation permit (the "Permit") with the Office of Drug Control in Canberra (the Australian federal-level authority). Upon receipt of the Permit, shipment of cannabis material from the Company's Canadian licenced producer (see news release dated September 21, 2017) to the Pharmacy Australia Centre of Excellence ("PACE") may be initiated.

The Approval is a component of PreveCeutical's research and development program for the commercialization of Sol-gels that provide a nose-to-brain delivery of cannabinoids intended to provide relief for a range of ailments, such as pain, inflammation, seizures, and neurological disorders. (see news release dated April 24, 2017). The Sol-gel research and development program is currently being conducted at the PACE facility located in Brisbane, Australia, led by Dr. Parekh.

PreveCeutical's Chairman and CEO, Mr. Stephen Van Deventer commented, "We are extremely pleased to receive this approval as it brings us one step closer to bringing the Sol-gel nose-to-brain delivery system to market."

About PreveCeutical Medical Inc.

PreveCeutical is a health sciences company that develops innovative options for preventive and curative therapies utilizing organic and nature identical products.

PreveCeutical aims to be a leader in preventive health sciences and currently has five research and development programs, including: dual gene therapy for curative and prevention therapies for diabetes and obesity; a Sol-gel platform for nose to brain delivery of medical compounds including cannabinoids; Nature Identical peptides for treatment of various ailments; non-addictive analgesic peptides as a replacement to the highly addictive analgesics such as morphine, fentanyl and oxycodone; and a therapeutic product for treating athletes who suffer from concussions (mild traumatic brain injury).

PreveCeutical sells CELLB9, an Immune System Booster. CELLB9 is an oral solution containing polarized and potentiated essential minerals extracted from a novel peptide obtained from Caribbean Blue Scorpion venom.

For more information about PreveCeutical, please visit https://preveceutical.com/, follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/PreveCeuticals and Facebook: www.facebook.com/PreveCeutical.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors

"Stephen Van Deventer"

Chairman & CEO

For further information, please contact:

Deanna Kress

Director of Corporate Communications & Investor Relations

+1-778-999-6063

deanna@PreveCeutical.com

Forward-Looking Statements:

This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian and U.S. securities legislation, including the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements in this news release that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements and include any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations and orientations regarding the future including the Company's anticipated business plans, and the prospect of its ability and success in executing its proposed plans. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as "pro forma", "plans", "expects", "may", "should", "budget", "schedules", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", "believes", "potential" or variations of such words including negative variations thereof and phrases that refer to certain actions, events or results that may, could, would, might or will occur or be taken or achieved. Such forward-looking statements include, among others, the ability of the Company to obtain the Permit and complete the shipment of cannabis material from Canada to PACE, matters related to the Company's current and planned research and development programs, and the Company's ability and success in executing its proposed business plans. Actual results could differ from those projected in any forward-looking statements due to numerous factors including risks and uncertainties relating to the inability of the Company, to, among other things, obtain the Permit or any other required governmental, regulatory or stock exchange approvals, permits, consents or authorizations required, including Canadian Securities Exchange acceptance of any planned future activities, complete its research programs as planned, obtain the financing required to carry out its planned future. Other factors such as general economic, market or business conditions or changes in laws, regulations and policies affecting the biotechnology or pharmaceutical industry, may also adversely affect the future results or performance of the Company. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release and, unless required by applicable law, the Company assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those projected in these forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that the statements, beliefs, plans, expectations, and intentions contained in this news release are reasonable, there can be no assurance that those statements, beliefs, plans, expectations, or intentions will prove to be accurate. Readers should consider all of the information set forth herein and should also refer to other periodic reports provided by the Company from time-to-time. These reports and the Company's filings are available at www.sedar.com.

Readers are cautioned that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance or events and, accordingly, are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements due to the inherent uncertainty of such statements.
29% Zn Over 51.2 Metres Sampled at the Surface

Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - December 19, 2017) - Zinc One Resources Inc. (TSXV: Z) (OTC Pink: ZZOF) (FSE: RH33) ("Zinc One") is pleased to report additional results from an ongoing surface-sampling program at its Bongara Zinc Mine Project in north-central Peru. Highest grades include a surface channel sample (C-008-17) with 31.92% zinc over 32.2 metres, a surface channel sample (C-009-17) that yielded 28.98% zinc over 51.2 metres, and 36.50% zinc over a 6.0-metre depth in an exploration pit (P4-17). They were all located in the southern end of a 1.4-kilometre long trend of zinc mineralization in the area referred to as Mina Grande - Fase C Zone, Click here for map (https://zincone.com/projects/bongara-project/bongarita-mina-chica-samples/).

Jim Walchuck, Zinc One President and CEO commented, "It is important to understand that, as at many areas at the Mina Chica and Bongarita mineralized zones in the northern end of the known mineralization, our pit sampling to date at Fase C did not reach the base, or footwall, of the mineralization. This means that at this time we are unable to accurately determine the apparent thickness of the mineralization in areas with widely-spaced historic drilling, thus providing potential upside for high-grade zinc mineralization. We are optimistic that our surface and pit sampling, combined with the results from our recently-approved drill program, will better delineate and expand the known mineralized zones.

The mineralization of the Fase C zone continues to impress our team with an approximate 100-metre wide zone with high-grade surficial mineralization - a rare and unique combination of two very favourable factors for the development of this project."

Geology and Results

The sampling program commenced at the northern end of the trend of known high-grade, zinc oxide mineralization at or near the surface. The results reported herein include the next phase of samples that are from the Mina Chica zone at the northern end of the trend as well as from the Mina Grande-Fase C zone at the southern end.

The Bongara zinc-oxide mineralization is stratabound and is hosted by carbonate rocks. The host rock at Fase C is principally dolomite and the zinc-oxide mineralization occurs in fractures and as disseminations. Field mapping and observations indicate the mineralization is essentially flat-lying across a north-plunging anticlinal axis at Bongarita, dips approximately 60o eastward along the eastern flank of the anticline at Mina Chica, and appears to be subhorizontal along the anticlinal axis where it possibly plunges southward at Mina Grande - Fase C. Of note is that at the southernmost extent of Fase C, five aligned pits include a soil with anomalous zinc that overlies high-grade, zinc-bearing dolomites whose base was not encountered [click here for map] (https://zincone.com/projects/bongara-project/bongarita-mina-chica-samples/); this geometry supports the notion that many of the pits along the 1.4-kilometre trend whose samples yielded only anomalous zinc may be overlying high-grade zinc zones that were not reached, thus providing for further upside potential. Furthermore, the other pits and surface samples at Fase C, which are located approximately 200 metres northwest of the aforementioned pits, demonstrate that mineralization, whose base was not penetrated, extends at least 125 metres in a northeasterly trend, and is almost 100 metres wide; within this corridor, three historical inclined drill holes are known to have intercepted between 15 and 21 metres (not true thickness) of high-grade zinc mineralization. The tables below highlight select results from Mina Chica and Fase C Zones. Since the true strike and dip of the stratabound mineralization are not certain, the sample thicknesses from the pits do not necessarily represent the true thickness of the mineralized body. Additional maps and a summary of all results are available at www.zincone.com.

MINA CHICA ZONE

Channel/Pit ID From

(m) To

(m) Length/Thickness

(m) % Zn % Pb Pit Thickness

(m) % Zn PT6-17 0.00 1.00 1.00 24.93 0.04 PT6-17 1.00 2.00 1.00 18.25 0.05 2.00 21.59 P331-17 0.00 1.00 1.00 20.21 0.05 P331-17 1.00 2.00 1.00 29.50 0.04 P331-17 2.00 3.00 1.00 38.61 0.01 P331-17 3.00 4.00 1.00 18.55 0.02 P331-17 4.00 5.00 1.00 20.87 0.02 5.00 25.55

MINA GRANDE FASE C ZONE

Channel/Pit ID From

(m) To

(m) Length/Thickness

(m) % Zn % Pb Pit Thickness

(m) % Zn P305-17 0.00 1.00 1.00 2.20 0.77 P305-17 1.00 2.00 1.00 2.37 0.94 P305-17 2.00 3.00 1.00 19.12 6.37 P305-17 3.00 4.00 1.00 25.97 1.65 2.00 22.55 P309-17 0.00 1.00 1.00 3.04 0.68 P309-17 1.00 2.00 1.00 2.03 1.02 P309-17 2.00 3.00 1.00 12.45 1.24 P309-17 3.00 4.00 1.00 31.46 1.66 P309-17 4.00 5.00 1.00 27.00 1.90 3.00 23.64 P4-17 0.00 1.00 1.00 48.63 0.87 P4-17 1.00 2.00 1.00 38.83 1.41 P4-17 2.00 3.00 1.00 31.10 1.59 P4-17 3.00 4.00 1.00 26.22 1.75 P4-17 4.00 5.00 1.00 38.65 1.28 P4-17 5.00 6.00 1.00 35.55 1.11 6.00 36.50 P96-17 0.00 1.00 1.00 24.56 5.32 P96-17 1.00 2.00 1.00 34.53 2.97 P96-17 2.00 3.00 1.00 23.47 8.77 P96-17 3.00 4.00 1.00 27.42 2.34 P96-17 4.00 5.00 1.00 32.73 1.27 P96-17 5.00 6.00 1.00 24.06 0.56 6.00 27.80 P22-17 0.00 1.00 1.00 4.45 1.17 P22-17 1.00 2.00 1.00 24.58 10.00 P22-17 2.00 3.00 1.00 40.14 2.79 P22-17 3.00 4.00 1.00 40.00 2.33 3.00 34.91

MINA GRANDE FASE C ZONE

Channel/Pit ID From

(m) To

(m) Length/Thickness

(m) % Zn % Pb Channel Length

(m) % Zn C-008a-17 0.00 2.00 2.00 44.08 1.07 C-008a-17 2.00 4.00 2.00 35.49 0.57 C-008a-17 4.00 6.00 2.00 48.73 0.89 C-008a-17 6.00 8.00 2.00 36.66 0.45 C-008a-17 8.00 10.00 2.00 19.35 1.37 C-008a-17 10.00 12.00 2.00 18.00 1.43 C-008b-17 12.00 14.00 2.00 39.14 0.74 C-008b-17 14.00 16.00 2.00 37.06 0.47 C-008b-17 16.00 18.00 2.00 18.85 0.31 C-008c-17 18.00 20.00 2.00 37.13 0.52 C-008c-17 20.00 22.00 2.00 18.20 0.24 C-008c-17 22.00 24.00 2.00 25.80 1.38 C-008c-17 24.00 26.00 2.00 42.49 0.57 C-008c-17 26.00 28.00 2.00 38.55 0.63 C-008c-17 28.00 30.00 2.00 31.81 0.61 C-008c-17 30.00 32.20 2.20 20.50 4.97 32.20 31.92 C-009-17 0.00 1.50 1.50 36.47 3.75 C-009-17 1.50 4.00 2.50 19.70 5.74 C-009-17 4.00 5.90 1.90 16.65 4.78 C-009-17 5.90 8.00 2.10 33.26 2.69 C-009-17 8.00 10.00 2.00 37.91 3.82 C-009-17 10.00 12.00 2.00 33.18 2.55 C-009-17 12.00 14.00 2.00 43.07 1.49 C-009-17 14.00 16.00 2.00 33.88 1.24 C-009-17 16.00 18.00 2.00 37.46 2.41 C-009-17 18.00 20.00 2.00 39.03 1.09 C-009-17 20.00 22.00 2.00 41.56 1.79 C-009-17 22.00 24.00 2.00 33.81 0.56 C-009-17 24.00 26.00 2.00 40.88 1.35 C-009-17 26.00 28.00 2.00 25.90 1.10 C-009-17 28.00 30.00 2.00 20.70 0.70 C-009-17 30.00 32.00 2.00 6.67 0.45 C-009-17 32.00 34.00 2.00 30.47 0.62 C-009-17 34.00 36.00 2.00 39.19 0.40 C-009-17 36.00 38.20 2.20 30.44 0.52 C-009-17 38.20 40.40 2.20 14.40 0.46 C-009-17 40.40 42.60 2.20 3.47 0.35 C-009-17 42.60 44.90 2.30 9.19 0.39 C-009-17 44.90 46.90 2.00 40.10 1.20 C-009-17 46.90 48.90 2.00 33.21 1.46 C-009-17 48.90 51.20 2.30 33.36 2.00 51.20 28.98

Sampling and Analytical Protocols

Zinc One follows a systematic and rigorous Quality Control/Quality Assurance program overseen by Zinc One's Chief Operating Officer, Bill Williams.

Surface sampling in outcrops is a manual channel sample; in the case of pits, the sample is channeled vertically. The sample is photographed. The sample is placed into a pre-labeled, plastic bag, properly sealed, and identified with a unique sample number. At the project site, Zinc One independently inserts certified control standards, blanks, and duplicates, all of which comprise approximately 30% of the sample batch, to monitor sample preparation and analytical quality. The samples are stored in a secure area until such time they are shipped to the ALS laboratory in Lima, ISO9001 certified, for preparation and assay. At the laboratory, samples are dried, crushed, pulverized and then a four-acid digestion is applied, followed by the ICP-AES analytical technique for 33 elements, including lead; zinc is assayed by the same method for values up to 20% and if zinc exceeds 20%, it is analyzed by titration methods. The laboratory also inserts blanks and standards as well as includes duplicate analyses.

About Zinc One Resources Inc.

Zinc One is focused on the acquisition, exploration and development of prospective and advanced zinc projects in mining-friendly jurisdictions. Zinc One's key assets are the Bongara Mine and Charlotte-Bongara Zinc Projects in north-central Peru. The Bongara Zinc Mine Project was in production from 2007 to 2008, but shut down due to the global financial crisis and concurrent decrease in the zinc price. Past production included 20% zinc grades and recoveries over 90% from surface and near-surface zinc oxide mineralization. High-grade, zinc oxide mineralization is known to outcrop between the mined area and the Charlotte-Bongara Zinc-Oxide Project, which is nearly six kilometres to the NNW and where past drilling intercepted various near-surface zones with high-grade zinc. Zinc One is managed by a proven team of geologists and engineers who have previously constructed and operated successful mining operations.

The technical content of this news release has been reviewed, verified and approved by Bill Williams, COO and Director of Zinc One, a qualified person as defined by NI 43-101.

For more information, please contact:

Monica Hamm

VP, Investor Relations

Zinc One Resources Inc.

Phone: (604) 974-5274

Email: mhamm@zincone.com

Forward-Looking Statements

Information set forth in this news release contains forward-looking statements that are based on assumptions as of the date of this news release. These statements reflect management's current estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations. They are not guarantees of future performance. Zinc One cautions that all forward looking statements are inherently uncertain and that actual performance may be affected by a number of material factors, many of which are beyond their respective control. Such factors include, among other things: risks and uncertainties relating to Zinc One's limited operating history, its proposed exploration and development activities on the Bongara Zinc Oxide Project and the need to comply with environmental and governmental regulations. Accordingly, actual and future events, conditions and results may differ materially from the estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations expressed or implied in the forward looking information. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, Zinc One does not undertake to publicly update or revise forward-looking information.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Osaka, Japan (ots/PRNewswire) -New meta-analysis provides a comprehensive view of real-world data and furthers understanding of Entyvio as an important treatment option for patients with ulcerative colitis or Crohn's diseaseTakeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited (TSE: 4502) ("Takeda") today announced the presentation of real-world evidence from two analyses evaluating the safety profile of Entyvio (vedolizumab), during the 25th United European Gastroenterology (UEG) Week in Barcelona, Spain (October 28-November 1). It includes a systematic review and meta-analysis of real-world safety outcomes reported for Entyvio in ulcerative colitis (UC) or Crohn's disease (CD), as well as a database analysis of the real-world use of immunosuppressive (IM) therapy in people living with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) who initiated Entyvio treatment in the U.S.A systematic review and meta-analysis of real-world outcomes screening 218 published studies from MEDLINE-, Cochrane-, and EMBASE-indexed publications and conference abstracts from May 1, 2014-January 10, 2017 examined safety events reported after use of Entyvio in patients with UC or CD. A total of 33 studies reported data on 2,857 Entyvio-treated patients (CD: 1,532; UC: 829) over an Entyvio exposure/follow-up period ranging 0.5-18 months. In the meta-analysis, pooled adverse event (AE) rates in Entyvio-treated patients were reported for infections, serious AEs and serious infections. These reported rates were consistent with previous vedolizumab clinical trial results in patients with moderate to severe UC or CD and support the long-term safety profile of Entyvio in clinical practice."Real-world data furthers our understanding of the efficacy and safety signals we see in placebo-controlled registration trials, which have strict selection criteria and may not be illustrative of the patient population seen in clinical practice. A meta-analysis adds stability to such real-world observations, especially when based on very large patient numbers. In this case, vedolizumab real-world data were systematically collected and analyzed with the rates of serious infections, infusion-related reactions and malignancies consistent with data previously reported in clinical trials in patients with moderate to severe UC or CD," said Stefan Schreiber, M.D., Ph.D., Professor of Medicine and Gastroenterology, Translational Inflammation Research, Christian Albrechts University, Kiel, Germany.Results from a second U.S-specific analysis assessing the real-world use of immunosuppressives (IM) across a total of 567 patients, identified via The Explorys Universe database, also provide information on the safety profile of Entyvio. Of the 567 patients (58.6% female; 41.4% male), 68.4% had CD and 31.6% had UC. The mean age at index was 44 and on average, patients initiated vedolizumab 4.5 years following their initial diagnosis. The findings report, in real-world clinical practice, of the 45.4% of patients without a history of IM therapy, 87% of patients treated with Entyvio were not on IM therapy during follow-up. Of the 54.6% of patients with a history of IM therapy, 61% of patients treated with Entyvio were not on IM during maintenance treatment during follow-up. In this analysis, lower rates of healthcare resource utilization were observed among patients without a history of IM use."These data provide additional insight on the usage patterns, long-term safety profile and outcomes of Entyvio use in real-world clinical practice," said Mona Khalid, Senior Director, Head of Evidence and Value Generation, Takeda Pharmaceuticals. "We look forward to the continued expansion of our body of knowledge on the safety profile of Entyvio treatment in ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, and are pleased to present these real-world results at the UEG Week in Barcelona."In addition to these real-world analyses, other Takeda-sponsored posters presented at the UEG Week meeting include evaluations of post-marketing safety, risk factors for postoperative infection following lower gastrointestinal surgery, treatment discontinuation, flares and hospitalizations among biologic-naive IBD patients, as well as post-hoc analyses of GEMINI 1, a pivotal Phase 3 placebo-controlled study of Entyvio induction and maintenance treatment in patients with moderately to severely active UC. For a full list of poster titles and authors, visit http://www.ueg.eu/week/programme/scientific-programme.About Entyvio (vedolizumab)Vedolizumab is a prescription medicine approved for adults with moderate to severe ulcerative colitis (UC) or Crohn's disease (CD). In people with UC and CD, there's an increased number of inflammatory white blood cells entering the mucosal lining of the bowel. The presence of these inflammatory cells can lead to the symptoms most commonly seen in people who have UC or CD. Vedolizumab is designed to reduce this inflammation by blocking the movement of the white blood cells into the inflamed gut tissue. Mucosal addressin cell adhesion molecule 1 (MAdCAM-1) is preferentially expressed on the endothelial lining of blood vessels in the lymphoid tissue of the bowel. The alpha4beta7 (?4?7) integrin is expressed on a subset of circulating white blood cells. Vedolizumab specifically binds to the ?4?7 integrin and blocks its interaction with MAdCAM-1, therefore inhibiting the white blood cells from entering the inflamed gut tissue, thus decreasing inflammation.About Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn's DiseaseUlcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD) are two of the most common forms of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Both UC and CD are chronic, relapsing, remitting, inflammatory conditions of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract that are often progressive in nature. UC only involves the large intestine as opposed to CD which can affect any part of the GI tract from mouth to anus. CD can also affect the entire thickness of the bowel wall, while UC only involves the innermost lining of the large intestine. UC commonly presents with symptoms of abdominal discomfort, loose bowel movements, including blood or pus. CD commonly presents with symptoms of abdominal pain, diarrhea and weight loss. The cause of UC or CD is not fully understood, however recent research suggests hereditary, genetics, environmental factors and/or an abnormal immune response to microbial antigens in genetically predisposed individuals can lead to UC or CD.Therapeutic IndicationsUlcerative colitisVedolizumab is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis who have had an inadequate response with, lost response to, or were intolerant to either conventional therapy or a tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF?) antagonist.Crohn's diseaseVedolizumab is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with moderately to severely active Crohn's disease who have had an inadequate response with, lost response to, or were intolerant to either conventional therapy or a tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF?) antagonist.Important Safety InformationContraindicationsHypersensitivity to the active substance or to any of the excipients.Special warnings and special precautions for useVedolizumab should be administered by a healthcare professional equipped to manage hypersensitivity reactions including anaphylaxis, if they occur. Appropriate monitoring and medical support measures should be available for immediate use when administering vedolizumab. Observe all patients during infusion and until the infusion is complete.Infusion-related reactionsIn clinical studies, infusion-related reactions (IRR) and hypersensitivity reactions have been reported, with the majority being mild to moderate in severity. If a severe IRR, anaphylactic reaction, or other severe reaction occurs, administration of vedolizumab must be discontinued immediately and appropriate treatment initiated (e.g., epinephrine and antihistamines). If a mild to moderate IRR occurs, the infusion rate can be slowed or interrupted and appropriate treatment initiated (e.g., epinephrine and antihistamines). Once the mild or moderate IRR subsides, continue the infusion. Physicians should consider pre-treatment (e.g., with antihistamine, hydrocortisone and/or paracetamol) prior to the next infusion for patients with a history of mild to moderate IRR to vedolizumab, in order to minimize their risks.InfectionsVedolizumab is a gut-selective integrin antagonist with no identified systemic immunosuppressive activity. Physicians should be aware of the potential increased risk of opportunistic infections or infections for which the gut is a defensive barrier. Vedolizumab treatment is not to be initiated in patients with active, severe infections such as tuberculosis, sepsis, cytomegalovirus, listeriosis, and opportunistic infections until the infections are controlled, and physicians should consider withholding treatment in patients who develop a severe infection while on chronic treatment with vedolizumab. Caution should be exercised when considering the use of vedolizumab in patients with a controlled chronic severe infection or a history of recurring severe infections. Patients should be monitored closely for infections before, during and after treatment. Before starting treatment with vedolizumab, screening for tuberculosis may be considered according to local practice. Some integrin antagonists and some systemic immunosuppressive agents have been associated with progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), which is a rare and often fatal opportunistic infection caused by the John Cunningham (JC) virus. By binding to the ?4?7 integrin expressed on gut-homing lymphocytes, vedolizumab exerts an immunosuppressive effect on the gut. Although no systemic immunosuppressive effect was noted in healthy subjects, the effects on systemic immune system function in patients with inflammatory bowel disease are not known. No cases of PML were reported in clinical studies of vedolizumab however, healthcare professionals should monitor patients on vedolizumab for any new onset or worsening of neurological signs and symptoms, and consider neurological referral if they occur. If PML is suspected, treatment with vedolizumab must be withheld; if confirmed, treatment must be permanently discontinued. Typical signs and symptoms associated with PML are diverse, progress over days to weeks, and include progressive weakness on one side of the body, clumsiness of limbs, disturbance of vision, and changes in thinking, memory, and orientation leading to confusion and personality changes. The progression of deficits usually leads to death or severe disability over weeks or months.MalignanciesThe risk of malignancy is increased in patients with ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. Immunomodulatory medicinal products may increase the risk of malignancy.Prior and concurrent use of biological productsNo vedolizumab clinical trial data are available for patients previously treated with natalizumab. Caution should be exercised when considering the use of vedolizumab in these patients. No clinical trial data for concomitant use of vedolizumab with biologic immunosuppressants are available. Therefore, the use of vedolizumab in such patients is not recommended.VaccinationsPrior to initiating treatment with vedolizumab all patients should be brought up to date with all recommended immunizations. Patients receiving vedolizumab may receive non-live vaccines (e.g., subunit or inactivated vaccines) and may receive live vaccines only if the benefits outweigh the risks.Adverse Reactions include: Nasopharyngitis, Headache, Arthralgia, Upper respiratory tract infection, Bronchitis, Influenza, Sinusitis, Cough, Oropharyngeal pain, Nausea, Rash, Pruritus, Back pain, Pain in extremities, Pyrexia, and Fatigue.Please consult with your local regulatory agency for approved labeling in your country.For U.S. audiences, please see the full Prescribing Information (h ttp://general.takedapharm.com/content/file.aspx?FileTypeCode=ENTYVIOP I&cacheRandomizer=16fe4788-e18e-4f60-bd42-ec16de9d5fc9) including Medication Guide (http://general.takedapharm.com/content/file.aspx?fi letypecode=ENTYVIOMG&CountryCode=US&LanguageCode=EN&cacheRandomizer=8 54644a6-db66-4a7b-8761-77c0a8f06456) for ENTYVIO.For EU audiences, please see the Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) (http://www.ema.europa.eu/docs/en_GB/document_ library/EPAR_-_Product_Information/human/002782/WC500168528.pdf) for ENTYVIO.Takeda's Commitment to GastroenterologyMore than 70 million people worldwide are impacted by gastrointestinal (GI) diseases, which can be complex, debilitating and life-changing. Takeda is driven to improving the lives of patients with GI diseases through innovative medicines, dedicated patient disease management support and the evolution of the healthcare environment. Takeda is leading in gastroenterology through the delivery of innovative medicines in areas associated with high unmet needs, such as inflammatory bowel disease, GI acid-related diseases and GI motility disorders. Our GI research & development team is also exploring solutions in celiac disease and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), as well as scientific advancements through microbiome therapies. With more than 25 years of experience in this area, our broad approach to treating many diseases that impact the GI system and our global network of collaborators, Takeda aims to advance how patients manage their disease.About Takeda Pharmaceutical CompanyTakeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited is a global, R&D-driven pharmaceutical company committed to bringing better health and a brighter future to patients by translating science into life-changing medicines. Takeda focuses its research efforts on oncology, gastroenterology and central nervous system therapeutic areas. It also has specific development programs in specialty cardiovascular diseases as well as late-stage candidates for vaccines. Takeda conducts R&D both internally and with partners to stay at the leading edge of innovation. New innovative products, especially in oncology and gastroenterology, as well as its presence in emerging markets, fuel the growth of Takeda. More than 30,000 Takeda employees are committed to improving quality of life for patients, working with our partners in health care in more than 70 countries. For more information, visit http://www.takeda.com/news.ots Originaltext: Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited Im Internet recherchierbar: http://www.presseportal.deContact: Luke Willats TEL: +41-44-555-1145 Luke.Willats@takeda.com Tatsuhiro Kanoo TEL: +81-33-278-3634 Tatsuhiro.Kanoo@takeda.com For U.S. media: Linda Calandra Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc. TEL: +1-224-554-4321 Linda.Calandra@takeda.com
Release no. 21/2017 Columbus A/S will publish its result for Q3 2017 on Thursday, 2 November 2017, around 9.30 CET. The following event will take place later that day: A live webcast and conference call for shareholders, analysts, investors and representatives of the media: Topic: Columbus Financial Results for Q3 2017 Date: Thursday 2 November 2017 Time: 13.00 CET The webcast is hosted by CEO Thomas Honore and CFO Hans Henrik Thrane. Please login to the webcast via Columbus' Investor Site http://ir.columbusglobal.com/events.cfm. Questions can be sent in advance by email to Communication Manager Tine Rasmussen at tra@columbusglobal.com. or can be raised at the question session during the webcast. A recorded version of the presentation will be available on the website after the webcast has concluded. Conference call dial-in details: Denmark: +45 32 71 16 60 International: +44 (0) 20 3427 1909 US: +1 646 254 3365 Conference ID: 6738447 Please dial in a few minutes before to allow time for registration of name and company. For further information, please contact: Communication Manager, Tine Rasmussen, tra@columbusglobal.com, +45 29690677 Translation: In the event of any inconsistency between this document and the Danish language version, the Danish language version shall be the governing version. Attachment: https://cns.omxgroup.com/cds/DisclosureAttachmentServlet?messageAttachmentId=650994

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / November 1, 2017 / Safe Bulkers, Inc. (NYSE: SB) will be discussing their earnings results in their Q3 Earnings Call to be held on November 1, 2017 at 9:00 AM Eastern Time.

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ATLANTA (dpa-AFX) - Southern Co. (SO) revealed a profit for third quarter that lost ground compared to the same period last year. The company said its profit totaled $1.13 billion, or $1.12 per share. This was lower than $1.23 billion, or $1.28 per share, in last year's third quarter. Analysts had expected the company to earn $1.07 per share, according figures compiled by Thomson Reuters. Analysts' estimates typically exclude special items. The company said revenue for the quarter fell 1.0% to $6.20 billion. This was down from $6.26 billion last year. Southern Co. earnings at a glance: -Earnings (Q3): $1.13 Bln. vs. $1.23 Bln. last year. -Earnings Decline (Y-o-Y): -8.1% -EPS (Q3): $1.12 vs. $1.28 last year. -EPS Decline (Y-o-Y): -12.5% -Analysts Estimate: $1.07 -Revenue (Q3): $6.20 Bln vs. $6.26 Bln last year. -Revenue Change (Y-o-Y): -1.0% Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 1, 2017) - Bearing Lithium Corp. (TSXV: BRZ) (OTCQB: BRGRF) (FSE: B6K1) ("Bearing" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Lee Sungwon, a nominee of POSCO, to the Board of Directors. POSCO holds 3.6 million shares in Bearing or 6.7% of outstanding.

Dr. Lee is metallurgical engineer with over 25 years of experience. Dr. Lee is the Director of the Lithium Project Department at POSCO (PosLX) and has been with the company for over 17 years holding various senior roles. Dr. Sungwon holds a Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering from the University of Southern California, a M.Sc. in Metallurgical Engineering from the Yonsei University in Korea.

Jeremy Poirier, Bearing's president and Chief Executive Officer, commented: "We welcome Dr. Lee Sungwon, a representative of POSCO, to the company's Board of Directors. POSCO has been a continued strong supporter of the Maricunga project and our predecessor, Li3 Energy, where they invested directly into the project and demonstrated their proprietary lithium extraction technology with brine from the project."

In connection with his appointment, Dr. Lee has been granted 150,000 incentive stock options ("Options"). Each Option allows him to acquire one common share of the Company at an exercise price of $0.76 for a period of four years.

About POSCO & PosLX

POSCO is a multinational steel-making company headquartered in Pohang, South Korea. POSCO's shares are traded on a number of global stock exchanges including South Korea, New York, Tokyo, and London with a market capitalization of US$24.1 billion.

POSCO has developed a proprietary technology, PosLX, which has the potential deliver lithium recoveries of over 80% in as little as eight hours with a high purity of 99.9%. This compares to the conventional lithium evaporation process which takes between twelve and eighteen months with recoveries of 50% to 70%. POSCO commissioned a 2,500 ton per year lithium carbonate plant early this year at its Gwangyang Works plant in Korea and is anticipated to help supply its battery making partners LG Chem and Samsung SDI, as well a subsidiary company that produces cathodes for secondary batteries.

About Bearing Lithium Corp.

Bearing Lithium Corp. is a mineral exploration and development company, primarily focused on lithium. Its primary asset is a free-carried 17.7% interest in the Maricunga lithium brine project in Chile. The Maricunga project represents one of the highest-grade lithium brine salars globally and the only pre-production project in Chile. Over US$30 million has been invested in the project to date and all expenditures through 2018, including the delivery of a Definitive Feasibility Study in H1/18, are fully-funded by their earn-in joint-venture partner. Bearing also holds a portfolio of grass-roots exploration projects in the gold district of the Yukon, which are currently optioned to Golden Predator, and a lithium project in Nevada, which is currently optioned to First Division Ventures Inc.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD



Signed "Jeremy Poirier"

Jeremy Poirier, President and CEO



FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

Jeremy Poirier-- President and CEO Bearing Lithium - Telephone: 1-604-262-8835



Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.



Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward Looking Information

This press release includes certain "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian and United States securities legislation including the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein, without limitation, statements relating the future operating or financial performance of the Company, are forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements are frequently, but not always, identified by words such as "expects", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "potential", "possible", and similar expressions, or statements that events, conditions, or results "will", "may", "could", or "should" occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements in this press release relate to, among other things: completion of a Prefeasibility Study, and completion of a Definitive Feasibility Study. Statements concerning mineral resource estimates may also be deemed to constitute forward-looking information to the extent that they involve estimates of the mineralization that will be encountered if the Maricunga Project is developed. Actual future results may differ materially. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Forward-looking statements reflect the beliefs, opinions and projections on the date the statements are made and are based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by Bearing, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and contingencies. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and the parties have made assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these factors. Such factors include, without limitation: the occurrence of unexpected financial obligations, fluctuations in the price of lithium or certain other commodities; fluctuations in the currency markets; changes in national and local government, legislation, taxation, controls, regulations and political or economic developments; risks and hazards associated with the business of mineral exploration, development and mining (including environmental hazards, industrial accidents, unusual or unexpected formations, pressures, cave-ins and flooding); the presence of laws and regulations that may impose restrictions on mining and employee relations. Readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release concerning these times. Except as required by law, Bearing does not assume any obligation to update the forward-looking statements of beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change, except as required by law.


WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - A terrorist attack in New York has killed eight people and injured 11 others, prompting US President Donald Trump to order more robust 'extreme vetting' of foreign travelers.



A truck driver plowed through a busy bike path in Lower Manhattan Tuesday night, mowing down pedestrians and cyclists before hitting a school bus and shooting with an imitation gun.



The assailant, who was found running from the crash site, was arrested after police shot him in the stomach. He underwent surgery at a local hospital.



The suspect has been reportedly identified as 29-year old Sayfullo Saipov, an Uzbek immigrant who arrived in New York in 2010. Married with two children, he has worked as Uber driver in New Jersey for over six months.



The victims included five Argentinians and a Belgian citizen.



The incident took place not far from the World Trade Center, where the United States witnessed the worst terrorist attack in its history. It was the first deadly terrorist attack in New York since the September 11, 2001 carnage.



New Yorkers demonstrated their resilience by celebrating a traditional Halloween Parade in Manhattan's West Village hours after the attack under tight security, while local and federal law enforcement officers were investigating the shocking incident.



New York Mayor Bill de Blasio confirmed that it was 'an act of terror.' As the news of the attack unfolded, the President became active on Twitter.



He said he had ordered Homeland Security to step up the Government's already Extreme Vetting Program. 'Being politically correct is fine, but not for this,' Trump tweeted.



'Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims of today's terrorist attack in New York City and their families,' Trump said. 'We must not allow ISIS to return, or enter, our country after defeating them in the Middle East and elsewhere. Enough.'



The Trump administration announced last week that it would resume accepting refugees after a 120-day ban, though arrivals from 11 'high-risk' mostly Muslim countries will still be blocked.



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de
MONTREAL, QUEBEC -- (Marketwired) -- 11/01/17 -- HPQ Silicon Resources Inc ("HPQ") (TSX VENTURE: HPQ)(FRANKFURT: UGE)(OTC PINK: URAGF) is pleased to inform its shareholders that PyroGenesis Canada Inc ("PyroGenesis") has submitted to HPQ a report entitled "Final Report-Silicon Metal Purity Enhancement" pertaining to the final series of the 96 metallurgical tests completed using the Gen 1 PUREVAPtm Quartz Reduction Reactor ("QRR"). The effect of various operating parameters on the final purity of the Silicon Metal produced was rigorously tested. The findings validated the concept, and extrapolating the results suggests that under a semi-continuous PUREVAPtm process, we can transform Quartz (SiO2) into Silicon Metal (Si) with purity levels acceptable to the solar wafer industry (4N+ or 99.998% Si)(1 ). The recently commenced Gen 2 PUREVAPtm metallurgical testing program aims to confirm this and to allow us to make samples for downstream product testing as we finalize plans and prepare to assemble the Pilot Plant.

Bernard Tourillon, Chairman and CEO of HPQ stated, "Results to date are spectacular, in less than 18 months the PUREVAP QRR process has demonstrated a one-step capacity to produce very pure Silicon Metal. Traditional industrial processes need to deploy multiple expensive steps to reach the same purity level. The Gen 2 PUREVAP will allow us to test, over the comings months, a number of purification options including slow cooling, as we continue our methodical metallurgical testing protocol. Our goal is straightforward, we seek to produce a Solar Grade Silicon Metal that can be used to manufacture solar cells as efficient as the one produced by Elkem Solar of Norway, the only commercially successful UMG Solar producer in the World."

PYROGENESIS CEO REMARKS

"We are extremely happy with the Gen 1 PUREVAP results, however, this first-generation reactor was limited in its ability to push yield which directly relates to purity. The second stage testing program, or Gen 2 PUREVAP, will allow us to test those limits, thereby increasing the probability of success when assembling the pilot plant", said P. Peter Pascali, President and CEO of PyroGenesis. "We are pleased to join HPQ in announcing both the reaching of this new milestone and the commencing the second stage testing program."

A document covering the salient points of the report can be download from our web page http://www.hpqsilicon.com: HPQ GEN 1 FINAL REPORT SALIENT POINTS.

Pierre Carabin, Eng., M. Eng., has reviewed and approved the technical content of this press release.

This Press Release Is Available On The Company's CEO Verified Discussion Forum, A Moderated Social Media Platform That Enables Civilized Discussion and Q&A Between Management and Shareholders.

La version francaise du communique de presse sera disponible sur http://www.hpqsilicon.com

About HPQ Silicon

HPQ Silicon Resources Inc is a TSX-V listed resource company planning to become a vertically integrated and diversified Metallurgical Grade and Solar Grade Silicon Metal producer. Our business model is focused on developing a disruptive one step High Purity and Solar Grade Silicon Metal manufacturing process (patent pending). Solar Grade Silicon being the key ingredient required to transforms the sun energy into electricity.

HPQ plans to generate high yield returns and significant free cash flow within a relatively short time line. The process will have a greatly decreased carbon footprint, energy footprint, and will eliminate the use of the toxic chemical reagents and by products now in use by the current solar silicon production technologies, which fundamentally date from designs made in the mid 1900's.

Disclaimers:

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements containing the words "may", "plan", "will", "estimate", "continue", "anticipate", "intend", "expect", "in the process" and other similar expressions which constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements reflect the Company's current expectation and assumptions, and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to, our expectations regarding the acceptance of our products by the market, our strategy to develop new products and enhance the capabilities of existing products, our strategy with respect to research and development, the impact of competitive products and pricing, new product development, and uncertainties related to the regulatory approval process. Such statements reflect the current views of the Company with respect to future events and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties and other risks detailed from time-to-time in the Company's on-going filings with the securities regulatory authorities, which filings can be found at www.sedar.com. Actual results, events, and performance may differ materially. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements either as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Shares outstanding: 173,003,173

(1 Pyrogenesis Canada Inc. Technical Memo: "TM-2017-830 REV 00, - Final ) Report-Silicon Metal Purity Enhancement"

Contacts:

HPQ Silicon Resources Inc.

Bernard J. Tourillon

Chairman and CEO

(514) 907-1011



HPQ Silicon Resources Inc.

Patrick Levasseur

President and COO

(514) 262-9239

www.HPQSilicon.com




Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 1, 2017) - GLOBAL BLOCKCHAIN TECHNOLOGIES CORP. (TSXV: BLOC) (FSE: BWSP) (OTC Pink: BLKCF) ("GBT" or the "Company") announces today two new alliances that add to the increasingly global scope that the company has planned. First, it has joined the Hyperledger Foundation, an open-source collaborative effort to create enterprise-level, cross-industry blockchain technologies. In addition, Global Blockchain Technologies has established a strategic partnership with Wachsman PR, the world's largest public relations firm specializing in the blockchain industry. These partnerships will provide GBT with guidance on blockchain development and media relations.

Global Blockchain Technologies Corp.'s addition to the Hyperledger Foundation represents an important step forward in its plan to build a team and community comprised of the best developers in the Hyperledger, Stellar, Graphene, NEO, and Ethereum ecosystems. The Hyperledger Foundation works with some of the world's most important brands, including Airbus, American Express, Baidu, CISCO, Daimler, NEC, IBM, and many more, providing Global Blockchain Technologies Corp. with a valuable knowledge base for future investments.

Powered by the non-profit Linux Foundation, the Hyperledger Foundation is a collaborative software development platform that engages some of the top blockchain consultants such as R3, Digital Asset in efforts designed to facilitate the mainstream commercial use of blockchain technologies.

Based in New York and Dublin, Wachsman PR is the largest public relations firm specializing in media relations and strategic brand development for digital currency and blockchain-based companies. Since its inception in 2015, Wachsman has crafted and led public relations campaigns for more than 50 of the most successful and innovative companies in the blockchain and cryptocurrency spaces, including Steemit, Lisk, Kik" Agentic Group, and Kraken.

Global Blockchain Technologies Corp. CEO Rik Willard said: "We are proud to establish these critical relationships with the Hyperledger Foundation and Wachsman PR. As a new entrant in the space led by seasoned veterans from various areas of the blockchain industry, we will remain open and eager to explore and enhance our understanding of a variety of distributed platforms. We feel that there is room for multiple decentralized and distributed solutions, so we are very excited by the opportunity to work with the Hyperledger Foundation, which offers a diverse set of software options for enterprise applications. Additionally, our collaboration with Wachsman PR will allow us to better engineer the growth of prominent blockchain startups and allow GBTC to effectively communicate its mission to promote some of the world's most promising companies in this rapidly-developing space."

Wachsman PR CEO and Founder David Wachsman said: "Wachsman PR is thrilled to be working with Global Blockchain Technologies Corp. Its team has demonstrated continuous dedication to the innovation and development of blockchain since its early days. The need for educated investors in the space who are willing support early-stage blockchain companies will only multiply, and GBTC has proven itself to be a committed advocate of such startups."

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Global Blockchain Technologies CEO Rik Willard is available for interview.

For more information, please contact info@globalblockchain.io

About Global Blockchain Technologies Corp.

Global Blockchain Technologies Corp. is an investment company providing investors access to a basket of holdings within the blockchain space, managed by a team of industry pioneers and early adopters of all major cryptocurrencies. GBT is focused on streamlining the current arduous, lengthy and complicated process that interested investors need to undergo in order to gain exposure to the cryptocurrency space with a view to becoming the first vertically integrated originator and manager of top-tier blockchains and digital currencies. GBT is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange and its common shares trade under the ticker symbol "BLOC." Other information relating to GBT is available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com as well as on the Company's website at www.globalblockchain.io.

On behalf of:

GLOBAL BLOCKCHAIN TECHNOLOGIES CORP.

Shidan Gouran

President

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Generally, any statements that are not historical facts may contain forward-looking information, and forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or indicates that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be" taken, "occur" or "be achieved". Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to the impact of the appointments on the Company, the Company's projected asset allocations; business strategy and investment criteria; the timing for implementation of financial auditing and corporate governance standards applicable to cryptocurrencies and Initial Coin Offerings ("ICO's"); the rate of cryptocurrency adoption and the resultant effect on the growth of the global cryptocurrency market capitalization. The Company has no assets and its business plan is purely conceptual in nature and there is no assurance that it will be implemented as set out herein, or at all. Forward-looking information is based on certain factors and assumptions the Company believes to be reasonable at the time such statements are made, including but not limited to: statements and expectations regarding the ability of the Company to (i) successfully engage senior management with appropriate industry experience and expertise, (ii) gain access to and acquire a basket of cryptocurrency assets and pre-ICO and ICO financings on favourable terms or at all, (iii) successfully create its own tokens and ICO's, and (iv) execute on future M&A opportunities in the cryptocurrency space; receipt of required regulatory approvals; the availability of necessary financing; permitting and such other assumptions and factors as set out herein. Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including but not limited to: risks related to changes in cryptocurrency prices; the estimation of personnel and operating costs; general global markets and economic conditions; risks associated with uninsurable risks; risks associated with currency fluctuations; competition faced in securing experienced personnel with appropriate industry experience and expertise; risks associated with changes in the financial auditing and corporate governance standards applicable to cryptocurrencies and ICO's; risks related to potential conflicts of interest; the reliance on key personnel; financing, capitalization and liquidity risks including the risk that the financing necessary to fund continued development of the Company's business plan may not be available on satisfactory terms, or at all; the risk of potential dilution through the issuance of additional common shares of the Company; the risk of litigation. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking information set out in this presentation, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Forward-looking statements are made based on management's beliefs, estimates and opinions on the date that statements are made and the Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements if these beliefs, estimates and opinions or other circumstances should change, except as required by law. Investors are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward-looking statements.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
NORTH READING, Massachusetts, Nov. 1,2017 /PRNewswire/ --TraceLink Inc., the World's Largest Track and Trace Network for connecting the life sciences supply chain and providing real-time information sharing for better patient outcomes, today announced that Spanish-based pharmaceutical manufacturer, Normon Laboratories, has selected TraceLink's serialization solutions to comply with the EU Falsified Medicines Directive (FMD) serialization requirements.

As the first generics pharmaceutical manufacturer in Spain, Normon Laboratories has grown to be one of the most innovative and versatile pharmaceutical manufacturers in the industry. With high volumes of pharmaceuticals shipped throughout Spain and exported across the rest of the world, and offering additional contract manufacturing capabilities for customers in other markets, the company needed a serialization solution that could accommodate its various roles in the pharmaceutical supply chain and ensure compliance for its customers, as well as its own product lines. Normon selected TraceLink for its ability to scale at the enterprise level and its seamless integration with multiple contract manufacturing organizations, in order to enable compliance with the EU FMD serialization regulations.

"At Normon, we uphold our commitment to developing the safest and highest quality medicines at affordable prices for everyone. Our dedication to ensuring patient safety was a key factor in selecting a partner with a proven solution to comply with EU FMD," said Gonzalo Fernandez Govantes, Chief Operating Officer of Normon Laboratories. "We selected TraceLink for its demonstrated EU and country compliance capabilities and enterprise scalability. As Normon continues to expand its business through ongoing innovation, we are confident that TraceLink can provide the breadth of support needed in order for Normon to successfully comply with EU and global regulations."

"We are pleased to be working with Normon Laboratories, a pioneer in the development of generic medications, and one of the leading pharmaceutical companies in Spain. At TraceLink, we understand and value the need to institute an EU FMD compliance strategy that can scale quickly to accommodate for rapid growth and impending deadlines for serialization and individual country compliance," said Shabbir Dahod, president and CEO of TraceLink. "Drug traceability and serialization is a global initiative and we look forward to working closely with Normon Laboratories to meet the approaching EU FMD deadline for serialization and ultimately, help secure the integrity of their products for patients across Europe."

With track and trace regulations that vary country to country and the impending EU FMD deadline in February 2019, life sciences companies face unprecedented complexity, cost and risk in how they implement serialization strategies. TraceLink has already processed EU compliance reports for more than 660,000 units of product into the European hub 17 months ahead of deadline. The TraceLink European Union Compliance module supports traceability reporting requirements from a single platform, providing customers with a tested integration to the European hub for reporting information about their product master data, serialized product pack data, and status changes for products targeted for distribution across all Member States.

To learn more about meeting global pharmaceutical compliance deadlines and how to build a flexible serialization, track and trace, and reporting platform, please visit www.tracelink.com.

About TraceLink

TraceLink is the World's Largest Track and Trace Network for connecting the Life Sciences supply chain and eliminating counterfeit prescription drugs from the global marketplace. Leading businesses trust the TraceLink Life Sciences Cloud to deliver complete global connectivity, visibility and traceability of pharmaceuticals from ingredient to patient. A single point and click connection to the Life Sciences Cloud creates a supply chain control tower that delivers the information, insight and collaboration needed to improve performance and reduce risk across global supply, manufacturing and distribution operations. A winner of numerous industry awards including Deloitte's Technology Fast 500 (ranked number 149 in 2016), the Amazon AWS Global Start-Up Challenge Grand Prize, and the Edison Award for Innovation in Health Management, the Life Sciences Cloud is used by businesses across the globe to meet strategic goals in ensuring global compliance, fighting drug counterfeiting, improving on-time and in-full delivery, protecting product quality and reducing operational cost. For more information on TraceLink and our solutions, visit www.tracelink.com or follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.

TraceLink is funded by Goldman Sachs, FirstMark Capital, Volition Capital and F-Prime Capital.
MONTREAL, QUEBEC -- (Marketwired) -- 11/01/17 -- Transcontinental Inc. (TSX: TCL.A)(TSX: TCL.B) announced today that it has acquired Les Industries Flexipak Inc., a flexible packaging supplier located in Montreal, Quebec, employing 55 people. The company is a converter specialized in flexographic printing, lamination as well as bag and pouch making, and has other value-added capabilities. Les Industries Flexipak Inc. offers a wide range of flexible packaging products serving consumer goods companies, food processors and retailers across several markets including frozen fruits and vegetables, seafood, snacks, grains, nuts and beverage (shrink films). It is the first flexible packaging company in Quebec to be awarded BRC Packaging certification, a standard recognized by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI), with an AA grade.

"I am excited to announce this fifth flexible packaging acquisition in North America - our first in the province of Quebec - which marks yet another step in the development of our North American network," said Francois Olivier, President and Chief Executive Officer of TC Transcontinental. "This transaction extends our footprint to Eastern Canada by adding a Montreal-based facility equipped with a state-of-the-art platform, and gives us the opportunity to further develop our existing business relationships with retailers in the country. Driven by its belief in outstanding customer service and innovation, Flexipak has a strong family business culture that will naturally blend with ours. We are truly delighted to welcome Flexipak's employees to the TC Transcontinental family and look forward to growing our flexible packaging business with them."

Les Industries Flexipak Inc. was founded in 1998 by President and Chief Executive Officer Charles Boustany. As part of the transaction, all managers and employees will be retained, including Karl Boustany, Vice President and General Manager. Customers will therefore continue to be serviced by the current team.

"Flexipak has been a family-owned business for nearly 20 years and, today, I am very proud that it is joining a solid family-controlled corporation headquartered in Montreal," said Charles Boustany. "The fact that we were chosen by TC Transcontinental is an indisputable validation of our successful business model. TC Transcontinental is led by seasoned leaders who foster a long-term vision to grow its flexible packaging division. I am confident that Flexipak's talented team, led by my son Karl, will continue to thrive as part of TC Transcontinental Packaging's North American network, with a continued focus on quality and excellent customer service. Our two companies are a natural fit. TC Transcontinental's entrepreneurial spirit, core values and strong culture will undoubtedly resonate with Flexipak's employees as they embark on this new chapter."

In 2014, TC Transcontinental made its first strategic acquisition in the flexible packaging industry with Capri Packaging, located in Missouri. In 2015, the Corporation doubled its revenues in this area by acquiring Ultra Flex Packaging Corp. in New York. TC Transcontinental made two other acquisitions in 2016: Robbie Manufacturing in Kansas and Flexstar Packaging Inc. in British Columbia - its first flexible packaging acquisition in Canada.

About TC Transcontinental

Canada's largest printer with operations in print, flexible packaging, publishing and digital media, TC Transcontinental's mission is to create products and services that allow businesses to attract, reach and retain their target customers.

Respect, teamwork, performance and innovation are strong values held by the Corporation and its employees. The Corporation's commitment to its stakeholders is to pursue its business and philanthropic activities in a responsible manner.

Transcontinental Inc. (TSX: TCL.A)(TSX: TCL.B), known as TC Transcontinental, has more than 7,000 employees in Canada and the United States, and revenues of C$2.0 billion in 2016. Website www.tc.tc

Forward-looking Statements

Our public communications often contain oral or written forward-looking statements which are based on the expectations of management and inherently subject to a certain number of risks and uncertainties, known and unknown. By their very nature, forward-looking statements are derived from both general and specific assumptions. The Corporation cautions against undue reliance on such statements since actual results or events may differ materially from the expectations expressed or implied in them. Forward-looking statements may include observations concerning the Corporation's objectives, strategy, anticipated financial results and business outlook. The Corporation's future performance may also be affected by a number of factors, many of which are beyond the Corporation's will or control. These factors include, but are not limited to, the economic situation in the world and particularly in Canada and the United States, structural changes in the industries in which the Corporation operates, the exchange rate, availability of capital, energy costs, competition, the Corporation's capacity to engage in strategic transactions and integrate acquisitions into its activities, the regulatory environment, the safety of its packaging products used in the food industry, innovation of its offering and concentration of its sales in certain segments. The main risks, uncertainties and factors that could influence actual results are described in Management's Discussion and Analysis (MD&A) for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2016, in the latest Annual Information Form and have been updated in the MD&A for the third quarter ended July 30, 2017.

Unless otherwise indicated by the Corporation, forward-looking statements do not take into account the potential impact of nonrecurring or other unusual items, nor of divestitures, business combinations, mergers or acquisitions which may be announced after the date of November 1st, 2017.

The forward-looking statements in this press release are made pursuant to the "safe harbour" provisions of applicable Canadian securities legislation.

The forward-looking statements in this release are based on current expectations and information available as at November 1st, 2017. Such forward-looking information may also be found in other documents filed with Canadian securities regulators or in other communications. The Corporation's management disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise these statements unless otherwise required by the securities authorities.

Contacts:

Media: Nathalie St-Jean, Senior Advisor,

Corporate Communications

TC Transcontinental

514-954-3581

nathalie.st-jean@tc.tc

www.tc.tc



Financial Community: Shirley Chenny

Advisor, Investor Relations

TC Transcontinental

514-954-4166

shirley.chenny@tc.tc

www.tc.tc




QUEBEC CITY, QUEBEC -- (Marketwired) -- 11/01/17 -- H2O Innovation Inc. ("H2O Innovation" or the "Corporation") (TSX VENTURE: HEO)(ALTERNEXT: MNEMO:ALHEO)(OTCQX: HEOFF) announces that it will release its financial results for the 2018 first quarter on Tuesday, November 14, 2017, at approximately 8:00 a.m. (EST). The Corporation will also host a conference call, on that same day, at 10:00 a.m. (EST).

Financial analysts and investors are invited to attend the conference call during which the 2018 first quarter results will be presented. The call will begin with a presentation by management followed by a question-and-answer period. A slide presentation will be available on the Corporate Presentations page of the Investors section of the Corporation's website.

Time and date: Tuesday, November 14, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. (ET) Dial in number: 1 (877) 223-4471 or 1 (647) 788-4922

Finally, Philippe Gervais, Chairman of the Board, and Frederic Dugre, President and Chief Executive Officer, are pleased to invite shareholders and all other interested parties to attend the Annual General Meeting of the Shareholders, which will be held on December 6, 2017 at 10:30 a.m. (EST) at the Corporation's headquarters located at 330, rue St-Vallier Est, Suite 340, Quebec City (Quebec), G1K 9C5. During this meeting, they will review the results of fiscal year ended on June 30, 2017 and also comment the results of the first quarter of fiscal year 2018.

About H2O Innovation

H2O Innovation designs and provides state-of-the-art, custom-built and integrated water treatment solutions based on membrane filtration technology for municipal, industrial, energy and natural resources end-users. The Corporation's activities rely on three pillars which are i) water and wastewater projects and services, including digital control and monitoring solutions as well as after sale customer services; ii) specialty products, which include a complete line of specialty chemicals, consumables, specialized products for the water treatment industry; and iii) operation and maintenance services for water and wastewater treatment systems and utilities. For more information, visit www.h2oinnovation.com.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) nor the Alternext Exchange accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Contacts:

Marc Blanchet

+1 418-688-0170

marc.blanchet@h2oinnovation.com

www.h2oinnovation.com




BRUSSELS (dpa-AFX) - Following the release of ADP private payrolls data for October at 8.15 am ET Wednesday, the greenback advanced against its major rivals. The greenback was trading at 114.10 against the yen, 1.0009 against the franc, 1.1633 against the euro and 1.3311 against the pound around 8:17 am ET. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
MONTREAL, QUEBEC -- (Marketwired) -- 11/01/17 -- Saputo Inc. ("Saputo") (TSX: SAP) announces today that it has entered into an agreement to acquire Betin, Inc., doing business as Montchevre. Its activities are conducted at one manufacturing facility located in Belmont, Wisconsin (USA). The business employs approximately 319 people.

Montchevre manufactures, markets and distributes goat cheese in the United States, mainly under the Montchevre brand. For the twelve-month period ended on June 30, 2017, Montchevre generated revenues of approximately CDN$150 million.

The transaction will enable the Cheese Division (USA) of Saputo to broaden its presence in specialty cheese in the United States.

The transaction is subject to customary conditions (including regulatory approval) and is expected to close by the end of 2017.

CAUTION REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. These statements are based, among other things, on Saputo's assumptions, expectations, estimates, objectives, plans and intentions as of the date hereof regarding projected revenues and expenses, the economic, industry, competitive and regulatory environments in which the Company operates or which could affect its activities, its ability to attract and retain customers and consumers, as well as the availability and cost of milk and other raw materials and energy supplies, its operating costs and the pricing of its finished products on the various markets in which it carries on business.

These forward-looking statements include, among others, statements with respect to the Company's short and medium-term objectives, outlook, business projects and strategies to achieve those objectives, as well as statements with respect to the Company's beliefs, plans, objectives and expectations. The words "may", "should", "will", "would", "believe", "plan", "expect", "intend", "anticipate", "estimate", "foresee", "objective", "continue", "propose" or "target", or the negative of these terms or variations of them, the use of conditional or future tense or words and expressions of similar nature, are intended to identify forward-looking statements.

By their nature, forward-looking statements are subject to a number of inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from the conclusion, forecast or projection stated in such forward-looking statements. As a result, the Company cannot guarantee that any forward-looking statements will materialize. Assumptions, expectations and estimates made in the preparation of forward-looking statements and risks that could cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations are discussed in the Company's materials filed with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities from time to time, including the "Risks and Uncertainties" section of the Management's Discussion and Analysis included in the Company's 2017 Annual Report.

Forward-looking statements are based on Management's current estimates, expectations and assumptions, which Management believes are reasonable as of the date hereof, and, accordingly, are subject to changes after such date. You should not place undue importance on forward-looking statements and should not rely upon this information as of any other date.

To the extent any forward-looking statement in this document constitutes financial outlook, within the meaning of applicable securities laws, such information is intended to provide shareholders with information regarding the Company, including its assessment of future financial plans, and may not be appropriate for other purposes. Financial outlook, as with forward-looking information generally, is based on current estimates, expectations and assumptions and is subject to inherent risks and uncertainties and other factors.

Except as required under applicable securities legislation, Saputo does not undertake to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether written or verbal, that may be made from time to time by itself or on its behalf, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

About Saputo

Saputo produces, markets, and distributes a wide array of dairy products of the utmost quality, including cheese, fluid milk, extended shelf-life milk and cream products, cultured products and dairy ingredients. Saputo is one of the top ten dairy processors in the world, the largest cheese manufacturer and the leading fluid milk and cream processor in Canada, one of the top three dairy processors in Argentina, and among the top four in Australia. In the US, Saputo ranks among the top three cheese producers and is one of the largest producers of extended shelf-life and cultured dairy products. Our products are sold in several countries under well-known brand names such as Saputo, Alexis de Portneuf, Armstrong, COON, Cracker Barrel(i), Dairyland, DairyStar, Friendship Dairies, Frigo Cheese Heads, La Paulina, Milk2Go/Lait's Go, Neilson, Nutrilait, Scotsburn(i), Stella, Sungold, Treasure Cave and Woolwich Dairy. Saputo Inc. is a publicly traded company and its shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol "SAP".

(i)Trademark used under licence.

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PORTLAND, Oregon and PUNE, India, November 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

According to a new report published by Allied Market Research, titled, "Infant Incubator Market by Product, Application, and End User: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2017-2023," the global infant incubator market was valued at $268 million in 2016, and is projected to reach $401 million by 2023, growing at a CAGR of 5.9% from 2017 to 2023. The neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) incubator segment accounted for nearly three-fifths share of the total market in 2016.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140911/647229 )



Infant incubator is a biomedical device with a rigid box-like chamber, which provides humidity, warmth, and oxygen to the newborn in a controlled environment. Infant incubator improves infant survival rate by maintaining thermal stability within the chamber and providing an infection free environment to the infant. Technological advancements in the neonatal care devices has led to the emergence of advanced infant incubators such as infant incubators with controlled light environment, minimized heat loss, and incubators with microprocessor-based servo-controlled temperature systems.

Do Enquiry for Sample Report@ https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/2727

The prime factors that drive the growth of the infant incubators market is increase in incidence of preterm birth rates. Moreover, growth in number of NICU admissions, and inflow of technologically advanced infant incubators has further accelerated the demand of infant incubators globally to initiate the proper treatment of infant at the earliest. However, the scarcity of NICU units globally and inflated cost of infant incubators hampers the growth of the market. Nevertheless, funding by government and private organizations toward development of neonatal healthcare facilities in emerging economies is expected to provide lucrative growth opportunities for the infant incubators market.

The transport infant incubator accounted for about one-third share of the total market in 2016. This is owing to the fact that transport infant incubator is used more commonly in emergency situations to transfer infant safely from one location to another within controlled environment. However, the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) incubator is expected to register growth of CAGR 4.3% throughout the forecast period. This is due to the rise in the number of NICU installations by hospitals and high investment by key players in bringing innovation to infant incubators.

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In terms of application, neonatal hypothermia dominated the market with nearly half of the market share in 2016. This is attributed to the fact that neonatal hypothermia is recognized as the key contributor to the mortality and morbidity risk of newborns. The neonatal intensive care units end user segment dominated the market with about two-fifths share in 2016. This is attributed to the high number of NICU admissions globally. They are also preferred as primary location for keeping premature baby for proper treatment. However, pediatric hospitals are expected to show fastest growth at a CAGR of 6.3% during the forecast period. This is owing to the increase in adoption of infant incubators in these hospitals.

KEY FINDINGS OF THE INFANT INCUBATOR MARKET STUDY

The neonatal intensive care units end user segment is anticipated to grow with a CAGR of 6.0% during the forecast period.

The U.S. was the highest shareholder in the North America infant incubators market in 2016 and poised to retain its lead from 2017-2023.

infant incubators market in 2016 and poised to retain its lead from 2017-2023. The lower birth weight application registered fastest growth with a CAGR of 6.4% during 2017-2023. India is expected to grow at the remarkable rate of 6.5% during the forecast period.

is expected to grow at the remarkable rate of 6.5% during the forecast period. The birthing centers end user segment held remarkable position with one-sixth share in 2016, registering a CAGR of 5.4% from 2017-2023.

In 2016, Asia-Pacific and LAMEA collectively accounted for about one-fourth share of the market and is expected to continue this trend. This is due to increase in adoption of infant incubators technologies and high incidences of preterm babies specifically in China, India, and the other developing economies. Moreover, rise in investments towards development of healthcare-information technology (HCIT) done by key players in the infant incubators field is the main reason for the growth of the market in Asia-Pacific region.

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The key players in the global infant incubator market include General Electric Company, Atom Medical Corporation, Natus Medical Incorporated, Bistos Co., Ltd., Medicor Elektronika Zrt., Fanem Ltd, Inspiration Healthcare Group plc, Phoenix Medical Systems, Dragerwerk AG, and Cobams plc. The other prominent players in the value chain include Ginevr Limited, Returns Ozcan Inc., Olidef, JW Medical LLC, PT. Fyrom International, Beijing Julongsanyou Technology CO., Ltd., and Mediprema SAS.

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Allied Market Research provides global enterprises as well as medium and small businesses with unmatched quality of "Market Research Reports" and "Business Intelligence Solutions." AMR has a targeted view to provide business insights and consulting to assist its clients to make strategic business decisions and achieve sustainable growth in their respective market domain.

We are in professional corporate relations with various companies and this helps us in digging out market data that helps us generate accurate research data tables and confirms utmost accuracy in our market forecasting. Each and every data presented in the reports published by us is extracted through primary interviews with top officials from leading companies of domain concerned. Our secondary data procurement methodology includes deep online and offline research and discussion with knowledgeable professionals and analysts in the industry.

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CARLSBAD, California, Nov. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --Retail Inkjet Solutions (RIS) today announced that the French-based supermarket retail chain Intermarche has signed for RIS InkCenterinkjet cartridge refill equipment deployment into select locations in France. Intermarche's strategy is based on strong sales growth from successful trial installations of the RIS on-site Refill Service for inkjet cartridges. Intermarche customers simply drop off their empty inkjet cartridges at the service counter and while shopping, the cartridge will be refilled using the RIS InkCentermachine. The result is a high-quality ink refill for up to 70% savings versus the cost of buying a new cartridge.

"We're thrilled to announce our Refill Service expansion with Mr. Jean-Francois Vergez of Intermarche. Together, over the past year we have shown his customers the significant savings that come from refilling their branded ink cartridges while helping to protect the environment. Refilling empty ink cartridges instead of discarding them contributes to a cleaner planet, a tenet that is very important to the French culture. Intermarche is becoming known as an ink destination. With Mr. Vergez's help, we look forward to expanding the ink cartridge Refill Service to more Intermarche locations in the near future" said Vince Hormovitis, Vice President Sales & Business Development at RIS.

"In today's market, ink cartridges are consumables. I know my customers very well. Refilling their cartridges instead of purchasing new ones matchestheirexpectations as well as the trend of the French market. It is important to me to bring new, exciting concepts and value to my customers like the Refilling Service, while doing my part to make the planet cleaner. The InkCenteris profitable for my customers but also for my business," declared Jean-Francois Vergez, Owner, Intermarche Muret and Fonsorbes.

RIS Chief Executive Officer, David Lenny added, "Since starting the RISInkCenter refill trial program at select Intermarche supermarkets in southwest France, it has been exciting to see the initiative grow from start-up to a very successful inkjet cartridge refill business in such a short amount of time. At RIS, we are very pleased to now make this announcement that solidifies our partnership into a new long-term agreement with such a reputable retailer in France. This will ensure we continue to deliver our high quality ink refill experience toIntermarche customersat a fraction of the price of purchasing new inkjet cartridges. Aside from the savings, customers can drop their cartridges off and do their shopping while the cartridges are being refilled - which is very convenient."

About RIS

Retail Inkjet Solutions, Inc. (RIS) is the industry leader in retail on-site inkjet cartridge refilling services. The patented RIS InkCenterkiosk is deployed in more than 670 participating retail locations across the United States, Canada, Mexico and Europe - including Costco Wholesale, Sam's Club, Fry's Electronics, Intermarche, Auchan, E.Leclerc, Metro Cash & Carry, Saturn, Maplin and select University Bookstores. RIS provides customers with unmatched quality while delivering savings of up to 70%. Our InkCenterkiosks integrate seamlessly into retail environments, delivering a great customer experience. RIS was founded in 2004 by former HP engineers motivated to create a better printing solution for customers at a lower price and is headquartered in Carlsbad, California. For more information, visit www.Go2RIS.com.

About Intermarche

Founded in 1969, Intermarche has grown to become one of Europe's premier retail chains of hypermarkets, supermarkets and grocery stores. The company's vast continental network of store locations includes: 1835 in France, 243 in Portugal, 232 in Poland, and 78 in Belgium. Intermarche offers a wide range of exclusive brands: Chabrior (bakery products), Paquito (fruit-based products), Monique Ranou/Claude Leger (catering food), Paturages (dairy products), Saint Eloi (tinned food), Look (non-alcoholic drinks), Apta (cleaning products), and Elodie (candies, marmalades).

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Seattle, Washington--(Newsfile Corp. - November 1, 2017) - CFN Media Group ("CannabisFN"), the leading creative agency and media network dedicated to legal cannabis, announces publication of an article covering Emerald Health Therapeutics Inc.'s (TSXV: EMH) (OTCQX: EMHTF) recent deal with Abattis Bioceuticals Corp. to acquire a controlling interest in Northern Vine Labs. The agreement could grow Northern Vine into a thriving center for analytical testing, genetic research and development, tissue culture, and proprietary medicinal and therapeutic formulations. As a Licensed Dealer, Northern Vine will also be able to export and import cannabis oils around the world, unlike ACMPR licensed producers.

Under the agreement, Emerald Health will invest $2.5 million to acquire 53% of Northern Vine and appoint three of four directors. Abattis will continue to hold the remaining 47% equity stake in Northern Vine and benefits from the deal in a variety of other ways. Meanwhile, Emerald Health plans to utilize Northern Vine for cannabis testing, product innovation, and potentially import/export capabilities for cannabis oils.

Broadening Licensing Capabilities

Emerald Health benefits from a Licensed Dealer that has much broader capabilities than a Licensed Producer when it comes to carrying out research and development, importing and exporting cannabis oils, and related activities. Northern Vine also provides exposure to the cannabis testing industry, as it currently provides LPs and registered patients with complete microbiology and chemical analyses to ensure product is safe and efficacious.

"Our acquisition of control of Northern Vine will set the wheels in motion on a number of strategic business opportunities that we have been nurturing," said Emerald Health Executive Chairman Avtar Dhillon, MD, in a press release announcing the deal. "We see tremendous synergies and opportunities to work with Abattis both on extraction and research and development of medicinal and therapeutic products."

In addition to the Northern Vine transaction, Emerald Health has been working to dramatically expand its cannabis production capacity with a new facility on its 32-acre property in Metro Vancouver and its partnership with Village Farms, which utilizes an existing 25-acre greenhouse complex that is being retrofitted to grow cannabis. The company is focused on high-quality product innovation particularly for wellness and medical benefit to set it apart from many licensed producers in the space that are focused on scale.

Opening the Door to the Future

Abattis Bioceuticals benefits from Emerald Health's wealth of scientific knowledge, pharmaceutical connections, and access to capital, as well as a $2.5 million capital infusion into the subsidiary. The strong relationship between Abattis and a rapidly growing and respected licensed producer in Canada also paves the way for future joint ventures for its extraction technology and adds credibility to its ability to create laboratories - which is essential to its business model moving forward.

"This is an important turning point for Abattis," said Robert Abenante, President and CEO of Abattis and Northern Vine. "The company has always desired a strategic partner for its laboratory and has now partnered with one of the most experienced LPs in Canada. As we commence rolling out our business model for extraction, attracting a partner like Emerald is proof that we have an extremely talented team."

In addition to Northern Vine, Abattis has licensed a proprietary extraction technology with a patented counter-current layering system that yields 98% of cannabinoids - 18% better than today's leading methods. A continuous system of columns can either remove impurities and pesticides from full spectrum oil or individual cannabinoids and terpenes to 99% purity levels. And, it's at a lower cost than traditional CO2 extraction methods.

Abattis believes that a major growth area of the industry moving forward lies in the extraction of active ingredients from cannabis to create products such as edibles and the company's previously announced CBD-based sunscreen. The new relationship with Emerald Health should provide the company with products to test and biomass to convert to those products, utilizing the patented extraction tech to further the company's stated goal of becoming a key downstream service and products provider.

Please follow the link to read the full article: http://www.cannabisfn.com/emerald-health-expands-capabilities-northern-vine-labs-deal/

About CFN Media

CFN Media (CannabisFN) is the leading creative agency and media network dedicated to legal cannabis. We help marijuana businesses attract investors, customers (B2B, B2C), capital, and media visibility. Private and public marijuana companies and brands in the US and Canada rely on CFN Media to grow and succeed.

Learn how to become a CFN Media client company, brand or entrepreneur: http://www.cannabisfn.com/become-featured-company/

Download the CFN Media iOS mobile app to access the world of cannabis from the palm of your hand: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/cannabisfn/id988009247?ls=1&mt=8

Or visit our homepage and enter your mobile number under the Apple App Store logo to receive a download link text on your iPhone: http://www.cannabisfn.com

Disclaimer:

Except for the historical information presented herein, matters discussed in this release contain forward-looking statements that are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such statements. Emerging Growth LLC, which owns CFN Media and CannabisFN.com, is not registered with any financial or securities regulatory authority, and does not provide nor claims to provide investment advice or recommendations to readers of this release. Emerging Growth LLC may from time to time have a position in the securities mentioned herein and may increase or decrease such positions without notice. For making specific investment decisions, readers should seek their own advice. Emerging Growth LLC may be compensated for its services in the form of cash-based compensation or equity securities in the companies it writes about, or a combination of the two. For full disclosure please visit: http://www.cannabisfn.com/legal-disclaimer/

CFN Media

Frank Lane

206-369-7050

flane@cannabisfn.com
TAMPA, Florida, Nov. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Summit EMEA, hosted by Dynamic Communities Inc., a business management organization that develops and supports technology-centric user groups, announces registration is now open for Microsoft Dynamics 365, AX and CRM users and partners. Summit EMEA will take place 24-26 April 2018 and is located at the Convention Centre Dublin in Dublin, Ireland.

Summit EMEA is the User Group conference that brings Microsoft Dynamics 365, AX and CRM users, industry experts and software development vendors together to discuss important issues, to learn about product updates, and to find genuine solutions that suit your business needs.

"My objectives were to learn more and have the opportunity to network and meet fantastic people - all three of these were achieved with the fantastic, well-structured agenda, the time given to network and interact with subject matter experts and to talk and get to know liked minded people within the industry and the CRM Community," said a D365UG/CRMUG Summit EMEA 2017 attendee.

In 2017, Summit EMEA was held in Amsterdam, Netherlands with over 1,100 attendees from multiple European countries. In addition to the conference, the Executive Program, which originated and has been running in Europe for years, was also held during this time. This program offers executives from different industries to enhance organizational leadership teams while allowing the ability to network with like-minded individuals. The Executive Program will again be held at Summit EMEA in Dublin.

"We are excited to once again deliver top-quality programming and authentic networking opportunities to Microsoft Dynamics 365, AX, and CRM users and partners located in the EMEA regions," said Andy Hafer, Dynamic Communities, Inc. Founder. "This conference is designed for users by users, and this standard of educational is what attendees find value in year after year."

Those interested in attending Summit EMEA can learn more and register at: www.summitemea.com.

Dynamic Communities, Inc.

Summit EMEA is hosted by Dynamic Communities, the world's largest community of Microsoft Dynamics users and the parent company of User Group for Dynamics 365 & AX (D365UG/AXUG) and User Group for Dynamics 365 & CRM (D365UG/CRMUG), View more user groups. These User Groups specialize in the delivery of user-led education, community-driven knowledge generation and enriched networking - bringing users to the forefront of technology problem-solving.

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MUMBAI, November 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

Bharat Book Bureau announces the addition of the report "Chocolate (Confectionery) Market in Saudi Arabia - Outlook to 2021: Market Size, Growth and Forecast Analytics" to its offering. It is a broad level market review of Chocolate market in Saudi Arabia.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130128/590935 )



Chocolate Confectionery includes all chocolate based products, in the likes of boxed chocolates, moulded chocolate bars, chocolate covered bars whether in single bars or bite-sized versions sold in multipacks, seasonal novelties, and local specialities. Includes milk chocolate, however, excludes cooking chocolate.



Chocolate (Confectionery) Market in Saudi Arabia has sales value of SAR 3,105.06 Million in 2016, an increase of 4.70% over 2015. The research handbook provides up-to-date market size data for period 2011-2016 and illustrative forecast to 2021 covering key market aspects like Sales Value and Volume for Chocolate and its variants Boxed Chocolate, Chocolate Countlines, Chocolate Straightlines, Molded Bars, Novelties, Other Chocolate.

View the report Chocolate (Confectionery) Market in Saudi Arabia: https://www.bharatbook.com/request-sample/796901

Furthermore, the research handbook details out Sales Value for top brands for the year 2013 to 2016, Demographic Analytics and overall market sales by Distribution Channel (Hypermarkets & Supermarkets, Convenience Stores, Department Stores, Dollar Stores, Variety Store, Cash & Carries and Warehouse clubs, eRetailers, Food & Drinks specialists, Drug stores & Pharmacies, Health & Beauty Stores, Other general retailers and others) where ever applicable.



The research handbook acts as an essential tool for companies active or planning to venture in to Saudi Arabia's Chocolate (Confectionery) market. The comprehensive statistics within the research handbook provides insight into the operating environment of the market and also ensures right business decision making based on historical trends and industry model based forecasting.



Sales Values in the handbook are depicted in USD ($) and local currency of country and Volumes are represented in M Kilograms.



*Note: Certain content / sections in the research handbook may be removed or altered based on the availability and relevance of data.



Scope

Overall Chocolate (Confectionery) market value and volume analytics with growth analysis from 2011 to 2021.

Value terms for the top brands.

Distribution channel sales analytics from 2013-2016.

Reasons to buy

Get access to authoritative and granular data on the Chocolate (Confectionery) market and fill in the gaps in understanding of trends and the components of change behind them.

Enhance your understanding of the market to update your strategic and tactical plans based on volume and value changes, brand dynamics and distribution trends.

Analyze the components of change in the market by looking at historic and future growth patterns.

Use the data to understand future patterns of the market trends from winners and losers to category dynamics and thereby quickly and easily identify the key areas in which you want to compete in the future.

To know more about the report go through the following URL: https://www.bharatbook.com/dairy-market-research-reports-796901/chocolate-saudi-arabia.html

About Bharat Book Bureau:

Bharat Book Bureauis the leading market research information provider for market research reports, company profiles, industry analysis, country reports , business reports, newsletters and online databases Bharat Book Bureau provides over a million reports from more than 400 publishers around the globe. We cover sectors starting from Aeronautics to Zoology.In case the reports don't match your requirement then we can do a specialized Custom Research for you.

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Paper details successful collaborations addressing fiscal and climate considerations

A special report issued today by Veolia North America and the Wharton School's Initiative for Global Environmental Leadership (IGEL) details the demonstrated success and future potential for public-private partnerships (P3s) to provide sustainable solutions for the nation's infrastructure needs. The report highlights how the P3 framework can be applied to keep up with contemporary fiscal and climate concerns as America braces for a $3.6 trillion bill for infrastructure upgrades.

In addition to traditional financial considerations, communities now require more sustainable infrastructure in the face of increasingly extreme weather and climate change. This includes utilities designed to support communities that face new economic, social and environmental challenges over time.

"The infrastructure challenges we face are well known," said Joanne Spigonardo, senior associate director of business development at Wharton's IGEL program. "But the focus seems to be exclusively on financial constraints. For infrastructure to be sustainable, we need to focus on the critical element of operational expertise. We are pleased to have partnered with Veolia North America, which has several operations underway demonstrating how valuable the P3 model can be for cities' long-term investment in solutions that reflect the realities of today's climate concerns."

Cities worldwide are increasingly turning to private-sector partners for the long-term investment and operational expertise these new solutions demand. According to a 2016 PwC report, the "P3 pipeline now stretches across more than 20 states, including many that have never closed a public-private partnership transaction before." A Harvard Kennedy School Review report counts 40 major P3 closed infrastructure transactions at a value of $39 billion in the U.S. between 2005 and 2014. The IGEL report recommends all states take advantage of the innovation and sustainable solutions P3s offer.

"With the number and size of P3s increasing each year and major infrastructure legislation anticipated on Capitol Hill, now is the time to focus on growth potential and expansion of such successful partnerships," said John Gibson, executive vice president and chief operating officer of municipal and commercial businesses at Veolia North America. "Veolia and IGEL's report offers three projects representative of the opportunities for P3s in the sustainable infrastructure industry."

These include:

Innovation in Healthcare: In Canada, Montreal's brand-new $2 billion Centre Hospitalier de l'Universite de Montreal (CHUM) has emerged as the largest healthcare project in North America. Merging three older hospitals, CHUM not only is able to provide integrated services to hundreds of thousands of patients, but includes a mandate to use at least 40 percent less energy than a baseline design, representing a more than 40,000-ton annual reduction in greenhouse emissions.

Preventing Wastewater from Going to Waste: In Honolulu, Hawaii, a state-of-the-art wastewater reclamation facility has reduced ocean pollution and increased the availability of drinking water, thanks to a 20-year, $140 million P3 agreement allowing the city to save up to $35 million over the course of the partnership. Water reuse projects are becoming increasingly popular across the country as a way to mitigate the effects of drought and boost water supplies in communities with limited access to freshwater.

Green Steam for Clean Energy: In Philadelphia, new investment in combined heat and power or cogeneration has provided the city with sustainable utility infrastructure since 2012. Today, this partnership provides electricity, "green steam" and now a new chilled water plant for the University of Pennsylvania- providing resiliency, saving money, and reducing the school's greenhouse gas emissions.

About the Wharton Initiative for Global Environmental Leadership

Through research, high-level discussion, and coursework and curriculum options, Wharton's Initiative for Global Environmental Leadership (Wharton IGEL) works towards preparing the best business leaders of tomorrow by providing educational opportunities in business sustainability. Wharton IGEL provides regular opportunities for business leaders to discuss, with input from Wharton and other Penn faculty, best practices and cutting-edge solutions for pressing environmental issues, emerging national and international regulation, and latest research breakthroughs. https://igel.wharton.upenn.edu/

About Veolia

Veolia is the global leader in optimized resource management. With over 163,000 employees worldwide, the Group designs and provides water, waste and energy management solutions that contribute to the sustainable development of communities and industries. Through its three complementary business activities, Veolia helps to develop access to resources, preserve available resources, and to replenish them. In 2016, the Veolia group supplied 100 million people with drinking water and 61 million people with wastewater service, produced 54 million megawatt hours of energy and converted 30 million metric tons of waste into new materials and energy. Veolia Environment (listed on Paris Euronext: VIE) recorded consolidated revenue of 24.39 billion ($25.7 billion) in 2016. www.veolia.com

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171101006089/en/

Contacts:

for Veolia

Kirk Monroe, 202-207-3646

kmonroe@rasky.com
In solar PV, while the world seems focused on quantity - how many megawatts installed, at what price - solar power manufacturers, installers, and operators know that quality is crucial to the successful delivery of clean and profitable power.At this year's PV Taiwan, pv magazine's very own Editor-at-Large led the 8th Quality Roundtable on Friday, October 20 at room 504bc at the Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center. The Quality Roundtable invited a host of industry insiders and experts from various industry segments to share their perspectives and experiences on quality in solar PV. Discussions ranged from economic issues, technical perspectives and the challenges of meeting government policy and the opportunities going forward. Moderator Jonathan Gifford was joined by lead presenter Dr. Jay Lin, Chief Consultant of PV Guider, as well as member of the Technical Committee of CNS National Standards and the Leader of Task Forces in SEMI standard. Mr. San-Chung Wang, Deputy Commissioner, Department of Economic Development, Taipei City Government was the opening presenter, discussing Taipei City accomplishments and initiatives in solar PV development. Taipei City is a densely populated urban environment, which presents significant challenges to solar power development, as the forum's ...

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
BERLIN, GERMANY -- (Marketwired) -- 11/01/17 -- Huawei, a leading global information and communications technology (ICT) solutions provider, celebrated the power of open ecosystems and collaborative ICT at this year's Huawei Eco-Connect Europe, in Berlin. Under the theme of "Go Digital - Go Cloud" Huawei's flagship event in Europe emphasized the need to create and shape an open, innovative ICT ecosystem to empower the digital transformation of European businesses.

"Digital transformation is no longer a future trend; it's happening now, but digital transformation cannot be done by one single company, or organization, alone," Vincent Pang, President of Western European Region, Huawei commented. "As a reliable digital infrastructure innovator and enabler, Huawei aims to build an open platform in Europe and globally, leading to closer collaboration across the digital industry. This platform will inspire cross-industry innovation, create a digital culture, and bring clear value to European communities and enterprises. And this is why we held the Eco-Connect Conference with our partners."

Collaboration is key to innovation, and helping to develop a thriving digital ecosystem. Over 2,000 partners, customers, media, analysts and KoLs attended Huawei Eco-Connect Europe 2017 including Intel, Altair, Commvault, KUKA, Orange Business Services and SAP.

During the conference, Huawei also announced plans to build a global cloud network based on its own public clouds, as well as clouds that it has built together with partners. Huawei believes that the cloud will prosper only when it helps customers create value on an ongoing basis. European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) has been running their workloads on the public cloud that was jointly developed by Huawei and T-system. Relying on thousands of Huawei's high-performance computing nodes, CERN has lowered the overall maintenance costs of Large Hadron Collider (LHC) experiments by approximately 67% and shortened the online cycle from 90 to 15 days.

OpenLab is also one of Huawei's initiatives to demonstrate its commitment to building digital ecosystems with partners in an open and collaborative way. Various large enterprises and government departments are already implementing solutions developed by Huawei's OpenLabs. For example, Huawei worked closely with Altair to create an enterprise simulation cloud solution for use within research and development in the automotive industry. Huawei has also innovated with partners such as SAP and Oracle to power IoT solutions, enabling customers to build strong, cost-effective power grids. Further demonstrating the company's commitment to an open ecosystem, Huawei will launch its next OpenLab, in Paris, by the end of this year.

As to consumers, Huawei unveiled several new Mobile Services, content partnerships with 15 key app and game developers, as well as two strategic partnerships with key video content providers ahead of the launch of Huawei AppStore and Huawei Video Service in 2018. Additionally, during Huawei eco-CONNECT, MobileIron provided a demonstration of ZeroTouch Enrollment into MobileIron Cloud with the just launched Huawei Mate10 Pro. The demo shows how IT departments and users can save the hassle of hands-on configuration of company-owned Android smartphones and tablets.

Looking to the future, together with Partners, Huawei plans to build a digital ecosystem which allows its customers to develop business globally with single-point access. Huawei is becoming a ICT platform for industry partners and opening up 6 domains with 3000+ Leading ICT APIs.

Meanwhile, Huawei will also invest heavily in cultivating digital talents and developing digital mindset in Europe. "In terms of developing digital talents and cultivating a digital mindset, Europe still has room for improvement. In the last 15 years, Huawei has been committed to supporting ICT Talents and developing digital skills in Europe. Based on the existing programs, we decided to launch a Digital Impact Initiative across Europe to boost digital mindset and help to build stronger digital competences across the region," Vincent Pang said. "In the coming five years we intend to connect and engage with five million people across Europe, equip 100,000 people with digital skills for life and work, and train 5,000 senior ICT professionals."

About Huawei

Huawei is a leading global information and communications technology (ICT) solutions provider. Our aim is to enrich life and improve efficiency through a better-connected world, acting as a responsible corporate citizen, innovative enabler for the information society, and collaborative contributor to the industry. Driven by customer-centric innovation and open partnerships, Huawei has established an end-to-end ICT solutions portfolio that gives customers competitive advantages in telecom and enterprise networks, devices and cloud computing. Huawei's 170,000 employees worldwide are committed to creating maximum value for telecom operators, enterprises and consumers. Our innovative ICT solutions, products and services are used in more than 170 countries and regions, serving over one-third of the world's population. Founded in 1987, Huawei is a private company fully owned by its employees.

For more information, please visit Huawei online at www.huawei.com or follow us on:

http://www.linkedin.com/company/Huawei

http://www.twitter.com/Huawei

http://www.facebook.com/Huawei

http://www.google.com/+Huawei

http://www.youtube.com/Huawei

Image Available: http://www2.marketwire.com/mw/frame_mw?attachid=3178081



Huawei

Nicholas Graham

+44(0)2034276360

nicholas.graham@huawei.com




Item 4 of the draft resolutions has been updated by specifying the amount of remuneration. The Extraordinary Meeting of Shareholders of the JSC "Latvijas Gaze" will take place on 16 November 2017 at the premises of the JSC "Latvijas Gaze", 20 Vagonu iela, Riga. The beginning of the meeting is scheduled at 12.00 p.m. The registration for the meeting opens at 11.30 a.m. Vinsents Makaris Head of investor relations Phone: + (371) 67 369 144 E-mail: IR@lg.lv Attachment: https://cns.omxgroup.com/cds/DisclosureAttachmentServlet?messageAttachmentId=651060

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
I have to tell you about this, even though some of the forecasts are crazy extreme. For several forecast cycles, the models have suggested t...
Thunder Bay, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - November 1, 2017) - Benton Resources Inc. (TSXV: BEX) ("Benton" or the "Company") announces that further to its news release dated October 17, 2017, it has increased the flow-through private placement from $300,000 to $305,000. In addition, the Company is pleased to announce that it has submitted documents to the TSX Venture Exchange (the "Exchange") for approval of the non-brokered flow-through private placement for gross proceeds of $305,000, consisting of 3,812,500 flow through units ("FT Units") at a price of $0.08 per FT Unit. Each FT Unit includes one (1) full Common Share Purchase Warrant exercisable at $0.25 for 12 months from the date of issuance

The placement is subject to final acceptance of the TSX Venture Exchange.

All securities issued in the placement are subject to a four-month hold period. The proceeds raised from the FT Units will be used to advance the Company's Bedivere gold project located in northwestern Ontario and other Canadian exploration expenses (within the meaning of the Income Tax Act (Canada)), with the company using its best efforts to ensure that such Canadian exploration expenses qualify as a flow-through mining expenditure for purposes of the Income Tax Act (Canada), related to the exploration of the company's exploration projects.

The financing was effected with three insiders of the Company subscribing for 275,000 FT Units on completion of the private placement, for aggregate subscription proceeds of $22,000, that portion of the financing a "related party transaction" as such term is defined under Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). The Company is relying on exemptions from the formal valuation and minority approval requirements set out in MI 61- 101. The Company is exempt from the formal valuation requirement of MI 61-101 under sections 5.5(a) and (b) of MI 61-101 in respect of the transaction as the fair market value of the transaction, insofar as it involves the interested party, is not more than the 25% of the Company's market capitalization, and no securities of the Company are listed or quoted for trading on prescribed stock exchanges or stock markets. Additionally, the Company is exempt from minority shareholder approval under sections 5.7(1)(a) and (b) of MI 61-101 as, in addition to the foregoing, (i) neither the fair market value of the Flow-Through Units nor the consideration received in respect thereof from interested party exceeds $2,500,000, (ii) the Company has one or more independent directors who are not employees of the Company, and (iii) all of the independent directors have approved the transaction. Material change reports were not filed 21 days prior to the closing of the financing because insider participation had not been established at the time the financing was announced.

On behalf of the Board of Directors of Benton Resources Inc.,

"Stephen Stares"

Stephen Stares, President

THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE HAS NOT REVIEWED AND DOES NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

The information contained herein contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking statements relate to information that is based on assumptions of management, forecasts of future results, and estimates of amounts not yet determinable. Any statements that express predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance are not statements of historical fact and may be "forward-looking statements."

For further information contact Stephen Stares @:



684 Squier Street,

Thunder Bay, ON P7B 4A8

Phone (807)475-7474

Fax (807)475-7200

www.bentonresources.ca
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 1, 2017) - Prospero Silver Corp (TSXV: PSL) (the "Company" or "Prospero") is pleased to provide an update on planned drilling of the 430 hectare Bermudez project in northwest Chihuahua close to the border with Sonora in northern Mexico. The Company is planning to drill test Bermudez as part of its on-going 6,950 m reconnaissance drill campaign funded by strategic partner Fortuna Silver Mines Inc. ("Fortuna").

Prospero has now received all necessary permits to carry out a first-pass drill program at Bermudez. Planning is underway with Fortuna's technical team to drill 2-4 holes most likely in the first quarter of 2018. All of the proposed holes are on previously disturbed land, limiting the environmental impact of the program. Consequently, Prospero has been informed by the authorities that a separate environmental impact permit is not required.

The property is located in the Sierra Madre Occidental, very close to the Hermosillo-Chihuahua highway. Access is from Hermosillo or Chihuahua, about a 7-8 hour drive on paved high way followed by 10km on a good gravel road. The closest town with services is Yecora in Sonora, about 40 minutes (17km) away.

A low sulphidation epithermal vein system is exposed over a 2.5km by 50-100m area, suggesting potential to host an epithermal Au-Ag deposit. Prospero collected 144 channel and chip samples from the epithermal veins, with a best result to date of 1.94g/t Au. The sampling results define strongly anomalous Au, Ag, Ba, and Zn. Veining trends northwest and is hosted primarily by a rhyolite package, interpreted to be a vertical dyke or dome. Fluid inclusion temperatures of 150-200C indicate that the veining exposed at surface is high level, perhaps 150-200m above the epithermal productive zone.

Additional information on Bermudez is available on Prospero's website here: http://www.prosperosilver.com/s/bermudez.asp

Pachuca SE Project

Permit applications will be submitted in the next few days for the proposed drilling at the Pachuca SE near the City of Pachuca in Hidalgo State.

Qualified Person

Tawn Albinson, M.Sc., President of the Company, is a Qualified Person, as defined in NI 43-101, and is responsible for the technical content of this news release. Mr. Albinson is a Member of the American Institute of Professional Geologists and a Certified Professional Geologist (CPG) No. 11368.

About Fortuna Silver Mines Inc.

Fortuna is a growth-oriented, precious metals producer focused on mining opportunities in Latin America. The company's primary assets are the Caylloma silver mine in southern Peru, the San Jose silver-gold mine in Mexico and the Lindero gold project in Argentina.

About Prospero Silver Corp.

Prospero is a Mexico-focused project generator listed on the TSX.V under the symbol PSL.V. Prospero's aim is to discover world-class precious metal projects in the major mineral belts of Mexico. The Company applies a unique blend of practical exploration experience, cutting-edge mineral deposit science, and an extensive knowledge of Mexico's geology to find new gold and silver systems. Our exploration programs are run by a small but highly-focused geological team based in Mexico.

For further information please contact:

Ralph Rushton

Exec VP Business Development

Tel: 604 307 0055

William Murray

Chairman

Tel: 604 288 2553

Forward-Looking Statement Cautions:

This press release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation, relating to, among other things, the Company's proposed use of the financing proceeds. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts; they are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "intends," "estimates," "projects," "aims," "potential," "goal," "objective," "prospective," and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will," "would," "may," "can," "could" or "should" occur, or are those statements, which, by their nature, refer to future events. The Company cautions that Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made and they involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Consequently, there can be no assurances that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Except to the extent required by applicable securities laws and the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements if management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change. Factors that could cause future results to differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements include, possible, accidents and other risks associated with mineral exploration operations, the risk that the Company will encounter unanticipated geological factors, the possibility that the Company may not be able to secure permitting and other governmental clearances necessary to carry out the Company's exploration plans, the risk that the Company will not be able to raise the additional funds in the future to continue to carry out its business plans, and the risk of political uncertainties and regulatory or legal changes that might interfere with the Company's business and prospects. The reader is urged to refer to the Company's reports, publicly available through the Canadian Securities Administrators' System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval (SEDAR) at www.sedar.com for a more complete discussion of such risk factors and their potential effects.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of any of securities of the Company in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful, including any of the securities in the United States of America. The Company's securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933 (the "1933 Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for account or benefit of, U.S. Persons (as defined in Regulation S under the 1933 Act) unless registered under the 1933 Act and applicable state securities laws, or an exemption from such registration requirements is available.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

THIS RELEASE IS NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWS WIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES
Dominion Diamond Corporation (TSX: DDC, NYSE: DDC) ("Dominion" or the "Company") and The Washington Companies ("Washington"), a group of privately held North American mining, industrial and transportation businesses founded by industrialist and entrepreneur Dennis R. Washington, today announced the completion of the previously-announced plan of arrangement (the "Arrangement") pursuant to which Northwest Acquisitions ULC, an entity affiliated with Washington, acquired all of the issued and outstanding common shares of the Company for US$14.25 per share in cash.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171101006201/en/

Dominion will operate as a standalone, private company. Patrick Evans has been appointed Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately. The Dominion Board of Directors has been reconstituted with new directors who possess a mix of relevant business and mining expertise, including Rolin Erickson, President of Montana Resources, a copper and molybdenum mine owned by Washington.

Patrick Evans, CEO of Dominion, said, "I am pleased to join Dominion Diamond at this exciting time for the Company. I will work relentlessly with management and our talented employees to help realize the long-term potential of Dominion's world-class assets, specifically by extending the life of the Ekati mine, investing to develop the Jay Project and reinvigorating our exploration program. I have long admired Dominion Diamond's deep ties to the Northwest Territories and Nunavut and to Yellowknife in particular, and I look forward to continuing that legacy with the full support and resources of The Washington Companies."

"This is an exciting day for Dominion Diamond and The Washington Companies," said Lawrence R. Simkins, President of Washington. "We fully support Dominion's existing strategy and its exceptional employees, and we are confident that Dominion will continue to offer long-term benefits to all of the Company's stakeholders."

"The Washington Companies and Dominion Diamond have proven track records as responsible, innovative operators," said Dennis Washington, Founder of The Washington Companies. "With today's closing, I am excited to join forces with Dominion as well as with our respected partner at the Diavik mine Rio Tinto. We look forward to owning and operating Dominion for decades to come, with a focus on maintaining safe and prosperous business operations in the Northwest Territories."

The transaction, which was announced on July 17, 2017, has been approved by Dominion shareholders, the Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development under the Investment Canada Act and the Commissioner of Competition under the Competition Act. It is expected that the common shares of the Company will be delisted from the Toronto Stock Exchange at the end of trading on November 2, 2017, and suspended from trading on the New York Stock Exchange at the end of trading on November 1, 2017.

Shareholders who have questions or require assistance with submitting their shares to the Arrangement, including with respect to completing the applicable letter of transmittal, are asked to contact AST Trust Company (Canada), who is acting as depositary under the Arrangement, at 1-800-387-0825 (toll free in North America) or at 416-682-3860 (collect outside North America) or by email at inquiries@canstockta.com.

About Patrick Evans

Patrick Evans is a senior mining executive with operating experience across a wide range of commodities including diamonds, platinum, gold, copper, nickel and uranium. His depth of experience ranges from grassroots exploration, particularly for diamonds, to project permitting and development and mine operations. He has been actively involved in the diamond industry in the Northwest Territories for 20 years, most recently as president and CEO of Mountain Province Diamonds and also as President and CEO of Kennady Diamonds.

About Dominion Diamond Corporation

Dominion Diamond Corporation is a Canadian mining company and one the world's largest producers and suppliers of premium rough diamond assortments to the global market. The Company operates the Ekati Diamond Mine, in which it owns a controlling interest, and owns 40% of the Diavik Diamond Mine, both of which are located in the low political risk environment of the Northwest Territories in Canada. It also has world-class sorting and selling operations in Canada, Belgium and India.

About The Washington Companies

The Washington Companies, founded by industrialist and entrepreneur Dennis R. Washington, are privately held companies active in the core industries of mining, rail and marine transportation, aviation, environmental remediation and restoration services, and heavy equipment sales and service. The companies are headquartered throughout Montana, the Pacific Northwest and western Canada and conduct business internationally.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171101006201/en/

Contacts:

For Dominion Diamond Corporation and The Washington Companies:

Sard Verbinnen Co

Jared Levy Patrick Scanlan Nikki Ritchie, 212-687-8080
MEXICO CITY, Nov. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- An International World Conference on peace and conflict resolution "UTOPIA" will take place in Morelia, Michoacan, Mexico, on March 13th of 2018, with the attendance of Nobel prize winners, civil society organizations, philosophers, artists, academic experts on the subject matter, social media and business leaders.

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/594699/Pied_a_Terre_y_Utopia_Logo.jpg

A few days ago, on the 23rd of October 2017, an international and interdisciplinary group of universities, NGO's, peace foundations, experts and civil society representatives met in Morelia, and agreed to collaborate in order to organize an "International Peace Conference", to discuss, analyze and make an urgent call on the current status of peace and the new challenges that post the emergent balance of power on the world.

The conference pursues three major purposes:

To call for the recovery of the most basic diplomatic values contained in the CBM (Confidence Building Measures) actions for the respect of human rights, discrimination and, in general, an urgent call from the world community encouraging political leaders to improve the environment of decency of the political discourses used and pronounced in representation of the most powerful nations of the world.

The analysis of the new and present regional landscape and balance of power between nations, making emphasis on the most urgent risk factors and conditions of the present nuclear agenda as well as the actual efforts carried out by the UN and other international peace agencies in their efforts for the resolution of international conflicts and for the improvement and maintenance of peace.

The revision of current international academic programs structured for the education on peace and aimed to the creation of a world culture of peace, tolerance and human responsibility on the matter.

"UTOPIA" Conference is an international initiative launched by "Pied a Terre Foundation", in coordination with the academic support of the Vasco de Quiroga Chair from Michoacana de San Nicolas de Hidalgo University and the Shimon Peres Chair for Peace from Anahuac University of Mexico. The conference has been in consultation with other international experts and academic organizations, among others, with Dr. Louis Goodman a distinguished founder member of the Center for Conflict Resolution of the American University in Washington DC.

Pied a Terre is a residential hospitality company of international scope, born with the mision to influence the world's transformation through the promotion of peace.

Press Contact:

Debora Cordova

dcordovapiedaterre.world
PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- FMC Corporation (NYSE: FMC) today announced it has successfully completed the closing of its two pending transactions with DuPont.The companies signed a definitive agreement on March 31, 2017, and have now satisfied all necessary conditions and approvals. FMC has acquired the portion of DuPont's Crop Protection business it had to divest to comply with the European Commission ruling related to its merger with The Dow Chemical Company, which was completed on August 31, 2017, to form DowDuPont'. Additionally, FMC has completed the sale of FMC Health and Nutrition to DuPont.

Logo - http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/594902/FMC_CORPORATION_LOGO.jpg

The company will provide a first look at the combined company and the integration of this acquisition next week, as part of its third quarter 2017 earnings conference call on Tuesday, November 7, 2017, at 9:00 a.m. ET.

About FMC

For more than a century, FMC Corporation has served the global agricultural, industrial and consumer markets with innovative solutions, applications and quality products. On November 1, 2017, FMC acquired a significant portion of DuPont's Crop Protection business. FMC's 2016 pro forma revenue was approximately $4 billion.1 FMC employs more than 7,000 people throughout the world and operates its businesses in two segments: FMC Agricultural Solutions and FMC Lithium. For more information, visit www.FMC.com.

1 2016 pro forma revenue assumes the transactions with DuPont occurred at the beginning of the year and includes twelve months of revenue from the DuPont Crop Protection business and it excludes the revenue from FMC Health and Nutrition. The pro forma revenue reflects FMC's calculation as of the date hereof based on information currently available. Form 8-K will be filed within 75 days of the transaction date and will include unaudited pro forma condensed financial information related to the transactions.

Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Act of 1995: Statements in this news release that are forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties concerning specific factors described in FMC Corporation's 2016 Form 10-K and other SEC filings. Such information contained herein represents management's best judgment as of the date hereof based on information currently available. FMC Corporation does not intend to update this information and disclaims any legal obligation to the contrary. Historical information is not necessarily indicative of future performance.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, November 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

NRG Metals Inc. (the "Company") ("NRG" or the "Company ") (TSX-V: NGZ) (OTCQB: NRGMF) (Frankfurt: OGPN), is pleased to provide the following update further to the news release dated October 19, 2017 on drilling progress at the Salar Escondido Lithium Project, Catamarca Province, Argentina.

As of Saturday October 28, 2017, AGV Falcon Drilling SRL, completed 170 meters of drilling on the first drill hole of an anticipated initial round of six drill holes planned at the project. At 108 meters the hole intersected an aeolian sand horizon, and saline brine is present below a depth of 140 meters. Drill core extracted from a depth of 160 m exhibits very vuggy and porous sandstone with halite (common NaCl salt) efflorescence. The efflorescence is indicative of saline brine that has precipitated when exposed to air, indicating that the pores and cavities were filled with saline brine. Drilling is continuing, and packer sampling is commencing.

Mr. William Feyerabend, Certified Professional Geologist # 11047 , a member of the American Institute of Professional Geologists, has been retained to act as on site Qualified Person for the sampling program. Mr. Feyerabend has extensive experience in the exploration of lithium, and recently acted as the author for NI 43-101 Technical Reports for Lithium X.

The Salar Escondido is a large basin, roughly 20 by 40 kilometers in size, which is mostly covered by a series of overlapping alluvial fans. NRG's technical team believes that a large salar with an area of at least 700 km2 developed in the basin approximately two million years ago. After the salar was formed, it was buried by coalescing alluvial fans, and it is thus considered to be a "paleo-salar," hence the name Salar Escondido, which means "hidden salar" in Spanish.

NRG Metals Inc. is an exploration stage company focused on the advancement of lithium brine projects in Argentina. In addition to the Salar Escondido lithium project, the Company is evaluating the 3,287 hectare Hombre Muerto North lithium project ("HMNLP") in the province of Salta. The HMNLP is located at the northern end of the prolific Hombre Muerto Salar, adjacent to FMC's producing Fenix mine and Galaxy Resources' Sal de Vida development stage project. As announced in a press release dated July 13, 2017, the Company has filed an Environmental Impact Study and applied for permits to drill the HMNLP. In addition, the Company is currently reviewing the exploration program as outlined in the NI43-101 report that was filed on Sedar on October 16, 2017.

NRG Metals Inc. currently has approximately 85 million shares issued and outstanding, and trades on the TSX Venture Exchange under symbol NGZ, on the OTC QB Market under symbol NRGMF, and on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under symbol OGPN.

Adrian F.C. Hobkirk

President and C.E.O.

The preparation of this press release was supervised by Mr. William Feyerabend, a Certified Professional Geologist and a member of the American Institute of Professional Geologists, and a Qualified Person as defined under National Instrument 43-101. Mr. Feyerabend approves the scientific and technical disclosure contained in this press release

The TSX Venture Exchange has not reviewed the content of this news release and therefore does not accept responsibility or liability for the adequacy or accuracy of the contents of this news release.

This news release contains certain "forward- looking statements" within the meaning of Section 21E of the United States Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Except for statements of historical fact relating to the Company, certain information contained herein constitutes forward- looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based upon opinions and estimates of management at the date the statements are made, and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward looking statements. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The transaction described in this news release is subject to a variety of conditions and risks which include but are not limited to: regulatory approval, shareholder approval, market conditions, legal due diligence for claim validity, financing, political risk, security risks at the property locations and other risks. As such, the reader is cautioned that there can be no guarantee that this transaction will complete as described in this news release. We seek safe harbour.

T: Investors / Shareholders Call 855-415-8100 / Direct to Adrian Hobkirk +1-714-316-3272, E:ahobkirk@nrgmetalsinc.com

W:http://www.nrgmetalsinc.com


WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Suggesting differences remain over key details of the House Republican tax reform bill, the release of a draft of the legislation has been delayed.



House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady, R-Tex., said Tuesday night the draft of the bill would be released on Thursday after previously being expected to be unveiled on Wednesday.



'Ways and Means Committee Members met tonight to discuss the work we are doing on pro-growth tax reform,' Brady said. 'In consultation with President Trump and our leadership team, we have decided to release the bill text on Thursday.'



He added, 'We are pleased with the progress we are making and we remain on schedule to take action and approve a bill at our Committee beginning next week.'



The delayed release of the draft of the bill reportedly reflects disagreements about how to offset the cost of the $5.5 trillion in tax cuts included in the legislation.



A proposal to eliminate the state and local tax deduction has raised significant concerns among members of Congress from high-tax states.



Opposition to the tax reform bill from Republicans in states such as New York and California would doom the legislation.



Brady has offered a compromise that would preserve the deduction for local property taxes but not for state and local income taxes.



A report from Politico said House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., briefed conservative leaders on some details of the bill that had been finalized.



Sources in the meeting told Politico the bill would lower the corporate tax rate to 20 percent while keeping the top income tax rate at 39.6 percent, although lawmakers have not settled on which incomes would be hit by that rate.



President Donald Trump said before a meeting with business leaders on Tuesday he wants the House to pass a tax reform bill by Thanksgiving.



Trump said that he wants the House to pass the legislation by the November 23rd holiday and hopes that the bill can be signed before Christmas.



(Photo: Gage Skidmore)



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de
BURLINGTON, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 11/01/17 -- Editors Note: Photos for this release will be available on the Canadian Press picture wire via Marketwired.

K.R. Moeller Associates Ltd. (KRM), a global developer and manufacturer of sound masking technology, today announced the launch of MODIO, a sound masking device specifically designed for hotel guest rooms. MODIO provides a solution to one of the most common hotel guest complaints: noise.

MODIO addresses the hotel noise problem using a sound similar to soft airflow. It covers up intruding noises or reduces their disruptive impact by minimizing the amount of change between volume peaks and the guest room's baseline background sound level. In the past, guests tried unsuccessfully to use the HVAC system, 'white noise' apps or other gadgets in this manner.

Prior to MODIO's launch, KRM successfully implemented its commercial sound masking system, LogiSon Acoustic Network, in properties for Hilton, Marriott, Fairmont, The Ritz Carlton, and Dream Hotel, as well as the Roxy Hotel (formerly Tribeca Grand) and Fogo Island Inn. Although feedback from both hotel guests and managers who experienced the technology was overwhelmingly positive, the company decided to go back to the drawing board to integrate what they had learned into a new product specifically designed for hotel guest rooms.

KRM developed the LogiSon system with office applications in mind. Prior to MODIO, the company often had to get creative with installation techniques in order to handle all of the unique environments presented by the hospitality industry. MODIO is a commercial-grade device that is as easy for guests to use and as effective at covering noise as the LogiSon system, but only takes minutes to install - meaning no lost room night.

Niklas Moeller, Vice President, KRM, underlines the importance of offering a commercial-grade masking system. "It's vital that the sound be properly generated, adjusted via effective volume and frequency controls, and produced over a high-quality loudspeaker. Introducing a poor-quality sound will irritate rather than help the guest," said Moeller. "Other approaches haven't caught on, because they simply can't do the job," he added.

Noise presents a significant operational and consumer issue for hotel owners, operators and guests. In 2011, a survey from JD Power (North American Hotel Guest Satisfaction Survey) ranked noise at the top of the list of complaints industry wide.

"Many hotel guest rooms exhibit the type of acoustic conditions we've successfully addressed in offices over the last forty years," said Moeller. "Basically, their low ambient level makes it very easy for occupants to hear noises occurring in other areas, whether it's from a conversation, television or telephone, mechanical or plumbing equipment, car or airplane traffic, the hotel's pool or bar. These noises irritate guests and disrupt their sleep."

Hotel owners/operators can choose to install MODIO in one or a few rooms with consistent noise problems, or in every room to prevent unforeseen complaints. The device quickly mounts to the back of any flat screen TV using standard VESA brackets, to furniture or the wall, allowing installation to be handled by the hotel maintenance staff in approximately 10 minutes.

MODIO's location also means the device is virtually hidden and ensures the masking sound is evenly diffused into the bed area and across the room.

The sound spectrum - or 'curve' - MODIO produces is specifically engineered to balance acoustic control and occupant comfort. The company recommends customizing the curve to each guest room using specialized software and a sound analyzer, a service offered by MODIO representatives. However, in cases where this option is not feasible, a default setting can be used, which still delivers industry-leading masking performance in guest rooms.

Instructions on the control pad and in the guest services guide tell guests about the purpose and use of this amenity. The dial on the control pad allows an occupant to set their room's background sound level according to personal preference or as needed to cover disturbances. "These days, a dial might seem low-tech, but it makes MODIO easy for all guests to use," said Moeller. "There's no need to fuss with pairing to a mobile app. It also prevents guests from having to look at a blue-light emitting device, a known sleep disruptor."

"Guest feedback to our technology is very positive," said Moeller. "They like the feature, feel it works well, and perceive it as an amenity. It also shows a proactive approach to dealing with noise in that the hotel is addressing it before it becomes a problem. It's much better to prevent a complaint in the first place than try to fix it later," he added.

MODIO is certified for use in commercial applications in numerous regions around the world including North America, the Caribbean, Latin America, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Asia and Southeast Asia. The device is covered by a 5-year warranty. Patents are pending.

About K.R. Moeller Associates Ltd.

K.R. Moeller Associates Ltd. is a global developer and manufacturer of sound masking technology, including the first networked sound masking, paging and music system: LogiSon Acoustic Network. K.R. Moeller is committed to product innovation and high-quality customer service, as well as to providing sound masking education for customers and related professionals. K.R. Moeller is headquartered in Burlington, Ontario, Canada and is a privately-held company. For more information about MODIO, visit www.modio.audio. For more information about the LogiSon Acoustic Network, visit www.logison.com.

Contacts:

For more information, additional photo options and

interview requests, please contact:

Colleen Finnegan

Finnegan Communications

647.341.3240 / 416.618.4605

colleen@finneganpr.ca




Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
LONDON, ENGLAND -- (Marketwired) -- 11/01/17 -- BTG Pactual, the largest investment bank in Latin America, has been presented with the 'Best Investment Bank, Colombia' award by World Finance magazine in celebration of its noteworthy achievements and strong commitment to customers.

For 35 years, BTG Pactual has been a world leader in the investment field. Its success is largely underpinned by long-term thinking; executives at the bank are well versed in calculating risk and tailoring their strategy accordingly. The results they have achieved as a consequence have continually impressed clients.

Indeed, BTG Pactual prides itself on its client-centric attitude; customers are at the heart of everything the bank does. Employees do their utmost to act fairly, transparently, efficiently and in confidence, at all times; these values are instilled in them and partially responsible for BTG Pactual's outstanding performance.

BTG Pactual's achievements are why it was nominated for and subsequently won World Finance's prestigious investment banking award. In 2017, the organisation was also given the title of Best Investment Bank in Brazil and Best Investment Bank in Chile by World Finance.

In addition to its main operations, the bank's robust approach to corporate governance, combined with its sound financial performance, is why it continues to impress.

To see a full list of this year's winners, pick up the latest issue of World Finance, available in print, online and on tablet now.

http://www.worldfinance.com/

World News Media is a leading publisher of quality financial and business magazines, which enjoys a global distribution network that includes subscriber lists of prominent decision-makers around the world.

Contacts:

World News Media

Elizabeth Matsangou

Editorial Department

+44 (0)20 7553 4162

elizabeth.matsangou@wnmedia.com




Elev8 Hemp Tea Available for Purchase in Green and Black Hemp Tea Variations



ROCKLEDGE, FL / ACCESSWIRE / November 1, 2017 / Elev8 Brands, Inc. (OTC PINK: VATE), a holding company focused on the commercial development of hemp and CBD-based products including hemp coffee, tea, and E-juices, which target the health and wellness markets, announces the launch of Elev8 Hemp Tea.

Elev8 Hemp Tea is a carefully crafted tea blend that synergizes perfectly with 100% non-GMO Canadian hemp seeds. Made with an environmentally sustainable, vegetarian source of Omega 3 and Omega 6, Elev8 Hemp Team boasts a superior nutrient profile.

Chief Executive Officer, Ryan Medico, stated, "Elev8 Hemp Tea is a home-run and we couldn't be happier with the outcome of product taste and packaging design. In conjunction with our efforts to launch one of the first ever hemp teas on Amazon.com, we are stepping up sales efforts with current and prospective brick and mortar retailers. From initial coffee sampling, we already have retail stores that are pleased with our product, interested in trying our Hemp Tea, as well as placing re-orders of our Hemp Coffee."

The premium tea comes in both Organic Assam Black Tea and Makaibari Estate Organic Darjeeling Green Tea variations, which appeal to the vast amount of regular tea drinkers. The company spent a considerable amount of time and effort developing unique and "high-class" packaging that truly differentiates the Elev8 Hemp Tea from any tea product on the market today. To view and place orders, the company encourages customers to visit www.elev8hemp.com.



About Elev8 Brands, Inc.:

Elev8 Brands, Inc. specializes in the development and marketing of products for the fitness and wellness markets. The company is founded based on creating high-quality, sustainable, products for health-conscious consumers.



About Elev8 Hemp LLC:

Elev8 Hemp LLC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Elev8 Brands, Inc., which focuses on the development and marketing of hemp-based food, beverage, and healthcare products including hemp coffee, hemp water, and hemp-based skin care products.



About 02 Breathe LLC:

02 Breathe is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Elev8 Brands, Inc., which focuses on their oxygen bar while bringing in an array of CBD products. O2 Breathe carries CBD tinctures, CBD vape, CBD lotions and massage products. 02 Breathe is currently looking to offer CBD at their oxygen bar.

www.02breathe.com



Please visit, www.elev8hemp.com for more information.

www.facebook.com/elev8hemp

www.instagram.com/elev8hemp

www.twitter.com/elev8hemp



Contact:

Ryan Medico

info@elev8hemp.com



Safe Harbor Statement:

The information posted in this release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You can identify these statements by use of the words "may," "will," "should," "plans," "expects," "anticipates," "continue," "estimate," "project," "intend," and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected or anticipated. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, general economic and business conditions, effects of continued geopolitical unrest and regional conflicts, competition, changes in technology and methods of marketing, delays in completing various engineering and manufacturing programs, changes in customer order patterns, changes in product mix, continued success in technological advances and delivering technological innovations, shortages in components, production delays due to performance quality issues with outsourced components, and various other factors beyond the Company's control.

SOURCE: Elev8 Brands, Inc.
IRVINE, CA / ACCESSWIRE / November 1, 2017 / Khang & Khang LLP (the "Firm") announces a securities class action lawsuit against SCANA Corporation ("SCANA" or the "Company") (NYSE: SCG). Investors, who purchased or otherwise acquired shares from January 19, 2016 through September 22, 2017, inclusive (the "Class Period"), are encouraged to contact the Firm before the November 27, 2017 lead plaintiff motion deadline.

If you purchased SCANA shares during the Class Period, please contact Joon M. Khang, Esq., of Khang & Khang LLP, 4000 Barranca Parkway, Suite 250, Irvine, CA 92604, by telephone at (949) 419-3834 , or by e-mail at joon@khanglaw.com.

There has been no class certification in this case yet. Until certification occurs, you are not represented by an attorney. You may choose to take no action and remain a passive class member as well.

The Complaint alleges that, throughout the Class Period, SCANA made false and/or misleading statements, and/or failed to disclose adverse information regarding the construction of its project to build nuclear reactors at the V.C. Summer Nuclear Station in South Carolina, assuring investors that costs spending was prudent and substantial progress was being made, even when cost overruns and other delays began to materialize. On July 31, 2017, the Company announced that it would abandon construction of the nuclear project because of cost overruns and delays. On August 4, 2017, the South Carolina Attorney General announced the opening of an investigation into the Company's abandonment of the nuclear project. On the same day, South Carolina state senators called for a special legislative session to investigate SCANA. On September 22, 2017, the South Carolina Attorney General publicly requested that the South Carolina State Law Enforcement Division launch a criminal investigation into the project. Upon release of this information, SCANA's stock price dropped materially, which caused investors harm according to the Complaint.

If you wish to learn more about this lawsuit, or if you have any questions regarding this notice or your rights, please contact Joon M. Khang, Esq., a prominent litigator for nearly two decades, by telephone at (949) 419-3834, or by e-mail at joon@khanglaw.com.

This press release may constitute Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions.

Contact:

Joon M. Khang, Esq.

Telephone: 949-419-3834

Facsimile: 949-225-4474

joon@khanglaw.com

SOURCE: Khang & Khang LLP


WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - President Donald Trump has called for the termination of an immigration program he blames for allowing the alleged perpetrator of Tuesday's terrorist attack in New York to enter the U.S.



Ahead of a meeting with his Cabinet, Trump called on Congress to immediately begin work on ending the Diversity Immigrant Visa program.



'I am today starting the process of terminating the diversity lottery program. I'm going to ask Congress to immediately initiate work to get rid of this program,' Trump said. 'Diversity lottery. Sounds nice. It's not nice. It's not good. It hasn't been good. We've been against it.'



'We want people that are going to help our country. We want people that are going to keep our country safe. We don't want lotteries where the wrong people are in the lotteries,' he added. 'And guess what? Who are the suckers that get those people? We want a merit-based system.'



Trump said he also wants to get rid of chain migration, claiming the Uzbek immigrant suspected of killing eight people in New York with a rental truck was the primary point of contact for 23 people.



Earlier in the day, Trump sought to blame Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., for the Diversity Immigrant Visa program, which allows the State Department to annually distribute 50,000 visas at random to applicants from counties with low immigration rates.



'The terrorist came into our country through what is called the 'Diversity Visa Lottery Program,' a Chuck Schumer beauty. I want merit based,' Trump tweeted.



He added, 'We are fighting hard for Merit Based immigration, no more Democrat Lottery Systems. We must get MUCH tougher (and smarter).'



Trump also cited retired U.S. Army Reserve Lieutenant Colonel Tony Shaffer, who accused Schumer of helping to import Europe's problems in an appearance on Fox News.



Responding to the Twitter attack from Trump, Schumer criticized the president for attempting to politicize a tragedy.



'President Trump, instead of politicizing and dividing America, which he always seems to do at times of national tragedy, should be focusing on the real solution - anti-terrorism funding - which he proposed cutting in his most recent budget,' Schumer said in a statement.



Republican Senator Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., who has publicly feuded with Trump, also stood up for Schumer in posts to Twitter.



While Schumer helped shape the legislation that created the Diversity Immigrant Visa program, Flake noted the Democratic Senator was also part of a bipartisan group that crafted a comprehensive immigration reform bill that would have ended the program.



'In fact, had the Senate Gang of 8 bill passed the House, it would have ended the Visa Lottery Program AND increased merit based visas,' Flake tweeted.



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 1, 2017) - Opawica Explorations Inc. (TSXV: OPW) (the "Company") announces that further to its news release of October 5, 2017, the Company will convene an Annual General Meeting on November 23, 2017, at which meeting the shareholders of the Company will be asked to consider and, if thought fit, to approve a consolidation of the Common Shares of the Company on a basis of five (5) pre-consolidation Common Shares to one (1) post-consolidation Common Share (the "Consolidation").

Should the Consolidation be approved by the shareholders and the TSX Venture Exchange, then the Company proposes to undertake a post-Consolidation private placement to raise gross proceeds of up to $525,000 (the "Offering") through the sale of up to 7,000,000 units priced at $0.075 (the "Units"). Each Unit consists of one Common Share and one half of a share purchase warrant, with each whole warrant (the "Warrant") exercisable into one further Common Share at a price of $0.10 for a term of one year.

The Offering will be conducted under available exemptions from the prospectus requirements of applicable securities legislation and participation in the Offering will be available to existing shareholders in qualifying jurisdictions in Canada in accordance with the provisions of BC Instrument 45-354 (the "Existing Shareholder Exemption") and similar provisions in other jurisdictions' securities legislation and will be available to persons in qualifying jurisdictions in Canada who have obtained advice as to the suitability of the investment from a person registered as an investment dealer in accordance with the provisions of BC Instrument 45-536 and similar provisions in other jurisdictions' securities legislation.

The Company has set October 31, 2017 as the record date for the purpose of determining shareholders entitled to participate in the Offering in reliance on the Existing Shareholder Exemption. Qualifying shareholders who wish to participate in the Offering should contact the Company as detailed below.

The proceeds from the Offering will be used for general working capital.

A finder's and/or administrative fee of up to 10% may be paid to registered representatives in connection with the Offering. The fee will be comprised of 50% cash and 50% share purchase warrants exercisable at $0.10 for a term of one year.

The Offering is subject to the acceptance of the TSX Venture Exchange and board approval.

ABOUT OPAWICA EXPLORATIONS INC.

Opawica Explorations Inc. is a junior resource company engaged in the acquisition, exploration and evaluation of gold and base metal mineral properties in Canada. The Company owns 100% interest subject to certain royalties in the Bazooka gold property located in the Beauchastel Township approximately seven kilometres southwest of Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec. The Bazooka property comprises seven contiguous kilometres of strike length along the prolific Abitibi Gold Belt on the Cadillac Larder Lake Break. The eastern border of the Bazooka gold property adjoins Yorbeau Resources Inc.'s Rouyn Property that is actively being explored by Kinross Gold Corporation under an option agreement (see Yorbeau press release dated October 25, 2016). The western border of the Bazooka gold property adjoins Monarques Gold's Wasamac gold property (~3 million ozs Au resources). The Company also holds 100% interest subject to certain royalties in the McWatters gold property in the Rouyn-Noranda area and the Arrowhead gold property in the Joannes Township, Quebec.

For more information, please visit the Company's website at www.opawica.com.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Paul Antoniazzi

Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer

Opawica Explorations Inc.

Telephone: 604-681-3170

Fax: 604-681-3552

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider (as the term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy of accuracy of this news release.
ROUYN-NORANDA, QUEBEC -- (Marketwired) -- 11/01/17 -- Explor Resources Inc. (TSX VENTURE: EXS)(OTCQB: EXSFF)(FRANKFURT: E1H1)(BERLIN: E1H1) ("Explor" or the "Corporation") announces the closing of a first tranche of a non-brokered private placement of a maximum of 3,571,500 units at a price of $0.07 each, for total gross proceeds of up to CDN $250,000 (the "Private Placement"). Each unit is composed of one common share and one-half common share purchase warrant. Each whole warrant can be exercised at a price of $0.12 for a period of 24 months. The first tranche of the Private Placement closed today consists in the sale of 2,857,143 units, representing 2,857,143 common shares and 1,428,571 warrants, for an aggregate subscription of $200,000, by a related party to the Corporation, namely, Christian Dupont, director and Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation. After the private placement, assuming the exercise of the warrants included in the units purchased by Christian Dupont, Mr. Dupont would hold, directly or indirectly, or exercise control over approximately 4.3 % of the Corporation issued and outstanding common shares.

The net proceeds from the Private Placement will be used by the Corporation for working capital purposes.

The issuance of securities to a related party in the first tranche of the Private Placement constitutes a "related party transaction" within the meaning of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 respecting protection of minority security holders in special transactions ("MI "61-101"), which is incorporated into TSX Venture Exchange Policy 5.9. In its consideration and approval of the first tranche of the Private Placement, the board of directors of the Corporation has determined that such subscription to the related party is exempt from the formal valuation and minority approval requirements of MI 61-101 on the main basis that the fair market value of the subscription to the related party does not exceed 25% of the market capitalization of Explor, in accordance with sections 5.5 and 5.7 of MI 61-101.

The securities to be issued pursuant to the first closing of the Private Placement are subject to a hold period of four months and a day ending March 2th, 2018. The Private Placement is subject to the final approval of the TSX Venture Exchange.

Explor Resources Inc. is a publicly listed company trading on the TSX Venture (EXS), on the OTCQB (EXSFF) and on the Frankfurt and Berlin Stock Exchanges (E1H1).

This press release was prepared by Explor. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the Policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) has reviewed or accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

About Explor Resources Inc.

Explor Resources Inc. is a Canadian-based natural resources company with mineral holdings in Ontario, Quebec, Saskatchewan and New Brunswick. Explor is currently focused on exploration in the Abitibi Greenstone Belt. The belt is found in both provinces of Ontario and Quebec with approximately 33% in Ontario and 67% in Quebec. The Belt has produced in excess of 180,000,000 ounces of gold and 450,000,000 tonnes of cu-zn ore over the last 100 years. The Corporation was continued under the laws of Alberta in 1986 and has had its main office in Quebec since 2006.

Explor Resources Flagship project is the Timmins Porcupine West (TPW) Project located in the Porcupine mining camp, in the Province of Ontario. The TPW mineral resource (Press Release dated August 27, 2013) includes the following:

Open Pit Mineral Resources at a 0.30 g/t Au cut-off grade are as follows:

Indicated: 213,000 oz (4,283,000 tonnes at 1.55 g/t Au) Inferred: 77,000 oz (1,140,000 tonnes at 2.09 g/t Au)

Underground Mineral Resources at a 1.70 g/t Au cut-off grade are as follows:

Indicated: 396,000 oz (4,420,000 tonnes at 2.79 g/t Au) Inferred: 393,000 oz (5,185,000 tonnes at 2.36 g/t Au)

This document may contain forward-looking statements relating to Explor's operations or to the environment in which it operates. Such statements are based on operations, estimates, forecasts and projections. They are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict and may be beyond Explor's control. A number of important factors could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from those expressed in forward-looking statements, including those set forth in other public filling. In addition, such statements relate to the date on which they are made. Consequently, undue reliance should not be placed on such forward-looking statements. Explor disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, save and except as may be required by applicable securities laws.

Contacts:

Explor Resources Inc.

Christian Dupont

President

Tel: 888-997-4630 or 819-797-4630

819-797-1870 (FAX)

Website: www.explorresources.com

Email: info@explorresources.com




Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - November 1, 2017) - Crown Mining Corporation (TSXV: CWM) ("Crown" or the "Company") announces a proposed non-brokered private placement for aggregate gross proceeds of up to $200,000 comprised of up to 2,000,000 units at a price of $0.10 per unit (each such unit being comprised of one common share and one warrant) (the "Offering"). Each whole warrant will entitle the holder to purchase one common share for $0.20 at any time within 2 years after closing subject to an acceleration clause. All securities issued pursuant to this private placement will be subject to a four (4) month hold period. The Company proposes to pay to eligible finders a finder's fee equal to 10% of the gross proceeds raised. The Company also reserves the right to increase or decrease the size of the Offering.

Completion of the Offering is subject to receipt of all required regulatory and TSX Venture Exchange approvals.

The Company will use the proceeds of the Private Placement for exploration and development work at its Moonlight-Superior Copper Project and for general working capital purposes.

In addition, the Company announces that incentive stock options to purchase up to 500,000 common shares of the Company have been granted to various consultants of the Company pursuant to the Company's stock option plan and subject to any regulatory approval. Each stock option is exercisable at $0.10 for a period of three years from the grant date.

Crown is focused on advancing its 100% controlled Moonlight-Superior Copper Project in Northeast California which includes 4 known copper deposits. The Moonlight deposit hosts a current National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101") indicated resource of approximately 161 million tons (146.5 million tonnes) averaging 0.324% copper, 0.003 ounces of gold and 0.112 ounces of silver per ton for 1.044 billion pounds of copper, and an inferred resource of 88 million tons (80 million tonnes) averaging 0.282% copper per ton for 496 million pounds of copper. Further details of this resource can be found in the Technical Report on the Moonlight Copper Property dated April 12, 2007 at Sedar.com. The Superior and Engels deposits have a current NI 43-101 inferred mineral resource of 57 million metric tonnes at an average copper grade of 0.43% for 547 million pounds of copper. Further details of this resource can be found in the Technical Report on the Superior Project dated November 7, 2014 filed on Sedar which also discloses a historical resource estimate for the fourth deposit.

Mr. George Cole is the Qualified Person pursuant to NI 43-101 responsible for the technical information contained in this news release, and he has reviewed and approved this news release.

For more information please see the Crown website at www.crownminingcorp.com.

For Further Information Contact:

Mr. Stephen Dunn, President, CEO and Director, Crown Mining Corporation (416) 361-2827 or email info@crownminingcorp.com.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable Canadian and U.S. securities laws and regulations, including statements regarding the future activities of the Company. Forward-looking statements reflect the current beliefs and expectations of management and are identified by the use of words including "will", "anticipates", "expected to", "plans", "planned" and other similar words. Actual results may differ significantly. The achievement of the results expressed in forward-looking statements is subject to a number of risks, including those described in the Company's management discussion and analysis as filed with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities which are available at www.sedar.com. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon forward-looking statements.

This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to buy the securities in any jurisdiction. The flow-through common shares will not be and have not been registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933 and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or applicable exemption from the registration requirements.
MONTREAL, QUEBEC -- (Marketwired) -- 11/01/17 -- Sphinx Resources Ltd. ("Sphinx" or the "Corporation") (TSX VENTURE: SFX) announces that it has closed a non-brokered private placement (the "Private Placement") for aggregate gross proceeds of $247,880.

The Private Placement was comprised of:

-- 1,244,000 units of the Corporation at a price of $0.05 per unit. Each unit consists of one common share in the capital of the Corporation and one common share purchase warrant. Each warrant entitles the holder to acquire one common share at a price of $0.08 per common share until November 1, 2020; and -- 2,856,616 Flow-through units ("FT Units") at a price of $0.065 per unit. Each FT Unit consists of one common share (the "FT Share") and one half common share purchase warrant. Each warrant entitles the holder to acquire one common share at a price of $0.10 per common share until November 1, 2019. The FT Shares shall qualify as "flow-through shares" within the meaning of the Income Tax Act (Canada).

The securities of the Corporation to be issued pursuant to the Private Placement are subject to a four-month hold period expiring March 2, 2018. Management and one director of the Corporation subscribed for an amount of $25,415 of the Private Placement.

The net proceeds of the Private Placement will be used to fund the Corporation's zinc projects (Calumet-Sud, Tessouat, Tessouat-Sud and Obwondiag) in the Pontiac regional municipal county in southwestern Quebec, its Cheechoo Eleonore Trend gold exploration project in the Eeyou Istchee James Bay territory, and for general working capital purposes. The Corporation gratefully acknowledges the participation to the Private Placement of a number of residents of the Pontiac region and nearby Renfrew County, in Ontario.

The Private Placement has been conditionally accepted by the TSX Venture Exchange. In connection with the Private Placement, the Corporation has agreed to pay to certain finders a finder's fee of 7% in cash, representing an aggregate amount of up to $9,692.

About Quebec and Sphinx

Quebec has established itself as one of the world's most attractive mining jurisdictions, ranking 6th globally (Fraser Institute press release, February 28 2017). The Quebec government has created market confidence by following a proactive approach to mining policy. Quebec's mining sector has also been encouraged by the clarity and certainty of the legal and regulatory framework adopted by its government. Sphinx is engaged in the generation and acquisition of exploration projects in Quebec.

For further information, please consult Sphinx's website.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This press release may contain forward-looking statements that are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and activities to vary materially from targeted results and planning. Such risks and uncertainties include those described in Sphinx's periodic reports including the annual report or in the filings made by Sphinx from time to time with securities regulatory authorities.

Contacts:

Sphinx Resources Ltd.

Normand Champigny

President and Chief Executive Officer

514.979.4746

info@sphinxresources.ca

www.sphinxresources.ca




NEW YORK CITY (dpa-AFX) - MetLife Inc. (MET) revealed a profit for third quarter that declined compared to the same period last year. The company said its bottom line declined to $1.21 billion, or $1.13 per share. This was lower than $1.41 billion, or $1.27 per share, in last year's third quarter. Analysts had expected the company to earn $0.90 per share, according figures compiled by Thomson Reuters. Analysts' estimates typically exclude special items. The company said revenue for the quarter rose 1.7% to $16.10 billion. This was up from $15.83 billion last year. MetLife Inc. earnings at a glance: -Earnings (Q3): $1.21 Bln. vs. $1.41 Bln. last year. -Earnings Decline (Y-o-Y): -14.2% -EPS (Q3): $1.13 vs. $1.27 last year. -EPS Decline (Y-o-Y): -11.0% -Analysts Estimate: $0.90 -Revenue (Q3): $16.10 Bln vs. $15.83 Bln last year. -Revenue Change (Y-o-Y): 1.7% Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
CALGARY, ALBERTA -- (Marketwired) -- 11/01/17 -- Media Advisory - TransCanada Corporation (TSX: TRP) (NYSE: TRP) (TransCanada) announced today that its Canadian Mainline began shipping additional Western Canada Sedimentary Basin (WCSB) natural gas to markets in Eastern Canada and the U.S. as part of its Long-Term Fixed Price (LTFP) service.

This new service will allow TransCanada's 23 LTFP customers to realize lower transportation tolls by taking advantage of existing Canadian pipeline infrastructure so they can maintain their competitive edge at Ontario's Dawn Hub. The revenue generated will help reduce the costs needed to operate the Canadian Mainline for shippers.

"The LTFP service is one solution that will help western Canadian natural gas producers better compete in the North American gas market," said Tracy Robinson, TransCanada's senior vice president, Canada Gas. "Our customers will get more of their gas to key markets at a lower cost, benefiting those companies as well as consumers, governments, communities and stakeholders."

With the growth of natural gas production in the WCSB, TransCanada is working closely with our partners to continue to expand pipeline capacity to get their natural gas to market. Helping our customers secure natural gas markets will support capital investment and further spending, including hiring in the oil and gas industry. In addition to the LTFP deal, by 2020 we expect to facilitate the additional delivery of approximately one billion cubic feet of natural gas per day to key markets.

"As a transportation company, our role is to help connect our customers' resources to the higher value markets where they are needed," Robinson added. "We know our customers are facing new competitive challenges, and we are working with them to find solutions so we can all share in the long-term success of the WCSB."

Dawn LTFP shippers have agreed to long-term contracts that will transport enough natural gas to heat more than six million North American homes daily.

With more than 65 years' experience, TransCanada is a leader in the responsible development and reliable operation of North American energy infrastructure including natural gas and liquids pipelines, power generation and gas storage facilities. TransCanada operates one of the largest natural gas transmission networks that extends more than 91,500 kilometres (56,900 miles), tapping into virtually all major gas supply basins in North America. TransCanada is the continent's leading provider of gas storage and related services with 653 billion cubic feet of storage capacity. A large independent power producer, TransCanada currently owns or has interests in approximately 6,200 megawatts of power generation in Canada and the United States. TransCanada is also the developer and operator of one of North America's leading liquids pipeline systems that extends over 4,300 kilometres (2,700 miles), connecting growing continental oil supplies to key markets and refineries. TransCanada's common shares trade on the Toronto and New York stock exchanges under the symbol TRP. Visit TransCanada.com to learn more, or connect with us on social media and 3BL Media.

Contacts:

Media Enquiries:

Shawn Howard / Mark Cooper

403.920.7813 or 800.608.7859



TransCanada Investor & Analyst Enquiries:

David Moneta / Stuart Kampel

403.920.7911 or 800.361.6522




CALGARY, AB--(Marketwired - November 01, 2017) - Agrium Inc. (TSX: AGU) (NYSE: AGU) announced today that Mr. Steve Douglas, Agrium's CFO, will be presenting at the Morgan Stanley Global Chemicals and Agriculture Conference in Boston, MA, on Wednesday, November 15, 2017 at 9:30 a.m. EDT.

The presentation will be audio cast and available on the Company's website at www.agrium.com.

About Agrium

Agrium Inc. is a major global producer and distributor of agricultural products, services and solutions. Agrium produces nitrogen, potash and phosphate fertilizers, with a combined wholesale nutrient capacity of approximately eleven million tonnes and with significant competitive advantages across our product lines. Agrium supplies key products and services directly to growers, including crop nutrients, crop protection, seed, as well as agronomic and application services, thereby helping growers to meet the ever growing global demand for food and fibre. Agrium retail-distribution has an unmatched network of approximately 1,500 facilities and over 3,300 crop consultants who provide advice and products to our grower customers to help them increase their yields and returns on hundreds of different crops. With a focus on sustainability, the company strives to improve the communities in which it operates through safety, education, environmental improvement and new technologies such as the development of precision agriculture and controlled release nutrient products. Agrium is focused on driving operational excellence across our businesses, pursuing value-enhancing growth opportunities and returning capital to shareholders. For more information visit: www.agrium.com.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:

Investor/Media Relations:



Richard Downey

Vice President

Investor & Corporate Relations

(403) 225-7357



Todd Coakwell

Director

Investor Relations

(403) 225-7437



Louis Brown

Analyst

Investor Relations

(403) 225-7761



Contact us at: www.agrium.com
HOUSTON, TX -- (Marketwired) -- 11/01/17 -- Enbridge Energy Partners, L.P. (NYSE: EEP)

Q3 HIGHLIGHTS

Third quarter net income was $93.1 million and cash provided by operating activities for the nine month period was $388.8 million





Third quarter adjusted earnings before interest, taxes and depreciation (EBITDA) and distributable cash flow (DCF) were $426.2 million and $193.6 million, respectively





Line 3 Replacement Program progressing well; regulatory hearings in the State of Minnesota are under way





Enbridge Energy Partners, L.P. received an amended Presidential Permit for the expansion of the Alberta Clipper liquids pipeline





Enbridge Energy Partners, L.P. (NYSE: EEP) (EEP or the Partnership) today reported third quarter 2017 adjusted EBITDA and DCF of $426.2 million and $193.6 million, respectively.

Third quarter results were in-line with the Partnership's expectations demonstrating the reliability of the restructured business model. The Lakehead system, which is the most significant contributor to results, provided stable and predictable earnings resulting from the regulated cost of service nature of the business that has limited financial exposure to throughput volatility.

In the Bakken region, demand for transportation on the legacy North Dakota system into Clearbrook, Minnesota remained strong, averaging over 219 kbpd for the third quarter. Results also benefited from a full quarter of contributions from EEP's interest in the Bakken Pipeline System that was placed into service on June 1, 2017.

"Our results for the quarter are right in-line with our expectations," said Mark Maki, President for the Partnership. "This quarter represents the first full quarter following our restructuring to a new lower risk, pure-play business model. With the sale of the natural gas business now closed, the Partnership has returned to its core business of stable liquids pipeline and storage assets. As a result, we are on track to deliver on our previously disclosed guidance," concluded Mr. Maki.

Line 3 Replacement Program

The Line 3 Replacement is a critical energy infrastructure program that will support the economy and assure a reliable and cost-effective supply of energy. It will comprise the newest and most advanced pipeline technology and will enhance safety, reliability, and throughput capacity on the Mainline system.

Regulatory permitting is in place in North Dakota and in Wisconsin where construction is well under way. The most significant remaining permitting process for the Line 3 Replacement Program is in Minnesota. The Final Environmental Impact Statement was issued in August and its adequacy determination is expected from the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission ("MPUC") in December. In the parallel Certificate of Need and Route Permit dockets, progress continues according to schedule with public hearings currently under way. The MPUC is expected to issue a decision on the Certificate of Need and Route Permit in the second quarter of 2018. Based on this regulatory process and timeline, Management continues to anticipate an in-service date for the project in the second half of 2019.

In addition, subsequent to quarter-end, EEP received an amended Presidential Permit for the Alberta Clipper (Line 67) expansion project.

Third Quarter 2017 Performance Overview

The Partnership's key financial results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, compared to the same periods in 2016, were as follows:

Three months ended Nine months ended September 30, September 30, ------------------- ------------------- (unaudited; in millions, except per unit amounts) 2017 2016 2017 2016 ------------------------------------ ------------------- ------------------- Net income (loss)(1) $ 93.1 $ (406.4) $ 251.2 $ (242.7) Net income (loss) per unit (basic and diluted) 0.19 (1.31) 0.55 (1.16) ------------------------------------ ------------------- ------------------- Adjusted EBITDA(2) $ $ $ 426.2 $ 456.8 1,237.1 1,412.3 Adjusted net income(1) 109.3 89.3 243.1 338.7 Adjusted net income per unit (basic and diluted) $ 0.24 $ 0.09 $ 0.54 $ 0.48 ------------------------------------ ------------------- -------------------

(1) Net income and adjusted net income attributable to general and limited partner ownership interests in Enbridge Energy Partners, L.P.

(2) Includes noncontrolling interests.

Adjusted net income and adjusted EBITDA for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, as reported above, eliminate the effect of: (a) non-cash, mark-to-market net gains and losses; and (b) other adjustments. Refer to the Non-GAAP Reconciliations section below for additional details.

Net income for the third quarter of 2017 increased $499.5 million over the same period from the prior year primarily due to the absence of an asset impairment loss of $756.7 million in 2017, as the Sandpiper Project in North Dakota was impaired when the project's regulatory application was withdrawn in the third quarter of 2016. Further contributing to the increase was the absence of losses from our discontinued operations when compared with the corresponding 2016 period as we sold our Midcoast gas gathering and processing business on June 28, 2017, to our General Partner.

Adjusted net income of $109.3 million for the third quarter of 2017 was $20.0 million higher than the same period from the prior year. The increase was predominately attributable to the absence of Series 1 Preferred Units, which were redeemed on April 27, 2017, at the conclusion of our strategic review. Also contributing to the increase was the absence of losses from our Midcoast gas gathering and processing business and equity income from our investment in the Bakken Pipeline System.

COMPARATIVE EARNINGS STATEMENT Three months ended Nine months ended September 30, September 30, ------------------- ------------------- (unaudited; in millions, except per unit amounts) 2017 2016 2017 2016 ------------------------------------ ------------------- ------------------- Operating revenues $ 616.4 $ 634.6 $1,817.6 $1,885.6 Operating expenses: Environmental costs, net of recoveries 1.2 (8.7) 15.0 8.3 Operating and administrative 162.6 152.0 474.0 428.0 Power 80.1 74.3 221.0 206.8 Depreciation and amortization 111.8 109.4 328.9 315.7 Gain on sale of assets (5.5) -- (67.6) -- Asset impairment -- 756.7 -- 757.1 ------------------------------------ ------------------- ------------------- Operating income (loss) 266.2 (449.1) 846.3 169.7 Interest expense, net (104.1) (103.4) (305.8) (301.2) Allowance for equity used during construction 12.2 10.0 33.2 35.7 Other income 21.8 0.6 33.2 0.9 ------------------------------------ ------------------- ------------------- Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes 196.1 (541.9) 606.9 (94.9) Income tax benefit (expense) (0.1) (1.6) 0.4 (5.2) ------------------------------------ ------------------- ------------------- Income (loss) from continuing operations 196.0 (543.5) 607.3 (100.1) Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax -- (31.1) (56.8) (124.4) ------------------------------------ ------------------- ------------------- Net income (loss) 196.0 (574.6) 550.5 (224.5) Less: Net income (loss) attributable to: Noncontrolling interests 102.9 (191.9) 261.8 (52.8) Series 1 preferred unit distributions -- 22.5 29.0 67.5 Accretion of discount on Series 1 preferred units -- 1.2 8.5 3.5 ------------------------------------ ------------------- ------------------- Net income (loss) attributable to general and limited partner ownership interests in Enbridge Energy Partners, L.P. $ 93.1 $ (406.4) $ 251.2 $ (242.7) ==================================== =================== =================== Net income (loss) allocable to common units and i-units Income from continuing operations $ 82.0 $ (432.7) $ 254.1 $ (313.9) Loss from discontinued operations -- (19.9) (38.0) (86.9) ------------------------------------ ------------------- ------------------- Net income (loss) allocable to common units and i-units $ 82.0 $ (452.6) $ 216.1 $ (400.8) ==================================== =================== =================== Net income (loss) per common unit and i-unit (basic and diluted) Income from continuing operations $ 0.19 $ (1.25) $ 0.65 $ (0.91) Loss from discontinued operations -- (0.06) (0.10) (0.25) ------------------------------------ ------------------- ------------------- Net income (loss) per common unit and i-unit $ 0.19 $ (1.31) $ 0.55 $ (1.16) ==================================== =================== =================== Weighted average common units and i- units (basic and diluted) 421.0 349.1 391.6 347.0 ==================================== =================== ===================

Comparison of Quarterly Results

Following are explanations for significant changes in the Partnership's financial results, comparing the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 with the same period of 2016. The comparison refers to operating income and adjusted operating income. Adjusted operating income excludes the effect of certain non-cash and other items that the Partnership believes are not indicative of its core operating results (see Non-GAAP Reconciliations section below).

Three months ended Nine months ended Operating Income (Loss) September 30, September 30, ------------------------------------ ------------------- ------------------- (unaudited; in millions) 2017 2016 2017 2016 ------------------------------------ ------------------- ------------------- Liquids $ 267.9 $ (446.8) $ 855.4 $ 179.1 Other (1.7) (2.3) (9.1) (9.4) ------------------------------------ ------------------- ------------------- Operating income (loss) $ 266.2 $ (449.1) $ 846.3 $ 169.7 ------------------------------------ ------------------- ------------------- Three months ended Nine months ended Adjusted Operating Income (Loss) September 30, September 30, ------------------------------------ ------------------- ------------------- (unaudited; in millions) 2017 2016 2017 2016 ------------------------------------ ------------------- ------------------- Liquids $ 282.1 $ 304.0 $ 827.8 $ 945.3 Other (1.7) (2.3) (9.1) (9.4) ------------------------------------ ------------------- ------------------- Adjusted operating income $ 280.4 $ 301.7 $ 818.7 $ 935.9 ------------------------------------ ------------------- -------------------

Liquids

Third quarter operating income for the Liquids segment increased $714.7 million to $267.9 million over the comparable period in 2016. This increase was predominately attributable to the absence of a one-time impairment loss in 2016, due to the withdrawal of our regulatory application on the Sandpiper Project during the third quarter of 2016.

The increase in operating income for the Liquids segment was partially offset by lower operating revenues from the North Dakota system primarily due to the expiration of Phase 5 and Phase 6 expansion surcharges and lower spot volumes on the Bakken Pipeline, which is a component of the North Dakota system that delivers volume into the Cromer, Manitoba area. In addition, operating income excludes margins from the Ozark Pipeline system which was sold on March 1, 2017.

Third quarter adjusted operating income for the Liquids segment decreased $21.9 million to $282.1 million over the comparable period in 2016 due to the same operating factors described above, which exclude the impact of a one-time impairment loss on the Sandpiper Project, gains on sale of assets and the impact of non-cash, mark-to market gains and losses.

Three months ended Nine months ended Liquids Systems Volumes September 30, September 30, ------------------------------------- ------------------- ----------------- (thousand barrels per day) 2017 2016 2017 2016 ------------------------------------- ------------------- ----------------- Lakehead 2,620 2,495 2,657 2,558 Mid-Continent -- 217 33 200 North Dakota 303 363 330 382 ------------------------------------- ------------------- ----------------- Total 2,923 3,075 3,020 3,140 ------------------------------------- ------------------- -----------------

Discontinued Operations

Three months ended Nine months ended Discontinued Operations September 30, September 30, ------------------------------- ------------------- ------------------ (unaudited; in millions) 2017 2016 2017 2016 ------------------------------- ------------------- ------------------ Net loss from discontinued operations $ -- $ (31.1) $ (56.8) $(124.4) Adjusted net loss from discontinued operations $ -- $ (17.8) $ (66.5) $ (46.6) ------------------------------- ------------------- ------------------

Third quarter losses from discontinued operations decreased $31.1 million over the comparable period in 2016. This decrease was attributable to the absence of losses from the Natural Gas segment for the three months ended September 30, 2017, resulting from the sale of our Midcoast gas and processing business to our General Partner on June 28, 2017.

Third quarter adjusted loss from discontinued operations decreased $17.8 million over the comparable period in 2016 due to the same operating factors described above.

Three months ended Nine months ended Natural Gas Throughput September 30, September 30, ------------------------------- -------------------- ----------------------- (MMBtu per day) 2017 2016 2017 2016 ------------------------------- -------------------- ----------------------- East Texas -- 894,000 877,000 924,000 Anadarko -- 606,000 514,000 632,000 North Texas -- 192,000 174,000 202,000 ------------------------------- -------------------- ----------------------- Total -- 1,692,000 1,565,000 1,758,000 ------------------------------- -------------------- ----------------------- Three months ended Nine months ended NGL Production September 30, September 30, ---------------------------------- ------------------- --------------------- (Barrels per day) 2017 2016 2017 2016 ---------------------------------- ------------------- --------------------- Total System Production -- 67,588 63,389 70,932 ---------------------------------- ------------------- ---------------------

Conference Call Details

The Partnership will host a joint conference call and webcast at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time (7 a.m. Mountain Time) on November 2, 2017, with Enbridge Inc. (TSX: ENB) (NYSE: ENB), Enbridge Income Fund Holdings Inc. (TSX: ENF), and Spectra Energy Partners, LP (NYSE: SEP) to provide an enterprise wide business update and review 2017 third quarter financial results. Analysts, members of the media and other interested parties can access the call toll free at (877) 930-8043 or outside North America at (253) 336-7522 using the access code of 95724866#. The call will be audio webcast live at http://edge.media-server.com/m6/p/bp33h7de. A webcast replay and podcast will be available approximately two hours after the conclusion of the event and a transcript will be posted to the website within approximately 24 hours. An audio replay will be available for seven days after the call toll free at (855) 859-2056 or outside North America at (404) 537-3406 using the replay passcode 95724866#.

The conference call format will include prepared remarks from the executive team followed by a question and answer session for the analyst and investor community only. Enbridge's media and investor relations teams will be available after the call for any additional questions.

Non-GAAP Reconciliations

Reconciliations of forward looking non-GAAP financial measures to comparable GAAP measures are not available due to the challenges with estimating some of the items, particularly with estimating non-cash unrealized derivative fair value losses and gains, which are subject to market variability and therefore a reconciliation is not available without unreasonable effort.

Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted Operating Income

Adjusted net income for the Partnership and adjusted operating income for the principal business segments are provided to illustrate trends in income excluding non-cash unrealized derivative fair value losses and gains and other items that Management believes are not indicative of the Partnership's core operating results. The derivative non-cash losses and gains result from marking to market certain financial derivatives used by the Partnership for hedging purposes that do not qualify for hedge accounting treatment in accordance with the authoritative accounting guidance as prescribed under generally accepted accounting principles in the United States. Non-GAAP measures no longer include make-up rights and option premium amortization adjustments. These changes were made on a prospective basis beginning with the second quarter of 2016 and are not material for historical periods presented.

Three months ended Nine months ended Adjusted Net Income September 30, September 30, ------------------------------------ ------------------- ------------------- (unaudited; in millions, except per unit amounts) 2017 2016 2017 2016 ------------------------------------ ------------------- ------------------- Net income (loss) attributable to general and limited partner ownership interests in Enbridge Energy Partners, L.P. $ 93.1 $ (406.4) $ 251.2 $ (242.7) Noncash derivative fair value (gains) losses: -Liquids 1.7 0.2 (1.0) 7.0 -Natural Gas (included in Discontinued Operations) -- 11.1 (12.0) 66.6 -Other 0.3 -- 2.2 3.4 Accretion of discount on Series 1 preferred units -- 1.2 8.5 3.5 Make-up rights adjustment -- -- -- 1.0 Line 2 hydrotest expenses, net of recoveries -- (2.0) -- (10.3) Line 6A and 6B incident expenses, net of recoveries -- (10.0) -- 6.0 Option premium amortization -- -- -- 0.9 Sandpiper Project wind down costs 0.4 3.7 4.3 3.7 Gain on sale of assets (3.4) 1.6 (35.7) 1.6 Severance costs -- 0.6 7.6 0.6 Asset impairment -- 489.3 -- 497.4 Integration costs 17.2 -- 18.0 -- ------------------------------------ ------------------- ------------------- Adjusted net income $ 109.3 $ 89.3 $ 243.1 $ 338.7 Less: Allocations to general partner 12.2 56.1 34.9 169.7 ------------------------------------ ------------------- ------------------- Adjusted net income allocable to common units and i-units $ 97.1 $ 33.2 $ 208.2 $ 169.0 Weighted average common units and i- units outstanding 421.0 349.1 391.6 347.0 ------------------------------------ ------------------- ------------------- Adjusted net income per common unit and i-unit (basic and diluted) $ 0.24 $ 0.09 $ 0.54 $ 0.48 ------------------------------------ ------------------- ------------------- Adjusted Net Income Per common unit Three months ended Nine months ended and i-unit September 30, September 30, ------------------------------------ ------------------- ------------------- (unaudited) 2017 2016 2017 2016 ------------------------------------ ------------------- ------------------- Net income (loss) per common unit and i-unit (basic and diluted) interests in Enbridge Energy Partners, L.P. $ 0.19 $ (1.31) $ 0.55 $ (1.16) Noncash derivative fair value (gains) losses: -Liquids 0.01 -- -- 0.02 -Natural Gas (included in Discontinued Operations) -- 0.03 (0.03) 0.17 -Other -- -- 0.01 0.01 Accretion of discount on Series 1 preferred units -- -- 0.02 0.01 Make-up rights adjustment -- -- -- -- Line 2 hydrotest expenses, net of recoveries -- (0.01) -- (0.03) Line 6A and 6B incident expenses, net of recoveries -- (0.03) -- 0.02 Option premium amortization -- -- -- -- Sandpiper Project wind down costs -- 0.01 0.01 0.01 Gain on sale of assets (0.01) -- (0.09) -- Severance costs -- -- 0.02 -- Asset impairment -- 1.40 -- 1.43 Integration costs 0.05 -- 0.05 -- ------------------------------------ ------------------- ------------------- Adjusted net income per common unit and i-unit (basic and diluted) $ 0.24 $ 0.09 $ 0.54 $ 0.48 Weighted average common units and i- units outstanding 421.0 349.1 391.6 347.0 ------------------------------------ ------------------- ------------------- Three months ended Nine months ended Liquids September 30, September 30, ------------------------------------ ------------------- ------------------- (unaudited; in millions) 2017 2016 2017 2016 ------------------------------------ ------------------- ------------------- Operating income (loss) $ 267.9 $ (446.8) $ 855.4 $ 179.1 Noncash derivative fair value (gains) losses 1.7 0.2 (1.0) 7.0 Make-up rights adjustment -- -- -- 0.9 Line 2 hydrotest expenses, net of recoveries -- (2.0) -- (10.3) Line 6A and 6B incident expenses, net of recoveries -- (10.0) -- 6.0 Gain on sale of assets (5.5) -- (57.0) -- Sandpiper Project wind down costs 0.8 5.9 7.1 5.9 Severance costs -- -- 5.5 -- Integration costs 17.2 -- 17.8 -- Asset impairment -- 756.7 -- 756.7 ------------------------------------ ------------------- ------------------- Adjusted operating income $ 282.1 $ 304.0 $ 827.8 $ 945.3 ------------------------------------ ------------------- ------------------- Three months ended Nine months ended Discontinued Operations September 30, September 30, ------------------------------------- ------------------ ------------------- (unaudited; in millions) 2017 2016 2017 2016 ------------------------------------- ------------------ ------------------- Net loss from discontinued operations $ -- $ (31.1) $ (56.8) $ (124.4) Noncash derivative fair value (gains) losses -- 11.1 (12.0) 66.6 Option premium amortization (1) -- -- -- 0.9 Loss on sale of non-core assets -- 1.6 -- 1.6 Severance costs -- 0.6 2.1 0.6 Integration costs -- -- 0.2 -- Asset impairment -- -- -- 8.1 ------------------------------------- ------------------ ------------------- Adjusted net loss from discontinued operations $ -- $ (17.8) $ (66.5) $ (46.6) ------------------------------------- ------------------ ------------------- (1) Adjusted operating income no longer includes option premium amortization adjustments due to recent SEC interpretations. These changes will be made on a prospective basis and are not material for historical periods presented.

Adjusted EBITDA and Distributable Cash Flow

Adjusted EBITDA (adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) is used as a supplemental financial measurement to manage the performance of the entity. Distributable cash flow is used as a supplemental financial measurement to assess liquidity and the ability to generate cash sufficient to pay interest costs and make cash distributions to unitholders. The following reconciliations of net income to adjusted EBITDA and net cash provided by operating activities to distributable cash flow are provided because adjusted EBITDA and distributable cash flow are not financial measures recognized under generally accepted accounting principles.

Three months ended Nine months ended Adjusted EBITDA September 30, September 30, ------------------------------------- ------------------ ------------------- (unaudited; in millions) 2017 2016 2017 2016 ------------------------------------- ------------------ ------------------- Net income (loss) attributable to general and limited partner ownership interests in Enbridge Energy Partners, L.P. $ 93.1 $ (406.4) $ 251.2 $ (242.7) Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest 102.9 (191.9) 261.8 (52.8) Series 1 preferred unit distributions -- 22.5 29.0 67.5 Accretion of discount on Series 1 preferred units -- 1.2 8.5 3.5 Interest expense, income tax expense, and depreciation and amortization - discontinued operations -- 48.7 92.9 146.2 Interest expense, net 104.1 103.4 305.8 301.2 Income tax expense (benefit) 0.1 1.6 (0.4) 5.2 Depreciation and amortization 111.8 109.4 328.9 315.7 Noncash derivative fair value (gains) losses 1.7 14.8 (16.9) 94.5 Make-up rights adjustment -- -- -- 1.0 Line 2 hydrotest expense, net of recoveries -- (2.0) -- (10.3) Line 6A and 6B incident expenses, net of recoveries -- (10.0) -- 6.0 Option premium amortization -- -- -- 1.2 Loss on sale of non-core assets -- 2.1 -- 2.1 Gain on sale of assets (5.5) -- (57.0) -- Sandpiper project wind down costs 0.8 5.9 7.1 5.9 Severance costs -- 0.8 8.2 0.8 Integration costs 17.2 -- 18.0 -- Asset impairment -- 756.7 -- 756.7 Asset impairment - discontinued operations -- -- -- 10.6 ------------------------------------- ------------------ ------------------- Adjusted EBITDA $ 426.2 $ 456.8 $1,237.1 $1,412.3 ------------------------------------- ------------------ ------------------- Three months ended Nine months ended Distributable Cash Flow September 30, September 30, ------------------------------------ ------------------- ------------------- (unaudited; in millions) 2017 2016 2017 2016 ------------------------------------ ------------------- ------------------- Total net cash provided by operating activities $ 345.1 $ 414.6 $ 388.8 $ 961.1 Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of cash acquired (35.2) (73.3) 511.8 120.7 Allowance for equity used during construction(1) -- 10.1 -- 35.7 Option premium amortization -- -- -- 1.2 Line 2 hydrotest expense, net of recoveries -- (2.0) -- (10.3) Distributions in excess of equity earnings 3.2 3.0 3.3 5.7 Maintenance capital expenditures (10.4) (15.8) (26.2) (35.5) Noncontrolling interests (115.9) (119.1) (307.0) (345.4) Gain on sale of assets -- -- 10.6 -- Distribution support agreement(2) -- (2.4) -- (3.8) Other 6.8 (0.4) (7.5) (7.5) ------------------------------------ ------------------- ------------------- Distributable cash flow $ 193.6 $ 214.7 $ 573.8 $ 721.9 ------------------------------------ ------------------- ------------------- (1) Distributable cash flow excludes allowance for equity used during construction beginning Q1 2017. (2) Distribution agreement in place with MEP to support 1.0x coverage of the then declared distribution with a term through 2017, and no requirement for MEP to reimburse EEP for adjusted distributions.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release includes forward-looking statements, which are statements that frequently use words such as "anticipate," "believe," "consider," "continue," "could," "estimate," "evaluate," "expect," "explore," "forecast," "intend," "may," "opportunity," "plan," "position," "projection," "should," "strategy," "target," "will" and similar words. Although the Partnership believes that such forward-looking statements are reasonable based on currently available information, such statements involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions and are not guarantees of performance. Future actions, conditions or events and future results of operations may differ materially from those expressed in these forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statement made by the Partnership in this release speaks only as of the date on which it is made, and the Partnership undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement. Many of the factors that will determine these results are beyond the Partnership's ability to control or predict. Specific factors that could cause actual results to differ from those in the forward-looking statements include: (1) the effectiveness of the various actions the Partnership has announced resulting from its strategic review process; (2) changes in the demand for the supply of, forecast data for, and price trends related to crude oil, liquid petroleum, including the rate of development of the Alberta Oil Sands; (3) the Partnership's ability to successfully complete and finance expansion projects; (4) the effects of competition, in particular, by other pipeline systems; (5) shut-downs or cutbacks at the Partnership's facilities or refineries, petrochemical plants, utilities or other businesses for which the Partnership transports products or to whom it sell products; (6) hazards and operating risks that may not be covered fully by insurance, including those related to Line 6B and any additional fines and penalties and injunctive relief assessed in connection with the crude oil release on that line; (7) changes in or challenges to the Partnership's tariff rates; (8) changes in laws or regulations to which the Partnership is subject, including compliance with environmental and operational safety regulations that may increase costs of system integrity testing and maintenance; and (9) permitting at federal, state and local level or renewals of rights of way. Any statements regarding sponsor expectations or intentions are based on information communicated to the Partnership by Enbridge Inc., but there can be no assurance that these expectations or intentions will not change in the future.

Except to the extent required by law, we assume no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Reference should also be made to the Partnership's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), including its most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K and any subsequently filed Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q or current reports on Form 8-K for additional factors that may affect results. These filings are available to the public over the Internet at the SEC's website (www.sec.gov) and at the Partnership's website.

About Enbridge Energy Partners, L.P.

Enbridge Energy Partners, L.P. owns and operates a diversified portfolio of crude oil transportation systems in the United States. Its principal crude oil system is the largest pipeline transporter of growing oil production from western Canada and the North Dakota Bakken formation. The system's deliveries to refining centers and connected carriers in the United States account for approximately 23 percent of total U.S. oil imports. Enbridge Energy Partners, L.P. is traded on the New York stock exchange under the symbol EEP; information about the company is available on its website at www.enbridgepartners.com.

About Enbridge Energy Management, L.L.C.

Enbridge Energy Management, L.L.C. manages the business and affairs of the Partnership, and its sole asset is an approximate 19.5 percent limited partner interest in the Partnership. Enbridge Energy Company, Inc., an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Enbridge Inc. of Calgary, Alberta, Canada (NYSE: ENB) (TSX: ENB) is the General Partner of the Partnership and holds an approximate 35 percent interest in the Partnership. Enbridge Management is the delegate of the General Partner of the Partnership.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:



Enbridge Energy Partners, L.P.



Media

Michael Barnes

Toll Free: (888) 992-0997

Email: michael.barnes@enbridge.com



Investment Community

Adam McKnight

(403) 266-7922 or Toll Free: (800) 481-2804

Email: adam.mcknight@enbridge.com




FundRx, a New York City-based venture capital platform that builds and invests in innovative healthcare and life sciences startups, received a growth investment from NRD Capital Management.

The amount of the deal was not disclosed. NRD Capital Management, LLC, an Atlanta-based private equity firm that specializes in franchised and multi-location business investments, through its affiliate NRD Healthcare Solutions.

Founded in 2015 by Zeshan Muhammedi, Gurdane Bhutani and Justin Martin, FundRx is a venture capital platform that builds and invests in innovative healthcare and life sciences startups. Its community of 2500+ members  themselves industry executives, serial entrepreneurs, physicians and scientists  contribute their capital, time, and expertise to the FundRx portfolio, providing hands-on support and guidance.

Since its inception, FundRx has funded 15 startups in the healthcare and life sciences sub-verticals including EpiBone, Buoy Health, Meissa Vaccines, SafeRide Health, SoundBite Medical, NeuroOne and Epicured.

The firm has offices in Chicago and San Francisco.

As part of the transaction agreement, NRD will gain exclusive access to investment opportunities and provide a potential exit strategy for companies in FundRxs portfolio. NRD will also partner with FundRx to leverage its Peer Review Council to target and evaluate investment opportunities within the healthcare IT and services sectors, focusing on companies that have franchisable concepts and are in need of growth capital.

FinSMEs

31/10/2017
As of 24th October, the Seratio Platform ICO had met 90% of its soft cap. According to Architect Partners, most ICOs fail to meet even 75% of their stated goal with the success rate dropping over time. In September, for example, only 34% of ICOs met 75% of their goal. The ICO ends 31st October 2017.

The Seratio Token Holders Meeting on 8th November will be an AGM-style meeting of Seratio Token investors and CCEG directors. The meeting will focus on future development, transparency, good governance, technical considerations and Seratio Platform alt-coin development.

The Centre for Citizenship, Enterprise and Governance (CCEG) will be hosting a Seratio Token Holders Meeting webcast at 1pm GMT, 8th November. This event comes one day after the verified results of the Seratio Platform Initial Coin Offering (ICO) are announced on 7th November and eight days after the close of the ICO on 31st October (Seratio-Coins.World). CCEG is a not-for-profit British think tank that has been measuring values since 2011. The Seratio Platform transacts Total Value (financial + non-financial values) using the Seratio Token cryptocurrency and is the first time Total Value will be recorded and transacted on a blockchain with mass adoption.

Unlike many cryptocurrency organisations, CCEG and the Seratio ICO have a clear and accessible structure, advisory board, and system of checks and balances that prevents challenges such as those increasingly being reported by other high-profile ICOs. In the style of a traditional Annual General Meeting, where corporates are required to present and receive feedback on company performance and management decisions from their shareholders, this Seratio Token Holders Meeting will provide a clear and accessible forum for investors to participate and ask questions. Although common for traditional investments, this is unusual in the largely unregulated world of cryptocurrencies.

CCEG Director Barbara Mellish states:

CCEG is firmly committed to accountability and good governance. The majority of ICO projects do not offer the transparency investors and regulatory bodies are increasingly demanding, and CCEG believes in leading by example. Investors have therefore been invited to submit questions and ideas, with an emphasis on future development, transparency, good governance, technical considerations and alt-coin development.

Barbara Mellish and CCEG Director Prof Dr Olinga Taeed will chair the meeting and speak directly with members of the Seratio community. This event will present plans for future development of the Seratio Platform and release of the Seratio Tokens in January 2018; a progress update on the Seratio alt-coin pipeline, including details on the recent launches of the Student Coin, Womens Coin and City Coin; and to answer questions from the community. CCEG will also present the financial results of the ICO and private pledges.

To encourage participation, CCEG is holding a small competition for the most interesting, innovative and intriguing submissions, with Seratio Token prizes awarded for each of the above categories. More information can be found here: https://thecceg.blogspot.in/2017/10/seratio-token-holders-meeting-1pm-gmt.html#.WfWixNCWY2w.

Webcast details will be emailed to Seratio token holders prior to the event.

Seratio Platform ICO Key Facts:

ICO 1  31 October 2017, Seratio-Coins.World

91% of the softcap was raised as of 24th October

The first UK-based ICO, run by an established British thinktank

The only blockchain idea in The Financial Times 50 Ideas to Change the World, 2nd October 2017: https://www.ft.com/content/7c0a38dc-a44a-11e7-b797-b61809486fe2

Further information (in more than a dozen languages) available on www.seratio-coins.world including the seven White Papers. Alternatively, email [email protected]
Since launching three years ago, Fleximize has lent 60m to British SMEs off its own balance sheet and, following a record-breaking quarter in Q3, the company is well on track to hit its goal of lending more than 100 million to SMEs by the close of 2019.

Following its most recent funding round in April 2017 (16.3m), the company has further enhanced its product offering and member benefits, while significantly boosting its lending capacity  all the help SMEs thrive.

Led by Peter Tuvey, co-founder and managing partner, Fleximize is a direct funding company and web platform for British small and medium-sized businesses. The companys Revenue Advance provides clients with flexible funding that they repay at the pace of their business with no fixed interest or capital repayments every month. Instead, they pay a percentage of their revenue until an agreed amount is repaid. Clients can use the money to purchase inventory, upgrade their premises or website, hire staff, and otherwise improve and grow their businesses.

Commenting on this new achievement, Tuvey said: Our consistent growth has proven that SMEs need alternative lenders like us to help make their businesses a success. Weve become an integral cog in our customers success stories, and thats something special. Our customers are representative of the hands-on, hard-working and dedicated entrepreneurs that are driving the UK economy forward.

This has been a very exciting year for Fleximize, and we cant wait to see what 2018 brings. We look forward to continuing to support British businesses in the face of Brexit, and beyond, he continued.

FinSMEs

01/11/2017
Confideal, a smart contract platform on Ethereum blockchain (confideal.io), are excited to announce the beginning of the long-awaited ICO that starts on November 2 at 12:00 noon Central European Time (CET).

The campaign is expected to raise 70,000 ETH, which equals 21.5 million U.S. dollars as of two days before the start. Confideals ICO features a generous incentive program that enables early investors to receive a 25% bonus in CDL tokens. The token generation event will last for 20 days.

Changing the token market for the better

In an effort to reduce fraud and encourage responsibility and accountability in the token market, smart contract management platform Confideal has announced the start of their transparency initiative. A hash (which is sometimes called digital fingerprint) of the projects whitepaper PDF file will be saved inside the ICO smart contract as a read-only variable and will be available on Etherscan.

During the ICO and continuing after its conclusion, the PDF file itself will be available for download at Confideals website, which will enable any user to calculate the hash of the file long after ICO and compare it against the hash inside the ICO smart contract. If so much as one byte is changed, the hashes will not match. Along with ensuring the integrity of the ICOs main document, Confideal will be maintaining a special webpage where reports on the projects ongoing progress will be published.

An Environment of Cooperation

Confideal has been working tirelessly to develop an easily to use platform that will deliver maximum value to its users. To that end, they have entered into several strategic cooperative agreements designed to deliver increased security and data integrity, more flexible payment capabilities, and expanded features and functionality.

The entire team would like to express their gratitude to the following companies for their invaluable contributions and future plans to cooperate with the Confideal platform:

 Bankex

 Bitcoinist

 Block.Law

 BugBounty.Center

 Byzantium

 Cryptonomica

 district0x

 Gamity

 Hacken

 ICOPromo

 IMMLA

 SmartDec

 WealthMan

About Confideal

Confideal enables businesses and individuals to create Ethereum smart contracts though a user-friendly interface that requires no programming skills. A fully functional version of the platform is already available and currently supports two-party interaction, like conventional agreements. The team is already working on more complex scenarios that will include multi-party transactions and contracts that are triggered by data from third-party services (for example, freight companies) and various devices (Internet of Things integration). One of the features that are listed on the projects roadmap, the arbitration module, is expected to be rolled out early 2018.

The platform is targeting multiple sales channels and the business model includes C2C and B2C interactions (transactions between individuals and between a business and a customer), as well as B2B and B2B2C (contracts that involve multiple business participants and customized complex use cases for large eCommerce companies that sell goods and services to consumers). The monetization model is currently based on a flat 1% fee (waived for CDL token holders who pay in tokens), but the pricing principles may be adjusted in the future.

In multiple independent ICO reviews, Confideals campaign has been highly rated, evaluated as stable and recommended to long-term investors (ICOrating.com, ICObench.com, ICObazaar.com).

For more information about Confideal, please visit confideal.io or chat with the team in Telegram.
Brighteye Ventures, a Paris, France-based education technology (edtech) venture capital firm, closed its first fund, at 50m.

The fund will lead or participate in seed and series A and B rounds for innovative companies using technology to enhance learning and creativity. It will consider companies working across a full range of educational levels, from K-12 to university and beyond.

Brighteye Ventures is looking to invest between 500k and 3m per round in 20 companies over the next three years. It has a global remit, looking to lead investments in Europe and Israel and co-invest alongside smart partners in the US.

The fund has already invested in two companies participating in the $8m series C of Epic!, a digital content platform for under 12s, and in the $5m seed round of Lightneer, a learning games studio from Helsinki set up by ex-Rovio executives.

Brighteye Venture Advisers, based in Paris, is the sole advisory to the fund. Its two partners, Alex Spiro, managing partner, and Benoit Wirz, investment partner, have previously built and invested in some of the most dynamic companies in the edtech space and both have significant experience and relationships in technology, media and venture capital.

Managing partner Alex Spiro has a proven track record in childrens media, and is co-founder of childrens publisher Flying Eye Books, and Minilab Studios, an educational app development studio. Investment partner Benoit Wirz brings nearly 20 years experience of developing and investing in edtech, media, enterprise software and other tech companies, most recently at the Knight Foundation.

FinSMEs

01/11/2017
Viola Ventures (fka Carmel Ventures), a Tel Aviv, Israel-based early stage tech venture capital firm, raised over $170m toward its fifth fund.

Limited Partners include a significant number of returning investors as well as selected new investors from the US, Asia, Europe and Israel. The final target of the fund, which will invest in Israeli or Israeli-related early stage companies, is $200m.

Viola Ventures has also broadened its partners team with the addition of Omry Ben David (formerly Senior VP at Goldman Sachs) and Zvika Orron (co-founder & former CTO of LifeBeam). They are joining Shlomo Dovrat, Avi Zeevi, Daniel Cohen, Ronen Nir and Itzik Avidor.

The team includes over 30 investment professionals and 40 support staff, and has invested in over 200 technology companies.

Founded in 2000, Viola Ventures manages over $1B across five funds. Its portfolio varies around a number of segments, including: enterprise, software/SaaS, AI, cloud infrastructure, FinTech, frontier technologies (automotive, IoT, AR/VR, drones), big data, digital media, consumer, semiconductors and more.

The firm is part of the Viola family, Israels largest tech investment group with $2.8B assets under management.

FinSMEs

01/11/2017
New Delhi: When the ruling NDAs own members, not just the Opposition, begin to question the decision to seek the Armys help in building railway foot-over bridges, then surely things have come to a sad state. Obviously, the phrase building (bridges) on a war footing has been taken too literally. NDAs Member of Parliament Rajeev Chandrsekhar has tweeted his dismay at the decision saying, "#IndianArmy is now building bridges in Mumbai ? Thn wht r PWD, Railways IRCON n richest muncipal corptn BMC doing? @CMOMaharashtra."

That is a question a lot of other people have been asking since Tuesday, after Maharashtra chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced that the Army has been roped in to build three foot-over bridges across Mumbai. This, by the way, includes the deadly Elphinstone FoB where a stampede snuffed out 23 lives in September this year. It seems the Army will complete the works by January next year, in just about two months. Would the Indian Railways have been able to deliver at such short notice? Would the famed engineering department in the Railways have been able to deliver quality bridges under such a tight deadline? Especially since even after the meager investment needed to rebuild the Elphinstone Road bridge was sanctioned two years ago, no attempt at beginning the construction was made by the authorities concerned.

It is no wonder then that current railways minister Piyush Goyal has little faith in his own engineering department to complete these civil works on time and he probably also doubts the efficiency of his engineers. Either way, this shows that the Railways bureaucracy in need of a vigorous shakeup. Remember, the engineering department of the railways is the largest among all departments, with some estimates putting manpower employed by this single department at 25-30 percent of the overall strength. Which means almost every fourth employee, working for the worlds largest employer, belongs to a department which is being overlooked in building foot-over bridges  not some complicated railway tracks on a difficult terrain.

The Central and Western Railways on Tuesday said the Indian Army was chosen to build three foot-over-bridges in Mumbai due to its expertise and reputation in building roads and bridges in unfavourable situations.

This article in The Indian Express quotes defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman as saying, The Army has always been steadfast in provision of aid for disaster relief issues. This is the first time when we are calling the Army to help us in what essentially could be called civil work in the financial capital As the Elphinstone Road tragedy was so big and considering their strong operational expertise in roads and bridges construction in a short span of time, it was decided to take the help of the Army.

Not just sad, the decision to involve the Army in such a non-critical function is ironic too. Railway old-timers recall how the largest employer in the country was actually helping the Army with its vast knowledge of civil works and transportation in war time for decades. One senior retired Railway officer recalled how the Railways laid tracks  blown up by the Pakistani army during the 1971 war for liberation of Bangladesh  by moving ahead of the Indian Army to facilitate troop and armament movement. He also recalled how the Railways moved with lightening speed during the attack on the Kutch region in Gujarat in the 1965 war with Pakistan. He said overnight, the Railways moved 70-80 battle tanks, first transporting them on broad gauge lines till Gujarat and then on meter gauge lines within the state to repel the Pakistanis. The Railways has qualified engineers to oversee complicated civil works, it has been traditionally considered the front of civil engineering expertise. Why would it want mere foot-over bridges to be built by the Army?

Subhash Gupta, former member of the National Railways Users Consultative Committee, said, This decision (to use the Army) is a slap on the engineers, engineering department and the bureaucracy of the Railways. The MMRDA and BMC also come across as completely incompetent.

The Railways has been battling a spate of accidents, either due to derailments or due to creaky infrastructure which has lead to episodes like the Elphinstone Raod tragedy. Railway Board Chairman, AK Mittal, had resigned in September, taking moral responsibility for the spate of train derailments.

A retired senior Railway Board member pointed out that FoB construction does not require deep expertise and the Railways engineers should be competent enough to build these. He said the Elphinstone Road bridge, though, is one of the longest across the Indian Railways network, since it must connect one station from the Central Railway side to another reaching a Western Railway side, covering 12-14 train tracks. It could take the Railways 8-12 months to construct, given the glacial speed at which the whole process operates.

Former Railway board chairman Vivek Sahai said, It saddens me to learn that the Railways has to take the assistance of the Army for such a mundane work like construction of an FoB, which has been the USP of the Railways. I wish the Railways had taken up the challenge to build the FoB in the time desired by the minister.

This sentiment is being echoed by many Indians today.
What does Indias jump in World Banks 2018 doing business rankings actually mean for the country? On overall rankings, the country leapfrogged to enter the top 100 club this year, moving up by 30 ranks. The Narendra Modi government responded quickly to claim credit for the international approval, deploying Union finance minister Arun Jaitley to call a presser to share the good news. The Congress party dismissed the rankings saying it doesnt reflect reality on the ground. Both reactions arent unexpected.

Beyond the political claims and counter-claims, lets look at how did India move up so fast in World Bank rankings and what this jump will do for Indians on the ground. This improvement in rankings reflects certain important areas such as paying taxes (to 118 from 172 last year), getting credit (to 29 from 44) and bankruptcy proceedings (to 103 from 136). Of the 10 indicators considered, India has improved on eight, including the ones mentioned above. This has helped the overall rankings to go up by 30 notches.

The overall jump in rankings would thrill the stock markets for sure (the BSE Sensex is up 327.30 points or 0.99 percent at 10:41 AM today ) and put India in the spotlight in international economic discussion forums. India will be seen as a nation consistently progressing on structural reforms and the Modi governments efforts to progress on the reform-path will be lauded.

Since it came to power in May 2014, the Modi government has executed a promising plan of action to bring in structural reforms. These are evident in the areas of subsidy reforms (through JAM trinity), stressed assets resolution in the banking sector (IBC), indirect tax reforms (GST), ease of doing business (online registrations and simpler processes).

The government deserves credit where it is due. Hence, if India has jumped 30 ranks up in the World bank list, a good part of the credit goes to Modi and his team. The World Bank has taken note of the coordinated mission mode of the Modi government. There have been implementation efforts not only at the Centre level but also at state levels, and strong coordination between the ministries, it said.

The other side

Rankings are, however, only indicators -- sometime misleading. The ground reality is different from what they indicate. It hasnt factored in demonetisation impact on businesses and GST-related disruptions. Even in the case of the World Bank ranking pattern, there are important areas of concern that need to be discussed and debated. A closer look at the individual segment rankings also show that improvement in certain other critical areas is not up to expectations.

For instance, when it comes to starting business (read here), the ranking has slipped by one notch to 156 from 155 last year and trading across borders to 146 from 143 in the last year. India has also underperformed in the areas of registration of properties and enforcing of contracts. Despite all efforts to make doing business easy, why is it still difficult to start a new business and why is acquiring labour and securing permissions continuing concern for new investors? Also, why is it that private investment remains at record lows despite all this perceived improvement in the environment to do business?

Perhaps, the answer lies in the notably slow progress in areas such as land and labour reforms. Unless these are addressed, ground-level situation for businesses won't change. These problems are felt more by small entrepreneurs rather than deep-pocketed politically connected big corporations.

The FMs announcement that focus will be on making construction permit online is welcome. However, the report is indicative only and excludes many issues like labour laws, corruption, competition policies, trade policies etc. It cant be viewed as panacea for all problems, said Anil Bhardwaj, secretary general, Federation of Indian Micro and Small & Medium Enterprises. Land and labour reforms cannot happen unless state governments fall in line and act in coordination with the Centre. Even now, these two reform areas are danger zones for any government, state or Centre, as politically powerful trade unions have a big say in these reforms. But with more states coming into the BJPs fold, pushing politically sensitive reforms shouldnt be hard for Modi.

As mentioned above, the bigger surprise was that the World bank did not consider the impact of demonetisation on businesses while compiling the rankings. Even though demonetisation was a one-off instance for India that does not figure in World Bank's parameters, this should have been factored in considering its impact. This exclusion raises questions on the basis of the doing business rankings since both these economic exercises had significant impact on the businesses, both big and small. It is not quite clear why the international agency excluded note ban impact while doing the yearly assessment on India.

The bottomline is this: Indias remarkable jump in the World Bank list is indeed a booster dose for the economy at a time when the Modi government is facing criticism for its handling of the economy. But, there are questions remaining with respect to the actual business environment on ground. Here, lot more needs to be done to change things and elevate India to the stature of global manufacturing hub.
Mumbai: The government is working with the World Bank to recognise over 200 reforms that will help propel India into the top-50 bracket in ease of doing business, according to Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) secretary Ramesh Abhishek.

"We have already implemented 122 reforms this year, and are working with World Bank to recognise these. We will further initiate 90 more ease of doing business reforms this year," Abhishek told reporters on the sidelines of the CII Invest North conclave.

India yesterday jumped 30 places to rank 100th in the World Bank's 'ease of doing business' ranking, helped by a slew of reforms in taxation, licensing, investor protection and bankruptcy resolution.

"A jump of 30 positions in the World Bank rankings is extremely commendable. Now the aim is to move into the top-50 countries bracket," he added.

Abhishek said his department has already started meeting stakeholders and taking feedback from them on the reform measures taken by the government to improve business climate.

"This exercise has helped us a lot. This time we focused mainly on taking feedback from stakeholders. All nodal ministries were taking feedback," he said.

The Secretary also said the World Bank report has acknowledged that GST (Goods and Services Tax) is a substantial reform and "hopefully it will have a positive impact on the country's ranking next year".

He urged the states to address issues like inadequate infrastructure and inflexible labour policies to make them more competitive.

"States should invest in skilling and need to come up with policies for fixed term employment like the government has worked our for the apparel sector. We are also working on a similar package for leather and footwear sector," added Abhishek.
The World Banks survey report Doing business 2018 released on Tuesday has brought cheer to the Narendra Modi government as it has proved that doing business in India is much easier now than before, endorsing the economic policies that the incumbent government has initiated since 2014.

According to the report, India for the first time has moved into the top 100 in the World Banks Ease of Doing Business (EODB) global rankings from last years 130.

This is a positive report for a government fighting economic slowdown and incessant attacks from the Opposition and senior BJP leaders on the negative impacts the demonetisation and a hasty rollout of GST.

Other goodies for India in the report include its status as one of the top 10 improvers in this years assessment as it implemented 8 out of 10 reforms in Doing business indicators.

Among 10 indicators on which reforms were implemented in Delhi and Mumbai (the two cities were covered by the report), India has improved over last year on eight indicators  like in the areas of protecting minority investors, getting credit and getting electricity.

The ten indicators are starting a business; dealing with construction permits; getting credit; registration of property; getting electricity; protecting minority investors; paying taxes; trading across borders; enforcing contracts and resolving insolvency.

Other key achievements

 In one of the key indicators Distance to Frontier MetricIndias score has gone up from 56.05 in Doing business in 2017 to 60.76 in Doing business in 2018.

 India has adopted 37 reforms since 2003. Half of these reforms have been implemented in last four years.

 In past 15 years, India, with 37 reforms, carried out the highest number of reforms, followed by Sri Lanka (22) and Pakistan (19).

 Bhutan (75) is the highest ranked economy in South Asia, followed by India (100), Nepal (105) and Sri Lanka (111). Afghanistan (183) and Bangladesh (177) are the lowest ranked economies. Pakistans ranking is 147.

 India ranked 4th in global ranking on Protecting minority investors.

 India made paying taxes easier  ranked from172 in 2017 to 119 in 2018.

 Resolving insolvency: Improved (from 136 to 103) due adoption of new insolvency and bankruptcy code.

GST, note ban not considered, says World Bank

World Bank vice president (South Asia region), Annette Dixon said, India has embarked on a strong reform agenda to improve its business environment. The significant jump this year is a result of the Indian governments consistent efforts, over the past few years. Its more than three years efforts of India. Due to the number of reforms undertaken by the government, Indias ranking has gone up.

There have been implementation efforts not only at the Centre level but also at state levels, and strong coordination between the ministries. As India focuses on growth model, it needs to do consistent reforms like in the areas of competitiveness, soundness of financial sector, etc, she said.

The report didnt consider Goods and Services Tax (GST) and Demonetisation in its survey. GST was a complicated reform to have rolled out. Steps taken by the government this year, may take 2 to 3 years to show results. This year it was too late for us and it will be considered next year or thereafter. Demonetisation wasnt measured in this index, added Annette Dixon.

Breaking into top 50 doable, says FM

Visibly upbeat by the World Banks report, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in a press conference, after the release of the report, said, In the very first year of the government, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that our target should be to take India amongst the first 50. Its doable and can be achieved. World Bank report clearly shows India is reaching a grand league.

The biggest jump has been in Paying taxes indicator as last year among 189 countries, India ranked 172. This year its 53 notches better and ranked at119. This has been due to a system of electronically paying taxes, filing, assessment and making the system easier. Starting a business is one area where lot of work is in progress. If your business plan is ready, no license is needed except in rarest cases, you can get your firms name registered online on a single day. In the next few months, the impact of this work can be felt on ground, the FM said.

On the country underperforming in the areas of registration of properties and enforcing contracts, Jaitley said, Though a lot has been done on registration of properties by going online, weve asked state governments to expedite the process at municipal corporation level. There is lot of scope in improving enforcement of contracts.

CII, SJM hail; SMEs say report not a panacea

The Indian industry has hailed the report. The huge improvement in ranking and score will immediately boost investor sentiment and it validates the commitment of the government to fast-tracking economic reforms, addressing red tape and facilitating business, which it has undertaken in mission mode over the last three years, said CII director general, Chandrajit Banerjee.

FICCI president, Pankaj Patel added, An improvement by 30 places in the rankings is significant and will enhance Indias attraction as an investment destination and give a further boost to Make in India.

While welcoming the report, Ashwani Mahajan, co-convener of the RSS affiliate Swadeshi Jagran Manch, said, Unlike during the UPA regime where there was policy paralysis, the present government has shown political will by minutely working on key parameters. However, compliance problem exists in small scale sector. Getting FDI, that makes a miniscule contribution to our investment, is fine, but the need is to have EODB for domestic investors and local entrepreneurs, especially in the MSME sector. India should come up with its own EODB ranking based on local parameters, rather than global indicators.

The World Bank has said the SME sector in India has been growing larger and is important in job creation.

FMs announcement that focus will be on making construction permit online is welcome. However, the report is indicative only and excludes many issues like labour laws, corruption, competition policies, trade policies etc. It cant be viewed as panacea for all problems, said Anil Bhardwaj, secretary general, Federation of Indian Micro and Small & Medium Enterprises.

Congress dismisses report

Reacting sharply, the Opposition Congress said, PMs policy adventurism coupled with the adhocism of his FM to deliver has caused widespread economic misery and distress.

Indias GDP growth rate has fallen for six straight quarters. The economy is, therefore, not growing at 7.5 per cent as claimed again and again by the FM. Over 3.72 crore jobs have been lost on account of demonetisation in MSME sector. As many as 680 Start Ups have shut down in the past two years. Share of exports in GDP has fallen to a 14-year low. EODB rankings do not take into account the utterly flawed implementation of the GST. Do all these indicate robust EODB? questioned Randeep Singh Surjewala, Congress leader who is in charge of communications for the party.
New Delhi: Automobile makers, including Maruti Suzuki, Toyota, Mahindra and Tata Motors, reported single digit growth in domestic passenger vehicle sales in October with festive season purchases remaining largely muted.

Although the overall numbers were also impacted by high base effect of last year, Hyundai's domestic sales declined marginally, while Ford saw a 44 percent dip as it prepared to launch an updated version of its best selling compact SUV, EcoSport.

The country's largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki India (MSI) said its domestic sales were at 1,36,000 units, up 9.9 percent from 1,23,764 in October last year.

The sales were mainly driven by compact segment comprising Swift, Dzire and Baleno which jumped by 24.7 percent to 62,480 units last month as against 50,116 units in the year-ago month.

Utility vehicle sales, including Gypsy, Grand Vitara, Ertiga, S-Cross and compact SUV Vitara Brezza increased by 29.8 percent to 23,382 units in October, from 18,008 in the same month of 2016, MSI added.

However, mini segment cars, including Alto and WagonR, witnessed a 4.2 percent decline to 32,490 units during the month under review, from 33,929 in October 2016, the automaker said.

Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) today reported a 6.45 percent rise in domestic sales at 12,403 units in October.

The company had sold a total of 11,651 units in the same month last year, TKM said in a statement.

Homegrown auto major Mahindra & Mahindra reported a marginally growth in its domestic sales at 48,818 units last month compared to 48,729 in October 2016.

M&M President Automotive Sector Rajan Wadhera said: "The auto industry has had a mixed month. The build up to Dhanteras and Diwali was good but the demand tapered off subsequently."

Last year all festivals were in October and the industry volumes had a high base, he added.

Wadhera cautioned that going forward the auto industry would enter into a year-end period of lower sales.

Tata Motors said its passenger vehicles sales in the domestic market grew by 1 percent year on year to 16,475 units last month.

"While we have grown, we could have done better had it not been for the long holiday season. We will maintain cautious optimism in the market and hope to see this momentum continue," Tata Motors President, Passenger Vehicles Business Unit Mayank Pareek said.

Ford India reported 43.82 percent decline in domestic sales at 4,218 units last month as against 7,508 in October last year.

Explaining the sales decline, Ford India President and Managing Director Anurag Mehrotra said, "The ramp-up for new model introduction has impacted our wholesale for October."

Hyundai Motor India Ltd (HMIL) also reported a marginal decline in domestic sales at 49,588 units in October as against 50,017 units in the same month last year.

In two-wheeler segment, Chennai-based TVS Motor Co said its domestic sales declined to 2,70,372 units as against 2,72,229 units in the year-ago month.

Royal Enfield, the two-wheeler division of Eicher Motors, said its domestic sales were at 68,014 units in October as against 58,379 units in the year-ago month, up 16.5 percent.

Suzuki Motorcycle India Pvt Ltd, also reported domestic sales at 46,020 units in October as against 36,493 units in the same month last year, a growth of 26.1 percent.
New Delhi: Japan's largest mobile firm NTT DoCoMo on Tuesday said it has received over $1.2 billion (144.9 billion yen) from Tata Sons, bringing the curtains down on a prolonged bitter dispute over their telecom joint venture.

The development comes close on the heels of Tata Group announcing the sale of its consumer mobile business to Bharti Airtel.

In a statement on its website, NTT DoCoMo said that concurrent with the receipt of the amount, all shares in Tata Teleservices held by it have been transferred to Tata Sons and companies designated by Tata Sons.

The payment by Tata Sons comes in less than a year after N Chandrasekaran took over as chairman of the salt-to-software conglomerate.

The Tata-Docomo fight was one of the major issues between Ratan Tata and ousted Tata Sons Chairman Cyrus Mistry, and the latter's handling of the dispute was said to one of the

triggers for his ouster from the promoter holding company of major Tata firms.

Chandrasekaran, is widely perceived to have speeded up the resolution of the dispute between the Tatas and DoCoMo, after he took charge in February.

The statement by NTT DoCoMo said it "has received from Tata Sons payment of the award amount in accordance with the High Court of Delhi's decision regarding DOCOMO's stake in Tata Teleservices Limited".

The amount of 144.9 billion yen received by DoCoMo pertains to the arbitration award and includes interest earned and other costs awarded, it added.

In February this year, Tata Sons had said it had reached an agreement with the NTT DoCoMo "on a joint approach to enable enforcement" of a compensation award granted by the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA) in 2016, in favour of the Japanese company.

However, the Reserve Bank of India had objected to the transfer which was later rejected by the Delhi High Court in April, thus clearing the decks for the Tatas to pay the amount to the Japanese company.

DoCoMo had, in November 2009, acquired 26.5 percent stake in Tata Teleservices for about Rs 12,740 crore (at Rs 117 per share). This was as per a prior understanding that in case it exits the venture within five years, it will be paid a minimum 50 percent of the acquisition price.

DoCoMo in April 2014 decided to exit the joint venture that struggled to grow subscribers quickly, and sought Rs 58 per share or Rs 7,200 crore from Tatas.

But the Indian group offered Rs 23.34 a share in line with the RBI guidelines which stated that an international firm can only exit its investment at a valuation "not exceeding that arrived at on the basis of return on equity".

Tatas, who had been struggling to find a solution to the troubled telecom business, announced last month that Tata Teleservices will merge with Bharti Airtel as part of its plans to exit the mobile telephony business.

The Tata-Airtel telcom deal is on a no-debt, no-cash basis, implying that Airtel is not taking over any of the about Rs 40,000 crore debt with Tata Teleservices and is neither paying any cash.

According to industry observers, the payment to DoCoMo is likely to facilitate closure of the consumer mobile business deal.
Mumbai: The benchmark BSE Sensex zoomed over 387 points to close at a fresh life-time high of 33,600 while Nifty topped the 10,450-mark for the first time, powered by India's jump on World Bank's 'Ease of Doing Business' list.

India went up by 30 notches to 100th position on the World Bank ranking, released on Tuesday.

Moreover, eight core sectors growing to a six-month high of 5.2 percent in September and positive leads from global market accelerated the buying pace that lifted key indices to new highs.

The Sensex settled at a new closing peak of 33,600.27, up 387.14 points, or 1.17 percent. The index surpassed its previous closing record of 33,266.16, touched on 30 October.

On Tuesday, the gauge had retreated from record by losing 53.03 points.

Similarly, the broader 50-issue NSE Nifty breached the 10,450-mark for the first time to hit a new intra-day peak at 10,451.65, bettering its record of 10,384.50 hit on 30 October.

However, profit-taking at record levels erased gains and finally settled at 10,440.50

Better-than-estimated earnings by some more companies too bolstered trading sentiments.

The market rally was driven by strong buying in telecom, banking, realty, metal, FMCG and PSU counters. Traders said uninterrupted pumping of funds into equities by domestic institutional investors also boosted investor sentiment.

In the Sensex kitty, Bharti Airtel emerged biggest gainer by jumping over 8 percent even as the company posted sixth straight quarter of drop on earnings as its consolidated net profit plunged 76.5 percent for the September quarter.
Post Jyotis eviction, Vikas finds himself without a support system in the Bigg Boss house. With the weeks luxury budget task in the pipeline, Vikas needs all the backing from the contestants so that if he is victorious, Bigg Boss will uplift the captaincy ban that was put on him. Just before the task kick-starts, Shilpa and Hina bring out their inner stylist and give Puneesh and Akash a brand new haircut.

The contestants wake up to the song, 'Baar Baar Haan' from Lagaan. Akash tells Shilpa that Dhinchak Pooja seems to have fallen in love with Luv. Shilpa tells him that Luv might not be interested. Soon other contestants join the fun and start taking Luvs case. Sabyasachi gets haldi (turmeric) and they all apply it on Luv and Poojas face.

Hina is asleep, and Vikas who is sitting with co-contestants calls her a lomdi (fox). She comes to know that she was called that by Vikas. She tells Vikas that she will not say anything, but Salman Khan wont spare him and take up his case this weekend.

Vikas is called inside the confession room where Bigg Boss informs him that he will be one of the captains of the two teams in the upcoming luxury budget task. If his team manages to win, he will get a chance to be the captain of the house again. Of course, the housemates cannot know about this. Soon the luxury budget task 'BB Cushion Bazaar' is announced in which the housemates are freelancers and have the choice to either join either Shilpa or Vikas team. Hina, Akash, Luv, Puneesh, Sapna join Shilpas team and the rest are in Vikas team.

The lawn area is converted to a cushion factory where Shilpa and Vikas compete against each other as businessmen trying to make maximum profit. With a limited supply of money, raw materials and labor, each one has to make 75 Cushions in a stipulated time period. Vikas and Shilpa come up with strategies to convince the contestants to work under them and hire them as their employees. The real fun begins when television queens, Shilpa and Hina, plan a strategy to win against Vikas. While Hina steals needles so that the team can stitch the cushions together, Shilpa discreetly steals all the money from Vikas locker.

Hina hides some of it in a sanitary napkin packet. Soon Hiten figures out that the money has been stolen and they all get into an argument. Since Vikas and Shilpas team could not complete the consignment of 75 cushions, Bigg Boss announces that they have failed in the first round.

In the second round, Vikas and team manage to take away all the cotton from the godown leaving nothing for Shilpa and her team. They try to negotiate and come to a decision but that does not work out.

Cracks have started to develop in Vikas and Priyanks friendship as they both get into an argument over captaincy. Vikas tells Priyank that he should not have the urgency to become the captain as the latter looks stressed out. This does not go down well with Priyank who tells Vikas that he is doing what he did with Benafsha and does not want him to become the captain.

Late into the night, just before going to bed, Bandgi tells Puneesh that Akash is using him and that he will never take a stand for him when it is required. Puneesh then goes up to Akash and the latter tells him that he does not like Bandgi.
Filmmaker Pradeep Sarkar has confirmed that he is directing Kajol in an upcoming film where she will be seen playing a single mother.

Written by Anand Gandhi, an adaptation of a Gujarati play, Beta Kaagdo, is a mother-son story. Though the search for her reel life son is still on, Mumbai Mirror reports that the film which will be shot in the outskirts of Mumbai and will start rolling in January next year.

Sarkar whose last directorial was Rani Mukherji starrer Mardaani, said that he has been meeting a lot of Gujaratis lately and trying to get a hang of their culture and emotional perspectives.I was offered the script around four months ago. It took me a while to understand the Gujarati tone but eventually, I fell in love with this extremely emotional story which boasts of some really strong characters and theres a chance of people getting really close to them," he said, as per the same report.

I am getting involved in the dialogue and character-building as there are a few insights that I want to incorporate to make the film more endearing. This is not like Parineeta, where everything was detailed, this is more free-flowing, a character and music-driven film, he stated.

While talking about Kajol, Sarkar said she has a style of her own and when given a role, she makes sure that she owns it. Shes an awesome actress who picks up a role and owns it. She has her own style, charm and a particular way of talking that enhances the character, the filmmaker further added.

The film is produced by Ajay Devgan along with Abhinav Shukla. Swanand Kirkire, who remains a Sarkar favourite, will pen the lyrics in the film. Amit Trivedi has been finalised to compose the music of the film.
It appears Irrfan Khan has stumbled upon a magic formula.

The actor, who is best known for conveying emotions through his eyes, is now a tad more comfortable expressing things with a tinge of a smile. He's broken his own mold in the last few films: Piku, Talvar and Jazbaa. However, this year, he gained momentum with his portrayal of a cloth merchant from Delhis Chandni Chowk in his last release Hindi Medium.

After having perfected intense roles over the years, it seems the actor has now slowed down and is making good use of his funny bone.

When I meet him, he is busy giving finishing touches to an ad film helmed by the Neerja director Ram Madhvani. His next is Tanuja Chandras Qarib Qarib Singlle. About the film, he reveals that Tanuja Chandra had sent him the script long ago and it kept lying on his table for almost a year till his wife Sutapa read it and found it appealing.

There was a possibility in that script to be turned into a happy film. If two people have gone for a date on screen, the set formula of Bollywood will only talk about how a man will react to a woman, not vice-versa. This film completely turns around this concept. I went ahead with Sutapas conviction, reveals Irrfan.

Irrfan has been part of the industry since 1988 though the first 15 years were spent struggling to find good work. So after having gained accolades from both Bollywood and Hollywood, does he feel secured now?

I am not bothered about security. Till what point will you secure yourself? Now I pay a huge amount of tax and that too might seem less to certain people. You can only feel secured if you throw the very notion out of your mind. I have neither been part of any camp or any group, despite this life has taken good care of me, he says.

We can't help but ask: does he ever feel helpless when domestic media fails to write about his overseas achievements?

The helplessness was there in the beginning. I used to tell my team that whatever is being said about me in the west should be conveyed to Indian media. Now I have gotten used to it and it's not important to me. Such things are not required here because barring stardom our actors dont bring much to the table. We fail to pick minor nuances in films. In the west, if you appear for even two minutes in a Wes Anderson film, the media will write about it. There is no point racking your brain," says Irrfan

Qarib Qarib Singlle wont put an end to Irrfans current comic streak; on the contrary he is all set to stretch it further. He is all set to be part of a political satire, which will soon feature on Amazons streaming platform. Irrfan reveals that it will have a minor element of Yes, Prime Minister and is certain to create some noise. Is he then not scared of political leaders? You do get concerned that you will be poked unnecessarily but there are certain things that have to be spelt out. We will see whatever happens in future.

In the past few year films like Paan Singh Tomar, The Lunchbox and Talvar had all the potential to be made as Indias entry to the Oscar but none could make it. The entire country is suffering because of red tapism and Oscar is a very miniscule thing in entire scheme of things. The way films are selected here is ridiculous. No one has any interest in the entire process. But there is no need to get agonised about such things, he adds as an after-thought.

Irrfan also reveals that after The Lunchbox lost the opportunity to become Indias entry to the Oscars, Sony Pictures took the decision at that time, to not touch an Indian film. He also discloses that one of the reasons why the shooting of Mira Nairs Shantaram fell through was because of the issues that had cropped up during the filming of A Mighty Heart. Johnny Depp was just not ready to come to India. The kind of jobs and money we lose because of such things is immense. No one is bothered. You can either commit suicide or resign to things," says Irrfan.

For someone who had said no to films like Body of Lies, Tanu Weds Manu and Airlift in the past only because he felt he had tackled similar zones before, Irrfan has come a long way.
Rap superstar Kanye West is back nearly a year after suffering a breakdown  making a brief musical appearance in which he appears to keep his feud with Taylor Swift alive. West, a once omnipresent celebrity with a prolific media presence and high-profile marriage to Kim Kardashian, abruptly ended a tour and was hospitalized in November 2016 after unusual rants on stage.

Making his most visible appearance this year, West contributed a verse on a song released on 31 October by Cyhi The Prynce, an Atlanta rapper whom West earlier signed to his label imprint.

The song, 'Dat Side', expounds on the perils of fame and hits back at critics, with West speaking of being African-American in his affluent Los Angeles neighborhood.

"Neighbors said they think I gave the neighborhood a black eye," the 40-year-old father of two raps.

He also appears to reference his ongoing rift with Swift. In his 2016 song 'Famous', West boasts that the pop star may have sex with him as he takes credit for her celebrity  a reference to how he disrupted her at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards.

Swift voiced anger at the lyric and hit back in 'Look What You Made Me Do', a vindictive track released in August.

West on the latest track references the name of the controversial song as he raps, "The people claim to know you... get famous on you / Then they go and blame it on you / You just good, they can't ignore you."

West's last major public appearance following his hospitalization came in December when he unexpectedly showed up at Trump Tower in New York to meet then president-elect Donald Trump  whose aides said he was mulling an official role for the rapper.
New York: Popular Hollywood celebrities like Taylor Swift, Zoe Saldana, Sam Smith and Jared Leto have strongly condemned the attack in Lower Manhattan and paid their condolences to the victims.

Eight persons were killed and 12 injured after a truck ploughed into pedestrians in Lower Manhattan in New York on 31 October. The suspect has been arrested.

Quantico actress Priyanka Chopra said the attack took place just five blocks away from her house in New York.

"This happened five blocks from my home. As I drive back home from work, dreary sirens remind me that this is the state of the world. NYC. Peace," Priyanka, who keeps juggling between India and the US, tweeted on 1 November.

This happened 5 blocks from my home,As I drive back home from work,Dreary sirens remind me that this is the state of the world #nyc #peace   PRIYANKA (@priyankachopra) November 1, 2017

Nyc.. As resilient as ever. Iu. My condolences to everyone affected by this tragedy.  PRIYANKA (@priyankachopra) November 1, 2017

Here's what Hollywood celebrities posted over social media after the incident:

Taylor Swift: I love you New York.



Sam Smith: New York. My heart is with you always and forever. Devastating news. My soul and heart is with the victims and their loved ones. Horrific.

New York. My heart is with you always and forever. Devastating news. My soul and heart is with the victims and there loved ones x horrific  Sam Smith (@samsmithworld) October 31, 2017

Josh Groban: Oh my God, I just heard gun shots and ran with my dog. I hope everyone's OK. Was half a block from me, didn't see it but heard 8-19 quick rounds fired off. Be safe with your kids out there.

Oh my god I just heard gun shots and ran with my dog. Downtown. Fuck.  josh goblin  (@joshgroban) October 31, 2017

I hope everyones ok. Was half a block from me, didnt see it but heard 8-10 quick rounds fired off. Be safe with your kids out there.  josh goblin  (@joshgroban) October 31, 2017

Bette Midler: Terror attack in NYC, not far from 9/11. Deepest condolences to the families of those murdered; and those involved who are scarred forever.

Billy Eichner: This is sad and horrifying. Sending love to everyone there.

That's my high school in the picture. This is sad and horrifying. Sending love to everyone there. https://t.co/DWvZy5AdS1  billy eichner (@billyeichner) October 31, 2017

Patricia Arquette: This is a terrible day. Families will be mourning their loved ones tonight. This is an action is the worst of mankind. #NYC.

This is a terrible day. Families will be mourning their loved ones tonight. This is an action is the worst of mankind. #NYC  Patricia Arquette (@PattyArquette) October 31, 2017

Jared Leto: Sending love to NYC on this tragic and heartbreaking day.

Sending love to NYC on this tragic + heartbreaking day  JARED LETO (@JaredLeto) October 31, 2017

Zoe Saldana: My heart is broken. Sending prayers to all the victims whose lives were taken today in NYC.

My heart is broken. Sending prayers to all the victims who's lives were taken today in NYC  Zoe Saldana (@zoesaldana) October 31, 2017

Ryan Seacrest: My heart goes out to those who have lost loved ones today in NYC. Such a cowardly act.

My heart goes out to those who have lost loved ones today in NYC. Such a cowardly act  Ryan Seacrest (@RyanSeacrest) October 31, 2017

Boy George: God bless you New York. You are a strong, vibrant, multicultural city and nothing will ever bring you down! My heart is with you!

God bless you New York. You are a strong, vibrant, multicultural city and nothing will ever bring you down! My heart is with you!  Boy George (@BoyGeorge) October 31, 2017

Will Arnett: I love NY.
Former actor and BJP leader Shatrughan Sinha has extended his support to actor Vijay's Tamil film Mersal, which had some controversial dialogues about GST and the Digital India programme. He says people should support the movie and not remain defensive about the "perfectly legitimate issue".

"Why are we so defensive about a perfectly legitimate issue that has been raised in the Tamil film regarding healthcare and the GST? As entertainers and actors with powerful voices we have a certain duty towards the public to make them aware of socio-political issues," Sinha, who's is a BJP member of Parliament from Patna, said.

He added, "Why is it such a crime if Vijay who is a very powerful Tamil actor, reminds us that the poor in our country desperately need healthcare?"

Mersal was embroiled in controversy after the Tamil Nadu unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) demanded the removal of certain dialogues which take a dig at the Goods and Services Tax (GST) and Digital India.

However, Sinha feels that the protestors of the movie don't represent the BJP's official view. "Has anyone heard the Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) or any of the top leaders commenting on the issue? It is only some elements in our party who are eager to prove that they are more loyal than the others," Sinha said.

"They are the ones jumping in to attack this perfectly harmless and very significant point raised in the film. Instead of attacking Vijay and questioning his credentials we should all take his words seriously and work towards improving healthcare in our country," he added.

Sinha feels there is no harm in pulling up the government for mistakes. "We should gracefully accept that demonetisation was a mistake. I was one of the first to point it out that it was not right. So many have lost their jobs, all their savings. Likewise perhaps even the GST is not what it was meant to be," he said.

"If so, let's admit out mistake, let's roll back. Let's not be ashamed to say we are sorry. Instead of attacking actors and artistes for drawing attention to anomalies in the workings of our democracy, we should applaud them. Valid criticism must be equally welcome from Amar, Akbar and Anthony," he added.

He believes that the film has received a lot of hype because of BJP. "Thanks to all the noise that was made over a few dialogues in the film by my overzealous party members, the film has attracted much more attention that it would have otherwise. The makers of Mersal must be thankful to the BJP," he concluded.
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on 31 October announced that the state government will take up the renovation and conservation of Assamese litterateur late Lakshminath Bezbarua's heritage residence in Sambalpur.

The government will preserve the heritage property at its own expense. "I and the people of Odisha have immense respect for Lakshminath Bezbaroa. The state government will renovate his residence in Sambalpur at its cost and take care of it," Patnaik said.

"With this, I hope the cultural ties between the two states will be reinforced."

Patnaik made the assurance while meeting Assam's Cultural Affairs Minister Naba Kumar Doley and Chief Minister's Media Adviser Hrishikesh Goswami here.

The Minister and the official are in Odisha as per Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal's direction to take up the matter with the state government.

The government assured that it would desist from any action leading to demolition of the heritage building.

The Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage, a non-profit, will be assigned to prepare the renovation plan. Initially, Rs 50 Lakh will be spent on renovation, said Odisha Tourism Minister Ashok Chandra Panda.

Hrishikesh Goswami thanked the Odisha government for the proactive measure to preserve the residence.

Before meeting the Odisha Chief Minister, they had visited Bezbaruaha's residence on 30 October and interacted with district administration in Sambalpur.

Notably, Sonowal on 27 October talked to his Odisha counterpart Patnaik over phone and requested him for the preservation of the residence, which is intrinsically associated with the emotions of the people of Assam.

Born in 1868, Bezbarua enriched Assamese literature with his essays, plays, fiction and poetry. He is popularly known as Rasharaaj or the king of humour for his satirical writings.
Sanjay Leela Bhansali's upcoming magnum opus Padmavati is reportedly going to exceed the 3-hour-long mark. Starring Deepika Padukone, Ranveer Singh and Shahid Kapoor in lead roles, the first edit of the film is apparently around 3 hours 13 minutes long, as per a DNA report.

If the run-time is not trimmed in the upcoming edits, the film could prove to be Bhansali's longest film, beating Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, which is three hours and eight minutes long. The report also suggests that a slightly longer runtime is important as Padmavati has some hard-hitting scenes which need more play than usual to be able to leave an impact.

The trailer of the film features some stunning combat scenes too, which reportedly cannot be snipped without negatively affecting the overall effect. Known for the opulence of his work, Bhansali, too, does not want to compromise on the quality of the film and would rather have a longer runtime.

Apart from having Padukone in the titular role, Kapoor as Raja Rawal Ratan Singh and Singh as Sultan Alauddin Khilji, Padmavati also stars Jim Sarbh and Aditi Rao Hydari. Co-produced by Viacom 18 Pictures and Bhansali Productions, it is slated to release on 1 December.

(Also read  Padmavati: Deepika Padukone says she she is 'nervous from the gut' for the film)
Heres the thing: If a Hindi film had to be picked for post-conversion to 3D, then youd probably like to put your money on a Sanjay Leela Bhansali film. The trailer of Padmavati has already won hearts, and you know that whatever else a Bhansali film offers apart, youll never fall short of visual grandeur and scale.

Thus, in retrospect, it isnt a surprise that the makers of Padmavati have decided to release a 3D version of the film as well. The positive reaction to the opulent imagery in the trailer makes the film a prime candidate for such a step; and since so many Hollywood blockbusters already see a primary release in 3D (even in markets such as India and China), its high time Indian studios and filmmakers explored the 3D option to see how the audience takes to it, and what possibilities exist with the technology itself.

However, it is important to note that despite the impetus and push given to 3D releases, audiences havent yet whole-heartedly accepted the format.

The reliance on 3D glasses to consume theatrical content in 3D means that the image is darkened, it is hazy around the edges (if you tilt your head, for instance), even as 2D to stereo 3D conversion in post-production is yet to achieve good enough results.

The last major Hindi releases to be converted to stereo 3D were Ra.One and Don 2, and both of them had visible glitches in the 3D version, which actually ended up taking away from the experience rather than adding to it.

Since Padmavati wasnt originally conceived as a 3D film, its unlikely that much of the film will fully be able to take advantage of 3D.

For example, in the 3D re-release of Sholay in 2014, they actually embellished certain shots with VFX, adding 3D elements that appeared to dart towards the viewer, which was considered by many to be a defacement of the original.

Bhansalis films are known for the sensory spectacle that they offer, so it would be sacrilege if the 3D version ends up tarnishing the impact of Bhansalis and cinematographer Sudeep Chatterjees frames. Had the film been conceived and shot in 3D, then it would probably have been an experience to behold, even with the 3D glasses.

Take Martin Scorseses Hugo, for instance. 3D had already caught on in a big way in Hollywood studios when the film came out, but Scorsese used the 3D technology offered to him to actually impact the storytelling, as characters were placed and scenes were staged keeping the extra dimension in mind.

At the launch of the 3D trailer of the film, Viacom18 COO Ajit Andhare spoke about the 3D release, confident about the final result they have achieved. However, it will only really make an impact if the sequences have been designed in such a way that they make use of the spatial element in the actual storytelling as well. (We reached out to Viacom 18 Motion Pictures for a more elaborate comment on the 3D conversion in Padmavati, but there was no further response)

As is the case with most films, a majority of the Indian audience is likely to watch the film only once, and if they have to choose between the 2D and 3D version, you can imagine what theyre more likely to pick. And for those who decide to make 3D their only viewing of the film, anything that compromises on Bhansalis vision would be a letdown.
After Salman Khan, Katrina Kaif's look from Tiger Zinda Hai has been revealed and she looks equally feisty, armed with a gun. Director Ali Abbaz Zafar took to Twitter to unveil the look.

Earlier this week, the director had posted a photo of Salman Khan, toting an MG-42 machine gun. The gun reportedly weighs around 25 to 30 kg. Kaif's gun-toting avatar too, befits her role of a Pakistani spy named Zoya. Kaif is not new to roles which require her character to pull off heavy-duty action scenes. She has been a part of highly stylised films like Bang Bang! and Dhoom 3, both of which are known for their glamorous action sequences.

Ek Tha Tiger has been shot across picturesque locations, ranging from Abu Dhabi and Austria, to the historical sites of Europe and Morocco. Kaif and Khan will travel across five countries to accomplish their deadly mission in the film. The two were recently spotted shooting for a song along with the cast in Greece.

The trailer of the film will be out in a couple of days. A Yash Raj Films production, Ek Tha Tiger is slated to release on 22 December.
After Mexican actor Roberto Cavazos, now actor-director Tony Montana is the latest celebrity to accuse actor Kevin Spacey of sexual misconduct. Along with this, the production of House of Cards Season 6 has been suspended, tweeted Netflix's official account.

Production on the final season of House of Cards is suspended until further notice.  Netflix US (@netflix) October 31, 2017

In a series of tweets, Netflix stated that this will give them more "time to review the current situation with our producing partners at MRC". Netflix went on to add that executives are on the sets to discuss the matter at hand with the cast and crew of House of Cards.

This will give us time to review the current situation with our producing partners at MRC.  Netflix US (@netflix) October 31, 2017

This will give us time to review the current situation with our producing partners at MRC.  Netflix US (@netflix) October 31, 2017

Delving into the details of the alleged incident of sexual harassment by Spacey's third accuser, Montana said that Spacey groped him in 2003. The filmmaker says he was editing a documentary at Los Angeles hotspot Coronet when the House of Cards star walked in with a group of friends.

"I went up to order a drink and Kevin came up to me and put his arm around me. He was telling me to come with him, to leave the bar. (He) put his hand on my crotch forcefully and grabbed my whole package," Montana told radaronline.com.

Montana recalled that a seemingly intoxicated Spacey then said to him, "This designates ownership."

"I put my hand down and turned his thumb back to get his hand off it," Montana added.

(With inputs from IANS)
Love it or hate it, you can't contest the fact that Indian television writes its own rules.

From countless reincarnations to daily sexism, just tune in and you will constantly find something that will leave you bewildered. However, some shows, which are now sadly defunct, stand out in the crowd.

Therefore, we envision what these shows could/would look like if they were brought back in today's time and here is our take.

**

Do you remember the show which was basically the epitome of what uninformed white people think India is? We're talking Mano Ya Na Mano with Irrfan Khan.

Yep, THAT show which had us sitting wide-eyed, soaking in a calm yet engaging Irrfan Khan, India's equivalent of Jack Palance (the primary host of Ripley's Believe It or Not!, which 'inspired' Mano Ya Na Mano).

Say what you want, but MYNM was a great show and if it came back for a third installment, these are the stories that the makers could probably feature in their episodes:

Mano Ya Na Mano, All Splitsvilla contestants have an undergrad degree this season

The world will lose its sh*t if this ever happens. And if this ever happens, the United Nations will declare the 'dumping ground' a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The contestants, when they're not trash-talking and doing tasks which require immense aptitude, will have a 20-minute debate on why we shouldn't think the show is rigged.

Mano Ya Na Mano, Transformers director Michael Bay to assist Rohit Shetty in Singham Returns...Again

In an interview given to villahungama.com, Michael Bay revealed he will be joining acclaimed filmmaker Rohit Shetty as an assistant in Singham Returns...Again. Sources close to the Transformers director have revealed that Bay was left in awe of Shetty's spectacular camerawork after watching Golmaal Again and when he heard about Shetty looking for an unpaid intern..err..assistant, he took the first flight to Mumbai.

Mano Ya Na Mano, Bigg Boss is actually a low-budget Hindi remake of Black Mirror

Makers of Black Mirror have revealed that Bigg Boss, the Indian reality show is actually a low-budget remake of the English dystopian anthology-series and not Big Brother. Although the producers of the Indian counterpart did not have enough funds to emulate Black Mirror as we understand it, the contestants made up for what was missing. The inmates were chosen after holding nationwide auditions and have been selected purely on the bases of bad behaviour, sensibilities and past record.

Mano Ya Na Mano, it wasn't Salman Khan driving; it was Taarzan: The Wonder Car

We have finally found the answer that was troubling the whole nation for a long, long time. Who was driving Salman Khan's car that unfortunate night? It was the dream car of every 90s kid  Taarzan: The Wonder Car. Who else could it be?

We will be back again next week, with another revival. Till then, have fun laughing at this mayhem.
The Appointments Committee of Cabinet accepted the resignation of Ranjit Kumar from the post of solicitor general on Wednesday, according to media reports.

Appointments Committee of Cabinet accepts the resignation of Ranjit Kumar from the post of Solicitor General.  ANI (@ANI) November 1, 2017

Kumar, who had submitted his resignation on 20 October, had cited personal reasons for the resignation. He said that he has family issues to attend to and had to resign because he couldn't give time to as required by the office of the Solicitor-General.

CNN News18 had earlier reported that the Additional Solicitor-General Tushar Mehta is now the front-runner for the post. He has already been leading the arguments in many cases with great political implications.

There are also speculations that one of the reasons for his resignation could be that the Modi government wants a new legal team which has more teeth and is more discreet.

Kumar was appointed as the Solicitor General in June 2014. He had been a counsel for the Gujarat government and amicus curiae in several cases in the Supreme Court. Among the cases he represented, was the Sohrabuddin Sheikh encounter case. Kumar had also represented then Tamil Nadu chief minister Jayalalithaa in the disproportionate assets case pending in a Bangalore court.

He had replaced senior advocate Mohan Parasaran, who had tendered his resignation after the BJP-led NDA government took charge, according to The Indian Express.

Kumar is the second top law officer to quit in the space of just a few months after Attorney-General Mukul Rohatgi. Rohatgi's three-year tenure was supposed to come to an end on 19 June and he had asked the Central government not to consider him for reappointment or an extension as the countrys top law officer.

Rohatgi had said that he had written to the government in May conveying his desire to discontinue as attorney-general and return to private practice. Rohatgi had said that he had a fantastic relation with the prime minister, law minister and bureaucracy during the tenure. "Even if I return to private practice, my services will be available to NDA government, BJP and its leaders as and when needed," he had said.

With inputs from agencies
In a move that evoked sharp reactions from many corners  including railway employees, the Opposition and social media  the Maharashtra government has decided to turn to the Indian Army for rebuilding the Elphinstone station bridge, a month after 23 people died in a stampede.

On Tuesday, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced that the army will help build a new foot overbridge at the station by 31 January. Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Railway Minister Piyush Goyal were present with the chief minister at the site as well.

He added that the army will also help in building foot overbridges at two other stations in Mumbai. Sitharaman said it was probably the "first time that the Army will come in to build what could otherwise be called civil work".

Armed Forces to help in constructing 3 FOBs at Elphinstone Rd, Currey Rd & Ambivali Stations. Work to be done by 31 Jan18 #MumbaiThanksArmy  Piyush Goyal (@PiyushGoyal) October 31, 2017

"After a discussion with BJP Mumbai president Ashish Shelar on 6 October, we realised that there was an urgent need to develop passenger amenities at certain railway stations at the earliest. We have decided to utilise military precision to work on completing the work of bridges," Goyal said.

Decision a 'knee-jerk reaction'

While the railway minister came out in defence of the decision, many railway officials spoke out against the move as they felt that the 'demoralising' decision raised questions on their incompetence. The Railways, primarily a "department of engineers" who joined the transporter with degrees from IITs and other premier institutions, is competent and has the facilities to handle any crisis situation, a senior railway official was quoted by The Times of India as saying.

Terming the move a "knee-jerk" reaction by political leadership under popular pressure, an official quoted in the report said that the army brings "nothing extra" which the railways don't have and the transporter has been handling restoration works for decades.

'Deplorable and atrocious'

Opposition parties on Tuesday condemned as "deplorable and atrocious" the Centres decision to rope in the army to rebuild foot overbridges at three railway stations in Mumbai including one which witnessed a deadly stampede last month.

National Conference leader Omar Abdullah said it seems like the army is the "1st number on the speed dial" while Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh, a former army captain, said the Centre's decision was "unprecedented and deplorable".

The @adgpi job is to train for war, not to be used for civilian works @nsitharaman ji. Dont divert defence resources to civilian jobs(1/2).  Capt.Amarinder Singh (@capt_amarinder) October 31, 2017

Senior Congress leader Sanjay Nirupam took a potshot at the BJP-Shiv Sena government in Maharashtra, saying, "Hope army will not be called to fill potholes." Singh said the Centre's move was "an admission of the failure" of the government and the Indian Railways.

Singh, who has served the army as a Captain before joining politics, said the army's job is to train for war and protect the countrys borders, not to build bridges and clean the roads.

The army was to be a measure of last resort to be called upon in extreme emergency. Now it seems like its the 1st number on the speed dial. https://t.co/9e9hJOgDTY  Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) October 31, 2017

Singh termed the move "atrocious", and said the central and state governments should put their own resources at the disposal of the railways if the situation was so urgent and serious.

"It is an unprecedented decision to rope in the Indian Army for rebuilding the Elphinstone bridge and it is deplorable and admission of failure of the government and Indian Railways."

"Whatever the urgency of the situation, it does not merit such a decision, which would have adverse long-term implications as it could encourage the civilian authorities to seek army help for major civilian works every time they find themselves ill-equipped to handle infrastructural or other challenges," he said in a statement in Chandigarh.

Calling Army to make a bridge in Mumbai underlines failure of Corrupt #ShivSenaBJP ruled #BMC.Hope army wl not b asked to fill potholes here https://t.co/BKj5nwoCBH  Sanjay Nirupam (@sanjaynirupam) October 31, 2017

According to a report in The Indian Express, a defence official suggested that the Army need not have been called in for this project.

"In almost all cases so far, where the army has been used to make bridges in civilian areas, it was either because these were far-flung and inaccessible areas or the bridges were temporary in nature, as at the Kumbh. And these were emergency situations where relief is needed in days, not weeks. This case is different, largely because it is in Mumbai and the Railways has the resources, the engineering capability and the wherewithal to make a permanent bridge," said the official.

China digs 1100-km tunnel to divert Brahmaputra. Our PM inaugurates flyovers, 2 ministers call Army to build Elphinstone pedestrian bridge  Shekhar Gupta (@ShekharGupta) October 31, 2017

A Firstpost piece had argued earlier that condoning such a cavalier attitude towards the forces sets a dangerous precedent: 'To be so cavalier about men in uniform is a dangerous precedent and reflects just the sort of attitude on civilian streets that says: they are doing nothing in peacetime, put them to work. If they do not train in peacetime when will they train in war?'

The decision has nothing to do with the dignity of labour, it said.

'It is a simple stance: this is not their job. Sending in the forces to a disaster area to help rescue and save people is a noble cause but to pick up garbage and engage in labour is not acceptable.'

Twenty-three people were killed, and dozens injured after a stampede ensued on a foot-over-bridge during the early morning rush at Elphinstone Road station in September. The tragedy took place amid rain in the city when the foot-over bridge was heavily crowded. Police suspect a short-circuit with a loud sound near the foot-over bridge led to panic and people started running, resulting in the stampede.

After the stampede, railway officials posted police personnel to manage the crowd on busy platforms, evicted hawkers from suburban train stations and started speeding up infrastructure projects on suburban network.
Kolkata: West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday hit out at the Centre over the removal of ex-servicemen protesting at Jantar Mantar in Delhi and described the incident as "shameful".

"#OROP (one rank one pension) crackdown by evicting Armed Forces veterans by Delhi Police from Jantar Mantar is shameful," Banerjee wrote on her Twitter handle.

Several ex-servicemen, demanding the implementation of 'One Rank, One Pension' or OROP, were forcibly evicted from Jantar Mantar on Monday following a National Green Tribunal (NGT) order banning protests and dharnas around the historic monument.

The army veterans have been protesting at Jantar Mantar for more than two years.

Drawing reference to the West Bengal BJP hailing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the Gurez Valley earlier in October and stating that the soldiers at the borders "is an extended part of his (Modi's) family", Banerjee further described the incident as "unfortunate".

"Calling Army extended family in Kashmir and then using brutal force on the 'extended family' in Delhi is very unfortunate," the chief minister, who is on a two-day trip to Mumbai, added.

Banerjee reached Mumbai this evening to participate in a business summit. She is also likely to meet several industrialists there to woo them to invest in West Bengal as well as to invite them to the Bengal Global Business Summit scheduled in Kolkata in January, 2018.
Editor's note: This is the third article in a multi-part special series done by Firstpost where we document several problems of illegal immigration and ethnic turmoil that authorities in Assam face.

The publication of the partial draft of the updated National Register of Citizens in Assam scheduled for 31 December is likely to bring the issue of deletion of names of foreigners from the electoral rolls to the centre stage in the state. Latest political developments over the process of updating the NRC indicate that the state is likely to witness a flurry of political activities over the filing of claims and objections during the summary revision of electoral rolls in the month of December 2017 and in January next year following publication of the partial draft of the NRC. Ensuing panchayat polls in the state, which are likely to be held in January-February, next year are also expected to spur such intensified political activities as political parties and groups are likely to raise the demand for electoral rolls free from foreigners names for conducting the panchayat polls.

The draft electoral roll for 2018 in respect of Assam, with 1 January 2018 as the qualifying date, was published on 16 October. The process of the Special Summary Revision of the electoral roll, 2018 has already started in the state and the Election Commission has notified 12 January 2018 as the date for publication of the final electoral roll, 2018.

The office of the State Coordinator, NRC, Assam, on the other hand, has issued a public announcement leaflet stating that those applicants whose names are not included in the draft NRC will have a further opportunity for a period of 30 days after publication (i.e. till 30 January 2018) to submit claims for inclusion of their names in prescribed format along with necessary documents. There will also be a provision for filing objections, the leaflet adds.

In accordance with the schedules for special summary revision of the electoral roll, 2018 notified by the Election Commission in respect of Assam, the period for filing claims and objections was fixed from 16 October till 15 November. The commission has fixed 15 December for disposal of claims and objections. As both the processes will precede the partial publication of the NRC draft and the last date for filing claims and objections in respect of the names included or excluded in the draft NRC, there will be no scope for filing claims and objections on the basis of the names included or excluded in the NRC unless the Election Commission decides to extend these dates.

A person who is not a citizen of India cannot be registered as a voter. Article 326 of the Constitution read with Section 16 of Representation of the People Act, 1950 clarify the point, says the Election Commission. The leaflet issued by the office of the State Coordinator, NRC categorically states that only Indian citizens will be included in the NRC update process with 24 March ( midnight), 1971 as the cut-off date in accordance with the provisions of the Assam Accord. It was the demand for an electoral roll free from foreigners name that formed the crux of the six-year-long Assam agitation demanding detection, deletion of names and expulsion of illegal migrants from the state which was spearheaded by the All Assam Students Union and the erstwhile All Asam Gana Sangram Parishad that culminated in signing of the Assam Accord in 1985.

The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has decided to contest the panchayat polls alone to test the waters ahead of 2019 Lok Sabha polls if the party is capable of registering an electoral victory on its own. In 2016, the BJP came to power in the state for the first time riding piggyback on the regional parties. The saffron party has, however, decided to dump its two coalition partners -- Asom Gana Parishad and the Bodoland Peoples Front in the ensuing panchayat polls. State Election Commission, which conducts the panchayat polls has indicated that polls to the three-tier Panchayati Raj institutions are likely to be held post-Magh Bihu (post-harvest festival in Assam which is celebrated in mid-January).

This means, the electioneering for panchayat polls, if poll schedules planned by the SEC holds as indicated, will coincide with the publication of the final electoral rolls, 2018 and filing of claims and objections in respect of the draft NRC to be published on 31 December. There is every likelihood that the issues such the vexed foreigners issue, preparation of an error-free NRC, deletion of names of foreigners from voters lists and detection and expulsion of those whose names are excluded in the final NRC may overshadow other issues such as development issues which normally dominate electioneering in panchayat polls. Spin doctors in BJP hopes that such political issues might help it overcome any anti-incumbency that may have set in with opposition parties running the campaign that developments have taken a back seat, roads and highways are in dilapidated condition and the BJP-led coalition government headed by Sarbananda Sonowal has failed to curb rise in prices of essential commodities in the state.

Speculations are rife in political circles if the BJP wanted the publication of the NRC draft to precede the panchayat polls so that development issues get overshadowed by vexed foreigners issue. The Supreme Court, while hearing a writ petition by Assam Sanmilita Mahasangha, stated in its order on 13 July 2017 that State Coordinator, NRC, Prateek Hajela "though had submitted before the Court at one point of time that the date of publication of the draft NRC would be sometime around 31st March, 2018 has now stated in his report to the Court that the draft NRC will be published on 31st December, 2017." The division bench of the apex court comprising Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice Rohinton Fali Nariman further stated in the order: "We wonder whether the stand taken by the learned State Coordinator is pursuant to the statement made by the Hon'ble Chief Minister of the State of Assam that the draft NRC would be published on or before 31st December, 2017. We do not appreciate why any other authority is intervening in the matter of preparation and publication of the draft NRC when this Court has been in seisin of the matter for a fairly long time and has been monitoring the process" and directed the all budgetary revisions as stated in the report of the State Coordinator, NRC to be approved and implemented and requisite funds made available so that the process of publication of the draft NRC is completed on or before 31st, December, 2017.

The NRC issue appears to be a double-edged sword for the Sonowal government as all eyes will now be on how it handles the political developments post publication of the final electoral roll, 2018 and the draft NRC. For, the draft NRC and the final electoral roll, 2018 will keep Assams political pot boiling.

Also Read

Quest for citizenship Part 1: As millions try to prove nationality in Assam, one man's story reveals the burden of proof

Assam's NRC quandary Part 2: No immediate end in sight as cut-off date for citizenship is yet to be finalised politically

The author is a senior journalist and editor of NEZINE.
New Delhi: The Centre has accorded 'Z' category armed security cover to Dineshwar Sharma, the recently appointed special representative on Jammu and Kashmir.

Official sources said Sharma would be secured by commandos of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) whenever he travels to any part of the country.

"Given his work profile, it was essential to provide the special representative a personal security cover. He will have about six to eight commandos with him at any given time," a senior official said.

A pilot and escort vehicle will secure his convoy, he said.

A security review of Sharma's residence in Delhi and analysis of his other requirements are on, and the VIP security team of the CRPF will soon take charge, the official said.

The CRPF has a special unit that provides armed VIP security to about 70 dignitaries at present.

The central government had recently notified the appointment of Sharma, former director of the Intelligence Bureau, as its interlocutor for the sustained dialogue on Jammu and Kashmir.

Sharma, an old Kashmir hand in the country's internal intelligence agency, enjoys the rank and status of a cabinet secretary.

Union home minister Rajnath Singh had said that Sharma would decide whom to engage with for a resolution of the Kashmir issue.
Three electricity board officials in Chennai were suspended on Wednesday following the death of two minor girls who were electrocuted in Kodungaiyur area, according to media reports.

#BREAKING -- Three electricity board officials have been suspended after 2 children were electrocuted in Chennai | @nimumurali with details pic.twitter.com/3ubwmVQH1L  News18 (@CNNnews18) November 1, 2017

The two girls, aged 7 and 8, died after stepping on a snapped electric wire lying under water, ANI reported.

In another incident, two students died in Anakaputhur area on Monday night after being struck by lightning while they were on their terrace, reported The Times of India.

The deceased, Lokesh, (19) and his friend, Kishore, (17), had met to study together when the incident happened. Until Wednesday morning, five people had reportedly died in the state due to heavy rainfall even as the government declared a holiday in schools across Chennai, Kanchipuram and Tiruvallur districts for the second consecutive day.

Chennai as well as other parts of Tamil Nadu have been lashed by heavy rains since the last three days.

The weather department has predicted rain or thundershowers at most places over coastal Tamil Nadu and Puducherry and at many places over interior Tamil Nadu for the next four days.

Speaking to Firstpost, S Balachandran, Director of the Area Cyclone Warning Centre, IMD Chennai, on Tuesday said, "Coastal areas and central regions of Tamil Nadu will experience heavy rainfall with varying intensities in the next 24 hours. However, the western parts of the state like Coimbatore, the Nilgiris and Valaparai will experience light rainfall, which will start from Tuesday evening."

Chennai's northern areas, Vyasarpadi, Perambur, Choolai and Otteri in North Chennai as well as West Anna Nagar in Central Chennai were inundated by water, according to the Deccan Chronicle. Among the southern parts of the city, Madipakkam and Keelkattalai were affected by the rains. On Tuesday, Nungambakkam weather station recorded 12 cm rainfall while Meenambakkam Airport 17 cm.

However, the government assured the citizens that it was prepared to control floods.

SP Velumani, minister for municipal administration and rural development, told News18, "We have taken better steps than US or UK to control floods. Recently, heavy rains lashed London and America, but I assure weve done more work compared to these developed nations."

While Chennai stares in the face of flooding, the heavy rains could help address water concerns in the city. Catchment areas of Chennai's reservoirs, including the Poondi lake, Cholavaram lake, Redhills lake and Chembarapakkam lake, which provide drinking water to the city have been filled up with water, The Hindustan Times reported.

With inputs from agencies
New Delhi: A suspected aide of gangster Chhota Shakeel was arrested from northeast Delhi's Jafrabad the police said on Wednesday.

The accused was carrying a reward of Rs 50,000 on his head.

Naseem alias Rizwan (28), a sharpshooter aide close aid of Shakeel, was in touch with the latter, who was giving directions to him to eliminate Pakistan-born Canadian writer Tarek Fatah, the police said.

The police were on the lookout for Naseem, a contract killer wanted in several cases.

On Tuesday, the police received a tip-off that Nasee would come to Jafrabad and a trap was laid accordingly.

When Naseem saw the police personnel, he tried to flee but was nabbed after a long chase, the police said.

A sophisticated pistol, four live cartridges and Rs 1.9 lakh in cash were seized from his possession, they added.

During interrogation, it came to light that Naseem was wanted by the Delhi Police's special cell in connection with an alleged conspiracy to kill Fatah.

The special cell had, in June, arrested Junai Chaudhary for his alleged involvement in the conspiracy to kill Fatah. Naseem was wanted in that case.

He was also involved in robbing a collection agent of businessman of Rs 10.6 lakh last month, the police said.

Naseem told his interrogators that he was in touch with Chhota Shakeel, said Deputy Commissioner of Police (north east AK Singla).

He was also supposed to meet a criminal called Munn Singh, through another criminal Rashid, who was lodged in the Bijnor Jail, he added.

Singh and Rashid had told Naseem that he would get crore of rupees if he eliminated certain high-profile personality in Andra Pradesh, the police said.

The accused also told the police that Shakeel had asked him to eliminate a person residing at Dwarka.
New Delhi: The AAP government on Wednesday claimed that the steps taken by it in Delhi have played a "vital role in improving India's ranking on the World Bank's 'ease of doing business' index.

Deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia also took a jibe a the Centre, asking it "not to hamper" his government's work for one year on an "experimental basis" which will result in the improvement of India's ranking worldwide in other sectors like education and health.

"It is a proud moment for us that country has improved 3 ranks to 100th in 'ease of doing business' in World Bank' report. Delhi has played a vital role in this," he told reporters.

Sisodia said since the Aam Aadmi Party government was formed, doing business has been "easier" in the city wit introduction of several initiatives including online industry licence and eradication of "inspector-raj".

"In the last two years, doing business has been easier in Delhi. Getting an industry licence has been simple with online facility. Applicants can get the licence within a day, Sisodia, who also holds the finance portfolio, said.

The deputy chief minister said the AAP government has introduced a single-window system in several sectors, adding that earlier tourism department's inspectors used to make a visit for restaurant licence which has been ended.

"If the Delhi government works, there is eradication o inspector-raj, progress in business...If Delhi government works, you (Centre) get the credit and the name of the country will shine," he said.

Sisodia also asked the Centre not to "waste the time" o the ED and the CBI "for unwarranted works".

"There are several areas where these agencies should d work. Don't trouble officers again and again. If they (Centre allow us to work, the credit of the good work by Delhi in health, education will go to them (the Centre)," he said.

The Arvind Kejriwal government and the Centre have bee at loggerheads on a range of issues including transfer an posting of officers and city administration's proposals.

In the past, Kejriwal has also attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and accused the BJP-led government at the centre of creating "hurdles" in the works of AAP government.
New Delhi: Delhi Lt Governor Anil Baijal on Tuesday reviewed the progress on traffic decongestion measures on pilot corridors and directed officials to ensure that these stretches are free of unauthorised parking.

The meeting was attended by PWD minister Satyendar Jain, Chief Secretary of Delhi, Principal Secretary (UD/DLB) and Chairman, New Delhi Municipal Council, among others.

Special Commissioner of Police (Traffic) informed the Lt Governor about the present progress and status of the pilot corridors.

Baijal said that immediate implementation of the ongoing projects and works should be undertaken in a time-bound manner to ensure their timely completion.

He emphasised that these stretches should be freed from unauthorised parking for better circulation of traffic and directed the PWD and the traffic police to ensure proper display boards showing 'No Parking Zone'.

Baijal also stressed that commercial establishments should provide proper parking for their visitors else face action as per law, as roads are meant for commuting and not for unauthorised parking.

The officials informed Baijal that to improve the traffic flow at Aurobindo Marg, certain measures like re-aligning of existing car parking facility and creating bus lane at INA have been approved and the construction work will start soon.

He was also apprised that for increasing awareness of pedestrians, display boards at conspicuous places have been installed for using the subway near the AIIMS.

Aurbindo Marg corridor is one of the most important corridors which connect New Delhi and south Delhi to Gurugram.

He was informed that the Mathura Road corridor witnesses heavy pedestrian as well as vehicular movement at all times as many industrial areas and cluster colonies are situated on both sides of Mathura road.

He was also informed about the progress and redevelopment plan of Amir Khusro Park and the refurbishment of subway at Dargah.

Further, the concerned subway has been cleaned and whitewashed. Electricity too has been restored and the general public has started using the subway.

Baijal was informed that major redevelopments by the NHAI has been planned to broaden the NH8, and grade separator will be put up for signal-free cross-over to station road in order to decongest the route (Dhaula Kuan Flyover to GGR Flyover, Sanjay T-Point).

This is one of the most important corridors which connects south Delhi, south west Delhi, west Delhi, New Delhi, Terminal-1 and Terminal-3 Airport and Delhi-Gurgaon (NH-8).
New Delhi: The ED on Wednesday arrested a businessman in New Delhi in connection with its money laundering probe in the over Rs 5,000 crore alleged bank fraud case involving a Gujarat-based pharma firm and few other hawala deals.

Official sources said the central probe agency arrested Gagan Dhawan early on Wednesday from the national capital under sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

They said Dhawan will be produced before a court for further custody.

Dhawan, they said, was on the radar of the agency for allegedly aiding bank loan frauds related to Sterling Biotech, the Vadodara-based company and few other similar alleged illegal transactions.

The firm and Dhawan are also being probed by the Enforcement Directorate for allegedly bribing senior income tax department officials as part of an earlier criminal complaint.

The agency had carried out searches against Dhawan and a former Congress MLA in Delhi in August.

The CBI had recently booked Sterling Biotech, its Directors Chetan Jayantilal Sandesara, Dipti Chetan Sandesara, Rajbhushan Omprakash Dixit, Nitin Jayantilal Sandesara and Vilas Joshi, Chartered Accountant Hemant Hathi, former Director Andhra Bank Anup Garg and other unidentified persons in connection with the alleged bank fraud case.

The CBI has alleged that the company had taken loans of over Rs 5,000 crore from a consortium led by Andhra Bank which have turned into non-performing assets.

The FIR has alleged that the total pending dues of the group companies were Rs 5,383 crore as on 31 December, 2016.
A fire broke out at an office park in Navi Mumbai's Airoli on Wednesday, according to several media reports.

Navi Mumbai: Fire breaks out in Reliable Tech Park in Airoli; fire engines at the spot.  ANI (@ANI) November 1, 2017

No casualties have been reported.

Times Now reported that three fire engines and ambulances have been rushed to the spot.

Efforts are underway to contain the fire, according to the report.

The incident comes days after a massive fire broke out in Bandra's Behrampada slums, injuring four, including one fireman.

The fire was classified as level IV, the second highest level of severity, and 17 water tankers and 9 fire engines were pressed into service to douse the massive blaze.

The fire broke out when municipal officials were carrying out an anti-encroachment drive outside Bandra station.

Although the cause is yet to be determined, the fire was reportedly caused due to a series of cylinder blasts during a demolition drive.

Two weeks ago, a massive fire had broke out at Mechemco Resins Pvt Ltd's factory in Navi Mumbai's Turbhe.

The blaze began at the factory located at the TTC Industrial Area of Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC).

No one was injured in this incident.

In early October, a fire broke out on a tank farm on Butcher Island, a loading hub for petroleum products off the citys east coast.

The fire raged for over four days, resulting in losses of at least Rs 60-70 crore. A 50-member team of firemen battled the blaze.

The blaze was contained to one tank farm owned by Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL). The affected tank's capacity was around 40,000 tonnes, which was partly filled with high speed diesel.

Nearly 25 percent was lost to the flames.

With inputs from agencies
Security agencies found themselves on edge after five middle-aged men from central Assam visited the Rohingya refugee camps in Bangladesh's Cox's Bazar for a "study tour."

The visit prompted a series of meetings to assess the fallout of the unfolding crisis in the neighbouring country.

The group, Assam Sankhya Laghu Sangram Parishad, comprises former members of a Muslim students association. It was formed in 2012 and led by Mohammad Adi Khalifa from Dalgaon in Assams Darrang district, which witnessed repeated communal clashes between the indigenous and migrant communities over the past few decades.

On being quizzed by the police, the group said they went to Bangladesh on a "study tour".

The incident comes close on the heels of increasing activities in Assam by some Muslim organisations in South India, prompting intelligence agencies to hold a series of meetings in Guwahati and New Delhi.

Pallab Bhattacharyya, Additional Director General of Assam Police, who also heads the Special Branch, confirmed that some Muslim organisations in South India and Uttar Pradesh are under the scanner and that several "frontal groups" formed by these outfits were working to expand their support base in colleges and universities.

It is estimated that more than six lakh Rohingya refugees have migrated to Bangladesh after fleeing their homes in Myanmar's Rakhine State. This is just the latest wave of a migration that began in 1978, after the Myanmar Army cracked down on the community. However, this time, Hindus and Buddhists have also been forced to seek refuge elsewhere.

The visit by the five-member group from Assam to Bangladesh was followed by the arrest of six Rohingya migrants in September after they crossed the border in Tripura. Two middlemen in Tripura who helped the Rohingya migrants were also arrested by the police.

Sources said the group in Assams Dalgaon had also planned to organise a meeting in Morigan, which is located around 50 kilometres east of Guwahati, and in some other districts inhabited by migrant Bangladeshi Muslims, but the police prevented them from doing so.

Intelligence agencies have identified three zones along the borders of the Northeast which could allow the entry of Rohingya refugees from Bangladesh: Dhubri and Karimganj in Assam and Sonamura in Tripura.

The district police have been alerted and surveillance has been stepped up along vulnerable stretches.

One organisation among them had been quite active during the riots at Kokrajhar in 2012 when thousands were rendered homeless. We are suspicious of their motives, an official said, adding that a senior student at Guwahati Medical College and Hospital has been found to be actively associated with these groups.

The governments concern also stems from the update of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam which began a few years ago to identify foreign nationals. It is estimated that many millionsboth Hindus and Muslims who migrated from Bangladeshwould lose their citizenship after the final list is published.

Some officials feel that there are many organisations and agencies waiting to take advantage of the situation in Assam which could lead to law and order problems.

The government has declared that people whose names are deleted from the register can appeal to the Foreigners Tribunals for rectification.

Rajeev Bhattacharyya is a senior journalist based in Guwahati and author of Rendezvous With Rebels: Journey to Meet Indias Most Wanted Men
Washington: Ahead of President Donald Trump's maiden Asia trip, the White House said on Wednesday that India plays a "big role" in the Indo-Pacific region.

Trump embarks on a 12-day trip later this week to visit Japan, South Korea, China, Vietnam and Philippines. He will not be paying a visit to India this time.

"It certainly plays a big role," White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders told reporters at her daily news conference when asked about India's role in the Indo-Pacific region.

"Does this administration see India as a pivotal part of your strategy when it comes to the Asia-Pacific more broadly?" she was asked.

"I can tell you that we have a close relationship with India, that we have a lot of areas of common interest, including  we're both democracies; we're both large countries. They're an enormous country," State Department Spokesperson Heather Nauert told reporters at a separate news conference.

"India can bring so much, not only to the region, but to the world. In addition, many American jobs, through greater trade and cooperation with that country," she said, referring to the major India policy speech given by the Secretary of State Rex Tillerson last month, soon after which he travelled to India.

Nauert was asked why Trump is not going on this trip to India, if the country is so important.

"I think that would be a different kind of trip for the President, tagging India  along to that trip. I think he's got a pretty hefty schedule, but I don't want to speak on behalf of the White House," she said.

Asked if Tillerson's India policy was a China containment policy, the State Department spokesperson said the top American diplomat had said this before with China "privately".

"I think the Secretary  what he said in his speech  about China, in his speech about India, was something that the Secretary has said with China privately before. So some of those in the past have been private conversations, and now, they're just becoming more public conversations," she said.

The spokersperson said that North Korea is a top issue and Trump will discuss it with China.

"But let me just say, I know that the president is very much looking forward to his trip to China. It is going to be a lengthy trip, a robust trip. And one of the top issues that will be discussed with China is certainly the DPRK," the spokesperson said.
Mumbai: Already a gargantuan task since inception, the Rs 34,022 crore ambitious loan waiver scheme Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Shetkari Sanman Yojana covering 89 lakh farmers in Maharashtra has forced many officers to reach breaking point with the Aadhaar related anomalies only making the job far more complicated and demanding for them.

"At Sinnar in Nashik district assistant registrar Ratilal Ahire died in October and another assistant registrar from Ambegaon, Pune is admitted in a Pune hospital since the last four days. Many officers are suffering from high blood pressure and sugar in the last 50 days or more. The pressure from the Mantralaya prior to and post-Diwali has gone up tremendously," a senior official from the cooperation department who chose to remain anonymous said.

"Due to the hurry to implement the scheme before Diwali, the work could not be done properly. The mess continues even after now. Senior officials like principal secretary (IT) VK Gautam and director (IT) M Sankaranarayanan are busy attending meetings with the private firm associated with the scheme for technical support," the senior official said.

"The pressure on the cooperation department has increased day by day. To protest the pressure and overload of work the Maharashtra State Gazetted Officers Association (MSGOA) has called for an urgent meeting on 3 November in Pune to address the issue of officers who are working round the clock for the last more than four months," he said.

There are 70 different organisations under the banner of MSGOA consisting of 1.25 lakh officers and 16 lakh state government employees.

"We also got information that cooperation department officers are under tremendous pressure for the last four months. As a union, we firmly stand with them and after the Friday meeting we will take appropriate action," MSGOA consultant GD Kulthe told Firstpost.

The officials are under pressure to rectify the faults which were largely made by the concerned banks. The banks did a shoddy job by failing to key in the correct Aadhaar numbers against exact bank accounts of the beneficiary farmers. With the irregularities coming into the public after Firstpost broke the story, the political pressure from the Opposition was immense on the government.

The mess in the loan waiver scheme has snowballed into a major political storm for Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. The Opposition parties have parked the blame for the mess at the governments door. They insist, as Sharad Pawar told Firstpost in an exclusive interview, that if the government had released the waiver money to banks without insisting on verification of beneficiary accounts with Aadhaar numbers, the disbursement would have been completed faster.

"It is true that the pressure on our department is huge. I am myself working round the clock since the scheme has been announced. But till now I havent received news of an officer's death due to the pressure of work because of the loan waiver scheme," said state Cooperation Minister Subhash Deshmukh.

Talking to Firstpost, Akshay, the son of the Pune official Vitthal Khanadale admitted to a hospital claimed that his father had worked for the last four months without taking holidays.

"The blood pressure shot up so high that we have to bring him to a hospital. He went through an emergency operation to get a blood clot removed in the brain. The continuous 14-hour work every day and a demanding travel schedule on official work resulted in a brain haemorrhage," said Akshay.

Despite putting enormous hours by the officials, the issue is far from resolved and the three key parties involved in the execution of the schemestate's IT department, cooperation department and the private playerhave now started blaming each other for the fiasco.

"In every taluka where the loan waiver scheme is applicable more than 35,000 farmers' form were sorted by only two cooperation officers. The data which has been fed into the computers do not match with the forms filled up by the farmers themselves. How is the cooperation department responsible for this mismatch? We have not fed data into the systems," said an angry officer pointing fingers at the IT department and the private player.

"In the last few months, we are working round the clock. We start our day at 9 am and finished at 11 pm. Without sufficient manpower, it is tough to complete the work in such a short time. In every two hours, we get a call from the Mantralaya asking for updated numbers. When we don't have the accurate data how can we give them? If any mistakes happen they will make us scapegoat," he said.

There are 1,000 plus officers working for the loan waiver scheme from cooperation department.

Firstpost had reviewed a list comprising 273 beneficiary farmer names, which is part of the 8.5 lakh entries that were submitted to the State Level Bankers' Committee, a lobby of banks.

The list showed serious discrepancies in the entries submitted by around 35 banks including private, state-owned and district cooperative banks to SLBC.

In the 273 entries, 10 randomly generated Aadhaar numbers were used against multiple entries of farmers.

According to the data, available with Firstpost, Santosh Jayram Shinde is a farmer with Aadhaar number 111111110157. Dilip Anand Kute is also a farmer and has the same Aadhar number 111111110157 so has Dilip Ramchandra Kachale, also a farmer.

Likewise, Balvant Bandu Vajanari, Sangram Vasant Chavan, Keshav Rangrao Chavan, Suman Vilasrao Patil, Ganpatrao Ramchandra Pawar, Chandrakant Vasant Yadhav, Jayavant Shamrao Satpe, Sangita Hanmant Chavan and several other farmers set to benefit from the Devendra Fadnavis government's loan waiver scheme bear the same Aadhaar number 100000000000. In fact, there are 177 entries made against it. The Aadhaar number 111111111111 features in 45 entries against names like Chandrakant Kashinath Deshmukh, Prakash Dhondu More, Ranjeet Khashaba Jadhav among others.

In many instances, different loan accounts are used against same people. In one instance, the loan account number has a decimal in between. The savings accounts in most cases are different, however, on multiple occasions, the same farmer is listed for multiple loan waivers, often under the same loan account. So, a farmer named Jayvant Shamrao Satpe is listed for loan waiver under loan account 69 and saving bank account number 14905110003020 three times, twice under loan account 71 and saving bank account number 14905110005972, and thrice under loan account 72 and savings bank account number 14905110000204. All these entries are adjusted against the Aaadhar number 100000000000. Thus, the same farmer is shown eligible for loan waiver eight times.

In one instance, a farmer named Suresh Bautis Lopes comes with account number '0' and one of the most repeated Aadhaar number 111111111111.

According to source in SLBC, the number of farmers with identical Aadhaar and savings bank account numbers provided by banks to the state government runs into lakhs. In fact, such lists of farmers with apparently bogus Aadhaar and savings account numbers have been provided to the state government by national banks, district cooperative banks and commercial banks, highly placed sources in SLBC had told Firstpost.
As the election fever heats up in Gujarat, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi tore the Rupani-government in the state and the Narendra Modi-led government at Centre apart over the BJP's faulty economic policies.

Addressing an election rally in Bharuch, Rahul said that this was the first time when he travelled across Gujarat and he felt that the people were not happy."Wherever you look, there is sadness and everyone has problems. Different communities are agitating for their rights. Complaints come from everywhere but 5-10 industrialists are very happy and are supporting the government wholeheartedly."

Training guns on ongoing Tata Nano project, Gandhi said that Modi had given Tata a Rs 33,000-crore bank loan almost for free but "have you seen a single Nano car on the streets?"

Tata Nano ke liye Narendra Modi ji ne Rs 33,000 crore bank loan diya, takreeban free mein, kam se kam rate mein: Rahul Gandhi in Gujarat pic.twitter.com/tqegYmKGlo  ANI (@ANI) November 1, 2017

Petrol price is going down in the whole world, why is it increasing in India? Who is benefiting from it?: Rahul Gandhi in Gujarat's Dayadra pic.twitter.com/O0gadBW2jq  ANI (@ANI) November 1, 2017

He then said that the Gujarat model is to take land, electricity and water and give to industrialists without getting anything in return.

The Congress vice-president slammed the BJP for taking the people of Gujarat for granted and ignoring their demands."Parents want education and employment for their children. Youth want employment. Everyone wants good medical facilities. However in Gujarat, 90 percent of this is in private hands. People must pay Rs 10-15 lakhs just to study in colleges. As the poor can't pay this much, they don't get to go to college."

Rahul said that hospitals are in a similar position as they are owned by private people. If there is no money, then people are not treated, Rahul added. He called this the Gujarat model: "Paisa nahi hai, kaam nahi chalega (No money, no work done)."

On employment, he said that if you take any manufactured good, it will be not be made in India but will be made in China. "When you take a selfie, you give employment to Chinese youth and not Indian youth." He then trotted out a statistic he has talked of before, that every 24 hours, China gives employment to 50,000 youth compared to 450 in India. He pegged the number of unemployed people at 30 lakh in India. He singled out Gujarat and said that the state has no employment and all work was focussed on "5-10 industrialists."

Rahul then pivoted his attack on demonetisation and said even while small business-owner were suffering, they could still manage. "However, then Modi brought in demonetisation with a smile on his face. This killed the Indian economy and the GDP fell by 2 percent. Further, it also had little effect on the majority of black money which is in real estate, gold and Swiss banks," he added.

Talking about GST, Rahul said that the Congress had tried to convince Finance Minister Arun Jaitley to take it slow and not complicate the matter. However, the BJP said that the decision has been taken and they would will apply GST instantly. The comment by the Congress vice-president assumes importance because his statement is in complete contrast with what the prime minister claimed on 16 October in Gujarat's Gandhinagar. Addressing a campaign rally, Modi had said, all "political parties, including the Congress, took the decision to bring in GST. You are all partners in this decision. The central government is only a 30th part in the entire GST Council."

Calling it the "Gabbar Singh Tax", Rahul said that poor people work hard but their money is taken from them. He highlighted the complications of GST and said that a small-time traders must fill three forms every month. "They are not accountants and find it very hard to do."

He said that all of India knows that Modi made a mistake with demonetisation but the government will not admit this. "The government had also promised that not all black money will come back and the difference will be given back to the people. What happened to that," Rahul asked.

Taking up the ease of doing business, Rahul said that Jaitley looked at an international study to see the ease of doing business in India. He asked Jaitley to instead go to a small shopkeeper and ask them about ease of doing business. "Everyone will say that ease has been destroyed. For Jaitley, foreigners are right but poor Indians are wrong." Rahul also tweeted saying that everyone knows about the ease of doing business and the rank only makes Jaitley feel happy.

   ease of doing business  , 

      "Dr Jaitley"      Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) November 1, 2017

Concluding the address, he said that Gujarat has suffered as all good is being done for the 5-10 industrialists. "If Congress comes to power, it will be of the people and will work with them, not with 5-10 industrialists."

Senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel had spoken before Rahul and said that the Congress leaders have suffered most because of terrorism and don't need lessons in nationalism from the BJP. He also said that Modi had promised many things but had not delivered on them.
Panaji: Defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday voiced concern over increased militarisation and extra-regional nations maintaining a near-permanent presence in the Indian Ocean region on "some pretext or the other".

This sort of militarisation increases complexities for the countries in the region, she said.

"The Indian Ocean has been peaceful over past few decades. However, our collective decision to capitalise on this or not and how we counter the emerging challenges will significantly influence the regional peace and security in future," she said.

The minister, who did not name any country, was addressing the inaugural function of the Goa Maritime Conclave, which aims to address the maritime challenges in the region.

An increased militarisation in the Indian Ocean has manifested in two interconnected forms in the region, Sitharaman said.

"We have also witnessed extra-regional nations maintain a near-permanent presence within the region on one pretext or the other," she said.

"In order to sustain such a presence through operational turnaround, these countries, which are extra-regional, are creating naval outposts as well as dual-use infrastructure in the region. This sort of militarisation increases the complexities for the countries of this region," Sitharaman said.

The defence minister also expressed concern over the emergence of non-state actors in the region.

"The concept of non-state actors is not something new as the countries are dealing with this issue both at land and at sea since time immemorial," she said.

"However, the recent surge in the number of non-state actors, when juxtaposed with the support they enjoy from certain states, their enhanced reach as well as access to the resources has brought the issue to the forefront and demands a firm action," she said.

Referring to the 'blue economy', the Union minister said the seabed has emerged as a futuristic and abundant source of relatively pure minerals, thereby adding to the ocean's economic potential.

"The progress achieved and the efforts to harness clean and renewable energy sources through offshore energy firms add a whole new dimension to the possible economic and strategic impact of the ocean on countries of this region," Sitharaman said.

While it is good that the compulsion of globalisation has enabled economics to shape relationships between nations, the opaqueness in strategic intent by certain nations is preventing these very relations from evolving beyond a transactional nature, she added.
15:01 (ist)

More bodies buried under rubble, allege workers protesting at the explosion site

The families of labourers working at NTPCs Unchahar plant have launched a protest outside the complex, alleging that many more bodies are buried under the ash and rubble inside the plant but the authorities are not doing anything to retrieve them, News18 reported.

Protesting labourers and families claimed that several workers who were working inside the plant when the blast happened are still unaccounted for.
An explosion at a government-owned power plant in Uttar Pradesh's Rae Bareli district claimed the lives of at least 20 and left over 100 injured on Wednesday afternoon.

The mishap occurred at NTPC's Unchahar plant, located on Lucknow-Allahabad highway, 115 kilometres from the state capital Lucknow.

Formerly known as National Thermal Power Corporation Ltd, the public-sector unit produces electricity through coal-based thermal power plants and was conferred the Maharatna status for exemplary performance.

The Uttar Pradesh government's information department issued a press release stating that the blast occurred around 3:30 pm.

Hot gases and steam began to leak at the plant's corner no. 2, affecting those working in the area.

Around 80 people were rushed to the NTPC hospital and most were discharged after receiving first-aid treatment.

Unofficial reports pegged the number of the injured at 150.

Early reports stated that eight people had died, but by 8 pm, the death toll reached 14, DK Singh, Chief Medical Officer, Rae Bareli, confirmed to Firstpost.

Around 16 people suffered severe injuries and were referred to nearby hospitals for treatment.

However, in view of rush on the Lucknow- Rae Bareli road, the injured were then taken to hospitals in Allahabad, which is 85 kilometres from Unchahar.

An injured employee undergoing treatment at a hospital said that a sudden gush of hot gas with contents of ash-like material engulfed him at the NTPC plant. The man said he was unable to understand what had happened and found himself on a hospital bed with his body scalded all over, when he regained consciousness.

Two teams of doctors (burn injury and emergency service experts), police and a 32-member team of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) reached the power plant. By night, the plant was blanketed in heavy security.

The district magistrate, city magistrate, superintendent of police and senior officers of the NTPC also reached the spot.

District Magistrate Sanjay Kumar Khatri said 40 ambulances were immediately pressed into service.

The anger among the residents of villages near the plant was palpable.

Union Power minister RK Singh, through social media posts, expressed deep anguish at the loss of lives and said that he had directed the NTPC Chairman and Managing Director Gurdeep Singh to rush to the site.

Congress president Sonia Gandhi, the Member of Parliament from Rae Bareli, offered condolences for the victims and their families.

Her officer on special duty, Dheeraj Srivastava, reached the spot and spoke with the district magistrate to ensure that the injured received medical attention.

Principal secretary of Uttar Pradesh's health department directed all government hospitals in and around Rae Bareli to put doctors on emergency duty.

The NTPC management has launched an investigation to determine the cause of the incident.

Former Samajwadi Party MLA Manoj Pandey alleged NTPC management discriminated between higher officials and labourers in providing medical assistance.

Labour union leader Ram Dev Singh alleged that safety measures were overlooked and the management was apathetic towards the plight of workers.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted:

Deeply pained by the accident at the NTPC plant in Raebareli. My thoughts are with the bereaved families. May the injured recover quickly. The situation is being closely monitored & officials are ensuring normalcy is restored: PM @narendramodi  PMO India (@PMOIndia) November 1, 2017



Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, on an official visit to Mauritius, expressed grief and said that no stone would be left unturned with regard to rescue and relief efforts.

The Uttar Pradesh government announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh for the families of the deceased.

The grievously injured will receive Rs 50,000 and others who sustained injuries will receive Rs 25,000 as compensation.

NTPC's Unchahar plant is a coal-based power station that provides power to Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan, Chandigarh, Delhi, Uttranchal.

The power's first unit was commissioned in 1998 and the last and sixth unit was commissioned in 2006.

The plant has a capacity of 840 MW (2 x 210 + 2 x 210 MW) in Stage I & II and 210 MW (1 x 210 MW) in Stage III.

The plant derives its power from coal source in North Karanpura and water from Sarda Sahayak Canal.

Madhav Singh is a Rae Bareli-based freelance reporter. He is a member of 101Reporters.com, a pan-India network of grassroots reporters.

With inputs from Saurabh Sharma, a Lucknow-based reporter and PTI
Jodhpur: Pulling up the state police over its handling of a case of a woman's alleged forcible conversion to Islam and marriage, the Rajasthan High Court on Wednesday directed it to register an FIR and submit a report after her family claimed that it was an instance of 'love jihad'.

A bench of justices GK Vyas and MK Garg also directed the state government to file a reply clarifying the legal provisions pertaining to religious conversion in the state.

Hearing a habeas corpus petition filed by the 22-year-old woman's brother, the bench expressed anger over the "negligence" of the police, which allegedly refused to file an FIR on her family's complaint.

The court questioned as to how the police could assume that the girl's conversion was legal "just by way of an affidavit on a stamp paper of Rs 10" when there was no provision in law in this regard.

"By this way, tomorrow, even I could address myself as Gopal Mohammad," it said.

In his petition, the brother claimed that one Faiz Modi had been harassing his sister for long and abducted her while she was going to college.

She was made to sign some papers by him and fake marriage documents were prepared, he alleged.

When the family members could not find her, they approached the police which refused to file an FIR stating that Faiz Modi had already produced proof of marriage and an affidavit of religious conversion by the woman dated 14 April, the brother alleged.

He alleged that she was blackmailed by the accused with objectionable pictures and forced to convert to Islam and marry him.

Appearing for the petitioner, lawyer Gokulesh Bohra argued that the girl was with her family until 25 October, while the documents were predated by six months.

"This is a clear case of 'love jihad' and over half a dozen such cases have already been reported in the city in the past some time due to the disinterest shown by the police in investigating these cases," Bohra claimed.

It has been alleged that Hindu girls are being lured into conversion and marriage by Muslim men and it is often termed as "love jihad' especially by Hindu outfits.

Hearing the petition, the court today asked the Rajasthan Government to specify the laws and guidelines for conversion in the state.

The court directed that the girl be sent to Nari Niketan (women shelter) for seven days and instructed the police to ensure that no one meets her there.

Seeking a detailed report in the matter, the court asked the police whether it tried to probe the truth of the purported affidavit by the girl.

It directed the police to file an FIR and probe the matter.

The matter comes in the backdrop of the controversy over a case of a Kerala Hindu woman, who had converted to Islam before marrying a Muslim man, Shafin Jahan.

The Kerala High Court had annulled his marriage and described it as an instance of 'love jihad', which was challenged by Jahan.

It was alleged that the woman was recruited by Islamic State's mission in Syria and Jahan was only a stooge.

Ashokan KM, the father of the woman, had alleged that there was a "well-oiled systematic mechanism" for conversion and Islamic radicalisation.

Jahan had on 20 September approached the apex court seeking the recall of its 16 August order directing the NIA to investigate the controversial case.

The matter is now before the apex court.
New Delhi: Several Indian leaders including President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed their deep appreciation for Bhutan's support in resolving the recent stand-off with China at Doka La.

The manner in which both India and Bhutan stood together to address the situation in Doka La "is a clear testimony to our friendship", a Rashtrapati Bhavan statement said.

Had a wonderful meeting with the King, Queen and Prince of Bhutan. pic.twitter.com/6dWDoNL1jv  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 1, 2017

Kovind, who met Bhutan king Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, the queen and the prince at Rashtrapati Bhavan, said the security concerns of India and Bhutan are indivisible and mutual.

The president "conveyed deep appreciation for the King of Bhutans personal involvement and guidance and the support provided by Bhutan in addressing the recent situation in the Doka La area", the statement said.

India and China's troops were locked in a 73-day stand-off in Doka La, a tri-junction between Sino-India and Bhutanese border near Sikkim, from 16 June this year after Indian Army personnel stopped the Chinese Army from building a road in the disputed area.

The president said India and Bhutan share exemplary bilateral relations.

"Our relations are unique and special. Our bilateral ties are based on utmost trust and understanding. We should do everything to make it a model of bilateral cooperation, which will be noted by others in the neighbourhood," he said.

The president said India was delighted to see the rapid progress made in Bhutan while simultaneously preserving its very special culture as well as protecting the environment.

"India has been happy to share its knowledge, experience, and resources with Bhutan. Our development cooperation has been guided by the priorities set by the government and people of Bhutan," he said.

President Kovind also extended an invitation to Wangchuk to pay a state visit to India in 2018, which also marks the golden jubilee of the establishment of formal diplomatic ties between the two neighbours, which was accepted by the visiting dignitary.

"The meetings were held in a very warm and cordial atmosphere, reflecting the spirit of mutual trust and understanding that characterise the exceptionally friendly ties between the two countries," a statement of the Bhutanese embassy said.

Kovind also complimented the king of Bhutan on the successful completion of the first decade of his reign and his vision for a stable, happy and prosperous Bhutan.

Wangchuck also held talks with Minister for Externa Affairs Sushma Swaraj.

Recalling the "unique and historical ties of friendship and understanding" between India and Bhutan, the leaders exchanged views on bilateral cooperation as well as other issues of mutual interest.

"The visit of Their Majesties to India marks an important milestone in the close and friendly relations between the two countries and has contributed significantly towards further strengthening the profound friendship between India and Bhutan," the statement added.

The Bhutan's King also conveyed appreciation for the support India provides for Bhutan's socio-economic development.

Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu, senior ministers, and officials will also call on the King of Bhutan during his visit to India which concludes on 3 November.

With inputs from PTI
Ramachandra Guha was invited to speak about Mahatma Gandhi at the Culture Camp, Ninasam, Heggodu on 2 October, 2017. He called it his attempt to introduce Gandhi to the new generation. After the lecture, an interaction was organised with Guha for the participants of the culture camp. Well known Kannada critic D S Nagabhushana was asked to initiate the question answer session. He asked the questions in Kannada. Guha's answers in English were not satisfactory to Nagabhushana. After returning from the camp, Nagabhushana sent a long mail to Guha going into details of the issues raised at the camp. Guha replied.

What followed in the next four days was an exchange of 14 pages of debate. At the end of it they became friends and Nagabhushana went on to publish the mails and said this of Guha: "The one aspect that deeply touched me was that a well-known historian like Guha showed enough interest to get into a dialogue with an non-entity like me, that too in my broken English and at the end put aside all his fame and accepted that with all his expertise there were things that were beyond his knowledge. That humbleness won me over."

In a strange coincidence, this year both, Ramachandra Guha and D S Nagabhushana, were among the 60 who received the Rajyotsava award. While only congratulatory notes poured over for Nagabhushana, there was a divide in the Kannada population with one section criticising Ramachandra Guha not knowing Kannada and the fact that he was honoured. The other section defended him to the teeth adding that the historian's contribution to the state undoubtedly deserves not just Rajyotsava but much more.

Guha has always claimed to be a proud Kannadiga. He represents Karnataka and the state is equally proud to claim him. He responds to all issues concerning the state, be it cultural or political. He is even described as the conscience keeper of the Kannadigas. Guha has claimed, on several occasions, that his favourite personality in Karnataka is Dr Shivarama Karanth and that he is greatly influenced by Karanth. The cultural and emotional relationship Guha has with Karnataka goes beyond the language politics. A Rajyotsava award for him is long overdue.

But on the flip side, for someone who has lived in a place for over 20 years how difficult is it to learn the local language? When Guha was asked this question at the Heggodu seminar, he had answered that when he arrived in Bengaluru he was already 40. It was too late to pick up a new language, he had said. But he is not without roots anyway, he knows Hindi very well. So he is well versed with the language of the street.

None of that mattered to people who criticised him on the social media. They asked how someone who is so eloquent arguing about regionalism versus nationalism and its consequences can claim it is not necessary to learn the language of the region. They said it is not acceptable for an intellectual to claim inability to learn the local language.

They said Guha quotes only U R Ananathamurthy, Girish Karnad and D R Nagaraj and ignores other literary giants like P Lankesh, Poornachandra Tejasvi, K V Subbanna, Chandrashekhara Kambara, Devanura Mahadeva. Nagabhushana called it a 'cultural crime' of the 'dear frog in the English well.' In fact in one of the seminars Guha defended his stand stating "goddess Saraswathi has given birth to English too!" But that baby was born in England and not in Karnataka and Rajyotsava awards are given here. Should that be the mandate for the award?

While to some the reasons that he gave for not learning Kannada seemed childish, a large number also defended that one should not attach morality to knowing or not knowing a language. To test a person's language capabilities and judging him on that basis seems an intrusion into their privacy. That is actually, in a sense, as bad as imposing Hindi on the populace. If we are opposing imposition of Hindi, why make an exception for Kannada?

But then Guha is living in Karnataka and like Kuntady Nitesh (who runs online portals like KeliKatheya, Adiga Angala and Ruthumana, which also published the Kannada translation of Guha and Nagabhushana's emails) posted on his Facebook wall and claimed that he "has every right to question Guha's intent to not learn a language of the land where he lives."

This is questionable. Nobody has the right to question anybody's personal choices and especially link it to question a prestigious award given by the state government.

Guha has a column in a popular Kannada newspaper Prajavani. It is called Guhankana and it is undoubtedly good. It discusses various issues concerning the state and the nation. Majority of people in Karnataka think Guha writes it originally in Kannada. Actually it is in English and the paper translates it. There is a huge following for Guhankana and nobody has ever questioned Guha's 'Kannadaness'. As far as readers are concerned 'he is one of us.' Otherwise also he is one of us.

The other 'angle' being 'explored' by some is that the BJP lodged a complaint with the police against Guha for his statement alleging that right wing extremists had a hand in journalist-activist Gauri Lankesh's murder. BJP and RSS went all out to condemn him. For the ruling Congress may be it was a way of countering the allegation. They honoured him.

It could be a political move to make the best of the situation. But in fact, Guha has also criticised the Congress. Guha has often targetted and criticised Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi and has repeatedly said that "this family should go." He is as straight in his criticism of Congress as he is about the BJP.

In fact, he is honest to the core in his brutally frank comments and it has earned him lot of enemies. He can only be placed next to U R Ananthamurthy in courting controversies. If BJP thought a case would cow him down they don't know him at all. At the Bangalore Literature Festival last week, I heard two men walking towards the stage where Guha was to deliver his speech commenting between them "will Guha's speech lack lustre?" Not at all.

The debate about Guha being conferred the Rajyotsava award despite not knowing Kannada is miniscule. Does it make any difference to Guha? None. May be he will enjoy and chuckle at this small number on social media fighting for and against him. To the lakhs of Kannadigas across the state who read his column in Kannada and agree with his thoughts, it is time to celebrate.

That in a nutshell captures the sense with which Guha responded to the Kannada flag issue on twitter. "The Karnataka flag is not 'official' yet widely used and appreciated. Citizenship is about citizens before it is about governments."

A Rajyotsava award is about significant contribution to Karnataka. It's not about knowing the language. Ramachandra Guha stands tall when measured against the first aspect. I congratulate him.

The author is a Kannada poet, screenwriter and journalist.
Union Minister for Home Affairs Rajnath Singh recently said that politicians with criminal past should resign on their own. For Singh, this is surely a matter of pride, for when reports about his son Pankaj allegedly taking bribes for police posting appeared in 2014, the home minister had said that he would quit politics if charges were proven.

Singh's statement has gained a lot of importance, especially since the Central government, of which Singh is a cabinet minister, seems to hold a different point of view on the issue. Replying to a petitioner's demand seeking lifetime ban on convicted politicians, the Centre had said in its affidavit that the prayer was not maintainable and the plea should be dismissed. To which the apex court had replied, "Why not?"

On Wednesday, the Supreme Court toughened its stand on the issue, ordering the government to expedite trials of pending 1,581 cases against MPs and MLAs and to create special courts for the same.

The government's stand so far, which is now being opposed by Chief Election Commissioner AK Joti as well, is not only surprising but baffling, and is likely to put the BJP government in an uncomfortable position especially since it has been putting forth itself as the 'only government capable of cleaning Indian systems'. Last year, on 8 November, it had taken a tough stand banning old notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 in order to tackle corruption and black money and continues to champion it even though it caused a lot of hardship to the people of India.

The question then arises is why is it the BJP which came to power as a hope against prevalent corruption is so reluctant to take a similar stand when it comes to cleaning Indian politics? More so, when, that criminals are plaguing Indian politics and policymaking, is public knowledge. In fact, before the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, 30 percent of members of Parliament had criminal cases pending against them.

Why the opposition?

In the upcoming Himachal Pradesh Assembly Election, voting for which will take place on 9 November, out of the 338 candidates fielded by different political parties, 61(18 percent) candidates have declared criminal cases against them, while 31(9 percent) candidates have declared serious criminal cases against them, says an ADR report. BJP tops the list fielding 23 candidates with declared criminal cases and nine candidates with serious criminal cases in the Himachal Pradesh Assembly poll.

In the 2014 Lok Sabha Election, which the BJP won with a strong mandate, 33 percent (140 out of 426) of its candidates were facing criminal charges. In comparison, 28 percent of INC, 23 percent of BSP and 15 percent of AAP candidates were known to be facing criminal charges. Of all the BJP candidates, 21 percent (89 out of 426) were facing serious criminal cases, also the highest among all political parties.

BJP had fielded the maximum number of candidates with criminal history during the Bihar Assembly elections in 2015 as well. In the Uttar Pradesh Assembly Election, where the BJP registered a resounding victory, an ADR study revealed that 36 percent BJP candidates had declared criminal cases against them whereas 26 percent were facing serious criminal cases. Though BJP came third, it was very close to BSP (40 percent) and SP (37 percent).

Turns out, fielding candidates with criminal history contest in an election has its own benefits. Milan Vaishnav, author of the book When Crime Pays: Money And Muscle In Indian Politics, in a 2014 article argued that "politicians with criminal records are supplying what voters and parties demand: candidates who are effective and well-funded" because that improves their chances of winning an election, by 15 percent to be exact.

BJP ranked top even in terms of the new MPs in the 2014 Lok Sabah Election with over a third of its elected MPs facing criminal charges. So, BJP beat Congress in these elections not only in terms of seats but also in terms of fielding candidates with criminal antecedents.

On a more general note, it would be wrong to say that other political parties don't field candidates with a criminal history. They all do, and sadly, it's rising. In fact, a third (34 percent) of 543 MPs who were elected in 2014 Lok Sabha polls faced criminal charges, up from 30 percent in 2009 and 24 percent in 2004.

In the upcoming Himachal Pradesh Assembly election, there are 16 Independent candidates with declared criminal cases and 6 with serious criminal charges taking the second slot. Congress, on the other hand, has six candidates with declared criminal cases and three candidates with serious criminal cases lesser than CPM, which takes the third slot with 10 and nine cases respectively.

Clarity in the criminal history of politicians is a relatively latest concept, something that started only in 2003 after the Supreme Court of India ruled that all persons contesting in an election whether at the state or national level must submit a judicial affidavit detailing pending criminal cases along with financial liabilities, assets, and educational qualification. The latest crackdown from the Supreme Court is likely to emerge as another major step in cleaning Indian politics.

The government's reluctance (though its stance seemed more positive on Wednesday's hearing) is worrying more so when politicians facing criminal cases are rarely convicted. The Supreme Court order demanding conviction details in 1,581 cases against MPs and MLAs could prove to be a real eye-opener.

One can only hope that the government would show the same bravery in cleaning Indian politics it showed in weeding out black money with demonetisation (even though the results of the drive are debatable).

Click here to follow LIVE updates of the Himachal Pradesh Assembly Election result.
Former Intelligence Bureau chief Dineshwar Sharma, who was appointed the new interlocutor for Jammu and Kashmir, has faced a tough initiation into office after Kashmiri separatists reportedly refused to talk to him.

The Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL), comprising senior separatist leaders, rejected any possibility of engaging in parleys with Sharma. The statement was issued by JRL leaders Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umer Farooq and Muhammad Yasin Malik. "To be part of this so-called dialogue process would be a futile exercise for any Kashmiri since this new tactic has been adopted by the Indian government after its failure to crush the aspirations of the freedom loving people through military repression," they said.

The statement added, "In principle, we have always advocated and supported sincere and productive dialogue as a means to resolve the conflict in Jammu and Kashmir. Our stand on dialogue requires the basic acknowledgement that there is a dispute that has to be resolved. The Indian government has continuously refused to accept this basic premise and the reality on the ground."

It had earlier been reported that the separatists were tight-lipped on the issue and refused to give their viewpoint on Sharma's appointment. Furthermore, it was also not clear whether Sharma himself would talk to the separatists.

The national dailies had been upbeat about Sharma's appointment. Hindustan Times had said that Sharma's stint as interlocutor could help build on the gains achieved in recent times and saw it as a positive step. Noting that votaries of dialogue had for long sought a blend of military and political approach to the Kashmir imbroglio, it had said that the move "half-meets" the call but was well-timed.

The Hindu had welcomed his appointment and said that the dialogue must be as broad-based as possible. It had also warned that if the move was to be more than a headline-management exercise, the Central and state governments must rein in the hardliners to enable a genuinely conciliatory environment.

A Firstpost article had also argued that engaging the Hurriyat leadership would be a major hurdle for Sharma. It had pointed out that the Centre had failed to implement the recommendations of the report submitted by three interlocutors on Kashmir  late journalist Dileep Padgaonkar, Radha Kumar and MM Ansari  though they had sought to stop the constitutional erosion of the state.

In their report, the interlocutors asked the government to look into the need for revoking of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) and the Public Safety Act (PSA). However, after the 2016 agitation, many youths were booked under PSA, while central government forces have taken recourse to AFSPA to oppose any civil trial of the force personnel involved in human rights violations.

Ansari said that the PDP-BJP government has failed in Kashmir. "The PDP-BJP government has realised that the use of brute force has not worked in Kashmir. Not only have attacks on PDP MLAs taken place, but surgical strikes have also not been able to restore peace along the borders," said the former interlocutor.

Newsclick had pointed out that while all pro-Indian "mainstream" parties accept the legitimacy of India administering Kashmir, the meaningful "talks" will yield results only if it happens between conflicting parties. These include the Hurriyat Conference which believes in the resolution of Kashmir dispute through peaceful and non-violent-means has posed a challenge to status-quo over the years, and other militant outfits who believe in using violent means and categorically term Indian rule in Kashmir as illegitimate.

Ansari had also criticised Sharma's appointment in this Firstpost article where he had written that the appointment of an IPS officer shows that the government still thinks about the Jammu and Kashmir dispute through the prism of national security and intelligence. But the fact is that the problem can only be solved politically.

After the Hurriyat's refusal from talking to Sharma, it is clear that his impact will be seriously diminished in the region. It is clearly easy to talk to parties which agree with the government's stance. However Sharma's real challenge was to talk to those who hold differing views. Unfortunately, it seems like he won't even get a chance to take up that challenge.

With inputs from IANS
Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah sparked controversy on Wednesday when he said that all those people who live in Karnataka must learn Kannada.

"Everyone who lives here is a Kannadiga... Whoever lives in Karnataka should learn Kannada and make their children learn it too," DNA quoted Siddaramaiah as saying.

Even though the chief minister also said that he was not against learning any other language, he was quick to add: "But if you don't learn Kannada, it means you're showing disrespect to the language."

"Im not saying dont learn any other language. Im not against any language. Learn whichever language you want. But not learning Kannada is an insult to the Kannada land," The News Minute quoted him as saying.

"Kannadigas are generous people. We love and respect other people. We support them. We should be generous in that way. We should have humanity. But when it comes to the Kannada language, its not necessary that we be so generous," said the chief minister.

Siddaramaiah then asked the Kannadigas to be more affectionate towards the language and asked them to focus on the preservation of the language.
Jaipur: The toll in the transformer explosion in Rajasthan's Khatulai village rose to 14 on Tuesday, with Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje ordering a high-level probe into the incident.

Union minister and Jaipur rural MP Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, who visited the affected families on Wednesday, termed it a "tragic incident" and called for a thorough investigation.

A transformer had exploded in the Khatulai village near Shahpura town of the state on Tuesday, killing five persons and injuring several others.

Medical Superintendent of Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Hospital, DS Meena, said nine persons, who had sustained severe burn injuries, succumbed while undergoing treatment at the SMS Hospital late on Tuesday night.

"Women were performing 'Bhaat ceremony' (pre-wedding ritual) when the incident took place. Five persons had died on the spot and 22 others were rushed to the SMS Hospital. Out of the 22, nine more deaths, mostly that of women, were reported late on Tuesday night. The casualties also include a pregnant lady. Three persons were discharged and ten are undergoing treatment," DSP Shahpura, Bhag Chand Meena, said today.

Rathore visited Shahpura town to take stock of the situation. He also met with those undergoing treatment at the SMS Hospital and assured them of best medical care.

"It is a tragic mishap. Such a thing should not happen to anyone. Blast in a transformer is a matter of concern and all aspects of it should be investigated," he told reporters.

Governor Kalyan Singh prayed for courage to the bereaved family members who lost their loved ones in the mishap. He also wished for fast recovery of the injured.

Jaipur district collector Siddharth Mahajan announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh for kin of the deceased.

"The Jaipur Vidhyut Vitran Nigam Limited (JVVNL) will give Rs 5 lakh to families of deceased and additional Rs 5 lakh will be provided through Chief Minister's relief fund," he said.

Congress leader Sachin Pilot called the incident "unfortunate" and said the explosion took place due to non-maintenance of the transformer.

"It is a very unfortunate incident and a high-level probe should be ordered to identify the people responsible for the negligence," he said in a statement.

He also accused the BJP-led state government of not acting beyond ordering a probe and announcing compensation.

The Congress leader said the state government should reveal details of the money spent on replacement and maintenance of equipment. Rajasthan BJP president Ashok Parnami also met the injured victims earlier in the day.

Meanwhile, villagers and local leaders protested against the electricity department for alleged criminal negligence.

The agitated families also refused to send the bodies for postmortem, until an investigation was ordered and adequate compensation announced.
The Congress government in Himachal Pradesh is neither competent nor capable of ensuring development and the party should be wiped out from the state, BJP president Amit Shah said on Tuesday while addressing a series of election rallies.

He said Himachal Pradesh has become a land of mafias and criminals under the Congress rule.

The BJP president claimed that Himachal Pradesh was close to Narendra Modi's heart, after the prime minister sanctioned

financial assistance and enhanced the grant-in-aid to Rs 71,000 crore under the 14th Finance Commission, which was the highest in the country.

Addressing an election meeting at Pachhad in Sirmaur district, Shah accused the Congress of raking up non-issues ahead of the 9 November Assembly elections.

Criticising Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi for questioning Modi on development, Shah said, "Forget what the BJP did in the last three years, we will give every account of our development programmes in 2019, but Rahul baba should tell that what his three generations and his party did for the country in the past 70 years."

Earlier, flagging off a run for unity to mark the 142nd birth anniversary of India's first home minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Shah had accused the Nehru-Gandhi family of "undermining" his legacy and contribution.

Patel united over 400 states with the Union of India without any bloodshed and but the Kashmir issue remained unresolved as it was with then prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru, Shah said, adding that "but for Patel, there would have been many Pakistans".
As the dates for the Himachal Pradesh Assembly election draw close, political rhetoric is on the rise, as the BJP tries to wrestle power from the ruling Congress in the state. The polls, which will take place on 9 November, will be fought on several fronts, and the major parties are already trading barbs over issues ranging from employment to the menace of the mining mafia.

Here is a brief list of the key political issues the Himachal Pradesh polls are being fought on:

Corruption

As both BJP and Congress vie to woo voters over the plank of development, the corruption allegations against Himachal Pradesh chief minister Virbhadra Singh are BJP's trump card.

On his maiden trip to Himachal Pradesh, BJP chief Amit Shah stepped up the party's campaign in the state, claiming that Singh will go down in history as an "example for corruption", who dented the state's clean image and has also "destroyed" his family and aides.

"Virbhadra Singh has set a unique and unparalleled example as his family and naukars are facing corruption cases, and are out on bail. Is this a good example that he has created in the state where lakhs of tourists visit? What impression do they carry back from Himachal Pradesh? Wherever there is talk of corruption in any state, Virbhadra Singhs name crops up," The Indian Express quoted Shah as saying.

The saffron party's chief ministerial candidate and former chief minister of the state, Prem Kumar Dhumal agrees that corruption is one of the major problems currently plaguing the state. "The main issues are corruption, the law and order situation in the state and the total halt of government works. The state is in a very bad condition. It will take time to bring it on track again," he said in an interview to The Hindu.

Union minister and BJP leader Nitin Gadkari too, during election rallies in the state, attacked the Nehru-Gandhi family of the Congress over its alleged failure to eradicate poverty and corruption. "The election is not between the BJP and the Congress, but for the future of the people who have suffered due to the corruption of the Congress government," he said.

However, Congress leader Anand Sharma countered the BJP's attacks by saying, "Mere allegations of corruption against a leader by the Opposition doesnt make someone corrupt. Many BJP leaders have serious corruption charges against them. How about Chhattisgarh chief minister Raman Singh, whose sons name had come up in the Panama Papers or the chief ministers of Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan? There are bigger money laundering scams of many BJP leaders. Have they ordered any probe against them?"

The Congress, in its election manifesto for the state, mentions "zero tolerance on corruption and setting up of a grievances commission".

Development

Anand Sharma insisted that instead of corruption, the key issue in the Assembly election this year is development. The Virbhadra Singh-led state government has undertaken a lot of projects in the past five years which will play a major role in these polls, Sharma said, according to The Indian Express.

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi told a rally in Mandi that the Himachal model of development was far superior to the Gujarat model. He said that the state government in Shimla is ahead in development indicators as compared to the Gujarat government in the last five years.

Shah responded to the claims of development, saying the present government is "neither competent nor capable" of ensuring development in Himachal Pradesh.

Criticising Rahul for questioning Prime Minister Narendra Modi on development, Shah said, "Forget what the BJP did in the last three years, we will give every account of our development programmes in 2019, but Rahul baba should tell that what his three generations and his party did for the country in the past 70 years."

Safe drinking water to every household, road connectivity to villages, emergency medical services in rural areas, doubling the income of farmers by 2022, raising compensation for land acquired by the government for developmental projects, social security pension, and free "Chardham Yatra" for senior citizens are some of the features promised by the BJP in their "vision document" released for the Himachal Pradesh polls, according to Financial Express.

Moreover, in October, Modi laid the foundation stone of a Rs 1,350-crore All India Institute of Medical Sciences project. He also laid the foundation stone for an Indian Institute of Information Technology at Una and a steel processing plant in Kangra district. ANI quoted the prime minister as saying, Centre would invest Rs 15,000 crore for 13 development projects in Himachal Pradesh.

The India Today-Axis My India opinion poll indicated that development is the biggest issue in these upcoming polls. Almost 82 percent of the citizens voted for development while seven percent said employment might also be a factor.

Mafia menace

Addressing rallies in the poll-bound hill state, Shah said the menace of various mafias in the state has slowed down development. "Himachal has become a land of the mafia with forest mafia, mining mafia, drug mafia, transfer mafia, liquor mafia and land mafia flourishing in the state," he alleged in Dalhousie and Jwali.

He said the people of Himachal Pradesh would want to see the end of corruption and 'mafia raj' in the state. This "stigma", he said, can be removed only if the BJP is voted to power in the state. Modi's resolve was to provide a clean and responsive government in Himachal and rid the people of the mafia, Shah said.

Youth empowerment

With the youth accounting for 43 percent of the voter base in Himachal Pradesh, political parties have ensured the issue of youth empowerment features in all speeches.

However, the BJP and Congress have fielded only 10 candidates in total below the age of 40, even though the majority of voters fall in the age group of 18-39 years, Hindustan Times reported.

"All parties promise things before elections but once they come to power, they forget about the youth. The youth is on the mind of politicians only during elections," the report quoted Harish Verma, a research scholar at Himachal Pradesh University, as saying.

The BJP's election manifesto also lays importance on employment generation. The document says that thrust will be on generation of employment by harnessing tourism potential and developing new tourist circuits. The document also promises abolition of interviews for Class III and Class IV jobs, laptops and free WiFi for students, and job fairs to facilitate unemployed youth.

Meanwhile, Congress too has launched a campaign to woo the youth. During his campaign in the state, Rahul said that the Congress government had created 70,000 jobs for the youth over the past five years, compared to only 10,000 jobs by the BJP government in Gujarat in the same period.

Anti-incumbency and infighting

The ruling Congress is also facing an uphill task in Himachal Pradesh with infighting and anti-incumbency emerging as major challenges to its electoral prospects.

Virbhadra Singh had been demanding the removal of state Congress chief Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu, and a worried central leadership of Congress is busy placating its old warhorse who has steered the party in the hill state for several decades PTI reported.

With inputs from agencies
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"Of late the issue of terrorism and love jehad have acquired menacing scale. But what is more distressing is that these issues are also being used for political gains," Prasad said.

Ravi Shankar Prasad referred to a India Today report claiming that the media report showed that several groups claimed that they recieved foreign funds to radicalise Kerala youths and establish a Islamic State caliphate. He said that the Kerala government, on the other hand, has claimed that love jehad is all 'humbug' in Supreme Court in the Hadiya case.

Prasad said that the cases of love jehad were serious and real and even Christian groups have started online helplines to protect young Christian girls. Prasad said that the BJP has always welcomed wilful converst, however, use of force, radicalisation and money is against the law and must be probed.

"You have been elected to govern the state of Kerala. It is your primary responsibility to ensure safety of citizen's of Kerala. And today because of PSI and Satya Sarni, Satya Sarni, the life of keralas citizens is under threat. If they do not probe it, wed be constraint to publicly say that CPM led Kerala government is bartering national interest for political vote bank," Prasad said.

"It is a design for deliberate brain washing in pursuite of creating an Islamic State caliphate in India," Prasad said while alleging that Kerala government was deliberately sheilding the perpetrators for vote bank poliitcs.

The BJP leader slammed Rahul Gandhi over his tweet mocking the new rankings. "I want to ask Rahul Gandhi, how much does he know about the conomy. The more Rahul Gandhi speaks, the more he exposes himself," he said.

Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi has said that it is easy to 'hire consultants' to get desirable rankings, while he added that no marketing bid can erase the pain of 'lived' reality frompeople's mind.

Meanwhile.. Congress alleges BJP could have doctored Ease of Doing Business rankings

Ravi Shankar Prasad referred to a India Today report claiming that the media report showed that several groups claimed that they recieved foreign funds to radicalise Kerala youths and establish a Islamic State caliphate. He said that the Kerala government, on the other hand, has claimed that love jehad is all 'humbug' in Supreme Court in the Hadiya case.

Prasad said that the cases of love jehad were serious and real and even Christian groups have started online helplines to protect young Christian girls. Prasad said that the BJP has always welcomed wilful converst, however, use of force, radicalisation and money is against the law and must be probed.

"You have been elected to govern the state of Kerala. It is your primary responsibility to ensure safety of citizen's of Kerala. And today because of PSI and Satya Sarni, Satya Sarni, the life of keralas citizens is under threat. If they do not probe it, wed be constraint to publicly say that CPM led Kerala government is bartering national interest for political vote bank," Prasad said.

"It is a design for deliberate brain washing in pursuite of creating an Islamic State caliphate in India," Prasad said while alleging that Kerala government was deliberately sheilding the perpetrators for vote bank poliitcs.

The BJP leader slammed Rahul Gandhi over his tweet mocking the new rankings. "I want to ask Rahul Gandhi, how much does he know about the conomy. The more Rahul Gandhi speaks, the more he exposes himself," he said.

'If Rahul feels his pet expresses his view clearer, Congress must worry about its future'

#GST is a reform. Result will take time. PM Modi has shown courage in bringing these reforms: Ravi Shankar Prasad | image via ANI pic.twitter.com/o7AQWXUFWB

#EaseOfDoingBuisness at best a signalling factor. If your basics are fundamentally weak, no amount of marketing hype can fix 'lived reality'

Easy to hire consultants and 'fix' #EaseOfDoingBuisness rankings. It's hard to undo the real damage done to Indian economy by Messrs Modi&Co

Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi has said that it is easy to 'hire consultants' to get desirable rankings, while he added that no marketing bid can erase the pain of 'lived' reality frompeople's mind.

Meanwhile.. Congress alleges BJP could have doctored Ease of Doing Business rankings

#BREAKING  CBI is targeting top leaders of Cong on the orders of govt. Investigative agencies are biased: Kapil Sibal pic.twitter.com/d0LIGSpuYT



As Assembly elections in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh draw close, national units of BJP and Congress are also sparring over the Centre's policies and performance, while their state units take at each other in the two poll-bound states.

Amid high-octane political mudslinging, both, the BJP and the Congress have planned two press conferences which are scheduled closely after each other. Union minister and BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad will hold a presser at 3.30 pm while a Congress media briefing is scheduled shortly afterwards at 4.00 pm.

The BJP is expected to pat its back over India's improved ranking in the World bank's Ease of Doing Business report, while it could hit back at Congress for politicising 'well-meaning' economic policies. The Congress on the other hand is likely to counter those claims with an alternative narrative even as it defends it's government in Himachal Pradesh.

Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had lauded the BJP government for its performance taking a dig at the previous Congress-led governments in a tweet after the rankings came out.

The difference between the UPA and NDA-The ease of doing corruption has been replaced by the ease of doing business"  Arun Jaitley (@arunjaitley) November 1, 2017

Earlier, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi had mocked at the BJP's 'chest-thumping' over the improved ranks in a tweet.

   ease of doing business  ,        "Dr Jaitley"      Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) November 1, 2017

India had ranked 100th amid 190 countries, in the World Banks survey report Doing business 2018 released on Tuesday. It is for the first time has moved into the top 100 in the global rankings from last years 130.

Meanwhile, the parties are also fighting a pitched battle as they trade different narratives of the effect demonetisation has had on India's economy, as it's first anniversary is just around the corner.

The BJP has vowed to celebrate 'anti-black money day' on 8 November while Congress is busy preparing for nationwide protests to observe 'black day' to highlight the 'ill-effects' of Modi government's controversial scheme.
Jambusar: The BJP does not have the "sole contract over nationalism", Congress leader Ahmed Patel said on Wednesday while rebutting the ruling party's allegation about his "deep relations" with a Gujarat hospital where an alleged Islamic State operative worked.

The alleged Islamic State operative, before his arrest, worked as a laboratory technician at Ankleshwar town's Sardar Patel Hospital, with which Patel had been associated as a trustee. Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani had asked for Patel's resignation from Parliament over the issue.

Reacting to the charge, the political adviser to Congress president Sonia Gandhi said his election to the Rajya Sabha had become an "eyesore" for the BJP.

"When they face difficulties, they talk of nationalism and communalism. Recently, the chief minister said something about me, he should be ashamed (of it)," Patel said addressing a public gathering in the presence of Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi.

"The way they weaved the story it seems that they have the sole contract over nationalism. Only they are nationalist, nobody else is," he said. He said the Congress and its leaders had made many sacrifices for the country.

"It started with Mahatma Gandhiji, and after independence, Indiraji, Rajivji. Many party workers and leaders became a target of terrorism... You cannot teach us nationalism, patriotism," he said.

"You cannot fight terrorism. You went and handed over terrorists in Kandahar (Afghanistan). How are you going to fight terrorism," Patel said, referring to the then NDA government's handing over of terrorist accused in exchange of passengers following the hijacking of Indian Airlines flight IC 814 in 1999.

Patel stressed he would not resign, adding that he had been elected by MLAs. "They are asking for my resignation. My win in the Rajya Sabha polls has become an eyesore for the BJP. I will not resign on your demand. My 44 MLAs have elected me," Patel said, referring to the poll to the Upper House in which he had defeated his BJP rival despite cross-voting by some Congress MLAs.

The BJP recently accused Patel of having "deep relations" with the hospital in Bharuch district. "I want to tell them why are you making such allegations when the country has so many security agencies. Let them investigate and come out with the truth," the senior Congress leader said.

He added that he had resigned from the hospital in 2015. "I had given (my) resignation from the hospital way back in 2015. I had joined it as the people of our area wanted us to build a good hospital. The management is different," said Patel, who belongs to Bharuch district.

"Regarding the Islamic State terrorist, I have done some research. He had earlier worked in two hospitals and one of them was inaugurated by BJP leaders. Why are there no allegations against them," he asked.
New Delhi: The AIADMK's Sasikala-Dhinakaran faction leader, V Pugazhendhi, accused the BJP of meddling in internal issues of his party and intimidating members of his camp.

He also said that they had doubts if the Election Commission will function independently in the symbol dispute case with the Palaniswami-Panneerselvam faction.

Citing Tamil Nadu deputy chief minister O Panneerselvam's meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Pugazhendhi claimed that it was "evident" that the prime minister "had a say" in

the AIADMK issues.

"Tamil Nadu BJP leaders are threatening us in the name of raids. With support from the BJP, the ruling faction of AIADMK is pressuring us. I ask Prime Minister Modi why he was

involved in the AIADMK affairs," Pugazhendhi told reporters.

"We doubt if the Election Commission, though an independent body, will function independently in the symbol dispute case," he added.

Asked if his faction was trying to create a "false narrative" to conceal lack of support from party cadres in the symbol dispute case, Pugazhendhi claimed that they had facts to back their accusations.

"In a speech, Tamil Nadu minister KT Rajendra Balaji of EPS-OPS faction had said nobody can shake the AIADMK as long as Prime Minister Narendra Modi supported them.

"Also Panneerselvam had on many instances accepted that he discussed party issues with Modi," he said.

The AIADMK's Karnataka state secretary also hit out at rival faction leader V Maitreyan, accusing him of misleading the Centre and trying to show Sasikala faction in bad light.

"Recently Maitreyan has issued a memorandum seeking disqualification of three Rajya Sabha members belonging to our faction," he said.

"He was in the BJP earlier and because of that network, he is able to meet Union ministers frequently and pass on misleading information about our faction," Pugazhendhi alleged.
After a period of stunned silence, the Congress has reacted with a sense of panic and bitterness at India's quantum leap in World Bank's Ease of Doing Business (EoDB) rankings.

Rahul Gandhi has posted yet another sarcastic remark on Twitter, suggesting that India's 30-spot jump does not represent reality, while senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal has started tweeting about Vyapam scam and hunger index.

India at 100 of 190 countries in Ease of Doing Business .

India at 100 of 119 countries in the Global Hunger Index . Deal with hunger too .  Kapil Sibal (@KapilSibal) November 1, 2017

A Congress spokesperson claimed that the rankings "won't change reality" while also accusing the prime minister of "policy adventurism" and terming Arun Jaitley as the "worst finance minister" and a "spin doctor".

In a rally in Gujarat on Wednesday, the Congress vice-president carried on the theme. Mystifyingly, Rahul called the World Bank a "foreign company".

Jaitley sits in his office and believes a foreign company talking of ease of business. Did Jaitley ji go to a small shop owner and ask what is the ease of doing business? For this government, what is spoken abroad is truth, but reality of India is false, he said to a crowd in Gujarat's Bharuch district.

It is unclear on what basis the Congress has leveled the charges, and it is also not clear why it accused the finance minister of "spin doctoring" because the annual ratings are published not by the Centre but by the World Bank, over which the government of India has no control. The Congress vice-president must also be aware that the World Bank is a Bretton Woods institution, not a "foreign company".

According to the Ease of Doing Business (EoDB) ratings, India has moved into the list of top 100 business friendly nations for the first time and its 30-spot jump is the most by a country. It has improved in nine out of 10 parameters and has bridged the gap with toppers on best global practices in business regulatory framework.

India has done the best in eight categories out of 10: 'Starting a Business', 'Dealing with Construction Permits', 'Getting Credit', 'Protecting Minority Investors', 'Paying Taxes', 'Trading across Borders', 'Enforcing Contracts', and 'Resolving Insolvency.

Among these eight, India's rise has been boosted by three key reforms: Resolving insolvency, ease of paying taxes online and protection of minority investors. And in each of these areas India's performance is expected to intensify on the wings of far-reaching reforms such as insolvency and bankruptcy code and Goods and Services Tax (GST).

There another area where India has shown a stunning improvement. The World Bank calls it Distance to Frontier (DTF) metric, where laggard nations are pitted against better performing ones.

As The Times of India explains, "DTF shows the distance of each economy to the "frontier," that is, the best performance observed in each of the indicators across all economies in the Doing Business sample since 2005. An economy's distance to frontier is reflected on a scale from 0 to 100, where 0 represents the lowest performance and 100 represents the frontier."

On this parameter, India has scored 60.76 against 56.05 last year: Rising a whopping 4.71 points. To put it in perspective, Chinas recorded a 0.40 point increase, though it is ranked much higher than India overall.

The World Bank report has also highlighted several areas where India is lagging behind other nations. Jaitley's comments during the news conference suggest that the government has taken note. "In parameters such as doing business, dealing with construction permits, enforcing contracts and registering property where India is still lagging behind, there is reason to believe that we can improve our position significantly," the finance minister told reporters.

More than reflecting achievements (being 100 among 190 participating nations cannot be the end goal), the most important takeaway from the ranking is that it indicates strict adherence to reforms process and willingness to take decisions that may have transitory costs. An expectation has been created that India will now do progressively better and will aim to move within the top 50: An aim articulated by the finance minister.

Annette Dixon, World Banks vice-president for South Asia, said that "in our view todays result is a very clear signal from India that not only has the country been ready and open for business . . . it is now competing as a preferred place to do business globally".

And on the perception that the rankings "seem to contradict the mood on the ground" about businesses being hit by demonetisation and GST, Junaid Ahmad, the Country Director for the World Bank in India, told The Hindu: "I dont think there is a contradiction. Reforms take a little while to be picked up. What you are seeing today is not just the shift of the last 12 months, but of the last three years. So the perseverance in policy shift is being picked up now. Also, it takes time to hit the ground. Policies get changed, but behaviour doesnt change immediately. You are now beginning to see small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and larger enterprises recognise the changes that have been introduced and they are reacting to it."

Unless the Congress means to suggest that World Bank has colluded with the Modi government to make it look good, it is difficult to fathom Congress criticism over India's improved performance.

One important reason why the party has gone into a denial mode is that the boost in EoDB rankings has come at a particularly inconvenient time for the Congress, which has been running a high-pitch campaign against the government's alleged mismanagement of the economy.

In the last few days leading to yet another election season, the Congress under Rahul's tutelage has focused exclusively on the economic disruption caused by the GST (and residual discomfort of demonetisation) with a belief that relentless highlighting of the trouble caused by GST and demonetisation will eventually crack BJP's political base.

This has been done based on calculation that the key state of Gujaratwhere BJP is facing anti-incumbency after a long stint in powerhas been the most affected by GST disruption and therefore the sizeable trader community will register their anger by deserting the BJP and voting for Congress.

Accordingly, Rahul has been repackaged again, this time as a witty, incisive and sarcastic brand and Congress has been piling on the insults on Modi: Be it calling GST as the catchy Gabbar Singh Tax or releasing spoof videos of Bollywood blockbusters to further hammer upon the economic disruption theme.

The World Bank report completely upends this plan and queers Congress's pitch. This may explain Rahul's cognitive dissonance and desperate attempts to run down the EoDB rankings which sets global standards in business regulatory framework.

Congress is conflating two separate issues here: Political opposition to BJP and improvement in India's business climate.

It need not be mutually exclusive, but by dismissing the rankings issued by the World Bank, Rahul is actually handing over the credit for India's improvement in business rankings exclusively to Narendra Modi.

One suspects this might not be a prudent political strategy.
Irked over Maharashtra Navnirman Sena's eviction drive against hawkers, Mumbai Hawkers' Union called out an agitation  'Rozi Roti Andolan' on Wednesday  which was disrupted following a scuffle.

A fight broke out between Congress and MNS activists in Dadar as the Congress party decided to support the hawkers', against MNS eviction drives following the Elphinstone stampede tragedy. Rapid Action Force (RAF) was called in to control the fight.

#Maharashtra: MNS create ruckus in #Mumbai as Congress joins hawkers' protest in the city; Rapid Action Force called in. Workers detained pic.twitter.com/sHNwhEZzsm  ANI (@ANI) November 1, 2017

The police had to carry out a lathi charge and detain several workers before the situation settled down, reported Hindustan Times. The report further quoted MNS leader Sandeep Deshpande as saying, Both party members have been detained. Our members only wanted to stop the Congress from carrying out the morcha. There was no fracas.

The clash broke out after the MNS workers disrupted the Feriwala Samman Morcha (Hawkers' Felicitation March) organised by the city unit of Congress in support of the protesting hawkers, police said.

As soon as Congress reached Dadar to support the hawkers' protest, several MNS party workers reached the spot and both the parties entered into an ugly spat leading to complete chaos at the station.

A group of at least 30-40 MNS workers started hurling potatoes at Congress workers. The police arrested workers from both parties for vandalism, reported Mumbai Mirror.

"Police swung into action and arrested 15 MNS cadres and eight Congress workers," Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone 5) Rajiv Jain told PTI. He further added that a case under relevant sections of the Maharashtra Police Act was registered against the workers of both the parties.

Another senior official said mild force was used by the police personnel keep the situation under control. Shopkeepers and licenced hawkers chose to keep their shops shut during this period.

Reacting to the scuffle between the two parties, Mumbai unit Congress president Nirupam said, "Congress party leaders and workers, mainly Maharashtrians, had organised this morcha to felicitate the Marathi hawkers. But that, too, was disrupted by the MNS. I blame the local police for the entire drama. My only aim is to implement the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, which essentially gives rights to the street hawkers as well as licences. I hope this issue comes to the forefront."

The MNS' anti-hawker drive has been gaining traction for some time now.

Earlier on 21st October, a group of hawkers was attacked and their stalls vandalised by MNS activists. Following this, the hawkers' union had decided to hold a demonstration on 1 November as a mark of protest.

Raj Thackrey's aggressive stance against hawkers setting up stalls near railway stations:

MNS has adopted an aggressive stance against hawkers occupying railway station premises and setting up stalls, after the Elphinstone Road railway station stampede that claimed 23 lives. Party's chief Raj Thackeray held a rally from Metro Cinema to Churchgate railway station in south Mumbai on 5 October flagging off their protest, followed by several eviction drives in the city including in Malad, Vashi, and Thane.

The issue has gained a political colour with the Congress and MNS pitted against each other in an 'anti-hawker vs pro-hawker' narrative.

Aftermath of Thackeray's anti-hawker drive:

On 28 October, some MNS activists were assaulted by hawkers outside suburban Malad railway station while they were trying to evict them forcibly. Police later arrested seven hawkers under various sections of the IPC, including 307 (attempt to murder) in connection with the incident.

Meanwhile, Sanjay Nirupam also addressed a rally after the incident and said that hawkers should not tolerate "high-handedness" of MNS activists and are capable of retaliation.

The political tussle between MNS and Congress over the hawkers' issue intensified further on 30 October when workers of the Thackeray-led party held a protest outside Nirupam's residence.

Police arrested 11 MNS activists for participating in the protest held outside the Versova residence of the Congress leader, who has sided with hawkers.

Following the attack on MNS workers, Nirupam was booked on 29 October for addressing the rally without securing prior permission from the police.

What's the issue?

The Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act's non-implementation, since it was passed as a law in 2014, is the root cause of the problem. The transit-oriented development, which is considered as the only viable solution to manage public spaces, too has not been implemented. Certain issues concerning the hawkers like the licenses, protection against the arbitrary eviction of stalls by the BMC and formation of Town Vending Committee (TVC) are all covered within the law, however, its poor implementation has aggravated the problem.

What does the law say on street vendors?

In its landmark judgment of 9 September, 2013 in the Maharashtra Ekta Hawkers Union vs. Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai case, the apex court stated, street vendors  are a harassed lot and constantly victimised by the officials of the local authorities, the police, etc, who regularly target them for extra income and treat them with extreme contempt, reported The Hindu. This led to the recognition of the rights of the hawkers, with the apex court stating that street vendors also have a fundamental right to their occupation as per Article 19 (1) (g) of the Constitution.

With inputs from PTI
It is certain that Rahul Gandhi has come a long way from being a reluctant leader to an effective communicator. If not anything, his increasing dominance in the social media stands as a valid proof of it. But he is yet to come up with a political narrative powerful enough to influence the voting patterns.

The Gandhi scion and his party are attempting to corner BJP, the ruling party at the Centre, on the plank of an ill implemented GST and its impact on trade and economy. Every meeting that Gandhi has attended after the new tax regime was imposed, mentioned how GST has made lives difficult for traders and invited an economic slump in the country.

But a large section of Congress workers is yet to know how the ill-implemented GST is impacting the lives of people other than traders. It would be difficult for these workers to convince farmers, consumers, salaried persons, etc, who still remain out of this narrative weaved by Gandhi, about how the GST has impacted them.

A narrative on and around GST which does not talk about the problems it created, if any, for all other sections of the society may leave them not identifying themselves with the issue. Such a situation is unlikely to bring about any electoral dividend for the party.

If one recollects BJP's 2014 Lok Sabha election campaign, the winning narrative of the saffron party was built around dynastic politics in Congress and the allegations of corruption against the government led by it. A myriad of regional sub-narratives just fitted into it, which finally ended up appealing to a large section of voters cutting across the barriers of class and identity.

The issues of dynastic politics and corruption still haunt the grand old party. Gandhi is laden with the responsibility of sketching out a strategy to at least make these issues against the Congress pale. In contrary to this expectation built up among rank and file of the party, many times Gandhi is seen plunging into the narrative created by BJP and thus unwittingly promoting its politics.

The paraphernalia of Gandhis recent politics which was evident in his Gujarat tour included visits to temples one after another, flaunting a tika on his forehead and referring to the nation as Hindustan instead of India or Bharat. Though these symbols seem to be quite insignificant to notice, they are enough to convey the message whom he is trying to connect with and by what means.

These symbols are necessarily seen as integral parts of majoritarian politics in India, best exemplified by a number of leaders in BJP. By flaunting these symbols, Gandhi is seen as jumping into this politics and thus ending up endorsing soft Hindutva and also legitimising the very idea of Hindu majoritarian politics which the Congress despises.

Gandhi could have taken a leaf from his partys experiments with soft Hindutva in Gujarat in the 2002 Assembly election in which, as reported by the Times of India, Congress had tried to counter RSS with a former RSS veteran Shankersinh Vaghela as Pradesh Congress Committee chief who led the campaign. In that election, BJP won 127 seats in a sharp contrast to 51 won by the Congress. Repeating the same mistake might mean repeating the disaster.

Even the stringent critics of Prime Minister Narendra Modi admit that during his regime, Indian politics has shifted to a whole new level (whatever its outcomes are), which many like to call a new paradigm. If the result of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly election held early this year is any indication  where a huge section people voted for BJP transcending the caste equations  this shift has made traditional vote bank politics nearly impossible to practice for Congress.

In the face of changing electoral dynamics speaking extensively on the issue of the present regimes failure to create jobs sounded like a practical proposition. But then job creation is not an issue which only the present regime is facing. The decline in the number of jobs created every year began from the UPA 2 regime itself. The present government only saw these numbers hitting the rock bottom, a situation further aggravated by demonetisation and implementation of GST.

A Firstpost article published earlier argued, In the first nine months of 2010, 6.58 lakh jobs were added; in 2011 this number was 7.04, 2012 full year was 3.22 lakh and 2013 nine months it stood at 3.36 lakh. In 2014, the nine-month period saw 3.76 lakh jobs being created but a quarter wise breakdown shows the largest number of jobs were created between April-June at 1.82 lakh and then job creation kept declining to 1.58 in the July-September quarter before falling off to 1.17 lakh in the last quarter of the calendar year.

In a conversation held with students in Gujarat recently, Gandhi assured them that if the Congress comes to power in the state, it will work towards bolstering the MSME sector to enhance job creation.

But what he fails to convince is that where the schemes such as 'Mudra Yojana' and 'Skill India' initiated by the present regime to strengthen the MSME sector faltered and how the Congress plans to mend them in order achieve its stated objective? Without these answers, his proposition of job creation seems half-baked.

At this juncture, rather than criticising the government for its failure, coming up with a narrative of solutions to the problems faced by the nation seems to be a better option for the Congress, otherwise, it runs the risk of ending up with promoting the schemes, policies and the politics of the saffron party.
New Delhi: The Congress on Wednesday dubbed the CBI a "Compromise Bureau of Investigation" after it gave clean chit to Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan in the Vyapam scam case, and said it would move court against the agency and its officers.

The Congress alleged that the investigating officers "tampered" the hard disc of a computer seized from an accused in the case which, the party claimed, carried reference to the chief minister and several ministers.

"The CBI has many names and after what the CBI has said on Vyapam, its name now is Compromise Bureau of Investigation," Congress leader Kapil Sibal told reporters.

Sibal, accompanied by party leaders Vivek Tankha and KTS Tulsi, said the Congress would support the whistleblowers in the case and would "investigate the investigator".

"It is unfortunate... in a country where investigative agency works one-sided and flouts the rule of law, what will happen to democracy there, one should think," Sibal said.

Sibal accused the CBI of "tampering" the hard disc.

He alleged that a whistle-blower has filed an affidavit in the court that an IT expert had opened the hard disc and a copy of it was sent to an independent lab, whose report has not been taken into account by the CBI.

The party demanded that the hard disc be sent to any international agency for test.

"It has now come to this level...we will now have to investigate the investigator. The Congress party will investigate it. We will all get together and charge-sheet them.

"We will file a private complaint in the trial court and ask the court to re-investigate. The accuser will become the accused now. The charge-sheeter has to be charge-sheeted," he said.

In a veiled threat to those behind giving clean chit to Chouhan in the case, the former Union minister said, "We are watching very carefully as to who is doing what. In the coming times, we also know who is doing what."

The CBI had on Tuesday filed its charge sheet in the Vyapam scam case and claimed there was no truth in the allegations that data files seized by the state police from an accused and having mention of the word 'CM' were tampered.

The charge sheet filed by the CBI in connection with Pre Medical test for 2013 has listed 490 accused which includes three Vyapam officials - Nitin Mohindra, Ajay Kumar Sen and CK Mishra.

The CBI charge sheet came as a major relief to the Madhya Pradesh chief minister as he had been given a virtual clean chit by the probe agency.

Tankha, the head of Congress's legal cell, said many lawyers would come to the aid of the whistleblowers in the case.

Nominated Rajya Sabha MP Tulsi, while referring to the CBI, alleged that he found it strange that "the black parrot which was caged, it now seems its neck has also been broken".

He said he has not seen a single case where over 50 witnesses have died, but the agency is unable to ascertain as to who were the beneficiaries of the money paid.

Sibal alleged several officers had been elevated by the government to higher posts in the CBI and the NIA disregarding complaints against them.

"If you keep your own people and the investigator will not do an impartial probe, you can imagine its result. This threat is not before political parties but also to every individual who speaks against this government, as he will face different agencies. We have never seen such a thing by investigating agencies.

"We in the Congress party will now charge-sheet the one who charge-sheets others and will get together to tell the Madhya Pradesh court to do justice in the case," Sibal said.

The former Union minister alleged that whenever it comes to Congress leaders, the CBI always targets them and it does whatever the government asks it to do. However, it never initiates any probe against the ruling party leaders, he alleged.
Reuters

Brazils Senate approved a weaker version of a hotly disputed bill to regulate car-hailing services like Uber Technologies Inc on Tuesday after the US companys chief executive warned it could make its business unworkable in the country.

Dara Khosrowshahi, who held talks with senior Brazilian officials in the capital Brasilia, had called on senators to remove rules in proposed legislation that would require Uber drivers to be licensed with their local municipalities, like taxis, and to use their own cars.

Uber has said that, if the bill was approved in its original form, it would undermine its ability to operate in Brazil, its second-biggest market, by making it too expensive and bureaucratic for many of its drivers.

That would harm the livelihoods of the 500,000 people driving for the company in Latin Americas largest economy, according to Uber.

Following an appeal by Khosrowshahi for greater dialogue and more sensible regulation, senators agreed to amendments dropping requirements that drivers own their cars and have the same red number plates used by public transport vehicles like taxis.

However, lawmakers kept rules that make drivers subject to local city authorities for licensing, taxes and other rules. The bill must return to the lower house for final approval.

The regulatory crackdown in Brazil comes after authorities in London decided not to renew Ubers operating license last month and highlights the legal threats mounting against its fast-growing foreign operations.

Khosrowshahi struck a conciliatory tone in an interview with a Brazilian newspaper, suggesting Uber was open to finding compromise with local lawmakers, a break in style with his pugnacious predecessor, Travis Kalanick.

In the past we were a bit aggressive, but we have to understand that its not just about what we want and reach compromises, Khosrowshahi told O Estado de S. Paulo. We are not against regulation. Regulating services like Uber is totally appropriate.

However, after talks with Finance Minister Henrique Meirelles, the executive said the future of the ride-hailing app in Brazil depended on the decisions made in Brasilia.

Uber, Taxi Drivers Protest

Hundreds of taxi and Uber drivers lined up on opposite sides of the esplanade in front of Brazils Congress to demonstrate for and against the bill.

Ubers executive spokesman for Brazil, Fabio Sabba, told Reuters he was punched in the face by a taxi driver as he gave a media interview inside the Senate building.

Taxi drivers bused into Brasilia by unions said Ubers lower fares had cut their income by almost half.

Uber is destroying our age-old profession with unfair competition, said Antonio Barbosa, who traveled 26 hours from the northern state of Bahia to protest.

In a study issued hours before the Senate was due to vote, Brazils antitrust regulator CADE found that car-hailing apps had improved the market for individual passenger transport by increasing competition. CADE said apps like Uber, Cabify and 99 should lead to less regulation rather than more.

In recent days, car-hailing companies such as Uber and Cabify had urged Brazilians by WhatsApp and social media to press their senators to vote against the measure, which was authored in the lower house by a congressman from the leftist Workers Party backed by taxi cooperatives and unions.

Cabify said the Senate had listened to the outpouring of messages on social media and 825,000 signatures handed in to Congress opposing the original bill.

The amendments have brought a more balanced bill, Cabify said in a statement.
IANS

Facebook, Twitter, and Google lawyers defended themselves to US lawmakers probing whether Russia used social media to influence the 2016 Presidential election.

The three firms faced hard questions at a Senate panel on Tuesday on crime and terrorism about why they missed political ads bought with Russian money, BBC reported on Wednesday.

Lawmakers are eyeing new regulations for social media firms in the wake of Russia's alleged meddling in 2016. The firms said they would tighten advertising policies and guidelines.

Senator Al Franken, a Democrat from Minnesota, asked Facebook, which absorbed much of the heat from lawmakers, why payment in Russian rubles did not tip off the firm to suspicious activity.

"In hindsight, we should have had a broader lens," said Colin Stretch, general counsel for Facebook. "There are signals we missed."

A day earlier, Facebook said as many as 126 million US users may have seen Russia-backed content over the last two years.

Lawyers for the three firms are facing two days of congressional hearings as lawmakers consider legislation that would extend regulations for television, radio, and satellite to also cover social media platforms.

The firms said they are increasing efforts to identify bots and spam, as well as make political advertising more transparent.

Facebook, for example, said it expects to have 20,000 people working on "safety and security" by the end of 2018, double the current number.

"I do appreciate these efforts, but I don't think it's enough," said Senator Amy Klobuchar, a Democrat from Minnesota.

Klobuchar has proposed legislation that she says would make social media firms subject to the same disclosure rules for political and issue pages as print, radio, and television companies.

The companies said they would work with her on the bill, but did not say they would support it.

Senators questioned whether the firms are up to the task of weighing free speech and privacy rights against concerns over terrorism and state-sponsored propaganda.

"I think you do enormous good, but your power sometimes scares me," said Senator John Kennedy, a Republican from Louisiana.

Russia has repeatedly denied allegations that it attempted to influence the last US presidential election, in which Donald Trump beat Hillary Clinton.

But Facebook revealed as many as 126 million American users may have seen content uploaded by Russia-based operatives.

The social media company said about 80,000 posts published between June 2015 and August 2017 and were seen by about 29 million Americans directly.

These posts, which Facebook says were created by a Kremlin-linked company, were amplified through likes, shares, and comments, and spread to tens of millions of people.

That company, Internet Research Agency, was also linked to about 2750 Twitter accounts, which have been suspended, Twitter said.

The firm also said it had identified more than 36,000 Russian bots that generated 1.4 million automated, election-related Tweets, which may have been viewed as many as 288 million times.

Google also revealed on Monday that Russian trolls had uploaded more than 1,000 political videos on YouTube on 18 different channels. The company said they had very low view counts and there was no evidence they had been targeting American viewers.

Most of the posts focused on sowing political and social divisions, the firms have said.

The companies said they used a combination of staff and big data to police that content, disabling fake and spam accounts.
tech2 News Staff

Today's Google Doodle celebrates the 87th birthday of Urdu Poet and author Abdul Qavi Desnavi, who was born in Desna in the Nalanda district of Bihar on 1 November, 1930. Desnavi was the head of the Urdu department at the Saifia College in Bhopal, and mentored prominent Urdu writers such as Javed Akhtar and Iqbal Masood. Desnavi's bibliography includes works on Muhammad Iqbal, Mirza Ghalib and Abul Kalam Azad. Desnavi's vast body of work from a career spanning over fifty years includes anthologies, poetry, fiction and biographies.

Desnavi played a prominent role in the evolution of Urdu literature and academic thought in India, and held several prominent positions even after retiring. These included positions in the Madhya Pradesh Urdu Academy, the All India Anjuman Taraqui Urdu Board, and the Barkatullah University. He was also a member of the programming advisory committee on All India Radio. Desnavi died of old age in 2011, at the age of 81.

The Google Doodle shows Desnavi as he would appear while he was working, with the Google logo appearing in lettering that mimics the appearance of Urdu script behind him. The Doodle was crafted by guest Google Doodler Prabha Mallya. Mallya worked on a number of concept sketches before finalising the design, including one which showcases some of the most important research work by Desnavi. The concept sketches can be seen on the Google Doodle page. The reach of today's Doodle is restricted only to India.
IANS

In a bid to help customers build efficient applications on Cloud, Google on Wednesday announced the opening of its first Google Cloud Platform region in Mumbai.

With the India region going live, enterprises will be able to take advantage of the high speeds, low latency and performance benefits uniquely offered by GCP (Google Cloud Platform) services.

Further, the Indian customers will now be able to buy these services directly in Indian currency.

"We are delighted to announce the first GCP region in India. The new region will help customers build applications and store their data, and significantly improve latency for customers and end users in the area," said Dave Stiver, Product Manager, Google Cloud Platform.

The India region offers several services, including compute, big data, storage and networking.

The launch of the Cloud region, which will have three zones, also opens up newer opportunities for several new partners who will benefit from building their services on Google Cloud.

The new Mumbai region joins Singapore, Taiwan, Sydney, and Tokyo in the Asia-Pacific region.

"Hosting applications in the new region can improve latency from 20-90 per cent for end users in Chennai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru and, of course, Mumbai, compared to hosting them in the other closest region, Singapore," Stiver added.

Google Cloud Platform enables the developers to build, test and deploy applications on Google's highly-scalable and reliable infrastructure.

"GCP gave us a low latency network and the ability to optimise costs further with custom machine types. The new India region will help us bring our service even closer to Indian consumers," said Manish Verma, Chief Technology Officer, Hungama.
Reuters

Gu Xiaomeng, a 24-year-old primary school teacher in the eastern Chinese city of Suzhou, says shes excited about the new iPhone X, set to go on sale on 3 November. The challenge for Apple Inc is to persuade her to actually buy one.

Im definitely interested, but dont currently plan to get one, said Gu, whose monthly salary of a little over 6,000 yuan ($905.36) is less than the anniversary models starting price in China of 8,388 yuan.

For Apple, which is looking to rev up sales in China after several quarters of declining revenue there, the test is that Gu is not alone. While interest in the phone is high, that wont necessarily translate into sales.

Price appears to be a major constraint on iPhone X demand, particularly in China, Bernstein analyst Toni Sacconaghi said in a recent report that showed three-quarters of Chinese respondents were excited by the upcoming launch, but only a quarter said they planned to buy one.

Investors are keen to gauge Chinese demand for the iPhone X, as it is key to reviving Apples fortunes in the worlds biggest smartphone market where it has lost some of its sparkle  and market share  as local phone makers have advanced.

The cheaper iPhone 8, which hit the market in September, has faced sluggish sales, but Apple has said that pre-orders for the iPhone X have been off the charts. Apple, due to announce quarterly earnings on Thursday, said it had no immediate comment.

Chatter online on popular Chinese social media platform Weibo also signaled high levels of interest in the new model, though still generally behind levels around the 2014 launch of the very successful iPhone 6.

Apple "Geeks"

Xiao Ming, 32, who works for a blockchain start-up in Beijing, stayed up half the night when pre-sales of the iPhone X opened last week. He has also bought the iPhone 8.

I always try to be one of the first to buy any new iPhone, he said, adding he likes the new phones augmented reality and facial recognition features. Ill be very disappointed if I dont get one on the first day.

While he plans to buy the new phone, he noted many of his friends were less fussed. Before, I think a lot of people would try to get it somehow, now its mostly the geeks, he said.

My friends dont mind so much if they have an iPhone 8 or a 6, for example, because it looks similar and the price (of the iPhone X) makes you feel nervous.

Re-sellers and iPhone accessory makers generally agreed there was a buzz about the iPhone X, Apples first phone to have a full-screen display and functions such as facial recognition security.

People are really anticipating this phone because its the 10th-anniversary version and it has more changes and modifications, said Gary Yiu, manager of the iGeneration smartphone shop at one Hong Kong mall.

Yiu and three other phone re-sellers there said they had seen strong demand for the phone from mainland clients. A merchant at the Huaqiangbei electronics hub in Shenzhen, who was offering an iPhone look-a-like called the E-Feng X from 1,599 yuan, said sales volumes were very good.

Some Chinese re-sellers, however, said they already cancelled pre-orders for the iPhone X, concerned there wouldnt be enough of a supply bottleneck to allow them to charge a steep premium - despite some worries about long waits.

I saw many friends were posting pictures of themselves successfully ordering the iPhone X, so I cancelled mine, said Tony Tong, 29, a product manager at a tech firm in Beijing, who said he had ordered four phones in the hope of re-selling them for a profit. The environment is bad for scalpers.

Apple will hope payment plans and easy access to online credit in China will convince people to buy. Wang Hao, a 24-year-old engineer in the northeastern port city of Dalian, said he ordered the new phone despite the high price tag. His last phone was an iPhone 6S.

The cost is about a months salary for me, he told Reuters. But Im just used to it now, and there wasnt really anything to make me choose another brand.
tech2 News Staff

The US Navy has awarded a design-phase contract for its extra large unmanned undersea vehicle (XLUUV) to Lockheed Martin. The autonomous undersea vehicle is named the "Orca" and the contract is valued at $43.2 million. The production of the XLUUV Orca is set up as a two phase competition, with a design phase and a production phase which will see the building of up to nine vehicles.

Frank Drennan, director, submersibles and autonomous systems at Lockheed Martin says, "With each new undersea vehicle that Lockheed Martin designs, we bring to bear the state-of-the-art in technology, and innovative system integration of those technologies, to increase the range, reach, and effectiveness of undersea forces and their missions. With decades of experience supporting the U.S. Navys mission, our engineers are approaching this design with a sense of urgency and continued agility."

Lockheed Martin has over forty years of experience in developing drones or autonomous vehicles in air, sea and land. The vehicle will have a reconfigurable payload bay which will support various kinds of missions. The types of missions planned for the Orca include surveillance, intelligence gathering, mine countermeasures and warning notifications. The Orca will also serve as an anti submarine warfare training platform. The modular system will be able to adapt to emerging needs. The main attributes of Orca include an extended range, deploy payloads, establish temporary communications and transit to and from an area of operation, without putting Navy personnel in harm's way.
Rehan Hooda

Update: This article was originally published on 1 November, a day after the Nokia 2 announcement, when the Indian price was still not known. HMD Global has announced the price of Nokia 2 at Rs 6,999. So we have made the necessary changes in the table.

HMD Global, the company that holds the exclusive rights to make Nokia-branded smartphones has launched its latest smartphone  the Nokia 2  across the world.

Nokia 2 joins the line up of HMD Global's Android-powered Nokia handsets and it plans to aim at the budget and entry-level Android devices as competition. The company has priced the device at 99 (which is about around Rs 8,000 at the time of writing). The official price is now Rs 6,999.

HMD Global has not announced the pricing and availability details for the Indian market. The device comes with a 6000-series aluminium frame with diamond-cut beveled edges. The phone comes with IP 52 certification making it splash-proof and it will be available in Pewter - Black, Pewter - White, and Copper - Black colours.

The device is powered by Qualcomms Quad-core Snapdragon 212 processor clocked at 1.3 GHz along with 1 GB LPDDR3 RAM. HMD Global has added a 5-inch HD LTPS LCD display panel with 1280x720 image resolution, 1:1300 contrast ration and Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protection. The device comes with 8 GB internal storage that can be expanded using a microSD card up to 128 GB internal storage. Moving to the camera, the device is equipped with 8 MP camera module with autofocus and LED flash on the back of the device and a 5 MP camera module on the front of the device.

Nokia 2 offers LTE Cat 4, VoLTE, 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth v4.2, GPS with AGPS, GLONASS, Beidou, and FM Radio in terms of connectivity options. The device also packs a microUSB 2.0 port and a 3.5-mm headphone jack on the bottom and the top of the device along with a dual SIM support. The company has added an ambient light sensor, proximity sensor, Accelerometer and E-compass to increase the feature-set of the device. Last but not the least, Nokia 2 will run Android Nougat 7.1.1 out of the box with the promise of Android Oreo update and a 4,100 non-removable battery to power the device.

With the launch of Nokia 2, we thought that it is a good time to pit the device against its competition. So, we selected Nokia 2, Xiaomi Redmi 4A, Moto C Plus, Micromax Canvas Infinity and Redmi 4. The reason we selected these smartphones is that most of these devices run Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 series (or the custom-made equivalents) and are in the same price bracket.

All these smartphones are considered mid-range devices from competing smartphone makers. Bear in mind that we're still not done testing some of these smartphones, so we're currently comparing them going only by their specifications on paper. A real-world test should follow soon.
Reuters

Global banks are preparing to defend themselves against North Korea potentially intensifying a years-long hacking spree by seeking to cripple financial networks as Pyongyang weighs the threat of US military action over its nuclear program, cyber security experts said.

North Korean hackers have stolen hundreds of millions of dollars from banks during the past three years, including a heist in 2016 at Bangladesh Bank that yielded $81 million, according to Dmitri Alperovitch, chief technology officer at cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike.

Alperovitch told the Reuters Cyber Security Summit on Tuesday that banks were concerned Pyongyangs hackers may become more destructive by using the same type of wiper viruses they deployed across South Korea and at Sony Corps Hollywood studio.

The North Korean government has repeatedly denied accusations by security researchers and the US government that it has carried out cyberattacks.

North Korean hackers could leverage knowledge about financial networks gathered during cyber heists to disrupt bank operations, according to Alperovitch, who said his firm has conducted war game exercises for several banks.

The difference between theft and destruction is often a few keystrokes, Alperovitch said.

Security teams at major US banks have shared information on the North Korean cyberthreat in recent months, said a second cybersecurity expert familiar with those talks.

We know they attacked South Korean banks, said the source, who added that fears have grown that banks in the United States will be targeted next.

Tensions between Washington and Pyongyang have been building after a series of nuclear and missile tests by North Korea and bellicose verbal exchanges between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

John Carlin, a former US assistant attorney general, told the Reuters summit that other firms, among them defense contractors, retailers and social media companies, were also concerned.

They are thinking Are we going to see an escalation in attacks from North Korea?' said Carlin, chair of Morrison & Foerster international law firms global risk and crisis management team.

Jim Lewis, a cyberexpert with Washingtons Center for Strategic and International Studies, said it is unlikely that North Korea would launch destructive attacks on American banks because of concerns about US retaliation.

Representatives of the US Federal Reserve and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the top US banking regulators, declined to comment. Both have ramped up cybersecurity oversight in recent years.
Reuters

Hackers behind the NotPetya virus that hit Ukraine and spread around the world in June probably also designed malware called BadRabbit used in a more recent strike, a Ukrainian presidency official said on Tuesday.

The BadRabbit attack last week mainly affected Russia but also caused flight delays at Odessa airport in southern Ukraine and disrupted electronic payments in the Kiev metro.

What we start observing is that there is a strong belief that the NotPetya and BadRabbit (is) being written by the same group, due to the type of the code and approaches, Dmytro Shymkiv told the Reuters Cyber Security Summit in Kiev.

BadRabbit and (Not)Petya, WannaCry, this is all from the same family, to test, to disrupt, to analyse how the cybersecurity community would react, he added.

A former director at Microsoft in Ukraine, Shymkiv said more could have been done to mitigate BadRabbit if organisations had followed recommendations on how to deal with malware, including basics such as not clicking on suspicious messages.

Shymkivs assessment chimed with that of Russia-based cyber firm Group-IB, who said that BadRabbit shared an important piece of code with NotPetya.

However, experts caution that attributing cyberattacks is notoriously difficult, as hackers regularly use techniques to cover their tracks and sometimes deliberately mislead investigators about their identity.

Ukrainian officials have said the NotPetya attack directly targeted Ukraine and was carried about by a hacking group widely known as Black Energy, which some cyberexperts say works in favour of Russian government interests. Moscow has repeatedly denied carrying out cyberattacks against Ukraine.

Shymkiv said it was difficult to definitively identify who was behind the BadRabbit attack, speculating, for example, that the creators of NotPetya could have sold the BadRabbit virus to another group of hackers.

Ukraine has been a frequent victim of cyberattacks that have conked out power to thousands of homes, frozen supermarket tills and paralysed government computers. Shymkiv and others see Ukraine as a testing ground for Russian attacks.

He said he was sure more attacks are on the way and, when asked what new threats had emerged recently, cited an incident in the summer when ships in the Black Sea had their Global Positioning System (GPS) hacked.

Its been a concern (within) the government, its been a concern among the cyber community, he said.

Shymkiv said recent cyberattacks had forced Ukraine to become more savvy in dealing with threats and it had also increased coordination particularly with the United States.

For example, US government officials this year have been training Ukrainian energy ministry officials on how to combat hacking, Shymkiv said. Coordination is ramping up. There is a lot of appetite to learn from each other, he said.
AP

Googles self-driving car spin-off is accelerating efforts to convince the public that its technology is almost ready to safely transport people without any human assistance at all.

Waymo, hatched from a Google project started eight years ago, showed off its progress Monday during a rare peek at a closely guarded testing facility located 120 miles (193 kilometers) southeast of San Francisco. Thats where its robots complete their equivalent of drivers education.

The tour included giving more than three dozen reporters rides in Chrysler Pacifica minivans traveling through faux neighborhoods and expressways that Waymo has built on a former Air Force base located in the Californian Central Valley city of Atwater.

The minivans smoothly cruised the roads  drivers seat empty and passengers in the back  at speeds of up to 35 mph (56 kph). By contrast, the Waymo-powered minivans that have been driving volunteer riders in the Phoenix area still use safety drivers to take over control if something goes wrong.

But Waymos real goal is to get to the point where people in cars are nothing but passengers.

Waymo CEO John Krafcik told reporters that the company will be making some cars and freight trucks totally driverless fairly soon, though he didnt provide a specific timetable. We are really close, he said. We are going to do it when we feel like we are ready.

Since Google began working on self-driving cars in 2009, dozens of established automakers such as General Motors and Ford Motors have entered the race, along with other big technology companies, including Apple and ride-hailing service Uber. The competition is so fierce and the stakes so high that Waymo is currently suing Uber , alleging that one of its former managers stole its trade secrets and took them with him when he joined Uber in 2016 as part of an elaborate scheme. The trial in that high-profile case is scheduled to begin in early December.

Waymo is hoping to infuse its technology into ride-hailing services such as its current partner, Lyft, and big-rig trucking companies. It also intends to license its automated system to automakers such as Fiat Chrysler Automobile, which is already using it in 100 Pacifica minivans.
New York: A man in a rented pickup truck mowed down pedestrians and cyclists along a busy bike path near the World Trade Center memorial on Tuesday, killing at least eight and injuring 11 others in what the mayor called "a particularly cowardly act of terror."

The driver was shot in the abdomen by police and taken into custody after jumping out of the truck with what turned out to be a fake gun in each hand and shouting "Allahu Akbar!" officials said. His condition was not immediately released.

Two law enforcement officials who were not authorized to discuss the investigation and spoke of condition of anonymity identified the attacker as 29-year-old Sayfullo Saipov. He has a Florida driver's license but may have been staying in New Jersey. The officials gave no other details on his background.

The driver barreled along the bike path for the equivalent of about 14 blocks, or around eight-tenths of a mile, before slamming into a small yellow school bus. The mayhem and the burst of police gunfire set off panic in the neighborhood and left the pavement strewn with mangled bicycles and bodies that were soon covered with sheets.

"I saw a lot of blood over there. A lot of people on the ground," said Chen Yi, an Uber driver.

Eugene Duffy, a chef at a waterfront restaurant, said, "So many police came and they didn't know what was happening. People were screaming. Females were screaming at the top of their lungs."

Police closed off streets across the western edge of Manhattan along the Hudson River and officers rushed into the neighborhood just as people were preparing for Halloween festivities, including the big annual parade through Greenwich Village.

"This was an act of terror, and a particularly cowardly act of terror aimed at innocent civilians, aimed at people going about their lives who had no idea what was about to hit them," Mayor Bill de Blasio said.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo called it a "lone wolf" attack and said there was no evidence to suggest it was part of a wider plot.

A law enforcement official who was not authorized to discuss the case publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity said witnesses told police the attacker yelled, "Allahu akbar!"  "God is great" in Arabic  as he got out of the truck.

New York City Police Commissioner James O'Neill said a statement the driver made as he got out of the truck and the method of attack led police to conclude it was a terrorist act.

On Twitter, President Donald Trump called it "another attack by a very sick and deranged person" and declared, "NOT IN THE U.S.A."

In NYC, looks like another attack by a very sick and deranged person. Law enforcement is following this closely. NOT IN THE U.S.A.!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 31, 2017

Cities around the globe have been on alert against attacks by extremists in vehicles. The Islamic State has been encouraging its followers to mow down people, and England, France and Germany have all seen deadly vehicle attacks in recent months and years.

Police said the vehicle, a rented Home Depot truck, entered the bike path at about 3 p.m. on West Street a few blocks from the new World Trade Center  the site of the deadliest terror attack in U.S. history. The truck then turned at Chambers Street, near the trade center site, hitting the school bus and injuring two adults and two children.

In addition to those killed, 11 people were seriously injured, police said.

A paintball gun and a pellet gun were found at the scene, police said. At least two covered-over bodies could be seen lying on the path, and the front end of the pickup was smashed in.

Tom Gay, a school photographer, was on Warren Street and heard people saying there was an accident. He went down to West Street and a woman came around the corner shouting, "He has a gun! He has a gun!"

Gay said he stuck his head around the corner and saw a slender man in a blue track suit running southbound on West Street holding a gun. He said there was a heavyset man pursuing him.

He said he heard five or six shots and the man in the tracksuit fell to the ground, gun still raised in the air. He said a man came over and kicked the gun out of his hand.

The right side of the school bus was bashed in, and firefighters surrounded it and worked to free those inside.
Seoul: North Korea slammed US president Donald Trump as "incurably mentally deranged" in a personal diatribe ahead of his first visit to Asia as head of state, amid high tensions over Pyongyang's nuclear ambitions.

Trump and the North's leader Kim Jong-Un have traded threats of war and personal insults against each other in recent months, heightening worries about a potential conflict on the divided Korean peninsula.

Trump has warned of "fire and fury" and "calm before the storm", telling the UN General Assembly that Washington would "totally destroy North Korea" if it had to defend itself or its allies.

He dubbed Kim "Rocket Man" in the same speech  Pyongyang has tested missiles apparently capable of reaching much of the US mainland  and days later Kim responded with a personal statement calling Trump a "dotard", an obscure term for a weak or senile old man.

The US president is due in Asia at the weekend and ahead of his arrival the North's state-run KCNA news agency lashed out at "bellicose and irresponsible rhetoric" by the "master of invective".

"He absolutely needs medicine for curing his psychical disorder," it said.

The US has deployed key military assets including jet fighters and aircraft carriers near the peninsula following the North's sixth nuclear test in September, which also saw the United Nations impose an eighth set of sanctions on the isolated country.

KCNA described the sanctions drive as "desperate efforts" that would prove ineffective and Trump's hostile rhetoric as "hysteric spasmodic symptoms".

Trump, it said late on Tuesday, "disclosed his true nature as a nuclear war maniac before the world and was diagnosed as 'incurably mentally deranged'".

Trump's itinerary includes Japan, South Korea, China, Vietnam and the Philippines, with all eyes on his message to the North and Kim.

Pyongyang says it needs nuclear weapons to defend itself against possible invasion by the US.

During a 7-8 November visit to the South  a security ally of Washington that hosts 28,500 US troops  Trump is due to address Seoul's parliament and visit a US military base, although he will not go to the Demilitarised Zone that divides the Koreas.
Beijing: A senior Chinese official, in-charge of water projects, on Wednesday said he has never heard of any plan to build a 1,000-km long tunnel to divert water from the Brahmaputra river from Tibet to the parched Xinjiang, a day after the Chinese foreign ministry debunked a media report on it.

Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post on Monday reported that Chinese engineers were testing techniques that could be used to build the tunnel, the world's longest, to divert water from the Brahmaputra river in Tibet close to Arunachal Pradesh to arid regions of Xinjiang.

"There is no such direction from the central government, and I have never heard of any plan laid out for a Tibet-Xinjiang tunnel project," Zhao Shijie, chief engineer of the Dianzhong water diversion project told the state-run Global Times on Wednesday.

Zhao said that this was not the first time he has heard rumours about a Tibet-Xinjiang tunnel, "but they are baseless".

Yesterday, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying rejected as "false and untrue" the media report.

China will continue to attach great importance to the cross-border river cooperation, she said.

The idea of sending Tibetan water to Xinjiang dates back to the late 1950s. "March into the Desert," a famous article by meteorologist, geologist and educator Zhu Kezhen (1890-1974) that has long featured in Chinese schoolbooks, advises diverting water to Xinjiang's arid plains, the Global Times report said.

A plan to divert water from Tibet to the northern parts of China was heatedly discussed in the 1990s. Over the decade, 208 lawmakers and 118 political advisers raised proposals and motions on the plan, according to a 2006 report by the Southern Weekly.

However, the dream of massive water diversions has never been approved due to concerns of the huge cost and potential for damaging the landscape, the report said.

"I firmly oppose the project, as Xinjiang cannot afford this project," Mei Xinyu, an associate researcher at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation told the daily.

The estimated cost of diverting water from Tibet to Xinjiang would be five times that of Xinjiang's annual GDP.

It may depend massively on central government subsidies and the assistance of local governments in other regions, which likely would lead to social instability, Mei added.
Washington: US Republicans have delayed unveiling the Donald Trump-backed tax overhaul until Thursday, signalling potential trouble ahead as congressional leadership struggles to lock in support for the historic but controversial effort.

Congressional aides late Tuesday confirmed that the roll-out, originally slated for Wednesday, had been pushed back as GOP negotiators continued to hammer out a deal.

Lawmakers want additional time to study the measure, which includes $1.5 trillion in tax cuts that Trump has described as "rocket fuel" for the US economy. Trump wants lawmakers to pass the plan by the end of the year to salvage a key plank of his 2017 agenda. That is lightning speed for a mammoth bill that has been crafted in secrecy, and is being unveiled in November just weeks before Congress goes on holiday.

With its delay, uncertainty about the tax bill's fate swelled. It risks running afoul of fiscal conservative lawmakers intent on not adding to the deficit, and Senate moderates concerned with tax breaks for the wealthy.

In the midst of negotiations, House Speaker Paul Ryan told conservative groups that the GOP will preserve the top individual tax rate of 39.6 percent for the wealthiest Americans, The Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday.

Republicans had recently announced a top rate of 35 percent, but concern rose about how to maintain sufficient revenues, and to win over Republicans concerned about tax cuts for millionaires.

Trump weighed in ahead of the tax plan's release.

"The Republican House members are working hard (and late) toward the Massive Tax Cuts that they know you deserve. These will be biggest ever!" Trump tweeted.

The Republican House members are working hard (and late) toward the Massive Tax Cuts that they know you deserve. These will be biggest ever!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 1, 2017

The Republican intention to slash tax rates has been forecast to add more than $5 trillion to the debt over a decade. But with the Republican budget passed last week setting a $1.5 trillion cap, tax writers must find ways to offset the costs.

'Special interest ghouls'

The plan's chief author, House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady, acknowledged the difficulties in balancing competing interests, but said it was worth it to seek once-in-a-generation tax reform. "We can improve the lives of every American, either by lowering their taxes so they can keep more, simplifying this code so that the complexity's gone, or... increasing those paychecks that have been stagnant for a decade," Brady told Fox News.

The plan's basic outline is a drop in the corporate tax rate from 35 to 20 percent, a reduction in income tax for most income groups and the elimination of many loopholes and deductions.

Democrats have assailed the plan, with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer calling it "a huge tax cut for the top one percent."

Ryan, embracing a fright-night Halloween theme, issued a statement  prior to the delay  urging lawmakers to act. "Don't be spooked, and let's get this done," Ryan said, as he blasted "special interest ghouls" and Democratic scare tactics.

Tax writers have struggled to find the sweet spot that will lower taxes for most Americans and spur economic growth while not ballooning the debt. They have considered curbing 401(k) US retirement plans as a way to pay for the cuts. But last week, Trump inserted himself into the debate, warning lawmakers against tampering with the popular tax-deferred plans.

Another proposal involves limiting several local and state deductions. But that has antagonized Republicans in high-tax states like New York and New Jersey who warned the move would hurt their constituents. Any plan would also have to pass the US Senate, where Republicans hold a narrower majority than in the House of Representatives, before making it to Trump's desk for his signature.
Hours after a truck driver mowed down eight cyclists, in what is being called the first deadly attack in New York since the 11 September, 2001 strikes, United States president Donald Trump said that he had ordered more robust "extreme vetting" of travellers coming into the country.

"I have just ordered Homeland Security to step up our already Extreme Vetting Program. Being politically correct is fine, but not for this!" Trump said on Twitter.

I have just ordered Homeland Security to step up our already Extreme Vetting Program. Being politically correct is fine, but not for this!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 1, 2017

The president's attempts at banning travellers from several, mainly Muslim, nations have been met with successive legal challenges. His administration has announced that it would resume accepting refugees after a 120-day ban, though arrivals from 11 "high-risk" countries, most of them home to Muslim majorities, will still be blocked.

Last week, global airlines began implementing security interviews for US-bound travellers before checking in for flights.

What is extreme vetting?

As a presidential candidate, Trump had repeatedly pledged to bar entry to refugees fleeing war-torn Iraq and Syria. He had called for "a total and complete shutdown" of Muslim immigration to the US, a proposal that was met with widespread condemnation across political parties.

"We are establishing new vetting measures, to keep radical Islamic terrorists out of the United States of America," The Guardian quoted Trump in January, "We dont want em here. We want to ensure we arent admitting into our country the very threats that our men and women are fighting overseas."

The US president in June had tweeted that the US authorities are carrying out extreme vetting on people coming into the country.

In any event we are EXTREME VETTING people coming into the U.S. in order to help keep our country safe. The courts are slow and political!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 5, 2017

White House Chief of Staff John F Kelly defined "extreme vetting" as verifying identities of travellers moving into the United States, The Washington Post reported.

"Extreme vetting is, we simply interview people and have to satisfy ourselves that the person were talking to is indeed the person who they claim," the report quoted Kelly as saying. "It might be impossible to do in some cases."

Kelly added, "If we can't verify, I don't think we should let them into the country."

How does the process work?

While the first signs of extreme vetting appeared in January when Trump signed an executive order titled "Protection Of The Nation From Foreign Terrorist Entry Into The United States", the excercise did not stop with the initial ban (which was blocked by the courts) on travel of citizens from Iran, Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Sudan, Libya and Somalia into the US.

Tourists from the UK and other countries visiting the US could also be forced to reveal mobile phone contacts, social media passwords and financial data under extreme vetting practices considered by the Trump administration, The Wall Street Journal reported. These tourists could also face questions over their ideology.

The measures might include visitors from the 38 countries  the UK, France, Australia and Japan, among them  which participate in a visa waiver programme, which requires adherence to strict US standards in data sharing, passport control and other factors, the report quoted an official as saying.

The aim is to "figure out who you are communicating with", a senior homeland security official was quoted as saying. "What you can get on the average persons phone can be invaluable."

The New York Times reported that diplomatic cables sent by Rex Tillerson to US embassies around the world instructed consular officials to step up security, but these rules did not apply to citizens of the 38 countries under the visa waiver programme.

Public backlash

The Trump administration's measures provoked a swift backlash from human rights and civil liberties groups, with some critics alleging that extreme vetting was "un-American" and it actually undermines national security.

A joint statement by a few organisations in response to these proposals said, "This proposal would enable border officials to invade peoples privacy by examining years of private emails, texts, and messages."

"It would expose travelers and everyone in their social networks, including potentially millions of US citizens, to excessive, unjustified scrutiny. And it would discourage people from using online services or taking their devices with them while traveling, and would discourage travel for business, tourism and journalism."
Washington: US president Donald Trump will not go to the heavily fortified demilitarised zone (DMZ) on the border of North and South Korea during his Asia trip, a senior administration official said on Tuesday.

"The president is not going to visit the DMZ. There is not enough time in the schedule," the official told reporters in a background briefing.

Instead, Trump will be the first American president to visit Camp Humphreys, a military installation south of the South Korean capital of Seoul.

"We thought that would make more sense in terms of its messaging, in terms of the chance to address families and troops there," the official said.

US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis visited the demilitarised zone that divides the Korean Peninsula last week and vice-president Mike Pence made the same trip in April.

The official, speaking on customary condition of anonymity in briefing reporters, noted the two Trump administration forays to the zone. "It's becoming a little bit of a cliche, frankly," the official said.

Trump leaves for his first trip to Asia this week and is expected to arrive on 5 November in Tokyo.

Separately, two US officials said a decision may be made for the three aircraft carriers currently in the Asia Pacific region to carry out an exercise to coincide with Trump's trip. The officials said no decision had been made, but it would be the first exercise with three US aircraft carriers in the region since 2007.

A senior state department official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the buildup of naval forces was part of the military component of the Trump administration's strategy to put "maximum pressure" on North Korea, which includes sanctions and diplomatic isolation.

Earlier on Tuesday, the state department welcomed a decision by China and South Korea to resume normal ties after a year-long standoff over a decision by Seoul and Washington to deploy a missile defence system to counter North Korea's nuclear program.
Spain's top criminal court summoned Catalonia's axed separatist leader for questioning, hours after he appeared in Brussels insisting he remained the "legitimate president" of a region now under direct rule from Madrid.

The National Audience in Madrid, which deals with major criminal cases, summoned Carles Puigdemont and 13 other former members of his administration, dismissed by Spain's central government last week, to appear Thursday and Friday.

They are then set to be placed under formal investigation.

On Monday, Spain's chief prosecutor said he was seeking charges of rebellionpunishable by up to 30 years behind barssedition and misuse of public funds.

But the 54-year-old Puigdemont is in Brussels, where he surfaced after reportedly driving to Marseille in France and taking a plane to the Belgian capital.

At a packed and chaotic news conference Tuesday, Puigdemont said he was in Brussels "for safety purposes and freedom" and to "explain the Catalan problem in the institutional heart of Europe."

He denied that he intended to claim asylum but said he and several other former ministers who travelled with him would return only if they have guarantees that legal proceedings would be impartial.

Belgian prime minister Charles Michel said that during Puigdemont's time in the country he would be "treated like any other European citizen" with "the same rights and responsibilities".

Two former ministers flew back to Barcelona late on Tuesday where they were greeted by a small group of demonstrators who waved Spanish flags in their faces and shouted "traitors!" and "Viva Espana!" at them.

If Puigdemont fails to appear in court as requested, Spanish prosecutors could order his arrest.

His lawyer Jaume Alonso-Cuevillas complained in a Tweet that Puigdemont had not been "given time to prepare the defence."

The National Audience also gave Puigdemont and his former ministers three days to pay a combined deposit against potential penalties of 6.2 million euros ($7.2 million).

Uncharted territory

Puigdemont's departure and the court's announcement are the latest twists in the saga over semi-autonomous Catalonia's drive for independence, which has sparked Spain's biggest crisis in decades.

With its own language and distinct culture, Catalonia, which accounts for a fifth of Spain's economy and 16 percent of its population, is deeply divided over independence.

On 1 October, the region held an unregulated referendummarked by a heavy-handed operation by Spanish policein which a large majority voted in favour of seceding from Spain.

But Spain's top court had ruled the plebiscite illegal, and turnout was just 43 percent.

Puigdemont insists nonetheless the referendum gave the Catalan Parliament a mandate to declare independence on Friday, a decision relayed on large screens to cheering crowds in the regional capital Barcelona.

But the reaction from Spanish prime minister Mariano Rajoy's government was swift and emphatic.

Invoking a never-used article of the constitution, Madrid dismissed Catalonia's leaders and imposed direct rule.

On Tuesday Spain's top court ordered the suspension of the Catalan parliament's independence declaration.

Spain's Civil Guard police force meanwhile searched the headquarters of Catalonia's regional police in a probe centred on the independence referendum, a spokesman said.

Spain's Supreme Court also summoned the former speaker of the Catalan parliament to be put under formal investigation.

'Slow down'

There had been speculation that Catalan leaders and civil servants might seek to disrupt Madrid's imposition of direct rule but it passed off without major incident.

"We haven't come across a single civil servant who isn't doing his or her duty," Enric Millo, a central government representative in Catalonia, said Tuesday.

But it appears that the crisis has converted more Catalans into independence supporters.

A regional government opinion poll carried out in October suggested more Catalans now favour independence than not.

The survey found that 48.7 percent said they wanted a separate state against 43.6 percent who did not.

The last such poll, conducted in July, found close to 50 percent against secession versus 41.1 percent in favour.

Still, a former Catalan minister, Santi Vila, told Catalan radio Rac1 on Tuesday that Puigdemont's government had been "under the illusion" that breaking away would be easy.

Rajoy has called snap elections for 21 December to replace the Catalan parliament in a drastic bid to stop the secessionist drive.

Puigdemont said that he accepted the "challenge" and that he would "respect" the result: While calling on Madrid to do the same if separatists retain their majority.
At least eight people were killed and 11 others seriously injured in New York near the World Trade Centre memorial on Tuesday when a man in a rented pickup truck mowed down pedestrians and cyclists along a busy path.

According to AP, the driver was shot in the abdomen by police after jumping out of the truck with what turned out to be a fake gun in each hand and shouting what witnesses said was "Allahu Akbar," Arabic for "God is great," authorities said. The man underwent surgery and was in critical condition but was expected to survive.

Officials who were not authorised to discuss the investigation and spoke on the condition of anonymity identified the attacker as 29-year-old Sayfullo Saipov and said he is from Uzbekistan and came to the US legally in 2010. He has a Florida driver's license but may have been staying in New Jersey, they said.

Police said Saipov rented the truck at about 2 pm in New Jersey, entering the bike path about an hour later on West Street a few blocks from the new World Trade Centre, the site of the deadliest terror attack in US history. The truck then turned at Chambers Street, hitting the school bus and injuring two adults and two children. A paintball gun and a pellet gun were found at the scene, police said.

AFP reported that according to registry site WhitePages, Saipov has been living in Tampa since June 2011, and had other addresses registered in Ohio.

He was listed as having had several traffic-related minor violations.

NBC Connecticut reported that Saipov left a note in the truck, claiming he was committing the attack for Islamic State.

Kobiljon Matkarov, Saipov's Facebook friend, told NBC News that Saipov was working as a truck and Uber driver. "He liked the US. He is no terrorist. He's all the time happy, smiling all the time," the article quoted him as saying.

According to Daily News, a family in Cincinnati told a local TV station that Saipov stayed with them for two weeks in 2010 before moving to Florida.

Buzzfeed also reported that Saipov had a commercial license in two states, which allowed him to drive large trucks.

In fact, The Daily Beast tweeted a photo of Saipov's Florida identification card, which showed he had a Class A commerical driver's license.

BREAKING: Exclusive photo of NYC terrorist identified as Sayfullo Saipov of Tampa, Florida https://t.co/cIYPy3QrXk pic.twitter.com/U9cb3dwWl4  The Daily Beast (@thedailybeast) October 31, 2017

With inputs from agencies
Washington: President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that he had ordered more robust "extreme vetting" of travelers coming into the United States following the first deadly attack in New York blamed on terror since 11 September, 2001.

"I have just ordered Homeland Security to step up our already Extreme Vetting Program. Being politically correct is fine, but not for this!" Trump tweeted.

Last week, global airlines began implementing security interviews for US-bound travelers before checking in for flights.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims of today's terrorist attack in New York City and their families," Trump said in a statement after a 29-year-old man, identified as Sayfullo Saipov, plowed a speeding truck through a busy bike path in Lower Manhattan.

"My administration will provide its full support to the New York City Police Department, including through a joint investigation with the Federal Bureau of Investigation," he said.

The president's attempts at banning travelers from several mainly Muslim nations have been met with successive legal challenges.

His administration has announced that it would resume accepting refugees after a 120-day ban, though arrivals from 11 "high-risk" countries, most of them home to Muslim majorities, will still be blocked.

Saipov, said to be from Uzbekistan, is in police custody. He was arrested after being shot in the stomach by officials of the New York Police Department.

"We offer our thanks to the first responders who stopped the suspect and rendered immediate aid to the victims of this cowardly attack. These brave men and women embody the true American spirit of resilience and courage. I will continue to follow developments closely," Trump said.

With inputs from agencies
New York: A quick-thinking New York city police officer who put an end to a terrorist's rampage in lower Manhattan by wounding him when he refused to drop a pair of realistic-looking guns has been hailed a hero.

Officer Ryan Nash, 28, works in the New York Police Department's 1st precinct, shot and apprehended the suspect Sayfullo Habibullaevic Saipov, who crashed a pickup truck into a school bus and hit cyclists and pedestrians, killing eight people and injuring 11 others.

After exiting from the vehicle, Saipov was brandishing two guns, which turned out to be a paintball gun and a pellet gun. Police said 29-year-old Saipov, an Uzbek national, did not comply with orders to drop the weapons and Nash opened fire, striking him in the midsection.

Shortly after Saipov crashed into the bus, Nash "confronted the subject and shot him in the abdomen," Police Commissioner James P O'Neill said during a press conference following the attack. O'Neill was quick to praise Nash, who he said "stopped the carnage" in lower Manhattan.

"I want to commend the response of our NYPD officer that was on post near the location who stopped the carnage moments after it began," he said.

He also praised the work of first responders, "including the Fire Department and the EMS personnel surely helped save additional lives."

New York Mayor Bill de Blasio, also thanked "everyone at the NYPD ... starting with the officer who stopped this tragedy from continuing."

Nash joined NYPD in 2012. He is now part of the investigation, which is being conducted jointly by the NYPD and the FBI.

Saipov was wounded and transported to a local hospital. He is now out of surgery, US media reported.

A note was found inside the crashed pickup truck referred to the Islamic State militant group, law enforcement sources were quoted as saying by US media.

Officials said it was a terror attack: The deadliest in the city since the 9/11 attacks.
New York: New York City's always-surreal Halloween parade marched on Tuesday evening under the shadow of real fear, hours after a truck attack killed eight people on a busy city bike path in what authorities called an act of terror.

Security was heavy as the Greenwich Village parade stepped off Tuesday about a mile (1.6 kilometers) away and four hours after the truck mowed down pedestrians and cyclists along the bike path near the World Trade Center memorial. But the raucous spectacle rolled along with its floats, bands, anything-goes sensibility and thousands of spectators.

"I'm not going to let it scare me," Cathryn Strobl, a 23-year-old New Yorker, said as she waited for the parade to start in her Buffy the Vampire Slayer costume. "You can't let it stop you from living your life."

Police said they added extra officers, heavy weapons teams and sand trucks as protective blockers along the parade route. But officials emphasized that New Yorkers should feel safe.

Democratic Governor Andrew Cuomo visited the route as the parade started, and Democratic Mayor Bill de Blasio assured residents and visitors earlier that police were out in force.

"We are going to go about our business in the city, and we are not going to be deterred," de Blasio said.

Still, the mayor urged New Yorkers to be vigilant: "Tell an officer immediately if you see anything unusual, anything that worries you."

The parade, which is open to anyone wearing a costume, began in 1973 with a puppeteer marching with his family and grew into a televised extravaganza.

Ghosts, goblins, zombies, superheroes, men on stilts, a bunch of human bumblebees and a float of topless people were among those making their way up Sixth Avenue as spectators bobbed to drumming and Caribbean music.

Still, the crowds seemed thinner than usual to Tamia Gholston. As for why: "the terrorist attack, maybe," said the New Yorker, who was dressed as Batgirl.

Em Weiss was in town from Seattle on business when her phone started buzzing Tuesday with worried people trying to reach her after hearing about the attack. Still, she donned a cat-ear headband, drew whiskers on her face and came out to the parade.

"Even though we're shaking, we're still strong. ... We're not living in fear," said Weiss, 28, who said the police presence kept her from feeling too nervous.

"It sends a message terrorism doesn't win."
Yangon, Myanmar: Myanmar on Wednesday accused Bangladesh of delaying the repatriation of Rohingya Muslims who have fled Rakhine state since August, as conditions worsen for the stateless minority penned into squalid refugee camps.

More than 600,000 members of the Muslim minority have fled a brutal army crackdown in mainly Buddhist Myanmar over the past two months.

After weeks of intense global pressure and UN accusations of ethnic cleansing, Myanmar vowed to take back Rohingya who meet "verification" standards.

But the criteria remains vague, raising fears it will be used to restrict the number of returnees.

On Wednesday, Myanmar government spokesman Zaw Htay pointed the finger at Dhaka for allegedly delaying the repatriation.

"The Myanmar government already declared we are ready to receive (the refugees) at any time, but the Bangladeshi government is still considering the agreement between the two countries," he told AFP.

Dhaka has yet to send an official list of the Rohingya who have fled since 25 August, he added.

"We have already asked the Bangladeshi side to give this to us. After that we can verify the amount of how many people have fled."

The spokesman declined to elaborate on comments he made to the local press linking the delay to $400 million in aid which Dhaka had received to expand housing for Rohingya.

"Currently they have got nearly $400 million. Over their receipt of this amount, we are now afraid of (them) delaying the programme of deporting the refugees," he was quoted as saying.

Myanmar says Rohingya will have to prove prior residence in Rakhine in order to return  a requirement complicated by the lack of documentation among a group that has been stripped of citizenship.

The government has previously only issued ID cards to Rohingya willing to identify as "Bengalis"  a name that brands them as foreigners.

Repatriation will also be complicated by the scale of destruction in Rakhine, where hundreds of Rohingya villages have been reduced to ash, allegedly by soldiers and Buddhist mobs.

Relief workers say some refugees have expressed reluctance to return if it would mean living in a camp-like settlement or being barred from the land they had before.

Meanwhile, Myanmar authorities have begun a new drive to issue National Verification cards inside Rakhine, where a dwindling number of Rohingya have stayed on despite severe food shortages and communal tensions.

Those who sign up are rewarded with food and mosquito nets, reported the Global New Light of Myanmar.

Myanmar has steadfastly denied charges of ethnic cleansing, instead blaming the violence on Rohingya militants.

The militants staged deadly attacks on police posts on August 25, prompting a ferocious army backlash against Rohingya settlements.
New York: America must not let Islamic State jihadists return to or enter the United States after they are beaten overseas, President Donald Trump said on Tuesday, hours after a deadly New York attack.

"We must not allow Islamic State to return, or enter, our country after defeating them in the Middle East and elsewhere. Enough!" Trump tweeted.

We must not allow ISIS to return, or enter, our country after defeating them in the Middle East and elsewhere. Enough!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 31, 2017

New York Mayor Bill de Blasio called the attack an "act of terror" but authorities have not definitively linked the suspect who was detained afterward to Islamic State.

Eight people were killed and numerous others wounded when the suspect rammed a pickup truck into pedestrians in Lower Manhattan and collided with a school bus, officials said.

The president tweeted out condolences and prayers for the victims' families. He also changed the display image on his Twitter profile to a photograph of the New York City skyline.

My thoughts, condolences and prayers to the victims and families of the New York City terrorist attack. God and your country are with you!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 31, 2017

Trump earlier decried the attack as an act of madness.

"In NYC, looks like another attack by a very sick and deranged person," Trump tweeted.

"Law enforcement is following this closely. NOT IN THE U.S.A.!"

In NYC, looks like another attack by a very sick and deranged person. Law enforcement is following this closely. NOT IN THE U.S.A.!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 31, 2017

Islamic State has been dealt a string of defeats across Iraq and Syria in recent months, with authorities worried that fleeing foreign fighters might return home.
New York: Former US presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton on Wednesday expressed solidarity with the victims of the New York terror attack that claimed eight lives.

A 29-year-old Uzbekistan immigrant, allegedly inspired by the ISIS, ploughed a pickup truck down a crowded bike-only path in lower Manhattan, in the deadliest terrorist attack in New York City since the 9/11 incident.

At least eight people were killed and 11 others injured in the attack, while the suspect was arrested.

"Michelle and I are thinking of the victims of today's attack in NYC and everyone who keeps us safe. New Yorkers are as tough as they come," Obama, 56, said in a tweet, which was retweeted by former first lady Michelle Obama.

Bill Clinton, 71, also took to the social media site to express his condemnation for terrorism.

New Yorkers see this attack for what it isan attempt to sow fear. We stand against terror as we grieve for the victims and thank the @NYPD.  Bill Clinton (@BillClinton) October 31, 2017

Former White House contender Hillary Clinton, 70, denounced the attack as a "cowardly act".

"New York's resilience is stronger than a cowardly act of terror. Thinking of the victims, their families, & the responders who saved lives," she posted on Twitter.

Republican Senator and Chairman of Senate Armed Services Committee John McCain said, "Praying for all those impacted by the tragedy in #NewYorkCity. Thanks to first responders & law enforcement for their quick action."
Moscow: The president of Uzbekistan on Wednesday offered to help United States authorities in the investigation of the attack in New York where a truck driver, reportedly an Uzbek national, mowed down passersby, killing eight.

"Uzbekistan is ready to use all forces and resources to help in the investigation of this act of terror," President Shavkat Mirziyoyev said, offering condolences to US president Donald Trump in a statement on the foreign ministry's website.

A pickup driver on Tuesday ran over cyclists and pedestrians before striking a school bus in the city's first deadly attack blamed on terror since 11 September, 2001.

Television networks identified the 29-year-old perpetrator as an Uzbek citizen living in Florida. Trump denounced him as "very sick" and "deranged."

Mirziyoyev's statement did not officially confirm the identity or nationality of the attacker.

"We condemn any forms and manifestations of extremism and terrorism," he said. "This merciless and very cruel crime cannot have any justification."

Uzbekistan, a poor majority-Muslim former Soviet state in Central Asia, has become a source of recruits for the Islamic State and other militant jihadist groups, along with other Central Asian countries.

The International Crisis Group estimated this year that between 2,000 and 4,000 militants from Central Asia may have signed up under the banner of Islamic State.
Two corpses were left behind at a New York airport instead of being flown to Lahore, Pakistan's national airline said, apologising on Wednesday for the latest embarrassing mishap to hit the troubled carrier.

The oversight occurred on Saturday at New York's JFK airport as the airline prepared for its final flight from the US city to Lahore via Manchester, with the route since suspended due to financial losses.

Following the mix-up, the corpse of Pakistani man Nasir Ali was delivered to Lahore on Wednesday on a Etihad Airways flight, while the family of another man Nauman Badar has now decided to bury him in Maryland instead.

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) chairman Musharraf Rasool Cyan has ordered an inquiry into the oversight, a company spokesman told AFP.

PIA "regrets the inconvenience caused due to negligence... and expresses its sympathies with the family members of the deceased persons", a spokesman for the airline said in a statement.

PIA was once considered a global leader in commercial aviation until the 1970s but has since been plagued by myriad controversies in recent years and saddled by billions of dollars of debt with a potential government bailout looming.

Domestic flights are often delayed for VIPs while flight employees have been caught smuggling goods ranging from iPhones to narcotics.

Last year, two airline employees were killed at Karachi airport during a nine-day strike spurred by plans to privatise the national carrier.

In 2013, one of its pilots was jailed for nine months in Britain for being drunk before he was due to fly from Leeds to Islamabad with 156 people on board.
Lahore: A prominent Pakistani cleric, accused of orchestrating the murder of social media celebrity Qandeel Baloch, was on Wednesday sent to jail on seven-day judicial remand.

Judicial Magistrate Pervaiz Khan hearing the case agreed to send Mufti Qavi to jail on judicial remand as his two-day physical remand expired on Wednesday, the Daily Pakistan reported.

The police informed the Multan court that they had completed their investigation into the cleric and did not need to probe any further.

The Investigation Officer was ordered to submit further details of the case to the court in the next hearing of the case on 7 November.

During the last hearing of the case, Qavi maintained that he had not done anything wrong or illegal, whereas Qandeels father Muhammad Azeem told the magistrate that his daughter had been murdered at the behest of the cleric.

Qavi is accused of inciting Qandeel's brothers to kill her after she allegedly "humiliated" him by posting some objectionable pictures with the cleric on social media platforms.

Qandeel, 26, was found strangled to death in her house in Multan's Karimabad area, some 350-km from Lahore, on 16 July, 2016. Her younger brother, Waseem, confessed to police that he had killed Qandeel for disgracing family's honour.

Waseem said he drugged Qandeel before strangling her. "She brought dishonour to the Baloch name due to her risque videos and statements posted on social media," he had said.

"There are other issues as well...Like the maulvi issue, he had said, in an apparent reference to a controversy in the weeks leading up to her death after Qandeel took selfies with Qavi.

The cleric's selfies had gone viral on social media, causing a nationwide furore, after which the clerics membership of the Ruet-i-Hilal committee and the National Ulema Mushaikh Council had been suspended.
With nearly 7,00,000 Rohingya Muslims living in refugee camps across Bangladesh, the country has been at the centre of the world's attention for quite a while now. For thousands of people fleeing ethnic persecution at the hands of Myanmar army, the Shaikh Hasina government has turned out to be a saviour.

"We have the ability to feed 160 million people of Bangladesh and we have enough food security to feed the 700,000 refugees," Hasina's statement at a refugee camp in Cox's Bazar helped Bangladesh gain a lot of goodwill on the global stage.

But beyond the humanitarian concern, the influx of Rohingya Muslims from Myanmar has serious political, diplomatic and economic impact on Bangladesh.

Speaking to Firstpost from New Delhi, Major General (Retd) ANM Muniruzzaman, president of the Bangladesh Institute of Peace and Security Studies (BIPSS), a Dhaka-based think tank deliberated on the ongoing refugee crisis in his country.

"Bangladesh has gone out of its way to show humanitarian tendencies towards the sufferings of the Rohingya people," Muniruzzaman said.

Praising the Bangladesh government's efforts, he added that hardly any other country has been as sensitive towards the sufferings of refugees. "The Bangladesh government has done what it can within its limited resources. We must note that the government has gone on record to say that despite the resource constraints, it will share all resources with the Rohingya refugees to alleviate their sufferings," Muniruzzaman said.

However, the former UN peacekeeper and head of the post-election UN stablisation mission in Cambodia, told Firstpost that the humanitarian approach towards the refugees cannot be the government's long-term strategy.

"These people are essentially Myanmar citizens and they need to be repatriated to their country at the earliest," he said, when asked whether the refugees can be given some sort of citizenship in Bangladesh.

Muniruzzaman also said the humanitarian effort cannot be for an indefinite period, and the repatriation "needs to be done quickly".

A week ago, the two governments had signed a deal to coordinate over repatriating Rohingya refugees. But only time will tell whether the deal will work out.

Ties between Myanmar and Bangladesh, who share a 270-kilometre border, have been strained ever since the latest influx of migrants began in August this year.

But despite the tension in bilateral ties, Muniruzzaman said that Bangladesh has been showing a lot of diplomatic maturity to resolve the crisis.

Nevertheless, the refugee crisis will impact the future of the BCIM (Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar) economic corridor project. The 2,800-kilometre corridor will connect Kunming and Kolkata while passing through Mandalay in Myanmar and Dhaka in Bangladesh.

"There will be a short-term impact on the multilateral project. But I hope that in the long-run, economic ties between the two countries as well as the implementation of the economic corridor will be on track," the BIPSS president said.

The Indian government had called Rohingya refugees a "security threat", but Muniruzzaman said it's purely an "internal perception" in India, and that New Delhi has been providing humanitarian assistance to Dhaka for resolving the crisis. "It is purely an internal perception in India. I don't think it puts any additional refugee burden on us," he said, when asked how India's anti-Rohingya stance impacts Bangladesh.

India-Bangladesh ties: The way ahead

Bangladesh is a vital cog for both India and China, both of whom have big geopolitical aspirations of being among the region's economic superpowers. Both countries have pursued foreign policy goals while keeping Bangladesh in mind.

While Dhaka is part of New Delhi's "neighbourhood first policy", it is also a participant in China's ambitious 29-nation One Belt One Road (OBOR) project.

Muniruzzaman denied that India's ties with Bangladesh will be impacted by the China-backed OBOR project, saying, "OBOR will certainly help boost ties between China and Bangladesh. But I do not think this will negatively impact our deep-rooted ties with India, with whom we are bound through history and civilisation."

Welcoming Sushma Swaraj's statement that all "irritants" in bilateral ties will be addressed at the earliest, the BIPSS president said that all outstanding issues, including the Teesta water agreement, can be resolved in a friendly and amicable manner. "We were able to resolve bigger issues like the land and maritime boundary disputes. So, I have great faith, since the Indian foreign minister also said 'irritants' can be solved," he said.

Stating that New Delhi and Dhaka now share an "excellent relationship", Muniruzzaman, who was on a week-long tour of India, added, "Under Narendra Modi, there has been a tremendous boost in our relationship. We have also resolved many long-standing issues in these three years."

Muniruzzaman believed the security cooperation between the two countries is a "shining example" to the world. "We share excellent ties in counter-terrorism coordination, intelligence sharing and using best practices in the security arena," he said.

Claiming that there is "great scope" for deeper economic ties between the two countries, Muniruzzaman said that bilateral trade volumes can potentially rise in the coming years owing to a common border and a good amount of connectivity between the two. "I believe we can have cooperation in the energy sector due to the common geography that we share. I see there has been some beginning in the sector, but it's still at a nascent stage," he added.
During my recent visit to Dhaka, I saw how the Rohingya crisis had hit Bangladesh squarely in the face. Having been formidable consumers of violence, dislocation and religious extremism themselves, Bangladeshis not only worry about its humanitarian and strategic aspects but are also sucked into the emotion of the crisis. For a nation that faced genocide and a catastrophic movement of refugees, the empathy is understandable.

Bangladeshis display a curious mixture of anger and helplessness. An informed Bangladeshi citizen uses words like "ruthless" and "dirty" for Myanmar's leaders, who have "killed" Rohingyas. An editor, using a historical analogy, delivers a softer blow: "'Mugging' derives from Myanmar's Mogh tribe, which in the past conducted raids across a porous frontier for rice and cattle, commemorated in Dhaka's Magh Bazaar.

Once, in a region where identities overlapped, there were no national boundaries between what is now the Rakhine state and Bangladesh. This might have been a good thing. Haven't humans been shoving and jostling for space and resources for millennia?

Scholars, think-tankers, and serving officials express dismay at Myanmar's policy. India might work some magic with the Myanmar government for a solution, they hold. There was "shock" expressed over the fact that India had stood against extremist violence without taking stock of the atrocities against the Rohingyas.

Puzzlingly, India's statement of 29 September in the United Nations Human Rights Council, calling for restraint by the Myanmar security forces, and supporting the immediate and safe return of displaced persons under the 1993 understandings, after verification, was ignored.

After I pointed to this statement, a university professor graciously acknowledged the positive outcome of External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj's visit to Dhaka on 22-23 October, adding that she had said "some encouraging things to our prime minister (Sheikh Hasina)."

I learnt that when all the facts were presented, those in government showed better appreciation of India's position, compared to think-tankers and academics. Emotion rather than intellect forms their attitude towards India.

The irony is that the Indian position is almost the same as Bangladesh's. But it is not what India has said, or the humanitarian aid it has sent, that matters. In the Bangladeshi imagination, Indian policy is fixed in time and space.

Friends test the benchmark for India at its extremities. Yet, oddly, they are silent on China's explicit support for the Myanmar government. For India's diplomats, meeting the expectations of a 'friend' is hard.

The across the board explanation I got for India's supposed tilt towards Myanmar is its strategic rivalry with China. For India, I was told, Rakhine state takes centre-stage, being a staging post for long-term Chinese inroads into Myanmar, at India's expense. What friends forget is that India's real competition is with itself.

Besides, India's relations with Myanmar have stood the test of time, being grounded in strategic cooperation. Myanmar has met India's concerns on the insurgency in the North East. But my friends missed the script of this regional dynamic. India's delicate balancing between two friendly neighbours was not properly appreciated.

Consider that the previous Bangladeshi regime had given sanctuaries to Indian separatists, while the current one has been sensitive to India's concerns. In contrast, Myanmar's approach has been relentlessly stable.

My friends (in diplomatic circles) said that the chances of radicalised Rohingyas combining with home-grown extremists to undermine the Bangladesh government are not high. Nevertheless, they worry about a link up.

Major General (retd) ANM Muniruzzaman, president of the Bangladesh Institute of Peace and Security Studies said: "Our security will be drastically hampered if local terror groups make recruitments from the Rohingya refugee population."

Where the emotion dampened was in hard-nosed appreciation of Myanmar's strength. Force cannot secure the return of the refugees, and "we must find a diplomatic solution to the crisis, asserted Muniruzzaman. However, following the agreement reached on 24 October, everyone I spoke to remained doubtful if the refugees would return in significant numbers.

Bangladesh missed engaging Myanmar, failing to build trust and improve communication, friends asserted. Myanmar's policy of isolation has been a challenge, but Bangladesh should have seized the initiative. Successive governments missed the signals of an impending humanitarian and security crisis, I was told.

In Bangladesh, there is a despairing intimacy with the Rohingya issue. But the crisis looks different from Myanmar. This is a subject for another day.

The author is a former ambassador of India to Portugal.
Washington (United States): American internet giants told Congress Tuesday they were committed to cracking down on fake news operations on their platforms like the ones Russians conducted to meddle in last year's US presidential elections.

A day after bombshell indictments in a US probe of Moscow's election interference and possible coordination between President Donald Trump's campaign and Russia, Facebook, Google and Twitter sought to assure concerned lawmakers that they were taking necessary steps to rid their platforms of disinformation, propaganda and provocation.

In their testimony, the social media companies revealed startling new data showing many more millions of Americans were exposed to the fake news than previously thought.

The new information gives the broadest picture yet of the Russian effort to spread discord across US society.

"We are deeply concerned about all of these threats," Facebook general counsel Colin Stretch told the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Terrorism.

"That foreign actors, hiding behind fake accounts, abused our platform and other internet services to try to sow division and discord -- and to try to undermine our election process -- is an assault on democracy, and it violates all of our values."

The closely-watched hearing comes as the first charges in a US probe into Russian meddling reverberated through Washington.

One of three unsealed indictments brought by US special prosecutor Robert Mueller revealed early contacts between Kremlin-linked figures and a former advisor of Trump's campaign.

In Moscow, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov insisted the US accusations of election-meddling were being made "without one piece of evidence."

Staying ahead of threats

Testimony by the three companies, whose executives face more congressional questioning Wednesday, shows that Russian activities were far greater than they had previously reported.

Twitter has found that nearly 37,000 automated "bot" accounts with Russian links generated 1.4 million tweets that were seen by a potential 288 million people in the three months before the November 8, 2016 presidential election, the company said.

Twitter's acting general counsel Sean Edgett acknowledged that despite improvements that have helped the company identify and suppress malicious automated and human-generated activity, "we will need to evolve to stay ahead of new tactics."

"We agree that we must do better to prevent it," he added.

Facebook testified that some 126 million US users, a potentially huge portion of the voting public, may have seen stories, posts or other content from Russian sources.

"Foreign governments like Russia - in the 2016 election cycle - were deeply involved in manipulating popular social media websites with misinformation to sow discord among Americans," Senator Lindsey Graham, the subcommittee's chairman, said in a statement.

He said social media manipulation by terror networks and foreign governments is "one of the greatest challenges to American democracy" and national security.

Analysts say Russia's social media interference was part of a broader effort to help Trump defeat Democrat Hillary Clinton.

Some lawmakers sounded exasperated about the extent of the meddling, conducted in part by "troll armies" like the Russia-based Internet Research Agency.

"What is really staggering, and hard to fully comprehend, is how easily and successfully they turned modern technologies to their advantage," Senator Dianne Feinstein said.

All three executives faced intense questioning about how they will counter such operations.

Google's information security director Richard Salgado said users next year will be able to learn the source of each political ad on YouTube with a single click on an icon above the ads.

"We are committed to doing our part," Salgado said.

Twitter blocking Russian media

But the social media firms face the difficult challenge of keeping their platforms open, in order to avoid accusations of censorship and bias, and not becoming the curators of truth in society.

The trio has already begun taking measures to try to screen out manipulative Russian content.

Researchers have identified efforts in the past year that aimed to make white Americans angry at blacks, to hurt the image of feminists, and other such targeting that may have hurt Clinton and helped Trump.

Twitter announced last week it would no longer accept advertising from Russia Today and Sputnik, two Russian government-backed media groups that allegedly hone their stories and news placement for political impact.

Facebook's Stretch said the threat was of a global magnitude.

Asked by Graham whether he believed countries like Iran or North Korea could launch similar social media campaigns of misinformation, Stretch noted it was "certainly" possible.

"The internet is borderless," he said.
Riverside (USA): A man who barged into his child's Southern California elementary school and allegedly held a 70-year-old teacher hostage for nearly seven hours was shot by police who forced their way into the classroom.

A SWAT team entered the room at Castle View Elementary School, east of Los Angeles, shortly before 6 pm on Tuesday, officer Ryan Railsback said.

Negotiators had been talking to the man but hadn't heard from the woman. "We, of course, had been fearing for the hostage's life all day," Railsback said, but the decision to hurl distracting flash-bang grenades and storm the classroom was made because

"the fear for her safety was increasing".

The children were at lunch and were not in the classroom when the man barricaded himself inside with the teacher, said Justin Grayson, a spokesman for the Riverside Unified School District.

The man was seen being wheeled away on a gurney into an ambulance. There was no immediate word on his condition. The

teacher was sent to a hospital for examination but didn't appear to be injured, Railsback said.

Family members and the school identified her as first-grade instructor Linda Montgomery, who had taught at the school for about 20 years. "She's really good with kids," granddaughter Ariana Montgomery told KABC-TV. "She's really helpful and sweet."

It's still not clear what prompted the man to enter the school and barricade himself with the teacher, and it wasn't immediately known whether he had a weapon although he did bring a backpack onto campus, Railsback said.

The suspect had suffered an "emotional breakdown" that morning, his uncle Carl Jackson told the station. "He's not dangerous," Jackson said before the standoff ended. "It's just a matter of getting in there and talking to him, because we can talk to him."

The man had barged into the school office, where he failed to sign in, and was later seen grabbing the teacher. The husband of another teacher was on campus and tried to intervene but the man punched him in the face, knocking him down and breaking his nose, Railsback said.

Students initially were kept inside their classrooms before being ordered to evacuate to a local park, walking down the street in a long line.

Madison Barber-Alvarez told KABC-TV that she and her classmates were held in the room for two hours. "I felt like that this is so terrifying. I thought this going to be my worst nightmare I've ever had," the 12-year-old said. "We were praying that we're going to be OK," she said.

All were safely accounted for but school was cancelled for the rest of the week, according to the school district.
Washington: The United States is quietly pursuing direct diplomacy with North Korea, a senior State Department official said on Tuesday, despite US President Donald Trumps public assertion that such talks are a waste of time.

Using the so-called New York channel, Joseph Yun, US negotiator with North Korea, has been in contact with diplomats at Pyongyangs United Nations mission, the official said, at a time when an exchange of bellicose insults between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has fuelled fears of military conflict.

While US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on 17 October said he would continue diplomatic efforts ... until the first bomb drops, the officials comments were the clearest sign the United States was directly discussing issues beyond the release of American prisoners, despite Trump having dismissed direct talks as pointless.

There is no sign, however, that the behind-the-scenes communications have improved a relationship vexed by North Koreas nuclear and missile tests, the death of US university student Otto Warmbier days after his release by Pyongyang in June and the detention of three other Americans.

Word of quiet engagement with Pyongyang comes despite Trumps comments, North Koreas weapons advances and suggestions by some US and South Korean officials that Yuns interactions with North Koreans had been reined in. It has not been limited at all, both (in) frequency and substance, said the senior State Department official.

Among the points that Yun has made to his North Korean interlocutors is to stop testing nuclear bombs and missiles, the official said.

North Korea in 2017 conducted its sixth and most powerful nuclear detonation and has test-fired a volley of missiles, including intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) that, if perfected, could in theory reach the United States mainland.

The possibility that Pyongyang may be closer to attaching a nuclear warhead to an ICBM has alarmed the Trump administration, which in April unveiled a policy of maximum pressure and engagement that has so far failed to deter North Korea.

At the start of Trumps presidency, Yuns instructions were limited to seeking the release of US prisoners. It is (now) a broader mandate than that, said the State Department official, declining, however, to address whether authority had been given to discuss North Koreas nuclear and missile program.

Sanctions and engagement

NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg has urged all United Nations members to fully and transparently implement sanctions against North Korea, which he said has emerged as a global threat.

Speaking at the United Nations on 19 September, Trump vowed to totally destroy North Korea if it threatened the United States or its allies, raising anxieties about the possibility of military conflict. Twelve days later, after Tillerson said Washington was probing for a diplomatic opening, Trump said on Twitter that his chief diplomat was wasting his time trying to negotiate with Little Rocket Man - his mocking nickname for the North Korean leader.

Democratic US senators introduced a bill on Tuesday they said would prevent Trump from launching a nuclear first strike on North Korea on his own, highlighting the issue days before the Republicans first presidential trip to Asia.

A high-ranking North Korean defector said in Washington on Tuesday that he backed the Trump administrations policy of pressuring Pyongyang through sanctions, coupled with maximum engagement with the leadership and increased efforts to get information into North Korea to educate its people. I strongly believe in the use of soft power before taking any military actions, Thae Yong-ho, chief of mission at Pyongyangs embassy in London until he defected in 2016, told the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

The New York channel is one of the few conduits the United States has for communicating with North Korea, which has itself made clear it has little interest in serious talks before it develops a nuclear-tipped missile capable of hitting the continental United States.

The last high-level contact between Yun and the North Koreans was when he travelled to North Korea in June to secure the release of Warmbier, who died shortly after he returned home in a coma, the State Department official said. The Trump administration has demanded North Korea release three other US citizens: missionary Kim Dong Chul and academics Tony Kim and Kim Hak Song. Warmbiers death was a factor in the chilling of US-North Korean contacts around that time but the biggest impact came from Pyongyangs stepped-up testing, the official said.

The official said, however, that the preferred endpoint is not a war but some kind of diplomatic settlement and suggestions that Washington is setting up a binary choice for Pyongyang to capitulate diplomatically or military action were misleading. Diplomacy, the official said, has a lot more room to go.

But Trumps threats against North Korea are believed to have complicated diplomatic efforts.
London: One of British prime minister Theresa May's closest ministerial colleagues strongly denied inappropriate behaviour towards a journalist, as he became the most senior figure caught up in a Westminster sex scandal.

May has ordered an investigation into an allegation that Damian Green, her de facto deputy and an old university friend, touched the woman's knee and sent her a suggestive text message before he joined the Cabinet.

Green said it was "absolutely and completely untrue that I've ever made any sexual advances" towards journalist and Conservative activist Kate Maltby, who is 30 years younger than him.

"This untrue allegation has come as a complete shock and is deeply hurtful, especially from someone I considered a personal friend," he said.

A Downing Street spokesman said May had asked the head of the civil service, Jeremy Heywood, to "establish the facts and report back as soon as possible".

Allegations of sexual harassment and abuse have been circulating in Westminster for almost a week, with all party leaders pledging to do more to tackle what many admit is a pervasive problem.

In the most serious case, an Opposition Labour party activist on Tuesday revealed she had been raped by a party member as a teenager six years ago, but was told by a senior member of staff not to report it because it might harm her career.

A list of MPs in May's Conservative party has also been circulated detailing ordinary relationships, sexual penchants and unspecified and unverified claims of inappropriate behaviour.

Among them is junior trade minister Mark Garnier, who is currently under investigation for breaches of the ministerial code for asking his then secretary to buy him sex toys in 2010.

Defence Secretary Michael Fallon has also apologised for putting his hand on a journalist's knee in 2002, but will face no investigation as the woman in question has brushed it off.

Maltby wrote in The Times on Wednesday how Green, a contact she met through her parents, put a "fleeting hand against my knee" when they went for a drink in early 2015.

"I had felt a meaningful political relationship was developing: Suddenly, I'd been made aware that there might be a price I was not prepared to pay," she wrote.

She cut off contact but Green sent her a text in May last year after she appeared in a magazine article wearing a corset, saying he had "admired" the picture and asking her if she wanted to meet for a drink.

Green said the text was sent in the spirit of "two friends agreeing to meet up for a regular catch-up".

She ignored it but got in touch when he was appointed to May's Cabinet a few weeks later, and said they have since exchanged "many texts about political gossip".
The Communist Party of China (CPC) held its 19th Congress last week and Xi Jinping was elected to a second five-year term as general secretary. His extended and strengthened reign will likely set off all sorts of ramifications for the country and indeed, the rest of the world.

While his ascendancy represents a true rags-to-riches story, the next chapter will determine the direction the world takes in the 21st Century. This is a good opportunity to analyse just what the consequences of the CPC's 19th Congress will be for China and the region.

As expected, he was able to pack China's top ruling body, the Politburo Standing Committee of the CPC (PBSC) with his allies, but contrary to expectations, did not choose potential leaders-in-waiting from the so-called 'sixth generation' of Chinas leaders (those born in the 1960s).

The grooming of potential successors has been a party norm since the demise of Mao Zedong, adopted to ensure that greater political stability and institutionalisation within the CPC. However, the record shows that Deng Xiaoping  who wrested power from Maos chosen successor  had to remove two of his own nominees before settling for Jiang Zemin.

Even Hu Jintao was handpicked by Deng to succeed Jiang just as Xis selection as leader-in-waiting was not entirely in Hus hands. Similarly, Sun Zhengcai and Hu Chunhua, two of the sixth generation  widely expected to be brought into the 19th PBSC as Xis potential successors  had also been groomed over time by Xis predecessors.

Such plans soon fell by the wayside when Sun was accused of corruption and dismissed from the party and the younger Hu and Chen Min'er, believed to be a Xi protege who replaced Sun in the punters bets, not making it to the PBSC. With this departure from established norms and the fact that he was able to get his own theoretical contribution of socialism with Chinese characteristics for a new era canonised in the party constitution as Xi Thought, it is now widely speculated that Xi is setting himself up to remain in power beyond the normal second term as CPC general secretary. Or at the very least, to remain a powerful force even if he does step down in 2022.

Impact on Chinese foreign policy

Meanwhile, Xis decisiveness in foreign policy in his first term suggests he will continue to move full steam ahead with his ambitions for China as a global player. He has practically abandoned Dengs long-held injunction to hide ones capabilities and bide ones time by his assertiveness on the South China Sea island disputes, the continued provocations of Japan over the Senkaku islands that China has reasserted its claims over, and the launch of his ambitious belt and road initiative (BRI).

Alongside, of course, there have been run-ins with India, most notably in the case of the Chumur incident in Ladakh during Xis visit to India in September 2014, and the recent Doka La incident.

Equally importantly, Xi has managed to push through far-reaching restructuring and reforms in China's military, including placing greater emphasis on joint operations by the different arms. While this is a work in progress and should take several years if not decades to come to fruition, Xis domestic power and credibility gained through his anti-corruption campaign will ensure that these reforms will proceed at the fastest clip possible. Xi's nationalist concept of the Chinese dream  of national self-strengthening and rejuvenation  helps lubricate the wheels further.

The Chinese leaders call for the Peoples Liberation Army to take on greater global responsibilities also helps push the Chinese military towards greater reforms and learning. China is already the largest contributor to UN peacekeeping troops among the permanent members of the Security Council and has run anti-piracy patrols in the Indian Ocean since 2009. Its opening of a logistics base in Djibouti is the first of what one can logically conclude will be other military bases or facilities around Asia and elsewhere as China seeks to increase its global military presence.

Meanwhile, with respect to India, the peaceful resolution of Doka La should also indicate that Xis China  despite all the martial rhetoric  is a rational actor that is quite conscious of its disadvantages whether of military capabilities or of terrain. And if the Indian government continues to respond in the same cool, firm manner that it handled the Doka La incident, then it should do pretty well no matter what the Chinese provocation.

And provocation there will be  Doka La was a loss of face the Chinese will not forget and it is hardwired into their way of thinking and action to respond. And especially to a country like India that the Chinese leadership and elites think is weaker or has to be shown as being weaker, so that China is unequivocally seen as the logical, most eligible competitor to the US for its position as a global superpower. The place and time will be of Chinas choosing and nor will the response necessarily be a military one. It will be incumbent upon the Indian leadership then, to anticipate and plan accordingly.

Xis China is not inclined to sharing leadership or space with anyone else. The previous talk of a G2 condominium of the US and China is now well and truly out with China seeking to get the US out of Asia and challenge it elsewhere politically and economically. And under a Donald Trump presidency, which has still not filled key administration and diplomatic positions related to Asia over nine months after taking office, and ceded the ground on important global issues such as climate change, Xis task of putting pressure on US allies in Asia and influencing the fence-sitters around the world seems easier.

Unequal strongmen

Alongside the reconfirmation of Xis power in China, came an equally important development in neighbouring Japan, just a few days earlier. Shinzo Abe was reelected as Japanese prime minister for the third time since 2012, this time with a majority for his Liberal Democratic Party alongside a two-thirds supermajority for the ruling coalition.

Counting Modi in India, it is worth noting that Asias most significant security actors are all led by strongmen. This cannot fail to have an impact on the region. In fact, it probably already has, given the ramping up on nationalism as an instrument of state policy in at least China and India. And there is Abes drive for Japan to be a normal country, that can have a military capable of taking offensive actions like those of other countries but which is currently proscribed by its constitution.

Throw in Russias Vladimir Putin, the original strongman, Trump with his pretensions to being a strongman, and a couple of wily operators like North Koreas Kim Jong-un or the Philippines Rodrigo Duterte, with their capability to upend what might be seen as rational behaviour, and we have a potent mix.

Not all strongmen are made equally, though. Putin is the leader of a declining power forced by Western economic sanctions into an uneasy embrace with China, which the latter is taking full advantage of. Abe is actually deeply unpopular and his win is no indication that the Japanese wish to go down the military road he envisions; any attempts to change the countrys constitution will require a popular referendum, which he is likely to lose as of now. In the meantime, Abe will give China and North Korea plenty of ammunition to criticise Japan and use the excuse to increase their own military spending and provocations.

Trump is almost completely unpredictable and nor is this the rational unpredictability or cunning of North Koreas Kim, but largely it would appear, of being generally ignorant of Asias dynamics and unwilling to learn. Dutertes willingness to ignore an international tribunal ruling on the South China Sea dispute in favour of his own country and to do business with China instead also threatens to undermine already fragile ASEAN unity and gives China still more space to engage in its divide-and-rule in the region.

Of the lot, therefore, Indias Modi with his own absolute majority in Parliament looks the most capable of standing up to China and taking a leading and dynamic role in Asian geopolitics. Except that he is not.

Modi has been quick to abandon the one lesson the Chinese have learnt well which is that you cannot rise as a power, if you do not dominate your own neighbourhood first, and not just militarily.

While the Chinese now ignore the interests of their smaller neighbours, they were careful to first make the necessary political compromises  including with Japan  in order build strong economic linkages, which especially where the smaller countries are concerned, have turned into relationships of dependency on China. As a result, even Vietnam, Chinas most vaunted foe in Southeast Asia, and in whom India lays much in store by, is severely constrained in its responses to China.

Modi, on the other hand, continues the policy of his predecessors of letting Pakistan be part of the sphere of influence of one or the other extra-regional power  either the US or China. He also has neighbours most of whom have China rather than India as their biggest trading partner. And while his government has been resolute in its opposition to Chinas BRI, it has as of yet, no viable alternative to competing for the affections of its neighbours or countries further afield.

Meanwhile, if the Indian economy cannot be revived or domestic employment generated in the numbers needed to lift the masses out of poverty, Modi the strongman is unlikely to be an Asian leader except by virtue of geography.

The author is fellow at the Institute of Chinese Studies in Delhi. He tweets @jabinjacobt.
Theres a thing to be said about Sony smartphones. Staying true to their vision, the company hasnt been swayed by the latest trends, fads and well, the competition. Some might say that they are starting to look ancient when pitched against the latest innovations hitting the market but perhaps theres a merit behind playing safe? Having spent some time with the phone, lets try and answer that question. Heres our review of the Sony Xperia XZ1.

Sony Xperia XZ1 specifications

5.2-inch (1920 x 1080 pixels) HDR TRILUMINOS Display with X-Reality and Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection

Octa-Core Snapdragon 835 Mobile Platform with Adreno 540 GPU

4GB RAM, 64GB internal memory, expandable memory up to 256GB with microSD card

Android 8.0 (Oreo)

Single / Dual SIM

Water Resistant (IP65/IP68)

19MP rear camera with Exmos RS sensor, 1/2.3 sensor, f/2.0 lens, Predictive capture, 5-axis stabilization, 4K video recording, 960fps slow-motion video

13MP front-facing camera with 1/3 Exmor RS sensor, 22mm wide-angle f/2.0 lens, 1080p video recording

DSEE HX, LDAC, Digital Noise Cancelling

Fingerprint sensor

Dimensions: 156 x 77 x 7.9 mm; Weight: 155g

4G VoLTE, WiFi 802.11 ac (2.4GHz / 5GHz) MIMO, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS/ GLONASS, NFC, USB 3.1 Type-C

2700mAh battery with Qnovo Adaptive Charging

Design

Face it, Sony hasnt been breaking new ground with design for quite some time now. The Xperia XZ1 is an iterative update over the design that Sony pioneered a couple of generations back. Thats not to say it is ugly of course, the design continues to hold up and the XZ1 is a handsome albeit slightly boring looking phone.

The Xperia XZ1 has a 5.2 inch display set within a sea of bezels on all sides. Less noticeable on the black variant of the device, there are no two ways around the fact that in an abundance of futuristic, bezel-less designs, the XZ1 looks positively last gen. On a more positive note, the ergonomics and build quality continue to be great.The phone is equipped with Gorilla Glass 5 for protection against accidental scratches and drops. The buttons have good feedback and the power button doubles up as a fingerprint scanner. This position is for the most part, used only by Sony and serves as a very interesting middle ground between the dilemma of ruining the front or rear design of the phone. Oh and dont forget that theres a camera shutter key along the bottom edge. Sonys flagships remain perhaps the only high-end devices that provide this feature and were thankful for it. A physical button always feels superior to an on-screen shutter key and this particular button feels really good indeed.

On the left-hand side under a slot, youll find the SIM card and hybrid memory card slots. Theres a nice design flourish towards the top that integrates the antenna lines. Along the bottom edge lies the USB Type C connector while the headphone jack is at the top. Talking about the edge, theres a gentle curve all around now because of which you cant make the phone stand up on its base. Its not a deal breaker at all but the flattened edges added a certain sharpness to the design language.

Sony labels the XZ1s design as a continuous and seamless metal loop. Indeed, the metal frame curves along the edges and continues all the way around the back. The texture of the metal along with the choice of colors makes the XZ1 stand out like no other. No matter what you say about the design, its hard to find fault with the really high-quality materials used here. The entire device exudes luxury and feels great in the hand. Minimal Xperia branding lies along the center while a camera module protrudes out along the top-left corner. A centrally placed cut out hides the Dual LED flash, Laser Auto Focus and NFC chip.

Software

One of the non-Google smartphones to ship with Oreo, the Xperia XZ1 gives us a glimpse of what a less-than-stock build of Android 8.0 looks like. Despite being on bleeding edge software, the Android built on the XZ1 doesnt look very different from whats been available on the companys phones for years now.

The phone ships with a large number of pre-loaded apps including Playstation, 3D Printing as well as a number of Sonys services. A large number of these can only be disabled. On the flip side, not all of these are terrible, the PlayStation app for example will let you remote play games from your PS4 on your phone. The 3D Printing app too is an extension of one of the advertised capabilities of the phone.

Preloaded applications aside, the interface is very easy to use and doesnt make superfluous changes to the UI paradigm. Certainly, theres no effect on performance and usability. Swiping in from the lock screen drops you into the home screen that displays widgets and app icons. A shortcut tray sits at the bottom and tapping the launcher button will drop you into the extended suite of apps. You even have the option to search through your app list at the top of the app drawer. Tapping the bar shows your recent searches and also displays similar app recommendations. Thankfully this can be switched off.

Performance

Looking at the spec sheet, the Xperia XZ1 should be able to handily compete with its peers. A Snapdragon 835 chipset and 4GB RAM is as good as most of the competition and helps the XZ1 run along at a fast clip. Nowhere did we come across any slowdowns. The phone feels as smooth as the latest Pixels and the lower screen resolution likely helps with this. Games like Asphalt 8 and Real Racing are a joy to play because of the silky smooth performance on offer. Sony has does a good job with the thermals on the XZ1 and the phone doesnt heat up drastically despite extended gaming. Weve included some synthetic benchmark scores below if you want to see how the XZ1 stands next to the competition.

In Geekbench 4, the XZ1 scores 1824 points which isnt too far from the similarly equipped OnePlus 5 and HTC U11.

In the AnTuTu 6 Benchmark, the phone scores lesser than expected. It managed to rake in 164118 points.

In Basemark OS II, the phone scores 2948 points.

Finally, in Geekbench 4 Multi Core, the Xperia XZ1 scores 6288 points.

Display

Smaller than most of the competition, the display on Xperia XZ1 is nontheless very appealing to look at. It might lack the deep blacks or crazy contrast ratio of AMOLED screens but manages to be one of the best LCD panels around. Measuring 5.2 inches, it has a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels.

The Xperia XZ1s display employs technology from Sonys television line up and it really helps make it look great. The brightness levels even outdoors are sufficient and other than the slight glare because of the reflective fascia, you wont have much trouble viewing the screen. On the other hand, color accuracy is fantastic when you switch to sRGB Professional mode. You can always fall back to the Vivid mode if you prefer oversaturated screens. Finally, being an HDR10 certified panel means that you can watch Netflix content in HDR.

Camera

The camera capabilities on Sony flagships have always been a bone of contention for us. For a company that manufactures camera sensors for every other flagship, Sony sure has trouble producing consistent results on their own phones. Anyways, the XZ1 is equipped with a single 19MP Motion Eye camera that has an Exmor RS sensor. Theres a lot of tech onboard including 5 axis stabilization though unfortunately not of the optical variety. The camera still relies on electronic compensation using gyroscope data. The sensor is similar to Sonys last flagship but has a reduced resolution which allows for larger photosites and theoretically, better image quality. It also retains the 960FPS capture mode which is enabled by placing a RAM buffer in the camera module itself.

Anyways, lets talk about the image quality. For better or worse, things havent changed too much from the XZ Premium. The Superior Auto mode is what Sony recommends that you use since it not only sets white balance, HDR but also the very useful Backlit mode. Images are far from terrible but lacking software optimization results in very visible noise suppression artifacts. Hey Sony, weve said this in the past as well, a bit of grain looks way better than splotchy artifacts!

Sony has clearly done some work on white balance recognition since color rendition is much better. Contrast levels are good too though we werent very impressed by the dynamic range, more specifically the lack of it. Low light shots, however, are not very good at all. The lacking optical image stabilization really makes a difference here. Shots usually turn out blurry with a significant amount of splotchy noise reduction.

Connectivity

The Xperia XZ1 is as well endowed as they come when it comes to connectivity options. Theres the expected 4G VoLTE, WiFi 802.11 ac (2.4GHz / 5GHz) MIMO and Bluetooth 5.0 support. Theres Dual SIM support too but you have to make do with a Hybrid SIM slot and you wont be able to expand the built-in 64GB of storage should you choose to expand it. You also get GPS/ GLONASS, NFC. USB 3.1 Type-C is also supported for charging and data transfer. As always, Sony has placed added emphasis on the audio capabilities of the hardware. While the XZ1 doesnt have anything like the Quad DAC hardware built into the LG G6 or V30, it does support both DSEE HX as well as LDAC. The LDAC codec is now part of Android 8.0 thanks to Sonys benevolence but theyve been doing this for a while now. The codec is supposed to let you hear almost lossless music on supported headphones. The codec, when supported at both ends, replaces SBC or AAC and transport much higher quality music. DSEE HX, on the other hand, is an upscaling algorithm which upsamples the lossy mp3 audio to something that approaches lossless.

Lets talk battery life. The 2,700 mAh unit on the Xperia XZ1 is one of the smallest amongst its peers. Color us surprised then that it punches way above its weight and delivers solid longevity. A full day of usage is easily doable and a day and a half wouldnt be a stretch either. Never did during our testing phase did we run out of charge despite playing games, browsing social media, making calls and listening to a lot of music. The Snapdragon 835 chipset paired with the optimisations made in Android Oreo has certainly helped here. The battery is Quick Charge 3.0 compliant which means you can quickly top it off. It also supports Qnovo Adaptive Charging technology which helps reduce battery wear and tear. Through a series of battery conditioning techniques and by monitoring the electrolytic cells, Sony says that the battery should last a few hundred cycles more than average.

Conclusion

Top of the line specs, great performance, Android Oreo, a good screen, oodles of connectivity options and hey, even a headphone jack. The Sony Xperia XZ1 is a very good phone that is unfortunately surrounded by greater competition.

The lackluster camera performance pulls down the device and the large bezels dont work in its favor either. Weve heard that Sony is working on fixing the stale design over the next few quarters, it also has its work cut out on the camera front given the kind of push we are seeing from competing manufacturers. Priced at Rs. 44,990, the Sony Xperia XZ1 is worth taking a look at but dont forget the OnePlus 5, LG G6 and the Galaxy S8 that are within spitting distance on both sides of the spectrum and arguably offer more bang for the buck.
More than a decade later, Sony has revived the Aibo iconic robot pet brand with a new pet robot dog simply called Aibo in Japan. Sony says that Aibos behavior is adaptable and can form an emotional bond with the household members.

The new Aibo pet robot dog features an adorable appearance, vibrant movements, and is also responsive. It is designed in a way that it will develop its own unique personality through everyday interactions as it grows closer and closer to its owners. Aibos eyes utilize two OLEDs to display a range of expressions. The ultracompact 1- and 2-axis actuators allow its body to move along 22 axes.

It is capable of showing lifelike expressions, and a dynamic array of movements and the body language is expressed with the combination of eye, ear, and tail movements as well as different vocal sounds. Aibo seeks out to the owners and can even detect words of praise, smiles, head and back scratches, petting, and more.

The Aibo Robot pet dog learns and remembers what actions make the owner happy, and it slowly gets acquainted with the environment and will learn to walk around in the increasingly wider area and respond to situations accordingly. Sony says that the adaptable behavior was made possible through companys well-cultivated deep learning technology, in the form of inbuilt sensors that can detect and analyze sounds and images.

The Aibo has a Speaker, 4 Microphones and sensors include Pressure sensitive/capacitive type touch sensor, Capacitive type touch sensor (Head sensor, jaw sensor), 6 axis detection system(3 axis gyro/3 axis acceleration)2 (HeadTorso) and Motion sensor, Light sensor, 4 Paw Pads. Sony claims that it can last up to 2 hours on a single charge and takes close to 3 hours to fully charge it. Connectivity options are LTE

and WiFi 802.11b/g/n and weigh 2.2 kg Approx.

Sony has an app for Aibo; My Aibo which can be used to access more settings, view photos takes from the Aibos camera, and download additional tricks from the store. There is an Aibo basic subscription pack gives you Wi-Fi and LTE connectivity, cloud backup, and access to the apps features and the subscription costs $26 ( Rs. 1,677.91 approx.).

The New Aibo pet robot dog will be up for pre-order from November 1st i.e, from today only in Japan through the Sony Store, Sonys direct retailer and will go on sale on January 11th, 2018. It is priced at 198,000 yen (US$1,739 or Rs. 1,12,240 approx.) along with Aibo basic subscription pack.
Google today has announced the first cloud region in India which goes live in Mumbai. Indias cloud region will join other regions like Singapore, Taiwan, Sydney and Tokyo in Asia Pacific region. Google said that hosting applications in the new region can improve latency from 20-90% for end users in Chennai, Hyderabad, Bangalore, and of course Mumbai, compared to hosting them in the closest region, Singapore.

Google is offering the India region several services including Compute, Big Data, Storage, and Networking and even lets you buy these services directly in Indian rupees. With the launch of Googles Cloud region, enterprises can advantage of the high speeds, low latency and performance benefits uniquely offered by GCP (Google Cloud Platform) services.

The Indias region will have three zones and is said to open up new opportunities for new partners who will be benefited from building their services and applications on Google Cloud. It will also allow developers and service providers test deploy applications on Googles highly-scalable and reliable infrastructure.

Google, however, is a late entrant in India, with rivals like Amazon, Microsoft, IBM already have their public cloud data centers in the country.

Commenting on the launch, Dave Stiver, Product Manager, Google Cloud Platform, said:

We are delighted to announce the first GCP region in India. The new region will help customers build applications and store their data, and significantly improve latency for customers and end users in the area. Hosting applications in the new region can improve latency from 20-90% for end users in Chennai, Hyderabad, Bangalore, and of course Mumbai, compared to hosting them in the other closest region, Singapore.

Welcoming the Googles Cloud region in India, Manish Verma, Chief Technology Officer at Hungama, said:
Kevin Spaceys business interests are in jeopardy this week after Netflix (NASDAQ:NFLX) put House of Cards on an indefinite production hold just days after the actor was accused of sexual assault.

Netflix and House of Cards producer Media Rights Capital jointly said Tuesday that work on the acclaimed series sixth season will halt. The announcement came just one day after the streaming giant said House of Cards would end after one final season, in a decision purportedly made months before actor Anthony Rapp told Buzzfeed News that a 26-year-old Spacey made sexual advances at a 1986 party when he was just 14 years old.

MRC and Netflix have decided to suspend production on HOUSE OF CARDS season six, until further notice, to give us time to review the current situation and to address any concerns of our cast and crew, the companies said in a statement.

A sought-after brand endorser before the allegation surfaced, Spacey served until recently as a prominent spokesman for financial services firm E*Trade (NASDAQ:ETFC), appearing in television commercials, social media campaigns and other marketing efforts. However, E*Trade launched a new marketing campaign without Spacey last June and the actor no longer appears on the companys website.

E*Trade has no plans to use its work with Spacey in any future advertising efforts and does not currently have a financial agreement with the actor, a source familiar with the situation told FOX Business.

Spacey also performed voiceover work in LensCrafters (NYSE:LUX) commercials in the past. However, a company spokesperson told FOX Business that LensCrafters has no current relationship with Spacey and hasnt for at least five years.

In the past, the 58-year-old actor had a one-off appearance as a character in Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare, the 2014 edition of the popular video game series. He also appeared in advertisements for Chinese ecommerce giant Alibaba (NYSE:BABA).

Spacey addressed Rapps allegation on Twitter, writing that he does not remember the incident. However, Spacey said that if the incident did occur, he [owes] him the sincerest apology for what would have been deeply inappropriate drunken behavior, and I am sorry for the feelings he describes having carried with him all these years.

In the same Twitter statement, Spacey said he has had romantic relationships with both men and women and now lives as a gay man.

Spacey won a Golden Globe and two Screen Actors Guild awards for his work as President Frank Underwood on House of Cards. He also serves as an executive producer on the show.

A day before announcing the production halt, Netflix and Media Rights Capital said they were deeply troubled by the allegation against Spacey, adding that they visited the shows set in Baltimore to meet with the cast and crew.
A man plowed into pedestrians and bicyclists in downtown Manhattan on Tuesday, killing at least eight people and injuring several others. The attack was described by New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio as an act of terror.

The man reportedly rented the vehicle used in the rampage from Home Depot in nearby Jersey City, N.J. then drove into New York City.

Vehicular terror incidents are becoming increasingly more common, as 11 incidents have been reported so far in 2017. Four of those attacks have been claimed by ISIS.

FOX Business takes a look at vehicle attacks so far this year:

New York City - Oct. 31

At least eight were killed and multiple injured when a man, who police are investigating as a terrorist, drove into a bicycle pathway on Tuesday. The man was shot twice and taken into police custody.

Edmonton, Canada - Sept. 30

A police officer was stabbed and hit by a vehicle driven by a Somali refugee, and the driver went on to deliberately hit four others.

Barcelona - Aug. 17

Fourteen people were killed in two separate vehicle terror attacks in Spain, and more than 100 people were injured. ISIS claimed responsibility for the attack.

Charlottesville, Va. - Aug. 12

One person was killed and 19 were injured at a "Unite the Right" rally when the group was met by counter-protesters.

Paris - Aug. 9

A BMW injured six French soldiers in a seemingly timed ambush.

Paris - June 19

A man attempted to attack security forces, ramming his car full of explosives and a rifle into a police van.

London - June 19

A driver plowed a van into a crowd of worshippers outside of a London mosque, injuring 11 people.

London Bridge - June 3

Seven people died and nearly 50 were injured when a car drove into pedestrians on the crowded London Bridge. ISIS claimed responsibility for the deadly incident.

Stockholm - April 7

ISIS claimed responsibility for the attack in which a driver of hijacked a beer truck, killed four people and injured 15 others in Stockholm.

London - March 22

An ISIS-backed assailant drove a truck into pedestrians near the British Parliament, killing at least six people and injuring 50 others.

Jerusalem - Jan. 8

A Palestinian man drove a vehicle into Israeli soldiers, killing four.

Information compiled by Fox News Research.
Facebook, Google, and Twitter faced tough questions from US senators on Tuesday over why they failed to stop Russia from exploiting their platforms in last year's election. Facebook, however, faced much of the fireand its answers didn't sit well with some.

"I hear a lot of Johnny-come-latelys. There's a lot that I think you could have done earlier," Sen. Patrick Leahy, a Vermont Democrat, told the panel, which appeared before the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Terrorism.

The most heated moment occurred when Sen. Al Franken, a Minnesota Democrat, pressed Facebook general counsel Colin Stretch about why the social network did not flag political ads that were paid for in Russian rubles. "Those are two data points: American political ads and Russian money, rubles. How could you not connect those two dots?" Franken asked.

"It's a signal we should have been alert to. And in hindsight, it's one we missed," Stretch responded.

The hearingwhich also included Sean Edgett, Twitter's acting general counsel, and Richard Salgado, director of Law Enforcement and Information Security at Googlewas intended to address tech solutions that could stop "Extremist Content and Russian Disinformation Online." On Monday, all three companies disclosed new data that said Russia used their services to spread online propaganda.

Stretch called the problem a "national security issue." The company currently has 10,000 staffers devoted to safety and security on Facebook. But by 2018, it plans to double that number.

But even as Facebook vowed to crack down on the problem, some US senators said it still wasn't doing enough. "I do know we have to be careful we don't become censors," said Sen. Leahy. However, he's worried that Russian-linked accounts masquerading as legitimate groups continue to persist on the platform.

During the hearing, Leahy displayed a poster that showed various Facebook pages promoting controversial political topics. "When I mention Johnny-come-lately, these [Pages] were [live] today," he said. "Can you tell me with certainty that none of these pages were created by Russian-linked organizations?"

Stretch said Facebook continues to look for fake account activity and abuse.

The company has also announced upcoming measures to make political ads over the platform more transparent, including disclosing to users who paid for what ads.

However, that might not be enough to stop the political ad abuse, noted Sen. Amy Klobuchar, a Minnesota Democrat. That's because many of the political ads Russian agents allegedly bought from Facebook focused on hot-button issues like gun rights or immigration, as opposed to advocating for a specific candidate. Indeed, Stretch confirmed that misleading content continued to be posted after election day, much of it aimed at "fomenting discord [over] the validity of [Trump's] election."

Klobuchar is a co-sponsor of the Honest Ads Act, which would require major online services to keep a public file on political ad purchases, which anyonesuch as voters and journalistscould access. It would also force tech companies to include disclaimers on each online political ad, identifying who sponsored them.

Louisiana Republican Sen. John Kennedy also was doubtful Facebook could verify the identity of all its 5 million monthly ad buyers. Anyone might be working on behalf of a foreign government. "I think you do enormous good, but your power sometimes scares me," he told the firms.

This article originally appeared on PCMag.com.
Nov 1 (Reuters) - Billionaire investor William Ackman, who has been betting for five years that Herbalife Ltd's stock price would tumble to zero, said on Wednesday that his firm recently restructured its position in the nutrition and supplements maker.

The restructuring removes some of the pressure on Ackman's $10 billion hedge fund Pershing Square Capital Management after Herbalife's share price climbed roughly 50 percent this year.

"We covered the shorts and replaced them with outright put positions," Ackman told Reuters, adding that his firm's potential losses on Herbalife will now be capped at 3 percent of the firm's capital. "We can still lose money but the loss is capped."

Short positions, in which borrowed shares are sold in hopes they can be replaced later at a lower price, have the potential for heavy losses that increase as long as a stock's price rises. Put options give the holder the option to sell a stock at a set price.

Herbalife's stock price has been pushed higher in part by the company's decision to buy back a big chunk of its shares, a move many in the market interpreted as trying to pressure Ackmaninto giving up on his years-long crusade to bring down the company.

For much of the last five years, since Ackman in December 2012 first unveiled the position, Herbalife has been a thorn for Pershing Square as unrealized losses mounted.

Ackman has been betting the stock would crumble under regulatory scrutiny for what he has called a pyramid scheme. Herbalife has denied that claim.

(Reporting by Svea Herbst-Bayliss in Boston; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and Meredith Mazzilli)
Americans are unconvinced that President Donald Trumps tax reform plan will do the nation any good according to a new NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll.

The survey revealed 25% believed the tax plan is a good idea, while 35% called it a bad idea. The remaining 40% had no opinion.

Former McDonalds USA CEO Ed Rensi told FOX Business Americans are fed up.

I think the American people are tuning out anything anybody says at the federal level and most state levels. The arguments back and forth are childish. Our politicians, they say how are we going to pay for this? Well hell, they havent worried about paying for anything for the last 20 years. The deficit is out of control. Its a bunch of noise, Rensi told Maria Bartiromo on Mornings with Maria.

In Rensis opinion, politicians are too concerned about getting re-elected.

They do not represent the peopleDemocrats or Republicans. They represent themselves, they are greedy and all they want to do is get re-elected and have their cushy life, Rensi said.

Politicians should get themselves in gear and make an effort to boost the middle class and create jobs, he added.

We have a cancer within this country called the federal deficit and federal spending. It is out of control, Rensi said. I listened to [Sen. Chuck] Schumer stand at the podium, push his glasses down on his nose. Hes so sanctimonious. He talks down to everybody. The American people are fed up with it. They are checking out.

Rensi also called out Republicans.

The Republicans are a bunch of cowards because they are afraid they are not going to get re-elected if they dont do the right and proper thing. They have been complaining for eight years that they just needed the House, the Senate, the presidency [and] theyd fix all these problems. They are lazy they need to go to work, he said.
The Latest on a proposal to build an aerial tram on tribal land at the Grand Canyon (all times local):

5:20 p.m.

Members of the Navajo Nation Tribal Council voted down legislation to build an aerial tram to take paying visitors to a riverside boardwalk in the Grand Canyon.

The council voted 16-2 against the bill during a special session Tuesday in Window Rock, Arizona. It was the first time the full council had taken up the measure since it was introduced last year.

Some tribal delegates raised concerns about the development resulting in more public safety demands, while others questioned a $65 million investment that would be required by the tribe for roads, water, power lines and communications infrastructure.

Critics showed up to urge lawmakers to oppose the project. They have said the area is sacred and that the proposed development would mar the landscape.

___

1:45 p.m.

A project that would build an aerial tram to take visitors to a riverside boardwalk in the Grand Canyon with stores, hotels and restaurants is up for a key vote Tuesday by tribal lawmakers who have been reticent to develop sacred land at one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World.

The special session is the first time the Navajo Nation's full Tribal Council takes up the measure introduced last year.

It needs 16 votes to pass and has so far gotten a cold reception from lawmakers from the nation's largest American Indian reservation.

The development on 420 acres of the reservation that borders Grand Canyon National Park requires a $65 million investment from the tribe for roads, water and power lines, and communications. The legislation prevents other development within a 15-mile radius and along access roads.

Critics showed up to urge lawmakers to oppose the project as discussion got underway Tuesday afternoon.
A motorist driving a rented Home Depot (NYSE:HD) pickup truck killed at least eight people and injured several more Tuesday in a terrorist attack in lower Manhattan, shutting down New Yorks financial district.

Police bomb units, ambulances and helicopters descended on the area in response to the attack, a Citigroup (NYSE:C) official on the ground told FOX Business Charlie Gasparino.

Its really bad down here, the person said. Downtown Manhattan is largely shut down. Tons of traffic, ambulances and sirens, and choppers in the air. Its 9-11 mode down here all over again.

In addition to Citigroup, lower Manhattan is also home to Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) headquarters and the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE:ICE), among other financial firms.

The NYPD said the suspect was shot twice by police and taken into custody. FBI agents are also on scene investigating the attack, which Mayor Bill de Blasio called an act of terror.

President Trump decried the attack on Twitter.
Updated

The New York Police Department has visited truck rental companies over the past two years to inform them of potential terrorist threats, according to an NYPD official.

In what the citys mayor called an act of terror, a suspect driving a rented Home Depot (NYSE:HD) pickup truck mowed down pedestrians in lower Manhattan, killing eight people and injuring 12 more. Police have taken the driver into custody.

NYPD Deputy Commissioner of Intelligence and Counterterrorism John Miller said Tuesday the department started warning truck rental firms such as Home Depot, Ryder (NYSE:R) and Amercos (NASDAQ:UHAL) U-Haul of possible terrorist activity about two years ago, when an ISIS magazine mentioned car attacks. Police repeated those visits two more times after terrorists used large trucks to carry out attacks in Germany and France last year.

We did extensive outreach to the truck rental business. We visited over 148 truck rental locations in this areaand talked about suspicious indicators [and] ways to come forward, Miller said during a press conference. The industry has had a high level of awareness on this matter from the NYPD.

A spokesperson for Home Depot said the retailer is cooperating with authorities to assist with their investigation.

The home-improvement retailer rents out flatbed pickup trucks and cargo vans. Some stores also offer larger Penske (NYSE:PAG) moving vans.

Penske said it requires customers to present two forms of valid identification, and names are screened against a watch list provided by a third-party service. Company security officials regularly meet with the FBI and other law enforcement agencies, Penske added.

Penske Truck Leasing takes rental security measures very seriously and regularly communicates advisories and provides training to its rental team on proper security protocol, the company said.

U-Haul told FOX Business that law enforcement officials from multiple agencies have assisted rental locations in New York and other states as it pertains to detecting suspicious behavior. The company, known for its moving vans, has fixed measures in place to help employees identify suspicious individuals. It also implemented new technology in April to screen customers using real-time data, rental history and impairment recognition techniques similar to those utilized by law enforcement.

U-Haul maintains an open line of communication and works closely with federal and local authorities, as well as other industry leaders, in the sharing of information to guard against terror-related incidents, U-Haul said.

The attack in Manhattan steels U-Hauls resolve to ensure these issues have our full attention, urgency, and intensity, the company added.
Entrepreneurs hailing from universities on the West Coast scored the most funding over the past year, according to a new report.

The study, which examined more than 5,000 funding announcements, mergers and IPO exits during the last 12 months, was conducted by GraphicSprings, a logo design company aimed at entrepreneurs and small businesses.

Stanford University boasted the largest amount of alumni receiving exit, IPO or other funding throughout the past year, at 138 individuals. Harvard University came in second place with 89 graduates granted funding, however Harvards total funding, $7.939 billion, surpassed Stanfords $6.015 billion. University of California Berkeley, with 45 grads funded for a total of $972 million, University of Pennsylvania with 32 alumni receiving cash totaling $448 million and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) at 32 grads with $1.076 billion in funds, rounded out the top five.

Interestingly, while the list is dominated by Ivy League and top-tier private universities, 29 college drop-outs received a cumulative $853 million, placing entrepreneurs without a degree at 7th place on the list.

Other notable trends from GraphicSprings study include that only 4.3% of the individuals studied who received funding were women and 16.4% were minorities. The states where alumni received the most funding include California, Massachusetts and New York.

Here are the top 10:

1. Stanford University

2. Harvard University

3. University of California Berkeley

4. University of Pennsylvania

5. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

6. Cornell University

7. Drop-out, no college degree

8. University of Chicago

9. Columbia University

10. University of California, Los Angeles
A federal appeals court on Wednesday upheld Energy Department decisions approving three projects to export liquefied natural gas, a boost for the Trump administration's strategy to increase energy production and promote exports.

The Sierra Club was seeking to overturn approvals of export terminals in Maryland, Louisiana and Texas, saying the projects would increase air and water pollution and contribute to global warming.

A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit said in a unanimous opinion that the Energy Department fulfilled its legal obligations under the National Environmental Policy Act and other laws. The court said its decision was similar to a ruling in August when it upheld approval of a separate export terminal in Texas.

Liquefied natural gas, or LNG, is natural gas chilled to liquid form for shipment on tanker ships.

Charlie Riedl, executive director of the Center for Liquefied Natural Gas, an advocacy group that promotes natural gas exports, said he hopes the decision "will put an end to the unnecessary and costly challenges by Sierra Club that delay LNG projects" across the country.

"The facts are clear and the court agrees: The regulatory review process for U.S. LNG projects provides a thorough review of both operational and environmental impacts before being approved," Riedl said.

Exporting natural gas helps the U.S. economy and enhances geopolitical stability in countries that receive natural gas, such as Japan, China, South Korea and Argentina, Riedl said.

Nathan Matthews, a Sierra Club attorney, said expanding exports of gas produced by the drilling technique known as fracking inevitably increases air and water pollution. Fracking involves pumping huge volumes of water, sand and chemicals underground to split open rocks to allow oil and gas to flow. Fracking has led to a boom in natural gas production but raised widespread concerns about possible groundwater contamination and even earthquakes.

Matthews said it was disappointing that the court declined to hold the Energy Department "accountable for doing a real analysis that takes the costs for American communities into account," through increased pollution and emission of greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming.

Dominion Energy's export terminal in Cove Point, Maryland, is scheduled to open in the coming weeks. Cheniere Energy's Sabine Pass facility in Louisiana opened last year. And Cheniere's project in Corpus Christi, Texas, is due to open next year.

The projects, along with a fourth export terminal in Freeport, Texas, all were approved by the Obama administration.

____

This story corrects the name of the appeals court.
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Hotel operator Hilton will pay $700,000 to settle an investigation into two separate data breaches that exposed more than 350,000 credit card numbers.

The New York attorney general, who conducted an investigation along with his counterpart in Vermont, said Tuesday that one breach began in November 2014 and another in April 2015 but Hilton didn't tell consumers until November 2015.

The state officials say Hilton didn't comply with payment-card security standards.

Hilton spokeswoman Meg Ryan says the company cooperated with law enforcement and took steps to wipe out malware that targeted customers' card information.

Virginia-based Hilton Domestic Operating Company Inc. was previously known as Hilton Worldwide. The company has more than 5,100 properties in about 100 countries under names including Hilton Hotels, DoubleTree by Hilton, Embassy Suites and Hampton by Hilton.
British lawmakers are demanding the government release a series of studies it commissioned on Brexit's likely economic impact.

The government commissioned 58 reports on the effect leaving the European Union could have on various sectors of the British economy. It says making them public would undermine its divorce negotiations with the EU.

The House of Commons passed a motion by the opposition Labour Party on Wednesday calling for the reviews to be released.

Labour relied on an obscure parliamentary procedure to secure the vote, and there was debate about whether it is binding. Commons Speaker John Bercow says it is, meaning the government could be found in contempt of Parliament if it refuses to comply.

The Department for Exiting the European Union said it would "reflect on the implications of the vote" before responding.
Netflixs (NASDAQ:NFLX) ability to attract new subscribers through its original content should remain strong despite the looming cancellation of its flagship series House of Cards amid a sexual assault allegation against star Kevin Spacey, a Wall Street analyst told FOX Business.

Once the centerpiece of Netflixs original content lineup, House of Cards was placed in limbo on Tuesday when the streaming giant halted production on its sixth and final season in order to review the current situation. Spacey, the shows star and executive producer, stands accused of sexually assaulting actor Anthony Rapp after a 1986 party, when Rapp was just 14 years old.

The loss of House of Cards would have been a crippling blow to Netflix in past years, when the service was first making its headlong push into original content as a means of attracting customers. However, the addition of new hits like Stranger Things and Narcos has made it far easier for the company to cope should the series be canceled before its final season, according to Jefferies & Co. analyst John Janedis.

At this point, I think pulling House of Cards will largely be a non-event for subscriber growth, Janedis told FOX Business. If this was five year ago, when it was one of only a handful of originals, I think it would be a very different conversation. The reality is that the viewers in many cases have moved on to other originals that are much earlier on in their life cycle.

The allegation against Spacey arose at a time of strength for Netflixs business. The California-based companys stock is hovering near record levels since beating Wall Streets expectations for revenue its third fiscal quarter. Netflixs global subscriber base rose by 5.3 million to more than 109 million total paid subscribers. Shares have remained roughly flat since Rapps interview with BuzzFeed News was published last Sunday.

Officials doubled down earlier this month on plans to expand Netflixs offerings. The service says it will spent up to $8 billion on original content in 2018 alone. Executives also announced price hikes for new and existing subscribers.

Netflix has also sought to diversity its offerings by inking new deals with known hitmakers like Greys Anatomy creator Shonda Rhimes, the popular MillarWorld comic book universe and legendary talk show house David Letterman.

In a statement posted to his Twitter account, Spacey said he has no memory of the incident. However, the Oscar-winning actor said that if the encounter did occur as described, he [owes] him the sincerest apology for what would have been deeply inappropriate drunken behavior, and I am sorry for the feelings he describes having carried with him all these years.

House of Cards has earned 53 Primetime Emmy Award nominations since its debut in 2013, including five consecutive Outstanding Drama Series nods. Spacey earned a Golden Globe for his portrayal of ruthless politician Frank Underwood.
U.S. stock indexes all hit intraday all-time highs in the first 15 minutes of trading on Wednesday. All three indexes remain higher, and the S&P 500 is on pace for its 50th record close since President Donald Trump took office.

This comes despite a deadly terror attack in New York City, as investors focused on the continued stream of strong earnings and the upcoming tax reform legislation.

Tuesday afternoon, Sayfullo Saipov, a 29 year old Uzbek immigrant allegedly drove a rental truck into a crowd of pedestrians and cyclists in lower Manhattan, killing at least eight and injuring about 12.

According to reports, Saipov left a note in the truck used to carry out the attack saying it was done in the name of ISIS.

House Republicans have delayed the release of their tax legislation by one day, to Thursday. This; however, isnt a concern to investors as they are still cheering the potential for a corporate tax rate cut and other measures  which could boost the economy.

In a statement, House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady said We are pleased with the progress we are making and we remain on schedule to take action and approve a bill at our Committee beginning next week, the Republican lawmaker added.

Meanwhile, it will be another busy day for corporate earnings with the likes of Facebook (NASDAQ:FB) and Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) scheduled to release their latest results.
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What happened

Shares of B&G Foods Inc. (NYSE: BGS) were up 10.9% as of 11:50 a.m. EDT Wednesday after the company announced strong third-quarter 2017 results.

More specifically, B&G Foods' quarterly revenue climbed 28.3% year over year to $408.4 million, which translated to a 0.1% decline in adjusted net income to $36.8 million. Adjusted net income per diluted share fell 1.8% to $0.55.

Analysts, on average, were expecting lower adjusted net income of $0.47 per share on revenue of $390.9 million.

So what

B&G's top-line growth was primarily driven by the acquisitions of its spices & seasonings business and the Victoria brand in late 2016. Excluding those acquisitions -- both of which are tracking ahead of the company's original projections for sales -- B&G's base business net sales still climbed 3.2% year over year to $328.3 million, in spite of what CEO Robert Cantwell described as a "challenging backdrop in the packaged foods industry."

Cantwell elaborated that Green Giant frozen products delivered double-digit percent growth for the second straight quarter, while Pirate Brands products rebounded nicely with 21% net sales growth. B&G also enjoyed relative strength from smaller brands including Polaner, Underwood, Cream of Wheat, and New York Style.

Now what

Looking forward, B&G also increased its full-year 2017 guidance to call for revenue of $1.660 billion to $1.685 billion (up from $1.64 billion to $1.67 billion) partly thanks to $17.5 million in expected net sales from its more recent acquisition of Back to Nature. B&G reiterated its outlook for 2017 adjusted EBITDA as in the range of $352.5 million to $367.5 million, and for adjusted earnings per share of $2.03 to $2.17.

All things considered, B&G Foods' results weren't exactly jaw-dropping. But it was a strong quarter highlighted not only by modest organic gains, but also the validation of the company's pursuit of acquisitive growth.

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Christopher Hahn, a former aide to Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY), explained why President Trump would be committing political suicide if he were to sign his proposed tax bill into law.

On Thursday, the House passed a $4 trillion budget in order to help support Trumps tax plan, setting aside $1.5 trillion for tax cuts.

There are a lot of people who still believe on the Republican side that the deficit needs to be considered. And from all Ive seen about this tax bill, its going to greatly increase the deficit, which last year I recall them yelling at me about everything Obama did to increase the deficit, and now I guess they think its okay, he told FOX Business Liz Claman on Countdown to the Closing Bell.

The tax bill has recently been under fire, after GOP lawmakers considered limiting the maximum amount of money Americans will be able to deduct from their taxes for 401(k) contributions.

Hahn believes that Americans will revolt if their 401(k) plans are impacted by Trumps tax reform initiative.

If that passes and the president signs it, hes signing his own death warrant politically because there are too many people in this country that are relying upon that. With pensions really not existing as much as they used to in this world and Social Security being on rocky ground, Americans want to prepare for themselves and the 401(k) plan is the way most Americans now prepare for retirement, he said.

During a meeting at the White House, President Trump urged lawmakers to pass his tax reform plan by the end of the year.

I want the House to pass a bill by Thanksgiving. I want all of the people standing by my side when we get ready to sign by Christmas, hopefully before Christmas, Trump said.
House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady (R-Texas) may have thought he could release his committees tax reform bill without any outrage from lawmakers whose states would be most impacted by the loss of state and local tax deductions. But after he announced the legislative text would not include a state income tax deduction, two Republican lawmakers from New York are already on the warpath of potentially torpedoing their partys mission of reforming the nations tax code.

In an interview with Rep. Dan Donovan (R-NY) on Tuesday, a lawmaker who represents constituents in the New York City borough of State Island, told FOX Business in an exclusive interview that he would be outraged if Brady goes through with his decision and he could not support a final bill that would eliminate the tax break.

I believe and trust Chairman Brady, but this would be outrageous for tax cuts to be paid for the rest of Americans on the backs of New Yorkers. I cant see myself supporting a House tax bill that compels New Yorkers to pay for the tax cuts elsewhere in the nation, Donovan said.

Donovan appeared to feel betrayed by House leadership after numerous meetings since the nine-page tax reform plan was released in September, and following a phone conference Monday with senior White House officials, including National Economic Council Director Gary Cohn and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin.

When asked what he thought about Brady declaring the income tax deduction will not be part of the bill, Donovan said he hoped he and his New York colleagues were not deceived, telling FOX Business, I would be outraged if our input was all for naught. We were in constant communication. He (Brady) said there was room for debate.

Another congressman from New York, Rep. Peter King (R-NY), a close ally of Donovans, was even more blunt about Bradys decision to eradicate part of the deduction, also known as SALT, and made it clear he could not vote yes if the bill that will be released Wednesday takes away a part of the tax break.

Im disappointed, King told FOX Business. He later added, Im not happy. When asked if he would vote no on a bill that takes away the income tax deduction, he said, Yes.

SALT affects about 30% of all taxpayers, mainly in states such as New York, New Jersey, California, Connecticut, Virginia and Pennsylvania that impose significant state income and property taxes. The GOP Congress is dominated by lawmakers from southern and western states that dont impose such levies. They have argued for ditching the SALT deduction from the tax code on the grounds that it unfairly benefits taxpayers from just a handful of states and deprives the federal government of trillions in revenue.

Brady enraged the two lawmakers when he told the Hugh Hewitt Show that he was not willing to give relief to those who make use of the SALT income tax deduction. When asked by Hewitt if his plan would include a reprieve to those taking advantage of the income tax break, Brady said, The answer is no, and heres why, because we have income taxes, reduced them across the board, and added the property tax [deduction].

On Sunday, Brady announced what appeared to be a compromise with lawmakers when he said the tax plan would include a property tax deduction.

At the urging of lawmakers, we are restoring an itemized property tax deduction to help taxpayers with local tax burdens, Brady said in a statement.

Even after the House Ways and Means Chair seemed to admit he was unwilling to include most of the SALT deduction in the tax bill, he seemed to go back on his earlier comments when he said at a press gaggle later in the day that the tax bill being rolled out on Wednesday will not be the final tax reform bill, as it will go through the traditional markup process before its called for a vote.

The Trump administration called for the elimination of the SALT deduction that would produce close to $1.3 trillion in revenues over 10 years and help pay for his plan to slash taxes for individuals and take the corporate tax rate down from its current level of 35% to 20%.

But lawmakers from these high-tax states argue that the federal government receives a disproportionate share of tax revenues from states like New York and California, where a large percentage of wealthy people reside, thus the tax break provides some degree of fairness in the governments revenue collection efforts.

Making the matter even more contentious as the Republican-controlled Congress and the Trump administration move toward the politically vital tax reform bill: close to 60 Republican members come from states that benefit most from the SALT deduction and could vote against tax reform if the tax break isnt preserved in some way.
Republicans are preparing to unveil their tax reform plan Thursday, but New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo is taking issue with what he sees as actually raising taxes for some states and individuals. Cuomo responded to Republicans tax reform push on the FOX Business Networks Mornings with Maria Wednesday morning, saying, Their plan is a scam to use a word which is a little harsh so early in the morning.

Cuomo sees the Republicans rush to pass tax reform before people have a chance to really understand it, but claims it is not a tax cut for everyone, telling Maria Bartiromo, It is a tax cut plan for some people and for some states. Its basically a tax cut plan for corporations. For a state like New York, a state like California that has state and local taxes, its a tax increase.

When Bartiromo asked whether the governor needs to focus more on lowering his states spending and tax rates, Cuomo replied, I have lowered taxes Maria, we have lower state income taxes, record lower rates, my increase in spending year-to-year has been the lowest in recorded history, lower than Republican governors.

Bartiromo then asked what else could be done to prevent a potential tax increase for New Yorkers under the GOP plan, to which Cuomo responded, The only way not to increase taxes in New York, is to stop the plan, the plan is diabolical and divisive.

According to Cuomo, seven of the nine Republican Congress people from New York oppose the tax plan, including Rep. Peter King.

Peter King, God bless him, stood up and told the truth, youre raising taxes on New Yorkers.

Cuomo then warned the tax plan would drive wealthier residents of states such as New York and California to move to other states.

The Republican theory says well then those rich people will move to a state with lower taxes.

But when Bartiromo countered that New Yorks high taxes are already driving individuals and businesses out of the state, Cuomo responded, Yes, but Maria, this would then accelerate that and when they leave, that tax burden falls down to the middle class and the working families.

Cuomo then noted that the tax burden on some middle-class families was not what President Trump campaigned on .

This was supposed to be a middle-class tax cut, or I heard a different presidential campaign than you did.
On the eve of the House Ways and Means Committee releasing its tax reform bill, White House officials are expected to huddle with House Republicans from New Jersey on Wednesday in hopes of reaching an agreement on whether the coveted state and local tax deduction (SALT) will remain in the plan, FOX Business has learned.

Four of the five lawmakers from New Jersey are planning to join a phone conference with National Economic Director Gary Cohn and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin at 8:30 p.m. ET in the hopes that they can come to a solution in the ongoing debate on whether part, if not all, of the SALT deductions will be included in the bill, details of which will be rolled out Thursday.

The four New Jersey lawmakers who will likely be on the call are Reps. Tom MacArthur, Leonard Lance, Chris Smith and Rodney Frelinghuysen, sources familiar with this discussion said. Rep. Frank LoBiondo (R-N.J.) will not attend due to a scheduling conflict, aides close to him said.

A White House spokeswoman did not return calls for comment. Spokespersons for all of the lawmakers did not return emails for comment.

The call could be a major turning point going into what could be a historic day for President Donald Trumps administration as they look for votes that could put the final bill across the finish line. House members who represent constituents who would be most impacted by the loss of the SALT deduction, primarily those who reside in New York, New Jersey and California have openly voiced their concerns over the legislation.

Going into the discussion, lawmakers from New Jersey are split on whether they would support a partial eradication of the SALT deduction, which would include the elimination of the income tax deduction while maintaining the property tax deduction.

According to the Tax Foundation, 35.7% of New Jersey tax filers claim their property tax deduction, and it represents 4.1% of their adjusted gross income, the most in the U.S. Further, according to Wallethub, a credit card and tax research site, New Jersey residents whose home value is over $179,000 gets hit with an average property tax of $4,189 annually.

While New Jersey has some of the highest property taxes in the country, the GOP tax reform bill may include a limit on how much someone can deduct from their property tax claim, with the cap ranging from anywhere between $10,000 to $15,000 in deductions, according to those familiar with the matter.

Three of the four New Jersey lawmakers scheduled to talk with Cohn and Mnuchin were part of the larger group of 20 representatives who voted against the House budget, which is a blueprint for tax reformthe budget eventually passed by the slim margin of 216 to 212. Their no votes for the budget makes it even more imperative that the White House and Republican leadership try to find a way to flip them to yes as some New York Republicans are already threatening to vote no if the SALT deduction is not included in the final bill.

The conversation represents the second call in a week between White House officials and cagey Republican lawmakers. FOX Business first reported on Monday that Mnuchin and Cohn spoke with House Representatives from New York and, but senior White House officials faltered on assurances to provide a solution to the SALT debate.

SALT affects about 30% of all taxpayers, mainly in the states of New York, New Jersey, California, Connecticut, Virginia and Pennsylvania that impose significant state income and property taxes. The Republican-controlled Congress is dominated by lawmakers from southern and western states that dont impose such levies. They have argued for ditching the SALT deduction from the tax code on the grounds that it unfairly benefits taxpayers from just a handful of states and deprives the federal government of trillions in revenue.
ASHKENT/ALMATY, Nov 1 (Reuters) - Uzbekistan told U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday it was ready to do everything it could to help investigate an attack in New York in which an Uzbek-born man is suspected of killing eight people by mowing them down in a truck.

Uzbekistan spoke out after a U.S. law enforcement official described the suspect as a U.S. immigrant born in Uzbekistan, a landlocked, predominantly Muslim country in Central Asia that was part of the Soviet Union until its collapse in 1991.

Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev made the offer of help in a letter of condolence to Trump in which he condemned the attack as "extremely brutal" and said there could be no justification for such violence.

"From our side, we are ready to use all our power and resources to cooperate in the investigation of this terrorist act," Mirziyoyev wrote in the letter, which was posted on his country's Foreign Ministry's website.

"We express our solidarity with the U.S. people."

The attack - the bloodiest single attack on New Yorkers since Sept. 11, 2001, when suicide hijackers crashed two jetliners into the World Trade Center - is a challenge for Mirziyoyev who assumed office at the end of 2016 and is trying to slowly open up his country after decades of authoritarian rule.

It also shines an uncomfortable light on Islamist militancy in the wider region which has supplied Islamic State in Syria and Iraq with thousands of fighters.

An Uzbek Foreign Ministry official told reporters earlier on Wednesday it was investigating reports that the attacker was a citizen of the Central Asian nation.

If the attacker's identity is confirmed, it would be the fourth deadly attack to be carried out by an Uzbek national or ethnic Uzbek this year.

On New Year's day, an Uzbek gunman burst into a nightclub in the Turkish city of Istanbul and killed 39 people.

In April, an ethnic Uzbek man born in Kyrgyzstan blew up a metro train in the Russian city of St Petersburg, killing at least 14 people, and that same month an Uzbek man rammed a truck into a crowd in Stockholm, killing four people.

All the attacks were linked to or claimed by Islamic State.

"NOT VERY POPULAR"

U.S. police declined to publicly identify the man, but a source familiar with the investigation said his name was Sayfullo Saipov, 29.

CNN and other U.S. media said Saipov had left a note saying he carried out the attack in the name of Islamic State and that he had shouted "Allahu Akbar" - Arabic for "God is greatest" - when he jumped out of his truck.

He had emigrated to the United States in 2010 and lived in Florida, other U.S. media reported.

An acquaintance of Saipov told Reuters he had originally come from Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan.

Mirrakhmat Muminov, a truck driver and Uzbek community activist who lives in Stow, Ohio, told Reuters by phone that he knew Saipov and had spoken to him in recent months.

He said Saipov had lived in Stow two or three years ago, that they had met through the local Uzbek community, and that Saipov had also worked there as a truck driver.

Muminov said he had heard about the attack from members of the local Uzbek community, some of whom he said were getting ready to be questioned by the authorities.

He said he had no first-hand information about whether Saipov had carried out the attack.

He was spontaneously religious," said Muminov. "He started studying religion in the United States," something he said it was hard to do in Uzbekistan where study of Islam is tightly controlled.

Muminov painted a picture of a man who was struggling to make it in the United States, had few friends, and poor communication and English language skills.

"He was withdrawn, nervous, sometimes aggressive. Because of that he was lonely, he lived in his own world. He was not very popular, said Muminov.

"I heard that his third son was born a couple months ago. (Writing by Andrew Osborn; Editing by Alison Williams)
CNN White House correspondent Jim Acosta said Wednesday that President Donald Trump "now has the world record for injecting politics into the aftermath of a terror attack" after Trump promised to end the federal program that allowed New York City truck attacker Sayfullo Saipov to enter the U.S.

Acosta made the comment in response to "CNN Newsroom" host Brooke Baldwin, who noted that Trump was "pushing Congress for several major changes" in the aftermath of Tuesday's attack, which killed eight people and injured 12 others in Lower Manhattan.

The correspondent repeated that Trump was "playing politics" with his call to end the State Department's Diversity Immigrant Visa Program, for which the president blamed Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and congressional Democrats.

Acosta's claim about Trump drew criticism on Twitter, with some noting calls for political action by Democrats in response to tragedies such as last month's Las Vegas massacre.

The CNN star has repeatedly clashed with the Trump administration. On Monday, Acosta talked over White House press secretary Sarah Sanders about the case of a former Trump campaign aide who pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about Russian contacts.

"How is it not collusion when [the aide] George Papadopoulos is in contact with various people who are promising dirt on Hillary Clinton, a series of events that closely mirrors what occurred with the president's own son?" Acosta asked, referring to a June 2016 meeting at Trump Tower involving Donald Trump Jr. and a Russian lawyer.

"Finish your monologue," Sanders quipped, before adding that Papadopoulos "was not paid by the campaign. He was a volunteer."
Dustin Hoffman was accused of sexually harassing a woman when she was 17 years old in 1985.

Anna Graham Hunter, in an essay for The Hollywood Reporter, accused the A-lister of numerous instances of sexual harassment while she was an intern on the set of the TV film "Death of a Salesman."

"He was openly flirtatious, he grabbed my ass, he talked about sex to me and in front of me. One morning I went to his dressing room to take his breakfast order; he looked at me and grinned, taking his time. Then he said, 'I'll have a hard-boiled egg  and a soft-boiled clitoris,' Hunter wrote. "His entourage burst out laughing. I left, speechless. Then I went to the bathroom and cried."

Hoffman told The Hollywood Reporter, "I have the utmost respect for women and feel terrible that anything I might have done could have put her in an uncomfortable situation. I am sorry. It is not reflective of who I am."

Hunter kept a detailed account of her day-to-day on the set. She claims Hoffman spoke about breasts and asked her if she had sex. She also claimed on one day "he felt my ass four times."

She wrote, "At 49, I understand what Dustin Hoffman did as it fits into the larger pattern of what women experience in Hollywood and everywhere. He was a predator, I was a child, and this was sexual harassment. As to how it fits into my own pattern, I imagine I'll be figuring that out for years to come."

Hoffman did not respond to Fox News' request for comment.
Flip or Flop star Tarek El Moussa is heartbroken over the health ordeal of his beloved friend and castmate Frank The Tank Miller.

The HGTV contractor has been battling cancer.

You know, hes not doing very well right now, El Moussa told Fox News. Hes not doing well. Its a big bummer. Hes a very, very important person to me. Hes very, very close to me. I mean, Ive been watching this poor guy fight. Its been tough.

El Moussa took to Instagram Tuesday to share an update on Miller, who has been on immunotherapy for five months, causing his face and body to swell 10 times the size it should be.

He added Miller previously underwent multiple treatments, including chemotherapy and radiation, to prevent the aggressive illness from spreading. Despite Millers determination, El Moussa revealed the cancer has been spreading and heading to his brain.

With no other options, Miller reached out to the Lazarus Foundation to participate in a new clinical trial. And while he was accepted, Miller suffered another major setback.

Frank got such a bad infection in his lungs it which caused a severe pneumonia that his body went into shock and he was incoherent and fell off his bed causing him to fracture his head in 2 places, wrote El Moussa. He was rushed to the hospital at UCI where he was in the cardiac care unit and put on antibiotics and is currently in stable condition.

"Frank will remain in the hospital a couple more days to fight off the pneumonia so he can be healthy enough to start the clinical trial...

Despite all of Millers recent woes, hes still determined to combat his cancer  and win.

Frank said that Dying is not an option and he sure means it, wrote El Moussa. He is a fighter and so much of his strength comes from his family, friends and supporters. Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers.
Another actor has come forward to lay allegations of harassment on Kevin Spacey. Roberto Cavazos took to social media to recount his own alleged experience with Spacey when he was younger.

The incidents in question reportedly took place during Spaceys time as the artistic director at The Old Vic Theater in London from 2003 - 2015. Cavazos explains that not only did he have an encounter with Spacey, but that enough of the young male actors that came through the theater had stories to make it a running joke, albeit in bad taste.

I myself had a couple of unpleasant encounters with Spacey that were on the edge of being considered assault, the 35-year-old actor, wrote in Spanish on Facebook (translated by People). In fact, if I was a woman, I probably wouldnt have doubted in identifying them as such, but I guess the lack of a direct or aggressive action led me to justify the incident as one of those things.

There are many of us who have a Kevin Spacey story, Cavazos continued. It seems like you only needed to be a man under 30 for him to feel free to touch us. It was so common that it turned into a (very bad) joke amongst us.

The star also detailed the pattern that seemed to form with the way Spacey would approach and proposition actors at the theater. According to Cavazos, Spacey would ask people to meet him to talk about their career. When they arrived at the theater, he had the stage beautifully lit with a picnic ready. Other times, he could be found at the bar of the theater cornering anyone he found attractive. While Cavazos said he never let anything happen, he knows of many people that were too scared to stop him.

The U.K.s Evening Standard reached out to the Old Vic Theater, which issued a statement saying that there were no official complaints about Spacey made during his 12 years as artistic director, and that none have come up since.

Cavazos comments come just days after Star Trek: Discovery actor Anthony Rapp, 46, revealed that experienced a sexual advance from the 58-year-old actor when he was just 14 and Spacey was 26. Soon after, Spacey released a statement on social media explaining that he didnt remember the incident and came out as a gay man. Many were upset by his response, arguing that equating homosexuality and pedophilia is not an adequate response to the allegations.
The allegations leveled against Kevin Spacey have dredged up disturbing memories about his childhood  as his brother said their father was a Nazi child rapist who abused them for years in their house of horrors home.

Randall Fowler, 62, a colorful Rod Stewart impersonator, said he was not surprised that Anthony Rapp accused his Oscar-winning brother of trying to seduce him when he was 14, the Sun reported.

Fowlers agent, Bonnie Soto, told the Sun: Obviously this is not new news, but as far as this particular guy, Randy doesnt know anything because Kevin cut himself off when he became Mr. Rich Millionaire.

Were not too surprised. And we know that Kevin has been in the closet for a long time, added Soto, who is writing a book about child sex abuse with Fowler.

The revelations come as Spacey faces a firestorm of criticism after Rapp, 46, accused him of making a sexual advance on him in 1986.

Rapp  best known for his roles in the Rent movie and Star Trek: Discovery TV series  told BuzzFeed News about the alleged incident at a party while he and Spacey were both acting on Broadway.

Hours after the bombshell report emerged, Spacey, 58, took to Twitter and admitted for the first time that he is gay and issued an apology.

I have a lot of respect and admiration for Anthony Rapp as an actor, Spacey wrote. Im beyond horrified to hear his story. I honestly do not remember the encounter, it would have been over 30 years ago.

But if I did behave as he describes, I owe him the sincerest apology for what would have been deeply inappropriate drunken behavior, and I am sorry for the feelings he describes having carried with him all these years.

Many have accused Spacey of using his sexuality to deflect attention from the sordid accusation, which Fowler described as disturbing to the Daily Mail.

Fowler, a limo driver living in Boise, Idaho, said he had been sexually abused by their father, Thomas Geoffrey Fowler  whom they called The Creature  and that their mother knew about it.

Their older sister, Julie, also endured beatings before she fled home when she was 18, according to the Daily Mail.

In a 2004 interview with the paper, Fowler described how their ultra-right-wing, perverted dad was a member of the American Nazi Party.

He was so enamored with Adolf Hitler that he even trimmed his mustache to resemble the Fuehrers.

Fowler told the Daily Mail that he refused to have children of his own because he feared they would inherit the sexual predator gene.

I grew up in a living hell. There was so much darkness in our home it was beyond belief. It was absolutely miserable, he said.

Years later, our mother actually wrote a letter to all three of us, trying to justify what had gone on by saying she was abused as a child and so was our father, he said.

Kevin tried to avoid what was going on by wrapping himself in an emotional bubble. He became very sly and smart, he added. He was so determined to try to avoid the whippings that he just minded his Ps and Qs until there was nothing inside. He had no feelings.

Fowler described his younger brother as an empty vessel who had never been in a real relationship with anyone.

Neither of us had a chance growing up with two such damaged parents. I went through three marriages and 40 affairs, he said in 2004.

The family moved 10 times  from Colorado, where Fowler was born in 1956, to New Jersey, where Spacey was born three years later  before settling in Los Angeles.

The three siblings felt trapped, Fowler said, and werent allowed to bring friends to their house, where their father, a technical writer, plastered the walls of his office with pornographic images.

Fowler was allowed to join the Boy Scouts briefly, but said his father pulled him out when he discovered that the scoutmaster was Jewish. Spacey was never allowed to join.

At dinnertime, the children were subjected to their fathers lectures about white supremacy  and rants that the Holocaust was a lie and that Jews controlled the banks and the movie industry, according to the Sun.

Fowler said his father began to sexually abuse him when he was 12, ordering him to the master bedroom to teach him about the birds and the bees.

He unbuttoned my pants and started playing with me, he told the Daily Mail.

The horrified youngster yelled for his mother.

She came right up and pounded on the door but Dad had locked it and he told me to keep quiet, he said. All of a sudden the pounding stopped. Mom had left. Id never felt so abandoned. Dad started to perform a sex act on me. That was the beginning of my adolescence.

Spacey tried to cheer everyone up with impersonations of celebrities like Johnny Carson  spot-on acts that he still performed decades later.

I constantly threatened my father that if he ever touched my brother, Id confront my mother with what was going on and that would destroy the family, Fowler said.

He once contemplated suicide, even putting a gun barrel into his mouth, but didnt pull the trigger when he realized that his death would mean his younger brother would have no one to protect him.

A Spacey spokesman told the Daily Mail in 2004: Kevins brothers claim against his father is a very serious one and has been a difficult personal family matter.

The family all feel deeply for his situation. Kevin has not experienced any of the distress that his brother describes as he has never been a victim of abuse and can only sympathize with him.

Spaceys reps have not returned messages left by The Post.

In 1990, Fowler finally confronted their mom after their father was rushed to a hospital.

Our mother sat in stony silence, he recalled.

When their father died on Christmas Eve 1992 at age 68, she told Fowler that he didnt have to attend the funeral. Spacey then grew closer to their mother as a rift between the brothers widened.

When Julie Fowler died on March 19, 2003, Spacey had her cremated under a false name to maintain her privacy.

Her ashes were divided into two star-shaped boxes with a gold plaque that bore the words Everything will be fine.

This article originally appeared in Page Six.
The New York City Police Department reportedly has two open sexual assault cases against disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, while both Beverly Hills and London police confirmed they were investigating complaints against the film mogul as well.

ABC News reported actress Lucia Evans, who revealed her experience with Weinstein in The New Yorker expose, is one of the alleged victims named in one of the New York cases. The other womans name was not revealed.

Evans told The New Yorker that Weinstein exposed himself to her during a meeting in 2004 and forced her to perform a sexual act on him.

HARVEY WEINSTEIN REPORTEDLY SEES HIMSELF AS A MARTYR FOR SOCIAL CHANGE

I said, over and over, I dont want to do this, stop, dont, Evans told The New Yorker. I tried to get away, but maybe I didnt try hard enough. I didnt want to kick him or fight him.

Neither case is subject to the statute of limitations, the source told ABC News.

A source told ABC News that detectives traveled to Montreal to speak to a witness and were considering going to Los Angeles to talk to others.

Beverly Hills Police acknowledged Tuesday that they were investigating complaints against the disgraced film mogul. The department said they were was also investigating complaints against writer-director James Toback, who has been accused of sexual harassment by dozens of women.

ROSE MCGOWAN ALLEGES HARVEY WEINSTEIN TRIED TO PAY HER $1 MILLION IN HUSH MONEY

Toback has said he does not remember meeting the women and Weinstein has denied any non-consensual sexual contact.

Overseas, Weinstein was also being investigated in the United Kingdom. Sky News reported that Londons Metropolitan Police was now investigating allegations against Weinstein by seven women over incidents that reportedly took place from the 1980s to 2015.

In a statement, police said they received the first allegation on Oct. 11, claiming a man sexually assaulted a woman in the late 1980s in west London.

Since then, police have received more claims about the same man alleging sexual assault in London.

Following the bombshell accusations, Weinstein has been fired from his own company he co-founded with his brother Bob and was booted from the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Prince Harry paid tribute to Princess Diana on Tuesday and revealed his late mother is his ideal role model.

Harry attended the inaugural Obama Foundation Summit in Chicago and spoke with Mellody Hobson, the president of Ariel Investments, LLC, about the impact his mother had and why she was called the Peoples Princess.

"I think she had a lot in common with everybody but also she certainly listened in a very, very short space of time," the 33-year-old prince said. "In society we suffer from this illusion or this reality where some problems get so big that nobody wants to get involved. She was the one that changed that."

He added: I will always look up to her as being my ideal role model.

Diana was known to take on several causes, including HIV/AIDS awareness and mental health. She was linked to more than 100 organizations, many of which Prince William and Harry have also been involved in.

Harry also said the younger generation inspires him to most.

"The younger generation of the world has turned me into an optimist... They have the solutions to some of the world's biggest problems, he said. "We have to listen to the younger generation because they are the cure to some of the world's biggest problemsthey are the cure of many communities as well."

The summit was organized by former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama. It was a two-day event that featured 500 speakers that included Common, Jose Andres and Lin-Manuel Miranda.
The Trump administration is planning to revoke a rule that banned tip-pooling for restaurants.

The Obama-era rule prohibited restaurants from taking servers tips, combining them and then redistributing them as the owner or manager sees fit.

The Trump administration has been saying they plan to repeal the ban for months, but has recently taken the steps to do so.

The pending rule change would only rescind the current restrictions on tip pooling by employers that pay tipped employees the full minimum wage directly. Meaning restaurants that pay servers the full $7.25 minimum wage, instead of the $2.13 tipped wage, can pool tips.

KENDALL JENNER CALLED OUT FOR NOT TIPPING AT NEW YORK BAR

The law Obamas administration created ruled that employees own their tips, not the restaurant, and that restaurants are not allowed to pool tips or give them to non-tipped employees. The rules applied to all levels of wage-earning servers.

Activists are concerned that the removal of the ban will lead to owners taking the tips for themselves, which could be possible under the proposed law change.

The co-founder of ROC United, one of the groups fighting for a $15 wage, said, It says its possible for employers to walk away with the tips and not give them to anybody.

The National Restaurant Association lobby told CBS that removing the restrictions on tip pooling alleviates the disparity between the front of the house and the back of the house, since the back of the house employees are not tipped.

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The Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association welcomes the rule change as well, stating it would protect our members from private lawsuits for the period the rule was purportedly in place.

Federal courts have disagreed over if the changes were okay, meaning the issue could be escalated to the Supreme Court unless Trumps administration intervenes with a federal ruling beforehand.
Amsterdam officials banned beer bikes from the city's center after residents complained about drunk and rowdy tourists riding through the streets, a report said on Tuesday.

BUDWEISER'S NEW BEER HAS WAY MORE ALCOHOL

Amsterdam District Court ruling deemed the multi-person bikes a public order problem and granted city officials to prohibit people from using them in the citys center, the BBC reported. The court approved the ban so the bikes would stop  being a nuisance.

"The combination of traffic disruptions, anti-social behavior and the busy city center justifies a ban, the court said during the ruling.

The ban went into effect on Wednesday, the BBC reported.

WISCONSIN MAN GETS LOCKED IN BEER COOLER, STARTS DRINKING

Beer bikes are generally carts with several bicycle seats situated around a bar. Riders pedal through the citys canals while drinking beer.

The contraptions have frustrated local residents so much that more than 6,000 people signed a petition last year to get rid of the terrible phenomenon. A resident reportedly said Amsterdam has become a giant attraction park with the flood of tourists heading to the city each year, according to the BBC. Some have said the bikes symbolized the wrong type of tourism that was hitting Amsterdam.

However, some tourists have argued that the beer bikes have allowed them to see more of Amsterdam, also while enjoying touring it with drinks in their hands.

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Beer bikes are also popular in other European cities, such as Berlin.
Though generally better known for their bar food and beer, one North Carolina restaurant is getting attention for its "poorly named" breakfast dish.

The Charlotte Observer reports that Bad Daddy's Burger Bar in Charlotte, N.C., will be renaming an egg-based offering  previously known as the Border Patrol Scramble"  in the wake of recent criticism over the dish's name.

As of Nov. 1, new menus will be released with the dish dubbed the Spicy Morning Scramble, the restaurant confirmed to the Observer.

THE BURGER KING MASCOT SHAVES FACIAL HAIR TO RAISE AWARENESS FOR 'MOVEMBER'

Women- and civil-rights activist Andrea Pino first took to Twitter on Oct. 26 to object to the menu item, which features scrambled eggs, red onions, jalapenos, jalapeno bacon and pepper jack cheese, and comes topped with salsa and sour cream.

Shout out to @BadDaddysBurger for this poorly named menu item. Way to reflect todays America, wrote Pino after spotting the "Border Patrol Scramble," which was only available at the restaurant's Charlotte-Douglas International Airport location.

Quick to respond, Big Daddys soon wrote back to Pino on Twitter.

Hey Andrea. We're very sorry if you felt offended by the name of that menu item. We'll keep that in mind with our next menu rotation, they said.

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Nevertheless, fans of dish's original name were quick to denounce claims of xenophobia against the restaurant, with some calling it "lunacy" and others noting that the U.S. Border Patrol is a federal agency that works to protect the nation.

Pino has not yet publicly responded to the restaurant on Twitter.
Two students are recovering after eating what their parents said appeared to be pop rocks candy, but was later found to be contaminated with cocaine. The boys, who are students and Indiana College Preparatory School, complained of weakness and numbness after eating the substance that offered to them by a classmate, and wound up in the emergency room after class on Friday, Fox 59 reported.

My son was like unresponsive to me, weak in the legs, he couldnt walk, Yolanda Washington, whose son is in seventh grade at the school, told Fox 59. His legs were hurting. He told me he couldnt breathe. I freaked out. I immediately told the school to call the ambulance.

Cathy Glass, the other boys mother, said her sons mouth was numb for more than 30 minutes, and he got dizzy.

MOM FINDS HEROIN IN DAUGHTER'S HALLOWEEN CANDY

Both boys tested positive for cocaine while at the hospital, and now their mothers want to know how the classmate came into possession of the product.

Somebody needs to be responsible, maybe the parent of child who gave it, Washington told the news outlet. It had to come from somewhere.

While the school confirmed the incident and said the administration will be trained on how to better deal with drug prevention, the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police are now investigating, Fox 59 reported.

Some drugs you might encounter with your teenagers as they get older but this is not one of them, Glass told the news outlet.
An E. coli outbreak has sickened approximately 300 at Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego and several others at Camp Pendleton training grounds, with at least 10 patients requiring care at an off-campus hospital. The outbreak, which began last week, has not impacted training regimens at the base, officials said.

Our immediate focus is identifying, isolating and treating recruits who present symptoms, Brig. Gen. William Jurney, commanding general of MCRD San Diego said, according to Fox 5 San Diego. We are working to identify the cause of the sickness, making sure our affected recruits can return to training as soon as possible and continuing training for recruits not influenced.

TEARS AS CONJOINED TWINS DIE DAY AFTER BIRTH

USMC officials have urged recruits and personnel to look out for symptoms and to isolate patients, as well as take extra sanitary measures as a precaution. Officials said family members will be contacted if a recruits graduation date is impacted due to missed training, Fox 5 San Diego reported.
Frankenstein is born again  this time, on Halloween.

Florida parents Kyle and Jessica Frankenstein welcomed their baby, Oskar Gray Frankenstein, into the world early Tuesday at the Winter Park Memorial Hospital outside of Orlando, WKMG Orlando reported.

"He was due four days ago and he decided to wait until Halloween, her grandmother Jennifer Frankenstein told the station.

The baby weighed in at six pounds and 9 ounces, and is 20 inches long, The Associated Press reported.

MOM FINDS HEROIN IN DAUGHTER'S HALLOWEEN CANDY

Jennifer Frankenstein also said she has a 13-year-old daughter who shares a birthday with "Frankenstein" author Mary Shelley.

Everybodys safe and sound and were super excited, she told the station.
A family in India is mourning the loss of conjoined twins who were born crying on Sunday, but died just 24 hours later. The boys, who were born with two heads and shared a torso, two arms and two legs, had been given a zero percent chance of survival past birth.

Doctors who delivered the boys via caesarean section at Swami Ramanand Tirth hospital in Maharashtra, western India, reportedly said it would have been impossible to separate the pair had they survived. Their condition was not detected until 32 weeks gestation, The Independent reported.

The babies were a case of dicephalic parapagus or two-headed twins, which are often stillborn, Dr. Sanjay Bansode, head of the hospitals gynecology unit, told the news outlet. It is extremely rare and happens just one in a lakh (100,000) and chances of dicephalic parapagus twins are of around 10 percent of such births.

SORORITY SISTER DIES 3 WEEKS AFTER GETTING HIT IN HEAD BY SOCCER BALL

The boys, who were born to a 32-year-old mother who has asked to remain anonymous to prevent potential backlash, weighed 8 pounds and were placed on a ventilator immediately after birth. The family has three daughters and one son, and were said to be devastated upon learning of the twins diagnosis.

The mother did not know she was carrying conjoined twins until the 32nd week of pregnancy, Bansode said, according to The Independent. They asked us to do anything to save the babies but such kids do not survive. There is no possibility of surgery either as they share most of their body parts and in this case had just one pair of limbs.

Bansode said the hospital dealt with a similar case in 2014 involving a woman who was seven months pregnant with conjoined twins. In that case, the babies died immediately after birth, SWNS reported.
A mom in West Virginia said she discovered heroin among her childs Halloween candy while she was conducting an inspection of her daughters trick-or-treating loot. Stacey Norris told WOAY-TV that she immediately called the Oak Hill Police Department to come investigate, and later received a call confirming her suspicions.

Honestly, at first I just thought it was a joke somebody was playing and then when the 911 center called back and told me what it was my heart kind of dropped, Norris told the news outlet. What if she had gotten hold of it or what if I didnt check it or I did let her eat a piece on the way home, what if it had been that piece. All kinds of stuff goes through your head.

AUTHORITIES WARN ON MARIJUANA-LACED CANDY

Norris said the drugs were in a glove that had a dark substance wrapped inside of it. Oak Hill police chief said he urges all parents to inspect their childs candy before allowing them to eat it.
One Hawaii man has a serious writing assignment ahead of him, thanks to a court order.

On Oct. 27, Maui 2nd Circuit Judge Rhonda Loo ordered Daren Young to write 144 compliments to his ex-girlfriend, in response to the 144 nasty text messages and calls that he allegedly sent her in a three-hour span, the AP reports.

WOMAN SUES SEPHORA, CLAIMS LIPSTICK SAMPLE GAVE HER HERPES

"For every nasty thing you said about her, you're going to say a nice thing. No repeating words, Loo told the 30-year-old from Kahului.

Evidently, Youngs ex had sought a protection order, which was issued Feb. 22, 2017. He was told not to contact her, including by phone.

STUDY SHOWS PEOPLE WHO SMOKE POT REGULARLY HAVE MORE SEX

Just two months later, Young sent the woman the 100-plus text messages and calls in a span of about three hours.

According to the Maui News, Young received time served for spending 157 days in jail. He was also sentenced to two years of probation, $2,400 in fines and 200 hours of community service, in addition to the unique writing assignment.

"It's so childish to think a grown man can be so thumb-happy," Loo said. Further, the judge was frank with her opinion of the harassment.

"I don't know whether I should cut off your fingers or take away your phone to get you to stop texting," Loo told Young. "You probably shouldn't get a phone, period. I hope she changed her number."

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Moving forward, Young told the judge, he will not reach out to his ex-girlfriend again and will carry on with his life.
A high school teacher in Indiana says she may face possible disciplinary action after her students published a magazine on dating and relationships, which covered topics such as friends with benefits, polyamory and break-up advice.

Michelle Burress, an English teacher and media advisor at Plainfield High School, is facing criticism from the school board after her publishing class distributed the first issue of their student-run magazine, The Shakedown.

25-YEAR-OLD CARA DELEVINGNE NAMED FACE OF DIOR'S NEW ANTI-AGING LINE AND PEOPLE ARE NOT HAPPY

According to the IndyStar, the Dating Survival Guide included polls about the prevalence of sexting, cheap date ideas and cheesy pick-up lines, along with more serious information, like an interview with a police officer on dating violence and stories of how teachers met their spouses.

Around 1,700 copies were distributed to staff and students on Oct. 23, but the publication began receiving criticism within hours, IndyStar reports.

"Parents need to be aware that Plainfield High School has published and distributed to students a magazine telling our children that casual sex and even group (sex) is OK," Bret Allen wrote on Facebook in what is now a private post. Allen is the daughter of school board president Michael Allen.

But despite initial feedback, the students stand behind their work, saying theyre proud of the publication they produced. We were so excited to put them out, student Kayla Mays, co-editor of the The Shakedown, told the Indy Star. We were so proud. It was completely unlike anything wed done before. We didnt think there was anything to be ashamed of. It was completely unbiased, completely informative.

The school released an official statement on the matter, acknowledging that the publication has generated strong opinions from those opposed to the content, as well as strong supporters of both the content and the First Amendment.

The school also said that, while in years past the principal typically would review the magazine before it went to print, not every article from this new issue was shared prior to publication and distribution.

They also recognize that the content isnt necessarily appropriate for all ages. The focus of The Shakedown was a topic that is relevant to high school students, although as with anything, there are many opinions about what is appropriate and what is not. Likewise, what is appropriate for a 14-year old might be very different for an 18-year old, the statement said.

The school board reportedly scheduled a disciplinary meeting with Burress on Monday, but Director of Communications Sabrina Kapp on Friday said the meeting was cancelled, IndyStarr reports. The board's next regular meeting is Nov. 9.

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Buress told IndyStar in an email, "Because I might be facing potential disciplinary action, my attorney has advised that I not discuss the situation."

However the statement from Plainfield High School said the students have not been punished, and the publications class is not being eliminated. There was no censorship. The teacher has not been terminated.
In the days following Halloween, it's safe to say that most of us have a lot of leftover candy floating around the house. And sometimes, you want to get rid of it before you get around to eating it all, or before your kids manage to consume every last bite.

But instead of throwing it out or letting it rot in the freezer until Easter  or worse ey, next Halloween  why not put that candy to good use and make a difference in someones life, one (unopened) piece at a time?

Not sure what we mean? Check out the following five organizations that will happily take some of that Halloween candy off your hands and put it to good use.

Through Nov. 15, Operation Stars & Stripes, Inc. collects Halloween candy as part of Operation Trick-Or-Treating for the Troops. The candy is used to fill stockings for their Operation Holiday Stockings Campaign, which are then sent to troops overseas during the holidays. Contact Operation Stars and Stripes, Inc. to schedule a pick-up or drop-off, or learn more about mailing your donations.

WHAT'S THE TOP-SELLING HALLOWEEN CANDY IN YOUR STATE?

The Soldiers Angels Treats for Troops candy drive collects excess candy and helps to serve our service members and veterans. Local businesses, usually dentist offices, collect the candy, sometimes in exchange for other goodies. Soldiers' Angels then provides the businesses instructions for where to ship the candy. Through the organization's website, families can search for a drop-off site nearby, and interested local businesses can register to be a drop-off site.

Since 1974, the Ronald McDonald House Charities has been providing housing and health services to ill children and their families. "We never buy the stuff and it's nice to offer a treat to our stressed-out families, Michelle Study, the CEO of RMHC of Central Indiana, told the Indy Star. Find your local chapter and see if they too are taking donations of unopened candy.

PRE-HALLOWEEN WARNING: FDA WARNS ABOUT TOO MUCH BLACK LICORICE

Operation Gratitudes Halloween Candy GIVE-Back event collects candy for deployed troops and first responders. Last year alone they collected and distributed 533,891 pounds of candy, and are hoping to break that record this year. With drop-off sites across the country, it is easy to donate and make a difference. Schools, clubs, companies, dentists, and other groups are encouraged to sign up and host candy collection drives.

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Think locally

Sometimes those in need are right outside your door. Contact your local homeless shelter, soup kitchen, food bank, or nursing or retirement home and see if they are accepting donations of unopened candy. Your thoughtful donation can put a smile on someones face.
A man interviewed for Humans of New Yorks Facebook page last week sought advice on how to ask his girlfriend to lose weight for [him].

Humans of New York is a page dedicated to photos and stories from New Yorkers. One subject  an anonymous male in the city  was quoted confessing his honest feelings about his relationship.

We had excellent dates. Everything else about her was exactly what I wanted. I didnt want to ruin something good for that one little reason, he says.

FITNESS TRAINER RESPONDS TO FAT-SHAMING AFTER USA TODAY SEGMENT

But that one little reason has stirred a controversy on the post, which has amassed over 30,000 comments and nearly 1,500 shares.

At first I told myself I could get past it. I said, Lets just see how it goes, the post reads before he goes on to confess, But its been 1.5 years. And I feel horrible, but I just cant get past it.

And I feel like a bad person for being bothered by it. I cant bring myself to tell her. Were going to couples therapy next week, but I still dont think Ill be able to say it. Is there any right way to ask someone to lose weight for you? it concludes.

The majority of people on Facebook have agreed that there isnt a right way to ask.

One person wrote on Twitter, If a man cant love a woman when shes overweight, he doesnt deserve to love her if she ever decides to lose weight on her own.

The guy simply has to accept he is not physically attracted to her and move on. Happens to everyone to compromise and realize it doesnt work, one person tweeted.

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Another person posted on the Facebook page, No. You are the one with the problem, not her. Do her a favour and end it.

While some comments were more aggressive, with one person saying, That is a terrible human being, they all pretty much said the same thing  the man should end the relationship.

But there were at least a couple of defenders, with one tweeting, How is this shallow? He obviously loves her, and wants her to be attractive. Dont[sic] we all want our partner to be attractive?

No update on if the anonymous man heeded the advice to break up with his girlfriend or discuss the awkward situation at hand.
Much has been said in recent months, if not days, about the aggressive agendas of hostile foreign actors to undermine our nations democratic processes. The American people are rightfully concerned about these subversive efforts to taint our public policy and our elections, and Congress must do all it can to address the issue.

It has been almost 70 years since Congress first enacted the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) to limit and keep track of outside influences. The law created critical disclosure requirements for any lobbying group that works on behalf of foreign interests here in the United States, so their advocacy and activities can be properly evaluated in light of their associations.

Clearly, much has changed in the world since FARA became law in 1938. Subsequent statutes have added ambiguity to its application and limited its enforcement, and existing loopholes have been exploited to allow foreign nations to funnel millions of dollars through outside groups aiming to influence Congresswithout any disclosure to the federal government or the American people.

Our susceptibility to foreign aggression is a serious matter. Today, adversaries like China, Russia and Iran have become increasingly adept at inserting their agendas into our politics. Recent evidence suggests that nations funding terrorist groups have found new methods to circumvent our protections and lobby lawmakers without disclosure. Some U.S. intelligence officials have characterized their actions as a relentless assault, and many have warned that our outdated laws need to be revised to address the growing problem.

To make matters worse, the federal agencies tasked with monitoring these foreign influences, such as the Department of Justice National Security Division (NSD), have little to no authority to actually enforce the existing disclosure requirements.

Absent extreme circumstances, the NSD is typically required to wait for a voluntary disclosure by a party before taking any actioneven when wrongdoing is suspected. Because of these limitations, only seven criminal cases have been prosecuted in the past 49 years, and not a single civil case has been brought since 1991.

Recent examples highlight the need for change. Consider the situation in 2014, when the New York Times uncovered documents showing a clear violation of the law and listing the violators name and place of employment. Due to flaws in our statutes, the NSD was unable to investigate the matter because it lacked receipt of necessary disclosure paperworkwhich the violator himself had discretion to withhold.

Similarly, under the Obama administration, although evidence was presented that top administration officials were lobbied on behalf of foreign nations, those agents remain unregistered.

Unfortunately, incidents like these are not isolated. For more than 40 years, both independent and official government reports have issued warnings about the diminishing effectiveness of our disclosure laws.

In September 2016, the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General (OIG) issued a report on the subject following its exhaustive review. The report outlined longstanding deficiencies and concluded the U.S. government lacks a comprehensive enforcement strategy and the adequate tools to combat foreign influence abuses.

Although the 2016 report echoed similar conclusions reached in 1974, 1980 and 1990until today, nothing has been done to correct the problem. While foreign adversaries continue to take advantage of this inaction and exploit FARAs glaring loopholes and exemptions, the OIG believes this is an issue of national security, and experts insist reform is now an absolute necessity.

Using commonsense recommendations from years of investigative reports, I have introduced legislation to address the dangerous shortcomings in current law and remove grey areas that have been used to circumvent disclosure requirements. These long overdue reforms will help restore transparency and enhance our nations defenses by fortifying our laws and allowing the NSD to do its job.

Regardless of our individual policy preferences, all Americans can agree that the integrity of our democratic processes and the security of our country should never be compromised. Our legislation, the "Disclosing Foreign Influence Act," will be an important new tool to help modernize transparency efforts and maintain these critical objectives.

The American people deserve to know when foreign adversaries are attempting to meddle in our domestic affairs. This bill will help bring those efforts to light.
The Balfour Declaration expresses the recognition by the international community of the inalienable rights of the Jewish people in their ancient homeland. The Palestinian leadership's denial of the Balfour Declaration reflects its persistent refusal to recognize Israel as the homeland of the Jewish people. Attempts to undermine the Balfour declaration are tantamount to rejecting Israel's right to exist.

On November 2, Israel, Britain and many others will mark the centennial of the Balfour Declaration, a short letter from the British Foreign Secretary in which Britain officially recognized the Jewish people's historical rights in the Land of Israel.

The Declaration was closely coordinated by Britain with the other great powers, and indeed well represents the will of the international community at the time. As David Lloyd George, Prime Minister in 1917 later testified: "It [the Balfour Declaration] was prepared after much consideration, not merely of its policy but of its actual wording, by the representatives of the Allied and Associated countries, including America." The specific text of the Declaration was approved by U.S. President Wilson before its publication, while the French and Italian Governments publicly endorsed it on February 14 and May 9, 1918 respectively.

This broad international endorsement of Jewish national self-determination was formally ratified on July 24, 1922, when the League of Nations (the precursor to the United Nations) recognized the historic connection of the Jewish people to the Land of Israel and appointed Great Britain as Mandatory power responsible for the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people. (At the time, the name "Palestine" referred to the geographical area in question, without any national, political or ethnic connotation. All people living in that area were called "Palestinian" - Jew and Arab alike).

For Israel's opponents, it is proving to be yet another opportunity to repeat the mistakes of the past and sacrifice the benefits of co-existence and cooperation on the altar of a false historical narrative, which brings no benefit to anyone, least of all the Palestinians themselves.

For the first time in the modern era, the international community formally recognized, in writing, a simple - but as time has worn on, oft challenged - truth: that the Land of Israel is the historical homeland of the Jewish people.

This sentiment is well expressed in a Joint Resolution of the U.S. Congress from June 30, 1922, signed on September 22, 1922 by President Harding acknowledging that: "The Jewish people have for many centuries believed in and yearned for the rebuilding of their ancient homeland." [] "The Jewish people are to be enabled to recreate and reorganize a national home in the land of their fathers which will give to the House of Israel its long-denied opportunity to reestablish a fruitful Jewish life and culture in the ancient Jewish land."

The Balfour Declaration and the international ratification that followed validated Zionism as the legitimate expression of the inalienable rights of the Jewish people in their historical homeland. It proclaimed loudly that the Jewish people's right to a homeland was historically valid and morally sound. But the Declaration also recognized the rights of the non-Jewish population of the area. Balfour wrote explicitly that nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine.

Indeed, the Zionist leadership at the time, as today, was looking to cooperate with their Arab neighbors. Chaim Weizmann, who represented the World Zionist Organization, and Emir Feisal (one of the most prominent Arab leaders, whose father Emir Hussein of Mecca led the Arab tribes that rose up against the Ottoman Empire), acting on behalf of the Arab Kingdom of Hedjaz, signed an agreement on January 3, 1919. The Agreement stated that "the surest means of working out the consummation of their [the Arabs and Jewish people] national aspirations is through the closest possible collaboration." Feisal explicitly acknowledged that there was room for both Jewish and Arab national movements in the Middle East and that "neither can be a real success without the other."

Nevertheless, denunciations of the Balfour Declaration from those opposed to the Jewish national movement appeared soon after and have continued to this day. Indeed, the Balfour Declaration is often seen and presented by these critics as the original sin that led to the creation of Israel in 1948. Most recently, at the July 2016 Arab League Summit, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas announced his intention to sue Britain for issuing the Balfour Declaration.

At the heart of this rejection of the international community's endorsement of Jewish national rights is a fundamental denial of the Jewish connection to the land. During 800 years of Muslim rule, Arabs in Ottoman-controlled Palestine had become accustomed to seeing Jews only as marginal and despicable followers of an inferior religion. The vehement Palestinian Arab opposition to the Balfour Declaration was and has remained rooted in the anti-historical view that Jews were aliens, with no connection to the land and no right of any kind to live there as a people. This spawned an Arab exclusivism and sense of supremacy, which continues to drive the Arab-Israel conflict to this day.

Here then lies the explanation as to why the Balfour Declaration is of such historic import. Not only is it the first internationally endorsed recognition of the Jewish peoples inalienable right to return to their ancient homeland. It is also a simple statement of truth, which lays bare the heart of the conflict, that too many in the Arab world have been waging against Israel for too long: the refusal to accept the truth of the Jewish people's connection to the land, and the national rights, which accrue as a result.

All agree that the Balfour Declaration was a milestone on the modern journey towards the establishment of the State of Israel. For Israel and its friends, its centennial is a cause for celebration and profound gratitude to the international community. For Israel's opponents, it is proving to be yet another opportunity to repeat the mistakes of the past and sacrifice the benefits of co-existence and cooperation on the altar of a false historical narrative, which brings no benefit to anyone, least of all the Palestinians themselves.

Israel in 2017 has to live with the violent consequences of this Arab rejectionism: from the Palestinian Authority that unapologetically rewards the murderers of Jews as well as Christian tourists, Druze and Arab policemen, and anyone else deemed to be "collaborators" with Israel; to the unremitting wars of annihilation waged by Iran, Hamas, Hezbollah, and a panoply of Islamist terror groups. One hundred years after Balfour, the conflict caused by Arab rejection of Jewish rights continues unabated, and the hopeful vision of a Jewish homeland living in peaceful cooperation with its Arab neighbors remains just that. We can only hope its realization will not require a second century of conflict and suffering for Jews and Arabs alike.
Is social media making us miserable? Study after study seems to confirm the increasingly common grumbling you hear  that the more time we spend on the platforms, the worse we feel about our lives.

The latest, by Holly Shakya from the University of California and Nicholas Christakis from Yale University, actually quantifies our misery. They found that there was as much as an 8 percent drop in personal happiness after using Facebook.

But is it actually Facebook thats making us unhappy? There are a couple major flaws in this argument.

The first, and perhaps more obvious one, is that Facebook and other social-media platforms like Twitter or Instagram are reflections of our input. They dont generate content to show us without our participation. We choose what we see.

Social media, and Facebook in particular, dont invent things for you to get mad about, they only amplify what is already pissing you off.

On Facebook, we generally friend people we know in real life. Those people then show us what they had for dinner, post pictures of their kids and pets, share their political opinions and their selfies from vacation.

If that makes you feel unhappy, Facebook gives you a range of options. If seeing magical sunsets from your friends trip to Barbados induces rage, it lets you click Hide Post-See fewer posts like this.

If your friend has become a political automaton in the wake of an election but you hope theyll eventually mellow, you can choose the Pause friend for 30 days option.

If youre struggling to get pregnant, or recently got divorced, and your friends pictures of snuggling with her husband or kids upsets you, you can pick Unfollow friend. Thats the mute option on Facebook.

Your friend wont know theyve been silenced and you wont be unfriending them. You can always unmute if circumstances change.

In fact, Facebook is the social network that most lets you tailor your experience to get what you want out of it. Of course your friends will annoy you on Facebook, as they might in real life, but only on Facebook do you have the ability to shush them for a little while or forever.

But that gets at what Facebook cant do: Screen your daily real-life interactions.

In short, its not Facebook, its you. The social media is making your miserable experiments cant quantify how much other things might make you miserable as well.

Theyre not with you on the subway when you read an op-ed that makes you fume. They dont see your eye-roll when you catch up with a friend over coffee and you end up listening to a half-hour infomercial on all the great things happening in your friends life.

Social media, and Facebook in particular, dont invent things for you to get mad about, they only amplify what is already pissing you off.

And that leads us to the other flaw in these Facebook-makes-you-unhappy studies: People are already angrier than they used to be, creating a chicken-and-egg conundrum. If you poll angry people, its likely the interactions that boil their broth will have a lot of overlap with their daily routine.

That daily routine, by the way, includes lots of things that constitute an improvement over the daily lives of previous generations. Even though life expectancy has increased and quality of life continues to improve across the world, were angrier and sadder than ever before.

A 2015 study by Ryne Sherman, Sonja Lyubomirsky and Jean M. Twenge in the journal Social Psychological and Personality Science found that while contentment used to come with age, our older people are no longer happy.

We cant blame that on Facebook.

In a piece for Quartz last April, economist Allison Schrager posited that our expectations are too high.

Schrager writes, Research by British neuroscientists argues that happiness requires more than things simply going well; people also must get more than they expect. So even if we have more than ever beforegood health, leisure time, consumer goodswe have even grander expectations.

Thats where the change needs to start. If social media is making you feel like you should be in a bikini on a yacht instead of under the fluorescent lights at work, hunched over your computer, it might not be the worst idea to give it a break. Filter your expectations and you might find you need to filter your interactions a lot less.

This piece originally appeared on the New York Post.
This year marks the hundredth anniversary of one of the worst mistakes ever made: the Communist revolution in Russia.

Communist regimes went on to kill about 100 million people. Most died in famines after socialist tyrants forced people to practice inefficient collective farming. Millions of others were executed in political purges.

Yet when the Russian Revolution happened, people both inside and outside Russia were excited. Crowds cheered Lenin. No longer would nobles rule; no longer would capitalists exploit workers. Now the people would prosper together.

British journalist Theodore Rothstein wrote, "The undivided sway of the Imperialist nightmare is at an end ...(there will be) rule of the labouring classes."

But you can't have government plan every aspect of people's lives and expect things to go well. Instead, you get bureaucratic planning commissions and secret police.

That won't stop some Americans from celebrating Communism's anniversary.

A day of anti-Trump protests is scheduled for Nov. 4, and I'm sure some protestors will wave hammer-and-sickle flags. Some will wear Che Guevara shirts.

A few commentators will call the protesters "idealistic" but impractical. They shouldn't. We should call them supporters of mass murder.

Lenin ordered the hanging of 100 property owners at the very start of the Revolution, saying people needed to see the deaths of "landlords, rich men, bloodsuckers."

Mass murder and starvation rapidly increased the death toll after that.

It wasn't exactly what philosopher Karl Marx had in mind -- but it shouldn't have surprised anyone. Marx's writing is filled with comparisons of capitalists to werewolves and other predators who must be destroyed.

Marx admitted that capitalism is productive but said that "capital obtains this ability only by constantly sucking in living labor as its soul, vampire-like."

Even as the Russian regime killed millions, some journalists and intellectuals covered up the crimes.

Stalin kept most media out, so few Americans knew that millions were starving, but New York Times writer Walter Duranty saw it first-hand.

Yet he "covered up Stalin's crimes," says Tom Palmer of the Atlas Network, a group that promotes free market ideas around the world.

Because Duranty wanted to support "the cause," he wrote that "report of a famine in Russia is today an exaggeration or malignant propaganda."

Duranty "saw the truckloads of bodies," says Palmer, yet "he wrote on the front page of The New York Times how wonderful everything was." He even got a Pulitzer Prize for it.

In some ways, times haven't changed that much. This year, the Times ran a series of essays commemorating the anniversary of Russian Communism, including one piece arguing that sex was better in the Soviet Union because the Revolution destroyed macho capitalist culture.

At least The New York Times eventually admitted that Duranty's work was "some of the worst reporting in this newspaper," but the Pulitzer committee never withdrew its prize.

Communism kills wherever it's practiced. But people still people believe. Making a video on Communism's hundredth anniversary, I interviewed Lily Tang Williams, who grew up under the regime in China.

"Mao was like a god to me," she recounts. "In the morning, we were encouraged to chant and to confess to dear Chairman Mao."

Under Mao, Williams nearly starved. "I was so hungry. My uncle taught me how to trap rats. But the problem is, everybody is trying to catch rats. Rats run out, too."

Still, she says she was so brainwashed by Communist propaganda that she "cried my eyes out when Mao died."

But then, "when I was college student, I met a U.S. exchange student ... He showed me a pocket Constitution and Declaration of Independence. A light bulb came on!"

For the first time, she realized, "I have rights ... natural rights that cannot be taken away. Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."

She escaped to the United States. Now she says her mission in life is to teach Americans the importance of liberty.

I think her message is wiser than that of Karl Marx, Lenin and Stalin.

"Big, powerful government, it's very scary," she warns. "It will keep growing like cancer, will never stop. If you empower government, not the individuals, we're going to lose this free country!"
The horrifying attack in lower Manhattan that killed 8 people on Tuesday is a reminder that hardly a day goes by without an Islamic terror attack somewhere in the world.

We are now familiar with the post-terror routine when a Western city is attacked. Government leaders note the need to shore up security and assure their people that every protective measure will be taken, TV commentators dutifully state that terrorisms roots are not in Islam but in some other phenomenon.

Is it really true that these terrorist attacks have nothing to do with Islam?

No. But neither is it true that most Muslims are terrorists or approve of terrorism.

The relationship between Islam and terrorism is significantly more complicated than either of those extremes would allow. In order to better understand that relationship we must acknowledge at least three complicating factors: Islams texts, its varied cultural manifestations, and its humanity.

The Koran is written in classical Arabic, which the majority of Muslims worldwide cannot read. Therefore, knowledge of Islam comes mostly from the Muslim community rather than directly from the Koran.

First, Islam is a text-based religion. The Koran is the supreme Islamic text, and it is supplemented by the hadith which are official collections of reports about Muhammads words and deeds. Both the Koran and the hadith contain passages that can be used to support terrorism and those that can be used against it.

One the one hand, there are passages that condone religious warfare (jihad). Although those passages concern conventional warfare rather than modern terrorism, these passages can be drawn upon to support terrorism against Christian nations. Koran 9:5 says, Fight and slay the pagans wherever ye find them. Koran 9:111 promises paradise to those who slay and are slain for Allah.

On the other hand, there are passages that encourage peaceful coexistence. In the Koran, we read passages such as 109:6, To you be your Way [religion] and to me mine. In another passage, we are told that Allah says, Let there be no compulsion in religion (Koran 2:256). So Islams texts contain both type of passages.

To complicate matters further, the Koran is written in classical Arabic, which the majority of Muslims worldwide cannot read. (Muslims believe that the Koran cannot be translated into another language and still remain truly the Word of God.) Therefore, knowledge of Islam comes mostly from the Muslim community rather than directly from the Koran.

Second, Islam takes many different shapes. Even though its texts serve as an enduring center point for Koran, the teachings of those texts are interpreted and applied in a wide variety of ways depending upon context. A given manifestation of Islam might be influenced by Western Christianity, Southeast Asian animism, or secular humanism. It will be affected by its adherents language, social and economic status, political situation, and educational level. These influencing factors might tilt a person towards approving of terrorism or away from such approval.

Third, Islamic communities are composed of fellow humans. My experience in the Islamic world is one that causes me to believe that the vast majority of Muslims are not inclined to participate in terrorism or approve of it.

I lived and worked in a Muslim republic for two years and have spent time in more than 20 other Muslim contexts in the Middle East, Central Asia, Southeast Asia, and South Asia. Although in certain situations I have felt threatened, on the whole I have experienced Muslims as peaceful people of goodwill and extraordinary hospitality.

How do these three factors help us evaluate and respond to terror attacks waged by Muslim organizations?

First, it is inaccurate and dangerous to ignore that terror attacks have their roots in Islam or to minimize the danger represented by ISIS and other similar organizations who justify their warfare by direct appeals to Islams texts. Although we should avoid stigmatizing Muslims in general or alienating them to the point that they are more likely to radicalize, we would be wrong not to recognize ISISs rootedness in Islamic texts.

Second, it is inaccurate, dangerous, and inhospitable to depict Muslim countries as being composed of teeming swarms of probable terrorists. To portray our more-than-two-billion Muslim neighbors in such a manner is inaccurate, but it is also a dangerous in that it alienates potential allies who are best equipped to fight back against terror-promoting versions of Islam.

Third, it is undemocratic and un-American to try to shut down reasonable exercise of religious freedom. On the one hand, we should rebuke certain voices on the right who wish to provoke or harass Muslim Americans as they go to the mosque or wear their burkas. On the other hand, we should rebuke certain voices on the left who refuse to acknowledge terrorisms ties to Islam or who bristle when Christians extol Jesus to Muslims. As Nabeel Qureshi recently argued, sharing alternative worldviews with Muslims is one of the best methods to address the roots of terror.

Islamic texts are problematic, but that doesnt mean my Muslim neighbor should be ostracized. What is true on the micro-level is also true on the macro-level.

Terror organizations such as ISIS do in fact have their roots in Islamic texts and traditions. To deny that fact is to misunderstand our enemy. And yet, our public recognition of that fact should not be communicated in ways that misrepresent, disrespect, and provoke our two billion global neighbors who are Muslim.
While the Islamic State is in the midst of a rout in Iraq and Syria, New York City suffered a horrific attack on Tuesday because the ideology of ISIS lives on.

Sayfullo Saipov, a green card holder originally from Uzbekistan, rented a Home Depot truck and ran down dozens of people in lower Manhattan on a bicycle path, killing eight and injuring fifteen. A city that was preparing for a night of Halloween festivities was once more forced by a deranged zealot to mourn its dead and redouble its vigilance against radical Islamic terrorism.

But what can we do to stop the next attack?

There is no one solution, and even a multi-pronged effort will not succeed in defeating every plot. Counterterrorism experts face a growing challenge with the increased frequency -- and casualty count -- of vehicle attacks over the last 12 months. Many of the primary tools that intelligence officers and law enforcement use to disrupt plots are largely nullified when terrorists weaponize everyday vehicles.

Once a radicalized mass murderer like Saipov has become operational and gotten behind the wheel of a vehicle, it is too late.

This is a troubling tactical evolution in the fight against terrorism. Bomb-making even at a rudimentary level with household ingredients, requires some skill and practice. Failure on the part of the bomber, as was the case with the Faisal Shahzad, the Times Square Bomber, in 2010, has often prevented a terror attempt from becoming a mass casualty incident. Even the procurement and construction of explosive material creates opportunities for law enforcement, or an alert civilian, to intervene.

The same is true for procuring firearms. Laws governing the sale of guns are a hurdle for terrorists, and alert firearms dealers provide an additional tripwire against would-be jihadists. Law enforcement efforts, such as the NYPDs Shield program, that work to inform and partner with private businesses and citizens to be aware of terror plotting precursors, especially at rental car agencies, can also play an important role in disrupting plots.

But with vehicle terror attacks, the ease of planning is a huge part of the problem. Anyone can drive a vehicle, and anyone can pick a crowded area of a major city to create a kill zone for pedestrians and bicyclists.

Once a radicalized mass murderer like Saipov has become operational and gotten behind the wheel of a vehicle, it is too late. At that point, it will usually be a question of law enforcement mitigating casualties, not preventing them.

This is not to say that nothing new can be done to address the threat. On the contrary, it is incumbent upon intelligence and law enforcement to redouble their efforts to identify jihadists before they can strike. The NYPD and FBI will be going over every possible missed opportunity to avert the attack, and will adjust their techniques and procedures accordingly.

Awareness of the threat among the general public, and continued outreach to the Islamic community to monitor for signs of violent extremism, is also a major piece of this effort.

But the horrific events in New York City, in the shadow of the 9/11 memorial, are a reminder that we are still very much at war with radical Islam and that any U.S. street can become a battlefield in that struggle. This fight is far from over.
Editor's note: The following column first appeared in City Journal, a publication of the Manhattan Institute.

The Halloween assault in Lower Manhattan was straight out of the ISIS playbook. Ever since October 2010, when Al Qaeda published the second issue of its online magazine Inspire, jihadi leaders have been urging the faithful to turn ordinary cars and trucks into killing machines to mow down the enemies of Allah.

On Tuesday in New York, Sayfullo Saipov, 29, a green-card holder from Uzbekistan in Central Asia and resident of Florida, responded to the call.

He drove his rented Home Depot truck from West Houston Street onto a Hudson River Park bike path, one of New Yorks most beloved amenities. Within ten minutes, eight people were killed and 15 were injured. A note found in the truck, law enforcement officials said, indicated that Saipov committed the attack out of devotion to ISIS.

Saipov might have killed even more people had the NYPD not been the nations premier counterterrorism force. NYPD officers showed up in force minutes after the attack began, shooting Saipov before he could kill even more New Yorkers.

At a news conference at 1 Police Plaza less than two hours after the deadly attack, John Miller, the New York Police Departments chief of counterterrorism, cited the Islamic States updated guidance to jihadi aspirants contained in the third November 2016 issue of its own online journal, Rumiya (Rome), as the attackers probable inspiration. The article encouraged followers to attack large outdoor conventions and celebrations, pedestrian-congested streets, outdoor markets, festivals, festivals, parades, [and] political rallies. It even specified the ideal type, weight, and speed of a car needed for terror purposes, according to a translation provided by the Counter-Extremism Project.

It seems likely that the killers original target may have been the famous Greenwich Village Halloween parade, another beloved New York tradition that close to 1 million people typically attend. But the NYPDs overwhelming security presence, and the numerous street closures adjacent to the parade, may have dashed his dreams of an even more memorable massacre.

While the attack investigation is ongoing and details of Saipovs motives and plans are still being gathered, the vehicle assault bore the hallmarks of the attacks that ISIS and other militant jihadi groups have long been promoting. NYPD commissioner James ONeill said that the terrorist emerged from his rental vehicle after crashing into a school bus screaming a statement that indicated terrorist intent. While the politically attuned ONeill declined to identify what the attacker shouted, the language in which he was shouting, or his suspected nationality, numerous eye witnesses said that the man, dressed in dark clothing and carrying a pellet gun and a paint-ball gun, was screaming Allahu AkhbarGod is Great in Arabic.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo pointed out another hallmark of a vehicle assault. The perp, he said, was one of those lone wolves who meant to cause pain and harm and probably death and the resulting terror.

But it takes a pack to raise a lone wolf. Even if Saipov acted alone, he was part of a growing ideological fraternity numbering in the tens of thousands who now inhabit every region of the globe.

Those seeking eternal glory have staged similar attacks in at least a dozen other citiesfrom Nice to Paris to Barcelona to London to Jerusalem.

Like the attacks in these cities, the Halloween attack in Lower Manhattan was aimed at inflicting maximum carnage. Schools in the area were letting out students shortly after three oclock when Saipov drove his rented truck off West Houston Street onto the bike path.

There was no shortage of targets. The streets between West Houston and Chambers were crowded with parents picking up their costumed children prepared for an evening of trick-or-treating. Pedestrians and bikers on the Hudson River bike path were stunned and helpless as Saipov careened his weapon through the crowd.

With the collapse of its self-declared caliphate in Syria and Iraq, ISIS is on the run. So are its adherents. But as the extremists disperse, the terrorist threat, paradoxically, increases. American and other intelligence agencies have long warned of a likely rise in vehicle and other attacks as the frustrated, furious faithful are forced to reorient their campaign. In May 2017, the U.S. Transportation and Security Agency (TSA) warned truck and bus companies to be on guard for suspicious individuals seeking to rent vehicles.

According to TSA data, Islamist terrorists have carried out more than a dozen vehicular assaults since 2014 that have killed more than 170 people. Such attacks are ever more likely, the TSA memo warned, since unsophisticated tactics such as vehicle-ramming are hard to prevent and capable of inflicting mass casualties if successful.

Saipov might have killed even more people had the NYPD not been the nations premier counterterrorism force. NYPD officers showed up in force minutes after the attack began, shooting Saipov before he could kill even more New Yorkers.

The NYPD, in fact, was already responding to the vehicular threat long before this type of terror became the focus of federal concern.

At Tuesdays press conference, Miller discussed the departments SHIELD program, which has sent officers to brief some 20,000 businesses in the private sector about the growing terrorist threat post9/11.

Miller noted that after Rumiya reissued its call for vehicular attacks and suggested an assault on the Thanksgiving Day parade, the NYPD visited over 148 truck rental offices in the metropolitan area asking employees to watch for suspicious indicators. The police department conducted repeated visits in person and by phone, he said.

Even more essential has been the NYPDs intelligence division, which has long collected information about suspicious individuals. After being heavily, and in many instances unfairly, criticized for allegedly violating civil liberties, Millers former boss, William Bratton, shut down a particularly controversial program that the intelligence unit had run early in its existencea so-called demographic unit that collected information on the location and activities of Muslims suspected of terrorist intentions.

Another critic was New Jersey governor Chris Christie, who lambasted the NYPD for surveilling New Jersey-based Muslims and asked whether the spying was borne out of arrogance, or out of paranoia, or out of both. Unconfirmed news reports Tuesday night indicated that Saipov had lived for some time in Paterson, New Jersey.

But the NYPD has not scaled back most of its vital surveillance activities. In fact, New Yorks Finest, working in tandem with the FBI and other law enforcement agencies that comprise the Joint Terrorism Task Force, have continued collecting information on suspected terrorists living in and visiting the city.

They were unable to prevent the Halloween attack. The so-called flash-to-bang trajectory of lone-wolf radicalization is accelerating. An individual intent on mayhem against soft targets is the toughest law enforcement terrorist challenge.

Eight people were killed Tuesday. But the toll could have been much higher had the police not responded so quickly and New Yorkers not been so stubbornly resilient.

Concluding his remarks Tuesday, Governor Cuomo issued his own call to arms. Were not going to let them win, he said. And if we change our lives, we contort ourselves to them, then they win and we lose.

Three and a half hours after Saipovs wicked rampage, hundreds of thousands of costumed New Yorkers poured into the streets to celebrate Halloween, as planned. Paradoxically, Saipovs perverse mission failed: New Yorkers were not cowed, and he was denied the martyrdom that he was clearly seeking.

Shot in the stomach, Saipov will probably live to be brought to justice, not far from the scene of his heinous crime.

Seth Barron is associate editor of City Journal and project director of the NYC Initiative at the Manhattan Institute.
House Republicans have pushed back the release of their tax reform plan after failing to finalize last-minute changes to the legislation, the head of the tax-writing committee confirmed Tuesday.

House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady, R-Texas, said the decision to postpone the rollout was made "in consultation with President Trump and our leadership team."

"We are pleased with the progress we are making and we remain on schedule to take action and approve a bill at our Committee beginning next week," Brady added.

The details of the plan were initially scheduled to be unveiled on Wednesday, and Brady had promised as recently as 4 p.m. ET Tuesday that would be the case.

The committee had worked throughout the day and evening to produce a plan for the first overhaul of the nation's tax code in three decades.

Although they had settled on some key details  such as a cut in the corporate tax rate to 20 percent and maintaining the top personal income tax rate for the wealthy of 39.6 percent  other elements still had to be resolved.

Late Tuesday, reporters in the hall outside the committee's office could hear raised voices as members appeared to be arguing.

Trump has intensified his lobbying for the nearly $6 trillion tax overhaul plan, seeking a major legislative achievement after the collapse of the health care repeal.

Late Tuesday, Trump renewed his cheerleading on Twitter.

The plan originally unveiled by Trump and congressional Republicans called for shrinking the number of tax brackets from seven to three, with respective tax rates of 12 percent, 25 percent, 35 percent. That plan drew immediate criticism from Democrats, who complained it was too favorable to the wealthy and undermined Trump's rhetoric about it benefiting the middle class.

Brady did not answer directly when he was asked -- while leaving House Speaker Paul Ryan's suite Tuesday -- whether the drop in the corporate tax rate would happen immediately. But, he said: "I want as much growth right from Day One as I can."

Trump and congressional Republicans are eager for a significant legislative achievement after failing in their attempts to repeal the Obama-era health care law. Enacting a tax package is deemed critical for the Republicans to maintain their majorities in the 2018 elections.

Trump said he's directing Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin, White House economic adviser Gary Cohn and other administration officials to stay behind when he heads for Asia on Friday so they can help sell the tax proposal. The White House said Ivanka Trump, the president's daughter and adviser, had canceled plans to accompany the president to China and South Korea to help push the package.

The president said he was hopeful the House will approve the tax bill by Thanksgiving and that he can sign it into law by Christmas. But his overly optimistic timetable didn't address the concerns of lawmakers from states such as New York and New Jersey who have opposed a proposal to eliminate the federal deduction for state and local taxes, arguing it would hurt their constituents and subject them to being taxed twice.

A battle continues over contributions to 401(k) retirements accounts. The financial industry and some Republican lawmakers insist that the GOP plan not change the tax benefits of the popular savings vehicles, as has been floated by GOP leaders.

The current Republican plan calls for nearly doubling the standard deduction used by most average Americans to $12,000 for individuals and $24,000 for families, and increasing the per-child tax credit. In addition to slashing the corporate tax rate, it also seeks to repeal inheritance taxes on multimillion-dollar estates, a big break for the wealthy.

Fox News' Chad Pergram and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Following the terror attack in New York City Tuesday, President Trump said he ordered the Department of Homeland Security to "step up" the nation's "extreme vetting program."

"I have just ordered Homeland Security to step up our already Extreme Vetting Program," Trump tweeted Tuesday night. "Being politically correct is fine, but not for this!"

Trump initially reacted to the terror attack in Lower Manhattan by saying it was done by a sick and deranged person.

In NYC, looks like another attack by a very sick and deranged person, the president tweeted. Law enforcement is following this closely. NOT IN THE U.S.A.!

Authorities said at least eight people died and 11 were injured after a driver plowed into a bike path in New York on Tuesday afternoon. Sayfullo Saipov, 29, was shot by police and taken into custody following the attack.

"My thoughts, condolences and prayers to the victims and families of the New York City terrorist attack," Trump later tweeted. "God and your country are with you!"

Meanwhile, the president vowed to stop the Islamic State from executing terror attacks in the United States.

"We must not allow ISIS to return, or enter, our country after defeating them in the Middle East and elsewhere," Trump said. "Enough!"

Sarah Sanders, the White House press secretary, said the president has been briefed on the attack by chief of staff John Kelly and will be updated as more details are known.

Our thoughts and prayers are with all those affected, Sanders said.

First lady Melania Trump also tweeted that her heart breaks for her hometown.

My heart breaks for #NYC today, she tweeted. Thoughts & prayers as we monitor the situation.

The FBI is investigating the incident as terrorism, Fox News has learned. It is being jointly investigated by both the New York Police Department and the FBI.

The Department of Homeland Security said its acting secretary, Elaine Duke, has also been briefed on the apparent act of terrorism and is closely monitoring the situation and working with our federal, state and local partners in responding to and investigating this tragedy.

We have recently seen attacks like this one throughout the world, the department said in a news release. DHS and its law enforcement partners remain vigilant and committed to safeguarding the American people.

Fox News Jake Gibson contributed to this report.
The terror attack Tuesday in Lower Manhattan has brought renewed calls from President Trump and other top Washington Republicans to end the "diversity visa" program under which the central Asian suspect entered the United States.

Ive always been against it because its a random system to bring people into the United States, Texas GOP Rep. Mike McCaul, chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security, said Wednesday on Fox News Fox & Friends.

McCaul said hes trying to abolish the roughly 25-year-old program and replace it with a merit-based one.

I think this case just demonstrates why that is absolutely necessary, he also said.

The suspect in Tuesdays terror attack, Sayfullo Saipov, came into the U.S. in 2010 from Uzbekistan.

He was among the maximium 50,000 people allowed into the U.S. every year under the State Department program, which tilts toward countries with historically low rates of immigration.

The 29-year-old Saipov on Tuesday afternoon drove a rented pickup truck down a walk-bike path along Manhattans West Side Highway, killing eight and injuring at least 11 others, according to police.

McCaul spoke Wednesday just minutes after President Trump called for a merit-based only immigration system and in part blamed Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and other congressional Democrats for the program.

The terrorist came into our country through what is called the Diversity Visa Lottery Program, a Chuck Schumer beauty. I want merit based, Trump tweeted.

No more Democratic lottery, Trump said in a follow-up tweet.

Schumer indeed voted in support of the 1990 Immigration Act, which included the diversity visa program.

The New York Democrat was then a House member and among those who helped pass the measure 264-118, with support from 93 Republicans in the chamber. The bill was signed into law by President George W. Bush and took effect in 1995.

Slightly more than 1 million people have entered the U.S. under the program, based on an analysis of State Department records.

At least 24,000 people have entered the country from Uzbekistan since 2005, according to the records.

The program, which has its origins in a 1986 special-preference program, requires applicants to have no criminal record and come from a county not on the list for statesponsored terrorism.

However, critics have for years argued that potential terrorists can easily move from their birth county to a country not on the list such as Congo, Niger and Turkey.

They also argue that immigrants can come into the U.S. without paying a cent.

Lets focus on economic rather that literally handing out tens of thousands of visas like lottery tickets, for free, Fox contributor and former Utah GOP Rep. Jason Chaffetz said Wednesday.

Congress tried unsuccessfully several times since 2005 to end the program, including a 2007 attempt to cut off its funding.

Such efforts, led in part by Virginia GOP Rep. Bob Goodlatte, now the House Judiciary Committee chairman, followed a 2002 terror attack at the Los Angeles International Airport in which Hesham Mohamed Hadayet, an Egyptian nationalist, fatally shot two people.

Like Saipov, Hadayet entered the U.S. under the diversity visa program.
The Department of Justice issued California another stern warning Wednesday - drop its sanctuary state status or remain in violation of federal law and potentially lose out on millions of dollars.

Earlier this month, Gov. Jerry Brown signed a so-called sanctuary state bill which basically erects a wall between California law enforcement and federal immigration enforcement officers. The bill forbids California cops from providing release and other information that isnt publicly available in response to a request for notification from federal law enforcement.

The government has been pushing for notification from local authorities about when they have an undocumented immigrant in custody who has committed a crime, saying to withhold that information, and then release that person onto the streets is putting local communities in danger.

Supporters argue that sanctuary policies allow local and state law enforcement officers to build crucial relationships with immigrant communities. Critics say not turning over people living in the country illegally puts the public in danger. Wednesdays letter urges California to comply federal statute (8 USC 1373) which bars local jurisdictions from limiting communication with federal law enforcement about a persons immigration status or whereabouts. The letter states that Californias new law (SB54) May violate, 1373.

Department of Justice Officials tell Fox News this situation could result with future federal grants being withheld from California, that threat has been a common thread in this ongoing story. However DOJ officials also tell Fox they could clawback funds already awarded to the Golden State.

For instance California received more than $18 million in federal grants from the Department of Justice in 2016, funds DOJ officials say could be subject to a clawback.

In early October, the State of California codified into law a requirement that local police release criminal aliens back onto our streets. This law undermines public safety and national security, was opposed by law enforcement, and potentially violates federal law, said DOJ spokesman Devin OMalley. The abandonment of the rule of law evades all common sense, especially given the multiple high-profile incidents that have occurred in California as a result of similar policies. The Justice Department urges California to reconsider these so-called sanctuary policies.
Lawmakers are pushing to reform the law governing lobbyists for foreign interests in the wake of bombshell developments in Special Counsel Robert Mueller's Russia collusion probe.

The indictment of former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort was announced Monday, with failure to comply with the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) among a raft of chares. Mueller is also probing longtime Democrat lobbyist Tony Podestas possible violation of the same law.

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, and House Judiciary Committee member Rep. Mike Johnson, R-La., introduced legislation Tuesday to reform the FARA to close longstanding loopholes exploited by lobbyists of foreign entities to conceal their work to influence U.S. government activities.

The bill, titled The Disclosing Foreign Influence Act, would strengthen FARA by clarifying reporting requirements, and authorizing investigative tools and safeguards.

Weve seen time and again how lobbyists of foreign principals skirt existing disclosure laws to conceal their clients identities and agendas, Grassley, who has lead an extensive oversight effort into the existing law FARA since 2015, said in a statement, noting that his oversight work has uncovered rampant disregard by foreign agents and lackluster enforcement by federal authorities.

Under FARA, people in the United States who lobby on behalf of foreign entities must register through the Justice Department as a foreign agent and disclose their work.

The Grassley-Johnson proposed legislation comes in the wake of the 12-count indictments of Manafort and his associate Rick Gates, who pleaded not guilty to all counts to a federal grand jury as part of the special counsel probe into Russian meddling and potential collusion with Trump campaign officials in the 2016 presidential election.

MANAFORT, GATES PLEAD NOT GUILTY IN GRAND JURY INDICTMENT

According to the indictment, between at least 2006 and 2015, Manafort and Gates acted as unregistered agents of the Government of Ukraine, the Party of Regions, a Ukranian political party whose leader Victor Yanukovych was president from 2010 to 2014, and the Opposition Bloc. Manafort and Gates generated tens of millions dollars in income as a result of their work in Ukraine.

The indictment says that Manafort and Gates laundered the money through scores of the United States and foreign corporations, partnerships and bank accounts in order to hide Ukrainian payments from U.S. authorities. More than $75 million flowed through offshore accounts. Manafort alone allegeldy laundered more than $18 million which was used to buy property, goods and serves in the U.S.

Manafort is accused of concealing that income from the U.S. Treasury and the Department of Justice.

REPORT: MUELLER PROBE EXPANDS TO DEMOCRATIC LOBBYIST TONY PODESTA'S DEALINGS

Manafort and Gates were allegedly unregistered agents of a foreign principal, and were charged for making false and misleading Foreign Agent Registration (FARA) statements.

The special counsel has also probed Tony Podesta, the brother of Hillary Clintons campaign chairman John Podesta, for his potential violations of FARA.

Podesta, who stepped down from his lobbying firm The Podesta Group this week, became a subject of the special counsels probe last week, after inquiries regarding Manaforts FARA statements.

Manafort organized a PR campaign for a pro-Ukraine nonprofit called the European Centre for a Modern Ukraine (ECMU), which reportedly was backed by a pro-Russia party. The Podesta Group reportedly was one of the many firms that worked on the campaign.

The Podesta Group claimed last week, however, that the company was in compliance citing a series of filings dating back years, and noted that they are fully cooperating with the special counsels office.

The Podesta Group fully disclosed its representation of the ECFMU, and complied with FARA by filing under the lobbying disclosure act over five years ago and within weeks of starting our work, a Podesta spokesperson said. Any insinuation to the contrary is false.

In relation to the grand jury indictment, Manaforts attorney Kevin Downing argued that the special counsels charges were based on a novel theory.

You see an indictment brought by the Office of Special Counsel that is using a very novel theory to prosecute Mr. Manafort regarding a FARA filing, Downing said Monday. The United States government has only used that offense six times since 1966 and only resulted in one conviction.

The Grassley-Johnson legislation would also force the Justice Department to develop a new FARA enforcement strategy.

Properly enforcing our disclosure laws and ending irresponsible exemptions is critical to maintaining the integrity of our political system as well as our national security, Johnson said in a statement.
Legal experts greeted the indictment of former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort and a business associate with studied interest, saying that it was far too early to predict the final outcome of special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into alleged ties between the Trump campaign and Russian officials.

"It doesn't reflect well, but it doesn't impugn the [Trump] campaign, either," said Scott Greenfield, a New York-based criminal defense attorney who told Fox News his reaction to the indictment was "a huge yawn."

"For anyone who thought Mueller's opening salvo would bring down Trump, the indictment is a huge disappointment," Greenfield added.

Manafort and Rick Gates face 12 felony counts, including money laundering, conspiracy and acting as unregistered foreign agents. According to the indictment, which was unsealed Monday, the pair engaged in covert lobbying work for pro-Russian interests in Ukraine.

Andrew McCarthy, a former Assistant U.S. Attorney best known for prosecuting the 1993 World Trade Center bombing case, wrote on National Review Online Monday that the indictment was "much ado about nothing ... except as a vehicle to squeeze Manafort." In an addendum to his original article published Wednesday, McCarthy noted that the indictment does not accuse Manafort or Gates of tax law felonies or fraud.

"These omissions do not make sense to me. Again, my operating theory is that Mueller is trying to squeeze Manafort into becoming a cooperating witness," McCarthy wrote, later adding, "Assuming that is the goal, I think Muellers team could have improved the indictments credibility by toning down what is included and adding in what appears to have been left out."

However, Ken White, a Los Angeles-based defense lawyer who is also a former Assistant U.S Attorney, suggested that the indictment "would represent a failure" to convince Manafort to turn state's witness.

"I suspect they tried to flip him and [Manafort and Gates] wouldn't," said White, who characterized the indictments as "fairly typical."

On his Popehat blog, White described the allegations in the indictments as "[Manafort and Gates] acted as foreign agents, didn't register as they were required to, lied about it when asked, and brought the proceeds into the country to hide the proceeds, hide the agent activity, and evade taxes.

"This is Serious Business, no consolation-prize indictment," White added.

Greenfield said the guilty plea by another former Trump campaign adviser, George Papadopoulos, is "by far more significant" to the progress of the Mueller investigation than the Manafort indictment.

"I thought the handling of [Papadopoulos by Mueller] was tactically brilliant," Greenfield said. "There was a sigh of relief from the White House [after the Manafort indictment.] They thought they had a win for the day, and then they announced the guilty plea to say, 'Hey, this guy's talking about you.'"

However, Greenfield went on, "we don't know that Papadopoulos ... will be significant. I think it's fair to say we don't know anything about anything."
The director of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is expected back in state court for a preliminary hearing Wednesday, as a judge weighs whether he should face criminal liability for his role in the Flint water crisis.

Nick Lyon was charged with involuntary manslaughter and misconduct in office in connection with a deadly outbreak of Legionnaires disease in the Flint region in 2015. Lyon is accused of causing the death of a Flint man on Dec. 13, 2015, by failing to warn the public of the potential danger posed by the disease in a timely manner.

The citys water supply was switched to the Flint River in April 2014. Within months, Flint began issuing advisories for residents to boil their water due to sanitary concerns. On Dec. 14, 2015, the citys mayor declared a state of emergency because of elevated lead levels in the Flint drinking water.

The preliminary hearing will determine whether there is enough evidence for prosecutors to bring the case against Lyon, who oversaw the events leading to the crisis, to trial.

Judge David Goggins has not heard testimony since Oct. 6, when urban affairs adviser Harvey Hollins said he told Gov. Rick Snyder about a Legionnaires outbreak several weeks before the governor made it public in January 2016. That testimony contradicted what Snyder previously told the U.S. House Oversight Committee under oath in March 2016.

Lyon is seeking to have the conflicting testimony thrown out on the grounds that it is irrelevant to the criminal case against him, according to WJRT.

Former Michigan Attorney General Frank Kelley has criticized the case against Lyon.

Its wrong for this particular charge to be brought against Nick Lyon, whos got nothing to do with making the decision --- its just wrong, and he wont escape the stigma of it even if hes found innocent, he said, according to the Detroit Free Press.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.
At least seven people were arrested Tuesday after violence broke out between protesters and counter-protesters attending an event by provocateur Milo Yiannopoulos at California State University, Fullerton.

The speech  attracting 800 attendees  drew multiple protesters who chanted slogans such as Black lives matter! and Cops and the Klan go hand in hand! Some had signs reading, Immigrants in, racists out, and Only socialist revolution can defeat capitalist reaction.

Claudia Brick, a 66-year-old woman protesting Yiannopoulos, said she hoped to get her message across.

We believe in their right to free speech as well, but we believe we can get our message across louder, and there are certainly more of us," she said.

At least two people were arrested for scuffles, according to university spokesman Jeff Cook. It remained unclear why other people were arrested.

The police took extra precautions to ensure safety at the event. Additional police officers were brought from other agencies and helicopters hovered around the area, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Some police officers were seen wearing riot gear, others were on horseback, and several officers were on the event venues rooftop.

Most protesters remained peaceful but the demonstration got heated after a woman punched a female Yiannopoulos supporter several times before someone restrained her with pepper spray.

The attacked woman, Genevieve Peters, said a female protester carrying a baby attacked her after she told the woman she needed to be careful with the toddler at the protest.

"She came and just punched me in the side of the head, and came running after me, and my friends had to get her off," said Peters, describing herself as a proud supporter of President Donald Trump. "She tried to punch me three or four times. I feel sorry for her because she has so much anger."

The attacker quickly disappeared from the scene, but it remained unclear whether she was among the two arrested for violence.

Another woman, wearing a black helmet and a mask, was arrested after shooting pepper spray into the air. She was heard agitating demonstrators to storm the Yiannopoulos event and beat him up, the L.A. Times reported.

Most violence was recorded prior the event, with only small arguments erupting in the aftermath. The event was the speaker's first big appearance on a U.S. college campus after the highly anticipated Free Speech Week at UC Berkeley fell apart amid disorganization.

Yiannopoulos' event at Fullerton was organized by the College Republicans, who invited the speaker as a way to draw attention to the existence of conservative students at the college and the need for free speech.

"We really just felt left out of the conversations on campus as conservatives, and bringing him has really started this conversation about free speech," said Brooke Paz, a spokeswoman for the group.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Congressional Republicans rallied around President Trumps calls for extreme vetting Wednesday in the wake of the deadly Halloween terror attack in New York, with some of his fiercest GOP critics agreeing that the deadly incident shows a need for immediate reforms.

Sayfullo Saipov, the ISIS-inspired fanatic who allegedly carried out the attack that left eight dead and several injured, entered the United States in March 2010 from Uzbekistan under the Diversity Visa Program, according to authorities.

Just hours after the attack, the president took to Twitter to announce he had ordered the Department of Homeland Security to step up the already Extreme Vetting Program. While he was criticized by lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, many Republicans are publicly supporting the presidents move.

The one thing I like about President Trump is that he understands were in a religious war and to the American people, were fighting people who are compelled by their religious view to kill us all, Sen. Lindsay Graham, R-S.C., said on Fox News @ Night Monday. He is right to make sure when somebody comes into our country from a place where radical Islam, and thats the enemy, thrives, were going to ask extra hard questions.

Graham went on to discuss the need for merit-based immigration, and said it makes no sense to hand out visas and green cards in a random way.

What Graham was referring to was the Diversity Visa Programa State Department program which offers a lottery for people from countries with few immigrants in America. Saipov entered the U.S. in 2010 under the program.

Other Republican lawmakers also called for policy reforms, including Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., who said the program should be scrapped and replaced with a merit-based immigration.

It was a rare moment of agreement between McCain and Trump, who blamed Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., for backing it back when he was a member of the House of Representatives.

The terrorist came into our country through what is called the Diversity Visa Lottery Program, a Chuck Schumer beauty. I want merit based, Trump tweeted early Wednesday. We are fighting hard for Merit Based Immigration, no more Democrat Lottery Systems. We must get MUCH tougher (and smarter).

Republicans have long-criticized the program, and called for tighter borders, with Tuesdays attack galvanizing much of their remarks.

The lottery system, Ive always been against it because its randomcompletely random, Chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee Michael McCaul, R-Texas, said on Fox & Friends Wednesday. I thought it should be merit-basedI have been working with Chairman Goodlatte to abolish this system, and I think this case just further demonstrates why that is absolutely necessary.

Goodlatte, R-Va., said he has called for ending the diversity visa lottery for years and has sponsored legislation to do that.

This flawed policy is just foolish in the age in which we live. Those in the world who wish us harm can easily engage in this statistical gamble with nothing to lose, Goodlatte said in a statement Wednesday. Our immigration policy should be based primarily on our national needs, security, and economics and not in part on any arbitrary system.

Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., even suggested a sponsorship program Wednesday on Americas Newsroom, saying there should be an American family who can be responsible for those admitted into the country.

I agree with the president, Paul said. There are certain countries with so much terrorism. Maybe we should stop certain countries from sending people here for a while. Its not like you have a right to move to this country.

And Sens. David Perdue, R-GA., and Tom Cotton, R-Ark., proposed eliminating the Diversity Visa Lottery Program as part of the RAISE Act.

While Senate Democrats originally created the Diversity Visa Lottery in 1990, many have supported legislation that would have eliminated it in the years since, Perdue said in a statement Wednesday. I hope we can include this area of common ground as we work to fix our broken immigration system and strengthen our national security.

Even Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., who announced his retirement last month and has repeatedly criticized Trump, said the approach toward immigration security has improved under the Trump administration.

Were doing better and I think the president has stepped up efforts to make sure those who come in are properly vetted," Flake said. "Thats good."

But despite the new, and renewed, support from Republicans on Capitol Hill, there are many lawmakers who have slammed the president for politicizing this weeks terror attack.

President Trump, where is your leadership? The contrast btwn Pres Bushs actions after 9-11 & Pres Trumps this am couldnt be starker, Schumer tweeted.

Later Wednesday morning on the Senate floor, Schumer said that Trump, instead of politicizing and dividing America, which he always seems to do at times of national tragedy, should be bringing us together.

Schumer also said Wednesday that the president cant refrain from his nasty, divisive habits, and noted that the White House did not call him after the attack.




On November 2, nearly 500 vintage NASA prints taken from 1961 to 1972 (including the three pictured above) will be auctioned off.



On February 20, 1962, John Glenn achieved two huge milestones for humankind within just a few short hours. First (and maybe most impressively), he became the first American to orbit the Earth by circling it three times aboard his Mercury Friendship 7 spacecraft, reaching speeds of more than 17,000 miles per hour. Second (and maybe most importantly), he snapped the first human-taken photograph of the Earth from space, permanently changing how we viewed our planets place in the universe.

Now, in just a few short days, you have the chance to bid on Glenn's iconic photograph, as well as many others, during The Beauty of Space  the first auction in the United States to exclusively focus on vintage photographs produced by NASA from 1961 to 1972.

According to the auction house, (Skinner Auctioneers and Appraisers in Marlborough, Massachusetts), the 445 lot single-owner collection includes both iconic and rare gelatin silver and chromogenic prints presenting an extraordinary photographic journey to the moon and back as seen through the eyes of the Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo astronauts.

Following every mission, NASA would select a handful of the astronauts photographs to release to the public. Any images that were not made publically available were instead stored in the archives of the Manned Spacecraft Center in Houston, where they were only accessible to accredited researchers.

Mainly gathered from former NASA employees and scientists, the photographs featured in this sale were all acquired by a private collector of 20th-century avant-garde art. According to the auction house, His fascination for explorers and adventurers began with the prophetic novels of Jules Verne, leading him to the pioneering astronauts who voyaged to the final frontier: Space.

Skinners website, www.skinnerinc.com, allows users to view all the lots, leave bids, and bid live in real-time. Public auction previews of the vintage collection are open from 12 P.M. to 5 P.M. on Tuesday, October 31, and from 12 P.M. to 7 P.M. on Wednesday, November 1.

Catalog #3048M is available from the Subscription Department at subscriptions@skinnerinc.com, while realized prices will be available at www.skinnerinc.com during and after the sale.
The fascinating thing when a scandal erupts is that everyone in America becomes an expert on prosecutorial tactics, defense strategy and criminal evidence.

Suddenly, it seems, all the armchair lawyersincluding every journalist with a pulse--are debating the significance of the previously obscure George Papadopoulos.

What strikes me is that for those characters in the Trump orbit who were interested in colluding with Russia, they werent very good at it. Not much, as far as we know now, ever got done.

For instance, Papadopoulos said in one email that he had been introduced to Vladimir Putins niece. Except that, as a brief online search would have revealed, Putin doesnt have a niece.

This isnt to suggest that Robert Mueller shouldnt try to unravel whatever contacts took place between Trump associates and the Russians, if only to shed light on what didnt happen as well as what did.

While the indictments of Paul Manafort and his associate Rick Gates dominated the headlines, only the guilty plea by Papadopoulos is linked to the campaign and Russia.

Papadopoulos was an unpaid, low-level, London-based foreign policy adviseryes, Trump called him excellent in a meeting at the Washington Postwho kept sending his superiors without getting much traction.

Its certainly fair to say he was open to colluding with Russia, now that hes been charged with lying to the FBI. Papadopoulos was touting the idea that he might be able to broker a Trump-Putin meeting, which was ludicrous and, of course, never happened.

The Post has identified some of the people not named in the agreement, such as Sam Clovis, Trumps national co-chairman, listed as Papadopoulos supervisor.

Clovis told him "great work" when he floated his efforts to meet the Russian ambassador, which Papadopoulos never did. He also reported meeting Putins non-existent niece.

From the Post: "In August 2016, Clovis responded to efforts by Papadopoulos to organize an 'off the record' meeting with Russian officials. 'I would encourage you' and another foreign policy adviser to the campaign to 'make the trip, if it is feasible,' Clovis wrote."

Victoria Toensing, Clovis' attorney, told the Post that he "always vigorously opposed any Russian trip for Donald Trump and/or the campaign" and that his responses were a courtesy by "a polite gentleman from Iowa."

The Post also says that Papadaopoulos sent several Russia-related emails to Corey Lewandowski, then the campaign manager. There is no indication that he responded, other than one note referring him to Clovis.

Lewandowski told the "Today" show that "George was a low-level volunteer" and that he didnt recall receiving any specific emails from him, as he was deluged with thousands of messages a day. He said he would be happy to talk to investigators but has not been interviewed.

One other person named by the Post was Manafort, who forwarded a Papadopoulos email to another campaign official, saying: "We need someone to communicate that DT is not doing these trips" to Russia. "It should be someone low level in the campaign so as not to send any signal."

Oh, and "the Professor" that Papadopoulos said had links to Russia and was proffering "dirt" on Hillary Clinton, including "thousands of emails"?

Scottish professor Joseph Mifsud told the Daily Telegraph that he knew nothing about digging up Hillary dirt and that it was a "laughing stock" to say he had introduced Papadopoulos to a Russian female national.

Earlier, Mifsud told the Post that he had "absolutely no contact" with the Russian government: "I am an academic, I do not even speak Russian."



So Papadopoulos appears to have been a lousy colluder.

Its reminiscent of the meeting that Donald Trump Jr. set up with the Russian lawyer who was said to have promised dirt on Clinton. That session, also attended by Manafort and Jared Kushner, appears to have produced nothing.

Well learn more as the Mueller probe unfolds. But for now, while these fledgling attempts at getting oppo research from Moscow look bad, it seems they were a bust.
President Trump vowed Wednesday to scrap the federal immigration program that allowed the New York City truck terrorist to enter the United States, and said "animals" like the suspect in Tuesday's attack belong in Guantanamo Bay.

Speaking just before a Cabinet meeting, Trump took a somber tone in the wake of the vicious attack that left eight dead and a dozen hurt. In addition to vowing to end the State Department's Diversity Immigrant Visa Program, which is how suspect Sayfullo Saipov came into the United States in 2010 from Uzbekistan, Trump called for swift and harsh justice.

We have to come up with a punishment that much worse than what these animals are getting now, said Trump, who is asking Congress to end the diversity visa program.

We have to come up with a punishment that much worse than what these animals are getting now."  President Trump

Sending Saipov to the military detention facility at Guantanamo Bay would require, at a minimum, classifying him as an enemy combatant, something the White House said on Thursday they consider him to be.

I believe we would consider this person to be an enemy combatant, yes, Sarah Sanders, the White House press secretary, said during Wednesdays briefing.

Even then, the legality of such a move is not clear, as Saipov was a lawful resident of the U.S. and no terrorist has been sent to Gitmo under such circumstances.

Sanders told reporters that when it comes to sending Saipov to Guantanamo Bay, the president would support that but he wasnt necessarily advocating for it.

Saipov, 29, carried out his bloody rampage from behind the wheel of a rented pickup truck, barreling down a bike path along Manhattan's West Side Highway Tuesday afternoon.

Trump took aim Wednesday at the diversity immigration program, as well as others that allow chain migration, in which immigrants can enter the country simply to be united with a relative already living here.

The type of visa Saipov possessed could theoretically have allowed dozens of his family members into the U.S.

We will take all of the necessary steps to take care of our communities and our country has a whole, Trump also said Wednesday. What we have now is a joke and a laughingstock.

The president instead wants foreigners allowed into the country only under merit-based programs.

Were so politically correct, were afraid to do anything, he said.

Earlier in the day, congressional Republicans also took aim at the diversity visa program.

Ive always been against it because its a random system to bring people into the United States, Texas GOP Rep. Mike McCaul, chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security, said Wednesday on Fox News Fox & Friends.

McCaul said hes trying to abolish the roughly 25-year-old program and replace it with a merit-based one.

I think this case just demonstrates why that is absolutely necessary, he also said.

Saipov was among the maximum 50,000 people allowed into the U.S. every year under the State Department diversity visa program, which tilts toward countries with historically low rates of immigration.

McCaul spoke Wednesday just minutes after Trump called for a merit-based only immigration system and in part blamed Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and other congressional Democrats for the program.

The terrorist came into our country through what is called the Diversity Visa Lottery Program, a Chuck Schumer beauty. I want merit based, Trump tweeted.

No more Democratic lottery, Trump said in a follow-up tweet.

Fox News' Alex Pappas contributed to this report.
Sam Clovis, President Trumps pick for the U.S. Department of Agricultures (USDA) chief scientist, withdrew his name for consideration Thursday. Clovis is entangled in the ongoing investigations into possible Russian collusion in the 2016 election.

Clovis was reportedly questioned by Special Counsel Robert Muellers team of investigators last week, according to NBC News. Clovis has ties to a former Trump campaign aide who already pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about his own Russian connections.

In a letter to Trump, Clovis said he does not want to be a distraction or a negative influence. He also mentioned relentless assaults on you and your team that "seem to be a blood sport."

Who is Sam Clovis?

Clovis, 68, has a full resume. He is a former Air Force officer, college professor, conservative radio host and defense contractor.

From Iowa, Clovis unsuccessfully ran for Senate in his state in 2014, earning the endorsement of former Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum. While a candidate, Clovis said then-President Obamas race saved him from impeachment.

TRUMP AND THE RUSSIA INVESTIGATION: WHAT TO KNOW

Clovis was a business and economics professor at Morning Side College in Iowa. He attended the Air Force School in Colorado Springs, earned an MBA from Golden Gate University in California, studied national security at Georgetown University and earned a doctorate in public administration from the University of Alabama, according to the Omaha World-Herald.

How is Clovis connected to Trump?

Clovis was Trumps pick to be the USDAs chief scientist  and he was a former policy adviser and co-chair for Trumps presidential campaign.

Clovis was responsible for releasing the names of Trumps foreign policy advisers in March, which included George Papadopoulos. Papadopoulos pleaded guilty in October to lying to the FBI about his Russian contacts and efforts to set up meetings between Russian officials and members of the Trump campaign.

Clovis lawyer confirmed that he brought Papadopoulos onto the campaign, according to the Associated Press.

In court papers, an unnamed supervisor  who Clovis lawyer confirmed was Clovis  was said to have received some of Papadopoulos' email exchanges about his attempts to line up a meeting with the Russians, appearing to encourage the effort at one point by responding "Great work." He also later encouraged Papadopoulos to travel to Russia on his own.

HOW PAUL MANAFORT IS CONNECTED TO THE TRUMP, RUSSIA INVESTIGATION?

However, the lawyer said Clovis opposed any trip to Russia for Trumps campaign, including Trump.

Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., said that Clovis is a fully cooperative witness in the Senates probe into potential Russian collusion, Politico reported.

Clovis was expected to face a tough confirmation hearing in the Senate later this month. He withdrew his nomination Thursday as he said he did not want to be a distraction or a negative influence, in a letter to Trump.

Fox News' Kaitlyn Schallhorn and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Iceland's biggest volcano has not erupted since February 2015, but after a series of earthquakes over the past week, there are fears it could erupt again.

And this time, it might cause chaos for the airline industry.

Bardarbunga, which is under the ice cap of the Vatnajokull glacier, is clearly preparing for its next eruption within the next few years, University of Iceland volcanology expert Pall Einarsson told The Express. It was hit by four separate earthquakes, measuring 3.9, 3.2, 4.7 and 4.7 on the Richter scale.

YELLOWSTONE SUPERVOLCANO COULD BLOW FASTER THAN INITIALLY THOUGHT

In a separate interview with The Daily Star, Einarsson added that the latest tremors are part of a series that has going on for two years and is a sign that pressuring is building inside the volcano and its magma chamber.

Unlike the explosion of volcano Eyjafjallajokull in 2010, which put thousands of tons of mineral ash into the air and caused more than 10 million airline passengers to be stranded, the most recent explosion of Bardarbunga did not disrupt the airline industry. It did, however, impact the air quality in Iceland.

If Bardarbunga were to erupt, some experts believe that a similar scenario to what happened with Eyjafjallajokull could play out.

University College London professor Dr. Simon Day told The Express: Activity could precede a large explosive eruption and consequent widespread ash fall but it is statistically unlikely."

Day added that more has to happen before a major explosion, giving it odds of 1 in 100.

It's not very likely that the current activity will lead to an eruption breaking the ice or erupting along the rift zone," he said.
At a time when Twitter is trying to curb trolling and incendiary use of its platform, its logged-out homepage features one of its users attacking model Chrissy Teigen.

First spotted by user Chris Messina (himself a former employee at both Google and Uber), the image shows a Twitter user @Amir_Hali calling Tiegen "a wh**e" in response to one of her tweets.

Below is a screenshot of the logged-out homepage.

Fox News has reached out to Twitter for comment for this story. Teigen's reps were looking into the matter when contacted by Fox News.

TWITTER ATTEMPTS TO INCREASE AD TRANSPARENCY AFTER RUSSIAN-BACKED SCANDAL

Twitter has come under attack for abuse on its platform, with the company actively trying to curtail it, to mixed results. In 2016, companies such as Salesforce.com and Disney looked at acquiring the Jack Dorsey-led company, only to call off the attempts, due in part to the abuse on the platform.

The abuse has been cited by experts as one of the reasons it was not purchased. Former New York Times editor Quentin Hardy said he spoke to Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff about the trolling issue, and he confirmed that trolls were part of the reason Salesforce dropped its bid.

In November 2016, the company wrote a blog post, detailing some of the progress it has made in curtailing online abuse.

In the post, Twitter explained that it was expanding its mute function, which lets users mute accounts they dont want to see tweets from, to muting keywords, phrases, and even entire conversations.

It also put a spotlight on its hateful conduct policy, which "prohibits specific conduct that targets people on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, religious affiliation, age, disability, or disease."

Lastly, the company said it had retrained its support teams on its policies, "including special sessions on cultural and historical contextualization of hateful conduct, and implemented an ongoing refresher program," while improving internal tools to deal with abuse in a more effective manner.

Follow Chris Ciaccia on Twitter @Chris_Ciaccia
Facebook said Wednesday that about 20 million people Americans may have seen Russian-backed content on Instagram.

The social network, along with Twitter and Google, was giving evidence to the Senate Intelligence Committee as part of a probe into alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 U.S. Presidential election.

Facebook bought Instagram for $1 billion in cash and stock 2012. The photo-sharing service recently announced it has over 800 million monthly active users.

FACEBOOK, GOOGLE, TWITTER: HOW TECH GIANTS ARE INVOLVED IN THE RUSSIA INVESTIGATION

Reuters reports that Facebook General Counsel Colin Stretch informed the committee that 16 million Americans may have been exposed to Russian information on Instagram, starting in October 2016. Another 4 million people may have been exposed to the information prior to October 2016, he said, but noted that the data was less complete.

Facebook said this week that Russia-linked political ads reached as many as 126 million people on the social network. The Instagram numbers announced Wednesday are in addition to the 126 million figure.

Last month, Facebook announced that it uncovered $100,000 in fake ad spending tied to Russian operatives during the 2016 U.S. Presidential election, associated with around 3,000 ads, which were later turned over to Congress.

FACEBOOK: UP TO 126 MILLION PEOPLE SAW RUSSIAN-BACKED CONTENT

Facebook said Monday that Russia-linked accounts generated 80,000 posts on 120 pages between January 2015 and August 2017. Possible views reached the millions after people liked the posts and shared them. Those are separate from the 3,000 ads turned over to the committees.

During a hearing with the Senate Judiciary Committee Tuesday, none of the companies would commit to fully supporting legislation proposed by Sen. John McCain, R.-Az., Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., and Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., that would bring political ad rules from TV, radio and print to the internet.

Dubbed the Honest Ads Act, the bill would enforce ad regulations on sites with over 50 million unique users a month. Disclosures would apply to ad purchases of more than $500.

HERE ARE THE RUSSIA FACEBOOK ADS THAT TRIED TO DUPE YOU

Klobuchar dismissed pledges from the companies this week to be more transparent about political ads, calling that an unenforceable "patchwork" of self-policing.

Jason Mollica, a digital media expert and professor at American University in Washington told Fox News that the companies stance is wrong and dangerous.

I think the three are making strides to curb Russian-like ad buys and the like. But, its time that social networks stop denying that they are not news organizations, he added. Digital and social media have changed so much  its no longer just a place to share photos.

'THE SINS OF SILICON VALLEY': BACKLASH MOUNTS AGAINST GOOGLE, FACEBOOK, AMAZON

More than 82,000 people have signed petition calling on Facebook to inform users how they were exposed to Russian propaganda.

Russia denies meddling in the 2016 U.S. Presidential Election.

Facebook released its fiscal third-quarter results after market close on Wednesday. The company generated $10.3 billion in revenue, a year-over-year increase of 47 percent, and $4.7 billion in net income, a year-over-year increase of 79 percent.

The Associated Press contributed to this article.

Follow James Rogers on Twitter @jamesjrogers
If you were asked to list the uses of a mobile phones front facing camera, taking selfies is probably pretty high up on the list.

No one can deny that using a phones front camera to snap a few pics is far easier than having to turn the phone around, make sure you have your finger on the right button and hope you are in the frame.

And with the quality of smartphone cameras getting better all the time we are able to take clearer, more profile picture worthy photos with ease.

But it turns out, and this may come as a shock, that the front camera was not created so we could take selfies.

The first phone with a front facing camera was introduced to the world by Sony in 2003 in the form of the Ericsson Z1010.

According to Quartz, the chunky flip phone and its 0.3 pixel camera that could be turned towards the user, was originally intended to be used in business calls.

Little did Sony know that little camera would spark what can only be described as a selfie epidemic.

People loved the idea of being able to see what they look like while taking a photo of themselves so much that platforms were created to easily allow them to share their selfies with the world.

Social media platforms like Instagram and Snapchat encourage people to share their selfies to their hearts content and even give them options to add filters and edits if they want to spice up their picture.

Selfies have become such a phenomenon that studies have been conducted to find out just how much of our lives we spend trying to capture our perfect angle.

Rawhide, a non-profit organisation helping at-risk youth, conducted research to give insight into our selfie habits, their findings included:

There are 93 million selfies taken each day

74 per cent of images shared on Snapchat are selfies

There are 1000 selfies posted to Instagram every 10 seconds

In 2015 more people died from taking selfies than from shark attacks

Every year teens spend almost seven full work days taking selfies

The designers at Sony that were responsible for creating the front facing camera could never have predicted the effect their innovation would have on how we use our phones.

No doubt there are people out there that do use the camera for its original purpose of video conference meetings but, for now, it looks like taking selfies will continue to come out on top.

This story originally appeared in news.com.au.
This is a rush transcript from "Journal Editorial Report," October 28, 2017. This copy may not be in its final form and may be updated.

DAVID ASMAN, GUEST HOST: Welcome to the "Journal Editorial Report." I am David Asman in this week with Paul Gigot. Well, Fox News confirmed this week that Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign and the Democratic National Committee helped pay for the infamous dossier alleging Russian ties to Donald Trump.

The Washington Post first reported Tuesday that the payments were filtered through a U.S. law firm, which then hired the opposition research company, Fusion GPS. Fusion, in turn, tapped former-British spy Christopher Steele to compile the allegations which are based largely on anonymous Russian sources.

But, all this wasn't news to our own Kim Strassel; she actually spelled out just this scenario in a column written last July, "What if it was the Democratic National Committee or Hillary Clinton's campaign? What if that money flowed from a political entity on the left to a private law firm, to Fusion, to a British spook, and then to Russian sources?"

Kim joins us now along with Wall Street columnist and deputy editor Dan Henninger and columnist Bill McGurn. Kim, how did you know?

KIM STRASSEL, WALL STREET JOURNAL COLUMNIST: Good sources. The Wall Street Journal always has good sources.

ASMAN: I'll say. But you spelled it out exactly. Was there anything that surprised you in the revelations this week?

STRASSEL: No. But I -- it didn't surprise me other than the fact that now we have a lot of people in the Democratic Party claiming that they didn't know any of this. Somebody had to have arranged this. But I think the import of this is that we've had the story, or the press has had the story completely backward for the last year.

All the allegations have been that it was Donald Trump's campaign playing footsie with Russians. We still have no evidence of that but, rather, we do have very concrete evidence that it was democrats playing footsies with the Russians and enabling them to embroil our election and upset our democracy.

ASMAN: Well, Bill, I'm wondering - this may be a little too conspiratorial, but do you think this was done by design; that is, the Clinton campaign or the Clinton team knew that all these shenanigans were going on, and they figured, okay, let's deflect it to Trump and the press will go along with us?

BILL MCGURN, WALL STREET JOURNAL COLUMNIST: Yes, I'm not sure that all of them knew about it. They are all denying it now. The most qualified candidate in history, of course, had no idea this was going on under her own roof.

To me, the bigger question is we've laid out the part where the DNC and the campaign are basically funding an opposition project with help from the Russians. The other part that's even more damning, I think, is what was the FBI's role because.

ASMAN: Right.

MCGURN: .the FBI, the question is did they use this to get FISA warrants to start spying on Trump.

ASMAN: That's a terrific question.

MCGURN: It's a big question. And they apparently were going to pay Christopher Steele until his name surfaced and they backed out of that. So, I think there's a lot of questions. At some point, Jim Comey's going to have to go back there. The FBI has been stonewalling just like the Hillary people and Fusion on this and this week, they sort of announced a breakthrough.

ASMAN: Well, Dan, first of all, this is more than just shenanigans, by the way. I mean, laws may have been broken here based on who paid what for -- who paid whom for what. But also, to Bill's point about the FBI, I mean, if the FBI actually used this kind of phony dossier -- God knows how much of it, if anything, is true in there -- but if they used that as a basis for FISA warrants, for wiretapping for lack of a better word, on the Trump campaign, that's a scary scenario.

DAN HENNINGER, WALL STREET JOURNAL COLUMNIST & DEPUTY EDITOR: It is a scary scenario. I mean, it would suggest that the FBI was manipulated by the Russians, by Putin, and.

ASMAN: And by the DNC.

HENNINGER: .and well, by the DNC, which itself was being manipulated. So, I think this has to be opened up in open congressional hearings. I firmly believe that there are a lot of Democrats in Washington who knew this was going on, who knew this story was going to break, you know?

For Debbie Wasserman Schultz, who was the head of the DNC at that point, to say she had no idea what was going on, let's understand something. That law figure, Perkins Coie, which contracted with Fusion and paid Fusion would not have made those payments without the permission of their clients, A, the Democratic National Committee and, B, Hillary Clinton's campaign.

And these were big payments. So I think it's really implausible for them to deny that this was going on.

ASMAN: Kim, does anybody inside the beltway believe Hillary when she says she didn't know about it or Debbie Wasserman Schultz when she said -- I mean, somebody knew about it because somebody paid Fusion GSP, right?

STRASSEL: I think everyone, obviously, at least had the suspicion that this was the case, that it might have been the party and it might have been the campaign because that's the only way also to explain the efforts that congressional Democrats have been making to protect Fusion from having to give up this name.

And, look, I think that that's another really important unanswered question here, is that the only reason this came out this week is because Fusion was trying to appease House investigators that want to get a hold of its banking records.

ASMAN: Right.

STRASSEL: And House Republicans are still trying to get those. And that could be another big bombshell in here.

ASMAN: Right.

STRASSEL: .to see who else was paying Fusion at the same time. Is there Russian money going in there? There could be a lot more to unwrap here as we dig into this.

ASMAN: Well, Dan, there is a lot more to unwrap not only in this story, but in the other big scandal story that's kind of related to it, which is the uranium story, Uranium One. We now know that the Kremlin, while they were trying to get -- while the Russians were trying to get 20 percent of our uranium reserves, they were involved in tremendous racketeering schemes, kickbacks, bribes in order to do that, and the FBI knew about this before the deal was signed.

HENNINGER: Yes. The FBI had an informant who had penetrated the Russian operation for about five years, and the Justice Department this week has given permission for this informant to speak confidentially to at least three congressional committees that are trying to get to the bottom of how the United States confirmed or allowed Rosatom, the Russian company, to gain control of 20 percent of United States' uranium.

ASMAN: And, Bill, the FBI comes in play here again because it was Robert Mueller who was head of the FBI when, apparently, they let this deal happen that probably shouldn't have, because it was involved in a racketeering. Should -- Sessions recused himself from Russia. Should Mueller do the same because he is.

MCGURN: I don't think it's necessarily a stain on his integrity, what he did, but he clearly is not in the position to be looking at the FBI given his.

ASMAN: So he should resign -- at least recuse himself from this part of it?

MCGURN: I think he should (inaudible). I also think further to Kim's point about why this came out, I think we have to give some credit to Devin Nunes and the House Intelligence Committee who has taken all sorts of incoming, kind of a phony ethics charge lodged against him and this stuff came out because he pursued it, and there's still a subpoena in court looking for the other things.

And he gets almost no credit. He's been much maligned. And now I think we learn why, because they're a little afraid of what he's going to find out.

ASMAN: Right. Lot more to come on both of these stories. When we come back, the House passes a budget blueprint clearing the way for the GOP's final push on tax reform. But with some key sticking points remaining, can Republicans deliver clean across-the-board tax cuts by year's end? We'll ask economist Art Laffer, coming next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: We are really unified on what we want to do. We want tax cuts for the middle class. We want tax cuts for businesses to produce jobs. There is great unity.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ASMAN: President Trump, this week, declaring great unity in the Republican Party when it comes to tax cuts. The House narrowly adopting the Senate's budget blueprint on Thursday, clearing the way for Congress to fast track a tax reform package and deliver it to the President's desk before the end of the year.

But, with battles brewing over state and local tax deductions, a new foreign minimum tax and maybe even a higher tax bracket for those making over $1 million, can Republicans keep their eye on the prize and get a clean bill with across-the-board tax cuts over the finish line?

Let's ask economist Art Laffer. He served as an adviser to President Ronald Reagan. Art, good to see you.

ART LAFFER, ECONOMIST: Good to see you, David.

ASMAN: Why does Congress always make things more complicated than they have to? Why not just clean across-the-board tax cuts?

LAFFER: That's what they should do, but Congress -- it's all these different views and everything, and everyone wants to get their little piece in, and so it really becomes a complicated mess. But you're right, we should have one simple tax, corporate tax rate from 35 percent to 15 percent, get rid of everything else, pass that.

Then go to these other items. A lot of these other items are really good as well, by the way, David, they really are. Inheritance tax should be gotten rid of, expensing of capital purchases should be done. There are a bunch of other items that are great. But I think you should pass the big engine of growth here, is the corporate tax cut, and that should be just by itself.

ASMAN: And, you know, there were a couple of new taxes mentioned. That's what scares me a little bit.

LAFFER: I know.

ASMAN: There was a higher tax bracket that may or may not happen on the wealthy, there's something called a foreign minimum tax, details about which are still not exactly known. Are we adding more to the tax code instead of subtracting?

LAFFER: I don't think so. I don't think that's going to happen. There's no taste, I don't think, no appetite for raising the highest rate. It makes no sense either. I mean, you can't hate job creators and love jobs. And if you want middle-class prosperity, you've got to make the employers happy to hire these people, to give them jobs that they otherwise wouldn't have had, to raise the wages that we all want for the middle class, that also requires the cooperation of the upper class and lower. I mean, you know, we're all in this stuff together. As Kennedy said, a rising tide raises all boats, and this is a Kennedy-esque tax bill that is really wonderful.

ASMAN: But I'm wondering if all Republicans know that because when they first came out with their tax plan a couple of weeks ago, they had a line in there saying, it won't be any less progressive than our current tax. And it's progressivity that has led to slow growth, it's progressivity that has widened that divide between the richest and the poorest, whereas across- the-board tax cuts lift all boats, as you say.

LAFFER: Of course they do, and I don't know why they pandered to some sort of political ideology, but they do. If they want Bernie Sanders' votes, that's what they should say. But I don't think they are going to get Bernie Sanders -- if I noticed the vote there, you say it was really close, and it was four votes difference. That's true.

But I'm willing to bet there were a bunch of Republicans who voted against that who would have switched being in favor if the vote had gotten closer. But, 100 percent of the Democrats voted against it which is just shocking. I mean, this is a Kennedy tax cut, this is a pro-growth thing to help the people of America, and every Democrat votes against it? That's unconscionable.

They know better, and they proposed cutting the corporate rate themselves, and yet they still just hold on to this obstinate, just anti-Trump position, and it'll come back and bite them you know where?

ASMAN: Well, since, Art, since that - now, there's going to be no Democrat voting in favor of the tax cut.

LAFFER: None.

ASMAN: .why then is it necessary for some in the GOP to pander to their notions of progressivity?

LAFFER: I don't know. I mean, it just doesn't make any sense. If a Republican thinks the Democrats are going to vote for him because of one little addition to this bill, that's pandering. I think they're very mistaken.

This is an all-out political war and the winner in 2018 and 2020 will get the bacon and will carry the issues home. And I personally think the Democrats are putting themselves at great risk in 2018. They've got a lot of exposure in the Senate, and I think they could well lose a lot of seats in the houses as well.

So, they are at risk doing this type of obstructionist type of policy. So I don't know why they're doing it. I mean, being a - I've spent half of my life as a Democrat and as a Republican, and your (ph) Clinton, I voted for him twice. I'm a Kennedy Democrat. I don't know why the Democrats don't go back to their roots and vote for this bill and get America growing and going again.

It's what they should be doing, and I don't know why they just oppose it. And I think they're going to pay a very heavy price for that.

ASMAN: All right. Well, let's be optimistic, which is at the core of who our Laffer is.

LAFFER: Oh, I am, it'll pass.

ASMAN: I know that very well. And assume that it's done before the end of the year and that it is retroactive to January 1, 2017. Will the economy grow fast enough in 2018 for the Republicans to pull out a win in the midterm elections?

LAFFER: Yes, I think it will. I already think there's a lot of signs of positivity in the economy. I mean, if you look at the stock market, it has risen quite substantially. If you look at the growth rate in GDP, I mean, it's not good by any means, but it's a lot better than it has been over the last 16 years. It's just a lot better.

So, you're seeing a lot of signs of improvement. And I think Trump's doing a great job with the executive orders and on dismantling ACA, and I think if this bill passes, we could have a very sound 2018 and a very nice stock market. And that will inure very much to the benefit of the Republicans in the elections in 2018.

ASMAN: By the way, stock market hasn't been doing too badly in the past year, so --

LAFFER: That's what I mean, yes.

ASMAN: It has been up to record levels. Art Laffer, great to see you. We needed your optimism. We needed a shot of optimism here, and we got it.

LAFFER: Well, you got it, and I think it's going to be great, and I'm really looking forward to a very long, big boom in America.

ASMAN: Art Laffer, thank you very much.

LAFFER: Thank you, David.

ASMAN: When we come back, watch out changes to our 401(k)s could be another sticking point to the tax bill. So, what should we expect when GOP leaders release details next week?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ASMAN: A battle over 401(k) is another issue that could derail Republicans as they push forward on tax reform. Though GOP leaders were reportedly considering limiting the amount of tax-free dollars you could put into your own accounts, the President appeared to take that off the table this week tweeting, "There will be no change to your 401(k). This has always been a great and popular middle-class tax break that works, and it stays."

So, what should we expect when the House unveils details of its plan next week? We're back with Dan Henninger, Kim Strassel and Wall Street Journal editorial page writer, Kate Bachelder Odell. Good to you see you all.

So Dan, what will the plan look like, and will we see any changes in 401(k)s?

HENNINGER: I don't think we're going to see too many changes in 401(k)s, that's sort of horse trading before this begins. But I would say this is what people should focus on -- what they should focus on when this bill is released next week is, essentially, what President Trump himself has been emphasizing over and over, speeches out in the country, he just did it earlier on our program, and that is two things; A tax cut for the middle class and, secondly, reducing the corporate tax rate to 20 percent.

Art Laffer said 15 percent, but I think it's going to be 20 percent. The point on the corporate side is so that businesses reinvest money back into the economy, capital investment to create jobs and raise wages. That's your real benefit for the middle class. Those are the two things they're going to try to do.

Now, they're operating within certain Senate rules on how much money they can afford to lose over a 10-year period. And a lot of this horse trading, like the millionaires' tax and so forth.

ASMAN: Right.

HENNINGER: .is intended to try to get them under that cap.

ASMAN: So, Kate, should we just ignore all the stuff I was talking about with Art Laffer, the millionaires' tax and a foreign investment tax, et cetera, is just noise - that eventually it'll come out to a clean version of tax cuts, like Dan described?

KATE BACHELDER ODELL, WALL STREET JOURNAL EDITORIAL PAGE WRITER: Here I think the 401(k) story has gotten a lot more attention than it deserves. Because Trump is right; it's politically untouchable. But, as for the millionaires' tax, I think that's something we should watch very closely because Democrats always say it will hit millionaires, but then when the details come out, it eventually turns into something that hits way.

ASMAN: Like the AMT tax.

ODELL: Exactly. So they will (ph) just hate it. So I definitely think that a 44 percent top rate could have a practical effect of moving the top rate back to 50 percent, where it was when Reagan brought it down to 28 percent. And I would also note, with what Art was saying, is that high marginal rates are enjoying a renaissance on the right. One thing that's going to be part of this plan is an expanded Child Tax Credit which is expensive, does nothing for growth, and Republicans will have to find money to pay for it.

ASMAN: So, Kim, is it conceivable that our tax code could be worse in terms of raising the top rate? STRASSEL: Well, yes. And this is a terrible idea that Republicans are contemplating, especially because they're doing it largely to give themselves cover from Democratic complaints that this bill is somehow tailored to the rich. The thing is that no matter what they do with this bill, they could put an 80 percent tax rate on the highest earners, and Democrats would still make that claim.

ASMAN: Yes.

STRASSEL: So, what they ought to be doing and letting guide their decisions is what is best for the economy. And, I mean, they're also dealing within the complicated parameters that, as Dan said, they do need to find some way to paying for the other bad policy in this, like the child care tax credit.

They'd be wiser off getting rid of some of those giveaways, lowering rates for everybody, and then as Dan said, making sure that that's how people in the middle class benefit from a growing economy.

ASMAN: But, Dan, is it possible that if they put in the wealth tax -- and I call it a wealth tax because it starts out as a millionaires' tax, but as Kate said, eventually it hits a lot more people, people making $250,000 or whatever.

Is it possible that that could actually get in there and that it could stall economic growth? HENNINGER: It could get in there. I don't know whether it could stall economic growth, and here's why, David. For one thing, by putting in a millionaires' tax like this, they're expanding the slab (ph) -- I'll explain.

Back in the 1986 tax reform, as you remember, one of the biggest problems was something known as Gucci Gulch. Gucci Gulch refers to tax lawyers and Gucci Loopers (ph) who create loopholes for rich people.

ASMAN: That's true. HENNINGER: And if you raise the tax 44 percent, the super-rich are going to hire lawyers to figure out ways to create loopholes, and then you're back where you were when you started.

ASMAN: Exactly. And Kate, that's the problem with these so-called millionaires tax - the millionaires find ways to get out of them.

ODELL: Right, but here is who doesn't, somebody who earns $1 million for one year because they sold a family business or cashed in on a lifetime of thrift, they get hit but that's because they can't afford what Warren Buffett and everyone else can afford.

ASMAN: Kim, that's a great political point and one would think that somebody like Donald Trump could make that point.

STRASSEL: Well, maybe we'll see him do it. I'd like to give the President a little bit of credit here on tax reform. He got hit a lot because of his comments on 401(k)s with various people like Bob Corker saying, you know, "Just let us do our job; you do yours."

I mean, I think he does have some say, by the way, in a bill that Republicans are asking him to sign. But, he has been out there unlike on healthcare, which he botched. But, he has been out there trying to connect this to the average American family saying, you know, "Corporate rates, we lower them, that's going to come out better for you in terms of higher wages."

ASMAN: Right.

STRASSEL: "You know, lower these rates and it's going to be good for the economy, more jobs." So, he can do that, and he should be making that case as well, that you just mentioned about the importance of maintaining a good tax code here and how that helps Americans.

ASMAN: Well, I've got both fingers crossed. Let's hope it happens.

Coming up next, President Trump calling his meeting with Republicans on Capitol Hill this week a 'love fest', but that's probably not the term at least two GOP Senators would use to describe the relationship.

Our panel's take on the intraparty brawl, coming next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

TRUMP: We have great unity. If you look at what happened yesterday at the meeting, we had -- I guess, virtually every Senator, including John McCain, we had a great conversation yesterday, John McCain and myself, about the military. I think we had a -- I called it a love fest. It was almost a love fest, maybe it was a love fest.

ASMAN: Great unity, a love fest, that was President Trump this week, describing Tuesday's lunch with Senate Republicans on Capitol Hill. But just hours before that lunch, Tennessee Senator Bob Corker fired up his war of words with the President calling Trump "utterly untruthful."

And just hours after the lunch, Arizona Senator Jeff Flake announced he will not seek re-election, took to the Senate floor to denounce the president's behavior. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. JEFF FLAKE, R-ARIZ.: Reckless, outrageous and undignified behavior has become excused and countenanced as telling that like it is, when it is actually just reckless, outrageous and undignified. And when such behavior emanates from the top of our government, it is something else, it is dangerous to a democracy.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ASMAN: And we are back with Dan Henninger, Kim Strassel and Bill McGurn. Well, Bill, some would say this is the essence of a true democracy, is that you have dust-ups like this every generation or so. What do you think?

MCGURN: Well, I think, I would say if Paris is well worth the math, tax reform is well worth, maybe President Trump is not responding to every insult, you know, in a tweet or something at least until after the vote. Look, the good news, I think, in all this for someone like me that cares about the output is that I don't think either Corker or Flake are John McCains. In other words, I don't think that their personal pique with the President is going to translate into a no vote on tax reform. I think Corker said so explicitly, and I can't imagine Jeff Flake voting against tax reform either.

ASMAN: All right. Well, Kim, the GOP establishment has never liked outsiders. Donald Trump is many things, he is clearly an outsider, he prides himself on that. But they attacked Ronald Reagan, they viewed him as an outsider, even though he was a politician. Even abroad, I mean, Maggie Thatcher was attacked by the establishment of the Tory Party, the conservative party in England. Is that what's going on here, or is there something else?

STRASSEL: Well, there's no question that Donald Trump's arrival in the party has put a lot of strain on that party. You know, in terms of policies, by the way, and policy differences not to mention his style, President Trump's style. Jeff Flake, when he was on the floor, mentioned two issues in particular, immigration and trade, on which he vastly differs with the President, and where Trump's positions are a lot more populist than traditional Republicans like Flake.

I think the question that has to be asked of guys like Jeff Flake though is, in light of the influence that President Trump is now exercising on the party, do you bow out like Jeff Flake did, or do you stay in the party and try to pull it back in the direction that you'd like to see it go? Now, Jeff Flake had to make it his own decision. He's decided that he's done with the Senate. But there are other Republicans that are pushing back, and that is why you see this ongoing tension and these feuds.

ASMAN: Well, Dan, to Kim's point, clearly I mean Jeff Flake is a very likable guy, everybody is -- when you're called likable, when that's the first thing people say about you, you don't have a lot of weight, and he didn't have a lot of political weight inside, and frankly, in Arizona either. So, I mean it was just a matter of him pulling out not necessarily because of Trump, but because of his own political situation?

HENNINGER: No, I think it was a lot of both, and I think people like Senator Flake, Senator Corker get blown over by these Trump tweets. Others like Tom Tillis said, look I buy a box of popcorn, and go up in the stands and watch. It's not going to change, right?

But there is an issue I think here that the President himself should be aware of. I was very struck in the Fox poll that came out this week, Trump's approval had dropped from 42 percent in September to 38 percent this month. That's a four-point drop.

ASMAN: Although I should mention that that poll ended before these revelations came out about Hillary and the Democratic party, uranium one.

HENNINGER: But his disapproval - his approval should not be falling like that. You've got a strong economy, you've got a strong stock market.

ASMAN: True.

HENNINGER: He's right that the Republicans now are determined to pass a tax reform. He's done a lot on the deregulatory front. He's right that he has accomplished a fair number of things. His approval rating should not be down, and I think it is almost entirely attributed to these tweet storm fights with people like Senator Corker. It is a complete distraction, David.

ASMAN: Bill, what will the Republican Party look like at the end of the Trump administration or at least the first four years? I mean, will he succeed? Because, clearly, he's trying to shake things up inside the beltway.

HENNINGER: Right.

ASMAN: Will he succeed or will they succeed?

HENNINGER: Well, I think the big question is on policy. I think Dan's right. He has a lot of achievements. The federal -- I was - I supported Donald Trump over Hillary Clinton mostly because of just the Supreme Court pick. He's been pleasantly surprising in a lot of other ways. I think he has an excellent cabinet. I think the regulatory effort is very good. They missed the ball on ObamaCare, but if he gets tax reform through, I think he gets to a lot of place.

I think for a lot of people watching Donald Trump, it's kind of like watching a drunk staggering home, and he might fall in the swimming pool here or get hit by a car. But he's actually kind of getting where he wants to.

ASMAN: Oh, he sure is.

HENNINGER: And if he gets tax reform, I think the whole debate changes because it's not just a political achievement, it's a way to reverse the economic decline under Obama.

ASMAN: Kim, quickly, let me just ask on sub - we talked about substance of policy issues, what about style, will the Republican party look different at the end of four years of a Donald Trump administration?

STRASSEL: Well, how does it not? But, I mean, look, I think one thing that's important here is that these tweet fests aside and the fights, for the most part, most Senators and most House members on the Republican side now are, in fact, taking the Thom Tillis approach. It's like, you can't stop him from doing it, we've tried, we're going to put our noses to the grindstone and instead try to get some things done, watch the show. And that's, I think, the way that they're going to have to approach this.

ASMAN: All right, gang, thank you very much. Still ahead, President Trump takes on the opioid crisis, but critics are saying it's not enough. Our panel weighing in next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

TRUMP: This epidemic is a national health emergency. As Americans, we cannot allow this to continue. It's time to liberate our communities from this scourge of drug addiction. We can be the generation that ends the opioid epidemic. We can do it.

ASMAN: President Trump taking action on the opioid crisis this week, declaring a public health emergency, opening the spigot for more tax dollars to treat addiction and overdoses. But, is this declaration enough to combat an epidemic that claims tens of thousands of lives in the US every year? We are back with Dan Henninger, Kate Bachelder Odell, and Bill McGurn.

So, Kate, is President Trump targeting the right causes of this crisis?

ODELL: Well, let's start with what he did on Thursday, which is basically to declare it a public health emergency which is distinct from a national emergency, which opens up FEMA funding. But.

ASMAN: And, by the way, Democrats say that's why it's not enough, what he did.

ODELL: Right, exactly. So, this order does not accompany -- is not accompanied by new funding, though Congress could decide to appropriate it. But I think we need to think seriously before throwing more money at this problem about what works and what doesn't. Basically, this is a multi- faceted social crisis that includes overprescribing. Doctors need to get more educated on how to prescribe opioids for appropriate durations of time, but it's also moved on to heroin and fentanyl. And we don't have much information about what kind of treatment works best; there are a number of layers to this issue.

ASMAN: Dan, about 250 million prescriptions, opioid prescriptions, are made every year by doctors. I'm told by Dr. Siegel and other doctors who have looked into this, that's way too much, it's so easy for doctors just to write an opioid prescription, very often for more pills than are needed for any particular injury or illness. So, is that a place to start?

HENNINGER: Yes, and then President Trump's directive is going to start with better education for prescribers instead of prescribing 30 days' worth of oxycontin. If you have a dental, you might only need three or four pills, and that's one of the problems, for sure. People with intense pain or chronic pain do want relief.

The problem with the opioids is that it also gives everybody a kind of a high, you know? That's the addiction. You get addicted. FDA, the National Institute of Mental Health are working hard to create significant pain relievers that don't also give people this high to which they've become addicted. It's simply kind of in a neutral way relieves the pain, that's the medical side.

The social side is people who are just using this stuff like heroin and fentanyl for fun, and they don't want a lot of them to be helped.

ASMAN: Bill, there's another side to all of this, and you look at a state like Colorado which has an increase in opioid deaths of over 900 percent over the past couple of years, a huge increase in opioid deaths. And it's also a state that has done more than most states in liberalizing drug laws. Is that a coincidence?

HENNINGER: Yes, I don't think it is a coincidence. I think it points to two broader issues. One - the first one I think, we should say Donald Trump gave a great speech on this. It was very humane and compassionate.

ASMAN: Talked about his own brother's alcohol addiction.

HENNINGER: And I think all of us know someone in our lives who has either been lost to addiction or reclaimed his or her life from addiction. So I think that - there was a measure of hope in that. Second, though, to Kate's point I think, there's kind of a false sense out there that the choices between cracking down in law and treatment, right? And that the answer is just to find the right treatment.

But Sally Satel, one of our friends.

ASMAN: A psychiatrist.

HENNINGER: Psychiatrist from Harvard, she's pointed out that the rubber really meets the road in treating people because some people reject treatment. A lot of addicts reject treatment, or they go in for a little period of time, and then they drop out. Now, there's a way to do things, there's a way some of the drug courts, for example, will expunge your record if you complete rehabilitation and they have different steps.

But as she points out, if this is going to be successful, we're going to have to address the issue of like sort of benign paternalism and coercive treatment for people that refuse it.

ASMAN: Yes. Kate, everything gets embroiled in politics these days, and this issue's no different. They are political eggs -- the media spin is that the problem is really because of a conspiracy between politicians and drug companies, and there was an appointee who got embroiled in the middle of all of this, the man who was going to be Trump's drug czar, Tom Marino, was accused by "60 Minutes" and Washington Post of being in collusion with drug companies. What did you think of all that?

STRASSEL: Right. This story was really long on innuendo and short on facts. And what basically happened here is that a bill that passed last year, long after the opioid crisis started, basically put some safeguards on drug enforcement processes that were basically cutting off all shipments.

So, basically, if you were shipping to a pharmacy that was obviously involved in suspicious behavior, DEA was also cutting off all of your shipments even if many of them were legitimate. So, this was hitting wholesalers, and Congress was trying to find a better balance. But, I would just note how disingenuous it is to suggest that Republicans are conspiring to deepen this social problem.

ASMAN: Everything is political these days. Thank you very much. When we come back, is Xi Jinping the new Mao Tse-Tung? As President Trump prepares for his first Asia trip, a look at the Chinese leader's latest power grab and what that means for U.S./China relations, coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ASMAN: Well, just as President Trump gets set to kick off his first trip to Asia, Chinese Communist Party this week affirmed President Xi Jinping's status as the most powerful ruler since Mao Tse-Tung, handing him even greater control over the world's second largest economy and setting the stage for him to dominate politics in that country for decades to come.

In a tweet late Wednesday, President Trump said he called Xi to congratulate him on his, "extraordinary elevation." The two men also discussing North Korea and trade on that call. Let's bring in author and Asia analyst Gordon Chang. Gordon, I'm old enough to remember Mao Tse-Tung, I was a kid when he was in power, but he was an absolute dictator. He killed millions of people. Is that what's to come here?

GORDON GUTHRIE CHANG, COLUMNIST: Well, in some ways, it is. Xi Jinping believes in a state-dominated economy. That's inconsistent with the notions of reform and opening up, which was Deng Xiaoping's policy, Deng being Mao's successor, who really put China on a much better course. You know, Xi Jinping, obviously, believes in Mao, he talks about him, he makes pilgrimages to Mao places in China. This is not a good thing.

And the important issue here is that he's made himself powerful because there is no obvious successor that was chosen at the 19th Communist Party Congress, and that means we could go back to the terrible in-fighting of the first years of the People's Republic.

ASMAN: Well, you know, a lot of people, including myself, by the way, Gordon, thought that if you liberalized the economy in China, the way that it happened after Mao, that the political system would become liberalized as well, and this seems to contradict that.

CHANG: Well, it certainly does. And what we have seen over the five years in Xi Jinping's first term is really the revival of the state sector. You have state monopolies being created, being recreated, and you have.

ASMAN: .but he going back on the free market changes, he's renationalizing, getting the government back into things that it had gotten out of.

CHANG: Yes, there is much more state control in the markets, there are fewer opportunities for foreign companies, they're trying to restrict that in China right now. And then, that really is a reversal of all the progress that we saw in those three decades. So for us, this is going to be a very interesting period. You have President Trump going there, and I think that what he's doing is essentially going to say to Xi Jinping, now that you're in control, you have no excuse not to do certain things that we want, especially North Korea.

ASMAN: What do you think about the president's sort of congratulatory note to President Xi?

CHANG: I wouldn't do that. This was not a Democratic selection of a leader. This really was a coronation on the part of a one-party Leninist state. I just would have stayed away from that entirely.

ASMAN: But at the same time, you know, he's always negotiating, President Trump. And you remember that moment when - right before he hit Syria with the tomahawk missiles, he actually had the President of China with him at dinner, and he kind of told him over a chocolate cake what he was planning to do that night. I think he wants to get the message to the President of China, you can't get away with everything.

CHANG: Yes, and that was a very effective display of American diplomacy, because you had Trump saying to Xi Jinping, look I just attacked your ally and you can't do anything about it. And I think that unnerved not only Xi Jinping, but the Chinese political establishment. And that was really a good thing, because we saw China move in a better direction for a few months after that. Because I think they had thought they were able to corral Trump, and after that demonstration of American power, I think that they lost their confidence on that.

ASMAN: There's another demonstration of American power going on right now, off the coast of Korea. We have three carrier groups - this is unprecedented. I was talking to a general about this who said two is extraordinary, but when you have three there, it really shows you mean business. That's obviously focused on North Korea, but there's also a message to China, isn't there?

CHANG: Well, there certainly is because our diplomacy with regard to North Korea has rightly been focused on China, because China has overwhelming leverage over the North Koreans. And you know, we saw.

ASMAN: But the message -- forgive me, but the message is also kind of, you know, we are the biggest presence in the Pacific. You may be there, you may be right there, but they only have, as I believe, two carriers themselves.

CHANG: They got one, which is really a training carrier. You know, three American carriers permits three - you know, 24/7 operations, 365 days a year. And that certainly is a message not only to the North Koreans, but as you say, to the Chinese that the United States is willing to use force to solve this.

ASMAN: Is their economy as a result of the government getting back involved in stuff that it probably shouldn't be, is their economy going to spiral down?

CHANG: Eventually it will, and now you have a systemic debt crisis on the horizon, because in 2016, there was an unprecedented increase in debt and an unprecedented pace of increase. So, you know, this is something that everyone is starting to talk about. Even the Governor of the Chinese Central Bank talked about a Minsky moment. That's the moment when asset values collapse.

We had one in, you know, just before the crisis, right before what we call the Lehman moment. China is heading to the Lehman moment when everything falls apart.

ASMAN: Gordon Chang, good to see you, thank you very much. We have to take one more break. When we come back, hits and misses of the week.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ASMAN: Time now for our hits and misses of the week. Kim, first to you.

STRASSEL: David, this is a hit to Attorney General Jeff Sessions and his Department of Justice for finally bringing some accountability on the IRS targeting scandal. Everyone has known for years that conservative groups were singled out because of their views, silenced during election cycles, and yet the Obama IRS refused to take responsibility. The IRS has now been made to settle in court and also to offer its sincere apology to those it abused. This is good news, exactly the kind of accountability and responsibility people expect out of Washington.

ASMAN: Bill, what have you got?

MCGURN: David, a hit to Vice President Pence who announced this week that the State Department will stop funding humanitarian aid efforts for vulnerable religious minorities exclusively through the U.N. From this day forward, he said, the President and the White House are going to work with USAID and religious groups in the Middle East in places like that.

These groups have been denied funding often from the U.N. and so forth. They're very effective. Vice President says those days are over. So, a big hit to the Vice President for ending this and for America to deliver aid in a way that's going to matter to these communities.

ASMAN: Kate?

ODELL: This is a hit for Senate Republican leadership, which is picking up the pace on judicial confirmations. The Democrats have done everything possible to obstruct these confirmations, and Republicans are finally able to get moving. So I think we can expect several confirmations next week, including my home state of Michigan's Joan Larsen who is slated to head to the Sixth Circuit.

ASMAN: Well, Dan, it's time for a miss. Have you got one for us?

HENNINGER: I've got a miss for you. I'm giving a miss to Michael Moore who apparently is not a household word. Michael Moore is, in fact, the loud- mouthed anti-conservative activist, did a documentary back in 2004 attacking George W. Bush. Well, he has created his own one-man show for Broadway bashing Donald Trump and telling his own life story. It's what we call in the business a vanity project. Well, it flopped. It just closed on Broadway. Bye-bye, Michael.

ASMAN: I heard he got no more than 50 percent of an audience.

HENNINGER: Box office. Yes, it was terrible.

ASMAN: All right, well that's it for this week's show. Thanks to my panel and to all of you for watching. I'm David Asman, you can catch me weekdays at 4 p.m. on "After the Bell" on the Fox Business Network. Paul is back next week. We hope to see you then.





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The couple who engaged in a sex act on a recent Delta flight isnt likely to face charges for their lewd behavior, according to a former federal prosecutor.

Peter Henning told the Detroit Free Press that the couple  who were strangers before they met on the flight  will likely get off with just a citation, as they didnt pose any danger to the other passengers or the aircraft itself.

SPIRIT AIRCRAFT'S FAILING ENGINE SENDS METAL SHARDS RAINING DOWN ON MICHIGAN

"Its going to be very hard to find that this is criminal conduct under the federal code because its not a threat to the safety of the airline, or other passengers," said Henning, who now teaches law at Wayne State University. "Its certainly distasteful, but it was not disruptive or interfering with the operation of the plane  and thats typically what [airline incident] charges involve.

Sources for the Detroit Free Press added that the couple could be fined upwards of $800 for the incident, which took place on Oct. 29.

According to Detroits WDIV-TV, the female, 48, was caught performing oral sex on the man, 28, while the two were in their seats. They had traveled to Detroit to catch connecting flights to Nashville and Miami, respectively.

Officials say they had met only a short while earlier on the plane.

FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE FOX LIFESTYLE NEWS

A spokesperson for the Detroit Metro Airport confirmed to the Detroit Free Press that the duo was taken into custody upon landing, but that the FBI took over the investigation in a nearby building. The spokesperson also confirmed that the FBI issued citations.

The U.S. Attorneys Office, however, has not been notified by the FBI about seeking charges, the Press reports.
A 7-year-old girl who got away from her parents at a train station in Geneva nearly succeeded in boarding a flight without a ticket.

The little girl made it past security checks by taking advantage of her small size and pretended to be with a group of adults boarding an EasyJet flight at the Geneva Airport, police said. She was able to slip through a gap large enough for a small child.

A flight attendant luckily spotted the girl before the plane took off for Corsica, Sky News reported.

STRANGERS ON DELTA FLIGHT PERFORMED SEX ACT IN THEIR SEATS, OFFICIALS SAY

Police said the bizarre incident, which they admitted could have been much more serious, was the childs second attempt to get on a flight the same day.

Airport footage shows the little girl initially turned away after she tried to follow crew members onto an Air France flight.

The airline had notified EasyJet about the incident. The low-cost airline handed her over to the police.

Authorities said the girl slipped away from her parents at a railway station in Geneva before catching a train to the airport.

Airport spokesman Bernard Stampfli said the incident was eminently regrettable and that security checks are being enhanced to ensure all children are accompanied by adults.

FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE FOX LIFESTYLE NEWS

EasyJet acknowledged that the unaccompanied child had incorrectly boarded one of its flights and that an investigation had been launched.

"EasyJet works closely with all of our airports to ensure the safety and security of all passengers and staff," the statement read, according to The Sun. "The safety and well-being of our passengers and crew is always EasyJets number one priority."
We have entered an exciting time in the field of astronomy  and, indeed, in the history of humankind. Every week, it seems, we read new announcements increasing the number of known extrasolar planets circling other stars. And as our instruments and observing techniques allow us to probe ever-smaller ranges of mass and size, were now discovering planets that could potentially provide suitable environments for life  Earth-like and otherwise.

Which, of course, begs the question: Are we alone in the universe?

This Friday and Saturday, November 3 and 4, the latest installment of the Adler Planetariums Kavli Fulldome Lecture Series will tackle that question. Dr. Lisa Kaltenegger is the director of the Carl Sagan Institute at Cornell University; this week she will speak about the missions and techniques astronomers employ to learn more about extrasolar planets, including whether they might host life and how we could detect it. Fridays lecture will run from 7:30-9:00 P.M. (Central time) and includes a Q&A session; Saturdays lecture is 12-1 P.M. And regardless of where in the world youre sitting as you read this, you can tune in live via Youtube to watch.

While relegated to the stuff of science-fiction in the past, the search for extraterrestrial life is science fact these days, as we not only find places where life might thrive elsewhere in our own solar system, but continue to discover planets circling stars throughout our galaxy. Dr. Kaltenegger is an excellent speaker for this topic  she is engaged in research as an associate professor at Cornell that focuses on exoplanets and the search for signs of extraterrestrial life. She has been named an innovator to watch and an excellent role model for women in science, in addition to receiving awards such as the 2012 Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Prize for Physics.

If the word lecture drums up images of sitting at an uncomfortable desk taking notes from a chalkboard or PowerPoint, think again. Adlers Kavli Fulldome Lectures take advantage of the amazing visualization technology available at the planetarium to project not only data, but animated models, simulations, and more onto the planetariums dome. The lecture itself becomes an immersive, all-encompassing experience that will leave you feeling like a part of every discovery, rather than an external observer.

I can certainly vouch for this  Ive had the opportunity to visit the Grainger Sky Theater where the lecture will take place, and what I saw simply blew me away. The images the theater is capable of producing are so crisp, detailed, and huge that when I say immersive, I mean it!

How can you attend? Thats easy, and you don't even have to live near Chicago. All you need is an internet connection and, if youve got it, a virtual reality viewing device, such as Google Cardboard. The Kavli Fulldome Lecture will be streamed live via YouTube 360 on the Adler Planetariums YouTube channel. As you watch, youll be joined by viewers across the country and around the world, such as patients at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Childrens Hospital of Chicago and participants in the Travelling Telescope program in Nairobi, Kenya. As part of their public outreach initiative, the Adler Planetarium generously donated Google Cardboard viewing devices to patients at the hospital in 2016 and 2017, as well as smartphones and viewers to Travelling Telescope in 2016.

If you do happen to live near the Chicago area, the Adler Planetarium (1300 S. Lake Shore Dr., Chicago) still has tickets available for the November 4 lecture at 12 P.M. Tickets are $17 and include General Admission, or $5 for planetarium members, students, and Friends of the Webster Institute. You can purchase tickets for find more information about Saturdays lecture here.

Alternatively, you might live near a partner viewing location, which in the United States include the Pacific Science Centers Willard Smith Planetarium in Seattle, Washington, the Museum of Discoverys OtterBox Digital Dome Theater in Fort Collins, Colorado, and Minnesota State University Moorheads Planetarium in Moorhead, Minnesota. You can check out the full map of partner viewing locations below:

Adlers Kavli Fulldome Lecture Series has been bringing groundbreaking research in astrophysics to the public since 2015, thanks to additional support from The Kavli Foundation. I highly recommend tuning in via YouTube or traveling to a local museum or planetarium to catch the talk and see for yourself via the Adlers stunning visuals just how we might finally answer that burning question, Are we alone?
Two men have been arrested for allegedly shooting at an off-duty Border Patrol agent as he was driving down I-10 in El Paso, Texas last Wednesday.

Rafael Roberto Valenzuela was taken into custody Friday and charged with engaging in organized criminal activity and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. He was booked into the El Paso County jail under a $200,000 bond.

Raul Beltran was taken into custody Monday and booked into the county jail under a $75,000 bond with the same charges.

"Anytime the FBI suspects a member of the federal law enforcement community has been purposefully targeted in a violent assault, the FBI can pursue the individuals potentially for assault against a federal officer. The FBI in coordination with our local, state and other federal law enforcement partners will aggressively identify and track down perpetrators, said El Paso FBI Special Agent in Charge Emmerson Buie in a statement to Fox News. The cooperation and leveraging of key resources from the different agencies was crucial in determining the motives of this violent attack."

On October 25, El Paso sheriffs deputies responded to a call of shots fired around 5:30 a.m. The interstate was closed while FBI and sheriffs office investigators looked around the scene for clues. Traffic cam footage shows cars being diverted off the highway while the agents carefully checked the guardrails, shoulder and highway.

The investigation began as a joint effort between the FBI, Border Patrol and the sheriffs office. It since has been taken over by the sheriffs office and arrests have been submitted to the state courts with the district attorneys office.

At the same time agents were investigating the scene at I-10, multiple agencies responded to a neighborhood in east El Paso. Its unclear if the investigation was related, but agents were seen photographing a red jeep and later towing it away.

Usually its very quiet, very calm, and especially that early in the morning. It was different, definitely different, neighborhood resident Brianna Martinez told KFOX.

Neighbors said they were asked general questions.

They just asked certain questions like, did you see anything, have you seen anything unusual? But we really didnt, Martinez said.

The investigation into the incident is ongoing.
Hours after a suspected terrorist killed at least eight people after plowing a truck down a pedestrian lane on a New York City highway Tuesday, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced stronger security measures out of an abundance of caution.

The governor ordered state agencies, including New York Police, the National Guard and Homeland Security, to increase security at high-profile locations around the state, including airports, bridges, tunnels, and mass transit systems.

CELEBRITIES REACT TO NYC TRUCK ATTACK

The heightened security measures are a result of a terror attack that occurred in Lower Manhattan on Tuesday afternoon.

The suspected attacker, 29-year-old Sayfullo Saipov, drove a truck  reportedly rented from a Home Depot in New Jersey  down a pedestrian bike lane on the West Side Highway, just blocks from the World Trade Center.

Around the globe, cities have been on high alert regarding vehicle attacks. The Islamic State has been encouraging its followers to mow down people, and England, France and Germany all have seen deadly vehicle attacks in recent months and years.

Cuomo, who requested that the World Trade Center be lit in red, white and blue in honor of freedom and democracy, said in a statement that he was deeply saddened by the attack, and wanted to reassure citizens that the attack was not part of a larger terror plot.

Out of an abundance of caution, we are stepping up security measures at high-profile locations and large public gatherings while the investigation continues, the statement read.

NYC ATTACK: TRUMP CALLS DRIVER SICK AND DERANGED

The statement noted that New York airports, bridges, tunnels and mass transit systems also will be subject to increased security that are simply precautionary measures, not based on any specific intelligence on ongoing threats.

The governors office reminded New Yorkers that if you see something, say something by reporting activity deemed suspicious to the states Counter Terrorism Center tip line at 1-866-723-3697 or by email at ctcenter@nysic.ny.gov.

Tips can be submitted to the FBIs New York bureau at fbi.gov/nyctribeca or call 1-800-225-5321 and select option 1.
The man accused of plowing into New York pedestrians Tuesday had a printout of an ISIS flag in his car and left behind handwritten notes pledging his loyalty to the Islamic State, as a clearer picture emerged Wednesday morning of Sayfullo Saipov's alleged links to the terror group.

Saipov, 29, is originally from Uzbekistan and is not a U.S. citizen, federal law enforcement sources have confirmed to Fox News.

Saipov had handwritten notes pledging his loyalty to the Islamic State terror network and shouted "Allahu akbar" ("God is great") after the crash, law enforcement officials told Fox News.

Saipov's notes, written in Arabic and pledging loyalty to ISIS, turned up in and near the vehicle, Fox News was told. In addition, the New York Post reported that investigators found "an image of the ISIS flag inside his vehicle."

The attack on a bright Halloween afternoon occurred not far from the new World Trade Center building and the site of the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

Saipov, who was shot by police, was taken into custody and remained hospitalized. Eight people died in the attack and 11 were injured.

The suspect had a green card, a source told Fox News. Saipov came to the U.S. in 2010, and, according to the Associated Press, has a Florida driver's license but was said to be living in Paterson, N.J.

Saipov was an Uber driver who had passed a background check, the company told Fox News. It added that Saipov has now been banned from the app, and Uber has offered assistance to the FBI.

Four of the injured were teachers and students who were riding on a short yellow school bus near Stuyvesant High School when they were hit by the suspect's Home Depot rental truck. One student remained in critical condition.

A victim killed in the attack was a Belgian citizen, Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Didier Reyners tweeted Tuesday. Three Belgians were also injured.

Others killed in the attack were Argentine citizens, according to Argentina's Foreign Ministry. Argentine newspaper La Nacion reported five of the eight people killed were Argentines traveling in the U.S. on a celebratory vacation.

Those killed, according to the country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, were Hernan Mendoza, Diego Angelini, Alejandro Pagnucco, Ariel Erlij and Hernan Ferruchi.

The attack was being treated as an act of terrorism. At a news conference Tuesday evening, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio called the attack "an act of terror and a particularly cowardly act of terror aimed at innocent civilians."

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo described it as a "lone wolf" attack, and added that there was no immediate evidence to suggest that there was a wider plot.

Around the globe, cities have been on high alert regarding vehicle attacks. ISIS has been encouraging its followers to mow down people, and Britain, France and Germany have all seen deadly vehicle attacks in recent months and years.

FBI officials confirmed to Fox News that they have agents responding to the situation with the New York Police Department. A bomb squad examined the truck, but found no explosives.

Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Elaine Duke said in a statement that DHS and its law enforcement partners "remain vigilant and committed to safeguarding the American people."

Following the attack, President Donald Trump tweeted, "looks like another attack by a very sick and deranged person. Law enforcement is following this closely. NOT IN THE U.S.A.!"

Trump later tweeted his "thoughts, condolences and prayers to the victims and families of the New York City terrorist attack. God and your country are with you!"

Police said the truck entered the bike path on West Street a few blocks from the new World Trade Center  the site of the deadliest terror attack in U.S. history  and plowed into several people. The driver jumped out of his rental truck  which police say Saipov rented from a Home Depot in New Jersey around 2 p.m. Tuesday  carrying what turned out to be a paintball gun and a pellet gun.

Video of the attack provided to Fox News by a witness shows the accused suspect running through traffic on the West Side Highway, surrounded by police in the nearby area.

Despite the attack, the city's Halloween Parade went on as planned, with police "dramatically increasing presence," including "personnel, blocker trucks, long guns etc.," according to de Blasio's press secretary. Cuomo and de Blasio both attended the annual event.

Fox News' Jake Gibson, Catherine Herridge, Rick Leventhal and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
Twenty-one students at a New York college were charged with hazing pledges to the Pi Alpha Nu fraternity by forcing them to drink large quantities of alcohol and other liquids, making them eat food off the floor and vomiting on them.

State University of New York at Plattsburgh authorities say campus police were told Sept. 29 that pledges to the Pi Alpha Nu fraternity had been subjected to demeaning and abusive behavior that included being hit on the buttocks with a paddle.

After that, SUNY Plattsburgh suspended the activities of the fraternity, while the university police conducted a joint investigation with the Plattsburgh City Police and worked with the Clinton County District Attorney's office in bringing charges.

University officials say the charges include hazing in the first degree, criminal nuisance in the second degree and unlawfully dealing with a child, which pertains to providing alcohol to people under 21.

PROSECUTORS REFILE CHARGES AGAINST 11 IN PENN STATE FRAT HAZING DEATH

University police say the abuse happened off-campus in February and September. Six former Plattsburgh students are also expected to be charged.

"We will not tolerate hazing in any form and University Police is working closely with the Clinton County District Attorney's Office to prosecute this matter criminally," said SUNY Plattsburgh President John Ettling in a statement. "We will continue to raise awareness and create a culture where these types of behaviors are not present."

The New York incident comes on the heels of authorities in Pennsylvania to refile charges against 11 members of Beta Theta Pi after the hazing death of Tim Piazza earlier this year and 10 members of Phi Delta Theta being arrested in the hazing death of 18-year-old Maxwell Gruver.

The college has suspended the fraternity. The Associated Press sent an email to the fraternity's president seeking comment, but it wasn't immediately returned.

Initial court appearances for the students will occur at different times in November.

A separate campus judicial process is underway to determine both the future of the fraternity and the enrollment status of its member students.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Antifa protesters led a chorus of demonstrators who tried to shout down and disrupt a speech at Columbia University by controversial right-leaning writer Mike Cernovich, marking yet another occasion of campus turmoil surrounding a speaker invited by a school's Republican club.

Cernovich was invited by the Columbia University College Republicans to speak Monday night, however, protesters in the hall succeeded in multiple interruptions before demonstrators outside ratcheted up the tension.

Youre a f---ing Nazi, you piece of s-! F-, get the f- outta here! shouted one demonstrator who managed to make it inside the venue, The New York Post reported.

Cernovich began his speech at 8:50 pm and spoke about the rise of alternative media and the recent pedophilia scandal in Hollywood, before taking questions from a long line of critics.

Just feet away, however, it was a different story.

A person inside the event told Fox News a third of the students who wanted to attend couldnt get in because Antifa was blocking the only entrance and pushing students away -- while security was trapped inside the building and the NYPD was off campus. No arrests were reported at the event.

Antifa was allegedly "doxing" students trying to get in to the event by taking their pictures, something they had done prior to the event to CUCR president, Aristotle Boosalis.

COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY REPUBLICAN LEADERS DOXED, HARASSED BY ANTIFA GROUP

Antifa allegedly pushed and shoved students, while a few of the protesters reportedly harassed a female reporter.

Toni Airaksinen, a senior at Barnard College and correspondent for Campus Reform, was scared after one of the demonstrators saw her and yelled follow her and attack her. She said she went to campus police after protesters twice yelled at her, but campus cops only told her to stand against a wall.

Airaksinen live-tweeted the ordeal, as well as parts of the Cernovich speech.

Its indicative of a larger narrative where conservative or libertarian students are attacked for their views, she said.

Cernovich specifically addressed the harassment of Airaksinen, calling it "violence against women" and "threats against journalists."

I call on all Black Lives Matter leaders to disavow violence against women, Cernovich said. I also call on the mainstream media, which claims there is a war on the free press being led by conservatives, to disavow threats against journalists. The media must all call on Democrat leaders to disavow violence by their supporters.

Boosalis added: We have targets on our heads at our school, which is completely sad."

ANTIFA STALKED UC BERKELEY'S CONSERVATIVES STUDENTS, GROUP SAYS

Despite the chaos outside, both Cernovich and the CUCR club organizer praised Columbia University's handling of the event, with Cernovich comparing the Columbia atmosphere to the chaos that enveloped UC Berkeley after rightwing speakers were invited to talk.

I was highly impressed with the Columbia administration, Cernovich said. They proved that if Berkeley wanted to have free speech events, it can happen.

Boosalis agreed.

Columbia University administration and public safety did an incredible job, to not only keep our members safe, but allow this event to continue without interruption, Boosalis said.

Columbia wrote in an email to Fox News that the event allowed Cernovich to "freely" express his views while also permitting student rebuttal.

Having been invited to speak by a recognized student organization, Mike Cernovich came to Columbia, freely expressed his views, and engaged in a respectful but critical Q&A session with students who thoughtfully challenged his positions," the statement said. "The University will continue to support freedom of expression for all ideas including those that are controversial, and the right of students to contest and criticize ideas that many find objectionable."

The Office of University Life wrote a question and answer post on Monday, noting the University does not agree with Mike Cernovichs messages about male power over women, racial superiority, hostility toward religious minorities including Muslims, and other comments along these lines.

One point of contention surrounding the event involved a sign that appeared at the event and surfaced later on social meeting. The "No white supremacy, no pedo bashing, no Mike Cernovich" poster included logos from Antifa, the National Man/Boy Love Association and Resist NY.

A reporter for Gothamist, however, claimed the banner was planted by Cernovich supporters, a charge which Cernovich directly rebutted.

The alt-left has long advocated for pedophile acceptance, with Salon and other publications claiming pedophilia is a disorder, not a crime, Cernovich, an outspoken critic of pedophilia in Hollywood and politics, told Fox News. Its thus unsurprising that the alt-left and associated groups like Antifa are pro-pedophile.
The Baltimore officer that arrested a black man who later suffered fatal injuries in a police van testified at the van driver's disciplinary hearing Wednesday that he still considers it dangerous to put a seatbelt on an uncooperative prisoner in the confines of a police van, even though current police policy now requires it.

Until a few days before Freddie Gray's 2015 arrest, the department's policy had allowed for police discretion for safety reasons when putting on a suspect's seatbelt. During the disciplinary hearing for Officer Caesar Goodson, who is now fighting for his job, Officer Garrett Miller testified that "it's still dangerous."

"I was never afforded the opportunity to have a negative experience, because I never did it," Miller said, when asked by one of Goodson's lawyers whether he had any personal experience with putting a seatbelt on a prisoner in a van.

Gray was handcuffed and shackled in the back of the van without a seatbelt during the nearly 45-minute van ride to a police station after his arrest. Gray died of a spinal cord injury a week later, prompting days of protests and rioting.

A three-member police disciplinary board adjourned midway through the third day of testimony in Goodson's case so they could view the van for themselves.

Neil Duke, an attorney for the department, is arguing that Goodson should be fired for never strapping Gray in. Officers have testified that they were in a hurry to drive away from an angry crowd, but Duke has argued that they could have put a seatbelt around Gray during one of the several subsequent stops the vehicle made on the way to the station. Duke also contends Goodson failed to take Gray to a hospital, as Gray requested. Goodson is also accused of making false statements.

Duke rested his case Wednesday, after calling several officers who were involved with the arrest to testify this week.

Sean Malone, Goodson's lawyer, says it's the police department that failed in its duty by failing to inform officers about a new policy that required officers to seatbelt prisoners in the back of the van. The policy was only days old at the time of the incident. Officers who responded to Gray's arrest have testified they were not aware of the policy change.

Malone asked the disciplinary board on Wednesday to dismiss the case, partly because none of the officers knew about the policy.

"The duty was breached at a higher level," Malone said, referring to officials in the police department.

Malone also contends that internal investigators failed to provide evidence favorable to Goodson, either to his legal team or to the panel that brought charges against Goodson.

"That hurts us in the preparation of our case," Malone said.

Malone also says Duke has failed to prove Goodson made false statements, accusations he says are based on faulty memories affected by stress of the situation and time.

The board rejected Malone's move to dismiss charges. The hearing is expected to last into next week.

Maryland changed the law last year to open trial boards to the public, but the outcomes are barred from being publicly released because the board's decision and any punishment are considered "personnel records."

Six officers were charged in Gray's death. Goodson had faced the most serious charge  murder. Goodson, Officer Edward Nero and Lt. Brian Rice were acquitted at trial last year. After the acquittals, prosecutors dropped the charges against the remaining three officers, Miller, Sgt. Alicia White and Officer William Porter, whose first trial ended in a hung jury.
A Connecticut college student was charged Wednesday with smearing body fluids on her roommate's belongings in a form of extreme bullying that police called a bias crime.

Brianna Brochu, 18, was initially charged with misdemeanor criminal mischief and breach of peace, but West Hartford Police told FOX 61 they asked the judge to add a felony bigotry charge.

Brochu admitted she put her body fluids on her roommate's backpack and licked her roommate's plate, fork and spoon because she was frustrated with her roommate's rude behavior, police said.

University of Hartford President Greg Woodward said in a statement Wednesday that Brochu's conduct was "reprehensible" and she is no longer a student at the school.

"She will not be returning to the institution," Woodward said.

"It is clear there is work to be done at our University to ensure that all students feel safe, respected, and valued," he added. "The conversations that began with student groups, faculty, and staff yesterday are going to continue and involve our full community."

She got me out of the room after a month of spitting in my coconut oil, putting my toothbrush in places the sun doesnt shine, putting moldy clam dip in my lotion,"  University of Hartford student Chennel Rowe

The student, who said she was the target of the bullying, told FOX 61 she was informed of the disturbing incident when a resident assistants (RA) told her of taunting pictures posted on Instagram, allegedly by her roommate after she informed her she was moving out.

Rubbing bloody tampons on my things, so like she posted pictures of my Steve Madden bag that I had been sleeping next to the whole time on my bed with blood stains on it, Chennel Rowe said.

The freshman said since meeting, her roommate barely acknowledged her presence and was "giving off vibes."

Among the videos she was informed of by her RA included her then-roommate opening up her coconut oil.

She got me out of the room after a month of spitting in my coconut oil, putting my toothbrush in places the sun doesnt shine, putting moldy clam dip in my lotion, Rowe told FOX 61.

The freshman said she notified school officials on Oct. 17, and the West Hartford police eventually got involved. School officials said a "no-contact order" was put into place, and the case turned over to local authorities.

Due to her frustrations over how the incident was being handled, Rowe said she took her story on Facebook Live on Monday, where it was shared thousands of times.

The freshman told FOX 61 she believes the incident may have played out differently because of her race.

I probably wouldve been locked up," she said. "A whole of a bunch of stuff wouldve been done quickly, Rowe said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
A Pennsylvania man who dressed as Mickey Mouse and Elmo for childrens parties is accused of sexually abusing five boys, officials said.

The Delaware County District Attorneys Office announced the arrest of Michael Cripps, 43, of Colwyn, Pa. on Monday. Cripps, who was charged with sexually assaulting five male victims.

The allegations date back seven years.

AFTER MULTIPLE TRUCK CRASHES, PENNSYLVANIA CHURCH CLOSES

Delaware County District Attorney Jack Whelan said authorities were concerned the allegations were the tip of the iceberg.

Make no mistake, this is a very serious child predator, Whelan said Monday at a news conference, FOX29 reported.

"He exploits these young boys. He sexually molests these young boys. He ruins these young boys lives," Whelan continued.

Cripps shouted "nope" when asked if he was guilty while he was led from the courthouse.

Whelan said Cripps ran a business, M.C. Parties, where he would dress as characters such as SpongeBob SquarePants. The district attorney said there was no evidence he met any of his victims through his business.

However, Whelan said Cripps targeted single or divorced women with young boys and volunteered to babysit. The alleged assaults took place at 14 addresses in East Lansdowne, Aldan, Lansdowne, Upper Darby, Colwyn and Darby, Philly.com reported. The arrest affidavit stated Cripps lived or resided at 13 addresses in Delaware County, Philadelphia and Chester Counties, from 1998 to 2012, Philly.com reported.

PENNSYLVANIA MAN ADMITS TO PUTTING BLEACH IN PREGNANT GIRLFRIENDS WATER

Whelan said the first sexual assault allegation made against Cripps was in 2012 but the office was not able to file charges due to a lack of evidence. Cripps was also being prosecuted by the Delaware County District Attorneys Office for a string of robberies.

A child-abuse hotline alleged four boys, ages 8 to 17, were compelled to sleep in the same bed with Cripps on numerous occasions, Philly.com reported. Cripps would reportedly become furious if the boys tried to refuse or resist his advances.

On Sept. 18, a male between the ages of 18 and 25 told the district attorneys office Cripps reportedly sexually assaulted him and his brothers who were ages 8 and 7 at the time, the arrest affidavit stated. Around the same time, detectives were also investigating another sexual assault claim made against Cripps involving a 5-year-old boy. On Oct. 24, detectives interviewed a 17-year-old boy who also accused Cripps of molesting him when he was younger.

Cripps was arrested twice, in 2003 and 2006, for sexual assault but the charges were removed.

Cripps was being held on $250,000 bail at the George W. Hill Correctional Facility and awaits preliminary hearings.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
A 66-year-old Florida ice cream man, so trusted parents often sent their children to buy sweets directly from his back door, was arrested Sunday night for allegedly molesting a 7-year-old girl, The Bradenton Herald reported.

Bernardo Salinas, 66, is charged with capital sexual battery.

He owns an ice cream cart in his Bradenton neighborhood and had become a well-known face in the cul-de-sac. But on Sunday, after selling his sweets to a neighborhood girl and her 8-year-old brother, Salinas allegedly lured the girl inside his home and assaulted her.

According to the detectives report, Salinas sold both children ice cream and then told the boy to go play outside with his friends. He then brought the young girl to his bedroom, locked the door, and sexually assaulted her, officials said.

Detectives say both children corroborated the report.

Salinas allegedly changed his version of the incident many times, initially stating the young girl locked the door to prevent her brother from entering. Authorities said he then changed the narrative to say the boy locked the door himself.

BRET RATNER ACCUSED OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT BY OLIVIA MUNN, 5 OTHERS

He enticed the victim, Dave Bristow, a spokesman for the Manatee County Sheriffs Office, told FOX13. He sold the victim ice cream, and then, unfortunately, the next thing you know hes sexually assaulting her.

A relative of the victim told the New York Post the young girl did not report the incident to her parents until late Sunday evening because she was afraid of getting in trouble.

Its crazy how an old man like that can have a sick mind to go and do that to a little girl, the unidentified relative said. The past days in my mind, Im going to sleep and Im still thinking about this.

Investigators are now trying to determine if there were other victims.

Its obviously very, very disturbing and we are fearful that there could be other victims, Bristow said.
On Saturday, Nov. 11 at 8 p.m., a concert featuring chamber music works by prominent Russian composers will be held to commemorate to 100-year anniversary of the Russian Revolution.

The concert will feature the award-winning Amernet String Quartet playing compositions by Glazunov, Shostakovich and Tchaikovsky. A pre-concert talk with Truman Bullard will begin at 7:15 p.m. The concert is presented by Market Square Concerts and will be held at the Market Square Presbyterian Church located at 20 S. 2nd St., in Harrisburg.

Praised for their complex sound and exceptional technical ability, the Amernet String Quartet is considered one of the best chamber music ensembles touring today. The Amernets performance schedule has taken the group across the United States and to Asia, Europe and the Middle East. They have collaborated with many of todays most prominent classical artists and ensembles, including the Tokyo and Ying Quartets, and have won medals at the Tokyo International Music Competition and at the prestigious Banff International String Quartet Competition.

The Amernet String Quartet features Misha Vitenson and Franz Felkl on violin, Michael Klotz on viola and Jason Calloway on cello. They are currently in artists-in-residence at Florida International University in Miami, but have also held posts at Northern Kentucky University, at the University of Cincinnati College, and at the Caramoor Center for the Arts.

The program will feature Glazunovs colorful Five Novelettes, Shostakovichs elegiac String Quartet No. 11 and Tchaikovskys poetic String Quartet No. 2. During the pre-concert lecture Bullard, who is professor emeritus of music at Dickinson College and considered an expert on Russian music, will discuss the selections.

Two of the selections performed during the concert, the Glazunov and the Tchaikovsky, were composed pre-revolution. The Shostakovich was composed more recently. Listeners are invited to imagine how the time period during which the compositions were created may have influenced the tone of each work.

Tickets are $35, $30 for seniors and $5 for college students. Tickets are free for school students, and $10 for the accompanying parent or sibling. For tickets and information, visit www.marketsquareconcerts.org/concerts or call 717 221-9599. Remaining tickets will be available at the door.
A permanent U.S. resident arrested in the Bosnian capital of Sarajevo abandoned the United States in 2013 to join the Islamic State group and cheer on suicide bombers while recruiting and spreading propaganda on the internet, authorities said Wednesday.

William F. Sweeney Jr., head of the New York FBI office, said Mirsad Kandic expressed a desire to travel overseas to kill or maim U.S. military forces long before he used fake documents to overcome a no-fly designation in December 2013 and travel to Turkey. From there, he joined the terrorist group, Sweeney said.

The former Bronx and Brooklyn resident was extradited Tuesday from Bosnia and Herzegovina to face a six-count indictment including charges of conspiracy and providing and attempting to provide support to the Islamic State. He has been detained since his July arrest in Sarajevo.

"Kandic is now back in New York, no longer living freely among us, but rather in federal custody to face justice," Sweeney said of charges that carry a potential for a life prison sentence.

James Branden, a lawyer for Kandic, said he had no immediate comment. His client pleaded not guilty in Brooklyn and was detained without bail.

Acting U.S. Attorney Bridget M. Rohde said Kandic recruited others to join the Islamic State group, "swelling their ranks and helping them commit terrorist acts such as suicide bombings."

A government detention memo listed deadly attacks carried out by Islamic State supporters, including 2015 shootings in Garland, Texas, and San Bernardino, California, along with a June 2016 nightclub shooting in Orlando, Florida, and numerous attacks overseas, but there was no mention of a truck that swerved through a bike lane in Manhattan pn Tuesday, killing eight people.

The government said Kandic began as early as 2005 to express a desire to travel to Pakistan, Afghanistan and elsewhere in the Middle East to fight U.S. forces in martyrdom missions.

"By late 2013, the defendant began trying to realize those objectives," prosecutors wrote.

Authorities said Kandic recruited individuals from the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, and elsewhere to travel to Syria and Iraq and join the group's battles. They said he told an associate online that he worked in Turkey in the Islamic State's border office as part of a team that conducted background checks of foreign fighters who wanted to go to Syria.

In court filings unsealed Wednesday, prosecutors said Kandic's voice was captured in a recorded voice memo to an associate saying he had sent over 20,000 fighters to a region that included Syria.

Sweeney said Kandic assisted Jake Bilardi, an 18-year-old Australian citizen who died in a suicide bomb attack west of Baghdad in March 2015.

In court papers, prosecutors said Bilardi told Kandic through a Twitter message shortly before the attack that he "just went to look at my target today for my operation."

"May Allah reward you immensely," Kandic was quoted as responding. Prosecutors said he later added: "May Allah make ... inner organs implode."

Prosecutors said Kandic disseminated terrorism propaganda through over 100 Twitter accounts.
An Uzbekistan man who left notes pledging allegiance to ISIS on Tuesday carried out a deadly truck attack in New York City  just days after ISIS released propaganda emboldening its followers to carry out Halloween attacks.

The suspect, Sayfullo Saipov, 29, allegedly barreled a Home Depot truck down a popular bike path in Manhattan, killing at least eight people and injuring 11 others. Officials say he then crashed the vehicle into a school bus, before jumping out and screaming Allahu akbar  God is great in Arabic  with pellet and paintball guns in his hands. Authorities also found Saipovs handwritten notes pledging loyalty to ISIS.

But there may have been warning signs prior to Tuesday's assault.

Saipov "popped" up in connection with a handful of individuals who were known to law enforcement when investigators ran his name through their databases after Tuesday's attack, two sources told Fox News. It is not clear whether these investigations were limited to the New York City area or included Florida, where Saipov had lived. One source said Saipov had close ties...[to] the group he rolled with [who] was known to law enforcement.

ISIS had been encouraging its followers to carry out Halloween attacks with propaganda from the terror group showing a graphic with a blood-splattered machete and Tuesday's date. The artwork was believed to have been done by a French ISIS supporter and included an image of the Eiffel Tower with the words Enjoy their gathering and Terrorize October 31 written in French.

SITE intelligence group, which monitors terror activity online, also highlighted a recent photo taken by an ISIS supporter near the scene of Tuesday's attack; but it remained unclear if there was a connection between that photo and the rampage.

The terror groups leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, recently emerged after multiple rumors of his death, urging followers to "intensify the successive attacks," despite the terror group's losses on the ground in Syria and Iraq.

There has been no official claim of responsibility by the terror group, but known ISIS accounts  what counterterrorism analysts call leadership accounts  are applauding the attack and using the hashtag "#the slap of terrorism."

Even if authorities determine the attack to be ISIS-inspired or directed, the terror group is unlikely to publicly claim the rampage. ISIS typically doesn't claim terror attacks in which the attacker lives. Police shot Saipov, however, he was rushed to the hospital with injuries that were not considered life-threatening.

ISIS has recruited many Uzbek citizens to its cause, with several of the supporters who travel to Syria conducting suicide missions. The estimated number of Uzbek citizens fighting in the ranks of ISIS is estimated to be about 200 people in Uzbekistan, according to the Muslim Board of Uzbekistan. However, the number of Uzbek jihadists exceeds more than 1,500, when other terror groups such as Imam Bukhari Jamaat, Tawhid wal-Jihad and the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU) are added.

Uzbekistan is the most populous country in Central Asia and shares a border with Afghanistan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan.

Saipov is the second Uzbek national in New York connected to terror in just the last four days. Abdurasul Hasanovich Juraboev, a 27-year-old Uzbek citizen, was sentenced to 15 years for conspiring to provide material support to ISIS. Juraboev, who lived in Brooklyn, posted a threat on an Uzbek-language website saying he wanted to kill then-President Barack Obama in an act of martyrdom on behalf of ISIS in 2014. He then told investigators that he believed in ISIS agenda and wanted to travel to Syria to join ISIS fighters, the Justice Department said in a news release. He also told officials he planned to plant a bomb on Coney Island if he couldnt travel to Syria or was ordered by the terror group to carry out an attack on American soil.

Vehicle attacks by ISIS supporters have grown in popularity due to the relative ease of acquiring a vehicle as opposed to building a bomb or purchasing a weapon. An Al Qaeda affiliate in Yemen first called for vehicle attacks in an online Al Qaeda magazine, calling trucks the ultimate mowing machine to take down the enemies of Allah. ISIS has claimed responsibility for at least five truck attacks since the deadly incident in Nice, France in July 2016, with two more assaults carried out by self-proclaimed ISIS supporters.

Fox News Cody Derespina, Catherine Herridge and Michael Campbell contributed to this report.
The Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino security guard who was shot three times by Las Vegas gunman Stephen Paddock reportedly returned to work Monday.

Jesus Campos, 25, had been staying at an MGM Resorts International property since the massacre, which left 58 people dead, occurred Oct. 1. He was still staying at the hotel at the companys expense as of Tuesday, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported.

MGM spokesman Alan Feldman and Campos lawyer Frank Flansburg III told the newspaper that Campos had been staying at the hotel for his own protection after it was learned that he was shot by Paddock. Both declined to comment on whether the guard had returned to work.

We dont speak about individual employees in the public realm, Feldman told the Review-Journal.

Campos whereabouts have been mostly unknown since he abruptly canceled several media appearances shortly after his release from the hospital, including one scheduled for Oct. 5 with Fox News Sean Hannity.

Campos surfaced briefly for a daytime television interivew with talk show host Ellen DeGeneres that aired Oct. 11, amid reports that MGM wanted to keep Campos from having to field tougher questions from journalists.

Campos was also expected to receive a subpoena to testify on the timeline of the shooting and other circumstances surrounding the attack, KSNV-TV reported Monday.

He will be given the subpoena by an attorney for Rachel Sheppard, a 26-year-old from California who was shot three times in the attack, the station reported. Sheppard is one of six plaintiffs who have filed lawsuits related to the attack, according to the New Yorker.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
The Latest on President Donald Trump and immigration (all times local):

9:55 p.m.

President Donald Trump is urging swift repeal of an immigration program that brought the New York truck attack suspect to America.

Trump insists Congress must end the visa lottery program under which Uzbek immigrant Sayfullo Saipov entered the country, and he has ordered still tighter scrutiny of immigrants already subject to what he calls "extreme vetting." But the White House is offering no indication of what new steps the president might be planning.

Trump says, "We have to get much tougher, much smarter, and less politically correct."

Trump says he is open to sending the suspect to the U.S. prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, instead of to trial in New York.

However, prosecutors in New York have filed charges in federal court against Saipov.

___

3:35 p.m.

White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders says the Trump administration considers the New York truck attack suspect to be an "enemy combatant."

Sanders tells reporters President Donald Trump is open to sending the alleged attacker to the U.S. prison on Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

Sanders says the actions of the alleged attacker, Sayfullo Saipov, justify the enemy combatant label. She says Trump isn't calling on Saipov to be moved to Guantanamo Bay, but says Trump "certainly would support it if he felt like that was the best move."

Officials in New York say Saipov has yet to be formally charged in connection with the attack, which killed eight Tuesday. Sanders says the determination hasn't been made yet whether to move him out of the civilian justice system.

___

3:25 p.m.

The White House says President Donald Trump has spoken with the New York City mayor and the New York governor in the wake of a deadly truck attack near the World Trade Center.

White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders also says Trump's calls for increasing extreme vetting of immigrants are "something that frankly the president has been talking about for a long time."

Asked Wednesday about Trump's critical tweets about New York Sen. Chuck Schumer, Sanders says Trump "has not blamed Sen. Schumer and doesn't feel that the senator is responsible for the attack."

___

12:50 p.m.

The Department of Homeland Security says the suspect in the New York City truck attack entered the United States in 2010 under the diversity visa program.

Homeland Security officials are confirming that the immigrant from Uzbekistan arrived in the U.S. that way.

That's the immigration program that President Donald Trump is calling on Congress to eliminate "as soon as possible." The president says the program is "not good," and says the U.S. needs to "get much tougher."

The Diversity Immigrant Visa Program covers immigrants from countries with low rates of immigration to the U.S.

____

12:49 p.m.

Senate Republicans are coming to Democratic Sen. Chuck Schumer's defense after President Donald Trump blamed him for the deadly New York attack.

Trump tweeted that Democrats and Schumer were responsible for a diversity immigrant visa program he says was used by the alleged attacker to enter the United States. He arrived legally in 2010.

Schumer was part of a group of Republicans and Democrats who backed a comprehensive immigration bill in 2013 to end the program as part of a broader bipartisan bill to overhaul U.S. immigration laws.

GOP Sen. John McCain was part of that group. He said the bill would have eliminated the program and replaced it with a merit-based system.

Tennessee Sen. Bob Corker said of Trump criticism: "Probably not the best way to bring out the best in our country."

North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis said of Trump's hit on Schumer: "It's not something I would do. We've all got different styles. It's not the way I would handle it."

____

12:30 p.m.

President Donald Trump says he will consider sending the suspected New York City truck attacker to the prison in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

Responding to a shouted question from a reporter at a Cabinet meeting, Trump says, "I would certainly consider that. Send him to Gitmo."

Trump's comments come after Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., called on the president to treat the alleged attacker as an enemy combatant. The suspect is currently in custody in New York City, but according to officials has not yet been formally charged.

Eight people died and at least 11 were seriously injured in the Tuesday attack.

__

12:05 p.m.

President Donald Trump is calling the suspect in the New York City truck attack an "animal."

Trump says he will ask Congress to "immediately" begin work to terminate the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program, which he says was used by the alleged attacker to enter the United States. Officials have not yet said that was the case.

Trump says "we will take all necessary steps to protect our people."

Speaking before a Cabinet meeting at the White House, Trump said "all of America is praying and grieving" with the victims. He says: "Our hearts break for them."

__

12 p.m.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo says that President Donald Trump's attack against Sen. Chuck Schumer "plays right into the hands of the terrorists."

The Democratic governor pointedly condemned Trump's Wednesday tweets, which criticized Schumer's immigration policy less than 24 hours after the deadliest terrorist attack in New York City since Sept. 11, 2001.

Cuomo said the president's tweets "were not helpful."

He added, "You play into the hands of the terrorists to the extent you disrupt and divide... The tone now should be the exact opposite."

Both Cuomo and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said Trump had yet to reach out personally.

Trump tweeted that Schumer is "helping to import Europe's problems." He called the visa lottery program that allowed the suspect to enter the country "a Chuck Schumer beauty."

The program was signed into law by Republican President George H.W. Bush.

__

11:55 a.m.

The Senate's top Democrat says President Donald Trump's response to the deadly attack in New York City "doesn't work with New Yorkers" or other Americans.

New York Sen. Chuck Schumer said Wednesday that after Sept. 11, 2001, Republican President George W. Bush united the nation, inviting lawmakers to the White House and promising to work together.

Schumer said Trump is taking "horrible advantage, of a tragedy" and trying "to politicize and divide. It doesn't work with New Yorkers and it doesn't work with Americans."

In a tweet on Wednesday, Trump blamed Schumer, saying the attacker came to the United States through a diversity visa program  "a Chuck Schumer beauty."

Officials said the attacker is an immigrant from Uzbekistan who came to the United States legally in 2010. They haven't said whether he was admitted through the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program, which covers immigrants from countries with low rates of immigration to the U.S.

__

11:15 a.m.

An AP Fact Check finds that President Donald Trump omitted key facts in blaming Democratic Sen. Chuck Schumer for an immigration program Trump said allowed the driver in the New York truck attack to come to the U.S.

Trump tweeted Wednesday that the attacker came into the U.S. through "the 'Diversity Visa Lottery Program,' a Chuck Schumer beauty."

Officials said the attacker is from Uzbekistan and came to the U.S. legally in 2010. They haven't said whether he was admitted through the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program for those from countries with low rates of immigration to the U.S.

The program was created as part of a bipartisan immigration bill introduced by the late Sen. Ted Kennedy, D-Mass., and signed into law by Republican President George H.W. Bush in 1990.

Schumer, D-N.Y., a House member then, proposed a program for "diversity immigrants" in a bill earlier that year.

Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., says Schumer was among a group of eight Republican and Democratic senators who proposed eliminating the program three years ago.

__

10:25 a.m.

New York Sen. Chuck Schumer says President Donald Trump is "politicizing and dividing America" in the aftermath of Tuesday's attacks in Manhattan that killed eight people and wounded 11.

The Senate's top Democrat said Trump  who attacked Schumer on Twitter Wednesday morning  "should be bringing us together."

Trump tweeted that the accused attacker had entered the U.S. through a special diversity visa program that the president called "a Chuck Schumer beauty."

Schumer said former President George W. Bush sought to unite the country after the Sept. 11 attacks. He said, "the contrast between President George Bush's actions after 9/11 and President Trump's actions this morning could not be starker."

Schumer called upon Trump to rescind proposed cuts to anti-terrorism funding.

__

9:35 a.m.

A Republican senator says President Donald Trump is unfairly blaming a Democrat for an immigration initiative that Trump says let the man who carried out the deadly New York City attack enter the United States.

GOP Sen. Jeff Flake of Arizona says New York Democrat Chuck Schumer was among a group of eight Republican and Democratic senators who proposed eliminating the diversity visa program three years ago as part of a broader bipartisan bill to overhaul U.S. immigration laws.

Flake, who served on the "Gang of Eight" with Schumer, says: "I know. I was there."

The immigration bill ultimately failed in the GOP-led House after passing the Senate in June 2013.

Flake recently announced he's not running for re-election but says he won't be silent about Trump's politics and behavior.

___

8:25 a.m.

The Senate's top Democrat is hitting back after President Donald Trump faulted him for an immigration program that Trump says allowed the man in the deadly New York City bike path attack to enter the United States.

Chuck Schumer says in a statement that "I have always believed and continue to believe that immigration is good for America."

The New York lawmaker says Trump is "politicizing and dividing America, which he always seems to do at times of national tragedy." Schumer says the president should focus "on the real solution  anti-terrorism funding"  an area that Schumer says Trump has proposed cutting in his most recent budget.

Tuesday's attack killed eight people and injured at least 11.

Trump says on Twitter that the driver "came into our country through what is called the 'Diversity Visa Lottery Program,' a Chuck Schumer beauty."

Officials have said the driver  a native of Uzbekistan  came into the country legally in 2010.

__

8:06 a.m.

President Donald Trump is calling for "Merit Based immigration" following the deadly truck attack in New York City that killed eight people and injured 11.

Trump says on Twitter Wednesday that the driver in Tuesday's attack "came into our country through what is called the 'Diversity Visa Lottery Program,' a Chuck Schumer beauty."

Officials said the attacker is an immigrant from Uzbekistan who came to the U.S. legally in 2010. They haven't said whether he came in through the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program, which covers immigrants from countries with low rates of immigration to the U.S.

Trump tweeted, "We are fighting hard for Merit Based immigration, no more Democrat Lottery Systems. We must get MUCH tougher (and smarter)."
A man and woman were shot in an apparent murder-suicide early Wednesday morning in New York City, which was still reeling from a terror attack the day before.

The two people were shot at the heavily trafficked Lower East Side's Astor Place, across the street from Cooper Union, shortly after 8 a.m. The man and woman were a couple, police said.

Witnesses said they saw the man walk up to the woman and shoot her before shooting himself, ABC7 NY reported.

She was reportedly parking her CitiBike at the time.

The victim and the gunman were taken to Bellevue Hospital in critical condition. No further information was released.

Definitely heard three [gunshots] clearly, the first one I heard right away, one witness told DailyMail.com. I was standing in front of KmartI saw cops running and responding to the pops.

The gun was recovered at the scene.

In a statement, Cooper Union said they dont believe the shooting involved any members of the Cooper Union community.

New York University, which has several buildings near Astor Place, asked students to avoid the area.

"There are reports of a shooting near Astor Place. Police are on the scene. Try to avoid the area, and we'll alert you as details emerge," the university tweeted.

Edward Lopez, 27, heard the commotion outside his job at the New York Health and Racquet Club, opposite the shooting.

I walked around and saw two people lying there, and a little blood but cops were huddling around, he told DailyMail.com. It just sucks. You think after all that stuff yesterday, things would start to be calming down. You dont want to walk outside and have to fear for your life. Its crazy.
A new report by the U.S. Navy into collisions involving two of its warships found both American ships at fault, Navy officials told Fox News.

Both collisions were avoidable according to the report released Wednesday morning, the official said.

"Both of these accidents were preventable and the respective investigations found multiple failures by watch standers that contributed to the incidents," Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson said. "We must do better."

The guided-missile destroyer USS Fitzgerald collided with a large container ship on June 17 off the coast of Japan killing seven sailors. Already the captain, the second-in-command and the top senior enlisted sailor have been relieved of their duties.

According to the International Rules of the Road for vessels on the high seas, USS Fitzgerald was in a crossing situation with the cargo ship, Crystal off to Fitzgeralds starboard or right side. Fitzgerald was required to maneuver, but did not until it was too late.

In the 30 minutes leading up to the collision, neither Fitzgerald nor Crystal took such action to reduce the risk of collision until approximately one minute prior to the collision, the report said.

Fitzgeralds Officer of the Deck intended to take no action in the minutes leading up to the collision until realizing it was too late, the report said.

The Officer of the Deck, the person responsible for safe navigation of the ship, exhibited poor seamanship by failing to maneuver as required, failing to sound the danger signal and failing to attempt to contact CRYSTAL on Bridge to Bridge radio. In addition, the Officer of the Deck did not call the Commanding Officer as appropriate and prescribed by Navy procedures to allow him to exercise more senior oversight and judgment of the situation, the report said.

REPORT: TWO NAVY SEALS EYED IN STRANGULATION OF GREEN BERET IN MALI

In late August, another guided-missile destroyer, USS John S. McCain, collided with a merchant vessel, this time an oil tanker near Singapore. Ten American sailors drowned when their berthing spaces flooded.

Before the deadly collision, the bridge team aboard McCain became distracted by a false alarm signaling the warship had lost steering, according to an official briefed on the report.

It made a bad situation worse, the official said, adding the destroyer was in a busy shipping lane at the time of the collision.

"We are a Navy that learns from mistakes and the Navy is firmly committed to doing everything possible to prevent an accident like this from happening again," Richardson said. "We must never allow an accident like this to take the lives of such magnificent young sailors and inflict such painful grief on their families and the nation."

Both McCains commanding officer and the executive officer, the second in command, were relieved of command earlier this month.

The USS John S. McCain is named after Sen. John McCains father and grandfather, both admirals in the Navy.

In September, the top two officers of the Navys Japan-based 7th Fleet  where both warships were based -- were fired.

NAVY RESCUES MARINERS, DOGS STRANDED IN PACIFIC OCEAN FOR 5 MONTHS

The Navy is currently without two warships capable of shooting down North Korean ballistic missiles, with the loss of McCain and Fitzgerald.

A second and more comprehensive investigation into a string of mishaps this year -- including a Navy warship running aground in Tokyo Bay in late January and spilling over 1,000 gallons of hydraulic fluid into Japanese waters -- is expected Thursday.

The Navys top officer, Adm. John M. Richardson, is set to hold a press conference at the Pentagon on Thursday as well.
In the late afternoon on Oct. 31, Sayfullo Saipov, 29, from Uzbekistan, allegedly drove a rented truck down a path filled with pedestrians and cyclists, killing eight people and injuring at least 12 others.

The incident, which occurred around 3 p.m. near the World Trade Center in lower Manhattan, has been called a cowardly act of terror by New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio.

As more information regarding the tragic incident comes to light, heres a look at how it unfolded:

2010

Saipov moved from Uzbekistan to the United States in 2010, according to The New York Times. He first lived in Tampa, Fla., and then in Paterson, N.J., where he worked as an Uber driver. Uber confirmed to Fox News that Saipov passed the companys background check, but added that he is now banned. He had no rider complaints.

Oct. 31

2 p.m. ET

The suspect reportedly rented a truck from a Home Depot in Passaic, N.J.

3:05 p.m.

The suspect reportedly drove the truck into a crowd of pedestrians and cyclists who were on a bike path near the West Side Highway in New York City, killing eight people and injuring at least 12. According to officials, five of the victims were Argentinian tourists.

The truck then crashed into a school bus, injuring two adults and two children. After the crash, the suspect reportedly got out of his vehicle and yelled Allahu akbar, which means God is great in Arabic. He also was holding two weapons which were later determined to be a pellet gun and a paintball gun, according to officials.

NYC TERROR SUSPECT SAYFULLO SAIPOV: WHO IS HE?

The suspect was then shot in the abdomen by a police officer and was arrested.

Officials identified the police officer as 28-year-old Ryan Nash, who has been on the force for five years.

The suspect later underwent surgery for his shotgun wound. Police later found two handwritten notes, written in Arabic, that pledged loyalty to ISIS.

According to William Sweeney, FBI assistant director-in-charge, there were also knives found at the scene.

4:34 p.m.

Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., tweeted about the event, thanking the New York City Police Department for rapidly responding to the tragic situation downtown.

4:40 p.m.

White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said in a statement that President Donald Trump was briefed on the attack by White House Chief of Staff John Kelly.

Our thoughts and prayers are with those affected, she added.

4:57 p.m.

First Lady Melania Trump tweeted about the incident.

5:23 p.m.

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio held a press briefing along with Gov. Andrew Cuomo. De Blasio called it an act of terror while the governor assured it was a lone wolf attack, emphasizing that there was no evidence to suggest the attack was part of a wider plot.

5:30 p.m.

Trump tweeted about the attack, saying it looks like another attack by a very sick and deranged person.

He later tweeted, We must not allow ISIS to return, or enter, our country after defeating them in the Middle East and elsewhere. Enough!

5:34 p.m.

The suspect is officially identified as Sayfullo Saipov, from Uzbekistan with a green card, Fox News confirmed.

6:49 p.m.

Didier Reynders, the deputy prime minister of Belgium, said on Twitter that he was "deeply saddened" to learn that one of the victims who died in the attack was Belgian.



6:57 p.m.

Trump expressed his condolences to all those who were impacted by the attack.

7 p.m.

The annual Village Halloween Parade in Manhattan went on as scheduled despite the attack. De Blasio and Gov. Andrew Cuomo both attended to show their support.

Nov. 1

10:20 a.m.

Pope Francis said he was profoundly saddened by the terror attack.

11:03 a.m.

In a press conference on Wednesday morning, James ONeill, the commissioner for the New York City Police Department, called the incident the worst terror attack in New York City since Sept. 11.

What happened yesterday was not ok, he said. We will never accept it as inevitable-- and were working hard to get to the bottom, and working tirelessly so its not repeated.

NYC TERROR ATTACK SUSPECT, SAYFULLO SAIPOV, ENTERED US THROUGH DIVERSITY VISA PROGRAM

Daniel Nigro, the commissioner for the New York City Fire Department, confirmed that there were eight deaths and 12 injuries.

One victim, he said, underwent a bilateral amputation following the attack. He said others had severe head and neck injuries.

De Blasio said the incident was an attack on New York City and America adding that it was the definition of terrorism.

The mayor added that one million New Yorkers showed up at the Halloween parade on Tuesday evening following the attack.

[New Yorkers] show the whole world right now that we will not be moved by terror, de Blasio said.

There are no additional threats, de Blasio assured -- but encouraged New Yorkers to be part of the solution.

Cuomo called Nash, the young NYPD officer who shot Saipov, a hero. The attack was the action of a depraved coward, he added.

Police forces in the city will be doubled, he said.

Officials said that searches were conducted throughout the night and into the morning.

The suspect planned the attack for a number a weeks before it occurred, William Sweeney, FBI assistant director-in-charge, said. He confirmed the attack was carried out in the name of ISIS.

The suspect has never been the subject of a NYPD or FBI investigation, Sweeney added, but he may have connections to those who are subjects of an investigation.

4:58 p.m.

Federal prosecutors filed holding charges against Saipov, accusing him of providing material support to a terrorist group and committing violence and destruction of motor vehicles in the attack. More charges are expected to be filed.

A source told Fox News that Saipov was interviewed by authorities while he was in the hospital and was described as cooperative but showed no remorse for his actions in the deadly attack.

Saipov also requested to display the ISIS flag in his hospital room.

8:43 p.m.

Trump tweets that Saipov should receive the death penalty for his actions.



9:00 p.m.

Federal prosecutors brought terrorism charges against Saipov, which could bring the death penalty.

Nov. 2

4:50 a.m.

Trump tweets about Saipov, this time saying he would "love to send the NYC terrorist to Guantanamo but statistically that process takes much longer than going through the Federal system."

4:54 a.m.

Trump tweets again, re-emphasizing his desire to see Saipov face the death penalty.



9:30 a.m.

Attorney General Jeff Sessions held a press conference in which he addressed the attack.

The perpetrator will be brought to justice, he said, adding that the incident was another reminder of the dangers we face from the threat of radical terrorism.

He expressed his condolences to the families impacted by the attack, as well as to the people of New York. He also called NYPD officer Nash a hero not just in New York but across America.

Sessions said it has been the Department of Justices goal since 9/11 to fight terrorists. Terrorists diminish our freedom and threaten our lifestyle, he said.

Sessions also addressed some of Trumps recent executive orders, like the much debated travel ban.

The president was right to issue his order [the travel ban], he said. He has a legal right to take this action.

12:49 p.m.

In addition to the people he attacked near the World Trade Center, the suspect told investigators that he also had plans to strike pedestrians on the Brooklyn Bridge, according to a criminal complaint as reported by FOX 13.

Nov. 3

Officials said Saipov called his friend, Mukhammadzoir Kadirov, just before the attack. What was said during the call is currently unknown, and Kadirov is not being called a suspect.

Nov. 6

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and the president of Argentina, Mauricio Macri, held a joint press conference on Nov. 6 to honor the victims of the attack. Five of the eight victims were from the South American country.

Nov. 28

Saipov is scheduled for arraignment in Manhattan federal court.

3 p.m.

Saipov pleaded not guilty in federal court on Tuesday.
Aril Erlij was so excited for his friends to celebrate their 30th high school graduation anniversary together that he reportedly paid out of his own pocket for two of them to make the flight from Argentina to New York City, where, on a brisk, bright Halloween afternoon the former classmates decided to stroll through the Big Apple's west side.

But the reunion turned from joyful to dreadful when a suspected ISIS militant careened down one of the city's bike paths in a rented pickup truck, plowing into city dwellers and tourists alike -- killing five of the Argentinian men.

The five were identified as Aril Erlij, Hernan Diego Mendoza, Diego Enrique Angelini, Alejandro Damian Pagnucco, and Hernan Ferruchi. They were among eight total fatalities of the attack near the World Trade Center.

The five Argentines were identified by the Argentina's foreign ministry. Officials said a sixth Argentine, Martin Ludovico Marro, was recovering from injuries at New York Presbyterian Hospital.

"Four died at the scene and another young man died when he was taken away by an ambulance," Jose Nunez, a national deputy who was a friend of several of the men, told Argentinas La Nacion newspaper.

The victims were among eight friends who traveled to New York City to celebrate the 30th anniversary of their 1987 graduation from the Polytechnic School of Rosario, Argentina.

Argentina's consul in New York, Mateo Estreme, told La Capital in Rosario that the survivors in the Argentine group were in a state of shock. Only days earlier, before flying to the U.S., they had posed for a group photo, all of them wearing T-shirts with the word "Libre," or Free.

The government said it expressed its most sincere condolences and that all Argentines were sharing in a terrible moment of sadness.

The suspect in the truck attack was identified as Sayfullo Saipov, an Uzbek national.

Officials launched an investigation into the attack, the deadliest in New York City since 9/11, and were also probing possible ties to ISIS after Saipov was found to have notes pledging his support to the terror group.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
The alleged ISIS fanatic authorities say was behind Tuesdays deadly New York City slaughter came to the United States seven years ago from Uzbekistan under the Diversity Visa Program, details of Sayfullo Saipovs travel to America that could become all the more important as President Trump proposes revisions to his extreme vetting program.

The Diversity Visa Program, a State Department program which offers a lottery for people from countries with few immigrants in America, drew the ire of Trump early Wednesday morning.

"The terrorist came into our country through what is called the 'Diversity Visa Lottery Program,' a Chuck Schumer beauty. I want merit based," Trump tweeted. "We are fighting hard for Merit Based immigration, no more Democrat Lottery Systems. We must get MUCH tougher (and smarter)."

The DV program makes up to 50,000 immigrant visas available annually, "drawn from random selection among all entries to individuals who are from countries with low rates of immigration" to the U.S., according to the U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services website. Applicants must prove they have a clean criminal record, have a high school diploma or its equivalent, or have at least two years of work experience within the past five years in order to qualify.

The program originated as part of a bill introduced in 1990 by Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., then a member of the House. Schumers measure to make a set number of visas available to diversity immigrants from certain countries was absorbed into a larger House immigration bill, which was sponsored by Schumer and 31 others, including several Republicans.

The House legislation passed in a bipartisan  but contested  vote, 231-192, while the Senate version containing the diversity immigrants part passed more easily, 89-8, and went on to be signed by then-President George H.W. Bush in 1990.

The program has been in the crosshairs of Congress several times, most recently when the Reforming American Immigration for a Strong Economy (RAISE) Act, sponsored by Senator Tom Cotton, R-Ark., called for its elimination. The Trump White House came out in support of the bill, calling the DV program outdated, adding that it serves questionable economic and humanitarian interests.

Schumer responded to Trump's comments early Wednesday, calling on the president to rescind proposed cuts to "vital anti-terrorism funding" in his budget.

I have always believed and continue to believe that immigration is good for America," the senator said in a statement. "President Trump, instead of politicizing and dividing America, which he always seems to do at times of national tragedy, should be focusing on the real solution - anti-terrorism funding - which he proposed cutting in his most recent budget."

On Tuesday after the attack, Schumer kept his post-attack comments to praise of the NYPD.

"Thanks NYPD for rapidly responding to tragic situation downtown. Worried & saddened to hear about injuries & loss of life," he said on Twitter.

Saipov is accused of killing eight people and injuring 11 others when he drove a rented Home Depot truck down a New York City bike lane, plowing into pedestrians, before slamming into a school bus.

Fox News' Brooke Singman contributed to this report.
Dear Editor:

As a husband and father of three boys in Hampden Township, I am deeply committed to the future of our communities in Cumberland County. As a leader in business, Boy Scouts, and my church Ive found rewarding ways to give back. I am running for Prothonotary to ensure the office is run impartially and independent of general fund taxes, and thats a pledge I plan to fulfill if elected.

I earned a bachelor's degree in Secondary Education and Masters in Human Resources & Employment Relations from Penn State University. My education is just one aspect of my preparedness to lead in our courthouse on day one.

As a Senior Director at the Pennsylvania Treasury, I oversaw the accurate collection of unclaimed property from banks, returning over $120 million a year to rightful owners. I used my education and experience to ensure compliance with the law and our Constitution. My management team and I operated three offices with 80 employees across Pennsylvania.

I have demonstrated an ability to rise above political games and partisanship to solve problems and deliver the best for taxpayers. I have a record of fiscal responsibility. I have implemented creative strategies to improve customer service.

Those are the same approaches I would take as Chief Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas civil proceedings.

Our democracy works best when we cast our votes for the person right for the job, not political parties. I am the only candidate that has balanced budgets, implemented policy, and managed staff in an office of public trust.

I will work hard, be fair, and lead with integrity so our Prothonotary Office can be the most efficient and best operated of any county office. That is my pledge to you, and it why I ask for your vote this Tuesday, Nov. 7.

Michael Fedor is a candidate for Cumberland County Prothonotary.
Sayfullo Saipov, the suspect in the New York City terror attack on Oct. 31, pleaded not guilty during his arraignment in federal court on Tuesday.

Saipov, who allegedly drove a rented truck down a crowded bike lane in New York City on Halloween, is 29 years old and from Uzbekistan. He's in the United States with a green card.

His alleged actions killed eight people and injured 12 more near the World Trade Center in lower Manhattan.

Federal prosecutors have charged Saipov with providing material support to a terrorist group and violence and destruction of motor vehicles.

On Nov. 1, the day after the attack, President Donald Trump said Saipov should receive the death penalty.

"He killed 8 people, badly injured 12. SHOULD GET DEATH PENALTY!" he wrote on Twitter.

NYC TERROR SUSPECT SAYFULLO SAIPOVS LEGAL RIGHTS

"Would love to send the NYC terrorist to Guantanamo but statistically that process takes much longer than going through the Federal system.." Trump added.

"...There is also something appropriate about keeping him in the home of the horrible crime he committed. Should move fast. DEATH PENALTY!" he said in a third tweet.

Additional details about the attack

After driving through the crowded bike path, Saipov crashed into a yellow school bus near Chambers and West Streets in lower Manhattan, police said.

After exiting the vehicle, Saipov yelled Allahu akbar ("God is great") and waved around weapons believed to be a paintball gun and a BB gun, police said. The suspect was shot twice by police and taken into custody. He survived his wounds.

NYC TERROR ATTACK LEAVES 8 DEAD, SEVERAL INJURED

Law enforcement officials said they discovered two notes, handwritten in Arabic, pledging loyalty to ISIS in and near the truck, Fox News has confirmed.

The New York Post reported that some type of symbol or picture of the terrorist organization's flag was discovered.

It's been reported that Saipov rented the truck from a Home Depot store in Passaic, N.J., around 2 p.m., approximately an hour or so before the attack occurred.

Suspect worked as an Uber driver, had a Florida drivers license

Saipov had worked as an Uber driver in New Jersey, where he was living as recently as this summer. Uber confirmed to Fox News that Saipov passed the company's background check for drivers, but was now banned from the company. Uber added it has not found any safety reports concerning the terror suspect.

In a statement to Fox News, Uber said the company was in contact with the FBI and offered its assistance to the investigation into Saipov. It added that Uber was reviewing Saipov's history with the ride-hailing company.

Authorities discovered that Saipov had a Florida driver's license and has been connected to an address in the Tampa area.

POLITICIANS REACT TO FATAL NYC TRUCK ATTACK IN LOWER MANHATTAN

A friend, Kobiljon Matkarov, said he met Saipov while the two were living in Florida. He described Saipov as being very friendly and very nice.

Matkarov said he last saw Saipov a few months ago when the suspect picked him up from John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City. Saipov had moved to the area in order to seek better work opportunities.

Matkarov told Fox News that he never noticed any unusual behavior from the suspect, let alone that hed been radicalized. He said that Saipov was generally a happy-go-lucky person who seemed to love America.

I know his good side. I know nothing of his bad side, Matkarov said. He was always happy. He liked the U.S. He loved this country. Thats why this is all very confusing.

Fox News Perry Chiaramonte, Nicole Darrah, Madeline Farber and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
Federal prosecutors said Wednesday that Sayfullo Saipov was "consumed by hate and a twisted ideology" when he ran down dozens of people on a New York City bike path, killing eight people and injuring 12 others.

Saipov, 29, was charged with providing material support to a terrorist group and committing violence and destruction of motor vehicles in Tuesday's attack, in which he drove a rented Home Depot truck down the path near the World Trade Center site.

Law enforcement officials described the initial charges as "holding charges," meaning that more are expected to be filed.

Saipov nodded his head repeatedly as he was read his rights in a brief court proceeding that he followed through a Russian interpreter. Judge Barbara Moses set his next court date for Nov. 15.

His court-appointed lawyer, David Patton, said Saipov was in "a significant amount of pain" and asked that he get wound care and a wheelchair or crutches in the federal lockup where he's being held without bail.

Outside of court, Patton called for fair treatment of his client.

"I hope, given all of the attention in this case and all of the attention that it's sure to continue to receive, that everyone lets the judicial process play out," he said. "I promise you that how we treat Mr. Saipov in this judicial process will say a lot more about us than it will say about him."

Prosecutors said Saipov had 90 videos and 3,800 photos on one of his two cellphones, many of them ISIS-related pieces of propaganda, including images of prisoners being beheaded, shot or run over by a tank.

Saipov left behind knives and a note, in Arabic and English, that included Islamic religious references and said, "Islamic Supplication. It will endure," FBI agent Amber Tyree said in court papers. "It will endure" commonly refers to ISIS, Tyree said.

Questioned in his hospital bed, Saipov said he had been inspired by ISIS videos that he watched on his cellphone and began plotting an attack about a year ago, deciding to use a truck about two months ago, Tyree said.

During the last few weeks, Saipov searched the internet for information on Halloween in New York City and for truck rentals, the agent said. Saipov even rented a truck on Oct. 22 to practice making turns, and he initially hoped to get from the bike path across lower Manhattan to hit more pedestrians on the Brooklyn Bridge, Tyree said.

He even considered displaying ISIS flags on the truck during the attack but decided against it because he did not want to draw attention, authorities said.

John Miller, deputy New York police commissioner for intelligence, said Saipov "appears to have followed, almost exactly to a T, the instructions that ISIS has put out."

In the past few years, the ISIS has exhorted followers online to use vehicles, knives or other close-at-hand means of killing people in their home countries. England, France and Germany have all seen deadly vehicle attacks since mid-2016.

A November 2016 issue of the group's online magazine detailed features that an attack truck or van should have, suggested renting such a vehicle, and recommended targeting crowded streets and outdoor gatherings, according to the SITE Intelligence Group, a militant-monitoring agency.

Carlos Batista, a neighbor of Saipov's in Paterson, N.J., said he had seen the suspect and two friends using the same model of rented truck several times in the past three weeks.

It was not clear whether Saipov had been on authorities' radar. Miller said Saipov had never been the subject of a criminal investigation but appears to have links to people who have been investigated.

In Tuesday's attack, Saipov drove his speeding truck for nearly a mile along a bike path, running down cyclists and pedestrians, then crashed into a school bus, authorities said. He was shot in the abdomen after he jumped out of the vehicle brandishing two air guns, one in each hand, and yelling "Allahu Akbar."

The attack killed five people from Argentina, one from Belgium and two Americans, authorities said. Of the 12 who were injured, nine remained hospitalized in serious or critical condition.

Saipov lived in Ohio and Florida before moving to New Jersey around June, authorities said.

Birth records show he and his wife had two daughters in Ohio, and a neighbor in New Jersey said they recently had a baby boy.

Saipov was a commercial truck driver in Ohio. More recently, he was an Uber driver.

In Ohio, Saipov was an argumentative young man whose career was falling apart and who was "not happy with his life," said Mirrakhmat Muminov, a fellow truck driver from heavily Muslim Uzbekistan.

"He had the habit of disagreeing with everybody," Muminov said.

He said he and Saipov would sometimes argue about politics and world affairs, including Israel and Palestine. He said Saipov never spoke about ISIS, but he could tell his friend held radical views.

Fox News' Catherine Herridge and Jake Gibson contributed to this report. The Associated Press also contributed to this report.
Police say they've arrested a second man in an Alabama nightclub shooting that left two dead and seven others wounded.

Police told local media outlets that 20-year-old Travis Terrell Fielder Jr. of Tuskegee was charged with capital murder and attempted murder in connection with the Oct. 22 shooting at Club Addiction in Lanett. He remains jailed.

Court documents show Fielder is charged in the shooting death of Tashina Paulette Davis. A complaint says she was killed with a .40-caliber firearm while in a car. Another man also was charged last week with murder in Davis' death.

Attorneys appointed to represent Fielder declined comment, saying they weren't "in any position to make a statement at this time."

Police say a gunman went to the nightclub and opened fire.
Atlanta-area authorities say a 3-year-old boy has been hospitalized in critical condition after his mother left him inside a car for three hours.

Fulton County police tell news outlets that the child's mother, 25-year-old Lillian Stone, was charged on Tuesday with one count of felony cruelty to children.

Cpl. Maureen Smith tells The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that police received a call Tuesday afternoon from someone who saw the boy locked inside a car parked in the driveway of a College Park home.

Further details were not immediately released.

It is unclear whether Stone has an attorney to comment on the charge.
A prison doctor in Ohio says its a reasonable accommodation to allow a condemned killer on death row with health problems to partially sit up during his execution next month.

The inmate, Alva Campbell, became mildly agitated when officials tried lowering him to a normal execution position in an Oct. 19 test, according to a medical review by Dr. James McWeeney.

"Nevertheless, given the events observed at this examination and the patient's underlying pulmonary and mental health disorders, it would be reasonable to make an accommodation for the patient during the execution process that would permit him to lay in a semi-recumbent position," the doctor wrote.

DEATH ROW INMATE TOO SICK TO BE EXECUTED, LAWYERS SAY

Campbell was paroled in 1992 after serving 20 years for killing a man in a Cleveland bar. On April 2, 1997, Campbell was in a wheelchair when he overpowered a Franklin County sheriff's deputy on the way to a court hearing on several armed robbery charges, records show.

Campbell took the deputy's gun, carjacked 18-year-old Charles Dials and drove around with him for several hours before shooting him twice in the head as Dials crouched in the footwell of his own truck, according to court records.

Franklin County prosecutor Ron O'Brien calls Campbell "the poster child for the death penalty."

McWeeney also said a prison nurse's exam failed to find veins suitable for inserting an IV on either of Campbell's arms.

Campbell, 69, has severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder as the result of a decades-long two-pack-a-day smoking habit that finally stopped nine years ago, the doctor said.

His attorneys also say he uses a walker, relies on an external colostomy bag, requires four breathing treatments a day and may have lung cancer.

Campbell's health problems "could create a spectacle of a terminally ill man, with tourniquets on his arms and legs, being stabbed repeatedly to no avail," defense attorney David Stebbins said Monday.

The Department of Rehabilitation and Correction said it "has taken Campbell's medical conditions under consideration for planning of possible accommodations for his execution."

Campbell was regularly beaten, sexually abused and tortured as a child, Stebbins and other attorneys argued in court filings and before the Ohio Parole Board.

The board rejected Campbell's request for mercy earlier this month. Republican Gov. John Kasich, who has spared some inmates while rejecting clemency for others, has the final say.

Prosecutors say Campbell's health claims are ironic given he faked paralysis to escape court custody the day he killed Dials.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
A former Marine Corps drill instructor was "drunk on power" and targeted three Muslim recruits for abuse, prosecutors said at the opening of his court-martial on charges including cruelty and maltreatment.

Gunnery Sgt. Joseph Felix punched, choked and kicked recruits at the Marine Corps' Parris Island, South Carolina, training center, prosecutors said Tuesday, according to multiple news outlets.

Felix also burned one recruit after ordering him into a commercial clothes dryer and turning it on after interrogating him about his Muslim faith, prosecutors told jurors. Felix told another Muslim recruit: "Hey, ISIS, get in the dryer," prosecutors said.

"You will learn the accused is drunk on power," prosecutor Capt. Corey Weilert told the eight-person jury hearing the case at the sprawling North Carolina Marine Corps base.

After a confrontation in March 2016 when Felix slapped his face, 20-year-old Raheel Siddiqui of Taylor, Michigan, fell three stories to his death, investigators said. Siddiqui's death was declared suicide, but since then Marine Corps officials have said they uncovered widespread hazing of recruits and young drill instructors and identified up to 20 people possibly tied to misconduct.

A commanding officer at Parris Island who was fired amid allegations of misconduct after Siddiqui's death also faces a court-martial. Lt. Col. Joshua Kissoon is charged with making false statements, failing to heed an order and other charges. He will face court-martial at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia, but no trial date has been set.

Mentions of Siddiqui's death is being limited by Judge Lt. Col. Michael Libretto to testimony addressing an obstruction charge facing Felix. Prosecutors say Felix told recruits not to talk about the incident outside of the unit, The Island Packet of Hilton Head, South Carolina, reported .

Felix also faces three counts of maltreatment toward Siddiqui and the two other Muslim recruits, as well as nine counts of violating an order, making a false statement and being drunk and disorderly.

Ameer Bourmeche, now a 23-year-old lance corporal at Camp Pendleton in California, said he was roused awake in the middle of the night in July 2015 by shouts of "Where's the terrorist?" He said Felix and another drill instructor, Sgt. Michael Eldridge, marched him to the barracks shower room, where Felix elbowed him in the chin. They smelled of alcohol, Bourmeche testified.

Eldridge also was charged, but he is cooperating with the prosecution and is expected to face less-severe punishment, The Washington Post reported .

Bourmeche said Felix and Eldridge ordered him to do pushups and other exercises in the shower, then told him to climb into an industrial-size clothes dryer. He said they turned on the dryer with him inside three separate times. Each time, the drill instructors asked whether he renounced Islam. The third time, Bourmeche said, he told them he was no longer a Muslim.

Defense counselor Navy Lt. Cmdr. Clay Bridges told jurors that testimony by Bourmeche and other recruits are boot camp stories that have been conflated, are contradictory and "blown out of proportion."

The trial is scheduled to last about two weeks.
A former New Jersey police chief was arrested for a hate crime after using excessive force against an 18-year-old black man, Fox 29 reported.

Frank Nucera, a 60-year-old retired Bordentown Township police chief, has a history of using racial slurs and police dogs to intimidate African-Americans, according to prosecutors.

In September 2016, Nuceras racial aggression allegedly resulted in assault when he approached a handcuffed young man who was being escorted from a hotel by two officers. According to criminal records, Nucera, who is white, violently slammed the mans head into a metal door jam, while yelling racial slurs and derogatory remarks.

The incident was reported by a fellow police officer, who reportedly was appalled by the chiefs racist behavior and excessive use of force.

DELAWARE MAN CHARGED WITH HATE CRIME FOR THREATS TO NEIGHBOR

Acting U.S. Attorney William E. Fitzpatrick said that the assault was driven by racial hatred.

Chief Nucera harbored an intense, senseless, irrational and bigoted view toward African-Americans, Fitzpatrick said, citing a criminal complaint that states he once likened black people to the Islamic State terrorist group.

Prosecutors also discovered that Nuceras fellow officers secretly had been recording his racist comments over the course of a year.

In one recording, Nucera reportedly said that he was tired of them [African-Americans] and its getting to the point where I could shoot one.

Prosecutors said that Nuceras hostility toward African-Americans was very alarming and that some of his remarks contained extremely offensive racist comments.

Nucera, who also had served as a township administrator, retired in January, while under FBI investigation. He since has been charged with hate crimes and violating civil rights.

Bordentown is a predominantly white town of about 11,000 a few miles from New Jerseys majority African-American capital city of Trenton.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
The New Jersey mosque that New York City terror suspect Sayfullo Saipov reportedly attended has been under surveillance by the New York Police Department since 2005, according to a published report.

The Omar Mosque in Paterson, N.J., located near Saipov's home, is among multiple Muslim houses of worship in the New York metro area being studied by the NYPD as possible locations for budding terrorist conspiracies, NorthJersey.com reported.

An NYPD report from 2006 doesn't link any criminal activity to the mosque, but says it "is believed to have been the subject of federal investigations."

In the wake of Tuesday's deadly truck attack in Lower Manhattan, police and the FBI swarmed areas in New Jersey to which Saipov was believed to have ties. They included the mosque, an apartment building, and other residences and storefronts.

Police have identified Saipov, 29, as the suspect who allegedly killed at least eight people. He was described as an Uzbek national living in the U.S. since 2010, most recently in a burgeoning immigrant community in Paterson.

The truck used in Tuesday's attack was rented from a Home Depot store in nearby Passaic, N.J., authorities said.

Paterson Councilman Alex Mendez told NJ.com that he was very concerned with reports that the suspect, who reportedly shouted Allahu akbar ("God is great") and pledged allegiance to ISIS, was living in the area.

We have 52 nationalities,"Mendez said. "They're hardworking people that come to Paterson to start a better life."

Saipov reportedly moved to New Jersey from Tampa, Fla., to do just that. A Florida friend, Kobiljon Matkarov, told Fox News that the man he knew was very friendly and very nice.

But locals in New Jersey described Saipov in different terms.

Slavo Petrov, a 64-year-old neighbor of Saipov, said he saw the man in the area with his wife and two children, and noticed him going to the local mosque.

He described Saipov as unfriendly, adding that he "never says good morning and never says good afternoon, NJ.com reported.

Police confirmed to Fox News that Saipov is not a U.S. citizen and is originally from Uzbekistan, a former Soviet republic east of the Caspian Sea in Central Asia.

A 2016 U.S.-commissioned report said Uzbek nationals were most likely to radicalize while working as migrants abroad, according to the U.S. State Department.

Previous terror attacks linked to Uzbek nationals have included an attack at the Istanbul airport in 2016, preparing suicide bombers in Turkey, several plots to commit attacks in Russia, and a gruesome beheading of a child in Russia by a nanny who was reportedly religiously motivated.

Uzbeks have also fought in Afghanistan and Syria, the department noted.
The University of Utah gunman who was caught after a 15-hour manhunt on Tuesday admitted to police he also tried to kill another women so there were no witnesses to his crime, officials revealed, as they investigate another Colorado mans death that could be linked to the suspect.

Austin Boutain, 24, surrendered to police after a librarian spotted him in a Salt Lake City public library Tuesday night, ending a 15-hour manhunt. He was booked on suspicion of aggravated murder, robbery and other charges.

Boutain admitted to police later that he shot and killed University of Utah student ChenWei Guo, a 23-year-old devout Morman immigrant from China, during an attempted carjacking Monday night.

Police arrived at the scene when Boutains wife, Kathleen, called 911 saying her husband was assaulting her while they were camping in Red Butte Canyon.

Boutain also said he fired at another woman nearby as she fled the scene with the intent to kill her so there were no witnesses, according to FOX13 Salt Lake City.

Police also believe Boutain and his wife may be responsible for the death of a 63-year-old man, Mitchell Bradford Ingle, of Golden, Colo., who was found dead inside a trailer home. Ingles body was discovered early Tuesday after police were called to it. Boutain may have driven Ingles pickup truck from Colorado.

During an interview with investigators, the 24-year-old said he stole three guns from a Colorado home, and said he traded one for an ounce of marijuana, according to FOX13. Police said a rifle, the second weapon, was recovered in the foothills of the canyon during their search on Tuesday. Boutain said the third gun, used to kill Guo, was stashed away in a crevice of a brick wall near a Salt Lake City homeless shelter, though it has been removed to an unknown place since then.

Boutain has a history of crimes, including drug, car theft and weapons charges in Minnesota and Alabama, where he was recently released from prison after serving a year and a half prison sentence. He was a convicted sex offender and failed to report his whereabouts to police.

Boutain and his wife were camping in the canyon near the University of Utah in the days leading to the incident. Alabama court records showed the couple married in 2014 and had two children. He filed for divorce in January while he was in prison, though it was never finalized in court.

Kathleen Boutain was also arrested on Tuesday and booked for unrelated drug and theft charges.

Guo was described as a 23-year-old who smiled easily, loved to dance and often trekked the canyons around Salt Lake City. The student came to the U.S. in 2012 and dreamed of opening a consulting firm. He was studying computer science in his first year at the university.

"It just seemed like the most senseless thing to do, take the life of such a great person," said Steve Comrie, a leader of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints congregation that included Guo.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
The U.S. Navy is facing some tough questions following two deadly collisions during the summer of 2017.

More than a dozen sailors died in the separate accidents. The destroyer USS Fitzgerald struck a commercial ship off the waters of Japan in June, killing seven U.S. sailors. The destroyer USS John S. McCain collided with an oil tanker in coastal waters off Singapore in August, killing 10 U.S. sailors.

Five officers involved with those two collisions have been charged with negligent homicide, the Navy said Tuesday.

Read on for a look at other recent U.S. military incidents in the Pacific.

C-2A Greyhound

Three sailors were lost after a Navy plane crashed in the Philippine Sea shortly after takeoff from Japan in November 2017.

Eight other crewmembers on board the plane were rescued and listed in good condition at the time of the crash.

Deep water salvage experts located the plane in early January 2018 and efforts are underway to recover the aircraft and sailors, the Navy said.

USS John S. McCain

The guided-missile destroyer USS John S. McCain collided with the merchant vessel Alnic MC on Aug. 21, 2017, according to the Navy report.

Five sailors were injured, and 10 sailors died.

No one onboard the 600-foot oil and chemical tanker was injured, the Singapore government has said, although the ship did sustain damage to a compartment at its front.

Singapore, at the southernmost tip of the Malay Peninsula, is one of the world's busiest ports and a U.S. ally, with its naval base regularly visited by American warships.

The Navy said in a release that the crash could have been avoided, adding that it "resulted primarily from complacency, over-confidence and lack of procedural compliance."

UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter

An Army Black Hawk helicopter crashed in the ocean off the coast of Hawaii on Aug. 15, 2017.

Two Black Hawk aircrews were participating in training exercises when communications were lost.

Crews from the Army, Coast Guard, Navy and local agencies in Hawaii searched around the clock as strong currents moved the wreckage into a deep-water search area that spanned 72,000 nautical miles.

The five soldiers who went missing ranged in age from 26 to 41. The crew did have life vests and devices to assist with underwater breathing on the helicopter, officials said.

But while officials recovered significant debris from the crash, Army and Coast Guard officials said that they found no signs of life and ended the search-and-rescue operation.

All five missing soldiers have been declared dead.

MV-22 Osprey

Three U.S. Marines were declared dead in August 2017 after their MV-22 Osprey crashed off the coast of Australia.

The MV-22 Osprey  part helicopter, part plane  crashed into the back of the USS Green Bay, a Navy amphibious ship, and fell into the sea on Aug. 5.

USS Fitzgerald

Seven sailors  ranging in ages from 19 to 37  died in June 2017 when the USS Fitzgerald collided with a container ship in waters off Japan.

The captain of the ACX Crystal, a Philippine-flagged container ship, accused the Navy destroyer of failing to heed warning signs before the crash on June 17.

"The collision between Fitzgerald and Crystal was avoidable and resulted from an accumulation of smaller errors over time, ultimately resulting in a lack of adherence to sound navigational practices," the Navy said in the release.

"Specifically, Fitzgerald's watch teams disregarded established norms of basic contact management and, more importantly, leadership failed to adhere to well-established protocols put in place to prevent collisions," it added.

USS Lake Champlain

The USS Lake Champlain, a guided-missile cruiser part of the U.S. Navys 7th fleet, collided with a South Korean fishing vessel in the Sea of Japan in May 2017.

No injuries were reported following the May 9 crash.

The naval ship was conducting routine operations in international waters at the time of the incident, according to the U.S. Navy. A defense official said visibility was limited at the time.

USS Louisiana

The ballistic-missile submarine USS Louisiana collided with a U.S. Navy Offshore Support Vessel off the coast of Washington state on Aug. 18, 2016, according to the U.S. Navy.

The crash occurred during routine operations in the Strait of Juan de Fuca.

While both vessels were damaged, no one was injured in the collision.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Dear Editor:

Last Christmas, my son came home from serving in Afghanistan. We talked about his experiences, and what it really means to serve. He inspired me to take a big step in my career and work for my community in profound way. He inspired me to run for the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court.

The Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court is one of the most unique courts in the country. It sits directly below the Supreme Court, and exclusively handles cases related to the government. In the coming years, the Commonwealth Court will hear cases regarding school funding, taxes, environmental regulations, organized labor, gerrymandering, and more.

Many of these issues are deeply personal to me. My mother was a single mom who worked multiple minimum wage jobs to make ends meet. There were some months when she couldnt make rent and we were evicted from our home.

I fought my way out of this underprivileged situation. I worked my way through community college and law school. As a prosecutor, I protected victims of domestic abuse. I then moved to CBS News, where I became an investigative journalist uncovering government fraud and abuse. While serving as the Director of Integrity and Accountability for the Philadelphia Police Department, I strived to protect the citizens of Philadelphia and the officers in the line of duty. Ive spent the last 10 years as judge, working to ensure justice was properly served in every case coming before me.

People are calling this year an off-year election, but the judges who are elected on Nov. 7 will essentially serve for life and make decisions directly impacting every Pennsylvanian. Please, come out and vote on Nov. 7. And when you do, I would be honored to earn one of your two votes for the Commonwealth Court.

Judge Ellen Ceisler is a candidate for Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania.
Its a level of violence hard to fathom. More people were displaced from their homes over the past year than in Iraq and Syria. Yet the recent rash of conflicts engulfing the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and reignited fears of civil war has generated little media and political attention  a notion that the U.S. leadership this year has vowed to change.

In a meeting with African leaders last month President Donald Trump said that the U.S. was deeply disturbed by  and closely monitoring  violence in the DRC. He noted that he would send U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley  who has been especially vocal about human rights abuses in Africa since the start of her tenure  to the embattled nation to discuss conflict prevention.

The reason I got emotional today was the 100-plus kids that were chasing our cars and seeing us off, Haley said on Friday after tearing up at the muddy confines of the Mungote camp in the Congo, the final stop of her three-nation visit to Africa. All I kept thinking was, whats going to happen to them?

The DRC is the second largest country in Africa, and despite being one of the richest in natural resources and mineral wealth, it remains one of the poorest. Two decades of instability, armed conflict between national government forces and local militias and intercommunal and interethnic violence has left millions displaced, disabled and dead.

In some areas, we heard that babies were being thrown into fires, Aurelie Lachant, a spokesperson for Africa operations at the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) told Fox News, after returning from an October DRC visit. It is a level of violence hard to articulate. Mutilation, the killing of husbands in front of the families, sometimes limbs cut off.

The long-running violence and instability also has led to the Congo having one of the highest rates of sexual violence in the world  with females of all ages, from babies to grandmothers  among the ever-ascending number of victims. Lachant said that medical professionals themselves are perplexed as to how some girls are even still alive, having been brutally raped in surplus of 150 times.

Better investigations into the violence is needed since the scope and nature of the violence, including gender-based violence, is unclear. The government is reported to have blocked independent investigators from several areas, refusing to cooperate with many of those trying to understand exactly what is going on and who is responsible, lamented Holly Dranginis, a policy analyst for the Enough Project, which seeks to end atrocities in Africas deadliest areas. Media outlets in Congo are being blocked, and journalists and activists trying to get stories out there are threatened and intimidated.

REBUILDING RAQQA: SHOULD U.S TAXPAYERS PAY TO REBUILD THE RUINED FORMER ISIS STRONGHOLD?

4 KILLED, 15 INJURED IN EASTERN CONGO PROTESTS OVER KABILA

Earlier this month, the bodies of 26 people  believed to have had their necks broken in the mass slaughter  were found days after an ambush by armed assailants on the main road in North Kivus Beni territory, rekindling concerns about the states capacity to establish order over eastern borderlands avenged by ethnic tensions and bickering over mineral resources.

At the same time, a rare video made its way onto the internet showing a woman being publicly raped and beheaded outside the small restaurant she owned  for the crime of serving them fish, prohibited under protection rituals of some gunmen during fighting.

Scott Morgan, president of Red Eagle Enterprises  which supports African business development and also provides analysis of African intelligence  told Fox News that children too are routinely the victims of warlords, used as child soldiers and sex workers.

According to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) global 2017 report, last year the African nation had 922,000 new displacements  the highest figure in the world. There is now more than 3.9 million internally displaced within the country and more than 7 million  including 4 million children  who are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance.

People have fled and have been hiding in the bush for more than six months as their houses have been burned down in the violence. They have nothing to feed their kids, there are leaves and whatever they can find, Lachant said. It has the highest number of displaced people, higher than Iraq and Syria. There is a lot of focus on migration and refugees, but not what is going on inside the country.

Many too are fleeing into neighboring Zambia, the vast majority of them children, in what the U.N. Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has called the largest influx of its kind in five years, with almost 3,500 fleeing over the border between the end of August and September alone.



Despite the increase in violence and displacement, financial support for the DRC gradually has decreased.

It is one of our biggest operations, but also one of the most underfunded operations, Lachant noted. Its very difficult. Entire villages have been burned, people left with nothing but the clothes on their back. We met one mother who had six kids, but four of them had died from treatable diseases.

Haley last week also demanded that the authoritarian country  led by President Joseph Kabila whose term expired in 2016 without a vote  hold postponed national elections next year, marking one of the strongest messages from the international community on a country ravaged by violence, oppression, corruption and citizen abuse. The DRC has yet to experience a peaceful transition of power.

In addition to delivering a stern word to dictators and militants, fostering relationships with local partners and shedding light on the dire humanitarian crisis, Haleys visit also centered on discerning what peacekeeping and other related U.N. costs were being wasted in Africa  given that the U.S is the largest financier of such missions.

Despite its rampant levels of violence and corruption, the DRC was elected in September after a vote by the 193-member U.N. General Assembly to join the Human Rights Council, a move deeply criticized by Haley who has been advocating for reform of the council.

The Human Rights Council should be a unified voice of moral clarity with a backbone and integrity to call out abusive governments, she said. This election has once again proven that the Human Rights Council, as presently constituted, is not that voice.
At least eight people have died and 12 people were left injured Tuesday after a suspect crashed a truck into a crowd in New York City.

The driver jumped out of the truck with a fake gun in each hand and was shot by police, authorities said.

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio called it an act of terror during a media briefing.

In NYC, looks like another attack by a very sick and deranged person. Law enforcement is following this closely. NOT IN THE U.S.A.! President Donald Trump tweeted.

The attack was being investigated by the FBI as terrorism  and comes after a string of recent vehicle attacks in Europe.

Below is a timeline of recent vehicle attacks in the United States and Europe.

Oct. 31, 2017 -- New York City

In the late afternoon on Oct. 31, Sayfullo Saipov, 29, from Uzbekistan, drove a rented truck down a bike path filled with pedestrians and cyclists, leaving at least eight people dead and 12 others injured.

The incident occurred around 3 p.m. near the World Trade Center in lower Manhattan.

Saipov, who moved from Uzbekistan to the United States in 2010, later crashed into a school bus, injured two adults and two children. He then exited the vehicle and yelled Allahu akbar, which means God is great is Arabic. He also was holding a two weapons which were later determined to be a pellet gun and a paintball gun.

The suspect was taken into custody after an NYPD officer shot him in the abdomen.

New York City officials later confirmed that the attack was carried out in the name of ISIS.

Aug. 18, 2017  Cambrils, Catalonia, Spain

On Aug. 18, an Audi plowed into pedestrians on the promenade in Cambrils, a coastal town south of Barcelona. One person was killed.

An officer fatally shot four attackers as they got out of the vehicle with weapons, the Guardian reported. A fifth attacker stabbed a bystander and was shot by a different officer, according to the paper.

Investigators believe the attackers belonged to the same cell responsible for an attack in Las Ramblas.

Aug. 17, 2017  Barcelona

A van plowed into a group of people at Las Ramblas promenade in Barcelona, killing at least 13 people and injuring 130 others.

ISIS claimed responsibility, and the driver was killed Aug. 21 after a manhunt.

Aug. 12, 2017 -- Charlottesville, Va.

In August, white nationalists came to Charlottesville to protest the removal of a statue of Robert E. Lee.

A man, who was later identified as 20-year-old James Alex Fields Jr., rammed his car into a group of counter protesters at the rally.

His actions killed 32-year-old Heather Heyer.

Aug. 9, 2017  Paris

A driver rammed a vehicle into a group of soldiers in the French capital, leaving six of them injured.

A prosecutor later pressed charges against Algerian national Hamou Benlatreche of attempted murder of security forces in connection with a terrorist enterprise.

Prosecutor Francois Molins said investigators found images in Benlatreches phone that were connected to ISIS, such as a flag and photos of its leaders.

June 19, 2017  London

During Ramadan, a man drove into pedestrians around the Finsbury Park mosque in northern London. One person, a 51-year-old man, was killed, and others were hurt.

Authorities charged a Welsh 47-year-old suspect, Darren Osborne, with terrorism-related murder and attempted murder.

June 3, 2017  London

Three men drove onto the sidewalk of London Bridge before getting out of a van and stabbing people at Borough Market. Eight people were killed and 48 others were injured.

The attackers were killed by police, and ISIS claimed responsibility for the attack.

SUSPECTED PARIS ATTACK DRIVER ARRESTED

May 18, 2017-- New York City

One woman was killed and another 22 were injured after a Bronx man plowed into a crowd of pedestrians in Times Square.

The driver, Richard Rojas, was taken into custody following the incident. Rojas was later charged with murder.

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said at the time of the incident that there was no indication the crash was related to terrorism.

April 7, 2017  Stockholm

A hijacked beer truck rammed into a group of shoppers in the Swedish capital. Five victims ultimately died.

The suspect, a 39-year-old man from Uzbekistan named Rakhmat Akilov, was taken into custody. Akilov was reportedly an ISIS sympathizer.

A few days after the attack, Akilovs lawyer said his client admits to a terrorist crime, the Guardian reported.

March 22, 2017  London

A man in a rented SUV plowed into pedestrians on Westminster Bridge, killing four people. He later ran onto the grounds of Parliament and fatally stabbed an unarmed police officer.

The suspect was fatally shot by police. ISIS claimed responsibility for the attack.

Dec. 19, 2016  Berlin

Twelve people died after a driver used a hijacked truck to plow into a Christmas market in Berlin.

The attacker was killed in Italy several days later by police.

ISIS claimed responsibility, reportedly saying that the attacker is a soldier of the Islamic State and carried out the attack in response to calls for targeting citizens of the Crusader coalition.

July 14, 2016  Nice, France

The driver of a tractor-trailer targeted Bastille Day revelers in the southern French city, killing 86 people. The 31-year-old driver was fatally shot by police.

ISIS claimed responsibility for the attack.

Fox News Jake Gibson and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
A 36-year-old man renting a $30-a-night room in a Melbourne, Australia, house through Airbnb was murdered last week by his three hosts, police said.

One of the hosts allegedly raped the man, Ramis Jonuzi, with an object, The Guardian reported.

Jonuzi, who worked as a bricklayer, had been staying at the house for less than a week before he was allegedly murdered. He told a friend that he planned to move out early because he did not like the energy in the accommodation, The Age reported.

Charged with murder were Craig Levy, 36; Ryan Smart, 37; and Jason Colton, 41, The Guardian reported. Colton was also charged with raping Jonuzi.

Reviews for the unit on Airbnb were mixed, according to a review of the houses listing by The Age. While many renters left positive impressions, some criticized the plumbing and lack of security at the home.

"Better way to spend a night, buy a $50 hammer, smash your hand with it and go to the emergency hospital," one reviewer wrote late last year.

Airbnb issued a statement condemning the reported slaying.

There is no place on Airbnb for such an abhorrent act, which violates everything our global community stands for, Airbnb said.

We have removed this listing from our platform and will fully co-operate with law enforcement on their investigation.
Following an announcement that Iran would cap the flight range of its ballistic missiles at about 1,200 miles, a top Iranian military commander said Tuesday that all U.S. military bases in the region could still be struck.

Gen. Mohammad Ali Jafari, head of Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, added that Iran had the capability to expand its missile range beyond that limit, the Washington Free Beacon reported, citing information from U.S. officials and regional reports.

The range limit was reportedly set by Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

The comments by Jafari appeared to be an effort by Iranian authorities to contrast their missile program, which they often describe as being for defensive purposes, against those of countries like North Korea, which has talked about launching missiles that can hit any U.S. city.

Speaking on the sidelines of a conference in Tehran, Jafari told journalists that the capability of Iran's ballistic missiles was "enough for now."

Jafari said he didnt believe that the U.S. and Iran would go to war anytime soon, though some may question his reasoning.

Referring to the United States, he said: "They know that if they begin a war between Iran and the United States, they will definitely be the main losers and their victory will by no means be guaranteed. Therefore, they won't start a war."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
British Defense Secretary Michael Fallon has resigned from office following accusations he inappropriately touched a journalists knee.

Fallon, in a letter sent to Prime Minister Theresa May on Wednesday, said he may have fallen short of the high standards expected of the military.

The defense secretarys resignation comes shortly after he apologized for his behavior at a conference in 2002, Sky News reported. Fallon allegedly repeatedly placed his hand on journalist Julia Hartley-Brewers knee at the event.

REPORTS: UK POLICE WIDEN INVESTIGATION INTO HARVEY WEINSTEIN

Even though Hartley-Brewer seemingly joked about the incident on Twitter by saying, "Get a grip, people," reports suggest other allegations about Fallons behavior could come out soon.

May, after receiving Fallons resignation, said she appreciated the characteristically serious manner in which you have considered your position.

The accusation is part of a growing list of inappropriate behavior by both British politicians and parliamentary staff and by professionals in various U.S. industries.

Fallons resignation comes the month after Hollywood mega-producer Harvey Weinstein was accused of sexual assault against at least 80 women.

COUNTRY MUSIC'S TOP PUBLICIST ACCUSED OF SEXUAL ABUSE OF SINGER DENIES ALLEGATIONS

And filming for Netflix's "House of Cards" starring Kevin Spacey was suspended this week after Broadway veteran Anthony Rapp accused the Oscar-winner of making a "sexual advance" toward him when he was 14 and Spacey was 26.

Earlier Wednesday, NPRs Mike Oreskes resigned as chief editor after he was accused of sexual harassment dating back to the 1990s.

Fallon had served as UK defense secretary since 2014.
See below for an update to this story

EXCLUSIVE: Hundreds of thousands of persecuted Christians, Yazidis and other minorities driven from battered northern Iraq are still in a perilous limbo, as humanitarian groups struggle to make sense of a new Trump Administration initiative rolled out after Vice President Mike Pences October 25 promise to stop funding ineffective relief efforts at the United Nations and provide support directly to persecuted communities through USAID.

Humanitarian groups have called the Administration declaration a big step forward in helping the sorely-neglected minority groups recover from genocidal waves of murder, rape, displacement and plunder inflicted by now-defeated ISIS forces.

But there is still much uncertainty about how the initiative will work, what money will be involved, and how the effort will be coordinatedand above all, when it will get going..

There is also a lot of perplexity among some humanitarian groups about what USAID has indicated it will support and what the efforts it will not cover. Reconstruction of destroyed dwellings, for example, was apparently deemed a a no-no; on the other hand, renovation might be OK.

Meantime, the clock of desperation is still ticking loudly for the refugees, huddled in tents in Kurdistan or trying, as thousands of Christianas are doing, to move back into blasted dwellings in Iraqs Ninevah province. Some of the returnees have had to flee again hurriedly as Kurdish minority forces and Iraqi government troops opened up new hostilities.

In many cases, refugee numbers, especially among Ninevahs minority Christian populations, are continuing to dwindle fast. Without the kind of resettlement help foreign governments can bring, and despite the efforts of private humanitarian groups, they face the devastating prospect of finally leaving a region of the Middle East they have inhabited for 2,000 years.

These people are disappearing, said Steve Rasche, legal counsel and resettlement director for the Caldean Catholic Archdiocese of Erbil, in the Kurdistan region of Iraq.  They are giving up, fleeing the country. That is why the U.S. taking a real action step makes such a difference.

Rasche has been an insistent critic of U.S. inaction, especially during the Obama Administration, in failing to aid the long-suffering Christian and other minorities in northern Iraq, even after former Secretary of State John Kerry declared in March 2016 that the devastation unleashed on them by ISIS constituted genocide. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has repeated that designation.

Critics have accused the Obama Administration in particular, before and after the Kerry declaration, of doing little or nothing to help the oppressed religious and ethnic minority peoples, persisting in a blind aid approach that somehow never got assistance to those whose cultural and historical enclaves for millennia were being erased.

The same blind aid policy, which claims to make no distinctions based on religion or ethnicity, was espoused by the U.N., where more than $1.4 billion in aid was channeled by the Obama White House for refugee protection and development assistance Iraq. Critics have charged that virtually none of the reconstruction aid got to the minority refugees, who shunned U.N. refugee camps due to fears of violent persecution by their largely Muslim inhabitants.

(In response to Pences October 25 remarks, a spokesperson for U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres reiterated that U.N. humanitarian assistance in Iraq, as in other contexts, is provided in an impartial manner on the basis of greatest need. The U.N. system maintains that humanitarian work will continue to provide assistance in Iraq on this basis.)

The criticism did not end with the arrival of Donald Trump, even though the tenor of sympathy in the new Administration was markedly different.

At a House Foreign Affairs subcommittee hearing on October 3, Rasche reported that we have still yet to receive any form of meaningful aid from the U.S. Government, and that while political appointees [were] much more willing to help us since Januaryeven after the better part of a year, they have been unable to move the bureaucracy to take meaningful action.

At the same hearing, former Congressman Frank Wolf, a longtime Republican representative from Virginia, reported after a trip to the battered area, that if bold action is not taken by the end of the year, I believe a tipping point will be reached and we will see the end of Christianity in Iraq in a few short years and a loss of religious and ethnic diversity throughout the region.

Vice President Pences widely-reported Octobdr 25 speech before an array of Middle Eastern religious leaders and their supporters was intended as a game-changer for that prediction.

Pence accused the U.N. of too often failing to help the most vulnerable, especially religious minorities, and promised that the U.S. will work hand-in-hand from this day forward with faith-based groups and private organizations to help those who are persecuted for their faith. He also vowed to visit the region in Decembera signal that the new arrangements had better be put in place quickly.

But will they?

In fact, a Trump Administration initiative intended to put flesh on Pences declaration was unveiled on October 30just five days after the Vice President speech, which in bureaucratic terms was warp speed.

The framework of the initiative was given an initial airing that same day at a meeting of about 30 representatives of U.S. government agencies and civilian humanitarian and human rights groups that have focused on the disastrous minority plight.

But then bureaucratic complications apparently took over once again.

The new program announcement took the form of an opaque and wordy invitation from USAID to organizations and companies to co-create, co-design, co-invest, and collaborate in the research, development, piloting, and testing of innovative, practical, cost-effective, and scalable interventions to help displaced populations return to their homes, and help others remain there.

The long string of exploratory stages hardly underscored the idea of emergency action.

An accompanying USAID Broad Agency Announcement made explicit mention of ethnic and religious groups from Christian, Yazidi, Assyrian, Turkmen, and mixed-minority towns --and then bureaucratic process took over again.

An 8-page attachment to the Announcement on USAIDs website explained that new rules of co-creation would allow humanitarian non-government organizations to partner with USAID to write and/or revise a Concept Paper for presentation to the agencys Peer and Scientific Review Board. The deadline for initial responses to the Announcement is November 30.

A USAID spokesperson told Fox News that the next stage of the process would be a co-creativity workshop on the assembled proposals, which would likely take place in January.

According to the 8-page document, a designated USAID Contracting/Agreement Officer would designate the Apparently Successful Partner to work on management, control and design needs of a project before agreeing on its shared resourcing, which might include no U.S. government money at all.

Nothing in the announcement indicated that any funding will be taken from the U.N., as Pence originally declared, either.

CLICK HERE FOR THE BROAD AGENCY ANNOUNCEMENT.

The time line indicates that even with USAIDs bureaucracy in overdrive, getting actual projects out the door is unlikely before February at the earliest, and likely lateramid the dead of winter. A USAID spokesperson said the agency could not speculate on when these would be implemented, beyond assuring that the USAID intended to move forward quickly.

Under those circumstances, Vice President Pences December trip might prove to be ill-timed to drive effective results, regardless of his intentions.

The USAID spokesperson assured Fox News that the new process is in addition to the ongoing stabilization work that is already being done on the Nineva plain in Iraq.

He continued that USAID experts are working with humanitarian partners on the groundmeaning the U.N. agencies that humanitarian NGOs have strongly complained aboutto prepare for winter and help ensure assistance reaches communities in need.

He also noted blandly that the U.S. is deeply committed to helping the Government of Iraq rebuild; including helping Iraqis preserve their cultural and religious diversity.

At least some of the non-government attendees at the unveiling meeting found the big picture presentation bereft of other important details, including the effective distinction between forbidden reconstruction and allowable renovation.

There was some head-scratching about resettling refugees in town that are in rubble, without engaging in the reconstruction of buildings, Nina Shea, director of the Center for Religious Studies at the conservative Hudson Institute, told Fox News. Moreover, in a still unstable situation where new Kurdish-Iraqi rivalries could replace the fratricide of ISIS, new hurdles are arising all the time, she said.

By the end of the meeting the question of overall Administration coordination of the initiative also seemed to be a puzzle.

The person designated for that role is Garry Hall, senior director for international organizations and alliances at the National Security Council.

Hall is also charged with coordinating all U.S. government agencies working on religious freedom, human rights and the support of fragile democracies world wide, which one attendee described as a huge portfolio, which would prevent him from bird-dogging the actual implementation of minority resettlement in Ninevah.

If it is serious, the Hudson Institutes Shea argues, the Administration should appoint an inter-agency coordinator devoted to this over the next critical six months.

One legislator, Republican Chris Smith of New Jersey, has been pushing for a harder approach backed by legislation to force the issue.

Coauthor with California Rep Anna Eshoo of California of the bipartisan Iraq and Syria Genocide Emergency Relief and Accountability Act of 2017, Smith wants to see the law explicitly support, among other things, the transfer of U.S. government funds to faith-based and other groups carrying out humanitarian relief and reconstruction work among the beleaguered minorities in both Iraq and Syria., as well as hold accountable those committing genocide.

The bill has passed in the House, and gotten approval in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, but has not been brought to a vote in the full Senate.

Its disturbing that we have found reasons not to be helpful, Smith told Fox News. What Vice President Pence has urged, he says, needs to be undergirded with law to make it sustainable.

EDITOR'S NOTE: The day after this story was published, Alyssa Farah, press secretary to Vice President Pence, declared in a statement to Fox News, "Assisting those who have been persecuted because of their faith is an urgent priority for this Administration. The Vice President is fully committed to implementing this directive to ensure U.S. government aid reaches the persecuted in a timely and effective manner."
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German authorities say they hope to tow free a 225-meter (738-foot) cargo ship that ran aground on a North Sea sandbank before the weekend.

The Panama-flagged bulk carrier Glory Amsterdam drifted onto the sandbank off the island of Langeoog during a storm on Sunday, with 22 crew members on board. Rescuers originally hoped to free it at high tide a day later but determined that the water around the ship was too shallow for tugboats.

Germany's central command for maritime emergencies said late Tuesday that it has put in place a rescue plan that involves using up to 1,000-meter (3,280-foot) tow lines and pumping ballast water out of the ship. It doesn't plan to try pumping out the 1,800 tons of fuel oil and 140 tons of diesel.
Two Hawaii womens tale of survival in the Pacific Ocean appeared to be sinking Wednesday as more Coast Guard officials, sailing experts and scientists emerged to poke holes in the sensational story.

Among the claims that have been cast into doubt are a tiger shark attack that allegedly lasted more than six hours and a call one of the womens mothers made to the Coast Guard, in addition to doubts about the condition of their ship before setting off on the voyage.

"I'm shocked they were going to Tahiti," Desiree Hattori, who has known one of the women, Jennifer Appel, for years, told Hawaii News Now. "Her boat wasn't in the best shape."

They were picked up by the U.S. Navy near Japan last week after being spotted and towed by a Taiwanese fishing vessel.

Appel and Tasha Fuiavas description of 20- to 30-foot tiger sharks ramming their boat in a coordinated attack for more than six hours also appeared to draw scrutiny, as scientists who study sharks told The Associated Press that sort of behavior has never been recorded and that tiger sharks grow to only about 17 feet in length.

University of Hawaii professor and veteran shark researcher Kim Holland has never heard of any kind of shark repeatedly attacking a boat hull throughout a night. He also said tiger sharks never jump out of the water and do not make coordinated attacks.

Sometimes sharks will congregate around a food source like a whale carcass, but Holland said that was unlikely in this case "if there's nothing there to attract the animals. I mean this is just an inert boat hull."

At some point, Appel joined the Hawai'i Actors Network, noting on the group's website that she has "been known to do almost any skydiving or motorcycle stunt  camera optional." Through the group, she found work as an extra in the former TV series "Off the Map" and the former sitcom "Cougar Town," appearing in that show in a pink bikini in the background of a season finale. A call to the actors' network by The Associated Press was not returned.

Appel's mother, Joyce, also told The Associated Press she called the Coast Guard to report her daughter missing a week and a half after they departed for what they believed would be an 18-day trip to Tahiti.

However, the Coast Guard never got a call from the elder Appel. They received a call from a "family friend" they identified as a male on May 19, still several days before the women expected to arrive.

The women said they filed a float plan listing their course and other details with some friends and relatives. However, in an interview with the Coast Guard, the women said they had filed no float plan.

Hawaii sailing experts say the trip itself was a bad idea.

HOLES EMERGE IN HAWAII WOMEN'S TALE OF SURVIVAL IN THE PACIFIC

Mike Michelwait, owner of the Honolulu Sailing Company, a sailing school and charter company, has sailed the route from Hawaii to Tahiti several times. He said the trip would normally take about 17 days with sailors who could stay on course.

But, Michelwait said, he would not take such a trip with any less than three experienced sailors.

"There's only two of them on board, and it's a 50-foot boat," he said. "That's a lot of boat to handle."

Coast Guard officials told The Associated Press on Monday that the two women had an emergency beacon (EPIRB), but never turned it on because they did not fear for their lives. If they had, rescue would have been headed their way in a matter of minutes.

HAWAII WOMEN SAY THEY ARE PLANNING THEIR NEXT BOATING VACATION

The women said Tuesday that they did not use the beacon because they never felt they were in immediate danger, yet they have been quoted as saying they did not think they would survive another day. Furthermore, the pair said they had been flagging vessels and sending distress signals for at least 98 days.

"We knew we weren't going to make it," Appel said. "So that's when we started making distress calls."

A Fox News reader with a connection to Appel's family provided email correspondence with Coast Guard officials based in Hawaii, who said that on May 5, Appel reported she lost her satellite phone.

Since Jennifer is well equipped with emergency equipment we are confident that if she ran into a distress situation she would activate her EPIRB and we would get the notification quickly, the Joint Rescue Coordination Center Honolulu wrote to the reader in a May 19 email.

The two women also insisted they got caught in a storm that was whipping up 30-foot waves and near hurricane-force winds on the night they set sail, despite records that show no severe weather in the area at the time.

NASA satellite images for the days around their departure show no organized storms in the region where they planned to travel.

There was a tropical cyclone, but it was near Fiji, thousands of miles west of Hawaii. Localized squalls are known to pop up, but a storm lasting three days would have been visible on satellite and would have elicited mass warnings to the public to brace for the weather.

"We got into a Force 11 storm, and it lasted for two nights and three days," Appel said Tuesday.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
An Uzbekistan native is accused in the deadly Halloween terror attack in New York City, highlighting the growing threat of terrorism coming from Central Asia.

The driver, Sayfullo Saipov, has been identified by officials as an immigrant from Uzbekistan and he allegedly left behind handwritten notes pledging his loyalty to ISIS. The 29-year-old came to the U.S. legally in 2010 under the Diversity Visa Program, and according to law enforcement officials is believed to have lived first in Ohio after his arrival.

Uzbekistan is the most populous country in Central Asia, with 88 percent of the population identifying as Muslim, mostly Sunni, according to the CIA World Factbook.

The country has a history with jihadist groups. The previous most-notable group was the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, which later splintered before aligning itself with ISIS, according to a report by the International Crisis Group.

A 2015 report by the organization said growing numbers of Central Asian citizens, male and female, went to the Middle East to fight or otherwise support ISIS.

"Prompted in part by political marginalization and bleak economic prospects that characterize their post-Soviet region, 2,000-4,000 have in the past three years turned their back on their secular states to seek a radical alternative," the report said.

The total number of Uzbeks who have joined ISIS varies depending on the source. The Muslim Board of Uzbekistan put the number at around 200 citizens, while The International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation and Political Violence pegged the number at more than 500 Uzbeks, according to a 2015 USAID report.

"Ethnic Uzbeks, including citizens of Uzbekistan, are most numerous among the Central Asians with the Islamic State, but Kyrgyz, Kazakhs, Turkmen and Tajiks are also well represented," the International Crisis Group said in its report.

A 39-year-old Uzbeck citizen who was known to security services was behind the deadly truck attack in Stockholm in April that killed four people.

Two of the ISIS suicide bombers in the June 2016 attack at Istanbuls main airport were Uzbek and Kyrgyz nationals, a Turkish government official told Reuters at the time.

In the U.S. three New York City residents -- two with Uzbekistan citizenship, and one a citizen of Kazakhstan -- were arrested in 2015 after the Department of Justice said they plotted to travel to Syria to join ISIS militants and "wage jihad."

One of the men arrested in that case, Abdurasul Hasanovich Juraboev, was sentenced to 15 years in prison on Oct. 27 for conspiring to provide material support to ISIS, according to the DOJ.

Uzbekistan's President Shavkat Mirziyoyev sent his condolences to President Trump and the families of the victims on Wednesday, and offered his country's assistance in investigating the attack.

The country has been a longtime partner in the counterterror fight, and the U.S. has worked with Uzbek security services in matters relating to "counter-terrorism and counter-narcotics policies," according to the ICG.

Trump proposed revisions to his extreme vetting program in the wake of the attack, but no countries in Central Asia are among the countries targeted by the Trump administration's controversial immigration policy.

"Unfortunately, we have recently seen a rise in such senseless attacks across the globe and face a persistent terror threat here at home," Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Elaine Duke said in a statement Wednesday. "DHS and our partners remain alert in the wake of this attack and committed to keeping America safe."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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A French court has ordered the removal of a cross from atop a statue of the late Pope John Paul II, sparking a diplomatic feud between France and Poland, the late pontiff's home country.

The cross violates French rules on secularism, the court said.

Polish government officials slammed the decision, offering to display the statue in their country to fend off the dictates of political correctness, the Telegraph reported.

The statue was given to the mayor of Ploermel, western France. It features a likeness of John Paul II sanding beneath an arch -- with a large Christian cross at the top.

French authorities have fought against the statue for a decade  arguing that the cross violates French laws separating church and state.

The Conseil dEtat, Frances top administrative court, recently ruled that the cross must come off. It has given the town six months to comply with the order, the Catholic News Agency reported.

Polish officials urged that the statue be transferred to Poland to save it from censorship.

Our great Pole, a great European, is a symbol of a Christian, united Europe," Polish Prime Minister Beata Szydo said about the statue that depicts the Polish pope, the Telegraph reported.

She warned that the dictates of political correctness and "secularization of the state" were promoting values which are alien to our culture, which leads to terrorizing Europeans in their everyday life."

Multiple conservative French politicians have also raised objections to the ruling, calling it destructive to the countrys history, while social media users started a campaign in support of keeping the cross.

The Roman Catholic Church reportedly called the courts ruling balanced. Patrick Le Diffon, the towns mayor, suggested avoiding unrest by selling off the public land, where the statue is located, to a private investor who would keep the cross.

The pope, born Karol Jozef Wojtyla, served from 1978 until his death in 2005 at age 84.
The New York City attack is the latest in a series of recent terror strikes aimed at the West.

Here is a timeline of recent terror attacks in Europe and the United States:

Oct. 31, 2017: Truck rams into cyclists, pedestrians in New York City

Sayfullo Saipov, 29, from Uzbekistan, allegedly drove a rented truck into a crowd of pedestrians and cyclists on a bike path near the World Trade Center in Manhattan.

The attack killed 8 people and injured at least 12 others.

New York City officials later confirmed the attack was carried out in the name of ISIS.

Sept. 15, 2017: Terror on the tube

At least 22 people were injured when an apparent bucket bomb exploded on a London subway, causing mass panic and flash burns.

Aug. 17, 2017: Van ramming in Barcelona

A van attack killed 14 people in Barcelona, while another person was stabbed to death by the attacker as he fled. Another attack in nearby Cambrils a day later left one dead. The attacks were claimed by ISIS.

June 3, 2017: Van ramming and stabbing in London

Seven people were killed and dozens were injured by three assailants who plowed through pedestrians on the London Bridge and stabbed revelers in Borough Market.

May 22, 2017: Outside Ariana Grande concert in Manchester, England

Twenty-two people were killed and dozens more injured by a suicide bomber with apparent connections to an organized terror network.

April 20, 2017: Champs Elysees attack in Paris

An attacker got out of a car and fired an automatic weapon at a parked police van, killing the officer inside, before shooting at others standing on the nearby sidewalk, injuring two before he was shot and killed by police.

The French president said the attack was terrorist in nature and promised utmost vigilance.

ISIS claimed responsibility for the attack.

April 7, 2017: Stockholm truck attack

Five people were killed when a truck driven by a man drove into a pedestrian shopping street and department store in Swedens capital city, wounding over a dozen others.

The 39-year-old man allegedly admitted to being a member of ISIS and told police that he had achieved what he set out to do.

April 3, 2017: Saint Petersburg bombing

A suicide bombing on the subway in Russias second largest city killed more than a dozen passengers and injured dozens more.

March 22, 2017: Westminster Bridge attack

Five people, including a London police officer who was stabbed and the perpetrator, were killed in a terror attack. More than 40 people were injured outside the Parliament building.

British Prime Minister Theresa May said the act was sick and depraved.

ISIS later claimed responsibility.

Feb. 3, 2017: Louvre knife attack

A machete-wielding man yelling Allahu Akbar attacked soldiers in a shopping mall near the Louvre in Paris. He was shot and wounded by soldiers.

Dec. 19, 2016: Germany Christmas market

A large truck plowed through a Christmas market in central Berlin, which killed 12 and injured 48 others.

ISIS claimed responsibility for the attack and said the attacker was a soldier of the Islamic State through Amaq news agency.

Nov. 28, 2016: Ohio State

Abdul Razak Ali Artan, an Ohio State University student, ran his car into a group of students and slashed people with a butcher knife.

ISIS claimed responsibility for the attack and called Artan a soldier.

Oct. 16, 2016: Hamburg, Germany

There was a lone wolf knife attack in Hamburg, Germany, which claimed the life of one teenager.

July 26, 2016: Normandy, France

Two men took five people hostage during a Mass at a church in Normandy and murdered an elderly priest by stabbing him in the chest and slitting his throat. The hostages were freed later, and the two men were arrested.

Then-President Francois Hollande said that the men carried out the attack in the name of ISIS.

July 14, 2016: Nice, France

Seventy-seven people were killed in Nice, France, when a truck drove through a crowd on Bastille Day.

ISIS claimed responsibility for the attack.

June 12, 2016: Orlando nightclub shooting

Omar Mateen attacked an Orlando gay nightclub, killing 50 people. Mateen pledged allegiance to ISIS on a 911 call, in one of the worst mass shootings in U.S. history, and the worst terrorist attack on U.S. soil since 9/11.

ISIS later claimed responsibility for the attack

March 22, 2016: Belgium attack

There were two suicide bombings on March 22, 2016one at Brussels Airport and the other in the citys subway system. Combined, the attacks killed 32 people.

The ISIS cell that claimed responsibility for the Brussels attack was also linked to those involved in the Nov. 13, 2015 terror attacks in Paris.

Jan. 11, 2016: Marseille, France

A teenager attacked a Jewish teacher in Marseille with a machete. He told police that he carried out the attack in the name of ISIS.

Jan. 7, 2016: Philadelphia, Penn.

A man shot and wounded a Philadelphia police officer. The man claimed the attack was in the name of Islam and ISIS.

Dec. 2, 2015: San Bernardino shooting

A married couple shot and killed 14 people in San Bernardino, Calif. The FBI is investigating the shooting as an act of terrorism inspired by ISIS.

Nov. 13, 2015: Paris attacks

A series of coordinated terrorist attacks in Paris killed 130 people and injured hundreds more. The attacks consisted of mass shootings and suicide bombings.

ISIS claimed responsibility.

Aug. 21, 2015: Paris

Three Americans were at the center of an attempted mass shooting. They helped to overpower a gunman who was armed with a Kalashnikov, and opened fire on a train from Amsterdam to Paris.

The gunman was on the radar of European counterterrorism agencies and appeared to be sympathetic to ISIS.

Feb. 15, 2015: Denmark

A Denmark national who was inspired by ISIS went on a rampage through the nations capital, killing two and wounding five police officers.

Jan. 7-9, 2015: Charlie Hebdo

There was an attack on the offices of the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, and four attacks around Paris followed, killing 17 people.

ISIS claimed responsibility.

May 24, 2014: Jewish Museum shooting

Four people were killed at the Jewish Museum in Brussels by an intruder with a Kalashnikov. The accused was a former French fighter linked to ISIS in Syria.

May 22, 2013: Lee Rigby attack

Two Al Qaeda-inspired extremists ran down British soldier Lee Rigby in a London street, then stabbed and hacked him to death.

March 2012: France gunman

A gunman claiming links to Al Qaeda killed three Jewish schoolchildren, a rabbi and three paratroopers in Toulouse, southern France.

July 22, 2011: Teenager massacre

Right-wing extremist Anders Behring Breivik planted a bomb in Oslo then launched a shooting massacre on a youth camp on Norways Utoya island, killing 77 people, many of them teenagers.

Nov. 2, 2011: Charlie Hebdo firebombing

The offices of Charlie Hebdo in Paris were firebombed after the satirical magazine ran a cover featuring a caricature of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. No one was injured.

March 2, 2011: Germany shooting

Islamic extremist Arid Uka shot dead two U.S. airmen and injured two others at Frankfurt airport after apparently being inspired by a fake internet video purporting to show American atrocities in Afghanistan.

July 7, 2005: London subway and bus bombings

Four Al Qaeda-inspired suicide bombers blew themselves up on three subway trains and a bus, killing 52 commuters.

March 11, 2004: Madrid train bombing

Bombs on four Madrid commuter trains in the morning rush hour killed 191 people.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
More than a dozen travelers from around the United States say reviews website TripAdvisor is deleting and muzzling their first-hand accounts of rape, blackouts and other injuries suffered during vacations to Mexico, according to an extensive investigation published Wednesday by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

The damning report comes two days after U.S. officials called on the State Department and the Office of the Inspector General to conduct additional investigations on Mexican resorts that are serving dangerous, bootleg alcohol.

Tourists who spoke to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel say the posts are frequently removed because they are labeled by TripAdvisor as hearsay.

To me its like censoring, Wendy Avery-Swanson of Phoenix told the newspaper after her review of a Mexican resort  in which she said she blacked out after being served alcohol at a swim-up bar  was scrubbed off the website. It wasnt hearsay. It actually happened to me.

Among the other claims reportedly removed from the site:

Kristie Love, 35, of Dallas, posted in 2010 that she had been raped by a security guard at the Iberostar Paraiso resort near Playa Del Carmen. She wrote in the post that she was followed by the guard, who later overpowered her and raped her in the bushes. She also claimed the hotel staff refused to call police. The post was taken down for violating family friendly guidelines, a TripAdvisor moderator ruled, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Jamie Valeri, 34, of Wisconsin, wrote in 2015 she was sexually assaulted and her husband suffered a broken hand at the same resort after they blacked out in the middle of the day, just into their third drink. Valeris account was corroborated by the newspaper through receipts, email and phone records, medical reports and interviews. Yet TripAdvisor removed her posts, calling them hearsay.

Josh Resmini tried to post a review of the Grand Velas Riviera Maya resort on Oct. 16 in which he claimed he was drugged and sexually assaulted by a massage therapist. He told the newspaper the hotel denied responsibility and a day after filing the review, TripAdvisor told him it would not be allowed to be published, once again, citing hearsay as the reason.

The Massachusetts-based travel giant says it employs hundreds of people to police the content of its 535-million user reviews of hotels and restaurants around the world and uses software to detect fake ones.

TripAdvisor gets money from some hotels when tourists click on their links, while others pay commissions for bookings, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported.

But still, the company insists it keeps its money-generating deals with booking partners and hotel chains like Iberostar separate from the user-generated content.

Iberostar Hotels & Resorts told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that it has zero tolerance for any type of illegal or inappropriate conduct on its property grounds, and that it investigated Loves case and others, but none of the women decided to push forward in their cases.

TALES OF TAINTED ALCOHOL AT MEXICAN RESORTS PROMPT SENATORS TO SEEK ACTION

Love said she did return to Mexico a few weeks after the incident to file police reports but the chief couldnt get the resort company to cooperate with the investigation. The police chief was found shot dead in his car months later.

I just needed to be able to lay my head at night and know I did the best I could and I felt like I did the best I could in getting the word out, she told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel in her effort to post her story on TripAdvisors website.

On Oct. 19, seven years to the day after the alleged attack, her original post was republished on the site, but was buried deep in a forum behind thousands of other more recent posts.

"We apologize to the sexual assault victim, reported on in the article, who had her forum post removed 7 years ago on TripAdvisor," Brian Hoyt, senior director of communications for TripAdvisor, told Fox News in an e-mail Wednesday. "Since 2010, when the forum post was removed, our policies and processes have evolved to better provide information like this to other travelers. As a result, when recently brought to our attention, the victim's initial forum post was republished by our staff."

Hoyt says Internet searches "will show numerous reviews from travelers over the last several years who wrote about their first-hand experiences that include matters of robbery or theft, assault and rape."

He added: "We believe any first hand experience should be posted to our site as a means to communicate to other consumers looking for information on where they should travel."

Hoyt said the company is creating a "badge" notification to apply to businesses to "alert consumers of health & safety or discrimination issues at that business reported on within the media or other credible sources of information."

But had Love's post been up there all along, maybe we wouldnt have gone or maybe that wouldnt have happened to me, Valeri said.

TOURISTS TO MEXICO BELIEVE DAUGHTER DIED AFTER BEING DRUGGED AT RESORT

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel also reported an unknown number of TripAdvisor users are allowed to delete forum posts and there is no way to know how many negative reviews on the site are withheld or scrubbed. The average rating of all the hotels on the website is 4 out of 5 stars, it added.

This is a major problem with online reviews, theyre heavily skewed, Bart De Langhe, an associate professor of marketing at ESADE business school in Barcelona, who studies consumer behavior, told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. We live in this illusion of perfect informationbut we dont ask the hard questions and dont realize the information is imperfect and biased.

Fox News' Greg Norman contributed to this report.
Unite the Right organizer Jason Kessler will be permitted to move to Ohio for a marketing job after a county judge agreed to modify his bond.

Kessler was in Albemarle County Circuit Court on Tuesday morning for a bond hearing over the felony perjury charge levied against him earlier this month. The 34-year-old, best known for organizing the white nationalist rally Aug. 12, has claimed that hes had trouble finding work in Central Virginia and has been offered an opportunity in Ohio to work in sales.

The charge stems from a January incident in which Kessler made a statement to a county magistrate, alleging that hed been assaulted by Charlottesville resident James Justin Taylor.

At the time, Kessler told The Daily Progress that while petitioning for the ouster of City Councilor Wes Bellamy, he was approached by two men, including Taylor, who grabbed his arm and the petition and violently shook his arm. He claimed to have then punched Taylor in self-defense; Taylor had Kessler charged with misdemeanor assault, to which he pled guilty earlier this year.

Prosecutors dropped the case against Taylor, stating that video evidence refuted Kesslers claim. That video evidence may now serve as the basis for Kesslers perjury charge.

In court on Tuesday, Kessler said that he had been offered a sales job at a business called Optimus Marketing, and that hed be looking to relocate to a city or town in Ohio known as Charleston. It is unclear if he was referring to Charlestown Township, a town in Portage County, Ohio; West Charleston, an unincorporated village in Miami County; South Charleston, a village in Clark County, Ohio; or if he used a misnomer.

Kessler added that he will stay in the home of someone who he knows through his participation in white nationalist rallies, but whom he had not met.Albemarle County Commonwealths Attorney Robert Tracci opposed the bond modification, noting that Kessler had not been clear about the marketing company for which he would be working, and that his living situation appeared tenuous, given that he had not met his host. Tracci added that the company Kessler said hed be working for, Optimus Marketing, did not appear to have an online presence.

An online search for Optimus Marketing did not return any results. It is possible that Kessler meant Optimum Marketing Partners, a call center company that may have offices Ohio. The company did not return requests for comment.

Neither Kessler nor his defense attorney, Mike Hallahan, has returned requests for clarification about the company.

Tracci also said he was concerned about Kesslers willingness to return to the Virginia for further court hearings, given a failure to appear at a court in Richmond 15 years ago. When asked, Kessler said he did not recall exactly what the charge was, but that it could have been obstruction of justice and that he had pleaded guilty.

Hallahan told Judge Cheryl Higgins that the motivation for the bond modification was financial, and that Kessler had found difficulty with finding any work in Central Virginia.

Higgins agreed that it would be difficult for Kessler to find local work, given his notoriety. She ultimately elected to grant Kessler the modification.

The new charge against Kessler is a Class 5 felony, which carries minimum prison term of one year and a maximum prison term of 10 years, or at the discretion of the jury or a court trying the case without a jury, confinement in jail for a maximum of 12 months or a maximum fine of $2,500, or both.

A one-day jury trial has been scheduled for March 20, with a pretrial hearing set for Dec. 27.
A Richmond man surrendered himself to police Tuesday afternoon in connection with the theft of women's underwear from a Fan District laundromat in August.

Timothy Iott, 54, of Richmond has been charged with petit larceny.

About 2:40 p.m. on Aug. 26, a man entered a laundromat in the 300 block of Strawberry Street and took a pair of women's underwear from a load of clothing in a washing machine, according to police.

Police reported last week that Iott had last been seen the night of Friday, Oct. 20, at the same laundromat. After leaving the facility, he visited several laundromats in the Fan, police said.

Anyone with additional information about these incidents is asked to call 3rd Precinct Detective Heather Truong at (804) 646-1067 or Crime Stoppers at (804) 780-1000.

You can also contact Crime Stoppers by going online to www.7801000.com or sending a text message to 274637, using the keyword iTip followed by the tip.

All Crime Stoppers methods are anonymous.
The candidates for Virginias 30th District delegate seat, Republican incumbent Nick Freitas and Democratic challenger Ben Hixon, come from vastly different areas of the United States.

Freitas, 38, was born in Chico, Calif., while the 35-year-old Hixon hails from Monroe, La. Both now live in Culpeper.

A lifelong Republican, Freitas is seeking his second two-year term in the House of Delegates in the Nov. 7 election. He is married to his high school sweetheart, Tina, who is also actively involved in local politics. The couple has three children.

Freitas joined the military right after high school and spent 11 years in the U.S. Army. A member of a special forces unit, he was twice deployed to Iraq.

He has been a member of the Republican Party since moving to Culpeper and served as chairman of the Culpeper County Republican Committee in 2014.

I am first and foremost a Christian, Freitas says, adding that principles of individual liberty, personal responsibility, respect for God and limited, constitutional government are not merely convenient political concepts, but essentials which are fundamental to our liberty, prosperity and security.

Hixon comes from a family of educators. His grandmother taught second grade, his grandfather was a high school principal and his mother was an English teacher at Middle Tennessee State. His partner is a librarian.

Given this background, its no surprise that Hixon is focused on education, especially vocational education.

When we graduate high school, we shouldnt be forced to choose between a four-year college and McDonalds, he said. Theres got to be something in between. We need plumbers, electricians, and carpenters. Even computer coding can be taught as a trade instead of a four-year degree. Freedom means access to the tools we need to succeed, and not everyone needs a four-year degree to succeed. 

Hixon also believes that making broadband internet accessible to everyone is extremely important and that the economy would be helped by lowering some taxes and cutting government restrictions.

Freitas would also like to see lower taxes and fewer regulations and is also a proponent of education, especially vocational education.

Freitas has a background in business while Hixon has been involved in computer research.

This is Hixons first attempt to hold public office. It was last years presidential race that got him interested in politics, he said.

According to campaign finance reports posted by the Virginia Public Access Project, Hixon had outraised the incumbent going into the final weeks of the campaign. From Jan. 1, 2016, through Sept. 30, Freitas reported raising $49,830 and spending $39,341. His largest donors were the Republican Party of Virginia at $5,000 and the Virginia Dental Association and Mark A. James at $3,500 each.

Hixon reported raising $71,937 and spending $29,537 as of Sept. 30. His largest donors were Culpeper businessman Joe Daniel at $4,650 and Win Virginia at $4,372.

The 30th District includes Orange, Madison and part of Culpeper counties.
One of the questions I often get from readers is where the ideas for columns come from, and how I keep them coming at a steady pace.

That last part can be a bit tricky, as the flow of ideas can range from a trickle to an overwhelming flood. In the past few months, Ive found and researched more topics than Ive been able to get into the paper, which has created a backlog of topics I need to get to. Those columns range from chats with new leaders at Shenandoah National Park, Stratford Hall and St. Margarets School to the fact that Westmoreland County is finally planning for a new high school.

I feel bad when interviews done months earlier havent seen the light of day yet, but sometimes other stuff happens, which means that some topics just take a while to get in.

That said, Im devoting the rest of todays space to a column I researched weeks ago: new offerings and displays at the Deltaville Maritime Museum. The recent additions make the pleasant 92-mile drive from Fredericksburg to that Middle Peninsula spot on the Chesapeake Bay worth a visit.

When I arrived at the scenic Holly Point Nature Parkwhere the new museum was raised from the ashes of a horrible fire in 2012friend and museum ambassador Bill Powell gave me a tour of whats new.

First up was the exhibit/shell built to show visitors the recreation of the John Smith shallop/barge called Explorer. Built in the boat shop of this museum to tell the story of Deltavilles once-dominant history as the boatbuilding capital of the region, Explorer makes the rounds each year to schools and festivals. Powell said that instead of hiding the beautifully crafted boat away in a shed, the museum staff built an outdoor cover and display so visitors can learn about it.

Its a functioning craft and folks really enjoy seeing it, said Powell, who also pointed out the Deltaville Dolly in an outdoor spot. Its the set of wheels and axles that boat builders would use to transfer everything from skiffs to skipjacks once they were built. Workers would attach the wheels and stretch out the spine of the dollys tongue to whatever was used to tow it.

Powell also pointed out a wooden trailer of sorts that has a Civil War connection to Middlesex County thanks to forward-thinking Confederate Naval Officer John Taylor Wood. During the Civil War, he convinced superiors to let him try the tactic of using small boats to take a ship by means of a surprise night assault.

He said Woods first raid happened in October 1862, when Wood and his men stormed the deck of the schooner Frances Elmore at anchor in the Potomac River. They stripped her of valuables, set her on fire, and headed back to Richmond in triumph.

They did that all around the Chesapeake Bay, and often on its tributaries near Deltaville, said Powell.

Powell said that Confederates had ships built in the Richmond Navy Yard and wagons were outfitted to carry the cutters overland, creating a navy on wheels that could be moved to any of the many peninsulas in the Chesapeake regions.

After Powell showed me new items on the outside of the museum, director Kristen DeGraw showed me a host of new exhibits on the inside.

They range from the skipjack Virginiabuilt in Deltaville fully rigged and ready to sale, in the center of the museums main hallto a really cool collection of historic outboard motors that will remind boaters how far engineering has come.

Theres also a neat collection of pond boats donated by a family in Winchester that feature everything from sailing models to block-built tugs, and an exhibit of boatbuilding tools that will impress even the most experienced woodworkers.

The Deltaville Maritime Museum and Holly Point Nature Park is open seven days a week, closed only for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years Day. For more details or directions, go online to deltavillemuseum.com.
Funds raised from a 5k Family Fun Run taking place this weekend in memory of a young woman brutally murdered almost seven years ago will be donated to the Shriners Hospital for Children in St. Louis for the sponsorship of a room in her name.

The 6th Annual Ericka Wade Foundation 5k Family Fun Run will take place at 8:30 a.m. Saturday at the El Tapatio restaurant, located at 605 Walton Drive in Farmington. Same day registration opens at 7:30 a.m. Online registration is also still underway at www.erickawadefoundation.org.

According to foundation officer and Wade's brother, Brian Bates, there will be raffles held Saturday for two Yeti Coolers and a Henry Golden Eagle lever action rifle.

All of the proceeds raised that day will benefit children with medical needs through our sponsorship of the Ericka Wade Foundation Inpatient Room at the hospital," Bates said. "The reason we decided to support the Shriners Hospital when we started the foundation back in 2012 was because Ericka was a patient there when she was young.

"She was born with a club foot and so the first five years of her life, they took many trips up to Shriners Hospital. Ericka had multiple surgeries there and they treated her and our family so well that we decided that this was a cause that we would love to support."

Erickas life was cut short on Nov. 30, 2010  just two weeks after her 20th birthday  when she was lured from her home and brutally murdered. The Ericka Wade Foundation was started by the young woman's family to affect a positive impact on the lives of others in her name.

"In 2015 (the foundation) pledged to raise $50,000 in support of the new facility and Shriners commitment to pediatric orthopedics," Bates said. "As a result of the foundation's commitment, during its new facilities dedication on May 17, 2015, Shriners christened one of the six new inpatient rooms as the Ericka Wade Foundation Inpatient Room.

"Over the last five years our runs have raised over $40,000 for Shriners thanks to our loyal supporters and we hope to possibly make our goal this year.

In 2014 we had the opportunity to sponsor the room because the Shriners were building the brand-new hospital in the city. Basically, the deal is that you have to pledge to raise $50,000 over a six-year period to sponsor a room."

According to Bates, the Wade family is anticipating this weekend's race to be the best they've ever sponsored.

"We're expecting another big crowd this year," he said. " We just want to raise another good amount of money for Shriners Hospital."

Bates also encourages the community to drop by El Tapatios anytime Thursday when a portion of the days sales will be donated to the foundation.

For those who love Mexican food like I do, its an easy and enjoyable way to give to a good cause.
Norman A. Grow Sr., 91, of Spotsylvania County, passed away Sunday evening, October 29, 2017, at Mary Washington Hospital from complications of a stroke. Norman was born in Rosaryville, Maryland on March 22, 1926, to the late Glen and Elsie Grow. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1943-1946. He married in 1947 and graduated from Spotsylvania High School in 1948. He and his wife moved back to Maryland where he retired from the University of Maryland with 30 years of service. In 1990, he and his wife returned to Spotsylvania County to live their retirement years. They enjoyed camping and traveling in their motor home and attending steam engine shows across the states. He was a Navy veteran, a member of the Masonic Lodge in Hyattsville, Maryland, a member of the American Legion and the VFW, and a Methodist by faith. Survivors include his wife of 70 years, Alice Smith Grow, and his son, Norman Allen Grow Jr. He is also survived by four sisters-in-law, Lorace Coe, Catherine Smith, Arnell Steckler and Elizabeth Smith. He also leaves numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by all five of his siblings. Funeral services will be held at Laurel Hill Funeral Home Friday, November 3, 2017 at 1 p.m. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service. Interment will follow in Laurel Hill Cemetery. Online condolences may be made at laurelhillfuneralhome.com.
You can't have both the Confederate flag and a hate-free Virginia. I am proud of my family's heritage, but I also recognize that part of their legacy is tarnished.

I come from a long line of alcoholics who beat their wives and children, and who were racists. Does that make me less proud of them? No, but I choose to not celebrate that part of their past. I remember it, but I don't honor it.

We are all flawed. My ancestors fought for the British in the American Revolution, but I don't fly a British flag to honor them. You need to recognize that the flag is seen as a symbol of hate outside the South, regardless if it actually is one or not. That flag says: "You and your kind aren't welcome here."

We cannot have a hate-free Virginia while clinging to a symbol of hate and calling it heritage. As for, All Lives Matter, that slogan only started as a counter-narrative to, Black Lives Matter. Black Lives Matter started as a response to a number of police-involved shootings where black men were being killed for what seemed to start as traffic stops and minor crimes.

All lives do matter, but only one group is being killed at traffic stops, and those people are not white. If you want a hate-free Virginia, we can start by having some uncomfortable conversations, and being prepared to listen to and believe what people are telling you.

Kim Wyman

Spotsylvania
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St. Francois County Prosecuting Attorney Jerrod Mahurin filed charges Wednesday morning related to the murder of John Lewis, originally estimated to have taken place on Sept. 13 in northern St. Francois County.

Lewis wife Diana was also found dead on the property. Dianas death was also ruled a homicide, although a definite cause of death could not be determined because of decomposition.

According to court documents, Frankie Pineda, 30, of Blackwell, is charged with first-degree murder in the death of John Lewis. The victim was killed by a laceration to the throat.

According to a probable cause statement obtained from the St. Francois County Prosecuting Attorneys Office, detectives received information from witnesses about Pinedas connection to the couple.

The statement says detectives learned that Diana Lewis owned a mobile home in Farmington, which she was leasing to several individuals including Pineda. Witnesses also claimed that Diana was not only the tenants landlord, but was also involved with methamphetamine distribution and use with the individuals.

The report references a case in May of 2017, in which Diana and one of the tenants were arrested following wire transfers with other individuals involved in the methamphetamine trade. When arrested, Diana and the tenant were in possession of several thousand dollars and methamphetamine.

On Sept. 1, Diana moved Pineda to her and Johns home in Blackwell after loading his belongings and two dogs into Dianas truck as evidenced by surveillance footage and witness testimony.

A large bulk of evidence was gleaned from a series of text messages sent from Pinedas phone over a five-day period beginning Sept. 6.

In one text message, Pineda stated that John Lewis didnt want him at the residence. In another, Pineda stated that John Lewis had killed his Great Dane, Buddy.

Pineda sent an address to a family member on Sept. 6 followed by a message reading, Just in case something happens thats the last place I was. Pineda then instructed the recipient of the message to delete the text.

Shortly after, Pineda sent another text to a friend saying, I dont know if you get this, I might be gone soon. Its bad in the landladys house and my insanity snap for a second and something happen, it happens when I try to stop it."

Pineda then provided friends with the address of the Lewis house and instructed them to pick him up from the address on Sept. 11. Pineda was transported from the home to Troy, Illinois and dropped off.

In a video interview after his arrest, Pineda said he was under extreme stress at the Lewis residence and had been harassed and mistreated by both John and Diana Lewis. Pineda also believed John had killed his dog, Buddy, and had threatened to kill him as well.

Pineda said after a confrontation with John Lewis about the death of the dog, he consumed a bottle of Cognac and a mixture of unknown pills. He claimed he was unable to recall any of the following events.

As previously reported, the bodies of John L. Lewis, 50, and his wife Diana L. Lewis, 58, were discovered outside their rural home in northern St. Francois County off Dark Hollow Road in Blackwell.

The sheriffs deputies were called to the Lewis home to check on the well-being of John, said St. Francois County Sheriff Dan Bullock. He is a union electrician and according to the people who called us, his co-workers, he never missed work.

Bullock said they were told that if John was sick or something he was always prompt about calling in and they hadnt seen him for about a week.

Officers checked the house and found the door open with the dog running in and out of the house, said Bullock. It didnt look like it had been ransacked or anything was stolen that they could tell.

Bullock said later in the day more officers were brought out to start doing a cursory search of the area around the house. Thats when they discovered a body of a man, later identified as John Lewis.

Further searching found the body of a female, later identified as Diana Lewis, said Bullock. Officers believed it to be a homicide and that they both had been murdered there at the residence. Detectives from my department were called to the scene and with further search they collected evidence.

Bullock said the area was shut down around the property and the house. They began talking to people in the area to see if anyone had seen or heard anything.

There were very few with it being such a remote area, said Bullock. They then started trying to contact family members. We had an autopsy performed on both of them the following day and it was determined that they both were murdered.
A time and date have been set for the dedication ceremony honoring an important part of one area communitys history.

The city of Farmington is holding a dedication ceremony of the St. Lukes African Methodist Episcopal Church Park at 2 p.m. on Nov. 4.

The park, located at the corner of Franklin Street and Third Street near downtown Farmington, was the site of the St. Lukes A.M.E. Church.

The property was donated to the city by former Farmington City Councilman Bill Matthews and Charles Matthews in February of 2014.

At that time, then-mayor Mit Landrum told the council the land was the site of the first African Methodist Episcopal Church west of the Mississippi. The gift of the land was given by the brothers for the city to develop the site into a memorial park in honor of the African-American families who played an integral part in the history and development of Farmington.

All that remains at the site are the concrete steps once leading to the front door.

Farmington Parks and Recreation Director Chris Conway said the board discussed the design of the park by request of Mayor Larry Forsythe.

The memorial park will be a passive park  meaning, there are no recreation-type swings or other items related to what one typically considers with a park.

A member of the tree board is a landscape architect and helped create an initial design. The design uses both Ivory Silk trees and boxwoods.

People walk by  they can sit and reflect, Conway said. Whats neat about the design of the park is that the trees are going to outline the foundation of the original church.

Two stone benches are to be placed within the tree line as well.

The boxwoods are planted in the altar area of the church.

They are to symbolize (altar location), he said. They are going to be staggered in a way to see the depiction.

The Matthews family has been invited to participate in the ceremony. During the Oct. 12 Farmington City Council meeting, Mayor Forsythe said some are traveling from out of state to take part in the event.

The ceremony is open to the public.
After a request from a Bismarck High School teacher was read during the recent St. Francois County Commissions meeting asking that her class be allowed to become an Adopt-A-County Road participant, Commissioner Patrick Mullins took a little time to talk about the programs history and importance to the county.

The letter, written by Amy Hubbs, who is a specialist with Bismarck High Schools Jobs for Americas Graduates  a school-to-work transition program focused on helping at-risk youth graduate from high school  expressed her group's desire to adopt the entire 1.2 mile length of Kings Road, the original highway to Bismarck.

The commission started this program back in June of 2010 and our first group to participate was on May 17, 2011, Mullins said. With this group of youngsters we now have 13 groups participating in the program. We are responsible for around 390 miles of county roads. So, with this addition, our volunteers are picking up trash on 25.3 miles of county road.

Mullins listed some of the cost savings received by the county through the Adopt-A-County Road Program.

You need two high-visibility signs, trash bags and safety vests, he said. That cost equates to around $200. On normal trash pick-up you would have six guys at almost $20 an hour with a fuel cost for a dump truck and passenger vehicle that could easily reach $100. So, the total value on any given day could be around $1,200 a day. I know thats a fixed cost, but still  were saving money.

Commissioner Gay Wilkinson interjected, Thats if we were doing it 

Mullins answered, Yes, thats if we were doing it. So, the cost of maintaining these roads for trash pick-up would be higher if it wasnt for the volunteers picking up a total of 25.3 miles of county road. Thats just to let you know that. Im going to send this person the contract and a thank you letter  and they are in contact with Ben Sabastian. So, thanks again to Bismarck High School JAG specialist Amy Hubbs and her volunteers.

After accepting Mullins report, the commissioners approved pay schedule recommendations for the new positions of deputy clerk 4; chief deputy 4; field appraiser 4; and secretary 3 that were submitted by County Clerk Mark Hedrick after he held a special meeting with the county commissioners, officeholders and department heads last week.

Reading from his recommendation, Hedrick said, When an employee has been in the deputy clerk 1, chief deputy 1, field appraiser 1 or secretary 1 position for a period of five years, the officeholder or department head may recommend that the employee be advanced to deputy clerk 2, chief deputy 2, field appraiser 2 or secretary 2 position.

When an employee has been in the deputy clerk 2, chief deputy 2, field appraiser 2 or secretary 2 positions for a period of five years, the officeholder or department head may recommend that the employee be advanced to the deputy clerk 3, chief deputy 3, field appraiser 3 or secretary 3 position.

When an employee has been in the deputy clerk 3, chief deputy 3 or field appraiser 3 or secretary 3 positions for a period of 10 years, the officeholder or department head may recommend that the employee be advanced to the deputy clerk 4, chief deputy 4 or field appraiser 4 position.

Hedrick also noted that any change in position, other than multiple level positions, must be presented to the county commission showing why the change is justified. He also stressed that all officeholders and department heads need to prepare job descriptions for all of their office or department positions by the end of 2018.

In other action, the commissioners voted down a request by County Public Administrator Gary Matheny asking that two employees in his department be promoted and receive pay raises.
DEAR DOCTOR: Amid all the talk about the Zika virus, I thought we'd stopped worrying about West Nile. Now I see that it's back -- or never left. What are the risks of this? Are they greater than Zika?

DEAR READER: You are correct; West Nile virus continues to be a threat in the United States. Forty-eight states and the District of Columbia have reported cases of West Nile; overall, the U.S. reported 43,937 cases of the virus and 1,911 related deaths between 1999 and 2015. Because many people have only mild symptoms and don't seek medical attention, the actual number of cases is undoubtedly much higher.

The species of West Nile virus in the U.S., which was first detected in New York City in 1999, is believed to have originated in the Middle East. It's transmitted by mosquitos, which starts the disease cycle by infecting birds. There, the virus multiplies within its avian hosts. When another mosquito draws blood from an infected bird, the mosquito then can infect another bird, or a human. Because transmission relies on mosquitos, most cases of West Nile virus occur in the summer and early fall months, when the insects are most plentiful. Humans rarely transfer the virus among themselves; when they do, it's because infected mothers pass the virus to their child in the womb.

The majority of people with West Nile virus infection don't have symptoms; in fact, symptoms are seen in only 20 to 40 percent of cases. Further, early symptoms (fever, muscle aches, headache, fatigue and rash) are not much different from those of many other viruses, so the true cause may go undiagnosed. These symptoms usually last from three to 10 days, but some people report fatigue, muscle aches and difficulty concentrating for up to 30 days or longer after contracting West Nile virus.

In less than 1 percent of people, West Nile virus invades the nervous system. There it can cause inflammation of the brain and surrounding tissues, leading to confusion and even coma or death. The virus can also enter the peripheral nerves, causing muscle paralysis; sometimes, this paralysis involves the respiratory muscles, leaving some people unable to breathe on their own. The death rate when West Nile virus invades the nervous system is 10 percent. Those at higher risk of death from West Nile virus include older adults; people with diabetes, heart disease or chronic hepatitis C; people with a depressed immune system; and people who abuse alcohol.

Patients who survive West Nile virus' assault on the nervous system can have prolonged symptoms. One-third of those with paralysis related to the virus will fail to improve, and if the brain is affected, people can experience significant difficulties with brain function even after a year. One study found that 40 percent of patients reported fatigue and weakness up to eight years after the infection.

As for treatment, anti-viral medications appear to have some effect against West Nile, especially when the drugs are used early in the disease. However, no large human studies have assessed their efficacy. The best way to avoid West Nile virus is by draining areas of standing water or using mosquito repellants.

While other viruses, such as Zika, are understandably worrisome, don't ignore the possibility of infection with West Nile. In the continental United States, Zika transmission is much rarer than West Nile transmission.

Robert Ashley, M.D., is an internist and assistant professor of medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles.

Send your questions to askthedoctors@mednet.ucla.edu, or write: Ask the Doctors, c/o Media Relations, UCLA Health, 924 Westwood Blvd., Suite 350, Los Angeles, CA, 90095. Owing to the volume of mail, personal replies cannot be provided.
You can bet this years Breeders Cup from Iowa in the comfort of your own home at any one of a number of top international Internet racebooks, none of which will ever require you to provide a social security number.

Prairie Meadows is one of the more popular race tracks in the state that will be featuring simulcast racing of the Breeders Cup Classic.

You can stop by Level 4 to place your wager and enjoy a buffet from Champions Restaurant, reservations available, please call 515.967.8575!

Take advantage of Americas Bookie racebook software online as well, noting that this site will not require you to provide your social security number.

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A Pinch of Salt: The election is over, I think, so what now?
Maybe you had the exact same reaction we did when reading about the latest wacky developments at President Trump's advisory commission on election integrity.

Here was our reaction: You mean the commission is still a thing? Didn't it close down a couple of months ago?

No such luck.

But the time has long since passed  if indeed such a time ever existed  when this commission had anything useful to offer. It's time to close up shop here.

The commission was created in the wake of Trump's unsubstantiated claims that widespread voter fraud cost him the popular vote during the 2016 election. Trump's opponent, Democrat Hillary Clinton, received 2.8 million more votes nationwide than Trump.

It's not clear why this rankles Trump so, especially considering that he won the election in the Electoral College, which is how we actually elect U.S. presidents. (And let's remember something here: It's not as if Clinton didn't know about this Electoral College thing.)

But we digress. In any event, Trump's insistence, without the benefit of evidence, that widespread voter fraud took place in November prompted the formation of his commission on electoral integrity, which immediately distinguished itself by requesting a wide range of information about registered voters in every state, including partial Social Security numbers, dates of birth, addresses and voting history. After several state officials pointed out that laws in their states prohibited such a broad release of information, the request was scaled back.

Now this: Two members of the panel recently wrote letters to the commission staff complaining about a lack of information regarding the panel's agenda and activities.

Let's underline this point: This isn't about pesky members of the media complaining about a lack of information regarding the commission's activities. (As it turns out, media requests for such information generally have been ignored.) No, this involves actual members of the commission complaining that they're in the dark about what the group is up to.

One of the commissioners wrote this in his letter: "I am in a position where I feel compelled to inquire after the work of the commission upon which I am sworn to serve, and am yet completely uninformed as to its activities."

Another commissioner told an Associated Press reporter: "I am in the dark on what will happen from this point on, to tell you the truth."

Well, maybe the meeting packets haven't gotten to those commissioners yet through the U.S. mail.

Or maybe  and this strikes us as the more likely explanation  this train wreck finally is rolling off the rails.

Let's be blunt: The main purpose of the commission is to create a smoke screen to make it easier for states (and, possibly, the federal government) to curtail voting rights. A state like Oregon, which has worked hard to expand the franchise, isn't going to be particularly interested in embracing specious justifications for legislation that makes it harder for citizens to vote.

It's really a lost opportunity: If this group really were serious about electoral integrity, there's work that it could be doing. The commission could be working to develop ways to modernize voting machines and to safeguard election systems against hackers. It could be exploring whether to encourage states to explore vote-by-mail systems like the one Oregon uses  which are notoriously hard to hack and leave behind a paper trail.

But we've seen nothing to date to suggest that this commission is interested in tackling any of that work. In fact, it's not clear if the panel even will get around to making any recommendations; one of its leaders, Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach, has said it's "highly possible" that the commission will make no recommendations when it finishes its work.

We should jump to that ending right now: Disband the commission. Make no recommendations. Mission accomplished. (mm)
An opportunity for foodies and beer lovers to get lost in a world of food and drink from a hand-selected range of food trucks and breweries from around New Zealand.
DEAR ABBY: My husband and I have been together 21 years, married for 17. We recently did a short sale on our home and moved to Texas. It was a professional move for my husband.

At first I was wowed; then I grew homesick for my family, my job and my friends. My husband was not supportive of my emotional needs.

Three years later, my husband has announced his engagement to another woman via the internet. He has been seeing her all this time, while financially supporting my household and saying, "Goodbye, I love you," at the end of our phone calls and texts.

Needless to say, I have filed for divorce. His "cupcake" doesn't know he's still married and has large debts from our relationship as well as this new one, so she's in for a big financial surprise.

In the meantime, we'll communicate amicably. I still love him. I want to expose him to her. I don't think she'd be making wedding plans if she knew he was still married. Should I let them figure it out for themselves or maybe spend my lifetime with regrets? -- HEAVY HEART, NO REGRETS

DEAR HEAVY HEART: If you want to do the cupcake a "favor" and expose your almost-ex, I can't stop you. But if you do, you can bet your divorce will be anything but amicable, and I have serious doubts that you'll achieve your goal.

DEAR ABBY: My husband is always grabbing me in a sexual way. I find it demeaning and annoying. When I ask him to stop, he says it's normal and I should be glad he's still interested in me. He says it's my job to "take care of my man," even if it means being awakened in the middle of the night. Is this normal? -- MANHANDLED IN GEORGIA

DEAR MANHANDLED: When a man approaches a woman in a sexual way, it is supposed to be pleasurable for both parties. If one of them asks the other to stop and the person doesn't, it becomes more of an assault than foreplay. It is not your "job" to have sex with your husband when he wakes you up in the middle of the night demanding it. That borders on coercion, and it is not "normal."

DEAR ABBY: My younger brother smokes, but not cigarettes. Recently, he has been taking a pipe to school. I'm the one who drives him to the bus stop every morning, and I've told him to leave it at home, but he refuses to listen to me. I'm worried he's going to get caught by the campus police, get kicked out of our very nice school and develop a criminal record. I can't tell our parents because that will do more harm than good, and I can't make him listen to me. What do I do? -- SMOKING MAD OLDER SISTER

DEAR SISTER: Ask yourself which will do your brother more good -- telling your parents what he has been up to so they can intervene, or remaining silent and letting him get kicked out of school for being stoned in class? Tell your parents!

DEAR ABBY: Taking care of a loved one who has Alzheimer's is difficult. My boyfriend came up with a brilliant idea to help me maintain my own space (the basement in the family home) and still keep track of my mom upstairs. A baby monitor! I could hear everything going on upstairs, at night especially, and it made a challenging time much easier.

Both of my parents had Alzheimer's disease, and I wish I had known about the monitor when Dad was still alive. I hope this will help others to be more effective caregivers without compromising their own lives. -- MISSING MOM AND DAD IN MONTANA

DEAR MISSING: So do I, because placing a baby monitor in the room of a sick person of any age is a good idea in case the person needs assistance. I have heard of this being done not only with Alzheimer's patients but also with people in hospice programs whose caregivers can't be with them every minute. Thank you for writing.

DEAR ABBY: I was unhappily married years ago and conceived a child by an ex-boyfriend. My son is now 31. I divorced my husband 28 years ago. He knew the baby was not his, but claimed him as his own son. He refused to do a DNA test when we were going through the divorce. He died a few years ago.

I am in contact with my son's biological father. They look identical, and my grandson looks just like his father and grandfather.

My guilt is consuming me. I want to tell my son that even though the dad he knew all his life is gone, he still has a chance to get to know another father who is his blood. On the other hand, I don't want to ruin my relationship with my son and grandchildren, whom I love very much. How can I tell the truth without hurting my son and our relationship? -- RIGHTING A WRONG

DEAR RIGHTING: Better late than never. Your son needs to know that the man who raised him and claimed him as his own was not his biological father so that he can have a complete medical history. If the birth father wasn't interested in knowing or supporting his son, he sounds more like a sperm donor than a "blood" relative to me. Do not be surprised if your son isn't interested in knowing more about his birth father than the information I suggested.

DEAR ABBY: My mother died from a heroin overdose when I was 8. As a mother with children of my own, I often find myself getting upset when people say nice things about her -- things that would normally make people feel good, such as, "Oh, she would have been so proud of you," or, "She was such a great woman." I feel that if she was such a great woman, she wouldn't have chosen drugs over her (or our) well-being. How can I let go of the anger I feel toward her when everyone else sees her only in a good light? -- MIXED FEELINGS ABOUT MOM

DEAR MIXED FEELINGS: I'm sorry for the loss of your mother at such a tender age and under such tragic circumstances. Far more is understood about drug addiction today than was known when you were a child. We now know that addiction can be less about a lack of character than a medical problem.

I seriously doubt that when your mother gave herself her final fix she realized it would be her last. While I sympathize with your anger at being cheated out of her presence in your life, it would be better for your own quality of life if you could accept that she was a human being and fallible. A licensed mental health professional can help you work through your anger, and I hope you will talk to one soon.

DEAR ABBY: We host many gatherings in our home during the year, including picnics. We have a downstairs bathroom that is intended for guests. But twice now, I have encountered guests using my upstairs bathroom. I have never offered it, and I'm offended that they take it upon themselves to go uninvited into private territory. I would never do that in someone else's house. Am I wrong, or are they overstepping the boundaries here? -- WONDERING IN THE EAST

DEAR WONDERING: To use your upstairs bathroom without asking your permission is overstepping. The exception might be if the downstairs bathroom was in use, and the need to get into one was urgent.

DEAR ABBY: My three best friends over the last four years recently decided to start a business together. They said I was more than welcome to join them, but financially I wasn't able to swing it. I work part-time, so I have been helping them when I can.

When we get together for dinner once a month, most of their conversation focuses on their business. But recently they discussed a shopping trip they took together. They went on a day I could have gone, but I was not invited. Should I take this -- and other similar incidents -- as a hint that our friendship has run its course? -- FEELING LEFT OUT

DEAR FEELING LEFT OUT: Talking about the shopping trip in front of you was insensitive. However, you may not have been invited because your friends were afraid you might be embarrassed it you could not participate in the shopping. You mentioned that their business arrangement is recent. They may be discussing business because that's what is on their minds.

Don't write them off or withdraw just yet. You can always do that. Wait to see how things play out.

DEAR ABBY: Help! I'm a 67-year-old man being relentlessly chased by a 68-year-old woman. I have told her I want to date other women and will be moving out of the country at the end of the year. Despite this, she is constantly trying to maneuver me into an exclusive relationship, probably ending in living together. I don't want to hurt her, but I'm at a loss as to how to get her to back off. -- HAPPILY UNCOMMITTED

DEAR UNCOMMITTED: Here's how. Tell her you can't handle the pressure she's putting on you and end the relationship NOW.

DEAR ABBY: I am in a predicament. My therapist is great, but sometimes I think she shares too much. Last time I went, she was running late. When I finally got into her office, she told me the previous patient was nonverbal and had painted her nails during the session. Later in the session, she confided that years ago she had been date raped.

Abby, I am in counseling because my father raped me when I was 15 (I am now 24). Her sharing has me worried because I don't want her telling others what I say or do during counseling. Further, her story of the date rape scared me. She described a situation that is not uncommon for me to be in, and it caused something almost like a flashback in me. I think what she did was insensitive, to say the least.

I have nobody else to ask, so what should I do? I'm getting counseling for free now due to my income, and it took months to get set up with a counselor. Should I report her or accept that this was a mistake and say nothing? If I need to report her, how would I go about doing that? -- CONFLICTED ABOUT IT

DEAR CONFLICTED: You should change therapists because it appears this one has more problems than you do. As to what agency you should report her breach of professional ethics to, contact the state organization that has licensed her to practice.

Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069
Article

Protecting the worlds oceans  an important goal of Germanys climate diplomacy

The worlds oceans are vital to our survival. They regulate the global climate and are a source of food and income for billions of people. Only a very small part of the seas enjoys legal protection, however. Our diplomats are working in New York right now to change this state of affairs.
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bohlah at 1-11-2017 06:19 AM (5 years ago) (m)

Second republic Vice-President, Dr. Alex Ekwueme, has collapsed and is currently at the Intensive Care Unit of Memfys Hospital for Neurosurgery, by Penok petrol station in Trans-Ekulu, Enugu State.

Second republic Vice-President, Dr. Alex Ekwueme, has collapsed and is currently at the Intensive Care Unit of Memfys Hospital for Neurosurgery, by Penok petrol station in Trans-Ekulu, Enugu State.

The PUNCH learnt on Tuesday night that Ekwueme collapsed around 2am last Saturday, at his residence in Independence Layout, Enugu.



The development comes barely 10 days (October 10) after he celebrated his 85th birthday.



Family members close to our correspondent said that the former vice-president went into coma soon after he collapsed.



He was trying to get something from the table when he suddenly collapsed and immediately someone raised the alarm, we proceeded to revive him while cautious enough not to attract neighbours, a relative, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said.



He added, When it became obvious that he had lapsed into coma, we rushed him to a hospital (unnamed) in GRA (Government Reserved Area), but we were referred to Memphys Hospital by medical consultants who had critically examined his condition.



The source said that the family chose to keep the incident secret for a while with the hope that Ekwueme would miraculously come out of coma.



When there was no sign of improvement on Monday afternoon, we rallied round and informed the former governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi, who is like a son, and he has been making plans to fly him overseas, the source added.



Medical personnel at Memphys Hospital said that Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State broke down in tears on seeing Ekwueme at the Intensive Care Unit on Tuesday evening.



Although the governors visit was enshrouded in secrecy so as not to attract the prying eyes of the media and residents in the state, it was gathered that he could not hide his emotions as he wailed uncontrollably.



My namesake, Ifeanyichukwu, do not leave us now! Even if you must go, please wait to see your daughter become the deputy governor of Anambra State before you leave us, Ugwuanyi was reported to have wailed at the ICU.



The PUNCH recalls that the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party for the November18 poll in Anambra State, Oseloka Obaze, had presented the first daughter of Ekwueme, Lady Chidi Onyemelukwe, as his running mate. The PUNCH learnt on Tuesday night that Ekwueme collapsed around 2am last Saturday, at his residence in Independence Layout, Enugu.The development comes barely 10 days (October 10) after he celebrated his 85th birthday.Family members close to our correspondent said that the former vice-president went into coma soon after he collapsed.He was trying to get something from the table when he suddenly collapsed and immediately someone raised the alarm, we proceeded to revive him while cautious enough not to attract neighbours, a relative, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said.He added, When it became obvious that he had lapsed into coma, we rushed him to a hospital (unnamed) in GRA (Government Reserved Area), but we were referred to Memphys Hospital by medical consultants who had critically examined his condition.The source said that the family chose to keep the incident secret for a while with the hope that Ekwueme would miraculously come out of coma.When there was no sign of improvement on Monday afternoon, we rallied round and informed the former governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi, who is like a son, and he has been making plans to fly him overseas, the source added.Medical personnel at Memphys Hospital said that Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State broke down in tears on seeing Ekwueme at the Intensive Care Unit on Tuesday evening.Although the governors visit was enshrouded in secrecy so as not to attract the prying eyes of the media and residents in the state, it was gathered that he could not hide his emotions as he wailed uncontrollably.My namesake, Ifeanyichukwu, do not leave us now! Even if you must go, please wait to see your daughter become the deputy governor of Anambra State before you leave us, Ugwuanyi was reported to have wailed at the ICU.The PUNCH recalls that the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party for the November18 poll in Anambra State, Oseloka Obaze, had presented the first daughter of Ekwueme, Lady Chidi Onyemelukwe, as his running mate.

Post Reply I have been reporting on latest news from Nigeria for almost 10 years now. I report on every possible news area I come across, but always ensure my reports are compiled with dignity and fact to uphold my personal values and duty as a journalist Posted: at 1-11-2017 06:19 AM (5 years ago) | Addicted Hero
kacylee at 1-11-2017 07:04 AM (5 years ago) (f)

A 43-year-old father, Mallam Musa Mohammed, has been arrested by the Rights Protection Agency in Niger State for setting ablaze his 15-year-old son, Bello.

A 43-year-old father, Mallam Musa Mohammed, has been arrested by the Rights Protection Agency in Niger State for setting ablaze his 15-year-old son, Bello.

The Director-General of the agency, Mrs. Mairam Kolo, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Tuesday in Minna.



She said the incident occurred around Polytechnic Road, Bida, in the Bida Local Government Area of the state.



Kolo explained that Musa tied his son up and siphoned petrol from his motorcycle, poured it on him and set the boy on fire because of his alleged frequent quarrels with his elder brother.



According to Kolo, the quick intervention of neighbours helped to save the boy from being burnt to death.



During questioning, the father confessed that his action was as a result of the behaviour of the boy, saying he was always quarreling with his elder brother, while he was also rude to him (the father).

He said he was tired of the boys bad behaviour and had warned him several times to stop fighting with his elder brother, but he refused to take to warning, Kolo said.

She added that the accused would be charged to court under Section 25 of the Child Rights Law and sections 299 and 348 of the Penal Code Law.



She said the victim was receiving treatment at the Umaru Ndayako General Hospital, Bida.



Earlier, the father admitted to have poured petrol on his son and set him ablaze.



However, he pleaded with the agency for leniency, saying he committed the offence out of anger The Director-General of the agency, Mrs. Mairam Kolo, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Tuesday in Minna.She said the incident occurred around Polytechnic Road, Bida, in the Bida Local Government Area of the state.Kolo explained that Musa tied his son up and siphoned petrol from his motorcycle, poured it on him and set the boy on fire because of his alleged frequent quarrels with his elder brother.According to Kolo, the quick intervention of neighbours helped to save the boy from being burnt to death.Kolo said.She added that the accused would be charged to court under Section 25 of the Child Rights Law and sections 299 and 348 of the Penal Code Law.She said the victim was receiving treatment at the Umaru Ndayako General Hospital, Bida.Earlier, the father admitted to have poured petrol on his son and set him ablaze.However, he pleaded with the agency for leniency, saying he committed the offence out of anger

Post Reply I have been reporting for several years now and I am very interested in visual news reportage with strong inclusion of photos and video multimedia. Posted: at 1-11-2017 07:04 AM (5 years ago) | Addicted Hero
LONDON, Oct. 27, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Benedict Peters, Executive Vice Chairman of Aiteo Group (www.AiteoGroup.com), has instructed London law firm Mishcon de Reya and Washingtons Covington & Burling to lead ongoing efforts to address politically-motivated issues.



Aiteo Group, founded in 1999, is a leading indigenous Nigerian oil producer headquartered in Lagos.

UK-based Mishcon de Reya is one of the worlds leading legal practices with a particular proficiency in handling contentious international disputes. Covington, headquartered in Washington, DC. United States, has an outstanding reputation in navigating complex legal issues at the intersection of law and policy around the world.

Explaining the appointments, Benedict Peters said: I maintain my position that all the allegations are baseless and without any truth whatsoever. These unfounded allegations have caused untold disruption to my family and my business. To ensure that we remain focused, I have engaged two of the worlds leading law firms to offer both counsel and guidance in dealing with these issues.

There is a toxic culture of politically motivated witch-hunts that stains reputations, stifles enterprise and keeps foreign investors away from our country. For two years, I have suffered malicious, unfounded and false allegations hanging over my head.

This persecution is being pursued to diminish the visible endeavours to position our business, and Nigeria, at the apex of the energy industry worldwide. Despite these distractions, I remain focused on the efforts to sustain Aiteos growth towards becoming Nigerias leading indigenous oil producer. It is time to address the situation and so I have decided that I must take direct legal and other action to clear my name.

And Peters has now decided to publicly bring every inch of this matter to the fore.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Aiteo Group.

Media Contact

Ndiana Matthew

Senior Manager,

Corporate Communications

Aiteo Group

Mobile: +234-815-314-7539

Email: Ndiana.Matthew@Aiteong.com

About Aiteo: Aiteo (www.AiteoGroup.com) is one of Africa's fastest-growing integrated energy concerns.
English German

Sika is expanding its presence in Africa and opens a new facility in the Angolan capital, Luanda. In addition to the production of concrete admixtures in an existing factory, mortar products - one of the Sika Group's fastest-growing areas of business - will also be manufactured locally.

With the additional production capacities in Angola, Sika is moving further toward its goal of covering about 70% of the market potential on the African continent with its own subsidiaries and production facilities. In this West African nation, the construction industry is receiving considerable impetus from major investments in infrastructure and in residential, industrial and commercial properties. Sika has also recently commissioned mortar production facilities in the countries of Nigeria and Ivory Coast.

Ivo Schadler, Regional Manager EMEA: "In the last five years alone, we have greatly strengthened our presence on the African continent, and now have 19 national subsidiaries and 18 production facilities. We are positioning ourselves in the markets early so that we can benefit from the construction boom triggered by rapid population growth and urbanization. We have been highly successful with this strategy in Africa: in the last five years we have seen 22% annual growth."

CONTACT

Dominik Slappnig

Corporate Communications & Investor Relations

+41 58 436 68 21

slappnig.dominik@ch.sika.com

SIKA CORPORATE PROFILE

Sika is a specialty chemicals company with a leading position in the development and production of systems and products for bonding, sealing, damping, reinforcing and protection in the building sector and automotive industry. Sika has subsidiaries in 99 countries around the world and manufactures in over 190 factories. Its more than 17,000 employees generated annual sales of CHF 5.75 billion in 2016.

The media release can be downloaded from the following link:
West Lafayette, Ind., Oct. 30, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- At 165 startups, $230.8 million in funding and 200-plus new positions, Purdue is advancing commercialization, entrepreneurship, job creation and economic momentum in the Midwest with record-breaking activities.

One hundred of the startups have licensed Purdue University intellectual property through the Purdue Research Foundation. Another 65 startups based on company-owned intellectual property brings the startup total to 165 startups since 2013. Click here for a complete list of Purdue startups from years 2013-2017.

These data are compelling, but this is about more than numbers. There is a great story behind each of these new businesses, said Purdue President Mitch Daniels. Ive had the opportunity to meet the many Purdue innovators and entrepreneurs and to marvel at their amazing innovations. We are just providing the right hub of entrepreneurial support. It is the Purdue entrepreneurs who are making it happen.

Of the 165 Purdue-affiliated startups:

$230.8 million raised in funding.

152 are in active operation.

137 are based in Indiana.

200-plus new positions supported.

Since 2013, Purdue has initiated a number of initiatives and programs to help entrepreneurs who create startups, including the Purdue Foundry, an entrepreneurship and commercialization accelerator in Burton D. Morgan Center for Entrepreneurship in Purdues Discovery Park. The Purdue Foundry provides practical guidance and programs for startups, including business development, venture capital experts, entrepreneurs-in-residence and entrepreneurial professionals. A brochure developed to ease the commercialization and startup process by providing a high-level overview and guide for Purdue innovators and entrepreneurs is available at the Purdue Startup Guide.

Other entrepreneurial resources include Trask Innovation Fund, Innovation and Entrepreneurship landing page, Purdue Innovator Startup Guide, Bechtel Innovation Design Center, Purdue Startup Fund, P3 Alliance, Ag-celerator, Emerging Innovations Fund, Boilermaker Lab and the Anvil.

This is truly a joint effort among several entities to provide Purdue entrepreneurs with the best resources and guidance available, said Greg Deason, senior vice president for the Purdue Research Foundation and director of innovation and entrepreneurship for the Burton D. Morgan Center for Entrepreneurship. We are fortunate to have such a strong pipeline of innovations coming out of Purdue University, and what weve found is that many of the Purdue researchers and often their graduate students have enough faith in their research that they want to create and commercialize products that have originated from their university work.

The Purdue-affiliated startups cover nearly all of the universitys research expertise including engineering, agriculture, veterinary science, information technology, technology, sciences, computer science, biomedicine and pharmaceuticals.

Azza Ahmed, an associate professor in Purdues School of Nursing, and Jeffrey Brewer, an associate professor of computer and information technology in the Purdue Polytechnic Institute, co-founded LACTOR LLC. The company is commercializing an app that could instantly connect breastfeeding mothers with pediatricians or lactation consultants to help collect data, monitor patients, and provide consultation and support while improving breastfeeding outcomes for new mothers. The company is a member of the Purdue Startup Class of 2017.

Brewer credited the Purdue Foundry for assistance in creating LACTOR, whose technology is licensed through the Purdue Research Foundation Office of Technology Commercialization.

The Purdue Foundry and Office of Technology Commercialization were instrumental in helping us form this company, he said. Everything from meeting with lawyers, drafting documents, applying for grants and help with marketing, the Foundry helped tremendously.

Ryan Frederickson is a Chicago-based Purdue graduate who formed ArT Wine Preservation, a startup based on his own intellectual property. The companys technology uses an argon wine preserver spray that can keep wine fresh for weeks in opened, unfinished bottles.

Frederickson received assistance from the Purdue Foundry through workshops, entrepreneurial mentorship, networking and business strategy competitions.

The Purdue Foundry helped me develop and focus on a business plan, fundraising and how to develop a marketing plan to reach customers, he said. The guidance and support has been invaluable to me and gave me the confidence to move forward with my idea.

His product ArT Wine is now available on Amazon and at www.ArTWinePreservation.com

Vinai Sundaram, Matthew Tan Creti and Patrick Eugster co-founded SensorHound Inc., a software company whose mission is to improve the security and reliability of the Internet of Things. Its leading-edge software solutions proactively and automatically monitor IoT devices to provide effective insights into a devices operational health.

SensorHound is a member of the Purdue Startup Class of 2014. The company has received over $1 million in funding, which allowed it to commercialize the technology. Some of the competitive funding won by the company include the prestigious National Science Foundations Small Business Innovation Research Grant, $75,000 from the Purdue Emerging Innovations Fund, the equivalent of $50,000 from Elevate Ventures and $20,000 from the Black Award.

Our company is established in the Purdue Research Park so we can continue to take advantage of all the resources and expertise that Purdue offers, Sundaram said. We feel strongly that the Purdue connection has had a direct contribution to our success.

Purdue also was ranked 12th in the world among universities granted U.S. utility patents in 2017, according to a report released in July by the National Academy of Inventors and the Intellectual Property Owners Association.

"Its an exciting time to be at Purdue, and I am continually amazed at all the research and entrepreneurial activity taking place," said Dan Hasler, chief entrepreneurial officer for the Purdue Research Foundation. "These are outstanding researchers, students, staff and others who have a strong desire to make a meaningful contribution to our society. They are creating companies based on their own expertise, but taking advantage of all that Purdue has to offer to help make them become successful in the entrepreneurial world."

Purdue's Office of Technology Commercialization had 123 U.S. patents issued, 222 licensing deals of Purdue intellectual property with startups and established companies, and 21 startups created based on Purdue intellectual property.
CHATHAM  The Pittsylvania Pet Center is planning its first major fundraiser at Banister Bend Farm in Gretna this month.

Catered by Chatham Public Houses Louisiana-born chef, the Bow Wow In the Bayou menu will feature a chargrilled and raw oyster bar, creole jambalaya, catfish courtbouillon, honey jalapeno cornbread muffins, andouille sausage bites, a variety of desserts and an open bar.

Have a cocktail and pet a dog, Lynchburg Humane Society Executive Director Makena Yarbrough said with a laugh. The Lynchburg agency runs the Pittsylvania Pet Center.

The Best Friend Bash also will feature a Zydeco band, and both a silent and live auction for items and trips like a Yeti thermos, a year of free vet care at Chatham Animal Hospital, a trip for two to the Kentucky Derby for four days and three nights in Lexington, and the opportunity to have their pet be the pet centers mascot.

Its going to be a chance for everyone to get together that believe in the cause, Yarbrough said.

Im just excited about our new dog center, Ben Davenport said. I think its wonderful whats happened in our region by having a facility to take care of our best friends and wannabe best friends.

Pets are also welcome to attend the party at Banister Bend Farm, for the price of $30 and be part of a pet parade.

We have a pet day care so that volunteers can take the pet from you for the night if you want to enjoy the night without having a dog jump on the table, Yarbrough said.

For those who are not yet pet parents, there will be several pets available for adoption and snuggling during the event.

The Pittsylvania Pet Center has been open since July 1, and had adopted out 230 animals by Oct. 1.

Betty and Ben Davenport will be hosting the event at 2628 Johnson Mill Road on Nov. 11 from 5 to 10 p.m. Tickets are $75 per person, and $30 per pet and may be purchased online at https://www.pittsylvaniapetcenter.org.

The event is casual.

Im just excited about trying to help them to have all the financial support they need, Davenport said.
The sounds of doorbells, tiny voices shrieking trick or treat and the crinkle of candy wrappers filled the streets of Danville and the Community Market on Tuesday evening.

The Community Market on Craghead Street hosted Market Monster Mash  a carnival with a costume parade for pets and kids, trunk-or-treating and various Halloween crafts to delight kids such as a pumpkin carving contest, scarecrow stuffing and a slime station.

The parking lot between the Community Market and the Danville Science Center was packed with kids of all ages in costumes including Pennywise the Clown from IT. Even River City TVs Mark Aron attended, dressed as the Cookie Monster, and checked out the trunk or treating possibilities with a few kids.

Thats gross, said a child dressed as Belle as she tested out each and every one of the blind boxes in the sensory tent which held items like eyeballs, spiders eggs and witch warts for kids to stick their hands in and feel.

Siblings Ann and Harper Mitchell, along with hundreds of other local kids, came to scope out the new downtown event hosted by Danville Parks and Recreation with their parents. After they paraded through the park, many stayed lined up.

Several families could be overheard planning their strategies to get the most candy from the two dozen decorated cars that lined the parking lot.

Harper dressed up as Tony Hawk, complete with elbow and knee pads and a skateboard, because he said he liked Tony Hawk. Harper kept pointing out his friends to his mother as they checked out the variety of activities available from the sensory tent to the large slide with burlap sacks.

Ann  dressed as a shy black cat, with dark polka dotted tights, a black leotard, ears and face paint  kept hiding behind her mother, but looked very excited about the fun slide.

Screams of delight were heard throughout the park, making this Halloween a night more about the treats, than the tricks.
Danville is seeking $2.3 million in state revenue-sharing money for street improvement projects over the next two years.

The money, if approved by the Virginia Department of Transportation, would pay for a half-dozen projects  including three in the River District and three others on Riverside Drive in 2019 and 2020.

The River District projects would include street and right-of-way improvements at the following locations: South Union Street between Main and Patton streets; the 600 block of Main Street between Ridge and Floyd streets; and Wilson Street from Bridge Street to Lynn Street.

City Manager Ken Larking said the projects are a continuation of improvements on Main and Craghead streets and other parts of the River District.

Public investment in our downtown makes it more attractive for businesses to locate, which increases our economic prosperity and brings more people downtown, Larking said.

That investment has also brought an infusion of private money downtown  including the $10 million renovation along the 500 block of Craghead Street by Rick Barker. Investment in the River District has helped increase the number of people living and working downtown and made that part of the city a regional destination, he added.

All of that helps improve the quality of life in the River District, Public Works Director Rick Drazenovich said.

Danvilles River District development project was named the winner in its population category for the Virginia Municipal Leagues 2014 Achievement Awards.

The city also won the Virginia Main Street Merit Award for Best Downtown Public Improvement Project in 2016.

The three Riverside Drive projects include concrete base removal and roadway reconstruction eastbound from about 400 feet west of Audubon Drive to Arnett Boulevard, and in the eastbound and westbound lanes from Arnett Boulevard to Locust Lane.

A third Riverside Drive project would include street and roadway improvements on Riverside and Audubon drives.

VDOT revenue sharing funds must be matched with local capital improvement funds. The current estimated total funding amount is $100 million per year, and the maximum annual award limit to a locality is $5 million, City Engineer Brian Dunevant wrote in a letter to Danville City Council in October.

Drazenovich said the city will apply for the money in November and VDOT would award funds  if approved  around May. Danville would budget the local matching funds for the respective projects in 2018-19 and 2019-20, Drazenovich said.

Dunevant said improvements for all six projects would entail the following:

 The 600 block of Main Street improvements will include enhancements to sidewalks, aesthetic improvements and resurfacing of the street to improve the River District, and ties into the previous improvements on Main Street.

The estimated local match would be $350,000. If fully funded, construction would be estimated to start sometime in fiscal year 2019, Dunevant said.

 South Union Street: Improvements to the sidewalks, aesthetic improvements and resurfacing of the street to improve the River District, which also ties into the previous improvements on Main Street. Local match would be $350,000. If fully funded, construction would be estimated to start sometime in fiscal year 2019 or fiscal year 2020, Dunevant said.

 Riverside Road Base removal (both projects): The purpose of the projects is to remove the existing concrete road base and rebuild the streets.

The projects will improve ridability and reduce future maintenance costs, Dunevant said.

The city would pay an estimated $500,000 local match for each project. If fully funded, construction would be estimated to start sometime in fiscal year 2019 for one and fiscal year 2020 for the other, Dunevant said.

 Audubon Drive: Improve intersection for vehicular traffic and pedestrians and improve roadway drainage (curb and gutter).

It also is a possible pedestrian and bicycle connection from Apollo Avenue to the Riverwalk Trail, Dunevant said. There would be an estimated $220,000 local match. If fully funded, construction would start sometime in fiscal year 2020 or fiscal year 2021, Dunevant said.

 Wilson Street: Improvements to the sidewalks, aesthetic improvements and resurfacing of the street to improve the River District. The project ties into the previous improvements on Craghead Street. If fully funded, estimated construction start sometime in fiscal year 2020. The city would provide an estimated $500,000 match, Dunevant said.
CHATHAM  A Martinsville man was found guilty Monday of a boating misdemeanor in a collision on Smith Mountain Lake in July 2016 that killed a North Carolina teenager.

Drewry Woodson Hall, 21, was convicted of operating a boat in an improper manner and fined $300 by Judge George Jones in Pittsylvania County General District Court. Hall originally had been charged with reckless boating, but the judge reduced the charge amid evidence indicating that Hall was not solely responsible for the collision.

Gabby Ayers of Clemmons, North Carolina, was a passenger on a Polaris personal watercraft being operated by William Rentz Brandt that collided with a 21-foot Key West Boat operated by Hall. The collision happened July 3, 2016, in a cove near the Anthony Ford Boat Ramp, on the Pittsylvania County side of Smith Mountain Lake.

Hall, 20 at the time of the incident, also had been charged with underage purchasing or possession of alcohol. The judge found sufficient evidence to find Hall guilty but took the charge under advisement for a year and ordered Hall to perform 20 hours of community service. If Hall completes the community service as required, then the judge may dismiss the alcohol charge.

Both Hall and his passenger, 22-year-old Capers Penn Zentmeyer of Martinsville, helped pull Ayers and Brandt to shore after the wreck.

Jones indicated one of the factors in his ruling was what he considered was a discrepancy between Brandts testimony in a May trial and the statement he gave officers after the incident.

During Brandts testimony, he said he didnt remember the original collision. The last thing he recalled, the Danville resident said, was looking over his right should and seeing the boat approaching.

I knew it was going to hit me, he said in court May 16, talking about the gut feeling he had at the time. Brandt said he didnt remember how fast he was driving the personal watercraft or where he was going, or how fast the boat was traveling.

In the July 2016 statement to officers, Brandt said, I turned. I turned. I hit the boat.

If he hit the boat, Jones indicated, then the boats operator couldnt be solely responsible for hitting the other craft.

The teen killed in the collision, Ayers, 17, had completed her high school education at home, as well as a nine-month training program at a beauty school in Greeensboro and had worked at a salon in Winston-Salem for two weeks before the crash, her father, Mark Ayers, told The Roanoke Times in 2016. Gabby Ayers was a second-degree black belt and an avid lake surfer and personal watercraft enthusiast, her father said. She'd also traveled overseas on mission trips. Her family donated her organs after her death.

The Roanoke Times contributed to this report.
Frank W. Mobley Jr. Frank W. Mobley, Jr., age 92, of 792 Robertson Lane, Danville, Va. passed away on Sunday, October 29, 2017. He began his life journey on September 29, 1925, to the late Frank W. Mobley, Sr. and Ruby D. Mobley. He had two sisters, Bettie Church who currently lives in Richmond and Carrie Berger from Gretna who passed away last year. He is survived by his wife, Ann R. Mobley; and son, Frank W. Mobley III. His daughter, Edley Porter predeceased him. He had four grandchildren and five great grandchildren. As a child of the Great Depression, Mr. Mobley developed a work ethic of integrity on a handshake. As a young boy, he labored on his family farm to raise vegetables and fruit for sale. At age 16, he entered his freshman year at Virginia Tech funded by a crop of tobacco he grew. He joined the ROTC and graduated from the University of Virginia-McIntyre School of Commerce in 1949. During that time he spent three and a half years in the United States Navy attaining rank of Lieutenant (JG)-mine sweeping officer. From 1951 until his retirement he was employed by First Virginia Bank, successor to the Schoolfield Bank and Trust Company. He worked to be President and Chairman of the Board. He was a loyal member, deacon, trustee and teacher at Mt. Hermon Baptist Church. He was an active member and philanthropic participant in many civic, fraternal and social organizations in the Danville area. Funeral services will be held 2 p.m. Wednesday, November 1, 2017, at Mount Hermon Baptist Church with the Reverend Steve Chromy officiating. Interment will follow at Highland Burial Park. The family will receive friends at 1 p.m. before the service and at other times will be at the residence 792 Robertson Lane. Townes Funeral Home, 215 West Main Street, is serving the Mobley family. Online condolences can be made at www.townesfuneralhome.com
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Dan River Region education leaders say a $1.4 million precision machining lab is just the beginning of career and technical programming in the area.

Were trying to figure out how to building a pipeline, said Danville Superintendent Stanley Jones.

Local education leaders from Danville Public Schools and Danville Community College mapped out the future of career and technical education dual-enrollment programs Tuesday while touring George Washington High Schools new precision machining lab.

Jones, along with DCC President Bruce Scism and Halifax County Schools Superintendent Mark Lineburg, said they spent Monday morning solidifying a commitment to career and technical programs, after Danville Public Schools approved the precision machining program during the last budget cycle.

Were on the same page, Scism said.

Scism and Jones said they wanted to look into creating dual-enrollment programs in areas like cyber security, information technology and robotics. Additionally, Scism said he hoped the school system could create a liberal arts transfer pathway in the future as well.

The school system was able to fund the machining program with help from a bond from Danville City Council.

In the machining classroom, around a dozen students were working with instructor Porchia Russell on resume-building and workforce readiness skills. Russell said her students were learning how to apply their math and science skills to making tools in the machines.

They have finally got out of the classroom, Russell said.

Russell said the students had been the workshop for two-and-a-half weeks now, and were already learning how to use problem-solving skills to work out problems in tools and improve their designs.

The precision machining programs trains students for modern manufacturing jobs, creating small parts in everything from automotive tools to cellphones. Machinists can start work making $17 to $24 an hour, according to data from Danville Community College.

GWHS junior Sandro Bianchi said he was able to fix the teeth on a saw after talking with classmates and working through the issues in his first attempt.

That was an interesting learning experience, Bianchi said.

Chief Operations Officer Kathy Osborne said praised Russells work with the school district.

She can walk the walk and the kids love her, Osborne said.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Nov. 01, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TriMetals Mining Inc. (TSX:TMI) (OTCQX:TMIAF), (the Company), is pleased to announce that its Nevada subsidiary, Gold Springs, LLC (GS LLC) has entered into an agreement (the Lease Agreement) to lease six patented lode claims (the Homestake Claims) located at the northern extent of the Gold Springs project area within Nevada. Pursuant to the terms of the Lease Agreement, GS LLC is to lease the Homestake Claims for an initial period of 30 years and is to pay the lessor an initial rental payment as well as annual rental payments. In addition, upon commencement of commercial production, GS LLC is to pay the lessor a 3% net smelter returns royalty (the NSR Royalty), which NSR Royalty is to be increased to (a) 3.5% if the average price per troy ounce of gold for the calendar quarter is greater than US$1,800, and (b) 4.0% if the average price per troy ounce of gold for the calendar quarter is greater than US$2,000 (the Second NSR Increase), subject to a minimum annual royalty payment of US$10,000. GS LLC has the right and option, prior to commencement of commercial production on the Homestake Claims, to buy out the Second NSR Increase for the sum of US$1 million, payable within 60 days from and after commencement of commercial production.



The Homestake Claims were historically worked as high-grade underground operations with undocumented production. The claims have not been subjected to modern exploration as they were last active prior to World War II.

Ralph Fitch, President and CEO of the Company stated, TMI is excited to have completed the lease on the Homestake Claims as this area displays all of the geologic characteristics we see in the resources we have developed thus far at Gold Springs. This block of claims has never been subjected to modern-day exploration, including drilling, and we are looking forward to being the first group to test this exciting target. The system is exposed for 650 metres along strike and up to 400 metres in width with the potential to continue under post mineral cover and extends the entire 1.8 kilometre length of the claim area. With the addition of this 104 acre claim block TMI has yet another excellent target to explore moving forward.

The Homestake Claims are located 1,000 metres east of the Gray Eagle resource area in Nevada. The claim block is 1.8 kilometres long by 200-400 metres wide. Historic mining exploited high-grade mineralization hosted in two stacked, banded quartz veins that are westward dipping and structurally controlled by north-south, Basin and Range related extension faults. This style of faulting occurs regionally across the Gold Springs area and serves as part of the controls within the Jumbo resource areas.

The stacked veins are each 2-4 metres wide and can be traced for 650 metres along strike before they are lost under post mineral cover. The system is well exposed in old mine cuts that span several hundred metres of strike length. Veins are surrounded by breccia and stockwork quartz vein zones which extend for up to 400 metres in width before they are lost under the post mineral cover. An old mine trench at the southernmost exposure of the vein systems exposes the breccias associated with the vein systems indicating that the system continues underneath the cover to the south. To the north, the vein trace is lost under post mineral tuffs, however the associated breccias outcrop 400 metres north of where the vein traces are lost, suggesting the mineralization may continue under the post mineral cover and extend for the full 1.8 kilometer length of the claims.

TMI will initiate surface mapping and sampling on the newly leased claims in the immediate future.

About TriMetals Mining Inc.

TriMetals Mining Inc. is a growth focused mineral exploration company creating value through the exploration and development of the near surface, Gold Springs gold-silver project in mining friendly Nevada and Utah in the U.S.A. and by demonstrating the exploration potential at the very large Escalones copper-gold porphyry deposit in Chile.

The Companys approach to business combines the teams track record of discovery and advancement of large projects, key operational and process expertise, and a focus on community relations and sustainable development. Management has extensive experience in the global exploration and mining industry.

The Companys common shares and Class B shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbols TMI and TMI.B and the common shares and Class B shares also trade on the OTCQX market under the symbol TMIAF and TMIBF. Note that the Class B shares have no interest in the properties or assets of the Company other than a collective entitlement to 85% of the net cash, if any, (after deducting all costs, taxes and expenses and the third-party funder's portion thereof) received by TMI from award or settlement in relation to the Companys subsidiary South American Silver Limiteds arbitration proceeding against Bolivia for the expropriation of the Malku Khota project in 2012. Additional information related to TriMetals Mining Inc. is available at www.trimetalsmining.com and on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

Qualified Person

The Qualified Person on the Gold Springs property is Randall Moore, Executive Vice President of Exploration  North America of TriMetals Mining Inc. and he has reviewed and approved the content of this press release.

Forward Looking Statements

Certain statements contained herein constitute forward-looking information under applicable Canadian securities laws (forward-looking statements). Forward looking statements look into the future and provide an opinion as to the effect of certain events and trends on the business. Forward-looking statements may include words such as continue, target, potential, suggests, will and similar expressions. Interpretations of exploration results, including the strength of mineralization, are also forward-looking statements. These forward- looking statements are based on current expectations and entail various risks and uncertainties. Actual results may materially differ from expectations if known and unknown risks or uncertainties affect our business or if our estimates or assumptions prove inaccurate. Factors that could cause results or events to differ materially from current expectations expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, include, but are not limited to, risks of the mineral exploration industry which may affect the advancement of the Gold Springs project, including possible variations in mineral resources, grade, recovery rates, metal prices, capital and operating costs, and the application of taxes; availability of sufficient financing to fund planned or further required work in a timely manner and on acceptable terms; availability of equipment and qualified personnel, failure of equipment or processes to operate as anticipated, changes in project parameters, including water requirements for operations, as plans continue to be refined; regulatory, environmental and other risks of the mining industry more fully described in the Companys Annual Information Form and continuous disclosure documents, which are available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. The assumptions made in developing the forward-looking statements include: the accuracy of current resource estimates and the interpretation of drill, metallurgical testing and other exploration results; the continuing support for mining by local governments in Nevada and Utah; the availability of equipment and qualified personnel to advance the Gold Springs project; execution of the Companys existing plans and further exploration and development programs for Gold Springs, which may change due to changes in the views of the Company or if new information arises which makes it prudent to change such plans or programs.

Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. Except as required by law, TMI assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or any other reason. Unless otherwise indicated, forward-looking statements in this press release describe the Companys expectations as of November 1, 2017.

NEWS RELEASE: 17-15

TriMetals Mining Inc. Contact:
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Nov. 01, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Endeavour Silver Corp. (NYSE:EXK) (TSX:EDR) announced today the appointment of Galina Meleger as Director of Investor Relations. Ms. Meleger has over 10 years diverse experience in investor relations and corporate communications for publicly traded companies in the resource sector. Galina will be working with the senior management team to elevate the visibility of Endeavour Silver in the capital markets in order to maximize shareholder value.



Bradford Cooke, CEO and Director of Endeavour Silver commented, I am pleased to welcome Galina to our management team. Galina joins our Company at a key juncture as we transition from optimizing mature mines to building new mines. Her experience and skills will assist us in expanding our brand awareness and communicating our strategy to grow production and reduce costs.

Most recently, Ms. Meleger worked for Newmarket Gold and subsequently Kirkland Lake Gold, as a result of a business combination to form a mid-tier gold mining company with underground gold mines in Canada & Australia, where she was Director of Corporate Communications. Prior to that, Galina worked for KGHM, a Polish based major mining company, in a communications role overseeing the North and South American division, comprising of six mines and three development projects. From 2010 to 2015, Galina worked for Copper Mountain Mining, responsible for investor relations and corporate communications. Galina studied at the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT), completing a Business Diploma in Financial Management and is a licensed Corporate Social Responsibility practitioner.

About Endeavour Silver  Endeavour Silver is a mid-tier precious metals mining company that owns three high grade, underground, silver-gold mines in Mexico. Since startup in 2004, Endeavour has grown its mining operations organically to produce 9.7 million ounces of silver and equivalents in 2016. We find, build and operate quality silver mines in a sustainable way to create real value for all stakeholders. Endeavour Silvers shares trade on the TSX (EDR) and the NYSE (EXK).

Contact Information - For more information, please contact:

Galina Meleger, Director of Investor Relations

Toll free: (877) 685-9775

Tel: (604) 640-4804

Email: gmeleger@edrsilver.com

Website: www.edrsilver.com

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the United States private securities litigation reform act of 1995 and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Such forwardlooking statements and information herein include but are not limited to statements regarding Endeavours anticipated performance in the future including changes in mining and operations and the timing and results of various activities. The Company does not intend to, and does not assume any obligation to update such forward-looking statements or information, other than as required by applicable law.

Forward-looking statements or information involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of Endeavour and its operations to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such statements. Such factors include, among others, changes in national and local governments, legislation, taxation, controls, regulations and political or economic developments in Canada and Mexico; financial risks due to precious metals prices, operating or technical difficulties in mineral exploration, development and mining activities; risks and hazards of mineral exploration, development and mining; the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development, risks in obtaining necessary licenses and permits, and challenges to the Companys title to properties; as well as those factors described in the section risk factors contained in the Companys most recent form 40F/Annual Information Form filed with the S.E.C. and Canadian securities regulatory authorities.

Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions management believes to be reasonable, including but not limited to: the continued operation of the Companys mining operations, no material adverse change in the market price of commodities, mining operations will operate and the mining products will be completed in accordance with managements expectations and achieve their stated production outcomes, and such other assumptions and factors as set out herein. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements or information, there may be other factors that cause results to be materially different from those anticipated, described, estimated, assessed or intended. There can be no assurance that any forward-looking statements or information will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements or information. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information.
Table 1: Intersections L65 Deposit HOLE ID From (m) To (m) Width (m) True Width Pb % Zn % Pb+Zn % Comment L6517DBL038 68.10 68.70 0.60 0.60 9.57 0.90 10.47 L6517DBL038 68.70 73.60 4.90 4.90 **No Recovery 68.7073.60m in potential ore zone L6517DBL038 73.60 74.10 0.50 0.50 0.03 19.23 19.26 L6517DBL038 81.80 83.20 1.40 1.40 0.55 2.47 3.02 L6517DBL039 No significant values L6517DBL040 No significant values L6517DBL041 79.05 86.55 7.50 5.99 1.03 10.90 11.93 L6517DBL041 82.35 86.55 4.20 3.35 1.80 18.40 20.20 L6517DBL042 88.15 89.00 0.85 0.70 0.07 6.99 7.06 L6517DBL043 76.50 81.35 4.85 4.40 0.43 3.42 3.85 L6517DBL043 89.55 92.45 2.90 2.63 0.08 1.98 2.06 L6517DBL044 No significant values L6517DBL045 No significant values L6517DBL046 87.65 89.35 1.70 1.37 0.84 7.19 8.03 L6517DBL047 82.27 84.95 2.68 2.20 0.52 5.07 5.59 L6517DBL048 92.70 94.20 1.50 1.23 0.07 1.68 1.75 L6517DBL049 88.14 91.40 3.26 2.67 0.18 2.60 2.78 L6517DBL050 74.10 84.70 10.60 8.68 2.81 3.44 6.25 L6517DBL051 76.77 83.70 6.93 5.74 0.17 4.86 5.03 L6517DBL052 60.30 63.80 3.50 3.09 0.49 2.28 2.77 L6517DBL053 78.30 84.50 6.20 5.14 0.67 2.88 3.55 L6517DBL054 75.60 78.00 2.40 1.99 0.96 3.55 4.51

Table 2: Resources and Deposits in the L65 Area Deposit Tonnage Lead % Zinc % Resource Type M62/63 352,000 1.42 2.13 Measured M64 174,460 4.90 8.00 Past Production M67 1,365,000 0.80 3.55 Measured and Indicated L65 1,578,000 0.70 1.95 Measured and Indicated K68 1,193,000 0.81 2.77 Measured and Indicated Source: 2017 PEA Study

The area north of holes 29, 35, 36, 37, 40, 41, 42, 53 and 54 and south of holes 46, 47 and 48 remains open including the area south of Cominco hole 6120 that intersected 1.57% lead and 13.69% zinc over 8.23 metres. The two K66 holes drilled north of 6120 were unsuccessful in extending the mineralization to the north. The open area extends for 600 metres along strike and is 150 to 200 metres wide.



The area south of holes 51 and 52 remains untested towards the M67 deposit.



The connection to the K68 deposit was tested by holes 50 and 51 and both holes returned good intersections: hole 50 cut 8.68 metres of 6.25% combined lead and zinc and hole 51 hit 5.74 metres of 5.03% combined. The mineralization now extends to Cominco hole 3192 located at the west edge of the K68 zone. The hole assayed 3.3% lead and 12.9% zinc over 7.62 metres. The hole is separated from the K68 deposit area by two low grade holes and Cominco never tested to the east of 3192.



A large area southeast of holes 19 and 23 is untested.



The area south of hole 28 is open.



The area east of hole 12 remains open towards the M62/63 and M64 pit. The mineralization may swing to the M64 pit rather than towards M62/63.

TORONTO, Nov. 1, 2017 - Pine Point Mining Ltd. (TSX VENTURE:ZINC) ("Pine Point" or the "Company") is pleased to announce additional drill results from the summer program on at the L65 deposit at its Pine Point Project, NWT. These results, together with those announced August 8, 2017 news release, complete the assay results from the expansion area of the L65 deposit.Assays have been received for the 17 more drill holes. Several L65 holes have intersected significant mineralization as listed in Table 1 and a complete listing of all assays received to date is attached.The L65 deposit area is located in between three deposits previously outlined in the Company's April 18, 2017 Preliminary Economic Assessment, M62/63, M67 and K68 deposits and a past production deposit by Cominco, M64 (click here to see map). The current resource or past production of the deposits are listed in Table 2.The program has been successful in extending the deposit to the west towards the K68 and M67 deposits, and the mineralization now extends for over 1,300 metres along strike as shown on the attached map. The mineralization is separated into two areas by a zone of weak mineralization into a smaller eastern zone and a larger western zone. It now appears that the L65 zone mineralization is part of a continuous system connecting all four deposits (M62/63, M64, M67 and K68) although areas of weaker mineralization exist between deposits.Mineralization at L65 remains open in several directions (see map):Almost all the gaps and open areas noted here are underlain by swampy ground and future drilling will have to await the 2018 January to March winter drill program. A new resource will be calculated for the deposit at after the next phase of drilling.The L65 drilling was part of a larger program which has so far included a total of 111 drill hole completed by the Company in 2017 at Pine Point. The other main focus of drilling has been confirming historical deposits in order to include them in the upcoming feasibility study. Further results should be released in the coming weeks.Pine Point Mining runs an industry standard QA/QC program of blanks, standards and duplicates to ensure quality control.Stanley Clemmer, a Qualified Person under NI 43101, reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information presented in this press release.Pine Point Mining acquired a 100% interest in the Pine Point leadzinc project in December, 2016. Since that time a positive Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) on the project showing a robust mining operation which, over a 13year mine life, would have an aftertax net present value of $C210.5 million and internal rate of return of 34.5%, with a payback of 1.8 years. The study assumed a zinc price of US$1.10 per pound and a lead price of US$1.00 per pound, and used an exchange rate $C:$US of 0.75. The PEA was prepared by JDS Energy and Mining and is based on a mineral resource estimate for the Pine Point project published as a National Instrument 43101 technical report with an effective date of April 18, 2017.Readers are cautioned that the Pine Point 2017 PEA is preliminary in nature and includes the use of inferred mineral resources that are considered too speculative geologically to have the economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as mineral reserves. There is no certainty that the PEA will be realized. There is no certainty that the inferred resources will be converted to the indicated or measured categories, or that the potential measured or indicated resources would be converted to the proven or probable mineral reserve categories. Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.The estimates of mineral resources in the PEA and the mineral resource statement may be materially affected by environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, sociopolitical, marketing or other relevant issues. The Pine Point 2017 PEA recommends that the project be advanced to a feasibilitylevel study in order to increase confidence in the estimates.This release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forwardlooking statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts, that address future production, reserve potential, exploration drilling, exploitation activities and events or developments that Pine Point Mining expects are forwardlooking statements. Although Pine Point Mining believes the expectations expressed in such statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in the statements. There are certain factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forwardlooking statements. These include market prices, exploitation and exploration successes, continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forwardlooking statements. For more information on Pine Point Mining, investors should review registered filings at www.sedar.com.Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.Jamie Levy, President and Chief Executive Officer(416) 567-2440jlevy@pinepointmining.comwww.pinepointmining.comRenmark Financial Communications Inc.Steve Hosein(416) 644-2020 or (514) 939-3989shosein@renmarkfinancial.comwww.renmarkfinancial.com
TORONTO, Nov. 1, 2017 - Jubilee Gold Exploration Ltd. (TSX.V: JUB) (the "Corporation") is pleased to announce the appointment of Sonia Agustina, as its Chief Financial Officer, and Jeff Becker as its Corporate Secretary effective November 1, 2017.Ms. Agustina is a finance professional with over 15 years of corporate accounting and audit experience. She specializes in providing management advisory services, accounting and regulatory compliance services to companies in a number of industries. Ms. Agustina began her career in the public market sector as an auditor and was a former Manager of Assurance and Advisory at Collins Barrow Toronto LLP. Prior to joining Jubilee Gold, Ms. Agustina held senior level positions for several publicly-held and private companies. Ms. Agustina is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CA) and holds a Bachelor of Administrative Studies (Honours) from York University.Jeff Becker, CEO of Jubilee Gold commented: "We are pleased to announce the appointment of Sonia Agustina as our new CFO, and cordially welcome her to the Jubilee Gold family. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Sigrid Ades, Jubilee Gold's longest serving employee, who has now retired. Sigrid will be sorely missed. As CFO and the Corporate Secretary, she provided a steady hand and was loved by 3 generations of the Becker family. Amongst other things she oversaw the merging of 24 public companies into the present Jubilee Gold Exploration Ltd. We wish her all the best in retirement. Our thoughts and prayers are with her."This news release contains forward-looking statements, which address future events and conditions, which are subject to various risks and uncertainties. The Corporation's actual results, programs and financial position could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements as a result of numerous factors, some of which may be beyond the Corporation's control. These factors include: the availability of funds; the timing and content of work programs; results of exploration activities and development of mineral properties, the interpretation of drilling results and other geological data, the uncertainties of resource and reserve estimations, receipt and security of mineral property titles; project cost overruns or unanticipated costs and expenses, fluctuations in metal prices; currency fluctuations; and general market and industry conditions.Forward-looking statements are based on the expectations and opinions of the Corporation's management on the date the statements are made. The assumptions used in the preparation of such statements, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements.Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.SOURCE Jubilee Gold Exploration Ltd. Summer Becker - DirectorOffice: (416) 364-0042Email: Thebeckergroup@bellnet.ca
Vancouver, BC (FSCwire) - Altamira Gold Corp. (TSXV: ALTA) (FSE: T6UP) (USA: EQTRF), (Altamira or the Company) is pleased to provide additional results from the recent completed drilling and ongoing trenching programs at the Baldo East and Toninho targets at the Cajueiro project located in western Brazil. Highlights are as follows;

Drill holes CJO-96, CJO-97 and CJO-104 were drilled under the previously untested Baldo East zone and returned 3.6m @ 4.13g/t gold including 1.8m @ 6.19g/t from CJO-96, 3.6m @ 3.06 g/t gold from CJO-97, and 1.5m @ 4.98g/t gold including 0.7m @ 9.66g/t and 0.9m @ 3.16g/t gold from CJO-104 which was drilled below trench TCBL-20 (6m @ 21.74g/t gold), proving evidence that the high-grade zone cut in trenches on surface extends to depth

Trench TCBL-25 developed immediately south of the Baldo East zone cut three parallel brecciated zones which closely resemble Baldo East. These zones returned 7m @ 5.53 g/t, 2m @ 8.30g/t and 2m @ 0.92 g/t gold

at Toninho North CJO-101 intersected 0.5m @ 16.77g/t gold approximately 200m north of the main Toninho zone

Baldo East

Trenching at the Baldo East zone, and specifically the completion of trench TCBL-23 has extended the Baldo East zone an additional 150m to the west bringing the total strike length to in excess of 600m. TCBL-23 was completed 130m west of trench TCBL-20 which cut 6m @ 21.74g/t gold. Results from trench TCBL-23 include 1m @ 4.17g/t gold + 1m @ 1.10g/t + 1m @ 4.00g/t gold. The zone remains open to both the west and east with additional trench results pending.

In addition, results were returned from drill holes CJO-96, CJO-97, CJO-99 and CJO-104. Drill hole CJO-96 was drilled beneath trench TCBL-10 with a dip of 50o (3m @ 6.54g/t gold) and intersected 3.6m @ 4.13g/t gold from 39.6  43.2m depth and 1.4m @ 1.50g/t gold from 58.0  59.4m depth in a hydrothermal breccia zone. Drill hole CJO-97 was drilled approximately 100m east of CJO-96 beneath trench TCBL-13 (3m @ 5.83g/t gold) and intersected 3.6m @ 3.06g/t gold from 38.4  42.0m depth and 1m @ 0.65g/t gold from 47.0  48m depth in the same hydrothermal breccia zone. Drill hole CJO-99 was drilled approximately 120m east of CJO-97 beneath trench TCBL-18 (1m @ 9.15g/t gold) and intersected 0.8m @ 1.60g/t gold from 81.8  82.6m depth.

CJO-104 tested the down dip extent of the Baldo East zone below trench TCBL-20 (6m @ 21.74g/t gold) and was drilled approximately 135m west of CJO-96, and returned 1.5m @ 4.98g/t gold and 0.9m @ 3.16g/t gold. True widths cannot be determined with any certainty owing to the lack of drill data.

These results are highly encouraging and demonstrate that the higher grade Baldo East zone is continuous at depth between drill holes and remains both open along strike and at depth. Results are currently pending on Trench TCBL-29 developed 220m east of the most easterly trench at Baldo East, and TCBL-27 which is 150m west of trench TCBL-23.

Separately trench TCBL-25 was completed immediately south of, and perpendicular to the Baldo East zone in a north -south direction commencing 150m south of Baldo East and extending to the south for 300m. Mapping and sampling of this trench suggests the presence of at least two additional and previously unknown structures, which are parallel to Baldo East. Results from TCBL-25 include 7m @ 5.53g/t + 2m @ 8.30g/t + 2m @ 0.92g/t gold. The strike extent of these structures is not currently known. Additional trenching is aimed at determining the strike extent of these previously unknown structures.

To view the graphic in its original size, please click here

Toninho

At Toninho results were obtained on three additional trenches TCBL-21, TCBL-22 and TCBL-24 as well as five diamond drill holes CJO-100, CJO-101, CJO-102, CJO-103 and CJO-105.

Trench TCBL-24 was developed approximately 350m west of trench TCBL-14 which cut multiple mineralized zones including 5m @ 4.35g/t, 5m @ 0.51g/t, 3m @ 0.76g/t, 1m @ 0.67g/t and 10m @ 1.16g/t. Trench TCBL-24 returned 1m @ 0.65g/t + 5m @ 1.19 g/t + 1m @ 0.99 g/t + 1m @ 1.04 g/t gold indicating that the main Toninho zone extends to the west by at least 350m. Drill hole CJO-100 was drilled from the north under TCBL-14 and cut 1m @ 2.30 g/t gold and appears to have drilled sub-parallel to the main zone. Hole CJO-103 was drilled from the south and cut two narrow intervals of 1.2m @ 0.56g/t and 1m @ 2.53g/t.

Two trenches (TCBL-21 and TCBL-22) were developed and two drill holes (CJO-101 and CJO-102) completed immediately north of the Toninho zone in an area of historic garimpo workings in an effort to check for parallel zones. Of these, the only significant results were returned from trench TCBL-21 which returned 1m @ 4.04g/t gold and drill hole CJO-101 which returned 0.5m @ 16.77g/t gold from a narrow structure. This may be indicative of an E-W trending high grade zone similar to that identified at Baldo East.

To view the graphic in its original size, please click here

Drill holes were inclined at between 45 and 50. Core recovery for the mineralized intervals averaged 99%. The estimate true widths of all the mineralized intervals are approximately 90% of the intersected width in the holes.

Mike Bennett, President & CEO commented we are very encouraged by the recent drill results at Cajueiro which demonstrate the continuity of higher grade mineralization at depth at Baldo East. In addition, the identification of two high-grade structures immediately south of Baldo East in recent trenching suggests that significant high grade mineralization is yet to be discovered at Cajueiro

The company follows industry standard procedures with a quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) program. 2 Blank, 2 duplicate and 2 standard samples were inserted in each batch of 40 samples. Sample preparation and analysis was done at SGS GEOSOL in Vespasiano, Minas Gerais State, Brazil. Analysis is performed by fire assay with 50g fusion and Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy.

Crepori Update and Regional Program

The Company also announces that it has now completed the program of seven diamond drill holes at the Crepori project and results are currently pending. As a result of increased competitor activity in the Juruena Belt, the Company has initiated an exploration program for copper. The program initially consists of a geophysical and regional compilation study with further details to be provided once this work has been completed.

About Altamira Gold Corp.

The Company is focused on the exploration and development of gold deposits within western central Brazil. The Company holds 12 projects comprising approximately 200,000 hectares, within the prolific Juruena gold belt which historically produced an estimated 7 to 10Moz of placer gold. The Companys advanced Cajueiro project has an NI 43-101 resources of 8.64Mt @ 0.78 g/t Au (for 214,000oz) in the Indicated Resource category and 9.53Mt @ 0.66 g/t Au (for 204,000oz) in the Inferred Resource category and an additional 1.37Mt @ 1.61 g/t Au in oxides (for 79,000oz in saprolite) in the Inferred Resource category.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors,

ALTAMIRA GOLD CORP.

Michael Bennett

Michael Bennett

President & CEO

Tel: 604.676.5660

info@altamiragold.com

Guillermo Hughes, P. Geo., a consultant to the Company as well as a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, supervised the preparation of the technical information in this news release.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor it Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements in this document which are not purely historical are forward-looking statements, including any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future. It is important to note that actual outcomes and the Companys actual results could differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements. Except as required by law, we do not undertake to update these forward looking statements.

To view this press release as a PDF file, click onto the following link:public://news_release_pdf/AltamiraNov12017.pdfSource: Altamira Gold Corp. (TSX Venture:ALTA, FWB:T6UP, OTC Pink:EQTRF)

To follow Altamira Gold Corp. on your favorite social media platform or financial websites, please click on the icons below.

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Copyright  2017 Filing Services Canada Inc.
Vancouver, Nov. 1, 2017 - Opawica Explorations Inc. (TSXV: OPW) (the "Company") announces that further to its news release of October 5, 2017, the Company will convene an Annual General Meeting on November 23, 2017, at which meeting the shareholders of the Company will be asked to consider and, if thought fit, to approve a consolidation of the Common Shares of the Company on a basis of five (5) pre-consolidation Common Shares to one (1) post-consolidation Common Share (the "Consolidation").

Should the Consolidation be approved by the shareholders and the TSX Venture Exchange, then the Company proposes to undertake a post-Consolidation private placement to raise gross proceeds of up to $525,000 (the "Offering") through the sale of up to 7,000,000 units priced at $0.075 (the "Units"). Each Unit consists of one Common Share and one half of a share purchase warrant, with each whole warrant (the "Warrant") exercisable into one further Common Share at a price of $0.10 for a term of one year.

The Offering will be conducted under available exemptions from the prospectus requirements of applicable securities legislation and participation in the Offering will be available to existing shareholders in qualifying jurisdictions in Canada in accordance with the provisions of BC Instrument 45-354 (the "Existing Shareholder Exemption") and similar provisions in other jurisdictions' securities legislation and will be available to persons in qualifying jurisdictions in Canada who have obtained advice as to the suitability of the investment from a person registered as an investment dealer in accordance with the provisions of BC Instrument 45-536 and similar provisions in other jurisdictions' securities legislation.

The Company has set October 31, 2017 as the record date for the purpose of determining shareholders entitled to participate in the Offering in reliance on the Existing Shareholder Exemption. Qualifying shareholders who wish to participate in the Offering should contact the Company as detailed below.

The proceeds from the Offering will be used for general working capital.

A finder's and/or administrative fee of up to 10% may be paid to registered representatives in connection with the Offering. The fee will be comprised of 50% cash and 50% share purchase warrants exercisable at $0.10 for a term of one year.

The Offering is subject to the acceptance of the TSX Venture Exchange and board approval.

ABOUT OPAWICA EXPLORATIONS INC.

Opawica Explorations Inc. is a junior resource company engaged in the acquisition, exploration and evaluation of gold and base metal mineral properties in Canada. The Company owns 100% interest subject to certain royalties in the Bazooka gold property located in the Beauchastel Township approximately seven kilometres southwest of Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec. The Bazooka property comprises seven contiguous kilometres of strike length along the prolific Abitibi Gold Belt on the Cadillac Larder Lake Break. The eastern border of the Bazooka gold property adjoins Yorbeau Resources Inc.'s Rouyn Property that is actively being explored by Kinross Gold Corp. under an option agreement (see Yorbeau press release dated October 25, 2016). The western border of the Bazooka gold property adjoins Monarques Gold's Wasamac gold property (~3 million ozs Au resources). The Company also holds 100% interest subject to certain royalties in the McWatters gold property in the Rouyn-Noranda area and the Arrowhead gold property in the Joannes Township, Quebec.

For more information, please visit the Company's website at www.opawica.com.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Paul Antoniazzi

Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer

Opawica Explorations Inc.

Telephone: 604-681-3170

Fax: 604-681-3552

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider (as the term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy of accuracy of this news release.


ROUYN-NORANDA, QUEBEC--(Marketwired - Nov 1, 2017) - Explor Resources Inc. (TSX VENTURE:EXS)(OTCQB:EXSFF)(FRANKFURT:E1H1)(BERLIN:E1H1) ("Explor" or the "Corporation") announces the closing of a first tranche of a non-brokered private placement of a maximum of 3,571,500 units at a price of $0.07 each, for total gross proceeds of up to CDN $250,000 (the "Private Placement"). Each unit is composed of one common share and one-half common share purchase warrant. Each whole warrant can be exercised at a price of $0.12 for a period of 24 months. The first tranche of the Private Placement closed today consists in the sale of 2,857,143 units, representing 2,857,143 common shares and 1,428,571 warrants, for an aggregate subscription of $200,000, by a related party to the Corporation, namely, Christian Dupont, director and Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation. After the private placement, assuming the exercise of the warrants included in the units purchased by Christian Dupont, Mr. Dupont would hold, directly or indirectly, or exercise control over approximately 4.3 % of the Corporation issued and outstanding common shares.

The net proceeds from the Private Placement will be used by the Corporation for working capital purposes.

The issuance of securities to a related party in the first tranche of the Private Placement constitutes a "related party transaction" within the meaning of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 respecting protection of minority security holders in special transactions ("MI "61-101"), which is incorporated into TSX Venture Exchange Policy 5.9. In its consideration and approval of the first tranche of the Private Placement, the board of directors of the Corporation has determined that such subscription to the related party is exempt from the formal valuation and minority approval requirements of MI 61-101 on the main basis that the fair market value of the subscription to the related party does not exceed 25% of the market capitalization of Explor, in accordance with sections 5.5 and 5.7 of MI 61-101.

The securities to be issued pursuant to the first closing of the Private Placement are subject to a hold period of four months and a day ending March 2th, 2018. The Private Placement is subject to the final approval of the TSX Venture Exchange.

Explor Resources Inc. is a publicly listed company trading on the TSX Venture (EXS), on the OTCQB (EXSFF) and on the Frankfurt and Berlin Stock Exchanges (E1H1).

This press release was prepared by Explor. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the Policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) has reviewed or accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

About Explor Resources Inc.

Explor Resources Inc. is a Canadian-based natural resources company with mineral holdings in Ontario, Quebec, Saskatchewan and New Brunswick. Explor is currently focused on exploration in the Abitibi Greenstone Belt. The belt is found in both provinces of Ontario and Quebec with approximately 33% in Ontario and 67% in Quebec. The Belt has produced in excess of 180,000,000 ounces of gold and 450,000,000 tonnes of cu-zn ore over the last 100 years. The Corporation was continued under the laws of Alberta in 1986 and has had its main office in Quebec since 2006.

Explor Resources Flagship project is the Timmins Porcupine West (TPW) Project located in the Porcupine mining camp, in the Province of Ontario. The TPW mineral resource (Press Release dated August 27, 2013) includes the following:

Open Pit Mineral Resources at a 0.30 g/t Au cut-off grade are as follows:

Indicated: 213,000 oz (4,283,000 tonnes at 1.55 g/t Au) Inferred: 77,000 oz (1,140,000 tonnes at 2.09 g/t Au)

Underground Mineral Resources at a 1.70 g/t Au cut-off grade are as follows:

Indicated: 396,000 oz (4,420,000 tonnes at 2.79 g/t Au) Inferred: 393,000 oz (5,185,000 tonnes at 2.36 g/t Au)

This document may contain forward-looking statements relating to Explor's operations or to the environment in which it operates. Such statements are based on operations, estimates, forecasts and projections. They are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict and may be beyond Explor's control. A number of important factors could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from those expressed in forward-looking statements, including those set forth in other public filling. In addition, such statements relate to the date on which they are made. Consequently, undue reliance should not be placed on such forward-looking statements. Explor disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, save and except as may be required by applicable securities laws.
One in three women and one in four men in the United States have been physically abused by an intimate partner, and intimate-partner homicides account for 40 to 50 percent of femicides. Violence against women ranks among the top calls for service to police departments nationwide, yet over half of these types of crimes -- including four-fifths of rapes -- go unreported to law enforcement.There is no mystery as to why this is the case. The trauma that victims experience from intimate-partner violence (IPV) can make them particularly reluctant to engage with the criminal justice system. They fear being re-traumatized by the system's response, or that there will be no response at all. Indeed, the majority of IPV victims cite a belief that the police will not or cannot do anything to protect them.Yet this belief, this lack of trust in the criminal justice system, further endangers victims -- not only by discouraging them from accessing available public-safety resources but also by leading them to withhold crucial information from law enforcement. That undermines the ability of the criminal-justice system to properly investigate, prosecute and deter these crimes.There is a well-documented solution to this crisis of trust. A growing body of research shows that "procedural justice" -- an approach grounded in the concept that law enforcement's interactions with the public shape the public's view of and willingness to reach out to police -- can make significant strides in reconciling these trust gaps.Procedural justice focuses on transforming interactions between community members and all practitioners in the criminal-justice system, with the goal of improving individuals' perceptions of law enforcement, their willingness to obey the law, and their desire to collaborate in crime-solving and ultimately reducing crime. These goals are achieved through five critical tenets:giving members of the community an opportunity to be heard and empowering them to speak up.demonstrating neutrality toward community members while addressing implicit biases.clearly explaining law-enforcement actions and why they are being taken.treating community members with dignity and courtesy.expressing a genuine interest in individuals' needs and personal situations, while connecting them with available resources.Every partner in the criminal-justice system -- from an officer responding to a domestic-disturbance call to a prosecutor conducting interviews with a victim to a judge presiding over a criminal-court case -- is in a position to send a message to IPV victims that the system is trustworthy, fair and a place to seek help. But while procedural-justice training can dramatically improve effectiveness in this effort, there are many small steps that can be taken immediately to achieve a powerful impact. It can be as simple as a police officer listening empathetically to a victim, offering information about services available, connecting the victim with a counselor, consistently enforcing protective orders, or clearly communicating to a sexual-assault victim what happens after a rape kit is completed and who will follow up about the case.Research strongly supports the connection, regardless of the case outcome, between enhanced procedural justice and improvements in a victim's experience and long-term recovery. When victims perceive fairness, respect and a sincere offer of help, they are more likely to engage meaningfully with police, prosecutors and the court system. By integrating procedural-justice practices into law enforcement's response to IPV, criminal-justice practitioners create the opportunity to re-frame how these crimes are handled, enhance victim safety, improve case outcomes and repair a vulnerable community's trust in the system.Furthermore, this trust could provide the foundation for a new vision of public safety: safer communities that are empowered by positive, ongoing and successful cooperation with law enforcement. Increased confidence in criminal-justice practitioners improves victim participation and offender accountability, and it provides law enforcement with the resources it needs to address and ultimately reduce these violent crimes. Procedural justice enables law enforcement to better help not only IPV victims but also communities as a whole.
Limited Impact

Uncertainty on the Island

With many teachers among the thousands of residents fleeing Puerto Rico for the mainland after Hurricane Maria, school districts in Florida, Texas and New York say they are working to streamline the certification process in the hopes of adding Puerto Rican teachers to their classrooms. But for many of the teachers, the effort has hardly meant a quick ticket to employment.Those states already have large concentrations of Puerto Ricans, and the numbers likely will grow as people displaced by the September hurricane come to the mainland to stay with family. Florida, for example, has seen 58,000 people from Puerto Rico land in Orlando and the Miami metro area since Oct. 3. More than 4,300 Puerto Rican children have enrolled in its schools, as have more than 500 from the U.S. Virgin Islands.School administrators in Florida say they are eager to hire Puerto Rican teachers, teachers aides, substitutes and bus drivers in a state where a teacher shortage will be compounded by a growing number of students. Just days after the hurricane made landfall, Sept. 20, several Florida school districts had set up booths at local airports to sign up students and recruit school staff.Theres a shortage of teachers within central Florida, and this is a great opportunity to try and recruit and hire folks who really reflect our student body in terms of being bilingual and being of Latino or Hispanic background, said Greg White, recruitment specialist for Osceola County schools, south of Orlando. He said the district has openings for as many as 150 teachers throughout the school year and is desperate for bus drivers.So far the district has hired five teachers who evacuated the island, he said. Several others are set to be interviewed.Florida will waive the application fee for a teaching certificate and will accept unofficial transcripts in order to expedite the hiring of Puerto Rican teachers. In New York, the state is offering one-year teaching certifications for those with certificates from Puerto Rico and other U.S. territories who meet basic requirements for teachers.But those actions may not be enough for Puerto Rican teachers who find they must take additional tests before they can work in the state. Many who came to the mainland years before the hurricane say this has long been a problem. Elementary school teachers in particular may face challenges because the island breaks up certification into two categories: kindergarten through third grade and fourth through sixth grade. This doesnt perfectly align with Florida, which certifies teachers for either pre-K through third grade or all elementary school grades.Glenyarid Melendez-Rivera, a 33-year-old English teacher from Orocovis, Puerto Rico, has been trying to get a job since she arrived in the Orlando area about two weeks ago. But her certification in elementary English doesnt have an equivalent in Florida, and school officials told her she would have to take a $200 test in order to get certified as an elementary school teacher.Florida Department of Education spokeswoman Audrey Walden said the state had no plans to adjust certification requirements or waive test fees at this time.Melendez-Rivera thought she would get work fast given the states need for bilingual educators and for those who teach English as a foreign language. She left her husband in Puerto Rico and arrived with her 20-month-old daughter to stay with a cousin, under the assumption that she could land a job and get established before her husband joins them.They told me in the meantime, you can apply for something noninstructional, like a teaching assistant or substitute teacher, she said. Thats fine, but it pays a third of what they pay teachers here. Its even less than what I made over in Puerto Rico, so thats a bit frustrating.So far, its unclear how much of an impact states efforts have had on Puerto Rican teachers. No teachers have yet applied for the temporary certificates in New York, according to state officials there. And Florida has documented just 20 Puerto Rican teachers who have applied for a certification fee waiver, though officials there say their records are likely incomplete since individual school districts handle hiring.Nancy Morales Benitez, director of Maestros Puertorriquenos en Accion (Puerto Rican Teachers in Action), said she started the group two years ago after seeing Puerto Rican teachers struggle to get licenses in Florida. Thats despite a reciprocity agreement that should make it easier for Puerto Rican teachers to get their credentials in Florida, she said.She has been lobbying Florida state legislators to reduce or waive fees on the tests some teachers will be required to take.If they could just get a temporary teaching certificate and job for just, say, a year, at least youd have money to prepare for and take the test, she said. Because no ones waiving that $200 test fee.White, in Osceola County, said its up to the state, not districts, to push for further changes to the certification process.Elementary English teachers like Melendez-Rivera will be in the toughest spot as the state has no equivalent to that certification, he said.A Puerto Rican teachers union, Asociacion de Maestros de Puerto Rico, is not pleased to see so many teachers attempting to leave. Grichelle Toledo Correa, the groups secretary general, said a massive flight of teachers could leave the island even more desperate for hard-to-find special education, bilingual and high school teachers.In our position, she said, we are encouraging teachers to stay in Puerto Rico.Teaching on the mainland remains a popular option for many, however, due to the islands education struggles. In May, before hurricane season even began, the territory closed about 180 schools in part due to Puerto Ricos budget crisis. Many teachers are unsure when schools that closed after Maria will reopen. Some have just begun to open, more than a month after the hurricane landed. And for many educators, particularly those who teach middle and high school students, the hiring process in Florida has been more straightforward.Bridget Williams, chief of staff for Orange County Public Schools, the school district for Orlando, said officials have hired about 20 teachers and classroom aides, about 10 custodians, and a few others to work in school cafeterias since the hurricane.Were talking about some very qualified people, Williams said, adding that the district was lucky to be able to hire a husband and wife who used to teach at the University of Puerto Rico to teach high school chemistry and physics.In Texas, the Dallas Independent School District has been recruiting Puerto Rican teachers for years. This year, though, the district had to cancel two recruitment trips because of Hurricanes Irma and Maria.Jordan Carlton, manager of talent acquisition for the district, said his team has tried to contact 200 or so people who had signed up for the recruitment session that was canceled because of Irma. But the task was complicated by the islands comprised infrastructure, and the district has yet to make any hires.Because Puerto Rican teaching certificates do not directly transfer to Texas, Carlton said, the district has asked the Texas Education Agency to expedite the review process for their candidates, as they are wary of offering jobs to people before they get the proper credentials. Some may need to take additional tests, something Carlton hopes can be done in Puerto Rico once test centers reopen.We want to make sure before we say, Yes you have a job with us, that they are certified by the Texas Education Agency, he said. We want to make sure they can make a living when they get here.Texas Education Agency spokeswoman Lauren Callahan, meanwhile, said she had no details about the hiring process for Puerto Rican teachers across the state and that all hiring decisions are made at the local level.Melendez-Rivera thinks state officials in Florida should be careful about how they advertise teaching opportunities.I dont want the same thing that happened to me to happen to someone else, she said. Its not as easy as they say.
Alan Greenblatt is a senior staff writer for Governing. He can be found on Twitter at @AlanGreenblatt.
Former State Treasurer Barbara Hafer was sentenced Tuesday to 36 months of probation for lying to the FBI during a long-running federal pay-to-play investigation of Pennsylvania government.Hafer, 74, of Indiana, apologized to the court, her voice cracking: "I did it. It was wrong. And I am sorry for it," she said, stopping several times to choke back tears. "I'm ashamed, and I am heartsick over the situation."U.S. District Judge John E. Jones III called Hafer "a political success story" and added that he took her career in public service and acts of philanthropy into consideration in imposing a sentence with no prison time.But, he said, "I can easily see what happened here." She did not misspeak or forget pertinent information when she was confronted by federal agents about her dealings with a longtime campaign donor. "I think you just didn't want to say," Jones said.Hafer, a longtime Republican turned Democrat, was charged last summer along with one of her largest campaign donors, Richard Ireland, a Chester County businessman. She was accused of misleading the FBI and IRS about nearly $700,000 in payments Ireland made to her consulting firm between 2005 and 2007, after she had left office.She had faced two counts of making false statements, but pleaded guilty to one count in June, just weeks before she was to go on trial.In sentencing-related court documents, Hafer's lawyer, Thomas J. Farrell, said that though Hafer has been out of public office for more than a decade, "she is a public figure, and her shame has been public, even though her crime did not involve the use of her office and at best was unseemly."Farrell also said Hafer's false statements to federal authorities were the "result of a poor decision made in response to a high-stress situation."Jones was unconvinced. "I can accept that this situation is a stressful one," he said, but added: "I believe that you feared that disclosing your relationship with Mr. Ireland after you left office in some way might demonstrate something that at worst was illegal and at best was unseemly."Jones noted Ireland's generous campaign contributions to Hafer over the years, and the "enormous benefit" Ireland's firm received in contracts when Hafer ran the Treasury Department."There is something wrong with the system that allows Mr. Ireland and his partner to make a half-million dollars in campaign contributions -- and I'm not holding you responsible for that, you played by the rules as you found them," Jones said, "And in exchange for that, as far as I can see, they received an enormous benefit."In sentencing Hafer, Jones also ruled that she must perform 500 hours of community service and pay a $50,100 fine.Friends and family testified on Hafer's behalf, urging lenience. Her daughter, Bethany, talked about her mother's career of service, starting as a public-health nurse and continuing during her time in county and state office, and in her volunteer work since leaving politics.Before she became treasurer, Hafer served as Pennsylvania's auditor general and was an Allegheny County commissioner. She was active on issues of women's rights, developing services for victims of sexual assault and domestic abuse."She is by far the best person I know and love," Bethany Hafer said.As they left the courtroom Tuesday, neither Hafer nor her lawyer commented to reporters.Hafer's sentencing ended the last case in which charges were filed in a federal investigation into corruption in Harrisburg. The probe has led to a guilty plea from John Estey, the onetime chief of staff to former Gov. Ed Rendell, and toppled one of Hafer's successors, Rob McCord.McCord, a Democrat, pleaded guilty in 2015 to attempting to shake down campaign contributors and resigned in the middle of his second term.Hafer's case stems from statements she made to federal authorities more than a decade after ending her term as treasurer, a job that manages billions of dollars in state investments.Hafer had initially claimed lapses in memory in denying that she accepted $675,000 in consulting payments from Ireland after leaving office. According to the indictment against her, Ireland, who served as a middleman helping money managers land government work, made more than $10 million in fees while Hafer ran the Treasury Department between 1997 and 2005.Ireland went on trial earlier this year, but Jones dismissed all charges against him mid-trial. Ireland had been accused of attempting to bribe McCord with campaign contributions in return for government contracts.McCord, who unsuccessfully sought the Democratic nomination for governor in 2014, cooperated with federal authorities in Ireland's case. He secretly recorded his conversations with Ireland while working undercover to help the FBI and to try to gain a more lenient sentence, and was the government's star witness during Ireland's trial. He has not been sentenced.In fact, it was one of those secret McCord recordings that led federal authorities to question Hafer's relationship with Ireland, Jones noted Tuesday.On the recording, Ireland is heard telling McCord that he had taken care of Hafer, who after leaving office opened a consulting firm called Hafer & Associates. During her interview with agents in May 2016, Hafer denied receiving money from Ireland or any businesses with which he was associated.Agents later discovered that in 2005 alone, Ireland paid Hafer's firm $500,000 -- nearly two-thirds of her firm's business that year.
A victims' rights advocate on Tuesday publicly accused a state senator of sexual harassment and said her complaint fell on deaf ears at the Capitol for nearly a year.Denise Rotheimer, an activist for victims of violent crime who is running as a Republican for a Lake County Illinois House seat, told lawmakers at a hearing that Democratic Sen. Ira Silverstein of Chicago made unwanted comments about her appearance, sent her hundreds of Facebook messages and placed midnight phone calls.In an interview, Silverstein disputed the accusations, saying he apologizes "if I made her uncomfortable" but that he's waiting until the complaint process is concluded before saying anything more.A spokesman for Democratic Senate President John Cullerton said "it is our understanding there is an open investigation" at the General Assembly's ethics investigations agency. The legislative inspector general's office, which has been without a permanent leader since mid-2014, operates largely in secret.Rotheimer made the allegations during a Chicago hearing on a measure that would boost requirements for training for government officials about sexual harassment.Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan proposed the legislation last week after more than 200 people signed onto a letter circulated by women involved in Illinois politics that called for "challenging every elected official, every candidate, and every participant in our democratic process who is culpable" for a culture of sexual harassment.The letter was inspired by the #MeToo social media campaign that gained prominence in the wake of widespread allegations against Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein.As Madigan sat nearby, Rotheimer told lawmakers that Silverstein used the crime victim legislation she was advocating as "a carrot being dangled" over her. She said Silverstein told her she was "intoxicating" and said things like, "I like having meetings with you because you're pretty to look at."At one point, she said, Silverstein killed the bill she was advocating -- legislation to provide legal representation for crime victims -- and later brought it back."He thought I had a boyfriend, and then once I explained to him I don't have a boyfriend, my bill came back alive," Rotheimer said. "So I knew the power that he had over my bill."The measure never made it out of committee during the 2015-16 legislative session. Asked after Tuesday's hearing if Silverstein ever specifically asked her to do anything, Rotheimer said, "No.""He more used the situation as a way to communicate with me, Facebook me, be friends with me, set up meetings and call them dates and have this whatever it is that -- it was completely unethical," she said.Rotheimer said that in late November 2016, after it was clear that her bill would not be brought for a vote, she went to the Senate president's office and "explained what I had been put through.""I told them what happened, my experience with Silverstein, how unethical everything was."Rotheimer said she was told to file a complaint with the inspector general's office. She provided a Jan. 19, 2017, letter from the executive inspector general, which covers agencies under control of the governor. That office referred her complaint back to the Senate, saying "the nature of your allegation is such that it is more appropriately addressed by the Office of Illinois Senate President John Cullerton."Cullerton spokesman John Patterson confirmed the Senate president's office "was made aware of these accusations in late November 2016" and said the office referred the matter to the inspector general for the legislature."Senior staff met with Sen. Silverstein to let him know such allegations are taken seriously and that this would be reported to the legislative inspector general's office and Legislative Ethics Commission, which it was," Patterson said. "It is our understanding there is an open investigation."The legislative inspector general's office is charged with looking into such complaints but has been operating for several years without an inspector general because lawmakers have been unable to agree on an appointee. The office answers to the Legislative Ethics Commission, a group of lawmakers appointed by legislative leaders. That commission is headed by Sen. Terry Link, D-Waukegan.Link said the vacancy in the office's leadership has not prevented it from operating. He said staff members receive complaints and investigate those deemed worthwhile. Once an investigation is complete, the office must seek permission from the panel of legislators to take its findings to law enforcement such as the state's attorney or attorney general.Link said he could not comment on any matters that have been referred to the inspector general or the ethics commission, nor could he say how many cases the inspector general receives or how many cases have been referred to law enforcement. "Nobody can talk about what goes on in that room," Link said.Asked if it was unusual for a person to wait for a year or longer to hear back about a complaint, Link said "not necessarily.""Some things take a long time," he said.Rotheimer said she turned to state Sen. Melinda Bush, D-Grayslake, for help getting a response to her complaint, but "nothing happened."Bush said she was contacted by Rotheimer, who told her that she had been treated in an "inappropriate way" by Silverstein and raised concerns that her complaint was not being taken seriously by Cullerton's office.Bush said she immediately called Cullerton, who said he was aware of the complaint and already had forwarded the matter and documents provided by to Rotheimer to the legislative inspector general.Bush said after that she did not respond to subsequent calls from Rotheimer because she believed it was inappropriate given it had been referred to the appropriate authorities. "Anytime anybody alleges misconduct, the first thing I am going to do is go to the appropriate authorities. It is not my job to decide," Bush said.Bush said she was "appalled" that the legislative inspector general's post has sat vacant for years. "We absolutely need to fill the legislative inspector general position, and I don't know why it has taken so long," Bush said.Rotheimer's political activism began after her 11-year-old daughter was sexually assaulted. The attacker, who had given the girl hard alcohol before sexually assaulting her, was sentenced in 2003 to 7 1/2 years in prison, just 18 months more than the minimum sentence.Rotheimer felt criminal justice laws were unfair to victims, so she lobbied for what's now known as "Jasmine's Law," which allows courts to impose longer sentences on those who commit sex crimes against minors when the perpetrators know or should know that their victims are under the influence of alcohol.She also lost a federal lawsuit filed against Lake County prosecutors who she alleged had violated her daughter's rights in the assault case a decade earlier. And Rotheimer has protested against building new criminal courtrooms in Lake County.Rotheimer first sought public office in 2008, losing a Lake County Board race while running as a Democrat. Last year she again ran for the board in a different district as a Republican but lost in the primary election.In 2014 she ran for a House seat as an independent but was removed from the ballot. Now she's running for that same seat, which is held by Rep. Sam Yingling, a Democrat from Grayslake who beat back a well-funded Republican challenge last year in one of the state's most expensive contests.Two other candidates also are seeking the Republican nomination in March. Joe Woodward, political director of the House Republican Organization, said the party has not backed a candidate.Rotheimer said she decided to testify at Tuesday's hearing because she wanted to bring attention to her complaint."I want these Facebook messages to be presented. I want these phone calls and everything, all the communication between Silverstein and me, to be exposed because I want him to answer for it and to know that it is wrong, it is unconscionable and I for one do not tolerate it," Rotheimer said during her hearing testimony.Rotheimer gave the Tribune what she said was a download of Facebook messages covering late June 2015 through late November 2016. The messages show repeated discussions of the legislation that Rotheimer was pushing, and the exchanges often veered into personal territory, with talk about topics like food, shopping, travel and religion.Silverstein is married to 50th Ward Ald. Debra Silverstein. Approached by reporters at City Hall where she was attending budget hearings Tuesday, Ald. Silverstein declined to comment.Before Rotheimer spoke Tuesday, Speaker Madigan took the rare step of testifying before the panel and taking lawmakers' questions. The committee advanced his bill, which could be considered in the House as soon as next week.Asked later by reporters if he was aware of a pervasive culture of sexual harassment in Illinois politics, Madigan said, "There were instances where complaints were filed with the ethics officer, people, including legislators, were called in and told, 'You better knock it off because we don't tolerate it in the office of the speaker.'"Madigan said he had heard Rotheimer's allegations "for the first time" at the hearing."It does not sound good," Madigan said. "I think it's a matter that ought to be pursued, it ought to be investigated. And I'm sure it will be."Several other women whose work touches on politics and government also testified, with some offering tales of harassment by unnamed men. The testimony raised concerns about a lack of protections for women who operate in political environments such as fundraising or lobbying, where work is done outside of the office and the traditional avenues for filing complaints, like in a typical office environment, aren't available.Rotheimer also raised that concern, saying her experience was evidence that the current system needs to be changed."I thought by filing a complaint, I was going to get an actual hearing," she said.
On Tuesday, in the morning, at Beersheba War Cemetery in Beer Sheva, Israel, His Excellency the Honourable Paul de Jersey AC and Mrs Kaye de Jersey attended the Battle of Beersheba and Sinai-Palestine Campaign Joint Australian and New Zealand Centenary Service, and laid a wreath on behalf of the people of Queensland.

Following, at the Turkish Soldiers Monument, Beer Sheva, the Governor and Mrs de Jersey attended the Turkish Soldiers Commemorative Memorial Ceremony.

In the afternoon, in Beer Sheva, the Governor and Mrs de Jersey attended the Civic Parade, Saluting the Light Horse.

Following, at Tel Beer Sheva, the Governor and Mrs de Jersey attended the New Zealand National Service.

Following, at Be-er Sheva River Park, the Governor and Mrs de Jersey attended the re-enactment of the Charge of the Light Horse by the Australian Light Horse Association.

Following, the Governor and Mrs de Jersey attended the Park of the Australian Soldier Service.
From Tucson to Chicago, Mexico to Toronto, 238 cities and states are competing to be home to Amazons second headquarters ( HQ2 ), an undertaking estimated to generate up to 50,000 jobs and cost at least $5 billion to build.But when representatives from St. Louis and Kansas City each sought state support for their proposals, Missouri officials made an unusual, Solomonic decision. It backed both cities equally, impartially and objectively"  but submitted its own proposal too.Population is key to Amazon: applying cities must have a base of at least 1 million citizens. But Missouri Chief Operating Officer Drew Erdmann said the technology and retail company encouraged the state to make its pitch.Missouris request to Amazon: Locate in both St. Louis and Kansas City and be linked along a 240-mile-long innovation corridor between the states major economic and innovation centers.The connector would be the electric-powered, pneumatic tube train Hyperloop One , which is being studied for feasibility, and could potentially slash commute times from nearly four hours to under 30 minutes.Employing the principles of magnetic levitation and pneumatic tubes, Hyperloop One is being examined by Colorado, Texas and Missouri. Ryan Weber, president of the Kansas City Tech Council (KCTC), an industrial association for technology companies and regional industry advocate, said an announcement of which entity will do Missouris study should come closer to Thanksgiving.The futuristic train is not a reality yet, said Erdmann, but its also not an outlandish concept.And that led us at the state-level to the conclusion, Well, that would be an interesting idea. Lets challenge Amazon to be bolder, the COO said, pointing out that while Amazon will likely begin standing up HQ2 far sooner, its overall timeline is focused on decades.Were saying to Amazon, if you take a 10- or 20-year perspective, were betting on change, were betting on innovation. We think its actually more risky to bet on stasis than change, he added.Offering access to combined metropolitan populations of around 5 million via the distributed model of two cities would address infrastructure, real estate and related strains that would otherwise impact any major metropolitan area, Erdmann said.The COO noted that should either St. Louis or Kansas City win independently of the state, Missouri is confident either area would be able to support immediate deployment from Amazon. And he said that even if no Missouri entity wins, merely submitting a proposal helped state officials sharpen their game, and motivated local agencies to collaborate.Not just individual, fragmented communities but we as Missouri need to step up and compete, and we need to compete together, Erdmann said.Financial details including subsidies and incentives are few, with some specifics shielded by law and governments reluctant to negotiate in public, but the Missouri cities also made their own unique cases  both linked to neighboring states.The Kansas City regions proposal  including Kansas City, Kansas  spanned 18 counties and was the largest regional response effort in the history of the Kansas City Area Development Council, the organization said.In statements, Kansas City, Kan., Mayor Mark Holland name-checked his citys work with Google Fiber and Cerner Corp. as evidence of its business-friendly, can-do attitude." Kansas City, Mo., Mayor Sly James said he was extremely proud of the bid and how the community embraced a unique opportunity.Weber compared Kansas City to Seattle before companies like Starbucks, Microsoft and Amazon scaled up.Kansas City has done that for Cerner, Garmin, Sprint and we can do it again for another company. It was more about growing with Amazon than anything else, the KCTC president said.According to the St. Louis Economic Partnership , that citys proposal offered a Mississippi riverfront site that spans the river and crosses the Illinois border to meet Amazons specifications as urban, vibrant, connected to light rail and in a region ready to deliver the tech workforce they will need.In addition to support from Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens, St. Louis submission included a letter from Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner  whos also supporting a bid by Chicago. Both city proposals were submitted on Thursday, Oct. 19.One St. Louis official said he likes the regions chances better since the state threw its hat in the ring.Really, what the states proposal has done is, I think its elevated our visibility and created a conversation around Missouri as an innovation hub that is really extremely positive and can only enhance our chance, said Andrew Smith, vice president of entrepreneurship and innovation at the St. Louis Regional Chamber of Commerce and co-founder of the Missouri Hyperloop Coalition.
(TNS) -- Inside the heart of the Emergency Operations Center, Harvey County dispatch personnel have been being dealing with a lot of change over the past couple of weeks. The county's new Next Generation 911 (NG911) system went live as of Oct. 26, and commissioners saw first hand how that has transformed the way in which 911 calls are processed during a tour of the center on Monday.On the first day the new system went live, Communications Director Don Gruver said the advantages of the new system were made clear as calls started coming in about a grass fire in Sedgwick. With the new system, dispatch was able to quickly pinpoint the location of the fire and call in support from surrounding departments in Halstead, Newton, etc.  even some departments that were not paged by Harvey County 911 turned up to assist in the fire suppression efforts.At the center of NG911, Gruver informed commissioners that the mapping resources are one of the biggest benefits of the new system. With 76 percent participation from Kansas counties in NG911, and each providing geographic data, the map-based system makes the process of locating callers much quicker. With the majority of calls now coming from cell phones, he added that residents turning on GPS services will aid in that process all the more."You can have that set for 911 only," Gruver said. "We encourage people to do that."In addition to the mapping benefits of the new system, the fact of NG911 being a state initiative brings a host of positives for Harvey County 911  from the state being in charge of equipment maintenance to the near uniformity of the system allowing the Emergency Operations Center to log into its own system at any other NG911 center across the state.Text to 911 will also be going live in Harvey County, on Nov. 1 officially, with Gruver demonstrating that facet of the new system to commissioners and noting that while it does get information to dispatch, a call is still the best way to help pinpoint your location  part of the impetus being the statewide motto to "call when you can and text when you can't."Calling, Gruver noted, is also a more streamlined way of getting information across to dispatchers, as he noted information sent via text cannot be copied and pasted into the computer-aided dispatch system."It' s a very tightly protected, closed network," Gruver said.What the new system will also provide is an easier way for department administrators to plug in and help take calls in busy times  which Gruver noted the department has had its share of. So, while the upgrade to NG911 was not required, it is for reasons like that Harvey County 911 pursued the shift in technology."If you don't keep up with it, things start breaking down here," Gruver said, "and we can't have that."
(TNS) -- Susan Kice and her husband regularly followed City Council meetings on cable television when they lived for many years in Wichita and Manhattan, Kan. So they were surprised when they moved to Lenexa in 2015.There is no televising or video livestreaming of council meetings in Lenexa. Nor in Overland Park, Shawnee or Merriam.The Johnson County Commission and city councils in Olathe, Mission and DeSoto do livestream their meetings. Prairie Village soon plans to join them.Its a question of transparency versus cost for many cities. And some opponents argue the public just doesnt care.Kice begs to differ.Weve always watched our city council meetings, Kice said of her experiences before she moved to Lenexa. I think livestreaming or televising would be appropriate. I just think people might be more inclined to pay attention to the issues of the city.Kice raised that question when she hosted informal meetings with both Ward 2 Lenexa candidates running in the Nov. 7 election. If they could do it in Manhattan, Kansas, I would think Lenexa could do it, she said.The question of livestreaming or televising meetings has also become something of a campaign issue in Overland Park, the metro areas second largest city, where longtime incumbent mayor Carl Gerlach is being challenged by Charlotte OHara.OHara says its just something 21st century cities should do for transparency and accessibility. Ward 1 Council candidate Logan Heley, who is challenging incumbent Dave Janson, also talks about the need for live video streaming on his campaign webpage.That would be one of the first things I would institute (if elected), OHara told The Stars Editorial Board. Either televised or livestreaming.But Gerlach says OHara is making waves about an issue the public really doesnt care about.I call this a campaign issue, Gerlach told the Editorial Board, adding that it never comes up from the public or outside the context of a campaign challenge. He pointed out that Overland Park audiotapes its meetings and people can obtain those tapes.Those audio recordings are available from the Overland Park city clerks office, at a cost of $1.09 per CD. A total of 11 audio recordings were requested in 2016, and four requests were made in 2017.Overland Park Communications Manager Sean Reilly said that, like Lenexa, all written documentation for agenda items are attached and available prior to and after meetings.Overland Park also has detailed written meeting minutes, which show that the councils finance, administration and economic development committee had an extensive discussion about the idea of televising its meetings in January 2011. A few council members at the time supported the idea, but most felt it was not a high priority. It was discussed at another committee meeting in June 2011, but voted down, in part because of the projected $18,000 cost at that time.In Lenexa, Mayor Mike Boehm, who does not face a challenger in this years election, said its never been anything that the public in Lenexa has really pushed. He predicted that televising or livestreaming meetings could adversely change their tone, with people acting out for the cameras.The public purpose is sometimes co-opted by special interests or just disruptive behavior, he said. We just havent thought that was needed or necessary.Boehm said the city puts all of its written materials and staff reports online ahead of the meetings, so the public is well informed that way. Adding livestreaming or televising would be an added expense.I think our dollars are better spent on public safety and recreation and things of that nature, he said.However, Kice noted that new technology has made livestreaming more economical, and cities like Mission and Prairie Village bear that out.Shawnee and Miriam also dont visually livestream their meetings, although Shawnee provides an audio livestream and archives that information, at a cost of $206 per year. City Clerk Stephen Powell said the city considered visual livestreaming about 10 years ago but didnt see a demand.Still, the Olathe City Council and the Johnson County Commission have televised their meetings on cable TV and have also livestreamed on their websites for years. Olathe still broadcasts on the local cable TV channel as well as webcasts, but Johnson County now just webcasts.Obviously, this communitys expectation and our councils expectations are that we will be as open and transparent as possible, said Tim Danneberg, communications director for the city of Olathe. Broadcasting the meetings has never been second-guessed and is critically important to our governing body.Danneberg said the initial investment years ago was tens of thousands of dollars, but the cameras and the technology now are considerably cheaper. He said the latest equipment upgrade was about $8,000 and costs $10,000 per year, for a company that hosts the webcasts and archives and indexes the videos. He said the city doesnt currently know how many people watch the webcasts but should soon start to get that data. Along with the public, he said the information is very useful to city staff and elected officials.Former Johnson County Commission Chairwoman Annabeth Surbaugh, who now lives in Lenexa, said she pushed hard to start televising the meetings after she was first elected to the commission in November 2002, and she never regretted it.A live presentation online is the ultimate transparency, and its at the convenience of the working public, she said. Yes, people did watch and a lot of people would comment online to each other. It was worth the cost.Joe Waters, assistant county manager in Johnson County, said the county currently pays about $18,000 annually for the video broadcaster and $18,000 on closed captioning.We do think it helps the public be able to go back if they miss a meeting, he said. We meet during the day and people sometimes cant get here.Like Danneberg, he agreed its also an invaluable tool for county staff and commissioners to review what was said on a particular issue.The 2017 citizen survey in Johnson County showed that about 4 percent of respondents said they watch the meetings online.The League of Kansas Municipalities doesnt offer advice on broadcast or livestreaming policies. Each city is different and should make those decisions locally based on staff time, technology and resources, said communications manager Megan Gilliland. But she said the organization encourages cities to take the steps they feel are necessary to engage their local constituents and create positive conversations about local government issues.Social media and other platforms have been very effective for governments  large and small  and I applaud any efforts communities take to engage their residents and solicit meaningful feedback to make Kansas communities stronger and more resilient, she said.The city of Mission has had a bare-bones system of video streaming since 2014 that is inexpensive and cost-effective, said public information officer Emily Randel.In general its been very positive, she said. It was a very low investment for us and I think people really appreciate it. Staff uses it, frankly. We go back and view it as well.She said the city bought a small portable camera and tripod at a local store and she sets it on top of their audio-visual cabinet. The video is available on YouTube and people can watch in real time or later, through a link from the citys website.Mission Mayor Steve Schowengerdt said a constituent just recently mentioned to him how much she appreciated it.Its hard for some people to get down for the meetings, he said. I dont think its a big cost, but its worth it.Prairie Village looked at Mission and wanted to do that, but feared it would strain staff resources to have a person videotape every council meeting, said City Adminstrator Wes Jordan. The city now thinks it can find an automated system that wont require staff time and that could accomplish the goal for about $3,500 for equipment and an annual cost of no more than $2,000 for the livestreaming and video recording platform.This has been a discussion about becoming more transparent, recognizing that people have an interest who may not be able to attend a meeting, Jordan said. We remain hopeful well be able to do it. Were working on it right now.
(TNS) - The suspect in a deadly truck attack on Halloween in New York City left a note referencing the Islamic State, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Wednesday.Cuomo told CBS This Morning that the note was found by investigators probing the attack.Eight people were killed and at least 11 seriously injured after a rented pickup truck was driven onto a bike path near the World Trade Center.The suspect, identified by authorities to the Associated Press as Sayfullo Saipov, an immigrant from Uzbekistan who was living in New Jersey at the time of the attack.The attacker rented the pickup around 2 p.m. Tuesday then drove into the city and rammed people on the bike path an hour later, authorities say. He drove on the path for about 14 blocks before slamming into a school bus."A person hopped out of the car with two guns and started yelling and screaming," said a 12-year-old student at a nearby school told the Associated Press. "They were yelling 'Allahu Akbar.'"He was shot by an officer on patrol in the area and taken to a nearby hospital in critical condition.New York City Police Commissioner credited his officer for stopping the "carnage soon after it began" with the use of force during a Tuesday press conference.Mayor Bill de Blasio called the attack "an act of terror, and a particularly cowardly act of terror aimed at innocent civilians, aimed at people going about their lives who had no idea what was about to hit them."2017 MassLive.com, Springfield, Mass.Visit MassLive.com, Springfield, Mass. at www.masslive.comDistributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Today I'm out in Des Moines, Iowa, attending at and speaking to the Iowa Contingency Planners . It is an example of what I like about our profession. We, collectively, are dedicated to sharing information and increasing our collective and individual knowledge.This one-day event has a variety of topics focused on providing new ideas and concepts to a wide variety of people and businesses.Wherever you are living and working today  what are you doing to promote the sharing of information and expertise? If nothing is happening where you are, how about calling or emailing some of your emergency management and business continuity buddies and challenging one another to put an event together in 2018?FYI, the topic I'm speaking on is "Technology: Increasing Efficiencies, Increasing Risks"
(TNS) - A driver entered a Lower Manhattan path for pedestrians and cyclists near the World Trade Center site and memorial in New York City, hitting people, according to police and multiple news reports."There are several fatalities and numerous people injured," the New York Police Department said on Twitter.Authorities are investigating the incident as an act of terror, according to NBC.The suspect shouted "Allah Akhbar," witnesses told police, CNN is reporting.Police shot the person who exited the vehicle, which looked like a rented Home Depot truck. The person displayed "imitation firearms," police said.The suspect was screaming while exiting the vehicle, Associated Press reported.The suspect is in custody, NYPD said.2017 MassLive.com, Springfield, Mass.Visit MassLive.com, Springfield, Mass. at www.masslive.comDistributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
(TNS) -- This spring, a popular Queensbury amusement park offered its customers a choice  use a membership pass with their photo on it, or switch to a new pass based on a scan of their fingerprint.Most people visiting the Six Flags Great Escape park opted for the fingerprint scan, and some possibly made their first entry into the world of biometrics  a system where a person's unique individual characteristics, like fingerprints, eyes or facial features are the key to their identification."A very small percentage of our guests choose to process their pass with the traditional photo," said Rebecca Wood, director of marketing and sales for the park. "Our guest feedback this season has been tremendous. Members and season pass holders have sincerely appreciated the ease of access and processing."While such a system will make it impossible for a paying customer to share a park pass with someone else, Wood said the fingerprint system was "implemented with our guests in mind. The easy, expedited method allows guests to process their pass more quickly and eliminates the need to have their photo taken and printed on the membership or season pass."Biometric markers, unlike passwords or personal identification numbers, should be very difficult for criminals to copy or mimic, which businesses hope should cut down on fraud.Such fingerprint systems are already available as security on some later model smart phones. A new vending machine system at the Albany Times Union cafeteria even employs a fingerprint identification system to manage accounts.Biometrics is entering the business world after the U.S. government invested in the technology as part of armed conflicts in the Middle East, where U.S. military officials needed a way to more accurately identify people in regions where documents were not always reliable.But the large-scale storage of such inherently personal information also raises the possibility that hackers could gain access to the data, as has happened with millions of financial records in the recent Equifax credit reporting data breach.A password or PIN code, once compromised, can be deleted and replaced. What happens when pilfered data is based on personal characteristics that cannot be changed?Six Flags tells its customers that a digital finger scan is converted to "an indecipherable series of numbers" which are linked to the customer account, according to the corporate terms of service. "Biometric data collected from guests is securely stored and is not shared with third parties for marketing or other commercial purposes" and is "automatically destroyed within one year following the cancellation/expiration of a pass holder's account."Two years ago, Attorney General Eric Schneiderman warned that the state's data security law was outdated to deal with such challenges.He proposed an update, called the Data Security Act of 2015, that would require stronger technical and physical security measures for protecting information, as well as limit legal liability for companies that meet certain security standards.His proposal would also update the definition of "private information" to include biometric data, as well as email addresses and passwords. Attempts to reach Schneiderman's office for comment Tuesday were not successful.According to a report issued by Schneiderman in July 2014, the number of reported data security breaches in New York more than tripled between 2006 and 2013.During that period, 22.8 million personal records of New Yorkers were exposed in nearly 5,000 data breaches, which cost the public and private sectors more than $1.37 billion in 2013. The report also found that break-ins to data networks by computer hackers accounted for about 40 percent of all breaches.In an op-ed published in September in the New York Daily News, urging that lawmakers take up the two-year-old proposal, Schneiderman wrote that in 2016, there 1,300 significant data breaches in the state  up 60 percent from the year before.
(TNS)  PANAMA CITY, Fla.  Cybersecurity can be a big problem for small businesses.Just ask Fazio Mechanical Services, the mid-sized HVAC company that was hacked leading to the 2013 Target hack that compromised millions of credit cards."The hackers went into that small business with a phishing scam, someone clicking on something they shouldn't have clicked on, and as they began to move through the system they found this doorway to Target and produced a hack that affected more than 20 million people," said Guy Garrett, an associate professor of cybersecurity at Gulf Coast State College."What does this mean for small business people?" he continued. "Well they need to make sure when they are hiring that one- or two-person IT shop ... that the person comes in trained in cybersecurity."The government is trying to help make it easier. The U.S. House of Representatives recently passed H.R. 2105, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Small Business Cybersecurity Act, which will set guidelines for small businesses.Rep. Neal Dunn, R-Panama City, who sponsored the bill, said it will help improve security for everyone in the country."It will set up standardized guidelines  just guidelines, not mandatory requirements  to help small businesses in their cybersecurity needs," Dunn said. "Every small business as well as large businesses has cybersecurity needs, and these days there's a critical shortage of expertise."The program Garrett runs at Gulf Coast helps to create "keyboard-ready" cybersecurity employees, who enter the workforce ready to handle the growing threat.Dunn said 60 percent of small businesses go out of business within one year of being hacked.The bill has been sent to the Senate for debate. The guidelines currently are being "pulled together," according to Dunn, who said many of the guidelines already exist but needed to be vetted and put together by the National Institute of Standards and Technology.
While Seattle is growing rapidly, our rural areas continue to struggle. They dont have the corporate giants such as Amazon, Microsoft and Boeing creating jobs and economic opportunities. Farms are predominantly family-owned.

Today, there is a rejuvenated effort to bring prosperity to Washingtons rural communities. While agriculture is the largest sector, timber, manufacturing, high tech and energy provide opportunities as well.

Rural jobs and economic revitalization are national in scope.

Writing in The Daily Yonder, Bill Bishop reports on the markedly different employment patterns in the nations urban and rural counties. (The Daily Yonder is published by the nonprofit, nonpartisan Center for Rural Strategies).

Bishop found that nearly half of the nations rural counties lost jobs over the last four years (Bureau of Labor Statistics).

The U.S. has been adding jobs since the beginning of President Obamas second term. In all, there were 8.2 million more jobs in 2015 than four years earlier. But 96.5 percent of that gain has been in the cities. Rural counties and micropolitan counties (those with towns between 10,000 and 50,000 people) added just 280,000 jobs between 2011 and 2015.

Opportunity Washington, a business coalition led by the Association of Washington Business and the Washington Roundtable, added with its strong base in trade, transportation, manufacturing, technology, healthcare and financial services, the Seattle metro area continues to drive the state economy, but the balance of the state roughly mirrors the U.S. average.

This divergence in income clearly demonstrates the need for policies designed to create new and greater opportunities for all Washingtonians, regardless of where they live, Opportunity Washington concluded.

The Washington Policy Center, a Seattle-based think tank, found agriculture accounted for $51 billion, or 13 percent of our states economic activity in 2015. It added that 160,000 jobs were tied to agriculture, which was more than Boeing and Microsoft combined.

In 2014, WPC reported, our state exported $16 billion worth of food and agriculture.

While agriculture is the cornerstone of the states rural economy, opportunities to reinvigorate our timber industry have been crippled by lack of federal and state timber sales and threatened by vast wildfires.

In late October, Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz released a 20-year plan to reduce the number of wildfires and improve the health of 1.25 million acres of forest land in Eastern Washington, which includes logging and thinning.

Hopefully, her agency will look at the Olympic Peninsula between Aberdeen and Forks for a similar initiative in state-owned forests.

George W. Bush proposed a healthy forests initiative early in his presidency, which included removal of wildfire fuels, creating jobs in the timber industry, and utilizing wood that would have burned in forest fires. It was quickly shot down by opponents who wanted to leave the forests in their natural condition.

Alex McGregor, who runs a 138-year-old family agriculture business, told AWBs Rural Jobs Summit in Moses Lake there are new opportunities for rural areas.

State leaders need to focus on reducing the mountains of conflicting, confusing and overlapping regulations that neither towns nor counties can afford to administer and that overwhelm farmers, processors and manufacturers. Consequently, nothing happens.

He added that state manufacturing tax rates ought to apply to all manufacturers; state funding for roads, bridges and other infrastructure needs rural emphasis; and support for education and training are essential for rural communities.

Finally, our state-elected officials need to be cautious about new sweeping legislative proposals, such as creating carbon taxes. They would have a heavy impact on farms and food processors.

McGregor concluded that he is encouraged about jobs and economic development in Washington because now lawmakers have a renewed sense of their importance.
Mercedes has come out in opposition to Liberty Media's proposed new engine formula for 2021.

On Tuesday, the German marque as well as Ferrari, Renault, Honda and other manufacturers including Porsche got together to hear the new F1 owner's plans for the next-generation engine.

Liberty wants the 2021 engine to be louder, cheaper, simpler and provide a more level playing field.

It will be based on the same 1.6 litre V6 base, but without the controversial MGU-H, with higher revs, and with standard batteries and a more "prescriptive design".

But Germany's Auto Bild claims that Ferrari, Mercedes and Renault are already opposed to the Liberty vision, which will now be discussed at a series of follow-up meetings.

Mercedes' Toto Wolff told Auto Motor und Sport: "The concept sounds similar to what we have now.

"But it means a completely new development that will mean we are working on two engines at the same time between 2018 and 2020," he added.

However, Red Bull is happy.

"An engine like that is good for us," said Dr Helmut Marko.

But it appears that existing manufacturers like Mercedes are not ready to give up the argument for engines that are more like the current 'power units'.

"It's a vision rather than a regulation," Wolff said of Tuesday's Liberty presentation. "And it's their vision rather than the manufacturers'.

"It is important to define all together what formula one should be in 2021, not just from the point of view of the engine. What we have is the starting point of a dialogue rather than something we have agreed to.

"Certain things are right, but it's not quite there," Wolff added.

However, he insisted that Mercedes is not necessarily shaping up for war with Liberty.

"I just want to make it clear that there are different opinions," said the Austrian. "It was a presentation by F1's management, we will now wait and see what is put on the table next week and start a dialogue from there."

(GMM)
Ferrari too easily slips into a "crisis" that it then finds difficult to escape from.

That is the view of former top Ferrari engineer Toni Cuquerella, as he assessed the recent collapse of Sebastian Vettel's 2017 title challenge.

"Ferrari were much more competitive than in previous years," he wrote in El Pais newspaper.

"Ferrari had a better car than Mercedes in five of the 18 grands prix," Cuquerella added.

"It was a good year and they should be happy. But as ever at Ferrari, two races with poor results meant the beginning of a crisis. And Mercedes took great advantage of that," he said.

Cuquerella thinks the challenge for Ferrari now is to put the 'crisis' behind it and come out with a strong package from the beginning in 2018.

However, "Ferrari struggles to get out of its crises," said the Spaniard. "Meanwhile, others like Red Bull or McLaren can get to that level of solidarity and confidence next year.

"This year, the fastest team and the fastest driver won, but the trend indicates that this dominance will not necessarily continue.

"The next title could be won by a team that does not always have the best car," he added.

(GMM)
F1 legend Emerson Fittipaldi thinks Fernando Alonso could have a title-winning car on his hands next year.

The once-great British team is switching from Honda to Renault power for 2018, and Fittipaldi thinks that could be the boost Spaniard Alonso is needing.

"I think it will be much better," Fittipaldi, a two-time world champion of the 70s, told AS newspaper.

"I think Fernando is the best and I also think McLaren has a great car," said the 70-year-old Brazilian, who was at the Mexican grand prix. "As Alonso said the other day, it is a great car in the corners.

"So if they continue with that quality of chassis and aerodynamics with the Renault engine next year, they can fight for podiums, victories and even the title," Fittipaldi predicted.

He also said he sees potential greatness in F1's other Spanish driver, Carlos Sainz.

"He is in a good place with Renault and I see him going step by step to the top," he said.

"The future is his along with drivers like Verstappen," Fittpaldi added.

(GMM)
Red Bull is prepared to wait for Daniel Ricciardo to make his decision about staying with the team beyond 2018.

The energy drink company's premier F1 team has locked down Max Verstappen with a new contract until 2020, prompting some to think that Australian Ricciardo may now look for an alternative.

Indeed, Dr Helmut Marko, the Red Bull driver manager, confirmed that the 28-year-old is "on the market".

But team boss Christian Horner sounds relaxed, saying that even if Ricciardo decides to leave, Red Bull's ability to pull Carlos Sainz back from the works Renault team is a "safety net".

Horner said of Ricciardo: "At 28, his next decision is a very important one. So he will take time to make it right.

"But we have also clearly told him that we want him on the team," Horner is quoted by Salzburger Nachrichten newspaper.

"Even if the decision takes him six months, that's fine," he added.

(GMM)
ACEAs new data shows that an ECV market share of above 1% only occurs in Western European countries with a GDP per capita of more than 30,000 (US$35,000). By contrast, almost half of all EU member states have an ECV market share of 0.5% or lower. In countries with a GDP per capita below 17,000 (US$20,000) the market share remains close to zeroincluding the new EU member states in Central and Eastern Europe, as well as crisis-torn Greece. Affordability is clearly a major barrier.

The European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA) has published new data demonstrating the correlation between the market uptake of electrically-chargeable vehicles (ECVs) and both GDP and customer incentives. Based on these new findings, ACEA calls for an ambitious but more realistic approach to the electrification of Europes car fleet, just before the European Commission releases its proposal for post-2021 CO 2 targets for passenger cars and light commercial vehicles next week.

Our data demonstrate that, even though it is growing, the European market for ECVs remains extremely patchy, which makes it difficult to envisage anything like an EU-wide mandate or crediting system.

Many people take the Norwegian market as a benchmark. But just like its 64,000 GDP, more than twice the EU average, Norways ECV share of 29% is an exception in Europe. Nobody looks at Greece for instance, where only 32 electrically-chargeable cars were sold last year. This should be a wake-up call for policy makers. Future decarbonization measures should be inclusive, rather than assuming that all countries are in the same position as a handful of advanced ECV markets. ACEA Secretary General Erik Jonnaert

ECV market share of 5 biggest EU car markets in 2016 Country Share [%] ECV Units sold GDP per capita Germany 0.8 25,214 37,900 United Kingdom 1.4 36,917 36,100 France 1.4 29,189 33,400 Italy 0.2 2,827 27,600 Spain 0.3 3,654 24,000





Lowest ECV market share in EU in 2016 Country Share [%] ECV Units sold GDP per capita Bulgaria 0.05 21 6,600 Greece 0.04 32 16,300 Estonia 0.20 35 15,900

The figures also show that customer incentives for purchasing ECVs, and especially their monetary value, differ greatly across Europe. The market share of ECVs is only significant in countries which offer extensive incentives. Many of the new EU member states with a low ECV market share merely offer an exemption from the annual circulation tax for electric vehicles.

Five EU member states dont offer any incentives at all: Croatia, Estonia, Lithuania, Malta and Poland.

Even though all manufacturers are expanding their portfolios of electric vehicles, we unfortunately see that market penetration of these vehicles is still very low and very fragmented across the EU. Consumers looking for an alternative to diesel now often opt for petrol vehicles or hybrid ones, but arent yet making the switch to electrically-chargeable cars on a large scale.

In other words, the final product aloneno matter how good it isis not sufficient to create demand. As well as harmonized and coherent consumer incentives to stimulate sales, we need more investments in recharging and refueling infrastructure in all EU member states, before we can expect consumers throughout the EU to really embrace alternatively-powered vehicles. Erik Jonnaert
Clean Energy Fuels Corp. has signed multiple fueling agreements with United States Postal Service (USPS) contract-carriers in Florida, New York, Oklahoma, and Texas, increasing the total number of USPS carriers fueling with Clean Energy now to 15.

Signing new deals with Clean Energy is C. Blackburn Trucking Associates, who will fuel four of their Class-8 heavy-duty trucks at Clean Energys John F. Kennedy International Airport station. Additionally, G&P Trucking, based out of Springfield, Missouri, will fuel at Clean Energys compressed natural gas (CNG) fueling station at the Will Rogers Airport in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Increasing the number of their trucks that use natural gas is Thunder Ridge Transport, a 150-truck carrier servicing 13 states that is based in Springfield, Missouri. They will fuel 20 new CNG trucks out of Clean Energys Dallas-Fort Worth Station.

St. Augustine, Florida-based Postal Fleet Services, one of the largest USPS carriers, is also adding additional CNG trucks to its fleet fueling in Texas and Florida.
The goal of the trials is to demonstrate the potential of C-V2X technologies, including support for improved automotive safety, automated driving, and traffic efficiency. The trials will also be aimed at demonstrating to automakers and road operators the anticipated cost-efficient benefits associated with embedded cellular technology in vehicles and synergies between the deployment of cellular base stations and roadside infrastructure. Initial testing is expected to begin later this year.

AT&T, Ford, Nokia, and Qualcomm Technologies Inc., a subsidiary of Qualcomm Incorporated announced the first Cellular-V2X (C-V2X) trials in the US. ( Earlier post .) Testing is expected to take place in the San Diego Regional Proving Ground with the support of the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG), Caltrans, the City of Chula Vista, and intelligent transportation solutions (ITS) provider McCain, Inc.

Defined by 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) in 2017 as an extension of global cellular standards, C-V2X is an important factor in next-generation wireless technology for safety conscious and automated driving solutions.

As wireless technology becomes prevalent, vehicles are using the cellular network for various tasks, ranging from emergency calls and over-the-air (OTA) updates, to diagnostics and real-time traffic updates. Using direct communication mode, C-V2X is designed to help expand the role of wireless technology for road safety applications by facilitating the ability of vehicles to directly communicate with other vehicles, pedestrian devices, and roadside infrastructure, such as traffic signs and construction zones, using the 5.9 GHz band without the involvement of a cellular network, or cellular network subscription.

Complementary to other Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) sensors, such as cameras, radar, and LiDAR, C-V2X technology is designed to support 360-degree non-line-of-sight (NLOS) awareness, and is designed to extend a vehicles ability to see, hear, and understand the environment down the road, at blind intersections, or in bad weather conditions.

For this trial, C-V2X platforms are expected to be installed in Ford vehicles using the Qualcomm 9150 C-V2X solution to facilitate direct communications, and are complemented by AT&Ts 4G LTE network communications and ITS platform that takes advantage of wireless base stations and multi-access edge computing technology from Nokia.

For the new communication technologies being deployed, McCain will help facilitate the effective integration with existing and emerging traffic signal control infrastructure.

Testing will support direct C-V2X communications operating in the 5.9 GHz ITS spectrum to explore the safety enhancements of vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) use cases, including do not pass warning; intersection movement assist; and left turn assist, to name a few. The trials will also support advanced vehicle communication capabilities for improved traffic efficiencies, such as real-time mapping updates and event notifications relayed using AT&T's cellular network and Nokia Cloud Infrastructure.

The San Diego region was designated by the US Department of Transportation as one of ten automated vehicle proving grounds in the US earlier this year.
Mitsubishi Electric has developed the first in-vehicle monitoring system with a single wide-angle camera to detect both the driver and front passenger simultaneously.

Conventional in-vehicle monitoring systems generally use a single camera to analyze the drivers face for drowsiness or distraction. More recent imaging systems monitor the driver as well as the front passenger, but require several cameras. Mitsubishi Electric has refined this concept by developing a technology that uses just one wide-angle camera to identify both the face and hand gestures of driver and front passenger. This allows OEMs to offer a range of safety and personalization features at a lower cost.

Monitoring both front-seat occupants not only lets us check driver-centric safety behavior, but also allows us to support additional gesture inputs for in-cab systems such as climate control or audio. Providing a mix of safety and convenience features within the same monitoring system is critical as the line between those disciplines continue to blur. Mark Vogel, senior product development manager at Mitsubishi Electric Automotive America

With features in development to monitor upper body position and detect slumping or collapsing, this technology may soon be able to identify medical emergencies, such as a heart attack or stroke. In such circumstances, the vehicle could take immediate action by dialing emergency services or even rerouting to a nearby hospital. Active safety monitoring systems like this will become especially important as we evolve toward the self-driving car.

This technology is expected to launch commercially in 2018.
The plan calls for increasing the use of large-scale, carbon-free generation such as wind, solar and large hydroelectric power plants to at least 80% of electricity delivered to customers, continued use of distributed rooftop solar and doubling energy efficiency by 2030.

Doubling the use of carbon-free electricity from 40% today to 80% by 2030, supported by energy storage. The electric sector has already reduced GHG emissions below 1990 levels and now accounts for only 19 percent of Californias GHG emissions.

Accelerating the use of electric vehicles. The transportation sector is the largest source of GHG emissions and local air quality problems, with 40% of the goods entering the nation moving through the regions ports and highways.

The Pathway calls for at least 24 percent of light-duty vehicles7 millionto be electrified by 2030. EVs charging from an increasingly clean electric grid can help reduce transportation sector GHG emissions from 169 to 111 MMT/year, one-third of the 2030 goal. Reduced gasoline demand will also provide the benefit of reducing industrial emissions from refineries.

The Pathway also calls for electrifying 15% of medium-duty and 6% of heavy-duty vehicles in the state by 2030, supporting needed GHG reductions and improvements in air quality.

To encourage consumer acceptance and adoption of electric vehicles, SCEs proposal urges development of additional charging infrastructure and continued financial incentives that lower the purchase price of electric vehicles during the early stages of adoption, particularly for low- and middle-income communities.

In order to support at least 7 million electric cars by 2030, California will need to have over one million away-from-home charging ports. Funding will be needed to enable utilities and charging companies to deploy rapidly more infrastructure and chargers.
Flemings Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar, Green Valley Grill, Print Works Bistro and Village Tavern return to Wine Spectator magazines 2017 Restaurant Award Lists for their well-chosen wine selections.

The four have consistently been recognized by the magazine for more than a decade.

Other Greensboro/High Point restaurants receiving recognition are Steak Street and Ruths Chris Steak House.

For the 28th year in a row, The Angus Barn in Raleigh received the Grand Award, the magazines highest recognition.

This holiday season, some recommended North Carolina wines that took gold medals in recent competitions:

2015 Sanctuary Vineyards Coastal Collage ($30): A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot.

2014 Shadow Springs Vineyard Meritage ($26): Also a Bordeaux-style blend from Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot.

2013 Shelton Vineyards Two-Five-Nine Tannat ($25): A big red fashioned from a grape found in Uruguay and southwestern France.

2016 Childress Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc ($16): A crisp white reminiscent of a French or New Zealand style.

2014 Piccione Vineyards Sangiovese ($20): A medium-bodied red that takes you back to Italys Tuscany region.

On the international scene, here are some recent samplings Ive liked and maybe you will, too:

2015 Concha Y Toro Gran Reserva Riberas Carmenere ($17): This well-known Chilean producer kicks it up a notch with this signature grape that migrated from France to South America. If youre a fan of silky Merlot, Carmenere from Chile is a must-try.

2016 Les Costieres de Pomerols Picpoul de Pinet ($10): The Picpoul grape is playfully called lip stinger. This tight white from southern France is by turns citrusy, briny and creamy. Think Sauvignon Blanc on steroids.

2015 Hogue Riesling ($9): From Washingtons famed Columbia Valley comes a bargain white that is a hint off-dry and bursting with apple, orange and peach aromas and flavors.

2016 Villa Pozzi Nero DAvola ($11): This is Sicilys signature red grape. Usually, this is rustic and bold, but this producer has tamped down the tannin and crafted a fruit-forward, almost silky version.

2015 Schild Shiraz ($20): Australias Barrosa Valley is renowned for its spicy Syrah, and this one doesnt disappoint, exploding with blackberry, black cherry, anise and cedar.

2016 Louis Jadot Beaujolais-Villages ($14): If youre in the mood for a lighter-styled red, this is the go-to grape: Gamay from France. Gobs of cherry, plum and pomegranate.
Greensboro Urban Ministry has begun bulk distribution of this year's fundraising Honor Card, which was painted by artist Bill Mangum.

They will be available in congregations and businesses over the next week.

This years theme, Rise Up, is a challenge to the entire community to come together in fighting homelessness in the greater Greensboro area.

The scene features a lone man walking with bags in the snow, while others can be seen dining in the warmth of a restaurant.

The cards, which will be sold in a variety of venues, are also available online on the GUM's web site. A list of all locations is available here.

People who donate at least $5 get a card to keep or to send to a family or friend informing them a donation has been made in their honor.

For the past three decades, Mangum, of William Mangum Fine Art on Lawndale, has created the holiday card for the nonprofit, which acts as a community safety net.

"I'm just like the other people here," Mangum said after a luncheon today with many of the volunteers whose churches and organizations will help spread the word about the cards. "I'm just trying to do something."

Last year at Greensboro Urban Ministry, the Honor Card raised more than $272,000.

That's a significant portion of the more than $4 million Mangum has helped the agency raise since 1988, through contemplative artwork that pairs the picturesque and a conscience, if only subtly.

This year, the goal is to raise $300,000 in honor of the 30th anniversary card. The first card was issued in 1987, the year before Mangum started painting them.

Mangum found inspiration for the 1988 card one night at 3:27 a.m. on South Elm Street while on the hood of his Jeep, surveying the landscape. A voice he heard in the distance was a homeless man he had befriended.

The resulting "Not Forgotten" featured a lone man walking with bags in the snow, not far from the old Kress building, with 3:27 flashing on the old Jefferson-Pilot clock.

"We could take it for granted that it's just a beautiful scene," Mangum said of the rendering.
It's a tradition that's as sweet as it is time-consuming: your children dumping their haul of trick-or-treat candy onto the living room floor, and then sorting it into piles of keepers and total losers.

A few items are perpetual pleasers, according to bulk candy seller CandyStore.com, which recently came out with its list of the three most popular Halloween candies in each state.

In Pennsylvania, snack-sized Hershey bars are a welcome treat, ranking No. 3 after M&Ms and Skittles as the most-loved Halloween candy.

Americans also apparently love their candy corn (it's No. 1 in six of the states), though it's just as easy to find people who absolutely detest the humble, tri-colored candy. Manufacturers produce more than 35 million pounds  some 9 billion pieces  of the candy a year.

One man's treat is another man's poison, of course. So what qualifies as the best Halloween candy is subjective. What these hated goodies have in common is what you should do with them if you don't want to toss them in the trash, give them away or unload them onto your unsuspecting co-workers.

So how about melting candy corn with peanut butter into a thick and creamy paste to make delicious filling for homemade Butterfingers candy or using Dum-Dum lollipops as a colorful stained-glass filling in sugar cookies. We also suggest adding Snickers bars to Rice Krispies treats for an easy upgrade.
RALEIGH  Former Person/Caswell County District Attorney Wallace Bradsher accused two prosecutors of being vindictive in a motion filed Thursday, in which he asked a judge to dismiss six felony charges against him.

On Oct. 24, a Wake County grand jury issued superseding indictments accusing Bradsher of three counts of obstruction of justice and one count each of conspiracy, obtaining property by false pretense, and aiding and abetting.

The State Bureau of Investigation spent more than 880 hours investigating Bradsher and former Rockingham County District Attorney Craig Blitzer in connection with allegations that they hired each others wives in a scheme to collect state money without doing work.

Bradshers new charges were an unexpected twist in the case because he and Blitzer have each faced, since June, a misdemeanor charge for failure to discharge the duties of their offices.

Bradsher said in his motion that Wake County District Attorney Lorrin Freeman told the media that the misdemeanor would be Bradshers only charge.

But Freeman wasnt the prosecutor who went before the grand jury last week. In August, she asked the N.C. Administrative Office of the Courts, or AOC, to remove her from the case after Bradsher accused her of prosecutorial misconduct. She asked, and court officials agreed, to appoint former Wake County prosecutor Tom Ford to serve in her place.

Ms. Freeman said she was requesting Tom Ford to create the appearance of fairness,  Bradsher wrote in his motion. However, Ms. Freeman did not request an independent prosecutor be appointed, nor did she recuse herself from the case; instead she specifically requested Tom Ford be appointed under a statute that would have him sworn in as a prosecutor subordinate to her.

Until last week, nothing had happened publicly in Bradshers pending case since Ford took over.

In mid-July, Blitzer confessed to the scheme and paid back $48,000 to the state and agreed to cooperate on any related pending court matters.

In an affidavit filed in August Blitzer admitted that he and his wife, Cindy, met with Wallace and Pamela Bradsher at the Elizabeths Pizza restaurant in Wentworth and discussed the pay cut Blitzer would have to take when he was sworn in as prosecutor. Before being elected in October 2014 Blitzer was as a capital defender representing death-penalty suspects throughout North Carolina. Blitzer said Bradsher told him his income would not be a problem because he had been employing Pamela and let her come and go as she pleases.

Blitzer followed Bradshers advice and hired Cindy, but the AOCs informed both men that doing so violated the states ethics law.

The men agreed to have their wives swap jobs.

While she was being paid by Bradsher, Cindy Blitzer took full-time nursing classes at South University in High Point. Bradsher fired her in October 2016, while the investigation was under way.

Bradsher, who has maintained his innocence and is representing himself, requested in his motion that his felony charges be dismissed, an evidentiary hearing be held and all discovery evidence be submitted to him.

He placed the blame for the allegations on the AOC and stated that the AOC paid Cindy Blitzer without a supervisor approving her time. Bradsher did not offer evidence in the motion .

Bradsher questioned why prosecutors did not charge an AOC employee . He also accused the prosecutors and SBI agents of withholding evidence that would exonerate him. His motion didnt specify what that evidence might be.

Bradsher stated that Ford has a history of vindictive prosecution and specifically mentioned Fords involvement in the Greg Taylor case.

Taylor was convicted of murdering a prostitute in 1991 but was proven innocent after 16 years in prison.

Taylor had testified that he and his friend Johnny Beck were in the woods smoking crack cocaine when his SUV got stuck. He said when he and Beck walked out of the woods, they saw a body but didnt call police. Before his conviction, Taylor was offered a plea deal by Ford if he would testify against Beck. Taylor refused.

Bradsher requested the release of Taylors prosecution file and any other of Fords prosecution files to help establish a pattern of vindictive prosecution.

Neither Freeman nor Ford responded immediately to requests for comment that was left at the Wake County District Attorneys office on Tuesday. Bradsher did not respond to a voicemail seeking comment that was left at his office.
Kerrville, TX (78028)

Today

Sun and a few passing clouds. High 56F. Winds NE at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Mostly clear skies early will become overcast later during the night. Low 36F. Winds light and variable.
GREENSBORO  The shooting of 34-year-old Sherrod Maurice Crum outside the Four Seasons Town Centre on May 4 was not random, police said.

On Monday, police charged Tedrick Lithonia McClary, 25, with first-degree murder in Crums death.

Police Capt. Nathaniel Davis said the men knew one another but said he could not yet explain their connection.

This wasnt just a random guy who pulled up and shot the victim, Davis said.

That information should bring some relief to a community riddled with violence this year.

Crums death was Greensboros 13th homicide. Twenty-four more people have died from violence since then.

To make matters worse, Crums death came less than three months after a Lenoir man was shot and killed in that exact spot outside the malls entrance.

Westley Tyler Tugman, 33, of Lenoir, was shot and killed on Feb. 18 near the entrance of JCPenney. In Tugmans case, he was leaving the mall with his niece, who was celebrating her birthday, when a man approached and shot Tugman in the chest.

Tugmans death remains unsolved.

Crums shooting sent shoppers running for safety.

Others stood over Crum waiting for ambulances to arrive.

Some people stood off to the side watching and shaking in fear.

Security footage and witnesses helped bring closure in Crums death, Davis said.

We developed McClary as a suspect early on and have been trying to locate him, Davis said.

Greensboro Police officers stated they spent 30 days tracking McClary in seven jurisdictions including North Carolina, Virginia and Pennsylvania.

U.S. Marshals took McClary into custody in Philadelphia on Aug. 11 for outstanding warrants out of New Hanover County.

Both Crum and McClary have connections to Wilmington.

In 2009, Crum, a New York City resident, was a suspect, but not charged, in a shooting death.

In 2013, McClary was arrested in Wilmington for an alleged drive-by shooting and in 2014, police allegedly found 4,000 bundles of heroin and four stolen handguns at his house.

McClarys pending charges date to 2012. He is being held without bail in the New Hanover Detention Facility for two counts of felony possession of stolen firearms, trafficking in opium or heroin, possession with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver heroin, sell heroin, conspiracy to sell or deliver heroin, failure to appear and a pretrial release violation.

On Monday, police served McClary in Wilmington with a warrant for Crums death. Guilford County Assistant District Attorney Howard Neumann said McClary will travel to Greensboro on Friday for his first court appearance.

Prior to moving to Wilmington, McClary lived in Greensboro at an apartment on Hiltin Place.

Its not clear what brought either man to the city on May 4.

Witnesses told police Crum and his assailant fought outside the malls entrance as Crum exited the building.

Surveillance video taken moments before the shooting showed two men with shoulder-length dreadlocks running toward the same entrance.

Davis said police are not looking for anyone else in connection with Crums death.
Updated 6:08 p.m.

Harnett County Sheriff Wayne Coats said a missing a Spring Lake girl who had been missing for more than a day has been found.

Coats said 3-year-old Zy'Rah Nicole Holliday was found safe in an abandoned trailer. A family member, whom Coats did not name, helped lead authorities to the girl. An Amber Alert was sent out in the case on Tuesday afternoon.

Posted 10:03 a.m.

SPRING LAKE  Harnett County authorities were searching Wednesday morning for 3-year-old Zy'Rah Nicole Holliday while the man sheriff's deputies said they think abducted her was in jail.

An Amber Alert was issued for the girl Tuesday afternoon.

Zy-Rah is 3 years old, black, about 3 feet tall and weighs about 35 pounds, according to the Amber Alert. She has brown hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a black shirt with flowers and the word love on it and black jogging pants.

Daquan Shandre Thomas, 20, was charged with misdemeanor child abuse, according to jail records, and was being held in the Hartnett County Jail. He is listed as living on Crest Circle in Spring Lake.

When the alert was issued, ZyRah and Thomas were said to be on foot in the Spring Lake area.

The girl lives with her mother on Sweet Lane, and WNCN-TV reported that officials had searched a pond near there Tuesday night.

If you have any information regarding this abduction, call the Harnett County Sheriff Office immediately at 910-893-9111, or call 911 or *HP.
GREENSBORO  UNC-Greensboros chancellors will no longer live in Joseph Bryans old home in Irving Park.

The university announced Wednesday that its Endowment Fund has bought a newer and larger house in the Starmount Forest neighborhood for UNCGs leader.

UNCG Chancellor Frank Gilliam and his wife, Jacquelean Gilliam, will move into the new house within the next month. Some antique furnishings and other items, donated to the university, will make the move with them from the Bryan house.

The fund paid $1.65 million for the new chancellors house at 15 Clubview Court. Thats slightly below the appraised value, according to Guilford County tax records. The university said no tuition revenues, student fees or state money was used to buy the house.

In a statement, Brad Hayes, the chairman of both UNCGs board of trustees and the Endowment Fund, said the university had been considering a move for the past two years. The Starmount house has more meeting space and guest facilities than the Bryan house.

We concluded that the new property offers both great investment value and tremendous programming flexibility, Hayes said.

All 17 schools in the UNC system own, lease or pay living expenses for their chief executive officers. The UNC system office owns a house in Chapel Hill for the university systems president.

These large houses at UNCG and elsewhere serve a dual purpose: the chancellors and their families live there, and they are used for a variety of university functions  parties, meetings and other gatherings of faculty members, students, alumni, donors and community members.

From the early 1920s, UNCGs chancellors lived in a house on campus. That house was moved to its current spot on Spring Garden Street in 2003 and is now used as a welcome center for the admissions office.

In 1996, the late Patricia Sullivan became the first UNCG chancellor to live at 711 Sunset Drive. Its longtime owner, Greensboro insurance executive and philanthropist Joseph M. Bryan, had died the year before and had wanted UNCG chancellors to live there. After the Joseph M. Bryan Foundation of Greater Greensboro took over its ownership, it offered the house rent-free to the university, which paid for maintenance.

Linda Brady lived in the Bryan house during her tenure as chancellor, and Gilliam and his family moved into the 6,400-square foot house in 2015. UNCG paid slightly more than $34,000 to clean, repair and improve the home in 2015 before they did.

The new Clubview Court residence overlooks the Starmount Forest Country Club. The house was built on a cul-de-sac in 1996 and first owned by John Emrich, a former chief executive officer of Guilford Mills in Greensboro. He sold the house in 2008 to James and Michell Kilpatrick for $1.7 million. The house has been held in trust since 2012.

The 8,265-square-foot house sits on seven-tenths of an acre. It has six bedrooms, six full baths, a pool and a one-bedroom apartment over a four-bay garage.

The house will be owned by the Endowment Fund, which is responsible for about half of the universitys investment fund, otherwise known as the endowment. UNCGs endowment  used for student scholarships, professorships and other campus programs  was valued at $276.5 million as of the end of June.

The fate of the Bryan house is unclear. No one at the Bryan Foundation office answered the phone late Wednesday.

If the foundation decides to sell it, it will be the first time the house has been on the market. Bryan bought the Sunset Drive lot out of foreclosure in 1935 and built his house there. The five-bedroom house is appraised at $2.3 million.
Thank you, Rabbi Fred Guttman of Temple Emanuel in Greensboro, for your Sunday article on the preventable and tragic deaths of five individuals, including the deaths of two innocent young women (We must rethink chase policies, Ideas, Oct. 29).

I agree that the high-speed chase by a sheriffs deputy in this particular circumstance was not worth the risk.

I sincerely hope that the Guilford County Sheriffs Office establishes changes in its pursuit policy that will make it more in line with the Greensboro Police Departments policy.

As Rabbi Guttman made clear in his article, may the legacy of these innocent deaths be the prevention of similar tragedies in the future.

Jody Sutlive

Greensboro
EDEN  Morehead Memorial Hospitals Board of Trustees selected Empower iHCC Inc. as the successful bidder at an asset auction sale held Monday at the offices of Womble Carlyle in Winston-Salem, the hospital announced in a news release.

Empower iHCCs successful bid included the hospital, as well as, all of its assets.

On Nov. 6, Judge Benjamin A. Kahn of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of N.C. will make the final decision about Moreheads partnership selection at the scheduled sale hearing.

Following that, it should take no longer than 60 days to complete the transaction.

Morehead will operate as usual during the transition.

Finding a partner for the community-owned hospital was the goal of Moreheads Board of Trustees when it filed a petition for protection under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code on July 10.

"The boards determination to strengthen the position of the hospital led us to make the difficult decision to file for Chapter 11, said Eugene Russell, chairman of the board. "It is gratifying that we are now moving closer to that goal.

In September, the court approved a motion to allow Morehead to hold the Oct. 30 asset auction.

Seven qualified bidders were at the table to make offers on the hospitals assets which partially include an acute care hospital licensed for 108 beds, emergency department, surgical center, cancer center, diagnostic, screening and rehabilitation services, a wound healing center, physician clinics and Morehead Nursing Center.

The Empower Group, together with its affiliated entities which include Empower iHCC Inc., EmpowerHIS, EmpowerHMS, Empower Investment Group and Empower Advantage, is focused on rural and critical access hospitals. They own or manage more than 15 hospitals across Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, Tennessee, Florida, Georgia and North Carolina.

Empower iHCC Inc., a for-profit company based in Miami that an Internet search suggested was formed recently.
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EDEN  South End Elementary School is off the table, but both Dillard and Draper are still under consideration for closure, officials said at an Oct. 30 Board of Education work session.

Earlier this year, the North Carolina State University Operations Research and Education Laboratory presented the Integrated Planning for School and Community study which examined expected future growth over the next 10 years, evaluated capacities of all schools and identified options to better utilize schools and reduce costs.

Through this study, the district identified South End, Draper and Dillard elementary schools as candidates for school closures to cut costs for the financially-ailing district. These recommendations were based on enrollment compared to school capacity, transportation distances for students, respecting neighborhoods, efficient busing and the age and condition of schools.

At the Oct. 30 meeting, OREd followed up with a Transportation Impact Assessment Report which looked at how redistricting options would impact the districts transportation reimbursement from the Department of Public Instruction.

This is really pioneering work in the state of North Carolina and you all should be recognized for your leadership in this phase, said Matthew Palmer, research scholar with the NC State Institute for Transportation Research and Education.  You have challenged us to find answers to questions that other communities have not asked, and so tonight we share those findings with you.

Palmer presented four scenarios.

One involved closing Dillard Elementary in Madison and shifting those students to Huntsville and Stoneville elementary schools.

The other three all involved closing Draper Elementary in Eden and redistricting that region in different ways.

The district may close Draper, Dillard, both or neither school.

The district is no longer considering closing South End Elementary in Reidsville, following the districts decision to plan a UNC-Greensboro-led partnership magnet school at Moss Street Elementary in Reidsville.

For each proposed scenario, Palmer overviewed how a school closure would impact enrollment at other schools, state reimbursements for bus routing, miles buses would need to drive, bus driver hours and average bus ride time for students.

Numbers of buses are based on an average of buses needed in the morning for pickup and buses needed in the afternoon for drop off.

The data used to conduct the analysis was dated Sept. 26, 2017 and looks at this school year's enrollment.

Western Rockingham County Scenario

Only one scenario was presented that addressed closing Dillard Elementary School.

According to the IPSAC study, the current Dillard student body only meets about 44 percent of the sites total capacity, the lowest in the county.

In this scenario, the current Dillard attendance zone would be divided and added to the Stoneville and Huntsville Elementary attendance zones.

About 122 students would transfer to Huntsville and 102 to Stoneville, Palmer said.

State reimbursement for bus routing would increase by 1.2 percent per student based on third quartile percentage change.

The change in routing would also mean that one of Dillard's buses would go to Stoneville, and the other two would go to Huntsville.

The total number of miles driven by buses in this region would increase from 884.5 miles to 917.99 and increase bus driver hours from 34.14 to 35.1.

With the addition of previous Dillard students, bus ride time for the average Stoneville student would increase from 36 minutes to 37 minutes.

For Huntsville, ride time would remain at 39 minutes.

The average bus ride time for a Dillard student currently is about 32 minutes

Superintendent Rodney Shotwell said if the board chooses to close a school in western Rockingham County, he would recommend moving the New Vision School of Science, Math and Technology, a year-round magnet school, to the newer Dillard site and finding a way to preserve the John W. Dillard name.

We cant lose the history of that individual, Shotwell said. Its not only important for our county, but its also very important for our African American community on that side of the county as well.

The Dillard site has a higher capacity than the current New Vision site by more than 100 students. This move could allow the magnet school to accept more students.

Eden Scenarios

In each of the three Eden scenarios, Draper Elementary would close. The scenarios differ in how Central, Leaksville-Spray, Douglass and Lincoln elementary schools could be redistricted to compensate for that closure and reduce costs.

According to the IPSAC study, the current Draper student body reaches only 45 percent of the sites total capacity, the second lowest in the county.

Each of the three scenarios includes Draper students transferring to Lincoln, which the study determined was the third most underutilized at 59 percent capacity.

State reimbursement for bus routing for all three scenarios would increase by 1.4 percent per student based on third quartile percentage change.

Eden Scenario 1

Scenario 1 would alter the attendance zones for all of the northern and northwestern elementary schools in the county.

Draper students would go to Central. Some Central students would go to Leaksville, and some Leaksville students would attend Douglass.

Douglass is the newest of the Eden elementary schools and would benefit from a larger utilization rate than it currently has, so this would be bringing more students into Douglass, Palmer said.

Douglass would increase by 167 students, Central would increase by 88 and Leaksville-Spray would go down by 77. These changes would not push any of the schools over capacity.

Central and Douglass would keep their four and five buses.

Drapers 2.5 buses and 1.5 of Leaksville-Sprays 5.5 buses would no longer be needed for a total of about four unnecessary buses.

In discussions with the district, its estimated that the bus level savings on that would be between $4,000 and $5,000 per bus, Palmer said, adding that potential annual savings would be $16,000 to $20,000.

The total number of miles driven by buses across the region would decrease from 524.94 miles to 427.95 and bus driver hours would fall from 31.02 to 22.5.

Average bus ride time for a Central student would remain at 21 minutes.

Douglass student ride time would decrease from 24 to 17 minutes.

Leaksville-Spray students rides would increase from 13 minutes to 18.

The average ride time for a Draper Elementary student is currently 30 minutes.

Eden Scenario 2

Under this scenario, nearly all current Draper students would transfer to Lincoln.

From a facilities perspective, a footnote here, this would likely necessitate one, possibly two mobile units at the Lincoln school site as it would then be over capacity of its existing capacities, but it would in effect leave Central, Leaksville and Douglass untouched under this consideration, Palmer said.

According to Shotwell, a fairly good used mobile unit would cost between $60,000 and $70,000 to purchase, bring to the site and hook up to the school.

Shotwell said, There is a plan for Lincoln in phase three that shows a pod of four classrooms that would be added onto the school which probably in the long run would actually be cheaper to do than it would be to add the trailers because, where our other new elementary schools are long hallways, these four classrooms, you would basically be putting up four walls, a roof and configuring the four classrooms inside there and the pipes are already there capped off ready to go into that addition if that happens too.

About 179 current Draper students would transfer to Lincoln with about 24 students transferring to Central.

Two of Draper's two and a half buses would go to Lincoln with the remaining half no longer needed.

The total number of miles driven by buses in the Draper/Lincoln area would increase from 442.92 miles to 454.56, but bus driver hours would decrease from 18.87 to 17.33.

Average bus ride time for a Lincoln student would decrease from 45 minutes to 37 minutes, 7 minutes up from Drapers current average.

Eden Scenario 3

The third Eden scenario again leaves Douglass and Leaksville-Spray unchanged.

Draper students would be more evenly divided between Central and Lincoln to prevent either from going above capacity.

Central would gain about 106 students and Lincoln, 97.

One of Draper's two and a half buses would go to Lincoln. The second would go to Central. The remaining half would no longer be needed.

The total number of miles driven by buses in this region would decrease from 560.5 miles to 559.7 and bus driver hours would decrease from 26.2 to 25.2.

Average bus ride time for a Lincoln student would decrease from 45 minutes to 41 minutes, about 11 minutes more than Drapers average.

For Central, average ride time would drop from 21 minutes to 19, about 11 minutes less than Drapers average.

Whats Next?

The school board did not make any decisions during this work session.

Rockingham County Schools will present the redistricting proposals to the public in conjunction with a public hearing at 6 p.m. on Nov. 9 at the Rockingham County High School auditorium.

Follow the public hearing, officials will make their recommendations to the school board and invite a decision at the boards Nov. 20 meeting.

For more information on OREd studies at Rockingham County Schools and redistricting options and maps, visit www.rock.k12.nc.us and click on RCS Pathway to Transparency.
Waterside Inns white-asparagus dish, whose appearance you better commit to memory. Photo: The Waterside Inn

The Waterside Inn, a British restaurant thats continuously held three Michelin stars since 1985  12 years before Ferran Adrias El Bulli got three, and 13 before Eleven Madison Park even opened  has decided to ban photography inside the dining room altogether. Michel Roux, who co-founded the restaurant with his brother Albert in 1972, tells the Daily Mail that theyve outlawed the practice on a sign that lays down the rules.

Im really getting so upset about people taking pictures, Roux says. We put up a card at the door  No photos, please. The 76-year-old chef who also started Le Gavroche, Britains first three-Michelin-star restaurant, tells the paper that he cant comprehend why diners do this: What are they doing? Maybe once during the meal you want to take a little photo of something because its unusual. But what about the flavors? he asks. A picture on a phone cannot possibly capture the flavors.

Roux is of course following a path already tread in fine dining. French chefs launched a campaign in 2014 to ban photo-taking, on grounds that it was a threat to Frances storied gastronomic traditions. Top New York restaurants have also tried barring photography outright, like Chefs Table at Brooklyn Fare and Momofuku Ko, where David Chang once justified the rule by ranting: Its just food. Eat it. But most restaurateurs resolve has since crumbled, as theyve realized the free advertising being sacrificed on the altar of principle.

In fact, Ko now regularly Instagrams its own food, like a striped basseggplanttomato dashi dish it posted three days ago. Even funnier is this September 6 post thats quite literally a #regram of food pics a guest took in 2012, when Kos ban was firmly in place:

Rouxs son Michel Jr., whos now chef at Le Gavroche, just published a new cookbook without any pictures. Its a statement, isnt it? he told the U.K. Times last month. Does the Bible have pictures?
In celebration of New York Magazines 50th anniversary, this weekly series, which will continue through October 2018, tells the stories behind key moments that shaped the citys culture.

On corners all across Manhattan  and every other borough  the faint, distinct smell of griddled, curried meat wafts through the air. The carts and vendors are varied, but the dish they prepare is the same: chicken or lamb, turmeric-hued rice, maybe some shreds of iceberg lettuce and a few slices of tomato, all covered in a mix of rich white sauce and spicy red sauce. The combination  variously and casually referred to as halal food, chicken and rice, or just plain street meat  is now a staple of the city, as central to New Yorks food scene as hot dogs or pretzels ever were, even though it didnt exist in its current form until 1990.

For most people, its never been entirely clear how exactly this meal, which pulls inspiration and ingredients from all over the world, came to be. Grub Street spoke with the vendors, writers, and other halal-cart enthusiasts who were there through the various stages of its evolution to get the real story of how the dish became inextricably linked to the streets of New York.

Zach Brooks, Founder, Midtown Lunch: Street food has always been that entry-level job for immigrants, whether it was Italians and pizza, or Greeks and gyros. When Egyptian and South Asian immigrants started arriving in the 80s and 90s, they took over the mantle of these carts. Around the same time, the taxi business started being taken over by a lot of Muslims. The place where people picked up and dropped off their cabs was centralized in west midtown, where a lot of these carts were.

Konstantinos Dragonas, Manager of Tony Dragons Grille: Tonys started as a hot-dog cart, but eventually, Tony decided he wanted to bring something more. He was inspired by where he came from, the Greek isles, and started adding Greek dishes to the menu. One of the most popular was a marinated, grilled chicken breast served with pita bread, tzatziki sauce, fresh tomatoes, red onions, and lettuce. He was one of the first carts to start serving Greek food, and helped a lot of other Greeks get started in the business. So its likely that when people from the Middle East and Egypt started coming in, they saw Tonys as this very popular cart, and did in fact try to replicate it, and put their own twist on the dishes. I say that very modestly.

Muhammad Khan, Manager, Trini Paki Boys: My dad [co-owner and Trini Paki Boys founder Abdul Sami Khan] was the first person to start serving that dish, mainly to cab drivers. He sold hot dogs when he started the cart in 1990. But he realized one day he wanted to change it up, so he made halal chicken and rice. I think this was about 25 years ago. Everyone else saw that, thought it was a good model, and copied him.

Fatima Khan, Co-owner, Trini Paki Boys: My husband and I both grew up eating chicken and rice, and both of us love spicy food. He is from Pakistan and I am from Trinidad. We knew the cuisines would go together, his rice with my curry chicken. When my husband and I came to the city, there were no halal carts. We decided to do our own.

Max Falkowitz, Executive Digital Editor, Saveur: Trini Paki Boys was the first cart Id visited where they were doing something outside the standard formula, and it was a case of fusion flavors that just worked perfectly. Its one of the strongest examples of halal-cart food as its own cuisine: something that grows and changes with the people who make and eat it.

Fatima Khan: I remember very well when we went to go get the judge to get our certificate. He asked us, What is the meaning of halal? We had to explain to the guy what that meant, because we were the first ones trying to do halal food.

Brooks: Trini Paki Boys may have been the first to serve chicken and rice, and their version has remained fairly unique. The Pakistani influence came through in the rice and spices, and the Trinidadian pepper sauce was unlike any hot sauce Id found on a street food cart in New York.

Fatima Khan: Our formula is nothing special. Turmeric, chili powder, curry powder. Its the balance of salt and pepper  thats the secret. These are recipes like we make at home. I never went to school for cooking. I learned from my grandmother and mom in my kitchen.

Ahmed Ali, Manager at Halal Guys: We were not the first. There were some people before us. Halal Guys started as a hot-dog stand in midtown. But people kept coming up to us, asking if we had food that was halal. So we got the idea: How can we serve the halal people? We didnt want too many combinations. From the beginning we tested out gyros, and we saw that most people were asking for chicken, so those became our targets: gyros and chicken.

Brooks: As Muslims took over the taxi business, you had a cart  the cart, on 53rd and Sixth  that started promoting halal food as a thing taxi drivers could eat before and after their shifts, picking up their cabs in Hells Kitchen. There is where the whole halal thing and street food came together, and became this thing that people started talking about.

Ali: The recipes came from our chef who joined us. We started to ask customers about the food, and then we would add something. We did a lot of research in figuring out what people like.

A platter of chicken and rice from Halal Guys. Photo: Noah Fecks

Dave Cook, Founder, Eating in Translation: If you go to Steinway Street in Astoria and go to an Egyptian joint there, you wont have anything like a plate of street meat. It is meant to be something that is close enough, an acceptable version that sort of tastes like the kind of food you want.

Dale Talde, owner and chef at Talde: When youre talking about chicken and rice, its about four things: chicken, rice, white sauce, and red sauce. How they all play together and balance. The rice is the perfect starch combined with spices they use to marinate the chicken, the cooling down of the white, and the heat of the red. Its also about how you can shovel it all together with ease. Literally, shoveling it into your mouth.

Brooks: I have a theory that white sauce morphed out of tzatziki, because before the Egyptians, it was the Greeks who ran the food carts. And red sauce was originally harissa, a classic Egyptian sauce. Every cart has its own red sauce and no one calls it harissa. No one calls it tzatziki, either. Now its white sauce and red sauce.

Dragonas: Its possible that white sauce was born out of tzatziki, though tzatziki is made with yogurt, cucumbers, dill, and garlic, whereas most halal carts use mayonnaise.

Sheikh Amin, Cook at Kwik Meal: My boss came up with his own recipe for white sauce, taking tzatziki and making it more delicious, with black pepper and other spices.

Muhammad Khan: We keep our white and red sauces a secret  there are so many copycats.

Cook: A lot of times, these vendors werent starting their businesses from scratch. They were getting a turnkey business. You have to get your cart stocked at a commissary kitchen, where you hang around with other people with food carts. You hang out at the commissary and are encouraged by other people.

Falkowitz: Its an easy structure to replicate. The start-up costs are low; theres a built-in infrastructure; theres mobility and freedom. To me, its the same reason that bodegas and pizza shops are so ubiquitous. You have to set up everywhere because there are only so many street corners.

My husband said, Either you kill me or I kill you. The guy finally moved his cart! After a while, they became friends.  Fatima Khan

Brooks: There is no guidance for how street vendors interact with each other. There are constant turf wars. Nobody owns any location, so mafialike conditions have arisen over the years where vendors fight and use intimidation. Like, if youve ever wondered why the Van Leeuwen ice-cream truck never parks in midtown, its because the one or two times they tried, they were threatened physically. The halal stuff is much more decentralized than ice cream, so you get smaller fights.

Ali: Weve had plenty of competition. Too many people think this corner is the only location that will give them good business. They position their carts beside us, but they stay for one or two days, and they find out they will never do business like what we do.

Fatima Khan: One day a doughnut guy parked his truck right next to ours. My husband said You gotta move, and he said, No, I am not moving. My husband got into his cart and said, You have got to move. They nearly had a big fistfight. My husband said, Either you kill me or I kill you. The guy finally moved his cart! After a while, they became friends. You have to. Everybody has respect, and there is an understanding among vendors. Nobody can just come here. We would have a war.

Muhammad Khan: We all know each other. We are a community.

Ali: We help each other. It is very friendly. Its not competition.

In 1995, the Times published one of the first stories to bring widespread recognition to the collection of midtown halal carts. Restaurant critic Ruth Reichl wrote of standing on the corner of Sixth Ave and 43rd Street, Its hard to believe that youre not in India or Pakistan, and declared halal chicken and rice the best $2.50 lunch in the neighborhood.

Reichl: I was working in Times Square, and I remember passing the Trini Paki Boys cart, and it just smelled so amazing. I stopped and bought some chicken and rice, and I immediately became a huge fan. I found the flavors so seductive and delicious  that combination of the curry and the chicken, and the crunch of the greens on top. I loved the idea of the lifted-pinky restaurant critic of the New York Times writing a piece saying, This is how I eat, and you should go try these places. Food-cart culture is this particularly wonderful urban phenomenon, and one of my goals when I came to the Times was to celebrate New York culture. I wanted to tell people to go out and explore what was there.

Cook: There are a lot of tales that are lost in the fog of late 80s and early 90s history. Cab drivers needing something to eat and carts who will sell them something that is halal. Whether that first happened in midtown or whether there were some nascent carts in Little Egypt, you never know because these things were not well-documented. It was the midtown writers and editors that were going to make people notice.

Krishnendu Ray, Associate Professor of Food Studies, NYU: There was something interesting happening in the 1990s  it was the birth of the so-called foodie population. People became interested in exploring omnivorousness, in finding places that had an interesting story, and halal carts were just that.

Brooks: At some point around the late 90s, the bridge-and-tunnel crowd would be stumbling out of bars and clubs late at night, and they started to see the lines forming around these carts. That is where they started to enter the public consciousness.

Dimitri Psiavos, Owner, Broadway Meat Market: When I started my shop [in the 90s], I was selling mostly to Greek carts  they wanted pork for souvlaki. And then suddenly, the demand for halal meat was big. Muslim vendors were coming in and requesting that I buy it. At that time, I didnt know anything about it. Ive been in this country 46 years and my first job was in a meat market. But I was like, What the heck is a halal? I started buying it from a purveyor in the Bronx. At first, halal meat accounted for about 5 percent of my business. Now, halal meats are 80 percent of my sales.

Ray: As New Yorkers, we will go and eat stuff that other people will hesitate to try. New Yorkers did that with Jewish immigrants and Italian immigrants. They used to dominate the street-cart business, and now we are doing that with Muslim and Arab immigrants. As New Yorkers, we react to good, cheap food with a kind of open-mindedness and optimism. That is a New York story: We are willing to go where our tongues lead us, which is quite cool.

Chicken and rice from Trini Paki Boys. Photo: Noah Fecks

Muhammad Khan: People would come to see us because someone else had recommended us. It was people who knew to seek us out. Thats when we started seeing the lines.

Fatima Khan: Thats when we started seeing the lines.

Reichl: When I was at the Times, a new reporter decided to do an expose on how food carts werent sanitary. She went around with an inspector and thermometers. I kept telling her, This isnt going to make any difference  you think you are going to do this great expose, but people go to these carts every day.

Brooks: The fact that we even call them halal carts is so funny because to one group of people, that means something very specific about how food is prepared  its very religious. But to lots of people in New York, it translates to chicken and lamb with red sauce and white sauce. Its a very different definition.

Muhammad Khan: Some people come and ask if the food is halal, but they dont even know what halal is. All they know is that it means chicken and rice.

Fatima Khan: Some of the other carts are really tasteless. They only go for the name halal. They think it is halal, and it is not halal! Its not actually blessed. I saw a guy selling halal across the street on Ramadan. I said, Its Ramadan, are you not fasting? He told me he wasnt Muslim. I said Why do you put halal on your cart? Youre giving people the wrong thing to eat  you could get sued. I think the cart is still there.

Reichl: Trini Paki Boys still holds up to this day. It has to, or people will find the next cart  they will move on.

Muhammad Khan: The only problem now is tickets. It is ridiculous. It used to be 50 or 100 bucks  now it is like $1,000 per ticket, $800 for not having paper towels or not having a thermometer in your cart.

Brooks: Any of the changes that have happened have been at a micro level. It is interesting to see how each of the famous carts becomes famous, and they inspire copycats, and some of the copycat ideas might take hold and become more ubiquitous, but I think it is everybody doing their own thing.

Anita Lo, Chef: New Yorkers must develop a taste for that chicken-and-rice dish from the halal carts just from passing them on the street on a daily basis and inhaling the wafts of browning meat, garlic, and spices. By the time you actually have it, its almost part of your DNA  a taste sensation youve been expecting for a long time, like an old friend.

Falkowitz: There is a grit that feels appropriate. Styrofoam clamshells speak to the aesthetic of the sidewalk the same way that paper plates do for slices of pizza. There is also an inherent multiculturalism that comes with halal food. You cant go to a halal cart and not see people of multiple ethnicities lining up for food  that is true everywhere they exist. It is such a great lunchtime experience.

Amin: People have a close connection to this cart. I had a customer who moved away ten years ago, and he recently came back. This cart was his first stop, and he had a picture he had taken of me ten years ago  he came back just to show me the picture and eat my food.

Freddy Zeideia, Owner of King of Falafel & Shawarma:I opened in 2002, after September 11, and people would pass by my cart and say, You are a terrorist. But then, during the 2004 blackout, most restaurants were closed by 6 p.m. I was the only one open. I had a line around the block, even though all I had left was chicken and pita. We had the generator powering the van lights, and we didnt stop serving until we ran out of food. People came up later to thank me for not raising the prices.

Ray: Halal carts cross barriers. Cheap food triumphs over bad politics.

Order Highbrow, Lowbrow, Brilliant, Despicable: 50 Years of New York, a celebratory book chronicling the magazines history with powerful images and behind-the-scenes stories from staff and subjects.
A stomach selection at Takashi. Photo: Melissa Hom

Until recently, the consumption of animal guts was a guilty, off-the-menu pleasure, best done hidden from polite company. With the rise of the Nose-to-Tail Generation, however, those of us who enjoy consuming what old-fashioned butchers call variety meats have never had it so good. Here are our absolute favorite places in the city for a bite of veal kidneys, scrambled cows brains, and more.

The Absolute Best 1. Takashi

456 Hudson St., nr. Barrow St.; 212-414-2929 The citys offal-loving community was shocked by the death, a couple of weeks back, of the great Takashi Inoue, whose eponymous Japanese-Korean yakiniku restaurant has been a destination for what blood-and-guts-loving chefs like to call the nasty bits ever since it opened several years back in the West Village. Inoues partner has said the restaurant will remain open, and as long as it does, theres no better place in town to enjoy all sorts of odd animal parts sizzled on the grill in front of you (beef hearts, liver, tendon, aorta, cow stomachs, and yes, three kinds of tongue), gourmet creations like Kobe-beef-sausage andouillette and calves brains with blinis and caviar, and strange, enticing fusion inventions like Testicargot, which the menu describes as cow balls escargot style, with garlic shiso butter.

2. Savour Sichuan

108 W. 39th St., nr. Sixth Ave.; 212-221-7237

Savour Sichuans pigs brains. Photo: Melissa Hom

The city is filled with all sorts of distant, suitably grizzly Chinese offal destinations, particularly in the bubbling, viscous realm of Sichuan cooking. But if youre in the mood for a quick midtown fix of kidneys sauteed in chile oil, say, or pig intestines prepared the same way, this tidy little establishment on West 39th Street will do just fine. Unlike elsewhere, these forbidden delicacies are displayed prominently on the menu here (with pictures!). If youre feeling brave, call for the magisterial spicy, softly scrambled pigs brains, which are tossed with plenty of coriander and ma la pepper, and served with proper ceremony, on a sizzling cast-iron plate.

3. Babbo

110 Waverly Pl., nr. Sixth Ave.; 212-777-0303

If theres a New York equivalent to Londons great nose-to-tail pioneer, Fergus Henderson, its Mario Batali, who was arguably the first big-time chef in town to take the innards and viscera dishes beloved by generations of cooks and kitchen slaves, and popularize them, in elevated gourmet form, among the swells in the front of the house. First-class blood-and-guts dishes feature prominently on many of the Batali-Bastianich menus (the lovely tripe alla romana at Lupa, the lambs tongue Jim Harrison at Casa Mono), but this original Greenwich Village flagship is still our favorite place for a taste of the old country favorites like the velvet, faintly spicy tripe alla Parmigiana, pigs foot Milanese, and a whole procession of ravioli stuffed, depending on the kitchens mood, with innard-centric fillings like goose liver, beef cheeks, and the beautiful lambs head testa, which was doused, the last time we dropped in, with plenty of butter and sage.

4. The Cannibal Beer & Butcher

113 E. 29th St., nr. Lexington Ave.; 212-686-5480

At this stripped-down post-millennial butcher-themed bar and restaurant on East 29th Street, the specialties of the house include numerous fine head-cheese- and gizzard-laden pates, generous helpings of roasted bone marrow stippled with beef shank ragout, and an excellent tartare made from chopped lambs hearts. But the dish our offal-loving friends wont stop nattering about is a crunchy, weirdly delectable General Tsos Pigs Head, which the kitchen broils to a soft, messy crisp in the oven, pours with a spicy, sticky sweet sauce, and serves with all the trimmings, including pancakes and Asian-style greens, and a large pair of tongs for picking.

5. Hakata Tonton

61 Grove St., nr. Seventh Ave. S.; 212-242-3699

This venerable West Village izakaya (the menus based on specialties from the island of Kyushu) is a beloved institution among old-line offal and pork lovers alike, thanks to forbidden delicacies like veal-liver sashimi (you can have it sliced raw or, for the slightly squeamish, lightly seared, with a spritzing of soy), and the famous Hakata Motsu hot pot, which is rich in beef intestines (motsu), among other goodies, all of them floating in a bubbling collagen broth.

6. Cheburechnaya

9209 63rd Dr., nr. Austin St., Rego Park; 718-897-9080

This spacious Central Asian grill in a bustling section of Rego Park has been a favored haunt among members of New Yorks venerable Organ Society for years now, and a quick scan of the menu reveals why. Steamy Uzbek soups containing beef tail and a substance listed as veal foot are available beginning at breakfast time, along with all manner of shish kebab snacks, like grilled sweetbreads (try the veal), grilled hearts and liver (veal and lamb), and if youre lucky, lamb testicle kebabs, which have a pale chicken color, for the record, and the mysterious, ineffable, vaguely off-kilter flavor of all good offal.

Honorable Mentions

Buenos Aires

513 E. 6th St., nr. Ave. A; 212-228-2775

The offal-rich Rueda Buenos Aires mixed grill at this boisterous, futbol-centric joint includes plump blood sausages, grilled sweetbreads, and that rarely glimpsed delicacy, chitterlings (a.k.a. pig intestines), all grilled to a palatable crisp and served with an excellent housemade chimichurri sauce.

El Molcajete

1506-1508 Westchester Ave., nr. Wheeler Ave., Soundview; 917-688-1433

Among offalistas we know, the cabeza (cows head) is considered to be one of the more palatable gateways to the varied universe of organ-stuffed tacos, and the rich, fatty, melting one served at this bustling little restaurant up in the Bronx is a thing of beauty. If youre still hungry, call for the tongue-stuffed torta sandwich, which is dressed with tomatoes, crisp lettuce, mayo, and plenty of fresh avocado.

Le Coq Rico

30 E. 20th St.; nr. Broadway; 212-267-7426

Poultry is the theme of Antoine Westermanns Flatiron restaurant, which for organ enthusiasts means old-fashioned duck foie gras (enjoy it seared, or baked en croute, in a pastry crust), and the famous house giblets platter, which includes chicken liver on buttered toast spread with horseradish, and a medley of tiny duck and chicken hearts spindled en brochette with bits of apple on a bamboo skewer.

Le Veau dOr

129 E. 60th St., nr. Lexington Ave.; 212-838-8133

This venerable French bistro across from Bloomingdales makes the list thanks to what might be our favorite iteration of tripe in the entire city. The veal stomach is simmered for long hours in the Norman a la mode de Caen style, with onions, leeks, and plenty of Calvados brandy, and best enjoyed with a plate of french fries on the side.

Ugly Kitchen

103 First Ave., nr. 6th St.; 212-777-6677

The great Filipino contribution to the pantheon is that stillborn-duck-egg specialty called balut, and you can obtain one at this fine East Village establishment if you dare. For a slightly less challenging offal experience, call for the exceptional sizzling sisig, which is a tasty, scrapplelike mass of pork leavings (jaw, liver, belly) all scrambled together with onions, soy, and raw egg.

White Gold Butchers

375 Amsterdam Ave., at 78th St.; 212-362-8731

Weve been hoping to see sauteed calves liver show up on the entree menu of April Bloomfields great little Upper West Side butcher shop and restaurant, but for now, go for the appetizers (bone marrow sprinkled with herb salt, soft spoonfuls of chicken-liver mousse, grilled chicken hearts flavored with cilantro verde), and bring a jar or two of the house marrow butter home for your morning eggs.




Haiti - FLASH : Nov. 1st - 2nd, no working days





The Ministry of Communication informs that on the occasion of the Day of the Dead and All Saints, administrative offices, schools, commerce and industry will no work on Wednesday 1st and Thursday, November 2nd, 2017, throughout the national territory.



On behalf of the Government, the Ministry of Communication urges the population to exercise caution while respecting the principles of public security.



HL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - Education : The Ministry punishes fraudsters and beneficiaries of state exams 2017





Tuesday, Meniol Jeune, the Director General of the Ministry of National Education announced at a press conference the sanctions against the perpetrators of the frauds and the beneficiaries during the organization of examinations of State of the bac for the year 2017.



For frauds of various kinds: take-off of photo, use of the phone during the passing of the tests, falsification of names and serial numbers, introduction of copy in the examination rooms etc... the guilty pupils will be prohibited of participation in official tests and the schools concerned for two years, depending on the seriousness of the fault, may have their terminal classes banned and even the withdrawal of their operating license, said Meniol Jeune.



He announces that the list of the names of these educational institutions involved in cases of fraud, which derogated from the norms of professional ethics and violated articles 13.3, 13.7 and 20.3 of the decree law of 23 September 1974 on the opening and private schools as well as articles 112 and 113 of the Haitian Penal Code dealing with forgery in writing will be published.



He pointed out that the measures against the fraudulent school principals, go from the suspension in the activities of the new state examinations, through the request for a quarterly report on the regular operation of their establishment, until the closing of their philo class for a period of two years from September 2018.



In addition, the Director Jeune also mentioned more than sixty school directors who lied about the actual amount of fees deposited on the account of the Departmental Directorate of Western Education (DDEO) on behalf of the candidates of the permanent bacPending the decision of the court, which has been seized of this file, the Ministry adopts precautionary measures against these persons in charge of schools. For example, they are required to submit, before November 10, 2017, their list of year-end decisions for the 2016-2017 fiscal year, the results of the 1st control by level and class.

649/5000

Renan Michel, Director of the National Office of State Examinations (BUNEXE), explained the duplicate fraud, it is about students who did not get the average of passage in an institution, who arranged with the director from another school of the same year, to go to higher class. For 2014 - 2015, BUNEXE registered 526 students and 300 schools involved in this type of dishonest operation.



Renan Michel reminded these students "playing smart" they will be forced to resume classes for which the average passage was not obtained if they wish to continue their studies until the terminale.



See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-22466-haiti-education-follow-up-of-sanctions-against-fraudsters-to-state-exams-2017.html



HL/ S/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - News : Zapping...





A woman police officer shot dead

According to the deputy spokesman of the National Police of Haiti (PNH), Inspector Gary Desrosiers, policewoman Alsada AlsadaToussaint, 35, was shot dead Tuesday morning, shot in the back to Meyer, at the Croix des bouquets by an unidentified individual. With this new victim of insecurity in the ranks of the National Police of Haiti (PNH) it's a total of 6 police officers who were murdered in one month, Inspector Desrosiers says.



No arrest warrant against the 2 former ministers under Privert

Ocname Clame Dameus, the Government Commissioner of Port-au-Prince says he has not issued any arrest warrant against the former Minister of the Economy Yves Romain Bastien and the former Minister of Justice Me Camille Edouard Junior under the Privert / Jean-Charles administration struck by a ban on leaving the country https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-22511-haiti-flash-two-former-ministers-under-privert-banned-from-leaving-the-territory.html . He specifies that these are only provisional measures.



The US reiterate their support for the PNH

Michel-Ange Gedeon, Director General of the National Police of Haiti (PNH), received the visit of Dan Foote, "the Acting Assistant Secretary of State" who was accompanied by the Director and a senior executive of "International Narcotics and Law Enforcement) "(INL) in charge of relations with the PNH. Foote who said he was "impressed" by the progress of the institution, took the opportunity to reiterate the commitment of the United States to support the PNH including in strengthening among others the units of law enforcement, the Narcotics Trafficking Brigade (BLTS) and Coastguards...



Appointments of two new DG

In the official newspaper "Le Moniteur" Nuumero 170 dated October 31, the citizen Gamall Augustin was appointed Director General of the National Radio of Haiti (R.N.H); the citizen Evenson Calixte has been appointed, Director General of the National Authority for the Regularization of the Energy Sector (ANARSE).



Tourism and investors on the agenda

On Tuesday, Ms. Colombe Emilie Jessy Menos, Minister of Tourism met with Ms. Robin Diallo, the Charge d'Affaires ai of the US Embassy in Haiti. The exchanges focused on bilateral cooperation in the field of tourism and the need to establish good relations with potential investors from different chambers of commerce of the diaspora.



The MUPANAH closed until Friday

The General Direction of the Museum of the Haitian National Pantheon (MUPANAH) informs the public, that because of the works of internal organization, the institution works until 3 o'clock on Tuesday 31 October 2017. The museum keeps its doors closed on Wednesdays 1st and Thursday 2nd November. The activities will resume on Friday, November 3, 2017 following the usual schedule.



HL/ HaitiLibre


















Under the Jurisdictional leadership of Bishop Jerry L. Maynard, The Tennessee 4th Mass Choir are set to release their sophomore project EXCITEMENT OF PRAISE (Jelama Media Group) on Friday, November 10th in-stores and on all digital outlets. Recorded live in Memphis, TN, the project is truly a labor of love for Bishop Maynard's label, Jelama Records.

The forthcoming album features Derrick 'The Maestro' Jackson on keys, powerhouse soloists Carla Tolbert Taylor and Kathy Taylor, and laces in the smooth vocals of the late Shea Norman. Bridging the contemporary praise and worship rhythms of today's music with songs such as "The Report" and "Great God" with the traditional anointing of old-time church found in the tune "Thank You Jesus," it serves as a solid reminder of God's grace, goodness, and love for all those who take a listen.

The choir's lead single "God's Been So Good to Me" jumps +46 spots (+119 spins) to impact the Top 30 on Mediabase Gospel Airplay chart at No.29. The single lands at No.2 on the BDS Monitored New & Active chart, No. 34 on Billboard's Gospel Airplay chart and on BDS Most Added and Most Increased Airplay charts this week. The single was named the quick pick of the week on the Nationally syndicated The Willie Moore Jr Show last week.

"God's Been So Good To Me" (Jelama Music Group) is available now for streaming and purchasing (http://smarturl.it/GodsBeenSoGoodToMe).

Tags : EXCITEMENT OF PRAISE tennessee 4th mass choir Tennessee 4th Mass Choir new album
Politically correct truth says that Islam, in general, is the right religion, but some Muslims misunderstand it.



But My personal experience, as well as the collective experience of non-Muslims, says exactly opposite: most of the Muslims we face in our life are good people. But when Muslims unite and act collectively, for example, as part of a religious-political movement, or an army, or a nation, or an Islamic ummah, they commit mass crimes. There are a lot of examples. Today, the so-called Islamists are eager for nuclear weapons and threaten to destroy this planet, in the name of Allah and Muhammad.



Common sense says that the problem are not the Muslims as people, but the Islamic religion. Even a cursory analysis shows that the deeds and teachings of Muhammad cannot serve an example of the moral behavior of Muslims towards non-Muslims, both in everyday life and in politics. The fact that non-Muslims make up the majority on this planet does not matter to Muhammad, he believes that non-Muslim cannot be equal to a Muslim.



Accordingly, the politically correct behavior of non-Muslims only confirms the basic message of Muhammad: Muslims will win, even if today they are minority and are weak. Anyway, Muslims must attack the infidels in the name of Islam, in all ways, from war to bribery and treachery. The infidels will either turn to Islam, or submit and will pay a tax, or they will be destroyed. The goal justifies the means  this is the essence of the doctrine of Muhammad as a politician.



We all have to understand that the victory of such Islam is the way to the end of the Mankind, that is, the apocalypse. This is not only a nuclear baton in the hands of Islamists. Equally important is the principle that the goal justifies the means. Islamic policy generates conflicts within the Islamic ummah. Todays wars between Muslims are a consequence of islamist doctrine. These internal conflicts between Muslims are unavoidable, and they serve as a prototype of the future World caliphate, that is, the world domination of the Muslims. If we all become Muslims, then we will destroy each other mutually.



In order to avoid the End of the World, which threatened Muhammad in his Quran, the infidels together with non-Jihadist Muslims are obliged to render firm resistance to jihad in all its forms and manifestations, and simultaneously to explain to all Muslims, where they are wrong. Instead of politically correct chatter and concessions in matters of principle, the Justice should become the basis of the international communitys policy towards the Muslims,.



It also means that the infidels have to correct themselves in order to be saved from the Islamist apocalypse. Morality must return to our daily life and politics, otherwise all will perish physically. Politicians are obliged to stop their habitual intrigues and lies, we must stop massive corruption, exploitation and trafficking drugs. We all must begin correcting ourselves and uniting against Jihad.



The reform of Islam, which many Muslims talk about, must be radical, otherwise it will fix nothing. The international community must help Muslims proclaiming Islam with a human face, even if they are not the majority in their countries. The dream of democracy in the countries of Islam will have to be postponed until Islam is radically reformed, or lose its influence.



Those Muslims who are fighting against aggressive Islam, like Al Sissi in Egypt and Gulen in Turkey, are right, even if they remain minority in their countries. Just these people must implement the reform of Islam, and create Islam with a human face as an alternative to Islamist aggression. Until they win, even the most pleasant Muslims will remain potential enemies, capable at any moment turn beasts in the name of Islam. At the bottom line, the best way to reassure and convince Muslims is to take hard line of Justice.
Look who's been watching Fox Nation! Websters defines collusion as: secret or illegal cooperation or conspiracy, especially in order to cheat or deceive others.



Collusion is an umbrella word that in itself is not illegal BUT.......it covers many potential illegal actions by the Trump campaign, which could range from aiding and abetting (18 USC 2) to conspiracy per se (18 USC 371) to conspiring to violate several potentially applicable laws like: 18 USC 1030fraud and related activity in connection with computers; 18 USC 1343wire fraud; or 52 USC 30121contributions and donations by foreign nationals. Also, 18 USC 2381for, contrary to a widespread belief that there must be a declared war, the Justice Department as recently as 2006 indicted for aid and comfort to our enemies, the form of collusion better known as treason. Collusion is the perfect word to cover such crimes, pejorative and inclusive.



In other words, what matters legally is whether someone in the Trump campaign joined a conspiracy, aided and abetted a crime, or actively concealed a crime. I.E. Collusion.
HAWAII 2018 AFFORDABLE CARE ACT INDIVIDUAL RATES

News Release from DCCA Insurance Div, Nov 1, 2017

HONOLULU  The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Insurance Division released final decisions for 2018 Affordable Care Act (ACA) individual plan health insurance rates. These rates are expected to affect approximately 34,000 individuals currently purchasing ACA individual plans.

2018 ACA Individual Health Rate Filings

Company Proposed

Average Rate Change Final Approved

Average Rate Change HMSA 27.1% 19.78% Kaiser 25.2% 24.1%

Increasing utilization of medical services by a segment of the individual market and the immense uncertainty on the national front regarding the ACA has impacted rates. The discontinuation of Cost Sharing Reduction (CSR) funding and unpredictability over the non-enforcement of the Individual Mandate resulted in rates increasing on average of 10 percent to 14 percent. However, Advanced Premium Tax Credits can help to lower your monthly payment.

It is worth the time to shop and compare plans across the various offerings. This year, a Gold plan could be more affordable than a Silver plan. Bronze plans can be as affordable as $5-10 per month depending on your age and income. Its best to take into consideration more than just monthly premium rates, but also the deductible amounts and out-of-pocket maximums to determine the right plan for your insurance needs, Insurance Commissioner Gordon Ito said.

The Insurance Divisions approval of rates was made pursuant to the statutory requirement that rates cannot be excessive, inadequate or unfairly discriminatory. All submitted data regarding the rates is closely reviewed by rate and policy analysts and actuaries.

With the rising costs of the healthcare delivery system, rates must also be set at adequate levels to prevent insolvency and keep competition in the market. Inadequate rates could result in an insurer failing to meet statutory solvency requirements which would jeopardize policyholders and providers under their plans, said Commissioner Ito.

Consumers are encouraged to review and understand the offered ACA plans during open enrollment starting today on HealthCare.gov . With the halt of CSR funding, this years plan options have become increasingly complex. Further clarification on the issues related to the Open Enrollment period of the ACA Individual Market are available online here .

# # #

The Hawaii Insurance Division oversees the Hawaii insurance industry, issues licenses; examines the fiscal condition of Hawaii-based companies; reviews rate and policy filings; and investigates insurance related complaints.
John Holland has evolved from being a successful engineering and building contractor to a fully integrated infrastructure and property company.



This year alone, John Holland has secured projects with a total value of $23bn.



With such big ambitions, John Holland needed to ensure its strategy is future-facing. Thats why theyve launched a digital transformation program that will span the business  with their People and Culture (P&C) Group being one of the first cabs off the rank.



This digitisation of People and Culture is being led by Chris Walsh, CIO of John Holland and Peter Howell, Group General Manager Organisational Development at John Holland.

Our focus is transforming the way we use systems and processes in the modern era  this is where we started when we turned our attention to the HR function in our business. Before we implemented SAP SuccessFactors we had a number of disparate HR systems that didnt speak to each other, said Chris.



John Hollands P&C team, has been challenged to recruit 3000 new employees by 2020. With a vision to double the size of the business in the next four years, managing people effectively will be more essential than ever to manage this phase of growth.



We wanted a digital HR solution to free our line managers from piles of paperwork, empowering them with access to people and organisational data. We also wanted to ensure our business is equipped to handle this new growth. With a number of large projects in the pipeline, we needed to improve staff utilisation rates and make it easier to manage employees, said Peter.



Digital transformation is a business-wide focus



John Hollands digital mandate started around five years ago, and is currently being driven as part of Chris Walshs role as CIO. Chris oversees all digital platforms across the group.



Peter and I are very aligned in terms of our vision of the company and the role digital plays in that. We both knew we couldnt reach this ambition with the systems we had. What we needed was a strategic investment in HR as a driver of our business. SAP SuccessFactors was this investment, setting us up for the future, said Chris.



SAP SuccessFactors is digitising HR at John Holland. Having a digital solution means we can support the dual ambitions of John Holland  growth and change  through our hiring and people processes Were seen as a strategic partner that drives wider company ambitions, said Peter.



Chris Walsh and Peter Howell will be speaking at a series of breakfast events on 16 November (Perth), 23 November (Melbourne) and 29 November (Sydney) about how HR is leading John Holland into the new frontier of digital transformation.



Click here for more information or to register.
Holding companies and franchisors will now face much greater accountability for failing to act when a subsidiary or franchisee is found to be violating the Fair Work Act (FWA).



The new law means there will be a higher scale of penalties (up to 10 times the current amount) for a new category of serious contraventions of prescribed workplace laws.



These changes have been introduced to address exploitation of vulnerable workers - as illustrated in the 7-Eleven wage scandal - by also holding those higher up the supply chain responsible, according to Rigby Cooke Lawyers partner and workplace relations specialist Simone Caylock.



Indeed, in July it was announced that court imposed penalties against 7-Eleven operators have now topped $1 million in litigations by the Fair Work Ombudsman.



A raft of new changes came into effect last month under the Fair Work Amendment (Protecting Vulnerable Workers) Act 2017, including a tenfold increase on maximum penalties (from $12,600 to $126,000 for individuals and from $63,000 to $630,000 for companies) for serious contraventions of the FWA (including deliberate breaches of record keeping obligations), prohibitions on cash back schemes, and expanded evidence-gathering powers for the Fair Work Ombudsman, said Caylock.



From 27 October 2017 however, the law placed a new onus on franchisors and parent companies to demonstrate they have taken reasonable steps to prevent a franchisee or subsidiary from contravening the FWA.



Failure to prove so could potentially lead to a civil proceeding and those fines of up to $630,000 per breach.



The new law provides that franchisors and holding companies can be held liable for breaches of certain workplace laws by their franchisees/subsidiaries if they knew or could reasonably be expected to have known that the contravention would occur, or that a contravention of the same or a similar character was likely to occur.



Caylock added that simply pleading ignorance will not hold up in court.



If organisations are responsible for franchisees or have subsidiaries that engage staff, to be able to demonstrate they have taken reasonable steps, they must ensure they have systems in place, such as declarations, audit programs and risk assessments, to ensure those third parties comply with relevant workplace laws, she said.



A franchisor or holding company can only be held liable in relation to contraventions that occur after 27 October 2017 but in determining if a holding company or franchisor had knowledge the Court may have regard to conduct that occurred, or circumstances existing, before 27 October this year.



HRD recently reported that a 7-Eleven worker was dismissed by a franchisee in Brisbane who allegedly removed him from the roster after he refused his employers request to repay his leave entitlements.



The FWO alleged that Ponnada, on behalf of the company, made several requests for the worker to return the $731.06 that had been paid.



7-Eleven said they supported the FWOs investigation into the Brisbane franchisee.
An Altona-based manufacturing company has been ordered to repay seven of its workers more than $100,000 after the Fair Work Ombudsman executed an enforceable undertaking with it for underpayment.



Melbourne-based Transfab Reinforcement Australia Pty Ltd, which prepares pre-fabricated housing materials, paid the workers  all of Indian background speaking limited English  low flat rates when they worked from March 2015 to September 2016. Two of the workers were international students.



The seven workers were employed to bend and weld steel on a production line in Altona. Six were engaged as full-time or casual factory workers while the other was a qualified welder. They were paid hourly rates of between $18 and $22.



But under the Manufacturing and Associated Industries and Occupations Award 2010, the workers were variously entitled to higher rates for ordinary hours, casual loading, regular shift work, and Saturday and overtime hours.



Transfab also failed to pay workers full annual leave entitlements and to keep all necessary employment records, including of hours worked.



The Fair Work Ombudsman began an investigation after the workers sought its help last year.



The company cooperated in the investigation and rectified all underpayments totalling $103,918.



The Enforceable Undertaking is an alternative to litigation; under the EU Transfab admitted to its contraventions of the law.



Under the EU, Transfab was also made to make a $5,000-donation to community workplace law centre Job Watch. It was made to write a letter of apology to the workers and display notices, in the workplace and on its web site, detailing its breaches of workplace law.



Aside from these, Transfab must also:
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BS Filter said: So which religion does this terrorist belong to? Click to expand...

I don't know, the local police dept. has not released that information so far as I know.What's it matter? He's STILL a ******* murderer, Isn't he?Good thing they have apparently taken the ******* alive. That way he can be question to find out if he is a part of a terrorist cell.Man, you guys are really obsessed with religion.
The Finnish Industrial Union and Technology Industries of Finland on Monday announced they have agreed on a new collective agreement, setting the tone for the series of bargaining negotiations taking place in the months to come.

[An agreement] is good when it stings everyone a bit, he commented to Uusi Suomi.

The collective agreement guarantees that the wages of the almost 100,000 people employed in the metals and technology industries will increase by two per cent over the next two years  by 1.1 per cent in 2018 and 0.9 per cent in 2019. It also stipulates, however, that wage increases should primarily be agreed upon locally based on the circumstances of each business.

If no local agreement is found, the general increases will be supplemented with a business-specific increase of 0.5 per cent in 2018 and one of 0.7 per cent in 2019. The wages would consequently creep up by a total of 3.2 per cent over the next two years.

But you can agree on anything locally, also on lower wages, depending on how the order books and employment situation look, reminded Aalto.

He also admitted that the collective agreement may come as a disappointment to some employees due to the solid growth experienced recently by many businesses in the industries.

I hope it gets a good reception. It may be a disappointment to some with the sector doing better and employment being on the rise. It may be just right for others depending on the situation, he said before reminding of the possibility to determine wage increases locally.

Eeva-Liisa Inkeroinen, the deputy chief executive of the Technology Industries of Finland, estimated in a press release that the agreement is valuable in that it promotes the development of local bargaining and, according to estimates, improves the competitiveness of businesses in the industry.

Aleksi Teivainen  HT

Photo: Martti Kainulainen  Lehtikuva

Source: Uusi Suomi
The Police University College reported late last month that a total of 1,079 offences with at least some characteristics of hate crimes were filed with law enforcement authorities last year, representing a decrease of 14 per cent from the previous year. The number of such offences reported to the authorities stood at 1,250 in 2015 and at 822 in 2014.

The majority of the offences investigated last year were somehow related to ethnic or national background. The most common form of hate crime, meanwhile, was assault, according to a press release from the Police University College.

Although the overall number of suspected hate crimes decreased from the previous year, the number of offences motivated seemingly by the religious or other beliefs of the victim increased by 12 per cent from the previous year to 149 in 2016. Almost half of such offences were committed against Islam.

The incidence of offences motivated seemingly by the ethnic or national background of the victim, in turn, decreased by roughly seven per cent to 831 in 2016. The number of offences motivated seemingly by sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression decreased similarly, but only by four from the previous year.

Finnish law enforcement authorities also looked into 42 offences  23 fewer than in the previous year  where the suspected motive was related to a mental or physical disability.

The Police University College also highlighted that the amount of hate speech on the internet and, especially, on social media has increased inrecent years to the extent that law enforcement officers no longer have the resources to respond to all cases.

The Police of Finland has, however, already taken action to weed out online hate speech, having established a new team to investigate online hate speech under the Helsinki Police Department, and having begun training 40 police officers around the country to detect hate speech and advise their colleagues in regards to cases related to hate speech.

We aim to comprehensively ensure that the hate motive is taken into consideration at all stages of the pre-trial investigation so that the prosecutor will be able to demand the statutory grounds for increasing the severity of the punishment, states Mans Enqvist, a superintendent at the National Police Board.

Aleksi Teivainen  HT

Photo: Roni Rekomaa  Lehtikuva
LEBANON  The Salem Elks lodge, in partnership with the Keizer Elks lodge and the support of Walmart and the Elks National Foundation, will donate 20 Samsung Android tablets and Google Play Store Gift Cards to the Edward C. Allworth Oregon Veterans Home in Lebanon at 11 a.m. on Nov. 6.

The tablets will allow veterans living in the home to access remote health services offered by the Veterans Administration. In addition to health and rehabilitation applications, veterans can also use the devices to communicate with relatives and friends who are unable to visit on a regular basis.

The Elks have always had a commitment to serving our veterans going back to the early days of our order when we helped establish some of the first battlefield hospitals during the First World War, said project manager Blake Whitson of the Salem Elks Lodge.

The project was made possible by a grant from the Elks National Foundation, the charitable arm of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. This year, the Elks National Foundation will award $6.5 million in grants.

To become involved with this or other Elks Lodge projects, email project manager Whitson at cbwhitson83@gmail.com or Corrine Arehart of the Keizer Elks Lodge at ccarehart@hotmail.com.

For more information about the foundation, visit its website at www.elks.org/enf/community.
Emergency services attend the scene after a guest died at the Connemara Lake Hotel

Investigators examining the death of a guest at a Connemara hotel have not ruled out carbon monoxide poisoning.

Breda 'Betty' Harrington (64), from Donoughmore, in north Cork, was found dead in her room in the Connemara Lake Hotel.

The hotel remained closed yesterday as investigators searched for clues.

A source last night told the Herald that it was too early to determine the cause of death but that carbon monoxide poisoning was a possiblility.

"It's too early in the examinations to say what the cause of death was," he said.

"A number of different aspects will have to be looked at."

Ms Harrington's body was found shortly after 11.30am on Monday and emergency services were alerted.

Hospital

Other guests were evacuated after reports that a number of people had fallen ill.

Several guests presented at the emergency department at University Hospital Galway later in the day.

The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) sent investigators to the hotel after gardai notified it of Ms Harrington's death.

However, a spokesman for the authority said it was not yet investigating the incident.

"We are aware of the death and have people at the scene. We are currently examining the circumstances of the incident and whether the death was as a result of any work-related activity," said the spokesman.

"This will determine whether a HSA investigation will follow."

Ms Harrington was on a trip to the area for the bank holiday weekend. It is understood her relatives are regular visitors.

Her body was removed to University Hospital Galway, where a post-mortem examination was expected to be carried out last night.

Gardai in Salthill, who are investigating the death, said they are awaiting the results of the post-mortem examination and the initial assessment of the scene by the HSA.

Tragically

They said they were not treating the death as suspicious at this point and the course of their investigation would be determined by the outcome of the post-mortem examination and the HSA assessment.

Gardai also confirmed they had taken details from those hotel guests that attended the University Hospital Galway yesterday.

"The Connemara Lake Hotel confirms that a guest tragically passed away while staying in the hotel over the weekend," a statement on the hotel website said.

"The hotel is closed until further notice while an investigation takes place by the Garda Siochana.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the deceased, their family and friends."
A 16-month-old child who allegedly developed acute bronchitis because of damp and mouldy conditions at his mother's rented home was yesterday awarded 20,000 against her former landlords.

Barrister Lydia Bunni told Circuit Court President Mr Justice Raymond Groarke that Dawid Szafirowski, now aged six, had three times been referred to accident and emergency units and twice detained for treatment of his illness.

Ms Bunni said the defendants - Damien and Natasha Long and Ray Cooke Auctioneers - had entered a full defence to the claim lodged on Dawid's behalf by his mother, Urszula Szafirowska.

She told the Circuit Civil Court that the defendants claimed water running down the walls and conditions of condensation and mould had been caused by Ms Szafirowska and her husband having blocked up air vents in the property.

She said this had been fully denied by the boy's parents.

Ms Bunni said the family had rented the Longs' house at Cherrywood Grove, Clondalkin, Dublin, which had been managed by Ray Cooke Auctioneers.

In September 2012, condensation and then mould appeared, and during that autumn Dawid had started to develop severe chest infections and respiratory problems.

Concerned

Ms Szafirowska, now of St John's Wood, Clondalkin, said in a statement to the court that the dampness had been reported to all of the defendants but they had failed to rectify the issue.

She claimed their inaction had led to Dawid having to be hospitalised on two occasions and to see his GP many times.

Ms Szafirowska said she had become extremely concerned about Dawid's ability to breathe and, so severe was his initial complaint that the family doctor had advised her to take him immediately to the paediatric unit of Tallaght Hospital, where X-rays revealed he had acute bronchitis in his left lung.

Ms Bunni told the court that, following treatment as an inpatient, Dawid had been discharged to the care of their GP.

He continued to see his doctor with ongoing respiratory difficulties, developing a recurrent wheeze that would be exacerbated by bad weather.

He was hospitalised at 16 months and again when aged two years and three months.

In August 2014, respiratory paediatric consultant Peter Greally reported that Dawid's respiratory symptoms had been induced by adverse damp, mouldy conditions.

Ms Bunni said that, on an earlier occasion, the defendants had made a settlement offer of 10,000 to Dawid, but this had been rejected by the court.

She said Dawid had ongoing asthma and the defendants had since doubled the offer to 20,000, which she was recommending to the court.

Judge Groarke approved the offer.
These days, Cathy Orcutt runs the 911 dispatch center at the Linn County Sheriff's Office. But one day back in 1984, she was just a young woman fresh out of Navy boot camp, standing alone in an airport in Japan, trying to figure out how to get to her duty assignment in the Philippines.

The USO lounge, where she had been told she could find assistance, was closed for the night, and she didn't speak Japanese. It wasn't until a fellow sailor recognized her uniform and pointed her in the right direction that she found her way.

"I wish I remembered that guy's name," she recalled. "He really helped me out back then."

That spirit of fellowship, the brotherhood  or sisterhood, as the case may be  is something Orcutt wants to continue in her new role as the state ambassador for Women in Military Service for America, an organization dedicated to remembering and honoring all 2.4 million women who have worn the uniform of any military branch.

In 1997, the organization established a memorial and educational center at Arlington National Cemetery. Orcutt gave money to that cause in 1995, after she'd been out of the Navy for seven years. Today, only 274,000 women veterans are registered at the memorial, and this year marks a big push to add more.

"We want all the stories and every woman to be registered," said Orcutt.

Orcutt in August reached out to the organization, and after interviewing with coordinator Jan Edmunds, a retired U.S. Army major, she was appointed.

In an email, Edmunds said the goal of the ambassador program is to improve the organization's connections to communities and outreach to women, both veterans and those still in uniform.

"Our goal is to have at least one ambassador volunteer per state/territory to help spread the word about the memorial and to help us connect with military women to get them to register their service and their story in our living history data base," she said.

Edmunds added that too many women dont self-identify as veterans.

"They often say 'Oh, I didnt do anything important,' she said. "I contend that any woman who has volunteered to serve has done something immensely important."

A traveling display, "I Am Not Invisible," arrived in Salem in September. It tells the stories of female veterans, and its mission is to show how they come from all walks of life and may not be as recognized as their male counterparts. The sentiment is fitting, considering that the theme of this year's Albany Veterans Day parade theme is "Women in Uniform."

"Women are the only veterans who are all-volunteer," said Orcutt. "None have ever been drafted."

Orcutt said her interest in acting as the state ambassador for Women in Military Service for America is born of a desire to help women find their way after the service.

"I remember feeling very lost when I got out," she said, explaining how she decided to join the military after discovering she didn't want to go to college and was basically "kicking around Albany" after high school.

A family friend had joined the Air Force, and Orcutt decided the military sounded like a good option. Before long she found herself at boot camp, and ultimately as a quartermaster aboard the destroyer tender USS Acadia, stationed in the Philippines, just up the road from the site of the infamous Bataan Death March, where nearly 80,000 captured American and Philippine prisoners of war were marched to death camps in April 1942.

"The Navy unearthed mass graves when they built radio towers there," Orcutt said of her duty.

That sobering fact, and the reality of the military uprising that ousted president Ferdinand Marcos in February of 1986 while she was stationed there, did much to shape Orcutt's experience.

"I don't think you can go through the military and not come out changed," she said.

Orcutt described an environment where off-duty travel was limited due to the unrest. She recalls traveling off-base only in helicopters full of Marines, which made her feel at once safe and alarmed.

Still, her time in the Navy was not without excitement and fun. She and some fellow woman sailors rented a house off base and even had a housekeeper. Also, the movie "Top Gun" hit theaters in May 1986, which added a level of glamour to her job. The Navy even let Orcutt and other women sailors spend a couple days aboard the USS Kittyhawk, watching flight operations.

"They gave us separate quarters, because we were female, and they put some Marines guarding our door," Orcutt said, "which might not have been the best idea."

In her new role, Orcutt said she wants to reach out to female veterans who may not know about the memorial or Women in Military Service for America, to learn their stories and to offer a sense of community.

"I have a great job and I've been given a lot of gifts," she said.

Further describing the perception of veterans and the participation by women, Orcutt said she displays a Navy veteran magnet on her car. "I'm waiting for someone to ask me what my husband did in the Navy," she said.
A motorist with one of "the worst records" of uninsured driving has been jailed for five months and put off the road for 25 years.

James Connors (60) had 39 previous convictions for uninsured driving when he was stopped by gardai earlier this year.

He was also driving while banned, Dublin District Court was told.

Connors, of The Avenue, Belgard Heights, Tallaght, pleaded guilty to driving with no insurance or licence and giving gardai a false name and address.

Judge Bryan Smyth heard Connors was stopped by gardai while driving a Nissan Micra in Walkinstown Avenue last April 9.

After he was arrested, it was discovered he had been banned from driving for 25 years.

The court was told that Connors' marriage had broken down because of his alcohol addiction, he had been homeless for the past four years and his brother had recently been murdered.

He was a protected prisoner in custody and under 23-hour lock-up related to his brother's murder.

Suicide

Connors asked the judge if he could address the court before sentencing

He said he had saved 300,000 over 30 years to buy a house for his family but Revenue "got me for" that amount and left him homeless.

"All my future was in the money I had saved up so my future fell to pieces," he said. "My plan for the future was shattered when they got the money off me."

His son had committed suicide recently.

Connors had not been in his right mind when he committed the offences, his lawyer said.

His offending was linked to his addiction to alcohol.

He had not had any alcohol while he had been in custody and was clearer of mind and "much better for it".

The accused accepted he had an "unattractive" history of offending and his lawyer asked the judge to be as lenient as he could in the circumstances.

"He has one of the worst if not the worst record for driving without insurance I have ever had to deal with," Judge Smyth said.

"In the circumstances, the court has no alternative but to impose a custodial sentence."
A man who stole a bottle of vodka from a supermarket had good prospects but a "crippling addiction" to alcohol, a court was told.

It was his "demon", said barrister Jennifer Jackson, defending.

Mark Carolan (29), of Turner's Hill, Kingscourt, Cavan, admitted theft.

Blanchardstown District Court heard he stole a 26 bottle of vodka from Dunnes Stores in St Margaret's Road, Finglas, last May 28.

Carolan, who had a previous conviction for drink-driving, had completed a residential treatment programme.

Letters from the programme were presented to the court.

Carolan had had a "rather crippling addiction to alcohol in the past", said Ms Jackson.

Studying

Carolan had done a BA course and had "very good prospects" but found himself in the throes of addiction.

He was now studying teaching English as a foreign language and hoped to travel to Japan to work.

Alcohol was his "demon", but when he had no contact with it he was able to lead a fruitful life, said Ms Jackson.

Judge David McHugh adjourned the case to a date in January for a restorative justice prog-ramme report.

He told the accused to pay 300 to charity, carry out 20 hours of voluntary work and write a letter of apology to Dunnes Stores.

He told Carolan that if all this was done, he was willing, "with some reluctance", to give the defendant a final chance and leave him without a conviction.
MARION, Va.Three people were recently arrested in Marion, Virginia, in connection with a string of burglaries.

Marcus Hunter Moran, 22, of Spruce Street; Brandon Allen Hutton, 22, of Highway 16; and Nicholas Ryan Sheets, 21, of Parsons Place were arrested following a month-long investigation, according to a news release from the Marion Police Department. Items recovered include electronic and audio-visual equipment, computers, and an undisclosed amount of cash.

The group is accused of break-ins at Dean's Bikes on Main Street, Calvary Baptist Church, First Baptist Church, Grace United Methodist Church, and Mt. Zion Temple Church, and also recovered additional stolen property from a break-in at South Fork Baptist Church in Smyth County, the release states. All three suspects are charged with breaking and entering and grand larceny.

Additional charges are pending, and additional arrests are expected as the Marion Police and Smyth County Sheriff's Office investigation continues, police said.
ABINGDON, Va.  The Democrats of Washington County will host its annual Swing Through Dinner on Saturday evening in advance of Tuesdays election.

Party supporters are invited to attend the dinner at 5 p.m. at the Southwest Virginia 4-H Center in Abingdon. There will be bluegrass music, fried chicken and all of the fixings as Democrats gather to hear the latest news about candidates on the ballot.

The dinners are a tradition in Southwest Virginia that dates back more than 50 years, according to a news release. Joe Johnson, who represented Washington County as a Democratic delegate for more than 30 years, will kick off remarks. Candidates for state office will have an official representative speak on their behalf.

The dinner is free, but attendees are encouraged to take a side dish or dessert. For more information, email or call 276-676-0210.
Danfoss buys Finnish developer of most efficient drivetrain

Danfoss is buying Visedo Oy, a Finnish developer of smart hybrid and electric drivetrains for commercial vehicles, heavy-duty machinery and marine applications. The terms of the deal have not been released.

Visedo recently unveiled an electric motor for buses which it claims is the most efficient on the market. The liquid-cooled drivetrains are based on a synchronous reluctance assisted permanent magnet technology, claimed to be smaller, lighter and more efficient than conventional technologies such as induction or permanent magnet motors.

Acquiring new innovative technology is an important part of our investment in growth, and I am excited about the really great Visedo team joining Danfoss and our future journey, says Danfoss CEO, Kim Fausing. Electrification is a fast-developing area and holds tremendous potential, and Visedo is a great example of how we can focus on customer needs and at the same time strengthen our offering by providing a broader range of solutions.

Danfoss plans to integrate Visedo into its Power Solutions business. The acquisition is in line with its strategic focus of adding electrical systems as a key competency.

We see a growing demand for electric solutions within off-highway vehicles and the marine market in response to the more stringent emissions regulations being imposed in these markets, as well as efficiency and productivity gains that these solutions bring, says Eric Alstrom, president of Danfoss Power Solutions. Danfoss will, based on this acquisition, continue to invest in electrification to further strengthen our position in the industry.

Joining forces with Danfoss means a quantum leap for our mission to end pollution with our electric solutions, adds Visedo CEO, Kimmo Rauma. Together with Danfoss, we will have more capacity and investment for greater innovation and market opportunities.

Visedo CEO Kimmo Rauma: a quantum leap Photo: Johannes Wiehn

The acquisition includes Visedos subsidiaries in the Netherlands and Hong Kong, as well as a design and manufacturing operation at its headquarters in Lappeenranta, Finland. Exports to Europe and Asia represent 90% of Visedos sales. Earlier this year, it signed a production and co-operation deal with the Asias largest motor manufacturer, Taiwan-based Teco, to manufacture its machines.

Visedos powertrains are aimed at hybrid and all-electric traction applications in the power range 30kW2MW. Its latest S-model PowerDrum motor offers a 10% increase in power output and improved cooling compared to earlier models, and is claimed to offer the highest efficiency in the market across the entire speed range. Visedo says that the drive is 31% more efficient than average.

Visedos CEO, Kimmo Rauma argues that bus drivetrains based on the new motors are effectively free because they allow smaller batteries to be used. A typical 100kWh battery for an electric bus costs around 50,000 (or 500 per kWh). A 20% improvement in drivetrain efficiency allows a 20% smaller battery to be used to achieve the same range  saving about 10,000, which is similar to the cost of the motor and its controller.

The compact, robust motors are said to save space while ensuring high tolerance to shocks and vibration. Their high efficiency will increase battery life while shortening recharge cycles. The motor design has been optimised for high-volume manufacture in Finland and Taiwan.

Visedos PowerDrum motors are already being used in electric bus projects in Finland and Sweden. The company recently started a project with Ledgent Technology in Taiwan, and announcements about other projects in Asia are expected in the coming months.
The Amazon Books Editors announced their selections for *Best Books of 2022*. This annual list is hand-picked by the A*mazon Books Editors,* who have read...

14 hours ago
Jason Mendelsohn in his "Superman" t-shirt given to him by friends and a close friend, Russell Goldberg (on left), who is a partner at Withum, a CPA firm and on the board of Hillel at UCF.

It all goes back to April 2014 when Jason Mendelsohn, now 48, received the heart-stopping news that he had squamous cell carcinoma on his right tonsil. He was shocked. He didn't smoke, it was just a small bump on his neck. Later, his doctor confirmed that is was stage 4 HPV-related tonsil cancer. He probably contracted the HPV virus while he was in college, 25 years earlier.

Before the shock had time to wear off, he had a radical tonsillectomy, neck dissection (42 lymph nodes removed from his neck), seven weeks of grueling chemo, radiation and a feeding tube due to third-degree burns in his throat. But Mendelsohn was tough, so tough through it all that his friends called him Superman.

For many people who have overcome cancer, that's the end of the story, they go on to enjoy their cancer-free lives. But Mendelsohn was passionate about bringing awareness to HPV-related oral cancer. He had never even heard of HPV-related oral cancer until he was diagnosed, and that is what he hopes to change.

Before everyone gets panicky remembering their own wild youth and speculating if they could have HPV-related oral cancer, Mendelsohn stated that 90 percent of everything he saw and read about oral cancer was not HPV-related. Statistically, there are more than 100 types of HPV that can infect the lining of the throat. But not all of them cause cancer, and only two strains-HPV-16 and HPV-18-cause cervical cancer and head and neck cancers. Most people's bodies clear themselves of HPV, those diagnosed with oral cancer must test positive for HPV-16 through biopsies of the tongue, throat and tonsils. (To learn more about head and neck cancers, visit the Head and Neck Cancer Alliance, http://www.headandneck.org

Still, anyone diagnosed with an oral cancer should be checked for HPV-16. A team at the University of Florida, Baylor College of Medicine and elsewhere found that 11 million U.S. men and 3 million women were actively infected with oral HPV between 2011 and 2014, according to the researchers' report in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

Mendelsohn knew he had to get the word out about this specific kind of cancer because it can be prevented through the Gardasil vaccination given to boys and girls ages 9 to 26. He encourages parents to talk with their children's pediatricians about this vaccine.

The vaccine has been available for girls since 2007 because of the prevalence of cervical cancer. But it wasn't until 2011 that a vaccine was introduced for boys. And still many are not aware. Apparently, discussion of HPV with children is controversial.

The reason the vaccine is given at such a young age isn't because they are sexually active, explained Holly Boykin, executive director of the Head and Neck Cancer Alliance, but because the body can easily absorb the vaccine when given at this age.

Mendelsohn drew his inspiration to speak up from his sisters, Jamie Mendelsohn and Jill Theisen. Both women have suffered with Crohn's disease and colitis.

A completely different disease, however Mendelsohn stated, "They are great role models." For 19 years they have been advocates for those with Crohn's and colitis. His firm, the Ashar Group, supports "Take Steps for Crohn's and Colitis," Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America's largest fundraising event. http://www.ashargroup.com Jews are highly affected by Crohn's and colitis and his sisters are an inspiration to people all over the country, as Mendelsohn is to those undergoing cancer treatment.

Even with all the inspiration and encouragement, one person can only do so much. You'd have to be super human to keep up. He remembered his friends and doctors who called him Superman during his treatments, and he adopted the name SupermanHPV.

"I chose the name SupermanHPV as I knew it would draw attention to the diagnosis, and help me spread the word about HPV-related oral cancer," he states on his blog. "I wanted people to understand that 3 out of 4 adults by the time they're 30 have HPV, 62 percent of freshman in college."

The next step was to start his own website and Facebook page, cloaking himself in the SupermanHPV image. The site, http://www.SupermanHPV.com, launched the first week of September and provides encouragement, inspiration and educational information to those diagnosed with HPV-related oral cancer.

SupermanHPV.com immediately drew national attention. After visiting the website, Maggie Fox, senior writer at NBC, wrote an article about him, which has been read by over 500,000 people. http://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/silent-epidemic-cancer-spreading-among-men-n811466.

He then appeared on NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt.

On the site, Mendelsohn tells his story, writes blogs and shares other people's testimonies of how they have recovered (often with encouragement from Mendelsohn), and they also share their own "words of wisdom" to encourage others with HPV-related cancer.

Doors just keep opening for Mendelsohn. He has met people wherever he goes who have shared with him their own account of being diagnosed with HPV-related oral cancer. He is currently speaking with and encouraging HPV-related oral cancer patients and survivors from Sydney, Australia to New York, Florida, Nevada, Michigan, Iowa and California.

It's amazing how he comes in contact with so many people through someone else. For example, while in Las Vegas on a business trip, he just happened to ask, "Is anyone familiar with the HPV vaccine?" The response was "No, what are you talking about?" So, he shared his own story. Two weeks later, Mendelsohn received a phone call from one of the men he'd been talking with. "Hey, Jason," he asked, "will you speak with my friend (who had just been diagnosed with HPV-related oral cancer)?"

Another time, he was flying home from Phoenix and he got a text from his father's best friend, "Jason, I've joined your club..." He was just diagnosed with HPV-related throat cancer. He was 74.

"This happens over and over again," Mendelsohn said.

People keep in touch with him about where they are in their treatment. He gets to the nitty gritty with them because he's been there. One man in Australia "never has a good day," Mendelsohn shared. "Please keep emailing me. I'm very worried," wrote the Australian.

"I email him almost every day," Mendelsohn stated, "because I had people like this who cared about me."

It was because of this personal level of caring that he was elected to the Board of Directors for the Head and Neck Cancer Alliance and serves as the co-chair for the Patient Education Committee.

"I wish I would have known about HNCA when I was first diagnosed... as I spent countless hours searching for answers to questions I had regarding HPV-related tonsil cancer," he shared.

Boykin, who also sits on the National HPV Board Round Table, knew Mendelsohn through mutual friends on the HNCA board. She asked Mendelsohn to speak at an event about HPV-related cancer in Seattle, Washington. They kept in touch and noting his enthusiasm, asked him to serve on their board.

"Early diagnoses is so important," Boykin said. "You might think it is just an allergy or a toothache. It is a horrific disease with complicated treatment plans. Jason is so positive helping those who are not sure of the process."

It is a perfect fit for Mendelsohn since HNCA's mission is to advance prevention, detection, treatment and rehabilitation of oral, head and neck cancers through public awareness, research, advocacy and survivorship. His story about recovery, "A New Normal," was featured in the Head and Neck Cancer Alliance quarterly e-newsletter.

The Mendelsohn family (l-r) Jason, Lauren, Ryan, Adam, and Ronni

To learn more about HPV-related cancers, or any cancers involving the head and neck, HNCA http://www.headandneck.org is a wonderful resource. This organization is also the only group in the United States that gives cancer patients a $50 gas card to get to and from their treatment appointments-like Mendelsohn, very personal and caring.

In addition to serving on HNCA's board, Mendelsohn also serves on the board of the Florida Hospital Cancer Institute as a patient advocate.

While Mendelsohn was undergoing treatment, he recorded a video for his family-he and Ronni have been married 21 years and they have three "awesome" children. It was an "after death" video. His goal is that he can stop another father from ever having to make a video to their children like that.

*When Jason and I met for this second interview, he jokingly referred to me as his "Lois Lane" because it was the Heritage that first helped bring attention to HPV-related oral cancer.
The YIVO Institute for Jewish Research in New York on Wednesday announced the discovery of a trove of lost Jewish materials in the Lithuanian city of Vilna, thought to have been destroyed during the Holocaust.

Considered by some as the most important body of material in Jewish history and culture to be unearthed in more than half a century, possibly since the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls, the documents include never-before-published literary manuscripts from some of the most famous Yiddish writers as well as numerous religious and communal works.

YIVO states that this is "a watershed moment for understanding the dimensions of Jewish history" and marks an "important new chapter in the dramatic story of Nazi looting during the Holocaust, when the Germans were seeking to destroy not just the Jewish people, but their memory and culture."

In Lithuania, approximately 90-95 percent of the Jewish population was murdered by the Nazis.

The Paper Brigade's Last Charge

Containing more than 170,000 pages, this trove of material was first hidden from the Nazis by the YIVO Paper Brigade during WWII and subsequently preserved for decades by the heroic efforts of Antanas Ulpis, a Lithuanian librarian, who saved the documents from the pulping mills and stored them in secret in the basement of St. George Church, where he worked.

The Paper Brigade of Vilna, formed during WWII, was a small group of Jewish intellectuals who took it upon themselves to save as many documents as possible from Nazi destruction, in an effort to preserve the memory of Jewish culture.

Ulpis risked his own life and his family's well-being to keep these documents hidden and preserve the memory of the Jewish people.

The new discovery is of particular note for its wealth of manuscripts-precious religious writings, in Hebrew and Yiddish; record books of shuls and yeshivas; mystical writings, and more. Additionally, the collection contains post-war and wartime materials, such as Yiddish poetry written in the Vilna Ghetto by the famed Abraham Sutzkever.

The newly discovered documents more than double previous finds from the basement of St. George Church, which included books and documents found in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The materials were held in a separate room in the church and remained undocumented until now. When combined with the existing Edward Blank YIVO Vilna Collections, which contain one million documents, YIVO will now have saved approximately 1.2 million original documents from the Jewish world of Eastern Europe.

'Testament to Enduring Resolve of the Jewish People'

The discovery "reminds us of the perpetual attempt at wiping out a people by erasing their memory from history," said Jonathan Brent, Executive Director and CEO of YIVO. "These newly discovered documents will allow that memory of Eastern European Jews to live on, while enabling us to have a true accounting of the past that breaks through stereotypes and cliched ways of thinking."

"This newly discovered collection... is a testament to the enduring resolve of the Jewish people. Displaying this collection will teach our children what happened to the Jews of the Holocaust so that we are never witnesses to such darkness in the world again," said Senator Charles Schumer.

"To us, the documents uncovered in this discovery are nothing less than priceless family heirlooms, concealed like precious gems from Nazi storm troopers and Soviet grave robbers. We have a responsibility to absorb the traditions, experiences and culture within these manuscripts, poems and letters, and to remember how much more has been lost," said Dani Dayan, Consul General of Israel in New York.
One year ago, the first "Bless Israel Summit"-a gathering of Central Florida churches, synagogues, and ministries who support Israel-was held in Orlando. It was an avenue for Christians to show their love and support for Israel. Event organizer Pastor Blake Lorenz had the vision to bring Christians and Jews together to celebrate their love for Israel. Now, on Nov. 19 the second "Bless Israel" event, titled "A Night to Bless Israel," will be held at the Rosen Plaza, 9700 International Drive, Orlando, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

"I was so encouraged by the Bless Israel Summit that was held in November 2016, to see Jews and Christians standing together in support of Israel," said David Moldau, a member of the Jewish community. "Pastor Blake Lorenz put together the wonderful program and has organized one that will be even better this year. The love that permeated the room last year was inspirational."

Guest speakers at this year's event will be Steve Strang, CEO of Charisma Media, and Holocaust survivor Jacques Wiesel. Special music will be provided by Andy and Sarah Benedick and the L'Ahavat Tzion Band.

"I am honored to have been asked to speak, along with Jacques Wiesel, a Holocaust survivor," stated Strang, who will talk about the great heritage of Christian Zionism. He will also make the case why every Bible-believing Christian should strongly support Israel and Jews who want to make Aliyah.

Last year's guest speaker, Jonathan Feldstein, an Orthodox Jew who immigrated to Israel in 2004 and is a frequent writer for the Heritage, told the story of Koby Mandel and Yosef Ishran, two Israeli teenagers who were playing peacefully together and were stoned to death by a gang of Palestinians in 2001.

"It's been sixteen years since that horrendous day, and I applaud the committee for reminding us that the boys have not been forgotten and are still in the hearts and minds of all peace loving people," Moldau shared.

The proceeds from that event supported the Koby Mandel Foundation.

This year, proceeds raised will support Ezra International, Return Ministries and Cyrus Foundation to relocate 30-40 impoverished and persecuted Jewish families to Israel. So far, Ezra International has helped more than 40,000 Jews from the former Soviet Union make Aliyah.

Steve Strang

"The practical application of this event will be to help relocate poor Jewish families under persecution in areas like the Crimea and Ukraine to assist them to return to Israel through Ezra International, Cyrus, and Return Ministries," said Lorenz. "Our goal is to raise $50,000. Steve Strang has already raised $30,000!"

Recognizing the importance of this kind of united meeting, Moldau said, "I look forward to the outstanding speakers who will be coming this year. I hope our community will join me at this year's program and help Jews who live in countries where they are oppressed to make Aliyah to Israel."

The event is free and open to the public. Donations are welcome.

This is a non-proselytizing event by the Central Florida Christian community to bless Israel.

For more information, visit http://www.facebook.com/BlessIsrael/Summit or call 407-832-1858.
(JTA)The booking agent for white nationalist Richard Spencer has filed a federal lawsuit against The Ohio State University for refusing a request to rent space on campus for a speech by the controversial far-right figure.

The lawsuit was filed Sunday, two days comes after the university informed Cameron Padgett, a graduate student at Georgia State University who handles Spencers speaking arrangements, that the request to rent space was denied due to the substantial risk to public safety.

The University values freedom of speech, the letter from the universitys attorney read. Nonetheless, the University has determined that it is not presently able to accommodate Mr. Padgetts request to rent space at the university due to substantial risks to public safety, as well as material and substantial disruption to the work and discipline of the university.

Ohio State issued the denial a day after Spencer appeared at the University of Florida, which brought hundreds of protesters and cost the Gainesville university more than $500,000 for security for the event. Prior to the speech, the governor of Florida also declared a state of emergency in the county where the campus is located.

Ohio State, located in Columbus, has more than 2,700 Jewish undergraduates on campus, comprising about 6 percent of the student population. There also are about 350 Jewish graduate students on campus.

The University of Cincinnati, also in Ohio, under the threat of a lawsuit, recently relented to the request to host Spencer, though no date has been set.

Padgetts attorney on Friday filed a lawsuit against Penn State University after it also turned down a request for Spencer to speak, also on the grounds of public safety.

The University of Florida, home to the fifth largest Jewish student population in the country, allowed Spencer to speak after initially declining his request, saying that as a public institution it must uphold the principles of free speech.

Spencer, the founder of a white supremacist think tank, has advocated a white ethno-state that would exclude non-whites and Jews.
WINTER PARK-Rollins College, in partnership with Central Florida Hillel (CFH), announces the creation of a new Hillel, making Rollins the only small, liberal arts college in the state of Florida to have a full-time Hillel professional.

To lead this new program, Emily M. Block, formerly the assistant director of Hillel at The University of Connecticut, has been hired as the inaugural associate director of Jewish Student Life.

"I am so excited to be joining the Rollins College and the Central Florida Hillel family," said Block. "I'm looking forward to working with the students, faculty and administration at Rollins College to grow and enhance the Jewish student experience both on and off campus."

Reporting to the dean of religious life and working as part of the team of CFH, Block will be responsible for working with Jewish student leaders at Rollins to empower them to create a vibrant, dynamic and inclusive Jewish community at the College. In this role, Block will guide Jewish students to better understand their personal Jewish journey, while advancing diversity and inclusion efforts at Rollins in partnership with faculty and Student Affairs colleagues.

"Emily emerged from our search as a dynamic and passionate leader capable of building relationships with Jewish students and Rollins and engaging them in meaningful conversations," said Dean of Religious Life Katrina Jenkins. "We look forward to developing new opportunities for our Jewish students."

Block's role will also encompass a unique partnership, working with Central Florida Hillel to craft an educational vision and strategy for Rollins Hillel that will not only serve current students but also attract others around the nation. The partnership will create innovative opportunities for formal, informal, and experiential Jewish learning for students with diverse back grounds and interests that include a multiplicity of Jewish perspectives that span the spectrum from spiritual to secular. The new Rollins Hillel will also be an important part of the Rollins campus culture working in partnership with a wide array of student organizations on issues ranging from social justice to diversity, faith and civics, and will also work with her colleagues to support an inclusive and accepting community at Rollins College. As a part of Central Florida Hillel, Block will also be a full part of the CFH team and able to access all the necessary resources to help advance her portfolio at Rollins College.

"Rollins College is the perfect partner for this kind of relationship, and we are proud to be a part of this historic evolution in Rollins' 132-year history of training students to embrace the world," said Aaron Weil, executive director and CEO of Central Florida Hillel.
Two employees of SSR Mining Inc. were killed Tuesday afternoon in a collision at Marigold Mine.

The incident involved contact between a haul truck and a light vehicle within the open pit operations at the mine, SSR reported in a statement released Tuesday night. We immediately activated our emergency plan, mobilized our emergency response team and notified the relevant authorities. We regret to confirm two employees have been fatally injured.

Operations at the mine remain suspended.

We are deeply saddened by the loss of our colleagues and our heartfelt sympathy goes out to their families, said Paul Benson, president and CEO. This incident is particularly upsetting as the health and safety of our employees is our highest priority. We are fully cooperating with the ongoing investigation to determine the cause of the accident and are offering support to our colleagues families and our employees at the mine site.

Marigold Mine in Valmy reported the accident at about 2:15 p.m., according to Humboldt County Sheriff Mike Allen. He said an unspecified number of people were injured.

The accident will be investigated by the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration.

SSR Mining, a Vancouver-based company, changed its name from Silver Standard Resources in August.

The last Nevada mining fatality happened last year in Nye County when a 60-year-old mechanic working on a front-end loader at Premier Magnesia Mine near Gabbs fell as he was getting off the machine, according to MSHA.

Still, MSHA reported that 2016 was the safest year ever for American miners. There were 22 deaths total, with 17 of those occurring in metal and nonmetal mines, and the remainder in coal mines.
While Jews have been interwoven in a myriad of ways into the fabric of life in Central Florida-from law to medicine, art to amusement parks, social change to social glitz-no single field has felt the impact of Jewish involvement more than the humble and all-encompassing retail shop. In the first half of the 20th century, more Jewish families in Central Florida were in retail than any other field. And during the Kehillah: A History of Jewish Life in Central Florida exhibition, visitors will get to experience the amazing role Jewish merchants played in the business life of Greater Orlando.

Staff, family and friends of Harry Becker's Church St. store, Gales, are waiting for a parade to begin, c. 1954.

Through the use of an animated, interactive map of downtown Orlando, you'll be able to see the hundreds of stores and their locations decade by decade, from 1900 thru the 1960s. That period of time was really the heyday of downtown Orlando as a shopping mecca. Longtime residents like Stanley Becker, Joan Lippton Kimball and Dick Katz not only remember their own families' stores but the many others that lined Orange Avenue, Church Street and Pine Street, just to name a few. Medine's was the place to have a power lunch. La Belle Furs was a lady's stop for a fur coat to keep warm when traveling. The Hat Box and Olekers were among the places ladies bought their hats to wear to shul and luncheons. And long before tires weren't pretty, Sam and Norman Behr were keeping feet comfy with their downtown shoe stores.

The animated map will be accompanied by a flipbook that will give the name of the store, the owner's name and address. Neil and Malka Webman scoured old Orlando city directories in their effort to include as many Jewish merchants as they could find. The results are a stunning display of stores, many doing business for several decades.

Kehillah: A History of Jewish Life in Greater Orlando, a collaborative exhibition presented by its host institution, the Orange County Regional History Center, and the Greater Orlando Jewish Community. The exhibit will be on display from Nov. 12, 2017 through Feb. 20, 2018.
(JTA)Kenneth L. Marcus, an attorney who has championed the use of the 1964 federal civil rights act to investigate allegations of anti-Semitism on campus, has been appointed assistant secretary for civil rights in the Department of Education.

President Donald J. Trump announced the nomination Wednesday, Oct. 26.

As president and general counsel of the Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law, Marcus has deployed Title VI of the civil rights act in urging the Education Departments Office for Civil Rights to open investigations over harassment of Jewish students at various universities.

The Brandeis Center, unaffiliated with the university near Boston, has also urged state legislatures and government agencies to adopt the U.S. State Departments definition of anti-Semitism, which considers demonizing, delegitimizing or applying a double standard to Israel to be forms of anti-Semitism.

In 2011 the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, the umbrella group of Jewish community relations agencies, endorsed the selective use of civil rights legislation to combat anti-Jewish and anti-Israel activity on college campuses. But reflecting the discomfort of some of its member bodies, it also warned that over-use of Title VI could undermine academic freedom and pit outside Jewish groups against both Jewish and non-Jewish students on campus.

Marcus, a former staff director at the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, has been critical of the Office for Civil Rights for what he called its failure to address anti-Semitic incidents that masquerade as anti-Israelism.

On college campusesand especially in protests brought by the anti-Israel boycotts, divestment and sanctions movementit is now widely understood that attacking Jews by name is impolitic, but one can smear Zionists with impunity, he wrote in 2010.

Marcus previously served as assistant secretary of education for civil rights under President George W. Bush. He also served as the Lillie and Nathan Ackerman Chair in Equality and Justice in America at the City University of New Yorks Baruch College School of Public Affairs.

He is the author, in 2015, of The Definition of Anti-Semitism.
By Christine DeSouza

"No one has asked the Palestinian people what they want," stated Bassem Eid at a lecture sponsored by Chabad and AIPAC last Sunday evening. Who speaks on their "behalf"? Hamas, the Palestinian Authority, President Abbas, Fatah and the United Nations Refugee Works Agency-all of whom are just speaking for themselves and lining their pockets while keeping the Palestinian people pawns for "peace."

What do the people want? The same as what most American's want: job security, a good education and healthcare for their children.

"No one [Palestinian] is talking about the settlements," Eid said.

His own definition of "homeland" is that it isn't where you were born necessarily, but it is a place where you find dignity, justice and freedom.

An analyst for Israeli TV and radio and a Palestinian human rights activist, Eid has lived his entire life in East Jerusalem. He was born in Shuafat, which is under Jordanian rule and became a UNRWA refugee camp. Currently, 160,000 Palestinians live in East Jerusalem. They carry an Israeli ID and a Jordanian passport. The ID allows them to travel all over Israel. Eid calls himself "a proud Palestinian who grew up in a refugee camp and raised a large family."

Of the 2 million Palestinians living in the West Bank, 54 percent live in refugee camps. Of the 2 million in Gaza, 65 percent live in refugee camps. Israel is trying to increase working permits. Currently, 150,000 Palestinians living in the West Bank cross checkpoints daily to work in Israel; 15,000 of them are building settlement houses. Those who work in Israel average a monthly salary six times that of those who work under the Palestinian Authority.

What will help the Palestinians? Rather than America and the European nations pouring money into Hamas' and UNRWA's pockets, they should help to create industrial zones. Economic prosperity for the Palestinians can pave the way for their future.

What is hurting the Palestinians? The Boycott, Divestment and Sanction movement and UNRWA.

BDS is causing more harm to the Palestinians than Israel.

"BDS's goal is not peace, but how to destroy Israel at the expense of the Palestinians," stated Eid. He went on to say that the Palestinians should stand up against BDS.

America and Europe give $1.6 billion to UNRWA, who publish textbooks that teach hatred. "The main mission of the UN is how to create conflict," Eid said. "We must control the sources of the funding of the conflict."

How can we help? Let our congressmen know that we must stop funding UNRWA until they change the textbooks.

Eid does not expect to see any kind of peace solution any time in the near future, perhaps one or two generations from now there might be a "kind of peace," but he is not hopeful.

To learn more about how to fight BDS, follow Eid on Facebook. He is also forwarding to Rabbi Mendy Bronstein a sample letter on what to say to our representatives concerning funding the UN and UNRWA.
For the past 26 years, India and Israel have been developing a strong relationship. While once India was an adherent to the Arab League boycott of Israel, in 1992, India announced it would establish full diplomatic relations with Israel. A few months later, the two nations signed an agreement to increase cooperation between Indian and Israeli industries. Today, trade is booming. India is Israel's ninth leading trade partner. Exports have risen from $200 million in 1992 to $4.2 billion in 2016. In the past decade alone, Israel's exports to India have risen a total of about 60 percent.

When Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New York in 2014, he expressed to The Times of Israel, "We are two old peoples, some of the oldest in the nations on earth but we are also two democracies; we're proud of our rich traditions but we're also eager to seize the future. I believe that if we work together we can do so with benefits to both our peoples."

Modi firmly agreed.

Jeff Colman, deputy director for Policy & Government Affairs, AIPAC.

On Nov. 12, the Orlando community is invited to learn about recent strides in Israel's relationship with India and network with Jewish and Indian doctors from Central Florida as the Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando Maimonides Medical Society and the Central Florida Association of Physicians from the Indian Subcontinent host a program titled "The Future of the Israel-India Relationship."

The free event will feature speakers Nagesh Singh, consul general of India in Atlanta, and Jeff Colman, deputy director of Policy and Government Affairs for the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. The discussion will be moderated by Dr. Terri Fine, professor of Political Science at the University of Central Florida.

The event will be held at the Rosen JCC, 1184 S. Apopka Vineland Road, Orlando from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Beverages and light refreshments will be provided.

To register, visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/discussion-the-future-of-the-israel-india-relationship-tickets-39222890722.
(JTA)Here we go again: The issue of how and why the United States should engage with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is back in the news.

The announcement by the Trump administration that the U.S. will be pulling out of UNESCO over its biased treatment of Israel is only the latest manifestation of a fraught relationship between America and this U.N. body.

Established soon after World War II as an effort to ensure the de-Nazification in Germany and the promotion of democratic values, UNESCO took a more complicated turn in later decades. While still doing important work in preserving cultural heritages and reinforcing the value of education, science and culture, UNESCO also entered treacherous terrain in two areas: Reflecting its huge expansion in the 1960s and 70s consisting mostly of new emerging states, it began to challenge Western notions of a free press and the independence of journalism from government; and, echoing the trend in the General Assembly and other U.N. bodies, it singled out Israel as an alleged major violator of cultural and religious sites dear to Muslims and Palestinians.

This combination of behavior led the United States to take action on three occasions. The first was in 1974, when Congress suspended appropriations to UNESCO because the U.N. body had excluded Israel from a regional working group.

The second was in 1983, when the U.S. pulled out of UNESCO, saying the body has shown hostility to a free market and a free press.

And in 2011, Congress again cut funding to UNESCO, citing the organizations recognition of Palestine as a member, in violation of U.S. law going back to the early 1990s, requiring cuts to any U.N. agency if the State of Palestine were accepted as a full member.

The arguments about U.S. policy toward UNESCO remain pretty much what they have been for years.

Those who argue for leaving conclude that America should not be a party to an institution that engages in such egregious behavior. And if we are ever going to get UNESCO back to first principles we need to be firm, tough and consistent. The U.S. can always return as a full member, and for now can continue to provide American perspective and expertise as a nonmember observer.

Pulling out is a courageous and ethical decision because UNESCO has become a theater of the absurd and instead of preserving history, distorts it, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu tweeted in response to the U.S. announcement.

Advocates of continuing support agree that UNESCO does disturbing things, particularly through resolutions passed by various committees, including its executive board, that condemn Israel and even, at times, seem to deny the legitimacy of Israeli historic claims to the land of Israel. Still, they argue, the organization does a lot of good work in the scientific, educational and cultural fields that particularly benefits less developed nations. This work includes Holocaust education and efforts to counter violent extremism.

Moreover, proponents argue, even though the U.S. loses many votes, it should stay in and fund the body because the potential for influence and changing minds is far greater from inside than outside. And since most of the voting decisions are made by member-states themselves, the U.S. is best positioned to change behaviors through direct diplomacy with those countries and not through punishing UNESCO itself.

Then there are questions of timing and context.

UNESCOs executive board just elected a new director of the organization, turning down the original favorite, Qatari diplomat Hamad bin Abdulaziz al-Kawari, who is known for his history of anti-Semitism. Instead they chose a French diplomat, Audrey Azoulay, a former culture minister who also happens to be Jewish. While Azoulay has voiced criticism of Israel in the past, she at least offers the possibility of tempering the institutions bias against the Jewish state.

While the director-general does not have the power to cancel votes, the outgoing diplomat in that position, Irina Bokova of Bulgaria, was an outspoken critic of anti-Israel politicization at UNESCO and made great efforts behind the scenes to mitigate extreme campaigns. Should we not give Ms. Azoulay a chance to improve the situation?

On a broader scale, the Trump administrations decision comes at a time when our allies and adversaries are questioning American leadership in the world. With all the mistakes of our foreign policy, U.S. leadership for almost 70 years has been good for the world and good for the Jewish people.

In that regard, this move may well be seen as inconsistent with American values and tradition, and one more step of dismantling the unique role America has played on the world scene for decades.

In sum, despite its legitimate concerns, America will be shooting itself in the foot by leaving.

Both sides make legitimate claims. This is no slam dunk. It is always encouraging to see a U.S. administration taking a strong principled position based on its rejection of institutional bias against the State of Israel. This sets a good example.

If only many of our allies would be as interested in standing up for Israel when it is under unfair attack, Israel not only would be in a better place, but chances for peace would increase and the reputation and functioning of the United Nations would rise to a higher level.

The most recent UNESCO vote condemning Israel for its actions in Hebron did show more nations willing to abstain or even vote no, but not nearly enough to change the outcome.

The U.S. decision on UNESCO has been announced, but there is still time before it is implemented. A further discussion and assessment are in order even if we end up in the very same place.

Ken Jacobson is deputy national director of the Anti-Defamation League.
JERUSALEM (JTA)The Jewish month that began two weeks ago, Cheshvan, has traditionally been dubbed mar, or bitter, because it alone among the months is devoid of any holidays.

It is time for the Jewish people, and the Jewish calendar, to drop mar from Cheshvan, since it is blessed with one of the most remarkable and sweetest Jewish holidays: Sigd.

At the end of Cheshvan for well over a thousand years, the Jewish community of Ethiopia would dress in white, climb Mount Ambover in Gondar and pray for their redemption and aliyah to Jerusalem. The miraculous airlifts and rescue of Ethiopian Jewry, and the subsequent aliyah of tens of thousands more, stands as one of the proudest moments in Jewish history and a shining example of what Jewish peoplehood can accomplish against great odds. Now the Ethiopian community celebrates Sigd en masse on the Haas Promenade, overlooking the Old City, with prayer, music and speeches. Israeli schools are starting to celebrate Sigd, as should Jewish schools worldwide.

Africa has gifted to the Jewish people sweetness and hope on Cheshvan, which is also Jewish Social Action Month, when we turn outward as a community.

I have accompanied Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other Israeli leaders to Africa over the past several years, promoting not only a solar-powered vision for the continent but an enlightened Israeli policy of becoming a superpower of goodness. Israeli water, agricultural, medical and green energy technology and investments can play a transformative role by uplifting the dignity of hundreds of millions of people. And with a quarter of the votes in the U.N. General Assembly belonging to Africa, as well as two swing votes on the Security Council, there are diplomatic benefits to Israel as well.

It is no wonder that AIPAC, the pro-Israel lobby, had for the first time an African head of statePresident Paul Kagame of Rwandaaddress 15,000 activists at its annual policy conference earlier this year. And the African Institute of the American Jewish Committee has not only lobbied African ambassadors to the United Nations, but also has been sponsoring them on transformative fact-finding missions to Israel.

The push into Africa has deep roots in the Zionist narrative. In Theodor Herzls day, Africa was ruled and exploited by European empires.

There is still one other question arising out of the disaster of nations which remains unsolved to this day, and whose profound tragedy only a Jew can comprehend. This is the African question, Herzl wrote in his diary in 1901. Once I have witnessed the redemption of the Jews, my people, I wish also to assist in the redemption of the Africans.

While Herzl himself didnt witness the creation of the State of Israel, Golda Meir did. And when she became foreign minister, she set out in 1958 on an African tour that led to the creation of Israels famed international agency for international development, Mashav

When Netanyahu declares that Israel is coming back to Africa, he is channeling Golda. And when he says that Africa is coming back to Israel, hes channeling Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie, the Lion of Judah, who claimed King Solomon as an ancestor.

The challenges facing Africa, and the potential for African-Israeli partnerships to address them, are staggering. There are 600 million Africans without access to electricity and 300 million without access to clean water. A famine sweeping East Africa affects 16 million people, including the hungry 2,000-member Abayudaya Jewish community in eastern Uganda.

At the same time, Africa boasts 11 out of the 20 fastest-growing economies on the planet, according to the World Bank, and its billion-plus population will double by 2050.

For this economic and humanitarian potential to be unleashed, at least two obstacles have to be overcomeone-self-inflicted, the other political.

The self-inflicted thorn in the side of Israeli-African relations has been the treatment of African asylum seekers in Israel. The Israeli High Court has consistently ruled against the governments treatment of the 46,000 people considered infiltrators, as if those fleeing Eritrea and Sudanboth cruel dictatorshipsare simply economic refugees.

A new strategy is needed: turning over to Mashav the Holot Detention Center to train Africans in the latest Israeli water, agricultural and green energy technologies. Those who would graduate and leave voluntarily could be emissaries from Israel on how to transform Africa, and they would have the skills to begin their lives anew and prosper. Plenty of African countries would line up to woo these newly skilled Africans if they brought the blessing of Israeli know-how, technology and investments with them.

Mostly political threats led to the postponement of an Africa Israel Summit with African heads of state and Israeli leaders that was supposed to take place in Lome, Togo, at the end of October. The postponement was due to a toxic combination of political unrest in the West African state, a concerted effort by South Africa and Morocco to undermine it, and the mounting political and legal challenges that the Israeli prime minister faces at home. Even so, the pace of African-Israel engagement on many levels continues to increase, especially with Christian heads of state.

The best answer to the diplomatic pressure that caused the postponement of the Africa Israel Summit would be for Netanyahu to appoint Knesset member Avraham Neguise as Israels foreign minister Dr. Neguise, a Likud member, is the only Ethiopian member of the 20th Knesset and was seated strategically next to Sara Netanyahu when her husband wowed the Ethiopian parliament last year. Netanyahu currently holds the foreign minister portfolio.

Sixty years after Golda Meirs historic mission to Africa, it is time for Israel to have an African foreign minister. This will be met joyfully by world Jewry and the world at large, sealing Cheshvans transformed sweet status and elevating the Israeli-African story into our mainstream consciousness.

Yosef I. Abramowitz serves as CEO of Energiya Global Capital, a Jerusalem-based impact investment platform, and is a founding partner of the U.S. Power Africa program. He is co-author with Sharon Udasin of the forthcoming Shine on! A Solar Superheros Journey to Save the World. Follow Abramowitz @KaptainSunshine.
President Trumps first overseas trip in May 2017 coincided with a very special daythe 50th anniversary of the reunification of Jerusalem, when for the first time since the destruction of the Second Temple by Roman armies 2000 years ago, Judaisms holiest sites were finally under Jewish sovereignty.

Jerusalem is a vibrant, modern, thriving city. A pilgrim site central to the history of Jews, Christians and Muslims, and open to people of all faiths. The home of the Israeli government, parliament and high court. A place interspersed with universities, museums and ancient buildings. The perfect capital. But what is missing are the embassies of the world to the State of Israel.

President Trump vowed to change that. During his election campaign, he promised to relocate the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem fairly quickly. Yet in June, he waived a 1995 law mandating the move, as every president has done before him.

In an interview with former Arkansas governor, Mike Huckabee, Trump poured cold water on the hope of relocation again. I want to give that a shot before I even think about moving the embassy to Jerusalem, he said, referring to his efforts to revive the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.

Trump seems to have fallen victim to the persistent myth that the chances for peace would be undermined by affirming Israels sovereignty in Jerusalem. Fifty years later, the Jewish people are still paying the price for the refusal of the Arabs to accept the partition plan.

Responding to Trumps comment, Senator Charles Schumer, the Democratic minority leader, renewed his call for the president to move the embassy to Jerusalem. Criticizing Trumps indecisiveness, Schumer said that Moving the embassy as soon as possible would appropriately commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of Jerusalems reunification and show the world that the U.S. definitively acknowledges Jerusalem as Israels capital.

Schumers position is not as controversial as critics of the move like to claim. It is a consensus idea in Israel. And there has long been bipartisan support in the U.S. for the Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995, which authorized the relocation of the embassy.

Non-fulfillment of the law does no good to the U.S.-Israeli relationship or to prospects for Arab-Israel peace, a group of Democratic and Republican senators wrote to President Clinton in 2003, urging him not to invoke the waiver.

Moving the embassy could have a positive effect on the Middle East. It would show our strongest ally, Israel, that the U.S. recognizes Jerusalem as its capital. And it would tell Israels enemies that the security of the Jewish state is non-negotiable for Washington. The Russians would understand that the Americans are reasserting power in the Middle East, a region left at the mercy of brutal dictators and religious fanatics by the previous admiration.

And the Palestinians would come to realize that unilateralism will no longer be rewarded and the only acceptable path forward are genuine peace negotiations.

For too long, the decision has been delayed over misplaced concerns over Palestinian incitement. Incitement against Israel has been an integral part of Palestinian discourse for generations. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas recently said about Jews in Jerusalem: Al-Aqsa is ours and so is the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. They have no right to desecrate them with their filthy feet. We wont allow them to do so and we will do whatever we can to defend Jerusalem.

It would therefore be a mistake to understand Palestinian incitement as a reaction to a political decision. It does not require the U.S. to move its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, for the Palestinian leadership to spew out a constant barrage of poison against the Jews. The resentment is far more deep-rooted than that, propagated by central political institutions and celebrated on Palestinian streets.

When you name public squares and women centers after terrorists, you are encouraging a culture of hatred. When you celebrate suicide bombers as martyrs and role models for Palestinians, you are glorifying violence. When you deny Israels right to exist and deny Jews to live in their ancient homeland, you are preaching a genocidal ideology.

Former U.S. peace negotiator Dennis Ross once warned that there cannot be successful negotiations if there is one environment at the peace table and another environment in the streets. The Palestinians systematic incitement in their media, an educational system that bred hatred, and the glorification of violence made Israelis feel that their real purpose was not peace, Ross said.

There has been a continuous Jewish presence in Jerusalem for 3 millennia and Senator Charles Schumer should be congratulated for following a long tradition of bipartisan support for the relocation of the embassy to Jerusalem.

Joshua S. Block is CEO and president of The Israel Project.
Have you ever asked yourself or wondered why after almost 70 years there are still Palestinian refugee camps? Have you ever wondered why there are still Palestinian refugees? I have asked myself the same questions. Apparently this one issue has been a constant stumbling block in finding a resolution to this horrific situation between the Palestinians and the Israeli government. So, I started to do a little research. It was easy using Google Chrome as my search engine, I was able to find a wealth of information.

To begin with, you have to go back to the beginning. Duh? Too often, researchers do not do that. They only go back as far as they deem necessary to make their point. Heres what I found. The United Nations created a separate organization just for the Palestinian refugees. It is the United Nations Relief and Works Agency or UNRWA. The UNRWA was established in 1948 and began operation in 1950 for the sole benefit of the Palestinian refugees. In fact, it created the unique definition of a Palestinian refugee. It has contributed to the welfare and human development of four generations of Palestine refugees, defined as persons whose normal place of residence was Palestine during the period 1 June 1946 to 15 May 1948, and who lost both home and means of livelihood as a result of the 1948 conflict. The descendants of Palestine refugee males, including legally adopted children, are also eligible for registration.  It should be noted that adoption is not approved under Sharia law.

This new definition of a refugee totally contradicts International Law. Descendants of refugees are not to be considered refugees, but rather the citizens of the host countries where they live. This is based upon the 1951 UN Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees. This definition was never included when discussing the situation of non-Palestinian refugees who became refugees at the same exact period of time such as after World War II the German refugees, the Pakistani refugees, the Indian refugees, and the Chinese refugees whose totals far out number those of the Palestinian refugees. Interesting that only the Palestinian refugees have this unique definition of a refugee considering all of the millions of refugees that were created at the same time period. All of these people are no longer refugees after the same length of time of almost 70 years. Neither are they being supported by the United Nations as are the Palestinian refugees.

However, there are millions of other non-Palestinian refugees in the world today who are receiving assistance that is truly needed and deserved. These refugees fall under the jurisdiction of a different refugee agency set up by the United Nationsthe United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. UNHCR was established on Dec. 14,1950. This agency deals with many more millions of refugees, employs much fewer staff than UNRWA, and has a budget that is more realistic to the number of people being assisted.

UNRWA services are available to all those living in its areas of operations who meet this definition of a refugee, who are registered with the agency and who need assistance. When the agency began operations in 1950, it was responding to the needs of about 750,000 Palestine refugees. Today, some 5 million-plus Palestinian refugees are eligible for UNRWA services as a result of the uniqueness of the term Palestinian refugee to include the descendants of Palestine refugee males, including legally adopted children. This number is highly suspect to begin with. First, only about 1/3 of all the so-called refugees live in the  UNRWA sponsored refugee camps. These camps are still located in Lebanon, Jordan, Syria, Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Secondly, it is to the advantage of both the UNRWA and to the refugee family to falsify collected data. For instance, deaths may not be reported, family members may be exaggerated so the family will continue to get UNRWA assistance such as food and financial aid or extra assistance. These qualifications also include the 2/3 of the Palestinian refugees not living directly in these specified refugee camps. Talk about fraud !! These are U.S. tax dollars we are talking about. How much the United States pays to support the UNRWA is a tale of woe all into itself. The U.S. State Department should be chastised from North Carolina all the way to Oregon for allowing this to continue!

Lets move ahead to the next flash point in the tale of woe for the Palestinian refugees. The war of 1967 after which, Israel had taken control of Judea-Samaria aka The West Bank. Prior to the Six Day War of 1967, those Palestinians living in Judea-Samaria were living in lands illegally annexed into Jordan. This annexation was never recognized by any world organization including the Arab League. This area was originally to be part of the new State of Palestine (Israel) under the United Nations Partition Plan. After 1967, the Israeli government recognized the problems within the crowded, slum-like living conditions that the Palestinian refugees were forced to live under the UNRWA set up. The plan of the Israeli government was to remove the refugees from the horrid living conditions by providing them with good, new housing on their own plot of land, live in less crowded conditions with good infrastructureroads, health care, water, sewer, electricity, etc. Then to tear down the old housing within the camps to create a less dense population, improve the infrastructure and improve the living conditions. A total of 10,000 Palestinian families were relocated into these new housing villages within the area of Judea-Samaria.

But wait. FOUL! cried the PLO. FOUL! cried the PA. FOUL! cried the UNRWA, and the loudest FOUL! was cried by the United Nations General Assembly. They immediately passed UNGA Resolution 31/15 on Nov. 11, 1976. Why? What was wrong? Well, apparently neither the PLO, the PA nor the UN wanted Israel to try to make a better life for the Palestinian refugees. Why? First, it was a conflict of interest for the PLO, PA and UN. By removing the refugees out of the designated Refugee Camps the refugees would no longer qualify to be refugees; the PLO, and PA would lose hundreds of millions of dollars received through the UNRWA.

Noting that this did not sit well with many of the Palestinians, the United Nations went even further. They again passed another UNGA resolution 34/52 on Nov. 23, 1979. This time they stated that by removing the refugees from the UNRWA Refugee camps, Israel, by providing property for new housing, new homes, good infrastructure, etc., was violating the Palestinian refugees inalienable right of return. Of course the fact that there were millions of dollars at stake did not really matter. As a result, the previously relocated refugee families were forced to move back into the squalid refugee camps so that they could continue to be classified under UNRWA as refugees.

You see, once they moved out of the refugee camps into permanent housing outside the refugee camps they were no longer refugees. To prevent this from becoming a continuing problem for the PA, they threatened to kill anyone who would move out of the camps in to the new homes being offered by the Israeli government.

You see, the plight of the poor Palestinian refugees is really a well thought out scam to keep the proverbial pot boiling to the advantage of not the Palestinian refugees, but to the Muslims who dont want a peaceful Middle East. Yet, the charade goes on and on and on.
Just when you thought things couldnt get any messier over at the Center for Jewish History, a New York Times columnist who was invited to speak at an event there has unleashed a barrage of verbal attacks on Israel.

The columnist, Roger Cohen, was invited to deliver this years Leo Baeck Memorial Lecture. The Leo Baeck Institute is one of six Jewish organizations that operate from the Center for Jewish History building. I did not attend Mr. Cohens lecture Oct. 15. But in a pre-lecture interview with the Baeck Institutes newsletter, LBI News, Cohen violently lashed out at Israel.

Somehow, he declared, the Jews, who were for millennia humiliated and excluded in the diaspora, now find themselves in a semi-colonial situation in which they subject the Palestinian people to much of what we once suffered.

Much of what we suffered? Gas chambers? Pogroms? Ghettoes? Inquisitions? Which of these, exactly, does Cohen think Israel has used against the Palestinians?

He didnt stop there. Cohen proceeded to declare, Lawlessness prevails in the settlements. Another blatant lie. Anybody who is familiar with the Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria knows lawlessness is an absurd and outrageously false description. Those communities are legal, and the overwhelming majority of their residents are peaceful, law-abiding citizens.

Cohen continued, The settlers vote as citizens of Israel while the millions around them cannot vote. Utterly false. Of course the Palestinian Arabs can vote, and they do votewhen Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas lets them.

Just five months ago, on May 13, 2017, hundreds of thousands of supposedly disenfranchised Palestinians went to 461 polling stations, and chose the members of the 391 municipal and village councils in the PA-controlled portions of Judea and Samaria. A total of 3,489 council members were elected. But I guess Roger Cohen wasnt paying attention. He was too busy accusing Israel of denying Palestinians the right to vote.

Of course, its not as if the Leo Baeck Institute didnt know what it was getting into when it chose Cohen as its speaker. He has been an outspoken critic of Israel for a very long time. In his column from Feb. 10, 2014, he accused the Israelis of keep[ing] their boots on the heads of the Palestinians. In his column from Jan. 28, 2016, Cohen urged businesses around the world to take action to force Israel to cease settlement-related activitiesin other words, to boycott Israel. And who can forget his series of articles in 2009 whitewashing anti-Semitism in Iran?

I find it hard to believe that the leaders of the Leo Baeck Institute were not aware of Cohens record before they selected him as their speaker. But whether or not they knew of his attacks on Israel in the past, why did they consider it necessary to circulate his latest attacks on Israel, in their newsletter? Why publicize and legitimize his anti-Israel tirades?

A similar question was raised recently when it was revealed that another institution at the Center for Jewish History, the American Jewish Historical Society, was planning a Balfour Declaration event featuring speakers from the anti-Zionist Jewish Voice for Peace group.

I am not assuming that the controversial new president of the Center for Jewish History, David N. Myers, is to blame for the activities of either the American Jewish Historical Society or the Leo Baeck Institute. They are autonomous organizations that make their own programming and publishing decisions.

Nor am I suggesting that people who attack Israel should be deprived of their right to free speech. There are, of course, plenty of platforms for people who want to denounce Israel. The question I am raising is whether mainstream Jewish community institutions should provide platforms for such attacks on the Jewish state.

The leaders of the American Jewish Historical Society decided, to their credit, that the anti-Zionist Balfour program should be cancelled, since it was not consistent with their societys mission. Perhaps the folks at the Leo Baeck Institute can learn from that. The Baeck Institutes mission is to promote the study and understanding of German-Jewish history. Roger Cohens comparison of Israels behavior to that of past persecutors of the Jewsincluding German Jews, obviouslywas a gross distortion of German-Jewish history. The publication of Cohens anti-Israel vitriol in the Baeck Institute newsletter was clearly inconsistent with the institutes mission. The institute should acknowledge its grievous error in judgment.

Stephen M. Flatow, a vice president of the Religious Zionists of America, is an attorney in New Jersey. He is the father of Alisa Flatow, who was murdered in an Iranian-sponsored Palestinian terrorist attack in 1995.
NEW YORK (JTA)If a woman called the JTA office and said she wanted to tell her story of sexual harassment by a prominent community figure, wed have questions. Would she put her name to the accusations? Can she corroborate them? Can she provide specific dates and descriptions of when and where the alleged abuse took place? Are there other people who could confirm her story?

Wed also tell her that we are going to seek comment from the other side and she should prepare herself for the response.

On Monday, an author named Jennifer Listman published an essay on the self-publishing site Medium alleging that the Nobel laureate and Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel had fondled her during a Jewish fundraising dinner in 1989, when she was 19. The essay appeared in the wake of serial allegations of sexual assault and abuse against the Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein, as well as a spate of #metoo testimonies by women who had been harassed and worse by powerful men.

Listmans story stood out from those testimonials owing to the celebrity of the accused, and the wide chasm between Wiesels public persona and accomplishments and the sordid nature of the alleged act. Not surprisingly, her account rocketed around the web. A few Jewish sites, including the Forward, amplified her account, and Salon and Newsweek ran items quoting it.

JTA prides itself on being a comprehensive Jewish news site, but after a long debate on Monday we decided not to run an item about Listmans accusationsat least not then. As editor in chief, I reminded staff of the journalistic standards, outlined above, to which we would normally put accusations of this nature. One of our reporters started making calls, seeking comment from Listman and trying to reach others whose Facebook posts suggested they might have some relevant insight into her charges. Unable to reach Listman, we still held off on publishing.

On Tuesday morning, Newsweek reporters seemed to have advanced the story in two significant ways: They interviewed her ex-husband, mentioned in Listmans account, who did not witness the alleged assault but remembers his then-girlfriends reaction and their conversation after. They also got a comment from the Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity, which rejected Listmans accusation and chided Newsweek for republishing such a specious and unsubstantiated charge.

My relatively bloodless description does not capture the heated debate we had in the officea debate informed and in some ways distorted by the ways the new rules of social media and Internet publishing clash with older journalistic standards. Its noble to want to apply traditional reporting practices to the story, argued one colleague, but the story is already out there and being widely discussed. Others suggested that ignoring Listmans essay amounted to doubting and even shaming the victim of sexual assaulta tendency that allowed alleged predators like Weinstein, Bill Cosby and Roger Ailes to go unpunished for so long. And nearly everyone was uncomfortable that Wiesel, who died in 2016, isnt alive to respond to the charges.

I bristle at the idea that just because something is being talked about it should be reported; that gives a lot of power to the rumor mill. It allows news outlets to make the disingenuous decision of writing not about the thing itself but the controversy, or passing along reporting that does not meet their own standards.

Its not a question of whether we believe a story or not, but whether we tried to verify it. In jumping on unverified information and publishing it alongside hedging language, such as reportedly or claiming, news organizations provide falsities significant exposure while also imbuing the content with credibility, media critic Craig Silverman wrote in a 2015 report for Columbias Tow Center for Digital Journalism. This is at odds with journalisms essence as a discipline of verification and its role as a trusted provider of information to society.

On the other hand, I didnt want JTA to be part of the persistent and... pervasive culture of doubting what women say, as Leigh Gilmore, a professor at Wellesley College, describes it. I dont think applying journalistic standards necessarily implies doubt. But I am a man and cannot appreciate what it means to be repeatedly asked to account for my feelings, or justify my complaints, or confirm the damage I feel was done to me.

I think the gender divide also informed my sense of the severity of what Wiesel is alleged to have done. Listman writes that Wiesel grabbed my ass after he shoved himself between Listman and her boyfriend as they posed for a group photograph. After the photo, Wiesel ran to join the crowd at the fundraiser, and that was the last she saw of him. It sounds gross, but absent reports that this was habitual behavior, I found myself asking, does it belong in the same category as Weinsteins serial and extended stalking and hostage-like encounters with women, or Ailes lengthy legacy of sexual harassment and coercion? Does Wiesels name deserve to be forever linked with this boorish moment from nearly 30 years ago?

That may make me sound sexist, but I am trying to be honest here. I have seen women raise similar questions in discussions of Listmans essay on social media (and, for that matter, in our office). At some level, I dont think I or they are blindly defending a male or diminishing incidents of unwanted touching or trying to argue Listman out of the hurt and anger she still feels. I suspect it has more to do with the specific cause Wiesel represents. The Holocaust is sacrosanct and central to modern Jewish identity. Wiesel gave voice to all who died in and survived the Shoah, and prodded the conscience of the West to make sure its memory stayed alive and its lessons relevant. Maybe some people recoiled from Listmans accountand want not to believe itbecause they feel to discredit Wiesel would sully Holocaust memory itself.

Thats conjecture, however, and such misgivings played no part in our decision to hold off on the story. Its not my job to protect Jewish leaders or causes from their own apparent or alleged misdeeds.

Others in the Jewish media had misgivings about reporting on Listmans allegations, and few did. The Forward published an account of Listmans essay and later retracted it. Its editor, Jane Eisner, explained that the story did not meet our journalistic standards.

I felt relieved that we held off, telling colleagues that its better to be right than early.

By Tuesday, however, we decided to publish an item, mainly because Newsweeks reporting brought some outside scrutiny to what Listman had written and drawn a newsworthy response from Wiesels foundation. I wish we had gotten the same responses a day before, but if Id rather be right than early, Id rather be late than wrong.

The Wiesel story suggests how rules are changing faster than many of us can keep up with. The Weinstein, Fox News and Cosby scandals have changed the conversation about sexual abuse and seemed to have empowered, at last, the victims over the perpetrators. And social media and the unmediated nature of the web have challenged the old-fashioned ways of journalism.

I still feel the old rules apply, and victims accusations are only strengthened when a reporter can fully corroborate them and put them in an unassailable context. Thats what The New York Times and The New Yorker did with the Weinstein storydeveloping and strengthening it over months and months and making it almost impossible for Weinstein to deny the evidence and discredit his accusers. Important exposes of sexual abuseat private schools like Horace Mann or within important Jewish organizationsalso took months if not years of hard work and shoe leather, with stunning impact.

Asking the right questions isnt bullying the subjects or doubting their story. It is a necessary step in making sure their story gets told as it should be told, and heard as it should be heard.
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An Italian restaurant in Cheshunt is celebrating being crowned the top pizzeria in London and the South East  and is setting sights on national glory.

Vince's Kitchen in Turner's Hill won the Gold Award for its region in the PAPA Awards for independent pizza restaurants, which are respected industry-wide.

The restaurant will now go up against all other regions for the Platinum Award, meaning Cheshunt could be home to the best pizza on offer in the UK.

Owner Vince Martorana said: "It is quite a big honour, it is a national award and it's good because they send a mystery shopper so you don't know when or who will walk through the door.

"That means you could have a good day or a bad day but most of our days are good days and we have just had a refurbishment and added some new items on the menu."

Mystery shoppers judge each restaurant on a variety of criteria, including service, ambience and quality of food.

Scores are kept for each winning restaurant and judges will now sit down to decide which of the regional champions is the best of the best.

The decision will be announced next month at the PAPA Awards Gala Dinner.

Vince hopes the award will turn the heads of more Cheshunt residents.

He said: "We are very popular in the area and we get people come in from Hoddesdon, Enfield and Ware.

"The people who know us know how good we are but there are still a lot of people in Cheshunt who don't realise what we offer.

"I hope this award helps with promoting us, but we aren't finished here  hopefully we can get the national win too."
STATESVILLE  Iredells only Vietnam veteran still missing in action will be remembered with full military honors when RumbleQuake 2017 rolls into Statesville on Nov. 11.

Air Force Master Chief Sgt. Fred Lee Clarke was listed as killed in action in 1974. His body was never recovered after a Dec. 13, 1968 crash over Vietnam, according to a 2002 Record & Landmark article.

Lois Sherrill Clarke, Freds widow, will serve as grand marshal of the RubleQuake motorcade, which will honor veterans of all wars.

We want to ... acknowledge, honor and remember all veterans, said Burgess Bailey, host of the RumbleQuake.

Beginning at 11 a.m. at the Carolina Field of Honor in Kernersville, the motorcade will travel along I-40 West, then take exit 150 onto N.C. 115. It will end around noon at 800 Bailey Farm Road, at the Bailey Open Air Theater.

N.C. Moving Wall on display

From Nov. 10-12, the N.C. Moving Wall, six stone slabs displaying the names of more than 1,500 North Carolinians killed in Vietnam, will be displayed at the Bailey Open Air Theater.

The wall, modeled after the larger Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, was hand-painted by Phyllis Zawislak, a retired graphic designer, in November 1990.

The wall will be accompanied by photos of North Carolina soldiers killed in Vietnam, and of war memorials from all 100 North Carolina counties and the 50 state capitals.

For more information, call Burgess Bailey at 704-500-1621 or visit TheRumbleQuake.com.
SALT LAKE CITY (AP)  A man sought in the fatal attempted carjacking of a University of Utah student and believed to be connected to the killing of a Colorado man was arrested Tuesday after he surrendered to authorities at a Salt Lake City library, police said.

Austin Boutain, 24, dodged a manhunt in the rugged foothills near campus for nearly 15 hours before his arrest miles away in the death of ChenWei Guo.

Guo, a 23-year-old student from China, was shot to death Monday evening during an attempted carjacking and found dead in his car in Red Butte Canyon on the edge of campus.

In addition, police in Golden, Colorado, have said they want to question Boutain about the killing of a 63-year-old man whose pickup truck had been driven by Boutain in Utah.

The body of Mitchell Bradford Ingle was found Tuesday in his trailer home in Colorado.

Police havent released any information about how Ingle was killed. Authorities believe Boutain and his wife were friendly with Ingle and spent some time at the trailer home but arent sure how they met.

Kathleen E. Boutain, the suspects wife, is also a person of interest in the Colorado case. She was in custody in Utah on unrelated drug and theft charges. She was arrested after she reported to police Monday night that her husband had assaulted her while they were camping in the canyon.

Salt Lake City Police Detective Greg Wilking said Austin Boutain apparently slipped a police containment line in the canyon after Guo was killed.

Boutain was arrested after he was spotted by a librarian at a downtown Salt Lake City library, about 4 miles away from the shooting scene.

The librarian alerted library security, who arrested Boutain without incident.

He basically just turned around and surrendered, Salt Lake City Police Chief Mike Brown said, adding later, I think he was just acting like anyone else at the library.

Brown and University of Utah police did not have details about how Boutain evaded police or where he had been since the shooting. He was being interrogated by investigators and was expected to be formally booked into jail later in the day, police said.

Guo, one of thousands of international students at the University of Utah, was a freshman from Beijing who came to the U.S. in 2012 and dreamed of owning his own consulting company. He was studying pre-computer science.

He was a member of the Mormon church, having converted at age 16, served as a missionary in Provo and recently convinced his parents to join him, according to Steve Comrie, a leader of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints congregation that included Guo.

A lockdown at the university, which has about 32,800 students, ended early Tuesday and university officials canceled classes for the day.
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If recent news reports are to be believed, China is back on the Doklam plateau in a veritable redux of the 73-day standoff that began in June this year. For its part, the foreign ministry has denied any change in the status quo following the mutual disengagement in late August. Those now skeptical of the governments apparent inability to tackle China fail to appreciate that Doklam was never just a stand-off. It is part of a continuum of geo-political struggles - the current one is only naked in its manifestation as an outright territorial brawl  between the heavyweight and revisionist China and the defender India. It will not be the last, either.

Defusing the crisis at Doklam was never likely to reduce tensions across the 4,000 km border that India and China share. These border disputes are only symptoms of the Chinese determination to assert itself and claim pole position in an Asia that plays by Beijings rules. It was but a matter of time until China, rebuffed in its earlier attempt to needle India, decided to press New Delhi harder. By utilising its time-tested technique of salami slicing, and through the coercion of Indias smaller neighbours, China continues to seek to dent Indias credibility as a regional power.

Chinas perception of, and strategy towards, India is shaped by the gaping asymmetry of power between the two countries. At $11 trillion, Chinas economy is roughly five times the size of India. Were China to grow 2% and add over $200 billion to its GDP, India will have to grow by 10% to remain at the same place. In real dollar terms it may well be a decade or more before India begins to close this gap. In terms of security capabilities, this gap is most visible in defence expenditure, with Chinas being approximately four times larger at $215 billion, compared to Indias $55 billion.

Even though the prognosis might appear grim, smaller countries have successfully deployed denial and deterrence strategies against larger opponents, for instance China against the U.S., in the past. Despite the power differential, India successfully raised the cost of Chinas land grab activities at Doklam, a feat that even the U.S. has struggled to accomplish in East Asia. While China was relentless in the pursuit of its goals, and had the resources to spend, India managed to call its bluff, and simultaneously allayed Bhutans concerns.

The lessons from this incident for Indias foreign policy establishment are seminal, and can help shape future responses to Chinese aggression.

During a discussion in the US last month, a defence expert asked me if any other country has entered Chinese-claimed territory and stopped construction, as Beijing alleged, or intervened on behalf of a beleaguered third party as India claims. The subtext of the question was clear: Indias defiance of China was a unique moment. This is the first lesson: the spectre of an invincible, fire-breathing dragon must not awe India. New Delhi must, and can, stand up to China when its national interests are at stake and cleverly deployed political muscle will succeed in some instances.

The second takeaway is that the benefits of low-key diplomacy must not be underestimated. By engaging China away from the media glare, much to the vexation of New Delhis foreign affairs press, the Indian government successfully arrived at a favourable compromise. That this diplomacy was backed by a resolute security posture on the ground only bolstered New Delhis credibility, both at the negotiating table, and among regional partners. Deft and quiet diplomacy works and should be pursued as the first option.

Third, by participating in the BRICS summit in Xiamen shortly after the crisis, and investing in the future development of this group, India showcased the future direction of its relationship with China. For New Delhi, the lesson was that it is both possible, and necessary, to be politically assertive with China in some cases, while co-operating on others. Until the asymmetry between India and China is bridged, every Indian government will have to walk this tightrope.

Finally, New Delhi must realise the significance of creating new normative principles to manage regional affairs to get around the asymmetry of power with its neighbour. While boycotting Chinas Belt and Road Initiative Summit in May, India cogently argued that regional integration must be premised on sustainable infrastructure investment norms and respect for sovereignty. That the US the EU and Japan have endorsed Indias position underlines the importance of norm-fare in the years ahead as an expansionist China continues to pursue its own version of the Monroe doctrine.

Samir Saran is vice president at the Observer Research Foundation and tweets at @samirsaran

The views expressed are personal
Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday urged all those living in the state to learn Kannada and make their children do so as well and declared that not learning the language was a disrespect to this land.

Every person who lives in the state is a Kannadiga. Every person who resides here should learn the language, respect it and make their children learn it, Siddaramaiah said during an event in Bengaluru to mark the 61st Kannada Rajyotsava or the state formation day.

The Karnataka government has over the past year introduced a slew of measures  mandatory learning of Kannada in all schools and removing Hindi from signboards at the Metro rail stations  through which it has attempted to burnish its pro-Kannada credentials.

There have been other proposals that have attracted controversy like the formation of a committee to study the legality of having an official state flag and 100% reservations for locals in blue-collar private sector jobs.

An unfazed Siddaramaiah said that it was the duty of all those who live in the state to create an environment where everybody feels the urge to learn Kannada. Every person here must feel that they are Kannadiga first and then Indian, he said.

Referring to the Supreme Courts verdict in 2014 which struck down a 1994 Karnataka law making it mandatory for primary schools to teach in Kannada, Siddarmaiah said he had sought the support of all other chief ministers in the country against this.

I tried to tell them that this was a question of the regional languages of the country. I even wrote seven times to the Prime Minister but did not get any response, he said.

Siddaramaiah said there was a trend among parents to make their children study in English-medium schools. This is not a good development. Our understanding deepens if we learn in our mother tongue, he said.

Highlighting his stint as the chairperson of the Kannada Kavalu Samiti (Kannada protection committee), Siddaramaiah said: It is because of this that we have ordered that all schools, whether CBSE or ICSE, have to teach the Kannada language.

Siddaramaiah said the government had taken a decision to try to create awareness among parents to change them and make them respect Kannada. We want to create an environment where parents feel like sending their children to Kannada-medium schools, government schools, he said.

The chief minister said some people believed that their children would have bright futures only if they studied in English, that they will get better jobs.

Did Sir M Visvesvaraya not become a world-renowned engineer despite studying in a Kannada-medium school? Did CNR Rao not become a world-renowned scientist despite having done his schooling in Kannada-medium government school? I, too, studied in a Kannada-medium school. Have I not become the chief minister? he asked.

Highlighting the demand for admissions in government-run medical colleges, Siddaramaiah said that despite sending their children to private English-medium schools, parents tried to outdo each other in the desperation of getting their children admitted in the state-run institutes.

I appeal to the 80 lakh parents residing in Karnataka, please let your children learn Kannada along with English. Let us all live together as Kannadigas, Siddaramaiah said.

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Sanchi, the government run milk federation was supplying chemical laced adulterated milk to its consumers, Indore police claimed after they arrested seven persons involved in the racket in wee hours of Wednesday.

This particular plant supplies 2.5 lakh liters of milk in the entire Malwa-Nimar region everyday and the rest is made into various other products.

Additional superintendent of police (ASP) Manoj Rai said the gang leaders Sukhvinder Singh Deval and his nephew Jaswinder Singh Deval, both from Pipliyarao, had a contract to supply milk to Sanchi in their Manglia factory, which is situated some 15 km from Indore city.

They collected milk from various milk producers but before going to Sanchi factory, they took it to their own godown in Manglia and removed over 2000 to 3000 liters of milk from the 12,000 liter tanker and replaced it with milk made from sodium chloride mixed in water, resealed the tanker and took it to the Sanchi factory. They sold the siphoned off milk in the open market in Dewas and Bagli through private dairies.

But before adulterating the milk, they used to remove a bucket or two of milk from the tanker and gave that as a sample at the factory.

When the police team raided the godown they found a large amount of chemicals and adulterated milk.

We are investigating the exact magnitude of the adulteration because Sukhvinder had six milk tankers under contract with Sanchi to supply milk and he had been doing so for the past three years. We are verifying the accuseds claim that they had been operating from the godown since last fortnight. Also all the tankers are supposed to be equipped with a global positioning system (GPS) device then how was it possible that tankers diversion to a godown was not detected? the ASP asked hinting that employees working at the centre might also be involved.

The Sanchi management in a damage control exercise after the police action have suspended the lab in charge and his two assistants at the plant. They are also insisting that this was the first time that adulteration had taken place and that too had been stopped by the police.

Sanchi plant chief executive officer AN Dwivedi is still in a denial mode and insisted that normally it was not possible to tamper with Sanchi milk.

We check the quality of milk at several levels and the all the tankers that collect milk from the collection centres are equipped with GPS device and they are tracked. However, the GPS of this particular tanker was not working since Tuesday 7 pm and it has not beem repaired. We have lodged an FIR against Sukhwinder and blacklisted his firm, he said.

Doctors say consuming milk laced with sodium chloride might lead to indigestion , gastroenteritis and lead to stomach ulcers if consumed for a long time.

HOW MILK IS SUPPLIED

-Farmers supply milk to various registered milk cooperative centres at the village level

-The milk is collected from these small centres and brought to the bulk milk collection centre

-Milk is taken from these bulk milk collection centres to the Sanchi plant in tankers which are GPS equipped

-All the centres in villages have equipment to test quality of milk and it is also tested at the bulk collection centres and at the plant. The milk is allowed inside the plant only after lab report okays it
First-time directors Khushboo Ranka and Vinay Shukla have come up with a documentary that will soon be released in the theatres. Titled An Insignificant Man, it traces Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwals political journey and tries to explain Indias democratic process. Anand Gandhi, director of Ship of Theseus, will assume the producers mantle for this venture.

Anand, Khushboo and Vinay describe the motive behind creating the docu-feature in a candid conversation with Hindustan Times.

We have seen various factions being offended by various films in recent times. Being a political documentary, An Insignificant Man (AIM) may mention various major political parties. Do you fear any backlash after the release?

Khushbo: It is very easy to be offended these days. Giving the kind of attention that we do to offence, legally and constitutionally, is catering to the worst part of ourselves. A kid throws tantrums, but if you keep encouraging those tantrums, it is not good parenting. It is not a healthy process of maturing .

Anand:Thats a nice metaphor. Its like somebody takes offence and the whole nation goes arre re re babu ko bura laga!!

Arvind Kejriwal in a still from the documentary.

What made you choose Arvind Kejriwal and the Aam Admi Party for your film?

Khushboo:Actually, we approached everyone  the BJP, the Congress and the AAP. We sought access to their meetings, electoral strategising and campaign planning but they said no. Only AAP allowed us to shoot. It was more a compulsion than a decision from our end to document only AAP.

If not the person, what is it that the film documents?

Khushboo: We wanted to make a documentary on democracy. Kejriwal happens to head the party. It is not just about him; you also see other characters  like Yogendra Yadav  in the film. When you have access to a new political party, you also have the privilege of understanding how democracy functions. Thats because they are trying to break into this large landscape of politics in a country like India. There are thousands of things that determine how elections happen, and what ends up happening.

Vinay: We started shooting in 2012, and not too many people were interested in the party. So, they were more than happy that someone was taking them seriously. Over the next one and a half years, the party grew beyond what anyone  including us  had anticipated. So, our crew also expanded. We had limited funds, so we hired college kids. A lot of fantastic footage that you see in the film is actually shot by absolute first-timers..

Right now, Kejriwal isnt as big a phenomenon as he was when he started. Do you think your film will be seen as propaganda material to bring him back into the spotlight?

Khushboo: There was no pre-determined time as to when we were going to release the film. We approached the Central Board of Film Certification in February, where it got stuck. We then went to the Film Certification Appellate Tribunal, which cleared it. The fact that Arvinds popularity is currently low is good for us because there is no emotional euphoria around him anymore to make people argue in shrill and polarised ways. It gives audiences the opportunity to reflect on the idea, and not just this one man or a party. When it was screened at MAMI last year, there were different reactions. There were people who loved him and others who hated him. But as both kinds liked the film, there is clearly some credibility attached to the film beyond the supposed propaganda.

Everyone, at least in Delhi, was almost emotionally involved in the journey of AAP. Did you have a certain viewpoint that may have influenced the narrative?

Vinay: Both of us are greedy filmmakers, and we knew we were there for the film. We were almost invisible to them, hanging around with DSLRs like college kids making a project or something. They almost treated us like furniture in the room.

Khushbo: Of course, we had opinions. More than the person, whether Arvind is a pleasant person or not isnt really our concern. But we loved the idea of decentralisation. Whether they themselves have been able to adhere to the idea is very questionable. You will see in the film how implementing these ideas in the party can be difficult. For us, those messy areas are most interesting. Transparency, for instance, how easy or difficult is it to be really transparent? Another genuine problem I had with the party was its lack of women. Although we dont comment on these things, because thats not the form of the film, you will see it for yourself. As filmmakers, we dont tell you. We want you to see and think for yourself.

What purpose does the film serve?

Anand: We have two types of political documentaries in India: one is the watchdog or anti-thesis, where you comment on certain leaders and parties, and the other is the party-funded, follow-the-leader propaganda type. This one (An Insignificant Man) is different. It is not affiliated with any political party, it is not an outsiders view, and it is not based on interviews and voice-overs. It is like a fly-on-the-wall documentary, a hidden-camera documentary. These guys (Khushboo and Vinay) happened to be there, and they managed to string together a narrative without voice-overs or interviews. It is fact as you see it, and there is no opinion behind this. It answers all the questions I had regarding democracy as a politically aware citizen

It is rare for documentaries to release in Indian theatres. How do you plan to go about the films release, and what is the kind of reception you expect?

Anand: They have screened the film in 30-35 countries and 50 film festivals, and the audience used to come out and say This is exactly whats happening in Portugal or This is exactly whats happening in Greece scene-by-scene and nuance-by-nuance. People across the globe have resonated with the narrative. The film releases on November 17, and we are looking at 25-30 screens. We put up preview screenings for (November) 16 and everything was booked within hours of the trailer launch! Another new initiative we have launched will give people the opportunity to book theatres for An Insignificant Man. We wanted to make the audience responsible for the cinema they see. There will be a very simple tool on our website, our Facebook page and that of our partner PVR Vkaoo. The audience will have to book 50% of the tickets at a theatre near them to make a theatrical release happen there. This will completely decentralise the manner in which films are brought to the audience..

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Bollywood star Deepika Padukone is one of the highest-paid stars currently working in Bollywood, but the actor is not ready to talk about money matters. Rumoured to have received a pay cheque greater than what the male stars -Shahid Kapoor and Ranveer Singh - got, Deepika has said she is not excited about the money.

Talking about my remuneration isnt exciting. But I am proud and confident about the money I get. You are comfortable with what you are paid. But what makes me happy is that they (producers) have invested so much money in a film which has a poster featuring me on it....That makes me proud, said Padukone during the 3D trailer launch of the film at a suburban multiplex in Mumbai.

Deepika Padukone during the 3D trailer launch of Padmavati in Mumbai. (IANS)

Reports in August suggested that Deepika got Rs 13 crore for the film while Shahid and Ranveer only received Rs 10 crore. The rumours came as a fresh wave in an industry that is traditionally blamed to have a huge gap in payments to men and women.

The Padmavati actor sidestepped questions about her pay package for the Sanjay Leela Bhansali-directed film, which is rumoured to be heavier than that of her co-stars Shahid Kapoor and Ranveer Singh. In terms of scale, budget and resources, its a huge film. We have seen strong female parts at the fore on screen in different films in different ways. I think this (Padmavati) is the beginning of great things women have in films, she added.

A right-wing outfit had objected to the screening of the trailer, but adequate security arrangements were made with over a dozen policemen stationed at the venue.

The film is set to release on December 1.

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Veteran Bollywood actor and Rajya Sabha member Rekha has given Rs 2.5 crore from her MPLAD funds to Rae Bareli, the parliamentary constituency of Congress president Sonia Gandhi, an official said on Wednesday.

The funds are being used for construction of roads, supply of water and putting up of new transformers for better electricity supply.

Officials said that so far they have received Rs 1.06 crore from the Rs 1.42 crore sanctioned from the funds of Rekha Ganeshan, and the remaining will come when the utilization certificate of the projects undertaken by these funds are submitted.

According to a source close to the Congress president and looking after her work in Rae Bareli, it is not unusual for any Rajya Sabha MP to give funds to the constituency of his or her choice. The source added that the actor herself had met Sonia Gandhi and expressed her desire to spend her MPLAD fund at Rae Bareli.

So far, work that has been done by this fund includes installation of solar lights, construction of interlocking and Cement Concrete roads.

Rekha was nominated as member of the Upper House in April 2012 by the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) II regime. Her tenure as Rajya Sabha member expires on April 26, 2018.
The makers of Tiger Zinda Hai are on an overdrive to keep the buzz going around the upcoming film that stars Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif in lead roles. A new picture of Katrina has now emerged where she is seen wielding a gun - in line with her character of a spy.

Directed by Ali Abbas Zafar, Tiger Zinda Hai is a high-octane espionage thriller and Katrina reportedly transformed into a superspy, thanks to some expert help. Katrina plays Zoya - an elite intelligence agent - who is an expert in hand-to-hand combat and slinging guns.

In this film, Zoya plays a super spy. It was essential to understand how such agents think and operate. So, we got Katrina to train with real agents, used their expertise and experience. For instance, as intelligence agents, you have to train a certain way to keep your mental balance in direst situations. Say you face someone who has a gun and you dont. How do you still stay neutral and calm, and figure out the best possible way to counter and survive in such a situation. Katrina has really pushed herself for the part, Zafar said in a press statement.

She has also gone the extra mile to train in important nuances like aggressive hand-to-hand combat. The action that Katrina has done looks very real onscreen, despite being mounted on a grand scale, he added.

Action coordinator Tom Struthers ,of Dark Knight and The Dark Knight Rises fame, was roped in for the action sequences in the film.

Tiger Zinda Hai, a sequel to the 2012 film directed by Kabir Khan, will see Salman and Katrina reprise their roles as spies Tiger and Zoya. The film has been shot in Abu Dhabi, Tyrol and Austria. Salman and Katrina have recently shot for a special song for the film in Greece. Tiger Zinda Hai is slated to hit theatres on December 22.

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Finance minister Arun Jaitley-headed ministerial panel on consolidation of PSU banks has been empowered to direct lenders to examine proposals for amalgamation.

The finance minister headed Alternative Mechanism (AM) will receive inputs from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) before according in-principle approvals, the government said in a statement on Wednesday.

The proposals received from banks for in-principle approval to formulate schemes of amalgamation will be placed before the AM. A Report on the proposals cleared by AM will be sent to the Cabinet every three months, it said.

Alternative Mechanism may also direct banks to examine proposals for amalgamation, it added.

It said the AM, which will receive inputs from the Reserve Bank before according in-principle approvals, may also direct banks to examine proposals for amalgamation.

The other members of the AM panel are Minister of Railways and Coal Piyush Goyal and Minister of Defence Nirmala Sitharaman.

The AM would devise its own procedure for appraisal of amalgamation proposals by banks, and be guided overall by the objectives of the Nationalisation Acts [Banking Companies (Acquisition and Transfer of Undertakings) Acts, 1970 and 1980].

The statement further said that the Final Schemes formulated will be approved by the central government, and laid in both the Houses of Parliament.

While announcing the unprecedented Rs 2.11 lakh crore capital infusion road map for the public sector banks last month, Jaitley had said, this will be accompanied by a series of banking reforms over the next few months.

The constitution of AM is a movement in that direction.

The Union Cabinet in August had decided to set up an Alternative Mechanism to fast track consolidation among public sector banks to create strong lenders.

The move to create large banks aims at meeting the credit needs of the growing Indian economy and building capacity in the PSB space to raise resources without dependence on the state exchequer.
Dehradun: The Haldwani Mandi Parishad will be sending a delegation of farmers to Himachal Pradesh for a week to study the apple cultivation techniques. Apple is grown on 34,000 hectares of land in the state and the area is said to be shrinking due to colonization, lack of incentives and changing weather pattern.

This problem is evident in Mukteshwar area of Nainital district where the apple farmers have started switching to apricot cultivation as it suits the changing climate patterns and also has good demand in the market.

Khivraj Singh Bisht, a farmer in the Mukteshwar area of Nainital district said that apple cultivation in the area is slowly coming down as most of the orchard lands have been used for construction of villas.

Bisht said, Apricot cultivation is on the rise as the weather condition is conducive. Lack of government incentives is also leading to a situation where the farmers are forced to move away from apples.

Director horticulture BS Negi said that apple was on top priority of the department as it had the potential to raise the livelihood of the farmers. We will be introducing the Spur variety in the areas where the climate is turning warm. Apart from this, the Apple Mission which is an intensive project to promote apple cultivation would reach out to the farmers with better techniques, technology transfer and improved plants so that the income and apple production can be raised, he said.
The Uttarakhand government is open to a wider probe if the need arises in the case of a Mussoorie Dehradun Development Authority (MDDA) supervisors alleged involvement in corruption, urban development minister Madan Kaushik said Wednesday.

On Tuesday evening, chief minister TS Rawat ordered a vigilance enquiry after receiving complaints against the supervisor for his involvement in property dealings and for demanding bribe to clear illegal constructions.

We will take appropriate action if we receive any corruption complaint, be it against any staff member or official, after getting it (complaint) duly verified, Kaushik told HT. He asserted that the cases of corruption against individuals might not necessarily be indicative of corruption in the organisation.

This was after industry insiders and activists alleged the vigilance probe may cover just tip of the iceberg when it comes to corruption in the MDDA. The MDDAs functioning, they said, was questioned in the past, too, and allegations of corruption were not new. The Authority was set up in 1984 to ensure planned development of Dehradun and Mussoorie.

In February last year, a vigilance team caught an MDDA supervisor for accepting Rs 1 lakh from a complainant. An additional amount of Rs 7 lakh was found stashed at his home. The supervisor claimed he took the bribe on behalf of an MDDA assistant engineer, who was later arrested. A stung MDDA immediately attached all field supervisors and fourth division employees to its main office.

In August, the Uttarakhand Right to Service Commission questioned the MDDAs working style for taking two years in order to flag objections in bits and pieces, unnecessarily delay and ultimately reject sanction of a construction map. Serious anomalies were flagged in the Master and Zonal development plans wherein activists alleged that MDDA officials twisted land use changes and road outlays allegedly under pressure from real estate operators.

Underlining that a supervisor is one of the lowest ranks of officials, activists called for a wider ambit of probe. The government needs to dig deeper and try to root out the whole iceberg (of corruption), Uttarakhand Engineers and Draftsmen Welfare Association president Devendra Singh Rana demanded.

Ever since Dehradun was declared the (interim) capital (in 2000), real estate activities and constructions have grown manifold. It has made the MDDA a favourite playground for officials and staff, Rana, who alone raised more than 200 objections to the Zonal Plan, said.

Over 118 housing projects are currently approved in Dehradun which recorded a decadal growth rate of over 32% according to the 2011 Census.

Probe against a mere supervisor will not make much of a difference in the fight against corruption unless the government targets the big fish in a department which is known to be one of the most corrupt, alleged socio-political activist Ravindra Jugran. If the government really wants to hit hard, it should get probed the assets of all officials whove held the post of MDDA vice-chairpersons and secretary.

Ashish Kumar Srivastava, who joined as the new vice chairperson of the MDDA last week, could not be contacted as his phone was switched off. MDDA secretary Prakash Chandra Dumka did not respond to calls despite repeated attempts.

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DEHRADUN: As many as 255 doctors who graduated from government medical colleges in Uttarakhand and signed a bond promising to serve in the state or pay penalty but reneged on it, are in for trouble.

The government has compiled a list of doctors who have neither paid penalty nor reported for rural service, an official said on Wednesday.

In the bond, students opting for subsidized medical education in government-run medical colleges in Uttarakhand had given an undertaking at the time of admission that they will render two year of compulsory rural service in the mountain state or pay a penalty.

We have identified 255 doctors who graduated from Srinagar and Haldwani medical colleges and will now be sending notices to them for submitting the bond amount, failing which legal action will be taken against them as well as their guarantors, said Navin Baluni, health advisor to chief minister Trivendra Singh Rawat--who also holds the health portfolio.

The Uttarakhand government introduced subsidized medical education for students on the condition that they will serve in the remote hill areas of the state for at least two years after completing their courses, he said.

The step was taken to tide over the shortage of doctors in the state where more than 50% of posts are lying vacant and to improve healthcare services in the remote hill areas.

Since the students signed bonds ranging from 30 lakh to 1 crore, were hoping to recoup at least 76 crore through the move, which will be used for improving healthcare services in the state, Baluni told Hindustan Times.

The action will also send out a strong message against such a malpractice among students who are currently pursuing medical courses in government-run medical colleges in the state, he said.

As a long-term solution, the government is working to rope in more than 700 doctors to improve the overall healthcare services in Uttarakhand, especially in the remote mountain areas.

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The deteriorating air quality in Ghaziabad, which has been hovering around the severe mark for past three days, may force the authorities to immediately take some drastic steps.

According to the Central Pollution Control Boards air quality index (AQI), on October 30 and 31 and November 1, the citys AQI was among the worst in India.

The AQI stood at 404 on October 30 with Bhiwadi coming second with 386. On October 31, the AQI was 439. Even on November 1, Ghaziabad AQI (PM2.5) stood at 402 and was second among 42 cities across the country.

Noidas AQI was recorded at 332, 348 and 344 on October 30, 31 and November 1, respectively.

The Meerut divisional commissioner said he would soon call a meeting of officials of various districts, including Ghaziabad and Gautam Budh Nagar, to implement measures to mitigate pollution on priority.

Dr Bhure Lal, chairman of the Supreme Court-appointed Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA), had written to the commissioner to identify factors contributing to the severity of pollution in the two cities.

Lal suggested implementing the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) at a local level if the pollution levels continue. The GRAP will come into effect if pollution level in entire region is high. In case Ghaziabad authorities want to implement this, they can do it at the local level, Dr Bhure Lal said.

In response, commissioner Dr Prabhat Kumar said, I have received a communication from Dr Bhure Lal and will call a meeting of all district magistrates. By Thursday, the instructions will be rolled out (on how to check pollution). There is hardly any control on construction sites, debris and traffic, Dr Kumar said.

Kumar said he was finalising details of instructions to be given all officials concerned, including cops, to check air pollution. We have to implement the GRAP at the local level to bring relief to our citizens, Dr Kumar said.

Under the plan, if ambient PM2.5 or PM10 value is more than 250 micrograms per cubic metre (mpcm) or 430 mpcm, respectively, the agencies have to close brick kilns, hot mix plants, stone crushers and introduce differential rates for public transport to encourage travel during lean hours.

Our locality (Kaushambi) is in Ghaziabad and next to Anand Vihar, the second most-polluted area in NCR. We are among the most affect as we are between these two areas, said VK Mittal, president of Kaushambi Apartment Residents Welfare Association (KARWA).

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His arms crossed, Leo Tolstoy gazes towards Janpaths Tibetan market. But since he is hidden behind trees, it is impossible to see him from well, Tolstoy Marg.

The plinth contains nothing more than Tolstoys name carved in Hindi and Russian, along with the year of installation  1989.

To understand the logic of having Tolstoys statue in the city of Ghalib and Daagh, we called up a Tolstoy reader and an esteemed Russian language scholar who has traced the evolution of that language in contemporary India.

Russian language was taught in Delhi even before Independence but the phonological education in Russian started in 1965 with the setting up of the Centre of Russian Studies, which was given a space in IIT Delhi campus, said Ramadhikari Kumar, the former president of the Indian Association of Teachers of Russian language and Literature, and a retired professor of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), where the institute found its home.

Russia, or the USSR, shaped Delhis intellectual life in the 60s and 70s. A publicity-shy environmentalist who grew up in the Delhi of that time, told us that left-leaning romantics were regulars at literary evenings of the Russian Cultural Centre. Kurta-wearing ideologues lambasted American imperialism at seminars in Sapru House. Maxim Gorkys novel Mother was a cult classic. Leo Tolstoy, Anton Chekhov and Alexander Pushkin were on must-read lists. If you wanted to make an impression, Mikhail Sholokhovs And Quiet Flows the Don was the book of choice.

According to Professor Kumar, the JNU centre has produced more than 400 teachers. By the 1980s, 40 Indian universities had set up departments of Russian language, mostly manned by degree holders of JNU, he said.

The Russian government offered our students fellowship programmes that included free food, lodging and some pocket money. The funding stopped after the Soviet Union broke up in 1991 but has now been partially revived.

Today, Gorky and Sholokhov are rarely found in Delhi bookstores, but Tolstoy remains in vogue. We always see his War and Peace in bookstores. And if the novel is just too fat to read from start to end, you may go for our favourite shortcut  come to Tolstoy Marg and gaze at Tolstoys statue. Easy reading, really.
The Delhi Police on Tuesday arrested a man who they said was a sharpshooter and a close aide of gangster Chhota Shakeel and was allegedly involved in the foiled conspiracy to kill Pakistani-Canadian writer Tarek Fatah.

Police said Naseem, 28, was on the run since June when their Special Cell booked him and one Junaid Chaudhary for hatching a conspiracy to eliminate Fatah.

Junaid was arrested June while Naseem was arrested on Tuesday evening from Jafrabad area in northeast Delhi.

Following his arrest, Naseem reportedly told the police that he had two new killing assignments, including one from Chhota Shakeel, but was caught before he could execute either of them. Chotta Shakeel wanted him to kill a person living in Dwarka. This person had insulted a religious book, the video of which went viral on the internet, said an official.

Police said Naseem was also hired by jailed UP gangster Munna Singh to kill some influential person in Andhra Pradesh. He was yet to get the details about the target, said another police officer.

He also told police that Shakeel had spoken to him twice after hiring him for the assassination attempt on the writer, said DCP north east AK Singla.

They talked at least on phone nearly seven months ago. Shakeel promised him a good amount of money for the work. He also guided him about the travel plans of Fatah and told him to target the writer when he was in Delhi, said Singla.

Singla, however, clarified that no money had ever been transferred to Naseem from Shakeel.

Shakeel assured him that money would be no object, if he would kill Fatah. But, no figure was discussed. We are verifying his claims, said Singla.

After his arrest in the same case, Junaid had told Special Cell that he had received Rs. 1.5 lakh in four instalments through hawala and money transfer from Shakeel.

Since Junaids arrest, efforts were on to arrest Naseem and a cash reward of Rs. 50,000 was declared on his arrest. Shakeel was in touch with Junaid and Naseem to give him directions about eliminating the writer, said Singla.

He has committed murders and robberies in the past.

Police recovered Rs. 1.98 lakh in cash and one sophisticated pistol and four live cartridges from Naseem. The money seized was a part of the sum he recently robbed from someone.

Singla said Naseems family lives in Mustafabad area of northeast Delhi and he started of by selling undergarments before taking to crime.

Later, he came in contact with local criminals and murdered one Shaheed. He also got involved with gangs of robbers and came in contact with Chota Shakeel through Junaid, said Singla.
Three girls, allegedly being held as captive domestic helps in north west Delhis Model Town, were rescued by the police on Tuesday.

In their statements before the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) recorded on Wednesday, the girls said that they were made to serve the employers family under gruelling conditions and without adequate food or rest.

In their statements, the copies of which have been accessed by HT, the girls have claimed that they were subjected to verbal abuse and not paid salaries.

The victims, aged between 14 and 17 years, hail from Assam and Jharkhand and were hired through a placement agency.

On Tuesday, a joint team led by the area sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) and comprising of the police and NGO members conducted a raid in a house in Model Town K Block. The three victims alleged they were kept confined in the house.

The complaint was made by the SDM who was informed by an NGO. It is not clear how the trio, who claimed that they were not allowed to go outside, managed to contact the NGO.

One of the victims said they were responsible for the upkeep of the house, which had multiple rooms. They also had to take care of children. The girl had been working there for the past four years. She said they had to do all the chores  from domestic chores to car washing. Some days, if the other two were asked to do something else or were unwell, she had to do everything alone.

The second girl said her day started at 6am and was spent doing laundry and cleaning multiple toilets. She said that the three girls would help each other in their work so that they could take out time for an odd meal.

The girls alleged that they never received any salary and no money was transferred to their parents back home.

According to the police, a case has been registered. But, they did not disclose the name of the employer or the placement agency. The girls statement does not mention the name either.

We have registered a case under the Juvenile Justice Act, Child Labour Act and Bonded Labour Act. No one has been named in the case. We are waiting for CWC to send the statements to us after which further action can be taken, said deputy commissioner of police (northwest) Milind Dumbere.
The incident of a private bus catching fire has brought the spotlight back on how children in the Capital travel to and from their schools.

Despite a special drive in September, illegal cabs and buses continue to ply with impunity in Delhi and errant drivers and conductors continue to have a free run.

The Delhi government had cracked down on school buses and cabs plying illegally after the killing of an eight-year-old boy, allegedly by a bus conductor, at Ryan International School in neighbouring Gurgaon and the rape of a seven-year-old in her school in Shahdara.

We had seized 520 school buses in the city after the Ryan school case. Out of this, 503 buses were the yellow-coloured ones and 17 were contract carriage or private buses, said an enforcement officer of the transport department.

Read: Schools need an eye beyond CCTV cameras for safety of students

The drive, which was supposed to continue throughout the year, however, was not continued after September.

After the seizure of a number of buses in September, representatives from various schools had urged transport minister Kailash Gahlot to stop the drive. Gahlot then had put a 10-day ban on prosecuting school buses and cabs and asked the schools to conform to rules within that period.

But, the drive was never resumed after the 10-day deadline lapsed. This despite the fact that the governments own estimates suggested that there were more than 25,000 cabs and buses plying illegally and ferrying school children in the city. Only 9,600 cabs and 2,766 buses are actually registered with the transport department.

A transport department official blamed the inaction on staff crunch.

For over one crore vehicles in the city, we have only 60 inspectors who have to be deputed 24x7. There are other tasks too in which these people need to take care of, an official said

Policy not drafted

Delhis Road Safety Council, in its first meeting after its reconstitution in August, had decided to draft a full-fledged policy on safe transportation of school children.

However, nothing moved on the ground.

The problem is that there are one set of rules from the CBSE, another from the traffic police and a third set of rules that are mentioned in the Delhi Motor Vehicles Rules. There is a need to factor in all set of rules into one, said RC Jain, president of Delhi State Public Schools Management Association.

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The recent attack in New York City is a reminder that the world is now in a second and more difficult phase of countering terrorism. The New York City attack is the seventh lethal attack after 9/11 on US soil linked to the Al Qaeda or the Islamic State. Increasingly such terrorism is associated with lone wolves, radicalised individuals who do not have direct organisational connections to a terrorist group but are often motivated through the internet. This lack of a physical link has made preventing terrorism much harder. In Europe, for example, interception rates have fallen by half because of the difficulties posed by such terrorism.

After 9/11, a largely military strategy that deprived terrorists of safe havens and targeted the cell structure of groups like Al Qaeda had remarkable success. Terror attacks were few and far between on US soil. The number of jihadis arrested and plots uncovered in the country was in the single figures till 2009. Thats changed now.

The rise of the Islamic State and its use of the internet, encryption and social media has resulted in a significant surge in Islamicist terror attacks across the world, including the US. Studies show that most lone wolf terrorists consume a large amount of radical Islamicist propaganda online. A few have some form of direct communication with an Islamic State sympathiser. Many dont. And very few have any deeper relationship with a terrorist organisation.

One saving grace, if it can be called that, is that lone wolves inflict far fewer casualties. The terrorist cell that carried out multiple attacks in Paris and Brussels was the work of trained terrorists. Its lethality and sophistication was correspondingly high. The New York City attack is more in line with what has become a more common occurence: the use of a vehicle to knock down people, minimal or no use of firearms or explosives, and the absence of any co-conspirators. Casualties in such attacks, while horrific, are far less than in terrorist attacks in the early 2000s. But the primitive nature of the attack also makes it much harder to detect beforehand.

Already a new wave of counterterrorism measures is being introduced. Tighter controls on vehicle rentals, greater electronic surveillance, limited censorship of the internet and, more controversially, a debate on the preventive detention of suspects and recommendations for laptops and mobile phones to have monitors at the time of manufacture. In considering such actions it is important to begin with the assumption that all terror cannot be stopped all the time. The alternative is an Orwellian police state.
A law commission report submitted this week says that the top five central tribunals in India have more than 3.50 lakh cases pending before them. The Income Tax Appellate Tribunal alone is scheduled to consider 91,000, the report says. Although the disposal by the tribunals in relation to the cases filed every year has been high at 94%, the pendency is worrisome. The Customs, Excise and Service Tax Appeal Tribunal, too, had 90,592 pending cases at the end of 2016. The role of the tribunals is spelt out clearly in the countrys justice mechanism: to overcome delays in dispensation of justice by regular courts. By dealing with disputes related to the environment, the armed forces, tax and administrative issues, they are meant to take some of the load off Indias overburdened courts. Clearly, that isnt happening at the necessary pace.

The judiciary-citizenry gap in India isnt new. The country has just 18 judges for every million people. The United States, by comparison has a judge-to-population ratio of 107 judges for every million people. There are six vacancies for judges in the Supreme Court. The number of vacancies for judges in the High Courts stands at 400. In the lower courts, the shortfall is 5,000 judges. A Law Commission report in 2009 observed that it would take 464 years to clear the arrears with the present strength of judges. Still, just adding more judges may not be the only answer. One of the solutions being mooted by the law panel to reduce the number of pending cases is to ensure that the orders of the central tribunals are not challenged in the Supreme Court directly. The Central Administrative Tribunal, for instance, should be the last word on matters related to service conditions, without any scope for appeal. Similarly, tax matters should get closure at the offices of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal itself rather than stretching for years together and leading to wasteful expenditure and eating into the precious time of the apex court.

Better court management will help. Although the Code of Civil Procedure recommends that the number of adjournments in one case be capped at three, it is routinely flouted. Since absent-counsel is the reason for two-thirds of delayed cases, an answer could be for the registry to ensure cases involving the same lawyer are not listed too close together. Truant lawyers can be fined if they dont turn up for hearings. Another possible solution could come from the government itself. The central and state governments are the biggest litigants in the country. If the State could slash its own burden of litigation, it may help the overstretched judiciary streamline its operations.
The Bihar government may move the Supreme Court against a Patna high court order that second-category teachers in the state (called Niyojit teachers) should be given the same salary as regular ones.

The verdict of the division bench was pronounced on Tuesday.

According to advocate general Lalit Kishor, the government categorically told the high court that bearing the huge financial load of paying the prescribed scale to all teachers would be next to impossible. Still, the court has given its ruling, and I will give my opinion to the government. It is for the government to take a call. I think it should move (the apex court), he added.

Department of education principal secretary RK Mahajan said the government will examine its legal options after seeing the order. We opposed it in court as the recruitment procedure  and even the recruiting agency  for these teachers is different. Regular teachers are a dying breed because the government is not making any appointment on the old scale, and the posts are getting abolished with their retirement, he added.

A senior official of the department of education said that the current governmental expenditure on school teacher salaries is around Rs 9,500 crore, even though it was yet to achieve the ideal teacher-pupil ratio of 1:30.

Should we fill all the posts, the government would need six lakh teachers and the entire education budget of Rs 25,000 crore would fall short. Even on the present strength, the requirement would double to around Rs 18,000 crore, he said, adding that the number of regular teachers on the prescribed scale has come down to 70,000.

The second-category teachers were appointed in bulk by the Nitish Kumar government to improve the adverse teacher-pupil ratio in the state. They number around 3.60 lakh, while there are around 70,000-odd teachers who draw salaries in accordance with the prescribed payscale. There is a definite contrast in the salary structure of the two categories of employees, who work in the same schools and teach the same subjects.

While the average salary of second-category teachers rose to around Rs 20,000 after a hike in 2015, the pay for regular teachers is around Rs 40,000  which could go up further following the implementation of the seventh pay commission report.

Kumar came up with an expected sop for second-category teachers before the assembly elections, announcing a different payscale for fixed-pay school teachers and librarians, effective from July 1, 2015. However, their service conditions were not finalised even after that, and the teachers continued to demand salaries in tune with the prescribed scale.

Even during the evaluation of matriculation and intermediate answer books earlier this year, the teachers boycotted work to press for their long-pending demand. This caused a major embarrassment to the government, and the results got delayed.

Both Kedar Pandey and Shatrughan Prasad Singh, president and general secretary of the Bihar Secondary Teachers Association respectively, said the government should honour the high court verdict if it was serious about ensuring quality education in the state. The association was the oldest petitioner in the case in 2009, after which seven other teacher unions also moved the court. All the petitions were clubbed together by the court.

Expecting quality education is sheer wishful thinking if teachers are made to suffer, no matter how much the government spends on infrastructure and incentives. The government should accept this reality, said Pandey.

He said a delegation of the association would meet the government with its prayer. It is a big day for teachers as they have finally managed to get rid of the disgrace they had to live with for years, he added.

No of Niyojit teachers: 3.60 lakh

Average salary: Rs 20,000

Expenditure on salary: Rs 9500 crore (approx.)

Total education budget: Rs 25,000 crore

No. of regular teachers: 70,000

Average salary: Rs 40,000

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Were obsessed with Mira Rajput. We cant get enough of the woman who shot to fame as the other half of Bollywood favourite Shahid Kapoor.

And it seems were not alone.

Mira, who has traversed the gap from being a young Delhi girl to transform into a full-fledged celebrity, made her fashion editorial debut in a new shoot with a leading fashion magazine. Hello! India Magazines November issue features a striking cover that perfectly showcase Miras flawless beauty. The magazine took to Instagram on Wednesday to share their latest cover.

A post shared by HELLO! India (@hellomagindia) on Oct 31, 2017 at 11:53am PDT

On her first-ever cover, the 23-year-old, who is seen posing with her handsomely brooding husband, models an on-trend sleek sage green choli by Raw Mango, over a pink lehenga. Her gorg outfit is helped by her choice of traditional jewellery -- polki choker, hathphool and bangle. She topped off her look with fail-safe long, wavy tresses, dewy make-up, kohl-lined eyes, and her trusty lip gloss.

That Mira is quickly on her way to becoming a bona-fide style star is a non-negotiable fact. She piques the nations interest in the same way as high-flyers Deepika Padukone and Priyanka Chopra, women who never fail to look immaculate in the spotlight.

Whether shes killing it in a peacock blue Anita Dongre lehenga-choli on Diwali or turning heads at IFFA Awards green carpet in a tangerine Swapnil Shinde, Mira has made being impeccably put-together an art. Scroll down to trace Miras 10/10 fashion looks.

A post shared by Mira Rajput Kapoor (@mira.kapoor.fc) on Oct 19, 2017 at 12:16pm PDT

A post shared by Shahid Kapoor (@shahidkapoor) on Aug 2, 2017 at 12:22pm PDT

A post shared by Shahid Kapoor TurkishFan (@pyarshasha) on Oct 27, 2017 at 8:23am PDT

A post shared by Shahid Kapoor TurkishFan (@pyarshasha) on Oct 18, 2017 at 12:07pm PDT

A post shared by Shahid Kapoor TurkishFan (@pyarshasha) on Oct 23, 2017 at 3:10am PDT

A post shared by Shahid Kapoor (@shahidkapoor) on Jul 16, 2017 at 1:20am PDT

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Pregnant women, increase your intake of fish oil and supplements. Omega-3 acids are essential for a babys growth and development. Researchers at the University of South Florida in Tampa looked at two studies before concluding that children whose mothers consumed high-dose omega-3 fatty acids daily during the 3rd trimester, whether from fish or supplements, were less likely to develop breathing problems. The first study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, looked at 346 pregnant women in their 3rd trimester who took omega-3 fatty acids daily and 349 women who took a placebo. It found that women with the lowest blood levels benefited the most from fish oil supplementation.

The second study randomized pregnant women in their 3rd trimester into fish oil, placebo and no oil groups. The fish oil group took omega-3 fatty acids supplements daily, whilst the placebo group was given olive oil daily. The no oil group was informed about the aims of the study, and were told that if they wanted, they could consume either fish oil supplements or fish during the 3rd trimester. The results showed that children of women in the fish oil and the no oil groups took less asthma medication as they aged to 24 years old, suggesting that both groups, whether consuming supplements or fish, developed less asthma.

Co-authors of the review, Richard Lockey, MD, and Chen Hsing Lin, MD, also suggest that pregnant women receive the same benefit as supplements if they follow the Food and Drug Administration and Environmental Protection Agencys recommendation to consume 8-12 ounces (2-3 servings) of low mercury fish per week. Omega-3 fatty acids cannot be synthesized by humans and therefore are essential nutrients which are derived exclusively from marine sources, said Lin. It may be premature to recommend daily high dose fish oil supplementation during the 3rd trimester.

With almost equal to slightly higher cost, consuming 8-12 ounces (2-3 servings) of fish a week not only may attain the same asthma protection, but strengthens the nutritional benefits to infant growth and development, said Lockey. The findings can be found published online in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice.

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If you are trying to kick the butt, this new approach could help. A report in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) Internal Medicine says that cash incentives could help smokers to give up cigarettes.

The randomised clinical trial included 352 people in Boston, Massachusetts. Participants were recruited from hospital waiting rooms. Those entering the study all smoked more than 10 cigarettes per day and wanted to quit. Some were given a brochure and a list of community resources available to help people quit smoking.

Others received the same resource list, along with extra counselling sessions on how to quit from patient navigators, and were also told they would get a cash payment if they managed to give up cigarettes. Participants were not told how much they would get paid for quitting when they entered the year-long study.

Halfway through, those who quit were paid $250, and told they would get an additional $500 if they were not smoking at 12 months. Nearly 10% of the incentive group had quit by six months, compared to less than one percent of those offered a brochure.Those who had not quit by six months were given a chance to keep trying in exchange for a payment. After 12 months, 12% of the intervention group quit smoking, while two percent of the control group had quit, said the study. Urine and saliva tests confirmed whether smokers had indeed quit or not.

Lead author Karen Lasser, associate professor of medicine at Boston University School of Medicine, said the study shows a multi-faceted approach that employs incentives works best. Most of the participants who quit smoking utilised patient navigation, but its unclear whether navigation alone would achieve the rates of smoking cessation we observed, she said.

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A joint team of Gurgaon health department and crime branch of Gurgaon police searched a Delhi clinic allegedly involved in illegal sex determination tests.

Three persons, including a doctor, were arrested for sex determination after a complaint was filed at Janakpuri police station by officials, who raided the clinic and an X-ray centre at Kakrola Mor and Dabri respectively, about 30 km from Gurgaon.

Amandeep Chauhan, drug controller, Gurgaon, who led the team, said that the utlrasound machine has been sealed and three persons arrested by Delhi police.

Acting on information that women from Gurgaon and neighbouring districts were visiting a clinic in Delhi for illegal sex determination test, the joint team decided to send a decoy customer to the clinic to unravel the racket, Chauhan said. The team asked a person to act as a shadow witness, call the clinic on their mobile number and fix a deal with the management on sex determination of the foetus.

According to officials, the deal was struck on October 28 for 32,000 and the agent asked the shadow witness to bring the pregnant lady to the clinic for an ultrasound examination. He was also directed to deposit the money in advance.

In order to catch the culprits red-handed, the witness was given 32,000 in cash and a decoy customer was also arranged. The process of handing over the money to the shadow witness was photographed.

There is a rising trend of interstate rackets which arrange for women to visit neighbouring states for sex-determination. A number of agents are involved. We have received inputs and will search more clinics soon, Chauhan said.

The clinics agent later called the witness and asked that the patient be brought to Ritika clinic for an ultrasound examination at 5pm on October 31, Chauhan said. A team from the crime branch, along with the decoy patient and shadow witness reached Kakrola at 5pm, but were kept waiting for about four hours. Later, the agent called again and asked them to visit at 9am on Wednesday.

Read I New team to check prenatal sex determination in Gurgaon

On Wednesday morning, the team again reached Kakrola where the agent met them and another agent was also called who took them to M/s Image X-ray Lab and Scan Centre at Dabri Mor in Delhi, Chauhan said. The agent took the patient inside for the sex determination test.

As the agent came out, he was caught and the decoy was asked what happened inside. She revealed that the doctor conducted an ultrasound test and disclosed the sex of the foetus as female.

The joint team of health and crime branch, Gurgaon, entered the clinic and informed the Delhi District Magistrate who sent his team to the spot. The team seized 16,000 from Amit Dheer, who allegedly conducted sex determination test through ultrasound, Chauhan said.

A complaint was also given to the police to file an FIR against Devinder, an agent, NK Rey, proprietor of Ritika Polyclinic who charged 32,000 and Dheer. The team also included two members from Delhi health department, Chauhan said.
Haryana PWD minister Rao Narbir Singh on Wednesday inaugurated a community water treatment system and a mobile medicare unit at Teekli village, which is being developed into a model villagethe first in Gurgaon district.

Singh, who is an MLA from Badshahpur constituency, also inspected the new village crematorium and the other infrastructure projects that are being developed under the model village project.

The water treatment facility has been installed by the DLF foundation, which adopted the village, to provide clean drinking water for human and animal consumption at the village in Sohna tehsil, about 15 km from Gurgaon.

The water treatment system will sterilize and store water from where villagers can carry clean water to their homes.

Since most of the diseases are caused by contaminated water, this water system will go a long way in minimizing the incidence of waterborne diseases here. I appreciate the foundations work, Rao Narbir Singh said, adding a community centre would also be constructed here soon.

The water purification plant was custom-built in China and imported from there; its accessories have been sourced locally, said a representative of DLF Foundation.

Read I Residents come together, demand basic amenities at Gurgaons parks

A primary medicare unit to give affordable medical consultancy and free medicines has also been inaugurated in Teekli. A medical van has also been provided to support doctors and the medical team to move around the village and provide consultancy services.

Village sarpanch Raveena Devi said Teekli has been lagging behind on several parameters but the situation is set to change now with such commendable initiatives.

These initiatives will go a long way in contributing to the overall well-being of the village, said Dr Vinay Sahni, chief executive officer of the DLF foundation. He said the model village project aims at holistic development of villages through multi-stakeholder engagement and sustainable outcomes.
The Haryana Urban Development Authority (Huda), in its single largest property e-auction, on Tuesday sold 9.82 acres of commercial land in Sector 47 of Gurgaon for a whopping Rs 842 crore. Huda put the land up for e-auction on October 6.

The site was successfully auctioned to iconic furniture retailer IKEA, a Swedish multinational group that designs and sells ready-to-assemble furniture, kitchen appliances and home accessories. It is considered to be the largest furniture retailer in the world, an official statement from Huda office stated.

This e-auction has come as a relief to cash-starved Huda, said Vivek Kalia, estate officer (EO), Huda, adding that Huda sold two acres of a commercial plot to Hyundai in Sector 29 in 2016 at Rs 205 crore.

This is not a one-off deal as we have planned auctions of other institutional and commercial properties across the city in the next few months. Gurugram has seen a reduced demand, mainly due to the rapidly changing investment scenario in real estate, especially in the commercial section. However, we are hopeful of selling more properties and generating a good revenue for Huda from the estates of Gurugram, said J Ganesan, chief administrator, Huda.

The site was put up for e-auction three times earlier, but found no takers until the multinational furniture brand placed a successful bid for it on October 31.

Huda officials said more such sites across the city have been identified for e-auction. Huda has earned around Rs 1,260 crore this financial year through e-auctions, officials said.

E-auction registration for this plot was opened on October 6 and the registration ended on October 26. Its reserve price was set at Rs 842,33,27,000 and it was auctioned for Rs 842,38, 27,000, said Kalia.

The Swedish company, founded in 1943, is a global design and lifestyle brand leader that could transform Indias home decor market with its contemporary product line-up, according to experts. It also runs a food division in many countries.

IKEA India has expressed interest in buying the first land parcel in Gurgaon. As of now, the process is under way and we are awaiting approvals from relevant authorities. We will comment further once the process is completed, said an IKEA spokesperson.

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Six women, including actor Olivia Munn, have accused film director Brett Ratner of sexual harassment or misconduct in a Los Angeles Times report.

Munn said that while visiting the set of Ratners After the Sunset in 2004, he masturbated in front of her in his trailer. Munn described the incident, without naming Ratner, in a 2010 collection of essays.

He walked out ... with his belly sticking out, no pants on, shrimp cocktail in one hand and he was furiously masturbating in the other, Munn said. And before I literally could even figure out where to escape or where to look, he ejaculated.

The LA Times report describes other encounters where Ratner aggressively pursued actors, sometimes following them into a bathroom. An extra on Rush Hour 2 named Eri Sasaki said Ratner suggested he would give her a line in the film if she slept with him.

Olivia Munn says Ratner told her he bought several magazines with her on their covers to ejaculate on them. (Shutterstock)

Another extra on the film, Jorina King said he called her in his trailer and asked to see her breasts. She hid in a restroom to escape him. I figured if I could stay out of his eyesight, if I could stay away from him, he will forget about me and he will choose someone else, and that is exactly what happened, King said.

Actors Katharine Towne, Natasha Henstridge and Jaime Ray Newman are the other three women to accuse him.

Police werent contacted about any of the incidents, nor did they result in financial settlements.

Representatives for Ratner didnt immediately respond to queries Wednesday.

Ratner is the latest Hollywood figure to be accused of sexual harassment in a scandal that began after The New York Times published an expose last month about decades of harassment allegations against film mogul Harvey Weinstein.

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Mexican actor Roberto Cavazos and actor-director Tony Montana are the latest celebrities to accuse actor Kevin Spacey of sexual misconduct.

Montana said Spacey groped him in 2003. The filmmaker says he was editing a documentary at Los Angeles hotspot Coronet when the House of Cards star walked in with a group of friends.

I went up to order a drink and Kevin came up to me and put his arm around me. He was telling me to come with him, to leave the bar. (He) put his hand on my crotch forcefully and grabbed my whole package, Montana told Radar Online.

Montana recalled that a seemingly intoxicated Spacey then said to him, This designates ownership.

This image released by Netflix shows Kevin Spacey in a scene from House Of Cards. (AP)

I put my hand down and turned his thumb back to get his hand off it, Montana added.

Cavazos has taken the social media route to recount his tryst with Spacey.

In a letter written in Spanish on Facebook, he said: I myself had a couple of unpleasant encounters with Spacey that were on the edge of being called harassment. Moreover, had I been a woman, I probably would not have hesitated to identify him as such, but I suppose that the lack of a more specifically direct or aggressive action led me to justify the incident as one of those things.

The revelations have come following actor Anthony Rapps claims that Spacey traumatised him by sexually harassing him when he was 14 years old. After this accusation, Spacey came out as a gay earlier this week.

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Lured by governments incentives and disillusioned with the ultra-Left ideology, 16 Maoists on Tuesday pledged to join the mainstream before joint forces of Bihar police and Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) in Sheohar district, close to India-Nepal border.

Bihars cooperative minister Rana Randhir Singh, Tirhut zone inspector general (IG) Sunil Kumar, his counterpart in SSBs Patna frontier Chanchal Shekhar and Sheohar superintendent of police (SP) PN Mishra were present when the Maoists vowed to give up the outdated ultra-Left ideology and shun violence at Sheohar town, 125 km north of Patna.

They, however, did not lay down any firearm before the joint forces during the event.

All the Maoists had been arrested earlier and are currently on bail.

The Maoists who surrendered are involved in a number of cases under the Arms Act, Explosives Act and the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act. These included loot of firearms from looting of firearms from Dekuli police picket in 2002 and killing of six policemen by triggering landmine blast at Shyampur Bhataha in Sheohar district in 2010.

Speaking on the occasion, one of the Maoists, Bullet Singh, said the state governments surrender policy had motivated him to return to the mainstream. We were tired of the hollow Maoist ideology and realised that nothing could be achieved by fighting from forests. There was no social life for us and we were not able to provide education to our children. So we decided to spend normal life in the society by surrendering before the police.

He also appealed to those involved in Maoist violence to lay down arms for a better life.

Sunil Kumar, who heads the police force in the states Tirhut zone, comprising Muzaffarpur, East Champaran, West Champaran, Bagaha (a police district), Sitamarhi, Vaishali, Sheohar, Saran, Siwan and Gopalganj districts, said that the surrender by Maoists was a result of community policing and welfare schemes adopted by the police. We motivated the Maoists to leave their tainted past behind and lead a normal life, he said.

The IG of Sashastra Seema Bal, a border guarding force deployed to undertake anti- Naxal operations in Sheohar district, said the Maoists would be rehabilitated as per the policy of the state government. He also assured all legal help to them.

The Sheohar SP said the police would extend the community policing and other development schemes, being carried out under the security related expenditure programme, to other areas and motivate others to shun crime. Apart from Bullet Singh, the others who surrendered were Baidyanath Paswan, Ramchandra Sahni, Jialal Ram, Shivji Patel, Uma Shankar Sahni, Ashok Sahni, Ganesh Rai, Lalan Rai, Ram Pravesh Rai, Dhananjay Rai, Anil Baitha, Azazul Rahman, Ruplal Rai, Sanjay Patel and Indradeo Sahni , he said. Jialal Ram, 50, a former mukhiya and an active member of the Maoist outfit, was wanted in more than eight cases of violence, including the Shyampur Bhataha blast and loot of fire arms. Umashanakar Sahni has six cases pending against him, while Ashok Sahni has only one, said the SP.

Clearing doubts over legal procedures, the SP said, We have not made any promise to condone cases pending against them. They are at present on bail and will have to face to legal proceedings.

The Maoists who surrendered would receive Rs 1.5 lakh as immediate monetary incentive as per the governments rehabilitation policy. This amount will be deposited in their bank account within a week. As the Maoists are facing major criminal cases, they will be under probation for a period of two years. Their activities will be under surveillance during this period and they can utilise this money only after the probation period. Their dependents will, meanwhile, receive Rs 2,000 per month as sustenance allowance for three years, the SP added.
Spend enough money, crunch enough data  you can prove anything.

A recent study out of the hallowed halls of the University of California at Berkeley found a 70 percent increase in gun deaths and injuries in California communities after gun shows in nearby Nevada cities, but no increase in gun violence following gun shows in California.

If research shows it, it must prove something nefarious about the difference between state gun laws in California and those in Nevada, right?

Our study suggests that Californias strict regulations  on firearms, generally, and on gun shows, specifically  may be effective in preventing short-term increases in firearm deaths and injuries following gun shows, a news account quotes the studys lead author, Ellicott Matthay, a Ph.D. student, as saying.

The study was funded in part by more than $2 million in federal funds from the National Institutes of Health.

The news account detailed the findings, Compared to the two weeks before the gun shows occurred, post-show firearm injury rates remained stable in regions near California gun shows. But post-show firearm injury rates increased from 0.67 per 100,000 people to 1.14 per 100,000 in regions near Nevada shows. This 70 percent increase translates to 30 more firearms deaths or injuries in California near the state line after 161 Nevada gun shows.

There is no mention of whether or not anyone bothered to ask whether any of the guns used in said deaths and injuries had any link to any gun show anywhere ever. It was noted that the California areas near Nevada gun shows are largely rural.

Presumably gun shows in California are largely in urban areas surrounded by typical urban rates of violence less susceptible to spikes than rural areas. If you have 100 incidents in a two-week period, followed by 110 incidents in the next two weeks, there is no spike. But if you have two incidents in two weeks in a rural area and four in the following weeks, thats a spike.

Nor was there any mention of whether there was a spike in gun violence during a new moon as opposed to a full moon.

It is also unclear which gun show intervals were chosen since there are usually at least two gun shows a month in Nevada, meaning the study intervals are likely to overlap.

The news account also duly noted that all firearms sales in California require a background check, including private sales, such as those at gun shows, while Nevada does not. Nevada voters narrowly approved a law requiring background checks prior to private sales, but the law was written in such a way as to make it unenforceable.

The study suggests that travel to less-restrictive states may threaten the effectiveness of firearm laws within California, Matthay was quoted as saying. When a less-restrictive is next to a state that is more restrictive, there may be spillover effects. More research is needed to know for certain.

The news account neglected to mention that federal law prohibits an unlicensed seller transferring a firearm to an individual who does not reside in the same state.

Generally, for a person to lawfully transfer a firearm to an unlicensed person who resides out of State, the firearm must be shipped to a Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL) within the recipients State of residence. He or she may then receive the firearm from the FFL upon completion of an ATF Form 4473 and a NICS [National Instant Criminal Background Check System] background check, according to an Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms website, which answers frequently asked questions.

The last time we checked, federal laws take precedent over more lax state laws.

The Washington Free Beacon quotes John Lott, president of the Crime Prevention Research Center and author of More Guns, Less Crime, as being critical of the Berkeley studys conclusions and methodology.

Lott pointed out that the better metric is to look at what happens in states after they change their gun background check laws. He said his research found a 2 percent increase in firearm murders after laws requiring background checks on private transfers were enacted.

Cause and effect? Coincidence?
Assam on Wednesday began the countdown for the publishing of the updated National Register of Citizens (NRC) with a campaign to remove misconceptions about the exercise.

The deadline is December 31.

NRCs state coordinator Prateek Hajela said the draft would not include original inhabitant, a contentious issue in the state sensitive about identity and culture.

The NRC, first prepared in 1951, is being updated specifically in Assam under the supervision of the Supreme Court to weed out illegal immigrants, a touchy political issue because of large-scale influx of people from Bangladesh over the years.

The issue of original inhabitants generated confusion and controversy after the updating exercise began in March 2013. The SC had specified that only the tea tribes (Adivasis) brought from central India to work in plantations by the British as original inhabitants.

But the vagueness of the definition of original inhabitants  as the opposition Congress pointed out in a memorandum to Hajela a month ago  has troubled many communities perceived as non-indigenous. They include the Muslims, Gorkhas and Bengalis.

We have launched an 11-point campaign to remove misconceptions being spread by some mischief-makers. Our task is to establish the family tree of people with roots in Assam or anywhere in India before March 1971 (the cut-off date for determining illegal immigrants, as per Assam Accord of 1985), Hajela told HT.

The final push for the draft, however, began without nearly 30 lakh people whose fate will be decided by the SC on November 15 following a petition by All Assam Minority Students Union. These 30 lakh are among 47 lakh people who submitted certificates issued by panchayat heads as proof of citizenship. Officials verified the papers and found only 17 lakh to be those of original inhabitants.

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The death toll in the explosion at a government-run coal-fired power plant in Uttar Pradeshs Raebareli district on Wednesday afternoon rose to 26, an official said on Thursday.

A statement from the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) reported a sudden abnormal sound around 3.30pm at a recently commissioned 500 megawatt unit of the 1550 megawatt (MW) plant in Unchahar.

There was an explosion inside the boiler. After the coal burns it gets deposited and has to be cleared. The people who died were engaged in that cleaning, said a senior NTPC executive, requesting anonymity.

The accident occurred in the ash-handling section of the plant and ash gushed out at high-temperature, burying several workers, and engineer at NTPC said.

The plant has been shut down but several workers were still feared trapped under the debris as visuals showed people with severe burn injuries. The cause of the accident wasnt immediately known.

The toll might quickly increase, additional director general (law and order) Anand Kumar told Hindustan Times. State principal secretary Home Arvind Kumar confirmed the death and injuries toll.

The accident occurred in the ash-handling section of the plant and ash gushed out at high-temperature, burying several workers, said Lalmani Verma, an engineer at NTPC.

In NTPC Unchahar, Unit No. 6 at around 1530 hrs on 01.11.2017 there was sudden abnormal sound at 20 mt. elevation and there was opening in corner no.2 from which hot flue gases and steam escaped affecting the people working around the area, Indias largest power-generation utility said in a statement.

Chief minister Yogi Adityanath, who is on a three-day visit to Mauritius, announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh for the families of the deceased, Rs 50,000 for the seriously injured and Rs 25,000 for the injured. Every possible help will be given, he tweeted.

Rae Bareli control room numbers are: 0535-2703301, 2703401, 2703201

Below are the highlights:

9:47pm: Additional director general (law and order) Anand Kumar says 18 people have died in the mishap at the NTPC plant.

9:40pm: PM Modi says hes deeply pained by the accident at the NTPC plant in Rae Bareli.

Deeply pained by the accident at the NTPC plant in Raebareli. My thoughts are with the bereaved families. May the injured recover quickly. The situation is being closely monitored & officials are ensuring normalcy is restored: PM @narendramodi  PMO India (@PMOIndia) November 1, 2017

9:03 pm: Union power minister RK Singh to reach Rae Bareli tomorrow. UP ministers Suresh Khanna and Swami Prasad Maurya leave for Rae Bareli.

8:32 pm: An incident involving a high pressure and high temperature area can have serious repercussions. This appears to be a very unusual incident because NTPC has a high record of safety. Let us wait for the investigation report, says Anil Razdan, Indias former power secretary.

8:15 pm: The injured are being transported to KGMC, Lucknow, Allahabad hospital and Rae Bareli district hospital: ADG (law and order) Anand Kumar.

8:12 pm: Sonia Gandhi asks UP Congress president Raj Babbar to rush to Rae Bareli to help organise relief operations.

8 pm: Chief Medical Officer of Raebareli, DK Singh, says 14 people have died.

7:19 pm: Principal secretary (home) Arvind Kumar said death toll has increased to 12 and 100 injured.

7:13 pm: Minister for labour and employment Swami Prasad Maurya leaves for Rae Bareli to meet victims.

7:11 pm: CISF has cordoned off the blast site and assisting in relief operations.

Our primary objective is to provide immediate medical treatment to those injured: UP ADG (Law and Order).

6:40 pm:

 NTPC                           Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) November 1, 2017

6:30 pm: Union health minister JP Nadda speaks to UP health minister, also asks Union health secretary to extend all possible help.

6:28 pm: Statement released by NTPC.

6:22 pm: Principal secretary health Prashant Trivedi directs all government hospitals in and around Rae Bareli to put doctors on emergency duty.

6:20 pm: Sonia Gandhi asks partymen in Rae Bareli to extend all the possible help to the victims.

Gandhi deputes Dhirendra Srivastava from Rajiv Gandhi Foundation to visit the site and make necessary arrangements for help.

6:19 pm: A massive fire broke out inside and a huge ball of dust rose after the explosion, making rescue operations difficult, an official told IANS.

6:16 pm: Ash-pipe exploded due to pressure at NTPC plant in Rae Bareli, District Magistrate tells ANI.

6:13 pm: Over 150 ambulances have been pressed into relief and rescue work.

The district magistrate and SP rush to the spot.

6:10 pm: KK Singh, Chief Medical Officer, Rae Bareli says eight dead bodies have been moved from the NTPC plant.

6:05 pm: An 32-member NDRF team leaves Lucknow for Unchahaar.

6.00 pm: SP Shivhari Meena tells PTI that according to initial reports 50-60 persons suffered injuries.

5: 55 pm: Rs 2 Lakhs compensation announced for the family of deaceased, Rs 50 thousand for those grievously injured and Rs 25 thousand for other injured workers.

(with inputs from Hindustan and agencies)

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At least eight people were killed and more than 100 injured in an explosion at a boiler unit of the NTPC in Uttar Pradeshs Rae Bareli on Wednesday, an official said.

Additional director general (law and order) Anand Kumar said the death toll was likely to rise as many more were feared trapped inside the 500 MW boiler unit at the NTPC, Unchahar.

Here are some of the worst industrial disasters from the past:

Bhopal gas tragedy, 1984 (Official death toll: 5,295)

In the early hours of December 3, 1984, around 40 tonne of methyl isocyanate gas leaked from a pesticide plant owned by US multinational Union Carbide Corp in Bhopal. The gas was carried by the wind into the surrounding slums .

Almost 33 years since the gas leak tragedy, there is no clarity on the number of dead and those affected, say activists who peg the death figures between 20,000 and 25,000 while the government lists 5,295 deaths.

The central government, in a curative petition filed in Supreme Court in 2010, had sought compensation for 5,295 deaths and 5,27,894 affected from the US firm, now owned by Dow Chemicals.

According to a newsletter of the National Institute of Occupational Health (NIOH), most of the safety systems at the factory were not functioning and many valves and lines were in poor condition, according to an inspection in November 1984.

Bombay docks explosion, 1944 (Official death toll: 800)

Two explosions shook the Victoria Dock of Mumbai (then Bombay) in April 1944, when a freighter carrying a cargo of gold, ammunition and other items caught fire. Ships in the area of the explosion sank after the impact.

Shortly after a fire was reported on board, at 3.50pm, an order to abandon ship was given. Minutes later, two explosions were reported. The two explosions were powerful enough to be recorded by seismographs at the Colaba Observatory in the city.

Chasnala mining disaster, 1975 (Official death toll: 372)

In one of the Indias worst mining disasters, 372 miners died in an explosion  followed by flooding  at the Chasnala coal mine of the Indian Iron and Steel Company (now SAIL) near Dhanbad.

According to the NIOH, the explosion was likely caused by sparks from equipment igniting a pocket of methane gas. Even a small spark can ignite the surges of gas that may suddenly fill a mine. Clouds of coal dust raised by the explosion and accompanying shock wave contribute to these sorts of mine explosions, making the flames self-sustaining, the newsletter on major industrial disasters says.

Korba chimney collapse, 2009 (Official death toll: 45)

Forty-five people were killed when a chimney under construction at a power plant being built at the Bharat Aluminium Company (Balco) in Korba, 230 km from Chhattisgarhs Raipur.

The structure had reached a height of 240 metres when it collapsed on top of more than 100 workers. They had taken shelter from a thunderstorm when the accident happened.

Jaipur oil depot fire, 2009 (Official death toll: 12)

A major fire engulfed an Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) depot in Jaipur, killing 12 people and injuring at least 130.

The fire began in a tank holding 8,000 kilolitres oil. The government newsletter says the blaze continued for more than a week. About half a million people were evacuated from the area after the accident. The accident took place when petrol was being transferred from the IOCs depot to a pipeline.

Mayapuri radiological incident, 2010 (Official death toll: 1)

A big radiation scare in the national capital was reported seven years ago when one person was killed and eight others were hospitalised after exposure to radioactive substances at the Mayapuri scrap yard in west Delhi.

The radioactive substance leaked from the Delhi University equipment auctioned to scrap dealers in Mayapuri.

All of the sources (of the radiation) were recovered by mid-April (2015) and transported to the Narora Atomic Power Station, where it was claimed that all radioactive material originally contained within the device was accounted for, the NIOH says.
The Goa bench of the Bombay high court will hear a plea moved by former Tehelka editor Tarun Tejpal in a sexual assault case on Wednesday.

The petition seeks a stay on a September 7 order by the Mapusa sessions court, stipulating the framing of charges against Tejpal in the case. It was moved by the former editor on September 26.

The high court rejected their request, but asked Tejpal and his lawyer to present their arguments on November 1  following which it would decide on allowing the sessions court to examine witnesses in the case.

Meanwhile, the Mapusa court framed all the charges levelled against Tejpal in the charge sheet filed on November 30, 2013. These include sections 376 (punishment for rape), 354A (sexual harassment), 354B (criminal assault with intent to disrobe a woman), 341 (wrongful restraint) and 342 (wrongful confinement) of the Indian Penal Code.

The Mapusa court hearing is scheduled for November 20. Tejpal is accused of sexually assaulting a former junior colleague during a Tehelka fest at Goa in November 2013.

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A new report by a British Sikh group has called for an independent public inquiry into the exact nature of the UK governments assistance to the Indian Army during the 1984 Operation Blue Star, describing a previous internal review as a whitewash.

Sacrificing Sikhs: The need for an investigation, to be officially launched in the UK Parliament complex, has been produced by the Sikh Federation UK and backed by the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on British Sikhs.

It alleges a cover up by the UK government and dismisses a previous internal review conducted by civil servant Jeremy Heywood in 2014 into alleged British Special Air Service (SAS) involvement in the military operation on Golden Temple in Amritsar as a whitewash.

I am deeply concerned with the findings of the report Sacrificing Sikhs, which demonstrates that the Heywood Review was a whitewash, said Preet Kaur Gill, the first female Sikh MP to be elected to the House of Commons and chair of the APPG for British Sikhs.

The British government, knowing full well of the contribution Sikhs made during both the First and Second World Wars, betrayed their trust and are indirectly involved in the persecution of thousands of Sikhs, she said.

She said the report, commissioned by the Sikh Federation, had unearthed facts that cannot simply be ignored and require further investigation.

The report claims that the then British Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher, had sent an SAS officer to advise the Indian Army ahead of the operation at the Sikh shrine in June 1984 and demonstrated Britains complete support for a military solution.

India requested British training and equipment for its police paramilitary units immediately after the SAS officer had advised on coordinating paramilitary units for an attack on Amritsar. The Foreign Office wanted to supply India with internal security equipment that it knew could be used to raid Amritsar, it claims.

The report, based on archival UK government documents, adds that immediately after the SAS officer carried out his reconnaissance of Amritsar with an Indian special forces unit, Sikhs pulled out of peace talks claiming they had seen a commando unit move into the city.

The negotiations never recovered, and ultimately lead to the all-out-assault in June 1984, it notes.

The report links British assistance for Operation Blue Star to Indias position as one of the countrys biggest purchasers of military equipment in the 1980s during the Thatcher-led regime, who herself shared a close relationship with Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi at the time.

British involvement in the Army operation against extremists inside Golden Temple first emerged in January 2014 with the release of documents under the UKs 30-year declassification rule.

Then Prime Minister David Cameron commissioned the Heywood Review in the immediate aftermath, which concluded that the UKs involvement was purely advisory.

Miller, the author of the latest report, claims the UK government is hiding almost a third of historic files that could shed light on SAS involvement in the Indian para- military operation.

Information about the special forces and intelligence agencies is exempt from disclosure under the Freedom of Information and Public Records Acts, meaning that only an independent inquiry is capable of recovering the truth, he notes.

Opposition Labour party leader, Jeremy Corbyn, who had written to Prime Minister Theresa May earlier this year calling for a fresh, independent investigation into this episode in British history is planning to reiterate his stance in another letter to Downing Street in the wake of the latest report.

Bhai Amrik Singh, chair of the Sikh Federation UK, said: This report casts serious doubts on the adequacy and integrity of the in-house Heywood Review commissioned by Cameron. There has been a massive cover-up and Parliament and the public have been disturbingly misled.

An independent public inquiry to get to the truth is the only way forward.
Congress veteran Ahmed Patel on Wednesday tore into Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani for linking him with a suspected Islamic State (IS) operative, asserting that it was unbecoming of a head of the government to stoop this low and the BJP had no right to speak of terrorism.

BJP speaking of terrorism? he asked, and referring to former Prime Ministers Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi, said Congress leaders have suffered the most because of terrorism.

Speaking at a public meeting here, which was later addressed by Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, Ahmed Patel said, We dont need lessons in nationalism from the BJP. They should look into themselves.

He said, It was unbecoming of a chief minister to stoop so low (to cast outlandish aspersions on him).

Patel was referring to a suspected IS operative arrested by the Anti-Terrorism Squad late last month from Surat who had earlier worked as a technician at a charitable hospital in Ankleshwar where Patel was a trustee over three years ago.

Patel said, I conducted a research. He worked in hospitals instituted by BJP leaders. Care Hospital where he (the IS suspect) worked was inaugurated by the Prime Minister.
A disabled bride and groom convinced 82 guests at their wedding function to fill up a form for organ donation in Sonepat on Tuesday. Shivani, a resident of Sonepats Gari Brahman village, married Delhis Narela resident Ashwini in a day-function.

I decided to marry Ashwini after he promised to extend support for my cause. 5 lakh people in India die in waiting for organ transplant every year.

The couple took an eight pheras to pledge their support for organ donation and filled out the forms from the stage during reception. Their efforts convinced 82 guests to follow suit and fill out forms for organ donation and body donation during the ceremony.

Shivanis family said 52 guests from their side and 30 guests from the grooms side filled forms pledging for organ donation.

Bride Shivani, who suffers from physical disability, said when she studied in college Rohtak, her friend had died due to an organ failure, even as she waited for a donor. From that day onwards, she had decided to work on creating awareness on this issue.

I decided to marry Ashwini after he promised to extend support for my cause. As per reports, 5 lakh people in India die in waiting for organ transplant every year, she said. The brides family welcomed the marriage party (baraat) with posters encouraging organ donation.
Tribal students at the University of Hyderabad are all set to launch a fast unto death from Thursday to protest the administrations attempt to prevent one of their candidates from taking up the post of student union vice-president on the grounds of inadequate attendance.

The students had reopened Velivada, a make-shift protest site at the university shopping complex, and launched a two-day relay hunger strike on Tuesday. We will wait till Wednesday evening. If there is no response from university authorities till then, we will convert the relay hunger strike into a fast-unto-death agitation, tribal student leader Venkatesh Chowhan told Hindustan Times.

It was at Velivada, which translates to colony of outcasts, that five Dalit students went on a hunger strike in January 2016 to protest a ban imposed on them in the aftermath of a clash with Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) students. One of them, Rohith Vemula, committed suicide on January 18  triggering a nationwide uproar.

According to Tribal Students Federation president B Sunder, Alliance for Social Justice (ASJ) candidate Naresh Lunavath had defeated Apoorva Jain of the ABVP by a margin of 250 votes to bag the student union vice-presidents position on September 21. Naresh secured 1,664 votes to Apoorvas 1,434.

However, following a complaint from the ABVP that Naresh lacked the mandated 75% attendance to qualify for the contest, university authorities withheld his ascension and ordered an inquiry into the matter. ASJ representatives submitted evidence showing that Naresh had the required attendance, but the grievance redressal committee appointed by University vice-chancellor Podile Appa Rao reportedly rejected it.

This is absolutely false. The dean of the School of Medical Sciences, Department of Public Health, initially submitted a report that I had 75% attendance. However, she changed her version on three occasions after that. At one stage, she said I had only 64%. She then changed it to 68% and, finally, it was shown as 71%, said Naresh, a first-year Master of Public Health student.

The students decided to launch the fast-unto-death agitation after repeated representations to university officials went in vain.

Meanwhile, a university spokesman said the issue would be referred to a retired judge for an in-depth probe. The retired judge will be given all records and documents pertaining to the elections. The report submitted by a committee appointed to check Nareshs attendance at the School of Medical Sciences will also be furnished before him, he added.

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The all-women crew of an Indian Navy sail boat was on Wednesday hailed as heroes by the State government of Western Australia for taking up an incredibly challenging expedition of circumnavigating the globe.

The six crew of the Indian Naval Sailing Vessel (INSV) Tarini, led by Lieutenant Commander Vartika Joshi, started their maiden voyage on September 10 from Goa and is expected to complete it in about eight months.

Last week, the sailing vessel arrived at Fremantle Port, its first and only stopover in Australia. The next stopovers are Lyttleton (New Zealand), Port Stanley (Falklands), and Cape Town (South Africa).

Welcoming the Indian women, the states Womens Interests Minister Simone McGurk said, I cannot imagine how much bravery, let alone strength and tenacity, it would take to sail around the globe. These women are heroes.

As a Womens Interests Minister, I applaud the six crew for what is an incredibly challenging journey and wish them well as they move onto the next leg.

Read more: Nirmala Sitharaman: All-women Navy teams globe circumnavigation is historic

Minister for Tourism, Defence Issues and Citizenship and Multicultural Interests, Paul Papalia also commended the all women crew, saying I sincerely welcome Lieutenant Commander Vartika Joshi and her crew to Western Australia (WA).

He said that their journey was being watched by millions of people, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi who met the crew before they set off from Panaji.

We are grateful for the opportunity to show India, an emerging tourism market, the wonders of our State through the eyes of such a courageous and groundbreaking group of women, he added.

During their stay in Australia, the crew toured some of the best attractions of Perth, including Kings Park and Rottnest Island.

As a former naval man, I respect the endeavours of the crew of INSV Tarini enormously and wish them well on their journey, Papalia said.

Sharing her experience, Joshi said that the crew had so far experienced a mix of calm weather and rough seas on their about 5,000 nautical mile journey from Goa.

The boat needs to be prepared for the next leg, which is going to be even tougher as we are going to transit to the Southern Ocean, she was quoted as saying in media reports here.

Joshi also said that there was a need for a couple of repairs and servicing of the onboard equipment INSV Tarini.

INSV Tarini is a 55-foot sailing vessel, which has been built indigenously, and inducted in the Indian Navy earlier this year.

When we are working on board we dont really bother about gender...at the end of the day its the work thats most important and its the goal in front of us that needs to be addressed, she said, adding that the sea, they say, is gender neutral and so is the response to the sea.
The Centres representative for Jammu and Kashmir, Dineshwar Sharma, will land in Srinagar on Monday for a six-day visit, sources told Hindustan Times.

He will stay in Srinagar for four days and will leave for Jammu after that to meet various groups and individuals for the next two days, said an official source. Sharma will visit Leh in the next leg of his tour, dates for which have not been announced yet.

The interlocutor is likely to start his itinerary by meeting students and youth delegations.

Understanding their aspirations and expectations from the government is an extremely important part of the dialogue process, said Sharma, who has already met a few delegations in New Delhi. So far, more than two dozen groups, political leaders and individuals have expressed their desire to meet Sharma, added the source.

He is likely to be accompanied by Union home ministry officials dealing with the state.

The government appointed Sharma as the Centres representative on October 24 to initiate and carry forward a dialogue with elected representatives, various organisations and concerned citizens of Jammu and Kashmir. His appointment was announced by home minister Rajnath Singh in a specially convened press conference.

The government has allotted office space for Sharma in the NDCC building opposite Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. Sources said it was yet to be decided if he would have an office in Srinagar too. Following his appointment, Sharma was briefed by the ministrys joint secretary (J-K) Gyanesh Kumar about Prime Minister Narendra Modis package for the state and other issues.

Security agencies also gave him a detailed presentation about the current situation in the Valley. Immediately after his appointment, Sharma had called on the PM and the home minister. Besides, he also held meetings with J&K CM Mehbooba Mufti and governor NN Vohra.

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Varuzhan Avetisyan: You are not a judge, but a revenge tool (video)

At the start of the court hearing on the case of 10 members of the Sasna Tsrer, the defendants entered the courtroom with great enthusiasm, and embraced each other. The case is heard by judge Mesrop Makyan, a judge at Kentron and Nork Marash Court of Common Jurisdiction, was sent to Erebuni Court for 6 months. At the very beginning of the trial Mesrop Makyan asked if there was a motion for self-dismissal. The defendants did not file a motion for self-dismissal, the defendants came up with announcements instead. Gagik Eghiazaryan complained that only the ban on visits of his close relatives was released, but his sister and her two juvenile children were not allowed to meet him. Mesrop manukyan advised him to file a corresponding motion, an he would consider it. The defendant Pavel Manukyan also made a statement, noting that he had taken weapon 28 years ago for the benefit of his nation, and had been sentenced to imprisonment with the same articles by the Turkish authorities. Pavel Manukyan compared the trial with a well-known joke when that "While two drunk residents of Aparan are playing chess, a monkey, following their game, dies from the heart attack." Pavel Manukyan, referring to the judge, said that they were not sued for the crime they had committed. They should have been sued for the attempt to prevent genocide. "I have nothing against you as a person, I said goodbye at home for a year and a half ago, thinking that I would return home with victory." Varuzhan Avetisyan introduced himself as a rebel and said that the criminals in Armenia were captured by the state, and the judge was a component of criminal cooperation. "You are not a judge, but a revenge tool. We are prisoners of war, and have realized our right." The Lonely Wolf, Arayik Khandoyan, also came up with an announcement. He minutely told how he had decided to become a soldier, and then turned to the prosecutor calling her "dear girl" when she protested about the announcement. Judge Makyan noted that Khandoyan was trying to strain the situation in which he would not succeed. There is a break at the moment.
Kerala on Wednesday observed its 61st foundation day with chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan, calling for a secular, democratic and corruption free state.

In a Facebook post, Vijayan said, let us all jointly march ahead for a secular, democratic and corruption-free New Kerala.

Vijayan in an article on the eve of the states formation day, had said with neo-economic policies tightening its grip, some of the high social economic health indicators which the state was always proud of had started sliding.

The LDF government was committed to arrest the trend through its policies, he said in the article published in various newspapers today.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also wished all Keralites on the occasion of Kerala Piravi day.

In a tweet in Malayalam, he said, Will pray for Keralas Peace, development and prosperity in the coming years.

The state was formed on November 1, 1956.

According to Hindu mythology, Kerala was formed by Parasurama, an avatar of Mahavishnu as he threw his battle axe into the sea and from those waters, Kerala arose
National security officials say that lone wolf terror attacks of the type Manhattan witnessed on Tuesday will be sporadically orchestrated in future by self-radicalised so-called Islamic State to keep the idea of the Caliphate alive, particularly after the fall of Raqqa on October 17.

An Uzbek origin American immigrant, Sayfullo Saipov, has been charged with mowing down eight people under a truck with another 11 sustaining injuries.

The next focus of the Islamic warriors could be Wilayat Khorasan (Khurasan Province) to try and re-establish the so-called Caliphate and fulfil Islamic prophecies, the officials added, although the US and Europe will remain the main target of such lone wolf attacks .

According to news reports , in his last address to his followers after the fall of Mosul, Islamic State chief Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi asked his cadre to return to their countries, as the Caliphate in Syria and Iraq was over, and wage jihad rather.

Iraqi intelligence reports suggest that more than 60,000 IS fighters were killed in Syria and Levant leaving another 20,000 alive and ready to wage war in the name of Caliphate.

According to Indian counterterrorism officials, even as the lone wolf attacks continue in the West, there will be efforts by these terrorists to seize territory in either Afghanistan or Central Asia in the name of Caliphate. IS fighters returning from Syria and Levant could take refuge in either South-East Asia or Africa by assimilating with groups like Boko Haram or Al-Shabaab in Africa or Abu Sayyaf in Philippines, they added.

Alarmed by the terror attacks in Manhattan and, earlier, in London, New Delhi is keen to account for each and every individual who fought alongside IS in Iraq and Syria and those who left for Afghanistans Nangarhar province to be part of the Wilayat Khorasan. Intelligence reports indicate that of the 66 Indians who fought in Syria and Iraq, 43 were from the diaspora.

There are 25 people, including 23 from Kerala, who joined the IS in Afghanistan. The total number of Indians killed fighting for IS is 7 to 8. Only two who fought alongside IS have returned.

According to counterterrorism experts, the only way to prevent terror attacks is by each country accounting for its fighters returning home, keeping a close watch on Islamic radicalisation through the internet, and random profiling of suspects to cut down self-radicalisation. Lone wolf attacks, they say, can only be prevented through neighbourhood intelligence.

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At least 20 people were killed and around 100 injured in an explosion at a government-run coal-fired power plant in Uttar Pradeshs Rae Bareli district on Wednesday afternoon. (Highlights)

The plant was shut down and several workers were feared trapped under the debris. The cause of the explosion wasnt immediately known.

The number of casualties might go up once the blades of the boiler are cut, additional director general of police (law and order) Anand Kumar told Hindustan Times.

About 22 people with severe burns were referred to Lucknow, around 110km from the site, the officer said.

A statement from the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) reported a sudden abnormal sound around 3.30pm at a new 500 megawatt (MW) unit of the 1,550 megawatt plant in Unchahar. The unit was commissioned this March.

There was an explosion inside the boiler. After the coal burns it gets deposited and has to be cleared. The people who died were engaged in cleaning, said a senior NTPC executive, who didnt wish to be named.

State principal secretary (home) Arvind Kumar confirmed the death toll and number of injured people.

I saw heaps of dead and badly burnt bodies, there were cries for help when I reached the spot almost 15 minutes after the blast ... It was a horrible scene, said Ram Prakash, a labourer at the plant.

The accident occurred in the ash-handling section of the plant and smouldering cinder and steam gushed out, burying several workers, according to Lalmani Verma, an engineer at NTPC, Indias largest power-generation utility said in a statement.

At that time the temperature was more than 140 degree Celsius and pressure was 765 kilogram millimeter square. It is so high that people within a 100-meter radius can be harmed.

The project supplies electricity to Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan, Chandigarh, New Delhi and Uttarakhand. The plant generates around 640MW.

The government sent a 32-member team of the National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF) to the spot and sent 150 ambulances.

Experts sounded caution on the industrial disaster.

An incident involving a high-pressure and high-temperature area can have serious repercussions. This appears to be a very unusual incident because NTPC has a high record of safety. Let us wait for the investigation report, said Anil Razdan, Indias former power secretary.

Chief minister Yogi Adityanath, who is on a three-day visit to Mauritius, announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh for the families of the deceased, Rs 50,000 for the seriously injured and Rs 25,000 for those with minor injuries.

Every possible help will be given, he tweeted.

PM Narendra Modi said he was deeply pained by the accident.

Deeply pained by the accident at the NTPC plant in Raebareli. My thoughts are with the bereaved families. May the injured recover quickly. The situation is being closely monitored & officials are ensuring normalcy is restored: PM @narendramodi  PMO India (@PMOIndia) November 1, 2017

Some of the injured are being treated at hospitals in Rae Bareli and Allahabad.

My sympathies are with the families of the deceased, Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi tweeted, adding he will visit Rae Bareli on Thursday.

Due to the unfortunate NTPC accident, I will visit Rae Bareli tomorrow morning. Will join Gujarat Navsarjan Yatra in the afternoon.  Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) November 1, 2017

His mother and party president Sonia Gandhi is the parliamentarian for Rae Bareli.

Sonia Gandhi has asked Uttar Pradesh Congress president Raj Babbar to visit the site and meet victims. She is in touch with the people and partymen in Rae Bareli and getting details, said her Lok Sabha representative KL Sharma over the phone.

Union power minister RK Singh will reach Rae Bareli by tomorrow to take stock of the situation, official sources said. UP ministers Suresh Khanna and Swami Prasad Maurya left for the city already.

Former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi approved the power plant in 1981, named after husband Feroze Gandhi. The unit ran under debt for almost 10 years before chief minister Kalyan Singh handed it to NTPC in 1991 to clear the dues, officials said.

(with inputs from Hindustan)
There will be no priests - call them Pundit, Maulvi or Father - to conduct the wedding rituals of the under-aged in Patna anymore.

Even hiring band parties for playing music at such weddings would be a tough ask.

For, before accepting any request to play music at baraats, heads of band parties would have to obtain a written declaration from the guardians of both -the would be bride and groom - that they were of marriageable age- 18 years for girls and 21 for boys.

In case, band parties ignore this direction, and were caught doing so, their licence would be cancelled immediately and punitive action would follow.

Even printers of invitation cards for weddings in the state capital would have to secure a similar declaration before accepting the printing order.

These decisions were taken on Wednesday at a meeting of priests of different religions and other players in wedding ceremonies, with Patna district magistrate (DM) Sanjay Kumar Agrawal. They resolved to create mass awareness against child marriage, a social evil, impacting not only the society but also the minor spouses.

Over 80 persons, including priests, owners of band parties and printing card dealers participated in the meeting.

A month after the Nitish Kumar government launched a campaign to discourage child weddings and the practice of giving dowry in weddings, Priests representing different communities agreed to take it as their moral responsibility to change the society by discouraging the evil of child marriage.

Syed Shah Samimuddin Munimia of Mitan Ghat said Islam never accepted child marriage and he would ask all other Maulvis to ensure they did not conduct such alliances. He praised the DM for bringing all those traditionally and socially associated with arranged marriages on a single platform for a social cause.

Acharya Vinodanand Vaidik said the society should focus on girls education as this alone would make them aware of such evils. Other Hindu priests, Father J Pete and Gyani Daljeet Singh of Takht Sri Harimandirji, amomg others, assured the administration not to conduct wedding rituals of under aged partners.

The priests even stood up and took a pledge to use their authority to create an environment wherein this practice was given up.

Agrawal said all invitation card printers would also have to print their name in a corner of the card since they were also part of the wedding ceremonies. In case of violation of orders, both the band party and card printers would be taken to task, warned the DM.

The Bihar government had launched an anti-child marriage campaign on October 2, with chief minister declaring it an avowed state policy, while taking upon himself to spread the message. A more stringent law on the issue is also on the anvil.
A Facebook user has claimed that the photos of his cousin and differently-abled uncle were lifted off their Instagram account to create memes and turn them into a subject of mockery.

Sudhanshu Pandey said on Facebook that a parody account Sanjay Kapoor on Instagram portrayed his cousin as a naive teenager, who gets repeatedly catfished by an older man, Durgesh. They live in Uttar Pradeshs Varanasi city.

Pandey said the person introduced as Sanjay was, in fact, his cousin Durgesh and the elderly man who catfishes him is the 19-year-olds differently-abled father, Sanjay.

A catfish is a person who creates a fake profile on a social networking site for fraudulent or deceptive purposes.

Durgesh and his catfishing chronicles have become a butt of jokes on social media with people churning out vulgar memes that soon began doing the rounds on popular meme pages on Facebook.

The moment I saw those memes, I was shocked. The person in them was my brother and my uncle, the 22-year-old Kanpur student told the Hindustan Times.

F*CKING durgesh has done it again pic.twitter.com/qogsTu8oN0  Wolf - FUT Trader (@WolfOfFUTStreet) October 28, 2017

Couples costume idea pic.twitter.com/w7NwtWW8y0  piro @ KOUKUN (@piroreos) October 28, 2017

You have been visited by the Durgesh of protection



RT to protect your beloved ones from pedos pic.twitter.com/NtUIaH3MEU  Pik (@Pikmaniac) October 30, 2017

No meet and greets planned but catch me and my guy Durgesh on road for pics and autographs, only if u have brests please x pic.twitter.com/KYPYTaWprb  merajur (@merajurr) October 28, 2017

pour one out for my homie durgesh pic.twitter.com/XqOqXbOVhg  gremblygunk (@PreSerumSteve) October 29, 2017

I reached out to the page administrators and informed them of the incident and they gracefully obliged to take the posts down, he added.

Following the incident, Pandey said his brother has detached himself from social media and rues why he had not made his account private. His family has refused to file a complaint of cybercrime fearing legal hassles.

They also have to take care of my uncle, who has already undergone two brain surgeries. If the family spends their time fighting court cases, how will they take care of him? he asked.

All their photos have been deleted from the Instagram account and the memes have stopped. But Pandey is confident that one day he will get hold of the person.

The scammers used social media to malign his family. Ill use the same to salvage their good name, he said.

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Russias partnership with India is second to none and cannot be compared with its relationship with Pakistan, Russian Ambassador Nikolay Kudashev said on Wednesday.

The purpose of last months military drill with Pakistan was counter-terror cooperation, he said.

Our partnership with India is second to none while we have a normal inter-state relationship with Pakistan, he told reporters during a media briefing on the recently concluded tri-services exercise between Russia and India in Vladivostok.

To a question on Russias two-week military drill with Pakistan near the Russian town of Minralney Vody, he said there was no comparison between ties with India and Pakistan.

Russia favours space for all stakeholders in the region, he said when asked about a possible quadrilateral involving India, Japan, the US and Australia for deeper cooperation in the Indo-Pacific.

There should open cooperation among all countries, he added.

Pressed further, Kudashev underlined the need for a non- bloc regional architecture.

The US has been pressing for strengthening Indo-US cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region.

Japans Foreign Minister Taro Kono said last week that Tokyo favours a dialogue between Japan, the US, India and Australia to further boost strategic partnership.

Asked about Chinas indication that it may once again block the US, France and UKs bid to list Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed chief and Pathankot terror attack mastermind Masood Azhar as a global terrorist, he evaded a direct reply.

We are members of the SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organisation) where there is ample agenda to fight terrorism, he said.

The envoy also spoke about the tri-services exercise between India and Russia from October 19 to 29.

More than 900 soldiers, sailors and air warriors participated in the exercise along with over 1,000 personnel from the Russian defence forces.

A senior official said no decision has been taken on whether the tri-services exercise will be an annual feature.
Indias first home minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel had predicted Indias wars with China and Pakistan, fought over a decade later, in 1950, Goa chief minister Manohar Parrikar has said.

In a three-page letter written to Indias first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru, Patel had also predicted the Doklam issue, Parrikar said Tuesday at a function to mark the birth anniversary of Patel and the death anniversary of Indira Gandhi.

Parrikar said he got an opportunity to read about Patel when he was the defence minister.

I read one of his letters written to Jawaharlal Nehru. In the letter, the subject was about our enemy or adversary along the northern border, Parrikar said.

In 1950, Sardar Patel had predicted what would happen in 1965 (India-Pakistan war)...the war that happened with China, even the Doklam issue, which has come up in the recent times, he added.

He (Patel) was so accurate and perfect, the Goa chief minister said.

Parrikar also made a reference to Kashmir and said the current situation exists because Patels views were not considered.

India and Pakistan fought wars in 1965 and 1971. The India-China war was in 1962. Earlier this year, Indian and Chinese troops were locked in a prolonged face-off in Doklam near Sikkim.
Schools in Chennai and two other districts were ordered closed on Wednesday as vast swathes of Tamil Nadu braced for more rains amid widespread flooding triggered by heavy showers over the past two days.

At least five people were killed in the coastal state after the north east monsoon dumped heavy showers, leading to severe flooding and raising memories of a massive deluge that pummelled Chennai two years ago.

After easing on Tuesday, the rains returned on Wednesday even as the weatherman predicted heavy showers during the day.

Officials said schools were asked to remain closed for the second consecutive day in Chennai, Kanchipuram and Tiruvallur districts due to water logging.

The government, however, said allayed fears of a repeat of the 2015 floods, assuring people that the state was well-prepared this time.

The rain, which began on Monday morning, saw massive water-logging in the capital, sparking traffic snarls as people were forced to walk through waist-deep water to reach their places of work.

The rainfall, however, addressed Chennais water shortage concerns to a large extent.

The rain filled up catchment areas of Chennais reservoirs  Poondi lake, Cholavaram lake, Redhills lake and Chembarapakkam lake  which provide drinking water to the city.
Close on the heels of a swiss couple being assaulted in Fatehpur Sikri near Agra, Uttar Pradesh DGP Sulkhan Singh on Wednesday issued a list of guidelines, including deployment of policemen in plain clothes, more patrolling and installation of CCTV cameras, to prevent such incidents.

Singh has issued directives to all district police chiefs to make necessary arrangements for ensuring security to tourists, a home department spokesman said.

These guidelines require police to take prompt action in cases of eve teasing or sexual assaults on women tourists, lodging of FIRs and action as per the law against the accused, the official said.

The DGP also directed installation of CCTV cameras around places of religious importance, historical sites and other spots of tourist interest besides deploying policemen both in plain clothes and uniform, the spokesman said.

Directions have been issued to identify places frequented by tourists and ensure regular patrolling, the spokesman said, adding that policemen in plain clothes would be deployed to keep an eye on rowdy elements.

The DGP directed deployment of policemen who can speak english in uniform with a badge proclaiming tourist police, the spokesman said.

Phone numbers of senior police officials should be listed at railway stations, bus stations, malls and cyber cafes for prompt information.

Character and physical verification of people associated with tourism including guides, hotel staff, photographers and taxi drivers was also recommended.

Tourists should also be apprised about the UP-100, Twitter, e-FIR services among others, the guidelines issued by DGP Singh said, according to the spokesman.

A couple from Lausanne in Switzerland was chased and attacked with stones and sticks by a group of youths in the Fatehpur Sikri leaving them battered and bruised recently, triggering widespread outrage.

According to reports Quentin Jeremy Clerc, 24, who came to India on September 30 with his girlfriend Marie Droz, also 24, was quoted as saying that they were strolling near the railway station at the Fatehpur Sikri after a day in Agra when the group started following them and later attacked.

The couple said that as they lay on the ground bloodied and bruised, bystanders began taking videos of them on their mobile phones, according to the report. PTI SAB ADS
As the Narendra Modi government proceeds with the grandiose plans for a bullet train between Mumbai and Ahmedabad, a RTI query has revealed that over 40% seats on all the trains on this sector go vacant causing huge losses to Western Railway.

According to RTI replies received by Mumbai activist Anil Galgali, only in the past one quarter, the Western Railways staggering losses on this sector is nearly Rs 30 crore, or around Rs 10 crore per month.

The Indian government is overenthusiastic and plans to spend more than Rs 1 lakh crore on the Bullet Train project, but it has not done its homework properly, Galgali said, adding it raises serious question marks on the viability of the Bullet Train project, whenever it comes up.

The Indian Railways have also admitted that they have no plans to introduce any new trains on this sector which is already in the red.

Replying to Galgalis query on seats occupancy on all the trains between the two cities, the WR revealed that in the past three months, 40% all seats went vacant on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad sector and 44% empty on the Ahmedabad-Mumbai route.

WRs chief commercial manager Manjeet Singh said between July 1 and September 30, there are 32 mail/express serving this sector with a total seating capacity of 735,630 seats on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad sector.

Of these, only 441,795 seats were booked during that period generating a revenue of Rs 30,16,24,623 against the total estimated expected income of Rs 44,29,08,220  incurring a huge loss of Rs 14,12,83,597 in the past quarter.

Similarly, on the Ahmedabad-Mumbai route served by a total of 31 mail/express trains with a seating capacity of 706,446, only 398,002 seats were booked, resulting in a revenue of Rs 26,74,56,982 against the estimated expected income of Rs 42,53,11,471, spelling a massive loss of Rs 15,78,54,489.

The WR provided the data of all the major trains plying on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad-Mumbai route like the Durantos, Shatabdi Expresses, Lokshakti Express, Gujarat Mail, Bhavnagar Express, Saurashtra Express, Vivek-Bhuj Express and others.

Faced with the vacancies on existing trains, the WR Divisional Engineer, Ahmedabad informed that there is no fresh proposal to introduce any new trains on this sector.

In fact, Galgali said that the most popular train, 12009 Shatabdi Express with a capacity of 72,696 seats sold only 36,117 during the July-September period on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad route and in the return direction of the total 67,392 seats, only 22,982 were sold.

This train, which once always ran packed in all seasons both ways has now proved to be a loss-maker, and the executive chair car with 7,505 seats was practically deserted with just 1,469 seats booked, plummeting revenues from the estimated Rs 1,45,49,714 to a paltry Rs 26,41,083 during the last quarter.

The position in all other trains was similar and though there is a higher demand for sleeper class compared to seats, the WR has not done enough to augment its capacity.

Galgali pointed out that given this current alarming scenario, coupled with growing preference for flights and improved road travel, the Central and Gujarat governments must review the expensive option of the Bullet Train before it becomes a white elephant for the Indian taxpayers.

--IANS

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Eduard Sharmazanov: As we are obedient to God, women are obedient to God and their men (video)

In the opinion of the NA Vice President Eduard Sharmazanov there are controversial points in the draft law on the prevention of domestic violence. "The law is problematic in this regard, in particular, there is no certainty about what economic or psychological violence is, whether shelters are needed if there are more people there, who takes care of those expenses, if there are problems with the parent's authority, etc." Eduard Sharmazanov reminded of Serzh Sargsyan's statement in 2016, that the cornerstones of our society are a traditional families, "and those points that create a problem for the family's value system should be reviewed. A traditional family does not include violence, there is no normal man who would support violence. It should be explained whether there is a social need for this law. It is another thing if its purpose is to create healthy families." The NA Vice President Eduard Sharmazanov explained his idea: "Having traditional Armenian families does not mean wearing traditional costume, but having families where women and men have their own roles." And then he quotes a Biblical idea: "As we are obedient to God, women are obedient to God and their men. That is the Biblical law, one can accept, another cannot." Details are available in the video
Two little girls were electrocuted when they stepped on a submerged live power line close to their slum near Perambur in north Chennai Wednesday afternoon as rain lashed the city for much of the day.

Local police said three girls - all aged eight years - of RR Nagar in Kudungaiyur were playing in the locality when two of them  Bhavana and Yuvashri  stepped on the live cable and were knocked unconscious. The third girl escaped possible death by jumping on to a concrete slab. The girls were rushed to a hospital where they were declared brought dead. The deceased were daughters of daily wage labourers.

Residents of the slum who went to rescue the girls found that they had stepped on the power cable that was hidden in stagnant water. Electricity board workers allegedly left the livewire which had submerged in a pool of rain water.

Power supply to the area was cut to prevent any further incident.

The slum residents held a protest against the negligence of the electricity department staff for leaving cables open near the junction box.

The government which announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs 2 lakh each for the parents of the children, came under fire from the opposition DMK which said the compensation was simply inadequate.

Rebel AIADMK leader TTV Dinakaran held the government responsible for the tragedy. The death is due to the lethargy of the state government, he said.

Actor Kamal Haasan tweeted that the compassion shown as well as the ex-gratia announced by the government were inadequate.

Read more: Schools in Chennai closed as city braces for heavy rains

The government meanwhile promised strict action against the erring officials.

We will take all steps to prevent recurrence of such tragic incidents, power minister P Thangamani said.

He requested the people to report any such open wires, junction boxes and sudden power outages to the officials concerned.

Schools were closed for the second consecutive day on Wednesday because of heavy which started around 10.30 am and continued in spells across Chennai city and neighbouring areas.

According to the Met office, heavy to very heavy rain will occur in Chennai and coastal Tamil Nadu. For the 24 hours ending 8:30am Wednesday, areas near Chengalpet about 50 km southwest of Chenai received 100mm of rain and the state capital go 40 mm of rain.

Overnight rain caused water logging in several areas of the city.

Vyasarpadi, Perambur, Choolai and Otteri in North Chennai, West Anna Nagar in Central Chennai and few areas in south Chennai were inundated Wednesday. Rain submerged access to the Korathur ESI hospital in north Chennai giving patients a hard time.

Suburban areas of Mudhichur in Kancheepuram district that was among the worst affected in 2015 floods are facing inundation.

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Two men on their way to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir allegedly to receive training as militants were nabbed in the frontier district of Kupwara in north Kashmir, police said on Tuesday.

They identified themselves as Danish Ghulam Lone (20) and Suhail Ahmad Bhat (21), both from Pulwama district, Kupwaras senior superintendent of police Shamsheer Hussain told reporters.

The men were arrested after a cordon was laid in the area and they were found moving suspiciously, in their attempts to cross over to the other side, Hussain said.

Some incriminating documents, including the map of areas adjoining to LoC (Line of Control) and some posters of HM outfit, were also recovered from the possession of the arrested youths, he added.

The arrested men disclosed during preliminary interrogation that they were motivated by an active Hizbul Mujahideen militant, Adnan, operating in Pulwama/Awantipora of south Kashmir, to join the militant ranks and go to PoK for arms training, police said.

They further disclosed that said HM terrorist Adnan had also asked them to visit the Central Jail Srinagar and meet one HM cadre Ishaq Paul, a militant under detention, Hussain said.

India accuses Pakistan of training and then sending militants across the border to launch attacks and support a separatist movement against the government. Pakistan denies the allegations.

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President Donald Trump on Wednesday spoke about tightening the already extreme vetting process to those who would like to migrate or travel to the US after New York witnessed its worst terror attack since 9/11 that killed eight people and injured 11 others.

Indian officials said they await the plan the US administration would put in place, which wouldnt be country-specific, and pointed out that natives from India were not singled out by the Trump government in any manner when he came up with immigration-control measures in the past.

Some experts, too, agreed with this viewpoint but said the measures taken by the US under its sovereign right to improve its homeland security wont target a country such as India.

The President spoke again on the same line that he has been talking about on tightening homeland security, immigration and travel procedures to the US. We need to first see what plan Washington would put in place before commenting on the development, a government source said on condition of anonymity.

The source, however, clarified that India was never singled out by the Trump administration in any manner on security concerns. We are not among the countries whose nationals are of security-concerns to any other country.

Other experts agreed with this, but said that the Trump administration would put in place fresher, tighter mechanisms that everyone has to live with.

What the US does in terms of its homeland security, immigration policies and visa procedures are the sovereign right of that country. President Trump has been talking about these issues, including the measures targeting people from certain Muslim countries that were struck down by the courts, said Lalit Mansingh, former foreign secretary who had also served as the countrys envoy to the US. Such measures are something everyone has to live with, he said.

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Ear to the ground, a belated realisation, and some behind the scene manoeuvring prompted the Bharatiya Janata Party to prop up veteran Prem Kumar Dhumal as its chief ministerial candidate in Himachal Pradesh on Tuesday.

The need to inject enthusiasm among BJP workers, who were confronted with confusion about the face, and keep the house united was the most compelling reason behind the last minute change in the strategy  from the earlier position of not declaring a CM candidate.

Few calculations on the drawing board and a feedback taken over last 10 days made the BJP leadership realise Dhumal was their best bet, a party leader involved in Himachal Pradesh election told the Hindustan Times.

There were at least four claimants for the chief ministers post.

Kangra strongman Shanta Kumar, 83, was ruled out, given that he has passed the undeclared age bar of 75 in the BJP to take up ministerial jobs. His anger at being sidelined had cost the party dearly in the 2012 assembly election. The BJP could win just three out of 15 assembly seats in Kangra, as rebel candidates played spoilsports.

Kumar threw some tantrums ahead of ticket distribution this time as well but BJP chief Amit Shah and his managers swung into action well in time. Kumar was taken on board and his men got tickets. So far so good.

BJPs state president Satpal Satti also got edged out following poor ratings in the surveys commissioned by the party.

The saffron partys organisational secretary for northeast Ajay Jamwal, a leader from Himachal, was considered a dark horse but he needed a three-year break from his current responsibility as a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) pracharak (volunteer) to take up a political role.

Jamwal was not known as a public figure either and faced strong opposition from established leaders of the hills.

That left the BJP with two options  Dhumal and Union health minister JP Nadda.

Between them, Dhumal came from a dominant caste of Thakurs who are over 28% of the states population. Dhumal is a two-time chief minister and a known figure in the hill state, who also commanded support among the decisive majority of sitting legislators. Most of those who got a ticket this time were also his loyalist.

Dhumal and Nadda both come from lower Himachal, an area with a greater number of assembly seats than upper Himachal. But the former chief minister figured higher than Nadda in popularity ratings in party surveys and feedback from the state leaders confirmed it.

Nadda, a suave Brahmin leader with ABVP background, lost out to Dhumal with the party realising that his projection may also turn the majority community against the BJP. Congress CM candidate Virbhadra Singh too is a Thakur.

The Union minister is not considered a mass leader and has the reputation of being an organisational man, a role that he will play in the upcoming elections.

The assembly poll in the hill state is scheduled on November 9 and results will be declared on December 18.

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Poachers guns were silent in Assams Kaziranga this year. Well, almost.

Only two rhinoceros were killed this year, the lowest count since 2001 for the national parks world-famous residents prized for their horn that feeds a multi-million dollar clandestine international market for the ivory and its perceived aphrodisiac properties.

According to park data, poachers gunned down 143 of these endangered and protected animals in 12 years but almost 70% of them were murdered since 2012, triggering calls for better conservation efforts.

Park rangers turned to sustained surveillance, stakeouts and stealth to track down poachers, especially nightly intruders. They use night-vision cameras, drones and eight 90-foot towers kitted out with cameras that stream live video feeds to a control room.

These cameras enable us to track poachers and take action before they strike, Kaziranga director Satyendra Singh said.

The park guards carry sophisticated weaponry now, advancing from the antiquated 303 service rifle that fired less and misfired more. And they built a better coordination network with other government agencies, especially the state police, in the fight to save the 430-square-km Kazirangas wildlife.

We use night-vision cameras and AK-series rifles in our fight against poachers, said 51-year-old Deben Borah, officer in-charge of Jakhalabandha police station near the park, whose team caught 260 poachers in three years.

The government set up a fast-track court and eight killers were convicted this year alone.

Police confiscated illegal arms from villagers near the park, dealing a blow to poachers who pay poor locals and rely heavily on them for logistics.

Most poachers are members of insurgent outfits or sharpshooters from neighbouring states.

Villagers were warned about the consequences of helping poachers and provided alternative livelihood options by training them to weave clothes and make handicrafts. The authorities set up 38 eco-development committees to help the people.

These confidence-building measures coupled with frequent interaction with villagers led to better intelligence gathering and more arrests of poachers, Singh said.

Statistics point to the difference these efforts made in the 10 months of 2017, after 18 deaths the previous year.

Chattra Bahadur Thapa, panchayat president of Amguri village adjacent to the parks Burhapahar range, said: The efforts showed results this year.

But officials are aware poachers would up their game too, with more advanced weapons and techniques. The lure of the rhino horn is not easy to resist. It fetches nearly Rs 1 crore a kilogram in the international market, especially China.

We cant be complacent as poachers are expected to change strategies, Singh said.

Rhinos in Kaziranga were relatively safe this year, although torrential rain this summer flooded large tracts of the park and put the animals in a spot of bother.

The killers turned to Assams other reserved forests, killing two rhinos in Pobitora wildlife sanctuary and three in Orang national park.

The winter would be crucial as some rhinos could venture out for greener pastures. The authorities will have to be vigilant, said Bibhab Talukdar, the founder of wildlife NGO Aaranyak.

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Too many cooks spoil the broth. Or so it seems for the Congress and best explains its dilemma in not naming the partys chief ministerial candidate in poll-bound Gujarat.

A top-heavy Congress is wary that the move could backfire at a time when it has managed to create some political buzz in the home state of Prime Minister Narendra Modi after 22 years.

Assembly elections in Gujarat will be held in two phases on December 9 and 14.

Congress general secretary in-charge of Gujarat, Ashok Gehlot, had spelt out the party strategy at the beginning of the campaign, asserting that all leaders should first work unitedly to capture power and then the high command will take a call.

The move resulted in the exit of veteran leader Shankersinh Vaghela who later vented his anger during the Rajya Sabha elections on August 8. In one of the bitterly fought contests, Sonia Gandhis political secretary, Ahmed Patel, snatched victory in a nail-biting finish to get re-elected to the Upper House for the fifth time.

That set the momentum for the Congress, which began to exude confidence that it could beat the apparently invincible BJP under Modi and Amit Shah after the saffron partys 19 years of uninterrupted rule in Gujarat.

Congress president Sonia Gandhi had once said that too many leaders spoil the partys chances in states.

The challenge for the party was to set its house in order and stem further divisions in the already faction-ridden unit in Gujarat. Not naming the face was part of the new tactics.

Political experts, however, dont give an edge to the BJP on this aspect.

While there is factionalism in Congress, the BJP too is at disadvantage this time. Chief minister Vijay Rupani does not have the stature of Modi. Both parties are facing the same problem, said political analyst Achyut Yagnik.

Congress leaders admit that the problem of plenty had plagued the party in the past but claim that unity is the new mantra.

Factionalism was rampant during Vaghelas time. But this is not a factor now and, moreover, no Congress leader is powerful in individual capacity, party spokesperson Kailash Kumar Gadhvi said.

We are a democratic party and dont have a tradition of naming the CM candidate. Legislators are given the right to elect their leaderIts a team work, he added.

But an overdrive to hard-sell the unity theme is unlikely to go unnoticed.

So, when Patidar quota agitation leaders and Hardik Patels associates visited Congress headquarters at Ellisbridge in Ahmedabad on Monday, the presence of Gujarat Congress chief Bharatsinh Solanki with two former state unit presidents, Arjun Modhwadia and Siddharth Patel, was ensured to drive home the message of concord.

While these three lack mass appeal, the other names such as Congress legislature party leader Mohansinh C Rathwa, his predecessor Shaktisinh Gohil and working president Tushar Chaudhary, son of former chief minister Amarsinh Chaudhary, too dont evoke much enthusiasm among voters.

The Congress also cannot bank upon its central leaders hailing from Gujarat -- Ahmed Patel, Madhusudan Mistry and Deepak Babaria -- for a turnaround.

So much so that the party went into a tizzy when messages started circulating on social media that if the Congress manages to win the elections, Ahmed Bhaijaan will be its chief minister. A web poll asking who will be the better CM  Vijay Rupani, Ahmed Patel or Vaghela  has further triggered panic buttons in the Congress.

State leaders have suggested that Ahmed Patel should himself set at rest all such speculation, else it could hurt the partys poll prospects. Its all baseless. BJP is visibly anticipating defeat and hence resorting to such dirty tricks, he told Hindustan Times.

In absence of a mass leader at the state level, the grand old party has drawn up a campaign strategy that seeks to revive the legacy of Gujarat-born Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and at the same time showcases the present leadership.

The theme Mahaan Netratava ki Mahaan Parampara (Great tradition of great leadership) has the pictures of Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Patel, Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi.

State leaders Solanki, Rathwa, Modhwadia, Gohil and Siddharth Patel figure in Congress Aave Che  Navsarjan Lave Che (A Resurgent Gujarat under Congress) campaign that also has the pictures of Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi.

Whether this balancing act works for the Congress or the BJP continues to reap rich electoral dividends from the Modi magic will be known after the grand finale of Gujarats game of thrones on December 18.

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After failing to score big in the ODI series, India opening batsman Shikhar Dhawan bounced back with a half-century in the first T20 between India and New Zealand at the Ferozeshah Kotla ground. (India vs New Zealand, 1st T20 - HIGHLIGHTS)

Dhawan, who aggregated 91 runs in the three-ODI series which India won 2-1, got off to a solid start when he slammed two consecutive boundaries off left-arm paceman Trent Boult. The local boy helped a loosener from the Kiwi seamer to the fine leg boundary and then flicked a length ball through mid-wicket. (India vs New Zealand, 1st T20 - SCORECARD)

The Indian opener was given a life when Mitchell Santner dropped him at cover point.

From there on, Dhawan continued to pile on the runs as he dispatched a wide delivery from Boult past fine leg. He then cut a wide delivery past the point fielder to move into the 20s.

Shikhar Dhawan was well supported by Rohit Sharma, who started off cautiously. The Indian team vice-captain also got a fresh lease of life when he was dropped by Tim Southee at long off on the bowling Colin de Grandhomme.

Dhawan reached his fifty off 37 balls with a single off Santner to fine leg. It was his third T20 fifty and the first against New Zealand.

He ultimately fell at 80, which is his highest score in T20Is. He failed to read a googly off leg-spinner Ish Sodhi and Tom Latham did the rest from behind the stumps.

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Only 64% of eyes donated in the state last year have been utilized while the remaining was discarded as they were not suitable for transplantation.

Its disappointing keeping in mind that the Indian National Survey of Blindness revealed that the second highest population (2.5%) of visually-impaired in the country is in Rajasthan. Tamil Nadu has the highest visually-impaired population (2.7%). Hence, on an average around 35-38%, corneas are being wasted.

In Rajasthan, eye donation and transplant facilities are available in Jaipur, Udaipur, Bikaner and Jodhpur Medical Colleges.

Medical education department statistics show that last year 1,477 people donated their corneas in these four medical colleges. Only 951 were transplanted.

The highest wastage rate was in Bikaner College, where last year 136 eyes were donated, but only 13 were used. Also, most donated corneas have not been used in Bikaner in last five years.

In Jaipur, 1,254 eyes were donated out of which only 904 were transplanted.

All donated corneas have to be evaluated on different parameters. Those found unsuitable are not transplanted, said Dr JK Chauhan, ophthalmology expert at SMS Medical College, Jaipur. He claimed that the position of the eye transplant is better in India when compared to countries like America.

An eye specialist of a private eye clinic, who did not want to be named, said that the cornea should be donated within six to eight hours of a persons death. In some cases, after donation either the cornea gets infected or is not stored in time. The doctor said that most elderly suffer from some disease and corneas donated by them are unfit for transplant. Also, corneas are screened for various diseases, such as sexually transmitted diseases, HIV, hepatitis B and others before they are used.

The worrying aspect, however, is that according to the National Programme for Control of Blindness (NPCB), 1.2 lakh live with corneal blindness in India. Around 20,000 cases are added every year. These people need a transplant to regain their vision.

Under NPCB, Rajasthan had set a target of collecting 1,200 donated corneas this year. Until June 2017, only 396 eye donations were made.

An official, on the condition of anonymity, said that the rate of cornea wastage in Bikaner is the highest in the last five years, but no effort is being made to reduce it. After grabbing headlines for cornea wastage six years ago, SN Medical College, Jodhpur, closed its eye bank and started a new system. Now, we send the donated eyes to the Jaipur eye bank. According to the transplant demand, we ask from corneas from them. This pooling system ensures that corneas dont get damaged, said SN Medical College ophthalmology head Prof. Arvind Chauhan.

Also damaged corneas are not always wasted, a lot of them are used for research, said Prof. Chauhan.
The toll in the transformer explosion Jaipurs Khatauli village rose to 14 Wednesday, officials said. The victims include a pregnant woman and her stillborn child. The explosion near Shahpura town Tuesday had killed five persons at the spot while injuring 22 others.

D S Meena, medical superintendent of SMS Hospital, where most of the injured were admitted, said, Five people had died during treatment last night while three others succumbed on Wednesday. They all were admitted with severe burn injuries.

Women were performing Bhaat ceremony (pre-wedding function) when the incident took place. Five persons had died on the spot and 22 others were rushed to the SMS Hospital. Out of the 22, nine more deaths, mostly that of women, have been reported. The casualties also included a pregnant lady. Three persons were discharged, DSP Shahpura, Bhag Chand Meena, said.

Jaipur collector Siddharth Mahajan confirmed the report. Seven people were undergoing treatment at the hospital, he said.

Union Minister and Jaipur Rural MP Rajyavardhan Rathore visited the site of the explosion in Khatulai village and also met the family members of the injured at SMS Hospital.

Sources said that the transformer had been repaired an installed only six days ago. Jaipur discom managing director RG Gupta told HT that reports of oil leakage from the transformer were incorrect. He termed the explosion a rarest of rare case.

On Tuesday, state power minister Pushpendra Singh had ordered an inquiry into the incident. The government has announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh each to the kin of the deceased.

The Jaipur Vidhyut Vitran Nigam Limited (JVVNL) will give Rs 5 lakh to family of the deceased and additional Rs 5 lakh will be provided through CM relief fund, the DC said.

Chief minister Vasundhara Raje ordered a high-level probe into the incident after meeting the victims at the SMS hospital.

Congress leader Sachin Pilot called the incident unfortunate and said the explosion took place due to non-maintenance of the transformer. It is a very unfortunate incident and a high-level probe should be ordered to identify the people responsible for the negligence, he said in a statement.

Meanwhile, villagers and local leaders thronged the area in protest against the electricity department for alleged criminal negligence.

The bereaved families also refused to send the bodies for postmortem, until an investigation was ordered and adequate compensation announced.
The Rajasthan government Wednesday issued notification for implementation of 7th central pay commission for IAS, IPS and IFS officials. The pay scale will be applicable from January 1, 2016, including arrears.

The department of personnel said that the central government has accepted the recommendations of the 7th pay commission for revision of the pay scale of All India Services. In this context, ministry of personnel, public grievances and pension department of personnel and training, Government of India had issued notifications for IAS on September 8, 2016; IPS on September 23, 2016 and IFS on September 28, 2016.

The state government has decided to apply the pay scale with effect from January 1, 2016 after sanction by the Governor, it said.

Earlier, two days before Diwali, the government had announced to extend the benefits of 7th pay commission to state government and officials. It issued a notification on October 30. The notification, issued by the finance department, is effective from October 1, 2017. The decision will benefit over 12 lakh government employees and pensioners, according to officials.
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In two separate incidents in Bengal, two women  a senior citizen and another in her middle age - were virtually forced to live as prisoners for days without enough food after their children locked them up and went on holidays. Both women are widows.

On the morning of October 29, the people of Anandapur in the south east fringes of Kolkata discovered to their horror that 96-year old Sabita Nath was locked up alone in her house for the past four days. Her son Bikash locked her in the house without adequate food and took off for a vacation to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands on October 25. Bikash is still on vacation.

On the morning of October 31, people in the steel city of Durgapur, 170 km northwest of Kolkata, were shocked to find a similar incident when 55-year old Debjani Kumar called neighbours from her window and told them that she had been locked up for 12 days by her daughter and son-in-law who had gone to a relatives place in Asansol.

Sabita Nath who was extremely weak after going without adequate food for the past three days, did not have the strength to call her neighbours for help. She was lucky to be discovered by her daughter, Jayashree Kayal, who came to visit her on October 29 morning.

She found the door locked from outside but could hear some noise inside the washroom. Along with locals, she informed the police who broke open the lock and rescued Nath.

Jayashree who lives in Barackpore, 30 km away from Kolkata, had no idea that her brother had gone on vacation.

Had I known that my brother was going on vacation, I could have stayed with my mother, she said.

In Durgapur, Debjani Kumar ran out of food on October 30. Finally on the morning of October 31, unable to bear hunger pangs she drew the attention of neighbours who informed the police who rescued her.

Debjani Kumar was locked up inside the house and lived without food for 12 days in Durgapur.

As the word of Kumar being rescued by the police spread, her daughter Priyanka Burnwal and son-in-law Vijay Burnwal rushed back to Durgapur from Asansol which is around 45 km away. On return, they faced the wrath of the locals, some of whom thrashed the couple.

Recently there have been a few incidences in Bengal where the courts had to intervene in disputes between warring parents and children. In January this year, the Calcutta high court delivered a verdict that children living in their parents residences will either have to respect their wishes, or arrange for their own accommodation.

On February 14, the high court pulled up a person and his wife for denying his mother the share of the house that his father left behind.

And recently, an old woman arrived in a Alipore court in an ambulance to attend the hearing of a case against her son.
Jadavpur University vice-chancellor Suranjan Das on Wednesday led a rally against alcoholism and substance abuse on the campus, marking the first such instance at the 62-year-old premiere institute.

In April this year, the Ministry of human resource development released the list of top 10 educational institutions in the country. JU ranked 5th, one step ahead of Delhis Jawaharlal Nehru University.

Apart from Das, members of the administration and faculty walked around the campus alongside 400-odd students.

The banners they carried read, thinking is a better option than drinking, love your family, not alcohol and make JU free of drugs.

JU students have participated in protests connected to a wide range of social issues. Its time they started addressing drug abuse as well, the organisers announced over microphone as they toured the campus.

Read: Students suspend agitation after Jadavpur University executive council writes to govt

Speaking at the inauguration, Das said the university was doing extremely well in academics, given its national and international ranking, but substance abuse among students remained a cause for concern.

Asked why the authorities were not taking disciplinary action against errant students, Das said, We believe dialogues work better than enforcement or punishment. JU has a very liberal atmosphere. Students here learn to raise questions and argue. Thats an integral part of JUs culture. We, too, believe in the same.

Incidentally, JU, a bastion of various brands of Left-wing students organisations, has often been described by the Akhil Bharat Vidyarthi Parishad (students wing of RSS) and the Trinamool Congress Chhatra Parishad as a haven for alcoholics and ganja smokers. The three students unions in the science, humanities and engineering sections always rubbish the allegation. However, majority of these union leaders were not seen in the rally on Wednesday.

Read: Row over Facebook post naming 60 academics as sexual harassers

The programme was initiated by a section of research scholars and later supported by non-teaching staff and members of the faculty.

In the campaign material, JU was described as a citadel of education, culture and protest. Explaining this, Das said, Protests and movements are part of JUs heritage. This, too, is a social movement. We firmly believe that dialogues and awareness campaigns will help us fight rising alcoholism and substance abuse among students.

Das, a historian who joined JU in 2015 after resigning as vice-chancellor of Calcutta University, is considered one of the most efficient VCs in JU, an institution that is known to be trouble-prone.

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The West Bengal government has given nod to a cheap housing scheme for poor people who have been displaced from shanties in urban areas because of new development projects.

The scheme, named Amar Bari (my home) by chief minister Mamata Banerjee, was approved by the state cabinet on October 30.

The beneficiaries will be allotted apartments for which registration fee and stamp duty will be nominal.

State parliamentary affairs and education minister Partha Chatterjee told HT that each apartment will cover around 285 square feet.

The housing department will develop multi-storey buildings in areas selected in different cities and towns. The department will work out details of the project and set a deadline for its completion, said Chatterjee, who is also the Trinamool Congress secretary general.

The housing scheme is supposed to help shanty dwellers who were affected by different urban development projects such as the East-West Metro and several flyovers and beautification programmes.

The very name of the scheme should make the beneficiaries feel proud as property owners. This is a unique scheme in the country because the apartments will come virtually free of cost, said Chatterjee.

The buildings will come up on vacant plots either owned by the state housing department or the West Bengal Housing Infrastructure Development Corporation (HIDCO).

The scheme, state officials said, is aimed at redressing the controversial issue of rehabilitation for victims of development.

Significantly, the Mamata Banerjee government has stubbornly stuck to its policy of not having any role in acquisition of land for industry and infrastructure.

Ever since she took over as chief minister in 2011, Banerjee has always asked private investors to buy their own land. This policy has often drawn criticism from the industry and even been described as unfriendly to investors.

A housing department official who preferred to remain anonymous (only a minister is authorised to speak to the media on a cabinet decision) said certain pockets in Rajarhat-New Town in the eastern fringe of Kolkata, Kidderpore and Chetla areas in south Kolkata and a few plots under the Howrah Municipal Corporation have been identified for the low-cost housing project.

All these are vested lands. Hence, availability of land will not be a problem, he said.

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The Sahar police have arrested 30 men, aged between 21 and 43 years, for trying to travel with fake air tickets and visas to Kuwait from Mumbai airport. The men said they are from Uttar Pradesh (UP) and that they were given the tickets by three agents who promised them jobs in the Middle-Eastern country.

The police have also booked the agents, identified as Briddhi Chandra Jaiswal, said to be the kingpin, Roshan and Jogendra Sharma for cheating and forgery. The fliers demanded that a separate first information report (FIR) be filed against the agents instead of clubbing their cases. Jaiswal used to run his office from Navghad in UPs Siddharth Nagar district.

The fraud came to light after the 30 men queued up with their boarding passes at 2 am on Sunday. The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) caught them and handed them over to the Sahar police the same day. An official from Sahar police said that in all, 95 people had come from UP to the city. Each of them allegedly paid Rs 1 lakh  in two instalments  to the agents for jobs, visas, tickets and passports. They checked into a hotel in Jogeshwari (West) on Thursday. The hotel was booked by Jaiswal, Roshan and Sharma, added the official. Roshan and Sharma came to the hotel on Saturday night and gave fake visas and tickets to the 90 men, and took the rest of the money from them. The remaining five people were told that they would get their tickets, visas and passports before they board the flight, said Ram Jaiswal, cousin of one of the arrested men, Rahul Vijay Kumar, 22.

The three agents had promised all of them jobs and had given them air tickets, visas and passports at the hotel, said Ram Jaiswal. Rahul approached the accused Jaiswal about six months ago for a job and gave him Rs 60,000. Like many others in the group, he promised to pay the rest after getting visas and tickets.

A group of 15 people first reached the airport around 1 am on Sunday. When they went to collect their boarding passes, the airport authorities detected that tickets were fake and informed the CISF. By the time, another 15 people from the group had also entered the airport.

The rest 65 people were wary of going to the airport as they saw their fellow passengers being questioned by the CISF, which handed them over to the Sahar police.

The arrested men claimed that they did not know that the tickets were fake. The rest 65 people also went to Sahar police station to file a complaint against the agents. The flyers have been booked for cheating and forgery. We will send a police team to Siddharth Nagar for an inquiry and catch the agents, said senior inspector Lata Sirsat of Sahar police station. The police are checking CCTV cameras of the hotel to arrest the agent.

Dharamvir Singh, SP Siddharth Nagar, told HT that neither the Mumbai police nor the state police have contacted them. He said he would contact the Mumbai police.
An 80-year-old man from Thane was killed after his car hit the railings along the Mumbai-Pune highway on Wednesday.

Police said Dattatray Tawde was driving towards Pune alone.

As he was crossing Khalapur, he lost control of the vehicle. Police have not yet ascertained how this happened.

Tawde suffered severe injuries on his head and other parts of his body. He was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he died after sometime, said an officer from Khalapur police station, who did not wish to be identified.

Police identified the body based on the Aadhaar card they recovered from his pocket. They informed his family about the accident.

Tawde had undergone an eye operation a month ago. His son had told him he would take him to Pune after a few days. But, Tawde could not wait and decided to drive himself. He was probably unwell and that might have caused him to veer off track, the officer said.

Police handed over Tawdes body to his family after a postmortem was conducted at a civic hospital at Khalapur. The postmortem report is awaited.

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The ouster of vice-chancellor Sanjay Deshmukh has brought in uncertainty over elections for various statutory bodies, such as the senate, academic council, management council, boards of studies and board of examination at the University of Mumbai (MU).

At a time when most public universities in the state are busy with elections, the MU is yet to publish voters lists for various constituencies. Officials said they will not be able to meet the November 30 deadline, as prescribed in the law, for forming these bodies.

Every non-agricultural public university functions through various governing bodies, which are responsible for making policies and taking important decisions on administrative and academic matters. For the last two years the university has been working without full-fledged governing bodies, owing to the state government's embargo on elections. While the embargo was lifted when the state introduced a new law to govern the states public universities - Maharashtra Public Universities Act 2016, the delay in conducting elections means that the varsity will have to continue working with ad-hoc bodies.

An official from the university said that the election process has been delayed due to crisis around assessment of answer sheets. The elections will eventually be held but we may not be able to stick to the statutory deadline. Theres no clarity from acting vice-chancellor Devananad Shinde as to if and when the elections will be held, he said.

Shinde remained unavailable for comment.

Currently, all the top positions at the varsity are filled with temporary officials. Sources said these officials are reluctant to initiate the election proceedings, as they are unsure about their own tenure.

The absence of full-fledged governing bodies at MU is said to have contributed to the examination mess and other problems at the university. Experts have said that the former V-C Sanjay Deshmukh enjoyed unbridled powers as there were no checks and balances on him.

The prolonging of election process is likely to affect functioning of the university. Important activities such as framing of curricula and forming policies will suffer if elections are delayed, said Sanjay Vairal, a former MU senate member.

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Despite commuters struggling everyday after the demolition of the 137-year-old Hancock Bridge two years ago, the state is still uncertain about the construction of a foot over-bridge (FoB) here.

In the absence of the bridge, people either take a detour or trespass through the tracks.

While Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced that the Army would construct FOBs at three suburban railway stations, no solution has been offered for Hancock Bridge. Ashwini Lohani, chairman of Railway Board, said the construction of the FoB is being discussed, and possibly a plan with the civic body will be taken up. However, Central Railway (CR) general manager DK Sharma said Hancock Bridge is a civic issue.

After the bridge was razed, most people are now crossing the railway tracks, which has led to several track deaths involving children near Sandhurst Road station.

Previously, the Bombay High Court had asked the Railways to consult with the Army on building a temporary FOB at the spot. CR officials had said that they would talk to the Army, but Army officials said they have not been approached.
Since the terrible Elphinstone Road foot overbridge tragedy on September 29 which took the lives of 23 people and left nearly 40 injured, the popular narrative has come to rest on the legitimacy  or otherwise  of street vendors. It would seem as if the tragedy was the making of street vendors or hawkers who dot Mumbais suburban railway stations.

They began to be evicted by the railway authorities two days after the tragedy. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and railway authorities jointly decided to demarcate the land under their jurisdictions so that hawkers could not use one authority against the other. But the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), looking for issues to resuscitate itself, upped the ante on October 21. Its members dealt with hawkers in their typical style which meant vandalising the hawkers properties and bashing them up.

After a few rounds of this at half a dozen stations, hawkers hit back. Egged on by the city Congress chief Sanjay Nirupam, they returned the compliments landing a MNS leader in hospital, organised morchas and approached the Bombay high court for relief against illegal eviction. The police registered an FIR against Nirupam. About 25-30 hawkers and MNS members have been arrested so far. The battle lines are firmly drawn, the issue perilously politicised.

Do hawkers  legal or illegal  throng entry and exit points of stations? Yes. Do they crowd foot overbridges and hamper pedestrian movement? Yes. Do they occupy staircases, bridges, pavements and impede commuters? Yes, indeed.

But to imagine that evicting them would resolve grave lacunae in railway infrastructure and offer commuter convenience is to display a special naivete about urban economy, informal markets, and the quiet collaborations that happen between commuters and hawkers.

The planners and others with sterile notions of citys appearance see hawkers, in fact anyone who uses public place to make a living, as trespassers and eyesores. Despite having licences, and paying off civic and police officials to do their days work, hawkers are projected as lawless and illegitimate people, hardly acknowledged as citizens, much less as productive citizens whose work offers large and floating populations with a variety of goods and services.

In the urban plans and vision documents drawn up, hawkers do not find a place. Tossed between authorities, their legitimacy is always suspected. Their highly variegated activity and occupation of thousands who depend on them are characterised pejoratively as encroachmentsThe poverty of our language indicates how little we understand, and how brutally we exclude, wrote architect-planner Hussain Indorewala recently.

What then is the way out? An obvious measure is to regulate them as international cities do but with the understanding that their informal economy is a central thread running through the city.

In fact, street vending is as old as cities themselves. They do not have to  in fact, should not  crowd railway stations, block bridges and entry-exit points given the crush load that the railway infrastructure bears. But there can be well-planned hawking zones near railway stations.

The Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act passed in 2014 would have helped to regulate but it is not ready for implementation yet. In fact, there is a discrepancy even in base numbers. The BMC says there are less than a lakh licenced hawkers across Mumbai; hawkers unions say there are around 2.5 lakh.

When state agencies, in this case the BMC and railways, refrain from addressing the issue head-on, dither from bringing sanity and balance between the needs of commuters and hawkers, it allows partisan politicians such as Raj Thackeray and Nirupam to speak for one side or the other, politicise an urban policy issue, and vitiate the atmosphere to a degree that dialogue becomes difficult.

Cool down the temperature, discuss solutions, implement the law.

Above all, do not turn it into a commuter versus hawker battle.
Even as the Congress silent protest over action against hawkers at railway stations began at Dadar (West) on Wednesday morning began, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) workers arrived on the scene and allegedly threw potatoes at the Congress workers, leading to an altercation.

The police had to carry out a lathi charge and detain several workers before the situation settled down.

MNS leader Sandeep Deshpande said: Both party members have been detained. Our members only wanted to stop the Congress from carrying out the morcha. There was no fracas.
The Mumbai zonal unit of Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) will communicate to the United States (US) authorities to investigate a case pertaining to the alleged smuggling of Indian antiques from the US to Hong Kong.

We have identified the person who purchased the antiques brought from US to Hong Kong. The information will be shared with the Homeland Security Investigation (HSI) in the US for a detailed probe, said a source.

The person accused of purchasing the antiques is said to be a Hong Kong national. The information came to light while investigating another case pertaining to smuggling of Indian antiques initiated by the DRI in Mumbai earlier this year.

Vijay Nanda, an American businessman of Indian origin, was arrested for allegedly trying to smuggle out antiques from the country. Officials recovered wooden artefacts from his Byculla godown.

In the Nanda case, DRI alleged that sculptures were stolen from temples in south and eastern India. Officials said the accused would forge Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) certificates for hassle-free export. The artefacts were smuggled inside furniture, handicrafts and garments. Nanda would arrange auctions for their sale in the US and Hong Kong, alleged DRI. Nanda is currently out on bail.

The DRI is investigating internationals links to the racket in Korea, Japan, Hong Kong, certain European countries and the US. Various raids in the case resulted in recovery of several antiques and artefacts for which Nanda had no legal documentation or registration as an antique dealer with the ASI.

Who is HSI?

HSI is a critical investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security and is a vital US asset in combating criminal organisations illegally exploiting Americas travel, trade, financial and immigration systems.

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Armen Petrosyan: If you do not listen with your ears, they will hit you, and then you will understand (video)

"Armenians are one of the exceptional nations that have a powerful Diaspora and presentable communities in different countries of the world. Armenians are one of the peoples who founded the 223-year-old multinational Odessa, and today the community has its own role in this city," said Armen Petoyan, the Founder President of the Odessa Cultural Heritage Foundation, our compatriot, Ukrainian citizen. The important branch of the foundation is Armenian Studies because we do not have the right not to be loyal to our national cultural wealth inherited in a foreign land. "Some people joke, calling me the Armenian Eagle with Greek and Ukrainian wings, because one of my assistants is Greek and the other is Ukrainian," said he. The foundation employs Greeks, Jews, Bulgarians and Ukrainians. Nationality has nothing to do, being a good specialist is important." We have had strong communities in Ukraine, the Armenian trace is everywhere, and by the efforts of the Foundation the work of the famous Ukrainian historian Yaroslav Dashkevich "Armenians in Ukraine" is spread. Armen Petoyan said that the author of the book had donated half century to this study and had used about two hundred original sources, the collection represented the history of the Armenian immigrants of 15-19 centuries. He had founded a science school, where studies on the history of thousands of Armenians in Ukraine are still held. Thanks to the foundation, in Odessa, Avetik Isahakian's memorial board was opened at 24 Bunini Street, where he was deported in 1878, for a year, with the decision to exile the Hnchakians of Tsarist Russia in different terms. "Shirvanzadeh was exiled to Odessa for two years and his memorial plaque should be opened here, too," said Armen Petoyan. It turns out that Odessa's businessmen are very helpful in implementing projects. The winners of the regional tournament organized by the Armenian community of Odessa and sponsored by the Tsiatsan Charitable Foundation were rewarded with a one-week tour to Armenia. This was also suggested by Armen Petrosyan. Now a documentary is being filmed about our patriarch Margar Sedrakyan, who was exiled to Odessa during the postwar years where he worked at the brandy factory and created "Ukraine" and "Odessa" cognacs. When the factory was re-opened in the post-Soviet era, it was named after Shustov, and a museum also was opened, where Margar Sedrakyan's name was never mentioned. Now the foundation is working on it. "If we become more united, we will have more accomplishments. As my Armenian teacher used to say, if you do not listen with your ears, they will hit you, and then you will understand," said Armen Petrosyan.
Taking an aggressive stand over their blanket loan waiver and other demands, farmers outfits in Maharashtra have decided to intensify their agitation against the state government. They plan to lock offices of Maharashtra State Electricity Board (MSEB) across the state as a protest against disconnecting power connections of agriculture pumps for non-payments of bills.

This will be followed by a jail bharo andolan after November 10, if their demands are not considered.

Protesting against demonetisation, which will complete a year on November 8, the farmers outfits also plan to carry out last rite rituals of farmers, who lost their lives following the note ban.

The decision to up the ante against the government was taken on Tuesday at the steering committee meeting held in Mumbai.

The farmers outfits have been demanding a blanket loan waiver and implementation of recommendations of the Swaminathan Commission report on the minimum support price (MSP) for agricultural produce. The report recommends giving farmers 50 per cent in addition to the total input cost as MRP.

Raghunath Dada Patil, veteran farmer leader, said the MSEB has started disconnecting power connections of agriculture pumps for non-payment of bills. We are opposing the move as the state government has provided Rs20,000 crore as remuneration to the MSEB for providing 18 hours power supply to farmers, but the they have been providing us only eight hours of power, Patil said.

This also means the MSEB still owes farmers money, and thus, we have challenged the move in high court. The court had also directed MSEB not to disconnect power connections until the matter is resolved, Patil said.

The outfits are demanding a hike in MSP for soyabean and other such crops. We want Rs3500 a quintal as MSP for soyabean. We will throw soyabean, milk and other such agriculture produce outside the collector and tehsildar offices in the state on November 10, Patil told HT.

Meanwhile, the state unit of the Congress, too, started a state-wide agitation called Jan Aakrosh Andolan in Ahmednagar on Tuesday. The party will hold six rallies in six districts during the agitation. It will also observe a black day on November 8 as a protest against the demonetisation decision.

While addressing the rally at Ahmednagar, senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad said the BJP governments in the state and at the Centre are cheating people. The Jan Aakrosh Andolan will help in dethroning the government, Azad said.

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One of the Mumbai civic bodys most ambitious infrastructure projects  the Rs3,800-crore Goregaon-Mulund Link Road  may take longer than expected.

The Union environment ministry has asked the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to conduct an environment impact assessment study in not less than 12 months, or three seasons. This derails the civic bodys plan to finish the impact assessment study within six months and submit it for approval.

After earlier asking to clearly establish the need for the proposed road, as it passes through the ecologically sensitive Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP), the ministrys expert appraisal committee (EAC) issued Terms of Reference (TOR) for environment clearance last week.

The alignment of the proposed GMLR is expected to provide direct connectivity to the eastern and western areas surrounding the SGNP.

The entire timeline asked in the ToR has put the project on the back-burner. There is nothing that can be done other than to conduct the study over 12 months, as asked, said a civic official, on condition of anonymity.

As per the minutes of the meeting, released last week, the panel has asked BMC to study the impact of proposed project on the ecology and general biodiversity above and below ground to be carried in a minimum three seasons and not less than 12 months. The panel has also asked for a mitigation plan for the same to be developed.

In addition, the panel has asked for a noise and vibration impact study specific to the burrowing fauna and nocturnal fauna in SGNP to be conducted over three seasons.

The 5.96-km Goregaon-Mulund link road will involve building twin tunnels of three lanes each under the Sanjay Gandhi National Park to connect the Goregaon Film City and Mulund, near Amar Nagar. To implement the project, the BMC will need to use 21.5 hectares of forest land, which would be the area of the tunnel under the national park. The project will also involve cutting down 625 trees.

The panel has also asked for a detailed traffic studies including traffic forecasting modelling to be carried out for justification of current link road and other link roads.

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The Ahmedabad police on Tuesday visited the Thane office of Birju Kishore Salla, the businessman who left a hoax note in the lavatory of a flight in mid-air, and seized the laptop and printer allegedly used to write and print the note.

On Monday, the Jet Airways flight was on its way from Mumbai to Delhi when a flight attendant found the note, which threatened to hijack the plane, leading to an emergency landing at Ahmedabad airport. Salla, 36, who was detained on the same day for questioning by the Ahmedabad crime branch, was formally arrested on Monday night and charged under the new Anti-Hijacking Act, 2016, said Deepan Bhadran, deputy commissioner of Ahmedabad crime branch.

After the aircraft landed at Ahmedabad around 3.45am, passengers were searched and Salla, whom flight attendants suspected, was taken to the crime branch office for interrogation.

He claimed that he wrote the letter because he was served breakfast with a cockroach aboard a Mumbai-Rajkot flight on July 6, 2016. At that time, the airline had apologised for the food and offered him a replacement.

The police will submit the details of the case to the Airports Authority of India, which will then start proceedings to put him on the no-fly list. Manoj Gangal, director of Ahmedabad airport, said the letter will be sent to the state government, which will give it to the concerned authorities.
The Maharashtra government is still struggling to clear the second list of eligible farmers for the loan waiver, after declaring the first list of 2.39 lakh beneficiaries on Friday. At a cabinet sub-committee meeting on Tuesday, state officials expressed helplessness at verifying the data uploaded by banks, given the multiple errors flagged in its online system.

It is learnt that IT officials told ministers that the errors in the loan account information provided by the banks is causing delay in completing the verification process.

The implementation of the state governments ambitious Rs34,022-crore loan waiver has been mired in controversy. After the state government released its first list of 8.4 lakh beneficiaries at a function on October 18, it came to light that lakhs of these accounts had dummy or similar Aadhaar numbers. The government has parked Rs4,000 crore for disbursal for this waiver, but now cleaning up the data is taking time.

The government withdrew the original list even as Fadnavis slammed banks for goofing up on its digitisation exercise and data collection. Initially, banks had listed the total number of beneficiaries at 89 lakh farmers, but now this list has been pruned to 69-lakh-odd beneficiaries.

The nationalised and co-operative banks have uploaded data for only 26 lakh beneficiary bank accounts so far and from this the states IT department has been able to verify data of only 2.39 lakh farmers. The government will have to spend Rs899.12 crore for these farmers.

Talking to reporters, state cooperation minister Subhash Deshmukh refuted that they are facing any difficulty in clearing the list of eligible farmers.
The anti-narcotics cell (ANC) of the Mumbai crime branch busted an interstate drug racket, arrested two people from Sion and recovered heroin worth Rs2.8 crore on Tuesday evening.

Gautamsingh Omkarsingh, 55, and Bunty Ali Qudarat Ali, 23, are from the same village in Rajasthan.

During interrogation, police learnt that both accused worked as couriers. They got drugs from a kingpin in Rajasthan and delivered them to a supplier in Mumbai.

Acting on a tip-off, the ANCs Worli unit, led by police inspector Ninad Sawant, laid a trap and nabbed the two opposite Welfare Villa on Chidambaram Road in Sion (East).

Police recovered 1.40kg heroin from Omkarsingh and the same quantity from Ali. They said the drug was of a high quality.

Omkarsingh has been working in the drug business for the past 15 years, said police. He would travel from Gujarat to Mumbai via road frequently and received Rs1 lakh for every trip he took.

He arrived in Mumbai three weeks ago. We had been keeping an eye on him since then, said the official.

It appears as though Omkarsingh induced Ali to join the drug business, telling him he could earn easy money, added an official. This was Alis second trip to Mumbai, said the official.

We have been checking criminal records of the main dealer in Rajasthan. We are also trying to find out if he has links to drug suppliers abroad who are giving him the high-quality heroin, or whether someone is producing the drug in India, he said.

Both accused were produced in court on Wednesday and remanded in police custody till November 9.
The MB Girls Inter College on Wednesday turned into a fortress with security personnel taking control of the main entrance and the roads leading to the college, as the college was turned into a nomination centre. Nearly 2,500 girl students of the college have been asked to stay home from November 1 to 7.

A similar situation persisted in Modi Nagar and Loni as well, as Maharshi Dayanand Inter College and Vardhman Inter College, respectively, were turned into nomination centres.

Since our girls college has become a nomination centre, we have asked the students to stay home. There will be no classes for students of classes 6 to 12 till November 8 as the administration needed rooms for nominations and other works, said Hemlata Rajput, principal, MB Girls Inter College, Navyug Market, Ghaziabad.

It is an aided institution affiliated to the UP Board. It was chosen as a nomination centre as it has 55 rooms, including 33 classrooms. Initially, district officials came for inspection and our college was declared a nomination centre for civic body polls. In the off period, we also have some holidays coming up but our students will have to attend additional classes to make up for one week of classes, she said.

The district administration officials said they have no choice but to use large school buildings for election-related work as such buildings are difficult to find and renting one would involve huge expenditure.

We had little choice but to use the school as a nomination centre as it is accessible by main roads and also has a large number of rooms. The case is similar with the nomination centres in Modi Nagar and Loni too. The students will have to attend extra classes to make up for the lost classes. There is hardly any other option. We, however, will return the school in a neat and clean condition once our work is over, said Ritu Maheshwari, the district election officer.

Generally, schools are the favoured choice for setting up nomination centres and polling centres during elections as they are available free-of-cost to the administration.

During the Lok Sabha and assembly polls, the Ghaziabad administration had arranged rooms in district headquarters due to fewer candidates.

Since we have different returning officers assigned and have different sets of wards for local body elections, we need more rooms. In case we hire hotels, it will incur a huge cost that cannot be met, as per the budget provided. So, the choice of school premises becomes obvious, a district official said.

The three inter colleges will resume classes on November 8 while the other schools are likely to be closed as they will be used as polling centres or booths.

.

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On the first day of filing of nominations for the local body elections, only one candidate came to file his nomination for the post of councillor on Wednesday.

The officials said more than 600 nomination forms were sold for posts in nine local bodies, including the Ghaziabad municipal corporation.

The officials of the Ghaziabad administration said the single nomination was filed by an independent candidate for the post of councillor in Modi Nagar Nagar Palika.

For all local bodies, 73 forms were purchased by candidates for the post of mayor or for the post of chairman of nagar palikas. For the post of councillors for local bodies, 534 forms were purchased, said the spokesperson at the election control room.

The nominations for different local bodies are being received at three places  at MB Girls Inter College at Navyug Market, Maharshi Dayanand Inter College at Modi Nagar and Vardhman Inter College at Loni.

The first day was used by candidates to purchase nomination forms. During the day, we also visited different nomination centres and took stock of all arrangements. Except for a few hiccups in the systems at one place, the arrangements were found to be proper. We also held a meeting with police for strict enforcement of the model code of conduct, said Ritu Maheshwari, district election officer, Ghaziabad.

The officials said a majority of citizens who purchased the nomination forms on Wednesday were planning to contest as independent candidates. It is expected that this time too, the independents will be more in number.

According to the state election commission records, a total of 10,492 candidates contested the 2012 elections for seats in 12 municipal corporations of the state. Of them, 8,413 candidates were independents.

For the 12 posts of mayors, there were a total of 180 candidates. Of them, independents were 127.

As for political parties, they are yet to announce their final list of candidates in Ghaziabad. The office bearers of the Bharatiya Janata Partys Ghaziabad unit said that they have received applications from 1,350 candidates for councillors and another 36 applications for the post of mayor. They are likely to finalise the list on November 3.

The Aam Aadmi Party, which first declared a list of 37 candidates, later revised the number to 57. Party members said the final list, including the name of mayoral candidate, will be announced soon.

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Mumbai resident Hamid Ansaris petition for remission and release in the Peshawar high court has failed to reassure his mother Fauzia. Since her son went missing in 2012, Fauzias expressions have not changed  haggard, pleading and praying for his well being.

The 32-year-old IT engineer has been languishing in Pakistan prison since 2012.

He claimed to have gone to Pakistan to meet a woman he befriended on Facebook. Fauzia, a teacher, has been relentless in her efforts to bring him back to India.

According to Fauzia, her lawyer in Pakistan informed her that the country has admitted in the court that Ansari was in their custody and charged with espionage and sentenced to three years for the crime.

Fauzia contests these charges calling them baseless and false.

Speaking to HT on Wednesday morning, Fauzia said, Our lawyer has filed a petition that stay should be considered on the charges against my son. The petition is for remission and release. I hope that the high court will consider that. We have not heard more on that.

Fauzias voice is almost a whisper but she is still persisting.

I have been only praying and I know he is innocent and he is not involved in any of the activities that he has been charged with. The allegations against him are wrong. Looking at his past record, he hasnt been part of any such activities.

In August last year, Ansari was assaulted at Mardan central prison. Ansaris mother has also approached external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj to help secure his release.

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Three persons wanted by the police, who had given them the slip during a gunbattle in Ecotech-1 area of Greater Noida on Tuesday, were arrested.

The trio and an associate, identified as Robin, were intercepted by a police team for checking around 7pm near Gautam Budh Nagar University on Tuesday, following which the suspects allegedly opened fire and fled. However, Robin was injured and arrested by the police.

The police said Robin was questioned and he said that the three men would be in Dankaur. Raids were conducted in several villages and arrests were made. Four countrymade pistols with live cartridges and Rs2.24 lakh were recovered from their possession.

The accused have been identified as Dinesh, 26, a resident of Bulandshahr, Naushad, 25 and Nazakat, 26, residents of Rabupura in Greater Noida.

Superintendent of police (rural), Gautam Budh Nagar, Suniti, said, The four of them had robbed the cash from a father-son duo at gunpoint in Dankaur. The duo was on a bike and was returning from Canara Bank after making a withdrawal on October 25. However, the robbers intercepted them near Acheja village, pointed guns at them and took the money.

A complaint was filed in this regard by Bhupendra Kumar, a resident of Mirzapur in Rabupura. He told the police he was driving the bike and his father was riding pillion when the incident took place.

On the same day, a commuter was robbed of Rs59,000 in Jewar area. He had stated that the robbers had fled towards Bulandshahr.

The police said that on Tuesday, the four men were riding two bikes and when they were stopped, those sitting pillion opened fire at the police, to which they retaliated.

Two men managed to flee towards Gharbara village while two others lost their balance and fell. As the duo fell, one of them escaped amid the dark surroundings, while Robin could not run due to bullet injury and was nabbed, the police said.

He was shifted to Yatharth Hospital, immediately, for treatment.

Suniti said, The four men were involved in seven cases of robbery in Greater Noida. On Wednesday, they were sent to judicial custody after being produced in court.

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Could the world soon witness another devastating war on the Korean Peninsula? That question looms large in many conversations these days.

Of course, concerns about the North Korean regimes nuclear-weapons programme are nothing new. The United States first tried to resolve the issue in 1994, with the US-North Korean Agreed Framework; but that effort gradually collapsed, owing to actions taken  and not taken  on both sides. Then, in 2006, Kim Jong-ils regime detonated North Koreas first nuclear device, and put the issue squarely back on the United Nations Security Councils agenda.

In the ensuing decade, North Korea has conducted five more nuclear tests  most recently in September  and demonstrated the technological mastery needed to develop advanced thermonuclear weapons. And, under Kim Jong-uns leadership, the situation escalated further when the regime began making significant progress toward developing an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) capable of reaching the US mainland. And this development coincided with the arrival of US President Donald Trump, who has promised a new approach to global affairs.

North Korea has made clear its commitment to developing a long-range nuclear-strike capacity. In the regimes view, nuclear weapons are its only insurance against attack. Without them, Kim believes, he would share the fate of others who abandoned their pursuit of nuclear arms, such as Saddam Hussein in Iraq and Muammar Gaddafi in Libya.

In this context, the US objective of a denuclearised North Korea disarmed of ICBMs is unachievable by diplomatic means. And, at any rate, Trump has declared diplomacy a waste of time, and ominously warned that only one thing will work, though he hasnt explained what that means.

Given that neither the US nor North Korea has shown any enthusiasm for talks, one could conclude that war is inevitable. Yet, for all its bellicosity, the North Korean regime is unlikely to start a full-scale military conflict, because that would surely spell its demise. At the same time, the US has no good first-strike options. Surgical strikes may sound promising, but they are hardly foolproof. As US military commanders well know, strikes that failed to eliminate all of North Koreas nuclear weapons at once could trigger a regional  or even a nuclear  war costing millions of lives.

In the US, those who argue for military action often claim that deterrence will not work against an irrational regime. But there is no reason to assume that Kim is bent on mass suicide. After all, when Maos China made a dash for nuclear weapons in the 1960s, its rationale was little different from that of North Korea today, but no one doubted that deterrence would work.

Still, even assuming that deterrence  embodied in Trumps threat that the US will totally destroy North Korea  does work, it will not prevent a nuclear- and ICBM-armed North Korea from fundamentally altering the strategic calculus in northeast Asia. The US nuclear deterrent protects the US first and foremost. It remains to be seen if US extended deterrence will continue to protect American allies such as South Korea and Japan. If the US mainland becomes a potential target for a North Korean nuclear strike, then the credibility of deterrence could depend on whether the US is willing to sacrifice San Francisco to save Seoul or Tokyo.

Doubt about the US nuclear umbrella in the region could lead South Korea and Japan to decide to develop their own nuclear options. In fact, South Korea had a nuclear-weapons programme long before North Korea. It was abandoned when South Korea signed on to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty in 1975, but restarting it has become a subject of debate in Seoul. Needless to say, further nuclear escalation on the Korean Peninsula would be very dangerous, not least because the Kim regime would feel even more threatened than it already does.

So far, the US approach to North Korea has been to tighten sanctions and outsource the problem to China. But while China does have strong economic ties to North Korea, it is unclear whether China has the clout to change the Kim regimes behaviour, even if it wanted to. Success would probably require something close to regime change.

It is thus unwise to rely wholly on China. Clearly, a broader diplomatic approach is needed, and it should start by addressing a fundamental issue at the heart of the problem: No peace treaty has ever been signed to end the 1950-1953 Korean War.

A dialogue to replace the 64-year-old armistice with a formal peace agreement could pave the way for broader discussions about nuclear escalation and other threats to regional stability. And, at a minimum, it could break todays diplomatic stalemate and give the parties involved more reason to refrain from further provocations.

More broadly, a new round of diplomacy would have to address North Koreas security concerns, and provide space for the North to evolve politically and economically, as China has done over the past few decades. This may seem like a distant prospect; but if the security situation on the peninsula is resolved, it would not be out of the question.

The alternative is to continue on the current path and risk a military conflict or a full-scale war. Even if those worst-case scenarios were averted, the region would have nothing to look forward to but instability for years to come.

Carl Bildt is former prime minister and foreign minister of Sweden

The views expressed are personal

Copyright: Project Syndicate, 2017
Armen Ashotyan: On Eastern Partnership Territory the Conflicts are Different: Artsakh Issue is not like Any Other One

On October 31, the Chairman of the RA NA Standing Committee on Foreign Relations, the Head of the RA NA delegation to Euronest PA Armen Ashotyan delivered a speech at the opening of the Euronest PA Plenary Session on the future of the Eastern Partnership and Armenia-EU relations. In the context of Eastern Partnership priorities Armen Ashotyan touched upon Armenia's multi-track or the so-called 'complimentary' Eastern partnership position and in relation to this underlined that we should take into consideration that every state included within the framework of the Eastern Partnership has its own interests and guideline. Armen Ashotyan highlighted the formation of the new legal framework of the RA-EU cooperation and the signing of the RA-EU Comprehensive and Enhanced New Agreement. The Head of the RA NA delegation also expressed hope that there will be positive results connected with the visa liberalisation process in the near future. In his word Armen Ashotyan emphasized the effective role of the Eastern Partnership platform for the interests of the citizens of the Eastern Partnership countries. Regarding the current differences between the Eastern Partnership Member States, Armen Ashotyan highlighted the definition of such values, which will be common and admissible for all Eastern Partnership countries. In his speech Armen Ashotyan has also talked about the conflicts existing in the Eastern Partnership countries and has noted that the Euronest is not a platform of the conflicts' settlement, however it can be observed as a unique means for the political dialogue of conflicting states, particularly between the colleagues of Armenia and Azerbaijan. In this context Armen Ashotyan emphasized the circumstance that the Assembly could underline in its works in Kiev and record the important fact that all the conflicts existing in the Eastern Partnership countries are different, the Nagorno Karabakh conflict has no military solution, and the problem settlement is based on the OSCE Minsk Group fundamental principles and Helsinki Final Act. Armen Ashotyan attached importance to the fact that the Assembly reaffirmed its support to the efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs. Armen Ashotyan also underscored the circumstance that the Eastern Partnership is not an agreement and document turnover mentioned on the paper and cannot be, it is a platform for the justification of the expectations of the Eastern Partnership countries, making as a basis and goal of the activity the implementation of the reforms and the daily consistent work. At the end of his speech Armen Ashotyan has noted in relation to the signing of the RA-EU Comprehensive and Enhanced New Agreement within the framework of the upcoming Summit of the Eastern Partnership that in this new legal framework Armenia will become the first country which is a member of the Eurasian Economic Union and at the same time it will be a legally bounding agreement with the European Union. In this context Armen Ashotyan noted that the signing of the Agreement would be a link to the international community that the Eurasian Economic Union and the European Union should not be conflicting parties, and in this case Armenia could be a bridge connecting two different economic and political efforts of the two Unions.
The Bihar government will henceforth follow its reservation policy while engaging professionals and other employees through outsourcing agencies.

A decision to this effect was taken at the cabinet meeting chaired by chief minister Nitish Kumar here on Wednesday. A total of 10 items on the agenda were approved by the cabinet.

In the absence of technical manpower on its rolls, the state government engages technical staff, mostly dealing in information technology (IT)-based operations, through outsourced agencies. Thousands of IT professionals have been engaged by the state government and the district administrations to run IT operations including Beltron and skill development centres.

Besides, a number of drivers and office maintenance staff have also been supplied by the outsourcing agencies in different departments.

Sources said the new policy would make the private outsourcing agencies recruit manpower based on the reservation policy of the state government if they want to work with the state agencies. Apart from 50% caste-based reservation, the prevalent policy stipulates 35% vertical reservation for women.

Briefing newspersons after the meeting, principal secretary of cabinet secretariat department Brijesh Mehrotra said the cabinet also sanctioned 70 teaching and 72 non-teaching posts for two polytechnic institutions being established in West Champaran and Aurangabad districts.

Besides, the cabinet gave its nod to transfer of 40 gazetted posts of teachers and 16 non-gazetted posts of non-teaching staff of six polytechnics, from scheme to the committed expenditure section of the budget.

The cabinet also approved the revised technical estimate for establishment of training centres at eight battalions of Bihar Military Police for newly recruited 8000 constables including women. The training centres with capacity to train 1000 persons will be set up at BMP units at Dehri-On-Sone, Bodh Gaya, Dumraonn, Katihar, Jamalpur, Simultala, Birpur and Darbhaga.

A sum of Rs 150 crore would be spent on it, said Mehrotra.

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Watching her favourite cartoon on television at home, little did the 10-year-old rape victim know that just in a few hours a local court will seal the fate of her two maternal uncles, who raped her and one of them impregnated her at this tender age.

As the staff and judicial officer of the fast-track trial court prepared for the verdict  three-and-a-half months after the heinous crime came to light  and UT cops got ready to take the two accused to court from the high-security Burail jail, the girl was alone at her home in a southern sector of the city on Tuesday afternoon.

I am unwell. So I did not go to school, she said, even as she has been regularly attending the school after giving birth to a girl on August 17.

Her electrician father and mother, who works as a domestic help, were away for work, while her elder sister had gone to school.

Notwithstanding the trauma the family has gone through in the past months, they chose to skip the hearing.

In the evening, after the two accused had been convicted of rape, her mother  who was back from work by now  preferred to maintain privacy and drew the curtains of their one-room quarter.

Earlier, in court, the womans two cousins appeared expressional as additional district and sessions judge Poonam R Joshi held them guilty.

While the defence counsels appeared anxious, it seemed the duo didnt even register what was happening.

Even as the wife of the younger uncle  who fathered the minors child  was present for the verdict, the family of his elder brother  who are in Nepal  gave the hearing a miss.

With the court giving its verdict, the two face up to life imprisonment. The quantum of sentence will be pronounced on Thursday.

The two have been found guilty under Section 376 (2) (f) (i) (n)  committing rape on a woman when she is under 12 years of age, a relative and it involves repeated intercourse  of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), and Sections 5(i)  penetrative sexual assault on the child more than once or repeatedly  and 6  aggravated penetrative sexual assault  of the Protection of Children From Sexual Offences Act, 2012.

The ordeal

It was on July 14 that doctors found the girl to be 30-week pregnant when her mother took her to hospital after she complained of a stomach ache. A local court dismissed the girls abortion plea, a decision upheld by the Supreme Court, as the doctors said the procedure would be too risky.

On the girls complaint, police arrested her mothers cousin, who was a guard at a local hotel, for rape. But the case turned on its head when the DNA samples of the girls child  who took birth on August 17  didnt match with those of the uncle, as first reported by Hindustan Times on September 11.

Seventeen days later, police arrested the mans younger brother, who turned out to be the main accused.

The girl told police that she was first raped by the younger uncle, a cook with the same hotel as his brother, around Christmas in 2016. The older uncle, too, assaulted her repeatedly from April till early July, she said. Initially, the girl didnt name the younger uncle, fearing he would come good on his threat of killing her parents.

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Samantha Akkineni and Naga Chaitanyas wedding reception was held in Chennai at Taj Coromandel. The couple who tied the knot on October 6 in Goa have just come back from their holiday in London. The wedding reception was hosted by filmmaker Suresh Daggubati, Rana Daggubatis father, before the couple went on their short holiday.

The first picture from the reception was shared by Samantha on October 21, on her Instagram stories. She had captioned it, About last night. My most good looking family.

It looks like Samantha has finally found the time to share a few stills from that evening. She is seen in an Anamika Khanna creation and looks gorgeous. She also shared a picture with Malavika Daggubati, Ranas sister and captioned it, My soul sista @malavikad super human.

See pictures of Samantha Akkineni and Naga Chaitanya at their wedding reception

The fat but happy vibe  . Absolutely love this @anamikakhanna.in outfit though  A post shared by Samantha Akkineni (@samantharuthprabhuoffl) on Oct 31, 2017 at 12:26am PDT

The best friend @krishnafilmmaker love you paaps  A post shared by Samantha Akkineni (@samantharuthprabhuoffl) on Oct 31, 2017 at 12:02am PDT

My soul sista  @malavikad super human  #princessvibes #anamikakhannaobsessed @anamikakhanna.in A post shared by Samantha Akkineni (@samantharuthprabhuoffl) on Oct 31, 2017 at 12:00am PDT

Director Krishna RV Marimuthu, who recently made Yuddham Sharanam with Naga Chaitanya, was also present at the reception. He was seen dancing with Samantha at the reception. Sam shared this picture and wrote, The best friend @krishnafilmmaker love you paaps. Internet spotted rana Daggubati talking to Chay in the background who took the attention away from Sam.

Naga and Sam returned from their holiday in London and are expected to join the sets of their respective films. While Chaitanya will be working on Savyasachi, Samantha will join the sets of Ram Charans Rangasthalam 1985 to complete her part in the film. She is also working on the bilingual Savitri biopic alongside Keerthy Suresh and Dulquer Salmaan. She was last seen alongside Vijay in Mersal, which hit theatres on October 18.

Follow @htshowbiz for more

ott:10:ht-entertainment_listing-desktop

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Scientists, using data from NASAs Kepler telescope, have discovered 20 new potentially habitable exoplanets that may host alien life.

The list includes several planets that orbit stars like our Sun. Some take a relatively long time to complete a single orbit, with the longest taking 395 Earth days. The fastest orbit is 18 Earth days.

The exoplanet with a 395-day year is one of the most promising worlds for life on the list, said Jeff Coughlin, part of NASAs K2 Mission, the second phase of the planet humnting Kepler Mission.

The planet, called KOI-7923.01, is 97 per cent the size of Earth. It is slightly colder than our planet due to its distance from its star and the fact that the star is slightly cooler than our Sun.

This means it may be a little more like tundra regions on Earth, but is still warm enough to hold liquid water.

The team is 70 to 80 per cent certain that these are solid candidates. They cannot be confirmed yet as more observations are needed, New Scientist reported.

Ground-based observatories or the Hubble Space Telescope will have to take more observations over the coming years to double-check, Coughlin said.
Two Indo-British teams of scientists  one which developed a portable device to monitor maternal health and another that worked on producing solar energy more efficiently won the first ever Newton Award on Wednesday.

At a function in New Delhi, both teams were awarded 200,000 or Rs 1.7 crore to fund further research. It was the first ever award under the Newton Fund.

The Newton Fund was launched in 2014 to promote research collaboration between UK and 18 partner countries. Every year till 2021, a minimum of five Newton-funded projects will receive the award.

Research on the CRADLE Vital Signs Alert (VSA), a portable hand-held device capable of measuring blood pressure and pulse, detecting hypertension and circulatory shock, was led by Andrew Shennan, a scientist based in London. He collaborated with Shivaprasad Goudar, professor at Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College in Belgaum, Karnataka, to promote its use in India.

The solar project was a joint project between Hari Upadhyaya, from Brunel University and Viresh Dutta of the Indian Institute of Technology in Delhi. The aim is for more efficient solar power generation by improving perovskite solar cells.

Ahead of the award ceremony, Indias science and technology minister Harsh Vardhan met Britains minister of state for science, research and innovation, Jo Johnson to review progress under the Newton-Bhabha programme, a partnership in the areas of science, technology and innovation.

Harnessing science and technology for a better future of our people is the new spirit which drives the present Indo-UK cooperation, Harsh Vardhan said about the Newton Bhabha programme.

The award function also saw the release of the antibacterial resistance (ABR) report to mark the launch of a virtual research centre that will promote collaborative work between Indian and UK scientists on antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

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Hollywoods widening sexual harassment crisis brought forth a second actors allegation against Kevin Spacey on Tuesday, halted production on his Netflix series House of Cards and prompted CBS to check into an actors claim she was groped by Jeremy Piven.

Mexican actor Robert Cavazos wrote on his Facebook page that he encountered Spacey at the bar of Londons Old Vic Theatre, where Spacey was artistic director, and the actor tried to fondle him against his will.

It was more common for this guy, when he was in the bar of his theatre, grabbing whoever caught his attention, Cavazos wrote. I didnt stand for it, but I know some people who were afraid to stop it.

Cavazos declined an interview request. There was no immediate reply to a request for comment from representatives for Spacey, who was artistic director from 2004-15.

In a statement Tuesday, the theatre expressed deep dismay at the allegations and said inappropriate behaviour by anyone working at The Old Vic is completely unacceptable.

Kevin Spacey poses at the premiere for the second season of the television series House of Cards at the Directors Guild of America in Los Angeles. (REUTERS)

In recent days, Hollywood has reacted swiftly to allegations of sexual harassment and assault: Harvey Weinstein was fired from the company he founded within days after initial reports of sexual harassment were published in The New York Times earlier this month.

On Monday, Netflix said it would end House of Cards after its upcoming sixth and final season, although the streaming network said the decision was made before the BuzzFeed News report on Spacey last weekend. The network has not commented on plans for a Gore Vidal biopic starring Spacey that is currently in production.

The pause in production Tuesday shadows the fate of the last season.

Also Tuesday, CBS said it is looking into a claim by actor and reality star Ariane Bellamar that Emmy-winning Entourage star Piven groped her on two occasions.

On her Twitter account Monday, Bellamar alleged that one encounter took place in Pivens trailer on HBOs Entourage set and the other occurred at the Playboy Mansion.

Hey @jeremypiven! Member when you cornered me in your trailer on the #Entourage set? Member grabbing my boobies on the  without asking??  Ariane Bellamar (@ArianeBellamar) October 30, 2017

Piven, who stars in the new CBS series Wisdom of the Crowd, said in a statement that he unequivocally denies the appalling allegations being peddled about me.

It did not happen. It takes a great deal of courage for victims to come forward with their histories, and my hope is that the allegations about me that didnt happen, do not detract from stories that should be heard, he said.

In a Monday interview with The Associated Press, Piven said he was glad people had come forward with allegations against Harvey Weinstein and that he had never been in that situation.

HBO, which aired the 2004-11 series, said in a statement that it was unaware of Bellamars allegations until they were reported by media.

Everyone at HBO and our productions is aware that zero tolerance for sexual harassment is our policy. Anyone experiencing an unsafe working environment has several avenues for making complaints that we take very seriously, the channel said.

Bellamars credits include Suicide Squad and The Hangover Part III and the reality series Beverly Hills Nannies.

Netflixs actions involving House of Cards are rare in an industry that puts commerce first.

How Spaceys cast mates are reacting to the allegations remains to be seen. Robin Wright, who stars opposite Spacey as his wife, hasnt commented publicly, but her Twitter feed includes a number of posts backing social issues including female rights and education.

Netflix and House of Cards producer Media Rights Capital had already decided to end the series at the end of next season, its sixth, but on Tuesday they chose to pause the production, which is filmed in Baltimore, to give us time to review the current situation and to address any concerns of our cast and crew. Spacey was not scheduled to work that day.

The move comes after actor Anthony Rapp came forward with claims Spacey made inappropriate sexual advances toward him in 1986, when he was 14.

Production of next season's award-winning House of Cards season six has been suspended indefinitely in the wake of sexual misconduct allegations against its star Kevin Spacey, Netflix announced on October 31, 2017. (AFP)

Spacey responded by saying he doesnt remember the alleged encounter but if he acted the way Rapp alleges, I owe him the sincerest apology for what would have been deeply inappropriate drunken behavior. He also spoke publicly for the first time about being gay, which draw backlash from some observers as an attempt at deflection.

The fallout for Spacey also included the loss of an award he was going to get later this month by The International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. The group says it will not honour Kevin Spacey with the 2017 International Emmy Founders Award, which is to honour an individual who crosses cultural boundaries to touch humanity. Spacey was to get it at a gala on November 20 in New York City. Past recipients include Rhimes, Steven Spielberg, and JJ Abrams.

A release date for the final House of Cards episodes has yet to be announced. Netflix is developing a possible spinoff of the award-winning drama that helped put the streaming service on the TV series map.

Follow @htshowbiz for more
An Uzbek man, apparently inspired by the Islamic State, ploughed a pickup truck through a bicycle path in Manhattan, killing eight people and injuring at least a dozen in the deadliest terror attack in New York City since 9/11.

Sayfullo Saipov, 29, was heard shouting Allah-u-Akbar during the rampage on Tuesday afternoon, witnesses said. He was shot in the abdomen by a police officer when he emerged from the truck after it collided with a school bus at 3.05 pm (1905 GMT), blocks away from the 9/11 Memorial.

He was walking in the middle of the street brandishing two weapons, which turned out to be paintball and pellet guns. Saipov was in police custody and being treated at a hospital.

This was an act of terror and a particularly cowardly act of terror aimed at innocent civilians, aimed at people going about their lives who had no idea what was about to hit them, New York mayor Bill de Blasio told a news conference.

Governor Andrew Cuomo said, based on a preliminary investigations, this was a lone wolf attack carried out by the suspect acting alone. This was one individual who meant to cause pain and harm and probably death and the resulting terror. That was the purpose.

President Donald Trump tweeted about what was the first terror attack on the American mainland in his term, and in his hometown: We must not allow ISIS to return, or enter, our country after defeating them in the Middle East and elsewhere. Enough!

Trump also said he had directed his administration to step up extreme vetting of foreign visitors.

Authorities did not disclose the attackers identity but news reports said Saipov came to the US in 2010 and had a green card. He lived in Florida and New Jersey, with his wife, whom he married in 2013.

He worked as an Uber driver and the ride-hailing company said he had passed its background check. He drove to New York City from New Jersey on Tuesday.

Saipov reportedly pledged loyalty to the IS in handwritten notes in Arabic found near the truck, the US media cited law enforcement officials as saying. It was not clear where he was radicalised, and investigators did not discover evidence showing direct ties between Saipov and the IS.

New York police said he planned the attack for a number of weeks and seemed to have followed instructions from the IS on social media on how to carry out such an attack.

This was also the first instance of a terror attack in New York City involving fatalities after the September 11, 2001 attacks that killed 2,606 people, including 34 from India. There were at least two attempts since then  the Times Square car bomb in 2010 and the Chelsea bombings in 2016 that left 29 people injured.

It was also the first instance of a vehicle being used as a terror weapon in the US, as in Berlin and Nice in 2016 and in Barcelona last August. A white supremacist had driven through protestors in Charlottesville, Virginia, recently killing a woman but authorities had not described it as an act of terrorism.

Saipov used a rental pickup truck from Home Depot, a countrywide retail chain for home furnishings. He drove the truck down the bike path used by cyclists, joggers and walkers for about a mile, before it crashed into the school bus, injuring two adults and two children inside, close to a community college and a high school.

Videos made by passersby show Saipov running around  randomly, as one witness described it  after abandoning the vehicle, with police officers in pursuit.

Six people died at the site and two were declared dead on arrival at the hospital, police commissioner James P ONeill said. Eleven people were seriously injured, he added, but none with life-threatening conditions. Five of the dead were a group of friends visiting from Argentina, and one was from Belgium.

Security was stepped up all over New York for Halloween celebrations and a traditional parade later in the evening, and authorities urged residents to go about their business and the celebrations undaunted by the security presence, which they said was only a cautionary measure.

We know that this action was intended to break our spirit but we also know New Yorkers are strong, New Yorkers are resilient and our spirit will never be moved by an act of violence, an act meant to intimidate us, mayor de Blasio said.
Bangladesh has demanded an apology from Pakistan after its envoy in Dhaka posted a misleading video claiming that the countrys founder Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was not the one who declared its independence in 1971.

The nearly 14-minute video was initially posted on a Facebook page called Pakistan Affairs. It said Bangladeshs military ruler and subsequent president Ziaur Rahman, not Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, announced Bangladeshs independence.

The Pakistani mission in Dhaka shared the video on its Facebook page, sparking a controversy that prompted it to remove the post.

The secretary (bilateral) in Bangladeshs foreign ministry, Kamrul Ahsan, summoned Pakistani high commissioner Rafiuzzaman Siddiqui on Tuesday and handed him a strongly worded protest note warning that repeated breaches of diplomatic norms by Pakistan would only harm bilateral relations, a Foreign Office statement said.

The Government of Bangladesh seeks a formal note of apology for this ill-motivated and misleading video post and calls for an immediate withdrawal of the footage from the Facebook page reportedly maintained by the Pakistan high commission in Dhaka, it said.

The statement said Ahsan told the envoy that Dhaka deeply regretted that notwithstanding Bangladeshs repeated overtures, the malicious campaign by Pakistan and its various agencies against Bangladesh has not come to a halt.

Ahsan said the Pakistani envoy apologised, saying the incident was unintentional.

We told him (the envoy) that if this continues, it will harm relations between the two countries. History is history. One cannot divert it by spreading propaganda, the Bangladeshi official said.

The diplomatic protest note said the message conveyed in the video, that it was not Mujibur Rahman who declared the independence of Bangladesh, is a blatant lie and sheer fabrication of historical facts.

Nothing can be farthest from the truth than claiming that the architect of independent Bangladesh and Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman did not want Bangladeshs independence or that Bangladeshs independence was declared by anybody other than the great leader himself, the note said.

Bangladesh emerged as an independent nation, breaking away from Pakistan, after its victory in the 1971 liberation war aided by India. Bilateral relations have suffered in recent years over the 1971 war crimes trial in Bangladesh and executions of Bengali war criminals who colluded with the Pakistani troops.

A rankled Dhaka repeatedly summoned Islamabads envoy during the past three years following protests by Pakistani leaders over the trial and executions of hardline Islamists.
Chinese President Xi Jinpings pledge to build a world-class army by 2050 is making his neighbours nervous, but analysts say Beijings military ambitions do not constitute a strategic threat -- for now.

With purchases and construction of fighter jets, ships and hi-tech weaponry, Chinas military budget has grown steadily for 30 years, but remains three times smaller than that of the United States.

Now, Beijing wants to catch up.

We should strive to fully transform the peoples armed forces into a world-class military by the mid-21st century, Xi told 2,300 delegates of the Chinese Communist Party, which he heads and which controls the army.

The comments, made during the partys twice-a-decade congress, were aimed in part at domestic nationalists, but also intended to show other countries Chinas desire to be strong economically as well as militarily, said James Char, a military analyst at Singapores Nanyang Technological University.

During Chinas so-called Century of Humiliation, starting around the mid-19th century, the country lost almost every war it fought, and was often forced to give major concessions in subsequent treaties.

Thats why China, more than any other country, dreams of a strong army. Not to bully other countries, but to defend ourselves, said Ni Lexiong from Shanghai University of Political Science and Law.

Worried neighbours

But Xis call to build a military that can fight and win has alarmed Chinas neighbours, several of whom are embroiled in tense border disputes with the superpower.

This summer India and China engaged in a bitter, weeks-long military confrontation over a disputed area in the Himalayas.

Japan regularly faces off with Chinese maritime patrols close to the Senkaku islands, which are called the Diaoyu in Mandarin and claimed by Beijing.

And Beijing asserts sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea, despite rival claims from countries including Vietnam, the Philippines and Malaysia.

Beijing has reclaimed islands it controls in the sea in order to cement its claims and installed military aircraft and missile systems on them, causing tensions to spiral in recent years.

Chinese activities are a security concern for the region encompassing Japan and for the international community, said a recent Japanese defence report.

It is incontestable that the countrys rise as a military power is setting off an arms race in Asia, said Juliette Genevaz, China researcher at the France-based Military School Strategic Research Institute.

This arms race in Asia has several causes, she said, noting North Koreas nuclear weapons programme as one of the contributors.

But, Chinas military build-up and reclaiming activities in the South China Sea is a major factor.

Chinas military expenditure in 2016 was an estimated $215 billion, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, putting it in first place in Asia, well ahead of India ($56 billion), Japan ($46 billion) and South Korea ($37 billion).

The country has not participated in any conflict since a month-long border war against Vietnam in 1979 that killed tens of thousands of people and a 1988 skirmish, also with Hanoi, over the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea, that left 64 dead.

But it has been busy boosting its military activities abroad.

This year, Beijing opened its first foreign military base, in Djibouti. Since 2008, its navy has participated in anti-piracy operations off the coast of Somalia and in the Gulf of Aden.

The country is the largest contributor to United Nations peacekeeping operations among the permanent members of the security council, with some 2,500 soldiers and military experts deployed.

The moves are all part of a larger, decades-long effort to modernise the countrys military, which had become riddled with corruption, incompetence and waste.

Absolute control

But while Xi flexed his muscles at the head of Chinas central military commission during his first term, he is likely to observe more caution in future, having consolidated his power base by bringing down two of the countrys highest-ranking army officers for corruption, said James Char.

He also reaffirmed the partys absolute control over the army during the recently concluded congress.

Now that its done, he does not need to risk an external crisis any more. Therefore, we can reasonably expect Beijing will conduct less coercive diplomacy in the near- to medium-term, Char said.

The Chinese military will continue to operate further and further away from Chinas shores, and probably also establish more overseas bases, he added.

But, while it will continue to aggressively defend its own territorial claims, it will likely act cautiously abroad and will not engage in overseas constabulary missions such as those carried out by the US military in Iraq or Afghanistan for example.
The Central Intelligence Agency on Wednesday released a vast archive of documents and video seized in the 2011 US raid on a Pakistani compound that killed Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.

Researchers from a Washington think tank who had prior access to the newly declassified dossier say it includes Bin Ladens sons wedding video and diaries left by the Saudi-born militant.

Todays release ... provides the opportunity for the American people to gain further insights into the plans and workings of this terrorist organization, said CIA director Mike Pompeo.

The CIA has put online 470,000 additional files seized in May 2011 when US Navy SEALs burst into the Abbottabad compound and shot dead the leader of Al-Qaedas global extremist network.

According to Thomas Joscelyn and Bill Roggio, scholars from the Foundation for Defense of Democracies who were allowed to study the trove before it was made public, it provides new insights.

These documents will go a long way to help fill in some of the blanks we still have about al Qaedas leadership, Roggio said.

The inclusion of Hamza Bin Ladens wedding video, for example, gives the world public the first image of Bin Ladens favorite son as an adult -- an image apparently shot in Iran.
Galust Sahakyan: After knowing who they are you wish them to join the army (video)

Former National Assembly Chairman Galust Sahakyan advised students who were opposed to serving in army during their studies: "Let them become deputies and then not to join the army then. Becoming deputy does not mean not serving in the army. This shows that there is something wrong." Galust Sahakyan could not understand those who said that part of the Republican MPs, for example, Armen Ashotyan had not served in the army while studying, but they wanted all male students to serve."It was not Ashotyan's age to join the army, and by the age of 18 he was already an MP." Mr. Sahakyan assumed who was provoking students to protest against the adoption of a new law on military service. "Certain students, as if these students have great minds, stand up saying that their minds will be declined if they go to the army. And after knowing who they are you wish them to join the army." The MP thought that serving for two years was not a big deal and that it would not hinder future scientists or intellectuals. "I do not think our science and education so many achievements, and that suddenly the young people will be deprived of it all." As to the authorities, who will try to save their children from the new law, Galust Sahakyan predicted punishment. "It does not matter whether it is an authority or a businessman." By the way, Galust Sahakyan himself was against of sending everyone to the army by the age of 18. He was waiting for the nation to become mature.
Indian national Hamid Nehal Ansari, given a three-year jail term by a Pakistani military court on charges of espionage, filed a petition in the Peshawar high court on Wednesday asking that he not be treated as a spy as he was not involved in any anti-state activities.

Ansari also sought remission of his sentence in the petition filed on his behalf by senior lawyer Qazi Muhammad Anwar.

The petition stated that although Ansari was not found involved in any anti-state activities, he had entered Pakistan without proper documents. It said he therefore has the right of remission in his sentence after spending years in detention.

A two-judge bench of the high court led by Chief Justice Yahya Afridi directed the defence and interior ministries and the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government to submit their replies to the petition.

The case of Ansari, an IT engineer from Mumbai, has seen many twists and turns since he travelled to Afghanistan five years ago in order to illegally enter Pakistan, reportedly to meet a woman he had befriended online.

Days after he sneaked into northwest Pakistan, he was detained by police at Kohat in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province and handed over to intelligence agencies. However, his detention was never officially acknowledged.

After Pakistani rights activists took up his case in the Peshawar high court, police admitted in January 2016 that he had been detained.

Ansari was tried by the military court behind closed doors and given three years rigorous imprisonment, with the sentence starting on December 15, 2015 and ending on December 14, 2018.

He (Ansari) cannot be granted the benefits of 382-B of CrPC since the word anti-state activities is written on his jail warrants, the petition said.

If the remission is refused, it added, on the basis of endorsement of anti-state activities, the petitioner has the right to know all the details of his involvement in such activities.

Ansari said in the petition that an investigation had established he was not a spy but had only illegally entered Pakistan.

Referring to his plans to meet the woman he had befriended on social media, the petition said: Even the fake (identity card) with the name of Hamza was arranged for him by his host who invited him to Kohat.

Ansari was 27 years old when he was arrested from a hotel in Kohat. He had travelled to Kabul on a tourist visa and then went to Jalalabad to enter Pakistan. For almost three years, his family was clueless about his whereabouts.

Ansari acknowledged in his petition that he had committed a mistake by entering Pakistan without valid documents but appealed to the court that he had the right to be treated in accordance with Pakistans prison rules on remission of sentence.

He requested the court to change the words anti-state activities to illegal activities on his warrants, and to direct prison authorities to allow him remission with effect from December 15, 2015 and decide about his release date.

Ansari had also filed a petition in the Peshawar high court in 2016 for fair treatment in jail, following which the court directed authorities to treat him well by providing visitation rights and health facilities.

He was shifted to a prison in Mardan after he was attacked several times in the jail in Peshawar. Pakistani authorities have turned down more than 30 requests from India for consular access to Ansari.
America must not let Islamic State (IS) jihadists return to or enter the US after they are beaten overseas, US President Donald Trump said Tuesday, hours after a deadly New York attack.

We must not allow ISIS to return, or enter, our country after defeating them in the Middle East and elsewhere. Enough! Trump tweeted.

New York Mayor Bill de Blasio called the attack an act of terror but authorities have not definitively linked the suspect who was detained afterward to IS.

My thoughts, condolences and prayers to the victims and families of the New York City terrorist attack. God and your country are with you!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 31, 2017

Eight people were killed and numerous others wounded when the suspect rammed a pickup truck into pedestrians in Lower Manhattan and collided with a school bus, officials said.

The driver was shot in the abdomen by police after jumping out of the truck with what turned out to be a fake gun in each hand and shouting what witnesses said was Allahu Akbar, Arabic for God is great, authorities said. The man underwent surgery and was in critical condition but was expected to survive.

Trump earlier decried the attack as an act of madness.

In NYC, looks like another attack by a very sick and deranged person, Trump tweeted. Law enforcement is following this closely. NOT IN THE U.S.A.!

I have just ordered Homeland Security to step up our already Extreme Vetting Program. Being politically correct is fine, but not for this!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 1, 2017

Islamic State has been dealt a string of defeats across Iraq and Syria in recent months, with authorities worried that fleeing foreign fighters might return home.
The terrorist attack in New York, when a truck ploughed into a cycle track killing eight people, left Londoners with painful memories of two similar incidents at the iconic Westminster and London bridges, in which 13 people were killed over the summer.

After dealing with what is called Britains summer of terror that involved five attacks  one in Manchester and four in London  Prime Minister Theresa May quickly reacted to Tuesdays New York terror attack.

Appalled by this cowardly attack, my thoughts are with all affected. Together we will defeat the evil of terrorism. UK stands with #NYC, she tweeted.

A Downing Street spokesperson said: This afternoon the Prime Minister spoke to President Trump to express her condolences regarding yesterdays terror attack in New York. The Prime Minister said she was deeply shocked and saddened by the loss of life and that her thoughts and prayers remain with all those affected.

She reiterated that the UK will continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with the United States in defeating the evil of terrorism. The two leaders noted the very strong intelligence and security co-operation between our two countries. The Prime Minister and President Trump also discussed the need for an international approach to tackling poisonous terrorist ideology online.

London mayor Sadiq Khan said the capital stood in grief and solidarity with New York.

PM: Appalled by this cowardly attack, my thoughts are with all affected. Together we will defeat the evil of terrorism. UK stands with #NYC  UK Prime Minister (@Number10gov) October 31, 2017

Khan, who has been often targeted by US President Donald Trump, said: London stands in grief and solidarity with the great city of New York tonight after the despicable and cowardly attack in Manhattan. My heart goes out to the victims and their families.

New Yorkers are strong and resilient  I know they will not be cowed by this assault on the innocent, and on our shared values of life, he added.

London stands in grief and solidarity with the great city of New York tonight. pic.twitter.com/ojrxSDnZos  Sadiq Khan (@SadiqKhan) October 31, 2017

Britain has been on the second-highest threat level of severe from international terrorism, which means terror attacks are likely.

On March 22, attacker Khalid Masoods marauding car hit pedestrians on the Westminster Bridge near the houses of parliament, killing five people. The bridge, usually bustling with tourists, now has barriers placed along the road.

On June 3, three attackers  Khuram Shazad Butt, Rachid Redouane, Youssef Zagba  drove their van into pedestrians on the London Bridge, and later emerged to knife others in the area, killing eight and injuring many.

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Five Argentine nationals were among the eight people killed in the New York truck attack on Tuesday night, the foreign ministry said, as its consulate works with local authorities to identify the victims.

The Argentine victims were from the city of Rosario, and were visiting New York for a school reunion, the foreign ministry said.

The Argentinian government is deeply shocked by the death of the compatriots and is working to help the relatives and friends of the victims, the foreign ministry said, declining to indicate how many of its nationals had died.

Argentina reaffirms its strongest condemnation of terrorist acts and violence in all its manifestations and reiterates the need to deepen the fight against this scourge, it added in the statement.

A man in a rented pickup truck mowed down pedestrians and cyclists along a busy bike path near the World Trade Center memorial on Tuesday, killing at least eight and seriously injuring 11 in what the mayor called a particularly cowardly act of terror.

The driver was shot in the abdomen by police after jumping out of the truck with what turned out to be a fake gun in each hand and shouting what witnesses said was Allahu Akbar, Arabic for God is great, authorities said. The man underwent surgery and was in critical condition but was expected to survive.

US President Donald Trump said America must not let Islamic State (IS) jihadists return to or enter the US after they are beaten overseas.

US officials said eleven people were also seriously hurt in the first deadly attack on the city since the September 11, 2001 Al-Qaeda hijackings.
A man driving a pickup truck ploughed into pedestrians and cyclists on a bike path in New York City on Tuesday, killing eight people in an incident described by authorities as an act of terrorism.

The 29-year-old, Sayfullo Saipov, was shot by police and arrested after he crashed the truck into a school bus and fled his vehicle.

Security establishments around the world have had to deal with several similar attacks with vehicles in the recent years.

In September 2014, Abu Mohammed al-Adnani, an Islamic State spokesman issued chilling instructions. If you cannot (detonate) a bomb or (fire) a bullet, arrange to meet alone with a French or an American infidel and bash his skull in with a rock, slaughter him with a knife, run him over with your car, throw him off a cliff, strangle him, or inject him with poison, he said.

Al-Adnani said there was no need to consult anyone as all unbelievers are fair game: It is immaterial if the infidel is a combatant or a civilian... They are both enemies. The blood of both is permitted.

Here is a list (in chronological order) of terrorist attacks that were carried out with vehicles as the primary weapons:

1. June 2007: Two men in a burning jeep loaded with propane canisters smashed into the main terminal building at Scotlands Glasgow Airport. One of the attackers, who was born in India, died and the other was jailed for life, with the judge describing him as a religious extremist.

2. October 2013: Three attackers and two tourists were killed when a group of men drove a SUV into a crowd at Tiananmen Square, described as the first major suicide attack in Beijing. The attack was claimed by the East Turkestan Islamic Movement.

3. May 2013: Two Islamic militants of Nigerian descent rammed their car into British soldier Lee Rigby before trying to behead him on a London street. They said they carried out the attack to avenge the deaths of Muslims at the hands of British troops.

4. October 2014: Muslim convert Martin Couture-Rouleau, 25, used his car to run down two Canadian soldiers in Quebec. One soldier died and the attacker was shot dead after a chase. Couture-Rouleau called a police emergency line to dedicate his attack to the cause of jihad.

5. July 2016: A truck smashed into revellers celebrating Bastille Day in the French city of Nice, killing 86 and injuring scores more. The attacker was shot dead by police, and the Islamic State claimed responsibility.

6. December 2016: A man hijacked a truck and ploughed into shoppers at a Christmas market in Berlin, killing 12 people. The attacker was shot dead by police in Milan four days later, and the rampage was claimed by the Islamic State.

7. March 22, 2017: Five people died exactly a year after the Brussels attacks, when a man rammed his car into pedestrians on Westminster Bridge in London and then fatally stabbed a police officer outside parliament. The attacker was shot dead by police.

8. April 7, 2017: A truck ploughed into shoppers outside a busy department store in central Stockholm, killing five people including an 11-year-old girl. Police say an Uzbek suspect who was denied a residency permit in 2016 confessed.

9. June 2017: A van rammed into a crowd on London Bridge, then the three assailants left the vehicle armed with knives and attacked people. Eight people were killed and around 50 wounded. Police shot dead the attackers. IS claimed responsibility.

10. August 2017: A van mowed through crowds of tourists on Barcelonas most famous avenue, killing about a dozen people in a terror attack.

With inputs from AFP
Myanmar has blamed Bangladesh for delaying the start of a repatriation process for hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslim refugees, saying it feared Dhaka could be stalling until it receives multi-million dollars of international aid money.

More than 600,000 Rohingya have fled predominantly Buddhist Myanmar to neighbouring Bangladesh since late August to escape ethnic violence that accompanied a brutal military counter-insurgency operation after Rohingya militant attacks on security posts in Myanmars Rakhine State.

Zaw Htay, a spokesman for Myanmars de facto leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, said Myanmar was ready to begin the repatriation process any time, based along the lines of an agreement that covered returns of Rohingya to Myanmar in the early 1990s.

He said Bangladesh had yet to accept those terms.

We are ready to start, but the other side did not accept yet, and the process was delayed. This is the number one fact, Zaw Htay, Director-General of the Ministry of the State Counsellors Office, told journalists on Tuesday.

A memorandum of understanding on border liaison posts was signed with Bangladesh Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan following talks in the Myanmar capital, Naypyitaw, last week, but there was no progress on reviving the old agreement.

Zaw Htay linked the delay by Bangladesh to the money raised so far by the international community to help build gigantic refugee camps for the Rohingya.

Currently they have got $400 million. Over their receipt of this amount, we are now afraid of delaying the programme of deporting the refugees, he said in comments carried in a front-page article in the state-run Global New Light of Myanmar newspaper on Wednesday.

They have got international subsidies. We are now afraid they would have another consideration as to repatriation, he said.

The Bangladesh government issued a statement on Thursday saying that Myanmar had not agreed to 10 points put forward by its minister at last weeks talks, including the full implementation of the recommendations of an Advisory Commission on Rakhine State, chaired by former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, for a sustainable return of Rohingya.

Khan told Bangladesh media on Friday that the two sides were unable to form a joint working group but said it should be set up by the time Foreign Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali goes to Myanmar for talks on Nov. 30.

The Myanmar government has said it would accept the Rohingya once it was established that they had lived in Myanmar.

Zaw Htay said Myanmar was awaiting a list of Rohingya refugees from the Bangladesh side.
Several Labour Party MPs on Wednesday backed calls by a UK-based Sikh group for an independent inquiry into Britains role in the circumstances surrounding the 1984 Operation Bluestar that triggered a series of key developments in Indias recent history.

The Sikh Federation (UK) released a report titled Sacrificing Sikhs: the need for an investigation at an event in the House of Commons attended by Labour MPs Preet Kaur Gill, Tanmanjit Singh Dhesi and Sarah Champion.

Labour has committed itself in its 2017 election manifesto to conduct such an inquiry, but the ruling Conservative Party is opposed to reopening the issue.

The controversy over Britain's role in Operation Bluestar arose when some documents, declassified in January 2014, suggested the Margaret Thatcher government had approved a special forces advisers visit to India at the request of the Indira Gandhi government to consult on moves to counter Sikh extremists holed up in the Golden Temple in Amritsar.

The revelation led to demands for more files to be declassified and an inquiry by cabinet secretary Jeremy Haywood when the David Cameron government was in office.

The inquiry report said military advice had been given to the Indira Gandhi government at an early stage (in February 1984; Operation Bluestar was carried out in June 1984), that it had a limited impact, and that it was anyway not followed by the Indian Army, which planned and carried out the operation.

Sikh Federation (UK) chair Bhai Amrik Singh said: David Cameron should apologise when he reads the report and Jeremy Heywood should be sacked for misleading his bosses - David Cameron and William Hague - as what they said in Parliament and in direct appeals to the Sikh community on television now appear to be false.

The report released by the group said many questions remained answered, and that Britain's role went much beyond what has been admitted. It suggested that the Margaret Thatcher government helped the Indira Gandhi government with an eye on large arms deals.

Singh said the report contradicts the findings and conclusions reached by Heywood, and alleged that Parliament was wilfully misled.

He added: The need for an independent public inquiry to uncover the truth is now essential to rebuild community trust and demonstrate we still have some decent people in government.

Operation Bluestar left around 600 people dead and deeply hurt the sentiments of the Sikh community. Five months later, Indira Gandhi was assassinated by her Sikh bodyguards. Her killing triggered an anti-Sikh pogrom, leaving more than 4,000 Sikhs dead.

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Dismissed Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont will ignore a court order to return to Spain to answer charges over the regions push for independence, but he could testify from Belgium, his lawyer said on Wednesday.

If Puigdemont fails to answer Thursdays High Court summons, an arrest warrant could be issued that would make it virtually impossible for him to stand in a snap regional election called by the Spanish government for Dec. 21.

There was currently no arrest warrant out for Puigdemont, the lawyer, Paul Bekaert, told Associated Press.

Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy sacked Puigdemont and his government on Friday, hours after the Catalan parliament made a unilateral declaration of independence -- a vote boycotted by the opposition and declared illegal by Spanish courts.

On Monday, Spains state prosecutor filed charges of rebellion, sedition and misuse of public funds against Puigdemont for defying the central government by holding an referendum on secession on Oct. 1 and later proclaiming independence.

Puigdemont travelled to Belgium at the weekend with other members of the dismissed Catalan administration and hired a lawyer.

(He) is not going to Madrid and I suggest that they question him here in Belgium. It is possible, Bekaert told AP, adding there were provisions in the law that allowed his questioning outside Spain.

Sacked Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont attends a news conference at the Press Club Brussels Europe in Brussels, Belgium, October 31, 2017. (REUTERS)

The High Court summoned Puigdemont and 13 other former members of the Catalan government to testify in Madrid on Thursday and Friday on the prosecutors charges.

A judge will then decide whether those called to testify should go to jail pending an investigation that could take several years and potentially lead to a trial. The judge might also grant them conditional bail or order them to surrender their passports.

If Puigdemont and his associates did not turn up, the judge might also order them jailed as a flight risk.

The courts have also told the Catalan secessionist leaders to deposit 6.2 million euros ($7.2 million) by Friday to cover potential liabilities.

OFF TO PRISON?

Three former Catalan government advisors returned to Spain from Belgium late on Tuesday and were greeted at Barcelonas international airport by a small crowd chanting off to prison.

Puigdemont and four others were not among those returning to Spain. He said on Tuesday he would only go back to Spain when given unspecified guarantees by the Spanish government.

Wednesday is a national holiday in Spain and government offices are closed, giving a brief respite in Spains gravest political crisis since its return to democracy some four decades ago.

Following a tumultuous month, attention is also gradually turning to the December election, called by Rajoy when Madrid took over control of the previously autonomous region.

Puigdemont said in Brussels on Tuesday he accepted the election and the Madrid government said he was welcome to stand, though legal proceedings might prevent that.

Uncertainty over how the crisis will play out has prompted more than 1,800 Catalonia-based companies to move their legal headquarters out of the region and the government to lower its country-wide economic forecasts for next year.

On Wednesday, rating agency Moodys said the declaration of independence and the suspension of self rule were credit negative for the region and the country, and that associated uncertainty would damage sentiment and consumer spending.

Moodys raised Spains credit rating to Baa2 in 2014 as the country emerged from a prolonged economic slump.

On Tuesday, Moodys affirmed Catalonias long-term issuer and debt ratings of Ba3, saying the governments reinforced control compensated for the increased risks, in particular the regions rapidly deteriorating business climate.
Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) apologised on Wednesday for leaving behind in New York City two coffins that were meant to be flown to Lahore, the latest in a string of embarrassing controversies to hit the troubled flag carrier.

The oversight occurred on Saturday at New Yorks JFK airport as PIA prepared for its final flight from the US city to Lahore via Manchester, with the route being suspended because of financial losses.

Following the mix-up, the corpse of Nasir Ali was delivered to Lahore on an Etihad Airways flight on Wednesday, while the family of the second man, Nauman Badar, decided to bury him in Maryland instead.

Expressing regret, PIA spokesman Mashood Tajwar said the mistake was committed by the agency providing luggage handling services to the airline. PIA said it had expressed solidarity with the mourning families.

PIA regrets the inconvenience caused due to negligence...and expresses its sympathies with the family members of the deceased persons, the spokesman said in a statement.

PIA chairman Musharraf Rasool Cyan had ordered an inquiry into the incident, the spokesman added.

The airline was considered a global leader in commercial aviation until the 1970s but has been plagued by controversies in recent years and saddled with billions of dollars of debt, with a potential government bailout looming.

Domestic flights are often delayed for VIPs while PIA employees have been caught smuggling goods ranging from iPhones to narcotics.

Last year, two airline employees were killed at Karachi airport during a nine-day strike spurred by plans to privatise the airline.

In 2013, one of its pilots was jailed for nine months in Britain for being drunk before he was due to fly from Leeds to Islamabad with 156 people on board.
The petition of Hamid Nehal Ansari, an Indian national who was detained and charged with espionage when he sneaked into Pakistan from Afghanistan in 2012, will be heard by a court in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province on Wednesday.

The case of Ansari, an IT engineer from Mumbai, has seen many twists and turns since he travelled to Afghanistan five years ago in order to illegally enter Pakistan, reportedly to meet a woman he had befriended online.

Days after he illegally entered northwest Pakistan, he was detained by police in Kohat and handed over to intelligence agencies. However, his detention was never officially acknowledged.

After Pakistani rights activists took up his case in the Peshawar high court, police finally admitted in January 2016 that he had been detained.

In February 2016, reports emerged that he had been convicted of espionage by a military court during a trial held behind closed doors and given a three-year jail term.

The petition filed by Ansaris counsel, a Peshawar-based rights activist and lawyer, seeks remission in his sentence on the grounds that he has spent more time in detention than the three-year sentence given to him. The petition will be heard by a court in the town of Mardan , where Ansari is being held in the central jail.

Ansari was shifted to the prison in Mardan after he was attacked several times in the jail in Peshawar. Pakistani authorities have turned down more than 30 requests from India for consular access to Ansari.

However, there is some confusion over the hearing as jail officials have said such a hearing cannot take place since Ansari was charged and convicted of antistatic activities and therefore the remission rules do not apply to him.

A remission is usually given to prisoners in lieu of public and religious holidays and for good behaviour, the officials said.
Double-Standard Approach of RA Government to Family Values

Yet another manifestation of RA Governments ambiguous attitude towards the concept of traditional, family values was the support expressed by Serzh Sargsyan towards the statement on Support to the Family Institute and Traditional Family Values during the meeting of CIS Council of Heads of State in Sochi on October 11. It is worth reminding that during the last few weeks, a number of politicians from the Republican Party had started a campaign against the bill on domestic violence. Thus, for instance, RPA Speaker, RA National Assembly Deputy Speaker Eduard Sharmazanov announced on October 30, The preliminary version of the Bill on Prevention of Domestic Violence and Protection of the Victims of Domestic Violence does not correspond to the ideology of the Republican Party of Armenia. We are a national conservative party. Of course we are against violence, we are bearers of traditional values, namely, church, family, traditional family. Armenia Supports While the aforementioned bill was being discussed in Armenia and some claimed that it is forced by Europe, RA President Sargsyan announced in Sochi, We support the statement on Support to the Family Institute and Traditional Family Values, realizing that family is the basis of the society, and a factor unifying people. However, it is unclear what we support since the statement text was not introduced to the Armenian public beforehand. Childrens Rights Based on the inquiry by Union of Informed Citizens NGO, the RA Ministry of Foreign Affairs provided the text of the aforementioned statement. In particular, the document mentions that the parties highlight the need for cooperation in solving issues related to prevention and investigation of cases of domestic violence, violation of childrens rights, as well as reduction of child mortality rates Moreover, the document highlights the importance of establishing efficient legal procedures for adopting children. The hasty signing of this statement containing a clause related to childrens rights is interesting in light of the fact that Ararat TV company, which de facto belongs to the Republican Party of Armenia (they even share the same headquarters), has been actively spreading disinformation related to the Bill on Prevention of Domestic Violence and Protection of the Victims of Domestic Violence, stating that the law is unacceptable since it is aimed at alienating children from their families and depriving parents of their parental rights. However, the bill does not have any mention of childrens adoption in contrast to the aforementioned Sochi statement. Gender Equality The Sochi document also addresses gender equality. It is worth reminding that during the discussion of 2013 amendments to the RA Law on Equal Rights and Equal Opportunities for Women and Men, some people had turned the word gender into an international scandal, which resulted in substitution of the formulation gender relations with equal rights and equal opportunities for women and men. A number of Republican Party deputies were also against using the word gender. Thus, it turns out that the Sochi document proposed by Russia and immediately accepted by Serzh Sargsyan contains items that on many occasions have been proclaimed as evil by the Armenian audience, namely, fight against domestic violence, prevention of violation of childrens rights, gender equality. Double-Standard Approach In fact, when it comes to legislative initiatives supported by the EU the RA authorities and the pro-Russian forces start to remember about their traditional values in order to get as much concessions as possible from the EU. Meanwhile, the documents proposed by the Russian side are accepted without reservation irrespective of their anti-traditional nature, similar content and even items related to children. Anna Pambukhchyan Union of Informed Citizens
Pope Francis condemned on Wednesday recent deadly attacks in Somalia, Afghanistan and New York, saying militants were abusing the name of God to justify their violence.

I am profoundly saddened by the terrorist attacks in these recent days in Somalia, Afghanistan and yesterday in New York, the pope said in an address to mark All Saints Day, adding that he was praying for the victims and their families.

We ask God to convert the hearts of terrorists and free the world of hatred and of mad murder that abuses the name of God to disseminate death, he said to Roman Catholic faithful gathered in St. Peters Square.

A man driving a truck mowed down pedestrians and cyclists in New York on Tuesday, killing eight people. CNN and other US media said the attacker had left a note claiming allegiance to Islamic State and that he had shouted Allahu Akbar - Arabic for God is greatest - when he jumped out of his truck .

Also on Tuesday, as many as eight people were killed by a suicide bomber in the Afghan capital, Kabul. It was the latest of a string of attacks in Afghanistan last month, including one on a Shiite mosque that killed more than 50 people .

On Sunday, at least 29 people died in an Islamist attack on a hotel in the Somali capital, Mogadishu. The assault came two weeks after two bombings in the city killed more than 350 people .

Pope Francis has repeatedly condemned Islamist militants in recent years, saying followers of religions who carry out acts of fundamentalism or terrorism are profaning Gods name.
President Vladimir Putin inaugurated a monument to the victims of Stalinist purges on Monday, but Soviet-era dissidents accused him of cynicism at a time when they say authorities are riding roughshod over civil freedoms.

The Wall of Grief occupies a space on the edge of Moscows busy 10-lane ring road and depicts a mass of faceless victims, many of whom were sent to prison camps or executed on Josef Stalins watch after falsely being accused of being enemies of the people.

Nearly 700,000 people were executed during the Great Terror of 1937-38, according to conservative official estimates.

An unequivocal and clear assessment of the repression will help to prevent it being repeated, Putin said at the opening ceremony.

This terrible past must not be erased from our national memory and cannot be justified by anything.

His words and the ceremony amounted to one of his strongest condemnations of the Soviet Unions dark side in the 18 years he has dominated Russias political landscape.

Putin has in the past called Stalin a complex figure and said attempts to demonise him were a ploy to attack Russia. But at Mondays ceremony, he said there were lessons for Russia.

It doesnt mean demanding accounts be settled, said Putin, who stressed a need for stability. We must never again push society to the dangerous precipice of division.

Russian President Vladimir Putin with Patriarch Kirill, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, and former Human Rights Ombudsman Vladimir Lukin attend a ceremony unveiling the country's first national memorial to victims of Soviet-era political repressions called "The Wall of Grief" in downtown Moscow, Russia October 30, 2017. (REUTERS)

TRAGIC PAGES

Putins carefully balanced words reflect Kremlin unease over this years centenary of the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution, which paved the way for Stalins rise. Uncomfortable about promoting discussion of the idea of governments being overthrown by force, the Kremlin is not organising any commemorative events.

Putin, who is expected to run for and win the presidency again in March, told human rights activists earlier on Monday that he hoped the centenary would allow society to draw a line under the tumultuous events of 1917 and to accept Russias history - with great victories and tragic pages.

Yet some historians fret that what they say is Putins ambiguity about Stalin along with Russias 2014 annexation of Ukraines Crimea have emboldened Stalins admirers.

Monuments and memorial plaques honouring Stalin have sprung up in different Russian regions. State-approved textbooks have softened his image, and an opinion poll in June crowned him the countrys most outstanding historical figure.

By contrast, those who have helped document Stalins crimes, from the Memorial human rights group to individual historians and journalists, have sometimes felt themselves under pressure from the authorities.

A group of Soviet-era dissidents published a letter on Monday, accusing Putin of cynicism.

We ... consider the opening in Moscow of a monument to victims of political repression untimely and cynical, they said in the letter, published on the Kasparov.ru news portal.

Its impossible to take part in memorial events organised by the authorities who say they are sorry about victims of the Soviet regime, but in practice continue political repression and crush civil freedoms.
Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Iran on Wednesday for trilateral talks with Tehran and Azerbaijan, a meeting that comes as the Islamic Republics nuclear deal is threatened by US President Donald Trumps refusal to re-certify the accord.

The talks in Tehran are to focus on regional matters, as well as terrorism and security issues. The three countries all share the Caspian Sea and railway and road projects are expected to be discussed at their meeting as well.

Putin landed at Tehrans Mehrabad International Airport for the one-day meeting. Its his third visit to Iran after previously making trips in November 2015 and in 2007.

Putin also is expected to meet with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and Irans supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has final say on all state matters.

The two countries have many mutual interests in the region. Russia and Iran have both backed embattled Syrian President Bashar Assad in his countrys long civil war.

Prior to Putins arrival, Russias armed forces chief, Gen. Valery Gerasimov, met with his Iranian counterpart, Gen. Mohammad Hossein Bagheri, and discussed defense and security issues, Iranian state television reported on Wednesday, without elaborating.

Russia also has helped Irans nuclear power program, taking part in construction of two more nuclear power reactors in the southern port city of Bushehr, home of the first Irans nuclear power plant that went online in 2011 with Moscows assistance. The project is estimated to cost some $8.5 billion, with each reactor producing 1,057 megawatts of electricity.

Moscow has stood by Tehran as well while Trump has refused to re-certify the nuclear deal between Iran and world powers including Russia. The other parties to the accord  Britain, China, France, Germany and the European Union  also have all urged Trump to stay in the deal.

Tehran-based political analyst Saeed Leilaz said Putins visit to Tehran also can lead to more investment in the oil industry and other infrastructure projects that may encourage European and Chinese and even American companies to enter Iranian market.
South Korea will not develop atomic weapons of its own, despite the threat from the nuclear-armed North, President Moon Jae-In declared on Wednesday.

A push by North Korea to become a nuclear state cannot be accepted or tolerated, Moon said in an address to parliament. We also will not develop or own nuclear arms.

In recent months Pyongyang has carried out its sixth nuclear test -- its most powerful by far -- and launched missiles apparently capable of reaching much of the US mainland, raising concerns in Seoul about its security alliance with Washington.

South Korean media and opposition politicians have called for US tactical nuclear weapons, which were withdrawn from the peninsula in the 1990s, to be returned.

Some have suggested that if Washington does not agree -- Defence Secretary Jim Mattis expressed doubts about the concept in a visit at the weekend -- Seoul should develop a nuclear capability of its own, in order to ensure what they dub a balance of terror on the peninsula.

But Moon said in his address that Seouls approach would be based on the joint declaration to denuclearise the Korean peninsula declared by both Koreas in 1992.
Indian-origin CEOs of tech giants Google and Microsoft condemned the New York terror attack in which at least eight persons were killed and 12 seriously injured after a truck mowed down people on a cycle path in Lower Manhattan in US.

So sad to see the senseless loss of lives in NYC, thoughts and prayers with everyone affected there. Gratitude to NYPD, FDNY and first responders there #NYCStrong, Google CEO Sundar Pichai tweeted late on Tuesday.

Our hearts and thoughts are with the victims, their loved ones, and all those in New York City impacted by this horrific act of violence, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said in a tweet.

Apple CEO Tim Cook also offered condolences on Twitter.

Tonight our hearts are with the victims, their families and all the people of New York. Stay safe and stay strong.  Tim Cook (@tim_cook) October 31, 2017

The attack took place on Tuesday when the city was celebrating Halloween, one of the most festive days in the New York calendar.

The pavements were crowded with kids in costumes and there were still children trick-or-treating just yards away, the BBC reported.

The spot is also just yards away from Ground Zero, a site which reminds all New Yorkers of the 9/11 attack in 2001. It did not take police long to confirm that the city had once again been the target of terror.

After the collision, the driver exited the vehicle, holding up a paintball gun and a pellet gun. He was shot by a uniformed police officer and was then sent to a hospital.

According to reports, the driver shouted Allahu Akbar, which means God is great in Arabic.

The 29-year-old man who emerged from the white pick-up truck was shot by a police officer and arrested.

The media named him as Sayfullo Habibullaevic Saipov, an Uzbek immigrant who came to the US in 2010 and settled in Florida, a CNN report said.

A note was found in the truck that referred to the Islamic State (IS), a law enforcement source told CBS News.
A suspected Islamist militant was arrested on Wednesday after wounding two policemen with a knife near the parliament in Tunis, Tunisias Interior Ministry said, a rare incident in a country that has improved security since deadly attacks in 2015.

The assailant was known to authorities and said after the attack that he considered the police to be tyrants, the statement said.

One of the policemen was taken to hospital for treatment after being wounded in the neck, while the other was only lightly wounded, it said.

I saw a young man with a thick beard trying to kill a policeman. He put the knife in his neck before he was pursued by a second policeman, a witness told Reuters. He shouted Allahu Akbar (God is greatest) as he attacked the policemen.

The Interior Ministry said Wednesdays suspect had confessed that he had adopted Takfiri thought three years ago and believes that killing security forces is a form of jihad.

Takfiri thought refers to a view that Muslims should proclaim other Muslims to be infidels and justify attacks against them.

A security source told Reuters the attacker was 25 and from Ettadamen - one of the largest, poorest suburbs of Tunis.

Security forces raided his house and confiscated his personal computer and other items, he added.

Large numbers of police were deployed to the Bardo square in the aftermath of the attack, a witness said. Blood could be seen on the ground in the square. Interior Minister Lotfi Brahem also visited the scene and spoke to witnesses.

The square is opposite the parliament building and close to the Bardo museum, where 21 people, mostly European tourists, were killed in an attack by three gunmen in March 2015.

Tunisia suffered two other major attacks that year, one against tourists at the beach resort of Sousse and the other against presidential guards in the capital.

The 2015 attacks severely damaged the economy of the North African country, which has a large tourism sector at its Mediterranean beaches. Since then, security has been boosted at strategic sites while authorities have cracked down on militants, dismantling dozens of cells.

Tunisia was the only Arab country where a long-serving leader was toppled in the regions 2011 uprisings without triggering civil war or large-scale violence. Tunisian democracy activists who kept dialogue open between Islamists and secularists were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2015.
US President Donald Trump on Wednesday called the US trade deficit with China embarrassing and horrible ahead of an trip to Asia starting Friday that includes visits to five countries, including China.

Trump also told reporters during a meeting with Cabinet officials that every trade deal the United States has is disastrous.

The president has threatened to pull out of the NAFTA trade deal with Canada and Mexico if Washington cannot renegotiate a satisfactory agreement with its neighbours.
Two years after militants killed 130 people in coordinated attacks across Paris, France officially ended a state of emergency, replacing it with the introduction of a new security law which critics say undermines civil liberties.

The new anti-terrorism law, effective from Wednesday, gives police extended powers to search properties, conduct electronic eavesdropping and shut mosques or other locations suspected of preaching hatred.

Some dread that now that we are out the state of emergency there could be a drop in vigilance, it is the opposite, French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe told journalists during a short visit to police officers guarding the Eiffel Tower in Paris.

The level of threat is high everywhere in the world, he said, referring to the attack in New York on Tuesday where a pickup truck driver killed eight people.

French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe (L) meets with police officers during a visit to the Eiffel Tower on November 1, 2017 in Paris, as France officially ended the state of emergency. (AFP)

The new legislation transposes some of the measures contained in the state of emergency rule into law, although with some modifications.

One measure will allow the Interior Ministry, without approval from a judge, to set up large security perimeters in case of an identified threat, restricting movement of people and vehicles and with power to carry out searches inside the area.

Conservative politicians warn the regulations are not going far enough while human rights groups and members of the left fear police misconduct.

France has become so addicted to the state of emergency that it is now injecting several of these abusive measures into ordinary law, Human Rights Watch said before parliament backed the legislation last month.

Frances human rights watchdog, an independent body, has said it is concerned about breaches of rights of Muslims. The French Council of the Muslim Faith, the official interlocutor with the state in the regulation of Muslim religious activities, said it would remain vigilant about the bills implementation.

However, the concerns expressed by such rights groups have had little resonance with the public so far. A poll conducted in early October showed more than 80 percent of support for the bill.

The government says the state of emergency has helped intelligence agencies to thwart more than 30 attacks.

President Emmanuel Macron said on Tuesday Islamist militancy remained the biggest security threat to France.
An activist in Britains opposition Labour Party has said she was raped at a party event when she was 19, and that a party official discouraged her from reporting the attack to avoid damaging her career.

The disclosure by Bex Bailey, 25, is the most serious to emerge from a wave of allegations of sexual misconduct by powerful men that have swept through British politics in the wake of the Harvey Weinstein scandal.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, who has ordered an investigation into the allegation, said Bailey was not given support from the party when she reported what had happened.

Bex Bailey has shown incredible bravery by talking publicly about what has happened to her and has my full support and solidarity, he said in a statement on his Facebook page.

There will be no tolerance in the Labour Party for sexism, harassment or abuse. Whatever it takes, we are absolutely committed to rooting it out.

A party spokesman said: We would strongly recommend that the police investigate the allegations of criminal actions that Bex Bailey has made.

Bailey told BBC radio on Tuesday that she was raped in 2011 by someone in the party who was senior to her. She said she had tried to pretend it hadnt happened and had not reported it to police at the time.

I was scared. I felt ashamed. I know that the Labour Party, like any family, loves a good gossip, and I didnt want people to know and I also was worried that I wouldnt be believed if I did, she said.

Two years later, she told a senior party staff member, and it was suggested to her that she should not report it as it might damage her if she did. She was given no advice on what she should do next.

That might be their genuine view, it might be that that was the case, in which case that shows that we have a serious problem in politics with this issue anyway, said Bailey, a former member of Labours National Executive Committee.

She called for an independent agency such as a charity to deal with allegations rather than someone within the party who is inclined to be loyal to the Labour Party.

Prime Minister Theresa May has ordered investigations into two of her ministers after allegations were made against them.

Her deputy Damian Green denies making an advance on a woman three decades his junior, while junior trade minister Mark Garnier has said he was being humorous when he asked his assistant to buy sex toys for him.
Britains Electoral Commission is investigating whether a leading anti-EU campaigner breached referendum finance rules, after speculation mounted that Russia may have meddled in the Brexit vote.

Arron Banks, a major donor to the anti-EU campaign who was pictured with Donald Trump and leading Brexiteer Nigel Farage outside a gilded elevator soon after Trumps 2016 US presidential election victory, denied the allegations.

The Electoral Commission, which is already looking at whether Banks pro-Brexit Leave.EU group received any impermissible donations, said its new investigation would examine whether he was the true source of loans to a campaigner.

The investigation cannot overturn the referendum, though Banks, a 51-year-old insurance tycoon, said it was an attempt by the Remain establishment to discredit the Brexit result.

Allegations of Brexit being funded by the Russians ... are complete bollocks from beginning to end, Banks said in an emailed statement, signing off nostrovia, a version of na zdorovye, Russian for cheers!.

When asked about the investigation, Prime Minister Theresa May told parliament: We take very seriously issues of Russian intervention, or Russian attempts to intervene, in electoral processes or in the democratic processes of any country.

The announcement of the investigation comes after Ben Bradshaw, a lawmaker from the opposition Labour Party, asked the government to look into reports by advocacy group Open Democracy that the origin of some campaign funds was unclear.

Bradshaw said he was also concerned about what he said were significant British connections in the U.S. investigation into whether the Trump campaign colluded with Russian efforts to meddle in the presidential election.

Russia denies meddling in Brexit or the U.S. election and Trump denies any collusion with Russia.

In the June 23, 2016 referendum, 17.4 million votes, or 51.9 percent of votes cast, backed leaving the EU while 16.1 million votes, or 48.1 percent of votes cast, backed staying, a result that defied opinion polls.

VOTER CONFIDENCE

The Electoral Commission, which did not mention Russia, said it was looking at whether a company called Better for the Country Limited (BFTCL) - of which Banks was a director - was the true source of donations made to campaigners.

BFTCL was not registered as a permitted participant in the referendum but five registered campaigning groups reported receiving donations from it totalling 2.4 million pounds, the Commission said.

Banks, who was a registered permitted participant, gave three non-commercial loans to Leave.EU, totalling 6 million pounds.

Participants in the referendum were only allowed to accept donations from donors that conformed to a strict set of rules, for example they could not be based outside the UK.

The Commission said in April it was investigating Leave.EUs funding as well as looking at whether its spending return was complete.

Questions over the legitimacy of funding provided to campaigners at the referendum risks causing harm to voters confidence, said Bob Posner, director of political finance and regulation at the Commission.

It is therefore in the public interest that the Electoral Commission seeks to ascertain whether or not impermissible donations were given to referendum campaigners and if any other related offences have taken place, he said.

The Commission has the power to impose fines and other sanctions if it finds rules were broken.
Statement by Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian at General Policy Debate of the 39th Session of the UNESCO General Conference (video)

Honorable Madame President of the General Conference Madame Director General Ladies and Gentlemen, I would like to congratulate Mrs. Audrey Azoulay for the nomination by the Executive Board for the post of the next Director-General of UNESCO. Madame President, The strong leadership of UNESCO is essential in guiding our joint efforts for meeting the objectives of this organisation. Education plays a crucial role in this regard. Armenia has co-authored and supported several education-related initiatives both within the UN and UNESCO. We also closely cooperate with the UNESCO Education Sector in developing our Higher Education Strategy for 2017-2030. Education, science and search for knowledge have deep roots in the Armenian society. In two years the State University of our capital Yerevan will mark its 100th anniversary. However, already 800 years ago the capital of the Cilician Armenian kingdom used to have a secular higher education institute, the University of Sis. Armenians have carried out these traditions throughout the centuries, including by founding schools in many places worldwide. This year marks the 300th anniversary of the Armenian Mekhitarist Congregation of San Lazzaro in Venice that was recognized as an academy by Emperor Napoleon. More than 200 years ago another famous school - the Lazarian Seminary opened its doors in Moscow and later became one of the two founding institutions of Moscow State Institute of International Relations. Ladies and Gentlemen, The education is a strongest tool for boosting the values that this Organization adheres to. It is regrettable that some states abuse the education for contrary objectives, exploiting it for dissemination of nationalist hatred especially among the youth. There are many such examples in the textbooks of Azerbaijan, one of them teaching the children that Armenians are their genetic enemies. The 2016 report of the European Commission Against Racism and Intolerance states: Political leaders, educational institutions and media have continued using hate speech against Armenians; an entire generation of Azerbaijanis has now grown up listening to this hateful rhetoric. It is rightly described in the Constitution of UNESCO that wars begin in the minds of men. The societies will not be prepared for reconciliation unless the defense of peace is constructed in their minds. As great German writer Heinrich Heine wrote Where they burn books, they will ultimately burn people. The books of the renowned Azerbaijani novelist were burnt on the streets of Baku just for speaking the truth about Armenian massacres and calling for reconciliation. He wrote  story about his home village in Nakhijevan that during his childhood used to have twelve churches. All of them, together with numerous other Armenian sacred sites and cemeteries in Nakhijevan and all over Azerbaijan were wiped out in 1990s and 2000s. In the same manner thousands delicately carved medieval cross-stones of the Armenian cemetery in Jugha were bulldozed under the watchful eyes of the Azerbaijani authorities.The site was transformed to a shooting range. After ethnically cleansing the Armenian population of Azerbaijan, now Baku aims at wiping out even the memory of several millennia old Armenian presence, every traces of the indigenous Armenian culture and history of the region. Baku erases the past merely because it does not fit the present day self-portrayed image of Azerbaijan, probably following George Orwells famous words on who controls the present, controls the past. Those who control Azerbaijan today think they can rewrite the history to legitimize their present xenophobic policies. Ladies and Gentlemen, Historically being situated on the crossroads of different civilizations Armenia has cultivated deeply rooted traditions of coexistence and respect towards other cultures and religions. That is why Armenia preserves a rich cultural heritage that includes among others the Hellenistic era temple, some of the oldest churches in the world, medieval Jewish cemetery, 18th century mosque and soon will host the worlds largest Yazidi temple. The cooperation on preservation of the cultural heritage, that has been among the main pillars proclaimed by UNESCO. It has a very special meaning for the Armenian nation, since we have monuments all over the world built by the Armenians communities in about one hundred countries and particularly many in the countries of the region. Our neighbors have displayed different approaches towards the preservation of Armenian historical heritage. There is a good cooperation with Iran that takes proper care of the Armenian monuments situated on its territory in a sharp contrast with neighboring Azerbaijan, but also Turkey, where numerous cultural monuments that were of universal value, have been lost forever. In this regard I would like to reiterate Armenias interest for the participation of our experts in the excavation and restoration of archaeological sites in Turkey, in such places as Ani, the Armenian medieval capital. We are also very much concerned of the attacks on the Armenian monuments and sacred sites in war-torn Syria. We strongly believe that the post conflict rehabilitation in Syria should reaffirm the rights of ethnic minorities, including Armenians, on their religious and cultural heritage. This year the UN Security Council unanimously adopted the resolution 2347, which deplores and condemns the unlawful destruction of cultural heritage, including of religious sites notably by terrorist groups. We hope that the international community will continue to vigorously purcue such efforts. Madame President, I would also like to draw the attention on two anniversaries proposed by Armenia to the UNESCO calendar. For 2016 with the support of France and Netherlands we have nominated 350th anniversary of the first printed Bible in Armenian. This is indeed a remarkable event not just for the 500 years long history of the Armenian book printing, but also it is symbolic for a nation that was first adopted Christianity as a state religion more than 1700 years ago and whose translation of the Holy Bible was one of the first in the world. For 2017 jointly with Russian Federation and supported by Italy we have nominated the 200th anniversary of the birth of Hovhannes (Ivan) Aivazovsky, the world famous marine artist. Ladies and Gentlemen, Nowadays there is a higher demand of such efforts that build and consolidate peace in the minds of people, that turn our differences into our strengths, that preserve and use our common heritage as a bridge between generations, cultures and peoples. Armenia strongly believes in this mission of UNESCO and stands ready to continue its contribution to the realization of these goals. Thank you.
Secretary of state Rex Tillerson has said Pakistan will be given an opportunity to prove that it will act on information provided by the US about terrorist groups operating on its soil.

The US has stepped up pressure on Pakistan to crack down on terror groups as part of President Donald Trumps new South Asia and Afghanistan policy, and Tillerson had told Pakistans civil and military leadership to step up efforts to eradicate terrorists during his visit to Islamabad last month.

During a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on Monday night, Tillerson was asked by a lawmaker to share what he had heard from the Pakistanis during his visit to Islamabad.

Pakistanis have indicated  if we provide them information they will act. Were going to have to test that, give them an opportunity to do so, Tillerson was quoted as saying by the Dawn newspaper.

So, we are going to enter into an effort to have greater sharing of certain intelligence information.

Senator John Barrasso, a Republican, referred to Trumps new strategy for Afghanistan, a pillar of which was to change the approach in how to deal with Pakistan.

Barasso noted that Tillerson had talked about setting certain expectations for the Pakistan government and putting in place a mechanism of cooperation through information-sharing and action to counter terror groups. He also sought details of this proposed cooperation.

Tillerson said he could share some broad contours of his visit to Pakistan at a public hearing and was willing to sit with the senators for a closed hearing for further discussions.

But the conversation with the Pakistani government is for them to recognise that they will be one of the greatest beneficiaries of a successful peace process in Afghanistan, he said.

Tillerson pointed out Pakistan has two unstable borders with Afghanistan and India, and said the message he delivered in Islamabad was: You have to begin to create greater stability inside your country and that means denying safe haven to any of these organisations that launch attacks from your territory.

He hoped his visit would pave the way Pakistan views the Afghan situation. Pakistan will find it in their interests to begin to disassociate these long-standing relationships that have developed over time with certain terrorist organisations, he said.

Pakistan, he said, did have long-standing relations with the Haqqani Network and the Taliban, which might have served the purpose of stability in the past but didnt do so any longer.

And its up to Pakistan I think, to think about their longer-term stability and their future by changing that relationship with these organisations, Tillerson said.
The president of Uzbekistan on Wednesday offered to help US authorities in the investigation of the attack in New York where a truck driver, reportedly an Uzbek national, mowed down passersbys, killing eight.

Uzbekistan is ready to use all forces and resources to help in the investigation of this act of terror, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev said, offering condolences to US President Donald Trump in a statement on the foreign ministrys website.

A pickup driver killed eight people in New York on Tuesday, mowing down cyclists and pedestrians, before striking a school bus in the citys first deadly attack blamed on terror since September 11, 2001.

Eleven others were seriously hurt when the truck driver struck in broad daylight just blocks from the 9/11 Memorial, on the West Side of Lower Manhattan, close to schools as children and their parents geared up to celebrate Halloween.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is at it again: taking the Internet by storm.

For Halloween this year, Trudeau surprised parliamentarians and waiting journalists with his Clark Kent aka Superman avatar. He sported slicked-down hair and a sharp blue suit with bright red tie, coupled with wide-rimmed spectacles, as he headed for the Question Period, which occurs each sitting day in the House of Commons of Canada.

As the 45-year-old got to the bottom of the stairs, he ripped open his shirt to expose the Superman costume beneath, a video from CBC News shows. He said in both English and French: You know, gotta do it.

In celebration of Halloween, Justin Trudeau arrived for House duties dressed as Clark Kent, Superman's alter ego. https://t.co/0HoXZVefoY pic.twitter.com/JBhkvmmNFC  CBC News (@CBCNews) October 31, 2017

Trudeau is known for dressing up for Halloween with DC Comics inspired costumes. For his first year in office, he dressed as Han Solo, the iconic Star Wars character portrayed by Harrison Ford. Last year, he dressed as a pilot from Le Petit Prince, a French childrens book.

Trudeau also posted a photo on his Twitter account, which showed him posing with children in costumes and wished every one a super Halloween.

Have a Super Halloween! pic.twitter.com/sUlx2stilX  Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) October 31, 2017

Trudeaus pick for this years Halloween costume has been seen as symbolic. Supermans alterego Clark Kent is a journalist, and Trudeaus costume choice comes at a time when politicians across the globe, from US President Donald Trump to Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte, have accused the media of spreading fake news and maligning them.
News, events, history, and other mid-week tidbits.

Tuesday, October 25, 4:30  7 p.m.

Orr Area EMS Open House

Brats and burgers will be served. Event includes a new ambulance tour and blood pressure screenings. For more info: 218-780-3798.

Orr Fire Hall

4540 Lake St., Orr

Tuesday, October 25, 12  6 p.m.

Essentia Health Job Fair

Talent recruiters and department managers will be on-site at Essentia Health-Virginia. Candidates from all backgrounds are encouraged to attendnurses, nursing and clinical assistants, surgery technicians, radiology technicians, respiratory therapists, human resource professionals, and those interested in environmental services or nutrition services. Essentia staff will greet candidates, conduct an initial screening and filter them to appropriate hiring managers for interviews. Select candidates will be verbally offered a position before leaving. Candidates are asked to bring a resume, but its not required. Attire is business casual. For more info: www.essentiacareers.org.

901 9th St. N., Virginia
Its been a few months since weve received new music from Mick Jenkins. The Chicago rapper hasnt released much music this year but he did hint that hed be dropping two projects over the course of 2017. Thus far, weve yet to receive one but we got a bunch of dope guest verses from him as well as a few loose singles. Today, he delivers a new single with Vampire In Brooklyn.

Mick Jenkins latest release is tame and serene. With a descending keyboard sample and some dusty drums, he comes through with his vivid storytelling on Vampire In Brooklyn. The production on this track was handled by GreenSLLIME who comes through with an underground, jazzy beat. Meanwhile, Jenkins flow slides over the production smoothly and his low vocal tone on the track helps set the tone well. Its a solid release from Mick Jenkins, especially considering we havent really got much music from him recently. The last time he dropped something was two months a go with A Layover.

It was less than two weeks a go when Mick Jenkins said hed deliver Another Mickstape this month. Octobers pretty much done at this point and hes yet to deliver but with the release of Vampire In Brooklyn, it may be coming in the early parts of November. During the Instagram live session where he revealed the sequel to his 2012 mixtape would arrive, it also showed a few tracks thatll be included on the tracklist. Vampire In Brooklyn was one of them as well as other titles such as Small Circle, German Chocolate, Energies, U Turn, & Rags. Hopefully, this ends up being just the beginning of his full reveal. Lord knows weve been waiting on another Mick Jenkins project.

Quotable Lyrics

Chest out but you dry heaving

You couldnt even try leaving

Bite marks on your neck

Suckin dick for respect

Youll flip for a check




Yesterday afternoon shortly after 3:30PM a driver in a box truck drove the wrong way down a bicycle path, mowing down pedestrians in his sight. The New York Times reports that eight people were killed and eleven were injured. Police have identified the suspect as 29-year-old Sayfullo Saipov.

The publication reports that after Sayfullo raged down the bike path, along the Hudson river, then crashed into a school bus and got out of the vehicle screaming Allahu akbar, Arabic for God is great. Police then shot him, where he is now in custody.

Mayor Bill de Blasio has declared the events a terrorist attacking stating, based on information we have at this moment, this was an act of terror, and a particularly cowardly act of terror aimed at innocent civilians. Authorities found handwritten notes in Arabic by his vehicle that indicated an allegiance to the Islamic State, but they have not uncovered any direct or enabling ties between Sayfullo and ISIS at this time.

Despite the investigators reports on the suspect not being a part of ISIS, President Donald Trump believes otherwise in the number of tweets he sent out in condolence, stating that We must not allow ISIS to return, or enter, our country after defeating them in the Middle East and elsewhere. Enough!

Donald tweets how the process for immigration needs to get much tougher.

The New York Times reports that Sayfullo moved to the United States from Uzbekistan in 2010 and had a green card that allowed permanent residency. Five of the victims killed were Argentine tourists visiting New York for a 30-year high school reunion, the publication reports.
Sabas been buzzing for a few years now. Ever since his appearance on Chance The Rappers Acid Rap mixtape, it seems like hes popped up on everyones radar. The last release from Saba was the Daoud assisted Where Ideas Sing. It was a notable single for the Chicago native. It was the first teaming between Apple Music and Saba and even saw the songs lyrics put in display through downtown Chicago in conjunction with the launch of the Apple Music store in the area. Today, he comes through with his fellow Pivot Gang member, MFnMelo, for their new collaboration How You Live.

Saba and MFnMelo connect on How You Live. The two of them deliver humble verses where they address their come ups as artists and the difficulties theyve faced throughout. They also touch on their childhood in Chicago and the issues in the city that make growing up difficult. The production on the track was handled by Saba and Daoud. The two of them bring vibrant instrumentation to the table while the hooks pitched down vocals gives it a Houston feel. Its a solid effort between Saba and MFnMelo and probably one of the best collaborations theyve done together.

As of right now, Saba is currently overseas in Europe with Joseph Chilliams for their Bucket List tour. The tour has a few more dates left in Cologne and Berlin, Germany and will cap the last two dates in the Netherlands with the Rec Festival on Friday in Rotterdam and Amsterdam on Saturday. After that, the PIVOT gang will unite in their hometown of Chicago for John Walt Day. All proceeds from the show will go towards the John Walt Foundation in honor of PIVOT Gang member, John Walt a.k.a DinnerWithWalt.

Quotable Lyrics

Champion, my name up in the banner

Til Im going gray like David Banner

All this shit organic, on my grandma

Let me talk my shit like on a panel
One of your favourite social media platforms is about to make a major change. According to Politico, Twitter is set to up its character limit to 280 words, from the previous 140.

This new idea is a month in the making, as the social media platform tested the new layout to select users, for a chance to see if the strategy would excite them.

With this new feature, Twitter hopes youll feel less frustrated because you wont have to cram or reduce your message. And perhaps you wont even have to send out multiple tweets to convey one idea, Twitter announced in a blog post. In short, Twitter believes 280 characters is the sweet spot. Its long enough for you to better express yourself, but still enough of a constraint to keep tweets brief.

Even the companys CEO, Jack Dorsey, tweeted that the change is an obvious choice with the direction the digital world is headed.

In another blog post, Twitter shows how different languages, such as Japanese, have an advantage to tweeting as they can express their thoughts and feelings with less characters. The platforms co-founder, Biz Stone, brings that tidbit to light in a tweet that reads:

As usual, the Twitterverse has responded to the upcoming change and some users arent looking forward to it. What do you guys think?
The Queen of the Tea, Wendy Williams, may have had some that was too strong for her liking yesterday, collapsing on the set of her daytime show in the middle of a live TV broadcast. Dressed in an elaborate Statue of Liberty costume, the opinionated small screen host stopped mid-sentence, looked into the camera and appeared to lose her bearings. Shortly thereafter, she hit the deck, with shocked response from the audience audible in the background as crew members rushed to her side. You can see a video clip of the incident below.





As per The New York Post, Williams was back on the set of her show today and in good spirits following what must have been a nightmarishly surreal experience. She shared what led her to that moment with her audience and was eventually brought to tears recalling what had happened. It was really scary, Williams said, before proceeding to cry Apparently, the scene was chaotic after she passed out, with paramedics administering tests to assure that everything was alright with her. Shes supposedly fine physically, although she was lacking electrolytes and was also dehydrated at the time of the incident. Of course, Williams managed to put a slyly positive spin on the whole thing.First of all, I was trending all day, she said with a grin. Fabulous.

Much to the dismay of the haters, Williams told her viewers that what happened was not a Halloween prank and that she did in fact pass out. Im a champ and Im back, she added later. One such hater was 50 Cent, a man who is no stranger to throwing some shade at the TV host. After calling her an ugly motherf**ker, Fif shared a video clip of the collapse on his Instagram page and proceeded to call what Williams did bad acting. 50 later stated that she said she over heated in her costume, but by his sarcastic tone of voice, he wasnt believing a word of it.

In any event, its good to know that Williams is back on her show and physically capable of entertaining her fan base with her hot takes.

Wendy Williams
Dublin and Belfast are both in for visits.

One of the most distinctive UK outfits of the past 15 years, British Sea Power, kick off an extensive bout of gigging with February visits to Whelan's, Dublin (6) and the Limelight, Belfast (7). Tickets go on sale on Friday November 3.

Based in London-On-Sea, AKA Brighton, they'll be giving a belated plug to Let The Dancers Inherit The Party, their crowd-funded album, which just missed out on a top 20 UK berth in March.

If you've never caught them live before, you're in for a left of centre treat.
Need to recharge your batteries after Halloween? Netflix has you covered until December rolls around.

Alias Grace

Friday, 3 November

Inspired by true events, a mild-mannered Irish woman convicted of a savage murder in 1840s Canada becomes a young doctors obsession. A Netflix Original miniseries based on Margaret Atwoods award-winning novel.

6 Days

Friday, 3 November

When armed gunmen seize the Iranian Embassy in 1980, a tense six-day standoff ensues while elite British soldiers prepare for a dangerous raid.

When Harry Met Sally

Now on Netflix

Harry and Sally are friends of who resist sexual attraction to maintain their friendship, a relationship thats always teetering on the brink of love.

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Men in Black 2

Now on Netflix

Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones reprise their roles as two highly secretive and unofficial government agents dealing with all things evil and alien.

Once Upon A Time  Season 1-7

New Episodes Every Tuesday

In this fantasy series starring Colin ODonoghue, a young woman is drown to small Maine town and discovers that its filled with elements of the fairy tale world.

The Vampire Diaries - Season 1-8

Now on Netflix

Trapped in adolescent bodies, feuding vampire brothers Stefan and Damon vie for the affection of captivating teenager Elena.
The online streaming giants has now shut down production of 'House of Cards' midway through filming season six, as the house of cards literally come crumbling down in Kevin Spacey's private life.

Netflix had originally told yesterday that season six of 'House of Cards' would be its last every episodes.

Season six had been in the middle of production in Maryland and a 13-episode season was scheduled to air in mid-2018. But that is now all up in the air after Netflix made the dramatic decision to suspend filming until further notice.

Many Hollywood insiders now believe that the Oscar winner's glittering career is over after it was claimed he tried to force himself on a terrified young teenage boy, 'Star Trek: Discovery' actor Anthony Rapp, back in the 1980s.

Spacey is being heavily criticised for the wording of his public apology issued on Twitter and accused of trying to deflect from the claims made against him by coming out as a gay man.

Netflix's decision comes as Spacey is being heavily criticised for his bizarre attempt to blame the fact that he was drunk for the sordid "sexual advance" on such a young boy.

MRC and Netflix have decided to suspend production on House of Cards season six, until further notice, to give us time to review the current situation and to address any concerns of our cast and crew," declares a joint statement from Netflix and production company Media Rights Capital.

In the wake of disturbing historical sexual harassment allegations made against Kevin Spacey, the streaming giant had originally revealed yesterday that the upcoming sixth season of 'House of Cards would be its last episodes.

And they had also originally denied that the sordid allegations made against Kevin Spacey are the reason for the show's ending and claimed that it was a decision made "months ago". Though many felt it was a bizarre coincidence that the news was being made public now.

But they've now changed their tune and "suspended" production of the show. People are asking if season six will even see the light of day, or will Netflix wash their hands off it now instead before any more allegations come to light?

In a joint statement yesterday, the two production companies behind the hit show said they "are deeply troubled by last night's news concerning Kevin Spacey".

They also said: "In response to last night's revelations, executives from both of our companies arrived in Baltimore this afternoon to meet with our cast and crew to ensure that they continue to feel safe and supported."

The show's creator Beau Willimon said: "Anthony Rapp's story is deeply troubling. During the time I worked with Kevin Spacey on House of Cards, I neither witnessed nor was aware of any inappropriate behavior on set or off.

"That said, I take reports of such behavior seriously and this is no exception. I feel for Mr. Rapp and I support his courage."

The controversy kicked off on Sunday when Star Trek actor Anthony Rapp publicly claimed that he was left "traumatised" when a drunken Kevin Spacey made inappropriate sexual advances to him when he was only a teenage boy back in the 1980s.

It prompted Kevin Spacey to take to Twitter on Monday morning Irish time to offer a public apology and, in the process, candidly discuss his own sexuality for the first time ever.

"I honestly do not remember the encounter, it would have been over 30 years ago. But if I did behave then as he describes, I owe him the sincerest apology for what would have been deeply inappropriate drunken behavior, and I am sorry for the feelings he describes having carried with him all these years," Spacey wrote.

But the apology has spectacularly backfired on Spacey who is now not only being heavily criticised for the wording of his public apology issued on Twitter but also accused of trying to "deflect" from the claims made against him by his sudden decision to come out as a gay man.

As part of his apology yesterday morning, Spacey had said: "As those closest to me know, in my life I have had relationships with both men and women. I have loved and had romantic encounters with men throughout my life, and I choose now to live as a gay man. I want to deal with this honestly and openly and that starts with examining my own behaviour."

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Spacey is also being heavily criticised for his bizarre attempt to blame the fact that he was drunk for the sordid "sexual advance" on such a young boy.

Rapp had originally told about the scary episode with Spacey (without revealing his name) all the way back in 2001.

Rapp says he was inspired by all the women bravely coming forward about Harvey Weinstein to tell his own story.

He recounted how Spacey brought him to a nightclub when he was only 14-years-old and afterward invited him, along with others, back to his place.

"My impression when he came in the room was that he was drunk ... He picked me up like a groom picks up the bride over the threshold. But I dont, like, squirm away initially, because Im like, Whats going on? And then he lays down on top of me," he told BuzzFeed.

Rapp says that Spacey was trying to "seduce" him but he was able to "squirm" out of it and absconded.

Rapp said he was terrified by the experience, which he described as a frozen moment ... In terms of fight or flight or freeze, I tend to freeze.

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As I opened the door to leave, he was leaning on the front door[frame]. And he was like, Are you sure you wanna go? I said, Yes, good night, and then I did leave, Rapp said.

Rapp claims that that he would become distressed every time he spotted Spacey on the big screen because it brought on flashbacks of the night in question. He also said he dreaded the thought of having to ever work with Spacey.

Rapp said he considered taking legal action over the ordeal but was told by legal eagles that he didn't have a proverbial leg to stand on, as it would essentially be his word against another actor's.

"I came forward with my story, standing on the shoulders of the many courageous women and men who have been speaking out, to shine a light and hopefully make a difference, as they have done for me," he said on social media after the interview went viral.
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Exxon Mobil has agreed to spend $300 million on anti-pollution technology to curb harmful emissions at eight Gulf Coast facilities, part of a settlement with the U.S. government that arose from allegations it failed to properly control gases flowing through its industrial flares.

The largest U.S. oil company also agreed to pay a $2.5 million civil penalty and spend $1 million on a project planting trees in Baytown, the Environmental Protection Agency said Tuesday.

Exxon Mobil's agreement with the EPA, the Justice Department and the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality put to rest allegations the company violated the Clean Air Act by allowing high levels of pollutants to escape its facilities.

In April, a federal judge in Houston ordered Exxon Mobil to pay a civil penalty of almost $20 million for violating the Clean Air Act by releasing 10 million pounds of pollutants into the air from its Baytown refining and chemical complex over the course of eight years. In his ruling, U.S. District Judge David Hittner had said evidence showed that the Texas oil company's emissions from 2005 to 2013 put it in violation of the Clean Air Act 16,386 times.

At the time, Exxon Mobil said it disagreed with Hittner's decision and the award of any penalty, citing its "full compliance history and good faith efforts to comply" with regulations.

In a statement Tuesday, Exxon Mobil reiterated that it complies with environmental laws, rule and permits.

"We have worked closely with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to address concerns about flaring and opportunities to improve flaring efficiency at our U.S. chemical sites," the company said. "These investments, which include flare monitoring equipment and flare gas recovery systems, will help improve flare efficiency at these chemical facilities, which are among the largest petro-chemical complexes in the world."

Outfitting five petrochemical facilities in Texas and three in Louisiana with air pollution control and monitoring technology could reduce harmful emissions of volatile organic compounds from 26 of the company's industrial flares by 7,000 tons a year, and reduce emissions of toxic air pollutants by 1,500 tons a year.

"This settlement means cleaner air for communities across Texas and Louisiana, and reinforces EPA's commitment to enforce the law and hold those who violate it accountable," EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt said in a statement.

Exxon Mobil will have to install the anti-pollution equipment at five of its petrochemical facilities in Texas, near Baytown, Beaumont and Mont Belvieu, and three others in Baton Rouge, La.

That includes four plants that produce ethylene, used in consumer plastics, and propylene, feedstock for plastics used in car parts and carpet. The other four plants produce polyethylene, the most common plastic.

Exxon Mobil will be required to submit plans to minimize emissions of waste gases sent to its flare stacks and operate fence-line monitoring stations to watch fortoxic air pollutants such as benzene, among other requirements, the EPA said.

"Exxon has been breaking the law and polluting our air for too long," Environment Texas Director Luke Metzger said in a statement on Tuesday, praising the settlement. "Today's announcement means they'll finally have to make plant upgrades they should have made a long time ago."
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China's President Xi Jinping is running a great protection racket and U.S. businesses are paying the price.

President Donald Trump's obsession with North Korea's nuclear weapons and missile capabilities has given Xi the perfect opening to continue unfair trade practices and sap U.S. companies of their secrets.

Trump talked tough about China's illegal trade practices during the campaign, but once elected, the president said China could catch a break if it helped control North Korea. The Trump administration has slow-pedaled investigations into trade violations ever since.

Steelworkers feel particularly betrayed. Trump had promised to stop Chinese companies from illegally dumping steel in the U.S., and the administration launched an investigation into whether imported Chinese steel endangers national security.

After all, if America becomes too dependent on foreign steel, the country can't build weapons to defend itself. But while the investigation was underway, Trump asked Xi to reduce purchases from North Korea.

Xi complied, and Chinese steel imports have risen 20 percent since Trump took office. U.S. steel companies have had to shut down plants and lay off hundreds of workers.

Five dozen members of the bipartisan Congressional Steel Caucus wrote Trump last week demanding that he release the national security investigation's conclusions.

"Each day that passes is another day that the domestic steel industry faces an onslaught of imports and the deeply harmful effects of unfair trade practices, which is why we believe the investigation must be completed as soon as possible," the letter said.

More importantly, though, the Trump administration has called off plans to investigate how the Chinese government requires U.S. companies to surrender valuable intellectual property and critical data in return for operating in China.

Trump was scheduled to announce on Aug. 4 that U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer was opening an investigation into these unfair trade practices, but the White House abruptly canceled the event on Aug. 3.

Then on Aug. 5, China voted with the United States in the U.N. Security Council to impose punitive sanctions on North Korea.

North Korea has since quieted down, but that's likely because China held its Communist Party Congress last month. The party holds the congress every five years to elect leaders and establish policy. Xi and his supporters wanted perfect diplomatic and economic harmony so that no one would question his leadership.

Xi persuaded the party not to appoint an heir apparent to the ruling Politburo, clearing the way for him to violate the 20-year-old tradition of leaders serving only two terms. The U.S. should expect China to adopt a more aggressive foreign policy going forward.

Yet if Lighthizer were investigating how China violates free trade rules and intellectual property theft, he need go no further than the Chinese Constitution's new chapter: "Xi Jinping thought on socialism with Chinese characteristics for a new era."

Xi's philosophy contradicts the basic premises of free market capitalism. Instead of corporations serving the interest of shareholders, Xi demands that Chinese corporations serve the state and the Communist Party.

Xi's socialism with Chinese characteristics uses global markets to make China the greatest economic and military power in the world by 2050.

Xi has imposed new rules that require foreign corporations to share all of their trade secrets and patents with Chinese partners. The government also bars companies from using encrypted communications to protect email or proprietary data. And once a Chinese company no longer needs a foreign partner, the government drives them out.

Most experts agree China is violating World Trade Organization rules, but without U.S. protest, no one can stop these practices.

Xi knows that Trump cares far more about North Korea than fair trade, so don't expect China to end the nuclear crisis anytime soon. Instead, China will keep the crisis at a low boil for as long as possible so that Trump never gets around to protecting American businesses and jobs.

The smart money is on North Korea launching at least one missile after Trump arrives in Asia on Friday for a 12-day trip to distract from Trump's calls for fairer trade.

When looking at the big picture, Xi's manipulation of global trade to supplant the United States as a superpower is a far greater threat than North Korea's weapons. While Kim will only use his nuclear weapons to deter regime change, Xi is using trade to diminish U.S. power and authority.

Closer to Houston, hundreds of Texas companies do business with Chinese companies, including thousands of joint ventures in the energy industry where China is obtaining our drilling technology. Every U.S. company currently faces a tough choice: Either give up trade secrets or sacrifice working in the world's second largest economy.

Xi expects Chinese firms to steal intellectual property for the good of his nation. Trump must do more to protect ours.
Congressional Republicans counting on a $1 billion windfall from selling oil-drilling rights in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to help pay for tax cuts may be in for a disappointment.

Data from previous Arctic oil lease sales suggest the U.S. is likely to collect less than a fifth of that billion-dollar goal over the next decade - about $145.5 million - from auctioning off territory in the sprawling northeast Alaska refuge where caribou calve s and polar bears roam.

Oil companies may be scared away by the controversies and costs of drilling in that remote and fragile terrain.

Crude prices

Even if they aren't, crude prices would have to be some $15 more per barrel than they are today to make the effort pay off at all.

The potential revenues from drilling on Alaska's north coast are in the spotlight because a Senate-passed budget resolution instructs the Energy and Natural Resources Committee to come up with $1 billion in deficit reductions over the next decade to help offset the costs of a $1.5 trillion tax cut package.

The panel is scheduled to hold a hearing on drilling in ANWR on Thursday.

'Pure fantasy'

"It's pure fantasy that the Arctic refuge is going to generate anywhere close to the kind of revenues that are being spouted about right now," said Adam Kolton, executive director of the Alaska Wilderness League, which opposes ANWR drilling.

"This is a dry hole in the budget."

The idea of tapping the 19-million acre preserve for its potential oil bounty has long been debated in Washington, pitting energy industry advocates who see it as a way to revive production on Alaska's North Slope against environmentalists who argue the activity would jeopardize a pristine wilderness with arctic foxes, polar bears and caribou herds.

For decades, industry allies argued ANWR drilling was necessary to boost energy security and to create jobs.

Now, after a shale drilling boom made the U.S. the world's largest producer of oil and gas, proponents argue it's essential for the state and federal budget.

Republicans are using congressional budget rules to advance both Arctic drilling and a planned tax overhaul.

Immune to filibuster

Legislation following the budget resolution's instructions is immune from the kind of Democratic filibuster that has blocked previous bids to drill in ANWR, making the prospects for drilling there more likely than it has been than at any time in the last four decades.

Selling ANWR oil leases could yield significant royalties down the road.

But that would only come after successful discoveries and construction of production facilities - not to mention near-certain lawsuits along the way.

By contrast, congressional revenue projections are built on a 10-year time frame, counting only the government's possible haul from selling drilling rights - not royalty checks tied to possible later oil production.

It's not clear how many energy companies would actually pursue the opportunity.

A 2005 U.S. Geological Survey review based on decades-old data said the refuge might hold between 4.3 billion and 11.8 billion barrels of undiscovered but technically recoverable crude. That would rival the size of the mammoth Prudhoe Bay field that sparked the Alaskan oil rush four decades ago.

$70 a barrel

But the government analysis did not project the commercial viability of ANWR development. Oil prices would have to be about $70 per barrel to justify production there, analysts say. The benchmark U.S. price was less than $55 Monday. Drilling in Alaska typically costs three times as much as in the lower 48, according to industry researcher IHS Markit.
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South America's largest petrochemical company, Braskem, on Tuesday denied that it's in talks to be acquired by Houston's LyondellBasell, but analysts said that doesn't preclude Braskem's owners from seeking a deal, analysts said.

Braskem's largest shareholder, Brazilian engineering and construction conglomerate Odebrecht, is "working on alternatives to add value to Braskem and for all shareholders, and reaffirmed its intention of keeping Braskem as part of the group investments," Braskem said Tuesday in a statement.

That statement followed an earlier report by the Wall Street Journal that LyondellBasell was in the early stages of talks to buy Braskem in a deal that could be worth more than $10 billion.

Both LyondellBasell and Braskem are expanding along the Houston Ship Channel with chemicals and plastics projects. Braskem recently has focused on establishing a stronger U.S. presence with Houston as its primary hub.

LyondellBasell CEO Bob Patel said in an October interview that the company is eyeing big acquisitions for the first time since its 2009 bankruptcy now that the company is growing and on firm financial footing.

"We would aim to do something that would be substantial," Patel said. "It's really about being opportunistic and picking our spots."

LyondellBasell spokesman David Rosen said Tuesday the company wouldn't comment on rumors and speculation.

LyondellBasell, which is North America's second-largest chemical company after the recently merged DowDuPont, is heavily focused on U.S. and European markets. A Braskem deal would give LyondellBasell a leading position in the emerging Latin American markets, said Hassan Ahmed, a chemicals analyst with New York-based Alembic Global Advisors.

"To me, it's not dead. Academically, it makes sense," Ahmed said of the potential deal, noting that Braskem fits with LyondellBasell's growth plans and could quickly prove profitable

In fact, Ahmed wrote a report Monday morning - before the Journal story - citing Braskem as a prime acquisition target and LyondellBasell as its most logical buyer.

Braskem could sell for a discounted price in part because of its role with Odebrecht and Brazil's state-owned oil company Petrobras in the so-called Operation Carwash corruption scandal in Brazil. Braskem agreed to pay nearly $1 billion in December to the Justice Department and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for conspiring to pay bribes in violation of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.

Odebrecht owns 38.3 percent of Braskem and Petrobras holds another 36.1 percent.

Braskem has a stock market value of about $12 billion, although that jumped to about $13 billion following the news of a potential acquisition.

Ahmed said LyondellBasell probably would need to fork out almost $14 billion and assume Braskem's $5 billion debt to make the deal work. Petrobras said last year it planned to sell its stake in Braskem as part of a series of asset sales after the corruption scandal.

But in early October, Petrobras withdrew Braskem from its list of planned divestments without offering an explanation, said Matthew Blair, a chemicals analyst with the Houston firm Tudor, Pickering, Holt & Co. That Petrobras decision, coupled with the statements from Braskem and Odebrecht, make it unlikely any deal with LyondellBasell would come to fruition, Blair said.

He sees such an acquisition as a big risk for the Houston chemical maker when it might be better off diversifying and buying into the specialty chemicals market with higher profit margins and fewer cyclical downturns.

A deal with a specialty chemical maker like Huntsman Corp. of The Woodlands would make more sense, Blair said. Coincidentally, Huntsman's planned $15 billion merger with Swiss-based Clariant collapsed just last week.

In the earlier October interview, Patel said potential acquisitions likely would come in LyondellBasell's commodity chemical and plastics businesses. But he said a big deal to diversify could occur if the right opportunity came along.

"Creating a new platform would have to be a very unique situation," he said.

LyondellBasell's stock fell about 2 percent Tuesday to $103.53 a share.
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Visitors to NRG Stadium and the Texas Medical Center will have another high-rise lodging option when Moody National Cos. completes a 16-story hotel in early 2019.

The Houston-based developer has started construction on a Residence Inn by Marriott at 7807 Kirby, just south of Main Street near NRG Stadium. The 182-room extended-stay hotel, designed by Mitchell Carlson Stone Architects, is being built by Arch-Con, according to Moody National.

The addition comes as Houston hotels have seen a surge in occupancy following Hurricane Harvey. The market, however, had suffered in the past couple of years as demand diminished along with oil prices.

Through September, occupancy rates in the Houston Medical Center/NRG Stadium submarket averaged 66 percent, according to STR, a company that tracks hotel performance. That's slightly better than downtown, and compares with 70.2 percent for the top performing Houston Galleria/Greenway Plaza submarket.

Occupancy rates near NRG stadium are down 0.4 percent, compared with a gain of 1 percent for the Houston market overall in 2017.

The fundamentals of the market may take a while to shift, even with the temporary uptick in demand, STR senior vice president of operations Bobby Bowers said.

"This bout of weakness has been longer than a lot of people have expected," Bowers said.

The new hotel shows a turn for better could be ahead.

"When somebody does a development like that, what they bet on is the health of the market in the long term," Bowers said. "For a market like Houston, that's a good bet."

Average daily rates of $130.65 in the Medical Center/NRG are up 0.7 percent so far this year, according to STR. That compares with a gain of 0.8 percent for overall Houston.

About a mile away, Houston-based Medistar Corp. is on track to complete the 22-story InterContinental Houston Medical Center hotel at 6750 Main near Holcombe in late 2018. The luxury hotel, with 353 rooms, will be the third largest of more than 50 hotels in the Houston Medical Center/NRG Stadium submarket.

The top two, according to STR, are the 652-room Crowne Plaza Houston Near NRG Medical and the 395-room Marriott Houston Medical Center Museum District.

The new hotel will serve visitors to the Texas Medical Center, which draws more than 8 million patient visits per year, and NRG Stadium, which is used year-round for Houston Texans games, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo and other events.

Other new area hotels include Staybridge Suites Houston Medical Center, which opened before Super Bowl LI in February, and the Holiday Inn Express & Suites on South Main, which opened last year.

The new Residence Inn by Marriott hotel will include a 4.5-story parking garage and four private meeting spaces totaling 5,000 square feet.
Women's rights leaders will gather at the University of Houston on Monday for a lecture and round-table discussion as part of an event marking the 40th anniversary of the 1977 National Women's Conference.

Gloria Steinem, Martha Cotera, Melba Tolliver and Charlotte Bunch will speak at the event, part of a two-day conference at UH. Panels will discuss reproductive rights, women in politics and activism today.

Cortera will lecture on grassroots involvement in the Women's Conference nationally. Steinem, Bunch and Tolliver will then have a round-table discussion.

As Robin Paoli, founder of Houston Women March, writes in the Houston Chronicle:

Have women made progress since 1977? Yes. Are we still experiencing hostility, sexual harassment and sabotage? Yes. Is sexual harassment and assault more than a binary male-female narrative? Yes. Do these cultures and systems of power differentials hurt both women and men? Yes.

Why? Come to the events this week, engage the conversation with men and women about systems in our lives that produce the results we see and decide for yourself. You can work on reviving the 26 policy planks and planning for legislation with Houston women. You can attend panels and workshops at the University of Houston. You can talk with Houston-area women in film and media.

At the Women's March in Houston this past January, Mayor Pro Tem Ellen Cohen asked, "Are you kidding me? Do we have to fight this all over again?"

Yes.

Every day, more people join the conversation by saying "me, too." They are saying they have been harassed, groped, molested, raped, lied about, hushed up, rejected, humiliated, hurt, afraid.

Let's bring this out into the light and build a future of justice, dignity, equality and freedom.

Lindsay Ellis writes about higher education for the Chronicle. You can follow her on Twitter and send her tips at lindsay.ellis@chron.com.
History provides a guide for how Houston can rebuild after the devastation of Harvey.

In the wake of destructive floods in the early 20th century, both Los Angeles and San Antonio undertook significant flood control projects to mitigate future flood risk. However, the forms those projects took differed drastically.

In Los Angeles, the Army Corps of Engineers channelized the L.A. River with concrete and created an urban eyesore that has lasted for nearly a century.

In San Antonio, the local community strongly advocated a flood control project that not only provided protection, but also served as an amenity for the city. An architect, Robert H. Hugman, developed a plan that would ultimately become the Riverwalk, drawing tourists from across the globe with an estimated $13 billion annual impact.

Meanwhile, nearly a century later, Los Angeles has realized the potential of the L.A. River as an amenity rather than a blight and has engaged a design team led by architect Frank Gehry to reimagine it.

In anticipation of the federal and state moneys that will start flowing into the Houston region in the wake of Harvey's devastation, local officials are already identifying major infrastructure projects that help protect the area from future disasters.

EXPENSIVE INFRASTRUCTURE: $61B Harvey package includes 'coastal spine,' flood prevention, new Houston reservoirs

The public and private sectors should work together to make sure that, in addition to providing the critical protection that our city needs, these projects enhance the quality of life for adjacent communities and the region as a whole.

These two historical examples illustrate how considering design as an integral part of a project solution has the potential of creating public spaces that can transform the city and help drive the local economy in addition to providing protection.

Houston, too, has taken some major steps in this direction since the 1970s with detention basins and bayous that double as parks. Austin's flood mitigation plans for Waller Creek are enabling investments in parks, trails, luxury housing and workforce housing. As much as Texans don't like getting lectured by Northerners, when it comes to the scale of rebuilding we need after Harvey, we should also look to the Northeast.

After Sandy, states in the Northeast were in the same position that Houston is now. Faced with destruction across the region, local officials also had to develop projects to help protect their communities from future threats. As will likely happen with Houston, billions of dollars began flowing into the region for rebuilding. While a majority of those funds were designated for specific projects and programs, officials also understood the potential for design to play a significant role as they rebuilt.

They created the Rebuild by Design Competition, which evolved into a broader initiative for rebuilding cities to be more resilient, to bring the top design teams from around the world to imagine projects, funded through Housing and Urban Development (HUD) block grants, for their communities.

BIG / Rebuild by Design

Teams led by acclaimed firms and institutions such as Bjarke Ingels, OMA and MIT developed solutions that would not just provide protection from future storms but also create public spaces that would revitalize communities across the region.

Such an undertaking would be just a slice of the work done to help the city, county and region recover. And our region would need to discuss what form such an effort could take for the Houston area. How much funding should we devote to it? What geography should it include? Which entities should be invited to submit ideas? How would we structure such an initiative?

JOIN US ON FACEBOOK: "Houston After Harvey" group discusses the aftermath of the storm and more

Most of Houston's challenges will require interventions different from Manhattan's. The fact that we live in a flat plain might mean the best solutions are more dispersed across the region and not readily visible to the untrained eye. At the same time, some grand and iconic gestures might be worth the investment in order to regain the ability to attract major corporations who might be leery of relocating their employees to Houston now.

Houston needs to demonstrate to the world that we are serious about addressing flooding issues. Houston's version of Rebuild by Design could help frame long-term priorities even as we continue to address affected people's immediate needs. Our version could focus investment on traditionally underserved areas during the recovery process by encouraging projects proposals to build from meaningful community input. The conversation to determine the scope and goals of a Harvey effort could be one that all Houstonians could participate in.

While the type of impact that the Northeast experienced after Sandy was very different from what Houston experienced, an effort tailored to address the specific needs of our region could identify the most innovative and impactful solutions for rebuilding a better Houston.

Many individuals and groups across the region are in intense discussions for how we should be rebuilding after Harvey. Jim Blackburn and Rice University's Baker Institute have issued recommendations. Judge Ed Emmett has released a 15-point plan and major foundations have put together a research consortium to guide decision-makers. Multifunctional design should be one more topic that is added to those conversations.

MANAGEMENT, NOT CONTROL: Twelve steps Houston can take to address our flooding problem

As Houston contemplates how it will rebuild after Harvey, local, state and federal officials should recognize that flood management projects should not mitigate flood risk at the expense of the region's vitality, character and quality of life.

Rogers Partners

The histories of San Antonio and Los Angeles provide strong arguments for why design should play an essential role in developing new infrastructure and a cautionary tale for what happens when it is ignored. Rebuild by Design provides a blueprint for how Houston can attract leading thinkers to develop solutions that will not only protect us during future floods, but let people enjoy living here for all the times between.

For a city that was daring enough to build the world's first indoor stadium and send a man to the moon, Houston has the opportunity and experience to reshape itself as it rebuilds after Harvey. Let's be daring enough that when we do rebuild Houston, we make it great.

Jose Solis is the founder of Big and Bright Strategies, which specializes in sustainability, risk mitigation and project management for architectural and planning projects.





Bookmark Gray Matters. It does not like getting lectured by Northerners.
Mary Ann Constantinou is a cool customer. Born in New Orleans, she prepped her never-flooded Houston house long before Hurricane Harvey swamped her neighborhood. When water seeped through the floorboards, she located a rescue boat and got her husband, teenaged son, elderly neighbor and basset hound to safety. Harvey may have deluged her with challenges, but she weathered them all.

So why, weeks later, can't she recognize acquaintances or recall the day of the week?

All over Houston, people are complaining of an odd forgetfulness. Highways may be clear, deadlines met and the city mostly back to business. But storm survivors and even residents all but untouched by the downpour now find themselves muddling dates, weeping at small frustrations or vexed by insomnia.

"It's called Acute Stress Disorder, and it occurs two to four weeks after exposure to a trauma," explains Rosalie Hyde, a social worker who works closely with trauma victims, including Harvey survivors.

Most people are familiar with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD, in which serious symptoms linger after eight weeks and often don't go away. But in the immediate aftermath of stressful events such as Harvey and other global disasters this year, many others will feel some form of time distortion or emotional and physical unease.

"In the case of Harvey we were so connected with each other through the flooding and social media that the traumatic event was shared," Hyde says.

'Flood brain damage'

Befuddlement over time is one of the most common complaints. "I call it flood brain damage," Constantinou says. Like many post-Harvey Texans, she now wakes up laser-focused on mucking out and rebuilding her destroyed home.

Karen Warren/Houston Chronicle

Yet at a recent PTA function, she kept reintroducing herself to people she already knew. At home, she insisted that a doctor's appointment she scheduled for April was actually slated for this November.

Even Houstonians who didn't personally suffer losses notice the distortions. "During Harvey, I went fully polychronic," says Rice University engineering professor Matthew Wettergreen, who spent the storm immersed in relief work. In plain English, Wettergreen started seeing time as fluid, only meaningful as far as what needed to be done.

As an engineer, he is ordinarily fixated on dates, appointments and measurements. But in the wake of the hurricane, when he ran software linking food providers to rescue groups, Wettergreen routinely called colleagues at midnight without apologizing. "I wasn't sure what day it was. It didn't matter," he adds. "Things had to happen immediately."

Losing track of time, experiencing the present as if it's a dream: Both are ways the brain fends off overload under stress.

"Dissociation happens because you can't take it all in at once," Hyde says. "In the first few weeks after a traumatic event, everyone feels a little removed, a little out of sorts. My own house didn't flood, but I still felt confused at times."

Punctuating that eerie remove, for many people, are jagged, intrusive memories. Some remember looking out the window and seeing a familiar street become a disaster site with boats, megaphones and sobbing neighbors. Others have sensory flashbacks, like the feel of oily, foul-smelling water as they swam or trudged to safety. And many feel a surge of panic during the regular rainfalls common in a wet city like Houston.

The flashbacks can be especially fierce for Houston's sizeable population of refugees, combat veterans and survivors of earlier catastrophes. "Ninety-year-old Holocaust survivors are having flashbacks," Hyde says. "Think about it. In Houston, you have so many people who were disaster survivors already. So many people already have had the experience of leaving their homes, and this brings that back."

The next phase

On occasion that can lead to full-fledged PTSD. But what more Houstonians will experience is the normal next phase of acute stress: irritability, melancholy, a general malaise.

That's what Matthew Turner, a soft-spoken English professor at Lone Star College, now is finding. He and his wife, Laura, thought the worst of Harvey was over when they escaped from their flooded house by canoe. Used to arduous adventures such as weeks hiking through Spain, they were startled to find themselves bickering over small things like paint chips.

Melissa Phillip/Staff

"Laura wants to pick wall colors and I say, we don't have walls," Turner says. "Paint is the one thing in the future she has the power to make a decision about. And I keep worrying about controlling our money. I'm not happy with the way I've acted sometimes." Thanks to a Chili's gift card from a friend, the couple was able to sit down in a tranquil place and voice the emotions underlying their short tempers.

Resources like grief support, jobs  even monetary help, such as gift cards  make a huge difference after an upheaval, says pyschotherapist Judy Nguyen. In her work as a domestic violence advocate, she often sees the damaging effect of losing power over one's life. "When people lose control in one area, they will have the tendency to gain control over something or someone, to feel sane," she says.

Houston's mental health first responders have jumped into this breach with a kind of emotional triage. In the Fifth Ward, home to many low-income residents, life already could be overwhelming before the flooding, peer counselor Julia Walker says.

So as soon as she saw that recovery groups were delivering water and food, she began one-on-one counseling amid the piles of debris crowding the streets.

Many storm survivors need professional, stage-by-stage mental health care, something already in short supply before Harvey. In its absence, ordinary Houstonians can help. If you know someone who was flooded, counselors say, listen to them. Friends and acquaintances can make a difference by inviting recent survivors to say as much as they want to about their experience.

"One of the most important things to know is that we are still hurting," says Constantinou about Harvey's survivors. "I know terrible things have happened in Florida and Puerto Rico. But it feels like we have been forgotten. Even a text helps: 'Hey, I just want you to know I'm thinking of you.' "

At work, meanwhile, managers need to be aware that seemingly unscathed employees might be living in a new reality and to calculate that into their expectations. According to Rice Business professor Otilia Obodaru, even without a disaster most workers coexist with "alternative" identities  the selves they might be if they'd made different choices.

After a disaster, survivors live alongside those lost selves without having made any choice.

The transformation isn't always for the worse.

Before Harvey, Constantinou's neighborhood was the placid place where she lived and attended church. Now it's the place where she charged through neck-high water in a dark house to save a friend's parrot. When the creature attacked her, piercing a vein, Constantinou swathed her arm in a towel, grabbed the angry bird and got them both to a rescue boat.

But a parrot bite will heal more quickly than other injuries from the disaster  some of which are still surfacing. At a recent visit to pick up contact lenses, Constantinou learned that her long-distance vision had worsened so much in just the few weeks since the flooding that she needed a new prescription. Hurricane Harvey, the eye doctor said, had played havoc with her ability to see far ahead.

Claudia Kolker is the author of The Immigrant Advantage and the editor of Rice Business Wisdom. This story originally appeared on Houston Public Media.





Bookmark Gray Matters. You can't take it all in at once.


It was a once-in-a-lifetime three hours for a 76-year-old Pinehurst resident Lt. Col. John Heimburger.

He had a lasting dream of singing with the internationally famous 360-voice Mormon Tabernacle Choir since he was 7 years old. His aunt was a church organist in Central Illinois in 1948 when she organized a three-car family caravan driving 2,790 miles roundtrip to Salt Lake City to listen to the Tabernacle organ and attend the weekly "Music and the Spoken Word" live broadcast. That experience never left Heimburger's memory.

The decorated Viet Nam veteran pilot was surprised when he learned his wife and daughter had reached out to the choir for the opportunity to sing with these honored voices as his recent birthday approached and even more blessed when the invitation came to join the choir for a rehearsal in the Salt Lake Tabernacle on Oct. 18.

Having sung in a chorus and boys octet in high school and the Cadet Chorale at the United States Air Force Academy from 1959-63, Heimburger had also sung for Bob Hope at the academy in 1960, connecting with Hope again in Nakhom Phenom, Thailand, in 1967 during a Hope USO Christmas Tour for the military.

Heimburger went on to fly over 660 combat missions as a forward air controller in Viet Nam from '65-68, being awarded the Silver Star, two Distinguished Flying Crosses, the Bronze Star, and 26 Air Medals. He completed a successful flying career in 2001 as a pilot for Frontier and Continental Airlines, accumulating more than 30,000 accident-free flight hours.

When choir director Ryan Murphy requested Heimburger stand as Murphy announced his history, the 360 choir members, 156 members of the Orchestra at Temple Square, and an audience estimated at more than 800, arose and gave him a standing ovation for nearly 60 seconds.

"As a pilot, I have been on a 'high' many times before, cruising across the skies at nearly the speed of sound at 30-40,000 feet above the earth, but those flights 'landed,'" Heimburger said. "Singing with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir is a 'high' that will never land."

The 30-minute "Music and the Spoken Word" can be seen streaming live from Salt Lake City each Sunday at 9:30 a.m. Houston time via the internet at MormonTabernacleChoir.org.
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A Richmond man jailed in connection with a shooting following a recent speech by white nationalist Richard Spencer at the University of Florida is allegedly a white supremacist who attended a number of events over the last year organized by extremist groups, according to information recently released by the Anti-Defamation League.

Tyler Eugene Tenbrink, 28, was arrested on felony charges of attempted homicide along with brothers William Henry Fears, 30, and Colton Eugene Fears, 28, of Pasadena. The three men allegedly yelled "Heil Hitler" while driving by a group protestor, triggering an altercation in which Tenbrink reportedly fired a gun.

OUTCRY: Confederate flags at Texas high school spark controversy on social media

According to the Alachua County Sheriff's arrest report, the three men jumped out of a Jeep to confront people protesting Spencer's event. The men allegedly made Nazi salutes and shouted chants about Hitler at protestors. Tempers flared and Tenbrink reportedly pulled out a gun.

Police say the Fears brothers urged Tenbrink to pull the trigger, allegedly yelling "kill them" and "shoot them."

Tenbrink was reported to have fired the gun but missed protestors, striking a nearby building. The men then fled in their Jeep but were later arrested by police.

Officials from the ADL, which monitors extremist groups, say Tenbrink first caught their attention as a White Lives Matter activist in the Houston area and attended events organized by white supremacist groups such as Vanguard America and the Daily Stormer book club.

ADL officials have traced his activism to a number of events including the torch march and Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Va., last August; a June 18 white supremacist rally on the steps of the Texas Capitol; Richard Spencer's speech at Texas A&M in December last year; and a October white supremacist protest in front of the Houston ADL offices.

Tenbrink remains in a Florida jail on a $3 million bond. A convicted felon, he also faces an additional charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm.

William Henry Fears

ADL officials say William Henry Fears is an active white supremacist with ties to several white supremacist groups in the state, including Vanguard America and Patriot Front, an alt-right group that recently broke away from Vanguard America. He has also participated in events organized by a group of Houston area white supremacists said to promote the "White Lives Matter" movement.

Last September, he reportedly protested an Anarchist Book Fair in Houston with members of the Patriot Front, Daily Stormer book clubs, and the Houston Goylers and protested with others over the removal of the Robert E. Lee statue in Houston. He also attended the August torch march and Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Va., in November of 2016 and helped organize a white supremacist rally on the Texas Capitol steps last June.

Colton Fears

Colton Gene Fears is considered by ADL officials to be the least active of the three and was first documented as part of the white supremacist movement when he participated in a protest of the Houston Socialist movement while armed with an assault rifle. He also attended the August torch march and Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia in November of 2016 and participated in a white supremacist rally on the Texas Capitol steps last June.

The Fears brothers remain in jail on $1 million bonds. All three suspects have filed not-guilty pleas according to court records. A Florida Grand Jury is expected to review the evidence in the coming weeks and decide whether to issue an indictment.
For those lying awake at night worried about health care, the economy, and an overall feeling of divide between you and your neighbors, there's at least one source of comfort: Your neighbors might very well be lying awake, too.

Almost two-thirds of Americans, or 63 percent, report being stressed about the future of the nation, according to the American Psychological Association's Eleventh Stress in America survey, conducted in August and released on Wednesday.

This worry about the fate of the union tops longstanding stressors such as money (62 percent) and work (61 percent) and also cuts across political proclivities. However, a significantly larger proportion of Democrats (73 percent) reported feeling stress than independents (59 percent) and Republicans (56 percent).

The "current social divisiveness" in America was reported by 59 percent of those surveyed as a cause of their own malaise. When the APA surveyed Americans a year ago, 52 percent said they were stressed by the presidential campaign. Since then, anxieties have only grown.

A majority of the more than 3,400 Americans polled, 59 percent, said "they consider this to to be the lowest point in our nation's history that they can remember." That sentiment spanned generations, including those that lived through World War II, the Vietnam War, and the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11. (Some 30 percent of people polled cited terrorism as a source of concern, a number that's likely to rise given the alleged terrorist attack in New York City on Tuesday.)

"We have a picture that says people are concerned," said Arthur Evans, APA's chief executive officer. "Any one data point may not not be so important, but taken together, it starts to paint a picture."

The survey didn't ask respondents specifically about the administration of President Donald Trump, Evans said. He points to the "acrimony in the public discourse" and "the general feeling that we are divided as a country" as being more important than any particular person or political party.

Yet he and the study note that particular policy issues are a major source of anxiety. Some 43 percent of respondents said health care was a cause. The economy (35 percent) and trust in government (32 percent) also ranked highly, as did hate crimes (31 percent) and crime in general (31 percent).

"Policymakers need to understand that this is an issue that is important to people, that the uncertainty is having an impact on stress levels, and that stress has an impact on health status," Evans said, pointing out that the relationship between stress and health is well-established.

And keeping up with the latest developments is a source of worry all its own. Most Americans-56 percent-said they want to stay informed, but the news causes them stress. (Yet even more, 72 percent, said "the media blows things out of proportion.")

The APA survey did find, however, that not everyone is feeling the same degree of anxiety. Women normally report higher levels of stress than men, though worries among both genders tend to rise or fall in tandem. This year, however, they diverged: On a 10-point scale, women reported a slight increase in stress, rising from an average 5.0 in 2016 to 5.1 in 2017, while the level for men dropped, from an average 4.6 to 4.4.

Racial divides also exist in reported stress. While the levels among blacks and Hispanics were lower in 2016 than the year before, they rose for both groups in 2017, to 5.2 for Hispanic adults and 5.0 for black adults. Among whites, meanwhile, the average remained the same, at 4.7.

The report also notes that many Americans are finding at least one healthy way to feel better: 53 percent reported exercising or doing other physical activity to cope. Social support is also important, Evans said. "Third," he says, "I think it's really important for people to disconnect from the constant barrage of information."

The Stress in America survey was conducted by the Harris Poll on behalf of the APA. It was conducted online between Aug. Aug. had participants, all ages up living in the U.S. It included men, women, whites, Hispanics, blacks, Asians and Native Americans. Data were then weighted by age, gender, race/ethnicity, region, education and household income to reflect America's demographics accurately. Interviews were conducted in English and Spanish.
Onetime Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort keeps three U.S. passports with different identification numbers and submitted 10 passport applications in as many years, the office of Special Counsel Robert Mueller disclosed in a new court filing Tuesday arguing that Manafort poses a significant flight risk.

The 17-page filing came one day after Manafort and longtime business partner Rick Gates pleaded not guilty to an unsealed 12-count indictment alleging conspiracy to launder money, making false statements and other charges in connection with their work advising a Russia-friendly political party in Ukraine.

In the first criminal allegations to come from probes into possible Russian influence in U.S. political affairs, prosecutors pressed their case against the two defendants, who face a hearing Thursday to set bail terms. A U.S. magistrate on Monday put the men on home confinement pending that hearing after Manafort, 68, pledged to pay a $10 million penalty and Gates a $5 million one if they failed to appear.

Prosecutors argued in the new filing that they "pose a risk of flight" based on a "history of deceptive and misleading conduct," the evidence against them, and their wealth and foreign connections.

The incentive to flee is even stronger "for a defendant such as Manafort, who is in his late 60s," the government observed, noting that he faces a recommended sentence of about 12 to 15 years in prison if convicted, and Gates 10 to 12 years, not counting "related frauds."

In addition to noting Manafort's unusual acquisition of numerous U.S. passports, "indicative of his travel schedule," prosecutors Andrew Weissmann, Greg Andres and Kyle Freeny expanded on their argument Monday, citing the government's difficulty in ascertaining Manafort's wealth.

"Manafort's financial holdings are substantial, if difficult to quantify precisely because of his varying representations. . . . The full extent of [his assets] is unclear," they said. Manafort, for instance, reported $42 million in assets in March 2016; $136 million that May; and $28 million and $63 million that August, in two separate financial applications, the government said.

Gates listed his and his wife's net worth as $30 million in a February 2016 application for a line of credit, but just $2.6 million in a March 2016 residential loan application.

Manafort attorney Kevin Downing did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday evening, but told the court Monday that his client "definitely disagree[d]" with prosecutors using the " valuation of assets that fluctuate greatly in different countries" to argue against his release.

Separately, outside the courthouse, Downing said, "There is no evidence that Mr. Manafort and the Trump campaign colluded with the Russian government." Downing called "ridiculous" the charges, which he characterized as interpreting Manafort's maintaining of offshore accounts as a means to bring his funds into the United States as a scheme to conceal assets.

Gates's temporary attorney, Assistant Federal Defender David Bos, declined to comment, saying Gates is arranging for new private counsel.

The new court filing was disclosed after business hours after prosecutors asked - and the court ordered - that portions of the case be unsealed Tuesday.

U.S. Magistrate Deborah Robinson had granted prosecutors' motion Friday to seal the entire case including the indictment and any warrants, and any other related matters, citing concern that disclosure could cause Manafort or Gates to flee or "to destroy (or tamper with) evidence."
Gov. Greg Abbott carried his whopping $61 billion plan to Capitol Hill Tuesday, pushing for additional federal funding to rebuild Houston and the Texas coast after Hurricane Harvey.

Among the projects he hopes to build are three "coastal spines" to control flooding, new reservoirs and buyouts of thousands of properties.

"We're hoping a huge part of this will be funded," Abbott said after his Capitol meeting with top government officials and Texas congressional delegation members.

Abbott expects President Donald Trump's administration to come through in the next round of federal funding next month, though not all at once.

"We're asking for a large amount of money, but we've included in our ask extensive damages in our entire region," he said.

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About 60 percent of the funding would go to "future proof" flood-prone areas and 33 percent would pay for buy-outs and elevating buildings in low-lying regions stretching roughly from Rockport to the Beaumont area and parts of Southeast Texas where Harvey hit hardest.

Much of the funding would go to the Houston area - Texas' largest city and the fourth largest in the United States.

The plan mirrors much of a longstanding plan in Harris County to buy out properties in the most flood-prone areas.

For the first time, Texas leaders pushed up the official total damage estimate from Harvey to $180 billion, up from $150 billion. The state's new request for federal funding includes part of that, covering only flood and hazard mitigation and public infrastructure such as schools, government buildings, roads and bridges.

The initial reaction from Washington officials to the request: Surprise at its size and scope.

That could mean approval of the full amount will be a tough sell with Congress and the White House, coming at a time when hurricane damages to Puerto Rico and Florida, and losses in California to wildfires, are also in line for billions more in federal disaster funding.

But Rep. Randy Weber, R-Friendswood, was hopeful. "Just like the Astros, we're going to get 'er done," Weber said in a reference to the World Series.

U.S. Rep. Brian Babin, R-Woodville, whose district was hit hard by Harvey, agreed.

"Yeah, it's a lot of money," he said, "but it was a lot of storm."

Cornyn circumspect

Abbott said political leaders are eager to help with recovery, from President Trump in the White House to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Speaker Paul Ryan.

"Clearly there's money available," he said after the briefing. "Everyone wants to make sure resources are going to be provided to both rebuild Texas, but rebuild Texas in a smart way so that the greater Houston area, the Beaumont area, and other areas will not be subjected to repeat floods."

U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, gave little indication of the prospects for the governor's request. As for the $61 billion figure, Cornyn said, "We're working on a number. We don't have a number."

Later, Cornyn said in a statement "it's really important for us to remember that there's a lot of work that we need to do in responding to some of the unmet disaster needs around the country, starting with Hurricane Harvey in my state."

Added Cornyn: "The reason I bring that up today is because Governor Abbott of Texas is up meeting with the entire Texas delegation to make sure that we continue to make the case and make sure that Texans are not forgotten as we get to work on these other important matters as well."

Cruz also wary

Texas Sen. Ted Cruz was also circumspect about the prospects for Abbott's request, though he emphasized that the Texas delegation will remain united with the governor in getting the Gulf region all the aid it can from Washington.

"Repeatedly, projections have shown that Harvey is likely to prove to be the costliest natural disaster in U.S. history," he said. "The president has repeatedly made direct assurances to me that the administration will stand by the people of Texas."

As to whether the government might raise or borrow the money, Cruz said, "those discussions will be ongoing."

John Sharp, who heads the Governor's Commission to Rebuild Texas, said Tuesday that the list of projects was developed from a list of needs by county and local officials, plus U.S. Army Corps of Engineers projects that could mitigate the potential for future storm damage.

Sharp said the list is not all-inclusive, and that other key local projects in Harvey-devastated areas could be added.

"This level of additional federal assistance is vital to restoring the economy of the Texas Gulf Coast and is consistent with federal aid in past disasters such as Hurricane Katrina," Sharp stated in a letter accompanying the briefing documents, a copy of which was obtained by the Houston Chronicle.

Harvey made landfall near Rockport on Aug. 26, and for nearly a week wreaked havoc on more than 300 miles of coastline and more than 100 miles inland, with winds topping 130 mph. Some areas got more than 50 inches of rainfall.
AUSTIN - Republican Gov. Greg Abbott is beefing up the state's law enforcement presence in San Antonio to help crack down on a rise in violent crime, though city police said they didn't request or need the help.

"The governor offered the additional troopers, and of course we weren't going to say no," Police Chief William McManus said at a news conference in San Antonio on Monday. "The more people we have, the more visibility we can provide, the more area we can cover."

At Abbott's request, the Department of Public Safety is dedicating roughly 15 more troopers to the city's Violent Crime Task Force, bringing the agency's total participation to 31 officials, McManus said. DPS will also lend use of its aircraft "to provide around-the-clock air support capabilities in San Antonio," according to a news release.

DPS wouldn't confirm how many more agents it's deploying or say where exactly they were stationed before.

Formed 10 months ago, the task force is a collaboration of local, state and federal agencies seeking to combat rising rates of violent crime and homicide in San Antonio. Last year, there were at least 149 homicides in the city - making it the deadliest year in more than two decades.

Though McManus said the task force didn't need the help, "we certainly welcome the help."

In a news release Monday, Abbott said his "top priority as governor is the safety of our citizens and communities in Texas."

"That is why I'm committing state resources to support our local law enforcement partners and locally elected officials of San Antonio and Bexar County to crack down on and combat violent crime," said Abbott, whose office did not return requests for further comment.

Abbott's office publicly announced the initiative Monday, but McManus said the added DPS support began about two weeks ago. The new state law enforcement officials aren't assigned to any one area of the city, and it's not clear how long they will be stationed here.

"The task force is taken where the activity dictates, so it could be anywhere in the city," McManus said, adding later: "I hope they are here as long as the task force is in existence."

Mayor Ron Nirenberg said the city appreciates the additional DPS support, which "will help increase the Violent Crimes Task Force's operational effectiveness."

In April, Abbott allocated $500,000 to a similar crime reduction effort in Houston. Then DPS sent Texas Rangers and special agents to the city, where the agency set up a new tactical center to help tackle rising crime and gang-related killings.

In San Antonio, DPS is providing "trooper strike teams" made up of Texas Highway Patrol Troopers, "violent crime squads" made up of DPS special agents, a "felony fugitive team" made up of Texas Rangers and tactical support personnel, an intelligence team of criminal analysts, and communication and surveillance support personnel.

"DPS will be utilizing existing resources in the region," spokesman Tom Vinger said in a statement. "As is customary in law enforcement, we regularly shift our resources to focus on the most significant threats to the public."

Abbott's office said in the news release that the additional resources will focus on both violent crime and gang-related activity. When asked which gangs have a big presence in San Antonio, McManus said "it doesn't matter."

"There are a lot of loose-knit gangs that are around the city," he said. "There's well-established gangs. There's transnational gangs. It doesn't matter. We're not focused on any specific type of gang. Whatever gang is giving us trouble, whatever our intelligence tells us is what we're focusing on."

In the past, the Police Department has focused its efforts on well-established gangs such as the Mexican Mafia, Tango Orejon, Bandidos Motorcycle Club, Aryan Brotherhood and local gangs including the East Terrace Gangsters and Wheatley Courts Gangsters.

Since its inception this year, the task force has made over 4,170 arrests, McManus told city officials recently. While he said it's too soon to tell whether the initiative has been effective, he is hopeful the arrests will drive down a recent uptick in crime.

The task force is not housed in a new room or special building; rather, detectives in the homicide, vice, narcotics, gang and intelligence units share and analyze data and intelligence, McManus has said. They also team up with law enforcement officers with the Drug Enforcement Administration, a local FBI field office and the state.

The new resources come amid a larger push by the city to crack down on crime. The Police Department and the Bexar County Sheriff's Office are working with other law enforcement agencies on a new anti-gang unit set to launch later this year.

Eaton reported from San Antonio.
The American Civil Liberties Union sued the U.S. government Tuesday to demand that it release a 10-year-old girl with cerebral palsy detained by Border Patrol agents after surgery because she is in the U.S. without legal permission.

The ACLU filed a lawsuit in federal court in San Antonio, where Rosa Maria Hernandez is being held in a facility for unaccompanied minors who have entered the country illegally.

The Border Patrol has said its agents took the child into custody last week after emergency gallbladder surgery out of concern for her welfare. But the ACLU argues in its lawsuit that Rosa Maria's detention violates federal law and puts her health at risk.

"Nothing stops the government right now from returning Rosa Maria to the family she's lived with her entire life," said Michael Tan, an attorney for the ACLU.

Rosa Maria's parents brought her into the United States from Mexico in 2007, when she was 3 months old, said Leticia Gonzalez, an attorney for the family. Her parents are also in the U.S. without legal authorization and live in the Texas border city of Laredo. Gonzalez says that due to her cerebral palsy, Rosa Maria has the mental capacity of a child who is 4 or 5 years old.

Detained after surgery

To get to a children's hospital in Corpus Christi, about 150 miles away, the child had to cross one of the many interior checkpoints the Border Patrol operates in South Texas at which it checks the legal status of people crossing. Rather than risk being detained themselves, her parents sent her with a cousin who is a U.S. citizen.

After discovering that Rosa Maria was not in the U.S. legally, Border Patrol agents followed the vehicle she was in to the Corpus Christi hospital. There, Gonzalez said, the agents insisted on keeping the door to Rosa Maria's room open so they could watch her, then took her after the surgery to a federal facility in San Antonio. A video released by Gonzalez shows green-uniformed agents carrying Rosa Maria in a stretcher.

Rosa Maria now faces deportation. She remained Tuesday at the facility, which normally holds young people who have recently crossed the Rio Grande on their own, rather than the children of families living in the U.S. without legal permission.

Priscila Martinez, an activist at the Workers Defense Action Fund, said that Rosa Maria appeared to be not doing well in the facility. According to the child's family, Rosa Maria is refusing her favorite bread and appears to be withdrawing socially. Instead, she keeps saying that she wants to go home, Martinez said.

Facing strong criticism from immigration advocates and several Democrats in the U.S. House, the Border Patrol has defended its handling of the case and argued its agents couldn't let her go.

'Prosecutorial discretion'

In a statement Monday, U.S. Customs and Border Protection said it had to take Rosa Maria into custody because she did not have legal permission to be in the country and was not accompanied by a parent or legal guardian, making her the same as an unaccompanied minor under the law. The agency said it did not consider her 34-year-old cousin to be her legal guardian.

The agency said that "there is no discretion with regard to the law whether or not the agents should enforce the law."

But a 2014 policy memo on detaining immigrants in the U.S. illegally, still posted on CBP's website, says Department of Homeland Security employees should apply "prosecutorial discretion" to decisions, including "whom to stop, question, and arrest" and "whom to detain or release."
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A San Antonio-area couple arrested Monday are accused of abusing their children with a shock collar, belts and a thorny switch and making one of them brush her teeth with feces.

James Howard Chalkley, 32, and his wife, Cheyanne, 22, of Converse each was charged with injury to a child Monday, according to the Bexar County Sheriff's Department. Cheyanne Chalkley is facing two counts.

James Chalkley also faces a separate charge of injury to a child stemming from an Oct. 6 arrest, authorities said.

Authorities said they took the couple into custody Monday at the Bexar County Courthouse after a civil hearing dealing with the removal of the children.

The children were listed as ages 3, 5 and 10 years old, according to the couple's arrest warrant affidavits. Cheyanne Chalkley was identified as the stepmother in a search warrant affidavit for the family's Converse home.

Teacher spots bruising

A teacher first noticed bruising on James Chalkley's 5-year-old daughter in September. Child Protective Services investigators were called.

After seeing the bruises and talking to both the 5-year-old and 10-year-old girl, CPS investigators took both girls and their 3-year-old brother into custody, records indicate.

During a forensic nursing exam of the younger girl, multiple bruises in different stages of healing were found, according to the affidavit. That's when the 5-year-old told investigators that she gets spanked with a belt by James Chalkley often and that she bruises when he spanks her.

During an interview, the children told investigators their father said that, because they bruise easily, CPS wants to get their father into "trouble and break up their family," the warrant states.

In another evaluation at Brooke Army Medical Center, the 10-year-old girl told investigators that the 5-year-old girl was being hit with a switch. The 10-year-old girl also was being struck with a switch that had thorns, the affidavit states.

Made to eat 'poop'

Asked if she were hit with anything else, the 5-year-old girl told investigators that James Chalkley used a "shock collar" on her arms, legs and back, the warrant states. She said the collar hurt more than spanking and left green marks on her skin, according to the affidavit.

The girls later opened up to their foster parents, saying that at one point James Chalkley found cat feces in a closet, the affidavit states. James Chalkley thought the children intentionally refused to clean it, so he smeared it on their faces and made one of the children eat it before ordering them to take a shower, it adds.

The 5-year-old girl told investigators that James Chalkley at one point put "poop" on a toothbrush and brushed her teeth so hard he caused her to bleed, the affidavit states.

The girls also said Cheyanne Chalkley was often present when they were being beaten, the affidavit states. When their father was away, Cheyanne Chalkley would often be the one hitting them, investigators said.
WASHINGTON - House Republicans, straining to make last-minute changes to their far-reaching tax proposal, on Tuesday delayed the rollout by a day after they failed to finalize the details.

The plan pushed by President Donald Trump and Republican leaders in Congress is a top legislative priority. The details originally were to be unveiled on Wednesday, but that was delayed until Thursday, a senior GOP aide said Tuesday night. The aide spoke on condition of anonymity because the individual wasn't allowed to publicly discuss the schedule.

The tax-writing House Ways and Means Committee had worked throughout the day and evening to produce a plan for the first overhaul of the nation's tax code in three decades.

"We are making excellent progress. We are very close," said Rep. Kevin Brady, R-Texas, chairman of the committee, said late Tuesday night. "A lot of work remains with the drafters, they are continuing to work through the night. We are moving forward."

He made no concession to the uncertainty about the rollout or the difficulty of unveiling a bill on Wednesday, suggesting that the ambitious schedule was on track, saying, "No announcement of change in the schedule."

Although they had settled on some key details - such as a cut in the corporate tax rate to 20 percent and maintaining the top personal income tax rate for the wealthy of 39.6 percent - other elements still had to be resolved, including the income levels for the tax brackets.GOP leaders also confirmed they will maintain a federal tax deduction for some state and local property taxes paid, while eliminating comparable deductions for income and sales taxes.

Other issues remained in flux, or unknown outside of a select group of lawmakers and congressional staff. Those include whether the top income tax rate will rise or fall for the wealthiest; the size of an expanded child tax credit; whether to phase in or sunset rate cuts and the specifics of how the plan might affect tax-free retirement savings.

President Donald Trump invited nearly two dozen leaders of major business groups - including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the American Petroleum Institute and the American Farm Bureau Federation - to the White House on Tuesday morning to discuss the bill. In the afternoon, Speaker Paul Ryan of Wisconsin was set to meet with Trump and then with more than a dozen conservative groups on the tax bill, including the Heritage Foundation and Americans for Prosperity.

Each of those groups - and in many cases, individual companies - will be watching for how lawmakers change tax breaks large and small in their overhaul of the tax code. Business leaders, in particular, are ready to applaud or attack the bill depending on how those changes affect their bottom lines.

"We're trying to see, and evaluate with a calculator at the end of the day, are the incentives going to be right to help the economy to grow?" said David Stevens, the president of the Mortgage Bankers Association, whose industry has much at stake in the rewrite of the tax code.

A Halloween-themed news release from Ryan's office on Tuesday suggested that Republicans are prepared for many business groups to oppose the bill when it is released. "The special interest ghouls will do anything to protect all their little tricks and treats," the release said. "They will haunt the hallways and demonize our plan. They will conjure up new scare tactics and spread wicked tales."

Party leaders are already struggling to kill off some tax breaks they had targeted for elimination. Republicans had proposed wiping out the entire deduction for state and local taxes, which is particularly valuable to high-tax states like New York, New Jersey and California. After running into resistance from lawmakers, Brady said over the weekend that the coming tax bill would include "an itemized property tax deduction to help taxpayers with local tax burdens."

On Tuesday, Brady said the tax bill would not include a deduction for state or local income taxes.

"Our lawmakers in those high-tax states really believe their families are being punished the most by property taxes," Brady said, adding that those taxes "are not based on your ability to pay - they're just painful."

Brady also signaled the deduction for property taxes could be limited. Asked if there would be no cap on that deduction, Brady responded, "To be determined."

Rep. Tom Reed, R-N.Y., a member of the Ways and Means Committee, said on Tuesday it was clear that the original plan to fully eliminate the deduction for state and local taxes was "not going to occur."

It did not appear on Tuesday that the compromise was sufficient to win over all the blue-state House Republicans who had raised concerns.

Democrats criticized the compromise. "Go figure that high property-tax states like Texas, Chairman Brady's state, would be better off under the proposal," Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., the minority leader, said. "Picking winners and losers like this doesn't solve the problem. The new state and local compromise is still a nearly trillion-dollar tax hike on the middle class to pay for tax giveaways to big corporations and the very wealthy."
Three words that could upend women's reproductive health care were tucked into the recently released U.S. Health and Human Services' strategic plan for 2018 to 2022. The document's introduction now includes the following sentence: "HHS accomplishes its mission through programs and initiatives that cover a wide spectrum of activities, serving and protecting Americans at every stage of life, beginning at conception." Those last three words are new to the department's stated goals, and they appear four more times in the 65-page report.

While the position that life begins at conception, also known as the personhood movement, has been a mainstay of abortion foes, it is also a strategy employed by opponents of birth control. If it was codified as a matter of law, it would render all abortions illegal, and it could also criminalize most forms of contraception, with the exception of condoms.

Total impact

The changes to the HHS mission statement reinforce the perception that birth control is in the crosshairs of the Trump administration. In office for less than a year, the president has already issued a rule that makes it easier for employers to invoke religious or ethical objections in order to opt out of contraceptive coverage in employee health insurance plans. The new rules would affect an estimated 62.4 million women, according to the National Women's Law Center.

Trump has also signed legislation that will allow states to withhold Title X funds from any health-care provider that offers abortion services. Title X does not fund abortions, but it does support family planning, including birth control. Many women's health clinics offer both services. The loss of these providers could boost the unintended pregnancy rate by 33 percent and the teen pregnancy rate by 30 percent, according to the Guttmacher Institute, a reproductive health research organization.

Maybe Republicans truly do believe that birth control incites women to have sex, as they so often declare about young people, and therefore, banning birth control would deter sexual activity. If so, they need look no further than Texas to be disabused of such nonsense. Republicans in the Texas Legislature have spent years fighting an almost constant battle with the courts and Medicaid over their numerous attempts to limit women's access to reproductive health care, and the experience offers a cautionary tale for the Trump administration, Republicans in Congress and any other state that is planning to follow a similar path. It has been and will continue to be costly to the state's budget. More important, it has been a disaster for the state's women.

Since 2011, when the Texas Legislature began trying to ban Planned Parenthood from its Medicaid program and slashed its family planning budget by 66 percent in an effort to do so, more than 80 women's health clinics across the state have been forced to close. The remaining facilities have not been able to accommodate even half the women previously served.

Texas has one of the nation's highest birthrates - about 400,000 births a year - and more than half are paid for by Medicaid. In counties where clinics closed, the number of women obtaining long-acting contraceptives, the most reliable kind, dropped precipitously and births paid for by Medicaid rose 27 percent, according to a report in the New England Journal of Medicine. The Legislature's own researchers estimated that the cuts would result in 20,000 unplanned births and would cost taxpayers more than $250 million in federal and state Medicaid funds.

Affect on youth

For teens, the moves were especially shortsighted. Texas was already a national leader in the number of teenage pregnancies, but after the clinic closures, the birth rate jumped 3.4 percent. Roughly 2,200 teens would not have given birth if family planning funding had not been cut, according to the state's own report. A whopping 86 percent of teen births are paid for by Texas Medicaid; the total cost of these young parents is about $1 billion a year.

Most troubling, the rate at which women died from complications related to pregnancy doubled between 2010 and 2014, giving Texas the dubious distinction of having the highest maternal mortality rate in the developed world, according to a report in Obstetrics and Gynecology. The increase is hard to explain "in the absence of war or natural disaster," according to the report - or political indifference.

There is not one shred of evidence that limiting access to family planning services benefits the state or its citizens. In fact, Texas offers proof positive that it doesn't. Add Trump's intentional gutting of the Affordable Care Act, which will explode Texas' already nation-leading uninsured rate, and you have potential for a fiscal/physical nightmare. Should those three little words - "beginning at conception" - enter the equation, even women who can afford contraception may be unable to get it. Birth control pills may very well be made illegal.

It is well beyond time to send a strong message to our representatives in Washington and in Austin to get out of our bedrooms and our doctors' offices. When to have children and how many are private, family decisions. Politicians should butt out.
On All Souls Day on Thursday, many Christians will commemorate loved ones who have died. Those remembering the deceased may be comforted by pleasant memories of the time spent with them or thankful if their loved ones lived a long and fulfilling life. The feelings may be different, however, if the death was by suicide.

Many people may not know that suicide rates remain higher among older than younger adults, especially older men - who comprise about 85 percent of suicide victims 65 or older. It's time that we give this issue the attention it deserves.

We have completed an analysis of data from 2005 to 2014 on all older adults who died by suicide in 16 states. These findings can help us take steps to prevent suicide.

One striking discovery is that a higher proportion of older than younger adults' suicides involved a gun, and the firearm use rates (80 percent among older men and 40 percent among older women) have not changed for a decade. The lethality of firearms makes the chance of rescue slim and contributes to higher rates of completed suicides among older adults.

Also important is that longer life expectancies have not translated into longer disease-free lives. In a rapidly aging society, increasing numbers of older adults, especially those 85-plus years, will have debilitating and painful health conditions and associated mental health problems. As our study shows, untreated depression and other psychiatric illnesses are often significant drivers of suicide in all age groups. Physical health problems also often influence older adults' decisions to end their lives.

Our analysis showed that in half of cases of those 65 and older, and 60 percent of all those 85 and older, coroner or medical examiner reports noted physical health problems as a suicide precipitant. Most commonly, suicide notes mentioned inability to endure chronic/unremitting pain from cancer, arthritis and other diseases and musculoskeletal conditions. They also noted despondency from cognitive and/or functional decline, fear of becoming a burden on loved ones, loss of independence and fear/refusal of nursing home placement. We also found that almost a quarter of older adults who died by suicide had disclosed their suicidal intent, mostly to family members.

A recent study reported that some older adults, especially men, tend to view suicide as acceptable and rational under conditions of physical illness. Rather than a reason for making suicide acceptable, this is a call to take measures to relieve the pain and suffering that precedes suicide.

Here is what we can do to prevent suicide among older adults who suffer from untreated depression and/or debilitating and painful health conditions.

First, families, other social support systems and health care providers should learn about and discuss suicide warning signs and how to provide support. Older adults will more likely disclose if they trust that their disclosure will not be dismissed or lead to unwanted/forced hospitalization and medications.

Second, restricting access to guns and large amounts of drugs/medicines can help.

Third, recent research demonstrates the usefulness of safety planning as a suicide risk management approach. Using this approach, health care providers can help patients at risk identify personal warning signs of a developing suicide crisis and learn strategies to cope with it.

Finally, health care and social service systems must ensure that older adults have access to services that address their mental and physical health needs, such as therapy for emotional turmoil and crisis counseling, and palliative care for chronic pain and other distressing symptoms, such as depression and anxiety.

Simply put, we need more attention to providing uniform access to long-term and palliative care for older adults with physical, mental and cognitive health problems at an affordable cost. Family members also need access to resources to aid them in better caring for older adults who suffer from conditions that may lead to suicide. On this All Souls Day, let's all remember that suicide is preventable.

DiNitto is a Distinguished Teaching Professor and the Cullen Trust Centennial Professor in Alcohol Studies and Education in the Steve Hicks School of Social Work at The University of Texas at Austin, where Choi is the Louis and Ann Wolens Centennial Chair in Gerontology.
Our dream arrived one day in a nondescript envelope. Inside were two plastic cards for my wife and me granting us permanent U.S. residency. Getting my green card was the culmination of a lengthy journey filled with long periods of unemployment and multiple changes in visa status.

Few native-born Americans experience or even understand the frustration, uncertainty, fear, joy and relief that marks the journey from immigrant to legal status. If the process works well, it can take years. If it doesn't - and I have friends for whom it didn't - it can consign people to a desperate life in the shadows, unable to fully participate in the country they have come to love.

As the debate over immigration reform rages across the country, I often hear that immigrants should come to this country "the right way." It's not as easy as it sounds. For me, the right way took 16 years, cost me about $20,000 in legal fees and required at least 10 visa classification changes. Most of these classification changes meant trips back to my native Trinidad and Tobago to submit applications, proof of sponsorship and financial documentation to the U.S. Embassy. Returning through customs was always nerve-wracking. Did I have all the right paperwork? Did I say something wrong in my interview with the immigration officer?

At the same time, my wife and I were building a life here. We paid taxes, accumulated physical possessions, became active members of our community and formed deep relationships with native residents and immigrants alike.

I came to the United States on a full academic scholarship, graduated with honors and went to work for a company that sponsored my H-1B work visa. When I entered graduate school, I couldn't work for the first year because a delay in processing my return to an F-1 student visa meant I didn't meet the eligibility requirements for my graduate assistant position.

Having learned from the experience, I did after graduation what many immigrants with disposable income do: I hired an immigration attorney to help me through new rounds of Optional Practical Training and H-1B applications.

When my wife got her doctorate and took a teaching job in Louisiana, I left mine and moved to an H-4 (spouse of an H-1) visa while we started the process of becoming permanent residents. Being on H-4 meant that I was not legally allowed to work for another two years during the prime of my career. There was even a brief period in which I was not allowed to re-enter the country because her university was unclear about its responsibility in the immigration process, a common issue among employers who serve as sponsoring entities.

But I never lost sight of one important truth: I was lucky. My road has been easy compared with millions of other immigrants in this country. We had the benefit of financial support from families and universities, we earned degrees and had assistance in navigating the system that many immigrants, especially low-skilled laborers, never get.

This point was driven home when I began working as a production manager on the Rational Middle of Immigration, a series of videos exploring the immigration issue. The series aims to provide the basis for informed discussion about sensible immigration reform.

During filming, we met undocumented immigrants who live in the shadows while working tirelessly, sometimes in sub-standard conditions, for low pay. They cling to obscurity as their best defense against deportation. Many have come here fleeing violence. The path that I followed to legal status isn't available to them. A lesser-skilled undocumented worker who returns home to "get in line" for a visa may never find a way back in. Instead, they make what they see as the only reasonable decision, regardless of whether native-born Americans consider it "right."

People come here for a chance to be treated fairly and rewarded for hard work. Having millions of immigrants living and working in the shadows hurts this country socially and economically. But before we can solve these problems, we must understand them. Immigration reform is complex and nuanced, and it poses difficult questions about our laws, our economy and our views of fairness and humanity. Ultimately, it's a question of what America is and where it is heading.

Although my immigration struggles felt overwhelming at times, they never weakened my desire to stay in the United States and make the most of the opportunities that were afforded me. Life in America has brought out the best in me, challenged me, and made me shine in ways I never expected. I think there are many others who deserve that chance.

Riley, a Daytime Emmy Award nominated producer, is a production manager for Rational Middle Media, www.RationalMiddle.com.
Proponents of legalizing marijuana for medical use say 2018 is the year for Missouri. Public opinion has shifted. Money is flowing. And canvassers dot street corners.

But weve heard this before.

After raising more than $1.3 million through June of last year, a group called New Approach Missouri  run by some of the states most well-known marijuana advocates  narrowly missed the ballot after election officials tossed thousands of the groups signatures.

This year, New Approach is coming back with a new approach  validating signatures and collecting them earlier, said Jack Cardetti, the groups spokesman. He said the group has collected about 100,000 of the approximately 170,000 signatures it needs to make the November 2018 ballot.

Our goal is to make Missouri the 30th state that allows state-licensed physicians to recommend medical marijuana to patients with debilitating illnesses, he said.

Cardetti said the signatures  and $172,000 raised last fundraising quarter  are evidence of momentum months away from the May 2018 signature-gathering deadline.

Two other groups also are attempting to make the ballot. Springfield attorney and physician Dr. Brad Bradshaw is proposing his own constitutional amendment. He is the sole backer of the push, and said that canvassers had collected 142,000 signatures.

Were getting close, Bradshaw said last week, adding that the main purpose of his measure is to finance a medical research institute, with marijuana tax revenue used as the funding mechanism.

A third effort backed by former Missouri House Speaker Steve Tilley, R-Perryville, and former state Rep. Mike Colona, D-St. Louis, would seek to change the state statute  not the Constitution  which would require fewer signatures to make the ballot and also allow lawmakers to tweak the law.

We think its a more pragmatic approach, Tilley said of a statutory change versus a constitutional one.

Missourians for Patient Care, as of its October Missouri Ethics Commission filing, had not reported any donations. Tilley said the group would start gathering signatures in the coming weeks.

The address listed on the groups paperwork is the same as Pelopidas LLC, a firm linked to megadonor Rex Sinquefield. But Mark Habbas, a spokesman with Patient Care, said Sinquefield is in no way connected to the campaign.

The secretary of states office also has approved the petition efforts of a fourth group, the Missouri Marijuana Legalization Movement. That group is trying to legalize full recreational use of marijuana.

SHIFTING ATTITUDES

While Missourians did not have the chance to weigh in on medical marijuana last year, voters in other conservative states did. Voters in North Dakota, Arkansas and Florida all approved initiatives. Voters in Montana opted to expand access to medicinal marijuana.

Four other states  California, Massachusetts, Nevada and Maine  voted in recreational use of pot, bringing the total amount of states where voters have backed legal pot to eight.

Quinnipiac University released a poll in August showing that 94 percent of voters surveyed supported allowing adults to legally use marijuana for medical purposes if their doctor prescribes it.

Last week, Gallup released a poll showing 64 percent of respondents want legalized recreational marijuana, a record level of support. For the first time, Gallup said, a majority of Republicans surveyed  51 percent  supported full legalization of marijuana.

As attitudes shift, more Americans are weary of the federal government cracking down on legalized marijuana, the Quinnipiac poll showed.

Just 20 percent of respondents said they would support the federal government enforcing federal law in states that had legalized medical or recreational pot. Seventy-five percent of respondents opposed such a move.

State Rep. Shamed Dogan, R-Ballwin, co-sponsored a failed attempt at legalizing medical marijuana this past year.

When the federal government does keep it illegal, and keeps doctors from prescribing it, and keeps research from being conducted into its efficacy, Dogan said, I think its something from a states rights perspective where we need to push back against the federal prohibition.

Dogan said he hasnt studied any of the initiatives, but hopes the Legislature makes another effort next year to pass its own medical marijuana bill.

While the other proposals may make the ballot, if the Legislature passes a competitive measure, activists may slow the push for their own reforms, he said.

DIFFERING PROPOSALS

The three medical marijuana petitions present similar lists of qualifying conditions, which include cancer, epilepsy, glaucoma, post-traumatic stress disorder, intractable migraines, HIV/AIDS, terminal illness and other ailments.

New Approachs language would impose a 4 percent tax on retail sales, which would go toward veterans health care. The state estimates the proposal would generate $18 million in fees and sales tax each year.

The Bradshaw Amendment would tax retail sales at 15 percent, using that revenue and a wholesale tax to start an institute dedicated to funding medical research. The state estimated the proposal would generate $66 million in revenue and fees per year.

The Patient Care statutory change would impose a 2 percent retail tax, channeling revenue to early childhood education, veterans care, public safety and drug treatment.

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r 150 artists, curators and museum directors have published a letter deploring sexual harassment in the art industry and more than 2,000 supporters have now affixed their signature to the document.We are gallerists, artists, writers, editors, curators, directors, arts administrators, assistants, and interns  workers of the art world  and we have been groped, undermined, harassed, infantilised, scorned, threatened, and intimidated by those in positions of power who control access to resources and opportunities, reads the hard-hitting letter.Published earlier this week, the letter comes after Artforum publisher Knight Landesman resigned amid allegations of sexual harassment and workplace misconduct.Artforums other publishers spoke out after the shock resignation and said Landesman had engaged in unacceptable behaviour and caused a hostile work environment.We will do everything in our ability to bring our workplace in line with our editorial mission, and we will use this opportunity to transform Artforum into a place of transparency, equity, and with zero tolerance for sexual harassment of any kind, the statement said.However, those in the industry were disappointed with the magazines response and opted to vent their frustration via a blistering letter.We are not surprised when curators offer exhibitions or support in exchange for sexual favors. We are not surprised when gallerists romanticize, minimize, and hide sexually abusive behavior by artists they represent. We are not surprised when a meeting with a collector or a potential patron becomes a sexual proposition. We are not surprised when we are retaliated against for not complying. We are not surprised when Knight Landesman gropes us in the art fair booth while promising hell help us with our career. Abuse of power comes as no surprise.The document, shared under the hashtag #notsurprised, has garnered support from a number of major names in the international art industry including artist Jenny Holzer, dealer Barbara Gladstone, and Museum of Modern Art curator Laura Hoptman.The resignation of one publisher from one high-profile magazine, however, does not solve the larger problem, the letter said. Similar abuses occur frequently and internationally on a large scale within this industry.Related stories:
How to describe my gorgeous, sunny daughter April? She's five years old and loves swimming and dancing and is always entertaining people. But this tells you nothing really about how special she is to us and how much we love her. You'd never guess we nearly lost her, the only giveaway is the small surgical scar on her throat and the long pink scar running down her chest. April has taught us to appreciate how lucky we are and we count our blessings every day.

I'll never forget the white panic of being with my tiny baby in the ambulance, and the wailing of the siren, the blue lights flashing, on our way from Watford to Great Ormond Street Hospital, in the centre of London. When I walked through the doors I had a strange mix of emotions, both reassurance that this is the best place for my child to be, and horror that it's my child who's sick enough to be here.

On the intensive care ward, all you want to do is take your baby in your arms and hold her and tell her it's going to be OK. I'd find myself standing frozen in terror as the doctors and nurses rushed around me. I felt so utterly helpless. April had to be put into a coma and ventilated and it was overwhelming seeing her like that, with all the tubes and the wires and the little flashing lights and the beeping of machines. All I could do was try to be brave for April and stand close so she could perhaps smell me and put my finger in her little hand and stroke her cheek.

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Of course, not for a second did it cross my mind where and how I was going to stay near April. When it gets to midnight, it's difficult to put into words the rush of relief you feel when someone tells you about the accommodation, which is free because of donations to Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity and set up ready for you.

We were in GOSH for five and half months as April underwent several big heart operations. When the ward closed for the night I would give my daughter a last kiss and go to the accommodation just across the road. It was always hard to leave but I knew that if anything changed I'd get a call from the nurse and I could be at April's cot in seconds. When they are that young, they can't tell you but they know when you're not there and I didn't want her ever to look for her mum and me not be there.

Hearing that new accommodation is opening, called Morgan Stanley House, it's quite astonishing to think that all the fundraising efforts of Morgan Stanley staff, all those single small amounts of money, have come together to create something so tangible. It's humbling that those strangers recognise the necessity for free accommodation for parents like me, something that had never crossed my mind before I needed it.

After what we went through with April, I can now picture the mums and dads who will stay in those beds. How grateful they will feel to be sleeping near the intensive care ward. Parents like me who will be rushing over to the hospital in the middle of the night in their pyjamas, frantic with worry. Terrified mums and dads, who feel helpless, trying to get some sleep so they can stay strong for their child. And the anxious hours they will spend in intensive care, giving their child the only thing they can, the security of their love.

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For those months April was desperately sick, GOSH was my whole world. Friends and family are supportive but they can never fully understand what you are going through in the same way another parent at GOSH can. I remember crying in a corridor and a woman giving me a hug. I told her my story and she told me hers. That realisation I wasn't alone made it seem a little less unbearable. That's why I think the communal spaces in the Morgan Stanley House will be invaluable because it will be a space where parents going through similar experiences will meet.

Day to day, I try not to think about that traumatic time but April's scars are a permanent mark of what she went through. At the moment, April doesn't like her scars. But when I look at them, they remind me of how intensely I love her and how brave my little girl is who survived against the odds. I keep telling her they are her special scars and I hope one day she will be proud of them.
If you are British, the Vatican is probably the safest place to debate with participants from the 26 member states the future of the European Union. We were attending a conference there last week, an unusual mix of former and present EU officials, bishops, cardinals, MEPs, national parliamentarians, civil society leaders and academics, celebrating the 60th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Rome, some 350 in all. It was a daunting task to explain how Britain's future was now being decided by a few score Tory backbenchers. It was even more daunting to hear between sessions from reliable sources that Brussels believed the UK would crash out of the EU, without agreement, in the "off a cliff scenario".

The oratory, passion, and commitment to the vision and values of the EU of one or two speakers - Chatham House rules preclude names and quotes - came as a revelation. This was not the story of bloated bureaucracy and the shape of bananas sold in the tabloid press The British public have never heard voices of this sort. Instead they were presented by the Leave campaign in the referendum with clever misrepresentations designed to deflect discontents and anger away from national governance onto the convenient culprit across the Channel. While the Remain campaign never rose above deploying its own theme of fear - about the economy. Etonian arrogance was met by popular anger pervasive enough for 4% more voters to opt for BREXIT than against it.

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It is difficult to talk in secular Britain of the values and vision of the EU because they owe much to the sap of Christian tradition rising after the Second World War. But to portray the role of the key founding fathers, Catholic statesmen Adenauer, de Gasperi and Schumann, as evidence of a Roman Catholic plot lacks evidence. Their thinking certainly reflected Catholic social teaching. But Pope Pius XII and the Vatican stayed out of the debate. Jean Monnet, French Foreign Minister, an arch-federalist, provided the major momentum towards political as well as economic union. The commitment to pooling some sovereignty, states organising economic cooperation, representative democracy and human rights came as a response to totalitarianism and total war. It was an expression of a widely shared "never again".

Even before the end of the Second World War the Czech and Polish resistance in London were promoting the idea of a union of European nations in response to the Soviet threat. The origins of the EU are no less pragmatic than idealistic. But for successive British governments, torn in foreign policy between the value of the Anglo-American relationship, the Commonwealth and the possibility of dominating a post-war European Economic Community, the overriding concern was sustaining Britain's role in the world during post-imperial decline as political and military power waned. Plus ca change.

What is new is the rise of populism with elements adopted by the mainstream political parties. The British Conservative Party, promoter of the liberal vision of the free market, justifies leaving the largest free market in the world with essentially populist language: "the people have spoken". The question which arises is which ones? The 48% or the 52% ? Or all those who didn't vote? The young or the old? Tte 63% remainers in Scotland? Those who feared the consequences of a hard border between the Republic and Northern Ireland? To see BREXIT as a sub-theme of a crisis of democracy in Britain, and some other parts of Europe, perhaps diminishes its nature as a spectacular act of self-harm brought on by incompetent governance. Yet in highlighting that democracy requires an informed, rather than a calculatedly misinformed electorate, it points to a core explanation of the BREXIT vote.

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One of the biggest surprises I had when I entered the AI industry was the lack of women that were present within it. It's not just at the senior levels either, it's a problem which seems to be present throughout every layer of AI organisations.

It isn't hard to see where this problem starts either. Although there has been a slight increase in the percentage of girls taking computer science at A level in the UK this year, it still only makes up 10% of entrants. Couple this with only 11% of software developers being women and you can see the problem we're faced with.

As a company, BenevolentAI has succeeded in achieving an even split of men and women in its life science division, BenevolentBio, which I lead. Achieving that split was much easier than it was for my counterparts in the AI division of the company, BenevolentTech. Simply put, the percentage of female applications for roles was low, making it harder to hit the even split.

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Conscious and unconscious bias are the issue

Through my career I've witnessed how bias - both conscious and unconscious - has restricted the pipeline of female talent in a variety of sectors - unfortunately the AI industry is no different. If that bias is taken away it can offer a more level playing field on which women can compete. A recent study revealed the potential of this. A San Francisco based open source repository, named GitHub, approved the code women wrote at a higher rate than men. However, there was just one snag; this was only found to be the case when the gender of individual authors was withheld.

This bias can hit at any part of a career, from entry level all the way to the top. It may come as no surprise to hear that I've known a female speaker, due to give a keynote address, have AI explained to her by a male colleague, as the assumption was made that her gender meant she wouldn't know what AI was.

It's vital that we encourage those already in the industry to become the much sought-after female role models the industry needs to inspire future generations. In addition, these women can help to form a part of how AI is developed for decades and, more importantly, how it is incorporated into our daily lives. If you look at the most well-known examples of 'AI' in our society today, these are in the form of chatbots and personal home assistants like Alexa and Siri. Each has a female voice and help to reinforce the stereotypes and bias about what roles each gender should play. It's common throughout our society, with adults making assumptions about what girls and boys should conform to - it's this that keeps the bias prevalent.

Gender is not the only issue

It's not just a gender problem we need to fix, but one of diversity in general. It's predicted that more than a million computing engineers will be needed in the next 10 years if the UK is to keep its place at the top table in the industry, according to the Royal Academy of Engineering.

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It's well documented that companies with a more diverse workforce are more successful, something I can attest to, with the benefits I see coming out of our company. The AI industry is at a crossroads and needs to tackle the issue of diversity head-on. Looked at from a purely technical point of view, the industry relies on data, so any bias in how data sets are procured or used - as the result of a lack of diversity - has the potential to reinforce the issue I've been speaking about with huge negative effects for different groups of people across the globe. If the data is biased, then its output will be too.

The next step
Despite Theresa May's assertion that the EU rights that we take for granted will continue post Brexit, the EU Withdrawal Bill which is currently floundering through Parliament removes meaningful access to all EU human rights protection. Most significantly, the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights will not become part of UK law.

The decision to cull the Charter makes no sense. But does it also reveal something about the motivation for leaving the EU? Is Brexit for May's Tories about taking back control, immigration or independence? Or is it something much more sinister than that? Is it an attempt to deny rights?

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Audaciously, the Government argues that the Charter does not create new rights, hence it can be done away with. Yet, the Charter pulls together all the rights that we can take for granted within the EU. That's new. The Charter recognises as human rights issues that had not been formulated as rights before. That's new too. The rights in the Charter lie at the centre of the European idea and they're enforceable. That's also new. The rights in the Charter trump all other EU law - something else about the Charter that is new. The Court of Justice of the EU has interpreted those rights to give citizens wider human rights protection, also new.

The Government also says that EU fundamental rights principles will continue to apply post Brexit and therefore that's another reason why we don't need the Charter. But what are those principles? To find out you have to look to the Charter. What's more the Government has taken away the right to bring a case based on EU fundamental rights principles.

This is the Government's fiction: apparently, EU principles apply, but their source, the EU Charter doesn't and even if you can find out what those principles are, they can't be enforced. The reality is post Brexit the Government proposes to airbrush out EU human rights protection.

By excluding the Charter the Government is dissembling when they claim that they are incorporating EU law into UK law, because, by removing it from the Withdrawal Bill, they have distorted EU law. The Charter is a critical element of all EU law.

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If the Prime Minister took a different path and pledged the UK to the Charter post-Brexit, her assertions to Commission President, Jean-Claude Juncker, and the leaders of the 27 EU member states that she is committed to EU nationals living in the UK would sound less hollow. What harm is there in reassuring EU Nationals in the UK that they will keep their rights post-Brexit day because the UK stands by the Charter?

What is the EU Charter? The EU Charter is a comprehensive catalogue of human rights. It is far more extensive than the European Convention on Human Rights (which is nothing to do with the EU), embodying a 21st-century approach to rights protection. To single it out for non-inclusion in the post-Brexit arrangements feels like a snub to European values. Is that intentional?

The Charter only applies to the scope of the EU, but it adds real value. For example, it requires pluralism of the media. Who's opposed to that? It expressly protects gay men and lesbians from discrimination. Children are granted comprehensive human rights protection. It guarantees a right to dignity. It articulates business as well as workers' rights. It gives a right to good administration. It respects academic freedom. What's wrong with rights to a high level of protection for the environment, the consumer and health?

It was the Charter that David Davis relied upon, when along with Tom Watson, he challenged the legality of the UK's surveillance regime. The Charter has proven its worth in cases before the Court of Justice of the EU: from limits on tobacco companies' free speech rights to human rights protection in the workplace, and from cartels to citizenship. We have all benefited from the comprehensive rights protection it contains. Most obviously the right to be forgotten - essential in the age of social media - was guaranteed by the Charter.

We don't know what the fall out of Brexit will be. The Government claims that they want a seamless transition. But there will be unintended consequences. Shouldn't those inadvertently detrimentally affected by Brexit have all the protection they can get? Retaining the Charter provides that protection.

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Will we end up with lesser protections in relation to data collection and retention, equality, consumer rights and health and safety because UK courts will no longer interpret those laws in the light of the Charter? And in turn, this inconsistency must impact on future trade negotiations with the EU. If human rights are less protected in the UK than the EU can a deal be struck?
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The Spanish government should learn from recent history.

The scenario looks all too familiar. The regional government demands more rights and self- governance, the national government dismisses it all as pure nonsense and threatens to take all the rights away. Law and national security become word most used and anyone who disagrees is "the enemy".

Pro-government demonstrations, calls for arrests, direct central rule, I've seen it all before.

I come from the former Yugoslavia, a country that has become a case study of how not to do things.

Whatever one might think about the issue of Catalan independence, the reaction of the Spanish government to the referendum was, at best, unfortunate. Hiding behind the illegality of an act such as a referendum and using the law to crush the expression of different aspirations, will not only fail to solve the issues behind those aspirations but can be highly counter-productive. One of the first things to remember about the law is that its aim is to protect the people within the borders. When the law loses this aim, it's time to ask who is the law protecting.

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When the crisis in Yugoslavia started, many ordinary citizens did not want a break-up of the country, if not for ideological, then for purely pragmatic reasons. No-one wanted to have to show a passport when visiting their parents, let alone friends. Having lived within the same borders for over 40 years, life had become so interlinked that dividing the country meant dividing careers, friends and even families. It was the action by the Serbian government of the day that gradually turned people in massive numbers against such a state. When the tanks were sent to guard the parliament debating the issues of more rights and freedoms, it did not crush the will for independence among Kosovars. Instead it became a turning point for the future of the country, leading to other parts declaring their own independence. No-one felt safe anymore in a country that was sending tanks to defend citizens from their own aspirations.

In an interview following the Kosovo independence declaration, a Spanish academic in effect told me that the Kosovo case was setting a dangerous precedent for countries like Spain.

But surely, I wondered, no one was suggesting that the Spanish government would follow the same route as the Serbian regime. And I never really understood why Spain, is one of the few European democracies that do not recognize Kosovan independence.

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Despite having its own "Scottish question", the United Kingdom was among the first countries to recognise this new European state. If the UK could do it, why couldn't Spain?

When I put this question to Javier Solana, a former Spanish foreign minister and NATO Secretary-General, he sounded as puzzled as me and offered no clear answer. Having been one of the leading negotiators in the Balkan war, he knows only too well the complexity of independence issues. Trying to describe them in simple terms, legal or otherwise, will not answer all the complex questions surrounding them. A simple Google search would tell you that independence is more of a political term deeply rooted in history, implying some form of struggle for a state of affairs that is rightly or wrongly believed to lead to a better future.

The more oppressive the regime, the less likely is to make legal provisions for independence. Nor would making this process legal solve the problem once and for all. The last Yugoslav constitution provided for self-determination and self-governance for all the constituent parts of the country, the six republics and the two autonomous regions. This did not prevent an ugly and destructive war to "protect" the various interpretations of law and legality. Czechoslovakia on the other hand managed to separate without a single shot.

In a modern world of global interdependence, independence is a term that has, if not fully certainly changed greatly its original meaning.

When the SNP called for a referendum in Scotland, the British government did not threaten to use force to deny the Scottish people the possibility to decide whether they want a separate state from the one they already lived in.

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This allowed them to freely ask themselves what it is they would do that they can't do in the existing state. A majority of them concluded there wasn't much more, if anything, and just the "pride" of calling themselves "independent" wasn't really worth the inconvenience this might cause in their daily routine.

Had the British government banned the Scottish referendum illegal and then used the police and army to protect that ban, many "no" voters might have soon enough become not only "maybe" but "yes" voters.

Rather than looking at a government like the Serbian government of the '90s, the Spanish government could learn a lot by looking at the UK and the Scottish example. True, the Scottish issue is not dead and buried. But no issue of independence is ever dead and buried. As long as people are alive they will and should have aspirations. Collective aspirations become stronger when collective identities are, in this or that way, suppressed.

The government seem to have learned from the mistakes on the 1 October. Calling for early general elections, makes the imposed direct rule less dramatic while keeping open the channels for ballot box solution.
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In Uganda, civil society organizations are peacefully organizing against constitutional amendments that would dramatically expand the powers of the President. The government has responded with police raids and threats against NGOs it sees as the ringleaders. Over 25 NGOs have been served with letters from the National Bureau for NGOs to present audited accounts, work plans, budgets and strategic plans as way back as 2014. ActionAid Uganda, which works with almost two million people in Uganda's poorest communities - has even had its bank accounts summarily closed while the Great Lakes Institute for Strategic Studies (GLISS) has also had its accounts and those of its staff frozen. Both ActionAid Uganda and GLISS were raided by police, had computers and phones confiscated and all staff interrogated for several hours.

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The government alleges that civil society protests are subversive. And even some people sympathetic to NGOs have asked why they are getting involved in national politics. What has the constitution got to do with their core mission of helping people? Isn't this a political party matter, far removed from the things they should be focusing on, like improving education and health?

My answer is a resounding no.

When leaders start to feel immune to any threat of losing power, an accountability vacuum is created in which corruption takes hold and the rule of law deteriorates. It is inevitably the poor who lose the most.

In 1995, nine years after liberating Uganda from a dysfunctional state with collapsed institutions Museveni's National Resistance Movement spearheaded the promulgation of a new Constitution. Ugandans embraced its vision of a peaceful, democratic future, free from corruption, with basic services and economic opportunity for all citizens. Initially, dramatic gains followed: primary school enrolment tripled, poverty fell by more than half, the economy flourished and Ugandans welcomed the return of multiparty democracy.

But now, after over 30 years in office, NRM's entrenched power is giving rise to unprecedented levels of corruption. It is those living in poverty who pay the price - schools with leaking roofs, absurdly overcrowded classrooms and Clinics without sufficient staff or essential medicines. Budgets allocated for schools and clinics fail to materialise. Desperately needed resources simply do not arrive on the scale that is needed.

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It is therefore unsurprising that ordinary Ugandans are hungry for change. And academic experts say that constitutional limits on a ruler's time in office are a key safeguard to encourage citizens to pursue change peacefully, through ballots instead of bullets. Museveni's government got rid of constitutional term limits in 2005 and the only now remaining safeguard is the ceiling on the President's age - which the Ruling Party now wants to abolish as well. If they succeed, not only will corruption gain a stranglehold, but chances of a peaceful transfer of power will dwindle.

What is worse, they want another constitutional amendment to allow government to seize land without due process or compensation. This would put impoverished farmers at the mercy of corrupt officials and their corporate backers - and like the removal of the Presidential age limit, it's likely to engender violence and instability. If Uganda once again descends into conflict, there is no doubt it is the poor who will suffer the most.

With the lessons of history still vivid in their minds, Ugandans are determined to preserve their hard-won constitution and uphold the rule of law. Thousands protest corruption by wearing black every Monday. Collective movements have arisen to defend the constitutional age-limit for the president and the check on government's power to seize private land.

Supporting these non-partisan citizen movements is entirely consistent with the work that civil society does to empower people at community level. Quite regularly, we've seen that the biggest gains in key areas such as health and education come when poor people themselves have a real say in government decisions, and can hold officials accountable for meeting their needs. And this accountability, which has been built slowly and painstakingly in communities across Uganda since the end of Idi Amin's brutal dictatorship, is exactly what is now at stake. We are facing a shrinking of the civic space available for people to engage meaningfully to defend and advance their basic rights.

It is at times like this that we need to stand together more strongly than ever - and have the courage of our convictions. We shall remain steadfast with an unmatched spirit and unparalleled resilience. We shall not agonize but organize. We shall not relent on the mission we profess around social justice and dignity of Ugandans. For this reason, we need to expand the alliance of actors who will oppose this shrinking of civic space. We need everyone to speak up: the media who are concerned with free speech, companies who care about rule of law, parliamentarians who care about democracy and all Ugandans who want a government that is committed to delivering on their basic rights. When governments start working in arbitrary, unjustified and legally indefensible ways there is no neutrality in staying silent.

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Andrew Kelly / Reuters

I am writing in response to the New York terrorist attack which occurred on 31st October 2017.

Being a Muslim, any attack that happens anywhere in the world stimulates the same feeling of fear and worry: "Please don't let the perpetrator be a Muslim!"

Islam teaches tolerance and promoting a peaceful society. I admonish every single terrorist attack, whether committed in the name of a religion or not.

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However, I feel the media portrays terror attacks committed by these so-called Muslims differently. If a non-Muslim commits the attack, he is not identified by his religion - he is simply portrayed as a mentally disturbed human or a "lone wolf", such as Stephen Paddock was, after the Las Vegas massacre. If a so-called Muslim carries out an attack, the news receives more coverage with the inclusion of specific words such as Jihadist, Muslim terrorist, and Islamist.

All of this is very hurtful to hear or read whilst being a Muslim. My religion is a religion of peace. Terrorists do not represent my religion. No one judges Christianity with the actions of the Ku Klux Klan or the Irish Republic Army (IRA). Then why do people judge Islam by the actions of a handful of terrorists?

The founder of my community, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, was Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad who clearly stated, according to the teachings of the Holy Qur'an and the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), use of force is totally forbidden in matters of faith. We are not allowed to use the sword in the name of religion except in the case of self-defence.

According to the Holy Qur'an (Chapter 25 verse 53), Jihad, the holy war is, in reality, a holy campaign which uses the help of the Qur'an to bring about a spiritual revolution in the world. This means to tame the rebellious nature of a human being into complete submission to God.

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I, being an Ahmadi Muslim, carry out Jihad of the pen by writing blogs. I try and dispel incorrect views of my beautiful religion. I make my best efforts to refrain from evil and be truly compassionate towards mankind. I aim to be compassionate towards all for the sake of God, so that I may be shown mercy in heaven. I wish to foster sympathy and to be compassionate towards the suffering. This is what my Jihad is.
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Until now, Kevin Spacey never publicly revealed that he is gay.

For decades, long after other actors came out, he remained totally closeted and side-stepped the issue of his sexuality.

In the early stages of his career, when Hollywood moguls demanded their gay stars played straight, Spacey's reticence was understandable and forgivable.

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But since the liberal 2000s? Other actors came out and they still prospered in the movie industry. Why not Spacey?

If he had been open two decades ago, he could have given us an affirmative, positive role model of a successful out gay actor - a double Oscar winner no less. The LGBT community would have praised and embraced him.

Instead he chose silence and evasion. And now he is being disowned by the community that he belatedly - in unsavoury circumstances - decided to publicly identify with. What a mess.

It is tragic that Spacey is revealing his homosexuality only now, in the context of allegations of sexual harassment.

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His public statement mixed up the issue of his sexual orientation with his response to accusations of inappropriate behaviour. That's unfortunate, to say the least.

Kevin's gayness is irrelevant right now. It is his conduct that has prompted disquiet.

He should have left the matter of his sexuality to another time and just addressed the claim that he allegedly attempted to seduce the under-age actor Anthony Rapp by laying on top of him. The incident was said to have happened at a party in Spacey's New York apartment in 1986 when he was 26 and Rapp was 14.

All the LGBT people I have spoken to are appalled. They think his alleged behaviour was wrong and they fear it will be exploited by homophobes to equate homosexuality with child abuse.

The latter anxieties are understandable but overblown. The vast majority of the public no longer accept the gay=paedo argument and few would judge a whole community based on the actions of one man.

The widespread suggestion that Spacey's statement deliberately revealed his gayness in order to deflect attention from the abuse allegations may be true but it is, essentially, unproven speculation.

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There might be another explanation: the person who accused him of sexual impropriety was male and therefore, in that context, Spacey felt it necessary to acknowledge his homosexuality. Either way, his behaviour was wrong.

The allegations against Spacey highlight a less acknowledged aspect of sexual harassment by high-profile male public figures: that although women are the main victims, men can be victims too.

Allegations are swirling around about other powerful movie people taking advantage of young actors, and it is said that some male parliamentary staff have been subjected to touching and come-ons from MPs.

All those who have come forward and told their story, from whatever walk of life and whatever their gender or sexuality, deserve admiration. Their testimony is vital to identify the problem and get it sorted.

Condemnatory responses to Spacey, Weinstein and others who have been similarly accused are not sufficient.

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Inappropriate sexual behaviour doesn't just happen. It is the result of sexist, macho attitudes and a sense of sexual entitlement. This has to change.

We need to take these revelations as a wake-up call to transform the male and workplace culture that allows sex abuse to happen.

This means a combination of conscientisation, zero tolerance and redress mechanisms. And we need to think long term to erase, or at least dramatically reduce, sex harassment in future generations.

The government should make it mandatory for all schools to teach pupils about consent and abuse issues and about the difference between friendly, mutual flirting and one-way sexual pressure and pestering.

Lessons also need to inculcate pupils with a commitment to sex with mutual respect, consent and fulfilment and challenge the disordered forms of masculinity that fuel most sex harassment - and worse. Over to you Education Secretary, Justine Greening.

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"There are many vulnerable women in Yarl's Wood - we are still here."

The words of an asylum-seeking woman locked up in Yarl's Wood detention centre earlier this year. Women for Refugee Women spoke to her as part of our research into vulnerable women in detention; her comment forms the title of the report that came out of that research, 'We Are Still Here: the continued detention of women seeking asylum in Yarl's Wood'.

In 2016, the Home Office responded to urgent concerns that have been voiced about the treatment of vulnerable people in detention. In September last year, the Adults at Risk policy came into force. For the first time in this policy the Home Office stated that women who had experienced rape and other gender-based violence such as FGM, forced marriage or forced prostitution shouldn't normally be detained.

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We were hopeful that this would result in a reduction in the number of vulnerable people who are locked up when they come to this country to seek asylum. At the moment, the Home Office locks up over 1,500 women who have sought asylum every year, most of them in Yarl's Wood detention centre in Bedfordshire. The stories we continued to hear from Yarl's Wood, and the women we continued to visit, made us suspect that the new policy was not being properly implemented. As the Home Office would not share its own data about how the policy was being put into practice, we decided we needed to conduct our own research.

Speaking to twenty-six women over several months, both inside Yarl's Wood and those in the community who had been recently released, an alarming picture quickly built up.

A woman who had been trafficked to the UK, held hostage in a warehouse when she arrived here and raped by her traffickers was kept in Yarl's Wood for four months.

Another woman, a lesbian from a country where to be gay is illegal, had fled an abusive family member, who had raped her over a number of years, only to be detained on her arrival in the UK. Her mental health deteriorated in detention, where she was held for over six months, to the extent that she was contemplating attempting suicide. Indeed, almost half of the women we spoke to for the research told us that they had thought about taking their own lives in Yarl's Wood.

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Of the women we spoke to, 85% were survivors of gender-based violence. Yet they had been detained since the new policy has been in force, and they were not released even when they told the Home Office about their prior experiences.

Much has been written about the negative impact, both physically and mentally, of detention, particularly for those who have already experienced trauma in their country of origin and have come to the UK to seek asylum. During the time I was writing this article, I took a call from a woman in Yarl's Wood, who was detained even though the Home Office accepted that she is a victim of torture. She told me, "I was kidnapped and raped for three days in my country. For me, Yarl's Wood is a second torture."

There is much that urgently needs addressing in order to ensure that the most vulnerable detainees are no longer locked up inside Yarl's Wood. There are immediate steps that could be taken. The Home Office needs to implement a screening process in order to identify vulnerable people before they are detained, and if they do disclose experiences of trauma in detention they should be released.

Last year we were pleased that the Home Office announced that there would be a time limit on the detention of pregnant women, so that they are now only detained for a maximum of 72 hours. However, we would like to see them go one step further and put in place an absolute exclusion from detention for pregnant women. With the healthcare in detention being as inadequate as it is, and the stress of detention being so great, Yarl's Wood is clearly not a place for a pregnant woman.

The indefinite nature of detention - we are the only country in Europe with no time limit on how long people can be detained - is also something that really affects people's mental health. Indeed, we only need to look at the case of Mabel Gawanas, an asylum-seeking woman from Namibia, who was released from Yarl's Wood in May of this year, after almost three years in detention, to see how protracted some stays in detention can become. Alongside other organisations who work in this area, we are therefore recommending that a time limit of 28 days is introduced. As one woman commented to us during the research, "If you ask me what's worse, prison or Yarl's Wood, I say Yarl's Wood because you do not know when you will leave Yarl's Wood."

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Our last, and perhaps most important recommendation though, is that the Home Office needs to move away from the routine use of detention altogether in the asylum process. As we showed in our report 'The Way Ahead: An Asylum System Without Detention' earlier this year, there is clear evidence that there is no need to use detention in the asylum process. A system that does not use detention is not only more humane, it is actually more effective, and cheaper. Indeed, the UK has already taken some steps towards a more humane approach, through the Family Returns Process. Implemented in 2011 following the pledge to end the detention of children, the Family Returns Process has seen the detention of children in the UK reduce by 96%, and there has been no rise in absconding among families as a result.

The success of this process should be the basis of more widespread reform, and should give the government confidence in moving away from detention altogether. We owe it to the very vulnerable, and very brave, women who come to this country to seek safety. Each one of them deserves a fair hearing and a chance to rebuild her life.
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It's the call that you dread. Another teenager, barely 17-years-old, stabbed to death on the streets of Croydon. Aren Mali was the second teenager killed in Croydon in the last three months. And many more stabbed but survived.

I cannot imagine, as I look at my children, what it must be like for a parent to get that call. But we know that behind every headline is a wrecked family, and a community in shock. And a generation of young people becoming increasingly anxious and desensitised to the possession and use of lethal weapons.

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Is isn't just happening down dark alleyways or in the shadows. This is in our town centres, in our communities. Studies have shown that 50% of London's kids know somebody who carries a knife. Imagine what that does to your childhood, to your sense of anxiety even if you and your friends are nothing to do with knife carrying.

Croydon might be where the harsh realities of knife crime are most visible, but this epidemic isn't limited to one or two postcodes. Knife crime is up across the UK - from Aberdeen to Cardiff to Colchester. Over 1,200 young people were stabbed across London last year, and the symptoms are growing across the UK, with criminal gangs extending 'county lines' into cities and towns nationwide.

Knife crime has become a public health crisis amongst our young. And it's becoming more complicated: this isn't just 'kids in gangs' who want to make money. In fact much of London's knife crime isn't gang related.

Nor is it solely about policing budgets, though cuts to community police numbers (Croydon has lost over 80% of our PCSOs) have undeniably had an effect. The causes spread from lack of job opportunities, training and education to mental health cuts, the closure of youth services and . This is an iceberg of issues of which the tip is knife crime.

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I've been pushing the Home Secretary to prioritise this epidemic amongst our young people It feels like time and again ministers or politicians have spoken out to say "enough is enough". The government will announce yet another well-meaning but underfunded 'initiative' or promise to 'look again' at sentencing.

But small-scale, short-term interventions are simply not going to come close to solving this crisis. The government's flagship 'Ending gang violence and exploitation' programme received just 99,000 funding for this year. To put that into context, the Home Office annual budget is around 10bn.

We need government to develop and properly fund a cohesive, 10-year knife crime strategy which coordinates work across departments, agencies and councils. This is a UK wide problem which requires a UK-wide response. The model should be the Labour government's hugely successful teenage pregnancy strategy which produced a 51% drop over a 16 years and is now being used as a blueprint by the World Health Organisation.

What should be in this strategy? The positive and at the same time, depressing thing is that a lot of the answers we already have. We can fix this. But at various stages, where adults should be intervening in the lives of troubled young people, they aren't. Sometimes that's because of lack of resources, and sometimes it's because different agencies aren't working together as well as they should.

I spent much of my summer talking to people in Croydon - charities, agencies and young people themselves - hearing about why knife crime has doubled here in just one year. I met towering figures in the community who are giving their all to fight this problem and some amazing young people who against the odds have turned their lives around.

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But I also heard stories which broke my heart. Two police officers battled to save a life by putting their fingers in a wound to stop the streaming blood. He survived despite losing six pints of blood. But a week later he was picked up with a knife as he went looking for retribution.

I heard of young people who have been in care all their lives and find their only sense of belonging in a gang; of girls whose boyfriends ask them to carry their knives and they do it because they believe its what is expected of them. Horrific images of stabbings, of strippings, shown far and wide on social media.

Funding cuts across our public services - policing, youth work, education and health - have left a huge vacuum that social media and criminal gangs are filling.

Social media is undeniably fuelling an escalation in the cycle of violence among young people. People repeatedly tell me how Snapchat, YouTube and Instagram are being used to document attacks and threats between rival groups.

These platforms need to take more social responsibility for the way their products are being used. And the government must take the same strong approach it applies to extremist content online.

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Schools are on the front line. Every agency I have spoken to reports increasing levels of what they call 'managed moves' or expulsions, often for children with undiagnosed mental health or behaviour disorders, where the school simply cannot cope or does not want the child in their school.

I recently surveyed Croydon headteachers about the impact of funding pressures on their schools. 92% told me they had been forced to cut staff, and 85% said they had been forced to cut support for children with special educational needs. How can we expect our schools to support vulnerable or challenging pupils with ever diminishing resources?

Moving difficult children on - to other schools or to Pupil Referral Units (PRUs) is a very worrying trend. We are telling kids that they've already been given up on. That they need to be kept away from their peers, instantly causing them to feel detached. One charity described to me the "straight line between PRUs and gangs."
2017 has been an amazing year for me in so many ways - in February, I was invited to 10 Downing Street to be part of an initial roundtable discussion, which was the start of the recently published report - Thriving in Work Report. In May, I left my job in Transport for London (TfL) after 15 years' service in order to start a second career. Then last month, I was invited to a Reception on World Mental Health Day at Buckingham Palace; recognising the work I've done as a mental health campaigner to date, where I met the royals, celebrities and other amazing people all doing great work around mental health. But my life was looking so different six years ago - the saying goes that all new beginnings are disguised as painful endings, and that has certainly been true for me.

One autumn morning, I found myself not able to get up and out of bed and go on my normal commute into London. The feeling I can only describe as like hitting a brick wall and not having the energy to get up and brush myself off. But why was I feeling this way and what could I do about it?

At the time I had let a change of role at work along with my wife, Sharon being quite unwell after an operation, cause me to worry excessively. I thought a couple of days off work would help me but it didn't - I got worse as the worry and rumination increased. I rarely took time off work and all this happening at an important time with starting a new role and also having to support my wife and six year old son, Jake; I felt I was letting other people down by not being at work.

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I went to my GP who has always been good for me and he prescribed anti-depressants which I took straight away. They helped me regain my energy, but not much else - I felt I was surviving but not really enjoying living. I recollect later on that my psychiatrist explaining these medicines are like clothes - they suit some people but not others. The ones I initially took must have been the wrong size and colour!

Up until this time I had an exemplary attendance and performance record at TfL, I was held in high regard by my workmates. But now my weeks off work turned into months - I was not improving, yet throughout this time I was very lucky to have my supportive wife, a caring line manager, Ian, senior manager, Steve, as well as a patient and understanding HR (Personnel) Officer, Muriel. This was not an easy time for me and one clear memory I have is meeting Ian in a cafe at Victoria, where I told him I just wanted to quit work. However, he and the organisation kept faith in me and gave me the support I desperately needed at the time. I know sadly not all employers are like this, and I will be forever grateful for TfL's faith and support.

After six months of surviving, I eventually got referred to a psychiatrist who diagnosed me with a condition called Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD) and this had also caused my depression; this was the first I had heard of GAD! My psychiatrist changed my medication immediately and also referring me for psychotherapy sessions with a psychologist. From the moment I heard the words GAD, it was a turning point for me - I now knew what was wrong with me, and I could research the condition and the medicines and therapy I had been prescribed - the internet is a wonderful thing! I was especially reassured by the fact that you can control and 'beat' the condition with the right support. The psychiatrist also explained that in my case it was likely that my condition was genetic - it had been passed onto me. So, it was not necessarily just the life events, which I had felt was some form of "weakness" on my part - which I now know is common in men.

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I worked hard to get better and a combination of the medicine along with 12 sessions with my psychiatrist and 20 with a psychologist, I returned to work a stronger and wiser person - much more self-aware and also armed with coping strategies for my anxiety should I ever need them. In the following six years at TfL, I was off work sick for only a couple of days and that was due to a damaged elbow after a fall - never for my mental health condition.

I am a firm believer that out of all bad can come good, and when I returned to work I decided to start up a support group to help people in TfL who may experience mental health conditions. The group is supported and encouraged by TfL and has grown from two to 250 and continues to grow. The group meets monthly, has its own information site and runs events to raise awareness and provide support. It has created a lot of goodwill and kept many still in work because people feel supported and not alone. I am extremely proud of what has been achieved and is an example of what can be done with the support of an employer. TfL also signed the Time to Change pledge in October 2016 with the support of all its top managers.

I've needed a change and realised that working with others experiencing mental health conditions and using my own story and experience to educate workplaces is where my passion now lies. I've left TfL on very good terms to do some voluntary work for Time to Change which I love doing.

Hindsight is a great thing but I'd like to leave you with some things I've learnt or would have done differently:

If you are feeling down, anxious or behaving different to your normal self, talk to someone else who will listen to you without judgement - a problem shared is often halved and I wish I had done this much sooner;

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A man should never consider it "weak" to talk to his family, friends, or work colleagues about what he is feeling or experiencing at any time; in fact, it is the bravest thing you can do, and you could be surprised who will listen and who is feeling or has felt just the same.

Please seek professional help if you don't feel any better after talking to others - your GP or charities like Mind can point you in the right direction for treatment or support.

All people managers and HR/Personnel staff in organisations need training around mental health in order to help colleagues - managers are human too and this training will help them to manage their own mental health too;

Mental health peer support groups in organisations are really effective in raising awareness, supporting and thereby keeping people in work - you also meet some amazing people and their stories too. Organisations should consider setting them up if they don't have them.

There is good mental health too - spend time keeping your mental health in good shape as much as your physical health; there are some simple and effective ways to maintain good mental health, for example: Five Ways to Wellbeing - I continue to keep my mind "in trim".

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If one or more of these tips helps just one person then this blog would have been worthwhile.

Thank you for reading - please take care of yourself and stay strong,
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Public safety was one of the biggest issues raised on the doorstep at the general election earlier this year. Politicians have no greater responsibility than keeping the public safe from harm.

I am deeply concerned that under the Tories, crime is on the rise across the UK once again. Although it is rising less in London, it is still moving in the wrong direction.

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The most violent crimes like knife and acid attacks are rising even faster. And we face an unprecedented level of threat from terrorism - which security experts have deemed to be a long-term shift rather than an isolated spike.

This deeply worrying backdrop makes the Government's failure to properly fund our police service all the more astonishing.

In London, Tory cuts have slashed 600million from the policing budget in London since 2010 and the Met is now being forced to find an additional 400million of savings by 2021. On top of this, there is set to be a 7% reduction in counter-terrorism funding in real terms over the next three years.

My constituents are already feeling the impact of these Tory cuts. According to the most recent projections, the number of police officers in London could fall below 27,500 by 2021 - a 19-year low - without urgent additional funding from the Government.

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Just this week, the Met's Deputy Commissioner, Craig Mackey, issued a deeply worrying warning about these numbers - stating that if the Tory Government don't sort out this funding crisis there would be "severe consequences" and "we [the Met] may have to scale back our response - both on the phone and on the ground".

This has left the Met Police with no choice but to make the extremely difficult decision to protect front-line police numbers in the face of these drastic government cuts. That means closing police station front counters - which no one wants to happen, merging back office policing functions and looking again at which crimes they can prioritise. Closing the most disused front counters in London will save 8million - the equivalent of the cost of 140 police constables.

Since he become Mayor, Sadiq Khan has made public safety his highest priority. He is doing everything possible to improve policing in London despite these cuts. By prioritising neighbourhood policing, he is on track to deliver an extra dedicated police officer in every ward of London by the end of 2017. And he has launched a new knife crime strategy to tackle the rise of violent crime in the capital head on, as well as developing a new policing plan for London.

But the Mayor simply can't keep Londoners safe on his own. We need the Tory Government to step up and do their bit. The upcoming Budget is a golden opportunity to increase real-term funding for the Met and for police forces around the country. No one wants to see police numbers falling or more police stations closed, but it's up to the Government to act. They should be cutting crime, not the Police.
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THE COURT OF APPEAL FOR ONTARIO GIVES A GREEN LIGHT TO CONTINUE THE CASE AGAINST CHEVRON

Oct 31st, 2017 12:12 PM

The Court of Appeal for Ontario decides against Chevrons million dollar demand for security - a Chevron tactic to derail the plaintiffs litigation

- The decision of the Court of Appeal for Ontario gives Ecuadorians the opportunity to continue their legal action to enforce the judgement against Chevron Corporation without providing the security of C$1 million of security costs. The security demand would have halted the trial against Chevron in Canada because the peasants and indigenous peoples of Ecuador cannot afford to post such a bond.Todays decision is in response to the appeal launched by Alan Lenczner, the Canadian lawyer representing the peasants and indigenous peoples of UDAPT (the Union of people affected by Texaco, now Chevron). These plaintiffs obtained a judgement of US$9.5 billion which they now seek to enforce in Canada, Argentina and Brasil. It was impossible to enforce the courts decision in Ecuador because the company removed all its assets and goods to avoid payment of the judgment by the Ecuadorian court.The decision of the Ontario judges recognizes the plaintiffs argument that they do not have a direct economic interest in the litigation, but rather this is litigation in the public interest. They also declared that the motion of Chevron can be considered a tactic to shut down the Ecuadorians litigation in Canada.Willian Lucitante, Coordinator of UDAPT, voiced his satisfaction with the decision of the Court which represents a bitter failure for the oil company which tried to deny access to justice for the affected people of Ecuador. They are the victims of the destructive practices of Chevron which have now impacted the lives of more than 30,000 residents of the affected sites.The leader of the affected communities declared that this is a new victory for the global justice of peoples whose rights have been violated by transnational corporations. With their motion for security for costs, Chevron tried to stop this process before the courts in Toronto because the company fears failure. Chevron did not succeed in halting the proceedings because we asked our lawyer Alan Lenczner to appeal this decision that required security funds. We were successful today declared Lucitante who is also the leader of the indigenous nation A`I Kofan,Moreover, Willian Lucitante reiterated in the name of the Ecuadorian plaintiffs, his trust in the judicial system of Canada and called upon the judges to accelerate their work, hoping they will not fall in the Chevron trap which has abused judicial resources and caused delays in the judicial proceedings. The 3rd of November of this year will mark 24 years of this litigation. During all these years, the people have suffered and still suffer the impacts of the contamination reflected in a high rate of death due to cancer and other diseases related to chemicals that remained in the areas of the oil exploitation, in high poverty rates due to the restrictions for agriculture in these lands, the reduced hunting and fishing, among other factors caused by the irresponsible actions of the oil company in this region.As long as the company delays justice, we continue to die, said Lucitante. He, again, charged that Chevron continues to hide behind the corporate veil and its subsidiaries to evade its responsibility. Now UDAPT has joined hundreds of organizations to fight for a Binding Treaty by the UN-Intergovernmental Working Group on Transnational Corporations and Human Rights where the Chevron case has become a high profile example of corporate impunity.Following the decision of the Court, the Ecuadorians hope that the Court will soon determine a date for the appeal hearing concerning the enforcement of the Ecuadorian Courts sentence.- Union of people affected by the oil operations of Texaco (now Chevron)Tel.: +12673560298Email: julprieto@hotmail.com
Vermont Driver Slams Into Parked Conversion Van

A car hit a van in the yard of 60 Mohawk Trail on Tuesday night. PreviousNext



The Grand Cherokee, right, just missed another parked car. FLORIDA, Mass.  An errant driver set off a chain reaction when a late model Grand Cherokee knocked a camper van into garage. The report initially came in as a car into a building at 60 Mohawk Trail.

The accident occurred shortly before 6 p.m. on Tuesday when the westbound Jeep crossed into the eastbound lane and across a lawn to slam into the passenger side of the converted Chevrolet camper van. The collision knocked the back end of the parked van into the outside corner of the garage. It just missed another vehicle parked in the driveway.

The driver of the Jeep did not appear to have significantly slowed or applied the brakes because there were no skid marks or damage to the lawn. He was the only occupant in the Jeep, which is registered in Vermont.

No one was injured in the accident but the driver was taken to the hospital by North Adams Ambulance as a precaution. The Cherokee's airbags went off and it incurred significant front-end damage. It was not clear how damaged the van or the garage were.

The incident is under investigation by state police who said there was nothing "suspicious" about the collision. Also responding was the Florida Fire Department and North Adams Police.




iciHaiti - FLASH : 343 Haitians arrested in DR, in the province of San Jose de Ocoa





By order of Lieutenant General Maximo William Munoz Delgado, Director General of the Directorate General of Migration (DGM) a team of inspectors and migration agents with the support of military personnel and prosecutors has been deployed in different communities of the province San Jose de Ocoa to carry out migration controls.



These migratory control operations were carried out after an intelligence work carried out in the communities which made it possible to locate Haitians in an irregular migration situation. The controls took place in the communities of Rancho Arriba, Arroyo Palma, San Rafael, Sabana Grande, Nizao and Sabana Larga, communities where the presence of foreigners and the areas of Los Banilejos, Los Quemaos and La Vigia in Rancho Arriba were denounced, and have allowed the arrest 343 people of Haitian origin.



After interrogation and verification, 237 Haitians of the 343 arrested who had no documents were transferred to Dajabon and Elias Pina to be identified and deported to Haiti.



The DGM announces that it will continue to conduct operations in other provinces of the national territory to locate foreigners in irregular migration situations who violate the provisions of Law 285-04. In previous weeks, similar operations were conducted where 1,572 foreigners were arrested in 48 hours https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-22422-haiti-news-zapping.html



See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-22422-haiti-news-zapping.html

https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-22405-icihaiti-flash-297-haitians-arrested-in-rd.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-22323-haiti-flash-nearly-10-000-haitians-expelled-or-not-allowed-in-dr-september.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-22079-haiti-dr-more-than-80-000-haitians-deported-in-one-year.html



SL/ iciHaiti






















iciHaiti - Education : Meeting in Paris with officials of the French Development Agency





On the sidelines of the 39th session of the UNESCO General Conference in Paris, Pierre Josue Agenor Cadet, Minister of National Education, met with officials of the French Development Agency (AFD) on the ongoing actions in education with the support from the Agency. The aim was both to take stock of current projects and to agree on possible adjustments to be made to certain aspects of their implementation.



The PAFMIR and NECTAR projects https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-21392-haiti-france-8-million-euros-to-support-the-3rd-af-and-the-new-secondary.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-21383-haiti-politics-11-million-euros-for-agricultural-vocational-training.html were particularly at the center of exchanges between officials of the Ministry and AFD.



Ms. Benedicte Gazon Caribbean and Mexico Director and Nathanaelle Amar Project Manager of the Education, Training and Employment Division, gave an update on the progress made and the implementation of new pending projects.



See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-21392-haiti-france-8-million-euros-to-support-the-3rd-af-and-the-new-secondary.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-21383-haiti-politics-11-million-euros-for-agricultural-vocational-training.html



IH/ iciHaiti


















Imperial Valley News Center

Public Guidance for the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act

Washington, DC - The U.S. Department of State today released public guidance concerning energy sanctions relating to the Russian Federation, specifically Sections 225 and 232 of the Countering Americas Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA).

Department of State guidance can be found at https://www.state.gov/e/enr/c77802.htm . This guidance is not a sanctions action; it is a publication of information intended to provide clarity regarding the implementation of sanctions.

The Department of the Treasurys Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) today also published guidance for sections 223(a), 223(d), 226, 228, and 233 of CAATSA, which can be found at https://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/Programs/Pages/caatsa.aspx .

The CAATSA sanctions were imposed pursuant to legislation reflecting an overwhelming bipartisan consensus of the U.S. Congress to deter aggressive behavior by the Russian government. We continue to call on Russia to honor its commitments under the Minsk agreements, to withdraw from the Crimean Peninsula, and to cease its malicious cyber intrusions.

We received and considered input from a wide range of interlocutors  foreign governments, industry associations, and individual companies  as we formulated guidance for these sections. We will work with our allies and partners in the implementation of these sanctions in order to impose costs on the Russian government, while seeking to avoid unforeseen negative impacts on others.
Imperial Valley News Center

President Trump and Business Leaders Before Tax Reform Industry Meeting

Washington, DC - Remarks by President Trump and Business Leaders Before Tax Reform Industry Meeting today:

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you very much for being here, for the incredible work you're doing to help us pass the really historic tax cuts. There's never been anything like this in the history of our country. It's cuts and it's relief and it's also reform. And frankly, it's also simplification. So we're covering everything.

There has never been anything like it, and it's so important. The economy is doing very well but it can do much better. A lot of jobs are going to come from this and a lot of companies are going to start pouring back into the United States. In fact, we're going to be announcing one big one sometime very shortly -- a very big one coming back into the United States.

All of you have done a tremendous job mobilizing your members, talking to the members of Congress, which is very important, and making a strong case for tax reform in the media. The media is not all fake, so therefore we can get a fair shake.

Now is the time to redouble our efforts. Your country needs you now more than ever before. You are leaders of this country and certainly leaders on this subject and you know more about it than anybody. We need you to be united, committed, and proactive in order to overcome the forces fighting.

And there are forces fighting out there that very much benefit by the way it is now, but that's bad for the country. They know that but they're fighting for themselves; they're not fighting for the country.

In a few days, I'll be traveling to Asia to advance America's economic and national security priorities. I am counting on all of you to be back here, working to maintain our momentum on tax reform and tax cuts.

And that will be a short period of time -- I'll be away for about ten and a half days, and we'll get back very quickly. We're meeting in China, in South Korea, in Japan. We're going to Vietnam. We're going to the Philippines, which is a strategically important location where the previous administration was not exactly welcome, as you probably remember.

The Democrats will say our tax bill is for the rich, but they know it's not. And what they will do is -- they don't even know the tax bill. The tax bill hasn't even been really put out yet. It will be over the next short period of time.

But they immediately say, oh, it's for the rich, it's for the rich -- because that's the right thing to say, I mean, for them. But it doesn't work and they know that.

In fact, I think we'll have some Democrats doing this and voting for us for the reduced taxes because it's a tax bill for middle class; it's a tax bill for jobs, it's going to bring a lot of companies in; and it's a tax bill for business, which is going to create the jobs. We're bringing it down -- from 35 down to 20.

While I'm in Asia, members of my Cabinet will be traveling all around the country talking directly to taxpayers and focusing on the regional media, which we find to be a much more credible media, to be honest with you. In fact, I found it to be incredible how good they are.

Of course, Secretary Mnuchin, Director Cohn, and my entire economic team will remain totally focused on tax reform. They'll be staying here and will continue to work closely with all of you. They've had a great relationship with most of the people in the room. We need your continued input to make sure that the final bill gets all of the details right and that we get that approval.

I want the House to pass a bill by Thanksgiving. I want all of the people standing by my side when we get ready to sign by Christmas. Hopefully before Christmas, you'll all be in the room standing front row center. I think we'll be able to find a place where you can all stand front row center. It will be a big event. It will be the biggest tax event in the history of our country.

Thank you all for being here today. We have a couple of folks that I'd like to have say maybe a couple of words while we're with the media.

Tom Donohue has been President and CEO of U.S. Chamber of Commerce for a long time. Tom, do you have anything to say?

MR. DONOHUE: Well, thank you very much for having this meeting, Mr. President.

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you, Tom.

MR. DONOHUE: The business community has been waiting a long time for an administration and the President and a willing Congress to do what we havent done for many decades. And we think we were lucky to arrange a budget, but we're going to have a better opportunity in the Senate.

I think you're right, there are some members of the Democratic legislature that will come around on some of this, particularly if the numbers are as they promised. And you hit it right on the head that we got to work on it. We're going to have some differences amongst the business community on what should be the takeaways and the adds.

But we just have to work on it, and I think your planning is really quite good. You're off to Asia and everybody else gets it worked out. (Laughter.)

THE PRESIDENT: Next week, we'll come back and let's see what we have, right? (Laughter.)

Well, I appreciate it very much. And what you said is important -- we did get the budget passed. And as you know, that was a big event because that doesn't often happen and we got it fairly easily passed. I think we had a couple of extra votes if we needed them, and more than a couple of votes if we needed them.

There's great spirit for this. The Republicans have a tremendous spirit. We'll have no Democrat support. We may have on the tax cuts because I think it's going to be very hard for five or six of them to run successfully saying they want to raise taxes.

Look, the Democrats want to raise taxes and really create obstruction. And the Republicans want to lower taxes, so we want to get rid of regulations. I've gotten rid of more regulations in the first nine months than any President has for their term in office. That's a big statement.

But we've really just begun. I would say we have at least another 50 percent that we want to do. So that's going to be fantastic. In some cases, it's statutory. We have to give a notice, and then you have to give another notice, and you have to wait 90 days. But we've gone along that statutory process.

And I will tell you, Tom, you're going to see a lot of additional relief from these horrible regulations that have been killing our country. They've literally been killing --

As you noticed, GDP was just announced and -- shockingly to a lot of people, despite the hurricanes, which possibly could be considered to be 1 point -- we were at 3. And we were at 3.2 last quarter but we were at 3. And to be at 3 with a 1 point, that would have meant we would have hit 4 or thereabouts. And those are numbers that have not been seen for many years.

So we're doing well and we'll continue to do well. The big thing is we have companies that really want to move back into the United States now because of regulation, because of what we're doing with taxes. And some big ones are going to be announcing very soon.

Dirk, could I ask you to say a few words from the National Association of Wholesale-Distributors? That would be great great.

MR. VAN DONGEN: Firstly, Mr. President, thank you. I appreciate the opportunity to be here. A few of us in the room are old enough to remember being in this same room when President Reagan was working on the tax reform. The two of us were in this room.

THE PRESIDENT: You don't look that old. (Laughter.)

MR. VAN DONGEN: Tom was here. (Laughter.) Thirty years or so have passed. The tax code doesn't resemble what was done in '86. Reform was long, long overdue. I represent an industry of very high effective tax rates, frankly, that (inaudible) the other guys' taxes.

Unstated, but I assume that the, kind of, price of admission for being here today is that you support the process moving forward. And obviously each of us have to see the details, and there may be one thing or another that we'd like to see different. But the broader perspective is that for the good of the economy, the good of the country, and, frankly, I think, for the good of our members, you have to support the process going forward. You have our commitment to do precisely that.

THE PRESIDENT: That's great. Thank you, Dirk. That's really great. I appreciate it.

And I think so important -- you know, we talk tax cuts, which is really, to me, the very big thing -- the tax cuts. We desperately need them.

But so many other things are happening, including bringing back $4 trillion back into the United States. And that money is going to be put to work in our country, for our people, creating our jobs and factories and plants.

I think the number could be higher than $4 trillion. Its been $2.5 trillion for so long. Everyone said, $2.5 trillion. But its gotten, obviously, a lot bigger. They just kept saying $2.5 trillion. I think the number is going to be well over $4 trillion -- will be coming back into our country.

And so many other things. One of the other elements that are important, Karen -- and you're going to say a few words next because Im dying to hear what you have to say. But one of the things so important is simplification -- too complicated, and we're simplifying it greatly.

And I want to thank all of my folks for being here and working on it -- Gary, Steve, everybody. The process is complicated, but the end result will not be that complicated. It's going to be people are going to pay less tax by a lot. Companies are going to pay less tax by a lot. That's a big difference.

And companies are going to start rebuilding, and they're going to stay here. And they're going to expand, and they're going to build new plants in this country. They wont be going to other countries like they have been for many, many decades.

Karen, could you say few words? Small Business, Entrepreneurship Council?

MS. KERRIGAN: Sure. Well, thank you so much, Mr. President, for your support and leadership on this issue. This is really one of the most critical issues for small business.

And they know if they get tax reform through, they're going to have more capital to put back into their businesses. They're going to invest more. They're going to provide higher wages, better benefits for their employees.

These business owners and entrepreneurs are also leaders of the community back in their communities. And they do see the lack of dynamism, the lack of business dynamism. They don't see new business creation in their communities, and that's a really serious problem in this country --

THE PRESIDENT: Right.

MS. KERRIGAN: -- the lack of entrepreneurship, weak entrepreneurship. According to our numbers, 3.2 million missing businesses in our country because of people not taking risks.

THE PRESIDENT: Right.

MS. KERRIGAN: So we're very excited about tax reform in terms of the growth it will bring, the investment it will bring, making the U.S. a haven for capital again because we need to get that edge back and need to encourage more people to start businesses -- particularly millennials starting businesses again.

THE PRESIDENT: Right, that's true.

MS. KERRIGAN: Which is going to add to, again, our competitiveness. So thank you.

THE PRESIDENT: One of the things that we've been talking about and that we've seen and theres been anything like it is the level of enthusiasm -- the enthusiasm for business, for manufacturing. Its the highest level its ever been -- highest level since the charts started. And we have a tremendous level now of enthusiasm for business and for manufacturing. And nobody has ever seen anything like it.

And of course, the stock market is at an all-time high -- historic high. Theres never been -- I mean, its going up -- I think it was 54 times since I was elected; we've hit the record 54 times. And I notice its up again a little bit today, so that's always good. But we're going to try and keep it going up.

But we've created almost $5.5 trillion in stock market wealth. Think of that -- $5.5 trillion since November 8th. So we're very honored by all of that. But a very big part of it will be tax cuts and tax reform, and we'll work on that together.

Thank you all very much. Thank you.

Q Are you open to the corporate tax rate, the corporate tax rate being phased in, sir? Would you be open to the corporate --

THE PRESIDENT: We're not looking for that, no. We're not looking for that. Hopefully not.

Q You want it to start at 20 --

THE PRESIDENT: That's something -- some people have mentioned that. Hopefully not.

Q Are you going to pardon Mr. Manafort?

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you, all. Thank you, everybody. Thank you very much. Thank you.
Governor Brown to Represent Worlds States and Regions Committed to Climate Action at UN Climate Conference, European Union and the Vatican

Sacramento, California - Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced that he will travel to Europe in November to deliver keynote remarks at a climate summit organized by the Pontifical Academy of Sciences at the Vatican; discuss clean energy collaboration with European Union leaders in Brussels, Belgium; address the State Parliament of the government of Baden-Wurttemberg  co-founder of the Under2 Coalition - in Stuttgart, Germany; convene top climate scientists from around the world in Oslo, Norway and serve as Special Advisor for States and Regions at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP23) in Bonn, Germany. These events will take place from November 4-14, 2017.

While the White House declares war on climate science and retreats from the Paris Agreement, California is doing the opposite and taking action, said Governor Brown. We are joining with our partners from every part of the world to do what needs to be done to prevent irreversible climate change.

Governor Brown was named Special Advisor for States and Regions by Fiji's Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama  president of COP23  ahead of this years UN Climate Change Conference. The Governor continues to build strong coalitions of partners committed to curbing carbon pollution in both the United States through the U.S. Climate Alliance and around the globe with the Under2 Coalition, which has grown to include 188 jurisdictions collectively representing more than 1.2 billion people and $28.9 trillion GDP  equivalent to over 16 percent of the global population and 39 percent of the global economy.

The Governor also joined United Nations Special Envoy for Cities and Climate Change Michael Bloomberg to launch America's Pledge on climate change to help compile and quantify the actions of states, cities and businesses to drive down their greenhouse gas emissions consistent with the goals of the Paris Agreement. In September 2018, the State of California will convene the world's climate leaders in San Francisco for the Global Climate Action Summit, where representatives from subnational governments, businesses, investors and civil society will gather with the direct goal of supporting the Paris Agreement.



This year, Governor Brown traveled to China to build closer climate ties with President Xi Jinping, Russia to call for deeper trans-pacific collaboration on climate change at the Eastern Economic Forum, Canada to officially link Californias carbon market with Quebec and Ontario and New York to discuss subnational climate action with the UN Secretary-General and open Climate Week NYC 2017.



The Governors itinerary is below (schedule subject to change; all times local):

Saturday, November 4, 2017



Keynote Remarks at Vatican Pontifical Academy of Sciences Health of People, Health of Planet and Our Responsibility: Climate Change, Air Pollution And Health Symposium

Governor Brown will deliver keynote remarks on the third and final day of a climate change symposium hosted by the Vaticans Pontifical Academy of Sciences, where government, faith and civic society leaders will issue a call to action. Governor Brown previously participated in a climate symposium at the Vatican in 2015.

When: Saturday, November 4, 2017 at approx. 9:00 a.m.

Where: The Pontifical Academy of Sciences, Casina Pio IV, V-00120 Vatican City

Tuesday, November 7, 2017

Opening Remarks at European Parliament and European Commission High-Level Conference on Clean Energy Financing: Delivering the Energy Transition for Jobs, Growth and Investment

Governor Brown will deliver opening remarks at a joint conference of the European Parliament and the European Commission on clean energy financing and the transition to a clean energy economy.

When: Tuesday, November 7, 2017 at approx. 9:30 a.m.

Where: Hemicycle of the European Parliament, Paul-Henri Spaak Building, Brussels, Belgium

News Conference with European Parliament President

Governor Brown will join European Parliament President Antonio Tajani, European Investment Bank President Werner Hoyer, European Commissioner for Climate Action and Energy Miguel Arias-Canete and European Parliament Committee on Industry, Research and Energy Committee (ITRE) Chair Jerzy Buzek at a news conference following the conclusion of the conferences opening session.

When: Tuesday, November 7, 2017 at approx. 10:45 a.m.

Where: European Parliament, Paul-Henri Spaak Building, Anna Politkovskaya Room, Brussels, Belgium
Secretary Tillerson's Meeting With Ambassador Antonov

Washington, DC - U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Russian Ambassador Anatoly Antonov met this afternoon at the Department of State.

They discussed the need to restore Ukraines territorial integrity and fully implement the Minsk agreements. The two also discussed the defeat of ISIS in Syria and the United States continued commitment to the Geneva talks as the best path toward a political solution to the conflict. Other topics included countering the threat posed by North Korea and the prospects for improving our bilateral relationship.




This Isnt Our Last Love Letter



Dear Don Don,

Way back in 92



I walked into the room and knew



Never felt this way before



I shook your hand while gazing into your eyes



And the feeling grew



As I took a seat I knew



A love that would have my heart



Forever



I knew



Way back in 92





They say love at first sight doesnt always last or isnt true



We were the exception to that rule



Our love had no where to hide



A spark set fire



As if this is how the universe started





I never doubted our love or what we could do



Together we grew



Forming a bond everlasting



That became our glue



My euphoria was YOU



Im eternally grateful for the love and life we shared



For how fortunate we were :



to have and to hold

through sickness and in health

Til death do us part



Until we are together again



This isnt our last love letter



I love you with all my heart and soul



Yours forever,



Deirdre (Mrs. Hank Snow)





Im fortunate to have fallen in love with, marry and make a life with the sharpest, coolest, funniest, most rare, bad ass, tender loving, loyal man on the planet, my husband Don Imus.









A True American Hero

I dont know why it has been so hard for me to write about my dear friend Don Imus.



I certainly know what he meant to me, my family, my charity, my hospital and the millions of fans that listened and loved him for so many years.



I keep reading all the beautiful condolences that people are writing about how much a part of their lives were effected by listening to him over the years.

But what most people dont talk enough about is what he did for all of us.

In every sense of the word, he was an American Hero. His work with children with so many different illnesses and his dedication to their future was unmatched by anyone I have ever known or heard about.



Besides raising over $100,000,000 for so many causes, he took care of young people for over 20 years in a state where he could not breathe. Along with his incredible wife Deirdre, he created a world where children were not defined by their disease. That was a miracle! He was a miracle.

I will miss him ever day for the rest of my life.

I was blessed to be a part of his and Deirdes life.

No one will ever do what he did.

I love you Don Imus - A TRUE AMERICAN HERO





David Jurist

IMUS IN THE MORNING

FIRST DAY BACK!
Get our free weekly email for all the latest cinematic news from our film critic Clarisse Loughrey Get our The Life Cinematic email for free Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

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Kevin Spacey faces fresh allegations after two men have come forward accusing the actor of sexual assault.

Actor Robert Cavazos wrote on Facebook that he encountered Spacey at the bar of London's Old Vic Theatre, where Spacey was artistic director from 2004-15, and that the actor tried to grope him against his will.

"It was more common for this guy, when he was in the bar of this theater, grabbing whoever caught his attention. I didn't stand for it, but I know some people who were afraid to stop it," he wrote.

Filmmaker Tony Montana has also accused Spacey of groping him while he was in an LA bar in 2003. "I went up to order a drink and Kevin came up to me and put his arm around me," he told Radar. "He was telling me to come with him, to leave the bar. He put his hand on my crotch forcefully and grabbed my whole package."

Montana then claimed that Spacey, who he says appeared intoxicated, said to him, "This designates ownership." He added, "I put my hand down and turned his thumb back to get his hand off it. I paid for my drink and got away from him."

He then says Spacey followed him to the restroom. "I backed him out the door and I pushed him," the filmmaker stated. "One of his friends was in line and I said, 'It's time to take your boy home.' They all ended up leaving."

 Kevin Spacey: People had 'concerns' for years, says top theatre director

In a statement, the Old Vic has expressed "deep dismay" at the allegations and said "inappropriate behavior by anyone working at The Old Vic is completely unacceptable."

These allegations follow accusations made by Anthony Rapp, who claims Spacey made sexual advances on him when he was 14 years old. Spacey responded to Rapp's allegations in a statement, saying he is beyond horrified to hear his story but does not remember the incident.

But if I did behave then as he describes, I owe him the sincerest apology for what would have been deeply inappropriate drunken behaviour, and I am sorry for the feelings he describes having carried with him all these years, he added.

Representatives for Spacey have said: "Kevin Spacey is taking the time necessary to seek evaluation and treatment. No other information is available at this time."

Follow Independent Culture on Facebook for all the latest on Film, TV, Music, and more.
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A British barman is the latest to accuse Kevin Spacey of sexual misconduct.

Daniel Beal told The Sun that the actor approached him as he took a cigarette break while working as a barman at the Goodwood Park Hotel, West Sussex in 2010. At the time, Spacey was artistic director of London's Old Vic theatre and had attended a production at the Chichester Festival Theatre nearby.

Beal alleges Spacey sat down beside the then 19-year-old on a bench, flashing his privates and telling him, "It's big, isn't it?", before trying to pull his hand toward him. When Beal returned to the bar to work, Spacey allegedly followed him and insisted on giving him a Swiss watch worth 5,000 in value.

"I thought he was joking but he took off his watch and gave it to me," Beal stated. "Looking back I realise it was to keep me quiet."

Previous to this, Beal claims that "every time I tried to give him a drink he'd touch my hand in a weird way. He was drinking more and more - he got through a bottle of Jack Daniels." He alleges that Spacey had initially followed him outside during his first cigarette break and offered him weed, stating: "Come back to my room."

"Looking back, he was trying to manipulate me from the moment he walked into the bar. In hindsight, that must have been grooming. He was just like his character in House Of Cards  seedy and a bit weird," Beal said.

He added that he sold the watch for 3,200 the next day. "All my friends were telling me to keep it. But I felt dirty wearing it," he said. He then claims Spacey's management phoned Beal several days later and asked for the watch back.

When he said he'd lost it, Beal then alleges the management made a complaint to the hotel about him. Furthermore, he says he received a call from Spacey several weeks later, asking to meet up.

Beal says he was encouraged to come forward after the allegations made by Anthony Rapp, who claims Spacey made sexual advances on him when he was 14 years old. Spacey responded to Rapp's allegations in a statement, saying he is beyond horrified to hear his story but does not remember the incident.

Spacey also faces further allegations from two men who claimed they were groped by the actor. Actor Robert Cavazos wrote on Facebook that he encountered Spacey at the bar of London's Old Vic Theatre, where Spacey was artistic director from 2004-15, and that the actor tried to grope him against his will.

Access unlimited streaming of movies and TV shows with Amazon Prime Video Sign up now for a 30-day free trial Sign up

Filmmaker Tony Montana accuses Spacey of groping him while he was in an LA bar in 2003. "I went up to order a drink and Kevin came up to me and put his arm around me," he told Radar. "He was telling me to come with him, to leave the bar. He put his hand on my crotch forcefully and grabbed my whole package."

Representatives for Spacey have said: "Kevin Spacey is taking the time necessary to seek evaluation and treatment. No other information is available at this time."

Follow Independent Culture on Facebook for all the latest on Film, TV, Music, and more.
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Kevin Spacey is facing a string of allegations of sexual harassment.

Anthony Rapp was the first individual to come forward; in an interview with Buzzfeed, he claimed that Spacey had made sexual advances on him when he was 14 years old, attending a party at the actor's apartment.

He alleged that, at the end of the night, an inebriated Spacey picked him up, placed him on his bed, and climbed on top of him. Rapp said the then-26-year-old Spacey was holding him down tightly, but he was able to get away and left the apartment.

Spacey responded to the initial allegations in a statement which read, "I'm beyond horrified to hear this story. I honestly do not remember the encounter, it would have been over 30 years ago."

"But if I did behave then as he describes, I owe him the sincerest apology for what would have been deeply inappropriate drunken behavior, and I am sorry for the feelings he describes having carried with him all these years."

After Rapp's allegations, actor Robert Cavazos wrote on Facebook that he encountered Spacey at the bar of London's Old Vic Theatre, where Spacey was artistic director from 2004-15, and that the actor tried to grope him against his will.

"It was more common for this guy, when he was in the bar of this theater, grabbing whoever caught his attention. I didn't stand for it, but I know some people who were afraid to stop it," he wrote.

Filmmaker Tony Montana has also accused Spacey of groping him while he was in an LA bar in 2003. "I went up to order a drink and Kevin came up to me and put his arm around me," he told Radar. "He was telling me to come with him, to leave the bar. He put his hand on my crotch forcefully and grabbed my whole package."

Kevin Spacey: his accusers Show all 6 1 /6 Kevin Spacey: his accusers Kevin Spacey: his accusers Anthony Rapp In an interview with Buzzfeed, he claimed that Spacey had made sexual advances on him when he was 14 years old, attending a party at the actor's apartment.



Spacey responded to Rapp's allegations in a statement, saying he is beyond horrified to hear his story but does not remember the incident Rex Kevin Spacey: his accusers Roberto Cavazos The actor wrote on Facebook that he encountered Spacey at the bar of London's Old Vic Theatre, where Spacey was artistic director from 2004-15, and that the actor tried to grope him against his will Twitter Kevin Spacey: his accusers Daniel Beal The British barman alleged the actor approached him as he took a cigarette break while working at a West Sussex hotel, sitting down beside the then 19-year-old on a bench, flashing his privates and telling him, "It's big, isn't it?", before trying to pull his hand toward him.



When Beal returned to the bar to work, Spacey allegedly followed him and insisted on giving him a Swiss watch worth 5,000 in value. "I thought he was joking but he took off his watch and gave it to me," Beal stated. "Looking back I realise it was to keep me quiet." Dan Beal/Facebook Kevin Spacey: his accusers Tony Montana The filmmaker has accused Spacey of groping him while he was in an LA bar in 2003. "I went up to order a drink and Kevin came up to me and put his arm around me," he said. "He was telling me to come with him, to leave the bar. He put his hand on my crotch forcefully and grabbed my whole package." Youtube Kevin Spacey: his accusers Anonymous A man, identified as John, which is not his real name, said he was left traumatised after waking up to find Spacey lying on him in the 1980s BBC Kevin Spacey: his accusers Harry Dreyfuss The son of actor Richard Dreyfuss, Dreyfuss junior has claimed that Spacey groped him while his father and Spacey were rehearsing for a play in London in 2008



A British barman, Daniel Beal, alleged the actor approached him as he took a cigarette break while working at a West Sussex hotel, sitting down beside the then 19-year-old on a bench, flashing his privates and telling him, "It's big, isn't it?", before trying to pull his hand toward him.

When Beal returned to the bar to work, Spacey allegedly followed him and insisted on giving him a Swiss watch worth 5,000 in value. "I thought he was joking but he took off his watch and gave it to me," Beal stated. "Looking back I realise it was to keep me quiet."

Access unlimited streaming of movies and TV shows with Amazon Prime Video Sign up now for a 30-day free trial Sign up

Another man, who wishes to remain anonymous, says Spacey invited him when he was a teenager to spend the weekend in New York. On the first night, Mr Spacey talked a lot about his work and became affectionate "in a way I certainly wasn't interested in".

Spacey asked him to share his bed, but the individual refused and chose to sleep on the sofa. "As we went to sleep, he was sobbing from his bed," he said; he allegedly woke up with the actors arms around him, although he added that he didnt think anything sexual took place.

In a statement, the Old Vic has expressed "deep dismay" at the allegations and said "inappropriate behavior by anyone working at The Old Vic is completely unacceptable."

Representatives for Spacey have said: "Kevin Spacey is taking the time necessary to seek evaluation and treatment. No other information is available at this time."

Follow Independent Culture on Facebook for all the latest on Film, TV, Music, and more.
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Flight of the Conchords have added more dates to their UK and Ireland tour.

Jemaine Clement and Bret McKenzie will now also perform nine additional dates in March and two in April, including an extra date at London's O2 Arena.

The tour will begin with a three-night stand in Portsmouth at the Guildhall and take in new shows in York, Milton Keynes and Dublin.

TICKETS ON SALE AT 10AM - BUY HERE

Flight of the Conchords (Promo)

The full list of tour dates currently stands at:

Mar. 05 - Portsmouth, UK - Guildhall

Mar. 06 - Portsmouth, UK - Guildhall

Mar. 07 - Portsmouth, UK - Guildhall

Mar. 09 - York, UK - Barbican

Mar. 10 - York, UK - Barbican

Mar. 11- York, UK - Barbican

Mar. 13 - Milton, UK- Keynes Theatre

Mar. 14 - Milton, UK - Keynes Theatre

Mar. 15 - Milton, UK - Keynes Theatre

Mar. 18 - London, UK - Eventim Apollo [Sold Out]

Mar. 19 - London, UK - Eventim Apollo [Sold Out]

Mar. 20 - London, UK - Eventim Apollo [Sold Out]

Mar. 22 - Birmingham, UK - Birmingham Genting Arena [Sold Out]

Mar. 23 - Manchester, UK - Manchester Arena [Sold Out]

Mar. 25 - Dublin, IE - 3Arena [Sold Out]

Mar. 26 - Glasgow, UK - The SSE Hydro [Sold Out]

Mar. 27 - Leeds, UK - Leeds First Direct Arena [Sold Out]

Mar. 29 - London, UK - The O2 Arena [Sold Out]

Mar. 30 - London, UK - The O2 Arena [Sold Out]

Apr. 01 - Liverpool, UK - Echo Arena Liverpool [Sold Out]

Apr. 02 - Dublin, IE - 3 Arena

Apr. 03 - London, UK - O2 Arena - BUY TICKETS

Fans were left bitterly disappointed after the first run of shows appeared to sell out within seconds of tickets going on sale.

They quickly appeared on secondary ticketing websites for massively inflated prices, and the band's name trended on social media as fans asked them to address the issue.

TV preview 2018: Everything to look out for Show all 16 1 /16 TV preview 2018: Everything to look out for TV preview 2018: Everything to look out for Jessica Jones Starring: Krysten Ritter, Rachael Taylor, Carrie-Anne Moss, David Tennant Start date: 8 March, Netflix Netflix TV preview 2018: Everything to look out for The OA Starring: Brit Marling, Emory Cohen, Phyllis Smith, Patrick Gibson, Jason Isaacs Start date: 15 March, Netflix TV preview 2018: Everything to look out for Trust Starring:Hilary Swank, Brendan Fraser, Donald Sutherland, Harris Dickinson, Anna Chancellor Start date: 25 March 2018, AMC (Sky Atlantic air date TBA) FX Productions TV preview 2018: Everything to look out for A Series of Unfortunate Events Starring: Neil Patrick Harris, Malina Weissman, Patrick Warburton, Lucy Punch, Tony Hale, Nathan Fillion Start date: 30 March, Netflix TV preview 2018: Everything to look out for Atlanta Robbin Starring: Neil Patrick Harris, Malina Weissman, Patrick Warburton, Lucy Punch, Tony Hale, Nathan Fillion Start date: 30 March, FOX (UK air date TBA) Matthias Clamer/FX TV preview 2018: Everything to look out for Legion Starring: Dan Stevens, Rachel Keller, Aubrey Plaza, Jean Smart, Jemaine Clement Start date: 17 April, FOX 20th Television TV preview 2018: Everything to look out for The Alienist Starring: Daniel Bruhl, Luke Evans, Dakota Fanning, Brian Geraghty Start date: 19 April, Netflix Warner Bros. Television Distribution TV preview 2018: Everything to look out for Westworld Starring: Evan Rachel Wood, Jeffrey Wright, Thandie Newton, Ed Harris, James Marsden Start date: 21 April, HBO TV preview 2018: Everything to look out for Fear the Walking Dead Starring: Kim Dickens, Lennie James, Frank Dillane, Alycia Debnam Carey, Colman Domingo, Maggie Grace Start date: 23 April, AMC on BT TV Richard Foreman, Jr/AMC TV preview 2018: Everything to look out for The Handmaid's Tale Starring: Elisabeth Moss, Joseph Fiennes, Samira Riley, Yvonne Strahovski, Ann Dowd Start date: 25 April, Hulu (Channel 4 air date TBA) Hulu TV preview 2018: Everything to look out for Better Call Saul Start date: TBA, Netflix Netflix TV preview 2018: Everything to look out for Call the Midwife series 7 Starring: Vanessa Redgrave, Kate Lamb, Stephen McGann, Leonie Elliott Vanessa Redgrave, Kate Lamb, Stephen McGann, Leonie Elliott Start date: TBA, BBC One TV preview 2018: Everything to look out for House of Cards Start date: TBA, Netflix Netflix TV preview 2018: Everything to look out for 13 Reasons Why Start date: TBA, Netflix TBA, Netflix TV preview 2018: Everything to look out for This Is Us season 2 Start date: TBA, Channel 4 TBA, Channel 4 Ron Batzdorff/NBC TV preview 2018: Everything to look out for Unforgotten series 3 Start date: TBA, ITV1

Flight of the Conchords and their representatives have also said they have attempted to tackle secondary ticketing sites and have gone to efforts to thwart touts.

Tickets are no longer transferrable and the purchaser must show a photo ID to pick up tickets they bought online, a statement said.

Got sweaty palms already? Check out our handy tips for dealing with the demand:

1) Make sure you are ready and waiting with the web page up at least five minutes before 9am.

2) Do not let your computer, phone or whatever device holds the key to your happiness run out of battery.

3) Register your details with the website you are booking from in advance, if you can, but dont panic if you havent left enough time as your tickets will be held while you fill out your information

4) Check how many tickets you are allowed to buy in one purchase. If you try to buy more than the limited number, your booking may be cancelled without notice, meaning no-one gets to go.

5) Get your friends to try too, but stay in contact in case you all succeed and end up with a bunch of tickets you didnt want. If you do need to sell any on, do so at face value. No-one likes a tout.

6) Be patient and avoid refreshing or switching between browsers. Stick with one tab and have some faith! Be prepared to wait for an hour to get tickets.

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Police and FBI agents have swarmed Paterson, New Jersey where the suspect in the New York attack Sayfullo Saipov lived prior to allegedly killing eight people with a truck and injuring several more before being shot by police.

Mr Saipov, who is actually from Tampa, Florida, remains in police custody in the hospital.

The 29-year-old Uzbek national was living in the suburban town with his wife and two children in an apartment building.

Recommended First picture emerges of New York terror suspect Sayfullo Saipov

He came to the US in 2010, according to NBC News.

The New York FBI terrorist task force and local police surround the suspects home just a few blocks from the Omar Mosque, where Mr Saipov reportedly attended prayers.

Mahmoud Attallah, a former spokesman for the mosque, told a local news site that he was saddened by the loss of innocent lives but also worried about backlash against his community as a result of the attack.

I was so upset with this situation, these innocent people...Every time we think this is over, and now this, and there is this guy from Uzbekistan, and hes not even Arabic, said Mr Atallah.

The search of the apartment building, stores, and other buildings continued well into the night.

It is unclear at this time if Mr Saipovs wife and children were at home at the time of the search but CNN reported the wife is "providing information" to authorities.

According to the apartment building manager, the family moved into their two-bedroom apartment less than a year ago.

Paterson Councilman Alex Mendez told NJ.com that though he was very concerned the suspect lived in his community, the Halloween holiday attack appeared to be an isolated incident.

New York Truck attack Show all 6 1 /6 New York Truck attack New York Truck attack Investigators inspect the truck following the attack Investigators inspect a truck following a shooting incident in New York on 31 October 2017. Several people were killed and numerous others injured in New York on Tuesday when a suspect plowed a vehicle into a bike and pedestrian path in Lower Manhattan, and struck another vehicle on Halloween, police said. A suspect exited the vehicle holding up fake guns, before being shot by police and taken into custody, officers said. The motive was not immediately apparent. Getty New York Truck attack A paramedic looks at a body along the bike path A paramedic looks at a body covered under a white sheet along the bike path 31 October 2017, in New York. A motorist drove onto a busy bicycle path near the World Trade Center memorial and struck several people Tuesday, police and witnesses said. AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews New York Truck attack The truck driver collided with a school bus Authorities respond near a damaged school bus Tuesday, 31 October 2017, in New York. A motorist drove onto a busy bicycle path near the World Trade Center memorial and struck several people, police and witnesses said. Two adults and two children were on the bus at the time. AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews New York Truck attack A young girl reacts to the scene A young girl reacts as police officers secure an area following a shooting incident in New York on 31 October 2017. Several people were killed and numerous others injured in New York on Tuesday after a vehicle plowed into a pedestrian and bike path in Lower Manhattan, police said. 'The vehicle struck multiple people on the path,' police tweeted. 'The vehicle continued south striking another vehicle. The suspect exited the vehicle displaying imitation firearms & was shot by NYPD.' DON EMMERT/AFP/Getty Images New York Truck attack Police officers arrive at the scene Police officers arrive at the scene following a shooting incident in New York on 31 October 2017. Multiple people were hurt in downtown Manhattan, US media reported after police confirmed that they were responding to reports of a shooting. Police said they had mobilized to the scene in Lower Manhattan and that one person was in custody, giving no further details. DON EMMERT/AFP/Getty Images New York Truck attack Emergency personnel respond to truck attack in lower Manhattan Emergency personal respond after reports of multiple people hit by a truck after it plowed through a bike path in lower Manhattan on 31 October 2017 in New York City. According to reports up to six people may have been killed. Kena Betancur/Getty Images

"We have 52 nationalities. They're hardworking people that come to Paterson to start a better life," Mr Mendez said.

Neighbours told the news site that Mr Saipov and his family appeared to have friends living nearby and that he drove a white Toyota Sienna with Florida license plates.

However, at least one neighbour said the alleged truck driver - who also worked as an Uber driver - was not friendly.

Never says good morning and never says good afternoon, the man said of Mr Saipov.

The Toyota vehicle was found in the parking lot of a Passaic, New Jersey Home Depot, a national chain of home improvement stores.

A bomb squad and helicopters circling overhead were also at the scene in Passaic.

Mr Saipov allegedly rented the truck used in the terror attack from that Home Depot location, which is cooperating with authorities.

The suspect drove the truck south on a bike path adjacent to the West Side Highway from Houston Street to Chambers Street - approximately 20 city blocks - before crashing into a school bus with two adults and two children inside.

He allegedly ran over several people, with eight left dead, including a group of Argentinians in the city to celebrate their 30th high school reunion and at least one Belgian citizen.

Mr Saipov reportedly exited the vehicle, at that point located close the September 11th memorial and Stuyvesant High School, carrying a paintball gun and another imitation weapon. He was then shot in the abdomen by a police officer.

He reportedly had been able to speak to authorities ahead of a surgery at a local hospital, where he remains in stable condition.
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Dennis Banks was a leading civil rights campaigner and the founder of the American Indian Movement, set up in the Sixties to highlight injustices against the USs first peoples. Banks came to international attention during the 10-week siege of Wounded Knee when 200 armed Sioux activists took over the South Dakota town  83 years earlier US forces had slaughtered 350 Lakota people there, at the end of the American-Indian Wars.

Banks, a member of the Ojibwa tribe, helped form the American Indian Movement (AIM) in 1968 to challenge what he and other activists considered the US governments centuries-long exploitation of Native Americans. He traced his personal anger to his boyhood, when he was placed in Bureau of Indian Affairs boarding schools, which he compared to concentration camps.

A self-described nightmare to the whole judicial system, Banks spent periods as a fugitive or in prison for crimes associated with his demonstrations. To detractors, his apparent lawlessness did little to bolster his cause. But to supporters, Banks was a fearless defender of victimised peoples who, after years of oppression, had no recourse but dramatic resistance.

Along with AIM leader Russell Means, he became, as the Los Angeles Times put it, one of the most famous Indians since Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse, the tribal leaders who defeated George Armstrong Custer at the Battle of the Little Bighorn in 1876.

Bankss early protests included a siege of Alcatraz, the island off San Francisco where the infamous prison was situated. Later, in 1972, he participated in an AIM occupation of the Bureau of Indian Affairs building in Washington.

But it is for his part in the occupation of Wounded Knee that he will be most remembered.

The 1973 uprising witnessed a confrontation between hundreds of Indians and hundreds of law-enforcement officers. Two Native Americans died, and a federal officer was paralysed in the ensuing violence. By the time the incident ended after 71 dramatic days, the worlds attention had been turned to the native American civil rights struggle as well as its tactics.

Banks and Means were charged with conspiracy, assault and theft in connection with the events, but a federal judge in 1974 dismissed the charges, citing government misconduct.

Banks faced more serious legal difficulty stemming from another demonstration, also in South Dakota, weeks before the Wounded Knee incident.

Dennis Banks and Carter Camp at a Wounded Knee meeting in 1973 (Rex Features) (Rex)

He and other AIM activists had gathered at the Custer County courthouse to protest after the alleged white killer of a Native American man was charged with manslaughter rather than the higher offence of murder. The demonstration resulted in injuries to protesters and police officers, the destruction of two police cars, and fires at government buildings.

We had reached a point in history where we could not tolerate the abuse any longer, Banks told Peter Matthiessen, author of In the Spirit of Crazy Horse, the 1983 book chronicling the FBIs war against the American Indian movement. These mothers could not tolerate the mistreatment that goes on on the reservations any longer, they could not see another Indian youngster die.

In 1975 Banks was convicted of rioting and assault. Saying that he feared for his life in prison, he went on the run. His cause was bolstered by Hollywood figures including Jane Fonda and Marlon Brando, as well as by the legal representation of William Kunstler, the radical lawyer who died in 1995.

Banks found a haven in California, then and later on an Onondaga people reservation in New York. He surrendered to authorities in 1984, was imprisoned and then was paroled the following year.

Dennis James Banks  his Ojibwa name was Nowacumig, meaning at the centre of the universe  was born on the Leech Lake Reservation in Minnesota.

He described the experience of being taken to boarding school as a dark day in the lives of all Indian children.

They are forcibly taken away from those who love and care for them, from those who speak their language, he wrote in his 2004 memoir, Ojibwa Warrior. They are dragged, some screaming and weeping, others in silent terror, to a boarding school where they are to be remade into white kids.

He served in the Air Force in Japan, where he married a Japanese woman and fathered a child. The Los Angeles Times reported that he was married at least five times. His daughter Arrow Banks has said that he had 20 children and more than 100 grandchildren.

On his return from military service, Banks told Americas People magazine in 1984, I was heading down a road that was filled with wine, whiskey and booze... then I landed in prison. He said he served two years, seven months and 18 days for burglarising a grocery store while a white accomplice received probation. The experience galvanised Mr Banks to help found AIM.

During his sojourn in California, he taught classes at Stanford University. After his imprisonment in South Dakota, he said that he decided he could best help by staying out of politics altogether. He provided addiction counselling and ran a rice and maple syrup company that aimed to bring jobs to reservations.

Like Means, who died in 2012, Banks acted in films including The Last of the Mohicans in 1992.

Despite the efforts of AIM, residents of Native American reservations continue to live in what are universally recognised as disastrous conditions. Looking back on AIMs work, Banks nonetheless saw progress.

An awareness reached across America that if Native American people had to resort to arms at Wounded Knee, there must really be something wrong, he said. And Americans realised that native people are still here, that they have a moral standing, a legal standing. From that, our own people began to sense their pride.

Dennis Banks, civil rights leader, born 12 April, 1937, died 29 October 2017

 The Washington Post
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A man who filmed himself sexually assaulting a woman as she slept has been jailed.

Gary Warman plied his victim with drugs and alcohol before the attack in south London, Woolwich Crown Court heard.

Police searched the 31-year-old's Eltham home in January and confiscated a number of computers, hard-drives and mobile phones, Scotland Yard said.

Officers identified 748 indecent images of children on one of the computers.

They also found a number of videos which showed Warman subjecting the woman to a series of serious sexual assaults while she was asleep, according to police.

Warman had filmed the videos himself on his mobile phone.

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He was sentenced to 10 years and six months imprisonment after pleading guilty to 17 offences of sexual assault and three counts of making indecent images of children.

Detective Sergeant Billy Clough from the Met's Online Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse command said: "Warman is a dangerous, predatory sex offender who repeatedly targeted a woman while she was asleep.

"The lengthy sentence handed to Warman reflects the severity of his crimes. This case demonstrates the Met's commitment to prosecuting perpetrators of sexual abuse and those who use the internet to download indecent images of children."
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A man claimed he raped his own mother because of the stress of being accused of raping his girlfriend.

The 29-year-old armed himself with a screwdriver and attacked his mother while on bail for sexually assaulting his partner in a jealous rage.

The man, from Merseyside, has been jailed for 15 years at Liverpool Crown Court.

Recommended What the experts know about men who commit rape

He admitted the cocaine-fuelled attack on his mother and was found guilty of raping his girlfriend in a trial that ended in a violent outburst in the dock.

After being warned by a judge that he faced a long jail sentence, the rapist flew into a rage and jumped to his feet, turning to face his former partner who was sitting in the public gallery behind him.

He yelled, "you f***ing b****" before launching himself at a glass barrier, kicking and smashing it.

The rapist, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was intercepted by two dock officers and a court policeman.

Judge Elizabeth Nicholls said the man was violent, controlling and had demonstrated "the most intimidating and frightening behaviour towards women".

She said he "sought to limit his responsibility" for raping his mum, adding: "You suggested you only behaved in this fashion because you were facing false allegations.

"It is such a lack of insight that causes the most concern to this court."

The judge she had "no doubt" he was dangerous and a risk to women due to his violent past and lack of empathy.

Judge Nicholls said: "A psychiatric report describes you as having a potential dissocial personality disorder.

"In particular it expresses concern with regard to your callous unconcern for others, low tolerance for frustration and incapacity to experience guilt.

"Whilst on bail you committed these horrific offences upon your mother.

"You still seek to explain these away and excuse your conduct away by referring to the stress of the situation that you found yourself in.

"Most people having been arrested for a serious offence of rape may try to address their issues. It doesn't appear that you have done so."

His trial had heard how he attacked his girlfriend by hitting her in the face three times and kicking her while she was on the floor.

Neville Biddle, prosecuting, said the attack began while the couple were in bed. He added: "It was a nasty, sustained and unpleasant assault."

On a separate occasion the attacker "assaulted her in a most unpleasant way" after alleging she was cheating on him, the court heard. The ordeal - too graphic to describe - continued with him forcing her to perform a sex act.

While on bail for the offences, he raped his mum in her bed at around 4am after a night of drinking and taking drugs.

Mr Biddle said: "He was shouting 'mum, mum'. He put his hand over her mouth and he held a screwdriver."

He fled in his mum's car and was arrested at Jodrell Bank Observatory.

The man was found guilty of assault causing actual bodily harm, rape and sexual assault. He earlier admitted two counts of rape and one of sexual assault against his mother.

His previous convictions included assault, causing actual bodily harm and battery against two ex-girlfriends.

Mr Biddle said the man's former partner had provided a victim impact statement but not the man's mother had not. He told the court: "Unsurprisingly, she has declined. What could a mother say in these circumstances?"

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Brian McKenna, defending, argued his client was not dangerous, as defined in law. He suggested the man did not pose a "significant risk" and should not receive an extended sentence.

Mr McKenna said his girlfriend suffered "a degree of psychological harm" but suggested it was not severe.

He said the man intended to address issues like anger management, victim empathy and "thinking skills" in prison.

However, he said he still "strenuously denied" raping his ex and his outburst was due to the "extremely stressful" guilty verdict and provocation from a member of the public.

Judge Nicholls jailed him for 15 years, plus six months for contempt of court, with an extended six years on licence.

It means he will spend at least two thirds of the custodial term - 10 years and four months - behind bars.

He will only be released if a parole board decides it is safe and will be on licence until he is 50.

The man must also sign on the Sex Offenders Register for life.
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The Government is routinely detaining victims of sexual violence in breach of its own guidelines, damning new research has found.

Despite policy introduced last year stating that it is wrong to detain at risk or vulnerable people, including women who have survived sexual and gender-based violence, findings show that victims are still being locked up  with many becoming suicidal as a result.

Research by charity Women for Refugee Women reveals that 85 per cent of women who have sought asylum and been detained after the new policy came into force are survivors of rape or other gender-based violence, including forced marriage, female genital mutilation and forced prostitution.

The Home Offices failure to comply with its own policy has been described as callous disregard for the wellbeing of vulnerable people, and has prompted fierce criticism from politicians, lawyers and campaigners who say the system is in need of urgent change.

The "Adult at Risk" policy came into force in September 2016 in response to the Shaw review, which was commissioned by the Government following widespread concerns about the detention system. It states that survivors of sexual or gender-based violence are recognised as at risk, and so unsuitable for detention.

The new research, which interviewed 28 women placed in detention since the policy was implemented, found that the vast majority of sexual violence victims had been detained for more than a month. All said they were depressed, with almost half having thought about killing themselves in detention and two having attempted suicide.

One woman, Priscilla, whose name has been changed to protect her identity, is a lesbian from a country where it is illegal to be gay. Her family forced her to marry a man she didnt know, who subsequently brought her to the UK.

After several years of marriage, during which he controlled and mentally abused her, as well as forcing her to have sex with him, her husband divorced her. She felt she couldnt go back to her country due to her sexuality.

In 2017, Priscilla was arrested and taken to Yarls Wood. The Home Office said they didnt believe she was a lesbian and refused her asylum application. They accepted evidence confirming abuse she was subject to at the hands of her husband, but they kept her in detention.

Eventually, after six months in detention, Priscilla got a Rule 35 report - a mechanism that identifies particularly vulnerable detainees. But although the Home Office accepted the report, they still kept her in Yarls Wood.

Recommended Government policy on tortured asylum seekers declared unlawful

I was starting to feel desperate. I could never sleep properly. I just felt so down, like I was in pain, but I never knew when I was going to be relieved from it. I started to feel like I was losing it, I was so stressed, she said.

A few days after she got the Rule 35 report, Priscilla found out the Home Office was going to put her on a charter flight. But a few hours before the flight was going to take off, her solicitor managed to halt the deportation and a week later, the Home Office released her.

Responding to the findings, Caroline Lucas, co-leader of the Green Party, told The Independent: Just a glance at some of the case studies reveals the callous disregard for people's wellbeing in the Government's approach - and the urgent need for change.

The Government's cruel failure to comply with their own policy inflicts further suffering on people who have already experienced violence against them. It's inhumane and unnecessarily harsh - which is why it needs overhauling.

Conservative MP for Meriden, Caroline Spelman, said: It is vital to have a transparent process to ensure that vulnerable women are protected in detention and Home Office policy needs to be properly implemented and monitored.

Natasha Walter, founder of Women for Refugee Women and author of the report, said the findings were "hugely disappointing", urging that detention is traumatic for individual women, and it is also "unnecessary, expensive and inefficient".

Recommended Asylum seeker describes alleged abuse at G4S detention centre

We need to move away from detention and build a fair asylum process in which cases are heard and resolved while refugees are living in the community, so that they are able to start rebuilding their lives, she said.

Toufique Hossain, director of public law and immigration at law firm Duncan Lewis, told The Independent the research set out "very accurately" what legal representatives already knew about vulnerable women in immigration detention.

"When confronted by survivors of sexual and gender-based violence the Secretary of State turns her face and detains them. It has long been established that such survivors should not be detained because they are particularly vulnerable and are at a higher risk of being re-traumatised in detention," he added.

"More shockingly, the Secretary of State pursues her defence in many cases, trying to justify detention of these women even after accepting their accounts of appalling suffering. It is a matter of great shame and a stain on this Government."

Celia Clarke, director of charity Bail for Immigration Detainees (BID), said the charity routinely comes across people who have been detained despite being survivors of gender-based violence, as well as people who suffer from mental health conditions and victims of torture.

Through our work we routinely encounter people who have been detained despite suffering from mental health conditions, are survivors of gender-based violence or are victims of torture. We witness that the very act of being detained can place an adult at risk," she said.

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The head of the Confederation of British Industry is urging the UK government to relax immigration rules to help British companies with severe staff shortages, ahead of the chancellors autumn statement EPA UK news in pictures 13 November 2022 England celebrate winning the mens T20 World Cup in Melbourne Cricket Ground, Australia AAP Image/Reuters UK news in pictures 12 November 2022 The City of London Pride Group take part in the parade during the Lord Mayor's Show PA UK news in pictures 11 November 2022 City workers attend a Remembrance Day ceremony at Lloyd's of London, in the City of London, to mark Armistice Day, the anniversary of the end of the First World War PA UK news in pictures 10 November 2022 A grey heron lands on the river Dodder in Dublin on a sunny autumn morning PA UK news in pictures 9 November 2022 Australia and Spain play during the Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup group A match at the Copper Box Arena, London PA UK news in pictures 8 November 2022 A migrant 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Reuters UK news in pictures 23 October 2022 The Green Man at October Plenty, Borough Market's annual Autumn Harvest festival, in London, which returns for the first time post pandemic PA UK news in pictures 21 October 2022 Sculptor Peter McKenna puts the finishing touches to a pumpkin that will form part of the Planet A Hebden Bridge Pumpkin Trail in the West Yorkshire town PA UK news in pictures 20 October 2022 Britains Prime Minister Liz Truss delivers a speech outside of 10 Downing Street in central London to announce her resignation AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 19 October 2022 Salmon leap up Stainforth Force on the River Ribble in the Yorkshire Dales as they swim upriver to their spawning grounds during the annual Salmon migration PA UK news in pictures 18 October 2022 Just Stop Oil protesters continue their protest for a second day on the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge, which links Kent and Essex and which remains closed for traffic, after it was scaled by two climbers from the group 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in pictures 12 October 2022 Motorists in Coventry pass trees showing autumnal colour PA UK news in pictures 11 October 2022 A woman and her dog in the the North Sea at Tynemouth Longsands beach before sunrise PA UK news in pictures 10 October 2022 Police officers remove a campaigner from a Just Stop Oil protest on The Mall, near Buckingham Palace, London PA UK news in pictures 9 October 2022 A drummer plays during the Diwali on the Square celebration, in Trafalgar Square, London PA UK news in pictures 8 October 2022 Timothee Chalamet attending the UK premiere of Bones and All during the BFI London Film Festival 2022 at the Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, London PA UK news in pictures 7 October 2022 Two young male fallow deer lock antlers in Dublins Phoenix park as rutting season begins PA UK news in pictures 6 October 2022 The Princess of Wales during a cocktail making competition during a visit to Trademarket, a new outdoor street-food and retail market situated in Belfast city centre, as part of the royal visit to Northern Ireland PA UK news in pictures 5 October 2022 Greenpeace protesters interrupt Prime Minister Liz Truss as she delivers her keynote speech to the Conservative Party annual conference PA UK news in pictures 4 October 2022 Prime Minister Liz Truss and Britains Chancellor of the Exchequer Kwasi Kwarteng wearing hard hats and hi-vis jackets, visit a construction site for a medical innovation campus in Birmingham AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 3 October 2022 British artist Sam Cox, aka Mr Doodle, reveals the Doodle House, a twelve-room mansion at Tenterden, in Kent, which has been covered, inside and out in the artist's trademark monochrome, cartoonish hand-drawn doodles PA UK news in pictures 2 October 2022 Erling Haaland celebrates after scoring Manchester City's second goal against Manchester United at Etihad Stadium. Haaland went on to score a hattrick, his third of the season in the Premier League. City beat United 6-3. Manchester City FC/Getty UK news in pictures 1 October 2022 Protesters hold up flags and placards at a protest in London. A variety of protest groups including Enough is Enough, Don't Pay and Just Stop Oil all demonstrated on the day AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 30 September 2022 British Prime Minister Liz Truss, who has not been seen in days, leaves the back of Downing Street after a meeting with Office For Budget Responsibility following the release of her governments mini-budget Getty UK news in pictures 29 September 2022 The Virginia creeper foliage on the Tu Hwnt i'r Bont (Beyond the Bridge) Llanwrst, Conwy North Wales, has changed colour from green to red in at the start of Autumn. The building was built in 1480 as a residential dwelling but has been a tearoom for over 50 years PA UK news in pictures 28 September 2022 Criminal barristers from the Criminal Bar Association (CBA), demonstrates outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London, as part of their ongoing pay row with the Government PA UK news in pictures 27 September 2022 David White, Garter King of Arms, poses with an envelope franked with the new cypher of King Charles III 'CIIIR', after it was printed in the Court Post Office at Buckingham Palace in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 26 September 2022 A gallery staff member poses next to a painting by Lucian Freud - Self-portrait (Fragment), 1956 - on show at a photocall for the Credit Suisse exhibition - Lucian Freud: New Perspectives at the National Gallery in London PA

"Yet the Home Offices Adults at Risk policy does little to address the very real concerns raised in the Shaw Review of the welfare of vulnerable people in immigration detention.

Worse, the act of categorising different levels of evidence places a still higher threshold for individuals to have to reach to prove their vulnerability. In all cases the presumption should be against detention if any risk or vulnerability exists. This policy does not come close to protecting adults at risk from further harm by being detained.

It comes after the High Court declared the Government's policy on torture victims is unlawful, after being told asylum seekers fleeing persecution were being wrongly detained.

A Home Office spokesperson said: "Detention is an important part of our immigration system, helping to ensure that those with no right to remain in the UK are returned to their home country if they will not leave voluntarily.

We operate on a presumption against detention, and the 'Adults at Risk' policy aims to improve our approach to identifying individuals who may be particularly vulnerable to harm in detention. When people are detained this is for the minimum time possible, and the dignity and welfare of those in our care is of the utmost importance.
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A Muslim father whose three children are being cared for by a Christian foster family was told by a judge he must not "pressure" them about Islam.

The unnamed 53-year-old has two sons and a daughter aged under 16, who have been living with the foster family since 2011.

During that time, he has only seen them twice.

In 2015, he signed a court document seen by the Manchester Evening News in which he agreed not to talk about Islam.

The ban has since been softened, but only on the condition he talks about his religion in a "non-pressuring way".

The man told the paper he was the victim of bigotry, but social services said the children's wellbeing is their "primary concern".

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 15 November 2022 Lesley Sutcliffe shelters from the rain next to a life-sized replica of the innermost coffin of King Tutankhamun by artist Amanda Stoner as it goes on display inside a traditional red telephone box which has been converted into a museum, in Barnsley, South Yorkshire PA UK news in pictures 14 November 2022 Members of the hospitality sector demonstrate outside parliament in London. The head of the Confederation of British Industry is urging the UK government to relax immigration rules to help British companies with severe staff shortages, ahead of the chancellors autumn statement EPA UK news in pictures 13 November 2022 England celebrate winning the mens T20 World Cup in Melbourne Cricket Ground, Australia AAP Image/Reuters UK news in pictures 12 November 2022 The City of London Pride Group take part in the parade during the Lord Mayor's Show PA UK news in pictures 11 November 2022 City workers attend a Remembrance Day ceremony at Lloyd's of London, in the City of London, to mark Armistice Day, the anniversary of the end of the First World War PA UK news in pictures 10 November 2022 A grey heron lands on the river Dodder in Dublin on a sunny autumn morning PA UK news in pictures 9 November 2022 Australia and Spain play during the Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup group A match at the Copper Box Arena, London PA UK news in pictures 8 November 2022 A migrant attempting to communicate with journalists is pinned against a fence by members of staff, before being taken out of view, at the Manston immigration short-term holding facility, located at the former Defence Fire Training and Development Centre in Thanet, Kent PA UK news in pictures 7 November 2022 Handout photo issued by Just Stop Oil of a protester who has climbed a gantry on the M25 between junctions six and seven in Surrey, leading to the closure of the motorway PA UK news in pictures 6 November 2022 A grey seal with its pup, at the Donna Nook National Nature Reserve in north Lincolnshire, where they come every year in late October, November and December to give birth to their pups near the sand dunes, the wildlife spectacle attracts visitors from across the UK PA UK news in pictures 5 November 2022 Demonstrators with placards calling for a General Election march near the Houses of Parliament AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 4 November 2022 A peacock is seen in the early winter sunshine in the Dutch Gardens in Holland Park AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 3 November 2022 Florence Kasumba, Letitia Wright, Tenoch Huerta and Lupita Nyongo attend the European Premiere of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever in London Getty UK news in pictures 2 November 2022 A red squirrel gathers nuts in Pitlochry, Scotland Reuters UK news in pictures 1 November 2022 Englands Tara-Jane Stanley scores their sides seventh try against Brazil during the Womens Rugby League World Cup group A match at Headingley Stadium, Leeds PA UK news in pictures 31 October 2022 GBs James Hall competes during the mens parallel bars qualification at the World Gymnastics Championships in Liverpool AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 30 October 2022 People dressed in Halloween costumes paddle board along the river Avon in Christchurch, Dorset PA UK news in pictures 29 October 2022 Members of the public take pictures as police officers remove activists from a road during a Just Stop Oil protest, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 28 October 2022 A cosplayer attends the MCM Comic Con London 2022 at the ExCel Centre in London Reuters UK news in pictures 27 October 2022 98-year-old D-Day Veteran Bernard Morgan, whose story is among those featured on the giant poppy wall, during the launch of The Royal British Legion 2022 Poppy Appeal, at Hay's Galleria in central London PA UK news in pictures 26 October 2022 A meerkat explores a pumpkin in the enclosure at Wild Place, Bristol, where some of the animals are having pumpkin treats as part of their environmental enrichment PA UK news in pictures 25 October 2022 King Charles III welcomes Rishi Sunak during an audience at Buckingham Palace, where he invited the newly elected leader of the Conservative Party to become Prime Minister and form a new government PA UK news in pictures 24 October 2022 Rishi Sunak celebrates with Tory MPs outside the Conservative Campaign Headquarters after becoming the new leader of the Conservative Party Reuters UK news in pictures 23 October 2022 The Green Man at October Plenty, Borough Market's annual Autumn Harvest festival, in London, which returns for the first time post pandemic PA UK news in pictures 21 October 2022 Sculptor Peter McKenna puts the finishing touches to a pumpkin that will form part of the Planet A Hebden Bridge Pumpkin Trail in the West Yorkshire town PA UK news in pictures 20 October 2022 Britains Prime Minister Liz Truss delivers a speech outside of 10 Downing Street in central London to announce her resignation AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 19 October 2022 Salmon leap up Stainforth Force on the River Ribble in the Yorkshire Dales as they swim upriver to their spawning grounds during the annual Salmon migration PA UK news in pictures 18 October 2022 Just Stop Oil protesters continue their protest for a second day on the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge, which links Kent and Essex and which remains closed for traffic, after it was scaled by two climbers from the group PA UK news in pictures 17 October 2022 Hundreds of students take part in the traditional Raisin Monday foam fight on St Salvator's Lower College Lawn at the University of St Andrews in Fife PA UK news in pictures 16 October 2022 A protester holds a placard during a march into central London at a demonstration by the climate change protest group Extinction Rebellion AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 15 October 2022 A member of the public drags an activist who is blocking the road during a "Just Stop Oil" protest, in London, Britain REUTERS UK news in pictures 14 October 2022 Germanys Womens double skulls during day one of the World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals at Saundersfoot beach, Pembrokeshire PA UK news in pictures 13 October 2022 Family and mourners arrive at St Michael's Church, in Creeslough, for the funeral mass of 49-year-old mother of four Martina Martin, who died following an explosion at the Applegreen service station in the village of Creeslough in Co Donegal on Friday PA UK news in pictures 12 October 2022 Motorists in Coventry pass trees showing autumnal colour PA UK news in pictures 11 October 2022 A woman and her dog in the the North Sea at Tynemouth Longsands beach before sunrise PA UK news in pictures 10 October 2022 Police officers remove a campaigner from a Just Stop Oil protest on The Mall, near Buckingham Palace, London PA UK news in pictures 9 October 2022 A drummer plays during the Diwali on the Square celebration, in Trafalgar Square, London PA UK news in pictures 8 October 2022 Timothee Chalamet attending the UK premiere of Bones and All during the BFI London Film Festival 2022 at the Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, London PA UK news in pictures 7 October 2022 Two young male fallow deer lock antlers in Dublins Phoenix park as rutting season begins PA UK news in pictures 6 October 2022 The Princess of Wales during a cocktail making competition during a visit to Trademarket, a new outdoor street-food and retail market situated in Belfast city centre, as part of the royal visit to Northern Ireland PA UK news in pictures 5 October 2022 Greenpeace protesters interrupt Prime Minister Liz Truss as she delivers her keynote speech to the Conservative Party annual conference PA UK news in pictures 4 October 2022 Prime Minister Liz Truss and Britains Chancellor of the Exchequer Kwasi Kwarteng wearing hard hats and hi-vis jackets, visit a construction site for a medical innovation campus in Birmingham AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 3 October 2022 British artist Sam Cox, aka Mr Doodle, reveals the Doodle House, a twelve-room mansion at Tenterden, in Kent, which has been covered, inside and out in the artist's trademark monochrome, cartoonish hand-drawn doodles PA UK news in pictures 2 October 2022 Erling Haaland celebrates after scoring Manchester City's second goal against Manchester United at Etihad Stadium. Haaland went on to score a hattrick, his third of the season in the Premier League. City beat United 6-3. Manchester City FC/Getty UK news in pictures 1 October 2022 Protesters hold up flags and placards at a protest in London. A variety of protest groups including Enough is Enough, Don't Pay and Just Stop Oil all demonstrated on the day AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 30 September 2022 British Prime Minister Liz Truss, who has not been seen in days, leaves the back of Downing Street after a meeting with Office For Budget Responsibility following the release of her governments mini-budget Getty UK news in pictures 29 September 2022 The Virginia creeper foliage on the Tu Hwnt i'r Bont (Beyond the Bridge) Llanwrst, Conwy North Wales, has changed colour from green to red in at the start of Autumn. The building was built in 1480 as a residential dwelling but has been a tearoom for over 50 years PA UK news in pictures 28 September 2022 Criminal barristers from the Criminal Bar Association (CBA), demonstrates outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London, as part of their ongoing pay row with the Government PA UK news in pictures 27 September 2022 David White, Garter King of Arms, poses with an envelope franked with the new cypher of King Charles III 'CIIIR', after it was printed in the Court Post Office at Buckingham Palace in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 26 September 2022 A gallery staff member poses next to a painting by Lucian Freud - Self-portrait (Fragment), 1956 - on show at a photocall for the Credit Suisse exhibition - Lucian Freud: New Perspectives at the National Gallery in London PA

His children were taken into care after the death of her mother. The man and wife were estranged and had a "volatile relationship," according to court documents.

Since her death, the man has been trying to get custody of his children. He has been accused of domestic violence and assaulting a social worker, claims he denies.

The document from Salford Children's Services stipulates the man agreed "not to discuss the Muslim religion" with his children during any supervised contact.

He told the Manchester Evening News he felt forced to sign the agreement, because he was desperate to see his children.

"What's happening is xenophobia and bigotry," he said. "It's Stockholm syndrome. It's parental estrangement.

"They are obviously feeding all kinds of ridiculous propaganda to my children and this is the end result."

He has been to Manchester's family court 13 times to get custody of his children.

At the last hearing, he was warned not to "pressure" the children into discussing Islam, as Salford Children's Services said they did not consider themselves Muslim.

Relaxing the conditions, District Judge Relph said: In the light of the courts finding as to the childrens previous upbringing, the local authority has made it clear that it does not propose to treat the children as belonging to the Muslim faith, although the father may supply relevant information to them about his faith or discuss his beliefs with them in a non-pressurising way during future contact.

Councillor Lisa Stone, who leads the childrens and young peoples services in Salford, said the council's "prime concern is childrens safety and wellbeing."

She added: We understand the distress of the father but he has had access to the courts on numerous occasions which have upheld the plans of the local authority.

"This case has been before the Local Government Ombudsman who found no fault with the councils actions.
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Pressure is building on Theresa May to release 58 secret studies into the economic damage from Brexit, as a binding vote looms in the Commons.

Labour believes it is found an ancient Parliamentary procedure that can force the Prime Minister to end her suppression of the findings.

It comes as the number of MPs demanding the release of the information reached 178. Campaigners have also threatened legal action.

The studies cover experts verdicts of the likely impact of different scenarios for leaving the EU on different sectors comprising no less than 88 per cent of the economy.

Now Labour says it has found a way to prevent the Government ignoring a defeat on an issue on the Commons floor  as it did recently over the universal credit shake-up.

Parliamentary rules, dating back to the 19th century, say MPs have the power to demand papers which are in the possession of ministers by passing a motion.

 Theresa May refuses to guarantee MPs vote on Brexit deal before Britain leaves EU

The idea is that the studies would be released to the Brexit Select Committee, which would review them and decide which information should be put in the public domain.

Crucially  because Erskine May, the parliamentary bible  regards such a vote as binding, the Conservatives will not be able to sit on their hands when it is staged on Wednesday, Labour says.

It means the Tories, lacking a Commons majority, are likely to require the support of the Democratic Unionist Party, in order to win.

Brexit: the deciders Show all 8 1 /8 Brexit: the deciders Brexit: the deciders European Union's chief Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier Getty Brexit: the deciders French President Emmanuel Macron Getty Brexit: the deciders German Chancellor Angela Merkel Reuters Brexit: the deciders Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker EPA Brexit: the deciders The European Parliament's chief Brexit negotiator Guy Verhofstadt Getty Brexit: the deciders Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May Getty Images Brexit: the deciders Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer, Philip Hammond PA Brexit: the deciders After the first and second appointed Brexit secretaries resigned (David Davis and Dominic Raab respectively), Stephen Barclay is currently heading up the position PA

Sir Keir Starmer, Labours Brexit spokesman, said: Ministers cannot keep withholding vital information from Parliament about the impact of Brexit on jobs and the economy.

At the start of the negotiations, Theresa May said everyone needed certainty during the Brexit process and that the vote to leave was a vote for Parliament to take back control.

If those words meant anything at all, then she should stop sidelining Parliament and give MPs the information they need to properly hold the Government to account in what are undoubtedly the most important negotiations since the Second World War.

Ministers have insisted they cannot publish the studies because doing so could weaken the UKs negotiating position, but the argument has been widely dismissed.

There was ridicule when the Department for Exiting the European Union (DexEU) claimed those negotiations had to be conducted in a safe space.

The Treasury Select Committee, chaired by former Conservative cabinet minister Nicky Morgan, is also expected to discuss whether its members should be allowed to see the findings.

And Seema Malhotra, the Labour MP, will appeal against a refusal to provide the reports  into everything from food prices, tourism and banking to aerospace, pharmaceuticals, oil and steel  under the Freedom of Information Act.

Sir Vince Cable, the Liberal Democrat leader, added his voice to the criticism, saying: The Government is desperately trying to hide the true impact of an extreme Brexit from the public.

Ministers need to come clean and publish these reports immediately.

The news comes as 178 MPs from five political parties called on the Government to release the reports, The Independent can reveal.

Dominic Grieve, former Attorney General and the Tory MP for Beaconsfield, is one of those who is urging the Government to make the contents of the 58 studies public and said he believes the release of the Brexit Impact reports would be most desirable.

Caroline Lucas, co-leader of the Green Party, said it was completely unacceptable for the public to not be given all the information from the reports.

The Government must stop hiding behind this veil of secrecy and release these reports immediately. Ministers love to talk about how they are handing power to people by pursuing Brexit  yet they refuse to be honest about the potential impacts of this process. Such secrecy utterly betrays the trust of the British people, Ms Lucas told The Independent.

Its completely unacceptable that people arent being given the full facts, and I urge ministers to release these reports now.

Eloise Todd, CEO of Best for Britain, the political campaign group that compiled the list of MPs, urged parliamentarians to vote for transparency and democracy.

The public has been asking MPs from all parties to release these studies, all of which have been paid for by taxpayers money and which contain essential information about the costs and risks of Brexit.

The fact a vote had to be called to force the release of these studies shows just how under threat our democracy has become. Citizens across the UK will be watching how their MPs vote  and well make sure we tell them. MPs from all parties must make the right choice and vote for transparency and democracy and release the Brexit reports.

The Government had initially chosen not to release a list of the 58 sectors where studies have been carried out, until finally doing so on Monday night.

A DexEU spokesman said: There is a strong public interest in policymaking associated with our exit from the EU being of the highest quality and conducted in a safe space to allow for design and deliberation to be done in private.

Ministers also claim that Parliament voted to keep under wraps any documents that could undermine attempts to negotiate the best deal for Britain.

But Labour has seized on an extract from Erskine May that states: Each House has the power to call for the production of papers by means of a motion ... the power to send for papers by means of a motion for unopposed return extends to papers which are in the possession of ministers or which ministers have the authority to obtain.

The power was frequently exercised until about the middle of the 19th century, but has been required only rarely in modern times, as governments have become more open.
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Liam Fox has said British consumers could be allowed to eat chlorine-washed chicken as he hinted the UK would be open to concessions on standards as part of a prospective trade deal with the United States.

The International Trade Secretary risked reopening the row over post-Brexit food standards, as he said there were no health reasons why consumers could not eat chlorinated poultry, which is permitted under US laws but banned in the EU.

His comments appear to contradict Environment Secretary Michael Gove, who vowed that the UK would back out of any trade deal with the US that lowered food standards for consumers.

Speaking to the International Trade Select Committee, Mr Fox said: There are no health reasons why you couldnt eat chicken that had been washed in chlorinated water.

Most of the salads in our supermarkets are rinsed in chlorinated water and in terms of reduction of campylobacter bacteria food poisoning, the United States actually has in general much lower levels of campylobacter food poisoning than many countries in Europe.

Pressed on the issue, he added: I have no objection to the British public being sold anything that is safe as long as they know what they are eating.

I am a great believer in giving the British public the choice over what they eat and as long as scientists tell us that it is safe then that should be our guiding principle.

Mr Fox said markets were moving from producer protection to consumer precaution and politicians needed to be guided by the views of the public.

He said: Clearly there are going to be asks that they [the United States] will want, probably in agricultural sectors.

We will have to decide whether they would be acceptable as a price for what we would want in terms of US markets.

Mr Fox said the UK was not desperate to do an agreement with the US and it would not agree to a bad deal.

Theresa May moved to reassure the public on the matter during Prime Ministers Questions, saying the UK will continue to have the highest animal welfare standards after Brexit.

And Mr Gove later told MPs that chlorinated chicken was "safe for human consumption" but imports should not be allowed because of the animal welfare issues.

The Environment Secretary told the Environmental Audit Committee that the cabinet had already agreed that birds farmed using such methods would not be included in any forthcoming trade deal after Brexit.

He said: "Some confusion sometimes arises in the minds of some as to why it is that there is currently a restriction on the importing of chlorinated chicken.

"It is not because there is a public health problem in eating chicken that has been chlorine-washed - it is safe for human consumption.

"The issue is an animal welfare issue."

Brexit: the deciders Show all 8 1 /8 Brexit: the deciders Brexit: the deciders European Union's chief Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier Getty Brexit: the deciders French President Emmanuel Macron Getty Brexit: the deciders German Chancellor Angela Merkel Reuters Brexit: the deciders Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker EPA Brexit: the deciders The European Parliament's chief Brexit negotiator Guy Verhofstadt Getty Brexit: the deciders Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May Getty Images Brexit: the deciders Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer, Philip Hammond PA Brexit: the deciders After the first and second appointed Brexit secretaries resigned (David Davis and Dominic Raab respectively), Stephen Barclay is currently heading up the position PA

However Labours Chris Leslie, who sits on the committee, criticised the comments which he said laid bare the Governments flawed assumption that trade with Europe can be replaced by trade with the rest of the world.

Mr Leslie, a supporter of campaign group Open Britain, said: He cant guarantee that trade deals we enjoy through our EU membership will continue unchanged when we leave.

He was disgracefully complacent about the prospect of a deal with the US leading to a flood of chlorinated chicken invading our supermarkets.

No number of dodgy deals negotiated by Liam Fox can replace the trade that will be lost as a result of the Governments reckless ideological choice to leave the single market and the customs union.
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MPs have passed a motion ordering Theresa May to release 58 secret studies into the economic damage from Brexit, triggering a huge political row.

Ministers provoked fury by refusing to say they will abide by what independent parliamentary clerks advised would be a binding decision.

The Conservatives refused to take part in a vote  prompting accusations that the Prime Minister knew she would lose and has lost control of the parliamentary process for Brexit.

It meant the motion  demanding that the assessments be released to a select committee of MPs for scrutiny  passed unanimously.

Speaker John Bercow said he would wait and see the Government response to the motion, and did not rule out bringing contempt procedures against the Government if the impact assessments were not forthcoming.

MPs approved unopposed Labours motion, which asked for a humble address requesting the Queen to direct Brexit Secretary David Davis to release the documents.

There was confusion during the debate about whether a vote triggered by Labours use of an arcane parliamentary procedure would be binding.

Labour former minister Chris Bryant said if the power to call for the production of papers was not policed then we end up completely disenfranchising this Parliament  we make ourselves utterly impotent.

Mr Bercow replied: It is very important that the House polices the enforcement of its own powers  that I think is an observation so clear as really to brook of no contradiction.

Earlier, pro-EU Tory MP Anna Soubry said the Government was scared to reveal the truth about EU withdrawal, saying: It might prick this golden bubble, this balloon, of the promised land of Brexit.

Another senior Conservative, Sarah Wollaston, called for all relevant committees, including the health body which she leads, to receive the documents.

During the debate, there was confusion about whether the motion would be binding, as Labour argued, after drawing it up.

Eleanor Laing, the Deputy Speaker, agreed such humble addresses had in the past been seen as effective and binding  but added it would be up to the Government to respond.

Some interpreted ministers statements as an intention to use the need to protect international relations as a rational for withholding the documents.

Steve Baker, the junior Brexit minister, said it would need to reflect on the conflicting responsibilities of releasing documents to Parliament, while not disclosing sensitive information.

Outside the Commons, former Chancellor George Osborne tweeted that the Government cave-in on the vote begs the question whether it had a majority in the Commons on any details of Brexit?

The studies cover experts verdicts into the likely impact of different scenarios for EU withdrawal on different sectors comprising no less than 88 per cent of the economy.

They cover everything from food prices, tourism and banking to aerospace, pharmaceuticals, oil and steel

Labour believed it had found an ancient Parliamentary procedure to unlock the controversy, which will force the Prime Minister to end her suppression of the findings.

The clerks had agreed that 19th-century rules allow MPs to demand papers which are in the possession of ministers, by passing a motion, the party argued.

The idea is that the studies would be released to the Brexit Select Committee, which would review them and decide which information should be put in the public domain.

Ministers have insisted Brexit policymaking must be conducted in a safe space to allow for design and deliberation to be done in private.

They also claimed that Parliament voted, last December, to keep under wraps any documents that could undermine attempts to negotiate the best deal for Britain.
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A former parliamentary intern has said he was sexually assaulted outside a Westminster bar, but was told he could not complain and keep his anonymity.

James Greenhalgh, who didn't know the MP, has told the BBC he "felt violated".

When he tried to report the assault some time later, the MPs party said it could not proceed with the complaint unless Mr Greenhalgh waived his anonymity.

Mr Greenhalgh said he was approached outside a bar in the House of Commons by the man, who is no longer an MP, and who put his arm around him.

"Suddenly his arm slipped down towards my buttocks and went a bit further between my legs. I just didn't know what to do, I didn't know what to do at all."

The incident follows a large number of other allegations of a sexual nature against MPs at Westminster.

Recommended May accused failing to ensure parties are not covering up scandals

Theresa May said at Prime Ministers Questions she was extremely concerned by the allegations. The Leader of the House of Commons, Andrea Leadsom has proposed establishing an independent grievance procedure for anyone with complaints about abusive behaviour in parliament.
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Theresa May has ordered an investigation into allegations that her deputy, Damian Green, made inappropriate advances to a female activist.

Kate Maltby, who is three decades younger than the First Secretary of State, told The Times that Mr Green had "fleetingly" touched her knee during a meeting in a Waterloo pub in 2015 and a year later sent her a "suggestive" text message after she was pictured wearing a corset in the newspaper.

Mr Green said any allegation that he made sexual advances to Ms Maltby was "untrue (and) deeply hurtful".

He is the most senior politician yet to be caught up in a tide of allegations and rumours relating to sexual harassment and abuse swirling around Westminster.

Labour has launched an independent inquiry into claims that prominent activist Bex Bailey was discouraged by a party official from reporting an alleged rape at a Labour event in 2011 on the grounds it might damage her political career.

And in a separate case, a woman who claims she was sexually assaulted by an MP on a foreign work trip last year has said her allegations were not taken seriously.

Ms Maltby, 31, said that 61-year-old Mr Green was an old friend of her parents who she had approached for advice after becoming involved in Tory activism.

When they met for drinks, she said he suggested he could help her start a political career, before turning the conversation to the subject of affairs at Westminster.

Ms Maltby said that he mentioned that his own wife was "very understanding" and she then "felt a fleeting hand against my knee - so brief it was almost deniable".

Angered by the incident, she had no further contact with Mr Green until his text a year later saying he had "admired you in a corset" and inviting her for a drink.

Writing in The Times, she said she renewed contact with Mr Green after his appointment to the Cabinet, but doubted he knew how "awkward, embarrassed and professionally compromised" she felt about the alleged incident.

Mr Green said it was "absolutely and completely untrue that I've ever made any sexual advances on Ms Maltby".

His text was sent in the spirit of "two friends agreeing to meet up for a regular catch-up", he said, adding: "This untrue allegation has come as a complete shock and is deeply hurtful, especially from someone I considered a personal friend."

A Downing Street spokesman said that Mrs May had asked Cabinet Secretary Sir Jeremy Heywood to "establish the facts and report back as soon as possible".

Meanwhile, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn vowed he would allow "no tolerance" of sexism, harassment or abuse after Ms Bailey spoke out about the party's failure to support her following her alleged rape.

Ms Bailey, 25, a former member of the party's National Executive Committee, said her attacker was not an MP, but someone more senior than her in the party.

 Leading Labour activist says she was sexually assaulted at party event

Aged 19 at the time of the attack, she said she felt too scared and ashamed to report it to the police, but eventually summoned up the courage to tell a senior party official.

Labour said it takes the allegations "extremely seriously" and has launched an independent inquiry by general secretary Iain McNicol into the claims that she was not given adequate support by the party.

While ITV News carried an interview with a woman, whose identity was hidden, who said she was pushed onto a hotel bed by an unnamed MP during a 2016 overseas trip.

Despite her making clear she did not welcome the advance, the man was "insistent" and tried to kiss her as he held her down, she said.

Lawyers for the MP concerned told the broadcaster he categorically denied the claims.

PA
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A new scandal allowing hundreds of private jet owners to dodge tax by funnelling purchases through the Isle of Man must be investigated, Jeremy Corbyn says.

The Labour leader confronted Theresa May over claims that a staggering 957 business jets had been imported through the tiny island, following a data leak on the scale of the Panama Papers.

And he claimed the revelation exposed a Government that allowed the super-rich to escape paying taxes  starving schools and hospitals of badly-needed funds.

Nine hundred and fifty seven business jets in the Isle of Man seems a bit excessive for any island anywhere, Mr Corbyn said, during Prime Ministers Questions.

He accused the Government of blocking a French-led proposal that would have placed Bermuda on an EU tax haven blacklist.

And he pointed to the recently-announced European Commission probe into alleged special treatment given to multinational firms by the British Government and its tax authorities.

Meanwhile, the amount of income tax paid by the super-rich had plunged from 4.4bn to 3.5bn since 2009.

When it comes to paying taxes there's one rule for the super-rich and another for the rest of us, the Labour leader protested.

In response, Ms May did not refer to the Isle of Man scandal, with damning newspaper revelations expected in the next few weeks.

Instead, she defended the Governments wider record, insisting it had raised 160bn since 2010 from clampdowns on tax evasion and avoidance.

We have been leading the world, the Prime Minister claimed. It was a Conservative prime minister that put this on the agenda of the G7 and the G20  international action against tax avoidance and tax evasion.

The clash comes as the Isle of Man government braces itself for the revelations, which are expected to thrust the secret deals of wealthy clients into the open.

A data leak involving an offshore-based law firm called Appleby is currently being investigated by a number of broadcasters and newspapers.

The key allegation is that aircraft buyers have been using the Isle of Man for abusive tax avoidance schemes.

An Isle of Man government spokesman has acknowledged that jets can be imported to the EU through the Isle of Man, obtaining a 100 per cent refund if the aircraft is purely for business purposes.

However, he denied that the scheme was illegal, arguing the United Kingdom has a similar structure in place.

The 2015 leak of the Panama Papers triggered a huge international row, revealing how shell corporations were being used to hide fraud, tax evasion and the flouting of international sanctions.

A total of 11.5m documents were revealed, containing detailed financial information about nearly 215,000 offshore organisations, some dating back to the 1970s.
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Theresa May praised Sir Michael Fallon for the "characteristically serious manner" which he showed in the role of Defence Secretary after his shock resignation from the role.

Accusations of sexual misconduct have surrounded Sir Michael in recent days after he admitted to feeling a female journalists knee in 2002.

The former Defence Secretary wrote to the Prime Minister explaining his decision.

Here is her response in full:

Dear Michael

Thank you for your letter of this evening.

I appreciate the characteristically serious manner in which you have considered your position, and the particular example you wish to set to servicemen and women and others.

As Secretary of State for Defence since July 2014, you have championed our brave armed forces and made sure that the Government has been able to fulfil its most fundamental responsibility: the defence of the realm.

You should take particular pride in the way the United Kingdom has risen to the challenge of tackling the barbaric threat of Daesh.

Thanks to the bravery of our armed forces, Daesh is being defeated, and three million people have been freed from its murderous rule.

This follows a long and impressive Ministerial career - serving in four departments of state under four prime ministers - as well as your distinguished contribution on the Conservative front bench in Opposition, your membership of the Treasury Select Committee, and your role as deputy chairman of the Conservative Party.

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The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. 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Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. 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A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. 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Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty

You have combined these roles with diligent service to the public in two constituencies - first in Darlington, and then in Sevenoaks - and I know you will continue to represent your constituents in that manner.

On behalf of all those you have helped throughout your time in Government, I thank you for your service.

Yours sincerely Theresa
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Boris Johnson has finally condemned Irans detention of British citizen Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and offered to visit her in prison.

The Foreign Secretary has been criticised for refusing to condemn the jailing of the charity worker, who has been held since her arrest by Irans Revolutionary Guard in April 2016.

But, speaking to a committee of MPs, Mr Johnson attacked both Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffes conviction for spying as a mockery of justice and her treatment by the authorities in Tehran.

When I look at what Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was doing, she was simply teaching people journalism as I understand it, he said.

He added: Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, nor her family, has been informed about what crime she has actually committed. And that I find extraordinary, incredible.

Recommended British woman jailed in Iran faces another 16 years in prison

Mr Johnson was told that an MP had been informed she could visit the dual British-Iranian national if she wished and asked if he would make the trip, replying: Of course.

There were obvious humanitarian grounds for Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffes release, he told the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, adding: I wouldnt dispute that for a minute.

The 38-year-old mother was separated from her 21-month-old daughter Gabriella when she was arrested as she tried to return home to London after a two-week holiday.

Gabriella, now three, remains at the Tehran home of Nazanins parents, while her mother is in a high-security Iranian jail and her father in London.

This week, Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffes husband, Richard Ratcliffe, told The Independent how she has endured treatment amounting to torture and called on Mr Johnson to get his wife and child home for Christmas.

He wrote that the time for softly, softly and nothing else is over demanding a public acknowledgement that his wife had suffered a complete violation of her rights.

It is time for Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson to stand up and say: This is unacceptable. No British citizen should be subjected to this level of abuse, Mr Ratcliffe said.

Last month, Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe was told she could face 16 more years behind bars after the Iranian courts reopened her case and added three charges.

She is employed by the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable wing of the news organisation.

Iran claims she used her charity work as a front to try to overthrow the authorities. The foundation has denied that she has ever worked on any programmes in Iran.

Mr Johnsons strong attack came despite him warning that very loud public campaigns to free UK nationals held in the middle eastern country can easily backfire.

That simply strengthens the hand of those who are using this case for their own internal ends in Iran, he told the committee.

Thats why sometimes the advice I have had over the months is that no matter how frustrating or miserable it is  and clearly these cases are very, very sad  the best approach is a diplomatic one.

The Foreign Secretary added that previous noisy American protests had seen the Iranians lift some more and hold them for the same purposes.

Asked, by committee chairman Tom Tugendhat if that meant the Iranians are hostage takers, Mr Johnson said: Im not going to go as far as to say that.

Responding to Mr Johnsons comments, Mr Ratcliffe said: I warmly welcome the Foreign Secretarys condemnation of Nazanins treatment by the Iranian authorities to date. He is right  her case is a mockery of justice, and an abuse of Iranian and international law.

I thank him for his offer to visit Nazanin and check that she is OK.

Mr Ratcliffe also clarified that at the time of her arrest his wife had simply been on holiday with Gabriella, visiting her parents and other family members in Iran.

Mr Ratcliffe explained that Mr Johnsons comment about his wife having taught journalism was a in fact a reference to her first graduate job eight years ago when she was an assistant at BBC Media Action, the corporations international development charity.

He said that his wife had never actually taught journalists but instead had simply made travel arrangements for tutors on an international journalism course.

Kate Allen, Amnesty International UKs Director, also welcomed Mr Johnsons comments, saying: With Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe apparently facing a whole raft of bogus new charges, Boris Johnsons intervention hasnt come a moment too soon.

We would urge Mr Johnson to visit Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe in prison as soon as it can be arranged.

Even more importantly, the UK Government should use all its influence to see that shes released as soon as possible and allowed to travel back to the UK with her daughter Gabriella.

The Iranian Embassy in London has previously insisted that Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe had been detained by the Iranian authorities due to her illegal acts, and received a fair trial and fair treatment.

Speaking before Mr Johnson made his remarks, an Iranian Embassy diplomat said Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe had been treated fairly in custody and been granted full access to medical care and services, to a social worker and has the right to regularly contact her husband, [and] meet her family.

The diplomat added: Her daughter has access to her British passport and lives comfortably with her grandparents based on her mothers free will.
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Power-sharing talks in Northern Ireland have collapsed after Sinn Fein and the DUP failed to reach agreement, following a 10-month impasse at Stormont.

Sinn Fein said the difficulties in reaching a deal had been compounded by the DUPs confidence-and-supply pact to prop up Theresa Mays Government.

James Brokenshire, the Northern Ireland Secretary, had set a deadline of Monday for a deal between the parties to be reached to reinstate the Stormont executive in the region.

Recommended Northern Ireland power sharing deadline extended for DUP and Sinn Fein

But the DUP and Sinn Fein failed to secure an agreement, resulting in the latters declaration that talks had collapsed.

The announcement brings direct rule from London ever closer.

Mr Brokenshire said earlier on Wednesday he was preparing to impose a budget after warning that Northern Ireland would begin to run out of money by the end of November.

Stormont has been hamstrung since January after more than a decade of joint-rule between unionist and nationalist politicians came to an end.

The political crisis was triggered by allegations of a financial scandal in which the DUP leader, Arlene Foster, was implicated.

In a statement, Sinn Feins leader, Michelle ONeill, said issues around the introduction of an Irish language act and the reluctance of the DUP to agree to legislate for same-sex marriage had stalled progress.

She said: The only reason they are denied is because of DUP resistance to the rights agenda and the British Governments acquiescence in this.

That has been compounded by the Tory-DUP pact.

The British Secretary of State is wrong when he says that it only the parties themselves who can reach agreement, he and the Irish government also have obligations.

Ms ONeill added that endless talks without conclusion were not sustainable and insisted her party would only re-enter government once marriage equality, language rights, the Bill of Rights and the right to coroners inquests had been achieved.

However, Nigel Dodds, the deputy leader of the DUP, accused Sinn Fein of blocking talks and said it was time for Mr Brokenshire to get on with setting a new budget for the region.

The DUPs East Londonderry MP Gregory Campbell said Sinn Fein had produced a shopping list of preconditions and accused his opponents of rank hypocrisy for complaining about the speed of progress while blocking key decisions.

The failure to reach a deal followed a full day of negotiations on Tuesday, with both parties leaving Stormont after 9pm without any sign of a breakthrough.

On Wednesday morning, Mr Brokenshire said he was taking forward the necessary steps that would enable a Budget Bill to be introduced at Westminster at the appropriate moment in order to protect the delivery of public services in Northern Ireland.

He added: It remains firmly in the interests of Northern Ireland to see devolved government restored, to see locally elected politicians making decisions for the people of Northern Ireland.

With goodwill and compromise on all sides the parties can still achieve this and it is what needs to happen.

Mr Brokenshire is expected to speak in Westminster on the issue on Thursday.

The DUP promised to back the Tories on key votes in a deal worth 1bn for Northern Ireland after Ms May lost her Commons majority in the June general election.
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Conservative MP Anna Soubry has said she does not have confidence that victims of sexual assault would be taken seriously by her party.

The former minister spoke of her concern amid growing allegations of sexual harassment and abuse within British politics, including claims from a prominent Labour activist that she was raped at a party event and then told not to report it.

Bex Bailey, a former member of Labour's ruling NEC, said she was told by a senior party official that it would "damage" her career to report the alleged incident, which took place in 2011.

Ms Soubry also said she would urge Damian Green to stand aside over claims he made inappropriate advances towards a Tory activist if she was Prime Minister, but said it was a matter for Ms May to decide.

Asked if Ms Bailey would have received better support from the Tories, Ms Soubry told Sky News: No, I am not confident that she would have been. It upsets me to have to say that.

"I am not confident because I don't think any political party has taken these things in the serious way that they should of done and the biggest problem we have is whenever anyone makes a complaint - whether it's about bullying, whether its some other form of abuse or harassment - is that politics comes into play.

"So already people will be saying, 'You know what, we don't want this to get out of control. We don't have a majority' ... That whole attitude has got to stop."

Ms Soubry said there were "profound failings" in the way all political parties treated harassment and abuse but she stressed the majority of MPs were decent, hard-working people.

Pressed on whether Mr Green should step aside while being investigated, she said: "Personally I would say, 'There's an investigation, by some mechanism you stand out, you remove yourself from this position until the conclusion of that investigation,' - that is what I would do.

"But I sometimes I see things rather differently as I have worked in other job situations."

Jeremy Corbyn said there would be "no tolerance of sexism, harassment or abuse" in the party after Ms Bailey, 25, described how she failed to get the support she needed from Labour colleagues after the alleged rape.

Westminster has been gripped by a series of allegations of sexual impropriety and harassment in recent days, as a dossier compiled by parliamentary aides was circulated, containing allegations of inappropriate behaviour among some 40 Tory MPs.

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Another woman, who has not been named, also spoke out yesterday, saying she had been sexually assaulted by an MP on a foreign trip.

Meanwhile, Theresa May's de-facto deputy is also facing a Cabinet Office investigation after Kate Maltby, who is 30 years younger than Mr Green, told The Times that the First Secretary of State had touched her knee during a meeting in a pub in 2015 and a year later sent her a "suggestive" text message after she was pictured wearing a corset in the newspaper.

Mr Green said the claims were "absolutely and completely untrue" and his text was sent in the spirit of "two friends agreeing to meet up for a regular catch-up".

He added: "This untrue allegation has come as a complete shock and is deeply hurtful, especially from someone I considered a personal friend."
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Conservative MPs whose names appeared on a speculative list of politicians accused of inappropriate behaviour, have hit back against claims which they say are false and libellous.

Ministers and a female aide named on the spreadsheet circulated on social media this week, argued that allegations set out amounted to little more than gossip with two confirming they are taking legal advice.

The Independent understands that other Tory MPs who are upset that they have been defamed on the list, are also attempting to find out who compiled it in order to take legal action.

Fresh allegations were made on Wednesday involving a woman being groped by an MP and the use of a date rape drug, amid the brewing Westminster sexual harassment scandal. It has already seen Conservative ministers Damian Green and Mark Garnier face Cabinet Office investigations for other claims, while a Labour activist has revealed she was raped by a party official.

Mr Green was included on the list that was released on social media on Tuesday, albeit in relation to an already known and denied claim that he was member of a dating website. But it was in response to allegations made in The Times by journalist Kate Maltby that he reacted more strongly.

Ms Maltby wrote that Mr Green had made inappropriate advances to her, adding that he had fleetingly touched her knee during a meeting in a Waterloo pub in 2015 and a year later sent her a suggestive text message after she was pictured wearing a corset in the newspaper.

Mr Green has since said that any allegation that he made sexual advances to Ms Maltby was untrue (and) deeply hurtful.

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 2 November 2022 A red squirrel gathers nuts in Pitlochry, Scotland Reuters UK news in pictures 1 November 2022 Englands Tara-Jane Stanley scores their sides seventh try against Brazil during the Womens Rugby League World Cup group A match at Headingley Stadium, Leeds PA UK news in pictures 31 October 2022 GBs James Hall competes during the mens parallel bars qualification at the World Gymnastics Championships in Liverpool AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 30 October 2022 People dressed in Halloween costumes paddle board along the river Avon in Christchurch, Dorset PA UK news in pictures 29 October 2022 Members of the public take pictures as police officers remove activists from a road during a Just Stop Oil protest, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 28 October 2022 A cosplayer attends the MCM Comic Con London 2022 at the ExCel Centre in London Reuters UK news in pictures 27 October 2022 98-year-old D-Day Veteran Bernard Morgan, whose story is among those featured on the giant poppy wall, during the launch of The Royal British Legion 2022 Poppy Appeal, at Hay's Galleria in central London PA UK news in pictures 26 October 2022 A meerkat explores a pumpkin in the enclosure at Wild Place, Bristol, where some of the animals are having pumpkin treats as part of their environmental enrichment PA UK news in pictures 25 October 2022 King Charles III welcomes Rishi Sunak during an audience at Buckingham Palace, where he invited the newly elected leader of the Conservative Party to become Prime Minister and form a new government PA UK news in pictures 24 October 2022 Rishi Sunak celebrates with Tory MPs outside the Conservative Campaign Headquarters after becoming the new leader of the Conservative Party Reuters UK news in pictures 23 October 2022 The Green Man at October Plenty, Borough Market's annual Autumn Harvest festival, in London, which returns for the first time post pandemic PA UK news in pictures 21 October 2022 Sculptor Peter McKenna puts the finishing touches to a pumpkin that will form part of the Planet A Hebden Bridge Pumpkin Trail in the West Yorkshire town PA UK news in pictures 20 October 2022 Britains Prime Minister Liz Truss delivers a speech outside of 10 Downing Street in central London to announce her resignation AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 19 October 2022 Salmon leap up Stainforth Force on the River Ribble in the Yorkshire Dales as they swim upriver to their spawning grounds during the annual Salmon migration PA UK news in pictures 18 October 2022 Just Stop Oil protesters continue their protest for a second day on the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge, which links Kent and Essex and which remains closed for traffic, after it was scaled by two climbers from the group PA UK news in pictures 17 October 2022 Hundreds of students take part in the traditional Raisin Monday foam fight on St Salvator's Lower College Lawn at the University of St Andrews in Fife PA UK news in pictures 16 October 2022 A protester holds a placard during a march into central London at a demonstration by the climate change protest group Extinction Rebellion AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 15 October 2022 A member of the public drags an activist who is blocking the road during a "Just Stop Oil" protest, in London, Britain REUTERS UK news in pictures 14 October 2022 Germanys Womens double skulls during day one of the World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals at Saundersfoot beach, Pembrokeshire PA UK news in pictures 13 October 2022 Family and mourners arrive at St Michael's Church, in Creeslough, for the funeral mass of 49-year-old mother of four Martina Martin, who died following an explosion at the Applegreen service station in the village of Creeslough in Co Donegal on Friday PA UK news in pictures 12 October 2022 Motorists in Coventry pass trees showing autumnal colour PA UK news in pictures 11 October 2022 A woman and her dog in the the North Sea at Tynemouth Longsands beach before sunrise PA UK news in pictures 10 October 2022 Police officers remove a campaigner from a Just Stop Oil protest on The Mall, near Buckingham Palace, London PA UK news in pictures 9 October 2022 A drummer plays during the Diwali on the Square celebration, in Trafalgar Square, London PA UK news in pictures 8 October 2022 Timothee Chalamet attending the UK premiere of Bones and All during the BFI London Film Festival 2022 at the Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, London PA UK news in pictures 7 October 2022 Two young male fallow deer lock antlers in Dublins Phoenix park as rutting season begins PA UK news in pictures 6 October 2022 The Princess of Wales during a cocktail making competition during a visit to Trademarket, a new outdoor street-food and retail market situated in Belfast city centre, as part of the royal visit to Northern Ireland PA UK news in pictures 5 October 2022 Greenpeace protesters interrupt Prime Minister Liz Truss as she delivers her keynote speech to the Conservative Party annual conference PA UK news in pictures 4 October 2022 Prime Minister Liz Truss and Britains Chancellor of the Exchequer Kwasi Kwarteng wearing hard hats and hi-vis jackets, visit a construction site for a medical innovation campus in Birmingham AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 3 October 2022 British artist Sam Cox, aka Mr Doodle, reveals the Doodle House, a twelve-room mansion at Tenterden, in Kent, which has been covered, inside and out in the artist's trademark monochrome, cartoonish hand-drawn doodles PA UK news in pictures 2 October 2022 Erling Haaland celebrates after scoring Manchester City's second goal against Manchester United at Etihad Stadium. 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The Independent understands Mr Green has instructed libel lawyers Kingsley Napley and is prepared to release text messages to a Cabinet Office investigation exploring whether the ministerial code has been breached, in order to demonstrate he and Ms Maltby had a normal relationship.

Justice Minister Dominic Raab also appeared on the list and said some of the accusations on it appeared little more than gossip or unsubstantiated rumours.

In a post on his own website, he went on: Under my own name, the entry reads: Injunction for inappropriate behaviour with a woman.

And yet, I have never been served with any injunction for anything. Nor have I ever sought one. Equally, any insinuation that I have engaged in anything resembling sexual harassment, sexually abusive behaviour or lewd remarks with either parliamentary colleagues or staff (in any job I have done) is false and malicious. I have already taken legal advice.

He added: I appreciate the Westminster list will encourage a further media feeding frenzy against MPs. I also recognise that there are undoubtedly some very disturbing allegations out there, which need to be taken seriously. At the same time, for anonymous individuals to compile and publish, or allow to be published, a list of vague, unsubstantiated and  in my case  false allegations is wrong.

 Jeremy Hunt says there will be an investigation into whether sex pest scandal behaviour has broken ministerial code

International Development Minister Rory Stewart is another Conservative whose name appeared on the list, in connection to a former aide, Sophie Bolsover.

But Mr Stewart tweeted: This story is completely untrue + deeply hurtful. Neither of us have any idea how our names appeared on the list.

Ms Bolsover said in a statement that she recognised the seriousness of some of the allegations being made more generally, but added: I wish to emphasise that nothing of the kind implied by my name being included on this spreadsheet ever took place.

Minister Rory Stewart (Getty)

During my time working in Parliament, Rory Stewart was never anything other than professional and an excellent employer.

She said her names inclusion on the list had caused deep distress and anxiety.

Ms May has also asked the Cabinet Office to look into whether minister Mark Garnier broke the code of conduct in asking his secretary to buy him two sex toys, as well as referring to her in a sexual and inappropriate way.

A Downing Street spokesman said on Wednesday that the investigations into allegations relating to Mr Garnier and Mr Green would be explored in a speedy and thorough way. Meanwhile, a cross party group has been set up to deal with allegations, with the leaders of the major parties to meet on Monday.

Labour activist Bex Bailey speaking at Camden Town Hall in 2013 (Rex Features)

Other Conservatives named on the list also say the claims made in relation to them are false, with some determined to find out who compiled it and published it on social media.

One said: Some of the younger ones are really upset about it.

A new allegation of sexual assault in Westminster emerged after a woman said a Conservative MP she worked for grabbed her by her crotch from behind. She said she later told the Commons authorities about the incident, but was told there was nothing they could do.

In a separate incident, a former Conservative Party aide said her drink was spiked with a suspected date rape drug in the Strangers Bar at the House of Commons. The bar is reserved for MPs and their guests.

On Tuesday evening Labour activist Bex Bailey said she had been raped as a 19-year-old at a Labour party even, but when she tried to report it two years later was told not to because it might damage her.

Labour has said it will appoint an independent investigator to look into the allegations made by Ms Bailey.
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Nigel Farage has been fiercely criticised for saying Jews living in the US hold disproportionate political power.

The former Ukip leader, who has close ties with President Donald Trump, appeared to agree with the claim American Jews hold financial control over the political sphere.

Mr Farage made the remarks during a discussion on LBC radio station about whether Russian influence had really helped Mr Trump be elected.

After a caller who referred to himself as Ahmed told Mr Farage he thought the pro-Israeli lobby in the US was equally dangerous to alleged Russian hacking, he appeared to concur with the listener.

The politician said: Well the Israeli lobby, you know, thats a reasonable point, Ahmed, because there are about six million Jewish people living in America, so as a percentage its quite small, but in terms of influence its quite big.

After Ahmed claimed Israel has both the Republican and Democrat party in their pockets, Mr Farage said: In terms of money and influence they are a very powerful lobby.

The Brexit campaigner then thanked Ahmed from Leyton whom he said makes the point that there are other very powerful lobbies in America, with the Jewish lobby, that has links with the Israeli government, is one of those strong voices.

Joe Glasman, Head of Political and Government Investigations at Campaign Against Antisemitism, has called for Mr Farage to apologise for his deplorable remarks.

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Insulting the Mayor of London as he landed in London Just before touching down at Stansted Airport for his state visit, Trump took time out to @ the London mayor Sadiq Khan on twitter. He said that Khan has done a "terrible job"as mayor and that he is a "stone cold loser" Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Taking plenty of "Executive Time" The president's official schedule sets aside the hours from 8 to 11am daily for "Executive Time". Further intermittent periods of "Executive Time" are scheduled throughout any given day, ranging from 15 minutes to 3 hours. His duties in these hours have not been officially disclosed, though Axios reports that he spends them watching TV, reading the newspapers and tweeting Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Shutdown the government for over a month in an effort to secure funding for his wall With Mexico declining to pay for the wall, the president has faced difficulty in raising the required $5bn at home. Due to his demand that the money for the wall be included in the budget, and Congress's refusal, the government partially shut down on 22 December 2018. It remained shut for over a month, the longest period in history Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Joking about the Nazi occupation of France to President Macron In this tweet from 13 November 2018, the president mocks Emmanuel Macron's suggestion of a "true, European army" by invoking the conflict between France and Germany in the world wars Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Railing against the Mueller investigation The president has repeatedly claimed that the Mueller investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election, is a "rigged witch hunt" Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Contradicting a US intelligence report on Russian meddling in the presence of Vladimir Putin In the press conference that followed his landmark meeting with Russian president Vladimir Putin, Trump stated that he saw no reason why Russia would have meddled in the 2016 US election. This contradicted a 2017 report by the US Office of the Director of National Intelligence that found evidence of Russian interference in favour of Trump Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Contradicting his contradiction of a US intelligence report on Russian meddling Following furious backlash in the US, the president claimed that he meant to say that he saw no reason why it would not have been Russia who meddled in the 2016 US election. As to why he would have intended to use such bizarre phrasing, he did not comment Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Colouring in the US flag wrong The president coloured in the US flag wrongly during a visit to a children's hospital in Columbus, Ohio. He added a blue stripe where in tradition, and statute, there have been only white and red stripes AFP/Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Firing a Secretary of State over Twitter The president announced on Twitter that he was appointing Mike Pompeo as Secretary of State, much to the surprise of then Secretary of State Rex Tillerson Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Quoting a catchphrase from a reality TV show when discussing police brutality While addressing the issue of black athletes not standing for the national anthem in protest of police brutality, the president made reference to his catchphrase from reality TV show "The Apprentice": you're fired! Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Calling African nations "S***hole Countries" Ever one for diplomacy, the president reportedly referred to African nations as "s***hole countries". Asked to confirm this when meeting with Nigeria's President Buhari, Trump stated that there are "some countries that are in very bad shape". Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Defending Russian President Vladimir Putin Trump appeared to equate US foreign actions to those of Russian president Vladimir Putin, saying: There are a lot of killers. You think our countrys so innocent? Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Asking for people to 'pray' for Arnold Schwarzenegger At the National Prayer Breakfast, Trump couldnt help but to ask for prayers for the ratings on Arnold Schwarzeneggers show to be good. Schwarzenegger took over as host of The Apprentice  which buoyed Trumps celebrity status years ago Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Hanging up on Australian PM Malcolm Turnbull Early in his presidency, Trump reportedly hung up the phone on Australian prime minister Malcolm Turnbull after the foreign leader angered him over refugee plans. Mr Trump later said that it was the worst call he had had so far Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... The 'Muslim ban' Perhaps one of his most controversial policies while acting as president, Trumps travel ban targeting predominantly Muslim countries has bought him a lot of criticism. The bans were immediately protested, and judges initially blocked their implementation. The Supreme Court later sided with the administrations argument that the ban was developed out of concern for US security Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Praising crowd size while touring Hurricane Harvey damage After Hurricane Harvey ravaged southeastern Texas, Trump paid the area a visit. While his response to the disaster in Houston was generally applauded, the president picked up some flack when he gave a speech outside Houston (he reportedly did not visit disaster zones), and praised the size of the crowds there AP Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... 'Little Rocket Man' During his first-ever speech to the United Nations General Assembly, Trump tried out a new nickname for North Korea leader Kim Jong-un: Rocket Man. He later tweaked it to be little Rocket Man as the two feuded, and threatened each other with nuclear war. During that speech, he also threatened to totally annihilate North Korea Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Attacking Sadiq Khan following London Bridge terror attack After the attack on the London Bridge, Trump lashed out at London Mayor Sadiq Khan, criticising Khan for saying there was no reason to be alarmed after the attack. Trump was taking the comments out of context, as Khan was simply saying that the police had everything under control Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Claiming presenter Mika Brezinkski was 'bleeding from the face' Never one not to mock his enemies, Trump mocked MSNBCs Morning Joe co-host Mika Brzezinski, saying that she and co-host Joe Scarborough had approached him before his inauguration asking to join him. He noted that she was bleeding badly from a face-lift at the time, and that he said no MSNBC Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Claiming the blame for Charlottesville was on 'both sides' Trump refused to condemn far-right extremists involved in violence at 'the march for the right' protests in Charlottesville, even after the murder of counter protester Heather Heyer AP Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Retweeting cartoon of CNN being hit by a 'Trump train' Trump retweeted a cartoon showing a Trump-branded train running over a person whose body and head were replaced by a CNN avatar. He later deleted the retweet Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Tweeting about 'slamming' CNN Trump caught some flack when he tweeted a video showing him wrestling down an individual whose head had been replaced by a CNN avatar. Trump has singled CNN out in particular with his chants of fake news Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Firing head of the FBI, James Comey Trumps firing of former FBI Director James Comey landed him with a federal investigation into Russias meddling in the 2016 election that has caused many a headache for the White House. The White House initially said that the decision was made after consultation from the Justice Department. Then Mr Trump himself said that he had decided to fire him in part because he wanted the Russia investigation Mr Comey was conducting to stop Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Not realising being president would be 'hard' Just three months into his presidency, Trump admitted that being president is harder than he thought it would be. Though Trump insisted on the 2016 campaign trail that doing the job would be easy for him, he admitted in an interview that living in the White House is harder than running a business empire Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Accusing Obama of wiretapping him Trump accused former president Barack Obama of wire tapping him on twitter. The Justice Department later clarified: Obama had not, in fact, done so Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Claiming there had been 3 million 'illegal votes' Trump was never very happy about losing the popular vote to Hillary Clinton by 2.8 million ballots. So, he and White House voter-fraud commissioner Kris Kobach have claimed that anywhere between three and five million people voted illegally during the 2016 election. Conveniently, he says that all of those illegal votes went to Clinton. (There is no evidence to support that level of widespread voter fraud.) Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Leaving Jews out of the Holocaust memorial statement Just days after taking office, Trumps White House issued a statement on International Holocaust Remembrance Day, but didnt mention jews or even the word jewish in the written statement Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Anger over Inauguration crowd size Trumps inauguration crowd was visibly, and noticeably, smaller than that of his predecessor, Barack Obama. But, he really wanted to have had the largest crowd on record. So, he praised it as the biggest crowd ever. Relatedly, Trump also claimed that it stopped raining in Washington at the moment he was inaugurated. It didnt, the day was very dreary Reuters

It is common for countries to lobby their allies, and Israel is no different, but in his call with Ahmed, it was not merely alleged that Israel conducts lobbying, but that it is carried out by the entire Jewish population of the United States and that in doing so American politics are subverted, he told The Independent in a statement.

Counting all American Jews as lobbyists with disproportionate power and both major political parties in their financial grips is the stuff of antisemitic conspiracy theories.

Mr Farage should immediately withdraw his deplorable comments and apologise for them, or LBC should relieve him of his duties. We await Mr Farages urgent apology and in the meantime, we will be asking Ofcom to open an investigation.

A spokesperson from the Board of Deputies, an organisation which describes itself as a democratic, cross-communal voice, said: Nigel Farages clumsy use of the terms Israel and Jewish lobby interchangeably and his reference to their power has crossed the line into well-known antisemitic tropes.

The remarks prompted anger on Twitter where critics argued the politician had perpetuated anti-semitic stereotypes of Jewish wealth.

Adam Langleben, a Jewish Labour councillor, said the politician had gone full conspiracy.

He said: Person calls in and compares AIPAC to Russian collusion. Farage plays up influence. Interchanges "Israeli" and "Jewish" Lobby.

Worst part of the Farage 'Jewish lobby' monologue, was his 6m Jews remark. As if only Jews support Israel. Way off, said journalist, Jack Mendel.

Nigel Farage spewing anti-Semitic conspiracies over the radio, nobody cares because he's right-wing, said one.

Nigel Farage slips into antisemitic tropes of Jewish power and wealth. Shocked, I tell you, shocked! added another sarcastic critic.

Mr Farage has fostered an alliance with President Trump and appeared alongside the billionaire property developer on the campaign trail and attended presidential debates to express support for him. Mr Farage was also the first foreign politician to meet Mr Trump in person and attended a heroes and villains costume party with him in New York last December.
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A cross-party group has been launched to examine the way allegations of sexual abuse and impropriety are handled in Westminster amid a growing scandal.

Amber Rudd told a policing summit in London that Andrea Leadsom was leading the efforts, in the wake of allegations that junior parliamentary staff had been discouraged from making formal complaints or ignored.

Labour activist Bex Bailey last night revealed how she had been raped at a party event in 2011, and later told by an official that reporting it could "damage" her.

Meanwhile, a list circulating online alleges several Tory ministers are guilty of inappropriate sexual behaviour, with the latest claims levelled at Theresa May's effective deputy First Secretary of State Damian Green.

Recommended John Humphrys under fire over Westminster sexual harassment interview

There are some serious allegations emerging in the last few days that require a serious response from the Prime Minister, Ms Rudd said.

We are putting together cross-party group to make sure weve got the right procedures in place so there can be a proper confidential, independent route for anybody to go to if they need to. I look forward to seeing that in place so any serious allegation can be taken as seriously as it should be.

I want to work in a place where those sort of allegations are taken seriously and everyone can live and work in a place where they have confidence if they are in that situation that there is someone for them to turn to.

In a letter sent to Speaker of the House of Commons John Bercow, Theresa May called for a "House-wide mediation service complemented by a contractually binding grievance procedure" for MPs and staff.

The PM the public had to have confidence that Parliament could resolve the problem on a "cross-party basis".

Ms May has ordered an investigation into allegations that her deputy, Mr Green, made inappropriate advances to a female activist.

Kate Maltby, who is three decades younger than the First Secretary of State, told The Times that Mr Green had "fleetingly" touched her knee during a meeting in a Waterloo pub in 2015 and a year later sent her a "suggestive" text message after she was pictured wearing a corset in the newspaper.

Mr Green said any allegation that he made sexual advances to Ms Maltby was "untrue (and) deeply hurtful".
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A rare romantic encounter between two male lions has been captured in Kenya by a wildlife photographer.

The two lions were spotted in a secluded bush area on the Masai Mara, seen to be nuzzling and mounting each other.

Mating between male and female lions can often end in violence however after the two male lions encounter they were more affectionate

Wildlife photographer and guide for Exodus Travels, Paul Goldstein, saw the lions standing side-by-side before one lay down and the other mounted him.

Mr Goldstein told the Daily Mail: I have heard of this happening in Botswana but with nothing like this vigour, and indeed at various zoos and safari parks, but incarcerated animals will do strange things, who can blame them.

This however was astonishing. When lions mate it normally lasts a few seconds, these two were at it for over a minute and the obvious affection afterwards was very evident, as opposed to the violent withdrawal when male and female mate.

Even as he dismounted he did not back off as is normal after mating, he crept round to the other male's muzzle, for a nuzzle and threw a conspiratorial wink his way.

Homosexual relationships are not unheard of among animals (Cover Images/Paul Goldstein)

Although this is a rare occurrence between male lions, it is not unheard of.

Some biologists claim gay animal behaviour has been spotted in 1,500 different species, and reliably recorded in a third of these cases - roughly 450 species.

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A 2010 study of Alaskan Albatrosses found that a third of the pairs actually consisted of two females.
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Barack Obama might have been born in the 50th state of the US but this did little to stop the torrent of conspiracy theories claiming he was not a natural-born American citizen and it was therefore unconstitutional for him to be President.

Obama has now poked fun at the storm of theories, which were of course pushed by President Donald Trump, by quipping that he was born in Kenya.

The former president, who left the White House in January, made the gag while taking to the stage at the Obama Foundations first global summit in Chicago on Tuesday.

The reason Im so excited to see you all here today in part is because this is where I started, Mr Obama, who was a community organiser in Chicago in the 1980s, said.

This isnt where I was born, I was born in Kenya, he said prompting laughter before quickly adding, Thats a joke.

It is worth noting Obama had a years-long feud and fraught relationship with his successor Mr Trump. During Obama's 2008 presidential campaign and throughout his presidency, multiple theories emerged falsely claiming he was not a natural-born American US citizen and was in fact born in Kenya.

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Mr Trump was among those who pushed the birther conspiracy theory and consistently questioned former President Obamas birthplace of Hawaii. The billionaire property developer did not publicly admit Obama was born in America until September 2016 after perpetuating the "birther" conspiracy for around half a decade.

This is by no means the first time Obama has mocked President Trump and the conspiracy about his place of birth. He infamously relished in humiliating Mr Trump at a White House Correspondents' Dinner back in 2011.

Obama joked: No one is prouder to put this birth certificate matter to rest than The Donald.

And that's because he can finally get back to focusing on the issues that matter, like, did we fake the moon landing? What really happened in Roswell? And where are Biggie and Tupac?

The dinner took place just days after Mr Obama released his long-form birth certificate - a document Mr Trump then claimed did not exist.

Obama also went so far as to release his "official birth video" during the event and it actually ended up being a clip from Disney film The Lion King.

Obama was reported to have banned selfies with him or his wife Michelle at the recent Obama Foundation summit.

"It may seem trivial, but it's not," he said. "I say this because ... one of the weird things about becoming president is I found that people were no longer looking me in the eye and shaking my hand."
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A couple have been charged with child abuse after seven children, one allegedly wearing a nappy filled with maggots, were found in a "filthy" home strewn with faeces, police said.

Michael Patrick McKnight, 24, and Jamie Leigh Hiatt, 25, were arrested after police discovered the children, aged between one and six, in conditions unfit "for any human life".

Human and animal faeces and urine were found smeared around the house in Lexington, North Carolina, said police.

Officers called at the house to check on the welfare of the children on 27 October.

"Once at the home officers observed very filthy and unhealthy living conditions," said a Lexington Police Department statement. "Living conditions at the home range from human and animal faeces and urine scattered around the home to a very dirty and unhealthy environment for any human life."

Paramedics and social services were called to the house. Two 18-month-old twins and a one-year-old were taken to hospital, where medics reportedly found maggots in the nappy of the youngest child.

The twins were still being treated at Brenner's Children's Hospital this week. The one-year-old has been discharged and will be rehomed by Davidson County social services.

Police said the house was unfit 'for any human life' (Fox 8)

Hiatt was reported to be the mother of four of the seven children and McKnight was said to be the father of three.

Hiatt's mother told local media she had been trying to locate her grandchildren for a year.

The couple have each been charged with felony neglect-child abuse involving serious injury and six counts of misdemeanour child abuse.

They were held in custody on a bond of $100,000 (75,000).
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For the Trump administration, Monday marked an unwelcome Judgment Day. Special counsel Robert Mueller, who is investigating potential ties between figures in President Donald Trump's orbit and Russian officials, revealed charges against three former Trump campaign officials in what is believed to be just the opening salvo of the former FBI director's potentially wide-reaching probe.

Former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort and his longtime business partner Rick Gates were charged with conspiracy against the United States, conspiracy to launder money, and making false statements, as my colleagues reported. Both pleaded not guilty after hearings on Monday, were ordered confined to house arrest and had their passports confiscated on the grounds that they posed a flight risk. Court papers detail a slew of alleged offenses, including the concealment of millions of dollars earned while Manafort was working with a Ukrainian political party close to Moscow.

The White House, including Trump himself, moved quickly to argue that none of this was connected to Manafort's efforts during his brief stint at the head of Trump's election bid. Yet at a minimum, Trump's hiring of Manafort despite his compromised past suggests a problematic lapse in judgment by a man who repeatedly trumpeted his ability to recruit only "the best people."

But the really juicy information to emerge Monday involved the confessions of George Papadopoulos, a former Trump campaign adviser who pleaded guilty this month to lying to federal investigators about his contacts with figures he thought had links to the Russian government. One of these contacts included an April 2016 exchange with a foreign professor with Russian affiliations who claimed the Kremlin had "dirt" on Hillary Clinton in the form of "thousands of emails."

This is quite possibly a reference to Democratic National Committee emails hacked by suspected Russian agents and later disseminated by WikiLeaks. It amounts to the single most damning piece of evidence that people within the Trump campaign may have sought to collude with Russian officials.

"The charges collectively show how Mueller is aggressively probing the lives of those in President Trump's orbit - digging into their personal finances while also exploring whether they might have coordinated, or tried to coordinate, with Russia to influence the 2016 election," my colleagues wrote. "Papadopoulos ultimately admitted to lying to the FBI about his interactions with people he thought had connections with the Russian government. He has been cooperating with investigators for months, according to a court filing, and has met with the government on 'numerous occasions to provide information and answer questions.' "

 Ron Reagan: Trump is a "deeply damaged human being"

That last detail may disturb the White House most. A coterie of unnamed witnesses and other suspects probably will also come forward in the days and weeks ahead. Manafort and Gates, facing possibly lengthy prison sentences, may also feel compelled to cut a deal with investigators and deliver testimony that could potentially implicate other Trump officials - or even the president himself.

"This is the way you kick off a big case,'" Patrick Cotter, a lawyer in Chicago who once worked alongside the federal prosecutor spearheading the prosecution of Manafort and Gates, said to my colleagues. "Oh, man, they couldn't have sent a message any clearer if they'd rented a revolving neon sign in Times Square. And the message isn't just about Manafort. It's a message to the next five guys they talk to. And the message is: 'We are coming, and we are not playing, and we are not bluffing.' "

White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders played down Trump's relationship with Papadopoulos, describing his "volunteer" involvement in the campaign as "extremely limited." But Trump himself, in a meeting with The Washington Post in 2016, mentioned Papadopoulos as a foreign policy adviser, "an energy and oil consultant, excellent guy." In March 2016, he even tweeted an image of a campaign foreign policy meeting where Papadopoulos was also in attendance.

As my colleagues reported in 2016, the 30-year-old Papadopoulos was hardly a heavyweight of any sort. He seemed to falsify his resume and even cited attendance at a model U.N. summit as proof of his expertise - although it appears he actually didn't even show up to this event. Nevertheless, he flitted into Trump's world and courted connections with a curious global network that included prominent figures in the Greek far right as well as Israeli settlers.

Papadopoulos seemed to operate along the same current of hard-line ideology and shadowy opportunism that moved other former Trump officials. For his part, Manafort seems a less ideological figure who amassed a huge amount of wealth as a consigliere to various overseas interests and political parties.

Serhiy Leshchenko, the Ukrainian lawmaker who helped uncover a "black ledger" that allegedly detailed $12.7 million in secret cash payments to Manafort, told Radio Free Europe that the indictment was "great news."

"I'm very much satisfied, because Manafort was involved in high-level corruption in Ukraine. He helped one of the most corrupt persons in the world to be elected president," said Leshchenko, referring to former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych, who fled office in 2014 following mass protests in Kiev. "I believe this is money stolen from Ukrainian taxpayers."

The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Show all 17 1 /17 The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Paul Manafort Mr Manafort is a Republican strategist and former Trump campaign manager. He resigned from that post over questions about his extensive lobbying overseas, including in Ukraine where he represented pro-Russian interests. Mr Manafort turned himself in at FBI headquarters to special counsel Robert Muellers team on Oct 30, 2017, after he was indicted under seal on charges that include conspiracy against the United States, conspiracy to launder money, unregistered agent of a foreign principal, false and misleading US Foreign Agents Registration Act statements, false statements, and seven counts of failure to file reports of foreign bank and financial accounts. Getty The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Rick Gates Mr Gates joined the Trump team in spring 2016, and served as a top aide until he left to work at the Republican National Committee after the departure of former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort. Mr Gates' had previously worked on several presidential campaigns, on international political campaigns in Europe and Africa, and had 15 years of political or financial experience with multinational firms, according to his bio. Mr Gates was indicted alongside Mr Manafort by special counsel Robert Mueller's team on charges that include conspiracy against the United States, conspiracy to launder money, unregistered agent of a foreign principal, false and misleading US Foreign Agents Registration Act statements, false statements, and seven counts of failure to file reports of foreign bank and financial accounts. AP The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation George Papadopoulos George Papadopoulos was a former foreign policy adviser for the Trump campaign, having joined around March 2016. Mr Papadopoulos plead guilty to federal charges for lying to the FBI as a part of a cooperation agreement with Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation. Mr Papadopoulos claimed in an interview with the FBI that he had made contacts with Russian sources before joining the Trump campaign, but he actually began working with them after joining the team. Mr Papadopoulos allegedly took a meeting with a professor in London who reportedly told him that Russians had "dirt" on Hillary Clinton. The professor also allegedly introduced Mr Papadopoulos to a Russian who was said to have close ties to officials at the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Mr Papadopoulos also allegedly was in contact with a woman whom he incorrectly described in one email to others in the campaign as the "niece" to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Twitter The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Donald Trump Jr The President's eldest son met with a Russian lawyer - Natalia Veselnitskaya - on 9 June 2016 at Trump Tower in New York. He said in an initial statement that the meeting was about Russia halting adoptions of its children by US citizens. Then, he said it was regarding the Magnitsky Act, a US law blacklisting Russian human rights abusers. In a final statement, Mr Trump Jr released a chain of emails that revealed he took the meeting in hopes of getting information Ms Veselnitskaya had about Hillary Clinton's alleged financial ties to Russia. He and the President called it standard "opposition research" in the course of campaigning and that no information came from the meeting. The meeting was set up by an intermediary, Rob Goldstone. Jared Kushner and Paul Manafort were also at the same meeting. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Jared Kushner Mr Kushner is President Donald Trump's son-in-law and a key adviser to the White House. He met with a Russian banker appointed by Russian President Vladimir Putin in December. Mr Kushner has said he did so in his role as an adviser to Mr Trump while the bank says he did so as a private developer. Mr Kushner has also volunteered to testify in the Senate about his role helping to arrange meetings between Trump advisers and Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Rob Goldstone Former tabloid journalist and now music publicist Rob Goldstone is a contact of the Trump family through the previously Trump-owned 2013 Miss Universe pageant, which took place in Moscow. In June 2016, he wrote to Donald Trump Jr offering a meeting with a Russian lawyer, Natalya Veselnitskaya, who had information about Hillary Clinton. Mr Goldstone was the intermediary for Russian pop star Emin Agalaraov and his father, real estate magnate Aras, who played a role in putting on the 2013 pageant. In an email chain released by Mr Trump Jr, Mr Goldstone seemed to indicate Russian government's support of Donald Trump's campaign. AP images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Aras and Emin Agalarov Aras Agalarov (R) is a wealthy Moscow-based real estate magnate and son Emin (L) is a pop star. Both played a role in putting on the previously Trump-owned 2013 Miss Universe pageant in Moscow. They allegedly had information about Hillary Clinton and offered that information to the Trump campaign through a lawyer with whom they had worked with, Natalia Veselnitskaya, and music publicist Rob Goldstone. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Natalia Veselnitskaya Natalia Veselnitskaya is a Russian lawyer with ties to the Kremlin. She has worked on real estate issues and reportedly counted the FSB as a client in the past. She has ties to a Trump family connection, real estate magnate Aras Agalarov, who had helped set up the Trump-owned 2013 Miss Universe pageant which took place in Moscow. Ms Veselnitskaya met with Donald Trump Jr, Jared Kushner, and Paul Manafort in Trump Tower on 9 June 2016 but denies the allegation that she went there promising information on Hillary Clinton's alleged financial ties to Russia. She contends that the meeting was about the US adoptions of Russian children being stopped by Moscow as a reaction to the Magnitsky Act, a US law blacklisting Russian human rights abusers. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Mike Flynn Mr Flynn was named as Trump's national security adviser but was forced to resign from his post for inappropriate communication with Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak. He had misrepresented a conversation he had with Mr Kislyak to Vice President Mike Pence, telling him wrongly that he had not discussed sanctions with the Russian. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Sergey Kislyak Mr Kislyak, the former longtime Russian ambassador to the US, is at the centre of the web said to connect President Donald Trump's campaign with Russia. Reuters The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Roger Stone Mr Stone is a former Trump adviser who worked on the political campaigns of Richard Nixon, George HW Bush, and Ronald Reagan. Mr Stone claimed repeatedly in the final months of the campaign that he had backchannel communications with WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange and that he knew the group was going to dump damaging documents to the campaign of Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton - which did happen. Mr Stone also had contacts with the hacker Guccier 2.0 on Twitter, who claimed to have hacked the DNC and is linked to Russian intelligence services. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Jeff Sessions The US attorney general was forced to recuse himself from the Trump-Russia investigation after it was learned that he had lied about meeting with Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Carter Page Mr Page is a former advisor to the Trump campaign and has a background working as an investment banker at Merrill Lynch. Mr Page met with Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak during the 2016 Republican National Convention in Cleveland. Mr Page had invested in oil companies connected to Russia and had admitted that US Russia sanctions had hurt his bottom line. Reuters The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Jeffrey "JD" Gorden Mr Gordon met with Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak during the 2016 Republian National Convention to discuss how the US and Russia could work together to combat Islamist extremism should then-Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump win the election. The meeting came days before a massive leak of DNC emails that has been connected to Russia. Creative Commons The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation James Comey Mr Comey was fired from his post as head of the FBI by President Donald Trump. The timing of Mr Comey's firing raised questions around whether or not the FBI's investigation into the Trump campaign may have played a role in the decision. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Preet Bharara Mr Bahara refused, alongside 46 other US district attorney's across the country, to resign once President Donald Trump took office after previous assurances from Mr Trump that he would keep his job. Mr Bahara had been heading up several investigations including one into one of President Donald Trump's favorite cable television channels Fox News. Several investigations would lead back to that district, too, including those into Mr Trump's campaign ties to Russia, and Mr Trump's assertion that Trump Tower was wiretapped on orders from his predecessor. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Sally Yates Ms Yates, a former Deputy Attorney General, was running the Justice Department while President Donald Trump's pick for attorney general awaited confirmation. Ms Yates was later fired by Mr Trump from her temporary post over her refusal to implement Mr Trump's first travel ban. She had also warned the White House about potential ties former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn to Russia after discovering those ties during the FBI's investigation into the Trump campaign's connections to Russia. Getty Images

Back in Washington, speculation swirls whether Trump may move to fire Mueller and bring the investigation to a premature end. On Monday, right-wing outlets such as Fox News ran reports seeking to cast doubt on Mueller's credibility and impartiality in pursuing the case. Analysts liken Trump's potential firing of Mueller to impeached President Richard M. Nixon's attempt to ax Watergate special prosecutor Archibald Cox - a politically toxic move that could doom his presidency. But it shouldn't be written off.

"There is simply no way that President Trump will sit quietly as Mueller methodically issues more indictments, flips more witnesses, and grows ever closer to Trump," columnist Ryan Cooper wrote in The Week. "Our president has never shown restraint of any sort. He certainly won't when his own life and career is at stake."

Washington Post
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The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced it will bar certain scientists from serving on its independent advisory boards, a move critics say could open the way to more industry-friendly advisors on the panels.

The EPA barred scientists who have won agency-awarded grants in the past, billing the step as a way to preserve the independence and diversity of the boards, which provide the scientific input for agency decisions around pollution and climate change regulation.

Whatever science comes out of EPA, (it) shouldnt be political science, EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt, said in a release, adding that committee members will be financially independent from the agency.

Senator Tom Carper, the top Democrat on the Senate environment committee, said Pruitts decision was part of an EPA effort to delegitimise the work of nonpartisan scientists. Carper added, this crusade endangers the health of every American, and it cannot be tolerated.

Pruitt signalled the move during a speech last week at the conservative Heritage Foundation, when he questioned the independence of scientists who have won past EPA research grants, and promised to fix the situation.

During his election campaign last year, Republican President Donald Trump promised to roll back environmental regulations from Democratic President Barack Obamas administration, including those limiting carbon dioxide emissions blamed for global warming, to make government more friendly to the drilling, mining, and manufacturing businesses.

The advisory boards were created by Congress to serve as a check on EPA policies and research. They include the EPA Scientific Advisory Board, the Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee, and the Board of Scientific Counsellors.

Last year, the SAB questioned an EPA report that concluded that hydraulic fracturing - an oil and gas drilling technology that frees petroleum from underground shale formations - had no widespread impacts on drinking water despite evidence of problems in several states.

In June, Pruitt decided not to renew the terms of nine members of a separate body, the 18-member Board of Scientific Counsellors. One of those members, Michigan State University professor of community sustainability Robert Richardson, told Reuters the move came as a surprise because the work they were doing was apolitical.

The EPA is also expected to announce three new members of the Clean Air advisory committee.

10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change Show all 10 1 /10 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change A group of emperor penguins face a crack in the sea ice, near McMurdo Station, Antarctica Kira Morris 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change Floods destroyed eight bridges and ruined crops such as wheat, maize and peas in the Karimabad valley in northern Pakistan, a mountainous region with many glaciers. In many parts of the world, glaciers have been in retreat, creating dangerously large lakes that can cause devastating flooding when the banks break. Climate change can also increase rainfall in some areas, while bringing drought to others. Hira Ali 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change Smoke  filled with the carbon that is driving climate change  drifts across a field in Colombia. Sandra Rondon 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change Amid a flood in Islampur, Jamalpur, Bangladesh, a woman on a raft searches for somewhere dry to take shelter. Bangladesh is one of the most vulnerable places in the world to sea level rise, which is expected to make tens of millions of people homeless by 2050. Probal Rashid 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change Sindh province in Pakistan has experienced a grim mix of two consequences of climate change. Because of climate change either we have floods or not enough water to irrigate our crop and feed our animals, says the photographer. Picture clearly indicates that the extreme drought makes wide cracks in clay. Crops are very difficult to grow. Rizwan Dharejo 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change Hanna Petursdottir examines a cave inside the Svinafellsjokull glacier in Iceland, which she said had been growing rapidly. Since 2000, the size of glaciers on Iceland has reduced by 12 per cent. Tom Schifanella 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change A river once flowed along the depression in the dry earth of this part of Bangladesh, but it has disappeared amid rising temperatures. Abrar Hossain 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change A shepherd moves his herd as he looks for green pasture near the village of Sirohi in Rajasthan, northern India. The region has been badly affected by heatwaves and drought, making local people nervous about further predicted increases in temperature. Riddhima Singh Bhati 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change A factory in China is shrouded by a haze of air pollution. The World Health Organisation has warned such pollution, much of which is from the fossil fuels that cause climate change, is a public health emergency. Leung Ka Wa 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change Water levels in reservoirs, like this one in Gers, France, have been getting perilously low in areas across the world affected by drought, forcing authorities to introduce water restrictions. Mahtuf Ikhsan

Pruitt is an outspoken doubter of mainstream climate science, a consensus of scientists that carbon dioxide from human use of fossil fuels is a primary driver of global warming, triggering more frequent volatile storms, sea level rise, and droughts.

Pruitt has said he wants to set up a televised debate about the science of climate change between scientists who believe it is driven by humans and those that do not.

Reuters
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Donald Trump has responded to a terrorist attack in New York by vowing to toughen restrictions on immigration.

I have just ordered Homeland Security to step up our already Extreme Vetting Program. Being politically correct is fine, but not for this! the President wrote on Twitter.

Throughout his rise to the presidency, Mr Trump has invoked the threat of terrorist attacks as a rationale for tightening immigration policies, including halting refugee admissions and banning immigrants from certain Muslim-majority countries.

Mr Trump's tweets suggest that the President will double down on that push in response to Tuesday's attacks. Earlier in the day, he wrote that We must not allow Isis to return, or enter, our country after defeating them in the Middle East and elsewhere.

As a coalition of Iraqi troops, Kurdish forces and others have pushed Isis fighters from vast swathes of territory they seized across the Middle East, terrorism experts have cautioned that loyalists will turn to inflicting violence on Western cities.

Officials deemed the assault in New York, which left eight dead, an act of terrorism.

Multiple news outlets have reported that authorities found a note pledging fealty to Isis in or near the truck assailant Sayfullo Saipov used to mow down bystanders. New York Police Commissioner James ONeil told reporters witnesses heard the man shout Allahu Akbar.

New York Truck attack Show all 6 1 /6 New York Truck attack New York Truck attack Investigators inspect the truck following the attack Investigators inspect a truck following a shooting incident in New York on 31 October 2017. Several people were killed and numerous others injured in New York on Tuesday when a suspect plowed a vehicle into a bike and pedestrian path in Lower Manhattan, and struck another vehicle on Halloween, police said. A suspect exited the vehicle holding up fake guns, before being shot by police and taken into custody, officers said. The motive was not immediately apparent. Getty New York Truck attack A paramedic looks at a body along the bike path A paramedic looks at a body covered under a white sheet along the bike path 31 October 2017, in New York. A motorist drove onto a busy bicycle path near the World Trade Center memorial and struck several people Tuesday, police and witnesses said. AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews New York Truck attack The truck driver collided with a school bus Authorities respond near a damaged school bus Tuesday, 31 October 2017, in New York. A motorist drove onto a busy bicycle path near the World Trade Center memorial and struck several people, police and witnesses said. Two adults and two children were on the bus at the time. AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews New York Truck attack A young girl reacts to the scene A young girl reacts as police officers secure an area following a shooting incident in New York on 31 October 2017. Several people were killed and numerous others injured in New York on Tuesday after a vehicle plowed into a pedestrian and bike path in Lower Manhattan, police said. 'The vehicle struck multiple people on the path,' police tweeted. 'The vehicle continued south striking another vehicle. The suspect exited the vehicle displaying imitation firearms & was shot by NYPD.' DON EMMERT/AFP/Getty Images New York Truck attack Police officers arrive at the scene Police officers arrive at the scene following a shooting incident in New York on 31 October 2017. Multiple people were hurt in downtown Manhattan, US media reported after police confirmed that they were responding to reports of a shooting. Police said they had mobilized to the scene in Lower Manhattan and that one person was in custody, giving no further details. DON EMMERT/AFP/Getty Images New York Truck attack Emergency personnel respond to truck attack in lower Manhattan Emergency personal respond after reports of multiple people hit by a truck after it plowed through a bike path in lower Manhattan on 31 October 2017 in New York City. According to reports up to six people may have been killed. Kena Betancur/Getty Images

Reports said Saipov, a native of Uzbekistan, had come to America in 2010.

Courts have repeatedly blocked or diminished the President's attempted travel bans. Critics argue that those policies are inhumane or discriminatory, pointing out that the refugee admissions process already involved thorough vetting.
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Several Fox News employees have complained that the channel is starting to feel "like an extension of the Trump White House in light of its recent political coverage.

A number of TV personalities and senior Fox employees were reportedly horrified by the channels stories on the indictment of two former Trump campaign officials. The indictments dominated coverage on other major channels, but were downplayed by several Fox News hosts.

"I'm watching now and screaming," one Fox News personality told CNN of the coverage. "I want to quit."

Recommended Fox News reported on the hamburger emoji as Manafort news unfolded

"It is another blow to journalists at Fox who come in every day wanting to cover the news in a fair and objective way," another senior employee said.

Five employees spoke with CNN in the wake of the indictments, which marked the first major development in special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation of the Trump campaign.

Fox News 'finest moments' Show all 13 1 /13 Fox News 'finest moments' Fox News 'finest moments' Penis pictures are news Pulling photos straight from Twitter moments before going on-air was a nightmare waiting to happen for any network, as Fox-affiliated KDVR found in spectacular fashion when a penis was spliced into coverage of the Seattle helicopter crash Twitter Fox News 'finest moments' Homosexual impulses lead to serial killings A licensed psychotherapist booked to appear on Foxs Justice With Judge Jeanie programme suggested Santa Barbara shooter Elliot Rodger could have been acting upon homosexual impulses when he targeted his victims Fox News 'finest moments' Single ladies rely on government like a husband Fox News host Jesse Watters coined the phrase Beyonce Voters, who depend on government because theyre not depending on their husbands. Watters was critical of this section of the electorate for needing contraception, health care, and they love to talk about equal pay Getty Images Fox News 'finest moments' Its OK to use racial slurs about China Fox News presenter Bob Beckel claimed Chinamen had been taught how to do computers by Americans in a rant about Chinas threat to the national security of the US Fox/YouTube Fox News 'finest moments' Michelle Obama needs to drop a few pounds Foxs psychiatry contributor, Dr Keith Ablow, claimed that Michelle Obama isnt in a position to campaign for healthier eating because she needs to drop a few herself Fox News 'finest moments' Russell Brand is left-wing commie scum Fox presenter Greg Gutfeld called Brand left-wing commie scum after he condemned the news station for hiring a token black person to come on to lament the riots Getty Fox News 'finest moments' Women in the armed forces are boobs on the ground Presenter Kimberly Guilfoyle asked if the UAEs first female fighter pilots role during Isis air strikes could be considered boobs on the ground in Syria Fox News 'finest moments' Sexism awareness videos should themselves be treated with sexism Bob Beckel again. The Fox host addressed the viral video actress Shoshana B Roberts created highlighting catcalling in New York by saying: She got 100 catcalls, let me add 101. Damn, baby, youre a piece of woman Fox News 'finest moments' Young women shouldnt worry themselves with politics Foxs Guilfoyle said young women shouldnt be able to vote or sit on juries because they dont have the same concerns as their elders. I just think, excuse them so they can go back on Tinder and Match.com, he said Fox News 'finest moments' Ignore CIA torture because the US is awesome Foxs National Security Analyst KT McFarland condemned the release of a damning report into the CIA's use of torture as a political manoeuvre designed to show Americans "how were not awesome" Fox News/YouTube Fox News 'finest moments' The Sydney terror siege justifies CIA use of torture Elizabeth Hasselbeck used the hostage situation in Sydney to defend the CIA after it was widely condemned for enhanced interrogation techniques revealed in the so-called 'torture report' Fox News 'finest moments' Videos should be edited to say what you want Fox apologised after editing a video of protesters to make it sound as if they were chanting "kill a cop" during a demonstration over a grand jury decision not to charge the police officer who put Eric Garner in an illegal chokehold YouTube Fox News 'finest moments' The AirAsia plane crashed because of the metric system Presenter Anna Kooiman linked the use of different measurement systems to the safety of flights abroad

While most news shows lead with the indictments, Fox News host Sean Hannity dedicated most of his show to coverage of Hillary Clinton, and her ties to a uranium deal and controversial dossier.

Probably the biggest scandal of all is Bill and Hillary Clinton selling out Americas national security to Putin and the Russians, Mr Hannity claimed.

Host Laura Ingraham addressed the indictments by calling them a nothingburger that in no way suggested collusion with Russia. The channels chief Washington correspondent noted that Donald Trump was far removed from the allegations," while contributor Michael Goodwin argued that Mr Mueller should resign.

If there was collusion, any evidence or even an allegation has yet to be revealed by the special counsel, said John Roberts, the channels chief White House correspondent.

 Fox News presenter Sean Hannity accidentally calls Hillary Clinton 'president'

In a statement, a Fox News representative said the network covered the breaking news "accurately and fairly across both news and opinion programming.

Another employee, however, told CNN the coverage was an embarrassment, that undermined the good work being done by other employees.

But the channels coverage did not differ significantly from that of other conservative platforms. Prominent radio host Rush Limbaugh also opened his show by addressing the dossier, claiming that news of the indictments was simply meant to shift attention away from Ms Clintons ties.

Alex Jones, the creator of popular website and radio show InfoWars, called the indictments a bunch of sour grapes. He topped his website with stories about sexual assault allegations against Kevin Spacey.

Breitbart News, the conservative website run by former Trump adviser Steve Bannon, ran only two pieces about the indictment on Monday. One covered Ms Ingrahams nothingburger comments, and the other was headlined: Paul Manafort Indicted on 12 Counts Unrelated to 2016 Campaign.
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Prince Harry and Michelle Obama have teamed up for a surprise visit to a school in Chicagos South Side which is a stone's throw from the soon to be Obama Presidential Centre.

The royal and the former first lady spent time with around 20 students at Hyde Park Academy  a public school which serves a large African-American population. There the duo engaged in a warm and wide-ranging conversation.

The warm and wide-ranging conversation, lasting over an hour, covered how the Center will showcase the South Side of Chicago to the world, said Kensington Palace in a statement.

They spoke about the importance of young people staying inspired and the power of students using their voices to change the world.

Michelle Obama thanked the 33-year-old, who is fifth in line to the throne, for coming to her hometown of Chicago.

Thanks to my friend Prince Harry for joining me in my hometown to surprise these outstanding students! she said on Twitter.

Prince Harrys blossoming friendship with the Obamas was forged several years ago when he joined forced with Ms Obama to raise support for his Invictus Games in Orlando, Florida. Former President Barack Obama also joined Prince Harry at last months Invictus Games in Toronto.

Michelle Obama as the First Lady Show all 11 1 /11 Michelle Obama as the First Lady Michelle Obama as the First Lady Getty Michelle Obama as the First Lady Getty Michelle Obama as the First Lady Getty Michelle Obama as the First Lady Getty Michelle Obama as the First Lady Getty Michelle Obama as the First Lady Getty Michelle Obama as the First Lady Getty Michelle Obama as the First Lady Getty Michelle Obama as the First Lady Getty Michelle Obama as the First Lady Getty Michelle Obama as the First Lady Getty

The pairs visit took place on the same day as the inaugural summit of the Obama Foundation in Chicago on Tuesday where Prince Harry was one of the headline speakers.

At the event, Mr Obama mocked the barrage of conspiracies theories, which were partially propounded by President Donald Trump, that claimed he was not a natural-born American US citizen and it was, therefore, unconstitutional for him to be President.

The reason Im so excited to see you all here today in part is because this is where I started, Mr Obama, who was a community organiser in Chicago in the 1980s, said.

"This isnt where I was born, I was born in Kenya, he said prompting laughter before quickly adding, Thats a joke.

During Obama's 2008 presidential campaign and throughout his presidency, multiple theories emerged falsely claiming he was not a US citizen and was in fact born in Kenya.

President Trump was among those who pushed the birther conspiracy theory and consistently questioned former President Obamas birthplace of Hawaii.
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New York Police officer Ryan Nash has been dubbed the "hero cop" by Mayor Bill de Blasio for taking down terror attack suspect Sayfullo Saipov.

Mr Nash, 28, was out on a routine patrol when Mr Saipov was said to have crashed a pick up truck into a school bus in lower Manhattan after allegedly killing eight people who were on a bike path adjacent to the West Side Highway and injuring a dozen more.

The suspect exited the rented Home Depot pickup truck and per eyewitness reports shouted "Allahu Akbar," or "God is great" in Arabic, while brandishing what looked like two guns.

Recommended First picture emerges of New York terror suspect Sayfullo Saipov

The weapons were determined later to be a paintball and pellet gun.

Mr Saipov ran, as video footage shows. Mr Nash gave chase and ultimately "confronted the subject and shot him in the abdomen," according to NYPD Commissioner James ONeill.

Mr Nash was taken to nearby Bellevue Hospital and treated for ringing in his ears but had no other injuries.

"He's so humble...thought it was all in a day's work," said Mayor Bill de Blasio at a press conference, adding that Mr Nash "deserves all the accolades" from the city.

Mr de Blasio said had Mr Nash not stopped Mr Saipov when he did was crucial because "you don't know if the shooter had multiple weapons or a bomb. You don't know. We owe him a debt of gratitude."

New York Truck attack Show all 6 1 /6 New York Truck attack New York Truck attack Investigators inspect the truck following the attack Investigators inspect a truck following a shooting incident in New York on 31 October 2017. Several people were killed and numerous others injured in New York on Tuesday when a suspect plowed a vehicle into a bike and pedestrian path in Lower Manhattan, and struck another vehicle on Halloween, police said. A suspect exited the vehicle holding up fake guns, before being shot by police and taken into custody, officers said. The motive was not immediately apparent. Getty New York Truck attack A paramedic looks at a body along the bike path A paramedic looks at a body covered under a white sheet along the bike path 31 October 2017, in New York. A motorist drove onto a busy bicycle path near the World Trade Center memorial and struck several people Tuesday, police and witnesses said. AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews New York Truck attack The truck driver collided with a school bus Authorities respond near a damaged school bus Tuesday, 31 October 2017, in New York. A motorist drove onto a busy bicycle path near the World Trade Center memorial and struck several people, police and witnesses said. Two adults and two children were on the bus at the time. AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews New York Truck attack A young girl reacts to the scene A young girl reacts as police officers secure an area following a shooting incident in New York on 31 October 2017. Several people were killed and numerous others injured in New York on Tuesday after a vehicle plowed into a pedestrian and bike path in Lower Manhattan, police said. 'The vehicle struck multiple people on the path,' police tweeted. 'The vehicle continued south striking another vehicle. The suspect exited the vehicle displaying imitation firearms & was shot by NYPD.' DON EMMERT/AFP/Getty Images New York Truck attack Police officers arrive at the scene Police officers arrive at the scene following a shooting incident in New York on 31 October 2017. Multiple people were hurt in downtown Manhattan, US media reported after police confirmed that they were responding to reports of a shooting. Police said they had mobilized to the scene in Lower Manhattan and that one person was in custody, giving no further details. DON EMMERT/AFP/Getty Images New York Truck attack Emergency personnel respond to truck attack in lower Manhattan Emergency personal respond after reports of multiple people hit by a truck after it plowed through a bike path in lower Manhattan on 31 October 2017 in New York City. According to reports up to six people may have been killed. Kena Betancur/Getty Images

In a press conference immediately following the terror attack, Mr de Blasio said Mr Nash's bravery "gave people such faith and such appreciation in our police force."

Mr O'Neill said after speaking with Mr Nash at the hospital, the officer does not consider what he did "an act of heroism, but why he joined" the force five years ago.

The Long Island resident and his partner were responding to a call about a vehicle accident near Stuyvesant High School when they "showed great courage," Mr O'Neill said.

"I'm really proud of him," the Commissioner said.

Former police commissioner Bill Bratton tweeted that Mr Nash was "truly one of New York's finest."

The First Precinct officer was one of four responding to the call that afternoon around 3 pm local time.

After rushing to the scene Mr Nash, the closest officer, fired nine times from his department-issued service gun.

According to the New York Times, a civilian approached Mr Saipov after he fell to the ground and kicked away the two weapons.

Mr Saipov remains in stable condition at the hospital and CNN reported he was speaking with police ahead of his surgery.

The FBI counterterrorism force has taken the lead on the investigation and are continuning to search the suspect's home in Paterson, New Jersey where he resides with his wife and children.

They are also investigating his supposed ties to the nearby Omar Mosque.

Six of the victims were dead on the scene, two died in the hospital, including a group of Argentinians in the city to celebrate their 30th high school reunion and at least one Belgian citizen.

Twelve victims remain in hospital, four in critical but stable condition and at least one undergoing an amputation, per Mr O'Neill.
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The man suspected of driving a truck into a Manhattan bike path, killing eight and injuring 12, followed instructions posted by Isis on social media almost to a T, the New York Police Department has revealed.

Although officials said they had uncovered no formal links to Isis or any other international extremist groups, the suspect planned his attack for weeks and carried it out in the name of Isis, according to NYPD deputy commissioner of intelligence and counterterrorism John Miller.

Police identified the suspect in the attack as 29-year-old Sayfullo Saipov, who was born in Uzbekistan and immigrated to the US in 2010. He is currently being treated in a New York hospital, after being shot by a police officer during the attack.

He did this in the name of Isis, Mr Miller said at a press conference on Wednesday. Along with the other items recovered at the scene [were] some notes that further indicated that.

The notes, the commissioner said, were hand-written in Arabic and read: Islamic State will endure forever.

Mr Miller added that the suspect appeared to have followed instructions that Isis members had posted on social media, teaching followers how to carry out such an attack.

Isis has released detailed instructions on carrying out vehicle attacks like those seen in Nice, Barcelona, and London. The group has named crowded streets as prime targets, and declared murdering civilians permissible under Islam.

New York Truck attack Show all 6 1 /6 New York Truck attack New York Truck attack Investigators inspect the truck following the attack Investigators inspect a truck following a shooting incident in New York on 31 October 2017. Several people were killed and numerous others injured in New York on Tuesday when a suspect plowed a vehicle into a bike and pedestrian path in Lower Manhattan, and struck another vehicle on Halloween, police said. A suspect exited the vehicle holding up fake guns, before being shot by police and taken into custody, officers said. The motive was not immediately apparent. Getty New York Truck attack A paramedic looks at a body along the bike path A paramedic looks at a body covered under a white sheet along the bike path 31 October 2017, in New York. A motorist drove onto a busy bicycle path near the World Trade Center memorial and struck several people Tuesday, police and witnesses said. AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews New York Truck attack The truck driver collided with a school bus Authorities respond near a damaged school bus Tuesday, 31 October 2017, in New York. A motorist drove onto a busy bicycle path near the World Trade Center memorial and struck several people, police and witnesses said. Two adults and two children were on the bus at the time. AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews New York Truck attack A young girl reacts to the scene A young girl reacts as police officers secure an area following a shooting incident in New York on 31 October 2017. Several people were killed and numerous others injured in New York on Tuesday after a vehicle plowed into a pedestrian and bike path in Lower Manhattan, police said. 'The vehicle struck multiple people on the path,' police tweeted. 'The vehicle continued south striking another vehicle. The suspect exited the vehicle displaying imitation firearms & was shot by NYPD.' DON EMMERT/AFP/Getty Images New York Truck attack Police officers arrive at the scene Police officers arrive at the scene following a shooting incident in New York on 31 October 2017. Multiple people were hurt in downtown Manhattan, US media reported after police confirmed that they were responding to reports of a shooting. Police said they had mobilized to the scene in Lower Manhattan and that one person was in custody, giving no further details. DON EMMERT/AFP/Getty Images New York Truck attack Emergency personnel respond to truck attack in lower Manhattan Emergency personal respond after reports of multiple people hit by a truck after it plowed through a bike path in lower Manhattan on 31 October 2017 in New York City. According to reports up to six people may have been killed. Kena Betancur/Getty Images

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo told CNN that Mr Saipov appeared to have been radicalised domestically, and followed the lone wolf model of attackers who were trained online, rather than in a training camp.

Members at a mosque near Mr Saipovs New Jersey home told The Independent that they had seen him around, but that he was not a regular attendee. Mosque president Ibrahim Matarihe said the suspect was not associated with the mosque.

Mr Saipov had never been a suspect in FBI or NYPD investigations, according to Mr Miller. Authorities are now looking for ties between the suspect and others who had been named in investigations.

At the press conference, Mr Cuomo called the suspect a depraved coward who had failed in his goal to terrorise the city.

The day after the attack, Mr Cuomo noted, people got up; they went to work; children went to school.

Thats what makes New Yorkers special, he added. That strength, that resilience, that ability to be undeterred in the face of ugliness.

 New York terror attack: What we know so far

Authorities have stepped up security throughout Manhattan in the wake of the attack, deploying officers and explosive-detecting dogs to subway stations and tourist attractions across the city.

But Mr Cuomo told CNN that authorities had no evidence yet of continuing or connected plots.

Our only evidence to date is that this was an isolated incident that he himself performed, the Governor said.

President Donald Trump, meanwhile, vowed to crack down on US immigration policies  particularly the diversity lottery programme, which the President claimed Mr Saipov had used to enter the country.

We have to get much tougher and we have to get much smarter, Mr Trump told reporters on Wednesday. And we have to get much less politically correct. Were so politically correct that were afraid to do anything.

Sayfullo Saipov is suspected of mowing down pedestrians and cyclists along a busy bike path near the World Trade Centre memorial (St Charles County Department of Corrections/KMOV via AP)

Authorities say Mr Saipov rented a truck in New Jersey and drove it to lower Manhattan on the afternoon of 31 October. From there, he allegedly ploughed the truck through a foot path in the Tribeca neighbourhood, appearing to target cyclists and pedestrians.

The attack ended when Mr Saipovs vehicle ran into a school bus, authorities said. The suspect exited his vehicle, allegedly brandishing a paintball gun and pellet gun, and was shot by police.

The attack killed eight people, six of whom came from countries other than the US. Five were visitors from Argentina, and one was from Germany, NYC Fire Department commissioner Dan Nigro said.

A dozen other people suffered injuries spanning from a bilateral amputation to severe head trauma. Three victims have been released from the hospital, four are critically injured, and the rest are seriously injured.
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Neighbours of the man suspected of having killed eight people in Lower Manhattan are outraged and disgusted by the acts of a man who many say had been seen in the area, but was otherwise not well known to the Muslim community.

Muslims living close to the Omar mosque in Paterson, New Jersey, which is located very close to the home of alleged attacker Sayfullo Saipov, said the acts of terror and violence against innocent civilians were not a facet of Islam, and were instead the product of a disturbed, criminal mind.

They are sick people. They are not representing me, a Muslim, Mohammed Khalil, who lives just a block from the mosque, said of jihadi terrorists. They are criminals.

Mr Saipov is suspected of having driven a rented pick-up truck down a bike path in Lower Manhattan, leaving a trail of smashed bikes and bodies in his path. Eight people have been confirmed dead by officials, and at least 11 others were injured in the attack.

The attacker is said to have exited his vehicle after crashing into a school bus near Chambers Street, the location of several schools which were letting out children for the Halloween evening. He then is said to have waved a pellet gun and a paintball gun in the air while pledging himself to Allah. He was shot by police.

Officials later named the suspect as Mr Saipov, and indicated that he had come to the United States in 2010, and has since lived in Florida and New Jersey. He was later said to have been residing in an apartment building just around the corner from the Omar mosque, in a multi-family red-brick apartment complex within throwing distance of the house of worship. The city of Paterson is located 25 miles to the north-west of New York.

 New York terror attack: What we know so far

But mosque officials say that Mr Saipov was not a member, even though he had been seen at prayer services previously.

He is not associated with the mosque, Ibrahim Matari, the president of the mosque, said on Wednesday, speaking through an interpreter, on a dreary day.

Others said that they had seen Mr Saipov around and that he was friendly, though not particularly outgoing.

Khalid Hinnawi, who said he frequently prayed at the mosque, said that he had seen Mr Saipov around and that they would exchange hellos. But, Mr Hinnawi stressed that violence was not fundamental to his communitys beliefs.

New York Truck attack Show all 6 1 /6 New York Truck attack New York Truck attack Investigators inspect the truck following the attack Investigators inspect a truck following a shooting incident in New York on 31 October 2017. Several people were killed and numerous others injured in New York on Tuesday when a suspect plowed a vehicle into a bike and pedestrian path in Lower Manhattan, and struck another vehicle on Halloween, police said. A suspect exited the vehicle holding up fake guns, before being shot by police and taken into custody, officers said. The motive was not immediately apparent. Getty New York Truck attack A paramedic looks at a body along the bike path A paramedic looks at a body covered under a white sheet along the bike path 31 October 2017, in New York. A motorist drove onto a busy bicycle path near the World Trade Center memorial and struck several people Tuesday, police and witnesses said. AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews New York Truck attack The truck driver collided with a school bus Authorities respond near a damaged school bus Tuesday, 31 October 2017, in New York. A motorist drove onto a busy bicycle path near the World Trade Center memorial and struck several people, police and witnesses said. Two adults and two children were on the bus at the time. AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews New York Truck attack A young girl reacts to the scene A young girl reacts as police officers secure an area following a shooting incident in New York on 31 October 2017. Several people were killed and numerous others injured in New York on Tuesday after a vehicle plowed into a pedestrian and bike path in Lower Manhattan, police said. 'The vehicle struck multiple people on the path,' police tweeted. 'The vehicle continued south striking another vehicle. The suspect exited the vehicle displaying imitation firearms & was shot by NYPD.' DON EMMERT/AFP/Getty Images New York Truck attack Police officers arrive at the scene Police officers arrive at the scene following a shooting incident in New York on 31 October 2017. Multiple people were hurt in downtown Manhattan, US media reported after police confirmed that they were responding to reports of a shooting. Police said they had mobilized to the scene in Lower Manhattan and that one person was in custody, giving no further details. DON EMMERT/AFP/Getty Images New York Truck attack Emergency personnel respond to truck attack in lower Manhattan Emergency personal respond after reports of multiple people hit by a truck after it plowed through a bike path in lower Manhattan on 31 October 2017 in New York City. According to reports up to six people may have been killed. Kena Betancur/Getty Images

We dont have nothing to do with this guy, Mr Hinnawi said. We are American citizens. Its not fair. Its not fair.

One neighbour of Mr Saipovs, Carlos Batista, said that he had been aware of Mr Saipov since he moved to the area a year ago, but that there was nothing out of the ordinary about him. Mr Batista, who is not Muslim, said Mr Saipov generally spent time with two to three other individuals, as well as his wife and children.

At one point, when Mr Batista said he was being loud late at night with a motorcycle, Mr Saipov had been an advocate for peace when one of those two or three other individuals got heated. He had stepped in when things looked like they were going to get physical. Other than that run-in, not much else stood out or changed.

Same old, same old, all the time, Mr Batista said of the suspected killers behaviour over the past year.

The community now is grappling with the aftermath of the attack, and some say their past proximity to a man they barely knew is worrisome. Theyre not sure what will happen now that theyve been associated with such a high profile crime.

Were scared, said a woman who works at the nearby Falafel Abou Reda restaurant, a spot located a block away from the mosque. Were scared.
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Two US victims in the Halloween terror attack in New York have been identified among the eight dead, which include visitors from Argentina and Belgium.

Darren Drake, 33, of New Jersey worked at Moodys Investors Service in the Freedom Tower, the former location of the World Trade Centre, and was riding his bike in between meetings along the West Side Highway path where suspect Sayfullo Saipov had allegedly driven a pickup truck south approximately 20 blocks.

His father James Drake told NorthJersey.com that he and wife Barbara were still in shock over the death of their only child.

The young man was also pursuing a second Masters degree at the Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, New Jersey, said his father. Life was perfect for him, Mr Drake said of his son, adding that he was the most innocent, delicate kid in the world.

Mr Drake believes his son was one of the six victims declared dead at the scene.

Nicholas Cleves was also among the victims.

Mother Monica Missio was too distraught to comment publicly.

Mr Cleves, a West Village resident, was thought of fondly by those in his neighbourhood.

Hes absolutely lovely, he was a sweetheart, warm and friendly. He would come in every day, a deli worker Dianne told the New York Post.

 New York terror attack: What we know so far

Mr Cleves had just completed his bachelors degree in computer science and physics from Skidmore College in Pennsylvania.

Dianne noted: There are some people who are just good, and he was.

Six of the victims were visitors to the city.

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said: Six of them came from other nations here because they saw New York is a special place to be. And we now, and forever, will consider them New Yorkers.

A Belgian mother of two, Ann-Laure Decadt, was also identified as one of the victims.

Ms Decadt is from Staden, a town of just 11,400 people.

She was visiting New York with her mother and sisters when she was run over by the rented Home Depot pickup truck while riding a bicycle.

Husband Alexander Naessens told a Belgian newspaper, in a statement translated from Flemish, that his wifes death was unbearable and that she was the most beautiful mom of our three-month- and three-year-old sons.

Her mother and sisters were unharmed.

New York Truck attack Show all 6 1 /6 New York Truck attack New York Truck attack Investigators inspect the truck following the attack Investigators inspect a truck following a shooting incident in New York on 31 October 2017. Several people were killed and numerous others injured in New York on Tuesday when a suspect plowed a vehicle into a bike and pedestrian path in Lower Manhattan, and struck another vehicle on Halloween, police said. A suspect exited the vehicle holding up fake guns, before being shot by police and taken into custody, officers said. The motive was not immediately apparent. Getty New York Truck attack A paramedic looks at a body along the bike path A paramedic looks at a body covered under a white sheet along the bike path 31 October 2017, in New York. A motorist drove onto a busy bicycle path near the World Trade Center memorial and struck several people Tuesday, police and witnesses said. AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews New York Truck attack The truck driver collided with a school bus Authorities respond near a damaged school bus Tuesday, 31 October 2017, in New York. A motorist drove onto a busy bicycle path near the World Trade Center memorial and struck several people, police and witnesses said. Two adults and two children were on the bus at the time. AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews New York Truck attack A young girl reacts to the scene A young girl reacts as police officers secure an area following a shooting incident in New York on 31 October 2017. Several people were killed and numerous others injured in New York on Tuesday after a vehicle plowed into a pedestrian and bike path in Lower Manhattan, police said. 'The vehicle struck multiple people on the path,' police tweeted. 'The vehicle continued south striking another vehicle. The suspect exited the vehicle displaying imitation firearms & was shot by NYPD.' DON EMMERT/AFP/Getty Images New York Truck attack Police officers arrive at the scene Police officers arrive at the scene following a shooting incident in New York on 31 October 2017. Multiple people were hurt in downtown Manhattan, US media reported after police confirmed that they were responding to reports of a shooting. Police said they had mobilized to the scene in Lower Manhattan and that one person was in custody, giving no further details. DON EMMERT/AFP/Getty Images New York Truck attack Emergency personnel respond to truck attack in lower Manhattan Emergency personal respond after reports of multiple people hit by a truck after it plowed through a bike path in lower Manhattan on 31 October 2017 in New York City. According to reports up to six people may have been killed. Kena Betancur/Getty Images

Staden Mayor Francesco Vanderjeugd told the New York Post his small town is in shock.

Everybody knows each other. Its unbelievable because she was a young mother and she was so committed to the community, he said.

Mr Vanderjegud echoed many US politicians when he said: Its an attack not only in New York but also an attack on our community  on our way of life.

The mayor mentioned Mr Naessens is holding up but struggling with how to tell his older son about Ms Decadts death.

Rosario, in Argentina, was particularly hard hit with the loss of five residents: Hernan Mendoza, Diego Angelini, Alejandro Pagnucco, Ariel Erlij and Hernan Ferruchi.

The victims were among eight friends celebrating marking their 1987 graduation from the Polytechnic School of Rosario with a US trip to New York and Boston, near where one of their classmates lives.

In Rosario, a minute of silence was observed at the high school, the Argentina flag was flown at half-mast, and a candlelight vigil has been scheduled.

Argentinas President Mauricio Macri said the mens deaths has hit all Argentines hard, adding that theres no place for gray areas  the fight against terrorism must be committed to from head to toe.

According to one Argentine official, four of the men died at the scene while one died after being taken to the hospital.

Mr Erlij, the chief executive at Argentine steel products manufacturing company Ivanar, had treated his friends to the trip.

The surviving friend who is recovering from injuries in the hospital, Martin Ludovico Marro, is a Boston-area resident working for a division of pharmaceutical giant Novartis.

Twelve victims remain in hospital, four in critical but stable condition and at least one undergoing an amputation, said New York City Police Commissioner James ONeill.

Sayfullo Saipov, from Tampa, Florida, remains in stable condition after being shot in the stomach by a police officer after he reportedly crashed the truck into a school bus containing two adults and two children.

The FBI has been searching his home and neighbourhood in Paterson, New Jersey, where he has been living with his wife and children for less than a year.
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Eight people, including five friends from Argentina who were celebrating the 30th anniversary of their graduation, were among those killed when a truck ploughed into pedestrians in New York City.

Six victims were pronounced dead at the scene, while two more died at a nearby hospital. At least 11 others were injured when the truck struck in Manhattan.

The driver, identified by police as Sayfullo Saipov, 29, from Uzbekistan, was shot by police after jumping out of the vehicle with what turned out to be two fake guns.

He was taken to hospital and is in police custody.

Recommended First picture emerges of New York terror suspect Sayfullo Saipov

Hours after the attack, the names of the first victims emerged as Argentina's foreign ministry said Hernan Diego Mendoza, Diego Enrique Angelini, Alejandro Damian Pagnucco, Ariel Erlij and Hernan Ferruchi had died.

The group were marking three decades since their graduation from Polytechnic College in the city of Rosario in central Argentina.

A sixth Argentinian man with the group, Martin Ludovico Marro, was taken to the Presbyterian hospital in Manhattan.

New York Truck attack Show all 6 1 /6 New York Truck attack New York Truck attack Investigators inspect the truck following the attack Investigators inspect a truck following a shooting incident in New York on 31 October 2017. Several people were killed and numerous others injured in New York on Tuesday when a suspect plowed a vehicle into a bike and pedestrian path in Lower Manhattan, and struck another vehicle on Halloween, police said. A suspect exited the vehicle holding up fake guns, before being shot by police and taken into custody, officers said. The motive was not immediately apparent. Getty New York Truck attack A paramedic looks at a body along the bike path A paramedic looks at a body covered under a white sheet along the bike path 31 October 2017, in New York. A motorist drove onto a busy bicycle path near the World Trade Center memorial and struck several people Tuesday, police and witnesses said. AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews New York Truck attack The truck driver collided with a school bus Authorities respond near a damaged school bus Tuesday, 31 October 2017, in New York. A motorist drove onto a busy bicycle path near the World Trade Center memorial and struck several people, police and witnesses said. Two adults and two children were on the bus at the time. AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews New York Truck attack A young girl reacts to the scene A young girl reacts as police officers secure an area following a shooting incident in New York on 31 October 2017. Several people were killed and numerous others injured in New York on Tuesday after a vehicle plowed into a pedestrian and bike path in Lower Manhattan, police said. 'The vehicle struck multiple people on the path,' police tweeted. 'The vehicle continued south striking another vehicle. The suspect exited the vehicle displaying imitation firearms & was shot by NYPD.' DON EMMERT/AFP/Getty Images New York Truck attack Police officers arrive at the scene Police officers arrive at the scene following a shooting incident in New York on 31 October 2017. Multiple people were hurt in downtown Manhattan, US media reported after police confirmed that they were responding to reports of a shooting. Police said they had mobilized to the scene in Lower Manhattan and that one person was in custody, giving no further details. DON EMMERT/AFP/Getty Images New York Truck attack Emergency personnel respond to truck attack in lower Manhattan Emergency personal respond after reports of multiple people hit by a truck after it plowed through a bike path in lower Manhattan on 31 October 2017 in New York City. According to reports up to six people may have been killed. Kena Betancur/Getty Images

According to La Capital newspaper, the group of 10 friends were exploring Manhattan on bicycles when the attack took place.

They had left Argentina for the US on Saturday, first visiting one of their friends in Boston before moving on to New York.

An unnamed Belgian woman was also among the dead, the country's deputy prime minister said.

Two further victims are currently unidentified.

 New York attack: Man 'drove truck into school bus with children inside'

Argentina's president Mauricio Macri tweeted: "Profoundly moved by the tragic deaths this afternoon in NY. We are at the disposal of the families of the Argentinian victims."

Foreign minister Jorge Faurie said that his heart was with the family and friends of those who had died "at this moment of deep and inexplicable pain".

New York mayor Bill de Blasio described the attack as "a particularly cowardly act of terror" while governor Andrew Cuomo said it was a "lone wolf" attack, and there was no evidence it was part of a wider plot.
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The alleged New York City attacker has told investigators that he planned on continuing his killing spree, and intended on racking up more victims on the Brooklyn Bridge.

Sayfullo Saipov told law enforcement of his plan after waiving his Miranda rights, according to the FBI, and indicated that he "felt good about what he had done."

The suspect spoke to investigators from his hospital bed, where he is recovering from gunshot wounds he received when a New York Police Department officer shot him near Chambers Street in lower Manhattan.

Recommended Trump says he may send the New York attack suspect to Guantanamo

At least eight people are dead after the attack, in which a pickup truck crashed through people on a bike path that runs alongside the west side of Manhattan. Mr Saipov told investigators that he had chosen to attack on Halloween because he knew that there would be a lot of people on the streets, and that his plan was to kill people on the West Side Highway and then "proceed to the Brooklyn Bridge to strike pedestrians," according to a complaint filed against him.

Gruesome details of Mr Saipov's plans have emerged in the day after the attack, including news that Mr Saipov requested an Isis flag be hung in his hospital room, and that he had numerous videos of violent beheadings on his cell phone.

Just weeks before the Manhattan attack, Mr Saipov had searched "Halloween in NYC" online, and had practised making turns with the rented truck so that he would be familiar with the vehicle.

New York Truck attack Show all 6 1 /6 New York Truck attack New York Truck attack Investigators inspect the truck following the attack Investigators inspect a truck following a shooting incident in New York on 31 October 2017. Several people were killed and numerous others injured in New York on Tuesday when a suspect plowed a vehicle into a bike and pedestrian path in Lower Manhattan, and struck another vehicle on Halloween, police said. A suspect exited the vehicle holding up fake guns, before being shot by police and taken into custody, officers said. The motive was not immediately apparent. Getty New York Truck attack A paramedic looks at a body along the bike path A paramedic looks at a body covered under a white sheet along the bike path 31 October 2017, in New York. A motorist drove onto a busy bicycle path near the World Trade Center memorial and struck several people Tuesday, police and witnesses said. AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews New York Truck attack The truck driver collided with a school bus Authorities respond near a damaged school bus Tuesday, 31 October 2017, in New York. A motorist drove onto a busy bicycle path near the World Trade Center memorial and struck several people, police and witnesses said. Two adults and two children were on the bus at the time. AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews New York Truck attack A young girl reacts to the scene A young girl reacts as police officers secure an area following a shooting incident in New York on 31 October 2017. Several people were killed and numerous others injured in New York on Tuesday after a vehicle plowed into a pedestrian and bike path in Lower Manhattan, police said. 'The vehicle struck multiple people on the path,' police tweeted. 'The vehicle continued south striking another vehicle. The suspect exited the vehicle displaying imitation firearms & was shot by NYPD.' DON EMMERT/AFP/Getty Images New York Truck attack Police officers arrive at the scene Police officers arrive at the scene following a shooting incident in New York on 31 October 2017. Multiple people were hurt in downtown Manhattan, US media reported after police confirmed that they were responding to reports of a shooting. Police said they had mobilized to the scene in Lower Manhattan and that one person was in custody, giving no further details. DON EMMERT/AFP/Getty Images New York Truck attack Emergency personnel respond to truck attack in lower Manhattan Emergency personal respond after reports of multiple people hit by a truck after it plowed through a bike path in lower Manhattan on 31 October 2017 in New York City. According to reports up to six people may have been killed. Kena Betancur/Getty Images

A neighbour of Mr Saipov, in Peterson, New Jersey, said Wednesday that he had noticed the truck - a white pickup rented from Home Depot - before, and noted that he never saw any construction equipment in the truck bed.

Mr Saipov has been charged with one count of providing material support to a foreign terrorist organization, and one of using a motor vehicle as a weapon. He is currently under guard at a Manhattan hospital.
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New York attack suspect Sayfullo Saipov left a note pledging allegiance to Isis in or near the truck he used to kill eight people an injure more than a dozen, law enforcement officials have told several US media outlets.

Officials have already deemed the assault by Saipov an act of terrorism.

The reported discovery that he offered fealty to a leading terrorist organisation helps fill out an emerging portrait of the attacker and his motive.

Recommended First picture emerges of New York terror suspect Sayfullo Saipov

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo had told reporters that the attacker likely acted alone. Past terrorist attacks have involved assailants who offered their allegiance to organisations like Isis despite not being active members or recruited in coordinated plots.

Theres no evidence to suggest a wider plot or a wider scheme, Mr Cuomo said. These are the actions of one individual meant to cause pain and harm and probably death.

New York Police Commissioner James ONeil told reporters that witnesses relayed hearing Saipov say Allahu Akbar as he exited his vehicle.

Donald Trump had already implicitly linked the attacker to Isis, saying in a tweet that We must not allow Isis to return, or enter, our country after defeating them in the Middle East and elsewhere.

New York Truck attack Show all 6 1 /6 New York Truck attack New York Truck attack Investigators inspect the truck following the attack Investigators inspect a truck following a shooting incident in New York on 31 October 2017. Several people were killed and numerous others injured in New York on Tuesday when a suspect plowed a vehicle into a bike and pedestrian path in Lower Manhattan, and struck another vehicle on Halloween, police said. A suspect exited the vehicle holding up fake guns, before being shot by police and taken into custody, officers said. The motive was not immediately apparent. Getty New York Truck attack A paramedic looks at a body along the bike path A paramedic looks at a body covered under a white sheet along the bike path 31 October 2017, in New York. A motorist drove onto a busy bicycle path near the World Trade Center memorial and struck several people Tuesday, police and witnesses said. AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews New York Truck attack The truck driver collided with a school bus Authorities respond near a damaged school bus Tuesday, 31 October 2017, in New York. A motorist drove onto a busy bicycle path near the World Trade Center memorial and struck several people, police and witnesses said. Two adults and two children were on the bus at the time. AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews New York Truck attack A young girl reacts to the scene A young girl reacts as police officers secure an area following a shooting incident in New York on 31 October 2017. Several people were killed and numerous others injured in New York on Tuesday after a vehicle plowed into a pedestrian and bike path in Lower Manhattan, police said. 'The vehicle struck multiple people on the path,' police tweeted. 'The vehicle continued south striking another vehicle. The suspect exited the vehicle displaying imitation firearms & was shot by NYPD.' DON EMMERT/AFP/Getty Images New York Truck attack Police officers arrive at the scene Police officers arrive at the scene following a shooting incident in New York on 31 October 2017. Multiple people were hurt in downtown Manhattan, US media reported after police confirmed that they were responding to reports of a shooting. Police said they had mobilized to the scene in Lower Manhattan and that one person was in custody, giving no further details. DON EMMERT/AFP/Getty Images New York Truck attack Emergency personnel respond to truck attack in lower Manhattan Emergency personal respond after reports of multiple people hit by a truck after it plowed through a bike path in lower Manhattan on 31 October 2017 in New York City. According to reports up to six people may have been killed. Kena Betancur/Getty Images

Mr Trump has invoked the rise of Isis as a rationale for sharply curtailing admissions of refugees and other immigrants.

By using his truck as a weapon to mow people down, Saipov mimicked a tactic used during attacks in Berlin and Nice. Isis has encouraged its adherents to do so, part of its wider message encouraging attacks in

Western countries as the organisation's self-proclaimed caliphate in the Middle East has crumbled.

 Raqqa's fall: A journey into the heart of Isis failed caliphate

As an American-assisted campaign has pushed Isis from its former strongholds in Iraq and Syria, terrorism experts have warned the organisation could increasingly shift to attacks on Western cities.
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The man accused of killing eight people by driving a truck down a busy New York cycle path was an Uber driver who may have lived in New Jersey after emigrating from Uzbekistan seven years ago.

As New York City reels from its latest terror atrocity, police have issued the first picture of their suspect, 29-year-old Sayfullo Saipov.

Records show Saipov was a commercial truck driver who formed a pair of businesses in Ohio. He had also driven for Uber, the company said.

Sayfullo Saipov is suspected of mowing down pedestrians and cyclists along a busy bike path near the World Trade Centre memorial St Charles County Department of Corrections/KMOV via AP (St Charles County Department of Corrections/KMOV via AP)

An Ohio marriage license shows a truck driver with one of Saipov's addresses and his name, spelled slightly differently, married a fellow Uzbek in 2013.

During his time in Fort Myers, Florida, several years ago, Saipov was "a very good person," an acquaintance, Kobiljon Matkarov, told The New York Times.

"He liked the US. He seemed very lucky, and all the time, he was happy and talking like everything is okay. He did not seem like a terrorist, but I did not know him from the inside," Mr Matkarov said.

 New York attack: Man 'drove truck into school bus with children inside'

He said Saipov later moved to New Jersey and began driving for Uber. San Francisco-based Uber said he started over six months ago.

An acquaintance, Dilnoza Abdusamatova, said Saipov briefly stayed with his family in a Cincinnati suburb upon immigrating.

"He always used to work," Ms Abdusamatova told The Cincinnati Enquirer. "He wouldn't go to parties or anything. He only used to come home and rest and leave and go back to work."

Uzbekistan told President Donald Trump it was ready to do everything it could to help investigate the attack.

Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev made the offer of help in a letter of condolence to Mr Trump, in which he condemned the attack as "extremely brutal" and said there could be no justification for such violence.

"From our side, we are ready to use all our power and resources to cooperate in the investigation of this terrorist act," Mr Mirziyoyev wrote in the letter, which was posted on his country's Foreign Ministry's website.

"We express our solidarity with the US people."

CNN and other US media said Saipov left a note saying he carried out the attack in the name of Isis and shouted "Allahu Akbar" - Arabic for "God is great" - when he jumped out of his truck.

Thousands of men from Central Asia have been fighting for Isis in Syria and Iraq, and Uzbek nationals or ethnic Uzbeks have carried out several attacks on civilians in Europe this year.

On New Year's day, an Uzbek gunman burst into a nightclub in the Turkish city of Istanbul and killed 39 people.

In April, an ethnic Uzbek man born in Kyrgyzstan blew up a metro train in the Russian city of St Petersburg, killing at least 15 people, including himself.

That same month, an Uzbek man rammed a truck into a crowd in Stockholm, killing four people.

New York Truck attack Show all 6 1 /6 New York Truck attack New York Truck attack Investigators inspect the truck following the attack Investigators inspect a truck following a shooting incident in New York on 31 October 2017. Several people were killed and numerous others injured in New York on Tuesday when a suspect plowed a vehicle into a bike and pedestrian path in Lower Manhattan, and struck another vehicle on Halloween, police said. A suspect exited the vehicle holding up fake guns, before being shot by police and taken into custody, officers said. The motive was not immediately apparent. Getty New York Truck attack A paramedic looks at a body along the bike path A paramedic looks at a body covered under a white sheet along the bike path 31 October 2017, in New York. A motorist drove onto a busy bicycle path near the World Trade Center memorial and struck several people Tuesday, police and witnesses said. AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews New York Truck attack The truck driver collided with a school bus Authorities respond near a damaged school bus Tuesday, 31 October 2017, in New York. A motorist drove onto a busy bicycle path near the World Trade Center memorial and struck several people, police and witnesses said. Two adults and two children were on the bus at the time. AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews New York Truck attack A young girl reacts to the scene A young girl reacts as police officers secure an area following a shooting incident in New York on 31 October 2017. Several people were killed and numerous others injured in New York on Tuesday after a vehicle plowed into a pedestrian and bike path in Lower Manhattan, police said. 'The vehicle struck multiple people on the path,' police tweeted. 'The vehicle continued south striking another vehicle. The suspect exited the vehicle displaying imitation firearms & was shot by NYPD.' DON EMMERT/AFP/Getty Images New York Truck attack Police officers arrive at the scene Police officers arrive at the scene following a shooting incident in New York on 31 October 2017. Multiple people were hurt in downtown Manhattan, US media reported after police confirmed that they were responding to reports of a shooting. Police said they had mobilized to the scene in Lower Manhattan and that one person was in custody, giving no further details. DON EMMERT/AFP/Getty Images New York Truck attack Emergency personnel respond to truck attack in lower Manhattan Emergency personal respond after reports of multiple people hit by a truck after it plowed through a bike path in lower Manhattan on 31 October 2017 in New York City. According to reports up to six people may have been killed. Kena Betancur/Getty Images

Police said the attacker rented the truck at about 2pm at a New Jersey Home Depot and then went into New York City, entering the bike path about an hour later and speeding toward the World Trade Centre, the site of the deadliest terror attack in US history.

He barreled along the bike path in the truck for the equivalent of about 14 blocks, or around eight-tenths of a mile, before slamming into a small yellow school bus.

Saipov was shot by a police officer after jumping out of the truck with two fake guns. He was whisked away to a local hospital, where he was recovering from an abdominal wound.

New York City mayor Bill de Blasio described the attack as a particularly cowardly act of terror and New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said it was perpetrated by a lone wolf.

Mr Trump tweeted: In NYC, looks like another attack by a very sick and deranged person.

He later added: We must not allow Isis to return, or enter, our country after defeating them in the Middle East and elsewhere. Enough!

Prime Minister Theresa May said she was appalled by this cowardly attack and that the UK stands with NYC.

Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson echoed her statement, adding: We will not give in to terror.

Former president Barack Obama tweeted: Michelle and I are thinking of the victims of today's attack in NYC and everyone who keeps us safe. New Yorkers are as tough as they come.
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Marques Davis kept moving the items on the floor next to his prison mattress - stacking toilet paper, books, a water pitcher and a cup and then disassembling the stack.

He moved and stacked the items again. And then again.

Then, he drank his own urine from a urinal.

The bizarre behaviour was captured by a surveillance camera in an isolation cell in the Hutchinson Correctional Facility, northwest of Wichita.

Months earlier, when he was still lucid, Davis told the Kansas facility's doctors that something was terribly wrong with him.

It feels like something is eating my brain, he said in December, according to court records.

Davis died 13 April, just days after the surveillance camera recorded him acting disoriented in his isolation cell. An MRI done at the facility showed widespread fungal infection throughout his brain. A CT scan conducted later at a hospital revealed it was so swollen that the upper part of Davis's brain was forced down to the lower part.

The 27-year-old's death is now the subject of a lawsuit that accuses the Hutchinson Correctional Facility's private health-care providers of dismissing the inmate's symptoms as they quickly progressed, causing Davis to suffer a staggeringly slow, physically and mentally excruciating death.

The suit, filed last week by Davis's mother in federal court in Kansas, names the prison's health-care provider and 14 doctors and nurses as defendants and seeks unspecified damages.

It's the latest in a long line of controversies involving one of the largest correctional health-care providers in the country: Corizon Health. Corizon, which contracts with more than 500 jails and prisons in more than 20 states and rakes in at least $1.4 billion annually, has been plagued with accusations that it fails to meet basic medical needs, leading, in some cases, to inmates' deaths.

Over the past few years, Corizon has paid millions of dollars to settle lawsuits filed by inmates and their families. The allegations have placed the Tennessee-based company under scrutiny and resulted in lost contracts with several states.

In Kansas, Corizon provides health services to all adult and juvenile prisoners. The Hutchinson facility is one of the state's nine adult prisons. Neither the facility nor the Kansas Department of Corrections is named in the lawsuit.

Davis, who was serving a 53-year sentence for attempted murder and aggravated battery, seemed healthy before he slowly deteriorated over an eight-month period. Headaches, back pains and numbness on his right leg sent him to the facility's infirmary dozens of times last year, according to the federal complaint.

By spring, he'd lost much of his weight and his ability to walk, according to the lawsuit. His speech was confused and slurred, his hands and fingers were stiff, and his arms shook uncontrollably. He once passed out while trying to make a phone call. Days before he died, Davis was urinating and defecating on himself, the complaint says.

Every week that I went to visit, it was one thing after another, his mother, Shermaine Walker, told The Washington Post. She said she called the infirmary almost every day for months, begging for someone to find out what was wrong with her son.

They would tell me they looked at him and nothing was wrong with him, Walker said.

The lawsuit also alleges that medical staff dismissed the symptoms as phony. Several inmates had given written statements saying they had overheard nurses and doctors say Davis was faking his symptoms.

Corizon Health officials said in a statement that patient privacy laws prevent the company from sharing details about the medical services provided to Davis, but that they expect legal proceedings to reveal that Davis was appropriately cared for.

It is important to emphasise that the existence of a lawsuit is not necessarily indicative of the quality of care or any wrongdoing, and that a legal complaint represents only allegations made by a plaintiff's attorney and selected information to support those allegations, said Martha Harbin, a spokeswoman for Corizon Health. We are first and foremost healthcare providers committed to providing the best possible care to our patients in a challenging environment in which to deliver healthcare.

A spokesman for the Kansas Department of Corrections declined to comment on the lawsuit.

Davis first went to the infirmary in July 2016 complaining of back pain and numbness on his right foot and leg. A physician determined that the symptoms were caused by blood pressure medication, which was then stopped, court records say.

But the symptoms worsened, and Davis was later given a walking cane to help him get around. At one point, medical staff gave him Tylenol for his back pain and ordered a lumbar X-ray. Last October, a physician documented that Davis's limping was very visible and that he was showing neurological deficits.

By December, the inmate's symptoms included dizziness and hot sweats. Davis asked for a wheelchair, but his request was denied, the complaint says.

Davis was given Prednisone for 10 days after he passed out in January while trying to make a phone call. A correctional officer took him to the infirmary the following month because his eyes were moving erratically. He was back shortly after with the same symptoms and was discharged 23 hours later, the complaint says.

Near the end of March, Davis was rushed to the clinic. His fingers were stiff and bent in abnormal directions, and his arms were shaking, the complaint says. He'd also lost some vision from his right eye. Davis was discharged on the same day, only to be brought back hours later after he was found lying on the floor of his cell.

He was later moved to the isolation cell. By then, he was acting erratically and needed help to use the toilet, the complaint says.

Tests were conducted, including an electrocardiogram, electromyography and lumbar spine MRI, in the months before Davis's death, but the results were normal, according to the complaint. Records also show several instances in which Davis refused tests and medications, although it's unclear why.

Marques Davis (Kansas Department of Corrections/The Washington Post)

An attorney for Davis's mother said a brain MRI, which showed widespread infection, was not conducted until 11 April. By then, it was too late for treatment, said the lawyer, Leland Dempsey. Davis was hospitalised - but only after he went into cardiac arrest the following day, the complaint says.

By the time a CT scan revealed swelling, Davis was brain dead. He was taken off life support two days later. An autopsy revealed that a type of yeast that causes fungal infections was found in his cerebral cortex. The infection attacked Davis's lungs, liver and kidney.

Walker said the last time she saw her son, who has a nine-year-old daughter, was during a visit two weeks before he died. He was so incapacitated that inmates had to carry him like a rag doll. Davis knew then that he would die, his mother said.

He was able to talk and basically tell me that he loved me. He kind of knew at this point, she said. I'm a mother that loves my child. It doesn't matter what he's in there for. I asked them for help, and they didn't give it to me, and it's obvious that they didn't give it to me because I don't have my child.

Corizon had entered into a contract with the Kansas Department of Corrections to provide health services to the state's 10,000 adult and juvenile inmates. The contract pays $70 million a year, which is expected to rise to about $83 million within the next five years as the prison population increases, The Kansas City Star reported.

In recent years, the company has lost contracts with prisons and jails in several states, including Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Florida, Georgia and New Mexico, because of complaints about inadequate health care and inmate deaths. The company lost a contract with New York City's Riker's Island Prison Complex after a report found that Corizon hired staffers with criminal records.

In 2012, a federal judge unsealed a report saying patients at the Idaho State Correctional Institution in Boise received substandard care and faced cruel and unusual treatment under the company. Corizon and prison officials issued statements calling the report misleading and erroneous.

Since at least 2015, Corizon Health has paid out millions of dollars in lawsuit settlements in at least three states. Corizon and Alameda County, California, agreed to pay $8.3 million in 2015 to the family of an inmate who was beaten to death by jail staff. It's the largest settlement of its kind in California, according to media reports. The company paid more than $4.5 million in 2016 to dozens of New Mexico inmates who accused a Corizon physician of sexually abusing them. And in April, Corizon agreed to pay $1.7 million to about 1,800 current and former Florida inmates who were denied medical care for hernias.

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Corizon became the Kansas prison healthcare provider in 2013. The 18-month contract is renewable every two years.

In light of the most recent lawsuit, Kansas Senate Minority Leader Anthony Hensley, Democrat, said the state should consider ending its contract with Corizon.

The Washington Post
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In the wake of the New York terror attack, it has become the contrast that some claim speaks volumes about Donald Trump.

When a white American with a semi-automatic rifle killed 59 people in Las Vegas in the worst mass shooting in US history, it took Mr Trump five hours to offer his condolences, and even longer to suggest it wasnt the time to discuss policy matters like gun control.

When an apparently Muslim Uzbek national used a hire truck to kill at least eight people in New York, there was no such hesitation. And to some, it said everything about Mr Trump's willingness to exploit fear of Muslim immigrants while doing nothing to offend his gun-loving core supporters.

Within 90 minutes of the New York attack Mr Trump had tweeted NOT IN THE USA, following up half an hour later with an apparent immigration reference: We must not allow to Isis to return, or enter, our country  all before he got round to offering his condolences to the victims and their families.

Within hours of the New York attack, Mr Trump was explicitly linking the incident to immigration policy action, informing his twitter followers: I have just ordered Homeland Security to step up our already Extreme Vetting Program [for refugees seeking entry to the US].

And by Wednesday morning Mr Trump was trying to pin the blame on a political rival, the Democratic senator Chuck Schumer.

Yet after Stephen Paddock used a semi-automatic rifle to kill 59 and wound more than 500 in Las Vegas, it took over 24 hours and the prompting of reporters before the president so much as mentioned gun control policy  and even then he only said firearms laws would be discussed as time goes by.

He didnt specify when, and amid the clamour to condemn lobby groups like the National Rifle Association, he seemed to stick closely to the line articulated by White House press secretary Sarah Huckerbee Sanders that This isn't the time to go after individuals or organisations.

This time, though, Mr Trump showed no qualms at all about going after individuals or organisations.

In a flurry of tweets early on Wednesday morning, he started pointing the finger of blame at his political opponent, the Senate Minority Leader and New York Democrat Chuck Schumer.

In an apparent reference to as-yet unconfirmed reports about New York terror attack suspect Sayfullo Saipov, Mr Trump wrote: The terrorist came into our country through what is called the "Diversity Visa Lottery Program," a Chuck Schumer beauty.

We are fighting hard for Merit Based immigration, no more Democrat Lottery Systems. We must get MUCH tougher (and smarter).

"'Senator Chuck Schumer helping to import Europes problems,' said Col.Tony Shaffer. We will stop this craziness!"

Two tweets referred his followers to the conservative TV channel Fox News, where the diversity visa lottery programme, supposedly the brainchild of Mr Schumer, was being discussed.

The seemingly obvious contrast in reactions to Las Vegas and New York provoked a near-instant response.

Many were furious that Mr Trump appeared happy to rush to make political gains by stirring up hatred against Muslims and immigrants, while deflecting questions about gun control to avoid upsetting his core supporters.

Why can we instantly talk about stopping Isis but not the same for gun violence? asked one twitter user.

You bigot, said another, Pe Resists, in response to the presidents announcement about extreme vetting of refugees. You didn't do s**t when someone shot up 600 people a month ago, but it took you three hours to react to this.

What's the difference? Oh yeah, this guy's a Muslim. That's literally it.

Why dont you react as strongly when a domestic terrorist mows down 60 people with an automatic weapon? demanded Artie Vandelay. You will try to play on fear and you do so literally hours after the event. Sick.

Immediately after Mr Trump attacked Mr Schumer, the anti-Trump writer Brian Krassenstein told him: Meanwhile just last month an American white man killed 50 and shot 500. Yet you don't want to do anything about gun control.

Stop using this [the New York attack] for political gain. It's pathetic weak and shows you have a simple mind.

Others pointed out that as someone born in Uzbekistan and living legally in America since 2010, Saipov would not have been caught by Mr Trumps extreme vetting order anyway.

The executive order signed by Mr Trump on October 24 said refugees applying to enter the US from 11 higher-risk countries would be subject to enhanced security measures during a new 90-day review period.

The administration did not name the 11 higher-risk countries, but it is believed Saipovs native Uzbekistan was not one of them.

Instead, the 11 countries were reported to be Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Mali, North Korea, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen  all but North Korea and South Sudan being Muslim-majority nations.
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Facebook has raised its estimate as to how many Americans saw Russian-generated content in the run-up to the 2016 election to 150 million, as senators railed against the conduct of the tech company during the latest hearings into election .

Executives from Facebook, Google and Twitter were in their second day of testifying to Congress about a campaign, directed by the Russian government, to cause turmoil in the presidential election.

The scope of Russian activity was also revealed to be wider than previously stated. Facebook General Counsel Colin Stretch had said Russian-linked operatives disseminated tens of thousands of misleading or inflammatory posts that, juiced by thousands of Facebook advertisements, appeared before some 126 million Americans.

On Wednesday Mr Stretch increased that estimate to around 150 million Americans who were exposed to the content, when Facebook-owned image sharing site Instagram is included.

The companys representatives have at times faced withering questions from lawmakers incensed that the platforms did not do more to identify Russian-generated content that spread widely. In a heated exchange yesterday, Minnesota Democrat Al Franken seemed incredulous the companies allowed foreign actors to purchase ads. Senators continued to apply pressure on Wednesday, chastising the tech industrys representatives for downplaying the threat.

I don't think you get it, said Sen Dianne Feinstein, D-California, whose state hosts the headquarters of all three companies. What we're talking about is the beginning of cyber warfare.

Cybercrime: Uncovered Show all 2 1 /2 Cybercrime: Uncovered Cybercrime: Uncovered 10339.bin Cybercrime: Uncovered 10340.bin

The Russian-linked content Facebook has identified so far was largely intended to divide, the company has said, by highlighting fractious social issues. Among the examples of Russian-generated content senators have displayed were Facebook pages claiming Democratic nominee Hillary was despised by the overwhelming majority of the military and a fake Miners for Trump event page.

Sen Mark Warner, Democrat of Virginia, had previously excoriated Twitter for a closed-door hearing he called deeply disappointing and inadequate on almost every level, and he again called the tech sector to task for not initially acknowledging what he called a threat to American democracy.

 Trump-Russia investigation: who has been charged in the Mueller probe

Concerns about Russian infiltration were blown off by the leadership of your companies, Mr Warner said.

All of what the Russians did last year, said Maine independent Angus King, has basically been a free pass.

Tech companies have been scrambling to show they are taking the issue seriously. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has had to walk back his statement, made shortly after the election, that it would be crazy to suggest Facebook functioned as a vessel for Russian influence. Twitter and Facebooked have proclaiming their commitment to election integrity and rolled out new advertising disclosure rules.

Lawmakers have introduced a measure that would regulate online political ads like broadcast and print advertising, requiring disclosures about who is paying for content. Tech executives sidestepped questions about whether they would back that bill, saying they supported the concept and pointing to internal steps to increase transparency.
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Democratic Senator Al Franken has blasted Facebooks general counsel for the social platforms failure to recognise earlier that Russia was attempting to meddle in last years presidential race.

In the run-up to the 2016 election, Facebook sold at least $100,000 worth of adverts to a shadowy Russian Internet company, the company has said, with several payments being made in rubles, the Russian currency.

The revelation rattled Capitol Hill, which will host executives and other representatives from the social media giants over the next few days as members of Congress seek to get to the bottom of the issue about what happened.

Recommended Russian election meddling likely reached 126 million on Facebook

How does Facebook, which prides itself on being able to process billions of data points and instantly transform them into personal connections for its users, somehow not make the connection that electoral ads, paid for in roubles, were coming from Russia? Mr Franken said during one of the few loud and tense moments during a Senate judiciary subcommittee hearing on Tuesday afternoon.

American political ads and Russian money, rubles: How could you not connect those two dots! Mr Franken said.

Colin Stretch, the platforms general counsel, attempted to explain that it was something Facebook should have addressed.

In hindsight we should have had a broader lens. There were signals we missed, he said.

The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Show all 17 1 /17 The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Paul Manafort Mr Manafort is a Republican strategist and former Trump campaign manager. He resigned from that post over questions about his extensive lobbying overseas, including in Ukraine where he represented pro-Russian interests. Mr Manafort turned himself in at FBI headquarters to special counsel Robert Muellers team on Oct 30, 2017, after he was indicted under seal on charges that include conspiracy against the United States, conspiracy to launder money, unregistered agent of a foreign principal, false and misleading US Foreign Agents Registration Act statements, false statements, and seven counts of failure to file reports of foreign bank and financial accounts. Getty The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Rick Gates Mr Gates joined the Trump team in spring 2016, and served as a top aide until he left to work at the Republican National Committee after the departure of former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort. Mr Gates' had previously worked on several presidential campaigns, on international political campaigns in Europe and Africa, and had 15 years of political or financial experience with multinational firms, according to his bio. Mr Gates was indicted alongside Mr Manafort by special counsel Robert Mueller's team on charges that include conspiracy against the United States, conspiracy to launder money, unregistered agent of a foreign principal, false and misleading US Foreign Agents Registration Act statements, false statements, and seven counts of failure to file reports of foreign bank and financial accounts. AP The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation George Papadopoulos George Papadopoulos was a former foreign policy adviser for the Trump campaign, having joined around March 2016. Mr Papadopoulos plead guilty to federal charges for lying to the FBI as a part of a cooperation agreement with Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation. Mr Papadopoulos claimed in an interview with the FBI that he had made contacts with Russian sources before joining the Trump campaign, but he actually began working with them after joining the team. Mr Papadopoulos allegedly took a meeting with a professor in London who reportedly told him that Russians had "dirt" on Hillary Clinton. The professor also allegedly introduced Mr Papadopoulos to a Russian who was said to have close ties to officials at the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Mr Papadopoulos also allegedly was in contact with a woman whom he incorrectly described in one email to others in the campaign as the "niece" to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Twitter The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Donald Trump Jr The President's eldest son met with a Russian lawyer - Natalia Veselnitskaya - on 9 June 2016 at Trump Tower in New York. He said in an initial statement that the meeting was about Russia halting adoptions of its children by US citizens. Then, he said it was regarding the Magnitsky Act, a US law blacklisting Russian human rights abusers. In a final statement, Mr Trump Jr released a chain of emails that revealed he took the meeting in hopes of getting information Ms Veselnitskaya had about Hillary Clinton's alleged financial ties to Russia. He and the President called it standard "opposition research" in the course of campaigning and that no information came from the meeting. The meeting was set up by an intermediary, Rob Goldstone. Jared Kushner and Paul Manafort were also at the same meeting. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Jared Kushner Mr Kushner is President Donald Trump's son-in-law and a key adviser to the White House. He met with a Russian banker appointed by Russian President Vladimir Putin in December. Mr Kushner has said he did so in his role as an adviser to Mr Trump while the bank says he did so as a private developer. Mr Kushner has also volunteered to testify in the Senate about his role helping to arrange meetings between Trump advisers and Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Rob Goldstone Former tabloid journalist and now music publicist Rob Goldstone is a contact of the Trump family through the previously Trump-owned 2013 Miss Universe pageant, which took place in Moscow. In June 2016, he wrote to Donald Trump Jr offering a meeting with a Russian lawyer, Natalya Veselnitskaya, who had information about Hillary Clinton. Mr Goldstone was the intermediary for Russian pop star Emin Agalaraov and his father, real estate magnate Aras, who played a role in putting on the 2013 pageant. In an email chain released by Mr Trump Jr, Mr Goldstone seemed to indicate Russian government's support of Donald Trump's campaign. AP images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Aras and Emin Agalarov Aras Agalarov (R) is a wealthy Moscow-based real estate magnate and son Emin (L) is a pop star. Both played a role in putting on the previously Trump-owned 2013 Miss Universe pageant in Moscow. They allegedly had information about Hillary Clinton and offered that information to the Trump campaign through a lawyer with whom they had worked with, Natalia Veselnitskaya, and music publicist Rob Goldstone. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Natalia Veselnitskaya Natalia Veselnitskaya is a Russian lawyer with ties to the Kremlin. She has worked on real estate issues and reportedly counted the FSB as a client in the past. She has ties to a Trump family connection, real estate magnate Aras Agalarov, who had helped set up the Trump-owned 2013 Miss Universe pageant which took place in Moscow. Ms Veselnitskaya met with Donald Trump Jr, Jared Kushner, and Paul Manafort in Trump Tower on 9 June 2016 but denies the allegation that she went there promising information on Hillary Clinton's alleged financial ties to Russia. She contends that the meeting was about the US adoptions of Russian children being stopped by Moscow as a reaction to the Magnitsky Act, a US law blacklisting Russian human rights abusers. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Mike Flynn Mr Flynn was named as Trump's national security adviser but was forced to resign from his post for inappropriate communication with Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak. He had misrepresented a conversation he had with Mr Kislyak to Vice President Mike Pence, telling him wrongly that he had not discussed sanctions with the Russian. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Sergey Kislyak Mr Kislyak, the former longtime Russian ambassador to the US, is at the centre of the web said to connect President Donald Trump's campaign with Russia. Reuters The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Roger Stone Mr Stone is a former Trump adviser who worked on the political campaigns of Richard Nixon, George HW Bush, and Ronald Reagan. Mr Stone claimed repeatedly in the final months of the campaign that he had backchannel communications with WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange and that he knew the group was going to dump damaging documents to the campaign of Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton - which did happen. Mr Stone also had contacts with the hacker Guccier 2.0 on Twitter, who claimed to have hacked the DNC and is linked to Russian intelligence services. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Jeff Sessions The US attorney general was forced to recuse himself from the Trump-Russia investigation after it was learned that he had lied about meeting with Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Carter Page Mr Page is a former advisor to the Trump campaign and has a background working as an investment banker at Merrill Lynch. Mr Page met with Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak during the 2016 Republican National Convention in Cleveland. Mr Page had invested in oil companies connected to Russia and had admitted that US Russia sanctions had hurt his bottom line. Reuters The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Jeffrey "JD" Gorden Mr Gordon met with Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak during the 2016 Republian National Convention to discuss how the US and Russia could work together to combat Islamist extremism should then-Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump win the election. The meeting came days before a massive leak of DNC emails that has been connected to Russia. Creative Commons The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation James Comey Mr Comey was fired from his post as head of the FBI by President Donald Trump. The timing of Mr Comey's firing raised questions around whether or not the FBI's investigation into the Trump campaign may have played a role in the decision. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Preet Bharara Mr Bahara refused, alongside 46 other US district attorney's across the country, to resign once President Donald Trump took office after previous assurances from Mr Trump that he would keep his job. Mr Bahara had been heading up several investigations including one into one of President Donald Trump's favorite cable television channels Fox News. Several investigations would lead back to that district, too, including those into Mr Trump's campaign ties to Russia, and Mr Trump's assertion that Trump Tower was wiretapped on orders from his predecessor. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Sally Yates Ms Yates, a former Deputy Attorney General, was running the Justice Department while President Donald Trump's pick for attorney general awaited confirmation. Ms Yates was later fired by Mr Trump from her temporary post over her refusal to implement Mr Trump's first travel ban. She had also warned the White House about potential ties former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn to Russia after discovering those ties during the FBI's investigation into the Trump campaign's connections to Russia. Getty Images

Mr Franken also demanded to know if Facebook would refuse to sell American political ads in the future that are paid for in rubles or the won, North Koreas currency.

Mr Stretch said the platform was going to try to stop political manipulation by foreign actors. However, the type of payment is not the most important factor, he said.

It's relatively easy to change currencies, he added.

In another tense moment during the hearing, Senator John Kennedy worked to get Mr Stretch to admit that Facebook currently doesnt have the capability to find the true identity of all of the parties that advertise on its platforms.

Facebook has about 5m advertisers on a monthly basis, according to Mr Stretch.

You have 5 million advertisers that change every year, every month, probably every second... You do not have the ability to know about every one of those advertisers, do you? Mr Kennedy asked.

Mr Stretch eventually acknowledged that advertisers likely can obscure their identities.
Why has this come up again?

After the 2016 election, the issue largely fell to the wayside, presumably because Ms Clinton was a private citizen and not a public figure running for office. But, a recent report in The Hill found that the FBI had been investigating whether Russia was attempting to gain influence in the American nuclear industry.

That report said that, at the time of the Uranium One approval, the FBI had already found substantial evidence that Russian nuclear officials had engaged in bribery, kickbacks, extortion, and money laundering to expand in the US.

But, that report also noted that the Justice Department had continued to investigate for nearly four years after its finding rather than telling the American public and Congress about Russias nuclear corruption in the US. During that time the Obama administration made two decisions that benefited Russias nuclear ambitions in America.

So far there is not any evidence that indicates Ms Clinton knew about the FBI investigation, and several officials have said they werent aware of the operation.

That includes an assistant FBI director in charge of criminal cases during investigations at the time, Ronald Hosko, who told the Hill he wasnt aware of the investigation. Republican Representative Mike Rogers, the then-chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, also said that he wasnt aware of the operation.

Its not clear that Ms Clinton wouldve been briefed on the issue, unless she was asked to weigh in on the transaction, which it seems likely would not have happened since the Uranium One deal was not controversial.
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Donald Trump has blamed a lottery scheme for visa applicants for allowing the suspected New York terror attacker to enter the country.

The US President, citing unconfirmed reports about how Sayfullo Saipov, 29, entered the country, said: The terrorist came into our country through what is called the Diversity Visa Lottery Program, a Chuck Schumer beauty. I want merit based.

We are fighting hard for Merit Based immigration, no more Democrat Lottery Systems. We must get MUCH tougher (and smarter). @foxandfriends.

Senator Chuck Schumer helping to import Europes problems said Col.Tony Shaffer. We will stop this craziness! @foxandfriends.

Just minutes before Mr Trump sent his first tweet, Fox News Fox and Friends programme had posted a clip of Dan Bongino, a former Secret Service agent, railing against the lottery scheme to its Twitter account.

The visa lottery makes available 55,000 immigrant visas, known as green cards, every year for people from countries with low rates of migration to the US.

Mr Saipov, an Uzbek national, entered the US legally in 2010. Officials have not said whether he came via the lottery scheme.

He was arrested after a truck ploughed through pedestrians and cyclists near the World Trade Centre in Manhattan on Tuesday, and then crashed into a schoolbus.

The rampage left eight dead and 11 seriously injured.

New York Truck attack Show all 6 1 /6 New York Truck attack New York Truck attack Investigators inspect the truck following the attack Investigators inspect a truck following a shooting incident in New York on 31 October 2017. Several people were killed and numerous others injured in New York on Tuesday when a suspect plowed a vehicle into a bike and pedestrian path in Lower Manhattan, and struck another vehicle on Halloween, police said. A suspect exited the vehicle holding up fake guns, before being shot by police and taken into custody, officers said. The motive was not immediately apparent. Getty New York Truck attack A paramedic looks at a body along the bike path A paramedic looks at a body covered under a white sheet along the bike path 31 October 2017, in New York. A motorist drove onto a busy bicycle path near the World Trade Center memorial and struck several people Tuesday, police and witnesses said. AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews New York Truck attack The truck driver collided with a school bus Authorities respond near a damaged school bus Tuesday, 31 October 2017, in New York. A motorist drove onto a busy bicycle path near the World Trade Center memorial and struck several people, police and witnesses said. Two adults and two children were on the bus at the time. AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews New York Truck attack A young girl reacts to the scene A young girl reacts as police officers secure an area following a shooting incident in New York on 31 October 2017. Several people were killed and numerous others injured in New York on Tuesday after a vehicle plowed into a pedestrian and bike path in Lower Manhattan, police said. 'The vehicle struck multiple people on the path,' police tweeted. 'The vehicle continued south striking another vehicle. The suspect exited the vehicle displaying imitation firearms & was shot by NYPD.' DON EMMERT/AFP/Getty Images New York Truck attack Police officers arrive at the scene Police officers arrive at the scene following a shooting incident in New York on 31 October 2017. Multiple people were hurt in downtown Manhattan, US media reported after police confirmed that they were responding to reports of a shooting. Police said they had mobilized to the scene in Lower Manhattan and that one person was in custody, giving no further details. DON EMMERT/AFP/Getty Images New York Truck attack Emergency personnel respond to truck attack in lower Manhattan Emergency personal respond after reports of multiple people hit by a truck after it plowed through a bike path in lower Manhattan on 31 October 2017 in New York City. According to reports up to six people may have been killed. Kena Betancur/Getty Images

Uzbekistan said it was ready to do everything it could to help investigate.

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev made the offer of help in a letter of condolence to Mr Trump in which he condemned the attack as extremely brutal and said there could be no justification for such violence.

The attack is a challenge for Mr Mirziyoyev who assumed office at the end of 2016 and is trying to slowly open up his country after decades of authoritarian rule.

It also shines an uncomfortable light on Islamist militancy in the wider region which has supplied Islamic State in Syria and Iraq with thousands of fighters.

Additional reporting by agencies
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Osama bin Laden had the Charlie Bit My Finger video on his computer when he was shot and killed during a covert operation carried out by the US government in 2011.

The majority of materials released by the CIA were related to Bin Laden's terror operations, such as clipart appearing to depict the 9/11 terror attacks. But some of the files were benign in nature and included children's programmes such as Tom and Jerry and instructions for crocheting butterflies, socks and baskets.

The government seized the al-Qaeda founder's computer in May 2011 during a raid on his hideout in Abbottabad, Pakistan.

The package of 470,000 files the intelligence agency released this week is the fourth tranche of materials to be made public by the government since May 2015.

Todays release of recovered al-Qaeda letters, videos, audio files and other materials provides the opportunity for the American people to gain further insights into the plans and workings of this terrorist organization, said CIA Director Mike Pompeo.

FBI release unseen image of Pentagon on 9/11 Show all 19 1 /19 FBI release unseen image of Pentagon on 9/11 FBI release unseen image of Pentagon on 9/11 FBI FBI release unseen image of Pentagon on 9/11 FBI FBI release unseen image of Pentagon on 9/11 FBI FBI release unseen image of Pentagon on 9/11 FBI FBI release unseen image of Pentagon on 9/11 FBI FBI release unseen image of Pentagon on 9/11 FBI FBI release unseen image of Pentagon on 9/11 FBI FBI release unseen image of Pentagon on 9/11 FBI FBI release unseen image of Pentagon on 9/11 FBI FBI release unseen image of Pentagon on 9/11 FBI FBI release unseen image of Pentagon on 9/11 FBI FBI release unseen image of Pentagon on 9/11 FBI FBI release unseen image of Pentagon on 9/11 FBI FBI release unseen image of Pentagon on 9/11 FBI FBI release unseen image of Pentagon on 9/11 FBI FBI release unseen image of Pentagon on 9/11 FBI FBI release unseen image of Pentagon on 9/11 FBI FBI release unseen image of Pentagon on 9/11 FBI FBI release unseen image of Pentagon on 9/11 FBI

CIA will continue to seek opportunities to share information with the American people consistent with our obligation to protect national security.

The copyright-protected materials include more than two dozen videos such as Antz, Cars and other animated films, the role-playing game Final Fantasy VII and Where in the World is Osama bin Laden and two other documentaries about the former al-Qaeda leader, the CIA said.

The al-Qaeda founder may have had a plethora of childrens content on his computer because he was living with his family in the walled compound where he was killed by US Navy Seal Team 6.

Materials that still have not been released are being withheld because they could harm national security, are blank, corrupted or duplicate files, are pornographic or are protected by copyright, the CIA said in a statement.
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Donald Trump has suggested Isis is behind the murder of eight people in a truck attack in the heart of downtown Manhattan, despite no claims having been made by the terror group.

The President took to Twitter and named the terror group directly, saying it must not be allowed to "enter" the US - only hours after the incident.

Isis has yet to take responsibility for the attack in which eight people died and dozens more were injured after a 29-year-old man ran over pedestrians with a truck.

"We must not allow ISIS to return, or enter, our country after defeating them in the Middle East and elsewhere. Enough!" Mr Trump tweeted.

Mr Trump also described the attacker as a "sick and deranged" person.

"In NYC, looks like another attack by a very sick and deranged person," Mr Trump tweeted. "Law enforcement is following this closely. NOT IN THE U.S.A.!"

The incident itself took place near the West Side Highway and Chambers St, in close proximity to Stuyvesant High School, the Freedom Tower, and the September 11th Memorial, where the World Trade Center once stood.

Officials said that a pickup truck was driven down a bike path located alongside the Hudson River.

The NYPD said the man, who is believed to have driven the vehicle, then exited and started displaying what subsequently emerged to be imitation firearms.

There were eyewitness reports of several shots fired near the September 11th memorial site but there has been no report as to whether all the deaths were due to the vehicle or shots fired.

World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. 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Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. 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Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. 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Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty

The suspect was shot by police on the scene and has now been taken into custody.

The incident is being treated as a terrorist attack and the FBI has taken charge of the investigation.
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Donald Trump has said he would consider sending the suspected assailant in a New York terrorist attack to Guantanamo Bay, saying the venue would be preferable to the joke of America's criminal justice system.

The Presidents call to handle suspected attacker Sayfullo Saipov outside of the criminal justice system, combined with his vows to pursue more stringent immigration measures and dissolve a popular visa programme, suggested Mr Trump plans to respond forcefully to the worst major terrorist attack in New York City since 9/11 - and in a way that echoes former President George W Bush's fiercely contested response to the 2001 attacks.

Throughout his rise to the Oval Office, Mr Trump regularly invoked the perils of terrorist attacks in justifying fortified immigration policies. He has presented himself as a champion of law and order, advocating tougher criminal penalties as a way to keep Americans safe.

Suspect Sayfullo Saipov allegedly killed eight and injured others in New York City before being shot by police. Police officials said witnesses recounted hearing the attacker shout Allahu Akbar as he exited his truck, and multiple outlets have reported police found a note pledging allegiance to Isis.

Asked whether he might send Mr Saipov to the American military prison located in an American naval base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, Mr Trump said I would certainly consider that.

Send him to Gitmo, Mr Trump said.

New York Truck attack Show all 6 1 /6 New York Truck attack New York Truck attack Investigators inspect the truck following the attack Investigators inspect a truck following a shooting incident in New York on 31 October 2017. Several people were killed and numerous others injured in New York on Tuesday when a suspect plowed a vehicle into a bike and pedestrian path in Lower Manhattan, and struck another vehicle on Halloween, police said. A suspect exited the vehicle holding up fake guns, before being shot by police and taken into custody, officers said. The motive was not immediately apparent. Getty New York Truck attack A paramedic looks at a body along the bike path A paramedic looks at a body covered under a white sheet along the bike path 31 October 2017, in New York. A motorist drove onto a busy bicycle path near the World Trade Center memorial and struck several people Tuesday, police and witnesses said. AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews New York Truck attack The truck driver collided with a school bus Authorities respond near a damaged school bus Tuesday, 31 October 2017, in New York. A motorist drove onto a busy bicycle path near the World Trade Center memorial and struck several people, police and witnesses said. Two adults and two children were on the bus at the time. AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews New York Truck attack A young girl reacts to the scene A young girl reacts as police officers secure an area following a shooting incident in New York on 31 October 2017. Several people were killed and numerous others injured in New York on Tuesday after a vehicle plowed into a pedestrian and bike path in Lower Manhattan, police said. 'The vehicle struck multiple people on the path,' police tweeted. 'The vehicle continued south striking another vehicle. The suspect exited the vehicle displaying imitation firearms & was shot by NYPD.' DON EMMERT/AFP/Getty Images New York Truck attack Police officers arrive at the scene Police officers arrive at the scene following a shooting incident in New York on 31 October 2017. Multiple people were hurt in downtown Manhattan, US media reported after police confirmed that they were responding to reports of a shooting. Police said they had mobilized to the scene in Lower Manhattan and that one person was in custody, giving no further details. DON EMMERT/AFP/Getty Images New York Truck attack Emergency personnel respond to truck attack in lower Manhattan Emergency personal respond after reports of multiple people hit by a truck after it plowed through a bike path in lower Manhattan on 31 October 2017 in New York City. According to reports up to six people may have been killed. Kena Betancur/Getty Images

In the immediate aftermath of the attack, the President called on Twitter for tougher immigration restrictions, saying he would step up our already Extreme Vetting Programme and suggesting he wanted to scrap a visa lottery system. He reiterated that push in a Cabinet meeting, saying he would ask Congress to immediately initiate work to get rid of this programme.

In pushing new immigration restrictions like a halt on refugee admissions and bans on visitors from Muslim-majority countries, Mr Trump has argued he is keeping Americans safe from terrorism. Courts have blocked or weakened his proposed travel bans, which critics call cruel and counterproductive to curbing terrorism.

By floating sending Mr Saipov to Guantanamo Bay, a facility that holds suspected terrorists that are termed "enemy combatants", Mr Trump again thrust the military prison into the centre of America's reaction to terrorism. For years the prison has been a divisive symbol of how America has prosecuted its post-9/11 war on terrorism. The facility became deeply controversial during the administration of George W Bush for holding terrorism suspects indefinitely.

But Mr Trump said America's criminal justice system was too slow, offering an extraordinary rebuke of America's legal process.

We also have to come up with punishment that's far quicker and far greater than the punishment these animals are getting now. They'll go through court for years, Mr Trump said, adding that what we have right now is a joke, and it's a laughing stock.

During the presidential campaign, Mr Trump said he intended to keep Guantanamo Bay open, saying we're gonna load it up with some bad dudes.

While Barack Obama vowed to shutter the prison, he failed in the face of resistance from Congress. He did succeed in sharply reducing the number of prisoners held there, from 242 at the start of his presidency to just 41 when he left office.

As Wednesday unfolded, multiple Republicans embraced Mr Trump's call to transfer Mr Saipov outside of the criminal justice system, offering a moment of Republican unity that has been lacking as Mr Trump tangled with members of his own party.

Sen Lindsey Graham, Republican of South Carolina, advocated treating him as an enemy combatant, a designation that strips away due process protections like the right to challenge their imprisonment.

Also echoing Mr Trump was Senator John McCain, a Republican hawk who has clashed with Mr Trump over foreign policy but agreed on the proper fate for the assailant.

Take him to Guantanamo, Mr McCain told reporters. In a subsequent statement, Mr McCain joined Mr Graham in arguing Mr Saipov should be treated as an enemy combatant.
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A Utah nurse who was arrested for refusing to allow a police officer to draw blood from an unconscious patient has reached a $500,000 (375,000) compensation settlement.

Alex Wubbels agreed the payout with Salt Lake City's local government and University Hospital nearly two months after footage emerged showing her being handcuffed by Detective Jeff Payne.

The video, filmed by a police body camera, drew widespread criticism and prompted a national debate about force used by US officers.

Recommended Nurse arrested for refusing to take blood from lorry crash victim

The settlement precludes legal action against any possible defendants including individual police officers, university police and hospital security guards. The payment will be split between city authorities and the hospital. The nurse's lawyer, Karra Porter, said: "There will be no lawsuit."

Ms Wubbels, a former Winter Olympian, plans to use part of the money to fund legal help for others trying to get similar body-camera video. She said video was essential to being heard and believed in cases such as hers.

"We all deserve to know the truth, and the truth comes when you see the actual raw footage, and that's what happened in my case," she said. "No matter how truthful I was in telling my story, it was nothing compared to what people saw and the visceral reaction people experienced when watching the footage of the experience I went through."

She said she also planned to give a portion of the $500,000 to a nurse's union and help lead a campaign to stop physical and verbal abuse of nurses on the job.

Alex Wubbels was arrested for refusing to let a police officer draw blood from an unconscious patient (AP)

Ms Wubbels was following hospital policy when she told Detective Payne he needed he needed a warrant or the consent of the patient to draw blood after a 26 July car crash. The patient was not under arrest or suspected of wrongdoing.

The officer, who did not have a warrant or consent, dragged the nurse outside and handcuffed her as she screamed: "Help! Help! Somebody help me! Stop! Stop! I did nothing wrong!"

She was released without charge but said the incident "should never have happened". In a call for change, she released the video she obtained through a public records request in August.

University of Utah hospital officials said in a statement they supported Ms Wubbels and have changed their procedures and training on how police and healthcare workers interact.

Salt Lake City Police Chief Mike Brown has since apologised and fired Detective Payne after an internal investigation found he violated department policies.

Chief Brown said in a disciplinary letter that he was "deeply troubled" by the officer's conduct, which he said brought "significant disrepute" on the department.

Detective Payne is appealing his dismissal, which he said was an unfair reaction to negative publicity.

The patient was an off-duty Idaho reserve police officer and lorry driver, Bill Gray, whose vehicle was hit by a man fleeing police in a pick-up truck. He later died of his injuries.

Lieutenant James Tracy, a police supervisor who ordered the arrest of the nurse, was demoted to officer and also is appealing. He said he suggested Detective Payne consider handcuffing the nurse and that his superiors had never informed him of the hospital's blood-draw policy.

Ms Wubbels said she was relieved at the disciplinary action and would be disappointed if it was overturned.

"The police have to police themselves," she added. "This is something I never would have expected to happen, but I'm also honoured by the weight of it."
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Officials have raised a number of questions about the rescue of two women stranded at sea for nearly five months, particularly about how an emergency locator beacon on board was never activated.

US Coast Guard spokesman Lieutenant Scott Carr told the Associated Press that after the agency reviewed the details of the incident through interviews with the Tasha Fuiava and Jennifer Appel, authorities found that an Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) was on board but never used.

This type of device can be turned on manually, but usually activates a satellite signal when submerged under water.

The pair were sailing on what was supposed to be a one-month trip from Hawaii to Tahiti.

The Hawaii residents claimed a three-day tropical storm in May threw them off course when they were finally rescued by the US Navy off the coast of Japan on 25 October.

Alleged inconsistencies began to arise almost immediately.

The National Weather Service has no record of a storm on or near 3 May, the night the women claim they were first thrown off course.

Ms Appel and Ms Fuiava also claimed that they did not turn back towards any Hawaii islands after the initial storm because there were no places to dock their sailboat despite only being 50 feet long.

Their next possible landing point, part of the island nation of Kiribati, was deemed uninhabited and with a reef that was too shallow to dock by Ms Appel.

 Man lost at sea for two months

Christmas Island has about 2,000 residents and well-used port for large vessels

The women did not use flares on board or somehow make it to land, where help would have been a days hike away.

In initial media interviews, neither Ms Appel or Ms Fuiava mentioned the EPIRB device but did say they had several communications devices which were all non-functioning or had been thrown overboard in the storm.

Phillip R Johnson, a retired Coast Guard officer who was responsible for search and rescue operations, told CBS News that "if the [EPIRB] was operational and it was turned on, a signal should have been received very, very quickly that this vessel was in distress.

Though Mr Johnson said failure of a device like that is rare, improperly functioning batteries may cause a problem.

World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. 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Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. 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Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. 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Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty

Coast Guard spokeswoman Petty Officer 2nd Class Tara Molle told the Associated Press that they asked why during this course of time did they not activate the EPIRB. She had stated they never felt like they were truly in distress, like in a 24-hour period they were going to die.

There is also the instance of contact with the Sea Nymph vessel, which was made off the coast of Tahiti in June.

The captain of the vessel said they were not in distress and expected hit land the next morning.

The timeline of that contact did not match up with the womens story, however.

By the date contact was made with the vessel that identified as the Sea Nymph the women reportedly had lost use of engines and the rigging and mast of the boat suffered severe damage.

Both women and their dogs appeared in good physical health at the time of rescue.

There is no criminal investigation at this time.
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North Korea has called Donald Trump "incurably mentally deranged" ahead of his first visit to Asia as head of state.

Mr Trump and the North Korean leader Kim Jong-un have exchanged threats and personal insults in recent months, as tensions ratcheted up over the communist state's nuclear ambitions.

Mr Trump has warned the US could unleash "fire and fury" on the isolationist regime, telling the UN General Assembly Washington would "totally destroy" Pyongyang if it or its allies were threatened.

Recommended Trump will not visit demilitarised zone between North and South Korea

The US President in August gave the North Korean leader the moniker "Rocket Man", prompting Mr Kim to call Mr Trump a "dotard".

Mr Trump is due to embark on a 12-day tour of Asia, stopping in Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, the Philippines and China.

Ahead of the visit, North Korean state media KCNA criticised the "bellicose and irresponsible rhetoric" by the "master of the invective".

"He absolutely needs medicine for curing his psychological disorder," it said of Mr Trump.

It said the US President had "disclosed his true nature as a nuclear war maniac before the world and was diagnosed as 'incurably mentally deranged'".

World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty

After the North carried out its sixth nuclear test in September, Washington sent jet fighters and aircraft carriers near the Korean Peninsula.

The test also prompted the United Nations to impose a fresh round of punitive sanctions on the North.

KCNA described the measures as "desperate efforts" that would prove ineffective.
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US Navy fighter jets took off to shadow a pair of Russian bombers after they reportedly approached the aircraft carrier Ronald Reagan.

Two F/A-18 Hornets scrambled from the 100,000-tonne carrier to escort the Russian TU-95s on Sunday, according to US officials.

The meeting was categorised as safe and professional, the defence officials told CNN.

Recommended US moves aircraft carrier strike group to the western Pacific

Russia's defence ministry was cited by Sputnik, a state-controlled website, as saying: "Two Russian Tu-95MS Bear bombers carried out scheduled flights over neutral waters of the Sea of Japan and the western part of the Pacific Ocean."

The Hornets had "closely followed" the bombers, Sputnik said. Japanese fighters, including an F-15, F-2A and a Vietnam-era F4 Phantom, also tailed the Russian planes, the site added.

The Reagan was operating in the Sea of Japan at the time, CNN said.

It is one of three nuclear-powered US supercarriers now in the western Pacific, after the Nimitz and Theodore Roosevelt sailed into the region within hours of each other last week.

The show of strength came as President Donald Trump was preparing for his second major foreign tour, this time around several Asian nations.

Made in North Korea - In pictures Show all 6 1 /6 Made in North Korea - In pictures Made in North Korea - In pictures Made in North Korea - In pictures Made in North Korea - In pictures Made in North Korea - In pictures Made in North Korea - In pictures Made in North Korea - In pictures

Mr Trump will begin the trip with a briefing by US Pacific Command in Hawaii on Friday, before moving on to Japan, South Korea, China, Vietnam and the Philippines.

The deployments and tour come at a time of heightened tension with North Korea, and months of Mr Trump and Kim Jong-un trading insults and threats over Pyongyang's nuclear weapons programme.
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Three men have been arrested after an Airbnb guest was allegedly raped and murdered at an Australian property.

Ramis Jonuzi had been renting a room at a property in the Brighton East neighbourhood of Melbourne for A$30 (18) a night.

The 36-year-old was found dead in front of the home a week after arriving.

Three men who lived at the property, Craig Levy, 36, Ryan Smart, 37, and Jason Colton, 41, have been charged with murder, with Colton also charged with rape, according to The Age.

A spokesperson for the room-sharing website told the paper the company was "deeply saddened and outraged" by the tragedy.

"The family will have our full support and our hearts go out to them and all of his friends," the spokesperson said.

"We have removed this listing from our platform and will fully co-operate with law enforcement on their investigation.

"There is no place on Airbnb for such an abhorrent act, which violates everything our global community stands for."

World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty

Mr Jonuzi had reportedly been renting the room as a cheap and stable place to stay while he sorted through some "personal issues".

However, he reportedly told a friend he did not like the "energy" in the house and planned to leave early. He was allegedly attacked when he tried to leave.

Paramedics were unable to revive him and he died from a cardiac arrest in hospital.

The accused men are due to appear in court on 22 March 2018.
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Catalan's ousted leader Carles Puigdemont will ignore a court order to return to Spain to answer charges over the region's push for independence, his lawyer has said.

If Mr Puigdemont fails to answer the High Court summons, an arrest warrant could be issued that would make it virtually impossible for him to stand in a snap regional election called by the Spanish government for 21 December.

His lawyer said he could testify from Belgium.

 Catalonia Spain PM Rajoy asks Senate for powers to depose Catalan president Puigdemont

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy sacked Mr Puigdemont and his government on Friday, hours after the Catalan parliament made a unilateral declaration of independence - a vote boycotted by the opposition and declared illegal by Spanish courts.

On Monday, Spain's state prosecutor filed charges of rebellion, sedition and misuse of public funds against Mr Puigdemont for defying the central government by holding an referendum on secession on 1 October and later proclaiming independence.

Catalan pro-unity demonstration  in pictures Show all 6 1 /6 Catalan pro-unity demonstration  in pictures Catalan pro-unity demonstration  in pictures Pro-unity supporters take part in a demonstration in central Barcelona. Hundreds of thousands of Catalans took to the streets of Barcelona on Sunday to call for their region to remain part of Spain, two days after regional lawmakers exacerbated a political crisis by voting for the wealthy region to secede Reuters/Jon Nazca Catalan pro-unity demonstration  in pictures A woman with the Senera and Spanish flags painted on her face shouts slogans as she takes part in a rally against Catalonia's declaration of independence, in Barcelona AP Photo/Gonzalo Arroyo Catalan pro-unity demonstration  in pictures Thousands of pro-unity protesters gather in Barcelona, two days after the Catalan parliament voted to split from Spain Jeff J Mitchell/Gett Catalan pro-unity demonstration  in pictures People support a pro-unity demonstration from their balconies in central Barcelona Reuters/Rafael Marchante Catalan pro-unity demonstration  in pictures Pro-unity supporters take part in a demonstration in central Barcelona Reuters/Yves Herman Catalan pro-unity demonstration  in pictures Protesters wave Spanish flags and carry banners during a pro-unity demonstration on in Barcelona Jack Taylor/Getty

Mr Puigdemont travelled to Belgium at the weekend with other members of the dismissed Catalan administration and hired a lawyer.

The High Court summoned Mr Puigdemont and 13 other former members of the Catalan government to testify in Madrid on Thursday and Friday on the prosecutor's charges.

A judge will then decide whether those called to testify should go to jail pending an investigation that could take several years and potentially lead to a trial. The judge might also grant them conditional bail or order them to surrender their passports.

If he his associates do not turn up, the judge might also order them jailed as a flight risk.

Speaking in Brussels on Tuesday, Mr Puigdemont said he accepted the election and the Madrid government said he was welcome to stand, though legal proceedings might prevent that.
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Pope Francis has admitted he sometimes falls asleep while praying.

The pontiff made the confession during a programme on the Catholic TV2000 television network.

The 80-year-old also claimed he follows a string of saints who napped while praying.

When I pray, sometimes I fall asleep, he said. Saint Therese did it too.

He also said praying should make Christians feel like children lying in their fathers arms, implying relaxation is an important part of the process.

World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty

The Argentinian head of the Roman Catholic Church reportedly radiates energy in person, but is very serious when he prays, bowing his head for long periods.

It has been said that he is in bed by 9pm and wakes around 4am.

The Vatican said he copes with the long hours by having a nap after lunch.
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The Ukrainian wife of a Chechen man accused by Russia of plotting to kill President Vladimir Putin was shot dead outside Kiev in an attack that also wounded her husband, Ukrainian interior ministry officials said.

Amina Okuyeva and Adam Osmayev were in a car that was shot at from bushes near a railway crossing on the outskirts of the capital, interior ministry advisors Anton Gerashchenko and Zoryan Shkiryak said in separate posts on Facebook.

The attack follows a vehicle bombing in Kiev last Thursday, in which two people were killed and three wounded, including Ihor Mosiychuk, a member of the populist opposition Radical Party.

Okuyeva had links to Mosiychuk, having once worked for him in an advisory role.

As a result of the injuries she sustained, Amina died. Adam Osmayev was wounded, but will live. I just spoke to him on the telephone, Gerashchenko said.

The incident is the second attempt this year on the life of Osmayev, from Russias mainly Muslim Chechnya region. In June, he survived an attack by a gunman, who was in turn shot and wounded by Okuyeva.

Gerashchenko and Shkiryak did not suggest a motive for the latest incident.

Mosiychuk has blamed Russia for last weeks bombing, while Ukrainian police have said Russian involvement is one of the possible motives being investigated.

Russia has dismissed the accusations as a product of anti-Russian sentiment in Ukraine.

Relations between Kiev and Moscow collapsed in 2014 after Russia seized Ukraines Crimea peninsula and backed a pro-Russian separatist insurgency in eastern Ukrainian regions.

Russian authorities accuse Osmayev of being part of a 2012 plot by Islamist rebels to kill Putin with a bomb in central Moscow.

Osmayev and Okuyeva are well-known figures in Ukraine, having served as volunteers for the Ukrainian military in the fight against pro-Russian rebels.

World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty

Moscow has fought two wars with separatists in Chechnya since the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union. The region is now broadly under the control of Moscow, but Chechens are known to have fought both for the pro-Russian rebels and for the Ukrainian army in the conflict in eastern Ukraine.

Since fighting broke out in the east in 2014, the number of incidents involving explosives outside the conflict zone has increased.

There has been a spate of vehicle bombings over the past 18 months in Kiev, the capital, and elsewhere, but investigators have failed to find those responsible.

Reuters
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An Egyptian lawyer has prompted outrage for saying harassing and raping girls who wear revealing clothing such as ripped jeans is a national duty.

Nabih al-Wahsh, a prominent conservative, made the controversial comments during a TV panel show discussion debating a draft law on prostitution.

"Are you happy when you see a girl walking down the street with half of her behind showing?" the lawyer said on Al-Assema earlier this month.

He added: I say that when a girl walks about like that, it is a patriotic duty to sexually harass her and a national duty to rape her.

Mr al-Wahshs remarks have prompted fury across the country and Egypts National Council for Women announced it plans to file a complaint against the TV channel. It also issued a plea for media outlets to refrain from providing a platform for individuals who make incendiary comments that incite violence against women.

The National Council also said it would be filing a complaint against Mr al-Wahsh himself and rebuked his assertion.

All the members of the council denounce and decry this statement that explicitly promotes rape and sexual harassment, it said in a statement.

Maya Morsi, head of the council, argued his remarks constitute an actual violation of the Egyptian constitution that makes explicit efforts to safeguard womens rights.

The comments come after the Egyptian capital of Cairo was last month branded the most dangerous megacity for women in the first international poll which looked at how women fare in cities with over ten million people. Women's rights campaigners in the city say this stems from deeply entrenched centuries-old traditions of discrimination there and women having limited access to good healthcare, education, and finance.

World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty

Prominent Egyptian journalist, Shahira Amin, said something as mundane and everyday as taking a stroll down the street in the capital could leave a woman vulnerable to harassment and abuse of all kinds.

A 2008 study found that 83 per cent of Egyptian women said they had been sexually harassed and 53 per cent of men blamed women for bringing it on themselves.

Mr al-Wahsh made headlines in October last year after his debate with a liberal cleric descended into chaos and chairs and shoes wound up flying around the TV studio.

The fiercely heated discussion turned ferocious after Sheikh Rashad, who is famed for his permissive interpretation of Islam, argued women should not necessarily be required to cover their hair with a headscarf.

You're an apostate! You're an infidel Mr Wahsh yelled.

The cleric responded: You're mentally ill. You belong in a mental hospital.

Mr al-Wahsh then took his shoe off in an apparent preparation for a fight as whacking someone with the sole of your shoe is a serious insult in the Arabic world. Mr Rashed then rushed at him while Mr al-Wash responded by hitting with his shoe.

The spectacle culminated in the two men grappling across the debating area, smashing a glass panel and having to be pulled apart by the studio crew.

Mr al-Wahsh has previously stated his opposition to women serving as judges. He argued if women become judges they could also become muftis, a Muslim legal expert who has the power to give rulings on religious issues, and would issue fatwas - a ruling on a point of Islamic law given by a recognised authority - while they are on their periods.

He said: If we let a woman become a judge, why shouldn't she become Sheik of Al-Azhar? Why shouldn't she become the Mufti? Why don't we all just go to Hell?! Will she issue me a fatwa while she is menstruating?!
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Im hiking along the Ropojana Valley, in Prokletije  the so-called Accursed Mountains which make up the rugged borderlands of Montenegro, Albania and Kosovo. Its an evocative name, but one which fails to do the area justice, since its a spectacularly beautiful place  jagged limestone peaks, rolling green pastures, high passes and wonderfully hospitable mountain villages.

The trail Im following is the Peaks of the Balkans  an epic, 120-mile trek through some of the finest scenery this corner of Europe has to offer. A circular route which almost joins in the middle like a figure-of-eight, it takes around 10 days to walk, with accommodation and meals provided by a scattering of village guesthouses. Few parts of Europe are so little known, or so little visited.

At the head of the valley I pass the bed of an empty lake  fed only by snowmelt, it has a habit of vanishing, phantom-like, without a trace. I leave Montenegro and slip across the unmarked border into Albania, following a path up through forest, to open pasture, then beside a narrow ravine, climbing steadily as the morning cloud gradually dissipates. The trail meanders past a couple of dome-like concrete bunkers  some of the half a million built by Albanian dictator Enver Hoxha across the country between the 1960s and 1980s  long since abandoned and incongruous in the wilderness.

Peaks of the Balkans trail Show all 6 1 /6 Peaks of the Balkans trail Peaks of the Balkans trail Peaks above the Ropojana valley, viewed from the trail between Plav and Vusanje, Peaks of the Balkans trail, Montenegro Rudolf Abraham Peaks of the Balkans trail Hiking from the Ropojana valley to the Peje Pass, with an old military bunker in the foreground, Peaks of the Balkans trail, Albani Rudolf Abraham Peaks of the Balkans trail Crags wreathed in low cloud line the Ropojana valley, Peaks of the Balkans trail, Montenegro Rudolf Abraham Peaks of the Balkans trail Wild flowers near Doberdol, Peaks of the Balkans trail, Albania Rudolf Abraham Peaks of the Balkans trail Doberdol summer pasture, Peaks of the Balkans trail, Albania Rudolf Abraham Peaks of the Balkans trail Hikers at a waterfall near Theth, Peaks of the Balkans trail, Albania Rudolf Abraham

Given that the route hops backwards and forwards over the border between the three countries, and this still being a sensitive border area (a nearby stretch of border between Montenegro and Kosovo remains disputed), you do need a permit to hike the Peaks of the Balkans. However, thats easily done via a local agency  Zbulo and Zalaz are two excellent local outfits who were both involved in setting up the trail in the first place, and know the area better than anyone else.

Four hours after leaving the Ropojana Valley I reach the 1,707m Peje Pass, a notch in the rock above a huge cross, overlooking the Theth Valley. The cliffs on my right plummet in a sheer, dizzying leap from nearby Mt Arapit to the valley floor  a vertical drop of some 800m  but the path is a broad, well-engineered mule track which zigzags left below a towering rock face.

Its early evening by the time I reach the remote village of Theth, scattered along the valley floor beside the river, and find my way to the friendly Polia Guesthouse.

While theres something very satisfying about completing a long-distance route like the Peaks of the Balkans, you dont need to walk the whole thing  some of the more accessible bits can be done as day walks, or since its a circular route you can create shorter circuits or various highlights itineraries, with transfers provided by local travel agencies like Zbulo and Zalaz.

Crags wreathed in low cloud line the Ropojana valley, Montenegro (Rudolf Abraham)

Peaks of the Balkans: best routes to hike

Seven-day circuit

To reduce the Peaks of the Balkans to a slightly shorter, seven-day circuit, start in Plav (Montenegro) or Theth (Albania) and follow the main route via Theth, Valbona and Doberdol in Albania, but turn north at the Zavoj Pass and descend to Babino polje and Plav in Montenegro, rather than continuing to Milishevc. This largely misses out on visiting Kosovo, however.

Best for: Views, serious hikers, adventure seekers

Level: Medium/Difficult

Time needed: 7 days

Three passes route

Starting in Vusanje (Montenegro), hike up the Ropojana Valley and over the Peje Pass, to Theth (Albania). The following day hike over the Valbona Pass to Valbona. Finally from Valbona, follow a steep trail up to the Prosllopit Pass beside Maja Kolata (by a smidgen, the highest peak in Montenegro), then beyond this follow the path down to Vusanje.

Best for: Views, serious hikers, adventure seekers

Level: Medium/Difficult

Time needed: 3 days

Hiking from the Ropojana valley to the Peje Pass, Albania (Rudolf Abraham)

Theth waterfall and kula

This is a good way to spend a spare couple of hours or a rest day in Theth. From Polia Guesthouse, by the 19th century church, walk past the well-preserved 17th century stone tower house (kula), then cross the bridge over the stream, and follow a path on the left bank of the River Theth downstream before hiking up to the Gunas waterfall, which plunges 30m over a cliff into an iridescent green pool.

Best for: Views, history, families

Level: Easy

Time needed: 2hrs

Grbaja Valley

Not actually on the POTB but a very worthy detour for a day. The head of the Grbaja Valley, 7km from Gusinje, is surrounded by spiky peaks with evocative names like Ocnjak (fang) and Koplje (Spear). Theres a straightforward trail up to Volusnica, from where there are staggering views of the Karanfili peaks on the opposite side of the valley.

Best for: Views

Level: Medium

Time needed: 4hrs

Travel essentials

Getting there

Ryanair flies direct from Stansted to Podgorica from 58 return, from where there are buses to Plav. Germania fly direct from the UK to Pristina, from where there are regular buses to Peje, a short bus or taxi ride from the trail.

Staying there

The Polia Guesthouse has doubles from 69, B&B.

More information

The first complete English-language guidebook to the Peaks of the Balkans is published by Cicerone (by the author of this article) later this year. The trails official website has brief route descriptions, but some of the information is out of date.
Think instances instead of hashtags, toots instead of tweets, and a one-man staff instead of a cartoonish supervillain running the show, and youll have Mastodon. Tom Ough investigates whether this nicer, trickier platform could be our social media salvation
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Superficial and vapid. That's Oneika Raymond's take on Instagram - especially the female travel Instagram sector.

Nothing surprising, you might say - all those floaty maxidresses and floppy hats never exactly screamed authentic. But here's the thing: Raymond is a travel Instagrammer. And now, like the lifestyle and fitness Instagrammers who've renounced the 'Gram this year for encouraging unrealistic expectations and creating worlds that don't exist, it's her turn to turn the focus on travel.

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With an Instagram following of just under 31,000 and a job that enables her to travel all over the world, Raymond - a travel writer and influencer - has the kind of profile and lifestyle many would die for. Yet in a post this month, she told her followers she was "kinda over" it.

"I'm disheartened by how similar, superficial, curated, and (dare I say) vapid many travel feeds have become (mine included). Especially in the female travel space," she wrote.

"It's no longer enough to tell a story and post an awe-inspiring landscape - it won't get likes. Trust me, I've tried.

"Instead, the winning formula for us ladies seems to be something similar to this photo: one in which we're perfectly posed (usually facing away from the camera), in a flouncy hat (especially if we're clutching the brim), and wearing a flowy dress. Extra points if the dress is brightly coloured, has a bohemian feel, and is off the shoulder."

It was dynamite - but the reaction to her post has been largely positive, Raymond tells The Independent, because "a number of other women who aren't even in the travel industry... are feeling similar pressures to create or create these beautiful galleries, which I find really unfortunate."

She argues that "your whole experience shouldn't hinge on whether you got a really good photo," something she sees increasingly on social media and among women she knows. "As women in particular, there are always expectations of how we should look, dress, act... and now that's even extended to vacations and the memories that we create from our travels."

Candidly, Raymond says it makes sense for her to post the 'perfect' picture because she's a brand trying to promote a "fantasy, to a degree", but she questions why women who aren't in the industry feel the same pressure, asking "where does that leave us?"

And she says she's "frustrated" with the way Instagram is heading, because "what you see now on Instagram, at least in the travel space is a lot of sameness... it has changed massively from when it first began."

"It's become a huge marketing tool for businesses and personal brands... But once upon a time, Instagram used to be about sharing moments. The whole 'Insta' part of Instagram has diminished... Instead of being in the moment, it's more about making these curated posts and taking pictures and putting them up at a certain time. You even have to be careful with the time you post [due to] the algorithms."

Raymond readily admits that, as someone with a travel brand, she has fallen into the same trap herself, curating posts she knows will do well. But she says that Instagram is such an all-consuming bubble, now, that users are "producing the same content, because we know that in order to grow our pages or businesses we need engagement on our posts.

"My issue is that we're creating what people want, or will react to. But ultimately, our feeds start looking the same."

And it's worse for women, she says, arguing that for a lot of female travel influencers, there seems to be a "formula" that female travellers are expected to adhere to.

"I often wonder if thats the only formula for success on Instagram which is unfortunate, because I dont feel that male travel influencers necessarily have to adhere to the same standards," she says.

No one is being forced to do anything but theres a very specific aesthetic thats one of the clear paths to success for most women in the travel space  this whole looking away from the camera, very carefully crafted photos, typically with the hat.

Its a very deliberate thing and that potentially puts pressure on women to dress a certain way, take pictures of certain places, pose a certain way, create a certain fantasy that may not be reflective of their travel experience, or others travel experiences.

"The flipside to that is that men can show up any old way. They barely have to be dressed.

"I think the implication for me is that for travel reporting and travel photography, men seem to be taken more seriously for their craft, whereas for women its more about the aesthetic and the fashion aspect. Are you posed correctly? Whereas male photographers can take a picture of a landscape and they dont need to be in it. They are [still] seen as credible creators or photographers in that space without having to concern themselves with their personal aesthetic.

Not that she thinks women are forced to take the boho shots. I think women should be able to produce whatever content they like and I dont think a womans skill or credibility is diminished by the fact that she takes all sorts of photos, she says.

But I worry that this trend will be the only formula for success for women and the larger question for me is, Why dont men have to focus on their aesthetic?

Not only is that an enormous pressure on women to look a certain way, to act a certain way, to perform a certain way, but its detrimental to womens sense of self  youre continually objectified.

Men can be sweaty and hot and disgusting. They can be goofy, they can do all kind of stuff and still get the respect and engagement  but for women there are stricter parameters.

What's more, she says the line between fashion and travel is becoming "blurred".

So is Instagram ruining travel? She won't be drawn on that, but admits it's a "double-edged sword".

"Instagram is inspiring people to travel and providing access to places that they never would have dreamed of or thought of before," she says. "In that way, it's getting people more attuned to travel. But it may be getting people to travel for reasons that are not good.

"If you want to travel to Nepal so you can take a picture at Everest Base Camp, you take your pictures and then you leave, then I don't know how much you're helping that population. And a lot of people are going to places simply because they want to get a photo."

Riding elephants is another classic Instagram which gets her goat - because the animals are often kept in bad conditions.

"When you have a tourism industry driven by images of people riding elephants... or holding sloths [in Ecuador] then you have a public that thinks 'I'm going to Costa Rica, or I'm going to Thailand to do that one activity'. It's very detrimental because you have people travelling to places simply because they were promoted on Instagram."

But despite her reservations, Raymond says she has no plans to leave Instagram. "Even though I lament the way it is, I don't know if I'm in a position to completely abandon it," she says. She is, however, changing the way she 'Grams - her recent posts show longer, thoughtful captions, and there isn't a floaty dress in sight. Her most recent photo, from Costa Rica, shows her ziplining in black leggings, yellow anorak and safety helmet.

Get ready for the new wave of travel Instagram.

Follow Oneika's new-style Instagram at Oneikatraveller
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After over 70 years of tourism, Uluru will be off limits for climbers from October 2019, local authorities have confirmed.

The iconic Australian landmark, formerly known as Ayers Rock, is a sacred site for Aboriginals, who have been asking people to stop climbing it for many years. A huge sign at the base of the climb reads: We, the traditional Anangu owners, have this to say. Uluru is sacred in our culture, a place of great knowledge. Under our traditional law, climbing is not permitted. This is our home. Please dont climb.

Some 60,000 people a year ignored this plea and climbed anyway, but the board of the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park has now voted unanimously to put a stop to the controversial practice.

It is an extremely important place, not a playground or theme park like Disneyland, said board chairman Sammy Wilson, who is Anangu.

If I travel to another country and there is a sacred site, an area of restricted access, I dont enter or climb it, I respect it.

He added: Closing the climb is not something to feel upset about but a cause for celebration. Lets come together; lets close it together.

Recommended Playboy model causes outrage by posing naked on sacred mountain

Ulurus land title was handed back to its traditional owners in 1985, but was immediately leased to the Australian federal government to be jointly managed as a national park for 99 years.

The Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park board is comprised of eight traditional owners and four government officials.

The closure should not come as too much of a surprise; the parks most recent management plan states that the climb will be permanently closed when the proportion of visitors climbing falls below 20 per cent. According to the board, only 16 per cent of visitors to the national park climbed Uluru from 2011 to 2015.

Safety has also been a concern, with the climb claiming more than 35 lives since tourism began in the 1940s. Just last year three Australian tourists had to be retrieved after falling into a crevice.

The ban begins from 26 October 2019, 34 years after the Unesco World Heritage Site was handed back to the Aboriginal people.
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As the world starts to get wrapped up in winter, the shrewd traveller begins planning an escape. Between now and Easter, you can avoid the crowds and find excellent value if you head north rather than south.

Northern Norway is a location like no other, offering a spectacularly corrugated coastline dotted with historic communities and rugged inland landscapes where Sami traditions endure.

Over the decades the region has become steadily more welcoming to visitors, with enticing culture, cuisine and activities. And winter can be the best time to enjoy its elemental beauty.

As all the best explorers say, there is no such thing as poor weather, just inadequate clothing. Sure, the sun sets on the worlds northernmost big city, Troms, at the end of November and stays beneath the horizon until mid-January.

Northern Norway is the perfect place to see the Northern Lights

Yet the wintry night sky often blazes with the Northern Lights, while during the day, land and sea are bathed in an unworldly twilight. And even in the depths of winter, you can go to extremes in northern Norway with ease and comfort.

Getting there and around

Air: Norway is formidably well connected with the UK. The main hub is Oslo, and the most extensive network is operated by SAS with non-stop links from Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Heathrow and Manchester to the Norwegian capital.

There are onward connections to dozens of domestic destinations. Using the low-fare calendar, you can find deals such as Heathrow-Oslo-Troms for as little as 168 return in the coming winter  remarkable value for almost 3,000 miles of air travel.

Flights to Norway are also operated by British Airways, Ryanair and Norwegian  which has two non-stop flights a week from Gatwick to Troms, deep inside the Arctic Circle, in just three-and-a-half hours.

Recommended The best place to see the Northern Lights

For fast, efficient flying in northern Norway, Widere has by far the widest network, operating to more than twice as many airports in Norway as any other airline.

Sea: The main link in northern Norway is the Hurtigruten, the coastal express which connects communities on the mainland and islands from Bergen around to Kirkenes close to the Russian border. It is supplemented by dozens of shorter ferry links, for which local tourist offices can provide details.

Rail: The main Norwegian State Railways line to northern Norway connects Oslo and Trondheim with Bod. From Narvik, the Ofotbanen Railway runs towards Sweden, and is operated by Swedish Railways.

Road: From Bod to Narvik, the bus takes about six hours; from Narvik, you can travel to Troms in about four-and-a-half hours.

For transport to and from Troms to the airport  or just for getting around the country  bus operator Bussring can help. Car rental is available through companies such as Sixt and Europcar, with rates of around 100 per day for a 4x4.

Staying there

The Scandic Svolvaer is among northern Norway's modern hotels

Considering it is such a thinly populated part of the world, northern Norway has a remarkable range of accommodation. National and international chains include Radisson Blu, Quality Hotels and Scandic Hotels, the largest Nordic operator with more than 80 properties in Norway alone. It has an easy-to-join loyalty scheme called Scandic Friends that offers a 20 per cent discount at weekends, and allows under-13s to stay for free with parents. It also currently has a special offer giving 30 per cent off for stays of two or three nights*. These full-service properties are complemented by budget offerings such as the Nordkapp Hostel in Honningsvag.

More characterful locations are offered by enterprises such as Svinya Rorbuer, allowing you the chance to stay in a rorbu  a traditional wooden cabin  on an island in Svolvr harbour, with a view of the Lofoten mountains. At Kvalyvagen, just outside Troms, the Maribell Seahouses offer an equally characterful waterfront experience.

Northern Norway

Click or tap on the map destinations below to found out more about Northern Norway

For more inspiration click here - and to book your break to Norway, visit visitnorway.com

*Terms apply. Click here
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An absent friend: in northern Norway in winter, that defines the sun. Close to the North Pole, the hub of our solar system can be concealed from view for weeks on end.

Yet even when tantalisingly out of sight, it transmits one of natures greatest spectacles: billowing clouds of light that electrify an icy landscape.

Electricity is at the heart of it all. Charged particles known as ions emitted by the sun are coaxed to Earth and funnelled into heavenly highways by our planet's magnetic field. The thrilling phosphorescence arises when, aggregated in their billions, these ions collide with earths upper atmosphere.

Electric spectrum

Aurora illuminates the sky above northern Norway (Getty Images)

On a cold, clear winter's night, the heavens suddenly fill with colour: the Aurora Borealis. An electric spectrum from turquoise to crimson pulses in time with the solar breeze.

While Nature's neon wasnt quite invented by the Norwegians, one of Norways greatest scientists was the man to explain the phenomenon that had enchanted (or terrified) the people of the north for millennia.

Thank heavens for Kristian Birkeland, the man who theorised about the suns role in the spectacle, despatching rivers of free electrons to speed at almost a million miles an hour towards the earth.

Only 50 years ago  a century after his birth  did an early US satellite confirm his theory that the Northern Lights comprised a gift from the sun. And in the decade since then, the opportunities for travellers to enjoy them have expanded remarkably.

Wide window of opportunity

Nature can be disobligingly fickle, so to maximise the chance of witnessing the Northern Lights you need to work the probabilities. The window of opportunity widens the closer you are to the magnetic North Pole, the longer and darker the night, and the less the intrusion of artificial light  all of which points to northern Norway.

Visitors from around the world plan their trip to Norway hoping to catch the Northern Lights (Getty Images)

In terms of ease of access from across the UK, and the diversity of activities to accompany a winter trip, Norway is on top of the world.

The Northern Lights can take you by surprise, and theres every chance you could be treated to a brief but impressive performance of this phenomenon wherever your location in northern Norway. However, plenty of alluring locations are available  Andenes at the northern tip of Vesteralen is particularly recommended, because of its remarkable connection to the cosmos.

For more inspiration click here - and to book your break to Norway, visit visitnorway.com
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Images of families and children in makeshift refugee camps around Calais and Dunkirk have disappeared from the media, but the refugee crisis remains unabated and, for those continuing to search for a more hopeful future, the situation is just as grim.

That is why tomorrow, I have co-sponsored a debate in Parliament to remind those with the power to change peoples lives that this suffering continues and they have the tools to end it.

Last week marked one year since the demolition of what came to be known as the Jungle camp in Calais. Although the timing of the decision taken by the French authorities was highly questionable, the spirit behind this demolition was right  no one should live in those sorts of conditions.

I visited these camps on more than one occasion, spending time with families who felt that this location was their only option and the charities working tirelessly to provide support and advice to them. I met lots of children who were without adult guardians. For some their parents had paid traffickers to get them to Europe, to safety; for others they had lost their parents to conflict or become separated while fleeing.

 Refugee explains what it's like sleeping rough in Calais

The argument goes (from those who seem intent on turning Britain into an insular and mean country) that these people have reached European shores, they are safe, so why do they seem so intent on coming to Britain? This desire is not the same for every person. Of those I spoke to, some wanted to come here because they could speak English; for others they had friends of family members who could help them settle in and restart their lives; and for some it was the recognition that Britain has always welcomed those whose own homes had become too dangerous. All of these reasons are legitimate, but for those with family already in the UK they have a legal right to be here.

In fact, out of the demolition the Government conceded to transferring 750 children to Britain, of which 550 were reunited with family here. These transfers should never have been a one-off. Rough estimates suggest that around 1,000 refugees are now in Calais and surrounding camps including an estimated 200 unaccompanied children. These people are not only vulnerable to the elements  using trees as shelter, they are also vulnerable to evil traffickers and others who would do them harm. For children, no place could be more dangerous.

Calais refugee camp evacuation Show all 15 1 /15 Calais refugee camp evacuation Calais refugee camp evacuation Refugees run past a fire in the makeshift migrant camp known as 'the jungle' in Calais, October 2016 AP Calais refugee camp evacuation French authorities say the closure of the slum-like camp in Calais will last approximately a week in what they describe as a "humanitarian" operation, October 2016 AP Calais refugee camp evacuation A painted message saying 'Bye Jungle' on a tent in the camp in Calais, October 2016 Getty Calais refugee camp evacuation Refugees set rubbish bins alight as a protest in the makeshift camp 'the Jungle' in Calais, France, October 2016 EPA Calais refugee camp evacuation French riot police advance through tear gas and smoke from a fire to disperse refugees throwing stones and lighting fires at the Jungle migrant camp Getty Calais refugee camp evacuation French CRS riot police secure an area on the eve of the evacuation and transfer of refugees to reception centers in France Reuters Calais refugee camp evacuation Journalists run away from smoke during clashes near a makeshift refugee camp known as 'the jungle' in Calais AP Calais refugee camp evacuation French CRS riot police secure an area on the eve of the evacuation and transfer of refugees to reception centers in Franc Reuters Calais refugee camp evacuation Migrants queue for transportation by bus to reception centres across France, from the 'Jungle' refugee camp in Calais Getty Calais refugee camp evacuation Refugees line-up to register at a processing centre in the 'jungle' near Calais, northern France, as the mass exodus from the migrant camp begins PA wire Calais refugee camp evacuation Refugees with luggage walk past a graffiti on a wall as they leave the 'Jungle' migrant camp, as part of a major three-day operation planned to clear the camp in Calais Getty Calais refugee camp evacuation French far-right Front National (FN) party's member of parliament Marion Marechal-Le Pen (L) delivers a speech next to a banner reading "They arrive in Vaucluse, no migrants in our place" as she attends a rally against the hosting of refugees in La Tour d'Aigues Getty Images Calais refugee camp evacuation French police forces secure the area near the 'Jungle' refugee camp in Calais Getty Calais refugee camp evacuation Refugees leave messages on their tents in the Jungle migrant camp Getty Calais refugee camp evacuation Refugees carry their belongings and transfer to reception centers in France

Parliamentary colleagues from all parties banded together to secure a commitment from the Government to accept unaccompanied refugee children who had made it to Europe after treacherous journeys from flashpoints elsewhere in the world. This became known as the Dubs scheme, and we who fought for it, both in and outside Parliament, expected that the Government would offer sanctuary to thousands of children. We were bitterly disappointed by both the Governments initial measly quota of 480 unaccompanied children and their subsequent decision this year to close the scheme after allocating under half of those places.

And now, with Brexit negotiations under way and family reunification rules on the table, we must ensure that vulnerable children continue to have access to safe and legal routes to come to the UK. There is no shame in reversing a bad decision, and that is what I will be asking ministers to do tomorrow by reopening the Dubs scheme.

The weather is turning once again and for many it will be the most bitter winter of their lives. It doesnt need to be this way. Britain must not turn a blind eye and betray our history as a compassionate and caring country.

Tim Farron is Liberal Democrat MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale
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Friends and relations had gathered together to lay flowers and light candles on the graves of their departed, as is the custom during Day of the Dead celebrations in Catalonia. The thought of many at the commemorations this year, however, was not of just the past, but what lies ahead in an uncertain future.

The Garrigo family had come to the cemetery on the slope of the Montjuic hills to pay their respect to their grandfather who was killed in a battle at Terrasa in Spains civil war; one among the thousands who died trying to save Barcelona from advancing fascist forces. The fall of the Catalan capital, when it took place, was a hammer blow to the countrys Republican government. Hitler and Mussolini increased air strikes, poured in more supplies for Franco to help crush remaining opposition and just a few months later Britain and France recognised the rebel generals military regime as Spains legitimate government.

The turmoil of the past weeks, with Catalonia proclaiming independence, and Madrid stamping it down, amid bitterness and violence, has been a reminder of those dark days with anger at chants in the name of Franco and Nazi salutes by Spanish nationalist demonstrators  albeit a relatively small number  opposed to what they see as the dismemberment of their country.

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The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. 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In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. 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Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty

Members of the Catalan administration, disbanded by the Spanish government, are due to present themselves before a court in Madrid on Thursday to answer charges of sedition, rebellion and embezzlement. Failure to do so would lead to them being pursued and detained. Instead of starting to rule Europes newest independent country, the Catalan president, Carles Puigdemont, is in exile in Belgium. His refusal to appear before judges is likely to lead to the issuing of an arrest warrant which could prevent him from running in an election called, by Madrid, in December.

Two members of the Catalan cabinet who fled to Brussels with Puigdemont, interior minister Joaquim Forn and Dolors Bassa, the labour minister, returned to Barcelona late on Tuesday evening. Puigdemonts lawyer in Belgium, Paul Bekaert, said his client will stay where he is because of the high risk of detention. He prefers to wait and observe what happens for the time being. I have suggested that the Spanish question him here. That is possible, but I dont know if that will happen.

But in Madrid, Judge Carmen Lamela of the National Audience Court stressed that the state prosecutor is expected to follow procedure and issue the warrant.

 Carles Puigdemont says he cannot return to Catalonia because Spain is intent on 'vengeance'

Some of the other ministers and deputies facing charges say they will be going to Madrid to avoid Spanish security forces raiding their homes and offices and prevent the possibility of clashes of the sort seen when police detachments sent by Madrid tried to stop the referendum for independence taking place by seizing ballot boxes.

A sizeable force of the Spanish civil guard has been sent to Catalonia from other parts of Spain since the confrontation began. On Tuesday they raided eight offices of the Catalan regional police, Mossos d'Esquadra, to gather evidence for possible charges in relation to what took place during the referendum.

The head of Mossos, Josep Lluis Trapero, was sacked over the refusal of his men and women to refuse orders by Madrid to stop the vote taking places. They pointed out that this would lead to clashes with activists who were guarding the polling stations, which is, in fact, what happened when the national police tried to enforce the orders.

One of the raided buildings was the headquarters of Mossos in Sabadell where communications on the day of the referendum were collated. The city is eight miles from Terrasa where 24-year-old engineer, trade unionist and volunteer soldier Vincenc Garrigo died in a mortar barrage almost eight decades ago. Standing at the graveside, his grandson Jaume said: I have read his letters to my grandmother, what they all went through at the time, and I feel very proud. That was a time of war when people had to stand up to the dictators; to Franco, Hitler and Mussolini. People at home also suffered very much as well, often they had no heating, little food, little water.

Of course things have changed and we live in a modern, democratic Europe. That is why what is happening here now is so strange with a vote for independence being rejected by the Spanish, just like that. Then they raid the offices of the Mossos with police from other places. Are we living in a lawful society?

Jaumes cousin, Tomas, complained about what he and others like him see as the indifference of the European Union to what is going on in Catalonia. We have had no understanding no sympathy from them. We were talking about the [civil] war: you know that when Germany and Italy was supplying Franco, the French closed the border so that the [Republican] government could not get supplies to counter that? The EU countries just look after each others governments. But we shall get our independence, we are a determined people, we have got a strong economy and we will survive, in fact we will be OK.

The economy, however, is suffering from the current upheaval with a marked impact on tourism which accounts for 12 per cent of the regions GDP. The twin Islamist terrorist attacks in August in Barcelona and Cambrils which resulted in 16 deaths scarcely dented the number of visitors, but numbers fell by 15 per cent in the two weeks following the referendum violence.

Esteve Climent, who is a travel guide taking visitors to events surrounding the Day of the Dead, said People are getting around to almost accepting that there are always possibility of terrorist attacks, there have been so many in many cities in Europe. But the pictures of police violence, frightening big rallies, thats what seems to make people think a place is politically unstable and the result is that they stay away.
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The attack in New York on Tuesday afternoon, in which eight people were killed and at least a dozen others injured, is a timely reminder that despite the battlefield victories in Mosul, Raqqa and elsewhere, the threat of Islamist-inspired terrorism remains.

The 29-year-old suspect reportedly drove his rented vehicle 14 blocks before crashing into a school bus before emerging with two replica firearms. The suspected attacker, identified as Sayfullo Habibullaevic, an Uzbek national who legally moved to the US in 2010, was taken to hospital after being shot and wounded by police officers and is expected to survive.

While there has been no immediate claim of responsibility, authorities investigating the attack have said that a note written in a foreign language pledging allegiance to Isis was discovered in the vehicle. As expected in such cases, there has also been celebratory activity on jihadi communications platforms, with supporters and sympathisers praising the attack.

New York Truck attack Show all 6 1 /6 New York Truck attack New York Truck attack Investigators inspect the truck following the attack Investigators inspect a truck following a shooting incident in New York on 31 October 2017. Several people were killed and numerous others injured in New York on Tuesday when a suspect plowed a vehicle into a bike and pedestrian path in Lower Manhattan, and struck another vehicle on Halloween, police said. A suspect exited the vehicle holding up fake guns, before being shot by police and taken into custody, officers said. The motive was not immediately apparent. Getty New York Truck attack A paramedic looks at a body along the bike path A paramedic looks at a body covered under a white sheet along the bike path 31 October 2017, in New York. A motorist drove onto a busy bicycle path near the World Trade Center memorial and struck several people Tuesday, police and witnesses said. AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews New York Truck attack The truck driver collided with a school bus Authorities respond near a damaged school bus Tuesday, 31 October 2017, in New York. A motorist drove onto a busy bicycle path near the World Trade Center memorial and struck several people, police and witnesses said. Two adults and two children were on the bus at the time. AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews New York Truck attack A young girl reacts to the scene A young girl reacts as police officers secure an area following a shooting incident in New York on 31 October 2017. Several people were killed and numerous others injured in New York on Tuesday after a vehicle plowed into a pedestrian and bike path in Lower Manhattan, police said. 'The vehicle struck multiple people on the path,' police tweeted. 'The vehicle continued south striking another vehicle. The suspect exited the vehicle displaying imitation firearms & was shot by NYPD.' DON EMMERT/AFP/Getty Images New York Truck attack Police officers arrive at the scene Police officers arrive at the scene following a shooting incident in New York on 31 October 2017. Multiple people were hurt in downtown Manhattan, US media reported after police confirmed that they were responding to reports of a shooting. Police said they had mobilized to the scene in Lower Manhattan and that one person was in custody, giving no further details. DON EMMERT/AFP/Getty Images New York Truck attack Emergency personnel respond to truck attack in lower Manhattan Emergency personal respond after reports of multiple people hit by a truck after it plowed through a bike path in lower Manhattan on 31 October 2017 in New York City. According to reports up to six people may have been killed. Kena Betancur/Getty Images

The description of Sayfullo Habibullaevic being a lone wolf attacker is premature and potentially misleading. While the individual may have acted alone, experience from previous investigations into similar attacks suggests the likelihood that a broader, loose network could be involved.

The act is often conducted by a single attacker, but often other individuals, whether through physical or digital interactions, provide an environment for the extremist ideas to flourish and such actions encouraged.

While it is not known whether Habibullaevic had links to any known jihadi groups, he comes from a country that is no stranger to jihadi activity. The Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU), established in 1991, has sought to overthrow the Uzbek government and replace it with an Islamic government to rule by a strict interpretation of Sharia law.

However, government crackdowns saw the group disperse and broaden its area of operations, particularly in neighbouring Afghanistan and Tajikistan, where the group had been active in forming alliances with other jihadi groups such as al-Qaeda and the Taliban. The IMU was designated a terrorist organisation by the United Nations in 2001.

 Footage shows New York terror suspect running through the streets following attack

Months after the declaration of Isis so-called caliphate in Syria and Iraq, militants belonging to the IMU were among the first to pledge allegiance to the group, with an online statement issued by a senior leader of the group praising Isis for its disregard for international borders, hoping that the group would one day seize control of Palestine and the Islamic holy cities of Mecca and Medina.

Isis has been cognisant of its large audiences in Russia and Central Asia, with propaganda material, including Rumiyah magazine, circulated in the Russian language. While not on the same scale as attacks in Western Europe, there have been several small-scale attacks in Russia and the Former Soviet Republics claimed by Isis.

Figures from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) show that around 500 foreign fighters from Uzbekistan have travelled to join Isis, while a report published in October 2017 by the Soufan Group suggests a higher estimate, with around 1,500 Uzbek nationals believed to have travelled to join Isis in Iraq and Syria.

The same report also determined that the proportion of regional foreign fighters from Former Soviet Republics was more than any other region, with over 8,000 invidious believed to have travelled to join the so-called caliphate, more than the number of foreign fighters from the Middle East (7,054) and Western Europe (5,718).

Given that Uzbekistan doesnt feature on President Trumps list of banned countries, judging from his response, stating that we must not allow Isis to return or enter the US after defeating them in the Middle East, the President is reluctant to concede that the travel ban is not the silver bullet he made it out to be. Such restrictions are futile in the face of a dynamic, transnational ideology.

The reality is that what connects Isis in Syria and Iraq to the insurgency in the Philippines, Nigeria, Afghanistan, and Egypt, and to the attacks we have witnessed in London, Manchester, Paris, Nice, Berlin, and Barcelona is not necessarily a tangible operational link, but rather a worldview, a set of ideas.

If only an operational link existed. We could end this in a matter of months, if not weeks. Unfortunately, the battle against the ideology connecting them all will be a generational struggle.

Recommended Donald Trump responds to New York terror attack

An ideology that cherry picks and manipulates Islamic scripture, seeks to divide the world between believers and non-believers, driven by a desire to implement by force a narrow articulation of Islam, alien to the majority of the worlds Muslims, and to eliminate any element of integration and coexistence between Muslims and non-Muslims.

Defeating Isis militarily is an important step in the fight against terrorism, but there is a bigger battle taking place, where men, women, and children, from all ethnicities and backgrounds, are being attracted to the closed-minded worldview of Islamist extremism.

Overcoming this threat needs more than physical security measures. Bullets and bombs cannot defeat an idea; travel bans cannot contain a borderless ideology. An open-minded approach that deals with the symptomatic violence and the underlying ideas must be the way forward.

Mubaraz Ahmed is an Analyst at the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change
HARRISBURG-The latest town meeting in Harrisburg was almost all about roads.

Marc Morgan, North Carolina Department of Transportation resident engineer for Cabarrus and Stanly counties, attended Harrisburg Town Councils October meeting to provide updates and input on multiple projects.

Council was relieved to hear that the bridge on Robinson Church Road is on schedule to open the first week of November, and paving on most of the roads that were part of the departments resurfacing project is complete.

But council and members of the audience also expressed concerns over dangerous areas where accidents keep occurring.

Rocky River Road curve

One area of serious concern is the sharp curve near the 8800 block of Rocky River Road. As of September, there had been about 19 wrecks at the curve, including a fatality.

Town Manager Haynes Brigman said staff has been collecting accident data to submit to NCDOT to see if there is anything it can do to improve the curve.

Morgan told council he is very familiar with that road. In fact, he said the curve was a potential project of NC Moving Ahead, a program that was defunded several years ago.

The church was a problem and the backside of the curve was a problem and being able to do that from a right-of-way perspective. Nothing has been done with it, he said. If there was a fatality, we will get a notice on it. Then we can come out and do an investigation and see what can be done.

Haynes then asked Morgan when the safety of the citizens trumps the opinion of the property owners.

At the point of a fatality, its probably trumped, Morgan replied.

He added that once it receives all of the accident data, the department will take a look at the curve.

Tom Query Road and Caldwell Road Intersection

Two people from the audience took the opportunity to share concerns over the intersection of Tom Query Road and Caldwell Road during the public comment portion of the meeting.

A woman who lives in the area told council the it is becoming deadly because there have been multiple accidents. She said that when she addressed the board previously, she was informed that adding more stop lights was not an option due to cost.

Another man commented that if the speed limit could be lowered near the intersection, lives could be saved.

Responding to these concerns, Morgan said if the town could provide the department with accident data the area could possibly qualify for safety funds to pay for stop lights or signs.

If there is a history of accidents there, we need to pull those accidents because there are different classifications and different pots of money, Morgan said. The project at Hwy 49 and Old Charlotte are safety ones because they had over 70 accidents in a five-year span.

Councilman Chad Baucom told Morgan he feels like waiting until accidents occur to take action is just dollars chasing problems. He asked if there was a way for the town and NCDOT to be more proactive and address opportunities in advance.

We chase dollars and projects all over the place like that. Harrisburg isnt the only one who has intersections with accidents, Morgan said. So we can start looking at these and see what fixes the intersection.

Traffic lights

Morgan also talked about traffic lights that are scheduled to go up sometime in the future. He said the traffic light at Saddle Creek Ct. and Hwy 49 has hit a little bit of a snag due to conflict with the property owner.

They were trying to work out a right-of-way as a right-of-way swap with an existing road and with the new connection. The property owner, he did not want that, Morgan said. He wanted to leave the existing one so the existing road will be modified when we put the signal in.

When NCDOT requested an appraisal to put in a new right-of-way, Morgan said the cost came back about 10 times more than anticipated.

Our division engineer is going to meet with the property owner to see if we can negotiate a truce on this. If not we are going to have to figure out where we can get funding from, Morgan said. The right-of-way appraisal is about 40 percent of the construction cost.

He also told council that the new traffic light at Harrisburg Veterans Road will be turned on once the new Publix is open to the public.

Its still a construction entrance right now where the signal is going to go. Its approved as a signal, Morgan said. Once he finishes the driveway and he can install it, we will look at coordinating with Publix and the developer as to when it will be turned on.

Bond referendum could help with traffic projects

In the second part of the meeting, Haynes gave another overview of the bond referendum that will be on the ballot in November.

The referendum includes $4 million for transportation projects and Haynes said if the bond passes, potential projects are the intersections in question; Tom Query and Caldwell Road, Tom Query and Robinson Church Road and Robinson Church Road and Rocky River Road.

They are DOT roads and DOT intersections, but if the town can contribute some of these funds to DOT to raise it on the priority list, that could allow them to do the projects very quickly, Haynes said.

According to Morgan, for the town to get their projects moved up on DOTs list staff would need to provide data and make its concerns known. But he added that if the town could provide funds for the whole or part of the project, then it would become a higher priority.

So a project that may be 8-to-10 years down the road could become feasible during a short period of time if the town contributed funding to that, Haynes said.

The bond would also be used for replacement of existing signals on Hwy 49, expanding sidewalks and paving approximately 20 roads that have been identified as high priority.
Make in India is the governments flagship program to revitalize the countrys flaccid manufacturing sector. When it was launched in 2014, Make in India stole headlines across the world  Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government would finally make manufacturing in India viable. The initiative would attract foreign investment to grow the manufacturing sector, and create jobs for those that need employment. Many India hands thought Make in India would help the economy realize breakout growth.

Wieden + Kennedy deserve a lot of credit  Make in India set the stage for the new government. The broad policy direction was everything that Indias economy seemingly needed: removing barriers to foreign investment, improving the ease of doing business, as well as encouraging the development of infrastructure and the workforce. But after three years, what has changed?

The government removed most FDI barriers, but shock (demonetization) and poorly implemented (GST) reforms have caused some foreign investors to feel uncertain about India. The Smart Cities and Skill India initiatives  designed to create modern infrastructure and up-skill the labor pool, respectively, are great ideas, but have become social media bait for online trolls.

In a more competitive policy environment, Make in India would likely have been deemed a failure. This government is still struggling with basic industrialization and mass employment when other governments  like China  are developing technology-driven industry. The now-in-opposition Congress party had set the bar very low by 2014, making Modis Make in India platform look like a godsend, but India now needs something more than a good public relations campaign.

Make in India: A birds eye view

Make in India can count relaxed FDI Norms, improved investor perception, and a surge in automotive and electronics manufacturing among its successes.

The government liberalized FDI policy by allowing automatic route for over 50 percent investment in 25 sectors including railways, defense, medical instruments, and telecom. Consequently, the FDI inflow grew by 20 percent in 2014-15 and 2015-16.

In 2016-17, the country attracted its highest ever FDI of US$60 billion. Significantly, the manufacturing sector saw a 38 percent increase in investment in 2016-17.

Major firms including General Motors, Apple, and Foxconn name-checked Make in India when announcing big ticket manufacturing projects in the country, while countries including Japan, South Korea, Sweden, and Germany have pledged larger investments and technical support to India. In the most recent example, the Japanese Prime Minister committed to investing across sectors  automotive manufacturing, startups, and infrastructure.

Manufacturing activity has certainly picked up in the country. Data published by DIPP in December 2016 shows that industrial activity rose by 29 percent during 2015-16 over the previous fiscal. Much of this growth is concentrated in three states  Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra, which were in any case already established manufacturing bases.

Ultimately, however, Make in India has not resolved all the issues that it set out to do.

Indias manufacturing and transport infrastructure is also severely inadequate to enable businesses to conduct their operations smoothly. The government has initiated six major industrial corridors, dedicated railway freight corridors, and port development projects, but none of them are operational  optimists project 2019 as possible.

FDI inflows show that much of the funds are diverted towards stressed assets or brownfield projects. In 2015, nearly 23 percent of the total FDI inflow were invested in brownfield projects, increasing to 48 percent in 2016. Indeed, several global companies including US-based JC Flower and Apollo Global Management; Canadian fund Brookfield Asset Management; and, Chinas Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical have set up joint ventures in India to buy up stressed assets.

Indias rank in the World Banks Ease of Doing Business has risen, but not many businesspeople will say that business in India has gotten any easier. As an example, there has also been a spurt in the number of stalled economic activities since September 2016. Economic projects  including in the infrastructure, manufacturing, and services sectors  are often stalled due to lack of government clearances, funds, raw materials, and other resources.

As of September 2017, the value of stalled projects stood at US$204.26 billion (Rs 13.22 trillion). In percentage terms, about 13 percent of all projects have been stalled, two-thirds of which are in the private sector. In the manufacturing sector, the stalled projects constitute about 25 percent of all activities in the sector. This trend has disturbed prospective investors, and resulted in a significant drop in the number of new projects announced this year.

Sudden, and at times contradicting, policy measures by the government is affecting businesses ability to plan their processes in advance. For instance, frequent changes in the GST rules is causing an environment of confusion and uncertainty in the economy. In another recent example, the luxury auto industry was blindsided by the government when the maximum levy was almost doubled, immediately after GST rates were set. Last years demonetization exercise also crippled manufacturing supply chains, leading to reduced industrial and shrinking retail activity.

Make in India overlooks broader manufacturing transformation

Make in India has had a patchy, and rather subdued, impact on the Indian economy so far. While the initiative succeeded in creating new interest for investing in India, it has not been able to transform it into any significant rise in manufacturing activity. In fact, recent economic shocks delivered by a poorly implemented demonetization and GST have dampened investor sentiment, neutralizing Make in Indias impact.

Further, the global value chains that ushered in manufacturing hubs in East Asia are now rapidly transforming. Businesses no longer rely on cheap labor for production purposes, but are instead adopting technologies such as 3D printing and smart automation. The technology-driven fourth industrial revolution or Industry 4.0 is changing the fundamentals of manufacturing processes. World over, major manufacturing giants are rapidly adopting robotics in industrial units. Robotics in Chinese manufacturing units, for example, is likely to grow by 150 percent in 2018.

Recent political developments have also increased protectionism in Western economies, which were traditionally the destination for goods made in East Asia. Export-dependent manufacturing may no longer be a viable economic model for emerging economies to emulate.

India must quickly adapt its policies to reflect the changing nature of the industry. The government is already revamping the National Manufacturing Policy, and revising Make in India to accommodate these changes. It is seeking to modernize its digital infrastructure to support the new era of manufacturing. But is it too little, too late?

The country cannot rely on big-ticket industrial units alone to transform into a manufacturing hub. It must create a positive environment for small and micro businesses to function and grow in. Policies for these businesses must include flexible credit instruments, good industrial linkages, relaxed labor norms, and provision of some managerial assistance for scaling up businesses.

Until the government develops the political willpower to take up these challenges, the burden will remain on the private sector to find trusted partners on the ground in India.
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The prospect of securing EU funding and a "better understanding" between Cyprus and Turkey are judged as significant factors for achieving the construction of the East Med natural gas pipeline, which would link deposits exploited in the east Mediterranean with west European markets.
Trump Is Killing Record Numbers of Civilians

By Marjorie Cohn

November 01, 2017 " Information Clearing House " - During the 2016 presidential campaign, Donald Trump advocated killing innocent families of suspected terrorists. "When you get these terrorists, you have to take out their families," he declared. Besides the immorality of killing innocents, the targeting of civilians violates the Geneva Conventions.

The George W. Bush administration unlawfully detained and tortured suspected terrorists. Determined not to send more suspects to Guantanamo, Barack Obama's administration illegally assassinated them with drones and other methods, killing many civilians in the process.

Now the Trump administration is killing record numbers of civilians and weakening the already-flimsy targeted killing rules Obama put in place.

In 2013, the Obama administration promulgated a set of requirements regarding targeted killings "outside areas of active hostilities" in a Presidential Policy Guidance (PPG).

The New York Times reported on September 21, 2017, that Trump's national security advisers proposed watering down Obama's PPG. These recommendations to Trump are called Principles, Standards and Procedures, or PSP. On October 29, the Times reported, "Two government officials said Mr. Trump had recently signed his new rules for such kill-or-capture counterterrorism operations, without major changes" to the PSP.

Obama mounted both "personality strikes" -- aimed at named suspected terrorists -- and "signature strikes" -- in which all military-age men in an area of suspicious activity could be killed. Signature strikes are often called "crowd killings" because those perpetrating the attacks don't even know whom they are killing. Trump has presumably continued these two types of strikes.

The PPG required that the target pose a continuing, imminent threat to US persons. There is no indication that Trump's new rules have changed this requirement. Moreover, even under Obama, a 2011 Department of Justice white paper said that a US citizen could be killed even when there was no "clear evidence that a specific attack on US persons and interests will take place in the immediate future." Obama presumably set a lower bar for killing non-citizens.

Obama's rules also mandated near certainty that an identified "high-value terrorist" or other lawful terrorist target is present before taking a strike. One official told the Times that the administration "reduced the required level of confidence that the intended target was present in a strike zone from 'near certainty' to 'reasonable certainty.'" Signature strikes don't target named individuals. Under the new Trump rules, targets would no longer be limited to high-value terrorists, but could also include foot soldiers with no leadership roles.

During the Obama administration, targeting decisions were made at the highest levels of government and the president reportedly had the final say about who would be assassinated. Under the PSP, however, these determinations would not require vetting by top administration officials, and could be made by commanders in the field.

Trump advisers recommended maintaining the PPG's requirement of near certainty that civilians would not be injured or killed, and the administration agreed, according to the Times.

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In spite of the PPG, the Obama administration killed many civilians. Obama's Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) reported killing between 64 and 116 non-combatants "outside areas of active hostilities" from January 2009 to December 2015. That encompassed Pakistan, Yemen, Somalia and Libya. Civilian deaths in Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria were not included. And even for the included countries, the ODNI figures could be low: The London-based Bureau of Investigative Journalism estimated between 380 and 801 civilians killed outside areas of active hostilities during the same period.

Even before relaxing the rules, drone strikes and other targeted killings outside areas of active hostilities have already increased from one every 5.4 days during the Obama administration, to one every 1.25 days under Trump, Micah Zenko of the Council on Foreign Relations reported .

Trump granted increased authority to the CIA and the Pentagon to conduct drone strikes. He also loosened the targeted killing rules in large areas of Yemen and Somalia by designating them "areas of active hostilities."

In March alone, the Trump administration killed 1,000 civilians in Iraq and Syria, according to Airwars , a non-governmental organization that monitors civilian casualties from airstrikes.

We can expect to see increasing numbers of civilian deaths as Trump continues the "war on terror" he inherited from his predecessors. Since Bush launched this war after 9/11, we have become more vulnerable to terrorism. Civilian killings heighten anger toward the United States and lead to stepped-up recruitment of those who would do us harm.

Marjorie Cohn is professor emerita at Thomas Jefferson School of Law where she taught for 25 years. The former president of the National Lawyers Guild and criminal defense attorney is a legal scholar, political analyst and social critic who writes books and articles, makes media appearances and lectures throughout the world about human rights and U.S. foreign policy. http://marjoriecohn.com/

See also-

US: New Drone Rules Increase Risks for Civilians: HRW :
Balfour Declaration at 100: Seeds of Discord





A hundred years since Britain's infamous declaration, its repercussions are still felt across the Middle East today.

By Al Jazeera

Filmmaker: Mohammed Salameh

November 01, 2017 " Information Clearing House " - The Balfour Declaration was a public promise by the British government during World War One, announcing support for the establishment of "a national home for the Jewish people" in Palestine . Palestine was still a part of the Ottoman Empire at the time, with a minority Jewish population.

The 67-word document, in the form of a letter from British Foreign Secretary Arthur Balfour to the prominent British Jewish figure, Lord Rothschild, dated November 2, 1917, read:

His Majesty's government view with favour the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people, and will use their best endeavours to facilitate the achievement of this object, it being clearly understood that nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine, or the rights and political status enjoyed by Jews in any other country.

Whatever its real intentions, the declaration has had a profound impact on the Middle East and its people; and its effects still resonate across the region today.

The British War Cabinet began to consider the future of Palestine during World War One in which it fought the central powers of Germany, Austria-Hungary and the Ottoman Empire.

According to historian and author Jonathan Schneer, the British somehow "felt that the Jews held the key to winning the war and so they had to figure out how to bribe the Jews to support them."

James Renton of Edge Hill University elaborates on British motives: "We can boil it down to two elements of British self-interest at that time. Not an emotional interest in Zionism or a love of Jews and the Jewish plight and the desire for return of the Jews to the holy land, no... they wanted to mobilise the allies behind Britain and this idea of Jewish power in the world. They were all of the different policy elites in the war - believers in the notion that Jews who have tremendous influence in the corridors of power around the globe. If the British government appeared to support Zionism, they would win over World Jewry to their side, and all that entailed. The British were convinced that Zionism was really at the centre of the Jewish heart."

Whatever its basis, the relationship between the British Zionists and the government was established in late 1916 and continued to develop throughout 1917, leading to the Declaration in November. It was the first expression of public support for Zionism by a major political power.

"As a term, 'a national home' didn't exist", says Palestinian historian Basheer Nafi. "At that time, international law was well developed. They could have used 'self-governance' or 'independent state'. There was no such a term in international law as 'a national homeland'. What did 'a national home for the Jews in Palestine' mean?"

The term "national home" was intentionally vague as to whether a Jewish state was contemplated. The intended boundaries of Palestine were not specified, and the British government later confirmed that the words "in Palestine" meant that the Jewish national home was not intended to cover all of Palestine.

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The second half of the declaration was added to satisfy opponents of the policy, who had claimed that it would otherwise prejudice the position of the local population of Palestine and encourage anti-semitism against Jews worldwide.

While the declaration called for political rights in Palestine for Jews, rights for the Palestinian Arabs, who comprised the vast majority of the local population, were limited to civil and religious rights.

"The Jews were described as a people with the right to self-determination while the Arabs were considered non-Jewish communities," explains French historian Philippe Prevost. "They didn't even mention the name of the Arabs. They were called non-Jewish. They only could enjoy civil and religious rights. They had no political rights."

But the Balfour Declaration set in motion a series of events that, over two decades, began to signal its deep flaws.

The British proposed partitioning Palestine into separate Arab and Jewish states, but Arab dissent built up to the three-year Revolt between 1936 and 1939. It was a nationalist uprising against the British administration, demanding Arab independence and the end of Jewish immigration.

In May 1939, the British government had begun to reconsider its position and published a policy document, known in the UK as a White Paper. It proposed abandoning the partition of Palestine into two states - and called instead for an independent Palestine in which Arabs and Jews would share government.

It limited Jewish immigration to 75,000 for five years and said that the Arab majority should determine future immigration levels. It also said that Balfour had not meant to create a Jewish state at the expense of the Arabs - any more than the McMahon-Hussein correspondence 24 years before had promised an Arab state to Sharif Hussein of Mecca.

But the White Paper faced opposition on several fronts and was dropped by a British government suddenly preoccupied with the Second World War.

A hundred years on, the declaration's effects still resonate across the Middle East. It still represents to Palestinians the moment an imperial power promised their land away to another people. They hold Balfour responsible for their expulsion, displacement and occupation.

This article was originally published by Al Jazeera -
Tillerson and Mattis Justifying Endless Wars of Aggression





By Stephen Lendman

November 01, 2017 " Information Clearing House " - In Monday testimony before Senate Foreign Relations Committee members, they urged congressional authorization for unlimited war making anywhere worldwide  a shocking indictment of a rogue state threatening humanitys survival, risking eventual catastrophic nuclear war.

Fact: Security Council members alone may authorize one nation attacking others  only in self-defense, never preemptively.

The September 14, 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) flagrantly breached international law. Neither Congress or presidents can legally wage war without SC authorization.

Throughout its post-WW II history, America raped and destroyed one nation after another preemptively and illegally without just cause.

It remains unaccountable for high crimes of war, against humanity and genocide. The Trump administration is conspiring with Congress to continue waging naked US aggression against any designated adversary  extrajudicially.

Tillerson lied saying the AUMF authorizes US force against the Taliban, al-Qaeda, ISIS and associated forces, citing their so-called terrorist threat when none exists.

In the 1980s, America created Afghanistans mujahideen fighters, todays Taliban. It created and supports al-Qaeda, ISIS and other terrorist groups, using them as imperial foot soldiers, mostly as pretexts to wage endless wars of aggression against sovereign nations threatening no one.

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Tillerson: the Trump administration should not be time constrained and must not be geographically restricted. Any congressional limitations on warmaking embolden(s) our enemies  invented ones because real ones dont exist, he failed to explain.

No new AUMF is needed, he said, unjustifiably claiming the President has the power under Article II of the Constitution to use military force in certain circumstances to advance important US national interests, including to defend the United States against terrorist attacks.

Mattis expressed support for the same endless aggression policy, saying we must recognize that we are in an era of frequent skirmishing, and we are more likely to end this fight sooner if we dont tell our adversary the day we intend to stop fighting.

Any new congressional expression of unity, whether or not an AUMF, would present a strong statement to the world of Americas determination  to wage endless wars of aggression, he failed to explain.

The so-called global war on terror is the greatest hoax in modern times  created by Washington to wage endless wars of aggression against sovereign independent nations, wanting pro-Western governance ruling them, their resources looted, their people exploited as serfs.

Thats what Americas geopolitical agenda is all about, the 9/11 mother of all state-sponsored false flags launching war on humanity, enlisting other rogue states as partners to wage it, using ISIS and other terrorist groups to do its fighting and dying.

Americas phony war on terror is being waged covertly worldwide, US special forces infesting most countries, nearly all African ones, Niger the tip of the continents iceberg.

Nothing is reported except when incidents like the killing of four US special forces in Niger are revealed. Even then, covert missions abroad arent explained, Congress and likely Trump kept uninformed.

Straightaway in office, he was co-opted by Americas military/industrial complex, becoming the latest in a long line of US warrior presidents.

Hes continuing Bush/Cheney/Obama wars, escalating them, threatening new conflicts.

North Korea and Iran are prime targets, perhaps Russia and China later on, eliminating their sovereign independence key to unchallenged US global dominance.

Its the end goal Washington seeks, no matter the human toll or threat to humanitys survival.

Despite credible information easily accessed online from reliable sources, the vast majority of Americans are ignorant and/or dismissive about whats going on  unaware of the grave danger posed by Washingtons permanent war agenda.

If not curbed, the chickens will surely come home to roost, perhaps when one or more US cities are immolated by thermonuclear detonations  when its too late to matter.

VISIT MY NEW WEB SITE: stephenlendman.org (Home  Stephen Lendman). Contact at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net .

Stephen Lendman, his newest book as editor and contributor is titled Flashpoint in Ukraine: How the US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III. www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html - stephenlendman.org - lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net .
US Govt-Funded Think Tank Praises Moderate Al Qaeda





With al Qaeda now seen by the U.S. as likely the only group in Syria militarily capable of challenging the Assad regimes grip on power, the U.S. is in the uncomfortable position of having to rehabilitate 9/11 and current terrorists into supportable moderates.



By Whitney Webb

November 01, 2017 " Information Clearing House " - Last week, Foreign Affairs , self-described as the leading magazine for analysis and debate of foreign policy, published an article titled  The Moderate Face of Al Qaeda . The piece takes note of the fact that al Qaedas branch in Syria, long known as Jabhat al-Nusra or al-Nusra Front, changed its names numerous times in order to present itself as moderate in comparison to other terror groups operating in Syria, particularly Daesh (so called Islamic State).

Most counter-terrorism and foreign policy analysts noted at the time that al Qaeda-affiliated rebels attempts at rebranding were intended to improve its chances of receiving funds from foreign governments and to protect itself from Syrian, Russian airstrikes by becoming part of the moderate opposition. Indeed, al Qaedas name changes led the group  allegedly responsible for the 9/11 attacks and the ostensible justification for the U.S. War on Terror  to be dropped from the U.S. and Canadas terror watch list.

However, Colin P. Clarke, the author of the Foreign Affairs article, takes a different approach, arguing that the rebranding just might have worked to redefine the once-reviled terror group as a legitimate, capable, and independent force in the ongoing Syrian civil war that is dedicated to helping Syrians prevail in their struggle. He further argues that this could spell a situation, at least in the long-term, in which al Qaeda begins to resemble the Lebanese group Hezbollah, a legitimate political party with a long history of fighting actual terror groups like al Qaeda and Daesh.

Clarke goes on to praise al Qaedas penchant for cooperation and notes that the group has even publicly announced that it will refrain from attacking the West in order to focus its finite resources on overthrowing the Assad regime  which, according to Clarke, is the top priority of Syrias Sunnis.

Though Clarkes words paint a picture of a moderate al Qaeda franchise, the evidence from Syria makes it clear that the group is still as extreme and abhorrent as ever. The war crimes of al Qaeda-affiliated rebels in Syria are numerous and well-documented. They have massacred civilian communities, specifically targeting religious minorities such as the Druze and Shia Muslims. Those who were permitted to live under al Qaeda rule were subject to stonings, amputations, floggings and worse for violating legal codes adopted by the group. A recent massacre of civilians, conducted by al Nusra and other al Qaeda affiliates in Syria, targeted evacuation buses of Shia civilians, killing over 200 innocents. The dead included 116 children who were lured towards a bomb with the promise of food by terrorists affiliated with al Nusra.

Beyond this distorted depiction, Clarkes further suggestion that Syrian Sunnis are now inclined to support the group lacks factual basis. The Syrian people have been shown  over the course of the entire war  to overwhelmingly support Assad, effectively debunking the assertion that Assads removal from power by Wahhabists is the top priority of all Sunnis.

In addition, the testimony of Syrian civilians, particularly in post-rebel occupied Aleppo, has revealed that Clarkes assertion that al Qaeda-affiliated rebels are committed to working with locals and possess the resources necessary to provide the trappings of governance is equally farcical. During the time they ruled over Eastern Aleppo, al Nusra and other rebels linked to al Qaeda hoarded food and medicine , occupied hospitals and schools, and tried civilians in extremist Sharia courts, often sentencing them to solitary confinement, torture or execution. One young man was tortured for four hours and then executed because his mobile phone contained a picture of his friend holding a Syrian flag. The moderate al Qaeda, to which Clarke alludes, remains factually elusive.

Useful terrorists rechristened moderate rebels

Clarke is not just any political scientist. Indeed, Clarke is a political scientist working at the RAND Corporation , an objective, U.S. government-funded think tank that has long championed the goals of the U.S. military-industrial complex of which it is part. Over the course of the Syrian war, the RAND Corporation has backed regime change as well as the partitioning of Syria , a plan also promoted by the U.S. and Israeli governments.

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The motivation behind this argument may be related to the collapse of regime-change efforts targeting the Syrian government. As Clarke notes:

Now that ISIS has lost its capital in Raqqa, al Qaeda may be the only group viewed as militarily capable of challenging the Assad regimes grip on power. And unlike ISIS, al Qaeda is perceived as working with locals and possessing the resources necessary to provide the trappings of governance.

Given that recent events have further exposed the true, extremist face of the so-called moderate rebels, the U.S. and its allies still bent on Syrian regime change are stuck in the unfortunate spot of attempting to legitimize what Clarke calls the only group militarily capable of challenging the Assad regimes grip on power.

The timing of Clarkes piece is also notable, as it preceded statements made by Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. Tillerson told reporters last Thursday:

It is our view  and I have said this many times as well  that we do not believe that there is a future for the Assad regime and Assad family. The reign of the Assad family is coming to an end. The only issue is how that should be brought about.

The only opposition force that stands to gain from regime change are the moderate al Qaeda-affiliated rebels, particularly since the Kurdish factions in control of the countrys north have embraced negotiations with Assads government.

Thus, the time has now come to once again rehabilitate what is ostensibly one of the worlds most notorious terror groups, even though it is this groups presence in other nations  such as Yemen, Niger and others  that is used as the pretext for U.S. military intervention and bombing campaigns. However, in Syria, al Qaeda, like Daesh, is a useful tool  as well as the last resort  for certain foreign governments in furthering the regime-change campaign against Bashar al-Assad  a campaign that, for six long years, has yielded little but the destruction of swaths of Syria and its civilian population.

Whitney Webb is a staff writer for MintPress News who has written for several news organizations in both English and Spanish; her stories have been featured on ZeroHedge, the Anti-Media, and 21st Century Wire among others. She currently lives in Southern Chile.

This article was originally published by Mint Press -
U.S. Is Illegally Detaining 10-year-old Girl With Cerebral Palsy, Lawsuit Says





By Taylor Dolven

November 01, 2017 " Information Clearing House " - Federal immigration officials have illegally detained an undocumented 10-year-old girl with cerebral palsy in Texas for the past seven days, hours away from her parents, a lawsuit filed Tuesday against the Trump administration alleges.

Border patrol agents physically removed the girl, Rosa Maria Hernandez, from her hospital bed as she recovered from gallbladder surgery one week ago, according to court filings. The agency had flagged her as undocumented when her ambulance passed through a federal checkpoint on the way to the hospital. The officers then followed her ambulance from the checkpoint to the hospital and waited for her to have the surgery before taking her into federal custody, as the video below shows.

The lawsuit, filed by ACLU against Customs and Border Protection and the Office of Refugee Resettlement in federal court, claims the girls detention is unlawful. The Office of Refugee Resettlement is processing Hernandez as an unaccompanied minor  which requires inspecting her home  even though she has lived in Texas with her family since she was three months old.

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Ive never seen a case as outrageous as this one, and Ive been doing this a long time, said Michael Tan, an attorney with the ACLU. The idea that her parents would be forced to apply to get their child back is ridiculous. They shouldnt have to do this. Shes their child. She should be returned to her family.

Customs and Border Protection said they detained Hernandez for the welfare of the child because she wasnt with a parent or legal guardian. Her 34-year-old cousin accompanied her to the hospital. While the agency has a policy against immigration enforcement at hospitals , detaining Hernandez did not violate that because the enforcement happened at the checkpoint, according to spokesperson Roger Pauza.

The actions taken were in accordance with the law and carried out as humanely as possible, Pauza said in a statement.

Hernandezs mother, Felipa De La Cruz, hasnt been able to visit her daughter since she was detained. De La Cruz is undocumented and unable to safely pass through the checkpoint between her house in Laredo and the shelter in San Antonio, more than 150 miles away. Hernandezs father is undocumented as well, but he can pass through the checkpoint to visit her because hes already involved in deportation proceedings.

When I think about her I start to become desperate, De La Cruz said last week. She needs me the most.

Aside from recovering from gallbladder surgery, Hernandez has cerebral palsy and a developmental delay that requires constant care. Despite her familys best efforts to comfort her with her favorite foods, she has been withdrawn during visits with family, according to Priscilla Martinez, Texas Immigration Coalition Coordinator for the Workers Defense Action Fund, who is in close contact with the family.

Defendants forcible separation of [Hernandez] from her family  has inflicted serious psychological and emotional injury on her, Ms. De La Cruz, and her entire family  as would the sudden and forcible removal of any young child from a stable and loving family environment, the lawsuit reads.

Hernandez is scheduled to have a follow-up appointment with her physician in Laredo on Nov. 2. Her parents are hopeful that she will be released to them by then.

This article was originally published by Vice News -
Home Tillerson: US Could Stay In Iraq, Wanted Or Not By Aaron Mehta November 01, 2017 " Information Clearing House " - WASHINGTON  U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said Monday night that American forces would hypothetically stay in Iraq in order to defeat the Islamic State group, even if the government in Baghdad requests the U.S. leave. Tillerson, appearing with Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis in front of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, indicated American forces have the right to stay in Iraq under the 2001 and 2002 Authorizations for the Use of Military Force (AUMF), a long-standing justification for military action around the globe, until the fight against ISIS is concluded. The statement came up in response to a question from Sen. Tom Udall, D-N.M., who asked If U.S. forces are told to leave, will we depart Iraq or will be stay uninvited as our forces are doing in Syria, and under what legal authority will they remain? Responded Tillerson: We will remain in Iraq until ISIS is defeated and we are confident that ISIS has been defeated. When Udall pushed again on what legal authority that would occur, Tillerson responded by citing the 2001 and 2002 AUMFs. However, the secretary stressed that we are there also at the invitation of the Iraqi government and that [Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi] has given to me no indication he is in any particular hurry to have us depart. Mieke Eoyang, vice president of the national security program at the Third Way think tank, called the idea of staying in Iraq against the desire of Baghdad insanity. At that point, the U.S. would be considered an invading force by the Iraqis and would become a target not only of ISIS, but the Iraqi Security Forces, said Eoyang, a longtime Democratic staff member on the Hill. Thats from a practical perspective. From a legal perspective, theyre on even shakier ground. ISIS didnt exist when they passed the 2001 AUMF and the 2002 AUMF was to enforce U.N. Security Council resolutions. They dont have that here. Tillerson needs to go talk to Mattis and his lawyer before he commits to that position. Kori Schake, a fellow with the Hoover Institute who worked at both the National Security Council and the Defense Department during the George. W. Bush administration, said it is unfortunate Secretary of State Tillerson gave the impression we would remain in Iraq without Iraqi approval. No Advertising - No Government Grants - This Is Independent Media Get Our Free Daily Newsletter But, Schake thinks Tillerson may have inadvertently stumbled into that stance. Tillersons response came as part of a broader question from Udall about the role of Iran-backed militias in Iraq. Last week during a visit to Iraq, Tillerson called for Iran-backed militias to either turn down arms or leave the country. I honestly think he was trying to clean up his previous awkward suggestion Iraqi Shiia militia go home to Iran, and bungled into another round of making news that will require cleaning up, Schake said. Asked for clarification on Tillersons remarks, a State Department spokesman said the department doesnt deal in hypotheticals and deferred to the secretarys comments. Pentagon spokeswoman Dana White said she would associate us with Tillersons comments, adding I wont answer hypotheticals. We are in Iraq to defeat ISIS and as [Tillerson] said we are there by invitation. A senior Iraqi diplomat, informed of Tillersons comments, told Defense News that The U.S. forces are at the official request of the Iraqi government; the effectiveness of their support and the coalition allies to the Iraqi Security forces is gratefully acknowledged. The Iraqi Government is committed to maintaining the course of cooperation with our allies until the ultimate defeat of ISIS, in such a way that ensures that there is no sequel to this terrorist group. This article was originally published by Defense News - - See Also - Buchanan: Are our Mideast wars forever? Trump is being led to the Rubicon. If he crosses, he joins Bush II in the history books. Please read our Comment Policy before posting - It is unacceptable to slander, smear or engage in personal attacks on authors of articles posted on ICH. Those engaging in that behavior will be banned from the comment section. Search Information Clearing House === Click Here To Support Information Clearing House Your support has kept ICH free on the Web since 2002. Click for Spanish , German , Dutch , Danish , French , translation- Note- Translation may take a moment to load.
How America Spreads Global Chaos





The U.S. government may pretend to respect a rules-based global order, but the only rule Washington seems to follow is might makes right  and the CIA has long served as a chief instigator and enforcer, writes Nicolas J.S. Davies.



By Nicolas J.S. Davies

November 01, 2017 " Information Clearing House " - As the recent PBS documentary on the American War in Vietnam acknowledged, few American officials ever believed that the United States could win the war, neither those advising Johnson as he committed hundreds of thousands of U.S. troops, nor those advising Nixon as he escalated a brutal aerial bombardment that had already killed millions of people.

As conversations tape-recorded in the White House reveal, and as other writers have documented, the reasons for wading into the Big Muddy, as Pete Seeger satirized it , and then pushing on regardless, all came down to credibility: the domestic political credibility of the politicians involved and Americas international credibility as a military power.

Once the CIA went to work in Vietnam to undermine the 1954 Geneva Accords and the planned reunification of North and South through a free and fair election in 1956, the die was cast. The CIAs support for the repressive Diem regime and its successors ensured an ever-escalating war, as the South rose in rebellion, supported by the North. No U.S. president could extricate the U.S. from Vietnam without exposing the limits of what U.S. military force could achieve, betraying widely held national myths and the powerful interests that sustained and profited from them.

The critical lesson of Vietnam was summed up by Richard Barnet in his 1972 book Roots of War . At the very moment that the number one nation has perfected the science of killing, Barnet wrote, It has become an impractical means of political domination.

Losing the war in Vietnam was a heavy blow to the CIA and the U.S. Military Industrial Complex, and it added insult to injury for every American who had lost comrades or loved ones in Vietnam, but it ushered in more than a decade of relative peace for America and the world. If the purpose of the U.S. military is to protect the U.S. from the danger of war, as our leaders so often claim, the Vietnam syndrome, or the reluctance to be drawn into new wars, kept the peace and undoubtedly saved countless lives.

Even the senior officer corps of the U.S. military saw it that way, since many of them had survived the horrors of Vietnam as junior officers. The CIA could still wreak havoc in Latin America and elsewhere, but the full destructive force of the U.S. military was not unleashed again until the invasion of Panama in 1989 and the First Gulf War in 1991.

Half a century after Vietnam, we have tragically come full circle. With the CIAs politicized intelligence running wild in Washington and its covert operations spreading violence and chaos across every continent, President Trump faces the same pressures to maintain his own and his countrys credibility as Johnson and Nixon did. His predictable response has been to escalate ongoing wars in Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Yemen, Somalia and West Africa, and to threaten new ones against North Korea, Iran and Venezuela.

Trump is facing these questions, not just in one country, Vietnam, but in dozens of countries across the world, and the interests perpetuating and fueling this cycle of crisis and war have only become more entrenched over time, as President Eisenhower warned that they would, despite the end of the Cold War and, until now, the lack of any actual military threat to the United States.

Ironically but predictably, the U.S.s aggressive and illegal war policy has finally provoked a real military threat to the U.S., albeit one that has emerged only in response to U.S. war plans. As I explained in a recent article , North Koreas discovery in 2016 of a U.S. plan to assassinate its president, Kim Jong Un, and launch a Second Korean War has triggered a crash program to develop long-range ballistic missiles that could give North Korea a viable nuclear deterrent and prevent a U.S. attack. But the North Koreans will not feel safe from attack until their leaders and ours are sure that their missiles can deliver a nuclear strike against the U.S. mainland.

The CIAs Pretexts for War

U.S. Air Force Colonel Fletcher Prouty was the chief of special operations for the Joint Chiefs of Staff from 1955 to 1964, managing the global military support system for the CIA in Vietnam and around the world. Fletcher Proutys book, The Secret Team: The CIA and its Allies in Control of the United States and the World, was suppressed when it was first published in 1973. Thousands of copies disappeared from bookstores and libraries, and a mysterious Army Colonel bought the entire shipment of 3,500 copies the publisher sent to Australia. But Proutys book was republished in 2011, and it is a timely account of the role of the CIA in U.S. policy.

Prouty surprisingly described the role of the CIA as a response by powerful people and interests to the abolition of the U.S. Department of War and the creation of the Department of Defense in 1947. Once the role of the U.S. military was redefined as one of defense, in line with the United Nations Charters prohibition against the threat or use of military force in 1945 and similar moves by other military powers, it would require some kind of crisis or threat to justify using military force in the future, both legally and politically. The main purpose of the CIA, as Prouty saw it, is to create such pretexts for war.

The CIA is a hybrid of an intelligence service that gathers and analyzes foreign intelligence and a clandestine service that conducts covert operations. Both functions are essential to creating pretexts for war, and that is what they have done for 70 years.

Prouty described how the CIA infiltrated the U.S. military, the State Department, the National Security Council and other government institutions, covertly placing its officers in critical positions to ensure that its plans are approved and that it has access to whatever forces, weapons, equipment, ammunition and other resources it needs to carry them out.

Many retired intelligence officers, such as Ray McGovern and the members of Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity (VIPS), saw the merging of clandestine operations with intelligence analysis in one agency as corrupting the objective analysis they tried to provide to policymakers. They formed VIPS in 2003 in response to the fabrication of politicized intelligence that provided false pretexts for the U.S. to invade and destroy Iraq.

CIA in Syria and Africa

But Fletcher Prouty was even more disturbed by the way that the CIA uses clandestine operations to trigger coups, wars and chaos. The civil and proxy war in Syria is a perfect example of what Prouty meant. In late 2011, after destroying Libya and aiding in the torture-murder of Muammar Gaddafi, the CIA and its allies began flying fighters and weapons from Libya to Turkey and infiltrating them into Syria. Then, working with Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey, Croatia and other allies, this operation poured thousands of tons of weapons across Syrias borders to ignite and fuel a full-scale civil war.

Once these covert operations were under way, they ran wild until they had unleashed a savage Al Qaeda affiliate in Syria (Jabhat al-Nusra, now rebranded as Jabhat Fateh al-Sham), spawned the even more savage Islamic State, triggered the heaviest and probably the deadliest U.S. bombing campaign since Vietnam and drawn Russia, Iran, Turkey, Israel, Jordan, Hezbollah, Kurdish militias and almost every state or armed group in the Middle East into the chaos of Syrias civil war.

Meanwhile, as Al Qaeda and Islamic State have expanded their operations across Africa, the U.N. has published a report titled Journey to Extremism in Africa: Drivers, Incentives and the Tipping Point for Recruitment, based on 500 interviews with African militants. This study has found that the kind of special operations and training missions the CIA and AFRICOM are conducting and supporting in Africa are in fact the critical tipping point that drives Africans to join militant groups like Al Qaeda, Al-Shabab and Boko Haram.

The report found that government action, such as the killing or detention of friends or family, was the tipping point that drove 71 percent of African militants interviewed to join armed groups, and that this was a more important factor than religious ideology.

The conclusions of Journey to Extremism in Africa confirm the findings of other similar studies. The Center for Civilians in Conflict interviewed 250 civilians who joined armed groups in Bosnia, Somalia, Gaza and Libya for its 2015 study, The Peoples Perspectives : Civilian Involvement in Armed Conflict. The study found that the most common motivation for civilians to join armed groups was simply to protect themselves or their families.

The role of U.S. counterterrorism operations in fueling armed resistance and terrorism, and the absence of any plan to reduce the asymmetric violence unleashed by the global war on terror, would be no surprise to Fletcher Prouty. As he explained, such clandestine operations always take on a life of their own that is unrelated, and often counter-productive, to any rational U.S. policy objective.

The more intimate one becomes with this activity, Prouty wrote, The more one begins to realize that such operations are rarely, if ever, initiated from an intent to become involved in pursuit of some national objective in the first place.

The U.S. justifies the deployment of 6,000 U.S. special forces and military trainers to 53 of the 54 countries in Africa as a response to terrorism. But the U.N.s Journey to Extremism in Africa study makes it clear that the U.S. militarization of Africa is in fact the tipping point that is driving Africans across the continent to join armed resistance groups in the first place.

This is a textbook CIA operation on the same model as Vietnam in the late 1950s and early 60s. The CIA uses U.S. special forces and training missions to launch covert and proxy military operations that drive local populations into armed resistance groups, and then uses the presence of those armed resistance groups to justify ever-escalating U.S. military involvement. This is Vietnam redux on a continental scale.

Taking on China

What seems to really be driving the CIAs militarization of U.S. policy in Africa is Chinas growing influence on the continent. As Steve Bannon put it in an interview with the Economist in August, Lets go screw up One Belt One Road.

China is already too big and powerful for the U.S. to apply what is known as the Ledeen doctrine named for neoconservative theorist and intelligence operative Michael Ledeen who suggested that every 10 years or so, the United States pick up some small crappy little country and throw it against the wall, just to show we mean business.

China is too powerful and armed with nuclear weapons. So, in this case, the CIAs job would be to spread violence and chaos to disrupt Chinese trade and investment, and to make African governments increasingly dependent on U.S. military aid to fight the militant groups spawned and endlessly regenerated by U.S.-led counterterrorism operations.

Neither Ledeen nor Bannon pretend that such policies are designed to build more prosperous or viable societies in the Middle East or Africa, let alone to benefit their people. They both know very well what Richard Barnet already understood 45 years ago, that Americas unprecedented investment in weapons, war and CIA covert operations are only good for one thing: to kill people and destroy infrastructure, reducing cities to rubble, societies to chaos and the desperate survivors to poverty and displacement.

As long as the CIA and the U.S. military keep plunging the scapegoats for our failed policies into economic crisis, violence and chaos, the United States and the United Kingdom can remain the safe havens of the worlds wealth, islands of privilege and excess amidst the storms they unleash on others.

But if that is the only significant national objective driving these policies, it is surely about time for the 99 percent of Americans who reap no benefit from these murderous schemes to stop the CIA and its allies before they completely wreck the already damaged and fragile world in which we all must live, Americans and foreigners alike.

Douglas Valentine has probably studied the CIA in more depth than any other American journalist, beginning with his book on The Phoenix Program in Vietnam. He has written a new book titled The CIA as Organized Crime : How Illegal Operations Corrupt America and the World, in which he brings Fletcher Proutys analysis right up to the present day, describing the CIAs role in our current wars and the many ways it infiltrates, manipulates and controls U.S. policy.

The Three Scapegoats

In Trumps speech to the U.N. General Assembly, he named North Korea, Iran and Venezuela as his prime targets for destabilization, economic warfare and, ultimately, the overthrow of their governments, whether by coup detat or the mass destruction of their civilian population and infrastructure. But Trumps choice of scapegoats for Americas failures was obviously not based on a rational reassessment of foreign policy priorities by the new administration. It was only a tired rehashing of the CIAs unfinished business with two-thirds of Bushs axis of evil and Bush White House official Elliott Abrams failed 2002 coup in Caracas, now laced with explicit and illegal threats of aggression.

How Trump and the CIA plan to sacrifice their three scapegoats for Americas failures remains to be seen. This is not 2001, when the world stood silent at the U.S. bombardment and invasion of Afghanistan after September 11th. It is more like 2003, when the U.S. destruction of Iraq split the Atlantic alliance and alienated most of the world. It is certainly not 2011, after Obamas global charm offensive had rebuilt U.S. alliances and provided cover for French President Sarkozy, British Prime Minister Cameron, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and the Arab royals to destroy Libya, once ranked by the U.N. as the most developed country in Africa , now mired in intractable chaos.

In 2017, a U.S. attack on any one of Trumps scapegoats would isolate the United States from many of its allies and undermine its standing in the world in far-reaching ways that might be more permanent and harder to repair than the invasion and destruction of Iraq.

In Venezuela, the CIA and the right-wing opposition are following the same strategy that President Nixon ordered the CIA to inflict on Chile, to make the economy scream in preparation for the 1973 coup. But the solid victory of Venezuelas ruling Socialist Party in recent nationwide gubernatorial elections, despite a long and deep economic crisis, reveals little public support for the CIAs puppets in Venezuela.

The CIA has successfully discredited the Venezuelan government through economic warfare, increasingly violent right-wing street protests and a global propaganda campaign. But the CIA has stupidly hitched its wagon to an extreme right-wing, upper-class opposition that has no credibility with most of the Venezuelan public, who still turn out for the Socialists at the polls. A CIA coup or U.S. military intervention would meet fierce public resistance and damage U.S. relations all over Latin America.

Boxing In North Korea

A U.S. aerial bombardment or preemptive strike on North Korea could quickly escalate into a war between the U.S. and China, which has reiterated its commitment to North Koreas defense if North Korea is attacked. We do not know exactly what was in the U.S. war plan discovered by North Korea, so neither can we know how North Korea and China could respond if the U.S. pressed ahead with it.

Most analysts have long concluded that any U.S. attack on North Korea would be met with a North Korean artillery and missile barrage that would inflict unacceptable civilian casualties on Seoul, a metropolitan area of 26 million people, three times the population of New York City. Seoul is only 35 miles from the frontier with North Korea, placing it within range of a huge array of North Korean weapons. What was already a no-win calculus is now compounded by the possibility that North Korea could respond with nuclear weapons, turning any prospect of a U.S. attack into an even worse nightmare.

U.S. mismanagement of its relations with North Korea should be an object lesson for its relations with Iran, graphically demonstrating the advantages of diplomacy, talks and agreements over threats of war. Under the Agreed Framework signed in 1994, North Korea stopped work on two much larger nuclear reactors than the small experimental one operating at Yongbyong since 1986, which only produces 6 kg of plutonium per year, enough for one nuclear bomb.

The lesson of Bushs Iraq invasion in 2003 after Saddam Hussein had complied with demands that he destroy Iraqs stockpiles of chemical weapons and shut down a nascent nuclear program was not lost on North Korea. Not only did the invasion lay waste to large sections of Iraq with hundreds of thousands of dead but Hussein himself was hunted down and condemned to death by hanging.

Still, after North Korea tested its first nuclear weapon in 2006, even its small experimental reactor was shut down as a result of the Six Party Talks in 2007, all the fuel rods were removed and placed under supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency, and the cooling tower of the reactor was demolished in 2008.

But then, as relations deteriorated, North Korea conducted a second nuclear weapon test and again began reprocessing spent fuel rods to recover plutonium for use in nuclear weapons.

North Korea has now conducted six nuclear weapons tests. The explosions in the first five tests increased gradually up to 15-25 kilotons, about the yield of the bombs the U.S. dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, but estimates for the yield of the 2017 test range from 110 to 250 kilotons , comparable to a small hydrogen bomb.

The even greater danger in a new war in Korea is that the U.S. could unleash part of its arsenal of 4,000 more powerful weapons (100 to 1,200 kilotons), which could kill millions of people and devastate and poison the region, or even the world, for years to come.

The U.S. willingness to scrap the Agreed Framework in 2003, the breakdown of the Six Party Talks in 2009 and the U.S. refusal to acknowledge that its own military actions and threats create legitimate defense concerns for North Korea have driven the North Koreans into a corner from which they see a credible nuclear deterrent as their only chance to avoid mass destruction.

China has proposed a reasonable framework for diplomacy to address the concerns of both sides, but the U.S. insists on maintaining its propaganda narratives that all the fault lies with North Korea and that it has some kind of military solution to the crisis.

This may be the most dangerous idea we have heard from U.S. policymakers since the end of the Cold War, but it is the logical culmination of a systematic normalization of deviant and illegal U.S. war-making that has already cost millions of lives in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Libya, Somalia, Yemen and Pakistan. As historian Gabriel Kolko wrote in Century of War in 1994, options and decisions that are intrinsically dangerous and irrational become not merely plausible but the only form of reasoning about war and diplomacy that is possible in official circles.

Demonizing Iran

The idea that Iran has ever had a nuclear weapons program is seriously contested by the IAEA, which has examined every allegation presented by the CIA and other Western intelligence agencies as well as Israel. Former IAEA Director General Mohamed ElBaradei revealed many details of this wild goose chase in his 2011 memoir, Age of Deception : Nuclear Diplomacy in Treacherous Times.

When the CIA and its partners reluctantly acknowledged the IAEAs conclusions in a 2007 National Intelligence Estimate (NIE), ElBaradei issued a press release confirming that, the agency has no concrete evidence of an ongoing nuclear weapons program or undeclared nuclear facilities in Iran.

Since 2007, the IAEA has resolved all its outstanding concerns with Iran. It has verified that dual-use technologies that Iran imported before 2003 were in fact used for other purposes, and it has exposed the mysterious laptop documents that appeared to show Iranian plans for a nuclear weapon as forgeries. Gareth Porter thoroughly explored all these questions and allegations and the history of mistrust that fueled them in his 2014 book, Manufactured Crisis : the Untold Story of the Iran Nuclear Scare, which I highly recommend.

But, in the parallel Bizarro world of U.S. politics, hopelessly poisoned by the CIAs endless disinformation campaigns, Hillary Clinton could repeatedly take false credit for disarming Iran during her presidential campaign, and neither Bernie Sanders, Donald Trump nor any corporate media interviewer dared to challenge her claims.

When President Obama took office, Iran was racing toward a nuclear bomb, Clinton fantasized in a prominent foreign policy speech on June 2, 2016, claiming that her brutal sanctions policy brought Iran to the table.

In fact, as Trita Parsi documented in his 2012 book, A Single Roll of the Dice : Obamas Diplomacy With Iran, the Iranians were ready, not just to come to the table, but to sign a comprehensive agreement based on a U.S. proposal brokered by Turkey and Brazil in 2010. But, in a classic case of tail wags dog, the U.S. then rejected its own proposal because it would have undercut support for tighter sanctions in the U.N. Security Council. In other words, Clintons sanctions policy did not bring Iran to the table, but prevented the U.S. from coming to the table itself.

As a senior State Department official told Trita Parsi, the real problem with U.S. diplomacy with Iran when Clinton was at the State Department was that the U.S. would not take Yes for an answer. Trumps ham-fisted decertification of Irans compliance with the JCPOA is right out of Clintons playbook, and it demonstrates that the CIA is still determined to use Iran as a scapegoat for Americas failures in the Middle East.

The spurious claim that Iran is the worlds greatest sponsor of terrorism is another CIA canard reinforced by endless repetition. It is true that Iran supports and supplies weapons to Hezbollah and Hamas, which are both listed as terrorist organizations by the U.S. government. But they are mainly defensive resistance groups that defend Lebanon and Gaza respectively against invasions and attacks by Israel.

Shifting attention away from Al Qaeda, Islamic State, the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group and other groups that actually commit terrorist crimes around the world might just seem like a case of the CIA taking its eyes off the ball, if it wasnt so transparently timed to frame Iran with new accusations now that the manufactured crisis of the nuclear scare has run its course.

What the Future Holds

Barack Obamas most consequential international achievement may have been the triumph of symbolism over substance behind which he expanded and escalated the so-called war on terror, with a vast expansion of covert operations and proxy wars that eventually triggered the heaviest U.S. aerial bombardments since Vietnam in Iraq and Syria.

Obamas charm offensive invigorated old and new military alliances with the U.K., France and the Arab monarchies, and he quietly ran up the most expensive military budge t of any president since World War Two.

But Obamas expansion of the war on terror under cover of his deceptive global public relations campaign created many more problems than it solved, and Trump and his advisers are woefully ill-equipped to solve any of them. Trumps expressed desire to place America first and to resist foreign entanglements is hopelessly at odds with his aggressive, bullying approach to every foreign policy problem.

If the U.S. could threaten and fight its way to a resolution of any of its international problems, it would have done so already. That is exactly what it has been trying to do since the 1990s, behind both the swagger and bluster of Bush and Trump and the deceptive charm of Clinton and Obama: a good cop  bad cop routine that should no longer fool anyone anywhere.

But as Lyndon Johnson found as he waded deeper and deeper into the Big Muddy in Vietnam, lying to the public about unwinnable wars does not make them any more winnable. It just gets more people killed and makes it harder and harder to ever tell the public the truth.

In unwinnable wars based on lies, the credibility problem only gets more complicated, as new lies require new scapegoats and convoluted narratives to explain away graveyards filled by old lies. Obamas cynical global charm offensive bought the war on terror another eight years, but that only allowed the CIA to drag the U.S. into more trouble and spread its chaos to more places around the world.

Meanwhile, Russian President Putin is winning hearts and minds in capitals around the world by calling for a recommitment to the rule of international law , which prohibits the threat or use of military force except in self-defense. Every new U.S. threat or act of aggression will only make Putins case more persuasive, not least to important U.S. allies like South Korea, Germany and other members of the European Union, whose complicity in U.S. aggression has until now helped to give it a false veneer of political legitimacy.

Throughout history, serial aggression has nearly always provoked increasingly united opposition, as peace-loving countries and people have reluctantly summoned the courage to stand up to an aggressor. France under Napoleon and Hitlers Germany also regarded themselves as exceptional, and in their own ways they were. But in the end, their belief in their exceptionalism led them on to defeat and destruction.

Americans had better hope that we are not so exceptional, and that the world will find a diplomatic rather than a military solution to its American problem. Our chances of survival would improve a great deal if American officials and politicians would finally start to act like something other than putty in the hands of the CIA.

Nicolas J. S. Davies is the author of Blood On Our Hands: the American Invasion and Destruction of Iraq. He also wrote the chapters on Obama at War in Grading the 44th President: a Report Card on Barack Obamas First Term as a Progressive Leader .

This article was originally published by Consortium News -

John Pilger: Vietnam: The Quiet Mutiny Following its screening on ITV, Walter Annenberg, the American ambassador to London, complained to the ITA, the commercial channels regulator.
Americans Say This Is Lowest Point in US History





In new poll, a majority say they can't remember a time when their levels of stress over healthcare, the economy, and social divisions were higher



By Julia Conley

November 01, 2017 " Information Clearing House " - A majority of Americans surveyed in a study of stress levels, released on Wednesday, said they consider the present day to be the lowest point in U.S. history, and indicated that the future of the nation is a major source of stress in their lives.

Out of 3,440 respondents surveyed in August by the American Psychological Association, fifty-nine percent said they can't remember a worse time in the nation's history. The people surveyed included Americans who had lived through World War II, the Vietnam War, the September 11 attacks, and the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Poll-takers asked respondents to describe the issues that have caused them to feel this way, and found that 59 percent were most anguished about "divisiveness" in U.S. society.

Forty-three percent named healthcare as their top source of stress, amid continued efforts by the Trump administration and the Republican Party to weaken the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The poll was taken just after Republicans' efforts to repeal the law failed, but President Donald Trump has continued to sabotage the ACA, which helped nearly 20 million Americans gain health coverage.

More than a third of those polled said the economy was their biggest worry. Trump has been pushing his tax plan in recent weeks, which is expected to hold the most benefits for wealthy Americans.

Another 32 percent said "trust in government" was their biggest concern and 31 percent said hate crimes or crime in general were their top source of stress regarding the nation.

Women who took the survey reported higher levels of stress than men, and black and Latino males had a higher average stress level than their white counterparts. Black respondents also expressed far less optimism about the path the country is on than white respondents; 72 percent disagreed that the country could have a strong future, while only 55 percent of whites disagreed with the sentiment.

No Advertising - No Government Grants - This Is Independent Media Get Our Free Daily Newsletter

More than half of respondents also said that their concerns over the political climate in the U.S. makes them feel conflicted about keeping up with the 24-hour news cycle.

"With 24-hour news networks and conversations with friends, family, and other connections on social media, it's hard to avoid the constant stream of stress around issues of national concern," said Dr. Arthur Evans, CEO of the APA.

On social media, some of Trump's critics said they related to the APA's findings.

You're not alone or imagining it: some shocking statistics from the American Psychological Association. https://t.co/2FdEQijcUC  Amy Siskind (@Amy_Siskind) November 1, 2017

Data from new Stress in America survey is out and might just validate how you are feeling these days #StressAPA https://t.co/eEerExXeiy  Vaile Wright (@drvailewright) November 1, 2017

Thanks, Trump.



59% of Americans say this is the lowest point in American history https://t.co/h7CmZKe6ak  Jay Kirell (@JasonKirell) November 1, 2017

This article was originally published by Common Dreams -
Thousands of people have fled Cameroons violence-hit anglophone regions into neighbouring Nigeria in recent weeks, the UN said Tuesday, adding it was preparing to help 40,000 refugees from the unrest.

The UN refugee agency and Nigerian authorities have so far registered some 2,000 Cameroonians who have fled into southeastern Nigeria since October 1, while another 3,000 were awaiting registration.

Even more people are believed to be trapped in forests on the Cameroonian side.

We are preparing to help up to 40,0000, UNHCR spokesman Babar Baloch told AFP, stressing though that the number of people fleeing into Nigeria could easily surpass that figure.

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.

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 President Paul Biyas security forces that left dozens dead and many injured.

UNHCR said it was helping Nigerian aid workers distribute relief items in Nigerias Cross River State, including 40 tonnes of food, mattresses, blankets, mosquito nets and hygiene kits.

The agency warned that the new refugee crisis came at a time when Nigeria and Cameroon were already grappling with one of the worlds worst humanitarian crises.

Some 2.5 million people in the Lake Chad region have already been displaced by the Boko Haram insurgency, which has killed at least 20,000 people since 2009.

In the latest attack blamed on the Islamists, at least 20 people were killed in a series of attacks in Cameroon and Nigeria on Monday.

Source: ( AFP )
Two Kenyan journalists were attacked inside the headquarters of the Orange Democratic Movement while waiting for a speech by opposition leader Raila Odinga responding to President Uhuru Kenyattas victory.

Journalists walked out en masse after veteran political journalist, Francis Gachuri, and 25-year-old television journalist, Jane Gatwiri, were assaulted while waiting for Mr. Odinga to speak.

Mr. Garwiri said: we heard in Swahili, Citizen (TV) must leave. When I was trying to record, I got a very hot slap on my face  my right cheek.

Someone said I should move, pushed me, my camera was about to be broken.

Some of Mr. Odingas supporters have accused Citizen of bias towards Mr. Kenyatta after the channel ran a tally of recent vote.

Mr. Odinga, who has lost his fourth election, was expected to give his first reaction to Mr. Kenyattas on Monday victory, but delayed a speech planned for Tuesday morning by several hours.

Mr. Odinga boycotted the poll, saying it would not be fair.

Mr. Kenyatta won by a margin of 98 per cent, provoking anger in some pro-Odinga strongholds, whose residents burnt tyre barricades and threw rocks at police.

His spokesman later issued an apology for the attack on the journalists, which happened in the Wiper Party headquarters, a party in his coalition.

The Coalition registers unreserved apology to newsmen who fell victim to this unfortunate incident.

The youth acted on their own and we condemn their actions in strongest terms possible, the statement said.

There were no reports of protests elsewhere as supporters waited for Mr. Odingas speech.

We are just waiting for Baba to speak, Desmond Litava, an Odinga supporter said in Kawangware, a restive slum in Nairobi, using a term of respect for the leader.

Mr. Odinga could call for his supporters to take to the streets, unleashing chaos in cities such as Nairobi and Kisumu to the detriment of the already struggling economy.

After a disputed election in 2007, around 1,200 people were killed when political protests sparked ethnic clashes, leading to a prolonged slump in the regions richest and most important economy.

On the other hand, Mr. Odinga could limit his appeal to the courts, as he did in 2013, and yield to diplomatic pressure to engage in post-election `national dialogue with Mr. Kenyatta.

But in his acceptance speech, Mr. Kenyatta ruled out the possibility of dialogue with Mr. Odinga if the opposition lodged any legal cases contesting his victory.

A report said that August 8 vote was annulled by the Supreme Court on the basis of procedural irregularities in the vote-tallying.

Mr. Odinga said the re-run was also flawed because of a failure to replace key officials of the election commission.

According to diplomatic sources, 14 people have died in political violence nationwide since Thursdays vote, while a provisional government tally said nine people had been killed.

Source: ( Premium Times )
At least 14 people, were killed when an electric transformer exploded during a wedding in Indias North-Western State of Rajasthan, the police said on Wednesday.

The blast occurred in a village near state capital Jaipur on Tuesday as locals were gathering at a house for a wedding function.

The powerful explosion took place in the transformer located just outside the house as people gathered and women were singing folk songs, local police officer Prahlad Singh said through the telephone.

Five people died on the scene. Witnesses said scalding oil from the transformer fell on people and their clothes immediately caught fire.

Among the victims were 11 women, a pregnant woman who was seriously injured in the accident lost her baby, 15 others were injured, Singh said.

The condition of six victims was described as critical, having suffered 80 per cent burns.

Police said the explosion could have been due to poor maintenance of the transformer even as the state government ordered a probe to determine the cause of the blast.

Authorities also announced compensation of $15,500 each to the next of kin of the deceased.

Local leaders and villagers held protests accusing the government and electricity department of criminal negligence media reports said.

Source: (dpa/NAN)
Did you know that you can actually get to travel to Dubai without spending a kobo of your own money? We kid you not!

Theres even more: you wont have to struggle at the airport with immigration and all that, neither will you have to lodge in some average hotel like a regular tourist trying to save cost. No way!

Were talking about enjoying the full VVIP Dubai treatment like millionaires do. Comfortable flight, luxury hotels, fancy restaurants, yacht cruises and all that classy stuff. Plus, youll also get to witness One Africa Music Fest live, with exclusive access to mingle and chill with Africas biggest superstar talents!

Now, what do you have to do to get a chance to enjoy this opportunity of a lifetime?

Its pretty simple. Just follow the steps below:

First, download the #NoShakinCarryGo2Dubai beat from here : bit.ly/Pepsi2Dubai

Second, Creatively express yourself in 60 seconds or less (dancing, singing or rapping).

Third, Upload your video on Instagram or Twitter using the hashtag #NoShakinCarryGo, and tag @pepsi_naija.

Fourth, Like Pepsi Nigeria on Facebook, and also follow @pepsi_naija on Twitter & Instagram.

And just like that, you can be among the 10 lucky Nigerians to win an all-expense paid trip to Dubai for One Africa Music Fest this November.

Good luck!
Ray Hushpuppi is best known for his luxurious lifestyle he lives both home and abroad which has severally prompted a vast inquiry into his source of income.

Stargist presents 7 things you probably didnt know about the flamboyant man.

1. Hushpuppi whose real name is Raymond Igbalodely was born on June 14.

2. The famous Malaysian-based philanthropist also referred to as Aja 4 and Aja Puppi once revealed that he used to be a heavy gambler.

3. It is difficult to accurately calculate the net worth of this man. But his usage of such expensive cars as Rolls Royce and Range Rover suggests that he is able to afford the best.

4. Ray is a lover of Guccis clothes and shoes, and he can certainly afford them.

5. He was once spotted at the Naomi Campbells Fashion for Relief charity event, hanging out with a number of big celebrities.

6. He has two children, a boy and a girl from two different women.

7. He is one of the individuals that musician, 9ice, mentioned in his controversial hit song Living Things which was widely believed as promoting internet fraud(sters) in Nigeria.

Source  Nairaland
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN ) has backed the decision of the Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, to contest the 2019 presidential election.

The body also advised the governor not to be distracted by people who have nothing good to offer the country.

This was contained in a letter sent to Fayose and signed by the General Secretary of CAN, Rev. Dr. Musa Asake.

In the letter dated October 16, 2017 with reference number CAN/GS/IGMAILS/02/017, the Christian body noted that Fayoses presidential declaration of September 28, 2017 in Abuja could only be done by somebody with uncommon boldness and courage, given the harassment and intimidation that would surely follow.

The letter stated, Unarguably, you have done what many of our politicians, Christians in particular, do not have the courage to do.

This is why I agree with you, hook line and sinker when, in your speech, you said inter alia, You are all witnesses to my commitment to this party in this difficult period, where I have demonstrated uncommon courage that makes me stand out as capable of leading our country at this time.

CAN said Fayose was doing great as a leader and would move the country forward.

In times like this, if honest and courageous leaders like you are not careful, this can bring discouragement.

Be assured that the Lord who has led you in your leadership as the Executive Governor of Ekiti State at this time will never let you down.

The leader that Nigeria really needs is the one that shuns the cosmetic approach because he knows it is superficial; and the quick fix it approach because he knows it is temporary.

The country needs a leader who has the courage to face problems honestly, the wisdom to understand them, the strength to do something about them and the faith to trust God to do the rest, the letter concluded.

Source: ( Punch Newspaper )
The Central Intelligence Agency ( CIA ) on Wednesday released an archive of documents and video seized in the 2011 US raid on a Pakistani compound that killed Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.

Researchers from a Washington think tank who had prior access to the newly declassified dossier say it includes Bin Ladens sons wedding video and diaries left by the Saudi-born militant.

Todays release  provides the opportunity for the American people to gain further insights into the plans and workings of this terrorist organization, said CIA director Mike Pompeo.

The CIA has put online 470,000 additional files seized in May 2011 when US Navy SEALs burst into the Abbottabad compound and shot dead the leader of Al-Qaedas global extremist network.

According to Thomas Joscelyn and Bill Roggio, scholars from the Foundation for Defense of Democracies who were allowed to study the trove before it was made public, it provides new insights.
Former US Vice President Joe Biden strongly criticized President Trump Wednesday, and predicted an emboldened and determined Russia would once again meddle in an American election.

In public comments at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, Biden  the target of speculation of a possible presidential run in 2020  thoroughly rebuked Trump and his policies.

Weve got to stop this tweeting its childish, he said. Its time to grow up and act like a world leader.

Biden, Barack Obamas former vice president, has made international politics a key area of focus since leaving office.

He accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of seeking to mask problems at home by stoking discord in European countries and the United States.

Russias attack on our election was not an isolated incident, Biden said.

The efforts to spew disinformation, infiltrate our networks, corrupt our political institutions, they continue. And, well surely see this kick into full gear as we head into another critical Congressional election cycle in 2018.

Biden also criticized Trump for not taking a more forceful stand against Russian meddling and said his international policies in general  such as withdrawing from the Trans-Pacific Partnership  threatened Americas alliances.

A former senator from Delaware with working-class roots, Biden has long been seen as a champion of the same demographic that favoured Trump in the 2016 election: white, working-class people who are struggling economically.

These people arent prejudiced. They are realistic. And theyve become targets to charlatans, Biden said.

Source: ( AFP )
A young girl who was on a suicide bombing mission has ended up killing as many as five kids who were just playing among themselves.

A suicide bomber who was described as a young girl has killed five children on Tuesday night and wounded two others.

According to Agence France Presse, AFP, sources said Wednesday that the attack occurred in a northern region of Cameroon plagued by Boko Haram attacks.

A suicide bomber blew herself up (on Tuesday) at around 7.45 pm (1845 GMT) in the village of Zamga, two kilometres (1.2 miles) from the Nigerian border, said a security officer responsible for the zone, reached from the capital Yaounde.

Five children were killed and two others wounded, he said on condition of anonymity, adding that the suicide bomber was also killed in the blast.

The attack and the death toll were confirmed to AFP by another security source. A group of children was playing when a young girl slipped in among them, triggering her explosive charge, the safety officer explained.

On Sunday and Monday, at least 20 people were killed in attacks by the Islamist group Boko Haram in Nigeria and Cameroon.
A driver of a hotel operator on Victoria Island, identified as William Olowoloju,has been arrested by the Lagos State Police Command for allegedly kidnapping his boss younger brother and girlfriend.

According to reports, Olowoloju and three others Ayo Akinola, Segun Teluwo and one Akindamola  reportedly kidnapped the victims, Dumebi Azuka and Rebecca Omokoro, on Elegba Festival Drive, Oniru Private Estate, Victoria Island, at about 11.30pm on Saturday, October 21.

The lovers were driving out of the estate in a Ford Jeep when the abductors reportedly waylaid them at gunpoint and tied them up.

They were said to have driven the victims to their hideout in Agodo Alara village, Ogijo, Ogun State, and demanded N20m ransom from the hotelier, Edwin Azuka.

It was learnt that after the case was reported to the police, operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad trailed the suspects to the den.

The Acting Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, Edgal Imohimi, who paraded the suspects on Tuesday, said the victims were rescued unhurt.

He said, Apart from the Jeep with number plate, LND 995 ES, one locally-made gun, a battle knife and four Automated Teller Machine cards, among others, were recovered from them.

The suspects will soon be charged to court on completion of investigation.

Also paraded were 50 suspected cult members, armed robbers, and drug peddlers arrested in the Ikorodu, Oshodi and Lagos Island areas of the state.

The command once again appeals to the people of Lagos to be vigilant to make the state safe and secure. Whenever you see something, say something, Imohimi added.

Speaking with our correspondent, Olowoloju, who hails from Ekiti State, said he had approached his boss to give him a N100,000 loan sometime in September, but the boss turned down his request.

The 37-year-old driver, who said he wanted to use the money for his in-laws burial, explained that he felt disappointed and met with a friend, Akindamola, who advised him to kidnap Dumebi.

Source: ( Punch Newspaper )
YAGI boss, Lil Kesh has been reportedly deported from the United States!

Heres what HeadOfSocials reported;

Nigerian indigenous rapper, Keshinro Ololade popularly known as Lil Kesh might not be entering the United State Of America anytime soon, as he was denied entry at the point of Entry with the immigration officers in USA.

The stars visa was canceled and was immediately put on the next flight back to Nigeria.

Information reaching us in Atlanta says his ban might be lifted after 5 years.
Ekiti state Governor, Mr Ayo Fayose, has finally reacted to the fire accident that burnt his luxurious Mercedes Gwagon in Lagos.

Speaking on a monthly Radio and Television Programme monitored by INDEPENDENT in Ado-Ekiti, Fayose, who said he would neither be swayed nor distracted by the incident, also thanked God for saving his life.

He said;

Some people went and set fire on my car. Anyway, I did not want to go into the controversy now. I am leaving everything in the hand of God because where there is life, there is hope. Who says I cannot even buy a better car?

-Gistreel
A court sitting in Maitama area of Abuja has asked a newspaper to pay the sum of N10million to a man over a malicious publication.

The FCT High Court in Maitama, Abuja on Wednesday slammed a N10 million fine as damages on Abuja Inquirer and Gazzetta Communication Ltd for libellous publication against Mr Kingsley Kuku.

The libellous material was contained in the defendants July 27 to Aug. 2, 2015 edition.

Kuku, a lawmaker in the Ondo House of Assembly, was a former Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on Niger Delta Affairs, and Chairperson of Presidential Committee on Amnesty Programme.

Justice Jude Okeke in his judgment held that the defendants failed to provide evidence to prove that their publication was not libellous.

He declared that the publication captioned Kingsley Kuku flees Nigeria was defamatory of the plaintiff.

The plaintiff in this case having proved his case of libel is entitled to damages. With the findings the court resolves the issue above in favour of the plaintiff.

The defendants are ordered to pay not the N500 million claimed by the plaintiff but N10 million only for the aforesaid libel, he said.

The judge also awarded a N50, 000 cost to the plaintiff for the success of the suit.

He directed the defendants to retract the publication as well as publish an unreserved apology to the plaintiff in one newspaper circulating in Nigeria and Abuja Inquirer within 14 days.

The court granted an order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants from further publishing of the same defamatory words against the plaintiff.

Okeke remarked that the defendants statements in the publication in their natural and ordinary meanings were understood to mean that the plaintiff was deemed a fugitive already declared wanted by the EFCC.

The judge noted that the words were also adjudged to mean that the plaintiff had embezzled hundreds of millions of naira and dollars.

Also he is adjudged to be an incompetent public officer, a misfit in government, a criminal and a fraudulent, flashy, reckless and wasteful public officer with impunity deliberately evading investigation, he said.
The name, Naomi Nkechi Emmanuel, may not ring a bell. But the actress, popularly known as Nurse Titi in a television drama series, Clinic Matters, is an icon in the movie industry.The name, Naomi Nkechi Emmanuel, may not ring a bell. But the actress, popularly known as Nurse Titi in a television drama series, Clinic Matters, is an icon in the movie industry.

A graduate of Lagos State University, she is currently working on her latest production, entitled The Interview, due for release towards the end of this year. In this chat, the actress, who is already wrapping up her wedding plans, talks about her career, love life and how she met her fiance. Enjoy it.

Can you briefly tell us about yourself?

My name is Naomi Nkechi Emmanuel, but people call me Nurse Titi, because of my role in Clinic Matters. I am from Anambra State. I am a graduate of History & International Relations from Lagos State University. I am planning to go for my Masters degree either in Film Production or Law.

When did you develop the flair for acting?

Its been a long time. I would say the talent has been growing, but it took me a while to discover it. I discovered the talent when I was in church and my mum actually supported me. I was 16 then and I went for several auditions. I later went to the National Arts Theatre to make enquiries and I was told to pay certain amount to register. I paid and the whole thing started from there.

What was your first movie as an actress?

Its When You Are Mine and it was a blockbuster. In the movie, I played alongside numerous artistes and that was when I acted as a nurse for the first time. When the movie came out, people said I did well and that was where Mr. Paul Igwe, the producer of Clinic Matters saw me and gave me a chance.

Are you saying you started acting professionally with Clinic Matters?

Before Clinic Matters, I had done some drama series on NTA, but this brought me into limelight.

Is playing the role of a nurse the best you can do?

In fact, I am sick and tired of playing the role of a nurse. I have acted in several movies as a nurse and I keep telling the producers that I am not born a nurse, and that I can do other roles.

Have your fans ever mistaken you for a real nurse?

No, but people always advise me to take nursing as a profession. They would say why dont you take it as a profession? But I cant because I dont have the flair for it.

What project are you working on at the moment?

I have just produced a movie that I am trying to put up; it is called The Interview. It is my personal project.

What would you say is your greatest achievement in the movie industry?

I would not say I have gotten to where I want to be, but I thank God I am someone that can walk on the streets and be recognised.

Have you ever been embarrassed by a fan?

I get embarrassed almost everyday. Recently, I was somewhere and people were like she is an actress and someone said which actress? and that they dont know me, so I felt bad.

Aside acting, what else do you do?

I do photography modeling. I am a model; I do a lot of adverts.

How do you relax?

I love to exercise. I love to swim. I love to hang out with my friends. I watch movies, listen to music, read gossips online and I love to drive as well.

Why are you still single?

I am not single anymore. My bride price has already been paid, and soon my church wedding would take place.

Can you describe your man?

He is everything I wanted in a man. He is everything I have always asked God for. He is a man I love so much.

Is he a Nigerian?

No, he is not a Nigerian. He is British.

Why a Briton and not a Nigerian?

Nigerian men came for me but they didnt possess the qualities that I want in a man.

Was it love at first sight?

No, we met on location. The whole thing started like a small feeling, and it later blossomed.

What is your view on domestic violence?

It is 100 percent wrong and I advise people that they should not create a cause for domestic violence to take place.

In case you encounter domestic violence in your marriage, what will you do?

I like to give people opportunities. I wont just rush out of my marriage, I would take a break and let him realise his mistake.

Where do you see yourself in the next five years?

I gave myself a target of two to three years, so five years is above my dreams.

If your husband asks you to drop acting, what would you do?

He cant ask me to drop acting, because he is my number one fan. He is also in the industry; hes a movie director.

What advice do you have for the up and coming actors that see you as their role model?

You have to be strong; you have to work hard because its not easy. You have to be focused and determined. Also, dont lose your shape because I believe your body is your first market. Aside this, you have to be very prayerful.

source: Thesun
An Egyptian lawyer has sparked outrage after he publicly stated that women who wear ripped jeans deserved to be raped.

Nabih al-Wahsh was speaking during the Infirad Show, a current affairs talk show in Egypt hosted by Saeid Hasaseen.

Incredibly, Wahsh said it was part of the national duty to rape women wearing such garments because they were inviting men to harass them.

He also said that his view was even more valid if the jeans were ripped from the back, according to Al Arabiya.

He said: Girls must respect themselves so others respect them.

Protecting morals is more important than protecting borders.

Brave female guests on the show attempting to fight back against Wahshs views after being outraged by his comments.

The debate was aired on October 19 on the Al-Assema satellite channel as guests discussed the countrys draft law fighting prostitution and debauchery.

Maya Mursi, Head of the National Council for Womens Rights said the comments were a flagrant call for rape and violate everything in the Egyptian constitution.

The council has now filed a complaint about the statement to the Supreme Council for Media Regulation.

But despite the backlash, Wahsh has refused to back down, and has even released an updated statement to another media website where he said his daughter would also deserve that [rape, sexual harassment] if she decided to wear jeans that are ripped from the back.

Wahshs damaging comments come as a recent #MeToo campaign has taken over social media.

Women around the world are sharing the two simple words on social media to show the true scale of sexual assault.
Two suspected armed men who allegedly murdered about 18 worshippers at the St. Philip Catholic Church, Ozubulu have been paraded by the police.

Barely three months after the invasion and killing of 18 worshippers at St. Philip Catholic Church, Ozubulu, Police have unmasked two persons to have masterminded the crime.

Mr Garba Umar, the Anambra State Commissioner of Police, told journalists on Wednesday at Amawbia near Awka accused two Nigerians serving murder sentences in South Africa prisons as the killers of the worshippers.

The suspects, he said, were Prince Charles Obi aka Gozila and Dickson Nwodi.

Umar stated that Obi and Nwodi who hail from Nnobi and Oba communities of Anambra respectively had mandated one Mr. Quintus Anayo alias Obasanjo equally based in South Africa to inform Ozubulu elders that the duo in prison custody were behind the invasion.

The Police Commissioner said that the account of Anayo was in line with the investigation of police on the matter.

Umar said that already police had established contact with Interpol on the need to extradite the suspects based in South Africa.

The Police boss said that police in the state were already intensifying arrangement to arraign the three suspects earlier arrested in connection with the killings within.

They would be arraigned within the week, he said.

Umar thanked the public for the information which he attributed the successes already recorded by police in the investigations.

The 18 persons were killed by gunmen while ten others were injured when they attended early morning Sunday mass at St. Philip Catholic Church Ozubulu on Aug.6, 2017.

The police and the state government had blamed drug war on the invasion.
Nigerian veterans and fallen heroes received support from President Muhammadu Buhari after he lauched the 2018 Emblem and Appeal Fund in Abuja.

The president was accompanied to the event of the Armed Forces Remembrance Day by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, top government officials, service chiefs and the Inspector General of Police.

In his speech at the event, the president urged Nigerians at home and in the Diaspora to donate to the families of the fallen heroes.

As I launch the Emblem today, I call on all Nigerians, the Diaspora and our friends to donate generously to the cause of the Nigerian Legion and families of the Fallen Heroes.

I also hereby launch the Partnership Scheme for the Armed Forces in which all Nigerians, corporate organizations and government agencies should support and partner with the Nigerian Armed Forces in appreciation of the sacrifices of these honourable men and women, Mr. Buhari said.

He said the gathering was in continuation of the tradition of recognising and appreciating the sacrifices of Nigerian veterans in the First and Second World Wars, Nigerian Civil War, Peace Support Operations around the world, and Internal Security Operations, particularly the ongoing war on insurgency in the North-eastern part of the country.

The president also commended state governors for their support of the Legions.

Let me use this opportunity to thank the state governors who are patrons of the Legion in their respective states for the support they have been rendering to the Legion. I urge them to continue and improve on this even in the face of dwindling resources.

It is indeed worthwhile to honour the memory of our distinguished veterans who paid the supreme sacrifice to keep the country united. Some others have spent the best part of their lives in Service to keep our nation and the world in peace.

We must therefore cast our minds back at the events that led to the civil war, the immense human capital loss of the tragic war, and resolve that never again shall we allow our dear nation by our actions or inactions to experience another war, Mr. Buhari said.

I want to salute the gallantry, courage and sacrifices of men and women of the Armed Forces as they grapple with diverse and contemporary security challenges plaguing the country, he added.

Mr. Buhari who was a retired major-general and former military head of state stressed that his administration would not relent in providing welfare for the families of the fallen heroes.

I appreciate your display of unparalleled loyalty to the country and dedication to duty.

Being one of you, I understand what you have to undergo. This administration will continue to do all within its power and resources to ensure that your welfare is adequately catered for.

The noble culture of appreciation and respect for veterans and servicemen and women experienced all over the world is very much part of us in Nigeria.

I therefore look forward to a time when business concerns and service providers in the country would give special recognition and consideration for these distinguished citizens and support the veterans cause in any way they can through voluntary donations, employment opportunities and welfare support, he said.

As a government we desire to improve the capability of our Armed Forces. I am glad that our efforts are yielding positive results already in boosting the morale of men and women of the Armed Forces.

We will continue to engage them in training and retraining to improve on their capacity to discharge their constitutional roles.

I implore all to procure and wear the emblem with pride as a way of identifying with those that laid down their lives, the incapacitated and others still who are daily in harms way in order to guarantee our peace and security. We will always remember them and the respect we owe them, he added.

Mr. Buhari reiterated the commitment of the retired servicemen and women to Nigeria.

May I use this medium to commend the Nigerian Legion of which I am the Grand Patron, for its effort in maintaining comradeship of the Servicemen and servicewomen after retirement, he said.

The event was graced by the Senate President, Speaker House of Representatives, Chief Justice of Nigeria and members of the Federal Executive Council.

Also in attendance were permanent secretaries and members of the diplomatic corps and senior military officers.

Source: (Premium Times)
President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday presided over the weekly meeting of the Federal Executive Council at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, and the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, John Odigie-Oyegun, were among dignitaries present to witness the inauguration of the new Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, as well as the inauguration of the 2018 Armed Forces Remembrance emblem.
While speaking in Makurdi, the Benue state capital on Wednesday, the Group Managing Director of NNPC, Dr. Maikanti Kacalla Baru, said that the corporation will create 1 million jobs in the state.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) said on Thursday that the corporation would soon create more than one million direct jobs for its host communities in Benue State, DailyTrust reports.

Group Managing Director (GMD) of NNPC, Dr. Maikanti Kacalla Baru, who made this known in Makurdi said the jobs would be created following two biofuel projects being executed in the state.

He also explained to Governor Samuel Ortom that his visit to the state was in fulfilment of 2015 Presidential directive to begin oil exploration on the Benue trough and the Chad basin, adding that his coming was also to kick start high-profile stakeholders engagement towards the expected projects in the state.

Baru said that his organisation had already commissioned environmental baseline studies to assess all aspects of the natural environment so as to determine how best to carry out seismic acquisition operations without harm to the people, the ecosystem and the environment.

Responding, Ortom appreciated the corporation and assured that the state government would give maximum support as well as guaranteed security to ensure full take off of the projects.
President of Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe on Wednesday has called for the return of the death penalty in the country, after more than 50 people applied for the vacant position of hangman.

Capital punishment is on the statute book in Zimbabwe, but no one has been executed since 2005 when the countrys last hangman retired.

I think lets restore the death penalty, Mugabe said in the capital Harare at the burial of a veteran of Zimbabwes independence struggle.

Mugabe, 93, said he had been shocked by the number of recent murders in Zimbabwe after receiving a crime report from the police chief, though he gave no further details.

People are playing with death by killing each other, he said.

Is this why we liberated this country? We want this country to be a peaceful and happy nation, not a country with people who kill each other.

Rights groups including Amnesty International have often called on Zimbabwe, which has 92 inmates on death row, to permanently abolish capital punishment.

The countrys 2013 constitution exempts all women from the hangmans noose, as well as men under 18 and over 69 years old.

Zimbabwe, which has an unemployment rate of more than 90 percent, announced last month that it received over 50 applications from people wanting to become hangman.

Justice ministry secretary Virginia Mabhiza said at the time that the response had been overwhelming.

Source: ( AFP )
A total of atleast 23 radio and television stations across Nigeria have been fined for various breaches of broadcasting rules set by the National Broadcasting Commission.

In a statement released on Tuesday, the spokesman of National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Maimuna Jimada, disclosed that twenty three (23) radio and television stations across Nigeria have been fined for various breaches of broadcasting rules set by the NBC.

Jimada who revealed that the stations were punished for hateful speech, vulgar lyrics and unverifiable claims, added that breaches contravened the provisions of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code in the third quarter of 2017, according to the NBC.

While speaking to Premium Times on Wednesday, the spokesperson said there will be higher sanctions if erring stations fail to comply with the fine.

Ms. Jimada said, It is clearly stated in the code, if you are sanctioned this way and you dont comply then you get a higher sanction. Everything is laid down in the code.

She also said the payments will be made into the NBC account, adding that the contraventions were made between June and September this year and all the erring stations were fined according to the provisions of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code.

For using hateful speech, Family Love FM Port Harcourt was fined N200, 000 on 9/6/2017; ABS FM Awka fined N100,000 on 1/7/17; Express FM Radio Kano also fined N300,000 on 12/9/17, 16/9/17 and 17/9/17.

For using indecent musicals, the NBC fined RoyalFM Abuja, Flo FM Umuahia, Radio Continental Lagos and Crystal 100.5FM Minna N100,000, N100,000, N200,000 and N100,000 respectively.

For making unverifiable claims in their broadcast, the regulator punished Crowther FM Abuja, Harmony FM Abuja, Inspirational FM Uyo, BCA FM Umuahia, ABS FM Awka, Minaj Systems Radio, Obosi, IBC (Orient TV), Owerri, Rainbow FM, Isheri, Globe FM Bauchi, Arewa Radio, Kano, EBS Radio Benin and Bond FM Lagos with fines of N100,000, N100,000, 100,000, 150,000, 100,000, N100,000, N50,000, N100,000, N100,000,N100,000, N100,000 and N499,000 respectively.

As part of efforts to stem the growing tide of hate speech in the country, the federal government in June directed the NBC, to sanction any radio or television station that broadcasts hate speech.

Also ahead of the forthcoming elections, the regulatory body said it will impose heavy sanctions on broadcast stations which promote hate speeches
A three-storey building under construction, collapsed overnight on Lagos street, Herbert Macaulay, Ebuta Meta, Lagos.

According to reports, no casualties were recorded in the incident.

The Lagos state police, Lagos state emergency agency and other agencies have arrived the scene.

According to an eye witness, the incident happened in the early hours of Wednesday.

The Lagos state government have sealed off the building and has commenced investigation.

See photos below;
Christie's sale will be led by an extremely rare and important pair of huanghuali horseshoe-back armchairs dating to the Ming Dynasty with a price tag of around 1.2 million pounds. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Rare Chinese bronzes from the collection of a German refugee who fled Nazi Germany are among the highlights of a sale being held by Christie's in London later this month.

Michael Michaels, who was born in Germany in 1907, was penniless when he fled to Britain in 1933 after Adolf Hitler became chancellor.

Christie's said Michaels worked in a raincoat factory before starting his own business selling tents and camping equipment, but in the late 1960s he found his passion in archaic Chinese bronzes and became a self-taught expert.

Michaels died in 1986, but his wife Charlotte, who is now 100, and family wanted "these beautiful objects to find new homes in which they can be appreciated and loved", according to Christie's.

Among the top lots being offered in Christie's Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art sale on Nov 7 is a late Shang Dynasty (1,600-1,100 BC) bronze ritual wine vessel and cover, which is expected to sell for 120,000 pounds ($160,000).

Another highlight is a gilt-copper lobed pouring bowl, dating to the Tang Dynasty (618-907) which has a reserve price of 80,000 pounds.

"Most of the bronzes in the collection have either Christie's or Sotheby's provenance dating to the '60s, '70s and '80s," said Katie Lundie, Christie's associate specialist in Chinese ceramics and works of art, "This is really good for our collectors who will feel confident to see good provenance."

One of the most valuable lots is a rare pair of Ming dynasty horse-shoe back arm chairs which are expected to fetch around 1.2 million pounds.

The chairs, described by Christie's as "displaying the grace and finesse of Ming artistry", are among just eight known examples of the design.

Christie's had previously auctioned off a set of four similar chairs, formerly from the Robert H Ellsworth Collection in 2015. They were sold at the auction giant's New York branch for a record-breaking $9 million.

"Grace Wu Bruce is the world-renowned authority on Ming Dynasty furniture and these were sold by her," said Ivy Chan, head of Fine Chinese Ceramics & Works of Art at Christie's, "She published these twice and they are also on one of the covers of her books. So, it is a very important and known pair of chairs."

Chan said the detailing of the chair - including the curve of the crest rail, the sweeping hook handles and three-part back splat - are unique features.

"Ming furniture is very timeless, very clean and with graceful lines," Chan said, "It goes with contemporary furniture and designs."

She expects a range of bidders, from European designers to classical Chinese traditional collectors,to bid for the pair of chairs.

A bronze ritual wine vessel and cover from the late Shang Dynasty (1600-1100BC) is expected to fetch an estimated 120,000 pounds at the Christie's Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art sale. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
(Photo: EPA)

According to the Bangkok Post, Vietnam has been preparing for this mega-event for over two years, and has four key objectives.

Firstly, amid the rise of populism and protectionism, the host must seize the moment with APEC leaders to make their cooperative process more effective and efficient. Secondly, the efforts to reduce trade barriers and increase investment liberalisation must continue as APEC is entering its fourth decade of development. It is still a tall order because there are challenges in dealing with intellectual property rights, and opening e-commerce and service liberalisation.

Thirdly, to sustain economic growth, Vietnam must use this opportunity to further promote bilateral trade to expand its exports and attract foreign investment. Vietnam, already has one of the largest free-trade networks in ASEAN, with 17 free-trade arrangements.

Finally, Da Nang is considered Vietnam's most well-known port facility and will be the showcase for future connectivity that links Southeast Asia to the rest of the world. Beside the economic cooperation, APEC 2017 is hoped to help Vietnam promote cooperation on various fields with big countries.

According to the article, Vietnam will also use the APEC platform to push Washington to display a clearer position on trade and investment liberalisation.

As host of APEC 2017, Vietnam will seek further commitment on the sidelines of the event from 11 member countries of the Trans-Pacific Partnership that the trade deal should continue, even without US participation.

In conclusion, the publication said the success of APEC would further enhance Vietnam's leading role at the ASEAN summit. Already, Hanoi is preparing for its ASEAN chairmanship in 2020 to ensure that the group will work to strengthen ASEAN centrality and external relations, as well as community-building by closing the gap between its old and new members.

In a recent interview, Professor Yeah Kim Leng from Sunway University (Malaysia) appreciated Vietnam's role in the activities of the APEC, and expressed high expectation for the results achieved at APEC 2017 as the host Vietnam.

With the theme of "Creating a new momentum, looking after a common future together", Prof. Leng said that the theme Vietnam gives to APEC 2017 is very appropriate as Asia-Pacific is still the most dynamic development area in the world. APEC is one of the largest markets in terms of scale and growth potential as well as the growing middle class. These factors help boost trade and create enormous potentials to attract investment from regions, such as the EU and the US.

Regarding to Vietnam's efforts as host of APEC 2017, the Professor said that if the Trans-pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP) is considered, Vietnam is one of the key beneficiary economies. However, as the TPP is in danger of collapsing after the US declared its withdrawal, Vietnam may re-gather APEC member economies to create a free trade area in Asia -Pacific.

Established in 1989, APEC comprises 21 economies, including Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, China, Hong Kong (China), Indonesia, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, the Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Chinese Taipei, Thailand, the US and Vietnam.

Vietnam joined APEC in 1998, and hosted APEC in 2006.

At present, the preparations have been made to welcome leaders and delegations from the 21 APEC member economies, along with nearly 10,000 other delegates, international journalists and world-leading entrepreneurs./.
Update 9/25/18  Touizer pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, and was sentenced in July to 68 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. The judge hasnt ruled how much restitution Touizer will be required to pay, but its possible that proceeds from the sale of self-storage developments tied to the case could be used as payment, according to the source.

The Pembroke Park project has been acquired by an affiliate of Value Store It Inc., which operates 17 properties on the East Coast under the Value Store It Self Storage brand. The company paid $5.5 million to Wheat I-Pembroke LLC. It also secured an $11 million construction loan to complete the 112,275-square-foot development, the source reported.

All construction liens and mortgages were repaid prior to the sale.

Based in Miami, Value Store It is owned by Todd Ruderman. It operates self-storage in Florida and Massachusetts, with most of its portfolio concentrated in South Florida. Its facilities offer commercial and residential storage, truck rentals, and moving and packing supplies.

2/20/18  The U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Florida has filed liens to seize two residences and three self-storage properties tied to the Touizer fraud case. The storage facilities in Margate and Pembroke Pines are under construction, while the third project in Miami has been approved for building, according to the source.

The Margate facility at 5400 N.W. 31st St. was expected to comprise 133,872 rentable square feet. The Pembroke Pines project at 2801 John P. Lyons Lane was slated to be 42,991 square feet. The Miami development at 2915 N.W. 36th St. was approved at 50,625 square feet. Both residential properties comprise more than 3,000 square feet. There are in Aventura and Boyton Beach, Fla.

An amendment to the Touizer indictment filed on Nov. 21 charges co-defendants John Kevin Reech and Saul Daniel Suster with mail fraud, the source reported.

11/1/17  The arraignment for Touizer, accused of investment fraud on three Florida self-storage developments and other business dealings, has been rescheduled for Nov. 15.

Though its unclear how much money Touizer raised for the storage projects or how many investors may be involved, two of the three developments received construction financing from ORIX RE Holdings LLC, a division of ORIX USA, a Dallas-based commercial real estate finance, asset management and investment firm, according to SpareFoot Storage Beat, an industry blog. Kaufman Lynn Construction, a commercial construction company based in Boca Raton, Fla., was tapped as the builder on those projects.

The loan for the facility planned for Margate was $11.3 million. The other projects are in Miami-Dade County and Pembroke Park.

Per the federal affidavit, Touizer was CEO of four different investment companies implicated in the fraud case. In addition to Wheat Capital, the case involves Cinergy, an insurance agency that operated from 2005 to 2016; Investment Diamonds (2011-2014) and Infinity (2013-2016), another insurance agency that did business as Covida, the blog reported.

Former Wheat Capital CEO Gary Delaney told the source Touizer fired him after he uncovered some suspicious financial dealings and still owes him $125,000 due to breach of contract. Delaney became concerned that Touizer was spending too much time raising capital from investors rather than securing financing. I was spending the better part of 50 percent of my time with consultants and outside contractors, he told the blog. I was starting to question balance sheets. It wasnt long after that he terminated my agreement.

Law firm Peiffer Rosca Wolf Abdullah Carr & Kane LLP, which specializes in investment-fraud cases, has stepped forward to represent investors who believe theyve lost money in connection to Touizer, though these types of cases typically produce little in the way of restitution or financial recovery for victims, according to attorney James P. Booker.

Were investigating claims we may be able to write on behalf of investors and anyone who may have been part of the alleged fraud, Booker told the source.

9/27/17  Daniel Joseph Touizer, founder and chair of Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based private-equity firm Wheat Capital Management LLC, has been arrested on charges of investment fraud, allegedly swindling $19 million from 150 people over 12 years. Hes accused of misleading investors to buy shares of stock and/or debt in companies dealing in gems, insurance products and self-storage development between January 2005 and September 2017, according to federal prosecutors.

Touizer allegedly guaranteed investment returns, while also claiming his companies had regulatory approval and declaring he didnt take a personal salary. Investors understood their money would be used for sales and marketing, according to a federal affidavit. In reality, the large majority of investor funds raised by Touizer were misappropriated by him for his co-conspirators personal use, and to further their fraud scheme, the document said.

Of the $19 million allegedly defrauded, $660,000 in cash was withdrawn after the FBI seized records in August from Touizers offices, according to the source. Touizers attorneys argued the businessman transferred the money into another account to shield it from other people who previously had access to it.

Touizer appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Barry Seltzer in U.S. District Court in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., this week. Seltzer characterized the entrepreneur as a serial fraudster and a significant economic danger to the community, the source reported. He determined Touizer to be a flight risk and ordered him to be held without bail. The businessman faces up to 17.5 years in federal prison.

Wheat Capitals website lists self-storage developments in Margate, Miami and Pembroke Park, Fla., comprising nearly 300,000 net rentable square feet. Two of the three projects have broken ground and are expected to be complete in 2018. All three are under investigation, according to the source. In addition to Florida, the company website lists Chicago, Los Angeles, New York City and San Diego as targets for storage development.

Founded in 2015, Wheat Capital specializes in the acquisition and development of urban-infill storage facilities. It has forged exclusive partnerships with well-established self-storage real estate investment trusts, such as CubeSmart and Extra Space Storage, to serve as third-party property managers who will oversee all aspects of the day-to-day operations of the self-storage properties, according to the website.

Touizers Wheat Capital bio says he is a seasoned entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience in creating several multi-million-dollar startup companies within the insurance, travel, computer and alternative-investment industries. The federal affidavit indicates he also headed a company that marketed and distributed rare and valuable colored gems, the source reported.

Touizer apparently solicited money from possible investors as recently as last week, Seltzer wrote in a detention order. His arraignment is scheduled for Oct. 25.

New Source:

South Florida Business Journal, Self-Storage Development Tied to Jailed CEO Sold to New Builder

Previous Sources:

The Real Deal, Feds Will Seize 5 South Florida Properties From CEO Indicted on Fraud Charges

SpareFoot Storage Beat, Arraignment Delayed for Alleged Self-Storage Fraudster

Sun Sentinel, CEO Jailed in Alleged $19M Investor Fraud as Judge Calls Him 'Economic Danger'

Wheat Capital Management, Website
Mini Storage Center is rebranding and renovating its 11 self-storage properties in North and South Carolina. The effort will include new signage, management software and security measures. The operators websites will also be revamped, and some of its beach locations will be renamed.

Several deferred maintenance items will also be completed. The work will include building repairs, exterior painting and the installation of LED wall-pack lights. The offices will also receive a makeover with new interiors and bathroom improvements.

A renovation of the facility at 2318 Freedom Drive in Charlotte, N.C., has already been completed. The company also plans to break ground on a large expansion project at one of its sites, Coastal Storage & Retail at 7269 Highway 707 in Myrtle Beach, S.C.

Mini Storage Center is owned by Waters Inc., a real estate investment and management firm. Based in Charlotte, the companys services include brokerage, leasing and management.
Report sheds light on why insurance in the state is only deceptively affordable
North America has been battered with a number of catastrophic weather events in the past few months.Hurricane Harvey caused severe flooding in areas of Texas, Irma tested Floridas well-formed defenses and Maria hurled Katrina-esque devastation upon the Caribbean.Such a storm season has dragged the insurance industry back into the spotlight after a number of benign years in the catastrophe space.At the moment, its hard to have any real clarity over these cat losses from a quantum standpoint, said Simon Hedley, CEO, North America, Beach & Associates. For the short-term future, its difficult to say where and how the losses are going to end up being paid.Hurricane Harvey caused complex losses because of the sheer amount of flooding in Texas. In contrast, Irma should be relatively straight forward because it struck Florida - a state that understands how to mitigate hurricane and flood risk. I think Maria is a Katrina-esque loss for the Caribbean. It could be a market-changing event for Puerto Rico.Each major cat loss has its own characteristics. Not every insurer or reinsurer will have had significant involvement in all three events (Harvey, Irma and Maria), but those who did could face tough times ahead, according to Hedley.The flooding caused by Hurricane Harvey has been a major topic of concern and debate since the devastating storm struck in late August / early September. A great deal of flood loss in the state was uninsured, forcing many to question the aptitude and availability of flood insurance programs.I expect theres going to be some element of legal challenge following the flood situation in Texas, Hedley commented. [Affected parties] might contest policy wordings and bring litigation, which will take time and effort for insurers to deal with.The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) has been at the end of some heated criticism since the flooding events in Houston. Having to wade through politics before getting anything done is the programs greatest vice, according to Hedley.I think the relationship between the NFIP and the reinsurance sector will grow, he added. Theyve had a relationship for a couple of years now and I expect the NFIP will seek to renew it. In fact, I wouldnt be surprised if they try to grow the amount of risk they seed through the reinsurance market.
An expert says that while cyber insurance is essential, the current market is one whole mess  there are no benchmarks for the policies, and both buyers and sellers are doing it all wrong.Every policy that youll read  and Ive read probably a hundred of them now -- is different, explained Jeremiah Grossman, chief of security strategy at endpoint security software developer SentinelOne. There are no standards. Its a Wild West out there. In many cases, it looks like they took a property or fire insurance policy and substituted fire with computer, and it doesnt really map that way.Grossman also told SearchSecurity that he thinks the wrong people are buying and selling cyber insurance.Whats challenging operationally for the entire ecosystem is that the primary buyer of business insurance is the CFO and the risk department that doesnt know enough about cybersecurity, he explained. And its being sold to them by an insurance broker who certainly doesnt know cyber insurance.When its a large policy  lets say its over $100 million  there will be a survey that gets funneled down to the CISO that says: Tell me about your IT environment, which will not move the premium one way or the other. And thats the last time a CISO ever touches a cyber insurance policy, predominantly, Grossman added.Grossman believes that the CISO should be part of the cyber insurance discussion.Where it should be, and where I think things are going to head based on conversations with a lot of CISOs, I think theyre going to take ownership over that insurance piece as the purchase, he said.He also suggested that insurers should go with security sales representatives to better sell their insurance products.What I think the insurers will do is start hiring security sales representatives and teach them enough insurance to sell to the CISO in that channel, he explained.Grossman also underlined that it is far more economical to train security sales reps over insurance brokers to sell policies.Because its either we train the current brokers in computer security or we train sales reps in security just enough to sell insurance, he said. So which ones the better model?Grossman also sees cyber insurance premiums adjusted according to the risk assessment of the client and that evaluators such as consulting firm Stroz Friedberg (recently purchased by Aon ) would be sent in to assess risk on policies of more than a hundred million.For policies less than a hundred million, Grossman believes that customers should be able to get a quote for a policy by answering three questions.First, what industry you are in, because certain industries are more targeted than others, he said. Second, how many records youre storing, because they calculate based on that on how many notifications theyre going to have to do in case of a breach because thats a hard cost. And third, how much revenue youre doing, because that speaks to the attractiveness of the victim as a target.




The target was set at a recent meeting to celebrate the 88th anniversary of Vietnam Rubber Day held in the southern province of Binh Phuoc.

In the first 10 months of this year, the whole rubber sector has exploited 177,000 tonnes of rubber latex, reaching more than 70 percent of the target, of which, processing hit over 234,000 tonnes and consuming achieved more than 214,000 tonnes, equivalent to 71 percent and 63 percent of the target, respectively.

The group is shifting to the joint stock model, with a target of an average annual growth rate of 15 percent, total revenues of over VND40 trillion, profit of VND8.9 trillion by 2020, profit margin ratio of 21 percent per year and profit on average charter capital of 19 percent per year.

In 2018, the group will be transformed into a joint stock company in order to reach new heights, despite the difficulties and challenges.

In Binh Phuoc province, rubber trees cover an area of over 234,000ha, of which more than 80,000ha is owned by State-owned enterprises.

Binh Phuoc is considered the "rubber capital" of the country, contributing more than 10 percent into the provinces annual budget and creating regular jobs for over 21,000 workers./.
After Superstorm Sandy flooded the first floor of his New Jersey home with 4 feet of water, Rich Bindell shelled out tens of thousands of dollars to a contractor he knew was approved by the state and had done other work in his town.

Five years after the storm, the construction project remains unfinished and the contractor faces up to 10 years in prison after admitting this month to scamming more than 30 homeowners and employees out of about $1.9 million.

James Jaime Lawson is one of more than 200 people charged in New Jersey with $11 million worth of Sandy-related fraud in a list that continues to grow five years after the storm. Most of those cases involved homeowners filing fraudulent applications for relief funds, but others have been contractors like Lawson.

Others including engineering companies and mortgage brokers have been charged with fraud in New York after authorities say they scammed federal loan programs after the storm.

Prosecutors and victims say their experience after Sandy in choosing contractors who saw opportunity in chaos can provide lessons to residents in Florida, Texas and Puerto Rico after recent devastating storms there.

The cases involving contractors defrauding victims, to me, are the worst of the worse, Attorney General Christopher Porrino said. Youve got people down and out trying to put their lives back together. Its like getting hit twice.

Complaints started coming in about a month after Sandy, said Sgt. Mark Malinowski of the Ocean County prosecutors office economic crimes unit. The county was one of the states hardest hit by Sandy.

Malinowksi believes people let their guards down when theyre using government grant money to pay for repairs. Its different than taking money out of their personal checking accounts, he said.

Bindell contacted contractors to get price quotes and through word of mouth he learned about Lawson in the summer of 2015.

He did some jobs in town and I went to look at them. He was cheaper than the other guys and he was listed as an approved contractor, Bindell said.

The nearly $150,000 project would take six to eight months to complete, Bindell said he was told. However, it took Lawson almost a year to complete the plans and Bindell said when he started work, Lawson was fined for elevating the home without a permit.

The project sat while Bindell and his family, in their rented home, reached out to Lawson by phone and texts. It was then Bindell received a call from an adviser with the governments Reconstruction, Rehabilitation, Elevation and Mitigation program, which had revoked Lawsons permit for lack of insurance.

Bindell received much of his money back from the government, but is still out about $20,000 from the scam. He then had to tap into his retirement savings and use a home equity loan to come up with the extra $160,000 to fix the work Lawson had started. The project to raise the house and repair flood damage is ongoing, and he has been renting a home elsewhere with his wife and two children since.

Based on his experience, he advises other storm victims to take their time rebuilding.

Id do my own background check. Dont take the states word for anything, he said. Make sure the contractor is not taking on so many jobs.

Porrino has written attorneys general in Texas, Florida and Puerto Rico with the identities of some of the fraudsters.

You have to be really skeptical, Porrino said. Anytime youre paying in advance for service, youre at risk.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Fraud Contractors
The husband of a former manager of a motel in New Yorks Thousand Islands region has been charged with setting a fire that destroyed most of the business in September.

State police say theyve charged 41-year-old Francis Babcock, of Alexandria Bay, with arson. Troopers say he started the Sept. 13 fire that burned down a large section of the Boardwalk Motel in the village of Alexandria Bay, a popular tourist destination on the St. Lawrence River.

No one was injured.

WWNY-TV in Watertown reports that Babcocks wife was a manager at the motel, but police say no clear motive for the arson has been determined. Village police say images from the motels surveillance cameras helped lead to the arrest.

Babcock is being held in the Jefferson County Jail on $20,000 bail. It wasnt clear if he has a lawyer.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics New York
Swiss Re has appointed Jason Richards as head Casualty Reinsurance. At the same time, Nicola Parton was named head P/C Business Management, and James Shepherd was appointed head of L&H Business Management.

Richards will lead the Casualty Reinsurance team, starting Nov. 1, 2017. He will be succeeded by Parton, currently head Primary Lead Strategy & Client Engagement for Corporate Solutions. Her new role begins on Dec. 1, while Shepherds L&H appointment was effective on Oct. 1, 2017.

Richards has spent 23 years at Swiss Re (including 11 years at GE Insurance Solutions prior to the merger in 2006) in functions touching many aspects of reinsurance. In his current role as head P/C Business Management, he has developed a strong knowledge of core P/C in-force portfolio from a claims, reserving and retro operations perspective and has been heavily involved in large P/C transactions, said Swiss Re in a statement.

He has an interest in technological developments that enable Swiss Re to provide new solutions for clients, said Swiss Re, noting that he led the fintech initiative for Swiss Res reinsurance business.

Richards graduated from the University of Bath in 1992 with a bachelors degree in business administration. He will remain a member of Swiss Res Reinsurance Management Team reporting to Moses Ojeisekhoba, CEO Reinsurance, and will continue to be based in Copenhagen.

Parton has more than 20 years experience in the re/insurance industry. Before leading the implementation of the primary lead strategy, she served in various claims leadership roles, including head of Corporate Solutions Claims.

During her time at Corporate Solutions, Parton also led a number of business initiatives to support client retention and portfolio management strategies. She also led the development of Claims Commitment, a claims service approach now viewed as a differentiator in the market, the company said.

Parton will become a member of the Reinsurance Management team reporting to Moses Ojeisekhoba and will continue to be based in London.

She graduated with honors from the University of Auckland in 1996 and is admitted as a barrister and solicitor of the High Court in New Zealand. She practiced law in New Zealand and, upon relocating to the U.K., joined a London law firm focusing on insurance before joining Swiss Re in 2003.

In his new role, Shepherd will be responsible for managing Swiss Res in-force portfolio of Life & Health reinsurance business. This includes claims management, technical accounting, portfolio management, run-off, auditing, reinsurance operations and reserving. Swiss Re said that Shepherd has built a wealth of experience in the industry having started his reinsurance career in 1987 with Victory Re. He joined Swiss Re in 2006 with the GE Insurance Solutions acquisition, having been part of the GE Global L&H Executive team.

After 10 years as a Swiss Re client manager and underwriter in multiple markets, Shepherd moved through roles in technology, business services, contracts, technical accounting claims operations and project management, before becoming chief operating officer of the reinsurance business in 2011.

Shepherd is a British citizen, living in Zurich. He holds qualifications with the Chartered Insurance Institute and Chartered Institute of Marketing in the UK. He continues as a member of the Reinsurance Management Team, reporting to Moses Ojeisekhoba.

Source: Swiss Re

Topics Claims Reinsurance Property Casualty Casualty Swiss Re
Authorities are blaming a manure runoff from a dairy farm for killing about 60,000 fish in eastern Iowa.

The farm is situated about three miles east of New Vienna. The fish kill was reported Oct. 9 after fish carcasses were spotted in two creeks downstream in Dyersville.

The Iowa Natural Resources Department has issued a notice of violation to the owner, John Hoefler, and is expected to seek restitution for the fish. Among the dead were minnows, white suckers and creek chubs.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Agribusiness Iowa
U.S. health insurer Aetna Inc failed to provide any hints on reported merger talks with CVS Health Corp when discussing quarterly results on Tuesday and laid out obstacles to 2018 earnings growth, sending its shares lower.

The company reported a better-than-expected third-quarter profit despite a decline in revenue related to a scaling back of its Obamacare individual insurance business, which Aetna expects to lose about $200 million on this year.

Aetna said it expects member medical spending to stay low this year, a trend that has benefited the health insurers and dragged down hospital revenues, and that the moderated spending would likely continue into 2018.

The No. 3 U.S. health insurer did not provide a 2018 revenue or profit forecast, but executives said on a conference call with analysts that 2018 earnings growth would be hindered by a reinstated industry-wide 3 percent health insurance tax, which represents a hit of 25 cents per share.

Aetna shares were down about 0.5 percent in afternoon trading [on Oct. 31].

Evercore ISI analyst Michael Newshel called out the comments about 2018 in a research note, saying that Aetna will be better positioned to return to its long-term revenue growth target of mid- to high-single digits in 2019.

The commentary suggested that upside is limited for 2018 earnings based on the current consensus, which is for earnings of $10.14 per share, Leerink analyst Ana Gupte said.

Aetna Chief Executive Officer Mark Bertolini started the call by declining to comment on rumor or speculation, referencing last weeks reports that pharmacy CVS Health offered to buy Aetna for more than $200 per share, or more than $66 billion.

CVS currently has a contract to manage much of Aetnas drug benefits. Bertolini said that the company would make a decision about the contract internally by the end of this year, and a public decision by mid-2018.

Aetna rival Anthem Inc recently announced it would stop using drug benefit manager Express Scripts Holdings and manage more in house and through CVS.

Executive Order

Aetna has mostly pulled out of the individual markets under Obamacare for 2018 because of instability, with enrollment below expectations and premiums soaring.

In 2017, it said it still expects to lose money on the business. Bertolini said the company would consider reentering the individual market when it stabilized.

Bertolini said Aetna is considering relaunching short-term, one-year transition insurance plans for individuals, in line with U.S. President Donald Trumps executive order of earlier this month. Such plans are restricted to three months under former President Barack Obamas Affordable Care Act, often called Obamacare..

Republicans want to roll back Obamacare, which established key benefits that almost all individual insurance plans must offer and set up an online market where more than 10 million people buy their insurance. Current transition plans do not provide these benefits.

Net Income Up

The company said net income rose 39 percent to $838 million. Revenue dipped 5 percent to about $15 billion, partly due to Aetnas reduced presence in the Obamacare business.

The insurer said its medical benefit ratio, the percent of premiums spent on claims, fell to 81.4 percent in its commercial business from 83.8 percent a year earlier.

It said that it expects its overall medical costs to rise 5.5 percent in 2017.

Excluding items, Aetna earned $2.45 per share, beating analysts average estimate of $2.09, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.

Aetna said it now expects adjusted earnings for 2017 to be about $9.75, up from its previous estimate of $9.45 to $9.55 per share.

(Additional reporting by Ankur Banerjee in Bengaluru; Editing by Meredith Mazzilli)

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Topics Mergers & Acquisitions USA Trends Profit Loss
QBE North America, an operating division of QBE Insurance Group Ltd., announced a strategic program underwriting alliance with managing general agent Professional Risk Facilities (PRF), designed to offer coverage for miscellaneous errors & omissions (E&O) cover, media liability, tech E&O and cyber.

This coverage will be written on an admitted basis through QBE North Americas A.M. Best A rated insurance companies. The arrangement was brokered by Stamford, Conn.-based TigerRisk Partners.

The parent company of PRF is ARC Excess & Surplus (ARC), a wholesale broker that was established 30 years ago to meet the needs of small- to medium-sized businesses seeking management & professional liability insurance solutions.

The new program will run in parallel with QBEs existing commercial E&O offering, and is written on an admitted basis nationwide. It will be accessible from a specialized network of wholesale distribution partners, and will generate a maximum revenue of $5 million.

QBEs internal Commercial E&O team will handle accounts with revenue over $5 million, along with complex accounts generating less than $5 million in revenue and/or falling outside of PRFs class-of-business authority, the company explained.

Were excited to announce our alliance with PRF to offer a suite of commercial E&O products to the marketplace, said Erin Fry, senior vice president, Specialty Programs, QBE North America.

QBE is a globally strong, integrated specialist insurer. Our partnership provides us with a new opportunity to offer errors & omissions coverage to the industry. We look forward to serving the liability needs of this market, affirmed Stephen Cavallaro, manager of PRF.

Source: QBE

Topics Insurance Wholesale
In laying out the interim committee charges for the next legislative session, which will begin in January 2019, Texas House Speaker Joe Straus focused on Hurricane Harveys impact on the state.

Almost every House committee received at least one charge related to the states recovery from Hurricane Harvey, according to an announcement released by Straus on Oct. 23.

Committees are to study the issues assigned to them and report their findings to the House before the next session begins.

This is an opportunity for the Legislature to better understand the impact of the storm, to evaluate the response of state agencies and to prepare for future disasters, Straus said in announcing the interim charges. Hurricane Harvey will impact just about every major issue in the next legislative session, and the House should be fully prepared for that moment.

In total, Straus issued more than 230 interim charges. Those that may affect the property/casualty insurance industry in the state include:

House Committee on Insurance

 Examine the effect of Hurricane Harvey on the insurance market in Texas. Include an evaluation of the status of the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association and Texas FAIR Plan Association, and of the impact of Harvey on the ability of these residual markets to achieve their statutory goals and meet the needs of their policyholders. Examine possible gaps and vulnerabilities in insurance coverage brought to light by Harvey and recommend ways to address these issues.

 Study the coverage provided by the most common homeowners insurance policy forms in Texas, and methods to provide more clarity to Texas consumers about this coverage and the possible need for endorsements or other types of insurance.

 Study the use of appraisal processes under property insurance policies in Texas, including the effects of court decisions on the use of these processes and the impact of their use on insurers and policyholders.

 Examine the impacts of changes in prescription drug coverage and drug formularies on patients, particularly those with chronic conditions.

 Evaluate recent efforts in Texas and in other states to enhance transparency regarding the practices of pharmacy benefit managers.

 Review Texas financial responsibility laws for automobile insurance, including the minimum liability limits required by state law.

House Committee on Business & Industry

 Evaluate the adequacy of the workforce currently available to the industries responsible for rebuilding the states key infrastructure as well as residential and commercial properties damaged by Hurricane Harvey. Specifically, examine the labor needs within the construction industry and skilled trades and determine if local or state licensing requirements and regulations are an unnecessary barrier to the ongoing success of post-Harvey recovery.

 Review all existing law concerning consumer rights and protections, including but not limited to statutes that address deceptive practices, landlord/tenant agreements, and homeowner/contractor disputes. Determine whether the provisions offer adequate guidance and protections in disaster and recovery situations.

 Review the increased use of third party data gathering, particularly individual background information and history, by Texas employers and businesses. Examine the standards for accessing, providing, and updating accurate background information used for employment purposes.

 Study the impact of data breaches or theft on Texas consumers and businesses. In particular, study the consequences of recent data breaches and subsequent mitigation efforts. Review the existing standards of risk as well as the current best practices in securing sensitive and personal information held or used by private industries. Determine if existing rules and regulations offer adequate consumer protection while allowing continued economic success for businesses in the state.

 Monitor the status of the Texas workers compensation system, including existing policies on compounded pharmaceuticals and designated doctor assessments. Review recent trends in employer participation in the system.

Source: Texas House of Representatives

Topics Texas Hurricane
Authorities say a Florida woman had her SUV driven into Grand Lagoon and then pretended the vehicle had been stolen.

The News Herald of Panama City reported Saturday that 65-year-old Debra Jenkins was charged with insurance fraud. She was arrested after a man spotted a submerged SUV in the waters.

The Bay County Sheriffs Office said in a report that a stick was found inside the vehicle on the drivers floorboard to possibly hold the gas pedal.

Jenkins initially told authorities that the SUV had been stolen the night before. According to an arrest report, Jenkins later told police that she and a friend had devised the plan to get rid of the vehicle and claim the insurance money.

Its unclear if she has a lawyer.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Florida
Paragon Insurance Holdings, LLC, a national multi-line specialty program manager, has added Justin Schmidt to the Paragon team as Program underwriter. He will be based in Orlando, Fla.

According to Ron Ganiats, Paragon managing partner, Schmidt will lead Paragons Pest Control program, enhance the companys product offerings and expand its distribution network.

Prior to joining Paragon, Schmidt was director of Underwriting for Capital Risk Underwriters, Inc. (CRU), a managing general underwriting firm for pest control insurance. In addition to his underwriting duties, he assisted in writing many of the manuscript forms, which cover each aspect of the various categories of the pest control industry. When CRU was sold to Houston International Insurance Group in 2015, Schmidt continued in his role, growing the business to over $40 million of premium.

Topics Florida Underwriting
Googles self-driving car spin-off is accelerating efforts to convince the public that its technology is almost ready to safely transport people without any human assistance at all.

Waymo, hatched from a Google project started eight years ago, showed off its progress this week during a rare peek at a closely guarded testing facility located 120 miles southeast of San Francisco. Thats where its robots complete their equivalent of drivers education.

The tour included giving more than three dozen reporters rides in Chrysler Pacifica minivans traveling through faux neighborhoods and expressways that Waymo has built on a former Air Force base located in the Californian Central Valley city of Atwater.

The minivans smoothly cruised the roads, drivers seat empty and passengers in the back, at speeds of up to 35 mph. By contrast, the Waymo-powered minivans that have been driving volunteer riders in the Phoenix area still use safety drivers to take over control if something goes wrong.

But Waymos real goal is to get to the point where people in cars are nothing but passengers.

Waymo CEO John Krafcik told reporters that the company will be making some cars and freight trucks totally driverless fairly soon, though he didnt provide a specific timetable. We are really close, he said. We are going to do it when we feel like we are ready.

Since Google began working on self-driving cars in 2009, dozens of established automakers such as General Motors and Ford Motors have entered the race, along with other big technology companies, including Apple and ride-hailing service Uber. The competition is so fierce and the stakes so high that Waymo is currently suing Uber , alleging that one of its former managers stole its trade secrets and took them with him when he joined Uber in 2016 as part of an elaborate scheme. The trial in that high-profile case is scheduled to begin in early December.

Waymo is hoping to infuse its technology into ride-hailing services such as its current partner, Lyft, and big-rig trucking companies. It also intends to license its automated system to automakers such as Fiat Chrysler Automobile, which is already using it in 100 Pacifica minivans.

Related:

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Topics California Google
Deputy PM Trinh Dinh Dung works with Vice Chairman of the Lao National Assembly Somphan Phengkhammy on October 31st (Source: VNA)



At a working session with Lao National Assembly Vice Chairman Somphan Phengkhammy on October 31st, Deputy PM Dung said that the project is special since it constitutes a symbol of the traditional friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos.

The two sides pledged to work closely together to prepare for the ground-breaking ceremony for the project on November 1st, as well as the construction of the building, which is designed to have modern architecture featuring the cultural identity of Laos, while ensuring its functional effectiveness.

Somphan Phengkhammy, who is also head of Laoss Steering Committee for the project, expressed his deep gratitude towards the whole-hearted support that Vietnam has given to Laos not only during the past struggle for national independence but also in the current national construction and development.

He said that all preparations for the ceremony have been promptly made. He also pledged that the project will be carried out as scheduled.

Following the working session, the officials visited the venue of the ground-breaking ceremony and the National Assembly building./.
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Breaking EV Stock News: Mullen's (NASDAQ: MULN) 'Strikingly Different' EV Crossover Tour Heads to Texas After Completing a Successful Sold Out Stop in Las Vegas

BREA, Calif. - November 15, 2022 (Investorideas.com Newswire) Mullen Automotive, Inc. (NASDAQ: MULN), an emerging electric vehicle ("EV") manufacturer, announces today that it has successfully completed the third stop of the Mullen FIVE Strikingly Different EV Crossover Tour in Las Vegas, Nevada.

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Breaking AI Stock News: FatBrain (OTCQB: LZGI) Acquires UK-based Forecasting Innovator Predictive Black To Help SMEs Optimize Cash Management

NEW YORK, NY - November 15, 2022 (Investorideas.com Newswire) FatBrain AI (LZG International, Inc.) (OTCQB: LZGI), the leader in powerful and easy-to-use artificial intelligence (AI) solutions for star enterprises of tomorrow (some call SMEs), has acquired Predictive Black Ltd, a UK-based innovator of real-time cash management, financial insights and business wellness for SMEs.

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New Fashion Designer Launches this Holiday Season in Kelowna and Online; Sweet Dees Creations  Fun, Flirty and Affordable

Kelowna B.C. - November 14, 2022 (Investorideas.com Newswire) A local fashion designer is launching a new women's line at Kelowna markets and online this Holiday Season that will make heads turn with her whimsical and colourful choices

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September 30, 2017 marked the second anniversary of the beginning of Russias military intervention in the Syrian civil war. That intervention totally altered the course of the war and the fate of the regime of Syrian President Bashar al Assad. Two years later, the Assad government remains safely ensconced in Damascus, calls for his removal from Western and Arab capitals who wanted to bring about regime change in Syria have ceased, and the Syrian military is reclaiming and reasserting its control over territory it had earlier lost.





Also, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS)  which earlier controlled more than 70 percent of territory  is significantly defeated, holding less than five per cent of the territory, and at least for now, seems to have been defeated in Syria and Iraq. The Syrian opposition and other armed factions and militant groups are in disarray, and some of Bashar Al Assads most formidable foes like Turkey have all come around to the realization that his government will remain in power for now. This is largely due to Russian intervention in the civil war there.





Yet this momentous event was eclipsed by something even more momentous  the first ever state visit by a Saudi monarch. King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Sauds recent visit to Moscow, with a large delegation in tow, saw several deals inked with Moscow. A major agreement was for the supply of the Russian S-400 missile system  deployed in Syria.





The Saudis, arch rivals of Iran, have been bitterly opposed to the Iran-supported Assad regime which is seen as an Iranian proxy. They and the Russians have been on opposite sides of the divide in the Syrian civil war. While Russia recognizes the Assad regime as the legitimate representatives of the Syrian people, the Saudis, interested in regime change, have supported the Syrian opposition. What explains this detente?





Observers of the Middle East will know that this cooperation is not entirely surprising. The two sides have for a while now been seeking avenues to increase cooperation and find common ground. One factor has been the fall in oil prices since 2014. Both the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA)  within OPEC  and the Russian Federation  outside OPEC  are oil giants. Both have increasingly been feeling the pinch but yet have been reluctant to cut back on production.





Russia is increasingly dependent on revenues from its energy exports, which has been necessitated by the imposition of Western sanctions. KSA too has been grappling with unemployment and falling revenues, and is seeking to diversify its economy. The Saudi Vision 2030 was launched to address just these issues. Both Russia and Saudi Arabia, as the two largest oil producers in the world, have the heaviest burdens to see the oil markets stabilize, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said. Significantly, once OPEC and Russia hammered out a deal to cut oil output in December 2016, as a result of Saudi-Russian negotiations, global oil prices surged.





The other major determinant has been the receding American footprint in the region. The US, based on the Carter doctrine, has for decades been the security provider for Saudi Arabia. However, with the advent of the Arab Spring, it seemed to have fallen short of the expectations of its Gulf allies. They often found themselves supporting opposing sides, like for instance in Egypt. The Saudis wanted to maintain the status quo to prevent the Arab Spring, which swept away old despotic regimes, from reaching the House of Saud. Former US President Barack Obamas administration however encouraged the removal of Hosni Mubraraks regime and recognized the government of Muslim Brotherhoods Mohamed Al Morsi.





While the position of the Saudis and the US converged on Syria, with both sides supporting the Syrian opposition, including arming the Syrian rebel groups, President Obama was loath to intervene militarily. Even when certain red lines laid down by him were transgressed, like for instance the chemical attack in Syria in 2013 which the US blamed on the Syrian government. However, President Obama did not take any action, except to condemn the attack. The Russians on the other hand acted decisively, stepping in as guarantors for the elimination of Syrias chemical weapons and thereby preventing a Western assault there.





Where the US has been found to be dithering, Russia is seen to stand its ground, prevailing over those opposing it.





Russia has since stood by Assad decisively, vetoing UN resolutions criticizing him or calling for his removal. This was driven primarily by two factors. One was to avoid another Libya-like situation, where, after UN approval for the imposition of no-fly zones, NATO then overthrew President Muammar Gaddafi. This action unleashed chaos and anarchy, making Libya a magnet for groups like ISIS today. With many from Russia flocking to join ISIS in Syria, Russia wanted to prevent a similar situation from arising there. Already, the removal of Saddam Hussein had engendered the rise of ISIS in Iraq. The other was Russias close military and defense ties with Syria, including Russias only Mediterranean naval base at the Syrian port of Tartus.





However, the greatest affront to the Saudis, according to analysts like former CIA director Bruce Riedel, came from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action or the Iran Deal. This pact, that the P5+1 countries led by the US entered into with Iran on its nuclear program, had lifted all hitherto imposed sanctions on it. A resurgent Iran, with more of its oil flowing into global markets, once again integrating into the global economy and flexing its muscles, was a Saudi nightmare.





The Saudi-led Arab coalitions decision to launch the war in Yemen was a signal of their willingness to go it alone. Part of the reason was to take security issues into their own hands, heightened by a desire to reduce dependence on the US, and to diversify their security alliances. Thus, also the initiative to launch the 24-nation anti-terror coalition in 2015. In Yemen too, save for some lackluster airstrikes, the US did not intervene. Two years hence, there is no end in sight to the war, and the Iran-backed Houthi rebels who overthrew the government of Saudi-backed President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi have not backed down despite numerous airstrikes and bombardments by the Saudi-led coalition.





As relations between the US and Iran began to be on the mend, the Saudis looked east. Russia, which had been closely cooperating with Iran on Syria, became an obvious choice. Simultaneously, US-Russia relations deteriorated over the Ukraine crisis and Russias annexation of the Crimea, and equally spilling over into Syria.





But whereas Russias support to Assad helped swing the war decisively in his favor, American support to Syrian rebels was found to be wanting. Russias actions were also effective in striking terrorist groups who were also threatening the interests of the West.





Even in the more recent intra-Gulf crisis, where Saudi Arabia and other Arab allies like the UAE, Bahrain, and Egypt severed ties with Qatar, the US has again been unable to take up a decisive position, instead calling for mediation between the two sides.





Where the US has been found to be dithering, Russia is seen to stand its ground, prevailing over those opposing it. When Turkey, a NATO member-state that had been supporting Syrian rebels fighting the Assad regime, shot down a Russian military aircraft, Russia responded by imposing economic sanctions. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had to hold out the olive branch to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Turkey dropped all opposition to Assad, and today Russian-Turkish positions on Syria largely converge.





Russia has also proved its ability to talk to opposing sides. While it views Hezbollah as a legitimate political player in Lebanon, its arch rival Israel also enjoys close ties with Russia. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is a regular guest in Moscow.





While US President Donald Trump has recently decertified the Iran deal, the Saudis, by cementing their missile system deal with Russia, have both preempted Iran from acquiring it, as well as sent a strong message to the US. Economic and arms deals are also good news for cash-strapped Russia. There are hints that the Saudis may seek Russias help in Yemen where they are facing a quagmire. Russia has abstained from UN Security Council votes calling for arms embargos against the Iran-backed Houthi rebels and a Saudi-backed resolution demanding the Houthis withdraw from all territories seized in their campaign. The two sides will also have to coordinate their position on Syria.





Clearly, President Putins Middle East blitz has been a success. Cementing friendships, standing by its ally, forging military and economic deals with all sides, and reconciling differences  Russia is expanding its footprint in the region, and has emerged as a major strategic player in the region. The Saudi monarchs recent visit is a testimony to just that.
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc welcomes new Bangladeshi Ambassador to Vietnam Samina Naz (Photo: VNA)



The PM noted that the two countries have given each other sound sentiments and mutual support during their past struggle for independence as well as current national construction and development.

He expressed pleasure at the growing bilateral ties over the past 44 years, while congratulating Bangladeshi people on their achievements in socio-economic development, poverty reduction and living condition improvements.

The PM noted that Vietnam and Bangladesh are enjoying fruitful economic cooperation, with trade reaching USD609 million in 2016 from only USD93 million in 2009, and expressed hope that Bangladesh will import more Vietnamese goods, including farm produce, aquatic products, consumer goods, and materials.

The two sides hold high potential of partnering in infrastructure, telecommunications, and fish farming, he asserted, adding that Vietnam is improving its investment environment to attract more investors, including those from Bangladesh.

He also said he believes that the new ambassador will have new ideas to further boost all-round collaboration between the two countries.

For her part, Ambassador Naz affirmed that the Government and people of Bangladesh always support Vietnam in its national defence, construction and development.

Bangladesh considers Vietnam as an example of socio-economic development, she said, adding that her country hopes to welcome more Vietnamese investors, especially in traditional areas and telecommunications./.
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The new HQ of international technology company, New Relic has been brought to the market by Savills at a guide price in excess of 25.5 million  reflecting a net initial yield of 5.26% and a capital value in the region of 825 per sq. ft.

The property at 31-36 Golden Lane, which is currently being significantly refurbished internally to provide for a modern office building, is expected to be of interest to investor groups seeking secure long income investments.

New Relic International has agreed a 20-year lease on the entire at a rent of 1.455m per annum with a break option at the end of year 10 subject to a 3 month rental penalty. The lease commencement will coincide with the practical completion date of December 2017. The lease will be guaranteed by New Relic Inc., a NASDAQ listed stock exchange company, and will also incorporate 5 yearly open market rent reviews with a 10% cap and collar provision at the first review.

New Relic is a leading global digital cloud-based analytics, intelligence and information technology company founded in San Francisco in 2008. They provide full-stack visibility and analytics software enabling businesses to monitor and analyse the performance of their web and mobile applications and information technology infrastructure. The Golden Lane office building will serve as New Relics European, Middle Eastern and African (EMEA) headquarters. New Relic currently have over 1,000 employees and also have other offices in Portland, Barcelona, London and Zurich.

This unique building which was originally designed by Scott Tallon Walker Architects, comprises a three storey modern office headquarters with a floor area of approximately 2,877 sq m (30,967 sq ft) NIA and bike storage areas for 40 bicycles. The building is situated on a site of approx. 0.14 hectares (0.34 acre). The building benefits from excellent natural light due to the floor plate design and the large atrium which creates an attractive focal point. Externally, the building has a distinct frontage with a striking curved frame, red brick facade and green and white cladding.

The property also lends itself to exciting potential future asset management opportunities with the expansion of the original building by way of additional floors to the top of the building. The adjoining Radisson Blu Hotel has recently obtained Phase 2 planning permission for a total of 8 storeys indicating the potential to increase the subject property from three to five storeys based on the parapet heights (S.P.P).

31-36 Golden Lane is strategically situated within Dublins Central Business District and only minutes from the environs of St. Stephens Green and the facilities of Grafton Street. This excellent commercial destination is home to many of Irelands major international businesses, banks and Government offices. Notable occupiers in the surrounding area include The Radisson Blu Hotel, Dunnes Stores HQ, The National Archives of Ireland, Dublin Business School and DIT Aungier Street.

The building occupies a high profile corner location at the junction of Golden Lane and Great Ship Street close to Dublins Creative Quarter, a vibrant hub surrounding the hugely popular Georges Street area. A broad selection of restaurants, cafes and shops are all readily available in the immediate vicinity, with Dublins prime retail high street, Grafton Street, within a six minute walk.

The location boasts unrivalled access and transport facilities. The LUAS Green Line linking St. Stephens Green to the Dublin South suburbs and the new LUAS Cross City Line are both located 450 metres from the property. The area is well served by Dublin Bus routes in addition to having a number of multi-storey car parking facilities. There is also a Dublin Bike station opposite the property on Golden Lane with other stations close by.

Kevin McMahon of Savills said: The quality of the New Relic covenant together with 10 years income certainty offers potential investors a secure office investment within a vibrant hub in Dublins CBD only minutes walk from St. Stephens Green.
Ibrahim Halawa is set to appear on this Fridays Late Late Show.

This is the Dubliners first big interview since he was released from the Egyptian prison, where he spent the last four years.

The student was just 17 when he was detained and jailed in Cairo in 2013 over Muslim Brotherhood protests.

He was released last month after being acquitted of all charges.

The 21-year-old announced the news on Facebook, encouraging everyone to stay tuned to listen to [his] story.

This week's Late Late will also feature a pre-recorded interview with Conor McGregor.

The full Late Late Show line-up has yet to be confirmed.
60% of us support access to abortion on request.

A new Red C poll for Amnesty International also found this increases to 85% when the pregnancy is a result of rape.

A referendum on the issue is due to be held next year.

Executive Director of Amnesty International Ireland Colm O'Gorman denies its a controversial or divisive topic.

He said: "There is the side to this debate that recognises that women should be able to make decisions about their own healthcare without the opinions or morals or views of other people being enforced upon them.

"Then there is the side of the debate that believes that women should be criminalised for making these kind of decisions."
Update 1.25pm: Preparations are being made for the UK Government to impose a budget on Northern Ireland by the end of the month, James Brokenshire has said.

The Secretary of State said the move stopped short of direct rule and that he would abandon the idea if the Democratic Unionist Party and Sinn Fein could reach a deal in that time.

Mr Brokenshire said Northern Ireland would begin to run out of money by the end of November.

"No government could simply stand by and allow that to happen," he said.

"I am, therefore, now taking forward the necessary steps that would enable a Budget Bill to be introduced at Westminster at the appropriate moment in order to protect the delivery of public services in Northern Ireland."

The DUP and Sinn Fein failed to meet Mr Brokenshire's original Monday deadline for a powersharing deal, with Stormont effectively in limbo since January.

Mr Brokenshire said he was taking legal advice on whether MLAs should keep being paid.

Last month he said he was considering new laws on the issue of salaries - 49,500 a year, or about 41,250 in the months since Stormont has been shut.

The Secretary of State said important progress has been made in the talks, which are continuing, but the issue of Irish language rights is one of the biggest crisis points.

He said it was unlikely the Stormont Executive could be revived in time for Northern Ireland's politicians to determine the budget by the end of the month.

Mr Brokenshire said the latest deadline should not be seen as a reason to abandon the negotiations.

"Let me be clear, this is not a barrier to continued political negotiations and the Government will continue to work with the parties with that intent," he said.

"And indeed, however unlikely, should an Executive be formed speedily enough and a means could be created to provide an exceptional procedure to enable the budget to be passed by the end of November I would be prepared to withdraw the Budget Bill in order for Assembly to legislate for itself."

Mr Brokenshire urged the parties to secure a deal.

"It remains firmly in the interests of Northern Ireland to see devolved government restored, to see locally elected politicians making decisions for the people of Northern Ireland," he said.

"With goodwill and compromise on all sides the parties can still achieve this and it is what needs to happen."

Mr Brokenshire stayed in Belfast to outline the state of play and is expected to speak in Westminster on the issue on Thursday.

Ireland's Foreign Minister Simon Coveney, who had been involved in the talks earlier this week, said London was acting reluctantly and delaying a threatened budget as late as possible.

"Both governments share the view that it is regrettable and deeply concerning that, eight months after the last Assembly election, a powersharing Executive is not in place to make the necessary decisions, including on budgetary issues, for Northern Ireland," he said.

In their statements Mr Coveney and Mr Brokenshire also noted the importance of the Good Friday Agreement.

"The Irish government, working with the British government, has spared no effort in supporting and facilitating these talks over many months but the issue at the heart of this is the relationship between the parties," Mr Coveney said.

He said the DUP and Sinn Fein needed to resolve the deadlock first.

"The issues under discussion - particularly those on language and culture - go to the heart of the divisions in society here in Northern Ireland and so agreement on them was always going to be very challenging," he said.

"However, I have always believed that it is possible to reach an honourable compromise which reflects the core principles of the Agreement - partnership, equality and mutual respect."

Mr Brokenshire accepted talks could not run indefinitely.

"I think there is already a huge amount of frustration out there in Northern Ireland, that people here want to see politics here get on with the job and serving them," he said.

"Yes, this has gone on for an extended period, but I still think it is right that we use renewed efforts to find a resolution to see devolved government get back on its feet again.

"It's because it matters so much - that local accountability, local politicians serving here in Northern Ireland. But they can't merely continue forever and a day."

SDLP leader Colum Eastwood insisted the Secretary of State's move was direct rule and warned that people in Northern Ireland were deeply worried.

"A Tory/DUP government will do nothing for the rights of people in the north. It only strengthens the DUP's intransigence," he said.

"It will do nothing for the rights of Irish language speakers, the LGBT community or victims."

Mr Eastwood said direct rule was a huge step backwards from the Good Friday Agreement and he hit out at Sinn Fein's role in the talks.

"Now their failed negotiation is leading to a Tory/DUP government in London, giving Arlene Foster a blank cheque," he said.

Green Party leader Steven Agnew said there had been a blackout on what issues the Sinn Fein and the DUP cannot agree on.

"What we now need from the Secretary of State is a concerted effort to introduce transparency, creativity and inclusivity into negotiations, to end the blackout on what the sticking points are and to listen to alternative approaches," he said.

Mr Agnew also said MLAs' pay should be cut by two-thirds.

Earier: DUP and Sinn Fein powersharing talks expected to resume at Stormont

Talks between the DUP and Sinn Fein are expected to resume at Stormont this morning after another powersharing deadline came and went.

The North's Secretary of State had given the parties until last night to find a deal.

James Brokenshire says he was considering what he called "certain requests" the parties had made to the UK Government.

It looks increasingly likely that Westminster will be forced to legislate for a Northern Ireland budget.

SDLP Deputy Leader Nicola Mallon says the parties must stop playing "political chicken."

She said: "We have had the blame game now for some time, we have the DUP blaming Sinn Fein and Sinn Fein blaming the DUP.

"I think what needs to happen now is that both parties need to put their positions into the public domain but more importantly, what progress has been made."
A man has been arrested after an armed robbery in Baldoyle in Dublin.

At about 4pm yesterday, two men entered a petrol station on Grange Road.
Irish companies should offer six extra days in holidays for non-smokers according to a leading psychologist.

Jason O'Callaghan from The D4 Clinic in Dublin claims non-smokers should be entitled to the benefit, to make up for time they work when people take smoke breaks.

Japanese companies are now offering a similar incentive to their employees.

The D4 Clinic Blackrock specialises in stop smoking therapy. Mr O'Callaghan has said Ireland should follow the Japanese companies' example.

"As the country that introduced the smoking ban, we should encourage Irish-based companies to do the same," said Mr O'Callaghan.

"A Japanese company (called) Piala Inc is giving non-smoking workers up to six extra days of paid holidays to make up for the extra work they do while smoking employees take cigarette breaks.

"With corporate wellness now at the forefront for so many companies, this would not just lead to a healthier workforce but also a more productive company, as each smoker who quits would win back a month of working hours."

Mr O'Callaghan says smokers work one month less than non-smokers each year.

"With most companies banning smoking on site it can take an average of 15 minutes for a staff member to go for a cigarette," said Mr O'Callaghan.

"Just four a day is an hour from the workday wasted. That's five hours a week or 20 hours a month, which works out at 2.5 days and if you multiply that by 12 months. That's a full 30 days a year that [a] company is paying a staff member to smoke."
Vice President of Bulgaria Iliana Iotova speaking at the workshop (Photo: VNA)

This activity was organized by the Vietnamese Embassy, Bulgarias Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ho Chi Minh Museum, on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh's visit to Bulgaria in August 1957 and the 67th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two nations.

To organize the exhibition, officials of the Ho Chi Minh Museum brought to Sofia many precious photos and documents, including works from the archive of the Vietnam News Agency.

In addition, documents were also provided by the Bulgarian side such as the National Assembly, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Office of the Central Committee of the Socialist Party, National Archives, group of Member of Parliament friendly with Vietnam, Bulgaria-Vietnam Friendship Association, administrations of the capital Sofia and some other localities.

The exhibition introduced President Ho Chi Minh's historic visit to Bulgaria on August 13th - 17th, 1957; the cause of building and defending the nation of the Vietnamese people in the 20th and early 21st centuries, through introduction of Uncle Ho's revolutionary career; and ancient maps on Vietnams sea and islands.

The workshop on President Ho Chi Minh also included two parts, including "President Ho Chi Minh - National liberation hero and distinguished culturalist and "67 years of Vietnam - Bulgaria relations."

Speaking at the event, Vice President Iliana Iotova said that her mother witnessed the visit to Bulgaria by President Ho Chi Minh 60 years ago. She and people of her generation very much respected and admired the leader of the Vietnamese people for his humility and simplicity of a great personality. He spent most of his time in Bulgaria to meet people, visit kindergartens, schools and farms.

"On January 14th, 1950, from the Viet Bac war zone, President Ho Chi Minh sent a message to the people around the world that the government of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam was ready to establish diplomatic relations with any government that respects the right to equality, territory sovereignty and national sovereignty of Vietnam. Responding to the message of President Ho Chi Minh, less than a month later, on February 8th, 1950 Bulgaria was one of the first 10 countries in the world to recognize and establish diplomatic relations with the Democratic Republic of Vietnam," Ambassador Nguyen Thi Hong Oanh emphasized in the speech themed "President Ho Chi Minh, who laid foundation for the Vietnam - Bulgaria friendship".

During the workshop, Vietnamese and Bulgarian scholars and delegates discussed the bilateral diplomatic-commercial-cultural relationship, the way to strengthen the friendship between peoples through social organizations, as well as highlight achievements of the renovation cause in Vietnam in recent years./.
President Donald Trump will not visit the heavily fortified border between North and South Korea known as the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ) during his upcoming trip to Asia, the White House has said.

A senior administration official told reporters during a White House background briefing that there was not enough time in the president's schedule to accommodate a visit.

The president will be visiting Camp Humphreys, a military base about 40 miles south of Seoul, to highlight the US-South Korean partnership instead.

Every president but one since Ronald Reagan has visited the DMZ, which has separated the North and South for 64 years.

Mr Trump has clashed with North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un whom he has dubbed Rocket Man during forays on Twitter and also in a speech at the UN general assembly.

The White House has played down the notion that the hesitance to visit the DMZ stemmed from security concerns, although experts on the region say a visit could have further inflamed tensions.

Mr Trump will depart on Friday for a trip that will take him to Japan, South Korea, China, Vietnam and the Philippines.

He will attend several summits, hold a series of meetings, be feted at banquets and spend time golfing with Japanese president Shinzo Abe.

Mr Trump will meet for the first time with Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, who has been accused of human rights abuses, including killing suspected drug dealers.

The White House has said that Mr Trump could raise concerns about the program.

But the official said on Tuesday that Mr Trump and Mr Duterte shared a warm rapport during a telephone conversation.

The White House said president Trump spoke with Abe by phone on Monday to discuss the trip.

They also discussed the importance of promoting a "free and open Indo-Pacific region," maintaining close ties, and maximising pressure on North Korea.
It also warned about potentially significant fines resulting from existing bribery investigations in Britain and France over the use of middlemen in civil airplane sales, which have triggered a sweeping internal probe.

But it said it was too early to guess the size or timing of any European penalties, or the outcome of the new US findings. Shares in the defence and civil aviation group rose more than 4% after it posted a smaller than expected drop in third-quarter profits despite jetliner delivery delays.

However, the gains were overshadowed by news that Airbus had itself unearthed inaccuracies in past filings to the US State Department on defence technology exports.

These involved inaccurate statements made by Airbus under a section of the US International Traffic in Arms Regulations, or ITAR, which governs the use of commissions and agents.

Airbus said the flaws were first discovered during an audit at the end of 2016 and were confirmed in an internal follow-up review completed in the third quarter.

Finance director Harald Wilhelm said the European company had not disclosed any secrets about US technology and that the issue was restricted to the use of sales agents and commissions, governed under part 130 of the ITAR rules.

It is separate from investigations into the use of agents in commercial airplane sales, which are not subject to the same US controls as weapons exports, but do have some US restrictions over the use of advanced navigation technology.

This is about defence equipment and services related to it, Mr Wilhelm told reporters. He declined to say whether the latest disclosure could lead to an investigation by the US Department of Justice (DoJ), which has so far stayed out of the European bribery probes.

The DoJ shares jurisdiction for ITAR rules with the state department where criminal activity is suspected. A person familiar with the latest case said it involved inaccuracies over both names of agents and amounts paid.

Reuters
The Economic and Social Research Institute study concludes that the minimum wage is a blunt instrument if the Government intends to use increases to tackle household poverty. It says there is little evidence to support the view that increases automatically reduce employment by putting jobs under threat.

Research professor Seamus McGuinness said the minimum wage plays an important role in society but that other policies may be needed to reduce poverty caused by jobless households.
The release of the odourless gas has resulted in two inquiries  by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities and the Environmental Protection Agency.

The financial cost to Shell Ireland, Statoil and Vermilion Energy can be assessed from figures released by Vermilion which show revenues fell 23% from the second quarter.
They say it may be possible in March 2019 when the UK leaves the EU to book trades done in centres such as Frankfurt out of London for a time. This has eased pressure on banks to rush staff out of London and is one reason that some banks have reduced estimates for the job numbers they expect to move.

The UKs EU departure is expected to force banks to move thousands of jobs into the bloc so that they can continue processing EU-related trades. However, some banks have recently scaled back estimates of how many jobs will have to shift, with UBS saying last week it is likely to move fewer jobs than the 1,000 it had previously projected.
The worlds largest ad company said that sales growth, excluding currency swings and takeovers, is expected to be broadly flat in 2017. London-based WPP had previously lowered its growth forecast to between zero and 1%.

WPP is having its worst year since the financial crisis, hit by some of its largest clients, such as Procter & Gamble and Unilever, scaling back advertising budgets.

Pressure from activist investors and companies struggling with disruption in their industries are the biggest contributors to reduced marketing spending, chief executive, Martin Sorrell, said.

There is an increasing focus on cost-reduction, he said. These conditions will probably continue, maybe at less stressful and lower levels, after one-time reductions this year.

Shares of WPP had lost 29% this year, leaving them at a compelling price point, Pivotal Research analyst, Brian Wieser, said in a note to clients, as he upgraded the stock to buy.

It should never be all doom and gloom for agencies, Mr Wieser said, adding, there is still significant value in the stock. The shares advanced 2.4%, after earlier falling as much as 2.7%. In August, the stock had its biggest slump in 17 years, after WPP slashed its full-year net sales growth forecast from 2%.

Troubles for WPP, which also works for brands such as Ford and Marks & Spencer, have been replicated across the advertising industry. Competitors, Publicis, Interpublic, and Omnicom all reported falling third-quarter revenue this month.

In addition to cost-cutting by clients, rising competition from consulting firms and the trend for advertisers to work directly with Facebook and Google on their digital marketing, are putting agencies under pressure, said Paul Sweeney, an analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence.

Agencies have seen particular pressure in their high-margin ad-space buying businesses, amid calls for greater transparency over fees and advertisers media-buying in-house.
James Smith of Boston College wrote to the UN Committee Against Torture (UNCAT) in November 2013 to inform it of material he discovered in the Galway Diocesan Archives in the spring of 2012 which related to the Sisters of Mercy Magdalene Laundry in Galway.

Prof Smith, who is also a member of the Justice For Magdalenes research body, had brought the relevant files to the attention of the McAleese Committee at the time and they were examined by the Committee.
Marlene Kairouz, minister for consumer affairs in the Victorian government, admitted she delivered her message poorly, when launching the Say No To Travelling Con Men campaign on Monday.

The campaign warns of the dangers of door-to-door tradesmen who offer cheap deals, and who pressure people to pay cash upfront, before disappearing and leaving behind unfinished or poor quality work.

However, speaking at the launch of the campaign, on Monday, Ms Kairouz noted that, in many cases of fraud, the alleged perpetrators have Irish accents.

If anybody knocks on your door that has an Irish accent, automatically ask them to leave, Ms Kairouz told the assembled media at the press conference.

The comments caused outrage among Irish people in Australia, some of whom took to Ms Kairouzs Facebook page to criticise the minister for her remark.

In the midst of all of my thieving and drinking and fighting, I managed to go to university (Imagine that?!), but Im now an Irish GP who does house calls sometimes. Will I have to start faking an Aussie accent to get in the door? one person asked.

The Irish in Victoria were recently acknowledged as the highest-earning immigrant group. Are you going to apply the same prejudicial logic to the thousands of doctors, nurses, and teachers who keep Victoria going? another wrote.

Have you even considered the thousands of tradespeople with Irish accents who contribute to the economy and the effect you could have on their business by tarnishing them in this way? an Irish Facebook user asked.

Ms Kairouz has since apologised for the remark.

I made a comment at a scam-awareness campaign launch that caused offence to people with Irish heritage, she said. Recent scammers have been backpackers from the UK and Ireland and I was giving this info to the public. I admit I delivered this message poorly.

I sincerely apologise for causing offence and my poor choice of words.
That, to us, was a betrayal of our commitment and loyalty, Lieutenant Colonel Earnan Naughton, general secretary of the Representative Association of Commissioned Officers (Raco), said at the first day of his associations conference in Naas, Co Kildare, yesterday.

Raco, which represents 1,100 officers in the army, naval service and air corps, does not have union status, meaning it cannot strike, and its members are not subject to the EU working time agreement.

The senior officer said that, given these restrictions, it was even more reason that the Defence Forces, of all ranks, should not be marginalised.

Raco wants an independent organisation, similar to the British Armed Forces Pay Review Board (AFPRB), to be set up.

The AFPRB advises the British government on how to improve life for military personnel, on pay, and on retention issues.

Racos president, Commandant Shane Keogh, said retention is a major issue in the Defence Forces, with personnel leaving in droves due to poor pay and conditions.

He said some units have just 20% of the officers they need and it took years to replace the experience built up by officers who were quitting for better opportunities in the private sector.

A delegation from the AFPRB had been invited to attend Racos conference.

They were very helpful, said Lt Col Naughton. They were prepared to travel and address us. When we went to the point of booking the flights, we were informed theyd received a communique from the Department of Defence, saying any talks should be on a government-to-government basis.

It subsequently transpired the minister [Paul Keogh] had no problem with them attending. It appears to us it was the department which scuppered their attendance.

Relations between the Defence Forces and Department of Defence officials have deteriorated in recent years.

The department is failing to address issues were identifying to them, said Lt Col Naughten.

He said he hoped military management would agree to set up something similar to AFPRB.

A number of guest speakers were invited to address a special forum yesterday on industrial relations.

Racos vice-president, Commandant Conor King, outlined the contents of a damning report, published earlier this year by University of Limerick academics, that concluded that the Defence Forces was almost dysfunctional.

Comdt King said the Government had to act on the report, which said poor pay, lack of expertise, exhaustion, and Hotel Rwanda-style barracks had caused an exodus of highly-trained personnel to the private sector.
The Ryanair CEO claimed misinformation was circulated by competitor pilot unions in the wake of Septembers pilot rostering failure. He said the misinformation was a predictable by-product of the crisis.

He said: Since Ryanair has, for over 30 years, operated a sophisticated collective bargaining process, supported fully by our pilots and cabin crew  confirmed and validated by the Irish Supreme Court  the only way our existing five-year base agreements can be changed [some of which run to 2020] is by negotiation between the airline and our base ERCs [employee representative councils].

He was referring to a landmark 2007 Supreme Court ruling in favour of Ryanair, after the airline refused to co-operate with the Labour Court, saying it had its own ERCs. The ruling undermined unions ability to have a foothold in private sector companies.

As a result, Ryanair pilots bargain with their employer via these ERCs as opposed to an independent union.

After the pilot rostering failure, which saw thousands of flights cancelled, pilots were urged to use it to bargain with their employer for better conditions including permanent contracts.

Mr OLeary, while not referring to direct employees and commenting under a heading called our people said the airline had the best job security in Europe.

Im sorry that our people have had to listen to misinformation about Ryanair promoted by competitor pilot unions, he said. However, we have been here before, and we will be again.

We understand that the reason they wish to denigrate Ryanair is because their airlines cannot compete with us. As usual, when these union airlines fail, such as Monarch, Air Berlin, and Alitalia in recent months, their pilots all come to Ryanair seeking jobs that pay up to 175,000 per annum, deliver a double bank holiday weekend every week, with the best promotions record and, the best job security in Europe.

Despite what Mr OLeary said, it is understood that Ryanair pilots based in Ireland have told the airline they will only negotiate through their new joint European Employee Representative Council (EERC).

This is a collective version of the ERC, and so far the airline has refused to recognise it, instead negotiating only with the committees at the individual 87 bases.

Mr OLeary yesterday said he has already negotiated on pay increases with various bases but clarified he will not be forced to meet with a collective grouping such as the EERC.

The Stansted pilots have voted, in secret ballot, to reject this large pay increase and we will respect their wishes, and they will continue with the existing pay agreement at Stansted until 2020, he said. If Stansted pilots wish to reconsider or revote, they may do so at any time through their ERC.

We will not, and cannot, be forced to meet with any outside group such as the so-called EERC which like REPA (2004) and RPG (2012) is a front for competitor airline pilot unions.
Visitors at the event (Photo: Vietnamese Embassy in New Zealand)

The annual cultural and food exchange event was organized in the capital city of Wellington to promote the image of the country, people, culture and cuisine of Vietnam to local people, youth and international students.

This is an opportunity for local and international friends to discover and experience the country of Vietnam today through art programs performed by Vietnamese students studying in Wellington and pupils of Vietnamese class, and enjoyed traditional Vietnamese dishes prepared by some Vietnamese restaurants.

For many years, the event has been supported by the Vietnamese Embassy, the overseas Vietnamese community and the managing board of night market festival under the Wellington City Council.

This was also the first outdoor event, which attracted a large number of participants and left deep impressions among local and international friends./.




It was the seventh month since the beginning of this year Vietnam has welcomed more than 1 million foreign visitors.

The highest growth was seen in travellers from Asia with 29.4 percent, followed by those from Africa (23.6 percent) and Oceania (20.7 percent).

More than 10.47 million foreigners have visited the country in the first 10 months of 2017, up 28.1 percent year-on-year with the biggest increase of 32.8 percent reported in Asian visitors. Tourists from the Republic of Korea rose by 53.9 percent, the highest jump during the period while Chinese came second with a surge of 45.6 percent.

The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism has made efforts to boost tourism since early this year. It has held promotion events in Australia, Japan, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Finland, Denmark, Norway, Sweden and more over the last three months.

It also plans to use the APEC Economic Leaders Week 2017 as an opportunity to promote Vietnams beauty to international friends.

Vietnam aims for an increase of 30 percent in international tourist arrivals, or 13 million foreigners, in 2017./.
It is not a bad thing for us, that the route known as the Goldene Strae or the Golden Road as we will get to know it- has escaped the attention of so many. It has been spared being overrun by hordes of tourists and as you will discover the
THE DEPUTY leader of the Green Party will visit the Isle of Wight next Friday.

Amelia Womack was elected in 2014 at the age of 29, making her the youngest deputy leader of a national political party.

She will spend the day looking at projects alongside Isle of Wight Greens, including Break the Cycle to discuss their new 'Mind the Gap' course aimed at supporting survivors of abuse to move forward in their lives.

In the evening, she will be at the Riverside Centre for a public meeting and discussion from 7pm to 9pm.

An Isle of Wight Pride spokesperson will also be in attendance to talk about LGBTIQA+ issues on the Island and share exciting news about UK Pride 2018.

Isle of Wight Green Vix Lowthion said: "Amelia is really looking forward to her second time on the Isle of Wight in 2017.

"She's a strong advocate for equal rights, and her visit couldn't come at a better time as we explore key issues of womens' and LGBT rights both nationally and on the Island."
A FIELD of remembrance will once again be opened at Carisbrooke Castle to commemorate those in the uniformed services.

The castle will open its doors for people to visit the field between 10am and 1pm on Thursday, November 9, and on Saturday and Sunday between 10am and 4pm. It will not be open on Friday.

Crosses can be purchased at the castle, with proceeds going to the Royal British Legion. Refreshments at a small charge will be provided by the Women's Institute.

A formal service of remembrance, which members of the public are welcome to attend, takes place at the castle on Thursday, November 9 at 10.45am.
I was a late bloomer when it came to appreciating Mexican cuisine. The traditional cheese-meat-bean-tortilla combos were often too dense and gooey for my taste, and it took me well into my adulthood to develop a liking for cilantro, that famously divisive herb. Little did I know that when we moved to California from Denmark, my childrens favorite fast food would become a burrito.

When we arrived in California, where Spanish is easily spoken and south of the border cuisine flourishes, the flavors and subtleties of Mexican food grew on me, with its potent spices, rich moles and myriad chiles. Before too long, I found myself devouring avocados like fruit and replacing pizza with burritos and tacos as kid-friendly fast food. At home, I improvised and gallantly made my own renditions of Mexican-inspired food, lighter and brighter to my taste, with lots of crisp vegetables, vibrant salsas and fresh herbs, and I frequently would add seafood for the protein, resulting in a Californian-Mexican hybrid, which pleased everyone.

We ate these tostadas the other night, served buffet-style, so everyone could layer their own toppings. I marinated shrimp in lime for the protein and made cumin-spiced rice, along with a fresh corn and black-bean salsa that could easily stand alone as a salad.
The enrollment season for the 2018 federal health exchange begins today, and health officials and advocates are urging people to start the insurance process early.

The period, which ends Dec. 15, is six weeks shorter than the 2017 period, as mandated by the Trump administration.

The website is still www.health care.gov, with coverage beginning or renewing Jan. 1.

Under the federal Affordable Care Act, also called Obamacare,individuals are required to maintain compliant insurance or be subject to a tax penalty.

Officials and advocates are concerned that potential applicants might not realize they qualify for the subsidies because the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has cut back significantly on marketing the exchange to consumers. The agency also reduced funding for counselors who have helped navigate consumers through enrollment.

Our main message to consumers is to ignore all the political noise, go to the healthcare.gov website and see what options you have and what your actual costs will be, said Bob Seehausen, Novant Health Inc.s senior vice president of business development and sales.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina is again covering all 100 of the states counties in 2018, though all 18 plans may not be available in each county.

The silver, or midrange, plan was the most popular in 2017, chosen by 78 percent of the enrollees, followed by the low-range bronze plan at 17 percent, and the high-end gold plan and the catastrophic plan at less than 3 percent each.

Its unfortunate that some of the political moves are causing people to considering sitting on the sideline during enrollment, Seehausen said. The exchange is good, and the subsidies remain in place, for all of 2018.

The average rate increase is 14.1 percent for Blue Cross 2018 individual ACA insurance plans, down from an initial projection of 22.9 percent.

Cigna is raising its premium rate by 25 percent on an expected 21,000 customers in five Triangle counties. It applied for a 32 percent increase.

In both instances, subsidies are going up a similar amount, therefore offsetting much of the increase in premium rates.

Subsidies help lower-income individuals buy plans that have reduced out-of-pocket costs for medical care, such as lower deductibles and co-payments.

We dont have a crystal ball about what enrollment will look like numbers-wise, but we have doubled down on our efforts, including in Forsyth County, to reach out to potential exchange participants, said Mark Van Arnam, the director of outreach for the N.C. Navigator Consortium.

The consortium is a part of Legal Aid of North Carolina, with a website at https://ncnavigator.net. The Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust has provided Legal Aid with $332,970 in funding over two years for its Forsyth outreach.

We know we have our work cut out for us, Van Arnam said, because there is so much confusion at every level, which is why we are reaching out to individuals who are familiar with the exchange and those who would be new.

There are plenty of changes to navigate, but the important thing is that the ACA remains the law and financial assistance remains available as well, he said.

Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center said in a statement that "we anticipate enrollment will be consistent between 2016 and 2017." It said it is relying on Blue Cross' enrollment process and N.C. Hospital Association assistance services with potential enrollees.

N.C. ranks fourth

North Carolina had the fourth-highest exchange enrollment rate for 2017 at 549,158, according to federal DHHS.

The N.C. Justice Center said that 356,560 North Carolinians  65 percent of those who enrolled in a plan  qualified for a subsidy in 2017.

The N.C. Department of Insurance projects that nearly 85 percent of consumers who enroll in a 2018 exchange plan with Blue Cross will be eligible for subsidies.

If you do not have health insurance elsewhere, you need to take part in open enrollment to make sure you choose the best insurance plan to meet your needs, N.C. Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey said in a statement.

Seehausen said Novant expects to help tens of thousands of enrollees.

Its hard to predict how enrollment will go because of the shorter period, the website being taken down on Sundays and all the other uncertainties, he said. The biggest question we are hearing is, What plans is my doctor participating in? The answer is Blue Value.

The N.C. Hospital Association said its social media effort is aimed primarily at helping individuals understand the coverage they are purchasing, so we have created a resource page that aggregates information about insurance in general.

The advent of high deductible health plans has meant that more people, especially young people, are bearing increased responsibility for their health-care costs, the association said. If people purchase plans merely based on the premium, they may not be able to afford the co-pays and deductibles.

Junk plans

Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper has said Trumps executive order will promote junk plans with high deductibles, no limits on catastrophic costs and no protections for people with pre-existing conditions. This is unfair and unnecessary.

Blue Cross said on Oct. 16 that its exchange platform will not be affected significantly by Trumps decision to end consumer subsidies.

Had (subsidy) payments not been eliminated, Blue Cross NCs final rate request for ACA customers average would have been near zero, the insurer said.

However, the insurer cautioned that Trumps executive order could make it harder for insurers to plan to participate in 2019.

Trump defended his decision to halt payments to insurers, saying the subsidies are almost a payoff to insurance companies to lift their stock prices instead of helping low-income people afford their premiums.

We expect that most individuals who maintained ACA insurance for full-year 2017 will re-enroll, Standard & Poors credit analyst Deep Banerjee said. As for new enrollees (individuals who havent previously bought insurance on the exchanges), we are forecasting fewer people signing up in 2018 than during previous open enrollments.

Banerjee said the agencys lower new enrollee forecast takes into account: expectation of reduced active outreach at the federal level; a reduced broker presence in the individual market; shorter enrollment periods; and higher non-subsidized premiums.

The N.C. Department of Insurance is in full support of giving consumers broad access to quality, affordable health care, Causey said. We are doing our best to maintain a stable health insurance market that provides new products and more choices.
I almost went into hiding Monday after news broke about Paul Manafort, Richard Gates and George Papadopoulos. It seemed like a mob was beginning to form around anyone who was ever skeptical about the Trump collusion story. Well, Im still skeptical.

Im reminded of the Roman guard in the stoning scene from Monty Pythons Life of Brian. There is going to be a stoning  and there are a few rocks in the air  but yesterdays announcement was not tantamount to special counsel Robert S. Mueller III blowing the whistle. And Im not sure a stone will ever directly hit President Trump.

The mainstream medias news coverage of the indictments, starting with CNN, was intimidating to any fair-minded person. The faux-anguish, gasping, overreaching and, at times, spittle-filled (spittle seems to be a word that has been in the news a lot lately) coverage was a frenzy.

Even reasonable Democrats and liberals that I spoke to and emailed with were swooning. A few even went on to rant that impeachment was at hand. They thought the heavens had opened and that their prayers had been answered, and the end of Trump had been delivered on a silver platter. Or at least the end was in sight.

Uhh, maybe not.

For starters, the indictment against Manafort and Gates concerns events and schemes that predate their involvement with President Trumps campaign. And the young man  Papadopoulos  who pleaded guilty has been dismissed by the White House as a nobody. During the campaign, he tried and failed to set up meetings with Russians. The indictment spells out his feckless effort to repeatedly arrange meetings that higher ups in the campaign refused to take.

With that said, a big nobody wearing a little wire can lead to great havoc. It will be interesting to learn who Papadopoulos has talked to and what equipment he has been wearing since his deal with the prosecutors was completed.

But for those hoping this was Muellers opening shot at the president, it clearly missed. Again, I know there is more to come and there are serious consequences for others involved, but as it relates to the Trump presidency, the indictments are not a direct hit. So, I hate to say it, but those who want to celebrate President Trumps demise will have to calm down.

The Trump haters were handed a sugar cube yesterday, not a full meal. For those hoping this will finish Trump, the best thing to come from the indictments was how broad of a scope Mueller now sees in pursing his mandate and that the question of collusion seems to be tangential to his investigation. Simply put, how far will Mueller go in looking at past Trump actions? Are tax matters and business dealings that predate his presidency, ah la Manafort, fair game for the special counsel?

Mueller, it seems, is on the march to nobody knows where.

Ed Rogers is a political consultant and a veteran of the Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush White Houses and several national campaigns.
The Post reports that former Trump campaign aide George Papadopoulos pleaded guilty in early October to making false statements to FBI investigators in the Robert S. Mueller III probe. That is a big deal, bigger perhaps than the announced indictments of former campaign chairman Paul Manafort and Rick Gates, whose alleged crimes did not directly implicate anyone in the campaign, let alone President Trump.

We see for the first time the name Donald J. Trump referred to in a federal criminal plea bargain. As detailed in the plea, Papadopoulos was a junior foreign policy adviser to the campaign. According to the plea, he lied to the FBI when he said he knowingly communicated with a Russian professor with substantial connections to the Kremlin before Papadopoulos joined the campaign. In fact, he did so during his employment by the campaign. The Russian told Papadopoulos that he had thousands of Hillary Clintons emails and later that he had dirt on Clinton.

To repeat: A campaign aide communicated with a Kremlin-connected figure about Clintons emails with the understanding that the Russian had dirt on Clinton. It may have come to nothing, and the aide may have been junior. However, this is collusion. Remember that collusion is not a crime at all, but it is a descriptive buzzword. A secret or illegal cooperation or conspiracy is the dictionary definition, which may have been the case with Papadopoulos.

Former director of the Office of Government Ethics Walter Shaub tells me: Collusion is not a legal term. Given the everyday meaning of the word, it sure sounds like it might amount to that.

The timing is critical: In March 2016, the Democratic National Committee emails were hacked; in April, contact began with Papadopoulos; and in July, Trump was encouraging the Kremlin to release Clintons emails.

Full stop. Yes, collusion about dirt on Clinton between the campaign and Russians with Kremlin connections occurred. But it apparently was not a secret to others on the campaign.

An unnamed supervisory campaign official is said to have been informed of Papadopouloss meetings with the professor and plans to meet with a female Russian national and the Russian ambassador in London. It also mentions a senior policy adviser and a high-ranking campaign official who was told of efforts to arrange the meeting. The plea details extensive efforts to set up a meeting between Trump and the Russians, of which the supervisory official, the senior policy adviser and the high-ranking campaign official were aware.

Now the question is who these other campaign officials were, whether they ever misrepresented contacts (under oath or otherwise) with the Kremlin-connected officials, what if anything Trump knew about all this and what became of the contacts. If any of these aides later advised the president to fire former FBI director James B. Comey, who was investigating possible collusion, that is a very big problem.

The White House can no longer claim honestly (if it ever could) that the investigation into Russian collusion is nonexistent. The Post reported:

In back-to-back tweets, Trump tried to distance his campaign from the charges.

Sorry, but this is years ago, before Paul Manafort was part of the Trump campaign. But why arent Crooked Hillary & the Dems the focus????? he wrote.

.Also, there is NO COLLUSION! he said in a follow-up tweet.

Well, he should take a look at Papadopouloss plea and think hard about whom those campaign officials might be. Trumps lawyers apparently have not persuaded Trump to cease tweeting. If he keeps this up, suggesting either that hed pardon those affected or attempting to intimidate potential witnesses, hell have crossed a line that even Republicans may find hard to defend.

To some legal experts, it looks as though Papadopoulos is now cooperating with Mueller. Constitutional law guru Laurence Tribe says to keep in mind that collusion isnt a term of art in the criminal law lexicon but a concept more pertinent to impeachment. He adds, It seems to me that the guilty plea today by ex-Trump adviser George Papadopoulos, evidently cooperating with Mueller on his investigation  is likely to be the sleeper in todays outpouring of news. (To the extent that others lied under oath about collusion or obstructed justice to prevent it from coming to light, criminal charges could be involved.) Another legal guru, when asked whether Mueller would accept a plea without cooperation, replied: No way.
GRAHAM  Two Greensboro women and a High Point man are among six people who have been charged after authorities conducted a covert operation Monday to focus on human trafficking.

Much of the investigation centered on prostitution, some of which was suspected of being involuntary. The operation was conducted at a controlled location in Alamance County, a release from the Alamance County Sheriff's Office stated.

During the operation, seven potential victims of human trafficking were encountered. No charges of soliciting for prostitution initially were made.

The six individuals arrested are:

Levina Conyers, 22, of 601 Holt Ave., Apt. A in Greensboro was charged with driving while license revoked, possession of cocaine and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Christian Alexander Blakely, 22, of 5230 Samet Drive in High Point was charged with possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Elizabeth Lynn Locklear, 46, of 501 S. Regional Road in Greensboro was charged with possession of cocaine and drug paraphernalia.

Destini Imani Frazier, 18, of Sanford was arrested as a probation absconder from Florida.

Evelin Lopez Umana, 31, of 1003 Apple St. Ext. in Burlington was charged with possession of marijuana.

Tia Marie McMillan, 37, of Pittsboro was arrested on a probation violation.

In addition, several individuals suspected of trafficking the victims were identified. Those investigations are ongoing.

The operation involved the Alamance County Sheriffs Office, the Office of the Alamance County District Attorney, the Burlington, Graham, Haw River police departments, the N.C. Alcohol Law Enforcement, N.C. State Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
Almost two years of preparation involving over 200 meetings, 30 subcommittees, and so on. Thats just a quick look at Joyce Rabins work as Chair of Together in Israel: Our Pride, Our Purpose. Hadassahs 100th National Convention. (Hadassah, which was founded in 1912, held its first conventi Read moreS'ville resident helps organize 100th national of Hadassah, The Womens Zionist Organization of America
The war crimes trial of Eshetu Alemu, an aide to Ethiopias former communist ruler Mengistu Haile Mariam [JURIST archive], began on Monday at a Dutch national court in the Hague.

Alemu is alleged to have ordered the execution of 75 individuals during the Red Terror [USLOC backgrounder] campaigns in the 1970s, following the overthrow of Emperor Haile Selassie [NYT obit] in 1974. Alemu is also accused of arbitrary detention and cruel and inhuman treatment of civilians and fighters who had laid down their arms.

Alemu, who has been living in the Netherlands on political asylum since 1990, has rejected the charges unequivocally [BBC report], denied ever giving an execution order and added that the prosecutors are accusing the wrong man.

The court is scheduled [Reuters report] to question Alemu, who has been held in custody since 2015, and hear statements from the Ethiopian victims living abroad.

Mengistu himself fled to Zimbabwe in 1991, after he was ousted during a series of insurgencies. In 2006, he was found guilty of genocide and eventually sentenced to death [JURIST reports] in absentia. Zimbabwe refused to extradite Mengistu, both after his conviction and after his sentencing [JURIST reports].
[JURIST] The American Bar Association (ABA) Standing Committee on the Federal Judiciary [official website] gave Leonard Steven Grasz, a nominee to the US Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit [official website] a not qualified rating [statement, PDF] on Tuesday.

In a statement sent to the Senate Judiciary Committee, Pamela Bresnahan [official websites], the chair of the Standing Committee, explained why Grasz [professional profile], an Omaha attorney, received the rating. Bresnahan said Grasz was scrutinized under the ABAs two-part review process [ABA backgrounder]. The first prong of the review is typically undertaken by a law professor, and the second by a practicing attorney. At the end of the review, each individual is given a well qualified, qualified or not qualified rating.

The statement enumerated a number of concerns the ABA has with the nomination of Grasz. Among them are the ABAs concerns with Graszs reputation for being ill-tempered among his colleagues, what those who know him called closed-mindedness, and his seeming disregard for the precedent of higher courts. Bresnahan stated, Many questioned whether Mr. Grasz would be able to detach himself from his deeply held social agenda and political loyalty to be able to judge objectively, with compassion and without bias.

In a local report [Omaha World-Herald report], Nebraska Senators Ben Sasse and Deb Fischer [official websites] lamented the ABAs rating, dismissing it as politically driven, and voiced their continued support for the nominee.

Although the nomination [materials] has been received by the Committee on the Judiciary, there is no set date for a vote on Graszs nomination. Grasz is the second judicial nominee [ABA Journal report] by President Donald Trump to receive a not qualified rating from the ABA.
[JURIST] The EU Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) [official website] released a preliminary statement [text, PDF] Tuesday on Kenyas presidential elections claiming that the current state of the elections had damaged the electoral process, political institutions and the population.

The EU EOM assessment at this stage is that actions by both sides of the political divide have been damaging to the electoral process and have put the people and institutions of Kenya in an extremely difficult position. These actions include intimidation of the judiciary, attacks on the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), introducing uncertainty in the legal framework with last-minute amendments to the electoral law without political consensus, obstruction of the electoral process, some disproportionate actions by the security forces, and shrinking space for civil society.

The EU EOM has extensively been covering [text] the series of general elections since August of this year. The mission is led by Chief Observer Marietje Schaake [official profile], Member of the European Parliament from the Netherlands. The EU has also observed previous elections in Kenya in 2002, 2007 and 2013.

There has been significant controversy connected to the election after the Supreme Court of Kenya invalidated [JURIST report] the previous election results in September. Last week the Kenyan Supreme Court ruled [JURIST report] it could not delay the re-vote as it did not have the required quorum of justices present at the proceedings.
MEPs reject the Commissions proposal and join public health NGOs in demanding more rigorous protection.

What are endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) and what do we know about their dangers?

In its policy communication on endocrine disruption, the European Commission defines an endocrine disruptor as an exogenous substance or mixture that alters function(s) of the endocrine system and consequently causes adverse health effects in an intact organism, or its progeny, or (sub)populations.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), EDCs encompass a variety of chemical classes, including natural and synthetic hormones, plant constituents, pesticides, compounds used in the plastics industry and in consumer products, and other industrial by-products and pollutants. They are often pervasive and widely dispersed in the environment. Some are persistent, can be transported long distances across national boundaries, and have been found in virtually all regions of the world. Others are rapidly degraded in the environment or human body or may be present for only short periods of time but at critical periods of development.

The Commission acknowledges that EDCs have been suggested as being responsible for apparent changes seen in human health patterns over recent decades. The Commission also lists some of the dangers associated with EDCs: declining sperm counts in some geographical regions, increased numbers of male children born with genital malformations and increases in the rates of certain types of cancer.

Nevertheless, since the effects of EDCs are not yet fully understood, the public debate around these toxins has become quite controversial.

The journalist Stephane Horel co-directed and co-authored a documentary The Great Invasion, in which she demonstrates how exposed we are to EDCs and interviews several academics, such as Philippe Grandjean from Harvard University School of Public Health and Andreas Kortenkamp from Brunel University London, who warn of the potential perils of EDCs to human health and the environment.

Several studies supported by the US National Institutes of Health (1, 2, 3, 4) have come to the conclusion that EDCs may affect vital organs in humans, such as the hypothalamus, thyroid, pancreas and pituitary glands, which are responsible for development, metabolism, reproduction and even mood.

Nevertheless, these studies as well as other healthcare professionals urge for more research on the subject. We urgently need to obtain a fuller picture of the health and environment impacts of EDCs, said Maria Neira, the WHOs director for public health and environment.

The Commissions recent statement that the potential mode of action of any such effect is unknown seems to reveal, however, at least a worrying lack of necessary precaution, if not a disturbing inclination to embrace that unknown and do nothing, despite of the growing amount of biomedical literature on the subject.

The Commissions proposal and the reactions of the Parliament

Under the EUs biocides regulation (1107/2009), the Commission was obliged to define scientific criteria for defining potential EDCs by December 2013. In other words, the Commission was tasked with establishing a set of standards that would categorise EDCs and therefore expose their potential hazards.

However, the EU executive delayed the delivery of the criteria after deciding to make an impact assessment. In July 2014, Sweden, which swiftly took regulatory action on the matter at national level, sued the Commission and won the case.

In December 2015, the General Court of the EU decided that the Commission had breached EU law by failing to set criteria for EDCs. Finally, in June 2016, the Commission proposed that a substance should be considered an EDC only if it fulfills all of the following criteria: it is known to cause an adverse effect on human health; it has an endocrine mode of action; the adverse effect relevant for human health is a consequence of the endocrine mode of action (that is, if there is a causal link between adverse effect and mode of action).

On 4 July, a majority of EU member states accepted a draft law from the Commission in the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals and Feed (an official meeting where member states cast their votes on important issues mainly related with health and food safety).

Vytenis Andriukaitis, the EU Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, subsequently hailed the member states approval a great success and urged the European Parliament and the Council, involved in the decision-making process, to ensure the laws smooth adoption.

The European Parliament and NGOs, however, were less welcoming toward this draft law, since its narrow scope  it only covered pesticides and biocides  would have left citizens vulnerable to many EDCs. On 28 September, the Parliaments Environment and Public Health Committee objected to the Commissions proposed criteria in a plenary session.

The [Commissions] proposal is not all bad but its not good enough and above all, it is not legally sound, said Jytte Guteland, the Swedish MEP (S&D Group), who filed the objection. The Parliaments legal service found that the Commission had exceeded its mandate with the introduction of a derogation for so-called non-target organisms, Guteland added, explaining her objection to the draft criteria.

The introduction of the derogation could create a loophole in the legislation allowing for some substances to be approved for a limited period necessary to control serious danger to plant health.

As a consequence, the MEPs Guteland and Bas Eickhout (The Greens) penned a Motion for a Resolution on the basis that the Commissions draft regulation could not be considered to be based on objective scientific data related to the endocrine system, as required by the [European] Court, while also accusing the EU Executive of exceeding its implementing powers by modifying an essential regulatory element of Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009.

It is unacceptable that the Commission tries to lift a ban of certain EDCs via the backdoor of comitology to further the interests of the pesticides industry. The Commission has a mandate to come up with scientific criteria for EDCs, but not to undo a ban decided by the legislator, Eickhout stated on 3 October, a day before the final vote in the European Parliament, in Strasbourg.

The Motion objecting to the draft criteria, co-signed by the Socialists and the Greens, was adopted by 36 votes to 26. The Parliament has also blocked access to lobbyists from Monsanto, a US multinational agrochemical and agricultural biotechnology corporation, after it refused to participate in a public hearing.

Finally on the D-Day of 4 October, an absolute majority of 389 MEPs blocked the European Commissions proposed criteria to identify EDCs.

MEPs and the Council have already clearly decided to ban all EDCs. The Commission was only mandated to set scientific criteria to identify the endocrine-disrupting substances, nothing more. Instead, it decided to include a derogation for certain substances, thereby creating a huge loophole in the legislation, Gutteland said to EUobserver.

Democracy and the precautionary principle  1, lobbyists of the agrochemical industry  0, tweeted French MEP Eric Andrieu (S&D group) after the vote.

This is a very important message that the European Parliament is sending to the Commission. The European Parliament does not accept any kind of circumvention. It is utterly necessary to have scientific criteria for the determination of EDCs, said MEP Notis Marias (ECR group) regarding the executives attempt to change Regulation 1107/2009. We saw that many of the different criteria emerged from political agreements and had nothing to do with scientific documentation, added Marias.

The conservative MEP said it is quite clear that EDCs are dangerous chemicals for public health and the environment and finished his statement by greeting the final vote and the decisiveness of the Parliament concerning the message that lobbyists cant do whatever they want.

NGOs congratulate the Parliament

The not-for-profit organisation Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) applauded the courageous decision to veto a proposal that lacks ambition and would fail to protect human health and the environment in a statement, in which it also claimed that EDCs are hidden everywhere in our daily environment and evidence of their adverse effects  sometimes decades later and especially for children  is growing by the day.

The European Consumer Organisation (BEUC) shared the sentiment stating that the Parliament had rightly said no to the Commissions lack of ambition: BEUC applauds the Parliaments decision to reject this unfit definition because too many chemicals would escape the regulatory net.

What comes next?

With the veto in Parliament, the Commission, now back at square one, must change the proposal together with the representatives of the member states in the Standing Committee and present it again to the Parliament and the Council.

The Parliament called on the EU executive to ensure that the guidance for the implementation of the hazard-based criteria to identify EDCs is in line with the scientific criteria to determine endocrine-disrupting properties.

Moreover, MEPs called on the Commission to ensure that the same guidance clarifies that there is no hierarchy that gives preference to scientific data generated in accordance with internationally agreed study protocols over other scientific data.

Once the criteria are formally adopted, the EU will boast the worlds first regulatory system to enshrine a definition of EDCs in law.
McLAREN ALREADY PREPARING 2018

In Mexico, Fernando Alonsos McLaren MCL32 was fitted with the new front wing specification that had been introduced a week earlier in the US. The update features a pair of slits on the inner section of the wing (see white and blue arrows), in the area where the all-important Y250 vortex is generated, stemming from the pressure differential between the edge of the neutral section (located 250mm away from the cars longitudinal axis on both sides) and the remainder of the wing. F1 aerodynamicists are keen to use the vortex energy to push the dirty wake of the rotating front wheels and optimise how the air flows around the sidepods.

Adding the cuts is likely to result in a decrease in pressure differential, which in turn would weaken the Y250 vortex. What is McLaren trying to achieve there? There might be a couple of reasons as to why chief technical officer Peter Prodromou and his team have been willing to explore this avenue with next years McLaren challenger in mind.

First, one will remember that the Woking-based outfit introduced in Sepang a new bargeboard fitted with an extra triangular vane. It is believed that the new element helps push away the turbulent air of the front wheels in a more efficient manner. That way, it can accommodate a less powerful Y250 vortex. What is the rationale there? As useful as it is, the vortex also produces drag. Therefore, reducing the force of the vortex without hurting airflow circulation around the sidepods leads to better car aerodynamics overall.

Secondly, the arches on the outer area of the front wing have been split into several elements (see yellow arrows), in the spirit of Mercedes aero philosophy of segmentation. This arched section produces a powerful vortex that drives away the turbulent air coming off the front tyres so the rear of the car can be fed with cleaner air, which boosts the efficiency of the diffuser. If the outer arches generate a healthy vortex, the Y250 one does not need to be as potent.

It is worth noting that sampling technical evolutions in the latter stages of a Formula 1 season usually serves to assess concepts that could potentially be applied on the following campaign.
A simple swearing-in ceremony became a big going-away party for Nebraskas top agriculture official Monday.

Greg Ibach, now the states former ag chief, took an oath of office for his new post as an undersecretary at the U.S. Department of Agriculture in front of more than 100 Nebraska farm boosters, elected officials, family members and friends.

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue conducted the ceremony at the historic Livestock Exchange Building in South Omaha.

The move to Washington for Ibach, a farmer and cattle producer from Sumner, follows nearly 19 years of work at the Nebraska Department of Agriculture  12 as director  a tenure praised by Gov. Pete Ricketts.

Ibach will support the Trump administration in a post as undersecretary for marketing and regulatory programs. He is one of seven undersecretaries who report to Perdue.

Hell oversee operations and policy development at three federal agencies within the agency: the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service; the Agricultural Marketing Service; and the Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration.

The agency known as GIPSA attracted controversy recently when the USDA said it would not implement the Farmer Fair Practice Rule, which was developed under the Obama administration but never went into effect.

The rule, designed to protect the rights of farmers raising livestock for packers, large meat processors, would have made it easier for farmers to sue those businesses over unfair practices.

Perdue told reporters after Mondays event that the decision to withdraw the rule was a close call, but he said the rule would have been a windfall for litigators.

Ibach said part of his role was to make sure farmers are treated fairly. He said hed have an open door to hear their concerns.

Ibachs work at the State Department of Agriculture won the support of major state agricultural organizations such as the Nebraska Farm Bureau and Nebraska Cattlemen, whose leaders praised him as a tireless promoter of their industry.

Ibach made trade trips to 28 countries, including Japan, Canada, China and several in Europe, and helped host international visitors in Nebraska, to promote the sale of Nebraska commodities and food products.

Ricketts noted Ibachs support of programs that support new livestock industry development: the 2003 Livestock Friendly County designation and the newer Livestock Siting Assessment Matrix, which speeds local governments evaluation of proposed livestock feeding operations.

Ricketts also praised Ibach for developing the Certified Nebraska Beef promotional program and for working with other state agencies to support retailer Costcos push to build the chicken-processing plant now under construction in Fremont.

Perdue said in remarks about Ibach and Bill Northey, the Iowa agriculture secretary nominated for another undersecretary post:

It was so clear that they were not bureaucrats but authentic agriculturalists that had learned how to get things done within state governments. And yet they maintained that dirt-under-the-fingernails, agricultural heart.

Ibachs experience in Nebraska will be an asset at the USDA and on Capitol Hill, said former Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns, who served under George W. Bush.

Johanns is also a former U.S. senator and former governor of Nebraska.

Not only will Ibach run the agencies hes responsible for, and enforce and interpret existing regulations, hell also likely be called on by Perdue to travel the country on behalf of the USDA and to advise members of the House and Senate as Congress reauthorizes the farm bill, the legislation that covers the food stamp program and crop insurance.

The Trump administration is on record as not looking to issue new regulations, but dispute will likely arise again over the Farmer Fair Practice Rule, Johanns said.
LINCOLN  USDAs Natural Resources Conservation Service is now accepting applications for the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP).

This program, created under the 2014 Farm Bill, provides funding for the purchase of conservation easements to help productive farm and ranch lands remain in agriculture and to restore and protect critical wetlands and grasslands.

Acting State Conservationist Myron Taylor encourages landowners to take advantage of the program.

Conservation easements are a good tool to ensure natural resources are conserved and protected for all Nebraskans, Taylor said. We encourage Indian tribes, state and local governments, non-governmental organizations and private landowners to contact their local NRCS office to find out how to apply.

The primary goal of ACEP is to prevent productive agriculture land from being converted to non-agricultural uses and to restore and protect wetlands and wildlife habitat. Cropland, rangeland, grassland, pastureland and nonindustrial private forestland are eligible.

Applications can be submitted at any time, but to be considered for 2018 funding opportunities, applications in Nebraska must be received by Dec. 1. Applications are currently being accepted for both agricultural land and wetland reserve easements.

NRCS provides technical and financial assistance directly to private and tribal landowners to restore, protect, and enhance wetlands through the purchase of conservation easements. Eligible landowners can choose to enroll in a permanent or 30-year easement. Tribal landowners also have the option of enrolling in 30-year contracts.

A key option under the agricultural land easement component is the grasslands of special environmental significance that will protect high-quality grasslands that are under threat of conversion to cropping, urban development and other non-grazing uses.

All applications will be rated according to the easements potential for protecting and enhancing habitat for migratory birds, fish and other wildlife. Eligible applicants will be compensated with a payment rate comparable to the local land use value.

Applicants need to provide accurate records of ownership and ensure they have established current year ownership eligibility with USDAs Farm Service Agency. Application information is available at local USDA Service Centers and online at www.nrcs.usda.gov/GetStarted.

NRCS staff will work with all interested applicants to help them through the application process and provide one-on-one assistance to create the conservation easement option that works best for their farming or ranching operation, Taylor said.

For more information about the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and the programs and services it provides, visit your local USDA Service Center or www.ne.nrcs.usda.gov.
KEARNEY  Yes, the chicken is that good, agreed the four University of Nebraska-Lincoln students who waited in line for 20 hours in 26 degree weather for the Kearney Raising Canes grand opening.

Yes, they love it that much.

Connor Jolley, Matthew Meacham, Jacob Sullivan and Yusuf Khan were a few of the dedicated Canes fans that camped out overnight Tuesday at 3720 Second Ave., patiently waiting for stores 10 a.m. Wednesday grand opening. The four friends were the first at the door and set up camp at 2 p.m. Tuesday.

Aside from the Texas Toast, crinkle-cut french fries and coleslaw, all four are big fans of the chicken fingers and, especially, the homemade Cane sauce.

Its a very fresh product. Its something were completely proud of. Its always fresh and never frozen. Everything is cooked to order. ... Everything is made with love, said Jennifer Jones, who owns the franchise with her husband, Justin, through Southern Hospitality Ventures.

The company also owns the Lincoln and Grand Island Raising Canes stores and has given more than $1.4 million to the communities in which their restaurants are located, according to a news release.

The students and dozens of others didnt just spend their morning in line for dibs on food. The first 100 paying dine-in guests received a commemorative First 100 Kearney Raising Canes T-shirt, a voucher for a free box combo to use on a future visit and were registered to win one of 20 Free Canes for a Year cards.

The Lincoln crew decided to make the two-hour drive to Kearney after Jolley described to the others the good experience he had going to a Raising Canes grand opening in Omaha. Curious, they researched to see when another grand opening would be and found the date for the Kearney restaurant. To prepare for the chilly evening, the four packed sleeping bags and every blanket they could find.

Inside, the owners of the restaurant along with staff and community leaders had a ribbon-cutting and presented a check for more than $8,000 to the Kearney Area Childrens Museum. The funds came from a private pre-opening event on Sunday.

Its a great community. People support things here and are very giving. Theres also tons of schools here and organizations that were able to work with, Jennifer said of why Kearney was picked for a new store. The community, the types of people, how giving the community is and how supportive it is. Kearney is growing. We live in Lincoln but weve been here several times, and it seems like Kearney is expanding. I think the community is excited about that and were excited to be a part of that.

@AmandaPush
ARAPAHOE  Three people were hospitalized as a result of a two-vehicle accident at 10:23 a.m. Tuesday east of Arapahoe.

According to a Furnas County Sheriffs Office press release, Gabrielle Stevens, 18, of Arapahoe was driving a Dodge Ram 1500 eastbound on U.S. Highway 6/34 when she lost control of the vehicle on the icy road and crossed the center line. Her vehicle and a 2008 Ford F250 driven by Dennis Rankin, 59, of Oxford collided on the north shoulder in the westbound lane.

Stevens vehicle ended in the middle of the highway, and Rankins vehicle went into the north ditch, according to Furnas County Sheriff Kurt Kapperman.

Rankin and his passenger Thomas Caudillo, 63, of Colorado were ejected from the vehicle, the press release says, and were not believed to have been wearing seat belts.

Stevens was wearing her seat belt.

All three people were transported to Tri Valley Health System in Cambridge. A message left with the health system about the conditions of the people had not been returned by press time.

Assisting the sheriffs department at the scene were Arapahoe Fire and Rescue, Oxford Fire and Rescue, Edison Fire and Phelps Memorial Rescue.

@erikadpritchard
The United States has the worlds largest incarcerated population. Nebraskas prisons capacity is among the highest in the nation.

For every person who enters a local jail, state penitentiary or federal prison, the ripple effect of that persons absence stretches far beyond the facilitys walls. And possibly no population on the outside is more affected than children whose parents are sentenced to serve time behind bars.

As prison populations nationwide have increased, its worth taking a closer look how Nebraska handles its parents and their children, given that nearly two-thirds of the roughly 9,000 state inmates are identified as parents. An interim study resolution, introduced by Lincoln Sen. Patty Pansing Brooks, is taking a needed look at this vulnerable yet important group.

Among the nine points explicitly enumerated in the resolution are examining policies on visitation and calls, locations where certain parents serve their sentences, reducing recidivism among parents and creating child-friendly programs, both within correctional institutions and programs for families.

Conversations in Pansing Brooks resolution, which picked up three conservative co-sponsors, must be had. Data highlights the thin line an ever-growing number of children must walk.

A Pew Center study in 2010 estimated that more than 2.7 million children  one in 28  have at least one incarcerated parent. That figure, still cited today, came after a 2007 U.S. Department of Justice survey placed the figure at 1.7 million. It followed yet another 79 percent increase between 1991 and 2007.

Lincoln Journal Star
In this Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2017 photo a proofreader reads a text at the National Braille Press in Boston. The Boston-based organization has been a leading force for braille literacy in the U.S., since its founding as a weekly newspaper for the blind in 1927. But it is now confronting a record low literacy in the writing system for the blind as it marks its 90th birthday this year. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on!

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Finance Minister Bill Morneau responds to a question during Question Period in the House of Commons, in Ottawa on Tuesday, October 31, 2017. New Democrats are calling on the Trudeau government to withdraw a pension bill that they say put Finance Minister Bill Morneau in a blatant conflict of interest. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
Nova Scotia Auditor General Michael Pickup addresses a news conference as he releases an environment-related audit in Halifax on Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2017. Pickup says the provincial government does not monitor many industrial projects to see if they comply with their environmental terms. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan
In this April 21, 2008 file photo, national flags of the United States, Canada, and Mexico fly in the breeze in New Orleans. A Canadian diplomat says a Trump administration proposal to limit access to American procurement contracts would leave that section of NAFTA meaningless. The official told a trade symposium in Ottawa on Thursday that the Buy American proposal is one of the American demands that Canada can't swallow. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP/Judi Bottoni
Deliah Saunders, left, Audrey Saunders, sisters of Loretta Saunders, and Miriam Saunders, right, her mother, testify at the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, in Membertou, N.S. on Monday, Oct. 30, 2017. Loretta Saunders, an Inuk woman, was murdered in Halifax in February 2014. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan
Hasidic Jewish men walk along Bernard Street in Outremont, in Montreal on Wednesday, November 16, 2016. The size of the country's Jewish community appears, on the surface, to have seen its most dramatic decline in decades, with newly released census data on the country's ethnic makeup suggesting a 56 per cent drop in numbers over a five-year period. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz
Demonstrators protest outside a speech by conservative provocateur Milo Yiannopoulos, sponsored by a Republican student group at California State University, Fullerton, Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2017. At least one fight broke out and several people were arrested. They were mostly peaceful, but one woman protesting the event attacked a Yiannopoulos supporter with punches before a third person subdued her with pepper spray. (AP Photo/Amanda Lee Myers)
FILE - In this Aug. 1, 2017 file photo, Jeremy Piven attends the CBS Summer Soiree during the 2017 Summer TCA's in Studio City, Calif. CBS says it's investigating a sexual harassment allegation against Piven, who currently stars in the CBS series, "Wisdom of the Crowd." Actress and reality star Ariane Bellamar claimed in posts on her Twitter account Monday, Oct. 30, that the Emmy-winning "Entourage" star groped her on two occasions. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP, File)
Wildrose leader Brian Jean celebrates the yes vote during the Unity Vote at the Wildrose Special General Meeting in Red Deer Alta, on Saturday, July 22, 2017. Former Wildrose leader Brian Jean will not be taking an active role in the United Conservative Party opposition at the Alberta legislature - at least for now. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson
The origins of Veterans Day Throughout the year, we have a few different observances for those who have served our country. We have Memorial Day to celebrate those who gave...

Spindle Items .. PLANNING YOUR TRIP  For those of you who are planning to visit Universal Studios this winter, you may want to know that Universal...

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Winter parking restrictions update There is a lot going on in the Town of Tonawanda this month, so lets get right to it, along with some presidential quotes for...
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Five years ago today I was at a memorial. Another suicide. Our third doctor in 18 months.

Everyone kept whispering, Why?

I was determined to find out.

So I started counting dead doctors. I left the service with a list of 10. Now I have 547.

Immediately, I began writing and speaking about suicide. So many distressed doctors (and med students) wrote and phoned me. Soon I was running a de facto international suicide hotline from my home. To date, Ive spoken to thousands of suicidal doctors; published a book of their suicide letters (free audiobook); attended more funerals; interviewed surviving physicians, families, and friends. Ive spent nearly every waking moment over the past five years on a personal quest for the truth of Why.

Here are 34 things Ive discovered:

High doctor suicide rates have been reported since 1858. Yet more than 150 years later the root causes of these suicides remain unaddressed.

Physician suicide is a public health crisis. One million Americans lose their doctors to suicide each year.

Most doctors have lost a colleague to suicide. Some have lost up to eight during their careerwith no opportunity to grieve.

We lose way more men than women. For every woman who dies by suicide in medicine, we lose seven men.

Suicide methods vary by region and gender. Women like to overdose and men choose firearms. Gunshot wounds prevail out West. Jumping is popular in New York City. In India, doctors are found hanging from ceiling fans.

Male anesthesiologists are at highest risk. Most die by overdose. Many are found dead in hospital call rooms.

Lots of doctors die in hospitals. Doctors jump from hospital windows or rooftops. They shoot or stab themselves in hospital parking lots. Theyre found hanging in hospital chapels. Physicians often choose to die where theyve been wounded.

Happy doctors die by suicide. Many doctors who die by suicide are the happiest most well-adjusted people on the outside. Just back from Disneyland, just bought tickets for a family cruise, just gave a thumbs up to the team after a successful surgeryand hours later they shoot themselves in the head. Doctors are masters of disguise. Even fun-loving, happy docs who crack jokes and make patients smile all day may be suffering in silence. We are all at risk.

Doctors family members are at high risk of suicide. By the same method. Cardiothoracic surgeon Thomas Gahagan died by hanging himself leaving behind seven children ages three to fifteen. Two died by hanging themselves as adults. Another physician died using the same gun his son used to kill himself. Kaitlyn Elkins, a star third-year medical student, chose suicide by helium inhalation. One year later her mother Rhonda died by the same method. At Rhondas funeral, I asked her husband if he thought his wife and daughter would still be alive had Kaitlyn not pursued medicine. He replied, Yes. Medical school has killed half my family.

Doctors have personal problemslike everyone else. We get divorced, have custody battles, infidelity, disabled children, deaths in our families. Working 100+ hours per week immersed in our patients pain, weve got no time to deal with our own pain. (Spending so much time at work actually leads to divorce and completely dysfunctional personal lives).

Patient deaths hurt doctors. A lot. Even when theres no medical error, doctors may never forgive themselves for losing a patient. Suicide is the ultimate self-punishment.

Malpractice suits kill doctors. Humans make mistakes. Yet when doctors make mistakes, theyre publicly shamed in court on TV, and in newspapers (that live online forever). We continue to suffer the agony of harming someone elseunintentionallyfor the rest of our lives.

Doctors who do illegal things kill themselves. Medicare fraud, sex with a patient, DUIs may lead to loss of medical license, prison time, and suicide.

Academic distress kills medical students dreams. Failing boards exams and being unmatched into a specialty of choice has led to suicides.

Doctors without residencies may die by suicide. Dr. Robert Chu, unmatched to residency, wrote a letter to medical officials and government leaders calling out the flawed system that undermined his career prior to his suicide.

Assembly-line medicine kills doctors. Brilliant, compassionate people cant care for complex patients in 10-minute slots. When punished or fired for inefficiency or low productivity doctors may choose suicide. Pressure from insurance companies and government mandates further crush the souls of these talented people who just want to help their patients. Many doctors cite inhumane working conditions in their suicide notes.

Bullying, hazing, and sleep deprivation increase suicide risk. Medical training is rampant with human rights violations illegal in all other industries.

Sleep deprivation is a (deadly) torture technique. Physicians have suffered hallucinations, life-threatening seizures, depression, and suicide solely related to sleep deprivation. Resident physicians are now capped at 28-hour shifts and 80-hour weeks. If they violate work hours (by caring for patients) they are forced to lie on their time cards or be written up as inefficient and sent to a psychiatrist for stimulant medications. Some doctors kill themselves for fear of harming a patient from extreme sleep deprivation.

Blaming doctors increases suicides. Words like burnout and resilience are often employed by medical institutions as psychological warfare to blame and shame doctors while deflecting attention from inhumane working conditions. When doctors are punished for occupationally induced mental health conditions (while underlying human rights violations are not addressed), they become even more hopeless and desperate.

Sweet, sensitive souls are at highest risk. Some of the most caring, compassionate, and intelligent doctors choose suicide rather than continuing to work in such callous, uncaring and ruthlessly greedy medical corporations.

Doctors cant get confidential mental health care. So they drive out of town, pay cash, and use fake names to hide from state medical boards, hospitals, and insurance plans that ask doctors about their mental health care and may then exclude them from state licensure, hospital privileges, and health plan participation. (Even if confidential care were available, physicians have little time to access care when working 80-100+ hours per week).

Doctors have trouble caring for doctors. Doctors treat physician patients differently by downplaying psychiatric issues to protect physicians from medical board mental health investigations. Untreated mental health conditions may lead to suicide.

Medical board investigations increase suicide risk. One doctor hanged himself from a tree outside the Florida medical board office after being denied his license. He was told to come back in a year, and we will reinstate your license. Meanwhile, he lost everything and was living in a halfway house.

Physician Health Programs (PHPs) may increase suicide risk. Forcing doctors with occupationally induced mental health issues into these 12-step programs with witnessed random urine drug screens (when theyve never had a drug problem!) is humiliating and unethical. So doctors hide their mental health conditions for fear of being punished by PHPs. [Note: PHPs have helped some doctors with substance abuse especially]

Substance abuse is a late-stage effect of lack of mental health care. Since doctors may lose their license for seeking mental health care or get locked into PHPs; they self-medicate with alcohol, illicit drugs, or self-prescribe psychotropic medications.

Doctors develop on-the-job PTSD. Especially true in emergency medicine. Then one day they snap like this guy.

Cultural taboos reinforce secrecy. Suicide is a sin in many religions. Islam and Christian families have asked that I hide the suicides of family members. Indian families often claim a suicide is a homicide or an accident, even when its obviously self-inflicted.

Media offers incomplete coverage of suspicious deaths. Articles about doctors found dead in hospital call rooms claim no foul play. No follow-up stories.

Medical schools and hospitals lie (or omit the truth) to cover up suicideseven when media and family report cause of death. Medical student Ari Frosch stood in front of a train, yet his school reported he died at home with his family. Though the family of psychiatrist Christine Petrich shared that she bought a gun and killed herself (after just getting her hair done and planning a surprise trip to Lego Land and Disney for her kids) on their GoFundMe page, her employer wrote she passed away. Shouldnt the department of psychiatry take a more active interest in physician suicide?

Euphemisms cover up doctor suicides. Suicide is omitted from obituaries, funerals, clinics, hospitals, and medical schools. Instead, we hear passed away unexpectedly in her sleep and he went to be with the Lord.

Secrets will not save us. Were unlikely to make a medical breakthrough on a hidden medical condition.

Doctors choose suicide to end their pain (not because they want to die). Suicide is preventable. We can help doctors who are suffering if we stop with all the secrecy and punishment.

Ive been shunned for speaking about doctor suicide. After being invited by the AMA to deliver my TEDMED talk, I was disinvited shortly before the event because they were uncomfortable with physician suicide.

Ignoring doctor suicides leads to more doctor suicides. Thankfully, an Emmy-winning filmmaker is completing a documentary on physician suicide this month. To honor a doctor or medical student who has died by suicide in the film, submit their name and specialty here.

Pamela Wible pioneered the community-designed ideal medical clinic and blogs at Ideal Medical Care. She is the author of Physician Suicide Letters  Answered and Pet Goats and Pap Smears. Watch her TEDx talk, How to Get Naked with Your Doctor. She hosts the physician retreat, Live Your Dream, to help her colleagues heal from grief and reclaim their lives and careers.

Image credit: Pamela Wible
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Since the birth of our nation, labor unions have existed in one form or another in the United States. Unions are a force to protect the working population from inequality, gaps in wages and a political system failing to represent specific industry groups. Historically, unions organize skilled workers in a specific corporation, such as a railroad or production plant. However, unions can organize numerous workers within a particular industry. Known as industrial unionism, the union gives a profession or trade a collective and representative voice. The existence of unions has already been woven into the political, economic and cultural fabric of America; recent events suggest that it may be time for physicians and surgeons to unionize.

A labor union is a body of workers who come together to achieve common objectives, such as improved safety, higher pay, benefits and better working conditions. Union leadership bargains with employers on behalf of union members to negotiate labor contracts (collective bargaining.) This may include the negotiation of wages, work rules, complaint procedures, and regulations governing hiring, firing, promotion or workplace policies.

In 2010, the percentage of workers belonging to a union in the U.S. was 11.4 percent, compared to 27.5 percent in Canada. There are strong, causal links between a diminished proportion of the workforce unionizing and loss of worker bargaining power. Obviously, the leadership of corporations prefers workers having less leverage while negotiating; unions allege this employer-incited opposition has contributed to the decline in membership over time.

However, the popularity of unions is growing, according to a January 2017 survey conducted by Pew which found 60 percent view unionization favorably. More than half of young, millennial Republicans are in favor of unions as well, something that would have been shocking a decade ago. Maybe the time is right for physicians to unionize?

In 1972, Dr. Sanford A. Marcus, a surgeon in private practice formed the Union of American Physicians and Dentists (UAPD). It has been the most successful physician union and is affiliated with the AFL-CIO. A quote from their website is apropos, Hospital administrators easily manipulated physicians, treating them as if they were hired hands. Insurance companies were dealing with them as if they were employees. Government programs  controlled key aspects of doctors work, told them how much they would be paid, and what procedures they would be paid for. This sentiment sounds familiar.

Dr. Marcus saw medicine as being ripe for takeover by corporations who were more concerned with profit than ensuring high-quality care was provided to patients. Medical associations were and still are overlooking the needs of front-line practicing physicians. Dr. Marcus believed a union was the only organizational structure which could level the playing field. He met with the AMA, and they were ardently against unionizing. The AFL-CIO initially balked at his suggestion, saying, Come back in ten years  assuming most physicians would be employees at that point in time. It has taken more than a decade, but our profession has arrived at the point where the majority of physicians are employed. Large corporations are stripping physicians of professionalism and belittling our management role.

The Economic Policy Institute recently released a report with objective data supporting the assertion that unionization benefits workers in the long-term. The EPI report found unions definitively raise wages for both union and nonunion workers. A worker with a union contract earns 13.2 percent more in wages than a peer with similar education and background experience. Through establishing wage transparency, unions raise earnings of women, black and Hispanic workers  groups whose pay tends to lag behind that of their white, male counterparts. Hourly wages for women are 9.2 percent higher than non-unionized women across similar occupations. Black unionized workers in New York City earn 36.1 percent more than nonunion laborers in the same demographic.

In addition, unionized workers have better health and wellness because unions ensure employers are held accountable for safe, non-abusive working conditions. Unions can strengthen families by obtaining better leave policies, retirement benefits, and health insurance, while at the same time, safeguarding that employees have due process in promotions, dismissals, or terminations. Front-line workers often face tangible challenges often overlooked by management; as a result, they have a tremendous knowledge to suggest improvements to the workplace, make it safer, and increase productivity.

Physicians certainly qualify as an industry sector whose bargaining power has fallen far below the value of their effort. Labor unions exist to protect workers against the imbalance in negotiations. In a recent Washington Post article, Jared Bernstein posed that collective bargaining should be structured by industry sector instead of by individual corporations. Interestingly enough, Larry Mishel, President of EPI and the report author, told Bernstein, We need a design where people have collective bargaining rights as restaurant workers, as opposed to one where they gain those rights one restaurant at a time. Physicians may need collective bargaining rights as an industry, not as employees of Everyday Hospital, USA.

UAPD has survived over four decades because they have offered traditional and innovative approaches to assist physicians with boots on the ground. While officially opposing unionization, the AMA did try their hand at it during the mid-1990s, when President Clinton was working on universal health care. After spending $3 million, they brought in 38 physicians, but the effort ended in colossal failure.

For physicians in private practice, UAPD developed a grievance process when insurance companies unfairly deny reimbursement. Their organization is run by physicians and for physicians. They have won battles against large hospital corporations, advanced pro-physician legislation, organized a compassionate strike of physicians and countered doctor-bashing in the media.

Dr. Marcus once said, There are no dinosaurs left  they were unable to adapt to changing environmental conditions. We stand a much better chance of preserving our professionalism through the process of becoming unionized workers  admittedly a terribly unprofessional thing to do  But then, thats just the sort of adaptation those dinosaurs were incapable of making, isnt it? As the world becomes more divided  politically, economically and medically  physicians stand to lose the profession we love dearly. The moment has arrived for physicians to put aside our differences, of gender, specialty, or political ideology and support an organized body standing up for the collective voice of physicians.

Niran S. Al-Agba is a pediatrician who blogs at MommyDoc.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com
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According to a recent publication by the Robert Graham Center, the number of family physicians practicing high-volume obstetrics (more than 50 deliveries per year) dropped by over one-half from 2.3 percent of practicing family physicians in 2003 to 1.1 percent in 2016.1 In small corners of the country, though, innovative training programs continue to foster these skills among learners and build supportive communities for family physicians to safely practice obstetrics.

Throughout my residency training, I felt fortunate to train in one of these innovative types of places, where obstetrics remained an integral part of family medicine. As a health care provider, I believed that the care my patients received from family physicians at our health center and hospital was on par with the care provided at any other institution.

Feeling so positive about the hospital where I trained, my husband and I made the decision to deliver our second child there. When the time came to pick a provider, however, we selected my OB/GYN mentor rather than a family physician. Anticipating another routine vaginal delivery like with our first child, we did not expect to have much exposure to my family medicine colleagues. Perhaps some morning-after doughnuts, we imagined, but no real clinical involvement. (Of course, as anyone who has practiced obstetrics can attest, presuming any delivery will be routine is, indeed, the cardinal sin.)

Moments after I began to bleed at home in my bed, I called my neighbor to stay with my three-year-old son. I stood in the tub, losing blood faster and faster as I tried to fashion a pair of towels into a type of wrestling singlet. I was 38 weeks exactly. My husband was out of town for work and would fly back to Chicago the next morning. Fortunately, my mom was staying the night with us. I woke her, and we quickly drove the five minutes to the hospital. I called my OB/GYN from the car.

When I arrived at OB triage, the nurse  a veteran OB nurse  stayed calm despite his disbelief at the sheer volume of blood I was losing. I gave him my history, and he tried to get my baby on the monitor as he called the in-house maternal child health fellow on-call, my family medicine colleague.

Within a minute, Ray was bounding down the hallway. As a nurse entered my room a few strides ahead of him, I caught a glimpse of his face. The OB triage nurse had relayed my history and acuity over the phone but had left out my identity. I saw Rays face drop precipitously, shocked that the 30-year-old gravida 2, para 1 lady with a massive hemorrhage at 38 weeks (and no fetal heart tones yet) was actually me.

His shock was compartmentalized as he found the babys heart tones, and prepared me for the inevitable  a crash C-section that would save both my baby and me. My OB/GYN arrived seemingly seconds later. With Rays assistance, my OB/GYN delivered my son less than an hour after I first started bleeding at home. As I went under general anesthesia, my friend, Yvette, a C-section privileged family physician, held my hand, and my co-resident, Anastasia, gowned up to resuscitate my baby.

I felt exceedingly lucky to be surrounded by my small family medicine army. I had been through both joyful and trying times with all of these people. When he first started his fellowship, I had a heated debate with Ray about the discharge criteria for babies at our institution. We talked about our disagreement honestly, realizing we were on the same page and far more similar to each other than we initially thought. From there, we built a real friendship. When I saw him bounding down the hall, I felt relief. I knew that he would do everything he could to help my baby and me.

My son, Zachary, was delivered  screaming and pink. He is going on three-weeks old, and by my wholly unbiased assessment, hes perfect. Im eating my leafy greens and wearing a touch more bronzer than usual as my hemoglobin recuperates from Zacharys tumultuous arrival. My mom was awed at the expediency and professionalism of the team that cared for me that night.

As a patient, I was beyond grateful for the care I received, but as a physician, I wasnt awed or surprised. Throughout my training, I have been a part of similar teams and seen countless tragedies averted by sound clinical judgment and effective teamwork. Obstetrics is ridden with risk and heartbreak and pain. Its not reason to stop practicing, though, but its a reason for us to look together for more sustainable models to continue the practice of obstetrics within family medicine.

As I mentioned, I felt lucky to be surrounded by my small family medicine army on the night Zachary arrived. The truth is, though, that that army shows up at our institution, no matter the patients credentials, and by my (again) wholly unbiased assessment, I think any patient would be lucky to have such an army.

Patricia Martin is a family physician.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com
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An excerpt from The Power of Moments: Why Certain Experiences Have Extraordinary Impact. Reprinted by permission of Simon & Schuster, Inc.

Defining moments shape our lives, but we dont have to wait for them to happen. We can be the authors of them. What if a teacher could design a lesson that students were still reflecting on years later? What if a manager knew exactly how to turn an employees moment of failure into a moment of growth? What if you had a better sense of how to create lasting memories for your kids?

In this book, we have two goals: First, we want to examine defining moments and identify the traits they have in common. What, specifically, makes a particular experience memorable and meaningful? Our research shows that defining moments share a set of common elements.

Second, we want to show you how you can create defining moments by making use of those elements. Why would you want to create them? To enrich your life. To connect with others. To make memories. To improve the experience of customers or patients or employees.

Our lives are measured in moments, and defining moments are the ones that endure in our memories.

***

In 1998, Sonia Rhodes left the hospital with her recovering father, who had spent eight days there being treated for severe gastric bleeding. She felt profoundly grateful to the doctors and nurses who had saved his life. Yet, she was unsettled by the experience hed received as a patient.

He shared his cramped room with a stranger. Hospital staffers cycled in and out of the room often without saying who they were. Is that a doctor? Nurse? Foodservice staffer? Person who changes the linens? You had no idea, she said. They rarely introduced themselves  and it was rarer still for them to explain what they were doing.

In the midst of his recovery, her father suffered a fall that could have been prevented. A staffer had asked him to stand up even though he was woozy from receiving eight units of blood. Rhodes originally wanted to be by her dads side to comfort him. Instead, she was forced to be his protector: I felt like as a family member, I was there to guard him from all the people who were coming in. Who are you? Whats in your hand? 

Most interactions with the hospital caregivers seemed to lack a basic human warmth. They treated my dad like he was this feeble old person  I wanted to tell them, Hes a physicist and runs a company that makes satellites!

The experience had a profound impact on Rhodes, and not just because she was the daughter of a patient. She was also an executive at Sharp HealthCare, the system that managed the hospital where her father was treated. Advertisements for Sharp raved about the quality of care that patients could expect. In fact, the phone number on the ads  the one patients would call to inquire about treatment was manned by her own team. After her fathers experience, she wondered: At Sharp, are we really who we say we are?

She became an aggressive advocate for improving the patient experience  not the medical treatment, which was top-notch, but the service experience. She knew, she said, that fixing it would define my career for the rest of my life.

For a year, she struggled to get attention for her ideas. Eventually, she had a critical meeting with Sharps CEO, Michael Murphy. Although Murphy had spent most of his career on the financial side of the business, he had an instinct that Rhodes was right, and he committed himself to transforming Sharp. Murphy challenged his team to learn everything they could about how to deliver world-class service.

Over a period of about eight months, beginning in the fall of 2000, a team of executives including Murphy and Rhodes traveled together, visiting the stars of service experience: the Ritz Carlton, Disney, General Electric and Southwest Airlines.

They consulted with experts: the Studer Group and coauthors James Gilmore and Joseph Pine (who wrote the seminal book The Experience Economy).

One consistent theme from the visits surprised them: You cant deliver a great patient experience without first delivering a great employee experience. And Sharps employee engagement scores were weak compared with the likes of Ritz and Southwest.

Murphy and his executives had started the investigation focused narrowly on patients, but they now expanded their mission. They agreed on a new vision statement for Sharp:

To transform the health care experience and make Sharp:

The best place for employees to work

The best place for physicians to practice

The best place for patients to receive care

Ultimately, the best health care system in the universe

They called this vision the Sharp Experience. How would they get people to take it seriously and not dismiss it as another flavor-of-the-month management scheme? They considered a dog-and-pony show in which a team of executives, including Murphy, would visit all of Sharps health care facilities and share the new vision. But they realized it would take a year, realistically. And by the time we got to the 30th place, the first place wont believe us anymore, Rhodes said.

Then someone suggested: Why dont we bring everyone together?

It seemed ludicrous. Sharp had 12,000 employees. There was no ballroom in San Diego that would fit all of them. And they could hardly put their patients emergencies on hold (for the sake of discussing how to care for them better).

But the Sharp team kept talking, and the answer took shape:

Theyd hold three separate sessions over two days, allowing them to fit comfortably in the San Diego Convention Center, while maintaining a core staff at all facilities to ensure that patients were not kept waiting. The logistics were daunting: Among other things, they would need to secure practically every available rental bus in San Diego. (In fact, they ended up bringing in buses from Los Angeles and even as far away as Arizona.)

On October 10, 2001, Sharp held its All-Staff Assembly. The hallways were jammed with Sharp employees who had arrived via bus, trolley, train, and boat. Murphy was pacing backstage nervously. Im not somebody who wants to go on a big stage, he said. But when he took the stage, he spoke candidly about the challenge ahead.

This new journey will take courage, he said. We are charting a different course because we believe we must in order to be the best. He urged his team to recommit to the passion and purpose that had led them to work in health care. And above all, he challenged them to act  to take ownership of the mission: If we can take four steps in a process and reduce it to one, lets do it! If employees have great ideas for making something better, lets hear them! If a patient complains about something, lets make it a priority and fix it!

Murphy shared the vision of the Sharp Experience: creating the best place for employees to work, for physicians to practice, and for patients to receive care  and ultimately the best health care system in the universe. Some employees laughed at the audacity of the phrase, but his speech struck a chord. We were used to getting changes through an email on Friday afternoon, said Kathy Rodean, a nurse who attended the All- Staff Assembly. But now, here Murphy was saying, This is our vision, and we want you to be part of it, to be able to get where we want to go. That was such a different philosophy that it really, really brought people together.

After his speech, people were given the opportunity to volunteer for one of 100 action teams in areas such as employee satisfaction, patient satisfaction, and reward and recognition. The response was extraordinary: 1,600 people volunteered  agreeing to shoulder extra work in support of the mission.

When we finished that first session, Rhodes said, people were crying, hugging, high-fiving  even the naysayers had tears in their eyes. One executive who had been skeptical of the events value told her afterward, We need to do this every quarter.

In fact, they did decide to host another All-Staff Assembly the next year, and the next  it has become a cherished annual tradition.

That meeting started something big at Sharp. Fueled by the action teams, change seemed to happen on all fronts at once. Measurement systems changed, policies changed, habits changed. And as a result, the patient experience began to change. Sharp staffers found ways to deliver extraordinary service.

The landscaping crew had noticed that some patients didnt receive visitors or flowers, so they started pruning roses, put- ting the blooms in a small bud vase, and walking them into the patients rooms. (They called the program This buds for you.) Caregivers were trained to greet patients, introduce themselves, and explain their roles  solving the problem that had frustrated Rhodes during her fathers stay. At Sharp Coronado Hospital, departing patients received a loaf of banana bread, baked with love. And after they returned home, many patients were surprised to receive handwritten cards from the caregivers who had served them, thanking them for the chance to be part of their care.

In the five years following the first All-Staff Assembly, Sharp hospitals unit patient satisfaction scores shot up in the national percentile rankings from as low as the teens to as high as the 90s. Physician satisfaction rose to the 80th percentile. Employee satisfaction rose by 13 percent, and turnover declined by 14 percent. Net revenue increased by a half-billion dollars. In 2007, Sharp won the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, the nations highest presidential honor for quality and performance excellence.*

* In 2016, what would have been the 16th consecutive All-Staff Assembly was canceled in the face of a threatened strike by the nurses union. In the end, the strike did not happen. Two observations: (1) A group of protesting nurses marched behind a banner reading We Are the Sharp Experience. One of their demands was higher wages in order to retain the senior nurses who they argued were the best at delivering the Sharp Experience. Our best assessment is that the threatened strike reflected standard negotiating tactics rather than a rethinking of what Sharp had become over the preceding 15 years.(2) Moments of meaning matter. We would have counseled the leadership team to do everything possible to continue with the All-Staff Assembly despite the possibility of the strike  to treat it as sacred turf, in the same way, that countries at odds will still compete together at the Olympics. The assembly is a moment of shared purpose. The welfare of patients should trump even a major disagreement among Sharps players.

Did this transformation happen in a day at the convention center? Hardly. It took many years and the efforts of thousands of people. But the All-Staff Assembly was the first defining moment of the change.

Chip Heath and Dan Health are the authors of The Power of Moments: Why Certain Experiences Have Extraordinary Impact.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com
During a panel discussion on domestic violence, a young man in the audience spoke on behalf of his fellow high school and college students. The meeting was well attended by all walks of life seeking answers to the problem.

Photo by Michaele Duke
By Aaron Saldanha

Nov 1 (Reuters) - Australian shares rose on Wednesday on the back of gains in materials stocks as Dalian iron ore futures climbed after five consecutive sessions of declines.

Sentiment was also positive ahead of earnings results from some of the country's biggest lenders.

"The market is waiting on profit reports from National Australia Bank and Westpac, and there is probably some confidence on those being fairly clean results with a bit of upside, potentially," said Ric Spooner, chief market strategist at CMC Markets.

The S&P/ASX 200 index rose 0.7 percent, or 39.58 points, to 5,948.60 by 0023 GMT.

It fell 0.2 percent on Tuesday as manufacturing growth cooled more than expected in China, a key export market for Australian resources. National Australia Bank Ltd rose as much as 0.6 percent, while Westpac Banking Corp climbed as much as 0.5 percent. NAB and Westpac are scheduled to announce their results on Thursday and Monday, respectively.

Among mining stocks, BHP Billiton rose up to 1.1 percent, while iron ore major Rio Tinto gained as much as 0.9 percent.

Fortescue Metals Group Ltd , which only mines iron ore, jumped 3.2 percent.

Western Areas was the top gainer on the main index, up 7.2 percent, as nickel closed at its highest since June 2015 in electronic trade on Tuesday. The Australian mining index rose as much as 1.6 percent on Wednesday, in its biggest intraday percentage gain in over two weeks.

Meanwhile, New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index dropped 0.9 percent, or 71.62 points, to 8,074.72, weighed down by falls in consumer staples.

Statistics New Zealand said on Wednesday the unemployment rate fell more than expected to 4.6 percent in the third quarter. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast an unemployment rate of 4.7 percent. a2 Milk was the biggest drag on the index, shedding as much as 11.2 percent, the most since Dec. 2, 2016. Dairy peer Synlait Milk Ltd declined as much as 3.9 percent.

Homebuilder Fletcher Building Ltd was the second biggest drag, losing as much as 4.4 percent a day after the country's new prime minister said a ban on foreigners buying existing homes would begin in early 2018, but the restrictions would not apply to Australians. (Reporting by Aaron Saldanha in Bengaluru; Editing by Subhranshu Sahu)
SHANGHAI, Nov 1 (Reuters) - China's Ministry of Finance on Wednesday auctioned 32 billion yuan ($4.83 billion) of one-year bonds at an average yield of 3.54 percent, and 32 billion yuan of 10-year bonds at 3.82 percent, traders said, slightly below market forecasts.

For one-year bonds, market estimates for yields had centred around 3.55 percent and forecasts ranged from 3.48 percent to 3.65 percent.

The auction yield came in below Tuesday's benchmark secondary market yield of 3.5683 percent for one-year government bonds .

For the 10-year bonds, market forecasts had centred around 3.88 percent and ranged from 3.83 percent to 3.92 percent.

The auction yield came in below Tuesday's benchmark secondary market yield of 3.8917 percent for 10-year government bonds .

For stories on Chinese debt issues, click on .

($1 = 6.6251 Chinese yuan)

(Reporting by Shanghai Newsroom; Editing by Jacqueline Wong)
BOGOTA, Oct 31 (Reuters) - Colombia's government said on Tuesday it pre-paid 1.5 trillion pesos ($493 million) of domestic debt that was to come due next year, though it left unchanged bond issues planned for this year and 2018.

The government paid off holders of local TES treasury bonds that had been set to come due in October 2018.

"With this operation the government has bettered the debt and refinancing profile, reducing the amount of debt servicing for next year," the Finance Ministry said in a statement.

The Andean country has paid off 4.9 trillion pesos in domestic debt this year. ($1 = 3,039.19 Colombian pesos)

(Reporting by Nelson Bocanegra; writing by Julia Symmes Cobb; Editing by Andrew Hay)
HONG KONG, Nov 1 (Reuters) - COSCO Shipping Energy Transportation Co Ltd said it would issue 5.4 billion yuan ($814 million) worth of shares, to fund construction of 14 oil tankers and to complete the purchase of other two oil tankers.

The shipping group plans to issue 806.41 million A shares to up to 10 investors. Its state-owned parent, China COSCO Shipping Corp Ltd, will buy 4.2 billion yuan worth of shares, it said in a filing to the Hong Kong bourse on Wednesday.

Trading of its A shares in Shanghai and H shares in Hong Kong will resume on Wednesday. Its Shanghai shares were halted from trade on Oct. 27, and H-shares were suspended on Oct. 31.

($1 = 6.6 yuan)

(Reporting by Donny Kwok; Editing by Edwina Gibbs)
(Kitco News) - Gold is going to see a major turnaround soon, as lack of exploration will put upward pressure on prices, said Iamgold president and CEO Stephen Letwin.

Gold business has a great future, Letwin said during his keynote speech at The Northern Miner's Progressive Mine Forum, which took place in Toronto in October.

Letwin compared the gold market to that of crude oil back in the 1990s, when investment stopped and the cost was $9 a barrel. Nobody was willing to make a bet. And because of that, we got short of oil. We had a situation where none of the exploration was done, he explained.

According to him, the same thing is happening to gold right now, which is why an upward move in prices is coming.

The gold business, the metals business is in the same situation today, and as sure as Im standing here, youre going to see a response in price because of the lack of exploration thats been done in this mining field, Letwin told the audience.

Right now, it is popular to invest in anything that is connected to technology, especially things like Tesla and cryptocurrencies, he highlighted.

But, a change is coming, Letwin noted, cautioning investors to be ready.

"Lets keep doing what were doing, and when this turns  and it will turn  we will get the benefits of that, he said. Lets continue to innovate. Lets continue to bring our cost structure down  whether thats ore sorting technology, X-ray technology, thinking about short-cycle versus long-cycle.

Golds performance during the last 15 years tells a very positive story, Iamgold CEO pointed out. How much do you think gold is up since 2002? Three hundred and sixty percent. Gold has moved on average 11% every year for 16 years.

Yet, only about five out of 200 companies saw their market cap improve, he said, asking if there was a confidence issue. Yes, and its around cost structure and innovation, he said.

Letwins investment advice is sticking to the mining sector and avoiding cryptocurrencies.

In the mining space, my perspective is that putting money into it is a good bet right now because weve had such a long dry spell of exploration, he said. And these cryptocurrencies  which I cannot explain. I have no idea why Bitcoin is at US$195 billion. I wish I would have invested. But Ive made it a point when I dont understand something, not to invest in it. We saw the dot-coms in the late 90s.
SEOUL, Nov 1 (Reuters) - South Korea's crude oil imports rose 7.4 percent in October from a year ago to 90.9 million barrels, preliminary data from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy showed on Wednesday.

Final data will be released later this month by state-run Korea National Oil Corp (KNOC).

Details of preliminary imports and previous actual figures are as follows:

(In millions of barrels)

Oct 2017 Sept 2017* Oct 2016* Crude Oil 90.9 92.1 84.6

* Actual import figures

Note: The ministry does not break down imports by country of origin. South Korea's total crude imports in September declined 2.2 percent to 92.1 million barrels year-on-year, according to KNOC data last month. (Reporting by Jane Chung; Editing by Subhranshu Sahu)
MELBOURNE, Oct 31 (Reuters) - Sudan is seeking international partners to help develop its mining industry as it prepares for an economic upswing following the lifting of sanctions by the United States, the country's mining minister said on Tuesday.

"As Sudan prepares for the post-sanctions era... we are looking for our economy to upsurge again," Hashim Salim, minister of Sudan's Ministry of Minerals, told a mining conference in Melbourne.

"We seek the support of advanced companies to provide us with required technology in order to... exploit our resources to combat poverty and create more jobs."

Sudan's government and its businesses have begun introducing financial reforms and lobbying for new investment to revive the economy after Washington lifted 20-year-old trade sanctions earlier this month. As well as petroleum and natural gas, Sudan has gold, copper, manganese, zinc, cobalt, nickel and tin among other minerals, according to a research from the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).

(Reporting by Melanie Burton; Editing by Subhranshu Sahu)
BOGOTA, Nov 1 (Reuters) - The public utility company owned by the Colombian city of Medellin has issued 2.3 trillion pesos ($764 million) in bonds on the international market in a bid to pay dollar-denominated debt, the company said.

The Empresas Publicas de Medellin (EPM) bonds come due in 10 years and have a yield of 8.375 percent. It is the largest ever sale of bonds denominated in Colombian pesos on the international market.

Sixty percent of the bonds were purchased by international investors, while the remaining 40 percent went to buyers in Colombia.

"Thanks to this issue we have been able to do an important operation in the management of our debt," EPM's general manager, Jorge Londono, said in a statement late on Tuesday.

EPM is the largest public services provider in Colombia and includes electricity, water and telecoms services.

($1 = 3,039.19 Colombian pesos)

(Reporting by Nelson Bocanegra; Writing by Julia Symmes Cobb; Editing by Bill Trott)
HELSINKI, Nov 1 (Reuters) - Finland's gross domestic product is likely to grow 2.8 percent this year and 2.3 percent in 2018, but long-term growth is constrained by its rigid labour market and ageing population, the International Monetary Fund said on Wednesday.

Finland is recovering from a decade of stagnation sparked among other things by a decline of Nokia's former phone business and a recession in neighbouring Russia.

"Strong growth is expected to continue this year and the next, but employment and productivity need to increase further to raise potential growth and support Finland's social model," the IMF said in a statement.

It added that the pace of growth is expected to be subdued over the medium term at around 1.25 percent, and urged the government to continue its structural reforms.

"Even assuming higher productivity growth than over the past ten years and increased participation in the labour market, a shrinking working age population constrains longer-term growth."

Finland's centre-right government cut a deal with unions last year to increase working hours. It is attempting to finalise a delayed health and local government reform which IMF said "is vital to boost public sector productivity and contain age-related pressures on public finances".

(Reporting by Tuomas Forsell; Editing by Jussi Rosendahl)
Centerra Gold Inc. (TSX: CG) lists a net loss during the third quarter after a one-time charge for a settlement with the Kyrgyz Republic. The loss was $0.8 million, or zero cents per share. The one-time charge was $60 million, with the company also posting a $9.8 million gain on the sale of ATO property in Mongolia. Excluding these items, adjusted earnings were $52.3 million, or 18 cents per share. During the same period in 2016, the company reported net and adjusted earnings of $66.9 million, or 28 cents per share. Centerra produced 200,201 ounces of gold in the third quarter, including 138,561 ounces at Kumtor and 61,640 ounces at Mount Milligan. The companys most recent results include Thompson Creek operations, but comparative results for the same period in 2016 do not since Centerra closed the acquisition of Thompson Creek Metals Co. on Oct. 20, 2016. Company-wide all-in sustaining costs for gold on a by-product basis per ounce sold for the third quarter were $722, excluding revenue-based tax in the Kyrgyz Republic and income tax. In the quarter, we achieved an important milestone when we reached a comprehensive settlement agreement with the government of the Kyrgyz Republic to resolve all of the outstanding matters affecting the Kumtor project, says Scott Perry, chief executive officer. The settlement provides for the lifting of all restrictions on the freedom of movement of Kumtor employees as well as the restrictions on the ability of Kumtor to distribute funds to Centerra. The agreement also provides business certainty for future mining operations at the Kumtor Project. Centerra also announces that Frank Herbert, president of the company, will retire at the end of the year. Perry will take on the added title of president, in addition to being CEO.

By Allen Sykora of Kitco News; asykora@kitco.com

Brio Gold Posts Narrower 3Q Net Loss

Brio Gold Inc. (TSX: BRIO) reports a third-quarter net loss of $10 million, or 9 cents per share, compared to a net loss of $15.5 million, 63 cents, in the third quarter of 2016. Excluding special items, the adjusted loss was $6.8 million, not much different from $6.7 million in the same period of 2016. During the third quarter, Brio entered into gold-price hedging arrangements to manage cash flow during development of the Santa Luz mine. Brio says it hedged 30,000 ounces of gold over 15 months with zero-cost collars with a put and call strike prices of $1,300 and $1,340 per ounce of gold, respectively. Production during the third quarter from the company's three producing mines was 42,913 ounces, 7% lower than in the year-ago period. All-in sustaining costs were $1,228 an ounce produced.
ATHENS, Nov 1 (Reuters) - Greece sold 1.138 billion euros ($1.32 billion) of six-month T-bills on Wednesday to refinance a maturing issue, the country's debt agency PDMA said.

The paper was sold at a yield of 2.30 percent, down five basis points from a previous sale in early October. The amount raised included 262.5 million euros in non-competitive bids.

The sale's bid-to-cover ratio was 1.74, up from 1.44 in the previous auction.

In a rollover T-bill holders renew their positions instead of getting paid on the maturing paper they hold. The settlement date of the new bills is November 3.

($1 = 0.8596 euros)

(Reporting by George Georgiopoulos)
(Adds details, quotes)

By Maytaal Angel and Amanda Cooper

LONDON, Nov 1 (Reuters) - Chile expects state-owned miner Codelco to produce its first lithium in the next six to seven years, as the race heats up around the world to meet booming demand from the electric vehicle industry, mining minister Aurora Williams told Reuters on Wednesday.

Most of Chile's 7.5 million tonnes in reserves of lithium, a key component in rechargeable batteries used in electric vehicles, are found in brine deposits, which take at least seven years to develop.

A number of privately-owned companies already mine for lithium in Chile, but this will be the first foray into this sector by the world's largest producer of copper, the backbone of the electronics industry.

"Based on the work that Codelco is doing right now, they should be able to start mining in the next six to seven years," Williams said on the sidelines of the annual LME Week industry gathering in London.

Chile will hold presidential elections next month and the current government, headed by President Michelle Bachelet, will hand the reins over to its successors by March next year.

Williams added the government hoped Codelco, which is currently in talks with more than 10 potential strategic partners to develop the country's lithium reserves, would make a decision by March. "This is Codelco's decision, the company has its own board. But we hope that this final phase will realistically be over while we are still in government," she said, adding that on March 11 next year, the newly elected government will take over.

Demand for lithium is expected to surge in the next few years.

Codelco already stands to benefit from the rise of electric vehicles, as an electric car tends to need around 75 kilos of copper, compared with around 25 kilos in a conventional fossil fuel-powered car.

Consultants Roskill estimate 785,000 tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent a year will be needed by 2025, amounting to a 26,000-tonne shortfall from anticipated supply. That compares with 217,000 tonnes of demand versus 227,000 tonnes of supply this year.

Analysts at UBS said earlier this year they expect global sales of electric vehicles in 2025 to reach 14.2 million units, or 13.7 percent of the total, compared with under 1 million units, or less than 1 percent, in 2017.

(Reporting by Maytaal Angel and Amanda Cooper; Editing by Mark Potter and David Evans)
* LME/ShFE arb: * Zinc hits highest in 10 years on tight fundamentals

* Nickel cancelled warrants at 37 percent

(Adds closing prices)

By Pratima Desai

LONDON, Nov 1 (Reuters) - Nickel prices rocketed nearly six percent on Wednesday to two-year highs on growing expectations of strong demand from manufacturers of rechargeable lithium-ion batteries used to power electric vehicles.

Benchmark nickel on the London Metal Exchange ended up four percent at $12,785 a tonne from an earlier $13,030, its highest since June 2015. Prices of the metal used mostly to make stainless steel are up around 30 percent so far this year.

"The subject of electric cars is right now not just playing into cobalt and lithium, but also more into nickel, which is considered a laggard among the metals most likely to benefit," said Commerzbank analyst Eugen Weinberg.

"Market focus is on the future, but supplies of nickel at the moment are good and inventories are high. The current nickel price rise is probably premature."

SHANGHAI: Nickel futures on ShFE hit their daily limit, which under the Shanghai bourse's trading rules is 99,340 yuan a tonne, the highest in nearly 11 months.

TOP PICK: UBS recently issued a report designating nickel among its top commodity picks over the next two to five years due to the rapid rise in use of electric vehicles (EV). It said that battery composition was shifting faster to higher nickel-intensive use than previously modelled.

DEMAND: Wood Mackenzie analysts estimate nickel demand in EV batteries will rise to about 220,000 tonnes in 2025 from about 40,000 tonnes last year.

"When all other battery applications are included, such as consumer electronics and energy storage - another field of potentially substantial future growth - this figure increases to 275,000 tonnes in 2025 - approximately 12 percent of global supply in 2025."

INDONESIA: The flow of Indonesian nickel ore to China resumed in July following a ban on all exports of unprocessed minerals, including nickel, at the start of 2014. PHILIPPINES: The Philippines' environment minister last week said he was hopeful a ban on open-pit mining would be lifted before year-end, enabling the world's top nickel exporter to lift shipments. STOCKS: Stocks of nickel in LME warehouses at around 381,000 tonnes account for nearly 20 percent of global consumption. However, cancelled warrants - metal earmarked for delivery - at 37 percent have fuelled worries about a tight market.

ZINC: LME zinc closed up 0.4 percent at $3,277 a tonne from an earlier $3,326 a tonne, its highest since August 2007. Prices have been boosted by expectations of deficits.

ELSEWHERE: Copper was up 1.3 percent at $6,930, aluminium rose 1.2 percent to $2,185, lead gained 2.8 percent to $2,482 and tin added 0.1 percent to $19,400 a tonne.

<^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Top base and precious metals analysis - GFMS LME/ShFE arb: ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^> (Additional reporting by James Regan and Josephine Mason; Editing by Elaine Hardcastle)
LONDON, Nov 1 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund, the Public Investment Fund (PIF), has hired Bank of America Merrill Lynch (BofA) banker Alireza Zaimi for a senior role at the fund, a source familiar with the matter said.

Zaimi is leaving his post as managing director EMEA (Europe, the Middle East and Africa) in the equities division at BofA, the source said.

Zaimi joined BofA in late 2014 and has also previously worked for Goldman Sachs and Deutsche Bank , according to his linkedin profile.

The PIF was not available to comment.

The latest hiring comes as the Saudi sovereign fund plans to ramp up its assets from $224 billion to $400 billion by 2020.

Over the last two years, the fund has been hiring financial professionals from around the world as it targets domestic as well as overseas investments.

Earlier this year, the fund announced it planned to put $20 billion into a $40-billion fund with Blackstone Group .

The PIF now has over 200 staff and expects eventually to have over 1,000, managing director Yasir al-Rumayyan told Reuters in an interview on Oct. 25. (Reporting by Dasha Afanasieva; Additional reporting by Tom Arnold; Editing by Rachel Armstrong and Mark Potter)
WELLINGTON, Nov 2 (Reuters) - New Zealand house values grew at their slowest pace in five years in October, with the commercial hub Auckland suffering a price decline for the first time since 2011, the government property valuer said on Thursday.

Quotable Value's (QV) residential property price index rose 3.9 percent in the 12-months ending October, compared with an annual rate of 4.3 percent in the previous month.

The sluggish growth came during a period of political uncertainty after an inconclusive September election resulted in coalition negotiations until Oct. 19 when the leftwing Labour Party was able to form a government.

The central bank has cautioned that cooling prices in the previously red-hot property market could be temporary and that it would wait until after the election to gauge trends in the sector.

QV's index is now 56.1 percent above the market's previous peak in late 2007, with the property market driven up by a boom in immigration, a robust economy and low housing stock.

House prices in the Auckland region fell for the first time in six years, edging down 0.6 percent, compared with a 0.8 percent rise the month before.

"In general there appears to be a trend of slowing in the rate of growth with the frenzy induced by high numbers of investors in the market subsiding and a return to more normal levels of activity in housing market around the country," said QV spokeswoman Andrea Rush, in an emailed statement.

House prices boomed at double-digit pace at the start of 2017, but eased off through the year as central bank restrictions on lending dulled investor demand.

The government this week announced further restrictions in the housing market, saying it planned to implement a ban on foreign owners of existing homes by early 2018.

Both the government and the real estate industry have said they do not expect a significant impact on house prices from the ban. (Reporting by Charlotte Greenfield; Editing by Shri Navaratnam)
BEIJING, Nov 1 (Reuters) - North American Nickel should start producing at its flagship Maniitsoq project in Greenland by 2023 or 2024, when demand for nickel from electric vehicle (EV) batteries should be in full swing, the company's chief executive officer (CEO) said on Tuesday.

The Toronto-based exploration company, which acquired the Maniitsoq licences five years ago, has invested over $50 million in exploration so far, CEO Keith Morrison told Reuters in an interview in Beijing, where he was attending the annual Greenland Day at the Danish embassy.

It will be at least another five years before it has finished exploration, completed feasibility studies and construction, and started selling its metals output.

"If we're extremely lucky that's a five-year process, if not six or seven. But that drops up right in the middle of the impact on the scalability of electric vehicles," Morrison said.

Asked if a 2023 or 2024 launch was a realistic time frame, Morrison answered: "We should be there by then."

The most-traded nickel contract on the Shanghai Futures Exchange rose 6 percent on Wednesday - its daily limit under the Shanghai bourse's trading rules - to 99,340 yuan ($14,967) a tonne, the highest in nearly 11 months.

The contract surged as nickel on the London Metal Exchange gained overnight because of the prospect of new demand from the EV battery makers.

Morrison, who also has experience of mining in Mongolia, describes Maniitsoq, located 125 km (78 miles) north of the Greenlandic capital, Nuuk, as a "big-scale nickel sulphide opportunity."

The 2,985 square km (1,153 square miles) area also contains copper, cobalt and platinum group metals but is only accessible for about 100 days per year. North American Nickel also has nickel assets in Michigan and Sudbury, Ontario, Morrison said.

A lack of investment in base metals since 2008 has left global nickel markets facing a deficit of 200,000 to 250,000 tonnes of refined nickel and concentrates over the next five to 10 years, equivalent to 10 new mines, he said.

"And that doesn't include the impact of the electric vehicle battery consumption," which could mean an extra 300,000 to 600,000 tonnes per year of demand, he added.

(Reporting by Tom Daly; Editing by Christian Schmollinger)
* Catalan leader due to appear in court this week

* Charges relate to push for independent Catalonia

* Arrest warrant would bar Puigdemont from election

* Spain called regional election for Dec.21

By Paul Day

MADRID, Nov 1 (Reuters) - A lawyer for dismissed Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont, who is due to appear in a Spanish court this week to answer charges relating to Catalonia's push for independence, said he was not expected to return to Spain soon.

If Puigdemont fails to appear before the court, an arrest warrant could be issued that would in turn prevent him from standing in the snap regional election called by the Spanish government for Dec. 21.

Puigdemont and his government were sacked on Friday by Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy hours after passing a unilateral declaration of independence from Spain through the regional parliament, a vote boycotted by the opposition and considered illegal by Spanish courts.

On Monday, Spain's state prosecutor accused Puigdemont of rebellion and sedition for organising an independence referendum held on Oct. 1 in defiance of the Madrid government.

Puigdemont travelled to Belgium at the weekend with other members of the dismissed Catalan administration and hired a lawyer. Although he appeared at a news conference in Brussels on Tuesday, his plans and next movements were unclear. "He has not told me but as the situation now stands, I don't see him going back to Spain in the coming weeks," Puigdemont's lawyer Paul Bekaert told Belgian state broadcaster VTM late on Tuesday.

Spain's High Court has summoned Puigdemont and 13 other former members of the Catalan government to testify in Madrid on Thursday and Friday on charges of rebellion, sedition and breach of trust. A judge will then decide whether those called to testify should go to jail pending an investigation that could take up to several years and a potential trial.

Three former Catalan government advisors returned to Spain from Belgium late on Tuesday and were greeted at Barcelona's international airport by crowds chanting "off to prison".

Puigdemont and three others were not among those returning to Spain. He said on Tuesday he would only go back to Spain when given unspecified "guarantees" by the Spanish government.

Prosecutors have asked the courts to order the Catalan secessionist leaders to deposit 6.2 million euros to cover potential liabilities. However, if Puigdemont and his associates do not turn up this could change and, if considered a flight risk, they could be jailed pending trial.

Attention in the crisis over Catalonia is now turning to the December election, called by Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy when Madrid took over control of the autonomous region.

Puigdemont said in Brussels on Tuesday he accepted the election and the Madrid government has said he is welcome to stand, even though the legal issue could prevent that.

Wednesday is a national holiday in Spain and government offices are closed, giving a brief respite in the crisis after a tumultuous month.

(Reporting by Paul Day in Madrid and Foon Yun Chee in Brussels, Editing by Angus MacSwan and Janet Lawrence)
MOSCOW, Nov 1 (Reuters) - Russia's MD Medical Group will not proceed with a secondary public offering if the shares cannot fetch at least $12, Mark Kurtser, its main shareholder and chief executive, told Reuters.

"We do not rule out a secondary public offering - primarily if we see good M&A deals... But we can only do it if the price is not lower than $12 per share," Kurtser said in a phone interview.

In 2012, MD Medical, which specialises in fertility treatments and maternity care, became the first Russian company in the sector to float when it listed on the London Stock Exchange, pricing shares at $12.

The company has been talking for two years about a possible secondary offering.

Since 2012, it has cut debt, acquired and built a number of clinics and hospitals and boosted turnover by 200 percent.

Its shares trade at around $10.40. Analysts at VTB Capital say that implies a 50 percent discount to its emerging market peers, based on a forecast of its 2018 enterprise value to core earnings ratio.

A share sale could help speed up expansion, Kurtser said. He also did not rule out that he could sell some of his own shares to help increase the free float.

The company plans around 6 billion roubles ($103 million) in capital expenditure next year, some 70 percent of which is likely to be financed with loans and 30 percent with its own funds, Kurtser said.

($1 = 58.1220 roubles)

(Reporting by Olga Popova and Maria Kiselyova; editing by Jason Neely)
* Nearly three-quarters of Eneco shareholders endorse sale

* Company's book value is 2.9 billion euros

* Final decision on sale or IPO likely in 2018

AMSTERDAM, Nov 1 (Reuters) - A commission representing shareholders in Dutch energy firm Eneco said on Wednesday that cities holding a 74 percent stake have resolved to sell their shares by an Oct. 31 deadline and will now begin talks on how.

The municipal governments that own the company's shares, valued at 2.9 billion euros ($3.4 billion), have been reviewing their role in Eneco since the Dutch government split the former utility into a public grid company, Stedin, and a generation company, Eneco, earlier this year.

Eneco, which invested aggressively in renewable energy as the Dutch government fell behind on its environmental goals, lobbied first not to be split and more recently, for shareholders not to sell their shares. Rotterdam alderman Adriaan Visser, who chairs the shareholders' commission, said in a statement that the result of the vote showed cities don't have a role in owning private companies. He said it represented a "clear vote for starting to investigate a sale."

Eneco spokesman Edwin van de Haar said the company doesn't have a preferred new owner in mind.

"Now we'll sit down at the table with the shareholders' commission to talk about how the sale process is going to look," he said.

A final decision on Eneco's sale won't be made until after municipal elections in March and a second, definitive shareholders vote.

A range of buyers are likely to be interested in Eneco if it is auctioned, including Denmark's Orsted Energy and Shell , which is currently partnering with Eneco on the construction of a major offshore wind park.

Newspaper De Telegraaf reported this week that investment firm Hal Trust may also be interested in Eneco.

Also Wednesday a group of Dutch environmental groups said they have raised 20 million euros and hope to rally further support from "citizens" to purchase the company and keep it in public hands.

($1 = 0.8607 euros)

(Reporting by Toby Sterling; Editing by Elaine Hardcastle)
HANOI, Nov 1 (Reuters) - Here's a snapshot of Vietnamese dong exchange rates in the official and unofficial markets, indicative SJC gold prices in Hanoi and interbank offered rates at 0417 GMT.

November 1 USD/VND mid-point 22,468 USD/VND interbank 22,712/22,713 USD/VND unofficial 22,790/22,820 SJC gold (mln dong/tael) 36.37/36.59

Interbank offered rates Overnight 0.6-1.2

1 week 0.9-1.3

1 month 1.4-1.8

3 months 3.1-3.5

NOTES: As of Jan. 4, 2016 the State Bank of Vietnam has begun setting the mid-point rate on daily basis, allowing dollar/dong transactions to move in a band of +/- 3 percent around the mid point. The dong's exchange rate against other currencies is not restricted by a band. Interbank offered rates are the latest indicative bid/ask prices, quoted from market sources.

One tael is equivalent to 37.5 grams or 1.21 troy ounces. SJC gold prices are quoted by state-owned Saigon Jewelry Co.

For more interbank rate fixings released at 0400 GMT, click on .

For Vietnam market overview click on: Vietnam's bonds market auctions: Bonds auction results: (Compiled by Hanoi Newsroom)
By Ed Stoddard

JOHANNESBURG, Nov 1 (Reuters) - South African precious metals producer Sibanye-Stillwater confirmed on Wednesday that it had laid off over 2,000 gold miners as it shuts its loss-making Cooke shafts, the epicentre of illegal mining syndicates plaguing its operations.

Layoffs are a thorny political and social issue in South Africa, where the jobless rate is close to 28 percent and labour groups including the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) are key allies of the ruling African National Congress (ANC).

The NUM, which plans to hold a rally later on Wednesday to protest the job cuts, had announced the retrenchments on Tuesday. "Unfortunately it was not possible to define realistic arrangements to operate Cooke 1,2 and 3 on a profitable basis," Sibanye-Stillwater said in a statement.

The company said 2,025 workers at Cooke would be laid off while 1,350 had elected to take voluntary separation packages.

Sibanye-Stillwater said layoffs could be in the pipeline three months ago when it embarked on restructuring talks, mandated by law, with unions and the government.

The miner said on Wednesday that it would keep its Beatrix West gold mine running and that it would "remain in operation for as long as it makes a profit, on average, over any continuous period of three months." It had previously shelved plans to cut jobs at some of its platinum mines.

The Cooke operations 80 kms (50 miles) west of Johannesburg have been the centre of illegal mining activities that hit profit margins because of soaring security costs and lost ore.

Illegal gold mining has plagued South Africa for decades, with bullion pilfered from both disused and operating mines, and Sibanye-Stillwater has vowed it will clear all illegal miners from its shafts by January 2018. (Editing by Kim Coghill)


OSLO, Nov 1 (Reuters) - Norway's central bank sold the following government bond (NST 479) in a uniform price auction on Wednesday: Coupon: 1.75 pct Maturity: Feb 17, 2027 Settlement date: Nov. 3, 2017 AUCTION DATE Nov 1, 2017 Sep 27, 2017 YIELD (pct) 1.60 1.59 ALLOTMENT PRICE (pct) 101.28 101.41 SCHEDULED OFFER (bln NOK) 2.00 2.00 TOTAL BIDS (bln NOK) 7.370 6.085 ALLOTED (bln NOK) 2.00 2.00 BID-TO-COVER RATIO 3.69 3.04 NOTE: The central bank said that there was 26 percent allotment on lowest accepted bids.

(Reporting by Oslo newsroom)

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and may not reflect those of Kitco Metals Inc. The author has made every effort to ensure accuracy of information provided; however, neither Kitco Metals Inc. nor the author can guarantee such accuracy. This article is strictly for informational purposes only. It is not a solicitation to make any exchange in commodities, securities or other financial instruments. Kitco Metals Inc. and the author of this article do not accept culpability for losses and/ or damages arising from the use of this publication.
ISTANBUL, Nov 1 (Reuters) - Turkey's government is expected to provide around three billion lira ($787.71 million) of support to exporters in 2017, Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said on Wednesday. Speaking at an event hosted by the Turkish Exporters Assembly (TIM) in Istanbul, Yildirim said Turkey would improve government support in the coming period upon demand from exporters.

($1 = 3.8085 liras)

(Reporting by Tuvan Gumrukcu; Writing by Ezgi Erkoyun)

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and may not reflect those of Kitco Metals Inc. The author has made every effort to ensure accuracy of information provided; however, neither Kitco Metals Inc. nor the author can guarantee such accuracy. This article is strictly for informational purposes only. It is not a solicitation to make any exchange in commodities, securities or other financial instruments. Kitco Metals Inc. and the author of this article do not accept culpability for losses and/ or damages arising from the use of this publication.
KAMPALA, Nov 1 (Reuters) - The Ugandan shilling was slightly weaker on Wednesday despite a central bank effort to remove excess local currency liquidity via a one-day repurchase agreement (repo). At 1148 GMT, commercial banks quoted the shilling at 3,650/3,660, a touch weaker than Tuesday's close of 3,648/3,658. Bank of Uganda mopped up 98 billion shillings ($26.87 million) worth of excess local currency via the repo. UGX Spot Rate..... Ugandan Shilling Money Guide.... Calculated Cross Rates.......... Deposits..................... Deposits & Forwards............. Uganda Equities Guide....... Uganda All Share Index........ Shilling background ..... Ugandan Debt Guide............ All Uganda Bonds............. Uganda T-Bills.............. Uganda Benchmark............. Central Bank ................ Ugandan Contributor Index.... Uganda Coffee Prices....... ($1 = 3,647.0000 Ugandan shillings)

(Reporting by Elias Biryabarema; Editing by Aaron Maasho)

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and may not reflect those of Kitco Metals Inc. The author has made every effort to ensure accuracy of information provided; however, neither Kitco Metals Inc. nor the author can guarantee such accuracy. This article is strictly for informational purposes only. It is not a solicitation to make any exchange in commodities, securities or other financial instruments. Kitco Metals Inc. and the author of this article do not accept culpability for losses and/ or damages arising from the use of this publication.
(Adds details on restructuring, background)

Nov 1 (Reuters) - Billionaire investor William Ackman, who has been betting for five years that Herbalife Ltd's stock price would tumble to zero, said on Wednesday that his firm recently restructured its position in the nutrition and supplements maker.

The restructuring removes some of the pressure on Ackman's $10 billion hedge fund Pershing Square Capital Management after Herbalife's share price climbed roughly 50 percent this year.

"We covered the shorts and replaced them with outright put positions," Ackman told Reuters, adding that his firm's potential losses on Herbalife will now be capped at 3 percent of the firm's capital. "We can still lose money but the loss is capped."

Short positions, in which borrowed shares are sold in hopes they can be replaced later at a lower price, have the potential for heavy losses that increase as long as a stock's price rises. Put options give the holder the option to sell a stock at a set price.

Herbalife's stock price has been pushed higher in part by the company's decision to buy back a big chunk of its shares, a move many in the market interpreted as trying to pressure Ackman into giving up on his years-long crusade to bring down the company. For much of the last five years, since Ackman in December 2012 first unveiled the position, Herbalife has been a thorn for Pershing Square as unrealized losses mounted.

Ackman has been betting the stock would crumble under regulatory scrutiny for what he has called a pyramid scheme. Herbalife has denied that claim.

(Reporting by Svea Herbst-Bayliss in Boston; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and Meredith Mazzilli)
(Adds details about scope of contract, shares, rivals and analyst estimates)

ZURICH, Nov 1 (Reuters) - APG SGA shares jumped on Wednesday after the Swiss outdoor advertising said it won a new contract from Swiss Federal Railways for advertising space in Switzerland's train stations as well as for interiors and exteriors of all trains.

The shares rose 7.6 percent to 435 Swiss francs ($435) by 1007 GMT -- the biggest gain for the company's stock since February 2015. It is 30 percent owned by French advertising giant JCDecaux SA .

APG SGA, which has the existing contract, said the renewed deal starts on Jan. 1, 2019, and will run for between five and 10 years. The ad company said it will make "substantial investments", in particular in digital advertising in train stations.

Neither APG SGA nor Switzerland's federal train system gave financial details in separate releases, although analysts at Zuercher Kantonalbank estimate the existing contract is worth as much as 20 percent of the advertising company's 315.4 million Swiss francs ($315.27 million) in annual sales.

There had previously been speculation that APG SGA would win the majority of the new contract, but that some portions might go to other companies that participated in the railway's public tender.

Switzerland's billboard advertising sector benefits from the country's system of direct democracy, as political parties and referendum supporters and detractors use the medium to sway public opinion before frequent votes.

APG SGA competes in Switzerland with Clear Channel as well as smaller rivals including Tamedia . ($1 = 1.0004 Swiss francs)

($1 = 1.0006 Swiss francs)

(Reporting by John Miller, editing by John Revill)
(Adds quote, details, background)

By Andrei Makhovsky

MINSK, Nov 1 (Reuters) - Belarus is looking at China, Russia or other external markets to place $600 million in bonds in 2018 to help refinance its growing debt, its deputy Finance Minister said on Wednesday.

Maksim Ermolovich said Belarus also plans to issue $400 million in bonds on the domestic market next year. Belarus owes $2.5 billion to creditors in 2018, of which Minsk plans to repay $800 million and refinance another $1.7 billion. "We are planning to get about a billion dollars by issuing bonds, $600 million on the external ... $400 million in the domestic market," Ermolovich said at a public conference.

Belarus is considering issuing bonds on the Chinese market or placing bonds denominated in Russian rubles, he said.

Minsk issued Eurobonds worth $1.4 billion this year and is looking for more sources of financing after talks for a loan from the International Monetary Fund fell through.

Disagreements with the IMF include Minsk's objections to a faster pace of reforming the ex-Soviet republic's administration of its state sector as proposed by the Fund, officials said earlier.

Since the start of 2017, Belarus's foreign debt has grown by almost 20 percent, and stood at $16.3 billion as of Oct. 1.

(Reporting by Andrei Makhovsky; writing by Gabrielle Tetrault-Farber; editing by Matthias Williams/Mark Heinrich)
* STOXX600 index rises 0.6 percent

* Germany's DAX leads gains, hits new record high

* Standard Chartered leads losers on results

(Updates prices, adds quotes, detail)

By Sujata Rao and Julien Ponthus

LONDON, Nov 1 (Reuters) - European stocks surged to two-year peaks on Wednesday, lifted by resilient company earnings and record highs set in Asia and New York, though a 6 percent slump in Standard Chartered shares kept the banking sector under a cloud.

At 1000 GMT, the pan-European STOXX 600 rose 0.6 percent to 397.43 points, a level last seen in August 2015.

Some of that was down to Germany's DAX index which, playing catch-up after Tuesday's holiday, jumped 1.3 percent to hit a fresh record high.

Markets continued to brush off concerns over Catalonia's independence bid, pushing Spain's IBEX up 0.5 percent.

The European benchmark is enjoying its fifth straight day of gains and rose almost 2 percent in October, having also taken a cue from global markets which have been propelled higher by hopes of U.S. tax cuts, economic recovery and a robust tech cycle. "Economically everything looks good at the moment," said Jonathan Bell, chief investment officer at Stanhope Capital.

Bell cautioned, however, that while investors were riding the rising wave, markets could be vulnerable to monetary policy changes.

The day's top performer was British drugmaker Indivior which soared 11.5 percent after U.S. authorities recommended approval for an opioid addiction drug . The stock has risen about 24 percent already this week.

"On our view (the recommendation) substantially increases the probability of approval ... which is material given its importance to future growth prospects," analysts at Jefferies told clients, rating the stock a Buy.

Fellow drugmaker, Denmark's Novo Nordisk, lost 2.8 percent after publishing third-quarter results and warning that new legislation in some U.S. states could hurt business in its key market .

Still on the earnings front, forecast-beating third quarter results drove up shares in Finnish tyre maker Nokian Tyres by some 6 percent, while British bookmaker Paddy Power jumped 4 percent to three-month highs.

Of the STOXX600 firms which have reported third quarter results, almost half have beaten forecasts, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S, which also predicts average earnings to increase 3.5 percent over the same 2016 quarter.

But the latest earnings season has rekindled some worries for Europe's banking sector.

While BNP Paribas shares extended the previous day's 2.7 percent fall due to disappointment in its fixed income trading operations, Standard Chartered was Wednesday's biggest loser, with its biggest daily fall in three months.

While the Asia-focused lender posted a 78 percent rise in pre-tax profit, this was overshadowed by higher expenses and flat revenues, dashing investors' hopes for dividend payments .

Shares in Austria's Raiffeisen bank also fell 2.1 percent.

Also bringing up the bottom of the index was British clothing retailer Next which sank 6 percent after results fell short of analysts' expectations.

(Reporting by Julien Ponthus and Sujata Rao; Editing by Alison Williams)
* Catalan leader due to appear in court this week

* Charges relate to push for independent Catalonia

* Arrest warrant would bar Puigdemont from election

* Spain called regional election for Dec.21

(Adds comments by ousted leader's lawyer)

By Paul Day

MADRID, Nov 1 (Reuters) - A lawyer for dismissed Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont, due to appear in a Spanish court this week to answer charges relating to Catalonia's push for independence, said he would not return to testify but could answer questions from Belgium.

If Puigdemont fails to appear before the court, an arrest warrant could be issued that would in turn prevent him from standing in the snap regional election called by the Spanish government for Dec. 21.

There was currently no arrest warrant out for Puigdemont, the lawyer told Associated Press.

Puigdemont and his government were sacked on Friday by Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy hours after passing a unilateral declaration of independence from Spain through the regional parliament, a vote boycotted by the opposition and considered illegal by Spanish courts.

On Monday, Spain's state prosecutor accused Puigdemont of rebellion and sedition for organising an independence referendum held on Oct. 1 in defiance of the Madrid government.

Puigdemont travelled to Belgium at the weekend with other members of the dismissed Catalan administration and hired a lawyer. "(He) is not going to Madrid and I suggest that they question him here in Belgium. It is possible," Puigdemont's lawyer Paul Bekaert told AP, adding there were provisions in the law that allowed his questioning outside of Spain.

Spain's High Court has summoned Puigdemont and 13 other former members of the Catalan government to testify in Madrid on Thursday and Friday on charges of rebellion, sedition and breach of trust. A judge will then decide whether those called to testify should go to jail pending an investigation that could take up to several years and a potential trial.

PRISON

Three former Catalan government advisors returned to Spain from Belgium late on Tuesday and were greeted at Barcelona's international airport by crowds chanting "off to prison".

Puigdemont and three others were not among those returning to Spain. He said on Tuesday he would only go back to Spain when given unspecified "guarantees" by the Spanish government.

Prosecutors have asked the courts to order the Catalan secessionist leaders to deposit 6.2 million euros ($7.2 million)to cover potential liabilities. However, if Puigdemont and his associates do not turn up this could change and, if considered a flight risk, they could be jailed pending trial.

Attention in the crisis over Catalonia is now turning to the December election, called by Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy when Madrid took over control of the autonomous region.

Puigdemont said in Brussels on Tuesday he accepted the election and the Madrid government has said he is welcome to stand, even though the legal issue could prevent that.

Wednesday is a national holiday in Spain and government offices are closed, giving a brief respite in the crisis after a tumultuous month.

(Additional reporting by Emma Pinedo, Hortense de Roffignac in Tielt and Foon Yun Chee in Brussels, Editing by Angus MacSwan and Janet Lawrence)
* Spain's Repsol sees field holding 1.2 bln barrels of oil

* First production slated for 2023

* Eyeing output of up to 120,000 barrels per day

(Adds CEO, analysts' comments)

By Sonali Paul

MELBOURNE, Nov 1 (Reuters) - Australia's Oil Search Ltd has agreed to buy stakes in a huge oil find in Alaska for $400 million, in a surprise push to diversify from its sweet spot of gas in Papua New Guinea.

Oil Search will pick up stakes in three oil blocks from privately owned U.S. firms Armstrong Energy and GMT Exploration giving it a roughly 26 percent holding in the Nanushuk play, co-owned by Spain's Repsol SA .

The play includes the Horseshoe block, which hit oil in March in what Repsol called the biggest U.S. onshore find in 30 years. It estimated the field could hold 1.2 billion barrels. Oil Search bought in assuming the field holds 500 million barrels, expecting production to begin in 2023, with output to plateau at 80,000 to 120,000 barrels per day.

"With the quality of the assets, the fact that they're tier 1, and the fact that we've gone in very conservatively against what Repsol are saying, I think we can demonstrate to the market that this will be a super deal for Oil Search in the medium term," Oil Search Chief Executive Peter Botten told Reuters.

Investors were nervous about the $8 billion company's move into a region where it has no experience and which is dominated by giants like BP and ExxonMobil Corp , sending its shares down 3 percent, especially after it gave up on a push into Kurdistan.

Other Australian oil and gas producers rose more than 1 percent on Wednesday.

"Questions will inevitably be asked about Oil Search's competitive advantage to play in Alaska until it proves its operational capability there," said Saul Kavonic, an analyst with energy consultants Wood Mackenzie.

RBC analyst Ben Wilson said the move was well-timed near the bottom of the oil price cycle and with some of the appraisal work on the field already done. He said it had "good prospects" as the oil was high-grade.

Botten began working on the deal eight months ago when oil prices were about 20 percent lower than now and said Oil Search managed to get the asset despite higher-priced interest from others in nearby fields, whom he declined to name.

The owners of the neighbouring fields are ConocoPhillips , ExxonMobil and Italy's ENI .

Oil Search has the option of doubling its stake in the Alaskan assets for a further $450 million. It plans to fund the deal from its cash reserves.

Oil Search will work with oilfield services giant Halliburton Co and Armstrong before taking over as operator of the assets in June 2018.

($1 = 1.3058 Australian dollars)

(Reporting by Sonali Paul and Rushil Dutta in Bengaluru; Editing by Stephen Coates)
(Rewrites throughout, adds detail on cost cutting and consolidation, adds byline)

By Karl Plume

CHICAGO, Nov 1 (Reuters) - U.S. agricultural commodities trader Bunge Ltd cut earnings guidance for its core agribusiness unit for a third straight quarter on Wednesday after reporting a 28-percent drop in third-quarter profit.

A global oversupply of crops has hammered profits in the grain trading and processing units of Bunge and its chief rivals, forcing rounds of cost-cutting that look to spill into 2018.

The companies are trying to diversify through acquisitions into higher-margin businesses, such as food ingredients, but results have been slow to offset the continued challenges to their mainstay trading business from the supply glut.

On Tuesday, rival grains trader Archer Daniels Midland Co reported its earnings fell 44 percent from a year earlier on restructuring and other charges and said it didn't see conditions improving next year. Third-quarter profit for Bunge's agribusiness unit, its largest in terms of volume and revenue, rose about 2.5 percent from the same quarter last year, but the gain fell short of Bunge's expectations.

The company said it expects 2017 earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) of $425 million to $500 million in agribusiness. The company had previously forecast full-year EBIT of $550 million and $650 million for agribusiness, which makes money trading, storing and processing crops.

Although South American farmers harvested bumper corn and soy crops this year, low prices prompted them to store more of the bounty in hopes of higher prices later, hurting processing operations. Plentiful global supplies, meanwhile, have blunted demand from end-users such as feed companies and importers, limiting trading opportunities for Bunge and other traders.

Bunge executives have said overcapacity is moving the industry toward consolidation and they are prepared to lead it, but the company itself was the target of a takeover attempt by rival commodities trader Glencore Plc in May, which it rebuffed.

Bunge has since announced cost cutting and restructuring initiatives to halt a profit slump. It also issued about $1 billion in debt to secure a controlling stake in a Malaysian palm oil company to bolster its higher margin edible oils business. Bunge said net income available to shareholders fell to $84 million, or 59 cents per share, in the quarter ended Sept. 30 from $116 million, or 83 cents per share, a year earlier.

Excluding items, a profit of 75 cents per share beat the average analyst estimate of 73 cents, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.

Net sales were flat at $11.42 billion.

(Additional reporting by Akshara P in Bengaluru; Editing by Saumyadeb Chakrabarty and Bernadette Baum)
* Puigdemont order to appear in Madrid court this week

* Charges relate to push for independent Catalonia

* Lawyer says he could answer questions from Belgium

* Spain called regional election for Dec. 21

* Arrest warrant would bar Puigdemont from standing

(Adds Moody's comment)

By Paul Day

MADRID, Nov 1 (Reuters) - Dismissed Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont will ignore a court order to return to Spain to answer charges over the region's push for independence, but he could testify from Belgium, his lawyer said on Wednesday.

If Puigdemont fails to answer Thursday's High Court summons, an arrest warrant could be issued that would make it virtually impossible for him to stand in a snap regional election called by the Spanish government for Dec. 21.

There was currently no arrest warrant out for Puigdemont, the lawyer, Paul Bekaert, told Associated Press.

Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy sacked Puigdemont and his government on Friday, hours after the Catalan parliament made a unilateral declaration of independence -- a vote boycotted by the opposition and declared illegal by Spanish courts.

On Monday, Spain's state prosecutor filed charges of rebellion, sedition and misuse of public funds against Puigdemont for defying the central government by holding an referendum on secession on Oct. 1 and later proclaiming independence.

Puigdemont travelled to Belgium at the weekend with other members of the dismissed Catalan administration and hired a lawyer. "(He) is not going to Madrid and I suggest that they question him here in Belgium. It is possible," Bekaert told AP, adding there were provisions in the law that allowed his questioning outside Spain.

The High Court summoned Puigdemont and 13 other former members of the Catalan government to testify in Madrid on Thursday and Friday on the prosecutor's charges.

A judge will then decide whether those called to testify should go to jail pending an investigation that could take several years and potentially lead to a trial. The judge might also grant them conditional bail or order them to surrender their passports.

If Puigdemont and his associates did not turn up, the judge might also order them jailed as a flight risk.

The courts have also told the Catalan secessionist leaders to deposit 6.2 million euros ($7.2 million) by Friday to cover potential liabilities.

"OFF TO PRISON"?

Three former Catalan government advisors returned to Spain from Belgium late on Tuesday and were greeted at Barcelona's international airport by a small crowd chanting "off to prison".

Puigdemont and four others were not among those returning to Spain. He said on Tuesday he would only go back to Spain when given unspecified "guarantees" by the Spanish government.

Wednesday is a national holiday in Spain and government offices are closed, giving a brief respite in Spain's gravest political crisis since its return to democracy some four decades ago.

Following a tumultuous month, attention is also gradually turning to the December election, called by Rajoy when Madrid took over control of the previously autonomous region.

Puigdemont said in Brussels on Tuesday he accepted the election and the Madrid government said he was welcome to stand, though legal proceedings might prevent that.

Uncertainty over how the crisis will play out has prompted more than 1,800 Catalonia-based companies to move their legal headquarters out of the region and the government to lower its country-wide economic forecasts for next year.

On Wednesday, rating agency Moody's said the declaration of independence and the suspension of self rule were credit negative for the region and the country, and that associated uncertainty would damage sentiment and consumer spending.

Moody's raised Spain's credit rating to Baa2 in 2014 as the country emerged from a prolonged economic slump.

On Tuesday, Moody's affirmed Catalonia's long-term issuer and debt ratings of Ba3, saying the government's reinforced control compensated for the increased risks, in particular the region's rapidly deteriorating business climate.

(Additional reporting by Emma Pinedo, Hortense de Roffignac in Tielt and Foon Yun Chee in Brussels, Editing by Angus MacSwan and John Stonestreet)
The Ukroboronprom State Concern expects that central executive power would help to settle the situation with debts at state-owned enterprise (SOE) 61 Communards Shipyard (Mykolaiv).

The press service of the concern reported that at present the enterprise is almost idle, as there is no a decision of the government to compensate expenses of the SOE on maintenance of the unfinished cruiser Ukraine.

"Today, the accounts of the enterprise have been arrested, and the wage arrears are over UAH 58 million. These debts have been accumulated due to the stoppage of refunding of expenses on maintenance of the cruiser," the press service said.

Earlier in August 2017, Ukroboronprom sent its proposals how to settle the situation with the cruiser to the government.

On October 30, Ukroboronprom's top managers asked Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine (NSDC) Oleksandr Turchynov to help settling the situation with the enterprise.
Private joint-stock company Indar insulin producer (Kyiv) saw its net profit decline by 85.7% in July-September 2017 year-over-year, to UAH 4.328 million from UAH 30.68 million.

According to a company report, net revenue fell by 30%, to UAH 142.461 million.

Gross profit declined by 36.4% year-over-year, to UAH 66.545 million.

As reported, in 2016 Indar saw a 3.5-fold rise in net profit, to UAH 29.968 million.

Indar was created under a resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers in 1997 under the aegis of Kyiv meat processing plant. It is a subsidiary of Ukrmedprom with 70.7% of shares in the producer. Luraq Investments Limited (Cyprus) holds 29.3% of shares in the company.

The producer is on the list of state-owned companies of strategic importance for the economy and security of the state.

Indar is a member of the Ukrainian Association of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers, also known as APLU.
Ex-director of Ukrainian State Agency for Investment and National Projects Kaskiv extradited from Panama to Ukraine

Former director of the Ukrainian State Agency for Investment and National Projects Vladyslav Kaskiv has been extradited from Panama to Ukraine, Prosecutor General Yuriy Lutsenko has said.

"Currently, Kaskiv has been taken to the Main Investigation Department of the Prosecutor General's Office. Investigative actions are underway," Lutsenko wrote on his Facebook page.

The Prosecutor General said that his extradition took place at night on November 1. He recalled that Kaskiv is suspected of entering into a criminal conspiracy in 2012 with other persons to embezzle the means of the state budget of Ukraine in the amount of about UAH 7.5 million.

"This is not the first time when ex-high-ranking official is extradited to Ukraine. But not the last," Lutsenko said.

Kaskiv was declared internationally wanted under Part 5 of Article 191 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine on charges of "large-scale misappropriation of property by an official through abuse of office and through collusion with a group of persons" and under Part 2 of Article 366 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine on "forgery by an official."

It was reported on September 8, 2016 that Ukrainian Prosecutor General's Office had received confirmation from Interpol that Kaskiv had been arrested in Panama. On September 12, a court in Panama granted Kaskiv a $600,000 bail, after which he applied for political asylum.

In March of the current year it became known that Panama had refused to grant political refugee status to Vladyslav Kaskiv.
Agriculture Minister Kim Young-rok speaks during a recent interview with The Korea Times at his office in Sejong, an administrative city 130 kilometers south of Seoul. / Courtesy of Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs



Agriculture minister vows no more concessions to US in FTA talks



By Lee Hyo-sik

Korea has been diversifying export markets for its agricultural goods this year to offset falling shipments to China, which has been escalating its economic retaliation against Seoul's deployment of a U.S. missile defense system, the nation's top agricultural policymaker said.

Asia's fourth-largest economy has been shipping more locally-grown agricultural products and processed food items to Japan, Southeast Asia and the Middle East, according to Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Kim Young-rok, who said the government will provide greater support to farmers and food firms to further increase overseas shipments.

"Despite growing global trade protectionism, deteriorating Korea-Sino ties and other unfavorable conditions, Korea has been able to export more agricultural goods and processed food products this year than in 2016," Kim said during an interview with The Korea Times.

"The jump is largely attributed to the nation's campaign to diversify its export markets over the past few years. Besides China and Japan, ASEAN and the Middle East have emerged as major destinations for local agricultural products," the minister said. "The government will double its efforts to enable food exporters to increase their shipments and nurture the agriculture industry as a new growth engine."

In the first nine months of 2017, Korea's outbound shipments of agricultural and food products reached $5.04 billion, up 7 percent from the same period of last year. Exports to China fell 10 percent, but those heading to Japan, ASEAN and the Middle East jumped 16 percent, 13.6 percent and 10 percent, respectively.

Russia imported 32.4 percent more food products from Korea, while consumers in South American countries bought 22 percent more locally-grown agricultural goods.

"Since March when Korea decided to deploy a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery, food shipments bound for China headed downward. But in September, the exports inched up 1.1 percent from the previous year, thank to rising sales of ginseng, instant noodles and beer," Kim said. "We believe demand for Korean food items among Chinese consumers will continue to pick up. We will also make inroads into untapped markets."

The agriculture ministry plans to allocate greater resources to organizing more promotional activities abroad, as well as helping food firms diversify export markets and widen overseas logistics networks. It has also been working to ship fruit and other fresh produce to India, Africa and other largely unexplored markets as part of its diversification efforts, he said.

"The government has been offering customs- and quarantine-related consulting services to food exporters so that they can fully take advantage of trade agreements Korea has signed with China and other foreign countries," the minister said. "We will also organize or financially support marketing events in the Middle East and elsewhere. Strategic and tailored export items for each market will be developed."

No more concessions to US

Touching on the ongoing renegotiation of the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (KORUS FTA), the agriculture minister said Korea will not open its agricultural market further to the United States.

Following pressure by U.S. President Donald Trump, the Moon Jae-in administration agreed to begin an amendment process for the bilateral trade pact. While Korea's agriculture imports from the U.S. are 10 times larger than what the U.S. imports from here, Washington is set to demand a further opening of the market.

"There is no way Korea will offer more concessions to the U.S. This time, the U.S. should offer to import more from Korea," Kim said. "We are already grappling with huge agriculture trade deficit with the U.S. Since 2012 when the trade pact went into effect, the deficit has been expanding at a faster rate."

In 2016, Korea's imports of U.S. agricultural and livestock products stood at $6.8 billion but Korea's exports amounted to only $700 million.

The minister said the government will ensure the U.S. understands that Korea already runs huge trade deficit in agriculture, but declined to outline its negotiation tactics.

"The U.S. has not yet made any demand concerning Korea's agriculture market. So it is too early to make public our strategies. We will first try to let U.S. officials grasp the facts and persuade them not to make unreasonable demands," he said. "We will do everything to protect the interests of local farmers."

Vowing to soften anti-graft law

Kim pledged to ease the anti-graft law to boost the consumption of fruits, flowers and other agricultural products.

"The agriculture ministry has been coordinating with related state agencies to minimize the side effects of the law, while upholding its spirit," he said. "We need to revise it by raising the price ceilings to realistic levels to alleviate negative impacts on farmers, fishermen and related industries."

The nation has been implementing the law, which bans public servants, teachers and journalists from receiving meals valued over 30,000 won ($26), gifts worth more than 50,000 won and congratulatory and condolence money in excess of 100,000 won, since September last year.

It is intended to enhance transparency in society, but there have been growing complaints from several industries suffering from declining sales.

The agriculture sector is among them, with flower businesses, farmers breeding hanwoo, or Korean beef, and farmers of quality fruit suffering as consumers drastically reduced purchasing these products to offer as gifts.

"We want to raise the price ceilings to 50,000 won for meals and 100,000 won for gifts, while reducing congratulatory and condolence money to 50,000 won," the minister said. "We have been consulting with the Anti-corruption & Civil Rights Commission and other ministries to speed up the revision process. The agriculture ministry will do its best to have the law revised as quickly as possible in order to minimize its unintended adverse effects."

To boost farmers' income, the agriculture ministry plans to mobilize more resources to help farming households improve productivity, reduce costs, produce more value-added crops and find new income sources besides farming.

"We would like to help turn farming villages into tourist attractions so that they can attract both Korean and non-Korean visitors and secure new sources of income," Kim said. "The ministry will work with travel agencies to offer tour packages for foreigners seeking to experience life in Korea's agricultural villages. To spark interests in agritourism, we will also produce and upload promotional content on Youtube and SNS platforms."

To cope with the soaring rice inventories, the government plans to encourage rice farmers to switch to other crops, he said. "It is important to keep the price of rice at a certain level to ensure rice farmers stay in business. But to do so, the government has to spend trillions of won each year to purchase rice and store it in warehouses."

The nation has been grappling with growing rice oversupply over the years amid falling consumption as Koreans get more calories from bread, meat, fruits and other agricultural goods. But the majority of farmers are still engaged in rice farming, forcing the government to buy their crops and store them to artificially maintain the price.

"The government has been providing incentives to farmers who switch to other crops from rice over the years. With more choosing to cultivate other crops, we estimate rice inventories will decline over the long run," he said.

Agriculture Minister Kim Young-rok visits a chicken farm in Anseong, Gyeonggi Province, Oct. 15, to inspect the ministry's quarantine efforts against avian influenza to prevent an outbreak of the highly pathogenic virus affecting chickens and other poultry. / Courtesy of Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs



Preventing animal disease and bolstering food safety

The agriculture ministry will double its efforts to prevent animal disease and bolster food safety, Kim said, stressing that it has learned valuable lessons from past mistakes.

"Korea has been grappling with the spread of bird flu and foot and mouth disease over the past few years. This year, we kicked off the quarantine campaign earlier than in the past to keep the country safe," he said. "It is particularly important to contain any animal disease this winter as we host the PyeongChang Olympics in February. We will spare no efforts to prevent any outbreaks."

The minister expressed regret over the government's handling of the pesticide-contaminated egg scandal in August, stressing it will place top priority on food safety.

"The scandal was caused by a combination of moral hazard among some poultry farms and the government's poor oversight. In addition, the way chickens are bred to harvest eggs has to change to prevent the use of insecticides and antibiotics," Kim said.

"The agricultural and food industries cannot be sustained if they lose consumer trust. Chicken farms should take the scandal as an opportunity to improve their breeding practices and produce safer eggs. The government needs to establish a comprehensive food safety management system to ensure people eat healthy and safe agricultural and livestock products," he said.

In August, 52 chicken farms were found to have used banned insecticide on egg-laying chickens to boost output. More than 4.5 million eggs from the farms were seized and destroyed, but tens of millions of tainted eggs had already been consumed, sparking public outrage.

Consumers had remained reluctant to eat eggs, sending prices plunging, but the consumption has picked up in recent weeks as the scandal fades from people's minds.
By Hyun Jung-taik



U.S. President Trump will be paying a state visit to Korea on Nov. 7 and 8. The time is ripe for the two countries to discuss several important issues, most particularly how to ensure a strong and united response in the face of national security threats; and it is also likely that the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (KORUS FTA) will be an important issue on the agenda for this visit.



As officially recognized by the WTO, free trade agreements serve as instruments to provide preferential treatment to partner countries in order to promote trade between member nations. Being the largest market in the world, the U.S. is a particularly attractive field in which many countries compete fiercely to improve their market position. Canada and Mexico benefit from the North America Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) with the U.S., and the European Union (EU) has been negotiating the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) with the U.S. since February 2013. It was around this point that Japan joined negotiations for the U.S.-led Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) as well.



The KORUS FTA has allowed Korea to establish relatively favorable conditions within the U.S. market, seen by Korea's growth in share there, from 2.6 percent in 2012 to 3.1 percent in the first half of 2017. Korea continues to increase its exports of FTA-beneficiary products to the U.S., including medical and drug, electronics, and chemical products.



Meanwhile, the U.S. has increased its share within the Korean market as well, accounting for 8.3 percent in 2012 to 11.1 percent in the first half of 2017. U.S. exports of automobiles, medical and drug products, beef and other agricultural items have sharply increased.



In particular, the U.S. has utilized the FTA as an opportunity to advance into the Korean services market. Korean imports of U.S. services, which totaled $14.3 billion before the KORUS FTA, increased by 41.3 percent following the conclusion of the FTA, recording an annual average of $20.2 billion during the last 5 years.



The FTA has led to Korean businesses investing more in the U.S. and creating more jobs within the States. Korea's average annual investment in the U.S. climbed 2.6 times, from $2.18 billion to $5.72 billion, during the four years following the FTA establishment. This investment from Korea has created quality jobs for American workers, generating a total of 45,100 jobs as of 2014, of which around 10,000 were created following the KORUS FTA.



The KORUS FTA, however, is being threatened by President Trump's perception of trade, which is centered on bilateral trade relations, leading to the view of trade as a zero-sum game in which trade deficits are the result of unfair trade practices. President Trump has even mentioned withdrawal from the KORUS FTA.



In fact, labeling the KORUS FTA as the reason for a trade deficit is far from true. The U.S. trade deficit with Korea stems from a tightly focused collection of high-profile products, in particular, automobiles, steel and IT products among others. The majority of these products already enjoyed a zero tariff rate before the KORUS FTA. In addition, various U.S. reports, including a National Trade Estimate (NTE) report published in March 31, 2017, view the KORUS FTA in a positive light.



As agreed in the second special session of the U.S.-Korea FTA Joint Committee held Oct. 4 this year, the two sides have agreed to discuss amendments of the agreement. It is the right direction that both sides aim for "amendment," not "renegotiation," which implies discussion of a wide and unspecified agenda. It is very important that Korea and the U.S. prioritize the issues and focus negotiations on high priority ones.



Considering the political aspects, we need to make efforts to reduce the trade imbalance. Korea's surplus in its trade with the U.S. has already begun to decrease. Korea has recorded an $11.2 billion surplus in the first half of 2017, showing a year-on-year drop of 32.1 percent from last year's $16.5 billion. Meanwhile, it will be necessary to consider expanding Korea's imports of U.S. energy products and aircraft, provided that doing so remains feasible from an economic perspective.



The KORUS FTA has served as the stimulus for KOR-US relations to evolve from a military alliance into a comprehensive strategic partnership, and possesses an important significance from the standpoint of the ROK-US alliance. Therefore, it is crucial that both nations do all they can to conduct fruitful talks regarding the recent call for an improved KORUS FTA.



Hyun Jung-taik is president of Korea Institute for International Economic Policy (KIEP).




President Moon Jae-in goes over key statistics of employment and wages on an electronic board with his advisers at Cheong Wa Dae. President Moon has pledged to increase workers' income and welfare to boost the economy. / Korea Times file photo



Majority of economists, analysts view income-led growth positively

By Park Hyong-ki

Since Moon Jae-in's presidential campaign and his taking the oath as President five months ago, his economic policy has stirred debate.

This was largely expected because he made promises that were almost totally opposite those of former conservative Presidents Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye.

As a former human rights lawyer and close friend of former liberal President Roh Moo-hyun, Moon has been focusing on a policy to improve the welfare of middle- and low-income workers. On the other hand, Lee implemented a business-friendly policy, and Park, too, was lenient toward conglomerates, in addition to boosting startups.

Moon's economic policy includes many things, which the incumbent government hopes will bring changes to the aging industries dominated by traditional chaebol.

He laid out plans, albeit not yet in detail, to reform and reshape this market order through tougher antitrust regulations against those conglomerates.

The President wants to cut ties with businesses so that the government will no longer give favors to particular companies and their executives.

This also means no more conglomerates colluding with politicians and unfairly treating small- and medium-size enterprises.

His government seeks to actually keep a level playing field not just between small and large businesses, but also between employers and employees.

Moon's key focus has been on improving the welfare of workers.

Since the trickle-down economic policy of supporting companies' growth by previous governments did not work effectively, it was logical for Moon and his economic advisers to go for a policy that could help boost workers' income.

This income-led growth policy further gave way as the economy has been fueled by debt that weighed on private spending.

People's average income has not increased as high as the rate of consumer and apartment prices over the past years.

They relied on taking out loans to fill in the widening gap to find and buy an affordable place to live.

This resulted in skyrocketing household debt, and a very slow increase in personal wealth.

With inequality and unemployment growing, President Moon pledged to increase the country's minimum wage, reduce the number of irregular employees and hire more social service workers such as firefighters and police officers.





Positive over income-led growth

His policy for job protection and increases has received a mixed response.

Liberals and conservatives are clearly split over the President's income-led growth policy.

Those who argue for his policy said it was time to focus on the people or workers' wellbeing since companies failed to do it through job creation and wage increases.

Those who argue against it said Moon's policy only hinders private investment and job creation.

Economists and analysts, in general, are in favor of the income-led growth policy.

The Korea Times surveyed 20 economists and analysts, asking them about the pros and cons of Moon's economic policy.

More than a dozen economists mentioned the government's income-led growth policy.

Of those, ten said they are positive about his policy supporting workers' welfare.

"I see it as positive. The average income growth has been very slow. The economy has been driven by debt, and this caused abnormal development of the real estate market," said Sun Dae-in, an independent economist and head of SDInomics rearch center.

Choi Pae-kun, an economist at Konkuk University, said he sees the policy as part of efforts to "normalize" the labor market and reduce inequality.

He added the growing income inequality between households and companies over the last two decades led the economy to be in bad shape.

"The policy will be able to help fix this problem," Choi said.

The incumbent government negotiated with representatives from the business and labor sectors to increase next year's minimum wage.

It has been raised 16.4 percent to 7,530 won per hour, a record increase.

Moon has pledged to increase the wage to 10,000 won by 2020.

Also, soon after his inauguration, he visited Incheon International Airport and a fire station in Seoul, reaffirming his pledge for zero irregular public workers and higher incomes.

However, economists say his income-led growth policy alone cannot do the trick.

President Moon will need a policy that can drive innovation in the private sector.

If the government only focuses on boosting workers' income and job security, the policy will work only in the short term.

Creating jobs and reducing the number of irregular workers in the public sector can further burden tax payers.

Lee Sun-yup, an analyst at Shinhan Investment, said raising taxes to support the economy will also increase the burden.

"There is no detail policy on innovation," said Ju Won, an economist at Hyundai Research Institute.

Only recently did President Moon make a brief comment on the importance of innovation led by the private sector during a Cabinet meeting.

Improvement points

Five months in office is considered too short for some to thoroughly evaluate Moon's economic policy.

Still, eight economists and analysts said the government needs to draw a much more detailed policy on altering a business landscape filled with chaebol through innovation.

This is because ultimately it is the private sector that creates jobs in the long run.

"This is the right time to push reform when his approval rating is high. But it seems the government is looking over its shoulder so that it will not upset others," said Ha Joon-kyung, an economist at Hanyang University.

Nevertheless, economists Oh Jung-geun of Konkuk University and Ha of Hanyang University said although its policy lacks clear vision and balance, the market should give the President some credit for trying something new for workers and realizing the importance of business innovation for growth.
By Yoon Ja-young



Exports led by semiconductors are reinvigorating the economy.



The country's exports totaled $44.98 billion in October, up 7.1 percent from the previous year, growing for 12 consecutive months, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.



Exports had been marking double-digit growth for nine consecutive months through September. The growth slowed down in October because of the 10-day Chuseok holiday. There were 4.5 fewer days in October this year compared with last year. Saturday is counted as a half day.



When normalized, the recovery in exports is evident. Daily average exports marked $2.5 billion in October this year, which is up 33.9 percent from the previous year.



Among the country's 13 major export items, seven, including semiconductors, ships, steel and petrochemicals increased.



Most notable were semiconductors, which posted a 69.6 percent jump in exports. The country shipped $9.5 billion worth of chips in October. Among them, exports of multi-chip packages and organic light-emitting diodes marked record-highs.



Semiconductor exports have been rising for 13 consecutive months, thanks to stable price of DRAMs, which are used for computers, and the introduction of new smartphones.



Oil products also saw a 10.3 percent rise in outbound shipments, thanks to strong oil prices. Ship exports also soared 36 percent, including high value-added offshore plants and LNG vessels.



Exports of automobiles, machinery and textiles decreased as production of these items are more affected by working days.



The country's total imports also continued picking up, standing at $37.65 billion in October, up 7.4 percent from the previous year.



The trade account marked a $7.33 billion surplus, sustaining a surplus for 69 straight months.



The government expects the country's total trade to surpass $1 trillion this year, the first time since 2014. It explained that the rosy outlook for the global economy, increasing output in manufacturing, the boom in the info-tech industry and bullish bourses, will improve the conditions for trade.



Protectionism in trade and the possible U.S. key rate hike and geopolitical risks, however, remain as uncertainties.




Representatives of the Ukrainian Education and Science Ministry headed by Minister Lilia Hrynevych have answered the questions of Venice Commission experts regarding different approaches to teaching children of different national minorities, as well as terms and instruments for implementing the language clause of the Ukrainian education law, the ministry's press service reported on October 31.

Venice Commission experts were told that Ukraine would use different approaches to the study of the Ukrainian language by national minorities.

"You know, there's a joke about how a hare, a bird and a turtle were given the task to run a certain distance for the same time. It's clear from this example that a unified approach for everyone is the wrong path. Our goal is to bring all Ukrainian children to a certain level of knowledge of the Ukrainian language at the stage of the end of general secondary education, taking into account the needs of a particular group," Hrynevych said.

She said that education in schools of each of the minorities had its own needs in order to get the respective quality.

"Polish and Bulgarian languages belong to the Slavic group, so one approach is needed here. Hungarian and Romanian are the languages of the other group, and the approach here should be different," reads the report.

Hrynevych also noted that the ministry was now developing new textbooks, programs and courses for raising the skills of teachers in schools with the language of instruction of national minorities.
By Park Hyong-ki



Seoul stocks extended record gains for four straight trading days, surpassing 2,550 points buoyed by foreign investments in tech shares, especially of Samsung Electronics, analysts said Wednesday.



The benchmark KOSPI closed at an all-time high of 2,556.47 points, up 1.31 percent or 33.04 points. Foreign investors bought Seoul shares worth over 304 billion won.



Analysts say Samsung's strong growth on semiconductors led the bullish rally following its record earnings in the third quarter.



This has positively spilled over to other tech stocks, including SK hynix.



"Samsung's dividend policy and stellar semiconductor business is driving the rally," said Yang Ki-in, an analyst at Shinhan Investment.



Analysts expect Samsung shares to surpass 3 million won in six months.



The tech giant closed at a record 2,861,000 won, up 107,000 won or 3.89 percent. Its 52-week high was 2,772,000 won.



On Tuesday, Samsung reported an operating profit of 14.53 trillion won in the third quarter, up 179 percent from the previous quarter.



Its record core earnings were attributable to its strong DRAM and NAND flash memory chip business, which accounted for more than 68 percent of its operating profit.



Its semiconductors also contributed to an annual increase of 7 percent in Korean exports last month, helping the country gain in trade for 12 straight months, according to the trade ministry.



This has further cemented Samsung as the world's top memory chipmaker, whose valuation is expected to be rated again soon amid positive outlooks.



"The semiconductor up-cycle and stronger shareholder return policy will likely drive a stock re-rating," said Greg Roh, an analyst at Hyundai Motor Investment Securities.



The analyst forecast Samsung shares could reach as high as 3.4 million won in 12 months.



Samsung said it will pay 50 percent of its free cash flow to its shareholders every year from 2018 to 2020, and pay 9.6 trillion won in cash dividends in the same period. The company also named three new younger heads of its semiconductor, consumer electronics and mobile businesses.



SK hynix, the second-biggest company on the main bourse, closed at 85,300 won, up 3.77 percent or 3,100 won.



The local rally on foreign investments also followed overnight gains on Wall Street where global investors continued their bullish trading of tech stocks led by Apple, which is about release its iPhone X with new features such as wireless charging, analysts say.



Improved sentiment on the U.S. economy also positively affected Seoul stocks, following a Conference Board report that the American consumer confidence index reached 125.9 last month, the highest in 17 years.




Outdated economic structure, rigid labor market also picked as top economic problems



By Nam Hyun-woo





Economists and analysts have picked Korea's demographic change as the country's biggest economic problem, describing it as a time bomb waiting to explode and drag down Asia's fourth-largest economy.



Upon its 67th anniversary, The Korea Times surveyed 20 economists and analysts, asking them to name the most worrying and chronic problems that could halt Korea's future growth.



Unlike views from outside the country, most respondents did not pick external factors such as threats from North Korea.



Rather, they mentioned more internal problems, such as the aging workforce, outdated economic structure and rigid labor market, warning that some of these should be urgently tackled.





Graying Korea



Out of the 20, eight pointed to a reduction in the country's population -- it is marching toward a demographic cliff.



According to the Bank of Korea (BOK), the country's birthrate was at the world's lowest at 1.17 last year.



Next year, the country will be regarded as aged-society as its elderly population -- those aged 65 or older -- is expected to account for 14.3 percent of the population, surpassing the 14 percent mark for an aged society. In 2025, Korea's elderly population will rise to over 20 percent, labeling the country as a super-aged-society.



The problem is the speed of aging.



Korea became an aging society in 2000 after its elderly population accounted for 7 percent of the population. It took 18 years for the country to become grayer -- aging to aged -- much faster than Japan at 24 years; Germany, 40 years; Italy, 61 years; and the United States at 73 years.



The seven-year period before Korea transitions from an aged to a super-aged society is also the fastest among the aforementioned countries.



The BOK said such a fast aging trend will lead the country's economic growth to almost zero in the next 10 years. It predicted the growth rate of the country's gross domestic product will slow to 1.9 percent between 2016 and 2025 and then to 0.4 percent between 2026 and 2035.



"The aging issue is really serious," Prof. Yun Chang-hyun at the University of Seoul said. "The trends of a low birthrate and an ageing society become very distinct. But the country is still complacent in preparing for a super-aged society."



Jones Lang LaSalle Korea Representative Director Lee Han-kook said the demographic cliff will bring a huge decline in the workforce because the total population will shrink.



The United Nations estimated that Korea's population will decline from 50 million in 2015 to 3.9 million in 2070.

"Under such circumstances, Korea will lack new economic momentum," Lee said.



BOK Economic Research Institute head Sohn Wook said: "The government's measures for the aging society seem to be insufficient. Given that it takes one generation, or 30 years to have a tangible outcome from a low birthrate and aging policies, the absence of continued efforts will bring about a negative outcome in the future." Sohn said. He did not participate in the survey, though.





Legacy of old days



Those surveyed gave seven votes to the issues of Korea's conglomerate- and manufacturer-centric economic structure, low labor flexibility and poor utilization of its labor market.



While making rapid growth after the 1950-53 Korean War, the theory Korea resorted to was trickle-down economics, in which the profits from "well-nurtured" conglomerates and the rich move down to small businesses and the poor. In the process, benefits were given to everybody.



However, experts agree that such an effect never existed.



Samsung Electronics continues to shatter its own record-high profits and sales, lifting its market cap to reach 400 trillion won last month -- 25 percent of the 1,600 trillion-won valuation of the main KOSPI bourse -- but that does not guarantee its affiliated or partnered firms enjoying little crumbs.



For example, analysts talk about the KOSPI's recent surge and mediocre movement of the secondary KOSDAQ bourse, on which many of Samsung-related small firms are listed.



"Korea's fundamental problem lies in its economic structure," Konkuk University professor Choi Pae-kun said. "We need to create new revenue sources for companies and reform our economic structure. As the country keeps failing to achieve them, the quality of jobs are going from bad to worse and economic growth will slow down."



Prof. Ha Joon-kyung at Hanyang University said the issues of the conglomerate-centric structure and rigid labor market are linked. "When you look into the business ecosystem of Korea, firms are trying to exploit its vested interests. Workers are also doing the same thing because the country's labor market is rigid," Ha said.



"Let's say a group of workers have gone out on strike," professor Kang Sung-jin at Korea University said. "The company will try to find a substitution workforce -- whether it is temporary or not -- to keep the factory running during the workers absence, but that is too difficult in Korea. It is good for workers, but not for young jobseekers."





Old engine



Experts also said that Korean industries no longer have a growth engine or competitive edge over its rivals. Five experts picked lack of competitiveness and ideas for new growth as problems for the Korean economy.



"Korea's core industries have been falling apart after losing their competitiveness," professor Lee Phil-sang at Seoul National University said.



Sogang University professor Kim Young-ick pinpointed Korea's materials industry, which has lost its competitive edge to its rivals in Japan and contributes to a significant portion of Korea's trade deficit with Japan.



From 2011 to 2015, Korea suffered consecutive losses in trades with Japan, before turning to a surplus last year.



Also in the survey, four experts picked Korea's high reliance on foreign economies and lack of discretion in making an economic drive as the biggest problems.



Polarization and the imbalance between economic players got three votes, respectively. The country's debt-led growth and consequent surge of household debt were also mentioned by three economists.
Cultural Heritage Administrator Kim Jong-jin / Courtesy of Lee Soo-jin



By Kwon Mee-yoo

New Cultural Heritage Administrator Kim Jong-jin is an old hand in the field. He is someone who knows how to strike the balance between the conservation and utilization of cultural heritage.

Kim took the post in August when the Cultural Heritage Administration (CHA) had piles of controversial issues such as the approval of the Seoraksan Mountain cable car connecting Osaek to Kkeutcheong Peak and preservation of the Bangudae Petroglyphs.

Kim is known as a self-made man who entered civil service with a high school diploma. He joined the formerly Cultural Heritage Bureau in 1981 and carried out a variety of tasks on cultural heritage for some three decades. He also served as president of the Korea Cultural Heritage Foundation from 2013 to 2014 before making a return to his home ground CHA.

Kim majored in economics at the Korea National Open University and is currently pursuing a master's degree in cultural heritage conservation at the Graduate School of Cultural Heritage, Kongju University.

Though he spent almost all his career around cultural assets, the administrator position is special for him.

"I will do my best to promote the value of cultural heritage and let it enrich the national brand of Korea," Kim said at an interview with The Korea Times. "There are various areas and positions related to cultural heritage and the key is to gain sympathy among the people concerned. Heretofore, I was one of the parties concerned, but now I have to listen to those all interested in the issue and draw cooperation among them."





The Cultural Heritage Administration offers various programs at cultural properties including ancient palaces to take a step closer to the public. / Courtesy of CHA



Kim emphasized that utilization of cultural properties should be on the premise of conservation.

"There are various perspectives on life and as our society diversifies, we encounter more differences in views and ideas. In case of cultural properties, its historical and cultural values clash with economic and commercial values increasingly," administrator said.

"It's not that we only pursue usage of cultural assets. Preservation should be the priority since it cannot be restored exactly the same once damaged and development is inextricable from conservation."

He gave the example of the ongoing controversy over the installation of an aerial cableway in the Seoraksan Mountain in Gangwon Province.

"The Cultural Heritage Committee endorsed the value of preservation, but we cannot turn away from the county wanting to make good use of the cultural assets they have," Kim said. "It's important to obtain opinions from each side and go through enough deliberation."

Promoting the uniqueness and beauty of Korean cultural properties is CHA's major goal and thus one of the biggest tasks is to submit Korean cultural assets to UNESCO lists including the World Heritage list, Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list and Memory of the World.

Earlier this week, three Korean documents  "eobo" (Korean royal seals) and investiture books from Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910); the archives of the National Debt Redemption movement (1907-10); and "Documents on Joseon Tongsinsa," which documents Korean envoys to Japan during Joseon era  made their way into the Memory of the World list.

"Cultural heritage occupies an important position in the national brand of Korea. The CHA will continue to exchange with other countries and international organizations such as UNESCO to become more influential," Kim said.

Next in line are seven mountain Buddhist temples, including Beopju Temple, Tongdo Temple and Buseok Temple, for their representation of Korean Buddhism combined with indigenous beliefs such as "pungsu" geomancy theory as well as traditional architecture style.





The culture of Jeju haenyeo (women divers) was inscribed in the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list in 2016. Submitting Korean cultural properties for the UNESCO list registration is one of the Cultural Heritage Administration's tasks. / Courtesy of CHA



Kim's scope of activities has been widened since he has to visit many cultural properties across the nation as the cultural heritage administrator.

"There are many great cultural assets outside the Seoul area as well. When I visited night tour programs involving cultural heritage, which are encouraged and promoted by the CHA, it was good to see locals come out, enjoy our tradition and create community. That's what our aim should be," the administrator said.

"There are ancient palaces in Seoul, but many great old houses with rich history are located throughout the country. Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province is known for its relics from Shilla Kingdom (57 B.C. - A.D. 935), while Taean, South Chungcheong Province has beautiful costal sand dunes. Each region has unique gems and we plan to publish a cultural heritage map next year, integrating all information."

Throughout the interview, Kim put stress on sympathy and cooperation.

"I have met a wide variety of people from cultural property restorers to volunteers who monitor and clean up assets. They all come from different backgrounds, but we all have the same goal  protecting the precious cultural properties. So I think we can cooperate for the common goal with sympathy," Kim said. "I was especially impressed by the supporters because they volunteer because they like cultural heritage and know the importance of it. I feel sorry and grateful at the same time for their effort outside the system."
By Kwon Mee-yoo

Museu de la Musica de Barcelona, one of the major museums dedicated to music in Spain, will hold a special exhibition on "gugak" (Korean traditional music) starting Nov. 2.

Titled "Eolssigu, the Sounds of Korean Music," features some 80 objects with 22 of them donated to the museum from the National Gugak Center.

The exhibit came to fruition through the efforts of Spanish musician Horacio Curti, who visited Korea in 2015 to attend the National Gugak Center's international gugak workshop.

Curti, who teaches at Escola Superior de Musica de Catalunya, a music school which works closely with the museum, suggested the exhibition. The exhibition title was inspired by the Korean interjection "eolssigu," which Curti thought similar to Spain's "ole." He was fascinated by the similarities of the two countries folk music after attending the workshop.

Kim Hee-sun of the National Gugak Center said, "This exhibit is going to provide a chance for both countries to experience cultural differences and broaden the understanding on traditional music and the performing arts."

For the Barcelona exhibit, the National Gugak Center gathered the finest of Korean traditional instruments including "gayageum" (12-string zither), ajaeng (seven-string bowed zither) and haegeum (two-stringed fiddle). The center also donated some 30 "janggu" (hourglass-shaped drum) for educational purpose last year.

Other than musical instruments, other related objects such as masks used in traditional Korean mask dance will also be on display.

The exhibit runs through June 3, 2018. For more information, visit http://ajuntament.barcelona.cat/museumusica/ca.
U.S. President Donald Trump will not visit the Korean demilitarized zone when he travels to South Korea next week, a senior U.S. government official said Tuesday.

Speculation had been rife that Trump may visit the de facto border between the two Koreas to send a message to Pyongyang amid its nuclear and ballistic missile threats.

But the official cited scheduling issues and said the president will instead visit a major U.S. military base during his Nov. 7-8 trip to South Korea.

"The president is not going to visit the DMZ. There is not enough time in the schedule," the official told reporters on background. "It would have had to have been the DMZ or Camp Humphreys. No President has visited Camp Humphreys and we thought that that made more sense in terms of its messaging, in terms of the chance to address families and troops there."

About 28,500 American troops are stationed in South Korea as a legacy of the 1950-53 Korean War, which ended in an armistice, not a peace treaty. Camp Humphreys, some 90 kilometers south of Seoul, was recently expanded to serve as the new headquarters of the U.S. 8th Army, the backbone of U.S. Forces Korea.

Trump's visit to the base will highlight South Korea's role in sharing the burden of the alliance, the official said.

"The South Korean government paid the vast majority of the costs for building that base and repositioning some of the U.S. forces and their families on the peninsula," he explained.












By Kim Hyo-jin





Thae Yong-ho

A former high-ranking North Korean official said Tuesday that the U.S. Donald Trump administration should seek maximum engagement with Pyongyang while exerting maximum pressure on the regime.



Thae Yong-ho, a former deputy chief at the North Korean embassy in London, underlined the need to seek a two-track North Korea policy on his first visit to the United States.



"I support a maximum pressure policy, but it should go together with maximum engagement," he told a forum hosted by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington D.C, adding engagement should be applied to both the North Korean leadership and its people.



"I strongly believe in the use of soft power before taking any military action," he said, noting the focus of the recent North Korea policy being shifted to "hard power."



The ex-top official said helping North Koreans get more South Korean information can spur changes in the reclusive country.













"I strongly believe if we educate the North Korean population we can change North Korea," he said. "You can't change the reign of terror policy of the internal regime, but we can introduce the dissemination of outside information inside North Korea."



He said SD memory cards circulating among young North Koreans as seeds of potential change, noting they are called "nose cards" because people insert them in their nostrils to avoid detection during a body search.



Thae claimed North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's repeated purge of officials has to do with his insecurity about the legitimacy of his leadership.



"Whenever he watched senior leaders' attitudes around him, he thought there was a feeling of superiority from the senior leaders because he was the third son," Thae said. "A lot of the North Korean population doesn't know that he is the third son.



"Even after five years of power, he hasn't revealed his date of birth, his mother, and he could not show his childhood photos with (his grandfather and founding leader) Kim Il-sung."



Thae defected to South Korea in mid 2016 from the North Korean Embassy in the U.K. with his wife and two sons.



Thae is to make a speech, "The Kim Jong-un regime seen from an insider," during a hearing at the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Wednesday, local time.



His first visit to the U.S. came at the invitation of Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA). His visit was scheduled for early this year but was delayed due to the assassination of Kim Jong-nam, the estranged half brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, in February.
By Yi Whan-woo





Woo Yoon-keun

South Korea's new Ambassador to Russia Woo Yoon-keun said Wednesday he expects Russia to play an expanded role in resolving the North Korea nuclear crisis.

While meeting with reporters prior to his departure to Moscow next week, Woo also said he is confident that the three-way economic cooperation among the two Koreas and Russia will make headway soon in line with President Moon Jae-in's campaign pledge.

"It's difficult to explain in detail, but I think Russia can play a crucial role regarding North Korea's nuclear crisis," he said.

He speculated that Russia may be behind North Korea's move to refrain from making military provocations lately.

"I don't have detailed information, but Moscow is believed be playing a role in the matter."












President Moon Jae-in offers handshakes to lawmakers of the main opposition Liberty Korea Party (LKP) following his speech at the National Assembly, Wednesday. The LKP lawmakers held banners criticizing the government's policies on North Korea and the media during Moon's presidential speech, prompting protests from ruling Democratic Party of Korea lawmakers. However, the first thing Moon did after the speech was to greet the LKP lawmakers _ with pleasant jokes and big smiles. / Korea Times photo by Oh Dae-geun
Korea Times President-Publisher Lee Chang-sup, left, poses with columnists Lee Sun-ho, center, and Chang Se-moon after awarding them with certificates of appreciation for their contributions to the newspaper Oct. 25 at The Korea Times office. A former bank executive, Lee published his 316th article Oct. 14, marking the 50th anniversary of his first contribution on Oct. 15, 1967. Chang, director of the Gulf Coast Center for Impact Studies, has written columns for The Korea Times for 20 years. / Korea Times
By Yi Whan-woo

Seoul and Beijing face tough security and economic challenges ahead despite their agreement Tuesday to normalize their ties frayed by the deployment of a U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery here, analysts said Wednesday.

Most of all, China is adamantly against the existence and reinforcement of the U.S. missile defense system in the region, concerned about the Seoul-Washington-Tokyo military alliance.

This may create a dilemma for Korea. The country may be pressured to choose between the U.S. and China whenever there are conflicts of interest between the two superpowers especially over regional security, according to the analysts.

A major concern for the administration of President Moon Jae-in is that its attempt to shift away from the country's excessively U.S.-oriented diplomacy could be misunderstood by Washington.

"It's regrettable that our government complied too easily with China's opposition toward U.S. military influence in the region," said Kim Hyun-wook, a professor at the Korea National Diplomatic Academy. "I'm afraid this may lead to another diplomatic conflict with China if the U.S. tries to increase the number of THAAD batteries here."

Kim claimed that Chinese President Xi Jinping, who has begun his second 10-year term, will be willing to take on a zero-sum game with U.S. President Donald Trump to better consolidate his leadership.












Law on witness protection to be named in honor of Okuyeva  Geraschenko

The law on the establishment of the National Service for State Protection of Criminal Procedure Participants, which will be presented in the parliament in November, will be named after Amina Okuyeva, MP Anton Geraschenko wrote on his Facebook page.

"The law on the protection of witnesses, which will be presented in November, will bear the name of Amina Okuyeva," the MP said.

This bill, according to Geraschenko, was developed by a group of experts under his direct supervision.

"A unified structure should be used to protect witnesses, which primarily will use resettlement, the replacement of documents as the most effective means of protection that have long been practiced around the world," the record says.

Earlier it was reported that Amina Okuyeva, a volunteer soldier who fought Russian-backed forces in eastern Ukraine, was killed and her husband, Adam Osmayev, was wounded. Their car came under fire at a railway crossing near the village of Hlevakha in Kyiv region late on October 30.
A group dedicated to telling the world about Japan's crime of forcing women into sexual slavery for its troops during World War II holds a press conference at the Northeast Asian History Foundation in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, Oct. 31. It came the same day UNESCO's International Advisory Committee postponed listing the victims' records on its "Memory of the World" register. The banner reads: "We condemn the Japanese government's diplomatic efforts to undermine culture and politically influence UNESCO's Memory of the World listing." / Yonhap



By Ko Dong-hwan

South Korean activists and survivors of Japan's forced sexual slavery during World War II have expressed anger at UNESCO's decision Tuesday to postpone listing the records of the women, mostly Koreans, on its "Memory of the World" register.

UNESCO's International Advisory Committee (IAC) said the issue must be "reconciled between the involved parties" before a listing.

At a press conference at the Northeast Asian History Foundation in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, Tuesday, the civic group said it will keep campaigning until the records of the so-called "comfort women" are acknowledged and listed on the register.

The group said the reason for the postponement  a new UNESCO article that all records of colonization, wars and government violence must be reconciled between involved parties  is unfair. It said the article will prevent countries victimized by war crimes from registering their evidence.

"When UNESCO stated the necessity of reconcilement, they virtually took part in historical reinterpretation," the group said. It accused the U.N.'s cultural organization of violating its own articles.

The civic group said the Japanese government used its financial clout to lobby for the article. Japan is the second-biggest contributor to UNESCO, behind the United States. The group said South Korea's former Park Geun-hye administration had not effectively countered the lobbying and cut funding for the group's campaign.












Sejong University President Shin Koo / Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk



By Kim Bo-eun

Sejong University is transforming itself into a leading ICT educational institution.

In 2014, it became the nation's first university to make coding classes mandatory for all incoming students. It was subsequently selected by the government as an exemplary school in software education.

This year, it hosted the nation's first competitions between humans and artificial intelligence (AI) in translation and Starcraft.

Sejong ranked in the top 1 percent of universities in Asia in the 2017 Asia University Rankings by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) released last month.

Human contestants, left, compete against AI programs at a StarCraft battle held at Sejong University in eastern Seoul, Tuesday. / Yonhap

ICT education

Sejong University was originally known for its hotel and tourism department, which was the first to be established among universities here.

However, after Shin Koo became the president of the university in 2012, he decided a makeover was needed.

"I decided that the university needed to keep up with changing global trends and envisioned providing ICT-based education for all majors," Shin said in an interview with The Korea Times on the Sejong campus in southeastern Seoul last week.

This is how mandatory coding classes began.

In 2014, the university began teaching the classes through a pre-entry program.

Based on these efforts, the government recognized the university as a model software education institution.

Sejong has established a Software and Convergence Technology College, offering computer engineering, computer information security, software and data science majors.

Beginning last year, it has become compulsory to take six credits in coding classes, up from three. Students are required to use their skills to develop something of their own, whether it be an application or a game.

The government selected Sejong to receive subsidies as a university ICT research center. Its mobile virtual reality (VR) research center has made global patent applications, won global challenges and received awards in ICT paper contests.

On Tuesday, Sejong hosted a StarCraft competition between human players and top AI programs, which professional gamer Song Byung-gu won.

Among the competing AI programs was one developed by Sejong, MJ-bot _ the no. 2 StarCraft AI in Korea developed by professor Kim Kyung-joon's research team.

Sejong has been hosting AI vs AI StarCraft matches since 2014.

Since 2009, the school has been offering game AI classes in courses for seniors, offering them the opportunity to develop AI technology.

Shin attributes the school's focus on ICT education with the achievements by the students. Sejong's undergraduate students placed second for three consecutive years in a global Fighting Game AI Competition.

In February, the university hosted a translation battle between human translators and AI-powered programs.

"We pay 200 million won in electric bills a month," Shin said, laughing.

Globalization

Universities in Korea face an increasingly tough environment, due to heightened competition both on the national and international platforms.

Due to the low birth rate, the student population is decreasing, which means many universities will have to close _ with only the most competitive ones remaining.

Shin said making universities fit for the era of globalization is a "matter of survival."

Another means is by attracting more international students, he said.

Sejong currently has 1,830 international students from 51 universities. They account for 15 percent of the undergrad student population.

Sejong has established four tracks for international students: business administration, hospitality and tourism management, computer engineering and public administrations _ in which all compulsory and elective courses are conducted in English.

The school is aiming attract international students with competitive programs instead of large amounts of funding. Starting this year, it has cut scholarships for international students by 10 percent.

"All universities in Korea must become globalized to compete on a global platform and to attract foreign talent as Korea faces a demographic cliff due to the low birth rate," Shin said.

"Universities should provide quality education to international students, as well as help them learn the culture here, so that they can settle and take part in the workforce."

Shin attributes international student demand to its QS ranking.

In QS' 2017 Asia University Rankings, Sejong ranked 88th out of 11,900 universities and colleges in Asia.

In turn, the flow of international students is contributing to the rise of Sejong's ranking, as universities are evaluated on their ratio of international students.

"In order to boost Sejong's reputation, it must develop competence which transcends national standards and meets global ones," Shin said.

"Sejong will make a greater effort to make it on the list of the world's top 1 percent of universities. It will continue to make an effort to produce young talent who will lead the fourth industrial revolution."
By Kim Rahn

U.S. President Donald Trump will visit Camp Humphreys in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, as the first destination during his visit to South Korea from Nov. 7 to 8, officials said Tuesday.

It will be the first visit of a U.S. president to the headquarters of the Eighth U.S. Army which relocated there in July.

The Eighth Army moved to the post after more than 60 years at Yongsan, central Seoul, as part of the U.S. Department of Defense's relocation project for U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) following more than a decade of planning since 2003.

Camp Humphreys is the largest U.S. Army Garrison overseas. It occupies 14.68 square kilometers of land  three times the size of the Yongsan garrison  with 513 buildings including schools, shops and banks as well as other facilities such as gyms, theaters and a water park for USFK personnel and their families.

Lt. Gen. Thomas S. Vandal, the commanding general of the Eighth Army, said the post is "the crown jewel of overseas installations of the Department of Defense" during the opening ceremony for the Eighth Army's new headquarters there in July.












Kim, right, who allegedly killed his mother, stepfather and 14-year-old half-brother in Korea, appears at the North Shore District Court to attend a hearing on theft charges in Auckland, New Zealand, Monday. / Yonhap



By Jung Min-ho

New Zealand police have apprehended a Korean man who flew into Auckland last week after allegedly killing three family members here, the Korean Embassy there said Monday.

According to an embassy official, it is taking necessary steps to extradite the 33-year-old, surnamed Kim, who is accused of killing his mother, stepfather and 14-year-old half-brother Oct. 21.

Kim, a permanent resident of New Zealand, caught a flight there Oct. 23 with his wife and two daughters, only to be apprehended on an outstanding warrant for alleged theft of household appliances in 2015.

He appeared at the North Shore District Court to attend the theft charge hearing. Currently he is remanded in custody without a plea on the theft charge.

If he ends up in prison, it may not be possible to bring him back to Korea immediately.

The two countries have an extradition treaty, which was signed in 2001.

The bodies of his mother and half-brother were found at their home in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, with multiple stab wounds. A kitchen knife was found next to them.

The body of his stepfather was found in the trunk of a vehicle in a condominium parking lot in PyeongChang County, Gangwon Province.

His motive remains unclear. He did not have a stable job and relied on his mother financially. Police will question him once he is returned.
/ Courtesy of police



By Jung Min-ho

Police uploaded a fake voyeuristic video on websites as part of an awareness campaign against sex crimes involving hidden cameras, only to find it was downloaded by 26,000 people in two weeks.

Police said Wednesday they uploaded the 75-second video titled "Fitting Room" on file-sharing websites between Oct. 17 and 31 as part of their project, "Stop Downloadkill."

Police said it was "shock therapy" for people who habitually download such content.

In the beginning, it appears to be a typical voyeuristic video filmed by a hidden camera. From behind, the video shows a young woman changing clothes in a fitting room. But suddenly, it cuts to a close-up of her ghost-like face.

Then a message appears: you may be the one who is pushing her to suicide. It also says "police are monitoring this website."

Police said the project has received positive feedback. They said they may do another campaign against crimes involving hidden cameras.

Creating or distributing hidden camera voyeuristic videos is a serious crime subject to up to a five-year prison term or a fine of up to 10 million won ($8,800). But the number of sex crimes involving hidden cameras increased to 7,730 in 2015 from just 517 in 2006.
Park Sung-jin, a senior prosecutor, speaks to reporters at the Seoul Northern District Prosecutors' Office in Seoul, Wednesday. / Yonhap



By Jung Min-ho

Lee Young-hak, who was arrested last month for allegedly killing a 14-year-old girl, has been indicted on murder and rape charges, the prosecution said Wednesday.

The Seoul Northern District Prosecutors' Office said the 35-year-old was indicted on charges of raping the daughter of a friend of his while she was asleep and strangling her to death, among other charges.

If he is found guilty, he could be sentenced to life in prison.

According to the prosecution, his deviant sexual desires, including pedophilia, sadism and voyeurism, were a big part of his criminal motive.

Lee lured the girl to his house in Seoul by using his daughter, who left after giving the victim a drink that had powdered sleeping pills in it.

While his daughter was away, Lee raped and sexually assaulted the victim with sex toys.

When she woke up, he strangled her to death with a tie and a towel, and with his daughter, buried her body on a hill in Yeongwol, Gangwon Province.

Park Sung-jin, a senior prosecutor, told reporters that investigators found many porn files on his phone and computer that suggest his abnormal sexual desires.

It is likely that Lee did not lure the victim to his house to kill her, Park noted. "But we believe he did not plan to let her go after the crime, either. He wanted to keep her in his control for a while by using his daughter," the prosecutor said.

Through many tests, the prosecution also found that Lee's IQ is lower than average, but he did not have any major issues in carrying out his daily activities.

The death of his 31-year-old wife, who committed suicide in September, was another factor that triggered him to find someone else to satisfy his sexual desires, the prosecution said.

His wife died after filing a complaint with police on Sept. 1 against Lee's stepfather, accusing him of sexually assaulting her for eight years. His stepfather also killed himself last week.

Lee and his daughter became famous in 2006 when it was aired that they suffer from a rare disease known as gigantiform cementoma, which involves dental tumors growing on the jaw. Until recently, he raised donations through TV programs and social media.

The prosecution found that he used much of the money to buy expensive cars, high-class audio systems and other luxury items.

His friend, surnamed Park, who helped him move and bury the body, has also been indicted.

The prosecution will soon indict his daughter, who is under arrest.

Investigators will continue to look into other suspicions surrounding his family, including the deaths of his wife and stepfather as well as Lee's alleged prostitution business.




By Rha Hae-sung, Park Si-soo

Police caught 30 people suspected of having smuggled out nearly 200 lost or stolen smartphones. Four were detained over the possible risk of destroying evidence, according to Geumjeong Police Station in Busan.

Police said the suspects "exported" 170 lost or stolen smartphones to China and Vietnam from September 2016 to October this year. They earned nearly 130 million won ($110,000) as each phone sold for 300,000-500,000 won ($269-$448).



The phones included those they stole or bought from taxi drivers who pocketed passengers' devices.
By Kim Se-jeong



Mystery continued Wednesday over the cause of a car accident that killed actor Kim Joo-hyuck on Monday in southern Seoul.



He drove a Mercedes SUV when it sideswiped a Grandeur sedan at 4:30 p.m., crashed into a wall in an I-Park apartment complex, rolled down some steps and flipped over. He was taken to a nearby hospital but died two hours later.



Police continued their investigation Wednesday, reviewing black box footage and speaking with relatives and acquaintances.



On Tuesday, the National Forensic Service said a skull fracture was the cause of death but is conducting additional tests to confirm it.



According to the black box footage, he sideswiped the Grandeur sedan once, then suddenly sped up toward the apartment complex, going off the road and crashing.



Speaking with the police, the Grandeur driver testified the actor seemed to be having major chest pains when he collided with his vehicle, with his chest leaning toward the steering wheel.



His friends and relatives dismissed the possibility of a heart attack, saying he was generally in good shape, not even drinking alcohol.



But, on Wednesday morning, the Dong-A Ilbo reported that the suspected side effects of medication may have caused the crash, quoting an acquaintance of Kim.



The acquaintance said he was on medication for almost a month prior to the accident. The type of medication was unknown but Dong-A wrote the pill was prescribed for stress and related skin problems. It also said the medication could cause nausea, headaches, tiredness and cramping among other side effects.



The police confirmed he had an appointment with a dermatologist later that day and spoke with the doctor two hours before the accident.



Kim's memorial altar at Asan Medical Center was busy Wednesday. His girlfriend, actress Lee Yoo-young, reportedly received people offering consolations. From Wednesday afternoon, the memorial altar was open to his fans.



Born in 1972, the actor debuted in 1998. He is expected to be buried in Seosan, South Chungcheong Province, today.












By Kim Rahn

President Moon Jae-in has ruled out the possibility of South Korea developing or stockpiling nuclear weapons, saying he is seeking a denuclearized Korean Peninsula.

In an address to the National Assembly, Wednesday, the President renewed his determination to pursue peace on the peninsula, pledging to resolve North Korea's nuclear and missile issues peacefully.

His remarks come as the main conservative Liberty Korea Party is calling for the redeployment of U.S. tactical nuclear weapons here as a deterrence against the North's missile threats.

"The Korean Peninsula is where our people live and will live. It should be safe, and it should be peaceful. This is a duty which the Constitution imposes on a South Korean President," Moon said in his second speech to the Assembly.

He said his administration is dealing with the issue with firm and consistent principles  resolving the nuclear crisis peacefully through denuclearization of the peninsula but also sternly responding to the North's provocations.

"A nuclear-armed North Korea is neither acceptable nor tolerable according to the joint declaration on the denuclearization of the peninsula. South Korea will not develop or possess nuclear weapons as well," Moon said.
Detectives of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) have notified the third detainee of suspicion in committing a crime during the purchase of backpacks for the Interior Ministry in late 2014 and early 2015.

"The third suspect in the 'backpack case' was notified of suspicion in committing a crime," a NABU representative told Interfax-Ukraine early on Wednesday.

At the same time, he declined to name the detainee.

Bloc of Petro Poroshenko MP Serhiy Leschenko said earlier, referring to his own sources, that in addition to former Deputy Interior Minister Serhiy Chebotar and Interior Minister Arsen Avakov's son, Oleksandr, NABU detectives had detained head of IT firm Turboseo Volodymyr Lyvtyn in Kharkiv. According to Leschenko, Lytvyn also runs a company that, according to the results of the tender, had to produce a batch of backpacks for the Interior Ministry.

Two individuals detained on October 31 as part of the investigation into the so-called "backpack case" were informed on the same day of suspicion in committing a crime under Part 5, Article 191 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (appropriation, embezzlement or taking possession of property through abuse of power). The issue concerns former Deputy Interior Minister Serhiy Chebotar and Oleksandr Avakov, the son of Interior Minister Arsen Avakov.
By Kim Hyo-jin



Indonesia has failed to pay its annual share of expenses for a joint project with South Korea to develop high-tech fighter jets, an opposition lawmaker claimed Wednesday.



The claim prompted concerns the project, dubbed KF-X, could be suspended.



Rep. Kim Jong-dae of the Justice Party, a member of the National Assembly Defense Committee, said Indonesia's state-run defense firm PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PTDI), a participant in the project, has yet to pay this year's remaining allotted 138.9 billion won ($124.5 million) to Seoul as of the end of October, based on a document from the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA).



"If Indonesia does not pay in time, the Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) has to shoulder the burden of 40 percent of the development costs," Kim said. "Coupled with the current issue of the company being financially strapped, the KF-X project could easily be put in danger."



KAI is the nation's sole aircraft manufacturer that signed the KF-X contract with DAPA.



Seoul launched the KF-X project in 2015 to build its own 4.5-generation fighters to replace the Air Force's aging fleet of F-4s and F-5s by 2026.



PTDI signed an agreement with KAI in January 2016 to foot 20 percent of the cost in the development of the program, while KAI pays 20 percent and the South Korean government pays the remaining 60 percent of the 7.5 trillion won for the program.



Due to the form of agreement, the KAI faces a burden when payments from PTDI are delayed, Kim said.



KAI is reportedly in a liquidity crunch amid corruption allegations against its former management. According to a government audit, corporate bonds worth 600 billion won and 290 billion won in corporate paper are due by the end of this year. An internal report said KAI is 630 billion won short for its projected spending this year because of the shortage of cash and required payments on loans.



"The right timing of financing is critical in an R&D project that requires state-of-the-art technology. With no special measures for the delay in payment, the KF-X project could be suspended," the lawmaker said, calling for government action.



Starting April 2016, Indonesia agreed to pay 1 percent of the program costs annually, with its contribution to rise above 2 percent from 2017 onwards. Overall, the Southeast Asian country is supposed to pay 1.6 trillion won ($1.33 billion) into the KF-X program.



In 2017, the Indonesian government should pay 184 billion won but it only paid 45.2 billion won out of 92 billion won due in the first half of the year.



Kim accused DAPA of having downplayed concerns over the delayed payment.



He pointed out that the Indonesian government had officially disclosed its difficulty in paying 138.9 billion won in late September after it failed to include the money in its budget finalized in August.



But DAPA denied this, saying it was in close coordination with the Indonesian government for the payment due by October.



DAPA said the issue will be on the agenda for a summit between leaders of South Korea and Indonesia. President Moon Jae-in is scheduled to start an eight-day official trip to Southeast Asia, Nov. 8.




By You Soo-sun



Incheon International Airport has gone back on its word to secure permanent jobs for all of its 10,000 employees, according to Rep. Yoon Young-il of the minor opposition People's Party.



On social media, Friday, the airport announced up to 2,000 employees will switch over to permanent status by the end of the year.



The statement, however, met a backlash as company CEO Chung Il-young had pledged to give permanent job status to all irregular workers within this year.



He first made this promise when President Moon Jae-in visited Incheon Airport, May 12, and maintained his vow until a National Assembly audit of the employment and labor ministry, Oct. 24.



"I will push forward with the transition by making four to five subsidiary companies. I do not plan on using other resources," Chung said during the audit, adding the company was currently negotiating with its union.



The company has long been criticized for its workforce composition. Up to 87 percent of its employees, or 6,100 people, were hired under irregular status in the past  the highest share among all public organizations.



This was the first public statement on the issue by Chung, who has for years insisted on keeping the irregular workforce.



The news was a ray of hope for these employees, some of whom had worked at the airport for over a decade.



However, he is accused of breaking his promise just a few days after the audit, during which questions were raised over the feasibility of Chung's plan.



Rep. Kim Sung-tae of the Liberty Korea Party criticized him for making a hasty promise, and expressed skepticism about his plan. "How is it possible to change the working status for 10,000 people all at once?" Kim asked.



Kim also condemned Chung's sudden change in position since Moon Jae-in  who has pledged to remove all irregular jobs in the public sector  was elected President.



Doubts were also raised over the sincerity of Chung's plan. According to Rep. Yoon Young-il, the airport made deals with 17 firms in June to outsource 3,700 employees who were hired under irregular working status. Chung refuted this claim, arguing the deal was made prior to his promise.



Rep. Choi Gyung-hwan of the People's Party highlighted the importance of ensuring transparency of the employment transition process. He argued the outsourced firms have hired 1,012 people since May, many of whom were relatives and acquaintances of management and entered the company without proper screening procedures.




Factories close to Qingdao Liuting International Airport in Shandong Province, China on July 4, 2017. They help drive the country's manufacturing industry. China  known as "the world's factory that never stops breathing to meet global demand"  will usher in the world's biggest trading market for greenhouse gas emission permits, simply called a carbon market. / Korea Times file



While it seems opportune for countries to trade with the highly anticipated Chinese carbon market, the South Korean government is careful about the option.



By Ko Dong-hwan

While international treaties like the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change in 1992 and the Kyoto Protocol in 1997 have bound developed and developing countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the coming Chinese carbon market should not be ignored.

Carbon markets have been created to trade permits to encourage countries and firms to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. If the market was hardware, its software would be the emissions trading system (ETS), introduced in 2005 by the European Union to fight global warming.

China, boasting the world's biggest population  over 1.4 billion  and producing the largest portion of the world's carbon emissions with almost 25 percent, is guaranteed to host the biggest carbon market.

China's National Development and Reform Commission, the country's central planning agency, confirmed plans in October 2016 to assign carbon emission permits and completed its trading system  the so-called China-ETS  in July. After opening in November, the China-ETS is expected to raise the world carbon market to $167 billion.

While the Chinese market is expected to attract many countries and firms looking to buy and sell permits, the South Korean government is cautious about trading with the Asian powerhouse. Having run its own ETS since 2015, South Korea learned that the first year was like a grace period: nervous firms observed whether their assigned permits were sufficient for the first phase (2015-17) or how other firms traded their permits rather than taking initiatives.

The Ministry of Strategy and Finance, which oversees the system in South Korea, dismissed a forecast that South Korea will certainly join the China-ETS.

"The rumor was spread by experts who have recently pointed out a Paris Agreement article about the global carbon market," said Oh Il-young, the Director of the ministry's Climate Change Policy Division. "The article stated that nations and companies may trade with each other to perform better in reducing carbon emissions. We, however, haven't decided on the matter because China hasn't even begun the system. For now, we should monitor how China will play the market."

Bipartisan trading remains doubtful because uncertainty persists on three issues: environmental integrity, economy and domestic conscience. If carbon emission permits assigned to one country abound while they are tight for the other, deals would produce a greater loss for the latter. Each must also be sure of whether its trading partner has "faithfully" verified its carbon emissions monitoring process.

"It's like a typical discrepancy found in trading gold," Oh said. "If a bar from one country is 100 percent pure while the other just 80 percent pure, the trade would be a rip-off."

Another caveat exists when a country with pricier carbon permits keeps purchasing them from a country that offers a cheaper rate. It may be a saving for the buyer but cause traded money to flow in a fixed direction, solely benefiting the seller.

Another concern is that national efforts to reduce carbon emissions could fizzle if dependence on cheap permits persists.

The EU-ETS is linked to Switzerland, the U.S. state of California and the Canadian province of Quebec. Unlike democratic South Korea and China's communist regime, the EU-ETS is operated by those sharing a similarity in political and economic systems and corporate trading, according to Oh.

The China-ETS comes after U.S. President Donald Trump declared in June that his country will withdraw from the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change mitigation. An official from the European External Action Service, the EU's diplomatic agency in Brussels, said the U.S.'s possible exit from the "already perfect, non-negotiable" agreement will leave a huge financial hole for the EU's climate policies. Trump said the deal puts America "at a permanent disadvantage" and said he will cut back spending on international organizations and helping developing countries adopt climate change policies.

Amid the controversy came a suggestion that China might want to fill America's shoes. Another official from the finance ministry, who declined to be identified, said it appears obvious that China will take the U.S.'s leadership.

"The world's advanced countries agreed to help developing nations on issues like climate change and economic development," the official said. "But so can rich developing countries. China may offer south-south cooperation, like official development assistance (ODA), for matters not necessarily restricted to the ETS but other international policies about climate change as well."

The finance ministry said the China-ETS will likely first involve power plants followed by industrial entities. And the process will probably draw a backlash from participants, which is only natural considering the market is fresh. While China's carbon emissions are the world's largest, followed by the U.S. with 18-20 percent, the EU with 10 percent and South Korea with 1.7 percent, how much of the Chinese carbon emissions will be subject to the China-ETS remains unknown until the market officially opens.





South Korea's carbon trading market was launched at the Korean Exchange in Busan International Finance Center in Nam-gu, Busan, on Jan. 12, 2015. KAU 15, carbon emission permit assigned for 2015, started at 7,860 won. The launch was celebrated by then-Korean Exchange CEO Choi Kyung-soo, National Assembly Environment and Labor Committee Head Kim Young-joo, Ministry of Environment Environmental Policy Office Chief Baek Gyu-seok and Busan Mayor Seo Byung-soo. / Korea Times file



S. Korea-ETS

A European Commission official from the International Carbon Market, Aviation and Maritime, said South Korean industry, spearheaded by a few giant conglomerates like Samsung, Hyundai and LG, "seemed not to endorse the ETS," whereas its "next door neighbor" China was about to open the world's largest carbon market.

Oh dismissed the comment, saying South Korean firms are inclined to accept the system rather than drop it.

"In the early phase of adopting the system, many firms were pessimistic about it and filed litigation against the government," Oh said. "But it's only natural when industry meets a new policy. So did Europe, where almost 1,500 lawsuits were filed when the EU-ETS kicked in. And it will probably be so in China."

The South Korean carbon market opened in January 2015 with a goal to reduce carbon emissions by 37 percent of estimated emissions by 2030. The market has shown steady growth in the past three years and almost 530 companies have participated. Trades amounted to 63 billion won ($55.8 million) in 2015, jumping to 200 billion won in 2016 and to 440 billion won as of August this year.

At the Korean Exchange, where all domestic carbon emission permit trades occur, traded amounts increased from 1.24 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (CDE) in 2015 to 5.11 million tons in 2016 and 11.23 million tons as of August.

The South Korean market is the world's most expensive  over 20,000 won ($18) per CDE ton. Participating firms say this is because there is "not enough" supply in the market. In Europe, an oversupply of permits maintains the rate at 6 to 7 euros  cheaper than half the South Korean rate.

The finance ministry rejected the companies' complaint, saying they own permits covering more than the greenhouse gases they produce.

"If the companies were given permits as much as they had asked for, which would be obviously more than necessary, there would be no need for them to reduce carbon emissions in the first place," Oh said.

The EU-ETS has a permit oversupply because of certified emission reduction (CER) credits in the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), a Kyoto Protocol article that allows developing countries to sell their reduced carbon emissions to markets in advanced countries. Eastern European countries were also assigned a particularly high number of permits by the EU.

"With such an abundance and affordability in carbon permits, European market players don't have the urgency to reduce greenhouse gas," Oh said. "The market must wish its rate was as high as ours. But with the market stability reserve (MSR) in place, the EU-ETS cannot drastically increase the rate."

Government action in S. Korea

The South Korea-ETS couldn't keep demand-and-supply balanced because companies with surplus permits held on to them. In February, the permit rate hit a record high 26,500 won per CDE ton due to this lack of supply.

In April, the South Korean government introduced measures to stabilize the market. It promised to take action against firms carrying forward an excessive surplus of permits from the first to the second phase of the scheme (2018-20). It also said it would add permits to cover 14.3 million CDE tons and auction them.

"Having companies bid for carbon permits will help stabilize the market's demand-and-supply balance," Oh said.

The government is yet to outline details of the second phase, which was due in June. The Moon Jae-in administration's environmental focus has been on the transition to nuclear-free energy. It plans to stop building nuclear reactors after completion of the Shin-Kori No. 5 and 6 plants in Busan.

The second phase of the ETS will start shaping up in November when the finance ministry transfers its administration of the scheme to the Ministry of Environment that originally handled the system in 2015.


Futurists, experts in different fields imagine how future work environment will be

By Yun Suh-young



Scenario:

Sam is a designer based in San Francisco. He designs mainly transportation, ranging from self-driving cars to inter-city rockets. He travels every day across the world to meet and collaborate with colleagues in different branches of the company. It only takes 30 or so minutes on the BFR (Big Falcon Rocket) to travel from one side of the globe to another. It has been a couple of years since SpaceX launched the new transportation available for commercial use. Physical collaboration between workers is now easier. They can set up a meeting in the morning and get together in a certain city in the afternoon. Scheduling is managed by his AI assistant, Cynthia.

In between those meetings, he collaborates virtually with colleagues across the globe using a VR headset. They set up a virtual meeting room to showcase and test the prototypes they've built. When they want to see a specific part of the product - for instance, the side mirror - they simply enlarge it in virtual 3D to check errors, and experiment with different colors with just a touch on the transparent floating screen. It's like a simulation game where everyone participates. Work doesn't feel like work. It's so much fun.

There are no specific working hours for Sam, as work times fluctuate and are continuously flowing. There is no specific designated workplace either - unless they choose to be in one place - since anywhere can be an office these days. Sam prefers to work at a co-working space because he likes to meet people and interact with them. Human connection is so valuable these days, despite being able to connect ubiquitously. Work is flexible for anyone who prefers to work remotely. In fact, the word "remote working" seems remote now because this is the norm.

Since productivity at work has exponentially increased, Sam has more free time to spend on personal time. He enjoys music and art so he goes on weekday excursions by himself to various exhibitions and performances (sometimes across cities) as well as participating in band practices in which he is a guitarist.

Sam also has several jobs. He's an art collector and seller who has his own online auction platform. Having double-majored in science and design in college, he continues to pursue his passion for science as well - from time to time he works on institutional projects with neuroscientists to research the brain and human behavior. As much as it's important to develop technology, it's important to explore humans, because in the end, it's people that use it.

He also has his own podcast where he discusses science and technology. He enjoys doing what is meaningful to him in work and in his personal life, and hopes that it makes a meaningful difference in the world as well.

Sam speaks multiple languages. As he works in different jobs, he uses different languages for different occasions. People expected artificial intelligence to take over translation at this point in the future, but it still can't replace the speed, accuracy and nuances of humans if they speak the language fluently. Since communication is rapid and complex, multilingualism is ever-more valued.

----------

Sam is an imaginary worker of 2027 whose work environment was created based on the imaginations and projections offered by seven professionals interviewed by The Korea Times - three futurists and four business professionals.

When the media talks about the future of work, many have voiced concerns and fears about the future, painting a bleak picture of the world we will live in, surrounded by AI and robots taking away our jobs. Not many have projected a positive but feasible scenario to imagine, perhaps because fears overpowered their hopes. Consulting companies are disgorging reports on the future of work and how to prepare for it, laden with "solution spaces" for the problems which are mostly based on fears.

But interestingly, none of the professionals interviewed by The Korea Times projected a bleak outlook of the future. In fact, their responses were generally, or most entirely, positive, laden with hope and excitement. Also, despite all the speculation about technology overtaking human jobs and workers becoming helpless, they were more positive about the use of technology by people and tech going hand-in-hand with physical interaction. The future they imagined was more human-centered and humanistic than ever before.

Here are 7 groups of keywords extracted from the interviews, and quotes corresponding to them:







1) communication / collaboration / humanizing work / interaction / engagement

Renaud Visage, co-founder at Eventbrite & venture partner at Index Ventures

"Future workplaces will need to be a transparent company with a lot of communication."

Matt Shampine, general manager of WeWork Korea

"Humanizing what work is, is the direction that we believe work is going globally. It's something that you see every day and progressing that way. Tech itself will help it be easier to do more stuff together. It's important to remember it's people that are actually making it happen. Doing things in person - that is what's going to lead to future collaborations. Physical spaces will be set up to accommodate humans' need for wanting to learn and interact with, and to have fun."

"People are really trying to get the most out of the space they work in. Virtual versus physical collaboration will balance out each other. If they sit at home from 9 to 5, they're not going to feel that. They want to meet people, have friends. Something where there's a better balance of professional and personal life. People will continue to seek human interaction and connections."

Lee Seung-yeon, senior communication manager at Microsoft

"Virtual tools will make travel less necessary but meeting face to face will become more important. And when people do, the ergonomics will be an important part of how companies design their offices. Already forward-thinking global companies are purposefully designing their offices so that employees bump into each other often. The combination of a virtual and physical environment will enhance work productivity. Virtual tools will be used to facilitate physical collaboration. In the end, technology is for humans."

2) flexible / remote working / efficiency/ productivity/ ergonomics

Lee-Sean Huang, futurist and design consultant, co-founder and creative director of Foossa

"We have seen the pendulum swing back and forth in terms of corporate attitudes towards remote working. The future will have to embrace hybrid models of working face to face and remotely. Perhaps advances in AR (augmented reality) could help improve the experience of working with remote colleagues."

Renaud Visage, co-founder at Eventbrite & venture partner at Index Ventures

"Companies need to empower people that don't necessarily fit into the system who don't work full time or those who want to move. Workplaces have to adapt and become more flexible about this type of arrangements - not having to come to the office necessarily. "

3) virtual reality / technology / data / artificial intelligence

Lee-Sean Huang, futurist and design consultant, co-founder and creative director of Foossa

"Considering how much time and intimacy we have with our smartphones, and increasingly, with smartwatches and other devices, in a way, we are already cyborgs. My company uses an AI scheduling service to help us manage our calendars. The AI is actually backed by real humans in the background. It's just a matter of time before our scheduling assistant can take on more human tasks."

Lee Seung-yeon, senior communication manager at Microsoft

"Some companies are already using hololenses at work which allow workers to interact virtually when wearing the head-mounted displays. If an architect wants to see a real-sized model of a structure, they can make immediate changes in virtual reality. The scope of what people can do, will be expanded exponentially and hence, people's satisfaction will increase. Technology will enhance productivity to a another level, which means, it will be a matter of how fast you adapt to it and use it."

4) personal life / work-life balance /meaningful work / enjoyable / play

Renaud Visage, co-founder at Eventbrite & venture partner at Index Ventures

"Work shouldn't feel like work"

Trevor Haldenby, imaginative futurist and orchestration director at business orchestration solutions Syntegrity

"The future of work will look very similar to what we used to call 'play.' Immersive simulation games, room-escape brainstorm sessions, and well-orchestrated creative workshop activities will amplify the engagement and alignment between tens of millions of people as the former iterations of their jobs are aggregated and automated by neural networks and artificial intelligence."

Matt Shampine, general manager of WeWork Korea

"The world is moving in the direction of where people are looking for universal things. They're not just looking to make a lot of money - that too - but they're looking to do things that are really impactful. People's approach to what work is, is changing. What people consider success is everyday being enjoyable. I think you see that more and more. A lot of them in this building will say that's more important than making money."

Lee Seung-yeon, senior communication manager at Microsoft

"It will be a matter of how people use their resources. Of the resources, time will be the most important. How much you can do in the same given amount of time, how productive and efficient you are will determine success. Since humans will have more time on their hands, they will have time to spend more on personal activities."

5) radical hybridity / convergence / interdisciplinary / creative / science and arts / art and business

Lee-Sean Huang, futurist and design consultant, co-founder and creative director of Foossa

"If I could encapsulate my thoughts about the future of work in two words, they would be "radical hybridity." The mascot for this future is the chimera. I see strategy consultancies buying or building their own design practices. We have seen and will see more convergence (and competition) between industries we thought were separate. This will require leaders to become even more interdisciplinary in their education and approaches."

Caitlin Burns, fururist and vice chair of Producers Guild of America New Media Council

"Thinking creatively and entrepreneurially, exploring new ideas in art and business is going to be the single most important skill for humans working in the next century."

Trevor Haldenby, imaginative futurist and orchestration director at Syntegrity

"For glimpses of this future world, look to the densely connected fringes of the arts, academia and the arcades. Listen for people (and smart systems) telling exciting new stories about uncharted paths to value creation. In a world "incepted" by pre-hearsals of scenarios and interactive adaptations of business problems, new maps actually will open up new territories."

6) multiple careers / entrepreneurship

Lee-Sean Huang, futurist and design consultant, co-founder and creative director of Foossa

"We can expect to see more people like me working multiple careers, perhaps in multiple industries, at once."

Trevor Haldenby, imaginative futurist and orchestration director at Syntegrity

"Entrepreneurship will finally burst out of the shackles of its century-old definition - someone who runs a startup company - and will swell to encompass creative moves made with a mindset informed by the newest (and oldest) techniques in the design, ecology, and the wonder zone created at the intersection of science and the arts. It won't matter where you sit in the workplace of 2027 - what will matter is what you stand for."

7) multilingualism/ multinational enterprises

Kat Borlongan, co-founder of Five by Five, innovation consultancy

"What we're experiencing, at our company, is the issue of multilingualism. You have to develop specific efficiencies within the company that allow French speakers to work in English and English speakers to work in French. We need to communicate quickly and efficiently and develop a common language on how we're going to work together. It has less to do with AI and jobs and profiles. More and more, workplaces have to adapt."

Renaud Visage, co-founder at Eventbrite & venture partner at Index Ventures

"In companies that I look at for investments, I see a trend of (them) becoming multinational very quickly. Having two offices, even with 10 people, will not be uncommon."
This is the second in a series of interviews with international experts to seek ways toward a peaceful resolution for the North Korean nuclear crisis on the occasion of the 67th anniversary of The Korea Times, which falls on Nov. 1.  ED.

Peaceful resolution for nuke crisis crucial for stability in Northeast Asia

By Kim Jae-kyoung

Joseph DeTrani

China should increase pressure on North Korea by using its oil leverage to bring the reclusive country back to negotiations, said Joseph DeTrani, a former special envoy for the six-party talks.

He stressed that a peaceful resolution for the nuclear crisis is crucial not only for avoiding war on the Korean Peninsula but also for ensuring peace and stability in Northeast Asia where major powers are renewing fierce competition.

"The current impasse can be addressed if initially the U.S. and North Korea sit down to candidly share their respective concerns and demands, and discuss a peaceful path for addressing these concerns and demands," DeTrani said in a recent interview.

The former U.S. mission manager for North Korea, who helped broker a 2005 agreement on North Korea's nuclear program, said that China should play a key role in setting up exploratory talks between the U.S. and North Korea like it did in 2003, which led to the six-party talks process.

The multilateral approach was successful in producing a September 19, 2005 Joint Statement that committed North Korea to complete verifiable and irreversible dismantlement of its active nuclear weapons programs.

"China was instrumental in April 2003 in getting the U.S. and North Korea to discuss the tension at that time, when North Korea had quit the NPT and started to reprocess plutonium spent fuel rods for fissile material for nuclear weapons," he said.

At the request of the U.S., China then got North Korea to meet with the U.S. to discuss the situation and a possible path forward to defuse the impasse.

"If a similar exploratory meeting could be arranged, ideally by China, it's possible that the U.S. and North Korea would return to the six-party talks process or something similar," he said.

DeTrani, who is currently president of the Daniel Morgan Academy in Washington, said what is important will be North Korea's commitment not to launch missiles or conduct nuclear tests during these exploratory talks or during any follow-up talks.

"Another option would be that both the U.S. and North Korea quietly or publicly send a representative to Beijing or a third country where they can have these exploratory discussions."

In DeTrani's view, China has some leverage with North Korea because over 90 percent of North Korea's trade is with China and over 90 percent of its crude oil requirements come from China.












By Kim Jong-nam and Lee Joong-hak



1. Diversity and Korean organizational culture



Since diversity is a problem in Korean corporations, some companies in Korea have endeavored to innovate their organizational culture in varied ways. They have adopted flexible working hours, a looser dress code, and new forms of address between employees (instead of using position titles, they now use "Nim," which is similar to "Sir" or "Madam").



According to Alfonsus Trompenaars' types of organizational culture, Korean corporate culture is in the "Eiffel tower" category. Cultures in this category are top-down, centralized, formal, and task-oriented. Tasks are more valued than employees, and decision-making and communication are vertical. This is analogous to an army, which moves unilaterally towards one goal. "Eiffel tower" organizations do not need various opinions. In fact, free and different opinions are detrimental to effectiveness in an army, where people wear uniforms and follow strict rules. Thus, Korean corporations have typically preferred male employees who, due to the requirement that all able South Korean men complete military service, have developed these skills of unity and following what you are told to do. This may be one reason why Korean corporate culture is so male-centric.



In fact, Korean corporate culture is famously homogenous in general. According to research done by the Korean Chamber of Commerce and McKinsey in 2016, in which 40,000 employees of 100 Korean companies were surveyed, only 23 Korean companies are at the top level of global corporate culture. 91% of medium-sized companies were "weak" in this category. Clearly, Korean corporate culture is not measuring up to global standards.



If this matters for organizations' effectiveness, which has been shown again and again, what can we do? In the first place, the corporate practice that should be changed as soon as possible is the culture of "do as you are told to." In order for this to be eliminated successfully, hirings and promotions based on homogeneity should be ceased and people from diverse backgrounds should be selected and nurtured. If people from diverse backgrounds are introduced to organizations and successfully made full contributors to the company culture, the diversity of opinions will increase, as well as the frequency with which employees challenge norms and conventions. Then, organizational performance will improve.



In 2012, it was generally reported that the problems that had caused Toyota's recalls over the previous few years had not been spotted due to their "pure blood system." At that point, all 29 people on the board of directors were ethnically Japanese who had been internally promoted. Because of this homogeneity, they had not been able to identify the serious problems that were occurring globally. The lesson to be learned here is that organizations that are homogeneous tend to not respond to business issues appropriately.



However, according to Edgar Schein, a well-known expert in organizational culture, organizational culture cannot be changed by just adjusting tangible or visible artifacts. The deepest foundation of organizational culture is the assumptions that we take for granted unconsciously. These assumptions cannot be set quickly and deliberately but rather are formed by various experiences that employees in organizations have over long periods of time, especially critical incidents that happen in the organization. Thus, if Korean companies adopt a diversity strategy within a short period of time, it cannot be part of the culture until it becomes habitualized. If they are not habitualized, the diversity strategies that Korean companies pursue cannot work as effectively as they would like since they are so temporary. It is not enough, then, to simply hire a few employees for the sake of "diversity"; rather, hiring practices should be permanently changed so that it can become part of the culture.



2. The necessity of a female-centered diversity strategy



As mentioned above, Korean corporations rank poorly in diversity management. Based on Forbes' 2012 "Global Diversity Rankings," Korea is fifth-lowest in terms of the ratio of female to male talent in boards of directors. Specifically, it is 1%. Japan, which showed the closest characteristics to Korea, lagged behind with 0.9%. Thus, the diversity strategy that Korean companies should adopt first is the active hiring and promotion of female employees.



Korean companies can get additional benefits from hiring and promoting female employees besides an increase in diversity. In the first place, as the Korean population ages, the working age population decreases, and the average age in corporations will increase. Naturally, organizations' energy is expected to shrink. The most immediate and effective method for resolving this is using female talent. Additionally, if more females work in corporations and earn salaries, their consumption level will increase, and markets such as retail and manufacturing will expand. Thus, an active interest in utilizing female talent will help us resolve other issues currently facing Korea.



It is clear that Korean corporations' lack of diversity is increasingly becoming a problem in creating an effective corporate culture, and female-centered diversity strategies are a great way to combat this stifling homogeneity.





Kim Jong-nam is the founding CEO of META (www.imeta.co.kr) and the author of two books, Organizations without Meetings and Breaking the Silent Rules.Lee Joong-hak (edujoonghak@lotte.net) is a manager in the People Innovation Lab at Lotte Academy, where he is in charge of competency assessment.




By Desaix Anderson

Road to catastrophe?





Commentators regularly speak of 24 years of failure in policy toward the Democratic Republic of Korea, but, since Pyongyang began to threaten to build nuclear weapons, the only period of respite followed the Agreed Framework, signed by President Clinton and North Korean leader Kim Il Sung in 1994. The agreement froze North Korea's nuclear facilities with inspections for eight years, in exchange for a U.S.-led agreement to construct in North Korea two light water nuclear reactors and provide 500,000 tons of fuel oil a year to the North.

As the second Executive Director of the Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organization (KEDO) from late 1997 until early 2001, I observed a change in attitude toward the U.S. and others to evolve gradually but positively. Pyongyang's early and constant reference to "U.S. hostility" mellowed somewhat. Relations with the US evolved, leading to a visit by Secretary of State Madeline Albright in October 2000, prospectively followed by a visit by President Clinton when he was expected to sign an agreement to prohibit the development of ballistic missiles. This promising development was not realized by the end of Clinton's term, and President Bush chose not to pursue it. KEDO itself also was able to increasingly conduct fairly normal negotiations with senior North Korean officials. I am convinced that Pyongyang had begun seriously to believe that "US hostility" was being overcome and that trust was beginning to build between the U.S. and KEDO with North Korea.

During a March 7, 2001, visit to Washington by South Korean President Kim Dae Jung, "Both Presidents (Kim and Bush) reaffirmed their commitment to continue the 1994 Agreed Framework and called on North Korea to join in taking the needed steps for its successful implementation." But privately Bush told Kim that it was difficult to deal with the North Korean dictator. President George W. Bush included North Korea in his first State of the Union Address in January 2002 as part of an Axis of Evil, along with Iraq, and Iran. These actions shattered the tentative trust that had been built up by the Agreed Framework. Subsequently, Bush seized on indications that the DPRK was constructing a uranium enrichment facility to question the Agreed Framework. Rather than demand inspections of the suspected site, as the U.S. had successfully done in 1998, Bush terminated the agreement. The DPRK left the NPT in January 2003, and relations rapidly returned to deep hostility.

Although in the second Bush Administration, Assistant Secretary of State Chris Hill made a valiant effort to resurrect an agreement with North Korea, and a tentative agreement on denuclearization was concluded in 2005. But Pyongyang quickly backed down, possibly because of Kim Jong Il's declining health, and this glimmer of hope was squashed.

Sadly, in my view, President Obama's "strategic patience" allowed this problem to fester.

Trump diplomacy

President Trump's quixotic approach to North Korea must be bewildering to Pyongyang and probably fuels Kim Jong-un's daring bravado. From "fire and fury" to describing Kim Jong-un as a smart fellow, Trump has set an erratic stage. But the North Korean explosion September 2 of a nuclear device six to 16 times the strength of the Hiroshima bomb has resulted in a strange and dangerous series of moves.

Most striking was Trump's precipitous threat to terminate the U.S.-Korea free trade agreement and his labeling of South Korea's policy toward North Korea as "appeasement." These were hazardous charges against a vital partner. Diplomacy at any level is not all cocktail parties. It is understanding, and knowing how to deal with allies and opponents in effective ways. A cardinal rule is not to undermine your allies' interests and intentions. I hope that Trump made effective amends in his September 4 call to ROK President Moon Jae-in.

Second, Trump's threats to withdraw from the Iran agreement would be tragic, but also would have serious implications for constructing a meaningful agreement with Pyongyang. In contrast, the Iran agreement should be upheld by the Trump administration, since it is the model for what we should be seeking through negotiations with North Korea. It should be very clear that repudiation of the Iran agreement would allow Iran to pursue nuclear enrichment and weapons on day two, not theoretically in year ten. Our goal should be an agreement with North Korea along the lines of the Iran agreement. In the Iran agreement, America's international credibility is on the line, with implications for Pyongyang. If we cannot behave rationally and dependably as a partner in stopping nuclear threats, our role in future international leadership looks bleak.

Finally, a smart negotiator does not embarrass key players who are crucial to solutions. We should immediately develop a common strategy with South Korea and Japan for dealing with North Korea and China. You cannot enlist Chinese support, however, and within a few weeks declare its efforts ineffectual, or threaten to end bi-lateral trade. There is no satisfactory solution to the North Korean problem without China playing a major, positive role. We need to tighten rapidly and severely the screws on the North Korean economy and only China can advance this goal. China's concerns about North Korea are well known  collapse of the North Korean regime, floods of refugees, and North Korea's being absorbed by South Korea to form a U.S.-oriented regime on China's border. Throughout its modern history one of China's greatest fears  whether in Vietnam or Korea  has been having American bases on China's border.

For any hope of success for restraining North Korea, a diplomatic strategy is imperative. To pursue such, Trump should send a formidable diplomat to Beijing to make absolutely clear to the Chinese leadership what our goals are vis-a-vis North Korea and what they are not. He should point out clearly China's own interests in resolving the North Korea calamity. He should also assure the Chinese, that we do not seek the overthrow of the Kim regime, but its policies must change, or its leadership change. He might suggest that after a reliable cessation of North Korean nuclear and ballistic missile threats, U.S.-ROK exercises could be reduced commensurately. The envoy should discuss ways in which China and the U.S. might change the calculus in Pyongyang. Among other possibilities, in the event of collapse of the Northern regime the U.S. would only send American troops to the North with Chinese troops to find jointly and dispose of any nuclear weapons and ballistic missile materials remaining in North Korea; that the U.S. would not establish military bases above the current DMZ; we would cooperate to realize the goal of reconciliation between North and South; and reunification would only take place as might be worked out by the Koreans themselves. We should also project joint Chinese-U.S. efforts to manage refugee problems and provide economic assistance for North Korea's economic development. The envoy should remain in Beijing until he/she has effectively alleviated all these concerns and agreed on joint efforts.

However, we develop our strategy, we must strengthen quickly defenses of South Korea, Japan, Guam and the United States. We should not hesitate to employ cyber means to disable North Korea's capabilities.

Diplomacy may not save us from disaster on the Korean Peninsula, but, bolstered by pressure, it should be our top priority, managed by our best diplomatic talents.





Desaix Anderson was principal deputy assistant secretary, East Asia, 1989-1992, and executive director, Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organization (KEDO), 1997-2001.
North Korea's recent surprise repatriation of a South Korean fishing boat and its 10 crew members raises a serious question about the competence of the South Korean government, particularly the military, amid heightened tension over Pyongyang's repeated nuclear missile threats.



It is shocking that the government did not know of the North's capture of the boat and the fishermen that took place on Oct. 21 until they were sent back six days later on Oct 27. Defense Minister Song Young-moo admitted he came to know about it from local media reports of the announcement by the North's mouthpiece, the Korean Central News Agency.

The agency said the South Korean fishing boat, 391 Hungjin-ho, illegally intruded into North Korean waters in the East Sea for the purpose of fishing and its crew admitted their offence, asking for leniency. A similar incident took place in August 2010 in international waters above the Northern Limit Line of the East Sea.



If a fishing boat is missing in the fishing area for nearly a week, the government should have presumed the possibility of capture by the North. A unification ministry spokesman came up with a lame excuse, saying maritime police had been searching for the boat after it was reported missing.



The maritime police did know the boat was missing but without any idea of it being in the North's custody and reporting to the military authorities. Yet, Minister Song did not receive any report as he admitted belatedly in a National Assembly audit.



This case shows there are serious flaws in the chain of command amid mounting military tension on the Korean Peninsula, not to mention the lax discipline in the military that is responsible for national security.



The government should conduct a thorough investigation of the incident, make public the truth and hold those involved accountable. Listening to the defense minister's testimony to the Assembly, it is hard to blame anyone for wondering piteously: "Can we go to sleep, trusting in our military and government?"








Koreans cherish ROK-US alliance with conditions



U.S. President Donald Trump will soon pay a state visit to Korea, the success of which is pivotal to the two countries' alliance and regional peace and stability. A recent opinion poll commissioned by The Korea Times provides Trump with a couple of pointers that can boost the success of his visit.



First, contrary to widespread belief that South Koreans spare North Koreans _ their estranged brothers _ from the responsibility for rising tension on the Korean Peninsula, nearly half of those surveyed or 48.6 percent blamed the North's dictator, Kim Jong-un. But more than a quarter or 27.2 percent find fault with Trump. This means there is a degree of bias in the reported onslaught against the American president over his verbal threats against the North such as "fire and fury" or "quiet before a storm."



Undoubtedly, he should exercise more verbal restraint during his Korean stay, because whatever he says will run the risk of being amplified as if spoken through a bullhorn. That in turn can jeopardize his credibility with Koreans as well as his voters back home.



At a time when the sense of security is compromised by the North's nuclear brinkmanship, an overwhelming number or 59.2 percent pick the U.S. as the most favored nation _ China, Russia second at 27 percent ahead of Japan and the North respectively at 23.6 and 11.4.



Throw in the finding that Koreans see China as least wanting Korean unification and it is clear that, despite mixed signals, Koreans are on the same page with the U.S., sharing the same democratic system and market economy with each other. It also signifies the collective suspicion, fueled by Beijing's state-organized boycott of Korean products over the deployment of U.S. missile interceptors, about China's hegemonic pursuit.



Six in 10 prefer to have self-protection through nuclear arms against the North in the sentiment of "eye for eye, tooth for tooth." True, there is little evidence that the respondents are well aware of the consequences of nuclear armament such as international ostracism, or understand the differences between the North's strategic nukes and tactical types the conservative opposition Liberty Korea Party is asking the U.S. to reintroduce here.



Amid the constant threat of war, over three-quarters or 77.3 percent favor replacing the current armistice with a peace treaty on the condition the North relinquishes its nuclear weapons. This leaves a great deal of room for Trump to maneuver to start dialogue with the North and guide it to his declared endgame of denuclearization. Of course, there are caveats that the South should take a significant role in any deal or deal-making process and be given the lead in the North's reconstruction.



All told, Trump has a better than good chance of a successful visit. That is unless he orders his cavalcade to stop and gets into a shouting match with protesters along the way. He has a big job to do.










By Deauwand Myers





This is the second in a series of open letters to U.S. President Donald Trump ahead of his Nov. 7-8 visit.  ED.

On the eve of Mr. Trump's visit to Korea, and the coming of the holidays, I'm reminded of an old television animated classic, "How The Grinch Stole Christmas," based off the eponymous book written by Dr. Seuss.

In the TV special, Mr. Grinch, cruel and heartless, steals gifts and Christmas decorations from the entire town of Whoville.

My favorite song from "How The Grinch Stole Christmas," is "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch."

Mr. Trump, obviously, is Mr. Grinch in this song, complete with his daily scowl, rash and angry tweets, foul language, and, as people have called it, his "un-presidential behavior."

You're a mean one, Mr. Trump.

Your being recorded saying that due to your stardom and the power thereof, you can arbitrarily "grab" women by the vagina, is glaringly cruel, particularly post-Weinstein.

Your mocking Senator McCain's war service record, where he was captured and tortured for over half a decade, then offered release due to his father's rank and status (an offer McCain refused in solidarity with his fellow soldiers), was disgusting.

You, who received nearly half a dozen medical deferments during the Vietnam War, deferments that many white, wealthy men like yourself also received, while the poor and colored fought and died in that senseless, unwinnable conflict, now have the audacity to call (mostly black) professional sportsmen unpatriotic for not "respecting" our flag, country, and servicemen and women.

You believe you can openly insult Senator McCain and say he is not a war hero, disrespecting him and all those who fought and served and were POWs in service to America. Meanwhile, you then declare others cannot kneel during the national anthem by kneeling during the pledge as a form of peaceful political protest against racial injustice.?

The hypocrisy of it would be breathtaking, if it came from anyone else but you.

This is probably the worst thing you've done (so far). You've made incivility more acceptable. The bellicose tweets, the malice, the glaring ineptitude, the pettiness, the vindictiveness, the mendacity, the divisive, scurrilous overtures to white, racial angst and tribalism are no longer outrageous. Our civil, public discourse, the very ideas of facts and data and truth are upended, while the renunciation of empirical evidence is seen as righteous.

The argument of what's authentically American (the answer: heterosexual, preferably white, Anglo-Saxon Protestants) isn't new.

Further, conservative thought has always been based on white supremacy and the othering of non-whites. Before the establishment of the country, white supremacy was deployed as a psychological, socioeconomic tool to excuse slavery, support its economic imperatives, and allow for the land theft and genocide of indigenous peoples.

Mr. Trump, you're an unvarnished, unsophisticated version of the GOP's thinly-veiled ideology, one that's "Christian" only in the most rudimentary of terms (one's belief in the Christ); one that ridicules the poor, marginalizes people of color, exalts the wealthy, and sees women as little more than baby-making machines.

You hurt your poor and working class supporters with your attempts to gut "Obamacare," and your tax plan skewed toward the wealthy; you do this to appease your political benefactors and to spite President Obama, a man with more class in his pinky finger than you have in your whole body.

You will visit Korea, the first state visit by a U.S. President in a generation. You will threaten North Korea with no viable military plan to do so, because your ego demands it. You will endanger the lives of some 48 million Koreans, and countless others, with the possibility of a third World War, nuclear-tipped for our pleasure.

Thanks. A lot.

Happy holidays, Mr. Trump.





Deauwand Myers (deauwand@hotmail.com) holds a master's degree in English literature and literary theory, and is an English professor outside Seoul.
Kyiv's Pechersky District Court has remanded ex-head of Ukraine's State Agency for Investments and National Projects (Derzhinvestproekt) Vladyslav Kaskiv to two months pretrial detention, setting a bail at UAH 160,000.

"The court decided to "remand Kaskiv into pretrial custody for two months and set bail [at UAH 160,000]," Ukraine's Prosecutor General's Office (PGO) Secretary Larysa Sarhan said on her Facebook page.

The court also ordered Kaskiv to turn in all passports and to be available to investigators, as well as to inform them of his whereabouts.

Sarhan told 112.Ukraine TV channel that the court hearing on pretrial confinement was conducted in closed session.

"Kaskiv's lawyers during the hearing presented documents showing that Kaskiv had remunerated the state for all losses  The court set bail at UAH 160,000," she said.

Sarhan said Kaskiv returned to Ukraine by plane, as per extradition procedure. "The only exception was that Kaskiv paid for the ticket himself," she said.

Kaskiv was declared internationally wanted under Part 5 of Article 191 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine on charges of "large-scale misappropriation of property by an official through abuse of office and through collusion with a group of persons" and under Part 2 of Article 366 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine on "forgery by an official."

It was reported on September 8, 2016 that Ukrainian Prosecutor General's Office had received confirmation from Interpol that Kaskiv had been arrested in Panama. On September 12, a court in Panama granted Kaskiv a $600,000 bail, after which he applied for political asylum, which was turned down.

Ex-first Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration Andriy Portnov on his Facebook page said: "Kaskiv several months ago requested voluntary extradition to Ukraine, showing the Panama court judge that he had nothing to hide. He then bought an airplane ticket. He spent yesterday in Amsterdam and flew to Kyiv last night after informing Ukrainian authorities of his arrival."


By Yoon Sung-won



Future technologies represented by artificial intelligence (AI) are already expanding their influence on people's lives.



From Google DeepMind's AlphaGo series systems to IBM's Watson system, AI and robotic technologies are already around us. The former overwhelmed human go masters, including Korea's Lee Se-dol and China's Ke Jie, while the latter penetrated into meetings of surgeons to offer calculated medical suggestions.



Expectations are mixed over the influence of such new technologies on the job market. Whereas many workers worry about being replaced by automated machines with artificial intelligence, U.S. market tracker Gartner said otherwise.



In its projection of the near future after 2018, Gartner said the introduction of AI technologies at workplaces will decrease the number of jobs around the globe between 2015 and 2019 but will start to create more jobs in 2020 than it had destroyed.



In this context, experts here urged that Korea should start taking a closer look into the introduction of "robot tax" and use the national income to retrain human resources for new jobs.



As a strong advocate of the concept of robot tax, Lee Kwang-hyung, professor of bioengineering and brain engineering at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), said the government should launch discussion on the new tax on a positive perspective of the future.



"Though there is positive projection of the future, I think those who research the introduction of AIs and related policies should stand on the negative side. Only then we can really prepare for the days to come," Lee said.



The professor said both robots and those who generate profit using the robots can be subject to the taxation, hinting that this may compensate for the decreased tax revenue, which is caused as AI systems and robots replace human workers.



Lee, however, warned that the policymakers should be cautious about when to actually introduce the robot tax and on what type of robots to levy the tax.



"Obviously it will be better to put the tax on simple automated systems such as unmanned bank window systems and automatic parking lot switch systems first to minimize public backlash," he said.



"A more pressing concern is that the introduction of robot tax may undermine growth of AI and robot industries here. For this reason, the government should act prudent on the robot tax and learn from the success and failure in overseas countries. What it immediately needs to do is to start public discussions on the robot tax."



Lee also said the government's recent move to downsize the tax deduction benefits on enterprises because their investment in automation could be a first step to introduce the robot tax.



Agreeing with Lee, Choi Pae-kun, an economics professor at Konkuk University, also said Korea is in urgent need to start open discussions on the robot tax.



"As of 2015, Korea has 533 automated systems for every 10,000 workers, which is the highest in the world.



Considering that the number goes down to about 400 in other countries with advanced industrial automation systems, Korea has been very quick to adopt robots at workplaces," Choi said. "In particular, Korea's manufacturing industry is currently led by semiconductors, which are mostly produced by robots."



According to Choi, introduction of robots at work boosts productivity while reducing jobs. Along with a low wage hike rate in general, this will expand low quality jobs that will undermine consumption, leading to "chaos" in the market in the near future.



"Many tax law experts around the world argue that robots should be considered a part of corporate assets and the amount of robot tax should increase as the robots generate more profit for the enterprises," he said.
Office equipment supplier transforming into solutions and services firm



By Kang Seung-woo





Fuji Xerox Korea Chairman Toru Miyamoto / Courtesy of Fuji Xerox Korea

Fuji Xerox Korea has been the best partner for office workers since its 1974 establishment, providing printers, copiers, scanners and fax machines.

After more than four decades, it seeks to still remain the best companion helping them do their business even more conveniently --although what it offers is different.

"Fuji Xerox Korea had grown a hardware company, but now it has shifted its focus on offering a variety of services to increase customers' work efficiency," said its Chairman Toru Miyamoto in a recent interview with The Korea Times.

"We are seeking to transform our business in order to establish the firm as a solutions and services company meeting customer needs."

According to the Korea affiliate, Fuji Xerox, headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, made a "drastic" decision in 2007 to walk away from its past success as an office equipment supplier and turn into a company dealing with consulting.

Fuji Xerox Korea's businesses are divided into three: Industry Business Solutions and Services (IBSS), Graphic Communication Service (GCS) and Enterprise Document Solutions (EDS).

"As for IBSS, we help our customers re-engineer their document management processes, ensure seamless integration into their current information technology infrastructure, transform document intensive processes and customer communications to achieve operational excellence, costs efficacy and sustainable growth," Toru said.

GCS is aimed at helping companies connect with their customers through one-on-one marketing and improving their document workflow by print on demand and publishing, while EDS offers a complete range of office services and products, the chairman added.

"Fuji Xerox Korea has a balanced revenue structure from hardware and service divisions -- 50-50," Toru said.

However, the chairman forecast sales of its service and solutions business to outgrow those of its hardware products in the near future.

"Considering the printing business' outlook of using less paper, I believe the service and solutions division will turn the tables in terms of sales within three years," he said.

Toru said his company is transforming into a services firm, but its competitiveness comes from the relationship with customers using Fuji Xerox office equipment.

"We maintain a close working relationship with customers using our hardware products, so we can quite understand their business needs and offer optimized solutions. That is our biggest competitive advantage," he said.

According to him, his company is a direct sales organization, as the process of offering products directly to customers away from fixed retail locations accounted for 71 percent of sales in fiscal year 2016.

The chairman, who joined the Japanese company in 1978, took office in July 2017 after serving various posts, including corporate vice president for global products business and executive general manager for global products sales and marketing.

The head has set his sights on offering services and solutions to local customers in a timely manner as office environments have been rapidly changing due to the upcoming digital transformation and the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

"In order to promptly respond to customer needs, the headquarters went through reorganization in April and so did we in October," he said, expecting that his work experience at the head office will help the two sides stay in close communication.

When it comes to Fuji Xerox's services and solutions, the Korea branch imports them from Japan and customizes them and vise versa.



Chairman with sales background



Toru spent the first 13 years of his career in the sales division -- from 1978 to 1991 -- at Fuji Xerox. He was also involved in sales duties from 2009 to 2012.

"It was not common in the past that those who were in the sales division became executives. It is now though," he said, adding that Hiroshi Kurihara, Fuji Xerox president and representative director, also has experience in sales.

The sales job is not an elite course to taking executive roles, but it greatly helps those who assume a leading position, he said.

"When a company releases a new product to the market, those who are in sales are the first to stand in line and meet consumers -- the same role that a company representative does when a bad thing happens to business operations," Toru said.

"In that respect, they are in the position to gauge customers' evaluation of a company, which helps me leading Fuji Xerox Korea."
Hyundai Motor Vice Chairman Chung Eui-sun, fifth from right in the front row, poses with officials, including Hyundai Motor Studio Beijing designer Michael Rock, fifth from left in the front row, during an opening ceremony of the Hyundai Motor Studio Beijing, Wednesday. / Courtesy of Hyundai Motor



By Jhoo Dong-chan

Hyundai Motor has opened its first Motor Studio in China.

According to the nation's largest carmaker, Wednesday, it opened the Hyundai Motor Studio Beijing at the 789 Art Zone in Beijing this week. The structure was built on 1,749 square-meters of land. For its opening ceremony, a number of Hyundai Motor high-ranking officials, including Vice Chairman Chung Eui-sun, participated in the event.

"The Hyundai Motor Studio Beijing symbolizes the carmaker's philosophy in sustainability and creative energy to demonstrate its utmost efforts for modern premium," Chung said during the event. "It meant a lot for Hyundai Motor to have the structure at the heart of China's most famous art district."

On the first floor, the Hyundai Motor Studio Beijing has a book lounge and cafeteria where visitors can browse various car-related books under its Air Handling Unit. The second floor has an art gallery and exhibition zone.

In the art gallery, Hyundai Motor is exhibiting a video clip of the carmaker's vision for hydrogen fuel-cell battery and related eco-friendly renewable energy technologies. The exhibition zone showcased various art pieces illustrating Hyundai Motor's future car technologies under the motto of "social mobility."

A Hyundai Motor official said the newly-built studio will host and organize various events related to the automotive industry as well as other design and art events in the future.

Along with its opening ceremony, Hyundai Motor also hosted an award event, the Hyundai Blue Prize, to honor China's young artists and curators.

"The Hyundai Motor Studio Beijing is the sixth of its kind after four in Korea and one in Moscow," the official said.

"It will not only promote Hyundai Motor's brand but also support Chinese young artists by hosting and organizing various art and social events. It symbolizes Hyundai Motor's commitment in social contribution."
Seen above is an announcement of closure of Bibigo restaurant in Jakarta, Indonesia. / Courtesy of Bibigo Indonesia



By Park Jae-hyuk

CJ Foodville has pulled all of its Bibigo restaurants out of Southeast Asian markets.

According to the food services affiliate of CJ Group, Bibigo's Pacific Place store in Jakarta, Indonesia, went out of business this week.

That was the bibimbap-themed restaurant franchise's last outlet in Southeast Asia.

After opening its first Bibigo restaurant in Singapore in 2010, CJ Foodville opened three additional stores there.

The company began running another Bibigo restaurant in Indonesia in 2013.

Back then, CJ Foodville declared it would open 400 stores in Southeast Asia by 2015, taking advantage of the region's Korean wave fever and rapid growths in populations and economies.

To satisfy tastes of consumers, the store in Indonesia used sweet and spicy sauces, offering dishes made with beef and chicken.

Despite such efforts, the Indonesian branch has performed poorly over the past few years.

According to CJ Foodville's income statement, PT CJ Foodville Indonesia posted 499 million won ($446,000) and 733 million won in operating losses in 2016 and 2015, respectively.

CJ Foodville also suffered losses in the Singaporean market where it closed its last outlet there last year.

Its Singaporean subsidiary posted 383 million won and 2.71 billion won in losses in 2016 and 2015, respectively.

At the time, the company cited high overheads, rental costs and the Singaporean Ministry of Manpower's rules on hiring local staff as reasons for its withdrawal from the test bed for Southeast Asian expansion.

Rather than expanding Bibigo's presence in the Southeast Asian market, CJ Foodville said it will focus on opening more Bibigo restaurants in the United States and China.

It initially aimed to open 1,000 Bibigo restaurants worldwide by 2015, but it has 17 stores in China, eight in the U.S. and one in the United Kingdom.

Two remaining Bibigo restaurants in Japan closed last year.

CJ Foodville will continue to run its Tous Les Jours bakeries in Indonesia, because the bakery franchise is still expanding its presence in the region.

CJ Group is expected to promote Bibigo as a ready-to-cook product brand, instead of restaurant franchise.

For example, CJ CheilJedang, which participated in the CJ Cup @ Nine Bridges as an official sponsor, introduced Bibigo as a home meal replacement (HMR) product brand, during the first PGA tour event in Korea last week.
Head of the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) Nazar Kholodnytsky has said that Interior Minister Arsen Avakov is not involved in any status in the case on backpack purchases by the Interior Ministry in late 2014 and early 2015.

"He is not involved," he said at a briefing in Kyiv on Wednesday, when asked whether Arsen Avakov appears in the case and in what status.

At the same time, Kholodnytsky said that in general, detectives of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) planned to complete this case within two months.

"Detectives promised at the last meeting that the investigation would be completed within two months and that its extension to three months would not be required. I would really like to see that," Kholodnytsky said.

In 2015, the Prosecutor General's Office opened a criminal investigation into possible abuse during the purchase of backpacks for the Interior Ministry and the National Guard.

According to media reports, in February 2015, the Interior Ministry concluded contracts with Dniprovend Ltd. for 5,000 backpacks worth UAH 14.49 million and businessman Volodymyr Plihachov for 1,000 backpacks worth UAH 2.1 million.

In June 2015, journalists conducted an investigation saying that backpacks had been purchased through enterprises controlled by Avakov's son, Oleksandr.

Two individuals detained on October 31 as part of the investigation into the so-called "backpack case" were informed on the same day of suspicion in committing a crime under Part 5, Article 191 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (appropriation, embezzlement or taking possession of property through abuse of power). The issue concerns former Deputy Interior Minister Serhiy Chebotar and Oleksandr Avakov, the son of Interior Minister Arsen Avakov.

On November 1, NABU detectives notified the third detainee of suspicion in committing a crime during the purchase of backpacks for the Interior Ministry in late 2014 and early 2015.
Ukraine's State Fiscal Service together with the National Anti-corruption Bureau of Ukraine have conducted a special operation resulting in the arrest of UAH 450 million belonging to a counterfeiter, acting State Fiscal Service head Myroslav Prodan has said.

"As a result of joint actions, at the end of last week UAH 450 million was arrested on accounts belonging to Ukraine's renowned smugglers  It was a unique operation. Odesa front companies were used by a gang of smugglers with UAH billions in backing capable of working with officials in any administration. We have started systematically taking apart their business," Prodan said on his Facebook page on Wednesday.

According to Prodan, customs agents gathered and transferred to law-enforcement officials all information about the criminal scheme to minimize customs tariffs. He said court officials were involved in the scheme. NABU is currently conducting the pretrial investigation.

Under the scheme dozens of fictitious companies from Ukraine headed by fictitious directors were used.

"These companies received large shipments from China (shoes, cloth, bags and so forth). The same firms that sent the goods received the goods. The contracts were drawn up in Odesa reducing the price of the goods tenfold and more. For example, shoes were priced at $.5 per kilogram," Prodan said, adding that the companies importing the goods used article 55 of the Customs Code of Ukraine, selling the goods after providing financial guarantees to customs agents.

"The companies importing the goods then appealed to Odesa courts, and a group of judges voided rulings made by Customs Service agents, saying the goods be offloaded according to substantially lowered prices and ordering that financial guarantees be returned to the importers. This was done although it was perfectly obvious that the documents were falsified and should not be trusted. It was a total fiction. But Odesa court judges for some reason did not notice," Prodan said.
The sphere of interests of the Russian special services and special centers set up in the DPR/LPR-controlled territories in Donbas in terms of staging assassination attempts included 1,600 Ukrainian law enforcers and statesmen, including high-ranking officials, Ukraine's Chief Military Prosecutor Anatoliy Matios has said.

"The subjects of assassination attempts and murders, the subjects of interest of the special services of the neighboring country and centers for special operations of the DPR and the LPR were 1,600 law enforcement officers and statesmen of Ukraine, including the top leadership of the state," he said at a briefing in Kyiv on Wednesday.

According to him, the Russian special services and DPR/LPR's special operations centers could track in real time the whereabouts and movement of so many people "thanks to technical capabilities."

In this regard, Matious pointed to a terrorist attack committed in Kyiv in late June 2017, when Ukrainian Defense Ministry Colonel Maksym Shapoval was killed in a car bomb blast.

According to him, the investigation established that "current Deputy Head of the National Police Abroskin" had to be the subject of the assassination attempt during the car blast.
The State Border Service of Ukraine has stepped up controls at checkpoints on the state border, first and foremost, on the Ukrainian-Russian section, as part of fulfilling instructions from the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC).

"Measures will be taken at all checkpoints on the state border, primarily on the Ukrainian-Russian section, and with respect to foreigners and stateless persons, especially from high-risk countries. In particular, state border guard agencies will focus on additional control over foreigners during their arrival in Ukraine," the press office of the State Border Service reported on Wednesday.

At the same time, detection dogs will be actively involved and technical control equipment will be used.

If suspicious persons are detected, border guards will initiate the conduct of personal searches in conjunction with representatives of the State Fiscal Service, as well as involve SBU officers in carrying out a thorough inspection of all vehicles without exception, on which such persons enter Ukraine.

The service said that as part of the order by the National Security and Defense Council, the State Border Service had agreed on the issue of cooperation with all law enforcement agencies in Ukraine to implement the necessary measures.

On October 31, the NSDC instructed the Security Service of Ukraine, the National Police and the State Border Service to ensure a tighter anti-terrorism and counter-intelligence regime in the country, strengthen border controls and protection of the state border with Russia because of the activity of the Russian special services.
Cornelia Feye dances her laser pointer around a slide of German expressionist Emil Noldes The Last Supper. The art historian explains what Adolf Hitler hated about the 1909 painting.

The crime (Nolde) was accused of was insolent mockery of the divine, Feye tells a packed Athenaeum Music & Arts Library house of 60 on Oct. 24.

The theme of the third of four lectures in Feyes series, German Art of the 20th Century, sounds like fodder for a Mel Brooks movie scene. Why would anyone care what paintings Adolf Hitler hated? But its actually a thing. Called degenerate art  Hitlers phrase  its been taught for decades in art history classes. And it has deep relevance to the horrors of the Holocaust because Nazism was largely a product of Adolf Hitlers aesthetic sensibility.

The Aryan ideal was heavily predicated on a look Hitler wanted his nation to achieve, one celebrated by his favorite painter, Adolf Ziegler, in his paintings of muscular nudes in the classical Greek tradition; a look that, ironically, Hitler didnt possess himself.

When Hitler came to power, he immediately started championing art that was important to him, Feye said before the lecture. He built a house of art in Munich and he had a large model of the Fuhrer Museum he wanted to build in his hometown. He kept that model with him until the bunker. Thats how important art was to him.

Hitler hated any art that was non-white (including, of course, Jewish), pro-communist, or that lacked realism. (Sheer insanity was his label for abstract art.)

He hated pretty much everything except a very, very tiny group of art that he cultivated around himself, Feye said, anything that didnt completely conform to his narrow margins.

In 1937, Hitler commanded Ziegler to rip around 5,000 of the most offensive examples off the walls of art museums all around Germany, then display 650 of them in Munich to stoke public scorn. But the Degenerate Art Exhibition had quite the opposite effect. Four times as many Germans attended it than the Hitler-sponsored Great German Art Exhibit across the street  two million in four months.

People were astounded at the quality of the work, Feye said. It was basically a whos who of modern art  Marc Chagall, Max Beckmann, Wassily Kandinsky  hardly any great art was exempted.

Most of tonights attendees interviewed by La Jolla Light say they came to all three of Feyes lectures because they love anything to do with art history.

I learned a lot tonight, says Kirby Kendrick of Mission Hills, who is an artist herself. I thought the Degenerate Art Exhibition was put on by the artists themselves, as a rebellion thing like the Salon des Refuses in Paris.

But some came because of the Hitler connection.

We have to pay attention to history  thats the main message, said La Jolla resident Judy Newman. I think of whats happening today, with people following egotistical, self-centered leaders who have charisma.

Many attendees professed not knowing that Hitler was an aspiring painter. He applied to the Fine Art Academy in Vienna, according to Feye, and got rejected twice. (The director wrote that he was unfit for painting and might want to study architecture instead. Hitler couldnt, because he didnt finish high school.)

There is a theory that if Hitler had been accepted at the art academy, maybe the world would have been spared a lot of suffering, Feye said. I dont know. I wouldnt want to go too far and say it explains the Holocaust.

Although none were murdered by the Nazis, artists fingered as degenerate were forbidden to produce their art, fired from their day jobs and threatened with arrest. Many of their confiscated paintings subsequently went missing; some still are.

A decade or so ago, when Feye worked at the San Diego Museum of Art, she said she was part of a team tasked with determining the provenance of all art the museum purchased from 1933 to 1945. They wanted to make sure none of it was stolen, Feye said. They would ask me to translate some of the source material and witness reports of the Jewish art collectors.

Feye said the team flagged one painting for return, a Peter Paul Rubens she said had been obtained under questionable circumstances.

Feyes interest in German art of the Nazi era is intensely personal. The Point Loma resident is German and grew up in the shadows of the atrocities. Her father and grandfather were soldiers in the German army.

There was no choice, she said. What were they going to do? My father was a good person and he was not in the SS. He was just an infantry cavalry man, and he couldnt refuse.

When I was growing up, it was hard to be proud to be a German, Feye added. Its still a national karma.
LINN  While considering options for possible annexation into Lake Geneva, the Geneva Inn has agreed to join and start paying for membership in the regional tourism organization.

Geneva Inn Hotel Manager Kim Yopp said one reason the town of Linn hotel had recently moved toward annexation was a desire to join the tourism group known as VISIT Lake Geneva.

But with annexation uncertain, the Geneva Inn has decided to join the 430-member economic development organization anyway, while remaining located in the town of Linn.

Yopp said the Geneva Inn is continuing to work on ideas for future expansion, after initial expansion plans  intended as part of an annexation strategy  were rejected Oct. 16 by the Lake Geneva Planning Commission.

As for trying again to join the city of Lake Geneva, Yopp said: I honestly dont know about plans to annex yet.

Geneva Inn representatives had earlier indicated that they thought their business needed to be annexed into Lake Geneva before it could become a member of VISIT Lake Geneva.

VISIT Lake Geneva President Ed Svitak said that is not the case. Other noncity members include Grand Geneva in the town of Lyons, Geneva National in the town of Geneva and Lake Lawn Resort in Delavan.

Svitak voiced support for welcoming the Geneva Inn into the group.

Were looking forward to adding them to the portfolio of great resorts in the area, he said.

The tourism organizations budget is derived primarily from hotel room tax revenue collected by hotels and distributed by participating municipalities.

The town of Linn does not collect a hotel room tax, but an agreement was established for the Geneva Inn to pay for its VISIT Lake Geneva membership. Details of the agreement have not been disclosed.

City action

The Lake Geneva Planning Commission on Oct. 16 denied a request from the Geneva Inn to change the citys comprehensive plan to clear the way for expansion of the hotel, N2009 S. Lake Shore Drive. The citys plan guides future growth up to 1 miles beyond the city limits.

The plan change was needed in order to rezone the hotels land to business use.

According to a pre-annexation agreement on file with the city, the Geneva Inn property shall remain in the town of Linn if the city does not approve an annexation petition with general business zoning.

Under the pre-annexation agreement, the Geneva Inn wanted to build a wedding and banquet facility.

After the plan commission rejected the proposal, Geneva Inn officials withdrew their request and said they no longer wanted to build the facility.

Lake Geneva City Attorney Dan Draper said that was one reason why the Lake Geneva City Council did not discuss the matter at its Oct. 23 meeting.

Draper also said city council action was not required, because the commission denied the request.

Town reaction

Linn Town Chairman Jim Weiss said he was happy with the plan commissions action blocking annexation for the time being.

We like the Geneva Inn as a business in the town of Linn, and we hope they continue to be a business in the town of Linn for a long time to come, he said.

State law allows the town landowners to ask neighboring cities or villages to annex their property, and Weiss said he realizes the Geneva Inn is adjacent to Lake Geneva.

He also said the hotel has been a good business.

They run a nice, upscale, clean operation, he said.

The Geneva Inn has been open since 1990, on land that was the site of the first summer residence on the part of Geneva Lake now known as Buttons Bay.

Last year, the hotel and its restaurant underwent an extensive renovation.
ELKHORN  A Lake Geneva man is facing felony charges on suspicion that he coaxed a teenage babysitter into sending him nude photographs of herself.

Carlin C. Pillman, 33, has been charged with sexual exploitation of a child and child enticement, both felonies that could land him in prison for up to 65 years combined, if he is convicted.

Court records show that Pillman also is facing related child pornography possession charges from a 2014 case still pending in Walworth County Circuit Court.

Pillman, who is free on bond, is scheduled for a preliminary hearing Nov. 13 on the new charges.

His attorney, Jerome Buting, said the case against his client is based partly on an ex-wife with an ax to grind, and a babysitter who has made complaints in the past against other people.

Buting said the defendant has pleaded not guilty to the related child pornography charges.

On the new charges, Buting said of prosecutors: Obviously well have to wait and see what evidence they think they have.

According to a criminal complaint dated Oct. 19, police investigators in the original child pornography case found nude photographs of a young female on Pillmans cellphone.

The complaint indicates that the photographs show a babysitter who worked for the Pillman family in 2014 when she was 15 and 16 years old.

A witness described as Pillmans ex-wife told police the babysitter would babysit four or five times a week, including when Pillman would not even leave the house. The ex-wife said she would come home and find the two of them sitting on a couch watching TV.

According to the criminal complaint, the ex-wife also told investigators she found sexual text messages between Pillman and the babysitter.

Walworth County court records show that Pillmans wife filed for divorce in 2015.

The babysitter, who is today 19 years old, told police that she was young and dumb and that she agreed to send nude photos of herself to Pillman. She said the defendant told her he wanted nude photos of her and he enjoyed the images she sent and he often wanted more.

She told police that the photos were taken in 2014 when she was 15 and 16 years old and a sophomore in high school.

She said many of the photos were taken while she was at the Pillman house.

The criminal complaint also alleges that Pillman told the babysitter he wanted to have sex with her and that he encouraged her to sit on his lap. She told investigators, however, that she did not remember Pillman ever touching her inappropriately.
GENOA CITY  Christine Fox, a real estate saleswoman for Shorewest Realtors, wanted to feel more confident when meeting strangers to show a home.

So Fox and her team set up a private class with Balog Combat Systems, a new business started by Genoa Citys police chief to offer womens self-defense, firearms safety and other courses.

Police Chief Joe Balog said he started the business because he is passionate about public safety.

When Balog is not running the villages police department, he is often teaching courses on carrying concealed weapons, firearms safety and self-defense.

I enjoy sharing what knowledge I have, he said. And if I can give somebody one piece of knowledge thats going to save them, protect them, help them make a better decision down the road, then I feel my jobs done.

Fox said her team, all women, learned how to be aware of their surroundings and, if they have to fight, where to hit an attacker and how to get out of the situation as fast as they can.

You can never be too safe in todays world, she said.

Balog said they taught Fox and her colleagues how to break free of certain holds and other hand-to-hand defense techniques.

The big thing is some of the ground-fighting stuff, positions in which you find yourself on the ground, how to use your muscle groups to get out of those situations, he said.

Experienced in tae kwon do and hapkido, Balog said he began teaching classes in 2010 at the Korean Martial Arts Center in Twin Lakes. He is also a Wisconsin Department of Justice instructor in firearms, defense and arrest tactics.

Balog has been Genoa City police chief since 2012.

Balog Combat Systems is not a function of the Genoa City Police Department.

Classes have been offered in the Genoa City American Legion Post 183 building, 114 Freeman St.

Starting Nov. 4, the company is offering a youth firearms safety course to teach youngsters what they should do if they encounter firearms, and how parents should secure guns.

Were in Wisconsin, and Wisconsins notorious for hunting, said Jeff Sperandeo, a Genoa City police investigator who also works as an instructor for the chiefs company. Theres firearms in a lot of homes.

The course will cost $25 per child.

Sperandeo said the course will instruct children that they should not touch a gun if they see one.

Stop, go talk to an adult, he said.

Other courses offered by the company cost $50-$75 a person for concealed carry and $100 a person for womens self-defense.

Balog said there was a lot of confusion over the change in Wisconsins laws on carrying concealed weapons (CCW), and he saw a lack of instruction on the responsibilities of carrying firearms.

About 40 percent of the people who take his CCW class decide, after hearing about the responsibilities, say that they dont want to carry a gun, he said.

Balog tries to emphasize the importance of continuing firearm education, even after someone has obtained a CCW permit.

If your dad taught you in the backyard, shooting the .22 pistol, please at least go get some formalized firearms instruction, he said. A lot of people are amazed when they do that, as to how they can increase their proficiency, increase their safety.
The most wonderful time of year could become even more wonderful in Lake Geneva this year with the arrival of a big new city Christmas tree in the heart of downtown.

City leaders are searching for just the right tree  an evergreen around 11 feet tall or more  to feature as what organizers are calling the communitys showcase tree.

Bridget Leech, executive director of the Lake Geneva Business Improvement District, said organizers plan to display the tree starting Dec. 1 in the Brunk Pavilion at Flat Iron Park.

The introduction of a larger holiday tree, Leech said, is part of a strategy by the citys business leaders to bring more excitement to Lake Geneva during the yuletide season.

Were just upping the festive game, she said.

And some lucky tree owner out there could share the spotlight.

Property owners throughout the community have an opportunity to make one of their own trees the citys official holiday showcase. Leech said anyone with an evergreen between roughly 11 feet and 18 feet tall can enter to have their tree selected as the citys new Christmas centerpiece.

Tree nomination forms can be found on the Business Improvement Districts website at www.streetsoflakegeneva.com. The deadline to submit a nomination is Nov. 27.

The business district is working to plan the holiday celebration with Visit Lake Geneva, the regional chamber of commerce and tourism organization.

Ed Svitak, president of Visit Lake Geneva, said the idea developed after he heard some people in town questioning why the citys Christmas tree was so small.

During the construction of the Brunk Pavilion, some large trees in Flat Iron Park had to be cut down. That forced the city instead to decorate much smaller trees near the Riviera and near the Andy Gump statue in Flat Iron Park.

Although Leech said the city will still put lights on those trees during the holidays, there was also an opportunity to do something special for the community at the Brunk Pavilion, which is not typically used for anything during the holidays.

I think that the more we can do with the BID and VISIT Lake Geneva, the more we can do to let the community know we recognize them and appreciate them, Leech said.

The process for cutting down and moving the selected holiday tree this year may also become a community event.

Leech said organizers are hoping to make that process a community gathering to raise Christmas cheer.

The excitement will culminate with the Festival of Lights event on Dec. 1 in Flat Iron Park. starting at 5 p.m. Along with lighting the tree, the event will feature cookies, hot chocolate and even a visit from Santa Claus himself.

It is just the start of what organizers hope to do in future holiday seasons.

Svitak said the two organizations hope to do even more holiday events moving forward.

With other holiday celebrations around the lake, such as the Santa Cruise in Williams Bay, Svitak said that these extra events will connect the dots and ensure that all the areas around the lake, including Lake Geneva, have festive events going on.

We are all here to keep the community going year-round, Leech said. The holidays are the best time to kick that off and hopefully keep it going.
Head of the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) Nazar Kholodnytsky has said that SAPO will ask the court to choose for the interior minister's son, Oleksandr Avakov, and former Deputy Interior Minister Serhiy Chebotar, a measure of restraint in the form of custody with the alternative of posting UAH 5 million bail.

"Three people were detained yesterday [on October 31], and they were informed of suspicion. Today, people are in a temporary detention facility. Detectives sent for consideration by prosecutors a petition for choosing for all three suspects a measure of restraint in the form of detention with the alternative of posting bail," he said at a briefing in Kyiv on Wednesday.

According to Kholodnytsky, at the moment the suspects and their defense lawyers are examining the petitions.

"The Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office will ask for custody for all three [suspects] with the alternative of posting bail  UAH 5 million each for the former deputy interior minister and one more individual and UAH 4 million for the businessman who allegedly produced these backpacks," he said.

As reported, two individuals detained on October 31 as part of the investigation into the so-called "backpack case" were informed on the same day of suspicion in committing a crime under Part 5, Article 191 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (appropriation, embezzlement or taking possession of property through abuse of power). The issue concerns former Deputy Interior Minister Serhiy Chebotar and Oleksandr Avakov, the son of Interior Minister Arsen Avakov.

Later NABU detectives notified the third detainee of suspicion in committing a crime during the purchase of backpacks for the Interior Ministry in late 2014 and early 2015. Bloc of Petro Poroshenko MP Serhiy Leshchenko said earlier, referring to his own sources, that NABU detectives had detained in Kharkiv head of IT firm Turboseo Volodymyr Lytvyn, who also runs a company that had to produce a batch of backpacks for the Interior Ministry.
Quite a few months ago, in two separate columns or letters to the editor, I pointed out the harsh words that former Secretary of State Madeline Albright and former presidential candidate Hillary Clinton had said about women who didnt vote for Hillary Clinton.

I have a few more points to offer people to think about: Juanita Broaddrick, Kathleen Wiley, Paula Jones, Gennifer Flowers and Monica Lewinsky. What about Hillary Clinton and Kathy Shelton?

How about Anthony Weiner (otherwise known as Carlos Danger) pleading guilty in May of this year to sexting a 15-year-old girl?

What about Harvey Weinstein and, at last count, 60 high-profile accusers making allegations of rape, sexual assault and sexual harassment against him? Weinstein was a known leftist Hollywood mogul and big Democratic campaign contributor. Many of those 60 accusers are huge public and well-known figures, and yet until recently remained quiet about the many years of Weinsteins alleged behavior and conduct.

In an article in the New York Times on Oct. 5, the headline reads, Harvey Weinstein Paid Off Sexual Harassment Accusers for Decades.

Decades! Weinsteins alleged behaviors went on for decades, and we are just now hearing public outcries from the Hollywood elites?

The piece goes on to say, An investigation by the New York Times found previously undisclosed allegations against Mr. Weinstein stretching nearly three decades  It goes on to say, During that time  Mr. Weinstein has reached at least eight settlements with women  Among the recipients, the Times found, were a young assistant in New York in 1990, an actress in 1997, an assistant in London in 1998, and an Italian model in 2015.

According to the Times, outspoken leftist activist Ashley Judd is quoted as saying in a recent interview, Women have been talking about Harvey amongst ourselves for a long time. A long time?

In Weinsteins statement in the matter, he said: I appreciate the way Ive behaved with colleagues in the past has caused a lot of pain, and I sincerely apologize for it.

The entire statement is available online if, in my opinion, you care to stomach it. Lets move forward a few days from Weinstein to Mark Helprin veteran leftist political journalist. CNN Headline reads: Five women accuse journalist and Game Change co-author Mark Halperin of sexual harassment.

According to a Fox News piece by Sasha Savitska, Helprin in his statement to CNN said: During this period, I did pursue relationships with women that I worked with, including some junior to me, Halperin told CNN. I now understand from these accounts that my behavior was inappropriate and caused others pain. What? He didnt understand it was inappropriate at the time he was engaging in the alleged behaviors?

One more example of the double standards of the left: I point out that both the Illinois and California State Houses last week filed open letters calling for an end to sexual harassment in their state governments. Arent both state houses in those states controlled by Democrats, and have been for a long time?

According to the Chicago Tribune in a piece by Heidi Steven on Oct. 24, she tells us about an Illinois state representative in an open letter outlining rampant sexual harassment in Illinois politics and that the letter so far has garnered more than 160 women and men vowing to demand better.

According to the L.A. Times in a piece by Melanie Manson on Oct. 17, the headline reads: Female lawmakers, staffers and lobbyists speak out on pervasive harassment in Californias Capitol.

Sexual Harassment must stop! Every person deserves the ability to go to work and do a professional job with no fear of sexual harassment or sexual assault. Our laws and human decency require it!

Regardless of your political leanings, please help stop those behaviors. To remain silent often facilitates the harasser and emboldens their behaviors.

Madeline and Hillary, you may want to look in the political mirror when telling women where they are going to go if they dont vote your way.

Until next time, God bless.

Chris Goebel is chairman of the Republican Party of Walworth County.
To Lake Geneva residents who lived in the city throughout the first half of the 20th century, the name Bucknall strikes a resonant chord. Albert and Ralph Bucknall were both born in Lake Geneva, and as they grew into manhood, they became two of the most well-known businessmen in the city.

Albert Bucknall was born in Geneva on August 25, 1877, the son of John and Margaret McGarrell Bucknall. His brother, Ralph Bucknall, was born in Geneva two years later in June 1879. In September 1906, Albert and Ralph Bucknall opened the Bucknall Dry Goods store at 226 Broad St. in a building that still exists, located on the west side of Broad Street between the Geneva Theater and the Cornerstone Shoppe, long the site of Cobbs Hardware store, founded by Timothy Christian Smith.

The Bucknall Dry Goods store would be a well-known fixture in Lake Geneva for more than a half century. Few Lake Geneva old-timers will forget the smell of piles of cloth that permeated the store. Bucknalls played an essential role in Lake Geneva, serving all those who made their own clothes. During the late 1940s and early 1950s, my grandmother would frequently send me to Bucknalls to buy pins, needles, and spools of thread for her.

But Bucknalls was also a well-known venue in Lake Geneva because on the second floor of the Bucknalls building was the Masonic Hall, the home of Free and Associated Masons Lodge #44. The Masonic Lodge today is located in its own building on Willow Street just north of Baker Street.

In 1930, Ralph Bucknall bought the J.E. Barr mens clothing store on the south side of the 700 block of Main Street where McClellans Electric store was later located. Ralph operated the J.E. Barr clothing store until he retired in 1948. He retained his interest in Bushnells Dry goods store until 1940 when he sold his interest to his brother Albert.

Ralph Bucknall, who lived at 1122 Wisconsin St., was president of the Lake Geneva School Board, a member of the chamber of commerce and of the Methodist church. He was also active in the work of the YMCA. He died in Lakeland Hospital on Jan. 16, 1958, following a long illness. He was 78 years old.

Ralphs older brother, Albert, continued to operate Bucknalls Dry Goods store until Oct. 19, 1944, when he sold it to Bertha Agern and Elizabeth Baldson, who retained the name Bucknalls for the store. Albert Bucknall was a member of the Methodist church. On Sept. 21, 1957, he died of a heart attack at his home at 509 Madison St. For more than four decades, Albert and Ralph Bucknall were two of the most well-known businessmen and civic leaders in Lake Geneva.

Quinn is a Lake Geneva native who is the University Archivist Emeritus at Northwestern University.
The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and the military prosecutor's office detained the judge of the Bilhorod-Dnistrovsky court (Odesa region), who forged judicial decisions, on the basis of which citizens were deprived of property rights in Donetsk, chief military prosecutor of Ukraine Anatoliy Matios has said.

"Yesterday, the SBU together with the military prosecutor's office detained the judge of the Bilhorod-Dnistrovsky court, a native of the city of Donetsk, who is suspected of making falsified court decisions during 2015-2016, using stamps and seals stolen in the Kirovsky district court of Donetsk in 2014, according to which the registrars of the so-called DPR and LPR made changes in citizens' registration documents for real estate and housing in Donetsk," he told a briefing in Kyiv on Wednesday.

"As a result, they were reissued to representatives of terrorist organizations," the military prosecutor said.

According to Matios, three victims were found who discovered in open registries that they no longer own housing in Donetsk.

He also noted that the investigation established seven more such cases.
PRESS RELEASE

Chinas Leadership Is Preparing for President Trumps Trip to China

Oct. 31, 2017 (EIRNS)The governments China Global Television Network (CGTN, formerly CCTV) runs an unsigned opinion piece today, titled "Why Trumps Upcoming China Visit Is Important." It reports on yesterdays briefing that Chinas Ambassador to the U.S. Cui Tiankai held on U.S. President Donald Trumps Nov. 8-10 trip, saying it is an honor to host Trump as the first world leader following the 19th congress of Communist Party of China, to visit China. He said that because there are differences in foreign policy, "that is why we need this high-level communication."

Cui, who turned 65 this month, has been asked to postpone his retirement in order to help ensure that President Trump visit to China is successful. Cui had previously said he would be stepping down, but as Hong Kongs South China Morning Post reports, "Sources said Cui remaining in the post underlined just how much importance Beijing was placing on Trumps trip."

President Xi Jinping said yesterday, according to Xinhua, that he is looking forward to President Trumps trip, and that "we are optimistic about the prospects for Chinese-U.S. relations," ahead of the meeting with President Trump. President Xi was speaking to America business leaders who are members of an advisory board to Tsinghua Universitys business school in Beijing. Speaking in the Great Hall of the People, President Xi promised to open Chinas economy wider.
PRESS RELEASE

India Ships Wheat to Afghanistan via Irans Chabahar Port, Opening New International Trade Route

Oct. 31, 2017 (EIRNS)India has sent its first shipment of wheat to Afghanistan via Chabahar Port in Iran, located in the southeast corner of Iran on the Gulf of Oman. "The shipment is part of a commitment made by the Government of India to supply 1.1 million tons of wheat for the people of Afghanistan on grant basis," said the Indian Foreign Ministry in a statement. "Six more wheat shipments will be sent to Afghanistan over the next few months." As of now, the wheat will be transported to Afghanistan by road from Chabahar through the Zahedan-Zaranj-Kabul Highway. India has built the Zahedan-Zaranj highway and is in the process of developing the Chabahar Port.

The first shipment establishes the India-Afghanistan trade route skirting Pakistan, which does not allow any land link between India and Afghanistan. According to Express News Service (ENS) today, the wheat shipment establishes three other objectives. To begin with, the activation of Chabahar Port shows Indias keenness to get the port functioning. Also, Chabahar speaks for Indias commitment to improving Indo-Iran relations. There were apparently some apprehensions in Iran that under alleged U.S. pressure, India would slow down improving its relations with Iran. The shipment also clears up that issue.

In addition,

"Chabahar Port will also improve Afghan-Iran partnership and provide a crucial leverage for Kabul, as a transit between Central Asia and the Arabian Sea. It could further link Russia and provide another warm water outlet for Moscow. For the Afghans, Chabahar is not just about Indo-Afghan trade; it is an opening of a huge new world,"

ENS wrote about India and Irans landlocked neighbor.
PRESS RELEASE

Lavrov Accuses U.S. Ukraine Handler of Sabotaging the Normandy Peace Process in Ukraine

Oct. 31, 2017 (EIRNS)Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov expressed "regrets" that the U.S. special representative to Ukraine Kurt Volker is undermining the peace process underway by the Normandy FourRussia, France, Germany, and Ukraine. "Most recently [Volker] was in Kiev," Lavrov said today, according to Sputnik,

"where he made a number of statements, from which it became clear which alternative to our project curators of the Ukrainian authorities were preparing. Mr. Volker said that it was necessary for peacekeepers to occupy the entire Donbas, encircle it, and only then the U.S. will support President Poroshenko in his actions to implement all obligations [of the Minsk agreement], including the announcement of an amnesty, giving Donbas a special status according to [German President] Steinmeiers formula, and holding elections."

Volker also said that the representatives of the Donbas would be excluded from negotiations about peacekeepers and the peace process, another breach of the Normandy process.
PRESS RELEASE

South Korea, China End Confrontation, Prepare Summit

Oct. 31, 2017 (EIRNS)South Korea and China took a dramatic step Monday to end the conflict which has increased tensions between them since former President Park Geun-hye, under pressure from Obama, allowed the United States to deploy the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile system in the country, giving the United States radar capacity deep into Chinese territory. Although there were never formal sanctions imposed, there was a drastic cutback in tourism and investment into South Korea, and an unofficial boycott of Korean business within China, affecting Hyundai, Lotte, and others.

South Korean Minister of Foreign Affairs Kang Kyung-wha yesterday announced three measures, which appear to have been pre-arranged between Beijing and Seoul, aimed at restoring relations. They include: South Korea would not pursue additional THAAD missile system deployments (without agreeing to remove the existing system); pronouncing that South Korea will not be part of the unified U.S. anti-ballistic missile system; and that there will be no trilateral military alliance between the United States, Japan, and South Korea.

Kang added: "I believe these measures will allow us to overcome difficulties in our relationship and quickly enter a normalization track." She said that preparations were under way for a bilateral summit at APEC, and that plans for President Moon Jae-in to visit China within the year were also in the works.

Also, the new South Korean and Chinese senior representatives to the Six-Party Talks on the North Korean nuclear issue are meeting for the first time today in Beijing.
Kaskiv says he voluntarily returned to Ukraine and decided to repay damage to state

Former Head of the State Agency for Investment and National Projects of Ukraine Vladyslav Kaskiv has said that he voluntarily returned to Ukraine and decided to repay losses to the state regardless of the final court decision on this issue.

"I really returned to Ukraine voluntarily. My position is simple. I will prove my case in court. On September 18, I asked the Panamanian authorities to allow me to voluntarily come to Ukraine. On October 27, the Supreme Court of Panama granted my request. At the same time, the court secured the international guarantees of Ukraine, which cannot be withdrawn, on not bringing additional charges," Kaskiv wrote on his Facebook page on Wednesday.

He also said that "in order to stop speculation on the losses to the state, I decided to compensate them regardless of the final court decision."

"For the same reasons I decided to pay for the flight myself," Kaskiv wrote.

As reported, Kaskiv was declared internationally wanted under Part 5, Article 191 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine on charges of "large-scale misappropriation of property by an official through abuse of office and through collusion with a group of persons" and under Part 2 of Article 366 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine on "forgery by an official." He is suspected of entering into a criminal conspiracy in 2012 with other persons to embezzle the means of the state budget of Ukraine in the amount of about UAH 7.5 million.

On September 8, 2016, the Ukrainian Prosecutor General's Office received confirmation from Interpol that Kaskiv had been arrested in Panama. On September 12, a court in Panama granted Kaskiv a $600,000 bail, after which he applied for political asylum.

In March 2017, it became known that Panama had refused to grant political refugee status to Kaskiv.

On November 1, Prosecutor General Yuriy Lutsenko said that Kaskiv had been extradited from Panama to Ukraine and taken to the Main Investigation Department of the Prosecutor General's Office.
The bustling Grand Central Market, one of Los Angeles best-known cultural landmarks, has been sold to a Beverly Hills real estate investor who vows to preserve its historic charms.

The sale that closed Tuesday included the 12-story Million Dollar Theater tower next door, home to the first movie palace opened by entrepreneur Sid Grauman, who went on to create the famous Chinese and Egyptian theaters in Hollywood.

Grand Central Market, which celebrated its 100th anniversary last week, is a popular destination for locals and tourists who can choose a meal from dozens of food stalls or shop for produce, spices and other wares. It is open every day and draws 2 million visitors annually through its wide doors on Broadway and Hill Street.

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We just want to safeguard this place, said new owner Adam Daneshgar, president of Langdon Street Capital. We are not looking to go in and change or overhaul anything.

Daneshgar declined to disclose how much his firm paid for the buildings. They had been owned since the mid-1980s by the Yellin Co., founded by the late Ira Yellin, an early pioneer of the downtown renaissance.

Yellin Co. President Adele Yellin, widow of Ira Yellin, declined to comment on the sale.

Daneshgar said he would spend several million dollars on maintenance and what he called surgical improvements such as painting the walls, cleaning the dusty skylights and updating the lighting. He said he may add one or two more stalls to the 40 existing ones.

The current tenants reflect both the markets recent past as a place to buy inexpensive produce and hog maw tacos and its evolution to a more gentrified food hall selling pressed juice, artisan bread and craft beer.

Among the eateries is Chinese food purveyor China Cafe, which has been there since the 1950s, and well-reviewed new food stalls Wexlers Deli and Sari Sari Store, which sells Filipino food made by a James Beard Award nominee.

Its a unique marketplace where you dont just go to eat, Daneshgar said. You go there because it is an experience and you want to do something different, to soak it all in.

The Million Dollar Theater, closed for years and last used as a church, will be reactivated by an undisclosed new tenant that will also control the buildings empty shops on Broadway.

For Daneshgar, 34, the acquisition of the market and theater buildings, which have a combined 400,000 square feet of space, marks a high-profile deal for a real estate investor with a low local profile.

He completed USCs graduate-level real estate development program less than a decade ago and in 2011 began investing in properties that had been depressed in value by the recession. Daneshgar acquired apartment buildings in Las Vegas and moved on to buy retail, residential and office properties in California, New York and Texas.

Its put us in a position to pursue opportunities aggressively, he said.

Daneshgar said he heard that Grand Central Market might be available and wrote a letter to Adele Yellin proclaiming his interest. It was, in real estate parlance, an unsolicited offer.

She saw my passion and love for the project, he said. I assured her that our vision was aligned with hers and Iras.

Ira Yellin was a pioneer of the current downtown renaissance. In the mid-1980s, Yellin, a lawyer with an academic interest in urban planning and historical preservation, bought not only the Grand Central Market but also the Million Dollar Theater and the Bradbury Building across Broadway.

All of them were landmarks in disrepair in a neighborhood that had grown disreputable, said Dan Rosenfeld, one of Ira Yellins former partners. Yellin spent millions of dollars to restore them at a time when other serious developers were building office skyscrapers on Bunker Hill and wanted nothing to do with Broadway.

Ira put his money and his life on the line to start the cultural revitalization of downtown with some of the most significant and most challenging buildings, Rosenfeld said. He had a realization that something could happen in the heart of what we now call the Historic Core.

The Bradbury Building, which dates from 1893 and houses a light-filled Victorian central court, is an architectural tourist destination that Yellin restored in the early 1990s. It is now owned by the U.S. affiliate of a Hong Kong investment firm.

The Million Dollar Theater, which opened in 1918, was one of the earliest and largest movie palaces in the country with more than 2,300 seats. The floors above the theater were offices until Yellin converted them to apartments. It was designed by Los Angeles architect Albert C. Martin Sr. in a lavishly embellished style known as Churrigueresque, according to the Los Angeles Conservancy.

Water engineer William Mulholland, who oversaw the construction of the Los Angeles Aqueduct in the early 20th century, once had his offices at the building, historian Greg Fischer said.

Ira Yellin died in 2002 and didnt see the neighborhoods comeback, but city officials honored him in 2003 by naming the intersection of Broadway and 3rd Street by the Million Dollar Theater Ira Yellin Square.

Lately, the area has begun to catch up with other resurgent downtown neighborhoods such as South Park and the Arts District.

A new federal courthouse was completed at Broadway and 1st Street in 2016. Canadian developer Onni Group plans to build two apartment skyscrapers across Broadway on a site now occupied by a former Los Angeles Times office building and garage. A subway stop is being built at 2nd Street and Broadway, and another developer plans to build a 30-story office and condominium tower on top of the station.

And across Hill Street from the market, developers are competing for the right to build a massive mixed-use complex on city land next to the base of Angels Flight railway that will reshape the city skyline.

The Grand Central Market was the linchpin for that progress, said real estate broker John Zanetos of CBRE.

Grand Central Market is in the Homer Laughlin Building, one of the citys oldest commercial structures in continuous use. It was built to house offices over street-level retail.

The six-story portion facing Broadway was completed in 1897 by Laughlin, founder of the Homer Laughlin China Co. and one of the citys richest men. In 1905 a second, shorter structure was built, extending the original building through to Hill Street, the Conservancy said.

The Ville de Paris department store was the primary tenant in the combined building until 1917, when it relocated and Grand Central Market moved in. Homer Laughlin Jr., Laughlins son, told The Times upon the market opening: We are trying to build up an institution.

Early ads for the market show merchants there sold a wide range of edibles, including baked goods, oysters, peanut butter and ice cream  all of which are for sale today.

Above the market are more apartments  the Laughlin and Million Dollar buildings have 121 units combined  and office space for rent. There is also a 500-car garage attached to the complex

Just about every city in the world has had a colorful fresh-food market at its heart, Rosenfeld said. Were really lucky ours survived.

roger.vincent@latimes.com

Twitter: @rogervincent

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At first, the Internet giants downplayed the role they played in Russias election meddling.

Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg famously said it was crazy to think fake news influenced the campaign. Twitter said it cant be the arbiter of truth. And Google only recently revealed Russian agents bought ads to spread disinformation after saying there was no evidence of the sort.

But by Tuesday, when faced with a sobering appearance before the Senate Judiciary Committee, the three Silicon Valley heavyweights took turns underscoring the gravity of the attacks on American democracy and pledged to work harder to prevent it from happening again.

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We take what happened on Facebook very seriously, said Facebooks lead attorney, Colin Stretch. The foreign interference we saw was reprehensible.

The foreign interference we saw was reprehensible.  Colin Stretch, Facebooks lead attorney

Whether the gestures appeared credible or not will go a long way in determining how much an increasingly impatient Congress will regulate a technology industry that has amassed considerable power.

The three companies came to the hearing  the first of three on Capitol Hill over two days  with data showing how badly they underestimated the scope of Russias interference.

Facebook said 126 million users were served content from a Russian troll farm, the Internet Research Agency, more than 10 times the original estimate. Twitter said Kremlin-linked agents sent more 131,000 messages. And Google said Russian operatives uploaded more than 1,000 videos on YouTube.

Although the instinct in Silicon Valley is to want to police itself, critics question whether the social media companies can be trusted to do so after taking so long to disclose more about the extent their platforms were exploited.

When the response is seen as half measures and denials, it only makes the situation worse, said Scott Galloway, a professor of marketing at NYU Stern School of Business and author of The Four: The Hidden DNA of Amazon, Apple, Facebook and Google.

To date, theyve tried to minimize and deflect, Galloway added. Meanwhile, we keep finding its getting worse and worse.

Galloway said the companies should have sent their CEOs to the hearings to deliver a forceful pledge to stop foreign interference regardless of cost. Twitter was represented by Sean Edgett, acting general counsel, and Google sent Richard Salgado, director of law enforcement and information security.

Galloway was also discouraged by the way the companies tried to downplay the reach of Russian meddling by highlighting how it represented just a small percentage of content on their platforms.

Galloway said Facebook, Twitter and Google should have taken a cue from the late James E. Burke, who led Johnson & Johnson during the 1982 Tylenol poisoning crisis that claimed seven lives. Burke ordered the recall of millions of bottles of pills and stopped all advertising.

He didnt come out and say this is just a fraction of our content and it wasnt a big deal, Galloway said. Its the benchmark for how to handle a crisis.

Tech companies such as Facebook, Twitter and Google have long benefited from Washingtons laissez-faire approach to them  applying outdated rules that dont address the challenges faced today. Part of the reasoning was to shield innovation from the heavy hand of government.

The companies are not legally responsible for most of the content that shows up on their platforms. At our heart were a tech company; we hire engineers. We dont hire reporters, no ones a journalist, we dont cover the news, Sheryl Sandberg, Facebooks chief operating officer, told Axios earlier this month.

Calls are growing for that to change. As the primary gatekeepers of news and information today, critics say the big platforms should be regulated like media companies, which are liable for harmful material.

The first salvo in attempting to rein in the tech giants came earlier this month when Senate democrats Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota and Mark Warner of Virginia along with Republican Sen. John McCain of Arizona unveiled legislation called the Honest Ads Act, which would make political ads on social media subject to the same rules as on traditional media.

That means disclosing the origins of political ads so that the public cant be misled.

Facebook has welcomed the calls for transparency despite resisting it in the past as impractical. But pressure was mounting on the social network because of the proliferation of political dark posts  anonymous ads such as the ones bought by the Internet Research Agency that were designed to widen divisions between Americans.

Facebook also said Tuesday it would double its number of employees tasked with removing objectionable content to 20,000.

That follows other pledges by Facebook and Twitter to inject more transparency into their political advertising business by forcing purchasers to disclose whos paying for ads and who theyre targeting. Google also removed media company Russia Today from its premium lineup of YouTube channels for advertisers.

Actions like that may help the companies preserve the regulatory status quo that has allowed them to grow into multibillion-dollar behemoths.

Lawmakers are now ratcheting up the pressure, demanding that Facebook, Twitter and Google give them a reason to entrust them with protecting one of Americas most sacred institutions.

Can you come to us and say, We have accomplished X, and therefore you, as a Congress, dont need to worry about legislating in this space or creating regulations or holding more hearings, because we have now got Americas back? Democratic Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island asked during Tuesdays hearing.

david.pierson@latimes.com

Follow me @dhpierson on Twitter

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Here are the 2018 SAG Awards nominees reactions to their nods

The on-camera talent recognized during the 24th Screen Actors Guild Award nominations on Wednesday shared their excitement and gratitude for the special honor bestowed upon them by the acting community.

The SAG Awards serve up laurels for actors and ensemble casts working in television and film as voted by their peers. The awards show, hosted by The Good Place star Kristen Bell, will take place on Jan. 21.

LIST: The 2018 SAG Award nominees

In statements to the Los Angeles Times, several nominees repeatedly thanked their drama families, particularly the casts and crews of their respective projects. Heres what some of them had to say about the recognition:

Alison Brie. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

Alison Brie, GLOW

It is such a great honor to be recognized by my fellow actors with this nomination. I am so proud to be part of a show that celebrates the craft of acting, with all its pitfalls and glories, and to be able to work with such a diverse group of insanely talented women. GLOW has meant the world to me and Im deeply thankful for this recognition for me and the cast. Thank you SAG-AFTRA!!

Millie Bobby Brown. (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

Millie Bobby Brown, Stranger Things

Screen Actors Guild! Thank you SO much for recognizing me and our cast for the second year in a row! This means the world coming from you, our peers. I am so lucky and honored to have the privilege of playing Eleven  a strong, powerful, badass, strange, wonderful character! Cant wait to celebrate with my Stranger Things family!

Timothee Chalamet. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

Timothee Chalamet, Call Me By Your Name

What an incredible morning! This nomination is very close to my heart because its from the actor. When we made Call Me By Your Name, we had no idea what it would turn into. The experience in making the film with Armie [Hammer] was so special, and yet, we just didnt know. Simply put, Ive been blown away by the response this film has received. And, to be included in ensemble along with my Lady Bird family (congrats, Saoirse [Ronan]!) makes this recognition that much more special.

David Harbour. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

David Harbour, Stranger Things

If it isnt wildly apparent by now, Ill say it directly  I love actors! To be recognized by my peers in such distinguished company gives me a special joy. And Millie [Bobby Brown] and the show! Beyond.

When I act, when I create, I feel alive, full to bursting, and I feel of service to the mysterious goodness that firmly exists in this world. I have been rewarded with a life that indulges in the primacy of self, but at its core and at its purest and its best, it is a life of service. A service to audiences. To prod and poke when necessary, to comfort and entertain when times seem dark, to ever expand the human experience, to offer a reason to live, to celebrate to the gods the great gift and scourge that is consciousness. Sometimes it means expressing iron intellect and rigorous truth that bonds us all in the achingly profound wisdom of no escape. Sometimes it means revealing the intimate moments of endurance, of unexpected kindness, unasked for love. And sometimes it simply means making a fierce and joyful noise, to spin, to twirl, to throw your hands up with the relentless dips and climb aboard this roller coaster of life. Ya know, to dance. *insert Hopper dancing gif*

Thank you for recognizing me, as it might mean itll be easier to get more jobs doing it.

Sally Hawkins, The Shape of Water

I am beyond thrilled to have received the honor of this nomination. And to receive it from fellow colleagues is huge to me. Guillermo [del Toro], this film and the entire cast and crew hold a very special place in my heart and always will. Each and every one of them made me better. I am truly delighted more than I can really express in words but my heart is fit to burst with pride for us all. Thank you dearest SAG members. Thank you for your embrace.

Sean Hayes. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

Sean Hayes, Will & Grace

I am so honored to be recognized in this category with these extraordinary actors. I love acting because I love actors. I also like to bake sometimes.

Richard Jenkins. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

Richard Jenkins, The Shape of Water

I am thrilled and humbled to be nominated by my peers for a SAG Award. This union is very close to my heart. Well, the SAG card is in my wallet, so its a little further south.

Zoe Kazan. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Zoe Kazan, The Big Sick

Thank you to SAG for honoring The Big Sick ensemble with a nomination. It means so much to us, especially from our acting peers. I am deeply proud to be a part of this film and to have brought Kumail [Nanjiani] and Emily [V. Gordon]s story into the world, especially at this time. We are particularly moved to have been recognized as an ensemble, as this was such an extraordinary collaborative experience Im excited to be reunited once more with my movie family, and to share this with Kumail, Holly [Hunter], Ray [Romano], Zenobia [Shroff], Anupam [Kher], and Adeel [Akhtar] and everyone else who helped bring The Big Sick to life.

Nicole Kidman. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

Nicole Kidman, Big Little Lies

What an amazing morning! Thank you to SAG-AFTRA for recognizing Big Little Lies in such a significant way. Ive been acting since I was 14 and have dedicated an enormous amount of my life to my craft so to be acknowledged by my acting family is the most incredible honor.

Jason Bateman and Laura Linney. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

Laura Linney, Ozark

I am so proud to be included in a list of such wonderful actresses who have raised the bar so high. What an amazing year for women in television. And I am especially proud to be representing Ozark with my TV spouse, the ever deserving Jason Bateman! Thank you SAG-AFTRA!

Marc Maron. (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)

Marc Maron, GLOW

I am stunned and excited to be recognized by other actors in this way. I really never thought this was possible in my life. It helps to be surrounded by amazing actors and to have such a defined and well written character as Sam Sylvia and to be on a show as unique as GLOW. I am just a small part. So, thanks SAG for recognizing me and the mind-blowing ensemble that is GLOW.

Kumail Nanjiani and Emily V. Gordon. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

Kumail Nanjiani and Emily V. Gordon, The Big Sick

We are so lucky to have been graced with the enormous talents of every single member of our cast. They each put a piece of themselves into our story and we are thrilled at being recognized. Thank you. And a special shout out to Holly Hunters individual nomination!

Now we have to go tell our real parents that they arent actually nominated.

Bob Odenkirk. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

Bob Odenkirk, Better Call Saul

I am thrilled to get this nomination from my fellow actors! At Better Call Saul I am surrounded by an ensemble of excellence  Michael McKean, Rhea Seehorn, Jonathan Banks, everybody raises my game. Thank you to SAG-AFTRA.

Gary Oldman. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

Gary Oldman, The Darkest Hour

No actor could ever deny the special satisfaction that comes from being recognized by your fellow artists  we all share the same challenges, insecurities, and uncertainties, chief among them, the question am I any good? this nomination, and in the wonderful company of the other nominees, is so very satisfying.

Margot Robbie. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

Margot Robbie, I, Tonya

Im so incredibly moved and excited to be nominated by my fellow actors. I feel very fortunate to be able to have had the opportunity to bring Tonyas story to the big screen. Thank you to Steven [Rogers] for his brilliant and unique script, to Allison [Janney] and Sebastian [Stan] for being such incredible screen partners and to Craig [Gillespie] for his amazing direction and perfectly capturing the tone and essence of the film. Im so honored to be recognized among the truly powerful and wonderful women in the category. I cant wait to celebrate with everyone.

Sam Rockwell. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

Sam Rockwell, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

It is such an honor to be nominated by your fellow actors, I have been a proud member of the Screen Actors Guild for as long as I can remember. To share it with this wonderful ensemble whom I have had the pleasure to work with over the years and others I got to collaborate with for the first time is truly special. I want to thank Martin McDonagh, our director and writer, for crafting these characters, as well as Woody [Harrelson], Fran [McDormand] and the rest of the cast who brought the town of Ebbing to life on screen. I am thrilled.

Ray Romano. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

Ray Romano, The Big Sick

This is awesome but I wont believe it till the recount.
At a gala celebration of South Coast Plazas 50th anniversary, Ralph Fiennes stepped up to the microphone to address the 150 invitation-only guests. Having just enjoyed a concert by the renowned Mariinsky Theatre Orchestra under the direction of Maestro Valery Gergiev, all were now seated for a four-course gourmet dinner.

Perhaps of all arts, music is the one that can sidestep language, said the two-time Academy Award nominee . Music reaches straight to the soul, putting borders and political and national differences out of focus. Music, I believe, is the great healer. Its the great unifier.

Fiennes then spoke of the nights theme, Art, Excellence and Friendship, which he said epitomized the life and work of the late Henry Segerstrom, the visionary behind the Costa Mesa shopping center, the Segerstrom Center for the Arts and the surrounding complex of art, hospitality and real estate.

The event

A part of South Coast Plazas 50th anniversary year, the black-tie affair paid tribute to the many decades of support for the arts by the Segerstrom family. Both the concert, presented by the Philharmonic Society of Orange County, and dinner took place at the Renee & Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts.

Taylor Hackford, left, Dame Helen Mirren, center and Placido Domingo at the South Coast Plaza Art, Excellence + Friendship, an evening with the Mariinsky Theatre Orchestra at Segerstrom Center for the Arts Monday, October 30, 2017. (Ryan Miller / South Coast Plaza)

The dinner

More than merely foie gras, a melange of baby beets, loup de mer and a dessert trio, the dinner also featured a performance by classical pianist Denis Matsuev and the Pacific Chorales rendition of Hallelujah and Let the River Run.

Katherine Ross, left, Michael Govan and Elizabeth Segerstrom at the South Coast Plaza Art, Excellence + Friendship, an evening with the Mariinsky Theatre Orchestra at Segestrom Center for the Arts on Oct. 30. (Ryan Miller / South Coast Plaza)

The crowd

South Coast Plaza and its co-managing partner Elizabeth Segerstrom couldnt have brought together a much more diverse and impressive group, which included arts icons, business leaders and what Fiennes called a legit Brit royal, Princess Michael of Kent. Also in the mix were Oscar-winning actress Helen Mirren, director Taylor Hackford, opera legend Placido Domingo, video artist Bill Viola, architects Thom Mayne and Frank Gehry , fashion designer Mary McFadden, publishers Martine and Prosper Assouline, Los Angeles County Museum of Art Director Michael Govan, Pacific Symphony Music Director Carl St. Clair, LVMH Chairman and Chief Executive Anish Melwani, Richemont North America President and Chief Executive Daniel Mawicke, Macys Executive Chair Terry Lundgren, Jennifer and Anton Segerstrom, and more.

Taylor Hackford left, Princess Michael of Kent, Placido Domingo and Helen Mirren. (David Crotty / PMC)

The quotes

I was blessed with the fantastic opportunity to become a friend of Henry Segerstrom, Gergiev said onstage at the programs conclusion. This concert was devoted to his life, a celebration of his life. The maestro called the program choice, Ein Heldenleben, Op. 4, or A Heros Life, by Richard Strauss, a total coincidence, but added, that Segerstrom will be remembered as a hero who lived here for many, many decades and did so much for Californians

In an earlier conversation, Elizabeth Segerstrom said of her late husband, The first day we met, I saw he was a visionary, He was exceptional and for him, the arts had to be at the heart of whatever he touched  in retail, in real estate, in everything, it was always the arts.

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Ellen Olivier is the founder of Society News LA.

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Walmart has announced that they have released a line of authentic Italian cuisine items in partnership with the Italian Trade Agency. The notice was made via a press release on the Walmart website. The retail mogul is calling the line Sams Choice Italia.

Sams Choice Italia will feature 40 products, including boxed dinners, bagged pastas, pesto and pasta sauces, canned tomatoes, balsamic vinegar, and frozen pizzas. All of the recipes and ingredients will be determined in collaboration with Italy-based suppliers. The brand stated that they will continue to roll out new products over time.

Jack Pestello, senior vice president of private brands for Walmart U.S., explained the idea behind the new line in the press release. Teaming up with the Italian Trade Agency is one of the many ways our Sams Choice brand brings authentic gourmet foods to families across America at everyday low prices. We are fanatical about quality - its the first ingredient in everything we do.

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Sams Choice Italia is just the latest example of how Walmart is continuing to improve and innovate our Private Brand offerings while staying true to quality and everyday low prices, he continued.

The line is currently available in 3,600 stores nationwide and on Walmart.com. Walmarts new authentic Italian line is just one of the many things we bet you didnt know about the food at Walmart.
The students sat at a round table, ready to talk about a subject they dont bother broaching at home anymore, because they know it wont end well.

Every time we talk about politics at home, it ends in a huge fight, said Jessica Nunes de Carvalho, 15, the daughter of a stay-at-home mother and a hardware store owner.

Im a bit more  how should I put this?  liberal, I would say. My parents were raised a certain way and are used to things being that way. So if I give my opinion about something that theyre not used to or that they dont support, they get a bit angry.

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Evelyn Ruama Martins Trindade, a 16-year-old whose parents own a small business that installs window screens, nodded in agreement.

My opinions on politics and the opinions of my parents are completely different, she said. We always end up arguing.

Politics has long been a sore subject between teenagers and their parents, but in Brazil, where politicians have taken center stage for their nonstop involvement in illegal activity, cross-generational discussions take on a particular fervor. And if teenagers here have strong opinions about politics, its not surprising; in their young lives theyve already seen one president impeached, another convicted of taking bribes and another accused of yet more corruption.

And thats on top of scores of federal lawmakers also facing corruption charges in the billion-dollar graft scandal known by its law enforcement code name, Lava Jato, or Car Wash.

To hear what teenagers had to say about this, The Times assembled a quartet of students at the Professora Cynira Pires dos Santos public school in Sao Bernardo do Campo, just outside Brazils largest city and business capital, Sao Paulo. Admittedly, its not a scientific survey, but Jessica, Evelyn and the two who joined them proved to be thoughtful observers of the adults who got Brazil into its current mess  and they had some advice for a country where corruption seems inescapable.

But first a little background. The Lava Jato investigation was launched in March 2014 to look into allegations that Brazils biggest construction firms were overcharging the state-run oil giant Petrobras, enabling directors of the oil company to skim money off the top as payment for awarding the contracts.

The highest-profile politician to be convicted in the investigation so far, former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, is also well known for being from Sao Bernardo do Campo, the same working-class city where the teenagers live and go to school. Corruption, the students said sadly, just seems a part of Brazilian life.

We live in a very individualistic society, Evelyn said. Nobody thinks of anybody but themselves. People just want to have, and that makes them always want to get ahead of somebody else. Thats one of the motivations for corruption. And its not something new. Its something that started years and years ago.

Its what we call the jeitinho brasileiro, said Joao Pedro Moreira de Souza, 15, referring to the small, creative things Brazilians do to get ahead or solve a problem. A simple example: The man at the corner store gives you 2 reais extra in change. Are you going to give it back to him or not? Often, the answer is not.

Although several political parties have been implicated in the widespread corruption scheme, there has been a lot of finger-pointing at Lulas Workers Party, which held the presidency from the beginning of his first term in 2003 to the impeachment of his successor, Dilma Rousseff, in August 2016.

Defenders and critics of Lula and Rousseff  and current President Michel Temer  have repeatedly taken to the streets, sometimes squaring off in large and ugly demonstrations. The students bemoaned what they described as Brazilians obsession with political party affiliations.

When people talk about politics nowadays, they talk a lot about parties, but politics isnt just about parties, Evelyn said.

People still judge others based on the division of left and right, Jessica said. If you say youre more left-wing or right-wing, that prejudice is already there.

Thats why I said that everything nowadays is linked to a political party, Evelyn said. If you say youre more left- or right-leaning, people already assume you support a certain party, and thats not necessarily the case.

Jessica, Evelyn, Joao Pedro and another student  Monalisa Dantas, 16  were careful to avoid mentioning specific parties by name. They also said they shy away from talking politics with friends or online because it often ends in a screaming match. And no matter which side youre on  or even if youre not on any  you end up getting attacked. Such is politics these days in Brazil.

The students do, however, have strong opinions and want to make sure their voices are heard  at least through the privacy of the voting booth.

Voting in Brazil is mandatory at age 18  those who dont cast a ballot pay a small fine. Teenagers can choose to register to vote at 16. The four agreed that even if they dont find any of the candidates suitable next year, which is likely, theyll still go to the polls and cast a blank vote.

Regardless of who is elected Brazils next president, they do hope their country can learn from its mistakes and make improvements. One of their biggest concerns is education, which they agree is the basis for progress in any society.

People who are rich have more opportunities in every area, but especially education, said Monalisa, whose father is a cook and mother is a receptionist. Poor people have public school. And I dont think public school is enough to help us grow in life.

And the reforms theyre planning are not going to help, said Joao Pedro, whose parents own a clothing store.

The federal government in September last year announced a curriculum overhaul that requires students to choose an area of study to focus on during their three years of high school: humanities and social sciences, natural sciences, languages, math, and vocational training.

The changes, which passed in the Senate in February, also mean that schools are no longer required to offer arts, physical education, sociology and philosophy classes. The decision caused an uproar among students and educators, leading to debates and protests.

The students recalled a TV commercial from the government that promoted the overhaul, showing students smiling broadly at the idea of learning a trade and stopping their studies after high school. This drew laughter from all four students. They also detected a disturbing motivation for the changes  one that, again, comes down to politics.

They dont want citizens who criticize, Evelyn said.

They want us to provide a service, and thats it, Monalisa said. They want to take away sociology and philosophy classes so that we dont think, so that we dont learn how to change our way of thinking by hearing other perspectives. They want to keep us alienated. Because we live in a system where we are very alienated.

But the four agree that its not only up to politicians to make the changes needed to improve the future of their country.

We blame politicians a lot, but we dont look at ourselves, Joao Pedro said.

Jessica nodded. We expect a lot from others, but we have to do our part too. If we see something happening that is wrong, we have to make sure that it stops and doesnt happen again.

Because corruption isnt only there, in Brasilia or in parliament, said Monalisa, referring to Brazils capital. Corruption is everywhere.

Langlois is a special correspondent.

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Youve seen them. Ive seen them.

Everyone has.

Youre walking or driving in downtown Los Angeles, Hollywood, Venice or one of the dozens of other places where homeless people gather, and you see someone who stands out.

Someone whos not just homeless, but is clearly ill in more ways than one.

Its a Third World sight, not the kind of thing youd expect in a rich, civilized society.

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But there it is, a fixed and disturbing part of the L.A. landscape. Youve grown weary of seeing it and reading about it. Even if youd like to help, you dont know where to begin. So you keep moving.

But Dr. Susan Partovi cant do that.

I certainly wouldnt want my mother to live like that, the medical director of Homeless Healthcare Los Angeles said Monday afternoon as we walked through skid row.

Partovi, mental health outreach worker Anthony Ruffin and others have been lobbying all year for authorities to stop, ask how this can be and do something about it. Even when the person on the street says no thanks. And theyve gotten the attention of L.A. County Supervisor Kathryn Barger, among others.

On Monday, Barger and the others walked past the tents, past the reefer smoke and the stench of rotten food, past shopping carts and the scabbed and dirty feet poking out from under blankets on skid row.

Hundreds of homeless people were out there on a gray day  the sick, the deranged, the evicted, the broke, the drinkers, the dealers, the dangerous, the sad and the hungry  with an entire village camped in the courtyard of one shelter where people line up early and wait in line for a slab of pavement.

A small percentage of L.A. Countys more than 50,000 homeless people are gravely ill, both mentally and physically. Trying to help the sickest, if they resist, is difficult.

But weve settled for the alternative.

Partovi described one of her worst cases:

Shes got rheumatoid arthritis, her hands are like this, shes covered in scabies and lice, shes blind, shes emaciated, and shes probably the next one to die.

But the law stands in the way of helping such people.

Ive been told that if you brought five different law enforcement agencies in and asked each one to give their interpretation of 5150, they would all be very different, Barger said, referring to the civil code for the commitment of someone with a mental disorder. And some of it is based on resources.

Ruffin agreed that when the overwhelmed mental health system is running particularly short on doctors, beds and treatment programs, its harder to bring someone in. It took years for Ruffin to finally arrange the commitment of a desperately ill homeless woman who lived in the same exact spot for so long in Hollywood, the sidewalk was stained by her body waste.

Theres got to be more consistency, Barger argued, and one answer is better training of police and paramedics on what qualifies as grave disability. Another idea is to have psychiatrists on the street to assess mental conditions.

Under existing law, people with a mental disorder can be taken in for evaluation against their will if theyre deemed a danger to themselves or others or theyre gravely disabled. Partovi and others have recommended broadening the grave disability standard to include obvious signs of physical deterioration and medical disorders in those who lack the mental capacity to seek treatment.

Its not enough just to get people into hospitals, said Barger, adding that seriously disabled people need consistent follow-up treatment and placement. It may be necessary, she said, to legally conserve those who choose to walk away from treatment, only to return to the same conditions that led to their physical and mental deterioration.

To be perfectly honest, none of that is cheap or easy. But as encampments have multiplied across the region, voters have approved billions of dollars worth of funding for housing and care. If public officials cant make progress now, when will they ever?

At Sixth and Stafford streets, we came upon a barefoot, soft-spoken woman in her 60s. She sat on the curb near a makeshift tent, bits of scattered trash at her feet. She said shed been homeless a short time, but Ruffin said it was closer to 20 or 30 years. Partovi said the woman had been offered housing but refused.

Thats not uncommon in the case of someone whos suffering with a mental illness. An estimated one-third of homeless people have a mental illness and more than 4,000 people in county jails have such disorders. In mid-October, the Board of Supervisors approved a Department of Mental Health plan to provide better treatment at every level.

But there was no agreement on one item  a call by Barger and Supervisor Hilda Solis to expand the grave disability standard.

That changed at Tuesdays meeting.

Supervisors heard from Partovi and Ruffin, and Barger spoke about her trip to skid row a day earlier.

By a 4-1 vote, supervisors called for staff to study the issue and report back in 45 days.

The lone dissenter was Sheila Kuehl, whose opinion I respect.

Kuehl is a longtime advocate for the mentally ill, and to be honest, Ive been on both sides of this issue in the past. Ive wrestled over the years with how to best advocate for a dear friend of mine with a serious mental illness but a fierce resistance to treatment.

But he was committed on a 5150, and hes now safe, comfortable and in treatment.

I hope Kuehl keeps speaking up as the conversation moves forward. She has legitimate concerns about violating civil liberties with forced treatment and medication that isnt always effective.

We have an ugly history, in this country, of over-institutionalization and criminalization of the mentally ill.

But we followed that up with not doing nearly enough.

At Tuesdays meeting, Ruffin testified about a severely disabled man who lives in an alley, still wearing a hospital I.D. after being treated for a stroke and released.

Why cant we get these people...treated? he asked. It can be done in a humane way.

Barger spoke of the barefoot skid row resident she met Monday.

This is a woman...who is going to die on our streets, Barger said. While we cannot help everybody, there are those that we have a moral obligation to help.

Get more of Steve Lopezs work and follow him on Twitter @LATstevelopez
A prisoner who walked away from his inmate fire crew while fighting a blaze in Orange County last month was captured Halloween night in a Mission Hills motel, authorities said.

Armando Castillo, 31, was part of an inmate crew fighting the Canyon 2 fire in Orange County on Oct. 15 when, authorities say, he walked away from the firefighting effort near Peters Canyon Regional Park.

He was last seen around 4:45 p.m. that day before crews returned to their fire camp in San Bernardino County.

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The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitations Special Service Unit and the Los Angeles Fugitive Apprehension Team tracked Castillo to a motel in Mission Hills, where he was arrested without incident around 11:40 p.m. Wednesday, authorities said.

A woman who was with Castillo at the motel, Daisy Castro, was detained on suspicion of assisting him in his escape but was released, said Krissi Khokhobashvili, a spokeswoman with the corrections department.

Castillo is serving a five-year sentence for possession of a firearm and evading a peace officer while driving recklessly. He was convicted in August 2016 and was set to be released on probation in May 2018.

Cases against both Castro and Castillo will be forwarded to prosecutors, and Castillo no longer will be eligible to be housed in a fire camp.

Inmates who serve on fire crews earn $2 a day while in camp and $1 an hour while actually fighting fires. Inmates get two days off their sentence for each day they battle a blaze, Khokhobashvili said.

javier.panzar@latimes.com
A Los Angeles County sheriffs deputy who was arrested on suspicion of sexually assaulting two female inmates inside a county jail earlier this year is now accused of attacking another woman inside the same facility, authorities said Wednesday.

Giancarlo Scotti, 31, was arrested on suspicion of rape and oral copulation under color of authority in September after two female inmates accused him of sexually assaulting them inside the Century Regional Detention Facility in Lynwood on the morning of Sept. 13, authorities have said.

But in a 28-page federal civil rights lawsuit filed Tuesday, a third woman accused Scotti of forcing her to perform oral sex on him in August, at least a month before his arrest. The inmate, who was pregnant at the time of the alleged assault, was not among the women Scotti was accused of attacking in September, according to attorneys Justin Sterling and Erin Darling, who filed the suit.

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In response to questions from The Times about the lawsuit, the Sheriffs Department confirmed Wednesday it had uncovered an additional sexual assault allegation against the deputy in the course of its investigation.

The Sheriffs Internal Criminal Investigations Bureau ... began, and has since continued, a vigorous and thorough investigation, the agency said in a statement. ICIB detectives have interviewed 150 witnesses and gathered additional evidence. A case involving three victims was submitted to the Los Angeles County district attorneys office.

A spokeswoman for the Sheriffs Department declined to say if the third victim uncovered during the investigation was the same woman who filed the lawsuit.

Scotti, who previously declined to comment when contacted by a Times reporter, was released on $100,000 bail shortly after his arrest and placed on administrative leave, officials said at the time. It was not clear if the deputy had retained an attorney.

No charges have been filed against Scotti. The Sheriffs Department presented Scottis case to prosecutors last month, but it remains under review, according to Greg Risling, a spokesman for the Los Angeles County district attorneys office. Risling declined to answer questions about the lawsuits allegations.

The Times generally does not identify people who report being victims of sexual assault.

The first attack occurred when Scotti approached an inmate inside her cell and ordered her to expose her genitals to him, according to the court filing. Scotti then exposed himself to the victim and ordered her to get on her knees, according to the lawsuit, which seeks monetary damages against the deputy, the Sheriffs Department and the county.

The woman took Scottis words as an order to perform oral sex and felt like she had no other choice but to comply with Deputy Scottis forcible commands, according to the lawsuit.

The second plaintiff in the lawsuit accused Scotti of sexually assaulting her in a shower at the jail the day before his arrest. She saved a sample of Scottis semen on a piece of tissue paper, which she provided to investigators, according to the suit.

Scotti was known for flirting with inmates, according to the suit, which also alleged that jail staff had been informed of other accusations against Scotti but ignored them.

The county, [the Sheriffs Department] and [Sheriff Jim] McDonnell were on notice that other female inmates had complained about sexual assaults and sexually inappropriate behavior by Deputy Scotti, the lawsuit said. Furthermore, plaintiffs allege that Deputy Scotti had been put on some form of employment probation by the county before he sexually assaulted the inmates.

Both women named in the lawsuit, who have since been released from custody, also claim they were mistreated by jail personnel after agreeing to speak with investigators about Scotti. One was barred from drug and mental health counseling after reporting the alleged abuse, and jail staff denied her the special meals she had been receiving because she was pregnant, according to the suit.

Not only is Deputy Scottis sexual assault the ultimate betrayal of the trust we place in these officers, but the countys response to take away necessary services from vulnerable women is just making something traumatic even more traumatic, Darling said.

Los Angeles Times Staff Writer Maya Lau contributed to this report.

james.queally@latimes.com

Follow @JamesQueallyLAT for crime and police news in California.
An Orange County sheriffs deputy who in 2013 continued to shoot a felled suspect and then stomped his head may be sued for using excessive deadly force, a federal appeals court decided Wednesday.

When police confront a suspect who poses an immediate threat, they may use deadly force against him, Judge Alex Kozinski wrote for a unanimous three-judge panel of the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. But they must stop using deadly force when the suspect no longer poses a threat.

In an unusual action, the court released the police videos of the fatal shooting, which can be viewed here and here. The shooting occurred three minutes into the first video and 3 minutes into the second.

The court reached its decision in a lawsuit filed by the mother of Connor Zion, 21, who suffered seizures, bit his mother and cut her and his roommate with a kitchen knife, according to the court.

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The Sheriffs Department was called. When Deputy Juan Lopez arrived at the condominium complex in Laguna Niguel, Zion ran toward him and stabbed Lopezs arms.

Deputy Michael Higgins, who arrived separately and saw the attack, shot Zion.

Video on the department dashboard cameras revealed that Higgins initially fired nine shots. Once Zion was on the ground, Higgins fired nine more times, emptying his gun.

Then Higgins walked in a circle, took a running start and stomped on Zions head three times, the court said the video showed.

The Sheriffs Department later awarded Higgins a medal of valor for the action for saving his partners life, the Orange County Register reported.

Zion appeared to have been wounded and was not making threatening gestures after being fired upon at relatively close range and falling to the ground, the court said.

While Higgins couldnt be sure that Zion wasnt bluffing or only temporarily subdued, Zion was lying on the ground and so was not in a position where he could easily harm anyone or flee, Kozinski wrote.

A jury could find that Zion did not pose an immediate threat and that Higgins should have held his fire, the court said.

Or, a jury could find that the second round of bullets was justified, but not the head-stomping, Kozinski wrote.

The Sheriffs Department argued that Zion remained a threat on the ground because he was still moving.

But terminating a threat doesnt necessarily mean terminating the suspect, Kozinski said.

If a suspect is on the ground and appears wounded, a reasonable officer would reassess the situation rather than continue shooting, the court said.

The Constitutions due process clause protects against such brutal conduct as head stomping, the court said, noting the strikes to Zions head appeared to be vicious blows.

Like forced stomach-pumping, head-stomping a suspect curled up in the fetal position is bound to offend even hardened sensibilities, Kozinski wrote, citing a previous ruling.

The decision revived the lawsuit filed by Kimberly Zion, the dead mans mother. A district judge had ruled for the Sheriffs Department.

maura.dolan@latimes.com

Twitter: @mauradolan
European Parliament deputy and Co-Chairwoman of EURONEST Parliamentary Assembly Rebecca Harms has said that European Union sanctions against Russia must not be weakened.

"It's one thing that has become clear to European Parliament deputies: Sanctions, which have implemented by European institutes and the European Union because of the annexation of Crimea can not be weakened, as well as our pressure [on Russia] or rethinking strategy vis a vis Crimea," Harms said on Wednesday during a briefing in Kyiv

Harms said delegates from EURONEST recently met with deputy chairman of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatars Ilmi Umerov and Ahtem Chiygoz, who reminded delegates about political prisoners and human rights violations in Crimea.
Orange County will begin enforcing public access hours Friday on a stretch of the Santa Ana River trail between Huntington Beach and Anaheim, a move that is expected to displace a large population of homeless people who have set up camp along the river, including in Fountain Valley.

The plan, which county officials announced Monday, also calls for permanently closing the west side of the flood control channel between 17th Street in Santa Ana and Adams Avenue in Huntington Beach beginning Nov. 10. The east side of the channel will remain open during public hours, which are 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. beginning Wednesday.

Beginning Friday, people on the Santa Ana River trail outside the posted hours will be considered in violation of state trespassing laws and will be cited, officials said.

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The enforcement of public hours will enable the county to ensure the safety and security of the recreational users of the trail while simultaneously protecting the integrity of the flood control channel for its intended purpose, Khalid Bazmi, chief engineer of the Orange County Flood Control District, wrote in a memo to the Board of Supervisors.

The county also is expected to begin installing gates at all public entrances this year. The gates will be locked daily at closing time.

Supervisor Todd Spitzer commended the countys action, calling it a progressive next step to combat homelessness compassionately while ensuring the safety of nearby residents.

He wrote in a statement Monday that homeowners and local businesses have complained in recent months about property crimes and safety issues related to homeless encampments, prompting the county to act.

I will not allow the Santa Ana River trail to become Orange Countys skid row, he said. People living in the encampments have every opportunity to accept a pathway out of homelessness. There should be no excuse, and people not accepting assistance will have no choice but to leave the riverbed.

Fry writes for Times Community News.
Beverly Hills police said Tuesday the department has open investigations into movie mogul Harvey Weinstein and filmmaker James Toback after recently receiving allegations that they committed sexual assaults.

In a statement released Tuesday evening, police did not provide details of the investigations but urged anyone who believes he or she was a victim to come forward.

Weinstein is already under investigation in Los Angeles, New York and London. Toback has been accused by more 200 women of sexual harassment and abuse, according to a Times tally.

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Weinsteins representative denied allegation of criminal behavior. Toback has also denied any wrongdoing.

Since a New York Times article Oct. 5 first revealed allegations of sexual misconduct against Weinstein, more than 50 woman have alleged they were sexually harassed or assaulted by the former independent film impresario. Weinstein was fired from his job earlier this month.

Actresses Asia Argento, Rose McGowan, Lucia Evans and Lysette Anthony have all publicly stated that they were raped or forced to perform a sex act by Weinstein.

In Los Angeles, police are investigating an Italian model-actress accusations of being forced by Weinstein to have sex with him in her hotel room in 2013.

It is the first case related to Weinstein to be reported in Southern California.

At Mr. C Beverly Hills hotel, the actress told The Times, he grabbed me by the hair and forced me to do something I did not want to do, she said. He then dragged me to the bathroom and forcibly raped me.

Weinsteins representative denied the allegation.

British police are investigating 11 allegations of sexual assaults against Weinstein that span several decades, sources said Tuesday.

Authorities said the alleged attacks involved seven women and that nine were reported to have occurred on British soil. Three women have stepped forward within the last week, British police said, including one who claimed she was attacked in the early 1990s.

Beverly Hills police asked anyone with information to call (310) 288-2656.

richard.winton@latimes.com

Twitter: @LAcrimes
A man who barged into his childs Southern California elementary school and allegedly held a 70-year-old teacher hostage for nearly seven hours was shot by police who forced their way into a classroom and rescued her Tuesday.

A SWAT team entered the room at Castle View Elementary School, east of Los Angeles, shortly before 6 p.m., Officer Ryan Railsback said.

Negotiators had been talking to the man but hadnt heard from the woman.

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We, of course, had been fearing for the hostages life all day, Railsback said, but the decision to hurl distracting flash-bang grenades and storm the classroom was made because the fear for her safety was increasing.

The children were at lunch and were not in the classroom when the man barricaded himself inside with the teacher, said Justin Grayson, a spokesman for the Riverside Unified School District.

The man was seen being wheeled away on a gurney into an ambulance. There was no immediate word on his condition. The teacher was sent to a hospital for examination but didnt appear to be injured, Railsback said.

Family members and the school identified her as first-grade instructor Linda Montgomery, who had taught at the school for about 20 years.

Shes really good with kids, granddaughter Ariana Montgomery told KABC-TV . Shes really helpful and sweet.

Its still not clear what prompted the man to enter the school shortly before 11:15 a.m. and barricade himself with the teacher, and it wasnt immediately known whether he had a weapon although he did bring a backpack onto campus, Railsback said.

The suspect had suffered an emotional breakdown that morning, his uncle Carl Jackson told the station.

Hes not dangerous, Jackson said before the standoff ended. Its just a matter of getting in there and talking to him, because we can talk to him.

The man had barged into the school office, where he failed to sign in, and was later seen grabbing the teacher.

The husband of another teacher was on campus and tried to intervene but the man punched him in the face, knocking him down and breaking his nose, Railsback said.

Students initially were kept inside their classrooms before being ordered to evacuate to a local park, walking down the street in a long line.

Madison Barber-Alvarez told KABC-TV that she and her classmates were held in the room for two hours.

I felt like that this is so terrifying. I thought this going to be my worst nightmare Ive ever had, the 12-year-old said.

We were praying that were going to be OK, she said.

All were safely accounted for but school was canceled for the rest of the week, according to the school district.
Even in a neighborhood packed with immigrants, all with their own customs, languages, foods and idiosyncrasies, there was something about Sayfullo Saipov and his family that seemed not quite right.

With the benefit of hindsight, neighbors now believe that the 29-year-old Uzbek immigrant was plotting an attack long before he allegedly plowed his rented truck down a bicycle path in Lower Manhattan, killing eight people.

Three weeks before Tuesdays attack, a neighbor had noticed that Saipov frequently rented trucks like the one used in the attack.

This is the kind of truck you use for construction, but he wasnt doing construction, said Carlos Batista, 23, who noticed that one of the trucks was parked outside a vacant building nearby for nearly a week. Why would you spend the money to rent this kind of truck and just leave it outside if youre not using it?  Now I think he was practicing.

Police and journalists at the apartment where Sayfullo Saipov lived in Paterson, N.J. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

Others were uncomfortable with Saipovs wife, who wore a niqab, a Muslim garment that reveals only the eyes. Other women among the many Muslims in the neighborhood wear simple head scarves, neighbors say.

It was unusual around here. You could only see the eyes said Dolores Stanton Vargas, 59, who lives across the street from the neighborhood mosque.

Saipov and his wife, Nozima Odilova, 23, moved about 15 months ago into a scruffy low-rise red-brick building behind the mosque. They had two girls, one now 6 and another 4, and a baby boy who was born about six months ago.

The wife hardly went out. They were very mysterious, said Altana Dimitrovska, 63, a Macedonian immigrant who lives in the same building. She said that the wife would watch through the curtains of her window as the girls played in the front courtyard, and would occasionally push the baby around the courtyard in a stroller. Saipov was the one who took the older girl to school.

The girls didnt have friends. There were no parties, Dimitrovska said.

Language and cultural impediments kept the young family from befriending many people in the neighborhood. But Saipov did have two friends, men who looked similar to him with long beards, who were frequent visitors along with their wives, neighbors said. The wives dressed similarly to Saipovs wife  wearing the niqab  which made them stick out in the neighborhood.

Over the summer, Batista got into a quarrel with the two visiting men who yelled at him for riding a noisy dirt bike in the evening. Saipov, he said, came out of the apartment and patched up the argument.

Actually, he was kind of the peacemaker, said Batista. He seemed pretty nice. After that, he would wave at me when he drove by.

Carlos Batista, 23, lived two houses away from Sayfullo Saipov in Paterson, N.J. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

The Saipov family was last seen at the apartment complex over the weekend, neighbors said  suggesting that Saipov might have moved his wife to another location in anticipation of the attack. But he rented the pickup truck nearby at a Home Depot in Passaic, N.J.

Saipov immigrated to the United States in 2010 after winning what is called a diversity visa in a lottery designed to bring in immigrants from underrepresented nations. He lived initially with an Uzbek family in Cincinnati who were acquainted with his father. Although he spoke little English, he quickly started working as a truck driver and trying to start his own business. The year after his arrival, he registered his first company, Sayf Motors, at their address in Symmes Township, Ohio, signing the documents of incorporation with the Ohio secretary of state in tidy cursive handwriting.

Two years later, he registered yet another trucking company called Bright Motors at another Ohio address, in Cuyahoga Falls, near Cleveland. He then moved to Tampa, Fla., to start yet another company.

He always used to work. He wouldnt go to parties or anything. He only used to come home and rest and leave and go back to work, Dilnoza Abdusamatova, a family friend, told the Cincinnati Enquirer.

Saipov moved frequently. After Cincinnati, he lived near Cleveland, then Tampa, where he obtained his Florida drivers license. He married his wife, who was 19 years-old at the time of their marriage, in 2013.

Although Saipov seemed purposeful in becoming a driver, there is no indication that he had planned to deploy a truck as a weapon at the time he arrived in the United States. The occupation is common for Uzbek immigrants, who are well represented in the trucking, moving and car services. For the last six months, he was driving an Uber and had logged 1,400 rides, the company confirmed.

A fellow Uzbek immigrant said that there was nothing about Saipov to raise alarms.

He is very good guy. He is very friendly He is like little brother he look at me like big brother, a friend, Kobiljon Matkarov, told the New York Post. The only thing that stood out as odd was that once, in June, when one of Matkarovs children asked to take a photo with Saipov, he adamantly refused, he told the Post.

A woman walks with her child on the street where Sayfullo Saipov lived. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

Authorities believe Saipov became more conservative after he arrived in the United States. His neighbors say that his parents, who came to visit from Uzbekistan earlier this year when the baby was born, did not appear to be as devout as their son and that his mother didnt wear a niqab.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said that Saipov did not have a criminal record other than motor vehicle violations that are common for drivers in the trucking industry.

After he came to the United States is when he started to become informed about ISIS and radical Islamic tactics, Cuomo said on Wednesday, using an acronym for Islamic State.

All the evidence we have is that he was a quote unquote lone-wolf model, Cuomo said. He has had several run-ins with the law which were basically minor vehicular traffic.

According to a criminal complaint filed Wednesday in federal court in New York, Saipov decided a year ago to carry out an attack in the United States after being inspired by Islamic State videos he watched on his cellphone. He decided two months ago to use a truck, following online instructions about how a vehicle could be weaponized.

Saipov is now hospitalized with a gunshot wound to the abdomen. During the interview with law enforcement, Saipov requested to display ISIS flag in his hospital room and stated that he felt good about what he had done, the complaint states.

Times staff writer Nina Agrawal contributed to this report.

barbara.demick@latimes.com

Twitter: @BarbaraDemick

UPDATES:

3:40 p.m.: This article was updated with additional details about the suspect.

This article was originally published at 8 a.m.
The suspect charged Wednesday in the first deadly terrorist attack in New York City since Sept. 11, 2001, became radicalized by watching Islamic State videos on his cellphone and struck on Halloween to kill as many people as possible, authorities said.

Sayfullo Saipov, 29, was charged in federal court with supporting Islamic State extremists and vehicular violence after officials said he drove a rental truck down a busy riverfront bike path near the World Trade Center in lower Manhattan a day earlier, killing eight people and injuring at least a dozen. He was arrested after a police officer shot him in the abdomen.

While hospitalized, Saipov  a trucker and an Uber driver who legally came to the U.S. from Uzbekistan in 2010  reportedly told law enforcement officials that he had turned to radicalism a year ago after watching a video of Islamic State leader Abu Bakr Baghdadi asking what Muslims in the U.S. were doing about the deaths of Muslims in Iraq.

Saipov said he started planning the truck attack two months ago. He asked for an Islamic State flag to be draped in his hospital room and said he felt good about what he had done, according to court documents.

But if the attack was meant to bring New York City to its knees, New Yorkers instead largely brushed it off, holding Halloween festivities as usual, taking their kids to school and switching out decorations for the upcoming winter holidays  shaken, but determined to push forward.

Jenny Sheffer-Stevens took her son Hutch, 12, back to school at IS 289 Middle School, which sits near the intersection where Saipovs rented truck had hit a school bus. Hutch had seen the end of the attack, and the school gave him the option to stay home.

Sheffer-Stevens and her son decided against it  they wanted "a balance between business as usual and keeping the conversation going, she said.

The New York City Marathon , which typically draws tens of thousands of runners, was expected to be held as scheduled on Sunday.

In Washington, Saipovs immigration history and apparent extremism prompted the Trump administration to respond more aggressively than it did after the Oct. 1 mass shooting in Las Vegas that left 58 people dead. The administration at that time urged caution as investigators gathered facts.

The White House and some members of Congress on Wednesday referred to Saipov as an enemy combatant.

Taking aim at congressional Democrats, President Trump called for Congress to crack down on U.S. immigration programs, including the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program that Saipov used to enter the U.S.

We have to get much tougher, we have to get much smarter, and we have to get much less politically correct, Trump said before the start of a Cabinet meeting in Washington. Were so politically correct that were afraid to do anything.

Trump also criticized the judicial systems handling of terrorism cases, which are addressed in federal court and typically bring convictions and long prison sentences a year or two after arrest.

We also have to come up with punishment thats far quicker and far greater than the punishment these animals are getting right now, Trump said.

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) told reporters at the Capitol that Saipov should be taken to the U.S. jail in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Saipov should not be read Miranda rights to remain silent because enemy combatants are not entitled to such rights, McCain said in a separate statement.

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), who called the attack heartbreaking, also said Saipov should be held as an enemy combatant under the law of war, saying ample evidence suggests the suspect was motivated to kill by radical Islamic thought and acted in allegiance to Islamic State.

The Trump administration said the president would support sending Saipov to Guantanamo.

Later in the day, however, prosecutors announced that Saipov was criminally charged in the federal Southern District of New York, suggesting that his case will be handled similarly to other recent terrorism cases.

And the issue of Miranda rights didnt seem to matter, as Saipov had waived his right to remain silent, according to court documents, which said investigators had found 90 videos and 3,800 images related to the Islamic State on Saipovs phone, including some that showed the gruesome torture and executions of the groups prisoners.

A roughly two-mile stretch of highway in lower Manhattan was shut down for the investigation. Authorities also converged on a New Jersey apartment building and a van in a parking lot at a New Jersey Home Depot store, where Saipov was thought to have rented a flatbed truck for a 75-minute time period  with no intention to return it, according to court documents.

Saipov had also rented a truck on Oct. 22 to practice his turns, and he initially thought of carrying out the attack with Islamic State flags on his windows, before deciding that doing so would draw too much attention, officials said.

After Saipov carried out his attack Tuesday afternoon, he emerged from the truck shouting Allahu akbar  God is great in Arabic  and carrying paintball and pellet guns that resembled real guns. Officials said there were knives and a stun gun at the scene, along with a document in English and Arabic written by Saipov that said Islamic State will endure, documents said.

On Wednesday, investigators announced they were seeking another Uzbek man, Mukhammadzoir Kadirov, 32, for questioning about the case, but a short time later said they were no longer looking for him. They declined to provide further information.

The attackers victims reflected a city that is a melting pot and a magnet for visitors: One of the dead was from Belgium. Five were from Argentina and were celebrating the 30th anniversary of a school graduation, according to officials in those countries. The injured included students and employees on a school bus that the driver rammed.

"This was an act of terror, and a particularly cowardly act of terror aimed at innocent civilians, aimed at people going about their lives who had no idea what was about to hit them," said Mayor Bill de Blasio .

An Ohio-linked Facebook account with a similar spelling of Saipovs name, which has since been removed, revealed little about its owner other than an apparent interest in cars and that he studied at the Tashkent Moliya Institute in Uzbekistan.

A fellow Uzbek truck driver in Ohio, Mirrakhmat Muminov, told the Associated Press that Saipov was not happy with his life and bickered with friends and family.

Saipov had lost his license because of traffic tickets and companies stopped hiring him, Muminov said. Saipov then moved to New Jersey, where his truck engine reportedly blew up a few months ago, which probably hurt him more than anything, Muminov said.

(Sources: Associated Press, Times reporting)

New York and other cities around the globe have been on high alert against attacks by extremists in vehicles. England, France, Spain and Germany have seen deadly vehicle attacks in the last year or so.

New York Police Department Deputy Commissioner John Miller said that Saipov had never been the subject of an NYPD Intelligence Bureau investigation or an FBI investigation, but that it was likely that he would be found to have connections to others who have been.

Tuesdays attack came four days after another Uzbek immigrant, Abdurasul Hasanovich Juraboev of Brooklyn, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison after threatening on an Uzbek-language website to kill President Obama on behalf of Islamic State and to fly to Syria to join the group.

Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev sent his condolences to Trump and the families of the victims and offered his country's assistance in investigating the attack.

Times staff writers Agrawal reported from New York and Pearce from Los Angeles. Special correspondent Matt Hansen contributed to this report from New York.

UPDATES:

5:10 p.m.: This story was updated with the suspect being charged in federal court and other details.

2:05 p.m.: This story was updated with additional comments, including from the Trump administration and members of Congress.

10:10 a.m.: This story was updated with a comment from President Trump and a witness account.

9:10 a.m.: This story was updated with Times reporting.

This story was originally published at 4:55 a.m.
Vehicles are like knives, as they are extremely easy to acquire, advised Islamic States online magazine in an article published in November 2016.

A year later, a 29-year-old Uzbek immigrant who authorities said used a Home Depot pickup truck to mow down cyclists and pedestrians, killing eight along the Hudson River Greenway  an 11-mile waterfront path for bicycles and pedestriansin Lower Manhattan. The only thing that couldnt have been anticipated was where it would happen and when, but the attack itself was entirely predictable.

Just not preventable.

In fact, New York was girded for exactly this type of attack  called vehicular ramming in the parlance of counter-terrorism expertise. For the last two years, the New York City Police Department and FBI have been working closely with the industry to control the use of rental trucks in terror attacks.

John Miller, deputy police commissioner for intelligence and counter-terrorism, said that police had visited 148 truck rental locations in the New York area  U-Haul, Ryder, and Home Depot, among them. They followed up with phone calls and emails after particularly lethal attacks last year in Nice, France, and at a Christmas market in Berlin.

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We went and did extensive outreach to the truck rental business, Miller said at a briefing on Tuesday. So the industry has a high level of awareness on this matter.

The trucking rental industry also published a brochure to advise rental agents on what signs might indicate malevolent intent. A high-level meeting at FBI headquarters is scheduled for Nov. 14.

However, Jake Jacoby, president of the Truck Renting and Leasing Assn., is pessimistic about the industrys ability to stop attacks.

If somebody has a valid drivers license and theyre not on any kind of watch list, it is very, very difficult to prevent them from renting a vehicle and conducting a lone wolf attack, Jacoby said.

The Transportation Security Administration in May released a report that described 17 vehicle ramming attacks since 2014 that killed 173 people and injured 667 others. That report did not include deadly attacks later in the year in London and Barcelona, Spain.

New York City is also considering adding bollards  sturdy vertical posts that block vehicles  to vulnerable locations. A bollard cut short the trajectory of a mentally ill driver who plowed into tourists at Times Square in May.

Terrorists have often picked holidays to strike, such as the attack in Nice which took place on Bastille Day, July 14th, 2016, and left 86 people dead. Counter-terrorism specialists have speculated that the original target of Tuesdays attack was the Halloween parade, which takes place annually in Greenwich Village, less than a mile away.

The online Islamic State magazine, Rumiyah Magazine, had suggested an attack on another New York institution, the Macys Thanksgiving Day parade.

Using a vehicle is one of the most comprehensive methods of attack, the magazine wrote. It is one of the safest and easiest one could employ against the kufar (non-Muslim) while being from amongst the most lethal methods of attack and the most successful in harvesting large numbers of the kufar.

ISIS has gotten it down to a simple formula that they can put on the internet and it doesnt take a rocket scientist to rent a car, rent a truck, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo told CNN on Wednesday.

Truck rental agencies have been trained to reject customers who do not present a valid drivers license or credit card or who make suspicious inquiries about the weight of the truck, according to Jacoby.

They are discouraged from turning customers away because of race or ethnicity. A large number of professional drivers and taxi drivers in New York City are immigrants from Muslim-majority nations.

I dont think our members would ever turn people away because they are Muslim, Jacoby said.

Sayfullo Saipov, the 29-year-old Uzbek immigrant suspected in Tuesdays attack, was an experienced truck driver who had registered to start several trucking businesses after arriving in the United States in 2010. He had been most recently driving an Uber.

Public records show that he had several citations for motor vehicle violations, but nothing uncommon in the trucking industry that would raise a red flag as to his intentions.

According to Cuomo, the New York State Police once helped Saipov get his truck out of a ditch.

Times staff writer Nina Agrawal contributed to this report from New York.

barbara.demick@latimes.com

Twitter: @BarbaraDemick
Lawmakers on Wednesday released a dramatic trove of Facebook ads and other social media posts by Russian operatives that sought to aid Donald Trumps presidential campaign last year and deepen U.S. political divisions over immigration, gay rights, guns, race and religion.

Russian operatives were secretly able to make skilled use of hot-button political issues and sophisticated targeting on Facebook and Instagram to reach nearly 150 million Americans, nearly half the U.S. population, the lawmakers were told.

Members of the House and Senate Intelligence Committees, which held separate hearings Wednesday, leveled blistering criticism at Facebook, Twitter and Google for failing to act aggressively to block Russian use of their social media platforms to sow division before and after last years presidential election.

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Although most of the Russian ads and posts focused on social issues, some specifically aimed to help Trump and damage his rival, Hillary Clinton. Some urged viewers to attend Trump political rallies, or falsely claimed voters could cast ballots on Twitter. Some of the phony ads received tens of thousands of clicks.

They were able to develop a significant following for a relatively small amount of money, Colin Stretch, Facebooks general counsel, told the House committee. It was undertaken by people I think who understand social media. These people were not amateurs.

A Facebook user named Being Patriotic posted an ad on July 23, 2016, for example, showing Clintons face covered with a black X. It was targeted at Trump supporters in New York and urged them to attend an upcoming rally in Brooklyn. Hillary Clinton is the co-author of Obamas anti-police and anti-Constitutional propaganda, it read.

The ad was traced back to a Kremlin-backed entity in St. Petersburg, Russia. It was bought online and paid for in Russian rubles, costing the equivalent of about $250, according to data that Facebook provided the House committee.

As many as 15,255 Facebook users saw the ad in their news feed and 1,312 clicked on it.

Similarly, a Russian-linked entity calling itself Heart of Texas bought an ad denouncing Obamas and Hillarys policy allowing illegals to get amnesty in the United States and warned DONT MESS WITH TX BORDER PATROL. ALWAYS GUIDED BY GOD.

It called Clinton Killary Rotten Clinton and promoted an event titled Get Ready to Secede!

Similarly, an ad on Instagram in August 2016 purchased in rubles by a user named american.made showed a photo of Trump giving a thumbs-up. Florida goes Trump, read the ad, which was targeted at users who identified themselves as gun owners, conservatives, Trump supporters and tea party members.

In addition to users in Florida, the ad went to Instagram users in Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi and South Carolina. It only received 85 clicks.

Another page called Donald Trump America demanded the disqualification and removal of Clinton from the race because of the dynastic succession of the Clinton family in American politics. The ad, which cost 14,606 rubles, or about $250, targeted supporters of Donald Trump, Donald Trump for President and Donald Trump Jr.

A Facebook ad by Secured Borders did not mention either candidate. It showed a sign reading No Invaders Allowed on what appeared to be the southwest border. Data showed that the ad was purchased in Russian rubles, for about $1,600, and was seen by as many as 97,000 Facebook users.

Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.), chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said Russian authorities had secretly set up a Facebook account with 250,000 followers that promoted a May 2016 protest at a Houston mosque against Islamization of Texas  while another Russian account with 320,000 followers encouraged Muslims to attend a counterprotest.

Dozens of people from both sides showed up and the protests were covered by local news in Houston.

People were brought together to foment conflict, Burr said. Simply put, you must do better to protect the American people, and frankly, your users, from this kind of manipulation.

Simply put, you must do better to protect the American people, and frankly, your users, from this kind of manipulation.  Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.), chairman, Senate Intelligence Committee

U.S. intelligence agencies have concluded that Russias influence campaign was aimed at undermining U.S. democracy and helping Trump beat Clinton in the election.

The House and Senate hearings proved far more explosive than a similar hearing Tuesday by the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Russia exploited real vulnerabilities that exist across online platforms and we must identify, expose, and defend ourselves against similar covert influence operations in the future, said Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Burbank), the ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-San Francisco), a member of the Senate panel, warned the California-based companies that they needed to be more aggressive at stopping secret foreign use of their technology  or Congress would step in.

You bear this responsibility. You created these platforms and now they are being misused, she said. You have to be the ones to do something about it or we will.

Republicans noted that Russian efforts were not limited to attacking Clinton and supporting Trump.

Trump has repeatedly dismissed evidence that Russia meddled in the 2016 election as a hoax.

Under questioning from Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Stretch conceded that the Russian effort was real, saying the ads on Facebook were not a hoax.

Trump also has denounced a criminal investigation into possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Moscow as a witch hunt.

On Monday, the special counsel, Robert S. Mueller III, announced charges against three of Trumps former campaign aides, including one who repeatedly sought to arrange meetings between Trumps top advisors and senior Russian officials.

Despite growing scrutiny in Washington, Facebook has faced little backlash on Wall Street. The company reported on Wednesday better-than-expected financial results, with revenue jumping 47% to $10.33 billion and profit surging 79% to $4.71 billion in its third quarter. Facebook shares, which have risen nearly 60% this year, dipped slightly in after-hours trading to $179.13.

david.cloud@latimes.com

Twitter: @davidcloudLAT

UPDATES:

4 p.m.: This article was updated to include details about Facebooks financial results.

3:15 p.m.: This article was updated with additional details from the hearings.

This article was originally published at 12:45 p.m.
In a case that has riven the booming American solar energy sector for six months, the U.S. International Trade Commission recommended levying comparatively modest tariffs on imports of silicon-based solar photovoltaic cells and solar panels.

The measures recommended Tuesday by the ITCs four commissioners include establishing a licensing fee on some equipment, an idea developed by the Solar Energy Industries Assn., and tariffs on silicon-based solar cells of up to 30%, as well as tariffs on solar panels that range from 10% to 35%.

The recommended remedies, which the ITC will transmit to President Trump by Nov. 13, were considerably lower than the 78-cents-per-watt tariff suggested by Suniva and SolarWorld Americas, the international companies that brought the tariff case late in April.

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In a tweet Tuesday, MJ Shiao, head of Americas Research at GTM Research, a unit of Wood Mackenzie, said levying a 30% tariff would increase the price of solar panels by 10 cents to 15 cents per watt. Rooftop solar panels were priced earlier this year around 35 cents per watt, and 55 cents per watt for a utility-scale solar panel.

Shiao projected that the 10% tariff level could reduce utility-scale installations by 9% but would have only a slight influence on rooftop solar installations.

Workers prepare a roof in Sandy, Utah, for Chinese-manufactured photovoltaic panels. (Keith Schneider / For The Times )

Will hurt projects on the cusp, Shiao tweeted, but not overly destructive to installs.

Mark Marion, vice president of operations for Juwi Americas, the Colorado-based unit of a German company that builds utility-scale solar stations, said he expected prices to rise by about 10 to 12 cents a watt. That would put us in the high 40 cents, a price point which would have been great in 2016, he said.

What was recommended isnt debilitating, Marion added. The industry can work with it. But it still doesnt resolve the uncertainty because the policy environment is so volatile.

The Solar Energy Industries Assn.s recommendation for a licensing fee instead of a tariff gained considerable traction from Meredith M. Broadbent, one of the four ITC commissioners. She proposed that Trump establish a quota on silicon-based solar imports and manage the quota by establishing an auction for import licenses. The minimum selling price would start at 1 cent per watt.

The sale of import licenses could generate revenue for the U.S. government of at least $89 million in the first year, and increase by $14 million annually in the three subsequent years until the four-year tariff case ends. Broadbent recommended that the funds be used to aide domestic solar manufacturers injured by less-expensive imports.

Suniva, owned by a Hong Kong company, shuttered its solar plants in Georgia and Michigan. SolarWorld laid off 500 of its 800 employees at a solar plant in Oregon. Both companies said they could not compete with less-expensive imported solar equipment, principally from China.

The commissioners clearly took a thoughtful approach to their recommendations, and its worth noting that in no case did a commissioner recommend anything close to what the petitioners asked for, Abigail Ross Hopper, president and chief executive of the Washington-based Solar Energy Industries Assn., said in a statement. That being said, proposed tariffs would be intensely harmful to our industry. While we will have to spend more time evaluating the details of each recommendation, we are encouraged by three commissioners reference to alternative funding mechanisms, including our import license fee proposal.

Suniva expressed its disappointment with the recommendations in a prepared statement. Suniva calls on President Trump to implement the remedy recommendations as submitted by Suniva and SolarWorld, reject the ITCs weak remedy recommendation, and take the courageous steps necessary to save American manufacturing with a strong remedy that will reinvigorate this sector, and help protect U.S. energy security and economic prosperity.

SolarWorld Chief Executive Juergen Stein called the ITC measures a useful first step.

We look forward to President Trump establishing remedies that will place this industry back on a path of robust growth and put manufacturing workers back to work in an industry that will be a key to our nations future, Stein said in a prepared statement.

Trump has until Jan. 12 to make a decision on solar import tariffs. He has full authority to follow the ITC recommendations, decide his own remedies or not to act at all.

keith.schneider@latimes.com

Follow me on Twitter #modeshift

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3:05 p.m.: The story was updated with comments from Mark Marion.

The story was originally posted at 2:05 p.m.
Ukraine and Saudi Arabia are preparing to sign an agreement on cooperation in the field of defense, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has said.

"We have actually finished the discussion and are ready to sign an agreement on cooperation in the field of defense. I can say that two extremely important large contracts in the field of military and technical cooperation are being implemented," Poroshenko said.

He also noted that Ukraine and Saudi Arabia "demonstrate significant progress" in aircraft engineering.

"Our Antonov 132D aircraft is now in Saudi Arabia. And we are developing not a test model of the aircraft, but already the aircraft which will be in serial production. And we will consider expanding the range of aircraft that will be produced for Saudi Arabia at the first stage and produced in Saudi Arabia in the framework of... cooperation in the future," Poroshenko said.
Synchronize your watches: A Massachusetts commission on Wednesday will vote on whether to recommend a switch from Eastern time to Atlantic time, potentially prompting the Massachusetts state Legislature and the rest of the region to follow suit.

Such a move  which would give the contiguous U.S. five time zones instead of four  has been widely debated across New England, which juts hundreds of miles farther east than the rest of the states in the Eastern time zone.



For the record: An earlier version of this story said the vote would give the continental U.S. four time zones instead of three. There are currently four time zones in the contiguous U.S. Also the story incorrectly said the farthest-east parts of Canada use Atlantic Time. Actually, the farthest-east parts of Canada use the Newfoundland time zone.

Night falls earlier there, leaving less time for kids to play outside after school and fewer shoppers willing to go to stores after work when its dark.

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That also makes the coming shift from daylight saving time on Nov. 5 more burdensome for New Englanders as they set their clocks another hour back. Lawmakers in Massachusetts and across the region have been looking for a solution.

Last year, Maine state Rep. Donna Bailey, a Democrat, came up with an idea.

Theres a lot of studies showing the harm that comes from the time shift, Bailey said. During those winter months, we have a lot of people who suffer seasonal affective disorder, and studies have shown that just giving that extra hour in the evening, as opposed to the morning, when people are sleeping, can make a difference in lowering the rates of seasonal affective disorder.

Baileys idea: A bill to cancel daylight saving time and switch Maine to Atlantic time, a time zone used by some of the farthest-east parts of Canada and by Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Its one hour ahead of Eastern time and four hours ahead of Pacific time.

Were already there eight months out of the year, so we might as well extend it the other four months of the year, Bailey said.

She paused.

Have I lost you? Bailey said. This is usually where peoples eyes usually glaze over.

Thats right: Eastern daylight saving time is actually the same thing as Atlantic Standard Time.

We are on Atlantic Standard Time at least eight months out of the year. Were on it right now, Bailey said.

She thought it would make sense if Maine pulled off the shift first, because the state is so far east. It would mean the extra hour of daylight at the end, rather than the beginning, of the day.

But the rest of the Legislature balked. If Maine went first, that means Patriots and Red Sox games in nearby Massachusetts would start an hour later and go later into the night, leading to lower ratings and thus lower revenue for local TV broadcasters. Not a great deal for Mainers.

Similar bills have failed to come to fruition in New Hampshire, Connecticut and Rhode Island. Vermont, alternatively, has considered asking Congress to abolish daylight saving time.

In 2016, Massachusetts Legislature convened a commission  the Special Commission on the Commonwealths Time Zone  to examine the issue. In September, the committee introduced a draft report that suggested under certain circumstances the commonwealth could make a data-driven case for moving to the Atlantic time zone year-round.

The commission argued that by eliminating the spring transition to daylight saving time  when the population loses an hour of sleep  Massachusetts residents could experience fewer traffic fatalities, workplace injuries, and heart attacks, with many lives and tens of millions of dollars saved as a result.

But like Maine, if Massachusetts makes the leap into Atlantic time, it doesnt want to leap alone. The committee proposed a solution: The state could push for a law that stipulates that Massachusetts would adopt Atlantic Standard Time only if a majority of other New England states did it too. The state is also hoping New York might jump on board.

I think its important that we not just throw up our hands and say, Weve always done it this way, were going to keep doing it,  the commissions chair, state Sen. Eileen Donoghue, told CBS News. And though its not easy and change doesnt come quickly, its something that merits further discussion.

On Wednesday, the commission will introduce an updated proposal and then vote on whether to accept the draft as its formal position to the Massachusetts Legislature, which could help push the region toward a tipping point on the proposal.

No one wants to be the first one to blink, I guess, said Bailey, the Maine lawmaker. We will be watching this commission report coming out tomorrow, like many others.

matt.pearce@latimes.com

Matt Pearce is a national reporter for The Times. Follow him on Twitter at @mattdpearce.

More national headlines

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The first time she ever met him, Sheri Sletten held him in her arms and pressed her cheek to his face.

Can you feel this? she asked.



For the record: After this story was posted, the chief subject of the article, Sheri Sletten, told the Times that her account of reuniting with gunshot victim Matt Lewan after he was released from the hospital was false. That meeting did not occur. Lewans family says that while Sletten was present on the night Lewan was shot, Lewans father and a family friend administered the most important lifesaving aid.

Yes, he whispered.

Then that means youre alive, she said.

Sletten had slid her hand up his shirtless back and felt the gaping wound caused by one of the hundreds of bullets fired from the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay hotel down into a crowd of 20,000 attending the Route 91 Harvest music festival.

She called for a cloth and was handed a bandanna. She shoved it into the wound to slow the bleeding. His eyes rolled back into his head and she helped load him onto a maintenance cart. He was whisked away.

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She never got his name.

Her phone was lost. She helped some other people that had been shot  running on pure adrenaline  before eventually sitting down on a curb, blood on her dress and her cowboy boots. She felt lost that day and in the weeks after.

Its been a month since the Oct. 1 shooting attack, when professional gambler and real estate investor Stephen Paddock opened fire out the window of the Mandalay Bay, killing 58 and wounding more than 500  the largest mass shooting in modern American history.

Sletten left unharmed  as did thousands of others  but has struggled to get her life back on track. The 36-year-old spent the first few days after the shooting in bed with the television on 24 hours a day. Her husband and four children felt as though they were living with a ghost.

But Sletten was obsessed.

In her mind, she needed to know whether the man she had helped survived the shooting. The first few days, as names were released and pictures of the deceased were made public, she studied the faces. When she didnt recognize him in any of the photos, she began to try and track down the names of the hundreds who were wounded.

She checked Facebook sites set up to reunite people. She called the hospitals in Las Vegas where the injured had been treated. But because of privacy laws, she couldnt break through.

I needed to know how he was doing, she said. I needed to know he was going to be OK.

Sletten turned to Richard Peterson, a former Los Angeles County sheriffs deputy who had retired a few years ago and did some private investigative work. She wondered whether he might be able to help her.

Peterson had already been contacted by a few others in Southern California looking to find out the status of the injured and was planning to do some work in Las Vegas anyway.

I could tell she was desperate to find this man, Peterson said. It was clear to me that she needed this.

Peterson spent three days trying to find out anything at all about the man. He struck out at hospitals, at the help centers set up for victims. Websites and phone banks set up to reconnect people produced no leads.

Finally, he called to tell her hed come up empty.

She was kind and nice to me, but I could tell the news left her feeling sad and devastated inside, Peterson said. I so badly wanted to give her good news.

Slettens husband, Daniel, was worried. He said his wife was sleeping poorly, and she couldnt stop watching the news  following every small development, scrutinizing and looking at photos and file footage to identify people in the background who might lead her to the man she helped.

It was like his wife was present, but also absent at the same time, he said. One night, some kids dumped rocks into a plastic pool next door and it sounded like gunfire to her. It took him hours to calm her down.

The family had been through struggles before. Daniel Sletten had battled cancer a few years earlier. Sheri Sletten had nearly died during the birth of her third child. But this one felt different. He felt helpless.

Finding him was the biggest thing holding her back, he said.

Sletten was trying to come back. She went back to work at the Murrieta Animal Hospital, where she was a receptionist.

But she looked like a different person, said Melissa Brand, one of the clinics registered veterinary technicians. When she got in that morning, the bubbly, outgoing personality had vanished. The rest of the staff moved in to help, answering calls from clients and checking in pets. Shortly after noon, Sletten went home.

It was like her whole world had been turned upside down, Brand said. She was quiet and seemed overwhelmed. She was emotional and had this heavy weight on her.

Then, almost two weeks after the shooting, Sletten read a story about those who had been injured during the attack and noted one who had the injury she was looking for: a shot in the back. There was a name: Matt Lewan.

Sletten began searching social media. Matt Lewan had a girlfriend whose face Sletten recognized from the concert. Then she identified his sister.

She messaged both of them and they remembered her. They filled her in. Lewan had been transported to three hospitals and had undergone several surgeries. The bullet was still lodged near his lung and couldnt be removed. Hed suffered a broken arm when he fell.

Sletten wanted to see him, but she also wanted to wait until he was ready. She sent him a short text message, and he replied. Their exchanges were short, mostly Sletten asking him how he was feeling. They talked a little about the shooting. He remembered feeling her cheek on his, when shed held him close.

Lewan was at UCI Medical Center in Orange but lived in Riverside County only about 30 minutes from where Sletten lives in Murrieta. She agreed to wait until he was stable enough to meet her.

It was supposed to happen about three weeks after the shooting, but Lewan had some complications and needed an emergency surgery. All the while, Sletten got updates from the family on his recovery.

On Thursday, Lewan phoned her from the hospital.

His voice was dry and cracked a little. He was ready. He was going to be released from the hospital Saturday. Did she want to come by his parents house?

Sletten awoke that morning feeling nervous. What if the meeting brought up all the worst memories of that night? She didnt eat. She tried to keep busy with the kids and tidied up the house to pass the time. She was going to go with her husband, but decided it would be better if she went alone.

The drive felt as though it lasted forever, but then time collapsed. Tears were already in her eyes as she walked up to the door.

I thought my knees might buckle at any second, she said.

Lewans sister answered the door and the two embraced. Sletten made her way to the couch, where Lewan was. He smiled. For the first time in almost a month, she touched him and gave him a one-armed hug. In that moment, she felt alive.

david.montero@latimes.com

Twitter: @davemontero

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Congress is grilling Facebook, Twitter and Google this week for allowing Russian agents to hijack their social networks. The grilling is long overdue.

When Mark Zuckerberg took his company public in 2012, he said his mission was to bring people closer together and create a more open culture, not merely to make money. Facebook made plenty of money and reunited lots of old high school friends. But it also created a vast electronic swamp that mixes real information, misinformation, foreign propaganda and scammery, without helping users to distinguish one from the other.

Along the way, it became the countrys most powerful news organization, but a news organization that seems to operate without an editorial brain  unless you count the algorithms that fail to notice all the fake stuff.

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Case in point: the 2016 election campaign.

As Facebook general counsel Colin Stretch told a Senate subcommittee Tuesday, content produced by Russian operatives may have reached as many as 126 million Americans over the last two years. Their aim, he said, was to sow division and discord and to try to undermine the election.

Whether social networks like it or not, they are already the de facto arbiters of whats true and false in American public discourse.

Twitter said more than 36,000 Russian bots sent 1.4 million tweets during the campaign. The company allowed one Russian account to label itself the unofficial voice of the Tennessee Republican Party for 11 months, even though the real GOP told them it was fake.

Google said it had discovered 1,108 campaign-related videos from Russian sources on YouTube, the video service it owns.

No one knows if the election outcome would have been different without Russian interference. But its impossible to argue that all that disinformation had no effect at all.

Besides, this isnt only about who won the election. Russia wanted  perhaps above all  to stir up divisions among Americans.

One Russian-authored Facebook group, Blacktivist, urged African Americans to retaliate against police violence, an eye for an eye, according to researcher Jonathan Albright of Columbia Universitys Tow Center for Digital Journalism. Another, aimed at white conservatives, said Black Lives Matter activists should be immediately shot.

Some of that evil stuff has continued after election day. In March, a Russian account on Facebook attacked immigrants in the United States illegally, saying: The only way to deal with them is to kill them all. And Twitter accounts linked to Russia have been attacking the credibility of special counsel Robert S. Mueller III, whos investigating Russias role in the campaign.

Its not hard to see how weve come to this pass. Facebook and the other social media companies sell access to their networks to all comers; thats how they make their money. Much of their selling is automated and anonymous; they dont always know whos buying. And theyve long insisted that it isnt their job to police the content that travels across their systems, at least when it comes to political speech.

The digital executives who testified this week all acknowledged, profusely, that they needed to do a better job. Theyve already shut many of the offending accounts down, they said. Facebook is hiring 3,000 human editors to help its algorithms figure out when noxious content is flowing across its network.

What else do they need to do?

More transparency is the easiest answer  more information about advertisers, more clarity about the true sources of content, more outside researchers to analyze whats going on. Better enforcement of existing standards should be easy, too, even though it will require expensive human labor to do. Facebook, for example, already bans sexual content and appeals to violence. Those Russian groups that called on black and white Americans to shoot each other were breaking the rules.

But the next step is more complicated: Should social media companies do something to distinguish between good information and bad  between truths and falsehoods?

Facebook understands that it has a responsibility to democracy, said Peter Eckersley, chief computer scientist for the Electronic Frontier Foundation, a digital rights group. It would be very shortsighted of them to put short-term profit ahead of that.

Whether the social networks like it or not, they are already the de facto arbiters of whats true and false in American public discourse. Whats posted on Facebook determines what society thinks is true or false, Eckersley said. When we see something on Facebook that tends to confirm out viewpoint, we tend to share it.

So yes, please, lets take action. But at this point, lawmakers should stick to transparency, otherwise they risk heading down the road to censorship. The bill introduced by Sens. Mark Warner, Amy Klobuchar and John McCain to require the networks to disclose political ads sources is a sensible first step. It wont be the last.

The companies need to get serious too, and live up to Googles long-ago motto: Dont be evil.

doyle.mcmanus@latimes.com

Twitter: @DoyleMcManus

Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion or Facebook
After the indictments of his former campaign chairman and deputy chairman were announced Monday morning, President Trump took to Twitter to tut-tut that this is years ago, before Paul Manafort was part of the Trump campaign. (Actually, some of the alleged wrongdoing took place in 2016.) Then three minutes later came this addendum: ....Also, there is NO COLLUSION!

But that tweet didnt seem to reckon with special counsel Robert S. Mueller IIIs second bombshell of the day: the announcement of the guilty plea by Trump campaign advisor George Papadopoulos  or, as Trump referred to him in a tweet on Tuesday, the young, low level volunteer named George.

Papadopoulos pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about contacts with a London-based professor he believed to have substantial connections to high-level Russian government officials and who told Papadopoulos last April that the Russians had dirt on Hillary Clinton and thousands of emails.

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To a lot of people, Papadopoulos seeming openness to Russian overtures sounds like collusion. But not to Trump. He continues to maintain, as he tweeted last week, that there was NO collusion between Russia and Trump. Was collusion with HC!

On Monday, White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders elaborated on the latter claim, a variation of Trumps famous Pee Wee Herman-like response in a televised debate to Clintons suggestion that he was Vladimir Putins puppet. No puppet, Trump shot back. Youre the puppet!

The Clinton collusion claim hangs (precariously) on the fact that the Clinton campaign and the Democratic National Committee, acting through a law firm, paid a consulting company named Fusion GPS to do opposition research on Trump. Fusion GPS in turn hired a retired British intelligence officer named Christopher Steele, who compiled the now-infamous dossier about Trumps alleged compromising contacts with Russia.

As Sanders put it on Monday: There is clear evidence of the Clinton campaign colluding with Russian intelligence to spread disinformation and smear the president to influence the election.

Actually there isnt. But one can argue that the Clinton campaign might have inadvertently colluded with Russia if it purchased opposition research about Trump that included Russian disinformation. (There is also a convoluted argument about Clinton collusion based on the fact that Fusion GPS did work for a law firm that represented a Russian company.)

So, with apologies to Raymond Carver, what do we talk about when we talk about collusion?

The connotation of the term seems to have evolved. After WikiLeaks released emails from Democratic accounts that U.S. intelligence agencies later concluded with high confidence had been hacked by Russia, the collusion narrative that haunted Democrats was that someone in the Trump campaign knew in advance of, or had facilitated, the purloining of the emails by Russian agents and their retailing by WikiLeaks.

Lets call that scenario Class A collusion: A U.S. political campaign knowingly solicits or accepts help in the form of dirty tricks or criminal behavior from a foreign government.

But collusion also has been used to describe other activities. Take the meeting Donald Trump Jr., Jared Kushner and Manafort had with Russian lawyer Natalia V. Veselnitskaya at Trump Tower on June 9, 2016. Trump Jr. had been told that he would be meeting a Russian government attorney and that the payoff might be official documents and information that would incriminate Hillary and her dealings with Russia and would be very useful to your father.

Apparently no such treasure trove was produced. Even so, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Burbank), said: This is about as clear evidence as you could find about intent by the campaign to collude with the Russians, to get useful information from the Russians.

Schiff went on in an interview with ABC News in July to discuss a hypothetical situation in which the Russians might offer to trade dirt about Clinton for a support from the Trump team for repeal of the Magnitsky Act, a law that imposes sanctions on prominent Russians.

But some critics would accuse the Trump team of colluding with Russia even if it expressed a willingness to accept dirt from a foreign government without promising anything in return. So call that Class B collusion.

But even if accepting oppo research from a foreign country is unpatriotic, is it illegal? A Manchurian candidate who was doing the bidding of a foreign power could run afoul of espionage laws. But federal election law may also come into play.

The Federal Election Campaign Act prohibits foreigners from making any contribution or donation of money or other thing of value ... in connection with any federal, state or local election in the United States. Its also unlawful to help foreign nationals violate that ban or to solicit, receive or accept contributions or donations from them.

Does providing information  dirt  about another candidate qualify? Legal experts have been arguing about that. (UCLA law professor Eugene Volokh explores the arguments here.)

Finally, we have Class C collusion  the use by a campaign of any resource that might run the risk of compromise by a foreign government. If Steele relied on information from current or former Russian officials for the dossier, as has been reported, the Clinton campaigns funding of his efforts could be called collusion of this kind.

As the Mueller investigation proceeds, the debate about collusion is likely to escalate, but it would be helpful if the term were defined clearly  and, of course, if those who condemn collusion (however its defined) do so regardless of the party of the alleged colluder. If you think Republicans shouldnt accept oppo research that has any foreign taint, dont defend the dirt-digging when it benefits Democrats.

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To the editor: I read Harold Meyersons The political dilemma of our age: Confront or compromise? and was mystified. The political dilemma the piece argues is non-existent. If it did exist, it probably is within state Senate leader Kevin de Leons small circle of supporters.

Most civically engaged people in California see De Leons decision to run against Sen. Dianne Feinstein as a way to put his name out there for a future bid for statewide office. Voters in California will be crazy to send another junior senator to Washington and give up Feinsteins powerful seniority position in both the Judiciary and Appropriation committees.

Yes, De Leon has tried to take on President Trump, but nothing substantive has been accomplished. At the end of the piece, Meyerson spends one paragraph on Feinsteins accomplishments; those few words overwhelm whatever superficial confrontations De Leon has done.

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Chamba Sanchez, Los Angeles

..

To the editor: As a 70-year-old lifelong feminist, I am proud to be from a state with two women senators. But lately, I have had misgivings about Feinstein.

Her default to compromise rarely gets her near her goal. She does not seem to understand that compromise is anathema to the opposition, a cudgel they use to bludgeon their opponents.

Most recently, on Aug. 29, she told a crowd in San Francisco that she hoped Trump has the ability to learn and change and if he could, he could be a good president. She added that we just need some patience.

I was stunned. That was the moment I realized how tenuous her grasp on our current political reality is.

De Leon, in contrast, has taken a forceful, principled, public stand against Trumpism since the day after the election. I have had my eye on him for years, and now I see someone who should be Californias next U.S. senator.

Sara R. Nichols, Los Angeles

..

To the editor: If Feinstein should retire from the Senate, Meyerson should retire from punditry.

His hard-left commentary has helped drive the Democratic Party into its present fractured, incoherent status, devoid of constructive programs, devoted to childish resistance to Trump, having lost about 1,000 legislative seats nationwide, and still fumbling for meaning.

With friends like Meyerson, the Democrats are over-stocked with enemies.

Leonard Lamensdorf, Westlake Village

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To the editor: Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Torrance) is a congressional newbie, so Ill forgive his apparent ignorance of diplomatic history and nuclear strategy. But Sen. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Lieus co-sponsor on a bill to take away the right of a president to order a nuclear first strike without a declaration of war by Congress, has no excuse. (Can Trump be trusted with the nuclear launch codes? Can any president?, Oct. 30)

Was he concerned when Bill Clinton or Barrack Obama held the same power as President Trump has now?

It will be cold comfort to our Western European and Asian allies if a resurgent Russia, North Korea or China threatens their survival, and we will not back them with a nuclear guarantee absent a congressional vote. This bill would actually make the world more unstable, as Japan and South Korea would probably try to develop their own nuclear weapons.

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It took the Pearl Harbor attack in 1941 to awaken a sleeping giant and fill him with a terrible resolve. Had the U.S. intervened earlier in China and France in the late 1930s and opposed the Japanese and Germans, much of World War II could have been avoided.

By making it explicitly clear that the U.S. will not use nuclear weapons without a congressional debate first, this proposal returns us to the 1930s policy of isolationism.

Raymond White, Pasadena

..

To the editor: Duck-and-cover drills were routine when I was in elementary school during the Cold War. In the event of a real nuclear attack, hiding under a desk probably not have been very effective in saving our lives, but those drills did make us feel a bit more secure.

Perhaps I am naive, but not since that time have I been worried about nuclear war. I have always had some trust in our presidents to be rational human beings.

But with this president, I am scared to death. We should all stand with Lieu and Markey as they push legislation that would take the power to make a preemptive nuclear strike out of the hands of just one person.

This is not a partisan issue; it is a humanitarian one. No president should have that kind of power, and no president should carry that burden.

Kit Bell, Los Angeles

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Petition drive to repeal California gas tax increase temporarily slows down By Patrick McGreevy A motorist prepares to gas up her vehicle in San Rafael, Calif., in 2015. ( (Justin Sullivan / Getty Images)) Paid signature-gatherers for a ballot measure that would repeal gas tax increases may be hard to find on the streets of California this week. Organizers say its not a money issue, adding that they needed to briefly halt paid signature-gathering to catch up on collecting petitions from volunteers. The petition drive has so far collected more than 327,800 verified signatures of the 587,407 needed to qualify the measure for the November ballot, according to Dave Gilliard, the political strategist behind the drive. We knew it was popular but the incredible pace is even faster than we expected so we outran the capacity of our verification operation over the Christmas holiday and told our crew managers to slow down so we could catch up, Gilliard said. We will be back up to speed by the end of this week. The gas tax and vehicle fee increases signed by Gov. Jerry Brown are expected to raise $5.2 billion annually for road and bridge repairs and expanded mass transit. The gas tax jumped from 18 cents to 30 cents per gallon on Nov. 1, and vehicle fees of at least $25 kicked in Jan. 1. The gas tax repeal petition is breaking records for both paid and volunteer signatures and were using the next two weeks to catch up on validation of signatures already received, said Carl DeMaio, a former San Diego City Councilman and conservative radio talk-show host. As a grass-roots-funded effort we are also continuously raising funds and volunteer support. We are highly confident well qualify this Initiative for the November 2018 ballot. Facebook

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State pot bureau ready to enforce Californias new marijuana laws as license applications flood in By Patrick McGreevy The state has issued 104 licenses for retail stores to sell marijuana for recreational use in California and 239 other applications for those permits are pending, officials said Tuesday. An official with the state Bureau of Cannabis Control added that the agency is prepared to begin taking enforcement action against pot shops that are not properly licensed. The bureaus enforcement team is ready to respond to any complaints it receives and start doing compliance checks and site visits at any time, said Alex Traverso, a spokesman for the bureau. Selling marijuana without a license is a crime punishable by up to six months in county jail and a fine of up to $500. Those convicted of engaging in any marijuana business activity without a license will also be subject to a civil penalty of up to three times the amount of the license fee for each violation. A new report issued Tuesday indicated the bureau has issued 478 temporary licenses to firms to test, distribute and sell medical and recreational marijuana, which began Jan. 1 after voters approved a legalization initiative, Proposition 64, in 2016. Businesses have received 153 licenses to sell marijuana for medical use. Another 1,458 firms have applied for licenses that are still being processed. The state Department of Food and Agriculture has separately issued 207 licenses to marijuana growers. Facebook

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Two possible instances of discrimination reported after California issues drivers licenses to immigrants here illegally By Jazmine Ulloa The California Research Bureau on Tuesday released its first report on incidents of discrimination under a 2015 state law that has provided drivers licenses for hundreds of thousands of immigrants here illegally. Researchers found no complaints have been made against government agencies tasked with enforcing anti-discrimination laws. But two possible instances of discrimination were reported in focus group interviews conducted by Drive California, a coalition of advocates studying the impact of the new law. In one case, a woman in Fresno was told her license was not a valid form of identification at a retail store, though it was unclear whether the incident reflected intentional discrimination or simple ignorance of the license marking, the report states. A MoneyGram clerk in another case denied a license holder the ability to cash a check. The same person was later rejected again at a bank. The state Department of Motor Vehicles has issued 960,000 AB 60 drivers licenses as of Nov. 30. The state research bureau produced the report for the Legislature as part of the new law, which declares discrimination against an AB 60 license holder a violation of the Unruh Civil Rights Act. Facebook

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California lawmaker proposes requiring panic buttons for hotel workers in response to widespread sexual harassment By Patrick McGreevy More than half of hotel workers surveyed report being sexually harassed at some point. (Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times) Alarmed by a survey indicating sexual harassment of hotel housekeepers is widespread, a California state lawmaker on Tuesday proposed requiring employers to provide panic button devices to their employees so they can summon help if abused by a guest. The bill to be introduced Wednesday by Assemblyman Al Muratsuchi (D-Torrance) would also require individual hotels to impose a three-year ban on guests who engage in harassment on the property. We want to protect our most vulnerable women workers, hotel maids who are going into rooms alone, from sexual harassment, said Muratsuchi, who co-authored the bill with Assemblyman Bill Quirk (D-Hayward). The legislation signals that concerns over sexual harassment that dominated the state Legislature last year will continue to be an issue for lawmakers as they begin the new legislative year Wednesday. Harassment allegations against Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, comedian Louis C.K. and other high-profile men have involved sexual misconduct in hotel rooms. A survey in July by Unite Here Local 1 found that 49% of female hotel workers in Chicago had experienced a guest answering the door naked or exposing himself. The report titled Hands Off, Pants On, found 58% of hotel workers said they had been sexually harassed by a guest. Californias Unite Here Local 11 has been calling for the action proposed in the legislation. It is the intent of this measure to protect hotel employees from violent assault, including sexual assault, and sexual harassment, and to enable those employees to speak out when they experience harassment on the job, said the introduction to the legislation introduced by Muratsuchi. In addition to requiring hotels to provide panic buttons to employees who work alone in rooms, the bill requires hotels to take written complaints from employees and keep them for five years. Any complaint backed by evidence including a statement given under penalty of perjury would result in a guest being banned from a hotel for three years. Hotels would also be required to post a notice on the inside of hotel room doors warning guests about the consequences of sexual harassment. Updated at 4:10 pm to include comment from Assemblyman Muratsuchi. Facebook

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Money, Republican malaise and Tom Steyer: These are the things to watch for in Californias 2018 statewide elections By Seema Mehta Get ready, California. What had been a behind-the-scenes dash for cash closely watched by few other than political observers is about to burst into public view. Voters this year will decide who will succeed Democrat Jerry Brown as the next governor and whether they will send Sen. Dianne Feinstein back to Washington. Before the June 5 primary, candidates will ramp up their campaigns with messages on television and stuffed into mailboxes. Heres a primer on the states two marquee races. Read More Facebook

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Fickle L.A. County is pivotal in the race for California governor By Phil Willon Home to a quarter of Californias 5.2 million registered voters, Los Angeles County is the biggest prize in Californias 2018 race for governor. For two hometown Democratic candidates especially  former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and state Treasurer John Chiang of Torrance  doing well in L.A. County is essential if they hope to best the front-runner, Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom. Yet this overwhelmingly Democratic stronghold continually bedevils even the most adept campaigns. Read More Facebook

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A renewed brawl over single-payer healthcare in California is on deck for 2018 By Melanie Mason Carolyn Angela Chen, a registered nurse, gives a free hepatitis A vaccination to Glenn Gardner, 52, at Joshua House Clinic (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times) California officials are bracing for healthcare battles in Washington to have a major impact on the states budget and programs. Activists and politicians are planning a showdown over whether or not to establish a single-payer healthcare system in the state. And prescription drug manufacturers are the target of a number of bills meant to target the rising costs of medication. Sound familiar? Turns out the brewing healthcare battles in California in 2018 arent all that different from those from 2017. Heres a primer on the upcoming healthcare agenda in California: Read More Facebook

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How California lawmakers plan to protect the online privacy of consumers in 2018 By Jazmine Ulloa (Elise Amendola / Associated Press) With federal regulation rollbacks and a rise in data breaches, California lawmakers this year are looking for ways to protect consumers and their personal information. Some legislation under consideration could give people more notice and control over what data is collected, without having to pay for privacy or better services. Other bills could provide free credit freezes for consumers and require new privacy features for products that connect to the internet. Read More Facebook

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2018 will see California motorists pay more to the state to repair roads and bridges By Patrick McGreevy The new year brings with it new vehicle fees in California ranging from $25 to $175 depending on the value of your car, but Republican lawmakers are hoping to qualify a ballot measure in November to repeal the higher charges. The fees and a 12-cent increase in Californias gas tax last year are part of a plan by Democrats to raise more than $5.2 billion annually to deal with a backlog of road and bridge repairs. Petitions to qualify a repeal initiative are circulating now. Read More Facebook

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A rent control battle tops the list of California housing issues to watch in 2018 By Liam Dillon A new-home community in Anaheim in 2016 (Glenn Koenig / Los Angeles Times) California lawmakers arent wasting any time in tackling one of the most contentious issues in state housing politics this year. On Jan. 11, the Assembly Housing and Community Development Committee is set to hold a hearing on legislation that could lead to a dramatic expansion of rent control policies across the state. The debate over rent control could spill over onto the 2018 ballot, where Californians also could see proposals to expand or curtail the property tax restrictions ushered in 40 years ago by Proposition 13. Lawmakers will have to wrestle with how to follow up a package of housing bills that passed last year. The measures provided new funding and regulations designed to encourage homebuilding, but are unlikely to make an appreciable difference in housing costs. Read More Facebook

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Assemblyman Sebastian Ridley-Thomas is resigning By John Myers Assemblyman Sebastian Ridley-Thomas (D-Los Angeles) (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press) Assemblyman Sebastian Ridley-Thomas abruptly announced his resignation from the California Legislature on Wednesday, citing health reasons. Ridley-Thomas, a Democrat from Los Angeles, informed Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Paramount) Tuesday night. The reason for this difficult decision is that I am facing persistent health issues, Ridley-Thomas, 30, said in a written statement on Wednesday. On December 18th, I underwent surgery for the fifth time this year. Although I expect a full recovery, my physicians advise that I will need an extended period of time to recuperate. Earlier this year, Ridley-Thomas was absent from work for more than two weeks. Staff members initially said the absence was a personal leave, then said the time off was due to unspecified medical reasons. His resignation letter on Wednesday offered no additional details. When I resume public life, I intend to remain active in civic affairs, where my passion lies, he said in the statement released by his office. Ridley-Thomas was first elected to the Assembly in a 2013 special election. He is the son of Los Angeles County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas. Before winning elected office at age 26, the younger Ridley-Thomas worked as an aide for Los Angeles City Councilman Curren Price and managed a 2012 Assembly campaign in San Bernardino County. In a statement about his sons decision, Mark Ridley-Thomas said he and his wife more than anyone, have seen him struggle with health challenges this year, and we fully support his decision to step down from the state Legislature so that he can recuperate with complete rest, in accordance with his doctors orders. His solidly Democratic district includes the west Los Angeles neighborhoods of Westwood, Culver City, Crenshaw and Baldwin Hills. He is chairman of the influential Assembly Revenue and Taxation Committee, which oversees all tax-related legislation. Ridley-Thomas is a proponent of changes in the operation of the state Board of Equalization, though his plan would have allowed the agency to ultimately retain many of its duties. A more substantial shake-up was signed into law by Gov. Jerry Brown in June. Ridley-Thomas was the author of a bill signed into law in October giving the Los Angeles Unified School District the power to preserve some of its existing single-gender schools. He was unsuccessful, though, in an effort to stop local governments from imposing taxes on streaming video services like Netflix and Hulu. Ridley-Thomas departure will require a special election in 2018. He is the fourth Southern California legislator to leave office this year. The election of Rep. Jimmy Gomez (D-Los Angeles) to Congress also required a special election. The other two lawmakers Assemblymen Raul Bocanegra (D-Pacoima) and Matt Dababneh (D-Woodland Hills)  stepped down in the wake of allegations of sexual misconduct, which both men have denied. A special election to fill Bocanegras seat will be held on April 3, with a potential runoff on June 5. A special election date has not yet been set for Dababnehs seat. My colleagues and I wish Assemblymember Sebastian Ridley-Thomas all the best going forward as he deals with his health challenges, Rendon said in a statement. The Assembly will continue to assist the residents of the 54th Assembly District until a new assemblymember is seated. This post was updated with comment from Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon and Los Angeles County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, as well as more information about special elections. It was originally published at 11:10 a.m. Facebook

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California Senate Democrats are considering some ideas to counter the GOP tax plan By Liam Dillon Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de Leon (D-Los Angeles) (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press) Democrats in the California Senate are planning to write legislation to lessen the effects of the elimination of popular tax breaks in the GOPs overhaul of the federal tax system. To finance broad-based corporate tax cuts and reductions in individual tax rates, the GOP plan caps the deductibility of state and local income and property taxes  a benefit used often in suburban areas of California. The Republican tax scam disproportionately harms California taxpayers, Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de Leon (D-Los Angeles) said in a statement. Our hard-earned tax dollars should not be subject to double-taxation, especially not to line the pockets of the Trump family, hedge fund managers and private jet owners. De Leon, who also is running for U.S. Senate, said the state Senate is working with law professors at UCLA, UC Davis and the University of Chicago to develop the legislation. Ideas being considered, according to a de Leon spokesman, include: Reducing state personal income taxes through a tax credit program and offsetting that amount through payroll taxes.

Allowing individuals to make voluntary gifts to the state of California, which would be deductible as a charitable donation under federal law. The deduction for the donated amount would replace the state and local tax deduction. Lawmakers return to Sacramento in January.

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L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti admits considering a 2020 bid: I am thinking about this By Seema Mehta Eric Garcetti (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) Its no secret Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti is interested in running for president. When reporters ask about his intentions, he has used all sorts of ways to deflect, typically by saying hes focused on his day job  for the moment. But speaking in Spanish to a Univision reporter this week, Garcetti edged ever closer to the telltale admission hes actually considering it. I am thinking about this, said Garcetti, who is partly of Mexican heritage but learned Spanish attending private school. The majority of time goes to my work as mayor of Los Angeles, but every [citizen] should think about what our role is in these difficult times, in these dangerous times. Garcetti added that he expects many mayors to run for president, and noted New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio recently visited Iowa, which holds the first presidential nominating contest. Garcetti has long been rumored to be flirting with a White House bid, and he has fueled such speculation by traveling out of state to places such as the early presidential primary state of New Hampshire to campaign for a mayoral candidate. Facebook

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Gov. Brown makes judicial appointments, including attorney who helps train Legislature on anti-sexual-harassment policies .@JerryBrownGov makes two court of appeal and 33 superior court appointments including Lauri Damrell in Sacramento. Damrell, an attorney at Orrick, testified at the Assemblys recent hearing on sexual harassment, outlining the assemblys current prevention efforts.  Liam Dillon (@dillonliam) December 22, 2017 Facebook

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Californias former top cop forms marijuana distribution firm in new age of legalization By Patrick McGreevy Former California Atty. Gen. Bill Lockyer is going from enforcing laws against marijuana to legally distributing the drug under the states new rules that allow the sale and possession of pot for recreational use. With state-licensed sales of marijuana starting Jan. 1, Lockyer has co-founded a firm, C4 Distro, that will distribute packaged marijuana concentrates and edibles to stores in Los Angeles. He says Californias new regulated system has a chance to be a model for the rest of the country. For me as somebody who was on the law enforcement side for so many years, I saw the inadequacies of the effort to regulate something just by calling it illegal, Lockyer said. I think legalizing will help stabilize and help legitimize this industry and result in better consumer protection and other public benefits. Lockyer, a Democrat who served in the state Assembly and was leader of the state Senate, has co-founded the firm with Eric Spitz, who was chairman and president of the former parent company of the Orange County Register. The businessmen aim to get their products to pot shops in L.A. in late January or early February, Spitz said. Asked if he uses marijuana himself, Lockyer, 76, said, Not in any recent times, but there were college years. He said he sees his involvement in the marijuana industry as a mixture of helping to pay for his kids college tuition and public service to help the new regulations work. This whole industry has to come from the dark side to the light, he said. By focusing on delivery to as many as 700 stores that might open in Los Angeles, C4 Distro hopes to capture a targeted market while other firms distribute statewide. The business has a warehouse in southeast Los Angeles County and is close to applying for a distributors license from the state, Lockyer said. Lockyer served a quarter century in the state Legislature before he was elected as state attorney general in 1999. He left that office in 2007 when he was elected as state treasurer, serving until his retirement from politics in 2015. Before co-leading a group that bought the Register newspaper in 2012, Spitz served as chief financial officer at Narragansett Brewing Company. Spitz left the Registers Freedom Communications in 2016. 2 p.m.: An earlier version of this article mistakenly said Spitz left Freedom Communications in 2015. Facebook

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House passes disaster aid bill with wildfire funding, 18 Californians vote no By Sarah D. Wire (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) Eighteen of Californias 53 House members voted no on an $81-billion disaster aid package Thursday, which includes funds for Californias recent wildfires. The 17 Democrats and one Republican voted no on the bill, which passed the House by a 251 to 169 vote. The Senate is not expected to take up the bill until January, when Congress returns from its holiday break. The entire California delegation had recently signed onto a letter asking for the disaster aid. In a speech on the House floor before the vote, House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Bakersfield) pleaded with colleagues not to take a political stance on a disaster aid bill. Dont play politics on a vote to give aid to the people of Texas, to the people of Puerto Rico and to the Virgin Islands, to the people of Florida, and to the people of California that are still fighting the fires. Dont play politics on a bill where you hope to maybe stop another. That would be the worst of any politics Ive seen played here, McCarthy said. Here and now, right before Christmas, dont vote against aid for Americans who just lost everything. Several of the Democrats who voted no also voted against the spending bill Thursday, and said that they felt they could not support either because the bills did not include Democratic priorities for the end of the year, including protections for people brought to the country illegally as children. Others said the aid bill doesnt provide enough money for California and doesnt treat Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands fairly in terms of competing for the funds. The 18 representatives voting no were: Nanette Barragan (D-San Pedro)

Karen Bass (D-Los Angeles)

Tony Cardenas (D-Los Angeles)

Judy Chu (D-Monterey Park)

Lou Correa (D-Santa Ana)

Anna Eshoo (D-Menlo Park)

Jimmy Gomez (D-Los Angeles)

Ro Khanna (D-Fremont)

Barbara Lee (D-Oakland)

Zoe Lofgren (D-San Jose)

Tom McClintock (R-Elk Grove)

Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco)

Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-Downey)

Linda Sanchez (D-Whittier)

Jackie Speier (D-Hillsborough)

Eric Swalwell (D-Dublin)

Norma Torres (D-Pomona)

Juan Vargas (D-San Diego) Facebook

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Three California House members cross party lines on spending bill to keep government open By Sarah D. Wire Three California House members crossed party lines Thursday on a vote to pass a spending bill that will keep the government open until mid-January. Democratic Reps. Jim Costa of Fresno and Raul Ruiz of Palm Desert joined the majority of Republicans to vote for the bill. Republican Rep. Duncan Hunter of Alpine joined Democrats to vote against it. The bill, which funds the government through Jan. 19, passed the House 231 to 188, right before representatives left for the holidays. Costa said in a statement that he voted yes because keeping the government open is Congress job, but he called the vote a continuation of the dysfunction in Washington. It further illustrates the damage that results from partisan politics and irresponsible leadership. It is unacceptable that we have to resort to funding the government for weeks at a time because we cannot sit down together  Democrats and Republicans  and negotiate a real budget bill, Costa said. Hunters staff said the congressman was concerned that military spending in the bill was extended for only a short period. He had wanted the spending to be extended until September. Facebook

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Poll points to all-Democrat runoffs in California races for governor and senator By Seema Mehta Californians could see two Democrat-on-Democrat contests in the states premier races in 2018, according to a new poll released Thursday. In the gubernatorial race, Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom remains the front-runner with the support of 26% of likely voters in a Berkeley IGS poll. Former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa came in second with the backing of 17%. The poll found notable demographic differences in the two mens bases of support. Newsom had strong leads in the Bay Area, where he once served as the mayor of San Francisco, as well as among white voters, liberals and the wealthy. Villaraigosa saw strong backing in Los Angeles County, among Latino voters and among those who earned less than $40,000. Republicans splintered in the race, placing businessman John Cox and Assemblyman Travis Allen in a tie for third place with 9% each. Two other Democrats, state Treasurer John Chiang and former state schools chief Delaine Eastin, each won the support of 5% of likely voters. If Republicans fail to consolidate behind a candidate in the June primary, voters will for the first time see no GOP candidate on the November ballot for governor. Its a repeat of what occurred in the 2016 U.S. Senate race, and what is likely to occur again in the 2018 U.S. Senate race if the field does not grow. Sen. Dianne Feinstein has the support of 41% of likely voters in her reelection bid, but her rival, fellow Democrat Kevin de Leon, won the support of 27%, according to the poll. There is no GOP candidate in the race. Feinstein, who has served in the Senate for a quarter-century, has enormous advantages in fundraising, name recognition and support among powerful political groups. However, the poll found that nearly one-third of likely voters said they are undecided or would like to support another candidate. Facebook

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California legislator wants to curb sexual harassment in Hollywood and eating disorders for models By Melanie Mason Fashion models show off the BCBG MAX AZRIA Spring 2016 collection during New York Fashion Week. (Richard Drew / AP) A new proposal by a California assemblyman is taking aim at two of the more criticized phenomena in the entertainment industry: sexual harassment and unhealthy body standards for fashion models. The legislation, by Assemblyman Marc Levine (D-San Rafael), would require the states Occupational Safety and Health Standards to adopt guidelines for fashion models in an attempt to combat the prevalence of eating disorders and excessive thinness in the industry. This is the second time Levine has tried to take on the fashion industry. His similar bill to impose standards on models sputtered in 2016. This time, Levine also is trying to address the prevalence of sexual harassment in the entertainment industry by requiring that talent agencies  which represent actors, performers and other artists  provide training on sexual harassment and how to identify and prevent inappropriate behavior. I believed women who told me their stories of abuse when I introduced legislation to provide workplace protections in the fashion industry in 2016 just like I believe them now, Levine said in a statement. Its time that law reflects societys rejection of sexual harassment in all workplaces, including Hollywood. My bill aims to address the problem before it starts, but also empowers survivors with the tools to report these cases. Facebook

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Local Indivisible group picks Democrat to endorse against Rep. Duncan Hunter By Christine Mai-Duc Ammar Campa-Najjar, 28, is running against Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-Alpine). (Hayne Palmour IV / San Diego Union-Tribune) With an already crowded field of contenders hoping to unseat Rep. Duncan Hunter and months to go before the candidate filing deadline, one local activist group has made an early endorsement in the race. Indivisible CA50, made up of activists mostly in San Diego County, announced Thursday that its endorsing Ammar Campa-Najjar, a Democrat and public affairs consultant whos challenging Hunter. The endorsement comes as liberal activists and interest groups all over the state are grappling with whether  and how  to winnow down the dozens of candidates vying for 10 GOP-held seats in California. The group held more than half a dozen endorsement meetings to allow members throughout Hunters district to vote on their preferred candidate. One of the candidates, Pierre Beauregard, dropped out of the race recently and endorsed Campa-Najjar. In a statement Campa-Najjar said in a statement that the nod represents the enthusiasm of hundreds of progressive grassroots activists. Indivisibles national political director Maria Urbina said the endorsement was the first made by any California chapter in the 2018 midterms. Aside from Campa-Najjar, two other Democrats are running for Hunters seat: Josh Butner, a school board trustee and former Navy SEAL, and realtor Patrick Malloy, who ran last year and lost to Hunter by nearly 27 percentage points. Hunter will also face at least two GOP challengers: Shamus Sayed and Andrew Zelt. Hunter is not considered to be particularly vulnerable in next years election, but an investigation into his alleged misuse of campaign funds has caused at least one election handicapper to move his race from solid Republican to the likely Republican column. Facebook

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San Francisco is getting a new mayor and creating a political star. Who will it be? By Mark Z. Barabak San Francisco is the city everyone loves, even if they hate it. The stately Victorians, like a gingerbread dream come to life. The majestic Golden Gate Bridge, standing like heavens portal above the fog. The plucky cable cars, scrabbling up its impossible hillsides. It can almost make you forget the bands of ravaged homeless, the paralyzing traffic, the scent of human waste wafting from sidewalks outside the citys posh eateries and palatial tech headquarters. San Francisco is getting a new mayor, owing to the sudden death of incumbent Ed Lee. All of the grandeur, and all of the grit, accompany the position. To say the race is wide open  Lee having died just about a week ago  is an understatement. Read More Facebook

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Sen. Dianne Feinstein is under pressure over a fix for Dreamers By Sarah D. Wire California Sen. Dianne Feinstein is under pressure from activists and fellow Democrats to withhold support for a spending bill that would avert a government shutdown in exchange for protections for people brought to the country illegally as children. Feinstein said in October that protections for so-called Dreamers are the most important thing we can get done, but the senator known for her moderate bent said this week that she wont try to block the end-of-the-year spending bill over it, and has not offered an explanation. Dreamers this week flooded Feinsteins five California offices and her office on Capitol Hill. Two UCLA students refused to leave her Capitol Hill office after three hours Tuesday and were briefly detained by police. On Wednesday, about a dozen students and parents returned and were asked to leave after about 30 minutes of shouting in her office lobby. Read More Facebook

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The GOP tax plan passed. Now Democrats have another big issue to use in the midterms By Sarah D. Wire As GOP leaders in Congress met behind closed doors to hash out the details of their massive tax overhaul, a group of UC Irvine graduate students met in Rep. Mimi Walters district, fretting about how the plan could cost them money. About 20 miles north, dozens of activists in top hats stood outside Rep. Ed Royces Brea office as they chanted, Shame on you! And up in the Central Valley, protesters gathered outside Rep. Jeff Denhams Modesto office to sing Protest ye dreary congressman  Remember that he voted to take healthcare away. To save himself from taxes now, so you will have to pay. Read More Facebook

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Kevin de Leon to Feinstein: Dont come back to California without forcing a government shutdown over Dream Act By Jazmine Ulloa State Senate leader Kevin de Leon (D-Los Angeles), left, and Assemblyman Miguel Santiago (D-Los Angeles), right. (Damian Dovarganes / Associated Press) Taking direct criticism to the woman he is attempting to unseat in next years U.S. Senate race, California Senate leader Kevin de Leon on Wednesday urged Democrats to block a year-end spending bill as leverage to pass a Dream Act  clean of GOP demands for increased border security. At a news conference in downtown Los Angeles, De Leon commended Sen. Kamala Harris for pledging to block the measure, saying he could not understand why her colleague Sen. Dianne Feinstein had failed to take a similar stance in pushing for legislation to protect the so-called Dreamers, immigrants brought to the country illegally as children. Dreamers make up hundreds of thousands of Sen. Feinsteins constituents, and while talking a good game on Dreamers, when it comes to standing up and supporting them, she is AWOL, said De Leon (D-Los Angeles), who has attempted to position himself to Feinsteins left as he campaigns for her seat. His statements follow days of demonstrations by young protesters at legislators offices in Washington and California. The coalitions of activists have been calling on Democrats to hold up the spending bill, a move that could force a government shutdown. They want to pass Dream Act legislation that would provide protections and a path to citizenship to young people without legal residency in the U.S. At least two young protesters were arrested Tuesday outside of Feinsteins Capitol Hill office, and more demonstrations took place at her offices in Washington and San Francisco on Wednesday. Feinstein, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco) and Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) have sponsored Dream Act legislation but have not pledged to hold up the spending deal. A separate bipartisan group of senators is advocating punting the issue to January. President Trump has asked Congress to come up with a solution by March. Standing next to De Leon and immigrant rights advocates on Wednesday, state Assemblyman Miguel Santiago (D-Los Angeles) said advocates had to double down the shame on any Democrat who thinks its time to wait on the issue. De Leon said they had made that message clear to Schumer, saying, It is time to find your spine, sir. To Pelosi and Feinstein, he said: Dont come back to California if you havent demonstrated your leadership and your courage to stand up for these young men and women. I can tell you this, De Leon said. If the Republicans were on the other side, they wouldnt hesitate for a nanosecond to shut down the government to move forward what they believe in. Facebook

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12 California Republicans vote to support tax overhaul for a second time; Rohrabacher and Issa say no By Sarah D. Wire The House gave final approval for the GOP tax bill Wednesday, with 12 Republicans in the state delegation again voting in favor of the bill. Reps. Dana Rohrabacher of Costa Mesa and Darrell Issa of Vista voted no. The House and Senate both passed the bill Tuesday, but, because Democrats raised procedural objections that forced the bill to be changed in the Senate, the House had to vote on the bill again Wednesday before sending it to President Trump for his signature. Though many California taxpayers are expected to see an initial income tax cut under the plan, a significant number probably will have higher taxes because of the lost deductions. Analysts also expect the biggest cuts to flow to corporations and the states wealthiest residents. Republicans are expected to head to the White House later Wednesday for a celebration with Trump. No House Democrats, including the 39 from California, supported the bill. Rep. Grace Napolitano (D-Norwalk) was not present for the second vote, but she voted no on Tuesday. See the Republican votes here: Facebook

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Californias Democratic senators vote no on GOP tax bill Californias @SenKamalaHarris and @SenFeinstein join rest of Democrats in the Senate in voting no on the GOP tax bill, which passed 51-48 along party lines. Sanders, who is an Independent, voted with Democrats.  Sarah D. Wire (@sarahdwire) December 20, 2017 "At a time when wages have stagnated and working Americans are trying to do more with less, this tax plan pulls the rug out from the middle class to give billions to those who already have so much. This is an attack on our values, and Americans deserve better," Harris said.  Sarah D. Wire (@sarahdwire) December 20, 2017 "Californians will be hit especially hard by the cap on the state and local tax deduction, making it more difficult for communities to pay for services that our families rely on, Its no wonder a bill that primarily benefits the wealthy is so unpopular..." Feinstein said  Sarah D. Wire (@sarahdwire) December 20, 2017 Facebook

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GOP tax overhaul passes House with help from a dozen California Republicans By Sarah D. Wire Despite weeks of consternation from some California House Republicans, a dozen of them joined their colleagues to pass an overhaul of the U.S. tax code Tuesday. Two  Reps. Darrell Issa and Dana Rohrabacher  voted against the plan. In the weeks before the vote, Republican Reps. Mimi Walters of Irvine and Steve Knight of Palmdale cited new caps on popular deductions as reasons they were uncertain about whether to vote for the bill. Both worked behind the scenes on changes and ultimately supported the bill, which passed the House on a near party line vote 227-203. Knight said hes satisfied the changes are enough to to turn what would have been a tax increase into a tax cut for his constituents. Read More Facebook

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More than half of Californians oppose GOP tax bill, according to new poll By Sarah D. Wire House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) arrives for a news conference about the tax plan. (Win McNamee / Getty Images) More than half of Californians oppose the GOP tax bill expected to be approved by Congress today, and just 20% believe it will have a positive affect on their families, according to a poll released Monday. Just over half of California voters, 51%, oppose the tax bill, and 30% support it, according to the newest IGS Poll, a survey by the Institute of Governmental Studies at UC Berkeley. And the belief falls largely along party lines, with Democrats opposing the bill by a more than 4-to-1 (67% to 15%) margin and Republicans supporting it 3 to 1 (60% to 21%). The House and Senate are expected to vote on the tax bill Tuesday. Californias Republican members of Congress largely support the bill despite some concerns about how cuts to the state and local tax deduction and mortgage interest deduction might affect Californians. Democrats in the delegation oppose it and have said they will use the vote against vulnerable Republicans in the 2018 midterm elections. When asked about the impact they think the bill will have on themselves and their families, just 20% of the polls respondents said they think it will benefit them directly, while 40% foresee a negative impact. About 27% do not expect much of an impact, and 13% said they dont know if theyll be affected. The poll of a random sample of 1,000 registered voters was completed by telephone in English and Spanish from Dec. 7 to 16. Facebook

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A quick look at some of the biggest tax changes for Californians By Sarah D. Wire (Jacquelyn Martin / Associated Press) Congressional Republicans are framing their tax cut bill as a Christmas gift that will give Americans an average tax cut of $2,059. For Californians, especially in the wealthier areas along the coast, the situation isnt as clear-cut. When the measure comes up for a vote in the House on Tuesday morning, its expected to pass along party lines. At least two Republicans say they will join Democrats in the California delegation to oppose the plan because they fear it will hurt their constituents bottom line. Take a quick look at what some of the biggest changes in the tax bill might mean for average Californians. Read More Facebook

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Lawmakers, pot growers say Californias marijuana cultivation rules favor big corporate farms By Patrick McGreevy Californias new rules allowing marijuana cultivation favor large corporate farms despite a promise in Proposition 64 that small growers would be protected, according to a group of state lawmakers and marijuana industry leaders who called Monday for the policy to be changed. The California Department of Food and Agriculture issued emergency rules last month that allow for small and medium-sized farms of up to a quarter acre and one acre, respectively, to get licenses for the first five years. That five-year head start for small farms was promised in Proposition 64, the initiative approved last year by voters that legalized growing and selling marijuana for recreational use. Individuals and businesses can get only one license for a medium-sized farm, but the new rules do not set a limit on how many small-farm licenses can be obtained by one person or business. That could allow a corporation to assemble a 20-acre farm by obtaining 80 licenses for a quarter-acre each, opponents worry. Democratic state Sens. Scott Wiener of San Francisco and Mike McGuire of Healdsburg, Assemblyman Jim Wood (D-Healdsburg) and the California Growers Assn. asked for swift action by the state agricultural department to change the rule. This is clearly a broken promise, McGuire said. For two years, every discussion has included a cap on cannabis grows and the Department of Food and Agriculture needs to fix this massive loophole they have created. This last-minute revision rolls out the red carpet for large corporations to crush the livelihood of small family farmers. With cultivation licenses set to take effect next month, the lawmakers also promised legislative hearings on why the rules were drafted to disadvantage small, mom-and-pop farms. California only has one chance to get this right, and it is already on the wrong path with this last-minute change that flies in the face of what the backers of Prop. 64 promised, said Hezekiah Allen, executive director of the California Growers Assn. This single decision will hand over the California marketplace to multinational corporations and a wealthy few at the expense of thousands of growers who are ready to play by the rules and provide economic opportunity in communities that until recently were criminalized or  at the very least  marginalized. The industry estimates there are about 3,500 independent growers on track to get a state license in the first half of 2018. Allens group estimates that number could grow to as many as 10,000 or 15,000 by the end of 2020, but not if large corporate farms are allowed in early. The agricultural agency issued a response later: A one-acre canopy limit has not been in proposed regulations at any point and was not included in the emergency regulations due to the fact that Proposition 64, the law guiding the process, did not provide authority to include it. However, local jurisdictions may impose that limitation on their own if it meets the needs of their constituents. Updated at 5:10 pm to include comment from agricultural agency. Facebook

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Final tax bill dramatically softens blow to mortgage interest deductions in California By Christine Mai-Duc Last-minute changes to the Republican-led tax overhaul seem to be tailor-made to entice support from California GOP lawmakers, several of whom voted against a previous version passed in the House last month. The House version, passed with the support of all but three California Republicans, had proposed capping the mortgage interest deduction at loans of $500,000 or less. Republicans in high-tax, expensive states had voiced concerns the bill would have major effects in their districts. But the final version of the bill dramatically slashed the percentage of new mortgages that would be affected if the package becomes law. *New mortgages over $500,000 include data through Sept. 2017. New mortgages over $750,000 include data through Oct. 2017. Source: Times analysis of data provided by CoreLogic The particulars of the mortgage interest provision and other popular deductions were major sticking points as House and Senate negotiators hammered out a compromise between the two versions. A previous Times analysis showed that more than half of new mortgages this year in Rep. Dana Rohrabachers coastal Orange County district exceeded the $500,000 cap laid out in the House version. Text of the new bill released Friday outlined a cap of $750,000, which would apply to just under a quarter of new mortgages there through October 2017. Rohrabacher was one of three California Republicans, along with Reps. Darrell Issa (R-Vista) and Tom McClintock (R-Elk Grove) who previously voted against the measure. Rep. Mimi Walters (R-Irvine) said she supported the House version after receiving assurances from leaders that the bill would be changed to account for the loss of deductions, The percentage of new mortgages over the cap dropped from 48% to 14%. Rep. David Valadao (R-Hanford), whose district had 1% of mortgages exceeding the $500,000 cap proposed previously, saw that share drop almost to zero; 27 of 7,515 mortgages in his congressional district this year have been for more than $750,000. The House is expected to vote on the final tax bill Tuesday. Facebook

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A major change to Proposition 13 takes its first step toward the 2018 ballot By Liam Dillon A commercial property in San Bernardino County that could face higher property taxes under a proposed ballot measure (Glenn Koenig / Los Angeles Times) Proponents of making a dramatic change to Californias landmark Proposition 13 property tax restrictions took their first step to getting a measure on the November 2018 statewide ballot Friday. The change would allow the state to receive more tax dollars from commercial and industrial properties by assessing them at their current market value, an effort known as split roll because existing tax protections on homes would remain in place. Advocates of the measure, including the League of Women Voters of California and community organizing nonprofits California Calls and PICO Network said the change could raise billions of dollars that could be spent on public schools and community colleges. I think the cumulative effects of the unfair tax system have gotten to the point where its created crippling economic impacts on the state, said Melissa Breach, executive director of the League of Women Voters of California. Backers filed their proposed initiative Friday. The attorney generals office will prepare an official title and summary for the measure and it will receive a financial analysis. From there, advocates will decide if they will collect signatures to put the measure on the ballot. Proposition 13 passed in 1978 amid concerns that rising property taxes could force people out of their homes. The ballot measure limited property taxes to 1% of a propertys value at the time of purchase and ensures that the assessed value on which taxes are based can only increase by a maximum of 2% a year  no matter how much a propertys market value goes up. Split-roll measures have been long debated in state politics, but business groups and anti-tax groups have expressed substantial opposition to the idea, arguing that it would cause major harm to the states business climate. Breach said she expected an avalanche of big money against the measure should it go forward, but said that her organization wouldnt get involved without believing it could raise sufficient funding.S For the record 1 p.m., Dec. 18: An earlier version of this post said the split roll ballot measure would allow California to charge higher tax rates on commercial and industrial properties. It would allow the state to assess those properties at current market value, not charge higher rates. Facebook

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Three more women accuse California assemblyman of sexual misconduct By Melanie Mason Assemblyman Matt Dababneh (D-Woodland Hills) (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times) A Los Angeles woman has filed a police report alleging Democratic Assemblyman Matt Dababneh had sex with her without consent four years ago, adding new allegations of sexual misconduct to those that led the politician to announce his resignation last week. He says her claims are false. Nancy Miret, 26, told The Times that when she was 22 and a recent college graduate, she spent time with Dababneh over two months in late 2013, primarily at his Encino apartment. At the time, Dababneh was running for Assembly to represent the western San Fernando Valley. They had consensual sex on one occasion, but after that, Miret said she had multiple nonconsensual sexual encounters with Dababneh that left her traumatized. Miret, who now works in commercial real estate, is one of three women interviewed by The Times who have made new allegations concerning Dababnehs behavior. These allegations are false and Im confident that when all the facts are in, it will clearly show that these claims are not true, Dababneh told The Times. Read More Facebook

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San Diego business is first in California to be issued license to sell marijuana for recreational use By Patrick McGreevy A San Diego medical marijuana business is the first firm to be issued a license by the state of California to sell marijuana for recreational use, officials said Thursday. Torrey Holistics received two of the first 20 licenses granted by the state Bureau of Cannabis Control this week to sell or distribute marijuana, although the licenses do not take effect until Jan. 1, according to bureau chief Lori Ajax. An additional 180 firms have applied for licenses but they are being processed. Last week, we officially launched our online licensing system, and today were pleased to issue the first group of temporary licenses to cannabis businesses that fall under the Bureaus jurisdiction, Ajax said in a statement. We plan to issue many more before January 1. The bureau is issuing temporary, four-month licenses to firms initially, but will eventually require firms to undergo background checks and pay a $1,000 application fee for yearlong permits. Tony Hall left a chemical distribution business two years ago to start Torrey Holistics with a friend and classmate at San Diego State. He said he was ecstatic to have the first recreational permit in California. He also obtained a new license to continue selling marijuana for medical uses. We feel fricking great about it, he said Thursday. Its just exciting. This is a once in a multi-generational event, he added, likening it to the end of prohibition. Added Ruthie Edelson, the firms marketing director, We will be open at 7 a.m. on Jan. 1. Last year, voters approved Proposition 64, which makes California one of eight states that allow the growing and sale of marijuana for recreational uses. Facebook

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Conservative activist group files a lawsuit over Los Angeles County inactive voter list By John Myers A Washington-based conservative-leaning activist group filed a federal lawsuit Wednesday alleging Los Angeles County officials are refusing to cancel the registrations of voters who are ineligible to cast a ballot. The legal action by Judicial Watch comes four months after the organization first accused elections officials across the state of maintaining registration lists that are larger than their voting-age population. The lawsuit also names Secretary of State Alex Padilla as a defendant and alleges the voter lists violate the National Voter Registration Act, or NVRA. They dont care about removing ineligible registration, said Robert Popper of Judicial Watch. I think we have a very strong lawsuit. The lawsuit names four Los Angeles County voters as co-plaintiffs and asserts that a countys two lists of voters  the file of active voters and those whose registration has been placed on inactive status  should be combined into a single total. The inactive list includes people who havent cast ballots in recent elections and havent responded to inquiries from elections officials. Though the names on that list are considered voters, they are not counted in official registration reports and are not mailed election material. Popper led an effort earlier this year to estimate the size of each countys voting-age population using the Census Bureaus American Community Survey. He said the surveys five-year average of county populations was then adjusted by focusing just on the estimate of those over the age of 18, and then comparing that with the combined active and inactive voter lists. Popper dismissed any concern that the resulting number might be skewed by the different standards used by counties for the inactive list, which could include names of voters who moved or died and thus be an imperfect guide. I believe that a court is going to accept our numbers, he said. Dean Logan, the registrar of voters in Los Angeles County, said his staffs practices are consistent with federal law. This lawsuit appears to fundamentally interpret the requirements of the NVRA in a manner inconsistent with ensuring voter enfranchisement and appropriate list maintenance, he said. The lawsuit also alleges that Los Angeles elections officials failed to provide Judicial Watch with requested data about the size of the inactive list, and accuses Padilla of failing to address the groups concerns about California not following NVRA rules. In a statement on Thursday, Padilla said county inactive-voter files are not out of compliance with the law. He criticized Judicial Watch for its baseless assertions, bad math, and flawed methodology. Local elections officials have said very few inactive voters show up on election day, and that any who do would be asked to cast a provisional ballot  one that isnt counted unless the voters eligibility is confirmed through additional review. Popper insisted that if the list is never used, theres no reason to keep it. Judicial Watch, which sued for access to Hillary Clintons emails in 2016, alleged that its calculations show 11 California counties with questionable voter registration totals. Facebook

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Voters in California GOP districts may get calls asking them to thank their member of Congress for tax plan By Sarah D. Wire Voters in four key Republican-held congressional districts could get a robocall starting Friday urging them to call and thank their member of Congress for supporting the tax bill. Its a last minute effort by American Action Network, a politically active nonprofit connected with House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.) that has spent millions to shore up Republican support for the bill. The robocalls include the members office number. The four California members being targeted are Reps. Jeff Denham of Turlock, David Valadao of Hanford, Steve Knight of Palmdale and Mimi Walters of Irvine. All four represent districts that backed Hillary Clinton for president in 2016 and are Democratic targets in 2018. Knight and Walters had been particularly vocal about their concerns with the plan, saying it might raise taxes for their constituents. The final text of the bill is set to be released Friday, with a vote expected early next week. In total, American Action Network plans to place 1 million robocalls in 29 districts nationwide. Facebook

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Merry Christmas Republicans in Congress: Funny or Die video goes after California lawmakers over DACA By Christine Mai-Duc As members of Congress try to pass a controversial tax bill and a measure to keep the federal government funded, the political arm of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus is hitting Republicans hard over another unresolved issue: the legal status of hundreds of thousands of people brought to the country illegally as children who could face deportation if lawmakers dont act. Amid negotiations over a long-term spending bill, Democratic leaders have been pushing their GOP colleagues to include a fix for those who were granted temporary protection under President Obamas Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, known as DACA. President Trump announced an end to the program earlier this year and gave Congress a March deadline to address it. Funny or Die and BOLD PAC released a video Friday featuring comedians skewering GOP members, including two in California, for their inaction. In the video, Oscar Nunez, best known for his role on The Office, calls out Reps. Steve Knight (Palmdale), Ed Royce (Fullerton), Carlos Curbelo (Florida) and John Culberson (Texas), who get to go ahead and celebrate as thousands of Dreamers are banished from the only country theyve ever called home. How many broken promises can fit in a stocking? Nunez asks later. Im asking for a congressman. The political action committee says its spending six figures on the weeklong buy, which will go out nationwide across Funny Or Dies social media channels. They are known for blasting out irreverent, often viral parodies that play to young audiences. The video will also be targeted to constituents in each of the four congressional districts. A separate video released by the ACLU last week also urged members of Congress to strike a deal on DACA. Many California Republicans have remained mum on the issue, particularly those facing tough races in 2018. So far, only Reps. David Valadao (Hanford), Jeff Denham (Turlock) and Mimi Walters (Irvine) have pressured fellow Republicans to come up with a solution before Congress breaks for Christmas. Following Trumps decision, Knight said the issue should receive attention by Congress. Royce, who has taken hard-line stances on immigration in the past, urged his colleagues to provide a permanent, legislative solution that gives certainty to these kids. Neither elaborated on what that solution should be. Facebook

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For a prominent California consumer group and savvy political consultants, documents reveal a close financial relationship By John Myers If theres a clear mantra for Consumer Watchdog, one of Californias most visible and vocal advocacy groups, its that hidden financial relationships shouldnt shape politics and public policy. The Santa Monica-based nonprofit has spent more than three decades reprimanding politicians and interest groups for doing the bidding of those who give them money. Its official motto is expose, confront, change. We are loud, and we speak more of a populist truth than the way people usually talk to each other in Sacramento, said Jamie Court, Consumer Watchdogs president. Read More Facebook

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Regional director resigns from California Democratic Party amid sexual misconduct claims By Jazmine Ulloa A regional director with the California Democratic Party submitted his resignation on Thursday, nearly two weeks after a 23-year-old woman reported that he sexually assaulted her last year, spurring party leaders to seek his ouster. Craig Cheslog served as Region 2 director spanning the East Bay, Napa, Sonoma and the Clearlake areas. In a statement, his lawyer, Mary P. Carey, said she and her client were confident that a full and fair exploration of this matter, undertaken in an appropriate, fact-governed venue, would exonerate Mr. Cheslog. We are prepared, if necessary, to put forward the facts of this matter in just such a venue, she said. Democratic Party Chairman Eric Bauman and other officials initially called for Cheslogs removal in a Nov. 29 letter to state party secretary Jenny Bach. They said he was seen acting in an inappropriate and sexually aggressive manner toward a member of the party in a public area of the Westin San Francisco Airport Hotel, following a Nov. 18 executive board meeting. The level to which this activity advanced made a number of those in attendance uncomfortable, the letter stated. It added that another member reported that Mr. Cheslog raped her at a CDP executive board meeting the previous year. Party officers said the incident occurred during a weekend where the prevention of sexual harassment of women in politics was a dominant theme in the wake of the #metoo movement. Before the meetings conclusion on Sunday, the California Womens Caucus approved a resolution making clear that sexual harassment, bullying and other forms of abuse are grounds to lose endorsements and be stripped of party membership. Maddy Dean, who was not named in the letter, spoke at the meeting about her experiences of sexual harassment in the movie industry, and told the Times that she reported Cheslog. She said she could not provide further details about her allegation as she explores possible legal paths moving forward. This was about protecting other women and in particular other young women, she said of reporting the assault. In his own letter to Bach on Thursday, Cheslog did not acknowledge any wrongdoing. He said he was stepping down to prevent any personal misconduct allegations from creating a distraction with the party at a critical moment in national and state politics. I am confident of the results that would be forthcoming in a fair, fact-based exploration of this matter, he said. Since the report, Cheslog has been fired from his job at Common Sense Media, a nonprofit organization that helps families navigate media and technology. He also has stepped down from his position on the Acalanes Union High School District Board of Trustees. The conduct represented a serious violation of both company policy and the way in which our employees are expected to conduct themselves in the community at large, Common Sense spokeswoman Corbie Kiernan said in a statement. We immediately suspended Mr. Cheslog and conducted an investigation. As a result of the investigation, Mr. Cheslogs employment with Common Sense was terminated. 4:05 p.m.: This post was updated with Cheslogs resignation from the school board. Facebook

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Sen. Bob Hertzberg will cooperate with investigation into unwanted hugs By Patrick McGreevy State Sen. Bob Hertzberg works at his Senate Chambers desk. He faces an investigation into unwanted hugging (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press) State Sen. Bob Hertzberg (D-Los Angeles) said Thursday he will cooperate with a state investigation into complaints from a former legislator that she was uncomfortable with his repeated hugs after she asked him not to touch her. Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de Leon said Thursday that a team of outside attorneys will investigate a complaint by former Assemblywoman Linda Halderman that Hertzberg has made her uncomfortable with hugs that were too close and lasted too long. Hertzberg, well-known for hugging other lawmakers, said he supports having any allegations investigated by the two outside law firms. I just learned of the investigation, and will fully cooperate, he said. The use of an independent third party investigator is essential to improving transparency and trust in the system. Halderman said Thursday she was encouraged that her concerns will be investigated, but said it was disturbing  that attorneys for one of the law firms selected, Gibson, Dunn and Crutcher, contributed more than $90,000 in campaign funds to sitting legislators including Hertzberg. Halderman, a surgeon, served in the state Assembly from 2010 through 2012 and said Hertzberg hugged her multiple times even after she asked him to stop because she was uncomfortable. The last incident occurred in a hallway of the Capitol, she claimed. I told him I dont care to be hugged. Dont touch me,  Halderman recalled. He then grabbed me and pinned my arms to my side and used his hands to press my lower back into his groin and he essentially pinned me so I couldnt push off of him to get away the way I ended previous hugs. It was certainly so over the line, she added. Halderman said a current female senator and assemblywoman also have complained about inappropriate hugs from Hertzberg. However, Sen. Cathleen Galgiani (D-Stockton) defended Hertzberg, saying she has known him for many years and he has always acted as a gentleman. I have never felt uncomfortable with him, and have always felt his hugs were a display of affection - which I appreciate, she said. I consider him a dear friend. Updated at 5:30 pm to include comment from Sen. Galgiani. Facebook

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Rep. Maxine Waters asks Justice Department to investigate fake letter tweeted by Republican opponent By Sarah D. Wire (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) Rep. Maxine Waters is asking the Justice Department to look into a fake letter posted to Twitter by her Republican challenger that falsely indicated the congresswoman wants to resettle tens of thousand of refugees in her Los Angeles district. The GOP candidate, Omar Navarro, posted the letter on what looks like official House of Representatives letterhead to Twitter on Monday. The letter, which purports to be from the congresswoman, says the congresswoman wants to bring refugees to her congressional district after the 2018 election and perhaps even once I have secured the Speaker of the House position. Navarro accompanied the tweeted letter with a message: According to this document, Maxine Waters wants more terrorists, like the one who bombed NYC, in Californias 43rd District. As Congressman of CAs 43rd District, I will oppose such policies. Its been retweeted more than 680 times. But the letter is a forgery and a fake, her chief of staff, Twaun Samuel, said in a news release. The letter, dated June of this year, also contains several inaccuracies. It references multiple committees and subcommittees Waters does not serve on, and lists an address for a district office that has been closed for nearly a decade. Waters filed a complaint about the tweeted letter with the House general counsel, who forwarded the complaint to the U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California and the fraud section of the Criminal Division for the United States Department of Justice. The complaint states that Waters has not communicated with the letters purported addressee  Teri Williams, who is president and chief operating officer of the Los Angeles-based OneUnited Bank, about any refugee resettlement program. Impersonating a federal official and misusing a federal seal are federal crimes. Navarro, who is backed by big name far-right conservatives, said Thursday that the letter was sent to his campaign through Facebook by a person he didnt know. He said neither the Justice Department or Waters staff has asked him about the letter. I dont know if its real or not, so I put it out there, Navarro said, adding that he believed his followers would help him determine if it is real. It doesnt say that I know. Its according to this document  what, am I supposed to send it to her and get an email back from Maxine? According to this document, Maxine Waters wants more terrorists, like the one who bombed NYC, in Californias 43rd District.

As Congressman of CAs 43rd District, I will oppose such policies. #VoteNavarro2018https://t.co/vO8YUsyPp3 pic.twitter.com/k7ef0H20if  Omar Navarro (@RealOmarNavarro) December 11, 2017 Facebook

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Sen. Tony Mendoza refuses to take a leave of absence amid harassment probe By Patrick McGreevy Sen. Tony Mendoza (D-Artesia), left, talks earlier this year about a pending bill with Sen. Ted Gaines (R-El Dorado Hills). (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press) Defying pressure from legislative leadership, state Sen. Tony Mendoza (D-Artesia) refused Thursday to take a leave of absence until an investigation into sexual harassment allegations against him is concluded early next year. Mendoza has denied allegations by former employees that he treated three female aides inappropriately, inviting them to hotel stays and asking one to visit his home to work on her resume. I am very disappointed that certain Senate Rules Committee members are apparently asking me to take a leave of absence or resign before any investigation has even begun and without giving me an opportunity to defend myself, Mendoza said in a statement. This is contrary to the very concept of due process, which is a pillar of our American system of fairness and judicial prudence. These actions bypass any process in a rush to judgment. Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de Leon (D-Los Angeles) earlier Thursday called on Mendoza to take a leave of absence. Mendoza had previously been stripped of his leadership positions, including chairmanship of the Senates committee on banking and insurance. Mendoza questioned statements urging him to step down, saying they leave him concerned about the fairness of the investigation. He also said he has been disappointed that he has been told he cannot publicly address allegations. I was not appointed to the position I hold, but was elected by the voters in my district, he said. I am grateful to the voters in my district and thank them for their trust and their continued support. The Senate owes them an opportunity to hear the truth. I assure them that I will vigorously defend myself to clear my name. Facebook

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State Senate leader asks Sen. Tony Mendoza to take leave of absence amid sexual harassment investigation By Patrick McGreevy (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press) State Senate leader Kevin de Leon said Thursday he has strongly suggested that Sen. Tony Mendoza take a leave of absence until the completion of an investigation by outside attorneys into allegations that Mendoza sexually harassed three former aides. Given the severity of the allegations against Senator Mendoza I do not believe he can perform the duties in Sacramento right now while the investigation is being conducted, De Leon told a packed news conference in his Capitol office. I believe Its the right thing to do, its the fair thing to do, to take a leave, he said. The Senate leader also said the outside attorneys have been asked to investigate complaints by former Assemblywoman Linda Halderman that Sen. Bob Hertzberg (D-Los Angeles) inappropriately hugged her on multiple occasions in a way that made her uncomfortable, even after she asked him to stop. De Leon also announced the hiring of two law firms to handle the Mendoza and Hertzberg investigations, and all future probes of harassment and abuse involving Senate employees. Mendoza, a Democrat from Artesia, did not immediately respond to the request to step aside. De Leon, a Democrat from Los Angeles who had been Mendozas roommate before the allegations were made public, said he made the suggestion to Mendoza in a meeting Thursday morning. If Mendoza refuses to take a leave, the Senate has the power to suspend him without pay, but De Leon said that is not currently under discussion. There is an effort underway to force his expulsion in January when the Legislature returns to Sacramento. Former Mendoza employees have claimed that he gave inappropriate attention to a female fellow and intern, inviting one to his home and hotel and giving the other alcohol in a hotel even though she was underage. Another former female aide told the Sacramento Bee that Mendoza invited her to one-on-one dinners and a weekend at Pebble Beach. Mendoza has denied the allegations. The Gibson, Dunn and Crutcher and Van Dermyden Maddux law firms have been retained for two years, according to Sen. Holly Mitchell (D-Los Angeles), who participated in their selection. Have you experienced sexual harassment in government or politics? Tell us your story   In addition, the state is contracting with Weave, a Sacramento crisis-intervention organization for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault, to provide counseling and to establish a hotline for Senate employees who are victims of sexual assault. The hotline number is 1-800-729-1443. America is finally reckoning with entrenched inequities in our personal and professional relationships and in workplaces of every type, De Leon said. Nowhere is this reckoning more important than in the halls of power  our political institutions. Facebook

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Watch live: California Senate leader addresses sexual misconduct at state Capitol Facebook

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California state senator pledges to bring back net neutrality rules just as FCC votes to repeal them By Jazmine Ulloa Demonstrators rally in support of net neutrality outside a Verizon store in New York on Dec. 7. (Mary Altaffer / Associated Press) Moments after the Federal Communications Commission on Thursday voted to roll back net neutrality regulations, a state senator pledged to introduce legislation that would preserve open internet protections for consumers in California. Net neutrality is essential to our 21st century democracy, and we need to be sure that people can access websites and information freely and fairly, Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) said in a statement. If the FCC is going to destroy net neutrality and create a system that favors certain websites just because they can pay more money, California must step in and ensure open internet access. The announcement of the proposal came shortly after the FCC voted to repeal net neutrality in an expected 3-2 party-line vote, with Republicans calling for an end to the utility-like oversight of internet service providers. The Obama-era rules put in February 2015 barred broadband and wireless companies, such at AT&T Inc., Charter Communications Inc. and Verizon Communications Inc. from selling faster delivery of certain data, slowing speeds for certain video streams and other content, and discriminating against legal material online. Before the vote, FCC Chairman Ajit Pai argued loosening the regulations would allow the online economy to flourish. FCC commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel, one of the the two Democrats on the commission, said the rollback would inhibit the openness that has made the U.S. internet the envy of the world. Supporters of net neutrality are expected to file suit to try to halt the repeal plan. Weiners attempt to institute net neutrality rules in California could have challenges. The FCC order states that allowing state and local governments to adopt their own separate requirements, which could impose a heavier burden on companies, could disrupt the balance between state and federal regulations. The preemption of state and local net neutrality measures is something that could be challenged in court. Amid such legal battles state legislation could face heavy lobbying efforts from internet providers arguing against uneven regulations. A bill by Assemblyman Ed Chau (D-Monterey Park) was shelved last legislative session over similar disputes. It would have enshrined in state law other FCC regulations that were rolled back this year by President Trump and Congress. The Internet privacy rules limited what broadband providers can do with their customers data. The bills defeat capped a behind-the-scenes battle that pitted telecom companies against state internet service providers and brought other bills to a halt in the state Senate as negotiations unfolded over legislation that would have had national significance. UPDATES 7:57 a.m.: This post was updated with additional information about the potential legal case. LA Times reporter Jim Puzzanghera contributed to this report. Facebook

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L.A. County sheriffs office failed to follow policy for issuing concealed weapon permits, audit says By Patrick McGreevy Handguns are displayed at the Hunting and Outdoor Trade Show in Las Vegas in 2016. ( (John Locher / Associated Press)) The Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department has repeatedly failed to follow its own rules for issuing concealed weapon permits, the state auditor concluded in a report released Thursday. L.A. County Sheriff Jim McDonnell disputed some of the key findings of the audit, saying state officials misinterpreted the policy. The department policy requires applicants to provide convincing evidence of a clear and present danger to life or of great bodily harm to get a license, but the audit found the department issued 24 licenses during the last few years without sufficient evidence. Most of the 197 active licenses in L.A. County as of August went to current or former law enforcement officers, judges and prosecutors, the audit found. The lieutenant in charge of reviewing applications told auditors that people in law enforcement satisfy the departments requirements by the nature of their jobs. However, making that decision based solely on the applicants profession both directly contradicts Los Angeless written policy  which specifically states that no position or job classification in itself shall constitute good cause for issuance  and has led the department to treat applicants inequitably based on their occupations, the audit says. McDonnell said the audit identified some legitimate issues, and the department has added a checklist to the application process in order to show requirements have been met. But he disagreed on the reports sweeping conclusion that the department consistently failed to follow its own policies. The LASD policy simply requires that the applicant provide convincing evidence that his or her life or physical safety is threatened, the sheriff said. He said the policy does not require additional documentation of that evidence if sufficient information is provided in the application. Auditors also concluded that Sacramento County issued some licenses without proper documentation and that San Diego Countys renewal process led it to inappropriately renew some licenses. Facebook

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Anti-Issa effort discloses donors: Leo DiCaprio, Jane Fonda, Ted Danson and more By Joshua Stewart A political group that has brought professional political organizers into the campaign against Rep. Darrell Issa has received its most significant contributions to date  from actress Jane Fonda and other celebrities. Fonda gave $100,000 to Flip the 49th! Neighbors in Action, which recently registered as a political committee to get Issa, R-Vista, out of office. Comedian Bill Maher gave $15,000 to the group, a rebuke of a politician who has twice appeared on his talk show. Former California Sen. Barbara Boxer gave $2,500, as did Academy Award recipient Leonardo DiCaprio. Actor Ted Danson gave $1,500. Flip the 49th gave the The San Diego Union-Tribune a list of donors more than a month before its required to disclose them to the Federal Election Commission. Read More Facebook

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California Senate GOP leader: Release Capitol whistleblowers from non-disclosure agreements By Melanie Mason California Senate Republican leader Patricia Bates is wading into the sexual harassment debate that has swept up the Capitol and is calling on her Democratic colleagues to allow whistleblowers to speak out by releasing them from non-disclosure agreements. Bates (R-Laguna Niguel) wrote in a letter to the Democratic legislative leaders  Senate Pro Tem Kevin de Leon (D-Los Angeles) and Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Paramount)  that Senate Republicans are calling for the Legislature to allow victims or witnesses who may have signed such agreements to share their experiences publicly. This release from NDAs would empower victims of sexual harassment, create a new atmosphere for resolving sexual harassment or discrimination concerns, increase public awareness and transparency, and ensure that both the Senate and the Assembly fulfill their obligations to the public and their employees for providing a safe and welcoming workplace environment, Bates wrote in the letter, dated Dec. 12. The Republican senator also laid out suggestions to improve the Legislatures handling of sexual harassment complaints, such as jointly convening both houses rules committees  which act as the chambers human resources departments  to have a comprehensive, bicameral and bipartisan review. Bates wrote that the Joint Rules Committee should consider the assigning of an outside entity for assuming responsibility for all issues regarding sexual harassment. She said the California Highway Patrol or an inspector general could serve that function. Bates is currently serving on a panel designated by the Senate Rules Committee to select an outside law firm to investigate sexual harassment complaints. De Leon, in a statement, said he agreed with Bates that sexual harassment is a bipartisan, bicameral problem that requires bipartisan, bicameral solutions. Many of these recommendations we are already pursuing and evaluating in some form and we look forward to working in collaboration with Senator Bates  as we did with the independent selection panel  on additional reforms in the weeks to come, De Leon said. With regard to non-disclosure agreements, De Leon spokesman Jonathan Underland said the Senate is discussing with attorneys and anti-harassment experts about what options are available without violating the privacy rights of past victims. John Casey, a spokesman for Rendon, said the Assembly does not ask for NDAs in settlement agreements. The Speaker agrees with both the Legislative Womens Caucus and the Rules Committee chair that any sexual harassment policy should be both bicameral and bipartisan, Casey said. Facebook

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California plans to send out licenses for pot sales this month  but they wont be effective until Jan. 1 By Patrick McGreevy Patrons shop at Bud and Bloom, a Santa Ana marijuana dispensary, last year. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) California officials said Wednesday they plan to use email before the new year to send out some licenses to sell marijuana to speed up the transition to a regulated market. The licenses will not go into effect until Jan. 1. Proposition 64, which legalized the sale of marijuana for recreational use, required the state to begin issuing licenses by Jan. 1. Because that date is a state holiday, the bureau originally planned to begin sending them out on Jan. 2. That has changed. Much of the date discussion  Jan. 1 versus Jan. 2  was based on whether or not wed be able to be open on a state holiday, said Alex Traverso, a bureau spokesman. The solution to that issue was to issue licenses with an effective date of Jan. 1 since licenses will be issued electronically. That eliminates the need to have the office open on Jan. 1. He said that, as of Wednesday, the bureau has not yet sent out any emails with licenses approved to begin operating Jan. 1. Facebook

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Californias budget director makes last ditch effort to urge GOP members to vote against tax plan By Sarah D. Wire House Republicans hold a news conference after the House passed the GOP tax bill. (Jacquelyn Martin / Associated Press) As closed-door negotiations over the final tax bill come to an end, the head of the California Department of Finance is making a last-ditch effort to convince Republicans in the states congressional delegation to vote against the plan. In a letter to the entire delegation Wednesday, Finance Department Director Michael Cohen detailed 10 issues in the current tax proposals about which the state is worried. Some of Cohens concerns may be addressed in the deal that House and Senate leaders said they reached Wednesday morning. Details of the agreement are not yet public. Cohens concerns range from potentially billions less in federal funding available to California to offset the $1.4 trillion the plan is expected to add to the federal deficit, to the environmental effect of ending green energy tax credits. Californias 39 Democratic representatives are expected to oppose the final tax bill, which could come before both chambers of Congress by early next week. Three California Republicans  Reps. Darrell Issa of Vista, Dana Rohrabacher of Costa Mesa and Tom McClintock of Elk Grove  voted against the original House version, and several other California Republicans have indicated they might be willing to vote against the final plan. Cohen specifically pointed to issues that have been raised by the uncertain House members, including the proposal to lower the cap on the mortgage interest deduction, the plan to limit state and local tax deductions and the elimination of a deduction for uninsured personal property damaged in natural disasters such as fires. Facebook

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California lawmakers have fought sexual misconduct on military bases, farms and college campuses. Will they police their own house? By Jazmine Ulloa Over the past decade, California lawmakers have worked to help curb sexual violence in the workplace and other spheres of public life. They have pushed college campuses to keep better track of incident reports, created whistleblower protections for military officers who file claims and established sexual harassment training for farmworkers and janitors. Now, as more than 140 women have come forward in an open letter to denounce a pervasive culture of sexual harassment in the California Legislature, activists and employment lawyers say lawmakers have not held colleagues and staffers to the same standards demanded of those in other fields. Members [of the state Assembly and Senate] are quick at pointing the finger at other folks, said Fiona Ma, a former Democratic assemblywoman from San Francisco who is now running for state treasurer. But they dont want to look inside and fix their own house, air their own dark, dirty laundry. Read More Facebook

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Californias cap-and-trade climate program could generate more than $8 billion by 2027, report says By John Myers Gov. Jerry Brown signs an extension of Californias cap-and-trade program in July. (Eric Risberg / Associated Press) Although Californias cap-and-trade program was designed to combat climate change, a new analysis predicts it could also provide significant cash  as much as $8 billion in a decades time  for state and regional programs. The report issued Tuesday by the independent Legislative Analysts Office projects a wide range of revenue generated by the sale of permits for companies to emit greenhouse gases beyond a state-ordered emissions cap. The most recent auction of those emission permits brought in more than $800 million. The analysis warns that annual cap-and-trade revenue beyond 2020 is highly uncertain, and offers a possible range from $2 billion in 2018 to almost $7 billion in 2030  the final year of the program under legislation Gov. Jerry Brown signed in July. The estimate of $8.3 billion in 2027 is the high-water mark for any year in the report. Researchers cite a number of factors that make a specific prediction impossible, including future technology that allows industries to cut greenhouse gas emissions easily and thus pass on purchasing emission allowances. While it is clear that there will be additional revenues to the state beyond 2020, the amount that will be generated annually is highly uncertain, the report reads. Money collected from the sale of pollution permits is required to be spent on programs combating climate change. A portion of the money also is earmarked for the states high-speed rail program. The report urges lawmakers to provide oversight for future decisions made by the California Air Resources Board, the agency that has taken the lead on climate change efforts. In particular, the analysts warn that allowing businesses to stockpile too many permits  ones bought at current low prices  could lead to excessive greenhouse gas emissions in future years, potentially even causing the state to miss its annual benchmark as soon as 2024. Facebook

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Vice President Pence meets with California lawmakers about massive fires By Sarah D. Wire Briefed bipartisan group of California reps on the fed response to #CAwildfires. @POTUS approved an emergency declaration last Friday & @forestservice is providing air & ground assets including 1,000 personnel. Together, we will help the people of CA restore, rebuild & recover. pic.twitter.com/zn7QdbCZOQ  Vice President Mike Pence (@VP) December 12, 2017 A handful of California representatives discussed the federal response to their states wildfires Tuesday with Vice President Mike Pence. Attending the West Wing meeting were House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Bakersfield) and Reps. Ken Calvert (R-Corona), Darrell Issa (R-Vista), Julia Brownley (D-Westlake Village), Steve Knight (R-Palmdale) and Salud Carbajal (D-Santa Barbara). It was a very bipartisan-spirited meeting. He clearly understood the significance of the fires and the impacts, Brownley said after the meeting. She said Pence offered federal assistance and recognized that recovery was going to be very important and that we want to work together to make sure that we can get the resources needed. President Trump signed an emergency declaration for the Southern California fires last week. Pence visited California this fall to view fire damage in Northern California. He stayed engaged and specifically wanted to make sure that FEMA and the other organizations were continuing to meet or exceed all expectations, Issa said after the meeting. We mostly thanked him for the fact that hes taken a personal interest and his team has been at the heart of the domestic coordination. There was no discussion about reinstating a federal tax deduction for uninsured damage repairs that would end up in the House and Senate tax bills, Brownley said. If you cant deduct uninsured property loss, its devastating. It would be devastating, Brownley said. Facebook

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We must talk about the health aspects of climate change, Schwarzenegger says in Paris By Kim Willsher (Thibault Camus / Associated Press) He showed up at Paris City Hall on Monday on a green bicycle and wearing a green tie to talk climate change with the mayor. But Arnold Schwarzenegger almost didnt make the trip from Los Angeles. One of the wildfires scorching Southern California was threatening his home. Luckily we have extraordinary firefighters, he told a group of officials and journalists. The actor and former governor of California was speaking in Paris as the founder of R20, a nonprofit based in Geneva that aims to help regional, state and local governments reduce their carbon emissions by developing clean energy sources. Read More Facebook

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A special recall election for state Sen. Josh Newman would cost a lot more than waiting for the June primary, state says By Patrick McGreevy State Sen. Josh Newman (D-Fullerton) faces a recall campaign (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press)) State finance officials said Monday it would cost about $2.67 million for a special election on the recall of state Sen. Josh Newman (D-Fullerton), but only $931,000 to put his potential recall on the regular June primary ballot, which will also feature races for governor and congressional seats. The savings  and the time it took to complete the financial assessment  could give ammunition to Democratic Gov. Jerry Brown to put the recall measure on the primary ballot, possibly improving Newmans chance of staying in office. The higher turnout expected in the primary might benefit Newman as he tries to fend off the Republican recall drive. The financial analysis was a new requirement of a law approved this year by the Democrat-controlled Legislature that has slowed the Newman recall. Brown and legislators now have 30 days to review the election cost report. The deadline for calling a special election was last week, 180 days before the June 5 primary, although state officials have been known to extend such deadlines. In this case, that is unlikely. Carl Demaio, a former San Diego City councilman who is leading the Republican-funded recall, denounced the lengthy new process Monday, but said it will not save Newmans political career. This is about a shameful tactic by Sacramento politicians to keep politicians who break public trust and engage in misconduct in office for as long as possible, he said. Republicans launched the recall after Newman voted with the majority of le
Republicans delayed the long-awaited introduction of their tax-cut bill Tuesday as members continued to argue over key elements, including how fast to cut corporate rates, which state tax deductions to eliminate and whether to impose new caps on popular 401(k) retirement accounts, according to people familiar with the negotiations.

After promising that the bill would be released on Wednesday, the chairman of the tax-writing House Ways and Means Committee, Rep. Kevin Brady (R-Texas), announced late in the day that the unveiling would have to wait another day.

Although Republicans remained divided on some issues, particularly how to pay for the cuts they favored, other details were coming into focus.

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At a private meeting with outside conservative groups Tuesday afternoon, House Speaker Paul D. Ryan said the plan would keep the current top tax rate of 39.6% for the most affluent Americans, but would make that bracket apply only to substantially higher incomes than the current $470,700 for couples, according to participants at the gathering.

The plan will also delay the repeal of the estate tax  long sought by the GOP  for two to three years, the speaker told the group.

And Ryan said that though he wanted the House bill to immediately slash the corporate tax rate to 20% from the current 35%, the final version may phase in the cut.

I cant speak to what the Senates going to do, he told the group.

Earlier Tuesday, when asked whether the corporate rate would be dropped in phases, President Trump said, Hopefully not.

New limits were still being debated on 401(k) accounts, possibly reducing next years $18,500 annual cap, though not as low as the $2,400 limit previously discussed, according to those familiar with the negotiations.

Trump had said he opposed the idea of changing the rules for retirement accounts, and Ryan said the bill was closer to the presidents preference, but Republican bill drafters were frantically searching for revenue to offset the costs of sweeping cuts elsewhere.

Brady said caps on non-tax-deferred savings accounts, such as Roth individual retirement accounts, could be increased at the same time.

Another battle centers on deductions for state and local taxes. On Monday, GOP leaders appeared to reach a deal to maintain at least part of the individual deduction for property taxes but eliminate the deduction for state and local incomes taxes.

That came as a blow to California, which has the highest top state income tax rate in the nation but ranks in the bottom third by one measure for property taxes, thanks to Proposition 13, which was passed in 1978.

In 2014, Californians claimed $70 billion in federal deductions for state and local income taxes but only $27 billion in real estate, personal property and other taxes, according to the California Franchise Tax Board.

Other high-tax states, like New York and New Jersey, would fare slightly better since property taxes in those areas make up a larger share of the overall burden. So would Texas, which has no income tax.

But even that agreement appeared to be in flux as GOP leaders wanted assurances from wavering East Coast lawmakers. They met late Tuesday.

Other popular federal deductions, including mortgage interest, charitable giving and tax-free employer-sponsored healthcare, will remain untouched, according to those familiar with the talks.

Tax reform is hard, by definition, said one conservative group member who attended Tuesdays meeting. Not everyone is pleased with everything. But overall, its going to be a pretty good tax bill.

The cornerstone of the GOP proposal is a reduced corporate rate, slashed to its lowest since the 1930s, from 35% to 20%. So-called pass-through businesses, whose owners file individually, would see rates drop to 25%, as outlined in a draft blueprint between Trump and the Republican majority in Congress.

Companies could repatriate overseas profits, but not at a one-time low rate as first envisioned, but Ryan indicated it would be more likely at a 10% to 12% permanent rate, according to those at Tuesdays meeting.

Businesses could also more swiftly write off investments, with full depreciation for five years, though some advocates had argued for longer.

Individual rates would be consolidated, to 12%, 25%, 35% and 39.6%, though income levels for each bracket have not been disclosed. In return for limiting individual itemized deductions, the standard deduction would be doubled to $12,000 for individuals or $24,000 for couples.

The child tax credit is expected to increase, and possibly double to $2,000.

For many tax filers, details about which income brackets will be applied to the new rates will be key to determining whether they are better or worse off under the Republican plan.

Critics and several nonpartisan tax analysts have already predicted that the plan will mostly benefit corporations and the wealthy, though Trump has insisted his aim is to help the middle class.

Trump met with industry leaders at the White House on Tuesday in what has become the most substantial legislative undertaking this year by Republicans in Congress. The president wants House passage by Thanksgiving with a bill signing by year-end.

Itll be the biggest tax event in the history of our country, Trump said at the White House.

The Democrats will say our tax bill is for the rich, which they know it is not, he said. Its a tax bill for the middle class. Its a tax bill for jobs. Its going to bring a lot of companies in. Its a tax bill for business, which is going to create the jobs.

Republicans have been working behind closed doors for weeks with the administration as they assemble legislation in a strictly partisan exercise without Democrat input, relying on special rules to allow for passage in the Senate with 50 votes, avoiding the possibility of a filibuster.

A key trouble spot has been figuring out how to pay for the tax cuts, which outside analysts estimate will cost more than $2.4 trillion in lost revenue over the decade.

Analysts are skeptical of Republican assertions that much of the costs will be offset by new revenue from economic growth. Republicans have allowed for $1.5 trillion in new deficit spending to cover the tax cuts, but were struggling to stay within that limit as rank-and-file lawmakers balked at proposals to limit deductions popular with voters and special-interest groups.

Democratic Govs. Jerry Brown in California and Andrew Cuomo in New York also pressured Republicans to back off the plan to eliminate state and local deductions, leading to this weeks compromise after New York lawmakers met with officials Monday at the White House.

The original GOP plan was to eliminate both property and state income deductions. But East Coast congressional Republicans threatened to withhold their votes for the GOP tax bill if their residents were not protected. While some California Republicans also raised concerns, they did not play a key role in talks.

House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Bakersfield) insisted Tuesday that Californians would be better off under the Republican plan even with the new limits. It was not clear other state lawmakers agreed.

I believe at the end of the day, when you look at the entire tax package  people will see theres a savings, McCarthy told reporters on a Tuesday conference call. I think Californians win in this.

Congress has not passed a substantial tax overhaul in 30 years, but Republicans, after the breakdown this year of efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act, have made passage a top priority, especially as they head into next years midterm election.

Pressure runs high for Republicans to deliver on campaign promises now that they control the House, Senate and the White House, which is why some lobbyists and others say they have maintained such a closely-held process.

Republicans need a win on policy, on a legislative level, and this is the best chance, said one official from a major trade industry group familiar with the negotiations.

lisa.mascaro@latimes.com

@LisaMascaro

jim.puzzanghera@latimes.com

@JimPuzzanghera

ALSO

Bannons ouster could boost the powerful Koch network, which has surprising sway in Trumps White House

Narrow House passage of GOP budget resolution suggests tax reform plan faces a tough road

Is this small-town congressman from New Mexico tough enough to win Democrats the House majority?

More coverage of Congress

More coverage of politics and the White House
On Thursday, November 2, at 10.30, the Interfax-Ukraine News Agency's press center will host a press conference "The Way FSB Abducts and Tortures Crimeans in Annexed Crimea."

The participants include the victim Renat Pralamov; lawyer Emil Kurbedinov; the lawyer of the Ukrainian Helsinki Union for Human Rights Denis Rabomizo; the prosecutor of the Department for Supervision over the Observance of Laws in Criminal Proceedings and the Prevention of Corruption of the Supervisory Authority in the Criminal Proceedings of the Crimean Prosecutor's Office Yulia Usenko; coordinator of the NGO CrimeaSOS Tamila Tasheva; head of the board of the NGO Human Rights Movement of Crimea Enver Kadyrov (8/5a Reitarska Street). Registration requires press accreditation. More details by phone: (093) 004 2851.
The first criminal charges filed in the investigation of President Trumps campaign aides and Russias meddling in the 2016 election come straight from a well-thumbed playbook of white-collar crime prosecutions  reward defendants who cooperate, drop the hammer on those who wont, and scare others into talking.

The harsh indictments of Trumps former campaign manager and his deputy  and news that a third former campaign aide has been secretly cooperating with investigators since July  are a clear sign that special counsel Robert S. Mueller III has adopted a bare-knuckle strategy and that more indictments are almost certain, according to former prosecutors.

I think this sends a message to people in the crosshairs that this is serious, and they should govern themselves accordingly, said Robert Capers, the former top federal prosecutor in the Eastern District of New York, a traditional clearing house for organized-crime prosecutions and complex terrorism cases.

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Peter Zeidenberg, a former public corruption prosecutor at the Justice Department, said he thought more charges were coming soon. Theyve got all kinds of irons in the fire, I am quite sure, he said.

Mueller, a former FBI director and federal prosecutor, has led the investigation since May to determine whether anyone in the Trump campaign actively cooperated with a Russian intelligence scheme to undermine U.S. democracy and damage Hillary Clintons chances last fall. But Mueller also has the authority to prosecute other crimes he finds.

Paul Manafort, a wealthy Washington lobbyist and power broker who ran the Trump campaign for several crucial months last year, and his top business and political aide, Richard W. Gates III, were the first to take the hit.

They were arraigned Monday in federal court on a dozen charges of fraud, conspiracy and money laundering in an alleged scheme to conceal more than $75 million overseas without paying taxes, and using millions to buy luxury cars, expensive suits and fancy homes. Both pleaded not guilty.

But just as the White House was celebrating that the arrests were not linked to Russian meddling, Muellers team dropped a bombshell: a 30-year-old foreign policy advisor, George Papadopoulos, had already pleaded guilty to lying about his contacts with Russians offering dirt on Clinton  and had been secretly assisting prosecutors for months.

Papadopoulos cut a plea deal that means he will probably serve no more than six months in prison. In court papers, he was described as a proactive cooperator, a term that veteran prosecutors say sometimes signals that a defendant has been wearing a hidden recording device to gather evidence on others.

The signal [Mueller] sends to every other potential witness is pretty clear, said Randall Eliason, a former federal prosecutor in Washington and a law professor at George Washington University. Be like George, come in and cooperate and cut a deal. If you stonewall us, youll end up like Manafort.

Manafort and, to lesser extent, Gates, risk significant prison sentences if they are convicted and do not assist Muellers investigation, perhaps by implicating others, according to a former senior Justice Department prosecutor who asked not to be identified discussing an ongoing case.

Well see how strong they are when theyre facing prison, he said.

Lawyers and others familiar with the investigation said Muellers dramatic one-two roundhouse punches should instill dread among individuals and professional services firms who might be implicated by Manafort, Gates, Papadopoulos or others caught up in the investigation.

Like Manafort, some of those at risk, they said, are part of Washingtons distinct business culture  derided by Trump as denizens of the swamp  high-priced firms that specialize in legal representation, lobbying and public relations in the political sphere.

The investigation already has spread across party lines. Democratic super-lobbyist Tony Podesta stepped down from his lobbying firm Monday. His firm, the Podesta Group, had worked with Manafort to represent a pro-Kremlin faction in the Ukraine.

And Sam Clovis, a former Trump campaign co-chairman and radio host who sent emails to Papadopoulos encouraging his efforts to set up meetings with Russian officials during the campaign, has hired a lawyer and, according to NBC News, appeared before the grand jury Mueller is using.

Clovis lawyer, Victoria Toensing, said Clovis vigorously opposed any trips to Russia by Trump or his staff and, as a polite gentleman from Iowa, was only trying to be courteous to Papadopoulos. She said in a statement that Clovis hasnt communicated with Papadopoulous since the election.

One key question is whether Papadopoulos outreach efforts to Moscow were approved by the campaign, and whether he briefed then-candidate Trump, who had praised the aide as an excellent guy to the Washington Post editorial board.

Starting in March 2016, Papadopoulos pursued meetings with people who claimed to be intermediaries of the Kremlin, including someone he thought was Russian President Vladimir Putins niece, and a London-based professor who told him that Moscow had obtained thousands of emails that would embarrass Clinton.

That was two months before the first pilfered Democratic emails were published on WikiLeaks and other sites. Whether the Russian contacts were pretenders, or Russian intelligence agents, isnt clear. The woman was not related to Putin and the meetings never happened.

After Papadopoulos sent one email boasting of his Russian contacts, Manafort forwarded it to another campaign official with the message: We need to communicate that DT is not doing these trips. It should be someone low level in the campaign so as not to send any signal.

As the dust settled from Muellers first public salvo, several lawyers said Tuesday they were not yet persuaded that Muellers team is close to establishing complicity or coordination between Trumps campaign and Russias intelligence operation.

The gravity of Muellers evidence remains unclear, said John C. Gibbons, a former assistant U.S. attorney who once headed a federal organized crime and racketeering strike force in Los Angeles.

Theyre trying to work their way up the chain, Gibbons said. But whats the chain?

Mark Corallo, a former Justice Department spokesman who represented Trumps legal team this year, also was skeptical.

At first glance I would say these are charges meant to pressure actors into cooperating. It absolutely has that feel about it, Corallo said.

But he said the special counsel could be overstepping his role if theres no real evidence of collusion.

What if theres nothing? he said.

joseph.tanfani@latimes.com

Twitter: @jtanfani
Virginia has been swamped by fearful images as Tuesdays state elections near: heavily tattooed and handcuffed Latinos staring balefully at the television camera, a mug shot of a convicted pedophile set loose on the state.

Versions of those ads may be headed to other states in the 2018 elections, as Republicans seek to maximize the turnout of the burgeoning Trump wing of the party with themes known to appeal to them.

The strategy in Virginia by Republican gubernatorial candidate Ed Gillespie has played heavily on themes of race and crime  itself an issue that has historically conjured racial stereotypes  in the style employed by President Trump last year.

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Both sides believe the outcome likely will turn on which candidate  Gillespie or Democrat Ralph Northam  can best deploy their base voters on Nov. 7. Democrats, who have won statewide in elections since 2009, are counting on Trumps unpopularity to pull their voters to the polls. Republicans have sought to energize their voters with issues including gangs, sanctuary cities and Confederate monuments.

The specifics obviously might be different in different places, said Quentin Kidd, director of the Wason Center for Public Policy at Christopher Newport University in Newport News, Va. The Republican base is  mobilized around these core issues that are largely social and cultural.

The ads run by Gillespie are not the only fearful appeals being made to Virginia voters. A Latino group supporting Northam has begun running a retaliatory ad showing terrified minority children being chased by a truck flying a Confederate flag and bearing a Gillespie sticker.

But racially divisive messages have been more prominent on the Republican side, starting at the top.

Trump has weighed in on the race on Twitter. Three of his four tweets about the Virginia race have mentioned crime, killer gangs, sanctuary cities or monuments to Confederate war heroes. The racial component also was fanned by Trumps statement in August that the those in the crowd of white nationalists at a violent protest in Charlottesville included some very fine people.

On Monday, Trumps chief of staff, John Kelly, asserted that the Civil War could have been prevented by compromise  an argument used in the past by some sympathetic to the Southern cause. Kelly also mocked another flashpoint in the war over Southern heritage  a decision by a Virginia church to remove plaques honoring George Washington and Robert E. Lee, the leader of the Confederate Army, whom Kelly described as honorable.

For Republicans, the strategies in place in the Virginia race, as well as the 2016 presidential contest, mark a reversal of the direction the party had been headed as recently as 2015. That year, Nikki Haley, then the governor of South Carolina and now ambassador to the United Nations, engineered the removal of the Confederate flag from the grounds of the states Capitol. She acted shortly after the racially inspired killings of nine African Americans in a church in Charleston, S.C.

Republicans spoke then of a newly inclusive party. Trumps 2016 campaign, however, focused on fears of crime and terrorism and often targeted nonwhite Americans for criticism. His victory has changed calculations about the political impact of racial appeals.

In Virginia, the desire to appeal to voters attracted by such arguments is especially freighted, given the states history. It was the headquarters of the Confederacy and for decades afterward paid homage to Southern heritage.

In recent years, however, those who were raised on stories of the Lost Cause have been outnumbered by newcomers who have added diversity to the state and exacerbated tensions that are at once geographical, generational and cultural  and nearly always racial. The state resembles in some ways the California of the 1990s, when a collision between whites and a growing number of Latino residents helped spur divisive fights over illegal immigration and affirmative action.

Tension in Virginias whiter areas, rural areas, versus more multicultural areas  those are very old tensions, said Grace Elizabeth Hale, a University of Virginia historian. The Trump campaign and this years protests in Charlottesville and elsewhere have put those things in front in a way that they hadnt been before, she said.

For Gillespie, the aftermath of the Charlottesville protest provided an opening when Northam said Confederate statues should be taken down. (He earlier suggested local officials should make the call.)

Gillespie seized on the issue because it was that rare topic that put him in line with most of the states voters, said Stephen Farnsworth, a political scientist at the University of Mary Washington.

Voters are with the Democrats on Medicaid expansion. Voters are with the Democrats in opposition to Trump, he said. What the monument issue does is give Republicans an issue where they can be with the majority of voters.

A recent Hampton University poll showed two-thirds of the states voters opposed removing the statues; other polls have shown clear majority sentiment to keep them, sometimes with additional historic context.

For governor theres a clear choice. Ralph Northam wants to take down Virginias Civil War monuments, a narrator in one of Gillespies ads says. Ralph Northam will take our statues down. Ed Gillespie will preserve them.

Other Gillespie ads are on more conventional ground, but employ tactics that critics say are designed to play on racial fears. In one, a woman targets Northams support for a program by the current Democratic governor, Terry McAuliffe, to restore rights to criminals who have served their terms. More than half the disenfranchised voters in the state were African Americans, although the convict cited in the ad, who committed sexual crimes involving children, is white.

Northam replied with a biting ad citing his service as a military doctor and pediatric neurologist.

Im a pediatrician, and for Ed Gillespie to say I would tolerate anyone hurting a child is despicable, Northam says in his ad.

Gillespies ads are aimed at the more rural conservative base, but his campaign also hopes to make inroads among exurban and suburban voters.

Analysts debate the number of voters who will be moved by such appeals.

I think that the base voters on both sides will vote with this issue in mind, but my hunch is that most voters are either apathetic about it or will not have their ballot decided by it, said Jonathan W. White, an associate professor of American Studies at Christopher Newport University.

Increasingly, however, in Virginia and elsewhere, base voters are the ones on whom campaigns focus most, as the once vibrant political center gives way to sharply partisan voters.

Kidd said this governors race is more racially freighted than any since 1990, when Douglas Wilder became the first African American governor elected in the nations history.

Kidd blames a confluence of demography and change that is ultimately rooted in Donald Trumps presidency. Any state with similar tensions may soon see the same sort of campaign, he suggested.

The larger forces that shaped it go beyond Virginia, he said.

For more on politics from Cathleen Decker 

cathleen.decker@latimes.com

Twitter: @cathleendecker

ALSO

White House pushes a two-front defense: Blaming indicted aides and Hillary Clinton

White House Chief of Staff John Kelly brushes aside Trump aide charges, wants investigation of Hillary Clinton

The latest from Washington

Updates on California politics
November begins on an unsettled front across the political universe  most immediately by serious questions after Tuesdays deadly terror incident in New York City.

President Trump tweeted Tuesday that he was ordering increased homeland security efforts, and politicians nationwide expressed sympathy for the victims.

Beyond that, the forecast for the presidency is blustery over the coming days and weeks. This week marks a historic new chapter into an investigation that has dogged Trump for months.

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The key question: How close will the special prosecutor get to the Oval Office?

MUELLERS AGGRESSIVE APPROACH

With the initial charges now filed by special counsel Robert S. Mueller III, legal experts are expecting other indictments in the months ahead.

Mondays indictments against Paul Manafort and Rick Gates on charges ranging from conspiracy to money laundering and beyond are part of the story. Then theres the guilty plea of George Papadopoulos, a former Trump campaign advisor, for lying to the FBI.

In total, the charges filed by Mueller are classic calls from the playbook of white-collar prosecutions  reward defendants who cooperate, drop the hammer on those who wont, and scare others into talking.

Weve got a quick breakout of the key items from that federal indictment.

ABOUT PAPADOPOULOS 

A 30-year-old Chicago native, who had worked for failed presidential hopeful on Ben Carsons campaign and then in the energy sector, Papadopoulos was not the obvious choice to join Trumps effort in 2016. His rise through the ranks was sharp and fast.

But as David S. Cloud writes, he was in some ways a perfect candidate for Russian efforts to connect with the presidents team during the campaign.

WHATS NEXT

Mondays actions have set up a hugely important reality check for the American political system: whether both sides see the Russia investigation as a legitimate legal move or just another battle in nations partisan wars.

For his part, Trump has maintained a consistent sense of frustration with the new developments in the Mueller investigation, sending a second series of tweets Tuesday morning intended to deflect attention to Democrats.

And John Kelly, the White House chief of staff, is now making a public plea for a new independent prosecutor in a case involving questions about what role (if any) Hillary Clinton played in a 2010 deal in which the U.S. government signed off on the Russian nuclear authority taking over part of a Canadian company.

(Weve got an explainer on that deal if youre wondering about the details.)

NATIONAL POLITICS LIGHTNING ROUND

-- Republicans have delayed until Thursday the rollout of their long-awaited tax overhaul, as a number of key elements are still the subject of debates among GOP members and the president.

-- And speaking of that plan: Its expected to keep the current top tax rate of 39.6% for the most affluent Americans but make that bracket apply only to substantially higher incomes than the current $470,700 for couples.

-- Californians are still looking like losers in the national GOP tax plan. While Republicans made a deal to keep property tax deduction for taxpayers, the existing write-off for state and local taxes will still hit hard here at home.

-- Facebook told a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing Tuesday that 126 million Americans may have seen content on its platform last year that was generated by the Russian government as part of its effort to influence the presidential election.

-- A federal judge has rejected the Trump administrations plan to reverse course on allowing transgender Americans from serving in the military.

-- Open enrollment begins for Obamacare marketplaces this week amid widespread confusion and concerns that the Trump administration is trying to sabotage enrollment.

-- Trump boasted Tuesday of his relationship with the Philippines president -- a leader accused of human rights violations.

-- The White House says the president wont make a cliche" visit to the Korean Demilitarized Zone during his trip to South Korea.

-- The director of the nations consumer protection agency wants Trump to block congressional action weakening the power of Americans to file class-action lawsuits against financial firms.

THE BATTLE IN VIRGINIA

In six days, Virginia voters will choose a new governor and offer the next glimpse at the Trump effect nationally.

As Cathleen Decker writes, racial issues have dominated Virginias race for governor and likely will mark the 2018 elections as well.

And thats included a new round of arguments about the legacy of the Civil War. Kelly, the presidents chief of staff, spoke sympathetically about the Confederacy this week. Will this governors race be a test of how it plays in the voting booth?

CALIFORNIAS GAS TAX IS HIGHER TODAY

Here in the Golden State, the potency of anti-tax messaging heads to the streets  actually, the gas pumps  beginning today. Californias gas tax went up at midnight, an increase of 12 cents per gallon.

The question is whether theres political fallout in 2018 -- as Republicans seek to make it an issue in congressional and legislative races, while a number of business groups support the tax hike approved by Gov. Jerry Brown and state lawmakers back in April.

CAMPAIGN CASH: ITS ALL ABOUT THE O.C.

More than half the money raised for the most contested House races in California is going to candidates in Orange County, yet another indication of its starring role in the Democratic effort to win back control of the House.

About $15 million of the nearly $28.5 million raised this year for 13 key races went to candidates in just four Orange County districts, concludes a Times analysis of this years campaign finance filings.

TODAYS ESSENTIALS

-- Brown heads to the Vatican and then several stops across Europe over the next two weeks to continue his effort on new ways to combat climate change.

-- Advocates for crime victims say theyre working to place a measure on Californias 2018 ballot to expand the number of violent crimes for which parole wont be an option.

-- Billionaire Tom Steyers impeachment petition got more than 1 million signatures in its first week of circulation.

-- House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi endorsed fellow San Franciscan Sen. Dianne Feinstein for reelection on Monday.

-- Feinstein challenger and state Senate leader Kevin de Leon mischarachterized the senators environmental record in a fundraising plea.

-- A group of Bay Area legislators wants to prohibit electric utilities potentially at fault in the recent wildfires to recoup costs from ratepayers.

-- Theres a new twist in allegations against a Los Angeles school board member Ref Rodriguez, and officials say his former charter school network should have uncovered the problem three years ago.

-- The states nonpartisan legislative analysts office found no benefits to Californias business tax credit program and believes it should end.

LOGISTICS

Essential Politics is published Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

You can keep up with breaking news on our politics page throughout the day. And are you following us on Twitter at @latimespolitics?

Miss Mondays newsletter? Here you go.

Please send thoughts, concerns and news tips to politics@latimes.com.

Did someone forward you this? Sign up here to get Essential Politics in your inbox.

john.myers@latimes.com

Follow me on Twitter at @johnmyers and listen to the weekly California Politics Podcast
Wait  did the president really say, Mission Accomplished? By Marc Olson Some are recalling the last time a president declared Mission accomplished, in May 2003 when George W. Bush was talking about Iraq. (Stephen Jaffe / AFP/Getty Images) President Trump on Saturday morning thanked his allies in a tweet that declared the airstrikes on Syria perfectly executed, but he might have wished hed stopped there. Instead, he ended his message with the phrase, Mission Accomplished! Thats a line that might have a previous president shaking his head. On May 1, 2003, President George W. Bush declared an end to major combat in Iraq under a Mission Accomplished banner aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln. That war, which began in March 2003, grew into a prolonged conflict that didnt end until 2011. In 2008, the White House said it had paid a price for the backdrop. A perfectly executed strike last night. Thank you to France and the United Kingdom for their wisdom and the power of their fine Military. Could not have had a better result. Mission Accomplished!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 14, 2018 Facebook

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Auditor says Pentagon is censoring key data on the war in Afghanistan By Shashank Bengali The Pentagon is blocking the release of data showing how much of Afghanistans territory lies outside government control, censoring a key metric used to gauge progress in the 16-year war, a watchdog agency said Tuesday. The Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction, an auditing agency established by Congress, said in its latest report that the Pentagon instructed it not to release unclassified data on how many districts and people are controlled or influenced by insurgent groups. This is the first time SIGAR has been specifically instructed not to release information marked unclassified to the American taxpayer, the head of the agency, John F. Sopko, wrote in a letter. Sopko also said the U.S.-led military coalition, for the first time since 2009, classified information about the size and attrition rates of the Afghan security forces, important indicators of progress in building up army and police forces on which the U.S. already has spent $70 billion since 2002. The decision to withhold more information from congressional oversight and the public comes amid growing violence in Afghanistan and an intensifying combat mission involving a greater number of American troops. Following a series of bombings in Kabul that left at least 136 people dead in 10 days, President Trump signaled on Monday that he was focused on trying to win the conflict militarily, saying, We dont want to talk with the Taliban. But data released by SIGAR since 2015 have shown how the insurgents have gained ground against Afghan security forces. In its previous quarterly report, the watchdog said that only 57% of Afghanistans 407 districts were under Afghan government control or influence as of August 2017, the lowest level of control since it began tracking the statistic in December 2015. The steady decline in government control should cause even more concern about its disappearance from public disclosure and discussion, Sopko wrote. The watchdog also accused the Pentagon of overstating the impact of its efforts to combat drug cultivation and trafficking, among the Talibans main sources of revenue. The Pentagon touted airstrikes that destroyed 25 drug labs in November and December, saying it eliminated nearly $100 million of Taliban revenue. The labs being destroyed are cheap and easy to replace, SIGAR said. According to some estimates, they only take three or four days to replace. Facebook

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Women journalists shunted to rear for Pences visit to Western Wall By Noga Tarnopolsky The view from the womens section. (Noga Tarnopolsky / Los Angeles Times) Vice-President Mike Pences 48-hour visit to Israel stumbled into a public storm Tuesday when female reporters covering his final stop at Jerusalems Western Wall were penned behind four rows of their male colleagues. White House officials told stunned journalists that the arrangement emanated from a request made by the Western Wall rabbi, Shmuel Rabinowitz, and followed Western Wall rules. Some women journalists said they could not recall such treatment in the past. In a statement to Israels Channel 10 news, the Western Wall Heritage Foundation said it was exactly as it was during the visit of the U.S. president to the Western Wall last May. Later in the day, in a statement to the newspaper Haaretz, the foundation blamed the United States embassy in Tel Aviv and Israeli security officials for the segregation, and announced they would reexamine the way they handle such events. Women who covered previous VIP visits said the Pence arrangements were significantly more onerous than previous visits, when male and female journalists were separated but not offered substantially different work conditions. LIVE coverage of our male colleagues granted access to cover VP at Western Wall as we are penned into #PenceFence pic.twitter.com/k3svkxfQsa  Noga Tarnopolsky (@NTarnopolsky) January 23, 2018 The arrangement reflected procedures at the Western Wall, Judaisms holiest site, where on regular days, men have access to two thirds of the area available for prayer. Tal Schneider, the diplomatic analyst for Globes, a financial newspaper, protested that the separation of men and women may be valid for the requirements of Orthodox prayer, but no one is praying here. We are here to work. I dont appreciate being restricted in my ability to work because I am a woman, she said. The discriminatory attitude towards women is infuriating and is unbefitting of a modern country. Yael Freidson, the Jerusalem affairs correspondent for Yediot Ahronot, Israels widest circulation newspaper, said she worried that her editors could choose male colleagues for the next assignment, knowing they would have better access. Before Pence arrived, journalists were herded onto a specially constructed platform in the middle of the Western Walls esplanade, with women guided to the right behind a white fence, and men, many carrying cameras, directed to the left, where they had more than double the space. Towards the end of the vice presidents 10-minute visit, male journalists were permitted into the VIP tent where he received a gift from Rabinowitz, while the women remained in their enclosure. None of the men publicly protested the treatment of their female colleagues. Israels Association of Women Journalists filed a formal complaint with Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked, herself a woman. Facebook

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Former Sheriff Joe Arpaio, after his pardon from Trump, says hell run for Senate in Arizona By Kurtis Lee (Mary Altaffer / Associated Press) (Mary Altaffer / Associated Press) Former Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio, who last year was pardoned by President Trump in a case stemming from his enforcement tactics aimed at immigrants, announced Tuesday he will run for the open Senate seat in his home state. I am running for the U.S. Senate from the Great State of Arizona, for one unwavering reason: to support the agenda and policies of President Donald Trump in his mission to Make America Great Again, Arpaio, 85, said on Twitter. Hell enter a Republican primary for the seat being vacated by Republican Sen. Jeff Flake. Last summer, Trump pardoned Arpaio, who was convicted in July of criminal contempt for violating a federal court order to stop racially profiling Latinos. It was Arpaios roughly quarter-century as sheriff that gave him a national reputation for his tough treatment of people suspected of being in the country illegally. Repeated court rulings against his office for civil rights violations cost local taxpayers tens of millions of dollars. In the early 1990s, Arpaio directed construction of a tent city for immigration detainees, a measure he said was intended both to alleviate overcrowding and to underscore his aggressive enforcement measures. But it was open to the burning Arizona sun, and drew widespread criticism. After Trump entered the presidential race in July 2015, Arpaio invited him to Phoenix to talk about a crackdown on illegal immigration. He endorsed Trump just before the first votes in the Iowa caucuses in 2016 and frequently spoke out on behalf of Trumps campaign. Facebook

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President Trump ends controversial voter fraud commission By Kurtis Lee President Trump signed an executive order late Wednesday ending the voter fraud commission he launched last year as the panel faces a flurry of lawsuits and criticism from Democrats and Republicans alike. Trump signed the order disbanding the commission rather than engage in endless legal battles at taxpayer expense, White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said in a statement. The Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity, created by executive order in May with the stated goal of restoring confidence and integrity in the electoral process, has faced a barrage of lawsuits in recent months over privacy concerns, as the commission sought personal data on voters across the country. Read More Facebook

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Congress returns to work with slimmer GOP majority to accomplish Trumps agenda By Lisa Mascaro Congress returns to work this week with unfinished business on spending, immigration and other crucial issues, but with an even narrower GOP majority that will make it tougher to move on President Trumps agenda. The House and Senate will convene Wednesday, swearing in the newly elected Democratic senator from Alabama, Doug Jones, and Minnesotas Tina Smith to replace a fellow Democrat, Sen. Al Franken, who is resigning as the latest high-profile public figure sidelined by allegations of sexual misconduct. The change gives Republicans only a one-seat margin in the Senate. Trump, fresh off passage of the GOP tax cuts bill, is pushing lawmakers to pivot quickly on his new year priorities of infrastructure investment and immigration, as well as his foreign policy agenda. But another legislative victory seems far off. Republicans have struggled to hold their majority together and Congress first must tackle critical stalled agenda items that leaders punted to 2018. Read More Facebook

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Trump threatens to cut off U.S. aid to Palestinians By Tracy Wilkinson President Trump on Tuesday angrily threatened to cut off U.S. aid to Palestinians as punishment for what he called their failure to show appreciation or respect to the United States. Writing on Twitter, the president compared the Palestinians to Pakistan, a nuclear-armed ally that abruptly drew his ire this week and a similar threat to drastically curtail aid. He accused the Palestinians of recalcitrance in what he described as their refusal to negotiate a peace deal with Israel. Palestinian officials have said they can no longer use Washington as a broker to restart peace talks with Israel following Trumps Dec. 6 decision to overturn decades of U.S. policy and recognize the disputed city of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, and ultimately to move the U.S. Embassy there. The Palestinians also claim part of Jerusalem as the capital of an eventual independent state. Until now, the United States and most of the world agreed the citys political status was a matter to settle in final peace talks. The United Nations General Assembly overwhelmingly condemned any effort to recognize Jerusalem as Israels capital, and the Palestinian leadership said it would not meet with Vice President Mike Pence, who had planned a trip to the region. That trip is on hold. [W]e pay the Palestinians HUNDRED [sic] OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS a year and get no appreciation or respect, Trump wrote on Twitter. [W]ith the Palestinians no longer willing to talk peace, why should we make any of these massive future payments to them? In response to Trumps tweet, Hanan Ashrawi, a senior Palestinian official, issued a statement saying: Palestinian rights are not for sale. By recognizing Occupied Jerusalem as Israels capital Donald Trump has not only violated international law, but he has also singlehandedly destroyed the very foundations of peace and condoned Israels illegal annexation of the city. We will not be blackmailed, she said. President Trump has sabotaged our search for peace, freedom and justice. Now he dares to blame the Palestinians for the consequences of his own irresponsible actions! The United States does not pay large amounts of money directly to the Palestinian Authority, the government that rules over parts of the Palestinian West Bank. Instead, most money goes to the U.N., refugee or aid agencies and even Israel to pay for roads, welfare, schools, security and other Palestinian projects. The U.S. ambassador to the U.N., Nikki Haley, said Tuesday that the administration was planning to cut off one of those organizations, the U.N. Relief and Works Agency, until the Palestinians return to the negotiating table. UNRWA, which receives around $300 million annually from the U.S., for years has been the lifeline to hundreds of thousands of Palestinian refugees living in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. It was not clear if Haley was threatening to cut all U.S. support for the agency. Special correspondent Noga Tarnopolsky in Jerusalem contributed to this report. Facebook

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The White House stops short of calling for government overthrow in Iran By Brian Bennett President Trump wants Iran to give its citizens basic human rights and stop being a state sponsor of terror, his top spokeswoman said, but the White House stopped short of calling for a change of government in Tehran. If they want to do that through current leadership, if thats possible, OK, White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders told reporters. Sanders praised the organic popular uprising, which she said the widespread protests in Iran represented. The protests grew out of years of years of mismanagement, corruption, and foreign adventurism have eroded the Iranian peoples trust in their leaders, she said. Earlier Tuesday, Trump called Irans government brutal and corrupt and wrote in a tweet: The people have little food, big inflation and no human rights. The U.S. is watching! Trump also blamed President Obama for foolishly giving Iran money that he said went to fund terrorism. The money he referred to were funds belonging to Iran that had been frozen by the U.S. and were released as part of the deal in 2015, which blocked Irans development of nuclear weapons. The people of Iran are finally acting against the brutal and corrupt Iranian regime. All of the money that President Obama so foolishly gave them went into terrorism and into their pockets. The people have little food, big inflation and no human rights. The U.S. is watching!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 2, 2018 Facebook

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Retirement of Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch clears the way for a Mitt Romney revival By David Lauter The retirement of Utahs senior senator, Orrin G. Hatch, opens the way for a widely expected Senate bid by Mitt Romney, the Republicans 2012 presidential nominee and a frequent critic of President Trump. Although Romney previously served for two terms as governor of Massachusetts (and was raised in Michigan, where his father was governor and his mother ran for the Senate), he comes from a prominent Mormon family with strong ties to Utah. He also served as chief executive of the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics. Hes viewed as a strong candidate for the Senate seat. Romneys criticisms of Trump, however, could prompt a challenge in a Republican primary. Trump was widely reported to have tried to convince Hatch to run for a seventh term, in part to head off a Romney candidacy. Last month, Romney and Trump were on opposite sides of one of the biggest political fights of the fall  the battle over the Senate seat from Alabama. The president strongly supported Roy Moore, the Republican candidate who had been accused of sexual misconduct by several women. Romney called Moore a stain on the GOP. Roy Moore in the US Senate would be a stain on the GOP and on the nation. Leigh Corfman and other victims are courageous heroes. No vote, no majority is worth losing our honor, our integrity.  Mitt Romney (@MittRomney) December 4, 2017 On Tuesday, Romney tweeted praise for Hatch, but did not immediately reveal his own plans. I join the people of Utah in thanking my friend, Senator Orrin Hatch for his more than forty years of service to our great state and nation. Read my full statement: https://t.co/YwjUpjez5y  Mitt Romney (@MittRomney) January 2, 2018 Facebook

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U.S. calls on Iran to unblock social media sites amid protests By The Associated Press The Trump administration is calling on Irans government to stop blocking Instagram and other popular social media sites as Iranians are demonstrating in the streets. Undersecretary of State Steve Goldstein says the U.S. wants Iran to open these sites. He says Instagram, Telegram and other platforms are legitimate avenues for communication. The United States is encouraging Iranians to use virtual private networks, known as VPNs. Those services create encrypted links between computers and can be used to access blocked websites. Goldstein says the U.S. is still communicating with Iranians in Persian through State Department accounts on Facebook, Twitter and other platforms. He says the U.S. wants to encourage the protesters to continue to fight for whats right. Goldstein says the U.S. has an obligation not to stand by. Read More Facebook

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Trump blasts Democrats in advance of immigration meeting By Brian Bennett The day before a meeting of administration officials and congressional leaders on outstanding legislative business, President Trump accused Democrats of doing nothing to hammer out an immigration deal to protect from deportation people brought to the country illegally as children. Democrats are doing nothing for DACA  just interested in politics, Trump wrote in a Tweet on Tuesday morning, referring to the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program by its acronym. Democrats are doing nothing for DACA - just interested in politics. DACA activists and Hispanics will go hard against Dems, will start falling in love with Republicans and their President! We are about RESULTS.  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 2, 2018 House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer along with the Republican leaders, House Speaker Paul D. Ryan and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, are scheduled to meet on Wednesday at the Capitol with Trumps legislative director, Marc Short, and budget director, Mick Mulvaney. The White House on Tuesday said the meeting is to discuss separate spending caps on military and domestic programs. Yet the Democrats insist the discussion also must include a variety of legislative issues that Trump and Congress punted into the new year  on immigration, the budget, healthcare and more. That stance reflects Democrats leverage: Republicans need Democratic votes to pass a government-funding bill and avert a federal shutdown when the current funding expires Jan. 19. Democrats especially want separate legislation replacing the Obama-era DACA program; Trump in September ordered a phase-out of the program, beginning March 6, and called on Congress to act before then on an alternative way to address the plight of the group. However, Trump has demanded that any alternative must be part of a package including both money for a border wall and immigration limits. Democrats are opposed. Facebook

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Pakistan hits back after Trump accuses its leaders of lies and deceit By Aoun Sahi Pakistan lashed out Monday after President Trump accused its leaders of lies and deceit and suggested the United States would withdraw financial assistance to the nuclear-armed nation it once saw as a key ally against terrorism. U.S. Ambassador David Hale was summoned to the Foreign Ministry to discuss the presidents statement, U.S. Embassy spokesman Richard Snelsire said. Pakistan lodged a strongly worded protest, according to two foreign office officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly. Pakistans prime minister, Shahid Abbasi, called a Cabinet meeting for Tuesday and a meeting of the National Security Committee on Wednesday to discuss Trumps New Years Day tweet. It was the presidents latest broadside against Pakistan after a speech in August in which he demanded its leaders crack down on the safe havens enjoyed by Taliban militants fighting U.S.-backed forces in neighboring Afghanistan. Read More Facebook

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Trump again cheers on Iran protests By Laura King President Trump expressed renewed support Sunday for protesters in Iran, declaring that people are finally getting wise as to how their money and wealth is being stolen and squandered on terrorism. In a tweet from his Florida estate, Mar-a-Lago, the president said the nationwide economic protests that began on Thursday  and have taken on wider political overtones as they have grown in size --- were a signal that Iranians will not take it any longer. Big protests in Iran. The people are finally getting wise as to how their money and wealth is being stolen and squandered on terrorism. Looks like they will not take it any longer. The USA is watching very closely for human rights violations!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 31, 2017 The presidents earlier hailing of the protests drew condemnation from Irans government. A Foreign Ministry spokesman called his comments deceitful and opportunistic. Following an overnight report of the first two fatalities stemming from the protests, Trump raised some eyebrows by expressing concern over human rights violations as authorities move to crack down on the demonstrations. During his first year in office, the president has shown scant inclination to press foreign governments to respect the fundamental rights of their citizens. The USA is watching closely for human rights violations! Trump said in his tweet Sunday. Some domestic critics have pointed to the presidents inclusion of Iranian nationals in his travel ban, suggesting he was more interested in bashing the Tehran government than in supporting freedom of speech in Iran. Even some of the presidents allies said that supporting the protesters on social media did not amount to making policy. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said he had urged Trump to give a national address laying out his Iran strategy. President Trump is tweeting very sympathetically to the Iranian people, Graham said on CBS Face the Nation. But you just cant tweet here. You have to lay out a plan. Facebook

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Australian diplomats tip a factor in FBIs Russia inquiry By Associated Press Australian High Commissioner Alexander Downer. (Alastair Grant / Associated Press) An Australian diplomats tip appears to have helped persuade the FBI to investigate Russian meddling in the U.S. election and possible coordination with the Trump campaign, the New York Times reported Saturday. Trump campaign advisor George Papadopoulos told the diplomat, Alexander Downer, during a meeting in London in May 2016 that Russia had thousands of emails that would embarrass Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton, the report said. Downer, a former foreign minister, is Australias top diplomat in Britain. Australia passed the information on to the FBI after the Democratic emails were leaked, according to the Times, which cited four current and former U.S. and foreign officials with direct knowledge of the Australians role. The hacking and the revelation that a member of the Trump campaign may have had inside information about it were driving factors that led the FBI to open an investigation in July 2016, the newspaper said. White House lawyer Ty Cobb declined to comment, saying in a statement that the administration is continuing to cooperate with the investigation now led by special counsel Robert Mueller to help complete their inquiry expeditiously. Papadopoulos has pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI and is a cooperating witness. Court documents unsealed two months ago show he met in April 2016 with Joseph Mifsud, a professor in London who told him about Russias cache of emails. This was before the Democratic National Committee became aware of the scope of the intrusion into its email systems by hackers later linked to the Russian government. The Times said Papadopoulos shared this information with Downer, but it was unclear whether he also shared it with anyone in the Trump campaign. Facebook

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Trump offers fresh support for protesters in Iran as demonstrations continue By Lisa Mascaro Oppressive regimes cannot endure forever, and the day will come when the Iranian people will face a choice. The world is watching! pic.twitter.com/kvv1uAqcZ9  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 30, 2017 President Trump again offered support Saturday for anti-government protesters in Iran, where a third day of demonstrations, the largest in years, spilled across the country amid fears of a crackdown. Oppressive regimes cannot endure forever, and the day will come when the Iranian people will face a choice. The world is watching! Trump wrote on Twitter. Trump took a break from playing golf near his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida to tweet clips from his speech to the United Nations General Assembly in September when he called for Iranian democratic reforms. Iranian authorities warned of potential violence as the street demonstrations, which began over economic conditions, swelled into frustrations with the theocratic rule of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Trump has maintained a hawkish stance toward Iran, sharply criticizing the landmark nuclear disarmament accord that Tehran reached with then-President Obama and five other nations in 2015. In October, Trump declined to certify the accord to Congress although the U.N. nuclear watchdog agency says Iran is complying with it. Several conservative GOP senators signaled their support for Trumps position and backed the protesters in Iran. Others in Congress did not immediately respond, however, amid conflicting reports over who had organized the demonstrations. Even after the billions in sanctions relief they secured through the nuclear deal, the ayatollahs still cant provide for the basic needs of their own people, said Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), a Trump ally and opponent of the nuclear deal. We should support the Iranian people who are willing to risk their lives to speak out against it, he added. Trump initially tweeted his support on Friday night. White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders issued a statement at that time as protests spread. There are many reports of peaceful protests by Iranian citizens fed up with the regimes corruption and its squandering of the nations wealth to fund terrorism abroad, Sanders said. The Iranian government should respect their peoples rights, including their right to express themselves. The world is watching. Facebook

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When it comes to U.S.-Russia relations, it takes two to tango, Kremlin says By Sabra Ayres The deteriorating relationship between the United States and Russia is one of the biggest disappointments of 2017, Russian President Vladimir Putins spokesman told reporters today. Russia would like to rebuild relations between the two adversaries, but it takes two to tango, Dmitry Peskov said today during a conference call with the press. We want and are looking for good mutually beneficial relations based on mutual respect, mutual trust with all countries, primarily with European ones, including the United States, but it is necessary to dance tango, as they say. Peskov blamed the ongoing anti-Russian Russophobia in Washington for playing a major role in blocking the two countries from moving forward in their relationship. U.S. investigations into the Trump presidential campaigns alleged collusion with the Kremlin during the 2016 U.S. election and accusations that the Kremlin tried to interfere with the electoral process continue to cast a dark shadow over the relationship, he said. Peskov told reporters that Moscow was perplexed by the investigations. The Kremlin has continued to deny having any involvement with the Trump campaign or doing anything to interfere with the American election. This is definitely a U.S. domestic affair, but in this case it naturally hurts our bilateral relations, which is regrettable, Peskov said. Relations between the U.S. and Russia have been categorized as the worst theyve been since the end of the Cold War. This year, Washington and Moscow have engaged in a diplomatic tit-for-tat in which both sides have been forced to reduce diplomatic staff, embassy properties have been repossessed by the hosting countries and visa services have been interrupted. The U.S. diplomatic mission to Russia shrank from 1,200 personnel, including some Russian local staff, to just over 450 across all its three consulates and embassy in Moscow. In the U.S., Russia was forced to vacate its San Francisco consulate. Moscow has also blamed anti-Russian sentiments on the recent decision by the International Olympic Committee to ban Russian teams from wearing their tricolor uniforms or flags during the upcoming games in South Korea. The international body accused some of the Russian national teams of doping. Facebook

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U.S. and Turkey resume reciprocal issuing of visas but frictions remain By Tracy Wilkinson The United States and Turkey began issuing reciprocal visas again on Thursday, more than two months after normal visa service was suspended in a dispute over the arrest of two U.S. diplomatic staffers in Istanbul  the latest friction between the two nominal allies. The State Department said it was lifting the visa restrictions after it was assured by the Turkish government that U.S. Embassy employees would not be arrested when performing their official duties. But the Turkish Embassy in Washington denied assurances were offered concerning the ongoing judicial processes, and suggested that the arrests were legal and justified. It is inappropriate to misinform the Turkish and American public that such assurances were provided, the embassy said in a statement. The dispute has aggravated the already tense relationship between the United States and Turkey, which is a member of the NATO military alliance. The two countries have clashed over U.S. support for Kurdish rebels in Syria and over Turkeys demands that the U.S. extradite a Turkish cleric who lives in rural Pennsylvania. After a failed coup attempt killed more than 250 people in July 2016, Turkeys autocratic president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, launched a harsh crackdown on his political opponents, arresting or firing tens of thousands of teachers, police, journalists, military officers and others. Erdogan accused Fethullah Gulen, an Islamic educator and former political ally, of orchestrating the coup. Gulen, who has lived in a compound in the Pocono Mountains, has denied any involvement. The Justice Department has so far denied Turkeys repeated demands to extradite Gulen. Erdogan raised the issue again at the White House in May, but his visit ended in a public relations disaster when his security guards brutally beat peaceful protesters outside the Turkish ambassadors residence. Two Turkish employees of the U.S. Consulate in Istanbul were arrested this fall for alleged ties to the 2016 coup attempt. The U.S. responded by suspending most visa services at its missions in Turkey in October. The Turkish government reciprocated in November. State Department officials said they have repeatedly demanded more information about any formal charges against the two employees. They reiterated on Thursday that serious concerns about the allegations remained. Facebook

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Trump: China caught RED HANDED allowing oil to reach North Korea By Brian Bennett (Andrew Harnik / Associated Press) President Trump isnt taking a holiday vacation from Twitter. In one of three tweets early on Thursday from his West Palm Beach golf club, he charged that China was caught RED HANDED allowing oil shipments to reach North Korean ports. Pronouncing himself very disappointed, Trump in effect was acknowledging the failure of his months-long effort to convince China to clamp down further on energy shipments going to the isolated country, which relies heavily on Beijing, as a way to pressure North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons program. Caught RED HANDED - very disappointed that China is allowing oil to go into North Korea. There will never be a friendly solution to the North Korea problem if this continues to happen!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 28, 2017 Trumps tweet came after a South Korean newspaper published what it said were U.S. spy satellite images of Chinese ships selling oil to North Korean ships. The United Nations Security Council, which includes China, has voted repeatedly to restrict fuel shipments to North Korea. Trump asked Chinese President Xi Jinping in November to cut off North Koreas oil supply entirely, the American ambassador to the U.N., Nikki R. Haley, said at the time. It is unclear if Trumps admonishment of China was based on news reports or classified information he received from U.S. intelligence officials. There was no daily intelligence briefing on Trumps public schedule Thursday. He is expected to return to Washington next week after spending the Christmas holiday and New Years Eve at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Fla. Facebook

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President Trump again falsely claims hes signed more bills than any president By Brian Bennett President Trump visits a firehouse in West Palm Beach, Fla., on Wednesday. (Nicholas Kamm / AFP) After another morning at his Florida golf club, President Trump visited firefighters and paramedics at a West Palm Beach firehouse and praised his own performance as president, including with a false boast. Trump touted his administrations work to roll back government regulations and cut taxes and claimed credit for the stock market hitting record highs. He also said hes signed more bills into law than any other president, which isnt true. We have signed more legislation than anybody, Trump said, standing in front of a rescue vehicle inside the fire station. We have more legislation passed, including  the record was Harry Truman a long time ago, and we broke that record, so we got a lot done, Trump said. An analysis by GovTrack, a website that tracks bills in Congress, shows that Trump has signed the fewest bills into law at this point than any president in more than 60 years, back to Dwight D. Eisenhower. Facebook

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Trump administration urges Russia to reinstate monitors in Ukraine, lower violence By Tracy Wilkinson Sergei Lavrov (AFP/Getty Images) Secretary of State Rex Tillerson asked Russia on Wednesday to reinstate its military personnel at a monitoring station in eastern Ukraine intended to quell escalating bloodshed. In a telephone conversation with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, Tillerson also urged Russia to lower the level of violence and underscored the Trump administrations concern over increased fighting in Ukraine, the State Department said in a statement. Russia last week withdrew its monitors from the Joint Center on Coordination and Control, which is tasked with verifying a much-violated ceasefire between Ukrainian forces and Russia-backed separatists. Moscow cited what it called restrictions and provocations from Ukrainian authorities that made it impossible for the observers to do their jobs. Washington has accused the pro-Russia forces of being responsible for many of the truce violations. Late last week, the State Department also announced plans to provide Ukraine with lethal defensive weapons, including Javelin anti-tank missiles, a decision that angered Moscow. The State Department statement did not say whether the weapons deal came up in Tillersons conversation with Lavrov. The two also discussed North Korea, its destabilizing nuclear program and the need for a diplomatic solution to achieve a denuclearized Korean peninsula, the statement said. Russia has offered to serve as a mediator between Washington and Pyongyang, but direct talks do not seem likely at this point. Facebook

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U.S. sanctions two more North Korean officials for ballistic missile program By Tracy Wilkinson The Trump administration announced sanctions Tuesday against two more North Korean officials for their alleged role in Pyongyangs expanding ballistic missiles program. The Treasury Department is targeting leaders of North Koreas ballistic missile programs, as part of our maximum pressure campaign to isolate [North Korea] and achieve a fully denuclearized Korean Peninsula, Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin said in a statement. The nuclear-armed country tested an intercontinental ballistic missile last month that U.S. officials said appeared capable of reaching New York or Washington, a significant milestone in the countrys growing arsenal. The Treasury Department identified the two North Korean officials as Kim Jong Sik, who reportedly is a key figure in the ballistic missile program and led efforts to switch missiles from liquid to solid fuel (which makes them easier to hide before launch), and Ri Pyong Chol, who was reported to be a key official in the development of intercontinental ballistic missiles. The sanctions block banks, companies and individuals from doing any business with the targeted officials. It also allows the U.S. government to freeze any American assets owned by the officials. On Friday, the United Nations Security Council unanimously voted to add more sanctions on North Korea, its third round this year. The new measures order North Koreans working abroad to return home within two years, and ban nearly 90% of refined petroleum exports to the country. In a statement published Sunday by North Koreas state-run KCNA news agency, the foreign ministry denounced the new U.N. sanctions as an act of war. We define this sanctions resolution rigged up by the US and its followers as a grave infringement upon the sovereignty of our Republic, as an act of war violating peace and stability in the Korean Peninsula and the region and categorically reject the resolution, it said. Facebook

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Salt Lake Tribune calls on Sen. Orrin Hatch to not seek reelection in scathing editorial Perhaps the most significant move of Hatchs career is the one that should, if there is any justice, end it. The last time the senator was up for reelection, in 2012, he promised that it would be his last campaign. That was enough for many likely successors, of both parties, to stand down, to let the elder statesman have his victory tour and to prepare to run for an open seat in 2018. Clearly, it was a lie. Read the editorial>> Facebook

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Christmas Eve, Trump on Twitter: New attacks on FBI official, decrying Fake News By Laura King President Trump launched a Christmas Eve attack on FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe, whom he accuses of favoritism toward his former opponent, Hillary Clinton, and also returned to a longtime favored theme, excoriating the news media for failing to sufficiently extol his accomplishments. .@FoxNews-FBIs Andrew McCabe, in addition to his wife getting all of this money from M (Clinton Puppet), he was using, allegedly, his FBI Official Email Account to promote her campaign. You obviously cannot do this. These were the people who were investigating Hillary Clinton.  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 24, 2017 Thank you President TRUMP!! pic.twitter.com/LKdkT0FL99  oregon4TRUMP (@shawgerald4) December 23, 2017 The Fake News refuses to talk about how Big and how Strong our BASE is. They show Fake Polls just like they report Fake News. Despite only negative reporting, we are doing well - nobody is going to beat us. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 24, 2017 Trump, who is spending the holidays at his Florida resort, Mar-a-Lago, also sent Christmas greetings to deployed military personnel, praising them for success in the fight against terrorism. The early-morning swipe at McCabe followed a flurry of tweets attacking the deputy FBI chief on Saturday. McCabe, who has been a lightning rod for Republican attacks on the FBI, is expected to retire early in the new year. How can FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe, the man in charge, along with leakin James Comey, of the Phony Hillary Clinton investigation (including her 33,000 illegally deleted emails) be given $700,000 for wifes campaign by Clinton Puppets during investigation?  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 23, 2017 FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe is racing the clock to retire with full benefits. 90 days to go?!!!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 23, 2017 Critics say the president and his allies are in the midst of a systematic campaign to denigrate the FBI and special counsel Robert S. Mueller III, who is looking into potential collusion by the Trump campaign in Russias attempts to sway the 2016 presidential election. In a pair of statements on Twitter, Trump again expressed scorn regarding news coverage of his administration. For months, the president has been particularly critical of reports regarding the Russia investigation and more recently has repeatedly complained he does not receive enough credit for a booming stock market. In his video conference message to troops overseas, the president made apparent reference to the fight against the militants of Islamic State, who over the last year have lost most of the territory they previously controlled in Iraq and Syria, including former strongholds in Mosul and Raqqah. Were winning, Trump told military personnel deployed in Qatar, Kuwait, Guantanamo Bay and aboard the guided missile destroyer Sampson. Reporters traveling with the president heard his address, but were ushered from the room before he took questions from the troops. The president often breaks with longtime custom and makes politically charged statements at events in which he addresses military personnel. Facebook

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Trumps Wells Fargo tweet cited in court hearing as reason to remove Mulvaney as CFPB acting chief By Jim Puzzanghera A recent tweet by President Trump about possible penalties against Wells Fargo & Co. was cited during a court hearing Friday as a reason for removing White House official Mick Mulvaney as acting director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The attorney for Leandra English  the bureaus deputy director who has said she is the rightful acting head  said Trumps tweet showed he was trying to exercise improper influence over the independent consumer watchdog. I think that [tweet] shows you this isnt just some hypothetical concern, the attorney, Deepak Gupta, told Judge Timothy J. Kelly of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia during a nearly two-hour hearing. Read More Facebook

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Trump administration recognizes Honduran presidents reelection By Tracy Wilkinson The Trump administration on Friday formally recognized the incumbent president of Honduras, conservative Juan Orlando Hernandez, as the winner of a bitterly contested presidential election held last month. In a statement, the State Department congratulated Hernandez while also acknowledging widespread irregularities in the Nov. 26 vote and calling for a robust national dialogue to overcome political discord in the Central American country, a close ally of the administration. The Organization of American States, which monitored the election, said it was so flawed that only a new round of voting could establish a fair and transparent outcome. But the U.S. rejected that determination. Uproar over the contest led to demonstrations in Honduras that left numerous civilians dead after state security forces opened fire on the protests. Activists and others voiced criticism Friday of the administrations decision. Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.), a leading Democratic voice on Central American issues, said he was angry and deeply disturbed by the State Department decision. The recent elections in Honduras were deeply flawed, chaotic and marred by numerous irregularities, McGovern said. U.S.-Honduran cooperation on matters such as drug-trafficking, violence and immigration requires a credible, legitimate government that has the support of its people, in Honduras, McGovern said. Hernandezs victory also was controversial because it was the first time a sitting president was allowed to run for re-election, barred until now by the Honduran Constitution. Facebook

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Senate Leader Mitch McConnell says fixing DACA is no emergency until March By Lisa Mascaro Amanda Bayer, left with banner, and Marisol Maqueda, right, join a rally in support of so-called Dreamers outside the White House. (Manuel Balce Ceneta / Associated Press) Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Friday hes committed to allowing a vote on a bill for so-called Dreamers in January, but sees no rush to resolve the deportation threat posed by President Trumps decision to end a program protecting immigrants brought to the country illegally as children. There isnt that much of an emergency there, he said. There is no emergency until March. Well keep talking about it. Trump called for phasing out by March the Obama-era program that allows the young immigrants, many of them longtime residents, to get two-year deferrals of any deportation threat so they can legally attend school or work. Beneficiaries must be vetted for security purposes. Trump told Congress to come up with a legislative alternative for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which President Obama created by executive order, to protect those currently eligible. A bipartisan Senate group has been working with the White House, but talks stalled this week amid administration demands for curbs on legal immigration flows in exchange for protecting the DACA recipients. Meanwhile, Dreamers and immigrant advocates stormed the Capitol in recent days pressing for the help promised by Trump and Democratic congressional leaders that failed to materialize in the years final legislation. Advocacy groups say more than 120 immigrants each day are falling out of compliance without DACA renewals, putting them at risk of deportation. The number that is projected to swell to more than 1,000 a day in March. Weve been gridlocked on this issue for years, McConnell said. We want to have a signature. We dont just want to spin our wheels and have nothing to show for it. Facebook

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President Trump signs tax bill By Noah Bierman (Alex Brandon / Associated Press) President Trump on Friday morning signed a sweeping tax-cut measure  his first major legislative achievement  before heading off for a Christmas vacation at his Mar-a-Lago property in Palm Beach, Fla. The president also privately signed a short-term spending bill to fund government operations through Jan. 19. Congress approved it Thursday, after Republican leaders were unable to bridge differences in their own party as well as with Democrats to get agreement on funding for the full fiscal year. The stopgap bill punts fights on immigration and other issues to January. The tax bill, approved earlier this week in Congress in largely party-line votes, slashes corporate tax rates from 35% to 21% and also includes a host of other provisions for individuals, all intended to boost the economy. Critics point to nonpartisan analyses showing that the package, including changes greatly reducing the number of estates subject to taxes, steers the bulk of tax benefits to top earners and the wealthy, including Trump, despite his repeated claims that hell take a hit. Trump signed the bill quietly Friday, but held a public ceremony with Republican lawmakers on Wednesday after the bills passage; he also tweeted about the measure extensively. He is expected to hold another public ceremony after the New Years holiday. Facebook

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Pelosi urges Ryan to prevent Republicans from curtailing Houses Russia probe By Chris Megerian House Speaker Paul D. Ryan of Wisconsin greets House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of California. (J. Scott Applewhite / Associated Press) House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi sent a letter to Speaker Paul D. Ryan on Friday urging him to ensure the Houses investigation into Russian interference with last years presidential campaign is not cut short. The American people deserve a comprehensive and fair investigation into Russias attacks, wrote Pelosi, of San Francisco, in her letter. Political haste must not cut short valid investigatory threads. The House Intelligence Committee has been probing the issue since March 1, and Democrats have repeatedly warned that Republicans are trying to wrap up its work prematurely. Pelosi said Ryan, a Republican from Wisconsin, should take urgent action to ensure this investigation can continue. AshLee Strong, a spokeswoman for Ryan, said Pelosi simply wants to see this investigation go on forever in order to suit her political agenda. Whether it concludes next month, next year, or in three years, she will say it is too soon, Strong said in a statement. She added, The investigation will conclude when the committee has reached a conclusion. The committees work is led by Rep. K. Michael Conaway (R-Texas). His spokeswoman, Emily Hytha, said he remains committed to conducting this investigation as thoroughly and expeditiously as possible. With more interviews scheduled, the investigation shows signs of extending into next year, Bloomberg reported Friday. BREAKING: Steve Bannon and former Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski have been sent letters requesting they testify to House Intel panel in early January, per @HouseInSession  Laura Litvan (@LauraLitvan) December 22, 2017 Facebook

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Congress votes to avert government shutdown, but Senate fails to pass disaster aid package By Lisa Mascaro ( (J. Scott Applewhite / Associated Press)) Congress approved a temporary spending bill to prevent a government shutdown, but failed to complete work on an $81-billion disaster aid package to help California, Gulf Coast states and Puerto Rico recover from wildfires and hurricanes, as lawmakers scrambled Thursday to wrap up business before a Christmas break. The stopgap measure continues federal operations for a few more weeks, setting up another deadline for Jan. 19. But it left undone a long list of priorities that members of both parties had hoped to finish this year. Read More Facebook

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Wells Fargo says raises were not linked to tax bill passage  then backtracks By James Rufus Koren Wells Fargo & Co.s move to raise its minimum pay to $15 an hour was part of a long-term plan and not related to the passage of the Republican tax overhaul as the company implied, said a bank spokesman, who later backtracked and stated the hikes were a result of the bills approval. The bank was among several large corporations to publicly announce pay raises or new investments immediately following the final House vote in an apparent public relations offensive to boost the popularity of the tax bill The San Francisco bank had implied the direct linkage to the tax legislation in a news release Wednesday, shortly after Congress passed the tax overhaul, which slashes the corporate tax rate to 21% from 35% starting Jan. 1. Read More Facebook

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Obamacare signups beat expectations, despite Trump administrations opposition By Noam N. Levey President Trump with Seema Verma, administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. (Evan Vucci / Associated Press) Despite Trump administration efforts to discourage people from signing up, the number of people enrolling for Affordable Care Act coverage nearly hit last years level, the government revealed Thursday. Exchange open enrollment for 2018 coverage ended w/ approx 8.8M people enrolling in coverage. Great job to the @CMSGov team for the work you did to make this the smoothest experience for consumers to date. We take pride in providing great customer service.  Administrator Seema Verma (@SeemaCMS) December 21, 2017 The 8.8 million people who enrolled in the 36 states that use the federal governments healthcare.gov system significantly exceeded most forecasts. The Trump administration stopped most outreach and other efforts this year aimed at getting people to sign up. The president also repeatedly said publicly that Obamacare was dead. Open enrollment continues in California and several other states that run their own healthcare marketplaces. The figures from the federal government indicate that when those states wrap up for the year, the number of people covered by Obamacare will be nearly the same as in 2017. Read More Facebook

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U.N. General Assembly overwhelmingly condemns U.S. policy change on Jerusalem despite Trumps threats By Tracy Wilkinson The United Nations General Assembly overwhelmingly voted Thursday to condemn President Trumps decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, despite Trumps threats to punish countries that voted against the U.S. position. The resolution passed in an emergency session at U.N. headquarters in New York with 128 in favor, nine opposed and 35 abstentions. The nonbinding resolution demands that Washington rescind its declaration, which included a plan to transfer the U.S. Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem in coming years. The resolution value is mostly symbolic, showing how isolated the U.S. is in the move. Nikki Haley, the U.S. ambassador to the U.N., warned this week that she would be taking names of countries that opposed the U.S., and Trump on Wednesday suggested he might cut U.S. aid to governments that voted in favor of the resolution. Let them vote against us, Trump said. Well save a lot. We dont care. The U.S. recognition of Jerusalem reversed decades of international consensus on the political status of the divided city. Palestinians claim East Jerusalem as their capital in a future independent state. Palestinian Foreign Minister Riad Malki said the U.N. was facing an unprecedented test and that history would remember those who stand by what is right. Facebook

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Democrats defend Robert Mueller, saying Russia investigation must be allowed to continue By Chris Megerian Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Los Angeles) speaking during a committee hearing earlier this year. (Molly Riley / Associated Press) House Democrats said they will fight Republican attempts to discredit and undermine the work of special counsel Robert S. Mueller III, who is investigating whether President Trumps associates helped Russian meddling in last years election. There is an organized effort by Republicans, in concert with Fox News, to spin a false narrative and conjure up outrageous scenarios to accuse special counsel Mueller of being biased, Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Los Angeles) said. Trump has said he has no plan to fire Mueller, but Democrats are alarmed by escalating criticism of the special counsels work. Why is the president afraid of the facts and the truth? Rep. Dan Kildee (D-Mich.) said. He added, No matter what the facts are, were satisfied if the investigation is complete. A letter of support signed by 171 Democratic members of Congress will be sent to Deputy Atty. Gen. Rod Rosenstein, who appointed Mueller, a former FBI director, and oversees his investigation. Rosenstein has defended Mueller in the face of Republican criticisms. Facebook

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U.S. blacklists Myanmar army general who it says oversaw atrocities against Rohingya Muslims By Shashank Bengali The Trump administration on Thursday blacklisted a Myanmar army general who it said oversaw human rights abuses committed by security forces against Rohingya Muslims. Imposing economic sanctions against the general, Maung Maung Soe, was the toughest action the United States has taken in response to a brutal army offensive that Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has described as ethnic cleansing. In a statement, the Treasury Department said it had examined credible evidence of Maung Maung Soes activities, including allegations against Burmese security forces of extrajudicial killings, sexual violence and arbitrary arrest as well as the widespread burning of villages. The Rohingya are an ethnic and religious minority of about 1 million people in predominantly Buddhist Myanmar, also known as Burma. The United Nations says that more than 640,000 Rohingya have fled the country since August, after the army launched clearance operations in response to attacks carried out by a Rohingya insurgent group against security forces. Rohingya refugees in crowded camps in neighboring Bangladesh have described horrific violence by Myanmar forces, including mass rapes, summary executions and children being burned alive. The aid group Doctors Without Borders estimates that 6,700 people were killed in the first month of the operation. Myanmar authorities deny committing atrocities and say that only a few hundred fighters were killed. Maung Maung Soe was chief of the armys Western Command, which carried out the offensive. He was transferred from his position last month, according to news reports. He was one of 13 individuals worldwide who were blacklisted Thursday under a new U.S. law that gives the Treasury Department authority to target officials for human rights abuses and corruption. Others included former Gambian President Yahya Jammeh; Gulnara Karimova, daughter of the late Uzbekistan dictator Islam Karimov; and Artem Chaika, son of Russias prosecutor-general. Today, the United States is taking a strong stand against human rights abuse and corruption globally by shutting these bad actors out of the U.S. financial system, said Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin. The sanctions freeze any assets Maung Maung Soe holds in the United States and bars Americans from doing business with him. It is also a sign of how quickly U.S. relations with Myanmar have soured. Under the Obama administration, the United States forged closer ties with the former military dictatorship and eased economic and political sanctions as the country began implementing democratic reforms. But Myanmar, which does not regard the Rohingya as citizens, has lashed out at the international community over the current crisis. It has jailed journalists, blocked access to affected areas in the western state of Rakhine and this week barred a U.N. human rights investigator from entering the country. Rohingya activists said the U.S. action would not have much effect on a country that survived under economic sanctions for years. It is the whole military institution that has a policy to persecute these people, said Nay San Lwin, a Rohingya activist and blogger in Germany. According to the U.S.s own definition, the army is carrying out ethnic cleansing. They have a responsibility to protect these people. Sanctions on one person are really not enough. Facebook

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Dreamers will have to wait until next year for Congress long-promised protections By Lisa Mascaro Amanda Bayer, left with banner, and Marisol Maqueda, right, join a rally in support of so-called Dreamers outside the White House. (Manuel Balce Ceneta / Associated Press)) A promised year-end deal to protect the young immigrants known as Dreamers from deportation collapsed Wednesday as Republicans in Congress  fresh off passage of their tax plan  prepared to punt nearly all remaining must-do agenda items into the new year. Congressional leaders still hope that before leaving town this week they can pass an $81-billion disaster relief package with recovery funds for California wildfires and Gulf Coast states hit during the devastating hurricane season. But passage even of that relatively popular measure remained in doubt as conservatives balked at the price tag. Rather than finish the year wrapping up the legislative agenda, the GOP majorities in the House and Senate struggled over their next steps. Read More Facebook

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Chants of protest drown out any caroling this holiday season at the Capitol By Lisa Mascaro U.S. Capitol Police arrest a man wearing a Santa Claus hat during a protest against the Republican tax bill. (Alex Edelman / AFP/Getty Image) Outside the U.S. Capitol, the lights on a towering Christmas tree are flipped on each evening, giving the Engelmann spruce a festive twinkle; inside the marble halls, wreaths and garlands decorate doorways and alcoves ahead of the holidays. But the spirit of the season has been punctuated by other sights: a Jumbotron parked across from the Capitol reflecting pool broadcasts images of young immigrants who face deportation; Little Lobbyists, children with complex medical needs, were featured in a recent news conference; protesters filed into the visitor galleries to shout against the Republican tax plan. While its beginning to look a lot like Christmas at the Capitol, its also shaping up to be a holiday season of protest. Read More Facebook

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Tax bill simplifies filing for some but complicates it for others  and dont count on that postcard By Jim Puzzanghera A priority of the Republicans tax overhaul was simplification, and they drove home the point this fall with an omnipresent prop: a red-white-and-blue postcard. Were making things so simple that you can do your taxes on a form the size of a postcard, House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wisc.) said last month, pulling one from his jacket pocket as he and Republican leaders unveiled their bill. They gave a couple of the cards to President Trump at a White House meeting a few hours later and flashed them often during news conferences and TV interviews in the coming days. Read More Facebook

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Top U.N. human rights official reportedly wont seek reelection The top United Nations official for human rights, who has frequently criticized the Trump administration, has reportedly decided not to seek a second term, saying his work had become untenable. Zeid Raad Hussein, the U.N. high commissioner for human rights, notified his staff in an email that was obtained by several news outlets, including Agence France-Presse. Staying when his four-year term is up for renewal at the end of August might involve bending a knee in supplication, AFP quoted Husseins email as saying. Hussein is a Jordanian prince who has criticized, among other things, President Trumps attempts to ban visitors or refugees from six predominantly Muslim countries. The news comes a day before the U.N. General Assembly is expected to vote on a nonbinding resolution condemning the Trump administrations formal declaration of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, a decision that went against international consensus. Nikki Haley, the U.S. ambassador to the U.N., has warned she will be taking names of those who vote against the United States on Thursday. Trump echoed that sentiment Wednesday, voiced support for Haley and implying to reporters that he would consider cutting off U.S. aid to countries that vote against the U.S. Well, were watching those votes, Trump said. Let them vote against us. Well save a lot. We dont care. On Monday, the United States lost a Security Council vote 14-1 on a binding resolution that would have required Washington to rescind its declaration. Haley then vetoed the resolution. Facebook

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Top Democrat warns Trump not to fire Mueller or interfere with his investigation By Chris Megerian Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia, one of the top Democrats involved in the congressional inquiries into Russian interference in last years election, said Wednesday that any attempt by President Trump to interfere with the separate criminal investigation would be a gross abuse of power. Warner, who is vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, delivered his warning from the Senate floor as Republicans escalate their criticism of special counsel Robert S. Mueller III and his team of prosecutors and FBI agents. Some Democrats believe Trump is laying the groundwork to fire Mueller even though the president has publicly denied it. Mueller was appointed in May after Trump fired FBI Director James B. Comey. In the United States of America, no one, no one is above the law, not even the president, Warner said. Congress must make clear to the president that firing the special counsel or interfering with his investigation by issuing pardons of essential witnesses is unacceptable and would have immediate and significant consequences. Some Democrats say the White House may try to in effect short-circuit the Mueller investigation by replacing Deputy Atty. Gen. Rod Rosenstein, who is the only official empowered to fire Mueller. Rosenstein recently told Congress that the special counsel is acting appropriately and that he would not dismiss Mueller without just cause. Facebook

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We have essentially repealed Obamacare, Trump says after tax bill passes By Brian Bennett President Trump at a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday at the White House. (Chris Kleponis / Getty Images) President Trump is celebrating Republicans passage of the tax overhaul bill as a two-fer: On Wednesday, in addition to tax cuts, he checked off his promise to repeal Obamacare, pointing to a provision in the bill to end the penalty on Americans who dont get health insurance. We have essentially repealed Obamacare, Trump told reporters during a Cabinet meeting at the White House. Other provisions of the 2010 Affordable Care Act are still in place, and Trump and congressional Republicans failed completely on the replace half of their vow to repeal and replace the program. In Trumps view, however, stripping away the laws individual mandate to get insurance or else pay a tax penalty amounts to repeal of the whole law. Congressional analysts have said that millions of people would lose insurance as a result, either by choice or because they cannot afford it without subsidies, and that premiums would increase for others as younger, healthy people drop coverage. We will come up with something much better, Trump said, adding that block grants to states could be one approach. By his comments, Trump tacitly acknowledged that repeal of the mandate is likely the best he can do following Republicans failure this year to agree on a repeal-and-replace bill. Looking back on his first year, Trump also boasted of his administrations efforts against the Islamic State and increased immigration enforcement. He said he had not given up on funding a border wall or tightening immigration law to limit citizens ability to resettle foreign relatives in the country. He said he would very shortly visit the border with Mexico near San Diego to see wall prototypes that have been built. He didnt answer a reporters shouted question about how he would personally benefit from the tax bill. Facebook

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House gives final OK to GOP tax plan, sending it to Trump By Lisa Mascaro Congress gave final approval to the GOP tax plan Wednesday, 224-201, after the House took an unusual do-over vote to clear up differences with the Senate-passed bill. The $1.5-trillion package now heads to President Trump, who plans to sign it into law. The House had approved the tax bill on Tuesday but was forced to take another vote Wednesday because a couple of provisions in the version it approved were found to be in violation of Senate procedures. Those provisions were dropped before the Senate gave its approval early Wednesday. Critics complained the Republicans rushed to pass the sweeping tax plan to deliver Trump a year-end legislative victory, but supporters shrugged off the problems as minor. The tax plan dramatically cuts corporate rates and provides some individual rate reductions, overhauling the tax code for the first time in 30 years. Facebook

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Trump administration effort to block immigrant from having an abortion fails By David Savage Scott Lloyd is director of the Office of Refugee Resettlement at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (Drew Angerer / Getty Images) President Trumps lawyers rushed to the Supreme Court and U.S. appeals court in Washington on Monday evening to file emergency appeals seeking to prevent an immigrant in detention, dubbed Jane Roe in court, from having an abortion. That set the stage for a legal showdown on whether the administration can block pregnant minors in custody from choosing to have an abortion. But the legal clash, which the administration has seemed eager to have, fizzled out Tuesday when the governments lawyers admitted the 17-year-old unaccompanied minor in their custody was actually 19. They said they had obtained her birth certificate and realized she was not a minor after all. As a result, Roe, who is 10 weeks pregnant, will no longer be held in a detention center for immigrant minors, and will not be subject to an administration policy that tries to prevent minors in immigration detention from having abortions. Administration lawyers told appeals court judges Tuesday night that Roe was being sent to a facility for adults and likely would be released until her immigration status can be resolved. In a brief order, the D.C. Circuit Court agreed to put the case on hold, but told government attorneys to confirm that she will be permitted to obtain an abortion. The administration had earlier tried to delay another young woman, referred to in court as Jane Poe, from having an abortion, but officials relented on Monday because she was 22 weeks pregnant and nearing the time limit for a legal abortion. Facebook

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Senate panel rejects Trumps pick to lead Export-Import Bank, a leader in the effort to shut it down By Jim Puzzanghera A Senate committee on Tuesday rejected President Trumps nominee to lead the Export-Import Bank, extending the chaos at the embattled agency whose job is to help U.S. companies sell their goods abroad. Two Republicans joined all Democrats on the Senate Banking Committee in voting against former Rep. Scott Garrett (R-N.J.) to be the banks president. Garrett had been a vocal critic of the Ex-Im Bank and a leader of a conservative effort that shut the bank down for five months in 2015 by blocking its congressional authorization. He and other bank opponents branded the banks aid as crony capitalism. Read More Facebook

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Congress proposes $81-billion disaster aid package, including funds for California wildfires By Lisa Mascaro Congress is set to consider an $81-billion disaster aid package that includes wildfire recovery money for California and other Western states as well as hurricane relief with a price tag reflecting a year of record-setting natural calamities. The legislation, the text of which was released late Monday, would provide almost twice as much as the $44 billion the White House sought last month to cover relief efforts along the Gulf Coast and in the Caribbean. Republican congressional leaders added more money after California lawmakers objected that the administration had failed to include help for areas damaged by wildfires and Democrats protested that the overall amount President Trump asked for was insufficient. Read More Facebook

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White House blames North Korea for worldwide WannaCry cyber attack By Noah Bierman The Royal London Hospital, a victim of the unprecedented global cyberattack in May. (Niklas Hallen / AFP/Getty Images) The White House officially blamed North Korea on Tuesday for the cyberattack in May known as WannaCry that infected hundreds of thousands of computers in 150 countries, affecting healthcare, financial services and vital infrastructure. Thomas P. Bossert, assistant to the president for homeland security and counter-terrorism, noted in a briefing with reporters that the consequences were beyond economic. He warned that North Koreas malicious behavior is growing more egregious. Bossert did not specify what evidence American officials have to blame North Korea, citing security issues, but he cited the countrys prior attacks as revealing hallmarks of how Pyongyang and its network of hackers operates. He said other allied countries had joined the United States in making the determination. The administration did not announce any penalties on the regime, which is already subject to severe sanctions over its nuclear program. They want to hold the entire world at risk, Bossert said of North Koreas rulers, referring to the nations nuclear and missile provocations as well as its alleged cyberattack. Given its isolation and international sanctions, North Korea is desperate for funds. Bossert said the country did not appear to make much money on the ransom attack, as word spread that paying a ransom did not result in getting computers unlocked. Its primary goal, he said, was spreading chaos. Bossert and Jeanette Manfra, assistant secretary of homeland security for cybersecurity and communication, said the United States, through a combination of preparation and luck, escaped the worst of the attack, as a patch to the malware was found before U.S. companies and other interests were severely crippled. However, Manfra said, We cannot be complacent. Bossert added, Next time were not going to get so lucky. Manfra praised Microsoft and Facebook for their efforts to combat WannaCry and to block more recent attempts to hack U.S. systems. She and Bossert urged more cooperation and information-sharing from American and multinational companies, arguing a united front is vital to protecting against bad actors who do not differentiate between government and business. Bossert rejected criticism that the the Trump administration has more aggressively called out North Korean cyberattacks than it has Russias meddling in the 2016 election. He said the administration has continued the national emergency initiated by President Obama. Facebook

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GOP lures some mountain bike groups in its push to roll back protections for public land By Evan Halper When their vision of creating a scenic cycling trail through a protected alpine backcountry hit a snag, San Diego area mountain bikers turned to an unlikely ally: congressional Republicans aiming to dilute conservation laws. The frustrations of the San Diego cycling group and a handful of similar organizations are providing tailwind to the GOP movement to lift restrictions on the countrys most ecologically fragile and pristine landscapes, officially designated wilderness. Resentment of these cyclists over the longstanding ban on mechanized transportation in that fraction of the nations public lands presents a political opportunity for Republicans eager to drill fissures in the broad coalition of conservation-minded groups united against the GOP environmental agenda. Read More Facebook

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Vice president postpones Israel trip a second time in case his vote is needed to pass tax cut bill By Noah Bierman (Ethan Miller / Getty Images) Vice President Mike Pence is delaying his trip to Egypt and Israel for a second time in case he is needed to break a tie in the Senate for the tax bill that is expected to pass narrowly this week. Two White House officials confirmed the changed schedule, which they say is unrelated to to protests in the region over the administrations decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israels capital. Pence had initially been scheduled to leave last Saturday. Late last week, the White House moved the trip back a few days to Tuesday night, in case Pence was needed to break a Senate tie. But Monday, they decided to postpone the trip further, to January, given the possibility of a late Senate vote and the coming holidays. He wants to see it through the finish line, said a White House official, referring to the tax measure that is a centerpiece of the Republican legislative agenda. We dont want to leave anything to chance. The mid-January dates will allow Pence more breathing room to merge schedules with embassies and hotels, the official said. Trump still plans to address the Israeli Knesset, a high-profile venue to discuss the Jerusalem decision where it is most popular. Facebook

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Trump judicial pick who drew ridicule at hearing withdraws By Associated Press A White House official says the Trump judicial nominee whose qualifications were questioned by a Republican senator has withdrawn his nomination. Matthew Petersen, who was nominated by President Trump to the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, has been the subject of widespread ridicule since he was unable to define basic legal terms during his confirmation hearing Wednesday. A White House official says Petersen has withdrawn his nomination and that Trump has accepted the withdrawal. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the official was not authorized to discuss the development publicly. Louisiana Sen. John Kennedy pressed Petersen, a former chairman of the Federal Election Commission, who testified he had never tried a case, on his qualifications to the bench. Facebook

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Trump says McCain will return to Washington if needed for tax vote By Laura King President Trump said Sunday that Sen. John McCain, who is battling an aggressive form of brain cancer, was returning home to Arizona for the holidays but would come back to Washington if needed to cast a vote on the Republicans tax overhaul bill. The Arizona Republicans office announced last week that McCain was receiving treatment at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center outside Washington for complications from his cancer treatment. McCains daughter Meghan tweeted earlier Sunday that her 81-year-old father would be spending Christmas in Arizona. The Senate is expected to vote early this week on the tax cut legislation, but the GOP appeared to have secured sufficient support without McCains vote. John will come back if we need his vote, Trump told reporters as he returned from a weekend at the presidential retreat at Camp David. Hes going through a very tough time. Facebook

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Putin calls Trump to thank him for U.S. help foiling terrorist strike By Laura King Vladimir Putin phoned President Trump to thank him for what the Russian president said was CIA help in foiling a terrorist attack, the Kremlin said on Sunday. White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders confirmed the two leaders conversation to reporters. It was the second time that the two leaders had talked in four days; Trump called Putin on Thursday to thank the Russian leader for lauding the U.S. economy. Putin, in his annual year-end news conference, had praised Trump for a strong performance by the U.S. stock market. Perhaps ironically, given his credit to the CIAs recent help, Putin at that news event dismissed as hysteria the consensus among American intelligence agencies that Russia interfered in the 2016 presidential campaign. In reporting Putins call to Trump on Sunday, the official Russian news agency Tass said Putin thanked his American counterpart for information shared by the US Central Intelligence Agency that had helped break up a plot to set off explosives in St. Petersburgs landmark Kazan Cathedral and elsewhere in the city, which is Russias second-largest. Russian authorities last week had credited their countrys counter-intelligence service, the FSB, for foiling the attacks. They reported that seven people affiliated with Islamic State had been detained in St. Petersburg in connection with the plot. The FSB, the successor organization to the KGB, announced Friday that the group had planned to carry out the attacks on Saturday, and that one of those in custody had confessed to the cathedral bomb plot. Facebook

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Mnuchin: Government shutdown unlikely but could happen By Laura King Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin said on Sunday that a government shutdown this week was unlikely but possible. A two-week stopgap spending bill passed by Congress earlier this month provided enough funding to keep the government running through Friday. A deadlock on another temporary funding measure would open the door to a possible shutdown. I cant rule it out, but I cant imagine it occurring, Mnuchin said on Fox News Sunday, suggesting everyone had an interest in avoiding the government grinding to a halt and federal workers going unpaid, especially in the holiday season. I would expect that both the House and Senate, Republicans and Democrats, understand if they cant agree on this, they need to have another short-term extension to move this to January, the Treasury secretary said. We cant have a government shutdown in front of Christmas. In May, irate over concessions made to Democrats in hammering out a spending measure, President Trump tweeted that a good shutdown might help matters. While both parties agree that a government shutdown involves a degree of disruption that is not beneficial to either side, shutdowns in 1995-96 and in 2013 mainly caused a backlash against Republicans. The latest funding measure is to be taken up after a vote on a massive GOP tax overhaul, expected by midweek. Facebook

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Trump transition team says sensitive emails should not have been shared with Robert Mueller By Chris Megerian (J. Scott Applewhite / Associated Press) President Trumps transition team is crying foul over how special counsel Robert S. Mueller III obtained emails for his investigation into Russian meddling in last years campaign and possible Trump campaign complicity. Kory Langhofer, a lawyer for the transition team, sent a letter to Congress on Saturday saying there was an unauthorized disclosure of emails. While the Trump transition is long over, the transition team remains a nonprofit organization. Its emails were hosted by the General Services Administration, a federal agency. Mueller reportedly obtained the emails directly from the agency. There are attorney-client communications, Langhofer said in an interview. There are executive-privileged communications. He added, What were asking Congress to do is to take some legislative action to make sure this never happens again. Peter Carr, a spokesman for the special counsels office, defended the process for obtaining emails. When we have obtained emails in the course of our ongoing criminal investigation, we have secured either the account owners consent or appropriate criminal process, he said. The letter was first reported by Fox News. A request for comment from the General Services Administration was not immediately answered. This story has been updated with a comment from the special counsels office. Facebook

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Virginia house arrest is ending for Paul Manafort By Chris Megerian (Mark Wilson / Getty Images) A federal judge agreed Friday to end Paul Manaforts house arrest in Virginia, allowing President Trumps former campaign manager to return to Florida while awaiting trial. The decision followed a dispute between Manaforts legal team and prosecutors working for special counsel Robert S. Mueller III, who accused Manafort of violating a court order restricting public statements about the case. Under the terms of the judges order, Manafort will be allowed to live at his home in Florida as long as he stays within Palm Beach and Broward counties and obeys a curfew from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. If he misses a court appearance, he would forfeit four properties valued at $10 million total. The deal, which includes GPS monitoring, is not as permissive as Manafort originally sought. He had asked to be able to travel freely among Florida, New York, Virginia and Washington. Manafort faces criminal charges of fraud, conspiracy and money laundering. He has pleaded not guilty. Facebook

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GOP negotiators enhance child tax credit to win over Sen. Rubio By Lisa Mascaro Republican negotiators slightly increased the refundable portion of the expanded child tax credit in their tax plan, raising it to $1,400 in hopes of winning back Sen. Marco Rubios (R-Fla.) support ahead of next weeks vote. Rubio announced Thursday he was withholding support after negotiators ignored his push to make the expanded tax credit, which increases from the current $1,000 to $2,000 in the proposed bill, fully refundable for lower- and moderate-income filers. The refundable portion in the original bill was $1,100. The Florida senator argued that was not enough to help working-class Americans, many of whom already view the GOP plan as tilted toward the wealthy. Rubios office was waiting to see the final text before commenting on whether the change was enough to win him over. We have not seen the bill text, and until we see if the percentage of the refundable credit is significantly higher, then our position remains the same, Rubios spokeswoman said. Negotiators meeting Friday before unveiling the bill said they thought they had the support they needed from Rubio and other holdouts. Im confident both chambers will pass it next week, said Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.). Facebook

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Sen. Marco Rubio opposes GOP tax bill, depriving leaders of crucial support By Lisa Mascaro 20.94% Corp. rate to pay for tax cut for working family making $40k was anti-growth but 21% to cut tax for couples making $1million is fine?  Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) December 12, 2017 Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) says he is currently opposed to the GOP tax plan because it fails to include his proposed enhancements to the child tax credit, leaving leaders without crucial support ahead of next weeks expected vote. Republicans can only lose two GOP senators from their slim 52-48 majority as they push the plan forward under special budget rules to prevent a Democratic filibuster. Vice President Mike Pence on Wednesday altered his planned Israel trip so he could be on hand, if needed, to cast a tie-breaking vote. Rubio, and GOP Sen. Mike Lee of Utah, have fought to increase the child tax credit, doubling it to $2,000 in the GOP plan, but they also want to increase its refundability. They argue it will lower taxes on middle-income families at a time when the tax plan is being criticized as tilted to the wealthy. Sen. Rubio has consistently communicated to the Senate tax negotiators that his vote on final passage would depend on whether the refundability of the Child Tax Credit was increased in a meaningful way, Rubios spokeswoman said. Lee stopped short of opposing the bill, but his spokesman said Wednesday he is undecided. GOP leaders, though, have said they believe they have the support for passage. Facebook

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White House gives Roy Moore a unsubtle shove: Time to concede By David Lauter (Alex Wong / Getty Images) The White House sent a clear signal Thursday to the defeated Republican candidate for Senate in Alabama: Its time to concede. Roy Moore refused to concede the race on Tuesday night when Doug Jones, the Democrat, was declared the winner. Election night results show Jones winning by about 1.5 percentage points, three times more than the states standard for a recount. Although a few absentee and provisional ballots remain to be counted, theres no indication they would change the result. On Wednesday, Moore notably did not call to congratulate Jones  even as President Trump and other leading Republicans did. Instead, he released a video declaring the battle rages on. Asked at the daily news briefing whether the White House thinks Moore should concede today, Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said, It probably sounds like it maybe should have already taken place. Sanders also dismissed the idea, pushed by some Moore supporters, that Jones victory was tainted in some fashion. Asked if the Democrat had won fair and square, she said, I think the numbers reflect that. The states Republican senator, Richard Shelby, offered a similar comment in an interview with MSNBC in which he said he was willing to work with Jones. If I was 25,000 votes behind, its not going to change much, Shelby said. Facebook

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House Speaker Paul Ryan says hes not leaving anytime soon By Lisa Mascaro House Speaker Paul D. Ryan shot down suggestions Thursday that he might soon be retiring. Stories often circulate that party leaders, especially the House speaker, are stepping aside. Ryans tenure has been as rocky as that of his predecessor, Rep. John Boehner, who abruptly resigned in 2015 amid GOP infighting. Asked Thursday if he would be leaving, Ryan answered a simple no, as he left his weekly press conference in the Capitol. Ryan, the Wisconsin Republican who reluctantly took over the speakers gavel after Boehners departure, had just finished talking up the GOP tax plan, which leaders hope to pass next week. He also outlined his sweeping agenda for his longtime goal of entitlement reform of welfare benefits next year. Two stories published Thursday suggested Ryan may soon be out. This is pure speculation, said spokeswoman AshLee Strong. As the speaker himself said today, hes not going anywhere anytime soon. Facebook

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GOP leaders reach tax deal, cutting corporate rate to 21% and top individual rate to 37% By Lisa Mascaro Republican leaders on Wednesday agreed on a revised plan to cut taxes that would lower the corporate rate from 35% to 21% and drop the top individual rate for the richest Americans to 37%, according to GOP senators and others briefed on the deal. The tentative accord marked a significant step in the Republican push to have a tax bill on President Trumps desk by Christmas. Leaders did not release details of the compromise or the text of a final bill as negotiations continued. Its critically important for Congress to quickly pass these historic tax cuts, Trump said Wednesday, promising that Americans could begin to reap the benefits of the plan as early as February, if passed. Critics, however, said the latest changes  particularly the lowering of the top individual rate from the current 39.6%  only reaffirmed several independent analyses that show the bulk of the savings from the Republican plan would go to businesses and the wealthy. Read More Facebook

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Farenthold to retire from House amid harassment accusations By Associated Press Texas Republican Rep. Blake Farenthold wont seek reelection next year, two Republicans said Thursday, adding his name to the list of lawmakers leaving Congress amid sexual harassment allegations that have cost powerful men their jobs in politics, the arts and other fields. The accusations against Farenthold surfaced in 2014, when a former aide sued him alleging sexually suggestive comments and behavior and said shed been fired after she complained. The lawmaker said he engaged in no wrongdoing and the case was settled in 2015. But the House Ethics Committee said last week that it would investigate Farenthold after congressional sources said hed paid an $84,000 settlement using taxpayers money. Though Farenthold said hed reimburse the Treasury Department, such payments have drawn public criticism from people saying lawmakers should use their own money for such settlements. A House official said Farenthold spoke twice Wednesday to House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.), while another official said the congressman spoke once with Rep. Steve Stivers (R-Ohio) who heads the GOPs House campaign committee. Those discussions suggested that Farenthold may have come under pressure from leaders to step aside. Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity to describe private conversations. Last week, three lawmakers facing accusations of sexual harassment announced their resignations. Reps. John Conyers (D-Mich.) and Trent Franks (R-Ariz.) have already left Congress while Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) has said he will step aside soon. Mike Bergsma, Republican county chairman in Farentholds home county of Nueces, Texas, said Fare
Beneath the cavernous, rivet-studded dome of the Mt. Wilson Observatory, dozens of people gathered around the 100-inch telescope to take a peek at the craters and crags of the moon. Later, the telescope swiveled toward the double star Albireo and the Blue Snowball nebula, revealing the ghostly objects in breathtaking detail.

Thomas Meneghini, executive director of the Mt. Wilson Institute, never tires of these nights.

I get to operate this, he said Saturday evening, gesturing at the telescope that dwarfed the crowd below. I just get a thrill out of it.

Wednesday marks the centennial of the 100-inch Hooker telescope. When it gathered its first light on Nov.1, 1917, it overtook its 60-inch neighbor and became the largest telescope in the world  a position it held for more than three decades.

Here in the San Gabriel Mountains, astronomer Edwin Hubble discovered that the universe existed far beyond the edges of the Milky Way galaxy. Later, with a former mule driver named Milton Humason, he discovered that the universe was not static, but was in fact expanding.

Edwin P. Hubble seated on the Newtonian platform of the Hooker 100-inch reflecting telescope, as viewed from the dome floor, circa 1940. (Image courtesy of the Observatories of the Carnegie Institution for Science Collection at the Huntington Library)

In some ways, I consider Mt. Wilson Observatory to be the most important optical observatory in the history of astronomy, said Alex Filippenko, a UC Berkeley astronomer who helped determine that this expansion is accelerating, driven by the existence of a mysterious force called dark energy.

It was really an amazing instrument to use, added Filippenko, who as a Caltech graduate student was one of the last researchers to publish papers based on work conducted at the observatory.

A cosmic shift

Before the Mt. Wilson Observatory was built, astronomers were largely concerned with the positions of the stars in the sky, not what they were made of, said George Preston, director emeritus of the Pasadena-based Carnegie Observatories, which includes Mt. Wilson.

Back then, aside from the Lick Observatory in the Bay Area and a handful of others, large telescopes generally sat on or near a university campus, which placed them close to sea level. This meant they could be easily clouded out; even on a clear night, the layers of atmosphere distorted the starlight.

George Ellery Hale tried a different approach.

Albert Einstein, Walther Mayer and William W. Campbell at the telescope dome in 1931. (Observatories of the Carnegie Institution for Science Collection at the Huntington Library) The 100-inch telescope dome at Mt. Wilson Observatory, seen in 1950. (Courtesy of the Observatories of the Carnegie Institution for Science Collection at the Huntington Library) The completed 100-inch telescope dome at Mt. Wilson Observatory, as seen from the 150-foot tower telescope in 1916. (Image courtesy of the Observatories of the Carnegie Institution for Science Collection at the Huntington Library)

Hale had previously led the University of Chicagos Yerkes Observatory in Wisconsin, a low-lying telescope surrounded by farmland. This time, he wanted to build a large telescope high on a mountain, above the clouds and much of the air. He also hoped to create an observatory that was something of a laboratory, complete with spectrometers to break up the incoming light and reveal its chemical fingerprint.

After erecting solar telescopes on the mountain, Hale built a telescope with a 60-inch-wide mirror some 5,700 feet above sea level in 1908. Two years before it was even finished, he started work on a second telescope there with a 100-inch mirror. (It was named after Hales friend John D. Hooker, a local businessman who donated $45,000 to the effort.)

Building on such a high mountaintop was easier said than done. During construction, components of the larger telescope were dragged up the winding mountain road at a blistering pace of 2 miles per hour.

The 100-inch mirror en route to Mt. Wilson Observatory on July 1, 1917. (Image courtesy of the Observatories of the Carnegie Institution for Science Collection at the Huntington Library) The main section of the 100-inch telescope tube en route to the observatory in 1916. (Observatories of the Carnegie Institution for Science Collection at the Huntington Library) (Image courtesy of the Observatories of the Carnegie Institution for Science Collection at the Huntington Library) A 5-ton mirror is carried on a truck to the Mt. Wilson Observatory on July 1, 1917. Construction of the telescope lasted several years. (International Film Service) (International Film Service)

The heart of any telescope is the mirror. Its large area collects the starlight, and its slight curvature helps to focus it. Bigger mirrors often mean better images  unless the mirror has flaws.

The 100-inch mirror for the Hooker telescope was cast in France and was transported to Pasadena by way of New Jersey and New Orleans. When it arrived, Hale immediately saw that the glass had been poured in layers, with bubbles visible between each one.

He ordered a replacement, but it was not meant to be. The second attempt in France broke the mold. On the third try, the glass broke while cooling.

Running low on funds, Hale resigned himself to using the original mirror.

A side view of the 100-inch mirror, with three distinct layers of glass. (Image courtesy of the Observatories of the Carnegie Institution for Science Collection at the Huntington Library)

On the night of Nov. 1, 1917, Hale and several other notable astronomers gathered as the telescope was turned on for the first time. They trained it on Jupiter, expecting to see it rendered with impeccable clarity  and were dismayed to find that the image was a blur.

Something was wrong. The researchers realized a worker had left the dome open. Perhaps the sunlight had heated the mirror, temporarily distorting it.

They decided to give the machine a few hours to cool down and try again. In the meantime, they tried, in vain, to get some sleep.

Sure enough, around 2:30 a.m., they pointed the telescope at a bright star. It worked.

I cant even imagine how nerve-wracking that must have been, said Cynthia Hunt, chair of the History Committee for the Carnegie Observatories.

Astronomy in action

Operating a telescope in those days was difficult, and sometimes dangerous, work.

Astronomers often wore thick fur coats on cold winter nights, and kept pots of coffee close by. They perched on high platforms as they peered into the heavens, carefully adjusting the telescope minute by minute for hours as the stars crept across the sky. At times, they were exposed to mercury, a toxic, liquid lubricant that kept the telescope moving smoothly.

The Hooker 100-inch reflecting telescope, side view with tube 40 degrees from horizontal. Edwin Hubbles chair, on an elevating platform, is visible at left. (Image courtesy of the Observatories of the Carnegie Institution for Science Collection at the Huntington Library)

In the 1940s, an astronomer, Alfred Joy, fell roughly 30 feet from one of the platforms, breaking several bones.

He recovered and limped forever after that, Preston said.

Preston, 87, directed the observatories from 1980 to 1986. He first came to Mt. Wilson as a college student, falling in love with astronomy over the course of a summer.

He returned a few years later as a postdoctoral researcher. Working with the 100-inch telescope was liberating, he recalled.

For the first time in my life, I was free, Preston said. Nobody was telling me what to do.

A new purpose

As Los Angeles grew and its city lights brightened, the telescopes ability to probe the distant heavens dimmed.

Hale had long since moved on to a 200-inch telescope at Palomar Observatory in San Diego County. Funding was drifting to more modern telescopes in better locations.

In the 1980s, the money for Mt. Wilson finally dried up.

But there were some devotees who did not want to see the telescopes mothballed for good. A few years later, the nonprofit Mt. Wilson Institute took over from the Carnegie Institution for Science, which still owns the observatory.

Volunteers now manage the telescopes, and the institute sells telescope time to private groups and provides educational tours for local schools.

At the star party last weekend, Samuel Hale stood under a string of lights outside the observatory and considered what his grandfather George would have thought of the celebration.

Samuel Hale of Santa Barbara talks about the first time his grandfather George Ellery Hale used Mt. Wilsons 100-inch telescope. (Francine Orr/Los Angeles Times)

He wouldnt be here today, said Hale, a Santa Barbara resident who serves as chief executive of the Mount Wilson Institute. This is wonderful, but hed be on to the next thing.

Regardless, Hale stressed both the 60-inch and 100-inch telescopes remain deeply valuable  as historical monuments, and as educational tools that could inspire new generations of astronomers.

In that way we really are looking toward the future, like he would, Hale said. Its just another avenue.

amina.khan@latimes.com

Follow @aminawrite on Twitter for more science news and "like" Los Angeles Times Science & Health on Facebook.

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Burbank city employees are well aware of the implications that a looming budget deficit will have on the city and the services it provides. One newcomer said she is ready to tackle the tough decisions that will have to be made in the near future.

Marnell Gibson, who became Burbanks new public works director a few months ago, said she is ready to provide a safe, reliable infrastructure system for Burbank as top city officials decide how to address the budget woes.

Gibson said it will be up to residents and, ultimately, the City Council to decide how they want the city to operate and look like if council members start approving cuts in services and/or personnel.

Its a very large endeavor to work through that and make those determinations, Gibson said. There are always ways that you can look to streamline efforts, but the core of it is, what services do you want to provide? What are the costs affiliated with that? And how do we close the gap if there is one?

Gibson replaced Bonnie Teaford, who spent the past 17 years of her 32-year engineering career in Burbank, and retired in December 2016.

Before taking the helm of the Public Works Department in Burbank, Gibson was the assistant director of public works for San Diego. She spent about five years in the private sector before switching over to the public sector during her 27 years as a civil engineer.

I just really enjoyed that community-based service, Gibson said. It was a core driver for me to stay in the public sector, so thats where I stayed.

Understanding the gravity of the budget shortfall the city faces over the next five years, Gibson said she is not focusing on accomplishing a certain pet project, but rather trying to complete the most important projects in the city, such as street resurfacing, in a quick and timely manner.
On October 25, 2017 a workshop was held in Kyiv supported by CFA Institute, where Ukrainian asset management companies discussed the benefits of being compliant with the Global Investment Performance Standards (GIPS).

GIPS are the ethical standards that guide investment managers presenting their performance results. GIPS standards provide a true and complete disclosure of the performance results of asset managers. GIPS was developed by the CFA Institute (USA) and today they are widely used by investment funds around the world. According to CFA Institute, 74% of Top 100 global asset management firms claim GIPS compliance. Those firms represent 60% (more than $46 trillion) of the worlds assets under management.

"Today an important workshop was held, which purpose was the implementation of the GIPS standards by asset management companies. Given the pension reform in Ukraine, this issue is becoming very important for a wide audience," said Grigoriy Ovcharenko, Director, Head of the local assets management department, ICU, Board Member of UAIB.

Today in Ukraine, as it used to be in many countries, there is no universal methodology for presenting the performance results of asset managers. The companies use their own methods of presenting results, which makes it impossible to assess objectively the effectiveness of such management by both investors of these companies, and the regulator and the asset managers themselves.

"'GIPS is about presentation of results, not calculating. Presentation of results should be complete, unbiased, true and selfexplanatory. It does not sound complicated, but in fact, companies have to correct their way of thinking in be compliant with GIPS," explained Laurent Fedrigo, partner, Deloitte Luxemburg.

"For 30 years GIPS is the world's most widely accepted reporting standards for funds. The GIPS standards not only ensure fair representation and full disclosure of firms investment returns as expressed through consistent past performance information, but they also communicate firms belief in self-regulation according to the ethical best practices supporting the calculation and presentation of investment performance. Now that Ukraine is going through economic reforms, it is the best time for asset managers to implement these standards," assured Ian McAra, Director of Global Investment Standards for the EMEA Region, CFA Institute.

"CFA Institute and the Ukrainian Association of Investment Professionals CFA Society Ukraine calls on Ukrainian asset managers to become compliant with GIPS. This will increase trust of investors and will contribute to the development of this segment of the financial market, especially in the context of the future introduction of the 2nd level of the pension system in Ukraine," said Olga Burenko, CFA, Board Member, Head of Industry Relationship & Sponsorship Committee, CFA Society Ukraine.

The workshop was organized by the Ukrainian Association of Investment Professionals CFA Society Ukraine, supported by the international CFA Institute and the Ukrainian Association of Investment Business (UAIB). The participants of this workshop were representatives of Ukrainian asset management companies, the National Commission for Securities and Stock Market, the Ukrainian Association of Investment Business (UAIB), members of the CFA Society Ukraine and representatives of the CFA Institute.
A man shot and killed by a Huntington Beach police officer in September was identified Tuesday as a suspect in the fatal beating of an 80-year-old man that occurred three days before the shooting.

Also Tuesday, Huntington Beach police identified the beating victim as Richard Darland, who was found about 5 p.m. Sept. 19 outside his home in the 7800 block of Ellis Avenue.

Authorities allege that Dillan Tabares beat Darland with his hands and feet as well as a small stick.

This is one of the most brutal beating deaths many of us have ever seen in our law enforcement careers, Police Chief Robert Handy said at a news conference.

On Sept. 22, three days after the homicide, Tabares, 27, was fatally shot during a scuffle with a police officer outside a 7-Eleven store in Huntington Beach. The shooting was captured on video and widely circulated on social media.

The Orange County Sheriffs Department is continuing to investigate that case, which is the Huntington Beach Police Departments seventh officer-involved shooting this year.

Darland and his wife lived in Huntington Beach for 26 years. The couple had been married 53 years and had two daughters.

Darland worked on secret projects for Aerojet Rocketdyne while serving in the Army in the 1960s. After retiring from a career as an engineer, the devout Christian spent a lot of his time helping the homeless, Handy said.

He was a humble man who never spoke of himself or his accomplishments but rather he focused on others, Handy said.

In the Sept. 19 attack, Darland suffered a broken back, broken neck, multiple skull fractures that punctured his brain, broken bones in his face, broken ribs, lacerations and injuries to both eyes, authorities said.

Officers provided aid at the scene and paramedics took Darland to UCI Medical Center in Orange, where he was pronounced dead, according to the Orange County coroners office.

Detectives have been unable to determine a motive for the attack, Handy said.

Richard Darland, 80, of Huntington Beach was beaten to death Sept. 19 outside his home on Ellis Avenue, police say. (Scott Smeltzer / Times Community News )

Handy said Tabares first met Darland in 2013 when Darland began helping Tabares, a homeless Navy veteran. He provided Tabares with food and transportation and allowed him to use his computer and shower in his house. He also let Tabares sleep outside the house.

Tabares had issues with drugs and mental illness and Darland tried to get him checked into drug rehabilitation and help him reconnect with his family, Handy said. He also encouraged Tabares to attend church.

In the weeks after the homicide, officers contacted possible leads and canvassed the neighborhood looking for video evidence from nearby homes and businesses. Hundreds of tips and pieces of evidence led police to identify 13 people, including Tabares, who might have a connection to the case.

But police had not connected Tabares to the homicide by the time Tabares was killed, Handy said.

Detectives found Tabares name while scouring through 1,000 contacts stored in Darlands phone.

Once Tabares name surfaced as a person of interest, Huntington Beach detectives asked the Orange County Crime Lab to analyze Tabares clothing that was kept as evidence in the investigation of the officer-involved shooting.

This case is a great example of the teamwork and synergy shared among different law enforcement agencies, said county District Attorney Tony Rackauckas, whose office worked with the Huntington Beach Police Department, the Sheriffs Department and the crime lab.

A crime lab examiner found blood on Tabares pants that an analysis showed matched Darlands DNA, Rackauckas said.

That confirmed that the shooting victim was indeed the murderer, Rackauckas said.

Also, Huntington Beach detectives identified Tabares through surveillance videos as being near Darlands home in the minutes before and after the fatal beating, according to Handy.

About 50 minutes after the attack, video footage shows Tabares appearing to have cleaned up with a fresh shirt and wet hair, Handy said.

The confrontation outside the 7-Eleven wasnt Tabares first run-in with Huntington Beach police. Officers had arrested him 12 times since 2014, Handy said.

From 2014 to 2016, Tabares bounced in and out of Orange County jails for misdemeanor convictions including disturbing the peace, carrying a dirk or dagger, possession of an opium pipe and resisting arrest, according to Orange County Superior Court records.

In May 2016, he pleaded guilty to a felony count of battery with serious bodily injury. He was initially sentenced to jail time and three years probation, court records show.

Twice last year he was found to have violated his probation and was sentenced to additional jail time, records show.

In March this year, Tabares was arrested for violating probation a third time, and a Superior Court judge sentenced him to two years in state prison. However, with time served and other credits, he served about six months in Wasco and Centinela state prisons, according to court and California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation records. He was paroled Sept. 14, five days before Darland was killed.

A day after the homicide, Tabares was considered to be absconded, or eluding supervision, according to Department of Corrections records.

hannah.fry@latimes.com

Twitter: @HannahFryTCN
Orange County will begin enforcing public access hours Friday on a stretch of the Santa Ana River trail between Huntington Beach and Anaheim, a move that is expected to displace a large population of homeless people who have set up camp along the river, including in Fountain Valley.

The plan, which county officials announced Monday, also calls for permanently closing the west side of the flood control channel between 17th Street in Santa Ana and Adams Avenue in Huntington Beach beginning Nov. 10. The east side of the channel will remain open during public hours, which are 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. beginning Wednesday.

Public hours are 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. between March 1 and Oct. 31.

Beginning Friday, people on the Santa Ana River trail outside the posted hours will be considered in violation of state trespassing laws and will be cited, officials said.

The enforcement of public hours will enable the county to ensure the safety and security of the recreational users of the trail while simultaneously protecting the integrity of the flood control channel for its intended purpose, Khalid Bazmi, chief engineer of the Orange County Flood Control District, wrote in a memo to the Board of Supervisors.

The county also is expected to begin installing gates at all public entrances later this year. The gates will be locked daily at the trails marked closing time.

Supervisor Todd Spitzer commended the countys action, calling it a progressive next step to combat homelessness compassionately while ensuring the safety of nearby residents.

He wrote in a statement Monday that homeowners and local businesses have complained in recent months about property crimes and safety issues related to homeless encampments, prompting the county to act.

I will not allow the Santa Ana River trail to become Orange Countys skid row, he said. People living in the encampments have every opportunity to accept a pathway out of homelessness. There should be no excuse, and people not accepting assistance will have no choice but to leave the riverbed.

hannah.fry@latimes.com

Twitter: @HannahFryTCN
On Thursday, the Glendale Central Library will host writer and Glendale resident Steve Ryfle for a discussion about his new book Ishiro Honda: A Life in Film from Godzilla to Kurosawa, which chronicles the life and films of the original Godzilla director.

Ryfles book, co-written by Ed Godziszewski, is the first major English-language biography about Honda. A half-hour discussion on the directors work will start the event, looking at his contributions to Japanese cinema and his relationship with Japanese auteur Akira Kurosawa. A screening of Hondas King Kong vs. Godzilla will follow the discussion.

Honda existed in the shadow of the monster he helped to create and make popular around the world, Ryfle said. Its remarkable, though, the output he left behind. His legacy is this entire body of work that continues to find new audiences, not just in Japan but around the world.

A fan since childhood, Ryfle encountered Godzilla and similar films during Sunday afternoon Creature Feature programs. Although the lack of timely distribution of Godzilla films to the United States kept the monster out of the foreground of Ryfles life as a young adult, he later rediscovered the films and better absorbed their post-war message about the horrors of atomic disasters.

Ryfle has since contributed analysis to home-video releases of various Godzilla films, including the British Film Institutes edition of the original Godzilla. In 2008, he and Godziszewski produced a documentary about the history of the visual effects behind the classic Godzilla films.

It was a chance encounter in Japan while working on that documentary that eventually pushed Ryfle into writing Hondas biography.

We accidentally bumped into Hondas son and struck up conversation with him. We hit it off immediately after he saw that we loved his dads work and then he suggested we write a book about [his father], Ryfle said.

With the help of translators and a research assistant who had previously spoken with Honda over the years, Ryfle and Godziszewski interviewed about 25 friends, co-workers and colleagues of the director in order to craft the biography.

Only now, in the last decade or so, that Hondas films are available in the original Japanese, people and critics are starting to understand his significant body of work, Ryfle said. Im hoping through the book that people understand these films also have something to teach us.

Ryfles talk will take place at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Glendale Central Library, 222 E. Harvard St.

For more information, visit bit.ly/2hrJhoX.
A Yemeni health official said Wednesday that a suspected Saudi-led coalition airstrike has killed at least 26 people, including children, in the countrys north.

Abdellah Ezi said Wednesdays attack wounded nine others after it struck a small hotel in a market in northern Saada province, which lies on the border with Saudi Arabia. Ezi is the head of the health directorate of Saada, a stronghold of Iran-backed Shiite rebels known as Houthis.

The coalition couldnt be immediately reached for comment.

International rights groups have accused the coalition of bombing civilian gatherings, markets, hospitals and residential areas across Yemen since the beginning of its air campaign against the Houthis in March 2015.

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The stalemated war has killed more than 10,000 civilians and pushed the Arab worlds poorest country to the brink of famine.
It was a long-anticipated dream vacation for the 10 friends who traveled to New York to celebrate the 30th anniversary of their high school graduation, a reunion of tightknit pals from Argentina.

But the joyous gathering  capped off with a bike ride along a riverfront pathway near the World Trade Center memorial  turned into a nightmare when a suspected terrorist drove onto the crowded bike path, killing eight people and injuring a dozen as he rammed into bikers, pedestrians and finally a school bus.

Five of the high school friends were among the dead.

Ariel Erlij, a 48-year-old father of three who organized and helped finance the trip for his old classmates, was the owner of a steel company. Hernan Ferruchi, 47; Diego Angelini, 47; Hernan Mendoza, 47; and Alejandro Pagnucco, 47, were all architects. All of them still lived near Rosario Polytechnic Institute, the school where they learned their career skills and became lifelong friends.

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All he could talk about were the plans they had, the museums they were going to visit, all the details of the visit he was going to make with his dear classmates, Mendozas brother, Mario, told La Capital, a newspaper in the city of Rosario.

What should have been a party ended up in madness.

A videotape of the friends obtained by La Capital captures a happy group riding along the bike path moments before the attack, laughing, waving, flashing the peace sign and mugging for the camera. A breeze off the river ruffles their hair.

Champions, one of the riders calls to the person shooting the video. He offers a thumbs-up.

Early Wednesday at the institute, before classes began, students and teachers gathered in a courtyard for a moment of silence. Alicia Oliva, the schools vice director, slowly read the names of the victims, one by one.

We embrace all our loved ones in this difficult moment that no one ever should have to live through, the school said in a statement .

Rosario Mayor Monica Fein declared three days of mourning in the city to honor the victims.

It seems impossible these Rosarian neighbors celebrating their 30th anniversary of graduation suffered this terrible crime by an unbalanced person in an act of terror of this magnitude, the mayor said, adding that she was gripped by profound pain.

Argentine President Mauricio Macri said in a statement Wednesday that he felt profound sadness at the mens deaths.

This, he said later in the day, has really shocked many Argentines.

In New York City on Wednesday, passersby and parents pushing children in strollers paused at the cordoned-off bike path to stare at the crumpled rental truck used in the attack.

I think its so sad that New York keeps getting targeted, said Cassandra Davison, a tourist from Australia who said she left home with a nagging fear something might happen.

The trip to America for the former classmates was partly to reunite with another student from Rosario, Martin Marro, who lives in Boston. Marro had met his friends in New York on Tuesday and joined them on the bike ride. He was among those injured and remained hospitalized Wednesday.

Mateo Estreme, the Argentine consul in New York, said he was handling arrangements to transport the bodies of the five men to Buenos Aires, about 175 miles southeast of Rosario.

Cecilia Piedrabuena, the wife of Ariel Benvenuto, another classmate, told the news media in Rosario that her husband escaped serious harm because he was riding at the rear of the group and was behind where the driver  identified by police as Sayfullo Saipov, a 29-year-old Uzbek immigrant  apparently cut into the bike lane and accelerated into riders.

They had been looking forward to this trip for a long time, Piedrabuena said. I cant believe its ended this way.

Special correspondent DAlessandro reported from Buenos Aires, Argentina, special correspondent Chris Kraul contributed from Bogota, Colombia, and special correspondent Matt Hansen contributed from New York.

UPDATES:

1:55 p.m.: This article was updated with comments from one of the victims brother, a video published in an Argentine newspaper and from a tourist in New York.

This article was originally published at 12:20 p.m.
The moving vans come every day, idling outside some of Mexico Citys chicest apartment buildings before hauling away books, furniture and clothes.

More than a month after a magnitude 7.1 earthquake rattled the Mexican capital, some residents are fleeing the citys famous districts in search of steadier ground. Even some whose homes were unscathed are leaving, unnerved by the sight of their neighborhoods transformed into disaster zones.

For decades, the leafy enclaves in the heart of the city were among the countrys most desirable  and expensive. Condesa, a bohemian oasis, was known for its Art Deco architecture and crowded outdoor cafes. Neighboring Roma was a brasher, younger district, where fashionistas in their 20s packed art-house cinemas and competed with tourists for tables at world-renowned restaurants.

But there was a downside to the neighborhoods, one overlooked in recent years by eager real estate developers and residents dazzled by tree-lined avenues, hip clothing stores and eateries serving top-notch foodie cuisine.

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Like other stretches of central Mexico City, these ones were built atop a shifting, dry lake bed. When the earthquake struck Sept. 19, multiple buildings in Roma and Condesa collapsed. Dozens of people died, including 49 in a single office building.

More than 50 buildings have been declared uninhabitable in the district that includes Roma and Condesa as well as the rapidly gentrifying neighborhoods of Juarez and Centro. Many other structures are still awaiting inspections by engineers who will decide whether its safe for occupants to return.

A woman climbs the stairs in an earthquake-damaged building in Condesa. (Rebecca Blackwell / Associated Press )

Its not the first time an earthquake devastated Mexico Citys central core. The area suffered even worse destruction during the powerful earthquake in 1985, with Roma hit especially hard. An exodus to safer suburbs followed, causing property values to plummet and crime to rise.

Now, apartment, restaurant and shop owners in the neighborhoods are worried it could happen again.

Ive got a lot of tenants leaving Condesa even if their property is in good shape just because theyre scared, said Gabriela Navarrete, who co-owns a real estate firm called 2aguas with a focus on the city center.

A lot of them are moving out of the city, she said. Theyre moving to places where buildings were not hurt.

The departure of some residents and the multitude of roped-off buildings with broken windows and cracked facades have created an eerie atmosphere in the hardest-hit parts of Roma and Condesa.

On a recent Friday afternoon, many restaurant tables in the heart of Condesa sat empty  a sharp contrast to the usual scene before the earthquake when hordes of young professionals would be getting a head start on the weekend, dining on gourmet tacos or burgers and sipping well-aged tequila.

A sweet bread vendor in Condesa. (Marco Ugarte / Associated Press )

Fresh memories of the earthquakes destruction make it difficult for diners to relax and have a good time, said Fernando Gasca, a 23-year-old waiter at a pizzeria called Ardente.

Across the street were the remains of a seven-story apartment building. Most of the debris had been cleared away, leaving only the ruins of a parking garage. All around, people had lighted candles and left flowers for the several people who died there.

You come to a restaurant to enjoy yourself and enjoy your food, Gasca said. Its a little hard with this in front of you.

He was serving lunch when the temblor struck shortly after 1 p.m. He fled outside, only to watch the apartment building sway violently and then collapse with a deafening roar. The plume of dust was so thick he couldnt see where he was running. As it began to settle, he used a fallen tree to climb up to the top of the rubble and help rescue a man who was badly injured.

The restaurant reopened after two weeks, once again offering Neapolitan-style pies and cocktails mixed at a marble bar, but few customers have returned. On a normal night before the quake, waiters would be juggling 40 tables. Now they serve just six or eight.

Its so depressing to see this happen to a neighborhood that was so full of life, Gasca said. Businesses will be forced to close. The neighborhood will change.

Some with vested interests in the area are mounting efforts to stop that.

A public relations firm whose Condesa office was badly damaged recently launched a Twitter campaign with the hashtag #ImStayingHere. A coalition of restaurants and shops has come together to try to bring business back.

What is needed is more government help, said Christina Lopez Medina, who for the last 54 years has run a small hair and nail salon on a quiet street in Condesa. For weeks after the earthquake, the street was overtaken by armored military vehicles and cranes as soldiers and marines searched for survivors and then bodies in a fallen building.

Since she reopened the shop, shes been lucky to get a single customer a day.

Her landlord gave her a break on Octobers rent, but Lopez doesnt know what shell do this month. The city government has promised small-business loans, but she doesnt trust it will follow through.

Lopez, 76, survived the 1985 earthquake, and believes that in time, her clients will return. For now, shes taking antidepressants and hoping for the best. She has been showing up to work, she said, because she knows people need signs of normality. I want to be here so people see me here, she said.

Residents in Condesa. (Rebecca Blackwell / Associated Press )

But in so many places, sadness remains. Amsterdam, a verdant avenue typically bustling with joggers and people walking their dogs, is now lined with bright orange Day of the Dead flowers. In nearby Parque Mexico, a tree-filled labyrinth of walking paths that some describe as the neighborhoods lungs, there is a flower-strewn altar for a woman named Mar who died nearby.

On a recent cool fall day, as leaves fell and blew in the wind, Monica Garibi, a 35-year-old lawyer who lives in Condesa, led her mother, visiting from out of town, on a walking tour of some of the damage.

They gasped as they beheld a cordoned-off building that was tilting dangerously toward the street. The childrens clothing store and popular falafel shop on the ground level had been shuttered. A sleepy security officer stood guard nearby against looters.

Garibis three-story apartment building was fine, but the nearby headquarters of the nonprofit where she works had been damaged. No one wants to go back to work there, she said.

Some of her friends were leaving, moving to areas off the lake bed.

She didnt know what to do. When her lease comes up in several months, shed decide whether to move. On the one hand, she was feeling more optimistic about the neighborhood. The trauma is fading, she said. Every day I feel calmer.

Still, she had moments of feeling on edge and was hyper-vigilant for any signs of another earthquake. Any time the earth shook  say from a passing truck  she wondered whether it was happening again.

kate.linthicum@latimes.com

Twitter: @katelinthicum

Cecilia Sanchez in the Times Mexico City bureau contributed to this report.

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Its a lazy Friday afternoon, and you, a Baghdad-based thrill seeker, need an adrenaline fix that decades of relentless wars havent provided. Where do you go?

If youre 28-year-old Ammar Kathem Sahem and his merry band of motorcycle enthusiasts, the answer, it seems, lies in a large, empty lot under this citys Jadriya bridge.

They call themselves the Knights of Baghdad, and here, under the watchful eye of the soldiers manning a checkpoint nearby, they congregate every Friday evening to put on a heart-stopping show with their souped-up Japanese racing bikes.

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Three years ago, we started out with just two or three bikers. Now we have more than 50, says Sahem, who goes by the nickname Qersh, meaning shark, a reference to a beloved 400-cubic-centimeter Suzuki motorcycle he once owned.

 For bored Baghdadis seeking a thrill, daredevil motorcycle tricks are the way to go.

His words are occasionally drowned out by the wails of revving engines as bikers zoom past, before careening into a graceful slide.

One rider gives a quick jerk to the handlebars and coaxes his bike up on its back tire. He moves the bike in controlled bursts of speed on the tarmac, using his weight on footrests welded to the wheel to balance the machine. He teeters to a stop, deftly hopping off the footrests to bring the bike back on two wheels.

This, Sahem explains, is taaleeq, or hanging.

Its fantastic. Theres no feeling like it, he says, nodding with approval as two bikers standing on their motorcycles circle each other as if in a stately dance.

These are young guys. They need some way to release the energy. So why go somewhere else?

There are members of the Knights who have been doing tricks on their bikes for years, Sahem says. Its a puzzling thought, considering some of the riders ages; many seem as if they just graduated from training wheels on their bicycles.

But one particularly fearless performer, a 21-year-old who goes by the nickname Assad, which means lion, says he took his first motorcycle ride when he was 10.

A year later was the first time I saw someone do taaleeq. I immediately thought, Sure, I could do this, its easy, he says.

Soon he was popping wheelies, slides and other tricks that make him and his green Kawasaki one of the Knights most recognizable icons. (Despite his minor celebrity status here, he demurred from giving his real name for fear his mother would find out and put an end to his daredevil activities.)

Perhaps the most important trick club members must learn is how to sneak their motorcycles from abroad to Baghdad.

Motorcycles, Sahem explains, are virtually banned here, unless youre willing to pay exorbitant customs fees that render any two-wheeled vehicle prohibitively expensive. Those in the know order their motorcycles from Canada or elsewhere, have them dismantled and their parts shipped in as part of a large container of other products.

It takes two months for them to get here, but we can at least have them for a good price, Sahem says.

Mechanics or the riders themselves assemble the motorcycle, but not before they take a trip to Palestine Street, a shambolic market where vendors hawk used parts out of oil-stained crates.

There, the Knights modify their motorcycles into taaleeq machines. They install a wider sprocket for the chain to help lift the bike more easily; footrests are added to the back wheel; crash bars are incorporated on the bikes sides in a rare nod to safety. (Helmets and other protective gear, however, arent de rigueur.)

The results of the modifications can be seen now in the waning Baghdad sunset as riders form a large circle with their motorcycles while some foray inside for a dance-off.

Some lift up their bikes for another bout of taaleeq, moving carefully among a group of riders hurling their bikes into ever-tighter corners. One of the Knights dismounts, cranking the throttle to top speed while he brakes with his other hand, the engine snarling as a furious billow of smoke kicks up from the tires. The tires soon explode from the sheer stress.

Sahem takes it all in, raising his hands up like a maestro  a sign to the other riders to rev their bikes in a flourish of high-speed whines.

He turns to a visiting reporter and flashes a toothy grin.

An Iraqi, if he wants something, he will find a way to do it. Simple as that, he says.

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Bulos is a special correspondent.

Twitter: @nabihbulos
All material is subject to strictly enforced copyright terms & conditions and cannot be repurposed or reproduced.  19882022 Latin American Financial Publications Inc.
Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski was worried about written records getting him in legal trouble, according to excerpts from recorded conversations with his campaign consultant Mike Fleck.

The transcripts were part of a pre-trial motion by defense attorney Jack McMahon to have the federal charges against Pawlowksi dismissed.

Following a spate of guilty pleas, in July federal authorities indicted Pawlowski, former Reading Mayor Spencer Vaughn, consultant James Hickey, attorney Scott Allinson of the Norris McLaughlin law firm in Allentown, and Rebecca Acosta.

Pawlowski faces 55 counts of bribery, extortion, mail fraud, wire fraud and lying to the FBI in the Allentown case. His trial is currently scheduled to begin on Jan. 16.

McMahon's motion filed on Wednesday alleges prosecutorial misconduct, that federal prosecutors did not present complete information to the grand jury and manipulated evidence.

Michele Mucellin, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorney's Office in Philadelphia, declined to comment about McMahon's claims.

Included in the 105-page filing are excerpts from conversations Fleck recorded while wearing a wire for federal investigators, which he began doing in May 2015.

U.S. Attorney Louis Lappen previously said the investigation found "enormous levels of corruption in the city of Allentown."

Pawlowski and others schemed to get contributions and benefits as they awarded contracts for street lights, collecting delinquent taxes, cyber security and city pools, prosecutors said.

Fleck, a former Easton city councilman, provided consulting services to Pawlowski and Spencer; he was Spencer's campaign manager in 2011 and handled Pawlowski's campaigns for mayor, governor and senator.

Pawlowski previously ran for Pennsylvania governor, then announced on April 17, 2015, he was running for Pat Toomey's U.S. Senate seat. Days after the FBI raided Allentown City Hall, Pawlowski announced he was suspending his run for that seat.

Pawlowski is still running for re-election as mayor of Allentown and has refused to resign in the wake of the federal charges.

Before Fleck agreed to cooperate with the FBI's investigation, Fleck's employee Sam Ruckelwicz recorded a conversation Fleck had with Ruckelwicz and Fleck's staff. McMahon said this conversation proves Pawlowski is innocent.

"This recording is shocking in demonstrating the government's misguided, misleading, unfair and irresponsible investigation," McMahon wrote.

In the conversation, Fleck tells his employees not to tell anyone about the FBI, and its investigation into pay-to-play allegations in Allentown and Reading.

"Anybody else knows, it gets real bad for all of us. I think. I mean that's --- at least for me it gets bad. I don't know what's going to happen to the rest of you," Fleck said. "I said, look, Ed's never done anything wrong and I'm going to go in there and try to set him up."

Fleck talks about the attorney general's office and that some people were "upset that they weren't getting Vaughn," referring to former Reading Mayor Vaughn Spencer. Then Fleck references Johnny Doc, IBEW Local 98 leader John Dougherty.

Federal investigators began tapping Dougherty's phone in April 29, 2015, the Philaelphia Inquirer reported.

Agents raided the Local 98 union hall in August 2015, and said they were investigating possible crimes ranging from embezzlement of union funds, tax evasion, extortion by an unnamed public official, mail and wire fraud.

In the motion, McMahon alleges the U.S. Attorney's office failed to show the grand jury "numerous" secretly recorded conversations where Pawlowski consistently tells Fleck and others that he had done nothing wrong or illegal.

In a transcript from May 2015, Pawlowski discusses "Uncle Lukey" saying in a phone conversation that if the city would give him more contracts, he would be able to give Pawlowski more money. The court records say "Uncle Lukey" is the recipient of city contracts, but doesn't name him.

The next month, Pawlowski tells Fleck "Ramzi came through with some checks," referring to Ramzi Haddad. Haddad pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery in November 2015 and is awaiting sentencing.

"He's going to get us both in jail if he continues to do this," Pawlowski says.

"Yeah, the last thing we need is to have this s--- in writing," Fleck says, later adding "If any of this s--- ever comes out, like, in writing, we're f----d."

Pawlowski worries about information being written down and tells Fleck, "I went back and purged everything in my system."

"I would go back and make sure you purge everything that has to deal with me, the city, anything, in your system, as far back as you can go. And I would tell him --I would just delete everything on his hard drive, okay?" the mayor says. "Because God only knows what the hell he has in there and what types of e-mails are floating around in cyberspace."

Later, Pawlowski says he's scared and "terrified" about information that was in text messages and emails.

"You need to find out as soon as possible, because if there's too much stuff out there, then I don't think I should be in this campaign because I don't want to go to jail. And I'm sure you don't want to go to jail either."

Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @SarahCassi. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
Bethlehem Township police are asking for the public's help in identifying a shrimp shoplifter.

Police said the man stole $265 worth of shrimp the night of Oct. 25 from the Giant grocery store at 2819 Easton Ave.

The male fled in a white Jeep Grand Cherokee.

Anyone who knows the identity of the man seen in the surveillance photo should call township police patrolman Jeremy Anderson at 610-419-9692 or email janderson@bethlehemtwp.com

Anonymous tips can be sent by texting TIP BETHLEHEMTWP and a message to 888777, or visit

Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @SarahCassi. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
Authorities are investigating the death of a man at a Bethlehem Township assisted living facility, allegedly at the hands of another resident, as well as accusations that records were tampered with, Northampton County's district attorney said.

Daniel Scanlan, 84, died on April 4 as a result of "complications of blunt force head trauma" that occurred at Arden Courts of Old Orchard, 4098 Freemansburg Ave. Scanlan was living in the facility's memory care unit, according to the family.

Following an investigation, Northampton County Coroner Zachary Lysek ruled the death a homicide in September.

Now, District Attorney John Morganelli said his office and Bethlehem Township police are investigating the man's death, as well as possible records tampering following the incident.

Morganelli said information was physically covered with correction fluid and changed on some of the facility's documents on Scanlan's death.

On Thursday, the Pennsylvania Human Services Department revoked the facility's licenses, citing "gross incompetence" and "negligence," according to The Morning Call.

After the death was ruled a homicide, Arden Courts spokeswoman Julie Beckert said via email the business would not discuss individual residents because of residents' confidentiality and rights.

Beckert said there was no risk to other residents, and offered condolences to Scanlan's family. The facility is appealing the state's revoking of its license.

"Arden Courts has high standards of delivering quality memory care services in the community," Beckert said in a prepared statement. "We are working with the Department of Human Services to address the issues that occurred last spring and the state's decision to revoke our license. We take the survey process very seriously and will be appealing their findings. We feel we have the systems and services in place to continue to provide quality care to our residents."

Scanlan's family has hired Philadelphia law firm Shrager, Spivey and Sachs.

The law firm said medical records have conflicting stories in "witness statements" about whether Scanlan fell after being pushed, or whether he was violently struck in the head by a door at the hands of another resident.

"We were deeply saddened to learn that our father died because of resident-on-resident violence at Arden Courts," the family said in a released statement. "We trusted Arden Courts to protect our father and keep him safe. He was placed in their memory care unit because of Arden Courts' ads and website which promised a 'safe and secure' environment. Sadly, it was just the opposite.

"This loss was even more distressing because we were contacted anonymously just before our father's funeral, by someone claiming to be an employee of that facility, and we were told that Arden Courts knew of the violent tendencies of the assailant and nonetheless admitted the assailant and allowed her to reside in the memory care unit."

Morganelli said police and his detective are gathering information and conducting interviews.

He cautioned that just because a death is ruled a homicide does not mean it is a prosecutable offense.

"The mere ruling by the coroner does not mean someone is going to be arrested," he said.

Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @SarahCassi. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
A Northampton Community College student is accused of threatening to shoot his professor.

Bethlehem Township police said Robert Kinitz was asked to leave a classroom on Tuesday.

The 29-year-old Kinitz reportedly responded "It's Central Booking," then said "Maybe you'll understand when I put a gun to your head!"

Kinitz was told to leave a second time, police said, when he responded, "Maybe you'll understand when I shoot you!"

Kinitz then jumped out of seat and fled the classroom, slamming the door so hard he knocked a clock off the wall, police said.

Kinitz, of the first block of Laurel Street in Bethlehem, was arrested Tuesday and charged with making terroristic threats. He was sent to Northampton County Prison in lieu of $20,000 bail.

Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @SarahCassi. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
NEW MILFORD -- The former president of the New Milford Board of Education was among those killed in Tuesday's terror attack in New York City, authorities confirmed.

Darren Drake, 32, was among eight people killed when a man driving a truck along a riverfront bicycle path plowed into pedestrians and bicyclists, New York City police confirmed Wednesday.

His mother, Barbara Drake, told NYPost.com that her son purchased a CitiBike membership to try to lose weight.

Drake worked a a project manager and was riding between meetings, the Post said.

Drake was elected to the New Milford school board in 2009. He later served as vice president before becoming president in January 2013. He stepped down in June of that year because his company relocated.

Two years ago, Drake unsuccessfully ran for borough council, NorthJersey.com said.

Drake grew up in New Milford and attended school there, according to Patch. Drake graduated from Rutgers University in 2007, according to his LinkedIn page.

His Facebook page lists him as a current student at Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken.

A man identified as Sayfullo Saipov, 29, then got out of the truck and shouted "God is great" in Arabic before being shot and wounded by a uniformed NYPD officer.

Saipov, who lives in Paterson with his wife and two children, was holding a paintball gun and a pellet gun. A note left in the truck said the attack was carried out on behalf of ISIS.
Voters who show up at the polls on Nov. 7 will have an opportunity to vote on amending the state constitution to open the door to provide for property tax elimination for Pennsylvania homeowners.

But here's the catch. If the majority of voters vote yes on this referendum, it doesn't mean property taxes will suddenly go away.

What it would do is provide a mechanism to target greater property tax relief to residential properties. But before that can happen, state laws need to change to provide for replacement revenue sources to fund school districts, municipalities and counties.

"It is a confusing issue," said Hannah Barrick, advocacy director for the Pennsylvania Association of School Business Officials. "This is just step one in the process."

Specifically, what the proposed amendment to Article VIII of the constitution would do is increase the exclusion level to up to 100 percent of the value of each "homestead," or primary residence, in a municipality, county or school district.

The current exclusion level, adopted in 1997, is capped at 50 percent of the median assessed value of all homesteads in a local taxing jurisdiction.

Here's an example that might help you understand what difference this proposed amendment would make.

Let's say the median assessed value of homes in a school district is $100,000 and that district currently excludes 50 percent or $50,000. That means the owner of a home valued at $200,000 currently would pay property taxes on $150,000 of the home's value while someone with a home worth $50,000 would not pay any property taxes.

If this constitutional amendment were approved and the school district's homestead exclusion was set at 100 percent of any owner-occupied residential property's assessed value, no homeowner would pay property taxes.

But again remember, money to replace that lost property tax revenue would have to come from somewhere. New taxes could be imposed or other tax rates could rise. It might be at the local level or perhaps at the state level.

Exactly where the replacement revenue would come from has yet to be determined, but the proposed amendment creates an opening for those conversations to occur.

Rep. David Maloney, R-Berks County, who sponsored the referendum legislation, stated in a letter to constituents he sees this proposed amendment as "another option in the fight against property tax."

Supporters of this proposal say it also would make it possible to apply different levels of property taxes on commercial property compared to residential property.

To amend the state constitution is a lengthy process, it requires the General Assembly to pass the identical legislation twice in consecutive sessions before it can go before voters for ratification.

This particular proposed constitutional amendment first passed the House in February 2015 by a 200-0 vote. It first passed the Senate by a vote of 45-2 in June 2016. The second time the House passed it was in June by a vote of 190-0 followed by a 46-2 vote in the Senate last month.

Both times the same two Republican senators cast dissenting votes: Sens. Michele Brooks of Mercer County and Scott Hutchinson of Venango County.

"I know people are struggling with their property tax bills, and this is an important conversation to have, but all of the facts must be part of the conversation. People need to hear the whole story," Brooks said in a statement.

"This is a major policy shift. The only piece people are talking about seems to be that it may remove property taxes. But, this homestead exemption legislation is the first piece to raising the personal income tax, increasing the sales tax, or taxing things that are not currently taxed. It's a bit disingenuous to omit that part of the conversation. We need to call it what it is. People are tired of being misled. They need all of the information."

Brooks went on to say controlling costs and expenses also has to be part of the conversation.

"It's productive to have a conversation like this, but it must be transparent, and the citizens of Pennsylvania must be included in the conversation," Brooks said. "This is too important of an issue to not have full transparency and a robust conversation."
A Northampton man was jailed Wednesday on $1 million bail for allegedly providing heroin that led to a fatal overdose.

Alexander Xavier Johnson (Courtesy photo | For lehighvalleylive.com)

Alexander Xavier Johnson, 26, of the 100 block of Main Street, said in text messages obtained by police through a search warrant that he "gave her the dope," referring to 21-year-old Kaitlyn N. Laumann, according to police.

"I killed her," Johnson is alleged to have said in a text, adding later he paid for it.

Borough police responded about 10 p.m. Nov. 19, 2016, to Johnson's home for the report of a female victim found unresponsive on the kitchen floor, with CPR being performed.

The victim was identified as Laumann, who was from Salisbury Township. She was taken to Lehigh Valley Hospital-Muhlenberg in Bethlehem, where she was pronounced dead of a heroin overdose, authorities said.

Northampton County District Attorney John Morganelli said Nov. 21, 2016, that Laumann's death was being investigated as a criminal matter and that authorities were looking into who supplied the heroin.

"Information was obtained that Alex Johnson may have injected her with the heroin and then went to the neighbors' for some food, leaving the victim ... in his room, reportedly sleeping," Northampton police Detective Glenn Deist wrote in court records.

A tipster told Deist that Laumann "was afraid of needles and that she would not have injected herself," records say. Johnson is also alleged to have posted on Facebook about "Laumann overdosing in his bed."

Other texts obtained by police through a search of Johnson's cellphone said the heroin came in white bags with no stamps, according to court records. Police said they found those type of bags in Johnson's home.

"Other text messages recovered showed Mr. Johnson making a statement about Ms. Laumann getting mad because he got high before her to see how good it was and how much to give her," Deist wrote in court records.

Johnson claimed in an interview with police he and Laumann had "worked on a flower farm for eight hours that day" then went to Walmart and returned to Johnson's house, records say.

"He stated he went outside to smoke a cigarette and spoke to the neighbor for approximately 20 minutes then went back inside the house and found her not breathing," Geist wrote. "He yelled for his mother to dial 911.

"He stated he and Ms. Laumann are addicts. He has two bags a day and she would do half a bag at a time, usually one or two bags a day."

Johnson was arraigned Wednesday morning before District Judge Robert Hawke on felony counts of drug delivery resulting in death and drug possession with intent to deliver.

He was sent to Northampton County Prison in lieu of bail with a preliminary hearing tentatively scheduled Nov. 15 before Hawke.

If released, Johnson would need to remain under the supervision of Northampton County Pretrial Services, undergo weekly drug and alcohol testing, undergo a drug-and-alcohol evaluation, have no contact with witnesses, stay away from anyone associated with drugs and remain in Pennsylvania unless given further approval, pending disposition of the case.

Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @KurtBresswein. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
By Lisa Boscola and Pat Browne

Citizens of Pennsylvania will have an opportunity Tuesday to cast their votes for an important ballot question that could lead to real property tax reform. We are urging citizens to vote "yes."

Because of its legal language and structure, ballot questions are often written in confusing and hard-to-understand, and this one is no different. However, the underlying issue is pretty straightforward. By voting yes, voters will approve a constitutional amendment to expand the homestead exclusion from one-half of the median assessed value of all homestead properties in a taxing district to up to 100 percent of the assessed value of each homestead property.

Essentially, if approved, this would allow local taxing authorities -- school districts, municipalities -- to offer not only a reduction in a homeowner's property tax, but also potentially the elimination of their local property tax. It would also base the relief on the value of a particular property, not on a figure based on the value of all properties in that taxing district.

Pennsylvania's property tax system is antiquated. It has its roots in medieval England, a time when land ownership and personal wealth were strongly associated. We all know that is no longer necessarily the case. However, this archaic system serves as the backbone of funding our local municipal and school district operations.

Over the past few decades, the majority of the increased education costs have been borne by local property owners. This has had a particularly devastating effect on older communities with large senior citizen populations and continues to serve as a barrier of entry into homeownership for many younger, working class families. Unfortunately, finding a solution for homeowner property tax burden has eluded the General Assembly.

One element that proves difficult when looking to provide property tax relief is the Uniformity Clause of the Pennsylvania Constitution. The uniformity provision requires that all properties within a municipality or school district be taxed at the same rate, whether they are a primary residence, vacation property or businesses. While this constitutional provision may seem to assure tax fairness, it actually preserves the state's antiquated property tax system and hampers efforts to devise an equitable tax structure that provides desperately needed property tax relief.

This important ballot referendum would alter the uniformity provision in the state's constitution in a way that benefits all homeowners. If voters approve this ballot question, the General Assembly will need to pass legislation that would permit local governments to exclude up to 100 percent of the assessed value of a homestead property. Then it will be up to state government working in partnership with local taxing authorities to determine how best to fund the increased homestead exemption.

Simply put, this ballot question moves forward the process to provide meaningful property tax relief for Pennsylvania homeowners. This is why we ask you to vote in support of this ballot question on Tuesday.

State Sen. Lisa Boscola, D-Lehigh/Northampton, lives in Bethlehem. State Sen. Pat Browne, R-Lehigh, lives in Allentown.
A campaign aimed at saving and upgrading Portlaoise hospital got underway tonight with the formation of a new Portlaoise Hospital Action Committee.

The new committee has pledged to fight the campaign on a number of fronts and to meet regularly as its members realise that 'time is not on their side.'

More than 30 people met tonight, Tuesday, October 31, in the Portlaoise Parish Centre with the purpose of forming a committee that will lead the public campaign to prevent the downgrade of the hospital through the closure of the A&E.

Thomas Timmins was elected chairman nominated by Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley and seconded by Cllr Willie Aird. Mr John Hanniffy is the new secretary.

Speaking afterwards Mr Hannify told the Leinster Express that those who attended were very committed to fighting for the hospital and preserve its status. He said all realised that if the A&E goes, paediatrics and maternity and other services would follow.

"The overwhelming belief by all is that time is not on our side and we have to act urgently. We have seen and discussed the HSE final draft report and it doesn't contain a future for Portlaoise hospital. That is a simple fact," said Mr Hanniffy.

He said the population is young and growing but this future generation would lose out under the plan drawn up by the Dublin Midlands Hospital Group for the HSE.

"If we lose our service now they are gone for the future," he said.

He said the committee agreed that their responsibility would be not just to alert the people of Laois, but also convince those from surrounding areas of Kildare, Kilkenny, Tipperary and Offaly. He said they also need to get the message that there would be ramifications for them if the hospital loses A&E.

Mr Hanniffy said the purpose of the meeting was not necessarily to decide on how to protest but to form a committee and discuss how to proceed. But he said the meeting discussed a number of ideas including public protest, media and social media campaigns to get the message out.

He said the campaign must also identify who to convince that the hospital has a future. He said this included the Minister for Health Simon Harris, local TDs and "a long battle with the HSE".

"There will be a number of public protests. What has come across loud and clear is that we are fed up with a drip, drip, drip death by a thousand cuts," he said.

Mr Timmins urged the public to ensure that the local TDs get the message.

"We would appeal to the people of Laois to get onto their TDs, Sean Fleming, Charlie Flanagan and Brian Stanley," he said.

Campaigners from other towns where hospitals have lost A&Es will be invited to come to Laois and tell the committee why they failed to halt closure.

Before deciding on what protest should take place, Mr Hanniffy said the committee would meet again this Friday, November 3. He said the committee would also sit down with doctors and others to discuss the alternative plan they have drawn up and already submitted to the HSE and Minister Harris.

"We will then be considering a campaign for an upgrade of the hospital not a downgrade," said Mr Hanniffy.

He concluded that the committee meeting was productive having being called at short notice on the back of a successful public meeting.

There are no politicians on the new committee but they are being kept abreast of progress.

Various forms of protests were discussed to draw attention to the campaign. These included a march in Dublin and or Portlaoise. Also considered was the possibility of mounting some form of demonstration at other hospitals and facilities which depend on the Laois hospital.
Laois County Council is considering plans for the long-disused site of the old prison officers club in Portlaoise.

At the recent meeting of the Portlaoise Municipal District, Councillor Catherine Fitzgerald asked the council to address the old prison officers site, which is now a littered derelict site where there are also issues of antisocial behaviour.

She said its the first site people see when theyre walking up from the railway station. She described it as a strategic site in Portlaoise, which is in a very bad state.

Its too important a site for Portlaoise, 90 percent of people getting off the train walk up there to Main Street, said Cllr Fitzgerald.

Supporting the motion, Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley said the site was a complete eyesore.

Remarked Cllr Noel Tuohy, a former prison officer: Im glad it was there, I had some great nights down there.

In response to Cllr Fitzgeralds motion, director of services, Mr Kieran Kehoe replied that the council is considering potential uses for the building and will be contacting the owners to ensure the site is cleaned up.
Laois people are invited to enter an international science photography competition which comes to Ireland for the first time, celebrating women in STEM.

Organised by Wikimedia Community Ireland and taking place throughout the month of November, Wiki Science aims to raise awareness of science, scientists and their research in Ireland by creating a store of quality images taken by members of the public that are free to use in education and outreach.

Photographers of all skill levels are encouraged to explore the six categories and then upload their photos to Wikimedia Commons. The six categories are people in science, microscopy images, non-photographic media, image sets, a general category, and a special prize for an image depicting Women in STEM.

The entries will be judged by a panel of Irish judges, with the six winners being announced in early January 2018. These images will then be submitted to the international competition.

Rebecca ONeill, Wikimedia Community Ireland commented: We are very excited to be taking part in Wiki Science for the first time. In particular, we are passionate about the power of representation of Women in STEM to encourage girls and young women to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Ireland has a proud tradition of internationally significant scientific research, and highlighting the work that is happening now through Wiki Science is a way of show casing that to the world. Our definition of science is very broad, from archaeology to zoology, we want to see images from as many areas as possible.

Anyone can take part, at any age or any skill level - all you need is enthusiasm about STEM in Ireland. You can upload as many photos or images as you like, she said.

For full details of the competition see www.wikimedia.ie and for updates see @wikimediaIE and Wikimedia Community Irelands Facebook page. Wiki Science will be officially launched at the Science Gallery in Dublin next Thursday, November 9. The Science Gallery are partnering with Wikimedia Community Science for this competition. Much appreciation is given to the Designist for sponsoring the prizes.
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If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism, consider contributing and/or subscribing to our free daily Newsletter .

Support our mission and join our community now.
Coleman Music Centre, Gurteen presents Phil Coulter at St. Patricks Church, Gurteen as part of his nationwide tour on Sunday, November 12th at 8pm.

Phil Coulter celebrates 52 years of music this year and embarks on a 27-date nationwide tour. From winning the Eurovision Song Contest with Puppet On a String through scores of pop hits with the likes of The Bay City Rollers to big ballads like Elvis Presleys My Boy, to the Rugby anthem Irelands Call, Phil Coulters songs have consistently hit the mark. Few songwriters can claim to have had songs covered by artistes ranging from The Dubliners to James Last, from Waylon Jennings to James Galway!

Phil Coulter is without doubt one of the enduring talents in the music business, having enjoyed success and notched up hits in the 60s, 70s 80s and 90s with a tally of 23 platinum, 39 gold and 52 silver discs.

Having contributed at least four titles to the list of Great Irish Songs - the anthemsThe Town I Loved So Well, Irelands Call and the haunting Scorn Not His Simplicity and Steal Away, he was also the receiver of the 'Legend of Derry award' in June of this year as part of Foyle Legends of Derry.

This concert is selling out fast, so book your tickets now to avoid disappointment.

For booking and enquiries contact 071 9182599 or www.colemanirishmusic.com
A new history of the diocese of Kilmore was launched in the Pastoral Centre, Cavan on Thursday night last, October26, before a very large crowd by Cardinal Sean Brady.

The book, which was written by Msgr Liam Kelly, takes an in-depth look at the ecclesiastical history of the diocese of Kilmore between the years 1100 and 1800.

The Diocese of Kilmore includes a large portion of County Leitrim and Msgr Kelly, who is a native of County Leitrim, has published several books on the history of his native place.

At the launch Cardinal Brady complimented the author on his achievement and recommended all present not only to read the book but to reflect on it because history has much to teach us.

He particularly admired the treatment of the Reformation in the book and said he had, by reading the book, learned much about Bishop William Bedell, the Church of Ireland bishop of Kilmore who died in 1642, and about John Wesley, the Methodist leader, who travelled around the diocese on preaching missions in the second half of the 1700s.

Cardinal Brady stated that the book gives a great insight into how the Franciscans contributed greatly to life in County Leitrim from the establishment of Creevelea friary in 1508 into the early decades of the 1800s.

He also noted that the book gives a detailed description of the persecution they suffered and highlights the martyrdom of two north Leitrim Franciscans, Conn O Rourke who was hanged at Kilmallock in County Limerick in July 1579 and Charles Meehan who was hanged, drawn and quartered at Ruthin in Wales one hundred years later, in August 1679. Both of these Leitrim Franciscans were beatified by Pope John Paul II and are now listed in the official calendar of saints.

Bishop Leo OReilly, who welcomed all present, also welcomed the publication of this new history of the diocese which he described as a very comprehensive and thoroughly researched history which will provide a companion volume to the history of the post-1800 period by the late Fr Dan Gallogly.

He added that Fr Kelly has many publications on historical subjects to his credit but this will surely rank as his magnum opus.

He concluded by saying that we are greatly indebted to Fr Kelly and I thank him sincerely for his work and congratulate him warmly on his achievement.

Msgr Liam Kelly thanked everyone who had helped him in writing the book and thanked all those present at the launch.

Among the dignitaries present at the launch were Bishop Francis Duffy, the Bishop of Ardagh and Clonmanois and Bishop Joseph Duffy, the retired Bishop of Clogher.

Lucy Ui Mhordha, who was MC for the occasion, introduced the speakers and thanked all for their attendance.

The book, which costs 35, will be on sale in bookshops and in the parishes throughout the diocese from next week onwards.
The Carrick-on-Shannon community has to raise an additional 24,000 in just over a week if plans to secure additional funding for a specialist CCTV system for the county town are to proceed.

The project is a joint initiative between Leitrim County Council and the community of Carrick-on-Shannon.

Earlier this year a not-for -profit-company - Carrick Community CCTV Ltd - was set up with the goal of raising 70,000 for the CCTV system.

Raising the money is critical to the success of the project as meeting the target allows the company to access further community grant aid funding of 40,000 for the CCTV system.

To date 46,000 of the 70,000 funding target has been raised but there remains a 24,000 shortfall.

According to the latest update, Leitrim County Council is progressing with the application for grant aid and hope to have all paperwork finalised within the next three to four weeks. However no applications can be submitted until the full 70,000 in match funding is raised by the community.

Carrick-on-Shannon now has until November 10 to raise the outstanding match funds or face missing out on the much-needed grant aid.

The committee behind the Carrick Community CCTV project are appealing for people to help meet a 70,000 funding target by November 10.

Joe Dolan, is Chairman of the not-for-profit company 'Carrick Community CCTV Ltd' which was set up to allow the project to raise match funding and access additional community grant aid for the project.

In a progress report issued this week on the project it has emerged that the project has a funding shortfall of 24,000 to make up before the deadline for applying for the community grant aid on November 10.

Without the 70,000 in match funding, the company will not be able to drawn down the maximum grant aid funding.

In the update Mr Dolan thanks those who have already generously contributed to the project but asks those who haven't made a contribution to please, please consider making a contribution.

Together we can make Carrick a measurably safer place in which to live, work, visit and enjoy, he said.

Mr Dolan's remarks this week on the need for a CCTV system in the town coincided with comments by Judge Kevin Kilrane in the local district court last Friday.

A man was seriously injured in an unprovoked assault and suffered a broken jaw and Judge Kilrane commented, Carrick-on-Shannon has become synonymous, unfortunately, with serious assaults and life-threatening assaults.

He warned that imprisonment will be considered on all occasions for Section 3 assaults of unprovoked violence for violence sake.

This will simply have to stop, he stated and added that Carrick-on-Shannon has decent people living in the town who are being annoyed and disturbed by this type of behaviour.

This type of assault and injury is besmirching the good name of Carrick-on-Shannon and it simply has to stop.

Meanwhile in another case where a man was convicted of being intoxicated in public, Judge Kilrane directed that the fine of 200 be forwarded to the Carrick-on-Shannon CCTV project which he described as both worthy and needed.

In recent weeks, Judge Kilrane has directed that monies from a number of fines to the court poor box be forwarded to the proposed CCTV project.

To make a donation

You can help meet the match funding target.

Donate via cheque made payable to Carrick Community CCTV Ltd and send it to either: c/o Carrick Chamber of Commerce Office Quayside, Carrick-on-Shannon or The Bush Hotel, Carrick-on-Shannon.

You can also donate via the Go Fund Me page: http://ie.gofundme.com/carrickCCTV project.

You can also make a contribution via Electronic payment to IBAN: IE69BOFI90533654780030; Swift/BIC: BOFIIE2D.
(Global Times) 07:36, November 01, 2017

Yunnan water project designed to alleviate drought in province

China dismissed a report that the country is testing techniques in preparation for the building of a tunnel to carry water from Tibet to Xinjiang, which experts also say is unrealistic.

"This is untrue," foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said when asked to comment at a news conference in Beijing on Tuesday about the South China Morning Post (SCMP) report.

The SCMP on Monday quoted "experts" as saying that the ongoing construction of a 600-kilometer-long water tunnel in Southwest China's Yunnan Province would be a "rehearsal" of new technology, engineering methods and equipment needed for the tunnel, which is expected to extend as long as 1,000 kilometers, and would divert the Yarlung Zangbo River in the southern Tibet Autonomous Region to the Taklamakan Desert in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.

China was now taking a "quiet, step-by-step approach to bring it to life," the report quoted an expert surnamed Zhang, who "has played a key role in many major Chinese water tunnel projects," as saying.

The chief engineer of the Yunnan water tunnel project dismissed the report when interviewed by the Global Times. "There is no such direction from the central government, and I've never heard of any plan laid out for a Tibet-Xinjiang tunnel project," said Zhao Shijie, chief engineer of the Dianzhong water diversion project, a scheme in central Yunnan.

Zhao told the Global Times that it is not the first time he has heard rumors about a Tibet-Xinjiang tunnel, but they are baseless.

The Yunnan water diversion project which involves tunnel construction works exceeding 600 kilometers is designed to address a severe water shortage in the province's central region. It began on August 4.

According to the People's Daily on August 7, with a total length of 661.07 kilometers, the diversion project will bring water from the Jinsha River to cities including Lijiang and Kunming. The construction is expected to take 96 months.

The total fund for the Yunnan water diversion project is estimated at more than 78 billion yuan ($11.8 billion), according to a budget released in the second quarter of 2016, reported Yunnan.cn.

Huge cost

The idea of sending Tibetan water to Xinjiang dates back to the late 1950s. "March into the Desert," a famous article by meteorologist, geologist and educator Zhu Kezhen (1890-1974) that has long featured in Chinese schoolbooks, advises diverting water to Xinjiang's arid plains.

A plan to divert water from Tibet to the northern parts of China was heatedly discussed in the 1990s. Over the decade, 208 lawmakers and 118 political advisers raised proposals and motions on the plan, according to a 2006 report by the Southern Weekly.

However, the dream of massive water diversions has never been approved due to concerns of the huge cost and potential for damaging the landscape.

"I firmly oppose the project, as Xinjiang cannot afford this project," said Mei Xinyu, an associate researcher at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation.

The estimated cost of diverting water from Tibet to Xinjiang would be five times that of Xinjiang's annual GDP.

It may depend massively on central government subsidies and the assistance of local governments in other regions, which likely would lead to social instability, Mei added.
MORE than 110 independent movies were shown across the weekend as the Richard Harris Film Festival marked its fourth year in the city.

Set up in 2013 as part of the Gathering, Limericks main film festival has gone from strength to strength, with 13 films being shown in the first year to 116 now.

Launched in the Limerick Institute of Technologys Millennium Theatre on Thursday evening, the festival attracted a number of stars and film personalities including Jamie Harris, who attended on behalf of his late father.

He was on hand to introduce the Richard Harris retrospective screening Cry the Beloved Country, shown at the Belltable on Sunday.

@RHarrisFilmFest what a fantastic time I had this weekend at the Richard Harris film festival in limerick. The whole experience was great  Jamie Harris (@JamieHarris) October 29, 2017

The festival also featured a live script read in the same venue, with Marina Donhonues For the Love of the Child being shot as a feature film in the new year.

A live performance of Goldenhair, a film based on the life of James Joyce also took place.

Aoife Danagher, public relations assistant, said this years Harris festival was the most successful ever.

There were so many highlights. I couldnt just pick one. We had film-makers here from Spain, South Africa, and the USA. Id say it was probably the best festival we had in terms of the number of entries, in terms of the numbers travelling from overseas.

Metropolitan mayor Sean Lynch got it all under way in the Millennium Theatre on Thursday night.

Dressed in a golden bow-tie and tuxedo, he paid tribute to the world famous actor, who died in 2002: He had that acting style that was fabulous to watch. When you meet a star, and they dont disappoint you  thats Richard Harris..

Great turn out for the Gala awards night @RHarrisFilmFest @litmillennium this evening.



Lot of glamour too on this cold #Limerick eve pic.twitter.com/WDm0lkO29C  Liam O'Brien (@liamobrienactor) October 29, 2017

RHIFF 2017 Nominees just announced on our website - https://t.co/MePlPzlFx6 pic.twitter.com/rWSTDBIhdh  RichardHarrisFilmFes (@RHarrisFilmFest) October 28, 2017
A LIMERICK man has avoided a prison sentence for his role in a violent incident during which a student sustained severe facial injuries at a house party.

Adam Fitzgerald, aged 24, who has an address at Father Russell Road, Dooradoyle pleaded guilty, earlier this year, to engaging in violent disorder at a house at Thomond Student Village, Old Cratloe Road on January 8, 2014.

During a sentencing hearing, Detective Garda Donal Moynihan said the defendant and two other young men gatecrashed the house party and that at some point during the night they took umbrage to the suggestion that one of them had taken a sum of money from a purse.

A fight then broke out which resulted in two other young men sustaining injuries.

However, John OSullivan BL, prosecuting said it was accepted that Mr Fitzgerald was not the main instigator and that he did not inflict the injuries on either victim.

Limerick Circuit Court was told the garda investigation into what happened was not the most straightforward given the amount of alcohol which had been consumed at the party.

Imposing sentence, Judge Tom ODonnell said while Mr Fitzgerald was not the main protagonist he was an active participant in the fight.

He said his previous good record and his strong work ethic were mitigating factors as were his admissions and his guilty plea.

Describing what happened as pure pandemonium and mayhem the judge said the quantity of alcohol consumed on the night was not helpful.

It was a situation that exploded on the night, he said accepting submissions from Pat Whyms BL that there was no premeditation on the part of the defendant.

Having considered the matter, Judge ODonnell imposed a 12 month prison sentence which he suspended for 12 months on condition he stays out of trouble.

A charge relating the production of a knife on the same date was withdrawn by the State.

Two other men were also prosecuted in relation to the incident.
IRISH Water has issued a notification to customers in Limerick that it has set up an online refunds page.

The body said the dedicated refunds website had been launched as the government legislation necessary to enable the refunding of household water charges progresses through the Oireachtas.

Customers are advised to contact Irish Water on 1850 448 448 if their address has changed and they have yet to update their details.

Speaking in advance of the start of refunds, Head of Customer Operations for Irish Water, Eamon Gallen said: The two big questions that customers have is how much they will receive and when they will receive it.

Household customers can be assured that they will receive the full amount they paid, and customers will shortly be able to check online exactly how much they are due and when there are likely to receive their refund.

"Irish Water have been working in the background for several months to ensure that refunds will be ready to go as soon as we are authorised to do so by government. Our priority is to ensure that those who paid their household charges get their refund as quickly and efficiently as possible.

This is why I would urge any customers who have not informed us of a change of address to do so now so that their details are up to date and there is no delay in issuing their cheque.

Irish Water said it was important to note that if a customers address or personal details have not changed that they will not have to contact Irish Water to get their refund. Refunds will made via cheque to the account holder at the address they provided to Irish Water.

Payments are being made by cheque because this is the quickest and most efficient means of payment, which also provides the highest level of security, it added.
U2 frontman Bono has praised Limerick for its involvement in a new album that re-imagines the band's classic The Joshua Tree for charity.

The concept for the album was dreamed up by departing 2FM presenter Will Leahy and broadcast co-ordinator and head of social media for 2FM and RTE Gold JJ Hartigan - Limerick men both.

Will, who starts his new breakfast show on RTE Gold on Monday, came up with the idea for the charity album 12 months ago and it was launched on Thursday, with a release on Friday.

The Joshua Tree New Roots is a covers album featuring artists such as The Academic, The Coronas, Gavin James, The Strypes and All Tvvins and is a release in support of LauraLynn Children's Hospice.

Will said that U2 had waived their copyright for the album, as all of the participating artists did, meaning all of the funds raised will go to LauraLynn. U2 contributed a live song from the current Joshua Tree tour to the album.

Covering on 2FM from Limerick on Bank Holiday Monday, JJ played a song from the record and highlighted its release - and it happened that Bono was listening in.

Bono thanked JJ for playing the record and his support for the project - prompting the Limerick man to tweet: "Im shaking. This just landed on my desk from BONO !!!! OH. MY. GOD!"

Bono said in a note: "Really moved by the station and your support of New Roots. Up Limerick!!"

Im shaking. This just landed on my desk from BONO !!!! OH. MY. GOD! pic.twitter.com/JEUG8zhSer  JJ Hartigan (@jayhartigan) October 31, 2017

Will said Bono's note to JJ, who is a resident DJ in House Limerick, was "an incredible thing".

The album is currently for sale in Golden Discs in Limerick.
A SIPTU representative for Irish Rail workers in Limerick has said that some staff are finding it hard to pay the bills following 10 years of austerity.

More than a dozen Irish Rail workers formed a picket line outside Colbert Station this Wednesday, protesting against pay and conditions at the company.

It marked the first of five proposed 24-hour nationwide protests, after Irish Rail workers voted overwhelmingly in favour of industrial action last month.

Siptu representative Dom Moloney told the media that the workers were forced to be here today.

We dont want to be on the picket line. We dont want to split any further back with what we have. We havent had a pay increase in 10 years. And everything has been going up in those 10 years, he said.

Workers are looking for a 3.75% annual increase over three years. Mr Moloney said that the 10-year pay freeze has had a personal impact on workers.

It just means that every single thing has gone up. Fuel has gone up, rent has gone up, we are finding it hard to meet the bills. We are just ordinary people working. It has impacted everyone in Ireland  and not just us  this whole 10 years of austerity, he explained.

He added that they are relying on the public during their efforts to highlight their concerns.

They are our biggest asset. We move the people of Ireland up and down this country every single day, and we realise that they are customers. We dont want to inconvenience them. But we have only one tool, and that is for us to protest.

He added: I absolutely hope that someone is going to see reason. Obviously this is going to end up back in the Labour Court again. Obviously, the two sides have to meet again. And we have been very flexible all along.

He said that he sympathises with other sectors which have yet to receive a pay rise. Solidarity councillor Cian Prendiville is calling on the public to support the staff at Iarnrod Eireann.

Government policy is responsible for provoking this strike. State funding for railway services has been cut by more than 70%, and one of the consequences of this policy is that the pay of railway workers has been frozen for a decade. The pay freeze must be ended and the cuts must be fully reversed to allow a quality service with cheaper fares.

The strike finishes tonight at 12 midnight.
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(Xinhua) 08:09, November 01, 2017

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- A young Chinese student was killed in a carjacking incident near the University of Utah's campus in the western U.S. state of Utah, while the suspect has not been located 14 hours after the fatal shooting.

The victim of Monday night's shooting was identified as Chenwei Guo, a 23-year-old Chinese student who has been studying in the university for only one year, Shaw Wood, a Communications Specialist with the university, told Xinhua by phone on Tuesday.

Guo was parked near the gate of campus in Red Butte Canyon when a gunman fatally shot him while attempting to hijack his vehicle, Wood said.

In a statement released Tuesday morning, David W. Pershing, President of the university said, Guo "was killed in a senseless, random act of violence."

"We have been in contact with Chenwei's family in China and they are understandably devastated by the loss of their son. We are working to bring them to Utah as soon as possible and will offer them all the assistance we can," Pershing said.

Guo, was a pre-computer science major and worked as a peer advisor in the University's International Student and Scholar Services Office, according to the statement.

"The university has cancelled classes today in respect of Chenwei Guo," Wood said. "The whole campus feel very sad for the incident."

At a press conference held Tuesday morning, University of Utah Police Chief Dale Brophy disclosed that Guo was shot by a white man about 9:00 p.m. Monday night.

Before the incident, a woman came to the campus and reported that her husband Austin Boutain assaulted her while they were camping in Red Butte Canyon, Brophy said.

Police named the suspect as Boutain, 24.

Local and federal law enforcement hunted Boutain all night, found his camp and rifle, but has not located him, officer of the Salt Lack City Police Department said at the press conference, adding that he has criminal history and was being investigated by police of Colorado state for a homicide case.

Boutain was described as a white male with a tear drop tattoo on his face, as well as tattoos on his neck and an arm. He was last seen wearing black clothing and a beanie-style cap.
(Global Times) 08:15, November 01, 2017

Local government authorities in Nanchang, East China's Jiangxi Province, said that physically abuse did exist in an Internet addiction treatment institute.

The local government confirmed on Monday morning that physical abuse existed at the Yuzhang Shuyuan, an institute that "helped to convert delinquent teenagers" and that it would be penalized and the relevant people would be held accountable.

The government began its investigation after netizens on Zhihu, China's Quora-like knowledge sharing site, exposed that Yuzhang Shuyuan physically abused its students.

Many teenagers who used to stay at the Yuzhang Shuyuan center confirmed with the Global Times with the "physically abuse."

"They use the 'longbian' (steel bar) to beat us until we obeyed them, and newcomers were locked in a 'little black room' for seven days," said the students who requested anonymity.

Many said they were tricked by their parents to get there. "My parents said we are going to travel and then they just dropped me there and disappeared," said a former student surnamed Wu.

The institute declined to be interviewed by the Global Times.

The students said the teenagers were Internet addicts, puppy lovers and who don't like to study.

A government notice released Monday evening said was established in 2013, and was in charge of "converting delinquent teenagers" in 2014.
Suspect arrested in fatal shooting of Chinese student near University of Utah

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- A 24-year-old American man accused of killing a Chinese student near the University of Utah in the western U.S. state of Utah was arrested on Tuesday, police confirmed.

"Suspect in #homicide is in custody," the Salt Lake City Police Department tweeted at about 12:45 p.m. local time (0645 GMT, Wednesday).

"Austin Boutain, suspect in fatal shooting Monday, has been apprehended. He is now in custody," the University of Utah also texted the news to students.

Boutain, a white male with a tear drop tattoo on his face as well as tattoos on his neck and one arm, was identified as the suspect in the killing of a 23-year-old Chinese student on Monday night in a failed carjacking attempt near the University of Utah's Salt Lake City campus.

The victim was Chenwei Guo, who was a pre-computer science major and worked as a peer advisor in the university's International Student and Scholar Services Office, Shaw Wood, a communications specialist of the university confirmed to Xinhua.

He "was killed in a senseless, random act of violence," Wood said.

Assisted by a helicopter and snipers, hundreds of local and federal law enforcement personnel hunted Boutain all night on campus and the foothills above the university, but did not locate him.

Boutain was taken into custody without incident at a public library in the city's downtown, Keith Horrocks, detective of the Salt Lake City Police Department, was quoted as saying by local media reports.

The Chinese embassy in Washington paid high attention to the incident and expressed sincere condolences and sympathy to Guo's relatives, a Chinese embassy official told Xinhua.

The Chinese embassy has made contact with the police after the incident, urging timely investigations of the incident.

The Chinese embassy will closely follow the development of the case, and provide assistance for the relatives during their stay in the United States, the official said.

Police disclosed Tuesday that the suspect, who has a criminal history, and his 23-year-old wife Kathleen Boutain may also be related to a homicide committed last week in Golden, Colorado, said the police.

Reports said a 63-year-old man's body was found Tuesday in a trailer in Golden. And police believe Boutain had been driving the man's pickup truck which is still missing.
A cat with overgrown fangs is all set for Halloween after being dressed up in a vampire costume to match its unusual set of teeth.

The seven-year-old cat called Monk was rescued by Nicole Rienzie's family in 2010.

Nicole, 40, a volunteer worker, from Long Island, New York, took Monk to the vet several times but has never been diagnosed with a condition for his vampire-style fangs - so the family have decided to embrace its uniqueness.

She said: 'Although Monk has seen a vet numerous times I have not been informed that his teeth are a 'condition'.

'He has had some dental issues and has had several teeth pulled but his fangs remain intact and healthy, to date.'

Monk was rescued by the family along with another cat, six-year-old Bean, and the pair have amassed around 63,000 followers on Instagram.

Nicole said: 'We rescued Monk in the fall of 2011 and about a year later Bean came along.

'They are now both the best of friends.'
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It was reported on Tuesday that one of the most successful franchise owners of Dairy Queen locations across Texas has filed for bankruptcy.

Vasari LLC, based in Irving, will reportedly close around 29 locations across the state of Texas, one of the international brand's biggest strongholds.

RELATED: Things you probably didn't know about Dairy Queen, Texas' favorite roadside treat

Locations in New Mexico and Oklahoma owned by Vasari will also be impacted.

Now Playing: It seems that Toys R Us declaring bankruptcy has affected the holiday sales forecast for Hasbro. Hasbro was saddled with $60 million in unsecured claims for payment after Toys R Us went bankrupt. Hasbro's estimate for the fourth quarter of an increase of 4 to 7 percent over last year's $1.63 billion fell below the estimates of Wall Street investors. Shares of Hasbro were down about 8 percent in morning trading. Video: Wibbitz

At least one location close to Houston, a Conroe address, is on a list of locations set to close. Many of the Vasari Dairy Queen locations are in small-town Texas. Some locations will either be sold or closed outright.

According to KXAN-TV, Vasari filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy listing a category of debt between $10 million and $50 million. Assets were listed as between $10 million and $50 million.

This form of bankruptcy allows for debts to be organized as opposed to Chapter 7 which calls for liquidation.

The reasons for why these locations have failed range from Hurricane Harvey damages to a slowing oil industry in the cities where the locations once thrived.

If you ask many Texans where Dairy Queen is based, they will likely proudly proclaim that the chain is headquartered right here in the Lone Star State, but Dairy Queen is actually headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

The company was founded in Joliet, Illinois in 1940.

Due to aggressive franchising efforts, the brand has done a good job becoming a part of the Texas experience.

RELATED: Dairy Queen wants to make Houston DQ country

Every DQ location is franchisee-owned and operated except for two of them, according to the company's Director of Communications Dean Peters. The company has two corporate-operated locations in Minneapolis.

You can't drive any long distance in the state of Texas without passing a Dairy Queen location. In some small towns, the DQ is the epicenter of activity, ice cream and chicken strip baskets. It's where local teens first earn a dollar and where you can get a Blizzard served upside down.
An Apache Corp. employee has agreed to settle insider trading charges after buying company stock just prior to its announcement of a gigantic oil and gas discovery in West Texas, the Securities and Exchange Commission said on Wednesday.

Petroleum engineer Christopher J. Lollar, 30, of Houston, worked in Apaches San Antonio offices until this year. There, he learned of the companys plans to announce the 15-billion-barrel Alpine High oil and gas field, in the desert around the small town of Balmorhea, according to the SEC complaint.
The fifth enrollment period for Affordable Care Act health insurance opens Wednesday under a cloud of uncertainty and political rancor as bad, if not worse, than in the earliest days of the law.

More than three of four in the country do not know when enrollment begins and nearly 20 percent think the health care law known as Obamacare is no longer in effect, according to a survey released this week by Policygenius, a national online insurance brokerage.

Similarly, one in four in the country think the law has been at least partially repealed, according to a separate Morning Consult/Politico survey from last week.

For the record, Obamacare remains the law of the land even as the White House and most Republicans in Congress have declared it a disaster and vowed for months to kill it. So far, multiple congressional efforts to repeal and replace it have been unsuccessful.

Still, this year's enrollment season will see significant changes. The time period for people to sign up for coverage was cut in half. Enrollment will run 45 days rather than 90, ending Dec. 15.

In addition, the federal healthcare.gov website where people can sign up for plans will be shut down from midnight to noon every Sunday except Dec. 10 and also overnight on Wednesday, the first night of enrollment. At the same time the advertising budget to promote enrollment has been cut by 90 percent and the number of people available to help with enrollment questions or prod those reluctant to sign up will be far fewer.

The Trump administration has called the changes necessary to streamline the process and make it more financially sustainable.

More Information Obamacare: By the numbers 76 percent of Americans don't know open enrollment begins Wednesday. 22 percent don't know kids can stay on parents' plan until age 26. 18 percent don't know that Obamacare is still the law of the land. 45 percent of Democrats vs. 35 percent of Republicans and 37 percent of independents are more likely to know key provisions of the law. Source: Policygenius online poll of 1,500 adults Oct. 10 to Oct. 12. Margin of error 3 to 5 percent. See More Collapse

Others, though, see internal sabotage to guarantee failure, not only from the president but also from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the very federal agency that oversees the law.

"I've never seen anything like it," said Katy Caldwell, CEO of Houston's Legacy Community Health, the largest community-based health care system in Texas.

Legacy will spend $25,000 to launch its own advertising campaign in Houston to counteract what she sees as a concerted effort out of Washington to cripple enrollment.

She and other Obamacare advocates are bracing for what they fear will be an inevitable drop in enrollment numbers this time around, which could lead to a spike in uninsured rates both in Texas and across the country.

Slightly more than 12 million people nationally signed up for plans during the 2017 enrollment period with about 1.2 million enrolling in Texas.

Since the law's rocky rollout in 2013, an estimated 20 million people have secured health insurance through the Obamacare exchange. Critics of the law say that number is inflated.

The nation's uninsured rate dropped to its lowest level in history last year at roughly 9 percent, down from around 16 percent when the ACA was signed into law.

Texas, which leads the nation in uninsured, saw its rate drop to just under 17 percent last year, down from around 25 percent, or one in four people in the state lacking coverage.

But that number could begin to rise again as enrollment efforts are suppressed, coupled with sharp premium increases revealed last week in the preview of the 2018 exchange plans.

At the heart of the steep increases, insurers said, is a move by the White House last month to end a key federal payment called cost-sharing reductions baked into the law that defrays out-of-pocket costs for lower income enrollees.

Trump and some congressional Republicans have challenged the subsidies calling them an illegal "bailout" to the insurance industry.A court case on the subsidies remains pending.

The estimated $9 billion in shortfall will ultimately be shifted onto consumers as steep premium price increases. While those who qualify for help with premium prices will mostly be insulated, higher earners will bear the full brunt and could choose to forgo coverage.

Kathleen Sebelius, the Health and Human Services secretary when the ACA became law in its early years, finds the current climate especially disheartening because the law was just starting to stabilize as insurers were better able to price plans and many had grown accustomed to the process.

In a recent interview with the Chronicle, she acknowledged bumps in the road during the first year due to political opposition and computer malfunctions. But she said she is proud of the law's progress over time.

"I know where we started and where we were at the end of 2016. It's a pretty good legacy," she said, but then added about the continuing opposition to the law: "I'm just stunned 7 years later we're still having the same conversation."
The handgun that fired a single bullet into Kate Steinle on San Franciscos Pier 14 would not have discharged without a pull of the trigger, a criminologist testified Tuesday as prosecutors sought to prove the killing was no accident.

Gerald Andrew Smith, a supervising criminologist at the San Francisco Police Department crime lab, took the stand on the sixth day of the trial of Jose Ines Garcia Zarate, whose release by San Francisco authorities 2 months before the shooting despite a federal request to hold him for deportation ignited a political firestorm.

I found no mechanical malfunctions or issues with the firearm, Smith said of the .40-caliber Sig Sauer pistol, which was fished out of the bay by a dive team after the July 1, 2015, shooting. The trigger will have to be pulled in order for the gun to operate.

Steinle had been strolling with her father when she was shot, and the prosecution contends Garcia Zarate pulled the trigger and fired toward Steinle, an intentional act showing the malice needed for a second-degree murder conviction.

Now Playing: On Monday, jurors heard from crime scene investigators who say the bullet that killed Kate Steinle ricocheted before striking her. Video: KTVU

Defense attorneys say prosecutors cant prove that Garcia Zarate, 45, intentionally squeezed the trigger. They contend that the gun fired after the homeless undocumented immigrant found it bundled in a T-shirt or cloth under a seat at the pier. The defense cites as evidence that the bullet skipped off concrete before hitting Steinle in the back.

The handgun had been stolen from an off-duty U.S. Bureau of Land Management rangers parked car on the Embarcadero four days before the shooting. No one has been arrested in the burglary, and Superior Court Judge Samuel Feng told jurors Tuesday they should not speculate about whether Garcia Zarate had committed the theft.

Smith testified that when he received the gun for examination, it had one round in the chamber and six in the magazine. That was consistent with the earlier testimony of the Land Management ranger, John Woychowski Jr. He testified that he always kept this gun, his secondary firearm, fully loaded, with one round in the chamber and seven in the magazine.

The gun was in single-action mode, Smith said, typical for a gun that had been fired. A gun in double-action mode requires extra pressure on the trigger to cock the hammer and fire the bullet, while a gun in single-action mode already has the hammer cocked and requires less trigger pressure.

This is a key point of contention in the case. If the gun was in single-action mode at the time of the shooting, said defense attorney Matt Gonzalez of the city public defenders office, its more likely that Garcia Zarate could have pulled the trigger accidentally when he grabbed the bundle or unwrapped the cloth around the gun. Prosecutors dispute evidence of an accidental shot.

Woychowski testified that he always left the pistol in double-action mode, but he also said the gun was typically in single-action mode when he loaded it, and couldnt definitively say he remembered putting it back in double-action mode before it was stolen.

In any event, Gonzalez said, no one knows what happened to the gun in the four days between the burglary and the shooting.

Smith testified that he measured the trigger pull of the gun  the force required for the hammer to fall  and found that the gun required a pull of 4.8 to 5.5 pounds in single-action mode and 9 to 9.8 pounds in double-action mode. Smith said the measurements were within the manufacturers standards.

In his cross-examination of Smith, Gonzalez established that the weapon did not have external safety mechanisms that keep a gun from firing. The defense attorney has contended that some law enforcement officers prefer Sig Sauer pistols for this reason, that they can be fired quickly, but that even police trained in the guns use have a record of accidental discharges.

Smith said Sig Sauers have internal safety mechanisms that prevent the weapon from discharging if someone drops it.

Sig Sauers are very well-made firearms, he testified. Law enforcement and military use them. They have a great reputation.

Outside court, Gonzalez said he felt it was misleading to call those internal mechanisms safety features.

It would be as if I said that the door to my home did not have a dead bolt on it, but you have to turn the knob to get in and thats the safety feature, he said. Theyre not safety features in my opinion. A safety feature is something that when you pull a trigger, the gun does not fire.

He said hes asking the judge to allow jurors to pull the guns trigger in both single-action and double-action mode to feel the difference.

It would put to rest this debate thats going on about whether or not its hard to do, Gonzalez said.

The Steinle family is suing the Bureau of Land Management. Following Steinles death, legislators pushed to tighten requirements for securing weapons, especially in unattended cars, for gun owners and law enforcement officers.

Steinles death sparked critics to push against San Franciscos immigration sanctuary policies. Garcia Zarate had been on track for a sixth deportation when the Sheriffs Department, relying on those policies, released him from jail despite a federal request to hold him for deportation. He had ended up in the city on a transfer from federal custody in March 2015, thanks to old allegations  soon dismissed  that he fled marijuana charges in 1995.

Vivian Ho is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: vho@sfchronicle.com

Twitter: @VivianHo
The U.S. conclusion on anti-dumping of aluminum foil from China was "a serious distortion" of real situation, the Ministry of Commerce (MOC) said Tuesday.

File photo

The MOC made the statement in response to the U.S. decision on China's status as a non-market economy country and launching anti-dumping investigation against aluminum foil imports from China under the "analogue country methodology."

The U.S. ignored China's achievements in building a market economy and the conclusion was a serious distortion of the real situation, the MOC said in an online statement.

Since reform and opening up, China has established and been improving the socialist market economy, which has been widely recognized by the international community, said the MOC.

China urged the U.S. to fulfill international obligations and take action to correct the wrong practice, while China will take measures to protect legal rights of Chinese companies, according to the MOC.

According to WTO requirements, anti-dumping investigations against imports from China under the "analogue country methodology" ceased on Dec. 11, 2016. The method calculates the value of products from so-called "non-market economies" using costs of production in a third country. The concept of "non-market economy country" does not exist in WTO rules.
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The piece: "Galveston and Texas City, Year 2517"

The artist: Erik Hagen

Where: Art Alley, Silos at Sawyer Yards, 1500 Sawyer

Why: We know sea-level rise is as inevitable as future rain-based flooding, right? Erik Hagen's installation visualizes what that might mean for the Texas Gulf Coast in 500 years.

Even if you can't quite figure out the topographic rendering at its base - which Hagen compiled by layering about 30 maps in Photoshop - the watery surface supplies the basic idea: At some point, your descendents will need more than snorkels to live in Galveston and Texas City. The rate at which civilization slows or halts carbon dioxide emissions - a big unknown - will determine how far down the line those descendents will be.

This isn't just pie-in-the-sky art talk. Hagen based his piece on information from Curt Stager's 2011 book "Deep Future," a survey of mainstream climate science. The maps he layered to illustrate future sea-level rises of various depths are sourced from government agencies. A legend in one corner identifies scenarios based on depths of 5-10 feet below sea level to more than 40 feet above.

But that's not quite as dramatic as the opening "performance" Hagen staged by placing 3,000 pounds of ice (formed with 60 fused blocks of 50 pounds each) and allowing viewers to touch and play with it.

Hagen estimated the ice would last 10 days after a Saturday debut, but by mid-morning Tuesday, all that remained was an iceberg-shaped fragment about a foot high and long. Hagen blamed high humidity and wind.

Still, he was thrilled with the process of the melt: Not just the metaphor but the dripping and crackling sounds of ice returning to water and the sculptural shapes that evolved, "evoking loss, but hinting at the power of transformation."

Within the shallow pool center of Hagen's tablelike structure of pressure-treated wood, resin and recessed, solar-powered LED lights, an organic, constantly shifting "sea bottom" has formed from granules of clay that blew over from Trey Duvall's nearby "Traverse: Stack/Void" installation of unfired porcelain slabs.

Growing up in Minnesota, Hagen loved watching ice disappear each spring. "The melting snowbanks facing the sun would reveal a crystalline lacelike latticework suspended centimeters above the snow," he says. "During late afternoons, the meltwater would carve tiny caverns through rotten ice, and you could see sparkles as drops opened new paths to the earth."

Funded through an Individual Artist Grant from the city of Houston through the Houston Arts Alliance, Hagen's installation will remain up for a year and be duplicated this winter at Rice University.

The ice may be gone, but he expects the water to ebb and flow continuously. "We get 36 inches of rain a year," he said. He hasn't planned for a drought.
WASHINGTON - George Pelecanos, novelist-turned-filmmaker, is pushing to turn the District of Columbia into a new market for Hollywood cinema.

Nine years after the "The Wire," the Baltimore-based hit he wrote and produced, aired its final episode, Pelecanos is back in the area and behind the camera.

"D.C. Noir," a 2006 crime anthology Pelecanos is now adapting for the big screen, is being shot entirely within the confines of the District proper.

"We're going to be filming all over the city, in all four quadrants," Pelecanos told us.

Last week, passersby spotted the film crew doing their thing at Warder and Lamont streets NW in the Park View neighborhood, where a few scenes from the movie take place.

One local resident shared a picture on Instagram with Pelecanos, captioned, "What are the odds that George Pelecanos and his crew literally knock on your door telling you they want to shoot some scenes from his movie in your apartment??? Well, it's happening right now in my living room."

"Yeah, I did that," Pelecanos said, laughing. "I literally walk into people's houses. They're generally interested and accepting."

Pelecanos' son, Nicholas, is set to direct one story in the film, which features multiple story lines, as is Gbenga Akinnagbe, an alum of "The Wire" who's in Pelecanos' new HBO show "The Deuce." For the most part, Pelecanos is employing local talent.

"It's an all-D.C. production," said Pelecanos, who has also invited Howard University film students to come shadow the team.

Pelecanos hopes completing a major motion picture project in D.C. will help put the city on the cinematic map.

"We're trying to show that we can make movies here," he said. "We're shooting places in the city, not just the monuments."

His long-term goal is to get D.C. to offer a tax credit so that film studios are more likely to choose the District for production.

"People would like to film here, there's a lot to offer in terms of scenery and people," he said, "but it's all driven by tax credits." The D.C. Film Office is on board with his efforts, according to the producer.

"D.C. Noir" is expected to be released sometime in 2018, hopefully as a major motion picture, Pelecanos said.
It's time to clean out the toy box and make room for new arrivals.

Toymakers have been working hard to come up with the next must-have plaything. Is it on these pages? Joanne and Stephanie Oppenheim think it might be. The mother-daughter duo are the toy experts behind the website Oppenheim Toy Portfolio (toyportfolio.com). They see hundreds of new toys each year and get kids across the country to rate them.

"Coding" is big this year, Joanne Oppenheim says. Also, "we've never seen so many toys that run on apps and screens of smart devices." And there are more online videos that help with craft and building projects.

Joanne Oppenheim likes that gender roles are blurring. Girls are shown on games and building sets that once would have been marketed only to boys. "On the flip side, we are also seeing more boy dolls this season," she says, "encouraging boys to tap into their nurturing side."

Here are some of Oppenheim Toy Portfolio's top picks for 2017. The prices are those suggested by the manufacturer. Shop around and you might find a better deal.

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Games and puzzles:

- You Do

Ann Williams, $19.99.

Age 5 and older.

This family game promises nonstop silliness. Players pick five cards and race to be the first to do whatever tasks are on them. Bark like a dog? Cry like a baby? Put a sock on your ear? No problem, unless you just can't stop giggling. There are 500 tasks, so no two games are alike. And there's no computer involved, so everyone - ages 5 to 95 - can play.

- Qwingo

Gamewright, $10.99.

Age 8 and older.

Qwingo starts simply but requires strategy to finish. Players call out numbers and roll a die with icons on it. The object is to list those numbers in ascending order on a score sheet in the column that matches the icon on the rolled die. The strategy involves not calling out numbers your opponents want. Up to five can play this game, or you can go solo.

- Go Nuts for Donuts!

Gamewright, $14.99.

Age 8 and older.

A table of tasty treats awaits up to six players in this hot-from-the-fryer card game. The cards represent mouthwatering doughnuts with varying point values. Collect the most doughnuts (er, points) and you'll be hungry to play again and again. One drawback: You'll also be hungry for some real doughnuts, so plan ahead. And don't forget to get a carton of milk.

- Q-BA-Maze 2.0: Stunts

Mindware, $79.95.

Age 6 and older.

"Favorite toy ever," one grandparent raved after buying some Q-BA marble mazes for a 6-year-old grandson. Teens seem to love them as well. The pieces interlock in endless combinations for an a-MAZE-ing new challenge each time you play. Make your marbles bounce, zigzag and swirl as they shoot through tubes and down the path you've created.

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Dolls:

- Budsies Custom Dolls

All ages.

Who could resist a cuddly, one-of-a-kind doll made from your own drawing, or a doll that looks just like you, your pet or someone you love? Send in your artwork or photo, and Budsies will do the rest. These hand-stitched, 18-inch dolls take about a month to make, but you'll get updates as you wait. Start drawing now so Budsies can start sewing.

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Crafts:

- Wooden Robot Kit

Kid Made Modern, $29.99.

Age 6 and older.

Not one, not two, but three robots are waiting to be built, painted and played with. Each kit includes three sheets of stickers, 12 paint pots and two brushes. Movable arms and legs make these bots perfect for pretend games after you make them. If robots aren't your thing, Kid Made Modern has lots of other make-me kits, including bongo drums.

- Unbored Time Capsule

Mindware, $29.95.

Age 8 and older.

Time capsules are peeks back into history. Someday you, your kids or even grandkids may want to know what life was like now. This kit has great ideas for interviewing family and friends and saving memorable items. Kid testers loved the adjustable date stamp and photo storage sleeves. You'll like this gift today but even more in 20 years.

- Perfect Craft Heart Keepsake Box Kit

Skullduggery, $19.99.

Age 8 and older.

Mix learning and fun along with the plaster as you pour and mold a heart-shaped keepsake container. The mess is minimal. And there's enough material and paint for two boxes, so you can make one for Mom and keep the other for yourself. Watch what happens when water is mixed with the plaster powder. It's not magic - it's science.

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Build and play:

- Mega Construx American Girl McKenna's Gymnastics Competition

Mattel, $29.99.

Age 8 and older.

McKenna and her friend Toulane are going for the gold in gymnastics. Whether on the balance beam or uneven bars, they're confident that they'll be on the winners' podium when it's over. But just in case, there's a cast and crutches among the 302 pieces in this set. Will the girls have gold medals and flower bouquets when the event is over? You're the judge.

- Pharaoh's Pyramid

Playmobil, $69.99.

Age 6 and older.

It took thousands of workers 10-plus years to build the Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt. But they didn't have Playmobil's easy-to-assemble design. The mummy looks harmless, but watch out for tricky traps and puzzles, skeletons and spiders. As with all build sets, the small pieces are choking hazards, so be sure to keep them away from any King Tots in the house.

- Space Cruiser 12-in-1 Building Set

Laser Pegs, $42.99.

Ages 8 to 14.

Laser Pegs' family of light-up toys keeps growing. Like earlier kits (featuring dinos, race cars and trucks), there's not just one way to build this space cruiser. Follow the directions or don't. Either way it's fun. Then flip the switch and watch your creation glow and pulse. For bigger projects, the pieces work with other major blocks such as Lego and Magformers.

- Lego Creator 3-in-1 Park Street Townhouse

Lego, $49.99

Ages 7 to 12.

It's a three-level townhouse, a busy cafe and a two-story suburban home all in one box. Which do you want to build first? The townhouse folds out so you can enjoy the detailed interior, which includes a flat-screen TV and a fireplace. With 566 pieces, this set isn't for building-block beginners. But once it's done, you'll want to move right in.

- K'nex Lunar Launch Roller Coaster

K'nex, $69.99.

Age 9 and older.

If K'nex ruled the world, every kid would have an amusement park in his or her bedroom.

The company's newest ride is this lunar launch coaster. Stomp on the launchpad (no batteries!) and blast your rocket ship into space - four feet high, in this case. Toy testers agreed: Houston, we have no problem with this thrilling space adventure.

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Pricey, so ask Grandma:

- Star Wars Droid Inventor Kit

LittleBits, $99.95.

Age 8 and older.

The Force shows no sign of going away. So join the "Star Wars" crew and build your own mini R2-D2, complete with 20 sounds from the blockbuster films. You can play with the toy as is, but to really bring your droid to life, you'll need access to an iPad, iPhone or Android. The free app has 16 special missions and other challenges.

Love "Star Wars"? Check out the Simon Star Wars Darth Vader Game (Hasbro, $24.99, age 8 and older).

- Lego Friends Heartlake Hospital

Lego, $99.99.

Ages 7 to 12.

Jump into action when the helicopter or ambulance arrives at this three-story, fully equipped hospital. From the high-tech X-ray lab to the waiting-room fish tank, nothing has been left out. Once you've built the hospital, follow the doctor as she makes her rounds, and check on the newborn in the nursery. There's so much to see and do, the fun is infectious.

- Logan Everett

American Girl, $115.

Age 8 and older.

America didn't get its first female president in 2017, but it did get its first American Girl boy doll. Meet Logan, 18 inches of gray-eyed, brown-haired adorableness. He's the drummer in Tenney Grant's country western band. But if you want to hear him play, you'll have to also order his fab drum set ($68). Logan's hands have been specially formed so he can keep the beat.

- Lego Boost

Lego, $159.99.

Age 7 and older.

This toolbox introduces younger kids to simple computer coding. Build Vernie the robot (it can throw darts!), Frankie the cat (it purrs) or three other models. You need a tablet to download the free app that gets you started. (Compatible tablets are listed online.) Warning: Grandma may tsk-tsk at your robot's farting noises, but we think you'll love them.
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Ellen DeGeneres surprised a San Antonio military mom and her young daughter on national TV today with a video reunion.

Vanessa Villegas and daughter Ellie, 5, were invited on Ellen after a moving video of a the little girl opening a birthday present from her dad, U.S. Army Pvt. David Villegas, went viral.

During todays guest shot, the two were both thrilled and tearful when DeGeneres stunned them with a reunion via a live shot of Villegas, who is undergoing basic training in South Carolina.

Baby I love you so much, he told his family in the video.

The big TV moment followed another heartwarming video that showed Ellie receiving a Build-A-Bear from her dad, whos been away from the two for several months in Fort Jackson, S.C. The bear was dressed in army fatigues with a recorded message inside for her birthday.

DeGeneres also surprised the family with a check for $25,000 to help with finances, courtesy of Shutterfly, as well as American Girl dolls and accessories for Ellie.

Ellen airs at 3 p.m. weekdays on KENS-TV.

jjakle@express-news.net
(Xinhua) 10:32, November 01, 2017

Police officers stand guard near the site of an attack in lower Manhattan in New York, the United States, on Oct. 31, 2017. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio called on Tuesday a truck attack near the World Trade Center "an act of terror," in which eight people were killed and a dozen more injured. (Xinhua/Li Muzi)

NEW YORK, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- Eight people were killed and a dozen more injured after a truck plowed into pedestrians near the World Trade Center in New York City, the mayor said on Tuesday.

Based on the information authorities had at the moment, the incident was "a particularly cowardly act of terror aimed at innocent civilians," Mayor Bill de Blasio said at a press conference.

Speaking at the conference alongside with the mayor, New York City Police Commissioner James O' Neil said the suspect was a 29-year-old man who was not from New York.

At 3:05 p.m., a male driving a rented Home Depot pickup truck entered the West Side Highway bicycle path at Houston Street, according to O' Neil. He said the man began driving southbound, striking a number of pedestrians and bicyclists along the route.

At Chambers Street, the truck collided with a school bus, injuring two adults and two children, according to the police.

After the collision, the driver exited the vehicle, holding up a paintball gun and a pellet gun. He was shot in the stomach by a police officer but survived and arrested. He was then sent to a hospital.

Reports said that the driver shouted "Allahu Akbar," which means "God is great" in Arabic.

O'Neil was asked to confirm whether the driver made such statement at the press conference. He said that the driver "did make a statement when he exited the vehicle" although he declined to elaborate on it.

Local media reported that law enforcement officials who spoke on condition of anonymity identified the driver as Sayfullo Habibullaevic Saipov.

He has a Florida driver's license and may have lived in the city of Tampa. He rented the vehicle in New Jersey, said media.

Reports said the man might come to the United States in 2010 from Uzbekistan.

Local media said that Saipov left a note in the truck claiming he committed the attack on behalf of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.

The police declined to confirm the above information and gave no further details on his background as the investigation is underway to find out his motive for the attack.

Video footage shot by an office clerk working in the 52-story 7 World Trade Center building showed that all main streets around the usually bustling financial district had been vacated, with only police vehicles spotted moving or parking in the area.

The female clerk, who asked to be identified only by her surname Jiang, told Xinhua that she and her colleagues were advised by police to stay in the building until further notice.

An eyewitness named John Williams said "When I was walking down the street towards the incident, I saw a group of women and children were running towards me, one of them was saying 'he has a gun, he has a gun.' I turned around and heard the gunshot about 30 seconds later."

"There was a white pickup truck with Home Depot logos. The front of the truck was completely smashed in and there was smoke," he added.

The attack occurred hours before an annual Halloween parade was to take place in lower Manhattan, which would be packed with thousands of people in costumes and masks.

Authorities said more police officers and resources were invested in iconic places in the city as a precaution, particularly along the route of the Halloween Parade.

Also at the press conference, New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo, who just hours ago wished New Yorkers a safe and happy Halloween, called the incident a "lone wolf" attack.

The governor said there was no evidence to suggest it was part of a wider plot.

U.S. President Donald Trump tweeted that, "In NYC, looks like another attack by a very sick and deranged person. Law enforcement is following this closely. NOT IN THE U.S.A.!"

According to preliminary information gathered by the Consulate General of China in New York, there were no reports of Chinese nationals killed or injured in the terror attack.

The incident is the deadliest terror attack that has hit the U.S. city with a population of over 8.5 million since the infamous 9/11 attacks in 2001.

On May 18 this year, one person was killed and 22 others were injured when a car plowed into pedestrians in Times Square, New York City. Though the incident highly resembled the one happening on Tuesday, authorities said there was no indication that it was an act of terrorism.
Dia de los Muertos, or "The Day of the Dead," is a Mexican celebration of the dead that have passed on into the next world.

According to National Geographic, the holiday recognizes death as a natural part of the human experience, a continuum with birth, childhood, and growing up to become a contributing member of the community. Its believed that during the holiday, our beloved dead join us to become the fun, invisible and highly honored guests of the party.

RELATED: Deceased honored in elaborate Day of the Dead festival

Now Playing: The build up to Dia de los Muertos, or the Day of the Dead, attracted thousands of revellers to Mexico City on Sunday for the annual Parade of the Catrinas. Thousands got their faces painted in the iconic Catrina style and paraded down Republic of Salvador Street in the nation's capital wearing all sorts of macabre but elegant costumes on Saturday. Video: Ruptly TV

The holiday is traditionally spread over the first two days in November. By region, it is celebrated in different ways. For some, Nov. 1 is called Dia de los Inocentes, and it honors the children that have died. The next day, Nov. 2, is Dia de los Muertos officially, and it honors adults who have passed on.

The holiday has become something of a companion piece to Halloween, where most revelers stay in costume at least one more day. The altars, the sugar skulls, and the makeup are its hallmarks, along with festive parties. Compared to the holiday that comes the day before, its brightly colored and joyous.

More for you Day of the Dead in Houston

The holiday is now a big part of American pop culture, with even non-Hispanics getting sugar skull tattoos and decorating their homes with customary iconography. What was once a distinctly Latin American tradition has now made inroads across all societal boundaries.

Some critics say that there has been disrespectful appropriation of the holiday for party hardy, less reverent needs. These critics assert that some Anglos treat it like Cinco De Mayo, with nary a thought of the heritage behind it.

RELATED: El Big Bad celebrates Halloween and Dia de los Muertos

In multicultural Houston, Dia de los Muertos is celebrated with mini music festivals, bar events, community center bashes, and plenty of refreshments.

It won't be hard to find sugar skulls aplenty and people of all ages in makeup on Wednesday honoring their departed loved ones with merriment, food, and song.

Craig Hlavaty is a reporter for Chron.com and HoustonChronicle.com. He's an intolerable native Texan with too much ink in his skin and too much brisket stuck in his teeth.
The American Civil Liberties Union on Tuesday filed a lawsuit demanding the federal government return to her family a 10-year-old girl who is in government custody after being put into deportation proceedings last week by Border Patrol agents who followed her to a hospital.

In its lawsuit, the ACLU alleged that Rosa Maria Hernandez, who has cerebral palsy and is at a San Antonio child care facility, is being unlawfully detained and should be allowed to return to her family in Laredo and continue treatment after undergoing gall bladder surgery last week.
The business world is harsh and unforgiving. You've seen the statistic that 90 percent of startups are bound to fail within the five years. Is that because these are bad business ideas?

Not all of them. When a good business idea fails it's usually because the founders were unable to fit into the market environment. I've concluded there are three things you need to know about adapting to the world of business.

Related: How to Start a Business With (Almost) No Money

Cut it out if it fails.

I wrote about a controversial problem my students have when they trade. The main problem is that people are rigid. They see a stock fall and they insist on waiting in the vain hoping that it's going to come back up again. From experience, I know that this almost never works. You need firm criteria for when to cut and run.

For example, the firm Swiss Space Systems recently declared bankruptcy due to financial difficulties. They attempted to create low-cost, reusable satellite launchers. The industry didn't want it and the industry was opposed to it.

When everyone is screaming at you that your product isn't working, you shouldn't keep persisting. When something is failing you don't keep pouring money into it. Adaptability means you have to cut out the things that aren't working.

Related: How to Start a Business: a Step-by-Step Guide to Growing Your Big Idea Into a Successful Company

Don't get married to one product.

Most entrepreneurs have failed at some point in their history. I know I have made many bad business decisions. What I've learned is that to adapt you need to be able to switch from one product to another. Don't become tied to one product.

Do you remember Pets.com from the 1990s? The business idea was simple. It was Amazon for pets but the idea was ahead of its time. When it didn't catch on they had nowhere to go because they were married to a single idea and a single function. Like many other dot-com businesses, Pets.com was a failure.

It goes back to the previous point. If something isn't working, you should cut it out. And in this case I'm an advocate of saying that it could be the entire business, if necessary.

Related: 12 Low-Cost Business Ideas for Introverts

Adapt and keep adapting.

The art of adaptation is to keep adapting until you succeed. Broaden yourself to new ideas continuously. My student, Roland, once had a conflict with his father, who was a valued investor. But, Roland broadened his horizons with my more short-term trading approach, and he turned four figures into six figures in a year.

Take Thomas Edison as another example. He held more than 1000 patents in his lifetime. (many of which were failures). Elon Musk is another such entrepreneur. He has gone into everything from finance, to the auto industry, to space. Adaptation means persistence on a broader scale. It doesn't mean banging your head against a wall expecting a different result.

Related: 63 Businesses to Start for Under $10,000

Last word: Succeeding in business

Business is about adaptation because you never know what's around the corner. Adaptation isn't an easy process by any means, but it's key in any business and must be learned in order to be successful.

Related:

These #10 Superwomen are Breaking the 'Glass Ceiling' With Their Business Acumen

If Your Boss Asks You to Do Something Unethical, Would You Do it?

#10 Ways To Go Green in Business



Copyright 2017 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved



This article originally appeared on entrepreneur.com


BARCELONA - Catalonia's feisty independence advocates are as pro-European as they come. But they are discovering that E.U. leaders are not returning their love.

Deep into a crisis in which the separatist region declared independence from Spain, only to be taken over by the Madrid government, many pro-E.U. Catalans say they are disappointed that the European Union has done little to defend them. Hopes had been high enough to lead their ousted leader, Carles Puigdemont, to seek a Brussels exile to drum up E.U. support for their cause.

But the European Union has largely followed Madrid's lead - that the conflict is domestic and that the E.U. has little right to intrude. With Britain's impending divorce from the E.U. and other regions contemplating breakaway attempts, E.U. leaders want to avoid any further cracks in their united front.

The conflict puts European leaders in an awkward position. They could stand by as independence advocates face a bloody response from Spanish police, as happened during Catalonia's Oct. 1 independence referendum; or they could push hard against Madrid, which could appear to be an endorsement of a separatist effort that has split Catalonia's population in two.

"Many people feel very disappointed by the way that the European Union, the European institutions and European governments have reacted," said Jordi Sole, a pro-independence member of the European Parliament, an elected legislative body of the E.U. where Catalan politicians have received a cold shoulder. He said he thought Catalans' faith in the E.U. had been damaged in recent weeks.

Throughout the independence effort, Catalonia's leaders have been careful to keep the European Union's blue-and-gold flag alongside their own, even as they furled the national flag of Spain. Their dreams of living as a free nation are made possible in part by the European ideal that borders are outmoded, and that European citizens can travel and work from Portugal to Estonia's frontier with Russia without once flashing a passport.

"Economic integration in Europe has helped stateless nations like Catalonia to raise the stakes when it talks about independence," Sole said. "Because the fact that there are no borders anymore, no customs, that has decreased the potential cost of becoming an independent state."

But it turns out that many European leaders are not interested in allowing Catalonia to join their club. Some defended Spain's tough response to the referendum, a step that Catalan separatists found especially galling.

"Let me be clear: Violence does not solve anything in politics. It is never an answer, never a solution. And it can never be used as a weapon or instrument," European Commission First Vice President Frans Timmermans said last month.

"None of us want to see violence in our societies," he said. "However, it is a duty for any government to uphold the law, and this sometimes does require the proportionate use of force."

That response caused Miquel Bada, a Catalan Internet entrepreneur, to shake his head.

"We are upset about this lack of reaction," he said.

The European Union's predecessor was a particular lodestar for Catalans during the dictatorship of Francisco Franco, when many expressions of Catalan cultural identity were repressed. Spain's 1986 membership in the European club heartened many in the region. Now, a European identity is tightly bound into a Catalan one.

"The main argument against the independence movement is the possibility of the exclusion from Europe," said Josep Ramoneda, the director of the European School of Humanities in Barcelona. "If people think that this is not possible, then support for independence falls immediately."

Even as Puigdemont emerged in exile, he hailed European ideals in his plans to further the region's cause.

"I have decided to come to Belgium, no, to Brussels, the capital of Europe, to work without threats," Puigdemont told a crowded Brussels news conference on Tuesday.

But European leaders have largely lumped the Catalans in with the other whirlwind forces challenging the stability of the 28-nation bloc, which will shrink to 27 members after Britain leaves in 2019.

Belgium - where Puigdemont is still debating whether to apply for asylum - is one prime example of the dilemma. Flemish nationalist politicians inside the ruling coalition have welcomed the Catalan leader inside their country, in part because they view Catalonia's struggle for independence as akin to their own efforts to form an independent Flanders. But Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel, a pro-unity leader of a different party, has reacted to Puigdemont's presence in his country with exasperation.

Many European officials say they have little alternative than to endorse the rule of the Spanish state, even as they push against violence in private. They also point to opinion polls that show that less than half of Catalan residents actually support independence, even as that percentage is growing.

"If we let Catalonia become independent - but it's not our business - others will do it, and I wouldn't want that," said European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, who heads the branch of the European bureaucracy charged with enforcing that member states live up to European rules, including human rights.

"I don't want a European Union comprised of 98 states in 15 years," Juncker told students in Luxembourg in mid-October, adding that he had pressed Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy not to allow the situation to spiral out of control.

Another top European official, European Council President Donald Tusk, echoed that sentiment after Catalonia's declaration of independence on Friday.

"For E.U. nothing changes. Spain remains our only interlocutor. I hope the Spanish government favors force of argument, not argument of force," Tusk wrote on Twitter.

The pushback has frustrated many Catalans.

"It was our hope that the more European we would become, the more rights and opportunities we would have," said Ramon Tremosa, a pro-independence member of the European Parliament. "In the sense of human rights, we expected more from the European Union."

Some Catalans with E.U. experience say that they are not shocked that Europeans have not rallied to their cause. But they say they have been surprised that Europe has not pushed more forcefully against the violence during the referendum and at other efforts to suppress the poll.

"It's quite clear that the central E.U. institutions would never support a political movement that would lead to the split of a member state," said Albert Royo, who was the secretary general of the Public Diplomacy Council of Catalonia, the region's foreign affairs organization, until it was shut down by Spanish authorities on Friday.

"What is happening in Catalonia is a stress test for the whole of the E.U. Because it's quite easy for you to raise your hand when this is happening in Bosnia or Turkey or elsewhere. But when it's happening in one of the main E.U. countries, then this is a real challenge," Royo said.

---

Braden Phillips contributed to this report.
Alex Wong | Getty Images

The congressional inquiry into how Russian propaganda influenced the outcome of the 2016 continues today, and representatives from tech powerhouses Facebook, Google and Twitter are all in Washington, D.C., to be questioned by the Senate Intelligence Committee and the House Intelligence Committee.

Google, Twitter and Facebook, all publicly traded companies, have been criticized in the past for being unclear about their practices, particularly Facebook and Twitter about how they handle content moderation. But being put under federal scrutiny will require them to lay out as clearly as possible what they know, and what they are going to do to fix the issue.
(Xinhua) 13:11, November 01, 2017

WASHINGTON, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday vowed to defeat the Islamic State group after a terrorist attack in New York killed eight people.

"In NYC, looks like another attack by a very sick and deranged person. Law enforcement is following closely," he tweeted.

"We must not allow ISIS to return, or enter, our country after defeating them in the Middle East and elsewhere, Enough!" he added.

Trump also offered his "thoughts, condolences and prayers to the victims and families" of the the attack.

A man driving a rented pickup truck plowed into pedestrians near the World Trade Center in New York City on Tuesday afternoon, killing eight people and wounding dozens, police said.

Describing it a terrorist attack, Trump vowed to clamp down on the Islamic State, an extremist group that was born in the Middle East and has carried out deadly attacks in America and Europe in recent years.

U.S. State Department Spokeswoman Heather Nauert said Tuesday that the State Department is closely monitoring the situation.

"We extend our condolences to the families of the victims and our prayers for recovery to those affected by this terrible act of terrorism in New York City," said Nauert in a statement.

U.S. Vice President Mike Pence said "the U.S. people stand with NYC after today's cowardly act of terror. When terrorist bring violence, America always brings justice and resolve."

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said it is committed to "safeguarding" the country in face of terrorist attacks.

"We have recently seen attacks like this one throughout the world. DHS and its law enforcement partners remain vigilant and committed to safeguarding the American people," it said in a statement.

Nancy Pelosi, the minority leader in the House of Representatives, called the attack a "despicable act of terror in Manhattan," and urged fellow politicians to be "not reckless and rash."
For anyone logging time on the far right corners of the internet, this coming Saturday is not just another autumn weekend but the potential start date of an apocalyptic showdown.

Infowars has warned "Antifa Plans 'Civil War' to Overthrow the Government." The John Birch Society put out two recent videos warning Americans to "stay home and tell your children to do likewise" on Saturday. YouTuber "A Glock Fanboy" notched more than 400,400 views for a clip raising the alarm about "the first day of the revolution or whatnot."

"Honestly, I'm happy," the YouTuber told his followers. "Dude, we've been on the verge of the great war for what seems like forever and I'm just ready to get it going."

While Nov. 4 has become a rallying point on the conservative landscape - complete with a hashtag "civilwar2017 - down on the other far end of the political spectrum, the reality is equally significant. The left-leaning group Refuse Fascism is planning rallies across the country on Saturday, the first step in a large-scale, long game demonstration organizers hope will achieve nothing less than the unseating of the Trump administration.

"We formed this organization around two main points," Andy Zee, one of the group's organizers, told The Washington Post. "One is that the nightmare must end, and second, in the name of humanity we must refuse to accept a fascist America."

Zee maintains that Refuse Fascism is committed to nonviolent protest, and scoffs at the ideas floating through the far right of antifa supersoldiers waging war on mainstream society. If anything, the jarring disconnect over Nov. 4 shows how easily facts are eaten alive by social media and regurgitated as conspiracy theory. The possible violence coloring that disconnect illustrates how truly ideologically isolated the two sides are from one another.

"It's absurd. Calling for a civil war?" Zee said. "Pick a date for a civil war? Honestly, what do you say to this?"

Zee's group does have big plans for the weekend - and beyond. He tells The Post the group is organizing demonstrations on Saturday in more than a dozen locations, including New York City, Los Angeles, Seattle, and San Francisco.

Tapping the same kind of energy unleashed in the Occupy Wall Street movement and Women's March, Refuse Fascism hopes to spark regular protests against the administration, daily actions that will snowball until "every day there are tens of thousands of people protesting, creating a political crisis in the country with international repercussions, and where you do get a reaction from those in power that they have to do something about it," Zee said.

The blueprint here, Zee told The Post, is the South Korean mass protest movement that began in October 2016 and eventually led to President Park Geun-hye's removal from office last March. "What we are trying to unleash is a process of continuous protest," Zee said. "We can't just wait for the other shoe to drop. We've been saying from the beginning, with fascism, it can be too late."

Zee is admittedly less clear on what that peaceful regime change would look like in the United States. "Impeachment, the 25th Amendment, they will determine the means and ways when it becomes clear there is a tremendous crisis of confidence," the organizer said. The key is sending the message.

That message, however, so far has largely been lost in translation online. Rumbles about planned Nov. 4 demonstrations began circulating on the internet this summer, according to Will Sommer, The Hill editor who pens Right Richter newsletter. In September, a small group of Refuse Fascism organizers made a splash when they blocked traffic on Highway 101 in Los Angeles and held up signs reading "NOV 4 IT BEGINS," LA Weekly reported.

Video clips of the demonstration accelerated the online panic over what could be planned for Nov. 4. More speculation was fueled by the involvement of the Revolutionary Communist Party, and many began to label the outing as an antifa event.

"On their website, they are calling for an open civil war that they will start here in the United States in November," a YouTuber named Jordan Peltz said in a clip that went viral. "They are fundraising for weapons, training, ammunition, suppliers. They are not hiding this. They are openly fundraising so they can attack."

"The end game here is martial law," one video warns, "is provoking Republicans, patriots, whatever, you and me, into this huge battle, whether it's just fighting or whether it's guns. What they will do is they will throw up their arms and say, 'I told you so, they're violent' . . . They want us out there, with our weapons so the government will commence with martial law. And then, I believe, serious gun control-slash-confiscation."

"Make sure you got enough ammo, make sure your guns are ready," another poster advised in a clip with more than 110,000 views. "You have to understand these are vicious, vicious people. Your life means nothing to them. In fact, if you're a white man, you don't deserve to live."

Infowars provocateur Alex Jones announced in a video that antifa was "going to lose on November 4 and every day after that, because they're a bunch of meth-head pieces of crap."

Refuse Fascism's Zee denies all that speculation.

The organization is engaged with a broad coalition of groups, including the Revolutionary Communist Party, but they have committed to Refuse Fascism's nonviolence stance.

On their website, Refuse Fascism also makes clear they see "NO moral 'equivalence' between those seeking to impose white supremacy and fascism, and those fighting against this nightmare."

Zee told The Post his group does "uphold the legal right to self-defense, but we don't initiate violence and we oppose violence." He added violence would only feed into the negative image of the group. "We are not looking to get involved in that kind of situation," he said. "We are in the fight for hears and minds of people to recognize the stakes."

Still, the online hysterics over Nov. 4 have put the demonstrations in the potential the crosshairs of extremists.

"Its utter lunacy on these sites. If you read their stuff, and people are believing it," the organizer added. "They are calling for people to bring their weapons to the demonstrations. We just have to outnumber them."
The Navy has found that two ship collisions that combined to kill 17 sailors at sea were preventable and caused in part by "multiple failures" by service members who were standing watch the nights of the incidents, the service said Wednesday.

The USS Fitzgerald and the USS John S. McCain, both guided-missile destroyers, suffered catastrophic collisions June 17 and Aug. 21, respectively. The Fitzgerald accident killed seven sailors off the southern coast of Japan, while the McCain collision killed 10 sailors near Singapore.

Adm. John Richardson, the chief of naval operations, said Wednesday in a statement upon releasing the investigation results that the service must do better.

"We are a Navy that learns from mistakes and the Navy is firmly committed to doing everything possible to prevent an accident like this from happening again," Richardson said. "We must never allow an accident like this to take the lives of such magnificent young Sailors and inflict such painful grief on their families and the nation."

The Fitzgerald collision was attributed to its watch teams disregarding established ways of contacting other ships and required safety precautions that were in place. The investigation found that at about 11 p.m. on June 16, the ship's top two officers - Cmdr. Bryce Benson, the ship's captain, and Cmdr. Sean Babbitt, the ship's executive officer, left the ship's bridge for the evening.

By 1 a.m., the Fitzgerald was moving past Japan's Oshima Island, and approached three merchant ships from the starboard, or right, side of the ship. There was "minimal" distance between the Fitzgerald and the other vessels, and all three presented a collision hazard, the investigation found.

The Navy determined that the Fitzgerald was in a crossing situation with each vessel, meaning it was the sailors' obligations to take maneuvering action to avoid them. But in the 30 minutes leading up to the collision, neither the Fitzgerald nor the much larger MV ACX Crystal, a Philippine-flagged container ship, did so until just a minute prior to the disaster.

The investigation faulted the officer of the deck, who was not named in the documents, for failing to maneuver as needed, sound the danger alarm on the ship, contact the Crystal or call his own captain, as required.

"Initially, the Officer of the Deck intended to take no action, mistaking CRYSTAL to be another of the two vessels with a greater closest point of approach," the investigation found. "Eventually, the Officer of the Deck realized that FITZGERALD was on a collision course with CRYSTAL, but this recognition was too late."

Benson, Babbitt and the senior enlisted sailor of the ship, Command Master Chief Brice Baldwin, were cited for being absent from the bridge at the time of the crash, "during an evolution where their experience, guidance and example would have greatly benefited the ship," the Navy found. They were removed from their jobs in August.

In the McCain collision, the ship's captain, Cmdr. Alfredo Sanchez, and executive officer, Cmdr. Jessie Sanchez, were on the bridge, but confusion about how the ship's steering work caused chaos.

The investigation found that it was about 5:19 a.m. on Aug. 21 when the ship's captain noticed that the ship's helmsman, who was steering the vessel, was having difficulty maintaining course while in a congested ship corridor. In response, the captain put a second sailor in charge of shifting speed control while keeping the steering with the helmsman. The decision prompted confusion, with the sailors thinking that steering also had been transferred to the second sailor even though it had not.

The helmsman reported a loss of steering, prompting the commanding officer to order the ship's speed from 10 knots to five knots. But the second sailor reduced the speed only on one the ship's rear shaft, steering it toward the Alnic MC, a much larger oil tanker.

"Although JOHN S MCCAIN was now on a course to collide with ALNIC, the Commanding Officer and others on the ship's bridge lost situational awareness," the investigation recounted. "No one on the bridge clearly understood the forces acting on the ship, nor did they understand the ALNIC's course and speed relative to JOHN S MCCAIN during the confusion."

Three minutes after the steering problems were reported, the McCain's crew regained control. But it was too late, and the ships collided at 5:24 a.m.

"The collision was felt throughout the ship," the investigation report said. "Watchstanders on the bridge were jolted from their stations momentarily and watchstanders in aft steering were thrown off their feet. Several suffered minor injuries. Some Sailors thought the ship had run aground, while others were concerned that they had been attacked. Sailors in parts of the ship away from the impact point compared it to an earthquake. Those nearest the impact point described it as like an explosion."

The investigation found that the McCain collision "resulted primarily from complacency, overconfidence and lack of procedural compliance." It added that "with regard to procedures, no one on the Bridge watch team, to include the commanding officer and executive officer, were properly trained on how to correctly operate the ship control console during a steering casualty."

The two senior officers were removed from their positions last month.
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More than 120 residents of neighborhoods north of Vidor filed suit against the federal government Wednesday, alleging the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers knowingly flooded their homes by releasing water from Dam B and B.A. Steinhagen Lake after Harvey dumped feet of rain on Southeast Texas.

In the petition, filed in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims in Washington, D.C., the Wexford Park, Warwick Park and Inwood Acres residents claim that the flooding of their homes constitutes taking their private property without compensation, violating the Fifth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

The houses, north of Vidor off Texas 105, "were not flooded and suffered almost no damage" On Aug. 28 and 29, when more than two feet of rain fell, the petition alleges. After the rain stopped on Aug. 30 and 31, residents "began to observe water steadily rising and coming into their neighborhoods," becoming "extremely dire" and requiring rescues and evacuations, attorney David Bernsen wrote in the petition.

The suit alleges that the property "would not have flooded but for Defendants' intentional releases of water from Dam B, Steinhagen Lake, and/or the Sam Rayburn Reservoir."

Dam B, between Woodville and Jasper, is also known as Town Bluff Dam and forms Steinhagen Lake on the Neches River.

According to their website, the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers manages the dam with a mission "to assist Sam Rayburn Reservoir in providing flood control to the Angelina and Neches River basins in Southeast Texas, supply water to the Lower Neches Valley Authority and the Beaumont area, produce a clean source of electric generation, and to offer some of the best fishing, camping, and birding in Texas."

On Aug. 29, the Corps announced that historic discharges from the dam were expected because of Harvey's rainfall. "B.A. Steinhagen/Town Bluff Lake release rates have been increased to over 44,100 cubic feet per second and it is anticipated that releases will exceed those experienced in the 2015 floods," the Corps said.

The releases led to mandatory evacuations of areas along the river, including the dire warning from Tyler County Emergency Management to "GET OUT OR DIE" on Aug. 30.

That warning was cited in the suit, along with evacuations in other counties and communications from the Corps, as proof that the federal agency knew releasing the dam would cause "catastrophic damages" downstream.

The plaintiffs are seeking compensation for actual damages, costs of repairs, the loss in value of their property and legal costs for the suit.

"When you're little and you do something wrong, you're held accountable," plaintiff Jeremy Raley said Tuesday. "If somebody did this, knowingly, willingly, somebody has to be held accountable."

Like others in the neighborhood, Raley had water up to the eaves of his home, causing structural damage. His family fled without any of their possessions. When he returned to the house, he salvaged their wedding rings from the muddy remains, he said.

"My husband's worked so hard for everything we've had," all of which was destroyed, said plaintiff Sandy Stevenson. Her family, along with three other sets of relatives, are staying with her aunt while they try to find a camper for their yard. They don't expect to back into their home until after Christmas.

Other plaintiffs listed include Vidor ISD superintendent Jay Killgo and Vidor High School head football coach Jeff Mathews.

The suit follows others filed against the Corps for damages to Houston-area homes.

More than 70 federal suits have been filed on behalf of more than 800 homeowners and businesses damaged by releases from the Addicks and Barker reservoirs, the Houston Chronicle reported, in addition to several state suits seeking damages from the Harris County Flood Control District and San Jacinto River Authority.

LTeitz@BeaumontEnterprise.com

https://twitter.com/lizteitz#mce_temp_url#
Social media can be a great equalizer. You can use it to connect with customers, fellow entrepreneurs and people who you admire. But theres also a distinct downside to anyone with a Twitter account being able to reach out to you.

On Monday, amid an ongoing investigation, President Donald Trumps former campaign manager Paul Manafort and campaign aide Richard Gates were indicted by a federal jury on 12 counts, including conspiring to launder money, acting as unregistered agents of Ukraine, providing false statements and failing to file reports on foreign bank accounts. Manafort and Gates both pled not guilty.
SEBEWAING  In the last two years, a grassroots movement has worked to rejuvenate and enhance the look of downtown Sebewaing.

The community will learn how well it has done during a special event from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Nov. 9 in the Sebewaing Township Library Community Room, located at 27 N. Center St.

At that time, Michigan State University will host a free community forum, First Impressions: Assessing Your Community for Tourism.

The assessment of a first impression a community makes to first-time visitors helps a community learn about its strengths and weaknesses.

The free event is open to business owners, elected officials, village residents and anyone who is interested in the future of Sebewaing and surrounding area. Registration is requested, and available at http://events.anr.msu.edu/FIT2017Sebewaing.

Earlier this year, Sebewaing village officials applied to be part of the First Impressions program that Michigan State University offered. When the request was approved, four tourists visited the community unannounced.

The event will outline the results of that visit and the first impressions that were made. The program will also include suggestions and guidance for moving forward.

The community has already taken steps on its own to revitalize the downtown area.

Earlier this month, the community hosted its annual Moonlight Madness event along with fire on the river. Businesses hosted specials, which has been done for several years, but then the event started to include floating bonfires on the Sebewaing River. This years event included adding decorative lighting over the Center Street Bridge, music, and a wide variety of vendors. There was a tremendous turnout for the event with several hundred people attending.

Because of the rejuvenation effort, several vacant stores are now open or will soon open with new businesses.

For more information, call the Sebewaing Village Office at 989-883-2150, or email office@SebewaingMI.gov.
Americans are getting our first glimpse of how we got played.

On Wednesday, Congress released some of the 3,000 Facebook ads and Twitter accounts created by Russian operatives to sway American voters.

These disturbing messages, seen by up to 126 million Americans, raise thorny questions about Silicon Valley's responsibility for vetting the information it publishes. Beyond Washington, it leaves all of us who use social media to keep up with friends, share photos and follow news wondering: How'd the Russians get to me?

The short answer is Silicon Valley made it very easy.

Facebook's top lawyer told Congress on Wednesday the Russian effort was "fairly rudimentary." Here's what he meant: Ever notice a Facebook ad that's eerily relevant to something you've been talking about? Had an ad for a pair of sneakers follow you around the Internet for a week? Or seen an ad that says your friend "liked" it?

That's the occasionally creepy handiwork of advertising tech, which covertly tracks much of what you do online-and then sells access to you to the highest bidder. We're just now waking up to the fact that not only traditional marketers and legitimate political campaigns are buying in. It's also Russian trolls hoping to manipulate you.

You were in Russia's crosshairs if you liked the Facebook page of Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton. Same goes for people who said they were fans of Martin Luther King, Jr. Russians even targeted people who shared enough stuff about the South that Facebook tagged them being interested in "Dixie."

There's no way to tell if you personally saw a Russian post or tweet. I'd certainly like to know, but Facebook so far hasn't disclosed to individuals if they were exposed to posts from a troll farm called the Internet Research Agency. (Ads paid for by that group made up the bulk of a trove published on Wednesday.)

Facebook lawyer Colin Stretch on Wednesday told Congress the social network had notified Facebook members broadly about the issue, but it would be "much more challenging" to identify and notify specific people.

Facebook's advertising systems are largely automated, so no human had to check before these ads went online. Often they originated from groups with legitimate-sounding names, such as "Donald Trump America." Facebook and Twitter have now taken down posts they suspect to have "inauthentic" Russian roots and instituted new review systems. Legislators are threatening new laws that could further rein them in.

Of course, you didn't have to click on these posts, or believe what they were pitching. But social media tech is particularly good at making messages irresistible. The Russian trolls didn't have to spend much money on these marketing techniques to have an impact thanks to precision targeting-and free promotion for buzzy content.

The most basic tool they used is called targeted advertising. By watching what you and your friends share and do on-and off-the social network, Facebook slots you into categories. Some are demographic (age, state, gender) and others are based on things you've "liked" and the assumptions Facebook draws about your interests. Facebook will actually show you what it thinks of you, if you click here. (It also lets you edit the categories; doing so could make its ad targeting even more effective.)

The Internet Research Agency bought ads targeted to people with diverse criteria, ranging from gay and lesbian groups to the Muslim Brotherhood.

The Russian agents also used an ad technique based on tracking and following certain people around the Web. For example, if you at some point clicked on a troll website masquerading as legitimate, the site's tech could identify your web browser and allow the trolls to "re-target" ads to you elsewhere around the web. On Facebook, Russian operatives used a tool called Custom Audiences to target people in such ways.

Most effective of all: Russian trolls used celebrities-and our own friends-to get to us. For free. For example, in April of 2016, rapper Nicki Minaj retweeted a message about an upsetting shooting from the twitter handle @Ten_GOP. That account looked like it was the Tennessee Republican Party, but it was actually a Russian troll interested in inflammatory content. Minaj's post was retweeted and "liked" more than 24,600 times. (For the record, the actual Tennessee Republican Party told The Washington Post that they had contacted Twitter three times about their impersonator problem).

You or your friends might have shared one of these posts on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest or beyond, which the industry calls "organic" promotion. These posts reached way more than the 10 million people who saw paid ads. On Facebook alone, they found their way in front of the eyes of 126 million Americans.
President Donald Trump said Wednesday that he is considering sending the Uzbek immigrant accused of killing eight people in Tuesday's terrorist attack in New York to the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and that he has begun dismantling the diversity visa lottery program through which the terror suspect came to the United States.

"I am today starting the process of terminating the diversity lottery program," Trump told reporters at the White House during a meeting with his Cabinet. "I am going to ask Congress to immediately initiate work to get rid of this program."
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WASHINGTON - Debate intensified in President Donald Trump's political circle on Tuesday over how aggressively to confront Special Counsel Robert Mueller, dividing some of the president's advisers and loyalists as the Russia investigation enters a new phase following charges against three former Trump campaign officials.

Despite his growing frustration with an investigation he has roundly dismissed, Trump has been cooperating with Mueller and lately has resisted attacking him directly, at the urging of his attorneys inside and outside the White House.

But a number of prominent Trump allies, including former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon, have said they believe the president's posture is too timid. Seeing the investigation as a political threat, they are urging a more combative approach to Mueller that would damage his credibility and effectively kneecap his investigation.

Still, Bannon and others are not advising Trump to fire Mueller, a rash move that the president's lawyers and political advisers oppose and insist is not under consideration.

Bannon in recent days has spoken with Trump by phone to relay his concerns about the president's position and to counsel a shift in strategy, according to three people with knowledge of the conversation. The president - so far - has not accepted Bannon's advice, these people said.

Bannon's view has been amplified elsewhere on the right, with talk-radio and cable-news commentators speaking out more forcefully against Mueller and his expanding probe. The Wall Street Journal editorial board has called on Mueller to resign. The Journal is part of News Corp., which is led by Rupert Murdoch, a friend of Trump's who speaks privately with the president.

But many in Trump's orbit recommend Trump stay the course with his strategy of cooperation.

"I like Steve, but his advice is not always the most helpful," said Christopher Ruddy, a Trump friend and the chief executive of Newsmax, a conservative media outlet. "In this case, whatever Steve says, the president should do the opposite."

The tensions extend to Capitol Hill, where Republican lawmakers have mostly split into two camps: those who are wary of weighing in on Mueller's investigation and those who see it as a prime political target.

Bannon is demanding that GOP leaders move aggressively to end congressional probes into Russian interference, undermine Mueller's investigation and increase scrutiny on Democratic controversies.

"The Republicans are like church mice," Bannon said Tuesday. "No support of the president. Totally gutless. The Hill needs to step up."

Senator Judiciary Committee Chairman Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, said he believes Republicans should proceed carefully and called Mueller a "very ethical person."

"I don't know how you could improve things by interfering," Grassley said. "The process just ought to go."

House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes, R-Calif., a trusted Trump ally, has launched an investigation into an Obama-era uranium deal and is preparing to invite witnesses later this week to testify about the FBI's handling of Russia investigations. Nunes intends to issue subpoenas if people decline to appear, according to people briefed on his plans.

Former House speaker Newt Gingrich, an informal Trump adviser who praised Mueller earlier this year after his appointment as special counsel, said he has slowly "soured" on the former FBI director and agreed that Congress should put a harsher national spotlight on him.

"Mueller ought to be held accountable," Gingrich said. He ticked through a series of what he considers questionable moves by Mueller and his team, including their handling of former Trump foreign policy adviser George Papadopoulos, who the government described in Monday's indictment as a "proactive cooperator."

"Congress should look seriously at whether Mueller put a wire on this guy and sent him around to entrap people," Gingrich said. "If that happened, Congress better see the full transcripts, not just the FBI's edited versions. Congress should also ask why they're raiding [former campaign chairman Paul] Manafort's home at 5 a.m. for a white-collar crime from a few years ago."

This sentiment is not heard at the White House, however, where officials have been careful not to antagonize the special counsel.

"Our approach has been to be cooperative and responsive and to see this come to a quick conclusion," White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said. "Have we been aggressive in our comments and our feelings towards the Clinton campaign and the DNC? Yes. But that's where our aggression is seen and nowhere else."

Ty Cobb, the White House lawyer overseeing Russia matters, said following Monday's indictments of Manafort and his longtime deputy, Rick Gates, "Nothing about today's events alters anything related to our engagement with the special counsel, with whom we continue to cooperate."

Cobb added, "There are no discussions and there is no consideration being given to terminating Mueller."

Republicans in Congress said Trump is wise to not try to mess with Mueller.

"There would be an uprising at the Capitol like never seen before if any kind of interference looked like it was taking place," Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., said. "Regardless of which side of the aisle. That's just beyond the pale."

Among Republicans, there is broad agreement to bring attention to past controversies involving Hillary Clinton, Trump's Democratic opponent in the 2016 campaign, which have animated hourly discussions on Fox News Channel and conservative talk-radio stations.

The White House and allies have waged a public relations battle over the Clinton campaign and Democratic National Committee's funding of research that resulted in the now-famous dossier that details Trump's alleged connections to Russia.

The dossier has become a lightning rod, with congressional Republican leaders trying to discredit Fusion GPS, the firm that commissioned the dossier, and the document's author, Christopher Steele, a former British intelligence officer with ties to the U.S. intelligence community.

Republicans also are trying to bring scrutiny to a 2010 uranium deal approved by the Obama administration, while Clinton was secretary of state. The deal - which Trump used as a political cudgel against Clinton during the campaign - allowed a Russian nuclear energy agency to acquire a controlling stake in a Canadian-based company that had mining licenses for about 20 percent of U.S. uranium extraction capacity, although the company cannot export uranium.

Fox News Channel host Sean Hannity, a Trump confidant, decried the lack of investigative attention on Clinton, a point the president and his top aides have made in recent days.

"This is not hyperbole," Hannity said Monday night in his on-air monologue, which the president is known to watch regularly. "I am not overstating the case. We are at a major crisis point in America tonight. Do we have equal justice under the law in this country today?"

Some Republican lawmakers have heeded these calls. House and Senate GOP leaders have announced two investigations into the uranium deal, while at least three congressional committees also are continuing to look into how the FBI handled Clinton's email scandal.

But there appears to be little appetite for legislation that would cut the funding or otherwise limit the scope of Mueller's investigation, something various Trump allies have suggested is necessary.

"My basic philosophy is, once you have an independent counsel, you ought to give him a chance to follow the facts," said Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Ala., a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee and the chairman of the subcommittee that handles the Justice Department's funding. "If somebody's doing a job, you don't want to cut it off."

Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, said, "The idea that Bob Mueller is going to have the scope of his inquiry constrained, or be otherwise restricted, is really out there. I think that's extremely unlikely."

---

The Washington Post's Karoun Demirjian and Sean Sullivan contributed to this report.
Sen. Bill Nelson on Wednesday unleashed a blistering attack against Jim Bridenstine, the Trump administration's nominee for NASA administrator, saying he not only lacks the technical and management experience but has been a partisan warrior whose behavior is an example of "why Washington is broken."

During Bridenstine's confirmation hearing Wednesday, Nelson, a Democrat from Florida, accused Bridenstine, a conservative Republican congressman from Oklahoma, of being a climate-change denier, backing legislation that discriminated against the LGBT community and acting as a divisive force in Washington.

"The NASA administrator should be a consummate space professional who is technically and scientifically competent and a skilled executive," said Nelson, who wields great influence over the space agency, in his written opening statement. "More importantly, the administrator must be a leader who has the ability to unite scientists, engineers, commercial space interests, policymakers and the public on a shared vision for future space exploration."

He added: "Frankly, congressman Bridenstine, I cannot see how you meet these criteria."

Supporters of Bridenstine, a Naval aviator and the former head of the Tulsa Air and Space Museum, have said that his views on climate change have evolved, and that he does not deny the effects of climate change. In his opening statement, Bridenstine said he would not only support NASA's mission to explore space, focusing on a return to human spaceflight from United States soil, but to continue to study Earth's climate.

If confirmed, he said he would "look forward to promoting the scientific community's priorities," and support efforts "that increase our understanding of the Earth as a system and can enable solutions to the most pressing issues we face on our home planet."

During the hearing, Bridenstine said he "absolutely" believes in climate change, that it is already having devastating effects and that humans contribute to it. But he deferred when asked if human activity was the leading cause, saying more study was needed. In response to questions, he vowed to protect the integrity of NASA's research and to keep it an "apolitical" organization that should be driven by science not politics.

Since being nominated, Bridenstine has received some high-profile endorsements, including from Sens. Ted Cruz, R-Tex., and Richard Shelby, R-Ala., but also from Buzz Aldrin, the second man to walk on the moon, and some key industry groups, such as the Commercial Spaceflight Foundation.

In the House, where he has served since 2013, he has been recognized as a leader on space issues and was the sponsor of a wide-ranging bill, known as the American Space Renaissance Act, which touched on national security, how to manage space debris and regulating the commercial space industry.

But a growing chorus of opponents have spoken out against him, including Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., saying his opposition to same-sex marriage and the Violence Against Women Act made him unfit. "It is clear Representative Bridenstine would move us backwards not forwards," she said in a statement, urging the Commerce, Science and Transporation committee to vote against his nomination.

Nelson said he was offended by Bridenstine's comments criticizing Democrats and Republicans working across the aisle to pass legislation. He noted that Bridenstine had not only called former President Barack Obama "dishonest, incompetent and vengeful," but that he has also supported Arizona Sen. John McCain's opponent in the GOP primary and attacked Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., for working with Democrats on immigration.

Bridenstine said his activity as a congressman, representing the interests of his district, would be very different than the way he would act as NASA administrator. Politics, he said, had no part in the space agency. He also said that "I do believe, from my heart, that every human being has dignity and worth and each person should be treated as though they are a valued member of the team."

But Nelson wasn't convinced.

"NASA needs a leader who will unite us, not divide us," he said. "Respectfully, congressman Bridenstine, I don't think you're that leader."
Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev on Tuesday wished readers of Peoples Daily Online good luck, calling for better bilateral relations between the two nations and their people.

Many thanks to Chinese netizens who keep a watchful eye on the development of Sino-Russian relations. [We] hope to gain your continuous attention and wish you good luck! said Medvedev at the end of a live webcast held by Peoples Daily Online, where he fielded questions from Chinese netizens.

This is the second time that the Russian prime minister talked to Chinese netizens via Peoples Daily Online. In 2007, he took part in a similar activity and answered questions online. Medvedevs visit to China has received a warm welcome from the Chinese public, who dubbed his friendly gestures as a boost for the two nations solid relations and cooperation.

As of Tuesday, Chinese netizens raised over 92,00 questions, covering a wide range of topics, including Sino-Russian relations, the two nations future cooperation plans, and the prime ministers personal life and interests.

Starting from Tuesday, Medvedevs visit to China will last two days. During his visit, the prime minister will hold talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang.
ELKLAND TOWNSHIP  U.S. Rep. Paul Mitchell visited a Cass City area farm Monday to discuss the 2018 Farm Bill, tax reform and trade with a small group of farmers.

Tuscola County Farm Bureau hosted the Dryden Republican at Milligan Farms, LLC.

Concerns from those in the ag industry ranged from filter strip maintenance to proposed 401k changes to NAFTA.

With Canada and Mexico respectively No. 1 and No. 3 destinations for U.S. agricultural products, famers were concerned about maintaining the gains seen from NAFTA, according to Farm Bureau officials.

"From our industry, a protectionist perspective  saying we're just going to keep our products in country and keep all of yours out  that doesn't work for ag," said Chris Creguer of Dupont Pioneer Seed.

Mitchell said that before NAFTA is addressed, Congress and the Trump administration are concerned with passing tax reform.

Included in that is a proposed limit on how much workers can put into their 401k and receive tax benefits.

When Creguer asked about that, Mitchell replied, "You're in the seed business. When is the last time you put $18,000 into your 401k?"

There is talk in Washington of capping tax-deferred contributions at $2,400.

Creguer said that although he doesn't put as much as $18,000 into his account, he's not comfortable with a $2,400 cap.

Less than 30 percent of American taxpayers contribute to a 401k, Mitchell said.

He acknowledged that a factor contributing to this is that so many people live paycheck to paycheck.

Social Security reform is also necessary. Mitchell said, emphasizing that the system wasn't designed for people to live as long as they do nowadays after retirement.

But, he said, Medicare reform is a higher priority than Social Security reform because it expense.

Once the federal government addresses tax reform, Mitchell said infrastructure and transportation would be the next major issue tackled.

The current Farm Bill expires in September 2018. Hearings for the 2018 Farm Bill will start next year, Mitchell said.

Farmers expressed concern about conservation standards for filter strips.

Filter strips are required next to areas such as wetlands, and prevent contaminated runoff from fields.

Dave Milligan told Mitchell that too many non-agricultural interests are dictating what farmers should do.

"Everybody's trying to tell the farmer what to do with their land," he said.

Increased transportation costs and sinking commodity prices were also part of the discussion, and among issues that Mitchell said he would take back to Washington.
Midland County Sheriffs Office

A Midland man was arrested Friday after he allegedly sexually abused two children, according to court documents.

Jorge A. Soto, 37, was released Sunday on two $100,000 bonds for first-degree felony charges of continuous sexual abuse of a child under the age of 14.
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For the second time in Texas A&M University-San Antonios relatively short life, it has been recognized for the rigor of its cybersecurity certification program.

The National Security Agency renewed the universitys designation as a National Center for Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education through 2022.

At a celebration Monday, university President Cynthia Teniente-Matson called it a special moment for her beautiful and growing campus, not least because the average annual salary of a cybersecurity worker is around $116,000.

The lucrative nature of these jobs provide an opportunity to earn a good living and escalate social mobility, Teniente-Matson said. This is what we want for our students and certainly for our community.

A&M-San Antonio is one of three universities here, and two community colleges, with the tag. Our Lady of the Lake University learned this month that it was awarded the designation until 2022. The University of Texas at San Antonios designation lasts until 2021. San Antonio College and St. Phillips College got it in 2014 until 2020.

Combining academic and military efforts, San Antonio is often cited as one of the largest hubs of cybersecurity experts in the nation  second only to Washington, D.C.

The roughly 200 students in the 5-year-old Center for Information Technology and Cyber Security at A&M-San Antonio can get NSA-stamped certifications along with their diplomas if they complete a series of 10 courses, said Akhtar Lodgher, the centers director. The center is located in the College of Business, where three degrees  applied science, business administration and computer science  now include courses that count toward the certificate.

Others have the option to receive a four-credit introductory cybersecurity certificate, Lodgher said.

Cybersecurity is something that everybody needs to learn about  not for only tech folks to know about, he said.

Also in attendance was U.S. Rep. Will Hurd, R-Helotes, who had careers in the Central Intelligence Agency and as a senior adviser at a cybersecurity firm. He called cybersecurity knowledge fundamental, likening it to music, history or math classes in middle and high school.

Im neither a musician, historian or mathematician. But they are things that are so basic to our society that we need to be aware of them, he said in an interview.

A&M-San Antonio also received an NSA cybersecurity grant to develop programs geared toward younger students  likely in Harlandale and Floresville independent school districts and Brooks Academy of Science and Engineering, Lodgher said.

We must bring students more awareness, he said. It has to come unconsciously to them.

UTSA has already started making headway on that front. It recently announced a $5 million National Science Foundation grant to create the new Center for Security and Privacy Enhanced Cloud Computing, which it expects to further its own cybersecurity focus as well as those of Northside ISD high school students.

Internships and other mentoring opportunities at the university will be available to students at Warren, Taft, Business Careers and Harlan high schools, according to a UTSA announcement.

If we want to fill 1.5 million jobs, we need to begin recruiting smart kids and giving them the opportunity to experience a security career firsthand, said Ravi Sandhu, the executive director of UTSAs Institute for Cyber Security, according to the release.

To receive the NSA designation, university programs must meet a level of rigor and have been up and running for at least three years. St. Marys University and the University of the Incarnate Word both said their programs were too young to qualify.

This is not an administrative thing that were doing today  its a big deal, Hurd told a small crowd at Mondays celebration. Were continuing to make sure were able to defend our digital infrastructure in an increasingly complicated and scary world.

sfosterfrau@express-news.net | @SilviaElenaFF
A South San Antonio Independent School District board member abruptly resigned Tuesday, surprising the districts staff and its state-appointed conservator.

Linda Longorias resignation from the boards District 3 seat is effective immediately, district spokeswoman Jocelyn Durand said. Elected last November to the seat previously held by her son, Carlos Longoria, she had served less than a year of her term, which expires in November 2020.

Longoria did not respond to requests for comment. Superintendent Abelardo Saavedra notified board members and district staff of the resignation in an email, but officials said they could not provide a copy of the resignation letter Wednesday because Saavedra was out of the office. Board President Angelina Osteguin would not release the letter, Durand said.

Judy Castleberry, the districts state-appointed conservator, said Longorias letter did not specify a reason for her departure and came as a surprise to everyone. The Texas Education Agency assigned Castleberry in February 2016 to monitor finances and board governance at South San, stemming from an often-confrontational relationship between trustees and administrators.

Longorias resignation came too late to be discussed at a board meeting set for Wednesday night, so trustees likely will consider how to fill the vacancy at their Nov. 15 meeting.
A 52-year-old cancer patient has received his master degree in law from Zhejiang University and has been widely praised by netizens for his eagerness for knowledge and indomitable vitality.

Dong Liaoyu, a civil servant in East Chinas Zhejiang province, was diagnosed with renal cell carcinoma, a kidney cancer with a five-year survival rate of less than 30 percent, at the age of 40. The grievous news struck him out of blue, forcing him to accept the fact that he may never have the chance to fulfill his childhood dream of being a lawyer.

The diagnosis knocked me down. The thought of leaving my family behind tortured me, but I couldnt give up, as I was determined to accomplish an impossible mission  to study law and become a lawyer while receiving medical treatment, Dong told the Haining Daily, a local newspaper.

My medical treatment took up most of my spare time, leaving me only five hours per day to study. My persistence shocked many patients in the hospital, who thought I was crazy, Dong added, noting that his endless effort has enabled him to finish all required undergraduate courses within half a year.

Dongs craving for knowledge has not only alleviated his illness, but has also set a milestone for his law-study journey in 2012, when he passed the national judicial exams and became qualified to practice law. Unsatisfied with his progress, Dong decided to apply for a master degree in law at Zhejiang University, one of the best universities in China.

I felt like an old freak when taking the entrance exam. All the other candidates were much younger than me, and even the professors were shocked by my persistence, said Dong, who spent three years working on his law degree. He graduated in 2017.

By the power of belief and persistence and a desire for goodness, I have fought the lethal disease and achieved my goal, he added.
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After years of legal wrangling and a high-profile Supreme Court case that shook up how Texas doles out capital punishment, Harris County death row inmate Bobby Moore could end up with a life sentence.

Prosecutors on Wednesday asked that the 58-year-old be resentenced to life in prison for the 1980 slaying of elderly store clerk James McCarble.

"I'm doing what I believe the law requires," District Attorney Kim Ogg said in a statement. "The nation's highest court has ruled that intellectually disabled persons can't be subject to the deathpenalty."

Moore's three-decade legal saga landed in the national spotlight after a Supreme Court decision in March, when a 5-3 ruling determined that Texas did not properly consider whether the former carpenter was too intellectually disabled to face execution.

The ruling set off waves of requests from inmates wanting their death sentences overturned in exchange for life behind bars. At least 10 condemned killers from across the state - including six others from Harris County - are pursuing lesser punishments.

And in Moore's case, if a court agrees to the lower sentence, the longtime inmate could soon be a free man, out on parole after serving 37 years.

The convicted killer was one of three men involved in the April 25, 1980 botched robbery of Birdsall Super Market near Memorial Park. The trio targeted the store because two of the employees were elderly and the cashier was pregnant

Triggerman Willie Albert Koonce turned himself in afterward, confessing to the crime and outlining his accomplices' roles. Moore was collared in Louisiana 10 days after the slaying, and later sentenced to death at trial.

More than two decades after that, Moore's lawyers presented evidence that his IQ hovered around 70. As a young teen, he still didn't understand days of the week or months of the year, and he dropped out of school after failing every subject in ninth grade.

The new evidence came on the heels of a 2002 U.S. Supreme Court abolishing capital punishment for the intellectually disabled.

But under a dated measure of intellectual disability  using so-called Briseno factors - Texas determined Moore hadn't proved he fit that description.

Named after plaintiff Jose Briseno, the test relied on seven questions to determine intellectual disability in a 2004 ruling that referenced "Of Mice and Men" character Lennie as someone most

Texans would agree should be exempt from the death penalty.

In theory, the Briseno test would help courts figure out whether a defendant showed "adaptive behavior" suggesting they were not intellectually disabled.

It was that measure  a test the Supreme Court called "nonclinical" and an "unacceptable method"  that the Texas appeals court relied on in part when rejecting a lower court's decision to deem Moore intellectually disabled.

When Moore's lawyers appealed, the nation's highest court took up the case and ruled that the Briseno factors were "an invention" of the Texas court and not up to the "medical community's current standard."

Following the March decision, the issue bounced back to the Court of Criminal Appeals.

"A review of the Supreme Court's decision and the record before this Court supports but a single conclusion: Bobby James Moore is intellectually disabled under current medical standards and ineligible for execution," defense lawyers wrote in a brief filed Thursday in the CCA. "Accordingly, Mr. Moore respectfully requests that this Court rule that he is intellectually disabled and reform his death sentence to a term of life imprisonment."

Prosecutors, in a brief dated the same day, agreed, also asking that the Court of Criminal Appeals use established diagnostic criterion as the new legal standard for intellectual disability in capital sentencing.

Now, the CCA can commute the sentence to life, request more briefing or argument, or send it back to trial court. It's not clear how quickly the court would act, especially in light of another similar case before the state's highest appeals court.

In the meantime, Moore will wait on death row as the legal system continues hashing out his fate.
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A Bexar County grand jury has returned its fifth murder indictment this year against a former San Antonio nurse convicted of killing a toddler in 1982, authorities said Tuesday.

It alleges Genene Jones caused the death of 3-month-old Paul Villarreal by injecting him with the drug Heparin on Sept. 24, 1981

Jones, a former nurse at hospitals in San Antonio and Kerrville, was dubbed the Angel of Death, convicted of murder in 1984 in a Kerr County case and sentenced to 99 years for killing 15-month-old Chelsea McClellan in 1982 with a fatal overdose of muscle relaxers.

Jones also was convicted in Bexar County of injury to a child/serious bodily injury and sentenced to 60 years in prison for giving an overdose to Rolando Santos in 1982. The infant, who was 4 weeks old, survived.

The sentences are being served at the same time at the Texas Department of Criminal Justice's Lane Murray Unit in Gatesville. The indictments in cases involving other victims came this year because Jones was set to be released in March 2018 under a law designed to prevent prison overcrowding.

These are your kids too. These are San Antonio babies, said McClellans mother, Petti McClellan-Wiese, at a press conference Tuesday, according to a Bexar County District Attorneys Office press release.

The grand jury recommended Jones bail be set at $1 million in the latest indictment.

The Bexar County District Attorney's Office had announced in June three murder indictments against Jones in the deaths of Richard Ricky Nelson, 8 months, who died on July 3, 1981; Patrick Zavala, 4 months, who died on Jan. 17, 1982; and Rosemary Vega, 2 years old, who died on Sept. 16, 1981.

In May, the grand jury returned a murder indictment against Jones in the death of 11-month-old Joshua Sawyer on Dec. 12, 1981.

ezavala@express-news.net | Twitter: @elizabeth2863
A tradition in San Antonio that goes back decades, local families will treat military personnel from local bases to Thanksgiving Day dinners, and the two programs that match them with soldiers, sailors and airmen are looking for host households.

Thousands of young enlistees are stationed at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston and JBSA-Lackland during the holidays. Getting off base gives them a chance to enjoy a home-cooked meal  and get away from their sergeants for a few hours.

Many really miss being away from home. For most, this is their first holiday away from their families, said Jose Rodriguez, a spokesman for the Army Medical Department Center & School at Fort Sam. Unlike college students, our soldiers can't fly or drive home for a quick weekend. They also like meeting locals in San Antonio, especially the soldiers from other states.

Soldiers last year converged on an auditorium at the school to meet with families as part of the posts Mission Thanksgiving. A record 234 families hosted 634 soldiers in 2016, Rodriguez said, adding, The goal this year is to surpass. The deadline to register as a host family is Monday, with information available at its webpage or by calling 210-295-6999.

More Information How to help For information on how to be a host family for Mission Thanksgiving, please visit the AMEDD Center & School webpage at http://www.cs.amedd.army.mil/mission_thanksgiving.aspx or call 210-295-6999. Registration runs through Monday, Nov. 6. To take airmen home for Thanksgiving, call 671-5453, 671-5454 or 671-3701 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday-Friday. Calls will be taken through Nov. 22. Due to heightened security measures, hosts without a current Department of Defense identification card will require a background check and a visitor's pass prior to entering Lackland. Hosts can pick up their visitor's pass at the Luke Gate Visitor Reception Center off Military Drive (open 24/7) up until Nov. 22. Source: U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force See More Collapse

Operation Home Cooking at Lackland is in its 42nd year. It sent 3,660 airmen off the base in 2016 to have dinner with area families, most of them airmen in basic training, said Bob Rubio, chief spokesman for the 37th Training Wing. Registration is ongoing through Nov. 22 at 210-671-5453, 210-671-5454 or 210-671-3701.

Another, smaller grassroots effort led by a group of noncommissioned officers, called Operation Family Feast, served close to 1,000 military families on base and airmen in technical training.

In a town often called Military City, U.S.A., with its three installations and tens of thousands of troops, part of the tradition is for local groups and companies to also share their holiday. At Valero Energy Corp., its 13th annual Thanksgiving feed will welcome hundreds of soldiers, sailors and airmen enrolled at Fort Sams medical training center.

The event last year at its corporate headquarters saw 250 company volunteers feed turkey and trimmings to 525 troops and host a Military's Got Talent contest. Valeros director of media relations and communications, Lillian Riojas, said the numbers will be similar this year.

Rubio said American Legion Gunsmoke Post 579, on 3002 Gunsmoke St. not far from Lackland, plans to host 40 technical training airmen for a Thanksgiving meal, but thousands of troops around town nonetheless will remain on their bases during the holiday.

Those who opt to stay put will enjoy Thanksgiving meals at dining halls on Fort Sam, Lackland, Camp Bullis and JBSA-Randolph. One of the neat touches of these meals, like others at American military dining facilities around the world on turkey day, is that commanders serve their troops.

Rubio said thats been the case for as long as he can remember.

Its a way for commanders to demonstrate service before self, he said. Its all part of the military family, so you have the head of the family taking care of the family. They know youre away from home. Its tough.

sigc@express-news.net
The largest mosque in San Antonio denounced Tuesdays terror attack in New York City that killed eight people and injured 12.

The Muslim Children Education and Civic Center condemns the attack in the strongest terms possible, Sakib Shaikh, the mosques director of public relations, said in a prepared statement Wednesday. The perpetrator does not represent a shred of Islamic or Muslim values.
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The man riding shotgun with Jerry "Spooks" Idrogo, a ranking member of the Texas Mexican Mafia, seemed like he was one of the notorious gang.

But shortly after the heavily tattooed Julian Pesina accompanied Idrogo in Spring 2014 to collect the gang-levied street tax from a drug dealer on the North Side, Pesina was outed. The dealer confronted Idrogo, a gang sergeant responsible for enforcing the gangs rackets on San Antonios North Side.

That guys a cop, the dealer told Idrogo as Pesina waited in the car. What are you doing bringing a cop to my house?

Idrogo later looked into, and confirmed, the accusation. He told his gang superiors, who ordered 29-year-old Pesina killed for being a cop and posing as a gang carnal.

In federal court Tuesday, prosecutors gave that account as trial testimony kicked off for Jesse Jay Santibanez and Alfredo Freddy Low Cardona, two gang associates accused of gunning down Pesina, a Balcones Heights police officer under federal investigation for drug dealing who ran a tattoo shop named Notorious Ink.

In opening arguments, Assistant U.S. Attorney David Shearer said Idrogo gave the job to kill Pesina to Santibanez, a momentarily suspended member seeking to clean his slate, and Cardona a prospect trying to become a full member. Idrogo even lured Pesina to the tattoo shop on Hillcrest Avenue for a meeting, where he was shot to death in an ambush the night of May 4, 2014.

Santibanez, 28, and Cardona, 38, are both charged with murder in aid of racketeering and using a firearm in the furtherance of a racketeering crime. The two could face up to life in prison if convicted during the two-week trial.

During opening arguments, their lawyers told jurors that the governments witnesses are unreliable and one of the attorneys said his client was wrongly implicated to protect someone else.

Pesina at the time was under investigation by the Texas Department of Public Safety and FBI over drug-dealing activities.

Assistant U.S. Attorney David Shearer told jurors in opening arguments that Pesina came to the attention of DPS after his name surfaced in the cell phone of a drug dealer troopers arrested.

After looking at Pesinas social media pages, DPS officers found he had tattoos normally linked to members of the Texas Mexican Mafia.

He looks like a Mexican Mafia member and hes also a Balcones Heights officer, Shearer said.

To investigate further, DPS troopers used an undercover operation to buy methamphetamine from Pesina. And later, working with the FBI, the agencies used a pole-mounted camera to record his activities outside the tattoo shop and learned he sold drugs to some members of the gang.

Before they decided to arrest Pesina, he was gunned down in an ambush.

In the ensuing investigation with the San Antonio Police Department, law officers arrested Idrogo, 36, Cardona and Santibanez.

Shearer told the jury that Idrogo, who has since pleaded guilty and will testify during the trial, told investigators that he selected Cardona and Santibanez after learning that Pesina, who had accompanied him on occasions to collect the dime  a 10-percent street tax imposed by the gang  was a cop.

Idrogo informed other gang leaders, who ordered Pesina killed because he was a police officer who falsely represented himself as a member of the gang, prosecutors said in court documents.

Shearer said Idrogo lured Pesina to the shop so his co-defendants could kill him, but Idrogo made mistakes. Instead of using a stolen car, they used Cardonas white Pontiac Sunfire, and rather than use throw-away phones Idrogo used his own cell phone. Investigators later found Pesina was among the last people Idrogo called before the officer was slain, Shearer said.

Police also later recovered Cardonas car and a search of the vehicle turned up gun residue and Pesinas blood, Shearer told the jury.

From Cardonas then-girlfriend, investigators learned the trio went to her house after the killing and changed their clothes and disposed of a shotgun and handgun used in the shooting. Shearer told jurors the woman, who also will testify, has had a tough life and, although she accompanied Cardona on previous illegal activities for the gang or knew about it, she wont be prosecuted.

In his brief opening arguments, Cardonas lawyer, John Convery, told the jury hell put on his case through the prosecutions rather discreditable and rather bad witnesses.

Tom McHugh, Santibanezs attorney, said investigators in their haste to solve the killing of a dirty cop, did not conduct a thorough investigation, leaving unanswered questions that should give jurors reasonable doubt.

McHugh also said that, despite the feds camera and Pesinas surveillance camera at the tattoo shop recording pieces of when Pesina was killed, all that jurors may be given are still photos of suspects and a car, but you can look at them all and you cant identify anybody.

He also said there is no forensic evidence tying Santibanez to the slaying; the only evidence is prosecution witness testimony that stands on shifting sand.

McHugh said he doesnt dispute that Cardona is a member of the gang, but that doesnt mean hes not a throwdown, that his name was given to protect someone else.

I cant tell you who hes a throwdown for or why, McHugh said, but added that his client is not guilty.
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A nearly $61 billion state plan to rebuild Houston and the Texas coast after Hurricane Harvey includes funding for three coastal spines to control flooding, new reservoirs and buyouts of thousands of properties.

About 60 percent of the funding would go to future proof flood-prone areas and 33 percent would pay for buy-outs and elevating buildings in low-lying regions stretching roughly from Rockport to the Beaumont area and parts of Southeast Texas where Harvey hit hardest.

Gov. Greg Abbott and top Texas leaders briefed top Washington officials and the Texas legislative delegation Tuesday afternoon on the previously undisclosed plan.

RELATED: Texans' J.J. Watt announces plan for Harvey relief fund

Much of the funding would go to the Houston area  Texas' largest city and the fourth largest in the United States.

The plan appears to mirror much of a long-standing plan in Harris County to buy out properties in the most flood-prone areas.

For the first time, Texas leaders pushed up the official total damage estimate from Harvey to an estimated $180 billion, up from $150 billion. The state's new request for federal funding includes only part of that, covering only flood and hazard mitigation and for public infrastructure such as schools, government buildings, roads and bridges.

The initial reaction from Washington officials to the request: Surprise at its size and scope.

RELATED: South Texas pecan crop takes a hit from Hurricane Harvey

That could mean that approval of the full amount will be a tough sell to Congress and the White House, coming at a time when hurricane damages to Puerto Rico and Florida, and losses in California to wildfires, are also in line for billions more in federal disaster funding.

U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, gave little indication of the prospects for the governor's request. As for the $61 billion figure, Cornyn said, We're working on a number. We don't have a number.

Later, Cornyn said in a statement. It's really important for us to remember that theres a lot of work that we need to do in responding to some of the unmet disaster needs around the country, starting with Hurricane Harvey in my state.

And we look forward to continuing our work with the Administration and members of Congress to make sure that we address these unmet needs.

Added Cornyn: The reason I bring that up today is because Governor Abbott of Texas is up meeting with the entire Texas delegation to make sure that we continue to make the case and make sure that Texans are not forgotten as we get to work on these other important matters as well.

RELATED: These Port Aransas businesses have reopened since Hurricane Harvey

Texas Sen. Ted Cruz was also circumspect about the prospects for Abbotts request, though he emphasized that the Texas delegation will remain united with the governor in getting the Gulf region all the aid it can from Washington.

Repeatedly, projections have shown that Harvey is likely to prove to be the costliest natural disaster in U.S. history, he said. The president has repeatedly made direct assurances to me that the administration will stand by the people of Texas.

As to whether the government might raise or borrow the money, Cruz said, those discussions will be ongoing.

John Sharp, who heads the Governor's Commission to Rebuild Texas, said Tuesday that the list of projects was developed from a list of needs by county and local officials, plus U.S. Army Corps of Engineers projects that could mitigate the potential for future storm damage.

RELATED: S. Texas woman searching for owner of box containing a family tradition that washed up after Harvey

Sharp said the list is not all-inclusive, and that other key local projects in Harvey-devastated areas could be added.

This level of additional federal assistance is vital to restoring the economy of the Texas Gulf Coast and is consistent with federal aid in past disasters such as Hurricane Katrina, Sharp stated in a letter accompanying the briefing documents, a copy of which was obtained by the Houston Chronicle.

Harvey made landfall near Rockport on August 26, and for nearly a week wreaked havoc on more than 300 miles of coastline and more than 100 miles inland, with winds topping 130 mph. Some areas got more than 50 inches of rainfall. More than a third of Texas' 254 counties sustained significant damage.

The storm is listed as the most costly in U.S. history.
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Police arrested a 55-year-old San Antonio man Monday accused of practicing dentistry without a license and performing an eight-hour surgery on a woman that caused "extreme damage" to her mouth.

Isidro De Jesus Manjarres now faces a charge of practicing dentistry without a license. He was booked into the Bexar County Jail on a $15,000 bond.

RELATED: Fatal accident involving tractor-trailer closes multiple lanes of Hwy. 90

The victim met Manjarres in March at a restaurant. During the meeting, Manjarres told the victim he was a dentist, and she told him about some "sudden and severe dental pain" she was experiencing, police records state.

Now Playing: 09:00:00 Video: Fox 26 Houston

The two set up an appointment for April 4 at Manjarres's home in the 200 block of Wayside Drive. Manjarres told her she would need extractions and dental bridges, procedures he quoted at $3,600 payable in two installments, according to police.

Satisfied with the quote, the victim agreed and returned to his home with $1,800 in cash on April 8 for the surgery.

Manjarres then began a grueling, 8-hour surgery session, according to police records. During the session he administered anesthetics 12 different times, extracted two teeth and used a grinding tool to shape some of her other teeth in preparation for the bridges.

The victim later described the surgery as an "excruciatingly painful ordeal, so much that she believed that she might die," according to the affidavit.

RELATED: Suspect at large after stabbing man during brawl at North Side strip club

Afterwards, Manjarres told her to return at a later date to complete the procedure. The victim's pain never subsided, and after several attempts to contact Manjarres, he told her she probably had an infection.

The victim returned to Manjarres's home on April 12. Manjarres confirmed her infection, and gave her an antibiotic, which was unsuccessful, police said.

The victim then sought treatment from another dentist, who immediately told her that Manjarres had caused "extreme damage" to her mouth and that corrective treatment was immediately required. The corrective procedures had cost the victim more than $11,000 by Oct. 26.

Police interviewed Manjarres on Sept. 26, at which time he allegedly admitted that he did not have a license to practice dentistry. He said he was a dental lab tech, and that seven years ago, he had done work from his home for dental offices with patients requiring dentures or dental bridges.

Officers obtained a warrant for his arrest on Monday and booked him into jail that same day.

Text "NEWS" to 77453 for breaking news alerts from mySA.com

Caleb Downs is a crime reporter for mySA.com. Read more of his stories here. cdowns@mysa.com | Twitter: @calebjdowns
Violence against children  some as young as one year old  is pervasive in homes, schools and communities, new report with disturbing data reveals

(Photo courtesy of UNICEF)

Staggering numbers of children  some as young as 12 months old  are experiencing violence, often by those entrusted to take care of them, UNICEF said in a new report released today.

The harm inflicted on children around the world is truly worrying, said UNICEF Chief of Child Protection Cornelius Williams. Babies slapped in the face; girls and boys forced into sexual acts; adolescents murdered in their communities  violence against children spares no one and knows no boundaries.

Violence against young children in their homes:

 Three-quarters of the worlds 2- to 4-year-old children  around 300 million  experience psychological aggression and/or physical punishment by their caregivers at home;

 Worldwide, 1 in 4 children under age five  176 million  are living with a mother who is a victim of intimate partner violence.

(Photo courtesy of UNICEF)

Sexual violence against girls and boys:

 Worldwide, around 15 million adolescent girls aged 15 to 19 have experienced forced sexual intercourse or other forced sexual acts in their lifetime.

 Only 1 per cent of adolescent girls who had experienced sexual violence said they reached out for professional help.

Violent deaths among adolescents:

 Globally, every 7 minutes an adolescent is killed by an act of violence.

 In the United States, non-Hispanic black boys aged 10 to 19 years old are almost 19 times more likely to be murdered than non-Hispanic white boys of the same age. If the homicide rate among non-Hispanic black adolescent boys is applied nationwide, the United States would be one of the top ten most deadly countries in the world.

 In 2015, the risk of being killed by homicide for a non-Hispanic black adolescent boy in the United States was the same as the risk of being killed due to collective violence for an adolescent boy living in war-torn South Sudan.

 Latin America and the Caribbean is the only region where adolescent homicide rates have increased; nearly half of all homicides among adolescents globally occurred in this region in 2015.

Violence in schools:

 Half the population of school-age children  732 million  live in countries where corporal punishment at school is not fully prohibited.

 Three-quarters of documented school shootings that have taken place over the past 25 years occurred in the United States.

To end violence against children, UNICEF is calling for governments to take urgent action and support the INSPIRE guidance which has been agreed and promoted by WHO, UNICEF and the Global Partnership to End Violence Against Children.
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The federal agency that controls predators for ranchers and homeowners in 16 Northern California counties agreed Wednesday to do an environmental analysis of the impact of its killing program and implement bans on aerial gunning and several kinds of lethal traps in wilderness areas.

The agreement, filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court in San Francisco, settles a lawsuit filed by several wildlife advocacy groups that accused the U.S. Department of Agricultures Wildlife Services of indiscriminately killing animals, including mountain lions, bobcats and coyotes.

The deal gives Wildlife Services until 2023 to issue a report analyzing the impact of its lethal control program, but it also bans use of lead ammunition, cyanide spray devices and fumigants to kill fox and coyote pups in their dens. Aerial gunning and body-gripping traps, including neck snares and steel-jawed leg holds, will be banned in designated wilderness areas.

It is a tremendous victory, said Camilla Fox, executive director of Project Coyote, which filed suit along with the Center for Biological Diversity, the Animal Legal Defense Fund, the Animal Welfare Institute, the Western Watersheds Project and WildEarth Guardians.

It demonstrates that Wildlife Services has failed to use the best available science and continues to rely on ecologically destructive and ethically indefensible management practices, Fox said. As a result of this settlement, thousands of animals will be saved from the horrific fate of dying in a painful trap or from poison or aerial gunning.

Counties contract with Wildlife Services trappers to get rid of predators that kill or harass livestock. The conservation groups claim the traps, snares and other lethal methods used by trappers sometimes inadvertently kill peoples pets or endangered species. They accused the government of failing to consider nonlethal methods of animal control.

The agreement does not constitute an admission, implied or otherwise, of any fact, claim, or defense on any issue in this litigation, Tanya Espinosa, spokeswoman for the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, which oversees the wildlife management program, said in a statement.

While the settlement conditions may affect the use of certain tools in some areas of the state, she said, Wildlife Services believes the changes do not restrict our ability to protect agriculture, property, natural resources, or public health and safety in California.

The federal trapping program has increased tension between ranchers and conservationists in California. Some livestock owners in the far northern part of the state consider wolves, coyotes and other predators to be vermin and have threatened to use the three Ss  shoot, shovel and shut up  to protect their property and livelihood.

Last month, authorities confirmed that a 600-pound heifer had been killed by a wolf pack that recently moved into Lassen County. It was the first time in over a century that a ranchers livestock had been killed by a wolf in California.

There are as many as 700,000 coyotes in the state, according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Mountain lions are also abundant, and both predators kill a great deal of livestock, which are commodities that contribute to the state and local economy, said the California Cattlemens Association.

Wildlife Services reported killing 3,893 coyotes, 142 foxes, 83 black bears, 18 bobcats and thousands of other creatures in California last year. The settlement will require Wildlife Services to take steps to prevent gray wolves in California from being accidentally killed.

This settlement provides needed interim protections to protect wolves while a detailed environmental study examines whether lethal wildlife management options should even be on the table, said Erik Molvar of the Western Watersheds Project. It is long past time that federal agencies stop the killing of native wildlife at the behest of the livestock industry, and ultimately we hope that the added public scrutiny will force a shift to nonlethal options.

Several jurisdictions, including the city of Davis and the counties of Marin, Sonoma and Mendocino, have at least temporarily severed contracts with Wildlife Services and adopted nonlethal methods of predator control.

Marin County adopted a nonlethal control program in 2000, using the money once paid to federal trappers to help ranchers build fences, night corrals and lambing sheds, and purchase guardian dogs to protect their animals.

Peter Fimrite is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: pfimrite@sfchronicle.com

Twitter: @pfimrite
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Andrew Taylor scored 24 points and Taevion Kinsey added 15 points and eight rebounds to lead Marshall past UPike, 83-69, in the exhibition finale for the Thundering Herd. Marshall opens its season on Monday at Queens University.
Richard Sears

Richard Sears from the U.S. is known in China as the founder of a website about Chinese etymology. Amazed with his two decades of effort researching Chinese characters, Chinese netizens gave him the nickname Hanzi Shushu, or Uncle Hanzi.

A former programmer, Sears has already broken down 96,000 ancient characters and 8,000 commonly used Chinese characters through a computing algorithm and scanned them into his self-run chineseetymology.org.

Deeply drawn by Chinese characters, Sears, with expertise in physics, left his hometown in the U.S. state of Tennessee for China to learn Chinese at age 22.

Sears decided to establish a website about Chinese etymology in 1994 after he suffered a severe heart attack. In 2011, he rose to Internet fame and began receiving contributions to support the site from Chinese people.

His fame even got him a job as a physics teacher at a university in Beijing, but he later left the city because of the high living cost. Now he lives in Huangshan, east Chinas Anhui province.

Sears claims to be the first man in the world to create a website about Chinese etymology. Now the website has become one of the most viewed sites of its kind across the world.

Not everyone has been supportive of his passion. Sears has remained single after his wife left him 20 years ago because she thought he was wasting too much time and money studying Chinese characters.

I want to stay in China to learn more about Chinese characters, Sears has been quoted as saying in numerous interviews.

Sears' website about Chinese characters

Sears hopes people talk more about his achievements than his life story. Although he is getting on in years, he isnt letting his age keep him from his research. When he feels too tired to work, he will sleep for two to three hours, and then wake up and continue working.

Sears became more widely known in China this March, when he shared his story with Chinese on Readers, a TV program aired on China Central Television (CCTV).

I work not to buy myself fancy cars or big houses, Sears said. Though he has no savings, the 67-year-old said he will not consider publishing a book about his achievements to earn more money. Instead, he will feel happier seeing thousands of people visit his website every day.
A Longford baby who was at deaths door after contracting whooping cough in August has made a miraculous recovery.

Little Warren OKane, who was just six weeks old when he became ill, was baptized after being placed on life support.

He also received a healing with the Padre Pio Glove from Dublin man Jimmy Wynne and, a couple of hours later, the baby began showing signs of improvement.

Warrens mother, Jennifer Ford, said her son became ill so fast and deteriorated so quickly, that the family had been told to prepare for the worst when they arrived at Temple Street Hospital.

Warren was taken to the Midland Regional Hospital initially, where his mother was told the child had bronchitis.

At that stage, they said he would get worse before he got better, and he did get worse, Jennifer said, before pointing out that her little son stopped drinking his bottles altogether.

I brought him to our GP and he advised us to go back to Mullingar; when we arrived there, Warren took a turn for the worst.

Meanwhile, a bed became available in Temple Street and the child was transferred there by garda escort.

It was 4am and Jennifer and her partner, Eric OKane, were close to despair by this stage.

Warren was immediately brought to ICU and put on life support.

It was then determined that he had the whooping cough.

He didnt show any signs of improvement and a couple of days after Warren was admitted, we were told he wasnt going to make it, recalled Jennifer.

It was such a distressing time, but we had him baptized that day.

At the same time friends of the family had spoken to them about the Padre Pio Glove and a friend of Jennifers set about finding it.

Eventually, she tracked down Tallaght man Jimmy Wynne; he is known for his healing powers with the Glove.

Just a few hours after the baptism of Warren OKane, Jimmy Wynne arrived at Temple Street and prayed over the baby with the Glove.

That was 2am and when Jennifer made contact with nurses at 4am, she was told that the baby was showing signs of improvement.

The family couldnt believe it and, with each passing hour, Warren began to get stronger.

A week later, Warren was off the oxygen and within three weeks he was out of ICU and back on a ward, said Jennifer.

We were so happy and so relieved.

Meanwhile, little Warren, who has two siblings, Darren (9) and Demi (14), became stronger and stronger and improved every day.

He also began to take his bottles again.

I think the fact that Warren was baptized and got the healing as well contributed to his recovery, continued Jennifer.

Jimmy was so genuine and even told us stories about other people that he had helped.

He also contacted me a few times afterwards to check up on Warren.

Jennifer also said that most babies who become as ill as Warren did, dont make it. But their little man did.

He surprised us all. Even the staff at the hospital couldnt believe how well he did, smiled Jennifer.

He is full of life now, is a perfect little baby and laughs all the time.

He is the centre of all our lives.
Detectives are hoping to make progress with their investigation into an armed raid at a shop in Longford town last week.

Two men burst into Finn and Hughes Corner Shop in Longford town last Monday week (October 23) before threatening staff with a hammer.

The raiders are believed to have escaped with several hundreds euros worth of cash as a result of the incident which took place at around 7pm.

No arrests have yet been made, but sources have told the Leader they are hoping to make inroads into their initial enquiries over the coming days.

They are especially anxious to trace the movements of the two men identified as having carried out the burglary at the Park Road based outlet.

One of the suspects is described as being Irish, aged 19 or 20, 5ft 11' in height and wearing a grey hoodie top.

The second man is stated as being 5ft 9in and wearing a black hoodie.

He too carried an Irish accent and like his co-assailant attempted to conceal his face with his hands.

The incident left staff and its owner Susan Husseyvery shook, she told the Leader last week.

This is a small business and something like this is very disheartening and frightening for everyone, she said.

The men were violent and aggressive and the staff member was terrified.

Gardai have appealed for witnesses and anyone with information is asked to contact Longford Garda Station at (043) 3350570.
Julia 12

This article will talk about the best alternatives to FunAnime. FunAnime is a website where you can watch anime for
Culture / Art Republik

Nov 01, 2017 | By Andrea Sim

New Yorks Guggenheim Museum is pleased to present Josef Albers in Mexico in an exhibition that will observe the correlation between pre-Columbian monuments and the art of German-born artist Josef Albers.

Born in Bottrop, Germany, Josef Albers (1888-1976) has experience in art across disciplines from painting and printmaking to architecture. His keen interest in art and love in photography has taken him on adventurous journeys to different parts of the world.

One of his iconic works featured in the museum took him on a travel through the world of shadows and frequently visited the archaeological sites, from Mexico to other Latin American countries (1935 to 1967), to capture hundreds of black-and-white photographs of the beauty and dimensions of pyramids, shrines, and sanctuaries.

The purpose of the frequent journeys to the monuments of ancient Mesoamerica; amid a resurgence of interest in pre-Columbian art and culture, archaeologists were increasingly excavating the past.

This presentation at the Guggenheim Museum features Albers photos in collages  a group multiple variously-sized images on paperboard sheets to suggest a key relationship between the pre-Columbian monuments geometric designs and the artists iconic abstract works on paper and canvas.

Several of his abstract works are even titled after key sites in Mexico. The Guggenheim presentation emphasises these formal resonances between the two bodies of work, AFP reported.

Also, perhaps is his talented nature, artistic roots or call it a cultivated interest, Alber has explored art works in another form of art medium too; the Homage to the Square series and Variant/Adobe series that the museum is currently exhibiting are the rarely-shown early paintings and iconic canvases, plus works on paper.

The exhibition of Josef Albers range of artworks will run from Nov 2, 2017 to Feb 18, 2018) and the exhibition also includes the followings:

The illustrated catalogue includes writings by Albers and an illustrated map documenting the journeys.

Albers legacy of education  an essential element of his lifetime practice  will be reflected in public programmes, such as a workshop for educators on the colour theory he developed in 1964 called Interactions of Colour.

Learn more about Josef Albers in Mexico at www.guggenheim.org/exhibition/josef-albers-in-mexico.
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On Tuesday October 31st, at the Musee dart et dhistoire in Geneva (MAH), the Grand Prix dHorlogerie de Geneve (GPHG) officially inaugurated the fourth stage of its 2017 travelling exhibition presenting the 72 watches pre-selected by the jury of its 17th edition.

After Milan, Mexico and Taipei, the GPHG is offering an exceptional exhibition in Geneva from November 1st to 12th, stemming from cooperation with the MAH, the Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie (FHH) and the Geneva University of Art and Design (HEAD  Geneve).



Alongside the watches pre-selected for the GPHG 2017, this exhibition reveals the MAH collection of contemporary timepieces built up over the years by donations from the GPHG prize-winning watch brands.



It also highlights the 2017 projects of graduates from the Chair of Watch Design of the Geneva University of Art and Design and invites visitors of all ages to immerse themselves in watchmaking culture and the world of the infinitely small, via talks, virtual reality experiences and watchmaking initiation workshops, run by the FHH.



The direct and original presentation of the GPHG watches, assembled on a long glass-free table, accentuates this full-immersion invitation and enhances the novel nature of this exhibition dedicated to the 12th art.



The 72 pre-selected watches for the GPHG 2017 are competing to win the Aiguille dOr Grand Prix award or one of the 15 prizes that annually reward horological innovation and excellence.

The 2017 prize-winners will be announced on November 8th at the Theatre du Leman in Geneva. Presented this year by Edouard Baer along with by Lauriane Gillieron, the prize-giving ceremony will be broadcast live on the official gphg.org website, as well as on euronews.com, hodinkee.com, worldtempus.com, timezone.com, quillandpad.com, and in pre-recorded mode on the Leman Bleu local TV channel.



The prize-winning watches of this 17th edition will then be exhibited in Dubai from November 16th to 20th 2017, as part of the 3rd Dubai Watch Week.



Musee dart et dhistoire

Rue Charles-Galland 2

1206 Geneva

November 1st to 12th

Open 11am-6pm. Closed on Monday

Watch the prize-giving ceremony
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If we are to believe Deloittes 2017 survey of the Swiss watch industry, conducted between May and July among 60 senior executives in the sector and 4500 watch customers in China, Italy, Germany, Japan, Switzerland and the United States, the worst could be behind us. Whether we can expect a return to the glory years is another question entirely, but economists know only too well that its better to grow than to be eaten alive. Here are five figures that may help to convince the more nervous travellers.



5 billion Swiss francs worth of watches were exported in the second quarter of 2017, compared with 4.8 billion over the same period in 2016. This is the first sign of growth after 20 consecutive months of decline. We shall see if results over the holiday period confirm the trend.



3% increase (in both volume and value) in mechanical watch exports for the first half of 2017, compared with the first half of 2016. After the 2% decline (value and volume) in 2015, and the 10% slump (value and volume) in 2016, this uptick should keep industry executives in their business class seats for a while longer. Its not all good news, however: quartz watch exports have still not rallied. The luxury market remains the sectors main driver.



52% of industry executives polled professed to be optimistic about the economic outlook for Swiss watchmaking for the next twelve months. Its a welcome change of heart, given that at the same time last year only 2% of industry insiders would admit to feeling positive about the situation.



20% fewer Chinese functionaries appeared in court on corruption charges. Deloitte credits the Chinese governments change of policy for an upsurge of activities and confidence on the Asian market and in Hong Kong. This is the first time in five years that the number of civil servants appearing in court has decreased, suggesting that some of them might be ready to re-evaluate their commitment to austerity. Independently of the political climate, the results are looking up for the industry: for the second quarter of 2017, exports to China and Hong Kong (the primary market for Swiss watch exports) grew by 27% and 1% respectively compared with the same period of 2016.



77.8% of young Chinese, if given a generous gift of CHF 5000 to buy a watch, say they would prefer to invest in a luxury mechanical watch, rather than buying a new CHF 500 smartwatch every year for ten years. The United Kingdom and Italy also still show a strong preference for good old mechanical timepieces, but in the USA opinion is split down the middle.



So, has the Swiss watch industry found more favourable winds? Preliminary indicators do indeed suggest that the storm clouds are clearing. Nevertheless, given the current political uncertainty around the world, there is no guarantee that geopolitical factors wont throw the watch industry into a tailspin once again.




The great Gold Rush Music Festival returns to the township of Waihi, with the first nuggets of gold dropping for the highly anticipated return of the 2023 festival.
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Its a matter of weeks before the GPHG and Only Watch, after which thoughts will turn to Christmas, which is followed inexorably by SIHH and the preparations for Baselworld 2018, which promises a tumultuous conclusion to the busiest half of the year for the watch industry. So now is perhaps a good time to start considering what 2018 might have in store for the industry.



Since Quentin Mayerat used the Deloitte Watch Industry Study to find five reasons that things are looking up for the industry (read the article next Wednesday), I decided to play the glass half empty role. For the sake of balance, I looked at the same report from a different angle (especially given its subtitle Its all about digital) to highlight some of the risks and challenges that the industry faces.

1) Exports are growing but demand is still weak

The Deloitte study quizzes members of the industry with questions that are often closed and at best allow a choice between several answers. Considering the external risk factors faced by the industry, for example, we dont know whether the respondents were given more than the five options presented in the report, or whether they had to rank these five in order of importance. In any case, weaker foreign demand and the strong Swiss franc top the list.

2) Political uncertainty has become a concern

Since last years study, the UK has voted to leave the European Union and Donald Trump has been elected President of the United States. Both events were feared but not considered likely until they actually happened. That fear now becomes concrete with every passing tweet and every bank deciding to relocate staff from London to somewhere that will still be in the European Union in two years time.



The only country among the five biggest export markets for Swiss watches where respondents in the Deloitte study considered the level of political uncertainty to be low was Germany. The confidence level was extremely high, but that was before Angela Merkel secured a rather hollow election victory that will leave her negotiating on a coalition government for the foreseeable future. The study puts the number of people who believe there is a low political uncertainty in France and Italy at just a whisker above those who think it will be high. Unsurprisingly, there is a distinct lack of confidence in the US and UK markets, followed by China. For the watch industry this should be all the more worrying, since these countries also happen to be its top three markets.

3) The challenge of e-commerce

Its telling that Deloitte decided to include a question about developing e-commerce and digital channels for the first time only this year. This business strategy comes straight in at top priority for 2018, beating market expansion, R&D and cost savings. Having online authorised dealers and own mono-brand e-boutiques has also eclipsed the once-hallowed mono-brand stores among the priorities of industry executives. Just two years ago, the industry consensus was that mono-brand stores would be the most important sales channel for the next five years. This year, for the first time, online authorised dealers are considered the most important channel for the next five years. This is a huge shift in thinking that will require the industry to adapt to a whole new way of doing business in an exceedingly short time frame.

4) Getting the digital balance right

While brands are investing heavily in e-commerce, they would do well to pay close attention to their customers habits. According to Deloitte the large majority of customers around the world still prefer to buy a watch in store. They do, however, use a so-called ROPO strategy (research online, purchase offline) that is the exact opposite of the showrooming that another type of customer uses, particularly for electronics, where goods will be examined in store and later purchased online. Brands therefore need to be sure that they have a strong digital presence, both through their own channels and the major online channels that these customers turn to for information.

According to the study 60% of consumers use online and digital channels to research watches before they go in-store.

5) Mastering social media

One area where the views of brands and customers coincide is on the importance of social media. It is the biggest influencer of customers decisions to buy a watch and brands are therefore right to have it at the top of their marketing strategy. Putting this marketing strategy into place is the challenge, however. Talk of targeting millennials, for example, seems out of date. The term spans an entire generation but social media allows a much higher level of granularity in targeting, which brands should be embracing. Even though detecting fake followers and bots on Facebook and Instagram is a relatively simple affair (and the US election helped to increase awareness of them), brands still seem to be focussing too much on the size, rather than the quality, of an influencers audience. The number of people in the world with the cash to spend upwards of 10,000 Swiss francs on a watch is, after all, quite limited in the grand scheme of things.

SIDE NOTE: Beware the suppliers!

Not that long ago, Swatch Group succeeded in pushing through measures at government policy level that allowed it to cut back on its movement deliveries to companies outside the group. The move did have the intended consequence of encouraging numerous other brands to produce their own movements or look to alternative suppliers. Yet ETA now finds itself in the unfortunate position of trying to sell its movements to the very same customers it was keen to abandon just a few years ago. But this nevertheless serves as an example of the clout that a strong supplier can wield in the market. Its therefore worth keeping an eye on the activities of Groupe Acrotec, already the largest independent Swiss manufacturer of precision parts, which made four acquisitions this year, the most significant of which was no doubt Mimotec, which produces silicon parts using its UV-LIGA technology. Respondents to the survey concur that suppliers acquiring other suppliers are the most likely acquisitions at the moment, overtaking the number of brands acquiring suppliers, which has been declining for the past three years. Its a clear sign that vertical integration is shifting from brands to suppliers.
New York : A man allegedly inspired by the ISIS ploughed a pickup truck down a crowded bike path in a borough here, killing at least eight people and injuring 11 other in what is being described as the deadliest terrorist attack on the New York City since September 11, 2001. The suspect, believed to be a 29-year-old Uzbek national, was shot in the stomach before being arrested. The media named him as Sayfullo Saipov, an immigrant who came to the US in 2010.

The incident took place along the normally gridlocked West Side Highway, a major thoroughfare that runs along the western edge of Manhattan by the Hudson River. Manhattan is the most densely populated borough of the New York City. Police said the truck drove south after entering a

pedestrian and bicycle path, where it struck multiple people. Six men were pronounced dead at the scene on the cycle lane and two other people were dead on arrival at the hospital.

After smashing the truck into the school bus, injuring two adults and two children, the suspect exited the truck displaying "imitation firearms" and was shot by police, according to the New York police department (NYPD). An official said he rented the truck from a Home Depot in New Jersey. The victims included a Belgian citizen and five Argentinians. PTI
There are two things in life that I love the most (outside of my wife of course!) - Traveling and Food. That's really one bigger thing: exploring new cultures. That's why I love trying new restaurants that work hard to transport you to new times and places like Havana 1920 does. Havana 1920 is a new Cuban-themed cafe and bar in the heart of San Diego's Gaslamp Quarter - very close to the convention center as well as most of the bigger hotels. Here's what we loved about it!

There are many many bars and restaurants in San Diego, and so it's challenging sometimes to stand out. However, from the moment you arrive at the patio, it is clear that Havana 1920 is something different. On the first level, you'll find patio tables for dominos where you can enjoy coffee or a cocktail in a "cafe" setting. We visited Havana 1920 for dinner, but they are also open in the mornings for coffee.

After climbing the stairs to the second level, this narrow but surprisingly deep eatery has a great menu of Cuban favorites as well as great cocktails that were honestly the highlight of our evening. That isn't to say that the food itself wasn't also very good - just that this is a tequila and whiskey town, but finally there's an island of great rum cocktails in the Gaslamp.

It would be easy to cheat and just have frozen daquiries whipped up in a blender but no ... they wanted to do something special and I appreciate that. While I'm sure they would make a blended drink if you asked, this mango daiquiri came with a pile of shaved ice over which they poured the cocktail and served it with a full slice of lime instead of a wedge. In addition to mango they also have other tropical flavors including: coconut, banana, guava, passion fruit, and "original" (lime).

For this dinner, we wanted to sample several items and so the manager and chef prepared a tasting menu to provide us with several selections that would "bring Havana to San Diego". Our journey started with the Havana Bocaditos Platter, which included: Plantain Chips, Ham Croquettes, Picadillo Stuffed Potato, Cheese Stuffed Potato and Vegetarian Turnover, served with Mojo Crillo and Havana Royale sauces.

Next up was the Cuban Sandwich, along with Yuca Fries, and Camarones Al Ajillo (shrimp in a white wine and garlic sauce).

Throughout our meal, Havana 1920 kept the drinks coming and each of them was classic - but delicious. Perfectly balanced flavors and nice and reasonably strong. While most of the drinks are exactly what you'd expect to see on a Cuban menue - daiquiri, mojito, Cuba libre, painkiller etc. there were also some that you might not have tried before. This includes the Guarapo: fresh-pressed sugarcane juice made to order and served over ice. You can make it a cocktail adding some Zacapa 23 (solara) year old rum to it.

When I asked what they meant by "fresh pressed", the manager brought out a stalk of sugar cane from the kitchen to show me exactly how fresh it was. They are (one of?) the only restaurant in San Diego that actually has a sugarcane press on premisis and they use it for many of the cocktails to give that extra special flavor. While the Guarapo isn't for everyone, is a very interesting flavor since raw sugarcane is "sweet" but it is also very "earthy". It isn't at all like dumping granulated sugar or simple syrup in a glass and if you've never tasted it, I hightly recomend you try it.

In addition to cocktails, Havana 1920 also has a Cuban beer - Cerveza Hatuey as well as a wide selection of imported sodas that you might find in Cuba.

Finally, our entree arived and while it's difficult to make it look as delicious as it tasted, you'll just have to visit and try it yourself. The Ropa Vieja featured shredded beef in a light tomato sauce with peppers and onions along side black beans, plantains, and rice.

While I'm not an expert in "authentic Cuban cuisine", I can tell you that I enjoyed the dinner very much. Havana 1920 has a bright future ahead of itself, both as part of the GBOD Hospitality Group (Meze, Saganaki, El Chingon etc) as well as simply a fun and unique addition to the neighborhood!
The United States delivered two A-29 Super Tucano light attack aircraft to Lebanon's army on Tuesday, a sign of continued U.S. support despite Israeli accusations that the Lebanese military is controlled by Hezbollah.

The planes will be used as armed observation aircraft, a security source in Lebanon said, and represent a big upgrade for the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF).

Earlier this month, U.S. ally Israel said Hezbollah, an Iran-backed Shia Muslim movement, had gained control over Lebanon's conventional military, a charge the Lebanese army denies.

Hezbollah, which was designated as a terrorist group by the U.S. State Department in 1997, last fought Israel in a war in 2006. Lebanon is formally in a state of war with Israel.

"The significant increase in LAF combat capability that this aircraft represents will ensure that the LAF will remain a national unifying force, a bulwark against extremism and terrorism," said U.S. Ambassador Elizabeth Richard.

The Islamic State militant group held a pocket of land straddling Lebanon's border with Syria until August.

Over the last decade, the U.S. government has invested over $1.5 billion in training and equipment, and has trained over 32,000 Lebanese troops, Richard said.

"We have recently announced another $120 million in foreign military financing, which brings the total investment in the LAF to over $160 million just this year," she said. The United States will deliver another four Super Tucanos to Lebanon.

The two new aircraft - which have advanced combat and surveillance capabilities - will "make a qualitative leap in improving the aerial capabilities of the LAF," said Lebanese Army Commander General Joseph Aoun.

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AUD/USD  Currency Bears Meet Important Supports

On Friday, the Australian dollar declined against the greenback, which resulted in a decline to important support levels. Will they withstand the selling pressure in the coming week?

EUR/USD

Earlier today, EUR/USD increased a bit, but despite this move, the pair remains under the green horizontal line based on the mid-August and early October lows. Therefore, it seems that todays upswing is only an attempt to verify the Friday breakdown below this line. If this is the case, the exchange rate will extend losses and well see a realization of the bearish scenario from our Forex Trading alert posted on September 25:

() we clearly see a potential head and shoulders formation. Therefore, if EUR/USD declines under the neck line of the pattern (the blue support line based on the previous lows), well see a downward move to around 1.1596, where the size of the move will correspond to the height of the formation.

However, when we take into account a drop under the lower border of the brown rising trend channel and the broader picture of EUR/USD, we think that currency bears push the exchange rate even lower  to around 1.1508, where the size of declines will be equal to the height of trend channel.

Before we move to the next currency pair, please note what we wrote on Friday:

() EUR/USD declined under the green horizontal support line, which is also the neck line of a bigger head and shoulders pattern (we marked it with orange). Therefore, if the exchange rate extends losses, we may see not only the realization of the above-mentioned scenario, but also a decline to around 1.1230, where the size of the downward move will correspond to the height of this pattern. ()

USD/CHF

Looking at the daily chart, we see that currency bulls pushed USD/CHF higher once again, which resulted in an increase to the 61.8% Fibonacci retracement and the upper border of the blue rising wedge, which together could pause or even stop further improvement in the coming days. Additionally, the position of the indicators suggests that reversal is just around the corner. Therefore, if we see a decline from current levels, currency bears will likely test the lower border of the formation in the following days.

AUD/USD

Quoting our last commentary on this currency pair:

() Taking () into account () the lack of buy signals, which could encourage currency bulls to act, we think that the exchange rate will test the blue rising support line and the 61.8% Fibonacci retracement in the near future.

Looking at the daily chart, we see that the situation developed in line with our assumptions and AUD/USD slipped to our downside target on Friday. Whats next?

On the weekly chart, we see that the last week decline took the exchange rate to the 38.2% Fibonacci retracement based on the entire 2017 upward move, which will likely trigger a rebound in the coming week  especially when we factor in the proximity to the blue rising support line and the 61.8% Fibonacci retracement, which together stopped bears in the previous week. The pro bullish scenario is also reinforced by the current positions of the daily indicators (the Stochastic Oscillator generated buy signals, while the RSI and the CCI are very close to doing the same).

How high could the pair go? In our opinion, the first upside target for currency bulls will be around 0.7726-0.7747, where the previously-broken green horizontal lines are.

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All essays, research and information found above represent analyses and opinions of Nadia Simmons and Sunshine Profits' associates only. As such, it may prove wrong and be a subject to change without notice. Opinions and analyses were based on data available to authors of respective essays at the time of writing. Although the information provided above is based on careful research and sources that are believed to be accurate, Nadia Simmons and his associates do not guarantee the accuracy or thoroughness of the data or information reported. The opinions published above are neither an offer nor a recommendation to purchase or sell any securities. Nadia Simmons is not a Registered Securities Advisor. By reading Nadia Simmons reports you fully agree that he will not be held responsible or liable for any decisions you make regarding any information provided in these reports. Investing, trading and speculation in any financial markets may involve high risk of loss. Nadia Simmons, Sunshine Profits' employees and affiliates as well as members of their families may have a short or long position in any securities, including those mentioned in any of the reports or essays, and may make additional purchases and/or sales of those securities without notice.

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Egyptian security forces freed on Tuesday a police officer who was kidnapped during the deadly shootout earlier this month between policemen and terrorists in Egypts Western Desert, Egypt's armed forces announced in a statement.

Police officer Mohamed El-Hayes was rescued in an operation by security forces near El-Wahat highway where a number of terrorists were killed.

El-Hayes has been taken to a military hospital for treatment, the statement read.

The officer had gone missing during the 19 October incident, which killed 16 policemen as they executed a raid on a terrorist hideout in Bahariya Oasis about 135 kilometers (83 miles) southwest of Giza.

The Egyptian interior ministry has not yet released a statement on the rescue.

El-Hayes' brother, Atef, told Al-Ahram Arabic news website that the family spoke to El-Hayes on the phone, and that he seemed in high spirits.

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MARTINSVILLE-Free medical care is coming to Martinsville this weekend. On Saturday, the Martinsville Community Care Collaborative will hold an event providing dental, medical and vision care for those in need.

The event will be from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at First United Methodist Church in Martinsvilles Uptown Ministry Center (at 145 East Main Street) and some other parts of the church (including the fellowship hall, a chapel and some other rooms). A dental truck with dental chairs will be at the event.

We need to get our citizens the care they need but can't afford -- neighbors helping neighbors. Our world needs more of this type event, said Linda Adams, who is helping promote the event.

She noted that this event is for Martinsville, Henry County and Patrick County, and that the collaborative is made up of more than 40 nonprofits working along with Liberty University College of Osteopathic Medicine.

We will have seven dentists, one orthodontist and a hygienist, Adams said. There will be cancer screenings, cleanings, fillings and extractions. The collaborative will have 10 medical doctors from Liberty University with first-, second- and third-year medical students assisting. We will have free prescriptions as prescribed by doctors and dentists; also free eye exams with free eyeglass prescriptions. Referrals to doctors will be made that day for your future needs.

Services will include pre-kindergarten screenings, haircuts, hand and foot care, and shoes, Adams said. Resources for addiction recovery, disability services, mental health, substance abuse, jobs and housing will be available. Free transportation will also be offered to and from.

The Martinsville Area Community Foundation provided a grant to help cover medical prescriptions and supplies, Adams said.

The program was started by Liberty University's College of Osteopathic Medicine, giving students an opportunity to have both clinical and practical experience.

There is also the hope that students who participate in this event will find reason to return to the Martinsville area and set up practice after graduation, Keith Ritchie, pastor of First United Methodist Church, said. It is also hoped those in the community who receive medical attention as part of the collaborative will find ways to connect to medical professionals who can provide follow-up care beyond Saturday

Ritchie also said that personally, it has been a great joy to work with so many in this community in preparation for the collaborative. Planning for this event began early this year. Meetings have been held at least monthly, with new and participating agencies attending each meeting. Throughout such planning, I have worked with and talked with leaders in Martinsville/Henry County who deeply love this community and want to help the residents of this area. There are many gifted leaders in this community who work tirelessly for this community; their efforts need to be noticed and affirmed. I especially am grateful to see those in the faith community partner with other agencies for the welfare of all.

The Liberty University College of Osteopathic Medicine website says the Martinsville Community Care Collaborative (MCCC) is a large group of nonprofit Martinsville and Lynchburg organizations committed to serving the underserved and impoverished.

Many residents of Central Virginia face health challenges that require comprehensive and preventive services, like food, housing, medical, etc, the website reads. MCCC aims to connect these residents with available resources within their own community to help improve their health and wellness.

It also says that, among other services, Liberty University College of Osteopathic Medicine student-doctors will assist patients with musculoskeletal pain and provide , a non-invasive, hands-on approach that is used to diagnose and treat illness and injury.

Bus routes

There will be buses taking residents to and from the event throughout the day on Saturday. In Martinsville, city routes will run every hour, starting at 7:30 a.m. Those will be:

First stop  Martinsville Senior Center, 21 Moss Street

Second stop  High Street Baptist Church, 401 Fayette Street

Third stop  St. Pauls Episcopal Church, 409 Fayette Street

Fourth stop  Maplewood Apartments, 1446 Fayette Street

Fifth stop  Pony Place and corner of Roundabout Road

Sixth stop  Fuller Memorial, 1204 Askin Street

Seventh stop  Kearfott Memorial Baptist Church, 1403 Rivermont Heights

Eighth stop  Wesley Memorial Methodist Church, 824 Starling Ave

Ninth stop  Spring Street Baptist Church, 200 Spring Street

Tenth stop  First Baptist Church, 23 Starling Ave

Eleventh stop-Spruce Village Apartments, 1201 Spruce Street

Twelfth stop  Shiloh Way of the Cross Church, 938 Brookdale Street

Thirteenth stop  Martins Landing Apartments, 1151 East Church Street

Fourteenth stop  First Baptist Church East Martinsville, 1043 East Church Street

Fifteenth stop  Chatham Heights Baptist Church, 1235 Chatham Heights Road

Sixteenth stop  Barrows Mill I, 1026 Barrows Mill Road

Seventeenth stop  Clerview Wesleyan Church, 925 Barrows Mill Road

Eighteenth stop  McCabe Memorial Church, 107 Clearview Drive

Ninteenth stop  Northview Gardens Apartments, 755 Stultz Road

Twentieth stop  Blue Ridge Regional Library, 310 East Church Street.

The bus will drop off riders at the Uptown Ministry Center on Main Street and also pick up riders for transportation back to the stops along the route.

In Henry County (hourly, also beginning at 7:30 a.m.), one bus will travel to and pick up at the Collinsville Shopping Center on Virginia Avenue, and proceed to the former Bassett High School/EMI facility at 3289 Riverside Drive in Bassett, then to Fieldale Community Center at 401 Chestnut Street in Fieldale, then to the clinic on Main Street in Martinsville, then repeat the route on an approximate hourly schedule.

A second bus in Henry County will travel to Lancer Hall parking lot east of Martinsville at 6296 A.L. Philpott Highway, then will follow the bypass to Tractor Supply parking lot at 4920 Greensboro Road in Ridgeway, then along the bypass and Route 58 west to the Spencer Penn Centre at 475 Spencer Penn Road, then to the clinic in Martinsville, then repeat the route.

A Patrick County shuttle service will also run hourly, beginning at 7:30 a.m. A shuttle will run from the Spencer Penn Centre to Elizabeths Pizza parking lot at 22059 Jeb Stuart Highway in Patrick Springs, to Pioneer Hospital at 18688 Jeb Stuart Highway near Stuart, and to Patrick Henry Community Colleges Stuart Complex at 213 Johnson Street;, then back to the hospital, Patrick Springs, and the Spencer Penn Centre; and then repeat the shuttle route throughout the day.
Related Egypt security forces free officer kidnapped during Western Desert shootout with terrorists

Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi visited a police officer in hospital on Wednesday who had been rescued from terrorists who had kidnapped him in the Western Desert, El-Sisis office announced.

El-Sisi was accompanied by Interior Minister Magdy Abdel-Ghaffar.

Police officer Mohamed El-Hayes had gone missing during a shootout on 19 October, which saw 16 policemen killed while raiding a terrorist hideout in Bahariya Oasis, about 135 kilometres (83 miles) southwest of Cairo.

Egyptian armed forces declared on Tuesday that El-Hayes had been freed in a joint operation by army and police forces.

The freed police officer is currently at a military hospital receiving treatment.

So far no group has claimed responsibility for the events.

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SPRINGFIELD -- Revelers at The Student Prince Cafe and The Fort Dining Room's 2017 Mighty Oktoberfest on Fort Street last month had a lot of fun, ate a lot of food and drank a lot of beer.

And they also raised a lot of money supporting the good work done by Shriners Hospitals for Children, said Peter Picknelly, one of the owners of The Student Prince.

Picknelly, chairman and CEO of Peter Pan Bus Lines, along with Fort co-owners Andy Yee, Michael K. Vann and Kevin B. Vann, presented a check Wednesday to Shriners.

Regular admission to the three-day event was $15, with $5 of each ticket sold going to Shriners. Shriners also ran raffles with donated prizes at Oktoberfest. There was even a Saturday-afternoon Shriners Family Day for parents and children.

Wednesday's donation worked out to $11,621.

The money will go toward Shriners' new inpatient acute rehab program, said hospital administrator H. Lee Kirk Jr.

The acute inpatient rehab program begins next year and will provide occupational, physical and speech therapy to children recovering from orthopedic, spinal and brain injuries for up to three hours a day over two to four weeks.

"This kind of therapy helps to cut down on return emergency room visits and hospitalizations," he said.

The children could come from Shriners or from another hospital.

Shriners Hospitals for Children in Springfield cared for 9,000 children in 2016 and is on track to care for 10,000 or more in 2017. Patients come from all over western New England and as far west as Albany, New York. Kirk said part of the increase is attributable to new doctors at Shriners.

Supported by the Shriners, a fraternal organisation associated with Freemasonry, the hospital offers care regardless of a family's ability to pay. The hospital accepts insurance. But if insurance is not available to pay for child's care, the Shriners cover the cost.
Kevin Spacey found himself Wednesday facing new accusations of sexual misconduct.

Spacey apologized on Sunday after "Star Trek: Discovery" actor Anthony Rapp alleged in an interview that the "House of Cards" star made an unwanted sexual advance toward him when he was 14 years old in 1986.

Now, two other men have made accusations against Spacey.

Spacey's advances toward young male actors was "common" practice during his 12-year-run as artistic director at The Old Vic Theatre in London, Mexican actor Roberto Cavazos claimed Tuesday while recounting his own alleged experience fending off Spacey.

"I myself had a couple of unpleasant encounters with Spacey that were on the edge of being considered assault," the 35-year-old actor, who performed in several productions at The Old Vic, wrote on his Facebook page. "In fact, if I was a woman, I probably wouldn't have doubted in identifying them as such, but I guess the lack of a direct or aggressive action led me to justify the incident as 'one of those things.' "

In an interview with RadarOnline, actor-director Tony Montana said Spacey groped him in 2003. The filmmaker says he was working on a documentary at the Los Angeles nightclub Coronet when Spacey walked in with a group of friends.

"I went up to order a drink and Kevin came up to me and put his arm around me," Montana recalled. "He was telling me to come with him, to leave the bar. (He) put his hand on my crotch forcefully and grabbed my whole package."

Montana said he "turned his thumb back to get his hand off it."

He said he paid for his drink and left the bar area, but Spacey followed him to the restroom.

"I backed him out the door and I pushed him," Montana said. "One of his friends was in line and I said, 'It's time to take your boy home.' They all ended up leaving.'"

Montana described the incident as "an emasculating thing for someone to do to me." He said suffered from PTSD for six months and discussed the incident with a therapist.

In recent days, Spacey has found himself scorned by an industry that previously feted the two-time Oscar winner.

On Tuesday, producers of "House of Cards" revealed they have shut down production for the time being.

"(Media Rights Capital) and Netflix have decided to suspend production on 'House of Cards' season six, until further notice, to give us time to review the current situation and to address any concerns of our cast and crew," Netflix said in a statement.

The International Academy of Television Arts and Sciences announced in a statement that it was withdrawing the International Emmy Founders Award it planned to give Spacey on Nov. 20 "in light of recent events".
The death of a 16-year-old on Halloween in Boston's Jamaica Plain neighborhood is under investigation by Boston police.

Boston Police were called to the area of 944 Parker St. in Jamaica Plain just before midnight on Tuesday. The officers were responding to a call reporting shots fired when they found a 16-year-old boy suffering gunshot wounds. Police say the teen was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Boston police say the shooting is being actively investigated.

Anyone with information can contact the department's Homicide Detectives at 617-343-4470, or anonymously call the CrimeStoppers Tip Line at 1-800-494-TIPS or text the word 'TIP' to 27463.

This is a developing story.
A Newton man has been identified as one of the 11 victims injured during a truck attack near the World Trade Center Tuesday afternoon.

According to the Boston Globe, Martin Marro was visiting New York City with friends when their group was struck by a rental Home Depot truck careening down a bike path. Five of Marro's friends were killed in the attack, a figure confirmed by the Argentinan foreign ministry.

A total of eight people were killed Tuesday afternoon, authorities said. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio referred to the incident as an act of terror.

Investigators have learned that the suspect, 29-year-old Sayfullo Saipov, of Uzbekistan, exited the truck after striking a school bus on the bike path and yelled "Allahu Akbah!," Arabic for "God is great," the Associated Press reports.

Saipov was shot by police in the abdomen and hospitalized. He underwent surgery and is expected to survive, the Associated Press reports.

Marro's injuries were considered serious but non-life threatening.

According to the Boston Globe, Marro works as a scientist for The Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research in Cambridge. He is married to Mariana Dagatti, an architect.

The couple recently held a re-election fund-raiser at their home for Newton City Councilor James Cote, a family friend. Governor Charlie Baker was in attendance.
AGAWAM -- An 11-year-old boy died after being hit by a vehicle at Maple and Orchard streets Tuesday afternoon, Western Mass News reported.

The TV station, media partner of The Republican, reported that the boy, a Doering Middle School student, was in front of his home when he was struck.

He was rushed by Agawam Fire Department ambulance to Baystate Medical Center in Springfield, but died from his injuries, Western Mass News reported, citing Agawam Police Lt. James Donovan.

Police blocked traffic near the Maple and Orchard streets intersection as the Massachusetts State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section and the Crime Scene Services Unit investigated the incident.

Detectives attached to the Hampden District Attorney's Office are also investigating.
AGAWAM -- An 11-year-old boy was struck and killed by a vehicle in Agawam just before 4 p.m. Tuesday.

Agawam Police Lt. James Donovan said the boy was struck on Maple Street near its intersection with Orchard Street.

The victim was taken by ambulance to Baystate Medical Center in Springfield, where he was pronounced dead upon arrival.

Donovan said the investigation is ongoing.

The Massachusetts State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section, Crime Scene Services Unit and detectives attached to the office of Hampden District Attorney Anthony Gulluni are also involved in the investigation.
SPRINGFIELD -- A Springfield landlord who refused to rent apartments to pregnant women or families with minor children must pay more than $40,000 in fines under a federal jury verdict.

Following a five-day trial in U.S. District Court in Springfield, a jury found that John DeRaffele, of New Rochelle, New York, had violated the U.S. Fair Housing Act by refusing to rent an apartment to a Springfield family with a pregnant wife and a child under 6 years old, according to a press release from the U.S. Justice Department.

When the family filed a complaint in 2015, the landlord retaliated by suing them for $1 million in damages, the release said.

The jury, in a verdict delivered on Friday, also found DeRaffele engaged in a pattern of discrimination against prospective tenants based on their familial status. Specifically, the landlord included an addendum in leases barring rentals to couples with minor children, women who were pregnant or who became pregnant, the release said.

The jury awarded $8,500 in damages to the family and imposed a $35,000 civil penalty for the pattern of discrimination, the release said.

The verdict was announced by acting U.S. Attorney William D. Weinreb and Susan Forward, regional director of the New England office of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer A. Serafyn, chief of Weinreb's Civil Rights Unit, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory J. Dorchak, also of the Civil Rights Unit, handled the case. The Civil Rights Unit of the U.S. Attorney's Office was established in 2015 with the mission of enhancing federal civil rights enforcement.

The Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in housing on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, familial status, national origin and disability.
Egypt has condemned a terrorist attack in New York City which saw eight people killed on Tuesday when a man in a rented truck drove into a busy bicycle path.

In a statement released by the foreign ministry, Egypt expressed its sincere condolences to the families of the victims as well to the US government and the American people, wishing a speedy recovery for the injured.

The statement added that the frequency of terrorist attacks in cities around the globe confirmed that it is an international phenomenon targeting all people without any discrimination.

The statement also expressed Egypt's solidarity with the government and the people of the US, vowing to continue working and coordinating with all the countries of the world to end terrorism in all its forms.

The suspect in the New York attack, a 29-year-old Uzbek immigrant, was arrested after being shot by the police.

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The visit of the parliamentary delegation started Friday and has included meetings with Egyptian expatriates in the United States as well as members of the US-Egyptian Chamber of Commerce

As part of a one-week visit to the United States, an Egyptian parliamentary delegation discussed Tuesday a number of controversial issues in a meeting hosted by the Middle East Institute  a Washington DC-based think tank.

A press statement Tuesday said the agenda of the meeting of the nine-member Egyptian delegation, led by parliament speaker Ali Abdel-Aal, covered important issues like Egypt's new NGOs law, religious freedom for Coptic Christians, and the funding of terrorism in the Middle East and Arab world.

The statement said Abdel-Aal indicated in a closed-door symposium on Egypt's internal political conditions that Egypt's new NGOs law mainly aims to secure transparency in terms of funding and performance. "We want the funding and activities of NGOs in Egypt to be as transparent as possible so that some of them do not find themselves implicated in funding terrorism or harming the country's national security," said Abdel-Aal.

Speaker Abdel-Aal also argued that the NGOs law goes in line with international conventions on civil and political and human rights. "This law aims to secure three objectives which are tightening supervision on foreign funding of NGOs, monitoring the activities of NGOs and their ways of spending money, and subjecting NGOs to state-imposed rules on auditing and accountability," said Abdel-Aal.

Speaker Abdel-Aal added, however, that Egypt's 89-article NGOs law, passed by parliament on 29 November 2016, has not yet come into force. "The executive bylaws of this legislation have first to be drafted and parliament would not hesitate amending it if implementation showed it would restrict the performance and freedoms of NGOs in Egypt," said Abdel-Aal.

The statement said Abdel-Aal also delivered a review of laws passed by Egypt's parliament in recent years, on top of which laws that facilitated the building of churches and helped fight illegal migration. Abdel-Aal said other important laws in the pipeline included fighting "flawed religious fatwas" that promote extremism and sectarian strife.

Egypt's NGOs law has faced sharp attacks since it was passed last November. Three high-profile US senators  former presidential candidate John McCain, Lindsey Graham, and Marco Rubio  have sharply attacked the law. While McCain and Graham said in a joint statement that the new NGOs law is the latest sign of a growing crackdown on human rights and peaceful dissent in Egypt, Rubio said it would badly affect the independence of NGOs in Egypt. McCain even threatened that the law would impact US assistance to Egypt.

Many believe that Washington's decision last August to cut $100 million and delay another $200 million in military and economic aid to Egypt was a direct result of pressure from influential senators like McCain and Graham. Cairo described the decision as a misjudgment of the strategic relations between Egypt and the United States.

Sources said the agenda of the Egyptian parliamentary delegation in Washington includes meetings with senators McCain and Graham, heads of the US House's committees on foreign affairs and intelligence, and with majority and minority leaders in Congress.

The statement said the delegation will also meet with speaker of the House of Representatives Paul Ryan and speaker of the Senate Orrin Hatch.

Parliament speaker Abdel-Aal's meeting with the Middle East Institute in Washington also covered the delicate issue of terrorism funding. A statement said Abdel-Aal was keen to explain the dangers of terrorism on Egypt coming from countries disrupted by civil wars, like Libya and Syria, and also from Gaza Strip which is dominated by radical extremists and Salafists, not to mention that Egypt is currently economically burdened with hosting as many as five million refugees who fled wars in their countries.

The statement added: "Speaker Abdel-Aal was keen in this respect to alert the attention of the Middle East Institute's officials to the dangers of countries sponsoring terrorism and funding media channels that support political Islam and jihadist movements." "We face a fourth generation of media wars that aim to break the morale of nations by publishing flawed reports on Egypt's internal conditions and giving political cover to terrorist organisations," said Abdel-Aal.

Informed sources said the meeting covered Qatar's role in funding terrorism and extremist TV channels and the decision of four Arab countries to cut diplomatic relations with Qatar last June in response to what they deemed its role in sponsoring terrorist activities.

The delegation's meeting with the Middle East Institute also focused on the rights of minorities in Egypt, especially Christians. Sources said Abdel-Aal was keen to refer to the new Church Building Law that helped facilitate the construction of churches in Egypt.

US Vice President Mike Pence said last week that he will visit Egypt at the end of December to discuss a range of issues with Egyptian officials, on top of which religious freedoms for Coptic Christians.

Tarek Radwan, head of the Egyptian parliament's foreign relations committee and a member of the delegation, told reporters last week that the attack on three churches in three Egyptian cities in the first half of 2017 was seized by some to claim that the government of Egypt does not provide enough protection to Coptic Christians. "I think the army and police did a lot in the last period to disrupt attacks against Christians and the more the country becomes stabilised, the more secure the conditions, helping all Egyptians perform their religious rituals freely," said Radwan.

The Egyptian parliamentary delegation began its visit to the United States Friday. In New York, the delegation held a meeting with Egyptian expatriates living in the United States. A statement said Speaker Abdel-Aal told Egyptian expatriates that they have an important role to play in standing up to US media attacks that paint a flawed picture of Egypt.

The delegation also held a meeting with the US-Egyptian Chamber of Commerce in New York. A statement said the meeting focused on discussing economic reforms that the government adopted one year ago as part of a deal with the IMF, and the role of the new investment law in making Egypt a more attractive investment destination.

Egypt's parliamentary delegation includes the House of Representatives Secretary-General Ahmed Saadeddin, head of the foreign affairs committee Tarek Radwan, head of the budget committee Hussein Eissa, and head of the pro-government "Support Egypt" parliamentary bloc and chairman of the Federation of Egyptian Industries Mohamed El-Sewedi. It also includes MP and businessman Mohamed El-Sallab, Coptic female MP Marian Azer, and MPs Karim Darwish and Amro Sedki.

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Egypt's Armed Forces announced on Wednesday that the joint military-police operation targeting terrorist hideouts in the Western Desert continued for the second day in a row, the Egyptian army said in a statement on Wednesday.

The Egyptian air forces - supported by special army commandoes units (Sae'ka) and police - carried out airstrikes in southern Fayoum, killing all terrorist targets.

Security forces are currently combing the area for any terrorists who may have escaped.

The Armed Forces released a video of the airstrike, as well as photos showing the dead bodies of the terrorists and destroyed vehicles including a pickup truck fitted with machine guns.

The operation comes after the shootout on 19 October in the Western Desert between security forces and terrorists, where 16 policemen were killed and 13 were injured.

On Friday, 13 terrorists were killed during a police raid on an abandoned building along the Assiut-El-Kharga Oasis Highway.

On Tuesday, a military operation rescued police officer Mohamed El-Hayes, who had been captured by terrorists during the Western Desert shootout.

So far, no group has claimed responsibility for the shootout or El-Hayes kidnapping.

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Scientists have long thought that Alzheimers disease originates in the brain, but new research suggests that a key protein that triggers the disease could be carried to the brain from elsewhere in the body. The research offers pathways to new drug therapies that could potentially stop or slow the disease without working directly on the brain.

Rich Haridy

https://newatlas.com/alzheimers-amyloid-beta-proteins-outside-brain/51999/?utm_source=Gizmag+Subscribers&utm_campaign=06e20b15aa-UA-2235360-4&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_65b67362bd-06e20b15aa-92465361
While serving as CEO of PepsiCo, John Sculley was recruited by Steve Jobs to become CEO of Apple in 1983. After a disagreement with Jobs over business strategy in which the Apple board sided with Sculley, Jobs was fired while Sculley continued at the helm of Apple until 1993. Since then, Sculley has co-founded or invested in technology-focused companies in many industries, including media marketing, financial services and health care. [email protected] recently spoke with Sculley about working with Steve Jobs and his views on the emerging fields of artificial intelligence, cloud computing, data analytics, health care innovation and the industrial internet.

An edited transcript of the conversation follows.
Egypt's President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi discussed efforts to restore stability in Somalia as well as counterterrorism cooperation in a phone call on Wednesday with Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, El-Sisi's office said in a statement.

The Egyptian president reiterated Egypt's firm position in supporting Somalia's territorial integrity and sovereignty, and asserted his support for the country's efforts to restore stability.

The terrorist group Al-Shabab have been stepping up attacks in the country as a 22,000-strong African Union peacekeeping force prepares to withdraw and hand over the country's security responsibilities to the Somali military by the end of 2020.

In mid-October, over 350 people were killed in bombings in Mogadishu, the worst in the course of the country's decades civil war.

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Egypt's top prosecutor Nabil Sadek has referred Muslim Brotherhood businessman Hassan Malek and his son to an emergency state security court on charges from 2015 including belonging to and financing the now-banned group, the prosecutors office said on Wednesday.

Twenty-two other co-defendants, including Abdel-Rahman Saudi, also a well-known businessman and member of the banned group, were referred to the High State Security Emergency Criminal Court on the same charges, which also include attempting to topple the regime, assaulting police and army personnel and harming the national economy.

The defendants in the case include 13 individuals who are at large.

The prosecution said that Brotherhood material detailing plots to harm the national economy were found at Malek's house.

Malek has been jailed since he was arrested in October 2015 pending investigations into charges of collecting foreign currency from the Egyptian market and smuggling it abroad with the aim of harming the national economy.

His assets have been frozen since September 2014.

Last week, Malek completed the maximum period of two years allowed by Egyptian law for detention with trial.

Prosecutors can refer criminal cases to an emergency court in light of the current state of emergency imposed in the country.

Last month, President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi issued a decree extending the six-month-old state of emergency for another three months.

Egypt first imposed the state of emergency in April after two church bombings killed at least 45 people.

Since the 1990s, Malek has been considered one of the most prominent businessmen affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood, along with his business partner and former deputy chairman of the group Khairat El-Shater, who is currently serving jail time for various convictions.

Maleks commercial and industrial ventures include textile manufacturing, electrical supplies and furniture.

The Muslim Brotherhood was designated a terrorist organisation by the Egyptian government in November 2013.

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Syria's opposition rejected a Russian-sponsored initiative to reach a political settlement to the civil war, as Turkey protested against moves to involve Kurdish groups, in an early setback to Moscow's peacemaking bid.

Having intervened decisively in the Syrian war in 2015 in support of President Bashar al-Assad, Russia now hopes to build on the collapse of Islamic State group to launch a political process to end the six-year-old conflict.

Syria's government has said it is ready to attend the Nov. 18 Sochi congress which is set to focus on a new constitution, saying the time is right thanks to Syrian army gains and the "terrorists' obliteration".

But officials in the anti-Assad opposition rejected the meeting on Wednesday and insisted any talks be held under UN sponsorship in Geneva, the scene of a string of failed peace efforts.

The congress amounted to a meeting "between the regime and the regime", said Mohammad Alloush, a member of the opposition High Negotiations Committee and a senior official with the Jaish al-Islam rebel group.

The HNC was surprised it had been mentioned in a list of invited groups and would "issue a statement with other parties setting out the general position rejecting this conference," Alloush told Reuters.

The Turkey-based Syrian National Coalition (SNC) political opposition group said the congress was an attempt to circumvent "the international desire for political transition" in Syria.

Russian air power played a big part in the defeat of rebels in opposition-held eastern Aleppo and other areas last year.

"What kind of Syrian-Syrian dialogue will it be under the sponsorship of the (Russian) criminal?" said Eyad Shamsi, another HNC member and the head of a rebel faction.

A Russian negotiator said on Tuesday that Syrian groups who choose to boycott the congress risked being sidelined as the political process moves ahead.

Russia has invited 33 Syrian groups and political parties to what it calls a "Syrian Congress on National Dialogue".

Russian President Vladimir Putin first mentioned the idea of the congress last month, saying he believed Moscow and the Syrian government would soon finally defeat militants in Syria.

Turkey Says PYD Invite Unacceptable

Helped by Russia's air force and an array of Iran-backed Shia militias, Assad has defeated many of the Syrian rebels who were fighting to topple him, leaving them confined to enclaves in the west.

Damascus and its allies have also recovered swathes of central and eastern Syria from Islamic State group in recent months, while a separate campaign by US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) has driven IS group from other parts of the country.

The separate campaigns are now converging on Islamic State group's last strongholds in Deir al-Zor province at the Iraqi border.

Russia's decision to invite Kurdish groups which dominate the SDF to Sochi triggered objections from Turkey on Wednesday. Ankara, which views the dominant Syrian Kurdish groups as a national security threat, said it was unacceptable that the Kurdish YPG militia had been invited.

Turkish presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin said Turkish and Russian officials had discussed the issue and that he had held meetings of his own to "solve the problem on the spot".

Turkey views the YPG and its political affiliate, the PYD, as an extension of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which has been waging a three-decade insurgency in Turkey.

The head of the PYD indicated on Wednesday his group favoured attending the congress. Shahoz Hasan, in written comments to Reuters, said the PYD would advocate for its decentralised model for Syria.

Although he did not firmly commit to attending, he said a majority among the PYD and its allies now favoured going: "We are discussing it and the majority view is to attend".

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A Marion felon was arrested and charged with carrying a concealed handgun during a traffic stop, according to reports.

Officer Brandi Davis of the Marion Police Department charged Cody Lee McKinney, 22, of Lytle Mountain Road in Marion with possession of a firearm by a felon and carrying a concealed weapon.

On Sunday, Oct. 15, Marion P.D. officers conducted a traffic stop on a subject during a routine patrol in the area of South Main Street and West Court Street. During the stop, one of the occupants, McKinney, was found in possession of a Phoenix Arms HP handgun inside the vehicle, according to a report.

McKinney has a criminal record dating back to 2013, with charges that include assault with a deadly weapon, larceny, possession of a controlled substance and carrying a concealed weapon, according to N.C. Department of Public Safety Records.

McKinney was issued an $11,000 bond.
The Islamist group Hamas began ceding control of the Gaza Strip's border crossings with Israel and Egypt to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Wednesday under an agreement brokered by Cairo to end a decade of internal schism.

The move marked the most concrete implementation of the Oct. 11 reconciliation deal that Palestinians hope will ease economic restrictions on Gaza and enable more fruitful negotiations on their goal of setting up an independent state.

Witnesses said that employees from Abbas's Palestinian Authority (PA) moved into Erez and Karam Abu Salem crossings on the Israeli border and Rafah crossing on the Egyptian border, as Hamas counterparts packed up equipment and departed on trucks.

At Rafah, large murals of Abbas and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi decorated the entrances to the passport hall and Palestinian and Egyptian flags flew over the compound.

Citing security concerns, Israel maintains tight restrictions on the movement of people and goods at its crossings with the Gaza Strip, including an almost blanket ban on exports from the territory.

Ministers from the Abbas-backed government of national consensus have begun gradually to assume their duties in Gaza in past weeks and on Tuesday took over the revenue accounts of the Rafah and Kerem Shalom crossings, officials said.

Hamas had used those revenues - taxes and fees collected from merchants and passengers - as part of its Gaza budget, to pay salaries of the 40,000 to 50,000 employees it has hired since 2007. Those wages will now be paid by the PA, under the Cairo agreement..

The Palestinian Authority will begin operating the Erez and Karam Abu Salem crossings immediately, officials said, while in Rafah the operation will await further security arrangements such as deploying a force from Abbas's presidential guards and Cairo completing innovations on its side of the facility.

*This story was edited by Ahram Online.

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New York terror suspect Sayfullo Saipov had been planning for weeks the truck attack in Lower Manhattan that left eight people dead, police said Wednesday.

"Based on the investigation overnight, it appears that Mr Saipov had been planning this for a number of weeks," John Miller, deputy commissioner of the New York Police Department told a news conference.

"He did this in the name of ISIS," he added.

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The prolonged use of proton pump inhibitors following treatment for H. pylori infection of the stomach has been linked to an increased risk of stomach cancer. The study from Hong Kong was published in BMJ Gut.



Proton pump inhibitors, which include drugs like omeprazole, lansoprazole and pantoprazole, have been used for several years for the treatment of stomach ulcers. They bring about their effect by blocking a target called the proton pump in the inner lining of the stomach, thereby reducing the acid secretion by the stomach. They are included in the treatment regimen of Helicobacter pylori infection.

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The prolonged use of proton pump inhibitors, drugs used to reduce gastric acidity, has been linked to the development of stomach cancer

Long-term Proton Pump Inhibitor Use Associated With Stomach Cancer
Egyptian citizens abroad sent to Egypt a total of $16.3 billion in remittances between November 2016  when Egypt floated its currency  and August 2017, registering a 17.35 percent increase compared to the same period the year before, according to data revealed at the Industrial Investment Map in Cairo.

Teuta Grazhdani, the head of Egypts Labour Mobility and Human Development at the intergovernmental International Organization for Migration, said that the "remittances have exceeded revenues from Suez Canal, tourism, and direct investment," three of the country's key sources of foreign currency.

The flotation of the Egyptian pound has unified exchange rates and diminished the black market, where foreign currency rates were much higher than in banks. Since the devaluation, many Egyptians have opted to send remittances through legal avenues.

Grazhdani said at the Industrial Investment Map, which aims at promoting foreign investment in Egypt's industrial sector and was hosted by the Ministry of Industry, that Egyptian expats have to be part of the economic development process, and should be empowered with the tools to do so.

"Their remittances should be used as capital for different industrial development projects in Egypt," she said.

Around 9.4 million Egyptians live abroad out of a total population of 104.2 million.

Egypt is in constant need of foreign currency to buy basic foodstuffs and fulfill its international obligations. The countrys foreign reserves registered $36.535 billion at the end of September 2017, hitting pre-2011 levels after years of political turmoil and terrorism brought it down to critical levels.

The country's foreign reserves, which stood at $16.41 billion at the end of October 2015, have been climbing since Egypt signed an agreement for a three-year $12 billion loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in November 2017.

The IMF expects the Egyptian economy to grow 4.5 percent in 2018 from 4.1 percent this year.

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More than mere pests, mosquitoes can carry deadly diseases, including fever, dengue malaria, yellow, West Nile virus, chikungunya, and Zika. Diseases spread by mosquitoes result in millions of deaths each year, and the burden of their effects is carried most strongly by places with the fewest resources."We could enable the world's largest network of mosquito surveillance - just purely using tools that almost everyone around the world now is carrying in their pocket," said Prakash, who is senior author of the paper that demonstrates the feasibility of this approach, published in the Oct. 31 issue ofjournal."There are very limited resources available for vector surveillance and control, and it's extremely important to understand how you would deploy these limited resources where the mosquitoes are."With enough contributions from citizen scientists around the world, Abuzz could create a map that tells us exactly when and where the most dangerous species of mosquitoes are most likely to be present, and that could lead to highly targeted and efficient control efforts."If you see a mosquito and you swat it, you've saved yourself an itch for one day. But if you see a mosquito, and you record it and you send the data to the Abuzz project, then you've potentially contributed to an effort that can reduce the burden of mosquito-borne disease for many generations in the future, hopefully," said Haripriya Mukundarajan, a graduate student in the Prakash Lab and lead author of the paper.Abuzz is a low-cost, fast, easy way to gain an incredible amount of new data about mosquitoes. Contributing to this research is as simple as holding a cellphone microphone near a mosquito, recording its hum as it flies and uploading the recording to the Abuzz website.The researchers take the raw signal, clean up that audio to reduce background noise and run it through an algorithm that matches that particular buzz with the species that is most likely to have produced it.Once the match is found, the researchers will send the person who submitted the recording information about the mosquito they found and mark every recording on a map on the website, showing exactly where and when that mosquito species was sighted.Critical to the success of Abuzz is the fact that mosquito species can be differentiated by the frequency of their wingbeats, which is what produces their characteristic whine.Knowing this, Prakash and his team created a mosquito sound library, organized by species, which powers the matching algorithm. Overall, the researchers captured about 1,000 hours of mosquito buzzing from 18 lab-reared and two wild mosquito species, all of which were species relevant to human health.Recognizing that people who could benefit most from Abuzz may not have access to the latest smartphones, the researchers designed the platform so that it can work off recordings from almost any model of cellphone.Most of the data they focused on in the study was recorded on a $20 clamshell-style cell phone from 2006. Further simplifying the process, the Abuzz algorithm has worked using as little as one-fifth of a second of sound - although recordings that are a second or longer are the most desirable.Such basic requirements mean that merely recording near a mosquito just as it takes off from a surface is enough to create an Abuzz-worthy recording.To assure that Abuzz works the way they've intended, the researchers ran a field test with ten local volunteers in a village in Ranomafana, Madagascar in 2016.It took about 10 minutes to train these citizen scientists. The next day, they returned with 60 recordings that spanned three hours."It was very easy to tell people what to do, and people were very eager to participate," recalled Felix Hol, a postdoctoral research fellow and co-author of the paper who helped conduct this field study."Just 10 minutes of training and they could actually produce a lot of very usable data. That was a very beautiful experience for me." For any of the grandest aims of Abuzz to be possible, it needs engagement from citizen scientists. Without those contributions, it cannot reach its full potential.The group intends to release an app to facilitate community engagement in the near future and have already produced detailed training videos. "What I would love to see is people engaging in the problem," Prakash said."Try to join the platform. Record mosquitoes. Learn about the biology. And in that process, you will be supporting the kind of research and scientific data that we and medical entomologists around the world so desperately need and, at the same time, you will be making your own community safer."Source: Eurekalert


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Palestinians hang a poster depicting Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi at Rafah border crossing with Egypt, in the southern Gaza Strip November 1, 2017 Reuters Palestinians hang a poster depicting Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi at Rafah border crossing with Egypt, in the southern Gaza Strip November 1, 2017 Reuters

Portraits of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas hang at the Rafah border crossing with Egypt on November 1, 2017 AFP Portraits of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas hang at the Rafah border crossing with Egypt on November 1, 2017 AFP

Portraits of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas decorate the Rafah border crossing with Egypt on November 1, 2017 AFP Portraits of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas decorate the Rafah border crossing with Egypt on November 1, 2017 AFP

A member of the Palestinian security forces is greeted at Rafah border crossing with Egypt, in the southern Gaza Strip November 1, 2017 Reuters A member of the Palestinian security forces is greeted at Rafah border crossing with Egypt, in the southern Gaza Strip November 1, 2017 Reuters

Palestinian Authority officials are seen at the northern entrance of the Gaza Strip just after the Israeli-controlled Erez crossing, on November 1, 2017 AFP Palestinian Authority officials are seen at the northern entrance of the Gaza Strip just after the Israeli-controlled Erez crossing, on November 1, 2017 AFP

A picture shows the walking path leading into the Gaza Strip after the Israeli-controlled Erez crossing (background), on November 1, 2017 AFP A picture shows the walking path leading into the Gaza Strip after the Israeli-controlled Erez crossing (background), on November 1, 2017 AFP

Portraits of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas hang at the Rafah border crossing with Egypt on November 1, 2017 AFP Portraits of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas hang at the Rafah border crossing with Egypt on November 1, 2017 AFP

A picture shows vehicles moving in Beit Hanun, the northern access point into the Gaza Strip, at an area now controlled by the Palestinian Authority just after the Israeli-controlled Erez crossing (background), on November 1, 2017 AFP A picture shows vehicles moving in Beit Hanun, the northern access point into the Gaza Strip, at an area now controlled by the Palestinian Authority just after the Israeli-controlled Erez crossing (background), on November 1, 2017 AFP

A member of the Palestinian Authority (C-L) shakes hands with Hamas security men at the Rafah border crossing with Egypt after Hamas handed control of the crossing to the Palestinian Authority, in the southern Gaza Strip, on November 1, 2017 AFP A member of the Palestinian Authority (C-L) shakes hands with Hamas security men at the Rafah border crossing with Egypt after Hamas handed control of the crossing to the Palestinian Authority, in the southern Gaza Strip, on November 1, 2017 AFP

Nazmi Mhana (C), chairman of the Palestinian Crossing Authority walks at the Rafah border crossing with Egypt after Hamas handed control of the crossing to the Palestinian Authority, in the southern Gaza Strip, on November 1, 2017 AFP Nazmi Mhana (C), chairman of the Palestinian Crossing Authority walks at the Rafah border crossing with Egypt after Hamas handed control of the crossing to the Palestinian Authority, in the southern Gaza Strip, on November 1, 2017 AFP
Writer Khaled Mansour will lead a talk Thursday, 2 November, at NVIC in Cairo on the 1967 War some 50 years on

The Netherlands-Flemish Institute in Cairo (NVIC) will host Khaled Mansour, editor of the newly released book Dissecting the Defeat: The June 1967 War, on Thursday, 2 November, at 6:00pm, to discuss his work and the living repercussions of the 1967 War.

The book was released by Dar Al-Maraya, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the war. The book is co-authored with Belal Alaa, Sameh Naguib, Mohamed El-Aagati, Mostafa Abdel-Zaher and historian Khaled Fahmy.

The writers examine various reasons for Egypt's defeat in the war.

Mansour will also tackle the question of why it is still difficult to dissect and deconstruct this event. He will discuss civil-military relations, the decline of Arab nationalism, the rise of Islamism, and other issues related to the 1967 defeat.



Mansour is a writer who has worked for 27 years on human rights, humanitarian aid, development, peacekeeping, and communications.

He has published three books and numerous articles and papers in academic and general publications and websites. He has worked extensively with civil society, media, and international organisations in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and North America. He holds degrees in engineering, archaeology, sociology, and international relations.



Mansour is now leading a research project on the future of human rights advocacy in North Africa and is a senior consultant with the United Nations, and is former global director of communications for UNICEF.

He was the executive director of Egypt's leading human rights organisation, the Egyptian Initiative on Personal Rights (EIPR), between 2013 and early 2015.

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Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Terens Quick, is in Johannesburg as of today, heading a business mission organized by the Hellenic Federation of Enterprises (SEV) and the Greek-African Chamber of South Africa, Botswana and Mozambique.

This business mission is the result of meetings and consultations the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs held, last February, with Ministers and institutions of the said countries, in parallel with meetings with diaspora organizations, on updating political and diplomatic relations and bolstering the Greek economys international orientation.

In the context of the mission, the official opening of the business forum and B2B meetings in Johannesburg, Maputo and Gabarone is scheduled for tomorrow, along with meetings Mr. Quick will have with officials from the respective governments.

In South Africa, Mr. Quick will be attending the annual General Assembly of the Federation of Greek Communities and Associations of South Africa.

Finally, he will be representing the Greek government at a special event organized by the Federation in honour of the 90th birthday of Greek-South African, Georgios Bizos, one of the countrys emblematic figures, who, under the Apartheid regime, was Nelson Mandelas lawyer, and subsequently one of the chief architects of South Africas Constitution.
HURON COUNTY  Two bills that have been handed to Gov. Rick Snyder could lead to more specialized training for firefighters in our county.

Senate Bills 264 and 265, sponsored by Sen. Jim Stamas (R-Midland Charter Township), were given final passage  with broad support from the firefighter community. Together, the bills would streamline the firefighter training requirements, which have not been updated for more than 30 years, despite the increased demands and greater variety of responsibilities demanded of fire departments.

I think its a good thing, said Jason Lermont, a state certified fire instructor who teaches all fire safety classes to the fire departments of Huron County. Anytime we can get enhanced training, its a good thing.

SB 264 would improve training standards while leaving in place the ability to take into account the many differences in ways fire services are provided in Michigan. The bill would ensure clear definitions and roles for all aspects of fire service training and also increase the membership of the Michigan Fire Fighters Training Council (MFFTC) from seven to nine members.

SB 265 would allow the MFFTC the flexibility to fully utilize the funding for firefighter training, made available through the fireworks safety fee assessed on the sale of all fireworks in the state.

Lermont, who is a member of both the Harbor Beach and Sigel Township fire departments, is cautiously optimistic about the potential for extra funding.

He said in our area, the focus is on recruiting volunteers and getting them into the standard Firefighter 1 and Firefighter 2 courses to get them started. With a required 280 hours of training for Firefighter 1 and another 50 hours for Firefighter 2, its a difficult sell for volunteer fire departments.

However, out of Sigel Township, Lermont also does specialized training with the countys Technical Rescue Team  comprised of 28 firefighters from across the county. The group has specialized training in various areas like, for example, farm rescues in confined spaces like silos and grain bins.

Other classes Lermont teaches include Emergency Vehicle Drivers Training, HAZMAT Training, Incident Command System Training and Incident Safety Officer Training.

The legislation would open up now where we could pay for some of that stuff, he said. Before we paid for this out of each departments funds.

If signed by the governor, the package of bills will take effect in 90 days.
The Connecticut Blues Society Monthly Jam is at the Pine Loft Pizzeria & Cafe on Sunday. The support is provided by the CTBS All-Stars. Jammers are welcome, and mics and amps are provided. Special guest is Chris Vitarello on vocals and guitar. The Jam starts at 1 p.m.

Black-Eyed Sally's brings in the big man on Saturday, Popa Chubby. He is a native son of The Big Apple with an attitude to match. At 14 he got his first guitar and never looked back. With blues rock ruling the music scene, Chubby would put in long hours with his record player learning the licks that would become his signature. He traveled through the Punk scene as well.

In 1993, after winning first place in the KLON National Blues Talent Search, he signed a deal with the Sonys O-KEH label and made the record, Booty And The Beast. The record yielded a Billboard top 100 hit with Sweet Goddess Of Love And Beer. He went on to become a mainstay on the European festival. He can blast the guitar or settle in with a slow ballad. An evening with Chubby is full of music and always entertaining.

Infinity Music Hall in Norfolk has Chris Smither, making a long awaited return on Friday. He brings a night of blues with some incredible technical acoustic guitar mastery. Smithers performance keeps Infinity Hall as a place to be for a strong cant miss show.

Fan favorite Tab Benoit, with his Cajun-infused blues is back at The FTC Warehouse on Tuesday. Part of Benoits appeal lies in his impressive, fiery guitar playing. The other part of a Benoit show is his ability to balance storytelling with his high-energy show. He has been nominated for three Grammy Awards and hes won the Blues Music Award for Entertainer of the Year four times, along with the Blues Music Award for Contemporary Male five times. When it comes to Louisianas finest blues players, he simply is one of the very best. His unique brand of blues rocks you straight down to your soul. Expect music steeped blues, country, Cajun, rock and soul.

Benoit is a strong Louisiana resource, where he works protecting the state with his Voice of the Wetlands organization.

Sunday, Davy Knowles is at FTC Stage One. His first U.S. show was at SXSW. Since then, Knowles has performed at festivals including Lollapalooza, Bonnaroo, and Austin City Limits.

41 Bridge Street and Farmer's Insurance present Suits for Soldiers: A Comedy Night Benefiting Veterans on Friday. Because too many qualified veterans do not own the appropriate business attire to go to networking events, interviews or even to work, Farmers Insurance is helping by collecting suits to help the veterans transition into the civilian workforce through their Suits For Soldiers Program. If you bring a new or gently used, business-appropriate suit, you will receive a special gift at the door. You get to enjoy a hilarious comedy show while helping a worthwhile cause. What could be better?

Again this week, the breweries are doing their part to bring out the blues.

Friday, Orb Mellon is at Witchdoctor Brewing at 6:30 p.m. On Saturday, he is at Still Hill Brewery for a 2 p.m. show. Eran Troy Danner will be playing solo acoustic at Daveluy's on Wednesday. Also featured is Fuzzy Baby Ducks IPA. Danner moves to The Hops Company on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. A wine venue is also in the picture this week; Thursday, Dan Stevens will be playing at the Owl Wine Bar at 5:30 p.m.

Some new venues appear in Blues Beat this week. The Iron Horse Pub in Waterbury has Comstock Station on Saturday. Frank Albert & the Know-It-Alls are at the Turning Tide on Friday in New London. On Saturday, Coventry Lakeview Restaurant brings in Six Pack of Blues.

Friday, Sue Menhart will be taking in a benefit Pass The Guitar event at All Souls Unitarian Universalist Congregation in New London.

The Shawn Taylor Duo is at Smokin' With Chris on Friday, and Shawn Taylor is back as a solo act on Thursday.

Connecticut author Mary Lou Sullivan has a new book out, Everything's Bigger in Texas: The Life and Times of Kinky Friedman. Her last book on Johnny Winter won a Keeping the Blues Alive award. And if what I have read so far, this one is going to receive the same sort of mention. I couldnt wait to finish reading it to comment on it.

First, Sullivans style makes for an easy read. You are getting a lot of information in an easy manner. Second, is the amount of history you learn while learning of Kinky life. I got some insight into a couple of my favorite songs. In talking about Kinky you learn that he put on the only show in Austin City Limits' history deemed too offensive to air. If that does not encourage a read, I dont know what will.

Get the complete Blues Beat schedule on Thursday at the blog http://bluesbeatnews.wordpress.com/. Any questions or comments should be sent to Domenic Forcella at TWBlus@aol.com.
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CHESTER  Art openings, free beer samples, wine tastings, a book signing, trunk show, artisan knife makers, a new collection of plaid and stripped clothes, music, fine art glass works, lots of wine and food and free items from the design archives of Cummings and Good.

All this and more is happening on First Friday, Nov. 3, when Chester restaurants, galleries and shops stay open until at least 8 p.m. with special offerings for visitors to the downtown.

Ruba Ruba will unveil a new collection of clothing with plaid and stripped themes while at French Hen, resident Caryn Davis will be signing her new book,  A Connecticut Christmas, and Uno de 50 jewelry will be featured in a trunk show.

The Perfect Pear will host two artisan knife makers: Stein Roaldset who will show, sell and discuss his work and woodworker Jerry Lalancette who will showcase his hand-made knife handles.

Cummings and Good are clearing out their design archives and offering for free on their porch: pins, cards, posters prints calendars, paper, pads and more - all designed by them.

Leif Nilsson is opening his Autumn Exhibit of new oil paintings of the Connecticut at his Spring Street Studio & Gallery.

The Lori Warner Gallery will exhibit a new collection of glass work by Carrie Gustafson. Her highly collectible fine art glass has garnered numerous awards including the coveted Smithsonian Excellence in Glass Award. Lori Warners new series of monotype prints, Horizon in Vertical will also be on view. Giving herself strict perimeters in which to create a new series of monotype prints, Warner succeeds in working with horizontal bands of color within a vertical plate emphasizing the balance of color.

The Opening Reception is Friday from 5-9 p.m. Both artists will be present at the reception. This event is free and open to the public. The exhibition will be on view through Jan. 3.

Gustafsons modern aesthetic is inspired by patterns and forms from art history and direct observation in nature. Her cold work glass technique begins on the surface of hand blown glass forms, where she applies an intricate pattern of hand shaped and cut stencils to the top layer of colored flash glass. Next, she sandblasts through multiple, translucent under-layers to reveal a matrix of color and light.

To reach the gallery, call 860-322-4265, gallery@loriwarner.com, www.loriwarner.com and on social media, Facebook and Instagram.

Artist Peter Barretts solo show, Art of the Sea will welcome guests for a wine and cheese reception on Friday from 5-8 p.m. in Maple and Main gallerys Stone Gallery.

A graduate of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy and an avid boater, for a quarter of a century, Barrett has been recording with his paint brushes the waves crashing against Maine rocks, boats bobbing at rest in quiet Connecticut coves and herons and terns at the waters edge of New England beaches. He is mainly self-taught but has been mentored and guided by well-known artists over the years including Elizabeth Sennett of East Hampton and good friends and internationally known artists Mary Erickson and Donald Demers. His oil paintings are done both on location and in the studio.

His daughter-in-law, Lindsay Barrett recently died of cancer and the show is dedicated to her memory. Fifteen percent of all sales will be donated to Yale New Haven Hospital Closer to Free Hematology Fund in Lindsays name. A recently retired businessman, Barrett is a founding member of Maple and Main, developing its financial model and serving as CEO for the majority of its eight years in business. In addition to Maple and Main, Barrett is an associate artist at Lyme Art Association and has been in juried shows there, at Hartford Fine Art and the Mystic Outdoor Arts Festival.

Learn more about the gallery at Mapleandmaingallery.com or call 860-526-6065, or go to Facebook and Instagram.
Halloween is almost here, and while visiting a haunted house or telling scary stories or legends can be fun, it is even more exciting to see and experience ghost stories in real life.

Once booming areas all over the world now sit abandoned and decaying, making for the perfect eerie Halloween escape.
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BRIDGEPORT  Juan Irizarry planned to move to the U.S. mainland after collecting a degree in chemical engineering. Eventually.

Hurricane Maria sped up the process.

Once he knew his parents in the coastal town of Arecibo could get by without him, Irizarry, 22, made his move. He came to Bridgeport to live with an uncle two weeks ago, and almost immediately became connected with the citys new Puerto Rico Relief Center  as a volunteer.

As much as I am able, I want to help, said Irizarry, whose command of English has been put to good use.

More Information Help is available The Puerto Rico Relief Center will be open Tuesdays through Thursdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at 2 Lafayette Square. To reach the office, call 203-953-3272. See More Collapse

He was among those who on Wednesday christened the new center, on the ground floor of 2 Lafayette Square, where it shares office space with the American Job Center.

Designed to be a one-stop resource for families transitioning from Puerto Rico to Bridgeport, the center will offer job assistance as well as referrals for housing, health care, transportation, food and clothing.

Scott Wilderman, chief executive officer of Career Resources, said his agency and others felt compelled to do something from the time Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico on Sept. 20.

Dozens of Bridgeport-area nonprofit agencies, community leaders, officials and educators have banded together to help welcome the hurricane refugees, whether their stay is short-term or permanent.

Some say they are here just until they recover. Wilderman said. Some lost everything and their next home is here.

As of Tuesday, about 70 percent of the island of 3.4 million people were still reported to be without power.

We will work with families, many with real problems, said Rosa Correa, coordinator of the relief center, promising it to be a long-term commitment.

Bridgeport has one of the largest Puerto Rican populations in the state. And the center has started working with 30 families who because of the hurricane have come to live with local relatives.

This is your community, Bridgeport Mayor Joseph Ganim said at the ribbon-cutting ceremony. Make this a welcoming place to live.

Erica Rosario, 29, who helped cut the ribbon, arrived from Puerto Rico two weeks ago with her mom. Since then she has been hospitalized twice with stomach problems.

Our house was very broke, Rosario said. Still, the decision to leave was hard.

Idalis Colon came last week with two children  a toddler and an older child who has enrolled at Cesar Batalla school  and is living with her father. The home she left in Puerto Rico still has no power or water.

Colons eighth-grader is one of 53 children who have enrolled in the school district from Puerto Rico over the past month.

Its good, she said of the welcome she has received.

Recent fundraisers in the city and surrounding area have raised more than $70,000, said Correa. There also have been collections of supplies. At noon on Wednesday, a truck filled with donations collected at Housatonic Community College was to arrive at the center.

Scott Appleby, director of emergency management for the city, said the state has put in a request for a Federal Emergency Management Agency specialist to work on behalf of Bridgeport and Hartford to provide disaster relief that arriving victims need.

We want to make sure no one falls through cracks, Appleby said.

Irizarry said the power came back four days ago at his parents home in Arecibo, a coastal community a half hour from San Juan.

Still, he intends to stay in Bridgeport.

I want to be in a position to help my family back in Puerto Rico, Irizarry said, adding he and others like him have skills and a work ethic that can be put to good use in cities like Bridgeport.

But drive and willingness alone is not enough, he said. That is why this center, the Puerto Rico Relief Center, is so important.
NORTH HAVEN  Most things dont last, unless theyve been mummified.

Hundreds of 2,000-year-old animal mummies, including crocodiles, cats, baby gazelles, falcons and ibises were removed from storage at Yales Peabody Museum of Natural History and brought to Quinnipiac Universitys North Haven campus for study by renowned Egyptologist and animal mummy specialist Dr. Salima Ikram, of American University in Cairo and a visiting professor at Yale University.

Ikram led Gerald Conlogue, professor emeritus of diagnostic imaging and co-director of the Bioanthropology Research Institute at Quinnipiac University, and William Hennessy, a clinical professor of radiologic science, in the opening of each mummy along with Dr. Roger Colten, collections manager in the division of anthropology for the Peabody.

Radiological science, diagnostic imaging and anthropology students from Quinnipiac assisted in in the mummies examination using digital radiography, mammography and multi-detector computed tomography. They, along with Near Eastern studies students from Yale, got real-world research experience as the team used the series of machines to inspect each animal mummy, gaining information about the life of the animal before it died and the methods of mummification used.

This will make a huge difference for us and I also want my students to understand how to unify science and the humanities and to work things out together, Ikram said. Its a good way of unifying the two aspects of ancient Egypt.

The mummies they are studying would have been wrapped more than 2,000 years ago and used in funeral ceremonies. Mummification of animals in ancient Egypt had several purposes. Sacred animals were bred with the intention of mummification, which are known as votive offerings that were placed in a tomb, but pets were also mummified, Ikram said.

Some animals were mummified to be guardians in the afterlife or at the entrance of a tomb, but they were also mummified as gods because the ancient Egyptians used to believe the spirit of the god would enter into the animal and when it died the spirit of the god would enter another animal, Ikram said.

Hennessy and Conlogue X-rayed these animal mummies 20 years ago with plain film machines, but with the latest digital machines they are able to compare the technological advances and hopefully discover new information.

Our goal is to take it to the next stage, Hennessy said. Is there anything we can see now that we didnt see 20 years ago because we have better technology? Its going to provide a lot of information. Time will tell how much information we have, but I think we can do a lot more than we did 20 years ago.

Film still gives best resolution, he said, but the difference with digital X-rays is a technician can change the levels of contrast of the image so it makes it appear that one can see the image better. With the CT scan a technician can take sectional images, looking at a piece at a time. Notably, the CT scan can look at soft tissue, which wasnt possible when the mummies were first X-rayed in 1997.

Thats the magic in the MDCT, Conlogue said, who also co-hosted the National Geographic program The Mummy Road Show. The CT also tells how the animals were wrapped and mummified and shows organs.

Most excitedly it can tell us its last meal, Ikram said. In studying the images, Ikram will be looking at mummification methods as well as age and sex and any indication of trauma on the bones because it will help give her a better understanding of the animals biography and see how mummification on a large scale in temples was practiced.

Were trying to look into that to understand what the ancient Egyptians were thinking and their religious practices in addition to physical stuff, Ikram said. By studying the new images, shell gain information about animal management and animal husbandry in ancient Egypt and be able to better inform a larger picture of the period and people. Ikram has studied similar mummies all over the world since 1996.

Its a tremendous opportunity for students to take what theyre learning in the classroom that they have yet to apply, since most have not been in clinic, Hennessy said.

Tania Grgurich, clinical associate professor of diagnostic imaging at Quinnipiac, helped students use the MDCT to image a 2,200-year-old mummified crocodile, creating a 3D image of the mummy. And while that particular crocodile wasnt wrapped, Grgurich said the machine is able to virtually peel away wrappings on mummies so researchers and technicians can examine the mummy without damaging it.

It gives people an opportunity to see that as an X-ray technician, you dont just have to sit here and do live people, Amanda Taft said, who is a masters student in health sciences. You can do mummies and work with anthropologists and things you would never expect. She assisted in using mammography to examine baby crocodile mummies because it gives a greatly detailed picture.

The images will be sent to Dr. Anthony Fischetti, head of diagnostic imaging and radiology at the Animal Medical Center in Manhattan and a consultant for the Brooklyn Museums Soulful Creatures Animal Mummies in Ancient Egypt exhibit. He will determine the age and health of each animal at the time of its death using the new images.

Its Halloween and we have mummies walking around, Hennessy said.

The participating students will assist Conlogue in preparing the technical aspects of the study for presentation along with Ikrams findings at the World Congress on Mummy Studies in May.

mdignan@hearstmediact.com
MIDDLETOWN  Prompted by the recent arrests of 10 employees at Connecticut Valley Hospital charged with the abuse of a patient confined to the facilitys Whiting Forensic division, legislators will air their concerns during a public session at the Capitol later this month.

State Rep. Christie Carpino joined colleagues at the Legislative Office Building in October to call for a meeting in response to alleged mistreatments. State officials will host an informational forum to detail procedures at the state-run hospital for the criminally insane, according to a press release.

Michael P. Presnick of Cromwell, a forensic nurse at Whiting, was charged on a warrant with cruelty to persons and disorderly conduct Oct. 18. Following an investigation, the Connecticut State Police Major Crime Squad and DMHAS police arrested nine men Sept. 6 on similar charges reportedly showing a sustained pattern of attacks and provocations of the patient.

Authorities say the alleged abuses include an instance March 21 during which forensic treatment specialists Lance Camby of New Britain and Robert Larned of Hebron restrained the victim while Presnick put a diaper over the mans pants while he was fully clothed. Camby put the diaper over the mans head as he and Larned restrained him as the patient struggled, according to court documents.

Outside the patients room afterward, the three appear to be smiling as they stand outside in the hallway after the incident, the warrant said.

The victims treatment includes Vaseline spray applied to his skin two to three times a week on his body, including his face, police said. Presnick testified he sprayed it on the mans face because he usually rubs it in himself, court documents read.

The allegations at issue truly embody inhumane treatment to very fragile individuals that are under our care, Carpino said in the release. Patients in the state of Connecticut expect and deserve humane care. The abuse alleged has no place in todays society and points to a toxic environment on campus.

Carpino, a member of the Public Health Committee, has requested documents from the state Department of Public Health, DMHAS commissioner and Connecticut Commission on Human Rights seeking details of the matter, the release continues.

We need to pinpoint the causes for this horrific systematic breakdown, which has endangered the lives of an already vulnerable population while they are being cared for in a state facility, she said. Tough questions need to be asked to those who oversee the day-to-day operations of such facilities. Any of us could have a family member or loved one under the guise of state care, which is why this issue is so far-reaching. Swift action must be taken to ensure this never happens again.

The Public Health Committee will hold the meeting Nov. 13 at 9:30 a.m. in Room 2C of the Legislative Office Building, 300 Capitol Ave., Hartford. A public hearing will follow at 1 p.m. Both are open to the public.

For more information, see cga.ct.gov/PH.
Mexico's a dangerous place for journalists, who are often targeted by drug cartels. There's another, more insidious threat to press freedom -- one that may influence who wins power in next year's elections.

It comes from politicians, and their money.

Advertising funded from the public purse has soared in the past decade. The federal government spent more than double its publicity budget last year, running up a tab of about $540 million even as it cut education spending and support for farmers.

There are unofficial channels for ensuring a positive press, too -- described in interviews by current and former public officials, and media employees. Front-page space in some newspapers is negotiable. Popular but critical voices on the radio get fired. On TV, soap-opera characters break off from romantic intrigues to point out what a good job local authorities have done at improving the street-lighting.

Mexico has a media that's "addicted to public money," said Carlos Ugalde, who used to run the country's electoral agency.

That extends well beyond on-the-books spending. What else is going on? Ugalde explains. "If you're a candidate, and I'm the owner of a radio station, you'll pay me 15,000 pesos for an interview," he said. "You'll pay me in cash, obviously."

Prices are higher at the national level, where Mexico holds presidential elections in July. The incumbent, Enrique Pena Nieto, can't run again and is deeply unpopular. Still, analysts aren't ruling his PRI party out of contention, and its media reach is one reason why.

"The government is going to have an edge in terms of the capacity to influence the electorate," including via the media, said Carlos Bravo, a political scientist at Mexico City's Center for Economic Research and Teaching. Ugalde said that all political parties are buying media, but the PRI -- which also holds the largest number of state governorships -- can commandeer more resources.

Media offices at the presidency and the PRI both said in emailed responses to questions that they fully respect press freedom as a pillar of Mexican democracy. The PRI said that it's legally entitled to more airtime as the largest party, and doesn't get any special privileges beyond that.

Still, several prominent critics of Pena Nieto and the PRI have lost their jobs. In 2015, radio personality Carmen Aristegui was sacked from her program Noticias MVS after breaking a story about the president's wife buying a luxury home from a federal contractor. MVS denied it had come under government pressure, and a government-appointed comptroller found no wrongdoing by the first lady.

In October, Ricardo Raphael and his co-host were fired from their show after accusing the PRI of trying to benefit politically from two deadly earthquakes.

Raphael said in an interview that he's convinced government ads received by his employer were "the principal argument for our departure." The broadcaster, NRM Comunicaciones, denies the accusation and said in a statement that the presenters were fired as part of wider job-cuts. The president's office said no political pressure was applied, and pointed out that the journalists who were fired are still appearing on state-owned media.

Xochitl Galvez, from the opposition PAN party, describes how the process can look from a politician's side. She's run for several posts, and was elected president of Mexico City's Miguel Hidalgo borough in 2015. Galvez says the press is so used to political money that they don't always wait for officials to come to them.

She showed several glossy pamphlets she said she'd received from at least four media outlets, offering packages including interviews in return for money.

When Galvez was running for governor of Hidalgo state in 2010, she says, a media conglomerate offered to interview her and cover her events for 22 million pesos ($1.1 million) -- cash only, because Mexican law bars individual candidates from paying for radio and TV publicity. During the borough campaign, she said, a national newspaper offered to publish a poll that would show her catching up with the front-runner. The price quoted was 1.5 million pesos.

"As long as money is what allows politicians to win, we are condemned to having idiotic and corrupt politicians," Galvez said. She said she always turned down such offers, and asked that the media outlets not be identified, for fear of retaliation.

In the past, Mexico's rulers kept the press on a tight leash by Latin American standards. Today, there's a new generation of online media, nimbler and with less overhead, that frequently challenges authority. But what's also new is the role of government advertising, which has helped turn censorship into self-censorship at most of the bigger groups, Ugalde says.

At least 10 senior journalists and government press officers told Bloomberg News that federal officials have used subtle and not-so-subtle ways of shaping content. They range from threatening to pull ads, to ordering up tailored coverage including front-page photos.

On TV, political content seeps beyond the news programs. While there's no way of knowing whether money was involved, "The Color of Passion," a telenovela broadcast by Televisa, has triggered mockery on Mexican social media. The tough detective hero gushed over new highways built by the then-governor of Puebla state, Rafael Moreno Valle; in another episode, a different character points out how well-lit the downtown area is nowadays.

Televisa said in an emailed response to questions that "in no way do any advertisers, public or private, influence our editorial line."

Mexico's electoral institute has investigated various accusations of improper campaigning by Moreno Valle, who's said he wants to be the PAN candidate for president. The probes have mostly cleared him of any wrongdoing, though some are ongoing and none of them encompassed the soap opera. A publicity agency was twice fined for improperly placing promotional material in TV and print media on Moreno Valle's behalf.

Sometimes, Mexican audiences have revolted against what they see as manipulation.

Last year Andrea Legarreta, the popular host of Televisa's morning gossip program "Hoy," tried to explain how the peso's plunge -- which was mostly being reported as bad news for the country -- could actually help Mexican families. Then she acknowledged on air that she didn't fully understand her own argument. A Twitter storm erupted, during which Legarreta reportedly admitted that she and other news presenters are often told what to say by advertisers -- but that post was soon erased. Televisa said that Legarreta didn't say some of the things attributed to her.

Televisa earns about 9 percent of its advertising revenue from the federal government, according to earnings reports and data from Fundar, a watchdog that tracks the government's spending. The figure for TV Azteca, another major broadcaster, was 10 percent.

Among newspapers, El Universal got the most government money for print ads -- about 190 million pesos in 2016, according to Fundar. The paper has come under fire from anti-corruption campaigners, who objected to its negative coverage of their efforts. Half a dozen columnists quit in protest. Some of those have subsequently written for the paper again after new management reached out to say there was room to enhance the paper's coverage, said David Aponte, El Universal's editorial director.

El Financiero, which has a content partnership with Bloomberg News, received 52 million pesos from the federal government for print ads, ranking ninth.

From a business perspective, entanglement in politics carries risks as well as rewards. Readers or viewers can look elsewhere -- and so could new political bosses.

Daniel Kerner, head of Latin America at the risk analyst Eurasia Group, doesn't think that the PRI's sway over media will help the party retain power next year -- because, he says, too many Mexicans are wise to it. But he says media bosses should be concerned about the early election frontrunner, leftist Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.

Lopez Obrador has accused Mexico's media of helping to cheat him out of election victories in the past -- he's called Televisa, for example, part of the "mafia of power."

Plenty of the electorate share that view of the media, Kerner said. So a Lopez Obrador election win "could have actual implications for their business model."

---

Bloomberg's Andrea Navarro contributed.
Radio traffic from the New York Police Department depicts a chaotic scene as an officer confronts and shoots the suspect in a deadly truck attack in Manhattan Tuesday afternoon.

The recording begins as an officer on his beat witnessed a rental truck collide with a school bus on West St. As the driver emerged from the truck, the officer confronted and shot the suspect.

A law enforcement official says that witnesses told police that the man who drove a rented truck onto a bike path in New York City, killing eight people, shouted "allahu akbar."

The official was familiar with the investigation but wasn't authorized to speak publicly and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.

Police Commissioner James O'Neill was asked at a news conference whether the suspect shouted the phrase, which means "God is great" in Arabic, or something like it. O'Neill replied: "Yeah. He did make a statement when he exited the vehicle," though he declined to elaborate.

O'Neill says the method of attack and the suspect's statement enabled officials "to label this a terrorist event."

He says the 29-year-old man entered the bike path and drove south, hitting pedestrians and cyclists. He then hit a school bus, injuring at least two adults.

He says the man exited the vehicle brandishing a paintball gun and a pellet gun. He was then shot in the abdomen by a police officer and is now hospitalized.
To the Editor:

I am relieved that after months of discussion and debate over the dire state of Connecticuts finances, we finally have agreement in the legislature on a state budget for FY2017-19.

The historic nature of this agreement cannot be overstated. Just consider the events of the past session. Beginning in April, the Republicans released a two-year budget before a state labor agreement was reached. April ended with the Democrats failing to propose a budget in committee. Next, they chose to vote on SEBAC without a budget in place. In June, the Democrat majority adjourned without publicly presenting a state budget ever: the first time in history.

Meanwhile, Republicans proposed 10 revised budgets: culminating in the GOP bipartisan budget passed out of both chambers, later vetoed. Then the GOP, joined by Democrat leaders, helped negotiate a compromise budget to withstand Gov. Dannel P. Malloys veto. This second historic budget passed both chambers with veto-proof margins.

Here are a few highlights:

First, we finally have a constitutional spending cap, which has eluded legislators for 25 years. We have reduced taxpayer spending in key targeted areas by tens of millions of dollars. We prioritized programs like Care for Kids and employment programs for our developmentally disabled high school graduates. We have bolstered funding for senior meals by $2 million. We also reduced municipal mandates, like fixing the arbitration process and prevailing wage limits, which will save tax dollars in every municipality.

Many programs are being reduced and very difficult choices remain. This is inevitable, legislators must work to slow and eventually reverse the growth in taxpayer spending. Our beloved state needs a budget that is fully affordable, prioritizes spending and reverses out year deficits  built by spending choices of Democrat legislative majority for decades.

On a district level, I am especially pleased with several accomplishments. First, the budget includes an early initiative I worked on, the Passport to Parks program, which makes parking in our network of state parks free to Connecticut residents and provides additional stable funding to run our forest and park system and other conservation programs.

Second, the district will receive 95 percent of our towns education dollars. And third, with the assistance of the state Department of Transportation and U.S. Coast Guard, we have an improved East Haddam Swing Bridge schedule. As the ranking member of Appropriations, I have been intensely focused on the fiscal crisis facing our state. In the last few weeks, I was part of a small core group of legislators who worked intensely and created the first ever, truly bipartisan negotiated budget. I am proud to have served the 34th District as part of this small group.

Lastly, by focusing intently on policy and looking past personality, I hope we have forged a new and cooperative working relationship with our peers across the aisle. However, make no mistake: We are not out of the woods yet. There is still much work to be done  including the very real chance we will be right back at the negotiation table again if revenues continue to decline. But Im not ready to give up on Connecticut.

 State Rep. Melissa Ziobron, East Hampton, East Haddam, Colchester
The U.S. would consider having U.S. and coalition troops man checkpoints between opposing Iraqi and Kurdish Peshmerga fighters to prevent more clashes, a U.S. general said Tuesday.

Army Maj. Gen. James B. Jarrard said there have been discussions about the possibility of coalition troops being posted to border crossings between the Kurdish autonomous region and the areas controlled by the Iraqi Security Forces (ISF).

If the Iraqis and the Kurds agreed to have U.S. and coalition troops between them, "then we will take that under consideration and we will potentially do that," Jarrard, commander of Special Operations Joint Task Force- Operation Inherent Resolve (SOJTF-OIR), said in a video briefing from Baghdad to the Pentagon.

Jarrard said that he was present with Army Lt. Gen. Paul E. Funk II, commander of Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve, at recent talks in Mosul to arrange a ceasefire.

Funk said the Kurdish-ISF standoff was distracting from the fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria.

"We don't need Iraqis killing Iraqis when we've got Daesh (ISIS) to kill out in the west," Funk told The Associated Press, referring to the last ISIS stronghold in Iraq in the border town of Al Qaim.

Following a non-binding independence referendum last month by the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG), Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi ordered the ISF to retake oil-rich Kirkuk and other disputed areas that had been taken over by the KRG in the long fight against ISIS.

"Obviously, there's been some turmoil," Jarrard said, but the tentative ceasefire agreement appeared to be holding and there was "great optimism that it will continue to hold into the future."

In Syria, Jarrard said that the thousands of residents who fled Raqqa in the long siege and battle to retake the so-called ISIS capital would not be permitted to return until the city had been cleared of improvised explosive devices.

He gave no timeline for the return of residents to the city that was mostly destroyed in the successful effort to drive out ISIS by the U.S. backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a mixed force of mostly Kurds and Arabs with other ethnic groups also represented.

The SDF began the drive to take Raqqa in outlying areas on June 6 and the city was retaken on Oct. 20.

Jarrard said that more than 1,200 SDF fighters were killed in the overall campaign, and another 2,500 were wounded. The 1,200 killed included 434 who were lost in the battle for the city itself, Jarrard said.

In a possible mix up due to the sometimes shaky audio connection between the Pentagon and Baghdad, Jarrard appeared to misspeak when he was asked how many U.S. troops were now in Syria.

"I think it's a little over 4,000 U.S. troops in Syria right now," Jarrard said, and then added "I'm sorry, I misspoke there. There are approximately 500 troops in Syria."

The official count on the number of U.S. troops, or "Force Management Levels," in Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan has long been a matter of contention.

Defense officials have periodically acknowledged that the actual number of troops on the ground often exceeded the FMLs due to the overlap in troop rotations and the "temporary" assignment of troops for specific tasks.

In August, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis pledged to give more accurate counts, and at the time said that the actual number of U.S. troops in Afghanistan was about 12,000, as opposed to the FML number of 8,400.

Mattis said that more accurate numbers for Iraq and Syria would be forthcoming but that has yet to occur. The FML currently for the number of U.S. troops in Syria is 503, and the FML for Iraq is 5,262.

-- Richard Sisk can be reached at Richard.Sisk@Military.com.
Multiple Navy F/A-18 Hornets were dispatched from the carrier Ronald Reagan Sunday to escort Russian aircraft approaching the ship, Navy officials told Military.com on Wednesday.

Lt. Cmdr. Nicole Schwegman called the interaction between the U.S. and Russian planes "safe and professional." It took place more than 80 miles from the carrier, she said.

CNN first reported the interaction, which comes as military action intensifies in the Western Pacific amid North Korean threats. The news outlet reported that the Russian aircraft were Tupolev Tu-95 bombers, a propeller-driven aircraft that entered service for the Soviet Union in the 1950s.

The Reagan departed the South Korean port of Busan after a four-day port visit Oct. 26, and has been operating in the Sea of Japan. The carrier deployed from its homeport of Yokosuka, Japan, in May.

Related content:

It's not clear how many Hornets the carrier scrambled to intercept the Russian bombers.

However, U.S. and Russian aircraft have frequently interacted at close quarters without incident in recent months, even as political tensions persist between the two nations.

When Navy Hornet pilots described the June 18 shoot-down of a Syrian Su-22 Fitter over Syria in a September panel, they noted that that day, and on multiple other occasions, they had followed or escorted Russian aircraft operating safely and professionally in the region.

However, there have been exceptions.

In June 2016, a Russian Su-27 Flanker made a dangerously close pass at an Air Force RC-135, drawing protests from U.S. officials. And in February of this year, Russian aircraft buzzed the guided-missile destroyer Porter in an incident that U.S. officials attributed to "errors in judgment" on the part of the pilots.

-- Hope Hodge Seck can be reached at hope.seck@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @HopeSeck.
It was around 5:20 a.m., still well before sunrise, as the guided-missile destroyer John S. McCain prepared to enter the Singapore Strait, at the south end of the Straits of Malacca, on Aug. 21.

Though the ship was due to enter the famously busy shipping lane around 6 a.m., the commanding officer, Cmdr. Alfredo Sanchez, had yet to summon the sea and anchor detail, the team that provides additional assistance when entering port or navigating narrow spaces.

Sanchez had been on the bridge since 1:15 a.m. His executive officer, Cmdr. Jesse Sanchez, had joined him at 4:30.

As the commanding officer observed activities on the bridge, he noted that the ship's helmsman was having trouble staying on course while adjusting throttles for speed control.

Related content:

Sanchez jumped in to remedy the problem, ordering the watch team to divide up steering and throttle duties. While the helmsman would continue to maintain course control, another station -- directly to the right of the helmsman's post -- would take on speed control.

Somehow, though, the message wasn't communicated properly. Steering control was shifted to the Lee Helm station on the right, and the helmsman went into crisis mode, announcing that the ship had lost all steering.

Reports in the wake of the collision that the McCain had lost steering spurred rumors and theories that the ship had been the victim of a malicious cyberattack that led to the collision. In fact, there was no such problem -- just massive confusion over who was in control.

According to an investigation report on the disaster that resulted from this seemingly minor steering snafu, the minutes that followed this reported loss of steering would set the ship on a deadly collision course. By daybreak, 10 sailors would be dead.

Transferring steering control to the Lee Helm station as a result of confusion over Sanchez' command caused the rudder to go centerline, according to the report.

Since the ship had been steering to the right, or starboard, this caused a deviation in course.

The helmsman's announcement that steering had been lost prompted Sanchez to call for the ship's speed to be cut in half, from 10 knots to 5 knots.

But this emergency measure exacerbated the problem, as the left and right throttles were not working together. The result was a wide, uncontrolled turn to the left.

The McCain was now on course to collide with the Liberian-flagged oil tanker Alnic MC. But somehow, the officials on the bridge could not see the impending disaster.

Investigators note that bridge-to-bridge communications between the two ships might have prevented the collision. But no such communication occurred. Instead, they continued to work to regain control of steering, ultimately getting full command of the ship three minutes after the initial crisis.

Moments later, Alnic MC rammed into the side of the McCain, creating a 28-foot diameter hole in the ship and flooding the McCain's Berthing 5 quarters almost instantly.

The Collision

According to the investigation, the jolt as the two ships collided was so powerful that watchstanders were thrown off their feet and some sailors were injured in the impact.

"Sailors in parts of the ship away from the impact point compared it to an earthquake," investigators wrote. "Those nearest the impact point described it as like an explosion."

Damage control efforts began immediately and, within minutes, the McCain had requested tugboats from Singapore Harbor to assist in pulling the ship to nearby Changi Naval Base.

As the ship flooded, it began to list to its port, or left, side. The ship lit its "red-over-red" signal, indicating it was not under command and was unable to maneuver.

Ultimately, three sections near the point of impact were affected by the collision: Berthings 5, 3, and 7. Berthing 5, below the water line, would be the hardest hit. Of the 12 sailors in this section when the ships collided, only two would make it out; the remaining 10 would be lost.

The two who escaped barely made it out as the compartment flooded within seconds. One was on the ladder at the time of the collision and quickly scrambled up; the other maneuvered toward the ladder underwater by feel, aided only by emergency lighting. He emerged scraped, bruised, and covered by chemical burns from exposure to fuel.

"The sailor found that the blindfolded egress training, a standard that requires training to prepare sailors for an emergency and was conducted when he reported to the command, was essential to his ability to escape," investigators found.

In Berthing 3, the compartment directly above, sailors were bruised and bloodied from the force of impact and jagged exposed metal from the collision.

One sailor, pinned in his rack, had to be rescued with a "jaws of life" device. Ultimately, all these sailors were evacuated as berthing spaces continued to flood. Five sailors required medical evacuation.

In all, 48 sailors had injuries that required medical treatment, ranging from broken bones to lacerations and burns, according to the investigation, and 43 stayed aboard to continue to help the ship recover.

Investigators credit the resiliency and responsiveness of the McCain's crew for the ship's ability to move under its own power to Changi, despite the challenges of steering the ship as it leaned to port, and the degraded navigation and communication equipment.

It would take a dive team several days, searching by feel in the dark below-decks berthing, to recover the bodies of all 10 fallen sailors.

Lost in the collision were:

Chief Electronics Technician Charles Nathan Findley, 31, of Amazonia, Missouri

Chief Interior Communications Electrician Abraham Lopez, 39, of El Paso, Texas

Electronics Technician 1st Class Kevin Sayer Bushell, 26, of Gaithersburg, Maryland

Electronics Technician 2nd Class Jacob Daniel Drake, 21, of Cable, Ohio

Information Systems Technician 2nd Class Timothy Thomas Eckels Jr., 23, of Baltimore

Informations Systems Technician 1st Class Corey George Ingram, 28, of Poughkeepsie, New York

Electronics Technician 2nd Class Dustin Louis Doyon, 26, of Suffield, Connecticut

Electronics Technician 2nd Class John Henry Hoagland III, 20, of Killeen, Texas

Interior Communications Electrician 2nd Class Logan Stephen Palmer, 23 of Harristown, Illinois

Electronics Technician 2nd Class Kenneth Aaron Smith, 22, of Cherry Hill, New Jersey

All were posthumously promoted to those ranks.

Findings

Investigators found confusion and lack of sufficient knowledge led to the steering errors that ultimately caused the collision.

Several sailors on watch, they found, had been temporarily assigned from the cruiser Antietam, which has a significantly different steering control system, and they lacked the training to compensate for the differences. Four different stations could have taken control of steering when it was declared lost, but no one did.

"Multiple bridge watchstanders lacked a basic level of knowledge on the steering control system, in particular the transfer of steering and thrust control between stations," investigators found.

"Contributing, personnel assigned to ensure these watchstanders were trained had an insufficient level of knowledge to effectively maintain appropriate rigor in the qualification program," they said. "The senior most officer responsible for these training standards lacked a general understanding of the procedure for transferring steering control between consoles."

Investigators also faulted Sanchez, the commanding officer, for not setting a sea and anchor detail sooner in the heavily trafficked waters. If the detail had been set, the collision likely would not have occurred, they found.

Finally, senior officers and watchstanders did not question the helmsman's report that steering had been lost -- a report that would turn out to be erroneous.

Ultimately, the commanding and executive officers of the McCain would be relieved from their posts Oct. 11 for failure to avert the "preventable" collision.

Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson is set to publicly address the collisions Thursday at the Pentagon with the release of a wide-ranging review of Navy procedures commissioned following the McCain's collision.

-- Hope Hodge Seck can be reached at hope.seck@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @HopeSeck.
An Indigenous airman, who had to cut his braids when first joining the Air Force two years ago, is now one of the first in...
Under the "international rules of the road" governing maneuver at sea, a ship crossing navigation paths with other vessels is obligated to give ships on its starboard, or right, side, the right of way. This entails maneuvering to stay clear of other ships and to avoid endangering them.

But when the guided-missile destroyer Fitzgerald approached the Philippines-flagged container ship ACX Crystal to its starboard side in the wee hours on June 17, no such precautions were taken, according to a new command investigation released Wednesday.

The investigation, which faulted leaders and watchstanders for a series of poor choices and failures to act that ultimately resulted in a deadly collision, raised questions about fatigue levels and knowledge gaps that could have contributed to the errors.

Moreover, investigators note, the ship had previously experienced a near-collision in mid-May, but hadn't taken steps to fix problems in operations.

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"Leadership made no effort to determine the root causes and take corrective actions to improve the ship's performance," they found.

The investigation did not detail the causes or the circumstances of that near-miss.

The June 17 collision took place about 56 nautical miles to the southwest of Yokosuka, Japan. The ship had recently passed Oshima Island in the Philippine Sea, a busier shipping lane with increased traffic from merchant vessels.

Around 1 a.m., as the Fitzgerald operated with the "darkened ship" procedures reserved for nighttime operations, it approached three merchant vessels traveling eastbound to the ship's starboard side.

"The closest point of approach of these vessels and the Fitzgerald was minimal, with each presenting a risk of collision," investigators wrote.

But the ship's crew appeared completely unaware of impending danger. From 1 a.m. to 1:30 a.m., when the Fitzgerald and the Crystal collided, the Fitzgerald remained on its course, cruising through the water at 20 knots. Neither vessel initiated bridge communications with the other or sounded a danger signal.

Investigators found, among other things, that watchstanders performing physical lookout duties were doing so only on the port, or left, side of the ship, despite the fact that there were three ships presenting a possible collision threat on the starboard side.

At 1:10 a.m., watchstanders tried to get a radar track on the Crystal, but were unsuccessful in doing so. Instead, the officer of the deck plotted out a radar track for a ship believed to be the Crystal, and determined it would pass 1,500 yards from the Fitzgerald on the starboard side.

In fact, the two ships were on a collision course, and both were maintaining a high rate of speed.

An official timeline shows indications of panic just before the ships collided. Three minutes before the collision, the officer of the deck ordered the Fitzgerald to change course, then immediately rescinded the order. Then, the officer of the deck ordered an increase to full speed and a rapid turn to the left. The order was not followed.

One minute before the crash, the boatswain's mate of the watch took the helm and started giving orders. By then, the disaster was inevitable.

Ultimately, seven sailors would die when their compartment, Berthing 2, was flooded.

Among those who sustained significant injuries was the ship's commanding officer, Cmdr. Bryce Benson, who had to be rescued as he dangled from the side of a ship after his stateroom was destroyed. He would ultimately be medically evacuated from the ship.

Those killed in the collision include:

Gunner's Mate Seaman Dakota Kyle Rigsby, 19, from Palmyra, Virginia;

Yeoman 3rd Class Shingo Alexander Douglass, 25, from San Diego;

Sonar Technician 3rd Class Ngoc T Truong Huynh, 25, from Oakville;

Gunner's Mate 1st Class Noe Hernandez, 26, from Weslaco, Texas;

Fire Controlman 1st Class Carlos Victor Ganzon Sibayan, 23, from Chula Vista, California;

Personnel Specialist 1st Class Xavier Alec Martin, 24, from Halethorpe, Maryland; and

Chief Petty Officer Fire Controlman Gary Leo Rehm Jr., 37, from Elyria, Ohio.

All were posthumously promoted to those ranks.

In August, the Navy relieved Benson, Fitzgerald Executive Officer Cmdr. Sean Babbitt, and Master Chief Petty Officer Brice Baldwin, the senior enlisted sailor aboard the ship, in connection with the deadly crash.

Investigators found crew fatigue levels could have played a role in the errors that preceded the collision; the Fitzgerald had left port at Yokosuka the day before.

They also found that daily performance standards aboard the Fitzgerald had degraded "to an unacceptable level," and ship's leaders were unaware how bad things have gotten.

"The command leadership did not foster a culture of critical self-assessment," investigators found.

In the wake of the collision, the Navy has implemented a measure to ensure regularly scheduled sleep periods for sailors standing watch.

More measures may be announced Thursday, as Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson and the commander of U.S. Fleet Forces Command, Adm. Philip Davidson, release the results of a comprehensive review of Navy operations following the Fitzgerald collision and that of the destroyer USS John S. McCain two months later.

-- Hope Hodge Seck can be reached at hope.seck@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @HopeSeck.
Fiat Chrysler surprised the auto world when it showed off the first three photos of its unrevealed next-generation 2018 Jeep Wrangler on its website Tuesday, Oct. 31.

While details were sparse in the news release, FCA released two images of its Wrangler Rubicon edition and one of the Sahara. The new Wrangler will make its debut, complete with information, on Nov. 29 at the Los Angeles Auto Show.

The Auburn Hills, Michigan-based automaker did confirm in the release that the new Wrangler would have improved aerodynamics, and more safety and technology features "than ever before."

"The all-new Wrangler's unique design includes an instantly recognizable keystone-shaped grille, iconic round headlamps and square tail lamps, improved aerodynamics, a convenient fold-down windshield for off-road purists, even more open-air freedom, and dozens of different door, top and windshield combinations," FCA says in the release.

Judging from the photos, owners will still be able to remove the next-generation Wrangler's top and that there are some design changes to the front-end and roof.
Elijah Runnels, 6, of Wyoming, traveled with his parents, Nola and Joshua Runnels, to Florida for a six-day dream vacation provided by the Sunshine Foundation during late October.

WYOMING - Elijah Runnels knocked what would usually be a fairly standard item off his bucket list last month when he earned his driver's license in Florida.

In Runnels' case, though, the achievement was anything but ordinary -- he only recently turned 6 years old.

Runnels is part of an uncommon group, the one in every 4,000 Americans living with retinitis pigmentosa (RP), a group of rare, genetic disorders that involve a breakdown and loss of cells in the retina, the light sensitive tissue that lines the back of the eye.

He and his parents, Nola and Joshua Runnels, of Wyoming, had traveled to Florida for six days in late October with the help of the Sunshine Foundation, an organization begun in 1976 that provides opportunities for children living with lifelong chronic illnesses, physical challenges or the trauma of abuse. The foundation has seen to the wish fulfillment of more than 40,000 kids across the U.S.

Visiting the central Florida theme parks is the foundation's No. 1 dream request, according to spokeswoman Wanda Curtis, who said the foundation covers all expenses for children and their families for a six-day vacation.

"He ... wanted to be able to drive a race car," said Elijah's mother, Nola, who went on to explain that he got his chance when the family visited the Tomorrowland Speedway at Disney World.

"They had this little race (track), like go-karts but they were on a track with a rail and he got to drive that," she said. "He got his 'driver's license,' so that was pretty exciting for him."

It was a big moment, she said, especially considering he will not be able to obtain an actual license in Michigan when he becomes of age.

"(That was) one of his bucket list items before he loses his eyesight," his mother said.

"Basically, his retinas are degenerating. He's down to a 20-degree visual field -- maybe less by now -- he has night blindness and they cannot correct his vision any further at this point ... because the scarring is too great on the back of his eyes."

Along with visits to Disney World, Universal Studios Orlando and the Legoland Florida Resort, the Runnels family got to stay at the Sunshine Foundation Dream Village, a 22-acre resort with themed cottages equipped for the special needs of young people like Elijah.

Elijah, who celebrated his sixth birthday on Oct. 23 during the trip, was completely overwhelmed by the kindness of the village staff and all those affiliated with the Sunshine Foundation who made the Runnels' vacation possible.

"(Elijah) was really overwhelmed with everyone's kindness," Nola said. "The village, I mean, they had a birthday cake ready for him; they were just so welcoming.

"We got done with the birthday part and he sat down and said, 'Everybody's so kind' -- his little heart was so happy."

Nola said her son also stepped out of his comfort zone during the trip, confronting his night blindness in a way he had not previously realized he was capable of.

"He doesn't like being in the dark at all," she said. "He wanted to be in the park, he wanted to go to the theme dinner we had at Downtown Disney ... it got past dark and he just really pushed himself. He saw that he could do things, he just has to do them in a different way."

After six busy days in central Florida, the Runnels family returned home to Michigan, bringing along with them some precious new memories -- not to mention Elijah's coveted driver's license.
ANN ARBOR, MI - Howard Lazarus, who became Ann Arbor's city administrator last year, is seeking a new job in Texas.

The

that Lazarus is one of five candidates who interviewed for the city manager position in Austin, Texas, on Tuesday, Oct. 31.

In an interview with The Ann Arbor News/MLive, Lazarus confirmed he traveled to Austin for the interview.

"It's just a unique opportunity that came up," he said, adding he's not actively looking for another job aside from the Austin opportunity, which he decided he couldn't pass up.

Lazarus

after eight years as Austin's public works director. For most of 2010, he was Austin's interim assistant city manager.

Ann Arbor Mayor Christopher Taylor said he spoke with Lazarus about the unique nature of the Austin position.

"I am delighted with his service here in Ann Arbor and understand why they would be interested in interviewing him," he said. "I hope to have the opportunity to work with him here for years to come."

Lazarus said he loves his job in Ann Arbor, the community here and the people with whom he works, so he's not seeking the Austin job because of any dissatisfaction in his current position.

The Statesman reported that interviews for the Austin city manager job are being conducted in secrecy and City Council members voted unanimously to withhold the names of finalists. The Statesman is now suing the city of Austin to obtain the names.

The Statesman reported it independently confirmed the identities of four of the candidates who interviewed on Tuesday, including Lazarus, as they were seen entering and exiting an interview room at the Hilton Austin Airport hotel. Four more finalists were expected to interview with council members on Thursday.

The Ann Arbor City Council conducted public interviews with Lazarus and other finalists for the city administrator job here last year.

Lazarus was hired in Ann Arbor following a national search. His starting base salary was $215,000, which was $70,000 more than the starting base salary for Steve Powers, the city's previous administrator.

Powers had a starting base salary of $145,000 in 2011, and that went up to $159,500 before he left in 2015.

Austin's interim city manager has a salary of $306,233, according to the Statesman.

City property records show Lazarus and his wife bought a house in Ann Arbor for $585,000 in July 2016 and still own it.

City Council members expressed surprise to hear that Lazarus was considering a new job in Austin.

"I think council as a whole has been really happy with Howard so far," said Council Member Kirk Westphal, D-2nd Ward. "He's got a unique combination of big-picture thinking and nuts-and-bolts knowledge. He's been very adept at moving the city forward at the same time as negotiating lots of competing demands."

He added, "I wish the best for him. If that means leaving Ann Arbor, I'd be disappointed."

The City Council included funds in this year's budget to create a new assistant city administrator position. The job is currently

with a salary range of $140,000-$175,000.
Debbie Schlussel

ANN ARBOR, MI - A Washtenaw County judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by conservative pundit Debbie Schlussel's against the city of Ann Arbor.

Judge Timothy Connors granted City Attorney Stephen Postema's motion for summary disposition when the case appeared in the Washtenaw County Trial Court Thursday, Oct. 26, records show.

Judge Connors' decision was based on his review of an un-redacted police report, according to Postema.

Schlussel wanted the city to release the name of the Muslim woman who claimed a man threatened to light her on fire if she didn't remove her hijab. Police determined the woman fabricated the incident in the wake of Donald Trump's election in November 2016.

However, the Washtenaw County Prosecutor's Office never authorized criminal charges against the woman for falsely reporting a crime, claiming it wasn't in the interest of justice, according to records.

The name of the woman was redacted - or blotted out - from the report Schlussel obtained from the Ann Arbor Police Department through the Freedom of Information Act.

The City Attorney's Office cited "privacy and medical" exemptions, according to records. Schlussel claimed the city of Ann Arbor was politically motivated and was attempting to implement Sharia law by protecting the woman.

Schlussel, an attorney and pundit who has worked with various national media outlets, claims the woman relinquished her privacy when she made the false police report and it was subsequently covered by various media outlets, including MLive.com and The Ann Arbor News.

At a previous hearing, Schlussel's attorney, West Bloomfield-based Daniel Lehman, argued for release of the woman's name in part because of the fabricated hate crime's political nature.

Lehman argued the woman was a public figure whose actions prompted widespread criticism of Trump supporters on social media.

"This case was used to paint a large swath of the population as complete dirtbags," Lehman said at the previous hearing. "It was to show (that) these are the people that supported this candidate. This false police report was used to besmirch millions of names... It was used as anecdotal evidence that the world has gone to hell now that Trump was elected."

Schlussel plans to appeal the judge's decision, citing a lawsuit ESPN filed against Michigan State University after the school redacted the names of student-athletes in police incident reports requested by the media organization.

The Michigan Court of Appeals ultimately sided with ESPN, saying the public interest in the FOIA request - to see if student-athletes receive preferential treatment - outweighed any invasion of privacy concerns.

Schlussel believes the ESPN case "mirrors my situation almost exactly."

"...The Court of Appeals held that the names should be released, so that the requester and the public could determine whether or not there is a double standard in justice in the way the unnamed suspects were treated versus the way the general population is treated when being accused of perpetrating the same crime," Schlussel said via email. "That is exactly the case here, with the only difference being that in the ESPN case, it was athletes whose names were being protected by the authorities that illegally refused to provide the FOIA-requested information. In this case, it is a Muslim woman. But that is a distinction without a difference."

Schlussel said she couldn't be at the hearing when Judge Connors granted the city's motion to dismiss the case, but claims that he read the case too quickly and "twisted it to fit his politics and desire not to abide by Michigan FOIA law. "

"It is my belief the Michigan Court of Appeals will reaffirm its ESPN decision and reverse him," she said.
ANN ARBOR, MI - A Chicago pastor whose church has become a symbol of the sanctuary movement for undocumented immigrants is coming to Ann Arbor to share her experience.

The visit comes as faith leaders in the Ann Arbor area continue to discuss ways they can help immigrants who are being targeted for deportation by the federal government.

Pastor Emma Lozano and Sara Walker of the Lincoln United Methodist Church in Chicago are scheduled to speak at 7 p.m. Nov. 8 at the Wesley Foundation, 602 E. Huron St. in Ann Arbor.

The talk is free and open to the public, said Eve Hillman, the foundation's campus outreach and service coordinator.

Lozano and Walker are expected to talk about their church's efforts to support undocumented immigrants in sanctuary, a practice their church has taken very seriously as a call to live out their faith to protect the community, Hillman said.

Lozano and her church were

in February as a "sanctuary church" that shelters immigrants. According to the report, nearly all of the church's congregation is made up of undocumented immigrants and refugees.

"Lozano and Lincoln United Methodist have a long history of sheltering undocumented immigrants," CNN reported. "In 2006 the pastor gave refuge to Elvira Arellano, an undocumented immigrant from Mexico whose story made national headlines. Arellano became a face of the immigration debate and Lozano's church -- then nearby Adalberto United Methodist Church -- became a symbol of the sanctuary church movement. (Arellano was deported to Mexico in 2007.)"

A handful of congregations in the Ann Arbor area announced in September they're joining a new

The Church of the Good Shepherd in Ann Arbor was the first place of worship in Washtenaw County to

to provide sanctuary for immigrants as part of the campaign.

Deborah Dean-Ware, pastor at the Church of the Good Shepherd, said last week the church did not have anyone in sanctuary yet.

If and when the church does welcome anyone facing deportation, she said, there most likely will be a public campaign to try to stop the deportation. The church also plans to work with partners such as the Washtenaw Interfaith Coalition for Immigrant Rights.

"While we don't have everything figured out yet, we are poised to mobilize if someone needs sanctuary," Dean-Ware said.

"If someone comes into sanctuary, we will be working with our community partners, including Washtenaw Congregational Sanctuary and WICIR, to make sure the individual or family has the support that they need to ... feel as comfortable and secure as possible in our building. We also hope that there will be many more communities of faith that will engage in this important act of resistance against the U.S.'s unjust immigration laws and the policies to enforce them."

Khaalid Walls, a spokesman for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Detroit, said ICE continues to focus its enforcement resources on people who pose a threat to national security, public safety and border security, but anyone in the United States without legal authorization is subject to arrest, detention and deportation.

"ICE conducts targeted immigration enforcement in compliance with federal law and agency policy," he said. "However, as ICE Acting Director Thomas Homan has made clear, ICE does not exempt classes or categories of removable aliens from potential enforcement. All of those in violation of the immigration laws may be subject to immigration arrest, detention and, if found removable by final order, removal from the United States."
ANN ARBOR, MI - White nationalist Richard Spencer this week asked to speak at the University of Michigan, but the university has not decided if it will allow it.

Some UM students said Wednesday, Nov. 1 they are against Spencer's ideals, but differ on whether or not he should be allowed a space to speak on campus.

UM student and Michigan Mellon Postdoctoral Fellow Austin McCoy, who has participated in protests on campus this fall aimed at highlighting social injustices, said Spencer's advocacy for a white "ethno-state" is not being sought peaceably in creating a "separate" white nation.

"I cannot determine whether or not Spencer can speak in public," McCoy said. "However, we should keep in mind white nationalists' and white supremacists' intent for organizing these events. They are about trying to organize and project power they don't have. These type of folks are in the minority. So, when you're small, you just try to get loud and cause controversy.

"Also, they're trying to use the First Amendment as a Trojan horse," he added. "At best, they're trying to troll, or 'trigger' people they oppose, and at worst, they're trying to use 'freedom of speech' to smuggle historically violent ideas into the public sphere."

UM's Black Student Union has called on President Mark Schlissel and UM's Board of Regents to deny Spencer's request to speak on campus. The BSU believes Spencer is a "threat to the physical and emotional safety of many students on campus."

"Richard Spencer is a violent white supremacist who advocates ethnic cleansing, and while he may deny promoting physical violence, his supporters engage in violence against marginalized people with the intent of protecting white supremacy," The BSU wrote in an online message.

For his part, Spencer says all are welcome to come see him speak when he appears on college campuses across the country, as long as they don't attempt to shut down his right to speak.

"I'm not going to tell anyone that they're not welcome," Spencer told WJR on Wednesday. "The whole point, as I discussed, of an academical village that is a university, is for people to come and engage with speakers, ideas and dangerous thoughts. That's the whole point. I would not keep anyone away."

Spencer's galvanizing of the "alt-right" movement and advocacy of an "ethno-state" that would banish minorities has drawn wide criticism for inciting violence, particularly in light of a rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. During the rally, protesters rallied against plans by the city to remove a statue of Confederate General Robert E. Lee.

Spencer spoke at the rally, which later turned violent, with clashes between the white nationalists and counter protesters. One woman died and 19 were injured when a man plowed his car into a group of counter protesters.

Since the Charlottesville rally, a number of universities across the country have denied requests by Spencer's National Policy Institute seeking a space to speak on campus including Ohio State University, Auburn University, the University of Florida and most recently, Michigan State University.

On Tuesday, the University of Michigan entered the conversation when Cameron Padgett, a representative from the NPI, sent the university an email request seeking to reserve a venue.

Maintaining the First Amendment

Spencer believes the type of person who doesn't agree with his line of thinking is "some kind of universalistic moral fanatic," who "engage in all of this moralizing about how good they are because they don't value their own children, effectively, over others."

"The problem really is with these kinds of silly white people who are basically ruining our future, ruining America and ruining the world because of this moral fanaticism they've been captured by, in which they don't want to stand for their own people, their own civilization and their own children," Spencer told WJR.

Grant Strobl, the national chairman of Young Americans for Freedom and a UM student, said the "ideas Spencer espouses are evil," condemning his racist ideology.

He does believe, though, that universities have created an environment where free speech rights are denied or in doubt, giving speakers like Spencer undeserved attention by canceling their events.

"(Universities) should take all steps necessary to correct that environment," Strobl said. "Then, extreme groups will no longer get the attention they are profiting from now."

Strobl said extremists like Spencer have existed in every era. What makes them stand out now, he said, is academia "treating adult students like snowflakes who should only hear Leftist speakers."

"The academic establishment benefits from making a scene over speakers like Richard Spencer because it is the closest they can come to justify their restricting student rights to hear and consider, and hopefully learn to reject, racial ideologies," Strobl said.

Striking a balance

At MSU, President Lou Anna Simon denied the request to provide a space for Spencer that was made in July, after consulting with MSU's police department, "which had concluded, in the light of the incidents in Charlottesville, it was highly likely there would be violence if Mr. Spencer were permitted to appear on campus on September 15," the university said in a court filing. "MSU's decision, therefore, was not content based."

MSU is now being sued in federal court by Padgett, a 23-year-old student at Georgia State University who organizes campus visits for Spencer.

In September, Schlissel said a balance must be struck when considering free speech on campus while assuring students, faculty, staff and the community remain safe.

He reiterated that stance on Wednesday, noting that a decision from UM on whether it would approve the NPI's request "as soon as we can figure whether we can have a safe event."

"The University of Michigan makes its facilities available regardless of the content to people who apply to use our space," he said. "We are commited, however, to the safety of people in our community. So we'll consider the request that came from Mr. Spencer's representative and accomodate it if we think we can do so while maintaining public safety."

McCoy said he feels the university should take into account that Spencer's events tend to attract white nationalists and white supremacists who are willing to commit acts of violence against anti-racist activists, noting that police in Florida arrested three men who allegedly made Nazi salutes, repeated Hitler chants and then shot at a group of protesters after Spencer's speech at the University of Florida.

Bringing him to campus, he said, would put a tremendous financial burden on UM from a public safety standpoint.

"Allowing Richard Spencer to invite himself to speak on campus would be a terrible waste of financial and human resources," McCoy said. "Why pay tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, of dollars for security when that money could go toward something more productive? I'd rather see that money go toward more scholarships or toward paying a living wage for part-time lecturers and staff."
ANN ARBOR, MI - Singing from behind a glittering veil and straddling a bench placed between two pianos, Tori Amos played to a near-sold out crowd on Halloween, Tuesday, Oct. 31 at the Michigan Theater.

Amos stopped in Ann Arbor while touring for her 15th solo album, "Native Invader."

Amos played a full set and one encore, mixing newer songs and classics like "Silent All These Years" and "Precious Things" off of "Little Earthquakes" as well as a cover of Madonna's "Live To Tell."
BAY CITY, MI -- A 62-year-old veteran is charged with sexually assaulting a woman who volunteered to help him at his home.

Paul J. Anderson on Oct. 23 appeared in Bay County District Court for arraignment on single counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct and stalking. The former, which is limited to touching, is a 15-year felony. Stalking is a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year incarceration and a $1,000 fine.

According to police reports, the sexual assault occurred at Anderson's home in the 3300 block of Hidden Road in Bangor Township on July 31. Michigan State Police 1st Lt. David Simon said a 66-year-old woman associated with a volunteer organization that transports vets to VA hospitals had visited Anderson's home.

While she was there, Anderson "used force or coercion to have sexual contact" with her, injuring her in the process, court records state.

The woman notified police of the incident on Aug. 11, Simon said.

From Aug. 1 through Oct. 4, Anderson repeatedly stalked and harassed the woman, court records state.

Anderson's arraigning judge set bond at $35,000. As of Oct. 31, he remained in custody at the Bay County Jail.

Anderson is to appear for a preliminary examination before District Judge Mark E. Janer at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 7.
FLINT, MI -- A top aide to Rick Snyder says he warned the governor of growing concerns about lead levels in Flint water in July and August 2015 -- months before Snyder has said he ultimately concluded the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality had under-estimated the danger.

Harvey Hollins, director of the Michigan Office of Urban Initiatives, testified in Genesee District Court Wednesday, Nov. 1, saying he brought the concerns of residents he met with in the summer of 2015 back to the governor on more than one occasion in standing monthly meetings.

Last month, Hollins also testified at Lyon's preliminary examination, which has gone on for five days, that he told Snyder about a Legionnaires' disease outbreak in the Flint area in late December 2015, weeks earlier than the governor has previously said he learned of it.

"Lead was bubbling up as a major concern" in Flint, Hollins testified during the preliminary examination of Nick Lyon, director of the state Department of Health and Human Services.

Lyon, 49, faces charges of involuntary manslaughter and misconduct in office in relation to the Flint water crisis, charges that are directly tied to Legionnaires' disease outbreaks in the area that coincided with the city's use of the Flint River for drinking water.

Snyder has said he was never told of the outbreaks until Jan. 12 and immediately warned the public in a news conference the next day.

Much of Hollins' testimony Wednesday concerned Flint's lead in water problems.

Hollins told MLive-The Flint Journal previously that he was first made aware of lead concerns "by a few residents in Flint sometime in late May 2015, and I referred them to the (Department of Environmental Quality)."

On Wednesday, he testified that he continued to hear more about lead in water when he and former chief of staff Dennis Muchmore met with Flint pastors and other residents in coming months.

Residents showed Muchmore and Hollins pictures of discolored water and evidence of hair loss among residents as well as records showing rising lead levels in Flint, he said.

Hollins said he shared the concerns with the governor during two standing monthly meetings he had with Snyder.

In May 2016, Ari Adler, the governor's former press secretary and current director of communications, said Muchmore and Hollins never shared the residents' concerns directly with Snyder.

"The information did not get to the governor," Adler said in May 2016. "Key staff were asking the (DEQ) and being told it was not a problem."

Adler said then that there was no standard operating procedure for when cabinet members elevate concerns to Snyder.

"As I understand it, the reason the issue of lead in the water was not taken directly to the governor is because every time staff in the Governor's Office raised questions with the DEQ, they were being told the situation either was not as presented or was being taken care of," Adler told MLive in an email at the time.

On Wednesday, Adler said he could not comment on Hollins' testimony during Lyon's preliminary exam.

While Hollins was questioned by Larry C. Willey, an attorney for Lyon, he said the DHHS director told both himself and Muchmore about an increase in Legionnaires' cases in the Flint area in September 2015.

Hollins has said he first learned of the surge in Legionnaires' case in a March 2015 email from Brad Wurfel, a former spokesman for the DEQ.
GRAND BLANC TOWNSHIP, MI - A teacher and Boy Scout leader will remain behind bars until at least 2065 after a jury convicted him of fatally stabbing his wife six times in their Grand Blanc Township home, an appeals court has upheld.

On Tuesday, Oct. 31, the Michigan Court of Appeals reaffirmed Genesee County Circuit Judge Archie Hayman's decision to sentence Andrew Farley Jr. to between 50 and nearly 77 years in prison after jurors found him guilty of second-degree murder for the October 2014 death of his wife, Tiffany Caine-Smith Farley, at their Grand Blanc Township home.

State sentencing guidelines called for a possible minimum sentence of 13.5 years, but Hayman decided to exceed the recommendation and give the now 46-year-old Farley a sentence that could result in him spending the remainder of his life behind bars.

Farley appealed the longer-than-usual sentence, claiming the court "abused its discretion and imposed an unreasonable sentence" in departing from the state's suggested sentencing guidelines.

But, in a two-page unpublished opinion, the appeals court noted that the "key test" when reviewing a prison sentence is not whether the sentence departs or adheres to guidelines, "but whether the sentence is proportionate to the seriousness of the matter."

"The facts of this case were, quite simply, heinous," the court's opinion said. "The court was not imposing a conviction upon defendant for first-degree murder but was exercising its discretion in sentencing, and under all the circumstances of this case, we simply cannot find that the trial court abused its discretion in sentencing."

Farley's appellate attorney, Ronald D. Ambrose, called the court's decision to uphold his client's lengthy sentence "a disappointment."

"Essentially, the sentence imposed was just a life sentence," Ambrose said. "It's certainly a difficult case, and you can't overlook what the victim and the victim's family went through, but this is way outside the guidelines."

Ambrose said Farley is still weighing whether to take the case to the Michigan Supreme Court for consideration.

Farley was initially charged with open murder in his wife's death, which allowed jurors to return either a first- or second-degree murder charge. Although jurors chose not to convict Farley of first-degree premeditated murder, Hayman said the facts of the case showed he "planned and schemed" her death.

"You have been plotting her death for some time," Hayman said.

Prosecutors said Farley struck his wife with a flashlight as she was in the home's bathroom, knocking her to the ground. He then went into a different room, grabbed a military-style knife, returned to the bathroom and stabbed his wife six times, including once in the heart.

He then moved his wife's body to the bedroom, took a number of pills, started a fire in a fireplace and severed the gas line to the home's water heater in an attempt to kill himself. Farley also made videos on his cellphone after the stabbing, which were later discovered by authorities. He never called 911 for help.

"You basically sat there and watched her bleed to death and die," Hayman said.

Caine-Smith Farley was a Flint Southwestern graduate who later went to Alma and Mercy colleges to study clinical psychology, according to her father, who spoke during Farley's 2015 sentencing.

Caine-Smith Farley later went to work for the Genesee County Salvation Army where she also directed the organization's men's choir. She was also an active animal activist and the guardian of a child with special needs who she raised as her own son, according to her father. The boy has struggled with coming to terms of her death, Caine-Smith Farley's father told the judge.

Farley's trial attorney, Kenneth Karasick, argued that the killing was a crime of passion and did not meet the criteria of first-degree murder. Karasick argued his client was constantly belittled by the victim and snapped when she threatened to leave him and have a child with another man.

"This was an act of passion and rage," Karasick previously said.

During sentencing, Farley expressed remorse and apologized for his actions.

"I did not intend to kill my wife," Farley said. "I hurt because of this."

Genesee Circuit Court records show that Farley filed for divorce from his wife in April 2014, but the case was dismissed in June after the couple told the court they were able to reconcile.

An administrator of Grand Blanc Township-based Woodland Park Academy confirmed previously that Farley was a teacher at the charter school for the year prior to his wife's death. The Boy Scouts of America website previously listed Andrew Farley as the Cubmaster for Grand Blanc Pack 208. His name was removed following his wife's death.
FLINT, MI - Five candidates vying for Flint mayor and city council seats say past felony convictions will not keep them out of the running in the November 7 election.

The five - Flint councilmen Wantwaz Davis and Eric Mays, council hopeful Anita Brown and mayoral candidates Arthur Woodson and Ellery Johnson - are part of a group that includes nearly 78 million individuals - nearly one in three American adults - who have a criminal record, according to an article in the Wall Street Journal.

Wantwaz Davis

Davis, who was first elected to his Fifth Ward council seat in 2013, has not shied away from talking about his 19 years behind bars after pleading guilty to second-degree murder in 1991. In fact, he says he feels his seat on the council is a "second chance from God" and gives him the platform to speak for an "underrepresented" segment of society.

"Before me, the low, the poverty-stricken, the ex-cons people didn't hear a voice," Davis said. "I can address a lot of issues that other politicians can't because I've walked the walk. People here, they don't want to speak to someone who hasn't been in their shoes. These are the kind of leaders who people need in Flint."

The now-Flint councilman was 17 years old in August 1991 when Kenneth S. Morris, 27, was killed at his home on Grace Street. Morris died after being shot three times -- once each in the hip, abdomen and mouth, according to The Flint Journal archives.

"He went and reached in his pocket, so I reached in my pocket and I shot him," Davis said. "When I found out he later died, I turned myself in. I never intended to shoot Mr. Morris. To this day, I am very remorseful ... The only thing I was trying to do was protect my mama - I might have done the wrong thing expecting the right result."

After spending 19 years in the Michigan Department of Corrections, the councilman said it was increasingly difficult to find a job. He said he one day hopes to introduce a bill in Lansing to give anyone convicted of a felony the chance to expunge their record after seven years.

"It's a vicious cycle," Davis said. "Public and private sectors won't give (people with felony convictions) a job, corporate America won't give you a job. This needs to be addressed ... people, especially young people, need a second chance to prove not only to others but themselves that they can be responsible, constructive members of society."

Past criminal convictions of any kind immediately reduce the likelihood of a job offer by 50 percent, according to a 2009 report from the Department of Justice.

Since taking office, Davis - who is running for re-election against candidate Jerri Winfrey Carter in the Nov. 7 election - also missed several council meetings this summer due to a stint behind bars on a probation violation on a previous drunken driving case.

Originally granted work release for city council meetings after testing positive for marijuana while on bond in February, Genesee County District Judge David Goggins sentenced Davis back to jail after testing positive again for marijuana while on probation.

Davis claims the marijuana was medicinal and that his jail sentence was prompted by politics.

"It was politically motivated that they jailed me," Davis said. "I couldn't have violated. I had immunity."

Eric Mays

For First Ward Councilman Eric Mays, a felonious assault charge in 1987 is "irrelevant" to his public office position today. Mays pleaded guilty to the charge and served a year of probation. Mays said the man who had previously broken into his house was threatening his life before Mays threatened him with a gun.

"That stopped me from going to law school, it changed my life," he said, adding that he "pays extra attention" when he hears his constituents feel bullied or threatened.

The outspoken councilman has had several run-ins with the law during his time in office, including spending 28 days in jail in January 2016, a case in which police said they found the elected official outside a disabled car, facing the wrong way on the expressway more than two years prior.

A jury convicted Mays, 59, of impaired driving, but the councilman said it's also important to note that he originally faced five charges in the incident.

"You've got four not guilties and one guilty, that's the jury verdict," Mays said, noting he believes political opponents were trying to send him to jail to avoid speaking out about Flint's lead-in-water crisis.

He avoided an additional 90 days in jail after a jury found him guilty of disorderly conduct at a Flint City Council meeting, Mays -- who represented himself in court -- and prosecutors reached an agreement that he would instead pay a $200 fine.

Currently, he awaits sentencing - delayed until after the Nov. 7 election - after pleading no contest to pawning his city-issued laptop nine times over the course of two years.

"I'm not proud, and I apologize to the people I represent," Mays said. "But I'm going to fight for people to have the police protection they need. I'm going to fight for what's right, and I'm going to fight against pawn shops that illegally take in government property."

Mays' opponent in the First Ward council race, Anita Brown, says that a retail fraud felony charge from 1996 has haunted her for last 20 years, but has also encouraged her to "stand up for what's right."

Anita Brown

"I was in my 20s then, and I'm in my 50s now - you get older and realize you never should have hung out with certain people or made some mistakes," Brown, 53, said. "But that was a wake-up call. For the last 20 years, I've invested myself in doing right. I'm more strong, more empathetic, and more outspoken about standing up on what's right because of that."

Brown pleaded guilty to a single count of first-degree retail fraud in 1996 and was ordered to pay $62 in restitution to J.C. Penney. She went on to serve in the Flint city ombudsman's office - a watchdog office investigating alleged wrongdoing within city government.

"People ask me how I changed my life, and I say, 'one day at a time,'" Brown said. "I want to bring that hope to the First Ward."

In the Flint mayor's race, candidate Arthur Woodson, said his past criminal history ignited a fire in him to "fight for the injustices going on."

Woodson, 50, has been vocal on social media and during his campaign about the time in 1989 when he was convicted and served prison time in Virginia for credit card fraud, wiring fraud, receiving stolen goods and forgery.

Arthur Woodson

"My friend didn't know how to use a credit card at the time, credit cards had just come out, ATM's had just come out," Woodson claims. "I didn't know you couldn't use his. It was for about $100. But they threw the book at me."

The mayoral candidate - perhaps best known for leading the charge to recall Flint Mayor Karen Weaver - butted heads with the law in 2005, when he was patient at the Battle Creek VA Medical Center.

A verbal altercation with a center employee turned violent, court records say, and Woodson was charged with simple assault of federal employees and imprisoned.

Woodson says the employees at the center were asking him to leave a room but were not following protocol.

"I should have never spent a day in jail for that, that was common that they (imprisoned) veterans," he said.

While in custody, Woodson said he was charged with -- and pleaded no contest to -- assault with a deadly weapon after he said another inmate threw a juice container at a jail guard's head.

"They assumed it was me because I had been arguing," he said. "But that's why I pleaded no contest. They didn't even have any witnesses."

"It just showed me how the judicial system could be, and I'm going to speak out about injustice," Woodson said. "People can't abuse their power like that ... it's just like now where the mayor put out a bogus PPO on me or (Flint police) are trying to get a bogus warrant for my arrest."

Flint police said they sought an arrest warrant for Woodson in July regarding an open criminal investigation into allegedly fraudulent petitions to recall Weaver.

The city has refused to release a copy of the criminal complaint to MLive-The Flint Journal - requested through the Freedom of Information Act - citing the open case's active investigation.

Woodson has vowed to file a complaint with the Michigan State Police, claiming that the Flint police are engaging in a fraudulent investigation.

Ellery Johnson

Ellery Johnson - a candidate opposing Woodson, Weaver and 15 others in the crowded mayor's race - was convicted by a Genesee County Jury in 1997 of bank robbery, and ordered to pay back $1,319 in restitution.

Johnson, 41, could not be reached for comment, but according to his candidate survey submitted to MLive-The Flint Journal, he has worked at the Talecris Plasma Center for the past six years and hopes to "to encourage and inspire the citizens to first begin to love themselves, then to take pride in community."

"My past does not define who I am but helped me to redefine," Johnson wrote in the survey. "I see the situation in Flint as a time to rebuild, reestablish, and have a rebirth. I see this city and the citizens as family that I truly love."

The five candidates - Davis, Mays, Brown, Woodson and Johnson - are all slated to appear on Flint's ballots on Tuesday, Nov. 7.

You can learn more about all the candidates running for Flint mayor by clicking here and for Flint council by clicking here.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- A state police trooper crashed into a light pole after fighting with a detainee inside of his cruiser, police said.

The fight left the trooper with what was believed a minor hand injury.

The detainee was quickly brought under control following the crash.

State police said the trooper was transporting a man to the Kent County Jail about 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 31 when the man began to fight with the trooper.

The trooper was on Kent Road, just off Fuller Avenue NE and near the jail, when the cruiser struck the pole.
BOSTON TOWNSHIP, MI - Police have identified two of three drivers involved in a fiery crash near Whites Bridge Road Wednesday morning that left one person dead and another seriously injured.

The crash occurred around 10:15 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 1, on M-21 (Bluewater Highway) near the intersection of Whites Bridge Road, according to Ionia Central Dispatch.

Deputies arrived at the site to find one of the vehicles engulfed in flames and a second vehicle entwined with it, and also burning. With the assistance of a volunteer firefighter, the Ionia County Sheriff deputy was able to combat the flames and extract the driver of the second vehicle.

The driver was identified by police as Christopher Shawn McKibben, 42, from Saranac. He was transported by ambulance to Spectrum Health in Grand Rapids. Police report he remains in serious condition, but is expected to live.

Preliminary investigation of the crash suggest McKibben was driving east on M-21 toward Saranac in a Ford Explorer, and crossed the centerline of the road and into the westbound lane. The other two vehicles were both headed west, and were unable to avoid the impending collision due to a guardrail and bridge along that part of the road.

McKibben's vehicle sideswiped a Kia driven by 38-year-old Anna Burr, before striking the Buick Rendezvous head-on, resulting in the fatal injury to its driver.

No information has been released at this time about the driver killed in the crash, which remains under investigation.

Assisting on scene were Ionia County Central Dispatch, Saranac Fire, Life EMS, Lehman's Funeral Home, Reed and Hoppes Towing, Ionia County Road Commission, Lowell Fire Department, and numerous civilians.
BOSTON TOWNSHIP, MI -- Emergency personnel are on the scene of a serious and fiery crash in Ionia County that killed one person and sent at least one other to a hospital.

The crash occurred around 10:15 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 1, on M-21 (Bluewater Highway) near the intersection of Whites Bridge Road, according to Ionia Central Dispatch.

Police said at least two vehicles were involved in a head-on crash, which led to at least one of the vehicles catching fire. One person was killed, and one person was transported via ambulance to a hospital, police said.

Dispatchers couldn't immediately provide any additional information about the number of people injured or the severity of their injuries.

The crash forced emergency personnel to close all lanes of M-21. The road remains closed as of 11:55 a.m. Wednesday, and police said they expect it to be closed "for a considerable period of time."
MONTCALM COUNTY, MI -- Funeral services have been set for three children killed when a pickup struck the rear of a buggy near Sheridan.

Cameron, 11, Kayla, 9 and Kendra Martin, 7, died Sunday, Oct. 29 after a pickup on Condensery Road in Bushnell Township struck the back of their family's buggy about 8:30 a.m. Six others were injured.

The Mennonite family of nine was headed to Sunday worship services.

According to an obituary posted by Lux Funeral Homes, funeral services are 9:30 a.m. Friday, Nov. 3 at the Vickeryville Old Order Mennonite Church on the corner of Sloan Road and M-57.

Visitation is 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 pm. Wednesday and 1-5 p.m. Thursday at Leonard Schrock's home, 7042 Vickeryville Rd., Sheridan.

The crash seriously injured Paul and Judith Martin, parents of the children. Four other children -- ages 8, 3, 2 and 18 months -- also were injured.

Paul Martin is a dairy farmer with a herd of 65 cows. Neighbors and fellow parishioners at their church have chipped in to take over daily chores.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- Some Grand Rapids Community College students, faculty and staff will experience a delayed start Wednesday, Nov. 1, after police found a "suspicious item" on the main campus.

Facility personnel located a fully-loaded magazine for a semi-automatic handgun in a bathroom in Cook Hall around 3 a.m. Wednesday, according to an advisory sent to staff and students.

All buildings have been searched and no other items of concern have been located. An investigation into the origins of the magazine and ammunition is ongoing.

The college sent out an emergency notification shortly after 6 a.m. It instructed staff and faculty of the main and DeVos campuses to report at 10 a.m.

Classes scheduled for 11 a.m. or later on the main and DeVos campuses will be held as scheduled, according to the notification. Other GRCC facilities will open as usual.

Administrators believe this is an isolated incident. No gun was found.

The incident is being investigated by Grand Rapids Community College police. Grand Rapids police assisted campus police Wednesday morning by helping to search buildings.

Police ask anyone with information about this incident to contact campus police at 616-234-4911.
FENNVILLE, MI -- Fennville Mayor Tom Pantelleria is trying to stop Chemical Bank from shutting its doors next month.

If the branch off Main Street closes, the rural Allegan county community of 1,400 will be without a bank for the first time in decades.

He and others worry the loss will have a domino effect on the town's businesses.

"Some of these services will be more difficult to obtain weakening the financial life of the community and consequently I fear other businesses may then exit," he wrote in a complaint to the Federal Reserve Board.

He is asking the governing body of the country's banking system to stop the branch's slated closure on Dec. 15, arguing Chemical's decision violates the Community Reinvestment Act, intended to insure financial services are available to all communities.

Too many bank branches are closing in small towns like Fennville where there are low to moderate income residents, he says.

Michigan lost 10 banks and 116 branches in the last year, according to a recent report by Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.

The state has 126 FDIC-insured banks with 2,599 branches.

"This is a major trend that has been going on for a number of years," said Dennis Klaeser, Chemical's Chief Financial Officer. "If anything it is accelerating. So we are not unique."

There are 7,417 fewer branch branches nationwide than a decade ago. That 7.6 percent drop brings the total down to just below 90,000.

The number of branches peaked at more than 99,500 in 2009, according to the American Bankers Association.

Fennville had two banks until Huntington Bank closed its branch in 2013, as the Columbus,Oh.-headquartered bank made a deal with Midwest retailer Meijer to locate branches in its high traffic stores.

Chemical's decision to shutter its Fennville branch's is part of consolidations announced earlier this fall in Michigan and northern Ohio.

The bank is responding to less traffic to its brick-and-mortar branches as customers migrate to online banking.

Chemical decided which banks to close based on traffic pattern and the cost to maintain the facility. The Fennville location is being consolidated with the bank's Saugatuck branch.

Saugatuck, a popular resort town about 10 miles northwest has an average income of $60,000, double the average income of Fennville, according to census data.

Rob Nichol, co-owner of the restaurant, Salt of Earth, says the loss of a bank will be hard for Fennville businesses like his.

Instead of a short walk from the popular restaurant, he'll have to drive to Saugatuck or Hamilton to make cash deposits.

"That's a lot of time," said Nichol. "So in a nutshell if another bank moves into town, we will most definitely consider changing."

Even after the closures, Chemical will have 210 branches. There are only two other banks with more branches in the state: Huntington and JP Morgan Chase.

"Relative to our size, we have more branches," said Klaeser. "Like any business, we have to manage our business in the most profitable way we can."

The Midland-based Chemical is the largest bank headquartered in Michigan, but has about 14 percent share of the state's banking market. The bigger players are out-of-state banks such as JP Morgan Chase, Comerica, Bank of America, PNC, Fifth Third and Huntington.

If Chemical is allowed to close, Fennville officials are asking the bank to maintain an office presence either in a smaller building, sharing retail space or at the post office.

Mayor Pantelleria also wants the bank to remove deed restrictions for its property, at 125 S. Maple St., so another financial institution can rent the facility.

"We want to have at least an ATM and we are working on that," Klaeser said. "We also offered to send people out to provide training for those not adept at using online banking."

The plan is to have the bank's loan officers drive out to the community for commercial and consumer loans appointments.

"We are interested in serving the banking needs of the community," said Klaeser. "Like a lot of businesses, you don't need a physical store to service those needs."
ALGOMA TOWNSHIP, MI -- In 2010, Sally Herrington died of bladder cancer at age 54 after living more than 40 years of her life next to an old dump where Wolverine World Wide allegedly disposed of hazardous sludge waste from its Rockford tannery.

Now, her husband wants the home's well tested.

"It should have happened a long time ago," said Scott Herrington, 62, who lives across the street from the old Rockford dump at 4400 12 Mile Road NE in Algoma Township.

The 21-acre vacant parcel wedged between the Rogue River, 12 Mile Road and the White Pine Trail is part of an expanding investigation into sites where Wolverine may have dumped sludge waste filled with toxic chemicals from 3M Scotchgard, which the company applied to leather used to make Hush Puppies shoes in Rockford.

In September, former Bell Pick-up disposal truck driver Earl Tefft said he also "occasionally" took sludge to the 12 Mile dump during the mid-1960s when he drove Wolverine waste from the tannery to landfills on House Street NE and the East Beltline.

Now, homeowners in the Serenity Shores neighborhood hope results of independent well testing along their street will elevate their prioritization with the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, which is investigating new site reports daily.

Wolverine is not testing or providing water to the area yet.

"I think we're a back-burner issue to some extent," said Eric Ringnalda, president of the homeowners association at Serenity Shores, a private drive located just north of the old 12 Mile dump.

Ringnalda wouldn't confirm or deny a report that private testing by residents came back positive for low levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances named PFAS, (also called PFCs), a class of compounds tied to cancer, thyroid problems and other diseases.

Serenity Shores sought testing "as fast and cheap as possible," he said. "We're trying to get the DEQ to work with us to get some official results and have an idea of what we have."

He said the DEQ has told him it could be months before the agency or Wolverine tests drinking water wells in the neighborhood.

Melanie Brown, a spokesperson for the DEQ, said the agency's list of potential dump locations under investigation has grown to 57 sites, although not all of those are expected to have groundwater contamination or be connected to Wolverine.

The DEQ is planning to install monitoring wells at the 12 Mile site and will be "reaching out to Serenity Shores residents for their data."

On Thursday, Oct. 26, the DEQ tested the well at Seth and Laura Powell's home on 12 Mile just east of the White Pine Trail, which runs along the former dump's eastern border. The DEQ left a Culligan water dispenser and five large jugs of safe water.

The couple moved into the home in 2015 and have a 2-year-old son. They are anxious to get test results back. The Powells moved in during Laura's pregnancy, during which she suffered a dangerous condition caused by high blood pressure called preeclampsixa. Pregnancy-induced hypertension is a symptom linked to PFAS exposure.

"It's almost worse not knowing," said Seth Powell.

Amanda Passage, a spokesperson for Wolverine, said the company is not currently providing water or testing outside Belmont, where the DEQ found out this summer that PFAS from a forgotten Wolverine landfill at 1855 House Street NE had contaminated nearby drinking water wells at extremely high levels.

Wolverine will be installing about 55 Culligan/Calgon whole-house water filtration systems a week in a 338-home "Initial Study Area" and "Buffer Zone" around the House Street landfill. The company has not offered whole-house water filtration to Belmont properties in a testing expansion area that extends to Rogue River Drive.

In Algoma Township, remnants of the 12 Mile Road site's history as a dump are not tough to find. On Aug. 25, MLive found glass, metal and shoe soles in a patch of garbage on the property, which today is used only as a parking lot for the nearby trail.

The site was not known to officials at the Kent County Health Department or the DEQ as a possible Wolverine dump until the Concerned Citizens for Responsible Redevelopment group in Rockford pointed them to it earlier this year.

On Sept. 4, Sara Simmonds, environmental health director at the county health department said, "we have heard lore of a site in this area but have never been able to pinpoint it."

An MLive request for records on 4400 12 Mile Road under the Freedom of Information Act was returned by Kent County with a message that none existed. The county's online property database identifies the property as the "Stowell Gravel Pit."

A second search attempt turned up nothing.

"I have looked thru (sic) our files again and we have nothing on this site," Janey Donnini, office administrator at the Kent County Health Department, wrote on Sept. 25. "All files pertaining to gravel pits, dump sites, etc. are housed at the state (MDEQ)."

On Sept. 1, Grand Rapids DEQ remediation division supervisor David O'Donnell -- who was promoted to West Michigan field operations manager for the division in late September -- wrote in an email that "we don't have a file for that property. It has never been brought to our attention before the driver's interview."

DEQ staff had begun looking at historic property data for 12 Mile, but "I don't want to take the focus off the current response activities" in Belmont, O'Donnell wrote. "There doesn't appear to be a public health threat from the current use."

A few weeks later, the Kent County Health Department identified the 12 Mile dump as one of several sites included in a Wolverine-related study of cancer clusters around the Rockford and Belmont areas.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI - Street preacher Stephen Nylen's anti-abortion speech isn't the problem - it's his amplification system, the city says.

Grand Rapids asked a judge to dismiss a lawsuit Nylen filed against the city and a police sergeant over enforcement of its noise ordinance.

"This is a case about a man who has stubbornly refused to comprehend the clear prohibition of the City of Grand Rapids' noise ordinance in order to make a proverbial 'federal case' out of his protesting activities," assistant city attorneys Elliott Gruszka, Patrick Lannen and Lindsay Bond wrote in court documents.

"While many hundreds of people peacefully express their views on a variety of divisive issues around the City each year without incident, Nylen has managed to repeatedly draw police attention because of his insistence on using electronic voice amplification and his refusal to understand that the use of amplification is the only reason the police have counselled him with regard to his expressive activity."

Nylen alleged violations of his First Amendment rights. He said police threatened his arrest while he shared religious beliefs outside of an abortion clinic and other places in the city.

He contends that the content of his speech, not the volume, was at issue.

"Unfortunately, Mr. Nylen, who regularly engages in religious speech in public fora such as public sidewalks and parks, has been repeatedly warned by City officers that, if someone dislikes his speech complains to authorities about it, then he will be cited under either the Noise Ordinance or the Breach-of-the-Peace Ordinance if he does not stop speaking," attorney Stephen van Stempvoort said in the lawsuit.

The city said Nylen's complaints are vague and that he lacks standing to file the suit. He has not been arrested or suffered harm, the city said.

"Nylen's complaint lacks any allegation that he has actually been arrested or prosecuted for a violation of the noise ordinance, only that he has been contacted by law enforcement about complaints of the noise he is creating and instructed to modify his behavior to comply with the noise ordinance," the city said in its motion.

"As such, Nylen's case exists in the 'pre-enforcement First Amendment context.' Nylen is seeking the extraordinary remedy of a declaration from this Court that the noise ordinance is unconstitutional."

The city said that a "subjective fear that this speech will result in enforcement of a law and self-censorship ... is insufficient to confer standing without any objective of imminent enforcement."

The city said its noise ordinance, in part, prohibits "calling, crying, or shouting" in public, speaking with an elevated volume, or as in this case, using sound amplification. There are exceptions for licensed peddlers, parades and musical groups.

The city referenced one of Nylen's Youtube videos in which he says he chose not to use an amplifier.

Nylen's complaints about the threat of prosecution are "squarely contradicted by the available video evidence," the city said.

"Most blatant are his allegations specific to (Sgt. Barry) Bryant," the city said.

Bryant and another officer responded Sept. 9, 2016, to a report of a noise complaint in front of an abortion clinic. Nylen was yelling and using an amplifier, the city said.

The officers told Nylen he could speak, just not use a voice amplifier.

"We have no problem with your protest, you just have to follow the rules when you do it," Bryant told him, records said.

The city said: "At no point in these conversations do the officers ever state that Nylen will be arrested merely because someone complains about his speech. Bryant and the officer clearly explain that the only problem with Nylen's activity is that he is amplifying his voice."

In a later exchange, after Nylen reportedly used an amplifier, Bryant said, "I explained it to you before: no speakers."

Nylen responded, "I'm trying to understand. What am I doing illegal?"

Bryant said: "You cannot use any broadcast - I already explained this to you! ... All you have to do is don't raise your voice."

Bryant gestured to nearby houses and said, "All these people work third shift. ... This is the second time I've told you the same exact information."

Nylen, a Grand Rapids resident, is a devout Christian who found his faith serving in the U.S. Army in Iraq.

He is called to share his "new hope ... which had been so meaningful in his life," the lawsuit said.

The city said no one has challenged the substance of his remarks.

"Nylen is a protestor who has willfully refused to apprehend the plain text of the noise ordinance and the clear instructions of law enforcement officers: do not use a sound amplification device when preaching on the sidewalk."
Only 5 to 6 percent of Michigan residents buy health insurance on their own, but that group is at the center of the contentious debate over the future of the Affordable Care Act.

Now they're in the spotlight again as the 2018 open enrollment period begins today, Nov. 1, for those purchasing insurance through the federal marketplace created by the ACA

With a president openly hostile to the ACA, it's widely anticipated the number of participants in the federal marketplace will decrease nationwide and in Michigan.

"The rate increases are significant and the market is volatile," said Rick Notter, who oversees the individual market for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, the state's largest health insurer.

The individual market "is a complicated and confusing situation that's become even more complicated and confusing in the past year," Notter added.

Among the factors behind the volatility: Trump administration has cut the open enrollment period in half, from three months to six weeks. It has slashed advertising for healthcare.gov, as well as funding for navigators to help individuals with the enrollment process.

From presidential tweets to social media posts to removing information on the U.S. Health and Human Services website, the federal government has gone from actively promoting enrolling in Obamacare to actively discouraging it.

Most significantly, Trump announced in October he was immediately ending payments to insurance companies to cover "cost-sharing reductions," a subsidy to lower co-pays and deductibles for households with an income below 250 percent of the federal poverty guideline -- about $30,150 for a single person and $61,500 for a family of four.

The impact of that move has been counterintuitive: It hurts middle-income and affluent households, not the low- and moderate-income households who get cost-sharing reductions and/or tax credits to subsidize premiums.

The reason: The ACA requires insurance companies to provide cost-sharing reductions regardless of federal reimbursement. So to pay for CSRs, Michigan insurance companies are raising premiums by almost 30 percent on average.

That means bigger subsides for those who qualify. In fact, people getting subsidies "are largely insulated" from the cost increases, said Megan Foster Friedman, an analyst for the Center for Healthcare Research and Transformation, an Ann Arbor think tank.

But those above the income level for subsidies -- $49,340 for individuals and $98,400 for a family of four -- will face the full brunt of the cost increases

These are the federal income cutoffs that will be used for Obamacare programs in 2018. Those with a income below 138% of the federal poverty line are eligible for Healthy Michigan, which is Michigan's Medicaid expansion. Those with an income below 250% of the FPL are eligible for both tax credits to subsidize premiums and cost-sharing reductions that lower co-pays and deductibles. Those with an income below 400% of the FPL are eligible for tax credits to subsidize premiums.

In 2017, about 300,000 Michigan residents bought insurance on healthcare.gov; 83 percent qualified for tax credits to offset premiums and 50 percent qualified for the cost sharing reductions.

To be sure, elimination of the CSR payments is not the only reason for this year's price hikes. The political uncertainty in Washington means it's likely enrollment will drop. And it's a good bet that decline will occur among young and healthy people who least need coverage, which means insurance risk pools will have a higher concentration of people with costly health problems.

It's possible, even probable, there will be a drop in enrollment, Friedman said. "The question is, what the magnitude will be and who leaves. Will it be the young, healthy people? We really need them in the marketplace."

ACA advocates and insurance spokesmen say they are most worried about the shorter enrollment period.

"My concern is that people don't get their act together or don't realize the enrollment period is shorter until it's too late," Friedman said, noting that the healthcare.gov website saw a surge in enrollments in late January. This year, open enrollment will end Dec. 15.

"People are always enrolling at the last minute, so there's certainly a concern there," said Jeff Rombeck, deputy director of policy and planning for the Michigan Association of Health Plans.

Experts also are worried that people will read the headlines, and assume the ACA's individual insurance mandate is not longer being enforced and that buying insurance is unaffordable.

In fact, despite Trump's recent pronouncement that "Obamacare is dead," the ACA remains in force and the Internal Revenue Service recently sent out a notification that it will not accept 2017 tax returns that do not certify compliance with the law.

"If you don't enroll, you're putting yourself at big risk," Rombeck said.

The current tax penalty for lacking insurance is 2.5% of adjusted gross household income or $695 per adult and $347.50 per child under age 18, whichever is highest.

And with more than 80 percent on healthcare.gov qualifying for subsides -- and with healthcare.gov offering some subsidized high-deductible plans with no out-of-pocket cost for premiums -- people should "make no assumptions" about affordability until they go on the website and "shop around," said Dizzy Warren, who heads Enroll Michigan, an ACA advocacy group.

Shop around also is the advice for those who don't qualify for subsidies, experts say. However, Notter and Warren said it's possible more people will take advantage of the hardship exemption to the individual mandate -- i.e., people are not required to buy insurance if the cheapest plan on the federal marketplace costs more than 8 percent of their income.

Experts say that individuals needing insurance should work with an insurance agent or enrollment navigator to review their options for 2018.

While Warren's organization was among those who saw funding slashed for enrollment navigators, she said the good news is that lots of help is still available.

"We partnered with 28 organizations last year, and 24 have decided to continue" offering help with insurance enrollment, even without federal funding, Warren said.

"A lot of health-care providers and insurance companies are really stepping up their game on outreach," Friedman said.

But to get that help, people need to act in a timely manner, Notter said.

"It's very important to take care of this early," he said. "If I was someone who wasn't insured through work and I was buying an individual plan, I'd get this taken care of right away. ... If you wait until early December, you may not be able to get someone on the phone to help you."

Notter and Rombeck said insurance companies will have fully staffed call centers during open enrollment to answer questions and help people enroll in health care for 2018.

In addition, the healthcare.gov website allows consumers to put in a Zip Code or community name to find nearby in-person help with insurance enrollment.

There's also a healthcare.gov phone number to call for help: (800) 318-2596. The federal call center is staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week, according to the website.

"Insurance is complicated" especially when you get into deductibles, co-pays and provider networks, Friedman said. "Having someone help you is really critical."
Boaters beware, the United States Coast Guard isn't playing around when it comes to reckless driving in no wake zones.

Prompted by a string of incidents in which smaller vessels have failed to follow boating laws, officials issued a warning on Wednesday reminding operators of the consequences.

Simply put, operating a vessel negligently can cost you up to $6,559 for a recreational vessel or up to $32,796 for any other type of vessel.

As an example, the Coast Guard cited an incident on June 21 in which a driver piloted his powerboat down the Saginaw River at a high rate of speed at the same time as the Menominee freighter was heading toward an open Liberty Bridge near downtown Bay City.

The driver flew past the 616-foot freighter on the east side of the river before making a sharp left turn and completing a lap around the vessel.

The driver eventually made a $1,000 penalty payment, according to the Coast Guard, but it's hardly been an isolated incident.

In August, George Haynes, licensed captain and vice-president of Lakes Pilots Association, outlined several incidents between smaller vessels and freighters in the St. Clair River.

At one point, a fishing boat actually began to drive toward a massive freighter traveling near the Blue Water Bridge, essentially playing chicken with it.

"Be mindful of these large ships that transit our waterways," the Coast Guard notice reads.

"They do not have the capability to maneuver like small boats and operating negligently around these ships, aside from a steep fine, can cause injury or worse. Consider your recreational boat to be like a motorcycle and the ships to be like a semi-truck...which do you think will fare worse in a collision?"

An outline of navigation rules can be seen below.
Michigan Supreme Court Justice Joan Larsen is headed to the 6th U.S. Circuit Court bench following the U.S. Senate's vote to confirm her nomination Wednesday.

Larsen was confirmed to a lifetime appointment on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit in a 60-38 vote Wednesday. Michigan U.S. Sens. Debbie Stabenow, D-Lansing, and Gary Peters, D-Bloomfield Twp., voted yes on the nomination, joining Republicans and a handful of other Democrats.

Larsen, who was named to the Michigan Supreme Court by Gov. Rick Snyder in 2015, was announced as President Donald Trump's choice for the opening on May 8.

She was praised by Republicans throughout the process, but some Democrats were critical of her record and of the involvement of the conservative-leaning group Judicial Crisis Network, which launched a $140,000 ad buy in Michigan to support Larsen's nomination. The 30-second ad accuses Stabenow and Peters of holding up the process due to partisan politics and highlights Larsen's legal career.

On the Senate floor Wednesday, Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, said any allegations that the ads would influence how she would rule "is the most absurd thing that I've heard."

"She's an accomplished legal academic, she's a mainstream jurist, she's well respected on a bipartisan basis," Grassley said, adding he found it interesting there wasn't a similar pushback against liberal-leaning groups opposing the nominations.

Some outside groups, including 27 LGBT rights groups and the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, opposed Larsen's nomination on grounds some of her decisions on the bench are "antagonistic to civil and human rights."

Larsen was supported by several former government officials, as well as many of her colleagues from the University of Michigan, who praised her intellect and respect for the legal system.

Peters and Stabenow gave the go-ahead to the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee to begin proceedings Aug. 4 after meeting with Larsen and reviewing her record. At the time, Stabenow said in an interview with MLive that she was impressed with Larsen and said she found no reason for her not to proceed.

Gov. Rick Snyder, who appointed Larsen to the Michigan Supreme Court in 2015, said in a statement he was sad to see her leave the court, but was proud Trump chose someone from Michigan for the role.

"Joan has served on the Michigan Supreme Court with great honor and distinction," he said. "While we are sad to see her leave the Court, I truly appreciate her dedicated work on the bench for the past two years and her devotion to upholding the rule of law."

Before taking up her current post on the Michigan Supreme Court, Larsen served on the faculty of the University of Michigan Law School. She also served as deputy assistant attorney general in the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Legal Counsel, and clerked for David B. Sentelle of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, and for former Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia in the U.S. Supreme Court.
LANSING, MI - Health officials fear a spike in the number of hepatitis A cases means the sometimes-fatal disease could be spreading beyond southeast Michigan.

This week, the state's Health and Human Services department announced it had activated an emergency center to coordinate services and track the spread of this highly-contagious disease as the numbers continue to grow.

Since August 2016, there have been 457 confirmed cases of hepatitis A - including 18 deaths. These have occurred in Huron, Ingham, Lapeer, Livingston, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, Sanilac, St. Clair, Washtenaw, and Wayne counties.

Of the confirmed cases, 85 percent of patients were hospitalized.

This week, new hepatitis cases were being investigated in Detroit in connection to two restaurants. Last month, another confirmed case in a Washtenaw County restaurant worker brought an alert from the health department there.

By creating an emergency center, state health officials in Lansing said they can better coordinate resources with local officials, health departments, hospitals and care providers.'

Hepatitis A is a disease that attacks the liver. The virus is found in the feces of those infected.

"You can get hepatitis A by eating contaminated food or water, during sex, or just by living with an infected person," the state's website says. "Illness can appear 15-50 days after exposure and you can be sick for several weeks."

Symptoms including abdominal pain, dark urine, yellowing of the skin or eyes, nausea, diarrhea, fever, joint pain, and pale-colored feces.

Health officials are urging people at high risk for contracting the disease to be vaccinated. This group includes those with a history of substance use, and men who have sex with men.

"No common sources of food, beverages, or drugs have been identified as a potential source of infection," the state said on the webpage where it updates the case tally each week. "Transmission appears to be through direct person-to-person spread and illicit drug use.

"Those with history of injection and non-injection drug use, homelessness or transient housing, and incarceration are thought to be at greater risk in this outbreak setting. Notably, this outbreak has had a high hospitalization rate."

State health officials offer these safety tips:
HILLSDALE, MI - As election results roll in from the Tuesday, Nov. 7 election, one group will be celebrating the results from 2016.

In honor of President Donald Trump's victory a year ago, the Michigan Trump Republicans are hosting a gathering at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Johnny T's Bistro, 173 E. South St., in Hillsdale.

The free event is open to all Trump supporters, but registration is requested in advance at MichiganTrumpRepublicans.com, according to a press release.

Besides free food, the event features four speakers - including Scott Hagerstrom, Michigan's director for Trump's 2016 campaign.

"The Trump message remains very strong in Michigan," said Diane Schindlbeck, a speaker at the event and a 2016 Republican National Convention delegate. "As Trump's strongest Michigan supporters, we know that the radical left and the political establishment will continue to attack our president and, frankly, those who support him."

Trump beat Hillary Clinton 14,095 to 4,799 in Hillsdale County in the Nov. 8, 2016 election. The margin wasn't much larger for the entire state of Michigan, where Trump outgained Clinton by 10,704 votes.

While the election is over, Michigan Trump Republicans was formed to keep up local support and "drain the swamp" locally as well as nationally, the release states.

"Trump's 'just being elected' would not be enough," Schindlbeck said in the release. "Our events bring together likeminded Trump supporters to hear what is really happening in Washington, D.C. Those who attend will learn how to defend Trump against these unwarranted attacks and will learn how to fight back."

Other speakers at the event include Grant Stobl and Meshawn Maddock. Go to the Michigan Trump Republicans website to find more events hosted by the group across the state.
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Adani Transmission today said it has completed acquisition of operational transmission assets of WRSS Schemes of Reliance Infra for Rs 1,000 crore.

In effect, its power-wheeling network crossed the 8,500 circuit km mark.

"Adani Transmission Ltd (ATL) attains a new milestone of 8,500 ckt kms (circuit kilometres) of transmission lines in operation by completing the acquisition of operational transmission assets of Western Region Strengthening System Schemes (WRSSS) - B and C of Reliance Infrastructure Limited (R-Infra)," an ATL statement said.

It further said ATL completed the acquisition of 100 per cent stake of WRTM and WRTG, with operational transmission lines aggregating 3,063 ckt kms, with a deal valuation of Rs 1,000 crore.

This acquisition, the company said, is in sync with the ATL strategy to enhance the value of its stakeholders through organic as well as inorganic growth.

Assets of ATL include 28 sub-stations with more than 16,200 MVA of transformation capacity across the country.

Recently, the company entered into a period of exclusivity with Reliance Infrastructure till January 15, 2018, for discussions on the proposed acquisition of the integrated business of generation, transmission, distribution and retail of power for Mumbai, subject to confirmatory diligence, definitive documentation and customary approvals.

In a separate statement, Reliance Infrastructure said, "Sale of WRSSS transmission business is complete with deal valued at nearly Rs 1,000 crore. The entire proceeds from the stake sale shall be utilised for debt reduction.
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Pursuant to Regulation 29 of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015 notice is hereby given that a Meeting of the Board of Directors of the Company is schedule to be held on Thursday November 09,2017 at 11.00 a.m. at the Registered Office of the Company. inter-alia, to consider and approve, the Unaudited Financial Results of the Company for the Quarter/Half Year ended September 30, 2017.Source : BSE

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1.Next meeting of the Board of Directors of the Company shall be held on Tuesday, the 14th November, 2017, to consider and approve, inter-alia, the matter related to the approval of the Un-Audited Financial Results for the 2nd quarter /half year ended on the 30th September, 2017 of the Financial Year 2017-18. This is being subjected to Limited Review by the Statutory Auditors of the Company.2.Trading window in respect of aforesaid meeting, shall remain closed for a period of 7 days prior to this scheduled Board Meeting and 48 hours thereafter i.e. from the 07th November, 2017 to 16th November, 2017 (both days inclusive) in terms of SEBI {Prohibition of Insider Trading} Regulations, 2015.Source : BSE

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We advise that a meeting of the Board of Directors of our Bank would be held on 7th November 2017, at Chennai, to consider and approve the Unaudited (Reviewed) Financial Results of the Bank for the Quarter ended 30th September 2017.



This intimation is given in compliance with Regulation 29 of SEBI (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015.



Please take the same on record.



At 11:24 hrs Indian Overseas Bank was quoting at Rs 25.90, up Rs 0.50, or 1.97 percent.

The share touched its 52-week high Rs 32.25 and 52-week low Rs 21.10 on 05 May, 2017 and 09 November, 2016, respectively.Currently, it is trading 19.69 percent below its 52-week high and 22.75 percent above its 52-week low.Market capitalisation stands at Rs 7,388.13 crore. Source : BSE

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Intimation of Board Meeting - to consider & approve the Un-audited Financial Results of the company for the quarter ended 30th September, 2017 on Friday, 10th November, 2017 at 02:00 p.m.Indo Asian Fin is in the Finance - Leasing & Hire Purchase sector. The current market capitalisation stands at Rs 3.16 crore.The company management includes Padham J Challani - Managing Director, N Subramanian - Director, Lakshmi Narashma Rao - Director, Swapna P Kochar - Woman Director. Source : BSE

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Ashwani Gujral of ashwanigujral.com told CNBC-TV18, "UPL is a sell with a stop loss of Rs 795, target of Rs 765 while Shipping Corporation of India is a buy with a stop loss of Rs 98, target of Rs 110."

"STC is a buy with a stop loss of Rs 199, target of Rs 214 and Vedanta is also a buy with a stop loss of Rs 336, target of Rs 352," he said.
HAVANA CITY, HAVANA, CUBA - 2015/09/12: Vintage wooden door with repaired old lock and rusty chain. (Photo by Roberto Machado Noa/LightRocket via Getty Images)

In yet another blow to shell companies, the corporate affairs ministry has directed state governments to list out properties owned by shell companies and take them under custody, the Business Standard reported.

The shell companies would be restricted from selling or transferring the said properties that will be in the district collectors custody.

According to the MCA, the shell companies own immovable properties and bank accounts in states where they do not have headquarters. The ministry has directed states to also find these bank accounts and take action against the firms under Section 250 of the Companies Act, the report said.

The Centre has also on it's part already asked banks for data on 200,000 companies and frozen their accounts.

MCA has told the banks that there were discrepancies in the data furnished by them on transactions by many companies during demonetisation period. It has asked the banks to resubmit the data to the authorities, the Serious Fraud Investigation Bureau (SFIO) and other investigative agencies.

MCA officials told BS that Maharashtra had the highest number of shell companies at 50,818 which were struck off by the Registrar of Companies. Maharashtra was followed by Delhi with 44,178 such companies and Tamil Nadu with 20,739.

The MCA had earlier debarred the directors of the identified shell companies from being directors in other companies as per the law.
Representative image

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Having spent more than two decades in the country and still unable to draw crowds has forced some of the biggest global car brands to switch to exports in a desperate bid to stay put in India.

General Motors, Ford and Volkswagen who have a meagre 5 percent share (all three combined) of Indias domestic car market were responsible for nearly 50 percent of the countrys exports of automobiles last year.

According to data shared by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), the share in exports of these three companies, who entered India between 1994 and 2007, has jumped nearly 10 times in the last five years.

All the three companies command a substantial chunk of the global car market including China and the US, two of the worlds biggest automobile market. However, they have failed to entice the Indian buyer despite several rounds of multi-crore investments and dozens of new launches.

General Motors (GM), one of worlds biggest car makers, became the first company in more than a decade to announce an exit from the Indian car market. The US company spent more than Rs 6,500 crore in setting up facilities and launching new models but failed to turn the local entity into a profitable unit.

GM was the earliest of foreign brands to enter the Indian market in the mid-1990s and has been loss-making ever since. However, the company said it will instead focus on growing exports from India. This has made GM the fifth largest exporter from India with a share of 12 percent last year whereas its share was zero just five years ago.

Similarly, Ford Motor Company has raced ahead of Hyundai to become the number one automobile exporter from India even as its domestic share remains negligible at just 3 percent. Ford entered India around the same time as General Motors but has invested more than Rs 10,000 crore in the country so far.

The US headquartered company, which has a share of 23 percent of Indias export car market, is yet to see profits locally. In a desperate move Ford is exploring possibilities of a collaboration with Mahindra & Mahindra in areas of products, technology, production and sales.

Having failed to move beyond Polo and Vento German giant Volkswagen (VW) has been stuck in the bottom end of the market for several years. While its domestic share stood at under 2 percent last year VW was the fourth largest exporter of cars with a share of 14 percent.

VW (along with Skoda) unsuccessfully tried to forge an alliance with Tata Motors to gain traction in the budget vehicle segments. VWs Europe-developed platforms were proving to be too expensive for the Indian market for mass market segments. Talks between the companies were called off due to lack of synergies.

Indias domestic car and utility vehicle (UV) market is controlled by Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai and Mahindra & Mahindra, who as of last year, had a combined share of 82 percent. However, their share in exports has declined to 37 percent compared to 71 percent five years ago.

While for Suzuki Motor Corporation India has become the largest market generating more than half of its global revenue, for Korean car brand Hyundai the story is not too different. India became the third biggest market after China and the US for Hyundai last year.

Hyundai started in India with a major focus on exports; however, overtime it shifted focus to domestic operations. Hyundais share in exports declined to 19 percent by close of last year from 50 percent five years ago.

Japanese giant Toyota, too, has increased its share of exports albeit marginally. It was one of the few companies to record a growth this year in exports even as the industry recorded a decline. Toyotas share grew to 2 percent in exports by end of September while its domestic share dipped to 4 percent.
Chennai-headquartered two-wheeler major TVS Motor will launch its much-awaited 310cc bike Akula  developed in collaboration with BMW  before March this year, a senior company executive said on Wednesday.

The Akula (codename) launch is running more than a year late  it was first committed for launch in 2015-16  and the bike will have more than half a dozen competitors, all falling in the 300-400cc engine range with a pricing between Rs 1.44 lakh-3.5 lakh.

The TVS Akula will compete against the Bajaj Dominar, Mahindra Mojo, KTM Duke 390, Yamaha R3 (yet to be launched), Benelli TNT 300, Benelli 302R, Kawasaki Ninja 300 and Royal Enfield Classic 350.

K Radhakrishnan, President and Chief Financial Officer at TVS Motors, said, We will have the product in H2 of this financial year.

TVS and BMW joined hands in 2013 to jointly develop sub-500cc bikes that would cater to India and global markets.

The first of a series which was supposed to be the Akula-class bikes, it was to be launched in the Indian market by October-November 2016. According to sources, however, the bike could not meet the quality and performance parameters of BMWs global standards.

This new TVS bike, which according to sources could be branded under the Apache umbrella, will be the most powerful production bike by TVS Motors. It is built using the same platform on which the BMW 310 GS is built. Exports of the BMW 310 GS started from India a few months ago.

Meanwhile, BMW was unable to erect standalone dealerships for the BMW 310GS in India which led to the delay in its retail launch. The German company has not yet given a timeline for the India launch. While TVS will most likely price its product in the sub-Rs 1.5 lakh price band, BMW is expected to play a premium game and price its bike slightly above Rs 2 lakh.

Further, TVS Motor also said that it will end the year with a capital expenditure of Rs 600 crore which will be exclusive of investments. Increase in production due to continued robust demand for the scooter range, new product additions and work on alternate fuels such as electric two-wheelers will entail investments.

The management also signaled that a price hike on its product range is on the cards, which is in line with the industry trend. Bajaj Auto, the countrys fourth largest two-wheeler maker, said that it will raise prices in January.

Some firmness in commodity prices is there. We might take a price increase in this quarter and the next quarter, added Radhakrishnan. The company raised prices by Rs 250 in September.

The TVS Jupiter automatic scooter is the countrys second largest-selling scooter behind the market leader Honda Activa. Apache is TVSs brand in the premium segment of motorcycles.
Demonetisation and GST have ruined the ease of doing business, Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi said today, seizing on a World Bank report that India had jumped 30 places on the 'ease of doing business' ranking.

Targeting Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, Gandhi said the "entire country will shout to say that there is no ease of doing business in India".

Resuming his campaign from Jambusar town of Bharuch district in Gujarat, where assembly elections are scheduled next month, Gandhi said at a public rally, "Yesterday Arun Jaitleyji said some foreign organisation has certified that India has considerably improved in ease of doing business."

Jaitley, he said, sits in his office and believes what foreigners say.

The finance minister, Gandhi added, should meet small and mid-sized businessman for five-10 minutes and ask if the ease of doing business had really improved.

"The entire country will shout and say ease of doing business is absent, you have destroyed it, your demonetisation and GST have ruined it," Gandhi said.

Earlier in the day, Gandhi had put put a tweet in Hindi, taking off from a famous Ghalib verse to say that Jaitley was deluding himself.

"Sabko maloom hai 'ease of doing business' ki haqeeqat, lekin khud ko khush rakhne ke liye 'Dr Jaitley' ye khayal achha hai (everybody knows the reality of ease of doing business, but this thought is good Dr Jaitley to keep yourself happy)."

According to the World Bank, India's rank on 'ease of doing business' scale has risen from 130 to 100 this year, helped by a slew of reforms in taxation, licensing, investor protection and bankruptcy resolution.

Addressing a press conference soon after the World Bank ranking was made public yesterday, Jaitley had said India is the only major country named for pursuing structural reforms.

"In 2014, we were 142nd and then (in) last two years, we improved to 131st and 130th. These are not generalised rankings. It happened in specific areas and they take tough parameters for that ranking," he had said.

The "highest jump" in ranking was possible as significant improvements in all the 10 judging parameters were made in last three-four years "so that it becomes easy to do business in India", Jaitley said.
India Economy

The government is working with the World Bank to recognise over 200 reforms that will help propel India into the top-50 bracket in ease of doing business, according to Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) secretary Ramesh Abhishek.

"We have already implemented 122 reforms this year, and are working with World Bank to recognise these. We will further initiate 90 more ease of doing business reforms this year," Abhishek told reporters on the sidelines of the CII Invest North conclave.

India yesterday jumped 30 places to rank 100th in the World Bank's 'ease of doing business' ranking, helped by a slew of reforms in taxation, licensing, investor protection and bankruptcy resolution.

"A jump of 30 positions in the World Bank rankings is extremely commendable. Now the aim is to move into the top-50 countries bracket," he added.

Abhishek said his department has already started meeting stakeholders and taking feedback from them on the reform measures taken by the government to improve business climate.

"This exercise has helped us a lot. This time we focused mainly on taking feedback from stakeholders. All nodal ministries were taking feedback," he said.

The Secretary also said the World Bank report has acknowledged that GST (Goods and Services Tax) is a substantial reform and "hopefully it will have a positive impact on the country's ranking next year".

He urged the states to address issues like inadequate infrastructure and inflexible labour policies to make them more competitive.

"States should invest in skilling and need to come up with policies for fixed term employment like the government has worked our for the apparel sector. We are also working on a similar package for leather and footwear sector," added Abhishek.
Indias Prime Minister Narendra Modi gestures as he addresses a gathering during a conference of start-up businesses in New Delhi, India, January 16, 2016. Indian Prime Minister Modi launched a number of initiatives on Saturday to support the country's start-ups, including a 100 billion rupee ($1.5 billion) fund and a string of tax breaks for both the companies and their investors. REUTERS/Adnan Abidi - RTX22ONI

India's 30-place jump on World Banks Ease of Doing Business report has invited both appreciation and astonishment.

The report, to which the government reacted with visible glee, comes at a time when the opposition has been criticising Centre's policies and has blamed it for causing a slowdown in the economy. The rankings, released on Tuesday evening, invited a plethora of reactions from Twitter- some good and some bad.

While some poked fun at not being able to digest the fact, others praised it with a pinch of salt.

Also Read: India jumps 30 places, breaks into top 100 of World Bank's Ease of Doing Business rankings

Despite the cheer, the news continued to draw flak on Twitter from BJP's political opponents.



'#EaseofDoingBusiness' has become 'Cease of Doing Business'.Reports showcased by spin doctor FM Jaitley ji will not change reality on ground pic.twitter.com/Vh2QhsqJes

 Randeep S Surjewala (@rssurjewala) October 31, 2017

Earlier today, Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala pointed out that reports presented by "spin doctor" Jaitley would not change the reality driven by "disastrous" demonetisation and "failed" goods and services tax (GST).

Surjewala further went on to say that say that "Jaitley has proved to be the worst FM in India's history" and blamed him for "hiding behind the World Bank reports".

Here's how Rahul Gandhi and other Congress leaders responded to the news on Twitter:



   ease of doing business  , 

      "Dr Jaitley"      Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) November 1, 2017



India at 100 of 190 countries in Ease of Doing Business .

India at 100 of 119 countries in the Global Hunger Index . Deal with hunger too .  Kapil Sibal (@KapilSibal) November 1, 2017



'Misinform', 'Non-Perform' and 'Multiple GST Forms' are the guiding mantras of your Govt. Forget "Ease", where is the "Business", Modi ji? https://t.co/GR8Ld4F2Rp  Randeep S Surjewala (@rssurjewala) October 31, 2017



Ease of doing business is only for Jay Shah-zada, for everyone else it's erasing business. Gaurav Pandhi (@GauravPandhi) November 1, 2017



If India has dramatically improved on the Ease of Doing Business Index-Why is no one doing business?Why are other economic indicators in1/2  Manish Tewari (@ManishTewari) November 1, 2017





2/2 a free fall? Why is economy up a creek without a Paddle?Ans- Social Disharmony & Economic Development do not go hand in hand?Money is a

 Manish Tewari (@ManishTewari) November 1, 2017



3/3 is a COWARD. It finds the Safest harbour.In 41 months india has become unattractive destination for even domestic investment forget FDI  Manish Tewari (@ManishTewari) November 1, 2017



Congrats India for better ease of doing business ranking! But data shows cease of doing business got a bigger jump because of Modinomics pic.twitter.com/USNJmDJuyp Priyanka Chaturvedi (@priyankac19) October 31, 2017

The news created a flutter on Twitter that prompted opinions from other leaders and thinkers:



Ease of Doing Business rises 16,000 times, but only for chosen few. Rest of India is out of business courtesy #Demonetisation #GST #JobLoss  Sitaram Yechury (@SitaramYechury) November 1, 2017





Big improvement in Indias ranking in World Bank Ease of Doing Business Report.Clear recognition of structural & admin reforms undertaken.  Shaktikanta Das (@DasShaktikanta) October 31, 2017





New bankruptcy law allows Corporations to siphon out money, declare bankruptcy& get away. Is this ease of doing business or ease of looting?  Prashant Bhushan (@pbhushan1) November 1, 2017





What an irony ! Press conference is about ease of doing business on a day when most of the businesses are crippling under pressures. Wow !  CA. Ashish R. Pai (@AshishRPai) October 31, 2017



Beyond Political ideologies one needs to appreciate the jump of 30 places in the "Ease of Doing Business Index" by the World Bank great news Tehseen Poonawalla (@tehseenp) October 31, 2017

Genuine improvement in our ranking for Ease of Doing Business? Probably not! But wed definitely top the ranking in Ease of Fooling Voters!  Sanjiv Bhatt (IPS) (@sanjivbhatt) November 1, 2017

Also Read: Three key reasons why India galloped on Ease of Doing Business ranking

Many others have also criticised the ranking system of the World Bank that assessed only two cities- Delhi and Mumbai.



Also it is being said data only for Del/Mum. Perhaps India needs its own wider survey rather than @WorldBank certificate. https://t.co/FQ7h8LvmZp  K. C. Singh (@ambkcsingh) November 1, 2017



India jumping to 100th position in Ease of Doing Business ranking is good news. But ranking takes only Mumbai and Delhi into account. Vivek (@kaul_vivek) October 31, 2017

As a rebuttal, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley stated that there were other tough parameters under which the assessment does not move unless impact on the ground was visible.

Also Read: Jump in rankings is highest any country has ever made, says FM Arun Jaitley



Improvement in overall ranking of #EoDB 2018 is not only proof 4 reform but also slap on faces of people trying to blame govt unnecessary  nitin verma (@AjayNitin) November 1, 2017

The government hopes that GST alone would drive India to an even better ranking next year.
India and Cuba have discussed ways to explore bilateral business opportunities and tap the huge investment potential in Latin America, the commerce ministry said today.

Commerce and Industry Minister Suresh Prabhu was on a visit to Cuba from October 28-31.

The visit was aimed at exploring "opportunities to tap the huge untapped potential, for not only bilateral trade but also investment in the Latin American and Caribbean regions", the ministry said in a statement.

The ministry said it has been the strategy to pursue new markets to expand India's trade footprint and targets to double trade with the Latin American and Caribbean region in the next 4-5 years.

Trade India and Cuba was USD 43.10 million in 2016-17 as against USD 55.64 million in the previous fiscal. Between India and Latin America, it stood at USD 14.27 billion in 2016-17 as against USD 14.6 billion in the previous fiscal. With the Caribbean region, India's bilateral trade stood at USD 1.75 billion in 2016-17.

The minister met top leadership in Cuba including the First Vice President Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez Mario, Vice President and Minister of Economic Affairs Ricardo Cabrisas Ruiz and Minister of Foreign Trade and Investment Rodrigo Malmierca Diaz.

Further, an MoU was signed between the Federation of Indian Exporters Organisation (FIEO) and the Cuban Chamber of Commerce.

The MoU prioritises six sectors to increase bilateral trade and investments -- pharmaceuticals, tourism, renewable energy, bio-technology, sugar and infrastructure.
Men sit under a banner carrying a portrait of chief of India's Congress party Sonia Gandhi outside the Congress office in New Delhi May 16, 2014. Counting of votes began on Friday after India's mammoth election, which could usher in the most profound economic change in a generation if opposition leader Narendra Modi wins a clear mandate for his agenda to revive growth and create jobs. REUTERS/Adnan Abidi (INDIA - Tags: POLITICS ELECTIONS) - RTR3PEHK

The Congress said Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "policy adventurism" and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley's "adhocism" have caused economic misery and that the jump in India's ranking in the World Bank's latest 'ease of doing business' would not change the reality.

Terming Jaitley the "worst finance minister" of the country, Congress's chief spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said that reports presented by "spin doctor" Jaitley would not change the reality driven by "disastrous" demonetisation and "failed" goods and services tax (GST).

The Congress said "ease of doing business" has become "cease of doing business" for micro, small and medium enterprises under the Modi government.

As per the World Bank's doing business report 2018, India's rank improved to 100th from 130th last year out of 190 countries.

Jaitley said that India was the only major country named for taking structural reform in the World Bank's report. He said the biggest jump India got in the ease of doing business was on taxation reforms, and added that taking India into the top 50 countries on ease of doing business ranking was doable.

"The prime minister's policy adventurism coupled with the adhocism of his finance minister to deliver has caused widespread economic misery and distress.

"With great responsibility, we would like to say that Jaitley has proved to be the worst FM in India's history. Hiding behind the World Bank reports will not alter this grim reality," Surjewala said in a statement.

Having "failed" India's economy by sheer adhocism and inexperience, the BJP government is allegedly clutching at straws to stay afloat as it sinks the economy and hurts trade and businesses, he added.

"The hurriedly convened press conference by the finance minister today to seek 'manufactured relevance' from the report evidences the actual distance from ground realities and suffering of people of India," he added.

Surjewala further accused the BJP-led NDA government of living in a 'make-believe cuckoo world' as it is blinded by blinkers of 'achhe din' (good days) and is allegedly unable to see, feel, judge or address India's pain.

He suggested that instead of relying upon 'rankings' and 'rhetoric', the finance minister should go to the ground and the reality will "starkly stare in his face".

The Congress leader noted that private investment is in "dire" straits, 'Make in India' is "completely floundering", exports are plunging, credit growth is at a 63-year-old low and inequality is highest in 100 years.

"Crores of job losses in the informal sector have resulted in a 'cease of doing small businesses'. All this is due to the prime minister's personal adventurism in policy- making. The double whammy of demonetisation and GST has wreaked havoc for the economy," he charged.

Surjewala claimed that the rankings do not take into account the "utterly flawed" implementation of the GST. The cut-off date for implementing any reforms for the said study was June 1, while the GST was imposed on July 1.

"'Misinform', 'Non-Perform' and 'Multiple GST Forms' are the guiding mantras of your Govt. Forget "Ease", where is the "Business", Modi ji?," Surjewala tweeted.

His response came to Modi's tweet, saying, "Guided by the Mantra of 'Reform, Perform and Transform' we are determined to further improve our rankings and scale greater economic growth."

Surjewala said that the inherent flaws in the design, architecture and rates of the GST have crippled micro, small and businesses, stunted the economy and has led to insurmountable job losses.

"The Modi government has achieved a notorious reputation for rapacious tax inspectors exercising draconian new powers of search and seizure resulting in 'tax terrorism'. Predictably, this has sent a chill through the business community and no 'ease of doing business' is visible there," he added.

Surjewala also accused Jaitley of missing important facts about India's economy such as the GDP growth rate falling for six straight quarters. The International Monetary Fund expects the economy to grow 6.7% this year -- slower than China, he said.

He also sought to know who is accountable for the "over 3.72 crore" job losses on account of demonetisation and shutting down of 680 start-ups.

"BJP Govt has set new records in falling exports. Share of exports in GDP has fallen a 14-year low. Private investment is stagnant," he said.
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Even as business gets easy in India, banks, especially private sector banks, disclose divergences in non-performing assets (NPAs), for the FY17. This raises questions on the auditors and the banks' management with regards to their assessment of stress in their loan books.

Private sector banks including HDFC Bank, Axis Bank and Yes Bank reported cumulative divergences of Rs 12,000 crore after the Reserve Bank of India asked to make disclosures in classifying select accounts as NPAs as per its inspection, which earlier were not classified by the bank.

It is prescribed that such a disclosure is mandated when the divergence is more than 15 percent.

As per a senior partner at Deloitte, one of the top global audit, consulting and financial advisory firms, "In cases of divergences, prudential norms also have an aspect which says that the RBI auditor believes that the asset is non-performing based on qualitative aspects. This can be due to deterioration of the security value, change in business conditions, delay in cash flows vs what was submitted in the project at the time of lending, etc. RBI maybe goes through the root-cause analysis which the banks may not have done."

This is the second time in a row that the RBI pointed out differences in asset classification and provisioning in its annual risk-based supervision. In FY16, most divergences were reported by private sector banks, while public sector banks did not require any additional disclosures.

For FY16, the top three banks had reported divergences worth Rs 18,760 crore -- ICICI Bank (divergence of Rs 5,105 crore), Axis Bank (Rs 9,478 crore) and Yes Bank (Rs 4,177 crore).

For ICICI Bank, RBI's inspection report for FY17 on divergences is yet to be communicated.

SS Mundra, former banker-turned Deputy Governor at RBI said, "Sometimes, it is quite possible that NPAs may be recognised in one bank and not at another. At times, when the RBI is inspecting, the availability of information is slightly better than the bank auditors and also the timeline is better. There are also interpretation issues. However, this should account for a limited difference."

According to him, there should be a dialogue between the auditors and the regulator. "I think there is a need for people to get sensitive about it. The framework has been put in place in the last two years, so there may be genuine reasons that some parties (banks or auditors) may not be clear. Now that two cycles are over, the bank Board, auditors must pick these up and engage in discussions with the management and the RBI. I would prefer more engagement than judge that as a misconduct on the part of auditors."

Bank disclosures

Last week, mid-sized private lender Yes Bank had reported divergences of Rs 6,355 crore in classification of NPAs as detected by the RBI for the FY17.

Prior to that, Axis Bank disclosed Rs 5,633 crore worth of divergences in its gross NPAs after the RBI inspection.

HDFC Bank has not disclosed the amount a day after it announced its results, was asked by the banking regulator to classify one account as NPA.

Rana Kapoor, MD and CEO of the bank, called it a temporary setback on asset quality and said that more than 80 percent of the accounts are meeting the standard accounting norms and 47 percent of it has been upgraded. The bank has absorbed the full impact of the divergence in the second quarter itself.

Jairam Sridharan, CFO of Axis Bank said, We estimate the divergence related accounts to consume 40 bps of credit costs for the full year. Incorporating this impact, we are updating our credit cost guidance to 220-260 bps for this financial year as against earlier guidance of 175-200 bps.

According to reports, in the coming days, the RBI may question the provisioning methodology and NPA figures arrived at by auditors of the banks.

However, in defense, an auditor said, "The first estimates (of classification) are made by the banks management while the auditor only plays the role of reviewing those estimates and taking the judgment of reasonableness of that decision. Most cases, there are also bilateral arrangements with the lenders and the peculiar aspects give a difference assessment which the third party may not know."

The divergence could also be driven by new accounting standards, as India has transitioned its accounting standards from GAAP to Ind-AS, starting April 1, 2016; to be on par with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS).

This comes at a time when the credit growth is at its lowest in over five years. RBIs latest data shows that banks' gross credit as on September end this year grew only 4.2 percent over September last years growth of 11.5 percent. Lending to the industry (micro, small, medium and large) de-grew by (-0.4) percent.

"This is not a systemic issue. It is an individual bank issueIn every country, there is a review of the asset classification done by the auditors. So, if your assumption is true that the auditor who audited a bank wrongly classified an asset, that auditor should be disqualified," said YV Reddy, former Governor of RBI, a a recent event.
Ahmedabad: Finance Minister Arun Jaitley addresses a round table conference on Global Growth Through Indian Economy in Ahmedabad on Tuesday. PTI Photo(PTI5_23_2017_000170B)

Proposals from state-owned lenders for in-principle approval to formulate schemes of amalgamation will be placed before the Alternative Mechanism (AM) for consolidation of the banks, the government said today.

The AM panel is headed by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.

"A report on the proposals cleared by Alternative Mechanism will be sent to the Cabinet every three months," the finance ministry said in a statement.

It said the AM, which will receive inputs from the Reserve Bank before according in-principle approvals, may also direct banks to examine proposals for amalgamation.

The other members of the AM panel are Minister of Railways and Coal Piyush Goyal and Minister of Defence Nirmala Sitharaman.

The AM would devise its own procedure for appraisal of amalgamation proposals by banks, and be guided overall by the objectives of the Nationalisation Acts [Banking Companies (Acquisition and Transfer of Undertakings) Acts, 1970 and 1980].

The statement further said that the "Final Schemes" formulated will be approved by the central government, and laid in both the Houses of Parliament.

While announcing the unprecedented Rs 2.11 lakh crore capital infusion roadmap for the public sector banks last month, Jaitley had said, this will be accompanied by a series of banking reforms over the next few months.

The constitution of AM is a movement in that direction.

The Union Cabinet in August had decided to set up an Alternative Mechanism to fast track consolidation among public sector banks to create strong lenders.

The move to create large banks aims at meeting the credit needs of the growing Indian economy and building capacity in the PSB space to raise resources without dependence on the state exchequer.
Online education firm UpGrad announced an online education collaboration with the Executive Education division of Cambridge Judge Business School. With this, UpGrad also announced its international expansion into South East Asia (SEA) & Middle Eastern markets and has earmarked Rs 200 crore for the same.

With a focus on upskilling business professionals in digital marketing strategies, the programme will combine Cambridge Judge Business Schools faculty along with experts and select corporate partners from local markets. The first batch will launch by January 2018.

To be the first partner for Cambridge Judge Business School in Asia is a strong step forward in our journey. The association is a strong validation that online education is not just the future, but also the present, said Ronnie Screwvala & Mayank Kumar, Co-Founders, UpGrad.

UpGrad will also be marking its first international expansion into Singapore & Dubai, supporting the Company's strategic business decision and global growth strategy.

Kishore Sengupta, Director Executive Education, Cambridge Judge Business School said that together they will bring quality online education to the emerging markets.

With respect to the expansion plan, Screwvala and Kumar, Co-Founders, UpGrad, said that after being the only online education company having upgraded over 170,000 professionals in the country, venturing into international markets was the next logical step for them.

With +400,000 marketing professionals across SEA and Middle Eastern Markets who require upskilling and an Executive Education market size of 110m, these markets are an attractive avenue for UpGrad to develop the next breed of digital leaders and a key starting point for our international expansion strategy, they said in a statement.
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The government today approved the sale of its entire 73.47 per cent stake in Dredging Corporation of India Ltd (DCI), official sources said.

The Cabinet has approved DCI disinvestment, official sources said after the Cabinet meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

They said the Cabinet has approved the sale of government's entire 73.47 per cent stake in the company which could fetch about Rs 1,400 crore to the exchequer.

The dredging company is under the administrative control of the shipping ministry.

It is involved in maintenance dredging, capital dredging, beach nourishment, land reclamation, shallow water dredging, project management consultancy and marine construction.

A core group of secretaries on disinvestment, headed by the Cabinet Secretary, had already approved the sale of DCI.

The government think tank Niti Aayog too had favoured disinvestment.

The government currently holds 73.47 per cent stake in DCI. At the current stock market prices, sale of this stake would fetch about Rs 1,400 crore to the exchequer.

The DCI stock was trading 20 per cent up at Rs 669.95 on BSE in the afternoon.
The logo of Hyundai Motor Co. is seen on a wheel of a car at a Hyundai dealership in Seoul January 22, 2015. South Korea's Hyundai Motor Co on Thursday reported a fourth straight quarterly profit decline, pulled down by a plunge in the Russian rouble and increased buying incentives in the United States. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji (SOUTH KOREA - Tags: TRANSPORT BUSINESS LOGO) - RTR4MEH9

Hyundai Motor India Ltd (HMIL) today reported a marginal decline in domestic sales at 49,588 units in October.

The company had sold 50,017 units in October 2016, HMIL said in a statement.

HMIL Director, Sales and Marketing, Rakesh Srivastava said the company's October sales were driven by its popular models such as Grand i10, Elite i20 and Creta. Besides, the newly-launched Verna received strong customer response with over 20,000 cumulative bookings and 1.5 lakh enquiries, he added.
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Footwear maker Khadim India is going to open its Rs 543-crore initial public offering for subscription on November 2, with a price band of Rs 745-750 per share.

Equity shares are proposed to be listed on the National Stock Exchange of India and BSE Limited. Axis Capital and IDFC Bank are the book running lead managers to the offer.

The issue will close on November 6, 2017.

Here are 10 things one should know before investing in IPO:-

About the issue

The IPO comprises of fresh issue of aggregating up to Rs 50 crore and an offer for sale of up to 65,74,093 equity shares.

The offer for sale comprises of up to 7,22,000 shares by promoter Siddhartha Roy Burman and 58,52,093 shares by Fairwinds Trustees Services Private Limited (acting in its capacity as trustee to Reliance Alternative Investments Fund  Private Equity Scheme  I).

Bids can be made for minimum 20 equity shares and in multiples of 20 shares thereafter.

The footwear maker is expected to raise Rs 539.77-543 crore through the issue.

Objects of issue

Khadim India will use its fresh issue proceeds towards repayment of all or a portion of term loans and working capital facilities (Rs 40 crore); and for general corporate purposes.

The company will not receive any proceeds from the offer for sale.

Company Profile

Incorporated in 1981, Khadim India is the second largest footwear retailer in India in terms of number of exclusive retail stores operating under the 'Khadims' brand, with the largest presence in East India and one of the top three players in South India, in fiscal 2016.

KIL also had the largest footwear retail franchisee network in India in fiscal 2016, as per Technopak Report.

The company operates through two distinct business verticals, retail and distribution, each with its predominantly own customer base, sale channels and product range.

As of June 2017, KIL operated 853 Khadims branded exclusive retail stores (of which 168 are company owned and operated outlets and rest are franchises) across 23 states and one union territory in India, through their retail business vertical. Further, it had a network of 377 distributors in the three month period ended June 2017 in distribution business vertical.

Retail business contributed 73.48 percent to net revenue and distribution segment 21.68 percent in year ended March 2017.

The company has not paid any dividend in last four financial years.

Brands

Presently, along with Khadim's brand, the company also promotes nine sub-brands with varied product offerings and merchandise category.

Strengths

The company believes the following are its key strengths:-

> A leading footwear brand, offering affordable fashion across various price segments

> Strong design capabilities to maintain seasonal trends and leading premiumisation through sub-brands

> Two-pronged market strategy that straddles efficiently across retail and distribution models

> Extensive geographical reach and penetration across East and South India

> Asset light model leading to higher operating leverage

> Experienced promoters supported by professionally qualified, experienced and entrepreneurial management team

Financials

Promoter

Siddhartha Roy Burman is the Chairman and Managing Director and is individual promoter of company. He holds a bachelors degree in commerce from the University of Calcutta.

He is responsible for the overall strategic decision making of company and provides leadership to all operations. He has 34 years of experience in the footwear industry.

Shareholding

Details of equity shareholding of largest shareholders of the company:-

Management

Board of directors of the company:-

Management Organisation Chart:-

Risks and Concerns

Here are some key risks and concerns highlighted by brokerage houses:-

> KIL's around 67 percent revenue comes from East geography mainly from Kolkata, which poses geographical concentration risk for the company;

> Default in payment from franchisee operated stores or distributors;

> Being unable to obtain sufficient quantities or desired quality of finished products from outsourced vendors in a timely manner or at acceptable prices;

> Failure to anticipate and respond to changes in fashion trends and consumer preferences in a timely manner;

> The company depends on third parties for a major portion of company transportation needs. Any disruptions may adversely affect company operations, profitability, reputation and market position;

> If the company is unable to obtain employees on contract or at commercially attractive costs, its business may get adversely affected;

> Any inability to increase market share in premium products may have an adverse effect on prospect of the company;

> Despite consumption business, the company had reported huge losses in FY2015.

Source for image: RHP, Company's Presentation
Listed companies seeking the market regulator's approval for issuing a rights offering continue to face a long wait despite recent efforts from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) to address the problem.

On an average, SEBI currently takes between two and three months to approve a company's proposal for a rights issue. This is an improvement from the waiting period of three to six months a year ago.

"In the last few months, the average time for approval has come down from 120 days to 80 days. But the duration is still too long," said a merchant banker.

At the regulator's regional offices, approvals still take more than six months.

"It's easier to get approvals for an IPO than for a rights issue. It gets more difficult when approval is sought from regional offices," said a merchant banker on the condition of anonymity.

Foe example, Sumeet Industries filed a draft offer letter with SEBI on July 21 while Shalimar Paints filed a proposal for a rights issue on June 29. Both companies are still awaiting approval.

As of October, 15 companies had announced rights offerings this year, with approvals taking considerable time to materialise.

IPOs, too, take time but companies are now getting their DRHPs approved in 45 days, an improvement from 60 days earlier.

Last year, the regulator took 65-70 days on an average to grant approvals. "This year the time-frame has come down to 40-45 days. However, there has been no major change in the timeline for clearing rights issues," said another merchant banker who did not wish to be named.

According to a source, approving a rights issue is easier since the companies involved are listed and already under the purview of SEBI.

A source working at the regulator said the problem will be resolved soon.

"Earlier, there were complaints of delays in approving IPOs. However, the situation has significantly improved in the last six to seven months."
It was a spectacular session for the market on Wednesday as equity benchmarks ended at fresh record closing high, driven by banks stocks after the World Bank raised India ranking in ease of doing business index.

Positive global cues, September infrastructure output data and better Bharti Airtel's earnings also lifted sentiment. Investors focussed on corporate earnings and the outcome of FOMC meeting tonight.

The 30-share BSE Sensex rallied 387.14 points or 1.17 percent to 33,600.27 and the 50-share NSE Nifty rose 105.20 points or 1.02 percent to 10,440.50, after hitting an intraday record highs of 33,651.52 and 10,451.65, respectively.

"We're in sync with the global markets at present and favorable domestic cues are further fueling the rally. Banking did exceptionally well today and we feel that it will maintain this momentum," Jayant Manglik, President, Retail Distribution, Religare Securities said.

Nikhil Kamath, Co-Founder and Head of Trading, Zerodha expects the indices to continue this bull run for a considerable amount of time.

"We see short-term support being placed now at 10,300 on the Nifty and only a close below will change the course of direction. Upside resistance in Nifty is at 10,520-10,600," Mustafa Nadeem, CEO, Epic Research said.

Global markets edged higher today as investors focussed on earnings reports and ahead of FOMC meet outcome. Majority of analysts don't expect any rate hike. Japan's Nikkei, Hong Kong's Hang Seng and South Korea's Kospi ended 1-2 percent higher.

Back home, the World Bank increased India's ranking to 100th place in Ease of Doing Business rankings, from 130th place last year after the string of reforms implemented by the Narendra Modi government.

Infrastructure output in September grew 5.2 percent from a year ago.

The broader markets underperformed benchmarks as the Nifty Midcap and Smallcap indices gained 0.55 percent each. The gap also narrowed between advances and declines as about 841 shares advanced against 716 declining shares.

Telecom operator Bharti Airtel was biggest gainer among Nifty 50 stocks, up 8.4 percent after better-than-expected Africa numbers and stable India mobile business in a tough quarter. CLSA has upgraded the stock to buy from underperform and raised target price to Rs 637 from Rs 430 per share. Idea Cellular also gained 6.6 percent.

Nifty PSU Bank gained most among sectoral indices, rising 3.7 percent while Nifty Bank gained 1.92 percent. Metal and FMCG indices gained over 1.5 percent whereas Pharma and IT fell around half a percent.

ICICI Bank and SBI rallied more than 4.4 percent. IndusInd Bank, Yes Bank and Axis Bank rose 1-2 percent while HDFC jumped 2.75 percent.

Auto sales were mixed. Tata Motors gained 2 percent, followed by M&M and Maruti Suzuki that ended with mild gains. Eicher Motors, TVS Motor, Ashok Leyland and Escorts were down 2-4 percent.

Vedanta, Reliance Industries, ITC, Hindalco and HUL among others climbed 1-3 percent whereas Bharti Infratel, Dr Reddy's Labs and HCL Technologies were down 2-4 percent.

After second quarter earnings, Tech Mahindra, Syndicate Bank, Godrej Consumer, Dabur India, Shriram Transport and VST Industries rallied 1-8 percent whereas TVS Motor and Blue Star fell 1-6 percent.

Dredging Corporation was locked at 20 percent upper circuit as sources told CNBC-TV18 that the government will dilute its entire stake in the company. Following which, SCI was up 11 percent and STC rallied 20 percent.
3:30 pm Market at Close: Benchmark indices ended the session on a strong note, with Nifty closing above 10400 first time ever.

The Sensex was up 387.14 points at 33600.27, while the Nifty was up 105.20 points at 10440.50. The market breadth was positive as 1515 shares advanced against a decline of 1274 shares, while 154 shares were unchanged.

Bharti Airtel, ICICI Bank, and SBI were the top gainers, while Dr Reddys Labs, Sun Pharma, Eicher Motors and Bharti Infratel lost the most.

3:25 pm Order Win: NBCC gained over a percent as the company bagged order worth Rs 400 crore in Mumbai.

3:22 pm Earnings: Software firm Tech Mahindra's second quarter earnings beat analyst expectations on Wednesday as profit grew by 4.7 percent sequentially (up 29.7 percent year-on-year) to Rs 836 crore, backed by operational performance.

"With our DAVID (digitisation, automation, verticalisation, innovation and disruption) strategy at play, we have posted reasonably good growth in the quarter across revenue, profit and new business," C P Gurnani, CEO and MD, Tech Mahindra said.

Numbers were ahead of estimates as profit was expected at Rs 740 crore on revenue of Rs 7,551 crore and dollar revenue at USD 1,173 million for the quarter, according to average of estimates of analysts polled by CNBC-TV18.

3:16 pm Management Interview: PK Gupta, MD, State Bank of India said the bank cut deposit rate by 25 basis points in most of the buckets.

He said the an asset-liability committee (ALCO) had met last week and looked at all the interest rates and decided to cut some deposit rates. MCLR has also cut 5 bps this month.

When asked if this could mean cuts on the lending side, he said they will automatically get translated.

The 25 basis points cut will further translate in marginal cost-based lending rates (MCLR) advantage going forward, he said. The cut in MCLR is based on the composition of entire deposit fund base and so, the cut could be anywhere between 5-10 bps but the bank will take decision on that next month, he added.

He does not expect much impact on margins due to retail-term deposit rate cut. The lending rate currently stands at 7.95 percent.

3:10 pm Results: JSW Energy has reported profit at Rs 297.2 crore for July-September quarter against CNBC-TV18 poll estimates of Rs 213 crore.

Revenue grew by 0.1 percent year-on-year to Rs 2,049 crore while operating profit margin stood at 43.1 percent against CNBC-TV18 poll estimates of 42.8 percent.

Other income grew sharply to Rs 170.5 crore in September quarter 2017, compared with Rs 51.6 crore in same quarter last fiscal.

3:04 pm Earnings Estimates: Two-wheeler maker Hero Motocorp's second quarter (July-September) profit is seen rising 3 percent year-on-year to Rs 1,035 crore, driven by revenue growth.

Revenue during the quarter may increase 12 percent to Rs 8,717 crore compared with same quarter last fiscal, aided by sales volume growth of 11 percent.

According to average of estimates of analysts polled by CNBC-TV18, operating profit is expected to increase 6 percent year-on-year to Rs 1,444 crore but margin may contract by 100 basis points to 16.6 percent for quarter ended September 2017.

Margin may be impacted by higher commodity cost.

2:59 pm Reforms: The government is working with the World Bank to recognise over 200 reforms that will help propel India into the top-50 bracket in ease of doing business, according to Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) secretary Ramesh Abhishek.

"We have already implemented 122 reforms this year, and are working with World Bank to recognise these. We will further initiate 90 more ease of doing business reforms this year," Abhishek told reporters on the sidelines of the CII Invest North conclave.

India yesterday jumped 30 places to rank 100th in the World Bank's 'ease of doing business' ranking, helped by a slew of reforms in taxation, licensing, investor protection and bankruptcy resolution.

"A jump of 30 positions in the World Bank rankings is extremely commendable. Now the aim is to move into the top-50 countries bracket," he added.

2:53 pm Ethanol price: The government today marginally raised the price of sugarcane-extracted ethanol used for blending in petrol by a little less than Rs 2 per litre to Rs 40.85 from the supply year beginning December 1.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the revision in the price of ethanol paid by state-owned fuel retailers to Rs 40.85 per litre for sugar season 2017-18, an official statement said.

GST and transportation charges will also be payable additionally. The revised price will be applicable during ethanol supply period from December 1, 2017 to November 30, 2018.

2:43 pm Fund raising: Mahindra & Mahindra Financial Services share price gained 2 percent intraday as promoter company is going to invest up to Rs 1,160 crore.

Parent company Mahindra and Mahindra inform exchanges that it has approved investment of an amount not exceeding Rs 1,160 crore, in one or more tranches in the aggregate, by way of subscribing to the preferential issue of equity shares of MMFSL.

Earlier Mahindra & Mahindra Financial Services (MMFSL) intimated the stock exchanges that its board of directors had approved raising of funds by way of issue of equity shares/securities convertible in to equity shares by way of qualified institutional placement and issue of equity shares by way of preferential issue to the company.

2:37 pm Europe trade: European stocks edged higher, despite a terrorist attack in New York, as investors focused on earnings reports.

The pan-European Stoxx 600 was 0.4 percent higher with almost all sectors trading in positive territory.

2:35 pm Buzzing: Shares of multiple portal operator, Info Edge, gained 6 percent intraday following the announcements of its quarterly results. Multiple brokerages also were positive on the stocks prospects.

Credit Suisse maintained an outperform rating on the stock with a hiked target of Rs 1,300. It highlighted that the company continues to be a dominant player in recruitment, which has attractive cash flow.

Its restaurant listings portal Zomato could continue to aggressively focus on growth, it added. The company also expects lower losses for 99 acres.

It increased earnings estimates by 2-8 percent for the three financial till March 2020, reflecting higher margins in recruitment, but sees ad costs to increase in 99 Acres.

2:30 pm Results: Shriram Transport share price hit a fresh 52-week high of Rs 1,211.50 on the BSE, rising nearly 4 percent post earnings.

Net profit increased 24 percent year-on-year to Rs 479.1 crore and revenue grew by 9.8 percent to Rs 2,978.9 crore in quarter ended September 2017.

2:25 pm Market Check: Equity benchmarks continued to trade strong in afternoon after the World Bank raised India ranking to 100th place from 130th place in ease of doing business and India's annual infrastructure output in September grew 5.2 percent from a year ago.

The 30-share BSE Sensex surged 400.08 points or 1.20 percent to 33,613.21 and the 50-share NSE Nifty gained 100.10 points or 0.97 percent at 10,435.40.

About 1,496 shares advanced against 1,113 declining shares on the BSE.

PSU Bank index rallied 3 percent and Nifty Bank index jumped nearly 2 percent.

IDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, SBI, Axis Bank, Bank of Baroda and Yes Bank gained 1-8 percent.

2:22 pm Fundraising: Indian firms raised Rs 5.52 lakh crore in January-September 2017 through private placement of corporate bonds to meet business needs, a surge of 19 percent from year-ago period, according to a Prime Database report.

These funds have been raised mainly for expansion of business plans, repayment of debt and to support working capital requirements.

In debt private placements, firms issue securities or bonds to institutional investors to raise capital.

According to the report, a total of 569 institutions and corporates garnered Rs 5.52 lakh crore in the first nine months of the year. In comparison, firms had raised Rs 4.65 lakh crore in January-September 2016.

2:20 pm Auto sales: Home-grown auto major Tata Motors today reported a 5 percent increase in total sales at 48,886 units in October.

The company had sold 46,500 units in the same month last year, Tata Motors said in a statement.

Its domestic sales of commercial vehicles last month stood at 32,411 units as against 30,189 in October 2016, up 7 percent.

Sales of passenger vehicles in the domestic market grew by 1 percent year on year to 16,475 units last month.

On the exports front, Tata Motors said its overseas shipments last month were at 4,311 units, down 32 percent YoY.

2:15 pm Order Win: Premier Explosives share price gained nearly 5 percent on bagging order worth Rs 144.92 crore from Coal India.

2:10 pm Auto sales: Ashok Leyland's October sales disappointed Street on Wednesday, growing 3 percent year-on-year due to degrowth in medium and heavy commercial vehicle M&HCV) segment.

Country's second largest commercial vehicle maker sold 12,914 units in October 2017 against 12,534 units in same month last year.

According to CNBC-TV18 poll estimates, sales were estimated at 13,726 units for October month.

Ashok Leyland said M&HCV sales during the month declined 5 percent to 9,110 units while light commercial vehicle sales grew sharply by 29 percent to 3,804 units compared with corresponding month.

2:02 pm IDFC on Shankara Pro: Shankara Building Products gained around 4 percent intraday as IDFC Securities initiated outperform rating on the stock with a target of Rs 1,786.

The brokerage highlighted how the company successfully evolved into an integrated home improvement retailer and said that shift to organised retail will accelerate with implementation of GST.

The broking firm also said that the company is best positioned to tap the massive USD 70 billion home improvement.

It also expects revenue, EBITDA and net profit to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 11 percent, 17 percent and 29 percent over the three financial years till March 2020, while the margin could improve by 100 basis points by March 2020.

2:00 pm Buzzing: Government official told CNBC-TV18 that the cabinet has approved special banking arrangement to pay outstanding subsidy to fertiliser companies.

1:55 pm Earnings: TVS Motors September quarter performance showed a steady growth in its net profit at Rs 213.2 crore, up 20.2 percent against Rs 177.4 crore during the same period last year. The number came in line with expectations of Rs 210 crore that was estimated by analysts polled by CNBC-TV18.

The two-wheeler manufacturers revenues grew 18.3 percent at Rs 4,052.4 crore against Rs 3,426.5 crore year on year.

On the operational front, the earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) came in at Rs 350.3 crore, up 26 percent against Rs 276.7 crore during the previous year. Meanwhile, the operating margin was reported at 8.6 percent against 8.1 percent year on year.

1:48 pm Subsidised LPG price hike: Oil marketing companies (IOC, BPCL and HPCL) has increased price of subsidised LPG by around Rs 4.56 per cylinder (with effect from November 01, 2017), which is in line with government strategy to eliminate LPG under-recoveries through monthly price hikes.

Sharekhan feels it is positive for upstream PSUs (ONGC and Oil India) as it removed the concern of subsidy burden given sharp rise in oil price to around USD 60 a barrel and neutral for oil marketing companies as they do not bear any subsidy on LPG.

1:38 pm Buzzing: Dredging Corporation share price hit 20 percent upper circuit after sources told CNBC-TV18 that the Cabinet has approved divesting entire stake in the company.

The Government of India holds 74.38 percent stake in Dredging Corporation.

1:25 pm Auto sales: Auto major Mahindra and Mahindra today reported 1.65 per cent decline in total sales at 51,149 units in October.

It had sold 52,008 units in the same month last year, M&M said in a statement.

In the domestic market, its sales grew marginally to 48,818 units last month compared to 48,729 in October 2016.

Exports declined by 28.91 per cent to 2,331 units in October against 3,279 units in the year-ago month.

1:00 pm Buzzing Stock: Shares of Syndicate Bank jumped over 14% after the lender reported a 27.68% jump in the July-September quarter profit. The state-owned bank had on Tuesday reported a 27.68% jump in the July-September quarter profit to Rs 105.24 crore on annual basis, notwithstanding the rise in bad loans.

The Manipal-headquartered bank had posted a profit of Rs 82.42 crore in the same quarter of the previous fiscal. Its total was income was Rs 6,419.21 in the second quarter of the current fiscal, down from Rs 6,574.93 crore in the comparable period of 2016-17.

Operating profit, however, increased to Rs 1,17,3.74 crore from Rs 1,016.54 crore in the year ago quarter.

12:42 pm Earnings: Godrej Consumer Products' second quarter earnings surpassed analysts' expectations on Wednesday as profit grew by 12.6 percent year-on-year to Rs 362 crore, driven by operational growth.

Revenue during the quarter increased 6.3 percent to Rs 2,506.6 crore compared with year-ago period, with domestic volume growth of 10 percent which was ahead of CNBC-TV18 poll estimates of 6-8 percent.

Domestic volume growth was 9 percent in second quarter of FY17 and zero percent in June quarter.

EBITDA (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation) grew by 13.8 percent year-on-year to Rs 531.8 croe and margin expanded 140 basis points to 21.2 percent for quarter ended September 2017.

12:25 pm IPO subscription: New India Assurance Company's Rs 9,600-crore IPO has been subscribed 90 percent on first day.

The reserved category of qualified institutional buyers has oversubscribed 1.8 times and retail 1 percent.

12:15 pm Fitch on RCom: The ratings on Reliance Communications and its subsidiary Global Cloud Xchange will be "unaffected" by the debt restructuring plan outlined by the company, according to Fitch Ratings.

Re-rating will happen after clarity on the execution of sale of its assets and the capital structure of the revamped entity, it added.

Earlier this week, billionaire Anil Ambani-led Reliance Communications said lenders will convert part of their debt to equity to gain 51 percent control of the company.

The debt-laden firm, which plans to shut mobile telephony business by November-end, will sell telecom tower and real estate businesses to pay off Rs 27,000 crore out of Rs 45,000 crore of loan on its books.

Rcom said it has made a comprehensive "debt resolution plan to its domestic and foreign lenders".

12:05 pm Escorts falls 2%: Phillip Capital has downgraded Escorts share price to neutral with target price at Rs 800 per share post earnings.

"The stock would languish in near-term as it enters a phase of slower tractor growth," the research house said.

12:01 pm Buzzing: Shares of JSW Steel gained 3 percent as company's Q2 net profit increased by 29.2 percent at Rs 836 crore against Rs 647 crore in a same quarter last year.

Revenue rose 28.1 percent at Rs 16,638 crore versus Rs 12,987 crore.

The operating profit (EBITDA) was up 6.1 percent at Rs 2,856 crore, while EBITDA margin was down 300 bps at 17.2 percent.

11:53 am Capital Infusion: Financial services firm IIFL Holdings today said its board has decided to infuse Rs 150 crore by way of additional equity capital into its broking subsidiary, India Infoline.

"The board at its meeting... decided to infuse Rs 150 crore by way of additional equity capital into India Infoline Ltd, the broking subsidiary of the company, to meet its business requirements," IIFL Holdings said in a BSE filing.

11:43 am Buzzing: Country's largest telecom operator Bharti Airtel's share price touched a fresh 10-year high on Wednesday, rising nearly 8 percent intraday after the stellar Africa business performance in September quarter. The rally was also fueled by hope of early sale of tower business.

The stock price hit an intraday high of Rs 536.05, the highest level since October 2007, on the Bombay Stock Exchange. It rallied 28 percent in October, after acquisition of consumer telecom business from Tata Teleservices and on hope of stabilisation in tariff rates. At 10:55 hours IST, it was quoting at Rs 530.35, up 6.57 percent.

CLSA has upgraded Bharti Airtel to buy from underperform and raised target price to Rs 637 from Rs 430 per share as consolidation & data have revived long-term growth.

11:34 am Market Update: Benchmark indices extended gains in late morning trade, backed majorly by banks and telecom stocks. The increase in India ranking by World Bank in ease of doing business boosted sentiment.

The 30-share BSE Sensex rallied 373.41 points or 1.12 percent to 33,586.54 and the 50-share NSE Nifty surged 97.60 points or 0.94 percent to 10,432.90.

About two shares advanced for every share falling on the BSE.

11:19 am Auto sales: Eicher Motors said Royal Enfield's sales increased 18 percent to 69,492 units in October, year-on-year.

Numbers were lower than a CNBC-TV18 poll estimates of 73,167 units.

Exports grew by 98 percent to 1,478 units on year-on-year basis.

11:05 am Rupee trade: The rupee today positively reacted to India's jump on Ease of Doing Business ranking by rising 15 paise to 64.59 against the dollar.

The World Bank's list was released yesterday. Banks and exporters liquidated their dollar bets and domestic stocks soared to new highs, which gave the rupee a leg-up, forex traders said.

However, the US currency's strength against other units had a sobering effect here, dealers said.

10:56 am Buzzing: Share price of Texmaco Rail and Engineering touched 52-week high of Rs 119.20, rising 3.5 percent in morning as it has bagged contact from Ministry of Railway, Bangladesh Government.

The company has been awarded a contract valuing USD 67.7 million by Ministry of Railway, Bangladesh Government.

The contract includes construction of 45 KM dual gauge railway line, including railway stations buildings, level crossing gates and a custom house building through north eastern border area in Maulavibazar district of Bangladesh adjoining Karimganj district of Assam state in India.

News Live: GIC, CPPIB may partner with Bain to buy 10% stake in Axis Bank

10:46 am Manufacturing PMI: Indian factory activity barely expanded in October as new orders fell, a survey showed today, as price rises following the introduction of a goods and services tax dragged on the economy and underscored dim growth prospects over coming months.

The Nikkei Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index, compiled by IHS Markit, fell to 50.3 last month from September's 51.2, marking its third month above the 50-point threshold that separates growth from contraction.

That was below all projections in a Reuters poll which had predicted a modest uptick to 51.5 and comes after another recent Reuters survey forecast India's economy will grow at its slowest pace in four years this fiscal year.

10:36 am Escorts in focus: Farm equipment manufacturer Escorts Agri Machinery today reported a 13.8 percent increase in its tractor sales at 10,205 units for October.

The company had sold 8,970 tractors in the same month a year ago.

Domestic tractor sales stood at 10,001 units as against 8,859 in October last year, up 12.9 per cent, Escorts Ltd said in a BSE filing.

Exports nearly doubled to 204 units from 111 in October 2016.

10:26 pm Auto sales: India's largest car maker Maruti Suzuki's October sales missed analyst expectations on Wednesday, rising 9.5 percent year-on-year. It was driven by compact cars (Dzire, Baleno etc) and utility vehicles (Vitara Brezza, Ertiga etc).

The company sold 1.46 lakh units in October 2017 against 1.34 lakh units in same month last year.

"Domestic sales during the month increased 9.9 percent to 1.36 lakh units and exports rose 4.2 percent to 10,446 units," Maruti said in its filing.

According to average of estimates of analysts polled by CNBC-TV18, total sales were estimated at 1.53 lakh units for the month.

10:15 am Merger: The board of directors of Reliance Communications yesterday approved the issuance of shares to the tune of 10 percent of the equity shareholding of Reliance Communications, to SSTL, as part of the agreement between the two companies.

Under the terms of the agreement between RCOM and Sistema, RCOM will acquire the telecommunications business of SSTL including its licenses. In addition, RCOM will acquire 30 MHz of the most valuable and superior 800 / 850 MHz band spectrum, ideally suited for 4G LTE services and other evolving technologies, to complement its own unique nationwide footprint.

This will result in extension of the validity of RCOMs spectrum portfolio in the 800 / 850 MHz band in eight important Circles (Delhi, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, Kolkata, UP-West and West Bengal) by a period of 12 yearsfrom 2021 to 2033.

10:05 am Market Update: Equity benchmarks extended gains in morning, with the Sensex rising more than 300 points after World Bank raised India ranking on ease of doing business. Investors also looked for more corporate earnings, auto sales data, and the outcome of FOMC meet due tonight.

The 30-share BSE Sensex rallied 333.62 points or 1 percent to 33,546.75 and the 50-share NSE Nifty rose 92.90 points or 0.90 percent to 10,428.20.

About three shares advanced for every share falling on the BSE. The BSE Midcap index was up 0.7 percent and Smallcap rallied 0.9 percent.

9:58 am Earnings Reaction: Shares of FMCG major Dabur India jumped over 6 percent in morning and hit a new 52-week high after the company reported a net profit of Rs 362.7 crore on Tuesday against investors expectation of Rs 369 crore.

Its revenues grew to Rs 1,959 crore against Rs 2,061 crore assumption by analysts.

At an operating level, the earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) was reported at Rs 420 crore, while the operating margin came in at 21.4 percent. The companys domestic volume growth beat expectations at 7.2 percent.

9:52 am Buzzing: Shares of Alembic Pharmaceuticals added nearly 2 percent in morning as it has completed the acquisition of US-based company Orit Laboratories.

The company through its 100 percent owned subsidiary, Alembic Pharmaceuticals Inc., has completed acquisition of West Caldwell, New Jersey USA based generic drug developer Orit Laboratories LLC along with real estate, owned by Okner Realty LLC.

Orit Laboratories has established in August 2005 having 7 approved ANDAs and 4 ANDAs pending approval.

9:42 am FII View: The Nifty50, which has already rallied over 26 percent to touch a fresh record high, is on its way to surpassing Mount 11,000 in the year 2018, which translates into an upside of over 11 percent.

Goldman Sachs in a note last week remained overweight on India and raised the target for Nifty from 10,900 in September 2018 to 11,600 by December 2018, which translates into an upside of 11.6 percent from current levels.

We reaffirmed our strategic overweight stance on India post the bank recap news and raised our Nifty target to 11,600 (by end-18). Within sectors, we raised PSU banks to overweight and highlighted 2 themes: 1) quality PSU/quasi-PSU banks; 2) infra-beneficiaries, it said.

The global investment bank favours PSU banks and infra beneficiaries. Goldman has a neutral rating on SBI and Bank of Baroda. It maintained a buy rating on ICICI Bank.

9:32 am Stake Sale: Telecom major Bharti Airtel said a few "reputed" global investors have approached it for buying a controlling stake in its mobile tower arm Bharti Infratel.

The telecom major, which holds 58 percent in Bharti Infratel through its another subsidiary, said that a committee of directors (COD) of Bharti Airtel is considering the proposal received from the global firms.

"Airtel has been approached by a few reputed global investors to acquire a significant stake in Bharti Infratel which, if accepted, could result in such investors acquiring control of Bharti Infratel," the telco said in a statement.

"The COD has recommended that such proposals be duly considered," the statement said.

Bharti Airtel will hold 50.33 percent stake while its wholly owned subsidiary Nettle Infrastructure Investments 11.32 percent in Bharti Infratel.

9:25 am Earnings: IIFL Holdings reported a 25 percent rise in consolidated net profit at 229.1 crore for quarter-ended September 30, this fiscal.

The company's net profit stood at Rs 183.1 crore, during July-September quarter of 2016-17.

IIFL's income surged nearly 42 percent to Rs 944.4 crore in the second quarter of 2017-18 from Rs 666.4 crore in the same period year-ago.

The company's total assets under management, distribution and advice saw 47 percent year-on-year growth to reach Rs 1.33 lakh crore in the September quarter, this fiscal.

The stock rallied nearly 7 percent in early trade.

9:20 am FM on World Bank report: After the World Bank ranking was made public, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said India is the only major country named for pursuing structural reforms.

"In 2014, we were 142nd and then (in) last two years, we improved to 131st and 130th. These are not generalised rankings. It happened in specific areas and they take tough parameters for that ranking," he said.

The "highest jump" in ranking was possible as significant improvements in all the 10 judging parameters were made in last 3-4 years "so that it becomes easy to do business in India," he said.

The World Bank, he said, has named 10 countries where structural reforms have been taken. "India is one of them."

The World Bank says India still lags in areas such as starting a business, enforcing contracts and dealing with construction permits.

9:15 am Market Check: Equity benchmarks as well as Nifty Bank started off Wednesday's trade with record highs, backed by banks, metals and telecom stocks. The rally was after the World Bank said India's rank on 'ease of doing business' scale has risen from 130th to 100th this year, helped by a slew of reforms in taxation, licensing, investor protection and bankruptcy resolution.

The 30-share BSE Sensex was up 209.28 points or 0.63 percent at 33,422.41 and the 50-share NSE Nifty rose 61.20 points or 0.59 percent to 10,396.50.

About 950 shares advanced against 202 declining shares on the BSE.

SBI, Bharti Airtel, Axis Bank, Yes Bank, Vedanta, Tata Steel and JSW Steel were early gainers.

Dredging Corporation, Syndicate Bank, Dabur India, VST Industries, Dwarikesh Sugar, Dalmia Bharat Sugar, Escorts, Sanofi India, Triveni Engineering, PNB, UCO Bank, Andhra Bank, Union Bank, IIFL Holdings, KPIT Technologies and InterGlobe Aviation rallied 11-10 percent. Container Corporation, Blue Star fell 2 percent each.
The sentiments of Indian investors are on a high as benchmark indices touched a fresh record high in the month of October, but anecdotal evidence suggests that November will not be an easy month for the bulls.

The Nifty50 rose to a fresh record high of 10,425, while the S&P BSE Sensex too hit a lifetime high of 33,530 on Wednesday, fuelled by strong macro data.

As we step into November, the fears of bears taking control over D-Street remains high as last 10 years data suggests that in seven out of ten years, the S&P BSE Sensex closed in negative.

However, analysts tracking D-Street beg to differ. They are of the view that the rally which started in October after two months of consolidation could well stretch in November and any dips will be more likely be bought into.

The S&P BSE Sensex saw its worst fall in the year 2008 when the index fell by over 12 percent, followed by the year 2011 when it saw a decline of 7.7 percent, and just last year in 2016, the index fell by a little over 5 percent.

The index rose in 3 out of the last 10 years. It rose nearly 10 percent in the year 2009, followed by 4 percent rally in the year 2012 and 3 percent gain in 2014.

The Nifty50 touched a fresh record high of 10,384.50 earlier in the week and a sustained move above 10,385 could add fuel to the momentum, till then we could see some consolidation in the month of November.

Crude oil is not trading above $60/bbl since the last few days. But, analysts are not worried and say that even crude at higher levels can be interpreted as a bullish signal for equity markets across the globe.

The Nifty50 is hitting fresh highs on a daily basis in October which suggests that market is in a structural bull run. The index could continue its northward journey as earnings season so far has not disappointed the market, Saurabh S Jain, MD, SSJ Finance & Securities told Moneycontrol.

History suggests that Crude and Markets can have a positive correlation and even Crude at $60 can be interpreted as a bullish sign, as seen in Feb 2016 when WTI Crude bottomed around $27 and Nifty bottomed around 6850 and subsequently both gained with a positive correlation, he said.

Jain further added that even during the period from May 2015 to Feb 2016, both Crude and Nifty mimicked each other on the downside. Given the current liquidity in the markets, any correction is likely to be bought into very quickly. Hence, November could belong to bulls.

Technical Take on Nifty:

The markets might be staring at a critical resistance point placed at levels 10,400 to 10,600 on long-term charts, but the technical weakness is yet to materialise. Hence, it will be difficult to conclude that Nifty will be in the clutch of bears at this point in time.

The trend will favour the bears only if the index slips below 10,100 till then investors can hold on to their long positions with a trailing stop loss placed below 10,238 levels.

Although markets might have corrected in the month of November on 70% of the time in the last 10 years, when we analyse the patterns prior to such correction then almost on many occasions a clear-cut technical weakness was visible whereas the current technical set up is entirely looking different as of now, Mazhar Mohammad, Chief Strategist  Technical Research & Trading Advisory, Chartviewindia.in told Moneycontrol.

Indices made a robust move in the month of October after two months of the corrective consolidation phase. Besides, a strong breakout accompanied with a fresh buy signal on weekly MACD Chart is only suggesting buying opportunity on dips, he said.

Mohammad further added that unless Nifty50 slips below 10100 levels the trend may not decisively change on the downside. We expect more or less a sideways phase to continue in the month of November but not a steep cut, he said.
YoY to Rs 362cr; TVS Motor Q2 profit up 20% YoY at Rs 213.2cr, revenues grow Rs 4,052.4cr

# Bitcoin blasts to new all-time high of $6,450

22:11 A total of 158 crorepati candidates are in the fray for the Himachal Pradesh assembly elections  to be held on November 9  while 61 have declared criminal cases against them, says a report.

Himachal Pradesh Election Watch and Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) have analysed the self-sworn affidavits of all 338 candidates.

Out of the 338 candidates analysed, 158 (47 percent) are crorepatis. The average assets per candidate contesting in the Himachal Pradesh assembly elections 2017 is Rs 4.07 crore, Delhi-based think-tank ADR said in a report released today.

22:00 Insurance behemoth Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) of India has hiked stake in state-owned Coal India to 9.4 percent, the coal major said.

Coal India (CIL) said in a filing to BSE that LIC bought 2 percent share in the PSU through Open Market Purchase from "January 1, 2015 -October 31, 2017."

The PSU which accounts for over 80 percent of the domestic coal production is eyeing 600 million tonnes of output in the ongoing fiscal.

21:46 Khadim India has allocated shares worth Rs 157.5 crore to 13 anchor investors at the upper end of the Rs 745 - 750 price band set for the IPO.

The company has sold shares to institutional investors as part of its anchor book allocation. The anchor investors include Franklin India, UTI Mutual Fund, HSBC Global Investment Fund, Nomura Singapore, Sundaram Mutual Fund, Aurigin Master Fund, Principal Mutual Fund, Forefront Alternative Investment Trust, Birla Sunlife Insurance and IDFC Mutual Fund.

The companys initial public offering (IPO) opens on November 2 and closes on November 6. Axis Capital and IDFC Bank are the book running lead managers to the offer.

Also read: Khadim India IPO to open November 2: Here are 10 things to know before investing

21:44 The income tax Department today gave MNCs time till March 31, 2018 to comply with country-by-country reporting norms.

The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has notified rules for maintaining and furnishing of transfer pricing documentation in the Master File and country-by-country report (CbCR).

Section 286 of the Income-tax Act, 1961 was inserted vide Finance Act, 2016, providing for furnishing of a country-by-country report in respect of an international group by its constituent or parent entity.

Read the full story here.

21:24 Union minister Nitin Gadkari today flagged off a consignment of steel cargo from Visakhapatnam Port and said a new era of coastal transport has begun and it will propel industrial growth and create jobs.

The consignment of 2.3 lakh tonnes of steel cargo was flagged off via video conferencing by the minister from the Vizag port to Ahmedabad, Mumbai and Kochi.

This is a new era in transport that will encourage industrial growth, give a boost to the economy, create more employment and raise the GDP of the country, the Union road, shipping and water resources minister said here today while addressing the gathering at Vizag port through video conferencing.

21:07 Office rental growth continued to surge in cities like Bengaluru, Pune and Gurgaon. With year-to-date absorption of 10 million sq ft, Bengaluru continued to outperform with sustained interest from occupiers. Thus, the upward pressure on rents continued in several Bengaluru micro markets on the back of shrinking vacancy levels. Although rental values in Pune stabilised in the second and third quarters of 2017, they are still relatively higher than the same period last year due to constant supply crunch in the Pune market, says a report by Colliers Research.

In the last few quarters, due to availability of quality Grade A supply and necessary infrastructure, several Gurgaon micro markets have also emerged as a bright spot in the NCR market, thus leading to year-on-year rental growth.

Gurgaon office real estate market remains the preferred destination for occupiers. Office demand will continue to move northwards in short-to-medium term. Rental values are likely to remain stable across most micro-markets in Gurgaon with expectation of a slight increase in CBD of Gurgaon, said Sanjay Chatrath, Executive Director, NCR, Colliers International India.

Read the full story here.

20:53 Telecom major Bharti Airtel is likely to shut down 3G service in next 3-4 years and refarm the spectrum linked with it for 4G services, a top official of the company said.

"There is almost no spent that we are doing on 3G. Our view is in next 3-4 years we are likely to see 3G network actually shut down faster than 2G network because there are still 50 percent of phone being shipped out in India that are feature phones," Gopal Vittal, MD and CEO, India and South Asia, Bharti Airtel, said during earnings call on Wednesday.

He said that the company is investing in 4G technology to build more data capacity in the network.

20:44

India is home to the largest number of malnourished children in the world, a report said on Wednesday, advocating that the country needs to frame policies with a focus on reducing health and social inequities.

"Over the decade (2005-15), there has been an overall reduction in the infant mortality rate and under-five mortality rate in India, yet the country is housing about 50 percent of undernourished children of the world," said the joint study by Assocham and EY.

The report found that towards the end of 2015, 40 percent of the Indian children were undernourished.

On the other hand, it pointed out that urban India is faced with the challenge of overnutrition.

20:33 UPDATE: Fifteen people have been reported dead and more than 100 hundred injured in the blast at NTPC's thermal power plant at Unchahar in Rae Bareli district of Uttar Pradesh.

According to initial reports, the accident happened after the steam pipe of the boiler plant burst open.

Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, who is an MP from Rae Bareli, has expressed her condolences.

20:07

The Delhi High Court put on hold the show cause notice on Wednesday issued by the National Company Law Tribunal's (NCLT) to fast-food major McDonald's and its parent company.

The NCLT order had come on a contempt plea filed by McDonald's estranged Indian partner Vikram Bakshi.

Justice R K Gauba gave the interim relief to McDonald's and listed the matter for further arguments on November 7.

The order came on the company's plea challenging the show cause notice issued to it by the NCLT.

Read the full story here.

20:03 India look set for a big score in the first T20 against New Zealand, with Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma lifting the hosts to 125/0 in 14 overs.

Follow live updates here.

19:34 RUPEE SURGES 16 PAISE TO END AT 64.59 ON WORLD BANK RANKING BOOST

Keeping pace with the stunning rally in domestic equities, the rupee today surged by a solid 16 paise to end at an over one-month high of 64.59 against the US currency following frantic dollar unwinding.

Overall forex market sentiment witnessed a sea change in the macroeconomic parameters after India jumped to 100th position in the World Bank's 'ease of doing business' ranking following government's strong policy measures to attract investments and revive the economy.

19:08 The popcorn-munching book fair lovers have established it and India's rich heritage of Vedas and Shastras stands testimony.

Among 30 major countries surveyed, the NOP World Culture Score Index ranks India as the country that loves reading the most if the time spent doing so is taken into consideration.

Indians clocked 10.4 hours of weekly reading, as per the list. On an average, thats around one and a half hours of reading in a day.

Read our data story for the day here.

18:33 Some cricket now. India and New Zealand will play the first T20 in Delhi tonight. The Kiwis have won the toss and elected to field first.

18:26 US President Donald Trump on Wednesday criticised the nation's visa system in the wake of Tuesday's truck attack in New York City that left eight dead, blaming Democrats and pressing a 'merit-based' program for immigrants to the United States.

"The terrorist came into our country through what is called the 'Diversity Visa Lottery Program,' a Chuck Schumer beauty. I want merit based," Trump wrote in a post on Twitter, referring to the Senate Democratic leader.

17:53 ALTERNATIVE MECHANISM FOR CONSOLIDATION OF PUBLIC SECTOR BANKS

The Finance Ministry has announced the creation of an alternative mechanism for consolidation of public sector banks.

The panel will be headed by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley while Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Railway Minister Piyush Goyal will serve as members.

Proposals received from banks for in-principle approval to formulate schemes of amalgamation will be placed before the alternative mechanism. A report on these proposals will be sent to the Cabinet every three months.

The alternative mechanism may also direct banks to examine proposals for amalgamation. The Reserve Bank of India will provide inputs as well.

17:35 Five people are reported dead and over a hundred injured following a blast at NTPC's thermal power plant at Unchahar in Rae Bareli district, reports News18. According to initial reports, the accident happened after the steam pipe of the boiler plant burst open.

17:00 Government-owned Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) is likely to float a fresh tender for 20,000 electric cars by early 2018, reports CNBC-TV18.

EESL had earlier released a tender on September 29 to procure 10,000 electric vehicles.

Tata Motors emerged as the lowest bidder for the tender and will thus supply a major part of the contract. The second lowest bidder Mahindra & Mahindra has committed to supplying 150 units of the first phase of 500 electric cars.

16:53 Find out what moved the markets today with Markets @ Moneycontrol, our daily web show.

16:20 The Supreme Court on Wednesday directed the Centre to create special courts to expedite trials of politicians, reports News18.

A bench of the apex court said the trials must be concluded within a year and this is in the interest of the nation. The Supreme Court told the government to finalise a plan and inform the court by December 13.

The SC also sought a report from the government on the status of criminal cases against 1,581 lawmakers pending in 2014. It also enquired about the fresh cases between 2014 and 2017.

The Centre objected to the lifetime ban on convicted politicians but said that it supports decriminalisation of politics.

Hardik

The Congress is close to striking a deal with the Hardik Patel-led Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) for Gujarat elections, something that could potentially expand its social base in the state, reports Mint. A politically crucial meeting between Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi and Hardik Patel is likely to take place next week. A deal if clinched would be crucial as Patels, with a 12-14% vote share, can potentially influence election results in favour of a particular political party. The support of the community is also significant because the Patels have been key to the repeated wins by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) since 1995 in Gujarat. In the last few years, however, cracks have emerged in this relationship.

Schneider Electric, a French multinational specialising in energy management and automation, has emerged as the top bidder to acquire engineering company Larsen and Toubros (L&Ts) electric and automation division, sources told Mint. Schneider will bring in Singapore governments investment arm Temasek Holdings to jointly bid for the assets, the cost of which is expected to be in the range Rs 15,000 crore or close to $2.31 billion. The sale is part of L&Ts ongoing drive to prune its non-core portfolio which saw interest from several potential buyers including strategic ones as well as private equity funds in the initial rounds. Eventually, only Schneider and Ireland-based power management multinational Eaton Corp made it to the final bidding rounds, sources added.

UPA's

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley today said the UPA's "ease of doing corruption" has been replaced by NDA's "ease of doing business", apparently hitting back at Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi's jibe at him after a World Bank business index showed that India has improved its global ranking by 30 notches, reports PTI. In his tweets earlier in the day, Gandhi took potshots at the finance minister saying people knew the "reality" of the 'ease of doing business' but the improvement in survey rankings was a good thought to keep "Dr Jaitley" happy.

Jaitley took to twitter to retort: "The difference between the UPA and NDA - 'The ease of doing corruption has been replaced by the ease of doing business'". The World Bank on Tuesday released a report showing that India has improved its rank by 30 notches to 100th position in the ease of doing business index. "Everyone knows the reality of 'ease of doing business', but it is a good thought to keep oneself happy 'Dr Jaitley'," Gandhi had tweeted a couplet in Hindi.

Hyundai Motor India (HMIL) reported a marginal decline in domestic sales at 49,588 units in October. The company had sold 50,017 units in October 2016. Besides, the newly-launched Verna received strong customer response with over 20,000 cumulative bookings and 1.5 lakh enquiries.

Mahindra

QoQ

Software firm Tech Mahindra's second quarter earnings beat analyst expectations. Profits grew 4.7% sequentially and 29.7% YoY to Rs 836 crore, backed by strong operational performance. Revenues came in at Rs 7,606 crore, up 3.7% QoQ. Numbers were ahead of estimates as profit was expected at Rs 740 crore on revenue of Rs 7,551 crore and dollar revenue at $1,173 million for the quarter, according to average of estimates of analysts polled by CNBC-TV18. Other income declined to Rs 322.2 crore from Rs 410.7 crore QoQ.

15:14 Ashok

Hinduja Group flagship Ashok Leyland reported a 3% jump in total sales at 12,914 units in October this year. The company had sold 12,534 units in the same month last year. Sales of medium and heavy commercial vehicles declined by 5% to 9,110 units as against 9,575 in the year-ago month. Light commercial vehicle sales grew by 29% to 3,804 units compared to 2,959 units in October last year.

15:08 Gold prices fell by Rs 105 to Rs 30,275 per 10 gram at the bullion market today owing to slackened demand from local jewellers amid a weak trend overseas. Silver followed suit and tumbled by Rs 250 to Rs 40,000 per kg due to reduced offtake by industrial units and coin makers. Traders told PTI that easing demand from local jewellers and retailers at domestic spot market following the end of festive season mainly weighed on the prices. Besides, a weak trend overseas added to the downtrend.

15:05 Nomura

India's current account deficit (CAD) for this financial year is expected to be around $40 billion, or 1.5% of GDP, says a Nomura report. India's current account deficit (CAD) rose sharply to $14.3 billion -- 2.4% of GDP -- at the end of first quarter of 2017-18. According to the Japanese financial services major, July-September CAD is expected at about 1.6% of GDP and accordingly, CAD for the first half of this fiscal (April-September) is likely to be around 2% of GDP.

According to Nomura, the widening of the trade balance in April-September was due to transitory factors, which is expected to reverse in the second half (October-March). The global brokerage firm laid down four reasons for "narrow" CAD numbers in the second half of this fiscal. First, a reversal of import substitution that was triggered by domestic supply disruptions and second, gains in price competitiveness. Other factors include normalisation of gold imports and fading GST-related disruptions that are pushing exports to catch up with the global cycle.

15:01 ITDC

Janpath

State-run ITDC has handed over Hotel Janpath in the national capital to Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA). Handing over of the land measuring 4.41 acre of Hotel Janpath, New Delhi to MoHUA took place through exchange of documents on October 31, ITDC said. "Physical possession will be handed over by ITDC to MoHUA after completion of disposing of movable assets," it added. The Union Cabinet in May had approved the closure of ITDC's Hotel Janpath and the property to be used for setting up government offices. The government initiated the process of disinvestment of hotels/properties of the India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) as it feels that running and managing hotels on professional lines is not the work of the government or its entities.

15:00 CCEA

000cr

The government gave ex-post facto clearance to implementation of the Special Banking Arrangement (SBA) of Rs 10,000 crore for payment of outstanding claims towards fertiliser subsidy in 2016-17. The decision was taken at the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, an official release said. The government is making available urea and 21 grades of P&K (phosphate and potassium) fertilisers to farmers at subsidised prices through fertiliser manufacturers and importers. To make funds available to fertiliser companies against their subsidy claims, the finance ministry had approved the SBA of Rs 10,000 crore with government interest liability limited to G-Secs rate. An SBA was worked out with SBI for Rs 10,000 crore to meet the outstanding subsidy claims of fertiliser companies.

low-sulphur

Indias state-owned refiners are exporting low-sulphur diesel in a seldom seen flow of products as crude processing capacity returns amid a drop in demand due to a new sales tax and as regional flooding cuts fuel use, sources told Reuters. The exports are expected to continue until year-end, likely weighing on low-sulphur cash differentials, the sources said, which have already dropped by half from a post-hurricane spike above $2 on US import demand.

While India overall is a net exporter of diesel, shipments are usually done by private refiners such as Reliance Industries and Essar Oil, with state-owned refiners not typically exporting the fuel, traders said. Now, however, state refiners have returned units from maintenance and after upgrades to meet stricter sulphur content standards, and their product supply has increased, said Sri Paravaikkarasu, head of East of Suez oil at FGE.

Bitcoin climbed to a new all-time high of $6,450 on Wednesday, boosted by bets the cryptocurrency could enter the financial mainstream after the worlds largest derivatives exchange operator said on Tuesday it would launch bitcoin futures. CME Group said it would provide a regulated trading venue for the cryptocurrency market and would launch the new derivatives in the fourth quarter of 2017. Bitcoin has had a bumper year with a more than six-fold increase in price, and has more than doubled in price since mid-September alone.

Cooking gas (LPG) price was hiked by Rs 4.5 per cylinder, the 19th increase in rates since July 2016 when the government decided to eliminate subsidy on it by raising prices every month, reports PTI. Also, jet fuel, or ATF, price was increased by 2% on firming international rates, the fourth straight increase in rates since August, according to price notification posted by state-owned retailers. The price of non-subsidised LPG or market-priced cooking gas has been hiked by Rs 93 to Rs 742 per bottle. The last revision on October 1 saw the rate go up by Rs 50 to Rs 649 per bottle. Subsidised LPG price has been hiked by Rs 4.50 per 14.2-kg cylinder to Rs 495.69.

Home-grown auto major Tata Motors reported a 5% increase in total sales at 48,886 units in October. The company had sold 46,500 units in the same month last year. Domestic sales of commercial vehicles last month stood at 32,411 units as against 30,189 in October 2016, up 7%. Sales of passenger vehicles in the domestic market grew by 1% YoY to 16,475 units last month. On the exports front, Tata Motors said its overseas shipments last month were at 4,311 units, down 32% YoY.

Ford India reported a 31.8% decline in total sales at 15,033 units in October this year. The company had sold 22,043 units in the same month last year. Domestic sales were down 43.82% at 4,218 units last month as against 7,508 in October last year. Exports during the month also declined by 25.6% to 10,815 units compared to 14,535 in October 2016.

The government is working with the World Bank to recognise over 200 reforms that will help propel India into the top-50 bracket in ease of doing business, according to Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) Secretary Ramesh Abhishek. "We have already implemented 122 reforms this year, and are working with World Bank to recognise these. We will further initiate 90 more ease of doing business reforms this year," Abhishek said.

India on Tuesday jumped 30 places to rank 100th in the World Bank's 'ease of doing business' ranking, helped by a slew of reforms in taxation, licensing, investor protection and bankruptcy resolution. Abhishek said his department has already started meeting stakeholders and taking feedback from them on the reform measures taken by the government to improve business climate.

TVS Motors September quarter performance showed a steady growth, with net profit at Rs 213.2 crore, up 20.2% against Rs 177.4 crore during the same period last year. The number came in line with expectations of Rs 210 crore of an analysts polled by CNBC-TV18. The two-wheeler manufacturers revenues grew 18.3% at Rs 4,052.4 crore as against Rs 3,426.5 crore YoY. On the operational front, EBITDA came in at Rs 350.3 crore, up 26% against Rs 276.7 crore during the previous year. Meanwhile, the operating margin was reported at 8.6% versus 8.1% YoY.

13:53 Mahindra

Home-grown auto major Mahindra & Mahindra reported 10.88% decline in total tractor sales at 40,262 units in October this year. The company had sold 45,177 units in the same month last year. Domestic sales were at 39,226 units as against 43,826 units in the year-ago month, down 10.5%. Export during the month stood at 1,036 units as against 1,351 units in the year-ago month, down 23.32%.

13:51 Godrej

FMCG major Godrej Consumer Products reported a 12.56% increase in its consolidated net profit to Rs 361.95 crore for the September quarter on higher income and volume growth. It had posted net profit of Rs 321.54 crore during the July-September quarter of last fiscal. Net sales (including excise duty) of the company during the quarter under review stood at Rs 2,496.93 crore as against Rs 2,436.64 crore in the year-ago period, up 2.47%. Revenue from Indian operations during the period was Rs 1,363.78 crore compared to Rs 1,319.46 crore during the same period last fiscal. Revenues from Indonesia and Africa during the quarter were Rs 321.64 crore and Rs 557.58 crore respectively, as against Rs 367.11 crore and Rs 515.20 crore.

13:44 The Cabinet has approved the sale of the governments entire 74.38% stake in Dredging Corporation of India, reports CNBC-TV18, quoting sources. The stock is currently locked at the 20% upper circuit level at Rs 670.60.

Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi has played down India's steep promotion in the World Bank rankings on Ease of Doing Business, saying "everyone knows the truth", reports CNN-News18. "Sabko maloom hai 'ease of doing business' ki hakikat, lekin khud ko khush rakhne ke liye 'Dr Jaitley' yeh khyaal acha hai (Everyone knows the truth about ease of doing business, but let Dr Jaitley keep himself happy thinking about it)," tweeted Gandhi, improvising a popular couplet by Urdu poet Mirza Ghalib.

The soon-to-be Congress president was referring to India's 30 place jump in World Bank's Ease of Doing Business rankings. While the government has been sounding it as an endorsement of the reforms implemented by the Narendra Modi government, the World Bank in its report had stated that it took into account only the two major Indian cities of Mumbai and Delhi. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, citing the report, had said that India was the only major country to have been named for undertaking structural reforms by the World Bank. "Biggest jump India got in the ease of doing business was on taxation reforms," Jaitley said.

Auto major Mahindra & Mahindra reported a 1.65% decline in total sales at 51,149 units in October. It had sold 52,008 units in the same month last year. In the domestic market, its sales grew marginally to 48,818 units last month compared to 48,729 in October 2016. Exports declined by 28.91% to 2,331 units in October against 3,279 units in the year-ago month. Sales of passenger vehicles, including Scorpio, XUV500, Xylo, Bolero and Verito, dipped by 5.35% at 23,413 units compared to 24,737 units in the same month last year. Commercial vehicle sales increased by 6.76% to 19,279 units in October against 18,059 units in the year-ago period.

13:19 IIFL

150cr

Financial services firm IIFL Holdings said its board has decided to infuse Rs 150 crore by way of additional equity capital into its broking subsidiary, India Infoline. "The board at its meeting... decided to infuse Rs 150 crore by way of additional equity capital into India Infoline, the broking subsidiary of the company, to meet its business requirements," IIFL Holdings said. Stock of IIFL Holdings was up 2.25% at Rs 625 on the BSE.

Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) reported a 6.45% rise in domestic sales at 12,403 units in October. The company had sold a total of 11,651 units in the same month last year. TKM exported 1,597 units of the Etios series in October 2017 compared to 974 in the same month last year, a jump of 63.96%.

Foreign portfolio investor First Carlyle Ventures Mauritius has sold its entire holding in IT firm Cyient through an open market transaction for an estimated value of Rs 604 crore. It sold 1.10 crore shares, representing 9.86% of Cyient. The shares were offloaded on October 31 based on the weighted average price of Rs 544.43 and the transaction is estimated to have been valued at Rs 604.28 crore. The stock is currently trading at Rs 543.15, down 0.27% from Tuesdays close.

13:12 Shares of Syndicate Bank jumped over 14% after the lender reported a 27.68% jump in the July-September quarter profit. The state-owned bank had on Tuesday reported a 27.68% jump in the July-September quarter profit to Rs 105.24 crore on annual basis, notwithstanding the rise in bad loans. The Manipal-headquartered bank had posted a profit of Rs 82.42 crore in the same quarter of the previous fiscal. Its total was income was Rs 6,419.21 in the second quarter of the current fiscal, down from Rs 6,574.93 crore in the comparable period of 2016-17. Operating profit, however, increased to Rs 1,17,3.74 crore from Rs 1,016.54 crore in the year ago quarter.

13:03 BJP

PIL

A PIL has been filed by Delhi BJP leader in the Supreme Court seeking minority status for Hindus in eight states where the communitys population has fallen, according to the 2011 Census, reports The Financial Express. According to the 2011 Census, Hindus are minority in Lakshadweep (2.5%), Mizoram (2.75%), Nagaland (8.75%), Meghalaya (11.53%), J&K (28.44%), Arunachal Pradesh (29%), Manipur (31.39%) and Punjab (38.40%), Indian Express reported.

According to the PIL filed, Hindus are being deprived of their minority rights illegally and arbitrarily to the majority population because neither Central nor the state governments have notified Hindus as a minority under Section 2(c) of National Commission for Minority Act. They are objected to their basic rights which is guranteed under Articles 25 to 30. Along with BJP leader, the petition has also been filed by advocate Ashwani Kumar Upadhyay.

13:02 Bharti

Vikas

Bharti AXA Life Insurance, a subsidiary of Bharti Enterprises, appointed Vikas Seth as Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Prior to joining Bharti AXA, Seth was with the Aditya Birla Group for nearly 10 years. The appointment is subject to requisite approval by insurance regulator Irda. Seth succeeds Sandeep Ghosh as the CEO of the joint venture company between Bharti Enterprises and AXA of France. He will be responsible for managing the overall business, driving new partnership tie-ups as well as the growth roadmap of the organisation.

Indian firms raised Rs 5.52 lakh crore in January-September 2017 through private placement of corporate bonds to meet business needs, a surge of 19% from year-ago period, according to a Prime Database report. These funds have been raised mainly for expansion of business plans, repayment of debt and to support working capital requirements. In debt private placements, firms issue securities or bonds to institutional investors to raise capital. According to the report, a total of 569 institutions and corporates garnered Rs 5.52 lakh crore in the first nine months of the year. In comparison, firms had raised Rs 4.65 lakh crore in January-September 2016. Private sector raked in Rs 3.42 lakh crore and government owned organisations mopped up Rs 2.09 lakh crore.

12:55 BoJ

The Bank of Japan likely wont be able to exit its massive stimulus programme while inflation is hovering below 1%, Takatoshi Ito, an academic who is a potential candidate to become the next BoJ governor, told Reuters. The BoJ has already laid the groundwork for normalising monetary policy by revamping its policy framework last September and gradually slowing its bond purchases, though raising its yield targets would be some time away, he said. While inflation is hovering below 1%, it would be hard for the BoJ to exit (from ultra-loose monetary policy), said Ito, who is considered a candidate to succeed BoJ Governor Haruhiko Kuroda when his five-year term ends in April next year.

Manufacturing activity in India slackened in October as new orders stagnated in the wake of subdued demand conditions, largely due to "negative impacts" of GST, reports PTI. The Nikkei India Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) fell to 50.3 in October, from 51.2 in September, indicating a "broad stagnation" in the manufacturing sector. This is for the third consecutive month that the index has come in above 50 that separates expansion from contraction. The decline in manufacturing activity was mostly because of stagnation in new business as "negative impacts" of GST led to subdued demand conditions. Moreover, new export orders dropped at the fastest pace since September 2013.

11:54 Drug firm Alembic Pharmaceuticals through its wholly-owned subsidiary has completed acquisition of US-based generic drug developer Orit Laboratories for an undisclosed sum, reports PTI. "Alembic Pharmaceuticals through its 100% owned subsidiary, Alembic Pharmaceuticals, has completed acquisition of West Caldwell, New Jersey USA-based generic drug developer Orit Laboratories along with real estate, owned by Okner Realty," the company said. Alembic Pharmaceuticals said Orit, focused on developing and filing oral solid and liquid products, has seven approved abbreviated new drug application (ANDA) and four ANDAs pending approval.

11:49 Escorts scrip is down close to 2% after tractor sales grew 13.8% in October. The farm equipment manufacturer Escorts Agri Machinery reported a 13.8% increase in its tractor sales at 10,205 units for October. The company had sold 8,970 tractors in the same month a year ago. Domestic tractor sales stood at 10,001 units as against 8,859 in October last year, up 12.9%. Exports nearly doubled to 204 units from 111 in October 2016.

11:36 Bharti

Airtel

India's largest telecom operator Bharti Airtel's share price touched a fresh 10-year high on Wednesday, rising nearly 8% intraday after stellar performance by its Africa business in the September quarter. The rally was also fuelled by hopes of an early sale of its tower business. The stock price hit an intraday high of Rs 536.05, the highest since October 2007, on the Bombay Stock Exchange. It had rallied 28% in October post acquisition of Tata Teleservices consumer telecom business and hopes of a stabilisation in tariff rates.

Bharti Airtel's Africa business recorded a 7.2% growth QoQ at Rs 5,203 crore. Even at the operational level, numbers were strong as EBITDA surged 23.7% sequentially to Rs 1,684.1 crore with a whopping margin expansion of 430 basis points at 32.3% in Q2. Consolidated profit, however, was lower by 6.6% sequentially at Rs 343 crore, dented by pricing pressure in the India business; but Africa business boosted its operational earnings. Consolidated revenue from operations slipped 0.8% QoQ to Rs 21,776.9 crore as its India business revenue dropped 5.2% sequentially to Rs 12,245 crore.

11:24 Maruti

India's largest car maker Maruti Suzuki's October sales missed analyst expectations on Wednesday, rising 9.5% year-on-year. It was driven by compact cars (Dzire, Baleno etc) and utility vehicles (Vitara Brezza, Ertiga etc). The company sold 1.46 lakh units in October 2017 against 1.34 lakh units in the same month last year. Domestic sales during the month increased 9.9% to 1.36 lakh units and exports rose 4.2% to 10,446 units. According to average of estimates of analysts polled by CNBC-TV18, total sales were estimated at 1.53 lakh units for the month. The stock has recovered after hitting an intra-day low of Rs 8,160.

11:17 Kotak

Nilesh

NBFCs

On a day when the market clocked a fresh record high, the dialogue on the huge spike in its valuations continues. Commenting on the same, Nilesh Shah, MD, Kotak Mahindra AMC, said while the market is at an all-time high, valuations arent. In 2008, profit as a percentage of GDP was 7.1% and now that is 3% and it could move towards 5% levels. Profitability will only improve once interest rates come down and there is higher capacity utilisation, he explained. Among sectors, he prefers banks over NBFCs on the back of a bank recap.

The Cabinet is set to meet today and according to sources the important things on the agenda could be ethanol price revision and a discussion on strategic stake sale in four to five public sector undertakings (PSUs).

10:33 GIC

CPPIB

Singapores sovereign wealth fund GIC and Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) are in talks to co-invest with private equity firm Bain Capital to acquire a 10% stake in Axis Bank, reports Mint. According to sources, it will be one of the largest private equity investments in the Indian banking sector. The three entities will invest about $1.9-2 billion to acquire the 10% stake, the source said. While investors will get half of the 10% stake in the form of preferential shares, the remaining 5% will be acquired from institutional investors through a secondary transaction, the source stated.

Infosys

Infosys finds its management of the GST information technology backbone under scrutiny at the highest levels of the government, reports The Economic Times. It had won the Rs 1,380-crore deal for developing and running GSTs backend in 2015. Three top government functionaries expressed strong disappointment with the company over frequent glitches that have beset the Goods & Services Tax Network (GSTN), leading to extension of deadlines for returns several times. It has been a disappointing experience, said one of the officials, adding that the software provider is now expected to improve service delivery. Infosys rejected the contention that its work had been regarded as unsatisfactory. The information you have received is completely inaccurate, the company said.

Aadhaar

The Madras High Court on Tuesday allowed a woman to file her income tax returns without quoting Aadhaar number or Aadhaar enrolment number, reports PTI. Justice TS Sivagnanam passed the interim order on a plea by Preethi Mohan. She had moved the court relying upon a Supreme Court decision in Binoy Viswam vs Union of India case, in which it had imposed a partial stay on the operation of Section 139AA of the Income Tax Act, which mandates linkage of Aadhaar with I-T returns.

The government on Tuesday night extended the last date for e-filing of income tax returns for those taxpayers who file audit reports till November 7, reports PTI. A senior official said the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) took the decision to extend the deadline by a week, considering the "representations made by various stakeholders". This is the second extension given to them after the first deadline expired on September 30 and it was extended till October 31.

10:07 Prime Minister Narendra Modi has condemned the terror attack in New York which has left eight persons dead. A 29-year-old man driving a rental truck plowed down people on a Manhattan bike path on Tuesday in a terrorist attack that killed eight and injured 11. "Strongly condemn the terror attack in New York City. My thoughts are with the families of the deceased and prayers with those injured," Modi tweeted.

paise

The rupee positively reacted to India's jump on Ease of Doing Business ranking by rising 12 paise to 64.63 against the dollar. Banks and exporters liquidated their dollar bets and domestic stocks soared to new highs, which gave the rupee a leg-up, forex traders told PTI. However, the US currency's strength against other units had a sobering effect here, dealers said. On Tuesday, the rupee had moved higher by 10 paise to end at a fresh two-week high of 64.75 against the dollar.

demonetisation

Demonetisation appears to have failed to meet two of its most hyped objectives in Jammu & Kashmir - dealing a severe blow to militancy and curbing fake money, reports IANS. In contrast to long queues of exasperated people waiting to exchange high value currency notes seen outside banks in other states, no bank in J&K witnessed such queues. "Due to violence all around, the average Kashmiri never keeps large amounts of cash at home. This is the reason that when people outside the state were losing sleep to get currency notes exchanged, Kashmiris did not rush to the banks here", said Elizabeth Maryam, a teacher of economics in Srinagar.

One of the objectives of demonetisation was to ensure that cash resources for militants would dry up. Ironically, Kashmir has witnessed more incidents of militancy after demonetisation than before it. "We do not believe demonetisation has seriously affected militancy in the state. Logistics like shelter, passage and cash are mostly routed through over ground workers and sympathisers of militants and those who could arrange high value notes in the previous system are doing so presently as well", said a senior intelligence officer here who did not want to be named.

One indicator suggesting the impact of demonetisation on black money was the initial slump in real estate trading in J&K. The hiccup, it appears, had been because of fear and confusion. "The prices of real estate have been rising here while these have fallen or remained stagnated outside", said a real estate dealer who did not want to be named. Interestingly, there were no major raid or recovery of unaccounted high value currency notes in Kashmir after November 8.

TVS Motor Company is expected to report a profit of Rs 210 crore for the quarter-ended September 2017, up 19% compared with Rs 177.39 crore in same quarter last fiscal. Revenue during the quarter may grow 19% YoY to Rs 4,076 crore, according to average of estimates of analysts polled by CNBC-TV18. EBIDTA is likely to increase 19% to Rs 329.23 crore but margin may remain flat at 8.1% on a YoY basis.

Tyres

Apollo Tyres is likely to report a 27% decline in its Q2 (July-September) PAT at Rs 188.48 crore as against Rs 259.5 crore reported in the same quarter last year. Meanwhile, revenue is seen up 13% at Rs 3,476 crore. Operating profit (EBIDTA) is expected to reduce by 8% at Rs 402 core and margins may slip to 11.6%, according to average of estimates of analysts polled by CNBC-TV18.

Mahindra

740cr

Software firm Tech Mahindra's second quarter (July-September) profit is likely to fall 8% sequentially to Rs 740 crore despite operating income growth. The fall in profit may be due to lower forex gains, non-recurrence of gains (of $8 million) from sale of land (that aided other income in the previous quarter) and higher tax rate. Dollar revenue during the quarter is expected to increase 3% to $1,173 million and rupee revenue is seen rising 2.9% to Rs 7,551 crore on a sequential basis, according to average of estimates of analysts polled by CNBC-TV18. Constant currency growth could be 1% (organic) and 2% (overall), analysts feel. Revenue growth may be led by enterprise vertical. Full quarter consolidation of HCI & CJS acquisition may contribute 1% to revenue growth.

MotoCorp

YoY

YoY

CNBC-TV18

YoY



Madhya Pradesh: Carriage of a goods train derailed near Bhirangi railway station in Harda; Railway track repair underway pic.twitter.com/DZwxuH5vhx

 ANI (@ANI) November 1, 2017

Two-wheeler maker Hero second quarter (July-September) profit is seen rising 3%to Rs 1,035 crore, driven by revenue growth. Revenue during the quarter may increase 12%to Rs 8,717 crore, aided by sales volume growth of 11%. According to average of estimates of analysts polled by, operating profit is expected to increase 6%to Rs 1,444 crore but margin may contract by 100 basis points to 16.6% for quarter ended September 2017. Margin may be impacted by higher commodity cost.

09:30 State-run New India Assurance Company's Rs 9,600-crore initial public offer has opened for subscription today, with a price band of Rs 770-800 per share. Here are 10 things one should know before investing.

09:26 The stock of homegrown FMCG major Dabur India has surged over 8% after it reported a 1.2% increase in consolidated net profit at Rs 362.67 crore for the second quarter ended September 30, 2017. The company had posted a consolidated net profit of Rs 358.35 crore in the same period last fiscal. Revenue from operations during the period under review stood at Rs 1,958.93 crore. It was Rs 1,981.62 crore in the year-ago period. The figures are not comparable due to GST implementation in July this year, the company said.

09:22 Shares of JSW Steel rose 1% after the company reported a 29% rise in its July-September quarter consolidated net profit at Rs 836 crore. Consolidated net profit stood at Rs 647 crore in the corresponding period last year. Total income grew to Rs 16,857 crore during the July- September period from Rs 14,451 crore in the year-ago quarter. Total expenses moved higher at Rs 15,583 crore from Rs 13,319 crore a year ago.

09:19 Shares of Dr Reddy's Laboratories have opened 1% lower after the company reported a consolidated profit for the July-September quarter came in at Rs 284.9 crore, lower by 3.4% compared with Rs 295 crore in the year-ago period. The profit was slightly better than analyst estimates due to improvement in operational performance. Revenue during the quarter fell 1.1% YoY to Rs 3,546 crore which dented by US business; but increased 7% sequentially.

09:16 Bharti

Airtel

India's largest telecom operator Bharti Airtel's second quarter consolidated profit fell 6.6% sequentially to Rs 343 crore, dented by pricing pressure in India business; but operational earnings and Africa business beat estimates. Profit for the quarter ended June 2017 stood at Rs 367.3 crore. Revenue from operations slipped 0.8% QoQ to Rs 21,776.9 crore for September quarter, which was largely in line with estimates. Consolidated profit and revenue on a YoY basis declined 76.5% and 11.66%, respectively. Numbers were positive at the operational level, driven by Africa business. EBITDA grew by 2.3% sequentially to Rs 8,003.7 crore and margin expanded by 120 basis points to 36.8% for the quarter.

State Bank of India, the countrys top lender by assets, will cut marginal cost-based lending rates (MCLR) across maturities by 5 basis points (100bps=1%), effective Wednesday, in what will be its first lending rate cut in 10 months. The bank will also cut retail term deposit rates by 25 bps. SBI, which accounts for more than a fifth of India's banking assets, will lower the 1-year MCLR to 7.95% from 8%.

09:07 Indias fiscal deficit has improved to 91.3% of the Budget estimate at the end of September from 96.1% at the end of August as revenues picked up pace. In absolute terms, fiscal deficit is pegged at Rs 4.99 lakh crore at the end of September, down about Rs 26,000 crore from August s second instalment of corporate taxes allowed revenue to exceed spending in the month.

09:04 Core sector growth hit a six-month high in September, adding to a rising set of indicators that show that the country's economy has picked up pace after a disappointing first quarter. The index of eight core industries  coal, crude oil, natural gas, refinery products, fertilisers, steel, cement, and electricity  was up 5.2% in September, compared with 4.4% in August and 5.3% in September last year, data released by the Commerce and Industry Ministry on Tuesday showed. August core sector growth was revised downwards from 4.9%. The eight core industries have 41% weight in the Index of Industrial Production, which had reached a nine-month high of 4.3% in August.

The World Bank has endorsed Prime Minister Narendra Modi government's reform agenda with India taking a giant leap in its Ease of Doing Business ranking - jumping 30 places to score a century. This is the country's best performance ever on these rankings. So, what has worked for India this time? Greater protection for minority investors has led to a big boost as India is now among the top five countries for protecting small investors.

The World Bank has also recognised that India has made paying taxes simpler for companies. On this parameter, the country has recorded a jump of 53 places. Rolling out the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code has also given a big boost. With a jump of 33 places, India is now ranked 103rd for resolving insolvency. India is the only country in South Asia and BRICs economies to feature among most improved economies of the doing business report this year.

South Korea will never recognise or tolerate North Korea as a nuclear state, nor will Seoul have nuclear weapons, the Souths President Moon Jae-in told Reuters, while China said it would work with Seoul to denuclearise the Korean peninsula. Moon also said there can be no military action on the Korean peninsula without the Souths consent, adding the government will continue working for peace on the peninsula.

CME announced Tuesday it plans to launch bitcoin futures in the fourth quarter, pending regulatory review, reports CNBC. Bitcoin rose to a record high above $6,400 on Tuesday, according to CoinDesk, after the announcement by the world's largest futures exchange. "Given increasing client interest in the evolving cryptocurrency markets, we have decided to introduce a bitcoin futures contract," Terry Duffy, CME Group Chairman and CEO, said. The leading global exchange for options and futures trading is the latest entrant into the business of offering derivatives for bitcoin, the volatile digital currency, which is not listed on a major exchange.

Chinas manufacturing output rose at the weakest pace in fourth months in October and companies continued to shed staff despite a slight pick-up in domestic and export orders, reports Reuters. The Caixin/Markit Manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) was 51.0 in October, unchanged from Septembers reading and in line with economists expectations for a further modest improvement in operating conditions. But the production sub-index fell to 50.8 from 52.1 while confidence in the outlook over the next year moderated to the second-lowest since August 2016.

08:42 Gold edged lower early Wednesday as the dollar firmed with investors awaiting hints on a US rate hike following the Federal Reserves two-day policy meeting.

08:40 Brent crude oil prices were near two-year highs on Wednesday as OPEC has significantly improved compliance with its pledged supply cuts and Russia is also seen keeping to the deal.

British consumers turned slightly more gloomy in October as they remained downbeat about the economy, although they continued to splash out on major purchases, a survey showed on Tuesday. The monthly consumer sentiment index from market research firm GfK eased to -10 this month from -9 in September, matching the consensus from a Reuters poll of economists, and continued to hover near a three-year low. The survey has shown little change over the past five months.

Britains opposition Labour party will attempt on Wednesday to force the government to release its assessment of the impact Brexit will have on 58 different sectors of the economy, reports Reuters. The government said it had carried out the economic assessments, ranging from aerospace to tourism sectors, but has so far refused requests from lawmakers to publish them, saying it needed a safe space to make Brexit policy in private.

That has irked lawmakers - including some from Prime Minister Theresa Mays own party - who say the documents should be subject to parliamentary scrutiny and used to help shape the public debate around what a good EU departure deal would look like. The opposition Labour Party said it would use a debate in parliament on Wednesday afternoon to try to win support for a motion that it said would leave the government with no choice but to release the papers.

Brexit

Britain is accelerating preparations for all eventualities when it leaves the European Union, but both sides are hopeful an agreement on stepping up talks to unravel more than 40 years of partnership will be sealed soon, reports Reuters. With only 17 months remaining until Britains expected departure, the slow pace of talks has increased the possibility of it leaving without a deal, alarming business leaders who say time is running out for them to make investment decisions.

British and EU negotiators met in Brussels on Tuesday and agreed to hold further divorce talks on November 9-10. The pressure has spurred the British government to step up its Brexit plans, employing thousands more workers and spending millions to make sure customs posts, laws and systems work on day one of Brexit, even without a deal on a future relationship.

Euro zone finance ministers will discuss next week completion of the banking union, ideas for setting up a common budget and ways to simplify the blocs fiscal rules, in preparation for a December summit on reforming the currency area, reports Reuters.

The euro zone economy grew faster than expected last quarter and unemployment fell to its lowest in almost nine years, backing up the European Central Banks move to begin reducing its bond buying despite slightly soft inflation this month, reports Reuters. The European Unions statistics office Eurostat estimated that the gross domestic product of the 19 countries that use the euro grew 0.6% in July-September from the previous three months and was 2.5% higher than in the same period of 2016.

The economic growth helped bring down euro zone unemployment to the lowest level since January 2009, beating market expectations. The unemployment rate fell to 8.9% of the workforce or 14.513 million people in September from a downwardly revised 9%, or 14.609 million, in August. But consumer price growth in October eased to 1.4% year-on-year, a Eurostat estimate showed, from 1.5% in the previous two months.

08:27 European stocks held at five-month highs on Tuesday, ending October with a 1.8% monthly gain, the second in a row, as third-quarter data fuelled confidence in the resilience of equity markets. The pan-European STOXX 600 index closed 0.4% with most bourses and sectors ending in positive territory as fresh data showed the euro zone grew faster than expected last quarter and unemployment fell to its lowest in almost nine years. Spain's IBEX posted its best monthly performance since May and closed the day 0.7% higher after Catalonia's ousted leader, Carles Puigdemont, agreed to a snap election called by Spain's central government to end the crisis created by the region's bid for independence.

A large group of US states accused key players in the generic drug industry of a broad price-fixing conspiracy, moving on Tuesday to widen an earlier lawsuit to add many more drugmakers and medicines in an action that sent some company shares tumbling, reports Reuters. The lawsuit, brought by the attorneys general of 45 states and the District of Columbia, accused 18 companies and subsidiaries and named 15 medicines. It also targeted two individual executives: Rajiv Malik, President and Executive Director of Mylan, and Satish Mehta, CEO and Managing Director of Indias Emcure Pharmaceuticals.

A driver in a rented pickup truck mowed down pedestrians and cyclists on a bike path alongside the Hudson River in New York City on Tuesday, killing eight people and injuring about a dozen others in what authorities said was an act of terrorism, reports Reuters. It was the greatest loss of life from a suspected terrorist attack in New York since suicide hijackers crashed jetliners into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in lower Manhattan on September 11, 2001, killing more than 2,600 people. Tuesdays assault, on the far west side of lower Manhattan not far from the site of the World Trade Center, was reminiscent of several deadly vehicle attacks in Europe during the past 15 months. For more updates, click here



I have just ordered Homeland Security to step up our already Extreme Vetting Program. Being politically correct is fine, but not for this!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 1, 2017



08:11 Republicans in the US House of Representatives will delay the release of tax legislation for a day as lawmakers try to overcome differences involving the treatment of retirement savings accounts and state and local taxes, reports Reuters.

As the stock market keeps moving higher, valuations have reached an ominous level that comes appropriately enough on Halloween, reports CNBC. The Shiller CAPE ratio, which compares stock prices to their earnings over a 10-year period, is at 31.43, about where it was when then-Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan gave his widely cited "irrational exuberance" speech in December 1996, according to calculations by Nomura. The only time valuations were higher was around the time of the stock market crash and beginning of the Great Depression in 1929 and during the dot-com boom in the late 1990s, according to the model formulated by Nobel Prize-winning economist Robert Shiller.

08:05 US home prices grew at their strongest rate in more than three years in August, an indication that despite slowing sales in recent months, demand for housing remains strong. The S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller Home Price Index rose more than expected in August, hitting an all-time high. National home prices continued to rise in August, reporting a 6.1% annual gain on the S&P's most broad indicator. This was better than the 5.8% increase expected by economists polled by Reuters.

US consumer confidence jumped to a near 17-year high in October, with households upbeat about the labour market and business conditions, which could underpin consumer spending and boost the economy in the final three months of the year, reports Reuters. The Conference Board said its consumer confidence index increased 5.3 points to 125.9 this month, the highest reading since December 2000. Wages and salaries, which account for 70% of employment costs, rose 0.7% in the third quarter. They increased 0.5% in the second quarter. Wages and salaries were up 2.5% in the 12 months through September after gaining 2.3% in the year to June.

07:58 A jump in shares of consumer companies Mondelez and Kellogg after their quarterly reports on Tuesday, along with further gains for tech stocks, helped Wall Street end October on a positive note. The three major indexes tallied their best monthly gains since February. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 28.5 points, or 0.12%, to 23,377.24, the S&P 500 gained 2.43 points, or 0.09%, to 2,575.26 and the Nasdaq Composite added 28.71 points, or 0.43%, to 6,727.67.

China has flown bomber jets near the United States territory of Guam and practiced attacks against the island, according to US military officials, Defense News reported Tuesday. Chinese firepower, along with its host of provocative military activities, is causing the United States to worry about the country as a primary danger in the Pacific region  even as rogue nation North Korea continues to threaten international attacks, the report said. With China however, which remains a "long-term challenge in the region," US officials "worry about the way things are going," officials said. Chinese bombers are also flying in the vicinity of the state of Hawaii, the report stated.

Japans retail sales rose in September at the fastest pace in three months as shoppers spent more on clothes and daily goods in a sign that consumer spending remains strong due to a tight labour market, reports Reuters. The 2.2% annual increase in retail sales in September was less than the median estimate for a 2.5% annual increase and follows a revised 1.8% annual increase in August. Spending on clothes rose 5% in September from a year ago, the fastest increase in three months. Spending on daily goods like soap and shampoo rose an annual 1.2%, versus a 0.4% annual decline in the previous month. Core consumer prices rose 0.7% in September from a year ago.

Japanese manufacturing activity in October slowed less than initially thought, a revised private survey showed on Wednesday, in a sign that demand remains strong enough to support economic growth, reports. The final Markit/Nikkei Japan Manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) was a seasonally adjusted 52.8, above the preliminary reading of 52.5 and just below Septembers final reading of 52.9.

07:25 Asian shares looked set to extend their gains into a fourth straight day on Wednesday on the back of solid economic growth, while oil prices were on a bull run on hopes of an extension of output cuts by major oil producers. Japan's Nikkei gained 1%, Koreas Kospi rose 1% and the SGX Nifty is up 28.50 points at 10,407.50.

US President Donald Trump will not go to the heavily fortified demilitarised zone (DMZ) on the border of North Korea and South Korea during his Asia trip, a senior administration official said on Tuesday. The president is not going to visit the DMZ. There is not enough time in the schedule, the official said. Instead, Trump will be the first American president to visit Camp Humphreys, a military installation south of the South Korean capital of Seoul.

Daewoo

North Korea probably stole South Korean warship blueprints after hacking into Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co's database in April last year, a South Korean opposition lawmaker said on Tuesday. "We are almost 100% certain that North Korean hackers were behind the hacking and stole the company's sensitive documents," Kyung Dae-soo of the main opposition Liberty Korea Party told Reuters.

A tunnel at North Koreas nuclear test site collapsed after Pyongyangs sixth atomic test in September, possibly killing more than 200 people, Japanese broadcaster TV Asahi said on Tuesday. About 100 workers at the Punggye-ri nuclear site were affected by the initial collapse, which took place around September 10. A second collapse during a rescue operation meant it was possible the death toll could have exceeded 200.

The United States is quietly pursuing direct diplomacy with North Korea, a senior State Department official said on Tuesday, despite US President Donald Trumps public assertion that such talks are a waste of time, reports Reuters. Using the so-called New York channel, Joseph Yun, US negotiator with North Korea, has been in contact with diplomats at Pyongyangs United Nations mission, the official said, at a time when an exchange of bellicose insults between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has fuelled fears of military conflict. While US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on October 17 said he would continue diplomatic efforts ... until the first bomb drops, the officials comments were the clearest sign the United States was directly discussing issues beyond the release of American prisoners, despite Trump having dismissed direct talks as pointless.

There is no sign, however, that the behind-the-scenes communications have improved a relationship vexed by North Koreas nuclear and missile tests, the death of US university student Otto Warmbier days after his release by Pyongyang in June and the detention of three other Americans. Word of quiet engagement with Pyongyang comes despite Trumps comments, North Koreas weapons advances and suggestions by some US and South Korean officials that Yuns interactions with North Koreans had been reined in.
The Odisha government has sent a penalty notice of Rs 20,169 crore to Coal India's subsidiary Mahanadi Coalfields (MCL) in the state, sources told CNBC-TV18.

The penalty is levied for flouting environment and mining plant norms.

The Odisha government is also assessing forest norms violation in the state and the amount of penalty for it. Another penalty could likely be levied for it on the company.

On August 2, the Supreme Court had directed penalty to be levied on miners from FY02 to FY10 for mining across India without following the environment norms. The apex court has asked the state governments to recover the penalty amount.

Coal India has refused to comment on the development. The company currently has cash reserves of Rs 31,319 crore.

Other mining states like Goa, Karnataka and Jharkhand are also assessing such violations, the sources said, adding that miners in these states could face a penalty in future.
People walk alongside an IKEA outlet in Prague, February 25, 2013. Swedish furniture giant IKEA said on Monday it has stopped selling meatballs from a specific batch which has tested positive for traces of horsemeat by Czech authorities. REUTERS/Petr Josek (CZECH REPUBLIC - Tags: BUSINESS FOOD POLITICS) - RTR3E9YE

The Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) today said it sold approximately 10-acre plot to Swedish furniture maker IKEA for around Rs 842 crore in its single largest property auction till date.

HUDA sold an approximately 10 acres of commercial land for a whopping Rs 842 crore in Sector 47 of Estate-II of HUDA Gurugram, an official said. The site was put for e-auction on October 6 this year and was bidded on October 31.

"The site was successfully auctioned to IKEA, a multinational group, that designs and sells ready-to-assemble furniture..," J Ganesan, Chief Administrator HUDA, said here today. "It will augment our efforts in ensuring steady revenue stream for HUDA. This is not a one-off deal as we have planned out auctions of other institutional and commercial properties across the city in the next few months. Gurugram has seen a reduced demand mainly due to rapidly changing investments scenario in real estate, especially in commercial sector.

However, we are hopeful to sell more properties and gather handsome revenue for HUDA from the Estates of Gurugram," an official release quoted Ganesan as saying here today.

With IKEA marking its arrival in Gurugram, it very well highlights the importance of this city and its position in the global marketplace as a business and investor friendly destination, he said.

The site was put for e-auction three times earlier but had no takers until October 31 when the multinational finally participated and emerged successful.
Maharashtra Real Estate Regulatory Authority (MahaRERA) in an order passed on October 30 dismissed a complaint filed by a Lavasa homebuyer over a delay in possession. The complaint was dismissed citing that the complaint was already pending before the State Consumer Dispute Redressal Forum.

The complainant, Mudhit Madanlal Gupta had filed a complaint against Lavasa Corporation Limited for the delay in possession. The complainant stated that he had entered into an agreement with the Lavasa corporation on April 22, 2010 and had been promised the possession of the apartment on or before April 21, 2012. He also complained that the corporation has now revised the possession date to December 2020.

Lavasa Corporation's advocate argued during the hearing that Gupta had already filed a complaint on the same matter in the State Consumer Dispute Redressal Commission, Maharashtra. The order was passed by the state commission on July 26, 2016, wherein both parties had been directed to maintain a status quo with respect to the apartment.

Taking note of the order passed by the State Consumer Dispute Redressal Commission, MahaRERA observed, While registering the complaint with the MahaRERA, the complainant has given a declaration that the matter regarding which this complaint has been made is not pending before any Court of Law or any other Authority or any other Tribunal. However, it is amply clear that the same matter is already pending before the State Consumer Dispute Redressal Commission. In such circumstances, the complaint filed with MahaRERA is not tenable.

According to lawyers, buyers should keep in mind that they cannot file two civil proceedings. This order is correct as buyers cannot file two civil proceedings in two different forums. You can either go to consumer court or approach RERA, says Property Lawyer Uday Wavikar. He further added that in this particular case the buyer could have filed a criminal case instead of filing a second civil proceeding.

Another grey area in RERA that complainants have to be aware of is that you cannot file a complaint as an investor. RERA only implies to home buyers, says Vinod Sampat, a Mumbai based advocate and property expert.
A private security gurad stands at a gate of Snapdeal headquarters in Gurugram on the outskirts of New Delhi, India, April 3, 2017. Picture taken April 3. REUTERS/Adnan Abidi - RTX33YCH

In its first rejig after announcing the plan to go solo, e-commerce firm Snapdeal has elevated its digital marketing head Mayank Jain as its head of products, according to people privy to the matter.

The development comes soon after the companys key executives Rajiv Mangla and Anup Vikal have put in their papers. Vikal was the chief financial officer of the company while Mangla was the chief technology officer who looked at products portfolio.

Jain who is seen as a close aide of co-founder Rohit Bansal was hired by Snapdeal last year in April as the company's head of growth. He was later given the position of vice president of digital marketing.

Rajivs role was split into product and technology, now products will also fold under Mayank and there will be a new hiring for technology head position, said the person quoted above.

Before joining Snapdeal, Jain was working as the senior vice president, analytics and product management at Zoomcar. He has pursued his B.Tech. from the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi.

Jain is among one of the few CXOs left in Snapdeal along with Vishal Chadha, the chief business officer and Jayant Sood, chief customer experience officer. Most of the top management has seen an outflux in the last few months after the company decided to merge with bigger rival Flipkart and then backed off, deciding to pursue a solo path.

According to a second person, Snapdeal which has faced a mass exodus of senior executives is also on its way to bring back some former employees.

Even though the plan is to have a lean team, the company is still expected to need senior executives for key divisions.

Also read: Snapdeal CFO resigns two months after company called off Flipkart merger

Snapdeal did not respond to an email query on the matter.

The company is currently decently funded especially after completing the sale of Freecharge to Axis Bank for a cash consideration of Rs 373 crore.

It is now focussing on rationalising its cash burn and targeting sales of more profitable items.

The business plan basically is to cut cost, sell only profitable items, make a certain amount of net and contribution margin from every sale, said the first person quoted above.

The company is currently handling an estimated 50,000-60,000 orders on a daily basis.
Sandeep Wagle of powermywealth.com told CNBC-TV18, "In Apollo Tyres Rs 210 can be a very safe stoploss and for next 12-15 months I would talk of target of Rs 350-360. I think three to four years it can be much higher than that. However, as of now, Rs 350-360 will do."

At 14:52 hrs Apollo Tyres was quoting at Rs 244.40, down Rs 0.90, or 0.37 percent.

The share touched its 52-week high Rs 288.30 and 52-week low Rs 171.60 on 07 August, 2017 and 16 February, 2017, respectively.
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KR Choksey's research report on HCL Technologies

HCL Techs Q2 FY18 result was largely in line with our estimates in revenue, however, in profitability front it was below our estimates. Europe has outperformed as far as Geographies are concerned, with a 8.7% qoq growth followed by the US of 1.7% qoq , whereas Asia-Pacific declined by 5.0% qoq, largely due to decline of $20m revenue from Indian business . Manufacturing and Financial Services led the growth pack with a 3.8% and 2.7% qoq. Engineering Services led the pack with a 4.7% qoq growth followed by BPO service at 2.3% qoq. ER&D growth was largely supported by existing clients and IP-partnership. The management expects the material impact of its recent acquisitions can only be seen after FY18.

Outlook

We expect that the strong client addition during the quarter, strengthen IP-Led revenues, and gaining traction for its Mode 2 services, would bring radical changes to its overall business. We have a BUY rating on the stock and we have assigned a multiple of 15x to its FY19E EPS of INR 71.7 to arrive at a price target of INR 1,075.

For all recommendations report, click here

The views and investment tips expressed by investment experts/broking houses/rating agencies on moneycontrol.com are their own, and not that of the website or its management. Moneycontrol.com advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions.

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KR Choksey's research report on UPL

UPL reported revenue growth of 6.5% YoY to INR 37.7bn. The growth was hampered owing to subdued sales from agro activities. Agro business registered a revenue growth of 2.6% YoY to INR 36.21bn, while non-agro activity reported growth of 9.2% YoY to INR 2.01bn. OPM excl. ex gain/loss expanded by 100bps YoY to 19.1%, which led EBITDA to up by 12.3% YoY to INR 7.2bn. There was exceptional item related to legal charges for product counterfeiting case in Europe along with higher losses from associates. Further, fall in other income (-7% YoY) also contributed lower than estimated bottom-line performance during the qtr. PAT was up by 43.6% YoY to INR 2.37bn.

We have rolled over our estimates to FY20. We believe that UPLs revenue to grow at a CAGR of 11% over FY17-20E largely driven by North & Latin America market. Further, introduction of more value added products to drive expansion in operational performance over the coming period. We believe that OPM to expand by 174bps over FY17-20E to 21.5%, while PAT to increase at a CAGR of 21% over the same period. In terms of valuations, we assigned P/E multiple of 17x on FY20E earnings and arrived a target price of INR 1030, potential upside of 25% from CMP of INR 824. We recommend a BUY rating on the stock.

For all recommendations report, click here

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Angel Commodities' report on gold

On Tuesday, spot gold prices declined marginally by 0.4 percent to close at $1271.2 per ounce on stronger dollar while investors turned cautious ahead of central bank meetings this week, U.S. payrolls data and the announcement of the next U.S. Federal Reserve chair. The Fed started a two - day policy meetin g during Tuesday's session with speculation mounting that Trump will pick Fed Governor Jerome Powell as the next head of the U.S. central bank on Thursday. On the MCX, gold prices declined 0.73 percent to close at Rs.29262 per 10 gms.

We expect gold prices to trade lower ahead of the key central banks meeting this week and the announcement of next fed chair is something that investors will keenly watch for. On the MCX, gold prices are expected to trade lower today, international markets are trading lower by 0.1 percent at $1269 per ounce.

For all commodities report, click here

Disclaimer: The views and investment tips expressed by investment experts/broking houses/rating agencies on moneycontrol.com are their own, and not that of the website or its management. Moneycontrol.com advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions.

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business Here are fundamental trading ideas from SP Tulsian In an interview to CNBC-TV18's Latha Venkatesh, and Surabhi Upadhyay, SP Tulsian of sptulsian.com shared his readings and outlook on market and specific stocks and sectors.
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Share price of Texmaco Rail and Engineering touched 52-week high of Rs 119.20, rising 3.5 percent intraday Wednesday as it has bagged contact from Ministry of Railway, Bangladesh Government.

The company has been awarded a contract valuing USD 67.7 million by Ministry of Railway, Bangladesh Government.

The contract includes construction of 45 KM dual gauge railway line, including railway stations buildings, level crossing gates and a custom house building through north eastern border area in Maulavibazar district of Bangladesh adjoining Karimganj district of Assam state in India.

The line segment is planned to be constructed within a period of 18 months by the EPC division  Kalindee Rail Nirman of the company.

The part of the fund would be provided by government of India through EXIM Bank under Line of Credit.

At 10:16 hrs Texmaco Rail and Engineering was quoting at Rs 119.80, up Rs 4.10, or 3.54 percent on the BSE.

Share gained 20 percent in the last 5 days.

Posted by Rakesh Patil
In a major alignment of regulators across markets, the US FDA announced the agency, beginning Wednesday, will recognize eight EU drug regulators from Austria, Croatia, France, Italy, Malta, Spain, Sweden and the UK as capable of conducting inspections of manufacturing facilities that meet US FDA requirements.

At a time in which medical product manufacturing is truly a global enterprise, there is much to be gained by partnering with regulatory counterparts to reduce duplicative efforts and maximize global resources while realizing the greatest bang for our collective inspectional buck, said FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb.

By partnering with these countries we can create greater efficiencies and better fulfill our public health goals, relying on the expertise of our colleagues and refocusing our resources on inspections in higher risk countries, Gottlieb said.

The announcement follows the creation of a mutual recognition agreement between the US and EU last March as part of a more collaborative approach to drug manufacturing inspections worldwide.

The move allows USFDA to free up its human resources to focus on higher-risk countries like India and China - that became critical parts of global medicines supply chain.

"This is unprecedented as the FDA has never before recognised another countrys inspectorate. It is also a major milestone towards closer cooperation to improve the use of available resources to safeguard quality and safety of medicines," said European Medicines Agency in a statement.

"This addresses the fact that for around 85 percent of medicines sold in the EU, at least one manufacturing step takes place outside the Union," EMA added.

Each year, EU national authorities and the US FDA inspect many manufacturing sites of medicinal products in the EU, the US and elsewhere in the world, to ensure that these sites operate in compliance with GMP.

Under the mutual recognition agreement EU and US regulators will rely on each others inspections and hence avoid duplication.
Labour minister Santosh Gangwar on Wednesday said the government is "sincerely" working towards creating new avenues for jobs and self-employment in the country.

Speaking about the government's focus on generating jobs, the minister mentioned the Mudra Yojana and highways construction and said such programmes have created a lot of employment opportunities.

"The central government is sincerely working to create new avenues of employment and self-employment...," Gangwar said at the 65th Foundation Day celebration of the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO).

He said that the Centre has recently "decided to construct 83,000 Kms of highways which will create 32 crore man-days in a span of 5 years".

He further said that Mudra Yojana has created a lot of self-employment opportunities as 9.5 crore people have been given loans amounting to Rs 4 lakh crore.

On the EPFO's long journey, Gangwar said the retirement fund body has taken a long jump since its inception in 1952.

The EPFO has achieved various milestones in last 65 years and its journey began with 5.5 lakh beneficiaries and now it covers 4.5 crore employees, Gangwar said, adding that EFPO now covers more than 10 lakh establishments which initially was 1,267.

The labour minister said the EPFO has started various new initiatives to accelerate the process of online registration of employers.

The EPFO is spreading the coverage area of its schemes for workers from unorganised sector, he added.

On this occasion, EPFO's Central Provident Fund Commissioner V P Joy said the retirement fund body is committed to 'Digital India' initiative and expressed hope that it will become a totally digitalised and paperless office by August 15, 2018.

Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan presided over the function and lauded the EPFO's efforts to digitalise the services to accelerate the claims of its beneficiaries in Provident Fund, Pension and Insurance.

She also inaugurated 1 MW solar power plant at various regional offices of the EPFO on this occasion.
The government today gave its ex- post facto approval to the trade agreement between India and Ethiopia to strengthen economic ties between the two countries, an official statement said.

The decision was taken by the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi here.

The trade agreement will replace the existing pact signed in 1982.

The Cabinet "has given its ex-post facto approval for the trade agreement between India and Ethiopia for strengthening and promoting trade and economic co-operation", the statement read.

The pact was signed on October 5 during the state visit of the president of India to Ethiopia.

"The trade agreement will provide for all necessary measures to encourage trade, economic cooperation, investment and technical co-operation," it added.

The bilateral trade between India and Ethiopia declined to USD 840.5 million in 2016-17, from USD 854.6 million in the previous fiscal.
Representative Image

India has lashed out against Pakistan, stating that the latter is using civilians to spy on Indian border posts. The Indian Army also made it clear that the Pakistani armys policy of supporting infiltrators was unacceptable.

The talk occurred on Monday when Major General Sahir Shamshad Mirza, Pakistans director general of military operations (DGMO) contacted Lieutenant General AK Bhatt, DGMO, India. As per a report by Hindustan Times, General Mirza alleged that the Indian Army had carried out unprovoked firing and targeted civilians on the Pakistani side.

In response to this, Lieutenant General AK Bhatt alleged that Pakistan was hiring civilians to spy on Indias forward border posts and providing guides to terrorists and aiding them in crossing the Line of Control (LoC). He also told Mirza that the Indian Army was committed to maintaining peace and tranquillity along the countrys borders.

Also Read: Cross-LoC bus service via Poonch remains suspended for 17th week

Pakistani army, the Indian DGMO alleged, had recently allowed civilians to settle down in the vicinity of border posts and 'these civilians have repeatedly been used to gain information on our locations and providing guides to terrorists while crossing the LoC.'

There has been an increase in the instances of firing across the LoC. While both sides do talk on a hotline every Tuesday, the call made on Monday points towards the crisis prevailing in the border.

With winter season around the corner, infiltrators are attempting to enter into Jammu and Kashmir with Pakistani assistance before snowfall temporarily blocks the mountain roots.
A public interest litigation (PIL) filed in the Supreme Court has sought a minority status for Hindus in eight states. The application cited continuous human rights violations and denial of basic rights to Hindus in these states.

The plea was filed by Delhi BJP leader and lawyer Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay. In his petition, Upadhyay stated that minority rights are being siphoned off illegally and arbitrarily to the majority population as neither the centre nor the state has notified Hindus as a minority under the National Commission of Minorities Act, 1992, reported News18.

The states named in the PIL are Lakshadweep (2.5 percent), Mizoram (2.75 percent), Nagaland (8.75 percent), Meghalaya (11.53 percent), Jammu & Kashmir (28.44 percent), Arunachal Pradesh (29 percent), Manipur (31.39 percent) and Punjab (38.4 percent). Numbers in parentheses represent the percentage of Hindu population in the states.

The plea also addresses the Minister of Law and Justice, Ravi Shankar Prasad and the Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It says that it is the "duty of the state to move beyond the minority-majority binary communal politics, which ironically passes for secularism in this country, has been the bane of our democracy."

Citing a research report titled, Hindu Human Rights Report, the plea notes that a level playing field for Hindus has been skewed. There is an attempt to skew the level playing field in the private education sector against the Hindu community. In last three years, the government has forced the closure of 7659 non-minority schools. Moreover, in last three years, budget increase for minorities is far higher compared to other groups like Tribals, Scheduled Caste and Other Backward Caste," reads the report as quoted by the plea.

The petition further argues that a denial of minority rights to the actual religious and linguistic minorities is a violation of fundamental right of minority community enshrined under the Article 21 and it only shows a "furtherance of vote bank politics".
Bollywood actor-turned-politician and candidate of the Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Shatrughan Sinha salutes during an election campaign rally in the northern Indian city of Chandigarh May 11, 2009. India is holding a general election between April 16 and May 13. REUTERS/Ajay Verma (INDIA POLITICS ELECTIONS) - GM1E55B1OBR01

There is anger among people over GST and demonetisation and the writing on the wall is clear that the Gujarat assembly election is not just a 'chunav' (poll) for the BJP but a 'chunauti' (challenge), outspoken party MP Shatrughan Sinha said on Wednesday.

Sharing dais with Congress leader Manish Tewari at a panel discussion on the latter's book, Sinha also defended his comments on economic issues, saying "...if a lawyer can talk about finances, if a TV actress can be the HRD minister and if a 'chaiwala' can be... then why I cannot talk about economy?"

His remarks were an obvious reference to Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, Information and Broadcasting Minister Smriti Irani, who was earlier HRD minister, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. However, he did not name any of them.

He maintained that he was not challenging his party but "showing a mirror to it" in the BJP's and national interest.

"From the writing on the wall and anger among people over GST, demonetisation, unemployment... seeing it, I don't want to say how many seats the BJP will get but certainly this election is going to be a special challenge," he said.

However, the MP from Patna Sahib said the BJP can increase its seats with unity and should not take the elections lightly.

"I will only say the matter is serious and this is not chunav (election), but chunauti (challenge)," he said.

Asked if he could join any other political party, the former cinestar replied with his signature dialogue, "khamosh (keep quiet)".

Sinha has been a vocal critic of the Modi government's policies and decisions over a number of issues, including GST and demonetisation.
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A boiler in the NTPC's Unchahar plant in Raebareli exploded today leaving four people dead and scores injured, police said.

According to Uttar Pradesh Police ADG (Law and Order) Anand Kumar, four persons had died in the explosion but the toll could rise further.

SP Shivhari Meena told PTI that according to initial reports "50-60 persons suffered injuries".

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who was away in Mauritius on a three-day official visit, ordered that necessary steps be taken for rescue and relief.

"The chief minister has taken cognisance of the Unchahar accident and has directed principal secretary (home) to ensure that all steps are taken for rescue and relief," principal secretary (information) Awanish Awasthi, who is accompanying Adityanath said.

Meena said that relief and rescue operations were launched immediately and the injured were being rushed to nearby hospitals.

The explosion triggered panic among the workers who ran helter-skelter. The district administration rushed ambulances to the plant and directed health officials to provide prompt treatment to the injured.
CNBC-TV18

A quiet makeover is underway at India's premier medical research agency - the Indian Council of Medical Research. On completion, at least aspirationally, it will mirror the US National Institutes of Health, the prestigious institution hailed as the bedrock for scientific innovation in the US.

Dr Soumya Swaminathan, the newly-appointed Deputy Director General (Programs) of the World Health Organisation has become the first Indian to be appointed to the second highest position at the UN agency. Just a few days before her appointment she outlined the roadmap for ICMR to CNBC TV18s Archana Shukla."

For naysayers, the ambitious drive by Swaminathan, has been set in motion this year and includes a wide span of measures: from partnerships to a higher spend on drug discovery, dismantling regulatory layers and roping in fresh talent.

Traditionally health research in India has been underfunded & under-recognized as an important part of overall healthcare metrics of a nation, says Dr Swaminathan.

India does not invest much in basic research has not been able to create a system of seamless flow, synergy & collaboration in drug discovery.

Academia-industry collaboration to share commercial risks too has been missing. These are the reasons why Dr Swaminathan says that despite having the best scientific minds and good basic research capabilities, India has not been able to bring a novel drug to the world. But things could be changing.

While some progress has been made by the government to ease regulatory hurdles by shortening drug approval timelines and streamlining processes, clinical trials still need strengthening. With no approvals for phase 1 trials in India, a large part of global clinical trials has to be moved out of the country.

Here ICMR is now proactively working with the India government to create Phase 1 trial sites in India. The agency is identifying both government & private medical colleges & hospitals with large capabilities to build infrastructure and manpower.

The phase 1 trial sites when ready will also be open to private firms for clinical trials. We cannot progress on research without a PPP, she says. ICMR is also looking to promote academia-industry collaboration.

The research agency aims to fund more young and independent scientists who need some commercial backing. In developed markets like the United States, the government through NIH makes the initial risky investments in science. The aspiration is also to make medical colleges and institutes the hub for biomedical research. We hope that in next 10 years, at least 50 colleges are doing world class research on novel drugs.

But to achieve its aim budgetary allocation has to be strong, but this has been a consistent struggle for ICMR. In FY18, the institute received Rs1,500 crore as research budget against a demand of Rs 2,500 crore. Many research programs are delayed due to paucity of funds and pushes India behind in the competitive landscape. Government funding is not sufficient for all our activities, we are hoping the shortfall will be met when the budgets are revised.

Additionally, ICMR is now looking at raising funds through corporates and PPP models.

Following a Parliamentary Standing Committee report that raised concerns, ICMR has now reworked its programs to be linked to output. The agency has now reoriented its plans with a 15-year vision and a 7-year action plan and every institute and academic that ICMR funds has been asked to delineate.

For ICMR, the funding focus is now shifting to non-communicable diseases, where Diabetes, hypertension, nutrition are some of the core areas of work. ICMRs program INDIAB is the largest diabetes survey in world.

Currently, the research agency is collecting state-level data on prevalence of diabetes and hypertension. Dr Swaminathan says lack of large-scale prevalence study data is the biggest challenge in India that also impacts implementation research. India is one of the few countries globally that has not done national TB prevalence survey.

ICMR is now launching a TB and malaria prevalence survey. ICMR is launching flagship programs that will be linked to national disease burdens. A large part of our focus will be to continue large epidemiological studies in area of Nutrition & non-communication diseases, TB & malaria, she concludes.
British and EU negotiators will meet in Brussels on November 8 for the latest round of Brexit negotiations, Brexit Minister David Davis told lawmakers today, pointing the finger at Brussels for delays.

Davis said the officials would meet on Wednesday and Thursday of next week and he would then hold talks with the EU's chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier on Friday in a sixth round of negotiations that began in June.

"We are not holding up the process," Davis told the House of Lords European Union committee.

"I had invited Mr Barnier to come to London tomorrow but he couldn't do it. He had a prior engagement.

"We offered them the beginning of next week, they couldn't do that. So it's the latter part of next week when the negotiators engage."

Davis said the meetings would the "first stock-take" since a summit in Brussels earlier this month, adding that Britain wanted an "intensification" of talks.

European leaders have yet to approve the formal start of talks on post-Brexit trade with Britain, saying there has not yet been enough progress on the divorce issues of money, Ireland and EU citizens' rights.

But they agreed at the summit to start internal preparatory work on a possible transition deal for Britain after Brexit, which May has proposed could last around two years, and a future partnership deal.
22:15 ISIS note found in New York attacker's truck, says governor

Investigators at the scene of a terrorist attack in New York, where a man mowed people down by driving a rented truck down a popular cycle path on Tuesday afternoon, have found a note at the scene referencing Islamic State, the governor of New York said on Wednesday morning, reports The Guardian.

Andrew Cuomo told CBS the investigation into the attack was continuing but said law enforcement officers



Strongly condemn the terror attack in New York City. My thoughts are with the families of the deceased & prayers with those injured.

 Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 1, 2017

had possession of the note.It was reportedly found inside the truck and mentioned ISIS.

19:16 NYSE and Nasdaq observe a moment of silence honouring victims of Tuesday's New York City terror attack



"Senator Chuck Schumer helping to import Europes problems" said Col.Tony Shaffer. We will stop this craziness! @foxandfriends  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 1, 2017



The terrorist came into our country through what is called the "Diversity Visa Lottery Program," a Chuck Schumer beauty. I want merit based. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 1, 2017

16:13 Suspect has a history of traffic violations

Reuters, citing media reports and court records had reported earlier today that the suspect has a history of traffic violations.

In an earlier case, Saipov had been stopped in central Pennsylvania for pulling a truck trailer that was longer than permitted by law and driving with the wrong operators licence, according to Reuters.

Saipov had listed both Paterson, New Jersey and Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, as his addresses. He paid his fine and was not required to appear in court.

15:50 First responders stand at the crime scene on the bike path shortly after the attack

New York city first responders stand at the crime scene on a bike path in lower Manhattan in New York, NY, US, October 31, 2017. (Reuters/Brendan McDermid)

15:29



Our sources in NYPD indicate there are no Indian names amongst the casualties. So far preliminary info. We are ascertaining. @SushmaSwaraj  India in New York (@IndiainNewYork) October 31, 2017



15:25 No Indian casualties in the attack: Indian Consulate

No Indian casualties has been reported in the deadly attack in New York city that killed at least eight persons, the Consulate General of India has said, according to PTI.

At least 11 others were injured after an Uzbek-origin man allegedly inspired by the ISIS ploughed a pickup truck down a crowded bike path near the World Trade Centre in Lower Manhattan.

"Our sources in the New York Police Department (NYPD) indicate there are no Indian names amongst the casualties. So far preliminary information," the consulate tweeted.

The Indian mission is in touch with the NYPD to ascertain more details, it said.

14:56 Police investigating the vehicle allegedly used in the attack

Police investigate a vehicle allegedly used in a ramming incident on the West Side Highway in Manhattan, New York, US, October 31, 2017. (Reuters/Andrew Kelly)

14:35 Uzbekistan tells Trump it is ready to help investigate New York attack

Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has told US President Donald Trump in a letter of condolences on Wednesday that his country is ready to use all its resources to help investigate the deadly New York City attack, according to Reuters.

The Tashkent government had earlier said that it was investigating reports that an Uzbek man was behind the attack which killed eight people and injured about a dozen in what US authorities said was an act of terrorism.

14:15 Uzbekistan probing reports of Uzbek-origin suspect

Uzbekistan is investigating reports that the man who killed eight people in New York by mowing them down in a truck is a citizen of the Central Asian nation, an Uzbek Foreign Ministry official told reporters on Wednesday, according to Reuters.

The official provided no other information.

A U.S. law enforcement official described the suspect as a U.S. immigrant born in Uzbekistan, a landlocked, predominantly Muslim country in Central Asia that was part of the Soviet Union until its collapse in 1991.

U.S. police declined to publicly identify the man, but a source familiar with the investigation said his name was Sayfullo Saipov, 29.

13:51 New York terror attack: What we know so far

The suspect in the attack is 29-year-old Sayfullo Saipov who came from Uzbekistan to the United States in 2010. He is a resident of New Jersey and drove for Uber, as per media reports.

Taxi aggregator Uber said Saipov had passed their background check; they are trying to provide authorities with all the information they have on the suspect.

A New York City police officer shot the attacker in the abdomen and he has gone through surgery.

Read the full story here.

13:30 Police block a section of the West Side Highway in Lower Manhattan, New York

Police block a section of the West Side Highway following a pickup truck attack in Manhattan, New York, U.S., October 31 2017. (Reuters/Andrew Kelly)

13:06 13 were killed in another vehicle attack in Barcelona, in August this year

In a similar vehicle attack in August this year, a van driver had ploughed into pedestrians on Barcelona's most popular street in broad daylight, killing 13 people in an attack claimed by the Islamic State jihadist group.

Police had announced the arrest of two suspects, identified as a Spaniard and a Moroccan, but said the driver was still on the run.

Witnesses had told of scenes of chaos and horror, with bodies strewn along the famous boulevard as other people fled for their lives, screaming in panic.

Read the full story here.

12:53 Deadly Halloween attack in New York branded 'terrorism' by authorities: Report

The Uzbek immigrant accused of killing 8 people in New York by driving a rental truck down a bike path on Tuesday appeared to have acted alone, but the Halloween Day attack had all the hallmarks of terrorism, authorities have said, according to Reuters.

12:36 NY police officials name Uzbek national Sayfullo Saipov as Manhattan truck attack suspect

The police have reportedly said that according to his neighbours, Saipov lived on and off in his Paterson residence for three years along with his wife and two children.

Saipov has a series of traffic offences against him as he had pleaded guilty for two offences in Pensylvania between 2012 and 2015.

Read the full story here.

12:22 Here's what we known about the Manhattan truck attack:

> Around 3:05 pm local time, a man drove a truck onto the West Side Highway bike path in Lower Manhattan, New York city. The driver continued driving the truck through the bike path, hitting pedestrians and bicyclists.

> The truck then collided with a school bus, which made it halt. The driver then got off the truck with a pellet gun and a paintball gun in his two hands. Media reports suggest that the suspect yelled "Allahu Akbar".

> A police officer present at the spot fired at the man, hitting him in the abdomen. The suspect was wounded and taken into custody. Media reports suggest that he is recovering in the hospital.

> Police confirmed that 8 people were killed and 11 were injured. New York Mayor has called the incident "cowardly act of terror".

> Officials close to the investigation told media that the suspect has been identified as Uzbek-origin 29-year-old named Sayfullo Habibullaevic Saipov. Cab aggregator Uber confirmed that Saipov used to work with them and assured full cooperation in the investigation.

12:15 Patterson Police Department vehicles block off a street in front of a mosque

Patterson Police Department vehicles block off a street in front of a mosque, following the pickup truck attack in New York City, in Patterson, New Jersey, US October 31, 2017. (Reuters/Jerry Siskind)

11:22 Attack suspect shot by police, recovering in hospital

Police have declined to identify the man but a source familiar with the investigation identified him as Sayfullo Habibullaevic Saipov and said he was not a U.S. citizen. His immigration status was not immediately clear, according to Reuters.

Saipov was shot by a police officer while attempting to flee minutes after the attack and was whisked away to a local hospital, where he was recovering from an abdominal wound.

With authorities saying they believe the attack was a "terrorist event," the lack of disclosure may reflect the nature of the investigation, which is still in its earliest stage.

11:06 Uzbek immigrant with New Jersey ties at center of New York truck attack probe

The man accused of killing eight people by racing a pickup truck down a New York city bike path on Tuesday may have worked as a driver and lived in New Jersey after emigrating from Uzbekistan seven years ago, Reuters reported authorities and media reports as saying.

Few other details about the 29-year-old suspect have emerged since the Tuesday afternoon vehicle rampage in lower Manhattan, blocks from the site of the September 11, 2001, attacks that destroyed the landmark World Trade Centre Twin Towers.

Police have declined to identify the man but a source familiar with the investigation identified him as Sayfullo Habibullaevic Saipov and said he was not a U.S. citizen. His immigration status was not immediately clear.

10:00 Here are some of the other major attacks carried out in New York city since the September 11, 2001 attack:

2017 - James Harris Jackson, a 28-year-old white man, stabbed Timothy Caughman, an African-American, multiple times with a sword in March. Caughman later died of his injuries and Jackson told police he travelled to the city from Maryland to kill black men.

2016 - As many as 31 people were wounded after 3 bombs exploded in the New York area, two in Manhattan's Chelsea neighbourhood and one in New Jersey, in September. Several unexploded bombs were also found.

Suspect Ahmad Khan Rahimi of New Jersey, was captured after a shootout with police. Prosecutors said that Rahimi who was born in Afghanistan and was influenced by anti-American materials believed to be produced by Islamist militant group al Qaeda.

2010 - Times Square was evacuated in May after a car bomb that failed to explode was found in a sport utility vehicle. Naturalized American and Taliban-trained militant Faisal Shahzad had later pleaded guilty and was sentenced to life imprisonment.

2008 - An individual detonated a small pipe bomb in front of the US Armed Forces recruiting station in Times Square in March. No one was injured in the incident.

(With Reuters inputs)

09:27 Thousands of undeterred New Yorkers flock to Manhattan Halloween parade despite attack

Thousands of merry-makers, many dressed in elaborate Halloween costumes, paraded through lower Manhattan on Tuesday, undeterred by the attack that unfolded just hours earlier when a driver mowed down dozens of people on a bike path a few blocks away, Reuters has reported.

Revelers who joined the 44th annual Village Halloween Parade said they were painfully aware that eight people were killed in what authorities say was an act of terrorism but carried on with the festivities to show fortitude and solidarity with the victims.

New York, we love you. Grateful to first responders who saved lives today. Jill and I are keeping you all in our prayers. Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) November 1, 2017

08:51 Police are seen investigating the scene of the truck attack on the West Side Highway in Manhattan, New York

Police investigate the scene of a pickup truck attack on the West Side Highway in Manhattan, New York, US, October 31 2017. (Reuters/Andrew Kelly)

08:43 Argentina, Belgium confirm death of nationals

As many as 5 Argentines and 1 Belgian are among the 8 killed in truck attack today, The Associated Press has quoted foreign ministers as saying.

08:36 President Donald Trump orders "extreme vetting program"

Following truck attack in New York that killed 8 people, US President Donald Trump said on Twitter that he has ordered the Department of Homeland Security to step up its "extreme vetting program".

"I have just ordered Homeland Security to step up our already Extreme Vetting Program. Being politically correct is fine, but not for this!" Trump tweeted.

08:11



Shocked to hear of terrorist attack in New York. Our condolences to bereaved families. India stands by United States #PresidentKovind  President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) November 1, 2017



08:05 Officials have found the suspect's note claiming allegiance to ISIS

Authorities have found a note, written in English, claiming that the suspect did it in the name of ISIS, a senior law enforcement official has told CNN.

The note was found in the truck police said was used in the attack, the source said, according to a CNN report.

08:00 NYPD is asking people to share attack video or images with them

The New York Police Department is asking people with them, any video or images from the truck attack incident in Manhattan.

Updated tip number: call 1-800-CALLFBI (1-800-225-5324) and select option 1. Tipsters can remain anonymous. #NYCSTRONG pic.twitter.com/Uiya5bRpgZ FBI New York (@NewYorkFBI) November 1, 2017

07:50 Former US President Barack Obama has said "New Yorkers are as tough as they come"



Michelle and I are thinking of the victims of today's attack in NYC and everyone who keeps us safe. New Yorkers are as tough as they come.  Barack Obama (@BarackObama) November 1, 2017



07:49 New York Mayor has reacted

New York Mayor Bill de Blasio has said "It's a very painful day in our city. Horrible tragedy," said.

"Let me be clear, based on the information we have at this moment, this was an act of terror and a particularly cowardly act of terror aimed at innocent civilians, aimed at people going about their lives who had no idea what was about to hit them," the mayor said.

"We at this moment based on the information we have, we know of eight innocent people who have lost their lives. And over a dozen more injured," de Blasio added.

Strongly condemn the terror attack in New York City. My thoughts are with the families of the deceased & prayers with those injured. Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 1, 2017

07:45 The suspect drove a rented pickup truck from retailer Home Depot southbound down a bike and pedestrian lane, striking people before colliding with a school bus, injuring two adults and two children, according to a report by news agency AFP.

The suspect then stepped out of the vehicle, brandishing two apparent handguns, before being shot in the abdomen by a police officer, police said, according to the news agency.

07:42



New York's resilience is stronger than a cowardly act of terror. Thinking of the victims, their families, & the responders who saved lives.  Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) November 1, 2017



07:38 The Police have identified suspect in truck attack as a 29-year-old Uzbek citizen Sayfullo Saipov, Officials speaking to The Associated Press have said, according to media reports.

The driver was shot by police after jumping out of the truck. He was carrying a fake gun in each hand and shouting what witnesses said was "Allahu Akbar!," Arabic for "God is great," sources have said.

My thoughts, condolences and prayers to the victims and families of the New York City terrorist attack. God and your country are with you! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 31, 2017

07:32



We must not allow ISIS to return, or enter, our country after defeating them in the Middle East and elsewhere. Enough!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 31, 2017



In NYC, looks like another attack by a very sick and deranged person. Law enforcement is following this closely. NOT IN THE U.S.A.! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 31, 2017

07:31 New York Police Chief James O'Neill has confirmed that 8 people have been killed. Eleven people have been taken to the hospital with serious injuries.

07:29 Tuesday's assault, on the far west side of lower Manhattan not far from the site of the World Trade Center, was reminiscent of several deadly vehicle attacks in Europe during the past 15 months, Reuters has reported.

07:25 A driver in a rented pickup truck mowed down pedestrians and cyclists on a bike path alongside the Hudson River in New York City on Tuesday, killing eight people and injuring about a dozen others in what authorities said was an act of terrorism.

It was the greatest loss of life from a suspected terrorist attack in New York since suicide hijackers crashed jetliners into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in lower Manhattan on Sept. 11, 2001, killing more than 2,600 people, according to Reuters.
Emergency crews attend the scene of an alleged shooting incident on West Street in Manhattan, New York, U.S., October 31 2017. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY - RC1D2235C500

A man in a rental truck killed eight people and injured 11 others, including two children, when he ran over pedestrians and cyclists while speeding through a bike lane in Lower Manhattan.

Among the ones killed, six persons were pronounced dead on the spot, and two others later died in a hospital where the injured persons were taken, Commissioner O'Neill told the media. Incidentally, the attack location was near the 9/11 memoriala constant reminder of terrorism to Americans.

The suspect in the attack is 29-year-old Sayfullo Saipov who came from Uzbekistan to the United States in 2010. He is a resident of New Jersey and drove for Uber, as per media reports.

Taxi aggregator Uber said Saipov had passed their background check; they are trying to provide authorities with all the information they have on the suspect.

A New York City police officer shot the attacker in the abdomen and he has gone through surgery.

There is a lot of contention about the attacker being a part of terrorist outfit ISIS.

As per a New York Times article, two officials claimed investigators had found handwritten notes in Arabic near the white pickup truck of the attacker, and the note implied a connection to Islamic State. Another law enforcement officer told CNN that they had found a note saying the act was done for ISIS, but it was written in English. However, anything about such a note has not been confirmed by authorities yet.

On Tuesday night, law enforcement officials investigated an apartment building near Genessee and Getty Avenues that was believed to be Saipovs home, the New York Times reported.

On the other hand, a source today told Reuters that Saipov was not a US citizen and his immigration status was not yet clear to the authorities.

While Mayor Bill de Blasio called the incident an act of terror, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo said at a briefing, Theres no evidence that suggests a wider plot or a wider scheme.



We must not allow ISIS to return, or enter, our country after defeating them in the Middle East and elsewhere. Enough!

 Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 31, 2017

After the attack, President Donald Trump tweeted a condemning message for ISIS before he condoled the victims.

According to the Guardian, NY police officials have not yet released details of any possible motive behind the attack; other elected officials in the government have not mentioned ISIS in their public statements as well.

Argentina's Ministry of Foreign Affairs declared on Twitter that five Argentinians were among the killed persons.
Police investigate the scene of a pickup truck attack on the West Side Highway in Manhattan, New York, U.S., October 31 2017. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly - RC1D7E83CD00

Moneycontrol News

New York police officials have identified Sayfullo Habibullaevic Saipov, an Uzbek national, as the truck driver who carried out the pedestrian terror attack in Lower Manhattan, killing eight and injuring at least 11.

The 29-year-old entered the United States in 2010 through the Kennedy International Airport, a law enforcement officer told the New York Times.

According to media reports, the New York Police Department said that Saipov drove a rented Home Depot pickup truck and purposely mowed down cyclists and pedestrians, driving several blocks in the wrong direction before hitting a school bus. When the police tried to stop him, he came out of the truck with fake firearms which led to the police shooting him in the abdomen.

Witnesses in the area have also reported that Saipov shouted 'Allahu Akbar' or 'God is great' in Arabic while carrying out the attack on Tuesday. He is undergoing treatment and is expected to survive.

After coming to the US in 2010, Saipov worked as a truck driver and is reported to have initiated two automotive-related businesses in Ohio between 2011-2013. One of his businesses was a truck company which had a single truck with one driver. He also worked as an Uber driver in New Jersey.

According to NBC News, Saipov left a note in the truck claiming that he performed the terror attack for ISIS, although no confirmation has arrived in the matter.

The police have reportedly said that according to his neighbours, Saipov lived on and off in his Paterson residence for three years along with his wife and two children.

Saipov has a series of traffic offences against him as he had pleaded guilty for two offences in Pensylvania between 2012 and 2015. In 2015, Saipov was also arrested for not appearing in court after violating traffic norms in Missouri. However, he got off by paying a fine.
The top leadership of Pakistan's ruling party has decided to appoint ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif's brother Shehbaz Sharif as premier if it wins next year general elections, a media report said.

Shehbaz, 66, is the younger brother of Sharif and currently the chief minister of the country's largest province of Punjab.

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz during a meeting in London on Monday decided to project Shehbaz as prime ministerial candidate after the 2018 elections if Sharif remains ineligible to run for office, Dawn reported.

The London meeting was presided over by Nawaz Sharif and attended by Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Shehbaz and federal ministers Ishaq Dar, Khawaja Asif and Ahsan Iqbal.

Sharif, 67, was disqualified as the prime minister by the Supreme Court on July 28 in the Panama Papers scandal.

A senior PML-N leader told the paper that the decision to pitch the Punjab chief minister for the office had been taken in view of the fact that disqualification of the elder Sharif under the Supreme Court orders in the Panama Papers case might not be overturned by the vote due after about nine months.

The decision coincided with a full-page result of a national opinion survey published in an Urdu daily in which 60 per cent of respondents declared Shehbaz as the best choice for the prime ministerial job.

According to the survey, conducted by a little known US institute Global Strategic Partner in September, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chairman Imran Khan was the choice of 47 per cent of total 4,540 respondents from across the country.

A PML-N official, considered close to the Punjab chief minister, said Shehbaz had always been the partys candidate for the office of prime minister after his brothers ouster.

He rejected a perception that there were divergent views in the party on the nomination of Shehbaz for the greater role or that the chief minister lacked the ability to take along all opinion.

Sharif is in London along with his family to be with his ailing wife Kulsoom Nawaz who is still receiving cancer treatment in the British capital.
Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft Corporation attends the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, January 17, 2017. REUTERS/Ruben Sprich - RTSVWFY

Satya Nadella and Sundar Pichai, the India-born CEOs of tech giants Microsoft and Google, today decried the New York terror attack, describing the incident as a "horrific act of violence" which claimed eight lives.

A 29-year-old Uzbek man, allegedly inspired by the ISIS, today ploughed a pickup truck down a crowded bike-only path in lower Manhattan, in the deadliest terrorist attack in the New York City since September 11, 2001.

At least eight people were killed and 11 others injured in the attack, while the suspect was arrested.



Our hearts and thoughts are with the victims, their loved ones, and all those in New York City impacted by this horrific act of violence.

 Satya Nadella (@satyanadella) November 1, 2017

"Our hearts and thoughts are with the victims, their loved ones, and all those in New York City impacted by this horrific act of violence," Nadella, 50, tweeted.

The CEO of the Microsoft Corporation, who is originally from Hyderabad in India, now lives in Washington.

"So sad to see the senseless loss of lives in NYC, thoughts and prayers with everyone affected there. Gratitude to NYPD, FDNY and first responders there #NYCStrong," Pichai posted on Twitter.



So sad to see the senseless loss of lives in NYC, thoughts and prayers with everyone affected there. Gratitude to NYPD, FDNY and first responders there #NYCStrong November 1, 2017

The Tamil Nadu-born Pichai, 45, was named the Google chief executive officer in 2015.

Apple CEO Tim Cook also condoled the loss of lives in the attack.

"Tonight our hearts are with the victims, their families and all the people of New York. Stay safe and stay strong," Cook, 56, tweeted.
US Republicans have delayed unveiling the Donald Trump-backed tax overhaul until tomorrow, signalling potential trouble ahead as congressional leadership struggles to lock in support for the historic but controversial effort.

Congressional aides late yesterday confirmed that the roll-out, originally slated for today, had been pushed back as GOP negotiators continued to hammer out a deal.

Lawmakers want additional time to study the measure, which includes USD 1.5 trillion in tax cuts that Trump has described as "rocket fuel" for the US economy.

Trump wants lawmakers to pass the plan by the end of the year to salvage a key plank of his 2017 agenda.

That is lightning speed for a mammoth bill that has been crafted in secrecy, and is being unveiled in November just weeks before Congress goes on holiday.

With its delay, uncertainty about the tax bill's fate swelled. It risks running afoul of fiscal conservative lawmakers intent on not adding to the deficit, and Senate moderates concerned with tax breaks for the wealthy.

In the midst of negotiations, House Speaker Paul Ryan told conservative groups that the GOP will preserve the top individual tax rate of 39.6 percent for the wealthiest Americans, The Wall Street Journal reported yesterday.

Republicans had recently announced a top rate of 35 per cent, but concern rose about how to maintain sufficient revenues, and to win over Republicans concerned about tax cuts for millionaires.

Trump weighed in ahead of the tax plan's release.

"The Republican House members are working hard (and late) toward the Massive Tax Cuts that they know you deserve. These will be biggest ever!" Trump tweeted.

The Republican intention to slash tax rates has been forecast to add more than USD 5 trillion to the debt over a decade. But with the Republican budget passed last week setting a USD 1.5 trillion cap, tax writers must find ways to offset the costs.

The plan's chief author, House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady, acknowledged the difficulties in balancing competing interests, but said it was worth it to seek once-in-a-generation tax reform.

"We can improve the lives of every American, either by lowering their taxes so they can keep more, simplifying this code so that the complexity's gone, or... increasing those paychecks that have been stagnant for a decade," Brady told Fox News.

The plan's basic outline is a drop in the corporate tax rate from 35 to 20 per cent, a reduction in income tax for most income groups and the elimination of many loopholes and deductions.

Democrats have assailed the plan, with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer calling it "a huge tax cut for the top one per cent."

Ryan, embracing a fright-night Halloween theme, issued a statement -- prior to the delay -- urging lawmakers to act.

"Don't be spooked, and let's get this done," Ryan said, as he blasted "special interest ghouls" and Democratic scare tactics.

Tax writers have struggled to find the sweet spot that will lower taxes for most Americans and spur economic growth while not ballooning the debt.
UNDATED :This undated photo provided by St. Charles County Department of Corrections via KMOV shows the Sayfullo Saipov. A man in a rented pickup truck mowed down pedestrians and cyclists along a busy bike path near the World Trade Center memorial on Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2017, killing several. Officials who were not authorized to discuss the investigation and spoke on the condition of anonymity identified the attacker Saipov.AP/PTI(AP11_1_2017_000006B)

The man accused of killing eight people by racing a pickup truck down a New York City bike path on Tuesday may have worked as a driver and lived in New Jersey after emigrating from Uzbekistan seven years ago, according to authorities and media reports.

Few other details about the 29-year-old suspect have emerged since the Tuesday afternoon vehicle rampage in lower Manhattan, blocks from the site of the September 11, 2001, attacks that destroyed the landmark World Trade Center Twin Towers.

Police have declined to identify the man but a source familiar with the investigation identified him as Sayfullo Habibullaevic Saipov and said he was not a U.S. citizen. His immigration status was not immediately clear.

Saipov was shot by a police officer while attempting to flee minutes after the attack and was whisked away to a local hospital, where he was recovering from an abdominal wound.

With authorities saying they believe the attack was a "terrorist event," the lack of disclosure may reflect the nature of the investigation, which is still in its earliest stage.

According to CNN and other media outlets, the suspect shouted "Allahu Akbar" - Arabic for "God is greatest" - after leaping from his truck, which had crashed into a school bus as he sped away from the carnage.

He also left behind a note claiming he carried out the deadly assault in the name of the Islamic State militant group, according to reports that Reuters could not immediately confirm.

Federal officials had become aware of Saipov while conducting an unrelated investigation, the New York Times reported, citing three unidentified officials. The Times offered no further details about the nature of the investigation, when it was conducted, or its outcome.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo declined to comment on that report when asked by reporters at a news conference. "It is too early to give you a definitive answer," he said.

"HE LIKED THE U.S."

Saipov, born in February 1988, moved to the United States seven years ago from Uzbekistan, a Central Asian country that was once part of the Soviet Union. He appears to have lived in Ohio, Florida and New Jersey since then.

An Uzbek immigrant who met Saipov in Florida several years ago told the Times that Saipov worked as a truck driver there but began driving for Uber when he moved to New Jersey.

He was a very good person when I knew him," Kobiljon Matkarov told the newspaper. "He liked the U.S. He seemed very lucky and all the time he was happy and talking like everything is O.K. He did not seem like a terrorist, but I did not know him from the inside."

The Times, citing sources, reported that Saipov had been living in Paterson, New Jersey, about 25 miles (40 km) northwest of the scene of the attack. He rented the truck used in the attack from a Home Depot in nearby Passaic, just south of Paterson, it said.

Police cordoned off an area of Paterson, a one-time industrial hub known for its large immigrant population, early Wednesday morning. About 25,000 to 30,000 Muslims live in the city, giving it one of the highest concentrations of Muslim people in the New York City area.

Saipov has a history of traffic violations, according to media reports and court records.

In one incident, he was pulled over in central Pennsylvania for pulling a truck trailer that was longer than permitted by law and "operating unsafe equipment", as well as driving with the wrong operators license, state judicial records show.

Saipov listed both Paterson and Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, as his addresses. He paid his fine by mail and did not have to appear in court.
The chronicle of a life split between urban Manhattan and rural Montana.
"The thought is that parents, grandparents, will bring their kids there to have fun, to use the trails, but also to understand the history of veterans' service in Towamencin," land planner Peter Simone
March 11, 2015

Another "Let's Ally With Nusra" Campaign

In October 2013 a media campaign tried to sell Jabhat al-Nusra, Al-Qaeda's arm in Syria, as the "good terrorist" worthy of "western" support against the "bad terrorists" of the Islamic State. Other jihadist groups like Ahrar al-Shams were also seen by some as favorable allies.

Qatar, the main sponsor of Jabhat al-Nusra, is now again trying to sell the al-Qaeda terrorists as the solution against the Islamic State everyone has been waiting for. This as more and more U.S. sponsored "moderate rebels" defect towards al-Nusra.

The new campaign started with a claim in a Reuters piece, based solely on a the words of one unreliable Syrian "rebel" and anonymous Qatari sources, that Jabhat might loosen ties with al-Qaeda central in exchange for Qatari money and "western" help. Latter an official Jabhat al-Nusra paper only somewhat denied that. Then two pieces by "western" experts were launched which both try to sell al-Qaeda in Syria as the "good" side that deserves "our" support. These are not, like earlier, slightly hidden propaganda suggestions but straight out arguments to ally with al-Qaeda.

At the BBC site one Dr. Roberts is arguing for better relations with Jabhat al Nusra. In reference to the Reuters report of intensive Qatari contacts with Nusra (which Nusra somewhat denied) he writes:

Indeed, there is no chance that Qatar is doing this alone: the US and UK governments will certainly be involved in or at least apprised of Qatar's plans. And, with increasing desperation in the face of IS and Bashar al-Assad's resilience, a reformed, effective fighting force would be welcomed by the West.

...

In such a changeable, fractured operating environment, Qatar will not be able to engineer a clean break of the Nusra Front from al-Qaeda. But, in a context where the best that can be hoped for is the "least worst" solution, Qatar's plan is as viable as any other.

So working with al-Qaeda in Syria, which Dr. Roberts himself says can not really reform, is "as viable" as, for example, making peace with the Syrian government?

Dr Roberts "was the Director of the Qatar office of the Royal United Services Institute (Rusi). His book Qatar: Securing the Global Ambitions of a City State will be published in 2015." He is clearly a lobbyist for Qatar paid, in whatever way, to promote the policies of that Wahhabi dictatorship.

The piece by one Barak Mendlesohn in Foreign Affairs is worse and even headlined Accepting Al Qaeda - The Enemy of the United States' Enemy":

Since 9/11, Washington has considered al Qaeda the greatest threat to the United States, one that must be eliminated regardless of cost or time. After Washington killed Osama bin Laden in 2011, it made Ayman al-Zawahiri, al Qaedas new leader, its next number one target. But the instability in the Middle East following the Arab revolutions and the meteoric rise of the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) require that Washington rethink its policy toward al Qaeda, particularly its targeting of Zawahiri. Destabilizing al Qaeda at this time may in fact work against U.S. efforts to defeat ISIS.

So further attack against al-Qaeda should be avoided? What would the victims of 9/11 say about such a demand?

That lunatic call comes from a "former" officer in the Israeli army assigned as "analyst of international affairs and strategy". The Israeli army is directly supporting Jabhat al-Nusra in south Syria and especially along the Golan heights.

The U.S. helped to create al-Qaeda as well as the Islamic State. In the Middle East its NATO ally Turkey is the logistic backbone for both groups. U.S. allies in the Persian Gulf are financing these terrorists. Now there are calls to accept al-Nusra as official ally against the Syrian government.

The Iraqi and the Iranian government are quite right to not believe that the U.S. wants the jihadi forces destroyed or even defeated. Their current success against the Islamic State around Tikrit demonstrates that IS and al-Nusra can be beaten with the forces they have on the ground and notably without any U.S. support. They have the reasonable suspicion that the U.S. would be happy to keep Nusra as well as IS alive if only to have reason to "stay involved" in the affairs of their nations. They therefore decided to keep the U.S. out of their fight against the Islamic State, to disregard its advice and to not inform it of their plans.

In light of the "let's ally with Nusra" campaign this looks like a sound decision.

Posted by b on March 11, 2015 at 18:20 UTC | Permalink

Comments
November 01, 2017

Is The "Moderate Al-Qaeda" Set To Target Hizbullah?

Since 2011 two propaganda campaigns have attempted to sell al-Qaeda in Syria as "moderate". The purpose was to justify the arming and cooperation with al-Qaeda to eliminate the secular Syrian state. Recently a third "moderate al-Qaeda" wave has been launched. A possible purpose is to use al-Qaeda in a new war on Hizbullah in Lebanon.

The first wave occurred in October 2013. We wrote about it in Your Moderate Cuddly Homegrown Al-Qaeda. The New York Times, the Washington Post and various other outlets depicted al-Qaeda in Syria, which was operating together with U.S. supported "moderate rebels", as tempered and less harmful than the Islamic State organization ISIS. Meanwhile the "moderate rebels" allied with al-Qaeda were engaged in sectarian massacres against any Syrian non-Muslim. (The media has always whitewashed that part of the rebels' record.)

Two years later a second pro al-Qaeda campaign was launched. Qatari and Israeli lobbyists tried to sell al-Qaeda as a force that could be used to fight ISIS and the Syrian government. The neoconservative General Petraeus promoted an U.S. alliance with it.

Both campaigns muddied the waters but were not completely successful. Al-Qaeda in Syria, under its various names and alliances, continued to be officially recognized as terrorist group. But hidden from mainstream reporting the CIA armed it by providing freely to the Free Syrian Army rebels who were allied with it.

In May 2016 the Wahhabi paid anti-Syrian propagandist Charles Lister still had to ask the "moderate rebels" to better hide their allegiance with al-Qaeda. The same Charles Lister is now engaged in the third attempt to whitewash al-Qaeda into some moderate entity. Lister is claiming that the latest renaming of al-Qaeda/Jabhat al Nusra/Jabhat Fateh al-Sham into Hayet Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) was a serious step away from al-Qaeda's global leadership and ideology towards a local moderate position:

While still a jihadist group seeking the creation of local Islamic Emirates as future components of a global caliphate, HTS bore virtually no loyalty or allegiance to al-Qaeda or Nusra.

...

A groundless and frequently conspiratorial debate isolated to the distant Washington, D.C., beltway claimed the evolution of Nusra-to-JFS-to-HTS was merely a ploy to fool the West.

Unfortunate for Lister the fake "moderate" HTS does not agree with his claims:

HTS leaders themselves say the initial AQ break was a ruse. ... Nusrahs leadership sold the al-Qaeda split internally on the grounds that it was basically false.

The Lister piece seems coordinated with a pamphlet from the Pentagon think-tank RAND (also published in Foreign Affairs) which again sells al-Qaeda as "a moderate alternative":

It remains unthinkable to most that the term moderate could ever be applied to an affiliate of the group responsible for the attacks of September 11, 2001. But al Qaeda's Syrian franchise has quietly emerged as the less extreme alternative to ISIS within the jihadist universe. And that could spell a situation, at least in the long term, in which al Qaeda begins to resemble the Lebanese group Hezbollah.

The comparison with Hizbullah is laughable. Hizbullah is a local Lebanese group founded to fight against the Israeli occupation of its country. It is currently engaged in Syria to protect Lebanon from attacks of al-Qaeda and the like. Hizbullah never seriously engaged outside of that role. It refrains from sectarian strife and unlike al-Qaeda does not have an expansive ideology. Al-Qaeda and its "rebel" affiliates continue to strive for a global emirate and brutally oppose any person and entity that does not follow their Salafi/Wahhabi rules. To depict these groups as similar is not sound analysis but sets the stage for a "fair" confrontation between them.

Turkey has recently negotiated and allied with al-Qaeda to position its army against the Kurdish enclave Efrin in north-west Syria. The Turkish troops were escorted by al-Qaeda/HTS towards their positions. Officially Turkey continues to oppose al-Qaeda in any form. Its active co-operation with al-Qaeda received no negative coverage or condemnation from "western" media. It is expected that Turkey will later use al-Qaeda in Syria to justify an continued occupation of the country:

Ankaras troops entered the northern Syrian city of Idlib  following an understanding with al-Qaeda  without any clash. This indicates that Turkey has not ended its role within Syria or the role of al-Qaeda: Ankara is expecting to play the al-Qaeda card when its forces will be asked to withdraw from Syria.

The campaign to whitewash al Qaeda was also joined by the Syrian "rebel journalist" Moussa al-Omar who reports from northern Syria that he fails to find any al-Qaeda at all. The current propaganda wave trivializes al-Qaeda in Syria and prepares for further cooperation with it. But the CIA is no longer arming the "rebels" and has no further immediate purpose for al-Qaeda.

What then is the operational aim behind this?

A hint may be in a recent announcement by the Saudi minister Thamer al-Sabhan who is well known for his extreme sectarian positions. The U.S. envoy McGurk recently introduced Thamer to the eastern Syrian tribes who were allied with ISIS until they were bought off to act as U.S. auxiliaries. Shortly thereafter Thamer visited Lebanon:

Firebrand Saudi State Minister for Gulf Affairs Thamer al-Sabhan on Monday called for toppling Hizbullah and promised astonishing developments in the coming days.

...

Referring to his Sunday tweet about the Lebanese government, the minister said: I addressed my tweet to the government because the Party of Satan (Hizbullah) is represented in it and it is a terrorist party. The issue is not about toppling the government but rather that Hizbullah should be toppled. The coming developments will definitely be astonishing, al-Sabhan added.

Nicholas Noe reliably reports from Lebanon. He warns of an upcoming campaign:

Nicholas Noe @NoeNicholas Oct 30 Strong pessimism over this next stage here in Lebanon 4 Syria+Leb. Little hope of draw down/stabilization. New+deeper conflicts on the way

It looks very likely that the major conflict some of us have warned of for a while, w/ Hezbollah as primary target but huge effect, is near.

Hizbullah can only be fought by a force with a strong ideology that nonetheless is acceptable to the outside world. Fighting Hizbullah is a long pursued aim of the Saudis. Earlier Saudi proxy forces in Lebanon failed because they lacked the right mindset and support. A "moderated" al-Qaeda, transferred through Turkey via sea to Lebanon, would be the adequate tool for a renewed anti-Hizbullah campaign.

Posted by b on November 1, 2017 at 17:45 UTC | Permalink

Comments
Thanks to Nigel the Nutcracker from The Warehouse, we are granting wishes across the country!
David Holder: Welcome to the Morningstar Manager Check-up for the latest updates from our fund research team.

First up is BlackRock World Mining (BRWM). Evy Hambro has managed this investment trust since September 2000, and has been involved since its inception in 1993 and consequently provides considerable continuity to investors. Over his substantial involvement he has helped build the natural-resources team at BlackRock into a unit that has significant expertise across the entire commodity spectrum.

Together with co-manager Olivia Markham the aim is to add value through a combination of detailed commodity and company analysis. All told, we continue to think this fund is a solid offering and the fund therefore retains its Morningstar Analyst Rating of Silver.

The next fund is Invesco Perpetual UK Growth where the fund's unconstrained and value-orientated approach can result in periods of underperformance; however we continue to have conviction in its ability to outperform over the long term. The fund benefits from the experienced Martin Walker, who has successfully implemented the investment approach since 2003.

Stock selection is dictated by both his macro view and fundamental research, which is framed within a long-term time horizon. We like Walker's disciplined adherence to his investment approach and the fund therefore retains a Morningstar Analyst Rating of Silver.

Finally, to fixed income and the Royal London Corporate Bond fund, which is managed using a collegial team-based approach, led by fixed-income veteran Jonathan Platt, who has managed the fund since inception in March 1999. He has been instrumental in developing the firm's fixed-income expertise and shaping the fund's investment approach and heads a close-knit team of fund managers and analysts.

The investment process starts with a review of the macroeconomic environment to identify the most-attractive credit markets and is followed by in-depth bottom-up credit research. Overall, a time-tested process established and executed by a seasoned manager and backed by an experienced and collegial team drives our positive view on the fund. Below-median fees add to its appeal. We therefore retain its Morningstar Analyst Rating of Silver.
Software developer Eric Vale has been investing for four years. A move from his home country of Canada to the UK prompted his first foray into stock markets.

I moved to the UK in 2013 and started earning more money, he explains. It felt wrong to leave cash in a savings account earning next to no interest. So I started to look at my investment options.

Vale, who lives in Kingston, London, with his wife and young son, splits his money between tax efficient investments.

I have a SIPP and a stocks and shares ISA, both with AJ Bell. I also have a cash ISA and hold money in NS&I Premium Bonds, he says.

Although I invest in individual shares and funds, I like to keep quite a high proportion of my money in cash, or other low risk assets such as Premium Bonds. I know I can access this money should I need it, and it helps to reduce the overall level of risk Im taking with my money.

Vale trades when he have enough money to buy a decent number of shares in a company or fund. This usually happens quarterly, but can be less frequent if his family expenses are higher than normal. With a second child on the way, Vale says he may well miss the next payment into his ISA.

Looking for a Decent Track Record

Vale looks at a funds performance record and its fees before investing. I have one or two active funds, but most of my fund investments are in passive tracker funds, generally because these have lower fees, he says. But I do try to back one or two more active managers who I think have the potential to outperform the market.

One of these actively managed funds is Orbis SICAV Global Equity. Morningstar analysts give this fund a Silver Rating and it has earned a five star performance rating too.

Vale says: Over the two years that Ive been invested Ive made a 25% return on my money. This isnt as big as some of the returns Ive made on individual shareholdings, but its nowhere near as risky, as this is a well-diversified global fund.

Fatima Khizou, an analyst at Morningstar says: Investors who stick with this fund for the long haul should be rewarded.

She points out that while the portfolio holds a large number of stocks, around 80% of the assets are concentrated in the top 50 holdings. The team pays little regard to the benchmark, and its bottom-up and contrarian approach means that the portfolios country and sector exposures tend to diverge significantly from the funds index.

Khizou adds: Despite significant deviations from the index at both the country and sector level, performance has typically been driven by stock selection. This fund continues to have many positive attributes, including an experienced investment team, a proven approach, and an excellent long-term track record.

Taking a Value Approach to Stock Selection

When it comes to buying shares, Vale tries to spot undervalued companies which have the potential for higher prices. He adds: I try to research my selections and read some experts views on these companies. But he also invests on a gut feeling, saying: When you invest in individual stocks you know these are going to be high-risk holdings, so I prepare myself for the worst.

Some of his recent purchases have delivered strong returns. One of his best investments has been in Fresnillo (FRES), a company involved in the exploration and development of gold and silver mines in Mexico.

Vale says: I bought it because it looked good value for money at around 7 per share. I held it for a few months and saw a low return on my money of about 5 to 10%. But then Brexit happened and share prices sky-rocketed in a matter of weeks. I sold these shares at more than 19 per share, doubling my initial investment.

Bad Timing Destroys Profits

Shares in Fresnillo have fallen since then and are now trading at around 13 a share. However, Vale admits his timing has not always been so successful.

One of my worst investments was in Hikma Pharmaceuticals (HIK). I thought it looked like good value for money at around 24 per share. But sentiment turned against the company, and the share price has declined significantly.

Vale adds: These shares are still in my portfolio but are now trading below 12 a share, which means Im sitting on a 50% loss, excluding some dividends that have been paid out over this time.

Morningstar analyst Michael Waterhouse says: While we previously thought Hikma's low-labour-cost operations helped give the firm a low-cost edge, we think the continual rise of new entrants, particularly from low-cost emerging-market peers, is pressuring pricing across the industry.

Morningstar equity analysts recently downgraded the companys fair value from 18 to 13.70 per share.
Maintaining independence and editorial freedom is essential to our mission of empowering investor success. We provide a platform for our authors to report on investments fairly, accurately, and from the investors point of view. We also respect individual opinionsthey represent the unvarnished thinking of our people and exacting analysis of our research processes. Our authors can publish views that we may or may not agree with, but they show their work, distinguish facts from opinions, and make sure their analysis is clear and in no way misleading or deceptive.

To further protect the integrity of our editorial content, we keep a strict separation between our sales teams and authors to remove any pressure or influence on our analyses and research.

Read our editorial policy to learn more about our process.
Broker Events; Regulatory-Driven Lender Changes; FHLB News

Sometimes things can be misleading, or dont tell the whole story. For example, a 15-oz. bottle of Naked Green Machine juice smoothie has more sugar in it than 5 Krispy Kreme original glazed donuts. (Yup. 53 vs. 50 grams. But what is more nutritious?) Employment data is often accused of being misleading, but hiring always picks up during the holidays and United Parcel Service is adding 95,000 seasonal workers for the holidays. The company expects holiday season deliveries will rise 5 percent, to 750 million. On an average day, UPS handles 19 million packages, a figure that roughly doubles around the holidays. And, like Paul Ryan, UPS drivers rarely turn left. And Jeb Hensarling, staunch opponent of financial regulation, is retiring. What's up with that?

Lender Events for Brokers

If you are a mortgage broker, banker or Realtor in Orange County, CA and you're looking to expand your product offering, join Pacific Union Financial on November 8th! Management is inviting you to learn about the new PacificPlus down payment protection program and FlexKey Non-QM product suite. The event will be held Wednesday, November 8th from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the Costa Mesa Westin Hotel. For more information, please email Greg Armstrong, call 714-492-8899, or RSVP online.

Considering your business plan for 2018? Finance of America Mortgage's Wholesale division, FirstFunding, Focus Fulfillment and FACo are teaming up to offer a series of live "B.Y.O.B Power Workshop" events around the country. Brokers and non-delegated correspondents are invited to hear about new trends in business models for the small business owner. Topics include steps to Become Your Own Banker. A bonus session will be presented on "Fix and Flip" and Portfolio rental products. Learn how you can earn residual income originating commercial loans and lines of credit. Here you go: November 7 Sacramento, CA, November 8 Glendale, CA, November 9 Santa Ana, CA, December 4 Saddle Brook, NJ, December 5 Mt. Laurel, NJ, December 6 Orlando, FL, and December 7 Fort Lauderdale, FL.



Volume on the Rise

Whose volume is actually increasing? Large U.S. banks more than doubled their borrowing from the Federal Home Loan Bank System in the past decade in the aftermath of stricter regulations to avert a global credit crisis, per a report from the Office of Financial Research. As a reminder, the FHLB System, which are made up of 11 regional FHLB banks, funds the mortgage market by making loans called advances to its members that include banks, credit unions and insurers. At the end of June, its advances totaled $706 billion or 65 percent of its assets. U.S. banks with more than $250 billion in assets (like Chase, Wells, and Citi) accounted for about 30 percent of FHLB advances in June. The funding comes from multiple FHLBanks because the three have subsidiaries that are members of multiple FHLBanks. Under current liquidity coverage ratio requirements, FHLB advances receive easier regulatory treatment than those in private markets, stoking demand from banks for them. The FHFA (Federal Housing Finance Agency), which oversees the FHLB together with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, is taking steps to reduce the FHLB's reliance on short-term funding.



Doc, CD, and TRID-Related Changes Continue

M&T has a new procedure for reconciling POCs (paid outside of closing) and any Renovation fees paid at closing on the CD at loan close out. The Lender is always responsible to HUD/FNMA borrowers if there are discrepancies on over/under payments etc. M&T will not monitor these payments if paid POC or in cash on the CD. When a renovation fee is not POC or on the CD, M&T will hold this money in the Draw Department. Contact M&T for the procedures when the fee is POC or on the CD as being paid.

WesLend Portfolio Lender Fee Buy Out Option is available on the rate sheet and Broker Connection as of Friday, September 29, 2017.

Ellie Mae has been busy...Three recent announcements are as follows: The company released enhancements to Encompass 17.4 along with tools, resources and training support client preparation for regulatory changes including the 2018 Home Mortgage Disclosure Act and Regulation C (HMDA) collection and reporting changes, as well as the Uniform Closing Dataset (UCD) requirements that went into effect on September 25, 2017. Ellie Mae has partnered with Digital Risk. The partnership will replace manual tasks with automation for added quality, compliance and efficiency, as part of the company's mission of automating everything automatable for the residential mortgage industry and advancing the true digital mortgage experience. Ellie Mae has also launched its "Dream Big, Win Tiny" Sweepstakes. Mortgage industry professionals can win a chance to own a tiny house by showing how they help power the American Dream of home ownership.

LendingTree has integrated TCPA Guardian from Jornaya to manage compliance risk associated with the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA). This integration provides lenders with ability to validate that the consumer was shown necessary and approved disclosures, including monitoring the size, text, and overall visibility of the necessary TCPA disclosure. What's more, the solution documents the proof of that consent, allowing both LendingTree and its lenders to deter and help defend the costly and rising number of TCPA complaints.

Effective back on September 5th, when Plaza sends out its initial disclosures, it will be requesting borrowers to e-sign. Additionally, borrowers may be asked to electronically complete certain state required disclosures.

Caliber Home Loans has made enhancements to its H2O Originations System. Complete with LE checkboxes, DocuSign tags, automatic broker signatures and more. Visit its Wholesale Training Video web site and log in with the password WeLoveBrokers. Or Go to All Regs > Resources > H2O Release Notes.

Wells Fargo Funding notified clients that, "As clarification to Newsflash C17-048bp, dated September 25, 2017, Sellers are reminded they represent and warranty compliance with Freddie Mac's selling program. This includes adherence to the Uniform Closing Dataset (UCD) mandate to submit UCD XML files to Freddie Mac's collection solution for all bifurcation Loans with Notes dated on or after September 25, 2017. Sellers unable to submit UCD files or obtain a successful submission response must work with Freddie Mac to remediate the issues as soon as possible, and no later than April 1, 2018. Wells Fargo Funding is aligned with Freddie Mac's current requirements specific to the UCD mandate, remediation, and future enforcement. This means the UCD mandate remains September 25, 2017, as communicated by Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae (the GSEs). Loans without successful UCD submissions continue to be eligible for purchase by Wells Fargo Funding. However, for Wells Fargo Funding to meet Freddie Mac delivery requirements associated with this change, UCD noncompliant Loans must be delivered to Wells Fargo Funding on or before February 1, 2018. This date is subject to change pending further instructions by the GSEs. Bifurcation Loans that do not comply with Freddie Mac's UCD mandate must be delivered to Wells Fargo Funding on or before February 1, 2018.



Capital Markets

Potentially a market mover, the Conference Board's Consumer Confidence Index increased and hit its highest level since December 2000. It seems that upbeat attitudes about the current job market factored prominently in the elevated reading, which is a hopeful indication for stronger consumer spending activity.

But it is "Steady as she goes" out there, despite the Federal Open Market Committee meeting going on. No one is expecting any bold changes today when the results are announced, and in fact yesterday longer-dated U.S. Treasuries and agency MBS spent the entire session nearly unchanged (10-year: 2.38%). Yield curve watchers, however, noted that the 2s10s spread compressed to 78 bps from Monday's 81 bps due to the month-end index needs with the Fed today.

This morning we've had the usual weekly MBA Mortgage Index. After a solid drop in apps the week before, last week they fell again (-2.6%). Refis were -4.5% while purchase apps dropped .8%. (This has the index at the lowest level since February.) We've also seen the October ADP Employment Change (+235k, stronger than expected), and next week's quarterly refunding amounts for the Treasury auctions. Coming up are October's ISM Index and September Construction Spending. We commence Hump Day with rates higher versus last night: the 10-year is yielding 2.39% and agency MBS prices are worse .125.



Jobs, Business Opportunities, and Promotions

"Okay, originating commercial mortgage loans isn't currently part of your business model. But what about those commercial mortgage loan leads that your loan officers are being offered or the commercial needs of past clients in your database? This is "money left on the table." What if there was a simple way to create revenue from these opportunities without distracting everyone's residential effort? Silver Hill Funding, LLC, a subsidiary of Bayview Asset Management, LLC, has developed a program that enables residential mortgage bankers to easily tap into the commercial marketplace, generating income and expanding their residential production as well. It's no secret that your loan originators would love the ability to say 'yes' to commercial loan opportunities and receive the additional income. And, for your company, it becomes an added loan officer recruitment tool your competitors aren't offering. You must check this out. Contact Ski Swiatkowski."

"Are you pining away for the good old days, when compliance and regulation didn't eat up all your time and profit? Are you a broker, mini corr, retail branch, or independent closing $10M a month or LESS in the Northeast or Florida? Is it worth your investment of time and money to get FHA approved, or delegated when you can join a dynamic lender who offers top operations, technology and passionate leadership. We are owned and operated in NE, a direct Fannie seller, going direct to Ginnie, fully delegated with a large complement of investors, we have an excellent servicing platform and we are ready to invest in you. If you want to increase your offerings without having to increase your net worth, this is a great opportunity to combine forces with a strong partner and still have a voice. Send a confidential email to Amy Tierce, VP of Sales and Marketing at Mortgage Equity Partners."

Thousands of miles away, "If you have an existing production team of $2 million or more in the Southwest United States, you will want to read this. A growing nationwide lender has a very unique opportunity in this market for the right team. You will have greater control over your business and be working with a company that will help you recruit and grow your existing branch. Better pricing, more influence, local operations and an opportunity to earn corporate bonuses on top of branch revenue make this something different. Contact Ron (480-204-1812) to be confidentially & directly put in touch with the CEO."

Joining Informative Research's ever-expanding team, Claudia Dorman is now IR's newest Vice President of National Sales. An extreme talent in the industry known for her unwavering commitment to clients, Dorman worked previously as CoreLogic's National Account Director of Global Mortgage Services for over 4 years and excelled as an account executive for both DataVerify and CBCInnovis. In this new role, Dorman will be tasked with growing Informative Research's presence in the Northeast, which is critical to IR's mission to expand and offer their future-proof solutions on a more national level. "Informative Research has the momentum to bring this industry into the future," remarked Dorman. "Their dedication to improving the lender and consumer experience is what drew me to this opportunity and I'm excited to be able to have the chance to offer their unique solutions and service model with my entire client base."

A quick congrats to Timothy Gough. He is the new CEO of Maryland's Bay Capital Mortgage. Bay Capital has been lending along the Eastern Seaboard for 20+ years.



M&A for Lenders, Builders, and Banks

In Minnesota, TCF Bank, a subsidiary of TCF Financial Corp., is going to acquire Rubicon Mortgage Advisors. The Wayzata-based bank said it hopes to complete its acquisition of Minnetonka-based Rubicon by the end of the year. The move is being done primarily to boost TCF Bank's residential mortgage services and increase its presence in Minnesota and North Dakota where Rubicon has branches.

Also announced was a big marriage in the homebuilder space: Lennar and CalAtlantic will merge which will create the US's biggest homebuilder by revenue.

Bank M&A announcements continue. The First ($1.8B, MS) will acquire First Community Bank ($398mm, AL) for about $60mm in cash (40%) and stock (60%) or about 1.66x tangible book. In the northeast Bangor Savings Bank ($3.7B, ME) will acquire Granite Bank ($262mm, NH) for about $45mm in cash (100%) or about 1.85x tangible book. In Ohio Peoples Bank ($3.6B) will acquire American Savings Bank ($294mm) for about $39.6mm in cash (15%) and stock (85%) or about 1.53x tangible book. In Montana Glacier Bank ($9.7B) will acquire First Security Bank ($1.0B) for about $173.4mm in stock (100%) or about 2.17x tangible book. On the other end of the teeter-totter, Customers Bancorp ($10.9B, PA) will sell its BankMobile division to avoid Durbin amendment issues. BankMobile will combine with Flagship Community Bank ($125mm, FL) and become majority owned by Customers shareholders.
Mount Pleasant, SC (29464)

Today

Cloudy. High near 65F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Cloudy skies. Low around 45F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph.
Home prices across the US grew in August to reach another record high, according to the Home Price Index (HPI) released by Black Knight.Based on August residential real estate transactions, the US HPI was $282,000, an increase of 0.24% month over month and a jump of 6.24% from the year-ago period.However, the monthly appreciation was at a rate less than half that of Julys, representing the fifth straight month of decelerating growth.During the month, half of the 20 largest states and 14 of the 40 largest metros reached new record highs for home price. Both figures represent smaller shares compared to recent months.New York led all states in monthly home price appreciation for the second straight month with a 1.58% increase in home prices. The state also accounted for nine of the 10 best-performing metro areas.Among the 20 largest states, Georgia, Maryland and Virginia posted the only decreases in home prices, with respective declines of 0.17%, 0.05%, and 0.23%. Meanwhile, declines were also recorded in 12 of the 40 largest metros. The biggest decline was 0.32%, recorded in Denver, Colo.Home prices remained flat in Seattle, Wash., in August. However, they have risen 12.02% since the start of year and more than 14% since last year, Black Knight found.
Out-of-state homebuyers are heading South, according to a study released by LendingTree.The study, which looked at where residents in each state are looking to move, found a Southern tilt in preferences among out-of-state homebuyers.LendingTree reviewed purchase mortgage loan requests for primary residences in all 50 states from October 2016 through October to find the percentage of all requests from residents looking to move outside of their current state.Florida was found to be the number one destination for such homebuyers, with 18 of the 50 states having the state as the number one new destination. The study found that 9.14% of all purchase mortgage requests covered in the study were made by consumers seeking to move to Florida.Meanwhile, Texas recorded the highest percentage of residents who looked to move within the state rather than out of it. The study found that 92.54% of purchase mortgage requests by Texans were for homes within the state. Michigan followed with the second highest percentage of residents seeking to move within the state.In contrast, Vermont saw the lowest percentage of residents looking to stay in the state. LendingTree found that 75.93% of purchase mortgage requests by residents of the state were for Vermont properties.LendingTree also found most homebuyers considering a move outside their home state do not want to go far. The study revealed that more than half of the most popular new destination states border the current state.
The U.S. solar industry let out a collective sigh of relief after trade commissioners proposed import tariffs that were less than half what a bankrupt U.S. panel maker is seeking in a closely watched trade case.

The U.S. International Trade Commission recommended tariffs on imported solar panels of as much as 35 percent during a hearing Tuesday. The independent agency will send its proposals to President Donald Trump, who faces a January deadline to make the final decision.

The tariff proposals are lower than requested by Suniva Inc. The Georgia-based manufacturer filed the trade case in April, and was seeking tariffs of 32 cents a watt for panel imports, about equal to the current average price. Other U.S. solar companies had been bracing for higher duties, which they said would have disrupted the $29 billion industry, stifling installations and triggering job cuts. Some developers were already stocking up on inventory in anticipation of higher costs and halting construction on projects because of pricing uncertainty.

RELATED: Ruling clouds solar's prospects

Thats below the price that people have been hoarding panels for, said Jeffrey Osborne, an analyst at Cowen & Co. On the demand side, jobs cuts wont be as bad as feared, but on the manufacturing side, job creation wont be as big. This would have a limited effect.

Imported solar panels for large solar farms are forecast to remain around 32 cents per watt in the U.S. next year, excluding the impact of tariffs, Bloomberg New Energy Finance analyst Nathan Serota said. A tariff of 30 percent to 35 percent would tack on 10 to 11 cents, putting modules at the same cost developers were paying in September 2016. Thats significantly less than developers had feared.

Nobody likes to pay more for their products, Serota said. But its hard to see how much better of an outcome the industry reasonably could have asked for."

The agency, which voted unanimously in September that U.S. solar manufacturers were being harmed by cheap imports, was divided on what to recommend to Trump. He has wide discretion to adopt one of the commissioners recommendations, do something else altogether, or nothing at all. His deadline for a decision is Jan. 12.

Chairman Rhonda Schmidtlein proposed tariffs of 35 percent on solar panels and as much as 30 percent on solar cells, beyond an initial quota that would face lower duties. Two other commissioners jointly proposed a 30 percent duty on cells beyond 1 gigawatt of imports. In both cases the duties would last for four years and decrease in regular intervals. The fourth commissioner recommended import quotas of 8.9 gigawatts for the first year, increasing by 1.4 gigawatts annually over the same period.

RELATED: Trump solar plan has industry nervous

Suniva said the proposals were disappointing. The company has argued that tariffs are needed to protect the U.S. solar manufacturing industry. Suniva has been joined in the case by the U.S. unit of bankrupt German panel maker SolarWorld AG, which echoed those concerns.

Manufacturing Extinction

The ITCs remedy simply will not fix the problem the ITC itself identified, and with it, well see very shortly the extinction of what remains of this manufacturing sector, Suniva said in a statement.

Solar shares in New York didnt move much on the news, with the exception of First Solar Inc. The biggest U.S. solar manufacturer uses a different technology and its products are exempt from the trade dispute. Analysts have said the company stands to gain the most from tariffs, and it slumped 8.6 percent to $55.22 at 1:45 p.m. in New York after the ITC hearing.

The ITC recommendations demonstrate Sunivas request was not permissible under law, Ed Fenster, chairman of the rooftop solar company Sunrun Inc., said in a statement. We believe the administration will go the next step, look past the narrow legal lens of this process and see what is plainly visible: the best move for Americas workers is to reject entirely this bail-out of two bankrupt companies.

--With assistance from Joe Ryan and Brian Eckhouse

To contact the reporters on this story: Ari Natter in Washington at anatter5@bloomberg.net, Christopher Martin in New York at cmartin11@bloomberg.net.

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Jon Morgan at jmorgan97@bloomberg.net, Will Wade, Steven Frank.
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A very valuable resource is flowing from under the grounds of the Permian Basin.

But this resource isnt coming in barrels or cubic feet. Instead its coming in bits and bytes, and its pipeline is about the width of a human hair.

Its known as Big Data and its gushing into smartphones, tablet computers and desktop computers with increasing velocity.

We collect more data than we can look at manually, said John Willis, drilling and completions manager, Occidental Oil & Gas, at the International Association of Drilling Contractors Shale Energy Workshop at the Horseshoe.

Data collection from wells began with wirelines then advanced into technology such as logging, while drilling and measurement and has morphed into real-time live streaming.

Information that used to take a half-day to arrive, or a half-hour, now takes a half-second, said Derek Garland, executive vice president at WellDrive.

Drilling rigs are live-streaming data as drill bits churn holes in the ground. Drilling logs can be generated, as can mud logs or fracturing data. Cameras attached to fiber optic cables provide real-time information on fracturing response.

The velocity of data is almost light-speed compared to just 10 years ago, Garland said in a phone interview from his Houston office.

He attributes the start of this data explosion to the rise of horizontal drilling, at which time the generation of data just exploded.

There are so many plays with horizontal drilling, so many service companies involved in designing and drilling the well, and each one is generating data, he said.

And that data has a value, he said. He equated that value to the cost of the well itself, which can range from $3 million to $12 million.

And that data has value, he said. That data can be used to cluster wells based on geological and fracture characteristics, to scan log files and pick geological formation tops, use case-based reasoning to match problems observed in the data and analyze the streaming data and fracturing data to predict reserves. But it has to be dealt with in a way that gives it meaning and context, said Garland.

MILLIONS INSTEAD OF THOUSANDS

Mishandling that data can be costly.

Garland cited the case of a client in Southern California who had spent several million dollars drilling four monitoring wells. Unfortunately, all the data on those wells has been misplaced, and now the company is going to have to spend millions more drilling new monitoring wells, he said. That prompted the company to hire his firm to collect and manage the data from the new wells.

Theyll spend millions instead of thousands, he said.

Thats an example of how files can get misplaced, mislabeled or miscategorized and lost if you dont deal with it at the point of inception, Garland said. In disk form, those files can be forgotten or overlooked for years.

That has given rise to companies like his, which operators hire to gather all of the data, process it, categorize, label, store and even disseminate that data among the various companies involved in a well. The technology that allows WellDrive to operate didnt exist 10 years ago, he said. Garland said WellDrive uses parallel processing over a proprietary system using multiple servers and custom codes.

Some companies, such as BP and Shell, prefer to handle data internally, creating information technology teams. Others outsource the task to companies such as WellDrive because it requires a lot of resources  from teams of people to servers, hardware and software.

Companies choose to outsource because they say theyre not data-management companies, he said.

Some companies are resistant to the concept of building data infrastructure, according to Garland.

They think they can manage with paper, he said.

One client in Houston with offices in a six-story, Class A building, has two floors filled with paper logs, maps and other data.

They told me it would cost too much to digitize all that paper. I asked them how much theyre paying to lease those two floors, he said.

Yet another client, based in Midland, relied on paper data until a new chief executive officer was hired who understands this explosion of data and is the companys tools to deal with 21st century technology.

People are realizing this is the best way to drive down costs, he said.

BILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF WISDOM

Garland sees Big Data as a continuation of the knowledge generated by almost a century of drilling wells in the Permian Basin that has generated billions of dollars worth of wisdom.

Wisdom is what we use every day to make decisions. Its the same thing in the oil industry. If you drill enough dry holes or drill and complete wells in a good manner, youll use that wisdom in the next well and the next well, he said.

Its transitioning from data to wisdom. Once you put context to the data, you have knowledge, and as you build on that knowledge, you have wisdom, he said.

Look at Pioneer Natural Resources and the thousands of wells theyve drilled. Thats hundreds of millions of dollars worth of knowledge and wisdom. Do they have access to it? he said.

The interesting thing about the oil and gas industry is that its a bit of a conundrum. Its still a brute force industry  youre not drilling with lasers  yet its so advanced in technology, Garland said.







DONT KNOW WHERE WELL BE

The industry is advancing so rapidly that we dont know where well be in five years, he said.

Current drilling technology is pushing field evaluations closer and closer to the bit, he said. That could require increased use of fiber optics,he said.

Completion companies are running fiber optic cables with cameras along with the casing and using them to generate logs, frac responses, pressure and temperatures in real time, Garland said. Fiber optics is generating a terabyte of data a day alone and were just starting. Look at all the wells being drilled today. If fiber optics is used in just half those wells, that would be a pedabyte a day generated in short order. We dont have the technology to deal with that much data.

Well have to create new names for the amount of data being generated. There will have to be technology invented that we havent even conceived of yet, he said. 
The main message from the Chamber of Commerce at its annual meeting in September was that the community has needs, and solutions must be found. The sentiment was much the same at Wednesdays State of the Economy, with one major point toward businesses:

Were going to be knocking on your door, and were going to be asking for help.

Speaking on behalf of the Midland Development Corp., board chairman Brent Hilliard, who was a panelist at the event, said its time to take action to get the Midland community  particularly its business community  involved in finding answers to many of the issues the city faces. These issues include a shortage of trained workers; the need to improve transportation, education and health care; and getting the message out beyond the city limits that Midland is the place for opportunity.

The oil and gas industry dominates Midlands economy, and its cyclical nature is well-documented. Hilliard sees that changing in this modern era of oil exploration and production.

The difference in the past three or four years versus back in the 1980s and 90s is this is a technology play, he told the Reporter-Telegram after the event. As we lower costs and improve productivity, that should create some opportunity. But it should eliminate some of the rollercoaster effect and how many employees leave. The price of oil isnt predictable, but the technology is, and theyre going to converge at some point.

Midland has a sub-3 percent unemployment rate and times are good, yet it seems there just arent enough employees to go around.

The way its supposed to work is that if you have a vibrant economy thats growing, employees are supposed to flock to it, Hilliard said. Its not supposed to be the other way around. So, why are they not flocking here? Why are they not coming here in droves?

Panelist Willie Taylor, CEO of Workforce Solutions Permian Basin, told the audience one major issue is the lack of child care services. Of its nearly $13.5 million in financial resources, Workforce Solutions spends about $8.3 million on child care.

Taylor also said training programs at area colleges are at capacity. Demand for training, such as for truck driving, outstrips the supply of available instructors. Taylor suggested employers dip into their existing staff and have one become an instructor. Midland College and Odessa College have told the Reporter-Telegram in the past that there is a critical shortage of truck driving instructors.

Russell Meyers, president and CEO of Midland Health, the third panelist, said $80 million is needed to make improvements to Midland Memorial Hospital. Midland Health wants a comprehensive electronic medical record system, a level-three neonatal intensive care unit for high-risk deliveries and the demolition or rehabilitation of old buildings.

The hospital also faces more than 20 physician retirements within five years. Recruiting physicians has been difficult for the hospital. The MDC has eased that burden through its partnership with Midland Health that works to recruit and retain doctors, according to a presentation to the MDC board earlier this year.

Raising the hospital district tax rate was a likely solution, Meyers said. We need resources. Most of the things we do dont pay for themselves.

Hilliard told the audience that improving Midland will come through better marketing. Were viewed a certain way or not at all outside the city, he said. We need to toot our own horn.
The widespread tumult has prompted unusual actions -- such as Weinstein being booted from industry organizations -- and created a climate of uncertainty. But a look back shows that Hollywood has dealt with disruption before, with even beloved shows and actors fighting to keep their balance amid controversy.

And hours after news broke about the allegations against Spacey, Netflix said it was pulling the plug on House of Cards, though the streaming network said the decision was made before the BuzzFeed News report on Spacey over the weekend. The network has not commented on plans for a Gore Vidal biopic starring Spacey that is currently in production.

In recent days, Hollywood has reacted swiftly to allegations of sexual harassment and assault: Harvey Weinstein was fired from the company he founded within days after initial reports of sexual harassment were published in the New York Times earlier this month.

Shows are infrequently derailed by concerns other than their ratings performance, said TV historian and former network executive Tim Brooks. "It usually depends on how popular the show is, not to put too fine a point on it," Brooks said Tuesday.

The suspension of filming on House of Cards Tuesday in response to allegations that star Kevin Spacey made sexual advances on a teen boy is a rare move in an industry that puts commerce first.

 Lucille Ball

During Hollywood's 1950s "red scare," Brooks said, I Love Lucy star Lucille Ball was accused of being a communist sympathizer. The sitcom co-starred her husband, Desi Arnaz, who took action. "Desi came out before a studio taping and said, 'The only thing red about Lucy is her hair, and that's not real,"' using humor to effectively defuse the situation, Brooks said. The show's No. 1 status also helped.

 Stacey Keach

Popularity and audience acceptance of a star's personal issues aided Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer when lead actor Stacey Keach served six months in jail for a drug-related arrest in England in the mid-1980s. The 1984-85 season was cut short, but the series resumed in 1986 with Keach aboard and aired until 1987 on CBS.

 Isaiah Washington

Grey's Anatomy was swamped by controversy in late 2006 when an on-set scuffle broke out between stars Patrick Dempsey and Isaiah Washington over Washington's use of a gay slur regarding another cast member. After Washington repeated the slur at the 2007 Golden Globes while denying he had used it, ABC rebuked him publicly, as did co-star Katherine Heigl. He was subsequently fired, and the medical drama from TV hitmaker Shonda Rhimes sailed on even as Washington blamed racism for his treatment.

 Spacey's Cast Mates

An actor's popularity with his cast mates can determine his fate, Brooks said. "If they like him, if they get along with him, it's easy enough to say, 'If I don't get my career ruined in this, I'll stick with him,"' he said.

How Spacey's cast mates are reacting to him and the allegations remains to be seen. Robin Wright, who stars opposite Spacey as his wife, hasn't commented publicly, but her Twitter feed includes a number of posts backing social issues including female rights and education.

Netflix and House of Cards producer Media Rights Capital had already decided to end the series at the end of next season, its sixth, but on Tuesday they chose to pause the production, which is filmed in Baltimore, "to give us time to review the current situation and to address any concerns of our cast and crew." Spacey was not scheduled to work that day.

 Allegations, Response

The move comes after actor Anthony Rapp came forward with claims Spacey made inappropriate sexual advances toward him in 1986, when Rapp was 14. Spacey responded by saying he doesn't remember the alleged encounter but if he acted the way Rapp alleges, "I owe him the sincerest apology for what would have been deeply inappropriate drunken behavior." He also spoke publicly for the first time about being gay, which draw backlash from some observers as an attempt at deflection.

The fallout for Spacey also included the loss of an award he was going to get later this month by The International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. The group says "it will not honor Kevin Spacey with the 2017 International Emmy Founders Award," which is to honor "an individual who crosses cultural boundaries to touch humanity." Spacey was to get it at a gala on Nov. 20 in New York City. Past recipients include Rhimes, Steven Spielberg and J.J. Abrams.

A release date for the final House of Cards episodes has yet to be announced. Netflix is developing a possible spinoff of the award-winning drama that helped put the streaming service on the TV series map.


Midland County Sheriffs Office

A Midland man was arrested Sunday after he allegedly used a firearm in the commission of an offense, according to court documents.

Tervouria Shaw, 27, was released Monday on two $100,000 bonds for second-degree felony charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
Spain's High Court Tuesday called for ousted Catalonia President Carles Puigdemont to appear in court on Thursday morning.

Spanish prosecutors announced plans to seek sedition, rebellion and embezzlement charges against Puigdemont and his colleagues, who are currently in Brussels "for safety purposes and freedom".

Puigdemont said Tuesday he would not be seeking asylum in Belgium. He and 13 members of his sacked administration were called to appear in court at 9 a.m. on Thursday.

Chief prosecutor Jose Manuel Maza said Monday he would seek to charge the leaders of Catalonia who led a push to secede from Spain. It is up to a court to decide whether to move forward with the charges, which could bring lengthy jail terms, including up to 30 years for rebellion.


A high-ranking North Korean defector is in the U.S. for his first visit since escaping to South Korea last year.

Thae Yong-ho, who was Pyongyang's deputy ambassador to the U.K, spoke at a public event in Washington on Tuesday where he called for peace on the Korean Peninsula. Thae will also appear before Congress to share his view of the North Korean nuclear issue with the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

The former diplomat is one of the most senior North Korean officials to defect to South Korea, and has given numerous speeches and interviews on the threats posed by the North.


GET OUR APP Our Spectrum News app is the most convenient way to get the stories that matter to you. Download it here.
Korea and China agreed Tuesday to normalize diplomatic ties frayed by a spat over the deployment of a Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense battery from the U.S. here.

The two foreign ministries posted a joint statement on their websites and said the two presidents will meet on the sidelines of APEC forum in Da Nang, Vietnam next week.

"Both sides shared the view that the strengthening of exchanges and cooperation between Korea and China serves their common interests and agreed to expeditiously bring exchanges and cooperation in all areas back on a normal development track," the statement said.

On the THAAD dispute they agreed to disagree. "Korea took note of China's position and concern regarding the THAAD issue," it said. "Korea made it clear that the system is, pursuant to the original purpose of its deployment, not directed at a third party and thus does not undermine China's strategic security interests."

"China reiterated that it opposes the THAAD deployment in Korea to protect its national security," it added. "At the same time, China took note of the position stated by Korea, and hoped that Korea would deal with related issues appropriately."

Korean companies hope that this will end a grueling unofficial boycott that has crippled their business in China.

Moon also plans to meet Chinese Premier Li Keqiang during the ASEAN summit in Manila on Nov. 13-14. Both Seoul and Beijing are pushing to hold a trilateral summit with Japan. Citing a diplomatic source, the South China Morning Post reported that China hopes Moon will visit Beijing before then.

Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump is set to visit Japan, Korea and China starting Sunday.


The father of two children murdered by Luis Toledo took the stand during the first day of Toledo's sentencing Wednesday.

The children, Thalia and Michael Otto, were the children of Toledo's wife, Yessenia Suarez. Toledo was convicted last week of killing the three in 2013 after he found out Suarez had an affair with a coworker.

Toledo faces a minimum of life in prison but could get the death penalty.

Talking about Thalia and Michael, their father talked about his two children's lives and the fact that he still doesn't know where their bodies are.

At this point, I still dont know where my children are... The only way I believe I will find peace in my lifetime is if I am able to lay them to rest. I would like a place to visit them and talk to them.

Toledo listened without any visible reaction.

Meanwhile, the State Attorney's Office argued Toledo planned the killing of his stepchildren, and for that, he should be put to death.

This man was supposed to protect these babies. He brutally slaughtered them," prosecutor Ryan Will said.

Toledo's defense team claimed its client has suffered and continues to suffer from psychological issues. They hope that's enough to convice jurors he does not deserve to be sentenced to death.

This is not an excuse but rather an explanation as to how he ended up in a seat over there facing a jury like you, defense attorney Michael Nielsen said.

Jurors also heard more about Toledo's previous convictions and violent criminal history.

The sentencing phase in Toledo's trial will begin again Thursday morning with more witnesses for the defense.
More long lines are expected Wednesday in Marion County on day two of food assistance sign-up.

Food assistance site opens at Florida Horse Park in Ocala

RELATED: Food for Florida opens new Marion County location



Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) officials say they had to open the site at the Florida Horse Park in Ocala after closing one at the Marion County Sheriff's Office due to safety and traffic concerns.

The Disaster Food Stamp Program helps those affected by Hurricane Irma who have storm-related expenses.

"I had friends who had to miss a full day of work," said Elease Samms. "They were in line for four to six hours, whereas this was I think two hours total for the entire thing."

The site is open from 7 a.m. until 6 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday.

DCF officials are urging people to pre-register online.


An 18-year-old man is accused of wearing a 'Scream' mask and wielding a plastic knife to threaten two women, according to an Orlando Police Department arrest affidavit.

Bernardo Jose Teran charged with aggravated assault

Teran is accused of scaring two women



Bernardo Jose Teran, originally from Venezuela, has been charged with aggravated assault while wearing a mask, with a $5,000 bond. (Orange Police Department)

It started on Sunday around 8:20 p.m., when a woman at the Royal Bay Apartments at 5560 Curry Ford Rd., was taking items out of the trunk of her car. Teran walked up to her wearing all black and the white "Scream" mask from the movie of the same name, stated the arrest affidavit.

Teran is then accused of raising a knife above his head and pointing the blade towards her, the report described.

The woman ran inside her apartment and saw the Orlando man run away.

Ten minutes later, another woman in front of her home at Miranda Condominium Complex on Dixie Belle Drive was unloading items from her car trunk when Teran approached her in the same outfit and wielded the same plastic knife, stated the affidavit.

The woman ran inside her home and saw Teran walk out of the development.

Teran was walking in a wooded area near the gate of the complex before he was caught by police, according to the affidavit.
Korea's hottest couple Song Joong-ki and Song Hye-kyo tied the knot on Tuesday at a hotel in Seoul.

The couple co-starred in the megahit TV series "Descendants of the Sun" last year, and they took their relationship off screen.

They finally admitted their relationship in July with abrupt wedding plans after repeatedly denying rumors they were dating.

The outdoor ceremony was held in private and did not allow any press coverage.

There was no officiant. Instead, the bride's old friend and musical star Ock Joo-hyun sang a love song for the wedding, and co-actors such Lee Kwang-soo and Yoo Ah-in read letters of congratulation. Guests were also wowed when actor Park Bo-gum played the piano to congratulate the newlyweds.

Many stars and celebrities gathered to see the ceremony. Among the guests was Chinese actress Zhang Ziyi, who has appeared with the bride in Chinese films "The Grandmaster" and "The Crossing."


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A Central Texas man who was dressed as Santa Claus at a Halloween costume party is accused of firing on a group of people, killing one and injuring three others.

Police were called to the scene early Sunday morning in the 5500 block of Avenue F in North Austin.

Officers arrived to find four people with gunshot wounds. Michael McCloskey, 37, died of his wounds at the Dell Seton Medical Center, and two other women were taken to the same hospital to recover from their injuries.

RELATED: Suspect at large after stabbing man during brawl at North Side strip club

A fourth person who was shot refused medical transport to the hospital, according to a news release from Austin police.

Witnesses told police that the shooter, who was a resident of the home, went to a neighbor's home a few doors down from the party after the shooting.

Officers found the suspect, 32-year-old Randall Gaston Jones, outside that home and brought him into custody without incident.

Jones allegedly told a neighbor an altercation had occurred and he was going to surrender to police. He placed his black handgun on the neighbor's "Welcome" mat as he waited to be arrested, according to the release.

READ ALSO: One dead, one injured in altercation at S.A. sports complex

Jones, charged with one count of murder and two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, had his bail set at $700,000, according to Travis County Jail records.

The fatal shooting marks the 27th murder investigation in Austin in 2017.

Text "NEWS" to 77453 for breaking news alerts from mySA.com

Fares Sabawi covers crime in San Antonio and Bexar County for mySA.com. Read more of his stories here. | fsabawi@mysa.com | Twitter: @FaresInSA


MERIDEN  A city woman accused of killing her 8-year-old son before setting their Davis Street home on fire in November 2016 appeared in court this morning. A judge kept her bond at $1 million.

Her arrest warrant, released after her court appearance, notes that she was having issues with her estranged husband and posted Why did I have a child? on Twitter two days before she allegedly killed her son. Tiki torch oil was found on the clothing she and her son were wearing when they were found by firefighters.

Karin Ziolkowski, 41, was taken into custody on Oct. 13 in North Carolina, where she had been living. Ziolkowski was transferred into the custody of the Meriden Police Department Tuesday after waiving extradition and formally charged with murder and second-degree arson. She was held in lieu of $1 million bond and arraigned in Meriden Superior Court Wednesday morning. A judge kept bond at $1 million and transferred the case to New Haven Superior Court, with an appearance scheduled for Nov. 7.

Her husband, Marc Ziolkowski, was at the courthouse but refused to comment as he left.

About 7:20 a.m. on Nov. 14, 2016, firefighters responded to 13 Davis St., a single family home. Officials said at the time that Elijah Ziolkowski, 8, died of smoke inhalation after firefighters pulled him and his mother from a bedroom at the rear of the home. Karin Ziolkowski suffered severe smoke inhalation and was taken to Hartford Hospital. Shortly after the fire, authorities ruled that it was intentionally set. Marc Ziolkowski, father of Elijah and primary tenant at the house, was at a womans house in Torrington when the fire was set, according to Karin Ziolkowskis arrest warrant.

On Oct. 13, authorities announced Karen Ziolkowski was taken into custody in North Carolina and charged in the death of her son, who was a third-grade student at Israel Putnam School. Police determined she suffocated her son to death prior to setting the house on fire using Tiki torch oil. Fire officials determined the fire had two points of origin.

The medical examiner's office said Elijah's official cause of death was homicidal asphyxia and acute diphenhydramine intoxication. Diphenhydramine is an antihistamine, commonly referred to as Benadryl. The amount of diphenhydramine in his system was more than twice the level associated with normal therapeutic use and potentially placed him in a twilight state of incapacitation, but was likely not high enough to be lethal, the warrant states. The antihistamine was also found in Karen Ziolkowskis blood. The medical examiner determined Elijah was dead prior to the smoke reaching him, the warrant notes.

The day after the fire, on Nov. 15, 2016, police received a call from Karen Ziolkowskis stepmother, who lives in North Carolina. She told police Karen Ziolkowski planned on moving to North Carolina with Elijah. She also said Karen and Marc Ziolkowski often fought, and that Elijah was in counseling at school due to the issues between his parents, the warrant continues. Karin Ziolkowski was interviewed by police for the first time on Nov. 15, 2016 while recovering at Hartford Hospital. She told authorities she had been verbally abused by her husband during the course of their marriage, and that he would stay at another womans house every other weekend.

She moved into the Davis Street home with her son in June 2016 after being evicted from her home on Olive Street, the warrant notes. She told police her husband offered to take her and Elijah in if they had no place to go. While living there, Karen Ziolkowksi told police she often had to take Elijah to work because Marc Ziolkowski would often leave. She told police she wanted to move to North Carolina and asked her husband to give her permission to leave through an agreement in their pending divorce, but he refused, according to the warrant. She claimed to have no memory about the morning of the fire or the evening before.

Marc Ziolkowski was first interviewed on Nov. 16, 2016. He told police he and Karin were married in January 2008 after learning she was pregnant with Elijah, the warrant states. They separated in September 2015 and Karin moved to Olive Street with Elijah, he told police.

He stated that Karin appeared miserable and depressed because of their marital problems, the warrant states. They filed for divorce in March 2016. When she was evicted from her Olive Street home, Marc Ziolkowski told police, she threatened to take Elijah to North Carolina if he didnt let them move into the Davis Street home.

While living on Davis Street together, he noted, some days were good and others were tense.

He told police that during the weeks leading up to the fire, Karin Ziolkowski was a little harder on her son. In the two weeks prior, he said, she yelled at him and sent him to bed without dinner twice.

On Nov. 11, 2016, he went to spend the weekend with a woman in Torrington. She called him a (expletive) liar as he left the house, he recalled to police, and believed that he had been cheating on her during their marriage.

Police spoke with several of Karin Ziolkowskis family members, who said she was in a state of unhappiness related to financial and marital problems, according to the warrant. On Nov. 17, 2016, she was again interviewed by police. She reiterated that she had no memory of the fire and questioned why police were talking to her, the warrant notes.

On Nov. 13, 2016, a Sunday and the day before the fire, she told police she and Elijah watched Star Wars and had dinner in the evening. Elijah read a book before going to sleep in the same bed as his mother, something he often did, Karin Ziolkowski told police. Later in the same interview with police. she said she had no memory of the day. She reiterated how she wanted to take Elijah to North Carolina and start a new life, but couldnt go without her husbands permission. During the interview, she discussed her marital issues with Marc and said she had been depressed for a long time, the warrant states.

On Nov. 22, 2016, a detective met with Marc Ziolkowski at the Davis Street home to pick up personal belongings in preparation for Elijahs wake later in the day. The detective took Marc into the basement to see if anything seemed peculiar since he knew what the home looked like prior to the fire. Marc pointed out the melted remains of a carbon monoxide detector on the wall, and three batteries on a nearby ledge that were for the detector, the warrant states. He said it seemed abnormal, the warrant notes.

While Marc was looking for a tie clip in the home, he found a melted plastic bottle of Tiki torch lamp oil. Upon the discovery, he became noticeably upset and began crying and knelt on the floor, the warrant states. He told the detective the oil is normally kept on the back porch. The bottle was compared with other evidence and investigators determined it was utilized to start the fire, according to the warrant. The oil was also found on Karin and Elijahs clothing.

On Nov. 23, 2016, police learned of a Twitter account belonging to Karin Ziolkowski after speaking with her aunt. On Nov. 10, 2016, four days prior to the fire, she tweeted fire extinguisher and devils playground, following by #takethatasyouwill, according to the warrant. The next day around the time her husband left to see a woman in Torrington, she tweeted empty promises, again followed by #takethatasyouwill, the warrant continues. Two days before the fire, the warrant states, she tweeted why did I have a child.
U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis on Monday claimed President Donald Trump can act as commander-in-chief in case of an imminent threat from North Korea without approval from Congress.

Asked what authority the U.S. president has over military options against the North, Mattis told a Senate hearing, "I believe under Article II, he has a responsibility, obviously, to protect the country and if there was not time, I could imagine him not consulting or consulting as he's doing something along the lines, for example, of what we did at Shayrat air field in Syria, when we struck that and the Congress was notified immediately."

"But in this case of North Korea, it would be a direct imminent or actual attack on the United States I think Article II would apply," he added.

Under the Constitution, only Congress has the power to declare war. But Article II stipulates that the president must protect and defend the Constitution and can order an attack on a foreign country without congressional authorization if it attacks the U.S. or its allies or if such an attack is imminent.

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said during the same hearing, "I think it would have to be fact-based and given consideration as to the circumstances around an imminent threat."

Tillerson sidestepped a question whether the North's possession of nuclear weapons is an imminent threat. "I'm always reluctant to get into too many hypotheticals because the possession could be sitting in an underground, not-ready-to-be-used condition or the possession could be sitting upright on a TEL (transporter erector launcher), about to be launched," he said.

Asked if the U.S. can attack the North preemptively with a nuclear weapon, Mattis said that too is a hypothetical question but added that the president has a duty to defend the country.


The legislature and its vendor for television programming reached an agreement Tuesday evening to avoid a shutdown just hours before their contract was set to expire.

The Office of Legislative Management and the Connecticut Network, or CT-N, reached a temporary agreement to ensure the network remained on the air Wednesday, but its future remains uncertain.

Were trying to be flexible and were committed to make something work, said William Bevacqua, vice president of administration and communications for the Connecticut Public Affairs Network, CT-Ns parent organization.

Bevacqua and James Tracy, OLM executive director, both characterized the extension as a per diem agreement, allowing CT-N to operate day-to-day on a pro-rated budget of $1.2 million annually.

The two sides will also continue to negotiate terms for a permanent agreement after CT-Ns contract to broadcast state government expired over the summer. That contract had offered extensions, but the last one expired at the end of the day Tuesday.

The current budget represents a roughly 65 percent cut from the $2.7 million budget CT-N had last year, and is lower than any of the funding levels the network had been looking at for the current fiscal year.

Bevacqua said CT-N and CPAN, a non-profit organization, are using available resources to cover costs for the time being, but he sees that as only a short-term solution to continue talks.

In requesting proposals for a vendor  CT-N was the only submission  OLM indicated the new contract would pay $2.4 million, a reduction coinciding with the view of legislative leaders that the network needed to reign in the scope of its coverage.

Legislative leaders, and staff leaders for all four caucuses, say CT-N needs to prioritize its coverage of the legislature, and limit its taping of Executive Branch activities, state Supreme Court proceedings, community events, and, especially, original programming to reduce costs.

CT-N and OLM had been locked in a disagreement over the terms of the contract when the legislature last adopted a budget that cuts funding to $1.6 million, further complicating efforts to reach an agreement.

Bevacqua said Wednesday that network officials are trying to push for a public-private partnership that would allow CT-N to supplement state funding. CT-N last session proposed allow the network to instead impose a fee on cable bills, but that idea never advanced beyond the committee level.

Cable providers labeled the proposal a tax on customers, and some lawmakers expressed concerns that the fee wouldnt be fair because it would give free access to people who subscribe to other television services.

msavino@record-journal.com

203-317-2266

Twitter: @reporter_savino
NEW YORK  Sayfullo Saipov sped a rented truck down nearly a mile of a Hudson River bike path on Tuesday afternoon, crushing eight people to death and injuring 11 more, before crashing in front of Stuyvesant High School in Tribeca.

Then he began to run.

But at Chambers Street, there was Officer Ryan Nash.

Nash fired nine shots at Saipov, ending the worst terrorist attack in New York City since Sept. 11, 2001. The police commissioner, James P. ONeill, said Tuesday that one bullet struck Saipov in his abdomen. Saipov, who police say is responsible for the attack, was brandishing two weapons, which turned out to be a pellet gun and a paintball gun.

To NYPD Officer Ryan Nash-thank you for your bravery & quick action in stopping yesterdays terrorist attack, William J. Bratton, a former commissioner of the New York Police Department, wrote on Twitter. Truly one of New Yorks Finest.

In a news conference on Wednesday, Mayor Bill de Blasio said he had spoken to Nash since the attack. He is a good young man; he was very humble about what he did, but what he did was extraordinary, the mayor said. And it gave people such faith and such appreciation in our police force.

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo joined in the praise, calling the officer talented and brave.

Nash is a five-year veteran of the force, working day tours in the 1st Precinct in Lower Manhattan, according to a person familiar with the details of Tuesdays attack. He was one of four officers responding to a call from Stuyvesant at 345 Chambers St. on Tuesday afternoon. Nash and his partner, Officer John Hasiotis, had been summoned to help with a student who was in the nurses office and had indicated that he wanted to kill himself. Two other officers had been called as backup.

Outside, Saipovs vehicular rampage was ending with a crash at Chambers Street and West Street, where he slammed his white rental truck into a yellow school bus and fled into the streets.

The four officers rushed out of the school, turning east toward the highway and confronting Saipov on the street. He had what appeared to be pistols in each hand and turned toward the officers as they approached. Nash was the closest, and fired nine times from his department-issued service gun.

When Saipov dropped to the pavement, a civilian  who had previously tried to tackle the suspect as he was getting out of the rented truck  approached the wounded man, who was still clutching the two weapons.

The civilian kicked the guns out of Saipovs hands.

Saipov, an Uzbek immigrant and sometime Uber driver living in Paterson, New Jersey, has not yet been charged. He was hospitalized at Bellevue Hospital Center and has been speaking with investigators, police said.
Actor Kim Joo-hyuk died of a head injury sustained in a car accident and not a heart attack, the autopsy has revealed.

A witness earlier told police Kim was grabbing his chest after colliding with another car. But police and the National Forensic Service said Tuesday there was no evidence of myocardial infarction. Results of a more detailed autopsy will become available in about a week.

According to police, Kim's Mercedes-Benz SUV collided twice with a sedan before careening on the sidewalk on a busy boulevard near COEX in southern Seoul. The SUV then crashed into the side of an apartment complex about 150 m away.

The driver of the other car told police that Kim suddenly grabbed his chest and drove straight into the sidewalk after the collision.

It remains a mystery why Kim careened into the sidewalk. Lee Yoon-sung, a forensics expert at Seoul National University, said, "A person can suddenly lose consciousness due to angina or arrhythmia, and that can be difficult to detect in an autopsy."

The actor's management company said Kim did not suffer from any illness.


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Hewlett Packard Enterprise will move its manufacturing operations and 290 related jobs out of northwest Houston after Hurricane Harvey "irreparably damaged" facilities there.

HPE will also move more than 3,000 non-manufacturing employees to a new site in the greater Houston area. Its current campus is located next to Cypress Creek, which has flooded two years in a row. The changes were announced publicly and to employees on Wednesday.

HPE President Antonio Neri emphasized the company's "long history" here and its commitment to the region.

"We look forward to many more years as part of the community in a new Houston-area campus, purpose-built for our company," he said in a statement.

HPE is relocating its manufacturing operations to its site in Chippewa Falls, Wis., and to HPE's supply chain partner Flex in Austin. The company will attempt to relocate or find other roles within HPE for as many manufacturing employees as possible.

Most HPE employees, including sales, business unit, supply chain, legal and human resources teams, will remain in the current campus until a new Houston location has been identified and built, according to the news release.

It's not the first local business to cite devastating impacts from the hurricane in forcing a dislocation. Telecheck Services, a 53-year-old check-guarantee company, said it is closing its Sugar Land headquarters and laying off 406 workers.

First Data Corp., the Atlanta-based parent company of Telecheck, informed the Texas Workforce Commission of its plans last month. Those employees can relocate to other First Data facilities across the country or accept a severance from the company.

Yet Patrick Jankowski, senior vice president of research for the Greater Houston Partnership, said Wednesday that he doesn't expect Hurricane Harvey to halt business growth in Houston. He said it could change how the city is developed, and it could prompt businesses to do some retrofitting or mitigation work to prevent similar damage in the future. But he doesn't expect to see a mass exodus.

"Harvey will affect how people do business and where they do business, but it's not going to prevent them from doing business," Jankowski said.

Jankowski added that Hurricane Harvey primarily affected residential communities and small businesses. Flooding didn't affect a large portion of Houston's industrial community.

"It's a concern whenever we lose any manufacturer. It's a concern whenever we lose any employer," he said. "This is most likely an isolated incident. It's not a tide of things to come."
The U.S. Congressional Research Service has laid out seven possible military options the U.S. could take to respond to the nuclear weapons threat from North Korea.

The CRS laid them out in a report titled "The North Korean Nuclear Challenge: Military Options and Issues for Congress" last week. It also lists their benefits and drawbacks.

The first option is "maintaining the military status quo," which aims to bring the North to the dialogue table through diplomatic and economic pressure.

The second is "enhanced containment and deterrence" through the deployment of a Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense system, reinforcements of U.S. troops, and re-deployment of tactical nuclear weapons in South Korea.

The report says, "Toward that end, some in South Korea, in particular, the Liberty Korea Party, have called for the re-deployment of U.S. tactical nuclear weapons." But it adds that this option is unlikely to change the Kim Jong-un regime's attitude.

The third is "denying [North Korea] acquisition of delivery systems capable of threatening the United States," i.e. intercepting North Korean missiles during tests so that the regime cannot perfect the technology. But it adds there is no guarantee that all missiles can be intercepted.

The fourth is "eliminating ICBM facilities and launch pads" with bombs or cruise missiles, but this would invite counterattack.

The fifth is "eliminating nuclear facilities," but that depends on finding them all.

The sixth is "regime change" through the use of military force, which could spark a full-scale war on the Korean Peninsula.

The last is "withdrawing U.S. military forces" from South Korea premised on the North's denuclearization.

The report makes no specific recommendation, adding, "These notional options are intended to help Congress appreciate the different possible ways force might be employed to accomplish the goal of denuclearizing of the Korean Peninsula."


Fall may be here, but that isnt stopping area entrepreneurs from serving up frosty treats.

Angela Cordoba and Marco Ciccone opened Freshest Ice Creams Oct. 9, and the new shop sells 15 flavors inspired by the ice creams Cordobas family has made and sold in Colombia for the past 25 years. Options include coconut mango, vanilla, dulce de leche, peanut, guava, Oreo and more, many available in vegan, dairy free, coconut milk and alkaline water-based versions.
STRATFORD  Laura Hoydick, the Republican candidate for mayor, announced Wednesday that if elected, shell step down from her 120th District House seat.

The announcement was unexpected as she earlier took a wait and see approach when asked that question by reporters. It also takes some of wind out of the sails of her two opponents, who have accused her of intending to be a part-time mayor.
On this date in ...

1917: The young wife of Frank J. Herbert of South Pearl Street in Albany attempted to do what many a supportive spouse throughout the country was doing: wish her husband well as his draft number was called and he left for training camp, and find work to support herself. Both proved more difficult than she originally thought. That's why she appealed to the chairman of her husband's draft board, who then referred her to attorney Edward J. O'Connell. The latter man, working pro bono, was able to secure a military discharge for Herbert.

1967: Schenectady County Democrats, realizing tax cuts in an election year were probably the most important part of any political party's platform, passed a record county budget of $16.5 million, but also cut the tax rate by $1.01. A week ago, the City Council, also under Democratic control, passed a record city budget but shaved the tax rate by 8.4 cents. The budget adopted came seven days before the 1967 election, which would have Schenectady residents choose their first board of representatives.

1992: President Bush refused to say whether he'd fire Iran-Contra prosecutor Lawrence Walsh after Election Day, but accused him of engaging in a witch hunt. Bush went on the attack against Walsh as Democrat Edmund S. Muskie, a member of the bipartisan panel that investigated the Iran-Contra affair, raised new questions about the president's role in the arms-for-hostage dealings.

Want to read more about the Capital Region's past? Have any memories or thoughts about how our history relates to today's events? See http://blog.timesunion.com/history/
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MIDDLETOWN  Traffic on already busy Route 66 may soon be slowed by the overwhelming scent of fresh desserts, breads and coffee wafting from Mozzicato DePasquale Bakery when it opens on Washington Street in early January.

The bakery is beloved around the region for sweet Italian confections: pasta ciotti, cannoli, biscotti, bigne shells filled with sweet ricotta, vanilla and chocolate cream, rum rolls, sfogliatelle with mandarin-flavored ricotta filling, tiramisu hazelnut rolls and countless other delights.

The 3,000-square-foot Middletown location, at 762 Washington St., will expand the footprint of Mozzicato DePasquale, said co-owner Rino Mozzicato, who will oversee day-to-day operations. Its construction will add a fourth location to the familys empire, which includes the Frankin Avenue bakery in the capital city, and others on New Britain Avenue in Plainville and North Colony Road in Wallingford.

Middletown Common Councilman Sebastian N. Giuiliano, whose father was born in Melilli , recalled trips to Mazzottas Bakery, which now offers catering from its Ballfall Road location.

It started out in the 1980s where the new College Street Apartments high rise is being built on the corner of Broad and Court streets, Giuliano said.

Later, Mazzottas moved to South Main Street, where Antonios Market & Catering is now.

We used to have a whole bunch of them in town and every Sunday morning, wed go to get fresh bread, Giuliano said.

You would have to buy two loaves because one of them wasnt going to make it back home, he said. One was to bring home, the other was to eat along the way. It came out of the oven warm. Theres nothing like it.

The cannoli is from Sicily, he said. Ill never say no to one. Some of them get it just right. If you put too much sugar in the ricotta, it comes out way too sweet. Youve got to get the consistency right.

While in America, customers can choose cannoli that has the ends dipped in chocolate chips, while some prefer chopped almonds on one end and a cherry on the other, he said. Thats the way I grew up with them, said Giuliano, who added that the shell is actually deep-fried manicotti pasta.

Since Taste of Italy closed its Newfield Street bakery earlier this year, the city hasnt had an authentic Sicilian retail store. Melilli Caffe & Grill, which occupied the storefront prior to Taste of Italy, moved across the river to 264 Main St. in Portland.

The Mozzicato family is also building a 4,370-square-foot MedExpress walk-in urgent care clinic next door at 752 Washington St., next to Valvoline Instant Oil Change. Work on the facility, which will be leased by MedExpress, headquartered in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania Complete, will occupy the space by the end of the year.

Theyve demolished the two-family house and are now excavating and preparing to do the footings and foundations, said Jim Sakonchick, president of the Southington-based Kratzert & Jones civil engineering and land surveying firm, architects of the project.

The empty land on the corner of Plaza Drive, where the antique shop was knocked down, will be a different development, Mozzicato said.

Middletown is a good community. Weve done business in Middletown for many years, he said. We felt like it was the right fit for us.

The new bakery will be similar to the Plainville and Wallingford ones, he said. The space will be a retail bakery and cafe, while the other half will be reserved for baking and preparation of cakes and pastries, Mozzicato said.

It will be identical to our other three stores. In Hartford, we have a separate cafe, we have a liquor license and were open later in the evenings, Mozzicato said. But we found, in the bakery, people like to sit down and have a pastry while theyre hanging around in the bakery itself, so its nice.

Meanwhile, fans can enjoy the shops desserts at Linos Market in Durham, Public Market on Main Street downtown, and other restaurants in the Higganum section of Haddam and the Cobalt portion of East Hampton, he said.

Middletown will end its dearth of such pastry shops, satifying both area residents and Sicilians from Melilli, Middletowns sister city.

Gino Mozzicato, who came to the U.S. from Italy in 1968, founded Mozzicato Pastry Shop in Hartford in 1973 with his wife, Gisella.

The pastry shop specialized in cakes, pastries and cookies and also featured imported Italian confections, according to its website. In 1975, the couple purchased DePasquale Bakery, a nearby business founded in 1908, which specialized in breads and rolls. The Mozzicatos combined the two product lines, becoming Mozzicato DePasquale Bakery and Pastry Shop, the website said.

In 1978, the couple opened Mozzicato Caffe, modeled after the many caffes of Italy, according to the family. In 1993, along with their children Gina, Paolo and Rino Mazzotta, they expanded and renovated the bakery. The caffe serves espresso, cappuccino, lattes, teas, Italian cookies, cakes, pastries, gelato and granita, along with a full liquor bar.

For information, call 860-296-0426 or see mozzicatobakery.com.
In a bizarre trial playing out in Toronto, a man is accused of enslaving and brutally beating a homeless couple for years, stealing their disability checks and even abducting their newborn son.

Gary Willett Sr. has pleaded not guilty to charges of assault, forcible confinement, failure to provide the necessaries of life, theft of more than $5,000 and the abduction of a child under 14. His wife, Maria Willett, faces similar charges and may stand trial separately.

Willett Sr. denies enslaving the homeless couple, saying they were allowed to come and go from his home as they wished, his lawyer told The Washington Post. He said he used monthly disability checks from the couple to pay for rent and food. He maintains that he and his wife did not, in fact, abduct the couple's child - he says they adopted him in a consensual decision with the boy's parents, the lawyer said.

But prosecutors and the allegedly enslaved couple, Tim Goldrick and Barbara Bennett, tell a different story.

Goldrick, who testified that he has "intellectual issues," said the Willetts coerced him into staying at their home. While Bennett managed to eventually escape, Goldrick allegedly remained imprisoned over the course of more than two decades, according to court testimony reported extensively by the Toronto Star.

"They said, if you ever try to leave, that we'd put you in a mental institution," he told the court, according to the Star. "And I didn't want that so I didn't leave."

Willett Sr. first came across the homeless couple in 1988, when he found the pair eating food out of dumpsters on the streets of Toronto. Willett offered to help the couple, finding them an apartment in a building where he worked as the superintendent, the man's lawyer, Sam Goldstein, told The Washington Post.

In the years that followed, prosecutors say the living situation took a grim turn.

After moving into a second building with the Willetts, Bennett became pregnant by Goldrick. On the day she gave birth, in 1989, Bennett presented herself at the hospital as Willett's wife, Maria, using the woman's medical identification. Prosecutors allege the Willetts forced Bennett to lie so they could take her son.

The Willetts named him Gary Willett Jr., and raised him as their own, never telling him the truth about his biological parents.

Bennett said she gave up her son because "I figured if I didn't I'd probably get hit," she told prosecutors, the Star reported. "At that time, I didn't know if it was wrong or not."

She testified in court that she would be slapped in the face if she didn't clean the house properly.

"I would get hit and get told to do it again. Clean it up," she said. "Clean up the mess."

"Family shattered by allegations man lived like a prisoner in basement for decades

- carlososorio (@carlososorio) October 28, 2017"

Then, in 1993, the tale took another twist: Bennett became pregnant again, by a brother of Willett Sr.'s. About six months later, Bennett left with her infant daughter, leaving Goldrick and her biological son, Willett Jr., behind, Goldstein said. Her mother helped her escape the home.

During the years after Bennett left, Goldrick alleges that he continued to suffer physical and emotional abuse at the hands of the Willetts.

Willett would hit, kick and punch Goldrick - sometimes in the middle of his sleep - for unknown reasons, he said. On some occasions, the beatings were so brutal Goldrick would bleed from the nose and mouth, filling a toilet bowl with blood, Goldrick told a court, according to the Star.

For 12 years, he lived in a tiny area in the basement hallway between two rooms, the Star reported. He alleges he was only able to leave for occasional errands and chores, with permission from the Willetts. Willett Sr. admitted to monitoring footage from security cameras set up around his home, including one near the kitchen fridge.

Goldrick, who is 6-foot-2, became emaciated, reaching a weight of only 106 pounds, according to court testimony. His teeth began to break, rot and fall out.

If Goldrick tried to take food from the fridge, Willett would beat him, he said.

All the while, Willett Jr., the son, knew Goldrick only as Tim, the man who lived in the basement. The boy bore witness to some of the abuse. He recounted a time in which he saw Goldrick coughing up blood, but Goldrick instructed him not to tell anybody. He testified that Goldrick served as a "slave-type maid" for the family, the Star reported.

In 2012, a dispute arose between family members, leading Willett Jr. to leave the home. Relatives began telling him they suspected Willett Sr. was not his real father. Willett Jr. managed to get Goldrick out of the home that year, convincing him to get into a car with him.

A paternity test later confirmed that there is a 90-percent chance Goldrick is the father of Willett Jr., who is now 28, the Star reported.

Police filed charges against the Willetts in 2014. All evidence has been presented to the judge hearing the case. Closing statements are set for Nov. 10.

Goldrick, now 56 and living with his biological son, told the Star he still suffers nightmares and shakes from the abuse he suffered for years.

"This has wrecked my life," Willett Jr., the son, said. "I think about why it happened, why is my life like this?"

"How is someone stolen as a child and everything is OK?" he added.
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California violates freedom of speech by requiring antiabortion crisis pregnancy centers to tell patients that the state makes abortions available at little or no cost, a Riverside County judge has ruled, reopening debate over a law that federal courts had upheld.

The law, sponsored by Assemblyman David Chiu, D-San Francisco, took effect last year. It requires all state-licensed reproductive health centers to post notices listing low-cost or free reproductive services available under state law, including abortion. The notices must also include the phone number of the county social service center.

A federal appeals court upheld the law in October 2016, saying it merely required the clinics to provide health care information that patients have a right to receive. Abortion foes have asked the U.S. Supreme Court to review that ruling, but they also filed another suit in state court on behalf of a clinic in Riverside County, and won the first round this week.

By requiring a pregnancy clinic to tell its patients how they can contact an abortion provider, the state forces the clinic to point the way to the abortion clinic and can leave patients with the belief they were referred to an abortion provider by that clinic, Superior Court Judge Gloria Trask said Monday.

The law interferes both with the right of the clinician to speak and with the right of the patient to hear what the clinician would say in the absence of state censorship, Trask said. The state inserts itself into the private and sensitive relationship between a woman and her physician.

Her ruling bars enforcement of the law against only one clinic, Go Mobile for Life, run by the Scharpen Foundation in the city of Temecula. A statewide ruling will follow once higher courts take up an appeal by Attorney General Xavier Becerra, who is defending the law.

Information is power, and all women should have access to the information they need when making personal health-care decisions, Becerra said in a statement announcing the appeal.

Scott Scharpen, president of the Scharpen Foundation, said that being compelled to share information with our patients about abortion availability, which is contrary to our mission and purpose, is fundamentally wrong. Lives will be saved because of this ruling.

The lawsuit drew financial support from Advocates for Faith & Freedom, a conservative religious nonprofit. It relied on free-speech guarantees in the California Constitution, arguing that those rights were stronger than U.S. constitutional protections invoked in the federal court cases.

Crisis pregnancy centers offer free counseling and services, including pregnancy tests and ultrasound examinations, to pregnant women. The centers steer patients away from abortions, and have been known to advise women that abortion is physically and psychologically harmful.

According to a legislative staff analysis of Chius bill in 2015, there were at the time about 2,500 such clinics nationwide and at least 228 in California.

In her ruling, Trask said the state was entitled to tell people about the availability of abortion but must do so on its own, with television ads, billboards or sex education classes.

This statute compels the clinic to speak words with which it profoundly disagrees when the state has numerous alternative methods of publishing its message, the judge said.

Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com

Twitter: @egelko
A television ad depicting minority children running from a pickup truck sporting a bumper sticker for Virginia Republican Ed Gillespie was designed to criticize the gubernatorial candidate's ties to President Donald Trump - and to address concerns that Democratic candidate Ralph Northam is struggling to connect with minority voters, according to people familiar with the strategy.

The ad was removed late Tuesday after a terrorism attack in New York City involved a pickup truck running down people on a bike path.

But before it was removed, it was designed to appeal to Latino voters. Public polling shows Northam easily beating Gillespie among black and Latino voters, but a recent private poll shared widely among minority advocacy groups sparked worry about the Democrat's appeal. Northam's campaign urged the groups not to release the poll's findings, according to multiple people familiar with the matter - a point not disputed by his campaign.

In the weeks since the poll was conducted, progressive groups have worked to tie Gillespie to Trump, whose approval rating among Latinos nationwide hovers in the teens. They worry that if Gillespie wins, his campaign ads - which raised concerns about illegal immigration and "sanctuary cities" and voiced support for Confederate-era monuments - could be replicated nationwide next year by GOP candidates eager to turn out conservative voters.

"If we can respond in a very hard way right now, that causes our people to turn out in force and stomp out that fire. Hopefully we will do that," Latino Victory Fund (LVF) President Cristobal J. Alex said in an interview.

Alex's group produced the new ad, "American Nightmare," which features four young children - two Latino boys, an African American child and a Muslim girl wearing a headscarf - running from a white man driving a pickup truck adorned with the Gillespie sticker and a Confederate flag. The truck chases the children through a suburban neighborhood into a dead-end alley - at which point the children awake from a bad dream.

On late Tuesday afternoon, the LVF removed the commercial from YouTube and deleted its tweet promoting it, citing the suspected terrorist attack, which killed at least eight.

"We knew our ad would ruffle feathers. We held a mirror up to the Republican Party and they don't like what they see. We have decided to pull our ad at this time," Alex said. "Given recent events, we will be placing other powerful ads into rotation that highlight the reasons we need to elect progressive leaders in Virginia."

The Northam campaign did not ask the Latino Victory Fund to take down the ad, said spokesman David Turner, but believes "it is appropriate and the right thing to do."

LVF is a progressive organization that promotes and endorses Latino Democratic political candidates. The group plans to air the ad through Election Day on Spanish-language television stations in the Richmond and Washington markets and during local ad breaks on CNN and MSNBC in the Washington area.

"Gillespie brought this on with his relentless attacks on our community," Alex said. "This is a direct response."

Gillespie told Fox News Channel on Tuesday that the ad shows that Northam "doesn't just disagree with millions of Virginians who don't share his liberal policy agenda, he disdains us. And he disdains the people who want to have a civil debate about the policies."

Northam's campaign had nothing to do with the ad, but the candidate defended it on Monday, saying that the tactics used by Gillespie's campaign "have promoted fearmongering, hatred, bigotry, racial divisiveness. I mean, it's upset a lot of communities, and they have the right to express their views as well."

The private poll that caused worry showed Northam's support among Latino and black voters lower than expected across the commonwealth, according to multiple people who reviewed the data.

The private poll, published on Oct. 16, was paid for by America's Voice, an immigration change organization.

Frank Sharry, the group's founder and executive director, did not deny that his group paid for the poll.

"Not able to talk about this now," he said in an email. "Check back with me after the election."

Turner initially said he was not familiar with the poll, but after checking further he did not deny that the campaign had discouraged its release.

"We get a lot of data from a variety of organizations," he said. "Generally, unless I am responding to something like this, we do not release our data because there's no benefit to giving Gillespie free polling information."

He added that support from minority voters tends to rise as the election gets closer, and he said that internal polling shows the campaign matching or exceeding the performance of Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D) with Latino and black voters at his election in 2013.

Surveying Latino voters in Virginia is difficult, given that they made up just 4.6 percent of all voters statewide last year, according to the Pew Research Center. But the private poll suggests Northam is lagging slightly behind the Latino support Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton received last year. She won 65 percent of the Latino vote in Virginia, compared with 30 percent for Trump, according to exit polls. Clinton won the state by about five percentage points.

A Washington Post-Schar School poll released Tuesday did not poll enough Latino voters to generate a measurable sample. But among nonwhite voters overall, Northam leads Gillespie 73 percent to 17 percent - similar to Clinton's margins in Virginia last year. Other statewide polls conducted last month by the Wason Center and Fox News showed Northam trouncing Gillespie among nonwhite voters.

But out on the trail, the Northam campaign's outreach to Latino voters sometimes appears to fall short.

Two "VA Vota" happy hours in Northern Virginia marketed to Latino voters drew sparse crowds. More recently, U.S. Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev. - the first female Hispanic elected to the body - met with a small group of Latino student activists at George Mason University, telling them that they need Northam in the governor's mansion if they want Virginia to issue driver's licenses and discounted tuition to undocumented immigrants. Only eight student activists attended.

One advocate familiar with the strategy behind the new ad said that years of polling showed that such dramatic messages can work in the closing days of a campaign.

"All of us in the political class are talking about the Gillespie MS-13 ads. It turns out that a lot of people weren't aware it's on TV - he isn't running it on Telemundo," said the advocate, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to speak frankly about strategy. "We know from previous efforts that when people feel that threat and feel attacked, they respond."

Colin Rogero, who directed and produced the ad for the LVF, said the commercial is intended to evoke the same kind of visceral emotional reaction that Republicans have successfully used in their own advertising. The pickup truck chasing children is a metaphor for how communities of color feel targeted, he said.

"We needed to push back as forcefully as we have been pushed," Rogero said. "Let's show people who may not be experiencing this what people feel like and the real kind of palpable fear that exists right now."

The progressive group People for the American Way is also airing a Spanish-language TV message across the commonwealth that tries connecting Gillespie to Trump.

"Ed Gillespie talks about us, he demonizes us with divisive and racist language, calling us criminals," an announcer says in Spanish. "Let's not allow Trump's policies in Virginia."

CASA in Action, an immigration advocacy group that is politically active in the Washington region, is also spending roughly $170,000 to air spots on Spanish-language television, radio and websites to promote the Democratic statewide slate.

"We're dealing with difficult moments in this community," a young woman says in one of the ads.

"That's why we need leaders who think about us," a young man adds.

- - -

Scott Clement contributed to this report.
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NORWALK  Where Washington Street turns into Fort Point Street, on the other side of Veterans Park, stands a row of businesses built in the late 1800s and early 1900s.

Made of brick and wood, with decorative molding and apartments above, the Victorians are the last remnant of what was once a business corridor that ran onto the edges of the old Washington Street Bridge. From the wooden bridge, pedestrians could enter businesses such as Radels Oyster Co., which was built on stilts above the marsh.

However, when the former bridge was torn down, so were all of the old buildings perched alongside it, leaving only the tail end of the strip where buildings were built on solid ground. Now J&L Bakery, Los Molcajetes and the surrounding buildings make up Liberty Square.

The square has lived on to witness the replacement of another bridge  the Walk Bridge a few hundred feet to the north. The replacement, not expected to begin until 2019 at the earliest, will cause disruption on both sides of Liberty Square. A staging ground for the construction will be created to the north, behind the stores. Eversource energy, meanwhile, plans to reroute its power lines to the south, running them under the riverbed and the Visitors Docks area in Veterans Memorial Park.

But this bridge replacement, unlike the one before, is working to preserve the businesses on Fort Point Street. To mitigate the impacts of taking down the Walk Bridge, the state Department of Transportation has promised to invest in local historic resources, a legal requirement when removing a resource listed in the National Register of Historic Places. As a part of mitigation, it has agreed to help Liberty Square apply to become a historic district.

The businesses involved are split between support and hesitation at the news.

At least one person is wondering why the area may receive a historic designation instead of money (the DOT will provide up to $450,000 for two museum exhibits and $2.5 million for restoration work for the Lockwood-Mathews Mansion).

My only question is why is there $2.5 million going into the Lockwood-Mathews Mansion. Who vetted the projects? said Tony DAndrea, who owns Select Plastics LLC, a business next door to the area that would receive the historic designation. Wouldnt it be better to put that money into something thats adjacent to the area being impacted? Are there any better projects, such as the repair to the Veterans Park launch facility that these funds could go toward?

The docks, which DAndrea worked with as a former Harbor Commission chairman, and which the city has planned to replace due to deterioration, may be disturbed as part of the Walk Bridge replacement.

However, the DOT emphasized its mitigation projects had to have a historical aspect and originated with local citizens and organizations.

(All) of the elements of the plan had to have some kind of historical context, said Judd Everhart, director of communications at the DOT. So, with respect to the Visitors Dock in Veterans Park, that would not qualify.

Patsy Brescia, who jointly owns one of the buildings affected and is chairwoman of the Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum board of trustees, said she was reserving her opinion until she understood the full ramifications of the historic designation.

Im studying the literature, she said. Does this restrict us in any way? What are the advantages to us as property owners?

Tod Bryant, who consults with owners of historic buildings and was involved in conversations with the DOT as the president of the Norwalk Preservation Trust, said the historic designation does not affect owners in any way.

People always want to know what the restrictions are, and there just arent any, he said. Unless you use the state or federal tax credits or grants.

Such grants are available for the owners of historic buildings, but upon using that money for restoration, owners are bound to the Secretary of Interiors Standards for Rehabilitation, a list of 10 rules requiring that buildings be preserved. In addition, in Connecticut, there can be injunctions against demolishing buildings in the National Register of Historic Places if feasible and prudent alternatives are proven.

Tenants from the square were confused by possible historic designation, but open to the idea.

Antonio Migliaccio, a project manager at Arianna Braun Architects, was surprised the square could be historic, since many people had never heard of it. I tell everyone I work in Liberty Square, and they say, What? or Huh?  But he said he was happy the square would be preserved.

Dan Perri, also a project manager, noted there were often empty shot-sized bottles of liquor in the parking lot.

That takes away from the historic feel, he said, though he wondered if becoming a historic district would make things nicer.

But Peter Papadopoulos, who, along with his brother, owns a few addresses in the square, remembers the area from when he was a child. It is a historic area and location for us. When we were young, growing up, we remember it.

He had not attended any of the four meetings the DOT hosted regarding historic resource impacts, though he said he had been invited  For business owners, it can be hard to find the time  but he supported Liberty Square joining the National Register of Historic Places.

I think it should be a historic district, he said. Its beautiful.

Papadopoulos said he and his brother worked to preserve and restore the buildings they own. The manager of Ninety-9 Bottles, located in one of those buildings, pointed out historic details throughout the liquor store. The floors here are 90 years old, said Matt Buono, pointing. This used to be Dunnes Hardware ... The door I believe is original as well.

For Buono, the historic designation was nice, but wouldnt change much about the businesss philosophy. We try to keep it as original as possible."

Reporting contributed by Robert Koch

rschuetz@hearstmediact.com; @raschuetz
The government lost a lawsuit against Yoo Dae-kyun, the son of shipping magnate Yoo Byung-eon, to pay compensation to the victims of the April 2014 ferry disaster.

The Seoul Central District Court said Tuesday that there is no evidence that the younger Yoo was involved in running the ferry company.

The government is spending an estimated W500 billion to compensate the victims (US$1=W1,120). But it has so far only managed to recoup W75 million from the Yoo family.

Yoo senior was an undischarged bankrupt and nominally owned none of the businesses he ran. But the presiding judge said the management of Cheonghaejin Marine, which operated the ferry, "clearly took place under the supervision of chairman Yoo alone."

The judge added that any formal charges against Yoo junior for embezzling money from the businesses cannot be linked to the accident.


NEW CANAAN  The states average gas prices are down 2 cents compared to a week ago and down a dime compared to this time last month. Connecticuts average gas price registers $2.69, compared to last weeks $2.71 and last months $2.79. Nationally, however, prices continue to fluctuate because of a volatile market in some regions of the country. The national average of a gallon of regular is $2.47, up a penny compared to this time last week, but down 9 cents compared to this time last month. Experts attribute the regional volatility to a recent trend where demand is increasing; inventory is dropping and crude oil prices are fluctuating. Despite the volatility, AAA expects national gas prices to continue to drop as the holidays approach.

NEW CANAAN  New Canaan Library will choose an artist for its biannual Artist in Residence program. The artist will have their work on display in the H. Pelham Curtis Gallery April 9 to May 2, and will participate in library-sponsored events that engage the community with their art. The artist will work with library staff to create learning experiences for the community. Artists will be contacted by Nov. 15 to be notified of their application status. For information, contact Emily Oumano at eoumano@newcanaanlibrary.org or 203-594-5079. More for you Texas nursing homes are missing something: nurses

Family of Erik Cantu provide update on his recovery
1 Arrest settlement: A Utah nurse who was arrested for refusing to let a police officer draw blood from an unconscious patient said Tuesday that she was settling with Salt Lake City and the university that runs the hospital for $500,000. Nurse Alex Wubbels and her lawyer, Karra Porter, announced the move nearly two months after they released police body-camera video showing Detective Jeff Payne handcuffing Wubbels. The footage drew widespread attention online amid the ongoing national conversation about police use of force.

2 Inmates to be released: Hundreds of inmates are about to get early releases from Louisiana prisons and jails, a milestone in a push to reduce the nations highest incarceration rate. The early release of roughly 1,500 inmates on Wednesday is the product of a new package of laws overhauling the states criminal justice system. The legislation won bipartisan support from state lawmakers, but some elected officials have denounced the changes. Outrage has been stirred up by racially charged remarks by a sheriff who warned that bad prisoners will be freed from his north Louisiana jail and also complained that hes losing free labor from the good ones.
The dirty little secret about attack ads is that they usually work. That's why campaigns run them, even though voters constantly complain about how much they hate negativity.

Ed Gillespie, the Republican nominee for governor in Virginia, has been running some doozies this fall. He's spent millions on often misleading ads that paint his patrician opponent, Democratic Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam, as soft on pedophiles and the Latino gang MS-13. He's made the protection of Confederate monuments one of his signature issues. "I'm for keeping 'em up, and he's for taking 'em down," Gillespie says to camera. "And that's a big difference in November!"

These spots represent a stunning about-face for a former Republican National Committee chairman who made a name for himself evangelizing about the need for the GOP to reject dog whistles and improve outreach to minorities. But Gillespie seems willing to trade his reputation for victory if that's what required. And his strategy is paying dividends.

A new Washington Post-Schar School poll finds that Northam's lead has narrowed to five percentage points, down from 13 points a month ago. He leads among likely voters 49 percent to Gillespie's 44 percent, a margin that is not statistically significant. The Republican has closed a motivation gap and seen his share of support rise among supporters of President Donald Trump, without driving away independents and moderates.

Gillespie is still the underdog, but if he prevails next week, it will be because he found a way to thread the needle in the age of Trump, maintaining his appeal to establishment Republicans while also wading into the fever swamps of Trumpism.

This matters, even if you don't live in Virginia, because dozens of Republicans across the country are going to follow Gillespie's playbook in 2018 if it works. Top GOP operatives in the battle for control of the House tell me that they're watching closely, running polls and using focus groups to gauge the potency of the wedge issues Gillespie has embraced - specifically MS-13 and "sanctuary cities." They think Gillespie is showing a possible path to victory for several vulnerable Republicans in exurban districts. You are also likely to see similar lines of attack against Democratic senators and in several marquee governor's races in purple states.

Our story about the new poll quotes several respondents who are unnerved by Gillespie's deflating and divisive messaging. A slight majority of Virginians - 51 percent - think Gillespie has run "a mainly negative campaign." But 37 percent say the same of Northam. The Post's Scott Clement and Laura Vozzella note in their write-up of the results that there are only modest signs of backlash in the crosstabs:

--Voters split about evenly when asked whom they trust to handle illegal immigration, but Gillespie has an eight-percentage-point edge on trust to handle "crime and public safety."

--Gillespie trailed by more than 20 points at the beginning of October in the swing-voting Northern Virginia exurbs that encompass Loudoun County. Now he's tied with Northam at 44 percent.

--Among self-identified conservatives, Gillespie's lead over Northam grew from 56 points to 69 points.

--Gillespie's lead among white voters without college degrees has increased from 25 points to 35 points. (Trump won this group by 47 points in 2016 exit polls.)

--Gillespie's supporters have caught up to Northam's in motivation to vote and in attention to the race. Among registered voters, an identical 71 percent of both Northam and Gillespie supporters say they are certain to vote or have already done so, a shift from four weeks ago, when Northam backers had a nearly 10-point edge on this measure.

---

Gillespie's commercials have moved the needle enough that Northam feels compelled to run a response ad decrying the "fearmongering" as "despicable" and "false." "I'm a pediatrician, and for Ed Gillespie to say I would tolerate anyone hurting a child is despicable," Northam says to the camera.

In politics, there's some truth to the old saying that when you're explaining you're losing. But there's also an existential risk in letting attacks this nasty go unanswered. That's how "swiftboated" became a verb in 2004.

-- Northam remains more likely than not to win next Tuesday. He has a big advantage on who voters trust more to handle health care and race, two concerns that are top of mind. He's also up 11 points among women, who are more likely to vote than men.

But the race is closer than the fundamentals suggest it should be. Virginia has moved to the left over the past decade. Barack Obama became the first Democrat to carry the Old Dominion in a presidential election since Lyndon Johnson. Last year, with Sen. Tim Kaine on the ticket, Virginia was the only Southern state that Hillary Clinton carried.

Trump's approval rating is 38 percent among likely voters, with 59 percent disapproving. Fifty-two percent of likely voters strongly disapprove of Trump. You'd expect that to be a significant anchor pulling down Gillespie, but Democrats have not successfully tied him to the unpopular president. (He's getting 44 percent of the vote.)

Gillespie now receives 95 percent support among people who approve of Trump's job performance. Northam is getting only 81 percent of those who disapprove of Trump's performance.

Northam is trying to rectify his problem with the base in the home stretch. The lieutenant governor will spend Wednesday evening trying to gin up progressives in the D.C. suburbs, for example, by stumping with Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., in Arlington and then Rep. Keith Ellison, D-Minn., in Dale City.

-- The latest wrinkle: One liberal outside group chose to fight fire with fire, but it's backfiring.

The Latino Victory Fund launched a television ad on Monday that depicts four minority children running away from a pickup truck that is being driven by a white man, flying a Confederate flag and has a Gillespie bumper sticker. The group pulled the commercial Tuesday night after a terror attack in New York City involved a pickup truck running down people on a bike path.

The ad was commissioned after an internal poll by America's Voice, an immigration advocacy group, showed a lack of enthusiasm for Northam among Latinos and African Americans. "Northam's campaign urged the groups not to release the poll's findings, according to multiple people familiar with the matter - a point not disputed by his campaign," The Post's Ed O'Keefe, Gregory S. Schneider and Fenit Nirappil scoop. "Surveying Latino voters in Virginia is difficult, given that they made up just 4.6 percent of all voters statewide last year . . . But the private poll suggests Northam is lagging slightly behind the Latino support [Clinton] received last year."

"We knew our ad would ruffle feathers. We held a mirror up to the Republican Party and they don't like what they see," Latino Victory Fund President Cristobal J. Alex said Tuesday night. "Gillespie brought this on with his relentless attacks on our community. This is a direct response."

Northam's campaign was not responsible for the commercial, but the candidate declined to repudiate it. Northam said Monday that Gillespie's tactics "have promoted fearmongering, hatred, bigotry, racial divisiveness." He added that "it's upset a lot of communities, and they have the right to express their views as well." Tuesday night, a Northam spokesman said they didn't ask the group to pull the spot but "it is appropriate and the right thing to do."

-- The truck ad has given Gillespie an opening to take umbrage and further consolidate his base by winning sympathy from Trump supporters who may remain uneasy with him. "Ralph Northam doesn't just disagree with millions of Virginians who don't share his liberal policy agenda," Gillespie said during a segment on "Fox and Friends" Tuesday morning that focused on the ad. "He disdains us."

It also lets Gillespie muddy the waters with independents by arguing that neither side has a clean nose.

The Post's Editorial Board, which endorsed Northam over the weekend, calls on him in Wednesday's paper to strongly condemn the "despicable" LVF ad: "There is no question that if this were a race to the bottom, Mr. Gillespie would be the winner, having spent millions of dollars on ads that use specious claims and appeals to race and ethnicity to scare and divide. . . . But just because Mr. Gillespie has resorted to gutter tactics doesn't give others leave to do the same. The Latino Victory Fund ad was vile. Among other faults, it glossed over the fact that Mr. Gillespie condemned the white-supremacist violence in Charlottesville far more directly than did President Trump."

---

With Breanne Deppisch and Joanie Greve
TORRINGTON  City residents are mourning the death and celebrating the life of Deputy Fire Chief Christopher Pepler.

Pepler, 43, was a Torrington native and came to his vocation at an early age, he told The Register Citizen in a 2013 interview when he was promoted to deputy fire chief. He died Wednesday morning of cardiac arrest, and had also been battling cancer.

My goal since I was 4 years old, in Torrington, was to be a firefighter, Pepler said in 2013. The fire department came to my school in kindergarten and I had my picture on the front page of the Register in 1978 squirting the hose and I said to my parents that I want to be a firefighter, no different than anybody else, only I stuck with it.

Pepler volunteered with the Torringford Fire Department at age 15, then with the Harwinton West Side Department, and was hired by the Torrington Fire Department in 1999.

The Torrington Fire Department and Local 1567 IAFF marked his passing on Facebook Wednesday, as did members of the city community and those who knew him around the country.

Chris had a passion for training and was fortunate to travel extensively training others in Connecticut and across North America, fire officials wrote on Facebook. Chris became involved as an instructor at the Wolcott Regional Fire School, where he served as an Assistant Director of Training for the School. Chris has taught many classes and has touched many lives, not only in Connecticut, but also across North America elevating the level of service provided in the Fire Service today.

Frank Hudak of Local 1567 posted a note in remembrance of Pepler on the unions Facebook page. Pepler served as the president of the union for five years before being appointed Deputy Chief.

Hudak, a retired captain with the Torrington Fire Department, said Pepler grew up with his three sons, as they lived on the same block.

I saw his interest in the fire service when he was 8-9 years old, and he never stopped trying to be a better firefighter, said Hudak. Well Chief you did it, you earned all the respect and honor being shown to you, you fought the great fight right to the end. Your love of the Lord, your beautiful family, the fire service, and love for all your fellow firefighters is now being returned to you. RIP D/Chief, you did good, and you will be missed.

Torrington Fire Chief Gary Brunoli said Pepler's concern for the city was paramount in the departments decision-making, and that he worked to ensure the department and others across the country were well-trained.

"It's going to be a big loss for the city, for the department," said Brunoli.

Mayor Elinor Carbone expressed her sadness at the news in a note to city staff Wednesday morning.

It is with the greatest of sadness that I deliver to you today the heartbreaking news of the death of our colleague and friend, Deputy Fire Chief, Christopher Pepler, said Carbone. Ive been informed that Chris died early this morning after a most dignified and courageous battle with cancer.

Chris was an extraordinary person. His dedication and commitment to the Torrington Fire Department and the City of Torrington has been integral to the safety of our citizens, Carbone said. This is truly a great loss to our community as a whole. Everyone whose life he touched will profoundly miss him.

The chance to be a part of his home community came easily to Pepler, he said in 2013.

I love Torrington, said Pepler. "I love knowing everybody. Everywhere I go somewhere, my wife often gets frustrated, what took you so long? I always bump into somebody and I've got the gift of gab so I have no problem talking to people.

He was the beloved husband of Lori (Bevivino) Pepler for eighteen years and father and best friend of Nathan Pepler, according to his obituary.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, Nov. 4 at 10 a.m. at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, 78 Litchfield Rd., Harwinton. Family members and friends are asked to meet at the church.

Instead of flowers, well-wishers are asked to consider memorial contributions to the Nathan Pepler Education Fund, c/o Torrington Savings Bank, P. O. Box 478, 129 Main St., Torrington, CT, according to the obituary.

Reach Ben Lambert at william.lambert@hearstmediact.com.
CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. - A third Muslim military recruit has been added to the list of alleged victims of a Marine Corps drill instructor accused of terrorizing and abusing young men under his care.

During their opening statements at his court-martial here Tuesday, military prosecutors said Gunnery Sgt. Joseph Felix put two Muslim recruits inside an industrial clothes dryer at the Marines' storied recruit training facility in Parris Island, S.C. - starting it in one case. He's also accused of repeatedly slapping another Muslim recruit seconds before the young man jumped three stories to his death.

Felix is charged with cruelty and maltreatment, obstruction of justice, drunk and disorderly conduct and failure to obey a general order. He has pleaded not guilty.

Twenty Marine drill instructors were swept up this year in a broad investigation into claims of hazing and physical abuse targeting recruits at Parris Island, which the tradition-obsessed Marines consider hallowed ground. The scandal shocked the military community and appalled those in Congress with oversight of the armed forces. Several of those instructors face court-martial. One was already acquitted.

Prosecutors say Felix called all three Muslim recruits "terrorists" and insulted their religion during whiskey-fueled tirades in July 2015 and March 2016. The new charges concern the alleged abuse of Rekan Hawez. The Navy Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) learned of the incident while questioning members of Felix's platoon, said Capt. Joshua Pena, a Marine Corps spokesman. Hawez told investigators the drill instructor put him in a dryer but did not turn it on.

In a small, ranch-style courtroom Tuesday, the burly former drill instructor scowled as one of his accusers, Lance Cpl. Ameer Bourmeche, detailed his treatment as a boot-camp recruit two years ago. Bourmeche's story, along with the alleged maltreatment and suicide of Raheel Siddiqui in 2016, has galvanized the Marine Corps to confront issues of hazing, bullying and religious persecution in boot camp and beyond.

Bourmeche, 23, a hydraulic mechanic from Brooklyn, is now stationed at Camp Pendleton in California. He told the court he awoke in the middle of the night by shouts of "Where's the terrorist?" He said two drill instructors marched him to the showers, where Felix elbowed him in the chin.

"I could tell they were drunk," Bourmeche said. "I smelled alcohol."

After being forced to do push-ups, crunches and other exercises while in the shower, Bourmeche said Felix and the other drill instructor, Sgt. Michael Eldridge, told him they needed to dry him off, so they took him to the "Maytag room" and made him climb into an industrial-size clothes dryer. Bourmeche said they turned on the dryer, with him inside, three separate times.

"I was tumbling in there," Bourmeche said. "I was burning up."

Eldridge also was charged over the alleged incident, but he is cooperating with the prosecution and is expected to face less-severe punishment. He's one of 76 witnesses likely to testify during Felix's court-martial, including seven drill instructors in all.

After each tumble, the dryer was turned off and the drill instructors asked him if he was still a Muslim, Bourmeche testified. Twice he said he was, and they turned the dryer back on. So on the third time, he said he was no longer a Muslim, and that's when his abuse stopped - for one night.

The next night, Bourmeche said, the same two drill instructors woke him again, this time tying him up while bent over, his head almost touching his legs. They then forced him to march and run around the squad bay, he said. Later the drill instructors made him yell "Allahu Akbar" - which in Arabic means God is great - while simulating the beheading of his platoon-mate, Bourmeche said.

Military prosecutor Capt. Corey Weilert asked Bourmeche what he was thinking while trapped in the dryer.

"That I made a big mistake by joining the Marine Corps," he said. "I lost all trust in my senior leaders and my brothers."

Felix also is accused of terrorizing Siddiqui. After days of cruel treatment in March 2016, the recruit snapped, sprinted out of the squad bay and leapt over a rail, falling more than 40 feet onto a concrete staircase, according to military investigations. Siddiqui was pronounced dead hours later. A medical examiner said the cause was blunt force head trauma.

The court ruled in July that actions leading up to Siddiqui's death are fair game during Felix's trial, and prosecutors brought up the incident early in their opening statement Tuesday. They did not suggest Felix was directly responsible for Siddiqui's apparent suicide, but they argued that his alleged treatment of the recruit was criminal and discriminatory.

"Recruit Raheel Siddiqui is deceased," said Lt. Col. Michael Libretto, the judge, in his opening remarks to the member panel, a jury of eight Marines of equal or superior military rank to Felix. "As a result of his death, Raheel Siddiqui will not be a witness in this proceeding."

Eldridge was responsible for the cruelest treatment, Felix's lawyer, Lt. Cdr. Daniel Bridges, said.

"Eldridge did most of it," Bridges said. "He put [Bourmeche] in [the dryer] and turned it on."

Bridges also argued that Bourmeche gave conflicting statements to law enforcement months after the incident, and that the absence of skin burns show he exaggerated how long he was in the dryer when it was turned on.

Felix's supervisor also was court-martialed for failing to remove Felix, then a senior drill instructor, from his role supervising recruits despite credible reports of past inappropriate or violent conduct.

Lt. Col. Joshua Kissoon, the former commander of Parris Island's 3rd Recruit Training Battalion, is charged with making false statements, failing to heed an order, and conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman. He will face court-martial at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia, but no trial date has been set.
South Korea and China agreed Tuesday to normalize diplomatic ties frayed by the deployment of a Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense battery from the U.S. here and the enduing unofficial boycott of South Korean business there. The two foreign ministries posted a joint statement on their websites and said the two presidents will meet on the sidelines of APEC forum in Da Nang, Vietnam next week. They also raised the possibility of President Moon Jae-in visiting China before the end of this year. Relations with China are important because it is a necessary partner in dealing with the North Korean nuclear threat and in trade. But the agreement does not contain a single line acknowledging that South Korea was the victim of the dispute. Instead it makes it look like the perpetrator.

On Monday, Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha told a National Assembly hearing that the government is not considering the deployment of additional THAAD systems and will not join the U.S.-led missile defense shield. She also said that the security cooperation with the U.S. and Japan will not turn into a trilateral military alliance. Did that commitment result from a deal made with China?

Seoul chose to let the U.S. deploy the THAAD battery here due to the growing missile threat from North Korea. It is not aimed at China and would be ineffective if it was. It is South Korea's sovereign right to defend itself. Seoul never protested against China's deployment of radar systems capable of snooping on its own military, whereas China's THAAD retaliation was an violation of South Korea's sovereign rights. If it ignores that, it makes itself vulnerable to more bullying from China.

The government virtually promised China it will not deploy any more THAAD batteries, even though that deployment was not a choice but a necessity. One THAAD system can defend only a third of South Korea's territory, and experts say at least two more are needed. Any government must first consider its responsibility for the safety of its people. How can it promise another country that it will not bring in more versions of a particular weapon that would be crucial to that responsibility?

Seoul already cooperates with Japan and the U.S. in dealing with North Korea and does not need to expand that framework into a military alliance. But if it wants to, it is perfectly within its rights to do so and does not need permission from China. China has become more brazen in its global ambitions ever since President Xi Jinping came to power. There is no telling how Northeast Asian politics will change, and South Korea could end up being threatened even more by Chinese dominance than North Korean weapons. The government must take a long-term view to this problem.

China suffered no damage from the latest dispute since the THAAD battery was not aimed at it. But Korean businesses suffered massive losses in China estimated at more than US$10 billion. They were a direct result of boycotts and chicanery from China that shamelessly violated international standards. But China did not even apologize, let alone promise to make amends. The South Korean government hardly even made efforts to lodge a protest. In fact, Seoul just seems grateful that China's ire has run its course.

China is an important partner, but partners need to respect each other's sovereignty and make sure bilateral ties are conducted in a normal framework. If not, Seoul remains exposed to further retaliation whenever Beijing is miffed about something and decides to resort to such strong-arm tactics again. Seoul needs to set a better precedent.


Bexar County Commissioners Court on Tuesday approved $9.2 million to restore the historic Alameda Theater, which will reopen as a performing arts facility.

A $23 million project that includes funding from the city, county and Texas Public Radio will pay for the renovation, while the Alameda Theater Conservancy, a new nonprofit entity, will manage and oversee construction.

Texas Public Radio plans to move its corporate headquarters into the theater and put $5 million toward the renovation project.

The countys funding matches the total approved by the San Antonio City Council on Aug. 31. The city and county are each putting $9 million toward capital improvements and $200,000 to pay for operations.

We got absolutely nowhere in over 20 years, County Judge Nelson Wolff said, referencing what he called multiple false starts to restore the theater since the city bought it in the 1990s while Wolff was mayor.

I think the catalyst for this renovation and the money that we've already put into it was Texas Public Radio, Wolff added. I don't think people understand how significant that is to bring (TPR) ... right along (San Pedro) Creek.

An oversight committee made up of representatives from the county, city, TPR and the nonprofit conservancy will help the different bodies coordinate aspects such as hiring an architect, reviewing and approving design and construction plans, and setting milestones to keep the project on track.

San Pedro Creek Project Coordinator Tony Canez said an architect will be hired by early 2018, and the project will go through a design phase during the summer. The project will be completed by the end of 2020, Canez said.

TPR President and Chief Executive Joyce Slocum said the radio group plans to roughly double its staff, from 43 to 87 employees.

It will allow us to grow in both size and scope of ambition, she said. It also gives us a location that's visible to the public, which we are not right now.

The theaters restoration will include a new thrust stage, and the audience will be reorganized into tiers that can hold either theater seats or event tables and chairs. Wolff said he liked the versatility the new design would afford.

Meanwhile, TPRs new headquarters in the theater will include a production studio on the ground floor and a 160-seat black box theater, which Slocum said would allow them to host certain public events. She recalled when TPR hosted a mayoral runoff debate in June without room for a crowd.

We could barely fit the candidates and their campaign managers into the studio, she said. The media covering the debate had to sit in a separate room with the Facebook Live feed.

In other county news, the commissioners approved six months of funding for the countys guardianship services program, which appoints guardians to care for people with mental or physical conditions.

The move upset Probate Judge Kelly Cross, who said she expected to receive funding for the entire fiscal year.

The program had previously received all its funding from a probate fund, which the probate court judges administer. The commissioners approved $139,032 of funding, most of which will go toward the salaries of the four-person staff.

The county will consider whether to continue funding in April.

Cross told the court that those in the program are the most vulnerable and marginalized and thrown away citizens of anyone in the county.

They have refused to communicate with me, Cross said of the commissioners. She accused them of not understanding the level of need for people under the guardianship program.

Wolff said he wants more information on what the program does, and how many people it has helped since the commissioners and probate courts started the program for the 2015-16 fiscal year.

We need some time to get an accurate assessment of the program and its effectiveness, County Manager David Smith said.

You would think the state would have some funding role in a program like this, he added.

The program provides guardianship to 33 people, Cross said, with 147 waiting for a slot.

These are real people with real faces and real names, she said to the commissioners.

jscherer@express-news.net | Twitter: @jaspscherer
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Authorities were days away from arresting Balcones Heights police officer Julian Pesina in May 2014 for selling drugs, but he was shot and killed before they could move in, a law enforcement officer testified Wednesday during the trial of two Texas Mexican Mafia associates charged in Pesinas slaying.

Special agent Brian Vajdos with the Texas Department of Public Safety said his agency spent several months with the FBI developing a case against Pesina, 29, whose name and number surfaced in the cell phone of a drug dealer his agency arrested in September 2013.

DPS used the dealer as an informant to try to buy drugs directly from Pesina, but Pesina changed the plans. Rather than meet with the informant for the exchange at his tattoo shop, Pesina left an ounce of meth for the informant in a potted plant outside the home of Pesinas then-girlfriend, Vajdos testified.

Prosecutors wanted a hand-to-hand exchange, Vajdos said.

The second attempt was scheduled for the second week in May (2014), but he was murdered on May 4, Vajdos testified.

Vajdos said he learned of the killing from a colleague who read it in the newspaper the following morning, and DPS and the FBI called San Antonio police homicide investigators to share details of their investigation of Pesina.

The ensuing homicide probe resulted in the arrests of Jesse Jay Santibanez and Alfredo Freddy Low Cardona, the two alleged Texas Mexican Mafia associates on trial. Also arrested was Jerry Spooks Idrogo, then a sergeant for the Mexican Mafia who has since pleaded guilty for Pesinas racketeering-related murder and is to testify against Santibanez and Cardona.

Federal prosecutors allege Mexican Mafia leaders ordered Pesinas killing after learning he was a police officer posing as a member of their gang.

During the homicide investigation, San Antonio police searched Pesinas apartment and found steroids, cocaine packaged in small baggies, baggies with traces of methamphetamine and a small scale, Vajdos said. Police also found caps denoting the letter M  which members of the Mexican Mafia wear, Vajdos said.

Vajdos also said DPS scoured Pesinas social media posts and that turned up images and videos showing Pesina with tattoos that members of the Texas Mexican Mafia normally have, such as a two-headed snake in the form of an M. He also was in photos with confirmed Mexican Mafia members, and in one, Pesina used his hands to flash the gangs trademark M, Vajdos said. Investigators also found he had phone contact with some members of the gang.

There also were other indicators that Pesina, a Balcones cop since 2009, was straddling two worlds that dont mix, Vajdos said. For instance, Pesina contacted a Mexican Mafia member in federal prison to try to convince him that Pesina had been sponsored into the gangs membership by another member who had since died, Vajdos said.

We were trying to figure out if he was playing a game, or if he was getting in too deep in something he shouldnt have, Vajdos testified.

Vajdos also recalled a DPS investigation in 2012 in which a trio of Mexican Mafia members were pulled over in Balcones Heights with guns and drugs in their car. Pesina helped in the arrests.

He downplayed the roles of the three Mexican Mafia members, including a general, Vajdos said.

gcontreras@express-news.net | Twitter: @gmaninfedland
Now Playing: A man and woman were found dead at a far North Side home late Tuesday night, Oct. 31, and Bexar County authorities are investigating the deaths as a possible murder-suicide. Video: San Antonio Express-News

A man and woman were found dead at a far North Side home late Tuesday night, and authorities are investigating the deaths as a possible murder-suicide.

According to a lieutenant with the Bexar County Sheriff's Department, gunshots were reported in the area of the 22000 block of Fossil Peak around 10 p.m., and deputies arrived to the home about 40 minutes later.
Police have arrested two people and are seeking a third after breaking up a Central Texas theft ring that allegedly took powder baby formula from H-E-B stores and used it to cut drugs.

As of Monday, the Waco Police Department had arrested Victoria Boone, 21 and Steve Young, 41, both of Dallas. Both are both charged with engaging in organized crime.
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Erika Hurt had become the face of drug addiction.

The young mother was captured in a photograph by police, passed out in the driver's seat of her car outside a Dollar General store in Hope, Indiana - an empty syringe still resting between the 25-year-old addict's fingers.

The snapshot captured yet another horrifying moment in the worsening U.S. opioid epidemic.

What was not seen that Saturday afternoon last October was her 10-month-old son, buckled into his car seat in the back.

When Hurt first saw the photo, she was humiliated.

"I was angry and I wanted to blame the police for putting my business out there and showing the world my private addiction and everything like that," she told NBC News, a year after the image went viral.

But the photo, she said, eventually had a sobering effect.

"I'm thankful now that the cop did take the picture. The fact that I'm able to look back on that picture and see where the addiction had taken me, and I'm able to use that picture now to show others that addicts can recover."

Hurt reposted the picture over on Facebook to celebrate one year of sobriety.

"I've decided to repost the picture simply because it displays exactly what heroin addiction is," she wrote. "Also because I do not want to ever forget where the road of addiction has taken me.

"Little did I know that day, my life was about to change, drastically. Today, I am able to focus on the good that came from that picture. Today, I am a mother to my son, again. Today, I am able to be grateful to actually have solid proof where addiction will only lead you, and today I am able to say that I am ONE YEAR SOBER!"

Hurt could not immediately be reached for comment by The Washington Post.

On Thursday, President Donald Trump declared the opioid epidemic a public health emergency, calling it the "worst drug crisis in American history" and vowing to focus the nation's attention on resolving it.

"As Americans, we cannot allow this to continue," he said. "It is time to liberate our communities from the scourge of drug addiction. We can be the generation that ends the opioid epidemic. We can do it."

Despite Trump's call to action, critics questioned the merits of his pronouncement, given that it did not include an immediate request to Congress for emergency funding.

"America is hemorrhaging lives by the day because of the opioid epidemic, but President Trump offered the country a Band-Aid when we need a tourniquet," said Sen. Edward J. Markey, D-Mass. Markey called the announcement "nothing more than a dog-and-pony show in an attempt to demonstrate the Trump administration is not ignoring this crisis."

Since 2014, more than 28,000 people in the United States have overdosed on opioids and died, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Specifically, heroin overdose deaths have quadrupled since 2010, accounting for nearly 13,000 deaths in 2015, according to the data.

Behind the grim statistics are haunting scenes of overdosed victims - and the children affected by their parents' addictions.

Disturbing photographs and videos depicting scenes such as the one in which Hurt was found unconscious have become common as the epidemic rages.

In September 2016, a chilling photograph distributed by authorities captured the innocence lost on a 4-year-old's face in East Liverpool, Ohio, where a man and woman were seen slumped over after overdosing in a vehicle, the boy still strapped into his car seat in the back.

A week later and 600 miles away, at a Family Dollar store in Lawrence, Massachusetts, a hysterical toddler was captured on a cellphone video as she tried to wake her mother after an apparent drug overdose.

Hope Town Marshal Matt Tallent, who originally released the photo of Hurt, could not immediately be reached for comment.

But he told NBC News that he never intended to embarrass Hurt; he simply wanted to bring awareness to the public-health crisis.

"For this girl to have her life ripped up and then come back and be sober after everything that's happened to her, that's a story of success," Tallent told NBC.

Hurt had tried to get sober before - going through rehab only two weeks before her overdose photo spread across the internet, and then relapsing, she said.

In October 2016, she recalled, she was "miserable."

"I was driving home and I just knew that at some point, I wanted to use, because I didn't want to feel the pain that I was feeling," she told NBC this week.

"My son was asleep in his car seat," she said, "and I used the justification that he's too young. and he doesn't know what's going on if he does see me."

As The Post's Kristine Phillips reported, police believed Hurt had overdosed on heroin and was given two doses of Narcan, which reverses opioid overdoses in emergency situations.

Hurt ended up in jail, where she said she first saw her photo, splashed across TV screens.

"I was just shocked, I was humiliated. I really had no words," she told NBC affiliate WTHR.

Now, she said, she is "very thankful that someone decided to capture that moment."

"I'd been struggling with addiction for a long time," she said, telling WTHR that she had been battling addition since she was 15, taking prescription painkillers for a staph infection. "I've been to the point where I was wanting to get clean and didn't know how. I was trying but always failing."

Being able to see what her addiction looked like has enabled her to overcome it, she said.

"Before, when I've relapsed, I've always forgotten where my addiction has taken me," she told NBC News. "I get so far away from that miserable state, and that's when I begin to start relapsing again. So I'm able to always have that picture in my mind and always look back at it to see that that's always where addiction is going to lead me."
While news and analysis in America continue to be obsessed with Donald Trumps daily antics and insults, halfway around the world, something truly historic just happened. China signaled that it now sees itself as the worlds other superpower, positioning itself as the alternative, if not rival, to the United States.

This is the clearly articulated view of Chinas supreme leader, Xi Jinping. In his speech last week to the 19th Communist Party Congress, Xi declared that China is at a historic juncture, entering a new era that will be marked by the country becoming a mighty force in the world and a role model for political and economic development. He asserted that Chinas political system  is a great creation that offers a new choice for other countries. And he insisted that the country will defend its interests zealously while also becoming a global leader on issues such as climate change and trade.

Ever since China abandoned its Maoist isolation in the 1970s, its guiding philosophy was set by Deng Xiaoping. China needed to learn from the West, especially the United States, and integrate itself into the existing international order. According to Deng, it should be humble and modest in its foreign policy, hide its light under a bushel, and bide its time. But the time has now come, in Xis view, and he said the Middle Kingdom is ready to take center stage in the world.

Xis speech is important because this Party Congress made clear that he is no ordinary leader. He ascended to a second term in office without naming any obvious successors from the next generation of party officials, thus maintaining a grip on power far more secure than his immediate predecessors. More important, the party enshrined his thoughts in the constitution, an honor previously accorded only to Mao Zedong in his lifetime.

In a recent issue of The New York Review of Books, Andrew Nathan noted that Western policy toward Beijing has generally assumed that, over time, as China modernized its economy, it would become more pluralistic at home and more cooperative abroad. Nathan added, however, that a few writers and journalists, such as James Mann, worried that China instead would stay authoritarian and provide support for other anti-democratic countries.

The reality is not quite as extreme as Mann predicted. China has remained resolutely authoritarian  in fact, even more so in recent years. But on issues such as climate change, trade and North Korea, it has actually become more cooperative. It is the third-largest funder of the United Nations and the second-largest contributor to its peacekeeping budget. China seeks a revision of the international system to accommodate its own rising power, not a revolution and wholesale replacement of the Western-built international order.

In part, Chinas new stance toward the world, and the way it has been received, are a result of the continued strength of the Chinese economy and the growing political confidence of the party under Xi. But these changes are also occurring against the backdrop of the total collapse of political and moral authority of America in the world.

China has aggressively sought to improve its image in the world, spending billions on foreign aid, promising trade and investment, and opening Confucius Institutes to promote Chinese culture.

Consider how the United States must look now to the rest of the world. It is politically paralyzed, unable to make major decisions. Amidst a ballooning debt, its investments in education, infrastructure, and science and technology are seriously lacking. Politics has become a branch of reality TV, with daily insults, comebacks and color commentary. Americas historical leadership role in the world has been replaced by a narrow and cramped ideology. Foreign policy has become a partisan game, with Washington breaking agreements, shifting course and reversing policy almost entirely to score political points at home.

The shift in reputation that we are witnessing around the world is not so much about the rise of China but rather the decline of America.

comments@fareedzakaria.com
NRP Group, one of San Antonios most active multifamily builders, is under contract to buy 54 acres of vacant land near the Brooks economic hub where it plans to build apartments and retail shops.

The project, at the crossing of Presa Street and Corpus Christi Highway, would be one of the largest investments made by a developer on the South Side in recent years. The construction of the Mission Reach trail and the redevelopment of the former Brooks Air Force Base have sparked a building boom of new apartments in the area.

NRP plans to use 15 acres of the land for a 320-unit apartment complex, said Jay Johnson, a developer with the company. It is partnering with the citys San Antonio Housing Trust Finance Corporation on the $49 million complex, whose residents would be limited to those earning between 50 and 60 percent of Bexar Countys median income  or, between $31,750 and $38,100 a year.

All the stuff (built recently) has been market rate. So theres a need now for more affordable, for all the jobs that cant afford the new high bar of rent at Brooks, said Dan Markson, NRPs senior vice president of development.

NRP, which is based in Cleveland but has a local office, would buy the 54-acre site from the Brooks Development Authority, the agency that operates Brooks, which bought it from the state of Texas in 2007. NRP and Brooks are still discussing the purchase price, Johnson said; the property was assessed at $2.8 million this year by the Bexar Appraisal District. If everything goes to plan, NRP will line up its financing in the second quarter of next year and complete the complexs first buildings by July 2019, Johnson said.

The company is working with potential partners who could build retail on part of the site, Johnson said. He declined to name who the partners are. Theres enough land that a second phase of apartments could be built, he said.

The site of the proposed complex benefits from being close to the Mission Reach trail and the employment hub at Brooks, and from being in an area with relatively little traffic congestion compared to the North Side, Markson said. He thinks the growth of Palo Alto College and Texas A&M Universitys South Side campus will bring more jobs to the area.

New apartment complexes have transformed parts of the South Side in the last five years, causing concern among residents that they will clog the area with traffic or overwhelm the missions, which were declared World Heritage sites in 2015. Some residents are also worried that too many subsidized apartments are being clustered there compared to other parts of San Antonio, especially the North Side.

I am concerned about the density of apartments. I think we have enough, but such is life, said Carroll Brown, a volunteer with Alliance for San Antonio Missions, a nonprofit set up to protect the missions. The more people you pack together, by definition, the worse it gets.

For his part, Markson doesnt think theres a great risk of the South Side becoming as congested as the North Side, due to the large number of thoroughfares connecting it to downtown.

Its a great place to live, with everything  you want thats on the North Side, and no traffic, he said. Youve got 15 different ways in and out.

At least five major apartment complexes have been built along the Mission Reach and at Brooks in the last few years, offering 1,510 living units, according to property records and news articles. Another six are either under construction or planned and are expected to bring another 1,534 units.

Some complexes have run into neighborhood opposition, such as a plan by 210 Development to build a complex near Mission Concepcion and a 600-unit apartment complex being built on the former site of the Mission Trails mobile home park.

NRP has led the way in building new apartments in the area. More than half of the 3,044 units that have been built or are in the works in the area are NRP projects.

The company has built two complexes in the nearby Brooks economic hub, including the Kennedy, which opened earlier this year. Last year, it partnered with local developer James Lifshutz on The Flats at Big Tex, a 336-unit complex in Southtown. The company plans to build more complexes on the South Side, including a mixed-income one along the river and another near the Lone Star Brewery, even though the rehabilitation project there seems to have stalled.

rwebner@express-news.net

@rwebner
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Bourbon, America's native spirit, traces its heritage to immigrants who brought their whiskey-making skills to the American colonies in the 18th century. Rye was the crop of choice for them, because it was easier to establish than the traditional barley. But when settlers pushed west to Kentucky, which had gained a reputation for fertile soil and pure spring waters, corn became the base material for their whiskey, and it established a style that Kentucky could call its own.

Some say this whiskey became "Bourbon" because it was shipped from Kentucky in barrels bearing the name "Bourbon County." But Michael Veach, author of "Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey: An American Heritage," says that's simply a legend and that the origins are unknown. In any case, Kentucky whiskey-makers gained a reputation for this fine quality spirit, and business grew until the rise of the temperance movement. Prohibition essentially dismantled the Bourbon industry for several years. By the time the 21st Amendment ended Prohibition in 1933, Americans no longer had a passion for the robust, flavorful whiskey of yore; instead, they preferred lighter versions of the spirit. It was not until decades later that Americans once again looked for bigger, richer Bourbons.
It's Friday evening around 6 p.m., and Total Wine & More is brimming with customers. Carts move swiftly through the aisles, the sounds of lightly clinking bottles filling the air. Energetic associates wearing crisp white shirts greet every passerby with a bright smile and an offer to help.

On the surface, Total Wine & More may seem like your regular, affordable wine and spirits store, but underneath, it's much more.

What began in 1991 as a small independent store has now grown to be the largest privately held retailer of wine in the US, with stores in 22 states and counting.

Total Wine & More takes great pride in offering top-notch customer service, while also providing wine, beer, and spirits at extremely competitive prices.

"What separates Total Wine & More is that a major part of that service to the customer is tied into education for the staff," said Eloy Gozalez, Wine Supervisor at San Antonio's Del Norte location. "All new team members are given courses, both knowledge and practical, on wines, wine making regions, spirits, sales, and tasting before being placed in a position where they interact with customers, giving them confidence to make good recommendations."

The company does its best to offer the best prices in the region, and will also match competitors' prices and honor their sales. Pair this with hundreds of exclusive wines made by some of the most noted winemakers and producers in the world, and you get a store that is unparalleled in serving the customer's needs.

In addition to affordable prices, each store also features a wide selection of educational courses, the opportunity to meet the makers behind popular labels, and the chance to taste and discover regularly.

This priority on consumer education helps to create a passionate environment and a loyal customer following. Yet, if you know nothing about wine or spirits, a trip to Total Wine & More won't leave you feeling intimidated.

"We constantly help guests that have no idea what wine they should be looking for, or what wine they enjoy, and aren't sure where to even start," said Kyle Williams, Wine Manager at San Antonio's Del Norte store. "Our associates are trained to break down those barriers and help anyone looking for a $7 everyday Chardonnay to a high-end Burgundy Premier Cru."

"Just come in and give us a shot," Gonzalez said. "With an answer to a question as simple as 'what flavors are you looking for?' we can steer even the newest wine hopeful in a number of different directions."

Total Wine & More relishes the opportunity to serve customers and keep them coming back for more.

"We get new customers every day who tell us they've never heard of us," said Gonzalez, "But they are glad they finally came in."

The Forum

8356 Agora Parkway

Selma, TX 78154

(210) 566-1503

Del Norte

125 NW Loop 410

San Antonio, TX 78216

(210) 524-9300

The Rim

17530 La Cantera Parkway

San Antonio, TX 78257

(210) 877-9155

You can also shop online at www.TotalWine.com.

Editors Note: This content is made possible by Total Wine & More. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of The San Antonio Express-News' or mySanAntonio.com's editorial staff. Learn more about our advertising products at www.hearstmediasanantonio.com.
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WILTON  Patricia Rinaldi reported for superhero duty Tuesday afternoon, moving from table to table inside the Wilton High School cafeteria in a swift manner.

Wearing a blue cape and a pair of red boots, clad in a stars and stripes dress, the longtime science teacher gave the thumbs up and shouted You rock! to students who donated their spare dollars into her bucket.

After one lunch period, Rinaldi raised more than $100.

And all of the money will go directly to the families affected in Puerto Rico, said Rinaldi, dressed as Atomic Girl. These people still really need our help.

Rinaldi organized a costume contest among the schools departments on Halloween, with containers set up in the cafeteria that students could donate money to, to vote for the best dressed department. Science teachers dressed up as superheroes, art teachers hippies and social studies teachers characters from the American drama series, Mad Men.

The contest was part of the high schools monthlong relief effort to support Puerto Rican families affected by Hurricane Maria and Hurricane Irma, by partnering with Save the Children in Fairfield.

With hundreds of homes in Wilton left without power earlier in the week, after a day of heavy rains and strong winds late Sunday, it seemed the schools relief effort came at a good time.

You know how it is to lose power. Imagine losing it for weeks, OK?, Rinaldi said to a group of students. So we got to help out each other.

More than a month after the back-to-back hurricanes devastated Puerto Rico, living conditions remain dire on the island, according to a group of United Nations human rights experts. Thousands are displaced without any relief in sight, and nearly 80 percent of the population, or close to 2.8 million people, still dont have access to electricity.

A more effective emergency response is needed from the U.S., the experts said  an opinion that is shared with Wilton High School sophomore Maxwell Downing.

I think that we, as a country, could be doing more to help them, considering that they are a territory of the United States, Downing said, after donating money to the schools relief effort. So if I can help in any way, thats what I want to do.

The costume contest not only encouraged students to engage in charitable giving, but also helped ease the pressures of high school life, longtime science teacher Jim Lucey said. This was evident as some students excitedly approached their teachers dressed in costumes and took goofy pictures with them or complimented them on their look.

Lucey got some laughs out of students who needed a minute to figure out his superhero costume: a laundry hamper transformed into a Campbells soup can and a hero sandwich resting on his palm.

Wilton does a great job in being socially conscious and whenever we can have an event that takes the faculty out of their element and link it to students doing something for charity, I think it creates something special, Lucey said. The kids get to see the human part of you.
1 Yemen air strikes: A suspected air strike by the Saudi-led coalition fighting Shiite rebels in Yemen killed at least 29 people, including children, in the countrys north, a Yemeni health official said Wednesday. Abdellah al-Ezi, head of the health office of the northern Saada province, said the air strike struck a small hotel, wounding 28 other people. Saada, which borders Saudi Arabia, is a stronghold of the Iran-backed rebels, known as Houthis. International rights groups have accused the coalition of bombing civilian gatherings, markets, hospitals and residential areas across Yemen since its air campaign against the Houthis began in 2015. The coalition aims to reinstate the internationally recognized government of Abed Rabu Mansour Hadi.

2 Putin in Iran: Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Iran on Wednesday for trilateral talks with Tehran and Azerbaijan, a meeting that comes as the Islamic Republics nuclear deal is threatened by President Trumps refusal to re-certify the accord. The talks in Tehran are to focus on regional matters, as well as terrorism and security issues. The three countries all share the Caspian Sea, and railway and road projects are expected to be discussed as well. Russia helped Irans nuclear power program, taking part in construction of two more nuclear power reactors in the southern port city of Bushehr, home of the first Irans nuclear power plant that went online in 2011 with Moscows assistance.
We have a new product spoiler for the December 2017 Boxwalla Beauty box!

First, the theme:

A Brief History of Timeless Things

Each product in the December Beauty Box is a portal to travel through time and space, with ingredients that have been part of ancient cultures. Learn how some timeless things evolved to find their perfect form in the products in this box.

Each box will include:

Dafna's Eyecare (full-size) - Value $66

Spanish brand Dafna's Skincare's award winning Eyecare is an unusual, serum-lotion for the delicate eye area. Ayurveda meets Biotechnology to create a treatment that is uniquely effective and fast-absorbing. Chicory Oligosaccharides and natural peptides stimulate collagen production and synthesis. Additionally, the chicory oligosaccharides are injected into a 3D matrix that allows its sequential delivery to the skin. This leads to both an immediate lifting effect and long term hydration and firmness to the delicate skin under the eyes. Rosehip reduces the appearance of fine lines and Calendula extract reduces puffiness. Since this eye treatment is a cream and not oil based, it wears beautifully under makeup as well, and is a cult favorite in Spain.

In case you missed the first spoiler:

24 K Precious Oil (10 ml) - Value $60

One of the artisans we will be showcasing in our December Beauty Box is the Australian brand Lepaar. Johanna and Christo Everingham bring their strengths together to create exquisite things for their brand. They believe in 'wholistic luxury', in creating modern classics, in crafting things that are 'alive', pulsating with stories of people and places.

The first product in this box is Lepaar Skin's most precious offering : 24 K Precious Oil (10 ml, $60).

This luxurious facial serum tells stories that began 5000 years ago. It is crafted with impeccably sourced ingredients, each chosen for its specific benefits to the skin : Tasmanian calendula, Daintree vanilla bean, papaya seed oil from India, seabuckthorn fruit and seed oil from Germany, pomegranate seed oil from Israel, raspberry and blueberry seed oils, two kinds of frankincense: from Somalia and Oman , two kinds of myrrh : from Somalia and Namibia, certified cosmetic grade, non-nano 24 K gold from a family owned company in Germany.

With frankincense, myrrh and gold, this precious oil makes the perfect holiday gift.
MADISON, Wisc.  Madison, Wisconsin, Mayor Paul Soglin has proposed new security measures for the citys convenience stores to improve safety, the Wisconsin State Journal reports. An increase in gunfire and homicide this year spurred the police departments request to the mayor. It will enhance public safety, it will save lives and it will make it easier to apprehend criminals in areas weve identified as hot spots, Soglin said.

But as Jeff Lenard, NACS vice president of strategic industry initiatives, pointed out, security cameras arent the top ways to prevent crim. Generally, these types of ordinances are well meaning but may not best achieve the desired outcome, he said. Better for convenience stores to concentrate on keeping windows free from clutter, install/maintain proper lighting and use time-release drop safes to minimize cash on hand.

The ordinance introduced to the city council yesterday mandates high-res cameras with at least 50 pixels per foot that have the ability to produce clear images with dates/time stamps. The cameras would need to be positioned to capture each counter/register area, customer faces upon entering/exiting and around gas pumps. All digital video records would need to be kept in good viewing order for 30 days. Signage alerting customers to the recording must be posted at entrances and exits.

Committees will consider the proposal before it comes before the council. These ordinances are relatively uncommon and thats because a one-size-fits-all approach may not be the best approach, Lenard said. I hope the mayor will be reaching out to stores to determine the best course of action to accomplish our common goals.
EDMONTON, Alberta  The Alberta government has proposed a bill to keep gasoline station and convenience store employees safer by mandating prepayment for fuel, the Morinville News reports. The Act to Protect Gas and Convenience Store Workers would add the requirement for prepayment for fuel, as well as regulations for violence-prevention training at convenience and fuel retailing locations to the Occupational Health and Safety Code.

As Albertans, our hearts break when we see incidents of violence involving workers. Thats why we are taking action to increase safety for retail fuel and convenience store workers by introducing mandatory violence-prevention plans and pre-payment options for fuel, said Labor Minister Christina Gray. This legislation would better protect workers and prevent violent incidents from happening in Alberta.

For gasoline stations without pay-at-the-pump technology, customers could be required to deposit cash or a credit card with the employee before fueling. The safety training would highlight safe cash-handling procedures, video monitoring, good visibility inside and outside the store, and using time-lock safes to reduce cash on hand. If approved, the new measures will go into effect June 1, 2018.

Pre-payment eliminates the risks associated with fuel payments, and we applaud the government for taking this important step to protect attendants and the public, said Lawrence Richler, vice-president for Canadian Products Marketing at Husky Energy Inc. We believe this is the right thing to doand so do the people working at our stations.
Find the newest releases to watch from National Geographic on Disney+, including favourite documentary series and films Free Solo, The Rescue, Shark Beach with Chris Hemsworth and The World According to Jeff Goldblum.
The first ever overall winner of the Grassland Farmer of the Year Award is Eddie ODonnell from Golden, Cashel.

The Grassland Farmer of the Year competition recognises those farmers who are achieving high levels of grass utilisation in a sustainable manner.

Fourteen farmer finalists, who emerged from over 100 applications, gathered in Teagasc Moorepark last Friday, October 27, for the awards. The Grassland Farmer of the Year Awards is sponsored by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and it is one of the major initiatives as part of 2017 Year of Sustainable Grassland production.

Speaking at the awards ceremony, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Creed TD said: These awards represent the culmination of their efforts and an acknowledgement of their endeavour, skill and excellence in the area of grassland management. I believe that this competition will provide more focus and exposure of how to succeed at grassland to the wider livestock industry.

Grass based production systems are at the heart of our efficient dairy, beef and sheep sectors, and recognised and valued by our international customers as a sustainable system. I experience this all the time on our trade missions abroad. Ireland has the unique selling point of being a grazing nation and we must continue to inform Europe and the world of this advantage.

I would like to acknowledge and thank the judging panel, Teagasc and my own Department for their work in putting this competition together.

Winners of the Category Awards

Gerard Dineen, Kilnamartyra, Macroom, Co Cork - Beef enterprise award

Peadar Kearney, Tallanstown, Dundalk, Co Louth - Sheep enterprise award

Eddie ODonnell, Golden, Cashel, Co Tipperary - Dairy enterprise award

The Heffernan Family, Caherleske, Dunnamaggin, Co. Kilkenny - Leinster region

Francis Clune, Newgrove, Tulla, Co. Clare - Munster region

Jimmy & Edward Payne, Ballymoe, Castlerea, Co Roscommon - Connaught / Ulster region

Tim Crowley, Clancoolbeg, Bandon, Co. Cork -Young Grassland Farmer of the Year

The 7 Finalists

Michael Doran, Duncormick, Co Wexford - Dairy

Peter Mongey, Stackallen, Slane, Co Meath - Dairy

Michael & Marguerite Crowley, Bauravilla Upr, Skibbereen, Co Cork - Dairy

Tomas OLeary, Headford Valley, Co Kerry - Sheep

Niall OMeara, Eyrecourt, Ballinasloe, Co Galway - Beef

Michael & Mike Magan, Killashee, Co Longford - Dairy

Frank & Des Bernie, Newtownforbes, Co Longford - Beef

Teagasc Director, Professor Gerry Boyle said: Teagasc research indicates that grass utilisation can be increased significantly on farm. This competition, with an overall prize fund of 30,000, kindly funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, brings together and recognises the top 14 farmers in the country who are utilising best practice and the latest research on their farms.

Teagasc has developed a world leading grassland web based grassland system in PastureBase Ireland, which has now more than 4,500 users. We must now increase the usage of the system further to help farmers grow and utilise more grazed grass.

Padraig Walsh, dairy farmer and chair of the Grass10 stakeholder committee said: In FBD we believe Grass 10 is a very important project to encourage better utilisation of our most valuable natural resource. We want to do all we can to improve farm profitability in Ireland. What better way to do this than to ensure better dissemination of the excellent research which is carried out by Moorepark.

If we can lift grass utilised by just one tonne per hectare it would be worth over 500million euro to the country and over 6,000 euro to a 40 ha farm. FBD is proud as the only Irish owned insurance company to invest our profits for the good of our most important customers, Irish Farmers. 

The Grassland farmer of the year awards are part of the Grass10 campaign which is supported by Teagasc, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, AIB, FBD Insurance, Grassland Agro and the Irish Farmers Journal.
Tipperary people are being asked to take part in this years Concern Fast when they can give up any habit or activity for 24-hours to raise vitals funds for children suffering from hunger around the world.

The annual Fast campaign - one of Irelands longest running fundraisers, which is run by aid agency Concern Worldwide - takes place this year on Thursday, November 23.

Traditionally, Fast participants focused on giving up food for a day, but people also do 'digital fasts' that involve forgoing social media and online activity while others try to give-up coffee, smoking and other habits.

Another Fast idea from Concern this year is for Irelands phombies to use the opportunity to try and spend a day without being distracted by their mobile phone device when walking.

Phombies, or phone-zombies, are people who stare at their mobile phone while walking and are completely oblivious of other people and their surroundings.

They can be regularly spotted phombie-walking in every town and city across Ireland and beyond.

Concern Worldwide Marketing Executive, Christina Meehan, said: Concern Fast is a rewarding opportunity to challenge yourself for a very deserving cause.

We think it can also be a fun way to detox on modern habits that many people have, like looking at our phone when walking to a shop or to catch a bus.

I think its important to stay present. When we are present we have the time to think about others and connect to the world and this is exactly why Im giving up my phone for a day.

For decades, Fast has been helping millions of children suffering from hunger - and we ask that people continue to take part and do what they can because it really does make a difference.

"For example, Irish people who took part last year helped feed 4,000 children for a month in South Sudan alone.

Christina said that this year has been especially tragic for so many children with famine casting a shadow over four nations, including South Sudan and Somalia, where over 20 million people are still at risk of starvation.

Globally, it is estimated that 5.6 million children under five died last year and that around three million of them had hunger related illnesses.

The Fast campaign raises funds that help provide high-energy therapeutic food for malnourished children to try and prevent their conditions becoming fatal and to reduce the sobering statistics that show how many people suffer from hunger.

A 30 donation can provide emergency nutrition support to a malnourished child for one month while 300 can provide a family with enough food to eat for six months.

Concern reached 22 million people in 27 countries in 2016, largely because of the funds it received from the Irish public, including donations from Fast.

We cannot thank the Irish public enough for their ongoing support for Concern and all of our dedicated volunteers who do street collections and other fundraising activities, added Christina Meehan.

People can sign up for Concern Fast 2017 and find more information at Concern.net/fast or by calling 1850 50 50 55  and participants can also engage with Concern on Twitter @Concern, Facebook, Snapchat and on Instagram.

TEN Concern Fast ideas for what to give up for 24-hours on Thursday November 23

1.Phombie-walking - Stop being a phombie looking at your phone while walking.

2.Coffee Blackout  Have a no-coffee day.

3.No-Butts  If you smoke, try being smoke-free for 24-hours.

4.Digital-detox - Try not using any digital technology.

5.No social post - A day without posting on social media.

6.Landline only  Try going back in time and not using your mobile phone to make a call.

7.TV Free  A day without watching any television.

8.Like, Eh  Give up vocalised pauses, which are the fillers used in sentences, such as um, ah and like.

9.Game Over  Zap video gaming for 24 hours.

10.Silence Please  Try a day without talking.
Two men face charges following a heroin overdose death in the Village of Blue Mounds.

The Dane County Sheriffs Office said 23-year-old Marquis S. Howard of Madison is tentatively charged with two counts of delivery of heroin and a felon in possession of a firearm. An additional charge of reckless homicide is pending. 26-year-old Donell L. Thomas of Chicago is also tentatively charged with delivery of heroin. Both men are being held in the Dane County Jail.

Authorities said an investigation began on Thursday when a 39-year-old man was found dead in his home on Apple Hill Drive. The scene was consistent with an overdose death which continues to be investigated by the Dane County Medicals Examiners Office. Detectives from the sheriffs office were able to establish a case culminating in the arrest of Howard and Thomas on Friday.

Detectives seized three firearms, including a handgun that was reported stolen from a burglary in April of 2017. They also seized 130 grams of marijuana, 1.7 grams of heroin, 4 grams of crack, $14,787 in cash and a 2013 BMW 528.

Dane County Narcotics Task Force and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) assisted the Dane County Sheriffs Office.
What to Know Eight people were killed and more were injured when a man in a rented pickup truck rampaged down a popular Manhattan bike path Tuesday

Officer Ryan Nash sprung into action and shot the attacker in the abdomen to stop his rampage, Councilman Joe Borelli says

Investigators are working to determine what led the suspect to plow down people on a riverfront bike path near the World Trade Center

The NYPD officer who shot the man suspected of using a rental truck to mow down pedestrians in Manhattan, killing at least eight people and injuring nearly a dozen others, is being hailed a hero by New York lawmakers and leaders.

Ryan Nash, a five-year veteran with the First Precinct, sprung into action and shot 29-year-old Sayfullo Saipov in the abdomen, stopping the deadly route of terror, according to NYC Councilman Joe Borelli, who first identified the officer. Nash gave a brief statement on the attack Wednesday afternoon in Suffolk County.

"I appreciate the public recognition of the actions of myself and my fellow officers yesterday," Nash said. "Although I feel that we were just doing our jobs, like thousands of officers do every day, I understand the importance of yesterdays events and the role we played, and I am grateful for the recognition we have received."



Heres the hero cop the world should be talking about. Police Officer Ryan Nash risked his life to save others. Thank u Ryan, thank u #NYPD pic.twitter.com/TqT0inXq7K  Joe Borelli (@JoeBorelliNYC) November 1, 2017

Nash and his partner were at Stuyvesant High School for an unrelated call when they were notified of a vehicle accident nearby, according to New York City Police Commissioner James P. O'Neil. When the two officers responded to the scene, they were "confronted and took proper action," O'Neil said Wednesday.

Borelli named Nash in several tweets, saying he's "the hero cop the world should be talking about," and adding, "Police officer Ryan Nash risked his life to save others."

Mayor Bill de Blasio commended Nash for his "extraordinary" act of valor, and said the officer's actions "stopped the threat immediately" and saved dozens more lives. De Blasio, speaking to reporters at a news conference Wednesday, noted how impressed he was by Nash's humility.

"Ryan is a hero. But he was so humble about his achievement, it was very striking," de Blasio said. "He thought this was all in a days work and what a cop does to protect other people. He deserves the accolades of people of this city as do his partners.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo also praised Nash's actions, noting that while the leadership of the NYPD is "top shelf," it is officers like Nash who are on the frontline every day that show "how important they are, how talented and how brave the men and women of the city's police force are.

Meanwhile, investigators worked through the night to determine what led the suspect to use a truck to plow down people on a riverfront bike path near the World Trade Center, brandishing a pellet gun and a paint gun and yelling "Allahu Akbar" as his deadly attack ended with a crash, authorities say.

They were able to question him in the hospital, where he remained in critical but stable condition Wednesday. Investigators said he's "proud" of what he did and shows no remorse.

Witness video shows the suspect in a Lower Manhattan truck rampage running through traffic with what looks like two weapons. For the latest updates on this story click here.

A note was found inside the truck that translated to read "ISIS lives forever," a senior official briefed on the investigation told NBC 4 New York. A source said a knife was also recovered from inside the truck.

Five Argentinians and a Belgian were among those killed in the attack. A sixth Argentinian, Martin Ludovico Marro, is at New York-Presbyterian Lower Manhattan Hospital with injuries. He is from Newtown, Massachusetts.

Three other Belgians were also inured. Germany's Foreign Ministry said a German citizen is also among the injured.

[NATL] In Photos: Aftermath of Deadly Truck Rampage in Manhattan
A former nurse who prosecutors believe could be responsible for the deaths of up to 60 Texas children has been indicted on a murder charge for the fifth time this year.

Bexar County District Attorney Nico LaHood says a grand jury indicted Genene Jones on a murder charge Tuesday in the 1981 death of a 3-month-old.

The 67-year-old Jones already is in state prison for the 1982 killing of a toddler and the sickening of a 4-week-old boy who survived.

She was scheduled for release in March.

LaHood says authorities want to hold Jones "accountable for as many children's deaths as the evidence will support."

Authorities have linked Jones to the deaths of children during or shortly after her shifts at a San Antonio hospital and a medical clinic in the region.
Five Argentinians celebrating a graduation anniversary, a Belgian national and two Americans were killed when a truck sped through a bike lane for more than a dozen blocks Tuesday afternoon in an apparent ISIS-inspired attack.

The Argentinian Consulate said in a tweet on Tuesday night that Hernan Mendoza, Diego Angelini, Alejandro Pagnucco, Ariel Erlij and Hernan Ferruchi were among those killed when a Home Depot truck plowed through crowds of cyclists and pedestrians along the Hudson River Greenway in Tribeca. The tweet said the group was in town to celebrate 30 years since they graduated college.

A sixth Argentinian, Martin Ludovico Marro, is at New York-Presbyterian Lower Manhattan Hospital with injuries. Marro is a resident of Newton, Massachusetts, City Councilor James Cote confirmed to NBC Boston.

Belgian Foreign Minister Didier Reynders said in a tweet Tuesday night that a Belgian national was also killed in the attack, and that three others were injured. He did not reveal the identity of the person who was killed or the others hurt in the attack.

"We now and forever will consider them New Yorkers. They shared this tragedy with us and for that we will always remember them as New Yorkers," Mayor de Blasio said Wednesday of the foreigners killed in the attack.



The two other people killed in the attack were Americans, but their identities have not been released.

Of the nearly dozen people who were hurt, two were students and two were employees on the bus that Saipov smashed his truck into. The German government says a German citizen is among the injured. The Foreign Ministry didn't identify the female German citizen or give any details about the severity of her injuries in a note on its website Wednesday.



At a news briefing Wednesday, officials said three of the 12 injured survivors taken to hospitals had been released. Nine remained hospitalized; four had critical injuries but were listed in stable condition. The other five were in serious condition with injuries ranging from bilateral amputation to serious head, neck, back and chest trauma, as well as trauma to their arms and legs.





The suspect, Sayfullo Habibullaevic Saipov, left a note in the truck that translated to "ISIS Lives Forever," a senior official said. He was shot and detained by police as he ran through traffic with a pellet gun and a paintball gun but was expected to survive.

Schools in the area were just letting out around that time, and parents and teachers rushed to get children back inside as they saw the suspect leaving the vehicle with the weapons.
Samuel Adams just released a new limited-edition beer (at $199 per bottle) with an alcohol content so high, it is illegal to sell in 12 states.



The Boston brewery announced the beer called Utopias would be released to stores in early November.

Only 13,000 bottles of Utopias, a beer with an alcohol content of 28 percent, more than 10 percent above the legal limit of some states, will be distributed in the entire country -- minus the dozen states where it's illegal.



You won't be able to find it in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Mississippi, Montana, New Hampshire, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont or Washington, where state liquor laws bar it from being available for sale.



Interested? The brewery describes the beverage as "reminiscent of a rich vintage Port, old Cognac, or fine Sherry with notes of dark fruit, subtle sweetness, and a deep rich malty smoothness."
What to Know Eight people were killed and more were injured when a man in a rented pickup truck rampaged down a popular Manhattan bike path Tuesday

Officer Ryan Nash sprung into action and shot the attacker in the abdomen to stop his rampage, Councilman Joe Borelli says

Investigators are working to determine what led the suspect to plow down people on a riverfront bike path near the World Trade Center

The NYPD officer who shot the man suspected of using a rental truck to mow down pedestrians in Manhattan, killing at least eight people and injuring nearly a dozen others, is being hailed a hero by New York lawmakers and leaders.

Ryan Nash, a five-year veteran with the First Precinct, sprung into action and shot 29-year-old Sayfullo Saipov in the abdomen, stopping the deadly route of terror, according to NYC Councilman Joe Borelli, who first identified the officer. Nash gave a brief statement on the attack Wednesday afternoon in Suffolk County.

"I appreciate the public recognition of the actions of myself and my fellow officers yesterday," Nash said. "Although I feel that we were just doing our jobs, like thousands of officers do every day, I understand the importance of yesterdays events and the role we played, and I am grateful for the recognition we have received."



Heres the hero cop the world should be talking about. Police Officer Ryan Nash risked his life to save others. Thank u Ryan, thank u #NYPD pic.twitter.com/TqT0inXq7K  Joe Borelli (@JoeBorelliNYC) November 1, 2017

Nash and his partner were at Stuyvesant High School for an unrelated call when they were notified of a vehicle accident nearby, according to New York City Police Commissioner James P. O'Neil. When the two officers responded to the scene, they were "confronted and took proper action," O'Neil said Wednesday.

Borelli named Nash in several tweets, saying he's "the hero cop the world should be talking about," and adding, "Police officer Ryan Nash risked his life to save others."

Mayor Bill de Blasio commended Nash for his "extraordinary" act of valor, and said the officer's actions "stopped the threat immediately" and saved dozens more lives. De Blasio, speaking to reporters at a news conference Wednesday, noted how impressed he was by Nash's humility.

"Ryan is a hero. But he was so humble about his achievement, it was very striking," de Blasio said. "He thought this was all in a days work and what a cop does to protect other people. He deserves the accolades of people of this city as do his partners.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo also praised Nash's actions, noting that while the leadership of the NYPD is "top shelf," it is officers like Nash who are on the frontline every day that show "how important they are, how talented and how brave the men and women of the city's police force are.

Meanwhile, investigators worked through the night to determine what led the suspect to use a truck to plow down people on a riverfront bike path near the World Trade Center, brandishing a pellet gun and a paint gun and yelling "Allahu Akbar" as his deadly attack ended with a crash, authorities say.

They were able to question him in the hospital, where he remained in critical but stable condition Wednesday. Investigators said he's "proud" of what he did and shows no remorse.

Witness video shows the suspect in a Lower Manhattan truck rampage running through traffic with what looks like two weapons. For the latest updates on this story click here.

A note was found inside the truck that translated to read "ISIS lives forever," a senior official briefed on the investigation told NBC 4 New York. A source said a knife was also recovered from inside the truck.

Five Argentinians and a Belgian were among those killed in the attack. A sixth Argentinian, Martin Ludovico Marro, is at New York-Presbyterian Lower Manhattan Hospital with injuries. He is from Newtown, Massachusetts.

Three other Belgians were also inured. Germany's Foreign Ministry said a German citizen is also among the injured.

In NYC, looks like another attack by a very sick and deranged person. Law enforcement is following this closely. NOT IN THE U.S.A.!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 31, 2017

We must not allow ISIS to return, or enter, our country after defeating them in the Middle East and elsewhere. Enough!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 31, 2017

My thoughts, condolences and prayers to the victims and families of the New York City terrorist attack. God and your country are with you!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 31, 2017

[NATL] In Photos: Aftermath of Deadly Truck Rampage in Manhattan
A 56-year-old woman was found dead with a gunshot wound to the chest and a 62-year-old man discovered barely alive with an apparent self-inflicted shot to the head in lower Manhattan early Wednesday, authorities say.



The man was taken to the hospital alive after the 8 a.m. shooting at Cooper Square, but authorities say he is not expected to survive. Police didn't say how the man and woman were connected, and their identities were not released.



Photos posted to social media showed a number of emergency vehicles at the scene. Authorities said it was believed to be an isolated incident, but their investigation is ongoing.


What to Know Eight people were killed and more were injured when a man in a rented pickup truck rampaged down a popular Manhattan bike path Tuesday

The two Americans killed in the attack have been identified as 32-year-old Darren Drake of NJ and 23-year-old Nicholas Cleves of Manhattan

The 6 other victims killed in the rampage were Argentinians celebrating a 30-year college reunion, and a Belgian mother of two

A 23-year-old man from New York City and a 32-year-old New Jersey man were among the eight people killed when a truck sped through a Manhattan bike lane for more than a dozen blocks in an apparent ISIS-inspired attack, police say.

Darren Drake, of New Milford, was riding his bike during a 15-minute break from his program manager job at Moody's Analytics when the truck plowed into crowds of pedestrians and riders on a popular Tribeca bike path Tuesday. Drake, a graduate of Rutgers pursuing a second master's at Stevens Institute of Technology, also served four years on the New Milford Board of Education, holding the vice president chair for two of them. He didn't yet have children of his own, but was hoping to one day.

"He had everything going for him," Drake's father, Jimmy Drake, told News 4, as he started sobbing.

The other American victim was identified by police as Nicholas Cleves, of Manhattan. The software engineer and web developer lived on Greenwich Street in the West Village, where stunned neighbors said he was a smart, friendly young man with an adventurous spirit.

"This is an absolutely lovely young man," said a neighbor named Dianne, who declined to give her last name. "The type of person every parent hopes theirs grows up to be."

Cleves was "smart, funny, kind, engaged," she said.

"He was a Village kid and everyone in the store knew him and loved him," said Dianne. "There have been more tears shared in this store than ever."

A family friend later Wednesday said that Cleves was a "fine young man."

Online profiles show he went to Elisabeth Irwin High School in New York City and graduated last year from Skidmore College with a degree in computer science. An only child who was living with his mother, he had been working as a software engineer for the Unified Digital Group.

Cleves described himself on his Facebook page as a "nerdy white boy." The most recent photo posted there showed him posing with some friends next to a Darth Vader figure at Star Wars exhibit.

Outlining his aspirations on LinkedIn, Cleves wrote that he was "searching for ways in which technology can be used to make positive impacts on our everyday lives."

In a statement Wednesday, Skidmore College president Philip Glotzbach said Cleves was a IT assistant, astronomy tutor and son of a Skidmore graduate.

"At moments such as these, we realize anew how powerless are our words in the face of profound grief, Glotzbach said. "Even so, we reach out to offer our thoughts and prayers, along with the hope that knowing that others are also touched by this loss may provide at least some small measure of comfort."

In New Jersey, Drake had recently undergone weight loss surgery and was riding his bike 25-plus miles a day to stay fit, his father says. An only child, he lived with his parents; his father said he drove him to the Hoboken train station each morning. His parents knew something was wrong when their conscientious son was late for dinner and didn't call.

"Five-fifteen, 5:30, 5:45, 7. My wife said, 'Jimmy, that's it, we need to go to the hospital," Jimmy Drake said.

"If there was one guy a terrorist was going to kill, it wouldn't be my son," he said. "He wouldn't swat a fly."

Jimmy said he will give his son's bike to charity, and his own, too, now that his only child is gone.

"I'll give it to some kid who needs it -- and give him my bike, too, I'm not riding it," he said.

The New Milford Board of Education said in a statement, "A board member in high esteem, Darren was a good man with a soft touch and huge heart. He is respected for his unwavering commitment to the children of New Milford and their education."

Drake had cheated death before, missing the Hoboken train crash last year by just minutes and staying at the Mandalay Bay Hotel just weeks before the Las Vegas massacre.

His employer Moody's said he was a valued member "and his loss will be deeply felt by all those who worked with him."

The other six fatalities included five Argentinians celebrating a graduation anniversary and a 31-year-old Belgian national, Anne Laure Decadt. Six of the victims died at the scene; the other two died at hospitals.

"We now and forever will consider them New Yorkers. They shared this tragedy with us and for that we will always remember them as New Yorkers," Mayor de Blasio said Wednesday of the foreigners killed in the attack.

Decadt was a mother of two, including a baby, according to the New York City Belgium Consulate General. She was riding bikes with her mom and two sisters when she was mowed down from behind; she died at New York Presbyterian Hospital. The rest of her family was injured. A second Belgian family of four was also injured in the attack.

Argentinian nationals Hernan Mendoza, Diego Angelini, Alejandro Pagnucco, Ariel Erlij and Hernan Ferruchi, most of them architects, were having a 30-year reunion after graduating from the Polytechnic School of Rosario. The five dead were among a group of 10 friends marking their graduation with a tour of New York and Boston, where at least one survivor of the group lived.

They had gone on a bike ride through Central Park on Tuesday before turning south, to lower Manhattan.

"They were pedaling in lines of two, chatting, laughing, enjoying the ride. My husband was the last one in the line, when he felt a speeding car, and then the truck that zoomed by" at high speed, Cecilia Piedrabuena, the wife of survivor Ariel Benvenuto, told an Argentine radio station. "The truck took away his friends, and he saw them all scattered on the ground."

Benvenuto called his wife and said, "Honey, this is very serious. It's a terrorist attack," she recalled. "An hour later, he called me and told me that his friends had died."

Mendoza was an architect and father of three who designed the home of his close friend, Estanislao Beas.

"The news destroyed my wife and I," Beas said. "We had a tight bond. We cared for him so much. It's incredible that this happened to him and that he was there at that time."

The reunion trip was partially financed by Erlij, the chief executive of Ivanar, an Argentine steel products manufacturing company, according to Argentina's La Nacion newspaper.

Another classmate, Martin Ludovico Marro, of Newton, Massachusetts, near Boston, was being treated at a Manhattan hospital.

In Rosario, a minute of silence was observed at the high school, and the light-blue and white Argentina flag was flown at half-staff. The school planned a candlelight vigil Wednesday evening.

"It hurts us to think that these are people who walked the same school halls as we did or that studied in our same classrooms," said Agustin Riccardi, a senior at the school.

Twelve other people were hurt in the truck rampage, an attack authorities have described as the worst terror attack to hit New York City since 9/11. Authorities detailed gruesome injuries to some of those survivors, ranging from bilateral amputation to serious head, neck, back and chest trauma, as well as trauma to their arms and legs. Five of the dozen sent to hospitals were in serious condition Wednesday; four were in critical but stable condition and three went home.



Of the survivors, two victims were students and two were employees on the school bus the suspect smashed into along his route of terror. The German government says a German citizen is among the injured. The Foreign Ministry didn't identify the female German citizen or give any details about the severity of her injuries in a note on its website. A sixth Argentinian who lives in Newtown, Massachusetts, is also among the injured.



Investigators said Wednesday that the suspect, 29-year-old Sayfullo Habibullaevic Saipov, had planned the attack for weeks. He was shot by police as he ran through traffic with pellet and paintball guns but is expected to live.
Former first lady Michelle Obama and Prince Harry gave a group of Chicago students a major Halloween surprise, stopping by unannounced at a school on the citys South Side Tuesday afternoon.

The two were in Chicago for the inaugural Obama Foundation Summit, a two-day event designed to bring hundreds of leaders from around the world together to exchange ideas.

Prince Harry was Tuesdays keynote speaker, discussing community engagement and even getting personal at the Marriott Marquis hotel in the citys South Loop.

But before he went onstage, he and the former first lady stopped by the Hyde Park Academy to visit with students in a less formal setting.

[NATL] Top News Photos: Pope Visits Japan, and More

The duo met with about 20 students, a spokeswoman for Obama said, at the high school located at 6220 S. Stony Island Ave.  across from the future site of the Obama Presidential Center.

"The warm and wide-ranging conversation, lasting over an hour, covered how the Obama Presidential Center will showcase the South Side of Chicago for a global audience, the importance of young people staying inspired and hopeful, and the transformative power of students using their voices to change the world," Obamas spokeswoman said in a statement.

The visit kicked off Prince Harrys first trip to Chicago, but it wasnt the first time Hyde Park Academy has welcomed a member of the Obama family.

In 2013, then-President Barack Obama visited the school to meet with students participating in the "Becoming a Man" mentoring program he championed during his time in office.

[NATL-ARCHIVED] Royal Family Photos

Both Kensington Palace and the former first lady took to social media to share photos after their surprise visit Tuesday.

The palace tweeted four photos of His Royal Highness touring the school and sitting in a circle with students in the library, and Michelle Obama did the same, with a message of gratitude. [[454379833, C]]

"Thanks to my friend Prince Harry for joining me today to surprise these remarkable students at Hyde Park Academy on the South Side. We were blown away by their passion, ambition and talent!" she wrote.
Newbury MP Richard Benyon on A34 safety and British penguins

On Wednesday last week I met with neighbouring MPs, the A34 Action Group, Highways England, and others as part of our campaign to get improvements to the A34 between the Newbury junction of the M4 and the M40.

We discussed the keenly-awaited safety review that came from a commitment we got from the Roads Minister following the tragic multiple fatality accident of just over a year ago.

The report highlights just how out of date the A34 has become.

The configuration of slip roads, the size of lay-bys and many other features might have been suitable when the road was constructed but, with massively increased traffic and the changing face of transport generally, we can see what needs to be done now.

Safety is the main motivation for our campaign but statistics prove that the A34 is actually no more dangerous than most similar roads in the UK.

What is a factor is that traffic flows are increasing and even small shunts block the road for hours causing a big headache for business and the economy.

This is why the 27m that the Chancellor has allocated to the so-called Oxford to Cambridge Expressway, which will start at Junction 13 of the M4, will eventually deliver the big win.

I scuttled from this meeting to a packed Committee Room for the launch of my pamphlet Blue Belt 2.0.

This highlights many of the good things Britain is doing in ocean conservation around the world, particularly surrounding our Overseas Territories.

I then set out how this can be improved and how it can and should be seen as both an act of environmental responsibility and, crucially, global leadership.

One of my great frustrations has been that whilst other countries shout from the rooftops about much smaller acts of marine conservation, Britain lets it slip out with a press release.

I call the UK's oceans commitments "the love that dare not speak its name".

This all ended last week when the Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson came along and gave it the UK Government's seal of approval with a typically barnstorming speech.

It turns out that one of his cultural heroes is the mayor in the film Jaws. Boris' point here (follow me if you can) was that the sea around the fictional town was as much a home for the shark as it was for people. Anyway it seemed to go down well with a room full of greenies.

The stat that surprised many and found its way on to national media was when I said that the South Sandwich Islands in the South Atlantic are home to a quarter of the world's penguins.

So, yes, a quarter of all the penguins in the world are British.
Yadav explained why he supports Rahul Gandhis Bharat Jodo Yatra after making the shocking remark that Congress should die in after its drubbing in 2019 polls.
By Online Desk

Ahead of the first-anniversary of demonetisation, activist brothers Tehseen and Shehzaad Poonawalla have sought a compensation of Rs 1 crore each to all victims.

They wrote to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) holding the central government responsible for the death of hundreds of people around the country due to various disruptions caused by demonetisation.

The self-immolation of a mother of four in Aligarh on 20 November, murder of a newly-wed in Odisha's Ganjam district for not paying dowry in the new notes on 29 November, death of a 32-days-old infant in the arms of the mother while waiting in a bank in Bihar's Balrampur on 2 December, murder of the van driver carrying new currencies to a bank in Assam on 16 November, were a few among the many deaths reported by medias. Cardiac arrests and stampedes while in the queues at banks caused most of the casualties.

Calling the note ban an impromptu accomplishment by the government, the petitioners said they have decided to take the issue up because most of the victims belong to the weaker sections of the society for whom it is not easy to register any complaint, livelaw.in reported.

"It is true that the families of victims of demonetisation have an impression that our legal system leaves them out in cold, it is pertinent to mention herein that people who died due to demonetisation, their families have not been compensated till date and it is therefore the duty and responsibility of this Honble commission to direct the government to reach out to the families of those who lost their lives due to demonetisation and compensate them," the Poonawallas wrote to NHRC.

Citing reported casualties caused due to demonetisation, the letter said, "In the days following the demonetisation, the country faced severe cash shortages with severe detrimental effects across the country. People seeking to exchange their bank notes had to stand in lengthy queues and several deaths were linked due to the rush to exchange cash.

The scarcity of cash owing to demonetisation let to chaos within the society. People holding old banknotes faced difficulties exchanging them due to endless queues outside banks and ATMs across India. It became daily routine for millions of people waiting to deposit or exchange the 500 and 1000 banknotes since 9 th November 2016. The ATMs across the country were running out of cash immediately after a few hours of being functional and around more than half of the ATMs within the country were non-functional.

Progressive outrage and violence were reported across the country. This led to not only physical injury but also psychological. The ugly face of Indias demonetisation stemmed hundreds of deaths."

They added that what followed demonetisation were contrary to the statements made by the then RBI Governor Urjit Patel and Economic Affair Secretary Shakitkanta Das, who had said that the decision was to fight black money, terrorism funded by counterfeit currency notes.

However, the government was in denial of receiving any official records any "official report" on deaths due to demonetisation.

Responding to a question in Lok Sabha on 17 March 2017, Minister of State for Finance Arjun Ram Meghwal had said that "no such official report has been received."

The government of India had cancelled old Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes on November 8 2016, and the public was given time till December 2016 to exchange and deposit the defunct notes. Restrictions were also imposed on withdrawals, which were gradually removed.



Ahead of the first-anniversary of demonetisation, activist brothers Tehseen and Shehzaad Poonawalla have sought a compensation of Rs 1 crore each to all victims. They wrote to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) holding the central government responsible for the death of hundreds of people around the country due to various disruptions caused by demonetisation. The self-immolation of a mother of four in Aligarh on 20 November, murder of a newly-wed in Odisha's Ganjam district for not paying dowry in the new notes on 29 November, death of a 32-days-old infant in the arms of the mother while waiting in a bank in Bihar's Balrampur on 2 December, murder of the van driver carrying new currencies to a bank in Assam on 16 November, were a few among the many deaths reported by medias. Cardiac arrests and stampedes while in the queues at banks caused most of the casualties. Calling the note ban an impromptu accomplishment by the government, the petitioners said they have decided to take the issue up because most of the victims belong to the weaker sections of the society for whom it is not easy to register any complaint, livelaw.in reported. "It is true that the families of victims of demonetisation have an impression that our legal system leaves them out in cold, it is pertinent to mention herein that people who died due to demonetisation, their families have not been compensated till date and it is therefore the duty and responsibility of this Honble commission to direct the government to reach out to the families of those who lost their lives due to demonetisation and compensate them," the Poonawallas wrote to NHRC. Citing reported casualties caused due to demonetisation, the letter said, "In the days following the demonetisation, the country faced severe cash shortages with severe detrimental effects across the country. People seeking to exchange their bank notes had to stand in lengthy queues and several deaths were linked due to the rush to exchange cash. The scarcity of cash owing to demonetisation let to chaos within the society. People holding old banknotes faced difficulties exchanging them due to endless queues outside banks and ATMs across India. It became daily routine for millions of people waiting to deposit or exchange the 500 and 1000 banknotes since 9 th November 2016. The ATMs across the country were running out of cash immediately after a few hours of being functional and around more than half of the ATMs within the country were non-functional. Progressive outrage and violence were reported across the country. This led to not only physical injury but also psychological. The ugly face of Indias demonetisation stemmed hundreds of deaths." They added that what followed demonetisation were contrary to the statements made by the then RBI Governor Urjit Patel and Economic Affair Secretary Shakitkanta Das, who had said that the decision was to fight black money, terrorism funded by counterfeit currency notes. However, the government was in denial of receiving any official records any "official report" on deaths due to demonetisation. Responding to a question in Lok Sabha on 17 March 2017, Minister of State for Finance Arjun Ram Meghwal had said that "no such official report has been received." The government of India had cancelled old Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes on November 8 2016, and the public was given time till December 2016 to exchange and deposit the defunct notes. Restrictions were also imposed on withdrawals, which were gradually removed.
By Online Desk

A Facebook post by a woman lawyer Raya Sarkar inviting others to name academics who have sexually harassed their students went viral last Tuesday, with 58 professors listed by name and the institution they serve at. Yesterday, yet another similar Facebook post has surfaced under the name Malati Kumari.

The post claims that the Facebook account was created by survivors of sexual harassment in academia and activist-circles. The survivors involved in the creation of the post choose to remain anonymous insisted on protecting their identity. The post carries names of several social activists and academics accusing them of sexual harassment.

The Facebook post reads:

We are sending this message to you with a list of people in academia and activism where there are concrete cases of sexual harassment against them. After we saw the list compiled by Raya Sarkar on Facebook, we were in constant conversation for last couple of days regarding the experiences in our own lives. We in this process got connected to few other survivors of sexual harassment in academia and activist-circles as well. A Pandoras box opened. A solidarity and trust to share long-kept-secrets developed in a very close circle. But we also felt that the problem of Sexual harassment/predatory behavior seems so pervasive, so layered, so related to position of power that to express it openly becomes highly difficult. Particularly so, when the harasser appears as a Messiah for the oppressed.

We who have compiled this list are Dalit-Bahujan and like us, many of the survivors have come from small towns/villages/marginalized communities to these big university and urban spaces with lot of hopes. In these spaces of progressive activism, we have re-discovered our own personal histories of oppression, we have listened to these activists/academics and have idolized them and then the advantage is taken of that admiration and respect. Many of us have spent nights blaming ourselves at first, crying alone, submerging in a guilt trip. We thought, if we speak out, will not we dismiss the positive roles of these people? Will not the right-wing organizations or media or state machinery take advantage of that and victimize the accused person beyond proportion, keeping in mind some of them are already under threats and targets for taking sides of the oppressed.

But the experience of harassment corrodes us from inside. It corrodes the confidence that the world will believe us. We had no other option than to put up the names of the harassers in this manner. Most of them are persons with enormous network and connections in academia, political circles, media, university administration or even in the anti-sexual harassment committee (in case of JNU) and the past experience shows that identity of the complainant never remains secret. Let the floodgate open for the survivors. The Harasser should be named at least to warn the future generation of women. And the struggle should go on in other fronts. Some of the survivors are determined to initiate necessary legal action as soon as possible. We are compiling our evidences for that purpose too. More survivors may become confident to take legal steps and some may be able to come forward openly if atmosphere of support and solidarity is created.

With all the trauma, anxiety and the anonymity forced on us by the situation have made us alone. We have almost no one to consult legally as dont know that in the progressive lawyer circle who is with whom and who will leak information to whom. We are sending the mail (containing the list) to various progressive media platforms too hoping that they publish this letter and the list. We could not put the letter/list from our Facebook accounts to maintain our anonymity. But you can.

A Facebook post by a woman lawyer Raya Sarkar inviting others to name academics who have sexually harassed their students went viral last Tuesday, with 58 professors listed by name and the institution they serve at. Yesterday, yet another similar Facebook post has surfaced under the name Malati Kumari. The post claims that the Facebook account was created by survivors of sexual harassment in academia and activist-circles. The survivors involved in the creation of the post choose to remain anonymous insisted on protecting their identity. The post carries names of several social activists and academics accusing them of sexual harassment. The Facebook post reads: We are sending this message to you with a list of people in academia and activism where there are concrete cases of sexual harassment against them. After we saw the list compiled by Raya Sarkar on Facebook, we were in constant conversation for last couple of days regarding the experiences in our own lives. We in this process got connected to few other survivors of sexual harassment in academia and activist-circles as well. A Pandoras box opened. A solidarity and trust to share long-kept-secrets developed in a very close circle. But we also felt that the problem of Sexual harassment/predatory behavior seems so pervasive, so layered, so related to position of power that to express it openly becomes highly difficult. Particularly so, when the harasser appears as a Messiah for the oppressed. We who have compiled this list are Dalit-Bahujan and like us, many of the survivors have come from small towns/villages/marginalized communities to these big university and urban spaces with lot of hopes. In these spaces of progressive activism, we have re-discovered our own personal histories of oppression, we have listened to these activists/academics and have idolized them and then the advantage is taken of that admiration and respect. Many of us have spent nights blaming ourselves at first, crying alone, submerging in a guilt trip. We thought, if we speak out, will not we dismiss the positive roles of these people? Will not the right-wing organizations or media or state machinery take advantage of that and victimize the accused person beyond proportion, keeping in mind some of them are already under threats and targets for taking sides of the oppressed. But the experience of harassment corrodes us from inside. It corrodes the confidence that the world will believe us. We had no other option than to put up the names of the harassers in this manner. Most of them are persons with enormous network and connections in academia, political circles, media, university administration or even in the anti-sexual harassment committee (in case of JNU) and the past experience shows that identity of the complainant never remains secret. Let the floodgate open for the survivors. The Harasser should be named at least to warn the future generation of women. And the struggle should go on in other fronts. Some of the survivors are determined to initiate necessary legal action as soon as possible. We are compiling our evidences for that purpose too. More survivors may become confident to take legal steps and some may be able to come forward openly if atmosphere of support and solidarity is created. With all the trauma, anxiety and the anonymity forced on us by the situation have made us alone. We have almost no one to consult legally as dont know that in the progressive lawyer circle who is with whom and who will leak information to whom. We are sending the mail (containing the list) to various progressive media platforms too hoping that they publish this letter and the list. We could not put the letter/list from our Facebook accounts to maintain our anonymity. But you can.
By PTI

CHENNAI: Fresh rains today lashed the metropolis and suburbs falling under Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur districts, bringing more areas under sheets of water and making commute a hardship.

Schools in Chennai and Kanchipuram and Tiruvallur districts have declared holiday for November 2 after being closed on November 1 due to the raions.

In an unfortunate incident, two children, aged 9 and 7, were electrocuted in Chennai when they accidentally stepped on a live wire from an electric junction box that was allegedly left unclosed despite complaints from the local residents.

READ HERE | Two girls electrocuted by unattended live wire on a Chennai street

The death of two children, even when the state official machinery is said to be on high alert over the heavy monsoon rains has come as shock.

Parts of Vyasarpadi, Perambur, Choolai and Otteri in North Chennai, West Anna Nagar in Central Chennai and parts of Madipakkam and Keelkattalai in South Chennai are witnessing inundation.

In Korattur, the ESI hospital premises was surrounded by sheets of water causing hardship to patients.

The Met department in a bulletin here said rain or thundershowers are likely to occur at most places over coastal Tamil Nadu and Puducherry and at many places in interior Tamil Nadu tomorrow.

IN PICS | Chennai struggles through second day of heavy rains

North East monsoon is active in Tamil Nadu and its neighbourhood. In the past 24 hours there was rainfall in many parts of the State, the highest being at Ponneri in Tiruvallur district (10 cm), Director of the Area Cyclone Warning Centre, S Balachandran told reporters here.

The upper air cyclonic circulation over Gulf of Munnar is positioned over Sri Lanka and Southwest Bay of Bengal now, he said.

Under the influence, he said in the next 24 hours many places in coastal districts and south Tamil Nadu will receive widespread rainfall.

Barring western districts, interiors of the State will witness moderate showers, he said.

Heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely at some places in coastal districts.

As regards to Chennai, and neighbouring Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur, there will be intermittent rains and sometimes it could be heavy, he said.

Buses were delayed in several routes due to rains here, and road users faced inconvenience during their daily commute.

Traffic snarls were seen in many locations and vehicles were diverted at some points to ease traffic situation.

With the resumption of showers, suburban Mudichur which was already witnessing waterlogging became almost inundated with residents facing acute difficulty in venturing out of their homes.

Several homes and retail outlets were seen shut in Mudichur which falls under Kancheepuram district, and roads wore a deserted look as there was hardly any movement of vehicles.

READ HERE | Two days of heavy rain leaves Chennai's southern suburbs waterlogged

Civic authorities said staffers were being deployed round-the-clock to bail out water from roads and subways.

Trees that fell in some locations were being cleared, they added.

Over 400 water pumps were being used to suck water out of the roads, they added.

Districts including Thanjavur, Nagapattinam and Cuddalore experienced rains yesterday as well.

There were brief spells of rain in Chennai and in several parts of neighbouring Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur districts overnight.

Followed by Ponneri, Cuddalore district recorded nine cm for the 24-hour period ending 8.30 am today.

READ HERE | Rainfall in Nagapattinam highest in Tamil Nadu, three dead as rain lashes coast

Meanwhile, the Tamil Nadu weatherman, Pradeep John, who had become a reliable source for weather forecasts after the 2015 floods in Chennai, has been continuously posting updates on social media every few hours.

The following is his latest post as on 4.20 pm today.

Earlier, the Tamil Nadu weatherman had posted on Facebook, assuring people that the monsoon showers should not be as worrying as the rains during the Chennai floods in 2015.

(With inputs from Express News Service and Online Desk)

CHENNAI: Fresh rains today lashed the metropolis and suburbs falling under Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur districts, bringing more areas under sheets of water and making commute a hardship. Schools in Chennai and Kanchipuram and Tiruvallur districts have declared holiday for November 2 after being closed on November 1 due to the raions. In an unfortunate incident, two children, aged 9 and 7, were electrocuted in Chennai when they accidentally stepped on a live wire from an electric junction box that was allegedly left unclosed despite complaints from the local residents. READ HERE | Two girls electrocuted by unattended live wire on a Chennai street The death of two children, even when the state official machinery is said to be on high alert over the heavy monsoon rains has come as shock. Parts of Vyasarpadi, Perambur, Choolai and Otteri in North Chennai, West Anna Nagar in Central Chennai and parts of Madipakkam and Keelkattalai in South Chennai are witnessing inundation. In Korattur, the ESI hospital premises was surrounded by sheets of water causing hardship to patients. The Met department in a bulletin here said rain or thundershowers are likely to occur at most places over coastal Tamil Nadu and Puducherry and at many places in interior Tamil Nadu tomorrow. IN PICS | Chennai struggles through second day of heavy rains North East monsoon is active in Tamil Nadu and its neighbourhood. In the past 24 hours there was rainfall in many parts of the State, the highest being at Ponneri in Tiruvallur district (10 cm), Director of the Area Cyclone Warning Centre, S Balachandran told reporters here. The upper air cyclonic circulation over Gulf of Munnar is positioned over Sri Lanka and Southwest Bay of Bengal now, he said. Under the influence, he said in the next 24 hours many places in coastal districts and south Tamil Nadu will receive widespread rainfall. Barring western districts, interiors of the State will witness moderate showers, he said. Heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely at some places in coastal districts. As regards to Chennai, and neighbouring Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur, there will be intermittent rains and sometimes it could be heavy, he said. Buses were delayed in several routes due to rains here, and road users faced inconvenience during their daily commute. Traffic snarls were seen in many locations and vehicles were diverted at some points to ease traffic situation. With the resumption of showers, suburban Mudichur which was already witnessing waterlogging became almost inundated with residents facing acute difficulty in venturing out of their homes. Several homes and retail outlets were seen shut in Mudichur which falls under Kancheepuram district, and roads wore a deserted look as there was hardly any movement of vehicles. READ HERE | Two days of heavy rain leaves Chennai's southern suburbs waterlogged Civic authorities said staffers were being deployed round-the-clock to bail out water from roads and subways. Trees that fell in some locations were being cleared, they added. Over 400 water pumps were being used to suck water out of the roads, they added. Districts including Thanjavur, Nagapattinam and Cuddalore experienced rains yesterday as well. There were brief spells of rain in Chennai and in several parts of neighbouring Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur districts overnight. Followed by Ponneri, Cuddalore district recorded nine cm for the 24-hour period ending 8.30 am today. READ HERE | Rainfall in Nagapattinam highest in Tamil Nadu, three dead as rain lashes coast Meanwhile, the Tamil Nadu weatherman, Pradeep John, who had become a reliable source for weather forecasts after the 2015 floods in Chennai, has been continuously posting updates on social media every few hours. The following is his latest post as on 4.20 pm today. Earlier, the Tamil Nadu weatherman had posted on Facebook, assuring people that the monsoon showers should not be as worrying as the rains during the Chennai floods in 2015. (With inputs from Express News Service and Online Desk)
Biden: Deadly missile that hit Poland 'unlikely' to have come from Russia

A missile that landed in Poland and killed two people is unlikely to have been fired from Russia, President Joe Biden said late Tuesday.
Champaign, IL (61820)

Today

Cloudy. A few flurries or snow showers possible. Temps nearly steady in the low to mid 30s. Winds W at 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

Cloudy. Low around 25F. Winds W at 10 to 20 mph.
New Delhi: With the improvement in India's ranking in the World Bank's 'ease of doing business' report to 100th position, bankers and experts today expressed hope that implementation of the GST will strengthen the country's position in the future.

"Going forward, GST's incorporation in next year's assessment will provide another significant leap in doing- business rankings for India," Yes Bank managing director Rana Kapoor said in a statement.

It is to be noted that the latest Ease of Doing Business report by the World Bank released on Tuesday did not take into consideration the implementation of Goods and Services Tax (GST) from July 1, 2017.

Passage of the GST Bill was clearly a watershed moment for the economy but even otherwise there has been a sustained effort to simplify licencing and tax structures, thereby making India a much more investment friendly place to do business, said Axis Bank managing director Shukla Dharma.

According to KPMG, the next paradigm shift to top 50 is still a long way ahead and will require India to maintain a strong momentum.

The GST reform that did not get considered this year will drive India's improvement in next year's assessment, but there is a need to continue to work on other areas including starting a businesses, trading across borders as well as land reforms, KPMG partner Nilaya Verma said.

The change in ranking reflects the outcome of a significant effort by central, state and city administrations, another consultancy firm PwC said.

The improved investment climate will give an impetus to several economic corridors that are ready for investors, it added.
Patna: In a significant development, the Nitish Kumar-led Bihar government on Wednesday increased the ambit of reservation by bringing outsourced jobs in the public sector within its fold.

In a cabinet meeting in Patna, chaired by Kumar, a proposal to apply the state governments reservation policy in outsourced government jobs was approved.

Briefing media about the decision, cabinet secretary Brajesh Mehrotra said, Reservation policy would be followed in the selection of outsourced staff which is provided by a third party.

At present, around 10 thousand outsourced staff members are working in various state government departments. They are mostly technical and engineering staff at the Block and District level. A large chunk of them are data entry operators in electricity department and general administration sections.

Off late, many lower to mid-level jobs in the state secretariat have been outsourced to agencies like Beltron, which provides technical skill development training to youths of the state.

Burdened by pension and other liability cost of regular employees, the state government has now started outsourcing various services to third parties.

However, the decision is bound to have repercussions when the next round of recruitment process under outsourced category would start as the onus of compliance may emerge an issue.

In accordance of the latest cabinet decision any company, outsourcing for the state government, will have to ensure SCs get 16%, STs 1%, EBCs 18% and OBCs 12% reservation in the jobs.

Coalition partners Janata Dal (United) and Bhartiya Janata party (BJP) have both hailed the governments decision but opposition Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) has called it a farce to create illusion among voters.

JD(U) general secretary Shyam Razak said that governments decision would enhance employment opportunities for OBCs and dalits and it might prove a step towards reservation in the private sector.

However, RJD spokesman Shakti Singh Yadav questioned the intent of the government by saying that only a few hundred jobs are outsourced and it wont have any significant meaning. He demanded reservation in allocation of pattas and contracts also.
New Delhi: Last week, the world carefully and anxiously watched as China gave its president Xi Jinping another five years at the helm. Xis re-election as the dragons top leader has come with developments, many of them unprecedented.

While a change in Chinas geopolitical strategy was one that the world expected, recent moves by China seem to indicate a significant shift in how its dealing with its neighbour, India.

According to a report in the South China Morning Post, Chinese engineers are testing ways to build the worlds longest tunnel (at 1,000 km) to carry water from Tibet to Xinjiang, a relatively dry area of the country. The project, if it goes through, will divert the flow of water from the Yarlung Tsangpo in Tibet, which eventually becomes the Brahmaputra in India, to China, putting forth the possibility of relations between the two Asian giants hitting rough waters.

China categorically denied it, saying any report that mentioned a possible plan of building a tunnel was factually incorrect. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said that China will continue to attach great importance for cooperation on trans-border water resources.

The denial by China has, however, been received with caution. Strategic thinker and commentator Brahma Chellaney took to Twitter to voice his concerns over Chinas denial.

China: No plan to divert Brahmaputra waters. Just like Xi said in 2015 theres no plan to turn man-made islands in SCS into military zones, Chellaney said.

The caution, if New Delhi exercises it, comes with precedence. On August 18, almost two months after the Doklam standoff, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said that its neighbour had not shared data on the Brahmaputra River, thus violating a 2013 agreement. This data, New Delhi said, could have saved lives in Assam and Bihar, which were reeling under severe floods. The floods in Assam killed around 123 people, and Bihar had over 100 dead. China, on its part, said that the river data collection stations in Tibet Autonomous Regions had been damaged by floods, which is why it could not share the data.

New Delhi wasnt convinced, especially since Bangladesh  which is also a recipient of water from the river  confirmed that China had shared data with it.

The tunnel in the river comes as Xi has, over the last few days, shown off his revived interest in his neighbour.

CHANGE IN DOKLAM STATUS QUO?

In the Communist Partys Congress that ended last week, Xi was given a huge mandate, and as head of the Central Military Commission, he brought in major changes to the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA), calling for its complete modernisation by 2035.

Just days after Xi brought in mega military changes, media reports cited that China had ramped up its military presence in areas close to Doklam. The MEA, however, said that there was no change in status quo. China, on its part, neither denied nor accepted the claims.

Troops of India and China were locked in a 73-day-long standoff in Doklam since June 16 after the Indian side stopped the building of a road in the disputed area by the Chinese Army. Bhutan and China have a dispute over Doklam. The MEA on August 28 had announced that both sides were disengaging from the face-off site.

A TINY VILLAGE AS ENTRY TO ARUNACHAL PRADESH?

Chinese President Xi Jinping has told herdsmen from a Tibetan settlement bordering Arunachal Pradesh to "set down roots" there and safeguard "Chinese territory".

Replying to a letter, by two girls from a family who introduced their township in Tibets Lhunze county, Xi told them to develop settlements and stay put in the area bordering India.

Situated in southwest China's Tibet, Lhunzhe is close to India's Arunachal Pradesh, which Beijing claims as its own and calls South Tibet.

In his inaugural speech at the meet, Xi said China was ready to settle its border dispute with neighbours but it cannot be expected to swallow everything which undermines its integrity and sovereignty.

RENEWED SUPPORT FOR MASOOD AZHAR, PAKISTAN

China, on Monday, said that it would block a resolution at the United Nations this week to declare Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Masood Azhar a global terrorist.

This is not the first time China has done this and has previously halted attempts by both India, US to declare Azhar an international terrorist. Interestingly, China happens to be the only country in the UN Security Council to be actively supporting Azhar; all other countries are on board the global terrorist tag for the JeM chief.

Its bound to anger India further as JeM chief is accused of several attacks, including the one on the Indian Parliament in 2001.

China has also defended its all-weather ally Pakistan time and again, completely quashing Indias stand on Pakistan harbouring terror.

KASHMIR AS PRIORITY

Yet again, a decision bound to raise some concerns. As the Communist Party Congress concluded, Yao Wen, Counsellor of the Department of Asian Affairs under Chinas MFA said that China was willing to consider Indias concerns with the One Belt One Road initiative and that Kashmir remained a top priority for China, along with along with the Korean Peninsula, the South China Sea dispute and instability in Afghanistan.

This is alarming considering India has been against OBOR since the very beginning, calling out China as the project threatened Indias sovereignty. Chinas pact with Pakistan, known as the China Pakistan Economic Corridor, runs via the disputed territory of Kashmir.

(With inputs from agencies)
Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday said that everyone in the state should learn Kannada.

Siddaramaiah made the comments while addressing school children on "Karnataka Rajyotsava day" (Karnataka Formation Day).

He also unfurled the Karnataka state flag (Yellow and Red) at the Kanteerava Stadium.

"Everyone who lives in Karnataka is a Kannadiga and should learn Kannada and make their children learn the language as well. I am not against learning any language, but one should not forget if you don't learn Kannada that means you are showing disrespect to Kannada," Siddaramaiah said.

The Karnataka government has already notified a draft copy of making Kannada as a subject compulsory in all schools in the state. "Bharat Ratna CNR Rao, Engineer Vishveshwaraiah studied in Kannada medium schools and still became world famous personalities. The notion of not getting good education in Kannada schools is wrong and must go," he added Siddaramaiah.

Earlier, the Congress-led state government also constituted a committee to look into the design of a state flag. "Our government has popularly held an opinion that we need a state flag. We have formed an expert committee bowing to this petition. We will soon take a final decision on this," Siddaramaiah said.

The expert committee is said to give out its first report on the matter before the winter assembly session in November 13th.

The move to make Kannada compulsory in schools has come in the backdrop of series of events which the government has taken up in the name of protecting the language. Earlier, the government had recommended 100% reservation for Kannadigas for blue-collared jobs in private and government sector. The government also removed Hindi signs in metro stations and stuck to two language policy (English and Kannada).

However, BJP is alleging that the Congress is trying to consolidate Kannada vote bank by the being pro-Kannada ahead of assembly elections.

Meanwhile, BJP, Congress and the JD(S), the three major political parties in the state, unfurled the Karanataka flag in their respective party office.
New Delhi: Private citizens will soon be able to buy and operate drones or Unmanned Aerial Systems (UASs) in India for personal and commercial use. Minister for Civil Aviation P Ashok Gajapathi Raju said on Wednesday that the government had prepared a draft regulation for the manufacturing, sale and operation of drones in India.

Raju said that the ministry had conducted its internal consultation and over the next 30 days, it would talk to all relevant stakeholders. Once the public consultations are done, the government will come out with its final regulation on drones in India. Minister of State (MoS) for Civil Aviation Jayant Sinha said, We have studied the drone policies of other countries and have tried to come up with the best possible regulation for India. We have tried to strike a balance between security concerns and ease of doing business in the drone industry.

Joint Director for Civil Aviation, Lalit Gupta, who gave a presentation on the new norms, said that the government would classify drones into five categories based on their weight. These are nano drones, micro drones, mini drones, small drones and large drones, Gupta said.

According to the DGCA guidelines, nano drones will be those that will be lighter than 250 grams, micro drones will be between 250 grams and 2 kg, mini drones will be between 2 kg and 25 kg, small drones will be between 25 kg and 150 kg and large drones will be over 150 kg.

Except for the nano drones, all drones would require registration by the DGCA under the policy proposed by the ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) Civil Aviation Secretary Rajiv Choubey said. All drones, above the nano category, will be required to get a Unique Identification Number (UIN). For mini drones and above, an Unmanned Aircraft Operator Permit (UAOP) will be required. The draft guidelines also said that model aircrafts, up to a maximum take-off weight of 2 kg flown below 200 feet inside an educational institute, will require neither a UIN nor a UAOP.

For mini, small and large drones, the remote pilot or the drone operator will have to undergo proper training to fly the drone. These drones will not be permitted to carry any hazardous materials. Drones that are in the micro category or above will require an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification), a SIM, a Return to Home option and anti-collision lights.

NO DRONE ZONES

Keeping security concerns in mind, the government has also proposed restrictions on flying drones, including the setting up of No Drone Zones. An operator cannot fly a drone within a 5 km radius of an airport, within permanently or temporarily prohibited, restricted or danger areas. An operator can also not fly a drone, without prior approval, over densely populated areas or over or near an area affecting public safety or where emergency operations are underway.

There are also restrictions on flying drones 50 km from the international border, beyond 500 meters of the coastline, within 5 km of Vijay Chowk in New Delhi and from a mobile platform such as a moving vehicle, ship or aircraft.

CATEGORIES OF DRONES
Chandigarh: In its latest diktat, the BJP government in Haryana has asked teachers in the state to enroll for a priest training programme, so that they can perform in poojas.

While several teachers failed to turn up for the training programme at 1pm at Kapalmochan office on October 29, the Manohar Lal Khattar government has now sought an explanation from them as to why did they fail to participate in the event.

The SDO has asked for departmental disciplinary action against the teachers who chose to skip the priest training programme.

The Haryana government wanted the teachers to perform poojas and other rituals at an upcoming village fair.

In another such controversial diktat, the Haryana government had banned the sale of meat for nine days on the occasion of Jain festival of Paryushan. The sale of meat was banned from September 11 to 19.
New Delhi: Days after the Supreme Court said that they want Hadiya, the woman at the centre of the Kerala love jihad case, to appear before it on November 27, her husband, Shafin Jahan said that he is concerned about his wifes safety.

Im happy, but at the same time I have my concerns. The next hearing is almost a month away. She should have been asked to depose at the earliest, Shafin told News18.

Hadiyas case is at the centre of the love jihad controversy in Kerala, which is now being probed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA). Twenty four-year-old Akila Asokan converted to Islam and later married Shafin Jahan last year.

Soon, Hadiyas father approached the Kerala High Court linking her daughters conversion to a larger terror conspiracy. The HC stepped in to annul the marriage, however, the order was challenged in the Supreme Court by Shafin Jahan.

The top court earlier this week agreed to examine Hadiya in an open court, turning down her fathers plea for in-camera proceedings.

Shafin Jahan says his apprehensions about his wifes security stem from a purported video released by activist Rahul Easwar, in which Hadiya was heard saying that she feared for her life. The woman is currently in the custody of her parents in Kerala.

Just look at her. If you compare her current photograph with the one that is there when we got married, there is a sea change. She looks very weak now and I dont know how shes living in her parents house, he told News18.

Jahan is consulting his lawyers whether he should be going to New Delhi for the hearing.

Jahan, in his petition claims Hadiya, a homeopathy student in Kerala, converted to Islam of her own volition two years prior to their marriage and sought direction to Hadiya's father to present her in court.

Hadiya's father, however, said she was a "helpless victim" trapped by a "well-oiled racket", which used "psychological measures" to indoctrinate people and convert them to Islam.
Rae Bareli: Twenty-six people were reported dead and over 100 hundred injured when a blast took place at NTPC's thermal power plant at Unchahar in Rae Bareli district on Wednesday.

The accident took place in unit six of the plant. According to initial reports, the accident happened after the steam pipe of the boiler plant burst open.

"Ash-pipe exploded due to pressure at NTPC plant in Rae Bareli, at least 100 injured," said DM Rae Bareli.

The injured have been admitted to the district hospital. As per reports, about 150 workers were present inside the plant when the accident took place. The project site where the blast happened produces 500 MW of electricity.

UP CM Yogi Adityanath, who is on a three-day visit to Mauritius, took cognizance of the accident and directed Principal Secretary, Home, to send all possible help for the victims.

He also tweeted and announced that injured will be treated at SGPGI, Lucknow, and that the UP Government will bear the treatment cost. The CM also announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh for those who are killed, Rs 50 thousand for those who are seriously injured and Rs 25 thousand for the injured.

ADG (Law and Order) Anand Kumar said that all available ambulances were pressed into action and the additional district magistrate and the additional superintendent of police were on the spot to supervise relief and rescue operations.

A National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team was also despatched to the explosion site from Lucknow for relief and rescue operations, an official said.

The NTPC, in a statement after the incident, said that "an unfortunate accident in the boiler of 500MW under trial unit of NTPC Unchahar occurred this afternoon. Rescue operations are underway in close coordination with the district administration. Injured persons are being shifted to the nearby hospitals".

Deeply pained by the accident at the NTPC plant in Raebareli. My thoughts are with the bereaved families. May the injured recover quickly. The situation is being closely monitored & officials are ensuring normalcy is restored: PM @narendramodi PMO India (@PMOIndia) November 1, 2017

Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi also announced that he would visit the accident site on Thursday.

Due to the unfortunate NTPC accident, I will visit Rae Bareli tomorrow morning. Will join Gujarat Navsarjan Yatra in the afternoon. Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) November 1, 2017

The Unchahar sub-division in Raebareli district is around 110 km from the state capital.
Lucknow: Amid the age-old debate over the Babri Masjid-Ramjanmabhoomi site, a man named Yakub Habeebuddin Tucy, who claims to be a descendent of Mughal emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar, has laid claims on the controversial site in Ayodhya.

Claiming himself to be a sixth generation descendant of the last Mughal emperor, Yakub has now demanded that the Sunni Waqf Board make him the caretaker of the Babri Masjid land, as the property originally belonged to Babur.

Calling himself Prince Yakub, the man also presented a DNA report in front of the media to back his claim.

However, there was no clarity over whose DNA had Yakub matched his with. Yakub, who lives in Hyderabad, has also met Uttar Pradesh Minister, Chowdhary Laxmi Narayan with his ownership claims.

Yakub says he was advised by the minister to submit an application to the Sunni Waqf Board on this.

Talking to media persons in Lucknow on Tuesday, Yakub said he has asked the Sunni Waqf Board to respond by November 15 and added that he will approach the Supreme Court if he doesn't get a reply.

Not just that, the man also claimed that once he wins the case in court, he will solve the Ayodhya dispute through dialogue.

This is not for the first time that I am staking claim to my ancestors property. A civil court in Hyderabad has already acknowledged my lineage and now the UP Sunni Waqf Board should also listen to my claim and make me the Mutawwali (caretaker) of the property, Yakub said.

However, speaking of the recent claims on the land by Shia Waqf Board, Yakub said, Claims of the Shia Waqf Boards ownership of the land are baseless and it should be rejected.
Lucknow: Sources in Uttar Pradesh Police claim that the department has submitted a report to the state government stating that more than 304 Rohingya are illegally living in various parts of the state. As per information, UP Police on Tuesday in its confidential note said that Rohingya were found living in cities like Aligarh, Mathura, Saharanpur, Muzaffarnagar and Meerut.

The exercise to identify illegal immigrants, especially Rohingya, is already underway by the police in various parts of Uttar Pradesh. In the next phase, security agencies would try to ascertain the period that the Rohingya have been staying in the five districts and find out how they managed to sneak into UP.

Few days back, UP CM Yogi Adityanath had claimed Rohingya to be intruders and not refugees, while adding that the state government will take action against such illegal immigrants.

Speaking on the issue, BJP Spokesperson Shalabh Mani Tripathi said that the Rohingya, as they are illegal immigrants, get involved in anti-national activities.

Due to the appeasement policies of some of the governments in Uttar Pradesh, the problem of illegal Bangladeshi people has become dangerous. Due to the policies of the governments, the security agencies could not do anything against these illegal citizens. None of the illegal immigrants have a ration card or voter card and are involved in all criminal, anti-national activities, he said.
Two groups are today dominating discussions about civil-military relations in India. The first group is the veterans who continue to protest over the definition of OROP. Recent images of soldiers and their wives being pushed and shoved into police vans has again brought into focus their long-standing demand. The second is a group of junior officers from the services who think that their career interests have been ignored and have gone to the Supreme Court. Grant of NFU to the military is another case pending in the same court.

There is also considerable consternation in the military leadership over the issue of status parity. And this leadership is not the few Generals, Admirals and Marshals but the approximately 50,000 officers, a vast majority of whom are middle and young level officers. They directly lead men on land, sea and air and put themselves at maximum risk. The whole issue of the military being a Group A or Group B service is bewildering to them. And justifications about the military being neither Group A nor B, being advanced by some of our own senior officers, are inexplicable.

It is often argued that it is only a handful of veterans and serving officers who are actually complaining, and that their demands are unreasonable. Both these statements could be true but it does not naturally follow that these will not have any impact on the character of the military ethic. This is what should worry us all.

One of the cornerstones of the military ethic is its Corporateness. Members share a strong group identity based on common values and pride in their very critical responsibility towards the nation. Within this corporate structure is a strict hierarchy of ranks. If today members of the military prefer to take to the streets or the courts of law, rather than relying on their senior leaders, it could weaken the corporate character of the military.

The military is a unique profession. No other profession demands that your primary role is to lay down your life in the pursuit of your duty. General John Hackett, in his book The Profession of Arms, called it the concept of unlimited liability. In Jammu and Kashmir alone we lose more than 200 soldiers each year, not only battling terrorists but also to the brutal terrain and weather.

To get men and women to accept this huge sacrifice requires a forging of character where the best of values come to fore. Hackett wrote that qualities such as courage, fortitude and loyalty are deliberately fostered, not because they are desirable, but because they are essential to military efficiency.

What is the current civil-military dispute about? Is it about more pay, privileges or a better lifestyle? There can be no comparison in lifestyle because no individual in any other profession earning an equivalent salary lives in a 10 x 10 foot bunker where you are snowed under for six months. The soot from the 1945-style heater, which is fired by kerosene oil, is an all pervading presence, from your hair to the fingernails to the choked nostrils. The privilege is nothing more than a bunch of great comrades who are suffering the same privations.

The real fight is about honour. Honour or Izzat is the edifice on which the ethical and moral foundation of any military rests. Traditionally, the Indian military has given great value to the concept of honour  the honour of the unit which must always be protected and personal honour which drives a man even in the face of certain death. If officers and men feel unwanted and under-privileged it could weaken this edifice. Unfortunately, this fact is not given enough attention. Putting out tweets and spending time with soldiers during festivals is a great gesture but is not enough to assuage the angst.

There are two different models in the structure of civil-military relations. In The Soldier and the State, Huntington recommends objective civilian control that ensures civilian control and maximizes professionalism at the same time. He argues that a highly professional military seeks to distance itself from politics, thus strengthening civilian control. In contrast to Huntington, Morris Janowitz, in The Professional Soldier, argued that the military will invariably come to resemble a political pressure group, and that this is not necessarily a problem as long as it remains responsible, circumscribed, and responsive to civilian authority. He recommends the militarys meaningful integration with civilian values.

There are supporters of both models but in India, objective control has been followed and has stood the military in good stead. There is no real need for change, and political parties need to be sensitive to this. Constantly evoking the sacrifice of the Indian Army in every political debate is harmful. It could politically influence soldiers. The loyalty of a soldier is to the military ideal, which is a constant, and not to a political ideology. This is the correct democratic way.

Surely it is nobody's case that the military is completely losing its professionalism. But problems, however small, if not tackled in time can blindside you. If some cracks are visible, they need to be quickly repaired and not papered over. The government practice of forming of one more committee has now lost its credibility. Decisions will have to come from the political executive.

Minor changes in OROP, grant of NFU (non-functional upgrade), an improvement in career progression, and an honourable status to military personnel are a very small price to pay for ensuring that the character of the military ethic is not diluted. Political leaders, the bureaucracy and senior military leadership must join hands and work towards that goal. This will ultimately not only empower the military but also the nation.

I close with a quote from Huntington, If the civilians permit the soldiers to adhere to the military standard, the nations themselves may eventually find redemption and security in making that standard their own.

(The author is former Northern Commander, Indian Army, under whose leadership India carried out surgical strikes against Pakistan in 2016. Views are personal.)
New Delhi: Citing continuous human rights violations and denial of basic rights to Hindus, a public interest litigation (PIL) in the Supreme Court has sought minority status for the religion in eight states and to "repeal the notification on minority community" as arbitrary and invalid.

The plea, filed by Delhi BJP leader and lawyer Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay, states that minority rights are being siphoned off illegally and arbitrarily to the majority population as neither the Centre nor the state has notified Hindus as a minority under the National Commission of Minorities Act, 1992.

The plea has also been addressed to Minister of Law and Justice, Ravi Shankar Prasad and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, stating that it was the "duty of the State to move beyond the minority-majority binary communal politics, which ironically passes for secularism in this country, has been the bane of our democracy."

The states for which Hindus should be declared as minority according to the plea are Lakshadweep, Mizoram, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Jammu and Kashmir, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur and Punjab.

Apart from seeking minority status for Hindus, Upadhyay has also asked for the notification on Minority Community be repealed as arbitrary as it ultra-vires the Constitution. "A repeal, thereof, except the State of Jammu and Kashmir be served from Section 1(2) of the NCM Act, as it is invalid and against the Constitution and its basic structure," said the petition.

The PIL cites an August 19 research report titled Hindu Human Rights Report, published on the web portal India Facts. The report, which was in collaboration with the Srijan Foundation, is termed as Indias first ever documentation of both systematic and episodic violations of human rights including sanctioned discrimination. The plea notes "how a level playing field for Hindus has been skewed".

"There is an attempt to skew the level playing field in the private education sector against the Hindu community. In last three years, the government has forced the closure of 7659 non-minority schools. Moreover, in last three years, budget increase for minorities is far higher compared to other groups like Tribals, Scheduled Caste and Other Backward Caste," reads the report as quoted by the plea.

The petition states that "the denial of minority rights to the actual religious and linguistic minorities is a violation of fundamental right of minority community enshrined under the Article 21".

Upadhyay has argued that denial of this status to Hindus only shows the "furtherance of vote bank politics."
New Delhi: Tourism Minister KJ Alphons has offered free two-night stay at a five-star hotel in the national capital to the Swiss couple, who were attacked at Fatehpur Sikri earlier this month. Alphons termed the offer as a "token of concern".

In a letter to the couple, Alphons offered to put them up at the government-run ITDC hotel, The Ashok, after they recovered from their injuries.

He said Marie Droze and Quentin Jeremy Clerc, can choose to stay at the hotel on the dates of their choice.

"Trust you are recovering fast and would be on your way home soon. As a token of our concern, we would like to offer you a room at our luxury hotel, The Ashok, at Chanakyapuri, New Delhi for two nights on the dates of your choice. All expenses at the hotel, including food and beverages, would be covered," he said in the letter.

The minister had earlier written to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath over the issue and also visited the couple, who are currently recovering at Apollo Hospital, Delhi, assuring them of help.

On October 22, the couple from Lausanne in Switzerland were chased and attacked 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.

They later told the media that as they lay on the ground bloodied and bruised, bystanders began making videos of them on their mobile phones.

(With PTI Inputs)
Chennai: A teenager was arrested from Tamil Nadus Virudhunagar district for allegedly abusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a private Facebook message.

S Thirumurugan was arrested on Monday after K Marimuthu, BJP district secretary, filed a complaint with screenshots of the conversation.

Thirumurugan is a polytechnic student and a fan of actor Vijay. He has been remanded to 15-day judicial custody.

A source said that Marimuthu had shared a meme with Thirumurugan on Facebook that criticised Vijay over the Mersal row. In return, Thirumurugan 'abused' Modi and has been remanded to a 15 day judicial custody.

Marimuthu told CNN-News18 that he never criticised Vijay but shared facts on the GST dialogues from the film 'Mersal'.

The Content was public on Facebook. Those words abusing the Prime Minister of a country, I am not even able to tell you those words. I asked him, can you scold a prime minister this way? He said he will do it that way," Marimuthu said.

"I talked about Vijay in a decent way. The movie said that medical treatment is free for all in Singapore and that is factually incorrect. I forwarded the documents on the same. I never used filthy language. Even I am a fan of Vijay, he added.

I don't know why he had so much hatred towards Modi and used derogatory statements against the PM, he said.

BJP welcomes criticism but not abuse from citizens, Narayanan Tirupathi, BJP spokesperson, said.

"Abusing is different from criticism. Abusing an individual with filthy words cannot be encouraged. BJP is welcome to any kind of criticism but unhealthy or filthy comments made by anybody is not welcome. We all live in a society. I myself am very active on social media, but I don't encourage any unhealthy comments, and I never do that, he said.

DMK criticised the BJP over this incident. Manu Sundaram, DMK spokesperson said, "The space for dissent is shrinking rapidly and the line between democracy and dictatorship is blurring. It is a sad state of affairs when private chats are used to arrest citizens for fair criticism. In one sweep, the government has shown it does not care about free speech and privacy."

The TTV Dinakaran camp of the AIADMK said they were surprised with the action against the youth. Prasanna Alagarsamy, spokesperson for the faction, said, Surprised over the immediate action taken, but such swiftness is not visible in solving issues affecting the welfare of the people."

The state ministers, however, were silent on the issue.
A new international study has found that breastfeeding for just two months cuts a baby's risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) almost in half.

Carried out by the University of Virginia School of Medicine, the research looked at eight major international studies that examined 2,259 cases of SIDS and 6,894 control infants where death did not occur.

The results showed that breastfeeding for just two months reduces the risk of SIDS by almost half, and the longer babies are breastfed the greater the protection. Breastfeeding for less than two months did not offer such a benefit.

Another important finding from the study showed that both partial and exclusive breastfeeding reduces the risk of SIDS, which could come as good news for women who can't or choose not to rely solely on breastfeeding.

Researcher Kawai Tanabe, MPH, of the University of Virginia School of Medicine commented on the findings saying, "These results are very powerful! Breastfeeding is beneficial for so many reasons, and this is really an important one."

The large collective sample used in the research also provides convincing evidence of the reliability and consistency of the findings, despite differing cultural behaviors across countries.

Previous studies have also suggested that breastfeeding is associated with a decreased risk of SIDS, the leading cause of death for infants between one month and one year of age, but this is the first study to determine the duration necessary to provide that protection.

Although it remains unclear why breastfeeding has a protective effect, the researchers suggest that it may provide immune benefits and have a beneficial effect on infant sleeping patterns.

Based on the results, the researchers are now calling for "ongoing concerted efforts" to increase rates of breastfeeding around the world, with the team reporting that data from 2007 showed a quarter of U.S. babies had never been breastfed.

The World Health Organization has set a goal of ensuring that more than half of infants worldwide are breastfed exclusively for at least six months by 2025.

"It's great for mothers to know that breastfeeding for at least two months provides such a strong protective effect against SIDS," said researcher Rachel Moon, MD, of the UVA School of Medicine and the UVA Children's Hospital. "We strongly support international and national efforts to promote breastfeeding."

The findings can be found published online in the journal Pediatrics.
Young children who face adverse problems such as the death of a parent, growing up in poverty, physical or sexual abuse, or having a parent with a psychiatric illness are likely to be at a higher risk of developing health problems in adulthood, warn researchers.

Research showed that facing three or more adverse experiences at a time can lead to smaller brain volumes. As a result, children are unable to express their emotions properly, which leads to depression and worse social and emotional outcomes.

Those who faced adversities between the age group of nine to 15 years were 15 percent more likely to develop severe depression by their pre-teenage years and early teenage years and 25 percent more likely to suffer physical health problems, like asthma and gastrointestinal disorders.

"Our findings demonstrate how powerful the psychosocial environment can be," said Joan L. Luby, Professor at the University of Washington in Missouri, US.

"A child's brain doesn't develop based solely on its genetic infrastructure. It is influenced by the stresses of poverty, violence, the loss of a parent, and other adverse experiences, which together can have serious health consequences evident as early as the teenage and preteenage years," she added.

The study, published in the journal JAMA Pediatrics, conducted multiple MRI brain scans on children between three to six years of age which showed that the inferior frontal gyrus -- part of the brain important for language comprehension and production -- was smaller in children with more adverse experiences.

"People exposed to adversity early in life experience changes in the volume of the inferior frontal gyrus that probably can make children more vulnerable to behavioral issues and bad decision-making," Luby said.
Lingerie holds a special place in the bridal trousseau. Include strapless and multiway bras, but invest time to find the right bra fit, say, experts.

Shweta Verma, Head of Marketing, Triumph India and Sri Lanka, and Soozie Jenkinson, Head of Design Lingerie, Swim and Active at British fashion brand Marks & Spencer, jot down some essentials.

* Everyday T-shirt bras: These bras are a must-have in your wardrobe as they give the ultimate wearing comfort all day and a seamless appearance. The super smooth cups are invisible under your shirts and tight-fitting tops, while the light and soft padding provides modest support for a perfectly shaped look. These are a good choice for both Indian and western outfits as they come in a variety of colours and styles, prints and even lace.

* Party bras: From sexy strapless and demi cups, to push-up bras, party bras are an essential part of your trousseau as they go with plunging necklines to backless dresses.

If you want to enhance your cleavage for a low-neck top or dress, a push-up bra is a must. For tube dresses wear a strapless bra (in a push-up variety if need be). A multi-strap bra is another great option as it goes with a variety of dress styles, such as halter necks. Deep-back or backless outfits are best matched with a backless bra or one with transparent back straps for the ultimate glam factor.

* A variety of briefs: Most women tend to igno a e the importance of different briefs necessary for certain style of outfits. Usually, a single kind of brief is not suitable for all types of dresses. A seamless 'invisible' brief is a must in your wedding trousseau. A perfect choice for fitted dresses that can be worn for your engagement, cocktail party, or for any post-wedding outings. For something seductive, yet classy, opt for a tanga brief.

These offer a little more coverage and are super comfortable to wear as compared to a G-string, yet have slim sides. Don't forget to pack some comfortable cotton briefs for everyday wear.

* Shapewear: If you want to have smooth curves under form fitting dresses and skirts, then it is a good idea to invest in some shapewear. There are different types of shapewear available depending on the problem areas you are trying to address, giving you a shaping effect that will make you look as sexy as you feel. High-waist briefs are a great option for every-day use as they give you a sleek look on the waist and hips as well as a flattering effect to your tummy.

Long-leg briefs give a shaping effect to the thigh as well as hips. For an overall flattering effect, you can opt for a body-dress or body-suit.

* You should take the dress or outfit in to the fitting with you, this way you can ensure the perfect fit and make sure the bra can't be seen under clothing.

* This season, you have the option to embrace a seasonal colour palette of indigo, navy, black and berry in on trend fabrics of lace, velvet and silk, or for a more discreet look, look to sumptuously soft, plush and supportive lingerie in discreet white and nude colours that create a great foundation.
Ittefaq, being helmed by the first time director Abhay Chopra, is all set to hit the theaters this Friday.

The film which is an official remake of the late Yash Chopra's eponymous 1969 directorial stars Sonakshi Sinha, Akshaye Khanna and Sidharth Malhotra in key roles. The film's story revolves around a night when a man is murdered, and both Sidharth and Sonakshi are the suspects. And Akshaye Khanna plays the cop who will stop at nothing to find the truth. While there's nothing worse for a thriller or a murder mystery to have its ending revealed before viewers get a chance to watch the film, the makers are leaving no stone unturned in protecting the film's climax.

Karan Johar, whose Dharma Productions headlines the film, launched a campaign along with the makers, in order to protect the plot of the film. Titled #SayNoToSpoilers, the campaign has already grabbed the attention of many.

Karan took to Twitter to share a small video and said, "I don't spill spoilers, I just spill secrets on my show."

He added that as a person who loves cinema, protecting the plot from spoilers is of paramount importance.

The star cast of the film also urged the viewers to not reveal the ending of the film. Sonakshi, in fact, collaborated with her father and actor Shatrughan Sinha and released a fun video on the same. "Khamosh to all the spoilers coming your way. Watch #IttefaqThisFriday at a cinema near you and #SayNoToSpoilers #Khamosh #ittefaqnov3," she wrote.

Sidharth, too, shared the same message on Twitter and wrote, "I swear to hear no spoilers! Do watch #Ittefaq this Friday & please #SayNoToSpoilers. #3DaysToIttefaq."

Quite interestingly, while Bollywood remains divided on most issues, the idea of protecting the film's plot and story resonated with them all. Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, Anushka Sharma, Akshay Kumar, Arjun Kapoor and Kriti Sanon among others extended support to the campaign and unveiled several small video clips to get the attention of their fans.

Shah Rukh took to Twitter and shared a video and asked people to not be a spoiler. He wrote, "When you give out a spoiler, you become one!" he wrote.

Akshay shared that while it's important to respect every film, the climax and ending of suspense thrillers should be specifically maintained. He also added that one shouldn't reveal the killer's name no matter who he or she is. He teased the fans by saying that he might be in the film and could be the killer too.

Thanks a ton @akshaykumar for doing this! For requesting everyone to NOT reveal the spoilers!!! Thank you my friend....#IttefaqThisFriday pic.twitter.com/ryNCS8JBnQ Karan Johar (@karanjohar) October 31, 2017

In an interesting way, Arjun advised his fans to transform into Gunday from Ishaqzaade and flaunt their Tevar when people reveal unnessary plot twists.

Anushka wrote, "Revealing the suspense is so not cool! Watch #IttefaqThisFriday in cinemas near you & please #SayNoToSpoilers!"

Revealing the suspense is so not cool! Watch #IttefaqThisFriday in cinemas near you & please #SayNoToSpoilers! pic.twitter.com/2czsFhsQSi Anushka Sharma (@AnushkaSharma) October 31, 2017

"Dont we all hate it when someone reveals the end? I have my plan ready for such spoilers! Watch #IttefaqThisFriday & #SayNoToSpoilers," Kriti Sanon wrote while saying that if anyone comes to her with spoilers, she's going to shut them up with a Bareilley Ki Barfi.

Dont we all hate it when someone reveals the end? I have my plan ready for such spoilers! Watch #IttefaqThisFriday & #SayNoToSpoilers  pic.twitter.com/WRRWQSK60S Kriti Sanon (@kritisanon) October 31, 2017

Amitabh Bachchan, too, extended his support and wrote, "T 2592 - The film 'ITTEFAQ' from dear friends .. http://bit.ly/ittefaqse .. and a request to not reveal the end .. no spoilers please !!"

T 2592 - The film 'ITTEFAQ' from dear friends .. https://t.co/aI2GIuYm4u .. and a request to not reveal the end .. no spoilers please !! Amitabh Bachchan (@SrBachchan) October 26, 2017

Producer and director Aanand L Rai reminded viewers that the responsibility of filmmakers is to make entertaining films, but it's the responsibility of viewers to not reveal the suspense of the film.
The animosity between Japan and China dates back to the pages of history with the Nanking Massacre in December 1937 considered as one of the worst periods in their relations. It is said that the Japanese Imperial Army killed thousands of Chinese, and not just combatants, but also unarmed civilians. The Japanese soldiers are also reported to have perpetrated heinous crimes like rape. This horrific event has always remained a thorn in the ties between the two neighbours, divided by the South China Sea.

But over time, Japan and China have realised the importance of forging better understanding, and the ongoing 30th edition of the Tokyo International Film Festival perhaps went out of its way to invite the biggest ever Chinese contingent. In the recent past, one has seen signs of thawing between the two countries, and this has been apparent in the way the movie industries in Japan and China have begun to extend their hands of cooperation.

This, in fact, was most, most apparent at the Festival. With Japanese films reaping handsome profits in China and with Chinese buyers thronging the Festival market, I saw three Chinese titles at the Festival -- Zheng Yi's Soul Inn, Chen Kaige's Legend of the Demon Cat and Dong Yue's The Looming Storm. Even the main competition, chaired by Tommy Lee Jones, included one of China's biggest stars, Zhao Wei.

The Looming Storm, set in the 1990s  when the Chinese society went through a tumultuous change with the old factory culture giving way to modern methods that took away people's sense of security -- sees an officer in a small town shaken by the notorious murders of several young women. When the police fail to solve the case, the officer, who has been working in the security division of an old factory, steps in. The movie is gripping to the last frame, and is helmed in a way to keep viewers biting their nails.

The Legend of the Demon Cat unfolds during the Tang Dynasty, when a Japanese monk goes to China and dies after an encounter with a distinguished poet. A spectacular epic of the kind associated with Chen Kaige, the film tells us how a demon cat posses people, pushing them towards murder.

Soul Inn, though with a strong element of romance, is ultimately about a young flower shop owner, who waits for his mother to return after his father's death. The owner converts his house into some sort of mortuary, where he accepts people's ashes in the hope that his mother would come back some day. The movie explores in a quaint way people's fears and their struggles to get over them. A haunting work about the final destination of the soul.

This new development of Japan's welcoming gesture towards China was nowhere as apparent as it was at the Festival. And it made me pause and ponder about my own country that is still so hostile to anything remotely cultural from Pakistan crossing our borders. I think films can be a great way of bridging our own differences with Pakistan.
Tiger Zinda Hai, co-starring Katrina Kaif and Salman Khan, has already piqued up the curiosity of viewers. Given that the film is releasing around Christmas, the fans are more excited than ever to spend the holiday watching Bollywood's much-anticipated film.

Ever since Katrina has made her Instagram debut, the actress and the crew of the film, have often shared behind-the-scenes photos from the film set. And this time too, filmmaker Ali Abbas Zafar took to Instagram to share a candid moment with the two actors.

#behind#the#camera @tigerzindahai A post shared by ali (@aliabbaszafar) on Oct 31, 2017 at 2:47am PDT

Zafar also took to Instagram to share a close-up shot of Katrina's character Zoya.

Zoya @katrinakaif @tigerzindahai A post shared by ali (@aliabbaszafar) on Oct 31, 2017 at 9:16pm PDT

Just a few days ago, Zafar also shared a small video of Katrina playing with a baby. He captioned the video as, "#tigerzindahai #dairies #airport @katrinakaif #baby rocky #who is cuter?"

#tigerzindahai #dairies #airport @katrinakaif #baby rocky #who is cuter? A post shared by ali (@aliabbaszafar) on Oct 26, 2017 at 10:23am PDT

Quite interestingly, the film has been shot across various destinations in Austria, Greece, Morocco, Abu Dhabi and India. Both Salman and Katrina will play intelligence agents Tiger and Zoya, who travel to five different countries, fighting against the odds to fulfill their life-threatening mission.

The Yash Raj Films project is slated to release on December 22.
New Delhi: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA from Assam, Himanta Biswa Sarma, on Wednesday once again mocked Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi, asking if people can suddenly attain maturity at the age of 50.

The former Congress leader also said that there was a need for a consultation with a doctor to know if it was really possible, ANI quoted him as saying.

This was the second time Sarma took potshots at Rahul Gandhi within three days. Sarma had earlier targeted Rahul after he posted a video of his dog, Pidi, answering his disparagers who have repeatedly questioned if it was indeed Rahul who tweets from his official account.

Sarma responded to Rahul's video, saying he remembered how "Rahul was busy feeding" Pidi while he wanted to discuss issues afflicting Assam. The Assam health minister, later, also said that Rahul was not a "serious" political person.

Sir @OfficeOfRG,who knows him better than me.Still remember you busy feeding biscuits 2 him while We wanted to discuss urgent Assam's issues https://t.co/Eiu7VsuvL1 Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) October 29, 2017

On Tuesday, Sarma had asked the Congress vice-president to make his stand clear on the national anthem. "Does @OfficeOfRG have guts to tell us his stand on #JanaGanaMana.We're extremely puzzled to see @INCIndia discomfort over 52 seconds stand," he wrote on Twitter.

While Rahul Gandhi's soaring popularity has taken the BJP by surprise, Sarma has repeatedly trained his guns on his former party. When the Supreme Court asked the Centre to reconsider its stance over national anthem in cinema halls, Sarma came out claiming that "Congress people can stand for Pidi" but won't do the same for the national anthem.

The ruling party at the centre had, a few days ago, alleged that Rahul's team was taking the assistance of bots to get a large number of retweets.

The Gandhi scion has, however, captured people's imagination with a blend of humour and a sharp criticism of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his cabinet ministers. Rahul had recently coined a new expansion of the GST - "Gabbar Singh Tax". Within hours, social media was deluged with memes targeting the BJP and the Prime Minister.
New Delhi: Accusing the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) of working under political influence, the Congress on Wednesday said that the investigating agency "will have to be investigated" for shielding people associated with the ruling party.

Investigator ko investigate karna padegaCongress party to investigate karna padega. Hum bade gaur se dekh rahe hain ki kaun kya kar raha hai (Investigators will have to be investigated Congress party will have to investigate. We are carefully observing whos doing what), senior lawyer and Congress leader Kapil Sibal said in a press conference.

Congress' statement comes just a day after CBI filed a chargesheet before the trial court in the Vyapam scam giving a clean chit to Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. Four hundred ninety others, including some government officials, have been charged by the investigating agency in the case pertaining to a scam in pre-medical admission tests in Madhya Pradesh.

If the investigator will not probe impartially we will face unimaginable consequences. We have to stand together and chargesheet the chargesheeters, Sibal said, referring to the CBI,

He added that Congress leaders will urge the court to ensure an impartial probe in the case as the party prepares to file a private complaint in the case.

Ashish Chaturvedi, among the three initial whistleblowers in the case, who has claimed several attempts on his life and that of his parents since he started filing cases in Vyapam case, said that the state was using its might to shield the powerful in the case.

Everyone knows that this scam happened under the present MP government. So, it is naturally using its might in influencing the course of the investigation. I urge the present government to appeal to dissolve this investigation team altogether and spare us the unnecessary and avoidable waste of states time and resources, Chaturvedi told News18.

In the chargesheet, the CBI has named three Vyapam officials, three other racketeers, 17 middlemen, 297 solver and beneficiary candidates and 170 guardians of beneficiary candidates.
New Delhi: Patidar leader Hardik Patel has said that he will not be meeting Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, who is currently on a three-day tour of Gujarat.

Speaking exclusively to News18, Patel said that there was no scheduled meeting between him and Rahul. It was rumoured that a one-on-one was scheduled to be held in Surat on Friday.

The clarification came after reports claimed talks between Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) delegation led by Hardik and Rahul Gandhi on reservations demands from the community.

The reports said that during the first round of talks at Gandhinagar, state Congress leaders had agreed to the demands of Patidar community if the party were to win the state elections.

However, the points of contention like reservations to Patidars in state government jobs and educational institutions remained unsolved.

It was widely expected that the issues would be addressed when Hardik and Rahul would meet during the Congress leaders tour of South Gujarat.

Hardik had earlier, on Saturday, asked the Congress to make its stand clear on the reservation for Patidars by November 3.

The Patidar leader put forward a set of demands before the Congress as a pre-condition for extending support to the party in the Gujarat Assembly elections.

He also added that Patidars would oppose Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi during one of his visit to Surat on November 3, just like they did during BJP president Amit Shahs rallies in the city.
Bhopal: Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Wednesday said that people in the state needed to shun slave mentality and take pride in their achievements.

Chouhan made the comments at a function to mark the states 62nd foundation day here.

This comes a day after former chief minister Uma Bharti pulled him up for making constant comparisons between his state and the US.

Chouhan also heaped praise on the achievements Madhya Pradesh has managed to amass in last few years. He referred to Indore and Bhopals elevation among the cleanest cities of India, MP repeatedly receiving Krishi Karman awards, ten awards for tourism promotion, growth in agriculture and enhanced irrigation facilities.

If someone says Madhya Pradesh was not better than US, I say this is slave mentality, he said, attacking Congress indirectly which had severely criticised his remarks on MP roads being better than those in US.

We need to quit this mentality that our state has nothing. If we learn from others, they also have lot to learn from our state, he added.

We need to take pride on our country, traditions, great personalities and human values, he said.

With Assembly polls inching closer, Madhya Pradesh government has organised a three-day celebration to mark the foundation of the state. To extend his development agenda further, Chouhan also set out on state-wide vikas yatra from Wednesday.

Choosing the trouble-torn Mandsaur as the first stop in his journey, Chouhan announced development schemes there and said that the state would bring in legislation to give death penalty to rapists of girls less than 12 years of age.

Soon, a bill would be introduced in the winter session of Assembly, he said.
Banuga jaldi banuga is what Rahul Gandhi is said to have told his senior party colleagues during his interactions with them on Monday, this comes close on the heels of Sonia Gandhi's assertion of the impending change in the leadership of the Congress party. Truth be told, there has always been a certain inevitability about his elevation. Its always been a question of when and not whether he will take over.

Rahul Gandhi will take over as the 60th president of the countrys oldest and till not very long ago the countrys biggest political party. He also takes over at perhaps the most difficult time in the partys 132-year-old history.

Established in 1885, the Congress-ruled India for close to six decades, but today it is a pale shadow of the all-powerful, mighty juggernaut with an overpowering presence throughout the country, its now down to a mere 45 seats in the Lok Sabha. It is being increasingly pushed to the margins by a rampant BJP, which rules 18 of the countrys states, while the Congress accounts for a mere 5 states. That tally could come down on December 18 when the results of the Assembly elections in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh are announced.

The Congress has a mountain to climb. It has been virtually wiped out of the Hindi heartland, once its core catchment area. In UP and Bihar, the party has never really recovered from the rout in 1989. In Bihar, it has managed to survive largely hanging onto the coat tails of Lalu Prasads RJD, and during the last Assembly polls courtesy its alliance with the JD (U) and the RJD.

In UP, the last time the party tasted power was in 1989 and its electoral performance has progressively deteriorated over the years. Even in its former bastions of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, the last time it won the Assembly elections was over a decade ago.

The situation is no better in South India. Unlike 1977 when the party was routed in North India, it stood its ground and retained control south of the Vindhyas, it is struggling to retain a foothold in the South. The Congress shot itself in the foot, following its disastrous decision to divide Andhra Pradesh. In the process, it lost power in AP and failed to win Telangana. It now faces an uphill battle trying to retain power in Karnataka in next years Assembly elections. Kerala is one southern state where the party is still very much in the reckoning as it jostles with the Left for power.

In Tamil Nadu, it is struggling to find its feet and is dependent on its allies. The Congress has ceded ground to the BJP and the Sena in Maharashtra and is still to recover from its mauling during the last Assembly elections.

While the date of his elevation has still not been made public, a word coming out of the Congress is that it is likely to happen towards mid-November. Rahul Gandhi from all accounts is keen on getting elected and wants his elevation to happen after the culmination of the internal elections in the party. In all probability, he will be elected unopposed, as there is very little possibility of anybody contesting against him. The last time there was a contest for the post of the party president was in 2001 when Jitendra Prasada contested and lost against Sonia Gandhi.

Rahuls elevation is expected to put an end, once and for all the notion of dual power centres existing within the party. Its no secret that Rahul is far more comfortable working with the younger generation of leaders than with the old guard. Sonia Gandhi has led the Congress for the last 19 years and enjoys a larger than life presence in the party. She is a lot more conservative in her functioning, preferring to work with people who have been around for years.

Rahul, in contrast, prefers a much leaner team and is not averse to weeding out the dead wood. A case in point being the Uttarakhand elections. In the run-up to the polls, he made a case for the general secretary in charge of the state, a party veteran, to be replaced by a more agile and nimble-footed younger leader. Sonia dithered and eventually Rahul; did not press the point further.

Rahul political management team is hoping that his elevation will formally vest him with the confidence as well as the powers to restructure the party and position people. However, its a challenge that cuts both ways. Rahul will have to exhibit greater flexibility in his attitude and demonstrate that he has it in him to work with all ages and groups within his party.

As the Congress President, Rahul will be expected to take everybody along and utilise their skills sets to the advantage of the party. India's Grand Old Party has men and women of experience, that's been honed over the years in the heat and dust of the countrys politics, discarding them overnight may not be the wisest thing to do.

Rahul Gandhi's challenge in the short term is to ensure that the Congress gets back to winning elections. The party is yet to win a major election after 2014, barring Punjab, if Rahul can lead his party to victory in the forthcoming polls he will breathe fresh life into it.

In the long-term, he needs to rejuvenate the moribund party organisation. Rahul has off late shown signs of finding his feet and coming into his own, an electoral win will not only boost the confidence of his party but will help burnish his credentials both as leader of his party and a possible challenger to Narendra Modi. Rahul Gandhi clearly has much to think about as he awaits his elevation.

(The author is a senior journalist. Views are personal.)
British telecom giant Vodafone today said it is witnessing up to 180 percent growth in SIM cards used for the internet of things (IoT) devices in the country on a smaller base. Its solutions are being used to serve diverse segments like smart tractors and earthmovers, its country head Sunil Sood told reporters here. "Even in India, these numbers are zooming up. We are growing at about 150-180 percent a year. Yes, the numbers are small and the market is emerging," Sood, the managing director and chief executive for the second largest telco, which is set to merge with smaller rival Idea Cellular, said. The company is also working on the smart cars segment, he said, without divulging the client names. Globally, it has 60 million SIM cards, which have been sold to be used for IoT solutions.

IoT is an emerging technology wherein devices are connected and capable of 'speaking' to each other. It can be noted that the smart cities initiative of the government will use a lot of IoT solutions, which global vendors are keenly eyeing. Sood was speaking on the sidelines of a company event, where it launched a new brand positioning in India, after the similar launch at the global level earlier this month. The company refused to quantify the spends on the campaign in the country but hinted that a lot of focus will be on the digital media. When asked if the impending merger will have any bearing on the new identity campaign, its India chief operating officer Balesh Sharma hinted that both the brands will continue to operate even after the merger for the near future. He, however, added that the merger is not yet through. Sood later told reporters that the merger is on track and the process of approvals is moving as per expectations.

Watch: Nokia 2 First Look: The New Budget Nokia Android Phone
Dhaka: Bangladesh has demanded an apology from Pakistan after its envoy here posted a "misleading" video claiming that the country's founder Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was not the one who declared its independence in 1971.

The nearly 14-minute video was initially posted on a Facebook page called Pakistan Affairs. It said Bangladesh's military ruler and subsequent president "Ziaur Rahman, not Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, announced Bangladesh's independence".

The Pakistani mission in Dhaka shared the video on its Facebook page, sparking a controversy that prompted it to remove the post.

Secretary (Bilateral) Kamrul Ahsan summoned Pakistani High Commissioner Rafiuzzaman Siddiqui on Tuesday and handed him a "strongly worded protest note" warning that repeated breach of diplomatic norms by Pakistan would only stand to harm bilateral relations, a Foreign Office statement said.

"The Government of Bangladesh seeks a formal note of apology for this ill-motivated and misleading video post and calls for an immediate withdrawal of the footage from the Facebook page reportedly maintained by the Pakistan High Commission in Dhaka," it said.

The statement said Ahsan told the envoy that Dhaka deeply regretted that notwithstanding Bangladesh's repeated overtures "the malicious campaign by Pakistan and its various agencies against Bangladesh has not come to a halt".

Ahsan said the Pakistani envoy "apologised" saying the incident was "unintentional".

"We told him (envoy) that if this continues it will harm relations between the two countries. History is history. One cannot divert it by spreading propaganda," the Bangladeshi official said.

The diplomatic protest note said the message conveyed in the video that it was not Mujibur who declared the independence of Bangladesh "is a blatant lie and sheer fabrication of historical facts".

"Nothing can be farthest from the truth than claiming that the architect of independent Bangladesh and Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman did not want Bangladesh's independence or that Bangladesh's independence was declared by anybody other than the great leader himself," the note said.

Bangladesh emerged as an independent nation, breaking away from Pakistan after its victory in the 1971 liberation war aided by India.

Bilateral relations have suffered in recent years over the 1971 war crimes trial in Bangladesh and executions of former Bengali war criminals who colluded with the invading Pakistani troops.

A rankled Dhaka repeatedly summoned Islamabad's envoy here during the past three years following protests by Pakistani leaders over the trial and executions of hardline Islamists.
New York: An Uzbek immigrant accused of killing eight people in New York City by driving a rental truck down a riverfront bike path on Tuesday appeared to have acted alone, but the Halloween Day attack had all the hallmarks of terrorism, authorities said.

The suspect, who was shot by police and arrested moments after Tuesday's rampage on the Lower West Side of Manhattan, left a note saying he carried out the attack in the name of the militant Islamic State group, the New York Times and CNN said.

The death toll paled in comparison to dozens killed in similar assaults last year in France and Germany. However, it was still the bloodiest single attack on New Yorkers since September 11, 2001, when suicide hijackers crashed two jetliners into the World Trade Center, killing more than 2,600 people.

The Twin Towers site was just a few blocks from the scene of the carnage left when the suspect swerved the pickup onto a path filled with pedestrians and bicyclists on a sunny, crisp autumn afternoon.

Driving at speeds estimated at more than 60 mph (100 km/h), the vehicle mowed down everyone in its path before slamming into the side of a school bus.

The man then climbed out of the vehicle brandishing what appeared to be a pair of handguns before he was confronted by a city police officer, who shot him in the abdomen. Police said they recovered a paint-ball gun and a pellet gun from the scene.

The attack was over in a matter of seconds. Video footage taken by a bystander that circulated online showed crumpled bicycles scattered long the path, and at least two people lying on the ground.

In addition to the eight fatalities, at least 11 people were hospitalized for injuries described by fire officials as serious but not life-threatening. That excluded the suspect, who underwent surgery for gunshot wounds.

Police declined to publicly identify the man, but a source familiar with the investigation said his name was Sayfullo Saipov, 29. He reportedly lived in Paterson, New Jersey, a one-time industrial hub about 25 miles (40 km) northwest of lower Manhattan.

He had rented the pick-up from a Home Depot hardware store which, according to media accounts, was located in Passaic, just south of Paterson.

FOREIGN CITIZENS AMONG DEAD

Six victims were pronounced dead at the scene and two more at a nearby hospital, Police Commissioner James O'Neill said.

Five of the dead were Argentine citizens, visiting New York as part of a group of friends celebrating the 30th anniversary of their high school graduation, the Argentina Foreign Ministry said in a statement. Belgium's foreign minister said a Belgian citizen was also among those killed.

A US law enforcement official described the suspect as a U.S. immigrant born in Uzbekistan, a landlocked, predominantly Muslim country in central Asia that was once part of the former Soviet Union. CNN and NBC News reported that he entered the United States in 2010.

Authorities late on Tuesday surrounded a house in Paterson where, according to the New York Times, Saipov was believed to have lived. Paterson, known for its large immigrant population, is home to about 150,000 people, including 25,000 to 30,000 Muslims.

ABC News reported that Saipov had lived in Tampa, Florida. A check of court records related to a traffic citation that Saipov received in eastern Pennsylvania in 2015 showed he listed addresses then in Paterson and Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio.

Although authorities from the mayor's office to the US Department of Homeland Security all swiftly branded the attack an act of terrorism, Governor Andrew Cuomo stressed that the suspect was believed to have acted alone.

"There's no evidence to suggest a wider plot or a wider scheme. These are the actions of one individual meant to cause pain and harm and probably death," Cuomo told a news conference two hours after the rampage.

Asked later in a CNN interview whether the suspect had been known to authorities before the attack, Cuomo replied: "It's too early to give you a definitive answer."

The New York Times said investigators quickly recognized that Saipov had come to the attention of law enforcement in the past.

It cited three officials as saying federal authorities knew of Saipov from an unrelated probe, although it was unclear whether that was because he had ties to someone who was under scrutiny or because he was the target of an investigation.

CNN and other media outlets, citing police officials, reported that the suspect shouted "Allahu Akbar" - Arabic for "God is greatest" - when he jumped out of his truck.

O'Neill said only that an unspecified comment by the suspect when he exited his truck, and the general circumstances of the assault, led investigators to label the incident a "terrorist event."

The Federal Bureau of Investigation joined the New York City Police Department and other agencies in a Joint Terrorism Task Force to conduct a probe of the attack, the FBI said in a statement.

Despite the attack, thousands of costumed Halloween revelers turned out hours later for New York City's main Halloween parade, which went on as scheduled on Tuesday night with a heightened police presence just a few blocks away.

US President Donald Trump, who has pressed for a ban on travelers entering the United States from some predominantly Muslim countries, said on Twitter that he had ordered Homeland Security officials to "step up our already Extreme Vetting Program. Being politically correct is fine, but not for this!"
Washington: In the aftermath of the first deadly attack in New York blamed on terror since the September 11, 2001, carnage in the city, President Donald Trump said on Wednesday he had ordered more robust "extreme vetting" of travellers coming into the United States.

At least eight people were killed and 11 others injured in Lower Manhattan on Wednesday after a gunman in a truck ploughed through a busy bike path, an incident the US termed as an "act of terrorism".

The suspect, 29-year-old Sayfullo Saipov said to be from Uzbekistan, was shot in the stomach before being arrested.

"I have just ordered Homeland Security to step up our already Extreme Vetting Program. Being politically correct is fine, but not for this!" Trump tweeted.

His administration announced last week that it would resume accepting refugees after a 120-day ban, though arrivals from 11 "high-risk" countries, most of them home to Muslim majorities, will still be blocked.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims of today's terrorist attack in New York City and their families," Trump had said in a statement after the attack.

Earlier, the US president took to Twitter to decry the attack, saying "we must not allow ISIS to return".

"In NYC, looks like another attack by a very sick and deranged person. Law enforcement is following this closely. NOT IN THE U.S.A.!" Trump tweeted.

"We must not allow ISIS to return, or enter, our country after defeating them in the Middle East and elsewhere. Enough!" he said in another tweet.
Rafah, Palestinian Territories: Hamas handed over control of the Gaza Strip's borders with Egypt and Israel to the Palestinian Authority on Wednesday in the first key test of a landmark Palestinian reconciliation accord agreed last month.

Nazmi Muhanna, the Palestinian Authority's top official for border crossings, formally received control of the Rafah crossing with Egypt from his Hamas counterpart in a ceremony Wednesday morning.

At a separate checkpoint with Israel, an AFP photographer saw Hamas installations being dismantled. Palestinian Authority and Hamas officials were also there overseeing the handover.

At the Rafah crossing, Palestinian and Egyptian flags were flying, with large pictures of Palestinian Authority president Mahmud Abbas and Egyptian leader Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.

Mufeed al-Husayna, a Palestinian Authority minister, gave a short speech at the crossing, saying all the border crossings were being handed over.

"We began today, under the directive of the prime minister (Rami Hamdallah), to exercise our duties by receiving all the crossings," he said, thanking the Egyptians for mediating the deal.

"There is no yellow and green. All our Palestinian people are under the Palestinian flag," he added, referring to the flag colours of the political parties that signed last month's reconciliation deal.

Hamdallah is due to visit Gaza again in the coming days, he added.

Hisham Adwan, director of information at the Hamas crossings authority, told AFP that Palestinian Authority employees would take full control of the borders.

Under the Egyptian-brokered deal, the Palestinian Authority is due to take full control of Gaza by December 1.

The checkpoints had been due to be handed over by Wednesday, and were seen as a first key test of the strength of the reconciliation agreement.

Humanitarian suffering

Hamas has ruled Gaza since 2007 when the Islamists seized control in a near civil war with Abbas's Fatah, based in the occupied West Bank.

Israel has maintained a blockade on Gaza for a decade, citing the need to control Hamas, with which it has fought three wars since 2008.

Egypt has largely closed its border as well. The Rafah crossing was not open on Wednesday despite the official handover, though Hamas is hoping it will be in the coming days or weeks.

The Gaza Strip's two million residents suffer from worsening humanitarian conditions, with only a few hours of power a day and a lack of clean water.

The reconciliation agreement has raised hopes that a more regular opening of the Egyptian border could ease humanitarian suffering.

Robert Piper, the United Nations's top humanitarian official for the Palestinian territories, said he was travelling to Gaza on Wednesday to discuss humanitarian conditions.

A number of issues, including the future of Hamas's vast military wing, remain uncertain in the reconciliation agreement.

Multiple previous pushes for reconciliation have collapsed.

On Monday, seven Palestinian militants were killed when Israel blew up a tunnel it said stretched from the Gaza Strip into its territory that was intended for attacks.

The incident raised fears the timetable could be delayed, but both the Palestinian Authority and Hamas stressed they were committed to the agreement.

Officials from both the Palestinian Authority and Hamas accused Israel of trying to disrupt the deal, though Israel's army said it was forced to act after its sovereignty was breached.

All the major Palestinian factions are due to meet in Cairo later this month to discuss the formation of a unity government.

Israel has said it will reject any unity government that includes Hamas in which the Islamist movement does not disarm and recognise the Jewish state's right to exist.

The Fatah-dominated Palestine Liberation Organisation has recognised Israel, but Hamas has not.
A pickup truck driver killed eight people and injured more than a dozen others when he drove down a New York City bike path on Tuesday afternoon in what authorities said was a terrorist attack. The 29-year-old driver was shot by police in the abdomen and taken into custody after he crashed the truck into a school bus and fled his vehicle.

Stay tuned for LIVE updates:

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New York: A pickup truck driver killed eight people and injured more than a dozen others when he drove down a New York City bike path on Tuesday afternoon in what authorities said was a terrorist attack.

The 29-year-old driver was shot by police in the abdomen and taken into custody after he crashed the truck into a school bus and fled his vehicle, New York City Police Commissioner James O'Neill told a news conference.

A spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security called the incident an "apparent act of terrorism."

Asked at the news conference about reports that the driver shouted "Allahu Akbar" - which is Arabic for "God is greatest" - O'Neill said that a statement made by the suspect when he exited his truck and the general circumstances of the assault led investigators to label the incident a "terrorist event."

O'Neill said police would not identify the driver at this time. The attack was reminiscent of several similar attacks carried out in Europe last year.

Governor Andrew Cuomo said the suspect appeared to have acted alone. "There's no evidence to suggest a wider plot or a wider scheme. These are the actions of one individual meant to cause pain and harm and probably death," Cuomo said at the news conference.

Mayor Bill de Blasio called the attack a "cowardly act of terrorism."

The driver entered the bike path in lower Manhattan at 3:05 p.m., O'Neill said, adding that he was armed with a paint-ball gun and a pellet gun.

Two children and two adults were injured when the truck plowed into the school bus, he said. O'Neill said the suspect was driving a rented Home Depot truck, but said police would not disclose at this time where the truck was rented.

After the attack, mangled and flattened bicycles littered the bike path, which runs parallel to the West Side Highway on the western edge of Manhattan along the Hudson River.

Of the eight people killed, six were pronounced dead at the scene and two more were pronounced dead at a nearby hospital, O'Neill said.

Fire Commissioner Daniel Nigro said 11 survivors with serious but non-life-threatening injuries were taken to hospitals. US President Donald Trump was briefed on the incident, White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said.

Similar attacks in Europe last year killed dozens of people.

On July 14, 2016, a suspect drove a large truck into a crowd celebrating Bastille Day in the French city of Nice, killing 86 people and injuring hundreds more in an attack for which Islamic State claimed responsibility.

Five months later a Tunisian asylum seeker plowed a truck into a crowded Christmas market in central Berlin, killing 12 people and injuring 48.

In April of this year, a failed asylum seeker careened down a busy street in a truck in central Stockholm, crashing into a department store and killing three people in what the prime minister called a terrorist attack.
Washington: Nikki Haley, the US envoy to United Nations has reiterated US President Donald Trumps earlier statement on Pakistan providing safe havens to terrorists.

Nikki Haley also backed the creation of a strategic alliance with India to fight terrorism and maintain peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

Haley, in her keynote address to the 20th annual Legislative Conference of the Indian American Friendship Council, also strongly condemned the terrorist attack in New York that killed eight persons.

She said that the US recently embarked on a new strategy for combating terrorism in Afghanistan and South Asia.

One of the pillars of that strategy is the development of America's strategic partnership with India.

"America's overriding interest in Afghanistan and throughout South Asia are to eliminate the terrorist safe havens that threaten US and to keep nuclear weapons out of the hands of terrorists," Haley said.

The US, she said, would use all of the elements of its national power, economic diplomatic and military to pursue these goals.

"And critically, we will look to our economic and security partnerships with India to help us. We expect India to do more in Afghanistan, particularly in economic and development assistance,"

The US, she said, is also approaching its relationship with Pakistan differently.

"In many instances Pakistan has been a partner to the United States...But we cannot, tolerate its government or any other government giving safe haven to terrorists who target Americans. We will not tolerate it and we're communicating that message to Pakistan more strongly than in the past," Haley said.

The US expects changes, she asserted. She underscored the importance of India-US relationship not only the global fight against terrorism, but also in maintaining peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

Haley said that the June meeting between US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi was quite successful, as she praised Indias responsible role in the international community.

"India has long been a nuclear power. And nobody gives it a second thought. Why is that? Because India is a democracy that threatens no one," she said, adding that more than any other two leaders before them Trump and Modi are committed to building on this partnership of shared values.

"Our goal is to create a new strategic alliance between India and the United States, one that benefits to security and prosperity of both our nations in the world," she said.

Critically, both nations have felt the pain of terrorism, she said.

"We share a commitment to defeating terrorists and the hateful ideology that motivates them," Haley said.

Noting that the partnership between India and America is strong and it will keep getting stronger, she said the two countries have a shared vision for global peace security and prosperity.

Of the view that this is an exciting time to be an Indian-American, she said the world centre of gravity is shifting to the Indo-Pacific region.

"When you look at the strongest countries in that broad region, you see healthy and robust democracies like India, Japan and Australia, all countries that share deep values and friendships with the United States," she said.

"Today the United States and India have a great opportunity to create an emerging partnership that dominates economic and technological innovation," Haley said.

(With PTI inputs)
Tokyo: More than 200 people are feared to have died when a tunnel caved in at North Korea's nuclear test site after its latest detonation, a Japanese news report said on Tuesday.

A tunnel collapsed at Punggye-ri in early September, days after North Korea conducted its sixth and largest underground nuclear test on September 3, TV Asahi said, quoting unnamed North Korean sources.

Some 100 workers were involved in an initial collapse.

Another cave-in occurred during rescue operations, leaving at least 200 people feared dead in total, the Japanese broadcaster said.

The accident was triggered by the test, TV Asahi added.

Experts have warned that the underground tests could cause the mountain to collapse and leak radiation into the atmosphere near China's border.

The latest test  the sixth at the site since 2006  triggered landslides in the detonation area and beyond, according to satellite pictures taken the day after.

The images published by the 38 North website showed changes in the surface at Punggye-ri where the ground had been lifted into the air by the tremors. Small landslides followed the course of stream beds.

The blast caused a 6.3-magnitude earthquake, according to the US Geological Survey, followed a few minutes later by another with a magnitude of 4.1.

Japan assessed the yield from the test of what the North said was a hydrogen bomb at 120 kilotons, eight times the size of Hiroshima in 1945.

It is very unusual for North Korea to acknowledge any major accident, especially anything that involves its nuclear programme.

Lee Eugene, a spokeswoman at South Korea's unification ministry, said: "We are aware of the report but do not know anything about it."

The report came ahead of US President Donald Trump's first presidential visit to South Korea next week amid an escalating war of words between him and North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un.

The reclusive country has made significant strides in its atomic and missile technology under Kim, who took power after the death of his father and longtime ruler Kim Jong-Il in 2011.

Since then he has overseen four of the country's six nuclear tests and hailed atomic weapons as a "treasured sword" to protect the nation from invasion by the United States.
Washington: Exasperated US senators harshly criticised representatives of Facebook, Twitter and Google at a hearing today for not doing more to prevent Russian agents interfering with the American political process as early as 2015.

At one point, Senator Al Franken shook his head after he couldn't get all the companies to commit to not accepting political ads bought with North Korean currency.

The hearing by a subcommittee of the Senate Judiciary panel was moved last week into a cavernous hearing room usually reserved for high-profile events like Supreme Court confirmations.

About 50 people waited to get in as senators fired pointed questions and waved at cardboard displays of outrageous ads.

"People are buying ads on your platform with rubles. They are political ads," Franken fumed. "You put billions of data points together all the time. ... Google has all knowledge that man has ever developed. You can't put together rubles with a political ad and go like, 'Hmmm, those data points spell out something pretty bad?' "

Technology company representatives fumbled at points. After Franken pointed out foreign spending on US political campaigns is illegal, Google's director of law enforcement and information security, Richard Salgado, replied only that the search giant would refuse political ads paid with foreign currency "if it's a good enough signal on illegality."

"In hindsight, we should have had a broader lens," said Facebook's general counsel, Colin Stretch.

The companies all pledged to do more and politely said they understood the seriousness with which lawmakers are taking the question of Russian meddling.

Senator Amy Klobuchar pressured the representatives to support her "Honest Ads" bill, which she is co-sponsoring with Sen. Mark Warner and Sen. John McCain, and which would bring political ad rules from TV, radio and print to the internet. She dismissed pledges from the companies this week to be more transparent about political ads as an unenforceable "patchwork" of self-policing.

"We're not waiting for legislation," said Stretch, before Klobuchar cut him off and repeated her demand for a yes or no answer.

"We stand ready to work with you and your co-sponsors on that legislation going forward," Stretch replied, echoed by Twitter's and Google's representatives.

Louisiana Senator John Kennedy browbeat Stretch into admitting that Facebook had no way of knowing the true identity of all of the 5 million advertisers that use its platform every month.

"Of course, the answer is no," Stretch said.

The hearing, the first of three this week in which the three tech giants face a public grilling, comes amid the increasing pace of investigations into the Trump administration's possible link to Russia.

Court papers unsealed yesterday revealed an indictment against President Donald Trump's former campaign chairman, Paul Manafort, and a guilty plea by another adviser, who admitted to lying to the FBI about meetings with Russian intermediaries.
Beirut/Amman/Ankara: The Syrian opposition has rejected a new, Russian-sponsored initiative to reach a political settlement to the Syrian conflict, and Turkey protested against the invitation of the Syrian Kurdish side as Moscow's peacemaking bid hit early complications on Wednesday.

Having intervened decisively in the Syrian war in 2015 in support of President Bashar al-Assad, Russia now hopes to build on the collapse of Islamic State to launch a new political process towards ending the six-year-long conflict.

Damascus has said it is ready to attend the Nov. 18 Sochi congress which is set to focus on a new constitution, saying the time is right thanks to Syrian army gains and the "terrorists' obliteration".

But officials in the anti-Assad opposition rejected the meeting and insisted any peace talks be held under U.N. sponsorship in Geneva, where peace talks have failed to make any progress towards ending the conflict since it erupted in 2011.

The congress amounted to a meeting "between the regime and the regime", said Mohammad Alloush, a member of the opposition High Negotiations Committee and a senior official with the Jaish al-Islam rebel group.

The HNC was surprised it had been mentioned in a list of groups invited to the congress and would "issue a statement with other parties setting out the general position rejecting this conference", Alloush told Reuters.

The Turkey-based Syrian National Coalition (SNC) political opposition group said the congress was an attempt to circumvent "the international desire for political transition" in Syria.

"The Coalition will not participate in any negotiations with the regime outside Geneva or without U.N. sponsorship," SNC spokesman Ahmad Ramadan told Reuters.

A Russian negotiator said on Tuesday that Syrian groups who choose to boycott the congress risked being sidelined as the political process moves ahead.

Russia has invited 33 Syrian groups and political parties to what it calls a "Syrian Congress on National Dialogue".

Russian President Vladimir Putin first mentioned the idea of the congress last month, saying that he believed Moscow and the Syrian government would soon finally defeat militants in Syria.

Helped by Russia's air force and an array of Iran-backed Shi'ite militias, Assad has defeated many of the Syrian rebels who were fighting to topple him, leaving him militarily unassailable and the rebels confined to enclaves of the west.

Damascus and its allies have also recovered swathes of central and eastern Syria from Islamic State in recent months, while a separate campaign by U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) has driven IS from other areas of the country.

The separate campaigns are now converging on Islamic State's last strongholds in Deir al-Zor province at the Iraqi border.

Russia's decision to invite the Kurdish groups which dominate the SDF to Sochi triggered Turkish irritation on Wednesday. Ankara, which views the dominant Syrian Kurdish groups as a national security threat, said it was unacceptable that the Kurdish YPG militia had been invited.

Turkish presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin said Turkish and Russian officials had discussed the issue and that he had held meetings of his own to "solve the problem on the spot."

Turkey views the YPG and its political affiliate, the PYD, as an extension of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which has been waging a three-decade insurgency in Turkey.
The man accused of killing eight people by racing a pickup truck down a New York City bike path on Tuesday may have worked as a driver and lived in New Jersey after emigrating from Uzbekistan seven years ago, according to authorities and media reports.

Few other details about the 29-year-old suspect have emerged since the Tuesday afternoon vehicle rampage in lower Manhattan, blocks from the site of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks that destroyed the landmark World Trade Center Twin Towers.

Police have declined to identify the man but a source familiar with the investigation identified him as Sayfullo Habibullaevic Saipov and said he was not a U.S. citizen. His immigration status was not immediately clear.

Saipov was shot by a police officer while attempting to flee minutes after the attack and was whisked away to a local hospital, where he was recovering from an abdominal wound.

With authorities saying they believe the attack was a "terrorist event," the lack of disclosure may reflect the nature of the investigation, which is still in its earliest stage.

According to CNN and other media outlets, the suspect shouted "Allahu Akbar" - Arabic for "God is greatest" - after leaping from his truck, which had crashed into a school bus as he sped away from the carnage.

He also left behind a note claiming he carried out the deadly assault in the name of the Islamic State militant group, according to reports that Reuters could not immediately confirm.

Federal officials had become aware of Saipov while conducting an unrelated investigation, the New York Times reported, citing three unidentified officials. The Times offered no further details about the nature of the investigation, when it was conducted, or its outcome.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo declined to comment on that report when asked by reporters at a news conference. "It is too early to give you a definitive answer," he said.

"HE LIKED THE U.S."

Saipov, born in February 1988, moved to the United States seven years ago from Uzbekistan, a Central Asian country that was once part of the Soviet Union. He appears to have lived in Ohio, Florida and New Jersey since then.

An Uzbek immigrant who met Saipov in Florida several years ago told the Times that Saipov worked as a truck driver there but began driving for Uber when he moved to New Jersey.

He was a very good person when I knew him," Kobiljon Matkarov told the newspaper. "He liked the U.S. He seemed very lucky and all the time he was happy and talking like everything is O.K. He did not seem like a terrorist, but I did not know him from the inside."

The Times, citing sources, reported that Saipov had been living in Paterson, New Jersey, about 25 miles (40 km) northwest of the scene of the attack. He rented the truck used in the attack from a Home Depot in nearby Passaic, just south of Paterson, it said.

Police cordoned off an area of Paterson, a one-time industrial hub known for its large immigrant population, early Wednesday morning. About 25,000 to 30,000 Muslims live in the city, giving it one of the highest concentrations of Muslim people in the New York City area.

Saipov has a history of traffic violations, according to media reports and court records.

In one incident, he was pulled over in central Pennsylvania for pulling a truck trailer that was longer than permitted by law and "operating unsafe equipment", as well as driving with the wrong operators license, state judicial records show.

Saipov listed both Paterson and Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, as his addresses. He paid his fine by mail and did not have to appear in court.
This image made from a video provided by Tawhid Kabir shows the suspect in a deadly attack running across the street with a fake gun in each hand on October 31, 2017, in New York. The man mowed down pedestrians and cyclists along a busy bike path near the World Trade Center memorial on Tuesday, before he was shot in the abdomen by police after jumping out of the truck, authorities said. (Image: AP)
Before driving to Wang Quanming's hometown, Zhao Yuqing writes down her conditions for posing as Wang Quanming's girlfriend during their three-day visit with Wang's family, in Quanzhou, Fujian. Before setting off last January for his family home in the hills of Fujian, they hammered out details of the false long-distance relationship to tell his parents, and set ground rules for the home visit. There was to be no kissing, sleeping together or drinking alcohol, but she was ready to help with household chores, Yuqing and Quanming agreed in a hand-written contract seen by Reuters. (Image: Reuters)
Amherst County recently received an unsolicited proposal to bring broadband into underserved and unserved portions of the county and is about to begin soliciting counter-proposals for expanded broadband coverage.

County Administrator Dean Rodgers said Arrington-based SCS Broadband has submitted an unsolicited Public-Private Educational Facilities Infrastructure Act (PPEA) proposal and a $5,000 associated fee. Rodgers said SCS Broadband contacted the county more than a year ago expressing interest in bringing broadband into the area.

The PPEA Act of 2002 enables public bodies to partner with private entities to bring private sector expertise to bear on public projects, according to the Virginia Department of General Services.

The counter-proposal solicitation will be active for 45 days, Rodgers said, during which anyone in the broadband industry is invited to submit a proposal to the county.

Rodgers said SCS Broadbands proposal suggests unlimited internet at a minimum of 10 megabits per second for $35 a month for connected residents.

High speed is considered 100 [megabits per second], so this is low speed, which is enough to do your homework and email, Rodgers said. Its really good for people right now who have to sit at the McDonalds to do their homework.

The goal, Rodgers said, is to achieve or exceed 90 percent coverage countywide. Currently the county is roughly 40 percent covered, he said.

Expanded coverage would be achieved by a chosen provider installing equipment on the countys five public safety towers. SCS Broadbands proposal states installation would take approximately one month per tower.

Rodgers said for residents in dead spots, such as in a hollow or behind a mountain, coverage can be gained by installing a small antenna on a high point above the residents house.

In November 2016, the Amherst County Board of Supervisors approved a measure allowing broadband devices on public safety towers and the construction of small broadband towers.

Rodgers said the goal is to help residents living in rural areas, since Madison Heights and the town of Amherst already have cable laid in neighborhoods, giving those residents access.

[When] you get out of those two communities, everybodys working on satellite or dial-up or nothing, Rodgers said. Thats who were trying to help, the ones who have nothing or very limited or very expensive [access].

Along with counter-proposals, Rodgers said the county also is in the process of soliciting an expert to help advise on proposals received. Two Amherst residents recently were appointed by Amherst County Broadband Authority to aid the authority in choosing an expert and PPEA proposals.

The selection committee will review, well negotiate the best we can with each of them then well review and well make a recommendation to the board of supervisors, Rodgers said.
The five candidates for the Bedford County Board of Supervisors said their past budgeting experience will help them, if they are elected, when the board discusses and approves its annual budget early next year, which could include a proposed expansion at Forest Middle School that could cost about $22.5 million.

Edgar Tuck, Fred Sylvester and Brian OConnor are vying for the District 2 seat  which represents most of the Moneta area and parts of Huddleston, Smith Mountain Lake and Body Camp  to replace current chairman Curry Martin, who has served on the board since 2013 and is not seeking re-election Nov. 7. His term ends Dec. 31.

Supervisor John Sharp, a Republican who represents District 4, which covers Forest, is seeking re-election in an uncontested race in November. Sharp has served as supervisor for 12 years.

Charla Bansley, who is a real estate agent and an adjunct professor at Liberty University Online, is running unopposed as a Republican for the District 3 seat, which represents Huddleston, New London and parts of the town of Bedford.

The countys budget this fiscal year is $81.5 million in local funds and $100.8 million in total, according to The News & Advance archives.

All five candidates touted their budget experiences through business and government.

Sharp, who is a project manager for an engineering firm in Lynchburg, said he has helped approve 12 budgets during his 12 years as supervisor.

Bansley said she has been a real estate agent for two years, and she was state director for Concerned Women For America of Maine, which is a legislative action committee, for nine years during the 1990s.

Bansley said while this will be her first time making decisions with public funds, she understands shes working with her neighbors money.

Its more important than any other budget that Ive worked on because it carries the publics trust, Bansley said.

OConnor, who is a Republican and retired, said he has budgeting experience from owning a business called Prince Edward Upholstery, which closed about 10 years ago, and employed anywhere from two to seven people over the course of 25 years.

When you run your own business, you learn rather quickly you can only spend what you make, and you cant borrow a lot of money, OConnor said. Im a fiscal conservative.

OConnor said he also oversaw a $1.2 million budget while he was campaign manager for Sen. William Stanley Jr., R-Franklin, in 2011.

Sylvester, who is a Democrat and an investigative consultant for his company Accunet Information Group Inc., said his experience owning small businesses will inform his decisions if elected.

Hes owned Accunet Information Group Inc. for about 20 years. Hes also co-owned Goodview-based White Rock Vineyards & Winery for about 18 years with his wife, Drema Sylvester.

He said while the countys budget isnt the same as a small business, it still comes to the same end; you have a certain amount of dollars you need to get certain things achieved.

Sylvester said if elected, he would listen to department leaders during budget season.

You have to listen to the people who know whats going on within the department, Sylvester said.

Tuck, who is an independent and a mortgage manager near Smith Mountain Lake and owns a farm in Moneta, said he has worked for financial institutions for 30 years and has been responsible for local office or regional budgets during that time.

Its important to know that I have worked through budget issues when budget was easy and when it was difficult, Tuck said. And we were able to retain all employees and manage through those lean times.

He also served for 15 years on the finance committee of Radford Baptist Church in Moneta.

Supervisors also determine how much funding Bedford County Public Schools receives after the school board presents its proposed budget to the board of supervisors.

A key issue that may be part of next years budget process is the Bedford County School Board is considering expanding Forest Middle to increase student capacity to about 1,200 students. This year, 945 students were registered by the 10th day of school at Forest Middle School, according to school officials.

Consultants told the school board in August the capacity is about 600, but Mark Blankenship, the districts supervisor of assessment and planning, said at the October meeting the division estimates the student capacity at Forest Middle is 835.

Sharp said he still is considering the proposed expansion at the middle school, and he thinks the school board should consider redistricting students from the Forest attendance zone to the Liberty one.

Still, he doesnt think redistricting alone would alleviate overcrowding at the middle school.

Forest Middle School is one of the largest bottlenecks in the Forest zone because its overcrowded, and anything to alleviate those pressures, whether redistricting and expansion, needs to be duly considered, Sharp said.

Bansley said she is undecided about the possible middle school expansion.

OConnor said he needs more information before he decides whether he supports expanding Forest Middle School.

Yes, there is overcrowding, but other schools have overcrowding, OConnor said.

Six of 19 schools in the district have mobile units, including Forest Middle, although not all units are used as classrooms, according to school officials. Forest Middle School has seven mobile units that contain 13 classrooms that are in use every day.

OConnor said hed wait to see what the school board presents to the board of supervisors before weighing in on the issue.

Sylvester said he supports expanding Forest Middle School, but he also would like to talk about overcrowding elsewhere in the county, such as at Moneta Elementary School.

Moneta Elementary currently has 262 students enrolled, Bedford County Schools Public Information Officer Ryan Edwards said in an email, adding the capacity is 300 students.

Sylvester said he thinks Moneta needs a new elementary school, and the area near Moneta Park could be the location for it.

Its time to start making plans for a new elementary school in Moneta, Sylvester said.

Tuck said he thinks Forest Middle School needs to be expanded, but he also hopes redistricting could help alleviate overcrowding.

School staff presented at the Oct. 12 school board meeting proposed redistricting measures that would move some students from Forest Middle School and Jefferson Forest High School to the Liberty attendance zone.

The proposed redistricting would decrease projected attendance for the middle school to 800 to 857 students.

The school board and the board of supervisors are having a joint work session 5 p.m. Nov. 9 at the Bedford Area Welcome Center, located at 816 Burks Hill Road in Bedford.

The county and school boards will discuss their capital improvement needs  which are projects that cost at least $10,000  to possibly combine the plans into one document, Supervisor Kevin Willis said Tuesday.

County Administrator Carl Boggess said in an email Tuesday he expects county staff to present the proposed 2018-19 fiscal year budget to supervisors in early March, and the board could approve it by late April.
Central Virginia Community College has a new educational partner: Sweet Briar College.

The two schools signed a co-enrollment agreement in late October, which will allow CVCC students to take one class per semester at SBC while paying the CVCC tuition price. For Virginia residents, thats $141.75 per credit hour. Total costs for a full-time Sweet Briar student will be $34,000 next year after the college announced a cut from its $55,000 sticker price earlier this year.

That is the beauty of this, under this program; courses taken at Sweet Briar will cost the same, per credit hour, as courses taught here at CVCC. Thats going to make this an opportunity for many students, said Muriel Mickles, vice president of academic and student affairs at CVCC.

Freshly inked, the co-enrollment agreement will be available to students this spring.

The agreement only is available to female students. CVCC students and high school students in dual enrollment programs are eligible to participate, though they must meet admission requirements established by both CVCC and Sweet Briar.

Officials from both schools anticipate the possibility of CVCC students transferring to SBC after two years, and applicants must be enrolled in an associate degree program at the community college.

I think the program is going to define a clear pathway for female students who want to continue their studies to a bachelors degree, said Melissa Richards, Sweet Briar vice president for communications and enrollment management.

Co-enrollment students will have dual advisers on both campuses to help in the credit transfer process, and they can take prerequisites, courses for their major, or electives at Sweet Briar.

As the host college, any financial aid received by students will be processed through CVCC.

With a number of science and technology programs already available through CVCC, officials believe that the connection may help steer students toward Sweet Briars engineering program.

This is giving CVCC students access to that nationally accredited [engineering] program, Richards said.

She added partnering with CVCC could create another recruiting opportunity for local students.

Co-enrollment students also can participate in clubs, activities and events at Sweet Briar.

While this co-enrollment program is the first for Sweet Briar, CVCC has three others in place.

Liberty University signed a co-enrollment agreement with CVCC last fall, a similar program with Randolph dates back to 2015 and Lynchburg College has had an agreement in place since 2013.

According to numbers from Emily Muniz, a CVCC academic adviser, there currently are four co-enrollment students at LC, one at Liberty, and one at Randolph.
After Mondays legal shock and awe, one thing is certain: The Mueller investigation poses a serious and perhaps existential threat to the Trump administration.

Apologists for the president can yell nothing burger until theyre blue in the face. Former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort and his associate Richard Gates  now under home confinement and charged with offenses that carry long prison terms  would likely disagree. Campaign adviser George Papadopoulos, whom special counsel Robert Mueller has flipped into cooperating with the probe, also might attest that Mondays acts and revelations are a very big deal.

President Trump had good reason to spend that morning upstairs in the White House residence, brooding and fuming. Regarding Manafort and Gates, Trump perhaps could argue that Mueller has made no allegation  thus far  of collusion with the Russians to boost Trumps prospects in the election. But the Papadopoulos case, according to court documents, is all about Russian mischief  and what the Trump campaign may have known about it.

Perhaps the nastiest surprise for Trump and those close to him is that Papadopoulos, who was on the campaigns foreign policy team, was arrested July 27 and became a proactive cooperator with the Mueller probe. Papadopoulos pleaded guilty Oct. 5 to making false statements, in an interview with the FBI earlier this year, regarding his contacts with foreigners about obtaining Russian help for the campaign.

That is ominous news on every level. First, while there had been speculation that Mueller might go after Manafort and Gates, no one outside of Muellers team appears to have known anything about Papadopoulos. How long has he been cooperating with the investigation? And what might that cooperation have entailed?

Anyone who had a conversation with Papadopoulos since his July arrest has to wonder whether he was wearing a wire. Thats what a proactive cooperator often does. Gulp.

Equally unsettling for the White House is the fact that Mueller and his all-star squad of prosecutors managed to keep their engagement with Papadopoulos secret for so long. That took real discipline and sense of purpose. It also signals to Trump and his attorneys that they dont have anything close to a full picture of what Mueller is up to.

Have others connected with the Trump campaign been squeezed for information in a similar way? Is more proactive cooperating presently taking place? Speak clearly into my tie pin, please.

So what, exactly, did Papadopoulos do? He had a series of meetings with a London-based professor who has connections with the Russian government, and in an April 2016 encounter this professor claimed the Russians had dirt on Hillary Clinton that included thousands of emails.

This was after Russian hackers had broken into the email system of the Democratic National Committee and also managed to steal the private emails of Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta. It is reasonable to assume that these are the emails that the professor was talking about to Papadopoulos, who made repeated attempts to set up meetings between the Trump campaign and Russian officials  even suggesting, at one point, a meeting between Trump and Vladimir Putin.

No such get-together took place. But in June, there was that meeting at Trump Tower at which senior figures in the Trump campaign  Manafort, Donald Trump Jr. and Jared Kushner, Trumps son-in-law  met with a well-connected Russian lawyer in hopes of receiving dirt on Clinton.

Were the Russians exploring various avenues that might lead to a meaningful connection with the Trump campaign? Did they find one? As it happened, the DNC and Podesta emails were eventually released through WikiLeaks in a manner clearly designed to do maximum damage to the Clinton campaign.

We also know that the Russians flooded social media with pro-Trump fake news. In many instances, this propaganda campaign targeted voters at such a granular level that one has to wonder where the Russians got such sophisticated and detailed data. Mueller will be wondering the same thing.

Trump must have noticed that one important name was not prominently mentioned Monday: that of Michael Flynn, his short-lived national security adviser. Flynn faces potential legal jeopardy for his alleged representation of foreign interests without properly registering to do so. Trump has consistently gone out of his way to protect and defend Flynn, even to the point of asking former FBI Director James Comey to go easy on him. Why such uncharacteristic compassion?

If I were Trump, Id have to wonder if Flynn could be cooperating with Mueller. Id worry about what he might say. And if I spoke with Flynn, Id choose my words very carefully.

Robinson is a Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist for The Washington Post. Email him at eugenerobinson@washpost.com.
Roanokes new passenger train platform teemed with railroad buffs Halloween morning, two hours before the sun crested the horizon.

Many had arranged or rearranged their schedules for the week so that when an Amtrak train left a Roanoke station for the first time in 38 years, they could say they were on board.

Im here this morning to ride this first train, said Walt Stringer, a 67-year-old railroad retiree from San Diego, California. Im impressed by the crowd here.

Amtrak sold 151 tickets for train 176, departing Roanoke at 6:19 a.m. Tuesday.

By 6 a.m., the train had coasted quietly into place. Amtrak Police Department K-9 teams patrolled the platforms on two feet and four. Passengers flowed toward the entrances.

A conductor shouted All aboard and soon after the eight-car train rattled forward. A Valley Metro bus kept pace on a road paralleling the tracks, eventually falling behind, the view through the windows growing pitch dark. Good morning, said a voice from the intercom. Welcome to Amtrak.

Some passengers opened their laptops and went to work. Others pulled up blankets and went to sleep.

Anissa Ollie, 47, a human resources consultant with Carilion Clinic, bought a ticket mainly so she could travel comfortably to a business convention in Washington, D.C., but said she was a rail fan in her own way.

I just think its convenient for us to see other areas, she said, but theres also opportunity for other people to come and see what a great city Roanoke is.

Her sentiment was echoed by a passenger on his way to his day job in D.C. Now you can take a train to get to Roanoke from other parts of the country, said U.S. Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-Roanoke.

He posited the notion of rail tourists disembarking in Roanoke to visit the Virginia Museum of Transportation and the O. Winston Link Museum, both within walking distance of the platform. Where this station is located, right downtown, is really convenient for folks.

Goodlatte described working across the aisle with former U.S. Rep. Rick Boucher to push for Amtraks return. Its long overdue. Ive been working for it for a very long time.

About 20 members of the Roanoke chapter of the National Railway Historical Society were scattered throughout the train. Several of them recalled taking the final ride of the Hilltopper, the last Amtrak train to stop in Roanoke. Eddie Mooneyham, 42, of Blue Ridge, cited the date from memory: Sept. 30, 1979.

Mooneyhams father dropped him off at the Roanoke station so he could take the ride and picked him up in Bedford. During the Hilltoppers final trek, he remembered seeing his dad flash his headlights on U.S. 460 as the train went past.

Between the last ride on the Hilltopper and the first Roanoke-based ride on Amtraks Northeast Regional, Harold Castleman, 71, packed in an entire railroad career. Now living outside Philadelphia, Castleman worked as a Franklin News-Post reporter in 1979. A year later, he took a job with the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, where he worked 35 years. A locomotive engineer, he worked on a wire train, equipped for replacing overhead wire. I saw the railroad 30 feet at a time.

Ive ridden all over the United States, said George Allen, 72, of Charlottesville. Ive been everywhere that Amtrak goes, just about.

He met his first wife on an Amtrak train, he said, and later married her on one. The wedding took place in December 1989 on the Crescent from New Orleans to New York. We had the ceremony in the lounge car, he said. It was around Manassas we got married.

The Hawk family, from Churchville, Maryland, represented a new generation of rail aficionados. Jim Hawk, 51, brought sons Nathan, 8, and Kevin, 12, at Kevins insistence.

Its pretty cool to be on the first train out of Roanoke, said Kevin, a big fan of all things Amtrak. He kept a hawks eye, you could say, on the schedule once he learned Amtrak was adding a city to its system. Ive been checking almost every weekend.

Some passengers had causes to promote. Bristol orthopedic surgeon and railroad buff Mike Fleenor, 65, said he wants to push the idea of extending Amtrak service to Bristol, and hes looking to Roanoke as a model. Its been so long since weve had passenger service in this region.

Barbara Duerk, 70, president of the South Roanoke neighborhood association, has advocated for the new passenger service to allow ticket holders to bring their bicycles, so much so that state Sen. John Edwards greeted her at the platform Tuesday morning by asking her where her bike was. She reminded him she wasnt allowed to bring it.

At present, the Amtrak trains operating from Roanoke will only allow bicycles if they can be folded up and stowed as carry-on luggage. Duerk still hopes to change that, asserting it would give tourism a vital boost.

It could become available in the future, said Amtrak spokeswoman Kimberly Woods. We do work with bike advocates around the country.

The train arrived in Lynchburg for its first stop about the same time as sunrise. The darkness had long since given way to vistas of tree-covered hills.

Its very pretty, said Stringer, as the Virginia countryside rolled by. I like the fall colors were seeing.




I can confirm that we have received a $2 million loan facility from the central bank and we are now doing everything possible to resume operations by mid-November, judicial manager Knowledge Hofisi told The Herald Business yesterday. He added the company was expected to start draw-downs by end of this week. The company will begin with a shorter working capital turnaround route of converting yarn into fabrics, then dyeing, printing and finishing of the fabrics, said Mr Hofisi.

Formerly listed on the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange, DWTL was placed under provisional judicial management in December 2010 before confirmation of the final order in March 2015. The delisting took place in 2009 after the acquisition of a controlling stake by Elgate Holdings, which has since been rescinded. It used to produce about 20 million metres of fabric per year while directly employing 3 000 workers and thousands in down and upstream industries. The company has appointed an oversight committee to be chaired by Retired Justice Leslie George Smith to provide a strategic direction and enhance governance issues, said Mr Hofisi.



We would want to have electricity restored immediately and we have an arrangement with Zesa that upon payment of the agreed amount, we will be reconnected, he said. Zimbabwes textile sector used to be one of the countrys major employers, providing jobs to about 51 000 people at its peak. By 2005 employment levels had reduced to 28 822 with 22 178 job losses recorded. Considering the clothing sub-sector alone, employment numbers sharply reduced from 13 500 in 2009 to 12 506 in 2010, then to 8 627 in 2011 and to a mere 4 748 in 2012, a report by Zeparu said. Job losses in the clothing industry between 2009 and 2012 totalled 8 752, or 65 percent after dollarisation.



The textile industry fared even worse than the clothing industry during the same period with such giants as David Whitehead, once the sectors largest firm, Cone Textiles or Modzone, Merlin and Cotton Printers all collapsing. However, Zeparu noted that Zimbabwe has major competitive advantages over other textile manufacturing countries. These include proximity to the industrys primary raw material cotton in addition to skilled labour and a highly literate population. herald TEXTILE company David Whitehead Ltd is set to resume operations in the next two weeks after securing a $2 million loan facility from the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe. DWTL, which is currently under judicial management, stopped operations over a year ago due to working capital constraints.I can confirm that we have received a $2 million loan facility from the central bank and we are now doing everything possible to resume operations by mid-November, judicial manager Knowledge Hofisi told The Herald Business yesterday. He added the company was expected to start draw-downs by end of this week. The company will begin with a shorter working capital turnaround route of converting yarn into fabrics, then dyeing, printing and finishing of the fabrics, said Mr Hofisi.Formerly listed on the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange, DWTL was placed under provisional judicial management in December 2010 before confirmation of the final order in March 2015. The delisting took place in 2009 after the acquisition of a controlling stake by Elgate Holdings, which has since been rescinded. It used to produce about 20 million metres of fabric per year while directly employing 3 000 workers and thousands in down and upstream industries. The company has appointed an oversight committee to be chaired by Retired Justice Leslie George Smith to provide a strategic direction and enhance governance issues, said Mr Hofisi.We would want to have electricity restored immediately and we have an arrangement with Zesa that upon payment of the agreed amount, we will be reconnected, he said. Zimbabwes textile sector used to be one of the countrys major employers, providing jobs to about 51 000 people at its peak. By 2005 employment levels had reduced to 28 822 with 22 178 job losses recorded. Considering the clothing sub-sector alone, employment numbers sharply reduced from 13 500 in 2009 to 12 506 in 2010, then to 8 627 in 2011 and to a mere 4 748 in 2012, a report by Zeparu said. Job losses in the clothing industry between 2009 and 2012 totalled 8 752, or 65 percent after dollarisation.The textile industry fared even worse than the clothing industry during the same period with such giants as David Whitehead, once the sectors largest firm, Cone Textiles or Modzone, Merlin and Cotton Printers all collapsing. However, Zeparu noted that Zimbabwe has major competitive advantages over other textile manufacturing countries. These include proximity to the industrys primary raw material cotton in addition to skilled labour and a highly literate population. herald
The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) will meet tomorrow to, among other things, ponder on the process to follow in appointing a new Prosecutor-General (PG).



This follows President Robert Mugabes decision to rescind the confirmation of newly-appointed PG, Ray Goba, less than two months into his job.



JSC secretary Rita Makarau told the Daily News on Monday that the commission will now sit to deliberate on whether to start the interview process from scratch or shortlist applicants that had already been interviewed, before forwarding their names to Mugabe for consideration.



That decision will be made by the Judicial Service Commission when they meet on November 2, Makarau said.



Asked who the current acting PG was, Makarau referred this reporter to the Justice ministry.

She said: Well, that is beyond the commission. You would have to find out from the ministry of Justice.



The JSCs mandate is that of appointing, assigning, promoting, supervising, fixing conditions of service to members in the Judicial Service and exercising disciplinary powers to them.

It is also responsible for the well-being and good administration of the judicial service and its maintenance in a high state of efficiency.



The JSC also deals with complaints or grievances by or against members.

The Judicial Service Commission announces that a vacancy of Prosecutor-General of the Republic of Zimbabwe has arisen.



In terms of the supreme law of the land, whenever a vacancy arises at the PG level, members of the public are invited to nominate suitably qualified persons to fill the position.

The JSC will then interview the aspiring candidates, shortlist the top performing ones and submit the list to the president for consideration.



Gobas appointment came after he had participated in public interviews conducted by the JSC in August to select a substantive PG following the dismissal of Johannes Tomana.

The JSC had shortlisted eight candidates, of which Goba was leading the pack after excelling in those interviews.









The other shortlisted candidates included Wilson Manase and Misheck Hogwe. On September 13, the chief secretary to the President and Cabinet Misheck Sibanda announced the appointment of Goba through a Government Gazette.





But before he could be sworn in, Sibanda announced in an extraordinary gazette on Friday last week that Gobas appointment had been reversed by Mugabe.





The notice effectively revoked the previous general notice that brought Goba into office.

Goba, who once served as Namibias deputy PG, was in 2002 convicted of drunk driving in Namibia and failing to obey a road traffic sign as well as attempting to defeat or obstruct the course of justice.

The conviction forced the Namibian government to deny him a work and residence permit in 2011.

Goba challenged the ministrys decision in court but lost.





He appeared to be back on track after he was part of eight candidates interviewed in public by the JSC on August 21 for appointment as Zimbabwes second PG. During the public interviews, Goba was grilled over his conviction.





He did not deny the conviction, which he described as unfortunate, claiming the matter was irrationally dealt with, leading to the conviction.



Chief Justice Luke Malaba, who was among the panel of interviewers, suggested Goba seemed to treat the offence lightly. Every offence is serious, but it should be considered against the background and circumstancesIts a blot on a white piece of paper, the Goba defended himself then.

His conviction in Namibia became a shackle around his neck.





Constitutional experts maintain that the initial gazetting was a confirmation that Goba had satisfied the requirements of the Constitution and he could only be removed from office for gross incompetence.





Observers also opined that the JSC has another option of advising Mugabe to do the right thing, which is to appoint a tribunal to inquire into the matter.





Last Friday, Goba had hinted that he was considering taking legal action. But reached for comment yesterday, Goba kept his cards close to his chest. My lips are sealed. I sealed them, he said.





Prior to his appointment as PG, Goba had been serving as acting PG since July 2016 following the suspension and subsequent dismissal of Tomana on account of alleged gross incompetence and misconduct.





Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) said Mugabes decision to reverse the appointment of Goba as the countrys PG is a serious and unacceptable assault on the rule of law and constitutionalism.





ZLHR is perturbed that president Mugabe has resorted to undermining the JSC, which had complied with the constitutional provisions set out in section 259(3).





The decision to reverse the appointment of Advocate Goba is a clear violation of the Constitution, and an attack on the Office of the PG as well as the JSC as an institution. Advocate Gobas appointment was made from the shortlist of names submitted by the JSC as required by the Constitution.





It is unconstitutional for president Mugabe to seek to remove Advocate Goba by changing his mind forty-four (44) days after having exercised his executive powers by appointing Advocate Goba as the new PG.





ZLHR said government should adopt the provisions set out in section 187 of the Constitution, which outline procedures for the removal of the PG, which according to section 259(7) is the same as that for removal of a judge from office.





Section 187 of the Constitution, provides that the PG just like a judge may be removed from office only for inability to perform the functions of his or her office due to mental or physical incapacity, gross incompetence or gross misconduct.





If the JSC advises the president that the question of removing a judge, including the Chief Justice from office ought to be investigated then the president must appoint a tribunal to inquire into the matter. The composition of the tribunal is provided for in Section 187 (4) (a) and (b) of the Constitution.





Thereafter, the president can only act in accordance with the tribunals recommendation after receiving the tribunals report of its findings recommending whether or not a judge or PG should be removed from office. Daily News
UNDER-siege Mazowe villagers on Monday reportedly slept in mountains as they engaged in running battles with members of the Zimbabwe Republic Police, who had come to evict them for the umpteenth time from the disputed Arnold Farm.

According to the villagers, it all started when the police officers came and advised them not to erect new structures at the farm.

The villagers are contesting their eviction to reportedly pave way for the expansion of First Lady Grace Mugabes business empire.
THE High Court has ordered Mzansi Express Bus company to pay a Bulawayo woman more than $10 000 as compensation for injuries sustained in an accident which occured along the Bulawayo-Beitbridge road in 2014.



Florence Moyo (60), a cross-border trader who was one of the passengers in the South Africa bound bus, sustained multiple injuries when the bus driver lost control of the vehicle, which subsequently veered off the road and overturned on February 25, 2014.



Moyo was thrown out of the bus and in the process allegedly lost R12 000.

She was taken to Beitbridge District Hospital before being transferred to Mater Dei Hospital where she was admitted for three weeks.





Moyo was on her way to Musina to buy goods for resale in Zimbabwe.

In her summons citing Mzansi Express and its driver Isaac Mabhanti Ncube (69), Moyo sought an order directing the South Africa registered bus company to pay her $86 000 in damages for pain and suffering, bodily injuries, fracture on the ribs and right ankle and permanent disfigurement. Moyo said $6 000 was for special damages and $80 000 was general damages.





Bulawayo High Court judge Justice Nicholas Mathonsi ruled that the damages were inflated.

He ordered Mzansi Express to compensate Moyo R12 000 and $8 822 for general and special damages with interest calculated from September 9 this year to the day of final payment.

In the result it is ordered that judgment be and is hereby entered against the first and second defendants jointly and severally the one paying the other to be absolved in the sums of R12 000, $4 822 and $4 000 and costs of suit, ruled Justice Mathonsi. Chronicle
How Much Is 'Hand of God'

Ball Worth? We'll Soon Know
The number of people in Hollywood accused of sexual assault or harassment is growing longer by the day. On Tuesday, CBS said it was investigating allegations that Wisdom of the Crowd star Jeremy Piven groped a woman on the set of Entourage, the AP reports. Piven "on two occasions, cornered me & forcefully fondled my breasts & bum. Once at the mansion & once on set," tweeted actress and reality star Ariane Bellamar. Piven says he admires women who come forward with stories about harassmentbut Bellamar's claims are untrue. "I unequivocally deny the appalling allegations being peddled about me," he said in a statement to the Hollywood Reporter. "It did not happen."

It also emerged Tuesday that comedian Andy Dick was fired from the film Raising Buchanan in mid-October over sexual harassment allegations. According to a termination letter seen by the Hollywood Reporter, he was also fired from the movie Vampire Dad days later for "multiple, flagrant acts of improper conduct and inappropriate contact with several cast and crew members." Dick tells the Reporter that he "didn't grope anybody," though he admits licking and propositioning people. "I might have kissed somebody on the cheek to say goodbye and then licked them," he says. "That's my thingI licked Carrie Fisher at a roast. It's me being funny. I'm not trying to sexually harass people." (Production of House of Cards was halted after Kevin Spacey was accused of trying to molest a 14-year-old.)
A parent's dispute with staff members at the California school where his daughter is in first grade escalated into a fight, a hostage-taking, and a fatal shooting Tuesday. Police in Riverside say 27-year-old Luvelle Kennon was shot when a SWAT team stormed the classroom where he'd been holding 70-year-old teacher Linda Montgomery hostage for more than six hours, the Los Angeles Times reports. He died later at a local hospital. Police say the incident at Castle View Elementary School began around 11am when Kennon forced his way past staff after failing to check in at the front desk. He then had an altercation with a staff member and assaulted a substitute teacher who tried to intervene, breaking his nose.

After Kennon dragged Montgomery into an empty classroom, the school was locked down and then evacuated. Police say they made contact with Kennon during the standoff but decided to storm the room because they were unable to speak to Montgomery. Officials and witnesses say Kennon didn't appear to have a weapon. Relatives say they took his car keys away after he had an emotional breakdown, but he made his way to the school anyway. "He had a breakdown, and he relapsed again. That's all, he's not dangerous," uncle Carl Jackson tells KABC. Montgomery had some scrapes and bruises and was hospitalized as a precaution, NBC News reports. Classes were canceled for the rest of the week. (Read more California stories.)
It was a crime that gripped the nation: what happened to June Robles? "Little June" had been snatched on a Tucson street after leaving school on an April day in 1934. The 6-year-old granddaughter of a rich cattle baron would be found alive in a wooden and metal cage in the sun-baked desert 19 days later. How she got there was a mystery that was never solved, despite the efforts of the FBI and local sleuths. The New York Times recently discovered that the girl who captured hearts describing on tape how her kidnappers fed her cookies in her underground tomb had died quietly on Sept. 2, 2014, at age 87, apparently from complications from Parkinson's Disease. No obituary was written. A spare death notice in the Arizona Daily Star said June Birt, who stayed mostly out of the spotlight the rest of her life, was married to Dan Birt for 64 years and had four children.

June's kidnapping changed life forever in the once-peaceful outpost of Tucson. The kidnappers initially demanded a ransom of $15,000, later reduced to $10,000. June's wealthy grandfather, Bernabe Robles, strangely refused to contribute, though he feared he would be the next target, per the Tucson Weekly. No ransom was ever paid. A crude map tucked in an envelope postmarked from Chicago eventually led searchers to the area where June was found in a dirt pile covered in scrub. Below was an underground cage. "I was sure June was dead," her uncle Carlos Robles tells Times. The girl was dirty, covered with ant bites, and chafed from ankle chains. But June remembered her report card was left behind in her prison and asked to go back for it. "I wanted my mama to see it," she said. (Four decades after two sisters vanished, a man pleaded guilty.)
Despite stern rhetoric from both sidesincluding Defense Secretary Jim Mattis' description of Pyongyang's behavior as "outlaw"the US and North Korea are still in direct talks behind the scenes and a deal is still possible, a State Department source tells Reuters. The official says American negotiator Joseph Yun has been in talks with North Korean United Nations officials in what is known as the "New York channel." The official says that despite President Trump's description of continued talks as a "waste of time" and massive setbacks including continued North Korean nuclear testing, "the preferred endpoint is not a war but some kind of diplomatic settlement" and diplomacy "has a lot more room to go."

Trump departs for a 12-day Asia trip on Friday that will include South Korea, and White House officials say they have decided against a proposed trip to the DMZ. Instead, the president will visit Camp Humphreys, a military base around 40 miles south of Seoul. "To me it was a no-brainer that he should go to Humphreys, this new base that they've poured all this money into," Jim Schoff, a former Pentagon adviser on East Asia policy, tells the AP. He says the base is the perfect place for Trump to visit: "It's a big, massive real estate project and it's South Korean-funded," he says. "It's the big story of the alliance in recent times and it's a great opportunity to highlight that." (Democratic lawmakers are trying to curb Trump's ability to launch a nuclear strike on North Korea.)
The 27-year-old Japanese man in whose apartment police found body parts belonging to nine peopleincluding two severed heads and 240 bonesallegedly targeted teenage girls on Twitter. According to police, Takahiro Shiraishi used Twitter to connect with those wanting to commit suicide. He's suspected of killing four teens and five people in their 20sdescribed as eight females and one male, possibly the boyfriend of a victimsince moving into his apartment outside Tokyo in late August, per the BBC and Japan Times. Police were led to the apartment Tuesday after the brother of a 23-year-old missing woman found Twitter messages she exchanged with Shiraishi after posting that she was seeking someone to die with her, per the Japan Times.

Surveillance footage showed the woman walking with Shiraishi near his apartment on Oct. 23, police say. A subsequent search of Shiraishi's residencewhich neighbors described as smelling of sewageuncovered body parts believed to belong to the woman and eight others, likely killed on the day they met Shiraishi, police say. Though it isn't yet clear how the individuals died, police say Shiraishi confessed to cutting up the bodies in a bathtub, removing the flesh, hiding body parts in coolers filled with sand or cat litter, and putting other body parts in the trash, per the New York Times. Police say Shiraishi told them he intended to rape some of his victims but was motivated by money, per the Japan Times. He admitted taking $4,410 from at least one victim, police say. (Read more Japan stories.)
Authorities are trying to figure out how a longtime criminal recently released from an Alabama prison ended up in a Utah canyon where he's suspected of killing a 23-year-old devout Mormon immigrant from China. ChenWei Guo, who came to the US in 2012, was studying computer science at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. Friends say Guo smiled easily, loved to dance, and could be found trekking canyons around Salt Lake City, like the one where his body was found Monday night, the AP reports. Police found Guo's body still in his vehicle in a canyon just east of campus, prompting a campus-wide lockdown and a massive overnight manhunt at the school and in the rugged foothills nearby. Austin Boutain, who is suspected of shooting Guo to death after demanding his car, surrendered without incident Tuesday afternoon at a city library several miles away.

Police did not have details Tuesday about how Boutain encountered Guo and later evaded hundreds of officers who swarmed the campus after the shooting. Boutain, 24, has a rap sheet that includes drug, car theft, and weapons charges in Minnesota and Alabama. He was paroled in May after serving a year and a half in an Alabama prison for being a convicted sex offender and failing to report his whereabouts to police. Boutain and his wife are wanted for questioning in the killing of a 63-year-old Golden, Colo., man whose truck is missing but which authorities say Boutain may have driven to Utah. Kathleen Boutain was jailed in Utah on unrelated drug and theft charges after she reported to police Monday night that her husband had assaulted her while they were camping in the canyon.

(Read more Utah stories.)
Five of the eight people killed in what authorities believe was an ISIS-inspired terrorist attack in Manhattan Tuesday were friends visiting the city to celebrate the 30th anniversary of graduating from high school in Argentina. Authorities say the five men from Rosario, all in their late 40s, were riding bikes when Sayfullo Saipov drove a rented pickup truck down a bike path near the World Trade Center, running over cyclists and pedestrians, the Washington Post reports. A sixth member of the group was hospitalized in stable condition. "We accompany the families in this terrible moment of deep pain, which all Argentines share," the Argentine government said in a statement. According to Argentine media, one of the victims, steel firm owner Ariel Erlij, helped pay for the group's trip to New York, which was described as the "trip of their dreams."

Three other people were killed in the attack, including a Belgian woman who was visiting New York with her mother and sister, the Guardian reports. Authorities say at least 11 people were injured, though two children injured when Saipov drove the pickup into a school bus were not seriously hurt. Lawyer Tom Kendrick tells the New York Times that he encountered the gruesome aftermath of the rampage while jogging. He says he saw a mangled bike and a body, and then three bodies close together. "I approached to see if I could help and they did not need helpthey appeared to be dead," he says. Saipov, a 29-year-old Uber driver from Uzbekistan, was shot after emerging from the vehicle with what turned out to be imitation firearms. Authorities say he's in critical condition but is expected to survive. (Read more Sayfullo Saipov stories.)
In the wake of Harvey Weinstein news, NPR's news chief is the latest to come under fire for alleged past sexual misconductand he's now stepped down from his post. Michael Oreskes, 63, resigned Wednesday, per the AP, after two women told the Washington Post about incidents in the late 1990s when he was the DC bureau chief at the New York Times. Both women say while talking to him about possible jobs at the Times, he suddenly planted a kiss on their lips and put his tongue in their mouths. When one woman confronted him about it months later, calling it "totally inappropriate," she says he replied: "I was overcome with passion. I couldn't help myself." Neither woman was hired; they say they were spurred to come forward by the Weinstein allegations. In a statement, NPR notes, "We take these kinds of allegations very seriously," though it wouldn't comment on specifics.

Meanwhile, NPR reports on a current employee now making public her own complaint. Science reporter Rebecca Hersher says she filed a grievance against Oreskes in October 2015 after he turned what was supposed to be a career discussion into a "three-hour-long dinner that delved into deeply personal territory." At that meeting, Hersher says, Oreskes steered their talk to relationships and sex, even calling one ex-partner his first "sex girlfriend." Hersher says Oreskes never touched her inappropriately, and she believes he was held "appropriately accountable" after her complaint. But she notes the talk made her uncomfortable and "undercut my confidence in a way that was surprising to me." In a statement Wednesday, Oreskes said, "My behavior was wrong and inexcusable, and I accept full responsibility." NPR CEO Jarl Mohn has appointed Christopher Turpin as NPR's temporary news chief, per CBS News. More at the Post and NPR. (Read more sexual harassment stories.)
Legal problems are multiplying for Harvey Weinstein and James Toback: The Beverly Hills Police Department said Tuesday that it is investigating "multiple complaints" involving Weinstein, who has been accused of sexually assaulting or harassing scores of women, Deadline reports. The department later issued an almost identical statement about director Toback, whose accusers number in the hundreds. "These cases are under investigation and no further information will be released at this time," police said in a statement, per the Hollywood Reporter. Weinstein was already being investigated by police in Los Angeles, New York City, and the UK. (Rose McGowan says Weinstein raped her and offered her $1 million hush money.)
A Louisiana man being questioned by police in the sexual assault of two juveniles at one point said the following, per a police transcript: "I know that I didn't do it so why don't you just give me a lawyer dog cause this is not what's up." As Elie Mystal writes at Above the Law, it seems obvious that the transcript should more accurately read, "I know that I didn't do it so why don't you just give me a lawyer, dawg, cause this is not what's up." But the Louisiana Supreme Court disagrees and has rejected Warren Demesme's claim that police rejected his right to counsel, reports the Times-Picayune of New Orleans. And its decision hinged on that all-important distinction between "dog" and "dawg," and the lack of a comma in the transcript.

"In my view, the defendant's ambiguous and equivocal reference to a 'lawyer dog' does not constitute an invocation of counsel that warrants termination of the interview," writes Justice Scott Crichton. That is, the court ruled that because Demesme seemed to ask for a "lawyer dog," it was unclear that he wanted an actual lawyer, and so all his statements are fair game. The ruling doesn't take into account the possibility that the police transcript of Demesme's statement was off the mark. The 24-year-old is awaiting trial on charges of first-degree rape and indecent behavior with a juvenile under 13, and he faces a mandatory life sentence if convicted on the rape charge. (Read more criminal justice system stories.)
More than a dozen travelers who sought to warn others about injuries, assaults, and tainted alcohol at Mexican resorts accuse TripAdvisor of "censoring" them. Continuing its investigations into incidents at Mexican resorts, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel notes travelers across the US say TripAdvisor silenced them when they used the website to share unfavorable accounts, including tales of rape. Three separate women who say they were raped at the same Iberostar resort allege TripAdvisor censored their posts. A woman says TripAdvisorwhich prohibits hearsay, off-topic material, and content that isn't "family friendly"also deleted her review describing how she blacked out after drinking a small amount of alcohol, claiming the account was hearsay. But "it actually happened to me," the 52-year-old says.

TripAdvisor reportedly cited the same policy after it deleted reviews of Turkey's Pegasos Royal Hotel, where a lawsuit alleges 40 people contracted salmonella. The hotel received two TripAdvisor awards this year, reports the Sun. According to the Journal Sentinel, bad reviews aren't in TripAdvisor's best interest since the sitewith an average hotel rating of 4 out of 5receives commissions when users visit a resort website or book a vacation. Indeed, an August filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission stresses how important "bookers" are since "advertisers will not continue to do business with us if their investment  does not generate sales leads, customers, bookings, or revenue and profit." Nonetheless, a TripAdvisor rep says the company welcomes unfavorable reviews. "We're not an arbiter of fact, but we're trying to provide the most accurate picture," he says. (Read more TripAdvisor stories.)
President Trump says he may send Sayfullo Saipov, the 29-year-old who allegedly killed eight people Tuesday in New York City, to Guantanamo Bay as the first step in getting "much tougher" on terror suspects, the Washington Post reports. The president called Saipov, who arrived in the US from Uzbekistan in 2010 and is a legal permanent US resident, an "animal" and the justice system's treatment of terror suspects "a joke." Instead of a lengthy trial, Trump says "we need quick justice, and we need strong justice." Here's what else you need to know about Saipov, who is expected to live after being shot by police:

Department of Homeland Security agents interviewed Saipov in 2015 after he was listed as a "point of contact" for two men who were added to the Counterterrorism and Criminal Exploitation Unit list upon arriving in the US from "threat countries," ABC News reports. Agents didn't have enough evidence to open a case on Saipov at the time.

Officials say Saipov's attack was inspired by ISIS after they found a note inside the Home Depot rental truck he used to ram his victims that translates to "ISIS Lives Forever," NBC News reports.

Back at ABC News, police say Saipov was planning the attack for weeks and "appears to have followed almost exactly to a 'T' the instructions that ISIS has put out in its social media channels." Officials say Saipov has been interviewed and seems "proud" of the attack.

Sen. John McCain called the attack an "act of war" and says Saipov should be treated "as an enemy combatant" and "should not be read Miranda Rights," Mediaite reports.

Officials believe Saipov, who tried to start at least three trucking companies in Ohio and Florida, became radicalized after arriving in the US by reading ISIS propaganda online, according to the Los Angeles Times. They don't believe he was part of a terror cell or personally directed to carry out the attack.

An Ohio truck driver who knew Saipov tells the AP that Saipov was "not happy with his life" and would fight with friends and family. He says insurance for his truck was taken away over traffic tickets and companies stopped hiring him. When Saipov's truck engine blew up a few months ago, things would have only gotten worse, the truck driver speculates.

Finally, NBC News reports authorities hope Saipov's wife can provide some answers about how he went from truck driver to alleged terrorist. So far she's been cooperative and says she didn't know about his plans for an attack.

(Read more Sayfullo Saipov stories.)
Amanda Knox has a lot of memories of Meredith Kercher: grocery shopping, sunbathing, drinking espresso, Kercher's accent, buying vintage dresses. But Knox also remembers "the last time I saw her, 10 years ago today, slinging her purse over her shoulder and waving goodbye to me on her way out to meet up with her British friends." On the 10th anniversary of Kercher being "raped and murdered by a burglar" in Perugia, Italy, Knox used a piece in Westside Seattle to do something she felt she hadn't been allowed to for the past decade: mourn Kercher. "Something Merediths friends, family, supporters, and I all have in common is that Merediths death changed our lives. It opened our eyes to the terrible fact that, sometimes, innocent people suffer."

Knox says her memories of Kercher feel distant "because I have to dig through a decade of suffering just to reach them." She says the memories "are buried beneath the horrific autopsy photos and crime scene footage I saw, the slurs I was called, the death threats I received (and still receive), the false accusations I fought, the years of wrongful imprisonment I endured, the multiple trials and slanderous headlines that juxtaposed our names and faces, unfairly interlocking her death with my identity." Knox adds that "no one can ever give Meredith back her life, or me the years of life I lost to wrongful imprisonment." She ends by acknowledging that mourning Kercher "comes at the price of being criticized for anything I say or dont say today." Read the full piece here. (Read more Amanda Knox stories.)
Despite President Trump's talk of a military trial, Sayfullo Saipov was charged Wednesday in a civilian court in New York City, the New York Times reports. Prosecutors say the 29-year-old drove a rented Home Depot truck down a bicycle and pedestrian path Tuesday, killing eight people. According to USA Today, Saipov was charged with providing material support and resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization, as well as violence and destruction of motor vehicles. Saipov could face the death penalty, the AP reports.

The charges filed against Saipov state he was inspired by ISIS videos regarding the killing of Muslims in Iraq, and investigators say they recovered a cellphone with Islamic State propaganda on it. Court papers state Saipov requested to have the ISIS flag displayed in his hospital room, where he is recovering after being shot by police. The criminal complaint against Saipov states he started planning the attack a year ago, decided to use a truck two months ago, and picked Halloween because he thought more people would be on the street for the holiday. An FBI agent says Saipov searched the internet for information about Halloween in New York and rented a truck on Oct. 22 to practice making turns. (Read more Sayfullo Saipov stories.)
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New Delhi:

The Gurgaon-based IndiGo on Tuesday reported a massive spike in September quarter as the net profit goes up fourfold at Rs 551.5 crore from Rs 139.8 crore in the July-September quarter of the last fiscal.

The massive spike was boosted by a one-time payment towards engine issues and delayed aircraft deliveries and higher margins.

Profitability was favorably impacted by better revenue management and credit received from manufacturers related to aircraft grounding and delivery delays, Aditya Ghosh, companys President and Whole-Time Director said during the post-earnings analysts call.

The airlines other income during the reporting quarter rose over 33.5 per cent to Rs 214.6 crore.

IndiGo has been facing problem with aircraft engines supplied by P&W in its A320 Neos for quite some time, which also led to grounding of these planes.

On top of it, the European aviation major Airbus has also not been able to meet delivery of some of these A320 Neos to the budget carrier on time.

IndiGo, an airline run by InterGlobe Aviation commands over 38 per cent share of the total domestic traffic.

Also Read: Jio rise hits Bharti Airtel, total revenue falls 11.7% to Rs 21,777 cr in September quarter

The airlines income from operations jumped 27 per cent to Rs 5,291 crore, while other income rose 33.5 per cent to Rs 214.5 crore from Rs 160.7 crore, taking the total revenue to Rs 5,505.6 crore, up 27.2 per cent from Rs 4,327.7 crore.

The load factor rose 180 bps to 84 per cent while the yield rose 8.9 per cent to Rs 3.57 from Rs 3.28.

With an average ATF price of Rs 50.17 which is 2.5 per cent up over Rs 48.96 a year ago, fuel expenses rose 6.1 per cent to Rs 1,647.3 crore while aircraft and engine rentals also rose at a similar quantum to Rs 819.3 crore. Other expenses jumped 31.6 per cent to Rs 1,455 crore while finance cost rose over 40.5 per cent to Rs 85.7 crore.

Its cash balance rose 88.5 per cent to Rs 1292.56 crore from Rs 685.72 crore while debt declined 7.5 per cent to Rs 253.68 crore from Rs 274.28 crore.

Ghosh also said that while his airline is supportive of any expansion or any development of airport infrastructure (at Delhi airport), it does not want to split up operations.

We have given several options and suggestions to Delhi airport, other airlines and the ministry, he said, adding the airline is averse to relocating partially at one terminal or the other.

The airline is also seriously looking to participate in the Central Governments regional connectivity scheme UDAN.

We are looking at UDAN, the current process that is out there. Absolutely we are looking at it seriously, Ghosh said, without giving specifics.

The Government is likely to announce winners for the second phase of UDAN (Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik) scheme by next month end. The scheme aims at making flying affordable for the masses.

(With PTI Inputs)

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New Delhi:

Tiger Zinda Hai, the sequel of 2012 superhit Ek Tha Tiger starring Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif promises to be a high-voltage adrenaline shot.



TZH is presented by Yash Raj Films and according to the sources, the espionage thriller is set to global standards in its scale, vision, and production values.



One of the major highlights is Katrina Kaif, playing agent Zoya, who has tackled her transformation into a super spy with full commitment.



Zoya is an elite intelligence agent who is an expert in hand-to-hand combat and capable of adapting to a different set of mannerisms.



In the words of director Ali Abbas Zafar, In this film, Zoya plays a super spy. It was essential to understand how such agents think and operate. So, we got Katrina to train with real agents, used their expertise and experience.



For instance, as intelligence agents, you have to train a certain way to keep your mental balance in direst situations. Say you face someone who has a gun and you dont. How do you still stay neutral and calm, and figure out the best possible way to counter and survive in such a situation. Katrina has really pushed herself for the part. She has also gone the extra mile to train in important nuances like aggressive hand-to-hand combat. The action that Katrina has done looks very real onscreen, despite being mounted on a grand scale, he adds.



Making sure that she gets into the skin of a super spy, Katrina trained in adapting to nuances of body language, mannerisms, and other minute details.



Tiger Zinda Hai releases on December 22.

Also read: After Sunny Leone, adult star Mia Khalifa to debut in Indian film industry with Chunkzz 2



Also read: Secret Superstar actor Zaira Wasim takes admission in Jammus Heritage School

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New Delhi:

The Delhi Police on Wednesday arrested Naseem aka Rizwan who has been accused of taking money to kill Baloch leader Tarek Fatah. Naseem belong to Muzaffarnagar.

Naseem shot to fame after murdering person in 2010 for no reason. It was because of this reason that underworld don Chhota Shakeel gave him money to kill Baloch leader Tarek Fatah.

Last year, the special cell of Delhi police had arrested a person named Junaid. Both Naseem and Junaid was given money to kill Fatah.

The special cell had announced Rs 50,000 on the name of Naseem.

During interrogation, Naseem had accepted that he has talked to Chhota Shakeel many times over the phone. Naseem had also accepted that he received Rs 1.5 crore from Munna Singh to kill Tarek Fatah.

Naseem was not only trying to kill Tariq Fateh but he also wanted to kill many businessmen in Delhi and Bijnor.

But, Delhi police has arrested him before he could get success in his plans.

Delhi police is constantly interrogating Naseem and have started search for Munna Singh who had given money.

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Khunti:

Security forces gunned down four Peoples Liberation Front of India (PLFI) ultras including an area commander in Jharkhands leftwing extremist dominated district Khunti on Tuesday late night. Jharkhand Police chief has announced to award Rs 4 lakhs to the security personnel who participated in the encounter.

Jharkhand Director General of Police (DGP) talking to News Nation said, In a joint operation carried out by Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and state police in Khuntis Karra police station area four PLFI cadres were gunned down.

Khunti Superintendent of Police Ashwini Kumar said, A joint operation was launched on Tuesday late evening on intelligence inputs.

Police have recovered an INSAS rifle, two country made rifles, a pistol, dozen of mobile phones and several rounds of bullet from the encounter site.

He added that the Khunti police had received information that PLFI area commander along with his troop was camping in a forested area under Karra police station. PLFI cadres opened fire on security forces as our team approached them. Taking position our jawans retaliated.

The Khunti SP told the media that DGP has announced to recommend police personnel participating in the encounter for gallantry award. A constable rank police personnel will be awarded Rs 5000, sub-inspector rank and inspector rank officer will be awarded with Rs 6000 and Rs 7000 respectively.

Also read: Ex-army man arrested for training Naxals in Odisha



A Jharkhand Police officer, who was part of the encounter team, said, More than 100 rounds were fired by the PLFI rebels. The four killed PLFI rebels have been identified as area commander Maina Gope, Pancham Oraon, Ajit Horo and Vijay Aind.

Also read| Jharkhand: Police, CRPF bust Naxal camp in Saranda forest; mortars recovered

PLFI is a breakaway faction of CPI-Maoist and is active in Jharkhand, Odisha and Chhattisgarh. The PLFI is in a fratricidal war with the CPI-Maoist.

(With inputs from Rajnish Sinha)

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Raebareli:

In a tragic incident, 20 labourers were killed and more than 100 have suffered serious injuries after a boiler went off at NTPC plant in Uttar Pradeshas Unchahar on Wednesday. CM Yogi Adityanath announced ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakhs to their next of kin.

Uttar Pradesh principal secretaryA has confirmed death of 18 labourers in the boiler bursting incident. a18 dead bodies have been recovered,a said the SDM. Senior police officers told News Nation that at least 1500 labourers were working in the NTPC plant when the boiler went off. They believe the number of casualties and injured can increase.

According to NTPC press release the incident occurred at unit no. 6 of the plant. The press release reads, aAround 3:30pm, an opening was created in the boiler at the height of 20 feet. Flue gas and steam spread in the area leading to injury and deaths.a

The state government has released three helpline numbers (0535-2703301, 0535-2703401 and 0535-2703201.) The Uttar Pradesh government has pressed in 50 ambulances in the plant and all major hospitals in neighbouring districts have been kept in high alert.

Uttar Pradesh ADG (Law and Order) talking to media said, "Our primary objective is to rescue people and provide immediate medical treatment."

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister taking cognizance of the incident has directed Principal Secretary Home to ensure all possible steps to rescue the labourers.

Yogi has announced Rs 2 lakh compensation for the family members of the labourers who lost their lives in the boiler blast and Rs 50 thousand forA labourers who are injured grievously and Rs 25 thousand for other injured workers.

A team of 32 persons of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has been rushed to Unchahar from Lucknow to support in rescue works.

Raebareli administration told the media that the seriously injured labourers have been referred to hospitals in Lucknow, Allahabad and other nearby hospitals.

The state government has ordered a probe the cause behind the NTPC boiler burst incident. Sources told the media that the blasted occurred after ash was collected in the boiler.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his grief over the incident and tweeted, "Deeply pained by the accident at the NTPC plant in Raebareli. My thoughts are with the bereaved families. May the injured recover quickly. The situation is being closely monitored & officials are ensuring normalcy is restored"

Deeply pained by the accident at the NTPC plant in Raebareli. My thoughts are with the bereaved families. May the injured recover quickly. The situation is being closely monitored & officials are ensuring normalcy is restored: PM @narendramodi a PMO India (@PMOIndia) November 1, 2017

The Congress president Sonia Gandhi too expressed her grief over the incident and has asked party workers to help rescue teams in rescuing the injured trapped in the plant.

aaaaaaaa NTPC aaaaaaY aa aaYaa aa aa aaasaaa aaa aaaa aaaaaaaaa aaaaaa aa aaaaaa aa aaa aaaa aaaaaaa aa aaaaa aa aaaaaa aa aaaaaa aaa aa aaaa a Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) November 1, 2017

The Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi who is in Gujarat showed his grief over the incident and tweeted, "Disturbed by the NTPC plant incident. My condolences are with the families of those who died. Urge the authorities to provide immediate help to the injured."A

(With inputs from Vinod Mishra - Lucknow)

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Tonk:

In a yet another shocking incident at a private school, a class seven student suffered serious head injuries after her class teacher hit him with a duster in Rajasthans Tonk on Wednesday.

According to family members, their son told them that after a joke was cracked by a student sitting behind him he bursted into laugh after which his teacher threw a duster on him.

One of family members said, The student was rushed to hospital after he fell on the ground. We were not informed about the incident. We only learnt about the duster throwing incident after our son narrated us his ordeal.

The family members have lodged a complaint of the incident with the local police station. Police said that an FIR has been registered against the accused teacher and the school administration.

According to police, the class seven boy is a student of St. Joseph School and name of the accused teacher is Farzana Khan.

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
Mumbai:

Unidentified robbers looted Rs 70 lakh from cash-van belonging to Bank of Maharashtra on the Pandharpur-Sangola road in Solapur district in Maharashtra on Wednesday.

According to police, Bank of Maharashtras Sangol branchs bank manager Amol Bhosle along with other employees were taking the cash in a car for depositing it in the banks Pandharpur branch.

Police personnel further said that when the car reached near Sangewadi village, another car started following them and forced the bank manager to stop the car. Four people broke the windscreen of the bank managers car, flung chilli powder and took them on gunpoint.

The police further stated that the robbers after taking them on gunpoint snatched the two bags filled with cash and fled the spot.

Bank of Maharashtras Sangol bank manager has filed a complaint with the Pandharpur rural police station.

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
New Delhi:

The Supreme Court on Wednesday asked Centre to constitute special courts on lines of fast track court for expeditious disposal of cases pending against parliamentarians, MLAs.

The Apex Court also directed the Centre to submit all details regarding 1,581 cases involving MPs and MLAs, as declared by politicians at the time of filing their nominations during the 2014 general elections.

The top court asked the government to apprise it as to how many of these 1,581 cases have been disposed of within one year and how many have ended either in conviction or acquittal of the accused.

A bench comprising Justices Ranjan Gogoi and Navin Sinha also sought the details of criminal cases lodged against politicians from 2014 till date as well as on the disposal of these matters.

During the hearing, the Centre told the bench that decriminalisation of politics has to be done and it was not averse to the setting up of special courts to deal with cases involving politicians and speedy disposal of these matters.

SC asks Centre to constitute Spcl Courts on lines of fast track court fr expeditious disposal of cases pending against parliamentarians,MLAs pic.twitter.com/HPIypKwYF7 a ANI (@ANI) November 1, 2017

It informed the bench that the recommendations of the Election Commission of India and the Law Commission favouring life-time disqualification of politicians convicted in criminal cases was under the active consideration of the government.

A The bench directed the Centre to place before it the scheme for setting up of such special courts and also indicate the amount of funds that could be earmarked for the purpose.

The apex court asked the government to place these details before it within six weeks and fixed the matter for hearing on December 13. (With PTI Inputs)

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New Delhi:

The Uttar Pradesh State Election Commission on Wednesday announced that it will monitor SMS and social media posts ahead of local body elections in the state.

UP State Election Commission also stated that it will take strong action against people caught spreading misleading information through SMS and social media.

Uttar Pradesh will have civic polls in three phases from November 22, making it the first electoral test for the ruling BJP which stormed to power in the Assembly elections earlier this year with a massive mandate.

As per the schedule, 24 districts will go to polls on November 22, 25 districts on November 26, and 26 districts on November 29, State Election Commissioner SK Agarwal told reporters here.

He said no central para-military force would be used for exercise, which will be conducted by the state police alone.

Counting of votes polled for 16 nagar nigam, 198 nagar palika parishad and 438 nagar panchayat will be done on December one, he said.

The polls being held eight months after the BJP came to power in the state with a landslide victory, will also mark the first electoral test for the Yogi Adityanath government.

The SP and the Congress party, which had forged an alliance in the run up to the 2017 state polls, have decided to contest these elections separately. The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) is also fighting the polls without an alliance.

With PTI inputs

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New Delhi:

NASA'S latest sounding rocket DEUCE, which was launched by the space agency to study the dark voids between some galaxies and stars pervaded by intergalactic medium (IGM), have failed to gather any significant data regarding the same.

According to scientists, a glitch with the probe's Attitude Control System is the possible reason behind such failure.

National Aeronautics and Space Administration(NASA) launched Dual-channel Extreme Ultraviolet Continuum Experiment(DEUCE), the sounding probe on October 30 from New Mexico. Scientists aimed to measure starlight from a pair of nearby hot stars in the constellation Canis Major which could help them understand how the IGM got to its current state.

Though the Black Brant IX rocket was performing normally in the beginning, it has failed to obtain any useful data.

Also Read: Scientists find best place to host black-hole merging

"However, science data was not obtained because of a possible issue with the attitude control system. The payload descended by parachute and was recovered. The Sounding Rocket Program Office is investigating the anomaly," the American space agency mentioned in one of their statements.

According to NASA, the unsuccessful probe which was exclusively equipped by with help of some special ultraviolet optics, was all set to complete its flight of 15 minutes. Those special ultraviolet optics were used to help in shedding new light on the behavior of the intergalactic medium, i.e. IGM.

Also Read: NASA releases SoundCloud playlist to make this Halloween extra spooky

IGM is a cold, diffuse gas between galaxies that hardly emits any light and makes it difficult for the scientists to study.

For all the Latest Science News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
New Delhi:

China has denied the reports that it is planning to construct a 1,000 km long tunnel to divert the water of Brahmaputra River to a location close to the Indian border.



When asked about the report, foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said, This is a false report.



China will continue to attach great importance to cross-border river cooperation, she added.



It was on Monday that South China Morning Post had reported that more than 100 Chinese engineers were working on testing techniques that could be used to build the tunnel. It also reported that the tunnel would be the worlds longest.



The media report said water would be diverted from Yarlung Tsangpo river in southern Tibet to Taklimakan desert in Xinjiang.



Indian media too widely reported the matter because of the possible impact such a project would have on Indias northeastern states.



The South China Morning Post further reported that Chinese scientists have been working hard on the reported plan. It said though it was a massive project, it was only a matter of time before it would be implemented.



The Tsangpo flows from China into India through Arunachal Pradesh as the Siang before becoming the Brahmaputra in Assam.



The project which was submitted to the government in March was reported to be in the blueprint stage but could trigger a serious water crisis in Indias northeast if it is implemented as the Tsangpo is an upper riparian river.



The Brahmaputra is regarded as the lifeline of northeast India.

Also read: China mulls 1000 km tunnel to divert water from Brahmaputra river



Also read: 200 dead in tunnel accident at North Korea's nuclear test site: Report

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Washington:

Ahead of President Donald Trumps maiden Asia trip, the White House on Wednesday said India plays a big role in the Indo-Pacific region.

Trump embarks on a 12-day trip later this week to visit Japan, South Korea, China, Vietnam and Philippines. He will not be paying a visit to India this time.

It certainly plays a big role, White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders told reporters at her daily news conference when asked about Indias role in the Indo-Pacific region.

Does this administration see India as a pivotal part of your strategy when it comes to the Asia-Pacific more broadly? she was asked.

I can tell you that we have a close relationship with India, that we have a lot of areas of common interest, includingwere both democracies; were both large countries. Theyre an enormous country, State Department Spokesperson Heather Nauert told reporters at a separate news conference.

India can bring so much, not only to the region, but to the world. In addition, many American jobs, through greater trade and cooperation with that country, she said, referring to the major India policy speech given by the Secretary of State Rex Tillerson last month, soon after which he travelled to India.

Nauert was asked why Trump is not going on this trip to India, if the country is so important.

I think that would be a different kind of trip for the President, tagging India -- along to that trip. I think hes got a pretty hefty schedule, but I dont want to speak on behalf of the White House, she said.

Asked if Tillersons India policy was a China containment policy, the State Department spokesperson said the top American diplomat had said this before with China privately.

I think the Secretarywhat he said in his speech about China, in his speech about India, was something that the Secretary has said with China privately before. So some of those in the past have been private conversations, and now, theyre just becoming more public conversations, she said.

The spokersperson said that North Korea is a top issue and Trump will discuss it with China.

But let me just say, I know that the president is very much looking forward to his trip to China. It is going to be a lengthy trip, a robust trip. And one of the top issues that will be discussed with China is certainly the DPRK, the spokesperson said.

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New Delhi :

A newly re-elected Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe today pledged increasing pressure on North Korea to force the nuclear-armed country to the negotiating table, days before a visit by US President Donald Trump expected to be dominated by the threat from Pyongyang.

Kicking off a fresh term in office after he was formally re-elected by parliament, Abe hailed his recent thumpingelection victory as a means to further squeeze a North Korean regime that has alarmed the region with missile launches and a sixth nuclear test in recent months.

"A strong mandate from the people is a source of strong diplomacy," Abe told a press conference today, adding that atough line could persuade Pyongyang to ask for negotiations.

"When President Trump visits Japan, we will spendsufficient time analysing the latest North Korean issues and discussing ways to deal with them," Abe said. Signs of any message by Trump to the North will be closely watched during his Asian tour, which begins at theweekend and will see him visit Tokyo from Sunday through Tuesday.

Trump will also visit South Korea, China, Vietnam and the Philippines. During his election campaign Abe, a staunch conservative, stressed the need for strong leadership to deal with what hecalled Japan's "twin crises": a shrinking birth rate and the actions of a belligerent and nuclear-armed North Korea, whichhas sent missiles over northern Japan in recent months.

Abe's conservative Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) swept to a two-thirds "super majority" in the 465-seat lower houseon October 22. He was reinstated as premier by a huge majority Wednesday and then reappointed all of his cabinet ministers.

The 63-year-old is now on track to become Japan's longest-serving premier. Abe now has the parliamentary numbers to start a process to change Japan's pacifist constitution -- an ambition he has long cherished. But he told reporters he will move cautiously on the divisive issue, saying that he will first seek an open discussion on the subject.

Abe also said he will improve the nation's productivity, offer free early childhood education and expand childcaresupport. Despite his October poll victory, Abe's popularity ratings are relatively low and most observers attribute hiselection success to a weak and fractured opposition.

The main opposition party, the Democratic Party (DP), effectively disbanded after Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike launched a new conservative group and vowed to do away with "old school politics".

Several DP lawmakers defected to Koike's new "Party of Hope" and the more left-leaning MPs formed a new party, theConstitutional Democrats. In the end, Koike's support imploded, mainly because she failed to stand herself in the election -- confusing voters who did not know who would be premier if she won.

The Party of Hope finished with a mere 50 seats while the Constitutional Democrats won 55. They were both dwarfed by Abe's conservative coalition, which secured 313 lower house seats, obtaining the "super majority" required to change the constitution.

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New Delhi :

It is in the interest of Pakistan to change its "long-standing" relationship with terrorist organisations, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has said, underlining that the Trump administration will give the country an opportunity to act on actionable intelligence.

"The conversation with the Pakistani government is for them to recognise that they will be one of the greatestbeneficiaries of a successful peace process in Afghanistan, Tillerson told lawmakers during a Congressional hearing onMonday.

Tillerson, who visited Afghanistan, Pakistan and India last week, was responding to questions on Pakistan's co- operation in the fight against terrorism in the aftermath of Trump's South Asia Policy.

"Pakistan lives with two very unstable borders, one with Afghanistan, one with India and our message to them is -- Youhave to begin to create greater stability inside your country and that means denying safe haven to any of these organisations that launch attacks from your territory," he said.

"So, we are going to enter into an effort to have greater sharing of certain intelligence information, he said, addingthat Pakistanis have indicated that they will act if the US provide them information.

"We're going to have to test that, give them an opportunity to do so," Tillerson said. "And so, what will change is that Pakistan will find it in their interest to begin to disassociate these long-standing relationships that have developed over time with certain terrorist organisations, the Haqqani network, the Taliban, inside of Pakistan, which may have served their purpose for stability once upon a time but they no longer serve thatpurpose, he said. Tillerson said that it is up to Pakistan to think about its long-term stability and it future by changing that relationship with these organisations.

In August, President Trump had unveiled his Afghanistan and South Asia policy in which he had hit out at Pakistan for providing safe havens to "agents of chaos" that kill Americans in Afghanistan and warned Islamabad that it has "much to lose" by harbouring terrorists.

For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
This place is for real! A city in Japan called Obama. They must have named it after the former president, right?

Republicans can sigh a breath of relief as this Obama was here first. Obama City, Japan's history goes back centuries and the coincidence of phonetically having the same name as Barack Obama's last name is what makes the city stand out internationally. Oh, in case you're wondering, in Japanese, "Obama" actually means "Small Beach".

Like any town with such a unique coincidence, the city embraced it and made a strong bond with the Senator then President.

It started when Senator Obama landed in Japan and the immigration officer told him he was from Obama!

But take a step back from the last 10 years and you'll find another kind of city.

Obama City is located in Fukui Prefecture, about 70km from Kyoto on the Sea of Japan. It was the Gateway to Japan for centuries before the Edo period because it was the closest link to Kyoto from the Sea. The route used was called MACKEREL ROAD because SABA (Mackerel) was the most traded fish, delivered to Kyoto endlessly along with loads of other goods to and from the imperial city.
Police arrested nine people on suspicion of copyright law violations Tuesday in connection with a website containing links to other sites that give visitors access to pirated comics and books.

The nine, including men in their early 20s, are suspected of uploading pirated comics to a website without consent from the copyright holder and linking the materials to the site they operated in August last year.

The website did not host any pirated publications but the police believe it reduced profits for authors as it enabled visitors to read pirated works for free. The annual loss for the publishing industry was estimated at around A73 billion ($643 million).

The Haruka Yume no Ato website contained links to other sites hosting pirated popular comics such as "Dragon Ball" and "One Piece." Launched in 2011, it once boasted around 30 million visitors per month but has been shut down.

One of the nine suspects, Makoto Wauke, 22, said before his arrest, "I didn't intend to make money." The former graduate student denied uploading pirated copies, saying, "I had been operating the website trying to avoid copyright infringement."

Wauke and another suspect, 23-year-old Takaaki Nariai, both from Osaka, are believed to have been senior members of the group operating the website.

In cooperation with other suspects in different prefectures, the two allegedly instructed those who uploaded the pirated works.

There are at least 50 similar websites with links to pirated Japanese-language publications. Those who upload the pirated works are believed to receive payments depending on traffic volume, while link sites raise money through online advertising and membership fees.

Nov 01 (ANNnewsCH) - acaaSaaaaaaeScacaeaaaaaaeaZaaaaYcaaaaaeaeaacaaeaaaYaaaaeaa aaceaaacYacei22ia9aaaa
Investigative sources with the Hyogo Prefectural Police have revealed that the Kobe Yamaguchi-gumi organized crime group likely vacated its headquarters in Awaji City on Monday, a move that comes after the issuing of a complaint by citizens, reports TBS News

On October 2, a prefectural organization that seeks for the elimination of gangs filed a request to halt the operation of the headquarters of the gang with the Kobe District Court on behalf of a citizens group.

At the end of the month, a document dated October 25 was sent to related groups of the Kobe Yamaguchi-gumi to announce the closing of the office, according to the sources. The end of the document included the name of an upper-level member of the gang.

It is speculated that the gang will move its operations to the headquarters of the Yamaken-gumi, its key affiliate gang whose office is located in Kobe's Chuo Ward.

The office in Awaji was originally used by the Kyoyu-kai, another key affiliate gang. Following the formation of the Kobe Yamaguchi-gumi following the dissolution of the Yamaguchi-gumi in 2015, the Kobe Yamaguchi-gumi used it as its first headquarters.

Prior to filing of the request, local residents became concerned since the office is in a residential area.
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After 84 years as an independent company, Goodfellow Real Estate has been acquired by national firm NRT New England and plans a significant expansion, it was announced Wednesday at Goodfellows office in Danbury.

NRT, which operates under the Coldwell Banker brand, includes both residential and commercial services, but the former Goodfellow office will continue to focus exclusively on commercial real estate deals.

All Goodfellow agents and employees will be retained and officials said more staff will be added. Terms of the agreement were not released. The company will operate under the name Coldwell Banker Commercial NRT. It is the first Connecticut office for Coldwell Banker Commercial, although there are CBC franchises in the state.

Todd Payne, former owner of Goodfellow Real Estate and the grandson of the companys founder Robert Goodfellow, said it is becoming increasingly difficult for small, independent commercial real estate firms to compete in todays market.

The industry is consolidating and boutique firms are finding it more difficult to provide the level of service their clients require, he said. The NRT New England senior leadership team is dynamic and focused on giving us the ability to concentrate on our clients while providing us with a global platform and brand.

Payne said the new company will be able to compete with other national commercial real estate firms in the area, such Cushman Wakefield and CBRE, but will also continue to work with small business owners looking for small leases.

This puts us on the same international stage, Payne said of the other national firms. But real estate is local and were a local business so well still serve the individual.

Payne said he plans to expand the business by adding more than 30 agents over the next 12 months to cover all of Connecticut and Westchester. There are currently 12 commercial real estate agents working at the office.

Coldwell Banker Commercial NRT has more than 300 offices in 21 states. It is the first Connecticut office for the company, although there are CBC franchises in the state.

The acquisition of Goodfellow Real Estate greatly enhances our ability to provide high-level service to commercial real estate clients in Connecticut and New York, Karl Dee Maret, national co-director of Coldwell Banker Commercial NRT, said. Todd has built a first-class team of commercial real estate agents -- one of the best in the industry.

Maret and Joseph Valvano, president of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in Connecticut and Westchester, visited the Danbury office on Wednesday morning as the sale became official and was announced to Goodfellow staff.

Payne said he had been considering selling the business for several years as he saw the industry changing. He has entertained other offers over the last few years, but waited for the right fit.

This is the right situation for us, Payne said.

The sale reunites Payne with Scott Cooney, a former business partner who ran the residential side of Goodfellow, which was sold to NRT Residential in 2014. Cooney manages the Coldwell Banker Residential office on Mill Plain Road in Danbury. He will oversee the new commercial office on Old Sherman Turnpike as well.

Goodfellow Real Estate was founded in 1934 by Robert Goodfellow and Harry Ashmore. Payne said it was a difficult decision to sell the company, but the timing was right and the sale sets up the business for future growth.

This is my family, he said. Its a big deal.

cbosak@hearstmediact.com; 203-731-3338
The CEO of Sturm Ruger said Monday the company has yet to see any spike in gun sales in the wake of last months mass shooting in Las Vegas, as was the case with previous incidents that spurred buying by gun enthusiasts fearful of future regulation.

Ruger makes handguns, rifles and accessories, with its headquarters in Fairfield and manufacturing plants in New Hampshire and Arizona. The company employs more than 2,000 people in all, including new CEO Chris Killoy, who was promoted earlier this year following the retirement of former CEO Michael Fife.

The Las Vegas shootings sparked a renewed call for limitations on gun ownership in Connecticut and elsewhere, with many focused on bump stocks that allow a semiautomatic rifle to mimic automatic fire, but with many officials aiming to reopen the overall gun debate.

Speaking to investment analysts Monday, Ruger CEO Chris Killoy said the company has yet to see any evidence of a rise in those seeking to purchase guns beyond an ordinary increase in demand in advance of the fall hunting season. The company distributes its products through a network of nearly 20 wholesalers for sale at retailers like Dicks Sporting Goods,as well as independent dealers locally and nationally.

We havent seen anything significant, Killoy said Monday during a conference call with investment analysts. Obviously a very tragic event ... we havent seen (an increase) reported from our sales force.

Rugers sales were $105 million in the third quarter, down 35 percent from a year ago. Ruger remains profitable, with net earnings of $9.4 million in the quarter that were less than half the totals of the third quarter of 2016.

Through the first nine months of the year, the FBI reported 127,800 fewer background checks in Connecticut on prospective gun owners, down by nearly half from the same period in 2016.

Demand in the third quarter slowed considerably from the prior year, Killoy said. We offered more promotions ... but we did not chase our competitors offerings to achieve better results.

 Corrected from an earlier version that misstated the name of Sturm Ruger.

Alex.Soule@scni.com; 203-842-2545; @casoulman
Carol Kaliff / Hearst Connecticut Media

Umpawaug School House will be open to the public for the first time since the exterior renovations were completed.

The annual open house will be from 1 to 4 p.m. on Sunday.
Contributed

A Sherman man facing allegations that he had a sexual relationship with a student while teaching at Brewster High School has been extradited to New York state.

Christopher Vlangas, 41, of Upland Pastures Road, waived his right to an extradition hearing during a brief appearance Tuesday in Danbury Superior Court. A Danbury police spokesman said Vlangas was taken into custody at Danbury Hospital on a New York warrant, was charged as a fugitive from justice and ordered held in lieu of a cash bond of $100,000.
NEW BRITAIN  A slightly scaled-down proposal to install a 20-megawatt solar farm on Candlewood Mountain underwent another round of questioning Tuesday before the Connecticut Siting Council.

The proposal by Ameresco Inc., the company that will own and operate the solar project, had a smaller footprint compared to the original design.

The change was made based on public input at a Sept. 26 hearing at New Milford Town Hall, largely to lessen the impact on the wetlands and vernal pools. By using higher-wattage panels, the project now requires 60,000 panels, instead of the originally proposed 75,000. They will also be grouped more closely together, Ameresco officials said during the hearing.

Tuesdays testimony included new data to address questions posed by the public and the siting council during the last hearing, including those surrounding fire suppression. Officials said the site would always be monitored and could be shut down with the turn of a key.

Ameresco officials also said they are working with the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection to craft a stormwater management plan, and that panels could be spaced in such as way as to reduce the possibility of erosion.

Several siting council members questioned what would happen if a deluge hit the solar panels, much like the storm that swept through the area earlier this week. Ameresco officials said they will factor that into the plan as well, installing panels can withstand strong winds.

We dont want to have erosion, said Jim Walker, of Ameresco. Its bad for our project.

Tuesdays hearing also included testimony from the state Department of Agriculture, which many officials said was the first time the agency had become a party in such a case.

Department official Stephen Anderson said it became involved because of a new law requiring the Siting Council to balance preservation of forests and farmland against promotion of alternative energy projects. The law went into effect July 1, a few days after Ameresco filed its application, and does not apply in this case.

But Kipen Kolesinskas, a department consultant, spoke anyway about the need to preserve farmland.

He said there isnt enough research to determine how viable the soil is after panels are removed, and that even if the land could be used for agriculture after a solar project is complete it would still be out of use during the projects 20-year life. He added that more than 400 people are interested in farming in Connecticut but can't get access to farmland.

Several people asked Ameresco officials whether other sites for the solar array were considered in town or the surrounding area, including the Century Brass brownfield site.

Walker said Century Brass was too small, raised issues concerning wetlands and in any case was being considered as a power plant when the company started looking for sites.

The hearing will be continued at 11 a.m. Nov. 14 at the Siting Council office in New Britain. It will include testimony from the town and from Rescue Candlewood Mountain, a group started by residents who oppose the project.
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NEW CANAAN  Shortly after Paul Manafort, President Donald Trumps former campaign manager, was indicted on federal conspiracy charges, a picture of Kevin Moynihan and Manafort was shared on social media.

Moynihan, a Republican candidate for first selectman, said while he did attend Georgetown University at the same time as Manafort, he was, at most, an acquaintance.

I think New Canaan voters are too intelligent to be fooled by those who raise my support of Trump during the 2016 campaign or my Georgetown association with Paul Manafort as relevant issues for our local election, Moynihan said Tuesday.

Kit Devereaux, the Democratic candidate for first selectman, didnt raise this association as an issue for the upcoming elections.

Moynihan was in the College of Arts and Sciences while Manafort was in the Business School at Georgetown. They both graduated in 1971 but were not involved in any extracurricular activities together, the candidate said.

More News Greenwich tailor: Manafort just another client

From 1990 to 2006, Moynihan served as chairman of reunion fundraising for his Georgetown class. During that time, Moynihan reached out to Manafort, and other alumni, to solicit funds for reunions. Moynihan remarked that Manafort was not a big donor and donated $5,000 a year.

Manafort was charged on Monday by special counsel Robert Mueller on counts of conspiracy against the United States, conspiracy to launder money, unregistered agent of a foreign principal and false and misleading statements among others. Manafort pleaded not guilty to these charges.

If (Manafort) failed to comply with any of these laws, the indictment may have merit as regards (to) these specific charges, Moynihan said.

Moynihan, a former Wall Street attorney, said he recognizes the importance of complying with money laundering laws and other federal statutes.

I have no reason to comment, Moynihan said. I only know what I read. It doesn't appear to have anything to do with his time with the Trump campaign. The legal process will take its course.

Elections to determine the first selectman of New Canaan will be held on Nov. 7. Moynihan is running against Democratic candidate Kit Devereaux for the position.
TORONTO, Nov. 1, 2017 /CNW/ - Evolve Funds Group Inc. ("Evolve"), a Canadian Exchange Traded Fund provider, today announced that it has entered into an agreement with Sphere Investment Management Inc. ("Sphere"), to purchase the management contracts for each of the following five Sphere listed Exchange Traded Funds ("ETFs"):

Sphere FTSE Canada Sustainable Yield Index ETF (TMX: SHC)

Sphere FTSE US Sustainable Yield Index ETF (TMX: SHU)

Sphere FTSE Europe Sustainable Yield Index ETF (TMX: SHE)

Sphere FTSE ASIA Sustainable Yield Index ETF (TMX: SHA)

Sustainable Yield Index ETF (TMX: SHA) Sphere FTSE Emerging Markets Sustainable Yield Index ETF (TMX: SHZ)

Evolve has agreed to acquire the right to manage the five ETFs with approximately $68MM in assets under management, subject to obtaining unitholder and regulatory approvals.

"We are excited to expand and complement our existing product lineup with Sphere's suite of ETFs," said Raj Lala, President & CEO at Evolve. "As an innovative ETF provider, this transaction will further deepen our commitment to providing Canadian investors with products designed to address the changing global economic environment."

"We are very pleased that Sphere's products will be managed by Evolve and add a dimension to an already impressive array of products," said Keith McLean, CIO for Sphere. "These ETFs will continue to act as a core holding for client portfolios, as they provide an opportunity for good risk adjusted returns and enhanced yield for investors."

"The family of Sphere ETFs will continue to be offered as part of the carefully selected range of product solutions that we offer to our clientele," said Stuart Raftus, President of Canaccord Genuity Wealth Management in Canada. "We look forward to working with the team at Evolve, as they share our commitment to providing innovative investment opportunities for investors."

While the acquisition is subject to regulatory and unitholder approvals, it is expected the ETFs will continue to utilize a strategy that follows the Sustainable Yield Indices. Unitholders will be asked to approve the transaction at special meetings of the ETFs to be held on December 11, 2017. Further details of the special meetings and the proposals will be described in an information circular that will be available at www.sedar.com and www.sphereetfs.com on or about November 10, 2017.

About Evolve Funds Group Inc.

Evolve specializes in bringing innovative ETFs to Canadian investors. Currently, Evolve has eight ETFs listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange. Evolve's suite of ETFs provide investors with access to: (i) long term investment themes; and (ii) some of the world's leading investment managers. Established by a team of industry veterans with a proven track record of success, we create investment products that make a difference. For more information, please visit www.evolvefunds.com.

SOURCE Evolve Funds Group Inc.

For further information: Media contacts: For Sphere: John Durfy, [email protected], 416.687.5436; For Evolve: Keith Crone, [email protected], 416.572.2111
There's already stations for salad, prepared foods and mochi, but now Whole Foods is rolling out a self-serve mac n' cheese bar  a 6-foot-long one at that.

The comfort food station will be unveiled at the opening of a new Whole Foods Market in Denver mid-November, spokesperson Glenda Catron told SFGATE. The bar will include six types of mac n' cheeses, including pulled pork BBQ, roasted tomato and vegan varieties.
NEW HAVEN  Leighton Vanderberg testified Wednesday that he drove defendant Jamal Sumler and another man to and from an area near the convenience store where the two passengers allegedly robbed and fatally shot the stores clerk.

Vanderberg, who has entered into a cooperation deal with the state, maintained he had no idea what his two friends were planning and that even after the crime he didnt know that night what they had done.

Vanderberg, 25, is already serving a 40-year prison sentence for felony murder in the shooting of another store clerk, who died while working at his grocery store in Bridgeport. Vanderberg testified Wednesday that in that crime as well he didnt know co-defendant Treizy Lopez was planning to do anything illegal when the two of them entered the store.

The Bridgeport murder occurred five days after the April 6, 2015, attack on the Pay Rite Food/Citgo Station on Forbes Avenue, which resulted in the death of 39-year-old Sanjay Patel.

Sumler, 26, of Howard Avenue, is charged with murder, felony murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree robbery and carrying a pistol without a permit. Another co-defendant, Dwayne Sayles, 24, is awaiting trial on charges of murder, felony murder, first-degree robbery, conspiracy and a weapons count. Police said both of them shot Patel.

Vanderberg originally was charged with felony murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree robbery in Patels death. But when he agreed to the cooperation deal, he pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of aiding and abetting first-degree robbery. He faces a maximum sentence of 20 years, which could be made concurrent or consecutive with his 40-year Bridgeport sentence.

During cross-examination Wednesday by defense attorney Wade Luckett, Vanderberg conceded he hopes that in exchange for his testimony, the second sentence is made concurrent.

When judicial marshals escorted Vanderberg into the courtroom, he was wearing an orange prison jump suit. During initial questioning by Senior Assistant States Attorney Seth Garbarsky, Vanderberg acknowledged he has six felony convictions, including one for felony murder in the Bridgeport case.

Vanderberg also said he is married and has a 4-year-old son. He testified he was driving his wifes car, a green Ford Focus, the night he gave a ride to Sumler and Sayles.

Vanderberg said he knew Sumler by the nickname Mal and Sayles as Hoodie. He said he had known Mal for a few months at the time of the Pay Rite shooting.

Vanderberg identified Sumler in the courtroom as the one wearing a tie and glasses. During cross-examination later, he told Luckett he had never before seen Sumler wearing glasses.

Recounting April 6, 2015, in detail, Vandererg said he picked up Sumler and Sayles in the middle of the day. Later on, he said, they drove to Eddys Food Center on Howard Avenue, allegedly at Sumlers request. Vanderberg testified Sumler didnt tell him why he wanted to go there.

According to Vanderberg, before Sumler got out of the car to go into Eddys, he pulled a gun out of a pocket and put it in the car console.

Vanderberg said Sumler went into the store twice in quick succession and that after the second time he handed Sayles a pair of black gloves. Then his two passengers allegedly asked Vanderberg to drive them to Fair Haven. He testified there still was no talk of a robbery.

Vanderberg said he parked on a side street near Forbes Avenue so they could roll up a Dutch. He explained to the jurors this means cracking open a cigar, taking its guts out and putting marijuana in there, then smoking it.

Vanderberg recounted his passengers saying they needed some additional Dutches (Dutch Masters Cigars) from the store so they could smoke more of them with the marijuana. But he said Sayles had given Sumler the gun back from the car console.

Vanderberg testified his two friends were gone for less than 10 minutes. He said Sayles came back first. He looked weird. He had a box of Dutches in his hand.

Vanderberg also described Sayles as hyperactive, loud, nervous. He said, Go! Go! Hurry up!

Vanderberg testified he told Sayles they needed to wait for Sumler. Shortly afterward Sumler also returned and got into the car. Vanderberg drove them to the Church Street South housing complex where Sayles lived.

When they got there, Vanderberg said, Sayles gave him $20 in gas money. I also got some of the cigars.

According to Vanderberg, Sumler and Sayles said very little about what had happened in the store but that Sumler was complaining about getting hurt. They laughed about it.

After he and Sumler left Sayles home, Vanderberg testified, Mal said he ended up robbing the store clerk. But he didnt say the man had been shot, Vanderberg testified.

Vanderberg said after he learned of the fatal shooting from a friend the next day, he eventually decided to turn myself in to police because It didnt feel right. Too much to deal with.

But during cross-examination, Luckett asked, You got concerned you could get arrested? That you would have to go to jail? You wanted something in exchange for pointing the finger at Mr. Sumler?

Vanderberg replied he just wanted to say what had happened. He also said he didnt want to be held responsible for something I didnt do.

Luckett also pressed Vanderberg about the Bridgeport felony murder. Luckett noted Vanderberg that time went into the store with the other perpetrator. But you didnt know what was going to happen? Vanderberg said he did not.

He concluded his day on the witness stand by telling Garbarsky that testifying was the weirdest thing I ever did.

Why did you do it? Garbarsky asked.

Vanderberg answered: It was right.

randall.beach@hearstmediact.com
WEST HAVEN  West Haven, like many area communities, is full of grassroots efforts to collect food and raise money to help the needy during holiday season.

But few are as grassroots at Donna Rzasas annual Canned Food for Cocoa, which will take place this Sunday for the fifth straight year.

Its pretty simple, actually: you just bring some canned goods to donate to W.H.E.A.T.  the West Haven Emergency Assistance Task Force  this Sunday between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. to Rzasas house at 35 Chestnut St.

In return, you get a free cup of steaming hot cocoa!

Its an endorsed event by W.H.E.A.T. of West Haven, Rzasa said in an e-mail. Over the years we have collected truckloads of food, which feeds so many families in West Haven.

As more places leave Connecticut, its just getting harder for families to put food on the table, she said. That is why events like these are so important.

For anyone who cant make it on Sunday, you can donate food or money or volunteer to work at W.H.E.A.T.  or arrange for assistance  by calling 203-931-9877 or going online to www.wheatpantry.org.

W.H.E.A.T. was founded in 1975 by the West Haven Clergy Association and has grown over four decades from a small pantry in the basement of the West Haven Community House to its current 30,000-square-foot facility at 674 Washington Ave.

An estimated 19 percent of West Haven residents are food-insecure, according to calculations of food insecurity data compiled by Feeding America and Craig Gundersen.

With a population estimated at 55,209 people, that means West Haven is home to about 10,500 people who are likely to be food insecure.

W.H.E.A.T. now serves about 5,000 households in West Haven, including 1,000 children, providing more than 80,000 meals a year.
NEW HAVEN  A former lab technician at Yale University has sued the university in federal court, charging discrimination based on his race or nationality.

Leon McCalla of Meriden worked for the Yale Animal Resource Center as a lab animal technician scheduler from April 1989 until Aug. 16, 2016, when he resigned on the advice of his doctor because of the alleged hostile work environment, according to his complaint.

McCalla, who is black and a native of Jamaica, claims in his lawsuit that about May 2013, Melissa Bonk became McCallas supervisor and, since then, he had been unfairly scrutinized, micromanaged, harassed, and discriminated against, according to the lawsuit and was given numerous oral and written warnings about alleged errors in his work, which he said were inconsequential.

There are three black lab technicians out of 12 in the three lab-scheduling units, all of whom have been reprimanded by Bonk, the lawsuit claims, while white employees have not been reprimanded for similar errors or violations of workplace policy, such as coming in late.

It states that McCalla filed a grievance with his union against Bonk and met with a representative from Yales Office for Equal Opportunity, describing how Bonk berated him in front of his peers on Dec. 24, 2015. The lawsuit calls the actions of Yale and its employees extreme and outrageous.

Yale Press Secretary Thomas Conroy issued a statement saying, The claims are baseless and Yale is defending the case vigorously.

In addition to recommending that McCalla resign, his doctor sent a letter to Yale stating that Plaintiff had to leave work for medical reasons related to stress, caused by his work environment, and specifically, by Bonk.

McCalla is basing his claims on Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act and Connecticut state law, charging that he was discriminated against based on his race or nationality and that Yale had created a hostile work environment. One of seven counts, claiming infliction of emotional distress, was dismissed by U.S. District Judge Janet C. Hall.

McCalla seeks money damages and a jury trial. He is being represented by Eugene Axelrod of Axelrod and Associates of Woodbridge.

Before we took this case we had extensive meeting with Mr. McCalla and we are satisfied that his claims have merit and he has been treated badly by Yale, that hes a hard worker and was a credit to the university, and we intend to pursue this vigorously, Axelrod said.

Contact Ed Stannard at edward.stannard@hearstmediact.com or 203-680-9382.
NEW HAVEN  Approximately 30 police officers, clad in navy blue uniforms, sat in a classroom-type setting Wednesday morning, being quizzed. Those men and women were the first officers to receive training for recently approved body-worn cameras.

Chief Anthony Campbell said he believes both the community and the police department will have greater safety, accountability and transparency, thanks to the body-worn cameras, describing Wednesday as the day both sides could claim victory.

We believe our officers are doing the right thing, but [the cameras] are going to help with transparency, Assistant Chief Racheal Cain added. We are a community-based agency, and its important for the public to be able to see exactly what the officers are doing, and this will help with that.

However, a recent study involving Metropolitan Police Department officers in Washington, D.C., found that body-worn cameras had no measurable effect on police discretion, fueling renewed skepticism about whether the equipment actually fosters accountability and transparency in law enforcement.

Despite any uncertainty, about one-third of the nations 18,000 police agencies have embraced or are testing body cameras, and many neighboring departments in Connecticut have employed them for years. Branford was one of the first departments in the state to use body cameras, buying them as inexpensive alternatives to dashboard cameras about 10 years ago. The department has since equipped its fleet with dashboard cameras that sync with the body cameras, creating a visual and audio account of every encounter.

While the Hartford Police Department did purchase body cameras for its officers in 2012, the program was taken offline after only several weeks due to a labor dispute with the police union. The equipment now resides in storage.

Following the fatal shooting of 15-year-old Jayson Negron by a Bridgeport police officer in May, there was a push by some for that department to outfit its officers with body and dashboard cameras after cell phone video of the incident surfaced. Despite the city obtaining the money to buy the equipment, it lacked the funding to securely store the footage.

New Haven Mayor Toni Harp said the idea came several years ago when public discussion turned to the use of body cameras and police transparency and community trust.

What appeared to be an increasing number of controversial police actions across the nation begged a better sense of what really transpired and the ability to reconstruct what really happened in these cases, Harp said. So at that time, we arranged for New Haven to host a pilot program to evaluate the potential for body cameras in Connecticut.

After several years of trying to get the program off the ground, the Board of Police Commissioners unanimously voted Oct. 17 to approve the use of body cameras after the police department received a grant in May to purchase 800 body-worn cameras. However, union President Craig Miller said he believes members of the board approved the policy without having adequate time to review it.

So everything got pushed on and off, and so in the meantime, were still negotiating, and then it came to the point where they said, We have a deadline, and were just [going to] present it to Board of Police Commissioners, who received it like the same night, 30 minutes prior to the meeting, and approved it, he said.

Cain responded by explaining that the department followed the model created by the Police Officer Standards and Training Council, which was later adopted into state law. She added that the day before the meeting, the members of the Board of Police Commissioners received a copy of the draft policy, which was identical to the policy presented at the meeting.

The cost for the entire program, which includes the Axon cameras along with unlimited data storage during the five-year contract, initially was lower, but she said the department added some necessary features, bringing the total to $779,000 for the first year, for which the state will reimburse the department. For each subsequent year, she said it would cost the city approximately $350,000 for unlimited cloud-based storage.

Sgt. Rose Dell said the department currently has more than enough cameras to outfit an entire shift plus extra-duty and overtime officers. During the first launch, Dell explained that each officer will be assigned two cameras: a hot camera that officers will wear while on patrol and a cold camera that will be in the docks charging and uploading video.

After an officer shoots video, he or she will then place the hot camera in the docking station, where the footage will be uploaded to a secure cloud-based storage system. Depending on the type of incident, the footage is stored for at least 90 days. Chief Anthony Campbell added that the footage will be reviewed periodically unless there is some sort of high-profile incident.

While only the police headquarters currently has a docking station, they eventually will be available at substations. Cain said the goal is to have officers be able to upload footage without taking the cameras out of the field.

When an officer is on-duty and interacting with public, as part of their law enforcement function, the camera will be recording [both audio and video], Cain said. Of course, there are certain times where the law says we can shut the camera off, such as interviewing a victim in a hospital setting or if a person does not want to give us information while the camera is on. Obviously, getting the information is more important than having the camera rolling, so in those situations we would be able to shut the camera off.

Officer Reginald McGlotten, who was part of the pilot program and one of the first officers to receive training on the new equipment, described the initial experience as weird and challenging, explaining that he had to remember to actually turn on the camera . While he had to get used to wearing the body camera during his regular police duties, he said he eventually got used to it.

Most importantly, these body cameras are a visual for more collaborative and interactive community model of community police, Campbell concluded.

jessica.lerner@hearstmediact.com; @jesslerner on Twitter
WEST HAVEN  Computer science and cyber security majors from the Tagliatela College of Engineering at the University of New Haven will be among 10 teams from around the U.S. competing this week in the national Collegiate Penetration Testing Competition at the Rochester Institute of Technology.

University of New Haven defeated teams from Drexel and Carnegie Mellon, one of the top universities in the world in cyber security and technology education, among others, to advance through the regional competition hosted recently at Penn State University.

As part of the 48-hour competition, the students performed penetration testing for a fictional company  Gotham Elections, the university said in a news release.

They met with people playing the role of company staff and spent the next eight to nine hours attempting to compromise various devices on the companys network and documenting their findings, it said.

The team then had until 8 a.m. the next morning to prepare a comprehensive report and a presentation.

Experiences like this are a great opportunity for our students to practice their hacking skills, compete with other teams, and learn about professional penetration testing, said team advisor Frank Breitinger, assistant professor of computer science and co-director of the University of New Havens Cyber Forensics Laboratory.

These events offer great opportunities to network with potential future employers, Breitinger said in the release. Making it to the nationals is a tremendous success for a small university like ours.

The University of New Haven team this month also placed second out of 23 teams at CyberSEED, a national cyber security conference hosted by the University of Connecticut. The team won $7,500, finishing behind Central Florida, which came in first and won $10,000.
After several investments worth over $1 billion (N306 billion), the nations submarine cable system is still hampered by gross underutilisation.The cost of NITELs South Atlantic 3 (SAT3) fibre optic cable, which now belongs to ntel, for instance is put at over $600 million. MTNs West African Cable System (WACS) costs $650 million. ACE cable, by Dolphin Telecoms, is worth about $700 million. While MainOne gulped about $300 million, the cost of Globacoms Glo1 cable is estimated at $800 million.Going by the capacity of the system with bandwidth potential in excess of 19.2 terabytes and over 340 gigabytes, a revolution, as witnessed in the mobile phone segment, should have been replicated in e-governance, e-health, e-banking, e-education, telemedicine and e-security, especially at a time the country is hoping to deepen broadband penetration by 30 per cent.This, however, has not been the case, raising concern among operators in the sub-sector who claim they have not broken even yet, not to talk of making profit after years of investment.Consequently, while there is a glut in bandwidth capacities at the shores, network expansion to hinterlands and expected falling prices in subscriptions that would fuel explosive growth in mobile broadband and other Internet related services, are still seriously constrained.Already, over 200 communities housing about 40 million Nigerians still lack access to basic telephone services.The World Bank, meanwhile, has found a direct correlation between rise in broadband penetration and increased economic growth, citing China, where a 10 per cent increase in broadband penetration boosted GDP growth by 2.5 per cent.McKinsey & Company also noted that bringing broadband penetration levels in emerging markets to todays Western European levels could potentially add $300 billion to $420 billion in GDP and generate 10 million to 14 million jobs.Responding to The Guardians enquiries on the underutilisation, the President, Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), Olusola Teniola, said there was a serious glut in the supply of bandwidth on the wet segment of the optic fibre ecosystem in the country.Teniola, an engineer, noted: Without data hosted locally, without local content being developed in PetaBytes, without more data centres and without prices being affordable, it is hard to see the case for a Return of Investment (ROI) until 2030 at best.The ATCON president admitted that the lack of a national backbone remained a challenge hindering ubiquitous broadband. However, the costs of running generators, running a parallel security network (personnel) and multiple demands of fees/payments from state and local governments over and above what is paid at the federal level deter many operators from venturing further afield. Hence what is evident is a concentration of investments in Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt by all operators in the country with reduced concentration in Kano, Kaduna, Katsina and the northeastern part of the country.On what the Federal Government could do to assist the sub-sector, especially now that the country is looking for investors, the ATCON president said there was the need to solve the foreign exchange issue in respect of importation of telecoms equipment, remove Right of Way (RoW) barriers, harmonise the 26 taxes and levies, protect telecom infrastructure from vandalistion, adopt ICT in the way government is run and finally create an easy environment for businesses.The Chief Executive Officer of MainOne Cables, Funke Opeke, who estimated investments in the countrys submarine cable system in excess of $1 billion, told The Guardian in Busan, South Korea at the recently held International Telecommunications Union (ITU) Telecom world, that only about 10 per cent of MainOnes fibre optic cable system had been utilised.A reliable Globacom official, who preferred anonymity, spoke in the same vein, saying utilisation had been low, despite several huge investments in the sub-sector.A telecoms expert, Kehinde Aluko, blamed the low utilisation of the cables on the poor implementation of the Nigeria Broadband Plan (NBP) 2013 to 2018.He said: These are initiatives that would propel the consumption of bandwidth, which in the long run becomes highly beneficial to the economy. With Internet booming, people will become busy, doing stuff. All we would need to do then would be to ensure that these facilities are used judiciously and not for activities such as cybercrime.I still blame the government because the private sector has made the facility available. But when government is not forthcoming with ideas that can transform Nigeria into a knowledge economy, then there is trouble.The President of the Nigeria Internet Registration Agency (NiRA), Rev. Sunday Folayan, blamed poor Internet services being experienced by Nigerians on the lack of adequate Internet pipes that connect the shores to the cities and hinterlands.Folayan, who led NiRAs team to The Guardian headquarters, explained: The way Internet delivery is done right now is that you have four to five submarine cable systems land at the coast in Lagos, but the pipes that take them from where they land, to where they are needed, is of doubtful and unknown size. It depends on what you negotiate with your Internet Service Providers.So, it is slow because most people dont know. Some operators can claim to be giving you a big pipe, which is connected to the coast, but they may not. It may be connected to someone elses pipe and that could be the challenge. Until you trace where the service is coming from, you may not get the very best.He said the lack of adequate infrastructure, especially the last mile that would take services from the coast to the cities and hinterlands, were issues government must look into.Market observers have posited that broadband would lower the cost of real estate, as people would be able to work from anywhere, without necessarily meeting in urban areas and commuting.The ITU also said that investments in broadband infrastructure and broadband-enabled applications and services facilitate long-term sustainable economic development, economic productivity and growth, and job creation, and generate significant returns.According to it, investments in broadband are necessary if developing countries are to eradicate poverty and take part in the digital economy of the 21st century.
Some Governors currently serving on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), have called on President Muhammadu Buhari to seek ...

Some Governors currently serving on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), have called on President Muhammadu Buhari to seek re-election for a second term in office.

According to them, there is no candidate better than Buahri to fly the partys flag in the 2019 presidential election.





Speaking in separate interviews with reporters before the commencement of the National Executive Committee meeting of the party in Abuja, the governors said that the belief that President Buharis integrity, coupled with his performance since 2015 remain unbeatable.





Plateau State governor, Simon Lalong said that all the governors have unanimously agreed to work for the Presidents re-election.





He said, Concerning the issue of a sole ticket for Mr President, I want to say that if Mr President is performing, well respected and carrying everybody along, all of us have resolved that we will work for him.





Do we have any other person that will challenge the President again? Whatever you call it, as far as we are concerned, we have one President and that is the ticket we will fly.





I want to assure you that you wont see a wrangling party after the meeting. From now onwards, it will be a focused governance from Mr President and all the governors from the states. We have all resolved to support Mr President.





On his part, Nasarawa state governor, Tanko Al-Makura said, For anybody to preempt the consensus opinion of the people is to say the least, not fair to the vision of our party. I can tell you that if there is anything that is clandestine, the President will not honour it, so let wait and see as we embark on these meetings.





I believe the consensus and the preponderance of opinion of all party members will be what is good for this country, and we have already known the will of this country, the future of this country as we are now as a country is associated with one person, who is impeccable, who has the greatest amount of integrity that you can find in any human being around, so your guest is as good as mine.





Also adding his voice, Kebbi state governor, Atiku Bagudu said: the performance of the President in the last two and half years suggest that if he wants to contest, l will certainly support him and l know that our party members feel the same about him.





He said, If Mr president wants to run for election, he will follow all the processes and if he is the person, we will all support him. In APC, there is no imposition of a candidate. If Buhari is running, I will allow that man to continue but if he is not running, I wont sacrifice my Presidential ambition.





Mr President is showing the right leadership and taking the very right steps and there is reconciliation going on even with nobody talking about it. There is the spirit of reconciliation and people understand their role.




The National Working Committee of the Accord Party has issued a directive that the name of a former Oyo State Governor, Rashidi Ladoja, ...

The National Working Committee of the Accord Party has issued a directive that the name of a former Oyo State Governor, Rashidi Ladoja, be removed from the party membership list in the state.The position of the NWC was made known in a communique signed by the Acting National Secretary of the party, Odo Ijere, after the meeting of some visiting NWC members at the Ibadan North-East/South secretariat of the party.The development followed the defection of Ladoja, who was the Accord Partys governorship candidate in the last election, to the Peoples Democratic Party, after a meeting he held with the Caretaker Committee chairman of the PDP, Ahmed Makarfi.The National Working Committee further directed that the name of Rashidi Ladoja be deregistered, deleted and struck out of the partys register in Oyo State, read the communique in part.The visiting NWC members, who included Innocent Igbokwe and Abdulrahman Mohammed, were in Ibadan to discuss the way forward following the exit of Ladoja and his supporters.According to Igbokwe, Ladojas exit is a blessing in disguise for the party.The communique called on the party members to support the rebuilding process championed by the new South-West leader, Dr Doyin Okupe, and the Oyo State leader, Adebukola Ajaja, adding that Ijere had been appointed to replace Nureni Adisa as the partys national secretary.
President Muhammadu Buhari won a major backing yesterday.

President Muhammadu Buhari won a major backing yesterday.The National Executive Committee (NEC)of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its national caucus passed a vote of confidence in him .Also given a clean bill was the Chief John Odigie-Oyegun- led National Working Committee (NWC).The caucus met till late on Monday night at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. The NEC met at the party secretariat yesterday.The NEC meeting, which started at about 2:20pm, ended at 4:40 pm.It declined to debate a motion seeking an automatic return ticket for President Muhammadu Buhari ahead of the 2019 presidential election.House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara, who addressed reporters on the outcome of the meeting, said the motion seeking to adopt the President for a second term was not treated because that is not why we are here.National Publicity Secretary Bolaji Abdullahi said the only motion taken was to pass a vote of confidence on the President, adding that there was none on his adoption for a second term in office.Abdullahi said an unidentified NEC member shouted from the back of the hall that a motion be taken to adopt the President for second term, but that the motion was not taken.Dogara said the meeting reviewed a paper on the line of activities that the party would embark upon in the coming months, pointing out that there was no definitive and conclusive date for its convention.The Speaker said: The meeting was for stock taking and to remind ourselves of the covenant we made with the people of Nigeria, review how well we have done and what we need to do in order to deliver on the promises we made during campaign.I can tell you that after a very illuminating address by the party chairman, the President took turn to address the NEC members and he was very clear in his vision about where we are taking Nigeria to.We reminded ourselves about the achievement we have recorded in terms of combating terrorism in the Northeast, the fight against corruption, which is one area where we are doing very well and the exiting from recession as the achievement the party has recorded.While we can say we have done quite a lot, there is still much to be done. The resolve is that we should rededicate ourselves as a party to the service of our people and the only thing that will guarantee our place in this country is the service we render to our people.On amendment to the partys constitution, he said: Obviously, we had that on the agenda and there were other items in the agenda which just passed as information. The proposal for the review of the constitution is being sent to our emails and it is when we have reviewed this that we will be able to take a binding decision on them. But as it is now, it was just noted for information.Dogara added: Todays meeting was not about 2019 elections. When we talk about 2019 in the context of the agenda you saw, we are talking about membership registration, the drive for membership and others. We are not talking about elections.Even though there was a motion on the floor that called for a vote of confidence on the President, some of us felt it was not necessary because there is nowhere that his confidence is shaking. But the motion was taken and passed.. But there was a second leg to that motion, which calls for the adoption of the candidacy of the President, but it was deffered for now and no decision was taken because that is not the major reason why we are here.Speaking on aggrieved members, Dogara said: I dont think that you can find any family that is as large as the APC family without some squabbles. No such family exists in the whole world and if there are disagreements, they are okay because without disagreements, you cannot even move forward.Progress comes when people refuse to agree with the status quo and they put forward their positions. If their positions are good enough, they are adopted and we move forward. So, for us, I dont think we are having a situation or run into a situation whereby we have crisis that the party cannot overcome.What I will advocate is that we should be the ones as the APC family to define what type of crisis and not allow crisis define us. So, we will do everything possible to reach out to whoever is aggrieved. We are not like other parties that will say to hell with you because we value every member of this family.Abdullahi added: The motion that was put was after the Minister of Agriculture had briefed the NEC about the activities and achievements of his Ministry. One of the NEC members said we should move a motion passing a vote of confidence on Mr. President. There was no formal motion moved on the issue of second term for Mr. President.Somebody in the crowd shouted that we should move a motion and we dont even know that member. But the motion that was formally moved was that NEC should pass a vote of confidence on Mr. President and that was after the brief given by the Minister of Agriculture, especially when he said that by 2018, Nigeria will have no need to import a single grain of rice. That is the context and I need you to understand that very well.The only discussion or conversation on 2019 was the activity of the party in 2018, especially the issue of convention. It was agreed that since we have all these activities lined up, including the mini convention, congresses and elective convention, a small team be set up to put dates to these party activities up to 2018.There was no discussion about election of 2019 or who will be the party flag bearer. The committee will decide when all these activities will take place. The NEC passed absolute vote of confidence on Oyegun and the NEC.Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum and Zamfara State Governor Abdulaziz Yari said the Caucus meeting shows our unity in the party, shows our strength and our commitment to the party and to Nigerians,.Senator. Bukar Abba-Ibrahim said the outcome of the meeting dismissed the speculation that it was convened to remove the leadership of the APC.It is a big family reunion and we are all happy and this party is going to dominate the Nigerian political space for a very long time to come. I dont want to predict any number of years.Oyegun described the caucus as very fantastic, adding that the party would be stronger after its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting on Tuesday in Abuja.
Embattled former National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh, has asked the Federal High Court in ...



Embattled former National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh, has asked the Federal High Court in Abuja not to set aside the subpoena it issued to compel former President Goodluck Jonathan to appear as a witness in his ongoing trial.

Metuh further challenged Jonathans insistence that the defendant must deposit with the court, for and on behalf of himself, the sum of N1billion in line with provisions of Section 241(2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, before he would mount the witness box.





Jonathan had in a motion his lawyer, Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, moved before the court on Wednesday, urged trial Justice Okon Abang to compel Metuh to pay the N1bn to cover travelling expenses for himself and his security personnel from his home town, Otuoke in Bayelsa State, to Abuja and also for time that he might spend appearing before the court as President of Nigeria between 2010 to 2015.





Jonathan maintained that the evidence Metuh is seeking from him would amount to an invasion of his personal right to privacy, and family life as provided for in Section 37 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999.









The former President further argued that the subpoena ad testifiandum Justice Abang issued against him on October 23 was vague, applied for and obtained on frivolous ground and in bad faith, saying it was meant to embarrass him as a person. He told the court that the evidence sought to be obtained from him was likely to expose him to a criminal charge, penalty or forfeiture.The former President further argued that the subpoena ad testifiandum Justice Abang issued against him on October 23 was vague, applied for and obtained on frivolous ground and in bad faith, saying it was meant to embarrass him as a person.





Besides, Jonathan argued that Metuh was not a personal aid or his appointee and therefore could not have dealt with the President directly under any circumstance to warrant the invitation of the applicant to testify in the charge.









However, the ex-President said he was not doubtful of the fact that there was a contractual agreement between Metuh and the former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki, retd. He said there was no nexus between hiim and Metuh and the charge for which the defendants are standing trial.However, the ex-President said he was not doubtful of the fact that there was a contractual agreement between Metuh and the former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki, retd.





Ozehkome said: The linchpin of this application is not that the former President is throwing doubts on transactions involving the defendants and Dasuki, but that he was not physically present when the transactions were going on, because he had many appointees.









He can never be able to know details of transactions all his aides carried out within his over four years tenure in office. He is not saying that the transactions are fake or incorrect or fictitious, no! He is only saying that he does not know the details. My lord, because of this, we are saying that he will not be a good witness to state what actually happened regarding the transactions.He can never be able to know details of transactions all his aides carried out within his over four years tenure in office. He is not saying that the transactions are fake or incorrect or fictitious, no! He is only saying that he does not know the details.





Whatever evidence he will be giving based on the subpoena will amount to hearsay evidence.

Neverthless, in a five-paragraphed counter- affidavit that was moved by his lawyer, Mr. Emeka Etiaba, SAN, Metuh said he does not have N1bn to give Jonathan who he said had in his own motion admitted that he (Metuh) served the nation well.









This application is therefore not only speculative but premature and deserves to be struck out. Etiaba drew attention of the court to the fact that the bailiff earlier deposed an affidavit that he had yet to serve the subpoena on Jonathan.This application is therefore not only speculative but premature and deserves to be struck out.





With respect to demand for deposition of N1bn, the 1st defendant in his affidavit averred that he does not have such amount.





We believe that such demand is punitive and meant to frustate the 1st defendants attempt at obtaining an evidence that will assist him in the defence of the charge against him before this court.





It is the view of the 1st defendant that from the first day that he was arrested, he made it clear that the release of the money was authorised by the former President and was released by the former NSA, Dasuki.









My lord it is unprecedented, and the embarrassment could have been aborted if the charge against the 1st defendant was not preferred after he had disclosed to the EFCC the source of the fund for which the defendants are standing trial. My lord this application simply seeks to set aside the subpoena and to save this nation the embarrasment of having a man who means a lot to the entire country as a former President, to step into the dock to give evidence.My lord it is unprecedented, and the embarrassment could have been aborted if the charge against the 1st defendant was not preferred after he had disclosed to the EFCC the source of the fund for which the defendants are standing trial.









On its part, the EFCC, through its lawyer, Mr. Sylvanus Tahir, told the court that it would remain indifferent to Jonathans application. My lord in the circumstance, it is our position that this application be struck out, Etiaba added.On its part, the EFCC, through its lawyer, Mr. Sylvanus Tahir, told the court that it would remain indifferent to Jonathans application.





Meantime, the court is still entertaining arguments from all the parties, including Dasuki who is asking Justice Abang to hands-off the trial for the Court of Appeal to decide the merit of appeal he lodged to void subpoena issued to also compel him to testify in the matter.





It will be recalled that Justice Abang had on October 25, handed the bailiff five days to serve the subpoena on Jonathan to enable him to appear as a witness in Metuhs trial.





EFCC had in the seven-count charge it preferred against Metuh and his firm, Destra Investment Ltd, alleged that the defendants had before the 2015 presidential election, received N400million from the Office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA, without executing any contract.









It said the fund which was released to Metuh and his firm by the erstwhile NSA, Col. Sambo Dasuki, retd, was part of about $2.1billion earmarked for the purchase of arms to fight insurgency in the North East.




Lauretta Onochie A Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Social Media, Mrs. Lauretta Onochie, on Tuesday said it would b...

Lauretta Onochie

A Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Social Media, Mrs. Lauretta Onochie, on Tuesday said it would be difficult for President Muhammadu Buhari to remove members of Peoples Democratic Party members who are serving in his government overnight.She spoke at the 2nd annual international conference on Tuesday in Abuja with the theme focusing on institutions: A panacea for sustainable development.The event was organized by the Progressive Solidarity Forum in collaboration with National Orientation Agency.She corroborated claims by Comptroller General of Nigeria Customs Services, Col. Hammed Ali (rtd) who said that the change agenda of Buhari government had been hijacked by members of PDP who defected to the All Progressives Congress.She said more than 50 per cent of PDP members are in the Buhari government serving in the presidency, judiciary and law enforcement agencies.According to her, these members are serving their personal interest instead of that of President Buhari government.Mrs. Onochie said: That brings me to those who are in this government to serve themselves. Those Col. (rtd) Hammed Ali, the CG Customs called PDP. He said that there are about 50 percent of them in this government.But I say no they are more than 50 per cent. They are everywhere. They are in the presidency, the national assembly. You can find them in the judiciary, they are in the law enforcement agency.They serve their personal interest. They encourage unsuspecting youths, our youths to be their foot soldiers on the social media to abuse and curse people while their own children are sipping tea in England or America or elsewhere. They are a poor example to our youngsters on the social media.You just dont go and change all the agencies. That is not how it works. If you have to change the whole civil service, the whole police, the whole market women, you change the whole children in the school.She said Nigerians must come together to fight corruption before it kills the nation.Corruption is everywhere. All of us must come together and join hands with this president to kill corruption before corruption kills our nation.Our youth population is in need of good role models. They were born into corruption, she said.Earlier in his remarks, Grand Patron and Founder of the organization, Dr. Ibrahim Emokpaire, said Nigeria needs a strong institution to fight corruption.According to him, the federal government needs to focus on creating a robust and dynamic institution to accelerate development on a sustainable basis.Focusing on functioning institutions remains the most pragmatic enduring legacies, of the short stint of a progressive party in the governance of Nigeria, he said
Four persons died and six soldiers were injured when troops cleared a Boko Haram ambush on Banki-Bula Yobe road, Bama Local Government A...

Four persons died and six soldiers were injured when troops cleared a Boko Haram ambush on Banki-Bula Yobe road, Bama Local Government Area of Borno State.Reports said an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) exploded, injuring six soldiers and six civilians. They have been evacuated by the Air Force to a military hospital for medical attention.The Director of Army Public Relations, Brig.- Gen. Sani Usman, in a statement yesterday, said many insurgents were killed in the encounter, while others escaped with gunshot wounds.The statement reads: Troops of 152 Battalion, 21 Brigade, on Operation Lafiya Dole, on Monday, encountered an ambush by suspected Boko Haram terrorists, on the Banki-Bula/Yobe road, in Bama Local Government Area of Borno State.Although the troops cleared the ambush after a heavy fire fight, four persons died when their vehicle stepped on a buried IED. Six soldiers, two Civilian JTF and six Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) sustained injuries.One of the insurgents detonated his IED and killed himself.Two Fabrique Nationale Rifle magazines, 50 Belted 7.62mm special and a detonating cord 33 were recovered from their hideout.The wounded soldiers were evacuated to 7 Division Hospital and Medical Services and are recuperating well.
The Senate yesterday vowed to expose more corrupt Nigerians following the sack of former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (S...

The Senate yesterday vowed to expose more corrupt Nigerians following the sack of former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. Babachir David Lawal and National Intelligence Agency (NIA) Director General, Ayo Oke .The declaration followed personal explanation by Deputy Senate Leader, Senator Bala Ibn NaAllah.NaAllah who represents Kebbi South drew the attention of the Senate to the termination of the appointments of Lawal and Oke by President Muhammadu Buhari.He reminded his colleagues that the issues that led to the sack of Lawal emanated from the Senate when the upper chamber, after investigation, returned a verdict of guilt on the former SGF.NaAllah also said that the issues that resulted in the sack of the former Chairman, Presidential Task Force on Pension Reforms, Abdulrasheed Maina, started with the investigation of Maina for alleged fraud by the Senate.He concluded that the eventual sack of Lawal and the national outcry against the surreptitious reinstatement of Maina is a vindication of the Senate.NaAllah said,  Mr. President we cannot claim not to know that between yesterday (Monday) and today (Tuesday) there has been official confirmation of the appointment of a new Secretary to the Government of the Federation and of course, the termination or whatever of the appointment former occupier of that office.I find it necessary to say this because I believe in the statement that if we religiously keep to the oath of office and our engagement with the Nigerian public that those who have tried to bring down the institution of the Senate, God will vindicate us before their eyes.The issues surrounding the termination of the appointment of the former SGF emanated from this Eight Senate.Today, we have been vindicated. The issues surrounding Maina emanated from this Senate. Can we now not have the authority to shout a sign of vindication?Mr. President, you remember that when we resolved as a Senate to complement the efforts of the Federal Government in the fight against corruption, we said it here and we all took a vow here that we will do whatever that is humanly possible to live by the oath of office we have taken, defend the constitution.Section 80 (2)(b) this section, the powers conferred on the National Assembly on the provisions of the section are exercisable only for the purpose to (a) make laws in respect to any matter within its legislative competence and to correct any defect within the existing law, (b)to expose corruption, inefficiency or wasteWhy it is necessary to make this statement, you will remember when we started this crusade, so many things happened.Let us not be quick to forget that this same people we were fighting for, Nigerians became gullible and were sponsored, toilets were provided for them to close the gate of the National Assembly in the name of occupy NASS.Every conceivable thing has been done to bring down the name of the Senate. Individually and collectively, in the social media we were stoned with everything.What is important and instructive today is for me as deputy leader of this Senate to implore all my colleagues to say that the task before you in the protection of the constitution and the laws of the federation which is the basis of the engagement with the people who elected us is not a small task.That is why you see that the oath of office given to you says you should do that without fear or favour.I am proud of this Senate and I will remain proud of this Senate even in my grave.What Im going to say is that we have other investigations still pending. It is important that the committees that are charged with the investigations should please expeditiously turn in their report so that at the end of the day, we will have cause to glorify God that the burden placed upon us by those who elected us to office has been discharged to the best of our ability.This is why I am calling on all other committees that have pending investigations to do so.In conclusion, it is important for Nigerians to understand that it does them no good to embark on denigration of institutions that are vested with the responsibilities to discharge these things especially the National Assembly.And those who have core wisdom or lack of it in spending money to spread falsehood all over, in order to demean the institution of the National Assembly should know that they are doing no good to the population of 170 million Nigerians that elected us and gave us the responsibility to represent them in this chamber.Mr. President, I once again congratulate the 8th Senate. I am very proud of you, and I will remain very proud of you. We must keep the flag flying .Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, who summed up what NaAllah said without allowing debate said:It has been a tough journey to defend the institution. I want to commend the government for doing what is right.When we started it was just blackmail, we will continue in our commitment to fight corruption, non selective.We will not renege on our promise to expose corruption, any case that is brought to us we assure you that we will investigate it and expose it.There are a few investigations going on, committees ensure that your investigations are concluded on time and you submit you reports.
An application filed by former President Goodluck Jonathan before the Federal High Court in Abuja has revealed further reasons why he wa...

An application filed by former President Goodluck Jonathan before the Federal High Court in Abuja has revealed further reasons why he wants to be excused from appearing as a witness in defence of a former National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, Olisa Metuh.Metuh is standing trial on charges involving, among others, the N400m he (Metuh) received from the Office of the National Security Adviser in 2014.The former President in his motion challenging the subpoena issued on him, stated that with with several attempts by some persons in the current dispensation, to harass, intimidate and rubbish his reputation and that of his wife, the witness summon issued on him upon Metuhs request was a ploy to drag his name in the mud.He also argued in the motion filed on his behalf by his lawyer, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), on Monday, that his testimony being sought in Metuhs trial, would not only amount to an invasion of his right to privacy, it would also expose him to a criminal charge, penalty or forfeiture.He recalled that there had been attempts to seize the properties and bank accounts of his wife, Patience, her relatives and her pet non-governmental organisation.These are contained in an affidavit, filed in support of the motion filed on behalf of Jonathan by Ozekhome on Monday, seeking an order to set aside the subpoena ordering him to appear in court as Metuhs witness.As an alternative prayer, the motion sought an order directing Metuh to deposit with the court for Jonathan, the sum of N1bn to cover travelling expenses for himself and his security personnel from his home town, Otuoke in Bayelsa State, to Abuja.A litigation secretary in Ozekhomes law firm, Mr. Usman Salihu, who deposed to the affidavit filed in support of the motion, said he spoke with Jonathan through a phone call in the presence of the lead counsel, Ozekhome, at about 10am on October 29 (Sunday).Salihu stated in the affidavit that although Jonathan had not been served with the subpoena, he but had read about it in the media.He stated that Jonathan was shocked on learning of the witness summon issued against him at Metuhs behest.He also denied knowing anything about the charges preferred against Metuh by the EFCC.Salihu stated, That he (Jonathan) has read in the media of a witness summons issued by this honourable court requiring him to come. before the court for the purpose of testifying before the court, in charge No: FHC/ABJ/CR/05/2016.That there have been several attempts by some persons in the current dispensation to harass, intimidate and rubbish his reputation and that of his wife.That several attempts have been made to attach or seize the accounts and properties of his wife, her relatives and her pet, NGO. Most of the cases filed for and against such moves are currently pending before various courts across Nigeria.That when he read about the summons issued on him at the behest of the 2nd respondent, Olisa Metuh, he was shocked as he verily believes strongly that it forms part of the ploy to drag his name into the mire.That he knows nothing pertaining to the seven counts for which Olisa Metuh, the first defendant in the charge is standing trial and consequently, has absolutely nothing to say as a witness before the court in respect thereof.That he verily believes that the evidence sought to be obtained from him will amount to an invasion of his personal right to privacy and family life, as guaranteed by the Nigerian constitution.That he verily believes that the evidence sought from him, is likely to expose him to a criminal charge, penalty or forfeiture.He further argued that the subpoena was vague and applied for and obtained on frivolous grounds.Salihu added that the subpoena was obtained in bad faith as it was meant to embarrass the person of the applicant.He argued that Metuh was not a personal aide or an appointee of the applicant herein and so could not have dealt with the President directly under any circumstance to warrant the invitation of the applicant to testify in the charge.Salihu also submitted that there was no nexus between the applicant and Metuh and the charge for which Metuh was standing trial.He also said he knew nothing about the charges preferred against Metuh.At the Tuesdays proceedings, Metuhs lawyer, Mr. Emeka Etiaba (SAN), told Justice Okon Abang that his clients request to call Jonathan as witness had been misconstrued outside this court.He said pained by it, his client would sit with the legal team to review the motion filed by Ozekhome on behalf of Jonathan in order to take a position on it.He said, Efforts by the first defendant (Metuh) to avail himself of necessary evidence in his trial has been misconstrued outside this court and the first defendant feels very pained because of the dangerous insinuation that has been ascribed to his decision to call evidence that will help him to go through this phase of his life.May I finally submit that the first defendant will go through the application with us and take a decision on what to go with Ozekhomes motion.Meanwhile, the trial judge, Justice Okon Abang, on Tuesday, fixed Wednesday (today) for the hearing of Jonathans motion.The judge also fixed Wednesday for the hearing of a motion by Dasuki.Dasukis lawyer, Mr. Ahmed Raji (SAN), told the judge on Tuesday that his clients motion for an adjournment of the proceedings relating to the subpoena issued on him pending the determination of the motion filed before the Court of Appeal praying the stay execution of the said subpoena.But the judge said the outcome of his ruling on Dasukis application would determine whether or not to deliver a ruling on Jonathans motion.He explained that if Dasukis motion succeeded, it implied that the matter would be adjourned as requested by the ex-NSA, and if it failed, the court would go ahead to deliver the ruling on Jonathans motion.Although, he ordered the Department of State Services to produce in court on Wednesday, Justice Abang directed that the outcome of the ruling on the ex-NSAs motion would determine if the detainee would testify during the proceedings.But the judge declined an oral application by the counsel for Metuhs co-defendant, Destra Investments Limited, Tochukwu Onwugbufor (SAN), requesting an order of arrest of the Director General of the DSS, Mr. Lawal Daura, for failing to produce Dasuki in court on Wednesday.After hearing the lawyers submission in the case, Justice Abang held that it could not be established that Daura had flouted the court order directing him to produce Dasuki in court.I cannot come to a conclusion that the Director General of DSS has flouted the court order to produce Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.), he ruled.He insisted that the issue of Dasukis production should be handled administratively between the DSS and the EFCC.He added, I will give further opportunity to the DG of DSS to produce Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.) in court.With respect to Jonathan, the judge noted that since Jonathan had yet to be personally served with the witness summon, the option left was to serve him through substituted means as provided for in the Administration of Criminal Justice Act.The judge, however, said if Metuh was interested in bringing Jonathan to court, he (Metuh) who was the one who requested the ex-President ought to know what to do.But Ozekhome, after he was granted permission to speak on the Dasuki issue, despite the objection of prosecuting and defence lawyers on record in the case, supported the call for Dauras arrest, contending that the failure of the DSS to produce the ex-NSA in court on Tuesday, amounted to taking the court for a ride.Justice Abang had on October 25, given the court bailiff five days to effect personal service of the subpoena on Jonathan and also directed the prosecuting counsel, Mr. Sylvanus Tahir, to persuade the management of the EFCC to liaise with the DSS to produce Dasuki in court on Tuesday (today).At the resumed hearing of the case on Tuesday, the court asked the prosecuting counsel about the situation of things.In response, Tahir narrated the EFCCs efforts in complying with the court order, directing the EFCC to liaise with the DSS.Tahir added that he had taken further steps to speak with the Legal Adviser of the DSS.Tahir said the DSS Legal Adviser informed him that Dasuki refused to be brought to court on the advice of his (Dasukis) counsel.In response, Metuhs lawyer, Etiaba, urged the court to disregard Tahirs submission as it was not admissible because it amounted to hearsay and was not backed by any affidavit stating the facts.But counsel representing Metuhs firm, Destra Investments Limited and the second defendant, Chief Tochukwu Onwugbufor (SAN), urged the court to order Dauras arrest.While also arguing that Tahirs submission was inadmissible, Onwugbufor maintained that it was inconceivable that Dasuki could be more powerful than the DSS that was detaining him.He argued that the DSS conduct by failing to produce Dasuki in court was an act of disrespect to the court.Onwugbufor thereby urged the court to apply the consequences provided by the law.He said, I do not think it lies in the mouth of the DSS to say that he (Dasuki) refused to comply with the order of the court.He asked the court to apply the provisions of section 244 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act by ordering Lawals arrest.He said, This is more contemptuous that the DSS fails to appear before the court to explain the situations in their environment.My lord this is unacceptable.If they have an atom of respect for the court, they would appear before your lordship this morning and I refer your lordship to section 244 of ACJA.Your lordship has the power to issue an arrest warrant against DSS, adding that your lordship will now issue a warrant of arrest against the Director General of DSS in person.When asked if the court could order Lawals arrest when the name of the DSS DG was not specifically mentioned in the order directing that Dasuki be produced in court, Onwugbufor said, I agree that his name is not mentioned but it has legal consequences and connotation.
NEW MILFORD -- A 32-year-old New Jersey man whose heartbroken father described him as "the perfect son" was among eight killed Tuesday during a terror attack in Lower Manhattan.

Darren Drake died when a man driving a truck along a riverfront path plowed into pedestrians and bicyclists, his father said Wednesday.

Jimmy Drake sobbed at times as he talked to reporters outside the family's New Milford home.

Jimmy Drake holds a picture of and talks about his son Darren Drake, who was killed in the NYC terror attack. (Ed Murray | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

The distraught dad said his son, a project manager for Moody's Analytics, was out for a bike ride between meetings when he was struck by the rented Home Depot truck.

"While other people would take cigarette or coffee breaks, he would go out and ride the bike for 15 or 20 minutes, " his father said, adding that Darren often listened to an audio book while he pedaled. He said his son, an only child, lost 93 pounds after undergoing lap band surgery three years ago.

Drake said he and his wife Barbara heard about the attack while they were driving home Tuesday and headed into New York when they were unable to reach their son by 7 p.m.

They found him in the morgue, Jimmy Drake said.

"I hope he didn't feel any pain," he said.

Maximo Paulino, a former high school classmate of Drake's who had recently reconnected with him in New Milford, remembered him as a special person who loved all people.

"There are people in this world that have things in their past. We all do. But not him," Paulino said. "He was one of those mythical good people. The kind of people they write about in fairy tales."

Darren Drake was elected to the New Milford school board in 2009 and later served as vice president before becoming president in January 2013. He stepped down in June of that year because his company relocated.

Darren Drake

Jimmy Drake said his son lived at home and that the family ate dinner together every night, often discussing politics. Drake said he and his son were close and frequently went fishing.

Darren Drake's mother stayed in the house while Jimmy spoke with reporters Wednesday.

Their son's death capped an already difficult year for the family. Jimmy Drake said he recently underwent an aortic valve replacement and had a pacemaker installed. Several months ago, Barbara Drake lost the job she has held for 40 years.

Drake had a new take on life in the past 18 months, said to John Patterson Jr., a longtime friend and high school classmate.

Patterson, who played on the same football team as Drake in high school, said exercise and eating healthy had recently become the focus of his friend's life.

About two weeks ago, the two met up at their favorite town bar where their group of friends would meet over the years to play trivia.

"He was one of the good guys. He would give you the shirt off his back if it meant you would be OK, and you would be better for it," Patterson said. "I don't ever think I saw him with a frown on his face."

At 6 feet 4 inches tall, with blonde hair and a beaming smile, you couldn't help but feel good when around Drake, Patterson said.

"He loved life."

Patterson found out his friend died Wednesday morning after learning that someone in his early 30s from New Milford had been killed in the attack. He wrote a post on Facebook to his friends asking if anyone knew anything.

He got a response almost immediately from a friend who said a rumor had been going around that it was their friend, Darren.

"It's shock. I grew up with him. I was friends with him since we were 14 or 15. We hung out in the same bars together. We were buddies," Patterson said.

"It's sadness. It's hurt. It isn't real. All mixed into one. There are certain people in this world that you look at you say, 'He's going to make it.' And he was that guy. He loved his friends, family -- he was one of the good ones."



On Wednesday night, Patterson and a group of Drake's friends plan to return to their favorite bar for another game of bar trivia, as a memorial to their friend, doing the thing Patterson said Drake loved to do most

Superintendent Michael Polizzi said the district mourns the "senseless" loss of Drake.

"Darren was a good man with a soft touch and huge heart," Polizzi said in a statement. "He is respected for his unwavering commitment to the children of New Milford and their education. His decisions were always predicated on what he believed was in the best interest of students, their growth and well-being, their intellectual development as well as their social and emotional welfare.

"In addition to his insights into the needs of students, he brought to the board significant business acumen, intelligence and humor. He was friendly, fully engaged and forward-thinking."

Darren was a good friend. He was honest, kind, driven. He was a man to be admired. God bless him and his family. I love you Darren you will be missed. Posted by Maximo U Paulino on Wednesday, November 1, 2017

Darren Drake graduated from Rutgers in 2007 with a degree in political science. He earned a masters from Fairleigh Dickinson University and was working toward a second master's degree at Stevens Institute of Technology.

Rutgers remembered Drake in a statement released Wednesday afternoon.

"Rutgers is deeply saddened by the tragic and senseless loss of Darren Drake and we express our heartfelt condolences to his family and friends," the statement said. "Darren was an exceptional graduate, a leader in his community, and had a bright future ahead of him."

Moody's released a statement on Wednesday afternoon remembering Darren Drake.

"The entire Moody's family is truly saddened to learn that Darren Drake was a victim of yesterday's attack," the statement said. "Darren was a valued member of the Moody's team and his loss will be deeply felt by all those who worked with him. Our thoughts are with his family and those who knew him."

After plowing through the people on the bike path, the alleged killer, Sayfullo Saipov, 29, stepped out of the truck he had reportedly rented earlier Tuesday afternoon in Passaic and shouted "God is great" in Arabic before being shot and wounded by a uniformed NYPD officer.

Saipov, who lives in Paterson with his wife and children, was holding a paintball gun and a pellet gun. A note left in the truck reportedly said the attack was carried out on behalf of ISIS.

Literally close to home. Can't believe this terrorist took a friend. A great guy. We graduated high school together and... Posted by Alexander Roland Diaz on Wednesday, November 1, 2017

Staff Writers Spencer Kent and Jeff Goldman contributed to this report.

Allison Pries may be reached at apries@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @AllisonPries. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Michael Sol Warren may be reached at mwarren@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MSolDub. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
Bordentown police officers weren't unfamiliar with their police chief, Frank Nucera, Jr., disparaging African Americans. And he used the n-word, often.

Frank Nucera (6ABC photo)

But it wasn't until federal officials investigated a 2016 incident in which Nucera reportedly beat a handcuffed African American teenager that three years of the chief's discriminatory policies and racist behavior came to light, federal officials said.

Nucera, who abruptly retired in February, has been charged with civil rights and hate crime charges, federals officials announced Wednesday.

The incident was a "clear senseless, bigoted, hate-filled," assault of a prisoner in custody, U.S. Attorney William E. Fitzpatrick said Wednesday at a press conference at the federal court building in Camden.

According to the criminal complaint, Nucera slammed an 18-year-old boy's head into a metal doorway and hit him on the back of his neck while the teen was being taken to a police car. The 18-year-old was arrested, along with a 16-year-old girl, for not paying hotel fees.

Hours after the arrest, one of the officers who was present during the incident recorded Nucera making racially hostile comments about the teens and African Americans in general, the complaint says. Nucera used the n-word, as well as other racial slurs.

Fitzpatrick told reporters that while most New Jersey police officers are committed to protecting and defending citizen's rights, it is important to "vigorously identify, investigate and prosecute those few who dishonor the badge."

"He dishonored the profession," he added.

Nucera appeared in court Wednesday, wearing a Philadelphia 76ers sweatshirt and jeans. Judge Ann Marie Donio reviewed his charges -- conducting a hate crime and depriving a prisoner of their rights to a secure search and seizure.

Donio also set terms for Nucera's release, pending trial appearances. He was released on condition he sign a $500,000 unsecured appearance bond, which he must pay if he does not appear at his first court hearing.

Donio also placed a ban on traveling out of the state, and communicating in any way with witnesses or people involved with the case, with the exception of his son, who works for the police department.

Nucera must also surrender all firearms or weapons in his possession or home to the FBI.

The two charges counts carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, each, the criminal complaint outlines.

Fitzpatrick said members of the Bordentown Township Police Department originally investigated the 2016 incident as a crime, and brought the FBI into the investigation.

FBI Special Agent Timothy Gallagher told reporters that the bureau prioritizes hate crimes because they are not just attacks on a sole person, but an entire community.

"The tone in which he conducted himself is one of the most disturbing and disgusting events I've ever seen in law enforcement," Gallagher said. "And the people who are most disgusted are members of New Jersey law enforcement."

The criminal complaint also says that "Nucera has a significant history of making racist comments concerning African Americans."

The document lists a specific instance in 2015, when Nucera used the n-word to describe a suspect who allegedly slashed the tires of a police vehicle.

"I wish that (n-word) would come back from Trenton and give me a reason to put my hands on him, I'm tired of 'em. These (n-word) are like ISIS, they have no value. They should line them all up and mow 'em down. I'd like to be on the firing squad, I could do it," Nucera said, according to the complaint.

Joel Bewley, spokesman for the Burlington County Prosecutor's office, said federal officials "...are sickened by the allegations and hateful comments that underlie these charges."

"There is no place for these sentiments or actions in our society, and they most definitely do not reflect the ideals of the law enforcement community across Burlington County."

In Febuary, when Nucera learned he and the September 2016 incident were being investigated, the criminal complaint said, he retired. Capt. Brian Pesce is currently acting chief of police for the township.

"The Township will continue to cooperate and comply with all authorities, as we have from the beginning," a township statement said.

Tracy Riley, an attorney who is representing Nucera, was not immediatly available for comment.

Paige Gross may be reached at pgross@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @By_paigegross. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
UPPER TWP. -- A 7-year-old boy was injured after being struck by a car Tuesday afternoon in Upper Township, authorities said.

The boy was with his mother when a GMC struck him along Cole Avenue around 5:30 p.m., Sgt. Jeff Flynn of the State Police said Wednesday.

The child was flown to Cooper University Hospital in Camden with injuries not considered life-threatening, Flynn said.

Flynn said he could not confirm a 6abc.com report that the boy was trick-or-treating at the time.

The driver of the SUV, a 42-year-old woman from the Petersburg section of Upper, stopped after the boy was hit. State Police said the incident remains under investigation.

Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JeffSGoldman. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
A day after Wendy Williams fainted on live TV, the talk show host called the experience "really scary," tearing up as she recounted feeling uneasy heading into a segment about the show's Halloween costume contest.

Williams, who on Tuesday had slurred a word before dropping to the ground in her Halloween costume (she was the Statue of Liberty, see video above) on "The Wendy Williams Show," addressed the incident on her show Wednesday, again denying that it was any kind of stunt, as some speculated on Twitter. (50 Cent surmised that she had been "acting.")

"That was not a stunt," she had said, back upright after a commercial break yesterday. "I overheated in my costume, I did pass out. But, you know what? I'm a champ and I'm back."

Williams said she felt overheated, but since there was only 12 minutes left in the show, she thought she could hold it together. She had gripped a podium to that effect, and tried not to take it down with her as she collapsed.

"Right before passing out I felt like I was in the middle of a campfire," she said.

Williams, 53, an Ocean Township native who has lived in both Montclair and Livingston, also brushed aside speculation that she had had a stroke, saying paramedics checked her out and determined she was dehydrated and in need of electrolytes. On Tuesday, Williams shared a short video clip from her New Jersey home that showed her on the couch flanked by an ice-filled glass and bottles of Gatorade and Pedialyte.

The bright side?

"I was trending all day," Williams noted. "Fabulous!"

A post shared by Wendy Williams (@wendyshow) on Oct 31, 2017 at 12:19pm PDT

Amy Kuperinsky may be reached at akuperinsky@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @AmyKup or on Facebook.
The New York terror attack suspect who plowed through bikers and pedestrians on Tuesday afternoon, killing 8 and injuring 11, arrived in the U.S. through a visa lottery program in 2010.

The Department of Homeland Security confirmed to NJ Advance Media that Sayfullo Saipov entered the country with a Diversity Immigrant Visa -- a State Department-run visa program meant to diversify the flow of immigrants settling in the U.S.

But questions over how the Uzbek national was allowed in the country have fueled debate over a little-known visa program and prompted calls by President Trump for its end.

Trump railed against the program on Twitter Wednesday and later said he was directing Congress to terminate it.

Seton Hall Law Professor Lori Nessel said diversity visas have been part of immigration law since 1990. She said 50,000 visas are awarded every year through the program, mostly to countries that have not sent a large number of immigrants to the U.S. Countries like India, China and Mexico are typically excluded from qualifying.

"It's a program that's aimed at diversifying the immigrant stream coming into the the U.S.," Nessel said. "It is a random lottery, it has much more to do with the nation than it does the particular person."

But Nessel said winning the lottery does not mean a person will automatically be allowed into the U.S.

"It doesn't bypass national security concerns. You always have to show that there isn't any reason that the U.S. should keep you out," she said.

It's not clear how thoroughly individuals are vetted and whether such scrutiny matches the multi-agency, years-long vetting process that refugees go through. But immigration attorneys say the vetting can be a long and laborious process, because State Department officials are determining whether to allow someone to live in the country, not just travel on a tourist visa.

A State Department official said every traveler undergoes extensive security checks, including biographic and biometric screenings against U.S. law enforcement and counterterrorism databases.

"No visa can be issued unless all concerns raised by the screening are fully resolved. As part of this screening process, information that might suggest an individual is a potential threat is shared with all appropriate U.S. government agencies," the official said.

The New York Police Department said Saipov was not the subject of any police or FBI investigations but may have been connected to people who were.

NYPD terror chief John Miller said during a press conference Wednesday Saipov arrived in March 2010 and is a legal permanent resident. Saipov initially settled in Ohio before moving to Paterson.

The terrorist came into our country through what is called the "Diversity Visa Lottery Program," a Chuck Schumer beauty. I want merit based.  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 1, 2017

According to the Department of Homeland Security, 2,318 Uzbeks obtained legal permanent residency through the diversity visa program in 2015 out of more 47,000 green cards issued that year through such visas. In 2010, 3,279 Uzbek nationals became permanent residents through diversity visas, out of 49,700 that year.

Those who win diversity visas are admitted to the country as permanent residents. Nessel said it's one of the few ways immigrants can gain permanent residency outside of family unification or employment-based programs.

Despite prior bipartisan support for the program, there's been efforts to eliminate such visas in the past.

Trump has called on Congress to eliminate the program, calling it a "Chuck Schumer beauty" on Twitter.

Congress authorized the program in 1990 through a bill that received bipartisan support, including that of Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-New York, and was signed by Republican President George Bush.

Schumer tweeted that Trump should focus on bringing the country together "instead of politicizing and dividing America which he always seems to do at times of national tragedy."

In fact, Schumer supported eliminating the program along with a group of senators known as the "Gang of 8" who tried to pass comprehensive immigration reform in 2013. The plan was blocked by the House.

Diversity visas are hard to get and make up about 4 percent of all legal permanent residents who are admitted to the U.S., according to the American Immigration Council.

In 2015, more than 14 million (including spouses and children) applied for the program, State Department numbers show.

To be elligible, applicants must meet education and work experience requirements. Those who are selected are interviewed in person and allowed to bring immediate family members.

Farrin Anello, senior staff attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey, cautioned against getting distracted by a visa program.

"In addressing and preventing violence, it's very important that we avoid stereotyping or profiling people based upon their religion, their race, their country of origin or even the type of visa program they may have traveled on or may have used because this type of profiling simply doesn't make us safer. It simply creates fear and divisions," she said. "It's not a way of figuring out what happened and addressing public safety issues."

[Editor's note: This story has been updated with more information.]

Karen Yi may be reached at kyi@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter at @karen_yi or on Facebook.
NEWARK -- Victor Butler and Yhundra Wheeler-Weaver silently sat on different sides of Judge Ronald Wigler's courtroom in Newark Tuesday.

His daughter was one of three young women strangled in Essex County last fall. Her son is the man accused of murdering all three of them.

Following a short status conference in the case against 21-year-old Khalil Wheeler-Weaver, his mother and Sarah Butler's father ended up in the same elevator leaving the courthouse.

Butler extended his hand, introducing himself to a visibly shaken Wheeler-Weaver. When she began crying, he put his arm around her, saying a few times, "it's OK."

They parted ways outside the court complex, saying they'd see each other again on Dec. 18, the date of the next conference in the case.

"We can't change what happened," Butler told NJ Advance Media after wishing Wheeler-Weaver well. "It doesn't help to hold onto anger and hatred."

He also expressed almost a sense of camaraderie with the woman whose son is accused of brutally killing his daughter, and dumping her body in secluded area of the Eagle Rock Reservation.

"Two lives were lost," he said, referring to Sarah's and Khalil's.

"Just, she still gets to see her son. It's all hard."

Before running into Butler, Wheeler-Weaver declined to comment on her son's case, whispering through tears, "I can't."

When asked if the case has been hard for her, she simply said, "yes, very."

Khalil Wheeler-Weaver and Sarah Butler.

The emotional connection between the parents on both sides of this brutal case came after a brief court update in which public defender Deirdre McMahon and prosecutor Adam Wells agreed on filing dates for information related to the prosecution's cell phone and DNA evidence against Wheeler-Weaver in the 2016 killings of Butler, 20, Joanne Brown, 33, and Robin West, 19, and an attack of another unidentified woman.

Wigler said at Tuesday's conference the court will likely set a date for the highly-anticipated trial at the December status conference.

Authorities accuse Wheeler-Weaver of a string of violence and murders last fall -- West, of Philadelphia, was killed in Orange on Sept. 1, 2016; Brown, on Oct. 22, and Butler, of Montclair, exactly a month later. The fourth woman was attacked in Elizabeth in November 2016, authorities have said. Officials accuse Wheeler-Weaver of kidnapping, sexually assaulting, and trying to kill her.

Prosecutors have said his interactions with all of the women were of a "sexual nature," but have declined to elaborate on exactly how he allegedly encountered each of them.

Both Butler and Brown were strangled, authorities have said. The bodies of West and Brown were found in vacant Orange homes. Authorities have said Wheeler-Weaver set fire to one of the homes after killing West.

Wheeler-Weaver, who was has indicted in February, has pleaded not guilty.

Jessica Mazzola may be reached at jmazzola@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @JessMazzola. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
Technicians have completed the largest component of NASA's Space Launch System -- a liquid hydrogen fuel tank that's 133 feet from nose to tail and looks like a shiny metallic zeppelin -- at NASA's Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans. (Photo by Steven Seipel, NASA)
Walter Levy, 34, and Steven Brown, 49, are wanted in connection with a robbery and stabbing, classified as an attempted murder, that occurred about 3 a.m. Oct. 22, 2017 at Iberville and North Peters Streets in the French Quarter, police said. Brown is suspected as the perpetrator in the crimes while Levy served as his accomplice, police said.(NOPD)
Jordan Sorapuru, 20, was arrested early Tuesday (Oct. 31, 2017) after police traced a stolen phone to a home near the scene of the robbery, New Orleans police said in a preliminary report.(Orleans Parish Sheriff's Office)
Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., left, and Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., center, greet President Donald Trump at Chennault International Airport in Lake Charles after Hurricane Harvey on Sept. 2. A new poll ranks Kennedy as the 39th most popular senator, and Cassidy at 62nd. (Photo by Susan Walsh, The Associated Press)
Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., speaks next to a poster depicting an online ad that attempted to suppress voting. Senators are grilling executives from Facebook, Google and Twitter. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
Boats pull up to a marshy patch of grass along Bay Jimmy in Plaquemines Parish April 9, 2013. The grass and mangroves were weakened by the effects of the BP oil spill in 2010. (File photo by Chris Granger, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune)
Former President Donald Trump is preparing to launch his third campaign for the White House with an announcement Tuesday night. Trump is looking to move on from disappointing midterm defeats and defy history amid signs that his grip on the Republican Party may be waning. The former president had hoped to use the GOP's expected gains in last week's elections as a springboard to win his party's nomination by locking in early support and keeping potential challengers at bay. Instead, Trump now finds himself being blamed for backing a series of losing candidates in last week's midterm elections.
Officials were investigating a fire Wednesday morning (Nov. 1) at the ExxonMobil refinery in Baton Rouge, according to a report from WAFB. (File photo by Susan Poag, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune) (SUSAN POAG)
OMAHA  There are two pictures of Ms Pub. The one thats in your head, and the one that now exists in the Old Market, right where it left off.

Its the things that are exactly the same, after the fire that destroyed the restaurant almost two years ago, that strike deepest. The long, green marble bar topped with Ms-branded cocktail napkins. The busy, petite kitchen. The rich brass candelabras. Many of the faces working here youll recognize, and certainly the patrons you will, too.

Omahas Ms Pub is back.

We have waited a long time for this, said owner Ann Mellen. It almost feels like it never was gone. Its a dream come true  again.

Since the fire in January 2016, Mellen has been working to bring her restaurant back. She worked on the new Ms with Gary Bowen, who worked on the original interior with architects John Morford and Cedric Hartman in 1972. The original plans still existed.

We saw it come together day by day, in layers, chef Bobby Mekiney said. The brass and wood and marble.

There are small differences: the stairwell is gone from the front wall, but the slanted mirror is the same. Instead of chic fashions usually seen through the south window at the still-closed Nouvelle Eve boutique, there is still a construction site. A new doorway on the north side leads to the expanded kitchen and the restrooms, complete with the funky wall sculptures of a man and woman that used to be in the basement. The restrooms and part of the kitchen were moved to the main floor with the construction of a small, unobtrusive addition.

The restaurant opens officially today, after soft openings Sunday and Monday.

Evan TreKell, who used to dine at Ms for lunch five days a week, said hes happy to have his place back.

The ambiance, he said during the Sunday private gathering. The ambiance is back.

As tables started to fill Sunday night, diners ordered bottles of wine. Number nine cocktails made with the house infused strawberry vodka. Cups of soup  an Ms specialty  and hot dinner rolls.

Our table flew through some familiar favorites, too: Ms renowned baked dish, with shrimp and mushrooms under a layer of melted cheese. The Thai lahvosh. The lamb burger, the crab cakes, the Omaha Grill.

Mekiney, an Ms alum, has re-created the menu with a few new touches. And the specials menu, which will launch with the opening today, will be entirely new.

Omahan Rita Saunders was enjoying a bit of the old  an Ms lahvosh  mixed with a bit of the new, because there are new lahvosh flavors, including the Santa Fe, which she tried.

Im thrilled. Just thrilled, she said. My husband and I have been coming here since it opened in the early 70s.

The restaurant filled by 6:30 p.m. Sunday. The bar was reserved Monday for firefighters from Engine 1 who helped fight the blaze in frigid conditions in January 2016.

Mellen originally hoped to have Ms open by June, but because of delays with construction and permits, that date got pushed back. Unless you already booked a table, you might be in for a bit of a wait once it opens Wednesday.

Mellen said that so far, the staff has taken 900 individual reservations, stretching through February. And though the books are packed, there are still openings to be found here and there. No one day is entirely booked, she said.

Ms will be open for lunch and dinner Mondays through Saturdays and for dinner on Sundays. The restaurant has a storied Old Market history, which accounts for its devoted following.

The late Mary Vogel opened Ms Pub in January 1973. In 1979, Floyd and Kate Mellen bought the restaurant from Vogel. Ron Samuelson and Ann Mellen bought it from her parents in 1987. Mellen and Samuelson met when he applied for a job there in the mid-1980s. She hired him, and they became business partners.

After the fire, Mellen and Samuelson parted ways after running the Old Market spot together for more than 30 years. Mellen now runs Ms Pub solo.

As people streamed in the door Sunday night, most grinned from ear to ear. Mekiney said the general reaction from customers has, so far, been one emotion.

Amazement he said. They have this thing in their mind, and we have to hit it, he said.

Greg Mazzuca and his wife, Abby, shared a table with friends near the restaurants front window. Greg Mazzuca bartended at Ms for four years.

Its exciting, he said. Magical. Seriously.
AVOCA  The bench trial of Robert Reynolds, whos 2014 first-degree murder conviction was reversed by the Iowa Court of Appeals, began Tuesday using the Avoca Fire Hall building as the courtroom.

A jury convicted Reynolds of fatally shooting Patricia Kinkade-Dorsey in the early morning hours of April 8 of that year at Reynolds Oakland home. His November 2014 conviction was reversed a year later by the Iowa Court of Appeals. He now faces a charge of second-degree murder.

Kinkade-Dorsey was a friend of Theresa Reynolds, Roberts wife, and was staying at the house that night before she was to leave for California. After a night of visiting with neighbors and friends, Theresa Reynolds woke to find Kinkade-Dorsey and Robert Reynolds arguing in the kitchen before the shooting.

The report from the appeals court states that Reynolds objected to the venue of the trial and the makeup of the jury pool. The court of appeals determined the trial court erroneously changed the venue of Reynolds trial and that he is entitled to a new trial.

The prosecution and defense initially agreed to try the case in the East Pottawattamie County Courthouse, located in Avoca. However, concerns  including the lack of an internet connection, space for a large jury pool to assemble and facilities for holding the inmate, in addition to security issues  moved the case to Council Bluffs.

The court decided that trial would be held at the Pottawattamie County Courthouse in Council Bluffs.

Attorneys Joe Reedy and Eric Nelson previously represented Reynolds. In an earlier interview, they said the trial should have been held in Avoca. This is because of an 1884 law that divided Pottawattamie County into two parts for judicial purposes.

One judicial seat was in Council Bluffs, with the other in Avoca. Reedy said he believed the law was based on the notion that the venue for such a trial had to be within one days horse ride for residents.

On Tuesday, both the prosecution and the defense agreed to waive the right to a jury trial and go with a bench trial.

The prosecution agreed to lower the charge against Reynolds from first-degree murder to second-degree murder in return for waiving the jury as a part of other negotiations over handling the case, McGinn said.

Attorneys Bill and Kyle McGinn are representing Reynolds this time. Bill McGinn said the prosecution will present its case today and the defense plans to have witnesses testify on Thursday.
Authorities are asking for the publics help in identifying a person of interest in an arson investigation.

The Fire Marshals Office in the Council Bluffs Fire Department released surveillance photos from a store of an individual believed to be involved in an Oct. 7 arson at an automotive dealership in Council Bluffs.

The person appears to be wearing a mask and a hoodied sweatshirt while making a transaction at a store, based on the photos in the news release. No description of the individual was provided by authorities.

The person drives a silver Volvo station wagon, the release states.

Anyone with information should contact Crime Stoppers at 712-328-STOP (7867) or the Iowa Arson Hotline at 1-800-532-1459.
People in Council Bluffs may see some different-looking city buses down the road. And theyll also be greener, at least environmentally speaking.

About a quarter of Metro Transits fleet of city buses, including those that service Council Bluffs, are being replaced with buses running on cleaner fuels, plus many of them featuring noticeable European details.

Five of these buses, each 30 feet in length, are on the streets in Omaha already, said Linda Barritt, Metros marketing director. Another 23, all of them longer in length, are scheduled to arrive by December of next year, she added.

All buses are becoming more environmentally friendly because of federal standards set in 2010, Barritt said.

The engines and exhaust systems are designed to reduce emissions, she said Monday. Each year, theyre getting better and better. The newer the vehicle, the cleaner it runs.

The five new buses now in service use clean diesel fuel, Barritt said, as well as 12 of the 35-foot buses coming next year. The remaining 11 of the new buses on order will be powered by compressed natural gas.

Of course, its not that easy being green, especially for a transit agency with limited funding. The new Metro buses will be more environmentally friendly than the ones theyre replacing, but theyre not the greenest available.

Newer diesel buses still emit greenhouse gases. And while natural gas puts out less tailpipe emissions than older diesel buses, the production of natural gas leaks a lot of methane, a potent greenhouse gas, into the atmosphere. Transportation authorities in some larger cities, such as Los Angeles, are beginning to switch to electric buses.

Omahas Metro transit is keeping an eye on electric buses, Barritt said. But Metro cant afford them now, she said. Even though the price is going down, an electric bus costs about twice as much as a diesel bus.

The savings in fuel costs over time could make up the difference, but you have to have the money upfront, Barritt said.

In addition to the emission improvements, the five current buses and many of the ordered ones feature European-style details like bigger front windows without any bar down the middle, Barritt said. The back doors also operate differently by sliding open, she added.

Currently, the five new buses are operating only in Omaha, but theres always a chance one of them might be scheduled here if needed, Barritt said.

The new 35-footers coming next year are the type of buses Council Bluffs uses now. Four are coming to the fleet next June with another eight in September. The 11 buses using compressed natural gas will arrive in December, she said.

The 23 buses were a $9.7 million purchase financed with federal matching funds. The Federal Transit Administrations contribution of $8.3 million will be matched by a $1.4 million allocation from Metro, Barritt said.

The new buses are replacing diesel buses that are 17 to 24 years old. The old buses have rolled up an average of 631,000 miles. The most-traveled one has nearly 700,000 miles on its odometer.

The useful life of a transit bus is generally considered to be 12 years or 500,000 miles, whichever comes first.

 Christopher Burbach of the BH News Service contributed to this report.
The man identified as the pickup truck driver who killed eight people and injured 11 in New York on Tuesday has been ticketed four times in Nebraska for trucking-related offenses since 2011, most recently in February.

A search of Nebraska records shows Sayfullo H. Saipov, 29, a commercial truck driver, was cited on Feb. 4 on suspicion of having an overweight truck. He was stopped on westbound Interstate 80 near mile marker 415 in Cass County. The fine was $75, which a Cass County Court record shows he paid in June.

Saipov's address was listed as an apartment in Tampa, Florida, and he had a Florida driver's license. He was driving for IIK Transport Inc. out of Lombard, Illinois.

In March 2014, Saipov was cited on suspicion of failure to stop and weigh his truck at the eastbound North Platte scale off I-80 near mile marker 181. He paid a fine of $50 that April. At the time, he listed an address in Paterson, New Jersey, and he had a New Jersey driver's license. He was driving for Bright Auto LLC out of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio.

In October 2011, Saipov was cited on suspicion of driving longer than 11 hours in a 14-hour period and was fined $50. He listed an apartment in Fort Myers, Florida, as his address.

And in December 2011, Saipov was cited on suspicion of driving an overweight truck and was fined $150.

Both 2011 tickets were issued in Cass County. When he was stopped that December, he listed the same Fort Myers address from October. He had the same Florida driver's license on both stops.

He also was ticketed in Dallas County, Iowa, in 2011 on suspicion of going over the maximum number of hours of driving a commercial vehicle. Iowa court records show he paid a fine. Dallas County is just west of Des Moines.

The Associated Press reported that Saipov came to the United States in 2010 from Uzbekistan. He was listed in critical condition but expected to survive after a police officer shot him in the abdomen.

World-Herald staff writer Alia Conley contributed to this report.
Service details for two teenagers who died Friday morning at Lake Manawa have been announced.

A viewing for friends of Efren Lemus Lara, 18, and Christian Renteria-Perez, 17, will be from 3 to 9 p.m. Sunday. Mass of Christian burial will be held at 5 p.m. at Corpus Christi-Queen of the Apostles Church, 3304 Fourth Ave.

Efren was born Sept. 21, 1999, to Andres Lemus Franko and Carmen Lara Ramos. Efren was in his senior year of high school at Abraham Lincoln High School. Survivors include his parents, brothers Andres Lemus Lara, Jorge Lemus Lara and Octavio Lemus Lara and many other family and friends.

Christian was also student at Abraham Lincoln High School. He was born in Omaha on Oct. 21, 2000, to Crispin Renteria-Ledezma and Claudia Rerez Maciel.

Survivors include his parents; sister, Jaqueline Renteria-Perez and brother, Jordy Renteria-Perez and many other family and friends.

Both will be laid to rest in Mexico.

According to Council Bluffs Police, the two teenagers were found inside a car within Lake Manawa.

No foul play is suspected and police said the investigation is ongoing.
The 2017 NRL Telstra Premiership season was one of the toughest ever, and we've picked out five plays that display Mazda BT50 tough efforts from players and teams.

Semi scores four against Broncos  Round 25

The Brisbane Broncos are usually a force to be reckoned with  especially at their home ground Suncorp Stadium. But the Brisbane crowd was silenced in Round 25 with the Eels running in four tries, including a Semi Radradra hat-trick, within the first 20 minutes of the match. Radradra showed speed, skill and toughness to score his hat-trick, but arguably saved his best for last, scoring a fourth try in the 44th minute. Receiving the ball one off the ruck just one metre out from his own tryline, Radradra first beat an attempted tackle from Broncos centre James Roberts, before also brushing off Ben Hunt. He then outpaced a chasing Matt Gillett before going through a David Mead turnstile. The big Semi then strolled the length of the field to score adjacent to the posts.

Raiders' golden point win against Dragons - Round 19

It was a golden point thriller in the nation's capital in Round 19, with Raiders halfback Aidan Sezer kicking an amazingly tough 40/20 touch-finder to set up the winning try in extra time against the Dragons. The Raiders came from behind thanks to a Sezer intercept try, only to see a Gareth Widdop penalty goal level the scores at 14-14 with nine minutes to play. Extra time ensued, with Sezer kicking a massive 40/20 that crossed the touch line closer to the Dragons 10m line. From the following set of six, big Dave Taylor took the ball one off the ruck and dragged three Dragons defenders towards the tryline before managing to offload to Elliott Whitehead who scored next to the posts.

Angus Crichton  Rabbitohs v Titans  Round 15

The Rabbitohs roared into life against a Titans outfit decimated by injury and Origin selection in Round 15. Few could have expected however the impact Angus Crichton would have on the contest, showing impressive determination to score his third try of the night with a stunning solo run late on.

Chad Townsend  Sharks v Cowboys  Round 11

There are not many more fearsome sights in rugby league than a rampaging Andrew Fifita charging through the middle of the field. That's what happened to the North Queensland Cowboys in the 62nd minute of their visit to Southern Cross Group Stadium in Round 11. Fifita took a regulation hit-up 40 metres out from the Cowboys' line before knocking over defenders like skittles, including fellow big man Jason Taumalolo. Fifita then provided a one-handed offload to Chad Townsend, who was trailing through in support as all good halfbacks should.

Kalifa Faifai Loa  Warriors v Dragons  Round 11

Without the likes of Gareth Widdop, Josh Dugan and Euan Aitken, the Dragons backs were expected to struggle against the Warriors in Waikato. But they instead turned on an attacking masterclass with their opening try starting 25 metres out from their own line before going through four different sets of hands, and one player handling twice. Right winger Nene Macdonald started it with a run from dummy-half, and several offloads and tackle breaks later, left winger Kalifa Faifai Loa was the beneficiary. Roll the video tape to see one of the toughest NRL tries of the year.
Indiana wasn't a state that worked for Toyota and Mazda, which decided to turn elsewhere to build a new $1.6 billion automotive plant that will provide 4,000 workers with high-paying manufacturing jobs.

The Japanese automakers had been eyeing a site in New Carlisle in St. Joseph County, which potentially would have been a huge economic boon for Northwest Indiana that would have created job opportunities for residents in LaPorte and Porter Counties and possibly brought more auto suppliers to the Region.

But Toyota and Mazda have ruled Indiana out and are instead now looking only at southern states, St. Joseph County Executive Director of Economic Development Bill Schalliol said.

"The reasons Indiana was cut from the Toyota/Mazda project list were workforce-related," he said. "One issue was a concern that employment at a new facility might upset the employment balance at existing facilities for Toyota or Mazda in the state. Another issue was a concern about Indianas low unemployment rate."

Indiana's jobless rate is 3.8 percent, but it's significantly higher in Northwest Indiana, where an auto factory of that size would have pulled workers from. Companies from as far away as Elkhart and Hodgkins, Illinois, recently have tried to capitalize off high unemployment in the Region by having job fairs here and offering to bus workers as far as an hour and a half each way.

Schalliol said the automakers were now mainly looking at southern states. The United Auto Workers union has made many close but ultimately unsuccessful efforts to unionize auto workers in the South, where wages are lower, but Schalliol said he didn't know "if the union/non-union labor was a factor in the decision making."

"The 'concern of worker availability' might have been enough to be a ding mark for the county/region," he said.

Toyota had expressed concerns about drawing workers away from its Princeton plant in southern Indiana that builds the Sequoia SUV and the Sienna minivan, which is about a five-hour drive from New Carlisle.

"I have not mapped all of the Toyota or Mazda or joint-venture facilities, but it seems like they are far apart," Schalliol said.
U.S. Steel turned a profit of $147 million in the third quarter, up from $51 million in the third quarter of 2016.

The Pittsburgh-based steelmaker beat analysts' expectations, earning $0.83 per share. It declared a dividend of $0.05 per share.

Our third quarter results were modestly better than we expected," U.S. Steel President and CEO Dave Burritt said. "Our results for the first nine months of 2017 improved over the first nine months of 2016.

U.S. Steel brought in $299 million in operating cash flow in the third quarter, including a $160 million profit from its flat rolled operations that include Gary Works, East Chicago Tin and the Midwest Plant in Portage.

The steelmaker now has $3.5 billion in liquidity, including $1.7 billion in cash.

"Our balance sheet continues to improve, with net debt decreasing by $200 million in the third quarter, to $1.2 billion," Burritt said. "Our total liquidity also increased during the quarter, which leaves us well positioned to continue the implementation of our asset revitalization program."

U.S. Steel expects to make $323 million this year, or $1.83 per share, if market conditions persist.

"We remain focused on our operations, revitalizing our assets, and developing our talent. We are seeing operating improvements in the assets in which we are investing," Burritt said. "This increases our confidence that we will achieve the 2020 improvement targets we have disclosed. We believe the attention to our assets and employees, with continued focus on improving safety, quality, delivery, and cost, will result in improved operating reliability and enable us to remain a strong business partner for our customers."

Burritt said the steelmaker is going forward with plans to build a new galvanizing line in Ohio instead of Portage.

"In addition to the increased focus on our operations, we also are continuing to develop the next generation of steel products for our customers," he said. "Our Generation 3 steels will provide superior formability and high-strength properties while using a low-alloyed approach for robust weldability. To expand our capabilities in Generation 3 steels, we announced last month that a new continuous galvanizing line will be constructed at our PRO-TEC Coating Company joint venture, which will allow PRO-TEC to produce these Generation 3 steels with a hot-dipped zinc coating."
Francisco Migoya, you might say, knows everything there is to know about bread.

Migoya and Nathan Myhrvold recently completed the colossal "Modernist Bread," a five-part book on the fundamental doughy creation that's a favorite for almost every food lover around.

Migoya is the chef of Modernist Cuisine, a cooking and research lab and team in Bellevue, Washington. Myhrvold, the former chief technology officer for Microsoft, is the author of "Modernist Cuisine," a book that came out in 2011. Myhrvold is also the founder of the Modernist Cuisine team and The Cooking Lab, which features researchers, food scientists, chefs and editorial writers.

During a recent trip to Chicago to talk about bread and the new book, Migoya also visited students at Kendall College. He did a presentation about his work on the book and talked about his love of bread in general.

The chef brought the only copy of the book that was in existence at that time. He said the books, which had just been printed, were on their way by boat from China.

"They're actually on three different boats, in case one boat sank," he said, laughing. "Modernist Bread" will be released Nov. 7.

Migoya said the book, which is 53.3 pounds, has 2,600 pages and 1,200 recipes.

"It's like exercise picking up the book," he said. During Migoya's recent trip, he carted the book around in its suitcase emblazoned with the name "Modernist Bread" on it.

The chef said he had to pay an extra $300 on the airplane due to the weight of the tome.

"Modernist Bread" was in the works for the last couple of years.

"We had a few ideas and we settled on bread," Migoya said. The Mexican-born chef, who joined the Modernist Cuisine team in 2014, said they did many experiments and explored many recipes while putting together the book.

"We had been putting recipes into a huge database," he said, explaining that they had reached about seven million recipes and almost "neared the end of Excel" capacity.

"Modernist Bread" is akin to a course on bread baking. It features everything from the history and fundamentals of bread to techniques and equipment, info about flours, grains and microbiology for bakers to fermentation, mixing and even scoring and final proofing.

Migoya said he definitely learned a lot about bread during the process of working on the book.

"You learn a lot (doing something like this) but as with anything you learn, you also learn there's so much more to learn."

Essentially bread, he said, is made up of four ingredients  water, flour, salt and yeast.

"With those four ingredients you can make so many different things," he said.

Migoya said bread is widely beloved by many people and cultures. A great deal of people have nostalgic memories of growing up eating favorite breads.

For Migoya, among attractive features of bread are its "smell, taste and it's something that can be eaten with any meal...Bread is a pleasure."

The audience for "Modernist Bread" runs the gamut. "It's for the professional baker, home baker, restaurant and hotel bakers" and also those with a "curiosity" about bread, he said.

The experiments and recipe testing were detailed and almost endless as the team worked on the book.

"We baked in every oven you can imagine and did every recipe three times," he said. "We also baked in as many environments you can imagine."

Migoya wants to encourage people not to be afraid to make bread and urges them to get into the kitchen to experiment with the creation.

"Our opinion is all bread is good and if you make it, it's even better." For more information on the book, visit modernistbread.com.
CROWN POINT  Christopher M. Godines, who faces murder charges in a 2015 shooting death, has a new defense attorney and a February date in court.

During a hearing Tuesday before Lake County Criminal Court Judge Clarence Murray, attorney Lonnie M. Randolph II requested more time to take depositions. Timothy Ormes originally served as Godines attorney.

Murray granted the motion and set Feb. 6 as the next omnibus hearing date for the 30-year old. Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Aleksandra Dimitrijevic said the state had no objections to that hearing date.

Godines is charged with murder and two felony 1 level counts of attempted murder in the June 24, 2015, shooting death of Jonathan Farries, 20, of Gary.

Farries body was found inside a vehicle outside Murphys House of Pain in Garys Miller section. Another gunshot wound victim was found nearby on the train tracks, according to court records.

The defendant is being held without bond in the Lake County Jail. He also faces separate felony charges for dealing cocaine in Lake Station.
CROWN POINT  During a hearing Tuesday, Criminal Court Judge Samuel L. Cappas reaffirmed the Dec. 18 trial date for Nicholas Nick Medrano.

The 35-year old Crown Point resident and suspended Lake County Sheriffs Department police officer faces felony charges of rape, attempted rape, sexual battery and confinement.

Medrano was indicted on those felony charges by a grand jury in June. According to that indictment, he knowingly or intentionally had sexual intercourse with the alleged female victim between Jan. 10, 2013, and June 30, 2014.

The Lake County Sheriffs Department asked the Indiana State Police to investigate the case, because it involved one of the departments own police officers, state police said in a news release.

The complainant was a professional co-worker of the officer, the release stated.

Medrano surrendered himself to the Lake County Jail on June 23, entered a plea of not guilty and posted a cash bond of $10,000 or 10 percent of his $100,000 surety bond.

He served as a patrolman with the Lake County Sheriffs Department for approximately 10 1/2 years. In July, the Lake County Police Merit Board suspended Medrano without pay.

During that meeting, John Bushemi, an attorney for the Sheriffs Department, said then-Sheriff John Buncich suspended Medranos police powers immediately after the indictment was returned by the grand jury.

Defense attorney Paul Stracci represents Medrano, who is scheduled to return to Cappas courtroom Nov. 16 for a pre-trial conference.
CROWN POINT  During the eighth day of Thomas J. Snows murder trial, the owner of a Hessville auto parts store testified about the person he knows as T.J. Snow twice coming into the store in early- and mid-October 2013 with news about his father, Clifford Snow.

Snow, 38, is charged with the bludgeoning and strangulation deaths of his parents, Clifford and Joyce Snow, in unincorporated Lowell. The popular 68-year-old retired shop teacher from Hammond Morton High School and his 66-year-old wife were found dead Oct. 18, 2013, in their home in the 14500 block of West 197th Avenue.

The two bodies were badly decomposed, according to reports.

Ray Anderson, who had Clifford Snow as a shop teacher at Morton High School, testified T.J. Snow told him in early October that Clifford Snow had surprised his wife, Joyce, with a European vacation.

I was surprised that he wanted to go to Europe, Anderson said during questioning by deputy prosecuting attorney Mark Watson.

Anderson said T.J. came into the store that time with a tall, well built, but quiet African-American man and that both smelled of marijuana.

On Oct. 17, 2013, T.J. again visited the auto parts store, this time alone.

I remember the date because we had just buried my brother on Oct. 16, the day before, Anderson said. I told T.J. to let his dad know. Mr. Snow had had my brother in class.

According to Andersons testimony, thats when T.J. Snow said, Thats why I came in. My dad died of a massive heart attack in his sleep. Dad had chest pains, but he was stubborn.

Anderson said when he asked about Clifford Snows funeral services, T.J. Snow said his father had been cremated and that his mother was so upset she moved out of state to stay with her sister.

Watson asked Anderson what vehicle Thomas Snow was driving.

He was driving Mr. Snows white HHR on both occasions. That HHR was Mr. Snows baby, Anderson said.

It was two days later that the Lake County Sheriffs Department notified him that Clifford and Joyce Snow had been found dead in their home, Anderson said.

The trial continues Thursday in Judge Samuel L. Cappas courtroom.
HIGHLAND  Two people wearing "Scream" masks robbed two employees of the Halloween City store at the Highland Grove shopping mall as the employees took out trash, police said.

Highland police were dispatched about 1:43 a.m. Tuesday to the store at 10225 Indianapolis Blvd. for an alarm, Cmdr. John Banasiak said.*

As officers arrived, dispatchers informed them the store had been robbed.

Police spoke with two employees, who told police they were taking out garbage when two people wearing "Scream" character costumes got out of a vehicle, pointed handguns at them and demanded everything they had.

The store employees gave the pair their personal items, and the suspects got back in the vehicle and left northbound on U.S. 41.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Detective Bureau at 219-838-3184.

* Editor's note: This story has been updated to correct Cmdr. John Banasiak's title.
HAMMOND  Shots rang out as several people visited an apartment Tuesday at Douglas Pointe Apartments, leaving a 19-year-old resident dead and wounding three other people, police said.

Khalil Carter, 19, of the 500 block of Pointe Drive, and the three wounded  an 18-year-old man, a 19-year-old woman and a 17-year-old boy  all knew each other, police spokesman Lt. Steven Kellogg said.

Hammond police were called to the apartment about 4 p.m. for a shooting. Officers found Carter and two of the victims inside, Kellogg said. Police later learned of a third wounded person, who had been dropped off at a local hospital, he said.

"The victims include people visiting the apartment and residents of the apartment," he said.

Carter was taken by ambulance to Community Hospital in Munster, where he was pronounced dead at 4:45 p.m. from gunshot wounds in a homicide, according to the Lake County coroner's office.

The two wounded people found in the apartment were taken to undisclosed hospitals.

Police did not have information about the condition of the 19-year-old woman and 17-year-old boy. The 18-year-old man was treated and released from a local hospital, Kellogg said.

Police declined to release details about how the three wounded people were involved in the shooting. No one was in custody as of Wednesday morning, Kellogg said.

Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call Hammond Detective Lt. Mark Tharp, Detective Sgt. Marc Ferry or Detetive Sgt. Jeff Ritter at 219-852-2906.
EAST CHICAGO  The City Council on Monday approved civil city and sanitary district budgets for 2018 just in time before a Nov. 1 deadline, putting the ball into Mayor Anthony Copeland's hands.

If Copeland issues a veto, the city could be forced to revert back to its 2017 budget and levy.

The sanitary district budget of $12.7 million was adopted unanimously, but a series of amendments were made to the civil city budget that contains a general fund of $31.7 million.

The council also made a move to dictate how gaming dollars are utilized, and to alter the law department's budget to pay for raises for police and firefighters and for council training and travel.

Councilman Robert Garcia, D-5th, made a motion to "zero out" the $13.6 million gaming dollars contained in the budget after asking Steve Dalton, the council's financial adviser, what effect that would have.

"The mayor would have no appropriation authority to spend any money out of gaming," Dalton said. "The revenues would still be received into gaming. If the mayor wanted to spend money out of gaming, he'd have to return to this council for additional appropriations."

The council voted 6-3 to approve Garcia's motion.

Councilman Richard Medina, D-at-large, said he's been asked many times by residents about programs and construction projects going on in the city and from where the money comes.

"Unfortunately, I'm in the blind because many of these projects are done without any input from the nine of us, and I believe by having it done this way it will open up some dialogue between the mayor's office and this council," Medina said.

Garcia also motioned to reduce the city's law department budget to $773,000 from $1.3 million, in part to allow the council the use of $27,000 for education and travel expenses.

Councilwoman Myrna Maldonado, D-1st, said the council is looking to offer its newer members an opportunity to use the money to attend training sessions.

Councilwoman Christine Vasquez, D-4th, was among those not in favor of the appropriation approved by a 6-3 vote.

"I think that we have enough money out of our own salaries to travel if we want to," Vasquez said.

East Chicago's City Council members were paid the highest salaries in the state, according to a Times Media Co. survey of municipal salaries in 2015.

The motion to reduce the law department budget also was approved by a 6-3 vote.

Each time the council voted 6 to 3, Councilmen Kenneth Monroe, D-at-large, and Emiliano Perez, D-at-large, voted in unison with Garcia, Maldonado and Medina.

Councilwomen Brenda Walker, D-2nd, and Gilda Orange, D-6th, voted with Vasquez.

The civil city budget was ultimately approved as amended by the same 6-3 vote.

The additional $500,000 taken out of the law department budget was earmarked by the council to pay for 2-percent raises for all police and fire department personnel for 2018.

Orange was the only council member to vote against approving the police and fire salary ordinance.

At an earlier meeting in October, Orange warned against the danger of the council becoming involved with salary negotiations as opposed to leaving it up to the mayor's office.
HOBART  A 62-year-old South Haven man is dead after getting pinned between a wall and excavating equipment Wednesday at a construction site near Lakeshore Drive and Pennsylvania Avenue, police said.

Police responded at about noon to the site, where they spoke with construction crew members about the incident. The individuals told police they were working for a local construction company that was contracted to replace sewer lines in the area.

One crew member was operating the excavator, another was inside of the excavated hole and a third individual was on the ground, according to Hobart Police Lt. James Gonzales.

The operator of the excavator was inside the cab when he turned to speak with a crew member on the ground, Gonzales said. When the operator turned back around to situate himself in his seat, a piece of clothing caught a lever, which controls the bucket on the excavator, police said.

The bucket, which was positioned inside of the hole, moved forward and pinned the 62-year-old South Haven man against the wall, Gonzales said.

The victim was pronounced dead on the scene by the Lake County Coroner's Office. His name is being withheld pending notification of family.

The Hobart Fire Department and the Technical Rescue Team, comprised of firemen, responded to the scene to assist with the recovery of the victim from the excavation site, Gonzales said.

An autopsy will be conducted into the cause and manner of death, police said.

The operator of the excavator did not show any signs of intoxication or impairment at the scene, police said.

This is still an open death investigation.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration will conduct its own independent investigation into the safety matters concerning this construction site, Gonzales said.

OSHA's Chicago regional office did not immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday.
CROWN POINT  After just one year Mayor David Uran's "State of the City" address has outgrown its home.

Last year the city broke from doing its annual "State of the Region" event with Merrillville and instead hosted its own "State of the City" in March at White Hawk Country Club.

The reasoning was that the city has a lot of important things going on and so they wanted to have their own event. Crown Point worked with Diversified Marketing Strategies to host the State of the City and at its recent Board of Works meeting approved a $3,000 contract with DMS for the 2018 event.

Uran said the event in March quickly sold out and they are already anticipating 400 to 500 people for the next one, which will be held March 20 at St. Peter & Paul Macedonian Banquet Hall, 9660 Broadway.
GARY  Richard G. Hatcher is hoping the upcoming celebration of the 50th anniversary of his election as the first African-American mayor of a large U.S. city will help move forward his longtime dream of creating a National Civil Rights Hall of Fame in the community.

Hatcher said the celebration of the 50th anniversary of his election this year is especially pertinent now with all the division at the national level. He said the theme of his 1967 mayoral campaign was "Let's get ourselves together."

That sentiment was uppermost in his mind and a priority of his campaign at the time, Hatcher said.

Earline Rogers, who recently retired after a long tenure in the Indiana Senate, remembers working on Hatcher's campaign. She has known him since they both were students at Indiana University in Bloomington, before Hatcher's entry into politics.

Rogers said all the workers on that 1967 campaign were optimistic Hatcher could be elected.

"It was a very exciting time for all of us," she recalled.

While other African-Americans had won election in the area prior to that time, Rogers said Hatcher was the first to achieve the top spot in Gary and gave inspiration to others running for political office.

"I think it probably represented the seeds for all of us, who subsequently became elected officials, that there was a possibility that we could win," she said.

Making history

Hatcher, who along with former Cleveland Mayor Carl Stokes became the first mayors of large U.S. cities, led Gary for nearly 20 years. On Saturday, some of the historic civil rights figures he worked alongside, including the Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. and Minister Louis Farrakhan, will help honor Hatcher during a celebration at West Side High School Theatre, 900 Gerry St., in Gary.

Jackson "has been a friend of Gary and to me over the years," Hatcher said.

In a phone interview Tuesday, Jackson recalled the period around the campaign as a "time of great political and social change in the country."

Jackson noted how Hatcher had to navigate the city through the impacts of both white flight and the decline of the steel industry and was a great political leader. He said he was excited to be coming to Gary this week to the event honoring Hatcher.

Jackson also was the featured speaker at the 1981 dedication of the city's Genesis Convention Center, one of the major achievements during Hatcher's term in office. He was with him again there three years ago for an event marking the Freedom Summer and the signing of the federal Civil Rights Act.

The reverend also was in attendance at the 1972 National Black Political Convention, organized by Hatcher. Farrakhan also attended the convention, and is another longtime friend of the former mayor.

"I have known Minister Farrakhan for a very long time and I have great admiration for him," Hatcher said, "and the fact that he is going to honor us by being here means a great deal to me."

50th anniversary event

According to a release from the city, the event will take attendees "through the 20-year journey of the Hatcher leadership" and feature speakers, tributes, food and more.

While pleased about the 50th anniversary event, Hatcher said he is "doubly pleased" that money raised from the celebration will benefit the hall of fame.

Tickets are $25 and available at the Urban League of Northwest Indiana, 3101 Broadway, and at Gary City Hall, 401 Broadway. Tickets also may be purchased online at www.eventbrite.com/e/a-day-to-remember-tickets-37077022372 or by call (219) 887-1302. Checks are payable to the Richard Gordon Hatcher Legacy Foundation.

According to Hatcher, the nonprofit group purchased Gary's former Benjamin Bannecker school and its 10-acre campus near 23rd Avenue and Garfield Street in 2015 as the site for the future hall of fame.

Current Gary Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson is organizing the event with Hatcher's daughter, Ragen Hatcher, who serves as an at-large councilwoman for the city.

Richard Hatcher said that Freeman-Wilson, unlike some of her predecessors, has shown support for his efforts to have a National Civil Rights Hall of Fame established in the city. Earlier this month, it was announced that the city was awarded a $59,500 grant to support development of the facility.

The grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration is to be used to support development of a feasibility study and business plan for the hall of fame. The city and the facility will have to put up matching funds. The City Council last year approved a resolution authorizing city officials to provide the matching funds for the grant.

Freeman-Wilson's strong support for the hall of fame, Hatcher said, is evident because she is hosting the anniversary event that will benefit it. Thanks to her support, Hatcher is optimistic his dream of the National Civil Rights Hall of Fame will become a reality.

"I would just say," Hatcher said, "that I believe we are closer to seeing the National Civil Rights Hall of Fame come into existence than we have ever been."
Last month the Porter County Sheriffs Office and the Safe School Committee hosted a large-scale training opportunity with multiple agencies to plan a coordinated response effort should they need to respond to an active shooter incident at the new Heavilin Elementary School. Attending were more than 135 individuals from school administrators and staff, to school resource officers, law enforcement, SWAT, EOD, fire, EMS, Porter County Emergency Management Agency, Porter-Starke Services Inc., Hero911 Network, 911 and District 1. The agencies walked through a mock scenario to better equip all responding agencies should such an event occur in the future. Ivy Tech Community College's Valparaiso campus hosted the event. Lance Bella, director of EMA, put this table top together.
VALPARAISO  The second phase of improvements to U.S. 30 through the city should begin next spring.

Last month the city's Board of Works awarded a contract to Walsh & Kelly, of Griffith, for $2.6 million to complete work on U.S. 30 from Hayes Leonard Road to Horseprairie Avenue.

Wednesday, the board awarded a $330,000 contract to Beam, Longest and Neff, of Indianapolis, for construction observation services for the second phase of the project.

City Engineer Tim Burkman said the project will include a pathway along the north side of U.S. 30 between Hayes Leonard and Horseprairie; a pedestrian bridge over Salt Creek; lighting; traffic signal improvements including illuminated street name signs, audible pedestrian signals for pathway crossings, battery backup on the signals and emergency vehicle preemption devices.

While some work could be done this fall and winter, the majority of the work should start around March 1, with a substantial completion date of Sept. 21.

Funding for the improvements comes from the $22.5 million provided to the city from the Indiana Department of Transportation. In 2012, the city took control and responsibility for a 5.6-mile stretch of Ind. 130/Lincolnway in exchange for the funding being used for U.S. 30 improvements.

Burkman said the first phase, which was also accepted at Wednesday's meeting, included landscaping.

When completed, the funding will be used for improvements on U.S. 30 from Hayes Leonard Road to Ind. 49.
NEW YORK  The Uzbek immigrant accused of using a truck to mow people down along a bike path, killing eight, "did this in the name of ISIS" and followed the extremist group's online instructions practically to the letter, police said Wednesday.

Investigators, meanwhile, were at the hospital bedside of 29-year-old Sayfullo Saipov, working to extract information about the attack Tuesday near the World Trade Center memorial that also left 12 people injured. Saipov was shot by a police officer after jumping from his rented Home Depot pickup truck.

John Miller, deputy police commissioner for intelligence, said Saipov left behind notes at the scene, handwritten in Arabic with symbols and words, that essentially said the Islamic State group, or ISIS, "would endure forever."

"It appears that Mr. Saipov had been planning this for a number of weeks. He did this in the name of ISIS," Miller said, citing the notes.

In the past few years, the Islamic State has been exhorting followers online to use vehicles or other close-at-hand means of killing people in their home countries. England, France and Germany have seen deadly vehicle attacks in the past year or so.

"He appears to have followed, almost exactly to a T, the instructions that ISIS has put out in its social media channels before with instructions to its followers on how to carry out such an attack," Miller said.

In Tuesday's attack, Saipov drove his speeding truck for nearly a mile along the bike path, running down cyclists and pedestrians, then crashed into a school bus, authorities said. He was shot in the abdomen after he jumped out of the vehicle brandishing air guns and yelling "God is great!" in Arabic, they said.

Mayor Bill de Blasio called it "a cowardly act of terror."

Miller said Saipov had never been the subject of a New York police investigation but appears to have some links to people who have been investigated.

The aftermath took a political turn Wednesday when President Donald Trump said Saipov came to the U.S. under a visa lottery program  "a Chuck Schumer beauty," Trump called it in a reference to the Senate's top Democrat.

The program dates to 1990, when Republican President George H.W. Bush signed it as part of a bipartisan immigration bill. Trump urged tougher immigration measures based instead on merit and said he will ask Congress to end the program.

Schumer, who represents New York, said in a statement that he has always believed that immigration "is good for America."

In a number of recent extremist attacks around the world, the assailants were found to have been "lone wolves"  inspired but not actually directed by the Islamic State. In some cases they never even made contact with the group.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Saipov became "radicalized domestically."

On the morning after the bloodshed, city leaders vowed New York would be not intimidated, and they commended New Yorkers for going ahead with Halloween festivities on Wednesday night.

They also said Sunday's New York City Marathon, with 50,000 participants and some 2 million spectators anticipated, will go on as scheduled.

"We will not be cowed. We will not be thrown off by anything," de Blasio said.

While the mayor said there have been no credible threats of any additional attacks, police announced the deployment of sniper teams, bomb-sniffing dogs, helicopters, sand-truck barricades and other stepped-up security along the marathon route, in the subways and other sites.

And New York Police Commissioner James O'Neill urged people to be vigilant and tell police if they see "something that doesn't look right."

The dead consisted of five people from Argentina, one from Germany, and two Americans, authorities said. Nine people remained hospitalized in serious or critical condition, with injuries that included lost limbs, as well as head, chest and neck wounds.

A roughly two-mile stretch of highway in lower Manhattan was shut down for the investigation. Authorities also converged on a New Jersey apartment building and a van in a parking lot at a New Jersey Home Depot.

New Yorkers woke to a heavy police presence Wednesday outside the World Trade Center and at other locations around the city.

Runners and cyclists who use the popular bike path for their pre-dawn exercise were diverted away from the crime scene by officers stationed at barricades just north of where the rampage began.

Dave Hartie, 57, who works in finance, said he rides his bike along the path every morning.

"It's great to be in the city and have that kind of peace," he said. As for the attack, he said, "It's the messed-up world we live in these days. Part of me is surprised it doesn't happen more often."

The slight, bearded Saipov is from heavily Muslim Uzbekistan and came to the U.S. legally in 2010, police said. He has a Florida driver's license but was apparently living in New Jersey, they said.

He is a permanent legal U.S. resident. A law enforcement official said he has two children and a wife and moved up from Florida around June. The official wasn't authorized to discuss details of the investigation and spoke on condition of anonymity.

Records show Saipov was a commercial truck driver who formed a pair of businesses in Ohio. He had also driven for Uber.

Mirrakhmat Muminov, 38, of Stow, Ohio, said he knew Saipov because they were both Uzbek truck drivers. He portrayed Saipov as an argumentative young man whose work was falling apart and who "was not happy with his life."

Muminov said Saipov lost his insurance on his truck after his rates shot up because of a few traffic tickets, and companies stopped hiring him. Muminov said he heard from Saipov's friends that Saipov's truck engine blew up a few months ago in New Jersey.

Muminov said Saipov would get into arguments with his friends and family, tangling over even small things, such as going to a picnic with the Uzbek community.

"He had the habit of disagreeing with everybody," Muminov said.

He said he and Saipov would sometimes argue about politics and world affairs, including about Israel and Palestine. He said Saipov never spoke about ISIS, but he could tell he held radical views.

___

Associated Press writers Sadie Gurman in Washington; Jake Pearson, Tom Hays, Adam Geller, Jennifer Peltz, Karen Matthews, Kiley Armstrong and Tom McElroy in New York; Shawn Marsh in Trenton, New Jersey; Michael Balsamo in Los Angeles; Jon Gambrell in Dubai, United Arab Emirates; and Michael R. Sisak in Philadelphia contributed to this report.
Many parents and high school students rely on U.S. News & World Reports Best College Rankings when evaluating college options.

With the recent release of this years rankings, U.S. News also included median starting salaries for graduates as part of their calculation. Yet, while this is a great first step, it still doesnt paint a complete picture.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 6.1 million jobs are going unfilled because of a lack of qualified workers. Its time to start evaluating colleges on additional criteria, like degree or credential completion and job placement and advancement.

Business leaders are understandably worried about the inability to find the employees they need. In a global survey of CEOs, PricewaterhouseCoopers reported 73 percent see the lack of talent as a key concern and a barrier to future growth.

This disconnect between the skills businesses need and what K-12 and post-secondary institutions are teaching is unsustainable. We must bridge the divide between educational providers and employers so students are armed with the skills they need to perform todays jobs.

Working together, educators and businesses can address the shortcomings in the current system.

A 2015 Georgetown University study reveals our nations colleges, universities, governments and corporations are spending a combined $1.1 trillion a year on post-secondary education. Nearly 60 percent of that sum goes to formal, traditional education.

However, employers are spending more than $400 billion a year for on-the-job training to provide necessary skills that were not gained at colleges and universities.

So how do we begin to address this disconnect? By forging partnerships between forward-looking companies and learning institutions at new and unprecedented levels.

Apprenticeship programs and work-integrated learning can reform both higher education and corporate-workforce training. In this emerging model, students learn on the job and study career-relevant coursework.

Some organizations have already begun to move in this direction. The American food and agribusiness company J.R. Simplot Co. in Boise, Idaho, has established a successful internship and outreach program that provides young people the professional development needed to become desirable hires.

Other companies are partnering with universities to ensure their employees have the right skills and opportunities for advancement.

Through these and other innovative programs, educational institutions have a responsibility to offer students a return on their time and financial investment.

Todays gap between the supply and demand of well-trained workers is unsustainable for employers, workers and our nation.

We cannot continue applying an antiquated educational model  college rankings included  to a new economic reality. We need a fundamental overhaul of Americas education-to-workforce pipeline, and educators and employers must take the lead by working together to rebuild it.
Commercial banks are starting to feel the pressure from the emergence of financial technology firms as banking halls turn empty and brick-and-mortar branches get closed.

Many banks are now closing a couple of branches, in the process laying off staff, as part of managing their costs in what has become a competitive environment with new innovations in the mobile phone space.

Fintechs, as these companies are known, have introduced new platforms where customers can pay for bills such as school fees over the phone.

Lipa Mobile, for instance, allows parents to instantly pay their childrens schools fees without visiting the banks. James Wampamba, the business development manager at Lipa Mobile, said there is a need for both schools and parents to cut on their budgets.

Mobile money customers making transactions

According to the 2016 BOU supervision report, the number of commercial branches reduced from 573 in 2015 down to 570 in 2016, the first drop in the recent past.

Other bank branches were simply merged to cut back on high operational costs as fintech start-ups expanded their presence.

For example, Equity bank, transferred its Masindi branch to Hoima, its Tororo branch to Mbale and the Jinja road branch in Kampala to Oasis branch. Stanbic Uganda also merged the Bushenyi branch with Ishaka branch.

On the other hand, the pressure from fintechs is leaving commercial banks with no choice but to innovate and invest in digital solutions.

For instance, in 2016, dfcu invested nearly Shs 3.3bn to upgrade its core banking system. Other banks such as Centenary bank, KCB Group and Stanbic bank have equally invested heavily to upgrade their core systems.

Speaking recently during a FinTech workshop, William Sekabembe, the executive director of dfcu bank, said: One of the biggest challenges that commercial banks are facing is inactivity of the [bank] accounts.

Uganda Communications Commissions 2015/16 annual market and industry report indicates mobile money telephone lines increased to 21.5 million as at the end of 2016, from 21.1 million the previous year.

As a result, the annual amount of money transferred through mobile money totaled Shs 43.83tn in 2016, up from Shs 32.7tn in 2015.

BOU attributed the growth to the convenience of the platform that allows users to send money at their own time of convenience.



alitwaha@observer.ug




Flamboyant social critic Frank Gashumba has been detained by the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI) on allegations of impersonation.

Army spokesman Brig Richard Karemire told The Observer yesterday that: The public should be concerned with serious people, not the impersonator Gashumba.

Who is Gashumba? Yes, Gashumba was arrested and investigations are on, said Karemire.

When Gashumba posted on his Facebook wall on Monday evening that he had been arrested by CMI, not many knew what to make of it given his history. Then on Tuesday, reports came in that his home in Bunga and Sisimuka Uganda offices in Industrial area, Kampala, were searched by military intelligence.

Frank Gashumba paraded before the media after the arrest

Karemire refused to say why it was CMI, and not police arresting a civilian in a law and order issue. Reports say that Gashumba allegedly impersonated the permanent secretary of ministry of Defence and obtained a large sum of money under false pretense.

Sources say he was picked up from Cafe Javas at around 6pm where he had gone for his evening tea as usual, and taken to CMI head office in Mbuya.

Yesterday morning, the suspect was escorted to his home where, according to sources, assorted military paraphernalia was recovered.

We found some UPDF files and other documents of ministry of defence which we confiscated, added a source saying that his office was also under siege.

Gashumba, a critic of President Museveni, has faced arrests several times. In February 2011, he was arrested for alleged conspiracy to defraud Dfcu bank.

In the same year, he was again accused of impersonating the defence permanent secretary and trying to defraud EYG Group, a Turkish company dealing in fire tenders, of $28 million.
Civil society organisations and people living with HIV/Aids have warned that almost a million Ugandans could develop resistance to first-line anti-retroviral therapy if nothing is done about the nation-wide stock-out of drugs.

Margaret Happy of the International Community of Women Living with HIV Eastern Africa, yesterday said they are extremely saddened by news that the ministry of Health has reportedly instructed district officials to cut supplies of medicines to two weeks per individual.

While HIV treatment stock-outs caused by insufficient funding are undermining the Aids response and triggering a massive risk of treatment failure, members of parliament have been given over Shs 13 billion to facilitate consultations on the proposed amendment to the Constitution to remove the age limit for a president, Happy told journalists at the briefing called by Care Uganda.

She warned that people living with HIV are at risk of relapsing since very few people can afford the transport costs involved in frequent visits to health facilities.

HIV patient with ARVs

Uganda has at least 1.5 million people living with HIV; 900,000 of them getting ARVs. Drugs whose supply has dropped since June include; Abacavir/Lamivudine, Atazanavir, Nevirapine 500gm and Lopinavir 125gm for children.

The NGOs attributed the stock-out on government dependence on unreliable international aid.

The HIV funding situation is even more precarious with approximately 93 percent of the financing for the HIV response coming from donors or non-state actors with PEPFAR taking 62%; the Global Fund 28% and other sources 3%, leaving government contribution at a paltry 7%, Happy said.

If things stay this way, over 800,000 people could develop resistance to relatively cheaper first-line treatment -- because of inability to go for frequent refills.

Uganda runs the risk of failing to meet its treatment targets and the global targets with recurrent drug stock-outs, Happy said.

At the time Uganda is being praised for her response to HIV, its important that we do not lose sight of what matters to sustain a meaningful and successful Aids response. To end the epidemic by 2030, the country must back up its talk with real action on HIV.

Daniel Kawooya, a person living with HIV from Masaka, said they are going through a lot of difficulty accessing drugs.

We go to clinics expecting to get drugs for three months but we are only given drugs for two weeks yet we have no money to buy; life is becoming so hard for us, Kawooya said.

People are being forced to switch to other regimens which, according to Kawooya, might cause drug resistance.

Today you go; they give you this, and tomorrow you get another drug. This is not a demonstration. Its not our fault that we have HIV, Kawooya said.

We are crying out; we need your help because we are in the productive ages; we are going to transmit the virus to our babies, Kawooya said.

Teo Nakuya, another person living with HIV, said ever since she started taking ARVs, her life has improved. She can now look after her children. Currently Im on the second line of treatment but when I went to the health facility to pick my drugs, they gave me new ones and Im scared of taking them, Nakuya said.



NMS REACTS

Speaking to The Observer yesterday, Dan Kimosho, the spokesman of the National Medical Stores, the agency responsible for buying and circulating drugs to all government facilities, said they are unaware of a national crisis.

If there was a stock-out, it would be for the whole Uganda. When they talk about health facilities; which are those? As far as we are concerned, we have the medicine, Kimosho said.

He added that this is not the first time such reports have sprung up.

Every time they say there is no medicine, we tell them to bring one person who has gone without medicine but until now they havent even brought half a person. Unless they specify that in this facility there was no medicines, then I can crosscheck and tell you whether there was an issue on requesting or delivery. But when they make a blanket claim, it becomes very hard for me to respond.



bakerbatte@observer.ug
In this interview, Commissioner of Police FRANK MWESIGWA reflects on his one and half years on the job of Kampala Metropolitan Police commander. He talks about his effort to popularise community policing and the pressures of work.

Mwesigwa replaced Assistant Inspector General of Police Abbas Byakagaba in July last year. Mwesigwa went to Kashwa primary school in Kiruhura district, Mbarara High School and Makerere University where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences. He also holds a master's degree in peace studies and conflict transformation from a university in Rwanda.

He got married early this year to Monica Kamwine and they have a four-month-old baby. The Kampala police chief spoke to Zurah Nakabugo.

Commissioner of Police Frank Mwesigwa

Most people see you active in police operations and they want to know who you are and how you do your work. When and where were you born?

I was born on April 2, 1980. I was born in Kazo, but migrated to Naama Kiburamu, Kiruhura district, where I grew up. My parents are Rtd Rev Canon Patrick Bwerere and my mother is Mrs Bwerere.



How many are you in family?

We were seven but one passed on. I am the fifth born in the family. Our first born is in the village, second born is an officer in the UPDF, third born is a police officer and my other two sisters are civil servants.



Why did you all join security forces?

To do work that has an impact on the average person and to change things, which were not moving well. We have conducted many operations and arrested a lot of criminals who have been terrorizing the city such as the Kifeesi crew, gang rapists, robbers and murderers and rioters.



When and how did you join police?

In 2007, I was working with the private sector but later I realised that my efforts were not being felt. In the private sector, you dont maximise your capability. I felt police moves up to the lowest level where your decisions [and] intervention can help an average person.

We did an oral interview at Didis World Kansanga and aptitude tests at the ministry of Internal Affairs. I was shortlisted and after a month reported to Police Training School, Kabalye in Masindi district where we were trained in military skills for one year. My first deployment was at Counter Terrorism (CT).

I was inspired by how police responds to things day and night. I look at every conflict in society, even if its not criminal, it requires police intervention.



Your rise in police in such a short time has been fast, you jumped some ranks.

My rise has been mainly due to the 13 professional courses I have done in anti-terror operations both locally and abroad. When I did the first training in urban fighting and anti-terror operations, I was appointed to head the department at the rank of assistant superintendent but acting as a commissioner.

So, the courses I did while working, helped me to jump the rank of Senior Superintendent to acting commissioner.

Then I was transferred to the Police Training School in Masindi, which is headed by a commissioner and I was training about 3,000 people. So, with my competence, I was vetted to full commissioner. Recently, I finished a senior command and staff college course. Discipline, good performance have also helped me.



What have you done as KMP and what challenges have you faced?

Being KMP commander is a demanding job due to the dynamics of a metropolitan city. However, I interact with the lowest people directly, listen and understand their conflicts since our decisions impact them directly. I make sure their problems are solved since some of them might not be criminal.

The changing face of crime daily, where you handle one, and another crops up almost immediately has taught us to be prepared anytime.

When I came in, I found there were a lot of kifeesi [thugs] criminals and people in Kampala were worried about them. Working as a team at KMP, we defeated kifeesi. Some streets in Kampala were impassable but they are safe now.

After cleaning up kifeesi, we battled a gang of criminals who were dropping leaflets containing murder threats, attacking homes, killing or injuring people. And recently we had women being targeted and murdered within and around the city.



Anything unique about how you fight crime in Kampala?

You must be committed since you work with different people. I always leave office late in the night, but still continue working from home; talking on phone up to morning. Sometimes I dont sleep.



KMP commanders dont keep the job long. The longest-serving commander was AIGP Andrew Felix Kaweesi who served for about to two and a half years.

We dont appoint ourselves in these positions. We have the appointing authority, the inspector general of police. Since the KMP position is at the apex, if I perform well, I can be elevated and taken to a higher office. Its all about your competence; if you dont perform, you cant even spend two months here.



The police are considered partisan; targeting opposition.

In all the things and decisions we take, we are guided by the law, even if it means dispersing people. I follow section nine of the Public Order Management Act, which mandates police to disperse a group of people or individuals provided you see imminent danger to life and property, or where it is going to be violent.

We are not targeting the opposition; we are following the constitution.





Other musicians like Bebe Cool, Judith Babirye sing about politics and they are not stopped. Why did you ban Bobi Wines (Kyadondo East MP Robert Kyagulanyi) music shows?

We are not against Hon Kyagulanyi or Bobi Wine. Nobody is against him. And we have been working closely. But he had a show in Busabala beach, we agreed with him to stick to his music show and not to consult or incite [people against the age-limit bill].

But at about midnight, he started consulting. Remember with consultation, according to the Public Order Management Act, there is a time frame from 7am to 7pm. But he was conducting an opinion poll at 11pm, saying those in favour, raise your hand. That is how we came into conflict with him.



Are you worried of his politics?

We are not against his politics; many people sing political songs but our concern is about incitement and making sure he is within the law. He had a show in Mukono, which we first stopped and investigated.

We think it is going to be resolved once he gets an understanding with us on how to conduct himself...



Why does police always arrest people during opposition consultative meetings and block some MPs from holding their rallies?

As police we agreed that the consultative meetings for MPs must be in line with the Public Order Management Act, which regulates meetings and rallies. But when these meetings started in Kampala, opposition MPs were holding joint consultative meetings.

The meetings they had in Kasubi started well but later became chaotic and we had to think twice. We realised that people coming to some of these meetings were inciting others and some were not members of those respective constituencies. That is how we came up with the rule that every MP must consult in her or his constituency.



Why does police respond fast to political issues like arresting opposition leaders but slow to respond to [crime]?

We respond to all cases. We have had cases of murder of women, and we have responded quickly, arrested the suspects and taken them to court. Its not about politics.

Murder involves a lot of investigation, it is a process and takes some time to resolve and yet for opposition activities, sometimes you interact with them immediately when they are doing things that are unlawful. Sometimes when we are resolving them quickly, people say we target them, which is not the case.

The issue is about working within the law. If you work within the law there is no conflict.



Besides politics, what other challenges are you facing in police?

Fighting crime needs partnerships and we have different policing models we are applying like community policing.

Sometimes it is not easy to bring people on board and sensitize them about security; others are not interested, although it has helped bridge the gap between community and police.

Professional competence of officers is important, which means more refresher courses since Kampala is so demanding and needs people who are physically fit. You have to train officers regularly and we have started this at Kigo Marine base.



Why are you reluctant to whip the errant boda boda riders in the city?

In some countries, boda bodas are organised, have gazetted stages and wear reflector jackets properly marked for easy identification but that is lacking here and KCCA must handle this. [otherwise], we arrest the undisciplined ones and sensitize them about the dangers of riding badly.



What can you say about the ongoing arrests of senior police officers?

The Police Spokesperson AIGP Asan Kasigye is the only one in police given the authority to talk about them.



How do you spend your leisure time?

Its rare to get leisure time, but on Sundays I go to church and pray and also meet my family.



zurah@observer.ug
Mass hysteria has broken out in the small southeast African nation of Malawi, where rumors of real-life blood-sucking vampires have become so widespread that groups of vigilante vampire hunters resort to murder to protect their communities.

At least 9 suspected vampires have been brutally murdered in Malawi since mid-September, including two men in the countrys second-largest city, Blantyre. According to police, both were stoned, and one was set on fire. Police have arrested over 140 people in connection with a vigilante group that has been targeting individuals accused of being vampires and sucking the blood of the innocents.

Photo: istock

Leaders in southern Malawi believe that the vampire rumors originated in neighboring Mozambique, where the fear of real-life vampires has led to violence in the past. The UN also believes that the vampire hysteria recently spread across the Mozambique-Malawi border, into the districts of Mulanje and Phalombe.

The Daily Mail reports that doctors and other healthcare workers have been targeted by vampire hunters for their use of stethoscopes, which the vigilantes apparently consider a tool used to suck blood. Medics have also been robbed and had their vehicles destroyed, while ambulances carrying patients to the hospital have been attacked, a doctors association said. The Society of Medical Doctors in Malawi has stated that it is a case of mass hysteria sweeping the nation.

In a statement, society president Dr. Amos Salimanda Nyaka said, The initial isolated incidents may have had elements of Shared Delusion Disorder. This is when a dominant individual who is deluded and can have those following him believe and internalize his delusions. Shared delusion is usually confined to a locality.

Photo: video screengrab

In view of the magnitude of the problem in that it is affecting many districts and the readiness of many Malawians to internalize these beliefs this presentation would constitute that of Mass Hysteria. It is the considered view of the Society that such bloodsuckers do not exist! This is purely Mass Hysteria, Nyaka writes.

James Kaledzera, Malawis national police spokesperson, told the BBC that police patrols had been stepped up in affected areas, and that they would arrest anybody who is deemed to have taken part in the killings.

Malawian President Peter Mutharika has pledged to investigate the killings, which he described as of grave concern to the government.

Photo: video screengrab

In response to the vigilante group and the accompanying violence, the United Nations has declared several parts of Malawi as no-go zones, stating the situation was unstable and volatile. UN Dispatchs Joanne Lu observed: The current spate of violence is not without political undertones as well. The ruling Democratic Progressive Party has accused the Malawi Congress Party of being behind the rumors and violence. At the same time, politically motivated violence is erupting in other nearby districts ahead of local elections.

However, its the cultural underpinnings  the superstitions, myths and cultural belief  that are more worrying to human rights advocates, because those are more deeply ingrained into poor, undereducated rural societies than political alliances, Lu added. The attacks are alarmingly reminiscent of a sharp increase over the last couple years of attacks on people with albinism, whose bones and body parts are believed to bring good luck in witchcraft rituals.

Malawi is one of the poorest nations in the world, with low educational standards and access. Belief in witchcraft is widespread, and difficulties are often attributed to magical or superstitious explanations. Another similar case of mass hysteria broke out in the area in 2002, when one man was killed and three Catholic priests were assaulted following a rumor that Malawis government was collaborating with vampires to collect human blood.
Special counsel Robert Muellers bombshell first indictments against former Trump campaign aides in the Russia investigation were revelatory for a number of reasons. First, the charges were substantive and wide-reaching enough to suggest the investigation wont be going away anytime soon.

Second, they underscored the lengths to which Trump loyalists in the media will go to keep their audiences dancing to the drumbeat of denial, with the usual menu of dismissive claims that its all a witch hunt, or fake news, or launching a disinformation campaign of whataboutisms in a desperate attempt to redirect us to the real story: namely, Hillary Clintons 2009 deal to grant U.S. uranium production to a Russian nuclear energy agency while she was Secretary of State, or fake news outlet the Washington Posts October report that the Clinton campaign helped fund the infamous 2016 Trump dossier.

Former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort, along with his business associate Richard Gates, were hit with a dozen counts not actually linked to anything involving the 2016 campaign: tax evasion, money laundering and intentionally conspiring to defraud the government by failing to register lobbying work for a pro-Russia Ukrainian political party with the Justice Department. Manafort, whos now the first campaign chief since Watergate to be indicted, has pleaded not guilty to those charges.

Then theres the case of George Papadopoulos, the 30-year-old former Trump foreign policy advisor who was quietly arrested in July and pleaded guilty in October to lying to federal investigators regarding his months-long attempts to arrange meetings between the Trump camp and high-ranking Russian government officials. Manafort, Gates and other senior Trump officials apparently knew what Papadopoulos was doing, as did Agriculture Dept. adviser Sam Clovis, who encouraged Papadopoulos to seal the deal on a meeting. So, why are we just hearing about it now? Unsealed court papers show Papadopoulos had been lending proactive cooperation to the investigation since his arrest, meaning for more than three months he may have worn a wire in exchange for cutting a plea deal, and his work with federal investigators could produce further charges against other staffers. This is very bad news.

So far, Trump and his administration have responded to the news with wild feats of obscurantism, utilizing a confusing communications strategy that serves to both distance the President from the allegations while, simultaneously, casting the developments as no big deal. Trump on Oct. 30 took to Twitter to respond to the arrests, claiming Manaforts unlawful activities occurred years ago, and long before [Manafort] came to the campaign. This is incorrect. According to Muellers Oct. 30 indictment, Manafort hid Ukrainian payments from U.S. authorities between approximately 2006 through at least 2016, during which time he was serving as Trump campaign chairman. On Papadopoulos, Trump cast the former advisor as a young, low level volunteer who has already proven to be a liar.

White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders repeated these talking points, claiming the former campaign members were indicted on charges that had nothing to do with the President. She then doubled down on the image of Papadopoulos as a glorified coffee boy, referring to him as an unpaid volunteer on an advisory council that met once in the course of a year.

Predictably, Trumps allies in the media have fallen lock-step behind these clumsy PR efforts, desperately attempting to spin a confusing narrative of often-contradictory talking points that downplay the indictments while attempting to use the opportunity as a chance to rally their audiences to follow them down the rabbit hole after their own cherry-picked conspiracy theories involving Hillary Clinton.

Sean Hannity, whos gone absolutely ballistic over the scandal, laid bare his paranoid, fevered delusions in an October monologue, claiming theres zero evidence of Trump Russia collusion before pivoting into a baseless conspiracy theory that Mueller is somehow clearly complicit in Clintons 2009 Uranium One scandal. Jesse Watters, appearing on The Five, also used the news as a classic but Hillary! bait-and-switch, claiming that what Papadopoulos did, Hillary did 10 times worse. Sidney Powell, speaking on Fox & Friends, claimed that the entire investigation was set up, basically, to impugn this presidency and to make it as hard as possible for Mr. Trump to carry out his duties.

In a series of bizarre new developments, both the New York Post and the Wall Street Journals editorial board have now penned editorials calling for Muellers resignation. In the strangest twist of all, Fox has now set its sights on the judges presiding over the Paul Manafort case, reporting that one judge has a son who was allegedly convicted of selling heroin, and that another had donated $1,000 to Bill Clintons 1992 presidential campaign.

Theres another unlikely ally that has aligned with this narrative. Speaking with the media on Oct. 31, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov called the investigation over-the-top Russophobic hysteria and the suggestion of any election meddling fantasies without a single piece of proof. Politics truly makes strange bedfellows.
An abandoned train platform in the Greek village of Idomeni was his familys new home for the time being, said one man who had travelled with a dozen other families from Kunduz, Afghanistan. They had arrived in Greece after a five-month journey through Pakistan, Iran and Turkey, and were now camped in tents near the border with the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, which had closed its gates to new arrivals. After fleeing insecurity in Afghanistan, he said, they were now living in overcrowded conditions, with not enough food and little prospect of jobs or the chance to join relatives in other parts of Europe.

Since 2015, thousands of migrants have arrived on the shores of Italy and Greece after surviving treacherous journeys on makeshift boats across the Mediterranean Sea from Turkey and North Africa. Many have travelled across the Balkan land route through the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Serbia, Croatia, Hungary and Austria. By the end of 2016, more than one million migrants had arrived in Europe.

Some States have erected fences and closed borders in response to the newcomers, and many have tightened restrictions on the movement of migrants amid the increasingly xenophobic rhetoric of political leaders and public hostility towards migrants. With concerns growing over rights violations confronting migrants across Europe, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights dispatched monitoring teams to key entry and transit locations throughout 2016 to examine the human rights challenges and protection gaps faced by migrants.

In a new report documenting the findings of the human rights monitoring missions to border locations in Bulgaria, France, Greece, Italy and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, the UN Human Rights Office calls on European States to address urgently the need to protect the human rights of migrants.

States are too often relying on an emergency and security-focused approach to migration governance, the report states. Restrictive laws and policies and the increased use of detention practices, with limited procedural safeguards, have far-reaching impacts on migrants safety, health and dignity.

The monitoring teams found the majority of migrants in border areas living in precarious conditions, with limited access to legal assistance, medical care, education and other basic services. Interviews with hundreds of migrants in the various border locations indicated that most of them lacked information about their rights in relation to accessing services, family reunification assistance and asylum procedures. The teams also observed a lack of adequate measures in place to identify and protect persons with disabilities and victims of torture and sexual violence.

The situations migrants face upon arrival and in transit exacerbate the traumatic experiences many faced at home and during their harrowing journeys to Europe,  said Pia Oberoi, Advisor on Migration for the UN Human Rights Office. With the vast majority of migrants in such vulnerable situations, robust human rights protection responses are urgently needed.

Unaccompanied Children

The situation of unaccompanied children was particularly concerning, Oberoi said, with a general lack of comprehensive and effective protection systems for migrant children. The monitoring teams found that in several locations, reception facilities for new arrivals were being used as detention centres where migrants, including unaccompanied minors and families with children, were being held.

Many of the children interviewed by the mission teams had spent weeks in detention and lacked information regarding why they were being detained, and when or how they would be reunited with family members in other locations. Pointing to the locked gates and rolls of barbed wire above their heads, the children asked, Why are we in jail?

International human rights law is very clear that children, regardless of whether they are unaccompanied or with a parent, should never be detained for immigration purposes, said Oberoi. The care of children must be based on what is in the best interest of each childs development and well-being. This can never be provided in an immigration detention environment.

The mission teams met with EU officials, national and local government authorities, national human rights institutions, and the staff of migrant reception facilities, camps and shelters, to discuss the need to prioritize and strengthen protection of migrants rights.

In a recent speech to UN Member States, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Raad Al Hussein emphasized the need for human rights-based approaches to migration at national, regional and international levels. He urged States to support the ongoing international discussions for a Global Compact on Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration.

The UN Human Rights Office is developing guidelines and a compendium of good practices to help States and other stakeholders respond more effectively and appropriately to the needs of vulnerable people on the move who are not able to benefit from refugee status but nonetheless need protection of their human rights, Zeid said.

The UN Human Rights Office has played a leading role in supporting the historic negotiation of a global compact on migration and will continue its dialogue with Governments, national human rights institutions and civil society partners to ensure adherence to international human rights standards to uphold and protect the rights of all migrants across Europe.

1 November 2017
Add the Nebraska Credit Union League to the long list of those seeking legal action against credit reporting firm Equifax.

Litigants have joined dozens of class-action lawsuits against the company tied to a massive data breach that gave hackers access to Equifaxs system from mid-May through late July.

The breach led to the release of personal information of 145.5 million Americans including Social Security numbers, addresses, birth dates and drivers license numbers.

The Equifax breach has harmed and will continue to harm our credit unions and their members. We refuse to sit idly by as our credit unions begin to bear the long-term financial cost and personnel burden from Equifaxs breach and are pleased to join with the Credit Union National Association in taking this action on our members behalf, said Scott Sullivan, chief executive of the trade group representing Nebraska credit unions.

The national credit union association has called for Equifax to be held accountable for the breach.

For its part, Equifax has pledged to improve its cybersecurity practices.
Omaha-based West Corp. has eliminated an undisclosed number of positions, a company spokesman told The World-Herald on Wednesday.

It wasnt clear when the positions were cut.

Apollo Global Management, a New York-based private-equity firm, purchased West last month for $5.2 billion, including West debt that Apollo assumed.

After the sale, spokesman Dave Pleiss said West still would be run out of Omaha with the same executive team. He said at the time that nothing would immediately change for the companys 1,200 local workers.

On Wednesday, Pleiss said: As part of the normal course of business, we have engaged in a small reduction in force.

It wasnt clear whether the job cuts were related to the recent purchase by Apollo, or how many positions were eliminated. Pleiss wouldnt provide details.

We routinely review our structure and make appropriate adjustments as necessary to ensure we remain aligned with strategic objectives, stay competitive in the marketplace and ensure we continue to meet or exceed our customers expectations, Pleiss said in an emailed statement.

West had ranked No. 864 on Fortune magazines latest list of the nations 1,000 largest companies. It recently has had more than 10,000 employees globally.
University of Nebraska leaders responded hotly this week to a letter from three state senators asking pointed questions about the universitys treatment of conservative students.

The letter exchange  involving NU President Hank Bounds and University of Nebraska-Lincoln Chancellor Ronnie Green on one side and State Sens. Steve Erdman of Bayard, Tom Brewer of Gordon and Steve Halloran of Hastings on the other  reflects the surprising staying power of an incident that took place well over two months ago.

Green and Bounds wrote separate letters objecting to the senators comments.

Green wrote that UNL has no bias against conservatives.

Some faculty have liberal views. Others have conservative views, he wrote. To recklessly and falsely accuse the university as a whole of hostility toward a particular view appears to be an attempt to further political agendas.

In the incident that triggered the controversy, a UNL student recruiting for the conservative organization Turning Point USA on Aug. 25 was referred to as a neo-fascist, among other things, by a graduate student/lecturer. Several other faculty members or graduate students became involved, and the student, Kaitlyn Mullen, wept. She was eventually escorted home by campus police.

The lecturer, Courtney Lawton, received a letter of reprimand and was taken out of the classroom to protect her and students from those who had threatened her on social media.

Erdman said in an interview Wednesday that we have to have a discussion about what needs to be fixed in the NU system.

Its a serious issue, and we have to make some adjustments.

His letter, also signed by his two colleagues, asked:

 Whether UNL professors are hostile towards conservative students.

 Whether administrators are warm, welcoming, inviting and transparent towards conservative students.

 Whether administrators could conduct an honest investigation involving a conservative student.

The letter, sent to news media last week, also asked about the UNL English departments core values, which include social justice and affirming diversity, among other things, as listed on its webpage.

Does anyone teach English anymore at UNL? the letter from the senators asks.

The top of the English department webpage has icons and headings that refer to literature, composition, creative writing and other subjects.

Bounds letter to Halloran, Erdman and Brewer complains that no one contacted me to discuss your questions before the piece was sent to media ... whats the real intent? ... is it a personal political agenda?

Bounds then described NU scientists seeking a cure for cancer, conducting research to help those in the military come home safely and developing innovations in agriculture.

Erdman said Greens and Bounds responses were about what I expected.

He said he and his colleagues just want to make NU better.

Meanwhile, Mullen said she was surprised at how the incident has stayed alive as an issue of discussion.

Mullen, of Highlands Ranch, Colorado, said shes not out to get the university. She said she wants UNL to be a comfortable place for everyone.

Theres so many great professors, Mullen said. I really enjoy my classes.

If the university had given appropriate discipline to those involved, she said, the discussion would have ended long ago.
A new organization, Modern Streetcar Advocates, is launching an effort today to build public support for an Omaha streetcar.

The people behind the push believe the idea has more backers than previously thought. They think much of the opposition is based on a lack of information. And they hope more people will support the idea once they understand the case for creating Omahas first modern streetcar line, through midtown and downtown Omaha.

A lot of people are really enthusiastic about the idea of a streetcar here in Omaha, said Jay Lund, a principal of GreenSlate Development and a leader of Modern Streetcar Advocates. But some people have formed an opinion about the streetcar without having access to any information.

Omahas public conversation about the streetcar has gone quiet since spring, when it was a hot topic in the citys mayoral race. Many people have viewed a streetcar line as an expensive frill that wouldnt be used, a novelty that would take city money away from other needs such as street repair and maintenance. But the idea has not gone away.

The group was to launch a website today, ModernStreetcarAdvocates.org, with information about studies that led to the concept of a streetcar through downtown and midtown Omaha, success stories from other cities such as Kansas City and projected economic benefits. The group is working with the Omaha marketing firm Emspace.

The modern streetcar would not be the old-timey tourist trolley that many people imagine, said Mike Moylan, whose Shamrock Development leads the new Capitol District redevelopment in downtown Omaha. Instead, he said, it would be an economic development tool that would form an important part of a wider transportation plan for all of metropolitan Omaha.

A streetcar is going to increase the tax base, Moylan said. Its going to increase the density, and allow for more, much larger and better development in this urban core from downtown to midtown.

The Modern Streetcar Advocates website will have a sign-up sheet for supporters.

Ultimately, were looking for them to stand up for the idea by adding their name to the list of supporters on the site because showcasing community support is crucial to moving the project forward, Lund said.

GreenSlate is among 20 businesses and individuals identified as financial supporters of Modern Streetcar Advocates. Many of the supporting businesses  such as GreenSlate, Clarity Development, Urban Village, NuStyle Development and Shamrock Development  are involved in real estate development in midtown or downtown Omaha. East Campus Real Estate, the real estate arm of Mutual of Omaha, is also listed as a supporter.

The streetcar route that has been floated would travel back and forth along 10th Street between TD Ameritrade Park and the Old Market, and along Farnam Street from downtown to UNMC at 42nd Street. Proponents say it could be expanded in the future.

Former Omaha Mayors P.J. Morgan and Hal Daub are listed among several champions of Omahas streetcar vision, as is restaurateur Willy Theisen.

The groups initial list of advocates includes Rachel Jacobson, founder and director of Film Streams; Ray Schueneman, a blacksmith who hand forges putters; and Chris Oltmans, co-owner of the Blackstone Social tavern at 39th and Farnam Streets.

Oltmans said he supports the concept not only because the streetcar would run past Blackstone Socials front door on Farnam Street, in the heart of the Blackstone District.

What this would do to continue to drive more living space, more development, would be great for the city, he said.

The architecture and engineering firm HDR Inc. is working on advanced conceptual engineering for a streetcar line. Its supposed to pin down in more detail what work it would take and what it would cost to actually build a streetcar line. A study done for the city last year estimated that it would cost $156 million to build and equip a streetcar line from TD Ameritrade Park downtown to 42nd and Farnam Streets in midtown. It would cost about $7.5 million a year to operate the line, that study estimated.

Mayor Jean Stothert expects to receive the results of that study in late November or early December. If a streetcar is feasible, the mayor would then appoint a committee to study streetcar financing, said Carrie Murphy, a spokeswoman for Stothert.

Modern Streetcar Advocates wants to restart the conversation in a cooler manner than occurred in the spring.

Its like any political issue, Lund said. You hear a loud, more vocal minority. We think theres a large, silent majority that believes this is a good idea.

He invited opponents to visit the website as well.

We want to hear from the entire community, Lund said.

He and his fellow advocates say Omaha needs a streetcar. They say the streetcar wouldnt take away from street construction and would pay for itself with the development and other economic activity it would create.

They point to Kansas City, Missouri, as an example. A two-mile streetcar line in downtown Kansas City opened in May 2016. It had 1.4 million riders last year. Joe Reardon, president and CEO of the Greater Kansas City Area Chamber of Commerce, said in March that the streetcar has 5,400 daily riders. He said then that the streetcar had contributed to $1.8 billion in downtown real estate development.

The newly formed Omaha group sees a streetcar as essential to growth in the citys central business district and to metropolitan Omahas overall growth. Lund acknowledged that his business would benefit from a streetcar through midtown, but he said the rest of Omaha also would benefit from economic growth in its central business district.

Moylan likened the potential economic boost of a streetcar to the growth in the West Dodge Road corridor that followed the construction of an elevated expressway and other improvements.

Look what happened to West Dodge Road when we put the proper infrastructure in from 114th Street to Elkhorn, he said. Look at the quality and strength of the development along that corridor because of the investment we made in that corridor.

A streetcar would have a similar effect, Moylan said.

Theres an overall transit plan here that Omaha needs to get their arms around, he said. And the streetcar is the solution for our urban part of Omaha, like the West Dodge Road corridor was the solution for our suburban area.

To learn more

Modern Streetcar Advocates has scheduled an event for people to learn more about the project on Nov. 14 from 4 to 6 p.m. at The Pella at Blackstone, 303 S. 41st St.

Steve Jensen and Derek Miller from the City of Omaha Planning Department are scheduled to speak.
President Donald Trump and some of his allies on the extreme right have found a new culprit in Tuesday's deadly terrorist attack in Manhattan: Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer, D-N.Y.

As details emerged about the incident, prominent right-wing commentators and news outlets seized on an ABC7 story reporting that alleged attacker Sayfullo Saipov had come to the United States from Uzbekistan under a State Department program known as the Diversity Visa Lottery.

That story is unconfirmed, but Trump appeared off base in his criticism of Schumer. The program originated in part in a bill introduced by the New York Democrat in 1990; but Schumer was also among a group of lawmakers who later sought to drop the visa protocols assailed by Trump.

Still, Schumer was singled out as the brains behind the program and therefore, critics said, bears responsibility for the attack.

In news interviews, blog posts and tweets, critics tried to pin blame on the leading Democrat, saying he was "responsible" for allowing the 29-year-old suspect's entry into the country.

Trump joined the criticism early Wednesday morning, with these tweets:

"The terrorist came into our country through what is called the 'Diversity Visa Lottery Program,' a Chuck Schumer beauty. I want merit based."

"We are fighting hard for Merit Based immigration, no more Democrat Lottery Systems. We must get MUCH tougher (and smarter)."

" 'Senator Chuck Schumer helping to import Europes problems' said Col.Tony Shaffer. We will stop this craziness!"

Schumer's response: "I guess it's not too soon to politicize a tragedy."

In 2013, he was part of the Senate's Gang of Eight, which came up with a sweeping bipartisan proposal to revamp U.S. immigration laws.

Among other things, that proposal called for eliminating the diversity lottery. The bill passed the Senate but died in the House.

Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., another member of the Gang of Eight, defended Schumer, recalling that the group had tried to end the program.

Flake tweeted: "Actually, the Gang of 8, including @SenSchumer, did away with the Diversity Visa Program as part of broader reforms. I know, I was there."

"In fact, had the Senate Gang of 8 bill passed the House, it would have ended the Visa Lottery Program AND increased merit based visas."

In a statement, Schumer also criticized Trump for proposed budget cuts to counterterrorism programs.

"I have always believed and continue to believe that immigration is good for America," the statement read. "President Trump, instead of politicizing and dividing America, which he always seems to do at times of national tragedy, should be focusing on the real solution - anti-terrorism funding - which he proposed cutting in his most recent budget.

"I'm calling on the President to immediately rescind his proposed cuts to this vital anti-terrorism funding."

The midyear budget proposal from Trump called for cutting more than half a billion dollars from "critical counterterrorism programs" administered by the Department of Homeland Security, according to a congressional report.

As The Post wrote in July, that report said the proposed budget would increase DHS funding by 7 percent while "numerous critical programs that mitigate terror threats are cut dramatically," including programs aimed at targeting violent extremism, responding to terrorist attacks and patrolling United States airports.

The report was written by the Democratic staff of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs at the request of Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., the ranking Democrat on the committee.

Many conservatives blame terrorism and violent crime on the nation's immigration laws. It's how Trump has justified his travel ban.

At an event on labor policy Wednesday morning, Schumer declared that "the terrorists can't divide us."

He also thanked the New York Police Department for its swift response to the attack.

"I ride that bike path regularly, my daughter went to Stuyvesant High School," he said, referring to the school near the crash site. "It's hit home for me. It is home."

The diversity visa program has been a target of many conservatives for years, with Trump supporting legislation to eliminate it in favor of a "merit-based" immigration system.

Associating the New York attack with the diversity visa lottery thus serves a double purpose, advancing their immigration law agenda and bashing Schumer.

It also appeared to play well on the Internet with some Trump boosters, who recoil at the word "diversity" as part of the politically correct liberal lexicon.

"I'm sick and tired of seeing men, women and children being sacrificed to the liberals' false deity of diversity, while we all get invaded," said one Twitter user, echoing a theme that coursed through the Internet overnight.

The diversity visa program has been around for more than 20 years, offering a limited number of visas to people from parts of the world that have relatively few immigrants in the United States.

Schumer did play a key role in drawing up the program in 1990. His proposals eventually became part of a broader immigration package that was passed by Congress in a bipartisan vote and signed into law by a Republican president.

For Sebastian Gorka, a former aide to Trump known for his anti-immigration views, that was enough string to connect the minority leader to Saipov, who is accused of plowing a truck into people on a bike path, killing eight.

"He 'won' his visa under the Diversity Lottery program introduced by none other than @SenSchumer," Gorka tweeted Tuesday.

Speaking with Sean Hannity on Fox News, conservative radio host Mark Levin gave a similar assessment.

"You know who the sponsor was? Chuck Schumer," he said, to which Hannity responded, "Good grief."

"This diversity visa program should be gutted," Levin said. "The purpose of immigration, historically, is to improve the United States, is to benefit the United States, not to ensure diversity from the foreigners coming into this country, not to ensure that certain countries are well represented."

Breitbart News wrote that Schumer had "created" the program and referred to the visas as "Schumer visas."

"One of the Schumer-visa winners was Sayfulloh Saipov," read Breitbart's article.

By early Wednesday morning, "Diversity Visa" was trending on Twitter. Some users shared graphic illustrations of a pair of hands with blood dripping from them. "You have blood on your hands Chuck," one tweet read.

Congress approved the Diversity Visa Lottery, also known as the green card lottery, as part of the Immigration Act of 1990, but it didn't take effect until 1995.

Under the program, the State Department offers 50,000 visas each year to immigrants from parts of the world with relatively low immigration rates over the previous five years. Most visas go to people from African nations, as The Washington Post has reported.

To qualify, applicants must have a high school education or two years in an occupation that requires formal training. Those who meet eligibility requirements are selected at random from a computer lottery. The State Department refers to them as "diversity immigrants."

The program did originate in part in a bill introduced in 1990 by Schumer, who was then a member of the House. He proposed making a set number of visas available each year to "diversity immigrants" from "low-admission" countries.

Schumer's measure was absorbed into a broader House immigration bill, which was sponsored by Schumer and 31 others, including several Republicans. The legislation passed in a bipartisan vote of 231 to 192. The Senate version, which contained the "diversity immigrants" provision, passed in an overwhelming 89-8 vote and was signed into law by President George H.W. Bush at the end of 1990.

For the past decade or so, political leaders have debated whether to keep issuing diversity visas.

A Congressional Research Service report from 2011 noted that some lawmakers and government officials had raised concerns about the program, suggesting that there were national security reasons to eliminate it. The report mentioned one case in which an Egyptian immigrant whose spouse was a diversity immigrant shot and killed two people at Los Angeles International Airport. It also cited disagreement over the reliability of background checks in countries that qualified at the time for the diversity lottery.

The U.S. Government Accountability Office reviewed the program in 2007 and found no documented evidence that diversity immigrants posed a terrorist threat, but concluded that the program was vulnerable to fraud. The State Department under President George W. Bush rejected the agency's recommendations, contending that its fraud screening program was robust.

Trump said earlier this year that he supported legislation to eliminate diversity visas. The Reforming American Immigration for Strong Employment (RAISE) Act in the Senate would scrap the program entirely and introduce a "merit-based" immigration system prioritizing foreigners with job skills, English abilities and higher education.

Black lawmakers and civil rights advocates have argued against ending diversity visas, as the Hill has reported. Doing so, they say, would take away an important pathway for African and Caribbean immigrants to lawfully enter the United States.

The Uzbek immigrant community in the United States is small, numbering in the tens of thousands, and few Uzbek immigrants enter the country each year, making Uzbekistan a prime candidate for the diversity visa program. The U.S. Embassy in Uzbekistan even advertises diversity visas on its website.

By comparison, nearly 170,000 people immigrated to the United States from India in 2015, along with 143,200 from China and 139,400 from Mexico, according to figures from the Migration Policy Institute. As a result, those countries do not qualify for diversity visas.
WASHINGTON (AP)  New York Sen. Chuck Schumer said Wednesday that President Donald Trump was politicizing and dividing America in the aftermath of Tuesdays attacks in Manhattan that killed eight people and wounded 11.

The Senates top Democrat said Trump  who attacked Schumer on Twitter on Wednesday morning  should be bringing us together.

Trump tweeted that the accused attacker had entered the U.S. through a special diversity visa program that the president called a Chuck Schumer beauty.

Trump tweeted, We are fighting hard for Merit Based immigration, no more Democrat Lottery Systems. We must get MUCH tougher (and smarter).

Schumer said former President George W. Bush sought to unite the country after the Sept. 11 attacks. He said the contrast between President George Bushs actions after 9/11 and President Trumps actions this morning could not be starker.

Schumer called upon Trump to rescind proposed cuts to anti-terrorism funding.

Meanwhile, a Republican senator said Trump was unfairly blaming Schumer.

GOP Sen. Jeff Flake of Arizona said Schumer was among a group of eight Republican and Democratic senators who proposed eliminating the diversity visa program three years ago as part of a broader bipartisan bill to overhaul U.S. immigration laws.

Flake, who served on the Gang of Eight with Schumer, said: I know. I was there.

The immigration bill ultimately failed in the GOP-led House after passing the Senate in June 2013.

Flake recently announced hes not running for re-election but said he wont be silent about Trumps politics and behavior.

Copyright 2017, the Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Refugee resettlements in Nebraska have slowed from a trickle to a drip.

Advocates lamented the resettlement numbers at an Omaha Refugee Task Force meeting Wednesday.

Its as bad as it can get, Jaleel Oladipo, the states reception and placement manager for Lutheran Family Services, said at the meeting. The task force meets every other month to review incoming refugee numbers and share ways to better serve refugees.

The numbers reflect President Donald Trumps decision to set the ceiling for incoming refugees at 45,000, the lowest in more than 30 years. This past year, the U.S. accepted 53,000 refugees  well below the 110,000-refugee ceiling that President Barack Obama set for 2017.

Statewide, LFS resettled 43 refugees in Omaha and Lincoln in September, the last month of the 2017 federal fiscal year, and 31 in both cities in October. Four are expected for November. Oladipo said LFS could resettle as few as 20 to 30 total statewide from now until March.

During the same period last year, LFS resettled 224 in September, 140 in October and 512 between Nov 1. and March 31.

In 2016, Nebraska accepted 1,441 refugees, becoming the nations top refugee resettlement state per capita.

Karen Parde, Nebraskas refugee resettlement coordinator, said at Wednesdays meeting that refugee resettlement numbers are very much down.

Trumps most recent hold-up on taking refugees from 11 countries also has had an impact. Lincoln officials were expecting Iraqi refugees and, so far, Parde said, none of them are coming.

This means that refugee resettlement agencies  Nebraska has three  will have less to do on the front end. There is no shortage of work to do, however, with refugees already here who need language, housing, employment and other help.

We need to re-look at how we do our business, Parde said. Its going to be a very small year.
WASHINGTON  Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, shows no signs of lifting his blockade of Iowa Agriculture Secretary Bill Northeys nomination to a top position at the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

And another ag department nominee  ex-Trump campaign co-chairman Sam Clovis, a former conservative radio talk show host from Iowa  is facing renewed opposition to his nomination to serve as the departments chief scientist amid revelations that he encouraged a campaign adviser to foster ties with Russian officials.

Cruz and eight other senators from refinery-heavy areas have requested a meeting with administration officials over the Renewable Fuel Standard  federal mandates that they say are driving up costs for refiners and putting thousands of jobs in their states at risk.

Its an unsustainable situation, Cruz told reporters Tuesday.

Cruz has not raised concerns about Northeys qualifications to be the next undersecretary of farm production and conservation.

Rather, the nomination has become a point of leverage in a dispute over the RFS, which requires certain levels of ethanol, biodiesel and other renewables to be blended into the fuel supply.

Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, temporarily blocked a top Environmental Protection Agency nominee until the administration announced its support for a laundry list of pro-ethanol policies.

Now Cruz is pushing back by blocking the Northey nomination. In particular, his side complains that the price of credits used to show compliance with the RFS has been driven up by speculators.

I believe there is a win-win that is good for Iowa corn farmers and good for Pennsylvania refinery workers, Cruz said. And its incumbent on all of us to reach solutions that actually work and produce jobs.

But Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, rejected the idea of a meeting at the White House as ludicrous and a waste of time given that both the president and the EPA administrator have thrown their support behind the RFS.

Theres no oil at the bottom of that Texas hole, Grassley told The World-Herald.

But Northeys supporters still need to figure out some kind of strategy, Grassley said, because Northey is much needed in his new position.

Grassley also said Tuesday that its too early to conclude that Clovis nomination will falter. He said that Clovis is cooperating with the Senate Intelligence Committees investigation.

Newly released court documents show that Trump foreign policy adviser George Papadopoulos communicated with several senior campaign officials about his outreach to the Russian government over a period of months.

Papadopoulos pleaded guilty this month to lying to federal agents about his outreach to Russia.

Victoria Toensing, an attorney for Clovis, confirmed that several references in court filings to the campaign supervisor refer to Clovis.

At one point, Papadopoulos emailed Clovis and other campaign officials about a March 24, 2016, meeting he had in London with a professor who had introduced him to the Russian ambassador and a Russian woman he described as Putins niece. The group had talked about arranging a meeting between us and the Russian leadership to discuss U.S.-Russia ties under President Trump, Papadopoulos wrote. (Papadopoulos later learned that the woman was not Putins niece, and while he expected to meet the ambassador, he never did, according to filings.)

Clovis responded that he would work it through the campaign, adding, great work, according to court documents.

In August 2016, Clovis responded to efforts by Papadopoulos to organize an off the record meeting with Russian officials. I would encourage you and another foreign policy adviser to the campaign to make the trip, if it is feasible, Clovis wrote.

Toensing said Clovis always vigorously opposed any Russian trip for Donald Trump and/or the campaign. She said his responses to Papadopoulos were courtesy by a polite gentleman from Iowa.

This report includes material from the Washington Post.
The writer is a senior U.S. district judge for Nebraska.

At the outset, it is important to make it plain that neither Steve Grasz nor anyone on his behalf asked me to write this piece. I do so only because I care deeply about the federal judiciary. Also, I write for myself alone and in my personal capacity only.

I was stunned to read the statement of Pamela A. Bresnahan on behalf of the Standing Committee on the Federal Judiciary of the American Bar Association finding that Steve Grasz is not qualified to serve as a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit.

Having received a well qualified rating from that committee many years ago when I was nominated to serve as a federal district judge, I believe I know something about who is and who is not qualified to serve as a federal judge.

Having served as a law clerk to the late Hon. Donald R. Ross  a highly regarded judge on the 8th Circuit, no stranger to politics before his appointment to the bench and my mentor and lifelong friend  I believe I also have intimate knowledge of who is and who is not qualified by experience and temperament to sit on the 8th Circuit.

I was interviewed by the ABA regarding Mr. Grasz, who I dont know personally, on two separate occasions.

On both occasions, I told the evaluator that I believed that Mr. Grasz was well qualified. This was based primarily upon his appearances before me when he served in the Nebraska Attorney Generals Office, and particularly regarding litigation over Nebraskas abortion laws.

I also shared my law review article with the evaluator that responded to Mr. Graszs 1999 article mentioned in Ms. Bresnahans statement.

In those articles, Mr. Grasz and I debated how to determine when and whether a decision of the Supreme Court ought to be treated as precedent within the partial-birth abortion context.

As the author of both of the Carhart decisions that ultimately reached the Supreme Court, I thought I had followed precedent.

Mr. Grasz believed, so I thought, that the abortion precedents of the Supreme Court could not properly be applied in the context of partial-birth abortion litigation and that partially delivered fetuses were categorically different from non-partially delivered fetuses.

In the second partial-birth abortion case, in which Mr. Grasz was not involved, Justice Anthony Kennedy essentially agreed with Mr. Grasz. The case is Gonzales v. Carhart, 550 U.S. 124 (2007).

As for Mr. Graszs ability to set aside his deeply held non-legal beliefs, I was and am of the view that he should be given the benefit of the doubt. Of course, no one knows for sure whether a judicial nominee can free himself or herself of deeply held beliefs and apply the law notwithstanding those beliefs.

One can only speculate, and my speculation was that Mr. Grasz, who is by all accounts a brilliant and honorable person, would do his best. I certainly have and had no evidence to the contrary.

Indeed, Judge Ross was a shining example of a person who shed his political leanings (Republican) despite the deeply held nature of them. Thus, I was not surprised when Judge Ross dissented from a ruling by the 8th Circuit that allowed the Paula Jones suit to proceed even while President Bill Clinton was in office. Jones v. Clinton, 72 F.3d 1354, 1367-1370 (8th Cir. 1996).

As for the ABA standing committee, I wish to make something plain. The committee does wonderful work and is not composed of a bunch of crazy liberals. The members take their work very seriously.

So, it is with that high regard in mind that I respectfully suggest that the committee got it wrong when it gave Mr. Grasz a not qualified rating.
Dennis Guthard has hunted for more than two decades, but had never before seen such a sight.

Two big bucks had locked antlers Sunday and were struggling in a muddy creek near a cornfield just north of Waverly, Nebraska.

Guthard, a Lancaster Countys Sheriffs deputy, had been sent to investigate after a landowner spotted the deer.

The deputy soon got help from a Nebraska Game and Parks Commission crew that freed the deer by using a tree saw to cut off several inches of one deers antler.

It was real nice teamwork, said Dina Barta, a conservation officer with the parks commission who was there. It was a group coming together to free the deer.

Barta said its mating season, and bucks fight to show dominance.

Usually the skirmishes end with one deer running off, she said. But the two bucks in the creek on Sunday hadnt been that lucky.

With their antlers locked, the bucks wouldnt have been able to eat or drink and most likely would have died if they hadnt been discovered, Barta said.

Guthard captured on his cellphone Sundays drama plus the work of the parks commission crew that included Mike Luben, Cole Neibauer and Trent Henry. He said he welcomed their help. A local rancher, Andrew Donahue, also helped.

One of the bucks was exhausted and lying in the water, although several times it tried standing. The other was still fighting, even dragging its foe several feet through the creek bed.

The lively buck kept twisting its head, trying to find a way to get free as it thrashed in the water.

One of the parks commission employees had called for help from Donahue, who has cattle and is good with a lasso. Donahue was able to rope the back legs of the lively buck. That helped the crew control the animals and pull them out of the water.

One member of the crew then used the tree saw to cut off part of an antler, freeing the bucks.

The lively buck stood for a moment then bounded into the cornfield.

The other deer lay in the grass above the bank, worn out from the struggle. The crew made sure the buck was in a dry area and in the sun, so it could warm up, Barta said.

Barta said she hoped it would gain strength and run off, but its chances of survival were probably 50-50 because it was so exhausted.

We gave it its best chance possible, she said. Its part of nature.

Correction: This story has been updated to correct the spelling of Cole Neibauer's name
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The Darren Drake Act, named after a New Jersey man killed in the New York City West Side bike path attack on Halloween nearly two..
Workers at New Seasons Market are organizing a union, criticizing the Portland grocer for rolling back health coverage, among other things.

"Right now our main demand is just for them to sit down with us," said Isaac Byrd, a cashier at the Williams store. "We want to have a conversation."

Employees are holding a rally outside the North Portland store, 3445 N Williams Ave, at 10 a.m. Wednesday. The workers are backed by UFCW Local 555, which represents 25,000 members  largely retail workers in grocery stores  in Oregon and Southwest Washington.

New Seasons opened its first store in Raleigh Hills in 2000. It has since grown to 21 stores in Oregon, Washington and California, and employs 4,104 including workers at its New Leaf Community Markets. New Seasons acquired the Northern California chain in 2013.

New Seasons' growth was buoyed by a 2009 investment by Portland-based Endeavour Capital, which now has a roughly 60-percent stake in the company. It also owns a stake in Seattle-based Metropolitan Market, and previously held a stake in WinCo Foods.

Byrd says workers' problems with New Seasons have grown along with its expansion  particularly after Endeavour's investment.

But New Seasons says it treats its employees better than others in the industry. While it previously offered health insurance to those working as little as one shift, workers will soon be required to log 24 hours a week to qualify, up from the current 20-hour threshold.

The grocer has long touted its progressive values. In an emailed statement to The Oregonian/OregonLive on Tuesday, it emphasized its status as a certified B Corp, and said it holds itself to standards that exceed industry norms.

"We place as much value on taking care of our staff, communities and environment as we do in growing a sustainable and profitable business," the statement said.

In addition, the grocer's 2016 Impact Report highlighted New Seasons' "speak up culture" that allows workers "to have a voice and to share ideas and concerns."

But Peter Diaz, UFCW Local 555's organizing director, questioned whether New Seasons is all that progressive.

"Part of being progressive is providing living wage jobs," he said, noting Portland's rising cost of living.

Diaz said New Seasons has transformed since Endeavour bought its stake.

"It's no longer the local grocery store," he said. "The culture of the company has changed."

-- Anna Marum

amarum@oregonian.com

503-294-5911

@annamarum

Corrections and clarifications: Endeavour Capital no longer holds a stake in WinCo Foods. New Seasons workers do not currently need to log 24 hours a week to qualify for health insurance. This policy takes effect in 2018.


by Samantha Bakall | The Oregonian/OregonLive

With nearly 50 Asian grocery stores scattered across the Portland area, it can be hard to know where to start if you're looking to cook something new. We spent two days exploring -- driving from Vancouver to Southeast Portland, Gresham to Hillsboro -- to visit all 49 (and counting) stores and discover what ingredients were stocked in their aisles.



We broke down our comprehensive master list to bring you the 12 places to shop around Portland if you're planning to cook Chinese food.



For the purposes of this guide, condiments refer to sauces and seasonings like soy, fermented pastes, chile sauces and oils. "Dry goods" is our encompassing label for grains and legumes (including dals). And starches refer to various flours (tapioca, rice and black gram, for example) and ground legumes and grains.

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Samantha Bakall | The Oregonian/OregonLive

99 Ranch

The newest and one of the most exciting grocery stores on this list, 99 Ranch opened in Beaverton two months ago to insane lines and regional fanfare. This Taiwanese grocery chain is one of the largest in the country and elevates the Portland areas Asian grocery game to new heights. Inside the former Albertsons, find baked goods, a self-serve dim sum counter, roast meats, a huge selection of fish and meat balls, fresh seafood, fresh noodles and tofu, a gargantuan produce section, drinks, what seems like every dumpling wrapper on the market, frozen foods, sweets and snacks, housewares and cleaning supplies, alcohol, dry goods, starches and more (if you can believe it). We cant wait to go back here.

Best for: Taiwanese, Chinese cuisines

8155 S.W. Hall Blvd, Beaverton, 503-605-1899, 99ranch.com

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Samantha Bakall | The Oregonian/OregonLive

ABC Seafood Company

One of the eastsides best seafood markets. Stop by ABC for live seafood, including Dungeness (in season), clams, crabs, fish, crawfish, periwinkles and more. Theres a small selection of dry and frozen goods, produce and snacks, but youre here for the well-priced seafood.

Best for: Fresh fish and seafood

6509 S.E. Powell Blvd., 503-771-5802

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Samantha Bakall | The Oregonian/OregonLive

An Dong Market

An expansive, well-lit store along Southeast Powell, An Dong features an impressive selection of produce, Asian greens and fresh herbs. Also find fish and meat (and silkworms), frozen dumplings, condiments, canned goods, snacks and sweets.

Best for: Vietnamese, Cambodian, Lao, Chinese cuisines

5441 S.E. Powell Blvd, 503-777-2463

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Samantha Bakall | The Oregonian/OregonLive

Asian Food Center

A mostly Chinese-focused grocery store tucked in the back of a large strip mall. Asian Food Center offers a large, well-organized produce section, meat and fish counter (including an excellent selection of thin-sliced meats for hot pot or shabu shabu), dry goods, home goods, condiments, fresh noodles and frozen foods. If youve eaten hot pot next door at Little Sheep and want to replicate the experience at home, youll find all the ingredients and materials (including a tabletop burner and pot) here.

Best for: Chinese cuisine

3849 S.W. 117th Ave., Beaverton, 503-520-1880, afcwa.com/BeavertonLocation.aspx

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Samantha Bakall | The Oregonian/OregonLive

Chang Fa Market

This Southeast Portland grocery store was the only place on the entire east side (and Vancouver) that we found Chinese yellow chives, a more delicate version of jiu cai or garlic chives. Alongside the elusive allium, find condiments, meat and fish, Chinese herbs, dried noodles and more.

Best for: Chinese cuisine

8310 S.E. Division St., 503-788-8882

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Samantha Bakall | The Oregonian/OregonLive

China Foods Inc.

Drive too fast and you'll miss this wholesale-driven Chinese grocery store. Half restaurant supply, half grocery, this spot offers condiments, rice, drinks, dry goods, oils, spices and more in regular and bulk sizes.

Best for: Chinese cuisine

1414 S.E. 82nd Ave., 503-256-8718

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Samantha Bakall | The Oregonian/OregonLive

Daxing Seafood Inc.

A closet-sized shop with a little bit of this and that. Find frozen fish, canned goods, instant noodles, spices, condiments, drinks, a small produce section, our favorite dumpling wrappers (Evergreen brand) and ice cream.

Best for: Chinese, Vietnamese cuisines

11945 S.W. Pacific Hwy #248, Tigard, 503-968-6727, daxingseafood.com

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Samantha Bakall | The Oregonian/OregonLive

Fubonn Supermarket

One of this lists biggest grocery stores, Fubonn Supermarket lives inside Oregons biggest Asian mall. Inside the grocery store itself, find an expansive selection of condiments from across the Asian continent, fresh produce (including an impressive selection of fresh herbs), dry goods, frozen foods, housewares and alcohol. Nearly every major Asian country is represented, but youll find the most Chinese, Taiwanese and Vietnamese goods here.

Best for: Chinese, Vietnamese, Taiwanese, Filipino, Cambodian, Lao cuisines

2850 S.E. 82nd Ave., #80, 503-517-8899, fubonn.com

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Samantha Bakall | The Oregonian/OregonLive

Ocean King Market

You dont need to cross the Columbia for fresh, live and well-priced seafood. At Ocean King Market, tucked into the back of a strip mall with a Chinese restaurant and Kumon, find live scallops, mussels, blood clam, razor clams, fish and crab, as well as a small produce section and condiments.

Best for: Fresh fish and seafood

14930 S.E. Mill Plain Blvd, Vancouver, WA, 360-719-2118, oceankingmarket.com

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Samantha Bakall | The Oregonian/OregonLive

Oriental Food Value

This huge, family-owned store has called Southeast Portland home for 25 years. Inside the warehouse-like grocery, find fresh noodles, dumpling wrappers, meat, fish, produce, housewares, cookware, ceramics and artwork. The store plans to open a second location thats twice the size deeper in Southeast Portland with more American and Mexican ingredients.

Best for: Chinese cuisine, with some Japanese, Vietnamese, Cambodian, Lao and Korean ingredients

8303 S.E. Insley St., 503-775-8683

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Samantha Bakall | The Oregonian/OregonLive

Tin Seng Trading Company

One block east of Chang Fa Market is this smaller grocery store. Inside, theres a large assortment of herbs for Chinese medicine, produce, frozen foods, seafood and meat.

Best for: Chinese cuisine and medicine

8350 S.E. Division St., 503-777-8203

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Samantha Bakall | The Oregonian/OregonLive

Tola Angkor Asian Market

A well-organized store offering Pan-Asian ingredients. Alongside snacks and sweets, youll find produce, condiments, a large selection of fish balls -- ground fish meat balls -- dried noodles, an impressive curry selection with spices and mixes for Japanese, Thai and Indian recipes, fresh herbs for Vietnamese and Thai cooking and more.

Best for: Vietnamese, Filipino, Thai, Chinese, Cambodian cuisines

11320 N.E. 49th St., Vancouver, WA, 360-828-1163

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Samantha Bakall | The Oregonian/OregonLive

Read the full list of Asian grocery stores

Read the full guide to every Asian grocery store in the Portland metro area.

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More than a month after a draft plan from the Trump administration to shrink the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument leaked, Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley said they have yet to be briefed about the plan.

The Democratic senators blasted the draft report from Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke obtained by The Oregonian/OregonLive on Sept. 18 as inaccurate and misleading and said they were "disappointed" to still be waiting for more details.

Wyden and Merkley addressed a letter to President Donald Trump's chief of staff, Gen. John Kelly, on Tuesday expressing their frustration with the process.

Among the inaccuracies they cited: Zinke's 19-page draft falsely stated that the 113,000-acre protected area where the Cascade, Klamath and Siskiyou mountains converge prohibits motorized travel and remaining roads are "unpassable and unsuitable for use."

"Neither the original designation nor the expansion," the senators said, citing the 2017 expansion approved by then-President Barack Obama, "prohibits the use of motorized transportation in the monument." The senators said, "hundreds of miles of roads" are open and usable in the monument.

Zinke also suggested the administration would protect hunting and fishing rights in the area, which Wyden and Merkley said are not currently under threat. "Neither the original nor the expanded monument proclamation reduce hunting and fishing rights," the senators said.

The Trump administration also cites a lack of public process as another reason the monument should be reduced in size. The senators said extensive public process actually led to substantial changes to the most recent expansion. After hearing from thousands of Southern Oregon residents, the monument expansion proposal pushed by Wyden and Merkley shrank by 14,000 acres, they said.

The Department of the Interior did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Zinke, a former Montana Congressman, recommended shrinking the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument in southern Oregon and five other protected areas after a 120-day review period.

He visited Oregon this summer and met with Gov. Kate Brown in private to discuss the matter.

Zinke also met with U.S. Rep. Greg Walden, a Republican who represents the district comprising the monument.

In September, Walden said in a statement he appreciated Zinke spending time listening to stakeholders on his visit this summer. "Southern Oregonians deeply value their public lands while maintaining healthy support for private property rights and the need to properly fund our local schools," Walden said in a statement. "It's clear the Secretary heard these concerns as reflected in his recommendation to the President."

-- Andrew Theen

atheen@oregonian.com

503-294-4026

@andrewtheen
BY RICH LOWRY

With special counsel Robert Mueller unveiling his first indictments and a plea deal in the Russia case, President Donald Trump should do what's hardest for him -- nothing.

The indictment of former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort and his associate Rick Gates -- together with news of a plea agreement with former Trump foreign-policy adviser George Papadopoulos -- will generate a torrent of negative press coverage of the sort that drives Trump crazy.

His instinct to lash out is his worst enemy. Trump is at more peril from his own reaction than from any of the facts that have been uncovered by Mueller, congressional investigators or the press to this point. If he were to fire Mueller, he'd endanger his presidency -- and perhaps over nothing.

The proverbial net, as far as we know, isn't closing in. The indictment of Manafort is about Manafort, namely his shady lobbying business. He had long crossed over into the netherworld of representing foreign malefactors and shouldn't have been allowed within 100 miles of an American presidential election. That he ran the Trump campaign for a crucial period in the summer of 2016 speaks to the campaign's desperation for talent at that point -- a disreputable hired gun that no other Republican campaign would have considered hiring brought a note of professionalism to the operation.

There is no suggestion in the indictment that any of Manafort's alleged wrongdoing, which dates back to 2006, had anything to do with the campaign. He failed to register as a foreign lobbyist for his work for Ukrainian political players, a fairly common offense among lobbyists that is usually remedied by an amended filing. He also is accused of laundering millions of dollars from his Ukrainian bounty to escape the notice of American authorities.

Unless Manafort knows details of a collusion scheme that we have no evidence of yet and is about to flip (no sign of that, either), none of this need directly affect Trump. If Manafort is innocent, he's a dirty lobbyist who just barely stayed on the right side of the law; if he's guilty, he's a dirty lobbyist who also committed crimes.

As for George Papadopoulos, his plea for lying to the FBI actually involves his work for the campaign. He misled investigators about the timing and nature of his contacts with Russians who wanted to set up a Vladimir Putin-Donald Trump meeting and spoke of dirt on Hillary Clinton. This is suggestive, but Papadopoulos was a bit player, and it's not clear the talk went anywhere.

If Trump fired Mueller in reaction to all this, he would take a matter that now is at the edges of his world -- Manafort has already been gingerly tossed under the bus, and no one knows Papadopoulos -- and make it a truly all-consuming crisis. And for what? As a practical matter, there is no way to end the investigation. If Mueller is dismissed, all the special counsel's materials will presumably be handed over to Congress, and he would, at some point, be a lead witness in impeachment hearings.

The option of pre-emptively pardoning everyone targeted by Mueller also is foolhardy. A Trump pardon of Manafort would associate the president with the lobbyist's alleged malfeasance when the point should be to establish distance, and would convince everyone that Trump has something explosive to hide.

The calculus here isn't complicated. If Trump is guilty of serious wrongdoing, there is nothing he can do to stop it from being uncovered. If, on the other hand, he's innocent, firing Mueller would be a catastrophic error.

The proximate cause of Trump's ouster of James Comey appears to have been Trump's irritation that the FBI director wouldn't publicly state that Trump wasn't under investigation. So Trump acted out of pique and made things much worse for himself -- in fact, got the special counsel probe.

If the president wants to repeat that unhappy experience, he should ax Mueller or issue a barrage of pardons. Otherwise, he should sit tight.

-- Rich Lowry can be reached via e-mail: comments.lowry@nationalreview.com

(c) 2017 by King Features Syndicate
The success of new Portland Police Chief Danielle Outlaw's tenure won't ride on what she did or did not do in her first month on the job.

She'll have plenty of opportunities in coming months to show her leadership abilities by navigating the bureau through federally-mandated policing reforms and repairing the bureau's shredded relationship with the community.

But even so, her handling of two incidents on the same day last week - the creation of a new deputy chief of police and an officer-involved shooting - marks a disappointing start. In both instances, Outlaw showed a disengagement that won't serve her or Portland well. The chief should recognize that one of her first priorities - and the key to future success - lies in building a relationship with police officers, community critics and the public at large.

First up: The creation of the deputy chief of police position. Portland City Commissioners, minus a vacationing Mayor Ted Wheeler, quickly approved the request to create a deputy chief position, inserting a new top-tier management level over the bureau's three assistant chiefs. The cost is expected to run $346,000 to cover salaries and benefits for the deputy chief and a new administrative assistant.

Outlaw, however, wasn't even there to make the request personally, as The Oregonian/OregonLive's Maxine Bernstein reported. She was attending a police chiefs conference, leaving the request to Human Resources Director Anna Kanwit to pitch instead.

Editorial Agenda 2017

Boost student success

Get Oregon's financial house in order

Help our homeless

Honor our diverse values

Make Portland a city that works

Expand access to public records

________________________

Read more about the editorial board's priorities for Oregon.

Unfortunately, neither Kanwit, nor one of the mayor's senior advisers could provide any compelling arguments for why the bureau should add the new position. Neither could the commissioners. And none of them could offer anything beyond a barebones outline of the proposed deputy chief's duties which, according to a fiscal impact statement, would be to assist "the Police Chief with planning, directing, managing, and overseeing the activities and operations of the Portland Police Bureau (PPB) and all its branches." Rather, their justification for the new position amounted to the fact that Outlaw wanted it and was more "familiar" with such a structure.

Outlaw and Wheeler, who serves as Portland's police commissioner, should have made the case themselves. There's no reason that this issue had to be considered at last week's session. After all, the two had discussed adding the position during job negotiations, Wheeler's spokesman Michael Cox told The Oregonian/OregonLive Editorial Board. But instead of explaining and defending the plan they hatched more than two months ago, Outlaw and Wheeler opted to put this on the agenda for a meeting in which they weren't even there.

Oregonian editorials

Editorials reflect the collective opinion of The Oregonian/OregonLive editorial board, which operates independently of the newsroom. Members of the editorial board are Laura Gunderson, Helen Jung, Mark Katches and John Maher.

To respond to this editorial, post your comment below, submit an OpEd or a letter to the editor.

If you have questions about the opinion section, email Laura Gunderson, editorial pages editor, or call 503-221-8378.

Unfortunately, Outlaw followed up her no-show on the deputy chief request with a no-comment on an officer-involved shooting later that afternoon of a man suspected of bank robberies in North Portland.

Information about the incident, which left the man hospitalized with serious injuries, has been limited. Police disclosed that the man is black, 25 years old and was not armed at the time he was shot.

Certainly, there's not a lot that Outlaw can say so early in an investigation. But incidents in which officers use deadly force against someone, particularly in light of Portland's controversial history of such shootings of African Americans and people in mental crisis, merit at least a statement from the chief if she can't be on the scene herself. The public deserves to hear a commitment from top brass that such a shooting will be thoroughly investigated for any criminal or administrative violations. The silence from Outlaw sends a troubling message to the public about the attention she pays to such officer-involved shootings.

One month won't define her career. But Outlaw needs to show Portland that the detached leadership style she's exhibited over the past month doesn't define her.

- The Oregonian/OregonLive Editorial Board
BY E.J. DIONNE JR.

WASHINGTON -- It is a victory for Republicans that the political conversation -- when it's not being hijacked by President Trump's assorted outbursts and outrages -- is focused on tax cuts. No matter how critical the coverage gets, the sheer amount of attention risks sending a message that taxes are the most important issue confronting the country.

This is entirely wrong, and it's essential to challenge the whole premise of the debate. The U.S. does not need tax cuts now. Reducing government revenues at this moment will do far more harm than good. Conservatives are proving definitively that they don't care in the least about deficits. And their claims that tax cuts will unleash some sort of economic miracle have been proved false again and again and again.

But there is an even bigger objection: The opportunity costs of this obsession are enormous because it keeps us from grappling with the problems we really do need to solve.

Ever since Trump's election, discussion of the vast divides in our nation between prosperous regions and those battered by economic change have filled our newspapers, websites and airwaves. There is simply no way that shoveling out $2.6 trillion in business tax cuts in a largely undifferentiated fashion does anything to help places that are ailing.

On the contrary, this farrago of corporate goodies -- along with the absurd repeal of the estate tax and various other benefits showered on the well-off -- would only aggravate existing inequalities. And by depleting the government's coffers, it would make it much harder to finance public initiatives in education, job training and other spheres to promote mobility for Americans who are lagging behind.

This, by the way, is why ending the deductibility of state and local taxes is an especially bad idea. This provision punishes states with more progressive tax structures that ask their best-off citizens to ease the difficulties of their less fortunate neighbors. Shifting the incentives against states willing to spend money to remedy social ills is the not-so-hidden agenda of the anti-tax obsessives who support killing this deduction. They are trying to disable government at all levels by making it harder for states to call on their most affluent citizens to pay a little more of the common load.

There will be many other parts of this proposal to criticize, but that is not enough. It's even more important to show how much damage this tax cut would do both to programs we already have and initiatives we need. Democrats are already noting that the Republican budget pays for the tax cuts with, among other things, a $1 trillion reduction to Medicaid and nearly half that amount from Medicare. If Republicans can't get their act together to destroy Obamacare, they will simply starve the health system, particularly for low-income Americans.

The tax cut shoves aside other priorities as well. Regional inequities are now so pervasive throughout the West that The Economist magazine -- as friendly to lightly regulated capitalism as any publication -- devoted its cover and a special report last week to steps we need to take to reduce the gap between rich and poor locales. "Opportunities are limited for those stuck in the wrong place," the magazine wrote, "and the wider economy suffers." All who care about saving liberal democracy should support a reformed market system that responds to the discontents of those now left out.

Meanwhile, as Dylan Matthews reported on Vox, Sens. Michael Bennet, D-Colo., and Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, have introduced a bill that would dramatically expand the child tax credit to $3,600 a year per child for those aged 0 to 5, and $3,000 a year for those 6 to 18. To direct the most assistance to the poor and the less affluent parts of the middle class, the credit begins gradually to phase out for incomes of single parents at $75,000 a year and married couples at $110,000.

The plan, Matthews writes, would cut child poverty in the U.S. almost in half, from 16.1 percent to 8.9 percent. The cost: roughly $1 trillion over a decade, as against the $1.5 trillion Republicans claim will be the net price of their tax cuts after they are done shuffling the tax code around.

Which is the better expenditure?

That is the question that must be pressed relentlessly across a broad range of concerns. Just because the only thing Republicans know how to do is cut taxes doesn't mean the rest of us have to pretend that this exercise makes any sense at all.

-- E.J. Dionne's email address is ejdionne@washpost.com. Twitter: EJDionne.

(c) 2017, Washington Post Writers Group
Wednesday 1 November 2017 12:41pm



PhD student Howard Maxwell has been awarded a prestigious scholarship as part of the 2017 Health Research Council awards.

A University of Otago PhD student is doing his bit to curb antibiotic resistance and subsequently reduce the threat of infectious disease among Maori communities.

Howard Maxwell has just been awarded a Maori Health Research PhD Scholarship as part of the Health Research Councils 2018 career development awards.

See the full list of University of Otago researchers who have received one of these awards.

His research is centred around microbiology and his passion lies in limiting and reducing the spread of antibiotic resistance  one of the fastest growing health crises in the world.

Resistance mechanisms have been observed for nearly every antibiotic in our arsenal, says Maxwell, who adds we are rapidly approaching a post-antibiotic era where no treatment will exist against seemingly insignificant infections.

Maori, he says, will be particularly vulnerable if this happens, due to both increased susceptibility to infectious organisms and reliance on antibiotics.

The Ministry of Health has acknowledged that Maori are disproportionately burdened by infectious diseases and that antibiotics are dispensed to a higher proportion ofMaori than non-Maori, says Maxwell.

Preventing the spread of antibiotic resistance will reduce the threat of infectious disease in Maori and result in better health outcomes, he says.

Maxwell plans to examine the communication processes within bacteria that control the spread of antibiotic resistance genes. Hes particularly interested in quorum sensing (a mechanism by which bacteria communicate) and its relationship to CRISPR-Cas systems (a way in which bacteria arm themselves against invading genetic material).

Before anyone can begin to manipulate these systems, he says, its important to understand how their components coordinate and communicate with one another.

Its a task thats keeping researchers around the globe busy, and Maxwell is thrilled to be joining their ranks. CRISPR-Cas is a rapidly developing field and various international groups and companies are already researching its potential for curing genetic disorders, he says.

Maxwell was first introduced into the research environment last summer, where he conducted a short research project within the Fineran Laboratory at the University of Otago. The $129,900 grant from the HRC will help him build on that work and build his research expertise.

He says his motivation comes partly from being born and raised in the small town of Opotiki in the eastern Bay of Plenty, where his predominantly Maori community is over-represented in poverty and poor health.

He also feels that addressing health issues for Maori requires a diverse approach that not only incorporates public health initiatives, but is partnered by the investigation of fundamental biology.

Im both curious and excited in the way that organisms function and interact with each other, people and the environment. This grant is giving me the opportunity to pursue that passion.

Its also a good thing for my community  I dont think many people from Opotiki get this sort of opportunity  Id like to be one of many to pursue postgraduate education and academia as a way to benefit our community, he says.

The HRCs senior manager of Maori Health Research Investment, Stacey Pene, says its encouraging to see young researchers driven by the need to benefit their communities and all New Zealanders, especially in areas of rising urgency such as antibiotic resistance.

For more information, contact:

Mr Howard Maxwell

Department of Microbiology and Immunology

University of Otago

Email: howard.maxwell@postgrad.otago.ac.nz
Wednesday 1 November 2017 3:36pm

A leading University of Otago zoology researcher, Emeritus Professor Carolyn Burns, has been awarded the prestigious 2017 Marsden Medal by The New Zealand Association of Scientists (NZAS).

Professor Burns is one of four New Zealand scientists whose outstanding work is being recognised through the awarding of medals at a function held in Wellington on Wednesday 1 November.



Professor Carolyn Burns

Announcing the recipients of its 2017 medals, NZAS President Associate Professor Craig Stevens noted that these awards seek to recognise and promote both the recent past of New Zealand science and scientists.

It also looks to recognise and support future science leaders, as well as the importance of communicating what science is and does, now and in the future, to a range of audiences, he says.

University of Otago Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Richard Blaikie (Research and Enterprise) says he is delighted that the Association has chosen Professor Burns as the 2017 recipient of the Marsden Medal.

The medal is a most fitting and overdue recognition of Carolyns decades of tireless service to the New Zealand research, science and tertiary education communities, Professor Blaikie says.

NZAS 2017 Marsden Medal citation:

Emeritus Professor Carolyn Burns CBE FRSNZ of the Department of Zoology at the University of Otago is internationally renowned for her research into freshwater ecology, especially that of the large lakes of the South Island.

A recipient of the Naumann-Thienemann Medal, the worlds top award for limnology (the study of inland waters), she has had a stellar academic career. Professor Burns has contributed her scientific expertise to conservation, for example , as the Regional Councillor for Australasia and Oceania on the IUCN (World Conservation Union), as well as a long-serving member of two statutory authorities that provided advice to the Minister of Conservation  the Nature Conservation Council (chairing it 1978  1983) and the National Parks and Reserves Authority.

Her service to science is exemplary, with examples in the assessment of research performance through her involvement on Performance-Based Research Fund panels; through the allocation of funds for basic research with many years of service in numerous roles for the Marsden Fund; through chairing academic audits of universities around New Zealand; and through the support and promotion of New Zealand scientists by serving on selection panels for a diverse array of prizes, awards and fellowships.

Her leadership has influenced science direction both within and outside universities in roles such as being a member of the Board of Directors of National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research, and as a member of the Board of Antarctica New Zealand. Her scientific eminence resulted in election as a Fellow of the Royal Society of New Zealand in 1993, and she was subsequently the first woman to chair the Societys Academy Council.

The Marsden Medal is named after Sir Ernest Marsden CMG CBE MC FRS (19 February 1889  15 December 1970), who was an English-New Zealand physicist. He is recognised internationally for his contributions to science while working under Ernest Rutherford, which led to the discovery of new theories on the structure of the atom. In Marsden's later work in New Zealand, he became a significant member of the scientific community, while maintaining close links to the United Kingdom.

Three other medals are to be awarded at the function. The Hill Tinsley Medal goes to Professor Christian Hartinger (University of Auckland), the Shorland Medal to a team led by Professor Alistair Gunn (University of Auckland), and the Cranwell Medal (formerly the Science Communicators' Medal) to Dr Ocean Mercier (Victoria University of Wellington).

For more information, contact

Email: carolyn.burns@otago.ac.nz
Powerful medicine that can save someone who has overdosed on opioid drugs is available at all 8,000 Walgreens pharmacies  including two of the drugstores in Midland.

Walgreens announced on Oct. 24 that all of its pharmacies would be stocked with Narcan, a name brand naloxone product with the power of reviving someone from an overdose caused by heroin or other opioid drugs such as painkillers.

The announcement from the drugstore chain came days before President Donald Trump declared the opioid epidemic a national public health emergency on Oct. 26.

At the Walgreens located at 931 S. Saginaw Road, Narcan has been available for about a month now, said the store manager. Nobody has asked about it yet, but it is available, the manager said.

At the other Midland Walgreens located at 1615 N. Saginaw Road, a pharmacist said they carry Narcan in a few different forms.

Both pharmacies carry the medicine over the counter, with no prescription needed. They declined further comment about the sale of Narcan or naloxone products.

"When it comes to an overdose, seconds count," said Phil Caruso, Walgreens spokesperson. "But it is not a substitute for medical care."

If administered in time, Narcan can temporarily revive someone from an overdose. The antidote has been used in hospitals for years, and recently law enforcement, firefighters and emergency medical services workers have carried the name brand naloxone product. Narcan is a brand name for the naloxone product, and comes in various forms such as syringe and nasal spray.

"Nobody wants to talk about it, but people are dying and now we have a medicine to help," said Dr. William Morrone, an addiction medicine treatment specialist. "I live here (in Midland), this is my neighborhood. The problem has exploded."

Deaths related to opioid overdoses have increased in Michigan. From 1999 to 2016, the total number of overdose deaths involving any type of opioid increased more than 17 times in Michigan  from 99 to 1,689, according to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.

When someone buys Narcan from Walgreens, pharmacists educate customers on its use, including instructions to call 911 and seek emergency medical care, Caruso said.

"I still urge people to contact 911 immediately because Narcan will wear off, probably in 10 to 15 minutes they will need to seek additional medical treatment," said Sgt. Christopher Wenzell at the Midland Police Department.

Naloxone in Narcan delays someone who has overdosed from falling into cardiac arrest, Wenzell explained, but it is still a temporary delay. Laws have changed so that when someone overdoses and calls 911 for medical attention, they will not get in trouble for possession of drugs related to the incident, he said.

"We're trying to get people to contact 911 so we can get them help," Wenzell said.

Wenzell said Midland police officers have carried Narcan for at least a year now, and have used it a handful of times.

Because most overdoses happen in the home, increasing access so people have it available in their home makes sense, Morrone said. It follows the EpiPen model, he explained.

"This drug has a 40-year safe history, meaning it's been used in the emergency room for 40 years and we're just now changing where the drug is available," Morrone said.

Morrone still advises people use the standing prescription for Narcan in Michigan pharmacies, because most insurance covers the naloxone product. Without insurance, the nasal spray product costs $135.99 per box.

Wenzell said increased access to Narcan for people with friends or family who are addicted to opiate drugs "doesn't hurt," but he doesn't want people to have a false sense of security.

"Sometimes if you administer one dose of Narcan, it may not work," Wenzell said.

Family members or caretakers should also be prepared when Narcan is administered, because of the confusion it can cause people when they are revived, Wenzell said.

Wenzell said Narcan is a good tool, but stressed recovery is a necessary next step.

"The main thing is to save lives using it, and that families follow through with the individual that is struggling with addiciton to get them actual help into a treatment program," Wenzell said.

Ultimately, Wenzell said he believes in the motto of "if it saves one life, it's worth it," he said.
#fisheries official death Ex-deputy national security chief questioned in fisheries official's death Prosecutors on Wednesday questioned a former deputy director of the presidential National Security Office as part of an investigation connected to the 2020 death of a fisheries off...
A Tennessee man has been arraigned on charges in connection with a hit and run crash that took the life of a Sanford woman over the weekend.

Heather Diann Clark, 27, died at the scene when the 2004 Chevrolet Silverado she was riding in was struck from behind by a 2004 Mercedes Benz.

The driver of the Mercedes has been identified as David Larry Denman, 46, Tennessee. He was arraigned Monday in the Bay County District Court on charges of drunken driving causing death, driving while license suspended causing death and failure to stop at the scene of an accident causing death, according to court records.

Denman remains jailed on a $250,000 cash or surety bond.

Bay County sheriffs deputies responded to the crash, which occurred just after midnight on Saturday on Garfield Road near Anderson Road. The driver of the pickup Clark was riding in, Caleb Allen Lapan, 25, was hurt and was taken to Coevenant HealthCare in Saginaw for treatment.

The Mercedes was found in a farm field with no one inside. Deputies searched the area and found the driver hiding in a nearby wooded area. He was arrested and jailed.

Deputies reported alcohol was believed to be a factor in the crash.

Deputies were assisted at the scene by the Garfield Township Fire Department, Northern Bay Ambulance, McLaren Ambulance, Bay Arenac K9 and a Michigan State Police helicopter.

Funeral arrangements for Clark are incomplete, and are in the care of the Wilson Miller Funeral Home.

Denman is set for a preliminary examination in the Bay County District Court on Nov. 15.
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BLOOMINGTON  If the recent cold snap and reports of a foot of snow in the upper Midwest have you thinking about winter, that's good.

Officials at the National Weather Service say now is the time to be preparing for winter storms, and they have come up with a simpler form of hazard alerts to help with that.

Chris Miller, warning coordination meteorologist at the National Weather Service Office in Lincoln, said that rather than issue multiple products for different serious winter weather threats, the weather service will use a simpler system of advisories, watches or warnings.

Within those alerts will be the what, where and when of each storm: what impacts are expected, where it will hit and when it will hit.

The long-range winter outlook issued by the Climate Prediction Center last week says this area is more likely to have above-average precipitation, but temperatures have equal chances of being above or below normal.

State climatologist Jim Angel said it appears a La Nina event may form in the Pacific Ocean and for Central Illinois, that shows us with an increased chance of being on the wet side.

But whether that means more snow or rain is a little hard to decipher because of temperatures.

Miller noted, One or two degrees (of temperature) can make the difference between a whole lot of rain or a whole lot of snow.

But during a La Nina, the Great Lakes region usually tends to get more snow, according to Angel.

Neither Angel nor Miller would predict when the first measurable snow will fall in Central Illinois, but both said that historically, it usually occurs between Thanksgiving and the first part of December.

Winter storm watches will be issued about two to four days ahead of a potential storm and are more like a heads-up to get people paying attention, he said.

A winter weather advisory will come into play when certain criteria are met that are likely to impact travel or cause other problems.

A warning will be issued when a major storm is basically a certainty.

When we're talking about warnings, we're talking about significant impacts, said Miller.

With an ice storm warning, which includes ice accumulation of 0.25 of an inch or more, power outages are a likely impact, and people can be without power for hours or days, he said.

A blizzard warning is a whole different ballgame that involves wind and low visibility, not necessarily a lot of snow, he said. You can't see where you are going and could wind up going off the road.

A winter storm warning would be issued an average of once a year in Central Illinois, according to Miller.

But Miller said, Don't let your guard down for the smaller events.

Each year, Central Illinois has about 20 calendar days on which it receives snow, from a dusting to a foot, according to Miller. Even those light amounts can cause problems, he said.

Illinois averages about 28,000 vehicle crashes during snow and ice situations, said Miller. Those crashes translate into 4,500 injuries and 50 fatalities, he added.

The last two winters have been very mild, said Miller. That first snow is going to catch a lot of people off guard.

Even within McLean County, because of its large size, people in the northern part of the county can have very different impacts from a storm than those in the southern part, he said.

That's because often in Central Illinois the warm and the cold air are fighting it out right above us, said Miller.

He suggests checking the National Weather Service Lincoln office's website (www.weather.gov/ilx), Twitter account or Facebook page for maps and graphics showing where the dividing line will be in those events.

But you also can do things now, before winter weather arrives.

Miller recommends having your vehicle checked to make sure the tires are good and the battery and other systems are working well. Also, put together an emergency kit with a flashlight, fresh batteries and nonperishable food in a plastic tote in your car and your home. Add an extra blanket, hat, gloves and jumper cables in the car.
Authorities found a note, written in English, claiming the suspect in Tuesday's attack in New York did it in the name of ISIS, a senior law enforcement official told CNN.

The note was discovered in the truck police said was used in the attack, the source said.

Eight people were killed and almost a dozen others were injured when a man in a rented flatbed pickup drove down a busy bicycle path Tuesday near the World Trade Center, police said at a news conference.

"This was an act of terror, and a particularly cowardly act of terror," New York Mayor Bill de Blasio said, "aimed at innocent civilians, aimed at people going about their lives who had no idea what was about to hit them."

The 29-year-old suspect was identified by two law enforcement sources familiar with the investigation as Sayfullo Habibullaevic Saipov. He is from the central Asian nation of Uzbekistan and came to the United States in 2010, sources told CNN.

Here are the latest developments in the attack:

 The suspect, who was shot by police, is out of surgery, a law enforcement source told CNN. Officers were able to talk to him before the surgery, the source said. It is not known if he told them anything.

 Saipov most recently lived in New Jersey, a law enforcement source said. Neighbors said he did recently live in Paterson, not far from New York, at least part time.

 The man rented the truck in New Jersey on Tuesday, a person briefed on the investigation told CNN.

 President Donald Trump tweeted that the incident "looks like another attack by a very sick and deranged person." In a later tweet, he wrote, "My thoughts, condolences and prayers to the victims and families of the New York City terrorist attack. God and your country are with you!"

 Argentina's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Twitter that Argentine citizens were killed, but did not disclose how many had died. A Belgian national also was a victim of the attack, Didier Reynders, deputy prime minister and foreign affairs minister for Belgium, said on Twitter.

 New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo directed One World Trade Center to be lit in red, white and blue in honor of freedom and democracy, his office said.

Rented truck used

The incident is being investigated as terrorism, officials said. Witnesses reported the suspect was yelling "Allahu Akbar," according to four law enforcement sources. The FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force is taking over the lead of the investigation.

Vehicles have been used as weapons in a number of terrorist attacks in recent years, including in deadly incidents in London and Nice, France.

The suspect, driving in a Home Depot rental truck, hopped a curb at West Houston Street and drove south on the bike path on the west side of West Side Highway in lower Manhattan for several blocks, officials said.

After crashing the truck into a school bus, the suspect exited the vehicle while displaying imitation firearms and was shot in the abdomen by a police officer, according to the NYPD.

A pellet gun and a paintball gun were recovered from the scene, officials said.

Just after the incident, news footage showed several mangled bicycles on the popular bike path as medics tended to the wounded in the background.

Six people were declared dead at the scene and two were pronounced dead at the hospital. At lease 11 others were transported to the hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries, according to New York Fire Commissioner Daniel Nigro.

A spokesman for Home Depot confirmed one of the company's rental trucks was part of an incident in lower Manhattan and said the company is "cooperating with authorities" in the investigation.

The suspect had multiple interactions with law enforcement in several states, online records show. Saipov had traffic citations issued in Missouri and Pennsylvania. He was arrested by the Missouri State Highway Patrol in October 2016 after a warrant was issued when he failed to show in court for a misdemeanor offense. He paid a $200 bond, which he forfeited when he didn't show up in court for his next hearing in November. A guilty plea was entered on his behalf.

Witness accounts

News footage showed crowds of spectators -- some capturing the scene with cellphone cameras -- gathered behind police lines. A white Home Depot truck with the front end smashed was also visible.

Eugene Duffy said he had just left work at Pier 26 and was waiting on the light to cross West Street when he heard a scream. He thought it might have been a Halloween prank but he said the scream was bloodcurdling.

"I look down and I see a white pickup truck a couple of more blocks down in the bike path," he said. "Automatically, I know something's wrong. Then, as I go down more toward where the girl is screaming, I see two gentlemen laying there and they have tire tracks marked across their bodies. You could tell they both weren't here."

He continued to walk closer to the scene. Gunshots rang out. He saw police officers ducking for cover. A yellow school bus was smashed nearby. Police descended on the area.

"I thought automatically, this area, I thought it was terrorism," he said.

Michael Corbin, the assistant real estate manager for District Council 37, the city's largest public employees union, was standing outside the union's lower Manhattan offices attending to a woman who slipped and fell on the sidewalk.

"The first responder to the event was a counterterrorism officer," he said. "We were attending to the victim, getting her onto a stretcher and, at that moment, we heard gunshots. I recalled hearing five gunshots in quick succession and immediately the officer ... left to investigate the situation from the direction we heard the noise coming from."

Another witness, Ramon Cruz, described what he saw.

"What I saw was that the driver -- he didn't look like he was bleeding," said Cruz. "He was dragging his foot. He looks frustrated, panicked, confused. People are running past me, saying, 'He's got a gun. He's got a gun.' I didn't see any gun.

"It was a white pickup truck. He looked pretty bad without bleeding or anything like that. I didn't see him hit anybody. All I heard was the impact of a crash."

Tuesday afternoon on Twitter, a user posted an image of a person lying on the ground near the scene of an incident near West & Chambers Streets in Manhattan.

Uzbekistan ties

Authorities are sure to look at whether the suspect visited Uzbekistan since he moved to the United States seven years ago, CNN terrorism analyst Paul Cruickshank said.

"There has been a significant problem with jihadism in Uzbekistan," he said.

According to Cruickshank there are two large jihadi groups in the country. One of them is the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, which is affiliated with ISIS.

In April, an Uzbek man was arrested after a truck attack killed five people in Stockholm.

CNN's Jessica Schneider, David Shortell, Sonia Moghe, Ray Sanchez, Karen Smith and Intisar Seraaj contributed to this report.
Patriotism, according to Donald Trump, means mindlessly standing and gazing at our flag during the national anthem, which reminds me of the Methodist minister at my church who told us being a Christian didn't mean sitting in church every Sunday. It was what you did the other six days of the week that counted.

Keeping that principle in mind, consider why Trump is the most unpatriotic president we have ever had. He never held a public sector job because he was too busy making his fortune, avoided military service and bragged he was too smart to pay taxes. He insulted U.S. Sen. John McCain, a war hero; attacked Muslim gold star parents whose son was killed in Iraq; and politicized soldiers' deaths in Niger and Gen. Kelly's son's death in Afghanistan.

Trump spread lies about Obama's birthplace to stoke racial animus and has shown contempt for our Constitution and First Amendment rights, saying the press should be silenced, citizens fired for peaceful protests and Muslims banned. He showed little disdain for Nazis with swastika flags in Charlottesville, Va. or for white supremacists displaying Confederate flags, wants Confederate monuments honoring those who fought the Civil War to maintain slavery proudly preserved, and refuses to denounce Putin's meddling in our election.

Think about what our flag symbolizes and our military fights for: freedom and justice for all. It is never disrespectful to protest injustices in peaceful ways. That's what patriotic Americans do. Think critically, reject authoritarian leaders like Trump and vote.

Linda L. Doenitz, Bloomington
100 years ago

Nov. 1, 1917: Dr. A. E. Rogers, who has been in the reserves, has been called to regular duty and will report to New York. He expects to be stationed in a military hospital in the U.S. but concedes he might be sent to France. Rogers has been a Bloomington physician for 20 years.

75 years ago

Nov. 1, 1942: The highway accident count is down, apparently due to lower speed limits and better compliance. Both the state police and Sheriff Nierstheimer agree on that. Some speeders ignore the new highway speed limit of 35 mph, and police are not arresting them  yet.

50 years ago

Nov. 1, 1967: The new fire engine ordered by the town of Normal last year has been lost in a fire. It hadnt even been delivered yet. The Marshalltown, Iowa, paint shop fire also claimed another fire engine and a small airplane. The Iowa firm will replace the lost truck.

25 years ago

Nov. 1, 1992: At last, Interstate 39 is a complete highway. Assorted state and federal dignitaries inserted an oversize link into a chain during a ceremony at El Paso. Non-stop travel is now possible between the Twin Cities and Rockford, a distance of about 130 miles.
Inventor of the 'Remotizer' remote control electronic deadbolt keyless entry system Mark Kilbourne has sued Apple for patent infringement. The patent titled "Universal remote deadbolt adapter' was issued to Mr. Kilbourne under number 7,373,795 in 2008. Mr. Kilbourne's company, Mr. Butler LLC, is a Texas-based company operating out of Richmond, Texas. Apple began selling he August Smart Lock after introducing HomeKit and the device infringes Mr. Kilbourne's invention. Because Apple was made aware of this infringement and continued to sell the August Smart Lock on the Apple Store, Apple is infringing Mr. Kilbourne's patent according to their complaint.

The formal complaint before the Huston Texas Court in-part states that "In late 2014, as part of an effort to promote and sell his patented Remotizer system, Mr. Kilbourne worked to develop a software application that could permit Apple products, such as the Apple iPhone, to be used as a remote control to open and close deadboltlocks retrofitted with the Remotizer system.

Around the September, 2014, time frame, Mr. Butler LLC approached Apple to seek approval to offer the application for its Remotizer system through the Apple App Store.

In general, review of software applications for possible offering through the Apple App Store involves submission of printed or electronic materials, including copies of the software at issue. With respect to the efforts to offer the Remotizer system app through the Apple App Store, however, Apple deviated from that process. In around the September, 2014, time frame, Apple responded to the request for approval to offer the Remotizer system app through the Apple App Store with a message indicating that: "We began review of the app but are not able to continue because we need the associated hardware to fully assess your app features."

The request by Apple for the hardware associated with the Remotizer system app was unusual, as receipt and inspection of hardware associated with apps submitted for sale through Apple's App Store is typically not required.

Unbeknownst to Mr. Kilbourne, around the same time that he was submitting his Remotizer system app to Apple and Apple was requesting to be provided with the Remotizer hardware, Apple was working on unveiling the Apple HomeKit. The Apple HomeKit is a framework developed by Apple to permit Apple devices to interact with a variety of home automation products, many of which are to be sold and offered by Apple through Apple's retail and online sales channels.

One of the products offered for use with Apple's HomeKit is the August Smart Lock.

The August Smart Lock is a system for remotely opening and closing a pre-existing deadbolt lock that has been, and is currently, offered for sale by Apple, both through its online stores and through its retail stores, such as its Apple Stores.

The August Smart Lock has been sold and offered for sale by Apple through its Apple stores in the Southern District of Texas and is currently being offered for sale and sold by Apple in the Southern District of Texas.

Operation of the August Smart Lock, as sold by Apple, infringes upon one or more claims of Mr. Kilbourne's '795 Patent.







Patent FIG. 5 illustrates the apparatus as attached to a door in a partially exploded view

Under Count 1, Patent Infringement, it reads:

"For purposes of this Count, the term "Accused Products" refers to the August Smart Lock products sold and offered by sale by Defendant.

Defendant has committed, and continues to commit, acts of infringement of the '795 Patent at least by selling, and offering to sell, the Accused Products.

Among other things, Defendant is liable for contributory infringement by contributing to the direct infringement of the '795 Patent by purchasers and users of the Accused Products as sold by Apple.

Given that operation of the Accused Products as intended and sold by Apple directly infringes at least one claim of the '795 Patent, the Accused Products constitute a material part of the invention of the '795 Patent.

At least as early as the filing date of this complaint, andon information and belief based on Apple's prior request for the Remotizer system hardwareprior to that date, Apple is (and was) aware of the '795 Patent and that the Accused Products that it is offering and selling have no substantial uses other than to infringe the '795 Patent.

The patent infringement case presented in today's report was filed in the Texas Southern District Court, Houston Office, Fort Bend. At present, no Judge has been assigned to the case.





Notice: Patently Apple presents only a brief summary of certain legal cases/ lawsuits which are part of the public record for journalistic news purposes. Readers are cautioned that Patently Apple does not offer an opinion on the merit of the case and strictly presents the allegations made in said legal cases / lawsuits. A lawyer should be consulted for any further details or analysis. About Making Comments on this Site: Patently Apple reserves the right to post, dismiss or edit comments. Those using abusive language or negative behavior will result in being blacklisted on Disqus.
Patna: With his father and party President Lalu Prasad Yadav away to attend court proceedings in Jharkhand, his son and former Deputy Chief Minister Tejaswi Yadav filled in for him on Tuesday to lampoon his former boss and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on prohibition issue saying the whole thing was a big joke that, instead of curtailing alcoholism in the state, had given rise to illegal trade and corruption within the system.

Referring to a picture of Kumar and one Rakesh Singh, a man accused in a 2012 illicit liquor tragedy case, also a Bhojpur leader of the Janata Dal  U considered to be a big name in the illegal liquor trade, that went viral on Tuesday, Yadav said that on one hand the Chief Minister was filling up all jails in Bihar at the smallest infraction related to the prohibition laws and on the other, he was posing with a convicted felon who served two years in jail in connection with the 2012 hooch death in Bhojpur district.

"Prohibition in Bihar is a big hoax and has failed in the state. Singh is a big name in illegal liquor trade in the state but 'Mr. Chhavi Kumar' never misses a photo-op even when it involves a bootlegger like Rakesh Singh," the RJD leader said at the press conference in Patna.

Meanwhile, an embarrassed Chief Minister ordered the expulsion of Rakesh Singh from the party ordering the party officials to tighten on the vetting process for people seeking new membership of the party.

The CM's photo with Singh was taken last Sunday when he was honoring one Harendra Singh from Ara who had, at the call of Kumar's dowry-free Bihar, returned Rs. 4 lakh in cash that he had taken for his son's marriage. Rakesh Singh is also present on the occasion.
Putin and Aliyev arrive in Tehran for Iran-Russia-Azerbaijan tripartite summit

11/01/17

Report by Press TV; photos by ISNA



Iran, Russia and Azerbaijan are set to hold a summit in Tehran for talks on trilateral and regional issues, with presidents of the three countries in attendance. The presidents of Russia and Azerbaijan, Vladimir Putin and Ilham Aliyev, will later on Wednesday take part in the summit with their Iranian counterpart, Hassan Rouhani.



Russian and Iranian Presidents Vladimir Putin and Hassan Rohani



During the event, the three leaders will discuss mutual cooperation, especially in the fields of transit and energy, Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif told ISNA news agency.



"After the first meeting of the presidents in Baku, it will be a good opportunity to boost cooperation," he said.



Upon his arrival in Tehran, the Azeri president held a meeting with his Iranian opposite number.



Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev arrives in Tehran

Rouhani, Putin and Aliyev held their first tripartite summit in August 2016 in Azerbaijan's capital, where they exchanged views on environmental issues and the fight against terrorism as well as ways of enhancing cooperation in the areas of commerce, energy, communications, transport and transit.



Vladimir Putin meets Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei



They further vowed to work together to prepare the grounds for the construction of the International North-South Transit Corridor (NSTC) which is expected to provide a faster and more efficient trade connectivity between Europe and Southeast Asia.



Meanwhile, the Kremlin has announced that the Russian president will discuss issues such as the Syria crisis as well as energy cooperation with President Rouhani and Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei during his visit to Tehran.



"Syria-related issues will be on the agenda of the Russian-Iranian bilateral talks," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
Minister of Energy, Mr. Boakye Agyarko, Tuesday, told the members of the Mines and Energy Committee probing into the controversial US$510 million Ameri Energy deal that considering the situation Ghana finds itself, it would be in the interest of the West African nation if its Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with the Africa Middle East Resources Investment Group is abrogated.



The former British Colony, he noted, will be better off without the deal for the installation of ten (10) GE TM 2,500+ aero derivative gas turbines, operate, maintain, transfer and provision of support services that Parliament on March, 20, 2015, approved.



It may well be that given the situation as we find it, we may be better off abrogating than let it run. We will run the numbers and make the financial decision based on that, he noted.



He added When we reviewed the PPA for example, if we abrogate the pool that we intend to, the cost may be about US$580million. But if we leave them to run as it is per annum, the cost of capacity charge for treating this as business as usual is US$680million for thirteen (13) years. So, in that financial calculation, one year of excess capacity cancels the payment for the liabilities of the abrogation. So, we have to go through and make these financial decisions. So, therefore, we have a situation where a project is not fully appraised in order to give the decision maker the fullest extent of information in order to make that decision. So, I cannot agree; I do not see how this project ended up with this kind of cost. I do not believe that after all is said and done, in terms of costing and rate, this project has done us well at all.



This decision, he noted, was arrived at after considering various options on the table some of which include; both parties consenting to set aside the agreement for renegotiation; push the case for annulment based on establishment of fraud, malfeasance or any such untoward behavior; and or push for abrogation where the country could incur some liabilities.



The Energy Minister had appeared before the Mines and Energy Committee to give information regarding ongoing discussions on the Motion that the House rescinds its decision to approve the Build, Own, Operate and Transfer Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Ghana and African and Middle East Resources Investment Group Llc (Ameri Energy) for the installation of ten (10) GE TM 2,500+ aero derivative gas turbines, operate, maintain, transfer and provision of support services that Parliament on March, 20, 2015, for reasons of gross misrepresentation.



The said motion stands in the name of the MP for Adansi Asokwa and for deputy Energy Minister, K. T. Hammond.



Given further reasons as to why Ghana will be better off without the controversial deal, the Energy Minister compared the output of the power generating plants supplied by Ameri Energy and that of Sunong Asogli Plant, stressing that the later is more efficient than what the African and Middle East Resources Investment Group Llc are giving to the country.



The most comparing aspect of the Ameri Plant and Sunong Asogli those plants coming up at the same time  Mr. Chair, Ameri plant a ten unit are all open single cycle. Sunong Asogli is a combined cycle. If you gave them the same quantities of fuel, the combined cycle completely outperforms the open cycle. For just a matter of illustrations and not scientific terms, if I gave the Ameri Plant an open cycle 5,000 barrels of crude to burn to generate power and they gave me x, for illustration purposes, if I gave the same 5,000 barrels of crude to a combined cycle, it will give me 2x. Ameris heat rate is 1016 BTU per kilowatt an hour. Sunong Asogli phase one is 9200 BTU per kilowatt an hour and its phase 2 is 8800BTU per kilowatt an hour.



So, the Sunong Asogli machines in terms of its efficiency were better than Ameri.



Besides, if you have a more efficient plant, then it stands to reason that it is the efficient plant that you feed first other than the inefficient plant.



Sunong Asogli phase one was a take and pay. It means if they dont produce, they dont get paid. That was a more efficient plant.



Ameri with the heat rate of 1016 BTU per kilowatt an hour was a take all pay with fixed monthly payment of five years.



What happened was that because of these conditions, the gas from Jubilee fields that should have gone in terms of efficiency or cost effectiveness that should have gone to Sunong Asogli was given to Ameri the more inefficient plant.



So youve taken your pricy gas and fed it into an open cycle plant which was less efficient. The maximum we were expecting to get out of Ameri is 230 MW, Maximum we could have got from Sunong Asogli 560 MW.



These are not my conjurations, these are the engineering calculations.

Source: kasapafmonline.com









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Global efforts to combat Tuberculosis (TB) have saved an estimated 53 million lives since 2000 and reduced the TB mortality rate by 37 percent, according to the Global TB Report 2017 released by the World Health Organization (WHO) Monday.



Despite these achievements, TB remains the top infectious killer in 2016. TB is also the main cause of deaths related to antimicrobial resistance and the leading killer of people with HIV.



A release copied to the Ghana News Agency said progress in many countries is stalling and it is not fast enough to reach global targets or close persistent gaps in TB care and prevention.



Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of WHO, said "While the world has committed to ending the TB epidemic by 2030, actions and investments dont match the political rhetoric. We need a dynamic, global, multisectoral approach."



"The good news is that we finally have two great opportunities to move forward. The first WHO Global Ministerial Conference to end TB in Moscow in 2017, followed by the first UN General Assembly high-level meeting on TB in 2018. These will build momentum, get different sectors engaged, and accelerate our efforts to make TB history.



High global burden of disease and death in 2016



In 2016, there were an estimated 10.4 million new TB cases worldwide, 10 percent of which were people living with HIV. Seven countries accounted for 64 percent of the total burden, with India bearing the brunt, followed by Indonesia, China, Philippines, Pakistan, Nigeria and South Africa.



An estimated 1.7 million people died from TB, including nearly 400 000 people who were co-infected with HIV. This is a drop by 4 percent compared to 2015.



Multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) remains a public health crisis and a health security threat. WHO estimates that there were 600 000 new cases with resistance to rifampicin - the most effective first-line drug, of which 490 000 had MDR-TB.



Almost half of these cases were in India, China and the Russian Federation.



"The sheer numbers of deaths and suffering speak for themselves - we are not accelerating fast enough," said Dr Mario Raviglione, Director of the WHO Global TB Programme.



"Prompt action towards universal health coverage and social protection, as well as breakthroughs in research and innovations - will be critical to enable access to patient-centred care of the highest standards for all, especially the poorest, most disadvantaged people everywhere.



Persistent gaps in care and financing



Tackling the epidemic requires action to close gaps in care and financing. It also requires progress in a particular subset of high TB burden countries.



Underreporting and under-diagnosis of TB cases continues to be a challenge, especially in countries with large unregulated private sectors and weak health systems.



It said of the estimated 10.4 million new cases, only 6.3 million were detected and officially notified in 2016, leaving a gap of 4.1 million. India, Indonesia and Nigeria accounted for almost half of this global gap.



Again, only one in five MDR-TB cases were started on treatment. India and China accounted for 39 percent of the global gap. Treatment success remains low, at 54 percent globally.



Of the almost half a million reported cases of HIV-associated TB, 15 percent were not on antiretroviral therapy (ART) as recommended by WHO. Most of the gaps related to HIV-associated TB were in the WHO African Region.



TB preventive treatment is expanding in two priority risk groups - people living with HIV and children under 5. However, most people eligible for TB preventive treatment are not accessing it.



For TB care and prevention, investments in low and middle-income countries fall almost US$ 2.3 billion short of the US$ 9.2 billion needed in 2017.



In addition, at least an extra US$ 1.2 billion per year is required to accelerate the development of new vaccines, diagnostics, and medicines.



Shortfalls in TB funding are one of the main reasons why progress is not fast enough to be on track to reach the end TB targets, said Dr Katherine Floyd, Coordinator of WHOs Monitoring and Evaluation Unit at the Global TB Programme.



We have a double challenge. More domestic funding is needed in middle-income countries, and more international donor support is needed to support low-income countries.



Political commitment and multisectoral action



Ending the TB epidemic requires action beyond the health sector to address the risk factors and determinants of the disease. For the first time the Global TB Report presents results from a new multisectoral monitoring framework that identifies linkages with the TB epidemic across seven Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).



Analysis of the latest status of the indicators for the 30 high TB burden countries show that most will be challenged to reach SDG targets.



In order to increase multisectoral action, plans to galvanize all sectors and secure attention at the highest levels have resulted in the WHO Global Ministerial Conference on Ending TB in the Sustainable Development Era, in Moscow, 16-17 November 2017.



This will be followed by the very first UN General Assembly high-level meeting on TB in 2018, which will seek commitment from Heads of State.

Source: GNA









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) has rubbished reports in the media that it had cancelled the issuance of emergency entry visa to some category of foreign nationals.



According to the service, it has not suspended the issuance of emergency entry visas to any category of persons.



The Emergency Visa policy was introduced by the Ghana Immigration Service to cater for visitors and businessmen and women who travel at short notice from countries where Ghana has no mission or consulate.



In a statement signed by the Acting Head of Public Affairs, GIS, DSI Amoako-Atta, the service called for calm among the citizenry and urged the general public and stakeholders to contact the service for clarity of issues.



The GIS has noted that the information has created some anxiety and apprehension within the general public and the business community.



The GIS continues to issue emergency entry visas to all foreign nationals in accordance with the conditions outlined in regulation 4 of the Immigration Regulations, 2000 LI 1691, the statement read.



Minister on cancellation Emergency Visa



The Minister of Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Mr Kofi Dzamesi, during his address at a durbar organised for chiefs in galamsey-prone areas at the Kwahu Mpraeso Traditional Council hall, stated that the arrival visa privilege for Chinese nationals had been cancelled.



This initiative, the minister explained, was one of the measures to fight illegal mining, also known as galamsey, in the country.



The Chinese nationals come to the country to engage in galamsey, they defaecate into our rivers and pollute our rivers through illegal mining, but now, the arrival visa which the former government granted the Chinese has been cancelled, so if you are a Chinese national and you come to Ghana without visa, you will go back to your China land.



After all when we go to China, they dont give us arrival visa, so why should we give them arrival visa? Arrival visa has been cancelled. Any Chinese who wants to come to Ghana should go to Beijing, to Ghanas Embassy, to apply for visa so that we scrutinise why that person wants to come to Ghana, he said.



He said the government was bent on fighting galamsey or illegal mining, adding a team of trained Navy officers would also be dispatched to patrol all the river bodies in the country.



According to him, priority will be given to areas where illegal mining is rampant when it comes to the implementation of the One-District-One Factory programme to create jobs for the youth.



Mr Dzamesi also revealed that the committee had recommended the inclusion of Google Search Map in the digital search system which was recently launched by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to help locate miners who work at night, while a team of trained Navy officers would also be dispatched to patrol all the river bodies in the country.



He noted that the youth, especially those in illegal mining, would be trained to use the right methods of mining.





Source: Daily Heritage









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) has said it has not suspended the issuance of emergency entry visa to any category of person.



A statement signed by DSI Amoako-Atta, the Acting Head of Public Affairs and copied to the Ghana News Agency, noted that the GIS continues to issue emergency entry visas (EEV) to all foreign nationals in accordance with conditions in Regulation 4 of the Immigration, 2000 Legislative Instrument (LI) 1691.



The statement said the attention of GIS was drawn to a report circulating in a section of the media that issuance of EEV to some category of foreign nationals had been suspended.



It said the media report had created some anxiety and the apprehension within the public and the business community.

Source: GNA









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Suspended General Secretary of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kwabena Agyei Agyepong is demanding an unqualified apology from the NPP's Ashanti NPP Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi.



In a notice served by his lawyers, Sarfo Gyamfi and Associates and cited by Peacefmonline.com, Mr. Agyapong is also asking Chairman Wontumi to retract a slanderous statement made against his person.



According to the letter, Mr. Bernard Antwi Bosiako on October 28, 2017 on Kumasi based Nhyira FM made statements targeted at bringing the hard earned reputation of the suspended General Secretary into disrepute.



Earlier this year, an awkward encounter ensued between the two at the inaugural ceremony of President Nana Akufo Addo, which caught the attention of several dignitaries who attended the function.



Upon spotting Mr. Kwabena Agyepong seated among guests at the ceremony grounds, Chairman Wontumi personally told the suspended General Secretary to vacate his seat since his presence at the venue wasnt needed.



The furore caught the attention of Dr. K.K Sarpong and Jacob Osei Yeboah who swiftly moved in to calm tempers by begging Chairman Wontumi to allow sleeping dogs lie.



The bad blood between both stalwarts, reared its ugly head again last week, after Chairman Wontumi went to town vowing to do everything possible to prevent Mr Agyapong from being reinstated as the NPP's scribe.



Over my dead body; I will never allow Kwabena Agyapong to get reinstated as the NPP general secretary. This cannot happen...last year by this time, some people were working very hard to see the NPP lose the elections, and Kwabena Agyepong was one of them..., Wontumi declared in an angry tone on Neat FM.



But Lawyers for the embattled Mr Agyepong contends that Chairman Wontumi's claims are only meant to expose him (Agyepong) to ridicule, distrust and contempt by all and sundry, especially members of the NPP who support and even voted for him.



They have therefore given Chairman Wontumi a Friday 3rd November, 2017 deadline, to retract and apologize for the defamatory unsavory remarks he made against Kwabena Agyepong on the same platforms he used; Nhyira FM in Kumasi and Accra based Neat FM.



Read copy of the letter below:



Kwabena Agyei's Letter to Wontumi





Kwabena Agyei's Letter to Wontumi





0

Source: Isaac kwame Owusu/Peacefmonline.com/[email protected]









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The Gender and Social Protection Minister, Otiko Afisah Djaba has brushed off threats by caterers under the School Feeding Programme to hit the streets in protest of unpaid arrears.



She said the caterers have no legitimate right to demonstrate.

When I came in February, there was a debt of GHS114 million from the previous administration, we have been able to pay it. Currently, we have paid GHS151 million to caterers so what are you demonstrating about?



Monies that were due you, we are paying, we cannot pay all of them at once but we are paying. Even caterers who were owed in 2009 till date, some of them are still owed, they never went on strike because they understand that school feeding is pre-financed, she added.



Her comment came after a group calling itself the Concerned Caterers Association last week threatened to embark on a naked demonstration if the government failed to pay all arrears owed them within a week.



Their ultimatum expired yesterday, Tuesday, October 31, 2017. But the Minister said the planned protest is baseless.



What are they demonstrating about, she questioned adding you dont have a legitimate right to demonstrate because we are paying what we owe you.

Meanwhile, some women groups and polling station women organizers of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) are accusing the Minister of selective recruitment of caterers.



In responding to the claims, Madam Djaba said her Ministry has every right to engage caterers, just as is done in other Ministries.

But it looks like in the area of school feeding, the Regional Chairman of the party in the Northern Region seems to think that he should be engaging the staff.



"It has never happened that it is a Regional Chairman that handles the staff, she added.



Madam Djaba accused the Northern Regional Chairman of the NPP, Bugri Naabu, of being behind the ongoing lawlessness in the Region where party supporters are locking the offices of the programme in protest of not being employed.



She said the party will continue to engage the chairman and the supporters to bring an amicable solution to the situation.

Source: myjoyonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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All 25 Togolese have been charged after they were arrested at Nima in Accra, for staging an unplanned protest calling for the exit of their embattled President, Faure Gnassingbe.

At an Accra Circuit Court hearing Tuesday, 25 of them pleaded not guilty to the charges and have been granted bail to the tune of 10,000 cedis each with one surety.



One minor's plea is yet to be taken. The court had to wait for an interpreter after at least six of them said they only understand French or Hausa.





The suspects were picked up at the Kawukudi park by officers of the Greater Regional Command last Saturday. The protest formed part of series of actions by dissatisfied Togolese to press home their demand for constitutional reforms in the country.

The suspects including two leaders were part some 300 nationals from Ghanas immediate eastern neigbour, who had converged in Accra early Saturday to protest over the political tension in Togo.



There are fears the situation in the former French colony could degenerate into a full-blown civil war following bloody clashes between armed security forces and civilians protesting the half a century rule by the Gnassingbe dynasty.



Since the first protests on August 18, eight people have been killed, including a 10-year-old child, three teenagers and two soldiers, while there have been about 100 injured.

Amnesty International said at least 28 people out of more than 100 arrested have been convicted in connection with the protests.



Togo's opposition has repeatedly called for a limit of two, five-year terms for the president and the resignation of Faure Gnassingbe.











Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Ashanti Regional Chairman of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako says over his dead body will he render the unqualified apology demanded by the suspended General Secretary of the party, Kwabena Agyepong over alleged slanderous comments he (Wontumi) reportedly made.



According to him, he spoke in the capacity of the NPP and therefore any demand for retraction and apology by Kwabena Agyepong should rather be directed at the party if he (Agyepong) feels slandered.



Embattled Kwabena Agyepong is demanding an unqualified apology from the NPP's Ashanti Regional Chairman, for the defamatory and unsavory remarks he made against him (Agyepong) on the Nhyira FM in Kumasi and Accra-based Neat FM.



Lawyers for Mr. Agyapong, Sarfo Gyamfi and Associates are asking Chairman Wontumi to retract a slanderous statement made against their client and his tacit assurance that never again will you ever conduct yourself in such an unfortunate manner.



In a notice cited by Peacefmonline.com, the lawyers claim Mr. Bernard Antwi Bosiako in October this year, made statements targeted at bringing the hard earned reputation of the suspended General Secretary into disrepute.



Over my dead body; I will never allow Kwabena Agyepong to get reinstated as the NPP General Secretary. This cannot happen . . . last year by this time, some people were working very hard to see the NPP lose the elections, and Kwabena Agyepong was one of them..., Wontumi declared in an angry tone on Neat FM.



They argue that Chairman Wontumi's comments are only meant to expose him (Agyepong) to ridicule, distrust and contempt by all and sundry, especially members of the NPP who support and even voted for him.



They therefore gave Chairman Wontumi a Friday 3rd November, 2017 deadline, to retract and apologize for the defamatory unsavory remarks he made against Kwabena Agyepong on the same platforms he used; Nhyira FM in Kumasi and Accra based Neat FM.



However, in a swift riposte on Okay FMs Ade Akye Abia Morning Show, the outspoken NPP Regional Chairman vowed not to apologise to Mr Agyepong, insisting that he still stands by his earlier statement.



"....threat of a legal suit against me? It doesn't scare me one bit....Kwabena Agyepong should simply have hauled me to court . . . I'll not entertain and pamper Kwabena (Agyepong) as they used to and I'm ready to face him in court . . . this threat of court action is an indirect action against the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and his conduct has exposed him further to the kind of person he is; trying to shift the focus from President Akufo-Addo to a Kwabena Agyepong and Wontumi rift," Wontumi added.

Source: Daniel Adu Darko/Peacefmonline.com/[email protected]









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Dr Valerie Sawyerr, a Deputy Chief of Staff under former President John Mahama, has jabbed President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Vice president Dr Bawumia and the New Patriotic Party government as a whole, in a write up about events that have happened under the 10-month-old government.



In the article, Dr Sawyer mocked Dr Bawumia and the government for spending $2.5million on an existing GPS that uses Googles free geographical coordinates to function.



She further ridiculed Nana Akufo-Addo for taking credits for projects that were began under the John Mahama administration, such as the Wa Water Project, and touched on other issues ranging from the arrest of NDC supporter Appiah Stadium, the fight against Army worm invasion, AMERI deal, the rise of vigilantism, amongst others.



Below is the full article:



Dr. Valerie Sawyerr writes:



Mr. President!

Mr. President!!

Mr. President!!!



How many times did I call you? Why will you not let me enjoy a peaceful Opposition? Stretching my legs in an easy chair on my patio, I heard your Vice-President say: We are introducing Ghanas digital address system with unique post-codes within every location within Ghana The digital addressing system is going to provide us the most advanced addressing system in the world. Period!

This is what we are about to roll out. And it is more advanced, off course, than the United States or the United Kingdom or Sweden or Germany because they are stuck with old technology. We are leap-frogging and we are going to new technology. We are going to GPS-based technology, so even if you are standing in the middle of the River Oti and you want your address when we roll it out you will know your address in the middle of the River Oti. I said to myself  Who is deceiving these people? In ten months, they have devised and implemented a digital addressing system that is more advanced than that of the U.S., the U.K., Sweden and Germany? Wow! Not surprisingly, I soon found out it was simply an app that uses Googles free geographical coordinates.

Dont ask me what that means. I cannot claim to be an expert of any sort in the world of digitalization but I have access to young knowledgeable professionals who I call when I do not understand such matters. So, Mr. President, what is the Vice-Presidents excuse please? But Sir, why should I begrudge your Vice-President his exaggerated manipulative style. Barely a month ago, I was stretching my legs in that same easy chair when I heard you say: This project was began in the time of the great Ghanaian leader John Agyekum Kufour. It was in his time that the financing for this project was secured as far back as 2008. Unfortunately, after he left, it took five years under the NDC successor government before the construction of the project. God has his own way of doing these things  a project that was begun by Kufour is going to be commissioned by Akufo-Addo. That is the way the Almighty works.



I asked myself - what project is he talking about and is this not a gross display of mathematical deficiency? We all know that the NDC was in power for eight years - so even if it is true that for five years construction of the project was not begun, what happened to the extra three years?

After sleeping for five years, did the NDC government use three years to get out of bed in stretching mode? Did the NPP government then use nine months to execute the project? I wondered whether you were cutting sod for the project or commissioning the completed project. So, I cross-checked! Lo and behold, it was the Wa Water Project. Eeeeishh! I am sure there is a word or phrase that describes a consistent and deeply ingrained tendency for manipulating the truth before audiences that the manipulator persistently deems ignorant and/or gullible, when indeed this is not the case. Especially when they attach phrases like God has his own way of doing these things and that is the way the Almighty works. Blasphemy of the highest order! With all due respect Mr. President, do you see how you were fumbling when you got to that part and feverishly wiping your mouth? Ahaaa! As we say in our local parlance if you will not allow your mother to sleep you will also not sleep! Your Excellency, let me go back to your Vice-President. Lets try this quiz Sir:  Is Google Maps Navigation a mobile application developed by Google, which normally uses a GPS satellite connection to determine its location?  Did the Ghanaian Government pay US$2.5m to Vokacom, aka Afrifa, to develop a digital addressing system for the country?  Did Vokacom develop a digital addressing system based on the GPS technology?  Is the GPS technology new or was it invented in the 1960s in the U.S.?  Does the new app developed by Vokacom use Googles free geographical coordinates to function?  Will Ghana pay a US$400,000.00 annual fee to Google for embedding their online map into Ghanas new digital addressing system?  Does the Ghanaian government have physical access to the server?  Does another country have access to our personal information fed into the server?  Did a similar Facebook App integration with Google maps cost US$500,000?  Why are there so many complaints that the Ghana Post GPS App is not working efficiently?  Did the Government really spend GH3.5million on publicizing the system as declared by the MD of Ghana Post, James Kwofie?



#Jack Where Are You  that is the slogan for the digital addressing system! Mr. President, in case you are wondering, we are talking about value for money. This Jack Where Are You goof will not varnish into thin air. An urgent question has been filed in Parliament for the Minister of State in charge of Public Procurement to provide details of the procurement process for the system. We are waiting patiently please. Your Excellency, do you need more than ten months in Government to realize that you cannot get away with what you used to get away with in Opposition? You cannot hoodwink the people with half-truths and untruths all the time. You cannot get them to accept hook, line and sinker unrealistic dreams and expectations. You cannot twist and turn untruths into truths. You cannot dig a big hole at a spot and get your information gurus to say you actually built a mountain at that spot when the spot is accessible to all for verification. Your Minister for Information is somersaulting all over the place, struggling to present coverups for your mess-ups. With all due respect Sir, you are over-pressurising the young man. Your Excellency, if you think we have forgotten the Bond saga, the MacDan saga, the BOST saga, the AMERI saga, the missing cocaine saga, the GH 5million [email protected] saga, the illegal deportation saga, then you have another thought coming.  Your incompetent Minister for Agriculture now says the army worms have come to stay, after he said he had eradicated them;  Your implementation of the First Year Free SHS programme has been woefully inadequate;  You moved a whole community of Ghanaians to the United States for the 72nd Session of the UN General Assembly when public officers had not been paid;  Your MASLOC CEO, Stephen Amoah purchases 1,800 second-hand cars with no MASLOC board in place and no PPA (Public Procurement Authority) approval;  Your Invisible Forces, Delta Forces, Kandahar boys, Bolgatanga Bulldogs  just heard about the Elmina Sharks and Paga Crocodiles  and other rebel groups are still terrorizing the nation  Sissala West DCE flees irate youth  NPP Youth lock up School Feeding Office in Tamale  NPP youth storm police station in Karaga  NPP youth group beats Assembly members at Adeiso



Mr. President, what happened to your democratic credentials please?  Your operatives imprison Appiah Stadium in a room and force him to produce an audio recording for public consumption. They handcuff him from Kumasi to the Police Headquarters in Accra where it takes almost four hours to get the police to agree to grant him bail around 9.30pm, and thereafter you issue a statement saying you are no longer interested in pursuing the case. Of course, I cannot defend the words he used on you although, Sir, I cannot remember you defending yourself when the WikiLeaks reports were released. I also remember the horrible words you and your team used on Ex President Mahama while he was in office. It is not too late to apologise to him Sir.  You impose penalties amounting to over GH1billion on radio stations and shut some down in the name of administrative streamlining. Mr. President, it is important that our institutions obey and adhere to laid down rules and procedures, but I am sure you realize that by imposing unrealistic sanctions on them the message that rings clear is that you have a sinister agenda. To cut down some of the fines to 50% is still unconscionable, especially when the Schedule used for the calculation of fines had not yet been approved by Parliament. May I humbly suggest that the first review of the draconian decision should have seen a reduction of fines to the level of the applicable law, while insisting that the Radio Stations present the requisite paperwork. As things are, it may be advisable to simply declare an amnesty, give them a time frame to present the relevant paperwork and pay the fees of the years unpaid at the current rate. This would spare the nation a further loss of democratic credentials as well as imminent court cases. As for my sister Ursula, I have confidence in her that she will do the right thing and I hope my confidence is not misplaced. As I pondered over your actions this morning, I found myself singing a popular tune - kro kro kro kro, hi hi hi hi krohi krohi kro kro kro, hi hi kro kro kro  Your Excellency, do you remember that tune? The rhythm of the reverberating shuttle of the loom as our kente weavers produce our resplendent kente cloths. Sir, I can see you slowly weaving your way into the hole that you yourself are digging. It is so deep that if you fall in it, Mr. President you know we will not be able to find you even if all fire service and military operatives and equipment are dispatched to the scene



Mr. President, what stops you from graciously acknowledging what the NDC has accomplished? Is it a narcissistic tendency that prevents you from acknowledging the good in others? Or is it your speech-writers who have decided as a policy that nothing good of the NDC should be acknowledged? Please listen to the humble advise of an Opposition Chiller - you are the one who will be held responsible for the fumbling of your Government. Your writers can write for you but you are the one who must determine in the end what you actually say. Apart from the Wa Water Project, that you attempted to take credit for (naughty naughty), may I remind you of some other water projects executed under President Mahama - Essakyir Water Supply Project; Kpong Water Expansion Project; Nsawam Water Expansion Projects; Teshie Water Desalination Plant; Kumasi (Barekese) Water Supply Project; Five Towns Water Supply Project (Kyebi, Osenase, Anyinam, Apedwa & Kwabeng); Kpong Intake Rehabilitation Project; Accra-Tema Metropolitan Area Supply Project; Asante Mampong Water Project; Akim-Oda-Akwatia-Winneba Water Project; Konongo-Kumawu-Kwahu Water Project; Navrongo Water Project & Small Town Water Systems across all regions. I understand the Akim Oda-Akwatia-Winneba Water Supply Project is being prepared for commissioning. Please put the devil to shame and give JM the credit when you commission it. Dont believe your Minister for Water Resources & Sanitation if he tells you that the funding was sourced in H.E. Busias time, and H.E. Kufour planted a tree at the spot to signify sodcutting, and you built the whole system in ten months. If in doubt, just conduct a search on Google. Your Excellency, I dont mean the Jack Where Are You system please  ha ha ha! While we are at it, may I take the opportunity to point out that the following projects commissioned or inaugurated in the ten months you have been in office were all commenced and/or executed under President Mahama:  On April 27, 2017, you cut the sod for the worlds largest LPG-fired Power Plant;  On April 26, 2017, you commissioned an ICT Centre at Soabe in Denkyembour District of the Eastern Region;  On May 10, 2017, you commissioned the Kumasi City Mall;  On May 17, 2017, your Minister for Health commissioned the Greater Accra Regional Hospital (former Ridge Hospital



 On May 24, 2017, your Minister for Fisheries commissioned the Elmina Fish Processing Plant;  On July 6, 2017, you commissioned the FPSO John Agyekum Kufour;  On September 15, 2017, you launched the New National ID Card. Kro kro kro kro, hi hi hi hi Krohi krohi kro kro kro, hi hi, kro kro kro   and Mr. President what is this new thing that anytime you goof and attention is drawn to it, you throw a fake Kwesi Botchwey report at the NDC, as though that will solve the problems of the nation? Please concentrate on easing the burden of the average Ghanaian Sir, and leave the Kwesi Botchway report alone, especially the fake ones. Who are those NPP birds twittering about the Kwesi Botchwey report? The good professor says the version being bandied around is fake and is not the final version of his Committees report. Our General Secretary Asiedu Nketia and our National Organiser Kofi Adams have said on air that it is a fake report. When the denkyems (crocodiles) have come out of the river to declare that the report on the water-bed is fake, the bird perched on a tree in the hinterland says the report is true. Aaba! Did the bird use the Vice-Presidents leap-frogging Ghana Post GPS to locate the address of the Kwesi Botchwey Report in the Oti River?  and who are those NDC birds chirping all over the place about the NPP KB Report - chirp, chirp, chirp? Kindly varnish from my sight as I daydream in peace, recalling the story of Taka, Tika and Gangali on that beautiful day in July 2011 in Sunyani. Yes, the story JM shared with us at the Sunyani Congress. I guess a number of you have forgotten. Let me jog your memory  the Congress that gave Nana Konadu (NDP) 3.1% of the votes. Ahaaa  I knew you would remember that. We are indeed the great NDC and we fear no foe!!! Stop chirping and get with the programme  organize dont agonise!!! Kro kro kro kro, hi hi hi hi  Mr. President, you are weaving your way towards the big black hole. Your Vice President will not be able to help you Sir because he is already going over the brink. You positioned him during the campaign to sell empty stories, you positioned him to insult the sitting President and to label government corrupt and incompetent, you positioned him as an economic guru when you knew he had no guruism in him  now he does not know what to do in Government



He is lost, sidelined by the monsters you have created  and when he has a chance, he squeals out of context still using your opposition campaign tactics that you taught him and coming across as incongruous and totally out of his depth.



Mr. President, Mr. President, Mr. President!!!



I called you three times please!!!



I am for peace  Shalom!!!



October 30, 2017









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The following list includes business bankruptcies that were filed in United States Bankruptcy Court, Middle District of Pennsylvania (Harrisburg) from Oct. 1, 2017 - Oct. 31, 2017.

CHAPTER 7

Under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code may be used by businesses or individuals. A portion of the debtors assets is liquidated and distributed among creditors by a trustee to satisfy debts. In some cases, action can be brought against a debtor by creditors.

Pier Components LLC, 303 S. Hill Drive, Middlecreek Township, Snyder County. Docket No. 17-4124.

Smeltz's Repair Service Inc., 201 S. Market St., Upper Paxton Township. Docket No. 17-4217.

Evolution Construction Group LLC, 17 Sunset Court, Carroll Township. Docket No. 17-04218.

David R. Gamble doing business as Rail Car Investors II LP, doing business as Schuylkill Railcar Inc., doing business as Keystone Railcar Inc., doing business as Schuylkill Railcar Management LLC, doing business as Schuylkill Rail Car L.P., doing business as D & D Rail Car Inc., doing business as Hershey Transportation Solutions LLC, doing business as Schuylkill Rail Car Investors I LP, and Jennifer M. Gamble, 1058 Pennsylvania Avenue, Lower Swatara Township. Docket No. 17-4345.

WASIII Enterprises Inc., doing business as ServPro of New Cumberland/Carlisle, doing business as ServPro of Lower Paxton/Halifax, doing business as Rooster Hill Enterprises, 107 N. Market St., Mechanicsburg. Docket No. 17-4434.

Calbat LLC, formerly doing business as Calbat Brokerage Services, P.O. Box 148, Arendtsville. Docket No. 17-4534.

CHAPTER 11

Provides businesses or large investors with protection from creditors while they continue operating and develop a repayment plan. Both creditors and owners must agree on a reorganization plan, which ultimately must be approved by a federal bankruptcy judge.

S & E Holdings, Inc., 22350 Route 522, West Beaver Township, Snyder County. Docket No. 17-4250.

Burnham Properties L.P., 8035 McKnight Road, Andre Plaza, Suite 302, McCandless. Docket No. 17-4410.
PATERSON, N.J. - The man taken into custody by the New York Police Department after Tuesday's terror attack that killed at least eight is 29-year-old Sayfullo Saipov of Tampa, Florida, according to an ABC News report. He is an Uzbek national and came to the U.S. in 2010.

Saipov also has ties to New Jersey.

On Tuesday night, police had surrounded an area that included an apartment building, a mosque, and several other residences and storefronts. Paterson police said it was a New York FBI terrorist task force investigation, but that Paterson officers were in charge of crowd control and traffic.

Paterson Councilman Alex Mendez said he was "very concerned" that the suspected attacker lived in Paterson and called the attack an "isolated incident."

"We have 52 nationalities. They're hardworking people that come to Paterson to start a better life," he said.

Authorities descended on the Paterson neighborhood where Saipov lived Tuesday night. A man who said he was Saipov's neighbor and did not want to be identified said he often saw the suspect around the neighborhood with his wife and two children. He also said he saw Saipov drive a white Toyota Sienna with Florida plates.

Another neighbor, 64-year-old Slavo Petrov, said Saipov lived in his building in an upstairs apartment for less than a year with his family. Saipov was unfriendly, he said, and "never says good morning and never says good afternoon".

Petrov said he attended the local mosque and had seen Saipov there. But Omar, a 17-year-old boy who attends mosque five times a day, said he had never seen Saipov at prayer.

Saipov has no known criminal record, but has been stopped for traffic violations in Pennsylvania.

Police stopped Saipov in Mount Holly Springs Borough, Pennsylvania, just south of Carlisle, in March 2015 and he gave police a Paterson, New Jersey address, according to police records. He also was stopped in 2012 in Palmyra Township, Pike County, Pennsylvania.

In New York city, two law enforcement officials told the New York Times that investigators discovered handwritten notes in Arabic near the truck that indicated allegiance to ISIS. Officials said Saipov yelled "God is great" in Arabic.

Videos from the attack posted online show Saipov dodging cars in lower Manhattan, horns beeping in the background. ABC News interviewed a witness who said he saw Saipov run toward a group of children. Police have said the objects Saipov was holding were imitation firearms.

Eyewitness to NYC truck attack says alleged suspect sprinted toward the group of kids after crashing onto bike path and hitting school bus pic.twitter.com/Sbqt4h7OYS  ABC News (@ABC) October 31, 2017

This story has been corrected. The suspect was in Palmyra Township, Pike County, not near Hershey.
It's impossible to know whether Osama bin Laden, sequestered in his Abbottabad hideout in Pakistan, ever turned on the DVD player and popped in a documentary he could instantly fact-check: "Where in the World Is Osama bin Laden?"

Bin Laden's video-viewing habits were highlighted Wednesday by the CIA, which released a trove of documents and media six years after the raid that killed the mastermind of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. But for every insight from the release, there are dozens of head-scratchers, starting with bin Laden's movie collection.

The man once listed as No. 1 on the FBI's most-wanted list had collected the kid movies "Antz," "Chicken Little" and "Cars." In addition to the more serious documentary on the international terrorist, there were BBC and National Geographic documentaries, including "World's Worst Venom," "Inside the Green Berets" and "Kung Fu Killers."

According to the CIA, there were also documents and videos that give insight into al-Qaida's internal fissures and disputes between the terrorist network and its allies.

Although the exact purpose of the more than 100,000 files died with bin Laden, they track with the common themes that emerged from the terrorist leader's time in hiding.

Bin Laden had been a major player on the international stage. After the attacks, he was confined mostly to a section of a 38,000-square-foot compound with no internet or phone connection, out of public sight.

He was a man who got bored, experts say, and occupied himself with mainstream movies, books by Noam Chomsky and Bob Woodward, Netflix-y documentaries and porn.

"When you study terrorist groups, that's always what's striking to people, the kind of quirky, human side of them," Dan Byman, professor at Georgetown University and a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, told The Washington Post. "Their whole life is not spent plotting around the campfire saying, 'How do we infiltrate America's defense?'

"They'll have lots of pornography, like men all over the world. A lot of the documents are complaining about bureaucracies. What's wrong with the fax machine. They're involved in the same sort of organizational problems of bureaucracies that we all have. In some cases, a lot worse."

But bin Laden did appear to be doing his part to advance al-Qaida's aims. In the CIA's release, there are draft videos and statements by bin Laden, Islamist militant propaganda, and a personal journal that bin Laden had written in the day he died.

To anti-American terrorist groups, bin Laden was a sort of well-respected emeritus professor, Byman said. He was no longer actively involved in plots but was still trying to lend his intelligence and influence to the organization he had helped form and then expanded - while trying to prevent their implosion.

And the ideological and practical divisions were metastasizing. As The Post's Greg Miller and Peter Finn reported on a previous release, the documents included "chilling admonitions to remain focused on killing Americans" and concerns that important goals were distracted by regional fights.

"Our strength is limited," bin Laden wrote in a 2010 letter that compared the United States to a tree with branches that project across the world, according to Miller and Finn. "So our best way to cut the tree is to concentrate on sawing the trunk."

"This is a movement that historically has been highly divided," Byman said. "One thing Osama has been doing is trying to be a unifier. He was very comfortable working with people who agreed with him on one issue and disagreed with him on five. Toward the end of his life, a lot of what he was trying to do was to get groups to work together."

(c) 2017, The Washington Post. Cleve R. Wootson Jr. wrote this story.
NEW YORK (AP) -- Hollywood's widening sexual harassment crisis has ensnared a prominent film director after six women accused Brett Ratner of sexual assault or misconduct in a Los Angeles Times report on Wednesday.

The reverberations also reached back 32 years as Oscar-winner Dustin Hoffman came forward to apologize for allegedly sexually harassing a 17-year-old intern in 1985.

The top newsroom executive at NPR resigned on Wednesday, a day after he was placed on leave by the broadcast news organization following reports that he had harassed at least three women, according to The Washington Post.

Writer Anna Graham Hunter alleges in a Wednesday column in The Hollywood Reporter that the now 80-year-old actor Hoffman groped her on the set of TV movie "Death of a Salesman" and "talked about sex to me and in front of me."

Hoffman issued a statement Wednesday, apologizing for "anything I might have done could have put her in an uncomfortable situation. I am sorry. It is not reflective of who I am."

Actress Olivia Munn also complained about onset behavior, alleging that while visiting the set of Ratner's "After the Sunset" in 2004, he masturbated in front of her in his trailer. Munn described the incident, without naming Ratner, in a 2010 collection of essays.

Ratner's lawyer issued a statement Wednesday in which he said the director "vehemently denies the outrageous derogatory allegations" and is "confident that his name will be cleared once the current media frenzy dies down and people can objectively evaluate the nature of these claims."

Ratner directed the "Rush Hour" film series, "Red Dragon," ''X-Men: The Last Stand" and "Tower Heist."

Michael Oreskes quit as senior vice president and editorial director at Washington-based NPR, the organization announced. The Washington Post reported Tuesday that two women had complained to NPR last month that Oreskes had abruptly kissed them while they were speaking with him about their job prospects almost two decades ago. At the time, Oreskes was the Washington bureau chief at the New York Times.

Police in Beverly Hills on Tuesday announced they have launched criminal investigations over complaints received about producer Harvey Weinstein and writer-director James Toback. Weinstein also is being investigated for sexual assault or rape by police in Los Angeles, New York and London.

Harassment allegations have also been levied against actors Kevin Spacey and Jeremy Piven.

Weinstein has denied engaging in any non-consensual sexual contact.

Dozens of women, including actresses Selma Blair and Rachel McAdams, have alleged that Toback sexually harassed or assaulted them. Toback has denied the allegations.

Repercussions have been swift after allegations against Weinstein surfaced.

Weinstein was fired from the company he founded within days after initial reports of sexual harassment were published and Netflix suspended production on its final season of "House of Cards" on Tuesday amid allegations star Spacey made a sexual advance on actor Anthony Rapp in 1986 when he was 14.

The decision to pause production Tuesday came before a second actor leveled allegations against Spacey.

Also Tuesday, CBS said it is "looking into" accusations by actress and reality star Ariane Bellamar that Emmy-winning "Entourage" star Piven groped her on two occasions.

On her Twitter account Monday, Bellamar alleged that one encounter took place in Piven's trailer on HBO's "Entourage" set and the other occurred at the Playboy Mansion.

Piven, who stars in the new CBS series "Wisdom of the Crowd," said in a statement that he "unequivocally" denies the "appalling allegations being peddled about me."

"It did not happen. It takes a great deal of courage for victims to come forward with their histories, and my hope is that the allegations about me that didn't happen, do not detract from stories that should be heard," he said.

HBO, which aired the 2004-11 series, said in a statement that it was unaware of Bellamar's allegations until they were reported by media.

___

AP TV writer Lynn Elber in Los Angeles and Berenice Bautista in Mexico City contributed to this report.
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) -- Police have filed alcohol-related charges against a suspended Penn State fraternity after a student suspected of drinking there was found unconscious and hospitalized.

The Centre Daily Times reports two misdemeanor counts of selling and furnishing liquor to a minor were filed against Delta Tau Delta on Monday.

State College police found the 18-year-old male student unconscious but breathing on a street on Sept. 28. He also had a cut on his leg from trying to jump a fence.

Police say the student told officers he was drinking at the fraternity. The university suspended the fraternity in October.

All Penn State frats are under a social ban in the wake of the death of Timothy Piazza of New Jersey, who fell down the stairs at Beta Theta Pi in February after an alcohol-related hazing ritual. That fraternity and several brothers were charged in Piazza's death.

Last week, Centre County District Attorney Stacy Parks Miller refiled involuntary manslaughter, aggravated assault and other counts dismissed by a magisterial district judge in September against 11 former Beta Theta Pi brothers.

A message seeking comment from the Delta Tau Delta fraternity wasn't returned Wednesday.
The vice president could be coming to central Pennsylvania this weekend, according to FAA logs.

A clearance of 3 nautical miles is requested around an aircraft slated to land Saturday at York Airport in Thomasville, a Federal Aviation Administration notice shows.

That clearance berth typically indicates Air Force Two, which is Vice President Mike Pence's aircraft.

The notice is for a "VIP Movement Notification," but the airport said it hasn't received word that Pence is coming.

This is a developing story, and more information will be provided as it becomes available.

Pence's visit would follow President Donald Trump's visit only a month ago. An FAA notice with a 15-nautical-mile clearance was issued ahead of the president's visit.
The suspect in Tuesday's terror attack in New York City was stopped in 2015 in Mount Holly Springs for violations on the tractor-trailer he owned, says the police chief there.

Sayfullo Saipov, 29, was cited March 26, 2015 for violations on his rig in this Cumberland County community, said Chief Thomas Day.

While the traffic stop isn't unusual, with hundreds of tractor-trailers stopped each year in Mount Holly Springs, the chief said he thinks it is unusual that Saipov owned his own rig.

"I don't know what his finances were to afford a tractor trailer of own coming into this county in 2010. Most people have to have to work a while to afford a vehicle like that," he said.

Day said he doesn't know where Saipov was heading or what he was hauling.

Saipov, who lived in Paterson, N.J. at the time, paid fines totaling $514.50 for having an over-length vehicle and citations for lighting and having his tandem axles (tires and wheels) pulled all the way back, Day said. He had a New Jersey driver's license at that time.

In Pennsylvania, tandem axles on 53-foot trailers can't be further than 41 feet apart. That's so the trucks can turn corners without hitting signs, poles and other things, Day said.

The officer who stopped him doesn't remember the incident, Day said.

That's not unusual, Day said, with his department conducting hundreds of inspections and traffic stops of tractor-trailers each year. "That would not stick out to us," he said of stopping Saipov at the time.

Day said he was contacted by investigators after Tuesday's incident.

"I don't know if the word surprise would be there - disgusted, maybe, with the events that have been happening across this country," Day said. "I guess it could happen in any community."

There are 15,000 vehicles passing through Mount Holly Springs each day, and 20-25 percent of that is commercial traffic heading to and from warehouses to the south along I-81.

"We are a southern route for I-70, 270, 695, Baltimore harbor," Day said.

Last year his department cited 160 truck drivers for over-length vehicles. Day said he inspected 180 trucks, and his other officers probably inspected more than 250.

Saipov was also charged by police in Palmyra Township, Pike County, in 2012.

He pled guilty to a summary "out of service criteria" charge Aug. 25, 2012, and paid fines totaling $686. A summary charge of failing to comply with license restriction was withdrawn. He was charged by state police in the Blooming Grove barracks.
FILE - In this Aug. 29, 2017, file photo, cars are flooded near the Addicks Reservoir as floodwaters from Harvey rise in Houston. Ford and Nissan posted big sales jumps for October, but Fiat Chrysler and General Motors reported declines Wednesday, Nov. 1. Replacement of hurricane-damaged vehicles, especially in the Houston area, was expected to push sales up in October, but sales through the first three weeks of the month didn't match forecasts. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip, File)
A Saputo sign is shown at the company's annual general meeting in Laval, Quebec, Tuesday, August 2, 2016. Saputo Inc. has signed a deal to buy Betin Inc., the company behind the Montchevre brand of goat cheese in the United States. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes
Vancouver comedians Heather Jordan Ross, right, and Emma Cooper are shown in this undated handout image. Jokes about sexual assault are often contentious in the comedy world. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Scott McLean
Danielle Hyde holding daughter Gabby, 3, and joined by sons Hudson (left) 3, and Hunter, 6, show off their Incredibles costumes Tuesday to Kodi Gabriel and Caitlin Main (right) during this Halloweens indoor trick or treating event at Cherry Lane Shopping Centre.
Northwest Territories Premier Robert McLeod looks on at a press conference following the 2013 Council of the Federation fall meeting in Toronto, Friday November 15, 2013. McLeod says it is offensive and patronizing for southern Canadians to tell northerners they can't now benefit from oil and gas development because it's time to save the planet. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Mark Blinch
FILE - In this March 22, 2016, file photo Rep. Jeb Hensarling, R-Texas, on Capitol Hill in Washington. Hensarling announces he is retiring from the House after more than a decade. The chairman of the Financial Services Committee tells colleagues in an email that he wants to spend more time with his teen-age children. Hensarling is the latest GOP lawmaker to retire as Republicans face headwinds trying to retain control of the House next year. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File)
In general, men are twice as likely to cheat on a spouse than women are. That frequency increases over the lifespan, peaking among the elderly. Among men 18 to 29 who have ever been married, about 1 in 10 is
Agents from the Pennsylvania Attorney Generals Office were at St. Francis Center for Rehabilitation & Healthcare on Wednesday. Read more

Darby Borough police and agents from the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office on Wednesday raided St. Francis Center for Rehabilitation and Healthcare, whose regular license was revoked by state regulators Sept. 1 after an August inspection found serious problems with care.

The facility was allowed to continue operating during an appeal of the revocation.

James M. Donegan, who spent 2 hours visiting his mother at St. Francis on Wednesday, estimated that there were a dozen officers at the facility. "They're everywhere," he said, "trying to get all the records they need, the documents they need."

A Darby police officer approached Donegan in the driveway as he was leaving and asked about the care his 93-year-old mother was receiving, Donegan said later, "how many times she fell down, what the service was like, how many times she had to be transported to a different hospital because of injuries."

A spokesman for the Attorney General's Office said he "could neither confirm nor deny the existence of any ongoing investigation."

"The facility is cooperating" with law enforcement, said a spokeswoman for Center Management Group, the New York company that bought the 273-bed St. Francis and six other senior-care facilities in 2014 from the Archdiocese of Philadelphia for $145 million.

An Aug. 23 inspection, prompted by five complaints, found patterns of harm involving severely deficient wound care, failure to respond to residents who suffered significant weight loss because they were not eating, inadequate response to acute change in medical condition, and other problems, according to a document on the Pennsylvania Department of Health website.

Among the details in the report was that a patient admitted in April developed four new wounds at St. Francis, including "wounds that went down to the bone with exposed tendon."

The state Health Department installed a temporary manager at St. Francis and set conditions on continued operations, including increased levels of nursing care and the hiring of two new wound-care nurses. State regulators prohibited new admissions to the facility until it met certain benchmarks. That ban remains in effect.

The state Attorney General's Office has been involved in several nursing-home enforcement cases in recent years. For example, after agreeing to a $2 million settlement for allegedly not providing enough staff to adequately care for residents, Reliant Senior Care, based in Eddystone, sold 17 nursing homes in August 2016.
The former Macys at Moorestown Mall during last Decembers holiday shopping season just before it closed in March 2017. Read more

Moorestown Mall, which lost its anchor department store Macy's earlier this year, plans to replace it with two value retailers in 2018, according to mall owner Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust (PREIT).

PREIT plans to release an official statement on the changes Wednesday, on the eve of its third quarter earnings call on Thursday.

The incoming retailers  one described as an off-price home furnishings store  will occupy 25,000 square feet of the former Macy's space, and the second, an off-price outdoor gear retailer, will take up another 18,000 square feet.

Both are new to the Philadelphia market, according to PREIT.

The company signed the leases on Tuesday but as part of the contractual agreement, can't release the retailers' names yet though if one were to look at PREIT's playbook of late, a few brands are prime contenders.

For the home furnishings store, HomeGoods owned by TJX Cos., comes to mind, while the second replacement tenant could either be a Dick's Sporting Goods or a Field & Stream. PREIT has selected such stores in recent months to fill former anchor spaces to broaden their properties' customer appeal and drive traffic.

PREIT said the two new stores for Moorestown Mall will open in 2018 and are "part of the company's strategic, anchor repositioning program."

"The Macy's redevelopment offers an opportunity to bring highly-sought, first-to-market retailers to a vibrant market, enabling us to further distinguish the property," said PREIT CEO Joseph F. Coradino. "Our efforts at Moorestown Mall are exemplary of the extensive remerchandising we have executed throughout our portfolio to attract dynamic and differentiated concepts."

PREIT  like many landlords of shopping centers  is focused on plucking replacements from the so-called off-price, or value, retail segment. These retailers offer significant mark-downs on designer items  a concept that has taken off. Off-price retailers are adding stores while other chains have had to downsize.

"As the off-price retail segment continues to gain market share, the addition of these concepts will meet the demands of local shoppers and continue to differentiate the property within the marketplace," Coradino said.

In the past two months, PREIT has announced replacements for former department stores at some of its other properties:

At Viewmont Mall in Scranton, Pa., a DICK'S Sporting Goods, Field & Stream and HomeGoods opened to replace Sears.

A Burlington store  sans the word "Coat" in the name  took over Sears' space at Magnolia Mall in Florence, S.C. A Five Below and HomeGoods will join this spring.

At Capital City Mall in Camp Hill, Pa., a DICK's Sporting Goods opened last month with Fine Wine and Good Spirits to open later this month, to replace a Sears.

And in September, at Valley View Mall in Roanoke, Va., department store Herberger's took over space of a former Macy's.

Parent company Macy's Corp. announced in January that it was closing 68 more stores nationwide to focus on growing online sales.

The Macy's at Moorestown Mall was one of four in the Philadelphia region that closed by March 31. The others were at Neshaminy Mall, Plymouth Meeting Mall and Voorhees Town Center.

Among the reasons cited by PREIT for the Macy's closing at Moorestown was that the mall sat just three miles from its trophy property Cherry Hill Mall, which also had a Macy's.
The sale of Girard Medical Center is expected to close Nov. 30. Read more

The sale of Girard Medical Center, part of the bankrupt North Philadelphia Health System, is now expected to be completed by Nov. 30, a month later than the original closing deadline, attorneys told U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Magdeline D. Coleman Wednesday.

Terms of the August sale agreement called for the buyer, Iron Stone Real Estate Partners, to reach an agreement to lease the property to the city, which in turn is expected to hire a unit of NHS Human Services to run drug-treatment and behavioral-health operations at the 801 W. Girard Ave. facility. Iron Stone agreed to pay $8.5 million.

"The leases are not complete, but the parties are close," Martin Weis, a Dilworth Paxson attorney representing North Philadelphia Health System, assured the judge.

NHS held a job fair at Girard Medical Center in September and made conditional offers to 333 of the facility's 570 current employees. Additional conditional offers are expected to be made at a second job fair on Nov. 8. Conditions include Iron Stone's completion of the purchase and a background check.

As part of the sales agreement, Community Behavioral Health, which overseas mental-health care for Medicaid beneficiaries in the city, said it would subsidize North Philadelphia Health System's operating losses from Sept. 1 through the closing.
CoverNJ, a coalition formed to help New Jersey residents enroll in Affordable Care Act plans for 2018, circulated this promotional poster. Read more

The Trump administration may be largely sitting out promotional efforts for the 2018 health insurance open-enrollment season that starts Nov. 1, but states, insurers, and advocates are trying to fill the void during a shorter sign-up period than in past years.

The Pennsylvania Insurance Department, for example, announced a $100,000 media campaign with internet video, television, and radio advertisements, and social media to remind consumers that Affordable Care Act open enrollment runs from Wednesday through Dec. 15  not until the end of January, as was the case in previous years.

"This enrollment period may be the only chance to shop for insurance," acting Insurance Commissioner Jessica Altman said. She noted that federal officials have announced that Healthcare.gov, the website consumers must use to get financial assistance with their premiums, will be shut down for maintenance every Sunday from midnight until noon, except on Dec. 10.

The backdrop for the expanded effort by Pennsylvania officials is a sharp decrease in federal promotional spending for the 2018 open-enrollment season. The federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services said in August that it would spend $10 million on promotion during the ACA 2018 enrollment period, down from $100 million for the 2017 season. Additional cuts were aimed at navigators, groups officially designated to help consumers enroll.

For the second year in a row, the Insurance Department has an arrangement with Consumers' Checkbook to help people in Pennsylvania compare plans and determine whether they are eligible for financial assistance. The federal website can help consumers find local insurance agents or advocates who assist in getting insurance.

Independence Blue Cross, the only insurer selling plans on the exchange for the five-county Southeastern Pennsylvania area, said it boosted marketing and education this year to help compensate for the reduced federal promotion and the shorter enrollment period.

The company's Independence Express, a mobile education and retail center, is scheduled to travel throughout the region every day except Thanksgiving. The schedule is available at http://events.ibx.com/independence-express. Additional help is available online at ibx4you.com, which includes a subsidy estimator.

In New Jersey, a coalition of health-care providers and advocacy groups formed CoverNJ to help consumers sign up for insurance in the next six weeks. The New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance has created a 2018 Buyer's Guide.

Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, the

state's largest insurer, also said it was responding to federal cuts by putting what it called "unprecedented resources" into outreach, including the expansion of its footprint at malls throughout the state and hosting regular grassroots education events.

Horizon's Blue to You vans will visit more than 15 locations during open enrollment to answer questions and provide enrollment help (details at http://events.horizonblue.com). Spanish-speaking representatives will be available Monday through Saturday at Horizon Connect, a retail center staffed by trained agents in the East Gate Square Shopping Center in Moorestown. Horizon also has published a guide to 2018 plans.
The year 2016 marked the 50th anniversary of UNDPs close partnership with the worlds governments and peoples to realize our shared dream of a world without poverty, inequality and injustice.

Fortunately, Pakistan was spared major natural calamities this year, thanks in part to the hard work in improving preparedness and resilience by Government and its partners. This offered much needed breathing space to communities suffering from frequent hazards to enable them to look beyond meeting immediate needs and continue enhancing their living conditions without relapse.

Long-running insecurity began to ebb and thousands of families returned to their homes in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA). We are proud to be part of an energizing dialogue on reforms bringing FATA into Pakistans mainstream, as well as to support the Governments FATA Sustainable Return and Rehabilitation Strategy by helping returnees rebuild essential infrastructure and livelihoods.

Development efforts focused on the vital task of laying the groundwork for achieving Agenda 2030 in Pakistan, with good progress in localizing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and developing pioneering institutional frameworks funded by both federal and provincial governments.

The year also saw renewed commitment to data-based and equity-focused policymaking. The Government of Pakistan prepared its Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) with UNDP technical support, which revealed a landscape of multifaceted deprivation that is often hidden by economic figures. This data will form a baseline to focus resources where needs are most acute towards achieving the SDGs as well as Pakistans Vision 2025.

Since the Paris Summit on Climate Change in 2015, Pakistan has rolled out a Climate Change Act and taken the landmark step of integrating climate change in the 20162017 budget brief.
Space policy

The bulk of Senators' questions did not focus on the nuts and bolts of Bridenstine's vision for NASA, including how he would carry out Vice President Mike Pence's recent declaration that Americans will return to the surface of the Moon. What little details there were came mostly from Bridenstine himself.

In his opening remarks, Bridenstine pledged to follow the guidance of the NASA Transition Authorization Act, and expressed support for the agency's Space Launch System, Orion, and commercial crew program. With regard to science, he mentioned the Mars 2020 rover, Europa Clipper, the James Webb Space Telescope, Parker Solar Probe and two Earth science missions, NISAR and IceSat-2. Also in his remarks, and later in the hearing, Bridenstine touched on the importance of NASA's community-driven decadal surveys, which set priorities for science programs in ten-year increments.

Before Bridenstine spoke, Senator Bill Nelson gave a lengthy speech outlining his concerns over the nomination; in particular, his previously stated position that a politician shouldn't lead NASA.

"The leader of NASA should not be political. The leader of NASA should not be bipartisan. The leader of NASA should be non-partisan," Nelson said.

Bridenstine responded to this charge later in the hearing by pointing to James Webb, who served as NASA administrator under Presidents Kennedy and Johnson from 1961 to 1968. Prior to his stint at NASA, Webb had a long political career, including a turn as Undersecretary of State for President Harry Truman.

"He certainly did great work on behalf of this country," Bridenstine said of Webb. "I think he did it honorably, without politicizing or making it partisan, and that would be my model."

Climate change

As expected, Democrats pressed Bridenstine on his past skepticism of climate change. Bridenstine's views on the subject appear to have evolved, in that he no longer rejects the notion humans are warming the planet.

"I'll tell you what I believe," Bridenstine replied, in a question to Hawaii Senator Brian Schatz. "I believe carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas. I believe that humans have contributed to carbon dioxide in the atmosphere."

When pressed by Schatz, Bridenstine stopped short of saying current climate-warming trends are caused primarily by human activities.

"That is a question that I do not have an answer to. But I do know that humans have absolutely contributed to global warming," said Bridenstine.

Walking this line could give Bridenstine a smoother path to confirmation, making him a less-polarizing choice than other Trump appointees, such as fellow Oklahoman Scott Pruitt. Pruitt currently leads the Environmental Protection Agency after having sued it multiple times as a state attorney general during the Obama administration.

Bridenstine also reiterated his larger interest in weather modeling, as a representative from a state periodically afflicted by devastating tornadoes. He pledged he would not punish NASA scientists for conducting climate research, nor did he intend to eliminate the agency's Earth science division.

Supporters and detractors

Outside of the Senate commerce committee, Bridenstine has garnered support from several key corners of the space community.

Alabama Senator Richard Shelby, who is fiercely protective of NASA's Space Launch System, endorsed Bridenstine. So has the Commercial Spaceflight Federation, while the Coalition for Deep Space Exploration said his nomination "advances the framework for U.S. leadership in space." Colorado Congressman Ed Perlmutter, a Democrat, also supports Bridenstine.

Washington Senator Patty Murray, however, has made it clear she will not vote for Bridenstine's nomination. In a letter to the committee, she said Bridenstine's LBGTQ views made him a bad choice to lead an agency as diverse as NASA.

New Jersey Senator Corey Booker addressed this point, offering praise for Bridenstine's "humility" during a prior meeting while expressing concerns about his stance on children raised by same-sex couples.

"So if you're NASA administrator, and someone asks you questions about sexual morality, you're going to stay consistent with your past statements on how you view same-sex couples raising children?" Booker said.

"I believe every person has value and worth, and I absolutely believe that, and I will be committed to making sure there is equal opportunity, and standards will be uniform," said Bridenstine. "I want to make sure every person at NASA has the opportunity to excel based on the merits of their work exclusively."

What's next

After the hearing, South Dakota Senator John Thune, who chairs the committee, told reporters he expects to hold a vote advancing Bridenstine's nomination to the full Senate as early as next Wednesday. He believes Bridenstine will ultimately be confirmed.

When the full Senate would vote is less clear. Even if confirmed relatively quickly, Bridenstine may be unable to make drastic changes to NASA's 2019 budget, which is scheduled for release in February 2018 and is nearing its final form this month. From a fiscal standpoint, his vision for the agency might not get legs until the 2020 fiscal year.

The average time for the Senate to approve a White House NASA administrator pick is 42 days. It's been 61 days thus far; the longest time taken by the Senate was 80 days, for Richard Truly under George H. W. Bush in 1989.
A deputy and his K-9 partner were injured when a Jones County, IA, Sheriffs patrol vehicle was involved in a near head-on collision Tuesday morning, reports KMCH.

It happened just west of Wyoming, IA, on Highway 64 around 7 a.m. The Jones County Sheriffs Office says a truck driven by 28-year old Ryan Leppert of Edgewood was heading east when he tried passing a semi. As he was passing, he struck an oncoming Jones County K-9 deputy vehicle. The patrol vehicle went into the ditch, struck a culvert, and came to rest upside down.

Photo: Jones County Sheriff's Office

Authorities say the deputy, Derek Denniston, was able to free himself. He and a bystander were able to free the deputy's K-9, Loki, from the vehicle before the fire department arrived.

Deputy Denniston suffered minor injuries and was treated at the hospital and released. K-9 Loki was treated at the Anamosa Vet Clinic and also released. Both are expected to make a full recovery and return to duty.

Leppert and his three passengers were not hurt in the collision.

The Iowa State Patrol has charged Leppert with Passing Contrary to Highway Signs or Markers.
A Riverside, CA, elementary school was evacuated Tuesday when an upset parent barricaded himself in a classroom with a teacher, reports KNBC.

Castle View Elementary School was placed on lockdown in the noon hour after the assault.

The parent entered the campus and punched a teacher. Riverside Fire Department officials said the victim was taken to Riverside Community Hospital for treatment. Witnesses at the scene said the injured person appeared to have a bloody or broken nose.

The assailant, whose identity had not been confirmed, barricaded himself in a classroom with first-grade teacher Linda Montgomery, according to her daughter.

"Hes not responding to our commands to come out so far," Riverside Police Officer Ryan Railsback told the Los Angeles Times. Witnesses did not report seeing any weapons on the man, police said.

Smoke was briefly seen coming out of the room, but Railsback said he didnt have any information about it. It did not appear to be toxic, he said.

The campus was initially placed on lockdown, then evacuated, KNBC reports. Students and staff were moved to nearby Castle View Park for their safety, according to police.

There were no reports of injuries to students. Riverside Unified School District officials said all students had been accounted for and were being released to their parents at the park.
One Arlington, TX, police officer was shot multiple times and another injured as a SWAT team attempted to serve a warrant at a suspected drug house Tuesday, police said.

After an hourslong standoff, the suspect was pronounced dead, reports the Dallas Morning News.

Photo: Arlington PD/Facebook

The shooting happened about 4:30 p.m. in the 4300 block of Kelly Hill Road, near Southwest Green Oaks Boulevard.

Police SWAT teams were at the home to serve a no-knock narcotics warrant and had divided into front yard and backyard teams. As the front yard team began to approach the home, shots were fired, and officers returned fire, police Lt. Christopher Cook said.

One officer was shot multiple times in the lower extremities and was transported to John Peter Smith Hospital. That officer was in good spirits Wednesday, police said in a news conference.

The second officer, who suffered a gunshot wound or shrapnel to the hand, was treated and remained at the scene, police said.

Their identities have not been released.
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By Gina Cherelus and Daniel Trotta

NEW YORK (Reuters)  A pickup truck struck down multiple people on a bike path in lower Manhattan, killing several and injuring numerous others on Tuesday afternoon, before the driver was shot and taken into custody, the New York City police said.

The pickup truck crashed into another vehicle after striking bicyclists and pedestrians, and the driver got out wielding what police later said were imitation guns. The driver was shot by police before being taken into custody, the New York City Police Department said in a posting on its Twitter account.

The federal government was treating it as a terrorist attack, two U.S. government officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

A police spokesman posted a photo showing a white pickup truck on the bike path with its front end mangled and the hood crumpled. The truck was adorned with logos of the Home Depot hardware store chain.

Mangled and flattened bicycles littered the bike path, which runs parallel to the West Side Highway on the western edge of Manhattan along the Hudson River.

One witness, John Williams, a 22-year-old student, told reporters at the scene that he heard about five gunshots before seeing a large man with curly hair being taken into custody.

He seemed very calm, Williams said. He was not putting up a fight.

The police have not confirmed any gunfire besides shots fired by officers.

A witness told ABC Channel 7 that he saw a white pick-up truck drive south on the bike path at full speed and hit several people. The witness, who was identified only as Eugene, said bodies were lying outside Stuyvesant High School, one of the citys elite public schools.

A video apparently filmed at the scene and circulated online showed scattered bikes on the bike path and at least two people lying on the ground.

Both U.S. President Donald President and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio had been briefed about the incident, their offices said. The office of New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said the governor was heading to the scene.

Update: 5:30 PM ET: Authorities confirm that eight people are dead and 15 are confirmed injured after an act of terror in New York City.

(This version of the story was refiled to add dropped word in 6th paragraph)

(Reporting by Jonathan Allen, Anna Driver, Dan Trotta and Gina Cherelus in New York; Writing by Jonathan Allen; Editing by Leslie Adler)
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By Arshad Mohammed and Matt Spetalnick

WASHINGTON (Reuters)  The United States is quietly pursuing direct diplomacy with North Korea, a senior State Department official said on Tuesday, despite U.S. President Donald Trumps public assertion that such talks are a waste of time.

Using the so-called New York channel, Joseph Yun, U.S. negotiator with North Korea, has been in contact with diplomats at Pyongyangs United Nations mission, the official said, at a time when an exchange of bellicose insults between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has fueled fears of military conflict.

While U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on Oct. 17 said he would continue diplomatic efforts  until the first bomb drops, the officials comments were the clearest sign the United States was directly discussing issues beyond the release of American prisoners, despite Trump having dismissed direct talks as pointless.

There is no sign, however, that the behind-the-scenes communications have improved a relationship vexed by North Koreas nuclear and missile tests, the death of U.S. university student Otto Warmbier days after his release by Pyongyang in June and the detention of three other Americans.

Word of quiet engagement with Pyongyang comes despite Trumps comments, North Koreas weapons advances and suggestions by some U.S. and South Korean officials that Yuns interactions with North Koreans had been reined in.

It has not been limited at all, both (in) frequency and substance, said the senior State Department official.

Among the points that Yun has made to his North Korean interlocutors is to stop testing nuclear bombs and missiles, the official said.

North Korea this year conducted its sixth and most powerful nuclear detonation and has test-fired a volley of missiles, including intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) that, if perfected, could in theory reach the United States mainland.

The possibility that Pyongyang may be closer to attaching a nuclear warhead to an ICBM has alarmed the Trump administration, which in April unveiled a policy of maximum pressure and engagement that has so far failed to deter North Korea.

NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg has urged all United Nations members to fully and transparently implement sanctions against North Korea, which he said has emerged as a global threat.

Speaking at the United Nations on Sept. 19, Trump vowed to totally destroy North Korea if it threatened the United States or its allies, raising anxieties about the possibility of military conflict.

Twelve days later, after Tillerson said Washington was probing for a diplomatic opening, Trump said on Twitter that his chief diplomat was wasting his time trying to negotiate with Little Rocket Man  his mocking nickname for the North Korean leader.

Democratic U.S. senators introduced a bill on Tuesday they said would prevent Trump from launching a nuclear first strike on North Korea on his own, highlighting the issue days before the Republicans first presidential trip to Asia.

BROADER MANDATE FOR DIPLOMACY

At the start of Trumps presidency, Yuns instructions were limited to seeking the release of U.S. prisoners.

It is (now) a broader mandate than that, said the official, declining, however, to address whether authority had been given to discuss North Koreas nuclear and missile program.

The New York channel is one of the few conduits the United States has for communicating with North Korea, which has itself made clear it has little interest in serious talks before it develops a nuclear-tipped missile capable of hitting the continental United States.

The last high-level contact between Yun and the North Koreans was when he traveled to North Korea in June to secure the release of Warmbier, who died shortly after he returned home in a coma, the official said.

The Trump administration has demanded North Korea release three other U.S. citizens: missionary Kim Dong Chul and academics Tony Kim and Kim Hak Song.

Warmbiers death was a factor in the chilling of U.S.-North Korean contacts around that time but the biggest impact came from Pyongyangs stepped-up testing, the official said.

The official said, however, that the preferred endpoint is not a war but some kind of diplomatic settlement and suggestions that Washington is setting up a binary choice for Pyongyang to capitulate diplomatically or military action were misleading.

Diplomacy, the official said, has a lot more room to go.

But Trumps threats against North Korea are believed to have complicated diplomatic efforts.

(Reporting by Arshad Mohammed and Matt Spetalnick; additional reporting by Patricia Zengerle; Editing by Yara Bayoumy and Grant McCool)
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By Sharon Bernstein

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Reuters)  A California neuroscientist vying to unseat Republican Congressman Dana Rohrabacher stepped up his criticism of the conservative on Tuesday, demanding he return a $1,000 contribution from indicted Trump adviser Paul Manafort.

The Orange County seat held by Rohrabacher is key to Democrats hopes to increase their numbers in the U.S. House of Representatives in next years elections. Neuroscientist Hans Keirstead, a stem cell researcher and entrepreneur from Laguna Beach, is one of seven Democrats aiming to beat him, according to the Federal Election Commission.

Weve got a Russian-tainted Congressman taking Russian-tainted money from Manafort, Keirstead said in a telephone interview on Tuesday. Something has to be put straight here.

Federal investigators probing Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. election on Monday charged Manafort, a lobbyist and former Trump campaign manager, with money laundering.

Rohrabacher, a senior member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, has frequently praised Russian President Vladimir Putin and was considered for a role in U.S. President Donald Trumps cabinet.

His Southern California base in Orange County was for decades a Republican stronghold and a center of support for Ronald Reagan. Reliably conservative voters there have sent Rohrabacher to the House for nearly 30 years.

But the 48th Congressional district has undergone profound demographic shifts in recent years, and it is now one of nine Republican districts in California that Democrats have targeted. Hillary Clinton beat Trump in the district in 2016, winning 152,000 votes compared to his 146,600.

These are people who care about the environment, care about social issues, said Drew Godinich, a spokesman for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee in California. Donald Trump and Donald Trumps Republican Party are no longer a good match for them.

Democrats success in the district, however, is far from assured. Despite a tilt toward Clinton for the presidency, voters there chose Rohrabacher over Democrat Suzanne Savary by more than six percentage points in 2016.

Through a spokesman, Rohrabacher indicated that he was not at this time prepared to reject Manafort  or the $1,000 donation the political operative made to his 2014 campaign.

The Congressman advises his political opponents and the media to observe the presumption of innocence, still an American principle, spokesman Ken Grubbs said in an email.

(Reporting by Sharon Bernstein; Editing by Andrew Hay)
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By Susan Cornwell

WASHINGTON (Reuters)  Leading Republicans in the U.S. Senate, expressing frustration at how slowly President Donald Trumps nominees are being confirmed, on Tuesday called for changes in the chambers procedures to speed up the approval process.

I believe it is time to change the rules of the Senate, Senate Republican Policy Committee Chair John Barrasso told reporters, saying a way needed to be found to shorten debate times.

Trump has complained bitterly about Senate rules slowing progress on his agenda. But the president has generally focused his criticism on a Senate rule that requires 60 votes for most legislation to advance in the 100-member chamber  the so-called filibuster rule.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has said that Republicans do not want to change the 60-vote requirement for legislation. But McConnell, speaking to reporters after Barrasso on Tuesday, said there may be a way to reduce the time spent on debating judicial and other nominees after they clear an initial hurdle.

Currently that time is capped at 30 hours. Republicans have repeatedly complained that Democrats are using the time allowance to drag out confirmation of Trumps nominees.

Due to the Democrats obstruction, this administration has had the lowest percentage of nominees confirmed of any administration in the past 30 years, Barrasso said in a news release. At this point in Democratic then-President Bill Clintons term, Clinton had 76 percent of his nominees confirmed, and Democratic then-President Barack Obama had 67 percent, while Trump has had fewer than 40 percent, Barrasso said.

Barrasso suggested the Senate might want to revive a bipartisan agreement from a previous Congress. It allowed debate on Supreme Court nominees and Cabinet members to last up to 30 hours, but other categories of nominees got less: either eight or two hours.

Two other senior Republicans, Senators John Cornyn and Roy Blunt, suggested Republicans could change the rules unilaterally if Democrats are not interested in negotiating a change. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer sidestepped a question on the matter.

Senator McConnell does not come to the floor with clean hands on these issues. He delayed and blocked so many of Obamas nominees, in fact many of the judges theyre now filling should have been filled by Obama nominees, Schumer told reporters.

Earlier this year, McConnell moved to scrap the 60-vote hurdle on Supreme Court nominations to clear the way for confirming Neil Gorsuch to the court. Previously, when Democrats ran the Senate, they ended the 60-vote hurdle on other executive branch nominations.

(reporting by Susan Cornwell and Richard Cowan; Editing by Alistair Bell)
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By Pete Schroeder and Lisa Lambert

WASHINGTON (Reuters)  Representative Jeb Hensarling, the Republican chairman of the U.S. House of Representatives Financial Services Committee, announced on Tuesday that he would retire from Congress at the end of 2018, marking the exit of Congresss leading advocate for rolling back strict financial rules.

Hensarling, 60, of Texas, said in a statement that he would not seek re-election, noting that his term as head of the banking panel expires at the same time. He has been a vocal proponent of significant deregulation in the financial sector and an author of sweeping legislation to drastically reduce the regulations imposed on banks.

Today I am announcing that I will not seek re-election to the U.S. Congress in 2018, Hensarling said in a statement. Although service in Congress remains the greatest privilege of my life, I never intended to make it a lifetime commitment, and I have already stayed far longer than I had originally planned.

Hensarling, first elected to Congress in 2002, had been the architect of a broad rewrite of the 2010 Dodd-Frank financial reform law. The overall would have eliminated several of the major powers given to regulators after the 2007-2009 financial crisis and impose strict new limitations on their authority.

That bill, the Financial CHOICE Act, is not expected to become law after passing the House, due to insufficient support in the Senate. But his work was hailed by GOP colleagues as an ambitious effort to cut regulation of the banking industry.

Jeb has eloquently articulated this conservative vision, leading the charge to repeal Dodd-Frank and deliver a freer market that gives every American the opportunity to achieve the American dream, said House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy in a statement.

Banking lobby groups, including the Financial Services Roundtable and American Bankers Association, said Hensarling had been a strong leader who advanced reforms that led to economic opportunity and better banking.

He has been a steadfast critic of rules imposed on the financial sector after the crash, and became an industry ally in efforts to roll them back.

But those efforts also made him a top target of advocates of stricter rules, who said his efforts would put Americans at risk of a similar meltdown.

Hensarling has probably just decided to spend more time with his banks. We hope the revolving door doesnt hit him too hard on the way out, said Karl Frisch, executive director of Allied Progress.

SUCCESSION PROCESS

While some GOP lawmakers have announced plans to retire after facing uphill re-election battles, Hensarling hails from a deeply conservative district in Texas where he remains highly popular. In 2016, he faced no Republican rivals in the partys primary and took 80.6 percent of the districts vote in the general election.

Even though the district consistently votes Republican, his resignation will provide another opportunity for Democrats to realize their hopes of taking control of the House in 2018. Lawyer Dan Wood, has already entered the race to be the partys nominee for the seat.

Unlike some exiting Republicans, Hensarling never publicly feuded with President Donald Trump. In fact, Trump had considered Hensarling for a post in his administration after the election.

His exit will set off a competition to take over as head of the powerful banking committee. Representative Patrick McHenry is the vice chair of the committee, but Representatives Blaine Luetkemeyer, Bill Huizenga, and Sean Duffy are also potential contenders, according to lobbyists familiar with the committee.

One lobbyist said Luetkemeyer was the leading candidate to lead the panel, as McHenry is seen as a rising star in House leadership.

Luetkemeyer is seriously considering running for the chairmanship, according to his spokeswoman.

Hensarlings next move is unclear. Some lobbyists speculated he could take a top role at a conservative think tank like the Heritage Foundation. Alternatively, he could take a role in the administration or return to his home state.

Cowen and Co analyst Jaret Seiberg said in a client note that Hensarling could be the top contender to take over the Federal Housing Finance Agency, which regulates Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

The current FHFA Director, Mel Watt, is an appointee of former President Barack Obama, serving out a term that expires in January of 2019.

(Reporting by Pete Schroeder and Lisa Lambert; Editing by Dan Grebler and Andrew Hay)
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By Dustin Volz

WASHINGTON (Reuters)  About 20 million Americans may have seen Russian-backed content on Instagram in the run-up to the 2016 U.S. presidential election, Facebook Inc disclosed on Wednesday as lawmakers questioned tech companies about Russias use of social media to try to influence the vote.

Senate Intelligence Committee members questioned lawyers for Facebook, Twitter Inc and Alphabet Incs Google for a second day as part of a broader investigation into alleged Russian interference in the election campaign.

Facebook, the worlds largest social media network, again came under the most scrutiny from lawmakers, who expressed frustration with the company because of its role in targeted marketing on the internet.

Facebook General Counsel Colin Stretch told the committee that 16 million Americans may have been exposed to Russian information on Facebooks picture-sharing service Instagram beginning in October 2016. The election was on Nov. 8.

An additional four million may have seen such material on Instagram prior to October, though that data was less complete, Stretch said.

The Instagram figures were in addition to the 126 million Americans who may have seen Russian-backed political content on Facebook over a two-year period, a number the company disclosed earlier this week.

The companies visit to Washington this week reflected shifting political fortunes for the U.S. technology industry, which after decades of enjoying relatively little regulatory scrutiny has found itself on the defensive in recent months on a wide array of policy issues.

In the past election, you failed, said Democratic Senator Ron Wyden, who normally is considered a strong ally of Silicon Valley.

U.S. intelligence agencies have concluded that Russia interfered in the campaign, including through use of social media, to try to influence the vote in favor of Republican candidate Donald Trump.

A Justice Department special counsel and several congressional panels are investigating Russian meddling and any potential collusion by Trumps campaign. Moscow has denied any interference and Trump has said there was no collusion.

Democrats and Republicans both said in Wednesdays Senate intelligence hearing that the tech companies need to do more to police against foreign government abuse on their platforms.

Some Republicans, however, sought to distance the scrutiny of the companies from questions about the legitimacy of Trumps election victory.

Richard Burr, the Republican chairman of the panel, said it was impossible to measure the impact or know the motivation of the Russian operation to spread political material on social media.

Any conclusions that Trump benefited from Russia, perhaps in a decisive way, to win the White House ignored the complexity of the issue, Burr said.

Im here to tell you this story does not simplify that easily, he said.

UNDERESTIMATING THE PROBLEM

Some Republicans also sought to portray the amount of Russian content as miniscule compared to the total amount of political material online.

The campaigns of Trump and Democrat Hillary Clinton spent a combined $81 million on Facebook ads, Stretch said, compared to about $46,000 in ad buys from the Internet Research Agency, a suspected Russian troll farm.

Senator Mark Warner, the top Democrat on the panel, said he was disappointed the companies appeared be confining their reviews just to information linked to the Internet Research Agency, and suggested there could have been far more Russian content that has not yet been detected.

Warner also said he believed that Twitter was vastly underestimating the amount of fake and automated accounts on its platform. He cited independent research that has estimated around 15 percent of Twitter accounts are fake or automated.

Sean Edgett, Twitters acting general counsel, said less than 5 percent of its accounts were automated.

Some senators criticized the companies for sending lawyers, not chief executives, to testify.

If we go through this exercise again, we would appreciate seeing the top people who are making the decision, said Senator Angus King, an independent.

The companies also testified before the U.S. House Intelligence Committee later on Wednesday.

(Reporting by Dustin Volz; Additional reporting by David Ingram; Editing by Frances Kerry)
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Senate Democratic Leader Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) exposed Trump for trying to cut anti-terrorism program funding after the President blamed Schumer for the New York terror attack.

Schumer responded to Trumps false claims in a statement provided to PoltiicusUSA, I have always believed and continue to believe that immigration is good for America. President Trump, instead of politicizing and dividing America, which he always seems to do at times of national tragedy, should be focusing on the real solution  anti-terrorism funding  which he proposed cutting in his most recent budget. Im calling on the President to immediately rescind his proposed cuts to this vital anti-terrorism funding.

Sen. Schumer was correct. The NYPD said in March that the Trump budget would virtually wipe out their anti-terror program funding, Under the presidents proposal, nearly all federal funding to the NYPD would be eradicated. This funding is absolutely critical. It is the backbone of our entire counter-terrorism apparatus.

Trump never revised his budget to restore the funds.

Donald Trump is anti-terrorism fraud. Trump thinks that he can stop terrorism by discriminating against Muslims while cutting funding for anti-terror programs. Trumps approach is not only flawed. It is also dangerous because it ignores the prospect of homegrown radicals.

Trump knows nothing about combating terrorism, and his effort to blame Schumer just blew up in his face as the nation has learned that Trump plans to jeopardize American safety to pay for tax cuts for millionaires and billionaires.
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It has not yet been established that Trump or his entourage were turned by the Russians. But Trump and his team were easy prey, according to an expert.

To get someone to betray their country, an intelligence officer looks for vulnerabilities to exploit and these are summed up as MICE: Money, Ideology, Coercion, Ego, Alex Finley, a former officer of the CIAs Directorate of Operations, explained. President Trump was easy easy prey for Putin just because of his ego.

How do you get someone to do something they should not do?, Finley asks in Politico. Generally, an intelligence officer looks for a persons vulnerabilities and explores ways to exploit them. It usually comes down to four things, whichin true government stylethe CIA has encompassed in an acronym, MICE: Money, Ideology, Coercion, Ego. Want to get someone to betray his country? Figure out which of these four motivators drives the person and exploit the hell out of it.

From an intelligence point of view, the people surrounding Trump, and Trump himself, make easy targets for recruitment, Finley wrote, noting that hes not suggesting these people have definitely been recruited. He goes down the list of Trumps entourage, citing their weakness/es. Manafort: Money, Flynn, Money, Ideology, Ego, Kushner: Money, Coercion, Trump, Jr: Money, Ego and then Donald Trump: Ego. Just ego. Thats it.

Ego is clearly the best way to get Trump to do anything. The Saudis certainly understood this, feting him with gold and orbs and displaying his enormous portrait on the side of a hotel, right next to the kings portrait. The Saudis had this man in the palm of their hands, hence Trumps pro-Saudi stance since the trip, despite his campaign rhetoric shouting down the kingdom.

Trumps ego wanted to win and, he figured, everyone else wanted him to win, too. He was under the impression that everyone loved him and appreciated his greatness. Of course everyone wanted to help him win. If he accepted help from Russia, its possible he didnt realize there was anything wrong with doing so. Why wouldnt they help him win, he might have thought, and why shouldnt he accept that help? For an experienced chekist like Putin, manipulating his ego is almost too easy.

Donald Trump believes his own PR, which makes him so easy to manipulate. This is why the completely false Republican talking point that Hillary Clinton colluded with the Russians (so she could lose?) wouldnt even make sense if she had won. It was well known that Putin was afraid of Hillary Clinton, and wanted revenge for what he saw as her interfering in his election. Clinton was not someone Putin could manipulate; quite the opposite.

It took a neophyte, out of his element, with a puffed up, sensitive and vulnerable ego, to fall for Putins outstretched hand.

Let me repeat: It has not yet been established that Trump or his entourage were turned by the Russians. What we call collusion is actually conspiracy in legal terms, which is hard to prove and might not ever be proven about Trump and his campaign entourage.

But it has been established that his campaign had contact with the Russians who were offering quid pro quo, it has been established that Donald Trump and members of his campaign lied about these meetings, it has been established that Donald Trump directed the Russians to hack Hillary Clintons emails before the DNC hacks were published by Wikileaks, it has been established that members of Trumps entourage were corresponding with Wikileaks, it has been established that the Trump campaign got the RNC to change their platform to a more pro-Russia stance during the convention, it has been established that Russia did act to boost Donald Trump during the election in many very powerful ways, including manipulating the American voters with viral fake news on social media and using social media to smear Hillary Clinton from the (pretend) left and right.

I wrote about how Donald Trumps ego made him vulnerable to Russian operatives before the election. Its not a new concept, but it matters more now because he is the President and because it is becoming increasingly clear, due to evidence of more and more contacts with the Russians, that Trump and/or members of his entourage were in fact turned by the Russians to be used to betray their own country.

Trumps own behavior as President is practically screaming that he is compromised. To ignore his signals is just as irresponsible as it is to jump to conclusions about conspiracy without evidence. He has, for example, tried to undermine the sanctions against Russia for interfering in our election, he had an Oval Office meeting with the Russians the day after he fired Comey, Trump allowed a photographer for a Russian state-owned news agency into the Oval Office where listening devices could have been planted, and Trump had a hand in drafting a misleading statement about his sons June 2016 meeting with a Russian lawyer with strong Kremlin and intelligence links.

The very real possibility that Trump or a member of his entourage was turned to be used to betray their country is a BFD if ever there were one, because Trump is sitting in the White House acting as President right now, surrounded by many of these people.
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Trump was trying to read a statement about the New York terror attack before a cabinet meeting, but he had to keep referring back to his paper, stumbled over words, and mispronounced the word diversity repeatedly.

Video:

Something looked off with Trump. The White House has admitted that the President has lost a step in the past year, but he looks like he is more than a step behind. Donald Trump couldnt even read a prepared statement without stumbling over his words and having to constantly look at his paper.

Reports of Trump shutting himself in the White House residence and watching cable news after the first indictments and witness flip in the Russia scandal did not adequately prepare the nation for the scene at the cabinet meeting.

Trump sounds unwell. The Russia investigation is visibly taking a toll on him.

The President is about to embark on a trip to Asia, and he frankly, looks and sounds unfit to travel.

As a candidate, Trump claimed that Hillary Clinton didnt have the stamina to be president, but as president, Trump has shown that he is the individual who lacks the necessary energy to do the job. Donald Trump looks to be in a state of deterioration, and it is not unreasonable to wonder how much longer he can last in the presidency.
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November is a truthful month  it doesnt indulge fantasies of permanence, such as mortals sometimes cling to, because it demonstrates unmistakable change from start to finish. Read moreAging for Amateurs: November is a dance on the foggy coast
With so many oyster options, looking at a Charleston restaurants raw bar menu can feel like sifting through a complicated wine list. By learning more about where chefs source their oysters, we can better understand the flavors and prices to expect, along with why restaurants put so much time and effort into this low-profit product. Read moreRaw oysters remain a Charleston restaurant mainstay, despite low profit margins
The owners of The Venue at Falls Park in Greenville are expanding their footprint with another upscale events venue in the space formerly occupied by Pour Taproom. Read moreFormer Pour Taproom in downtown Greenville to become an events venue
Paul Bowers is an education reporter and father of three living in North Charleston. He previously worked at the Charleston City Paper, where he was twice named South Carolina Journalist of the Year in the weekly category.
Thomas and Badger were among the final witnesses called by the government in the federal trial of Laffitte, the former chief executive of Hampton-based Palmetto State Bank. Over five days, jurors heard testimony from 15 witnesses, including employees of Murdaughs former law firm, the banks board members, FBI investigators and clients of Murdaugh and Laffittes. Read moreFormer Alex Murdaugh clients say they didn't know Russell Laffitte controlled funds
The Jenkins Institute for Children, located in North Charleston, is one of more than 100 group homes and institutions in South Carolina that accept foster children from the Department of Social Services. A new report published by the Chronicle for Social Change indicates the number of foster children in this state outnumbers available beds in foster homes. File/Staff
ERETRIA, Greece  The sites of horror  the places where mass murder happened  are seared into my memory. Holocaust sites such as the Warsaw Ghetto and Auschwitz, or Kigali, where the Hutus butchered the Tutus, or the Falls Road in Belfast, where many died over the decades of strife. Read moreCommentary: New sites of death are minted every day
Across South Carolina, from the coast to our mountainous state line, new and expanded trails have certainly made a lot of headlines in recent months. Here are just a few of the exciting developments: Read moreEditorial: From the SC coast to the mountains, welcome progress on new trails
Former President Donald Trump is preparing to launch his third campaign for the White House on Tuesday, looking to move on from disappointing midterm defeats and defy history amid signs that his grip on the Republican Party is waning. Read moreTrump prepares to launch 3rd campaign for the White House
IBM is giving its employees a big financial and time boost when it comes to bonding with new babies, no matter if they arrive via traditional birth, an adoption or through a surrogate pregnancy.

"We're so thankful,' said Rochester IBM software developer Nathan Mittlestat. "It makes you feel valued as an employee and that your family is valued."

Big Blue announced last week that it is "dramatically expanding our family support options to meet the increasingly diverse needs of 21st century parenting."

Mittlestat and his wife, Irene, adopted their daughter, Aubriella, in January. The new changes were made retroactively to November 2016.

The changes include:

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 Increasing paid time off to 20 weeks for mothers who have given birth, an increase from 14 weeks.

 Increasing paid parental leave for fathers, partners and adoptive parents to 12 weeks, an increase from six weeks.

 Increasing the amount IBM will contribute to an employee's adoption costs to $20,000. It had been $5,000. IBM also expanded this benefit to cover costs associated with surrogate birth mothers. This is a one-time benefit.

 Creating the Special Care for Children Assistance Plan to reimburse employees $50,000 paid towards applicable services for each child with mental, physical or developmental disabilities.

 Expanding its 2015 breast milk delivery program for nursing moms who travel on business to include international travel.

"We watch what the market does and we listen to our employees," said Barbara Brickmeier, IBM vice president of employee benefits. "When you please existing employees, you are creating an engagement strategy that creates a strong bond  It will absolutely help us recruit and retain employees."

Brickmeier said IBM is very happy to help out new parents and to now include surrogate births in the benefits.

"People form families in a lot different ways, and surrogacy is used by many of our LGBTQ employees," she said.

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For the Mittlestats, the changes were unexpected, but welcome.

"The guys on my team said, 'Did you hear? You've got six more weeks of vacation,'" Nathan Mittlestat said of coming to work on Oct. 26. "I was so excited to go home and tell my wife. It's about one of the happiest pieces of news I could bring home to her."

Mittlestat said he was very thankful for the original six weeks that allowed him and his wife to travel with their new baby.

"I was already very happy. It's been so nice to be part of all of those firsts, like rolling over for the first time," he said.

In addition to the extra six weeks off, he also learned that IBM would give him $15,000 more on top of the $5,000 they had already provided to defray adoption expenses.

"If you talk to anyone about adoption, they'll tell you that they get expensive in a hurry," Mittlestat said.

In this case, the additional windfall is very timely as the Mittlestats are starting the process to adopt a second child. They recently received a call stating their daughter's birth mother is pregnant again and asking if they'd like to adopt her biological sibling.

"It fell in our lap. We always planned on doing it (adopting) again, but we didn't plan on doing it this soon. The $15,000 will really help with the second one," he said.

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The improved benefits place IBM at the top of parental benefits offered by local employers, though other companies with international footprints offer similar benefits.

Jewel Thurman, the Minnesota Council director-elect of the Society of Human Resource Management, says IBM does offer "a richer benefit plan" than many Minnesota companies, particularly in Southeast Minnesota.

"However, if you look at IBM and their industry, it is definitely not unusual," she said.

Netflix offers a year of paid leave for new mothers and fathers. Spotify gives six months of paid parental leave and covers the costs of egg freezing and fertility assistance.

How does such an investment in benefits pay off for a company?

"It's a retention tool and has the potential to attract employees," Thurman said. "The challenge can be to get individuals to come back after maternity leave."
Sign up to ring and your family will help raise money and awareness for the Salvation Army.

The Salvation Army's Red Kettle Campaign kicks off Nov. 9 with an open-to-the-public bell ringing celebration at Hy-Vee's Crossroads location. The next day, Nov. 10, Red Kettle ringing opens at nine kettles (Hy-Vee, Hobby Lobby, select downtown locations), with all 30 kettles going live Nov. 18.

"Last year we raised $1.08 million. This year our goal is $1.1 million," said Anne Bashaw-Meyer, Salvation Army director of community engagement. "All the money raised at the Red Kettles stays local.

"A third of our annual budget comes from the Red Kettles," she said. "It's our biggest fundraiser. The money goes to support six of Rochester's Salvation Army programs  social services, housing assistance, food assistance, our health clinic, our adult day program, and our seasonal programs."

Helping make it possible are hundreds of volunteers of all ages ringing the bell in one- and two-hour shifts.

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"With the 30 kettles, we have 8,400 bell ringing volunteer hours to fill," Bashaw-Meyer said. "For a lot of families, ringing the bell is an annual tradition. They sing carols, play instruments, wear costumes. It's their way to give back to the community."

Families that want to ring the bell are encouraged to sign up to ring online. There you can select a date, time, city (Rochester, Byron, Chatfield, Stewartville) and location (inside and outside spots available).

"Don't underestimate the impact of being out there, ringing the bell," says Bashaw-Meyer. "You've done something for somebody you haven't even met. Although you don't know them, you want them to know you care about them."

If you go

What : Salvation Army Red Kettle Bell ringing

: Salvation Army Red Kettle Bell ringing Where : 30 bell ringing locations

: 30 bell ringing locations When : Nov. 10 through Dec. 23

: Nov. 10 through Dec. 23 Phone : 507-288-3663

: 507-288-3663 On the web: www.registertoring.com

More about the Salvation Army

 Want to donate toys? Starting Nov. 17, families can drop off new, unwrapped Christmas gifts for kids ages birth to age 18, at the Sharing Tree at Apache Mall or the Salvation Army, 20 First Ave. NE. Starting Nov. 24, you can do the same at the Angel Trees located at Perkins, Walmart and Shopko locations. Toys will be distributed locally through the Salvation Army's Toy & Joy Shop (see below).

 Need help? Families in need of holiday assistance are encouraged to call the Salvation Army, starting Wednesday, Nov. 8. Approved applicants will participate in the Toy & Joy Shop, where they will receive toys, books, and stocking stuffers for their children. Last year more than 800 families participated.

 Want to help? More than 500 volunteer hours need to be filled in order to help families apply for and shop at the Toy & Joy Shop. Interested volunteers should call to sign up to help.

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 What else? Every year kids ages 8 and 9 participate in the Salvation Army's Children's Shopping Trip, receiving a gift certificate to purchase Christmas gifts for their family at Shopko. Last year, 144 kids participated. This year's event occurs on Dec. 6. Interested families should call to apply starting Nov. 8.
WABASHA  It looks like plan B is right around the corner.

When the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in St. Paul announced their initial plan to dispose of nearly 11 million cubic yards of dredge material from Lower Pool 4 over the next 40 years, that plan was met with near universal animosity. From local landowners to the city and county of Wabasha, the plan became public enemy No. 1.

"We, as a city, will have to explore all our options," said Wabasha City Administrator Chad Springer back in early June. "We would not just lay down by any means."

Today, the stakeholders in Wabasha are working with the Corps to develop a new plan that will satisfy the city, county, landowners and local businesses. That plan, said Springer, is likely due to be introduced to the public in mid-December.

"I think the Corps is certainly leaning toward a new plan or a revised plan," Springer said.

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In fact, he spent time in St. Paul last week working on that new plan, a version or combination of the alternative plans submitted by stakeholders to the Corps on Oct. 10 after several developmental sessions to find a workable solution to the dredge material problem.

"It's very satisfying," he said, commenting on the process that is leading to that new plan. "That being said, there's still a draft plan on the table we don't agree with. We ain't laying down."

Col. Sam Calkins, commander of the Corps' St. Paul District, said that as the opposition to the Corps' plan became apparent and the plan became "difficult to defend," he and his colleagues began working closely with those stakeholders in Wabasha and across the river in Buffalo County, Wis., to develop that new plan.

"We're pretty confident we won't have to purchase farmland or land in direct vicinity to residential property," Calkins said.

Missed Step

One of the main things the Corps has learned through this process, Calkins said, is the need to bring the local stakeholders in earlier and "make this a community plan, not a Corps of Engineers plan."

Between the rollout of the plan  sending copies of a 153-page document to unsuspecting landowners  and planning to take their land without first holding one-on-one discussions with those property owners, the Corps got it "drastically wrong," Calkins said.

The last dredge material management plan was back in the 1980s, he said, when tourism and development in the area were not at the level they are today. Less upland property is available, and fewer folks are willing to sell.

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When the backlash against the current plan began, he said, the Corps was a little bit caught off guard by the way locals rallied with their grass-roots efforts, bringing in elected officials to help make their case.

"And we should have done a better job emphasizing it was a draft plan," he said.

Working Together

The Corps has certainly embraced the concept of developing an alternative to the original draft plan, Springer said. In fact, he described them as a partner in the process now, something he wished every government agency involved with the work on the alternative plans had done. "We'd like to see as an outcome of this that these agencies are more proactive at coming up with outcomes on river issues," he said.

While the people who live around Lower Pool 4 showed strong opposition to that original plan, Calkins said, they always were respectful of the Corps and always showed a willingness to work for a better solution. In fact, the Corps in St. Paul has looked at how it miscalculated the reception of the plan  both the plan itself and the roll out  and shared that information throughout the Corps to help improve similar processes in the future.

"The people in Wabasha, from the first time I was down there in June at the high school, people were very friendly," he said. "I talk to (Kellogg farmer Willard Drysdale) and his daughter before the event. They were upset, but very friendly to me."

It was at that meeting and a dialogue hosted by the Post Bulletin, Calkins said, where he realized the mistakes the Corps has made and the need to make changes.

"It hit me there for the first time," the colonel said. It was there he apologized to Drysdale and Jason Weisenbeck, a farmer from Nelson, Wis., and apologized for the way the plan was rolled out. "The more you put yourself in their shoes, the plan is pretty difficult to defend."

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Meet First, Plan Second

Moving forward, Calkins said, the Corps plans to work with stakeholders first, before rolling out a draft plan. That will help get the public onboard because they've had a more direct say in developing the plan, much like the new plan the Corps will likely roll out in December for Lower Pool 4.

"It'll have stakeholder buy-in for sure," he said. "We'll be announcing it to the public for the first time, but landowners will be well aware of the plan."

Springer said the city brought several alternate options to the Corps on Oct. 10, and one idea in particular  he would not name which one yet  has received the most attention.

"They have grabbed this preferred alternative by the horns, and are working behind the scenes," he said. "Now, we're waiting on December. That's the date when a new plan would be presented and that'd be a win for the city."
AUSTIN  The brakes have been pulled on a proposed Hy-Vee distribution center in Austin.

"Hy-Vee is delaying its timeline on the potential construction of a new distribution center in Austin, Minnesota," Tina Pothoff, vice president of communications for Hy-Vee, said in a statement. "Preliminary plans had the project breaking ground in 2019."

Pothoff said the company will now evaluate the need for a third distribution center "within the next several years." Hy-Vee currently operates distribution centers in Cherokee, Iowa, and Chariton, Iowa

News of the delay comes after an announcement in September by Austin city officials and the Hy-Vee that the grocery chain was exploring plans to build a distribution center on a 150-acre site north of Interstate 90 on the western edge of town. The company does not own the property.

This project was praised by Austin city officials, but public reaction was mixed. Some said there was a lack of transparency in the city's dealings with Hy-Vee, while others welcomed the jobs the project could generate.

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"(Hy-Vee) should consider building in a small town around Austin like Rose Creek, Dexter or Adams," said Rick Bottema, 47, of Rose Creek, an owner of two businesses in Adams. "Our school district needs something like this, and I bet people in our district will welcome this with open arms. The people complaining don't know how big this would help someone's economy."

But Kathryn Colestock, an Austin resident who lives on 6th Avenue Northwest, was put off by the announcement's timing and the lack of information.

"This is not a matter of 'not in my backyard,'" she said. "This is a matter of asking our local government to abide by the very stipulations that it set in place, and asking them to be honest and transparent about it instead of secretive and hush-hush."

Austin city officials expressed their disappointment regarding Hy-Vee's decision, but said in a prepared statement that they continue "to be excited about the possibility of a project that would provide many positive benefits to the entire community of Austin."

"We were assured that the premature concerns raised by a few individuals were not a contributing factor to their adjusted start date," the statement reads. "The City of Austin stands ready to advance the potential project as the environmental review is completed and Hy-Vee aligns their capital improvement projects."

Reasons for the delay

Pothoff said that the decision to delay the Austin project was not due to public outcry. Rather, the company is planning to launch a series of smaller-front stores called "Hy-Vee Fast & Fresh." Two such stores will soon be under construction in Altoona, Iowa, and Des Moines, Iowa.

The fast and fresh stores are around 10,000 square feet and include grocery items, freshly prepared foods and a coffee shop. Additionally, Hy-Vee plans to look into developing stores that are larger than the existing 90,000-square-foot stores to complement the smaller format locations.

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"We believe our new store concepts will offer the perfect blend of ready-to-eat meals as well as expanded health food offerings for today's consumers who are looking for convenience and exceptional customer service," Pothoff said.

Pothoff said Hy-Vee already has several major construction projects underway, including:

 A 240,000-square-foot production facility in Ankeny, Iowa, which will serve as a commissary and central bakery.

 A 48,000-square-foot Short Cuts production facility, located adjacent to the distribution center in Chariton, Iowa, will produce fresh cut, retail ready fruits and vegetables.

Hy-Vee also has plans for new fulfillment centers in Kansas City, the Twin Cities and Omaha in the next few years

Pothoff emphasized that while planning for a distribution center in Austin is now delayed, it doesn't mean the Austin project is off the table.

The company also hopes to address the concerns of residents when the distribution center proposal is revisited.

"Right now it is too early in the process for us to address those topics," Pothoff said. "However, when we have more specifics on the potential project's timeline and scope, we will make sure we communicate directly with those residents."
The Kurdish Push For Federalization Of Syria

The current round of the Astana peace talks for Syria will see Kurdish delegates making strong arguments for the federalization of Syria. Many have remarked that Syrian Kurds have actually engaged in a climb-down since the secessionist movement of Iraqi Kurds ended up being a spectacular failure which saw Iraq re-establish control over Kirkuk and other areas illegally occupied by Kurdish militants in recent years. With longtime Iraqi Kurdish leader Masoud Barzani effectively falling on his sword in the aftermath of an independence referendum which saw Kurds almost lose their autonomy, Syria Kurds have decided to abandon calls for secession and instead call for the federalization of Syria. But while this might seem like a climb-down, this is ultimately only a half-truth. In reality, the federalization of Syria would end up weakening a state whose greatest asset during the years of multi-front war and crippling sanctions has been its unity. Above all other considerations, Syria's unity as an Arab Republic has helped Damascus win a war against regional bullies, imperialist powers and their Takrifi terrorist proxies. The conflict in Syria was always one where some of the richest and most militarily powerful countries on earth sought to rip Syria apart by pumping money, arms and foreign fighters into a largely unified and peaceful country. In this process, some Sunnis were exploited by these foreign forces and told that if they joined the jihad, they would receive more money and more power as a result. The failure of this promise to materialize has led many of these Syrian Sunnis to rejoin the fight to unify Syria under its legitimate flag. Throughout the conflict, Syria's unity was truly secular and multi-ethnic. The majority Sunni Arab population, who unsurprisingly comprise most of the Syrian Arab Army, fought alongside Shi'as, Christians, and non-Arabs including Druze, Assyrians and Armenians. It was this unity which allowed Syria to remain strong, even at the nadir of the conflict in 2015, just prior to Russia's legal intervention at the request of the Syrian government. The might of Syria's allies including Russia and Iran, as well as regional volunteers from Iraq and Lebanon's Hezbollah, have scored a military victory, but politically, it is Syria's inter-faith and inter-ethnic unity which has allowed these military victories to be meaningful. In federalizing Syria, ostensibly by placing further power in the hands of regional governors, this unity would become increasingly weakened by what can only be described as regional identity politics on a dangerous scale. If every Syrian governorate was to develop a distinct identity, this would ultimately come to encompass a unique religious and even ethnic identity, one that is ripe for exploitation by the same external forces which caused the current crisis, starting in 2011. The last thing Syria needs is for an Alawite region to go against a Turkomen province which will then have to contend with Sunni provinces and Kurdish zones. What is the use of a Syrian victory against sectarianism, if the result is a new internal map of the country which only enforces sectarian divides that have been historically minimised by the unity based policies of the Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party? When it comes to the Kurds in particular, arguing for federalization is a clever way of escaping scrutiny for their own designs on northern Syria. Already, Kurds have been exposed as ethnically and culturally cleansing northern Syria of Arab villages where homes of Arab refugees have been stolen by Kurds and Arab place names have been illegally changed to Kurdish names. In calling for federalization of the entire Syrian Arab Republic, Kurdish agitators are attempting to avoid sticking out like Syria's proverbially sore thumb. The reality is that Syria has offered to engage in dialogue with Kurds in a post-war environment, about the issue of legal Kurdish autonomy. As Syrian Kurds have historically been better off than their ethnic brethren in other states, there is a precedent for such a dialogue being successful. It is entirely possible that this dialogue could also be mediated by Russia, a state which has good relations with both Damascus and Syrian Kurds. In calling for the full federalization of Syria, Kurds are simply hiding their own agenda and obfuscating responsibility for their own grievances. Syria already stated that it will work with Kurds under the appropriate post-war conditions. In trying to turn Syria into an essentially balkanized federal republic, Syria Kurds want the weight of other sectarian considerations to mask their own sectarian history and intentions. This too could backfire. If a federal subject inside a would-be federalised Syria were to develop unilaterally close ties with Turkey, something which in the case of Idlib could very much be the case, Turkey could gain a permanent foothold in Syria, over and above that which it currently has and Ankara would almost certainly use that to make life as difficult for Kurdish regions as possible. In a unitary Syria, this would be far less likely to develop. Slick talking duplicitous Kurdish politicians may be able to make rhetorically strong arguments in Astana, but in reality, all Syrians would be far worse off in a federated nation. One doesn't destroy a country's strongest asset, especially not after this asset helped fight off a regime change war from the west, something which prior to now, many thought was impossible to achieve. Syria's unity is above all, what has kept her strong, against immeasurable odds. If it isn't broken--do not fix it. Syria was broken, but her united culture has self-corrected a foreign problem. This is how things must remain if peace is to be fully reestablished.
Portions of the Iranian emigre community in the U.S. and France are buzzing about reports of protest activity in Iran. Some are relying on reports from family and friends in Iran; others on various news outlets.

Last week, Fox News reported that more than 2,000 people protested outside the countrys parliament. It relied on a report and video from an Iranian opposition group, the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI).

The protests reportedly stem from a financial scandal. Thousands of people are said to have trusted their life savings to government institutions only to lose the money or not be allowed to collect on it. Many of the investments are reportedly run or tied to the infamous Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. All of this occurs in the context of an economy which, according to some, is faring badly.

The protests started in 2016, but have become increasingly political recently. Fox News notes that President Trump, in his recent speech about the Iran nuclear deal, said that his administration stands in solidarity with ordinary Iranians. Whether this remark emboldened ordinary Iranians to take to the streets in October, I cannot say.

The Baghdad Post picked up Fox News story. The NCRI website has more on the protests.
ABC-7 in New York reports that Sayfullo Habibullaevic Saipov, the truck driving, ISIS supporting terrorist who killed at least eight people in New York City today, came to the U.S. seven years ago from Uzbekistan under what is called the Diversity Visa Program. The program offers a lottery for people from countries with few immigrants in America.

The idea behind this program, which I became aware of only when Tom Cotton proposed to abolish it, is badly misguided. The U.S. isnt Noahs Ark. We dont need immigrants from every country, and certainly not extra immigrants from Uzbekistan whose population is 80 percent Muslim, and thus is more likely than most countries to produce terrorists and future terrorists in the current environment.

According to Newsweek, an Uzbek citizen was arrested in Sweden in April when he ran a truck into a crowd in Stockholm and killed four people. He had expressed sympathy for the ISIS. Two Uzbeks and a Kazakh were arrested in Brooklyn in 2015 and charged with conspiring to support ISIS.

Following todays attack, Newsweek ran an article called Why young men from [Uzbekistan] keep threatening the U.S. and Europe. An expert on Central Asia addressed the question  one that doesnt seem terribly mysterious.

Frankly, I dont care why. We should not have a program that brings extra Uzbeks to the U.S. in the name of diversity or for any other purpose.

Daniel Horowitz reports that 1.83 million green cards were issued to nationals of predominantly Muslim countries from 2001-2015, including almost 60,000 to Uzbeks. The dates are significant because they reflect post-9/11 immigration policy. After 9/11, we should have known better.

In addition to the 1.83 million green card holders, we let in roughly 155,000 foreign students every year from predominantly Muslim countries, according to Horowitz. In effect, we are asking for more domestic terrorism.

Meanwhile, as Horowitz observes, when the president proposes a modest moratorium on just a few of the countries  not even the primary drivers of our immigration from the Middle East  a single leftist district judge blocks the moratorium. The resistors in robes on the Ninth Circuit will surely back that judge, as they have in the past on this issue, and we will have to wait for the Supreme Court to uphold common sense and a decent regard for the power of the president with regard to who can enter the U.S.

Even thereafter, we can count on more obstruction from lower courts whenever the administration continues its efforts to protect America from an influx of terrorists and future terrorists.

Horowitz concludes:

Congress must clamp down on immigration, weaken the jurisdiction of lower courts to get involved in immigration cases, and further bolster Homeland Security efforts to identify the thousands of threats we already have in our country as a result of masochistic immigration policies.

If, as seems certain, congressional Democrats resist, they need to be called out. In this regard, its worth noting that the Diversity Visa Program, through which the terrorist who slayed New Yorkers today came to America, was formulated by New Yorks own Chuck Schumer when he was in the House.

By contrast, President Trump and, as noted above, Sen. Tom Cotton have called for an end to the program.
The Islamist terror attack that killed eight in Manhattan yesterday fills me with impotent rage, but it also got me thinking about President Trump and his national security team. With them, there will be no hiding or downplaying the underlying reality of the attack. We will not be solemnly instructed to gainsay the truth that stares us in the face.

Bill Bennetts most recent installment of his podcast show includes a discussion with Yales Professor David Gelernter in part addressing the subject of Trump. There is no one I respect and admire more than Professor Gelernter. He is a deeply learned and decent man. I wanted to hear what he had to say.

Bills conversation with Professor Gelernter begins with the subject of Trump. Bill asked him, what do they think of Trump at Yale? They hate his guts, Professor Gelernter responded.

Listening to the podcast earlier this week, I found Professor Gelernter expressing my thoughts in a form I havent quite been able to articulate. Some readers may find Professor Gelernters comments of interest. He elaborated (the transcription is mine and omits Bills comments, which also mirror my own thoughts):

People on the left find Trump not merely objectionable on principle but they hate him as a person. They find him grating and annoying and he drives them crazy. I understand that. He often drives me crazy. Obama had the same properties.He was such a pain. I think there is nothing worse than a combination of patronizing arrogance and insincerity. Whenever he opened his mouth, your stomach turned over. It was painful to hear him talk. Now I understand that people  my friends on the left  have the same reaction to Trump, but the remarkable thing is what this says about the way the country swings and why did we elect Trump? The left and academia [are] too busy hating him to ask why their countrymen were The American people know perfectly well what is due to the office of the presidency. I think Trump is undignified in a lot of ways. I think Trump falls short in a lot of ways and I think that is absolutely as clear to a farmer in Alabama or a cowboy in Wyoming as it is to the Washington Post. People were driven to elect Trump not because they deemed him a perfect candidate to be president but because they were angry, they were incensed, they couldnt stand where the country was going and the analysis that should follow upon that isnt there. I mean, it goes on in conservative circles but it ought to be the number one topic in the study of American government, in the study of American history all over the world, and its not, of course. Needless to say. I remain absolutely a supporter and a sympathizer of Trump. And you know, no president checks every box. I think his virtues far outweigh his faults. I do wish he would take the office and the history of the office more seriously than he does Just the fact of getting elected was an extraordinary accomplishment. I mean, you could say it was the most culturally democratic moment in the history of the world. Never before has a great power spurned everything the elite  the intellectual and the social elite  knows, left and right, about who should be running the country. Never before has a great power said to hell with that. The dignity of the country is important and has a lot to do with the power of the country, but this is an emergency and were going to make use of the best candidate whos out there. And the implications are enormous. The left believes that, since it refuses to report on the right, the right doesnt really exist, that its just a bunch of uncollected morons with no serious thought. We all know this. Weve reached a point where the lefts blindness is aiding the collapse of the intellectual structure built up since the rise of Marxism.The left is too arrogant, too complacent, too self-satisfied to notice it or do anything about it  I hope.

The podcast is posted online in all the usual formats. I have embedded the Stitcher version below. It is also posted here. Bills conversation with Professor Gelernter begins at about 41:00.

Quotable quote: Im stuck in the middle of lunaticsville.
President Trump, Majority Leader McConnell, and Senate Judiciary Chairman Grassley are combining to great effect to confirm nominees to U.S. Courts of Appeals. However, one nominee, Steve Grasz of Nebraska, has hit a stumbling block. The American Bar Associations judicial evaluations committee rated him Not Qualified for a position on the Eighth Circuit.

When I first read this, I was surprised and amused. I was surprised because the ABA rarely gives such a rating. Moreover, on paper Grasz seems qualified to be a federal appellate judge. He served for more than a decade as Chief Deputy Attorney General in the Nebraska Attorney Generals Office. For the past 15 years, he has been a litigator with a top Omaha law firm.

Whats missing? An adjunct professorship in which he taught feminism and the law?

Grasz has litigated before, among other courts, the U.S. Supreme Court, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, and the Nebraska Supreme Court. While with the Nebraska Attorney Generals Office, he wrote nine briefs in the U.S. Supreme Court and served as counsel of record before the Supreme Court in Stenberg v. Carhart, 530 U.S. 914 (2000), defending a Nebraska statute prohibiting partial-birth abortion. (As we will see, this may be part of the real problem with ABA has with Grasz).

In private practice, Grasz challenged a state constitutional provision restricting ownership of agricultural land under the Commerce Clause in Jones v. Gale, 470 F.3d 1261 (8th Cir. 2006). He currently serves on the Executive Committee of the Appellate Practice Section of the Nebraska State Bar Association

Its my understanding that the Grasz nomination is a case where the preference of the states senior Senator (Deb Fischer) trumped the recommendation of the White House Counsel and the Federalist Society. But that hardly renders him not qualified for the position. Grasz has the backing of both Senator Fischer and Senator Sasse, who slammed the ABA. I doubt Grasz would have that backing if he were not qualified.

The ABAs rating amused me because it questioned whether Mr. Grasz would be able to detach himself from his deeply held social agenda and political loyalty to be able to judge objectively, with compassion and without bias. Remove the word compassion and you have described a great many Obama district court and appellate nominees.

To the ABA, however, if you slavishly take left-wing positions, you arent judging with bias. Rather, you are being mainstream  and, of course, compassionate. Never mind that its not the role of judges to adjudicate with compassion. The ABAs invocation of that word gives away its bias.

Ed Whelan has ripped the ABAs rating to shreds in a series of posts. Highlights include (1) a demolition of the ABAs claim that Grasz has written that lower courts need not follow precedent from superior courts and (2) a demonstration of the ideological bias of Cynthia Nance, the Arkansas law professor who led the ABAs investigation of Grasz.

Senate Republicans need to send this clear message to the ABA: Play it straight. They need to do so by confirming Steve Grasz, who clearly is qualified to serve. The endorsement of their colleagues, Senators Fischer and Sasse, are worth far more than the nay-saying of a left-wing law professor and her collaborators in the smear.
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UDAIPUR . IIFL Foundation, the CSR arm of the financial conglomerate IIFL Group has brought 25,000 out of school girls into the classrooms in just one year in association with the local communities through Sakhiyon Ki Badi, or community school for out of school girls in rural remote areas of Rajasthan.IIFL foundation also works on rehabilitation of Govt. Schools by improving the infrastructure by building additional classrooms and providing a digital classroom to provide a state of art digital education to the children. At the inauguration of one such school in Kadechavas of Udaipur district on Saturday, Home Minister Shri Gulab Chandra Kataria said, We appreciate the work by IIFL Foundation and promise to extend them all the support for their educational initiatives in Rajasthan.CEO of IIFL Foundation Sarika Kulkarni said, We have started our initiatives in South Rajasthan and aim to reach the whole state and ensure that every single girl attends school. The government and local communities have been extremely supportive and have made our initiative successful. India is home to millions of illiterate and out of school girls. Rajasthan alone has about 10 lac out of school girls, as per 2011 census. Multiple problems keep girls away from education including household responsibilities, absence of schools in remote areas and parents not being interested in sending girl children. IIFL Foundations Sakhiyon Ki Badi school for girls has a mission to provide best in class education to the illiterate and out of school girls in remote and rural Rajasthan. IIFL Foundations Sarika Kulkarni said, In the last one year we have mobilised out of school girls, identified locations, organised massive teachers training camps, created simple and interesting training booklets for easy learning. IIFL has also installed smart classroom equipment which facilitates creative interactive learning through digital boards.
The debate about who has the best pizza in South Jersey is a very serious one. In Atlantic County, its a difficult choice when legendary institutions like Tonys Baltimore Grill and newcomers like Carluccios square off.

In Cape May County, the standout pizza joint above all others is Manco & Manco, a Boardwalk staple since 1956.

But if you classify Manco as the clear winner when it comes to boardwalk-style pizza, theres a new kid on the block that has all of the makings to become a Cape May County legend in the realm of gourmet pizza. And that is Fratellis Wood Fired Pizzeria, which has a flagship location in Sea Isle City and an affiliated second location related to La Fontana del Mare in Strathmere.

The key word there is gourmet. Owner Bujar Daku, known for La Fontana locations in Strathmere, Avalon and right across the street from Fratellis in Sea Isle City, once again teamed with his brother Gani to offer the same, mind-blowing, authentic Italian cuisine diners have fallen in love with since they opened their first La Fontana in 1998. But this time, they put their passion and attention to detail to create what they believe is the best  and most authentic  pizza diners can find in the entire state.

Fratellis, appropriately translating to brothers in Italian, takes itself seriously  very seriously  when it comes to pizza. Even though the restaurant offers more than pizza, it is the backbone of everything Fratellis is all about.

Bujar and his family and restaurant are a welcome addition to the community, and we look forward to him opening even more, says Sea Isle City Mayor Lenny Desiderio.

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Desiderio will have his wish come true, but not exactly how he hoped. Dakus next restaurant will open in Avalon this summer.

Here is a breakdown on why Fratellis is going to be the next big thing in Cape May County.

The oven

According to Bujar Daku, when Fratellis opened in April, its wood-fired oven was one of only three in the world; the other two were in Dubai and Modena, Italy.

Imported from Genoa, Italy, the wood-fired oven weighs 8,000 pounds, is fueled by oak and can reach up to 900 degrees, but Fratellis likes to keep it at about 700, which enables them to cook a pizza in about three minutes.

The key is the stone top inside the oven, Daku says. It rotates and cooks the pizza perfectly. You get that crispiness but there is very little char because of the stone.

Daku says the oven is lined with stone made from volcano ash, and even the venting system came from Italy.

No one could design it here like that, Daku says. There is a double insulation needed because of the heat. Its an amazing design.

The oven is so big that the construction crew had to leave a wall open while building Fratellis to crane the oven in when it arrived.

The pizza

Daku says, like all pizza, the dough is the most important ingredient, and he had to find the right dough to match his amazing oven.

But it didnt take long.

I had a friend in Naples who helped with a 150-year-old recipe, he says. You dont mess with that.

The key to the dough is quality, with Fratellis using Antico Molino Caputo flour from Naples thats low in sugar.

Most flour that most places use is like 75 percent sugar; this is like 10, Daku says. When we first opened, and all I was eating was this pizza, I lost 15 pounds.

Because of the process, the dough is made 24 hours in advance, meaning that if they go through all of their dough, they close. The closest they came was late summer when they had two pies left at closing time.

The dough, thin, crispy on the outside yet satisfying and perfectly doughy on the inside, is the basis for some of the best pies you ever had. More than a dozen styles come in two sizes: a smaller, round Napolitano pie that would be a medium in most pizza joints; and a giant, rectangle Metro pie that could serve about four people.

When Daku says the margherita ($13.95, $24.95)  mozzarella cheese, crushed tomatoes, basil  is so good you will never want anyone elses margherita pizza, he isnt joking. Its that good. Using San Marzano tomatoes and 100 percent mozzarella cheese that Daku buys 500 pounds at a time to ensure quality, it is as good as it gets.

Fratellis also gets adventurous: the mayors favorite is the Ventura ($15.95, $27.95), a white pie with hand-sliced prosciutto di Parma, mozzarella and arugula; the Salamini Piccante ($15.95, $27,95) is an antipasta lovers dream with spicy soppressata, capicola, ricotta and mozzarella; the Tonno ($14.95, $26.95) features Sicilian tuna, onion, capers, olives, mozzarella, pepperoncini and crushed tomato; and the Capesante ($16.95, $28.95) offers scallops, mozzarella, sun-fried tomatoes and pesto.

Kenny G comes to Golden Nugget with a show that's one part standards and one part holiday cheer Kenneth Gorelick  better known as Kenny G  always makes time for Atlantic City when tourin

Daku waited a month to open to make sure all of the ingredients  particularly the cheese  were perfect.

I could have opened sooner, but it wasnt right, he says of the 50-seat Fratellis, which features gorgeous brick and stone work on its walls and floors highlighted by windows framed in stone that open in the off-season to make every seat feel like al fresco dining. If you open and its not right, you never get those people back in your door.

More than just pizza

Of course, Fratellis offers more great food than just pizza.

Using that wood oven, they wood-grill a variety of items: calamari ($11.95) marinated with Italian herbs; sausage ($9.95) with red and green peppers and onions; blackened scallops with sriracha aioli; octopus with Roman artichokes, onions and pesto; and shrimp ($13.95) in a spicy grappa sauce.

And the rosemary flatbread served with house-made whipped ricotta ($10.95) and drizzed with the best imported olive oil money can buy may be the best thing on the menu.

There are four great salads, including baby kale ($9.95) with pears, strawberries, dried cranberries and gorgonzola in a sherry vinaigrette; and you can even choose one of four paninis offered like the grilled chicken ($9.95) with broccoli rabe, roasted peppers and mozzarella.

Fratellis even makes six homemade gelatos ($5.95), including hazelnut, pistachio  and our favorite  the sea salt caramel.

Next summer, Daku is entertaining the idea of offering some daily pasta and fish specials, but make sure you go there for the pizza first, everything else second.
GALLOWAY TOWNSHIP  A partner in the Atlantic City Hard Rock casino project wants to build more than 32,000 feet of restaurant and retail space in the township.

Jack Morris, CEO of Edgewood Properties in Piscataway, will present plans Nov. 2 to the township Planning Board for a project near the Route 30 CVS store.

The development, called Nantucket Galloway, will consist of a 4,500-square-foot first-class restaurant, a 4,200-square-foot restaurant, a fast-food eatery and 9,200 square feet of retail space on the 100 acres of vacant land that surrounds the store, he said.

The project will bring jobs in construction and longer-term employment opportunities in the restaurants and retail business for area residents, Mayor Don Purdy said.

Morris is in a partnership with Joe Jingoli of Joseph Jingoli and Son to develop the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City. The casino is expected to open in summer 2018.

This is a great project, Purdy said of Nantucket Galloway, estimating it could total $25 million to $30 million in costs. This is going to be stage one of a two- to three-stage project.

The restaurants are ready to go and a yearlong construction project could begin in the spring, Purdy said. The restaurants have not been named.

Purdy said the project already has approvals in place, but because the size of the restaurants is changing, Edgewood must go back before the Planning Board.

This is exactly the type of project that we have been hoping for on Route 30," Purdy said. "It will provide jobs for our residents and enhance the character and economic base of our community.

Councilman Tony Coppola Jr. said the property was previously approved for a 285-seat restaurant, 4,200-square-foot bank, 3,000-square-foot fast food restaurant and 64,000 square feet of retail space.

We are very selective about where we chose to invest our time, efforts and resources, Morris said. The mayor and his team did a good job of selling us on the opportunities available in Galloway.

Morris said he was convinced to come to Galloway because of the townships willingness to name the area in need of redevelopment and negotiate mutually beneficial incentives to make the project economically viable.

The mayor said Morris will not receive any incentives until after the governing body reviews his plans.

"I'm sure we're going to enter into some kind of agreement," said Purdy.

Edgewood Properties is a 25-year-old New Jersey company that develops luxury apartments, townhomes, condos and commercial properties. The company has developments in New Jersey, California and Florida.

The Route 30 project began in 2011 when the CVS was built, but no further construction has happened, Purdy said.

Galloway declared the area that includes the CVS site in need of rehabilitation in 2013, Purdy said.

The property was previously owned by the 4 Gs of Galloway but was bought by JSM at Nantucket LLC about two years ago, Purdy said.
Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with visiting Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev in Beijing, Nov 1, 2017. [Photo/Xinhua]

BEIJING - Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday stressed China's commitment to developing and deepening relations with Russia during a meeting with Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev.

Xi said China is ready to work with Russia to expand cooperation in various fields, maintain close coordination in international affairs and promote the building of a community of shared future.

The president said he believed the comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination between China and Russia would generate new opportunities and achieve new results.

Xi pointed out China and Russia should give full play to the prime ministers' regular meetings and enhance cooperation on energy, equipment manufacturing, agriculture and aerospace.

He called on both sides to increase the content of technological innovation in their cooperation and integrate the Belt and Road Initiative with the Eurasian Economic Union.

China and Russia should cooperate in the development and utilization of the Arctic navigation channels to create a "Silk Road on the Ice," Xi said.

On people-to-people exchanges, Xi said China and Russia have achieved many results in education, tourism, and media cooperation, which consolidated the public support for bilateral ties.

For his part, Medvedev conveyed sincere greetings from Russian President Vladimir Putin to President Xi.

He congratulated Xi on the success of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and his re-election as the general secretary of the CPC Central Committee.

The congress charted a blueprint for China's future development and carries great significance to both China and the world, said Medvedev.

Since President Xi visited Russia this July, the two countries have made progress in cooperation on economy, energy, investment, innovation, people-to-people exchanges and other fields, he said.

Chinese top legislator Zhang Dejiang also met with Medvedev on Wednesday afternoon, and both sides agreed to strengthen cooperation on legislation and supervision.
From school parades to Trunk-or-Treat, South Jersey communities got in the Halloween spirit with cute, clever and creative costumes.

Check out the the full online photo galleries.

The Glenwood Avenue Elementary School in Wildwood hosted their annual parade, with students showing off their spooky costumes

Pirates, princesses and the Energizer bunny were spotted in the hallways of the Northfield Community School during the school's Halloween parade.

And readers shared photos of little ones ready for the Halloween festivities.
PLEASE BE ADVISED: Soon we will no longer integrate with Facebook for story comments. The commenting option is not going away, however, readers will need to register for a FREE site account to continue sharing their thoughts and feedback on stories. If you already have an account (i.e. current subscribers, posting in obituary guestbooks, for submitting community events), you may use that login, otherwise, you will be prompted to create a new account.
BRIDGETON  A man was charged with burglary after he was found in possession of a stolen tool, police said.

Israel Reyes Jr. was also charged with theft and possession of controlled dangerous substance paraphernalia, police said in a statement.

Police went to a home in the 200 block of North Pearl Street 8:18 a.m. Monday after a home burglary was reported. The victim told police he saw a man break into an abandoned home being renovated and walk out with an air compressor, which the man pulled behind him on a bicycle.

Another officer responded to a call about a man on a bicycle carrying an air compressor. Officers located the air compressor that belonged to the victim near an abandoned residence several houses away from the original call, police said. The air compressor was recovered and returned to the owner.

An officer on patrol located a man who matched the description the victim provided at 9:52 a.m.

Reyes was found in possession of a Husky utility work lamp, which was taken from the home, police said.

He was taken to the Cumberland County jail.

The victim described other tools that were taken from the home and not recovered. They were identified as a Makita cordless drill, a DeWalt cordless drill and an unknown make sander. The estimated value of those items is at least $300, police said.
CAMDEN  A Virginia man who admitted to robbing four banks, including a pair in South Jersey, was sentenced Tuesday in federal court to serve more than seven years in prison.

Bruce Wayne Higgins, 43, of Herndon, Virginia, pleaded guilty in June to charges he robbed a TD Bank in Ocean City, a Wells Fargo bank in Atlantic City and two banks in Baltimore during six days last year, according to acting U.S. Attorney William Fitzpatrick.

Higgins was sentenced to 87 months in prison for the robberies, Fitzpatrick said. He was also sentenced to three years of supervised release and ordered to pay $23,390 in restitution, officials said.

Authorities said Higgins in all four incidents threatened bank employees before fleeing.

On Dec. 15, authorities said Higgins entered the TD Bank in the 100 block of Ninth Street in Ocean City and presented a teller with a note that read: GUN IN Pocket, MONEY NOW or BANG-. He then took cash from the teller and ran away.

The next day, Higgins walked into a TD Bank in Atlantic City but immediately left after seeing his face on a bulletin hanging on the wall, officials said. An employee at the bank recognized Higgins and called police.

Higgins then entered and robbed the Wells Fargo bank using a note that said, Gun in Pocket, Money Now or Bang now. After taking the money, Higgins ran out of the bank and was arrested by Atlantic City police on South Carolina Avenue, authorities said.

At one time, Higgins was an IT professional with a six-figure salary, but he began robbing banks near Washington, D.C., in 2009 after becoming addicted to cocaine and heroin, according to a Washington Post report.

He previously served four years in federal prison.

Staff Writer John DeRosier contributed to this report.
Amanda Albees family was devastated when the 30-year-old pregnant mother was found dead after overdosing last November.

They still are devastated, but Albees sister said they dont want to see the life of the dealer who sold Albee the drugs destroyed, either.

Alycha Rodriguez, 23, of Brooklyn, New York, was sentenced last Friday to seven years in prison after she admitted to selling fentanyl, a synthetic opioid more potent than heroin, to Albee, who was three months pregnant.

We feel its appropriate, said Albees sister, Amy Toomin, 30, of Lower Township. Theres justice served because even though were hurt by the loss of my sister, we want the girl (Rodriguez) to take opportunities and try to better herself.

Albee left behind a 9-year-old daughter. Toomin said Rodriguez is also the mother of a young child.

She seemed very apologetic, Toomin added. She did turn and address the family.

Rodriguez pleaded guilty to strict liability of drug-induced death  a charge prosecutors in New Jersey are utilizing more in the midst of the opioid epidemic. However, it can be difficult to prove.

You need to know who the actual seller is and be able to link that particular distribution to the persons death, said Assistant Prosecutor Ed Shim, of the Cape May County Prosecutors Office.

The state Attorney Generals Office issued a directive in 2014 instructing local officials to take advantage of the law, which was enacted in 1986. Strict liability arrests have increased significantly across the state since  from two and three in 2011 and 2012 to nine and 15 in 2015 and 2016, respectively.

Last week, the Cape May County Prosecutors Office charged a Middle Township man with strict liability for allegedly selling heroin to a man who died of an overdose hours later.

Toomin said the legal proceedings brought a degree of closure to her family because Albees death was officially linked to Rodriguez.

There is some accountability on the addict themselves, she added. Theres accountability on both parts.

Strict liability convictions can carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, but Toomin, who is in recovery from addiction herself, isnt sure whether that will discourage dealers.

We really dont know, Toomin said. Its definitely something different that theyre trying.

Rodriguez had no prior convictions, Shim said. She was staying at the Beach House Motel in the Rio Grande section of Middle Township when she was arrested. Shim and Toomin said Rodriguez thought she was selling heroin not pure fentanyl, which is much more deadly.

Shim said Rodriguez will have to serve at least 85 percent of her seven-year sentence.
The four candidates for two Assembly seats in the states legislative 2nd District  essentially all of Atlantic County  include one incumbent seeking his third term and three newcomers. So on Tuesday, voters will initiate the state-level political career of at least one person rising from the local government ranks  from among Republican hopefuls Vince Sera and Brenda Taube and Democratic newcomer John Armato.

Democratic Assemblyman Vince Mazzeo has served six years in the Legislature after six as mayor of Northfield. He told The Press Editorial Board that when the countys economy collapsed a few years ago, he switched his focus from property-tax relief to boosting the economy.

He helped bring Stockton Universitys campus and S.J. Industries headquarters to Atlantic City as the primary sponsor of the Economic Opportunity Act, which provided the necessary incentives, he said. Soon a brewery will bring about 100 jobs to Atlantic City.

Mazzeo embraced his role in the bipartisan state takeover legislation to stabilize Atlantic City finances, although he expects his partys gubernatorial candidate, Phil Murphy, to win and appoint someone from the region to oversee finishing the job. Being in the majority party, we had to make the tough decisions, he said.

That paid off with a $100 million reduction in casino tax appeal liabilities that the city had failed to achieve, he said, and the stabilization led to Hard Rock Internationals major investment in the city.

Mazzeo legislation provided regulatory relief that made it possible for Comar Inc., a growing major manufacturer, to stay headquartered in Buena. Other bills got overdose-prevention into schools and benefited veterans.

Now hes focused on getting Grow NJ incentives to bring flight technology companies to the zone around Atlantic City International Airport in Egg Harbor Township. He said he is doing that by bringing other areas, particularly in the north, into the program as well.

Another goal Mazzeo is still pursuing is consolidation to improve and cut costs of local services, in particular having property-tax assessments done at the county level. Discussions with county officials might result in an enabling bill that blends the approaches used in Monmouth and Gloucester counties, he said. He thinks shared emergency dispatch services would save money too and be supported by residents.

His Republican opponents like shared services in principle but would give local officials a veto over them. Taube said countywide assessment should only be done if each community supports it. Sera said countywide dispatch would have benefited Atlantic County, but it would have cost Brigantine more, so he opposed it.

Sera is a Brigantine committeeman, teacher and real estate agent. He has also been an official of two public employee unions.

He said the No. 1 problem is jobs, and to get more he wants lower business taxes and fewer regulations. He said Viking Yachts took 1,000 jobs to Florida because its cheaper to build boats there. More local representation on state panels such as the Pinelands Commission would help ease regulation.

To stimulate the local economy, Sera proposed faster and better train service to Atlantic City, paid for by the state, with a large commuter lot somewhere on the mainland. Then the countys affordable housing could be marketed to Philadelphia workers willing to commute. He also proposed state tax incentives for air-cargo businesses to use the airport.

Taube is a business owner and former commissioner in Margate, where she said she used an independent audit to control spending and hold taxes steady. She said high property taxes are still her No. 1 issue.

She supports the countys plan to diversify the economy with high-paying aerospace businesses around the airport and William Hughes FAA Tech Center. Getting NJ Growth Zone incentives there would be a top priority and asked how shed get that done, she said, What I would do is everything I can to get that pushed through.

Taube and Sera both said the public worker pensions promised by past politicians must be paid in full and benefits to new employees should be reduced to make spending levels sustainable.

Armato, who said he never voted for a tax increase as a Buena Vista Township committeeman, said his candidacy is a continuation of his long life of volunteering  into the Air Force during the Vietnam War, as a firefighter for 47 years, an EMT for 11 and four years at Inspira Health Center.

The Democrat has a special interest in fighting the opioid epidemic from personal experience. He said his 47-year-old son is an addict who has been in jail and rehabilitation several times. He wants to make it easier for addicts to qualify for inpatient treatment and provide more beds for that.

Armato proposes repurposing empty houses for use by homeless veterans and also wants pinelands restrictions eased.

Whether voters pick one or two of the newcomers will depend on whether they approve of Mazzeos accomplishments and direction.
A Chinese student at the University of Utah who was shot and killed in an attempted carjacking near campus on Monday has been identified as Guo Chenwei.

Classes were canceled on Tuesday, but the campus in Salt Lake City remained open, and a secure-in-place order has been lifted.

After hours of searching by the police and FBI, the suspected gunman, Austin Jeffrey Boutain, 24, was taken into custody at the Salt Lake City main library on Tuesday afternoon.

The Twitter account of the University of Utah posted a recent picture of Guo, 23, from Beijing, with the following message: "We're absolutely heart-stricken by the loss of student Chenwei Guo. He was extraordinarily outgoing, creative, smart & extremely engaged."

University of Utah President David Pershing said in a statement sent to students: "We have canceled classes today in respect for Chenwei and the impact this violent event has had on our campus community. Chenwei was a pre-computer science major with a promising future and worked as a peer adviser in our International Student and Scholar Services Office."

Pershing said the university has been in contact with Guo's family.

lindadeng@chinadailyusa.com

(China Daily USA 11/01/2017 page2)
NJEA suppressing vote

The hatred and venom campaign directed and paid for by the N.J. Education Association leadership against state Senate President Steve Sweeney is all about voter suppression. It is a tactic used by the desperate to create so much negativity that voters will simply stay away from voting. Encourage low turnout and then hope your guy sneaks in.

NJEA leaders should be ashamed of themselves for using this voter suppression tactic in the 3rd District. This leadership group has not given the voters one reason to vote for his opponent and they do not care. Their personal hatred of Sweeney has caused them to revert to suppression of voting. This once-progressive group has sold its soul to the dark side of politics.

It is with great hope and confidence, and it is my belief, that the voters in the 3rd District will not be manipulated by this tactic of suppression and do come out to participate in democracy on Nov. 7. They should show the NJEA leadership that voter suppression will not work.

Michael J. Makara

Mays Landing

For Guardian for mayor

Soon the voters of Atlantic City will elect a mayor to chart the course for the city and the region the city affects.

With both hands tied behind his back by the state, Mayor Don Guardian fought hard for the people of Atlantic City. Finally there is light at the end of the tunnel. Stockton University and South Jersey Gas are investing more than $200 million. Hard Rock will open in 2018 after investing more than a half billion dollars. Boraie Development is building 250 market value housing units. Phase One of the Inlet Boardwalk section is completed. Steel Pier will soon open its $14 million observation wheel. Pacific Avenue has been repaved. The Baltic Canal flood prevention program is underway. The list goes on.

For the first time in almost a decade, city taxpayers have received a 5 percent reduction in their property taxes this year.

During his swearing-in in 2014, Guardian wanted all people of Atlantic City represented. Many cultures and communities spoke. That sense of inclusion began on day one and has never wavered.

Four years ago, Guardian sought election to fix Atlantic Citys problems. Voters made the right choice. Because of that, Atlantic Citys future looks bright. He is asking for four more years to finish that work. I urge voters to make the right choice again.

Richard Helfant

Atlantic City
CAPE MAY COUNTY  Rich Harron started the race for the sheriffs office as a Republican, but when the Cape May County GOP picked another candidate for the November election, the Democrats asked Harron to run on their ticket.

I was never involved in politics, Harron said this week in an interview with the Gazette. I was a registered Republican, but that didnt define who I was. My positions havent changed.

Harron said he wrestled with the idea of changing parties for about a week before accepting an offer by Jeff Sutherland, chairman of the Cape May County Democrats, to run as the partys candidate.

My Republican supporters convinced me to make the change, Harron said.

We define people too much by the labels Republican and Democrat. People assume to know somebody because theyre Republican or Democrat, but when they display their opinions, theyre not that far apart.

Sutherland agreed.

I look at the sheriffs office as not a political position, the county chairman said. Rich is a part of law enforcement.

Sutherland said he heard about Rich and his experience from other Democrats in the party, and he liked what he heard.

After I looked at the overall situation, if Rich didnt run, the sheriff would have been picked by a room of about 200 people, he said.

That factored into Sutherlands decision to ask Harron to switch parties.

I wanted the people of Cape May County to have two candidates to pick from, he said. Im proud to put Rich forth as a candidate.

Harron has served 27 years with the sheriffs office: 25 years in the correctional center, with seven years as warden of the jail; and two years as the coordinator of the alternative to incarceration program.

Harron also serves part time as the Lower Township emergency management coordinator, and has been a volunteer firefighter for 27 years at Villas Volunteer Fire Department.

If elected sheriff, Harron has several ideas for the department, though two areas stand out: working with kids and families to prevent opioid abuse, and increasing awareness of the potential for terrorism in Cape May County.

The office should be involved with the opioid issue, he said. They could support police in the Law Enforcement Against Drugs in the vo-tech school, and bring it to other public elementary schools that dont have school resource officers.

Harron also said he would like to develop an interactive program at the Cape May County Park and Zoo to work with kids and make them aware of the dangers of drug abuse.

We need to educate kids about good choices and the issues that come with bad choices, he said. The sheriff can be a leader in the county in bringing good programs to the people.

Nationwide, people dont pay enough attention to security, Harron said, and as a resort area, visitors and residents here need to be aware of the potential for terrorism.

We need to heighten awareness, he said. For example, we have airports, the ferry, and just a few weeks ago, a large-scale music event.

Harron said that by involving people at all levels  such as business owners, teachers and principals  county residents could possibly identify people before they are radicalized.

That kind of preparation means communication, not only with other law enforcement agencies, but people throughout the county, leading not only to better security, but to an overall preparedness for disasters of any type  manmade or natural, according to Herron.

I was the incident commander on the scene in Lower Township at Sandy and Irene, he said.

Practicing communications and response prior to a disaster is critical to dealing with the destruction and aftermath, he said.

If hes elected, Harron said his experience as warden at the county jail would help him lead the department as sheriff.

Running a jail is similar to running any small community, he added.

Corrections is like operating a small town, Harron said. Corrections officers are like the police, and we have nurses and food services.

Herron, 52, has been married for 33 years. He and his wife, Margaret, have two children, Rich Jr. and Bryan, and four grandchildren. Harron was born and raised in Villas.

If Im elected, I would bring a different approach to the sheriffs office, he said. We would be more community oriented, and the staff would be teamwork oriented. They take pride in wheat theyre doing, and I would approach the officers with fairness and respect for what they do.
CAPE MAY COUNTY  Bob Nolan is counting on 33 years of experience in the Cape May County Sheriffs Office as one of the main reasons voters should consider him for office in this years sheriffs election.

Ive served in every area of the department during my time with Sheriffs Office, Nolan said in an interview with The Gazette last week. Ive been a sheriffs officer since 1987.

Nolan joined the office in 1984 as a corrections officer at the county jail. Three years later, he joined the ranks of sheriffs officers after graduating from the police academy, he said. He is currently the undersheriff, appointed to the position by Sheriff Gary Schaffer in November 2010. Schaffer announced that he will retire at the end of the year.

Nolan has the support of the Cape May County GOP, said Chairman Marc Karavan.

He went through the convention and he won the convention, Karavan said.

Nolan also served a four-year stint as mayor in Lower Township, from 2005 to 2008, and is the president of Fire District 2 in Lower Township, a position Nolan would have to give up if he wins the election.

Though he could no longer hold the presidency, Nolan said he would remain active with the fire district.

I love Cape May County, Nolan said. I raised children here, and Im raising grandchildren here. I want to keep protecting Cape May County and keep it safe.

Nolan said that on the campaign trail, the most common question he gets is, What does the sheriffs office do? Nolan wants to change that, and said that community outreach and education should be an important part of the office.

Our primary function is court security, Nolan said. And were one of only seven counties in New Jersey that runs their own jail.

Also falling under the purview of the Cape May County Sheriffs Office is the civil division, which enforces orders passed down from municipal and county courts, and the county animal shelter.

Nolan said that if elected, he doesnt plan any major changes in the office, either in personnel or in duties.

Other than the undersheriff, he said. If Im elected, Ill promote a new undersheriff from within the department.

Thats important, Nolan said, especially with the expected completion of the new jail in the spring 2018.

We need to be consistent with people, since were going into that new jail.

Yet the office is currently understaffed, with seven officers out on either medical leave, or military duty, he said. That has stretched the department, and Nolan said he would have to be creative with the staff on hand to meet any new commitments.

One of those commitments would be working closer with local police and the prosecutors office.

Id like to put one of the officers in the prosecutors office to work with the Guns, Gangs and Narcotics Task Force, Nolan said. I also want our guys on the street to work with municipal police officers. We want to be more accommodating to local police, and work with them to see how we can help them to do their job better.

Working with other law enforcement would have multiple benefits, Nolan said. It would bring the officers together in a common goal of keeping the county safe, and it would also extend the reach of the municipal police forces.

The sheriffs office is not limited by township boundaries, he said. That means that if an investigation crosses municipal borders, sheriffs officers working with police could cross those boundaries to pursue leads or suspects.

I want to tweak some of the procedures at the jail, Nolan added.

The current practice of closing the in-take section of the jail at lunch and dinner means that police cant drop off prisoners 24 hours a day, he said.

Currently, police now have to wait to drop off prisoners. I would like to move some shifts around and keep the in-take open.

That would get municipal police back on the streets quicker, he said.

Nolan, 59, married his high school sweetheart, Michelle (Ciampi) Nolan, in 1978 at St. Anns in Wilwood.

I want people to know that if Im elected, I can hit the ground running from day one, Nolan said. Theres no on the job training with me. Im fully experienced, fully qualified and educated, and ready to take over as sheriff.
BEIJING -- China and Russia signed nearly 20 deals here Wednesday in areas including investment, energy and space exploration.

The deals came after the 22nd regular meeting between the heads of government of China and Russia held in the Great Hall of the People, Beijing.

During the meeting, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang told his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev that as each other's biggest neighbor, China and Russia have witnessed robust development of the comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination.

Li said for China, the biggest developing country in the world, development is the solution to all problems.

Both China and Russia view each other's development as an important opportunity, therefore there is a broad prospect for both countries to synergize development strategies and further advance all-round cooperation, said Li.

He said closer bilateral cooperation will contribute more to the peace and development in both countries, the region and the world.

Li briefed Medvedev on the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) which was held from Oct 18 to 24 in Beijing.

He said that the CPC National Congress had just elected a new CPC Central Committee with Xi Jinping at the core, established Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era as the guiding spirit of the CPC and mapped out China's future goals of development.

Medvedev, the first head of government to visit China after the congress, congratulated the CPC on the success of the congress and hoped the Chinese people would achieve their goals at an early date.

He said current Russia-China relations are at the apex of history with frequent high-level visits, efficient cooperation on key projects and rapid trade and investment growth.

Russia is willing to enhance traditional cooperation with China in areas such as energy, infrastructure construction and aviation, to expand to new areas including e-commerce and financial investment, and to advance cooperation on cultural and people-to-people exchanges, he said.

China is willing to cooperate with Russia on the basis of mutual respect, equality and common development and promote the building of a new type of international relations featuring win-win cooperation, Li said.

After the meeting, Li and Medvedev signed a joint communique and met the press.

On Wednesday afternoon, Li and Medvedev attended the closing ceremony of the China-Russia Media Exchange Year.

Together with more than 600 representatives from China and Russia, Li and Medvedev watched a video reviewing activities from the past two years, praising the results.

Media exchange year, launched by President Xi and Russian President Vladimir Putin, has shown that China and Russia enjoy a high degree of political mutual trust and mutual understanding in culture, said Li.

Activities, covering the areas of politics, economy, culture and people's daily life, have increased understanding between the two peoples, said Li.

Medvedev said the two countries have held more than 250 activities during the media exchange year, reflecting the deep friendship between the two peoples and the significance of bilateral relations.

Chinese Vice Premier Liu Yandong also attended the closing ceremony.

Also on Wednesday, Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli, Vice Premier Wang Yang and Vice-Premier Liu Yandong received a Russian state award, the Order of Friendship, from Medvedev.

The Order of Friendship is a state decoration of the Russian Federation to reward foreign nationals who have made significant contributions to strengthening peace, friendship, cooperation and mutual understanding among nations.
Construction work is carried out at the UK's Hinkley Point C power station, which has one third investment from China General Nuclear Power Group. [Photo/chinadaily.com.cn]

Britain's University of Sheffield and China's Tsinghua University announced on Wednesday they have jointly created a masters degree course in nuclear engineering and management, something that will help ensure the supply of suitably qualified graduates for bilateral nuclear projects.

This program is the first China-international joint masters in nuclear engineering and management, and leverages on both universities' respective expertise in the nuclear technology sector.

The first intake of students, who will start their classes at Tsinghua University in Beijing in September, will comprise 80 students from China and 30 from overseas. The two-year master's program is taught in English.

The University of Sheffield is heading efforts to market this program outside China, and in addition it is offering 10 scholarships to woo international students to join the program.

China General Nuclear Power Group, China National Nuclear Corporation, and the State Nuclear Power Technology Company will all partner on the masters degree program by providing students with internship opportunities.

One aim of the program is to help young engineers from the United Kingdom become familiar with the Chinese nuclear industry and its technology, especially so they can contribute to projects such as Hinkley Point and Bradwell.

CGN, and France's EDF are jointly investing in three nuclear power stations in the UK: Hinkley Point C, Sizewell C, and Bradwell B. The projects represent China's first investments in the nuclear industry within a mature economy.

CGN has submitted China's nuclear reactor design, HPR1000, to the UKs nuclear regulator in search of its approval. If the plans are cleared for use, the Chinese-designed reactor will be built at Bradwell B.

Meanwhile, CGN has made a bid to buy an equity stake in another UK plant, Toshiba's NuGeneration, which is also known as NuGen.

All of the developments will require considerable research and development work to ensure effective China-UK collaboration and the successful localization of Chinese technology and expertise in the UK. Cultivating the requisite knowledge and skills is seen as an important part of this localization work.

"Part of the aim of the joint program with Tsinghua is to get young UK engineers familiar with Chinese methods and ways of working, and vice versa," said Andrew Storer, chief executive officer of the Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre, the UK government-backed center at the University of Sheffield. "It's all part of the preparation for Hinkley Point C, and especially for Bradwell. Itll be even more beneficial if CGN does acquire NuGen and HPR1000 reactors are built."

The Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre has been working with CGN on its potential acquisition of NuGen.
The Triumph brand is committed to meeting the demand among today's young women for a quality lifestyle, by perfectly combining a romantic style, with elegant fabrics and Triumph's centennial craftsmanship. Every piece of ESSENCE lingerie is as finely crafted as a delicate work of art. The brand's innovative and diversified design elements meet the expectations of young women in their pursuit of fashion.

At the launch event, Liv shares her viewpoints on fashion in an 'In conversation with' live panel discussion with China Harper's Bazaar editor-in-chief Wei Tian and the columnist and model Bonnie Chen. They confirm ESSENCE's positioning as a high-end brand, and express their support for the brand.

The ESSENCE AW 2017 and SS 2018 collections are unveiled at the event, including the items that Liv wears in print advertisement photos. The collections feature flower patterns incorporating exquisite lace and fine embroidery, embodying the elegant and romantic characteristics of ESSENCE.

For the remainder of 2017, Triumph will extend its "Find The One For Every You" campaign, while ESSENCE will continue providing today's modern woman with lingerie that best fits their body, allowing them be the best they can be.

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/593684/Liv_Tyler_at_collection.jpg

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/593686/Triumph_lingerie_show.jpg

SOURCE Triumph China
DUBLIN, November 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

AvaTrade, the leading forex and CFD broker, launched AvaTradeGO, a new MT4 based trading app. The app offers trading on both fixed and floating spreads trading accounts, as well as registration-free demo accounts. The new app is available for Android and iOS users.

AvaTradeGO has a fresh and user-friendly interface, which appeals both to new and experienced traders alike. The uniqueness of AvaTradeGO is the trading insights it gathers from traders in real-time, sending the user live social trends and push notifications on selected instruments. These features generate to the trader a broad vision of the markets in real-time, and aim to assist in making the right call at the right time.

"We set out with a primary goal to produce an app which really stands out at the top of the industry, one that is not just a trading app but THE trading app," says Mr. Daire Ferguson, CEO of AvaTrade. "During the entire planning and development time, we always had the trader experience as the main objective, to make his/her trading experience with AvaTradeGO not only good - but really marvellous. Looking at the final product I feel we have accomplished that, and we will continue to enhance the features and make it even better still."

Find out more about AvaTrade at http://www.avatrade.com/trading-platforms/avatradego

About AvaTrade

AvaTrade, the leading forex and CFD broker, was founded in 2006 and offers more than 250 financial instruments, top trading platforms, and a new cutting-edge mobile app, AvaTradeGO. Clients enjoy personal account managers and a 24-hour live customer service in 15 languages. AvaTrade accommodates to traders of all levels, and further ensures secured trading with advanced encryption and fully segregated accounts. AvaTrade is fully regulated in the EU, Japan, Australia, South Africa & BVI.

Press Contact

Orly Garini-Dil

Marcom Director

+1-646-335-0738 (Ext. 2125)

O.Garini-Dil@avatrade.com

SOURCE AvaTrade
BOSTON, Oct. 31, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Former Pfizer executive joins AZTherapies focused on Alzheimer's Disease, ischemic stroke, and other neurological diseases by creating novel treatments for neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation.

AZTherapies, Inc. is a privately held advanced clinical stage pharmaceutical company located in Boston, MA that is developing breakthrough treatments for Alzheimer's disease, ischemic stroke, and other neurological diseases associated with neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation. The lead product candidate, a combination therapy treatment of two re-engineered drugs, ALZT-OP1, is being studied in a Phase 3 Early Alzheimer's clinical trial, the COGNITE trial.

"We are excited to welcome Dr. Karen Reeves to AZTherapies as President and Chief Medical Officer," said Dr. David Elmaleh, AZTherapies Founder, Chairman, and CEO. "Dr. Reeves brings tremendous experience in over twenty years in big pharma and provides additional clinical development, business development, and management expertise to the talented AZTherapies management team. We are delighted to have Dr. Reeves' leadership as we move forward with our advanced product candidates."

Dr. Reeves joins AZTherapies with over twenty years of experience in Phase 1 through 4 drug developments, across multiple therapeutic areas, including neuroscience, oncology, immunology, and women's health. Most recently, Dr. Reeves held the position of Vice President, Head Global Clinical Submissions Quality and Innovation, Worldwide Research and Development, Pfizer, Inc. At Pfizer, Dr. Reeves held multiple leadership positions in Worldwide Research and Development and Worldwide Regulatory and Safety, including Vice President, Neuroscience Clinical Development. Dr. Reeves has proven leadership in successful global drug development programs and approvals, including three marketed drugs in neuroscience. Under her direct leadership, Chantix gained FDA Priority Review and won the Prix Galien Award for Best Pharmaceutical, considered to be the highest accolade in Pharmaceutical Research and Development and has been approved in more than 80 countries. Dr. Reeves has extensive experience in neurology and psychiatry both as a clinician drug developer and in business development. Prior to her most recent position at Pfizer, Dr. Reeves was Head Global Medical Science at Astellas (Tokyo) Pharma Global Development based in the US and Netherlands. Dr. Reeves earned her B.A. from Yale University and her M.D. from University of Vermont Medical School and has held faculty positions at Harvard Medical School and Tufts Medical School.

"I'm thrilled and honored to join AZTherapies' senior management at this most important time," said Dr. Reeves. "Alzheimer's disease and stroke are devastating and heartbreaking neurological diseases for patients and families that demand better and newer treatments. The COGNITE trial in early AD is currently enrolling patients globally and has randomized over 280 patients. AZTherapies' combination therapy has the potential to address multiple mechanisms associated with amyloid plaques, neurodegeneration, and neuroinflammation that could potentially dampen neural death and neuroinflammation and lead to better outcomes for patients with Alzheimer's and other neurological diseases."

"AZTherapies' early AD treatment aims to prevent amyloid peptide oligomerization and plaque formation and lessen the neuroinflammatory response, the two triggers of Alzheimer's disease progression. Slowing these two processes, that constitute the present main scientific hypotheses, is the Holy Grail for disease modification," said AZTherapies' Scientific Advisory Board chair, Dr. Rudolph Tanzi, Joseph. P. and Rose F. Kennedy Professor of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Vice-Chair, Neurology; Director of Genetics and Aging Research Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital.

"Cognitive and behavioral impairment after stroke is unfortunately very common, and often even more disabling than paralysis from stroke. Treatment options are severely limited and no study has previously attempted such an early intervention to avert this outcome," added Dr. Scott Kasner regarding the planned AZTherapies stroke study. Dr. Kasner is the Director, Comprehensive Stroke Center, Sadri-Vakili, Ghazaleh Distinguished Professor, Professor of Emergency Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania.

"AZTherapies' use of scales for cognition and function and brain biomarkers that are related to brain pathology increase the accuracy of early AD diagnosis and homogeneity of the randomized subjects for the COGNITE Trial," said Dr. Peter Conti, Professor of Radiology, Director Molecular Imaging Center, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California and a member of the Board of Directors at AZTherapies. Dr. Conti is a key expert on neuro-anatomy and early Alzheimer's diagnostics.

About AZTherapies, Inc.:

AZTherapies, (www.aztherapies.com) is an advanced clinical stage drug development company in Boston, MA. AZTherapies is innovating the discovery, development and commercialization of novel Alzheimer's Disease and ischemic stroke treatments which could fundamentally improve patient treatment, quality of life and disease management. The company's lead program, ALZT-OP1 is a combination therapy comprising two re-engineered drugs with well-known profiles with intellectual property protecting drug combination, dosing, formulation and drug properties that will deliver the drug to blood and brain. The company platform also includes ALZT-OP2, a potential disease modifying AD drug treatment in advanced preclinical development, AZHALER-D, a single dose disposable novel inhaler in late stage development, and ALZT-QoL, a neurodegenerative drug treatment designed to improve the quality of life of AD patients using a compensatory M1 (a muscarinic receptor agonist) with ligand/receptor mechanism to improve brain network connectivity. AZTherapies drugs are based on technologies developed at Massachusetts General Hospital, a Harvard Medical School Teaching Hospital.

Contact:

Bill Garofano

1-617-318-3424

bill.garofano@aztherapies.com

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/594208/AZTherapies_Logo.jpg

Related Links

http://www.aztherapies.com



SOURCE AZTherapies
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, Nov. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- CellPoint Mobile has been formally recognized as a full member of the African Airlines Association (AFRAA) partner program. For more than a decade, CellPoint Mobile has provided mobile-first technologies for both the sell side and the payment side of the digital travel channel that enable airlines and travel companies to keep up with the pace of digital innovation, maximize revenue opportunities and enhance customer experiences.

"African carriers are poised to expand their share of the global travel market," said Noel Connolly, CellPoint Mobile's SVP Global Head of Sales, Airlines and Hospitality. "Through our dedicated MEA unit, CellPoint Mobile is committed to assisting the region's carriers in leveraging the competitive advantages associated with implementing mobile-first commerce strategies and solutions."

"Digital transformation ranks alongside changing demographics and increasing customer expectations as one of the major factors shaping the future of Africa," Connolly said. A recently released United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) study reports that in Kenya, mobile money is more common than credit cards for e-commerce. Throughout the continent, mobile phone penetration is expected to reach 85 percent by 2020 with more than 498 million smartphones in use. Globally, online, mobile and digital currency payment systems are set to overtake credit and debit cards as the most popular ways to pay in e-commerce worldwide by 2019.

Streamlining the Path to Profits

Answering the need for travel merchants - whether they are in the airline, ground transportation, or hospitality industries - to capture the full revenue potential of mobile-first commerce, CellPoint Mobile offers a seamless process for passenger booking and ticket payment, while simultaneously supporting revenue enhancing up-selling and cross-selling opportunities, including loyalty programs. With CellPoint Mobile's solutions in place, airlines, and other travel merchants, can capture revenues and streamline their path to profits.

CellPoint Mobile's products and tailored business services connect the sell side and payment side of travel transactions in a way that is unrivalled in today's marketplace. These flexible, scalable solutions can be deployed to help clients overcome specific obstacles, or to serve as an enterprise-level commerce platform for travel companies.

CellPoint Mobile's feature-rich solutions work alongside legacy infrastructure with minimal disruption to existing operations. A modular approach to product implementation helps customers to start at the pace they need and scale as their business grows.

Fintech and Travel Tech  Bridging the Divide

On the pay side, CellPoint Mobile's Velocity payment platform enables airlines and other travel merchants to reduce time to market with new payment methods and digital wallets, quickly expand their acquirer network, and increase conversions. The merchant-side payment platform provides everything a travel merchant needs to control its payments environment, with features including pay by link, stored payments, advanced fraud and transaction monitoring, and more.

On the sell side, Voyage, CellPoint Mobile's travel booking engine, enables airlines and travel merchants to increase revenues in both the mobile and online channels. Voyage provides out-of-the-box integrations with an airline's PSS to offer booking, ancillary purchases, MYB and check-in functionality, while also integrating seamlessly with the CellPoint Mobile Velocity payment platform and alternative forms of payment such as points, vouchers and staggered/installment payments. Voyage Mobile is built on the leading mobile native platforms (iOS and Android), making it available to more than 99.6% of the mobile community in any geography.

Vantage, the company's campaign management tool, enables airlines and travel companies to amplify their message to their customers. Vantage enables travel companies to create and execute targeted promotions and campaigns across their entire customer base, and build an interactive communications channel with their customers through personalized notifications and SMS messages.

"We are honored to participate in a strategic alliance with AFRAA. The organization's reputation as an industry leader and catalyst for the growth of a globally competitive African airline industry mirrors CellPoint Mobile's business objectives for the region," Connolly said.

As part of the 49th AFRAA Annual General Meeting in Rwanda (Nov. 12-14), Connolly will be exploring "Strategies to Drive More Revenues and Reduce Costs Through E-Commerce" and is available to discuss how airlines, when moving to add mobile-first commerce capabilities, share common challenges around costs, integration complexity and outdated underlying technologies, yet are able to overcome those obstacles. To arrange an interview with Noel Connolly or for more information about CellPoint Mobile, please contact Liz Gamble at egamble@thinkinkpr.com or Vanessa Horwell at vhorwell@thinkinkpr.com.

CellPoint Mobile: We Make Travel Easier for airlines, travel companies and their customers.

CellPoint Mobile provides airlines, ground transportation providers, hospitality firms and travel companies across the globe with flexible, configurable solutions that help them collect revenues from the mobile channel and profitably manage interactions and transactions from both the selling side and the payment side. Dedicated to a client-first, mobile-first culture since 2007, CellPoint Mobile provides companies with the fintech and travel-tech solutions they need to get to market quickly: booking, payments, alternative payment methods, ancillary sales, loyalty transactions, communications, stored payment capability, real-time reporting, reconciliation, connections to payment service providers (PSPs) and acquirers, and more. Serving companies on five continents, CellPoint Mobile has locations in Miami, London, Copenhagen, Dubai, Pune and Singapore. Visit www.cellpointmobile.com to learn more

Related Links

www.cellpointmobile.com



SOURCE CellPoint Mobile
TEL AVIV, Israel, November 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

Kanabo Research, a Tel Aviv-based medical cannabis R&D Company, recently won the highly esteemed Live Investor Pitch Award for their VapePod, at the CannatTech UK event, held at The Old Truman Brewery in London's Brick Lane on 26th October.

While Kanabo have been developing cutting-edge solutions to assist medical cannabis patients, the unveiling of their new VapePod was a real head turner at the London event, and won the acclaimed award for good reason.

Kanabo's VapePod, the first medical cannabis device to receive initial medical device approval from Israel's Ministry of Health, offers a revolutionary cannabis oil delivery system, designed to treat specific medical ailments and conditions with precision, accuracy and consistency. The VapePod is designed to utilize the highest quality cannabis extracts and to create tailor-made Cannabis formulations that target CNS disorders such as insomnia, anxiety and neuropathic pain, to name just a few.

The company also confirmed that it intends to enter the European market in a serious way, with low THC formulations that are permitted under EU law and will revolutionize the fast growing CBD industry of nutraceuticals.

Kanabo CEO Avihu Tamir, spoke to reporters about the company's VapePod at the event in London, "We have worked tirelessly to create a unique product in the world of medical cannabis. At Kanabo we incorporate extract formulations that are able to target specific ailments and medical conditions for a wide range of patients in need. We are excited that within the next six months clinical trials will commence on our product," he said.

About Kanabo Research: kanaboresearch.com, is an Israeli medical cannabis R&D company founded by Avihu Tamir and David Sack, who combined years of personal experience working with medical cannabis patients in Israel before turning their vision into a reality. The company's mission is to innovate cutting edge medical solutions, while targeting specific medical conditions via their proprietary VapePod system - vapepod.com .

To learn more about Kanabo Research, visit http://www.kanaboresearch.com or email info@kanaboresearch.com.

SOURCE Kanabo Research
The alliance would accelerate process development and clinical material production at small biotech start-ups focusing on novel drug development for which Samsung BioLogics acts as a contract manufacturer. Under the agreement, Merck would provide process development and support technical training, in addition to its Mobius  single-use systems to Samsung BioLogics.

The new MoU is an extension of a MoU signed in 2014 that encompasses a long-term supply agreement where Merck would provide raw materials for biopharmaceutical manufacturing.

"Our collaboration with Samsung continues to strengthen with this agreement," said Udit Batra, Member of the Merck Executive Board and CEO, Life Science. "Merck's process development expertise and Mobius, the wide single-use bioprocessing portfolio, will allow innovations to reach patients faster."

Merck has been the key solution provider for Samsung BioLogics' 30KL facility and 152KL facility in Korea, and has trained Samsung BioLogics team on building a robust biologics development process.

"This alliance will create synergy and maximize our technology potential," said Dr. Tae-Han Kim, President and CEO of Samsung BioLogics.

Merck's portfolio of Mobius single-use systems delivers greater flexibility and continuity for scale-up, reducing the need to retrain operators. These are some of the multiple reasons that companies such as Samsung BioLogics have become early adopters of Merck's technologies.

At Merck's M Lab Collaboration Centers, customers work with the company's scientists and engineers in a shared exploratory environment to solve customers' toughest biomanufacturing challenges and help accelerate development of new therapies. Merck has nine M Lab Collaboration Centers around the world, including one in the U.S. and one in Korea.

Merck is a premier supplier of process development and clinical-stage manufacturing solutions, materials and services needed to produce biopharmaceutical drugs. The company is committed to delivering superior bioreactor technology to manufacturers, several of which are already collaborating with the company in that space in North America, Europe and Asia.

In the growing biopharmaceutical market, manufacturers are moving toward end-to-end solutions  from process development and scale-up through to manufacturing for pre-clinical, clinical and commercial supply  as they seek to cut costs while increasing quality and efficiency. At the same time, single-use, disposable equipment and systems have increased in popularity because they offer many advantages over conventional stainless steel systems, such as improved batch success rates, less cross-contamination risk, decreased water and waste water requirements, shortened project duration and reduced project costs.

About Samsung BioLogics

Samsung BioLogics is a global full-service provider of quality-driven contract process development and cGMP manufacturing to the global biopharmaceutical industry. Our facilities are custom designed for monoclonal & recombinant production with maximum flexibility. Our one-stop services include cell line generation, process and analytical method development, analytical services, clinical and commercial bulk cGMP manufacturing of drug substance and drug product including quality assurance, quality control, regulatory compliance standards & support for our customers. For additional information about the company, please visit www.samsungbiologics.com.

All Merck news releases are distributed by email at the same time they become available on the Merck website. Please go to www.merckgroup.com/subscribe to register online, change your selection or discontinue this service.

About Merck

Merck is a leading science and technology company in healthcare, life science and performance materials. Around 50,000 employees work to further develop technologies that improve and enhance life  from biopharmaceutical therapies to treat cancer or multiple sclerosis, cutting-edge systems for scientific research and production, to liquid crystals for smartphones and LCD televisions. In 2016, Merck generated sales of  15 billion in 66 countries.

Founded in 1668, Merck is the world's oldest pharmaceutical and chemical company. The founding family remains the majority owner of the publicly listed corporate group. The company holds the global rights to the Merck name and brand. The only exceptions are the United States and Canada, where the company operates as EMD Serono, MilliporeSigma and EMD Performance Materials.

Photo - http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/592939/Merck_Samsung_handshake.jpg

SOURCE Merck
ST. PETER PORT, Guernsey, November 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

Progress (preliminary report) of condominium sales business, overseas real estate business and solar business as of the end of September, 2017 are as follows.

Record

1. Condominium sales business (1) Contracted 77 units, JPY 3,015 million (April 2017 - September 2017) (2) Sold Out Project "Grobel Kita-Toda Station Arena" - 39 units (Toda-shi, Saitama Prefecture) (3) Acquisition of new land [Shakujiikoen Project] (Nerima-ku, Tokyo) 5-minute walk from Seibu-Ikebukuro Line "Shakujiikoen" Station * This project is planned to be located on a calm and quiet street with abundant greenery, in close proximity to Shakujii Park, while maintain good access to the city center. The approach from the train station is through an outdoor shopping district. [Hitotsubashi Gakuen Project] (Kodaira-shi, Tokyo) 3-minute walk from Seibu-Tamako Line "Hitotsubashigakuen" Station * This project is planned to combine comfortable living environment and convenience. It is in a quiet residential area with the beautiful cityscape maintained as an academic center, and a mere 3 minutes on foot from the train station. 2. Overseas real estate business Name KEAUHOU PLACE Address Honolulu, Hawaii USA Units for Sale 422 units Reserved/Contracted 414 units (98.1%) Completion 17 October 2017 * The project is a joint development project with Honolulu City developer Stanford Carr Development, LLC. 3. Solar business (1) Projects in operation 5 Projects - Approx. 9.22MW (company equity basis) Apr 2017 ~ Sep-end electricity sales (ex. Tax) JPY 225 million. (2) Projects Under Development (Total: Approx.39.7 MWcompany equity basis

1. Sendai Project

Address Nishikigaoka, Aoba-ku, Sendai-shi, Miyagi Prefecture Site Area Approx.97,000  Installed capacity Approx.1.81MWPanel Output Operation start January 2018 (Planned Power selling price JPY 36kWhexcluding tax20 year fixed

2. Utsunomiya Tokujiro Project

Address Tokujiromachi, Utsunomiya-shi, Tochigi Prefecture Site Area Approx.93,800  Installed capacity Approx.4.78 MWPanel Output Operation start December 2017Planned Power selling price JPY 36kWhexcluding tax20 year fixed

3. Higashi Hiroshima Project

Address Shiwa Cho, Higashi Hiroshima-shi, Hiroshima Pref. Site Area Approx.1,130,000  Installed capacity Approx.18.68 MWPanel Output Operation start July 2018Planned Power selling price JPY 36kWhexcluding tax20 year fixed

4. Narita Kozaki Project

Address Kozakimachi Katori-gun / Narita-shi Chiba Prefecture Site Area Approx.540,000  Installed capacity Approx.24.00 MWPanel Output Operation start Autumn 2018Planned Power selling price JPY 36kWhexcluding tax20 year fixed

5. Okayama Aida Hikari Project

Address Nakagouchi, Mimasaka-shi , Okayama Prefecture Site Area Approx.606,000  Installed capacity Approx.38.00 MWPanel Output Operation start October 2021Planned Power selling price JPY 32kWhexcluding tax20 year fixed

6. Sanbu Minami Project

Address Shiizaki, Sanmu-shi, Chiba Prefecture Site Area Approx.32,000  Installed capacity Approx.1.80MWPanel Output Operation start Autumn 2018Planned Power selling price JPY 36kWhexcluding tax20 year fixed

* The figures stated are preliminary figures. For the confirmed figures, please refer to the summary of financial results to be disclosed on Friday, November 10, 2017.

Contact:

Representative Director

Masato Tabata

TEL: 03-3470-8411

SOURCE The Prospect Japan Fund Ltd
If you were looking for the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee website and ended up here, try this





Got news tips, gossip, suggestions, complaints?E-mail us: progressivecharlestown@gmail.com We strive to avoid errors in our articles. Our correction policy can be found here
New Delhi, Oct 27 : In a bid to push nuclear power development in India, the state-run Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) has submitted a plan to collaborate with the Nuclear Power Corp for setting up reactors, a minister said on Friday.

"ONGC has come forward with a plan. They have a lot of money they would like to invest and we have the technical expertise," Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office Jitendra Singh, who also looks after the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), said while addressing an atomic energy conclave here organised by India Energy Forum.

The government has recently amended the Atomic Energy Act 1962 to enable the Nuclear Power Corporation of India (NPCIL) to form joint ventures (JVs) with public sector undertakings (PSUs) in order to meet the high cost of setting up nuclear plants.

Earlier this year, the government approved the construction 10 indigenous pressurised heavy water nuclear reactors with a total capacity of 7,000 MW. Each of the reactors would have a capacity of 700 MW.

India currently has around 7,000 MW of operational nuclear power plants, and about 6,700 MW Aof plants under implementation, which will be set up by 2021-22.

Singh also said that the Centre is currently working with various state governments to sensitise about the additional uses of nuclear energy in fields other than electricity like in irradiation of agriculture products, medicine, among others.

He also stressed the need for a vast sensitisation programme to remove misconceptions about the health and safety aspects of nuclear power.

He said "there is a lot of public antagonism to nuclear", which disaffected politicians exploit to organise protests against utilities that are proposed to be built in some areas.
New Delhi, Oct 27 : External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Friday sought a thorough probe into adoption process of the three-year-old Indian American girl Sherin Mathews who has died in Texas, Sushma Swaraj tweeted that she has requested Minister for Women and Child Development Maneka Gandhi "for a thorough investigation into the adoption process of Baby Saraswati SherinMathews who has been killed by her foster father Wesley Mathews in the US".

She also said that she has asked Anupam Roy, Consul General of India in Houston, to ensure that the murder of Sherin was taken to a logical conclusion.

Police in Texas charged Wesley Mathews after he admitted that the child choked while he was making her drink milk and died in their home in Texas, according to court documents.

He had earlier told police that Sherin disappeared when he made her stand in a lane behind their house in Richardson city at 3 a.m. on October 7 as punishment for not drinking milk.

After nearly two weeks of searching by police using drones, her body was found on Sunday in a ditch near their house in the city near Dallas. While the search was going on, Mathews stuck to the story about Sherin's punishment and mysterious disappearance.

Mathews, who was arrested on Monday, was charged with causing injury to a child which carries a maximum penalty of life in prison.

He was being held in jail with bail set at $1 million. Mathews, 37, who works in IT, is of Indian origin. He and his wife Sini, a nurse, had adopted Sherin from an orphanage in Bihar.

According to court documents, on Monday Mathews came to the police with his lawyer and said that he "physically assisted" Sherin with drinking milk in the garage of their house after she had earlier refused to drink it.

The child began coughing and choking, her breathing slowed and then there was no longer any pulse, he told police.

In separate tweets, Sushma Swaraj also said that in view of the Sherin Mathews case, "we have taken a decision that passports for adopted children will be issued only with prior clearance by Ministry of Child Development in all cases".
Dubai, Oct 28 : National Award winning actor Akshay Kumar, who attended the grand audio launch of his debut Tamil film "2.0" here, said that the Hindi film industry has a lot to learn from southern cinema.

Akshay along with filmmaker S. Shankar, megastar Rajinikanth, Oscar winning composer A.R. Rahman, actress Amy Jackson and producer Allirajah Subaskaran of Lyca Productions attended the audio launch of the 3D sci-fi entertainer here at the Burj Park on Friday.

"Rajini sir is the real superstar. I would like to thank Shankar sir for giving me the opportunity of working with a legend like Rajinikanth. I could've never imagined that I will get a chance to work in such a big and costly film like '2.0'," Akshay said.

"I have done 130 films (in Bollywood). '2.0' was my 131st film. I can only say that during the making of those 130 films, I got to learn little from every film, but I was learning throughout the shooting of this film.

"There's a lot that we have to learn from South because the way they work, we have to understand a lot now. They work in unity and respect each other's talent, we have to learn that," he added.

Hosted by filmmaker Karan Johar, actor Rana Daggubati and RJ Balaji, the audio launch of the film was also attended by Rajinikanth's family, including his wife Latha, daughters Aishwarya and Soundarya, and son-in-law and actor Dhanush among others.

A sequel to the 2010 Tamil blockbuster "Enthiran", the film "2.0" has been made on a lavish budget.

Akshay will be essaying the prime antagonist in the film as an eccentric scientist called Richard, while Rajinikanth returns as scientist Vaseegaran.

The film is slated for a release in early 2018.
Nagpur/Chennai, Oct 28 : Shipping Minister Nitin Gadkari on Saturday flagged off a Roll-on-Roll-off (RoRo)-cum-general cargo vessel carrying 185 trucks from Chennai Port to Mongla port in Bangladesh which is expected to save around 15-20 days of travel time.

Digitally flagging off the vessel from Nagpur, Gadkari said that transport through the sea route will save about 15-20 days of travel time.

"As per our government's vision, our first priority is waterways, followed by railways and roadways. Transport by sea not only reduces cost, it also saves time and reduces carbon footprint," he said.

Gadkari, also the Road Transport and Highways Minister, called upon all automobile manufactures to use coastal shipping mode for transporting their vehicles.

So far, such trucks being exported by Ashok Leyland were being sent to Bangladesh through the land route, travelling a distance of about 1,500 km.

For this trip alone, a total of around three lakh vehicle kms of road travel will be saved as the land route is longer and much time is lost at the congested Petrapole-Benapole check point at the Indo-Bangladesh border, a Shipping Ministry statement said.

"Initiatives like this are aimed at providing innovative logistic chain solutions under Sagarmala. The ultimate objective is to save logistic costs and time of transportation and boosting trade by making Indian goods competitive in international markets," the statement said.

The Coastal Shipping Agreement between India and Bangladesh was signed during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Bangladesh in June 2015.

Based on the agreement, sea transportation from Indian to Bangladesh ports is being treated as coastal movement, making it eligible for 40 per cent concession on vessel related and cargo related charges.

For coastal movement through RoRo vessels, 80 per cent concession on vessel related and cargo related charges are applicable in Indian ports, the Shipping Ministry said.
Kabul, Oct 29 : At least 13 policemen were killed on Sunday when Taliban militants attacked security checkpoints in Afghanistan's Kunduz province.

Another policeman was reported missing in the attack in Khanabad district, Xinhua news agency reported.

On Saturday, Taliban militants killed nine police personnel in a similar attack in Ghazni province.
New Delhi, Oct 29 : Innovating on the age-old concept of using earthenware to keep the water cool, two students of IIT Roorkee have built 'Evacool', an air cooler which uses the same fundamentals of cooling as employed by many Indians in use of earthenwares and won an award for it.

Raja Jain and Nimisha Gupta aced the global competition held by Schneider Electrics, a French MNC specialising in energy and automation solutions, in Paris outdoing 12 other teams.

"We have developed a cooling system for air, it's called Evacool. It works on the principle of evaporation," said Gupta, a fourth year student of chemical engineering at Indian Institute of Technology-Roorkee.

"So, we know that Indians have been using earthenware for cooling for a long time and we have applied similar concept for the cooling of air."

Jain, a third year biotechnology student told IANS over phone: "Two qualities of Evacool are that it's very cheap and it doesn't emit greenhouse gases and unlike other air coolers, it will use less energy."

"Where a routine cooler uses about 300 watt per hour, Evacool uses on 65 watt per hour."

The two students presented their prototype at the competition 'Go Green in City 2017' held in Paris in August after having been shortlisted in May. It took them on two months to conceptualise and build the device.

The winning team was awarded an opportunity to build their career with Schneider Electric, a world VIP-style trip, visiting two destinations facilities as well as networking opportunities with employees and senior management at Schneider Electric, said the firm in statement.
Kabul, Oct 30 : At least eight militants have been killed in an Afghan forces' special operation in Logar province, said an official.

The raid was conducted on Sunday in Karwar district, and among those killed in the raid was a Taliban leader named Mukhtar, provincial governor spokesman Salim Salah told Xinhua.

Some arms and ammunition were also seized during the operation, according to the spokesman.

Afghan security forces have beefed up security operations against militants as Afghans have been witnessing a surge in attacks by Taliban and Islamic State (IS) militants across the country.
Manama, Oct 30 : Qatar's Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) membership should be frozen until it meets the demands of the Arab quartet, a top Bahraini official said here on Monday.

Bahrain Foreign Minister Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa also called for Doha to leave the GCC bloc or meet the demands set by Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Egypt, reports Xinhua news agency.

"If Qatar thinks it can delay and buy its time until the next summit of the GCC, then it is wrong. If the situation remains as it is, we will not attend.

"Bahrain will not attend the GCC summit if Qatar will participate because it is getting closer to Iran and deploying foreign forces, both of which are against the security of GCC countries," Shaikh Khalid said.

Kuwait is set to host the 38th GCC summit later this year.

"The right step is to freeze Qatar's membership until it responds to the demands of our countries."

The Arab Quartet on June 5 severed their diplomatic and trade relations with Qatar after accusing it of supporting extremists and funding terrorism.

It issued a list of 31 demands for Qatar to resolve the issue, that were rejected by Doha.
New Delhi, Oct 30 : In a bid to take on Google Search, Microsoft said on Monday it is working with professors from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)-Kharagpur towards developing a system that can form the basis for a deeper, more meaningful search engine.

The new search engine could assist users looking for subjective information and trusted opinions, the company said in a statement.

Bing is a web search engine owned and operated by Microsoft.

While current search engine algorithms are great at working with fact-based queries and providing structured answers, they are surprisingly ineffective at answering subjective and personal questions.

Queries based on human experiences and personal opinions are difficult for a standard search engine to comprehend.

Therefore, they fail to answer questions such as "How to make small talk with new friends," "People's favourite memories from school," "How does it feel to immigrate to a new country?" or "The songs that defined the 80s."

Microsoft's Senior Applied Researcher Manish Gupta partnered with professors from IIT Kharagpur to conduct a study on extracting meaningful information from social conversations to help search engines answer social list queries better by deploying artificial intelligence and machine learning.

The team used multi-word hashtags, also called "idioms" from Twitter, to conduct an in-depth study to make search results much more personal and human.

"While traditional search engines may struggle with such deeply human queries there are online platforms specifically tailored for personal opinions and conversations -- social media. Twitter, specifically, has become a forum for people to create sustained online conversations held together by a common hashtag," Gupta said.

The researchers collected around four million hashtags that were trending between January 2015 and June 2015, and used a SVM (Support Vector Machine) classifier to conduct this research.

The classifier worked on deeply personal and human hashtags such as #foreveralone, #awkwardcompanynames, #childhoodfeels, and #africanproblems using factors such as duration of hashtag popularity, related hashtags and URLs to detect context and classify the social lists accurately.

The algorithm used to conduct this study forms the basis for a better search engine for social platforms which can assist users looking for subjective information and trusted opinions, Microsoft said.

The study eventually proved that, by analysing multi-word hashtags search engines can now scour social networks and detect valuable insights from public conversations, using a highly effective and precise algorithm to provide a deeper, more meaningful search experience.
New Delhi, Oct 30 : The Supreme Court on Monday said a five-judge constitution bench would hear a batch of petitions challenging the validity of the Aadhaar law on charges of being intrusive and violating the right to privacy.

The top court also pulled up the West Bengal government for directly approaching it against the central government's move to make Aadhaar mandatory for availing benefits under social welfare schemes.

A bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justice A.M. Khanwilkar and Justice D.Y. Chandrachud said the hearing on the petitions challenging the government move would take place in the last week of November.

The court said this after Attorney General K.K. Venugopal told the bench that the government had filed a detailed affidavit refuting all the allegations on expanding the area under Aadhaar linkage.

Asking the court not to issue any further interim orders, Venugopal said the government was ready to argue and the court, if deemed fit, could set up a constitution bench to decide on the various Aadhaar petitions.

He said the government had already issued more than 100 orders and notifications to address the glitches in the implementation of Aadhaar.

The government counsel also told the court that fake reports were being spread about Aadhaar linking, including how the unique ID was being made compulsory for CBSE students to appear in Class 10 and 12 exams.

As court said that the challenge to Aadhaar law would be heard by the five judges constitution bench, the issue of extending the deadline for linking Aadhaar with bank accounts, PAN, mobile numbers and other schemes for those who don't have the unique identification number is now on the backburner.

The issue is not there, as the court is hearing the matter in the last week of November, the Attorney General said. The existing deadline is up to December 31.

In the last hearing of the matter on October 25, the Centre had indicated that the deadline for linking Aadhaar with bank accounts, PAN, mobile numbers and other schemes for those who don't have the unique identification number and are willing to go for it may be extended till March 31.

The validity of Aadhaar law that has been challenged by a number of people, including former Karnataka High Court Judge K.S. Puttaswamy, first Chairperson of National Commission for Protection of Child Rights and Magsaysay awardee Shanta Sinha and researcher Kalyani Sen Menon.

Aadhaar is being challenged in the court amid apprehensions that it violated right to privacy -- which a nine-judge bench had already declared as a fundamental right -- with the use of biometric details like fingerprints and iris scans.

The nine-judge bench ruling has a bearing in the Aadhaar case as the petitions argue that the Aadhaar Act 2016 is unconstitutional.

Earlier in the court, a separate bench pulled up West Bengal for challenging the Centre's decision to link Aadhaar for giving subsidies, wondering how could a state government could challenge a law passed by the central government.

"How can a state government challenge a law passed by the Centre? This way the Centre would start challenging the laws passed by the states," observed a bench of Justice A.K. Sikri and Justice Ashok Bhushan.

The bench also gave time to the West Bengal government to amend its petition questioning the linking of Aadhaar for giving subsidy by the state's Labour Department.

The court said West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee could challenge the aspect of Aadhaar law requiring linking as an "individual" and a "citizen".

However, the court gave notice to the Centre on a plea challenging the mandatory linking of mobile phones with Aadhaar. The Centre was given four weeks to respond.

Banerjee said her government had the highest respect for the Supreme Court, saying it had not rejected their plea against the Centre's move.

"There is no problem. The court did not say it rejected the plea. The court asked us to appeal individually. We appreciate that," Banerjee said.

"We accept the court's decision. I know that some individuals have also appealed against the policy."
New Delhi, Oct 30 : The Centre has asked the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) to expedite verification of rejected claims of house under the redevelopment of Kathputli Colony here as "some residents created trouble" in the evacuation process on Monday.

DDA Principal Commissioner (Housing) J.P. Agarwal said that his teams went to the colony to pursue the residents to move out, who were staying there even after the request made to them to vacate the area on October 25.

"Some vested interests have tried to create trouble and resorted to stone pelting," he said in a statement.

Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri thereafter discussed the matter with DDA and gave the instruction of expediting the verification process of claims.

Kathputli Colony is a colony of street performers in Shadipur Depot area of Delhi.

"Under the Kathputli Colony redevelopment, taken up in 2009, 2,800 EWS (Economically Weaker Sections) houses are to be built for the identified eligible residents", said Agrawal.

"To enable this redevelopment, the private developer has built transit accommodation for them at Anand Parbat. During the last three years, further to the efforts of DDA, 1,355 families have shifted to transit accommodation," he added.

"Till the time of the last report, about 200 families have volunteered to move out of Kathputli Colony and DDA has made necessary transport arrangements for them."
New Delhi, Oct 30 : India signed a $200 million loan agreement with World Bank on Monday to facilitate investment in the agricultural sector and increase productivity in Assam, an official statement said.

"The Government and the World Bank today (Monday) signed a $200 million loan agreement for the Assam Agri-business and Rural Transformation Project," said the Union Finance Ministry statement.

"The project will support the Government of Assam to facilitate agri-business investments, increase agriculture productivity and market access, and enable small farm holders produce crops that are resilient to recurrent floods or droughts in the state," it said.

The loan from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) has a 7-year grace period and maturity time of 16.5 years. It will be implemented in over 16 districts of Assam and over 5 lakh farming households will directly benefit from the project.

"At least 30 per cent women are expected to participate in project activities. Specific focus will be given to women- led enterprises and their participation in the decision-making process of farmer producer organisations," the statement said.

Assam aims to double farm income and transform its agricultural sector into a stable source of growth and economic development, according to World Bank Operations Manager Hisham Abdo.

A key component of the project is promoting market-led production that can deal with the vagaries of climate change.

"Assam's agriculture sector is highly vulnerable to climate variability and the state experiences recurrent floods and droughts," the release said.

Currently, more than 50 per cent of the state's paddy growing areas are prone to flooding, submergence and drought.

"A market-led production system will take advantage of the rapidly changing market, introduce crops that are resilient to climate change, increase production and manage risks for farmers," the statement added.
Tokyo, Oct 31 : Japanese police have found nine bodies, including two with severed heads, in cold storage containers at a flat here while investigating the disappearance of a woman, the media reported on Tuesday.

A 27-year-old man, Takahiro Shiraishi, who lives in the apartment in Zama, south of Tokyo, was arrested on suspicion of disposing of the bodies, broadcaster NHK reported.

The police found the two bodies minus the heads inside a cool box at the entrance of the apartment. The bodies of eight females and one male, in varying stages of decomposition, were found in large cool boxes in the apartment, Japanese newspaper Mainichi Shimbun reported.

Shiraishi told police he had killed the nine and hidden their bodies. "I killed them and did some work on the bodies in order to hide the evidence."

A next door neighbour of the suspect said he had started smelling strange odours from the flat after Shiraishi moved in in August, NHK reported.

Police made the grisly discovery while looking for a 23-year-old woman who had been missing since October 21. Investigators found that Shiraishi had been in contact with her after she wrote online that she wanted to commit suicide.
Seoul, Oct 31 : South Korean tech giant Samsung Electronics on Tuesday announced net profit of 11.1 trillion won ($9.89 billion) in the third quarter this year -- a 245 per cent increase from the same quarter last year.

The profit was boosted by the strong returns from its chip business. Sales also rose by 29.7 per cent to stand at a record high of 62 trillion won, Efe News reported on Tuesday.

The company said its operating profit in the July-September period reached 14.53 trillion won (nearly $13 billion), representing a 279.4 per cent increase.

Both the operating profit and the sales revenue of the electronics giant are in line with its forecasts published on October 13.

The semiconductor business was again its brightest sector in the third quarter, with a record operating profit of 9.96 trillion won, which is almost three times as much as a year ago due to rising seasonal demand and the price increase of its products.

The company also reported that the IT and Mobile Communications division, which includes smartphones, posted an operating profit of 3.29 trillion won.

This is 3,000 per cent more compared to the dire figure in last year's third quarter, when the company found itself in a full fiasco caused by its Galaxy Note 7, whose production was eventually suspended due to repeated cases of battery defects, causing the device to overheat and combust or explode.

Even so, and despite the excellent reception of its new Galaxy Note 8, the figure is 19 per cent lower than that of the previous quarter due to the unfavourable demand for its mid- and low-end models in the last three months.

Samsung's flagship smartphone Galaxy Note8 on Friday won the 'Gadget of the Year' award at the India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2017 here.

Nearly 1.5 lakh people had pre-registered the device on Amazon, with 72,000 pre-booking the flagship device on the very first day when the registrations opened. Nearly one lakh people registered to buy Galaxy Note 8 on Samsung India website, industry sources told IANS.

The company also announced that, given its continued record yields, it will increase the annual dividend to be distributed this year by 20 per cent from the current volume to approximately 4.8 trillion won.

That amount will double to 9.6 trillion won in 2018, 2019 and 2020, it added.

Meanwhile, in the absence of heir apparent Lee Jae-yong, Samsung said it has named new executives to head its business divisions.

The company named Kim Ki-nam to head the device solutions division, which oversees the company's chip business, Yonhap news agency reported.

Kim Hyun-suk was named to head the consumer electronics division while Koh Dong-jin was tapped as the new head of the IT and mobile division, effective immediately.

Samsung said it would maintain the current three co-CEO management structure.

The announcement came as Samsung's CEO and Vice Chairman Kwon Oh-hyun, who also headed the chip business, offered to resign in October, along with Yoon Boo-keun and Shin Jong-kyun, who headed the consumer electronics and mobile divisions respectively.

Kwon, Yoon and Shin will remain as members of the board until March.

Samsung said that while Lee Sang-hoon would step down from the seat as the Chief Financial Officer, he was recommended to succeed Kwon as the chairman of the board in March.
New Delhi, Oct 31 : BJP leader Subramanian Swamy on Tuesday said that compulsory linking of Aadhaar was a threat to national security and expressed confidence that the Supreme Court will strike down the government directions making it mandatory for availaing various services.

"I am writing a letter soon to PM detailing how compulsory Aadhaar is a threat to our national security. SC will I am sure strike it down," Swamy said in a tweet.

The Supreme Court had on Monday said a five-judge constitution bench would hear a batch of petitions challenging the validity of the Aadhaar law on charges of being intrusive and violating the right to privacy.

A bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justice A.M. Khanwilkar and Justice D.Y. Chandrachud said the hearing on the petitions challenging the government move would take place in the last week of November.

The court said this after Attorney General K.K. Venugopal told the bench that the government had filed a detailed affidavit refuting all the allegations on expanding the area under Aadhaar linkage.

Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi had earlier this week accused the Modi government of using Aadhaar as a "monitoring mechanism" and said it will have serious consequences.

He had said the Aadhaar programme, which was initiated by the Congress-led UPA government, was designed to be a supporting mechanism and not a monitoring mechanism.
Ankara, Nov 1 : Turkey's Prime Minister Binali Yildirim will be on a visit to the US from November 7-11 to discuss the extradition of US-based cleric Fetullah Gulen and other issues amid visa row between the two countries.

Yildirim is expected to meet US Vice President Mike Pence in Washington, and will attend a meeting on economic issue in New York.

Ciring Daily Sabah, Xinhua reported on Tuesday that the Prime Minister's visit will focus on talks regarding the extradition of Gulen, who is wanted by Ankara for masterminding a coup bid last year.

Turkish Justice Minister Abdulhamit Gul said last week the government had submitted all the documents to the United States for the extradition of Gulen, adding the prime minister could visit the US in the upcoming days for this and other issues.

The US administration is reluctant to extradite the self-exiled cleric despite repeated calls by the Turkish government.

The two NATO allies are also at odds after the arrest of US Consulate staff member led to a mutual suspension of visa services.
Manama, Nov 1 : Bahrain will tighten its entry for Qatari nationals by imposing visas in light of current security situations, the Interior Ministry has said.

Interior Minister Lt-General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa held a meeting in which he ordered to impose entry visa on citizens of Qatar, Xinhua news agency reported.

"The procedures aim to protect the security and stability of the Kingdom of Bahrain, especially with the latest implications of the crisis with Qatar, including Qatar's decision to strengthen its ties with Iran, which has negative effects on the national and regional security," the ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.

"Qatar also shelters security fugitives and has facilitated the entry of individuals of different nationalities who represent threats to the national security of Bahrain by granting them exception from the issuing of entry visa."

The rules will come into effect from November 19 and Qataris and residents living in Doha who are in Bahrain should correct their legal status, added the ministry.

Bahrain's King Hamad announced on Monday that the kingdom will not participate in the upcoming Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) summit in Kuwait in which Qatar will participate.

King Hamad said that the "meetings and summits of the good cannot be held in the presence of those seeking no good for this bloc and trying to impede its blessed march".

Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt on June 5 severed ties with Qatar over accusations of supporting extremism and being too close to Shiite rival Iran, charges Doha has denied.

Bahrain closed its land, air and sea borders with Qatar and has also revoked Qatar Airways' licence to operate here.
Manama, Nov 1 : Bahrain's High Criminal Court has sentenced 10 defendants to life in jail and revoked their Bahraini citizenship on terror charges.

One of the defendant was additionally sentenced to one month in jail for illegally possessing a sword.

"All ten terrorists were convicted on charges of organizing and managing a terrorist group contrary to the provisions of the law, possessing explosives and tools used in making firearms for terror purposes and training in the use of weapons and explosives for the purpose of committing terrorist crimes in Bahrain," said Terror Crime Prosecution Chief Advocate General Ahmed Al Hammadi on Tuesday, Xinhua reported.

"They were trained on how to use weapons and explosives in committing terrorist crimes in the kingdom," he added.

Investigations revealed that an individual recruited Bahrainis and sent them to Iraq and Iran to receive military training on how to use weapons and explosives.

"The individual formed a terrorist group inside Bahrain to carry out terrorist attacks inside the kingdom," Hammadi said. "He tasked them to receive shipments of weapons and materials to use in manufacturing explosives."

The official said when the suspects were arrested, various materials and devices used in manufacturing explosives were found and seized from their homes.
London, Nov 1 : British Prime Minister Theresa May has said she is "appalled by the cowardly attack" in New York in which eight persons were run over by a truck on Tuesday.

"My thoughts are with all affected," she said. "Together we will defeat the evil of terrorism" and the "UK stands with NYC", Xinhua news agency reported.

A man driving a rental truck struck and killed eight people and injured more than dozens of others on a jogging and bike path Tuesday afternoon.

New York Mayor Bill de Blasio said: "This was an act of terror."

The sprawling crime scene runs about 10 blocks along the West Side Highway, a few blocks away from One World Trade in lower Manhattan, the downtown New York.

A suspect is in custody and was identified as 29-year-old Sayfullo Saipov of Tampa in the US state of Florida, reports said.
Seoul, Nov 1 : South Korean President Moon Jae-in on Wednesday emphasised his government's principle of denuclearisation and peace on the Korean Peninsula.

Moon made the remarks during his address in the Nation Assembly, saying his administration made efforts to eventually realise peace on the peninsula while stably managing current situations, Xinhua news agency reported.

It was Moon's second speech to the parliament since he took office in May.

Moon said South Korea will neither develop nor possess nuclear weapons just as North Korea will never be accepted as a nuclear state.

He said North Korea's nuclear issue should be resolved peacefully. Pressure and sanctions were the only tools to encourage the Kim Jong-un regime to make a right choice and return to dialogue.

To sternly tackle North Korean provocations, Moon vowed to secure an overwhelming superiority of force and closely cooperate with the international community based on the South Korea-US alliance.

Moon said his defence budget was expected to grow 6.9 per cent in 2018, the fastest increase since 2009.
New York, Nov 1 : Indian-origin CEOs of tech giants Google and Microsoft condemned the New York terror attack in which at least eight persons were killed and 12 seriously injured after a truck mowed down people on a cycle path in Lower Manhattan in US.

"So sad to see the senseless loss of lives in NYC, thoughts and prayers with everyone affected there. Gratitude to NYPD, FDNY and first responders there #NYCStrong," Google CEO Sundar Pichai tweeted late on Tuesday.

"Our hearts and thoughts are with the victims, their loved ones, and all those in New York City impacted by this horrific act of violence," Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said in a tweet.

Apple CEO Tim Cook also offered condolences on Twitter saying, "Tonight our hearts are with the victims, their families and all the people of New York. Stay safe and stay strong."

The attack took place on Tuesday when the city was celebrating Halloween, one of the most festive days in the New York calendar.

The pavements were crowded with kids in costumes and there were still children trick-or-treating just yards away, the BBC reported.

The spot is also just yards away from Ground Zero, a site which reminds all New Yorkers of the 9/11 attack in 2001. It did not take police long to confirm that the city had once again been the target of terror.

After the collision, the driver exited the vehicle, holding up a paintball gun and a pellet gun. He was shot by a uniformed police officer and was then sent to a hospital.

According to reports, the driver shouted "Allahu Akbar", which means "God is great" in Arabic.

The 29-year-old man who emerged from the white pick-up truck was shot by a police officer and arrested.

The media named him as Sayfullo Habibullaevic Saipov, an Uzbek immigrant who came to the US in 2010 and settled in Florida, a CNN report said.

A note was found in the truck that referred to the Islamic State (IS), a law enforcement source told CBS News.
Mumbai, Nov 1 : From National Award winning directors Madhur Bhandarkar and Nila Madhab Panda to actresses Huma Qureshi and Esha Gupta -- Indian film celebrities condemned the terror attack in New York that left eight people dead.

Twelve persons were also injured after a truck ploughed into pedestrians in Lower Manhattan in New York on Tuesday. The suspect has been arrested.

New York has been among the top favourite destination for Bollywood celebrities, who thronged the city this year when it hosted the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) extravaganza.

Here's what the celebrities tweeted:

Madhur Bhandarkar: Shocked and grieved by the news of Manhattan attack. My deepest condolences and prayers for the victims and their families.

Vishal Dadlani: Terrorists do not have any religion except hatred. When we hate each other because of their deeds, they win. That's exactly what they want.

Vivek Oberoi: Strongly condemn the horrendous Manhattan attack. My prayers go out to those who lost their lives and loved ones in this terrible tragedy.

Nila Madhab Panda: Shocked!!! To hear about the Manhattan attack... Condemn it in strongest terms... My thoughts and prayers for everyone in New York.

Huma Qureshi: So sad, cowardly and inhuman! I will always (love) New York.

Kunal Kohli: How do we fight this? We have security at airports and malls. They use trucks, cars and knives on the street. How do we stop this? NYC strong.

Ashoke Pandit: Sad to know about the terrorist attack in New York. Condolences to bereaved families and will pray fr speedy recovery of d injured.

Esha Gupta: Thoughts and prayers for everyone in New York right now.
Jambusar (Gujarat), Nov 1 : Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday mocked at the BJP government over India's improved global ranking in ease of doing business, asking Finance Minister Arun Jaitley to see how small traders were suffering due to the double blow of demonetisation and hasty implementation of GST.

Gandhi, in a fiery speech in poll-bound Gujarat, accused the BJP governments at the Centre and state of promoting crony capitalism. He said while small farmers, traders and businessmen were suffering hardships "five or 10 big industrialists were reaping benefits".

"These five or 10 big industrialists, I will not name anyone, are ruling in every sector. Be it health, education, power, water, manufacturing," he said.

"The BJP is going to get an electric shock in the Gujarat poll. People have realized the truth. The next government in Gujarat will be of farmers, poor, traders and not of Modiji's industrialists."

Gandhi lashed out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said his 'Make in India' manufacturing and job creating flagship scheme was a total failure.

"Let me give you some figures. India and China house almost the same number of people. But China creates 50,000 jobs every year. In India, we create only 450.

"Modiji speaks about 'Make in India'. He promised everything will be made in India. But today, three million Gujaratis are jobless," he said.

Targeting the government on the World Bank's Ease of Doing Business report released on Tuesday that saw India jump 30 ranks to number 100, Gandhi said: "Jaitleyji sits in his office and believes a foreign company talking of ease of doing business. Did Jaitleyji go to a small shop owner and ask what is the ease of doing business?

"What is spoken abroad is truth for this government but what the poor say in India is farce for them," he said.

He said the ease of doing business in India was smashed by the government with its note ban decision and hasty implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST).

The Congress leader recalled how Modi had promised to unearth black money with one stroke of his demonetisation decision.

"Modiji doesn't understand that all cash is not black and all black money is not in cash. Much of the black wealth is in real estate, gold or stashed abroad.

"It has been three years since the BJP came to power. How many Swiss bank account holders are behind the bars? What did Modiji do to bring back black money from Swiss banks.

"Look at Vijay Mallya. He is enjoying himself in London. What did Modiji do?"

He said demonetisation hit a severe blow to the labour class, farmers, small businesses and traders who rely heavily on cash transactions, but they were somehow managing when they were dealt another blow in the form of the GST.

"We warned the government don't implement GST hastily. Do it easily, slowly, kindly. They didn't listen to us. We told them it was not the Congress vs BJP. It is a matter that concerns the nation, the economy."

He again called GST "Gabbar Singh Tax", in a refrain that earnings of the poor were being snatched like the dacoit in the 1975 cult movie "Sholay" used to collect from poor villagers and farmers.

"I have named it Gabbar Singh Tax. Poor people work hard and their earning are snatched away."
New Delhi, Nov 1 : The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday approved signing and ratifying of an agreement between India and Armenia on cooperation and mutual assistance in customs matters.

The agreement will be signed on behalf of the two countries after it is approved by the respective governments.

"This agreement shall enter into force on the first day of the second month after the contracting parties notify each other in through diplomatic channels, that the necessary national legal requirements for entry into force of this agreement have been fulfilled," an official statement said.

It will help in the availability of relevant information for the prevention and investigation of customs offences. It is also expected to facilitate trade and ensure efficient clearance of goods traded between the countries.

The agreement would provide a legal framework for sharing of information and intelligence between the customs authorities of the two countries and help in the proper application of customs laws, prevention and investigation of customs offences and the facilitation of legitimate trade.

The draft text of the agreement has been finalised with the concurrence of the two customs administrations.

The draft agreement takes care of Indian customs' concerns and requirements, particularly in the area of exchange of information on the correctness of the customs value declared and authenticity of certificates of origin of the goods traded between the two countries, it said.
New Delhi, Nov 1 : Though India was a major inspiration behind the formation of the Gurugram-headquartered International Solar Alliance, the government's earlier thrust on renewable energy seems to have abated, stakeholders say. One indicator was the government's emphasis on coal-fired power plants in its latest Economic Survey brought about by the Ministry of Finance.

"The government had levied GST (Goods and Services Tax) on the solar sector," SunSource Energy Chief Executive Adarsh Das told IANS here, indicating that the honeymoon enjoyed by the sun entrepreneurs may be ending.

Having first announced that solar would be in the 18 per cent tax slab, the GST Council later lowered the rate and clarified that all solar equipment and parts would attract five per cent GST. Solar was previously in the exempt category.

Besides, unlike the equipment makers, solar power developers like SunSource cannot avail the benefit of input credit for the tax paid under GST, Das pointed out.

Gaurav Mathur, the India sales head of Chinese module manufacturing giant Trinasolar, spoke of the lack of clarity surrounding smaller components such as cables, meters and the steel structures that go into a solar project.

"Many of these components individually attract a higher duty. Besides, anti-dumping duty is coming in to check cheaper Chinese products, which is going to push up costs of solar equipment," Mathur told IANS, adding that such duties had recently been imposed on solar glass.

Norwegian solar panel multinational REC's India head Rohit Kumar said anti-dumping measures recommended three years earlier had been rejected by the Finance Ministry on the ground that the local industry lacked the capacity to meet the government's target of achieving 100 gigawatt (GW) solar capacity by 2022.

"Local manufacturing does not have the cost advantage that comes from scale and integrated production...they are only able to supply at 10 per cent higher costs," Kumar told IANS.

Few companies in India are currently manufacturing solar cells, according to Trinasolar, which makes the largest cumulative shipments worldwide, and has supplied equipment for 3 GW capacity in India.

"The scenario for producing in India is still very challenging...components have to be imported from China," Mathur said.

In addition to anti-dumping measures, domestic industry has protection under India's national solar programme launched in 2010, which mandates that a producer compulsorily source a certain percentage of solar cells and modules from local manufacturers to be able to benefit from a government guarantee to purchase the energy produced.

However, Das noted that the Centre has no way of compelling states to comply with their renewable purchase obligations (RPOs).

A recent report by global accounting firm KPMG says that in the absence of strong local manufacturing, India would need to import $42 billion of solar equipment by 2030, corresponding to 100 gigawatt (GW) of installed capacity.

The solar stakeholders said that with the sharp fall in solar and wind tariffs, as well as in equipment costs, government incentives had dried up.

Solar tariffs arrived at through bidding have been declining continuously in India over the last few years, with tariffs falling to as low as Rs 2.44 per unit. Wind energy rates too have fallen to below Rs 3.50 per unit or kilowatt hour (kWh).

"The prices of solar and wind energy have hit a record low and the industry is now able to stand on its own feet," Piyush Goyal had said at a media briefing recently when he was the New and Renewable Energy Minister. He is now the Railway Minister.

Government subsidy is no longer available for large ground-mounted solar projects or rooftop commercial and industrial units, according to these companies.

"The government's logic is that large plants don't need rebates any more because they have now become grid competitive," Das said. Subsidies are now available only for units in residential projects and for non-profit organisations.

India's total renewable generation capacity has crossed 57 GW, according to Mercom Capital Group, which analysed figures given by the Ministry of Renewable Energy. Of this, wind capacity amounted to 32.3 GW while solar comprised 12.5 GW. There was an increase of 24.5 per cent in the last fiscal among renewables, with solar energy capacity going up by 81 per cent.

In the midst of this came the Finance Ministry's Economic Survey saying coal-fired thermal power should be encouraged, especially if one factors in the "social cost" of generating electricity from renewables for a country with a large population of poor.

Estimating the true cost of renewable energy at Rs 11 a kWhr, as against the much lower tariffs discovered through auctions, the Survey recommends going slow on renewables. Chief Economic Advisor Arvind Subramanian elaborated later that overemphasis on renewables would result in reducing the viability of coal-fired plants, adding to the massive non-performing assets, or bad loans, of state-run banks.

Rebutting the CEA's contentions, stakeholders draw attention to surveys showing how hundreds of thousands of deaths in India are caused by pulmonary diseases, a large percentage of which is allegedly due to burning of coal.

"Climate change is a clear and present danger," Das said, adding that millions worldwide were already suffering from the impact of global warming, the major cause of which, he claimed, was emissions from coal-firing plants.

According to the solar players, though India rightly holds the developed world chiefly responsible for climate change, the country had adopted renewable energy as an article of faith for sustainable development at a time when the US had pulled out of the global accord on the ground that its commitments are hitting jobs and the domestic economy.

(Biswajit Choudhury can be reached at biswajit.c@ians.in)
Lucknow, Nov 1 : Veteran Bollywood actress and Rajya Sabha member Rekha has given Rs 2.5 crore from her MPLAD funds to Rae Bareli, the parliamentary constituency of Congress president Sonia Gandhi, an official said on Wednesday.

The funds are being used for construction of roads, supply of water and putting up of new transformers for better electricity supply.

Officials said that so far they have received Rs 1.06 crore from the Rs 1.42 crore sanctioned from the funds of Rekha Ganeshan, and the remaining will come when the utilization certificate of the projects undertaken by these funds are submitted.

According to a source close to the Congress president and looking after her work in Rae Bareli, it is not unusual for any Rajya Sabha MP to give funds to the constituency of his or her choice. The source added that the actress herself had met Sonia Gandhi and expressed her desire to spend her MPLAD fund at Rae Bareli.

So far, work that has been done by this fund includes installation of solar lights, construction of interlocking and Cement Concrete roads.

Rekha was nominated as member of the Upper House in April 2012 by the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) II regime. Her tenure as Rajya Sabha member expires on April 26, 2018.
Islamabad, Nov 1 : The Pakistan International Airlines' (PIA) last flight from New York left behind two bodies, booked for Lahore, at the JFK Airport to the utter shock of the waiting family members back home.

Expressing regret, PIA spokesperson Mashood Tajwar said that the mistake was committed by the agency providing luggage handling service to the airline on the ground at JFK Airport.

The PIA expressed solidarity with the mourning families. The two coffins were meant to be flown to Lahore on October 28, Dawn online reported.

PIA said it "regrets the inconvenience caused due to negligence on part of the airline's ground handling agency... and expresses its sympathies with the family members of the deceased persons".

It was PIA's last New York-Lahore flight as it had just suspended the route, so Etihad Airlines had to step in.

A man who was accompanying the body of his brother, and his family members who were waiting in Lahore, left for New York to locate the body after waiting for two days for any remedial step by the PIA.

"The grieved family had been agonised," said Hasan Mubarak, a relative, who was to receive the body at Lahore airport.

Mubarak said his cousin Nauman Badar, 28, died in the US on October 25. He said the flight arrived at Lahore airport nearly two hours behind its scheduled landing time. And to the utter horror of the waiting family members the body was not found in the luggage area.

They also came across a family from Sialkot who were also trying to find the body of a relative which was expected to reach Lahore by the same flight.

Mubarak said the bodies were enlisted in the cargo list and it was initially found that they were replaced by luggage containing catering items. The bodies lay unattended at JFK Airport for 14 hours and nobody from the PIA knew where they were.

Mubarak said he and his family members contacted the funeral company that had prepared the coffin which actually found the abandoned bodies.

Finally the body of his cousin was retrieved by the funeral company and was being kept in its morgue.

Mubarak said his family members were agonized by the incident. Due to the lack of any commitment by the PIA (as to) how to retrieve the bodies or to transport them to Pakistan, they had to go to New York.

Mubarak's cousin will be buried in Maryland while the other body was being flown by Etihad Airways to Lahore, PIA's statement said.

PIA said it would look after the transfer arrangements, adding that "all expenses will be borne by PIA".
Bengaluru, Nov 1 : Karnataka celebrated its 62nd formation day with festivity on Wednesday, with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah urging everyone in the state to learn Kannada language.

"Everyone living in the state must learn Kannada and must make their children learn the language. Kannada must be taught in all schools," he told a gathering of thousands at the Kanteerava Stadium here, marking the 62nd Karnataka formation day.

Not learning Kannada was "disrespectful" to the language, he said.

"We urge the central government to formulate a national education policy to provide primary education in the mother tongue. The state has already written to the central government about this," Siddaramaiah stated.

"Being born a Kannadiga is my first identity. Being a Kannadiga is what makes me an Indian."

The state has no "opposition" to Hindi or English but "we do not agree with the imposition of other languages over Kannada", Siddaramaiah asserted.

"The state government has responded to Hindi imposition at the metro stations by implementing a two-language policy of Kannada and English," he added.

Learning in Karnataka comes with many prospects, he insisted, adding that renowned scientists like C.N.R. Rao had learned in Kannada.

Thousands of school students showcased various cultural programmes with pomp and gaiety depicting the culture of the southern state.

The state anthem penned by the renowned poet Kuvempu was sung as a red and yellow flag, which the state government was pushing to be recognised as a 'state flag', was hoisted at the celebrations held across the districts of the state.

Meanwhile, the Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti (MES), a political party from Belagavi, observed the state formation day as black day for non-inclusion of Belagavi in Maharashtra. Belagavi Mayor Sanjot Bandekar also took part in the black day observed by the party.

On November 1, 1956, Kannada-speaking areas of the erstwhile Bombay and Madras presidencies, along with a region of old Hyderabad from erstwhile Nizam state, merged with the old Mysore region as the new Mysore State when the southern states reorganised their boundaries.

The state was renamed Karnataka in 1956. As of 2011 census, the state has a population of 61 million people.
New Delhi, Nov 1 : A sharpshooter of underworld don Chhota Shakeel has been arrested from Delhi before he could target TV personality and author Tarek Fateh, police said on Wednesday.

Naseem, 28, carries a reward of Rs 50,000 on his head. A locally-made pistol and Rs 1.98 lakh were seized from him, the police said.

A resident of Mustafabad in Delhi, Naseem was arrested on Tuesday evening from Gokulpuri on a tip off that the contract killer, who was wanted in several cases, would visit the area to meet a contact.

Naseem's accomplice Junaid Choudhary was earlier arrested. They were assigned by Shakeel to eliminate Tarek Fateh, who is also founder of Muslim Canadian Congress, Deputy Commissioner of Police A.K. Singla said.

Naseem was involved in a robbery in Gokulpuri. He also planned to eliminate some high-profile personalities in Andhra Pradesh.
Abu Dhabi, Nov 1 : Crucial for implementing the Indian atomic power programme, the closed nuclear fuel cycle is the future of the global industry, according to a Russian expert, who has called for stakeholders to cooperate in developing nuclear fuel closure (NFC) technology and fast reactors.

"We are convinced that the future of the global nuclear power industry is going hand in hand with NFC closure, with the core represented by fast fission reactor technologies," Russian state atomic energy corporation Rosatom's Director General Alexey Likhachev said in his address at the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) ministerial conference here that concludes on Wednesday.

Rosatom are the builders and equipment suppliers of the Kudankulam Nuclear power project in Tamil Nadu, the first two units of 1,000 MW each have already been operationalised.

"At Rosatom, we are now creating industrial facilities to recycle spent fuel in Russia, and we are also working on new uranium-plutonium fuel to help return spent fuel back to the nuclear fuel cycle. In view of the above, we urge all interested parties to get involved in cooperation in developing fast reactors and NFC closure," he said.

"This is not a technology of the distant future. There are good reasons to think that the complex products in this field will be offered to the market within the next 10-12 years. In nuclear power industry it means that these are the technologies of tomorrow," he added.

The closed nuclear fuel cycle technology is crucial to India for implementing its three-stage nuclear power programme with the long-term objective of tapping the country's vast thorium reserves.

NFC technology involves reprocessing and re-making the spent fuel from nuclear reactors.

India's three-stage nuclear electricity programme consists of building Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRS) using natural uranium as fuel, fuelling fast Breeder reactors (FBRs) using plutonium and depleted uranium from the PHWRs, and construction of reactors using the rich thorium resources.

India's thorium deposits, estimated at 360,000 tonnes, far outweigh its natural uranium deposits of 70,000 tonnes. The country's thorium reserves make up 25 percent of the global reserves.

India is currently developing the Advanced Heavy Water Reactor (AHWR) which will be fuelled by a mix of Uranium-233, converted from thorium, and plutonium. Uranium-233 is the reactor fuel for this third stage of the Indian nuclear power programme.

The key to the AWHR's development is the second stage of nuclear power generation that envisages the use of Plutonium-239, obtained from the first stage reactor operation, as the fuel core in fast breeder reactors (FBR). Pu-239 is the primary fissile element used in the FBR.

According to the IAEA here, 30 countries currently operate nuclear power plants and around 30 others are considering or preparing to introduce nuclear power. Fifty seven power reactors are currently under construction around the world.
Kolkata, Nov 1 : The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Wednesday said it has filed a charge sheet against the chairman and directors of two Kolkata-based private companies in a chit fund fraud case of Rs 335 crore.

The two companies, Angel Agritech Ltd and Angel Rural Development Ltd, allegedly collected money from the investors under its investment schemes by fraudulently promising very high returns but later closed operations and wound up their business without repaying the promised amount of approximately Rs 335 crore, said a CBI release.

"CBI has filed a charge sheet against the Angel Agritech Ltd Chairman S.K. Hasibul Haque and Managing Director S.K.Najibulla alongwith the two companies on the charges of criminal breach of trust (IPC 409), criminal conspiracy (IPC 120B) and under various sections of Prize Chits and Money Circulation Scheme (Banning) Act," the release said.

The charge sheet has been filed before the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate of South 24 Pargana's Baruipur.

The CBI, that is probing the case since November 2014 on the order of Supreme Court, said further investigation in the case is kept open for determining the larger conspiracy and money trail.
Chandigarh, Nov 1 : Punjab's Leader of Opposition Sukhpal Singh Khaira was on Wednesday summoned by a court in Fazilka town in connection with a drugs case, leading to a war of words between his Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the ruling Congress.

Khaira's name had come up in a heroin smuggling case after the arrest of some drugs smugglers by police in Fazilka in 2015. Admitting an application under Section 319 of the Criminal Procedure Code providing for adding additional accused, the court of Additional District and Sessions Judge in Fazilka on Wednesday ordered issuance of summons to Khaira in the case.

Slamming the Congress government for unleashing political vendetta against him, Khaira said that his summoning by the Fazilka court was "wrongful and erroneous" and "done at the behest of (Chief Minister) Capt. Amarinder Singh through his politically motivated prosecution machinery".

"These maliciously false allegations of the Amarinder government are yet another attempt to intimidate me and gag my voice against corruption and other misdeeds. The conspiracy to nail me in an utterly false drugs case amounted to shooting the messenger and silencing the voice of whistleblowers," Khaira told media here.

"It is sad to note, that while Amarinder Singh is blatantly shielding the actual drug kingpin Bikram Majithia despite sensational evidence against him, I am being framed falsely to settle scores," he said, wondering how the additional Public Prosecutor of Fazilka could move a vague application seeking his summoning, when he was neither named in the FIR nor in the chargesheet nor in any statement of independent witnesses.

Khaira said that when the drug scandal broke out in March 2015, the then Parkash Singh Badal government has set up a Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by the then IG Bathinda Zone, DIG Ferozpur Range and SSP Fazilka as its members.

"The SIT went deeply into the case but could not find anything incriminating against me because of which my name never figured in FIR, chargesheet and the trial. It is also astonishing how a court could summon him when the trial in the said drug case has concluded," he argued.

He said that it was surprising that he is being summoned on the basis of call records which have been wrongly presented by the Additional PP to the Fazilka court accusing him calling the accused in the drugs case 78 times.

Punjab Congress President Sunil Jakhar on Wednesday said that Khaira had lost the moral ground to continue as Leader of Opposition and asked him to step down immediately, adding that the serious charges against the AAP leader called for his immediate ouster from all political and statutory posts.

"The Punjab political system under Amarinder Singh had no place for such criminals," Jakhar said in a statement here.

He said that Khaira and AAP had taken a high moral ground on the drugs case and his summoning by the court had exposed their double standards.
Stockholm, Nov 1 : Swedish band First Aid Kit will release their forthcoming album "Ruins" on January 19.

Produced by Tucker Martine, the album was recorded in Portland. "Ruins" includes the lead single "It's a shame" as well as "Postcard".

"'Postcard' is one of the most traditional sounding songs we've ever written, and we wanted the production to mirror that. It's not a resentful song, but more of a reaching out to a lover to wish them well on their journey in the midst of having to let them go," First Aid Kit said in a joint statement.

First Aid Kit, consisting of sisters Klara and Johanna SAderberg, will embark on a 2018 North American headline tour, kicking off on January 24 at the Fox Theatre in Oakland and continuing through a final night at New York City's Beacon Theatre, with Van William supporting.
Gaza, Nov 1 : The Islamist group Hamas on Wednesday began handing control of border crossings in Gaza to the Palestinian Authority (PA) as part of a reconciliation deal.

A ceremony at the Rafah crossing with Egypt saw a formal transfer from a Hamas official to his Palestinian Authority counterpart, the BBC reported.

Hisham Odwan, spokesman of the Hamas-run borders and crossings corporation, said: "From now and then, the Palestinian consensus government is the first and last body in charge of the crossing points in the Gaza Strip."

At the Erez and Kerem Shalom crossings with Israel, Hamas offices and security equipment were being dismantled.

The Palestinian Authority is due to take full control of security in Gaza in December, the report said.

The reconciliation deal, brokered by Egypt in October, aims to end a decade-long split between Hamas and its secular rival Fatah which dominates the Palestinian Authority.

Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank have been ruled separately since deadly clashes between Hamas and Fatah broke out in 2007.

Hamas won parliamentary elections in the occupied territories the previous year and reinforced its power in Gaza after ousting Fatah from the enclave.

In what was seen as the first key test of the reconciliation agreement, the director of the Palestinian Borders and Crossings Authority, Nazmi Muhanna, took full control of the Rafah crossing on Wednesday.

In a short speech, PA Public Works Minister Mufeed al-Hasayneh declared that "the word 'split' will not exist in the Palestinian dictionary anymore".

"There is no yellow and green. All our Palestinian people are under the Palestinian flag," he said, referring to the main colours of the Fatah and Hamas flags.

Civil Affairs Minister Hussein Sheikh said the Rafah crossing would resume full operations on November 15.

Rafah had largely been closed since 2007, when Israel and Egypt tightened their blockades of Gaza in response to the Hamas takeover and in an attempt to prevent attacks by militants.

All the Palestinian factions are due to meet in Cairo on November 21 to continue discussing implementation of the reconciliation deal, including the formation of a unity government that is not expected to include Hamas members.

Israel and the US have expressed reservations about the reconciliation deal.

The US said any Palestinian unity government would need to recognise the State of Israel, disarm "terrorists" and commit to peaceful negotiations.

Israel, which also considers Hamas a terrorist organisation and had fought three wars with militants in Gaza, said it would not deal with a Palestinian government that "relies on Hamas".
Jambusar (Gujarat), Nov 1 : Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi's sharp criticism of the government over a World Bank report on ease of doing business and the state of economy on Wednesday triggered a bitter war of words between him and the BJP.

While Gandhi rejected India's improved rank in the latest World Bank report on ease of doing business, asserting the government's demonetisation and GST decisions wreaked havoc with the economy, the BJP hit back, saying the Congress leader was clueless on the subject.

Addressing a public meeting in poll-bound Gujarat, Gandhi said: "Jaitleyji sits in his office and listens to outsiders. I would request him to visit small traders or mid-sized business persons and ask them whether ease of doing business has improved for them or not.

"The entire country will scream in unison that there is no ease of doing business. Your demonetization and GST have hit us hard," he told the gathering of mostly farmers and small traders in Jambusar town of Bharuch, the home district of Congress chief Sonia Gandhi's political secretary Ahmed Patel.

"What is spoken abroad is truth for this government but what the poor say in India is farce," he said, referring to the World Bank's Ease of Doing Business report released on Tuesday that saw India jump 30 ranks to number 100.

He said no section of the society in Gujarat and elsewhere was happy with the Modi government's sudden note ban last year and tardy implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST).

"They have destroyed the economy by demonetization and have ensured that the GDP fell by 2 per cent. But he (Prime Minister) did not stop at that. He introduced GST with multiple tax slabs and a high rate of 28 per cent in one go.

"I have given GST a new name. Gabbar Singh Tax. It means that poor who sweats it out sees his money snatched away from him," the Congress leader said.

Gandhi mocked at the Finance Minister on Twitter with the spoof of a Ghalib couplet, saying everyone knows the "reality" of ease of doing business in India but "Dr Jaitley" prefers to delude himself.

"Sabko maaloom hai 'ease of doing business' ki haqeeqat; khud ko khush rakhne ke liye 'Dr Jaitley' khayal achha hai," Gandhi tweeted.

Jaitley shot back, pointing out the difference between the Congress-led UPA and BJP-led NDA governments.

"The difference between the UPA and NDA -- the ease of doing corruption has been replaced by the ease of doing business," the Finance Minister tweeted.

Replying to Gandhi's charges, the BJP in Delhi said the Congress leader was exposing his lack of knowledge on economy with his "shallow statements".

"Should I presume that he has absolutely no knowledge about what world organisations like the World Bank have to say about India's economy," said Union IT and Law Minister Ravishankar Prasad.

Prasad said Gandhi ought to know that India had been in the range of 130-140 previosly.

"In the last two years, we made it to 131 and 130 spot. This year, we have jumped 30 points to 100. Does he know that this is the highest jump any country has made in World Bank's ease of doing business ranking? He doesn't do any home work, anyway. Those who do it for him also don't have their facts correct," the minister said.

He also mocked at Gandhi's likely elevation to head the Congress, saying he owed this to "the family he belongs to".
New Delhi, Nov 1 : The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has come up with draft regulations on civil use of drones which will also enable commercial use of drones for tasks like photography, doorstep delivery and even passenger transport, Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju announced on Wednesday.

Under the draft rules, the drones are classified into five categories based on their maximum take-off weight: nano (upto 250 gm), micro (251 gm to two kg), mini (2 kg to 25 kg), small (25 kg to 150 kg) and large (greater than 150 kg).

Addressing reporters here, the Minister said that draft regulations -- which were arrived at after prolonged discussions with various stakeholders -- would be placed in the public domain for a month to seek comments and suggestions from the public, after which rules would be finalised.

"By December 31, we will be in a position to come up with final regulatory framework for usage of drones," Civil Aviation Secretary R.N. Choubey added.

"Except for nano category and those operated by government security agencies, all other commercial categories of drones will be registered by DGCA which will issue it a Unique Identification Number," Choubey said.

A statement from the Civil Aviation Ministry said that mini and above categories will require Unmanned Aircraft Operator Permit while model aircraft upto 2 kg flown below 200 feet inside educational institution premises will not require the permit or identification number.

Remote pilots of the drones will have to undergo requisite training except in case of nano and micro categories, the statement added.

The draft rules also imposed some restrictions on use of drones in terms of no-fly zones which include area within 5 km from an airport, within 50 km from international border, beyond 500 metres into the sea along the coastline, within 5 km radius from Vijay Chowk in Delhi and from mobile platform such as a moving vehicle, ship or aircraft.

They would also not be permitted to fly over densely populated areas without prior approval and over areas affecting public safety or where emergency operations are underway, the statement added.
Hyderabad, Nov 1 : Elite Multi Speciality Hospital Pvt. Ltd. on Wednesday signed an MoU with the Andhra Pradesh Economic Development Board (APEDB) to set up a multi-speciality hospital in Tirupati with an investment of Rs.250 crore.

J. Krishna Kishore, CEO, Andhra Pradesh Economic Development Board, and Dr. A. Balasubramanyam, Chairman, Elite Hospital Pvt. Ltd., signed the memorandum of understanding (MoU), according to a statement from the Board.

This is APEDB's fifth MoU signing to further enhance facilities for hospitalisation and healthcare in Andhra Pradesh and the first in Tirupati.

The Elite Multi Speciality Hospital Pvt. Ltd. is a leading corporate hospital in Tirupati. Contributing significantly to healthcare in the temple town, it has so far treated over 76,000 patients with 22 active departments.

The company plans to make investment in two phases. This will increase capacity of patient accommodation in the hospital by about 500 beds and also help set up an Organ Transplant and Cancer Care Centre, generating employment for over 5,000 persons.

The APEDB had formerly facilitated the setting up of American Institute of Medical Sciences, BRS Medicity Amaravati, Indo-UK Institute of Health Medicity and LV Prasad Eye Institute -- all in the Capital Region Development Authority (CRDA) area.
Patna, Nov 1 : The Bihar government on Wednesday signed an agreement with Sikkim, India's first fully organic state, for certification of organic crops produced by its own farmers.

At present, organic farming has begun in the state on a large scale but there is no facility for certification of crops, said Bihar Agriculture Minister Prem Kumar.

"Bihar has signed an agreement with Sikim, which is a 100 per cent organic state, and now Sikkim State Organic Certification Agency will give certification of organic crops to farmers through Bihar State Seed Certification Agency," said Prem Kumar, adding his state will soon become a fully organic state like Sikkim.

"We have decided to launch a unique plan to develop organic corridor alongside both banks of river Ganga under the proposed five-year agriculture roadmap," he said, adding that areas from Patna to Nalanda district and Patna to Bhagalpur alongside Ganga have been identified as the areas.

President Ram Nath Kovind is set to formally launch the third Bihar agriculture roadmap on November 9 here.

Officials of the Agriculture Department said that organic farming is one of the main thrusts of the agicultural roadmap. Initially, the government will encourage farmers to go for organic vegetable cultivation.
Kolkata, Nov 1 : Flagging India's low rate of insulinisation, a group of experts here on Wednesday drew attention to the "disturbingly high" rate of needle reuse with both syringes and pens among diabetics.

Highlighting the importance of correct injection practices, leading clinical experts in diabetes care said with only about three million injecting insulin out of 69.2 million who live with diabetes, India has a low rate of insulinisation.

This is a roadblock in the optimal management of diabetes, they said.

"Insulin injection is not at all painful. Shorter needles can provide safety from injecting into muscle, as an insulin injection in muscle may lead to hypoglycemia," Subhankar Chowdhury, Professor and Head, Department of Endocrinology, IPGMER and SSKM Hospital, Kolkata, said.

He was addressing media at the release of the Forum for Injection Technique and Therapy Expert Recommendations (Fitter) India.

The key recommendations of the Fitter are that the "shortest needles (currently 4mm in pens and 6mm in syringes) are safe, effective and less painful and should be the first line of choice in all patient categories".

"Despite the fact that India is ahead of the curve in using the shortest needles, there is disturbingly high rate of needle reuse with both syringes and pens," the expert said quoting the global insulin injection technique questionnaire survey (ITQ).

The survey, conducted among 14,000 patients from over 400 centres in 42 countries, revealed very low levels of awareness of insulin injection technique among patients.

One of the principal countries participating in the ITQ was India, with an input of over 1,000 patients from 20 centres representing all the major regions of the country with three centres from east.

The findings from ITQA survey helped revise the existing recommendations by the Forum for Injection Technique (FIT) India and release the updated Fitter India Recommendations 2017.

These include barriers of insulin injection therapy and preventive measures, updated recommendations on device specifications for a given patient, insulin injection practices in indoor settings, adverse safety outcomes of faulty techniques and measures to enhance awareness of the good injection practices among healthcare practitioners and patients.

A total of 55.8 per cent of interviewed patients reuse their syringes for insulin use, mostly for convenience or to save costs.

About 40 per cent used their pen needles more than five times. There were low levels of awareness in patients on aspects like site rotation, injection related swellings and related concerns of insulin injection technique.

While launching the recommendation, Debashish Majhi, Professor and Head, Vivekanand Institute of Medical Sciences, Kolkata, urged patients to not shy away from taking injections in public.

"There is nothing to be ashamed of. Pain during injection, fear of injection or hypoglycemia, social stigma and lack of education can be barriers in initiating insulin therapy," he said.

Laurence Hirsch, Vice President of Global Medical Affairs, BD Medical-Diabetes Care said even the appropriate type of insulin and correct dose might not necessarily give the intended results without following the right injection practices.

"For the management of insulin-dependent diabetes, proper injection technique is crucial to ensure the desired clinical and patient outcomes," Hirsch added.
Bengaluru, Nov 1 : Around 50 pro-Kannada activists were arrested after they protested and defaced English signboards on the city's roads demanding the use of Kannada language, police said on Wednesday.

The activists belonged to an organisation called Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (KRV), who were demanding that Kannada language should be used on public signage.

"We have arrested 47 members of the organisation, including 40 men and seven women, for destroying several signboards, hoardings and posters that were written in English near Brigade Road (in the heart of the city)," Superintendent of Police Vijay Kumar told IANS.

The protests came on a day when the state was celebrating its 62nd Foundation Day.
New Delhi, Nov 1 : Russia's relations with India are second to none and can't be compared with Kremlin's relations with Pakistan, Russian Ambassador to India Nikolai Kudashev said on Wednesday.

"I do not see any opportunity to equalise relations between Russia and India and Russia and Pakistan. Our relations with India are a special strategic partnership, second to no other country," Kudashev told the media following the India-Russia first tri-service exercise.

The maiden tri-service exercise for India and Russia -- Indra-2017 -- concluded in Russia's Vladivostok on Sunday after 11 days of joint training in counter-terror operations.

The Russian envoy said his country's joint exercises with Pakistan were focused only on anti-terror operations.

"We also have a sincere desire of normal relations with Pakistan. The purpose of the drill was of anti-terror nature, to support reasonable elements in the Pakistan government to counter terror," Kudashev said.

Asked about the Russia-China relationship, and his reaction to China's continuing opposition to declaring and Jaish-e-Muhammad chief and Pathankot terror attack mastermind Masood Azhar a terrorist, Kudashev said China is a "sovereign nation", and added: "We need to fight common threats of terror, drugs and crime to make life easier for all of us".

About his reaction to the India-US-Japan Malabar exercise, he said he was in favour of non-bloc open cooperation.

"My primary preoccupation is our bilateral relations. India is a sovereign nation and can take its own decisions. We would welcome larger non-bloc open regional architectures which will have space for all," Kudashev said.

On the location of the exercise in the eastern part of Russia, an area which is close to China as well as the Korean peninsula, India's Chief of Integrated Defence Staff Lt. Gen. Satish Dua said the location for the exercise was picked by the host Russia, adding that it was possibly because it was possible to carry out land, air and sea exercises there.

Asked if there was any message intended through the exercise, Kudashev said: "The message was friendly."

Asked about the exercise in context of the nuclear threat from North Korea, he said: "As far as the drills are concerned, I do not see any immediate connection."

He however added that Russia would welcome denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula, and resumption of the Six-Party Talks.

Indra 2017 focused on counter terrorism, and saw the participation of more than 900 Indian soldiers, sailors and air warriors along with over 1,000 personnel from the Russian Defence Forces. This is the first time both India and Russia held a tri-service exercise with any other country.

"Exercise Indra 2017 will surely be a benchmark for future exercises of this nature all across the world. The espirit de corps and goodwill generated during the exercise will facilitate further strengthening of bonds between the defence forces of India and Russia enabling them to understand each other's organisations and the methodology of executing joint counter terrorist operations," Lt.Gen. Dua said.
New Delhi, Nov 1 : Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday expressed sadness at the boiler blast in the NTPC unit in Rae Bareli, the Lok Sabha constituency of his mother and party President Sonia Gandhi, and condoled the deaths. He also urged the administration to help the injured.

"I am saddened by the incident at the Rae Bareli's NTPC plant. My heartfelt condolences with the family of the dead. I request the administration to help the injured immediately," Rahul Gandhi said in a tweet.

At least eight persons were killed and more than 40 injured in an explosion at a boiler unit of the National Thermal Power Corporation in Uttar Pradesh's Rae Bareli district on Wednesday evening.
Chennai, Nov 1 : Two girls playing outside their homes died on Wednesday due to electrocution in Kodungaiyur in Chennai as heavy rains pounded the city and suburban areas as well as coastal districts of Tamil Nadu for a third day.

Bhavna and Vijayshri, both eight years old, were electrocuted when they stepped on a power cable covered by stagnant rain water in R.R. Nagar.

Another girl escaped after she jumped on a cement slab. The girls were playing near their home as the schools were closed because of the rains.

Eight officials of the Electricity Board, including an Executive Engineer and an Assistant Engineer, were suspended for dereliction of duty, Electricity Minister S.P. Velumani told reporters.

He also announced a solatium of Rs 2 lakh for the kin of the dead.

He said leakage of electricity from the wire from an open pillar box was the reason for the girls' electrocution. A five-member group has been set up in the Electricity Board to ensure that such incidents do not recur, he added.

Velumani said chances of electrocution were less in Chennai because of underground cabling of electric wires but the accident took place because of the lack of proper upkeep of the pillar box. There were 40,000 such pillar boxes in the city, he added.

Angry residents staged a protest condemning government negligence. They complained that the negligence of the pillar box despite their complaints was the reason for the death of the girls.

As rains continued to lash Chennai and suburbs, low lying areas especially in Mudichur and Selaiyur near Tambaram were marooned.

Varadarajapuram near Mudichur, one of the worst hit areas in the 2015 floods, again presented a picture of plight as residents started leaving for safer places.

The weather department has predicted rain or thundershowers at most places over coastal Tamil Nadu and Puducherry and at many places over interior Tamil Nadu for the next four days.

Intermittent heavy rains have been forecast for Chennai and neighbouring Kanchipuram and Tiruvallur districts for Thursday.

Schools in these districts were closed for a second consecutive day on Wednesday owing to rains. They were closed on Tuesday owing to rains on Monday. Schools have been ordered to be closed on Thursday too.

People complained of overflowing sewage drains in several areas.

"It is `Saakadai (sewage) Chennai' Chennai. The main sewage line is always stagnant. Whether the sewage pumping stations are working at all is a major question that has been defying an answer for a long time," said Nitya.V, a resident of Mylapore in south Chennai. Similar voices were heard from people in other parts of the city affected by water logging in their locality.

Traffic in many places moved at a slow pace due to water logging due to clogged sewers.

Trains from south Tamil Nadu to Chennai and flights - landing and taking off - were delayed due to rains in the morning.

According to weather department officials, the North East monsoon is very active over Tamil Nadu and its neighbouring states.

The rains have brought smiles on the faces of city water managers and also general public who were suffering from water scarcity.

Incidentally a popular WhatApp message that is circulating is `Chennai - Jan-Oct water scarcity. Nov-Dec water scares city'.

The reservoirs catering to the water needs of Chennai are slowly filling up and with rains predicted the water levels are expected to go up further.
New Delhi, Nov 1 : The government on Wednesday constituted an inter-ministerial committee headed by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley to oversee the merger of public sector banks (PSBs), following the recent announcement of a massive recapitalisation plan for the state-run lenders.

Apart from Jaitley, the "Alternative Mechanism" committee will have Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Railway Minister Piyush Goyal as its members, a Finance Ministry release said here.

The proposals cleared by the committee will be submitted before the Cabinet every quarter, it said.

The alternative mechanism may also direct the PSBs to examine proposals of consolidation.

"It will also receive inputs from the Reserve Bank of India before granting an in-principle nod to the proposals," the statement added.

The government said that after it approved the final schemes of banks' amalgation these would be tabled in both Houses of Parliament.

he government had earlier decided to set up an alternative mechanism to expedite the process of PSB consolidation, which would oversee the proposals coming from the PSB boards.

This followed State Bank of India's merger with its five associate banks and the Bharatiya Mahila Bank earlier this year.

In a stimulus package aimed to boost flagging economic growth, create jobs and increase credit flow, the cabinet last week approved a Rs 2.11 lakh crore recapitalisation plan for state-run banks and massive road infrastructure investment of nearly Rs 7 lakh crore over five years.

Of the support to banks, Rs 1.35 lakh crore will be raised through recapitalisation bonds and the remaining sum through budgetary support and market borrowings.

Announcing the package here, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said the details of reform measures for the public sector banks would be unveiled at a later date.

Chief Economic Advisor Arvind Subranmanian clarified that the recapitalisation bonds would count as debt, while their exact nature would be made available in due course.
Rabat, Nov 1 : Morocco is keen to open up more to India, one of the emerging economies, and hopes to attract a large number of Indian tourists to the kingdom, the head of Morocco's tourism department has said.

The North African country is banking on a strong presence in the Indian tourism market in the coming years, Abderrafie Zouiten, Director General of the Moroccan National Tourist Office (MNTO) said.

In an interview to the Arab Maghreb News Agency (MAP), at the end of a working visit to New Delhi, Zouiten said that India is poised to have a large middle class of nearly 300 million which can be tapped by the Moroccan tourism sector.

During his India visit, the ONMT obtained Indian permission to open a regional office in New Delhi in early 2018. Zouiten said the development reflects the "fruitful" cooperation between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and the Embassy of Morocco in India.

He said the opening of the second regional office in Asia, after Beijing, reflects the distinguished relations between Morocco and India.

He said that Morocco-Indian ties have been strengthened, especially after the visit of King Mohammed VI to New Delhi in October 2015 for the India-Africa Forum Summit. He noted that the Kingdom, through the new office in India, could position itself favourably in the tourism market.

Zouiten described as fruitful his meetings with Indian Tourism Minister K.J. Alphons, and officials and representatives of the tourism sector and air transport, saying the two sides discussed ways to strengthen exchange, expertise and cooperation in the field of tourism.

The focus at the meetings was also on the diverse and attractive tourism potential of Morocco as a stable and secure destination for tourists. The Moroccan side also highlighted the rich natural heritage and historical monuments of the kingdom.

Zouiten said they would soon organize a visit to Morocco for representatives of tourist organisations in New Delhi. Cooperation and partnership agreements will be signed at the next joint working meetings between tourism stakeholders from both countries, he said.

The promotion of cultural tourism was also taken up by Zouiten who recalled that India was the guest of honour at the Marrakech International Film Festival in 2012, that commemorated the 100th anniversary of Bollywood. Also, New Delhi had been designated guest of honour at the 22nd edition of the Fes Festival of World Sacred Music in 2016.

He stressed that Morocco is keen to enhance its cooperation with India in the tourism sector, in harmony with its new orientation towards emerging Asian destinations outside the traditional tourist markets.
Washington, Nov 1 : Sherin Mathews, a three-year-old Indian girl who was found dead in a ditch after being reported missing by her foster father, has been laid to rest in a private ceremony, family attorneys said.

The funeral was held on Tuesday "according to the religious beliefs and the cultural heritage of her family", attorneys Mitchell R. Nolte and Gregg Gibbs said in a statement.

Sherin's body was found in the culvert under a road about one kilometer from her home in suburban Dallas on October 22. Her parents, Sini and Wesley Mathews, adopted her in June 2016 from Bihar.

Her burial location is being kept a secret, the attorneys said, adding that the girl's mother was in attendance along with close family and friends, reported WFAA, an ABC-affiliated television station.

"Because of the intense press and social media attention in this case, the family chose to keep the ceremony private so that the focus could be on Sherin's future in Heaven and not on her tragic death on Earth," the attorneys said.

Sherin's 37-year-old father initially told police that she disappeared when he made her stand in a lane behind their house in Richardson city at 3 a.m. on October 7 as punishment for not drinking milk.

But after the girl's body was discovered, the father admitted that the child choked while he was making her drink milk and died in their home in Texas.

Wesley Mathews was arrested and charged with felony injury to a child. He is still in Dallas County jail on a $1 million bond.

Sini Mathews, who told police that she was sleeping when the child was sent out, was not charged. The police took Mathews' biological four-year-old daughter into state custody after the incident.
New Delhi, Nov 1 : Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday expressed shock and horror at a boiler blast in an NTPC plant in her constituency of Rae Bareli that has killed several people and asked party workers to help in the relief operations.

Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi also expressed sadness at the tragedy.

"I express shock and horror at the terrible tragedy in Rae Bareli, where many people lost their lives in a boiler blast in NTPC and several others injured today," Sonia Gandhi said in a statement.

Conveying her deepest condolences to the families of the bereaved, the Congress President urged the authorities to provide immediate medical assistance to the injured.

She asked party workers to provide help in relief operations and provide all possible assistance to the families of the injured.

Sonia Gandhi represents Rae Bareli in Lok Sabha.

At least eight persons were killed and more than 40 injured in an explosion at a boiler unit of the National Thermal Power Corporation in Uttar Pradesh's Rae Bareli district on Wednesday evening.

Rahul Gandhi in a statement said, "I am saddened by the incident at the Rae Bareli's NTPC plant. My heartfelt condolences with the family of the dead. I request the administration to help the injured immediately."
Mumbai, Nov 1 : The Western Railway on Wednesday claimed that - contrary to its own earlier RTI replies of 40 percent drop in seat occupancy coupled with a huge loss in the Mumbai-Ahmedabad sector, it was actually a very profitable sector with over 100 percent occupancy even during off-season.

In RTI replies provided to activist Anil Galgali, WR's Chief Commercial Manager Manjit Singh had given detailed figures of the seats going vacant on this sector resulting in losses of almost Rs 30 crore between July-September 2017.

However, now CPRO Ravinder Bhakar said that there are nine direct trains and 25 other trains going via Ahmedabad and the total earnings on this sector during that period was Rs 233 crore, against the losses of nearly Rs 30 crore as per the RTI replies, which pertained to number of passengers travelling between Mumbai Central-Ahmedabad and vice-versa.

"The information does not include information about en route traffic, passengers from originating station to en route stations, intermediate stations to intermediate and to destination stations between Mumbai Central and Ahmedabad, thereby showing lesser occupancy," Bhakar said.

Despite the July-September period being a lean season, he said the occupancy on this sector remained 100 percent plus on all the 34 trains.

Of the nine direct trains, there were 803,150 berths of which actual bookings were 830,978, or 103 percent occupancy Mumbai-Ahmedabad sector and in return direction, the position remained the same.

Besides, in the 25 trains going via Ahmedabad, the berth availability was 1,070,710 and actual bookings were 1,230,585, or 115 percent and in return direction, it was even higher at 121 percent.

Asked to comment, RTI activist Galgali said it is very strange that the specific RTI query between Ahmedabad-Mumbai, which implied all stations enroute, the number of passengers and revenue records and appropriate information should have been provided.

Moreover, he said in the data given under RTI, details of all classes were provided but now that is not available. The RTI reply said that on the 32 trains on Mumbai-Ahmedabad sector, there were 735,630 seats and on 31 trains on Ahmedabad-Mumbai sector, there were 706,446 seats.

"Now, the WR is saying the total number of seats on this sector on 34 trains is much higher. Why the huge discrepancy in the figures given by the WR Chief Commercial Manager under RTI and the WR spokesperson?" Galgali said.

Under these circumstances, if the replies provided under RTI are wrong, then the WR should initiate stringent action against the persons concerned and Railway Ministry must issue a detailed White Paper on the occupancy and revenue status on this crucial sector where the Bullet Train project is being planned at a cost of over Rs 1 lakh crore, he said.
New Delhi, Nov 1 : The BJP on Wednesday demanded a probe into the expose by a TV channel which claimed that Popular Front of India (PFI) carried out massive coversions in Kerala and said that it raises questions about the authencity of such NGOs.

"Today there are such terror groups in India which are trying to establish Islamic State in Kerala. They are receiving funds from foreign countries and radicalising the people. It is a serious issue and must be probed. It is a matter of serious security concern and action should be taken against the culprits," Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said at a press conference.

Prasad was reacting to an expose by India Today which claimed forceful conversions by PFI in Kerala and said that if adequate evidence comes out, the organisation should be banned.

Asked about whether he wants the issue to be probed by central agencies, Prasad said that the matter could be probed in the way the National Investigation Agency conducted probe against Hurriyat leaders into the foreign funding allegations.

"The expose shows that there is a PFI, the Popular Front of India, which is having an organised racket employing people who are owning it up on the channel that they are creating a radical group by some kind of psychological brainwashing," he said adding that the expose raises concerns about the working of such NGOs.

The senior BJP leader described the alleged massive conversions as "extreme case of radicalisation".

"Anyone who volunteraly wants to convert by choice can do that, but allurement or forced conversions are illegal and a serious concern," he said.

Prasad took on Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi and sought his response over the issue.

"Suprisingly Rahul, who speaks on every issue these days, is silent on Hurriyat and Kerala," he said.

The BJP leader also demanded action from Kerala government, saying, "You have been elected to govern. We expect action. You cannot remain silent."

The PFI was formed in 2006 as a successor to the National Democratic Front (NDF) in the form of a federation. It is constituted of Karnataka Forum for Dignity, NDF, and Manitha Neethi Pasarai of Tamil Nadu.
New Delhi, Nov 1 : The mastermind of the sensational loot on a bus in the national capital in 2008 has been finally arrested from Uttar Pradesh's Kanpur after evading police for nearly a decade, police said on Wednesday.

Gaurav Sonkar, who hails from Kanpur, is a member of the Raju Hakla gang and a 'proclaimed offender', police said.

"He was arrested on Monday from his hideout in Kanpur following a tip-off," said Deputy Commissioner of Police Bhisham Singh.

Sonkar, along with his associates, had on May 4, 2008, robbed over 20 passengers in a moving bus in west Delhi's Mayapuri area after injuring them with knives.

He had been evading arrest since then and was declared a proclaimed offender in 2010 by a trial court. A cash reward of Rs 25,000 was announced for his arrest by then Delhi Police Commissioner Y.S. Dadwal, Singh said.

"During interrogation, Sonkar revealed that some ten years ago, he joined local criminals after his family shifted from Kanpur to Subzi Mandi area of Delhi.

"He initially started petty crimes and joined Raju Hakla gang of pickpocketers. The gang leader Raju Hakla is involved in more than 70 cases of murder, attempt to murder, robbery, under the Arms act and others in Nangloi, Sultanpuri and Mangolpuri," the officer added.
New Delhi, Nov 1 : The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) will hold its annual National Council meeting here on Thursday.

The meeting will be attended by party National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal apart from other national and state leaders.

The day-long annual meeting which is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. will focus on how to strengthen the organisational framework of the party.
New Delhi, Nov 1 : The Supreme Court is likely to commence hearing on Thursday on Delhi government's appeal challenging Delhi High Court verdict holding that the Lt. Governor had the primacy over the elected government in the administration of the national capital.

The constitution bench comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra, Justice A.K. Sikri, Justice A.M. Khanwilkar, Justice D.Y. Chandrachud and Justice Ashok Bhushan, said that the hearing on the Aam Aadmi Party government's plea on its powers would commence on Thursday.

The court said this soon after it reserved order on the question whether the courts could look into and rely upon the report of the parliamentary committee for deciding an issue before them.

Senior counsel P.Chidambram, Gopal Subramanium and Indira Jaising will appear for AAP government in the matter.

The bench of Justice Sikri and Justice R.K.Agrawal had on February 15 referred to the constitution bench a batch of petitions filed by the Delhi government over conflict with the Union government over the powers of the elected government to administer the national capital.

While not framing the questions to be adjudicated by the Constitution Bench, the court had on February 15 asked both the Union government and the Arvind Kejriwal government to argue their respective cases before the larger bench.

The Delhi government, through a batch of petitions, has challenged a Delhi High Court verdict that upheld the primacy of the Lt.Governor in the governance of the national capital, contending that the elected government can't be treated subservient to an overriding authority of the Lt. Governor.

The hearing by the two judge bench on Delhi government's appeals had seen the court favouring a balance in the exercise of powers by the Delhi government and the Lt. Governor for good governance.

Delhi was given an assembly and an elected government through Article 239 (AA) incorporated in the Constitution by the 69th amendment in 1991.
Kolkata, Nov 1 : Claiming there is no controversy over the celebration of Sardar Vallabhai Patel's birth anniversary in West Bengal, state Education Minister Partha Chatterjee on Wednesday said the Trinamool Congress government has "no trend" of rejecting the centre's directives.

"No, there is no such trend. There are lots of issues we have said yes to. We have said yes to things that are practicable and do not have any political intent," Chatterjee said.

The state government which earlier refused to follow the Union Human Resource Development Ministry's directives on celebrating Independence Day and Teachers Day in the state run schools, has recently asked institutes of higher education in Bengal to ignore the HRD Ministry's directive on observing Sardar Vallabhai Patel's birth anniversary on October 31.

Chatterjee said the state government is always ready to pay tribute to the national heroes but questioned the necessity of sending pictures and video recordings of such events to the central government.

"The government of West Bengal is playing tribute to our national heroes. But why should it be photographed, video graphed and sent to the central government?" he questioned.

He also said such instructions by the centre is "unbecoming of a federal structure."

The HRD ministry had issued a directive to all the higher educational institutes in the country to observe the 142nd birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel in a manner specified by the government and send video recording of the events to the University Grants Commission (UGC) as part of the Centre's "Nation Salutes Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel" tribute programme.
Lucknow, Nov 1 : At least 20 people were killed and more than 80 injured in a boiler explosion at a unit of the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) in Uttar Pradesh's Rae Bareli district, officials said.

Many of the injured are in critical condition with scalded body parts caused by hot ash and steam. They have been admitted to government medical facilities at Allahabad and at the Lucknow trauma centre.

Confirming the death toll, Principal Secretary, Home, Arvind Kumar said of the 10 injured brought to the civil hospital here, six have more than 90 per cent burns and that their condition, according to doctors, was very critical.A

Additional Director General of Police (ADG) Law and Order Anand Kumar said the death toll could climb up as many of the injured are in critical condition.

An NDRF team consisting of 32 persons has left Lucknow for Unchahar, the site of the accident.

Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya visited the Civil hospital at night to enquire about the injured and asked the doctors to give them the best possible treatment.

Two senior ministers - Suresh Khanna and Swamy Prasad Maurya - have been rushed to the site to oversee and coordinate relief and rescue operations, a government official said.

NTPC officials said that tThe number of casualties could go up once the blades of the boiler are cut and the team of experts is able to go inside. NTPC has ordered a probe into the blast.

More than 50 fire tenders were pressed into service to douse the fire and 100 ambulances, private and government, helped ferry the injured to medical facilities. Rae Bareli is the parliamentary constituency of Congress President Sonia Gandhi.

A massive fire broke out inside and a huge ball of dust and ash rose after the explosion, making rescue operations difficult, an official told IANS. The unit was the sixth at NTPC and was commissioned on March 31 this year.

An alert was sounded at the community health centre (CHC), district hospital and at other medical centres, after the accident. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who is in Mauritius on a three-day visit, directed Principal Secretary, Home, Arvind Kumar to monitor the situation and brief him regularly. He has also condoled the death of workers and extended his sympathies to the bereaved families.

The Chief Minister has announced ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each to the families of those killed, Rs 50,000 each to those seriously injured, and Rs 25,000 each to those with less grave injuries. All the injured would be given free treatment at government hospitals, he added.

Senior district officials and police officials including the Divisional Commissioner of Lucknow Anil Garg were at the site and overseeing rescue and relief operations.

Officials said the explosion took place in the boiler, which creates steam which moves the turbines and generates electricity. The explosion was caused by the ash which got deposited on the furnace and triggered a massive blast.

Insiders at the plant, who refused to come on record, said that many labourers who were inside might have perished in the blast and their bodies would be buried under the very hot ash that has covered the entire area.

Congress President Sonia Gandhi expressed shock and horror at the tragedy and asked party workers to help in the relief operations. Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi also expressed sadness and condoled the deaths.
London, Nov 2 : Several people were injured as a taxi ploughed into pedestrians after mounting the pavement here on Wednesday, London Metropolitan Police said, and ruled out the possibility of terrorism.

Police said in a statement they were called around 5 p.m. to reports of a taxi in collision with pedestrians in Southampton Street, Xinhua news agency reported.

The driver of the taxi stopped at the scene and has been detained by police.

A pedestrian has been "seriously injured" in the accident, BBC reported.

Police said it is being treated as a serious road traffic collision, and not thought to be terrorism related.

The incident has happened just a day after an Islamic State-linked terror strike in New York in which a van killed eight persons near the site of the 9/11 attack in New York.

Sayfullo Habibullaevic Saipov, 29, a Uzbek immigrant who drove the rented van on to a bike path along the Hudson River running over bicyclist and pedestrians amd also injuring 13 people, was shot and arrested by police.
United Nations, Nov 2 : The US has voted against a United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) draft resolution that calls for the lifting of the US economic and trade embargo on Cuba.

The draft resolution was approved 191-2, with the US and Israel being the only countries that voted against it on Wednesday, Xinhua news agency reported.

In a hawkish speech to the General Assembly prior to the vote, US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley blamed Havana for the embargo.

"For the 25th time in 26 years, the United States will vote against this resolution," Haley told the assembly.

She accused Havana of using the General Assembly vote every year "as a shiny object to distract the world's attention from the destruction it has inflicted on its own people and on others in the Western Hemisphere."

"As long as the Cuban people continue to be deprived of their human rights and fundamental freedoms, as long as the proceeds from trade with Cuba go to prop up the dictatorial regime responsible for denying those rights, the US does not fear isolation in this chamber (of the General Assembly) or anywhere else."

Haley said the General Assembly has no power to end the decades-old embargo. It is based in US law, which only the US Congress can change, she said. Haley scorned the General Assembly vote as "political theater" and a waste of time.

Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla fought back, saying the US blockade is "a flagrant, massive and systematic violation of the human rights of all Cubans" and qualifies as "an act of genocide."

"The human damage caused by the implementation of this policy are incalculable. There is not a single Cuban family or social service that has not suffered the deprivations and consequences resulting from the blockade," he told the assembly prior to the vote.

When explaining the "no" vote after the adoption of the resolution, Haley's deputy said that the Cuban government is to blame for the country's economic failure.

"Even if the US Congress lifted the embargo today, Cubans would not be able to realize their potential without significant political, economic, and social reforms by their own government," said Michele Sison.

"This resolution is a distraction from the real problems facing the Cuban people. Therefore, the US strongly opposes it."

The US abstained last year in a similar vote at the General Assembly. Haley explained that the about-face is because the election of Donald Trump as new President and herself as new UN ambassador.

"To those who are confused as to where the United States stands, let me be clear: as is their right under our constitution, the American people have spoken. They have chosen a new president, and he has chosen a new ambassador to the United Nations."

The Group of 77 (G77) of developing countries regretted the new policy of Trump aimed at strengthening the embargo against Cuba.
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Optima by TalenTeam builds on our extensive experience in consulting and implementing HCM solutions for a diverse range of clients

Optima by TalenTeam is based on 15 years' experience implementing SAP SuccessFactors solutions. The solution enables organisations to quickly implement SAP SuccessFactors solutions with a simplified implementation process, helping reduce effort, time and cost without losing focus on customer need. Making the most of cloud technology, Optima is designed to engage and give control to the client from the start of the process. From there, a simple seven-step approach guides the client through to go-live in around 10 weeks. Working from a defined scope, the client has the reassurance of a fixed price.

Optima focuses on client business outcomes from the onset, and makes use of online orientation early in the process in addition to face-to-face training of system administrators. The solution is designed to reduce effort and complexity and help ensure that the client has complete confidence in using the system effectively.

Andrew Kay, COO at TalenTeam said: Optima by TalenTeam builds on our extensive experience in consulting and implementing HCM solutions for a diverse range of clients using the comprehensive SAP SuccessFactors HCM Suite, including recruiting, learning and development, and talent management. We have a strong track record with SAPs cloud-based HCM solutions, helping ensure that they not only work, but are fully utilised by the client and meet their specific business requirements. We consistently create good industry-specific practices that address some of the key issues facing firms today like ensuring compliance, improving employee engagement or building more collaborative cultures. With Optima we have packaged that experience and streamlined the process, making it more readily accessible and reducing the time to go live to 10 weeks.

TalenTeam works closely with firms that operate in highly regulated environments to unlock the power of industry-leading SAP SuccessFactors solutions for human capital management (HCM). Established in 2012, TalenTeam supplies and consults on the HCM technology, adding value through implementation, integration, support and knowledge as well as software licensing. With specialist expertise in modules that manage learning, performance, goals and social collaboration TalenTeam offers unrivalled customer service and a commitment to excellence delivering complex, large-scale projects, both locally and globally, from 500 to 300,000+ users. TalenTeam have earned an international reputation for helping firms meet their obligations for operational risk reporting and compliance. Their accredited consultants work with some of the most influential blue-chip companies from banking to aviation, and pharmaceuticals to chemicals. For more information, or to request a demo visit OptimabyTalenTeam.com

SAP, SuccessFactors other SAP products and services mentioned herein as well as their respective logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of SAP SE (or an SAP affiliate company) in Germany and other countries. See http://www.sap.com/corporate-en/legal/copyright/index.epx for additional trademark information and notices.

All other product and service names mentioned are the trademarks of their respective companies.
We at The Carlson Law Firm are honored and humbled to open our doors to the Lubbock community. Lubbock is a proud city with a proud tradition of hard-working men and women.

The Carlson Law Firm will celebrate the grand opening of its newest office with a ribbon cutting ceremony performed by the Lubbock Chamber of Commerce on November 6, at 1:00 p.m., with dessert to follow.

The Carlson Law Firm is a Texas-based personal injury law firm with 12 locations across the state. The firm of over 40 attorneys, 100 legal assistants, registered nurses, and investigators has been protecting the rights of injured victims since 1976.

Attorney Stacy Schroeder, a graduate of the University of Nebraska College of Law and long-time Lubbock resident, manages the new location.

We at The Carlson Law Firm are honored and humbled to open our doors to the Lubbock community. Lubbock is a proud city with a proud tradition of hard-working men and women, said Schroeder. We look forward to working hand in hand with the Lubbock Chamber of Commerce to embrace and embody that same tradition.

The Carlson Law Firm handles a variety of personal injury cases, including auto accidents, trucking accidents, motorcycle injuries and workplace injuries, as well as medical malpractice, defective products, nursing home neglect, offshore injuries, wrongful death and much more.

For more information, or to schedule an interview with Attorney Schroeder, please contact Jillian Fowler at (254) 526-5688 or via email at jfowler(at)carlsonattorneys(dot)com.
We are very proud to share that the new Google reviews have reflected our commitment to quick, professional and friendly sliding glass door repair.

Express Glass and Board Up, a top sliding glass door repair service is proud to announce a new milestone on Google+. User feedback has just topped thirty reviews, praising the business for excellent glass repair service. Miami residents have noted a quick response time to shattered glass emergencies during any time of the day or night.

Our ambition is to serve the Miami community with the best glass repair service no matter what time or day it is, commented Yaniet Santos, General Manager of Express Glass. We are very proud to share that the new Google reviews have reflected our commitment to quick, professional and friendly sliding glass door repair.

To read the newly posted customer comments for Express Glass on Google+ please go to https://goo.gl/e5ifrq. Previous customers have commended the company for quick service and a commitment to quality. Florida residents interested in Miami sliding glass door repair and 24/7 emergency glass repair can read the reviews directly at http://www.expressglassfl.com/miami-glass-window-repair/ or click to search on Google.

Customers Give Five-Star Reviews to a Miami Sliding Glass Door Repair Service that Never Sleeps

Here is more background to this release. The sound of glass shattering in the middle of the night could be unnerving to Miami, Florida residents. An attempted break-in or vandalism could be the reason a homeowner jumps out of bed and has to investigate. If high-impact winds happen to be the culprit, it may mean water damage and debris in the home. Once the initial threat has been managed, sliding glass door repair for the Miami home could be the next immediate task. A shattered glass emergency can happen any time of day or night. Homeowners may not want to wait until business hours to call for service. Locals could expect the best Miami sliding glass door repair service to respond immediately.

Express Glass has announced a new milestone for the Google review site. Over thirty positive reviews have been noted for Miami sliding glass door repair and replacement. Customers have praised technicians for quick response time to glass emergencies including help after normal business hours. One customer provided a five-star review for Miami sliding glass door repair managed within 45 minutes on a Saturday night. Other comments have included friendly, knowledgeable technicians and quality service. Swift board up service (http://www.expressglassfl.com/commercial-glass-repair/commercial-board-up-service/) as well as glass repair due to storm damage has also been praised. Broken glass may occur at a home or business day or night. Locals may sleep better knowing top Miami sliding glass door repair service can be called on at any time.

About Express Glass and Board Up

Express Glass and Board Up Service Inc. is a family owned and operated glass repair business with more than 20 years of experience. Professional technicians and the large variety of inventory make Express Glass the top glass repair service. If customers are looking for Miami sliding glass door repair or glass repair in Delray Beach or West Palm Beach, reach out to the company for a free estimate. 24/7 emergency storefront glass repair and replacement services are also available. If customers need a 24/7 Sliding Glass Door repair service in Miami or Boca Raton or Miramar, technicians are standing by. The company specializes in sliding glass door repair and window glass repair; technicians will handle any glass replacement situation efficiently. Home or business glass repair is the company's main priority.

Express Glass Repair and Board up

http://www.expressglassfl.com/
No Shave November Cocktails at Valencia Group Hotels

Valencia Group hotels in Texas and California are approaching their fourth year in support of No Shave November. Six properties, including Hotel Valencia Riverwal k in San Antonio, TX, Lone Star Court in Austin, TX,Hotel Sorella CITYCENTRE in Houston, TX, Cavalry Court and The George in College Station, TX, and Hotel Valencia Santana Row in San Jose, CA, will each select managers to throw away their razors for the month in the goal of raising eyes and awareness for cancer prevention.

Throughout November, guests can anticipate in a range of pop up activities, and 20% of sales from select food and beverage items will benefit the American Cancer Society. In true Valencia Group style, visitors can expect to see a range of creative and limited availability specialty cocktails such as the Mustache Mule and Manly Margarita adorned with handlebar straws. To join Valencia Group in their efforts to raise money, click here to donate.

Stop into Vbar, Dorregos, The Canteen, 1791 Whiskey Bar, Monnalisa, and Water Trough to sample each of the three selections or treat yourself to one at home with the following recipes.

Manly Margarita



1.5 oz. Bulleit bourbon

0.5 oz. Cointreau

3 oz. homemade margarita mix

Margarita Mix (one gallon)



2 quarts fresh squeezed lime

1 quart agave nectar

1 quart hot water

1 cup orange juice

Mustache Mule



1.5 oz Blue Ice Vodka

Splash cranberry juice

Juice of two lime wedges

Fever-Tree ginger beer to fill

Long Island Goa-Tea



0.75 oz. Seagrams Vodka

0.75 oz. Seagrams Gin

0.75 oz. Bacardi Rum

0.75 oz. Dekupyer Triple Sec

1.25 oz. lemon juice

1.25 oz. lime juice

Coca Cola to fill

EDITORS NOTE: high resolution cocktail images located at this link (credit QuyTran)

About Valencia Group

Houston-based Valencia Group is a fully integrated hospitality company that provides management, development, branding and repositioning services for independent, full-service hotels owned by the company, in addition to third parties. Exceptional service, style and location have become brand trademarks. Earning both national and international recognition for their distinctive designs, amenities and settings, Valencia Group properties are destinations and gathering places within their respective communities, some further benefitting from and enriching their space within the cultural heart of a city. The company continues to forge a niche with hotels that anchor and add value to urban, mixed-use environments, which further support or enhance the guest experience with superior residential, restaurant, retail and office components. The Valencia Group portfolio currently includes the Valencia brands: Hotel Valencia Santana Row in San Jose, CA and Hotel Valencia Riverwalk in San Antonio, TX. The Sorella brand includes Hotel Sorella CITYCENTRE in Houston, TX by developer Midway. The Court concept brands include Lone Star Court in Austin, TX and Midway and Valencia Groups Cavalry Court in College Station, TX. Recent openings in 2017 include: Midway and Valencia Groups The George in College Station, TX and Midways Hotel Alessandra in Houston, TX. For more information, please visit http://www.valenciagroup.com
The RegTech 100 identifies the innovative regulatory technology companies that every financial institution needs to know about in 2018

RegTech (regulatory technology), is now regarded as one of the largest and most important sectors within the FinTech space. As banks and other financial institutions grapple with the costs and complexities of mission-critical regulatory requirements, the RegTech 100 was produced to identify the 100 innovative companies that every financial institution needs to know about in 2018.

The 100 companies were chosen by a panel of industry experts who reviewed an analysis of 416 RegTech companies that was undertaken by FinTech Global, a data and research firm. The selected companies were recognized and commended for their innovative use of technology to generate efficiencies and performance enhancements across the compliance function within financial institutions, which spend tens of billions of dollars on the area each year.

Although nearly half of the RegTech 100 companies are located in the United Kingdom or the United States, the geographical distribution of companies shows how RegTech leadership is no longer limited to the most dominant financial markets. Innovation is flourishing around the world as governments, regulatory authorities and technology hubs combine efforts to foster new RegTech companies.

Ireland, Switzerland and Australia, which claim 21 companies between them on the RegTech 100, have already established themselves as RegTech hotspots. Other countries, large and small, are just beginning to make their mark in the industry: Brazil, Bermuda, South Africa, Cyprus, India and the United Arab Emirates are all represented on the list.

The RegTech 100 companies offer solutions that address all areas of the compliance process, including onboarding, monitoring, detection, reporting and process control. They incorporate the latest technologies, such as big data analytics, blockchain, artificial intelligence, the internet of things, machine learning and natural learning processing.

A full list of the RegTech 100 can be found at http://www.RegTech100.com. A detailed analysis of the global market is provided in the Global RegTech Review, produced by FinTech Global, which is available to a limited number of direct subscribers.
This particular membership, allows First MedCare Inc. to be a role model of primary care in New York City

To earn recognition, which is valid for three years, First MedCare Inc. demonstrated the ability to meet the programs key elements, embodying characteristics of the medical home. NCQA standards aligned with the joint principles of the Patient-Centered Medical Home established with the American College of Physicians, the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Osteopathic Association.

Having this particular membership, allows First MedCare Inc. to be a role model of primary care in New York City, by combining a dedicated teamwork, strategy and modern information technology to improve overall patient care at reduced cost. This award enables us to showcase our expertise in primary care by further extending our reach into the general public. It perfectly aligns our mission with the current state of healthcare, where the population of Brooklyn is in the greatest need of affordable and professional medical care on demand.

About The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA):

NCQA is a private, non-profit organization dedicated to improving health care quality. NCQA accredits and certifies a wide range of health care organizations. It also recognizes clinicians and practices in key areas of performance. NCQAs Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS) is the most widely used performance measurement tool in health care. NCQAs Web site (ncqa.org) contains information to help consumers, employers and others make more informed health care choices.

About First MedCare Inc.

First MedCare Inc. is a top-rated multi-specialty medical practice offering top-quality care for patients in Canarsie, Brooklyn, and throughout the New York City metropolitan region. The practice offers a broad array of services and treatment options to enable patients to receive a full spectrum of care in one convenient location. At the state-of-the-art facility on Flatlands Avenue, patients can enjoy the most advanced treatment options for dental care, Cardiology, Dentistry, Dermatology, Endocrinology, Family Medicine, Gastroenterology, Gynecology, Ophthalmology, Podiatry, Psychology, Pulmonology, Urology, Nephrology and recently opened Urgent Care in collaboration with NYCH.
LrTag plugin aims to assist photographers workflows by ensuring the photographs are searchable and discoverable without extra effort on the part of photographer. It uses artificial intelligence to detect over 10,000 different objects and scenes in the photographs and assigns relevant keywords. It integrates seamlessly into the popular Adobe Lightroom, so customers can use the tool theyre already familiar with to improve their workflow.

We are bringing the latest developments in machine learning and artificial intelligence to photographers in order to simplify time consuming portions of editing workflow said Dan Osipov, lead developer of the LrTag plugin. Our hope is that LrTag allows photographers to spend more time in the field shooting, and not in front of a computer screen organizing photos.

LrTag plugin is available for download today at https://lrtag.com. The plugin works with catalogs of all sizes, and does not require that photographs be stored in the cloud. The service is available by subscription with a free one month trial available for customers to evaluate the service.

About Applicative LLC

Applicative is a global data integration service provider specializing in business intelligence, machine learning, and artificial intelligence. Committed to open source, Applicative works with client development teams on mission critical initiatives for integrating open frameworks, migrating applications to the cloud, or utilizing machine learning

For more information, visit http://applicative.io.

Media Contact

Dan Osipov

1-267-536-5610

dan(at)applicative(dot)io

http://applicative.io/
The ACES program is an important initiative that reflects Stevens institutional mission to equalize and expand access to a Stevens education while also addressing the acute need for building a workforce with a technology orientation, said Nariman Farvardin, President of Stevens.

Stevens Institute of Technology announced the launch of a major initiative called Stevens ACES (Accessing Careers in Engineering and Science), which will provide enhanced opportunities, including financial support, for underserved students and those from underrepresented minority (URM) groups to pursue STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) and technology-infused degrees and careers. Bolstered by a strategic commitment of university leadership, as well as financial commitments from the university and its partners to reduce barriers to participation, ACES will foster mutually-beneficial and lasting relationships with high school partners in underserved communities who are committed to increasing opportunities for talented students with significant financial need, particularly URM students.

Congressman Donald M. Payne, Jr. (D-NJ-10) joined Stevens President Nariman Farvardin to announce the new program during the ACES launch event held at Stevens on October 30.

There is a growing gap between the jobs that are in high demand and the people who have skills to fill them. Over the next ten years, eighty percent of careers will require a deep understanding of STEM skills. But more than half of students today struggle to meet basic math requirements, said Congressman Payne. The ACES initiative will pave the way for minorities and underserved populations to enter STEM-related fields. These young people will shape the way science, technology, engineering  and yes, math  affect our daily lives. And they will be positioned to create a future in which technology reflects the strength of Americas diverse communities.

The ACES program is an important initiative that reflects Stevens institutional mission to equalize and expand access to a Stevens education while also addressing the acute need for building a workforce with a technology orientation, especially given the important and growing role of technology in human progress and economic development, said Dr. Farvardin.

Dr. Farvardin added, ACES would not be successful without the enthusiastic participation and support of our alumni and partners, among them, many companies and foundations. These partnerships will provide the means to empower talented young students and foster their excitement about opportunities in science and technology, while also providing access to the resources and support they need in high school, during their undergraduate career and beyond, as alumni.

The program, which includes both pre-college and undergraduate components, builds upon and leverages the capabilities of a number of Stevens resources and constituenciesincluding faculty, students, alumni, academic and student life support services, pre-college programs, admissions and financial aid, and teacher/guidance counselor programs. Stevens will provide full-tuition scholarships to its Summer Pre-College Program to eligible ACES students from partner high schools, enabling them to experience college life and inspiring them to pursue a STEM-focused college education. The students experiences will lay the foundation for successful careers and further positive impact on their communities.

Students who choose to pursue undergraduate studies at Stevens will become part of a learning community and will benefit from well-established resources that have propelled previous students from disadvantaged and underrepresented groups to exceptional outcomes. A key resource for students is the Stevens Technical Enrichment Program (STEP), which offers a wide range of services and programs to support the students success, and encourages their academic, professional, cultural and personal development. The support begins with the Bridge Summer Program and continues during the academic year.

ACES partner schools will also benefit from a number of dedicated services, including scholarship support for pre-college programs, mentorship programs, and teacher and guidance counselor professional development, among others. The Stevens Center for Innovation in Engineering and Science Education (CIESE) will provide ACES partners with STEM professional development programs for high school science and mathematics teachers that emphasize high quality, standards-based, technology-integrated curricula, as well as programming for school counselors.

Nate Davis, a Stevens alumnus and executive chairman of K12, a leading provider of online curriculum and support services, was instrumental in the creation of ACES with university leadership. Davis commented, ACES is a major commitment that Stevens and all its partners are undertaking. It is one that will change lives and support those motivated students to achieve.

The 2017-18 launch will include New Jersey public, charter and Catholic schools in Newark, Paterson, Hoboken, Jersey City, as well as Brooklyn, New York, with a high percentage of underserved and URM students. Each partner high school administrator will nominate up to three students, with the goal of enrolling at least 20 ACES students in the summer 2018 Pre-College Program. Nominated students must meet certain criteria and complete the online application by the February 15, 2018 deadline. Twenty first-year undergraduate students will be selected to participate in ACES at Stevens for fall 2018; these students will be given special consideration for financial aid.

Shahid Malik, President of PSEG Energy Resources and Trade, praised Stevens for its dedication to enhancing opportunities for underserved students and noted the universitys achievement being named as one of the top 25 Most Innovative Schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. PSEG is proud of its long-standing partnership with Stevens, said Mr. Malik. ACES is an exceptional program and we look forward to seeing it produce great results.

Stevens has been on an extraordinary upward trajectory over the last six years, and according to data compiled by U.S. News & World Report, is the second fastest rising university among the top 100 national universities in the U.S. Given the universitys progress, it is an opportune time to create intentional efforts to increase the participation and success of underserved and URM students at Stevens.

Additional details about Stevens ACES is available on the website.

About Stevens Institute of Technology

Stevens Institute of Technology is a premier, private research university situated in Hoboken, New Jersey overlooking the Manhattan skyline. Since our founding in 1870, technological innovation has always been the hallmark and legacy of Stevens education and research. Within the universitys three schools and one college, 6,600 undergraduate and graduate students collaborate closely with faculty in an interdisciplinary, student-centric, entrepreneurial environment. A range of academic and research programming spanning business, computing, engineering, the arts and other fields actively advances the frontiers of science and leverages technology to confront our most pressing global challenges. The university is consistently ranked among the nations elite for return on tuition investment, career services and the mid-career salaries of alumni. Stevens is home to three national research centers of excellence as well as interdisciplinary research programs in artificial intelligence and cybersecurity; data science and information systems; complex systems and networks; financial systems and technologies; biomedical engineering, healthcare and life sciences; and resilience and sustainability. Stevens is currently in the midst of executing a 10-year strategic plan, The Future. Ours to Create, which is growing and transforming the university, further extending the Stevens legacy to create a forward-looking, far-reaching institution with global impact.
With recent attacks like the Las Vegas massacre at the forefront of American minds, its important that employers feel prepared to manage a violence risk or respond appropriately if an incident occurs.  Amanda Czepiel, Senior Managing Editor, BLR

BLR, the leading provider of employment, safety and environmental compliance information and technology, is pleased to announce that the third annual Workplace Violence Prevention Symposium 2018 will return March 6-7 in Savannah, Georgia.

The Workplace Violence Prevention Symposium 2018 is the nations leading conference on workplace violence prevention, equipping employers with proven strategies to mitigate the increasing risk and impact of potentially life-threatening workplace attacks. The two-day conference offers expert-led sessions on topics including:



Employment screening practices, security perimeters, and workforce training to minimize workplace violence risks

Strategies to balance employer obligation to protect employees with states gun control and concealed-carry laws

Tips for effectively managing ideological intolerance and violent language in your workplace, while still respecting employees personal views and right to free speech

Ways to leverage predictive analytics, big data, and new technology like wearables to address threat assessment and risk management

Practical actions you can take to create a culture of respect and mental health support

Today, workplace homicide is the 4th leading cause of death in the workplace, says Amanda Czepiel, J.D., senior managing editor of EHS for BLR. With recent attacks like the Las Vegas massacre at the forefront of American minds, its important that employers feel prepared to manage a violence risk or respond appropriately if an incident occurs. The Workplace Violence Prevention Symposium will help attendees understand the risks, roll out their own prevention plans, and make sure they are doing their due diligence and fulfilling legal obligations when it comes to protecting their employees.

Among the Speakers at the Symposium are Dethra Giles, CEO of ExecuPrep; Lynn Fairweather, president of Presage Consulting and Training, LLC; Barry Nixon, executive director of the National Institute for Prevention of Workplace Violence, Inc.; Jeffrey Zisner, president & CEO of AEGIS Security & Investigations Inc.; Jim Sawyer, director of Security Services at Seattle Childrens Hospital; and Catherine Mattice, president of Civility Partners.

The event will take place at the Andaz Savannah, a boutique hotel in the heart of historic Savannah, Georgia. For more information, please visit http://live.blr.com/event/workplace-violence-prevention-symposium.

About BLR

BLRBusiness & Legal Resources helps U.S. businesses simplify compliance with state and federal legal requirements, and help them become more successful. They do this by offering authoritative content and practical, easy-to-use tools. Through their expert in-house editors and exclusive attorney network, they provide the most comprehensive, reliable state-specific information availableand do it in all 50 states. Their award-winning information productsincluding training programs, events, web portals, reports and subscription servicesgive businesses of all sizes and industries the best tools available at affordable prices. Connect with the organization at: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/2174166/profile
DRDA, a long time Houston CPA and business consulting firm, rolled out a fresh brand look and feel on Thursday, October 12, 2017. By launching their new website, featuring clean design and easy-to-use navigation, DRDA took a step ahead of many other CPAs that are stuck with an outdated brand and out-of-touch marketing materials.

DRDAs old and new websites are night and day. The navigation is simple and clean, making it easier than ever to use. A customer can find everything he/she needs right from the homepage, including portal access, about the company and who they serve, DRDAs incredibly comprehensive list of services, news and much more. The new site is more lightweight as well. DRDA have removed certain pages that didnt see a lot of Internet traffic, as well as trimmed the text in a way that forces it to work harder and smarter with less to read.

A big focus for DRDA is building trust. To do so, they have added both written and video testimonials of satisfied clients on the homepage of their new website. Potential customers are now able to see first hand the kind of first class service and experience they can expect when working with DRDA.

Lastly, and possibly most importantly, DRDAs Services section received a major overhaul  which it desperately needed. The homepage features their most important and popular services, including BORSA, Accounts Receivable Management, Cash Flow Optimization, Reasonable Compensation, Succession Transition, Risk Management and Quickbooks Training. The remaining services are tucked away on a seperate page as to not clutter up the website design. What was once an impossibly long list of services is now a clean grid featuring pop up explanations that are easy to understand. There arent a lot of options for downsizing such an overwhelming amount of content but DRDA absolutely knocked it out of the park.

A little more about DRDA:

The proactive CPA firm has narrowed down exactly who they are in three sections.

Their purpose: To build sustainable value for our clients and ourselves. Sustainable value is lasting value. Lasting value creates a secure and comfortable future for you, your family and/or employees.

Their brand promise: Working to improve your future Not just account for the past. We help our clients define and achieve their goals with a suite of services not available from traditional CPA firms.

Their core values and beliefs: Require trusting, respectful bilateral relationships with clients, partners & employees by demanding ethical excellence: Honesty, Integrity, Character & Quality. Maintain a solution focused culture of continuous improvement and accountability. Focus on excellence in service by the DRDA team. Focus on personal & professional growth & development. Be the trusted advisor to our clients. Provide the best solution for our clients... Be it ours or someone elses.

They also offer diverse services for diverse industries, which include:

Construction, healthcare, international, manufacturing & distribution, not-for-profit, professional services, real estate, search funds, technology, insurance, airline & transportation, banking & finance, retail and many more. Theyll surely find the correct business solution for any person and company, no matter what field said company may reside in.

Many small and medium size businesses can often let financial matters slide onto the back burner because they are so busy making other ends meet. However, keeping up with taxes and finances is not only crucial to success, it can become a legal issue as well. DRDA understand the hardships that come with being a business owner, thats why they offer such a comprehensive list of services  to aid their clients in any and all capacities and through every step of the financial process.

DRDA is working to improve your future not just account for the past.

Contact DRDA

1120 Bay Area Blvd. Houston, TX 77058

281-488-2022

info(at)drdacpa(dot)com
Former Maryland governor Parris Glendening has joined Johns Hopkins Universitys Carey Business School as an executive visiting professor focusing on community design, smart growth, and real estate and infrastructure.

Glendening, who served as governor from 1995 to 2003, is president of Smart Growth Americas Leadership Institute and the Governors Institute on Community Design. In these roles, he travels across the United States and around the world advising state and local governments on policies for smart growth, transit, and sustainability.

As Marylands chief executive, he created the nations first state-level smart growth policy initiative. Before becoming governor, Glendening served three terms as county executive of Prince Georges County, Maryland. He taught political science at the University of Maryland, College Park, for 27 years and is the author of two books and more than 100 articles and conference papers.

At the Carey Business School, Glendening will participate in classes on community planning and smart growth policy, and he will work with other faculty members and students on their studies of real estate and infrastructure development.

"The mission of the Johns Hopkins Carey Business School is to train students to be both business leaders and exemplary citizens who will improve society, Careys Dean Bernard T. Ferrari said. Governor Glendening, with his years of service in education and government, understands what it means to build better communities. He will be a welcome addition to our faculty, and we are thrilled to have him join us.

The Johns Hopkins Carey Business School is the AACSB accredited business school of Johns Hopkins University. Established in 2007, the Carey Business School creates and shares knowledge that shapes business practices while educating business leaders who will grow economies and societies, and are exemplary citizens. With locations in Baltimore and Washington, D.C., the Carey Business School offers graduate degree programs for full-time, part-time, and online students. For more information, visit carey.jhu.edu.
Mother and Child in Zambia; Episcopal Relief & Development's ECD program We are extremely grateful for the continued partnership of the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation and its commitment towards early childhood development and vulnerable children, said Robert W. Radtke, President of Episcopal Relief & Development.

Episcopal Relief & Development is proud to announce that it has received a $1.4 million grant from the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation to expand its integrated Early Childhood Development program (ECD) in Zambia and to extend the program into Kenya. The four-year grant will enable the organization and its local partners, Zambia Anglican Council Outreach Programmes (ZACOP) and Anglican Church of Kenya Development Services (ADS-Nyanza), to impact 7,600 families including 14,880 children under the age of three, many of whom are impacted by HIV/AIDS.

We are extremely grateful for the continued partnership of the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation and its commitment towards early childhood development and vulnerable children, said Robert W. Radtke, President of Episcopal Relief & Development. This generous grant recognizes the significance of our work and represents a strategic priority for Episcopal Relief & Development as we strengthen and expand the program in Zambia and Kenya.

Episcopal Relief & Development is the recipient of one of 17 grants made by the Hilton Foundations Young Children Affected by HIV and AIDS Initiative in 2017, which is aimed at addressing the needs of families affected by the disease, particularly children ages three and under.

This is the third grant that Episcopal Relief & Development has received from the Hilton Foundation. In 2011, a $350,000 grant helped launch the ECD program which reached an estimated 4,000 families. In 2013, the organization was awarded a $1 million grant to help expand the program to serve 12,500 children. Episcopal Relief & Development and ZACOP celebrated the programs accomplishments at a forum held in Lusaka, Zambia in May 2017.

The impact of the program has been transformational, changing how parents, particularly fathers, connect with their children on a deeper, more responsive level. It has trained 742 volunteers and engaged over 6,000 primary caregivers and almost 10,000 children under the age of five. Parent-child activities which promote childrens cognitive development skills more than doubled from 38% to 79%, motor skills increased from 43% to 79%, and social skills improved from 75% to 92%.

Young children impacted by HIV/AIDS can now receive care that supports their health and development, said Felicia Sakala, ZACOPs Country Director in Zambia. Our children and their families are much better served when we work within the family unit and share essential parenting practices which family members can easily adopt.

The new grant will support 60 new ECD programs in rural areas of Zambia and engage an estimated 14,400 children under three along with 7,200 primary caregivers. In Kenya, the Hilton Foundation grant will contribute to the new Kisumu County program which includes 400 parents or relatives and approximately 480 children under three. The program will train volunteers, directly engage fathers and expand the focus on nutrition. An integral part of the ECD program includes research to develop information for best practices so that effective strategies may be utilized by a wide range of faith-based organizations and community development programs.

"Faith-based organizations perform a critical function in identifying and mobilizing community support for vulnerable children and their families, noted Samuel Omondi, Executive Director of ADS-Nyanza in Kenya. ADS-Nyanza will be creating a consortium of faith-based organizations to reach out to the entire community to participate in activities that stimulate and nurture our children.

Episcopal Relief & Developments Early Childhood Development programs fight poverty, hunger and disease and promote the health, development and financial well being of families, and are designed to ensure that communities flourish. As part of the program, parents and primary caregivers share their experiences and ideas with each other, while children acquire knowledge to share with their own children when they, too, become parents.

To learn more about Episcopal Relief & Developments Early Childhood Development program, please visit the organizations Early Childhood Development website page.

For over 75 years, Episcopal Relief & Development has served as a compassionate response to human suffering in the world. The agency works with more than 3 million people in nearly 40 countries worldwide to overcome poverty, hunger and disease through multi-sector programs, using the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a framework. An independent 501(c)(3) organization, it works closely with Anglican Communion and ecumenical partners to help communities create long-term development strategies and rebuild after disasters.

The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation was created in 1944 by international business pioneer Conrad N. Hilton, who founded Hilton Hotels and left his fortune to help the worlds disadvantaged and vulnerable people. The Foundation currently conducts strategic initiatives in six priority areas: providing safe water, ending chronic homelessness, preventing substance use, helping young children affected by HIV and AIDS, supporting transition-age youth in foster care, and extending Conrad Hiltons support for the work of Catholic Sisters. For more information, please visit http://www.hiltonfoundation.org.
Teeka Tiwari, early adopter and crypto currency educator to more than 87,000 Crypto investors in 137 countries The gains seen in cryptocurrencies in 2017 have just been the appetizer Teeka Tiwari

The historic bitcoin giveaway will be conducted throughout the trainings, which began on October 26 2017, and will conclude with the final live broadcast training session on November 2nd, 2017 at 8 PM Eastern (with a rebroadcast at 8 PM Pacific).

Palm Beach Research states that a "special mystery guest" will attend the event, revealing the best new opportunities in the cryptocurrency markets and how to take advantage of them before everyone else.

$1 million dollars' worth of Bitcoin is being given away in order to help others understand exactly what Bitcoin is. Bitcoin is not difficult to own, and with the technology available, it is as easy as turning on your computer and sign up for a couple websites.

But according to Teeka, The gains seen in cryptocurrencies in 2017 have just been the appetizer

Teeka Tiwari is the editor of Palm Beach Confidential. Teeka epitomizes the American dream. Many years ago, after becoming the youngest vice-president in this history of Shearson Lehman at just 19 years old, Teeka lost everything in the markets  only to later rebuild it. He went on to launch a successful hedge fund.

The majority of the world doesnt understand [crypto assets], Mr. Tiwari said, adding, there are many that think they understand them and are convinced they are nothing more than a fad or a fraud. But cryptocurrencies are changing the way the world works in business and in trade.

Since retiring from Wall Street in 2013, Mr. Tiwari has worked as an editor for his Palm Beach Confidential newsletter  a publication dedicated to cryptocurrency research, among other investment opportunities. Mr. Tiwari states that he was first attracted to cryptocurrency with the idea that we can create items of utility and value that do not rely on a central, governing authority.

As the institutions start to take notice they will move from cash to investing in Crypto but for now they are waiting to enter this $170,000,000,000 market cap opportunity. If you compare that to a global 70 Trillion dollar stock market you can see there is plenty of room to grow.

In the entire history of humanity, thats never happened before, he said.

According to Mr. Tiwari, as other institutions start to take notice, they will move from cash to investing in cryptos. But for now, they are waiting to enter this $178 billion market cap opportunity. If you compare that to a global $70 trillion-dollar stock market, you can see there is plenty of room to grow.

Teeka Tiwari believes that 2018 will be the year the cryptocurrency market explodes higher.

Teekas firm, the Palm Beach Research Group, is an independent financial publishing company based in Delray Beach, Florida. It publishes various advisories (including Palm Beach Confidential) that provide stock, options, and income recommendationsas well as non-market wealth-building adviceto more than 234,000 subscribers.

Their mission is to provide subscribers with a comprehensive wealth-building plan; one that would guide readers along the path to real, sustained financial prosperity.

To learn more about this giveaway and register for Teekas cryptocurrency investing training,

please visit this link

Disclaimer: Cryptocurrencyfare.com is an official affiliate of Teeka Tiwaris Crypto Academy and the $1,000,000 Bitcoin Giveaway.
Queens Bankruptcy Attorney Bruce Feinstein, Esq.

In a society obsessed with celebrities finances and the rise and fall of big businesses, one would expect Americans to know a great deal about bankruptcy. But the reality is that many families and small businesses know very little about the realities of bankruptcy. Bruce Feinstein, Esq., a bankruptcy attorney with two decades of experience in the field, recently released his Bankruptcy Basics, a brief tutorial on bankruptcy issues that he shares with clients. By sharing this information he hopes to relieve some of the mystery and negative stigma associated with filing for bankruptcy.

Mr. Feinsteins first Bankruptcy Basic is knowing when to file for bankruptcy. He recommends asking several questions about a persons financial situation before deciding whether its time to look into bankruptcy as a viable option. These questions include: do you use credit cards to pay for basic necessities? Can you only make minimum payment on your credit cards? Are you uncertain how much you actually owe to debt collectors? Answering yes to these questions can help put a persons financial reality into perspective, and show him or her that its time to consider bankruptcy. Getting calls from bill collectors and eviction notices are common factors that can signal a need for bankruptcy, but taking a truly realistic look at your financial behavior is a good indicator of whether or not a client should file for bankruptcy in New York, explains Mr. Feinstein.

Next, Mr. Feinstein tells clients to give a thoughtful, detailed review of their current financial situation. So few people know exactly how much debt they owe to creditors, and exactly how much equity they have, says Mr. Feinstein. Bankruptcy occurs when you owe more than you can pay, but you cant truthfully answer that question until youve reviewed all your accounts and options.

It is important to take inventory of all liquid assets, such as real estate, retirement funds, savings accounts, and stocks. Then, add up a list of all debts owed. These can be credit card bills, medical bills, mortgages, and other loans. Comparing a persons debts to his or her assets can help show just how much money is owed, and the best way to remedy it.

Once a person is ready to file for bankruptcy, its vital to choose which type of bankruptcy is best. There are several forms of bankruptcy in the U.S., each with their own set of qualifications. It is best to consult with a bankruptcy attorney prior to filing for bankruptcy. This expert can help a person choose the best form of bankruptcy and take them through the appropriate steps, as well as act in their best interest.

The two main types of bankruptcy are Chapter 7 and Chapter 13. Chapter 7 involves liquidating assets to pay off debt. The money from these sold assets is distributed among creditors according to a court-approved agreement. The bankruptcy ends when a notice of discharge is given to the individual, and a record of the bankruptcy stays on that persons credit report for ten years. Having a bankruptcy on your credit report is not a death sentence, and a good bankruptcy attorney will show clients how to build back credit, says Mr. Feinstein.

Chapter 13 bankruptcy is also known as a reorganization bankruptcy. This allows a person to pay off debts according to a repayment plan agreed upon by creditors, the individual, and the Court. Any debts that remain at the end of that plan period are discharged. This is a good option for people with consistent income who want to keep their property and assets.

Filing for bankruptcy is a complex process, but approaching it with the right information and strong legal representation can help people get the fresh start they need.

The Law Offices of Bruce Feinstein has nearly two decades of experience in bankruptcy law, helping clients and families resolve their issues and move forward with their lives. Visit bfeinsteinesq.com for more information or call (718) 514-9770 to reach the New York office.
The hostilities of World War I ended with the 1918 armistice between the Allied nations and Germany, going into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month of 1918. In remembrance of the sacrifices and acts of courage that many men and women made during World War I, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed November 11, 1919 as the first commemoration of Armistice Day.

In 1954, November 11 was officially changed to Veterans Day, to honor all veterans  wherever and whenever they served. Soldiers marched in hometown parades, politicians and veteran officers gave speeches, and ceremonies were held in celebration of peace, thereby cementing Veterans Day in the annals of U.S. tradition.

VetFriends.com  the largest online service for reuniting veterans - continues its own tradition, the 17th annual "Honor & Thanks Veterans Day campaign, in support of U.S. veterans, active and reserve military personnel of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard.

The VetFriends.com 17th Annual Honor and Thanks Veterans Day Tribute will include:



Nationwide Veterans Day Parade/Event Directory: Visitors are invited to submit and register community parades and events celebrating Veterans Day. All listings will be posted on VetFriends.com for 500,000+ monthly site visitors to view. Submissions for community events can be entered here: https://www.vetfriends.com/parades.

Veterans Day Forum: Veterans and any other person interested in contributing their thoughts and insights in regard to Veterans Day, or those wishing to express their thanks to veterans, may submit their comments to the forum located at https://www.vetfriends.com/veteransday. The entirety of the collection, including all comments, posts, newsletters, video tributes, etc. will be made available to the media for distribution.

The VetFriends Discount Center (VFDC) helps companies reach the veteran population with discounts, coupons and words of thanks. The VFDC mission is to find competitive discounts for veterans while helping companies develop and offer a veteran discount as a way of giving back to veterans and saying "Thanks." VetFriends.com invites all nationwide companies to post their veteran discounts and offers free at: https://www.vetfriends.com/veteran-discount-center/.

VetFriends.com Photo Tribute: The historic military photo collection - located at https://www.vetfriends.com/militarypics - is made up of thousands of pictures in honor of U.S. military personnel. Visitors can search for images by military branch, military base, year, war, state or country. Each picture contains background information along with a brief message and/or description. Honor a loved one who served and post their photo in the VetFriends collection for all to view, where their dedication and service can never be forgotten.

Special Veterans Day Discounts: VetFriends.com is also home to an online military pride catalog with over 10,000 items representing all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces. VetFriends will be taking up to 50% off ALL merchandise to show support and appreciation of our esteemed military service men and women. Site visitors are invited to utilize coupon code: vb for an additional 15% off all U.S. military caps, shirts, collectibles, patches, stickers and more. Browse the catalog at https://www.vetfriends.com/catalog.

Ongoing additional services: In addition to these Veterans Day features, VetFriends.com exists to reunite U.S. Military veterans, and can be utilized on a regular basis to search over 2,000,000 members to make contact with old service friends and relatives. The web site also provides information on how to obtain your own or a relative's military records and medals; in addition to providing services such as message boards; military veteran job boards; and the ability to search and post reunions, past and present photos; military jokes, cadences, lingo, and much more.

With the approach of Veterans Day, VetFriends.com invites the nation to celebrate, support, and show their gratitude to U.S. veterans and active military personnel.

All media related inquiries, including interviews with the VetFriends.com founder, veteran reuniting stories, questions regarding military photo collections, and requests for general information, should be directed to 1-800-975-1618 or via the provided e-mail.

Founded in 2000 by a U.S. veteran, thousands of people have been reconnected through VetFriends.com, spanning from World War II, to Vietnam, Operation Desert Storm, and the present. VetFriends.com has a current member count of over 2,000,000 people with 500,000 monthly site visitors. Please visit https://www.vetfriends.com for more information.
NJ Top Docs is proud to announce that Dr. Joshua Dyme has joined Dr. Donald Putman at Metro Pediatric Cardiology.

Dr. Dyme, a reviewed and approved NJ Top Doc, is a board certified pediatric cardiologist who, after completing his fellowship at Columbia University Medical Center, practiced his specialty for over nine years at Hackensack University Medical Center.

He is known for his meticulous care and upbeat, compassionate bedside manner. Dr. Dyme enjoys caring for patients from fetal life through young adulthood.

Metro Pediatric Cardiology takes great pride in their reputation for being available to patients, a caring "bedside manner" and responding to their referring physicians in a timely fashion. Dr. Dyme shares these values and is an excellent addition to their practice.

Metro Pediatric Cardiology appreciates the opportunity to care for Dr. Dymes patients and looks forward to continuing the clinical excellence and professionalism they have always provided.

To learn more about Metro Pediatric Cardiology, Dr. Dyme, and Dr. Putman, please visit their customized NJ Top Doc webpage: https://njtopdocs.com/nj-doctors/metropediatriccardiologynj/

About Us

NJ Top Docs a comprehensive, trusted and exclusive healthcare resource featuring reviewed and approved Top Doctors and Dentists in New Jersey online in an easy to use format. NJ Top Docs only reviews and approves providers based on merit after they have been extensively vetted.

NJ Top Docs is a division of USA Top Docs which allows patients to meet providers online before making their appointment.

For more information, e-mail us at info(at)NJTopDocs.com and/or visit http://www.NJTopDocs.com.
Under Steves leadership and pedigreed experience, our delivery team will be working side-by-side with the entire Softdocs organization in order to achieve one main goal  customer success and optimal ROI - Softdocs CEO Mike Murphy

Adding to its already rich education market expertise, Softdocs, an education-focused enterprise content management, e-forms and workflow provider, announced today that Steve Johnston has joined the company as vice president of professional services. With more than 15 years of industry experience, Johnston has held senior client and professional services positions with a variety of technology application companies including higher education.

We are thrilled to add Steve to the Softdocs leadership team as he has a passion for creating strong long-lasting relationships between customers and employees, and a record of achievement in delivering and leading exceptional professional service-focused teams, said Mike Murphy, CEO, Softdocs. Under Steves leadership and pedigreed experience, our delivery team will be working side-by-side with the entire Softdocs organization in order to achieve one main goal  customer success and optimal ROI.

As vice president of professional services, Johnston will lead the professional services initiatives and direct all aspects of deployment, including implementation services, consulting, project management, and support.

For nearly a decade Johnston served as manager of professional services and consultant at Perceptive Software. Prior to joining Softdocs, Johnston was vice president of customer success for DSI and vice president of consulting for Netsmart Technologies. He also served as an analyst and consultant for Emporia State University.

About Softdocs:

Softdocs develops enterprise content management, e-forms and workflow solutions exclusively for the higher education and K-12 markets. The companys Etrieve platform redefines business processes, reducing the need for paper and improving student service and employee productivity by providing educational institutions complete control over how content is captured, processed and distributed. A privately held company founded in 1998, Softdocs is headquartered in Columbia, South Carolina. For more information, visit http://www.softdocs.com.
Brad Pedersen, CEO of QFO Labs, flying the company's quadcopter drone. We are delighted the USPTO has denied Parrots attempt to file multiple, serial IPR petitions against our patents. Past News Releases RSS Startup QFO Labs Sues Three...

QFO Labs (http://www.QFOlabs.com), a startup that evolved into a drone technology licensing company, announced today that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has dismissed a second round of Inter Partes Review (IPR) challenges launched by France-based Parrot SA against QFOs tilt-to-fly quadcopter patents. The Patent Trial and Appeal Board denied the IPR petitions filed by Parrot against two of QFOs tilt-to-fly drone patents.

We are delighted the USPTO has denied Parrots attempt to file multiple, serial IPR petitions against our patents, said Brad Pedersen, QFO Labs CEO. These serial IPR filings by Parrot are the very kind of abusive tactics that the USPTO is clamping down on by dismissing these filings in accordance with its most recent precedential IPR ruling.

QFO Labs was an early pioneer of quadcopter/drone technology, inventing its tilt-to-fly patents more than three years before other tilt-based gaming controllers like the Nintendo Wii-mote were introduced. Brookstone, a U.S.-based multi-store retailer and ecommerce site, sold both Parrot and QFO quadcopter products in 2013 and 2014 prior to its filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The second round of IPR petitions was part of a larger patent battle that Parrot initiated against QFO after Brookstone emerged from the bankruptcy and decided to carry only Parrot-branded tilt-to-fly quadcopter products.

Pedersen continued: QFO Labs tried to negotiate a technology partnership with Parrot but, without any notice, Parrot filed both a declaratory judgment action in Delaware District Court and two IPR petitions at the USPTO against QFO in August 2016.

Since then, he said, QFO Labs has fought back against Parrot, and the USPTO has denied Parrots initial IPR challenges to most of the claims in the QFO tilt-to-fly patents. QFO filed its own patent infringement lawsuit against Parrot in Minnesota District Court in October 2016, but that lawsuit was dismissed in June 2017 shortly after a Supreme Court decision changing the rules about where patent lawsuits could be filed. A final decision from the USPTO on Parrots initial challenges to the QFO tilt-to-fly patents is expected by February 2018.

About QFO Labs, Inc.

Based in Minneapolis, QFO Labs is a drone technology licensing company that began as a startup more than 15 years ago. Its cofounders started developing unique, patented technology relating to drones in the early 2000s. The latest iteration of the company was founded in 2011 with an initial focus on creating new high-tech consumer drone products, based on a library of U.S. patents and patent applications. It launched its quadcopter drone product after a Kickstarter project in 2012, and later marketed the product successfully through a nationwide retail and ecommerce partner in 2013 and 2014. Since then, the company shifted its focus to licensing its popular tilt-to-fly features and related drone and gaming technologies to other companies. For more information, please visit http://www.QFOlabs.com.
Level III trauma status is an important designation for St. Tammany Parish and surrounding parishes, as it assures our residents they will receive the best care possible from an experienced team..." said Willie Paretti, chairman of Lakeview Regional Medical Center advisory board

Lakeview Regional Medical Center, a campus of Tulane Medical Center, was recently verified as a Level III Trauma Center, becoming the first and only hospital in St. Tammany Parish to provide this level of service to the areas most critically injured patients.

Lakeview Regionals trauma center is staffed by highly-specialized surgeons to handle extreme cases of life-threatening and critical injuries where there is an issue of immediate survival. Those events can include traumatic car crash injuries, gunshot wounds, stab wounds, major burns, serious falls, blunt trauma and traumatic brain injuries.

"Level III trauma status is an important designation for St. Tammany Parish and surrounding parishes," said Willie Paretti, chairman of Lakeview Regional Medical Center advisory board and member of Tulane Health System governing board. "It assures our residents they will receive the best care possible from an experienced team of board-certified emergency medicine physicians, highly skilled surgeons, trauma nurses and other healthcare professionals in the event of a serious injury or accident.

Lakeview Regionals trauma status was verified by the Verification Review Committee (VRC), an ad hoc committee of the Committee on Trauma (COT) of the American College of Surgeons (ACS). Lakeview Regional is one of six hospitals in Louisiana with a Trauma Center designation.

"This designationalong with our designation as a Primary Stroke Center, our recognition as a Top Performer on Key Quality Measures by the Joint Commission, and comprehensive services such as da Vinci robotic surgery, interventional cardiology and 24/7 neurosurgeryare concrete examples of our commitment to bring together the best and most advanced services, technology, physicians, nurses and healthcare providers, said Bret Kolman, CEO of Lakeview Regional. Dr. Marco Hidalgo, medical director for Lakeview Regional, and his trauma team are to be commended for achieving this accomplishment.

In verifying the Lakeview Regional Trauma Center, the ACS sought to ensure Lakeview Regional could provide not only the hospital resources necessary for trauma care but also the entire spectrum of care to address the needs of all injured patients. This spectrum encompasses the prehospital phase through the rehabilitation process. To learn more about the level of care that Lakeview Regional Medical Center provides St. Tammany Parish, go to http://www.LakeviewRegional.com or visit 95 Judge Tanner Blvd. in Covington, La 70433. For inquiries, please contact their media liaisons, Liz Bodet at lizbodet(at)gmail.com or by calling (504) 583-5550 and Kim Melvin at kim.melvin(at)hcahealthcare.com and (985) 867-4438.

Since 1977, Lakeview Regional Medical Center, a campus of Tulane Medical Center, has served St. Tammany Parish as a full-service, acute-care hospital, providing inpatient and outpatient healthcare services. With 167 beds, more than 240 physicians and specialists and 800 employees, Lakeview Regional Medical Center offers a full spectrum of services, including a 24/7 Emergency Room, a Heart Center, a Surgical Institute, a Rehabilitation Center and a Behavioral Health Center.
FirstService Residential - Elan Owners Association We are thrilled to be able to put our resources, experience, and passion for delivering best-in-class customer service to work for the Elan Owners Association and enrich the lives of the residents of the community.

Nevadas leading community management company to bring outstanding service with a local touch to Las Vegas community.

FirstService Residential, Nevadas leading community management company, has been awarded the full-service management contract for the Elan Owners Association in Las Vegas, NV. FirstService Residential assumed management responsibilities for the 584-unit community on August 1, 2017.

We are excited to welcome the Elan Owners Association into the FirstService Residential family and expand our footprint in Northwest Las Vegas, said Chris Wood, regional vice president of business development for FirstService Residential. We are thrilled to be able to put our resources, experience, and passion for delivering best-in-class customer service to work for the Elan Owners Association and enrich the lives of the residents of the community."

Located in the northwest valley, just east of the master-planned Summerlin community, Elan offers residents several floorplans, with layouts as large as 1,266 square feet; quick access to the Las Vegas strip; and various amenities, including a clubhouse with an on-site assistant, two pools, gated entries and on-site maintenance.

About FirstService Residential

FirstService Residential is recognized as Nevadas leading and most experienced full-service community association management firm. For over 25 years, FirstService Residential has continued to provide the best-in-class community management solutions and genuinely helpful service to its over 370 properties and communities throughout Nevada.

FirstService Residential is North Americas largest manager of residential communities and the preferred partner of HOAs, community associations and strata corporations in the U.S. and Canada. FirstService Residentials managed communities include low-, mid- and high-rise condominiums and cooperatives; single-family homes; master-planned, lifestyle and active adult communities; and rental and commercial properties.

With an unmatched combination of deep industry experience, local market expertise and personalized attention, FirstService Residential delivers proven solutions and exceptional service that add value, enhance lifestyles and make a difference, every day, for every resident and community it manages. FirstService Residential is a subsidiary of FirstService Corporation, a North American leader in the property services sector. For more information, visit http://www.fsresidential.com.
The Sakamura BPF-660SS We have gained in terms of both immediate capability for some of the parts we are supplying and in terms of what our options are for new products.

Automotive parts manufacturer, Fuserashi International Technology (F.I.T. Inc.), has added a new machine, the Sakamura BPF-660SS, significantly expanding their current and future offerings to clients.

The Sakamura BPF-660SS is a cold part former. Cold formers, which mold raw materials without heat, manufacture parts like connecting rod bolts and ball joints. The Sakamura can also be used to create parts needed for automotive production. The new investment will help meet the growing demand of current customers but also the future needs of new clients as F.I.T.s business grows.

It secures our position with a couple of our main customers, Keith Albrecht, General Manager of Fusrashi International Technology (F.I.T. Inc.) said. It offers us an opportunity for future development with those customers as well. There are opportunities within some of the products that we were importing from Japan and selling that we can now localize.

Planning for the new machine was an extensive effort. F.I.T. said the project has been in the works for a year and a half. Along with bringing in the new equipment, the F.I.T.s service expansion included adding 40,000 additional square feet to their operation.

Officially installed in October 2016, the Sakamura BPF-660SS is a critical part of F.I.T.s plan to better serve their business interests and clients. The machine will give F.I.T. the flexibility to make bigger and more complex parts that was once beyond their capabilities.

We have gained in terms of both immediate capability for some of the parts we are supplying and in terms of what our options are for new products, said Albrecht.

Getting the Sakamura BPF-660SS operational was an efficient process as current cold-forming machine associates were cross-trained on the new machine.

About F.I.T.

Established in February of 1996, F.I.T., Inc. is the first international subsidiary of Fuserashi Co., Ltd. Fuserashi is a Japanese manufacturer of hot and cold formed precision metal products and fasteners, primarily for various vehicle applications, with a tradition of quality, service, and performance. Since opening its doors over 20 years ago, F.I.T. has more than quadrupled its footprint, both in terms of facility size and equipment. With four major plant expansions, substantial employee growth, and an accelerating customer base, F.I.T. continues to innovate in its field.
Rem Sales logo Our annual Fullerton Open House is the perfect chance for anyone interested in learning more about the capabilities and power of Tsugami to stop in, look at the machines, and speak with our experts."

Tsugami/Rem Sales, the exclusive North American importer of Precision Tsugami machine tools, today announced plans to host the second annual Technology Center Open House in Fullerton, California on December 5th and 6th, 2017 at the Tsugami/Rem Sales office, located at 1521 E. Orangethorpe Ave., Suite E, Fullerton, California.

The two day event will consist of presentations by long-time Tsugami/Rem Sales industry partners, ESPRIT and Edge Technologies. Representatives from ESPRIT and Edge Technologies will present on Programming Tsugami Swiss and 10 Things Everyone Should Know About Bar Feeding, respectively.

Edge Technologies has continued to build and maintain a close relationship with Tsugami/Rem Sales that has the workability to overcome almost any obstacle, while focusing on the customers best interests. I am grateful to be part of a team that blends the demarcation lines between Machine and Bar feed and I very much look forward to sharing our insights on the dynamics of Bar feeding as well as the impact that those dynamics have on the machining world at the upcoming Open House in Fullerton, California, explained James Peterson, Regional Sales Manager, Edge Technologies.

All attendees will have the opportunity to meet with Rem Sales Swiss CNC Engineers and local Tsugami specialists. All are encouraged to bring questions, ideas, and drawings of parts for consultation sessions.

Our annual Fullerton Open House is the perfect chance for anyone interested in learning more about the capabilities and power of Tsugami to stop in, look at the machines, and speak with our experts. We pride ourselves in the engineering and customer support behind Rem Sales products and partnerships and look forward to welcoming all of the open house attendees, shared Michael Mugno, Vice President, Rem Sales, LLC.

Tsugami Machines that will be featured at the open house include:



Tsugami BW129Z: The 12 mm 9-axis Split-slide Lathe with a simultaneous 3-path control system and dual independent gang slides.

Tsugami B0326-II: The 32 mm, 6-axis machine, ideal for round or prismatic parts, slashes cycle time by permitting synchronized operation of the main and sub spindle.

Tsugami B038T: The 38 mm high performance gang/ turret turning center that can perform 7 different types of instantaneous machining operations involving the front, back and cross spindles.

Tsugami B0126: The 12mm, 6-axis convertible Swiss turn adds Y2-axis capability to the back tool post for additional flexibility to the B0 configuration. With 25 tool positions, this CNC Lathe allows back milling operations to be overlapped with the machining operations on the main spindle.

Hours for the Fullerton Open House are, Tuesday December 5th 10:00AM PT-4:00PM PT and Wednesday, December 6th 10:00AM PT-3:00PM PT. Lunch will be supplied for all registrants both days.

Please register for the event at http://www.remsales.com/openhouse or by calling Valentina Ciotto, Tsugami/Rem Sales Sales Coordinator at (860) 687-3422.

About ESPRIT

ESPRIT is a powerful CAM system for CNC programming, optimization and simulation  supporting the entire manufacturing process. With factory-certified post processors delivering machine-optimized G-code and ESPRITs ability to solve unique challenges with automation solutions, ESPRIT is the smart manufacturing solution for any machining application. With world-class technical support, ESPRIT empowers you to get started quickly and keep running at top efficiency. ESPRIT is the only CAM system youll ever need.

About DP Technology Corp.

DP Technology Corp. is a leading developer and supplier of computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) software. ESPRIT, DP Technology's flagship product, is a powerful, high-performance, full-spectrum programming system for milling, turning, wire EDM, multi-tasking machine tools and metal additive manufacturing. ESPRIT and its support personnel embody DP Technology's passion for excellence and vision of technology's potential.

DP Technology reinforces its commitment to technical excellence by dedicating nearly 20 percent of its annual revenue to ongoing research and product development. This long-term focus has produced powerful technological innovations that have placed ESPRIT in an industry-leading position since its market launch in 1985.

For additional information about DP Technology and ESPRIT, call +1 805 388 6000, email esprit(at)dptechnology.com, or visit http://www.espritcam.com.

About Edge Technologies

Edge Technologies (http://www.edgetechnologies.com) provides bar feeding and loading/unloading products for CNC lathes in the precision metal working industry. With a history of success and a wealth of experience, Edge Technologies has over 30 years of sales & service, including more than 10,000 successful installations of magazine bar feeders in the North American marketplace.

About Tsugami/Rem Sales

Tsugami/Rem Sales (http://www.remsales.com) has been the exclusive North American importer of Precision Tsugami machine tools since 1978. A division of Morris Group, Inc. of Windsor, Connecticut, Rem Sales sells new Tsugami machine tools via national distribution channels and direct sales agents. The company also provides application engineering, service and customer training.

About Morris Group, Inc.

Morris Group, Inc. (http://www.morrisgroupinc.com), one of North Americas largest machine tool supply networks, owns fifteen independently operated business units. It supplies CNC machine tools and related technology and services to manufacturers representing virtually every industry segment. Morris Group, Inc. is headquartered in Windsor, Connecticut, home of its founding company, The Robert E. Morris Company, which has served the manufacturing industry since 1941.
Shannon Anderson, new Amerisure vice president and deputy general counsel We are very pleased to welcome Shannon to our team. She comes to Amerisure with experience and accomplishments that are truly impressive.

Amerisure Insurance is pleased to announce that Shannon Anderson has joined the company as vice president and deputy general counsel. In this position, Anderson reports to Kurt Gallinger, vice president, general counsel and compliance officer.

Anderson will contribute to the alignment of the Office of Legal Counsels services to the enterprise with the strategic goals of companies in the Amerisure group. She will enter an assignment rotation that will result in responsibilities for legal, compliance and public policy issues affecting all of the Amerisure companies.

We are very pleased to welcome Shannon to our team. She comes to Amerisure with experience and accomplishments that are truly impressive, said Gallinger. I am confident she will immediately contribute to the Office of Legal Counsels delivery of superior service and will help us achieve our long-term goals.

Prior to joining Amerisure, Anderson served as assistant vice president and corporate counsel at Jackson National Life Insurance Company. Anderson has also held positions at the Dykema law firm and Swiss Re.

Anderson earned a Bachelor of Arts, summa cum laude, with dual majors in public administration and criminal justice from Western Michigan University, and received her Juris Doctor, summa cum laude, from Wayne State University Law School.

About Amerisure Insurance

Amerisure Insurance is an insurance organization charged with creating exceptional value for its Partners For Success agencies and policyholders. As an A-rated (Excellent) property and casualty insurance company licensed in 50 states, Amerisure provides a comprehensive line of insurance products to protect businesses focused in construction, manufacturing and healthcare through strategically located Core Service Centers. For more information, visit amerisure.com.
Coveo continues to choose Centraide as the recipient of our corporate fundraising initiative because we strongly believe in their efficacy to identify which local agencies are most in need. Guy Gauvin, Chief Operations Officer at Coveo.

Coveos annual fundraiser with Centraide, also known across Canada as United Way, is expanding to its Montreal office. For the past 6 years, Coveos Quebec City team has supported the Centraide as its exclusive charity of choice. Each year, Coveo commits to matching what employees donate dollar-for- dollar, raising $75 000 last year alone, and over $250 000 in the last five years.

Centraide is a federated network of individual offices around Canada, each led by volunteers who work with community projects aiming to break the cycle of poverty and social exclusion. In addition to its efforts to eradicate poverty, projects focus on supporting children, and creating vibrant neighborhoods across Canada.

Coveo continues to choose Centraide as the recipient of our corporate fundraising initiative because we strongly believe in their efficacy to identify which local agencies are most in need, says Guy Gauvin, Chief Operations Officer at Coveo. Due to their seasoned involvement at the community level, they have a strong grasp on which charities are making positive local impacts, yet who might not have access to the sizable marketing budgets that larger foundations do. We are confident that every dollar donated is utilized down to the last cent in local projects that have a high impact in the community."

Beyond monetary donations, Coveo is also involved in the field with Centraide, donating equipment to local charities each year and sending its technical team for much needed help with setup, among other initiatives. Coveos dedication to the cause has earned the company the title of IT Organization of the Year by Centraide, twice in the last five years.

Lili-Anna Peresa, President and Executive Director of Centraide of Greater Montreal shared, Coveo is a valuable partner and a role model for social engagement in the technology sector. The companys support helps us invest in the community where needs are greatest so that we can make the biggest possible impact. Their contribution helps us break the cycle of poverty and improve the quality of life of people and families in need. Overall, their generosity helps make our community a place where everyone has an equal chance to develop their full potential and improve their quality of life.

Coveos campaign officially kicks off November 1st and runs until November 30th, 2017, in conjunction with Coveos Quebec City headquarters.

To learn more about Centraide or to donate, visit centraide.ca and unitedway.ca

About Centraide of Greater Montreal

Centraide of Greater Montreal covers Laval, Montreal and the South Shore. About 57,000 volunteers are involved with the agencies that it supports, and 22,000 volunteers work on its annual campaign. Centraide is supported by private, public and parapublic corporations and institutions as well as large trade unions that hold 1,600 workplace campaigns every year. The money raised is invested locally to break the cycle of poverty and social exclusion. Quebec has 18 Centraides that support 1,500 community agencies and projects that offer help and comfort to 1.3 million vulnerable people. For more information: centraide-mtl.org

About Coveo

Make business personal.

Coveo personalizes every digital experience for customers, partners, dealers, and employees. Coveo combines unified search, analytics and machine learning to deliver relevant information and recommendations across every business interaction, making websites, ecommerce, contact centers and intranets effortless and efficient. A Salesforce Gold ISV Partner and a Sitecore Platinum Technology Partner, Coveo partners with the worlds largest enterprise technology players and has more than 1,500 activations in mid-to-large sized global organizations across multiple industries.

For more information, visit http://www.coveo.com and follow our blog, LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube accounts.

Coveo is a trademark of Coveo Solutions, Inc.

Media contact

Carla Bragagnolo

PR Manager, Coveo

cbragagnolo(at)coveo(dot)com

514.375.0126 x.2679
2017 Unitek College Conference At Unitek we are committed to instilling in our students the expertise and boldness necessary to thrive in an ever-changing, competitive world, says Abdel Yosef, Chief Academic Officer at Unitek College.

Healthcare providers, educators and suppliers are invited to collaborate on a better future for healthcare at the 2nd Annual Unitek Conference to be held on November 13, 2017 in Oakland, CA.

Raising the bar on tomorrows healthcare requires the coordinated efforts of numerous contributors across the fields of education, technology, and healthcare. This includes college administrators, instructors, and students; IT and informatics professionals; clinical administrators and staff; and vendors of all types. In the spirit of pioneering this challenge, Unitek College encourages all interested stakeholders to attend this years Unitek Annual Conference: Building a Strong Partnership Between Academia and Healthcare.

The forum will begin with an inspirational keynote address from Senator Bill Frist, MD. Following Senator Frist, a diverse panel of experts and stakeholders will discuss the essential competencies of collaborative partnerships. This will include a focus on two goals from the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN):

Goal One: Partner in Preparing the Nurses of the Future

Goal Two: Partner in the Implementation of Accountable Care

In addition, these topics and others will be further explored in breakout sessions, lunch and mingling opportunities. Because technology and informatics play an increasingly important role in healthcare and the process of collaboration, IT faculty and vendors will also be on hand to discuss the applications of technology to facilitate greater collaboration and partnership among academia and healthcare.

At Unitek we are committed to instilling in our students the expertise and boldness necessary to thrive in an ever-changing, competitive world, says Abdel Yosef, Chief Academic Officer at Unitek College. As research and technology progress constantly, we must progress constantly, or we run the risk of falling behind. Only with academia and practice working hand-in-hand can we guarantee future success in the healthcare field. This years conference is an opportunity to do precisely that.

Plan on attending this important event to share your thoughts and ideas with other dedicated healthcare and education professionals, and help identify our roles in achieving our common objectives.

2nd Annual Unitek Conference: Building a Strong Partnership Between Academia and Healthcare

Oakland Hilton Hotel

Oakland, CA

Monday, November 13, 2017

8:00 am  4:40 pm

RSVP: (510) 896-7590

Unitek College is one of Californias leading healthcare and nursing colleges, offering a wide range of certificate and degree programs. Taught by current experts, Unitek programs teach the best-practice clinical technique and theory used in the field today. Equipped with a mastery of sought-after skills, Unitek College graduates are prepared to excel in many of the fastest-growing careers in healthcare and nursing. Unitek College also offers one of the most respected IT certification programs for computer and network support technicians.

Contact:

Lou Cabuhat, M.Ed.

Assistant Dean  Allied Health and Technology &

Director of Faculty Training and Development

4670 Auto Mall Parkway

Fremont, CA 94538

Room 104

Direct: (510) 896-7590

URL: UnitekCollege.edu

###
Zagoria Law, an Atlanta-based law firm specializing in personal injury cases, today announced it has negotiated a pre-trial settlement in the case of Costello v Roto-Rooter Services Company, John Southerland and John Doe. The settlement followed the filing of State Court of Gwinnett County civil action file number 17-C-00209-1, in response to a vehicular collision in which plaintiff Lauren Costello was seriously injured.

The accident, documented by responding officers of the Gwinnett County Police Department, occurred

on Thursday, March 10, 2016, when Costello was the passenger in a 2016 Ford Titanium driven by Joshua Cribb northbound on Singleton Road in Gwinnett County. Per the accident report (#16-022302), the Ford Titanium was struck by Southerland, as he attempted a left-hand turn in front of Cribb and Costello.

According to court documents, Costello was taken by ambulance to Gwinnett Medical Center, where she was diagnosed with a broken tibia and a large cut to her thigh and knee. Medical expenses for the hospital visit, including surgery to repair the fracture and a consult with a plastic surgeon, totaled more than $58,000.

As court documents indicated, Southerland was driving a Roto-Rooter truck and trailer when the incident occurred. However, his employer, Roto-Rooter, subsequently denied the claim, stating that Southerland was on-call at the time, and therefore not in the course and scope of his employment.

Through discovery, including Southerlands own deposition, Zagoria Law factually confirmed that the defendant driver was within the course and scope of his employment and an employee of Roto-Rooter at the time of the collision. The case settled shortly thereafter.

The U.S. Department of Labor has established strict rules regarding on-call employees, and it was unambiguous that Southerland was in the course and scope of his employment at the time of the incident, said Zagoria Law Founder and Principal David Zagoria. We were pleased to help Ms. Costello receive appropriate compensation, not only for her severe injuries, but also for her inconvenience, pain and suffering.

Follow Zagoria Law: LinkedIn

About Zagoria Law

Zagoria Law is an Atlanta-based personal injury law firm dedicated to providing unyielding representation to its clients. Founder David Zagoria has more than 20 years of experience as a prosecutor and trial attorney litigating injury cases in State and Federal Courts throughout Georgia. Honored as a Georgia Super Lawyer, the firms focus on personal injury cases, specifically dog bites and serious injury-premises liability cases, ensures unparalleled service and dedication from the very beginning of clients cases until the end. For more information, please visit http://www.lawzagoria.com.
This is an important milestone as we build this business. We know we are new to the market and are excited to bring a different vision." - Dan Khabie, Global CEO, Mirum

Mirum is proud to announce that its been named a Contender in The Forrester Wave: Search Marketing Agencies Q4 2017 Report for the first time.

Forrester noted that Mirum brands itself as a borderless agency, which means it is globally connected and collaborative, which they support. Mirum received its highest scores in the performance, number of employees and breadth of offering criteria.

For the Forrester Wave Report, Forrester researches, analyzes and scores the top search marketing agency providers, showing how each provider measures up to help B2C marketers in their search agency choice.

Mirum was one of only twelve agencies asked to participate in the report. This is an important milestone as we build this business, said Dan Khabie, Global CEO of Mirum. We know we are new to the market and are excited to bring a different vision. Search is critical to Commerce Activation and our strategy is to break down the barriers between brand building, social and conversion to grow our clients businesses.

Mirums approach to performance marketing features SEO and SEM as the industry expects, but also includes retail media, vertical search engines and integrating social influencer activation. Mirum believes its clients business success will come from seeing the full picture of the business challenge and making sure there is a consistent customer experience.

Mirums clients include Nextel, Caesarstone, Aladdin, Sky and Banco Original.

Performance marketing has been a cornerstone of our business in Brazil for years and Mirum is one of the largest buyers of media from Google in Latin America. This engine also supports our teams in the US, Mexico, UK, South Africa, India, China, Indonesia and Vietnam. Beyond partnering with Google and Facebook, Mirum also partners with Walmart, Amazon and WeChat for clients.

Mirum utilizes an advanced set of tools to drive search campaigns for global clients and link our performance marketing teams around the world. Hive, Mirums resource and project management platform, and Pangaea, Mirum and J. Walter Thompsons AI-driven knowledge platform, unite the expertise of Mirums 2,400 professionals across 24 countries.

Mirum is part of the WPP Data Alliance that supports WPP agencies data business and access to data-driven marketing applications. Mirums performance marketing tools also include Mirum CRM, Mirum SEO Prioritization Platform and our proprietary Content Landscape Analysis.

Having been evaluated by Forrester is hugely motivating to our teams and helps us set our priorities as we grow, said John Baker, Global CMO of Mirum. Being evaluated alongside agencies that specialize only in Search is a challenge, but we know clients need to break down the silos between search, social and the broader experience design, and we will continue to demonstrate we can do that.

You can download the Forrester Wave Report here.

ABOUT MIRUM

Mirum is a borderless agency of over 2,400 digital savants, storytellers, makers and relentlessly curious minds who are united by an uncommon drive to make whats next. Active in 24 countries, we work across our global network of expertise to transform business, design innovative digital experiences and activate commerce at a global and local level. Mirum is part of the J. Walter Thompson Company and the WPP Network. Visit mirumagency.com for more information.

ABOUT J. WALTER THOMPSON COMPANY

J. Walter Thompson Company was founded in 1864 and has been making pioneering solutions that build enduring brands and business for more than 150 years. Today the company has evolved to include several global networks including J. Walter Thompson Worldwide, Mirum and Colloquial.
Grand Rapids Ophthalmology (GRO) is honored to have been awarded 2017s Runner Up for Deal of the Year ($25-150 million category). The 5th annual M&A Deals and Dealmakers Awards took place on October 17 at the Goei Center where GRO was featured during the awards presentation. The celebration focused more on best practices and excellence related to mergers, acquisitions, and deal-making than it did on trophies.

Receiving this award is an honor, said Bill Hughson, GROs CEO. The brand and reputation GRO built over the past 35 years has not changed during our recent collaboration with Sterling Partners, it has only further solidified our strong market position. Whats more is the impact were having above and beyond dollars. GROs commitment to expert patient care continues to be our number-one priority. Were especially proud of that.

GROs strategic growth story will be highlighted in a special MiBiz editorial section distributed to more than 100,000 executives, advisers, private equity and venture capital investors, industry analysts, and business media throughout the Midwest and the country.

About Great Lakes Management Services Organization

Sterling Partners formed Great Lakes Management Services Organization (MSO) in February 2017 as a practice management services organization. Grand Rapids Ophthalmology partnered with the MSO to pursue growth opportunities, evolve clinical capabilities to better serve its patients, and to form strategic partnerships within industries related to eye care. If you are interested in learning more about a partnership with Great Lakes MSO, contact Dan Hosler at dhosler(at)seeitclear(dot)com.

About Grand Rapids Ophthalmology (GRO)

Founded in 1982, Grand Rapids Ophthalmology is the largest fully-integrated eye care medical group in West Michigan. It offers a full suite of eye care services from routine eye exams, contact lenses and glasses, to the most advanced medical and surgical treatments such as LASIK, cataract, cornea, retina, glaucoma, oculoplastics, pediatric, and both cosmetic and reconstructive eyelid surgery. GRO employs the largest number of eye care specialists and professionals in the region: 11 ophthalmologists, 19 optometrists, and 40 certified opticians. GRO has a total of 400 employees at 12 locations throughout West Michigan. For more information, visit: http://www.seeitclear.com.

About Sterling Partners

Sterling Partners is a private equity firm with a distinct point of view on how to build great companies. Founded in 1983, Sterling is guided by its stated purpose, INSPIRED GROWTH, which describes Sterlings approach to investing in differentiated businesses and growing them in inspired ways. Sterling focuses on investing growth capital in middle-market companies in the healthcare services and business services industries. Sterling provides valuable support to the management teams of the companies in which the firm invests through a deep and dedicated team of professionals, including a strong network of outside directors and advisors. The people at Sterling believe in ideas and ideals, in people and in partnerships that drive long-term success. For more information, visit: http://www.sterlingpartners.com.
RightBio Metrics hosted a Symposium on October 12, 2017 with over 200 attendees on the use of pH to confirm nasogastric (NG) tube placement in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at the National Association of Neonatal Nurses in Providence, RI. (See video at NANN 2017 pH for placement of NG tubes)

Approximately 25% of hospitalized children have an NG tube. Of that number, 60% of the patients are in a NICU. Published studies report that up to 56% of feeding tubes placed in pediatric and neonatal patients are not in their intended location. To date in the US, there is no one standard bedside method to verify placement and many hospitals use non-evidence based practices. Speakers Debra Brandon, PhD RN CNS FAAN, Duke University and Sharon Irving, PhD CRNP FCCM FAAN Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia/University of Pennsylvania addressed the issues of misplacement and the growing body of published data in support of using pH. Barb Haney, RN, MSN, RNC-NIC, CPNP-AC from Childrens Mercy, Kansas City was the Moderator. We were deeply honored to have such highly regarded individuals discussing the use of pH to confirm NG tube placement, said Paul Gilbert MD/Founder & Chief Medical Officer. As a physician who has unfortunately treated and lost patients who have had misplaced NG tubes, I am passionate about ensuring every tube intended for the stomach is in the stomach.

More about RightBio Metrics:

RightBio Metrics is a Phoenix, AZ based, privately held medical device company whose mission is to eliminate any harm caused by misplaced tubes. The company makes the only FDA Cleared/CLIA waived product for confirming gastric acidity for tubes intended to end in the stomach. For more information, please visit http://www.rightbiometrics.com
We are pleased that so many of our customers are taking part in next weeks sessions since these intensive trainings provide a cost-effective way for customers to absorb as much as they can about DocLink in a close-knit setting with their peers.

Altec Products, Inc., a leader in enterprise document management and workflow solutions, is hosting its final 2017 DocLink Advanced Admin Training in Irvine, CA. The four-day training session, taking place next week, November 6-9, will provide attendees with the tools to manage DocLink more efficiently and effectively.

The multi-day training session provides a cost-effective, hands-on opportunity to learn more about DocLink. It will offer limited class size, direct interaction with Altecs technical team and networking opportunities to see and hear how other companies have applied the solution. Attendees will leave the training with a deep, comprehensive understanding that will help them run their business and processes better. Covering topics such as Smart Form Toolkit, Security, Event & Data Manager, Troubleshooting, and more, the training will allow DocLink users to expand their knowledge of the solution beyond day-to-day functions.

Lori Corbino, Customer Care Manager for Altec states, We are pleased that so many of our customers are taking part in next weeks sessions since these intensive trainings provide a cost-effective way for customers to absorb as much as they can about DocLink in a close-knit setting with their peers. DocLink is a powerful tool that can allow companies to deliver exceptional value across many business areas, and these four-day intensive training sessions offer an excellent venue for DocLink clients to receive in-depth training beyond initial implementation. DocLink brings significant value to even a single department or task, and once our customers see this they are eager to grow and expand the solution into other areas of their business.

For DocLink customers unable to attend this final 2017 training, Altecs 2018 training schedule is available, and includes sessions near Dallas, in Atlanta and Irvine, California. Registration for these events can be completed at http://bit.ly/DocLinkAAT2018.

DocLink

DocLink allows users to fully utilize and enhance their ERP solutions to go paperless in any department  accounts payable, accounts receivable, human resources, legal, or across the entire enterprise. DocLink streamlines any business process and provides improved visibility and control to the entire document lifecycle. DocLink offers a secure, single repository to store, search for, retrieve and send all documents, effectively eliminating the need to file paper documents while improving organizational efficiency and reducing costs associated with human errors.

About Altec

Altec is a leading provider of integrated document management and workflow solutions. Its flagship product, DocLink, enables companies to capture, archive, workflow, and route any document for any process, anywhere. Connecting data for thousands of customers globally, Altec also enjoys strong, collaborative partnerships with ERP solution providers such as Epicor, Microsoft, Sage, AmTech, Key2Act, and SAP B1 to provide the most comprehensive enterprise document management solution. Learn more at http://www.altec-inc.com.

# # #
We are proud to be recognized on the Best Law Firms list again this year because its a testament to how much our clients and colleagues value and respect our work in the legal industry.

Kane Russell Coleman Logan has been recognized as a top-tier firm by U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers. The firm was ranked in the annual list of Best Law Firms in multiple practice areas.

The U.S. News "Best Law Firms" rigorous evaluation process selects firms that are consistently recognized by clients and peers as law firms that have a preeminent national presence. Clients rate firms on experience, responsiveness, understanding of a business and its needs, cost-effectiveness, civility, and whether they would refer another client to the firm.

For the 2018 edition of the list, Kane Russell Coleman Logan was nationally ranked for Bankruptcy and Creditors Rights (Tier 3). The firm was also recognized regionally with Metropolitan rankings for Bankruptcy and Creditors Rights (Tier 1), Bankruptcy Litigation (Tier 1), Insurance Law (Tier 2), Real Estate Law (Tier 2), and Commercial Litigation (Tier 3).

We are proud to be recognized on the Best Law Firms list again this year because its a testament to how much our clients and colleagues value and respect our work in the legal industry, said Joe Coleman, managing director of the firm.

"Best Law Firms" rankings are determined by client and lawyer evaluations, peer reviews from leading attorneys in their field, and reviews of additional information provided by law firms as part of the formal submission process. To qualify, a law firm must have at least one lawyer listed in the current edition of The Best Lawyers in America list for that region and practice area. Rankings will be printed in the Eighth Edition of "Best Law Firms" and in the Fourth Annual "Legal Issue."

Kane Russell Coleman Logan is a full-service law firm with offices in Dallas and Houston. Formed in 1992 with five lawyers, today KRCL is celebrating its 25th Anniversary with more than 80 attorneys employed by the firm. The Firm provides professional services for clients ranging from Fortune 500 companies to medium-sized public and private companies to entrepreneurs. KRCL handles transactional, litigation and bankruptcy matters in Texas and throughout the country.
Kenneth Kramer, Timothy L. Anderson and Christopher Shunk I appreciate the generous contribution from the USSFCU, said Anderson. Historically, African Americans, people of color and low income individuals have been dis-proportionally affected by these natural disasters. This will provide resources to target those areas and individuals needing help the mo

The Chairman of the Board for the African-American Credit Union Coalition (AACUC), Timothy L. Anderson, received a check for $40,000 to assist with hurricane relief efforts in Texas and Florida, from Kenneth Kramer, President/CEO, and Christopher Shunk, Chairman of the Board, of the United States Senate Federal Credit Union (USSFCU). The AACUC Board of Directors will assemble an assessment team to provide appropriate assistance to those affected the most.

I appreciate the generous contribution from the USSFCU, said Anderson. Historically, African Americans, people of color and low income individuals have been disproportionally affected by these natural disasters. This will provide resources to target those areas and individuals needing help the most.

In 2005 the AACUC was instrumental in assisting credit unions hit with devastation caused by hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Many credit unions in the southeast region of Louisiana were affected. As a result of the devastation to credit unions, the AACUC Mentorship Committee established an assessment team. The purpose of the assessment team was to work with affected credit unions in identifying immediate and long-term needs, and providing resources for survival. . Members of the assessment team visited New Orleans and other immediate surrounding areas to work with the stabilization of approximately 12 credit unions. Grants totaling approximately $90,000 were secured from the National Community Development Credit Unions (NFCDCU) the Canadian League and the Federation of Southern Cooperatives to assist in the relief effort.

About AACUC

The African-American Credit Union Coalition (AACUC) was created to increase the strength of the global credit union community. In 1999 the AACUC became a 501c3 non-profit organization. Over the years, AACUC has grown and is ever changing to meet the needs of the dynamic credit union community which it serves. We are an all-encompassing organization for individuals (professionals and volunteers) in credit unions, insurance, regulatory, consultants and other entities in the credit union movement.
Live theatre is a great way to educate, says NTC president and founder Ward Eames. The show goes beyond reading or other more passive methods of engaging kids."

TNMP and The National Theatre for Children (NTC) have partnered to educate and inspire Texas students and their families. From November 6 through December 8, 2017, professional actors from NTC will visit 40 elementary schools with live performances of Space Station Conservation, sparking conversations on energy efficiency in classrooms throughout TNMPs service area. The program will focus on:



What energy is

The uses of energy

How energy is wasted

How to conserve energy

The live program revolves around Harmonica Mars, an astronaut who discovers that the notorious alien Bile is wasting energy all over the galaxy. With the help of student volunteers, as well as colorful characters like fellow astronaut Sally Tide, Harmonica Mars sets off to stop Bile.

In addition to live performances, the program includes student playbooks (both print and online versions), teacher guides, e-books, and digital games and activities that align with the important concepts outlined in the live shows. TNMP sponsors every aspect of the program, making the performances and materials a cost-free supplement to lessons in science, literacy and the arts.

Live theatre is a great way to educate, says NTC president and founder Ward Eames. The show goes beyond reading or other more passive methods of engaging kids. These children are watching a story unfold right before their very eyes, with the two actors playing all sorts of characters. We dont lose the kids attention for a minute, because they get to respond and interact with the show. It really sticks with them.

For a complete list of schools and locations on the tour, contact Matt Levine at mlevine(at)ntccorporate(dot)com. For more information on The National Theatre for Children, visit: http://www.nationaltheatre.com.

About TNMP

TNMP is an electricity transmission and distribution service provider. We provide electricity to about 245,000 homes and businesses throughout Texas. We have about 375 employees in more than 20 communities throughout Texas, with our main office in Lewisville. We are a subsidiary of PNM Resources. Our formal name is Texas-New Mexico Power Co., but we now serve only Texas.

We deliver: electricity that customers purchase through the Texas Electric Choice program; accurate, timely meter readings transmitted to retail providers for billing purposes; service connections and re-connections as requested by retail providers; locally based service that ensures prompt response to power outages; and construction and maintenance of the poles and wires that deliver electricity.

About The National Theatre for Children

NTC is a premium provider of educational programming with operations in the U.S., Australia and New Zealand. We work directly between schools and clients to promote beneficial behaviors and life skills to students in grades K-12 on a local, regional and national level.

Our award-winning educational programs are provided free for schools and are customizable to accommodate specific messages and goals for clients. Through formats including live performance, in-class discussion, graphic novels, print curriculum, and digital games and activities, we present topics such as energy conservation, safety, financial literacy, STEM, water and environmental stewardship, and health and social responsibility in ways that engage and empower students. In doing so, we are helping our clients to be forces of change for students, parents and communities.

Visit http://www.NTCcorporate.com.

Please direct inquiries to:

Matt Levine

Client Services Representative

mlevine(at)ntccorporate(dot)com

Stefani Case

Energy Efficiency Manager

Stefani.case(at)tnmp(dot)com
We look forward to serving our new customers today and for many years to come. We will be making significant investments to upgrade the network infrastructure to prepare these communities for long-term growth.

TDS Broadband Service LLC, a subsidiary of Telephone and Data Systems, Inc., and operated by TDS Telecom (TDS) announces it has completed the acquisition of Crestview Cable Communications (Crestview) in central Oregon. The sale includes service areas totaling more than 21,000 homes passed in six communities.

We look forward to serving our new customers today and for many years to come, states Jim Butman, Chief Operating Officer at TDS Telecom. We will be making significant investments to upgrade the network infrastructure to prepare these communities for long-term growth.

TDS infrastructure investments will help the central Oregon region continue growing as an exciting, entrepreneurial and high-quality of life destination. As previously announced, TDS plans to further expand fiber-to-the-home in the La Pine area. TDS also plans to accelerate broadband speed upgrades along with modernizing video products and services in Prineville, Madras and across the Jefferson and Crook County service areas.

We welcome the employees from Crestview to our team. They are now part of the TDS family of companies, added Butman. They will be working closely with their fellow employees in Bend, helping to create and implement expansion plans while continuing to serve customers as they do today.

BendBroadband, a TDS company since 2014, and Crestview have a long history of cooperating to improve communications services in central Oregon. Founded in Madras, Oregon in 1955, Crestview Cable Communications grew through acquisitions to serve Madras, Prineville, La Pine, Metolius, Crooked River Ranch, and Culver, Ore. Customers can now purchase broadband speeds up to 100 Mbps on an all-digital video network.

Pat Thompson Co. assisted Crestview Cable Communications with this transaction. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

TDS Broadband Service LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Telephone and Data Systems Inc., is a growing force in the cable industry. With more than 300,000 customer connections, TDS Broadband Service provides cable TV, broadband internet, and phone service to customers in Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Texas. BendBroadband, located in central Oregon, is part of TDS Broadband Service. Visit helloTDS.com or BendBroadband.com.

TDS Telecom, headquartered in Madison, Wis., operates OneNeck IT Solutions LLC and BendBroadband, which is part of TDS Broadband Service. Combined, the company employs more than 3,300 people. Visit tdstelecom.com.

Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. [NYSE: TDS], a Fortune 1000 company, provides wireless; cable and wireline broadband, TV and voice; and hosted and managed services to approximately six million customers nationwide through its businesses U.S. Cellular, TDS Telecom, OneNeck IT Solutions, and TDS Broadband Service. Founded in 1969 and headquartered in Chicago, Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. employs more than 10,000 people. Visit tdsinc.com.

Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: All information set forth in this news release, except historical and factual information, represents forward-looking statements. This includes all statements about the company's plans, beliefs, estimates, and expectations. These statements are based on current estimates, projections, and assumptions, which involve certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Important factors that may affect these forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: impacts of any pending acquisition and divestiture transactions, including, but not limited to, the ability to obtain regulatory approvals, successfully complete the transactions and the financial impacts of such transactions; the ability of the company to successfully manage and grow its markets; the overall economy; competition; the access to and pricing of unbundled network elements; the ability to obtain or maintain roaming arrangements with other carriers on acceptable terms; the state and federal telecommunications regulatory environment; the value of assets and investments; adverse changes in the ratings afforded TDS and U.S. Cellular debt securities by accredited ratings organizations; industry consolidation; advances in telecommunications technology; uncertainty of access to the capital markets; pending and future litigation; changes in income tax rates, laws, regulations or rulings; acquisitions/divestitures of properties and/or licenses; changes in customer growth rates, average monthly revenue per user, churn rates, roaming revenue and terms, the availability of wireless devices, or the mix of products and services offered by U.S. Cellular and TDS Telecom.
I'm honored to be able to offer local residents the quality and professional hard surface restoration services that Sir Grout is known for throughout the country and abroad

Sir Grout, a leader in the hard surface restoration industry, is proud to announce that Jim Giangrosso, an entrepreneur with an extensive background in stone restoration, is the new owner of Sir Grout Tampa.

Giangrosso and his team also have a redesigned website, http://www.sirgrouttampa.com, that will meet the needs of local homeowners and businesses in Hillsborough, Pasco, and Pinellas Counties, as well as the city of Lakeland in Polk County. The new owner is ready to put his experience into action and provide the greater Tampa area with Sir Grout's top-notch services.

"I'm honored to be able to offer local residents the quality and professional hard surface restoration services that Sir Grout is known for throughout the country and abroad," stated Jim Giangrosso, the new owner.

Sir Grout International recognized the need to bring in Giangrosso to improve the quality of the services the franchise was offering in the greater Tampa area. With Giangrosso at the helm, the company aims to provide the best customer-oriented hard surface restoration services in the Tampa region.

Sir Grout Tampa provides all the restoration services that have made Sir Grout's name famous in the home improvement industry, including tile cleaning and sealing, stone honing and polishing, grout recoloring and sealing, caulking, and wood restoration.

The Sir Grout franchise has been recognized as one of the best and most professional hard surface restoration companies in the United States. Currently, there are 36 franchises in 15 states and one in Singapore.

Those interested in Sir Grout Tampa's services can find more information about its products and techniques on the company's website. This includes detailed descriptions of its procedures, a photo gallery of before and after pictures, and other information to help home and business owners keep their surfaces in pristine condition.

Visit http://www.sirgrouttampa.com or call (813) 948-2488 to discover all the hard surface restoration services that Sir Grout Tampa has to offer. For more information about how to acquire a Sir Grout franchise, talk to one of the company's specialists today at (866) 476-8863 or visit the company's franchise contact page.
We are proud of the SeaRiver acquisition and will operate these tankers with our relentless pursuit of quality and safety.

Crowley Alaska Tankers, LLC, announced today that it has signed an agreement, subject to regulatory approval, to purchase three tankers from SeaRiver Maritime Inc., and charter them back to SeaRiver under varying multi-year terms.

Included in the acquisition are the tankers Liberty Bay and Eagle Bay, each of which have a capacity of 800,000 barrels and transport crude from Alaska to West Coast refineries; and the tanker SR American Progress, which has a capacity of 342,000 barrels and transports refined petroleum between U.S. gulf and East Coast ports.

We are proud of the SeaRiver acquisition and will operate these tankers with our relentless pursuit of quality and safety, said Tom Crowley, chairman and CEO of Crowley Maritime Corp. We were selected as the company who could deliver, and we are committed to doing just that  by operating these assets in the safest, most reliable manner possible.

Crowley operates and manages the largest U.S.-flag petroleum and chemical tank vessel fleet in the country. By the end of 2017, the company will be operating 37 Jones Act qualified large petroleum transportation vessels in the United States with a combined capacity of more than 10 million barrels. Among this tank vessel fleet are a tanker and an articulated-tug-barge (ATB) already on charter to SeaRiver.

We anticipate a smooth transition with SeaRiver crews, and look forward to personally welcoming them to the Crowley team, said Rudy Leming, Crowley vice president of labor relations. We know they share our values  safety, integrity and high performance  and will work diligently with us to uphold them as we serve SeaRivers needs.

Key to ensuring the success of this transaction and ongoing operations will be obtaining the necessary regulatory approvals to serve the Alaska and West Coast markets. Crowley will work together with regulators to ensure a seamless transition and continued safe operations.

We have an excellent safety record, which we intend to uphold, said Rob Grune, Crowley senior vice president and general manager, petroleum services. Last year, for example, we transported 410 million barrels of product and made 4,868 product transfers with zero spills to environment  a credit to our professional, safety-minded crews and management systems.

Crowley has been operating in Alaska since 1953, six years before statehood, providing upstream energy support services, tanker assist and escort services with tugboats, and petroleum transportation, distribution and sales throughout the state. In addition to the companys own ATBs calling in Alaska, the company currently manages and crews tankers carrying petroleum between Alaska and the U.S. West Coast.

Crowley owns and/or operates a diverse, sophisticated fleet of double-hull tank vessels, including 17 ATBs and 19 tankers, all built since 2002. One additional tanker will join Crowleys managed fleet in 2017.

SeaRiver Maritime, Inc., headquartered in Spring, Texas, is a privately held subsidiary wholly owned by ExxonMobil that provides a wide range of technical and commercial marine services to ExxonMobil affiliates throughout the world.

Crowley Alaska Tankers is a new subsidiary of Crowley Petroleum Holdings LLC, part of the Crowley Maritime Corporation family of companies.

Crowley is a privately held family and employee-owned company based in Jacksonville, Fla. The company provides marine solutions, energy and logistics services in domestic and international markets with six operating lines of business: Puerto Rico Liner Services, International Liner Services, Logistics Services, Petroleum Services, Marine Services and Technical Services. Offered within these operating lines of business are: liner container shipping, logistics, contract towing and transportation; ship assist and tanker escort; energy support; salvage and emergency response through its 50 percent ownership in Ardent Global; vessel management; vessel construction and naval architecture through its Jensen Maritime subsidiary; government services, and petroleum and chemical transportation, distribution and sales. Additional information about Crowley, its subsidiaries and business units may be found at http://www.crowley.com.
GCI's partnership with the FAA and its remote weather camera program as helped reduce weather-related aviation incidents in the state by 85 percent. Alaskans depend on aviation services more than most and, because of our partnership, Alaska pilots will continue to get the vital weather information they need to stay safe.

For its life-saving work improving aviation safety in Alaska, GCI  the states largest technology and telecommunications company  was awarded the Competitive Carriers Associations 2017 Industry Innovation Award.

GCI partnered with the Federal Aviation Administration nearly a decade ago to install weather cameras on hundreds of remote towers throughout Alaska, helping reduce weather-related aviation incidents in the state by 85 percent.

Were honored to receive this years CCA Industry Innovation Award, recognizing the steps being taken to make Alaskas skies safer, said Pam Lloyd, vice president of GCI Government, Healthcare, and Education. Alaskans depend on aviation services more than most and, because of our partnership, Alaska pilots will continue to get the vital weather information they need to stay safe.

GCI provides statewide internet connectivity that makes it possible to easily transmit images from the weather cameras to dedicated virtual private networks. The company also leases space and power to the FAA and delivers 24/7 support for technical issues.

I congratulate GCI for winning CCAs 2017 Industry Innovation Award for a carrier member. GCIs program with the FAA epitomizes the important innovative solutions that competitive carriers contribute to the wireless industry  and in this case, the aviation industry as well, said CCA President & CEO Steven K. Berry. GCIs collaborative work and can-do mindset resulted in drastic improvements in the weather information reaching pilots in Alaska  saving lives and also benefitting the economy. GCI is very deserving of this years award, and I am very pleased they are being honored for their program.

There are currently 960 FAA weather cameras located throughout Alaska, many of which are located on GCI towers and facilities. Images can be viewed on the FAA website at http://avcams.faa.gov.

CCAs Industry Innovation Award for carriers is presented to companies that make an outstanding innovative contribution to the wireless industry, honoring a creative, forward-thinking achievement that is most noteworthy throughout the wireless industry.

About GCI

GCI is the largest telecommunications and technology company in Alaska, providing data, wireless, video, voice and managed services to consumer and business customers for nearly 40 years. Headquartered in Anchorage with a growing list of regional offices and customers across the nation, GCI has delivered innovative services and solutions to some of the most remote communities and in some of the most challenging conditions in North America. Learn more about GCI at http://www.gci.com

About CCA

Headquartered in Washington D.C., CCA is committed to being the premier advocacy organization for competitive wireless carriers and stakeholders. CCA advocates on behalf of its members interests and works to educate policymakers on the key issues that impact members ability to compete, survive, and thrive, including access to spectrum, access to devices access to networks, universal service fund (USF) reform, Next-Generation 911 (NG911) solutions, among others. Learn more at ccamobile.org.
Rolfe Pancreatic Cancer Foundation Logo

Rolfe Pancreatic Cancer Foundation is encouraging the public to Know Your Family and Know Your Risk using its online tools during Novembers National Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month, and on November 16, which is World Pancreatic Cancer Day. Early detection can significantly impact survival rates  which is why the web tools found at http://www.KnowMyRisk.org are designed to assist individuals in understanding his or her family history and to help determine personal risk factors for the disease.

Those who have had a family member diagnosed with pancreatic cancer understand: its personal. The timeframe from diagnosis to death is often very short, with little warning, creating a life-altering impact on the people who are able to survive and their families, said Jim Rolfe, president of the board of directors for the Rolfe Pancreatic Cancer Foundation. National Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month and World Pancreatic Cancer Day give us a great opportunity to further educate people about this deadly disease and ways it can be prevented.

In 2016, pancreatic cancer became the third leading cause of cancer death in the U.S., surpassing breast cancer, and pancreatic cancer has a five-year survival rate of only seven percent  the worst of all major cancers. It is vital for everyone to know your family to understand the risk for pancreatic cancer as a first step to early detection. Those with a history of pancreatic cancer in their immediate family can know your risk by talking to a doctor or genetic counselor.

1. Know Your Family  Family history plays a big role in the early detection of pancreatic cancer. Thats why Rolfe has debuted a brand-new web tool to help individuals Know Your Family. The Know Your Family tool will help individuals, who may think there is a history of pancreatic cancer among immediate family members, determine their risk by walking through family histories with an easy-to-use, helpful Know Your Family worksheet. Understanding the medical histories of immediate family members is crucial to early detection. To download the Know Your Family worksheet and begin the path to early detection today, visit http://www.KnowMyRisk.org.

2. Know Your Risk  Once an individual is privy to their familys medical history, the next step on the path to early detection is to Know Your Risk. To do so, one should consider visiting http://www.KnowMyRisk.org to find a local certified genetic counselor. This one-step Know Your Risk tool is essential because if there is a pattern of pancreatic cancer in an individuals family, that individual may have a higher risk of being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in the future.

By having a firm grasp of your family history and risk factors, you can begin the path to early detection of pancreatic cancer, said Rolfe. We look forward to continue shining a light on pancreatic cancer during the month of November through our online resources and tools.

The Rolfe Pancreatic Cancer Foundation is excited to take part in National Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month. For more information about the Rolfe Pancreatic Cancer Foundation and new online tools, please visit http://www.KnowMyRisk.org.

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Rolfe Pancreatic Cancer Foundation is a leading Midwest institution with a mission of being a catalyst for the early detection and ultimate cure of pancreatic cancer. The organization funds medical research at leading clinical and academic centers, and provides support to patients and their loved ones. The organization was started when the friends and family of Michael Rolfe, moved by his brief and brave battle with pancreatic cancer, resolved to ensure that future diagnoses of pancreatic cancer wouldnt be the grim sentence that Michaels was.
WEMs No-Code Rapid Application Modeling Platform is the next BIG THING in applications development.

WEM Modeler North America, LLC is pleased to announce that BizCloud Experts and Orion Developments have become enterprise partners to sell, support and provide professional services to customers using the WEM no-code rapid application modeling platform. WEM is an innovative new technology that is disrupting the traditional way enterprise level applications are developed. Customers using WEM can develop applications up to ten times faster and achieve a cost reduction of up to 80% to 90%. WEM automation with drag and drop modeling features and point-and-click integration with standard protocols, such as REST, SOAP and OData eliminates the need to hire expensive code developers.

We are very excited to officially become an enterprise partner with WEM Modeler North America, says Gary Kent Ramsey, Regional Vice President of Sales at BizCloud Experts. As experts in cloud based architecture design, implementation and migration services we have seen a lot of customer frustration with legacy applications that are very expensive to upgrade or modify. WEM in our opinion is a game changer and its no-code rapid application modeling capabilities gives customers greater flexibility and a new tool to innovate faster at a much lower cost. We see great demand for the benefits of WEM and our company intends to help customers take full advantage of its disruptive technology, Ramsey added.

At Orion Developments we consult with customers on how to drive the biggest business value from their IT investments, says Everett Vass, president of Orion. Leveraging the cloud, creating greater efficiencies and improving their speed to market are top priorities for our customers and the WEM platform is the perfect solution. Its robust no-code capabilities are almost too hard to believe, however once you see a live demo and view an application being developed in real time in just minutes you clearly get its groundbreaking value. We look forward to bringing this powerful new application modeler to all our customers, Vass added.

Find out how easy it is to develop your own customized applications in a matter of hours or days, rather than relying on traditional and expensive code development practices that take months or even years. To get a free thirty-day WEM trial subscription or schedule a live demo please visit http://www.wem.io

For more information about BizCloud Experts please visit http://www.bizcloudexperts.com

For more information about Orion Developments please call +1 952-212-9702

ABOUT WEM

WEM is a no-code Application Platform as a Service, first launched in the Netherlands in September 2015. With WEM, you simply model your process in a flowchart and the platform generates a fully functional application for you. Building applications with WEM is up to 10 times faster than traditional development and requires a different skillset, that is a lot cheaper and easier to find compared to developers. WEM offers point-and-click integration with standard protocols, such as REST, SOAP and OData. All applications built in WEM are web based and include hosting, maintenance, security, infrastructure, backup, service levels, storage, and disaster recovery. To learn more visit http://www.wem.io

ABOUT BizCloud Experts

BizCloud Experts is a recognized leader for its unique expertise in architecting, migrating, managing and securing serverless solutions to enable businesses to transform their operations to the cloud. BizCloud Experts offers the perfect blend of business acumen and technical expertise to optimize mission-critical and day-to-day enterprise IT operations using the worlds most trusted brand partners to enable our clients to transform, innovate, and scale. Backed by a global team of experienced professionals, BizCloud Experts provides comprehensive cloud, compliance, security, governance, automation and DevOps solutions. To learn more, visit http://www.bizcloudexperts.com, or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
Bradd Morse of Canopy Tours, Inc., received a second consecutive Sustainable Cities and Human Settlements Award 23 outstanding and remarkable projects were selected this year, demonstrating the increasing commitment to greening cities, human settlements and lifestyles, representing innovation from Bulgaria, Finland, France, Germany, Indonesia, India, Mexico, Nigeria, USA and China

Bradd Morse of Canopy Tours, Inc., received a second consecutive Sustainable Cities and Human Settlements Award at the 2017 Global Forum on Human Settlements & Sustainable Cities, held at the U.N. Headquarters in New York City, October 30-31st. This worldwide prize is awarded annually with the support of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

This years award specifically recognizes Tree Limin Extreme Zipline in St. Thomas, USVI for the Global Low-Carbon Ecological Scenic Spot category. This award winning zipline destination was designed by Morses New York based company, Canopy Tours, Inc in 2012 and is home of the Virgin Islands first zipline adventure.

Each year, the GFHS bestows the Sustainable Cities and Human Settlements Award to individuals, businesses, communities, or organizations. Ms. Mara Angelica Murillo-Correa of the United Nations Environmental Programme stated, 23 outstanding and remarkable projects were selected this year, demonstrating the increasing commitment to greening cities, human settlements and lifestyles, representing innovation from Bulgaria, Finland, France, Germany, Indonesia, India, Mexico, Nigeria, USA and China.

In addition to the conference and award ceremony, this years delegation had the opportunity to experience one of last years winning projects. New York Zipline Adventures at Hunter Mountain was the 2016 award recipient in this same category and was also designed and constructed by Bradd Morse and Canopy Tours, Inc.

It is a tremendous honor to have been chosen to receive this award again, Morse said. This project in particular is in our thoughts as the island of St. Thomas recovers from major storm damage. In September, 2017 the USVI was hit by two devastating category 5 hurricanes. Because of the eco-friendly structural design, Tree Limin Extremes course suffered minimal damages. Bradd Morse commented, While we hope our attractions never need to survive storms of this magnitude, it is at least somewhat comforting to know that careful planning and precise construction techniques have spared the owners from the burden of having to rebuild their entire course amid the widespread destruction and challenges facing St. Thomas and the region. We commend Marc & Julie Bryan and the entire Tree Limin crew for their attention to detail in the construction of their course and our hearts go out to all the residents of the affected Islands, as we pray for a full and rapid recovery.

With Canopy Tours, Inc., Morse designs zipline courses, treetop walkways, and other adventure attractions. His company also offers consulting services for clients around the world, with a focus on designing top-quality ecotourism installations that fully take into account their ecological and social footprint. Morse got his start installing adventure parks for camps and schools throughout his home state of Massachusetts.

Canopy Tours, Inc. has been building custom, sustainable tourism adventures throughout the world for the last thirty years and is recognized as a leader in the field. Each attraction is custom designed and based on the specific needs of the client, but also considers factors such as environmental and cultural impact as well as the long term sustainability of a project within the surrounding community.

For more information on Bradd Morse and Canopy Tours, Inc. visit: http://www.canopytourdesign.com
Our leadership position in cloud access control is well documented and the rapid adoption of our Pure Access Cloud is truly a success story for the whole industry, states Robert Lydic, Global VP of Sales at ISONAS.

ISONAS Inc., a leading Pure IP access control system manufacturer, today announced that the company will sponsor the Cloud+ 2017 Conference taking place on November 28th and 29th at the iconic Lost Pines Resort in Austin, TX. Cloud+ is the only cloud-centric event in the physical security industry and brought to the industry by Security Systems News, the producers of the TechSec Solutions Conference. The Cloud+ conference is a two-day event that will include powerful educational sessions relevant to todays rapidly changing industry. Topics will include cybersecurity in the cloud, building a viable managed services program and how the cloud is transforming the physical security market landscape. With a conference that brings top-notch thought leaders in the market together, this event creates the perfect environment to raise the bar in cloud applications. There will also be an exhibit hall for attendees to explore the leading cloud technologies available in the market. ISONAS will be part of the excitement and exhibiting its Pure Access, cloud-based access control software.

With cloud-based technology transforming the security industry, ISONAS is on the forefront of this transition. Since the launch of its powerful cloud-based software solution, Pure Access, 18 months ago, ISONAS has seen tremendous adoption from its customer base. The company has doubled its user base by offering an easy and flexible solution that allows customers to eliminate on premise equipment, and control their facility from anywhere, any time on any device. Pure Access provides a complete access control platform allowing for full installation and management of ISONASs patented Pure IP RC-04 access control hardware platform. In addition, ISONASs licensing provides its certified integrator partners an off-the-shelf, managed access control platform creating a simple path to an RMR model. ISONAS will share its technological advancements with Cloud+ attendees and showcase how a cloud-based access control solution can be non-complex and simple for a small to medium sized business to implement.

We are extremely proud to be a sponsor of the Cloud+ Conference this year. Our leadership position in cloud access control is well documented and the rapid adoption of our Pure Access Cloud is truly a success story for the whole industry, states Robert Lydic, Global VP of Sales at ISONAS. We look forward to sharing our technology and insights with the greater community of cloud technology providers to further grow this unlimited market of access control. The Cloud is becoming the platform for everything, from residential thermostats to access control and the era of connected devices is upon us. ISONAS has embraced this whole heartedly with its Pure IP hardware family (RC-04) and Pure Access Cloud software and continues to provide its certified integrator partners with an open path to the future in hardware and software in the access control market. For further information, visit http://www.isonas.com.

About ISONAS Inc.

Since 1999 ISONAS has been revolutionizing access control with one simple solution and is todays leading manufacturer of Pure IP Access Control hardware. When paired with their industry leading cloud hosted software solutions or 3rd party full featured access control software, a complete access control platform is formed. An ISONAS system provides the perfect product solution for securing facilities while reducing costs and providing all of the advantages that Pure IP technology brings to the door. ISONAS is based in the global technology hub of Boulder, Colorado, and has one goal; to change the global access control market, and provide a product solution that is secure, reliable, trusted, and more technologically advanced than anything before. Today, the company is realizing that vision with the ISONAS solution installed globally in over 30 countries in a wide variety of vertical markets. ISONAS has been recognized as one of Boulder Countys fastest growing companies as well as by industry partners such as Milestone Systems, year after year for its powerful video and access control integration. For more information, visit: http://www.isonas.com or call 800-581-0083.

ISONAS Company Contact:

Melissa Stenger, VP of Product Management & Marketing

ISONAS Inc.

Phone: 303-951-7216

Email: melissas(at)isonas(dot)com

ISONAS PR Contact:

Monique Merhige, President

Infusion Direct Marketing & Advertising, Inc.

Phone: 631-846-1558

Email: monique(at)infusiondirect(dot)com
Accepta is dedicated to developing a new generation of payment processing solutions, and part of our innovation stems from embracing new security technologies, such as PCI-validated P2PE, said Candido Alfonso, CEO.

Bluefin Payment Systems, the leading provider of PCI-validated Point-to-Point Encryption (P2PE) solutions for education, healthcare and enterprises, today announced a partnership with Accepta LLC to provide Bluefins PCI-validated P2PE solution to companies and organizations using Acceptas EzPay Payment Platform.

Accepta provides acquiring, development, ACH processing, electronic transactions, PIN debit processing and development of IT solutions to both the U.S. and Latin America markets. The company is partnered and certified with top U.S. credit card processors for retail, wholesale, online, restaurant, recurring and mail order/telephone order payments.

Through the partnership with Bluefin, Accepta can now provide their clients with Bluefins PCI-validated P2PE solution directly through Acceptas EzPay Payment Platform, enhancing security and reducing PCI scope with no change to the payment transaction flow. Bluefin enables PCI-validated P2PE on partner platforms with their Decryptx Decryption as a Service (DaaS) product, which allows gateways, applications, and processors to direct connect to Bluefin for the P2PE service.

Earlier this year, the PCI Security Standards Council (SSC) held its Latin America Forum (LAF) in Brazil, underscoring the importance of payment security in this growing market, said Eldred F. Garcia, VP of Security Solutions, Head of Latin America and Caribbean Region, Bluefin. By partnering with Bluefin through our Decryptx service, Accepta becomes the first gateway in Puerto Rico to provide PCI-validated P2PE. We are very excited about this partnership and the opportunity it will bring for more secure payments in the U.S. and Latin America.

Bluefins PCI-validated P2PE solution secures credit and debit card transactions by encrypting all data within a PCI-approved point of entry device, preventing clear-text cardholder data from being available in the device or the merchants system where it could be exposed to malware. Data decryption is only done offsite in a Bluefin hardware security module (HSM).

Accepta is dedicated to developing a new generation of payment processing solutions, and part of our innovation stems from embracing new security technologies, such as PCI-validated P2PE, said Candido Alfonso, CEO. Not only will Bluefins PCI-validated P2PE solution secure our customers transactions, it will also bring cost and efficiency benefits by reducing PCI scope in a seamless fashion that requires no change to how our customers process payments with Accepta today. We are looking forward to rolling out this solution to our U.S. and Latin America clients.

About Bluefin Payment Systems

Bluefin Payment Systems is the leading provider of secure payment technology for retailers, enterprises and small to medium-sized businesses worldwide. Bluefin specializes in PCI-validated Point-to-Point Encryption (P2PE) integrated and stand-alone solutions for retail, mobile, call center and kiosk/unattended environments, and secure Ecommerce technologies including transparent redirect, payment iFrame and tokenization. Bluefin is a Participating Organization (PO) of the PCI Security Standards Council (SSC) and is headquartered in Atlanta, with offices in New York, Chicago, Tulsa and Waterford, Ireland. For more information, please visit https://www.bluefin.com/.

About Accepta Payments

More than a decade in the US market, Accepta LLC is a payments processor, solutions provider, and leader in technology and innovation. Its executives and stockholders have decades of experience and expertise in the electronic payments and transactions industry. For more information about Accepta, visit https://acceptapayments.com/.
This success can be attributed to our clinical teams hard work, their commitment to patient care, and to our consumers who clearly voiced their preference," said Amanda Maggard, President and CEO.

Florida Hospital Zephyrhills (FHZ) has attained the honor of being named one of Americas Best Hospitals for 2018 by the Womens Choice Award (WCA). This is the second consecutive year that FHZ has received four WCAs in the following areas: heart care, orthopedics, patient safety, and stroke care.

We are elated to have retained the status of being one of Americas Best Hospitals in four categories, said Amanda Maggard, President and CEO. This success can be attributed to our clinical teams hard work, their commitment to patient care, and to our consumers who clearly voiced their preference. Its unusual to receive a WCA in more than one or two categories and we are extremely grateful.

According to the WCA, women account for more than 85 percent of all consumer purchases and influence over 90 percent of family healthcare decisions. However, because women are busier than ever, WCA staff who founded the organization in 2010 asked how they could best support a womans hectic lifestyle. The answer was to simplify a cluttered marketplace by identifying the best health care facilities, services and products. While the methodology for granting a WCA differs within each industry, every awarded brand and service has the common denominator of favorable consumer recommendations ratings, according to the WCA.

About Florida Hospital Zephyrhills

Florida Hospital Zephyrhills is an award winning 149-bed regional medical center located in East Pasco County. It is a proud member of the Adventist Health System, providing a legacy of health and healing for more than 150 years. The hospital offers the only comprehensive cardiovascular program in East and Central Pasco County, including open heart surgery and valve repair. Equipped with eight technologically advanced surgical suites, the hospital provides a full range of inpatient and outpatient surgical services including, but not limited to general, orthopedic, endoscopic, gynecology, urology, cardiovascular and robotic procedures. The Womens Health Center at Florida Hospital Zephyrhills provides gynecology, urology, pelvic floor health, obstetrics and breast care through the Simpson Breast Health Center. And, the hospitals newly renovated ER delivers emergency medical care 24/7 with a fast track suite for minor emergencies. Other programs and services include a Wellness Center, Wellness Spa, Center for Wound Healing, Bone and Joint Center, Outpatient Rehabilitation and Diagnostic Imaging. To learn more visit FHZeph.org.

About Florida Hospital, West Florida Division of Adventist Health System

Florida Hospital, the West Florida Division of Adventist Health System, is a not-for-profit 1,295-bed hospital system composed of 9 hospitals including Florida Hospital Tampa/Florida Hospital Pepin Heart Institute, Florida Hospital Carrollwood, Florida Hospital at Connerton Long Term Acute Care, Florida Hospital North Pinellas, Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel, Florida Hospital Zephyrhills, Florida Hospital Heartland Medical Center Sebring, Florida Hospital Heartland Medical Center Lake Placid and Florida Hospital Wauchula. It also includes a free-standing ER in Palm Harbor. Part of the Adventist Health System, Florida Hospital is a leading health network comprised of 26 hospitals throughout the state. For more information, visit FloridaHospital.com

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Delaware County full-service law firm Raffaele Puppio is pleased to announce that it has been named a Best Law Firm for 2018 by U.S. News  Best Lawyers, achieving a Tier 1 ranking in the Philadelphia metro area for family law.

Best Law Firm rankings are based on a rigorous evaluation process that includes the collection of client and lawyer evaluations, peer review from leading attorneys in their field and review of additional information provided by law firms as part of the formal submission process.

The highest honor, a Tier 1 ranking, is based on a firm's overall evaluation, which is derived from a combination of its clients' feedback, the regard that lawyers in other firms in the same practice area have for the firm, and information that the firm provided to Best Lawyers via a survey.

To be eligible for a Best Law Firm ranking, a firm must have at least one lawyer included in The Best Lawyers in America. Attorneys are neither required nor allowed to pay a fee to be listed. Partner Michael A. Raffaele was named among the Best Lawyers for 2018, marking the 10th straight year he has been recognized by his peers for excellence in family law.

About Raffaele Puppio  Raffaele Puppio is one of the largest and most established full-service law firms in Delaware County, Pennsylvania. Attorneys within the firm are known for their legal prowess among the bench and bar in Delaware County, having decades of experience representing school districts, municipalities, businesses and individual clients, helping to solve legal problems while avoiding future legal issues. The attorneys provide sound legal counsel in the areas of education law, government and municipal services, family law, general litigation, personal injury, commercial real estate and business transactions, elder law, estate administration and planning, and criminal law.
The Business Council of Westchester (BCW) is proud to announce the upcoming Racing & Rolling with the Rising Stars event which will benefit Lifting Up Westchester (LUW), a social services organization which serves all of Westchester County. The event, which will take place at Grand Prix New York in Mount Kisco on Thursday, November 9 from 4:45-8:00 pm will combine go cart racing and bowling activities followed by a reception.

Each year the BCWs Rising Stars Leadership Council selects an organization for the Rising Stars Alumni to support. After a submission process which includes a grant application, review and interview, LUW was selected out of 30 local not-for-profits. Graces Kitchen, LUWs soup kitchen will be the focus of their fundraising and volunteer efforts during the coming year.

Graces Kitchen is the largest soup kitchen in White Plains and the only place where hungry individuals can get a nutritious meal every Monday to Friday and on all holidays. For over 40 years, Graces Kitchen has been on the frontlines of hunger prevention. Last year it provided 20,000 free, nutritious meals, including 2,000 meals served on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years.

Anahaita Kotval, Executive Director of Lifting Up Westchester said, In keeping with our agencys goal of creating pathways to self-sufficiency for our 4,500 clients, Graces Kitchen goes beyond simply providing free meals. A case manager is on site every day talking to clients and working with them to create longer term solutions to their food insecurity problems.

I am truly pleased that the Rising Stars Leadership Council, and their chairman Eon Nichols, have chosen such a worthy organization, and continue to contribute to causes that reduce suffering and fight hunger in our community, explained Marsha Gordon, president and CEO of the BCW.

By partnering with LUW, the Rising Stars hope to raise awareness about the severity of hunger in Westchester where 200,000 individuals including 70,000 children are hungry or on the brink of hunger every year.

The Racing and Rolling fundraising effort will help pay for holiday meals served at Grace's Kitchen. Participants will also be asked to bring a food item to help fill the 500 holiday grocery bags that LUW will distribute to individuals and families throughout Westchester to ensure that they too can enjoy festive holiday meals in the comfort of their own homes.

We are thrilled that the BCW Rising Stars selected our organization as this years designee, said Kotval. Its a testament to their support of our Countys economy, businesses and nonprofits and demonstrates their commitment to caring for our neighbors in need, individuals who sometimes escape the publics eye.

Approximately 200 people are expected to attend the event. To register, visit http://web.thebcw.org/events/Racing-and-Rolling-with-the-Rising-Stars-1505/details

About Lifting Up Westchester

Lifting Up Westchester (http://www.liftingupwestchester.org) is a 501 (c)(3) organization whose mission is to restore hope to Westchester Countys men, women and children in need by providing them with food, shelter and support- lifting them to greater self-sufficiency with dignity and respect. It is one of the largest social services agencies in Westchester County and has been fulfilling its mission since 1979 through the operation of eight community-based programs. The agency serves 4,500 men, women and children each year providing 140,000 meals to the hungry and 28,000 nights of shelter to the homeless. For more information, visit http://www.liftingupwestchester.org or contact Chris Schwartz at cschwartz(at)liftingupwestchester(dot)org.

About the Business Council of Westchester

The Countys largest and most influential business membership organization, The Business Council of Westchester is committed to helping businesses market, learn, advocate and grow. In addition, The Business Council of Westchester is actively involved in reviewing federal, state and county legislation and regulations in order to assess the potential impact on the business community and to influence the outcomes through advocacy when the business communitys interests may be affected. It also acts as an information resource for the business community and government leaders at all levels. Visit http://www.thebcw.org.
Hardents VESA DSC IP cores, combined with the processing capabilities of the Mali-D71 processor, will enable designers to create 4K+ displays for next-generation mobile and AR/VR products Collaborating with Hardent ensures compatibility between Hardent DSC IP cores and the Mali-D71 processor, providing designers with access to ecosystem solutions supporting the high-performance, low-bandwidth requirements for these applications.

Hardent, the leading expert in VESA Display Stream Compression (DSC) technology, today announced a collaboration with Arm to deliver an interoperable VESA DSC IP solution for the new Arm Mali-D71 display processor. Hardents VESA DSC IP cores, combined with the processing capabilities of the Mali-D71 processor, will enable designers to create 4K+ displays for next-generation mobile and augmented/virtual reality (AR/VR) applications.

Developed by the Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA), DSC is an industry-wide compression standard for display applications that offers visually lossless, ultra-low latency performance. By reducing transmission bandwidth by up to 3X, the DSC algorithm enables higher resolution video to be carried on transport interfaces such as MIPI Display Serial Interface (DSI) and DisplayPort1.4. Using DSC compression to handle the increased pixel data required for higher resolution displays reduces power consumption, system costs, and electromagnetic interference (EMI).

DSC was initially developed with mobile devices in mind and has, since its release in 2014, seen widespread adoption from the mobile industry. With the emergence of new display-based products, such as AR/VR headsets, other industries are now leveraging DSC compression in order to support the bandwidth requirements associated with creating immersive higher resolution displays. Each industry has its own unique transport and display requirements, explains Alain Legault, VP IP Products at Hardent. Whether it is the increased colour depth needed for HDR10 mobile content, or faster frame rates for AR/VR applications, VESA DSC provides a scalable solution to meet the demands of current and future display products.

The Mali-D71 display processor offers a brand-new architecture that supports all major industry display standards including VESA Display Stream Compression. Mali-D71 is optimized to support display resolutions of up to 4K, the higher performance requirements (up to 4K120FPS) needed for VR applications, and HDR10 content.

Compression is a key requirement for developing higher resolution displays for next-generation applications, including premium mobile VR displays, said Vassilis Androutsopoulos, senior product manager, Client Line of Business, Arm. Collaborating with Hardent ensures compatibility between Hardent DSC IP cores and the Mali-D71 processor, providing designers with access to ecosystem solutions supporting the high-performance, low-bandwidth requirements for these applications.

Hardents VESA DSC encoder and decoder IP cores have undergone a series of detailed tests to ensure optimized performance with the Mali-D71, and reduce the complexities of integration and porting.

A live demo of Hardents VESA DSC encoder and decoder IP cores integrated with the Mali-D71 processor will be shown at the Arm Tech Symposia events in Shanghai, Beijing, and Shenzhen. A series of compressed vs. uncompressed HDR10 video content will be shown side-by-side to highlight the visually lossless compression quality of VESA DSC.

For more information about VESA Display Stream Compression IP solutions, contact Hardent.

About Hardent

Hardent is a professional services firm providing IP products, electronic design services, and training solutions to leading electronics equipment and component manufacturers throughout the world. Hardent works across a wide variety of industries to develop high-complexity electronic products, improve engineering processes, accelerate products' time-to-market and provide expert training solutions.
Kendall Press, a leading Boston area commercial design and printing services company, today announces a new ownership team. This new team is comprised of Kathryn Christopher, Vice President, Treasurer and Edward Christopher, President. Kathryn has an extensive background in accounting, finance and software development. She will be evaluating and improving systems that will enable Kendall Press to enhance the already strong customer service experience. Edward brings more than two decades of experience in advertising where he led many effective and award-winning campaigns for brands across a number of industries including automotive, biotech, financial services, packaged goods, pharmaceutical and technology. He will be leading marketing and operations initiatives.

"We are excited to take the reins of a strong company with a 30 year track record of serving the Cambridge and Boston markets with quality and timely business communication materials" said Kathryn. "We have a great team at Kendall Press and they all remain committed to delivering for both our existing and prospective clients." Added Edward "in what can be a very transactional business, we seek to create a collaborative partnership with our clients to help them be successful. Ive spent many years on the same side of the table as them and understand that what we produce is very important for helping ensure they achieve their objectives."

Kendall Press also announced the promotion of Jacob Dickinson to General Manager. "Jacob has been instrumental in driving the success of Kendall Press in recent years and is committed to delivering great service and experiences to our clients" said Edward. "In this new role, Jacob will continue to work directly with clients and will also work with Kathryn and me to help drive initiatives focused on continuously improving our service offering and experience". "I've been extremely proud of the work Kendall Press has produced over the years and couldn't be happier about the direction in which we're headed now. I love working with our clients to help solve problems and produce materials that help them and I'm enthusiastic about the opportunity to work with Kathryn and Edward to continue to grow and enhance our offering" said Dickinson.

About Kendall Press

Established in 1986, Kendall Press is a commercial design and printing services company serving the greater Boston area and beyond. Based in Kendall Square, Cambridge we specialize in designing custom solutions to address the most challenging communication and timing requirements of our clients. Our services include graphic design, digital printing, offset printing, banner, poster and sign printing, binding and finishing, mailing services, trade show printing and promotional products. Learn more at https://www.kendall-press.com.
Winckelmans bespoke tile in the Cite du Cinema, the illustrious film studio complex of film director and producer Luc Besson in the north of Paris.

Karen Pearse, the founder of Karen Pearse Global Direct and renowned natural stone and surfaces expert, announced today KPGDs exclusive partnership with Winckelmans, the historic French creator of the finest vitrified porcelain tile. Karen Pearse Global Direct will be the sole purveyor of Winckelmans in the U.S., opening access to this lauded brand in the U.S. market.

With the unparalleled craftsmanship and creativity of Winckelmans, we immediately saw the potential for truly extraordinary projects with designers, hotels, and major retailers in the U.S., says Pearse.

Since the founding of Winckelmans in 1894, the illustrious brand has been distinguished for the exceptional quality of its unglazed, vitrified porcelain tiles and its incredibly unique contemporary and old world designs. Known for enduring centuries, Winckelmans tile has graced the most prestigious buildings around the world from castles and palaces to haute couture establishments, including LOccitane en Provence; The Queen Victoria Building, Sydney; Luc Bessons Cite du Cinema, Paris; Les Bains, Paris; and Hoxton Hotel, Paris.

Pearse is pleased to feature this prestigious brand among Karen Pearse Global Directs remarkable collection of rare marble, natural stone and surfaces. It is an exciting step in continuing the KPGD legacy of working with designers, retailers and architects in the U.S. to build exceptional, unique spaces.

Karen Pearse

Karen Pearse is an internationally renowned expert on natural stone and surfaces and founder of Karen Pearse Global Direct. Over her illustrious history since founding the Karen Pearse brand in 1981, Pearse has worked with the worlds most prominent retailers, architects and developers, including Bloomingdales, Neiman Marcus, The Time Warner Center, Thomas Keller Restaurant, Eataly, Saks 5th Avenue and MGM Grand.

Growing up with the artistic influence of her grandfather, the distinguished painter Frantisek Reichental, Pearses incredible aesthetic eye was shaped from an early age. It is this immersion in and love of fine art that has truly allowed Pearse to see the intrinsic beauty in marble and natural stone around the world. Known internationally for her incredible ability to identify, locate and uniquely guide the design process, Pearse is a dream maker, working with the most talented, extraordinary designers and architects to capture their vision and transform it into reality.

Headquartered in New York City, Karen Pearse Global Direct also maintains offices in Europe and Asia. Its steadfast global supplier and manufacturer network make it possible to deliver elegant, fast, environmentally conscious and cost effective materials solutions.

For product inquiries please contact info(at)kpgd(dot)com.
Aloft by AccelerEd Logo Aloft has reinvented the classroom experience for America's largest online public university, increased their student engagement by 400%, improved control over delivery resources and helped to reduce capital budget requirements.

AccelerEd, a UMUC Ventures company, today announced the launch of Aloft by AccelerEd which provides cloud-based, student-focused, immersive learning environments for higher education. Aloft debuts at the EDUCAUSE 2017 annual conference, booth #S9, in Philadelphia from Oct. 31 to Nov. 2.

Student-focused. Educator-designed. Cloud-enabled.

Built with educators to meet the unique challenges of higher education, Alofts cloud-based platform helps educational institutions to deliver digital resources and hands-on experiences on an unparalleled scale. Aloft by AccelerEd is a scalable, flexible and cost-efficient alternative to conventional capital-intensive virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) and desktop as a service (DaaS) systems.

Aloft is game-changing for higher education, commented Greg M. Smith, AccelerEd vice president. Todays students are diverse, mobile and online. Aloft has reinvented the classroom experience for Americas largest online public university, increased their student engagement by 400%, improved control over delivery resources and helped to reduce capital budget requirements. Were proud to offer this capability to other universities helping to further student engagement and outcomes.

Accessible, Scalable Solutions

With nearly 29% of all higher education students enrolled in online classes, higher education must evolve to meet the needs of todays students. Aloft enables the next generation of learning with easy access to digital applications and dynamic, hands-on learning environments.

Aloft Everywhere

With Aloft Everywhere, virtual learning environments are everywhere the student is.



Available 24/7 across a wide range of platforms and devices

Customizable  all course materials, tools and projects in one place

Mobile accessible

No expensive hardware or software requirements for students

Persistent student experience based on preferences

Integration with your directory services, including single sign-on

Aloft Immersion

Scenario-based exercises build on the Aloft Everywhere platform to create immersive learning environments to prepare students for mission-critical careers, ranging from environmental management to cybersecurity.

Aloft Immersions secure, experiential platform provides an interactive environment for students to learn and practice sophisticated simulations. Through this platform, students can:



Experiment in a Sandbox testing environment that allows them to play within confined limits, yet replicates the functionality needed to test programs or other development code

Engage in digital forensics to collect and analyze evidence from digital media

Perform ethical hacking exercises in a secure environment

Be immersed in real-world, hands-on scenarios to enhance their learning

Aloft Passport

Aloft Passport brings technology to the students, not students to the computer lab. Institutions can offer highly-specialized graphic, data and other computer-intensive applications to students on demand, streamed from the cloud to their browser for instant access - even on low-cost devices. No more waiting for software downloads and limited capacity.

Passport offers students and institutions:



More hands-on and collaborative learning with sophisticated, course-specific software

New opportunities to integrate advanced technologies into curricula

Proven scalability to meet peak usage periods

All required software applications available, operable, configured and validated

Significant reduction in institutional capital investment that improves operational budgeting and flexibility

About AccelerEd

AccelerEds innovative solutions and services advance operational efficiency for higher education institutions. We implement advanced technology solutions that allow institutions to leverage technology more efficiently and free education leaders and administrators to focus on student outcomes. AccelerEd is a portfolio company of UMUC Ventures. To learn more about AccelerEd, please visit http://www.AccelerEd.com.
MC YOGI formerly known as Nick Giacominiwill share stories from his new memoir, Spiritual Graffiti: Finding My True Path, and perform live during the event on Friday, November 17th from 6-9 pm. Living at Hanna Boys Center was a real turning point for me. It gave me the structure I needed to turn my life around. The staff, teachers and the boys became like family. I have great memories and will always be grateful to Hanna, shares MC YOGI.

Hanna Boys Center today announced that Hanna alumnus and world-renowned performing artist, MC YOGI, will make a stop on campus as part of his Spiritual Graffiti Book Tour. MC YOGI formerly known as Nick Giacominiwill share stories from his new memoir, Spiritual Graffiti: Finding My True Path, and perform live during the event on Friday, November 17th from 6-9 pm. Tickets are $65, and include a reception with heavy appetizers and a copy of MC YOGIs book. All proceeds from tickets sales will benefit Hanna Boys Center.

We couldnt be more excited to have Nick back on campus to share his story and talents with our students, alumni and community, said Brian Farragher, CEO of Hanna Boys Center. This event is truly about self-healing, and it couldnt come at a more perfect time, as Hanna and our local communities continue to deal with the devastation caused by recent wildfires. MC YOGI has a great message to share, one that will resonate with the broader community and provide hope that we can all overcome traumatic experiences.

MC YOGI grew up in San Francisco where he struggled with gangs, guns and violence. He came to Hanna Boys Center as a high school sophomore after being kicked out of three public schools and arrested three times. In his new book, Spiritual Graffiti: Finding My True Path, he credits his Hanna experience with giving me a sense of stability and discipline, and my new friends felt like family.

Living at Hanna Boys Center was a real turning point for me. It gave me the structure I needed to turn my life around. The staff, teachers and the boys became like family. I have great memories and will always be grateful to Hanna, shares MC YOGI.

Since his experience at Hanna, MC YOGI has released seven albums and traveled the world with his wife, Amanda, teaching yoga and performing hip-hop music at major yoga gatherings and music festivals. Additional information about his yoga classes, book and music are available at http://www.mcyogi.com.

Additional details about the event are available at http://www.hannacenter.org/mcyogi. For questions or more information, contact Leslie Petersen at lpetersen(at)hannacenter.org or 707.933.2555.

About Hanna Boys Center

Since 1945, Hanna Boys Center has changed the lives of thousands of at-risk, motivated youth through faith, education and caring, helping them grow into productive members of society. Hanna exists to help at-risk teens overcome the effects of childhood adversityto become responsible, productive adults and realize their highest potential. We do this by providing a nurturing and therapeutic residential environment, a tailored educational model, and trained, caring adults who help kids create positive, permanent change in their lives. http://www.hannacenter.org
Hyundai WIA Offers Over 100 Different Machines The features, benefits and quality of Hyundai WIA products and the companys core values align with everything we strive to offer our customers

Technical Equipment announced today that it has finalized an exclusive distribution agreement with Hyundai WIA Machine America Corp. to distribute and support the Hyundai WIA product line of CNC machine tools, effective immediately.

Hyundai WIA has a broad product offering that complements the other machine tool brands we represent, Technical Equipment President John Murphy said. The product line offers new solutions that we can offer our customers.

Technical Equipment is also the exclusive distributor for other high quality brands including Hermle, Makino, Momentum, Muratec, and Tsugami throughout Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky.

We are excited to add Technical Equipment Sales to our distribution network, Hyundai WIA Machine American Corp President said. Technical Equipment has a history of strong distribution with outstanding service and support in their market. They are committed to helping their customers remain competitive with quality machines and top notch service and support.

Hyundai WIA is a leading machine tool builder in South Korea and was founded in 1976. Machine tools manufactured include horizontal and vertical machining centers, CNC lathes, drill tap centers, and boring machines.

The features, benefits and quality of Hyundai WIA products and the companys core values align with everything we strive to offer our customers, Technical Equipment President John Murphy said. Their primary goal is customer satisfaction and so is ours. Hyundai WIA is a brand were proud to represent.

About Technical Equipment

Technical Equipment (http://www.techequip.com) is a division of Morris Group, Inc. The company is the exclusive distributor for Hyundai WIA, Hermle, Makino, Momentum, Muratec, and Tsugami in Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky. In addition to new machine tools, Technical Equipment provides metrology equipment through Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence, engineered solutions, replacement parts, service, and preventive maintenance. Services include financing, installation, and training.

About Hyundai WIA

Since 1976 Hyundai WIA (http://www.hyundai-wiamachine.com) has been a core division of Hyundai Motor Group, building the CNC turning centers, machining centers and multitasking machines the automotive manufacturer uses to build its parts. Hyundai WIA Machine America Corp. makes that same technology available to the broader manufacturing marketplace in North America. In addition to the Itasca, IL headquarters, Hyundai WIA Machine America has a West Coast Solution Center in Cypress, CA with a full showroom and training opportunities, and an East Coast Tech Center and Parts Support located in Carlstadt, NJ.
Terry Bonchaka met his untimely death in a fatal accident on the Legon-Madina road in Accra when his car veered off the road and hit a tree. He was confirmed dead at the 37 Military Hospital.

The then hip-life star real name Terrence Nii Okang Mensah Adjetey and a former student of Adisadel college was only 21 years when he died after performing at the Akuafo hall week celebrations at the University of the Ghana, Legon through a motor accident.
READ MORE: Farmer slaughters elder brother to death

Some African countries have claimed that the court has been set up solely to persecute only African leaders, saying it has hardly prosecuted any of the heinous crimes committed against humanity by some world leaders.

In 2016, Gambia and South Africa had announced their withdrawal from the ICC, but later changed their minds. Some Ghanaian analysts have also suggested that the country exits from the ICC on similar grounds of bias.

The ICC through its spokesman has confirmed a successful exit of Burundi from the court. Following the exit, some analysts are of the view that it may have opened the pandora box for other countries that have not had the courage to attempt breaking away to follow suit.

However, despite the withdrawal, ICC says it will continue with a preliminary investigation it had begun into possible war crimes in Burundi.
The helpless man was suspected to have attacked and killed a farmer believed to be in his 70s, at the time South Africa is struggling to curb rampant farm attacks.

Coincidentally, the suspect was reported to have allegedly attacked the farmer the same day South Africans were protesting against the killing of farmers in the country.

According to buzzsouthafrica.com, the suspect allegedly robbed and killed a farmer identified as Bokkie Potgieter, a solitary farmer.

The South African news portal reported that a struggle ensued between Potgieter and the suspect who wanted to steal his bakkie (a small truck with an open body and low sides). During the struggle, the suspect slashed the farmers face and head with a panga (a large, broad-bladed African knife).

The suspect then allegedly dragged Potgieter who was bleeding profusely into the bakkie and drove off.

The suspect labelled as a popular troublemaker in the area reportedly crashed the bakkie into a pole, drove off again before the bakkie finally became immobile.

READ ALSO: This school trains students to write with both hands at the same time in different languages

It was at this juncture that some residents caught up with him, but unfortunately, Potgeiter had died.
The convict pleaded guilty to the two counts of defilement and the court presided over by Mr. Aboagye Tandoh sentenced him on his own plea, according to the GNA.

Daniel Tettey Cudjoe was convicted to eight years imprisonment on each count, but the sentences will run concurrently.

The sentence might be seen as mitigated because the court took into considerations his plea and the five days he had already spent in custody as well as his age when sentencing.

Chief Inspector Kofi Atimbire narrated to the court that the complainants in the case were a teacher and a trader, while both victims are eight-year-old girls who live at Korle Gonno.

He said on October 9, this year, Cudjoe lured the victims into his room and forced them to remove their panties. He then applied a cream to their vagina and had sex with them in turns.

READ ALSO: See how heartlessly this suspected killer was lynched to death

Inspector Atimbire said the victims revealed during interrogation that Cudjoe had been having sex with them for the past one year, and often gave them GH1.00 to share after satisfying himself.

However, luck eluded the convict when the victims confided in their teacher who subsequently filed a complaint with the police and a medical form was issued the victims to seek medical attention.
READ MORE: Prof Mike Oquaye blasts MPs after meeting empty seats in parliament

The awards include:

Platinum award for Best Print ad (financial service)

Gold award for Best Print ad (financial services)

Gold award for Best Billboard ad (financial service)

Gold award for Best Print ad (Household products)

Silver award for Best Activation (alcohol and beverages)

Silver award for Best Print ad (alcohol and beverages)

Silver award for Best Radio ad (alcohol and beverages)

Silver award for Best Radio (financial services)

Innova DDB, another member of the Ninani Group, emerged the second highest winner of the night, with seven awards  one platinum, two gold and four silver. Other winners on the night included Now Available Africa, Publicis West Africa, Ogilvy and Mather Ghana, Insel Communications and Scanad Ghana.

Commenting on the awards, Justin Darkwah, General Manager of Rezultz Advertising, attributed the wins to the passion and commitment of his colleagues.

I am overwhelmed by Rezultz Advertisings performance at the Gong Gong Awards but I knew it was only a matter of time before the industry realized how outstanding we are, he said. Its truly a special milestone that reinforces our belief that hard work pays. I believe this sterling performance is testament to the strong insight and strategic thinking that underpin our expert teams approach to work.

The AAG Gong Gong Awards is the flagship industry event for the Advertising Industry in Ghana. Over the years the Awards have established benchmarks for excellence and ingenuity, rewarding creativity and outstanding innovative works, across all sectors of the industry.

Speaking at the awards ceremony, President of the AAG, Mr. Joel Edmund Nettey, urged players in the advertising industry to probe for insights about human behaviour and create campaigns that reflect the realities of society and inspires a picture of what society ought to be.

We are at the stage where consumer dynamics are fast changing, technology is driving more curiosity and people have become more inquiring. Thus ads, essentially, need to be reflective of these dynamics and must necessarily drive social change, he said.

Hon. Mustapha Hamid, Information Minister, reiterated the need for industry players to be circumspect with the kind of advertisements they churn out. He further announced that government is preparing to introduce new and stricter rules that seek to protect children from obscene materials in advertisements.

People react to what they consume on radio and TV so advertisements that are negative, antisocial, and do not promote the countrys cultural and social models, can be dangerous to our development, he said.

Outgoing Managing Director of the Graphic Communications Group Limited, Ing. Kenneth Ashigbey, received a special award in recognition for his demonstrated commitment to the growth of the advertising industry and his consistent and unflinching support for the work of the AAG.
According to The Guardian, Maina said that the Pension Reform Task Team saved the country N282b.

He also alleged that some highly placed government officials hid 6 million, over N3b in a London account.

Maina, speaking through his media aide, said that Buharis investigation into the pension fund will unravel those benefitting from the loot.

He said his media trial is an attempt by those he referred to as pension thieves to stop him from exposing them.

there has been a lot of deliberate cover in a well written script to give him a bad name. Some of those who worked in the PRTT committee do kabu-kabu to augment their survival. They were severely starved of funds, the PRTT was a cog in the wheel of so many who were looting the pensioners funds, Maina added.

According to his aide, Olajide Fashikun, between the Head of Service and the Police Pension office, the two places PRTT worked, a leakage of N5.32 billion was stopped per month. This is what civil servants steal monthly in the two offices out of the 99 pension offices in the country. About 43 persons were arrested and handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to prosecute while 222 houses were seized from them.

In the current media trial where all manner of stories have been published, there has been a lot of distortion of facts and sometimes outright blackmail, all in an attempt to paint the PRTT boss black.

As soon as Maina was driven to exile before the coming of the PTAD, N35 billion was stolen in the Head of Service office. The Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) did not come out with the report. How come nobody is talking about these monies?

After the biometric exercise, there were 71,000 genuine workers in the police pension office who needed N826 million to pay them unlike N5.3 billion appropriated for them annually. They were pocketing N4.2billion yearly. They devised several ingenious ways to pull this cash out, they pull out an average of N300 million daily, Monday to Friday. There are bank alerts to substantiate these assertions.

There is a particular person who has 69 cloned versions of his name on the payroll. Bank officials were in cohort. Names of dead pensioners were exhumed from the dead and paid pension. Accounts were created with fictitious names. The agents who do the multiple collection of these monies from banks get 5 per cent of the volume collected. One of the folks caught then, by name Haruna Maigida, was paid via three accounts in June 2011 the sums of N7,783,891.68, N17,452,910.87 and N17,293,888.44. He confessed when the EFCC officials arrested him that he got 5 per cent for pulling the cash, he added.
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The officer even asked the victims mother to see a typist at the Kaneshie police station to type out the withdrawal letter.

But the mother of the victim told Accra-based Joy FM that she decided not to see the typist following the severe health complications her daughter is currently going through.

The 11-year old was first fingered while she slept, thinking it was a dream.

According to her mother, the second time, her daughter was actually defiled.

The victim at the moment cannot control her bowels and urine.

The suspect has since confessed to the criminal act and has promised to pay the medical bills.
In her latest article, Dr Sawyer ridiculed the president and his Vice for spending $2.5million on the countrys newly designed National Digital Property Addressing System, Ghana Post GPS.

She also made fun of the president for taking credits for projects that she argues began under the John Mahama administration, such as the Wa Water Project.

Dr Sawyerr also commented on the AMERI deal, the Bond issue, the increase in vigilantism, among others.

Below is the full article:

Dr. Valerie Sawyerr writes:Mr. President! Mr. President!! Mr. President!!!How many times did I call you? Why will you not let me enjoy a peaceful Opposition? Stretching my legs in an easy chair on my patio, I heard your Vice-President say: We are introducing Ghanas digital address system with unique post-codes within every location within Ghana The digital addressing system is going to provide us the most advanced addressing system in the world. Period! This is what we are about to roll out. And it is more advanced, off course, than the United States or the United Kingdom or Sweden or Germany because they are stuck with old technology. We are leap-frogging and we are going to new technology. We are going to GPS-based technology, so even if you are standing in the middle of the River Oti and you want your address when we roll it out you will know your address in the middle of the River Oti.

I said to myself  Who is deceiving these people? In ten months, they have devised and implemented a digital addressing system that is more advanced than that of the U.S., the U.K., Sweden and Germany? Wow!

Not surprisingly, I soon found out it was simply an app that uses Googles free geographical coordinates. Dont ask me what that means. I cannot claim to be an expert of any sort in the world of digitalization but I have access to young knowledgeable professionals who I call when I do not understand such matters. So, Mr. President, what is the Vice-Presidents excuse please?

But Sir, why should I begrudge your Vice-President his exaggerated manipulative style. Barely a month ago, I was stretching my legs in that same easy chair when I heard you say: This project was began in the time of the great Ghanaian leader John Agyekum Kufour. It was in his time that the financing for this project was secured as far back as 2008. Unfortunately, after he left, it took five years under the NDC successor government before the construction of the project. God has his own way of doing these things  a project that was begun by Kufour is going to be commissioned by Akufo-Addo. That is the way the Almighty works.I asked myself - what project is he talking about and is this not a gross display of mathematical deficiency? We all know that the NDC was in power for eight years - so even if it is true that for five years construction of the project was not begun, what happened to the extra three years? After sleeping for five years, did the NDC government use three years to get out of bed in stretching mode? Did the NPP government then use nine months to execute the project? I wondered whether you were cutting sod for the project or commissioning the completed project. So, I cross-checked! Lo and behold, it was the Wa Water Project. Eeeeishh! I am sure there is a word or phrase that describes a consistent and deeply ingrained tendency for manipulating the truth before audiences that the manipulator persistently deems ignorant and/or gullible, when indeed this is not the case. Especially when they attach phrases like God has his own way of doing these things and that is the way the Almighty works. Blasphemy of the highest order! With all due respect Mr. President, do you see how you were fumbling when you got to that part and feverishly wiping your mouth? Ahaaa! As we say in our local parlance if you will not allow your mother to sleep you will also not sleep!

Your Excellency, let me go back to your Vice-President. Lets try this quiz Sir:

 Is Google Maps Navigation a mobile application developed by Google, which normally uses a GPS satellite connection to determine its location?

 Did the Ghanaian Government pay US$2.5m to Vokacom, aka Afrifa, to develop a digital addressing system for the country?

 Did Vokacom develop a digital addressing system based on the GPS technology?  Is the GPS technology new or was it invented in the 1960s in the U.S.?

 Does the new app developed by Vokacom use Googles free geographical coordinates to function?

 Will Ghana pay a US$400,000.00 annual fee to Google for embedding their online map into Ghanas new digital addressing system?

 Does the Ghanaian government have physical access to the server?

 Does another country have access to our personal information fed into the server?

 Did a similar Facebook App integration with Google maps cost US$500,000?

 Why are there so many complaints that the Ghana Post GPS App is not working efficiently?

 Did the Government really spend GH3.5million on publicizing the system as declared by the MD of Ghana Post, James Kwofie?#Jack Where Are You  that is the slogan for the digital addressing system! Mr. President, in case you are wondering, we are talking about value for money. This Jack Where Are You goof will not varnish into thin air. An urgent question has been filed in Parliament for the Minister of State in charge of Public Procurement to provide details of the procurement process for the system.

We are waiting patiently please. Your Excellency, do you need more than ten months in Government to realize that you cannot get away with what you used to get away with in Opposition? You cannot hoodwink the people with half-truths and untruths all the time. You cannot get them to accept hook, line and sinker unrealistic dreams and expectations. You cannot twist and turn untruths into truths. You cannot dig a big hole at a spot and get your information gurus to say you actually built a mountain at that spot when the spot is accessible to all for verification. Your Minister for Information is somersaulting all over the place, struggling to present coverups for your mess-ups. With all due respect Sir, you are over-pressurising the young man.

Your Excellency, if you think we have forgotten the Bond saga, the MacDan saga, the BOST saga, the AMERI saga, the missing cocaine saga, the GH 5million Ghana@60 saga, the illegal deportation saga, then you have another thought coming.

 Your incompetent Minister for Agriculture now says the army worms have come to stay, after he said he had eradicated them;

 Your implementation of the First Year Free SHS programme has been woefully inadequate;

 You moved a whole community of Ghanaians to the United States for the 72nd Session of the UN General Assembly when public officers had not been paid;

 Your MASLOC CEO, Stephen Amoah purchases 1,800 second-hand cars with no MASLOC board in place and no PPA (Public Procurement Authority) approval;

 Your Invisible Forces, Delta Forces, Kandahar boys, Bolgatanga Bulldogs  just heard about the Elmina Sharks and Paga Crocodiles  and other rebel groups are still terrorizing the nation  Sissala West DCE flees irate youth  NPP Youth lock up School Feeding Office in Tamale  NPP youth storm police station in Karaga  NPP youth group beats Assembly members at AdeisoMr. President, what happened to your democratic credentials please?

 Your operatives imprison Appiah Stadium in a room and force him to produce an audio recording for public consumption. They handcuff him from Kumasi to the Police Headquarters in Accra where it takes almost four hours to get the police to agree to grant him bail around 9.30pm, and thereafter you issue a statement saying you are no longer interested in pursuing the case. Of course, I cannot defend the words he used on you although, Sir, I cannot remember you defending yourself when the WikiLeaks reports were released. I also remember the horrible words you and your team used on Ex President Mahama while he was in office. It is not too late to apologise to him Sir.

 You impose penalties amounting to over GH1billion on radio stations and shut some down in the name of administrative streamlining. Mr. President, it is important that our institutions obey and adhere to laid down rules and procedures, but I am sure you realize that by imposing unrealistic sanctions on them the message that rings clear is that you have a sinister agenda. To cut down some of the fines to 50% is still unconscionable, especially when the Schedule used for the calculation of fines had not yet been approved by Parliament. May I humbly suggest that the first review of the draconian decision should have seen a reduction of fines to the level of the applicable law, while insisting that the Radio Stations present the requisite paperwork. As things are, it may be advisable to simply declare an amnesty, give them a time frame to present the relevant paperwork and pay the fees of the years unpaid at the current rate. This would spare the nation a further loss of democratic credentials as well as imminent court cases. As for my sister Ursula, I have confidence in her that she will do the right thing and I hope my confidence is not misplaced. As I pondered over your actions this morning, I found myself singing a popular tune - kro kro kro kro, hi hi hi hi krohi krohi kro kro kro, hi hi kro kro kro  Your Excellency, do you remember that tune? The rhythm of the reverberating shuttle of the loom as our kente weavers produce our resplendent kente cloths. Sir, I can see you slowly weaving your way into the hole that you yourself are digging. It is so deep that if you fall in it, Mr. President you know we will not be able to find you even if all fire service and military operatives and equipment are dispatched to the sceneMr. President, what stops you from graciously acknowledging what the NDC has accomplished? Is it a narcissistic tendency that prevents you from acknowledging the good in others? Or is it your speech-writers who have decided as a policy that nothing good of the NDC should be acknowledged? Please listen to the humble advise of an Opposition Chiller - you are the one who will be held responsible for the fumbling of your Government. Your writers can write for you but you are the one who must determine in the end what you actually say. Apart from the Wa Water Project, that you attempted to take credit for (naughty naughty), may I remind you of some other water projects executed under President Mahama - Essakyir Water Supply Project; Kpong Water Expansion Project; Nsawam Water Expansion Projects; Teshie Water Desalination Plant; Kumasi (Barekese) Water Supply Project; Five Towns Water Supply Project (Kyebi, Osenase, Anyinam, Apedwa & Kwabeng); Kpong Intake Rehabilitation Project; Accra-Tema Metropolitan Area Supply Project; Asante Mampong Water Project; Akim-Oda-Akwatia-Winneba Water Project; Konongo-Kumawu-Kwahu Water Project; Navrongo Water Project & Small Town Water Systems across all regions. I understand the Akim Oda-Akwatia-Winneba Water Supply Project is being prepared for commissioning. Please put the devil to shame and give JM the credit when you commission it. Dont believe your Minister for Water Resources & Sanitation if he tells you that the funding was sourced in H.E. Busias time, and H.E. Kufour planted a tree at the spot to signify sodcutting, and you built the whole system in ten months. If in doubt, just conduct a search on Google. Your Excellency, I dont mean the Jack Where Are You system please  ha ha ha! While we are at it, may I take the opportunity to point out that the following projects commissioned or inaugurated in the ten months you have been in office were all commenced and/or executed under President Mahama:

 On April 27, 2017, you cut the sod for the worlds largest LPG-fired Power Plant;

 On April 26, 2017, you commissioned an ICT Centre at Soabe in Denkyembour District of the Eastern Region;

 On May 10, 2017, you commissioned the Kumasi City Mall;  On May 17, 2017, your Minister for Health commissioned the Greater Accra Regional Hospital (former Ridge Hospital On May 24, 2017, your Minister for Fisheries commissioned the Elmina Fish Processing Plant;

 On July 6, 2017, you commissioned the FPSO John Agyekum Kufour;
According to him, he is a member of the church and always argue with Pastor Mensa Otabil.

"I am a member of International Central Gospel Church, Christ Temple and I argue with Pastor Mensa Otabil more than anybody when we close from church and he has never voted one party throughout," he said.

The former Minister who doubles as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Pru East in the Brong Ahafo Region speaking to TEIN members of the University of Education, Winneba, Kumasi campus, said "Let me tell you a secret, 2008 he [Otabil] voted for Prof. Mills."

He stated that "People have influence and if you come to IGCG Christ Temple we the NDC people are more in the church than NPP and they know."

Otabil criticises

Mensa Otabil has been a major critic of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) with the party describing him as a threat to national security and a secret supporter of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

In 2016, pastor Mensa Otabil urged Ghanaians not to be content with the provision of basic goods and services such as roads, water and electricity by the state.

He also called on the State to stop monopolising and hijacking business opportunities from citizens and rather be an enabler for private organisations and individuals, to do business, and also run the country.

Kwabena Donkor reacts

But Kwabena Donkor speaking on the defeat of the NDC in the 2016 general elections said "We have insulted pastors, religious leaders and everybody.it is when you have no concrete argument you turn to insult former Power Minister in the previous administration.
The National Audience summoned the 14 to appear in court in Madrid on Thursday and Friday and gave them three days to pay a combined deposit against potential penalties of 6.2 million euros ($7.2 million).

Puigdemont and several of his former ministers travelled to Belgium after they were dismissed by Madrid on Friday as the central government took direct control of the semi-autonomous region whose parliament had just declared unilateral independence.

Puigdemont appeared in a press conference in Brussels on Tuesday, saying he was still the "legitimate president" of Catalonia but denying he was seeking asylum.

If Puigdemont and his former ministers refuse to appear in court as requested, Spanish prosecutors could order their arrest.

And if they are still in Belgium when that happens, Spain could issue an international arrest warrant.

National Audience judge Carmen Lamela argued in her ruling that despite repeated court prohibitions, the Catalan government "continued to promote the necessary measures to create an independent Catalan state."

The judge said prosecutors' arguments were "serious, rational and logical."

The case against Puigdemont and his government was combined with another against the leaders of two grassroots independence organisations, Jordi Cuixart of Omnium Cultural and Jordi Sanchez of the Catalan National Assembly, who have been held in preventative detention since October 16.

The two men are accused of sedition for staging a demonstration in Barcelona last month that hindered a police raid against organisers of an unauthorised independence referendum on October 1.

The National Audience will on Friday consider an appeal filed by the two against their detention.

Earlier Tuesday Spain's Supreme Court summoned the former speaker of the Catalan parliament, Carme Forcadell, and her parliamentary deputies to appear for questioning on Thursday and Friday over the region's independence drive.
For just over a quarter of a century, Cuba has brought the motion before the General Assembly, and every year, Washington and one or two diehard allies voted against -- until last year.

Then, former president Barack Obama decided to abstain from the vote, marking with a symbolic gesture the cautious thaw in relations that his White House had begun to negotiate with Raul Castro's communist regime.

Under Trump, that thaw may be over, even if the neighbors and former Cold War foes have not yet cut off diplomatic ties. In any case, on Wednesday the United States and probably Israel will once again be in a minority of two.

State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert told reporters that US Ambassador Nikki Haley would oppose the measure to underscore Trump's tough new stance on Cuba.

"We've historically voted against that resolution. Last year, the United States abstained," she said.

"Ambassador Haley will be reversing last year's abstention and will be voting against the resolution this year.

"The Trump policy on Cuba gives greater emphasis to advancing human rights and democracy in Cuba while maintaining engagement that serves US national interests," Nauert said.

Sick diplomats

Trump's predecessor Obama, oversaw slowly warming ties with Cuba and Havana, including a reopening of the countries' embassies in Havana and Washington and a careful loosening of the trade embargo.

But Trump has vowed to enforce more strongly the restrictions on US tourism and trade that had begun to shift, even before a more recent diplomatic spat over alleged attacks on the health of US diplomats in Havana.

US officials say that at least 24 diplomats have suffered a variety of problems, including hearing loss and brain trauma, since last year due to "health attacks" that some initially blamed on a covert sonic device.

After initially cooperating in an investigation, Cuba has angrily denied that the "attacks" took place and Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez over the weekend dubbed the claims "political manipulation aimed at damaging bilateral relations."

But Nauert insisted that the decision to resume the symbolic opposition to the motion was not connected to this incident but part of a broader review of US policy to focus on demanding Cuban democratic reforms rather than building ties.

A draft of this year's resolution, seen by AFP, notes that Trump has already rolled back some of the measures taken by Obama.

Flagrant violation

It recalls "the measures adopted by the executive of the United States in 2015 and 2016 to modify several aspects of the application of the embargo, which contrast with the measures announced on 16 June 2017 to reinforce its implementation."

Ahead of the vote, Cuba's UN mission issued a statement denouncing the fact that 70 percent of Cubans were born and raised under an embargo that "hinders Cuba's economic development and constitutes a flagrant violation of the human rights of the Cuban people."

"With his policy towards Cuba, President Trump reverses the progress achieved in bilateral relations after Presidents Raul Castro Ruz and Barack Obama announced on 17 December 2014 the re-establishment of diplomatic relations and the beginning of a process to normalize bilateral ties," it added.

The United States restored diplomatic ties with Cuba in July 2015 and a month later re-opened its embassy in Havana. Obama made a landmark visit to the communist-ruled island in March 2016. His administration saw the thaw as a diplomatic victory

But restoring full trade and financial ties with Cuba would have required legislative action by Congress, where the Republican majority has said human rights concerns must first be addressed.

During his campaign, Trump visited the Cuban exile community in Miami -- traditionally led by conservative voters opposed to any rapprochement with the one-party Castro government -- and promised them his support.
The report from Bogota stated that dissidents were to be bombed as they refused to join the landmark peace deal signed nearly a year ago.

About 7,000 guerrillas from FARC handed their weapons over to the UN following peace talks in Cuba between 2012 and 2016.

FARC leaders had already expelled the dissidents from the organisation before the peace deal was signed on Nov. 24, 2016.

Colombias Defence Ministry considered the dissidents to be part of drug-trafficking networks, which was previously bombed by the national army.

Meanwhile, the army stopped bombing positions held by the National Liberation Army (ELN), a smaller guerrilla movement that agreed to a temporary ceasefire from Oct. 1 until mid-January.

The ELN admitted to breaking the ceasefire on Oct. 17 when the group killed an indigenous leader whom it accused of being a spy for the government in the western region of Choco.

The government said the violation did not affect the continuation of the ceasefire.

The peace deal with FARC and the ongoing talks with the ELN followed more than five decades of conflict in Colombia involving the two leftist rebel movements, the army and right-wing paramilitary groups.
France's highest administrative court ruled last week that the cross, in the northwestern town of Ploermel, must be taken down due to strict secularism laws separating church and state.

The court move raised the hackles of French rightwingers and the far-right, while the conservative government in Warsaw suggested moving the statue to Poland.

"The Polish government will try to save this monument to our compatriot from censorship and we will propose moving it to Poland," Prime Minister Beata Szydlo said Saturday.

The statue, by Russian artist Zurab Tsereteli, was erected in a square in Ploermel under an arch topped by a cross following a 2006 decision by local authorities.

The National Federation for Free Thought, a non-profit organisation, took the issue to court alongside two local residents.
The ride-hailing services Uber and Lyft barred a far-right activist who complained about Muslim Uber and Lyft drivers after Tuesday's terrorist attack in New York City that was carried out by a man authorities identified as a former Uber driver.

Uber told Business Insider in a brief email on Wednesday that Laura Loomer  a former Project Veritas activist who has more than 100,000 Twitter followers  had been barred for violating the platform's community guidelines.

Lyft also told Business Insider in an email that it had deactivated Loomer's account.

Loomer posted a series of tweets complaining about Muslims following Tuesday's attack, in which a Muslim former Uber driver named Sayfullo Saipov is accused of steering a rented truck into a bike lane, killing eight people and injuring 12.

Among those complaints, which sparked outrage online, Loomer lamented that she was late to a press conference because she could not find an Uber driver who she did not believe was Muslim.

"I'm late to the NYPD press conference because I couldn't find a non Muslim cab or @Uber @lyft driver for over 30 min! This is insanity," Loomer wrote.

Loomer also retweeted a Twitter user who said they were kicked out of an Uber in September for being Jewish. Uber declined to comment on the accusation.

Wednesday was not the first time Uber barred a far-right activist from its platform.
The White House press secretary, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, on Wednesday said President Donald Trump did not call the US justice system "a joke" and "a laughingstock."

Hours earlier, Trump said just that.

During a meeting with Cabinet officials in the West Wing, Trump discussed the man accused of speeding a rental truck into a bike lane in New York City on Tuesday and killing eight people.

Police have identified the driver as Sayfullo Saipov, a 29-year-old immigrant from Uzbekistan who arrived in the US in 2010. They said on Wednesday that he left a note saying he carried out the attack in the name of the terrorist group ISIS.

Trump, who said he would consider sending Saipov to the Guantanamo Bay military prison, told reporters the US must "come up with punishment that's far quicker and far greater than the punishment these animals are getting right now."

"They'll go through court for years," he said. "And at the end, they'll be  who knows what happens. We need quick justice, and we need strong justice, much quicker and much stronger than we have right now. Because what we have right now is a joke, and it's a laughingstock. And no wonder so much of this stuff takes place."

Sanders was twice asked about that statement during Wednesday's press briefing. She first said Trump was "voicing his frustration with" the "lengthy process."

She was pressed later by CNN's Jim Acosta.

"Why did the president call the US justice system a joke and a laughingstock " Acosta said before Sanders cut in and said, "That's not what he said."
According to Nollywood actor, he was tricked by the founder and General Overseer of the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN).

Iyke claims that he only went there because of his late Mums illness, adding that he does not remember his confession about being tormented by an evil spirit.

Speaking with Channels TV, he said, At that point, even Im told therell be a cure in hell Ill go. You are talking about your mother. So we went.

I can remember I went there with my security man, my sister and PA. And when we got there, I was upstairs but there was a constant insistence that I come to church. And I said, but that wasnt the arrangement because I kept my mum in the hospital and was expecting that youll lay your hand on her and shell get better, but they said no you must come to church.

Then my sister forced me and we went to church downstairs. I was there when the whole stuff of touching people started, I found it a little laughable seriously because this is a national TV and people watch from all corner. I can remember my sister pinched me and said, youve got to stop.

And I said common men, this is childish, this is not what we came here for. Lets move mom out of here and keep looking for medical help. Then we were about going to South Africa, there was this young man that was recommended to us, a specialist as well.

Then the gentleman in question looked at me and saw the amusement on my face and touched me. Now I cant explain what happened within that space of time. Within that 5 minutes, whatever happened happened. Im not here to start proffering explanations to spiritual things that are way beyond me. Im a man that understand how things work. That I cannot explain and nobody can suggest anything otherwise because personally I know what happened to me."

Within that time lacks explanations, they said I said stuff, did stuff I found out it's extremely embarrassing.

That same year of the deliverance (2013), Punch released an exclusive one-on-one interview with the prophet.

When asked about Jim Iykes deliverance, he said, Oh please, dont drag me into that. All I can say is that if a person needs to see a doctor, he should be free to do so. I like the young man. He has been defending himself on the internet. Is he not enjoying a better life now? Are things not working for him?

The popular actor is not the only one that has accused Prophet T.B Joshua of tricking them into a deliverance session.

Earlier this year, Penuel Mnguni of End Times Ministries, well known as Snake pastor, was also delivered at the SCOAN.

He was shown on Emmanuel TV confessing his sins and renouncing his old ways.

Days after this aired, the controversial South African pastor made U-turn.

Like the actor, he accused the prophet of making him say things against his will, Daily Post reports.

In his words, I am being used by God and God sees no sin in what I do. TB Joshua tricked me, but I am still the snake pastor!

I never knew that I was going to be forced to speak in front of people.

Those people took my ID and passport and would not give them back until I did what they wanted me to do. I went there on an invite and I only wanted to take part in worshipping, not deliverance.

It was as if everything was planned before I even got there. If you listen to the video I am not the one saying those words. There is a woman next to me who is forcefully telling me what to say.

But I stood there hopelessly because I feared a lot of things.

This claim was made once he was no longer in Nigeria.
I remember this because I know it happens.

If you haven't heard about it in a long while, it's probably because the victims are not bold enough to expose Mr Lecturer.

Not all ladies in our higher institutions have the confidence to turn down a lecturer's sexual advances like Bimbo Owoyemi

Don't think this piece is out to disgrace lecturers. No, it is only teaching innocent ladies on campus to take caution.

Also, I am not saying our university and polytechnic lecturers are randy skirt chasers, but If you have been to higher institutions in Nigeria, you will understand the different ways a lecturer presents his sex agenda.

Stories of lecturers seeking sexual favours from students come in different ways.

Depending on the lecturer, an easy going but randy lecturer would take a soft approach pretending to like you more than your parents, while a stern promiscuous one coerces students to surrender themselves for grades.

In any case, a randy lecturer will always make a move to endear himself to every skirt on campus.

So when you see him doing any of these five things, you should know the third leg is trying to walk its way into your heart.

1. When you fail his course repeatedly:

One of the most ''powerfool'' tools randy lecturers use to get their victim to bed is to score her low in all her tests and exams to ensure she fails the course. If the student fails to go to him to seek explanation, she will fail again and again.

Failure in this sense is ostensibly not by poor performance. It is far from it. It is a deliberate attempt by lecturers to bring a student to agree to sleep with them. And if she thinks she has 'stronghead' like alligator, the lecturer will find other ways like a fox.

And by the time she fails the course twice, she will see a reason to talk to Mr Randy about her carry-overs. Meetings between a lecturer like this and the student often end with...''you know what to do.''

ALSO READ:

Although there are female students who lead the lecturers on when they fail and instead of writing the carry overs, they choose the substitution method to balance the equation...you know what am saying?

2. When he criticises you every time:

The moment a lecturer begins to say negative things about you every time, he wants you to sexually atone for your sins.

You know the best way to kill a dog is to give it a bad name, same style is adopted here. Lecturers who use these tactics will tag the girl 'olodo' just to shame her. Will ask her questions outside the topic of discussion just to disgrace her.

It is a wicked tactic and if the lecturer does not get to the 'root of the matter', criticisms will follow such student like network wherever she goes. Other lecturers like him may also join to victimise the student. When this happens to you, ask your lecturer to tell you your offence.

3. When he loves to see you answer questions.

Others might think the lecturer is friendly, but there is an agenda behind the friendly face.

For instance, there are over hundred students in the class but throughout a whole week, Mr Lecturer is interested in calling a particular female student in the front row to answer all questions.

This might not be because the lady is outstandingly brilliant but because he wants to create the impression that she is brilliant and of course every lecturer likes brilliant students.

Lecturers like this won't victimise the students they are crushing on. They will even dash you marks like father Chrismas. They will do everything to endear themselves to the students and before you say jack...

4. When he looks for you every time.

When a lecturer asks after a certain female student every now and then, something is up his sleeves.

This kind of lecturers seek the attention of their crush at any given opportunity. When the lecturer's office is only open to you and few others then all of you are in the same boat.

The lecturer is always in need of a certain female student. He always needs her to help him mark scripts, record exam scores and types some essay papers in his office. And whenever you are out of sight for some minutes, he would send the whole campus to look for you.

You may need to withdraw a little when you notice this.

5. When he starts calling and texting messages.

This is the peak, when your lecturers call just to check on you and text message to remind you to take your study seriously at night before he goes to bed, then there is more to it.

Also, when you wake up to receive a message from same lecturer wishing you best of luck in your test and you get another call at the end of the test asking you how the test or exam went, believe me your lecturer is lusting after you.
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Taipei, Nov. 1 (CNA) Kinmen County on Wednesday began charging non-residents for the use of rental bikes under the county's K-bike system, but residents will be able to ride for free for the first four hours of use, a county government official said.
The students, simply identified as Moses Izuchukwu and Jane were said to be returning from the burial of the mother of one of their course mates when the accident occurred.

An eyewitness who spoke to Punch about the accident said, Jane and Izuchukwu were crushed to death while others were injured and rushed to a hospital.

He said The two students died on the spot. They were crushed beyond recognition, especially the female student. It was a horrible sight. The students were on their way back from the funeral rites of the mother of one of their course mates.

Lecturers of the school according to Punch were seen discussing the tragedy while their course mates could not control their emotions over the sad event as they wept profusely.

ALSO READ:Fresh graduate of Ekiti State University allegedly butchered into pieces
The Government recently announced the sack of the primary school teachers because they failed primary four examinations conducted for them.

The Government thereafter announced the recruitment exercise of 25,000 teachers in the state.

The State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai while receiving World Bank delegation in his office on Monday, October 9, said the state is going to recruit new teachers to restore dignity and quality to its education sector.

Explaining the reason for the recruitment, El-Rufai said the government tested the primary school teachers in the state and 66% (21780) out of 33,000 teachers failed the test.

We tested our 33,000 primary school teachers, we gave them primary four exams and required they must get at least 75 percent but am sad to announce that 66 percent of them failed to get the requirements.

However, the Teachers' Union in the state has kicked against the government's move saying the move would force teachers in both primary and secondary schools to downtool.

ALSO READ:
That is a long discouraging history to be honest. But here is the irony, this is where History is best taught as a course.

The History department of the Premier University has a long history of not producing first-class students and this has gone for almost 70 years in the Institution.

Students come in and go but none of them was ever crowned. None ever wore the distinction gown until when Ozibo Ekele graduated from the department.

Ekele hit news headlines recently when he emerged the first distinction graduate of History ever produced by University of Ibadan.

Just like Aarinola Olaiya, who broke a 28-year old record in the Surgery Department of Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigerians celebrated Ekele and rained insults on the lecturers in the department.

ALSO READ:Meet the first Student to bag first class in History in 69 years

From opinions on Twitter, lecturers in a faculty or department that does not produce at least a first class student in five years should be fired.

If this online verdict is anything to go by, the History department at the University of Ibadan should have by now been swept clean of the lecturers because they are not capable of breeding outstanding students.

Ironically, the department according to Ekele is the best place to study History as a course in Nigeria.

Ekele believes UI has a different approach to teaching History and that marks it out from others in the country.

Forget the fact that there is only one distinction student in 69 years, studying History in UI is the best thing that can happen to any student of History.

This is what Ekele wants all of us to understand when he spoke to Pulse about his academic feat in the University.

ALSO READ:Meet the first OAU distinction student in Surgery in 28 years

"UI is the home of analytical history. Our emphasis is analysis rather than narrative. It is about the questions on What and Why. What applies to the narratives while why applies to analysis.

"If you ask now when did Nigeria gain independence, everybody will chorus 1960, that is the question what. That is the narrative. But why did colonial masters decide to give us Independence, that is a why question. Then, you will begin to have a lot of answers, that'll lead to different opinions. That is what UI emphasises as far as History is concerned. The University of Ibadan has the best History department in Nigeria."

Ekele who had read Mass Communication at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka before coming to the Premier University to read History also believes UI is the best institution in the country considering the calibre of graduates it had produced in the past.

"UI is the home of completeness and when I say completeness I talk of people like Achebe, Okigbo and Shoyinka. People who have sold Nigeria to the world. I think any reasonable human being would want to be associated with their great achievement. I think of myself now as a complete man."
The man, Andrew Kibe drew the bile of Nigerians when he went on Youtube to rant about Nigerian women being very ugly while their men do not know how to speak good English.

The visibly angry Kibe wondered why Kenyan women were very comfortable dating Nigerian men, saying it was because our guys dole out the cash and that their women are so cheap to fall for the West African hunks.

Kibe continued that he saw no reason why Kenyan ladies would choose to relate to Nigerians instead of them.

Still complaining about how Nigerian men steal their women before their noses, Kibe said Nigerian women are very ugly as hell and that was the reason they leave Nigeria to travel to other countries.

He said Nigeria does not have beautiful women and that was one of the reasons the men run out of the country to Kenya to snatch their ladies from them.

Not done yet, Kibe continued by saying that Nigerian men cannot even speak good English but yet the Kenyan women fancy them for some reason he could not understand.

The aggrieved Kibe went ahead to add that the last time Nigeria had a noticeably beautiful woman was about 20 years ago, and the woman was Nollywood actress, Rita Dominic.

He accused Kenyan women of being with Nigerian men for money, and for the main fact that they are foreigners, adding that Nigerians don't even have electricity and shouldn't even be able to step up to them.

But trust Nigerians not to take such an insult lying low and like the case of the famous Jollof rice debate, they gave it back to Kibe in good measure.

Read some of the comments here:

Gin Lens:"Your disjointed teeth are horrible; go see a dentist moron... treat your girls well and they will stay cool. Over there, your girls are prostitutes and they are begging Nigerian men to hire them for the night."

Barth Okey: "Oh my God, this guy is such a loser. I stay in Kenya and you need to see how their women flock after Nigerian men because we know how to take care of them.

A Kenyan man will not spend $5 on a woman while Naija guys can burn $5000 at a go. Why won't their ladies prefer us?"

Tony Nwoji:"Who is this sore loser? Can the most beautiful woman in Kenya compare to the ugliest Nigerian girl? Nah bro, go get a life and don't hate on a giant."

Nkem Odili:"I can't laugh enough. Andrew Kibe or what do you call yourself, I have just one word for you: run along broke ass. If your men were so good, no Nigerian man will take them from you. I feel your pains bro but up your game. We are heads and shoulders ahead of Kenya in every facet."

Zikki:"I really pity Andrew Kibe. I am sure our sharp guys have taken his woman and he does not have the guts to fight for her. Can you name the most beautiful girl in Kenya and let's do the comparison?"

Kaka: "I am a Kenyan and I know Andrew Kibe very well. He is just a sour grape. If you were man enough, Nigerian guys will not snatch your girlfriend. Grow up bro and stop blaming your misfortune on others."

Zizi:"I am a Kenyan lady and I will always defend Nigerian men at all times. They know how to take care of women and that is why we go for them. Our men in Kenya are so stingy, selfish and want you to pay for dinner when you go out.

They hardly give you money to take care of yourself. But you know the difference when you date a Nigerian guy. They are the best."

Pete Okigbo:"This guy is so ugly I wonder if women in Kenya would even agree to date him. Such disjointed dentition. Baba, work on yourself before accusing others."
For centuries, Africa has been called the dark continent and some people (as well as brands) are holding on to this narrative.

International courier company DHL seems to believe that Africa is a safari stuck in a Lion King movie. On Tuesday, October 31, 2017, the Twitter account of DHL Africa posted an ad that can be described as stereotypical.

ALSO READ: Dove apologizes for controversial ad

The photo was of zebras and buffaloes in a Savannah against the backdrop of a sunset. "We want to know: What's the best thing about Africa?" tweeted DHL Africa.

The tweet got a lot of negative feedback from Africans on the social media app. "Dear @DHLAfrica Zebras and buffaloes do not represent Africa neither is "Africa" a homogeneous bushland as your condescending Conradesque imagery above suggests. Africa is people, Africa is infrastructure, Africa is 54 different countries. You obviously do not know Africa." tweeted Okechukwu Okorie.

DHL Africa not only fell for the jungle narrative but the equally tiresome narrative that lumps Africa as one country. Africa is made up of 54 countries. In these countries are many tribes and ethnic groups.

Several people went on to reply DHL's tweet with photos of African cities such as Lagos, Nairobi, Harare, and Abuja.

DHL Africa messed with the wrong continent. Instead of posting a picture of a safari in a region of Africa, the company should have listed or shown the abundant mineral resources in the continent.

ALSO READ: Fuse ODG calls out Nivea over controversial billboard

Also, just because we are predominantly black does not mean we are all the same. Foreign brands need refresher courses on Africa and the countries in it.

Gone are the days when people put up with charity ads showing a naked African baby with flies on its face and a voice over that says "every three minutes in Africa a child dies of hunger."
This usually means illegal ways to get into Europe or North America or generally anywhere that is considered better than home.

The poor state of infrastructures and a high cost of living have made many Nigerians travel to other parts of the world to start all over again. The economic hardships of the 80s and 90s saw an exodus of Nigerians leave the country in a massive brain drain.

Embassies of nations like the United Kingdom and the United States of America where choked full with people who wanted to leave Nigeria for a better future. This led to an unpredictable problem of demand being greater than supply.

Even with the US visa lottery scheme of the 90s, there were too many people who wanted the visa to a country in Europe or even in Asia. With so much demand and little supply, Nigerians started coming up with schemes to beat the system.

One of the most popular schemes is for young Nigerian men to marry white women (usually old women) for immigration papers and visas. This racket still goes on till today. Once the guy gets abroad he swindles his wife and abandons her with his papers intact.

It's a love swindle that is very vibrant. White women still fall for the scam of bagging themselves a black lover. Most times, they end up being used.

There are other ways Nigerians scam their way abroad. Below is a list of three other popular methods;

1) Visa lottery marriage scam

The syndicates who specialize in getting fake papers for people to travel use this method. It involves pairing the desperate party with legitimate winners of the US visa lottery as a couple. If they are successful they fly abroad as man and wife only to part ways later on.

2) Smuggling overseas

This is the most dangerous way of getting abroad illegally. It involves paying money to a smuggling ring to take you on the dangerous journey of making it to Spain in Europe. This involves the hellish journey of passing the Libyan desert where many people have died. This method is so dangerous that it is certainly not all people will make it. If you are lucky enough to make it, you have to deal with the ocean to make it into Spain. Most African migrants drown in this journey but once you make it to Spain you are finally in Europe.

3) Use another person's passport
Welcome to the Pulse Community! We will now be sending you a daily newsletter on news, entertainment and more. Also join us across all of our other channels - we love to be connected! Welcome to the Pulse Community! We will now be sending you a daily newsletter on news, entertainment and more. Also join us across all of our other channels - we love to be connected!
1. Grand Popo, Benin

Nothing as beautiful as the ocean and relaxing in a beach house.

Escape to your neighbourhood country the Benin Republic and journey to the beautiful Grand Popo for almost nothing.

Three nights in this luxurious place can cost N48,000 and less.

2. Lome, Togo

Lome is the capital of Togo, in West Africa and it's known for its palm-lined Atlantic coastline.

Sweet Sweet Lome is a must visit place. Not only is their currency lower than the Naira, food is cheap and hotels are cheaper!

Escape Nigeria and go hide at the luxurious beaches of Lome and sample their local foods.

3. Jayz Lodge, Ghana

Enjoy walking up a canopy and an adrenaline-filled zip line experience at Ghana's Jayz lodge.

For less than N100,000 take yourself and friends on a road trip to Koforidua, Ghana and enjoy a thrilling experience.

4. Cameroon

With high mountains, incredible waterfalls, wide hiking space, bubbling wildlife among other attractions, Cameroon has so much to offer.

Cameroon is another great destination if you are vacationing on a budget. Food is cheap, hotels are for next to nothing. Basically, life is chilled in Cameroon.

5. Liberia
At the core, home tests are designed to pick up traces of human chorionic gonadotropin, or HCG a hormone that is produced during pregnancy. HCG is made by cells formed in the placenta, in order to help grow the fertilized egg after it has attached to the uterine wall, according to . "Like all hormones, HCG has several functions in the body," says Heather Bartos, M.D., ob-gyn. "The hormone is produced by placental cells and promotes the corpus luteum, a normal ovarian cyst in pregnancy, which secrets progesterone. Progesterone is necessary for a healthy pregnancy. HCG may also have an effect of helping prevent immune reactions toward a developing fetus."

Pregnancy tests are advertised as 99 percent accurate, if done correctly. In short: a woman pees on the end of a dipstick and her urine comes into contact with a specially treated strip made to detect if HCG is present. In minutes, results are available via positive/negative symbols or pregnant/not pregnant text. But, sometimes other factors affect the results of even the most reliable kits.

During pregnancy, HCG levels increase daily. If a woman thinks she's getting a false positive result, an immediate visit to the doctor is imperative. Blood tests should be taken, and administered again 48 hours later. Ultimately, the origin of elevated HCG in the blood needs to be determined. If it's due to pregnancy, these specific hormone levels will double within two days time, says Bartos. Blood tests can detect pregnancy sooner, and more accurately, than at-home tests.

Here are four reasons why the stick youve peed on may be misleading, and therefore getting a second opinion might be best.

All cancers produce some kind of hormone, and certain cancer cells produce beta HCG, which might sway pregnancy test results. Certain medical conditions, such as ovarian tumors, can lead to elevations in the HCG hormone," says Bartos. "For instance, choriocarcinoma, a malignant cancer involving retained placental cells, produce [HCG] in high amounts, just as if it were in a pregnancy."

This is more likely to cause a false negative than a false positive, but it's still worth nothing. Urine pregnancy tests are good, but even these can fail," says Bartos, specifying that HCG is at its highest level when urine is fresh a.k.a. in the morning. "If the first-morning urine isnt used, the pregnancy hormone level may not be high enough to discover it on the test."

Should a woman become pregnant but suffer a miscarriage, there are still hormones in the body that will allude to carrying a child. Theres something called a chemical pregnancythink false startthat leads to a positive test, but nothing ever happens afterwards, says Bartos. An egg implants in the uterus, and HCG is produced by the cells that would have developed into the placenta. "The most common explanation for a false positive is that you really were pregnant when you took the test, but it wasnt viable. This is caused by a chemical pregnancy, which occurs if a fertilized egg, known as the embryo, stops growing very soon after conception, says Scott Capobianco, M.D., ob-gyn at Mission Hospital in Mission Viejo, California.
The governor said this on Tuesday during the inauguration of an ultra-modern Cassava Processing Centre and Farmers Business Forum at Anambra State Polytechnic (ANSPOLY) in Mgbakwu.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the processing centre is a joint project executed by the institution and Harvest Plus, an organisation that improves nutrition and public health via production of bio-fortified food crops.

Obiano said that the new strategy for improved cassava production and processing would be in full operation by 2018, adding that Anambra Garri would soon saturate the markets.

The governor, who was represented by the Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr Afam Mbanefo, said that the state was already a leading producer rice and exporter of vegetables.

Obiano, who commended Harvest Plus for donating the machines for the project, said that prototypes of the machines would be installed in communities across the state during his second term in office.

In his remark, Dr Paul Iluno, the Country Director of Harvest Plus, said that the company was partnering with the state to develop efficient farm managers, who would assist farmers in their efforts to achieve good yields.

Iluno said that the machines of the processing centre had the capacity to process five tonnes of fresh cassava tubers of cassava or one tonne of garri per day.

The Commissioner for Education, Prof. Kate Omenugha, urged cassava farmers to take due advantage of the processing machines to boost their production.

The Acting Rector of ANSPOLY, Mrs Nneka Mefor, commended Obiano for upgrading the institution from a college of agriculture to a polytechnic.
Many of the party leaders have taken to social media pages to express their condolences to the Tinubu family

The Lagos State Chairman of the APC, Chief Henry Ajomale, also confirmed Jide's death to Punch.

"I can confirm to you that Asiwaju lost his oldest son today (Nov. 1, 2017)", he said.

Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, also expressed shock at the news.

"I am left shell shocked by the news of the demise of Jide Tinubu. My thoughts and prayers are with our National leader @AsiwajuTinubu.", he wrote on Twitter.

Honourable AdedamolaRichard Kasunmu, who is currently representing Ikeja Constituency 2 at the Lagos State House of Assembly, described the deceased as a "wonderful soul" - "Good Night, dear cousin," he said.

Also reacting to the loss, the senator representing Lagos East at the National Assembly, Gbenga Ashafa, tweeted, "My heart & prayers are with our leader Asiwaju @AsiwajuTinubu and his family at this time of grief. May the soul of Mr. Jide Tinubu R.I.P."
Saraki gave the indication when he fielded questions from State House Correspondents after an interactive dinner hosted by President Muhammadu Buhari in honour of principal officers of the National Assembly in Abuja.

According to him, the event is not just a meeting but to honour the invitation of the President to the National Assembly officers to interact with him since he returned from medical vacation.

As you know, since he got back we have not really had an opportunity to meet with him as part of the stakeholders, he said.

The Senate President added that this was the first time for such interaction with the leadership of the National Assembly.

The meeting was to welcome him to show our gratitude that he has come back healthy and continue to assure him that we will continue to cooperate with the executive and also to acknowledge the role we played while he was away that brought stability.

We thank all the members for the patriotic approach they handled the administrations affairs in his absence, he said.

ALSO READ: Why Saraki sacked 98 aides

On the 2018 appropriation bill, Saraki stated that its presentation lay in the hands of the executive but we will receive it when they are ready.
At the hearing on Wednesday, November 1, Justice Rilwan declined all of Diezani's prayers and condemned the former minister's application as a misuse of court processes.

The judge also ruled that the minister was "merely crying wolf" as she'd not been named as a defendant in the trial, meaning she has no case to answer.

He noted that he'll not allow the former minister to use his court as a tool to interrupt ongoing investigations against her in the United Kingdom.

The embattled former minister had filed the application on October 3 seeking to be named as a defendant by the prosecution since she was mentioned in the money laundering charge sheet involving her associates Dele Belgore (SAN) and former Minister of National Planning, Prof. Abubakar Suleiman.

She had urged the court to compel the office of the Attorney General of the Federation to bring her back from the UK to enter a plea for the charges.

She said she was eager to return to the country to defend herself, contrary to claims by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) that she was dodging investigators.

On Monday, October 30, her counsel, Mr Onyechi Ikpeazu, argued that she was more or less a defendant in the case since she was mentioned as a person of interest who was at large.

Ikpeazu said, "It is the fundamental right of the applicant that a criminal proceeding of this nature should not go on in her absence."

He further argued that if the prosecution is uninterested in naming her as a defendant, then her named should be completely withdrawn from the charge.

In the charge, Diezani was alleged to have conspired with Belgore and Suleimanon or about March 27, 2015, to directly take possession of N450 million, which they reasonably ought to have known formed part of proceeds of an unlawful act.

The main defendants in the N450m money laundering trial, BelgoreandProf. Suleiman, are both standing trial for allegedly collecting the sum of money from Diezani while she was minister, and laundering it in the the build-up to the 2015 general elections.

They were both arraigned on five counts by the EFCC who filed the charges and mentioned Diezani's name without including her as a defendant.

The defendants pleaded ''Not Guilty'' to the allegations of making a cash transaction of N450m on March 27, 2015, without going through any financial institution.
According to Punch, the ex-VP has been rushed to the Intensive Care Unit of Memfys Hospital for Neurosurgery.

A family source who spoke on the incident revealed that he slipped into a coma after he collapsed.

The source also said He was trying to get something from the table when he suddenly collapsed and immediately someone raised the alarm, we proceeded to revive him while cautious enough not to attract neighbours.

When it became obvious that he had lapsed into coma, we rushed him to a hospital (unnamed) in GRA (Government Reserved Area), but we were referred to Memphys Hospital by medical consultants who had critically examined his condition."

Reports also say the Governor of Enugu state, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi broke down in tears when he visited Ekwueme at the hospital.

ALSO READ:Buhari felicitates with Alex Ekwueme at 85

Sources said the Governor cried, saying My namesake, Ifeanyichukwu, do not leave us now! Even if you must go, please wait to see your daughter become the deputy governor of Anambra State before you leave us.
Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN), disclosed this to journalists on Wednesday, November 1, after the Council's meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Malami said his office is seeking the approval of FEC to develop an instrument of ratification which will now give him the powers to ensure the repatriation of the funds.

He said, "There exist a forum, that is Global Assets Recovery Forum taking place in December, in US and we are looking towards that. We are in agreement substantially with Swiss for the recovery of additional sum of $321million.

"That Memorandum of Understanding has been substantially agreed between Nigeria and Swiss. We intend to now execute or to sign off the agreement during the global forum on assets recovery coming up December.

"The intention of the memo is to seek the approval of the council to allow the Attorney-General to sign the agreement on behalf of the Government of the Federation of Nigeria. Two, is to develop an instrument of ratification which will now give the c

"It is collectively agreed upon between Nigeria and Swiss that we on our part should seek the approval of council to ratify the MoU as agreed, and they on their own part too, procure the instrument of ratification that will now give the respective officers of the two countries the power and effect to now sign off on the agreement.
Christine Conradt and Stacy Heatherly are thrilled.

Conradt, a former Fremonter, wrote and directed the movie 12 Days of Giving.

Heatherly is commissioner of the Eastern Nebraska Film Office, which was instrumental in bringing the movie to Fremont.

The movie, filmed in Fremont last winter, is set to premiere at 7 p.m. Eastern Time, Dec. 3 on the UP Network.

This week, Conradt announced the 86-minute films premiere date.

The movie was sold to the UP Network, which she said has the exclusive U.S. rights to it. Conradt said she believes UP has a four-year licensing agreement and could renew that. UP can play the movie as often as it wants.

Im sure it will play more than once during the Christmas season, she said.

Conradt noted something else.

We did sell it to a foreign distributor as well and I dont know all of the countries it will play in, but most likely Argentina, France, Germany and Italy, she said.

Should you go to Italy to see the movie? Maybe.

Youd better speak Italian, though, because Im sure it will be dubbed (have a soundtrack in a different language than the original film), Conradt said.

Conradt suggests finding a pal who has cable and a DVR (Digital Video Recorder).

DVR actually counts toward the ratings when you watch it on DVR, she said.

Heatherly is happy about the movies premiere, too.

The Eastern Nebraska Film Office and the City of Fremont are very excited because this is our first film from start to finish, Heatherly said. We brought the film in. We worked together. We used the film incentive packet and now we are excited for distribution.

Heatherly said her office and the City of Fremont designed a packet that provides incentives for films to be shot here.

Films of this size and capacity bring visitors from throughout the United States to audition and help local businesses as casts and crew spend money in Fremont. Such films also create excitement in the community, she said.

The movie might come out in a year or two as a DVD, Conradt said.
Here are a few things he said.

1. Boards of parastatals yet to be reconstituted

The president is yet to fill several board level vacancies in Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

He says the delay can be explained.

Last year I said we would re-constitute the Boards of Parastatals. I must regret the fact that we have not done so, for many reasons, President Buhari said. Some of us in this meeting may know I had given instructions since October 2015 for this exercise to start.

2. Theres now money to usher in new appointees

Nigeria has technically emerged from a recession, price of oil has appreciated in the international market and there's some forex to play with again.

Buhari says board appointments are imminent in light of silver linings in the economy.

There have been inordinate delays in board appointments through several committees in an attempt to get the balance right and to make sure all parts of the country are equitably represented.

On the other hand, I am keenly aware that our supporters are very eager for these appointments to be announced.

By the grace of God, these appointments will be announced soon, especially now that the economy is improving; we will have the resources to cater for the appointees, the president said.

3. A cabinet reshuffle is imminent because fresh ideas are badly needed

The federal executive council which is made up of ministers, is about to experience a long awaited reshuffling, Buhari announced.

Therell be new entrants and maybe some exits.

By the same token, the compressed federal executive council will be expanded to bring in more supporters at federal level, with fresh ideas to be injected into the government, Buhari said.

APC spokesperson Bolaji Abdullahi quoted the president as saying the cabinet will be rejuvenated.

You can make of that what you will, Abdullahi added, tongue in cheek.

4. Buhari lists his administrations achievements

The president reeled out some of his administrations achievements during the meeting.

In his words; We can be proud of our achievements in the last two years  Boko Haram, Niger Delta, regular fuel, improved power, TSA, Agriculture, and fertiliser; above all, the knowledge that corruption will not be tolerated in this government. We all know there is change.

5. The international community now sees Nigeria differently, Buhari says

Nigerias prestige has gone up, Nigeria is now creditworthy, a clear testimony of which was the over-subscription of the Euro-Bond by four times, the president announced.

ALSO READ: President promises to appoint more ministers
In a statement by the media officer, OGD said he would be going on the tour ahead of the National Convention of the party slated for December 9, 2017.

The contender also informed the Chairman of the National Caretaker Committee of the party, Senator Ahmed Makarfi of his move, through a letter dated 31st October, 2017,

According to him, "The purpose of the tour is to sensitize the people about the efficacy of our party while also meeting the delegates and leaders of our Party Nationwide.

"The tour will commence in Sokoto where we will pay a courtesy call on the Sultan and seize the opportunity to celebrate with him on the 11th anniversary of his coronation."

After the visit to Sokoto, the campaign train of OGD would move to Gusau in Zamfara State and proceed to Katsina in Katsina State in the afternoon of the same day.

Daniel is expected to touch down in Kano, Kano State for the campaign on November 4, 2017 before berthing in Dutse in Jigawa State in the evening of the same day.

The jewel city of Gombe in Gombe State would play host to the ex-governor on November 8, 2017 before he would touch down at Yola in Adamawa State in the evening of the same day.

ALSO READ: IBB anoints Otunba Gbenga Daniel for PDP chairmanship

The time table of the tour made available by the OGD Campaign Organisation, further revealed that Jalingo in Taraba State would be his port of call on November 9th, while he would be campaigning in Lokoja, Kogi State on 10th November.

The campaign time table added that OGD would travel to Minna, Niger State and Kaduna in Kaduna State on November 11, while he would be campaigning in Bauchi, Bauchi State and Jos in Plateau State on 13th November.

OGD, who ruled Ogun State for eight years from 2003 to 2015 with enviable achievements, would move his campaign train to Makurdi in Benue State and Lafia in Nassarawa State on the 14th of November, while he would travel to Maiduguri in Borno State and Damaturu Yobe State on 16th November to meet with the party's faithfuls on why he should be their next National Chairman.

The campaign tour continues on 17th November in Birni Kebbi, Kebbi State before starting the Eastern tour on November 21 in Imo State. The train will then move to Umuahia in Abia State in the afternoon of the same day.

The tour would continue on 22nd of November in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State in the morning before it would be rounded off in Enugu, Enugu State in the afternoon.

OGD would resume the tour in Awka, the capital of Anambra State in the morning of November 23 before moving to Asaba in Delta State in the afternoon of the same day.

The campaign train would visit the South-South State of Edo and campaign in Benin in the morning of November 24 before moving to Akure in Ondo State in the afternoon of the same day.

OGD would round off the campaign with a visit to the South West State of Ekiti in Ado Ekiti in the morning of 25th November before the campaign would hold in another South West State of Osun in Osogbo in the afternoon of the same day.

Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State would host the campaign team of the man of the people on 26th November before the team would proceed to Lagos, the centre of excellence on November 27, while Ilorin in Kwara State would be the base for the campaign of the versatile politician and engineer on the 29th of November.

The time table stated further that OGD and his campaign train would proceed to Yenagoa in Bayelsa State and Port Harcourt in Rivers State on November 30 before travelling to Uyo in Akwa Ibom State on December 1.

Calabar in Cross River State would play host to OGD and his team on 2nd December, while the campaign train of the cerebral politician would be rounded off in Abeokuta, the capital of Ogun State, his home state with a mass rally on Sunday, December 3rd.

Speaking during his official declaration for the position in Abuja on Wednesday 18th October, OGD, had told the gathering, which comprises mainly politicians and journalists that his ultimate goal was to work towards the victory of the party in the 2019 general elections and in all other elections in between.

"To achieve this, I am prepared to work with all leaders of our party, various interest groups and individuals.

"In the last few weeks, I have gone round visiting many of our leaders and stakeholders. I believe that I have sufficiently interacted with many of our party leaders, elders and members to have identified various fault lines which needed closing up so that we can return to the ideals and vision of our founding fathers.

"One of my focus as the National Chairman is to bring back many of our party men who have left," he had said.

On the state of the nation, OGD stated that most Nigerians today have come to recognise that the PDP midwifed democracy for Nigeria and that the country fared better under the political party.

"Regrettably, the people did not vote out our party for want of performance. We lost out because we miscalculated on certain aspects of our politics; outside the management of the nation's economic resources.

"We failed to ask some critical questions needed for planning. For instance, when President Muhammadu Buhari in 2011 as the candidate of the CPC got less than 5,000 votes in Abia State, we did not ask why?

"When in 2011, the 15 states that Muhammadu Buhari had the least votes came from Southern Nigeria, we did not ask why? When the trend repeated itself in 2015, who asked why?," he had stated.

It will be recalled that OGD had visited the likes of Gen. TY Danjuma (rtd.), former head of state, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida (rtd.), ex-governor of Kano State, Alhaji Ibrahim Shekarau, and former head of state, Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar.

Other people that OGD has consulted on his ambition included a former governor of Katsina State, Ibrahim Shema and former president Olusegun Obasanjo amongst several others.
John Martin is a doctor in America, but on this day, he didnt have any patient coming to complain of a discomfort somewhere. Today, he was the one feeling the discomfort in his neck.

So he took some gel and rubbed it on the part of his neck that was giving him trouble. Then he took this little device he had in his hand  about the size of an electric beard trimmer, and plugged the USB end to his phone.

When he raised that device to his neck, images started to appear on his phone. This, right here, is an ultrasound. Ultrasound is the technology used in scans, like when doctors are checking on a baby while its in the mothers womb.

Now, heres an ultrasound device that can fit into your pocket.

This device, is called the Butterfly IQ, and this device is built by Butterfly Network, an American Startup.

The average Ultrasound equipment looks like this, standing on a bedside;

But the Butterfly IQ, can fit into your damn pocket.

But how is does it manage to be sosmall?

Its the technology (duh-uh). The company, which was founded by Jonathan Rothberg, uses semiconductors.

Basically, its capacitive micro-machined ultrasound transducers, or CMUTs, tiny ultrasonic emitters layered on a semiconductor chip a little larger than a postage stamp.

It took 8 years to take this innovation from concept to market. And talking about market, it wont be available till early 2018. It will sell for $2,000 a piece. That seems like a lot, but then you realise that this device will be transported easily much more easily than they standard ultrasound equipment, and also cheaper.

Theres a big picture

Were looking at something that has the power to completely transform how doctors and medics use ultrasound.

We spoke to Tosin Afunku, a doctor in Nigeria, about this, and heres what he said;

Itll be useful because the most use of ultrasound scans in our rural communities is for obstetrics.

But, he has some skepticism, too.

It hasnt really been tested in mass use yet, and doctors in the US havent begun using it. Also, it doesnt help local health economics when you bring out a small gadget to do many investigations  no matter how life saving.

This is the Nigerian factor part:

When patients see a large equipment they likely believe it has more to offer and they should pay more.

Those aside, it can potentially make life tremendously easier on saving patients. Reach a diagnosis faster  especially for emergencies, patients have to be moved less to different rooms for different scans. Amongst other factors.

As you can already tell, it works with an app, and thats only available on iPhones, for now. We hope they have plans for building one for the Android market, considering Android devices have the largest mobile market share, globally.
Puigdemont, sacked by the Spanish government on Friday after Catalonia's parliament declared independence, told a packed news conference in Brussels he would not seek asylum in Belgium but would stay put "for safety purposes and freedom".

His presence will cause headaches for Michel, who governs in coalition with Flemish separatists sympathetic to the Catalan cause, and the Belgian leader swiftly told him not to expect special treatment.

"According to his own words, Mr Puigdemont has come to Brussels because it is the capital of Europe. Here he will be treated like any other European citizen," Michel said in a statement, stressing that his government had not invited the Catalan leader.

"Mr Puigdemont has the same rights and responsibilities as any European citizen -- no more, no less."

Michel said he was in regular contact with Madrid during the crisis and repeated his call for "political dialogue in Spain to resolve the crisis within the framework of the national and international order".

The Belgian leader was at pains to stress that his government had "not undertaken any step to encourage Mr Puigdemont's arrival on Belgian soil".

"Mr Puigdemont is not in Belgium at the invitation or on the initiative of the Belgian government," Michel said.

"Freedom of movement within the Schengen zone allows him to be in Belgium without any other formalities."

The EU and its member states have been resolute in their support for Madrid during the Catalan independence crisis, triggered by Puigdemont pushing through an October 1 referendum in defiance of court orders against it.

But on Saturday Michel's immigration minister Theo Francken, from the Flemish separatist N-VA party, said Belgium could offer asylum to Puigdemont, who is facing possible criminal charges in Spain for rebellion.
Caceres opposed plans by the company Desarrollos Energeticos (DESA) to build a hydroelectric dam across a river on which indigenous communities depended.

"The existing evidence is conclusive regarding the participation of numerous state agents (police, military and officials) and senior managers and employees of DESA in the planning, execution and concealment of the murder," the 92-page report compiled by a five member panel of international experts said.

Caceres, a coordinator for indigenous organizations in Honduras, was assassinated in March 2016 by gunmen who entered her house in the community of La Esperanza. A Mexican activist, Gustavo Castro, was wounded in the attack.

The report said the public prosecutor's office had established that the murder was planned in November 2015.

At the time, indigenous and tribal communities were protesting against a project to build a dam on the Gualcarque River, on land belonging to the Lenca ethnic group.

The head of the Honduran Association of Renewable Energy, Elsia Paz, rejected the allegations and told AFP that DESA executives had presented evidence to the experts group that proved the company was "not linked to the crime".

She said the report was an attempt to influence elections next month in which Caceres' daughter is a candidate.

Eight people were arrested, among them an employee of Desarrollos Energeticos. But Caceres' family is demanding the masterminds be brought to justice.

Two Nobel Peace laureates, Tawakkul Karman and Sherin Ebadi, visited Honduras this month and called for the investigation into the murder to be deepened "to discovered all those who benefited from this crime."

The two women met Austra Berta Flores, the mother of Caceres, during the visit.

The expert group is comprised of academics and lawyers from the US, Guatemala and Colombia.
At a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Brexit minister David Davis told colleagues that "preparatory work has seen a significant acceleration in recent months," said Prime Minister Theresa May's spokesman.

Departments are drawing up "detailed delivery plans" for around 300 policy areas, each of which "prepares the country for the range of negotiated outcomes and a 'no deal' scenario", the spokesman said.

"The plans set out detailed delivery timelines including, for example, to recruit and train new staff; to design and procure IT systems; and to deliver the necessary legislative and regulatory changes," he said.

Prime Minister Theresa May's spokesman said she was confident of reaching an agreement on future relations with the bloc despite public disagreements over Brexit strategy.

However, the government's planning includes the possibility that negotiations in Brussels break down and Britain crashes out of the EU in March 2019.

The revenue and customs department expects to recruit 3,000 to 5,000 additional staff next year, as it prepares for new trading arrangements once Britain leaves the EU's single market and customs union.

Around 3,000 new posts have already been created across government to work on Brexit, including 300 lawyers.

"These plans are constantly evolving and improving, in order to ensure maximum day-one readiness for Brexit," the spokesman said.

The government has already announced it had committed 662 million (753 million euros, $877 million) towards preparations for Brexit, including the establishment of two new ministries, and said more would be available where necessary.

The government on Monday published a list of 58 economic sectors for which it has carried out assessments of the impact of Brexit, but once again refused to publish the reports themselves.

In a letter to Seema Malhotra, an opposition Labour lawmaker, the Brexit ministry said policy-making needed to take place in a "safe place to allow for design and deliberation to be done in private".
His presence creates a headache for the Belgian government, which was quick to say he had come without their knowledge or invitation under Europe's free movement rules.

How long can he legally stay in Belgium?

As an EU citizen Puigdemont can stay in Belgium for 90 days without informing the authorities, Dominique Ernould of the government's Foreigners' Office told AFP.

To stay longer, he must submit a residency application. This can be granted on the basis of employment, for family reunion or by showing he has the financial means to support himself.

But if he were to leave Belgium before the 90 days was up -- by crossing the border to France or the Netherlands, for example -- the clock would be reset "and an EU citizen could once again stay for three months," Ernould said.

If charged in Spain, could he claim asylum?

Spanish prosecutors want to charge Puigdemont with sedition and rebellion, punishable by up to 30 years in jail, leading many to suspect he fled to Belgium to seek sanctuary -- particularly after he consulted a lawyer who has dealt with asylum cases involving Spaniards from the once-restive Basque Country.

EU citizens can claim asylum in Belgium, according to the country's CGRA refugee agency.

But Puigdemont has denied planning to do so and moreover even if he did, the chances of success would seem to be very slight.

"It's quite exceptional to obtain asylum for a citizen of a European Union country," Dirk Van Den Bulck of the CGRA told RTBF television.

Belgium will consider asylum applications from other EU countries, but works on the principle that members of the bloc are safe and respect human rights. In the last five years Belgium has not granted asylum to any EU citizens.

Puigdemont would have to prove a "threat of persecution" in his country of origin and an impossibility of being protected there, Van Den Bulck said.

If Spain issues a European arrest warrant for Puigdemont "there would be very little room for Belgium to refuse it", said Maxime Chome, a Belgian legal expert.

What are the implications for Belgium?

The Spanish standoff is already causing problems for the Belgian government led by Prime Minister Charles Michel, who rules in coalition with Flemish separatists sympathetic to the Catalan cause.

The French-speaking Belgian leader was quick to stress after Puigdemont's news conference that his government had "not undertaken any step to encourage Mr Puigdemont's arrival on Belgian soil" and warned him not to expect special treatment.

But on Saturday Michel's immigration minister Theo Francken, from the Flemish separatist N-VA party, said Belgium could offer asylum to Puigdemont, infuriating Spain.
The morning attack came a day after special counsel Robert Mueller announced charges against three aides to Trump's campaign who were indicted as part of a sprawling investigation into Russian efforts to influence the vote.

One of the three, George Papadopoulos, who Trump has previously called an "excellent guy," pleaded guilty earlier this month on a charge of lying to the FBI about his Kremlin-related contacts.

The other two, former campaign chief Paul Manafort and Rick Gates pleaded not guilty Monday on charges of conspiracy, money laundering and other counts.

In a series of two tweets, Trump wrote:

"The Fake News is working overtime. As Paul Manaforts lawyer said, there was "no collusion" and events mentioned took place long before he... came to the campaign. Few people knew the young, low level volunteer named George, who has already proven to be a liar. Check the DEMS!"

The reference to the Democratic Party comes amid mounting attacks from Trump and his supporters, who among other things claim the Democrats are behind a "fake" dossier containing salacious details about Trump's alleged Russia ties.

Trump has repeatedly denied any collusion with Russia during his campaign.

In another tweet that landed minutes later, Trump said he hoped people would turn their attention to a tax reform package being fleshed out in Congress.
Speaking to the Council on Foreign Relations in New York, Le Drian again defended the nuclear deal saying it "removes the possibility for Iran to acquire a nuclear weapon."

"But that does not prevent us from being firm and demanding on the other issues" such as Iran's missile program and it regional activities, he said.

Iran has been criticised for providing military backing for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and support to Shiite rebels in Yemen as well as Hezbollah militants in Lebanon.

Le Drian said he would raise those concerns during his visit expected to take place during the second half of November.
The next meeting of the Fremont Area Association of Retired School Personnel will be Nov. 8 at First Methodist Church at 815 N. Broad St. A noon lunch will be served for $7.
The 193-nation assembly has voted overwhelmingly every year since 1991 to demand an end to the embargo, delivering a rebuke to Washington over its Cuba policy.

But in a first, the United States last year abstained as the administration of former president Barack Obama worked to repair relations with Havana and end more than five decades of enmity.

Taking the floor ahead of the vote, US Ambassador Nikki Haley dismissed the debate as "political theatre" and an attempt by Cuba to "distract the world's attention from the destruction it has inflicted on its own people."

"As long as the Cuban people continue to be deprived of their human rights and fundamental freedoms -- as long as the proceeds from trade with Cuba go to prop up the dictatorial regime responsible for denying those rights -- the United States does not fear isolation in this chamber or anywhere else," she said.

Haley pledged that the US decision two years ago to open diplomatic relations with Cuba would remain unchanged, saying "our friendship and good will toward the Cuban people remain as strong as ever."

The US State Department said the decision to once again vote against the UN resolution was part of a review of US policy that seeks to focus on democratic reforms in Cuba rather than building ties.

Imposed in 1959 at the height of the Cold War, the trade embargo on Cuba has remained in force and can only be lifted by the US Congress, which has steadfastly rejected such a move.

A government of millionaires

The resolution presented by Cuba stresses the "necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed" by the United States against Cuba.

It noted that President Donald Trump has rolled back some of the measures taken by Obama.

Addressing the assembly, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez slammed Haley's remarks as "disrespectful, offensive and interfering" and said the current US policy was a "return to the past."

"President Trump does not have the least morale authority to question Cuba," said Rodriguez.

"He is heading a government of millionaires aiming to implement savage measures against low-income families, against the poor people in this country, minorities and immigrants."

"He is pursuing a program that encourages hatred and division."

Trump in June announced new travel restrictions and banned trade with Cuban businesses linked to the military and the intelligence services, a move that put key economic sectors including tourism out of reach to American firms.
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind.  Purdue University and the Purdue Research Foundation signed a strategic research and commercialization alliance on Tuesday (Oct. 31) with the Universidad Nacional de San Agustin (UNSA) in the Arequipa region of Peru to accelerate the development of sustainable solutions to the linked socioeconomic and environmental challenges impacting use and supply systems for the regions food, water and energy.

In acting globally, Purdue looks for opportunities to make lasting impact on a large scale, Purdue President Mitch Daniels said. Purdue works to create a happier, healthier and more prosperous Indiana. I hope that this will help UNSA create a happier, healthier and more prosperous Arequipa, Peru and Latin America.

The UNSA alliance is the latest example of Purdues growing international impact with programs already in place in Africa, Colombia, India, China and Ireland. The goal of the partnership is to make UNSA the premier location in Latin America for cutting-edge environmental sustainability research and innovation, and technology transfer.

We are thrilled to have found a strategic partner in Purdue and Discovery Park, whose mission and themes dovetail seamlessly with the vision of UNSA, said Rohel Sanchez Sanchez, UNSAs rector (president). The new alliance will draw on Purdues unique expertise, which will foster innovation, solutions and economic prosperity locally and regionally.

The partnership, which represents one of the largest collaborative international projects in Purdues history, comprises four key elements, including the establishment of the Arequipa Nexus Institute for Food, Energy, Water and the Environment, the UNSA-Foundry and Tech park, a curriculum development program, and an English language program. Initially, the focus will be on the development of the Nexus institute, which will facilitate collaboration through targeted interdisciplinary projects addressing challenges and needs in the social sciences, food security and safety, water source and quality, and soil health.

We are confident this alliance will create a new era of knowledge, discovery and innovation for UNSA and help solve some of the grand challenges facing Peru, Latin America and the world, said Tomas Diaz de la Rubia, chief scientist and executive director of Discovery Park. The alliance will work to bring a convergence of transdisciplinary ideas to find transformative solutions to the challenges facing the region.

Purdues Center for the Environment (C4E) in Discovery Park will be the administrative and collaborative link to UNSA in establishing the Nexus Institute in Arequipa. Timothy Filley, professor of geochemistry and soil science at Purdue University and interim director of C4E, will co-direct the Nexus Institutes scientific programs and partnerships together with his counterpart at UNSA, Henry Gustavo Cornejo Polanco, professor and dean of the School of Process Engineering at UNSA.

The institutes long-term goal is to serve as the reference point for Latin American research on sustainable watershed management, agricultural innovation and development, soil and water quality assessment, science-based decision-making, and agro-economic development through interdisciplinary research, Filley said. Purdues broad scientific and engineering expertise cuts across these areas which has allowed us to develop a strong, collaborative research network with UNSA colleagues.

More than 70 faculty and staff representing 23 departments and eight colleges at Purdue are already involved in the development of several initial research projects designed to partner with UNSA faculty and students to address the challenges facing Peru. In addition, Purdues Polytechnic Institute is helping UNSA plan the Nexus Institute building. Located in the Majes agricultural valley of Arequipa, it will be equipped with state-of-the-art instrumentation, conference facilities and residential quarters for visiting scientists.

Discovery Park will also help UNSA create a technology park and commercialization hub similar to Purdues Foundry, where students, faculty and others work together to move entrepreneurial ideas to the marketplace. Plans to set up a technology transfer program similar to Purdue Research Foundations Office of Technology Commercialization are also in discussion.

Purdue is a world leader in creating new ideas, and the Purdue Research Foundation is a world leader in how you translate those ideas to impact, said Greg Deason, senior vice president of the Purdue Research Foundation and director of innovation and entrepreneurship at Purdues Burton D. Morgan Center for Entrepreneurship in Discovery Park. We look forward to working with UNSA officials on ways to take their ideas and have a greater impact.

Purdue became involved with UNSA after signing an agreement with the Core Foundation in 2016 agreeing to explore opportunities to provide solutions and economic innovations to help developing communities, especially those in Latin America. Core Foundation represents 15 universities in Peru with the mission to promote economic development through strategic partnerships between universities, government and private companies in North and South America.

Core Foundation is an organization that helps reach 15 of the 17 global goals made by the United Nations for sustainable development, said Core Foundation President and CEO Ricardo Torreblanca. The impact of Core Foundation has been bigger than I have ever imagined, and I can see that we are on the right track.

Purdues engagement in Peru also includes opportunities for Purdue students offered by the University of Technology and Engineering in Lima, Peru through the Purdue Polytechnic Institute.

About Discovery Park

Discovery Park is a place where Purdue researchers move beyond traditional boundaries, collaborating across disciplines and with policymakers and business leaders to create solutions for a better world. Grand challenges of global health, global conflict and security, and those that lie at the nexus of sustainable energy, world food supply, water and the environment are the focus of researchers in Discovery Park. The translation of discovery to impact is integrated into the fabric of Discovery Park through entrepreneurship programs and partnerships.

About the Center for the Environment

The mission of the Center for the Environment (C4E) in Discovery park is to promote proactive, interdisciplinary research, learning, and engagement at Purdue addressing important environmental challenges. C4E works with global partners to conduct use-inspired science to address humanitys most pressing environmental and sustainability challenges.

About Purdue Foundry

The Purdue Foundry is an entrepreneurship and commercialization accelerator in Discovery Park's Burton D. Morgan Center for Entrepreneurship whose professionals help Purdue innovators create startups. Managed by the Purdue Research Foundation, the Purdue Foundry was named a top recipient at the 2016 Innovation and Economic Prosperity Universities Designation and Awards Program by the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities for its work in entrepreneurship. For more information about funding and investment opportunities in startups based on a Purdue innovation, contact the Purdue Foundry at foundry@prf.org.

About Universidad Nacional de San Agustin

The National University of San Agustin de Arequipa (UNSA) was founded on Nov. 11, 1828, as a public university. Its mission is to train high-quality professionals to be competitive, capable of being agents of change and development in society, and excellent researchers. Additionally, its mission is to solve problems that impact the environment of the region and the country of Peru, where UNSA is located.

Writer: Tom Coyne, 765-588-1044, tjcoyne@prf.org

Sources: Mitch Daniels, president@purdue.edu

Tomas Diaz de la Rubia, 765-496-6625, tddlr@purdue.edu

Tim Filley, 765-494-6581, filley@purdue.edu

Greg Deason, 765-588-5254, gwdeason@prf.org

Ricardo Torreblanca, 765-418-6988, rtorreblanca@coreworld.org
ODON, Ind. and CRANE, Ind.  Purdue@WestGate, aimed at boosting regional development for southern Indiana, launched its first Firestarter program with 11 high-potential startups at the WestGate Academy.

Firestarter is a cohort-based program that connects entrepreneurs with the resources they need to move their innovations to commercialization. The six-week program covers a wide variety of entrepreneurial topics including business plan development, value proposition, ideation, validation and market discovery.

In West Lafayette, the Purdue Foundry Firestarter program has a proven track record with 165 startups having gone through or been assisted by the program from 2013 to 2017. One hundred of these startups are based on Purdue University patented innovations and the other 65 originate from community-based intellectual property.

The response to the program exceeded what we anticipated and is a tremendous first stride toward growing WestGate as a regional innovation hub, said Jason Salstrom, director of Purdue@WestGate. This kind of a response indicates considerable entrepreneurial potential.

Firestarter participants include current and former NSWC Crane engineers as well as incubator tenants at WestGate Academy. Some startups in the cohorts are affiliated with higher education institutions such as Indiana University and University of Southern Indiana.

Brooke Pyne is the technology transfer director at NSWC Crane.

Technology transfer (T2) is about the transition of Crane-developed technologies into the commercial sector," Pyne said. "The Firestarter program is a great way to assist entrepreneurs with commercialization efforts and the progression to the marketplace."

Mike Sandefur is senior project manager of 3rd Millennium Project, a startup in the first Firestarter session.

The resources, education, and confidence provided by this program and programs like it, will promote innovations that will advance the human spirit, Sandefur said. I am blessed to take part in Firestarter alongside other like-minded entrepreneurs.

Samantha Nelson, program facilitator at Purdue@WestGate, said Firestarter is a Purdue Foundry program, a startup accelerator at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana.

The next set of cohorts will launch in early 2018, Nelson said. We anticipate that the program will grow even more and draw entrepreneurs from areas such as Vincennes, Jasper and Terre Haute in addition to our current areas.

Purdue@WestGate offers a range of resources to accelerate business growth, including experienced entrepreneurs-in-residence to provide mentorship, Purdue Polytechnic CareerMaker to help businesses develop workforce talent and monthly Spirited Entrepreneur networking events to provide a forum to share ideas and connect with other entrepreneurs.

For more information about Purdue@WestGate, contact Salstrom at 812-483-0935, jdsalstrom@prf.org.

About Purdue@WestGate

Purdue@WestGate is an economic development accelerator formed by the partnership between WestGate Authority, Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane Division (NSWC Crane), Purdue University and Purdue Research Foundation. The Indiana-based collaboration combines strengths to advance educational, research and development and technology commercialization across Indiana and elsewhere. Purdue@WestGate offers tools for startups, entrepreneurial experts, programs, educational opportunities and workforce development to help southern Indiana businesses grow and thrive. For more information about the resources available to businesses, visit Purdue@WestGate.

About Purdue Foundry

The Purdue Foundry is an entrepreneurship and commercialization accelerator in Discovery Park's Burton D. Morgan Center for Entrepreneurship whose professionals help Purdue innovators create startups. Managed by the Purdue Research Foundation, the Purdue Foundry was named a top recipient at the 2016 Innovation and Economic Prosperity Universities Designation and Awards Program by the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities for its work in entrepreneurship. For more information about funding and investment opportunities in startups based on a Purdue innovation, contact the Purdue Foundry at foundry@prf.org.

Writer: Sarah K. Miller, 812-863-2756, sarah.miller@stimulusengineering.com

Source: Samantha Nelson, 812-863-4080, samantha.nelson@stimulusengineering.com

Jason Salstrom, 812-483-0935, jdsalstrom@prf.org

Mike Sandefur, mike@3rdMillenniumProject.org, 812-449-5695
DAVENPORT Following MoboTrex acquiring RGA LLC, a mid-Atlantic traffic systems distributor in April 2017, the organization has renamed RGA to MoboTrex Mid-Atlantic.

Since RGA and MoboTrex joined forces last spring, weve been working diligently to take the best practices from both entities to provide our valued customers with cost-saving processes and technologies in the ITS market, said Joel Wright, MoboTrex CEO and president. Weve been building our infrastructure to provide more robust customer service and building our team of experts to provide our customers with innovative solutions. We are all working as one team now  and our employees are excited to share the same MoboTrex name and culture.

MoboTrex Mid-Atlantic will continue to serve the ITS and transportation engineering markets in Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina and the District of Columbia, as part of MoboTrexs existing company-owned distribution arm, MoboTrex Distribution.

MoboTrex Midwest, the companys other distribution entity, provides ITS solutions to customers in Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Illinois and Texas.

Plans are underway to change RGA signage to MoboTrex signage on RGAs building in Powhatan, Virginia, as well as integrating infrastructure systems including telecom, order processing, collateral materials and more.

For our customers, the process should be seamless, said Mr. Wright. Theyll have the same great team of experts providing traffic solutions, but will be visiting a different website or seeing the MoboTrex name on the building, packages or paperwork.

MoboTrex is a leading manufacturer of traffic control systems, including the Eagle flagship brand, and a distributor of the Intelligent Transportation Systems industrys best products and solutions. The mobility and traffic experts are headquartered at 109 W.55th St., Davenport, with a manufacturing facility in Austin, Texas, and distribution facilities in Powhatan, Virginia, and Chicago.
CHICAGO (AP)  Illinois education officials say improvements are being made but disparities remain as the state pushes students to improve on standardized tests.

Illinois is using the SAT college entrance exam to determine whether students are meeting academic standards, the Chicago Tribune reported. Students were given the test for free last spring, and were tested on math, reading and writing.

The College Board's SAT scores range from 400 to 1600. Average scores in Illinois ranged from low 740s to the high 1300s, with wide performance differences at the more than 700 high schools statewide, according to Illinois Report Card data. The results also showed disparities among ethnicities, with black and Latino students generally scoring lower than white and Asian students.

For example, students at the selective enrollment Payton College Preparatory High School in Chicago received the highest scores with an average of 1375. Other Chicago schools that exceeded scores of 1200 include Northside, Young, Jones and Lane Tech. But about a dozen schools in the Chicago Public School district posted the worst averages statewide, with average scores under 800.

The Illinois Report Card represents the broadest view on how schools are performing and includes data from state exam scores for high schools and grade schools, school finance, teacher attendance and evaluations, and enrollment and socioeconomic trends.

State School Superintendent Tony Smith said various improvements have been made, but that challenges remain. He said while four- and five-year graduation rates rose, the percent of graduates enrolled in remedial courses dropped from 49.4 to 46.8 percent in 2017.

"I would say that is worth noting, and good that's it's going down. But to me, that is a big area of work in this state," Smith said. "We have too many kids who are still taking remedial coursework."

Smith explained that the federal government required the state to set the same standards for proficiency. Ninety percent of students are estimated to be considered proficient and prepared for college and careers by 2032.

"Overall, we're making progress," Smith said.

The SAT results come after the state topped the national average of 21 with the ACT college entrance exam and exceeded national averages on percentage of students considered college-ready in English, math, reading and science.

ACT spokesman Ed Colby noted that while scores improved, the number of test takers has dropped by about 21,500 since 2016. Colby has said there's a chance the number of students taking the ACT will drop again in 2018, because Illinois "administered the SAT to all students in that grad class."

___

Information from: Chicago Tribune, http://www.chicagotribune.com
CHICAGO (AP)  A judge has refused to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate the shooting of an unarmed man by a Chicago police officer six years ago.

The Chicago Tribune reports that on Tuesday, Cook County Judge Leroy K. Martin Jr. rejected the argument that a special prosecutor is needed to investigate the 2011 shooting of Flint Farmer by Officer Gildardo Sierra because the county's state's attorney's office's close working relationship with the police department has created a conflict of interest.

His contention that there is no inherent conflict comes after State's Attorney Kim Foxx  who argued before she was elected that a conflict existed  decided that a special prosecutor isn't still necessary because of changes she's made in the way her officer handles police shootings.
ELGIN, Ill. (AP)  A man was ordered held without bond Tuesday to face murder and other charges after dismembered remains believed to be his mother were found in luggage submerged in a lagoon at Chicago's Lincoln Park.

Brian Peck, 55, of the Chicago suburb of Elgin, faces two counts of first-degree murder and one count of concealment of a homicide in the death of Gail Peck, 76, Elgin police said.

During a hearing Tuesday in Cook County court in Rolling Meadows, prosecutors alleged Brian Peck attempted to conceal the body in recently purchased luggage.

Citing details from prosecutors that indicated "extensive planning and premeditation," Cook County Circuit Judge Steven J. Goebel said Peck posed an "extreme real and present threat" when he ordered him held without bond.

Police said Peck called authorities Friday afternoon and said his mother went for a walk with her dog and the dog returned home without her. That prompted an hours-long search that included officers on foot, a drone, helicopter and all-terrain vehicles.

On Saturday, two duffel bags containing human remains were discovered in the lagoon after a fisherman found one of the bags. Chicago police said a dive team found the second bag.

Elgin police said Tuesday that investigators have evidence the body is Gail Peck. They also are doing DNA testing, which isn't complete, but police have enough evidence to charge Brian Peck, deputy chief Bill Wolf said.

The (Arlington Heights) Daily Herald reports that DuPage County records show Gail Peck filed an order of protection against her son in March 2016. She told police they argued about loud music he was playing and he twice put her in a chokehold and said he was going to kill her.

Court records show Brian Peck pleaded guilty in June 2016 to domestic battery causing bodily harm and received a 100-day jail sentence.
Charges have been filed in relation to the June death of a cyclist struck on Interstate 74.

Leland S. Debord, 26, Milan, was killed around 6 a.m. June 16 when he was struck by a vehicle on the Interstate 74 at Interstate 280. The accident was within the Moline Police Department's jurisdiction.

James S. Norton has been indicted by grand jury on one count of reckless homicide, Rock Island County court records state.

Mr. Norton, 47, Coal Valley, is accused of falling asleep while northbound on the interstate, which led to his vehicle striking Mr. Debord, county court records state.

Court records state he got behind the wheel though he knew there was a substantial risk he might fall asleep.

The grand jury reviewed two other charges related to an accusation that Mr. Norton left the scene of the collision without reporting it, but did not find enough evidence to support them, Rock Island County State's Attorney John McGehee said on Tuesday.

The grand jury made its decision Oct. 23, court records state.

Mr. Norton was booked into the jail that day, then posted a $1,000 bond, according to the Rock Island County Sheriff's Office. His total bail is $10,000.

His next court appearance was scheduled for December, Mr. McGehee said.
DAVENPORT Join River Bend Foodbank on Sunday, Dec. 10 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Enjoy a bowl of soup, bread and dessert. There will be childrens activities, a volunteer opportunity and raffle and silent auction items. Every dollar raised will go directly to feeding hungry families in our communities.

The goal of this event is to bring our community together (at a very busy time of year) to share a meal, participate in a volunteer activity, learn more about the hunger issue in our community and have some fun. It is an open house type of event, so individuals can come anytime between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Cost is $25 for a family of 4 ($5 each additional person). Each family attending will receive 1 Isabel Bloom Friendship Bowl.

Were excited about Fill the Bowl, said Michael Miller, president & CEO. You really have to see River Bend Foodbank to understand the scope of the hunger-relief effort in eastern Iowa and western Illinois. Weve created an informal, family-friendly event for people to enjoy a nice lunch, have some fun, and see the place. And the keepsake bowl that Isabel Bloom created for this event is a beautiful reminder of the 1 in 8 people in our community who dont have enough food.

Tickets can be purchased at riverbendfoodbank.org/fill-the-bowl or by calling 563-345-6490 x201.
Here's some free advice for the Muscatine City Council after a judge ruled it violated Mayor Diana Broderson's due process rights in tossing her from office:

Accept defeat, and move on.

Taxpayers will thank you. Well, probably not thank you; many say they are angry over the pile of bills stacking up from the long-running political feud. But the council could provide relief to overburdened taxpayers if it were to decline to appeal last week's ruling by District Court Judge Mark Cleve which vacated her impeachment and required the city to pay the mayor's legal fees.

Besides not having a legal leg to stand on, any savings the city might reap by abandoning this unconstitutional fight could help Muscatine's bottom line should city administrator Gregg Mandsager opt to file a defamation lawsuit against the mayor and the city. From the beginning, there has been no love lost between the administrator and the mayor eleced in 2016. As a result, evidence shows he helped lead the effort to investigate and try her on charges she violated the city code, overstepped her authority, made false accusations and, ironically, cost the city too much money.

Whatever the mayor's actions might have cost taxpayers, it can't approach the price taxpayers are paying for actions taken by city leaders in orchestrating an unconstitutional "trial" in which those leaders clearly had a vested interest

Closed session minutes reviewed by the judge (and released only after a costly fight) revealed council members and top staff discussed whether their goal in the "investigation" was to remove the mayor or destroy her reelection chances, and they counted heads to see if there were enough votes for impeachment even before Mayor Broderson had been charged or a hearing had been held.

Due process requires a fair trial before a fair tribunal, not simply the empty appearance of fairness, the judge wrote. He added that, in intermingling investigative, prosecutorial, and judicial functions, the council "rendered the mayor's removal proceedings fundamentally unfair, and thus violated her due process rights."

The council and Mr. Mandsager were quick to point out that the judge didn't rule on the merits of the allegations. But why examine charges presented in proceedings which violate the 5th Amendment rights of the accused?

There was nothing fuzzy about Judge Cleve's opinion on that score. It read in part, "when the council made the decision to remove the mayor from office, the councilmembers had strong interest in shielding themselves from potential personal liability, in preventing the council from being the focus of further accusations, and in restoring its image in the community while negatively impacting the mayor's image."

Sadly, those who brought the politically motivated charges, still are trying to wear the white hats.

"While the ruling invalidated the decision to remove the mayor from office, the same ruling left standing the merits of the case which led to the removal vote," a news release from city communications manager Kevin Jenison read. "We urge the citizens of Muscatine to read the testimony from the removal hearings and the findings of fact that led to the removal vote."

That's good advice, as far as it goes. We urge residents to take a long look at the entire record, including the lengths to which city leaders went to to overturn the will of Muscatine voters.

Then seize the opportunity to exercise the the most fundamental right of democracy which the council tried unsuccessfully to wrest from you.

Vote next Tuesday.
Celebrating Our Service Members

Friday, November 11 is Veterans Day, when we honor and show gratitude to all members of our Armed Forces  those currently serving, those who...

Transit Equity Starts With QueensLink

For decades Queens has seen a disinvestment in the necessary transit infrastructure the borough needs to promote equity and sustainability. Most of the time, transformative...
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A Rancho Santa Fe resident has been selected to represent the City of Angels in the upcoming Miss California Teen USA pageant.

Kianoosh Jafari, a 17-year-old honors student at San Dieguito Academy in Encinitas, will compete in the pageant in Long Beach from Dec. 1 to Dec. 3. The winner of the competition will go on to compete for the Miss Teen USA title at the national Miss USA competition.

Kianoosh is on her schools varsity speech and debate team and competes in Lincoln-Douglas morality debates across California. She is also treasurer of her schools Sweet Friends type one diabetes support group and leads a nonprofit organization called Nooshs Pause for Paws that raises funds for local animal shelters.

The lifelong San Diego native recently discussed her aspirations for becoming the next Miss Teen USA.

For more information about the Miss Teen USA competition, visit misscaliforniausa.com.

How were you selected to compete in this pageant?

I competed in an official Miss California Teen USA preliminary pageant called Miss City of Angels Teen USA where I was fortunate enough to take home the crown and sash out of dozens of other girls. As a contestant, I competed in activewear, evening gown, a personal interview and onstage questions, all of which were compiled to create a final score. The contestant with the highest score received the title of Miss City of Angels Teen USA and my entry fee for the state pageant was paid for.

What is your history with pageants? How long have you been doing them, why did you get involved and why do you enjoy doing them?

I have been competing in pageants for about two years now. As a child, I had always wanted to enter a pageant, but lacked the confidence to do so. However, one day I decided to take the risk and enter a pageant. Ever since, I have completely fallen in love with them. I love the confidence and important life skills they teach women. Not only that, but my public speaking skills have improved greatly, allowing me to apply theses skill to other aspects of my life. Whether it be through school, speech and debate or college interviews, pageants encourage me to be the best version of myself that I can possibly be.

Why should you win?

The crown and sash of Miss California Teen USA are not just beautiful accessories to me. They represent an opportunity to promote important causes all across the state of California. One cause that is very near and dear to my heart is my nonprofit organization, Nooshs Pause for Paws, where I collect new and used blankets, towels, sheets and other goods that animals need and distribute them amongst animal shelters in Los Angeles and San Diego. With the title of Miss California Teen USA, I would be able to reach a much larger audience, thus allowing me to gain more donations and help more animals in need.

When and why did you start this nonprofit? Whats your goal with the nonprofit? How much have you raised so far?

After begging my mother for a dog for 14 years, she finally allowed me to adopt one. Not long after adopting my dog Oliver, my view towards animals changed forever. Oliver has allowed me to witness first-hand the love and happiness that pets can provide. This love for animals has inspired me to start my own nonprofit organization, Nooshs Pause for Paws. My ultimate goal is to provide animals with comfort and hope during their times of need. Through the thousands of donations I have distributed to shelters, I have been able to do exactly that and hope to expand my nonprofit and help as many animals as possible.

Youre involved in a type one diabetes club at school. Why is this important to you?

I have been the treasurer of a type one diabetes support group called Sweet Friends for approximately three years now. I am involved in this club because both my father and my best friend as well as a few other students at my school have type one diabetes. Through this club, I am able to learn more about type one diabetes and how I can support those who are affected by it. In addition, through the Sweet Friends club, we have been able to raise over $1,000 for the JDRF type one diabetes research organization, allowing us to come one step closer towards finding a cure. This has been one of the many contributions I have made to support my loved ones suffering from type one diabetes as well as others affected by the disease

What other extracurricular activities are you involved in?

I am heavily involved with my schools Speech and Debate team where I compete in Lincoln-Douglas morality debates. In these types of debates, I am given a hypothetical moral issue and must argue for or against the topic with very little time to prepare. Through my onstage questions at pageants, I have learned to think and respond on the spot to similar topics but in front of larger audiences. I feel that this has further improved my confidence and speaking in debates.

What or who do you hope to represent by winning Miss California Teen USA?

If given the opportunity to become the next Miss California Teen USA, I would love to be a representative for animals in need. There are millions of animals across the country who are struggling to survive and find a loving home, but are unable to reach out and receive help. With the title of Miss California Teen USA, I would love to be a voice for these animals. The crown and sash of Miss California Teen USA have a lot of power, and I would love to use that power to be a representative for homeless and shelter animals across the country.

What do you like about representing San Diego specifically?

I have lived in San Diego my whole life. This city is everything I know and holds an important place in my heart. To be a representative for the city of San Diego at such a large pageant is truly an honor. I love both San Diego and pageantry, so to be given the opportunity to represent my hometown at a pageant is a great way to combine the two.
The Senate recently confirmed Nebraska Director of Agriculture, Gregory Ibach, unanimously to serve as Under Secretary of Marketing and Regulatory Programs at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). I am thrilled my friend and fellow Nebraskan will be serving Americas farmers and ranchers in this role.

In Nebraska, we understand the importance of agriculture to our families and the economy. We also know what policies farmers and ranchers need from Washington.

Earlier this year, Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue visited our family ranch just south of Valentine. The Secretary and I hosted a conversation with some of our friends and neighbors about the different challenges they face. At the time, Greg was serving as Director of the Nebraska Department of Agriculture, and he joined us that day. A common refrain we all heard was that producers need more certainty from the government.

At USDA, Greg will be a strong voice for Americas producers who need regulatory relief. Greg is an agriculture expert who has extensive knowledge of the industry and its numerous contributions to Nebraska, our country, and the world. He has a remarkable background in agriculture that makes him incredibly well-suited for this position.

Nebraskans are agriculture leaders. We are known as the Beef State and currently rank number one in the nation for cattle on feed. Nebraska also boasts a diverse crop portfolio that ranges from corn and soybeans to wheat and sugar beets. This diversity puts Nebraska at the center of agriculture productivity and is the reason we need a Nebraskan at USDA.

Greg is a Nebraskan to the core. His passion for his job and extensive knowledge about production agriculture make him well qualified to serve the hardworking producers of rural America. I know because I have witnessed his dedication firsthand.

Last Congress, Greg and I worked closely together to reopen the Israeli market to Nebraska beef for the first time since 2003. Throughout this process, he showed a remarkable capacity to work with many different stakeholders at the local, state, and national level to ensure our producers could access this new opportunity. I know hell do the same kind of work in Washington.

As Under Secretary, Greg will oversee programs under the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, the Agricultural Marketing Service, and the Grain Inspection, Packers, and Stockyards Administration. These agencies focus on animal and plant health, promotion of U.S. commodities, and grain and livestock markets. With such a broad range of issues to cover, confirming him was vital to the future success of our ag producers. In his new position, Greg will serve Americas farmers and ranchers well. His vast experience in Nebraska will add a critical perspective to the work done by the USDA.

Nebraskans recognize that the past few years have been economically tough for farm country and the entire state. If our producers are to continue being global leaders in food, fiber, and fuel, they need regulatory certainty. With Greg at the USDA, we can now address more of burdensome red tape and bureaucratic ambiguity, that, for too long, weve seen coming out of the agency.

Although Secretary Perdue has brought positive change to the Department of Agriculture, more must be done. He needs a full team if he is to continue supporting and promoting American agriculture.

I look forward to working with Greg to provide more certainty for the producers in this country who feed a hungry world. Having a fully functioning USDA continues to be the best way to advance the goals of our nations agriculture producers. I will continue working on behalf of our ag producers in Washington to find ways to help them succeed.

Thank you for participating in the democratic process. I look forward to visiting with you again next week.
Russian Supreme Court dismisses Ukraines appeal in dispute over Tatneft payment

MOSCOW, November 1 (RAPSI)  The Supreme Court of Russia has dismissed an appeal filed by Ukraine seeking to overrule a lower courts decision in the countrys $112 million dispute with Tatneft oil company, the courts database reads on Wednesday.

The Supreme Court refused to transfer the case to the courts board on economic cases.

In late August, the Moscow District Commercial Court overturned a lower courts decision to cancel enforcement of the ruling issued by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague awarding the company $112 million in the dispute with Ukraine. The case was sent for another review by the Moscow Commercial Court. Ukraine demands to vacate this decision. On October 17, Ukraine appealed the ruling.

Earlier, the Moscow Commercial Court stated that the company has a right to file a petition with a Russian commercial court seeking enforcement of a foreign courts ruling only if the commercial court in question has effective jurisdiction granting it right to actualize the ruling. According to the court, Tatneft did not provide evidence proving existence of other partys property on the Russian territory that can be recovered.

Tatneft, based in Russias Republic of Tatarstan, claimed forcible takeover of Ukrtatnafta and seizure of its shares. In May 2008, the company took its case to a tribunal administered by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague.

In the summer of 2014, the tribunal ruled that Ukraine had broken the bilateral investment treaty with Russia and awarded compensation of $112 million plus interest over the Ukraine's Kremenchug oil refinery (Ukrtatnafta).

Ukraines authorities have challenged the ruling, but the Court of Appeal of Paris dismissed the appeal in November 2016.

In March 2017, the Russian company filed a motion with the U.S. court seeking to confirm arbitral award and enter the judgment in its favor. According to Tatneft, the amount of debt plus interest reached $144 million.

Later, Tatneft filed similar motions with the High Court in London and the Moscow Commercial Court.

This July, Ukraine filed a motion with the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia asking to dismiss the enforcement petition of Tatneft.
Investigation into violent clashes at Moscow cemetery completed

MOSCOW, November 1 (RAPSI)  Investigation into violent clashes at Moscows Khovansky cemetery involving large numbers of people has been completed, the Investigative Committees press service reports Wednesday.

Depending on their role in the crime, defendants stand charged with organization and participation in mass events, infliction of grievous bodily harm led to death of two and more people, abuse of authority, the statement reads.

Among the persons charged in the case are head of one of the territorial directorates for ritual services in Moscow Ritual Yury Tchabuyev, ex-police officer Nikita Moshenko and alleged organizer of clashes Alexander Bocharnikov.

In May 2016, about 200 people were involved in fights at the largest cemetery of Moscow. As a result, three people died, over 13 were injured, and more than 100 persons were arrested. According to investigators, the conflict is related to competition for the cemeterys service market.

Investigators believe that Tchabuyev and Bocharnikov organized the clashes in order to drive away immigrants from the cemetery by force. One of the defendants pleaded guilty in full and testified against others.
Temporary manager files lawsuit against ex-CEO of prominent Russian construction firm

MOSCOW, November 1 (RAPSI)  Temporary manager of the Mostovik construction firm has filed a lawsuit with the Omsk Regional Commercial Court seeking to recover 72 billion rubles (about $1.25 billion) from ex-CEO of the company Oleg Shishov, the courts ruling reads on Wednesday.

The manager Mikhail Kotov seeks to bring Shishov to subsidiary liability for the companys obligations.

In February 2015, the court installed temporary administration in Mostovik with its debt to creditors reaching as high as 57.4 billion rubles (about $1 billion). On June 2 of the same year, the company was declared bankrupt. The firm was developing and constructing sport objects for the 2014 Olympic Games in Sochi.

Shishov was convicted and sentenced to 4 years in prison for evading 500 million rubles of taxes ($7.8 million) in September 2016. He pleaded guilty and requested his case to be reviewed under a special procedure envisaging no examination of evidence.

According to investigators, between 2009 and 2011, Shishov forged financial documents and tax declarations of Mostovik, falsely reporting completion of construction works in Vladivostok and other cities by outside contractors.

Investigators claimed that these contractors had not done any works and the projects were completed by employees of Mostovik itself. As a result, investigators said that Shishov evaded paying over 478 million rubles ($7.4 mln) in taxes.

Additionally, investigators alleged that Shishov embezzled 526 million rubles ($8.2 mln) received as advance payment for construction of the Omsk ring road.

In March 2017, Shishov was released from a penal colony on parole.
Russian businessmans $2.4 billion lawsuit against AFK Sistema dismissed

MOSCOW, November 1 (RAPSI)  The Tverskoy District Court of Moscow has dismissed a lawsuit filed by businessman Yevgeny Grafeyev seeking to recover 142.5 billion rubles (about $2.4 billion) of alleged unjust enrichment from AFK Sistema for the period of illegal ownership of Bashneft, the courts press secretary Anastasia Dzyurko told RAPSI on Wednesday.

Grafeyevs lawsuit was filed in the interests of the Russian Federation, yet he is not a person, who has this right, according to legislation, the courts spokeswoman said.

The businessman also asked the court to collect 47.5 billion rubles (about $827.5 million) in favor of the state on similar grounds.

According to the lawsuit, privatization of Basneft oil corporation by AFK Sistema was unlawful and all consequential deals have no legal power. Grafeyev believes that the defendant must return money to the state obtained through unlawful operations. The lawsuit references rulings of commercial courts related to Bashneft and AFK Sistema.

On October 9, the Moscow City Court dismissed a lawsuit filed by Grafeyev seeking to recover 133 billion rubles (about $2.3 billion) of dividends from AFK Sistema and Sistema-Invest companies for the period of illegal ownership of Bashneft.

The court noted that Grafeyev is not a shareholder of Bashneft. It also stated that disputes between participants of economic partnerships, if at least one of the sides is not an individual entrepreneur, are not to be reviewed in commercial courts. According to the court, the only exception is the case when the disputes are related to business activity of the involved partnerships.

Grafeyev stated that conclusions and circumstances listed in the lawsuit are taken from rulings of commercial courts in several notorious proceedings involving Bashneft.

In 2013, the court granted a defamation lawsuit filed by Russian telecommunications operator MTS against Grafeyev. The latter claimed that in 2001 he gave up highly valued shares of the company after it threatened and blackmailed him.
Russian Ombudsman Moskalkova backs bill on criminal misdemeanor

MOSCOW, November 1 (RAPSI, Nikita Shiryayev) - Russias High Commissioner for Human Rights Tatiana Moskalkova has endorsed a bill introducing the term misdemeanor to criminal legislation, RAPSI reports from the International Exhibition-Forum 50 plus: All advantages of middle age.

The adoption of this bill would create conditions for social rehabilitation of people committed criminal misdemeanor, Moskalkova said. Conviction restricting persons possibilities including job placement would not apply to these people, she added.

However, Moskalkova believes that all non-serious crimes must be recognized as misdemeanor, but not only those which are not punishable by imprisonment, as laid down by the bill.

On Tuesday, the Supreme Courts Plenum approved the bill on criminal misdemeanor. According to the bill, a criminal offense of low gravity, which cant result in prison term, is to be considered as a criminal misdemeanor.

The chairman of the courts board on criminal cases Vladimir Davydov said that introduction of this term would affect 80 crimes listed in the Criminal Code. Data accumulated by the court shows that in 2016 over 40,000 people were found guilty of crimes that may be recognized as criminal misdemeanors.
Russia refuses to extradite man charged with Montenegro coup attempt

MOSCOW, November 1 (RAPSI)  Russia will not extradite Montenegrin citizen Ananie Nikic charged with coup attempt and terrorism in his home country, the statement released on the website of Russias Prosecutor Generals Office on Wednesday reads.

Nikic has been given refugee status in Russia. Thus, the request lodged by Montenegrin authorities was dismissed in accordance with the European Convention on Extradition of December 13, 1957, prosecutors said.

Montenegro claims that a group of Serb and Russian nationalists plotted an attack against state institutions and planned the murder of then Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic in October 2016.

Moscow has officially denied accusations of involvement in the coup organization.
Education Secretary Betsy DeVoss new agenda for handling allegations of sexual assault is flunking out at colleges and universities across the country. Instead, many say they will continue to adhere to Obama administration guidance issued in 2011 that made it easier to punish alleged perpetrators.

Yale University, for example, said it has no plans to deviate from the Obama-era policies, after alumni urged campus administrators to resist changes. California State University-Northridge said it would not waver in our commitment to Title IX and its protections. Washington University in St. Louis also said it had no intention of turning back on our commitment or resolve.

Lisa Kirkpatrick, Title IX coordinator at St. Edward University in Texas, told the schools student newspaper: Its business as usual, nothing has changed on this campus, adding that campus standards are less about the law and more about our mission. President Thomas LeBlanc of George Washington University said the school has no intention of removing the support currently in place for survivors of sexual assault.

In a speech last month, DeVos announced she was rescinding Obama-era guidance issued under Title IX, a sweeping education anti-discrimination law. The guidance directed schools to adopt a lower threshold for establishing guilt in sexual assault cases; a preponderance of evidence was sufficient, the policy said, rather than clear and convincing evidence.

DeVos said the Obama policy tilted the process too far against the accused and denied them legal due process. But she did not immediately issue new guidance to replace the old. Instead she granted schools more flexibility to adopt their own standards while her department solicits comment from the many parties involved. It seems clear, though, that DeVos will instruct schools to adopt the clear and convincing standard for guilt.

She may face strong headwinds, to judge from a survey of schools for responses to her September speech. After initially chafing under the scrutiny, many college administrators embraced the Obama standard as a necessary response to what they see as a campus rape epidemic  and its hard to imagine those attitudes will change in the wake of the sexual misconduct revelations rocking American society in the wake of the Harvey Weinstein scandal.

The reaction so far is no surprise to Stuart Taylor Jr., co-author of a highly critical look at the Obama policies, The Campus Rape Frenzy. He said university leaders are terrified that if they appear receptive to change they will be targeted for destruction by the believe the woman activists in their own student bodies, bureaucracies.

Taylor also noted that the assumptions and ideology behind the Obama policies originated in the academy, which he said have for decades been permeated by the rape culture ideologies of gender warriors such as Catherine MacKinnon.

In addition, a hostility to the Trump administration in general and to DeVos in particular  especially for her criticism of public schools  predisposes school officials to oppose almost anything they propose. The universities, Stuart added, are unlikely to change their guilt-presuming approach unless and until the federal government adopts very specific federal regulations requiring multiple procedural protections for accused students.

DeVos could take an aggressive approach toward enforcing any new policies set forth by her department, which is exactly what the Obama administration did. At a 2014 meeting, Department of Education Assistant Secretary Catherine Lhamon told attendees that ending federal funding was not "an empty threat." Schools failing to comply with the administration's regulations would feel the governments wrath, she said, implying that she had already issued such threats in several instances.

A 2013 study found the federal government spends $75.6 billion on higher education, including research grants and financial aid.

The Education Department, including its Office for Civil Rights, did not respond to numerous inquiries on how it will handle the schools' resistance.

While its unclear how tough DeVos will be in enforcing any new guidance, it is quite clear that many schools are not inclined to change their policies  even ones that have been tarnished by the way they have handled sexual assault cases.

In 2015, the University of Colorado Boulder settled with a student accused of sexual assault for $15,000. The school suspended him even though the accuser was caught lying extensively to investigators and told police she only made the accusation because she was pissed off at being subsequently rebuffed by the male student.

CU also settled with a philosophy professor who nearly lost his job after looking into how the schools Office of Discrimination and Harassment intentionally and systematically manipulated the evidence in another campus sexual assault investigation.

Nevertheless, almost immediately after DeVoss speech, Colorados Title IX coordinator, Valerie Simons announced: "There will be no immediate changes to either our sexual misconduct policy or our [Office of Institutional Equity and Compliance] policy."

Duke University, which drew withering criticism for the way it handled a 2006 case in which members of its lacrosse team were wrongfully accused of rape, also pledged to keep its current sexual assault policies.

Our commitment to this issue of sexual assault on campuses and really trying to do everything that we can is firm, said Valerie Ashby, dean of the schools Trinity College of Arts & Sciences. Right now we are staying where we are. We are as committed. She also said the school feels like what we have in place right now actually is a fair balance, so we arent going to go anywhere until we see what happens with rulemaking.

Duke is currently being sued by at least one student who claims that an unfair and sloppy investigation led to his expulsion, costing him a lucrative job offer. He argued that administrators claims that when two students are equally drunk, only the man is responsible for getting consent, reflected gender bias. He also asserts that Duke trains its investigators to assume that all accusations are true, by pointing to misleading statistics that just 2 percent of rape claims (to police) are false.

Valerie Ashby, Dean of Trinity College of Arts & Sciences at Duke University

Syracuse University defended Obama-era guidance even while facing a lawsuit filed by a student who was expelled after being accused of sexual assault. The two students in question had engaged in sex earlier, had made plans to meet up the night of the second encounter, which occurred after both had been drinking heavilyand which he says was consensual.

Its not only institutions of higher learning that have vowed to resist the reforms DeVos has outlined. Several states have produced legislation to codify the Obama administrations guidance, including Illinois and New York. At the federal level, Democrats introduced a bill that would turn the Obama guidance into law.

There are, however, a few outliers.



Oklahoma Wesleyan University President Everett Piper, a staunch critic of the Obama-era policies, said his school would no longer be pressured to compromise students rights.

One surprising response came in California where the state Legislature passed a bill aimed to codify Obama-era guidance. But it was vetoed by Gov. Jerry Brown, who cited concerns for due process and fairness. Brown had previously signed into a law a bill that made yes means yes the state consent standard  only on college campuses  but admitted in his recent statement that thoughtful legal minds have brought up concerns that such policies unintentionally resulted in some colleges failure to uphold due process for accused students.
STOCKHOLM: Xi pulled it off. His crowning could not have been grander. Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era is now written into Communist Party of Chinas constitution on par with Mao Zedong Thought and Deng Xiaoping Theory. As thoughts rank higher than theory, Xi is recognized as the party-states core, ranked higher than Deng, a status that will remain even after he leaves his current positions.

Mao founded the Peoples Republic, and Deng created the conditions for Chinas exceptional era of reforms that opened the country to the world. Xi is taking China into its third era, one in which China intends to be second to none.

Gone is the era guided by Dengs tao guang yang hui, meaning that China should keep a low profile and bide its time.

Instead, Xi proposes that, before the Peoples Republic 100th anniversary in 2049, China will have developed into a modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced, harmonious, and beautiful. China already stood tall in the East and now is time for the nation to take center stage in the world and to make a greater contribution to humankind. China, going its own proud way, has a model to offer. The Chinese model of growth under communist rule is "flourishing," giving "a new choice" to other developing countries. These two statements mark a decisive departure from previous party declarations.

The Party Constitution also recognizes Xi as military thinker with the Chinese Communist Party to uphold its absolute leadership over the Peoples Liberation Army and implement Xi Jinpings thinking on strengthening the military. By 2035 China will have a world class military, one built to fight.

Interestingly, the document recognizes a dilemma that, in fact, potentially challenging the party-state: The constitution no longer describes the main contradiction facing Chinese society as one between the ever-growing material and cultural needs of the people and backward social production but between unbalanced and inadequate development and the peoples ever-growing need for a better life  that is, a better life within the party-state.

Such is the partys task in the new era: 99 percent loyalty to the party is not enough. The party intends to consolidate power, categorically rejecting western ideas of liberal democracy.

A new era requires a bold approach. World developments since the 2008 global financial crisis, Donald Trumps degrading of the United States and Europes drifting search for identity, have created irresistible strategic opportunities. Hubris is growing in Beijing, as leaders envision a future belonging to China as defined by the party.

But triumphant visions are hardly enough. The PRCs achievements since Mao are undeniable. China has the worlds largest economy by growing margins, in terms of purchasing power, and generates more than one-fourth of global growth. Globalization did not create todays China, but the country is, ironically enough, globalizations great winner. In ushering China into the World Trade Organization, former US President Bill Clinton declared that such membership would be in US interest, and not simply for integrating China into the global economy: The emerging knowledge economy, economic innovation and political empowerment, whether anyone likes it or not, will inevitably go hand in hand.

The internet, a new frontier, was a huge challenge. Clinton noted that there's no question China has been trying to crack down on the internet, but that would be like trying to nail Jello to the wall. The Chinese economy developed faster than anyone could then imagine, and its leaders did manage to nail the Jello. China remains a party-state, consolidated during Xis first term, after a crisis-ridden spell prior to the 18th Congress in 2012.

Xi sees himself as having a mission. Nothing matters more than maintaining stability through firm party rule, ruthless if necessary, repressive by nature. A vibrant, increasingly pluralistic society must cope within the party-states mounting constraints. A better life offers much, but individual freedom, as enshrined in the UN Covenant on Civil and Political right  never ratified by China and no longer on the agenda of international dialogues with the country  is one of seven evils proclaimed in 2013, a threat to be managed.

Underlying Xis concerns, to quote political sociologist Larry Diamond, is the 70-year itch stemming from the Soviet Unions abrupt collapse. The partys foremost task is to prevent collapse and hence never nationalize the Peoples Liberation Army the way the Soviet Union did. The Chinese Dream as a controlocracy is bound to suffer from lack of true international appeal.

Still, China is indeed in a position to make greater contributions to the world. Its natural that China undertakes initiatives like the Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank and grander geopolitical schemes like the One Belt One Road initiative.

Remember also that China has not gone to war since attacking Vietnam in February of 1979, determined to teach its recalcitrant neighbor a lesson. Despite a number of serious unresolved conflicts, East Asia has enjoyed what has been referred to as the long peace. This peace, though, has not been institutionalized and appears increasingly fragile, not least because of Chinas growing assertiveness in a number of areas and reticence in other areas.

Despite its growing power, China cannot dictate a viable solution to territorial disputes in the South China Sea, its claims in the East China Sea or complex territorial disputes with India. At the Party Congress, Xi described Chinas resolve and ability to defeat separatist attempts for Taiwan independence in any form, but annexing Taiwan by force is not an option. China views North Koreas nuclear development as primarily a problem for the United States, but today it is as much Chinas own. Chinas two priorities, foremost stability and only then a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula, have contributed to the drift towards the current impasse. China needs to build trust. With growing power follows greater responsibilities both regionally and globally.

By far the most serious challenge facing China is how to handle Sino-US relations, the most important relationship of our time, bound to suffer from strategic distrust. North Korea is the most urgent issue for Sino-US diplomacy, but immediately behind lies growing economic tensions in a sad era of US protectionism. China is no longer a developing country. To preserve the liberal economic order on which growth depends, the countrys leaders must show an increased willingness to accept reciprocity as a fundamental principle or face mounting difficulties in the international market. The Party Congress gave no clear answer regarding economic reforms. Tension is evident between the increased emphasis on the partys role and the role of the market  boiling down to Xi versus Xi.

The new Standing Committee of the Politburo includes reform-minded pragmatists such as Wang Yang and Han Zheng. They may not matter much, though, with Xi as supreme leader, promoted by a cult of personality that should have remained a tragic feature of the past.

Finally, the Standing Committee consists only of men, none young enough to take over in five years. Chen Miner, Xis favorite, and Hu Chunhua, elevated to the Politburo at the 18th Congress, did not make the cut. Unlike Xi before he took over as the party secretary general there is no one training to take over. Xi is keeping his options open, thereby deinstitutionalizing the succession process. As a consequence, the midnight hour of authoritarian systems will cast its shadow over his third era. Xis historic ambitions to achieve peerless personal power are clever by half.
Former U.S. national security adviser Zbigniew Brzezinski managed to capture thousands of years of Chinese history in about 10 words. In his seminal work, The Grand Chessboard, Brzezinski characterized China's geopolitics through the ages as "cycles of reunifications and expansions, followed by decay and fragmentations." The assessment gets at the heart of the the country's recurring struggle to unify an insurmountably vast landmass under a centralized authority  a struggle that continues to this day. Nearly 70 years after its most recent unification, following more than two centuries of decay and five decades of fragmentation, China is now on the verge of another period of expansion. And as its influence on the global stage increases, China will have to adapt to a new view of geopolitics.

The Middle Kingdom: A World Unto Itself

Compared with its counterparts in the West, China historically has taken a narrower view of geopolitics, one that reached scarcely farther than its borders. Part of the reason for its Sinocentric perspective is the country's sheer geographic scale and diversity. China's borders encompass a territory as immense and varied as that of the entire European continent. Though for the most part it has held together as a cohesive nation, the country is a collection of states, each with its own ethnic, cultural and economic characteristics. And whereas the sweeping European Plain is large enough to accommodate the Continent's many competing powers, China's heartland, making up less than one-third of its total area, doesn't lend itself to coexistence.

The strongest of China's rival forces periodically rose from the chaos to bring the country under centralized rule. Each successive dynasty, be it Han, Mongol or Manchu, followed a well-worn path to power, with few exceptions. Up until the 10th century, political power was concentrated largely in the Guanzhong Plain in northwestern China (and sometimes around the Central Plain), as were the wars and conquests aimed at expanding the central leadership's authority. The power eventually drifted eastward as the North China Plain took on increased economic and cultural importance, linking up with the fertile Yangtze Plain. As the empire pushed its frontiers farther to the north and east, the North Plain's prominence grew. The Yangtze Plain, by contrast, produced dynasties that quickly succumbed either to their own weaknesses, as the Southern Song did in the 12th and 13th centuries, or to their northern competitors, as the short-lived Nationalist government did in the 20th century.

And no matter how the power shifted across China's sprawling territory, the same process  competition for the Central Plain, or Zhongyuan  underlay each dynastic transition. The country's various factions understood that control of the heartland would give them control of the entire territory. This principle was laid out later by British geopolitical theorist Halford Mackinder in his "Heartland Theory." As Mackinder might have put it, "Who rules the Central Plain commands the heartland; who rules the heartland commands the Middle Kingdom." The Sinocentric thinkers behind China's geopolitical strategy, however, would take the theory a step further: Who rules the Middle Kingdom commands the world.
The Japanese people dont much like Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. In fact, a majority of them want someone else as premier. Yet his coalition just retained its two-thirds majority in snap parliamentary elections. He should use his reinforced authority to end his nations defense dependence on America.

More than seventy years after World War II, that conflict still burdens Japan, limiting its role in the world. But an increasingly aggressive China and threatening North Korea caused Tokyo to adopt a more active foreign and defense policy. Nevertheless, the U.S.-imposed peace constitution still constrains Tokyo. Indeed, by its literal terms Article Nine forbids possession of a military.

However, the breakdown of the wartime alliance with the Soviet Union and creation of the Peoples Republic of China caused Washington to flip-flop and favor a rearmed Japan. Japanese policymakers relied on creative constitutional interpretation to establish a Self-Defense Force. Still, Tokyo relied on its constitution as well as popular revulsion to war to both cap military outlays and restrict the SDFs rolewhich, conveniently, helped ensure continued American protection.

Japans neighbors, many of which suffered under Tokyos brutal wartime occupation, were happy to have Washington forestall full Japanese rearmament. America served as the cap in the bottle, famously said Marine Corps Gen. Henry Stackpole. Japan was not without friends, such as Taiwan, but South Korea, Philippines, China and Australia were particularly antagonistic to an expanded security role for Japan. Moreover, in the last two decades Tokyos economic difficulties much increase in militarysorry, SDFoutlays.

Even so, Tokyo created competent armed forces. Outlays were close to $50 billion last year. While Japans army is small, its air force and navy are capable and modern. Still, potential threats outrange existing resources.

The PRC has sprinted past Japan and now spends upwards of four times as much on the military. Moreover, Beijing possesses a modest nuclear arsenal. Although in a war between the two Japan would be no pushover, its defense outlays have remained roughly constant in real terms, ensuring a growing bilateral gap. Warned Jeff Kingston of Temple University in Tokyo: There is right now a one-sided arms race that China is winning. (Without irony, China Daily USA editorialized against the bellicose Abe for increasing military outlays even though Japan certainly doesnt need such military equipment for national security.)

North Korea adds another challenge. Although Pyongyangs conventional forces have little reach beyond the Korean Peninsula, the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea possesses a nascent nuclear capacity as well as chemical and likely biological weapons. Missiles make Japan a possible target as an ally of the United States or victim of extortion.

The worsening security environment creates increasing pressure on Tokyo to do more. Since becoming premier in late 2012, Abe has pushed his country into a more active role. He proposed increased military outlays, acquisition of new weapons and broader SDF responsibilities. The military is particularly interested in adding Aegis Ashore missile defense systems, Tomahawk cruise missiles and F-35 fighters.

In 2014 the Abe government changed its interpretation of Article Nine to allow a limited form of collective security, including assisting American personnel under attack. Tokyo followed with legislation and revised Guidelines for Japan-U.S. Defense Cooperation the following year.

These changes, though controversial, were modest. Although collective self-defense finally is considered legitimate under the constitution, such action is authorized only under extremely narrow circumstances. Japans Professor Narushige Michishita observed that the new rules would not allow Japan to defend a U.S. ship if Japans security was not directly threatened. Moreover, the government failed to move forward with its plan to revise Article Nine. The failure to do so limits his military options. Argued Indiana Universitys Adam P. Liff: Without formal constitutional revision (at a minimum), however, more ambitious efforts to fundamentally transform Article 9s interpretation or the scope of scenarios in which Japan can use force overseas are unlikely without major domestic political realignments.

Abe pushed for such a change by running against North Korea, playing on voters fears. With his newly enhanced election mandate, he may move further and faster on security issues. Liff noted that Strategic and domestic political vicissitudes have been the major drivers of changing interpretations of Article 9. Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera indicated that the government is considering revising military guidelines to acquire and use weapons, such as cruise missiles, capable of hitting foreign bases. The government also is likely to revive proposals to amend the constitution. There even is some support among elites to consider the acquisition of nuclear weapons.

Still, opposition to such changes remains fierce. In fact, Abes coalition partner, the Komeito Party, has been reluctant to join his effort. The Finance Ministry pointed to the governments massive debt in opposing accelerated military spending. The prime ministers effort to change the constitution diminished his poll ratings, before Kim Jong-uns misbehavior helped revive them. Popular sentiment has been shifting, but perhaps not enough. The Japanese public is still not so sure about this, observed Richard Samuels of MITs Center for International Studies.

Moreover, loosening constitutional restrictions would not be enough. The government would have to accept more cost and risk by adjusting its force structure and foreign policy accordingly. And dramatic change remains unlikely. The Abe government has been hedging, perhaps feeling greater uncertainty over Washingtons continued security commitment. But Tokyo does not want to take over responsibility for its defense. Indeed, Yoichi Funabashi of the Asia Pacific Initiative warned that doing more might induce or tempt the United States to lessen U.S. commitments to Japans defense.

In contrast, Abes government is pushing for an ever-stronger U.S. commitment. One unnamed foreign-ministry official said: The strategic environment is becoming harsher and we need to discuss how we will respond to that (emphasis added). Which primarily means Washington. We will look for the U.S. to reaffirm its defense commitment, including the nuclear deterrent, declared Onodera as American and Japanese ministers met: In light of the threat of North Korea, [they] confirmed the importance of the unwavering U.S. commitment to extended deterrence.

Washington reciprocates such sentiments. The joint statement of the August meetingof the U.S.-Japan Security Consultative Committee confirmed the ministers shared intent to develop specific measures and actions to further strengthen the U.S.-Japan Alliance, including maintaining a robust U.S. force presence in Japan. At the time Secretary Tillerson explained that the two countries stressed the critical role that U.S. extended deterrence plays in ensuring the security of Japan, as well as the peace and stability of the Asia Pacific region.

While working to increase Americas entanglement, Japan is pushing an aggressive international response to the North. Foreign Minister Taro Kono said there should be no dialogue absent a North Korean demonstration of a clear intent with regard to denuclearization. Abe advocated applying an unprecedented higher level of pressure on North Korea to force it to change policy. He said countries should unite to deny the North access to the goods, funds, people and technology for nuclear and missile development. What is needed, he added, is not dialogue, but pressure, and even backed the Washington mantra that all options are on the table, meaning war.

In advocating such aggressive policies, it would seem appropriate for Japan to possess commensurate military capabilities. However, Narushige Michishita of Japans National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies worried that defense is all about hedging risk and if you seek perfect defense, the cost would be enormous. From Tokyos perspective, why pay the bill when you can hand it off to Washington?

Tokyos strategy is good for Japan, not America. Yet U.S. officials enjoy playing hegemony even as the American people pay the bill. Donald Trump once took a different perspective. Two years ago Trump, when asked about Chinas threat to the region, observed, If we step back, [Americas allies] will protect themselves very well. He asked: Why are we defending them at all? Since then, however, he has turned into his predecessors, including the hated Barack Obama.

Of course, some argue that the United States occupies East Asia for its own security. That was the case at the end of World War II. But the Cold War is over, Russia is a shadow of the Soviet Union and Japan has recovered economically. Tokyo is well able to defend itself, as well as cooperate with its neighbors to ensure regional security.

Some analysts look beyond Japan. Argued David Feith of the Wall Street Journal: Americas fifty thousand personnel in Japan are Washingtons most valuable asset for deterring conflict across the region. Others make the same claim, but never offer any convincing support. What war are U.S. troops supposedly preventing?

China and Japan, though at odds over the Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands, dont appear to be at the brink of war. Could conflict erupt? Anything is possible, but theres still no reason why wealthy Japan should not do the deterring. The Marine Expeditionary Force based on Okinawa is directed more at a Korean than a China-Japan war, and Seoul should provide the cannon fodder for any war there. Even more so, Washington should avoid a China-Taiwan confrontation: Taipei is a good friend, but not worth conflict with a nuclear-armed great power. Better to arm than defend the island nation.

Beyond these major contingencies are smaller potential conflicts in which the United States should stay entirely clear: some mix of wars/strife/collapse involving Burma, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia and perhaps others. While such contingencies would be tragic and might be destabilizing, none would involve Americas vital interests and justify military intervention. Not every problem is Americas to solve.

Tokyo should take over its own defense. But shifting responsibility for Japans conventional defense is not enough. The United States should reconsider its nuclear umbrella as well. In defending Japan, Washington already is risking Los Angeles to protect Tokyo. If North Korea acquires the ability to hit the U.S. homeland, Uncle Sam will be doing the same again, only against a potentially more reckless power.

Obviously, Washington expects the threat of retaliation to deter attack. But if deterrence fails, as it often has in history, then war could invade the American homeland. And theres no good reason to take that risk given Japans capability to arm itself. The Japanese people might be reluctant to go nuclear, but they can underinvest in defense with little ill consequence only so long as Washington is willing to impose the cost on the American people. If the Japanese realized they had to do more or live (and potentially die) with the consequences, they might act differently.

Unfortunately, American officials have forgotten the purpose of alliances: defense, not welfare. Washington should enter into security pacts to help protect America, not other states. After World War II, the United States properly shielded friendly states from attack by a totalitarian power. That strategy succeededdecades ago. Washington should adjust its foreign policy and force structure accordingly. Now Americas prosperous and populous allies can take over. The United States should cooperate with them when interests coincide, and watch for possible hegemonic threats which they could not contain. Americans no longer should do what other countries can do for themselves.

Then U.S. officials could stop telling Tokyo what to do. The Japanese people should decide on defense and foreign policies to advance their own interest, not satisfy Americas demands. Washington should simply explain what it would, and most importantly, would not do. That would mean no security guarantee, no troop deployments, no promise of war on Japans behalf.

Washington has spent more than seven decades playing globocop. The world has changed. So should U.S. policyincluding toward Japan. Prime Minister Abe appears determined to make Japan a more capable security dependent of America. Washington should insist that he make his nation security independent.
If Nebraska Nice didnt move the needle for you, you werent alone.

Nebraska has, for at least four years, ranked last in the nation among people interested in visiting, according to the Portrait of American Travelers study. And the patently blase adjective that led Nebraskas tourism campaign seemed to have no meaning  and clearly had no success selling this great state to potential visitors.

Learning that Nebraska Tourism Director John Ricks is shelving the bland motto is refreshing and welcome. Calling the news nice would be a significant understatement in the realm of the tagline itself.

With it must come a reinvention of how Nebraska promotes itself to outsiders. Tourism is big business  the third-largest industry in the state, per a University of Nebraska-Lincoln study  and needs to be treated as such if Nebraska wants to be a true player in the in the field. Growing both awareness and revenue requires a rethinking of how the state is framed and investment in that mission.

To his credit, Ricks seems to understand that. Hes trashed the tepid slogan and targeted people in adjacent states, who, by virtue of geography alone, are more likely visitors than your average American.

His suggestion of gaining access to additional spending authority over the next two years makes sense, too. Tourism is a game where you have to spend money to make more money.

Particularly with Nebraskas comparatively paltry tourism budget of $6.5 million  a third of the national average and half of the median  every dollar counts. State data from 2008 indicate that every dollar spent by tourists has an overall economic impact of $2.70. Hotel-motel taxes are also important sources of revenue for cities and the state that avoid most Nebraskans wallets.

This is an arena where Nebraska must be more competitive. But the deck is somewhat stacked against the state, despite its sizable collection of sites worth visiting that fly under the radar.

From a broader perspective, Nebraska lacks major national and international destinations, such as amusement parks, mountains and beaches that many other states can offer. After all, this is the only triple landlocked state, three states removed from a gulf or ocean. Omahas Henry Doorly Zoo, Chimney Rock and Lake McConaughy are all great  but they alone cant carry water for all of Nebraska.

The state can trumpet The Good Life all it wants. But that classic saying has no significance to people who dont understand why Nebraskas worth the collective pride. This state has breathtaking natural beauty, cultural centers, historical sites and more  but too few Americans are cognizant of them.

Nebraska appears to be on the right track to growing that awareness. Ditching the dumpy slogan was a nice first move, one we hope pays benefits for years to come.

 Journal Star, Oct. 10, 2017
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OSAGE | Mitchell County may join a class-action lawsuit targeting opioid manufacturers.

The suit is being brought on behalf of cities and towns who are choosing to sue opioid manufacturers, County Attorney Mark Walk said during the board of supervisors meeting Tuesday.

If the county chose to join it, Walk said there would be no cost.

Mitchell County Sheriff Greg Beaver said Osage has "all kinds of costs related to drugs, from crime to housing inmates."

People get hooked on painkillers like oxycontin, and when they stop being able to get it, they switch to things like heroin," Beaver said. "Ninety percent of crimes around the county  the domestic abuses, the robberies  could be solved if we could get rid of the drugs.

While there have not been any deaths in Mitchell County from opioid overdoses, there have been drug arrests within the county and overdoses which have been treated at the hospital, supervisor Shannon Paulus said. There have also been robberies and other crimes committed, within the county, that are directly related to the pursuit, sale and purchasing of these drugs.

A New York City firm is filing the suit and sending similar letters to cities and towns across the countries. The firm says opioid manufacturers knew there was no way the population of small towns could be supporting the amount of pills that were being sent to them.

It should have been a red flag, Paulus said. Im not surprised about the class-action suit; we have been discussing the opioid epidemic at the substance abuse coalition and how much it has grown. I feel like this is going to be a message to the manufacturers.

They should have known, just with the amount of prescriptions going out. They convinced the medical profession of this new product, but they werent careful of how much of this potent drug was getting out there.

"I want it to change," Paulus said.

The supervisors were expected to revisit the potential for joining the lawsuit at this week's meeting.
You dont have to be an expert on gun laws in the U.S. to realize something isnt right about the way they are now.
'Bankruptcy code, easier exit, the Goods and Services Tax, real estate regulation authority, push for digitisation and push for no human intervention across sectors have been the big reforms undertaken that were never envisaged or performed.'

India worked in close partnership with the World Bank to improve its position, says NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant, bottom, left.

He tells Dilasha Seth that instead of criticising the ranking method, the government decided to carry out critical structural reforms and ranked states.

He says India must try to get into the top 50 rankings by focusing on weak areas. Excerpts

You played a key role in the governments drive in making India an easier place to do business. With India climbing into the top 100 of World Banks ease of doing business rankings, how do you look back at the efforts that went in over the past three years?

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was very clear right from the first meeting we had with him that doing business in India must become very simply and easy.

He pointed out that India was a very complex place to carry out business and that needed to change.

As we see today, India has improved its ranking in 6 out of 10 indicators.

But in distance to frontier, it has improved in 9 out of 10 indicators.

This shows that Indias reforms are contributing to closing the gap with the best in the world in almost all indicators.

In fact, India ranks in the top 30 in protecting minority investors, getting credit and getting electricity. We made an all-round progress.

But not too long ago the government was severely critical of the World Bank (WB)s methodology of the Doing Business rankings. In fact, you had said the rankings are flawed as it uses inputs only from Delhi and Mumbai. So what has really changed now?

We just took it as a challenge. There is no point complaining that the World Bank covers only Delhi and Mumbai.

We just accepted their methodology and within that methodology, we tried our best to move forward.

We tried to create competition among states. So instead of being critical, we decided that we must change. We became a partner and pushed for change ourselves.

Did you share your criticism about the methodology with the WB and what response did you receive?

We have constantly told the WB our views and given them inputs. We have told them about the limitations of their exercise and they have always listened and tried to incorporate our suggestions.

Do you think that helped?

More than that, informing respondents about the implementation of reforms and the changes that have taken place is very important.

In the World Banks scheme of things, respondents are very critical.

So what you have implemented must actually get implemented on the ground and it takes about two years for the effect to be visible.

A jump of 30 ranks is a quantum leap. It shows that what we have done is actually getting implemented.

And what the prime minister had promised, of rolling the red carpet (to businesses), has actually happened.

Are you still confident about India getting into the top 50?

My personal view is that we should continue the reform momentum and in two years, try and be in the top 50. That is very doable if we push hard.

For a large country that we are, what we have achieved is very unique and we should continue that momentum to be in the top 50.

The government, in fact, partnered with the World Bank in carrying out state-wise rankings. Do you think that played a role in the improvement we see today?

India has worked in close partnership with the World Bank to improve our position.

In ease of doing business for states, WB does the analysis for us.

We have been ranking, naming and shaming our own states.

In the first year, Gujarat came number one; the next year, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh beat Gujarat.

In fact, eastern states of Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh did very well.

If the eastern part of the country does well, India does well.

Do you attribute the partnership with the WB as a key factor in the sharp jump in the rankings, by making the multilateral body aware of the reforms implementation on the ground?

No. The real reason is the real structural reforms undertaken by the government.

Bankruptcy code, easier exit, the Goods and Services Tax, real estate regulation authority, push for digitisation and push for no human intervention across sectors, among others, have been the big reforms undertaken that were never envisaged or performed.

What should be the road map to get into the top 50 rank?

We can jump to the top 50 very quickly.

We need to improve the enforcement of contracts, where our position is 164; construction permits, where we are at 181; registering property (154) and cross-border trade (146).

These are the four key areas where we need to radically improve and must focus on them next year.

We should also keep in mind that others are jumping forward, so we must too.

What reforms do you recommend for the next year?

In enforcement of contracts, courts should not give more than three adjournments.

There should be establishment of commercial courts at district level, electronic record-handling and case filing.

In trading across borders, India should push for 24-hour trade. In registering property, every document should be digitised.

The NITI Aayog will assist departments looking into these reforms.

The WB did not take into account demonetisation and transitional issues of the goods and services tax implementation in its report this time. Do you think the rankings would have been different had these events been taken into account?

I dont think so.

Image used only for representational purpose. Photograph: Reuters.
In the first nine months of 2017, investment banks pocketed Rs 500 crore for helping companies raise Rs 30,853 crore through IPOs.

While volumes on Deal Street have seen a sharp improvement over last year, it hasnt necessarily translated into a huge windfall for investment banks - the reason being a sharp reduction in fees charged by banks to manage initial public offerings (IPOs).

This year, investment banks have charged 1.6 per cent of the amount raised through IPOs as fees.

In comparison, investment bankers had charged two per cent last year and 3.1 per cent in 2015.

The average fees this year is the lowest in seven years.

In the first nine months of 2017, investment banks pocketed Rs 500 crore for helping companies raise Rs 30,853 crore through IPOs.

For the whole of 2016, they got Rs 550 crore for raising just Rs 26,493 crore.

Investment banks have let go of margins for higher volumes.

An analysis of fees paid for each of the 24 IPOs this year shows fees have been less than 100 basis points (bps) for big-ticket offerings.

ICICI Lombard, SBI Life Insurance, Avenue Supermarts and Hudco have each paid less than 100 bps.

Currently, there is a lot of competition for IPO mandates. Typically, the fees paid for big-ticket deals are always less compared with small- and mid-sized issues.

We neednt worry about the money earned, as a shortfall in the fee would be compensated by large volumes, said an investment banker.

In two-three IPOs this year, one or two banks were quoting steep discounts and others were asked to match those offers to get the mandate, he said.

Another important factor behind low fees this year has been the IPOs of state-owned entities.

Traditionally, fees paid for large PSU (public sector undertaking) offerings are minuscule as bankers consider them as trophy mandates, which help improve their league table standings.

For instance, bankers were paid less than 0.5 per cent fees for the Hudco and Cochin Shipyard IPOs.

Sources said the fees paid were even less for the offers of General Insurance Corporation and New India Assurance.

In the past, bankers had handled some of the large PSU offerings such as of Coal India for near-zero fees.

On the contrary, fees for handling small or mid-sized IPOs have been more than three per cent in most cases.

Despite a decline in average fees, market participants said an increase in volumes over the past two years had provided the much-needed breather for investment banks, which had been reeling under pressure since 2011 due to subdued activities in the Indian capital markets, along with escalating input costs.

In fact, the stress was so high that a lot of banks had to downsize their headcount.

Some of the international banks have shut their Indian offices and continue to operate from Asia-Pacific centres such as Singapore and Hong Kong.

However, the situation now seems to be improving. Currently, there are about 10-15 active investment banks, against the long-term average of seven-eight.

Photograph: Adnan Abidi/Reuters
Advertisers take to pitching family values and social causes, giving celebrity endorsers and flamboyance a miss. Nikhat Hetavkar reports.

Nokia's emotional Diwali ad.

An old professor sits, visibly uncomfortable and distinctly out-of-place on a plush sofa, but is overwhelmed when a former student who has quite clearly done well for himself, goes out of his way to make his mentor feel special and makes him a cup of tea just the way he likes it.

A mother gets all teary-eyed when her son who has never enough time for her, gives her his phone and himself for an entire day.

Emotions are running high all around and the two ads, one for Red Label tea by Ogilvy & Mather and the other for Nokia, by Dentsu, are proving to be more the rule than the exception this festive season.

As advertisers go for mush and maudlin rather than celebratory, celebrity-led advertising, experts say that weak economic sentiment and small budgets are playing their hand. But at the same time, they say brands are also latching on to a universal trend where ads are getting more personal, preachy and sentimental.

This is true across categories; consumables, personal electronics, e-commerce, apparel and others are all relying on the emotive power of advertising. Doing so helps a company align its brand with distinct causes and values and thereby build a unique identity.

"Earlier, there used to be differentiation between products, now competition and technology are removing differences. Today, products, brands and technology have all become commodities. The differentiation only lies in the values that you propagate or stand for," said K V Sridhar, founder and chief creative officer, Hyper Collective.

Such advertising also helps humanise brands in an age where the personal is rapidly becoming universal.

Sridhar says that brands want to establish a framework of shared values with customers and serve a purpose in their lives. And they want to do all this differently from their competitors.

While emotional pitches are the rage, the festive season is also high on discounts and offers. This is in keeping with traditional festive season advertising as products across categories look to drive sales up.

Sandeep Goyal, chairman, Mogae Media said that advertising can be broadly divided into two streams 'theme' and 'scheme'.

"Advertising during festivals is creatively thematic but offerings are schematic. Festive advertisements have no choice but to remain focused solely on offers. Their messaging is clearly buy, buy, buy. It is a window of opportunity to be maximised in a short time which leaves little scope for creativity," he adds.

Brands must be cautious about such advertising however warns Sridhar: "You can't keep competing with offers, if one company gives 20 per cent discount, second company will give 21 per cent discount and so on. Rational decision making helps till a certain point, but the emotional quotient determines the final choice. Customers are willing to pay a little extra for brands that they connect with."

Does emotive advertising encourage spending?

It depends on the power of the creative says a recent study by Nielsen Global. The study said that creative quality contributes more than anything else to success in the marketplace.

"I believe these festival ads help conservative Indian consumers open up their purses and indulge. This year's Diwali is a little different since it is coming soon after the Goods and Services Tax implementation. And unfortunately, it is coming very early. This may have dampened the enthusiasm of brands to do big campaigns," says Ambi Parameswaran, founder of Brand-Building.com.

Sridhar said that purchasing power, the hesitation towards spending on luxuries and the adoption curve are what differentiate rural India.

He added that television, mobile penetration among other factors, have solved various distribution and psychographic problems.

It is also interesting to see how advertising this season has been more targeted. Partly because of the availability of more data and better analytical tools, brands are able to craft different stories and offers for different customers.

On television however, the target seems to be the young spender. The spending may be directed towards old parents or an elderly acquaintance but the spender is always young.

"The family balance has shifted to the new millennial couple who are invariably DINKS (double income no kids) with high disposable income and many aspirations to reach out for," said Goyal.

Sridhar offers an interesting insight into the consumption behaviour of the young.

He says that they spend more, but do not want to block their income by incurring large or long-term expenses. This makes them the target consumer for everything apart from big ticket items like houses, life insurance and mutual funds.

He adds, "They prefer to hire instead of owning houses and cars, dine out, order food instead of cooking. Such habits make them a target for small ticket day-to-day spending. Saving is an alien concept for them. Spending is the mantra."

Companies are keeping these attributes in mind when they peg their products around children taking parents for international holidays or encouraging them to splurge on their hobbies.

Interestingly, the changing lifestyles or the growing 'uber-isation' of the youth is also encouraging advertisers to drive behavioural change towards the environment, the family, neighbours and so on.

While this helps brands align themselves with a cause, the risk is that it could also end up making them sound preachy. And that is a fine line to tread.
Indias salvation lies in job creation by entrepreneurs, say Manish Sabharwal and Ashok Reddy.

Illustration: Uttam Ghosh/Rediff.com.

Now that the heaviest drama of the Infosys and Tata episodes is behind us, its finally possible to speak up for founders and acknowledge these were very different situations; Tolstoy once said that every happy family is alike, but every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.

Founders often have three concurrent roles at company birthing: CEO, director and shareholder.

There is an inevitable, important and complicated transition between the three roles, because if you convert a high-energy start-up into a bureaucratic institution too early, you take away its birthright; too late and you take away its destiny.

The three roles are different.

As CEO, your metric is performance; as director, it is governance.

As shareholder, your metric is long-term equity returns.

The Tata situation has many layers, but the one at Infosys attracted a lot of simplistic sound bytes.

Wed like to debate the three most painful: Founders cant let go, board-managed companies should ignore shareholders, and governance is science.

The founders flounder school of thought is clear: Founders have difficulty letting go, but should step down from their CEO role in their self-interest when the company reaches a certain size or age, because its better to be rich than king.

There is undeniable wisdom for entrepreneurs in politician Mario Cuomos quip, You campaign in poetry. You govern in prose.

Keeping the trains running on time is a different skill set from getting the train out of the station.

But it is simplistic to believe that poetry and prose are sequential phases; great companies strike the fine real-time balance.

Too much poetry and you do nothing; too much prose and you do nothing great.

But even when founders inevitably step back, it is important to continue caring.

Hiring a CEO is like sending your child to college (setting them free to do bigger or better things) rather than putting your child up for adoption (often an involuntary and clean cut).

The notion that the Infosys founders should have sold their shares if they didnt like what was going on in the company or board is unfair.

The argument that founders -- even if they are shareholders -- should leave board-managed and professionally run companies alone was heard often in both episodes.

But the notion that companies or boards should be managed without the voice of capital is economically delusional.

Peter Drucker in his 1973 book Management worried about shareholder capitalism, but in his 1976 book The Unseen Revolution he worried about pension fund socialism, where institutional shareholders dont have the time or bandwidth to hold the management accountable.

The principal agent problem is obvious in todays compensation for American CEOs, but it was more dramatically captured in the great book Barbarians at the Gate (the takeover of Nabisco was partly financed by selling a fleet of corporate jets).

Board-managed companies are not companies that ignore shareholders.

Finally, governance is the allocation of decision rights and is more art than science.

Many boards pass the science test (independent chairman, empowered board committees, independent directors, number of meetings etc) but miss the common sense tenets proposed by Ram Charan -- group dynamics, information architecture and focus on substantive issues.

Surely, a good board protects founders from themselves.

But it also, as Andy Grove of Intel said, ensures the success of a company is longer lasting than any CEOs reign, any market opportunity and any product cycle.

These two episodes have lessons for everybody.

Lessons for founders: Dont stay as CEO for too long or too little a time; historian Ramachandra Guha insightfully suggests Jawaharlal Nehru stayed one term too long in India and Nelson Mandela left one term too early in South Africa.

Also, dont jump straight from being a CEO to a shareholder; the transition must involve an extended period on the board.

Lesson for CEOs: You will be judged by your promises; none of this drama would have happened if Infosys was on track for $20 billion.

Lesson for board members: You must move the company beyond its founders, but governance depends on a complex combination of the stage of a company, state of industry, shareholding (few elephants or many partridges), future capital requirements (Facebooks initial public offering was its last capital raising, but banks come back every few years), ambition, values and much else.

Lesson for the press: Not all founders are good for their companies, nor are all professionals.

Lesson for Infosys: Evaluate your next CEO for a match with both the organisations neeyat (mind) and zehneeyat (heart and values).

Lesson for the Tatas: Socrates once said a slave who has three masters is free.

The Tatas will have to decide if they are a public mutual fund (that sells companies without emotion), a private equity fund (focused on returns in a small portfolio with active governance) or a company (running operations), because they cant be all three.

Indias salvation lies in job creation by entrepreneurs.

Recent schadenfreude about Infosys seemed to forget that it still employs 100,000 people and is worth Rs 2 lakh crore.

Not all entrepreneurs are dyslexic control freaks (many founders we know would be happier showing up for quarterly board meetings and questioning the CEO about profit after tax last quarter rather than answering the question).

Most new generation entrepreneurs control less than 25 per cent of their companies because they raise or earn their equity rather than borrow or steal it (the historical average is above 50 per cent because of excess bank leverage).

Most importantly, being a CEO is tough, but so is being a founder, because entrepreneurship is not the solving of a sum but the painting of a picture.

Manish Sabharwal and Ashok Reddy are first generation entrepreneurs growing their second company, Teamlease Services
Statements emanating from the recent Chinese Communist party congress suggest potentially increasing pressure on India with regard to the Dalai Lama and the Central Tibetan Administration in Dharamsala, notes former RA&W officer Jayadeva Ranade.

IMAGE: Cadres at the Chinese Communist party's new central committee secretariat and politburo with a background of Tibet affairs, says Jayadeva Ranade, will have substantive inputs on China's policy on Tibet.

The secretariat is headed by Wang Huning, second from left, who has been a member of Tibet Autonomous Region delegations to the National People's Congress.

Wan is now a member of China's new Politburo Standing Committee, the Communist party's highest political unit.

Its other members are from left: Han Zheng, Wang, Li Zhanshu, Xi Jinping, Li Keqiang, Wang Yang and Zhao Leji.

Photograph: Jason Lee/Reuters

The week-long (October 18 to 24, 2017) 19th Congress of the Chinese Communist Party, which was held in Beijing, concluded as anticipated with Xi Jinping emerging considerably stronger.

For those watching the congress for clues as to Xi's policies towards China's ethnic minorities and especially Tibet and Xinjiang, there appears little prospect of any relaxation of controls.

In fact, the emphatic assertions during the congress that China will safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity were reinforced by a letter publicised a couple of days ago and ostensibly written by two Tibetan village girls to Xi during the congress.

The girls, Zhoigar and Yangzom, had written describing life in Yumai, Lhunze county, China's smallest town.

Xinhua, China's official news agency, reported that Xi replied, asking them 'to set down roots in the border area, safeguard Chinese territory and develop their hometown'.

Saying 'Without peace in the territory, there will be no peaceful lives for the millions of families,' Xi expressed the hope that 'the family would motivate more herders to set down roots in the border area' and become 'guardians of Chinese territory and constructors of a happy hometown'.

Xi's reply, which contained the assurance that the Communist party would look after ethnic minorities, endorsed ongoing efforts by authorities of the Tibet Autonomous Region to co-opt villagers in guarding the border.

While neither Tibet nor the Dalai Lama were specifically mentioned in Xi's lengthy 32,000-character Work Report presented to the congress on October 18, there were repeated references to 'split-ism' and 'separatism'.

China's new and potentially tougher policy on the Tibet issue was, however, spelt out in the course of the congress.

Xinhua reported on October 21 that at a press conference on the sidelines of the congress, Zhang Yijiong -- vice minister of the Communist party central committee's United Front Work Department and its executive deputy head who was promoted at the congress as a full central committee member, reaffirmed China's opposition to the Dalai Lama's visits to foreign countries.

Asserting that 'the 14th Dalai Lama is not only a religious figure, but also a political one,' Zhang made a remark with implications for India.

'After fleeing China in 1959,' Zhang noted, 'he established a so-called government-in-exile, whose goal and core agenda is the independence of Tibet and to separate (from) China. For decades, the group headed by the 14th Dalai Lama has never stopped such attempts.'

'As head of the group, the 14th Dalai Lama has never stopped his activities in this regard over the past decades,' Zhang added.

The statement suggests potentially increasing pressure on India with regard to the Central Tibetan Administration in Dharamsala.

In an apparent toughening of the current policy, Zhang also warned foreign officials against meeting the Dalai Lama, saying they 'can't get away by saying they were meeting the exiled Tibetan leader in a personal capacity as they still represent their governments'.

Announcing that 'Any country, or any organisation of anyone, accepting to meet with the Dalai Lama, in our view, is a major offence to the sentiment of the Chinese people,' Zhang expressed the Chinese government's 'firm opposition' to such meetings, adding, 'We consider such visits as a severe insult to the feelings of the Chinese people.'

Interestingly, amidst reports of restrictions imposed by authorities on the movement and teachings especially by Tibetan Buddhist monks and nuns inside China, Zhang observed that Tibetan Buddhism was a special religion 'born in our ancient China. It is a Chinese religion. It didn't come in from the outside.'

Zhang, who worked in the Tibet Autonomous Region from 2006 to 2010 as a deputy party secretary, thus hinted that China's policy towards Tibetan Buddhists would endure.

His remark implicitly pointed to the authority of China's 'patriotic associations' which supervise all religions in China and the Chinese government's authority in religious matters concerning Tibetan Buddhism.

Cadres at the Chinese Communist party's new central committee secretariat and politburo with a background of Tibet affairs will have substantive inputs on China's policy on Tibet.

The secretariat is headed by Wang Huning who has in the past been a member of Tibet Autonomous Region delegations to the National People's Congress and is now a member of the Politburo Standing Committee, China's highest political unit.

Other members are Yang Xiaodu, till recently minister of supervision who served in the Tibet Autonomous Region from 1976 to 2001, and Guo Shengkun who as minister of public security is familiar with the Tibet issue and attended meetings of the leading small work group on Tibet.

Three of the secretariat's members are individuals with a background in security or the military -- Yang Xiaodu, Guo Shengkun and Huang Kunming, indicating a potential bias favouring progressively tougher Communist party controls.

Among others who will influence Tibet policy are Politburo member Chen Quanguo, handpicked by Xi in August 2011 to be Tibet Autonomous Region party secretary and now the party secretary of the Xinjiang-Uyghur Autonomous Region; Sun Chunlan who continues as politburo member and heads the United Front Work Department; Zhang Qingli, the central committee who made the infamous remark describing the Dalai Lama as 'a sheep in wolf's clothing and with the heart of a beast'.

Interestingly, while the number of ethnic minorities cadres in the central committee has dropped from 39 in the previous committee to 15 in the current committee, the Tibet Autonomous Region has been granted increased representation in the committee.

Tibet Autonomous Region Party Secretary Wu Yingjie is a full member of the central committee. The number of ethnic Tibetans has also increased with Qi Zhala (Chedak) and Luosang Jiangcun (Lobsang Gyaltsen) both being made full members of the committee.

Chedak or Qi Zhala -- who earlier this year replaced Lobsang Gyaltsen as chairman of the Tibet Autonomous Region government and prior to that was party secretary of Lhasa municipality, a position usually occupied by a Han -- is a first time member of the central committee.

Lobsang Gyaltsen or Luosang Jiangcun is perhaps the senior-most Tibetan in the Chinese Communist Party and is currently chairman of the standing committee of the Tibet Autonomous Region Congress. He was an alternate member of the previous central committee.

Jayadeva Ranade, former additional secretary in the Cabinet Secretariat, Government of India, is currently President, Centre for China Analysis and Strategy.
A domestically radicalised Uzbek man yelling 'God is great' ploughed a pickup truck down a crowded bicycle path in New York, killing eight people and injuring 11 others in the deadliest terror attack on the city since 9/11.

IMAGE: NYPD officers stand guard during the annual Halloween parade after a man driving a rental truck struck and killed eight people on a jogging and bike path in Lower Manhattan. Photograph: Kena Betancur/Getty Images

The 29-year-old suspect, a sympathiser of the Islamic State terror group, was shot in the stomach by a police officer before being arrested. The Uzbek man has been identified as Sayfullo Habibullaevic Saipov, an immigrant from the Central Asian country, who came to the US legally in 2010.

The incident took place near the World Trade Centre and along the normally gridlocked West Side Highway, a major thoroughfare that runs along the western edge of Manhattan by the Hudson River as Americans celebrated Halloween.

The attacker left nearly a half km crime scene -- a tree-lined bike path strewn with mangled bicycles and their parts.

IMAGE: A woman is aided by first responders after sustaining injury in lower Manhattan in New York after a man ran a truck through the busy bike path. Photograph: Brendan McDermid/Reuters

What we know of the attacker? >> Saipov was an Uzbekistan native who had lived in the US for seven years, ran two trucking companies and was a friendly Uber driver, sources claim. >> He was reportedly found with a Florida ID when arrested, he had lived most recently in New Jersey, and ran two trucking companies located in Ohio. >> Saipov has a minor criminal record for traffic offenses in Missouri and Pennsylvania.

Police said the truck drove south after entering a pedestrian and bicycle path, where it struck multiple people. Six men were pronounced dead at the scene on the cycle lane and two other people were dead on arrival at the hospital.

The victims included five Argentinians and a Belgian citizen. Two other victims have not yet been identified.

After smashing the truck into a school bus, injuring two adults and two children, the suspect exited the truck displaying "imitation firearms" and was shot by police, according to the New York Police Department.

Officers were able to talk to Saipov before the surgery, but it was unclear if he told them anything, a law enforcement official said.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said Saipov was "radicalised domestically" in the US.

IMAGE: A Home Depot truck which struck down multiple people on a bike path, killing several and injuring numerous others is seen as New York city first responders are at the crime scene.

Photograph: Brendan McDermid/Reuters

"The evidence shows -- and again, it's only several hours, and the investigation is ongoing -- but that after he came to the United States is when he started to become informed about ISIS and radical Islamic tactics," Cuomo told CNN.

"We have no evidence yet of associations or a continuing plot or associated plots, and our only evidence to date is that this was an isolated incident that he himself performed," he said.

Officials said Saipov left a note declaring his allegiance to the Islamic State, but authorities have not found any connections between him and the terror group or any other organisation.

One witness, Eugene Duffy, told ABC Channel 7 that he saw the truck driving quickly down the cycle path alongside the West Side Highway at full speed as it hit a number of people. He also reported hearing about nine or 10 shots.

The driver shouted 'Allahu Akbar' (God is great) after getting out of the vehicle, New York Post reported.

IMAGE: A NYPD officer stands guard at a crime scene near a bike path where a body is covered with a white-sheet in lower Manhattan in New York. Photograph: Brendan McDermid/Reuters

A pellet gun and a paintball gun were recovered from the scene, officials said.

Eleven people were transported to the hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries, according to New York Fire Commissioner Daniel Nigro.

A spokesman for Home Depot confirmed one of the company's rental trucks was part of an incident in lower Manhattan and said the company is "cooperating with authorities" in the investigation.

The suspect, who hails from Paterson New Jersey, had multiple interactions with law enforcement in several states, online records show. Saipov had traffic citations issued in Missouri and Pennsylvania.

New York City mayor Bill de Blasio said the incident was being treated as an act of terror, "a particularly cowardly act of terror".

IMAGE: Police investigate the scene of a pickup truck attack on the West Side Highway in Manhattan. Photograph: Andrew Kelly/Reuters

US President Donald Trump denounced the attack, saying "we must not allow ISIS to return".

"In NYC, looks like another attack by a very sick and deranged person. Law enforcement is following this closely. NOT IN THE U.S.A.!" Trump tweeted.

Trump also said he had ordered more robust "extreme vetting" of travellers coming into the US.

The US Justice Department said in a statement that a joint terrorism task force that included the FBI, the NYPD and others was investigating the attack.

IMAGE: Police investigate the vehicle allegedly used in a ramming incident on the West Side Highway in Manhattan. Photograph: Andrew Kelly/Reuters

The victims Among those killed were five Argentinians in New York for a class of 1987 school reunion, according to the Argentine government. They were named as Ariel Erlij, Hernan Diego Mendoza, Diego Enrique Angelini, Alejandro Damian Pagnucco and Hernan Ferruchi. The statement said that a sixth victim, Martin Ludovico Marro, is hospitalised at the Presbyterian Hospital of Manhattan recovering from injuries suffered, out of danger according to the official medical part. The compatriots, from the city of Rosario, were part of a group of friends celebrating the 30th anniversary of their graduation from the polytechnic school of that city when the tragic event occurred, it continued. Also among the dead was one Belgian, Didier Reynders, deputy prime minister and foreign affairs minister for Belgium, confirmed. Three other Belgians were among the wounded. I am deeply saddened to announce a Belgian victim in Manhattan, Reynders tweeted. I express my condolences to the family and friends.

An Uber spokeswoman said Saipov also drove for the ride sharing-company, which is cooperating with authorities.

The One World Trade Center, the main building of the rebuilt World Trade Center complex destroyed during the September 11, 2001 terror attack, was lit in red, white and blue in honour of freedom and democracy.

New York has been largely spared from terrorism since nearly 3,000 people were killed in the 9/11 attack.

The most recent violence from terrorism there came in September 2016, when a man set off shrapnel-packed explosives in the Chelsea neighbourhood of Manhattan. Nobody was killed, but 30 people were injured in the incident.

Trucks have become a common weapon for terrorists in recent years, with the ISIS encouraging its followers to use them in carrying out deadly attacks.

In July 2016, an assailant influenced by the Islamic State drove a 19-tonne cargo truck into a crowd in the French city of Nice, leaving 86 people dead and 434 injured.

In December, a man with ties to Islamic State drove a 27-tonne truck into a Christmas market in Berlin, killing 12 people and injuring 56 others.

IMAGE: Students from Stuyvesant high school are evacuated after a man driving a rental truck struck and killed eight people on a jogging and bike path in Lower Manhattan. Photograph: Kena Betancur/Getty Images
A man driving a rented pickup truck mowed down pedestrians and cyclists on a bike path alongside the Hudson River in New York City on Tuesday, killing eight people and injuring about a dozen others in what authorities said was an act of terrorism.

The incident marked the greatest loss of life from a suspected terrorist attack in New York since suicide hijackers crashed jetliners into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in lower Manhattan on September 11, 2001, killing more than 2,600 people.

Harrowing photos show mangled bikes scattered along a cycle path that runs parallel to the West Side Highway on the western edge of Manhattan.

Other images show emergency services personnel bravely rushing to help the victims of the horrific attack.

A white pick-up truck mowed people down after entering the West St-Houston St pedestrian-bike path in Lower Manhattan on Tuesday afternoon, the New York Police Department says. Photograph: Reuters

Eight people -- 5 Argentinians, 1 Belgian woman, were killed in the attack, the first in New York since 9/11. Mangled bikes littered the area after the incident. Photograph: Brendan McDermid/Reuters

A man who then emerged from the vehicle brandishing imitation guns was shot and arrested by police officers. Police said only that he was 29, but local media named him as Sayfullo Saipov, an immigrant who arrived in the US in 2010. Emergency personnel rushed to the spot within minutes and shot the attacker while rushing the injured to nearby hospitals. Photograph: Kena Betancur/Getty Images

Police urged people to avoid the area as a major emergency services operation got under way. Photograph: Kena Betancur/Getty Images

Police have blocked off roads surrounding the scene of the incident and the mayor of New York has asked people to be vigilant. Photograph: Kena Betancur/Getty Images

NYPD investigators are at the crime scene near a bike path in lower Manhattan in New York. Photograph: Brendan McDermid/Reuters

Of the eight people killed, six were pronounced dead at the scene and two more were pronounced dead at a nearby hospital. Photograph: Kena Betancur/Getty Images
United States President Donald Trump on Wednesday vowed that he will terminate the popular green card lottery after an Islamic State-inspired Uzbek man who entered the US under the programme killed eight people in New York in the deadliest terror attack in the country since 9/11.

Trump said the attacker Sayfullo Habibullaevic Saipov, who ploughed a pickup truck down a crowded bike path near the World Trade Centre killing eight people and injuring 11 others in an Islamic State-inspired plot, was allowed to enter the US on a State Department programme known as the "Diversity Lottery Programme".

"I am starting the process of terminating the diversity lottery programme," Trump told reporters ahead of a cabinet meeting.

"Today we mourn the horrifying terrorist attack in New York City just blocks away from the sight of the world trade center. The man drove a truck into a pedestrian bike path and murdered eight people and injured very, very seriously at least 11 more," Trump said.

"All of America is praying and grieving for the families who lost their precious loved ones. Horrible Act. Our hearts break for them and we pledge to renew our resolve in their memory, he said.

Trump called the Uzbek immigrant who carried out the attack an "animal".

"My administration is coordinating closely between federal and local officials to investigate the attack and to further investigate this animal who did the attacking, he added.

Trump continued: "We also have to come up with punishment that's far quicker and far greater than the punishment these animals are getting right now.

"They'll go through court for years. At the end, who knows what happens. We need quick justice, and we need strong justice. Much quicker and much stronger than we have right now. Because what we have right now is a joke, and it's a laughing stock."

"Im going to ask Congress to immediately initiate or get rid of this programme, he said.

"And we want to get rid of chain migration. This man who came in, or whatever you want to call him, brought in with him other people. And he was the point of contact, the primary point of contact, for and this is preliminary, for 23 people who came in or potentially came in with him. And thats not acceptable, Trump said referring to the attacker.

Trump also said that he would "certainly consider" sending the New York terror suspect to America's military detention center in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

"Send him to Gitmo, I would certainly consider that," Trump told reporters.

He alleged that there are a lot of good bills that are being stopped by Democrats because theyre being obstructionists.

"Terrorists are constantly seeking to strike our nation and it will require the unflinching devotion to our law enforcement, homeland security and intelligence professionals to keep America safe, Trump said.

We have to get much tougher and we have to get much smarter. And we have to get much less politically correct. Were so politically correct that were afraid to do anything, he said.

The 1990 diversity visa programme gives green card to people from countries from where they normally don't have merit-based candidates.

The programme aims to diversify the origins of people granted permanent residence -- so-called green cards -- in the United States.

Trump said he wants to move US immigration to a "merit- based system" and not allow immigrants to bring their extended families.

Trump has ordered the Homeland Security to step up extreme vetting programme.

In a series of tweets, the president lashed out at Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer for opposing merit-based immigration system.

"Senator Chuck Schumer helping to import Europe's problems.. We will stop this craziness!" Trump tweeted.

"We are fighting hard for Merit Based immigration, no more Democrat Lottery Systems. We must get MUCH tougher (and smarter)," he said.

Schumer, in a statement, said that it was too soon to politicise a tragedy.

"President Trump, instead of politicising and dividing America, which he always seems to do at times of national tragedy, should be focusing on the real solution -- anti-terrorism funding -- which he proposed cutting in his most recent budget," Schumer said.

"I'm calling on the president to immediately rescind his proposed cuts to this vital antiterrorism funding," he said.

"This was an act of terror, and a particularly cowardly act of terror aimed at innocent civilians, aimed at people going about their lives who had no idea what was about to hit them," New York Mayor Bill de Blasio said.

New York has been largely spared from terrorism since nearly 3,000 people were killed in the 9/11 attack.

The most recent violence from terrorism there came in September 2016, when a man set off shrapnel-packed explosives in the Chelsea neighbourhood of Manhattan. Nobody was killed, but 30 people were injured in the incident.

Image: With Secretary of Defense James Mattis at his side, US President Donald Trump speaks during a cabinet meeting at the White House in Washington. Photograph: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters
RICEVILLE | Northern Iowa Grain Processors, located one mile south of Riceville, continues to expand in the processing of non-GMO grains and organic grains.

In 1990, Joel and Linda Yorgey, owners and operators of the plant, moved to North Iowa from Pennsylvania. Their plant has grown from a small portable grain roaster to an operation that process over two million bushels of soybeans a year.

Much of the innovation found throughout the plant was built by Joel and his employees. Now the Yorgeys are traveling to Belize, a developing country in Central America, to help set up a similar operation.

The Yorgeys daughter, Marissa, was on a mission trip to Belize, when they couple visited her. During their stay, Joel began visiting with a livestock feed producer and discovered the small country had no soybean processors within its borders, so he and Linda took on the challenge of helping the feed producer develop a soybean processing plant.

In Belize, grain farmers were having marketing problems, because there wasnt a soybean plant in the small country, and they were importing their soybean meal from Mexico, Yorgey said.

Now with their assistance, a plant has been developed so local farmers have a market for their beans and also profit from having access to soybean meal for their livestock feeds.

In Belize, there are two growing seasons, allowing farmers to raise two crops. The summer crop is corn, which is planted in April and harvested in September, and winter crops (soybeans), which are planted in early December and harvested in March or April.

They do not get as high of yields with corn yielding about a 100 bushels per acre, Yorgey said, and soybeans about 30 to 35 bushels per acre, but they harvest two crops a year.

To date, the Yorgeys, who have no financial ties to the Belize plant, are simply acting as consultants on the project. They have made four trips to help in developing the soybean processing plant, that is now up and running.

In Pennsylvania, I farmed with my dad, and older brother, said Yorgey. While there, it became apparent, to us, the city was coming to the country and the community didnt like livestock smells. I wanted to stay in agriculture, and knew we had to move to the Midwest to do that.

I was doing a lot of roasting for dairy cattle, and northern Iowa was a good location for dairy herds. I have two cousins in this area, and I believe God had a part in our moving here, too.

Yorgey said he used to do grain roasting in Pennsylvania and when he and his wife came here, in October of 1990, I had a portable grain roaster and traveled from farm to farm roasting grain for livestock, Yorgey said. The portable roaster was mounted on a truck with a generator, 500-gallon LP tank, and augers.

Around 1995, he and Linda realized they needed to add to their roasting, so they began building the present plant.

Since the plants original construction, the Yorgeys have continued to expand the plant capacity. Today, the plant processes up to 6,800 bushels of beans a day and around two million bushels a year.

Unlike many commercial soybean processing plants, the Yorgeys plant does not use any chemicals to extract the oil from the bean, but, instead, it uses a mechanical process to produce the oil and bean meal.

The plant only processes non-GMO beans and organically produced beans. The plants system is flushed each time the production line changes from extracting non-GMO beans to organic beans and visa-versa.

Out of a bushel of beans, Yorgey is able to get one gallon of soybean oil, and 47 pounds of bean meal.

Our bean meal goes out at 46 to 48 percent protein, but it also averages five- to seven-percent fat, which makes it a higher energy protein than regular bean meal, which averages one percent fat, Yorgey said.

The plant is a non-GMO verified plant, set up for testing and running samples of the soybeans, the oil, and the soybean oil meal every two hours.

We later send the samples to an independent lab in Memphis, Tennessee, Yorgey said. This lab becomes a third party verification for us. We also are certified Kosher.

Yorgey said a lot of farmers, in this area, have gone away from GMO soybeans and he get soybeans from them. His soybeans come from producers in Iowa, Minnesota and Missouri.

I cant understand why farmers wont grow organic grains when organic soybean prices are two times the regular bean prices, he said, and non-GMO soybeans bring about a $1.50 a bushel more than GMO beans. Organic corn prices are more than double what regular corn sale prices are.

Yorgey said GMO crops out yield organic crops, but stated organic soybeans can yield from 40 to 60 bushels per acre, and organic corn can yield up to 160 bushels per acre. Organic farming does require more trips over the field for tillage, but there is a great savings in chemicals.

Today, organic soybeans are selling for $18 to $20, per bushel. A drawback to organic certification is that a field must be chemical free for three years before it can be certified organic.

Today, foreign countries are shipping in organic grains, because the U.S. is lacking three to five million acres of organic grains, Yorgey said, and we cant keep up with the growing demand.

Yorgey said I couldnt do this without my 12 employees. Most of the employees are from around Riceville and many farm. We run the plant 24 hours a day four to five days a week. Most of our employees know how to perform maintenance and rebuild machinery when its needed.

Two of the main plant employees are Camille Schwarke, office manager, tests all the loads of beans, and Nate Gillen, plant operation manager.
In Nagpur Central Jail's 'Anda Cell' languishes a 90% disabled, ailing, professor, sentenced to life imprisonment for Maoist links, reports Jyoti Punwani.

Illustration: Uttam Ghosh/Rediff.com

As the harsh Nagpur winter approaches, the inhabitants of the city's Central Jail brace for a period of discomfort.

One among them will find it particularly hard to cope. Diagnosed with permanent post-polio paralysis of the legs, he is 90% disabled, dependent on a wheelchair and needs help to perform necessary bodily functions.

Additionally, he has high blood pressure, spinal pain and a heart problem.

Professor G N Sai Baba of Delhi University was convicted in March under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act for having links with Maoists, and sentenced to life imprisonment by a sessions court in Gadchiroli.

He is currently in solitary confinement in the notorious 'Anda Cell'.

The jail authorities have made no allowance for his disability.

They do not allow him to wear a lungi brought by his wife instead of the pyjama given by the jail, which he cannot tie as his left hand is paralysed.

Neither do they give him bland food. His inability to digest the spicy jail food has made him cut down on intake, thereby affecting his health further.

From childhood, the professor has been extra sensitive to the cold, which causes him severe muscle pain, said his brother Dr Ramdev.

In a letter to his wife Vasantha Kumari written on October 17, which she received on October 27, Professor Sai Baba writes: 'Already I am shivering with continuous fever. I do not have a blanket. I do not have a sweater/jacket. As temperature goes down excruciating pain continuously in my legs and left hand increases. I am living here like an animal taking its last breaths.'

On Saturday, October 28, the jail authorities finally agreed to give him a small blanket brought by Dr Ramdev, after twice declining one brought by Vasantha and again by his lawyers.

While the authorities refuse to provide him any attendant, two Adivasis who were also convicted along with him, are voluntarily helping him.

When he was sentenced in March, Professor Sai Baba had just emerged from the ICU in a Delhi hospital and was due for pancreatic surgery in three weeks.

The doctors had then said that a delay in surgery would cause infection in his pancreas.

A recent report by the Nagpur Government Medical College and Hospital showed stones in Professor Sai Baba's kidneys and gall bladder. No treatment, however, is being given to him.

His brother said that the medicines they bring for him were prescribed in March and may not be appropriate for his present ailment.

In his letter, Professor Sai Baba has complained that lifesaving medicines supplied by his family are not given to him regularly, hence he frequently becomes unconscious.

Every trip to the hospital is excruciatingly painful for Professor Sai Baba.

According to his wife, the jail authorities do not provide a vehicle with a low chassis, and the security guards accompanying him lift him roughly in and out of the vehicle.

In the hospital too, there are no attendants for him.

Now, he has refused to go to the hospital unless the authorities inform his lawyers whenever he is taken there, so that a family member can accompany him.

The Government Hospital where he is taken had treated him during his earlier stints in jail as an undertrial.

The hospital had then given in writing that they did not have the facilities to treat him and that he should be treated in a super speciality hospital like AIIMS.

Professor Sai Baba was first arrested in May 2014 and spent 14 months in Nagpur Jail before being released on bail on medical grounds by the Bombay high court, after the sessions court had denied him bail.

In December 2015, the sessions court ordered that he be arrested again. This time, he had to go to the Supreme Court for bail, which he got after three months.

When he was first arrested, he could move around on his own on his wheelchair. Both his stints in jail worsened his health and his mobility, making him totally dependent on others.

All his time outside jail was spent in and out of hospitals.

A known opponent of the Centre's policies in Bastar, where tribals are being forced to give up their land and forests so that corporations can use the area's mineral resources, Professor Sai Baba was convicted on the basis of evidence found on his computer.

However, said his wife, his computer and other material from his house were taken away in an open bag, not a sealed one, as per rules.

The appeal against his conviction has yet to come up for hearing.

In an earlier interview with Rediff.com, Vasantha had said that her husband had turned down two offers by the police to compromise and be set free by signing on some papers, the contents of which he did not know.

The professor had told Rediff.com, on being asked whether he would stop fighting for Adivasi rights after his two jail experiences: "How can any democratic-minded person not speak out against the genocide of Adivasis? How can we be silent when we see millions of Adivasis being displaced? Do we have a choice whether to speak or not?"

His family -- wife, college going daughter and old mother -- survive on the half-salary he continues to receive from his college, and on donations by his friends and colleagues.

Says Vasantha: "I have visited him only thrice in these eight months. In prison, we get permission only to talk on the phone to each other for 15 minutes. Between us are an iron grill and a stained, dirty fibre glass barrier."

"Beyond these, all I can see is a shadowy figure in a wheelchair. Its not just us; the families of all convicts face this. We all come from very far to meet our family members, and such meetings leave both sides traumatised."
MASON CITY | Book World, Inc. has announced it will close all of its locations, including its store in Southbridge Mall.

The company said in a news release a liquidation sale will begin Thursday at each of its stores until all inventory is sold.

"The national shift in the retail marketplace towards e-commerce has triggered the loss of vital mall anchor stores and a downward spiral in customer counts at Book World stores, reducing sales to a level that will no longer sustain business operations," Book World said in a statement.

Book World is the fourth-largest bookstore chain in the U.S. It opened its Southbridge store in May 2010, following the closure of B. Dalton Booksellers chain earlier that year.

The company has 45 stores in seven states, including Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota and Wisconsin. It opened its first store in Wisconsin in 1976.

Yellen Partners is assisting the company with its closing and liquidation process.

 Ashley Miller
MASON CITY | A Mason City man has been arrested for allegedly assaulting a person with a chain and padlock Monday.

Mike Nicholson, 35, has been charged with felony willful injury.

Nicholson is accused of striking a person's head and back with the chain and attached padlock, causing serious injury, court documents said. The alleged assault occurred in the 800 block of North Delaware Avenue.

A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for Nov. 9 at the Cerro Gordo County Courthouse.

Nicholson is being held without bond at the Cerro Gordo County Jail due to a U.S. Marshal hold.

 Courtney Fiorini
MASON CITY | A Mason City man has been arrested after punching a Hy-Vee Drugstore employee.

Employees at the Mason City store were trying to stop Jared Michael Osmon, 18, for an alleged theft when he punched an employee in the face and attempted to get away, court documents say.

Osmon was charged with felony second-degree robbery in the incident, which was reported around 11:05 a.m. Oct. 24.

He remains in the Cerro Gordo County Jail on a $5,000 bond. A preliminary hearing has been set for Friday.

 Courtney Fiorini
COLLINSVILLE  Anthony Gomes, a #1 Billboard Blues Artist, is bringing his high energy blues rock show to Bridge Street Live in Collinsville, Connecticut on Friday, Nov. 17 at 8 p.m.

Gomes has been creating virtuosic, burning blues since his recorded debut in 1998. 12 releases and numerous awards and ecstatic accolades later, his latest album, Electric Field Holler, crackles with bare wire passion. The aptly-named, riff-laden Electric Field Holler has received highly acclaimed recognition; reaching #1 on both Roots Music Report's Blues Rock Chart and ReverbNations Global Blues Chart as well as earning several nominations for Blues Rock Album of the Year.

Gomes, joined by bassist Carlton Armstrong and drummer Freddy Spencer Jr., will showcase songs from his latest release as well as performing fan favorites from past albums. Gomes sings and plays with integrity and deeply felt emotion oblivious to fortune and fashion. The resulting music is a blazing cathartic experience radiating therapeutic heat for body and soul.

Believing that music can inspire the human spirit, Gomes founded the Music Is the Medicine Foundation in 2010. This non-profit organization is dedicated to changing the lives of others through the healing power of music. Through private donations and winning sizable grants from State Farm Insurance and CVS Pharmacy, the foundation has funded songwriting scholarships, offered music education programs, and donated musical instruments to those in need.

Born in Toronto, Canada to a Portuguese father and a French-Canadian mother, Gomes began playing guitar in his early teens and was drawn to the blues sounds of B.B. King, Buddy Guy, Eric Clapton and Jimi Hendrix. He relocated to Chicago in the late '90s to learn from the blues masters. During his brief stint as a sideman for Magic Slim and the Teardrops, Gomes put together his own group and won the first annual Buddy Guys Legends Best Unsigned Blues Band competition in 1998. Later that year, Gomes released his debut CD, Blues in Technicolor, which introduced him as a guitar-slinger loaded with impressive firepower.

For tickets and information on the Nov. 17 show at Bridge Street Live, call 860-693-9762 or go to 41bridgestreet.com.

To learn more about Anthony Gomes, go to anthonygomes.com.
If you crave more than a generic corner pub or bar, don your explorer's hat and quench your thirst at these spots -- which happen to be located in the farthest-flung corners of the world.

Should you make your way to these barstools, you'll be rewarded with epic tales to share for the rest of your life.

- SubSix, Maldives

It's not quite "Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea," but it could certainly pass for "The Little Mermaid"s splashy digs. Enveloped in the beauty of marine life, this posh underwater restaurant and bar belongs to Niyama Private Islands Maldives (a Per Aquum Retreats, Resorts and Residences property) on the island of Huluwalu in the Maldives.

You'll first need to get to the the luxury resort via a 40-minute seaplane ride from Male International Airport. Once at Niyama, board a speedboat to the dock at SubSix, about 550 yards offshore, 10 to 15 minutes depending on how choppy the water is. Once there, descend a grand staircase 20 feet below sea level, pull up a seat at the clam-inspired Subsix Bar, and marvel at the majesty of aquatic life careening by, such as hawksbill turtles, moray eels and rainbow-hued fish. Although the menu of sips is extensive, it seems most appropriate to pop a bottle of Dom Perignon and toast your surreal surroundings with a glass of bubbly.

- Albatross Bar, Tristan da Cunha island

The journey to Edinburgh of the Seven Seas, a village considered the most remote on Earth, requires a week-long trip on a supply ship that leaves Capetown, South Africa, just 12 times a year. It is on the main island of Tristan Da Cunha, a British Overseas Territory in the far South Atlantic. Called "the Settlement" by locals, the town is built on a rocky flat beside Queen Mary's Peak, an active volcano. It features one bar, the Albatross, which is a taproom inside the local common house, Prince Philip Hall.

- Three Camel Lodge, Mongolia

The vast, cold, and rocky landscape of the Gobi Desert, considered the world's fifth-largest, is home to the Thirsty Camel Bar. Located in Omnogobi Aimag (South Gobi Province), Mongolia's southernmost province in Mongolia, the bar is surrounded by such natural wonders as snow leopards, Gobi bears, desert basins and the Mongol Altai Mountain Range. The weather is volatile and given to extremes: Winds can cause drastic shifts in temperature, ranging from -40 degrees Fahrenheit in the winter to 113 degrees in the summer, and the temperature can shift as much as 63 degrees in 24 hours.

Those who can brave the climate will need to have patience as well. Getting to Three Camel Lodge requires a 90-minute flight from the capital, Ulaanbaatar, to Dalanzadgad, on the edge of the Gobi Desert. From there, it is another 90-minute drive by off-road vehicle to reach the lodge in Gobi Gurvansaikhan National Park. To celebrate your arrival, whisky is in order at the Thirsty Camel Bar, which boasts a premium selection from Scotland and Japan, as well as craft distillery bottles from the U.S.

- Faraday Bar, Antarctica

If you don't fancy human companionship, you can make pals with the penguins neighboring this bar on an island five miles off the Antarctic Peninsula and surrounded by massive mountains, snow, and sheets of ice. Once a British Antarctic expeditionary base dating to 1947, Vernadsky Research Base was purchased by Ukraine in 1996 for 1 British pound.

If you're not a scientist, you can get there through a tourism outfitter such as One Ocean Expeditions, which can make a pit stop at the base. Serving the base's rotating cast of scientists and staff, Faraday is considered the southernmost drinking hole in the world. It's festooned with Ukranian and British flags and other knicknacks, and offers a cool factor (literally and figuratively) while you down your $3 shot of vodka brewed on-site. And ladies, you're in luck-drinks are on the house as long as you donate your underwear to the bar's decorative display. Still, considering that the temperature outside can dip to minus 128.6 degrees, removing a layer might not be the best idea.

- Christian's Cafe, Pitcairn Island

Christian's Cafe is in Adamstown, the capital and sole settlement of the volcanic Pitcairn Islands archipelago in the South Pacific, between Australia and South America. Under the leadership of legendary mutineer Fletcher Christian, rebel sailors from the HMS Bounty settled on the rugged landscape in 1790, along with Tahitian companions. Hundreds of years ago, the town had a reputation as a village of violent drunks, but the island's residents (about 50) now keep to themselves. Their sole bar began serving alcohol in 2009, keeps minimal hours and is open only after 6:30 p.m. on Fridays.

There are no flights to Adamstown; you must come by boat, and resources are scarce. (If you plan on staying more than two weeks, you'll need a license from the governor). Should you succeed in your quest for a drink here, pull up a chair and chat with the locals. They speak Pitkern, a mixture of 18th-century English, Tahitian and sailors' patois.

- Camp Kalahari, Botswana

Calling the bar at Camp Kalahari an "oasis" is fitting, as it is in the heart of Botswana's dry savanna. The safari outfitter is on Makgadikgadi Pans Game Reserve, where there is a large concentration of salt pans-vast deserts where little wildlife can endure extreme conditions of harsh winds and scorching heat. It's a place where "nothingness stretches as far as the eye can see, and so quiet that one can actually see the curve of the Earth and hear the blood circulate through their ears," said Dave van Smeerdijk, a founder of the Natural Selection chain of lodges, of which Camp Kalahari is a member. Other areas feature such wildlife as wildebeest, zebras, and flamingos.

One can contemplate philosophical musings at Camp Kalahari's rustic lodge bar with a classic gin and tonic. The space exudes old-world charm and is crammed with wooden chests, maps, soft cushions and portraits of intrepid explorers.

- The Old Forge, Scotland

Located in the village of Inverie on the Knoydart Peninsula in the Scottish Highlands, the Old Forge is Britain's most remote pub, and quite good, according to Peter Irvine's book "Scotland the Best." There are no roads to it; the nearest accessible town is Mallaig, itself a four-hour ride northwest of Glasgow.

Once in Mallaig, the only way to access the pub is via an 18-mile hike over a Highlands mountain pass or a seven-mile sea crossing. If you opt for the latter, don't be surprised if you encounter buzzards, red deer and gray seals along the coastline. Despite the numerous obstacles, visitors who rise to the challenge are rewarded generously with seafood feasts and local brews upon arriving. The Old Forge curates a unique list of craft beers, including its own ale, put forth by the Ness Brewery in Fort Augustus; it's called (what else?) RemoteNESS. Those who don't fancy a pint won't be judged (much) and can choose from a robust wine menu that offers organic selections.

- The Irish Pub, Nepal

Before conquering Mount Everest, many first tamp down the knots in their stomachs with a pint at the local pub. Located in the sherpa town of Namche Bazaar, a Nepalese village built into a steep slope, the Irish Pub claims to be the watering hole with the world's highest altitude. Having braved shortness of breath, dizzying heights, and extremely cold weather conditions, getting to the destination itself will make you reach for a pint.

Visitors must first fly into the cliff-side Lukla Airport, described by the History Channel as "the most dangerous airport in the world for over 20 years." They must then trek two days across unsteady suspension bridges at heights of more than 11,000 feet. Salvation awaits you if and when you arrive in form of the pub's array of wines, stout, and spirits-all imported via your friendly neighborhood mule or yak train.

- Lost Bar, Russia

It holds the reputation of being "the loneliest bar in the world" because, apparently, no one would want to visit it. Historically, the area existed as a stopover for reindeer herders in the 1920s and '30s. Today, a major contributing factor to a lack of tourists is likely the bone-chilling, deathly cold; the Lost Bar is in Oymyakon, Russia, known as the coldest inhabited town on Earth. In fact, the "Pole of Cold" gets such freezing temperatures that merely wearing glasses can pose a threat to your life; they can freeze to your face. A day in Oymyakon, in eastern Russia, can be as brief as three hours in December or as long as 21 hours in the summer.

If this isn't a deterrent and you're of the "cold never bothered me anyway" camp, you'll need to fly into the closest neighboring city, the regional capital of Yakutsk. From there, it is a two-day drive to Oymyakon, whose overall population is around 500. The small, no-frills bar is well-heated and stocks-what else?-plenty of vodka.
The state has fined six nursing homes for various separate violations that jeopardized patient safety, including one in which a resident was struck by a nurse and others that resulted in residents suffering broken bones.

Apple Rehab Saybrook in Old Saybrook was fined $1,750 after a resident fell and suffered a broken femur that required surgery.

The resident, who was at risk for falls, fell on Oct. 26, 2016, while being helped by a nurse aide to the bathroom, according to the state Department of Public Health. An investigation found the aide failed to use a gait belt when helping the resident to the bathroom, as required by facility policy. According to DPH, the aide was aware of the policy but wouldnt answer specific questions about the incident.

Each resident is unique and important to us and our goal at Apple Rehab Saybrook and Apple Inc. is to continually provide our residents with individualized care and services, said John Anantharaj, vice president of clinical services. Our policies and procedures that uphold residents dignity, safe transfers, prevention of falls and general well-being remain our highest priority and are reviewed regularly with staff for compliance and competency.

The Nathaniel Witherell in Greenwich was fined $1,940 for two instances, DPH said.

On March 24, a resident with Parkinsons disease, dementia and other diagnoses suffered a broken collarbone and broken right hip after falling onto the floor in a bathroom. The resident required supervision for standing and transfers, but a nurse aide left the resident alone for privacy, according to DPH. The resident was treated at local hospital.

On Sept. 22, a resident with hypertension was hospitalized for dehydration and severe renal failure, according to DPH. Investigators found the resident, who was at risk for dehydration, wasnt properly monitored for warning signs.

Weve replied with a corrective action plan, which was accepted by DPH, said Allen Brown, Witherells executive director. They consider us now in full compliance.

Chelsea Place Care Center in Hartford was fined $1,920 for an incident in which a resident reported abuse.

On Feb. 7, the resident, who suffers from bipolar and post-traumatic stress disorders, sustained cuts and abrasions to the mouth and forehead and a broken tooth after being struck six to seven times by a licensed practical nurse, according to DPH.

The LPN admitted to punching the resident and reported being choked by the resident who refused to leave another residents room. The LPN later denied hitting the resident, but the facility determined abuse occurred and the LPN was terminated, according to the citation.

The resident was taken to a hospital for evaluation, admitted for psychiatric treatment, and ultimately discharged to another facility on March 1.

We take this matter very seriously. The health, safety and well-being of our resident community remain Chelsea Place Care Centers utmost priority, said Michael Landi, chief operating officer of parent company iCare. The events in question were isolated in nature and are not representative of the high standards of care and service we demand from our employees.

Westside Care Center in Manchester was fined $1,740 after a nurse aide offered to obtain illegal drugs for a resident in exchange for sexual favors.

On Feb. 26, the aide offered to get the resident illegal substances. The aide asked the resident how payment would be made and made a gesture consistent with a sexual act, according to the citation. The aide also asked to exchange cellphone numbers with the resident.

The resident, who was being treated for various injuries from a motor vehicle accident, reported the incident to staff, according to DPH, and the aide was suspended. The aide was fired after an investigation determined the exchange was inappropriate and violated policy. The aide had sent text messages and made phone calls to the resident in an attempt to extort sexual favors, investigators found.

We strive each day to provide the highest quality care for all resident of our facility. While the facility implemented immediate interventions, all of which were accepted by the Department of Public Health, and took this matter with the highest level of importance, it also successfully contested many aspects of the departments investigation, findings and conclusions, said Patrick Neagle, Westside Care administrator, declining further comment.

Connecticut Baptist Homes in Meriden was fined $1,630 for two instances.

On June 15, a resident with dementia suffered a leg laceration after hitting a bracket attached to a wheelchair. According to DPH, a nurse aide tried to move the resident without help, despite a physicians order calling for two-person assistance. The resident received 14 sutures at a local hospital, according to the citation.

On Aug. 24, two nurse aides were observed transferring another resident with dementia from a wheelchair to a bed by lifting the resident by the legs and under the arm pits, according to DPH. The transfer didnt comply with facility policies and put the resident at risk for shoulder dislocation and nerve damage, according to the citation.

An aide involved in the August incident was suspended and re-educated on safe patient handling before returning to work and all staff were re-educated on the topic, said Patricia Morse, Connecticut Baptist Homes administrator. Random safety audits have been conducted daily throughout the facility, she added.

Beacon Brooke Health Center in Naugatuck was fined $1,530 after one resident made inappropriate sexual gestures to another. After three incidents, the resident who made the gestures was discharged. Administrator Linda Garcia declined to comment, citing confidentiality reasons.

Cara Rosner is a Conn. Health I-Team writer. This story was reported under a partnership with the Connecticut Health I-Team (c-hit.org ).
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A Greenwich tailor who has sold expensive clothing to President Donald Trumps former campaign manager said Tuesday that he knew Paul Manafort only as a Washington lobbyist and had no personal relationship to him.

Eugene Venanzi told Hearst Connecticut Media at his Greenwich shop that Manafort was always a gentleman and that their dealings were confined to the tailors New York store, with which Venanzi said he is no longer associated.

Manafort, a New Britain native, allegedly spent nearly $900,000 on handmade clothing at a store identified only as Vendor E in the money-laundering and conspiracy indictment against him. Documents obtained by the Associated Press claim Manafort previously made payments to Venanzi at Venanzis former New York boutique.

As to the amounts Manafort spent at his former clothing store, Venanzi said such sales are not unusual particularly when dealing with people who are in the spotlight. He said that since it was a retail business employees did not ask where the payment was coming from. He said he was unaware it was from an off-shore account, as alleged in the indictment.

More for you At most an acquaintance, Moynihan says of Manafort

Venanzi owned Boutique of Bespoke Atelier on 56th Street in New York. He left the business to become a partner in Pitagora & Venanzi, which opened at 409 Greenwich Avenue, Greenwich.

That stores website advertises every garment they make is constructed from scratch. Just this year Mens Fitness magazine used a Star Wars reference in calling Pitagora & Venanzi The Obi-Wan Kenobi of Suit Making.

During a phone call to the Associated Press, Venanzi denied he had been contacted by federal authorities.

In 1999, Venanzi pleaded guilty to a bank larceny charge. As part of his guilty plea, he was sentenced to three years probation and required to perform 200 hours of community service and repay $15,396 to Chase Manhattan Bank.

Thomas Carson, a spokesman for the U.S. Attorneys office in Connecticut offered a simple no comment when asked if federal investigators from his office were looking into a Greenwich connection. He recommended all questions regarding the probe be made to Special Counsel Robert Muellers office.
WEST HAVEN  A Guilford solar energy company wants to put what it believes could eventually be the largest solar farm in Connecticut atop the long-dormant former Spring Street landfill  which currently is West Havens biggest tax scofflaw with more than $500,000 owed.

The proposed 4-megawatt project, which the companys CEO said could end up being 5 megawatts, would be a ground-mounted solar-generating facility on two privately-owned properties on Spring Street.

It would save the city about $1.46 million in electricity bills over the next 20 years, SolarUS Inc. CEO Stephen W. Elkins recently told city officials.

Joseph A. Riccio Jr., the citys commissioner of planning and development, said SolarUS has an option on 8 Spring St., which is 29.13 acres, and 2 Spring St., which is 12.94 acres.

Both currently are owned by Solid Waste Disposal Inc. of Connecticut.

Details of whether SolarUS Inc. would buy the property or lease it, and who would pay the back taxes  and over what period of time  are still being worked out, Riccio said.

Elkins pitched the project, which would involve installing a series of solar arrays atop the closed dump, last week to the City Council. SolarUS is a Guilford-based manufacturer, distributor and developer of solar products.

Similar arrays already are installed on other closed landfills in the area, including Hamden, North Haven and Bridgeport. The Bridgeport facility was described at one point as being in the 5-megawatt range.

The partnership we are trying to form with SolarUS will be a huge benefit to West Haven in both lowering our energy costs long term and reducing our carbon footprint, Mayor Edward M. OBrien said.

We want to transform a former landfill into something very positive that will not only save us money but work to modernize our infrastructure, he said in a news release. OBrien didnt attend the City Council meeting at which Elkins made his pitch.

Right now, the old landfill  which Solid Waste Disposal Inc. closed along with the smaller Helm Street landfill across Spring Street in the late 1980s  is just laying there, Elkins told the council.

Our proposal is to turn this into an active property, primarily using the southern face of the property, he said.

Among the benefits would be revamping what is now a dead site, generating savings on the citys electricity bills, creating jobs and providing local electric generation, as well as reducing the citys greenhouse gases and contribution to global warming, Elkins said.

It would provide a substantial carbon offset, Elkins told the council.

The arrays environmental value in terms of carbon offset would be equivalent to 88,444 acres of forests, or an area six times the size of Manhattan, Elkins said. He pointed out that electric rates have increased an average of 3.5 percent per year in recent years.

The city would get a starting net meter discount of 10 percent  and annual energy savings of more than $70,000, he said.

In response to a question by City Councilman David Riccio, R-At Large, Elkins estimated the cost to install the arrays would be about $8 million.

The citys only responsibility is to buy the power we produce, he said. West Haven wont own it.

Leslie Naizby, revenue and asset management director in the citys Tax Collectors Office, confirmed Monday that Solid Waste Disposal Inc. has made no payments at all for more than 15 years on any of its three delinquent properties.

All 3 properties are liened yearly, but the city has been reluctant to incur the expense and potential liability to initiate a foreclosure action without a viable plan to address the environmental issues, Naizby said in an email.

Weve discussed it many times, she said in a telephone interview. But the problem is, its contaminated.

Solid Waste Disposal Inc. formerly was owned by the late Joseph Latella and the late Joseph E. Chick Celentano. It is now believed to be owned by their respective heirs or estates.

The companys last filing with the Secretary of the States Office, in 2014, listed the corporation as active, Peter Celentano  the late Joe Latellas son  as president and Celentano, who died in 2015, as secretary and a director.

Its mailing address was listed as 183 Beach St., the now-vacant address of Celentanos Chicks Drive-In, which closed in late 2015 following Celentanos death.

The amount Solid Waste Disposal Inc. actually owes the city may be well in excess of $500,000. A 1995 story in the New Haven Register put the figure at $500,000 at that time  with no taxes having been paid at that point in more than 10 years.

Joseph Riccio said, with regard to why the city hasnt gone after Solid Waste for the money it owes, I dont know the answer to that other than philosphically. ... So if you take the property and the property has an environmental liability, what good is it?

But we have often thought that that would be a good property for a solar farm, Riccio said. A solar installation offers a good payout over 20 years, reduction of energy costs to the municipality for over 20 years.

Right now were going to negotiate with these individuals, he said. They might want to close on the property or there might be a structured transaction where the city gets paid and the developer may own the property or the city may own the property.

He said it would be best for the city to get the entire back-tax figure up front, but if thats going to be a deal-breaker, then maybe not.

But first, they have to determine whether this is feasible from an engineering standpoint and an environmental standpoint and a financial standpoint, Riccio said. Whatever arrangement the city and the company reach has to be reasonable and palatable to the public.

Elkins, whose grandparents lived in West Haven and whose father lived there as a child, said, We have the capability to execute on the project, provided it pencils out. Negotiators are working out the liability issue and the back taxes issue, he said.

But paying the back taxes would be part and parcel of the deal  whether its a one-shot payment or whether its paid out over time, Elkins said. Thats one of the pieces of the deal to be worked out. Those are the hairy things. Building the system is no problem, he said.

I heard their comments, said Joseph Riccio of city residents who asked at the Oct. 23 City Council meeting how the unpaid taxes on the dump could have ballooned to more than $500,000 when people get liened when they owe $300 on their car tax bills. Were going to try to structure a deal thats a win-win for all.

Im negotiating a memorandum of understanding, Riccio said. Well go back to council for their approval. Well see if we can come up with an agreement thats sustainable and will be beneficial for all ... because that property just sitting there isnt doing anybody any good.

Elkinss proposal said SolarUS would finance the design, engineering, permitting, procurement, construction, interconnection, operation and maintenance of the solar photovoltaic system.

The proposal also said SolarUS would generate revenue from the energy produced on-site through the net meter allocation structure and the state Zero Emissions Renewable Energy Credit Program.

mark.zaretsky@hearstmediact.com
MASON CITY | A Mason City man was arrested for allegedly spitting on a police officer Tuesday morning.

Larry Anthony Garcia, 69, has been charged with misdemeanor assault on persons in certain occupations.

Court documents say Garcia committed the assault by spitting on a uniformed Mason City Police officer around 11:35 a.m. at the Quality Inn & Suites, 410 Fifth St. S.W.

Garcia is being held in the Cerro Gordo County Jail for $1,000 bond.

His initial appearance is scheduled for Thursday in Cerro Gordo County District Court.

 Courtney Fiorini
BURLINGTON  Lewis S. Mills High School is hosting its annual Celebration of Veterans program on Friday, Nov. 10. Luncheon will be from 12-1 p.m., followed by an assembly in the auditorium from 1-2 p.m. All Burlington and Harwinton Veterans are invited to attend. Throughout the day, community members are invited to view LSM students artwork displayed in the main lobby and adjacent hallway. Please contact Ms. Berardinelli in the Mills High School Counseling Office, 860-673-0423 x15311, for information and/or to RSVP. If leaving a phone message, indicate your full name, phone number, and how many people will be attending.

Veterans Day program planned in Torrington

TORRINGTON  The Torrington Veterans Support Committee, and its member groups, invites the public, current military personnel, and all veterans, to join them for the annual Veterans Day ceremony on Saturday, Nov. 11, 10:30 a.m. at Coe Memorial Park. If it rains, the ceremony will be held in the civic center at the park.

The public is invited and encouraged to attend. If anyone has an American flag that is torn, faded, or otherwise damaged they may bring them and a member of a veterans organization will take the flag and see that it is properly retired.

If any organization would like to participate in the program by placing a wreath to honor our Veterans, contact the Veteran Service Office at 860 489-2531 by Tuesday Nov. 7 at 3 p.m.

Library to host Social Security program

WINSTED  Social Security & Your Retirement, a free workshop covering topics important to those nearing retirement or those just retired, will be offered from 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm on Tuesday, Nov. 7, at the Beardsley and Memorial Library located at 40 Munro Place, Winsted.

Attendees will learn some of the strategies to help maximize their benefits, how to avoid some of the common filing mistakes as well as other considerations to make when considering retirement planning.

The informational workshop will be presented by the Society for Financial Awareness, Northwest Connecticut members: Kathryn Dennen, and Chad Burroughs, President of Burroughs Investment Group, independent investment advisors, with over 32 years of experience in the industry. They are frequent speakers on financial planning, including retirement income planning as well as investments, insurance and estate planning.

Seating is limited and registration must be made in advance by calling: Karin Taylor, Library Services Director, at: (860)-379-6043. Directions to the library can be found on their website at: www. www.beardsleylibrary.org.

DAR to present Good Citizen Awards

BARKHAMSTED  The Brooks-Green Woods Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution will meet at the Barkhamsted Community Room, Route 44, Barkhamsted on Wednesday, Nov. 15 at 7 p.m. Good Citizen Awards will be presented to area high school students during the meeting. The DAR Good Citizens Award and Scholarship contest was created in 1934, and is intended to encourage and reward the qualities of good citizenship. The award recognizes a high school senior with the qualities of dependability, service, leadership, and patriotism. Students are nominated by their teachers and peers. Once a student is chosen as the DAR Good Citizen, the student is invited to participate in the scholarship portion of the program which includes a personal statement and an essay.

Hostesses for the meeting are Lynn Schrock and Maureen Markure. Members are asked to bring Box Tops for Education. Any woman interested in obtaining information about membership may contact Karen Brett, Regent at 860-379-8741.

Bereaved invited to program

SALISBURY  SVNA invites the community to attend the Holiday Survival Tips for the Bereaved gathering. The Salisbury Visiting Nurse Hospice Team realizes the holidays are often difficult for those that have lost a loved one. SVNA will share tangible strategies and tools for surviving grief in a season of joy when hearts are heavy with loss. The program will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 8, 5-6 p.m.

At Salisbury Visiting Nurse Association 30A Salmon Kill Road, Salisbury. There is no charge to attend. Light refreshments provided. Call Joanna Geiger to register at 860-435-0816.

Businesses hosting food collection drive

THOMASTON  Plymouth Glass and Mirror LLC and Thomaston Insurance LLC, both headquartered in Thomaston, are joining forces to lend support to the Thomaston Food Pantry and Thomaston Social Services office. The two businesses will be collecting food items and donations for the upcoming holidays. Some of the most needed food items include canned fruit, coffee, jelly, tomato products, kitchen staples (vinegar, oil, sugar, flour) and kitchen supplies (foil, plastic wrap, trash bags, paper towels, napkins). Any other food items are also welcome. Donations for the Social Services emergency fund can be made by personal or business check.

All food items and donations can be dropped off at Thomaston Insurance, 89 Main St., or at Plymouth Glass, 142 East Main St. For more information, contact Tracy Wivestad at 860-921-8130 or David LaManna at 860-283-0278.

Burlington to hold art fair

BURLINGTON  Burlington Town Hall, 200 Spielman Highway, will be the site of the first annual Artist and Artisan Fair for benefit the repair and continued restoration of the historic church building owned by Congregational Church of Burlington, on Sunday, Nov. 4, 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

Fifteen selected artists and artisans from throughout Connecticut will display and sell their work. Participants include: Pottery by Grace Epstein, mixed media by Lori Barker, original jewelry designed by Linda Davidson of Quilibet, wildlife and architecture photography by Jaroslav Bil, printmaker Elisabeth Ann McNally, silversmith Lynne Patnodes Silver Spiral Creations, original, repurposed apparel by Doreen Breen of Soul Threads, Matisse inspired note cards by Kevin Dix, paintings by Denise Balcanoff of Soulful Creations, Sandy Pratt knits, hand painted silk scarves by Suzanne Davis, textiles by Nancy Frodermann of Woolen It be Nice and more. Also featured will be lovely house plants to cheer you through the winter months, home baked goods, and a tea cup auction.

Follow the event on facebook at Artist and Artisan Fair of the Congregational Church of Burlington 11/4/17 or https://www.facebook.com/ArtistandArtisanCCB/ For more information contact Ann at 860-810-3938
To the Editor:

I find it appalling that two of the three candidates here in Barkhamsted would dare try to detract from the election process by using typical party politics to distract residents from making informed choices.

The candidates decision to abstain from the Barkhamsted Womens Club debate is akin to a potential job candidate refusing to show up for an interview. Its important to understand how fundamental it is for candidates to be willing to stand before the populace they choose to serve and answer the questions that impact the choices that their constituents will make. If these folks do not see this as what they owe to town residents, they clearly do not understand the role of first selectman.

Since I wont be able to have my questions asked at the debate, I will ask them here. Historically, we have had a first selectman who considers his/her role as first selectman as primary. The contender for Don Steins role currently holds a full time job and apparently feels that he can moonlight as the first selectman. I simply cannot fathom how he hopes to manage the day to day issues in town as they arise, be present for after hour meetings and represent Barkhamsted on a regional and statewide level. He will literally be phoning it in.

A second equally important issue is that of public safety. At present, we have a fiscally sound government that funds a dedicated Resident State Trooper as well as a constable for Regional 7 High School. Most folks do not realize that these positions are linked. The Monday morning after Newtown, when I brought my two children through the doors and saw Trooper Bonetti standing in the lobby, all three of us cried with relief. Cutting this position literally saves two dollars per week per household in Barkhamsted. Saving money at the cost of resident security is dangerous thinking.

The fact is that we have two candidates unwilling to speak to their would-be employers. Mr. Stein alone is willing to stand up and account for his experience, decisions and actions. Of the other two, one has little, if any relevant experience and, Im sure, prefers not having this publically exposed. The other has quite a bit to gain to keep taxpayers distracted by his small town version of Hillarys email scandal. Mr. Stein has done a terrific job for eight years. Lets drop the politics and move on.

 Cara Lattizori Nguyen, Psy.D., Barkhamsted
MASON CITY | A Mason City woman wanted in Floyd County was arrested on drug charges in Mason City Tuesday.

Aranda Jo Cowell, 37, was charged with misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia and felony possession of a controlled substance  third offense.

Police found a baggie of suspected methamphetamine and a glass pipe in Cowell's coat pocket during a search of her person around 8:35 p.m. in the 300 block of North Washington Avenue, court documents say.

CC woman gets suspended sentence for drug fraud CHARLES CITY | A Charles City woman has received a suspended prison sentence for obtaining p

Cowell was also wanted in Floyd County for a probation violation. If her probation is revoked, she could face 10 years in prison.

She previously lived in Charles City, where Floyd County District Court ordered suspended prison sentences for obtaining prescription drugs by fraudulent means and two counts of prohibited acts in 2015.

In 2013, Cowell was accused of using fraudulent methods to obtain other people's prescription medications, including those containing morphine and hydrocodone, court records say.

She is being held on a $15,000 bond in the Cerro Gordo County Jail.

Cowell has entered a written plea of not guilty to the drug charges. A non-jury trial has been scheduled for April 13 in Cerro Gordo County District Court.

 Courtney Fiorini
China has issued a new set of rules imposing state controls on all employees in privately run news and information apps.



From Dec. 1, 2017, any private content providers must provide the details, employment and training record of all editorial employees in a bid to prevent the spread of what the ruling Chinese Communist Party regards as "illegal" information.



Staff employed to moderate, edit and censor online content will be required to do so in a manner consistent with "Marxist media principles," and will receive government training in how to promote "socialist values."



The country's powerful Cyberspace Administration issued the new guidelines within days of President Xi Jinping's ascent during the 19th party congress to the status of "core" leader on a par with late supreme leaders Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping.



"The State Internet Information Office shall establish a unified management information system for employing employees, recording the basic information of employees, as well as their records of training, experience, rewards and punishments, to be updated regularly," the rules state.



"Internet Information Offices at a local level are responsible for establishing information management systems for local employees, and for reporting updates and adjustments to the Internet Information Office at a higher level," it said.



Officials are also required to hold files detailing the employment records of private sector employees in online content providers, including the setting up of "blacklists" for any who allow the publication of unauthorized information, it said.



The new rules are part of an ongoing nationwide clampdown on the kind of content deemed acceptable for Chinese media outlets to publish, and are widely seen as targeting social media and smartphone apps that aggregate content, including that not approved by the state.



An estimated 555 million Chinese people use news aggregator apps, an increase of more than 50 percent since 2010, while two-thirds of news is obtained overall from non-government sources.



In June, China issued stringent new licensing requirements for private companies offering video live-streaming and other "broadcast content," while ordering social media providers to limit audio and video content to that produced by state-approved providers, who already hold an "audiovisual online transmission license," it said.



Such licenses are very hard to obtain, are generally not held by online content providers, and are only held by some 300 organizations in China.



Unflattering news

And in September, Communist Party mouthpiece the Peoples Daily criticized news aggregator giant Jinri Toutiao for putting out "incorrect information."



Hu Ping, the New York-based editor of the Chinese-language monthly Beijing Spring, said the government is less concerned with "fake news" than it is with unflattering news, however.



"Everyone who works in this industry knows all too well what the authorities require of them," Hu said. "What that means is that there is some content that must be deleted, regardless of how true or accurate it is."



"It can't be published."



Nanjing resident Hong Chendian said the new rules have little to do with improving the quality of online news, as claimed in the directive, and are too vague to be of much use.



"There aren't any specific standards to be upheld, other than saying that they have to abide by the constitution," Hong said. "There's nothing about specific forms of speech by the general public, and what laws they might break."



"There are different rules and standards coming out all the time now, and nobody knows whether the guidelines will be different ," Hong said.



A resident of northern Hebei province surnamed Zhu agreed.



"Internet regulation in China isn't about helping the internet to develop; it's about controlling it," Zhu said. "The point of such guidelines is to shut down public debate and freedom of information."



Reported by Lin Ping for RFA's Mandarin Service, and by Hai Nan for the Cantonese Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.
Myanmar government spokesman Zaw Htay comments on a UN Human Rights Council resolution to launch an international investigation of alleged rights violations in Rakhine state, in Naypyidaw, March 24, 2017.

A Myanmar government spokesman on Wednesday accused Bangladesh of delaying efforts to repatriate Rohingya Muslim refugees who fled a recent crackdown in northern Rakhine state because of a dispute over certain terms of an agreement between the two countries.

More than 600,000 ethnic Rohingya fled northern Rakhine state amid a military crackdown and armed clashes between Muslim insurgents and government security forces following deadly attacks by terrorists on police outposts on Aug. 25. They now live in refugee camps in neighboring Bangladesh.

Zaw Htay, director general of State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyis office, said Myanmar is ready to accept the refugees back based on a 1993 agreement with Bangladesh, though progress has been delayed because Bangladeshi officials have failed to agree on particular terms.

Myanmars home affairs minister [Lieutenant General Kyaw Swe] discussed this issue with his Bangladeshi counterpart last week  in the meeting of two countries top-level officials, but we didnt agree on some points to accept these refugees back, Zaw Htay told RFAs Myanmar Service.

The points in the 1993 agreement are Myanmars basic principles, but we still need to discuss them because Bangladesh wants to amend some points in the agreement, he said.

Myanmar and Bangladesh agreed in September to begin a process to repatriate the refugees under the accord, which allows the return of Rohingya who can prove residency in Myanmar.

Zaw Htay's comments come a day after Myint Kyaing, permanent secretary of the Department of Immigration and Population, told RFAs Myanmar Service that Myanmar was working to modify the accord. He did not specify what modifications Myanmar was seeking.

Zaw Htay also indicated that Bangladeshs acceptance of the terms of the agreement concerning the repatriation of refugees hinged upon that countrys receipt of funds from the international community to build large displacement camps for the Rohingya.

Currently they have got U.S. $400 million. [W]e are now afraid of delaying the program of deporting the refugees, he was quoted as saying by the state-run Global New Light of Myanmar.

They have got international subsidies, he said. We are now afraid they will have another consideration as to repatriation.

There was no immediate response from Bangladeshi government officials, who said last week that Myanmar had failed to agree to points Dhaka had submitted to their Myanmar counterparts on the return of the Rohingya during talks in Myanmars capital Naypyidaw.

After the discussions, the two countries signed memorandums of understanding to increase their security cooperation and set up border liaison offices to handle returning refugees.

Rohingya Muslim refugees wait to get their relief cards signed by Bangladesh Army officers so they can collect relief aid at Moynar Ghona refugee camp in Ukhia subdistrict, Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh, Nov. 1, 2017. Credit: AFP List of refugees

Myanmars Ministry of Labor, Immigration, and Population said it will check and accept 150 refugees a day at each of two checkpoints in Taungpyo Letwe and Ngakhura villages in northern Rakhine, Zaw Htay said.

He also said Myanmars police chief had asked his Bangladeshi counterpart for a list of those who fled northern Rakhine, but had yet to receive it.

They told us they will email us the list, he said. This list is very important. We have our original documents for those people.

Bangladesh must have the list of registered people at refugee camps, and we need this list to accept them back, but they havent sent us this list, he said. If we have this list, it might be easier and quicker to take them back. We just need to check this list with the documents and photos we have. We want to do the process as soon as possible.

On account of the delay with the implementation of the repatriation process, Myanmar is concerned about comments from the international community that might suggest officials are not willing to comply with the terms of the agreement in order to keep the Rohingya refugees out of the country, Zaw Htay said.

The international community is putting pressure on us about the exodus and accepting them back, he said. All ministries are implementing the process of accepting them back as the state counselor has already promised.

As long as the refugees can submit proper documents showing that they live in northern Rakhine, they will be resettled in their villages, and houses for them will be built, he said.

Guaranteed security?

Also on Wednesday, Aung Ko, Myanmars minister of religious affairs and culture, assured six Buddhist monk leaders from Maungdaw  one of the three townships in northern Rakhine affected by recent turmoil  that there was no need to worry about renewed violence in the area arising from the governments plan to repatriate the Rohingya who fled.

The monks will agree with the repatriation plan as long as there are measures that the international community can accept and guarantees that no new attacks will occur, said Jotika, abbot of Jotikaryone Monastery in Maungdaw.

If so, we will accept the plan, he said.

When the monks asked Aung Ko to invite Myanmars de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi to visit the township, he said she would come there, but gave no further details.

Aung Ko also met with Buddhist monk leaders in Buthidaung and Rathedaung townships.

Meanwhile, other ethnic minority groups who live in the region have continued to clamor for more security in light of the governments plan to repatriate the Rohingya refugees.

The head of one of Rakhine states ethnic political parties called on the government military on Sunday to protect the Daingnet minority who live in northern Rakhines Maungdaw township, the focal point of the recent violence following the August attacks and military crackdown, where several ethnic groups coexist.

We believe we are not safe without the army, said Aung Kyaw Zaw, chairman of the Daingnet National Development Party (DNDP). Were not calling for martial law for the entire country, but only in Buthidaung, Maungdaw, and Rathedaung townships to maintain peace and security in the region.

After the Aug. 25 terrorist attacks in Maungdaw, two ethnic Daingnet were killed, and two others were injured. A total of eight have been killed since then.

We have Daingnet, Khami, Mro, Thet, and Rakhine ethnics in the region, Aung Kyaw Zaw said. Rakhine people can go to their relatives when we have problems [in the region], but our small ethnic groups are living in the forest and in very rural areas. We have to go into the forest for firewood and to fish, but we dont dare to do this now because people were killed when they were in the forest.

The Daingnet are one of the 135 ethnic groups officially recognized by the Myanmar government as indigenous to the country. More than 30,000 ethnic Daingnet, who are natives of northern Rakhine state, live in Maungdaw township.

Min Aung, Rakhine state spokesman and minister of municipal affairs, said on Wednesday that local police and border security guards have been deployed in Maungdaw to ensure residents safety.

We know local ethnics are worried about living with these refugees because they have had many problems because of them, but the Union government must work on mitigating their concerns, he said.

Reported by Khin Khin Ei, Waiyan Moe Myint, Thinn Thiri, and Wai Mar Tun for RFAs Myanmar Service. Translated by Khet Mar. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin.
Authorities in southwestern Chinas Sichuan province have shut down preparations for a major prayer gathering at the Larung Gar Buddhist Academy, further tightening government control over the institution, sources said.

The ban reverses an earlier decision to allow the festival, called Dechen Shingdrup, to go forward, a local source told RFAs Tibetan Service.

Initially, the Chinese government granted permission to hold the annual prayer festival, which was set to begin on Nov. 6, RFAs source said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

But on Oct. 29, the government revoked that decision and made an announcement saying the festival would be banned.

This is the second year in a row that Chinese authorities have refused permission for the festival, which had been held 21 times in the past, the source said.

Authorities cited overcrowding by festival participants and unfinished reconstruction work at Larung Gar as reasons for the ban, the source said, adding that the government order had greatly disappointed devotees hoping to attend.

The festival organizers had fully prepared for the event, he said. They sent people to Chengdu city to buy everything they would need, and the local people had excitedly begun to set up tents at the venue.

Local Tibetans believe the banning of the event is connected to a Chinese policy spurring a broader crackdown on the promotion of Tibetan religion and culture, he said.

Thousands expelled

Many thousands of Tibetans and Han Chinese once studied at Larung Gar Academy in Sichuans Serthar (in Chinese, Seda) county, making it one of the worlds largest and most important centers for the study of Tibetan Buddhism.

At the end of June, a senior abbot at the center said that Chinese authorities had destroyed 4,725 monastic dwellings at Larung Gar over the course of a year, with a total of more than 7,000 demolished since efforts to reduce the number of monks and nuns living at the sprawling complex began in 2001.

More than 4,825 monks and nuns have also been expelled since 2016, the abbot said, with many forced back to their hometowns and deprived of opportunities to pursue religious studies.

The Aug. 20 announcement that six members of the ruling Chinese Communist Party, all of them Tibetan, will now manage the day-to-day affairs of the Buddhist center has further demoralized many of those left behind, sources told RFA in an earlier report.

Reported by Kunsang Tenzin for RFAs Tibetan Service. Translated by Dorjee Damdul. Written in English by Richard Finney.
Chinese authorities in the northwestern region of Xinjiang are continuing their wave of arrests of ethnic minority Kazakhs and Uyghurs, sources in the regional told RFA on Wednesday.



A Kazakh source close to the police department in Xinjiang's regional capital, Urumqi, said police are now being issued with quotas for the detention of the mostly Muslim Uyghurs and ethnic Kazakhs.



Police are targeting anyone who expresses a critical opinion of the ruling Chinese Communist Party on social media, as well as those with overseas links, such as family who live or study abroad, sources said.



Many of those detained are being sent to re-education centers across the region, while some face criminal prosecution, they said.



"They have to detain 3,000 Kazakhs or Uyghurs per week," the Kazakh source close to the Urumqi police department said.



A second Kazakh source gave the example of Urumqi sole trader Adilbek Hasmubai, who was reported to police after he sent his computer to a repair shop and the shop assistant viewed photos and images of a Kazakhstan lawmaker stored on the hard drive, and reported him to police.



Adilbek, 32, was taken away by police in Urumqi, and several of his friends and associates were later also detained, after his computer was found to contain images of them posing in photographs with Kazakhstan Mazhilis member Bekbolat Tleukhan, who has spoken out about China's treatment of Kazakhs.



More than 20 people were detained in connection with the case in Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture and Tacheng city, including Aigul Musakhan, 28, Tumarbek Sadek, 32, and Tohtar Bisanbey, 32.



An employee who answered the phone at the Tianshan district police department in Urumqi on Wednesday hung up immediately when contacted by RFA.



The source said the number of detainees implicated in the Adilbek case alone would likely continue to expand.



More cells being built



A Kazakh source living in the north of Xinjiang said the recent waves of detentions has outstripped existing capacity, prompting the authorities to build more detention facilities, including those with cells just one meter high.



"[new construction] has already started happening in the jails near where I live," the Kazakh source said. "I heard that there are two reasons for this: one is that the [existing jails] are packed with people, and the other is that they are making a distinction between political prisoners and ordinary criminals."



"The ceilings are just one meter high, so a person can't stand upright: they have to squat down."



A second source in the same area said authorities are continuing to confiscate the passports of Kazakhs in the region, in a policy that has long been used to restrict Uyghurs' freedom of movement.



"They don't want them going to visit relatives in Kazakhstan," the source said. "They are planning to tell the United Nations Human Rights Council about this situation, to try to get their support."



He said relatives who are citizens of Kazakhstan are also finding it hard to get Chinese visas to visit relatives in Xinjiang.



Targeted for ties abroad



Chinese authorities began detaining ethnic minority Kazakhs several months ago, sending them to police-run detention centers or re-education camps across the region.



Those being targeted often have overseas links, including a history of overseas study or family and friends across the border in Kazakhstan.



Chinese authorities are also believed to be holding a number of ethnic minority Kazakhs for wearing "Islamic" clothing and praying, a practice forbidden by the ruling Chinese Communist Party on university campuses across the country.



Dozens of Kazakhs have also faced detention, intimidation, and the confiscation of their passports and other documents because they have family members living or studying overseas.



Ethnic minority Kazakh Muslims were among some 200 ethnic minority holders of Chinese passports targeted in August by Egypt's secret police in an operation activists said was requested by Beijing.



Official figures show that there are around 1.5 million Kazakhs in China, mostly concentrated in and around the Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture.



China has previously welcomed Kazakhs who wished to relocate from Kazakhstan, but many Kazakhs with Chinese nationality are now heading back in the other direction, with their numbers peaking at nearly 38,000 in 2006.



Reported by Qiao Long for RFA's Mandarin Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.
A Vietnamese labor and environmental activist arrested in May after campaigning against Hanois handling of a devastating toxic waste spill will be tried for abusing democratic freedoms to infringe upon the interests of the state, his lawyer told RFAs Vietnamese service on Wednesday.

Hoang Duc Binh, 34, was arrested central Vietnams Nghe An province on May 15, more than a year after organizing protests over the governments response to the April 2016 waste spill by Taiwan-owned Formosa Plastics Groups steel plant, which killed an estimated 115 tons of fish and left fishermen jobless in four coastal provinces.

Binh is to be prosecuted under paragraph 2, Article 258 of the Vietnam Penal Code for abusing democratic freedoms to infringe upon the interests of the state, the legitimate rights and interests of organizations and/or citizens, and could face between two and seven years in jail, his defense lawyer confirmed.

I have received the investigation result which was completed on October 30. His family also knows about this but I dont know what they think yet, said Attorney Ha Huy Son.

Lawyers have not been allowed to meet with him for two weeks. Two weeks ago, lawyer Le Van Luan met him, and Luan said his health is fair, added Son.

Following Binhs arrest last May, hundreds of people blocked off traffic in Nghe Ans Dien Chau district, near where plainclothes officers pulled over the car the activist was riding in, before proceeding to the front of the district government office to demand his release.

Defending the arrest at the time, the news website of Vietnams Supreme Peoples Court issued a report detailing Binhs activities in recent years, which it labeled reactionary and politically colored, including appeals to establish unofficial union groups.

Binh is the vice president of an independent civic organization called The Labor Movement of Vietnam, which aims to help workers, and a member of the group called No-U Saigon a group that protests Chinas sweeping claims on the South China Sea.

The prosecution of Binh comes amid a major crackdown by Hanois ruling Communist Party authorities on rights defenders, bloggers and other dissenters.

Amnesty International says that Vietnam is currently holding at least 84 prisoners of conscience, the highest number in any country in Southeast Asia.

Amnesty describes such prisoners as men and women who have been imprisoned for their beliefs and/or peaceful activism.

Reported by RFAs Vietnamese Service. Translated by Emily Peyman. Written in English by Paul Eckert.
Vietnamese blogger Nguyen Ngoc Nhu Quynh (L), also known as Mother Mushroom, stands trial at a courthouse in the city of Nha Trang in south-central Vietnam's Khanh Hoa province, June 29, 2017.

A group of 40 Western and Vietnamese scholars and experts on Vietnam have come together to denounce the jailing of two prominent Vietnamese pro-democracy bloggers.

In a statement sent Monday to Vietnamese government and Communist Party leaders, the intellectuals focused on the plight of two women who were sentenced earlier this year to heavy sentences for posting anti-state propaganda and distorting the situation in Vietnam.

Nguyen Ngoc Nhu Quynh, arrested in October 2016 and Tran Thi Nga, arrested in January of this year were sentenced to 10 and nine years imprisonment respectively.

These are particularly heavy sentences against the two women, who are mothers with children under 10 years old, for activities that should not and must not have been criminalized in the first place, the group of scholars and experts said.

They strongly requested that the two women be immediately released for both legal and humanitarian reasons.

The statements 40 signatories include foreign and Vietnamese scholars from leading universities in Australia, Canada, France, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Singapore, and The United Kingdom as well as engineers and independent researchers.

The overseas Vietnamese community is also well represented among the signatories.

David Brown, a former U.S. diplomat and expert on Vietnam who signed the statement, said that the scholars appeal is a milestone of sorts.

Brown said that to his knowledge its the first time that such a large number of Western intellectuals have spoken up on prisoners of conscience since May, 1979, when Joan Baez and 80 others denounced Hanois brutal reconstruction of a conquered South Vietnam.

Some 70 percent of the signatories to the statement sent to Hanoi on Monday were Western scholars and experts.

The list includes a number of Western scholars who had held back from speaking out publicly on the issue of Vietnamese political prisoners in the past. Some had apparently feared that they would lose their access to Vietnam by going public with their concerns.

A history of petitioning

But this isnt the first time that both Vietnamese and foreign scholars have sent petitions or appeals to Hanoi calling for the release of imprisoned prisoners of conscience whose only crime was to peacefully call for reforms.

Ben Kerkvliet, an American political scientist and emeritus professor at the Australian National University in Canberra, noted that people inside Vietnam have created, circulated, and signed petitions and statements addressed to high-ranking Vietnamese officials over the years.

For almost a decade, Vietnamese protesters and petitioners have addressed among other issues the imprisonment of peaceful demonstrators, environmental issues, and concerns about Vietnams relations with China.

In 2009 and 2011, the organizers of petitions against a plan to mine for bauxite in Vietnams Central Highlands included not only scientists and intellectuals but also retired senior Vietnamese officials.

They stated that devastating environmental damage would result from the mining, which was to be carried out by a Chinese state-owned company.

In mid-2013, a widely signed petition addressed the plight of Cu Huy Ha Vu, a lawyer who was arrested in November of 2012 after calling for a multi-party political system in Vietnam. A district court sentenced him to seven years in prison and three years of house arrest.

More than half of the signatories to that petition were Western scholars.

In late May of 2013, Dr. Vu went on a hunger strike. In April 2014, he was released from prison and allowed to travel to the United States.

By Amnesty Internationals count, Vietnam is currently holding at least 84 prisoners of conscience, the highest number in any country in Southeast Asia.

AI describes such prisoners as men and women who have been imprisoned for their beliefs and/or peaceful activism."

Two Women Who Dared Speak Out

Professor Kerkvliet said the signers of the scholars and experts statement decided to focus on two imprisoned Vietnamese women because of their lengthy sentences, their modest offenses, and the fact that their young children desperately need them at home.

The two women activists, Tran Ngoc Nhu Quynh and Tran Thi Nga, are both bloggers who were assaulted more than once by security police and unidentified thugs. Such plainclothes thugs are known to work with the police.

Quynh, age 38, under her pen name or pseudonym Mother Mushroom, was considered Vietnams most famous blogger. She worked to promote the rights of ordinary Vietnamese and gained attention championing the victims of a massive toxic spill in coastal central Vietnam in April 2016 and captured on videos incidents involving police brutality.

The other activist, Nga, 40, is a self-taught expert on labor rights who despite poor health campaigned for the rights of workers and farmers.

In 2014, several unidentified men attacked Nga with iron rods.

During their trials, supporters of the two women were not allowed into the courtroom.
CLEAR LAKE | A St. Paul man has been jailed after violating terms of his release after pleading guilty to damaging a vehicle in Clear Lake in September.

According to court documents, Ulysses Simpson Dunn, 33, picked up "dirt" and threw it at a vehicle in the 9000 block of Highway 122 Sept. 24. Police say he was trying to stop traffic.

Court documents say that the "dirt" was actually gravel, which chipped paint on a 2007 GMC Sierras hood and bumper. The damage was estimated to be between $500 and $1,000.

Dunn, who pleaded guilty to misdemeanor third-degree criminal mischief, was released on pre-trial release before sentencing.

Dunn violated the terms of his release, court document said. He is being held on a $2,000 bond in the Cerro Gordo County Jail until sentencing, which is scheduled for Monday in Cerro Gordo County District Court.

 Courtney Fiorini
Cherry Bekaert LLP, a Richmond-based accounting firm, announced Wednesday that is has acquired Frasier, Dean & Howard PLLC, one of Nashvilles largest certified public accounting firms.

The deal enabled Cherry Bekaert to enter the Nashville market as one of the 10 largest certified public accounting and consulting firms in middle Tennessee, with 11 partners and more than 50 employees in the practice there.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Cherry Bekaert said in a statement that it targeted Nashville for expansion because of a diverse and growing economy that caters to the firms core industry sectors of technology, life sciences, advanced manufacturing, distribution, transportation, logistics, healthcare, education and nonprofits.

Given its longevity and strong reputation for client service, FDH was a perfect match to help us enter the Nashville market," said Howard J. Kies, managing partner of Cherry Bekaert.

Founded in 1975 by Charles Frasier, FDH established a tradition of working with a cross section of clients.
BUFFALO CENTER | A North Iowa woman was sentenced to jail Tuesday in a Buffalo Center child abduction case.

Authorities say Ashley Machain, 29, the childrens biological mother, brandished a knife when she and Daniel L. Smith, her alleged accomplice, took two small children from a Buffalo Center house in November 2016.

The children, ages 1 and 3, were recovered safely in Fort Dodge the following day.

Two charged in alleged Buffalo Center child abduction BUFFALO CENTER  Two people have been charged in a child abduction case in Buffalo Center.

Machain, named in court documents as Ashley Nicole Machain Santiz, was originally charged with felony second-degree burglary, child endangerment and assault while participating in a felony.

Machain through a plea agreement pleaded down her charges to misdemeanor trespass and disorderly conduct. The assault charge was dismissed.

She was sentenced in Winnebago County District Court to 30 days in jail for each count, served consecutively with credit for time served.

Man gets jail time after pleading to lesser charge in North Iowa child abduction case BUFFALO CENTER | A Fort Dodge man has been sentenced to 30 days in jail after one charge was

Smith, 30, of Fort Dodge, was sentenced to jail after pleading guilty to lesser charges in September.

 Courtney Fiorini
A Riverside Regional Jail inmate was found dead Tuesday of an apparent suicide, the third inmate to die at the facility in less than 14 months.

Jail staff found Alex Tripp, 32, unresponsive in his cell at 5:14 p.m. and initiated a medical emergency response that included CPR, the jail said in a release.

Prince George County paramedics responded and continued to perform CPR, but Tripp could not be revived.

Tripps cause of death is still pending, but jail officials said it appears he committed suicide.

Prince George police are investigating the death, and Riverside has initiated an internal investigation.

Tripp was booked into the facility less than a day earlier  at 2:21 p.m. Oct. 30  on charges of petit larceny, obtaining money under false pretenses and two narcotics offenses. He was being held for Chesterfield County without bond.

Tripp is at least the third person to die at Riverside since September 2016 and the 11th since June 2013.

On Sept. 14, 2016, Raven Marie Darr-Morse, 47, of Chester, was found dead in her cell in the jails medical housing unit. At the time, officials said it appeared Darr-Morse died of natural causes and an investigation was commenced.

She was found dead after being in custody for 24 hours on charges of violating the condition of her probation.

About two months later, Artur Kharendzyuk, 26, was found dead in his cell on Nov. 26, 2016. The medical examiners office ruled Kharendzyuks death a suicide by hanging.

Kharendzyuk, dubbed the Soul Patch Bandit, had been arrested four days earlier and was a suspect in a series of bank robberies in the Richmond area. He also was accused of killing his 1-year-old son in Newport News.

From June 1, 2013, to Aug. 31, 2016, a total of 129 inmates had died in Virginia jails, according to a 2016 Richmond Times-Dispatch analysis of state figures. Of those deaths, eight were Riverside inmates.
Richmond police are investigating the vandalism of a vehicle that was spray-painted with an anti-gay message as a hate crime.

Between 9:30 and 10 p.m. Tuesday, which was Halloween, someone with white spray paint tagged the side of a vehicle with the words GAY MOVE DIE in the 3400 block of Delaware Avenue in the citys North Highland Park neighborhood, police said.

The Richmond Police Department stands with the LGBTQ community in condemning what happened last night, Richmond Police Chief Alfred Durham said in a statement. I have directed the departments LGBTQ liaison, Capt. Dan Minton, to monitor the progress of the investigation to keep everyone informed.

Police declined to say why they believe the graffiti was a hate crime or whether it was directed against a member of the gay community.

We dont profile victims, police spokesman Gene Lepley said.

James Millner, president of Virginia Pride, said the victim is a known gay man whose vehicle was targeted.

This was certainly not done by a random graffiti artist, Millner said. This man is known to be gay, and the message on the car says Gay Move Die  its a death threat. Thats not random graffiti trying to be destructive.

The fact that Chief Durham himself has inserted himself into this should be an indication as to how seriously the Richmond police are taking this, Millner said. And also the swiftness with which they elevated this to a hate crime  which was a matter of hours after it was brought to their attention  is also significant. So there seems to be no hesitation.

Police ask anyone with information about the incident to call 4th Precinct Detective Lieutenant Herman W. Loney III at (804) 646-4195 or contact Crime Stoppers at (804) 780-1000 or www.7801000.com.
After facing criticism from residents over transparency, the members of the Chesterfield County School Board likely will reverse course on meeting setups.

Schools Superintendent James Lane will recommend tacking the School Boards monthly work session onto its monthly business meeting.

The move would mean all of the School Boards meetings would be held at centrally located rooms at the county government complex.

The work session would be held in a conference room thats equipped for audio recording, while the vote-taking business meetings would continue to be held in a nearby public meeting room thats capable of video and audio livestreaming.

No School Board members voiced opposition to the proposal, which will be formally presented to the elected leaders in two months.

The recommendation comes after residents raised concerns over the loss of livestreaming, sound quality, room structure and the noncentral location of the site School Board members moved their work sessions to early this year.

Until early this year, the School Board held most of its monthly meetings in a central county location, either in the Public Meeting Room in the government complex or the nearby School Administration Building.

Then in early January, the School Board chose to break up its meetings. It held the business session in the Public Meeting Room in central Chesterfield and a work session at a technical center in western Chesterfield. The work session meetings also were pushed to earlier in the day, to 4 p.m., instead of 6:30 p.m. School officials have said the time change helped avoid traffic congestion.

Work sessions at the technical center were video-recorded and posted to the boards page, but not livestreamed as they were previously in the Public Meeting Room. Unlike the business meeting, no votes are taken at the work session.

Schools spokesman Shawn Smith has defended the change by saying that the technical centers work session format is largely no different from the one historically used at the School Administration Building.

For more than a decade, work sessions were held in that building near the government complex. They werent videotaped or livestreamed.

Work sessions only were livestreamed between July and December last year when they were held in the Public Meeting Room. Megan Rhyne, the executive director of the Virginia Coalition for Open Government, has criticized the change by saying it is a step backward for transparency.

The technical centers conference room allows for more face-to-face dialogue between board and staff members, school officials have also said. They added that it allows the board to reach more of the population by being held in a denser area of the county.

The conference room at the technical center can hold hundreds more people than the Public Meeting Room, which has a capacity of 242. But the popularity of the larger technical center conference room caused at least one work session to shift to a smaller conference room with a capacity of 150 people after another group had booked the larger room.

Several times, School Board members have also interrupted the work sessions to say the public is having a hard time hearing comments. School staff members later added microphones to improve audio.

Weve heard some commentary on the room and the sound and some feedback, Lane said.

The centrally located conference room where the School Board will likely return its work sessions to is the same one in which the countys Board of Supervisors holds its work sessions.

School staff members plan to recommend the change to School Board members in January at the boards organizational meeting.
Three Virginia Commonwealth University students and one former student accused of wearing masks during protests of a pro-Confederate rally along Richmonds Monument Avenue in September appeared in court on Tuesday.

Coincidentally, their day in court took place on Halloween.

Thomas Rockett, 21, of Herndon; Caroline Hill, 24, of McLean; Corissa C. Duffey, 25, of Georgia; and Ian M. Gerson, 32, of New York; appeared before a Richmond General District Court judge, who amended their charges of wearing a mask in public and downgraded them to disorderly conduct  a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of less than $1,000. Their cases were continued for six months for review.

The foursome were charged under a 1950s-era law  aimed at unmasking the Ku Klux Klan in Virginia  making it illegal for anyone over the age of 16 to conceal their face, and therefore their identity, in public. The felony carries a maximum of five years in prison.

Police issued warnings ahead of the Sept. 16 rally that anyone wearing masks or covering their face would be arrested on the spot.

The rally and counterprotests cost the city more than $570,000. Police Chief Alfred Durham said he was essentially given a blank check to prevent a repeat of the violent white supremacist demonstration and protest in Charlottesville in August that left one person dead.

No injuries were reported in Richmond, but seven people were arrested.

Deante Watkins, 18, of Richmond, faces four firearms charges. His case was continued until Dec. 12 after he failed to follow the parameters of his pretrial release.

Brittany Bush, 29, of Petersburg, was charged with disorderly conduct. Her case will be heard Nov. 17.

Jabari Robinson, 21, of Roanoke, pleaded guilty last week for carrying a loaded weapon in public, a misdemeanor. He was given a suspended sentence and ordered to pay the $202 cost of the proceeding, which he did that day, according to court records.
A proposal from a Richmond School Board member would close three of the citys elementary schools in an effort to overhaul school facilities that would include building a new George Mason Elementary.

Fourth District representative Jonathan Youngs proposal would close Woodville Elementary School in Creighton; Swansboro Elementary School in South Richmond; and Southampton Elementary School, which is in Youngs district in the southwestern part of the city.

Under the plan, about 10 percent of the school systems student population would be affected.

Its not a silver bullet, Young said. My plan does not fix everything, but we have to start somewhere. We should have a real sense of urgency pertinent to facilities.

Funding for the $100 million plan would come from multiple sources and would not require an increase in school funding or a tax increase, according to a draft of the plan provided to the Richmond Times-Dispatch.

The closure of the three elementary schools would save about $1.5 million per year, according to the draft. In addition, $70 million would be generated through public-private agreements and $2 million through an unnamed nonprofit that would use Westover Hills Elementary School when its not in use.

Youngs proposal calls for 1 percent  about $3.5 million a year  of the school divisions budget to be reprioritized toward facilities. Money would not come from instruction, according to the draft, and instead would come from:

consolidating departments;

transferring some of the school systems operations to the city;

cutting the number of administrative staff members; and

cutting nonessential consulting contracts.

While the plan calls for the closure of three schools, it would ultimately affect 10.

A new George Mason Elementary School would be built to fit 850 students at an estimated cost of $33 million. School officials have called the Church Hill school building  which was almost shut down because of poor conditions  the worst facility in the districts 44-school portfolio.

Problems in the school were so bad last year that some teachers wore surgical masks because of poor air quality and had to clean up rodent droppings from students desks. The district put about $130,000 into the building over the summer to keep it open this year, about $25,000 more than originally estimated.

What we did, did that extend the life of the building? No. Remember, this building is a 1922 building. It was built in 1922, interim schools Superintendent Tommy Kranz said on the first day of school. We did things that will provide for a good school year this year. How long will these things last? I cant tell you.

The proposal calls for a 1,000-student E.S.H. Greene Elementary School that would replace the current school, which is near McGuire Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Also on South Side, Westover Hills Elementary School and J.B. Fisher Elementary School would add wings to fit 10 new classrooms, and E.D. Redd Elementary School would absorb about 50 students because of the closure of Swansboro, according to the plan.

I have no interest in looking for a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, Young said. I want something real.

Young has discussed the plan with other board members, he said, and has sent it to school officials, including Kranz. The district, led by Kranz until a new superintendent is named, is in the middle of drafting its own plan.

Kranz was expected to present a draft of the plan at the School Boards facilities committee meeting last week. A complete plan was not presented, but it is expected to be given to the board in November.

In a statement, Kranz said the administration hopes to have a districtwide facilities plan available sooner than later, but added that officials want to make sure the report addresses all facilities needs.

As we develop this plan, we are working with the School Board members, city officials and other stakeholders to ensure that we are considering all possible options, Kranz said. In order to ensure the maximum results for all RPS students, the comprehensive plan must utilize all of the tools that are available to address our aging facilities and capacity needs. As a result of these two factors, the development of a sound, comprehensive plan based on data alone is a challenge to develop.

Dawn Page, the chairwoman of the School Board, said the board appreciates Youngs proposal, but she added that the facilities committee hasnt had time to review it and said the administration hasnt properly vetted the information.

Page said shell wait until the facilities committee and administration review the plan before adding it to the boards meeting agenda. The next facilities committee meeting is scheduled for Nov. 27.

Young is hopeful that decisions relating to his plan can be made before the end of the calendar year.
Republican Robert Bob Witte Jr., a Henrico County planning commissioner, issued a statement Wednesday saying he was not involved in the creation, production, or distribution of Republican Party of Virginia-made campaign materials in support of his candidacy to represent the Brookland District on the Henrico Board of Supervisors.

The mailers were critical of Wittes opponent, Democrat Courtney Lynch, co-owner of a leadership development consulting firm.

My campaign has not been involved in any way with the creation, production, or distribution of mailings from RPV until this week, when we coordinated with them on a positive endorsement mailing that will reach homes later this week, Witte said in the statement. Frankly, I would have objected to the edgy tone of the previous independent mailings if I had known about them in advance.

Two mailers were a matter of controversy in October in their doctored depictions of Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney, who is black, and Lynch, who is white. Lynch, who has been endorsed by Stoney, called the mailers dog-whistle politics with racist undertones catering to people who think Henrico is better than Richmond because of Richmonds substantial African-American population.

Stoneys political action committee said the images of the mayor appeared to have been darkened. A Christopher Newport University political science professor said the mailers could be attempting to tickle racist tendencies. The Republican Party of Virginia denied any darkening of Stoney and any suggestion of racial undertones.

On Monday, another Republican-backed flyer arrived in Henrico mailboxes featuring a Facebook post from an account the social media company removed after a Lynch volunteer reported it was a fraudulent account. Witte did not respond to requests for comment on Tuesday but addressed the Facebook mailer in his statement on Wednesday.

I am deeply concerned that content from a fake Facebook profile was used in a mailing from RPV, Witte said in the statement. I had no knowledge of the mailer whatsoever until it arrived in my own mailbox at my home. I certainly hope no one at RPV is responsible for the fake profiles creation. I completely disavow such trickery, and condemn it in the strongest terms.

Lynch said Tuesday that she found it hard to believe that Witte had nothing to do with the mailers.

If a candidate is not aware of every effort that is touching their camp, I question their leadership, Lynch said. The lack of accountability is shocking to me.

She expressed surprise Wednesday that it was only after the mailers got into the news that Witte addressed them.

He had multiple opportunities to stop these types of mailers, Lynch said. This is beyond an edgy tone in a mailer.

John Findlay, executive director of the Republican Party of Virginia, said the party has sent mail and spent money in other local races, such as in Fairfax County.

As far as the Witte-Lynch race, It overlaps with several critical House of Delegate races. Its important for the Board of Supervisors, Findlay said.

Republican Eddie Whitlock and Democrat Schuyler VanValkenburg are battling for the open state House seat in District 72. Del. John M. OBannon III, R-Henrico, faces a challenge from Democrat Debra Rodman in the 73rd District. The Brookland supervisor seat lies within those two House districts.

Are the state party mailers an attempt to boost Republican turnout in the state races?

They overlap and we are very interested in it, said Findlay, who declined further comment on that question.

I think we are shedding light on ... Lynchs support for BRT expansion to Short Pump, Findlay said.

BRT refers to the bus rapid transit line thats under construction between Willow Lawn and Rocketts Landing. Lynch has said she would support expanding the line to Short Pump in a fiscally responsible way.
MASON CITY | A Mason City man and Forest City woman were arrested after an early morning traffic stop Tuesday yielded drugs.

Tyler James Pingel, 24, and Brooklynn Autumn ODell, 21, were pulled over around 3:05 a.m. in the 100 block of First Street Southeast.

Pingel was found to be in possession of suspected marijuana and methamphetamine, a digital scale and other illegal narcotics during the traffic stop, court documents said.

Police said ODell was in possession of a black sunglasses case containing needles; a baggie with a white, crystalized substance believed to be meth; a pipe commonly used to smoke meth and small baggies, court documents say. She also had a scale under her feet.

ODell has been charged with possession of a controlled substance  second offense and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Pingel has been charged with possession of a controlled substance  marijuana, possession of a controlled substance  meth and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Both are being held in the Cerro Gordo County Jail on $2,000 bonds. Court dates haven't been set.

 Courtney Fiorini
FREDERICKSBURG  A small airplanes parachute system failed to prevent a fatal crash in Orange County last year because of the manufacturers inadequate design, according to a federal agencys final report on the accident.

The National Transportation Safety Board concluded in September that the plane lost control, and the two occupants tried to activate a large parachute capable of carrying the single-engine aircraft. But the parachute did not properly deploy, preventing them from safely recovering on May 24 of last year, according to the NTSB report.

The report did not say why the 2007 Jihlavan Skyleader 500 plane lost control, but noted that its speed dropped from 108 to 71 mph, which is consistent with slow flight and stall practice. The previous owner told investigators he had to be vigilant during such practice because the aircraft would twist abruptly right and spin  more so than any other airplane he had ever flown, the NTSB stated.

The pilot, Charles Neal Caldwell, 57, of Florida, recently had purchased the plane and was receiving flight instruction to meet an insurance requirement. His flight instructor, John Joseph J.J. Quinn, 81, of Culpeper County, was in the passenger seat.

Both died from blunt-force trauma after the plane nosedived en route to Orange County Airport from Culpeper Regional Airport.

The report cited a toxicology test and stated Caldwell was likely impaired by a combination of medicine  including sedatives and an opioid  to treat chronic pain and other medical conditions. But investigators said they did not find evidence that his impaired condition contributed to the crash.

Quinn did not have alcohol or drugs in his system, according to the report.

Federal investigators said the parachute was built to support up to 1,350 pounds, or about 21 pounds more than the combined weight of the plane and occupants. The total weight did exceed the aircrafts maximum takeoff weight by about 50 pounds, though investigators did not attribute the accident to that fact.

The parachute had been tested on the ground but never in flight, the report stated. It had four risers attached to the plane, two of which shared an anchor bolted to an aluminum surface behind the aircrafts seats.

That front anchor, designed to carry most of the weight, separated from the airframe during the crash, likely because the planes thin aluminum skin could not handle the force of the parachute, the NTSB wrote. The inadequate design of the front parachute anchor attachment structure caused the equipment to fail.

The airplane manufacturer was unable to provide any data or testing of the amount of shock force the surrounding aluminum skin could withstand, the report stated.

A marketing representative for the Czech Republic-based Skyleader manufacturer did not immediately return an email for comment. The companys latest model has two front anchors for the parachute rather than one.

NTSB notified the plane manufacturer and the Federal Aviation Administration of its findings. A search of FAA data showed 15 other Skyleader 500 planes registered in the U.S., according to the report.

Several witnesses to the Orange crash told investigators they heard what sounded like thunder or a loud crack. They then saw a parachute deploy as the airplanes nose pointed straight down before hitting the ground.

One witness took a photograph of the plane descending with the parachute still attached and partially inflated. The parachute was found in trees about 100 yards east of the wreckage.

The pilot had nearly 121 hours of flight time, while the instructor had 32,480 hours.
Among Ed Gillespies many skills as a pay-to-say communicator: ventriloquism. The Republican, who learned it as a 13-year-old kid in New Jersey, can say a lot without moving his lips.

In the closing days of the Virginia gubernatorial contest, that includes issues Gillespie would rather not discuss. One of them has renewed relevance  largely because of the indictment of Paul Manafort, former chairman of the Donald Trump campaign: Gillespies controversial pre-candidate career as a richly paid lobbyist and political strategist.

Anytime that Trump has a problem or has done something thats highly visible and contentious, thats bad for Gillespie, says Bob Holsworth, the political handicapper.

The Manafort indictment  in the federal criminal investigation into possible collusion between the Trump campaign and the Kremlin  calls attention to the shadowy world from which Manafort and Gillespie emerged: consultancies, Republican and Democratic, that charge vast sums and large amounts counseling candidates, corporations and foreign countries on how to win friends and influence people.

Trump has another name for it: the swamp. And he has loudly  and repeatedly  vowed to drain it.

This is not to suggest that Gillespie is tied to Manaforts alleged misdeeds or to the Russia inquiry of special counsel Robert Mueller III.

It is to suggest that they are reminders in the perilous final hours of this sulfurous race that Gillespie, who  in addition to running from Trump  is distancing himself from his record as a Washington, D.C., insider.

Both have troubling connotations, fully testing Gillespies story-telling skills with the skeptical electorate of a purple state that rejected Trump for Hillary Clinton and where Trump is less popular now than he was a year ago.

The Gillespie campaign has almost nothing to say about the Manafort indictment, which  as more bad news for Trump  potentially makes conditions worse for Gillespie, despite a fresh poll by The Washington Post showing him quickly gaining on Democrat Ralph Northam.

Through his spokesman, David Abrams, Gillespie declined to say what kind of relationship, if any, he may have had with Manafort. Its difficult to believe they didnt know of each other. And Democrats note that at one time Gillespie and Manafort apparently lived in the same Fairfax County neighborhood.

In an email, Abrams also demurred on what the Manafort investigation and indictment may say about the lobbyist-consultant culture and whether this is the conversation that Gillespie wants to have with voters in the finale.

All Abrams would say is, Ed is confident the Department of Justice and our judicial system will handle this case appropriately.

Gillespie has attempted to navigate the negatives associated with the president by trying to keep his candidacy Virginia-specific, albeit one that sounds anti-immigrant themes that are a dog whistle for Trump voters.

Gillespie has attempted to navigate the negatives associated with his previous craft by depicting himself as a small businessman, albeit one who reportedly sold his bipartisan spin shop in 2004 for $40 million and, more recently, has plumped for blue-chip corporations with interests in Virginia.

With Manafort  a creature of the Trump-labeled swamp, under indictment, along with his Richmond sidekick, Rick Gates  other swamp creatures, Gillespie among them, are certain to be seen in an uncharitable light. Not that the alligators, snakes and snapping turtles of Washington, Richmond and other government centers were ever looked on favorably.

This is a plus for Northam, a pediatric neurologist whose television commercials open with him in his crisp, white lab coat, getting all goo-goo eyed with a grinning kiddie patient.

Northam is Doctor Feelgood to Gillespies gimlet-eyed D.C. Fixer.

One clear advantage that Northam has is occupational, says Holsworth, a former professor at Virginia Commonwealth University and local government consultant. At this point, its better running as a doctor than as a lobbyist.

The Northam biography, which includes continuous references to his rural Eastern Shore origins and Virginia Military Institute pedigree, gets greater emphasis than the few ideas that hes advanced for, say, lifting Southside and Southwest Virginia from economic black holes.

Gillespie cant talk enough about helping these rural regions. But thats because theres something he dare not talk about with their troves of Trump voters: that hes an Inside-the-Beltway Bush loyalist and former Republican national chairman with a keen appreciation for the rules of Washingtons revolving door  and, perhaps, how to get around them.

In the Republican primary, these voters were solid for Trump sound-alike Corey Stewart, who derided Gillespie as Establishment Ed and came within 5,000 votes of denying him the nomination. Some in the countryside still arent sold on Gillespie, forcing him to bow to them while simultaneously luring Trump-dispirited suburban Republicans.

Gillespie has tried this sort of high-wire walk and, in some ways, its been very difficult, says Holsworth.

Northam, too, piles on, focusing on Gillespies long list of clients, especially gone-bust energy giant Enron. And just as Manafort has, making millions in the process, Gillespie's old firm has worked for foreign countries. That includes Pakistan, Costa Rica, Macedonia, Bosnia, and the Ivory Coast, several of which are anything but hotbeds of democracy.

But efforts to tar-brush Gillespie for his advocacy in behalf of a notorious regime have occasionally fallen flat.

In 2014, when he came within a whisker of defeating Mark Warner for a second term in the U.S.  largely because of anti-Obama headwinds  Gillespie was attacked by the Democrat in an ad for his representation of Ivory Coast, led by a dictator facing trial for war crimes at the International Criminal Court.

The Warner commercial played fast and loose with the facts and was rated half-true by Politifact Virginia. That was good enough for Warner.

Because as with ventriloquism, political speak sometimes demands saying something nasty without moving your lips.
When Anthony Scaramucci took the stage at Liberty University, he wanted to address the elephant in the room  that he was fired as White House communications director after 11 days, not 10.

Thats a common mistake that people make, Scaramucci said, and he wants full credit.

"I was there for 11 days; why gyp me out of 9.1 percent of my federal career? Scaramucci joked.

Scaramucci, a former investment banker and Fox Business TV host, was fired July 31 by President Donald Trump after unloading on fellow White House staff members in an obscenity-laced interview.

It was a very painful and very humiliating thing to have happen to me, Scaramucci said.

But in times of great distress, Scaramucci said he has found comfort in his Roman Catholic faith.

[God] is going to put things in front of you that are sometimes difficult, sometimes challenging. Maybe it will be health related, maybe it will be professionally related, and it's up to you to man or woman up to those things and be accountable for them, whatever they may be, Scaramucci said.

Scaramucci said his life philosophy can be distilled into two words: perseverance and forgiveness.

Perseverance, Scaramucci said, has kept his career afloat in spite of the obstacles he encountered.

Forgiveness, he said, is what has allowed him to maintain relationships with the people he loves.

After opening with the joke at his own expense, and some thoughts on faith, Scaramucci spoke about the president, sharing a story of when Trump first told him he was running for the oval office.

Scaramucci said he met with Trump following the end of The Apprentice and that Trump asked Scaramucci to advocate for his campaign, an offer Scaramucci declined because he was already committed to Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker, who also sought the Republican nomination.

After Trump secured the GOP nomination, Scaramucci said he was impressed with the size of the audience at his rallies and how Trump connected with a middle class that appeared to be in decline.

Scaramucci, who said he grew up in a middle-class family, said it took a billionaire living in a tower to show him the middle class was struggling in his own hometown.

I missed what was going on in my neighborhood; I missed the change, Scaramucci said.

Following his address, Scaramucci took questions from LU President Jerry Falwell Jr. and students.

The first question, posed by Falwell, asked if NAFTA  a free trade agreement among the U.S., Mexico, and Canada  had been drafted to create a permanent underclass of Democratic voters.

Scaramucci said he didnt know the answer and launched into a long-winded response that included a lengthy explanation of post-World War II economic planning and the global trade system.

That was very informative, Falwell told Scaramucci to laughs from the audience.

Scaramucci fielded questions from several students, including how to get involved in politics.

Start early, get involved, Scaramucci advised. He added he formed his political values while in college and became involved with the Republican Party, supporting former President Ronald Reagan.

And if you go into politics, never read the comments on social media, Falwell chimed in.

And dont say curse words; that would be another good idea, Scaramucci added.

Following Wednesdays convocation, some students said that while they enjoyed Scaramuccis presentation, they hoped to see more ideologically diverse speakers come to the Liberty campus.

Its always interesting to have a political speaker come [to campus], but at the school there are not very many liberal speakers, its mostly Republicans. Thats an issue I have, said Chase Whittle.

While he doesnt consider himself a liberal, Whittle said he wanted to see other views represented.

Another student, Sam Conway, agreed that the school needs more representatives from across the political spectrum, and said LUs thrice-weekly convocation was a great atmosphere for speakers.

In an interview after convocation, Falwell said the issue lies with getting those speakers to come. He said many liberal-leaning speakers  including former Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton  declined LUs invitations.

Scaramucci also spoke with the press after convocation about a variety of topics, including whats next for him and his ongoing relationship with Trump following his firing.

Scaramucci said he may step back into television and has other business opportunities in the works, and he maintains contact with the president. He described their relationship as a positive one. He also plugged the presidents agenda and predicted several upcoming political victories for Trump.
Once again, political experts are predicting the demise of the Republican Party. This time, the prognosis is death by suicide as internal factions seem bent on tearing the party apart. The condition appears quite grave.

But while the doctors of political doom stand with barely suppressed glee over the GOPs deathbed  some even offering a little hemlock to speed the process  few have acknowledged that the Democrats are suffering their own serious malaise. The Democratic National Committee is cash-starved and incoherent, a skeleton of its former self. Since DNC chair Tom Perez assumed his position in March, the organization has managed to alienate donors both small and large. So far this year, the DNC has raised only $51 million  less than half of the Republican National Committees $104 million.

Democrats everywhere are certainly united in their strident condemnation of Donald Trump, but thats where the partys cohesion ends. There doesnt seem to be any unifying message other than presidential hatred. And apparently no one has any idea of what forward-looking vision will rejuvenate the party. One faction wants to pull further left, embracing a Bernie Sanders-style socialism, while others want to remain more centrist and try to win back the blue-collar American voters who went for Trump in 2016. Richard Trumka, president of the AFL-CIO, has remarked, When you ask people what the Democrats stand for, theres a pause and silence.

Ignoring the national organization, hundreds of grassroots groups, many led by progressive activists, have sprung up across the country in response to Trumps election. The Wall Street Journal quotes former Virginia Rep. Tom Davis: The Republicans went through their tea party phase, now Democrats are going through their herbal tea party phase.

As a result of these left-leaning populist groups, dozens of novice Democrats are jumping into local primaries in attempts to unseat Republican incumbents. Their biggest targets are the GOP seats in districts that Hillary Clinton carried in 2016. But since Trumps election, Democrats have failed to win back any of the four House seats that were up for special elections.

In 2017, Democrats hold the edge in gubernatorial races in both Virginia and New Jersey. But Republican Ed Gillespies numbers are rising. The Virginia election could be a bellwether to see how Democrats are faring at the state level.
CLEAR LAKE | Casey's General Store is finalizing a deal to buy the Barrel Drive-In, an iconic restaurant open in Clear Lake since 1958.

James Pistillo, vice president and treasurer for Casey's, told the Globe Gazette by email Wednesday the company is in the process of officially buying the drive-in. The sale is expected to conclude later this month.

"It would be premature to confirm our exact plans for the site as we dont yet own it," Pistillo said. A Casey's General Store is adjacent to the property.

Dick Hayes, the real estate agent listed for the drive-in, confirmed Casey's has bought the drive-in.

"We're just awaiting a closing date," Hayes said by phone Wednesday. "It varies and we're just waiting on some of the legal documents to process."

Both Pistillo and Hayes declined to disclose the sale price, citing the ongoing closing/legal process. Currently, Iowa Realty lists the drive-in at $398,000, with a sale "pending."

The Barrel Drive-In closed permanently this year, after owner/operator Seth Thackery had spent the last several years organizing community efforts to save the restaurant. He was awarded $75,000 to help with a "business makeover" in 2014.

Thackery could not be reached for comment by email Tuesday or Wednesday.

The giant barrel and chicken, trademarks of the historic venue, should be on display at Barney's Drive-In in Waseca, Minnesota, by next summer.
A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind.
CLEAR LAKE | Two North Iowa health care providers say their clients will feel little impact from the withdrawal of AmeriHealth Caritas from the state's Medicaid program.

One Vision and Prairie Ridge Integrated Behavioral Healthcare both have clients and residents who are served by AmeriHealth Caritas.

AmeriHealth Caritas, which covers one in four Iowa Medicaid recipients, announced Tuesday it is pulling out of the state program at the end of the month.

Insurer with biggest special-needs population exiting Iowa Medicaid program AmeriHealth Caritas Iowa  the Medicaid insurer with the largest concentration of the state

"It's disappointing because it's just one more administrative headache like it was when privatization of the state program occurred 18 months ago," said Jeff Nichols, chief executive officer of One Vision. "It's like, here we go again."

He said One Vision is still served by United Healthcare and Amerigroup Iowa.

State officials said the more than 213,000 Iowans enrolled with AmeriHealth Caritas will be reassigned to the two remaining Medicaid insurers  United Healthcare and Amerigroup, both of which re-signed contracts with the state.

"I'm confident our services will continue with little impact on those we serve. There might be implications further down the road but our organization is in a very solid position," Nichols said.

From a practical standpoint, nothing should change for folks on the ground (clients)," he said. "They will continue to get day in, day out support."

Jay Hansen, executive director at Prairie Ridge, said AmeriHealth Caritas served well over half of Prairie Ridge's patients.

"It was the best company to work with and had the most favorable rates. The clients will all get reassigned to another company and there will be paperwork.

"A lot of our patients do not react well to transition and this is another transition," Hansen said. But he does not think it will result in disruption of services.
Derek Teaney, an environmental lawyer based in West Virginia, used words like stunning, egregious and outrageous to describe a decision by that states environmental agency related to the Mountain Valley Pipeline.

On Wednesday, the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection announced the state has waived the requirement that the controversial pipeline project obtain Clean Water Act 401 water quality certification in West Virginia.

This is an outrageous and unprecedented dereliction of duty by DEP, said Teaney, a senior attorney with Appalachian Mountain Advocates.

After assuring a federal court that it was committed to reconsidering whether the MVP would degrade the hundreds of streams it would impact, DEP has thrown up its hands and admitted that it is not up to the task of protecting West Virginias environment, he said.

The department also announced it has restored a previously awarded stormwater permit it had suspended in September to properly respond to all public comments received.

The agency said provisions and conditions associated with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nationwide 12 permitting process, which will review the Mountain Valley Pipelines stream crossings, along with requirements of the stormwater permit, will allow for better enforcement capabilities and enhanced protections for the states waters.

As proposed, the pipeline would transport natural gas at high pressure through a buried, 42-inch diameter steel pipe. The 303-mile, $3.7 billion project would begin in Wetzel County, West Virginia, and terminate at the Transco pipeline in Pittsylvania County in Virginia.

On Oct. 13, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approved the project, noting that Mountain Valley must obtain other authorizations and permits before launching construction.

The Clean Water Act gives states the discretion to grant, deny or waive water quality certification, FERC spokeswoman Tamara Young-Allen said Wednesday. FERC and the Corps of Army Engineers have no decisional role.

In March, the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection awarded the Mountain Valley project 401 water quality certification. But an appeal of that decision filed by Appalachian Mountain Advocates in federal court ultimately led the agency to vacate the certification.

The department in September announced plans to re-evaluate the certification. Jacob Glance, a spokesman for the department, said then that the agency had determined that the information used to issue that certification needs to be further evaluated and possibly enhanced.

Pipeline opponents reported positive reactions at the time to the departments suggestion that it might enhance the review of the projects potential impacts.

Now, Teaney said, Appalachian Mountain Advocates is evaluating its legal options for challenging the waiver decision.

He wasnt the only environmental watchdog appalled Wednesday by the waiver.

Carolyn Reilly of Franklin County has been actively involved in opposing the pipeline, which would burrow through her familys farm.

It is shameful that West Virginia has betrayed its responsibility to protect the health and well-being of its citizens, Reilly said. Landowners and communities are at risk of losing their most valuable resources, their water and their land; all in the name of profits for private corporations.

Angie Rosser, executive director of the West Virginia Rivers Coalition, noted that the department is a taxpayer-supported agency responsible for protecting the environment and public health.

But when it came to one of the biggest projects DEP needed to review to protect water quality, the agency quit on the citizens of the state, she said.

In an email Wednesday, Natalie Cox, a spokeswoman for Mountain Valley Pipeline, provided a different take.

Todays announcement by the WVDEP reinforces West Virginias commitment to protecting the states waterbodies, Cox said, noting that stormwater permitting requirements will increase assurance that MVP construction activities will be conducted in a manner that will preserve and protect waterbodies along the route.

In Virginia, the Department of Environmental Quality is reviewing applications from both the Mountain Valley Pipeline and the separate but similar Atlantic Coast Pipeline for 401 water quality certification. DEQ is scheduled to make recommendations about certification for the two projects to the State Water Control Board in December.

Ann Regn, a DEQ spokeswoman, said Wednesday that the agency had no comment about the decision in West Virginia.

Aaron Ruby, a spokesman for the Atlantic Coast Pipeline, said Wednesday that he had not heard whether West Virginia plans to waive the 401 water quality certification for that project.

Glance said the department plans to hold public hearings in December about a stormwater permit for the Atlantic Coast project.

Meanwhile, Roberta Bondurant, a resident of Bent Mountain who has been active in efforts to stop the Mountain Valley Pipeline, reacted Wednesday to news of the waiver decision.

Of all responses, a waiver is the most disappointing, she said. For West Virginia environmental protection officials to have wasted the opportunity to protect West Virginia waters seems senseless  or else, entirely calculated.

It seems a signal that the agency decision makers understood that in accurately applying the Clean Water Act protections and so called mitigation measures to stream and river crossings and wetlands, through mountainous, karst and highly erodible terrain, that MVPs application would fail, as it should, Bondurant said.

She said pipeline opponents remain undeterred.

In the face of this highly possible watershed disaster, and its attendant economic, environmental and social injustices, we are fueled to continue our challenge to MVP  in Virginia DEQ Water Control Board hearings in December, Bondurant said.
Until early last week, the race to be Roanokes next commonwealths attorney was quiet, relatively uneventful.

Democratic challenger and longtime Roanoke defense attorney Melvin Hill hasnt sought elected office before, while city prosecutor Donald Caldwell, first appointed in 1979, has won nine terms with no opposition. Previously a Democrat, he is now running as an independent. There is no Republican candidate.

In the lead-up to November, modest yard signs for the opponents appeared around the city, handbills circulated and both men made genial public appearances where there was little if any contention.

Then last week, a mailer emerged from Caldwells campaign.

If you want to be the elected official who enforces the law, you should follow the law, Caldwells ad said. That echoed a sentiment hed voiced at previous campaign appearances, but in print he was more specific.

The flier claimed Hill had been reprimanded by the Virginia State Bar, that his city business license wasnt paid, and that he owes more than $205,000 in IRS tax liens  for eight separate tax years beginning in 2006. The liens are for failure to pay both witholding [sic] and income taxes.

Caldwell  who hired Hill as an assistant prosecutor in 1988, and again in 1996  argued that those issues called into question Hills ability to manage the prosecutors offices $2.3 million annual budget.

I just did not feel that he was being up front with people about some of his qualifications, Caldwell, 66, said of the flier in an interview last week. It just defies belief that you would not pay your business license.

Hill, 61, addressed the claims from his office on Campbell Avenue on Oct. 26. He allowed that the bill for his business license, due March 1, had gone unpaid but said hed settled it earlier that day. He also acknowledged owing a considerable sum to the Internal Revenue Service.

I do have tax liens, he said, but maintained that his debts only extend back to 2010.

Those liens are filed in Roanoke Circuit Court, and while the amounts owed over the past six years, in both personal and employment tax, add up to $205,316, Hill said the total debt is actually about $165,000 and produced a document that indicated he is now on a payment plan with the IRS to pay at least $2,300 a month against it.

As a result of making a lot of money in a couple of years, and making less money in a couple of years, I had this huge tax bill, he said. I wasnt able to pay it at the time, but I am paying it back now.

As to the bar reprimand, which involved Hills failure to pay client medical expenses from a personal injury settlement, he offered that the flier doesnt mention that happened in early 1998.

Its nearly 20 years old. Since then, Ive been appointed a substitute judge, he said. The judges wouldve been aware of that when they appointed me, so Im not sure it relates to my qualifications.

In December, Hill also paid $1,937 to resolve a longstanding warrant-in-debt in Roanoke General District Court from his 2008 dissolution of a previous law partnership, and last year he was sued in circuit court by a former client for breach of contract, but that case is still pending.

As a requirement of running for office, he also resigned as a substitute judge.

Hills desk is largely clear, save for a rack of file folders and a few paper phone messages. He doesnt have a computer in his inner office and relies, instead, on his iPhone for email and internet. Pictures of his daughter, Stephany, and a Barack Obama bobble head look on from a nearby table, and a copy of Max Ehrmanns 1927 prose poem, Desiderata, is framed on the wall above his chair.

Ive never run for political office, he said. But I absolutely dont like it when either party or either individual goes negative. So Im going to continue to run a positive campaign, emphasize my plans to change the office and my plans for the city of Roanoke.

Hills multi-part platform largely focuses on community interface.

He said he would like to give more consideration to treating criminal defendants who are suffering from drug addiction and improve opportunities for mental health treatment.

His plans for reorganization of the office would include shifting to a vertical prosecution system, in which prosecutors would be attached to a defendant from the initial arrest through the resolution of the case. As it is now, theyre assigned at a later stage, usually after arraignments or preliminary hearings.

He also said he hopes to be able to pair Roanokes 13 assistant prosecutors with specific neighborhoods around Roanoke.

Theyll get to know the residents in a particular community, and I think that would help in preventing crime, but I also think it would help in solving crime as well, Hill said. The prosecution and the people in the neighborhoods would have a relationship.

Thats the distinction between Don Caldwell and myself, he later said. Hes a traditional prosecutor. He doesnt see his role or the role of the assistants as being involved in the community at all. And I simply do.

Traditional is probably not an adjective Caldwell would object to. His term as Roanokes prosecutor began 38 years ago, during the Carter Administration, and six subsequent presidents have occupied the White House during his tenure as commonwealths attorney began.

Im not going to beat around the bush. Im not going to give you a political answer to questions, he later explained, from the second floor of Roanokes courthouse. A longtime avid hunter, Caldwell has lined his office walls with antler trophies. A stuffed squirrel, mounted on bark, watches the room from one corner.

For a while, up until June, it appeared that Caldwell might not seek a 10th term. Word was he planned to retire. He also split from the Democratic party to run for state Senate two years ago and lost badly to John Edwards.

That was my announcement to the public I personally did not feel like party politics, from either side, are really addressing a lot of the problems that this country faces, he said last week.

In the run-up to the current race, Caldwell remained entirely mum and finally filed his paperwork on the day of the deadline. His petition bore just six more signatures than the 125 he needed for certification.

When it became clear that the Republicans werent going to put up a candidate, and it was clear to me that the Democratic candidate had a number of issues, that was when I decided to run, he said.

Prior to that, Hill scored the Democratic nomination, which typically had gone to Caldwell. According to the Virginia Public Access Project, Hills campaign has brought in about $12,000 including $7,600 from the Real Justice PAC. Caldwell financed his $7,000 campaign almost entirely on his own.

He took issue with Hills suggestion of assigning prosecutors to localities.

If Ive got somebody with a law degree, theyre going to court, he said. Theyre not going to be a PR person.

Caldwell specifically cited his senior staff as motivation for the run: deputy commonwealths attorneys Betty Jo Anthony and Wanda DeWease, and assistant prosecutor Alice Ekirch, who he said share 100 years of experience among them. His most recently hired attorney has been with the office for four years.

Its very much like a family, he said. I feel like my staff deserves good leadership and Im going to try to give them another four years of that.

Staff writer Jeff Sturgeon contributed to this report.
A former Trump campaign foreign policy adviser has pleaded guilty to making a false statement to the FBI after he lied about his interactions with foreign officials close to the Russian government -- the campaign's clearest connection so far to Russia's efforts to meddle in the 2016 election.

In court records unsealed on Monday, the FBI said George Papadopoulos "falsely described his interactions with a certain foreign contact who discussed 'dirt' related to emails" concerning Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. Records also describe an email between Trump campaign officials suggesting they were considering acting on Russian invitations to go to Russia.

In addition, former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort and former Trump campaign official Rick Gates surrendered Monday to Justice Department special counsel Robert Mueller.

The charges against top officials from Trump's campaign signals a dramatic new phase of Mueller's wide-ranging investigation into possible collusion between the Russian government and members of Trump's team as well as potential obstruction of justice and financial crimes.

Papadopoulos' guilty plea brings the Mueller probe into actions that occurred during the 2016 campaign. The charges against Manafort and Gates are unrelated to the Trump campaign, though it's possible Mueller could add additional charges.

Gates, 45, is a longtime business associate of Manafort, 68. The pair worked together since the mid-2000s, and Gates served as Manafort's deputy on the campaign. The two were indicted under seal on Friday, a source with direct knowledge of the matter said.

President Donald Trump distanced himself from Manafort on Monday morning, asking why Clinton wasn't being investigated.

"Sorry, but this is years ago, before Paul Manafort was part of the Trump campaign. But why aren't Crooked Hillary & the Dems the focus?????" He soon added: "Also, there is NO COLLUSION!"

He tweeted before Papadopoulos' guilty plea was unsealed.

Campaign official suggested 'low level' staff should go to Russia

Papadopoulos lied to FBI agents "about the timing, extent and nature of his relationships and interactions with certain foreign nationals whom he understood to have close connections with senior Russian government officials," according to the complaint. Mueller signed a 14-page statement regarding Papadopoulos' offense, which lays out of the facts of the case.

In May, Papadopoulos sent an email to a "high-ranking campaign official" with the subject line "Request from Russia to meet Mr. Trump." The email said Russian officials were eager to meet with the candidate and had been reaching out.

In a footnote, the FBI statement notes that the email suggesting a Russia visit was forwarded from one campaign official to another. "We need someone to communicate that DT is not doing these trips. It should be someone low level in the campaign so as not to send any signal," the email read.

The FBI statement does not explain to whom the campaign officials were concerned about sending signals.

In the affidavit connected to the case, there is a reference to a July 2016 email Papadopoulos sent to a foreign contact regarding setting up a meeting with what appears to be Manafort (described in the email as his "national chairman"). Papadopoulos writes the meeting has been "approved from our side."

Mueller's statement also says that Papadopoulos met in March 2016 with a Russian woman -- introduced to him as a relative of Russian President Vladimir Putin, though she was not -- and he sought to use her connections to arrange a meeting between the campaign and Russian government officials.

The statement also says that Papadopoulos falsely claimed he met with an overseas professor before joining the Trump campaign about "the Russians possessing 'dirt' on then-candidate Hillary Clinton in the form of 'thousands of emails.'"

The professor only took interest in Papadopoulos because of his status on the campaign, according to the statement.

A former Trump campaign official said Papadopoulos interacted with the campaign "a significant amount" during the 2016 election cycle.

"He was a foreign policy adviser," said the official, who described Papadopoulos as an adviser who was in contact with the campaign staff via email and not a familiar face around Trump Tower. The official said Papadopoulos exchanged emails "constantly" on foreign policy matters with the Trump team during the campaign.

Another former senior campaign adviser said of Papadopoulos: "He was a zero. A non-event."

When asked about Papadopoulos' role in the campaign, White House press secretary Sarah Sanders told reporters his role was "extremely limited" and called it a "volunteer position."

Sanders said the fact that Papadopoulos did not tell the truth "has nothing to do with the campaign" and said he never acted in an official capacity.

"He reached out and nothing happened beyond that. That shows one, his level of importance in the campaign, and two, shows what little role he had within coordinating anything officially for the campaign."

Manafort, Gates charged with conspiracy against the US

The indictment against Manafort and Gates contains 12 counts: conspiracy against the United States, conspiracy to launder money, unregistered agent of a foreign principal, false and misleading US Foreign Agents Registration Act statements, false statements, and seven counts of failure to file reports of foreign bank and financial accounts.

The two pleaded not guilty before US District Magistrate Judge Deborah Robinson on Monday afternoon. Other than stating their names, neither man spoke. Gates was represented by a public defender.

A federal judge ordered home confinement for Manafort and Gates and set bond at $10 million for Manafort and $5 million for Gates. The defendants will have to check in daily with law enforcement by phone, and they will only be allowed to leave their homes to see their attorneys, to appear at court or for medical and religious necessities.

Glenn Selig, a spokesman for Gates, said Monday afternoon that Gates "welcomes the opportunity to confront these charges in court" and won't comment further until he's had a chance to review the indictment with his legal team. CNN has reached out to Manafort's lawyer for comment.

Manafort and Gates were the first officials in Trump's orbit charged in connection with the special counsel investigation, which is exploring whether Trump's actions surrounding the firing of former FBI Director James Comey amount to obstruction of justice. Mueller has taken a broad approach to his mandate that includes a focus on the financial dealings of Trump's team.

Trump has been briefed on the charges against Manafort and Gates, a source close to the President told CNN.

At the briefing Monday afternoon, Sanders said Trump did not have much of a reaction to the Mueller news "because it doesn't have anything to do with us."

Two officials told CNN Trump will not call for Mueller's firing, and Sanders said there is "no intention or plan to make any changes in regards to the special counsel."

Clinton has no comment on the charges, a spokesman told CNN.

Manafort, whose work for former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych has attracted scrutiny from federal investigators, has previously denied financial wrongdoing regarding his Ukraine-related payments, his bank accounts in offshore tax shelters and his various real-estate transactions over the years. Gates, who has also denied wrongdoing, was Manafort's longtime business associate in his lobbying firm before being tapped as his deputy on the Trump campaign.

Manafort's Ukraine work scrutinized

Before the indictment, the FBI in July executed a so-called no-knock search warrant with guns drawn at Manafort's home in Alexandria, Virginia, seizing financial and tax documents, including some that had already been provided to congressional investigators.

Federal investigators' interest in Manafort and Gates goes back well before the special counsel was appointed. For about a decade, Manafort worked for Yanukovych and his Russia-friendly Party of Regions. Manafort's work spurred a separate federal investigation in 2014, which examined whether he and other Washington-based lobbying firms failed to register as foreign agents for the Yanukovych regime.

Gates joined Manafort's lobbying firm in the mid-2000s and handled projects in Eastern Europe, which later included work for Yanukovych.

Yanukovych was ousted amid street protests in 2014, and his pro-Russian Party of Regions was accused of corruption and laundering millions of dollars out of Ukraine. The FBI sought to learn whether those who worked for Yanukovych  Manafort's firm, as well as Washington lobbying firms Mercury LLC and the Podesta Group  played a role. The Podesta Group is headed by Tony Podesta, the brother of John Podesta, a former chief of staff of the Clinton White House, a senior adviser to President Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton's campaign chairman.

Two sources told CNN on Monday afternoon that Tony Podesta is leaving the group amid the Mueller investigation.

Manafort was previously investigated for failing to register as a foreign agent for the Ukraine work, and the FBI secured approval from the court that handles the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act to monitor Manafort's communications. The surveillance lapsed in 2016 but was restarted as part of the FBI-led Russia investigation after Manafort left the campaign.

The investigation into Manafort intensified after Mueller was named as special counsel in May. Mueller has hired a team of prosecutors who have examined Manafort's financial and tax history stretching back 11 years to January 2006, while he was working in Ukraine.

Running the Trump campaign

Manafort joined the Trump campaign in March 2016 to help with delegate counting ahead of the Republican National Convention, as some Republicans hoped to use arcane delegate procedures to wrest the nomination from Trump at the convention in Cleveland.

He soon was promoted to campaign chairman, and he became the top official on the campaign after then-campaign manager Corey Lewandowski was fired in June 2016.

His tenure didn't last long.

The Times reported in August 2016 that Ukrainian investigators found Manafort's name in an off-the-books, handwritten ledger detailing secret payments  including $12.7 million to Manafort from Yanukovych's Party of Regions.

Manafort denied he had received any such payment and claims the ledger was forged. But just days later, he resigned from the campaign as the accusations swirling around him became a major distraction for Trump.

Gates rose and fell with Manafort

When Manafort joined the Trump campaign, he brought Gates on board shortly thereafter.

As Manafort rose in the ranks, so did Gates, who took on a more prominent role after Lewandowski was fired. But his stock rose and fell with his business partner -- after Manafort resigned in August 2016 amid questions about his Ukraine dealings, Gates' role was diminished, and he later left the campaign.

Questions about Gates' work in Ukraine continued to dog him even after Trump was inaugurated.

Gates was a founding member of America First Policies, a pro-Trump advocacy group, but stepped down after about two months. He was forced to leave amid another round of blistering headlines about Manafort, his longtime business partner and political ally, CNN reported at the time.

Gates has denied any allegations of collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia, telling the Times in June that they were "totally ridiculous and without merit."

Gates, according to a source, accompanied Trump ally Tom Barrack to the White House several times this year.

Focus of multiple investigations

Manafort's web of connections to Russia has continued to expand as the investigations have moved forward.

In July, new reports revealed that Manafort was part of a June 2016 meeting organized by Donald Trump Jr. with a Russian lawyer who had connections to the Kremlin.

In September, The Washington Post reported that Manafort had offered to provide private briefings on the campaign to Oleg Deripaska, a close ally of Putin.

Manafort has denied that he ever "knowingly" communicated with Russian intelligence operatives during the election or participated in any Russian efforts to "undermine the interests of the United States."

This story is breaking and will be updated.

CORRECTION: This story has been updated to reflect that John Podesta was a chief of staff in the Clinton administration and Hillary Clinton's campaign chairman.

CNN's Liz Stark, Gloria Borger, Mary Kay Mallonee, Katelyn Polantz, Sara Murray, Jim Acosta, Jeremy Diamond, Jeff Zeleny, Kara Scannell, Allie Malloy, Dan Merica and Joe Johns contributed to this report.
In our military-revering culture, its a strange thing for a president to start a war of words with the grieving families of slain soldiers.

Strange, yes. But from Donald Trumps campaign season feud with the parents of Humayun Khan, who died protecting fellow soldiers in Iraq, to his recent feud with the mourning widow of La David Johnson, who died on patrol in Niger, its no longer surprising.

At root in the latest spat is a comment Trump made to La Davids widow Myeshia Johnson: He knew what he signed up for. Myeshia thought that remark was disrespectful  she later said it made me cry.

Beyond insensitive, though, theres a good chance it simply wasnt true.

Why, after all, should La David have expected to die in a dusty corner of Niger  a Saharan country most Americans (and, one suspects, their president) couldnt find on a map? And where the U.S. isnt actually at war?

If you were surprised to learn the U.S. has nearly a thousand troops in Niger, youre not alone. Senator Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican who serves on the Armed Forces Committee, told NBC he had no idea. Neither did Chuck Schumer, the Senates top Democrat.

Well, the surprises may keep coming.

The New York Times notes that the U.S. now has over 240,000 active-duty and reserve troops in at least 172 countries and territories. Count it again: 172 countries, out of 193 UN member states.

Most of us remain at least dimly aware that we still have thousands of troops in war zones like Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as in Cold War outposts like Japan, South Korea, and Germany. But what about the 160-plus others? And where are the nearly 38,000 troops whose location the Pentagon lists as unknown?

We catch an occasional glimpse of this global footprint when a U.S. service member dies someplace surprising  as Ryan Owens did earlier this year in Yemen, and a Navy SEAL did several months later in Somalia. More rarely we catch darker reminders still, when our wars abroad come home in the form of terrorist attacks. But mostly the American people remain every bit as in the dark as Graham and Schumer.

Americans like to imagine ourselves as citizens of a democracy that rejects the colonial ambitions of Old World powers like France and the UK. And yet weve deployed troops to literally most of the planet, and our leading lawmakers  tasked by the Constitution with the exclusive right to declare war  dont even know about it.

Worse still, Congress appears to be abetting its own irrelevance.

Earlier this year, House Speaker Paul Ryan quietly killed an amendment by Democrat Barbara Lee that wouldve revoked Congress post-9/11 Authorization of Military Force, which has been used as a fig leaf of legality for this global war making. And last month the Senate voted 2:1 to reject an amendment from Republican Rand Paul that wouldve done the same.

Odds are, the real victims from our post-9/11 wars live in countries we seldom see or hear about. But as veteran and Army strategist Danny Sjursen writes, the potential, and all too pervasive, deaths of American service members demand a public hearing too. Especially when 16-plus years of war doesnt appear to have made the world any safer.

When our soldiers kill and die in fruitless wars we dont know about and cant end, were not a democracy anymore  were an empire. And perhaps a fading one at that.
Its taken 60 years and billions of dollars, but mass transit is finally coming to Dulles International Airport outside the nations capital. The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority is ready to open the second and final phase of its Silver Line Metrorail extension on Nov. 15. The six new stations will for the first time connect the airport and the outer suburbs of Loudoun County to the regions flagship mass transit system. But the Silver Line extension comes at a time when ridership on Metro remains at roughly half of what it was before the COVID-19 pandemic. Metro officials say the long-term vision of those who pushed for the line will be vindicated as riders return.
RICHMOND  The rate of babies born prematurely in Virginia has reached its highest point in seven years, but researchers say the reason remains a mystery.

According to the March of Dimes annual premature-birth report card, Virginias 2016 rate was 9.6 percent, nearly half a percentage point higher than the previous year. On the groups report card, the states grade dropped from a B to a C.

Nationally, the rate increased from 9.6 percent in 2015 to 9.8 percent, which amounts to an additional 8,000 additional babies born prematurely.

Virginias report also looked at racial disparities, and found that the preterm birth rate among black women is 49 percent higher than other women.

Dr. Donald Dudley, one of the leaders of the Virginia Neonatal-Perinatal Collaborative and an obstetrician-gynecologist with the University of Virginia Health System, said it is unclear why Virginias rate has increased for the first time in seven years.

This continues to be a vexing problem, he said.

Premature babies are born before 37 weeks of pregnancy. The three primary causes of premature birth are spontaneous labor, early rupture of the membrane, and problems in the pregnancy that require the mother to be induced early.

Often, these issues can be caused by infections.

We dont have a real good clue right now as to which one of those pools is increasing; it might be all of them, he said. The key thing here is that there are known ways we can decrease the rate of preterm birth.

Ensuring that women have equal access to medical interventions to prevent preterm birth, Dudley said, is especially important.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends the use of low doses of aspirin in patients who have high risk for preeclampsia, which is high blood pressure women can experience during or right after pregnancy that can result in serious complications and sometimes death.

Other risk factors can lead to increased risk for preterm labor and premature birth, such as being underweight or overweight, or getting pregnant again too soon. The March of Dimes recommends women wait at least 18 months between pregnancies.

Being born too early can lead to a slew of complications for children, including infections, apnea, jaundice and anemia. They can have health problems that can affect them their entire lives.

The Virginia Neonatal-Perinatal Collaborative began meeting in October, Dudley said, to address the problem of preterm births.

Among the many issues it is looking into is the number of children born with neonatal abstinence syndrome, a condition in which babies experience withdrawal symptoms after being exposed to such drugs as painkillers or heroin in utero.
Puerto Ricos hurricane-battered economy is in the most desperate of straits and the island would seem to be on the cusp of a humanitarian crisis. In those circumstances, the renewed debate about the desirability of Puerto Rican statehood is an unwelcome distraction from the immediate task at hand, which must be to build consensus for a far-reaching economic reconstruction program for the island.

Not only is Puerto Rican statehood not going to happen for obvious U.S.-related political considerations, it is also far from clear whether statehood would provide the island with economic benefits relative to those that it currently enjoys as a U.S. territory under the 2016 Promesa Act.

Even before Hurricane Maria struck, Puerto Ricos economy was in a 10-year slump that had seen the islands economic output decline by 10 percent and had around 10 percent of its population move to the mainland. Worse yet, there was little prospect that the islands economic fortunes would turn around for the better anytime soon. Indeed, under a belt-tightening program imposed upon the island by its Oversight Board within a U.S. dollar straitjacket, the islands economy was officially projected to decline by a further 6 percent over the next three years.

It is too early to evaluate how large a hit the Puerto Rican economy will have taken from Hurricane Maria. However, there is good reason to fear that absent an early and comprehensive U.S.-sponsored economic rescue package, the islands economic downward spiral could accelerate. After all, it is not expected that the islands electricity grid will be restored for several months and it is known that the islands agricultural output has been decimated while its transport and water supply infrastructure has been severely damaged.

Wide experience with IMF-type economic stabilization programs would strongly suggest that no single silver bullet is going to turn around an economy in as difficult a position as that in which Puerto Rico now finds itself. Rather, if the Puerto Rican economy is to get back onto its feet anytime soon, it will need a coordinated and comprehensive economic program involving far reaching action by the Puerto Rican government, the U.S. Congress and Puerto Ricos creditors.

At a minimum, one would think that one would need an economic program along the following lines. The Puerto Rican government would need to commit itself to serious economic reforms, especially in regard to making the islands highly rigid labor market more flexible. The U.S. Congress would need to provide immediate financing to restore the islands damaged infrastructure, while at the same time eliminating the Jones Act, which keeps the islands shipping costs at uncompetitive high levels, and restoring tax preferences to make the island a more attractive place for U.S. corporate investment. Meanwhile, Puerto Ricos creditors would need to provide the island with major debt relief.

Given the urgency that Puerto Rico puts in place an economic reconstruction program as soon as possible, it is to be regretted that it is allowing itself to be distracted by a renewed and futile debate on the benefits of statehood. The truth of the matter is that however unfair the lack of representation might be, Puerto Rican statehood is not going to happen for much the same reason that District of Columbia statehood is not going to happen. A Republican controlled Congress and White House are simply not going to give representation to Democratic-leaning territories that would change the political balance on the mainland.

It is also far from clear whether statehood would confer meaningful economic benefits to the island over its present status as a territory. One would think that with the threat of massive migration to the mainland, Puerto Rico could extract as much economic support from the Congress as a territory than it would be able to do as a state.

It would also seem that Puerto Rico would have much to lose in terms of restructuring its debt since U.S. states do not enjoy bankruptcy protection. Presumably as a state Puerto Rico, too, would lose its ability to restructure its debt in an orderly manner and under a court-supervised process as it now can do in terms of the 2016 Promesa Act.

It would seem to be no exaggeration to say that the Puerto Rican economy now finds itself close to the point of no return, for which reason it has to be hoped that the Puerto Rican government does not waste time and political capital on issues that might shift the focus from the urgent need to build consensus for a comprehensive economic reconstruction program.
Kentwood, MI, Oct. 31, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Because of their clients increased demand, coupled with the companys productivity throughout the Midwest, Innovative Client Connections (ICC) has tripled in size in 2017, and preparing for more expansion in Quarter 1 of 2018. We are forecasting both local, and regional expansion, states Calvin Fant, CEO. ICC is planning 5 new markets, including Indianapolis, IN, and South Bend, IN.



ICCs continued growth is due to the Award Winning Management Training Program (MTP), which is designed to create leaders and managers. We focus on teaching every aspect of our business, says Fant.

Working with such dedicated and hard-working individuals makes it easy to continue to provide outstanding opportunities to both our clients and employees.

For over 3 years, ICC has been recognized as one the fastest growing marketing firms within the promotional industry in the greater Grand Rapids area. We have established ourselves as the leader in face to face marketing. Innovative Client Connections goal is to develop leaders through the MTP who are prepared to manage their own marketing campaigns in new cities, meeting the needs of both clients, and the brands that ICC represents.

This past week, the ICC traveled to The Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Punta Cana in beautiful Dominican Republic to celebrate the companys annual R&R Retreat. Owner Calvin Fant brought over 20 members of the team to enjoy some well-deserved rest and relaxation. Colleagues of the ICC family enjoyed networking events, and met other owners/managers within the industry.

We are always seeking innovative ways to incorporate learning and team building into our corporate culture. From dinners with future business partners to daily recreational activities, the R&R Retreat was the perfect opportunity to connect with some of the hardest working individuals in our organization.

Closing the Retreat was gala event celebrating promotions within the corporation, and individuals who are making their mark within the organization as well as with clients. Fant was awarded the prestigious Presidential Award, making this the 4th year in a row that he was honored at the awards presentation.

About Innovative Client Connections:

Owned and operated by Calvin Fant, Innovative Client Connections is a marketing firm specializing in customer acquisition and retention programs that bring their clients new customers, increased revenue and brand awareness.

For more information, call (616) 433-5585, or go to http://www.innovativeclientconnections.com.
President Trump is already the most effective deregulation president in American history.

Lara Trump said that on October 13, according to an article in this paper on October 15 (Trump using his executive power in bid for leverage). The presidents daughter-in-law is correct regarding the pace of deregulation. Whether those executive decisions are effective is the question.

Those of us concerned with public health and the natural environment doubt it. We contend that President Trumps deregulation campaign in the realm of air and water quality and public lands is ineffective and dangerous to human health. It will be costly to local economies as it undercuts recreational values important to residents and visitors alike.

President Trump is deconstructing a code of regulations the adoption of which stretches back decades. Put in place after debate and fine-tuning, the rules he is overturning came about in response to specific problems. Some of those problems are caused when private firms do not bear the cost of cleaning up their act, pollution-wise, unless they are required to. Otherwise, the public pays the cost of cleaning up or becoming ill because of the toxic air and water pollution and land desecration created for private profit. Some of the problems are caused by competition among states for new business. When states compete in a race to the bottom, by loosening anti-pollution rules to attract new industries to make the cost of doing business there as low as possible, trouble ensues. Uniform national standards enforced by the Environmental Protection Agency were laid down to level that playing field in a law signed by President Nixon.

The American people have supported passage of acts of Congress that set national air and water quality standards and establish national parks and wilderness areas to protect examples of our nations scenic beauty and ecological legacy. The goal of these laws and the regulations to implement them is to protect the quality of life of the American people. They are under attack by lobbyists for interests that would profit from their weakening and are finding a receptive audience today on Capitol Hill and in the White House.

One of the most publicized Trump Administration deregulation initiatives is the proposed elimination of the Clean Power Plan, President Obamas way to combat climate change and adhere to the Paris Climate Agreement. President Trump, who calls global warming a hoax, has expressed his support for burning fossil fuels without considering its environmental impact. Repeal of the Clean Power Plan will leave U.S. energy policy at odds with the rest of the nations of the world and with practically all climate scientists.

Other harmful deregulation steps taken by the Trump Administration include:

Stripping Clean Water Act protections from headwater streams and wetlands by rescinding the 2015 Clean Water Rule.

Putting the brakes on a regulation blocking coal mining debris from being dumped into nearby streams.

Repealing a rule requiring drilling companies to prevent groundwater contamination caused by fracking.

Repealing a rule requiring drillers to disclose the ingredients in the chemical-laced water they pump into federally managed land during fracking.

Cancelling the Bureau of Land Managements rules limiting oil and gas methane waste on public lands and cutting industry methane emissions by 45 percent.

Reversing Obamas decision to protect Alaskas Bristol Bay salmon fishery and instead encouraging construction of one of the worlds largest gold and copper mines at the head of Bristol Bay.

Speeding the approval process for oil and gas pipelines. All relevant agencies are to work with a single lead agency on a joint Record of Decision. Federal permits must be issued within 90 days of the Record of Decision.

Limiting the length of environmental impact statements to 150 pages or 300 for unusually complex projects. (The EIS for the Forest Service Roadless Area Review and Evaluation that I was responsible for in the Carter Administration ran thousands of pages and needed to do so.)

Rolling back the previous administrations efforts to address the financial risks posed by climate change, including one asking recipients of federal funds to strongly consider placing new buildings beyond the reach of rising waters.

Finally, The Trump administration has announced that it will waive environmental laws and regulations that would impede the first phase of construction of a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. Where does this president get off waiving laws passed by Congress and signed by a previous president? My understanding is that the legislative branch passes laws and the executive branch implements them and cannot simply waive those it does not like. This Trump Department of Homeland Security decision should be challenged as should the rest of Trumps anti-environmental quality agenda.

Cutler taught environmental planning courses at Michigan State University, supervised the federal forestry, soil conservation, agricultural research and extension agencies as assistant secretary of agriculture, headed Defenders of Wildlife, and served on Roanoke City Council. Now hes a board member of the Blue Ridge Land Conservancy. He writes about environmental issues.
We have a prediction to make about Tuesdays gubernatorial election. Are you ready?

We predict . . . somebody will win and somebody will lose.

OK, maybe thats not such a bold prediction, but its worth looking beyond Tuesdays election at what happens to whichever party loses because the potential consequences are fascinating and worrying.

Democrat Ralph Northam and Republican Ed Gillespie are pretty normal candidates. We think thats a pretty good thing. Northam may be left of center, but hes clearly to the right of where a lot of the Democratic base is these days. Likewise, Gillespie may be right of center, but hes to the left of where a lot of the Republican base is.

To win their respective nominations, both defeated candidates who were further to the left (Tom Perriello in the Democrats case) or to the right (Corey Stewart for the Republicans).

Thats why both candidates have had some difficulty exciting some members of their own party. Gillespie has shied away from embracing Trump  and Trumpism  too closely. Northam faces discontent from those who think he should oppose the two proposed natural gas pipelines that have become a litmus test for some liberal voters.

So what happens when one of these candidates loses on Tuesday?

Lets look at the Republicans first:

If Gillespie wins, Trump will no doubt claim credit in a tweet but he shouldnt; a Gillespie victory wouldnt represent a triumph of Trumpism but rather a victory of normal Republicanism. If Gillespie loses, though, the Trump element of the party will surely fault him for not running on the presidents nationalist platform.

Theyd be wrong, but logic has never held much sway when parties are in the grip of feverish insurgencies. If Gillespie loses, it will really be because of two things: (1.) Virginia has been trending Democratic in recent elections so this is simply a confirmation of that trend; and (2.) Trump is hurting Republicans everywhere, but especially in a swing state like Virginia.

Thats not what the Trump/Stewart wing of the party will see. They will say told you so. If Gillespie wins, he could probably hold those forces at bay. If he loses, though, theres a good chance that the Trump/Stewart wing of the party will exert even more control over the Virginia Republican Party.

Now for the Democrats:

If Northam loses, Democrats  both in Virginia and across the country  will be horrified. Virginia is a state where theyve been winning. This is a race they just assumed theyd win.

When West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice switched parties this fall, that gave Republicans 34 governors, matching the partys all-time high in 1922.

A Gillespie win would set a record  a new Republican high. Just when Democrats thought theyd be able to start winning again, theyd be losing  and in an unexpected place.

There are some very prosaic reasons why Northam might lose: The winning streak that Virginia Democrats have isnt as solid as it seems. Yes, the partys presidential candidate has carried the state three times in a row now  but turnout in presidential years is much higher than gubernatorial years. Were talking about 70 percent-plus in presidential years, and in the 40 percent range in off years. That means the electorate in a gubernatorial year is older and whiter and more conservative. The reality is that when Democrats have won statewide elections in off years, theyve barely won. Mark Warner and Tim Kaine topped out at 52 percent; Terry McAuliffe polled 48 percent in a three-way race.

Thats why a Democratic win this year has never been a sure thing. Northams task is made harder by a lackluster campaign  its hard to enunciate exactly what he would do in office. Gillespie, meanwhile, has run a more energetic and more technically perfect campaign.

Thats not what critics will see, though. They will see a candidate who failed to excite the partys progressive base. They wouldnt be wrong, although their prescription probably is  for the party to move further left. Theres no evidence that a populist liberal such as Perriello could win in Virginia, although there are first times for everything.

Nationally, the Democratic Party is still roiled by the recriminations from the Hillary Clinton-Bernie Sanders primary battle of 2016; a Northam defeat would fuel the Sanders side of the argument. Its noteworthy that Sanders campaigned for Perriello during the primary, but since then the political action group he founded Our Revolution has been silent.

Perriello has campaigned energetically for Democrats this fall, but one cant help but wonder: Might a certain liberal segment of the Democratic Party secretly wish that Northam loses? Perhaps the governorship doesnt matter for them, when they have their eyes on a bigger prize. Sacrifice the governorship for four years and use that loss to justify a more liberal candidate next time around, as part of a more general leftward lurch to the party?

Likewise, might a certain segment of the Republican Party secretly hope that Gillespie loses for the same reason  so that they can use his defeat to pull their party even further to the right?

Both Democrats and Republicans right now have internal battles going on over the direction of their parties. For one party, that intra-party conflict is about to get worse.

Lets assume Gillespie wins. Every time he takes some action that Democrats dont like, there will be those in the party who will point to others and blame them.

If only you moderates hadnt nominated a candidate who failed to excite progressives, this wouldnt be happening

Or: If only you progressives had bothered to get up off your idealistic butts, this wouldnt be happening.

Same thing if Northam wins, just in reverse.

If only Republicans had nominated a candidate who would have excited the Trump base . . . If only those Trump supporters had bothered to show up . . .

We dont know whos going to win on Tuesday, but we know this: One party will celebrate, and secretly breathe a sigh of relief. The other one will be in the kitchen, examining the cutlery, because the next day, the knives will be out.
PARIS, Nov. 01, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- BIOPHYTIS (Euronext Growth Paris:ALBPS), a biotechnology company focused on innovative therapeutics to restore the muscular and visual functions in diseases with significant unmet medical needs, announces entry into definitive agreements for a 7.5 million capital raise via the issuance of new ordinary shares without shareholders preferential subscription right.



Stanislas Veillet, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of BIOPHYTIS, said: "We are pleased to announce that we successfully received commitments for a capital raise to finance the design of a phase 2 clinical program in orphan indications which offer a clear regulatory path and accelerated timelines to market. With the preclinical proofs of concept established for our lead compounds: Sarconeos in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, and Macuneos in Stargardt disease, we are at the cusp of adding a new, important pillar addressing pediatric orphan diseases to our advanced pipeline.

Since July 1st, the Company has raised a total amount of  21 M that will, besides, allow to conduct the clinical studies of Sarconeos in Sarcopenia (SARA-INT) and Macuneos in AMD (MACA-PK), until their completion.

Invest Corporate Finance acted as global coordinator for the operation. Invest Securities and H.C. Wainwright & Co. acted as exclusive placement agent for the offering in Europe and the United States, respectively.

The capital raise by means of a private placement consists in the issuance of 1, 513,000 new ordinary shares at a price of 5.00 per share, representing a discount of 18% based on the weighted average price over the last 10 trading days before pricing. The total amount of the operation is 7,565,000 euros, representing 13% of the share capital of the Company. The new ordinary shares will be the subject of a request for admission to trading on the Euronext Growth market to Euronext.

The Companys Board of Directors approved this capital increase at its meeting of October 31, 2017.

The capital will be increased via the issuance of new shares without shareholders preferential subscription rights, pursuant to Article 225-138 of the French Commercial Code (reserved to categories of investors). Pursuant to Article 211-3 of the AMFs general regulations, this offer of financial securities did not result in a prospectus subject to AMF approval. The offering is expected to close on or about November 3, 2017.

About BIOPHYTIS:

BIOPHYTIS SA (www.biophytis.com), founded in 2006, develops drug candidates targeting diseases of aging. Using its technology and know-how, BIOPHYTIS has begun clinical development of innovative therapeutics to restore the muscular and visual functions in diseases with significant unmet medical needs. Specifically, the company is advancing two lead products into mid-stage clinical testing this year: Sarconeos (BIO101) to treat sarcopenic obesity and Macuneos (BIO201) to treat dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

The business model of BIOPHYTIS is to ensure the conduct of the project until clinical activity in the patient is proven, then to license the technologies in order to continue the development in partnership with a pharmaceutical laboratory.

The company was founded in partnership with researchers at the UPMC (Pierre and Marie Curie University) and also collaborates with scientists at the Institute of Myology, and the Vision Institute.

BIOPHYTIS is listed on the Euronext Growth market of Euronext Paris (ALBPS; ISIN: FR0012816825).

For more information: http://www.biophytis.com

Follow us on Twitter @biophytis

BIOPHYTIS is eligible for the SMEs scheme

Disclaimer

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes its expectations are based on reasonable assumptions, these forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. For a discussion of risks and uncertainties which could cause the Company's actual results, financial condition, performance or achievements to differ from those contained in the forward looking statements, please refer to the Risk Factors (Facteurs de Risque) section of the Listing Prospectus upon the admission of Companys shares for trading on the regulated market Euronext Growth of Euronext Paris filed with the AMF, which is available on the AMF website (www.amf- france.org) or on BIOPHYTIS website (www.biophytis.com).

This press release and the information contained herein do not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy or subscribe to shares in BIOPHYTIS in any country. Items in this press release may contain forward-looking statements involving risks and uncertainties. The Companys actual results could differ substantially from those anticipated in these statements owing to various risk factors which are described in the Companys prospectus. This press release has been prepared in both French and English. In the event of any differences between the two texts, the French language version shall prevail.
Ocean View, Delaware, Nov. 01, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --



Instrument Transformer Market is poised to cross USD 7 billion by 2024, as reported in the latest study by Global Market Insights, Inc. Rising demand for electricity owing to rapid urbanization across the globe have instigated concerns pertaining to grid stability, which in turn will drive the instrument transformer market size. Ongoing urban migration adhered by rising infrastructural investments will further complement the deployment of effective monitoring and control T&D systems. Sustainable economic proliferation along with revamping lifestyles have led to an exponential rise in the peak load demand for energy. Hence, accruing energy demand across the globe subject to the ongoing economic and social reformation will appreciable augment the industry outlook.

France instrument transformer industry size is set to exceed USD 100 million by 2024. Stringent regulatory reforms pertaining to emissions coupled with rapid technological transitions to sustain an energy efficient grid infrastructure will comprehensively thrust the business. Inclination towards clean energy adhered by rising investments across the renewable sector will further escalate the product penetration across the country. In 2017, the French government has led forward its plan to invest over USD 20 billion toward its energy transition plan. The framework lays grounds for a segregated investment mechanism catering towards energy efficiency, renewable integration and cleaner vehicle development.

Request for a sample of this research report @ https://www.gminsights.com/request-sample/detail/2141

Oil immersed in 2016, accounted for over 50% of the instrument transformer market share. Effective insulation and di-electric strength when compared to its counterparts makes its adoption preferable. Applicability across high voltage applications coupled with economical cost structure will further escalate the product penetration. The technology since inception has witnessed sheer progression owing to its higher voltage output and operational flexibility with its prime application across utility and commercial electrical networks.

Browse key industry insights spread across 800 pages with 1786 market data tables & 16 figures & charts from the report, Instrument Transformer Market in detail along with the table of contents:

https://www.gminsights.com/industry-analysis/instrument-mransformer-market

Rising rural electrification demand across Asia Pacific & Africa supported by accruing investments by financial institutions including the World Bank, and Asian Development Bank (ADB) will foster the market size. Re-structuring of electrical grids across war affected nations including Iraq, Syria, and Sudan will further boost the industry growth. In addition, large scale grid integration of sustainable energy sources coupled with rapid expansion of T&D networks to sustain security of supply concerns will further proliferate the industry expansion. In 2017, the World Bank declared an investment worth USD 4 million towards expansion of an effective grid infrastructure across the Pacific Island.

The U.S. instrument transformer market is projected to witness sustainable growth owing to rising demand for the upgradation of existing grid infrastructure along with rapid expansion of effective T&D networks. The transformer industry across the nation has witnessed significant upsurge on account of favorable regulatory reforms pertaining to energy efficiency and grid stability. Ongoing trends subject to the adoption of sustainable technologies along with briskly advancing monitoring & control technologies will further embellish the business outlook.

Asia Pacific instrument transformer market is set to grow over 7% by 2024. The industry in the recent years has witnessed an appreciable escalation on grounds of favorable renewable integration reforms coupled with increasing rural electrification demand. Large scale migration across urban areas along with rapid expansion of utility based electricity networks to cater the rising energy demand will comprehensively thrust the business growth.

Eminent players across the instrument transformer market include ABB, GE, Siemens, Crompton Greaves, Amran Inc, ITL, Weidmann, Raychem RPG, Meramec, ITEC, Schneider Electric, KONCAR, HEYI Electrical, EATON, Toshiba, TRENCH, BHEL, Mitsubishi, DENT Instruments, Mehru, Celme and Ruhstrat.

Make an inquiry for purchasing this report @ https://www.gminsights.com/inquiry-before-buying/2141

Browse Related Reports:

Transformer Market Size 2017  2024

Transformer Market share for 2016 was valued more than USD 40 billion and the annual installation is set to exceed 170 thousand units by 2024. Rapid urbanization coupled with rising expenditure across the infrastructure sector have fuelled the expansion of existing grid networks in the recent years.

https://www.gminsights.com/industry-analysis/transformer-market

Single phase Transformer Market Size 2017  2024

Single Phase Transformer Market share is expected to experience considerable growth prospects from 2016 to 2024. The rapid industrialization accompanied by escalating electricity demands across the world may fuel the single phase transformer market size over the coming years.

https://www.gminsights.com/industry-analysis/single-phase-transformer-market



About Global Market Insights

Global Market Insights, Inc., headquartered in Delaware, U.S., is a global market research and consulting service provider; offering syndicated and custom research reports along with growth consulting services. Our business intelligence and industry research reports offer clients with penetrative insights and actionable market data specially designed and presented to aid strategic decision making. These exhaustive reports are designed via a proprietary research methodology and are available for key industries such as chemicals, advanced materials, technology, renewable energy and biotechnology.

Contact Us:
Karelian Diamond Resources plc announced that TUKES (The Finnish Mining Authority) has granted to the company an exploration permit in the Kuhmo region of Finland.

The permit covers an area of 601.68 ha surrounding the location where the Karelian Diamonds discovered a diamond in till (31 January 2017).

The permit has been granted for a period of four years. An exploration permit provides the holder with an exclusive right to apply for a mining permit.

The Company also announces that 21st December 2017 has been set as the proposed date of its annual general meeting.

In Q1 2015 Karelian discovered a new kimberlite body in the Kuhmo area. This was the first discovery of a kimberlite body in Finland in over 10 years. The kimberlite extends for at least 250m and is likely to be a dyke.



Alex Shishlo, Editor of the Rough&Polished European Bureau in Brussels




UK-based insurer Old Mutual plc (ODMTY.PK,OML.L) said it will hold a showcase Wednesday, 1 November 2017, on Old Mutual Limited or OML, the new South African holding company for Old Mutual Emerging Markets or OMEM, the 54 percent stake in Nedbank Group Limited, and residual elements of Old Mutual plc.

OML will have its primary listing on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, and secondary listings on the London Stock Exchange and other African exchanges in 2018.



The showcase will feature presentations as well as question & answer sessions from the OML and Nedbank leadership teams - including Peter Moyo, Chief Executive Officer designate of OML, and Mike Brown, Chief Executive of Nedbank.

OML also said it has agreed with Nedbank that subsequent to the unbundling of the majority of its shareholding, the remaining minority holding will be 19.9 percent, thus providing a foundation for the continued strategic relationship between the two businesses.

On 30 October 2017, Old Mutual Group Holdings Limited, the South African intermediate holding company for OMEM and Nedbank, announced the appointment of additional non-executive directors. It is planned that this will become the new board of directors for OML.

Separately, Nedbank Group said that the 19.9 percent strategic minority shareholding to be retained by Old Mutual in Nedbank will be held by OML.

As previously announced, the decrease in OML's shareholding in Nedbank Group to 19.9 percent will be achieved through the distribution of the balance of OML's majority shareholding in Nedbank Group to its shareholders, at an appropriate time and in an orderly manner, post the listing of OML. OML said it does not intend to sell any part of its shareholding in Nedbank Group to a new strategic investor.

Further, Old Mutual said that Nonkululeko Nyembezi will be stepping down from the Old Mutual Board on 31 December 2017.

Nyembezi joined the Old Mutual Board in 2012 and has served on the Board Risk and Nomination and Governance Committees since 2013.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
A terrorist attack in New York has killed eight people and injured 11 others, prompting U.S. President Donald Trump to order more robust "extreme vetting" of foreign travelers.

A truck driver plowed through a busy bike path in Lower Manhattan Tuesday night, mowing down pedestrians and cyclists before hitting a school bus and shooting an imitation gun.

The assailant, who was found running from the crash site, was arrested after police shot him in the stomach. He underwent surgery at a local hospital.

The suspect has reportedly been identified as 29-year old Sayfullo Saipov, an Uzbek immigrant who arrived in New York in 2010. Married with two children, he has worked as an Uber driver in New Jersey for over six months.

The victims included five Argentineans and a Belgian citizen.

The incident took place not far from the World Trade Center, where the United States witnessed the worst terrorist attack in its history. It was the first deadly terrorist attack in New York since the September 11, 2001 carnage.

New Yorkers demonstrated their resilience by celebrating a traditional Halloween Parade in Manhattan's West Village hours after the attack under tight security, while local and federal law enforcement officers were investigating the shocking incident.

New York Mayor Bill de Blasio confirmed that it was "an act of terror." As the news of the attack unfolded, the president became active on Twitter.

Trump said he had ordered Homeland Security to step up the Government's already Extreme Vetting Program. "Being politically correct is fine, but not for this," Trump tweeted.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims of today's terrorist attack in New York City and their families," he said. "We must not allow ISIS to return, or enter, our country after defeating them in the Middle East and elsewhere. Enough."

The Trump administration announced last week that it would resume accepting refugees after a 120-day ban, though arrivals from 11 "high-risk" mostly Muslim countries will still be blocked.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
(Agencia CMA Latam) - Argentina's Minister of Finance, Nicolas Dujovne, presented the details of the tax reform project promoted by the government of Mauricio Macri, emphasizing that it would be gradually implemented, leading to relief in the Argentineans tax burden.



"The goal is to reduce the deficit and the tax burden," said the official. He added that Macri's administration seeks to "promote investment, competitiveness and quality employment to have a more equitable, efficient and modern tax system."



Among the main changes, Dujovne confirmed that a financial income tax, with rates of up to 15%, would be proposed "to move towards a fairer and more equitable tax system."



In the case of fixed income funds, the rate would be 5% for returns from fixed-income instruments denominated in pesos. Dujovne also said that "the current treatment for shares locally quoted is maintained." Meanwhile, it would be modified and terminated the contributions of social security environmental taxes on fuels, and fee on the transfer of real estate.

by Agencia CMA Latam

For comments and feedback: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
Suggesting differences remain over key details of the House Republican tax reform bill, the release of a draft of the legislation has been delayed.

House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady, R-Tex., said Tuesday night the draft of the bill would be released on Thursday after previously being expected to be unveiled on Wednesday.

"Ways and Means Committee Members met tonight to discuss the work we are doing on pro-growth tax reform," Brady said. "In consultation with President Trump and our leadership team, we have decided to release the bill text on Thursday."

He added, "We are pleased with the progress we are making and we remain on schedule to take action and approve a bill at our Committee beginning next week."

The delayed release of the draft of the bill reportedly reflects disagreements about how to offset the cost of the $5.5 trillion in tax cuts included in the legislation.

A proposal to eliminate the state and local tax deduction has raised significant concerns among members of Congress from high-tax states.

Opposition to the tax reform bill from Republicans in states such as New York and California would doom the legislation.

Brady has offered a compromise that would preserve the deduction for local property taxes but not for state and local income taxes.

A report from Politico said House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., briefed conservative leaders on some details of the bill that had been finalized.

Sources in the meeting told Politico the bill would lower the corporate tax rate to 20 percent while keeping the top income tax rate at 39.6 percent, although lawmakers have not settled on which incomes would be hit by that rate.

President Donald Trump said before a meeting with leaders on Tuesday he wants the House to pass a tax reform bill by Thanksgiving.

Trump said that he wants the House to pass the legislation by the November 23rd holiday and hopes that the bill can be signed before Christmas.

(Photo: Gage Skidmore)

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Political News
The European ended Wednesday's session in the green. The German DAX rallied after investors returned to action following yesterday's public holiday. Traders were encouraged by positive economic data from both China and the United States. Chinese manufacturing data provided a boost to shares of mining stocks.

Stronger than expected growth in U.S. private sector employment pleased investors, especially ahead of Friday's U.S. jobs report. Traders are also looking forward to the release of today's monetary policy decision by the Federal Reserve later today.

Investor concerns over Catalonia and its potential exit from Spain eased further on Wednesday. Catalonia's ousted leader Carles Puigdemont has agreed to the snap election called by Spain's central government, but said the fight for independence would go on.

The pan-European Stoxx Europe 600 index advanced 0.45 percent. The Euro Stoxx 50 index of eurozone blue chip stocks increased 0.64 percent, while the Stoxx Europe 50 index, which includes some major U.K. companies, added 0.62 percent.

The DAX of Germany climbed 1.78 percent and the CAC 40 of France rose 0.20 percent. The FTSE 100 of the U.K. declined 0.07 percent, but the SMI of Switzerland finished higher by 0.28 percent.

In Frankfurt, Bayer advanced 2.69 percent amid reports that the pharmaceutical firm and Novartis are threatening legal action against twelve clinical commissioning groups in the north of England for plans to offer patients a cheap eye drug. Novartis also rose 1.58 percent in Zurich.

In London, AstraZeneca climbed 2.44 percent after winning U.S. approval for a new drug to treat blood cancer.

Likewise, Indivior shares jumped 7.80 percent after the FDA committee recommended approval for a new drug to treat opioid addiction.

Lender Standard Chartered sank 6.17 percent as higher expenses overshadowed a rise in third-quarter profit.

Next Plc tumbled 9.14 percent after a disappointing trading update, with sales figures missing forecasts.

Nokian Tyres dipped 0.03 percent in Helsinki after its quarterly profit topped forecasts.

Pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk rose 0.31 percent in Copenhagen after warning that a new U.S. legislation could impact in its key market.

The British manufacturing sector started the final quarter of the year on a solid footing in October, driven by robust production and new orders.

The Purchasing Managers' Index rose to 56.3 in October from a revised 56.0 in September, survey data from IHS Markit and the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply showed Wednesday. The PMI was forecast to remain unchanged at September's original reading of 55.9.

UK house prices increased at a faster pace in October, data from Nationwide Building Society showed Wednesday. House prices increased 2.5 percent year-on-year, following September's revised 2.3 percent rise.

UK shop price deflation remained at a four-year low in October, data from the British Retail Consortium showed Wednesday. The BRC-Nielsen shop price index dropped 0.1 percent, the same annual rate as seen in September. The 0.1 percent deflation was the shallowest deflation rate in the last four years.

China's manufacturing activity expanded at a stable pace in October, in line with expectations, survey data from IHS Markit showed Wednesday. The Caixin Purchasing Managers' Index for the factory sector came in at 51.0 in October, the same reading as in September.

After reporting a notable slowdown in U.S. private sector job growth in the previous month, payroll processor ADP released a report on Wednesday showing a bigger than expected increase in private sector employment in the month of October.

ADP said private sector employment climbed by 235,000 jobs in October after rising by a downwardly revised 110,000 jobs in September. Economists had expected an increase of about 200,000 jobs compared to the addition of 135,000 jobs originally reported for the previous month.

A report released by the Institute for Supply Management on Wednesday showed a slowdown in the pace of growth in U.S. manufacturing activity in the month of October.

The ISM said its purchasing managers index fell to 58.7 in October from 60.8 in September, although a reading above 50 still indicates growth in the manufacturing sector. Economists had expected the index to edge down to 59.5.

With a jump in spending on public construction more than offsetting a drop in spending on private construction, the Commerce Department released a report on Wednesday showing an unexpected increase in total U.S. construction spending in the month of September.

The Commerce Department said construction spending rose by 0.3 percent to an annual rate of $1.220 trillion in September from the revised August estimate of $1.216 trillion. Economists had expected construction spending to come in unchanged compared to the $1.218 trillion originally reported for the previous month.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Market Analysis
President Donald Trump has called for the termination of an immigration program he blames for allowing the alleged perpetrator of Tuesday's terrorist attack in New York to enter the U.S.

Ahead of a meeting with his Cabinet on Wednesday, Trump called on Congress to immediately begin work on ending the Diversity Immigrant Visa program.

"I am today starting the process of terminating the diversity lottery program. I'm going to ask Congress to immediately initiate work to get rid of this program," Trump said. "Diversity lottery. Sounds nice. It's not nice. It's not good. It hasn't been good. We've been against it."

"We want people that are going to help our country. We want people that are going to keep our country safe. We don't want lotteries where the wrong people are in the lotteries," he added. "And guess what? Who are the suckers that get those people? We want a merit-based system."

Trump said he also wants to get rid of chain migration, claiming the Uzbek immigrant suspected of killing eight people in New York with a rental truck was the primary point of contact for 23 people.

Earlier in the day, Trump sought to blame Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., for the Diversity Immigrant Visa program, which allows the State Department to annually distribute 50,000 visas at random to applicants from counties with low immigration rates.

"The terrorist came into our country through what is called the 'Diversity Visa Lottery Program,' a Chuck Schumer beauty. I want merit based," Trump tweeted.

He added, "We are fighting hard for Merit Based immigration, no more Democrat Lottery Systems. We must get MUCH tougher (and smarter)."

Trump also cited retired U.S. Army Reserve Lieutenant Colonel Tony Shaffer, who accused Schumer of helping to import Europe's problems in an appearance on Fox News.

Responding to the Twitter attack from Trump, Schumer criticized the president for attempting to politicize a tragedy.

"President Trump, instead of politicizing and dividing America, which he always seems to do at times of national tragedy, should be focusing on the real solution - anti-terrorism funding - which he proposed cutting in his most recent budget," Schumer said in a statement.

Republican Senator Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., who has publicly feuded with Trump, also stood up for Schumer in posts to Twitter.

While Schumer helped shape the legislation that created the Diversity Immigrant Visa program, Flake noted the Democratic Senator was also part of a bipartisan group that crafted a comprehensive immigration reform bill that would have ended the program.

"In fact, had the Senate Gang of 8 bill passed the House, it would have ended the Visa Lottery Program AND increased merit based visas," Flake tweeted.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Political News
EMERYVILLE, Calif., Nov. 01, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CCD Innovation has named Kara Nielsen as Vice President, Trends & Marketing. She will lead the strategic food and beverage innovation agencys cornerstone culinary trend practice and oversee marketing outreach. She joins CCD Innovations leadership team, taking a key role in strategic initiatives and developing intellectual property. Nielsen previously served as the agencys Trendologist from 2006 to 2013.

CCD Innovation is thrilled to have whisked Kara Nielsen back into the fold, said Dore Hainer, CEO. Kara possesses an unparalleled bounty of food trend knowledge and has a superior talent for connecting the dots between culinary trends and world-class product development. Karas return provides our clients a tremendous advantage in gaining critical strategic insights into the ever-evolving food landscape. We are beyond excited about the impact this will have on bringing our clients culinary innovations to market.

After years mastering CCD Innovations proprietary art of Trend Mapping, Nielsen expanded her expertise at numerous food industry consultancies. She served as Culinary Director at Sterling-Rice Group, a strategic innovation agency in Boulder, Colorado, where she led culinary innovation activities and created trend forecasts and analysis tools. At CEB Iconoculture Consumer Insights, she gained experience using trend methodologies based on consumer values and societal forces. Recently, she was Sales & Engagement Manager at Innova Market Insights, sharing data-driven, global food and beverage trend insights.

Ms. Nielsen is a well-established thought leader and communicator, with a long track record producing trend content to educate, inspire and drive business growth. She has written and edited syndicated market research reports, led webinars, and frequently speaks on trends at industry events and for the media.

Ms. Nielsens unique talent is placing food trends in a larger societal, cultural context, thanks to her graduate work in Gastronomy at Boston University and years working in restaurant kitchens and dining rooms. She discovered the joy of culinary culture while living in France as a student and deepened her knowledge managing food education programs, including at Copia: The American Center for Wine, Food & the Arts in Napa. Her curiosity and joie de vivre in all things food add dimension and zest to her trend work.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/09512e3b-b11f-4e14-b44e-37bd03c2cfd6

About CCD Innovation:

Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, a home of cutting-edge trends, CCD Innovation is a strategic food and beverage innovation agency that blends culinary creativity with strategic marketing expertise. Our strength in identifying the latest food trends, from both culinary and consumer-behavior perspectives, makes us uniquely qualified to help our clients create food product solutions that satisfy consumer expectations. For more information, visit www.ccdinnovation.com and follow @CCDBites on Twitter.
Finnish English

Helsinki, Finland, November 1, 2017 at 12.00 pm - The City of Vantaa has chosen QPR Software (QPR) as a provider of consulting services in enterprise architecture. The estimate for annual average non-binding need for enterprise architecture related services is approximately one thousand (1,000) man-days. The agreement ends on March 31, 2020 at the latest.

The service to be delivered consists of multiple components that are connected to strategic financial and operational objectives. Some of the key tasks will include the design of various reference, target, and solution architectures. The service can also include training and different types of information system and technology related reports.

We are happy for the decision made by the City of Vantaa. The Citys enterprise architecture work is directed by national and regional architecture work of which we have strong experience, says Jari Jaakkola, CEO of QPR Software.

The Ministry of Finance of Finland has ordered enterprise architecture modeling software-as-a-service from QPR. This service is available for all entities that are engaged in the Finnish public sector enterprise architecture development, and are approved by the Ministry.

The City of Vantaa takes advantage of the service which enables the city to model its processes and enterprise architecture in a systematic way, centrally manage models, and distribute them outside of its organizational boundaries. Customers of QPRs consulting services will be better equipped to meet the recommendations and requirements of the regional government reform and EUs General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

About QPR Software Plc

QPR Software provides solutions for strategy execution, performance and process management, process mining and enterprise architecture in over 50 countries. QPR Software allows customers to gain valuable insights for informed decisions that make a difference.

With 25 years of experience, 2 000 customers and over a million licenses sold, QPRs products are highly regarded by industry analysts and customers alike.

Dare to Improve. www.qpr.com



For additional information, please contact:

Miika Nurminen, SVP, Consulting and Advisory Services

+358 40 503 1982

miika.nurminen(at)qpr.com

For additional information on QPR EnterpriseArchitect and related solutions, please visit:



https://www.qpr.com/products/qpr-enterprisearchitect

https://www.qpr.com/solutions/enterprise-architecture

https://www.qpr.com/solutions/business-process-management
English Icelandic

Islandsbanki will publish its third quarter Consolidated Interim Financial Statements 2017 before market opening on Thursday 9 November.

Investor call in English

The Bank will host an investor call in English to present the results at 1 pm Icelandic time. The call will start with a short macro update on the Icelandic economy, followed by a review of the financial results and Q&A. Please register by replying to ir@islandsbanki.is. Dial-in details and presentation will be sent out two hours prior to the call.

All presentation material will subsequently be available and archived on www.islandsbanki.is/ir.

For information on Islandsbanki's financial calendar and silent periods see http://www.islandsbanki.is/english/investor-relations/calendar/.

For further information:
Actress Sonakshi Sinha says she feels uncomfortable while shooting scenes which require her to seduce her co-stars.

Sonakshi, along with actors Sidharth Malhotra and Akshaye Khanna, appeared on the special show "Interrogation with Karan Johar" to promote their forthcoming film "Ittefaq".

Asked whether she enjoyed seducing Sidharth in the film, Sonakshi said: "Every actor has that (one) thing which they are not very good at or they are uncomfortable doing. Sometimes it is comedy, sometimes it's emotional scenes, sometimes it's seduction.

"It was really very uncomfortable. See, I am a very good actor, that's why it didn't show, but I was very uncomfortable."

Sonakshi said this discomfort was not just with Sidharth but "in general in front of cameras".

On the show, Sonakshi also revealed that she had a crush on actor Hrithik Roshan.

"He (Hrithik) was my first crush in school and when his film released, I went ballistic. He is the only actor whose posters I have had in my room. I used to send a boy from my house to his -- we stay five minutes from each other -- everyday with a different poster. I used to say, 'Get me his autograph'. He is the only actor I have ever done that for," she said.

"Ittefaq" will release on Friday.
At least eight persons were killed and more than 40 injured in an explosion at a boiler unit of the NTPC in Uttar Pradesh's Rae Bareli district on Wednesday evening, officials said.

The death toll is likely to rise as many more are feared trapped inside the 500 MW boiler unit at the NTPC, Unchahar, Additional Director General (ADG) Law and Order Anand Kumar said.

Eight bodies have been received at the district hospital, Chief Medical Officer K.K. Singh of Rae Bareli told .

A massive fire broke out inside and a huge ball of dust rose after the explosion, making rescue operations difficult, an official told .

The unit was the sixth at NTPC and was commissioned on March 31 this year, a senior official said.

An alert has been sounded at the community health centre (CHC), district hospital and at other medical centres, after the accident.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who is in Mauritius on a three-day visit, directed Principal Secretary (Home) Arvind Kumar to monitor the situation and brief him regularly.

The Chief Minister has announced ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each to the families of those killed, Rs 50,000 each to those seriously injured, and Rs 25,000 each to those with less grave injuries.

Senior district officials and police officials are at the accident site and overseeing rescue and relief operations, a state government spokesman said.

Officials said the explosion took place in the boiler which is filled with water in tubes which are heated. This in turn creates steam which moves the turbines and generates electricity.
Russia's relations with India are second to none and can't be compared with Kremlin's relations with Pakistan, Russian Ambassador to India Nikolai Kudashev said on Wednesday.

"I do not see any opportunity to equalise relations between Russia and India and Russia and Pakistan. Our relations with India are a special strategic partnership, second to no other country," Kudashev told the media following the India-Russia first tri-service exercise.

The maiden tri-service exercise for India and Russia -- Indra-2017 -- concluded in Russia's Vladivostok on Sunday after 11 days of joint training in counter-terror operations.

The Russian envoy said his country's joint exercises with Pakistan were focused only on anti-terror operations.

"We also have a sincere desire of normal relations with Pakistan. The purpose of the drill was of anti-terror nature, to support reasonable elements in the Pakistan government to counter terror," Kudashev said.

Asked about the Russia-China relationship, and his reaction to China's continuing opposition to declaring and Jaish-e-Muhammad chief and Pathankot terror attack mastermind Masood Azhar a terrorist, Kudashev said China is a "sovereign nation", and added: "We need to fight common threats of terror, drugs and crime to make life easier for all of us".

About his reaction to the India-US-Japan Malabar exercise, he said he was in favour of non-bloc open cooperation.

"My primary preoccupation is our bilateral relations. India is a sovereign nation and can take its own decisions. We would welcome larger non-bloc open regional architectures which will have space for all," Kudashev said.

On the location of the exercise in the eastern part of Russia, an area which is close to China as well as the Korean peninsula, India's Chief of Integrated Defence Staff Lt. Gen. Satish Dua said the location for the exercise was picked by the host Russia, adding that it was possibly because it was possible to carry out land, air and sea exercises there.

Asked if there was any message intended through the exercise, Kudashev said: "The message was friendly."

Asked about the exercise in context of the nuclear threat from North Korea, he said: "As far as the drills are concerned, I do not see any immediate connection."

He however added that Russia would welcome denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula, and resumption of the Six-Party Talks.

Indra 2017 focused on counter terrorism, and saw the participation of more than 900 Indian soldiers, sailors and air warriors along with over 1,000 personnel from the Russian Defence Forces. This is the first time both India and Russia held a tri-service exercise with any other country.

"Exercise Indra 2017 will surely be a benchmark for future exercises of this nature all across the world. The espirit de corps and goodwill generated during the exercise will facilitate further strengthening of bonds between the defence forces of India and Russia enabling them to understand each other's organisations and the methodology of executing joint counter terrorist operations," Lt.Gen. Dua said.

_

_SHOW_MID_AD__
WANTED: Domestic Violence Suspect in Lincoln County

Anyone seeing Epperson should immediately call 9-1-1.



21-yer old Nahcoma Michael Lee Epperson is WANTED by police.



(SALEM, Ore.) - The Oregon State Police, in partnership with Crime Stoppers of Oregon, is asking for the public's help to locate a wanted domestic violence suspect.

On Monday October 30th at approximately 12:00 p.m., the Oregon State Police was dispatched to a domestic violence call, which occurred as the victim was driving southbound on US Highway 101 from Lincoln City to Toledo, Oregon.

Once troopers responded to the area, the preliminary investigation revealed the driver, an 18-year-old woman was driving when she was physically assaulted by her boyfriend, 21-year-old Nahcoma Michael Lee Epperson from Siletz, Oregon.

Epperson was last seen October 30th near the Dairy Queen in Toledo but he is believed to be in the Siletz area. Epperson also has connections in the Salem area.

Anyone seeing Epperson should immediately call 9-1-1. Non-emergent information may be reported to Crime Stoppers and tipsters can remain anonymous.

Crime Stoppers of Oregon offers cash rewards for information, reported to Crime Stoppers, that leads to an arrest in any unsolved felony crime and tipsters can remain anonymous.

Information about any unsolved homicide is eligible for a cash reward of up to $2,500. Information about any other unsolved felony crime is eligible for a cash reward of up to $1,000.

Information learned from social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter or YouTube should be shared as these tips may lead to the identification of a suspect or suspects. Links can be shared anonymously through Crime Stoppers.

Source: Lincoln County Sheriff; CrimeStoppers of Oregon; Oregon State Police

_________________________________________
Dear Editor,

Re: Church Minister feels deceived

Agreed. The latest travesties are the US and Frances thinly veiled raping of resource rich Africa under the guise of fighting terrorism.

They are so stupid and will become irrelevant.

Whereas China is conducting a much more lucrative global strategy of a Chinese modern day Marshall plan.

Brilliant, France and The US are in Africa killing civilians, patrolling foreign lands with soldiers and destroying infrastructure while China builds them schools, state of the art ports, roads and hospitals.

Gee I wonder why France and the US are so worried about terrorists at their borders.

Again they are sooooo stupid and will soon be irrelevant, but then again the US has always enjoyed legislated approved killing of black people and Muslims both externally and internally so maybe they also get some sick satisfaction from killing black Muslim civilians in Africa just for fun.

Britains hand is in this through their banking empire which funds all this killing. In general, but for a handful of enlightened whites throughout history, white Americans, white Europeans and white Brits are worse racists than Hitler ever was and have killed more people of color than Hitler ever did.

Christianity today is the same kind of Christianity that Hitler endorsed. Fascism. The fall of the Roman Empire.

Wendy Wonder
PORTAGE, Mich., Nov. 01, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Students at Long Beach City College (LBCC) will now have the opportunity to take part in a brand-new electrical technician program through a partnership with NETA  the InterNational Electrical Testing Association.



During a dedication ceremony on October 4, 2017, Ann-Marie Gabel, LBCC Vice President of Administrative Services, said the launch of this program makes LBCC the first academic institution with curriculum developed in partnership with NETA. This partnership is a very big deal for us, Gabel says. We work closely with industry partners to make sure we are preparing our students to enter into their career of choice.

Bob Sheppard, Vice President of Business Development at Intellirent (a NETA Corporate Alliance Partner), calls the program an exciting milestone for NETA and the school. We have been working on this program for six years. We are very excited to see it come to life, he says.

This program is unique in the world of electrical test technician education and will provide individuals with the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in the electrical testing industry, Sheppard says.

LBCCs new QQ building and the renovated RR building will house the Electrical Technology Program as well as the new High Voltage Technician Program based on the NETA Electrical Power Testing Technician (EPTT) curriculum. EPTT includes a series of courses designed to provide graduates with a strong grasp of the educational requirements specified for a Level 2 NETA Test Technician per the ANSI/NETA ETT, Standard for Certification of Electrical Testing Technicians.

The new program will be offered as a post-secondary adult education program, designed for individuals interested in a career in the power systems industry or for electrical testing technicians seeking advancement. Successful participants will graduate with a certificate of completion or continue with additional credits to earn an Associate Degree. By the end of the course, graduates will have completed OSHA 30 training and numerous hours of electrical safety training, and achieved first aid and CPR certifications.

NETA and LBCC are excited about the debut of this program and look forward to congratulating its first graduates in 2019.

ABOUT NETA

NETA, the InterNational Electrical Testing Association, is an ANSI Accredited Standards Developing Organization that creates and maintains standards for electrical maintenance and acceptance testing for electrical power equipment and systems, as well as a standard that addresses the certification of electrical testing technicians. NETA is an association of leading electrical testing companies comprised of visionaries committed to advancing the industry standards for power system installation and maintenance to ensure the highest level of reliability and safety.

ABOUT LBCC

Long Beach City College consists of two campuses with an enrollment of more than 25,000 students each semester. The education programs primary purpose is to prepare students for transfer to baccalaureate-granting institutions, entry into work or career development, and to support businesses in economic development. Long Beach City College serves the California cities of Long Beach, Lakewood, Signal Hill, and Avalon. Long Beach City College promotes equitable student learning and achievement, academic excellence, and workforce development by delivering high-quality educational programs and support services to our diverse communities.
Two village mayors from Savaii have accused the government of misleading members of the public with its decision to tax pastors monetary gifts from birthdays and funerals they attend.

They described the governments action as an injustice during an interview with the Samoa Observer.

At the beginning of the week, a Church Minister was furious that he had been duped over a Bill taxing pastors that was signed in July this year.

Speaking on the condition of anonymity, the Church Minister discovered that the Bill that legalizes the taxing of church ministers is not limited to the alofa or contributions made by members.

The amendment to the law extends to other income received from performing services in our roles as church ministers.

Under Income Tax Act 2012 3. Section 61 amended clearly indicates that it is not limited to the contributions from the churches.

Village Mayor of Fagasa, Faitau Tuitama expressed disappointment.

We were only informed in the beginning that its only the alofa and now it includes envelopes from other services like birthdays and weddings (all being taxed).

What is really sad is that they only informed us in the beginning that just alofa but now we found out later that (inside the Bill) they are also collecting tax from envelopes (monetary gifts) where pastors attends.

The government was hiding what will happen to the envelopes of pastors all this time to the people of Samoa and the majority of denominations in Samoa.

But theres nothing we can do because the government go on with their plans and leave the people behind.

He admitted he wasnt with the plan by the government to tax pastors.

The government is destroying what we used to be back in the days, our pastors are feagaiga in villages and we have to take care of them  they are servants of God.

He said that does not mean that the government officials have to park outside where the wedding, funeral or birthday is held to collect and record how much the family gifted the pastor?

How come the people of Samoa didnt realize that the gifts for pastors for performing funerals, weddings, opening ceremonies etc. have been included on the governments tax list?

But how come ministers and government officials dont get taxed when they attend funerals, birthday and other services.

What about those live cows where most families give as gifts for pastors at funerals, are they going to kill the cow and see if they can get half of what it is sold for?

The action reminded Faitau of how King Nebuchadnezzar walked out his palace and said that Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?

Many of us assume that our self-confidence is natural and healthy, but will not admit we have too much of it.

We see ourselves as being responsible for our own success and suddenly we face shame or a sudden traumatic event that destroys all we have worked for.

If Nebuchadnezzar ate grass of not fearing God, of pride and was driven away from mankind, his body was drenched with the dew of heaven until his hair had grown like eagles' feathers and his nails like birds' claws.

Our government needs to pause; we need to look deeply at whats happening in our country these days and we need to take action while we still have time.

Another Village Mayor of Safua, Moeautolo Filipo expressed similar sentiments.

He said its sad to hear how the government went on with their plans without proper consultations with churches.

Theres no doubt that the government is everywhere looking for money to survive. I think thats why they are hiding this action of collecting money from other services that pastors attended, Moeautolo said.

The burden ends up on peoples shoulders. You see, peoples money that they give to the church have already been taxed and now the government is coming from the other way around to double tax people.

This is so much for the people of Samoa, churches never asked the government for help, but the church helps in so many ways for the community and the people of Samoa.

This is not right in my understanding.
Meet Isaia Posenai who is looking for an job opportunity to support his family.

Mr. Posenai carries out small mechanical jobs for those who need his assistance around his area.

He shared this with the Village Voice team yesterday.

I am not working but I do work for families as a mechanical engineer at their places, and thats where I get money from, the lad from the village of Vaitele Fou said.

Mr. Posenai also shared how hard life has been for him and his family.

The only way we get money is from my younger sisters job and any work I do for any family in terms of fixing their cars, he said.

I dont do work here in my house but Id rather do it in their own houses so they can get to see it themselves because lately people dont trust us with our work, so its better to do it there on their watch.

Mr. Posenai says getting a steady job is what he dreams of so that he can provide for his family.

It would be great to have an extra job for me, given the expensive cost of living at the moment, he said.

It is really hard to earn a sustainable income from the work I do because if people dont have work to be done, then surely I would not be able to earn anything, but an extra job will be useful to support my family.

Mr. Posenai also commented on the expensive cost of living in Samoa.

It is really expensive nowadays compared to the past five years, the work I do doesnt really afford all the expenses within our house, he said.

There are so many obligations within families as well as church, so it is basically where all the money goes to and it is really hard to find jobs to provide for these things as well as supporting the family every day.

Mr. Posenai is appreciative of any employment opportunity as long as it will help assist his family financially.

He can be contacted on mobile phone number +685 7755316.
Regional Ministers of Tourism have been reminded that regional collaboration and partnership through learning and exchange will ensure the sustainability of the regional tourism industry.

The reminder was issued at the 27th meeting of the S.P.T.O. Council of Ministers held in Port Vila, Vanuatu last week.

Samoas Minister of Tourism, Sala Fata Pinati, was scheduled to attend the meeting but he had to pull out last minute due to unforeseen circumstances. The General Manager of the Samoa Tourism Authority, Papalii Sonja Hunter, was present.

At the meeting, the Ministers were briefed on a number of regional tourism activities including the progress to date on the agri- tourism initiative by the key partners, the Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (C.T.A.), S.P.T.O, Pacific Islands Private Sector Organisation (P.I.P.S.O.), International Fund for Agriculture Development (I.F.A.D.) and the Pacific Community (S.P.C.).

The Ministers expressed their support for planned regional and national activities outlined in the way forward for agri-tourism development in the Pacific and approved that S.P.T.O. develop proposals and seek funding to support the development and promotion of food tourism in the Pacific.

The Ministers acknowledged the assistance from the Asian Development Bank in the development of regional tourism and invited the A.D.B. to attend the 2018 S.P.T.O. Council of Tourism Ministers in October to provide an update on the progress of its regional tourism projects. The A.D.B. had attended the 26th Council meeting in Rarotonga in 2016 during which they announced their tourism development projects for the Pacific.

The Ministers also acknowledged the presentation by the New Zealand Maori Tourism Association, and the invitation to the World Indigenous Tourism Summit in the Bay of Islands, New Zealand on 15-18 April 2018.

With regards to the work of the S.P.T.O. Secretariat, the Ministers approved the S.P.T.O. Work plan and budget for 2018 and also the proposal by the government of Samoa to host the S.P.T.O. series of meetings in 2018 which will include the 28th S.P.T.O. Council of Ministers of Tourism meeting.

In recognition of the important role of the regions private sector in tourism development, the Council also approved the appointment of five tourism industry members to serve on the Board of Directors from its next meeting in 2018.

The Council of Ministers meeting was attended by 17 of S.P.T.Os 18 government members.
A taxi association in American Samoa has launched its operations on land owned by the Samoan government in the American territory.

A ceremony to launch the Taxi Owners Association (T.O.A.) was held last weekend.

The nearly one-acre land in Tafuna was a gift from the America Samoa to the Samoan government. In return, the Samoan government gifted a piece of land for American Samoa at Vailima.

The land exchange between the two Samoas was initiated about five years ago through a memorandum of understanding for use of the lands.

American Samoa Governor Lolo Matalasi Moliga told a Cabinet meeting two months ago that Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi had approved for the parcel to be leased to American Samoa taxi operators to use and maintain until the government decides on how best to use the land.

At the launch event during the weekend, Samoas Consul General in American Samoa, Auseugaefa Vaasatia Poloma Komiti, was present.

Speaking to Samoa News, T.O.A. President, Tuitamai Emanuelu Ulberg, expressed appreciation to the governments of American Samoa and Samoa for their support of the request.

The land in Tafuna was initially used by the nonprofit Goodwill Industries, which had a building that is being renovated by T.O.A.

Tuitamai told Samoa News that electricity and water have already been connected for the building, while telephone service is expected to be hooked up soon.
Dear Editor,

Re: Govt. denies Virgin application

This decision by the Samoan government smacks of populism and desperation. Stopping Virgin Australia from landing in Apia will reduce competition and likely to result in higher fares for the paying public.

Is this really what the country wants?

Protectionism will come at a cost, which the ordinary punters will have to pay every time they kneel to the statue of nationalism and fly with their Samoa Airways.

This does not make economic sense or any sense for that matter. Protectionism has gone out of fashion in many parts of the world except in little Samoa.

I wonder whether the Australian government will step and try and persuade Samoa to change its mind citing the many reasons why our government should cave in including reciprocation (ie, not granting landing rights to Samoa Airways to Sydney and other Australian cities). Is this the type of tit for tat skirmish that Samoa wants to enter into?

We can whip the nationalistic fervour and run the emotive argument that we shall not be dictated to by other countries but the reality of matter is, Virgin Australia would probably fly into Apia in the near future.

There is heavy betting at the makeki about that outcome. When that happens I wonder what weasel words will come out of the government spokesperson explaining the change of heart.

In the meantime, Air NZ is laughing all the way to the bank because it will welcome back the old duopoly (as was the case with Poly) and charge whatever it wants to transport those nationalistic Samoans between Apia and Auckland.

As for me, I am happy to paddle my canoe to Savaii.

Vai Autu
Re: P.M. stands by decision

Totally agree with the Prime Minister on the subject of direct flights by Virgin from Australia to Samoa.

Travellers from Australia have been unnecessarily inconvenient by Virgins flight schedules especially stopover in Auckland and vice versa.

Too time consuming total of ten hours, from Sydney to Samoa, when a direct flight only takes 4.5 hours.

The evening return flight from Samoa is arduous and takes even longer, no choice but to sleep on a bench or couch at Auckland airport lounge, waiting for a connecting flight to Sydney the following morning.

So the Prime Minister is right, Virgin should concentrate on direct flights from Sydney to Samoa only.

We should welcome competition.

The Samoa Government has identified a niche in the Australian travel market, that has long been manipulated by Virgin Australia.

Rosie Kelly
Dear Editor

The decision against Virgin Australia is brilliant and bold.

Im not a great fan of the P.M. and H.R.P.P most of the time but this is one of those calls made with the interest of the people first before politics and credit is given where its due.

Rewind the clock back fifteen plus years ago when we first went into partnership with Virgin, they were just newbies around the Pacific scene.

We were one of their first international break-through using the PAL ticket to gain access around the Pacific international scene. They were then called Pacific Blue because N.Z. would not allow them to operate inside N.Z. with an Aussie certificate.

Virgin quickly used the PacBlue brand as their international arm but still controlled from Australia. Once their footings were firmly established around the international theatre, they snatched the brand back to Australia and named the whole thing Virgin with the NZ brand PacBlue totally wiped from the face of the earth.

Virgin Samoa was a different deal because we owned an aeroplane when we went into partnership and we did have a share in the partnership unlike the NZ deal.

Virgin quickly wiped out the PAL network we spend years and millions developing and only gave us a share in the Akl-Apw run and due to the state of our desperation at the time; we had zero grounds to argue.

This is the same deal theyre trying to sell with the Tiger Air deal. Tiger needs footing around the Pacific and international network and theyre trying to sell us a slave portion by giving us a cheap toilet paper deal with Tiger.

Colonialism in every aspect.

Smells like a duck, quacks like a duck, its a duck.

They shouldve come clean and hook a deal to share the portion of the pie with Fiji Airways instead they wanna play arrogance in thinking that the stupid coconuts will just roll over and dance all the time.

The P.M. is justified in calling them stupid because thats what they think of us. Now its like going to toilet for a good number two dumping without a toilet paper and theyre trying to use politics to roll us over.

Five to ten years ago in my travels, I over heard a conversation in Sydney by some individuals whom I believe were well informed in the aviation industry, talked about Virgin Samoa as a sore thumb in the Virgin brand and Virgin was looking for a way to erase the deal legally.

They dont wanna have anything to do with us. Theyve been dishing out a slaves portion of the dividends fully aware that we have no grounds to argue.

I was told by someone from inside the government we are paying Virgin back with operational costs of running the partnership to the sum of hundreds of thousands of tala.

If that is true then those dividends Virgin was giving us all these year are just drunk p**s. They just simply sign a paper deal with our name in it and that all our worth to them, just a name in the piece of paper.

Maybe with our P.Ms heavy English accent, Mr Bougetti didnt quite get the message, here it is again, Its over dude get a life.

May I suggest that the government especially the airline stand behind with everything we have in rallying our people in NZ and Auss to stand with our airline in support because war is coming in the skies and we dont have the resources to stand toe to toe with Air New Zealand, with Virgin let alone Fiji Airways.

Ignore these economics lightweights that are propelling the notion that more competition means good service. That high school economics maybe good in a high school discussion but its not the real world of business where theft is allowed as long as its legal.

Its dirty in every aspect and our utmost priority is to protect our investment in our airline. Ask Charlie Ah Liki how he would handle this if it were his business. I bet everything in my reputation that the first thing hell do is to protect his investment from poachers of foreign invaders like Virgin.

Riding on the excuse of more competition equals cheap service, is a lame and a weak excuse that sips easily out of mouths of people who love to eat and do no work. Ive already rallied my relatives in NZ on their support for our airline and we should all do the same. Good luck PAL, Samoa Airways. Fly high and fly safe.

Steve Roebeck
The Ministry of Women, Community and Social Development has praised the Samoa Observers Village Voice Section.

The commendation was made by the Chief Executive Officer, Fuimapoao Naea Beth Onesemo Tuilaepa, during the Community Leading Inclusive Development for Quality of Life for All dialogue this week.

The forum is hosted by the Ministry.

Village Voice columns feature daily struggles of various families in Samoa and also voices concerns of people towards the government and the community.

The project has been successful with many featured on the column receiving jobs, financial help and food assistance, home renovations and more.

In collaboration with the Community Sector Partners, the forum looks at strategizing and reflecting on best approaches to address community development needs.

Fuimapoao said through the Village Voice, they were able to collect relevant information to help in the implementation of projects needed for developing the various affected communities.

And these developments are being pushed through the Community Sector Plan Partners Forum.

The forum aims to inform the partners of the new community development sector framework consolidate and also implement a five-year plan for the Community Sector Plan.

Fuimapoao said in order for the Community Plan to achieve its expected outcomes, there was a great need for all partners to be well informed and to have better understanding of what this document envisioned for the next five years.

The Community Sector Plan was launched at the end of last year.

Mayor from Moamoa and Tauoo, Faleasiu acknowledged the importance of such conference because it helped to outline plans that needed to be carried out for the next five years.

Leaunoa Tuitama, a participant at the meeting, is a strong believer that education is the key to success and to a good future.

One major issue that must be addressed is for parents to have their children in schools.

Village Representatives from across the country took part.
New Zealand wiring company, Fero, is on the move. And unlike most companies moving overseas, Fero is moving to Samoa. From China to Samoa to be exact.

The family-owned company saw an opportunity in Samoa when Yazaki Samoa closed its doors.

Yesterday, General Manager, Sam Fulton and Managing Director, Greg Fulton, were at their new premises at Vaitele. While there is a lot of work to do, they are looking forward to growing their company and to help Samoa.

While it is not common for a major manufacturing company to set up in Samoa, for Sam and Greg Fulton, the move made financial and logistical sense on many different levels.

Fero had been manufacturing in China for some time and the distance and rising costs were one of the factors that made it easier to move their operation to Samoa.

Furthermore, there were quantity issues with New Zealand and Australia being smaller markets than China was used to.

In New Zealand and Australia, when you start saying to everyone that we are going to start manufacturing in Samoa - most people are a bit surprised about that, said Sam Fulton.

Theres not a lot of manufacturing going on in Samoa for export to New Zealand and Australia.

The added benefits of having a workforce that was trained by the world class Yazaki proved to be even more of an incentive to set up shop in Samoa.

Its fantastic because Yazaki have done a great job of training everyone up, said Sam, Theres a lot of good talented people who have got a lot of experience."

Most of the guys have got over 20 years experience in the harness industry. Theres a building here that is custom built for wire harnessing manufacturer. We have got enough space to fit about 500 people into it pretty easily. At the moment we have about 75 people that we have employment agreements with and we have a goal for having 200 employees.

Feros General Manager confirmed that they will be hiring their employees at the same rate that they were receiving at Yazaki and that it was important for them to make sure they stayed on level with the Samoan government pay rates.

Its also part of their strategy to make sure that all the stakeholders in the business are rewarded for the success of the business.

Both company managers anticipate some challenges ahead.

Its not going to be easy getting a good operation going on here and delivering to the rest of the world, he said.

"Freight is not as regular in getting into New Zealand, we still get our raw materials out of China often and they have to go through NZ to here. We have issues with our business in NZ, we are under no illusions, and its not an easy business.

While challenges are to be expected, the transition has been relatively easy in that being in your own Pacific backyard provides a sense of familiarity both in a social and business sense.

The Company Managers also credited the Samoan government, N.P.F. and the New Zealand High Commission for making the process of establishing a business here run smoothly.

Samoan culture is different to New Zealand culture but we have quite a lot of similarities, said Sam. We have a lot of Pacific Islanders working with Fero in New Zealand and its a much easier fit culturally than China."

For a number of reasons such as; travelling here is easy, we speak in the same language and live in the same time zone which helps when you pick up the phone to make a call and we drive on the same side of the road but it is nice to make sure that work stays with our neighbours in the Pacific.

Managing Director, Greg Fulton added: We absolutely respect the talents and the abilities here. We have a really well trained and educated team thats something that we have found right through Samoa, that the skill all the way through the infrastructure through government is really high, thats a very easy fit.

Sam Fulton has been quoted in the New Zealand media, calling Samoa as the best kept secret in manufacturing, even going as far as urging other companies in Australasia to look closer to home instead of looking out towards Asia manufacturers.

When I say that its the best kept secret I think that theres a lot of opportunity for manufacturing in Samoa for NZ and Australia and not just in wire harnessing either."

Were also looking at doing a few other automotive products here. Youve got the infrastructure to export to different countries. It could be that manufacturing can become an industry for Samoa rather than always just relying on tourism and agriculture.

Setting up in Samoa has given both Sam and Greg Fulton some personal satisfaction in that they have realized that they have come to a place that genuinely appreciates their presence and what they have to offer for our people and the economy,

Its been really rewarding, right from the word go, said Greg Fulton. Anytime weve been involved with different people about what we are doing here and what we are planning to do here, so many people at so many different levels have said thank you very much for coming into Samoa, we are grateful of that and that sort of thing is really good to hear and its very encouraging. To know that they believe that you can make a difference has got a heck of a lot of reward.
Governments vision for Samoa to be the I.C.T. hub by 2020 has taken a massive step forward with the arrival of the Tui-Samoa Cable at Moataa.

But that is not stopping government from taking in the exploring more fibre optic cable networks to leverage Samoa as the Pacific Hub in Information Communication Technology, reassures Prime Minister Tuilaepa Lupesoliai Dr. Sailele Malielegaoi.

The success of the Tui-Samoa partnership has provided the Government with the confidence to facilitate new partnership amongst other Pacific Islands for new submarine cable projects, he said.

The next exciting project is the Manatua Cable linking Tahiti, the Cook Islands and Niue to Samoa.

Not to mention a bold regional project called the One Pacific Cable which could potentially link Micronesia and Melanesia to Polynesia and involve 10 island nations (Guam, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Republic of Marshal Islands, Kiribati, Tuvalu, Tokelau and Samoa).

The Prime Minister noted that among the strategic reasons for developing the Tui-Samoa Cable are to:

 bridge the digital divide for the people of Samoa and our neighbouring island nations;

 promote economic and social developments; and

 provide Samoa with access to fast, reliable and affordable wholesale broadband internet.

The other important deliverable for Tui-Samoa is connectivity, will be a key driver in realizing the ambitions of the United Nation Sustainable Development Goals for small island developing states including Samoa as we strive to ensure that we do not leave anyone or any place behind.

This is especially true when only 18 percent of people in Least Developed Countries use the internet, compared with 80 percent in developed countries.

The Tui-Samoa will ensure that Samoa, Wallis and Futuna and Vanua Levu, Fiji, will not be left behind.

Connectivity is therefore a vital ingredient of structural transformation and sustainable development, and critical to the efforts of Small Island developing states to graduate from least developed status, continued Tuilaepa.

Connectivity will be crucial to building resilience in our economy, so that we can tackle the many other complex issues we are confronted with, including climate change.

The Prime Minister also complimented the support of our developments partners in making the Tui-Samoa Cable a reality. The partners include;

 Asian Development Bank, the World Bank and Australia Government for their extraordinary support of the Samoa Connectivity Project,

 S.S.C.C. investors, directors and staff for delivering this project for Samoa

 Alcatel Submarine Networks, the main supplier, as well as all our contractors local and overseas for all their hard work and commitment to make today a reality.

 A big Faafetai to the Alii and Faipule of Moataa and Vaivase for your huge support for this project.

 And the Government of Samoa whose vision and leadership in sponsoring the Tui-Samoa project that will result in a stronger more prosperous Samoa.
Finnish English

NOTICE OF THE EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING

Notice is given to the shareholders of Talvivaara Mining Company Plc (the "Company") of the extraordinary general meeting to be held on 23 November 2017 at 10:00 a.m. (Finnish time) in Espoo at the premises of Aalto University, Auditorium A1, at Otakaari 1, Espoo, Finland. The reception of persons who have registered for the meeting and the distribution of voting tickets will commence at 9:00 a.m. (Finnish time).

A. MATTERS ON THE AGENDA OF THE EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING

At the extraordinary general meeting, the following matters will be considered:

1. Opening of the meeting

2. Calling the meeting to order

3. Election of persons to scrutinise the minutes and to supervise the counting of votes

4. Recording the legality of the meeting

5. Recording the attendance at the meeting and adoption of the list of votes

6. Resolution to amend the Articles of Association of the Company

The Board of Directors proposes that the extraordinary general meeting would resolve to amend section 1 of the Articles of Association concerning the Company name and the corporate seat of the Company. According to the proposal, the amended section 1 of the Articles of Association concerning the Company name and the corporate seat would in its entirety read as follows:

1 Name and Corporate Seat of the Company

"The name of the Company is Ahtium Oyj and its domicile is Espoo. The parallel trade name of the Company in English is Ahtium Plc."

The Board of Directors further proposes that, provided the corporate seat of the Company is amended in accordance with the proposal by the Board of Directors, the extraordinary general meeting would resolve to make an amendment to the third paragraph of section 10 of the Articles of Association concerning the venue of the general meetings, which after the amendment would read as follows:

10 Convening the General Meeting (third paragraph)

"The General Meeting shall be held either in the corporate seat of the Company or in Helsinki."

7. Resolution to authorise the Board of Directors to resolve on share issue and the issuance of special rights entitling to shares

The Board of Directors proposes that the extraordinary general meeting would resolve to authorise the Board of Directors to decide on the issuance of new shares and the transfer of the Company's own shares as well as the issuance of special rights referred to in Chapter 10 Section 1 of the Finnish Companies Act to provide more alternatives for financing the development of the Company's new business opportunities.

Under the authorisation, the number of new shares that may be issued based on decision(s) of the Board of Directors would not exceed 418,980,716 shares, which corresponds to approximately 10 percent of all shares in the Company, and the number of the Company's own shares that may be transferred would not exceed 209,490,358 shares, which corresponds to approximately 5 percent of all shares in the Company.

Furthermore, the Board of Directors would be authorised to issue special rights referred to in Chapter 10 Section 1 of the Finnish Companies Act entitling their holder to receive new shares or the Company's own shares for consideration in such a manner that the subscription price of the shares is to be set off against a receivable of the subscriber (convertible bond). The number of shares which may be issued or transferred based on the special rights shall not exceed 418,980,716 shares, which corresponds to approximately 10 percent of all shares in the Company. This aggregate number of shares is included in the aggregate numbers of shares that may be issued and transferred mentioned in the previous paragraph.

The new shares could be issued and the Company's own shares could be transferred for consideration, including a set-off against a receivable from the Company, or without consideration. The new shares and the special rights referred to in Chapter 10 Section 1 of the Finnish Companies Act could be issued and the Company's own shares transferred to the shareholders in proportion to their current shareholdings in the Company or in deviation from the shareholders' pre-emptive rights by way of a directed issue if there is a weighty financial reason for the Company to do so. The deviation from the shareholders' pre-emptive rights could be carried out, for example, in order to develop the Company's capital structure or in order to finance or carry out acquisitions, investments or other business transactions. A directed share issue would be executed without consideration only if there is a particularly weighty financial reason for the Company to do so, taking the interests of all its shareholders into account. Should the total number of the shares in the Company later decrease as a result of a reverse share split, the maximum number of shares to be issued based on the authorisation would decrease pro rata.

The Board of Directors would have the right to decide on all other matters related to the issuance of sharesand the special rights referred to in Chapter 10 Section 1 of the Finnish Companies Act. The authorisation is proposed to be valid until 31 December 2018 and it would not cancel the share issue authorisation given by the extraordinary general meeting on 2 February 2017.

8. Reduction of the reserve for invested unrestricted equity to cover accumulated deficit

The Board of Directors proposes that the extraordinary general meeting would resolve to reduce the reserve for invested unrestricted equity pursuant to the balance sheet of the Company per 30 June 2017, EUR 799,729,611, in its entirety. The reserve for invested unrestricted equity would be EUR 0 after the reduction and the reserve for invested unrestricted equity would dissolve. The reduced amount would be used to cover the accumulated deficit pursuant to the balance sheet per 30 June 2017, EUR 816,835,314. Following the loss coverage, the amount of the accumulated deficit on the balance sheet of the Company would be EUR 17,105,703.

9. Reduction of the share premium reserve to cover accumulated deficit

The Board of Directors proposes that the extraordinary general meeting would resolve to reduce the share premium reserve pursuant to the balance sheet of the Company per 30 June 2017, EUR 8,085,842, in its entirety. The share premium reserve would be EUR 0 after the reduction and the share premium reserve would dissolve. The reduced amount would be used to cover the accumulated deficit on the balance sheet to the extent the deficit is not covered by the unrestricted equity. After the reduction of the reserve for invested unrestricted equity pursuant to the balance sheet of the Company mentioned in the agenda item 8, the amount of accumulated deficit would be EUR 17,105,703. After the reduction of the share premium reserve mentioned in this agenda item, the amount of accumulated deficit on the balance sheet of the Company would be EUR 9,019,861.

10. Applying for the public notice to the creditors

The Board of Directors proposes that the extraordinary general meeting would resolve to allow the Board of Directors to decide separately if the Company will apply for a public notice to the creditors from the Finnish Patent and Registration Office (Finnish Trade Register) due to the decision concerning the reduction of the share premium reserve. The public notice shall be applied within one (1) month from the decision of the general meeting. If the public notice will not be applied, the unrestricted equity of the Company may be distributed to the shareholders during the three (3) years following the reduction of the share premium reserve only in accordance with the creditors' protection procedure.

11. Closing of the meeting

B. DOCUMENTS OF THE EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING

This notice and the proposals of the Board of Directors on the agenda of the extraordinary general meeting are available on the Company's website at www.talvivaara.com/egm-2017-II. The Company's annual accounts, the related review of the Board of Directors and the auditor's report for the year ended 31 December 2016, the Interim Financial Statements for the period January - June 2017 of Company, the related review of the Board of Directors and the auditor's report as well as the Interim Report for January - June 2017 and the statement by the Board of Directors on the events occurring after the preparation of financial statements and the interim report and having a material effect on the position of the Company are also available on the above-mentioned website. The proposals of the Board of Directors and the other above-mentioned documents will also be available at the meeting. Copies of these documents and of this notice will be sent to shareholders upon request. The minutes of the extraordinary general meeting will be available on the above-mentioned website as from 7 December 2017.

C. INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE PARTICIPANTS IN THE EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING

1. Shareholders registered in the shareholders' register

Each shareholder, who is registered on 13 November 2017 in the shareholders' register of the Company held by Euroclear Finland Ltd, has the right to participate in the extraordinary general meeting. A shareholder, whose shares are registered on his/her personal Finnish book-entry account, is registered in the shareholders' register of the Company.

A shareholder, who is registered in the shareholders' register of the Company and who wants to participate in the extraordinary general meeting, shall register for the meeting no later than 4:00 p.m. (Finnish time) on 20 November 2017 by giving a prior notice of participation. The notice has to be received by the Company before the end of the registration period. Such notice can be given:

(a) on the Company's website www.talvivaara.com;

(b) by e-mail to the address egm@talvivaara.com;

(c) by telefax to the number +358 20 712 9801; or

(d) by regular mail to the Company's address, Ahventie 4 B, 5th floor, FI-02170 Espoo, Finland.

In connection with the registration, a shareholder shall notify his/her name, personal identification number/business identity code, address, telephone number and the name of a possible assistant or proxy representative and the personal identification number of a proxy representative. The personal data given to the Company is used only in connection with the extraordinary general meeting and with the processing of related registrations. The shareholder, his/her authorised representative or proxy representative shall, where necessary, be able to prove his/her identity and/or right of representation.

2. Holders of nominee registered shares

A holder of nominee registered shares has the right to participate in the extraordinary general meeting by virtue of such shares, based on which he/she on the record date of the extraordinary general meeting, i.e. on 13 November 2017, would be entitled to be registered in the shareholders' register of the Company held by Euroclear Finland Ltd. The right to participate in the extraordinary general meeting requires, in addition, that the shareholder on the basis of such shares has been registered into the temporary shareholders' register held by Euroclear Finland Ltd at the latest on 20 November 2017 by 10:00 a.m. (Finnish time). As regards nominee registered shares this constitutes due registration for the extraordinary general meeting.

A holder of nominee registered shares is advised to request without delay necessary instructions regarding the registration in the temporary shareholder's register of the Company, the issuing of proxy documents and the registration for the extraordinary general meeting from his/her custodian bank. The account operator of the custodian bank has to register a holder of nominee registered shares, who wants to participate in the extraordinary general meeting, into the temporary shareholders' register of the Company at the latest by the time stated above.

3. Proxy representative and powers of attorney

A shareholder may participate in the extraordinary general meeting and exercise his/her rights at the meeting by way of proxy representation. A proxy representative shall produce a dated proxy document or otherwise in a reliable manner demonstrate his/her right to represent the shareholder at the extraordinary general meeting. When a shareholder participates in the extraordinary general meeting by means of several proxy representatives representing the shareholder with shares at different securities accounts, the shares by which each proxy representative represents the shareholder shall be identified in connection with the registration for the extraordinary general meeting.

Possible proxy documents should be delivered in originals to the Company at the Company's address given above before the last date for registration.

4. Other instructions and information

Pursuant to Chapter 5, Section 25 of the Finnish Companies Act, a shareholder who is present at the extraordinary general meeting has the right to request information with respect to the matters to be considered at the meeting.

On the date of this notice to the extraordinary general meeting, 1 November 2017, the total amount of the shares and votes entitling to participation in the extraordinary general meeting is 3,996,924,162.

The extraordinary general meeting will be held in the Finnish language, but questions can also be presented in the English language.

Espoo, Finland, on 1 November 2017

TALVIVAARA MINING COMPANY PLC

The Board of Directors

Attachments:

http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/08289101-e533-4900-910d-e9216930127d
A 17-year-old boy has been jailed for 12 months for burglary theft of property amounting to $5,573.60.

Joe Faimasasa of Lotosoa Saleimoa was sentenced by Supreme Court Justice Leiataualesa Daryl Clarke.

Prosecutor was Ryan Masinalupe of the Attorney Generals Office.

At around 11pm on the 6th of August at Lotosoa Saleimoa, the accused went to the victims house while she was at home with her family sleeping, he went to the back of the house and removed the louvers of one of the windows and entered the house without authority, according to summary of facts.

While in the house you stole the following items: one Dell Laptop valued at $2,244 and one Panasonic stereo valued at $1, 683."

The total value of the item stolen on the 6th of August in Samoan tala is $3,927.

The second incident was on the 9th of August.

Around 11pm at Lotosoa, you again went to the victims house without authority, Justice Leiataualesa said.

You stole one Alcatel cellphone valued at $600, one pair of Adidas sandal valued at $224.40, one golden wrist watch valued at $800, one Pall Mall packet of cigarettes valued at $12 and $10 cash."

The total value of the item stolen on the 9th of August, 2017 is $1,646.60."

The total value of the items stolen on both incidents is $5,573.60.

You told probation you have no intention of returning to school and you enjoy staying home helping out your parents, said Justice Leiataualesa.

You have confirmed your prior conviction record involving intentional damage, throwing stones and being armed with a dangerous weapon entered on the 21st of September 2017 for which you were imprisoned for four months and which you are currently serving."

You have also pleaded guilty in the District Court for the charges of common assault and of insulting that appears to arise from the event on the 28th of May this year and which you are also awaiting sentencing.

The victim is a 47-year-old female from Lotosoa Saleimoa.

In the victims impact report, she said the items stolen were recovered but the stereo and laptop were broken and were no longer useable.

In respect to your break in to the house, the victim says that she had been significantly affected by it, said Justice Leiataualesa.

You broke into their home and into their room and she says that you could have killed her family as they were all fast asleep when you were in there.

She says that there has been no reconciliation.

In reading out the aggravating features Justice Leiataulesa said firstly: The value of the goods stolen is significant, secondly, you broke into the victims house twice, thirdly your offending has the element of premeditation, fourthly your burglary was a home invasion at night while the victim and her family were sleeping, fifth your offending has had a significant impact on the victim and sixth I take into account your prior convictions.

The mitigating features of this matter are your early guilty plea and your youth.

In sentencing the accused, Justice Leiataualesa said the defendant was no stranger to the court and he was well on the path to a life wasted.

Being at home and doing nothing useful with your life continues to bring you back to court, Justice Leiataualesa told the accused.

You must find a useful purpose for yourself to build a good life for you and your family.

Prosecution seeks an imprisonment term starting at 18 months given the circumstances of your offending.

Since the offending, the victim has been led fearful and has contemplated the possibility of what you could have done to her and her family while they were asleep.

After your first break-in, you again broke in and stole again from the victim and there is no doubt the damage done to her and her family because of your insecurity.

Given the number of items stolen, it seems that they have been in the victims home for so long.

This offending also appears related to the other matters waiting in the court.

According to the probation report, the accused told them that imprisonment is not a place for people like him and he also asked for a non-custodial sentence involving programs and that he is remorseful.

For you, prison is precisely the place for you, given the circumstances of your offending and this personal to you as an offender and I agree with the prosecution, said Justice Leiataulesa.

I also do not accept that you are genuinely remorseful given that there has been no reconciliation given by yourself or your family on your behalf.

A non-custodial sentence involving programs is not appropriate.

During sentencing, Justice Leiataulesas considers the harm done to the victim and her family.

In sentencing you, I bear in mind the need to promote the responsibility and the harm that you have caused to denounce your conduct and to deter you and others from committing the same and similar offences, he said.

In terms of burglary, I adopt 18 months and increase that by two months for your prior convictions.

I deduct three months for your youth and five months for your guilty plea.

On the charges of burglary, you are convicted and sentenced to 12 months imprisonment and this is cumulative to your current imprisonment sentence that you are serving.

On your release, you are to be under the supervision of probation services for six months and are to attend any programme given by probation services at that time.

You should make the most of the opportunities given and attend programs to turn your life around.

On the two charges of theft, you are convicted and sentence to 10 months imprisonment and those are concurrent to the sentence of burglary.
As officials gather in Bonn for the annual C.O.P. climate talks, Samoa and the United Nations Development Programme (U.N.D.P.) have launched a multi-million dollar project called Improving the Performance and Reliability of Renewable Energy Power System in Samoa (I.M.P.R.E.S.S.)

The project aims to enhance sustainable and cost-effective energy production in the Small Island Developing State. The project is set to support national efforts towards achieving 100 per cent renewable energy electricity generation by 2025, while also contributing to improved energy for everyday Samoans.

Todays important launch event reflects our governments commitment to addressing climate change, and the drive of our small country  through the collaboration of different government ministries, state-owned enterprises and non-government organizations  to maximize indigenous renewable energy resources, said M.N.R.E. C.E.O., Ulu Bismarck Crawley.

The development of a Biomass Gasification Plant at Mulifanua S.T.E.C. Plantation is one example of how Samoa is starting to apply advanced renewable energy technology.

In fact, this will be the first time such technology will be utilized for power generation and supporting stability of electricity grids, and its commercial operation demonstrated not just in Samoa but also in any of the Pacific Island Countries.

Funded through the Global Environment Facility (G.E.F.) with US$6,075,828 (T$15.44 million) and US$46 million (T$116.94 million) co-financing by the government of Samoa, the implementation of the project will be led over the next five years by the Renewable Energy Division of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (M.N.R.E.-R.E.D.).

The project document was signed by the government of Samoa and U.N.D.P. in August this year.

The project will focus on sustainable energy policy formulation and implementation at the national level, access to new renewable energy technologies, support for community initiatives for saving electricity, productive and social uses of renewable energy and raising local communities awareness on the applications and benefits of renewable technologies.

Key stakeholders include the Samoa Trust Estate Corporation and the Electric Power Corporation, which will be responsible for one of the biggest components of the project.

This is component 2 of the project that is focused on RE-based Energy System Improvements

Samoas energy sector has grown considerably over recent decades, because of increasing demand for road vehicles and electrical appliances, along with the added steady growth in local industries such as manufacturing and tourism.

Demand is currently met by three main sources: petroleum products including diesel, petrol, kerosene and L.P.G. (68 per cent), biomass (30 per cent), hydropower (2 per cent), and other small contributions from renewable resources such as solar and biofuels.

Developing clean, indigenous and renewable energy resources, improving the reliability of the electric grid, and promoting energy efficiency and conservation have become high-priority objectives for the Government.

In its Nationally Determined Contributions under the Paris Agreement, Samoa set an ambitious target of 100 percent renewable energy for electricity generation through to the year 2025.

The new project will contribute to the realization of this commitment.

Direct G.H.G. emission reduction over the lifetime of the project is estimated to be 25,267 tCO2e.

The objective of the Inception Workshop, held as part of the launch and attended by relevant stakeholders in government, private sector and the community representative was to assist the project team to clarify and take ownership of the projects goals and objectives, and to finalize the preparation of the projects first annual work plan.

It also provided an opportunity to introduce the project stakeholders and define their roles and responsibilities and decision-making structure.

The project is in line with national policies and measures to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions such as the Greenhouse Gas Abatement Strategy 2008-2018, National Infrastructure Strategic Plan (N.I.S.P.) 2011-2021 and the S.T.E.C. Corporate Plan 2015-2017.

The U.N.D.P. Deputy Resident Representative Notonegoro acknowledged the Government of Samoa in its efforts to achieving S.D.G.-7: The project is a milestone for sustainable energy development in the country. Samoa has demonstrated immense commitment at the global stage through its goal to be 100 percent renewable by 2025.

This commitment by the Government indicates its role in addressing the energy challenges of the country and at the same time contributing to the global efforts to reduce Green House Gas Emissions (G.H.G.).
Tensions are still continuing to rise between Samoans and Tongans in Auckland over an image depicting a youth burning the Samoan flag that went viral on social media recently.

Yesterday in Otara Auckland Toa Samoa supporters were parading through the streets in cars, decked out with their nations flags when tempers escalated once again as a video shows a man getting out of his car and proceeding to tear and rip off a Tongan flag that was displayed on the hood of the car behind him.

Onlookers appeared to be shocked and some cheered their support.

The young man and his parents have since issued apologies and the Samoan Prime minister has called for calm saying the foolish act of one should not be used to instigate violence. 

Rugby league teams, Toa Samoa and Mate Maa Tonga will face off on the field this weekend.
A father is someone who sets good example for his children.

Soo Vili, from the village of Fasitoo-Uta said: A father is a man who expects his son to be as hard working as he is.

Village Voice met Soo Vili while finishing off his koko esi (Samoan hot chocolate) delivery yesterday morning.

Mr. Vili said this was his way of helping his family and also a form of daily exercise.

This is what I do every morning selling koko esi to all the families in the villages in order to provide for my family, he said.

I am also treating this as an exercise for myself, as you can see people my age here in Samoa nowadays just dont do much, he said.

The 56-year-old is a father of seven, with one residing in New Zealand and three others work in Samoa.

My other three children are still in school and this is where the money for their school fees is coming from, from selling my yummy koko esi, he said laughing.

Mr. Vili also said he hoped his three young children would work hard just like him.

I am also trying to inspire my children who are still in school with what I do so that they study hard as well and become hard working people.

Mr. Vili also mentioned that the cost of living in Samoa was expensive and there was nothing we could do about it.

To me I think there is nothing we can do to change it, the only thing we can do is to work hard for our own families.

We can go on and complain and criticize the government but at the end of the day they will not be bothered, so we just have to work on our own.
Less than two weeks after raising $22.5 million, San Diego cancer drug developer Impact Biomedicines has closed a deal for up to $90 million more.

The investment from Oberland Capital will support the launch of fedratinib, a blood cancer medication Impact Biomedicines was formed to bring to market. An application to sell the drug in the United States is being prepared for submission.

Impact is readying manufacturing and logistics so the drug can be available immediately after approval. With strong evidence the drug works against the bone marrow cancers polycythemia vera and myleofibrosis, approval is likely, said John Hood, the companys CEO.

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Drug information will be posted at impactbiomedicines.com.

Oberland Capital will make two $20 million payments, contingent on Impact meeting milestones. In exchange, Oberland will get royalties on fedratinib sales. If fedratinib is approved, Oberland will lend up to $50 million. The deal was announced Oct. 26.

Fedratinib was first developed by San Diego-based TargeGen, which French drugmaker Sanofi purchased in 2010 for up to $635 million on the drugs promise.

But in 2013, just as clinical trials appeared to be successfully concluding, a few patients developed a neurological disorder. The Food and Drug Administration put a hold on development, and Sanofi immediately dropped the drug.

Hood and Dr. Catriona Jamieson, a UC San Diego oncologist/researcher, have looked ever since for a way to bring back fedratinib. Efforts began almost immediately, but negotiating rights to the drug from Sanofi and getting the needed funding took time.

Jamieson said fedratinib produced durable remissions in some patients that no other drug could replicate. A number relapsed and died after the drug was no longer available, said Jamieson, the companys interim chief medical officer.

Having been presented evidence the disorder wasnt caused by the drug, the FDA has released its hold, and can now consider an application to approve it.

The second round of financing was prompted in part by recent results of a fedratinib trial. Published in The Lancet Haematology, the study found that the drug significantly benefited patients with ruxolitinib-resistant or intolerant myelofibrosis. Sold under the name Jakafi, ruxolitinib is the only US-approved drug for myelofibrosis.

The financing was structured to avoid diluting Impacts equity, Hood said. The company did grant Sanofi an equity stake of about 10 percent to secure worldwide rights to fedratinib, he said.

Abandoned blood cancer drug resurrected by San Diego startup

Fighting patient, fighting doctor

Fedratinib Reduced Spleen Volume in Ruxolitinib-Resistant Myelofibrosis

Stem cell program is making progress

French drug company to buy TargeGen

UCSD, TargeGen team up on blood disease

Science Playlist  On Now In a first, scientists rid human embryos of a potentially fatal gene mutation by editing their DNA On Now Space station flyovers visible from San Diego this week 0:55 On Now UCSD's 'ghost drivers' begin testing people's reaction seemingly empty cars 1:29 On Now 10 interesting facts about Mars On Now Kids can add years to your life On Now LA 90: SpaceX launches recycled rocket On Now Big passions, big giving: Malin Burnham 2:30 On Now Big passions, big giving: Darlene Shiley 2:40 On Now Big passions, big giving: Joan and Irwin Jacobs 2:45 On Now Ocean temperatures warming at rapid rate, study finds

bradley.fikes@sduniontribune.com

(619) 293-1020
Long-stalled efforts to regulate San Diegos growing volume of short-term rentals will be revived next month when the City Council will consider multiple proposals.

The council had scheduled a special hearing more than a week ago to review a number of proposed regulations governing the operation of vacation rentals but the meeting was abruptly canceled in the wake of a city attorney memo that raised numerous legal questions about some of the proposals.

The rescheduled hearing has been set for 10 a.m. Dec. 12 in Golden Hall, which has the space to accommodate the hundreds of people expected to turn out for the discussion.

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Although city planning staff had drafted three different options for how to manage the explosion of whole-home rentals popularized on platforms like Airbnb, individual council members have also offered up proposals of their own.

Just days before the planned hearing, though, City Attorney Mara Elliott released an analysis that raised legal questions about some of the provisions in the council proposals.

Councilwoman Barbara Bry, whose district includes the La Jolla area, has offered up a relatively restrictive measure that would permit homeowners to only rent out only their primary residences on a short-term basis and for no more than 90 days a year.

Meanwhile, Councilmembers Scot Sherman, David Alvarez, Chris Ward and Mark Kersey put out a joint proposal that would allow owners to rent out up to three properties on a short-term basis. In addition, they recommended imposing a three-night minimum stay for rentals in San Diegos coastal areas and historic districts.

In a memo, Elliott concluded that some of the provisions in both proposals raise questions of equal protection by imposing different regulations for different types of short-term rental hosts. She also noted that some of the fees recommended for generating revenues to help enforce new rental regulations could be interpreted as taxes and would require voter approval.

When the council meets Dec. 12, it is expected that some of the council members suggestions will be incorporated into the three options already drafted by city staff, said Christina Chadwick, a spokeswoman for Mayor Kevin Faulconer.

We believe this will make it easier for the City Council to come to a conclusion, she said. Once the City Council has taken an action on the land use regulations, staff will evaluate what further actions may be necessary to begin processing permits and enforcing the regulations.

San Diegos elected leaders have been trying to reach agreement for more than 2 years on a plan for regulating short-term rentals, an issue that has sharply divided the city and the council.

Elliott earlier this year released a memo concluding that short-term vacation rentals are illegal because they not defined or mentioned anywhere in the citys municipal code. However, until new regulations are adopted, the city has been allowing short term rentals to continue.

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lori.weisberg@sduniontribune.com

(619) 293-2251

Twitter: @loriweisberg
The Lemon Grove School Districts Academy for the Sciences and Humanities is a health haven for the community.

The school has turned a building on its campus into a medical clinic that offers free health and dental clinics to students in the community as well as their families.

Academy Principal Rick Oser and staff members took time on Friday afternoon to honor the doctors, students and volunteers of UC San Diegos School of Medicine who work at the clinic.

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UCSD and the district have been partners for nearly eight years, offering health care services at no cost to Lemon Grove residents.

Congresswoman Susan Davis and Lemon Grove City Mayor Raquel Vasquez.were among nearly 50 people celebrating the partnership.

Academy Principal Rick Oser and Lemon Grove School District Superintendent Kim Berman also showered praise on clinic workers for helping the community.

UCSDs School of Medicine Medical, Dental and Orthodontic Clinics are part of a UCSD student-run free clinic project.

Through grant funding, the projects clinic provides free medical evaluations, dental screenings and primary heath care for Lemon Grove residents. The clinic recently started offering orthodontic care.

Thats good news for Spring Valley resident Eva Gutierrez, whose granddaughter lives in Lemon Grove and is a third-grader at the school. That relationship allows both Gutierrez and her husband, Miguel Rodriguez, to get care.

Gutierrez has seen a dentist at the clinic several times. Her husband receives regular care for diabetes at the clinic.

Im so grateful for this place, Gutierrez said in Spanish through her friend, Emma Rios. Weve had a couple of problems, and we have been lucky to get it all treated at the moments we needed.

UCSDs medical and dental clinic was established at Golden Avenue Elementary School in 2011 but moved to the middle school the following year.

karen.pearlman@sduniontribune.com
After reviewing 22 options for carving the city into districts for election purposes, the Encinitas City Council picked two finalists Monday and agreed to select one of them next week.

A majority of council members were not keen on any of the options, but said the two finalists were the best of the bunch because they would keep the citys three coastal communities mostly intact and not try to lump the inland Olivenhain region into a district with the coastal Cardiff region.

Both map options would divide the city into four districts -- three along the coast and one inland. That means Encinitas would end up with four council members elected by voters in their districts, and a mayor who would be selected by all of the citys voters, instead of having five districts and rotating the mayors job among the five council members. The four-district system has been favored by the mayor, Catherine Blakespear.

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Theres a different perspective when youre elected to represent everyone in the city, Blakespear said Monday, mentioning that nearly all the cities in the county have directly elected mayors.

One key difference between the two district map choices is what happens to Councilman Mark Muirs seat. In one option --- known as Citizen 015" because it was the 15th map option submitted by the public using the citys online district mapping program --- Muir and Councilman Tony Kranz end up in the same district, while a district covering the Cardiff region would initially have no council member.

In the other choice --- known as Citizen 016" --- the two councilmen would end up in different districts, but Muir is on the northern edge of a district that would mostly consist of Cardiff residents.

Muir, who lives in New Encinitas, said Monday night that he didnt like either option. He voted against narrowing the list to those two choices, but said that if he was forced to pick between them, hed go for the second one.

Kranz, who opposes the shift to a district-based election system, abstained from voting Monday night.

Ill be abstaining on the vote because I want to make it clear that I think were doing the wrong thing, but I dont want to be a no vote because I dont want people to interpret that to mean that I have a particular problem with one map or the other, he said.

Councilwoman Tasha Boerner Horvath, who lives near the border between Leucadia and Old Encinitas, recommended the two maps as the finalists, saying she liked them because they didnt try to put Cardiff and Olivenhain into one district. The citys New Encinitas region is going to have to be sliced up because it has a much larger population than the other areas and the proposed districts must by state law have roughly equal populations, she said.

The council is scheduled to pick a map on Nov. 8. Thats the deadline for making a decision if the city is to avoid a lawsuit from Malibu attorney Kevin Shenkman, who contends that at-large election systems used by Encinitas and many other California cities dilute the votes of minorities and thus violate the states Voting Rights Act of 2001.

Shenkman has had such success suing cities in recent years that many municipalities have simply started shifting to district-based election systems once they receive one of his threat-of-litigation letters rather than going to court over the issue.

On Monday night, Kranz argued that this status may be changing and Encinitas should take note of a new court case in Poway and put its districting process on hold.

Former Poway Mayor Don Higginson filed a lawsuit last month in federal court against Poway and the state of California contending that the Voting Rights Act is unconstitutional. Last week, his attorney asked the court to grant an injunction that would halt the shift to district-based elections while the court case is being litigated. That request is awaiting a judges decision.

On Monday night, Blakespear said Encinitas didnt have the luxury of waiting to see what happens in Poway because Encinitas is already so close to the deadline set by Shenkmans letter in July. If the city doesnt do as he asks within the time limit, he can proceed with a court case, she said.

We have already made that decision that we are not going to fight this in court, she said.
A North County jury on Tuesday convicted a suspected gang member of intentionally ramming his car into an Oceanside police officer during an unrelated traffic stop in June.

The panel deliberated for less than a half-day before finding Roberto Ignacio Flores guilty of all counts and allegations, including premeditated attempted first-degree murder of a peace officer, Deputy District Attorney Keith Watanabe said.

Authorities said the 26-year-old San Marcos man was driving a Dodge Neon when he spotted motorcycle Officer Brad Hunter making a traffic stop near the intersection of Oceanside Boulevard and Foussat Road.

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Watanabe said the defendant deliberately rammed the Neon into Hunter, who smashed into the hood and flew up and over the car.

Shortly after the crash, police found the car abandoned, and found Flores at a Sprinter station less than a mile from the crash site.

The jury also heard a 45-minute jailhouse conversation the night of the crash between Flores, an undercover officer and an informant. In the recording, Flores said he targeted Hunter because he was a law enforcement officer.

Hunter was placed in a medically induced coma after the crash. He spent 12 days hospitalized, and has had at least two surgeries, including skin grafts from his right thigh. During the trial, the veteran police officer used a cane as he walked to the witness stand.

Flores is not done at the Vista courthouse. He now faces trial  and an additional 10 years  on accusations that he was a convicted felon in possession of an assault rifle. He was out on bail awaiting that trial when the crash happened.

This was a great verdict, Watanabe said. This defendant was violent and dangerous, and he had a little bit of freedom and meth in his system.

teri.figueroa@sduniontribune.com

(760) 529-4945

Twitter: @TeriFigueroaUT
On a typical day at Highland Ranch Elementary School in Poway, you might hear kids speaking in Russian, Urdu or Korean.

You also might hear them singing in Farsi as they perform some of the classical Persian songs they learned in a world music program the school introduced this year.

The program is offered by the Center for World Music, a San Diego-based arts organization that brings master musicians from a variety of ethnic traditions into local schools.

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We use music and dance as a vehicle to teach about people and cultures around the world, said Executive Director Monica Emery.

San Diegos unique position as a port city, a border town, a haven for refugees and a hub of international commerce make it important for students to get to know world cultures, she said.

If San Diego is going to position itself as a global city, the children need to be globally minded, she said.

Highland Ranch began offering the program this fall after learning about it from Kourosh Taghavi, an instructor in the program and also a parent at the school. This semester, students will learn classical Persian music, Brazilian Capoeira and Eastern and Western folk dances. In the Spring, theyll study Zulu percussion, Zimbabwean songs, and Brazilian Samba.

Its a good mix for a campus where the students hail from all corners of the globe. Nearly 200 of its roughly 700 students come from other countries, Principal Cindy Venolia said.

About a quarter of the kids on campus are English learners, according to the California School Dashboard. However, they dont all speak the same native language.

We have kids who only speak Russian or Farsi, she said. There are so many different languages. Thats why we need music, the international language.

On Monday, a group of students banged rhythmically on a type of Persian drum called the daf, while chanting an accompanying poem.

Persian classical music is based on a system called Dastgah, consisting of different modes, each with its own tonality and mood, Taghavi said. There are notes and intervals that differ from Western classical music, including tones that are flatter or sharper than those in European music.

Persian music relies on improvisation, and is passed down orally from master to student, Taghavi said. He continued that tradition as he led the students in strumming the setar, a delicate stringed instrument.

Once you get into it and somebody is really good at playing it, they can actually make it sound like a lullaby, said Haley Jeon, 8. So its really calming.

Shriyans Dharajula, 8, said he plays piano at home, but appreciated the opportunity to try new instruments.

Its different because youre learning a different language and also playing the drums, he said. Here we can learn a different culture.

The lyrics to the piece translate roughly as a thousand sweet kisses, may life never bring you harm, Taghavi said.

Thats essentially the lesson he hopes kids will walk away with.

Music makes you a kinder person, he said. I hope they become more gentle people, more understanding, and with open eyes, ready to experience the world that is before them. I think they will become more content when they know about each other.

deborah.brennan@sduniontribune.com Twitter@deborahsbrennan
DEL MAR, Calif., Nov. 01, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- American Diversified Holdings Corporation (OTC:ADHC) announces a new business initiative with Hemp Plus and Cannabis delivery systems. Attendance at the MJBizCon Expo in Las Vegas, Nevada will be instrumental in developing existing relationships for its premier launch of new delivery systems that offer portability and innovation for the Cannabis market.



MJBizCon Expo in Las Vegas is the largest Cannabis conference in the world.

For more information please view; www.mjbizconference.com

Investors can track ADHC developments at www.investadhc.com

World innovators such as GFarmaLabs and CannaKorp will be in attendance and most specialty sessions are sold out.

ADHC executives have been busy meeting with industry leaders and have identified a business opportunity designing, developing, importing and commercializing a new line of Hemp Plus and Cannabis delivery systems. More information will be forthcoming and details are finalized.

ADHC will take a systematic approach to the creation of superior CBD products, Cannabis delivery systems and accessories. ADHC will focus on setting the bar above current standards in the industry related to safety and health. This array of premium quality Cannabis delivery systems provide a new perspective to traditional marijuana products. Vaporizer delivery systems are devices used to heat up Hemp Plus and Cannabis, and release their natural ingredients as vapor, eliminating the combustion component in smoking. Vapor delivery systems are reported to be a healthier substitute to smoking devices. As a result, many smokers are converting to these delivery systems in order to enjoy Hemp Plus and Cannabis at a significantly lower risk of harmful health consequences.

ABOUT THE US AND CALIFORNIA CANNABIS INDUSTRY

Approximately 24 states have legalized Medical Cannabis use and 8 states have legalized recreational use. California's legal marijuana sales likely will climb to $1.6 billion within the first year, according to an Arcview report. The California medical and recreational industry is projected to reach $6.5 billion in revenue by 2020, up from $2.8 billion in 2015, according to the report. The nation's legal cannabis industry is expected to climb to $23 billion in 2020, up from $5.7 billion in 2015. The state of Colorado recently reported 2016 revenues of $1.3 billion and tax revenues of $200 million. Recently, 27 US congressmen, both Republican and Democrat, have introduced a new law known as, "Respect the State Marijuana Laws Act," prohibiting federal prosecution for business in compliance with state law. This bill will formally legislate the current US policy.

ABOUT AMERICAN DIVERSIFIED HOLDINGS CORPORATION

American Diversified Holdings Corporation is a holding company that provides executive management, corporate governance, administrative support, financial advice, and introductions to capital sources to various micro-cap private and public companies that have proven revenues and business models.



Safe Harbor

This press release contains forward-looking statements pursuant to the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements include risks and uncertainties that may cause the Company's plans to change and are in no way intended to guarantee that the Company will be successful in executing its plans. American Diversified Holdings common stock currently trades on the over-the-counter under the symbol ADHC. This press release in no way constitutes any recommendation regarding the securities of ADHC or its affiliates. Any person reading this press release is advised that this release should be considered in the light of all facts and circumstances regarding the business and financial condition and prospects of ADHC, and no reference has been made that this release contains all such information.
November is Virginia Oyster Month and the Urbanna Oyster Festival is kicking off the month by celebrating its 60th anniversary.

Urbanna, a port town along the Chesapeake Bay, classifies itself an oyster town and the festival started in 1958, originally calling it Urbanna Days. Two years later the named changed to Urbanna Oyster Festival and became Virginias designated oyster festival in 1988, according to a special program written by author and Grand Marshall of the 2017 Urbanna Oyster Festival, Larry Chowning.

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In 1990, the nonprofit Urbanna Oyster Festival Foundation was formed to promote educational and civic events. The foundation has sponsored the festival ever since and has added new programs, including the marine science legacy program, which funds science-oriented field strips for younger students, said festival chairman Joe Heyman.

Weve constantly upped our game, Heyman said. We spearheaded Restore Urbanna Creek two years ago, where we pulled together partners and got grant money to put two oyster reefs in Urbanna Creek. We are continuing to add to those reefs.

The small-town festival continues to grow beyond its philanthropic efforts. Over 60 years organizers have added new elements, changed the festivals layout and brought new merchants to the area. In 2016, the festival introduced the craft beer tasting area and around six years ago it introduced wine tasting, Heyman said.

We have beautiful water that you walk across to get into town and then we have waterfront displays and boats, Heyman said. We have a lot of different things going on here.

Vendors line Cross Street for two days with everything from craft beer, food, exhibits, wine and art. There also will be an antique car show, fireman parade and oyster shucking contest.

The newest experience, added for the first time year, is the VIP Oyster Lovers Experience for $100. A VIP ticket includes a beer tasting, wine tasting and oyster shooters under three private tents along the Urbanna Town Marina.

Its a walking festival, so when the weathers great its so great to be able to walk around, especially on Friday, said 24-year volunteer Karen Ambrose. Thats when all your local people are there.

Want to go?

When: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday-Saturday.

Where: 45 Cross St., Urbanna.

Cost: $10 parking fee Friday and $20 parking fee Saturday. Admission is free.

More info: urbannaoysterfestival.com or 804-758-0368.

Red Wine and Blues

The Hampton History Museum is hosting a special fundraiser for the Streetcar 390 Project 6 p.m. Saturday at St. Johns Episcopal Church, 100 W. Queens Way. The event will include jazz and blues music from 504 Supreme, food and drinks. All proceeds benefit the restoration of Hamptons last remaining street car, which returned to the area in August for restoration at Fort Monroe. Tickets are $35 in advance and $40 at the door. More info: 757-727-6824.

PFAC fall fundraiser

The Peninsula Fine Arts Center hosts an all-you-can-eat barbecue buffet by County Grill from 5:30-9 p.m. Saturday at 101 Museum Drive in Newport News. The event will include craft beer from Smartmouth and Tradition as well as wine, music and a silent auction. Tickets are $60. Call 757-596-8175 for more information.

Guy Fawkes Day at Bacons Castle

Bacons Castle will debut a signature wine Sunday during its annual Guy Fawkes Day event from noon to 6 p.m. at 465 Bacons Castle Trail. The wine features Norton and Bordeaux-style grapes and a portion of the proceeds will benefit Preservation Virginia, the owner and operator of Bacons Castle. The wine will be available for purchase during the event. More info: preservationvirginia.org or 757-357-5976.

Mission BBQ opens in Newport News

Mission BBQ opens a new location at 12640 Jefferson Ave. in Newport News. A branch of the restaurant also is located in Hamptons Peninsula Town Center. More info: mission-bbq.com or 757-785-5652.

Brewery roundup

The Oozlefinch Craft Brewery, located at 81 Patch Road on Fort Monroe, releases its Imperial Milk Chocolate Stout on Thursday. The small-batch release dark malt has 8.8 percent ABV with residual sweetness and notes of vanilla beans. More info: oozlefinchbeers.com or 757-224-7042.

Bull lsland Brewing Co., located at 758 Settlers Landing Road in Hampton, is hosting Beer, Dogs and Veterans from noon to 6 p.m. Saturday. The event is a fundraiser for Dogs on Deployment, a nonprofit organization that helps military members and veterans find temporary homes for their pets during times of deployment, training, hospitalization or homelessness. More info: bullislandbrewing.com or 757-884-8884.

Joseph can be reached by phone at 757-374-3134. Follow me @heynatjo.
Troubled by destroyer crashes that drowned 17 sailors over the summer, the Navy has launched a special team to beef up crew training and change a culture that put missions above safety.

In Honolulu, Adm. Scott H. Swift established the Naval Surface Group Western Pacific. Headquartered in the Japanese port of Yokosuka, the detachment is designed to oversee the training and certification of forward-deployed surface warships.

Initially reporting directly to Swift, the team comes armed with the power to veto a warship for operations in the Western Pacific or assign commanders and their crews to remedial training before a vessel puts to sea.

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In a news release on Tuesday, Swift said that he formed the group to bridge an organizational gap in the Navys 7th Fleet that allowed a culture to grow myopically focused on operations to the detriment of readiness.

On Jan. 31, the cruiser Antietam ran aground on rocks along the Japanese coast. Less than five months later, the cruiser Lake Champlain bashed a South Korean fishing boat. Then came the deadly June 17 destroyer Fitzgerald crash with a merchant vessel and, on Aug. 21, the lethal collision of an oil tanker with the destroyer John S. McCain east of Singapore.

Fire Controlman 2nd Class Carlos Victor Sibayan of Chula Vista and Yeoman 3rd Class Shingo Alexander Douglass of Oceanside were two of the seven sailors killed in the Fitzgerald disaster.

Swift expects the detachment will eventually fall under Vice Adm. Tom Rowden, the Coronado-based commander of Naval Surface Forces. Rowden said that he expected the detachment to be his eyes and ears in the Western Pacific.

Not only to consider the operations we have to execute, but also to ensure we understand how we are going to properly generate the readiness we need, he said.

Swift announced his retirement on Sept. 25, a week after news broke that Rowden also planned to retire.

Swift has named Capt. Richard Rich Dromerhauser, a former commander of the Fitzgerald, as the detachments first commodore.

I am here to protect the most precious resource we have -- time; time for the maintenance and modernization of our systems and time for the focused training that builds the confidence and competence to fight and win at sea, Dromerhauser said in a prepared statement. This is about taking care of our entire Navy family and ensuring that they have the resources and tools to get the job done right.

A Bay Shore, New York, native and Naval Academy grad, Dromerhauser recently commanded Destroyer Squadron 60 and Task Force 65 in Naples, Italy.

Along with the Fitzgerald, he also has commanded the coastal patrol ship Tempest and the multinational task force that destroyed the chemical agents surrendered by Syria in 2014.

Dromerhauser will direct a staff of 30 to 50 experts in maritime engineering, safety, maintenance, seamanship and training.

Mirroring the Naval Surface Group Middle Pacific and a similar detachment in Bahrain, the organization will scrutinize all crew training and credentialing after a vessel emerges from non-routine maintenance.

In the past, hardworking ATGs  sailors in Afloat Training Group Western Pacific  would board warships at various times in a deployment cycle to snatch time with the commanders and their crews, but Swift wants the new detachment to be more systematic.

It was more like targets of opportunity, Navy spokesman Cmdr. John Perkins said. The ATGs would go out and do continuing training and credentialing, but it wasnt like what is being envisioned for the detachment.

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cprine@sduniontribune.com
Under a plan passed Tuesday by the City Council, Los Angeles could provide a grace period for some marijuana growers and manufacturers  allowing them to avoid prosecution and continue operating while they seek city licenses.

City lawyers are now tasked with drafting proposed regulations that lay out ground rules for businesses that grow, sell, process and distribute marijuana in Los Angeles before the ordinance comes back for another vote.

Council President Herb Wesson said that the package of proposed rules was not totally complete but that he wanted to kick off the process of drawing up the legal language for the complex regulations.

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We still have more than enough time to make adjustments, Wesson said, trying to reassure council members who were uneasy about pressing ahead.

The sole lawmaker to vote against the move was Paul Krekorian, who said the council should make its decisions before turning to city lawyers to draft the proposed law. At a hearing that lasted for more than an hour, Krekorian and other council members raised a host of questions about the proposed regulations.

This is our decision to make  not the city attorney, Krekorian said.

L.A. is hustling to hammer out regulations as California prepares to legalize the sale of recreational marijuana and start issuing state licenses next year. The proposed rules will replace city restrictions under Proposition D, which allowed a limited number of pot shops to operate in the city.

They will set out how marijuana businesses can apply for city licenses and the rules of operation, including what hours they can be open, what records they must keep and what security systems they have to install.

Wesson proposed a long list of changes to the original draft rules, reacting to concerns raised by neighborhood groups, marijuana businesses and other lawmakers.

Cannabis industry groups had protested that an earlier version would have forced existing growers and manufacturers to shut down while they waited to get city licenses.

Under the revised plan, L.A. would hold off on prosecuting some existing marijuana growers or manufacturers while they seek city permits. Eligible businesses would have to provide proof that they had been providing pot to marijuana shops that were operating in line with city rules, sign an agreement protecting the city from liability and meet other requirements.

Neighborhood activists, in turn, had complained that the draft law would sharply limit who could challenge the approval of a marijuana business, only allowing appeals from occupants, stakeholders, or property owners who reside or own property within 500 feet of the business.

In reaction, Wesson amended the proposed rules to remove that restriction, which is not imposed when people want to appeal against other kinds of businesses.

The revised plan also asks city lawyers to devise a system to prevent an undue concentration of marijuana businesses in each neighborhood, using a process similar to restrictions on the alcohol industry. And it asks the city attorneys office to come up with rules for social consumption  gathering places where people are allowed to consume marijuana  after activists warned that many renters and tourists might not have a legal place to use cannabis.

L.A. also is considering restrictions on where pot shops and other marijuana businesses can open their doors.

Those rules, which city officials said were not part of the proposed regulations voted on Tuesday, would limit marijuana retailers to most commercial and industrial zones and bar them from opening within 800 feet of schools, public parks, libraries, alcohol and drug rehabilitation programs and other pot shops.

And in an attempt to address the uneven effects of the drug war, L.A. also is planning to provide extra help to people from marginalized communities who are seeking to run marijuana businesses.

The proposed social equity program would benefit poor people who have marijuana convictions, as well as their family members; people with low incomes who live or have lived in areas that were heavily affected by marijuana arrests; and companies that agree to help disadvantaged applicants.

Several lawmakers, including Wesson and Councilman Marqueece Harris-Dawson, have voiced support for the plan, but it has yet to go up for a vote.

emily.alpert@latimes.com

Twitter: @LATimesEmily
A decision to stop for a meal almost two weeks ago at a small seafood restaurant in Tijuanas Camino Verde neighborhood proved fatal for Larry Macy, a U.S. citizen living in Mexico.

Baja California authorities confirmed Tuesday that Macy was one of three victims killed when a man opened fire inside Mariscos El Paisa at 7:45 p.m. Oct. 21. They are linking the incident to the neighborhood drug trade in Camino Verde, one of the more violent areas of the city.

Authorities said that Macy was apparently not a target, and that no arrests had been made as of Tuesday. Friends said Macy and his Mexican fiance had gone out for dinner after visiting the fiances mother, who lived in the neighborhood; the fiance escaped unharmed.

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Macy previously had been living in Tijuana, but recently moved to Puerto Vallarta with his fiance, a friend said. They had flown up to Tijuana so Larry could take care of some personal matters in San Diego, said Gerald Filice of Sacramento.

Filice said that Macy was a longtime member of the International Imperial Court System, one of the oldest and largest LGBT organizations in the world. While living in Tijuana, Macy had been working to get the chapter there reactivated, Filice said. The group supports AIDS organizations, homeless shelters and other groups in need of support.

We called him the ambassador, said Nicole Murray-Ramirez, a longtime LGBT activist who is the organizations leader and a member of the San Diego Human Rights Commission.

He would give us reports, tell us about the needs and assess what was needed there. He was a kind-hearted man who cared about those less fortunate.

Authorities with the state coroners office confirmed Macys death after family members identified him on Monday. Memorial services are being planned on both sides of the border.

Macy is among an unprecedented number of homicide victims in Tijuana this year; through Oct. 30, the total was 1,451, with 174 in October. Authorities attribute most of the incidents to rivalries among street-level drug dealers, but innocent victims also have been caught in the crossfire.

Dibble writes for the San Diego Union-Tribune.
A hotly contested lawsuit headed to trial in San Diego federal court soon over whether who, if anyone, owns the comic con name has turned into a fight over free speech.

The First Amendment squabble explores to what extent litigation can be tried in the media  be it in the traditional press or on social media  before a partys right to a fair trial is violated.

In this case, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has spoken, on Thursday issuing a ruling stating a San Diego federal judge went too far when he prohibited the producers of Salt Lake Comic Con from posting court documents and commentary on the case online. The three-judge panel called the lower courts protective order unconstitutional and reversed it.

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Common sense (and the Constitution!) win in Comic Con gag order appeal, Salt Lake Comic Con tweeted on Monday.

San Diego Comic-Con  the juggernaut of pop culture and comic book conventions  sued the producers of a Salt Lake comic convention in 2014, alleging trademark infringement on the use of comic con in its name. The lawsuit came after the Salt Lake producers, Dan Farr of Dan Farr Productions and Bryan Brandenberg, ignored letters to cease-and-desist using the name, and after organizers drove around an Audi advertising its smaller Comic Con in the midst of San Diegos convention.

Salt Lake producers countersued, alleging the phrase is descriptive and generic, used in some form or another by more than 100 similar conventions around the country.

After several unsuccessful attempts to settle, the case appears headed to trial beginning Nov. 28.

Throughout the litigation, Salt Lakes organizers have been vocal, posting public court documents on its website and social medial accounts, along with commentary on the legal twists and San Diego Comic-Cons actions, as a way to build fan support.

As San Diego saw it, Salt Lake was disclosing confidential information tagged for attorney eyes only, and the online campaign was tainting the jury pool and trying to win this case in the court of public opinion.

U.S. District Judge Anthony Battaglia agreed that the right to a fair trial was being threatened, so he severely limited what Salt Lake could post about the case.

For example, Salt Lake was restricted from posting statements about the genericness of the term comic con, as well as statements that San Diego had abandoned any trademark rights or committed fraud. He also ordered any public court documents posted about the case be either posted in full or with a link to the full document.

A disclaimer also had to be prominently displayed, reading the court has ordered that no editorial comments, opinions, or conclusions about the litigation may be made on social media and that no highlights or summaries of the status of the proceedings or the evidence presented will be made on social media.

San Diego then blamed Salt Lake for violating the court order and asked for sanctions against the organizers. The judge did not find contempt but restricted commenting even further, to all references to the case.

But the appeals judges ruled the restrictions violated Salt Lakes First Amendment rights and that Battaglias efforts to protect a potential jury were misplaced.

The orders prohibit speech that poses neither a clear and present danger nor a serious imminent threat to SDCCs interest in a fair trial, the 9th Circuit ruling states.

Battaglias concern over the long reach of the internet and Salt Lake organizers large number of followers also doesnt stand up, since the jury will be drawn from a pool of 1.75 million registered voters in San Diego and Imperial counties.

Simply stated there is no evidence connecting the scope of Petitioners speech with the relevant jury pool, the ruling states.

The appellate judges said there were many other ways to protect juror impartiality during the jury selection process and during the trial that are less restrictive.

Attorneys on both sides declined to discuss the ruling Tuesday.

kristina.davis@sduniontribune.com

Twitter: @kristinadavis
Officials in Imperial Beach said Wednesday that sewage flowing up the coast from Tijuana fouled miles of shoreline over the weekend, severely sickening surfers and other beach goers.

Mayor Serge Dedina, who also fell ill, said he received no advanced notice from officials in Mexico about the pollution.

Were doing everything we can to build our relationship with Mexico, but if theyre going to be continually dumping sewage on us and making our council members and our community sick, its hard to continue that positive, proactive approach, he said Wednesday at a news conference.

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The Comision Estatal de Servicios Publicos de Tijuana, or CESPT, a state agency that operates the citys sewer and water delivery system, did not respond to a request for comment.

Officials with the U.S. International Boundary and Water Commission, or IBWC, said they received word from the agencys Mexican counterpart, the Comision Internacional de Limites y Aguas, or CILA, there was no report of a spill.

We did speak with Mexico, and we got through to CILA, and they said theres no information regarding a spill, said Lori Kuczmanski, spokeswoman for IBWC, which oversees water treaties between Mexico and the United States.

Spearheaded by Dedina, an effort is building throughout the county to take the IBWC to court to force the federal agency to ramp up pressure on Mexico to stop the sewage spills. Imperial Beach and Chula Vista, as well as the city, county and port of San Diego have now all filed an intent to sue the agency.

Right now, we dont seem to have any help in our United States government in combating these sewage flows and protecting public health, Dedina said.

The Tijuana-based environmental group Proyecto Fronterizo de Educacion Ambiental did independent water testing on Friday and leaders of the organization said they found extremely high levels of fecal indicator bacteria in Playas de Tijuana.

The group has pointed to the deteriorating San Antonio de Los Buenos sewage treatment plant at Punta Bandera as the likely source of the pollution.

Mexican officials have said that upgrading the plant is a top priority in a massive infrastructure overhaul that would cost at least $372 million.

Starting last Thursday evening, sewage polluted miles of shoreline from coastal communities south of the border to Imperial Beach, said Paloma Aguirre, coastal and marine director with the nonprofit environmental group Wildcoast.

I personally received reports from our colleagues in Playas de Tijuana saying that the stench of raw sewage permeated throughout the entire city, she said. Friday morning, we started to receive multiple reports of odor by surfers from the (Imperial Beach) Pier.

Wildcoast said it contacted the San Diego County Department of Environmental Health about the contamination  the agency that oversees beach closures  but no testing was done and the shoreline remained open through the weekend.

That means that the beach remained open, putting at risk all of the ocean users over the weekend, she said.

County health officials said that while they didnt conduct water sampling, they did visual field inspections on Friday that didnt reveal sewage contamination.

In the morning, staff responded to the area of complaint to investigate and did not observe any odors or water discoloration, said Jessica Northrup, county spokeswoman. Had odors been observed, water quality samples would have been taken.

A massive sewage spill in the Tijuana River in February fouled beaches as far north as Coronado. Federal records show that since that event, polluted water has continued to regularly flow from Mexico across the border through the river and a series of canyons that empty into the Tijuana River Valley.

Before the two countries spent billions of dollars to construct treatment plants on both sides of the border more than a decade ago, around 10 million gallons of raw sewage a day flowed down the Tijuana River and into San Diego County.

Twitter: @jemersmith

Phone: (619) 293-2234

Email: joshua.smith@sduniontribune.com
The brother of a San Diego attorney killed in last months mass shooting in Las Vegas on Wednesday urged the California teachers pension fund to cancel its investments in national retail companies selling guns and ammunition.

I saw with my own eyes and felt with my hands the carnage these weapons inflict, said Jason Irvine, a Reno, Nev., resident and brother of 42-year-old attorney Jennifer Topaz Irvine.

He spoke about having to identify his sisters body for authorities following the Oct. 1 shooting where 58 people were killed.

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Jason Irvine was brought to a committee meeting of the California State Teachers Retirement System, or CalSTRS, by state Treasurer John Chiang, who raised the issue of divestment.

Neither taxpayer funds, nor the pension contributions of any of the teachers we represent, including the three California teachers slain in Las Vegas, should be invested in the purveyors of banned military-style assault weapons, Chiang said during the CalSTRS investment committee meeting.

Chiang sits on the board of both of Californias major public pension funds.

CalSTRS staff was asked to review investments the board of directors may want to remove from the funds $215.3-billion portfolio. After the mass shooting at a Connecticut elementary school in 2012, CalSTRS sold stock and security investments in gun manufacturers. Chiangs request could spark a much larger divestment, as it focuses on retail companies that sell the weapons and ammunition.

Harry Keiley, the chairman of CalSTRS investment committee, endorsed the review of gun-retailer investments.

This is an issue that we alone cannot solve, he said. At the same time, I dont think we should sit by idly.

Chiang, who is running for governor in 2018, told pension fund officials that selling off those kinds of assets would be consistent with CalSTRS efforts to minimize involvement with companies whose business efforts are a risk to public health and safety.

It would be difficult to argue that battlefield assault weapons and aftermarket accessories designed to rain down bullets dont fall into this category, he said.
French English

TORONTO, Nov. 01, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Noranda Income Fund (TSX:NIF.UN) (the Fund) announced that it will hold a conference call to discuss its 2017 third quarter results on Friday, November 10 at 10:30 a.m. ET. Eva Carissimi, President and CEO, and Michael Boone, CFO, of the Funds manager, will host the call. The Fund expects to report its financial results prior to market open on the same day, November 10, 2017.



Third Quarter 2017 Results Conference Call:

When: November 10, 2017 at 10:30 a.m. ET.

Dial in number: 647-788-4919 or

Toll-free North American number: 1-877-291-4570

To access the webcast and view the slide presentation from the Noranda Income Fund website: http://www.norandaincomefund.com/investor/conference.php or click on this link: http://edge.media-server.com/m6/p/d24dok84

Conference Call Replay:

Dial in number: 416-621-4642 or

Toll-free North American number: 1-800-585-8367

The conference ID is 8896499 and you will be prompted to provide your name and company.

The recording will be available until midnight on November 24, 2017.

Noranda Income Fund is an income trust whose units trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol NIF.UN. Noranda Income Fund owns the electrolytic zinc processing facility and ancillary assets (the Processing Facility) located in Salaberry de-Valleyfield, Quebec. The Processing Facility is the second-largest zinc processing facility in North America and the largest zinc processing facility in eastern North America, where the majority of zinc customers are located. It produces refined zinc metal and various by-products from sourced zinc concentrates. The Processing Facility is operated and managed by Canadian Electrolytic Zinc Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Glencore Canada Corporation.

Further information about Noranda Income Fund can be found at

www.norandaincomefund.com.

For further information, please contact:

Michael Boone, Vice President & Chief Financial Officer of Canadian Electrolytic Zinc Limited, Noranda Income Funds Manager

Tel: 416-775-1561

info@norandaincomefund.com




The rise of digital media giants like Google, Facebook and Twitter has drastically changed how people get and share information, and thus how they make decisions  including how they vote. It was inevitable that at some point this would get the attention of Americas political class  and would lead to calls for regulation.

That point has come. Two days of Senate hearings  prompted by still-simmering anger over Russian use of social media to manipulate the 2016 U.S. election  started Tuesday. Before the hearings, The New York Times, citing the tech firms, revealed that material linked to Russia reached 126 million Facebook users, was shared in 1.4 million Twitter messages from 36,000 accounts, and uploaded in 1,100-plus videos to Google-owned YouTube.

Though these estimates are much higher than previous ones, theyre still just a tiny fraction of total traffic on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. But theres no question this effort had an effect on the election  starting with the leaks that used hacked emails to show some ostensibly neutral leaders of the Democratic National Committee favored Hillary Clinton over Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders.

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Tuesdays hearing saw no pushback from tech officials to the idea that Russia used their companies for malign purposes. The foreign interference we saw is reprehensible and outrageous and opened a new battleground for our company, our industry, and our society, Twitter lawyer Sean Edgett said.

Nevertheless, conflict appears to loom over the Honest Ads Act, the proposed social media regulations that have gotten the most attention so far. Introduced by Sens. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minnesota, Mark Warner, D-Virginia, and John McCain, R-Arizona, the bill has three key provisions. It would:

-- Amend existing law to define paid internet and digital advertisements as types of regulated electioneering communication.

-- Require large digital platforms to maintain a public file with details about all electioneering communications purchased by a group or individual who spends more than $500 on advertising.

-- Require online platforms to make all reasonable efforts to ensure that foreign individuals and entities are not purchasing political advertisements in order to influence the American electorate.

The Internet Association  a trade group founded by industry giants  accepts the need to regulate paid internet and digital advertisements. But it is rightly skeptical about internet firms being asked to follow vague rules and worried that disclosure rules could affect the privacy of advertisers.

Google, Facebook and Twitter better figure out what they can live with  and quickly  because there is a regulatory freight train bearing down on them. The Honest Ads Act is mild compared with what some of tech firms critics want to do. Upset over what he sees as their monopoly power, Steve Bannon  the Breitbart boss who was President Donald Trumps chief strategist and still has his ear  has said he wants Facebook and Google to be regulated like utilities. Fox News host Tucker Carlson has said that Google should be.

That would be a disastrous mistake. Imagine direct government interference with the formerly free flow of information over the internet. That such an overreaction would even be considered shows how high the stakes are. If Google, Facebook and Twitter want to survive in something approaching their present form, the companies need to accept meaningful regulation  and be far more on guard about their platforms being used nefariously.

Such caution needs to extend beyond tech firms. The ease and speed with which information, fake or otherwise, spreads around the world makes everyone vulnerable to manipulation. It shouldnt have taken the 2016 election cycle to make this obvious, but it did  and now its time for Americans and American institutions to guard against an encore.

Twitter: @sdutIdeas

Facebook: San Diego Union-Tribune Ideas & Opinion
Should the U.S. government regulate political ads on social media the same way it regulates advertisements on television or radio?

That question is at the center of a national conversation about social media after Russian agents gamed Facebook, Twitter and Google to spread misinformation in the U.S. and sow political discord during the recent election cycle.

As many as 126 million Americans may have seen posts and ads on Facebook that were created by Russians with the intent of disrupting the election, a company executive said in testimony before Congress on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Russia was linked to 1.4 million Twitter messages and 1,100-plus videos on Google-owned YouTube.

So what happens now? One solution is called the Honest Ads Act, a bill that proposes  at the very minimum  to make the process of political advertising on social media more transparent.

But the bill goes well beyond that. Here are a few things to know about the Honest Ads Act and whether tech giants like Facebook, Twitter and Google are on board.

What exactly does the Honest Ads Act propose to do?

You can read the full bill here, but the gist is this:

The bill would require internet companies to keep copies of political ads, information about the media buyers, their intended target audiences and rates charged for the ads. On top of that, the bill proposes to make companies keep those on file for no less than four years and make that information public.

The requirement would apply to anyone spending $500 or more in a political ad, a higher bar than previously set.

Though the text of the bill does not specifically name any particular social media site like Facebook or Twitter, it says the requirements would apply to any site that has at least 50 million unique monthly visitors in the previous 12 months.

The Federal Election Commission would set those and other rules, the bill says.

How is this different from existing laws?

A loophole in a 2002 law, the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act, allowed Russians to bypass regulations that apply only to broadcast, cable and satellite broadcast ads, Slate reported.

As a result, a Kremlin-linked troll farm spent $100,000 for roughly 3,000 political ads between June 2015 and May 2017, Facebook disclosed in September.

Who has sponsored it?

The Honest Ads Act has similar versions in the U.S. Senate and in the House of Representatives.

A version of the bill in the U.S. Senate was introduced by Sen. Amy Klobuchar , D-Minnesota, and co-sponsored by Sens. Mark Warner, D-Virginia, and John McCain, R-Arizona.

The House of Representatives version of the bill was introduced by Rep. Derek Kilmer , D-Washington, and co-sponsored by Rep. Mike Coffman , R-Colorado.

What have executives at Facebook, Twitter and Google said about it?

The three tech giants appear reluctant to go along with it. When the bill was introduced, executives for all three companies told tech blog The Verge that they looked forward to working with lawmakers to work on solutions.

For its part, Twitter said last week that it would take steps to transparency in its political ads similar to those spelled out in the bill, but it declined to embrace it to the fullest extent.

But on Tuesday, not a single Facebook, Google, and Twitter executive who testified before members of Congress committed to supporting the bill, technology blog Recode reported.

What have others outside tech and politics said about it?

The fate of the bill remains unclear but it has undoubtedly become a big part of the conversation about how to best address Russias interference in the 2016 election.

Support is coming from Chicago Sun-Times technology columnist Andy Ihnatko and tech entrepreneur and eBay founder Pierre Omidyar , among others.

Have some thoughts to share?

Join me in a conversation: Shoot me a private email with your thoughts or ideas on a different approach to this story. As always, you can also send us a tweet.

Email: luis.gomez@sduniontribune.com

Twitter: @RunGomez

Read The Conversation on Flipboard.
San Diego Gas & Electric has argued it should be able to charge ratepayers $379 million in costs it incurred following the deadly 2007 wildfires that blazed through Ramona and other parts of San Diego County.

California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) is scheduled to vote on Nov. 9 whether it will accept SDG&Es argument or reject it.

But in the lead-up to the vote, two other investor-owned utilities  Pacific Gas & Electric and Southern California Edison  have jumped into the case, supporting SDG&E, even though the 2007 wildfires in the San Diego area did not occur in their service territories.

Whats going on?

For utilities, the SDG&E case highlights a larger question about how to fairly distribute costs and ensure power in backcountry areas in an environment in which wildfire risks grow more deadly each year.

In filings with the CPUC in September, PG&E and Edison each said they wanted to provide input because the outcome of the vote would directly impact them.

But critics of the states utilities see PG&E and Edisons advocacy as a thinly veiled attempt to protect their own interests.

April Maurath Sommer, executive director and lead counsel for the Protect Our Communities Foundation (POC), an environmental group based in San Diego County, said if the CPUC rules in SDG&Es favor, there would no impetus whatsoever for the utilities to put money into safety, maintenance and the other things they can do to prevent these disasters.

Officials at Southern California Edison declined a request for an interview about why it got involved in the SDG&E case, opting instead to issue a statement.

Southern California Edison intervened because wildfires are a statewide issue and all regulated utility providers could be threatened if they must pay costs regardless of fault and denied the ability to socialize those costs, the statement said.

In an email, PG&E spokesman Donald Cutler said the utility felt it was important that the commission hear perspectives of all the energy companies that operate in California.

Catastrophic wildfires pose real risks to our entire state, Cutler said. They dont recognize or respect the boundaries of one energy company versus another.  Wildfires and the method with which they are treated presently have real world and potential long-term impacts on the operations, risk management and financial standing of every energy company in the state.

The utilities filed with the CPUC just weeks before the Wine Country wildfires broke out, killing at least 42 and destroying 8,400 structures, many in PG&Es service territory.

The 2007 wildfires in San Diego County killed two, destroyed more than 1,300 homes and forced more than 10,000 to seek temporary shelter. An investigation one year later by the CPUC determined the Witch Creek and Rice Canyon fires were caused by sparks from downed wires and the Guejito fire was caused when a lashing wire owned by Cox Communications hit an SDG&E power line.

The CPUC blamed poor maintenance for the sparking of all three fires.

SDG&E has apologized but has not admitted negligence regarding its role in the wildfires, saying the conditions leading up to the blazes were beyond the utilitys control.

The utility had $1.1 billion of liability insurance in 2007, which SDG&E officials say was the maximum amount they could obtain.

SDG&E ended up paying more than $2 billion in settlements and other costs in the decade since the wildfires, leaving it with about $379 million in outstanding costs.

The utility is asking the CPUC to allow it to pass those costs on to ratepayers, estimating the average customer would pay $1.67 more per month if costs are spread out over six years.

But in August, a pair of administrative law judges recommended commissioners reject SDG&Es request, saying SDG&Es management and control of its facilities leading up to the wildfires was imprudent and unreasonable. The recommendation from the administrative law judges is a recommendation the five commissioners at the CPUC can accept, reject or alter.

SDG&E strenuously objected to the proposed decision, saying it was flawed, and within days, PG&E and Southern California Edison filed to intervene.

Last month, PG&E and SCE submitted joint comments with the CPUC, saying the administrative law judges ruling commits legal error and arbitrarily and disproportionately shifts the entire risk of any uninsured costs arising from a wildfire to a utility.

San Diego attorney Michael Aguirre, representing a ratepayer advocate challenging SDG&E, said the CPUC should not have allowed PG&E and Edison to intervene in the case and filed a lawsuit in federal court last Tuesday.

SDG&E cannot recover the $379 million from its customers because it acted imprudently when its equipment ignited the fires, according to the (administrative law judges) who decided case, Aguirre said. Allowing PG&E and SCE into the case to join SDG&Es argument is a violation of utility customers due process rights under the U.S. Constitution.

The CPUC this month announced it has launched an investigation into whether PG&Es maintenance and equipment played a role in the Wine Country fires.

In April, the CPUC fined PG&E $8.3 million for failing to maintain a power line that sparked the Butte fire that killed two and destroyed 549 homes in September 2015.

Its quite disturbing that the other utilities are permitted to jump in at the 11th hour and make these arguments that are at best academic and at worst fictional, Maurath Sommer said.

The CPUC originally had scheduled to vote on the SDG&E case in September. But the commission has postponed making a ruling three times  most recently last Tuesday.

The commissioner assigned to the case, Liane Randolph, said in September the commission would allow additional comments from the parties involved. In particular, attorneys from both sides are arguing about a legal notion called inverse condemnation, a California constitutional claim that requires just compensation when property has been taken or damaged for the public use.

The utilities point to greater risks of wildfires in recent years due to drought conditions, vegetation growth, climate change and home construction in wooded areas.

If this commission votes out this (proposed decision) as written, we will have to reevaluate whether we lower the standards for shutting off the power in our backcountries, Lee Schavrien, SDG&Es chief regulatory officer, told commissioners last month. We will have to consider whether we remove trees instead of trimming them. We will have to consider purchasing insurance that is not economical and have to put forth applications before the commission that would cost billions of dollars.

Rob Nikolewski writes for The San Diego Union-Tribune.
The surprising faces of hunger and how you can help

Hunger is pervasive, what with 1 in 8 people in the United States struggling with it. In San Diego County alone, almost half a million residents face food insecurity.

What you may not realize is many who need help are employed, working to support spouses, children or other family members. Indeed, the faces of hunger may surprise you.

Families with jobs

Perhaps the most surprising faces of hunger are people with jobs, especially in dual-income households. However, the high cost of living means even those who are employed may still struggle to feed their families. More than half of people who rely on food assistance live in working households, and they need food banks for more than just emergencies.

"Most report depending on the local food pantry as part of their regular survival strategy," according to Oxfam, an organization that fights poverty. "Most face wrenching choices between paying for food or heating their home, buying medicine for a family member, or making the mortgage."

This is particularly problematic in San Diego, where the cost of living is more than 40 percent above the national average.

Military families

Nationally, about 30 percent of households that use food banks include someone who has served or is serving in the military, according to a Hunger in America report.

"Many people find it surprising that the Food Bank serves low-income military families, but military families experience the same financial difficulties that other low-income families face," according to a report for the Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank.

Military families have many of the same struggles as other people, including having to pay for housing, utilities and food. Additionally, military spouses have a high unemployment rate, partially because of how frequently their families have to move.

Did you know that a lot of the food in your fridge or pantry is edible beyond the printed expiration date? 

College students

The image of the poor college student is a common one, but there is a difference between having to watch movies at home instead of going to the theater and struggling to afford food that will give a student enough energy to focus on studies.

"For college students from impoverished backgrounds, attending college can be an exercise in basic survival," according to the San Diego Food Bank. "This is because students from low-income backgrounds suffer financial hardship and many face a daily struggle with food insecurity which is the inability to access adequate food."

Most students who are food insecure say they do not perform well academically because of it, and some have to miss or drop classes.

Seniors

Because many seniors live on fixed incomes, they have little leeway in how they spend their money. The costs associated with daily living, including paying for medication, leave them financially insecure.

"These older adults struggle with rising housing and health care bills, inadequate nutrition, lack of access to transportation, diminished savings, and job loss," according to the National Council on Aging. "For older adults who are above the poverty level, one major adverse life event can change todays realities into tomorrows troubles."

Seniors with pets will also go hungry to ensure their furry companions eat. Along with pet food, the needs are not elaborate  a typical senior offering includes canned meats, peanut butter, canned fruits and vegetables, cheese, rice, pasta, fruit juice, shelf-stable milk, cereal and fresh produce.

How you can help

From helping college students and seniors to giving hungry school children food on the weekends, and running many programs between, the local food bank serves an array of people. It also has many opportunities for you to help:
African governments must make more substantial donations to the international relief effort aiding the more than 12 million people affected by the Horn of Africa drought and famine, an international aid group said Monday.

The British group Oxfam said it has launched an initiative to get Africans and their governments to donate more.

Irungu Houghton, an Oxfam official, said that donations from African governments have been inadequate, with only South Africa, Namibia, Kenya and Sudan making contributions.

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He noted that citizens in South Africa and Kenya are contributing money and food to the aid efforts in Somalia, Kenya and Ethiopia, but that overall the response from Africa has been too small.

While Namibia has pledged $500,000, South Africa has pledged $1 million, increasing its donation upwards from an earlier pledge of $150,000. Houghton said the pledge by the South African government is not enough taking into account the countrys economic status.

The U.N. says that more than $1.4 billion is needed for famine relief efforts.

African citizens have already rallied to the cause and made significant contributions. But now we need African governments to follow their lead, Houghton said. Most are yet to make a decent contribution and show the true meaning of African solutions to African problems.

Houghton said his organization expects African governments to raise at least $50 million.

A famine in Somalia has killed tens of thousands of people, and more than 12 million people are in need of food aid in the Horn of Africa.

The Africans Act for Africa initiative by Oxfam to get African countries to donate will include appeals by famous African musicians urging the people of the continent and governments to donate.

The United States has been the biggest international donor to famine relief efforts, with about $580 million in aid this year. Britain is the second-biggest donor at $205 million, followed by Japan and Australia. Saudi Arabia is next at $60 million. It is the biggest donor from the Muslim world.
A San Diego federal jury awarded an East County man $600,000 in damages for wrongful arrest and excessive force at the hands of two sheriffs deputies in an encounter that left him with numerous broken bones, a collapsed lung, dog bites and an ear nearly half torn off.

The Feb. 1 verdict was the second time a jury has found in favor of Morgen Johnson in connection with the violent incident in his garage in unincorporated El Cajon.

The amount of force was off the charts, said Johnsons attorney, Michael Merrinan.

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The encounter occurred Oct. 18, 2012, at the ranch-style home Johnson, 44, shares with his wife at the base of Mount Helix.

Johnson, a licensed contractor, was doing bills and going through financial paperwork about 10 p.m. when he became distraught over his business financial outlook, according to the complaint. He cried, then yelled and threw things. His wife, who was in bed, came out and tried to console him.

A neighbor called police, reporting that the sounds of a man and woman screaming had woken her up, according to authorities. She told the 911 operator that the man was beating or hitting something and that he sounded angry.

Deputies Richard Meharg and Kenneth Feistel, a sheriffs dog handler, were sent to investigate the noise complaint.

Johnsons wife met them in the garage and told them that everything was OK and that she was not injured. Then Johnson  at 6 feet 7 inches, 190 pounds, wearing only shorts  came into the garage from the kitchen and told the deputies they werent needed and should leave, according to the complaint. He had nothing in his hands.

Moments later, Meharg rushed him and slammed him into the cement floor and punched him in the face, head and ribs, the complaint states. Feistel then put the dog on Johnson, and the dog bit him in the head, ear and neck repeatedly. Feistel also beat Johnsons back and side with a flashlight.

Throughout this attack, Mr. Johnson is not fighting or resisting. He is in shock and barely conscious, the complaint states.

Meharg then kicked Johnson in the face, neck and head and shot him with a Taser.

The deputies gave a slightly different version of events, stating the arrest and amount of force was reasonable given Johnsons fighting stance, clenched hands and initial refusal to talk to the deputies.

Meharg testified in San Diego Superior Court in a preliminary hearing, after Johnson had been criminally charged with resisting arrest, that he went to detain Johnson because he didnt want him to argue with my partner and possibly gain access to any tools or any other weapons that may be the garage.

So I told Mr. Morgen to turn around. At that point he said, (Expletive) you. His arms were still tensed, fists were still balled up. I quickly rushed to him, grabbed his right wrist and hit his shoulder and spun him so he would face the wall, Meharg testified. And at that point he bent his elbow and swung it backwards. Luckily Im a little bit shorter than him and he missed me. At that point he was already assaultive towards me, and I began punching him in the face with my right hand.

Johnson was hospitalized for four days then booked into jail on a felony resisting arrest charge. His injuries included fractures to his face, ribs, spine and nose, as well as numerous lacerations. Several surgeries were needed to repair the damage, including the placing of metal plates and screws in his face and reconstruction to his right ear, Marrinan said.

When Johnson was tried on charges of felony and misdemeanor resisting arrest, a jury quickly acquitted him.

He then filed the lawsuit in San Diego federal court, claiming the assault had caused more than $100,000 in medical bills, severe pain, suffering, emotional distress and permanent physical scars.

After a five-day trial, the jury deliberated for another day before coming back with a verdict. The panel found Meharg arrested Johnson without probable cause and awarded $20,000 in damages. It also found both deputies used excessive force  placing 90 percent of the blame on Meharg  and awarded Johnson an additional $580,000 in damages.

Merrinan said Johnson has healed reasonably well and is back at work, but he struggles with daily back pain and has a constantly numb cheek.

Its not known if the deputies were disciplined over the incident and county lawyers, asked for an interview, have not responded.
OROUMIEH, Iran (AP)  The first cabinet decision made under Irans new president, Hassan Rouhani, wasnt about how to resolve his countrys nuclear dispute with world powers. It was about how to keep the nations largest lake from disappearing.

Lake Oroumieh, one of the biggest saltwater lakes on Earth, has shrunk more than 80 percent to 1,000 square kilometers (nearly 400 square miles) in the past decade, mainly because of climate change, expanded irrigation for surrounding farms and the damming of rivers that feed the body of water, experts say. Salt-covered rocks that were once deep underwater now sit in the middle of desert.

Experts fear the lake  famous in years past as a tourist spot and a favorite stopping point for migrating flamingos, pelicans and gulls  could disappear within two years if nothing is done.

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The lake is gone. My job is gone. My children are gone. Tourists, too, said Mozafar Cheraghi, 58, as he stood on a dusty platform that was once his bustling teahouse.

Less than a decade ago, he recalled, he hosted dozens of tourists a day, with his two sons taking them on boat tours. His children have since left to pursue work elsewhere.

I sold a dozen boats and kept half a dozen here, hoping the water will return, he said. But it didnt happen.

Rescuing the lake in northwestern Iran, near the Turkish border, was one of Rouhanis campaign promises, and his new cabinet promptly decided to form a team to invite scholars to help find solutions.

The president is putting an emphasis on tackling long-neglected environmental problems critics say were made worse by his predecessor, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. An engineer with an appetite for giant populist projects, Ahmadinejad pursued policies that led to the expansion of irrigation projects and construction of dams.

Rouhani stands by his campaign promise to revive the lake, Isa Kalantari, a popular scholar appointed by Rouhani to lead the rescue team, said at a conference in Oroumieh this week.

The new administration in Tehran is seeking input on the lake beyond Irans borders, raising at least the possibility for further avenues of dialogue at a time when Iran is showing a greater willingness to engage with the West.

This weeks gathering included a number of foreign experts in addition to the Iranian scientists charged with trying to reverse the trend at Oroumieh and saving Iran from a major environmental and economic disaster. Authorities gave no precise figures on the number of foreigners advising Iranian scientists on the project, but they included representatives from the United States, Russia and Belgium.

Dont blame nature and drought. Human beings, not climate change, are responsible for this situation. We dried up the lake because of our excessive demands and wrong methods. Now, we have to revive it ourselves. Five million people have to leave this region if the lake dies, Kalantari said.

Kalantari and his team are to come up with a final rescue plan by May.

Twenty proposals are on the table for saving the lake, including cloud-seeding to increase rainfall in the area and the building of pipelines to bring in more water. Experts have also proposed the creation of other industries to reduce reliance on agricultural water.

The government has already begun a project to raise public awareness and encourage farmers to abandon wasteful practices and adopt drip irrigation systems that save water. It is also urging farmers to switch to less-thirsty crops. Wheat and pistachios, for example, use less water than sugar beets.

In the village of Govarchinghaleh, near the lake, Nader Hazrati and his son, Ali, grow grapes and almonds.

A decade ago, this was a green area. Now it is not because of decrease in rainfall. With the level of water in the lake going down, water in wells has gone down too. If we dig deeper, the water gets very salty and isnt fit even for agricultural use. Our grape and almond harvest has fallen dramatically, Ali said.

Ali, 27, said salty winds have killed some of his almond trees.

The effect on crops has prompted many villagers to leave the place of their birth. Govarchinghaleh had about 1,000 people a decade ago. Now, only 300 live in the village overlooking the shrinking lake. Once there were three schools; now there is one, serving a dozen students.

Not far away, trucks hauling salt, a new business, could be seen driving over the dry lake bottom.

Ali Asghar Siab Qudsi, a university teacher and one of the organizers of the conference, said dams and the digging of more than 24,000 unauthorized wells  in addition to some 30,000 legal ones  are among the reasons for the shrinking of the lake. He said increasing evaporation and cultivation of thirsty crops such as sugar beets have worsened the crisis.

Lakes in other parts of Iran are facing a similar crisis, though not as severe as at Oroumieh. Even residents of Tehran experience water shortages on weekends, and authorities are making plans for possible rationing in the capital.

Authorities have warned of a national disaster in the coming decade if water is not managed properly.

My No. 1 demand is to see our dying lake back to life. Will that happen in my lifetime? Cheraghi asked.
Three days after 33 men were sealed deep within a gold mine, Andre Sougarret was summoned by Chiles president.

The Chilean leader got right to the point: The square-jawed, straight-talking engineer would be in charge of digging them out.

At first Sougarret worried - no one knew if the miners were alive, and the pressure was on to reach them. And he knew he would be blamed if the men were found dead because we didnt reach them or the work was too slow.

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But eventually, contact was made, the work was on, and the miners below were calling him boss.

The mission was unprecedented. No one had ever drilled so far to reach trapped miners. No one knew where to find them.

From the first confusing days to this weeks glorious finale, the 46-year-old Sougarret was the man with the answers.

And at the end, the last miner to reach the surface, shift foreman Luis Urzua, would tell him: People like you are worth a lot of money in Chile.

Sougarrets management of the crisis was so successful that nearly all the rescued miners walked out of the hospital Friday perfectly healthy. While a handful left through one door into a news media storm, most of the others were secreted away through a side entrance to be taken home, hospital officials said. Two of the miners required more attention and were transferred to other hospitals.

In an interview with The Associated Press, Sougarret told how he assembled a team of experts and methodically worked the problem that would become the biggest challenge of his life.

In choosing the young Chilean mining expert, President Sebastian Pinera had turned to the man who ran the worlds most productive subterranean mine, El Teniente, for Chiles state-owned Codelco copper company.

A methodical engineer who stays cool-headed under pressure, Sougarret said he tried not to dwell too much on the men he was trying to save.

I never allowed myself to think about what was happening with them - thats anxiety-causing, he said. I told myself, My objective is to create an access, a connection. Put that in your head.

Why they were there and what happened, thats not my responsibility. My responsibility is to get there and get them out.

Sougarret flew immediately to the mine in Chiles northern Atacama desert, and encountered a nest of confusion, with rescue workers, firefighters, police officers, volunteers and relatives desperate for word about the fate of their men down below.

Gently but firmly, Sougarret made his first move: ordering out the rescue workers until there was, in fact, someone to rescue. He asked for any maps of the mine and assembled a team, starting with Rene Aguilar, the 35-year-old risk manager at El Teniente.

In the weeks that followed, the two men built an operation that grew to more than 300 people.

Among their first steps was to ride into the mine in a truck.

We knew it collapsed. What does collapsed mean? Sougarret said. What we found was a block, a tombstone, like when youre in an elevator and the doors open between floors.

The smooth, solid wall was part of a huge block of stone that cut off the shaft that corkscrews for more than four miles (seven kilometers) to a depth of 2,625 feet (800 meters). They later determined the cave-in started at a depth of about 1,000 feet (355 meters), and brought down the very center of the mine, some 700,000 tons of rock.

Drilling through would risk provoking another collapse, crushing anything below.

So, an entirely new shaft would have to be drilled to try to reach the men. And they needed to call in more expertise: the miners who had narrowly escaped being crushed in the Aug. 5 collapse.

It was important to talk with the three who came out last, Aguilar recalled. These men knew what was in the lower reaches of the mine: tanks of water, ventilation shafts, a 48-hour food supply in a reinforced refuge far beneath the surface.

A map was key to reaching the men. The drills would have to seek a path through solid rock to avoid veering off into an open or collapsed space below. But this mine had been so honeycombed over its long history that there were no precise maps.

They would have to make their best guesses about where to drill.

We were building an idea about where they might be, Sougarret said.

The miners who surfaced before the cave-in described where the men would have been working: likely near a workshop and reinforced refuge where they normally gathered to be taken to the surface for their lunch break.

Now with all these elements, one could clearly say there is a hope that they were alive, Sougarret said.

When Sougarret took over, seven companies were already involved in trying to reach the men. He decided to keep some of those on, aiming at the workshop 2,041 feet (622 meters) underground and the refuge, at 2,100 feet (700 meters).

We were learning as we were drilling. And the days were beginning to pass, he said.

I clearly thought the men could survive for 30 days, maybe 40 depending on the condition of some of the people, with water and air, without food. ... That was the fact that I kept in my head, Sougarret said.

Then, on Aug. 19, came a crisis: The drill reached 700 meters, and nothing. It passed 710, passed 720, and we got to 770 and didnt find anything.

The drill had veered off, passing so close to the refuge that the miners could hear and feel it.

That started a crisis with the families. They were very upset because we hadnt reached them, Sougarret said.

There were meetings, there were protests. It was hard, Aguilar added.

There was tremendous pressure. It would be my fault if they were to die because we didnt reach them or the work was too slow, Sougarret said.

The fact is, nobody wanted to show their face, nobody, not one of the companies that were doing the drilling. The only ones were me and Rene. ... It was only after we reached them and everything was going well that the flags showed up and the whole show started.

Finally, on Aug. 22, came success: The drill broke through to the shaft about 150 feet (50 meters) from the miners refuge.

From the surface, the rescue team thought they could hear banging on the drill head. Pulling it up, they found a message tied in a plastic bag and pressed inside the thread of the drill: Were all OK in the refuge, the 33.

In the days that followed, two more boreholes would break through, providing a life line for sending down food, medicine and messages of encouragement.

As soon as the miners were found alive, Sougarret mobilized three much more powerful drills, soon to be known as Plan A, Plan B and Plan C, each with different methods of pounding through the rock.

A third borehole was designated as a guide for the Plan B drill, which widened it from about 6 inches (15 centimeters) to 28 inches (70 centimeters) to provide the miners with a way out.

Now with three plans it was enough for the two objectives we were looking for: shorten the time and minimize risks, Sougarret said. There were many factors that I couldnt control, and the only way to minimize risks is to have alternatives.

Every day without fail, Sougarret talked with the trapped miners, first on a phone dropped down the hole, and eventually by video conference calls. They gave us ideas. They were proactive, (saying) Dont worry, Boss, tomorrow Ill tell you if it can be done.

Some miners drew up maps using measuring devices the rescuers sent down the boreholes.

With three drills advancing toward the men, it was only a matter of time. While Pinera pledged to bring the miners home by Christmas, Sougarret calculated the potential velocity of each drill and bet on three dates: Dec. 1 for Plan A to reach the refuge, Oct. 10 for Plan B to reach the workshop and Oct. 30 for the shaft in between.

At 8:05 a.m. on Oct. 9, Plan B broke through. He had been off by a single day.

It was still necessary to encase the top of the tunnel in steel pipes and test the escape capsule, but Sougarret was no longer nervous.

This last stage for me was like butter, he said with a smile.

I always said that if these people are alive and I have contact with them and I can get food to them, they could spend a year (below) and nothing will happen to them. It was a question of time.

There was much talk during the rescue about controlling the information reaching the miners to keep them from becoming demoralized about how long the rescue would take.

But Sougarret always told them the truth.

Urzua, the shift foreman, had this to say as he hugged the man who saved the 33: You always gave us the straight talk, always speaking the truth.
French English

Quebec City, November 1st, 2017 - (TSXV: HEO) - H 2 O Innovation Inc. ("H 2 O Innovation" or the "Corporation") announces that it will release its financial results for the 2018 first quarter on Tuesday, November 14, 2017, at approximately 2:00 p.m. Paris Time (8:00 a.m. EST). The Corporation will also host a conference call, on that same day, at 4:00 p.m. Paris Time (10:00 a.m. EST).

Financial analysts and investors are invited to attend the conference call during which the 2018 first quarter results will be presented. The call will begin with a presentation by management followed by a question-and-answer period. A slide presentation will be available on the Corporate Presentations page of the Investors section of the Corporation's website.

Time and date: Tuesday, November 14, 2017 at 4:00 p.m. Paris Time

Dial in number: 1 (877) 223-4471 or 1 (647) 788-4922

Finally, Philippe Gervais, Chairman of the Board, and Frederic Dugre, President and Chief Executive Officer, are pleased to invite shareholders and all other interested parties to attend the Annual and Special Meeting of the Shareholders, which will be held at 4:30 p.m. Paris Time (10:30 a.m. EST) at the Corporation's headquarters located at 330, rue St-Vallier Est, Suite 340, Quebec City (Quebec), G1K 9C5, Canada. During this meeting, they will review the results of fiscal year ended on June 30, 2016 and also comment the results of the first quarter of fiscal year 2018.

About H 2 O Innovation

H 2 O Innovation designs and provides state-of-the-art, custom-built and integrated water treatment solutions based on membrane filtration technology for municipal, industrial, energy and natural resources end-users. The Corporation's activities rely on three pillars which are i) water and wastewater projects and services, including digital control and monitoring solutions as well as after sale customer services; ii) specialty products, which include a complete line of specialty chemicals, consumables, specialized products for the water treatment industry; and iii) operation and maintenance services for water and wastewater treatment systems and utilities. For more information, visit www.h2oinnovation.com.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) nor the Alternext Exchange accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

- 30 -

Source:

H 2 O Innovation Inc.

www.h2oinnovation.com





Contact:

Marc Blanchet

+1 418-688-0170

marc.blanchet@h2oinnovation.com

Attachments:

http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/778dbeea-7cb8-4c9b-9536-5996fae4f926
Washington, D.C., Nov. 01, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Early childhood education leader Learning Care Group is celebrating the 5th Anniversary of Grow Fit, a comprehensive healthy lifestyle initiative that has become part of school culture in its 900+ preschools through wholesome meals, curricular activities that emphasize movement and fun special events. To mark the occasion, thousands of children at its schools nationwide are breaking out their best animal moves for a Safari Strut.

Later today, at its PHA Fit to Celebrate Gala in Washington, D.C., the Partnership for a Healthier America is honoring Learning Care Group with the 2017 PHA Partner of the Year Award for the companys extensive work in prioritizing healthier practices in the daily lives of young children.

Providing children with nutritious meals and encouraging physical activity is a critical first step in ensuring they thrive during their early years, said Learning Care Group CEO Barbara Beck, who will accept the award on behalf of the company. Teaching them to make healthy choices is vital for their future success  and one of our greatest responsibilities as an early childhood education provider. Our Grow Fit mindset extends to every aspect of our school experience for more than 100,000 children each day  giving them the knowledge and inspiration for a lifetime of healthy habits. Were honored to receive this award from PHA and look forward to continuing to work together to provide a solid foundation for lifelong fitness for children nationwide.

Third-party verification shows Learning Care Group has successfully met or exceeded all of the PHA goals  paving the way for a lifetime of healthy habits for the thousands of children enrolled at its Childtime, Childrens Courtyard, Creative Kids Learning Center, Everbrook Academy, La Petite Academy, Montessori Unlimited and Tutor Time schools nationwide.

Every parent  including me  wants their child to have the very best at the earliest start. Food and snacks, along with the joy of eating what tastes good, is no exception to the important learning that happens at preschools. Parents with children at Learning Care Group centers get healthier options and structured, age-appropriate physical activity that sets them on a path to a healthy future, said Blythe Thomas, Chief Marketing Officer, Partnership for a Healthier America. We are pleased to celebrate Learning Care Group with the 2017 PHA Partner of the Year Award.

Five Years of Grow Fit

Heres a glimpse at how Learning Care Group is creating a healthy learning environment and inspiring children to make smart choices:

Life Lesson: Learning to make healthy choices is prioritized as an essential life skill, alongside literacy and kindness.

Learning to make healthy choices is prioritized as an essential life skill, alongside literacy and kindness. Heres Whats Cooking : Created by a registered dietician nutritionist, the Grow Fit menu now offers over 50 fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, more than 30 multi-cultural offerings, and more than 30 whole grain options.

: Created by a registered dietician nutritionist, the Grow Fit menu now offers over 50 fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, more than 30 multi-cultural offerings, and more than 30 whole grain options. Cut It Out: All fried foods, juice and other sweetened beverages have been eliminated from the menu.

All fried foods, juice and other sweetened beverages have been eliminated from the menu. Healthy Makeovers: Learning Care Group has worked closely with its vendors to introduce healthier versions of child favorites such as chicken nuggets and cheese ravioli  new product offerings now also served by other childcare providers.

Learning Care Group has worked closely with its vendors to introduce healthier versions of child favorites such as chicken nuggets and cheese ravioli  new product offerings now also served by other childcare providers. Move It: Physical activity is an essential part of the daily curriculum. Daily Dance Breaks, fun events and challenges such as Walking to the Moon and Back and a Jumping Jack Jam keep children active, revved up and ready to learn.

Check out the Grow Fit program in action: https://youtu.be/PhxWch2Mpvw

About Learning Care Group

Learning Care Group is a leader in early child education, with nearly 50 years of experience in inspiring children to love learning. Headquartered in Novi, Mich., the company provides early education and care for children ages 6 weeks to 12 years through seven unique brands: Childtime Learning Centers, The Childrens Courtyard, Creative Kids Learning Centers, Everbrook Academy, La Petite Academy, Montessori Unlimited, and Tutor Time Child Care/Learning Centers. It operates more than 900 schools (corporate and franchise) across 36 states, the District of Columbia and internationally, and has a capacity to serve more than 130,000 children. Learning Care Groups proprietary School Readiness Pathway supports the development of the academic and social skills needed for a smooth transition to elementary school. For more information, please visit www.learningcaregroup.com and follow Learning Care Group on Twitter @TheLearningCare .

About Partnership for a Healthier America

The Partnership for a Healthier America (PHA) is devoted to working with the private sector to ensure the health of our nation's youth by solving the childhood obesity crisis. In 2010, PHA was created in conjunction withbut independent fromFirst Lady Michelle Obama's Let's Move! effort. PHA is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that is led by some of the nation's most respected health and childhood obesity experts. PHA brings together public, private and nonprofit leaders to broker meaningful commitments and develop strategies to end childhood obesity. Most important, PHA ensures that commitments made are commitments kept by working with unbiased third parties to monitor and publicly report on the progress our partners are making. For more information about PHA, please visit www.ahealthieramerica.org and follow PHA on Twitter @PHAnews.

Attachments:

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/38ebf05f-f01f-4d8d-bb7c-3f933708b4dc

Attachments:

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d4088688-072e-4503-a37c-5bfc16436826
Primary results of pivotal Kymriah TM Phase II JULIET study in relapsed/refractory DLBCL



Post-hoc sub-analysis of crizanlizumab (SEG101, formerly SelG1) SUSTAIN trial evaluating time to first sickle cell pain crisis



Outcomes from matched analysis of Molecular Recurrence-free Survival from EURO-SKI and ENESTfreedom trials following Tasigna  vs. imatinib in patients with CML-CP eligible for Treatment-free Remission (TFR)



Additional data on Rydapt, Revolade/Promacta, Exjade/Jadenu and Jakavi underscore breadth of Novartis Oncology hematology portfolio

Basel, November 1, 2017 - Novartis will present new data from across its hematology portfolio at the upcoming 59th American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting & Exposition, Atlanta, December 9-12. More than 75 abstracts will be presented, highlighting the robust Novartis development program for serious blood diseases.

"This is an exceptionally productive time in hematology, and the breadth of our Novartis Oncology data and presence at ASH underscore our commitment to this space," said Vas Narasimhan, Global Head Drug Development and Chief Medical Officer, Novartis. "Following the launch of Kymriah, the first FDA-approved CAR-T therapy, we are particularly excited about presenting additional data on this new approach to cancer treatment, as well as a new analysis for crizanlizumab, an investigational treatment for patients with sickle cell disease."

KymriahTM* (tisagenlecleucel) suspension for intravenous infusion is a CD19-directed genetically modified autologous T cell immunotherapy, indicated for the treatment of patients up to 25 years of age with B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) that is refractory or in second or later relapse. Additional results evaluating Kymriah in pediatric ALL and in relapsed/refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) will be presented.

Data for Kymriah include results from the primary analysis of the JULIET study in adult patients with relapsed or refractory DLBCL, demonstrating sustained complete response rates based on extended follow up, and efficacy and safety findings from additional treated patients compared to a previously presented interim analysis. Additionally, results of a cost-effectiveness analysis of Kymriah for the treatment of relapsed or refractory ALL in the United States will be presented in an oral presentation.

Primary Analysis of JULIET: A Global, Pivotal, Phase 2 Trial of CTL019 in Adult Patients with Relapsed or Refractory Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma [Abstract #577; Monday, December 11, 7:00 AM EST]

Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of CTL019 for the Treatment of Pediatric and Young Adult Patients with Relapsed or Refractory B-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in the United States [Abstract #609; Monday, December 11, 7:30 AM EST]

Patient-Reported Quality of Life (QoL) Following CTL019 Infusion in Adult Patients with Relapsed/Refractory (r/r) Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma (DLBCL) [Abstract #5215; publication only]

Expert Elicitation of Long-Term Survival for Pediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Patients Receiving CTL019 in ELIANA Phase II Study [Abstract #3377; Sunday, December 10, 6:00 PM EST]

Outcomes for chimeric antigen receptor T cell (CAR-T) pipeline therapies in other malignant blood cancers will also be shared at ASH:

Updated Safety and Efficacy of B-cell Maturation Antigen (BCMA)-specific Chimeric Antigen Receptor T Cells (CART-BCMA) for Refractory Multiple Myeloma (MM) [Abstract #505; Sunday, December 10, 4:30 PM EST]

Durable Remissions with Humanized CD19-Targeted Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR)-Modified T Cells in Children and Young Adults with Relapsed/Refractory Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, Including After Prior CAR Therapy [Abstract #1319; Saturday, December 9, 5:30 PM EST]

Data from a post-hoc sub-group analysis of the Phase II SUSTAIN investigational trial of crizanlizumab for time to first on-treatment sickle cell pain crisis will be featured:

Crizanlizumab 5.0 mg/kg Increased the Time to First On-Treatment Sickle Cell Pain Crisis: A Subgroup Analysis of the Phase II SUSTAIN Study [Abstract #613; Monday, December 11, 10:30 AM EST]

A matched comparison of Molecular Recurrence-free Survival (MRecFS) following treatment discontinuation in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patients on Tasigna (nilotinib) in ENESTfreedom versus patients on imatinib in the EURO-SKI trials will be presented in addition to updates from ENESTfreedom and ENESTop on Treatment-free Remission (TFR) outcomes:

Molecular Recurrence-Free Survival (MRecFS) Following Imatinib vs Nilotinib in Patients with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia in Chronic Phase (CML-CP): Matched Analysis of Patients in EURO-SKI and ENESTfreedom [Abstract #1601; Saturday, December 9, 5:30 PM EST]

Impact of Treatment Cessation on Overall Disease Outcomes in Patients with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia in Chronic Phase (CML-CP) Attempting Treatment-Free Remission (TFR): Findings from ENESTfreedom and ENESTop [Abstract #1598; Saturday, December 9, 5:30 PM EST]

Treatment-Free Remission (TFR) Among Patients with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia in Chronic Phase (CML-CP) Not Initially Eligible for Treatment Discontinuation Due to Unstable Deep Molecular Response (DMR): ENESTfreedom and ENESTop [Abstract #2878; Sunday, December 10, 6:00 PM EST]

Additionally, new insights will be presented from the pivotal, Phase III RATIFY trial of Rydapt (midostaurin) in adults with FLT3+ acute myeloid leukemia (AML):

An Analysis of the Maintenance and Post Completion Effect of Midostaurin Therapy in the International Prospective Randomized Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind Trial (CALGB 10603/RATIFY [Alliance]) for Newly Diagnosed Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) Patients with FLT3 Mutations [Abstract #145; Saturday, December 9, 12:00 PM EST]

The Addition of Midostaurin to Standard Chemotherapy Decreases Cumulative Incidence of Relapse (CIR) in the International Prospective Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind Trial (CALGB 10603/RATIFY [Alliance]) for Newly Diagnosed Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) Patients with FLT3 Mutations [Abstract #2580; Sunday, December 10, 6:00 PM EST]

Prognostic Impact of NPM1/FLT3-ITD Genotypes from Randomized Patients with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) Treated Within the International RATIFY Study [Abstract #467; Sunday, December 10, 5:30 PM EST]

Sandoz, a Novartis division, the pioneer and global leader in biosimilars, will present two studies examining the impact of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) on patient outcomes, cost savings and expanded access for biosimilars including Zarxio (filgrastim-sndz).

Expanded Access to Obinutuzumab from Cost-Savings Generated by Biosimilar Filgrastim (BIOSIM-FIL) in the Prophylaxis of Chemotherapy-Induced (Febrile) Neutropenia: A Simulation Study [Abstract #3380; Sunday, December 10, 6:00 PM EST]

A Systemic Literature Review of Overall Survival and Delivered Dose Intensity in Cancer Patient Receiving Chemotherapy and G-CSF in Randomized Control Trials [Abstract #3424; Sunday, December 10, 6:00 PM EST]

Additional abstracts of note from the meeting are as follows.

Exjade/Jadenu (deferasirox)

Predicting Serum Ferritin Levels in Patients with Iron Overload Treated with the Film-Coated Tablet of Deferasirox During the ECLIPSE Study [Abstract #3508; Monday, December 11, 6:00 PM EST]

Jakavi (ruxolitinib)**

Primary Analysis of JUMP, a Phase 3b, Expanded-Access Study Evaluating the Safety and Efficacy of Ruxolitinib in Patients with Myelofibrosis (N = 2233) [Abstract #4204; Monday, December 11, 6:00 PM EST]

Results from the 208-Week (4-Year) Follow-Up of Response Trial, a Phase 3 Study Comparing Ruxolitinib (Rux) with Best Available Therapy (BAT) for the Treatment of Polycythemia Vera (PV) [Abstract #322; Sunday, December 10, 7:30 AM EST]

Role of Symptom Burden in Disability Leave Among Patients with Myeloproliferative Neoplasms (MPNs): Findings from the Living with MPN Patient Survey [Abstract #1637; Saturday, December 9, 5:30 PM EST]

Revolade/Promacta (eltrombopag)***

Occurrence and Management of Cataracts in Patients with Chronic Immune Thrombocytopenia (cITP) During Long-Term Treatment with Eltrombopag (EPAG): Results from the EXTEND Study [Abstract #1053; Saturday, December 9, 5:30 PM EST]

Eltrombopag (EPAG) Treatment Improved Platelet Counts in Patients with Persistent or Chronic Immune Thrombocytopenia During a 2-Year, Phase IV, Open-Label Study [Abstract #3628; Monday, December 11, 6:00 PM EST]

A Retrospective Chart Review to Assess Burden of Illness Among Patients with Severe Aplastic Anemia with Insufficient Response to Immunosuppressive Therapy [Abstract #678; Monday, December 11, 10:30 AM EST]

Product Information

Approved indications for products vary by country and not all indications are available in every country. The product safety and efficacy profiles have not yet been established outside the approved indications. Because of the uncertainty of clinical trials, there is no guarantee that compounds will become commercially available with additional indications.

For full prescribing information, including approved indications and important safety information about marketed products, please visit https://www.novartisoncology.com/news/product-portfolio.

Crizanlizumab, CART-BCMA and CTL119 are investigational compounds. Efficacy and safety have not been established. There is no guarantee these compounds will become commercially available.

Disclaimer

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements can generally be identified by words such as "potential," "can," "will," "plan," "expect," "anticipate," "look forward," "believe," "committed," "investigational," "pipeline," "launch," or similar terms, or by express or implied discussions regarding potential marketing approvals, new indications or labeling for the investigational or approved products described in this press release, or regarding potential future revenues from such products. You should not place undue reliance on these statements. Such forward-looking statements are based on our current beliefs and expectations regarding future events, and are subject to significant known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. There can be no guarantee that the investigational or approved products described in this press release will be submitted or approved for sale or for any additional indications or labeling in any market, or at any particular time. Nor can there be any guarantee that such products will be commercially successful in the future. In particular, our expectations regarding such products could be affected by, among other things, the uncertainties inherent in research and development, including clinical trial results and additional analysis of existing clinical data; regulatory actions or delays or government regulation generally; our ability to obtain or maintain proprietary intellectual property protection; the particular prescribing preferences of physicians and patients; global trends toward health care cost containment, including government, payor and general public pricing and reimbursement pressures; general economic and industry conditions, including the effects of the persistently weak economic and financial environment in many countries; safety, quality or manufacturing issues, and other risks and factors referred to in Novartis AG's current Form 20-F on file with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. Novartis is providing the information in this press release as of this date and does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this press release as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

About Novartis

Novartis provides innovative healthcare solutions that address the evolving needs of patients and societies. Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Novartis offers a diversified portfolio to best meet these needs: innovative medicines, cost-saving generic and biosimilar pharmaceuticals and eye care. Novartis has leading positions globally in each of these areas. In 2016, the Group achieved net sales of USD 48.5 billion, while R&D throughout the Group amounted to approximately USD 9.0 billion. Novartis Group companies employ approximately 121,000 full-time-equivalent associates. Novartis products are sold in approximately 155 countries around the world. For more information, please visit http://www.novartis.com.

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How a World War II spy ended up becoming one of The Saturday Evening Posts premier illustrators.

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The Saturday Evening Post has always taken pride in the authenticity of its illustrations. Before the age of television, readers across the country learned about the history and customs of foreign lands from those colorful pictures. Even Hollywood movie studios relied on illustrations in the Post when designing costumes and backdrops.

Illustrators worked hard to achieve that authenticity, but none of them achieved it the way William A. Smith did.

Smith was often called upon to illustrate stories about Asia. He seemed to have a special knack for the people and culture.

What readers didnt realize was that Smith learned about Asia firsthand by serving behind the lines during World War II for the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), the predecessor to the CIA. He served in China for the duration of the war, often traveling clandestinely around the country.

One of Smiths roles as an artist for OSS was to create a series of propaganda drawings to support the Chinese in their war with the Japanese invaders.

He also spent time working in Weihsien prison, a POW camp operated by the Japanese in Shantung Province, China, during World War II. The prison held 1,500 civilians  British, American, Belgian, and Italian  for over two years before it was liberated. Smith sharpened his skills sketching the Japanese guards there.

Smith described how the OSS helped capture the prison from the Japanese:

Only one Chinese was permitted inside the high brick wall. He was a dirty and stupid acting coolie whose job was to remove the pails of refuse from the latrines. Japanese would have no part of this job. Actually, he was an OSS agent and his access to the prison made it possible for the prisoners to communicate with the outside.  The other internees were most surprised when, after the Camp had been taken by the Americans, the same Chinese walked through the gates in a Western-type business suit.

Smith made hundreds of drawings in Asia, filling sketchbook after sketchbook with images of the people and their customs and of children playing in the streets. He learned their language and made many friends.

He grew to love the Far East and established lasting relationships with the artistic community there. He later traveled repeatedly to Japan and filled dozens of sketchbooks with drawings of Japanese culture. Unlike the harsh propaganda pictures he created during the war, his later drawings were exquisitely sensitive and appreciative of cultural differences.

After the war, Smith went on to become a highly successful award-winning artist who worked regularly for the Post and other top publications of his day. He illustrated books for famous authors who wrote about the Far East, such as Pearl Buck and James Michener. His work was acquired by the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the National Portrait Gallery, and the Library of Congress.

Millions of readers of the Post saw his work, but most never knew that he earned his authenticity the hard way.
Pune, India -- (SBWIRE) -- 11/01/2017 -- Market Synopsis of Global Blood Glucose Test Strip Market



Market scenario



Blood glucose test strip is a small disposable plastic strip and is an important component of blood glucose meters that monitors and controls diabetes. These strips are impregnated with glucose oxidase, which reacts with glucose present in the blood and then indicate the glucose level in the blood.



The convenience offered by the self-blood glucose testing over the traditional methods is one of the major drivers of the blood glucose test strip market. The self-testing allows the diabetic and the pre-diabetic people to keep a track of their blood glucose level regularly without visiting a clinic or diagnostic laboratory. A diabetic patient is expected to test his sugar at least 2-3 times a day, self-testing allows the patient to perform his test regularly at his home. Rising diabetic population is another major driver of the market. Diabetes is one of the major concerns for the government bodies across the globe. The number of diabetic population across the world is rising continuously. According to the International Diabetic Federation, about 415 million people had diabetes across the globe in 2015, and this number is poised to reach 642 million by 2040.



The global big data in the blood glucose test strips market is expected to reach US$ 18.5 billion by 2020, and the market is projected to grow at a CAGR of ~ 6.2 % during the forecast period 2015-2020.



Get a Copy of Sample Report @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/976



Financial support by the governments is an important economic driver of the market due to its effects on the demand for blood glucose strips. For example, Australian Government is taking various initiatives to increase the usage of blood glucose monitors and test strips. The government has implemented Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). According to this scheme, the blood glucose test strips are provided to the Australian at a government-subsidised prices. Moreover, the foreign visitors from the countries such as the U.K., Ireland, New Zealand, Malta, Italy, Sweden, the Netherlands, Finland, Norway, Belgium and Slovenia are also covered under this scheme. The other drivers for blood glucose test strips market are technological advancements such as accuracy of the test, awareness about diabetes, etc. Rising disposable income of emerging economies is another economic driver of the market. For example, annual disposable income of middle class households in India was $1,366.2 billion in 2010, which reached $1,587.6 billion in 2013.



The market restraints are inadequate reimbursement for test strips etc. For example, in March 2013, Medicare announced reimbursement cuts for diabetes testing supplies (DTS) up to 72%. According to new reimbursement policies, diabetic beneficiaries, who receive their glucose-testing supplies delivered to their homes will need to obtain them from 1 of 18 contract suppliers chosen by Medicare via a competitive bidding process. This new plan will help the government to reduce healthcare expenditure. However, it can drastically reduce the number of vendors from which diabetic patients can obtain glucose-testing supplies. Furthermore, this amendment can also lead to disruption in the supplies of blood glucose monitoring accessories, which could result into decline in self-monitoring of glucose and subsequent adverse outcomes.



Key Findings:



In 2015, Thick Film Electrochemical strips generated the largest revenue of $ 6.4 billion by technologyThin Film Electrochemical segment generated revenue of US$ 5 billion in 2015 by technologyNorth America accounted for the largest revenue of US$ 7.89 billion for blood glucose test strips in 2015, by geography



Key Players in the Global Blood Glucose Test Strip Market



Some of key players profiled in the report are Abbott, Roche Diagnostics, LifeScan, i-SENS, Bayer Diabetes Care, AgaMatrix Inc, Elektronika, Universal Biosensors, Nipro Diagnostics, TaiDoc, Apex Biotechnology Corp, B. Braun, HMD BioMedical Inc., ALL Medicus, SANNUO, Beijing Yicheng Electronics, Betachek National Diagnostics, Shanghai MicroSense, Jiangsu Yuyue, ACON Laboratories and others.



Regional analysis



The Americas holds a significant market share of the global market owing to extensive use of information technology and high expenditure on the health care. Additionally, the fastest uptake of new technology and the presence & concentration of medical device manufacturers in the US regions drive the blood glucose test strip market.



North America led the global blood glucose test strip market with revenue of $ 7.89 billion in 2015.



Europe is the second largest market in the globe due to a high healthcare expenditure, which is led by Germany and France.



Asia Pacific region is expected to grow rapidly; China and India are likely to lead the market due to unmet needs during the forecasted period. APAC is expected to grow at a higher CAGR of 12.9 % than the other regions because of increasing number of diabetic population in this region.



Gulf nations such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE drive the Middle East & African market. The African region is expected to witness a moderate growth owing to poor economic & political conditions and poor healthcare development.



Segments



The global blood glucose test strip market has been segmented on the basis of technology. On the basis of technology the market has been segmented into thick film electrochemical, thin film electrochemical, and optical.



Browse Full Report Details @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/global-blood-glucose-test-strip-market



The report on the global blood glucose test strip market by Market Research Future comprises of extensive primary research along with the detailed analysis of qualitative as well as quantitative aspects by various industry experts, key opinion leaders to gain a deeper insight of the market and industry performance. The report gives a clear picture of the current market scenario which includes past and estimated future market size with respect to value and volume, technological advancement, macro economical and governing factors in the market. The report provides detail information about and strategies used by top key players in the industry. The report also gives a broad study of the different market segments and regions.



Continue



We are thankful for the support and assistance from Blood Glucose Test Strip Market Research Report- Global Forecast till 2020 chain related technical experts and marketing experts during Research Team survey and interviews.



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Sarasota, FL -- (SBWIRE) -- 11/01/2017 -- According to the report, global antifouling paint and coating market was valued at over USD 5.68 billion in 2015, is expected to reach above USD 9.21 billion in 2021 and is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of slightly above 8.4% between 2016 and 2021.



The coating is the process in which the surface is covered using suitable substrate. Anti-fouling paints are often applied as one component of multi-layer coating systems which offer great resistance from the microbial growth and antifouling properties. It also acts as a barrier for corrosion on hulls which can weak its performance.



Request Free Sample Research Report @ http://atozresearch.com/chemical-materials/antifouling-paints-coating-market-analysis-size-share-2021/



Antifouling is carried out mainly on ships and beneath the water, equipment to prevent the machines or ships from the decomposition from aqua microbes. Therefore, increasing trend for Floating Production Storage & Offloading (FPSO), passenger ships and conventional offshore drilling rigs is likely to drive the antifouling paint and coating market in the coming years. Due to antifouling paints and coating, the fuel is preserved which is expected to further boost the market in the forecast period. However, stringent regulations imposed by the governing bodies for use of antifouling paints and coatings may impede the growth of the antifouling paint and coating market. Nevertheless, ongoing research for upcoming coating techniques along with growing demand for antifouling paint and coating from oil & gas industry is likely to positively impact on antifouling paint and coating market in the coming years.



On the basis of types, the antifouling paint and coating market can be segmented as the self-polishing copolymer, copper-based antifouling paints & coatings, hybrid antifouling paints & coatings and others. Copper-based antifouling paints & coatings ensure fouling free surfaces for boats and sips, thus helps in saving the fuel and eliminating greenhouse gasses. Therefore, copper based antifouling paints and coatings accounted as the largest market segment in 2015. Numerous applications for antifouling paint and coating are mooring lines, shipping vessels, fishing boats, drilling rigs & production platforms and inland waterways transport. Shipping vessels were the leading segment of the antifouling paint and coating market in 2015 with significant market share. Use of antifouling paints and vessels in shipping vessels helps in preventing fuel loss by maintaining the hulls aqua-microbe free. Drilling rigs are likely to experience huge growth in the coming years due to constantly rising FPSO vessel expenditure by the oil & gas sector.



Asia Pacific held 75% of the total market for antifouling paint and coating in 2015. Escalating shipbuilding industry in Japan, Taiwan, China, Philippines, and Korea is expected to trigger the antifouling paint and coating market in Asia Pacific. Furthermore, Indian Government proposed Draft National Chemical Policy to increase the chemical industry in India. Thus, government initiatives for expanding chemical industry is expected to propel the growth of antifouling paints and coating market in the near future. Moreover, the sharp rise in expenditure for the exploration and production of crude oil & natural gas in India, China and Thailand are anticipated to bolster the demand for paints in drilling rigs & production platforms. Huge penetration of yachts producers in Europe is likely to positively impact on the antifouling market in the coming years. The Middle East and Africa is witnessing predominant growth for the antifouling paint and coating in recent times and is to gain traction in the forecast period. Increasing expenditure on offshore vessels in various countries such as Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, and Angola is predicted to fuel the growth of the market in this region in the upcoming years. Latin America is likely to witness decent growth in the forecast period.



Some of the global major players in the antifouling paint and coating are The Sherwin-Williams Company, BASF S.E, Boero Yachtcoatings, PPG Industries Inc., Nippon Paint Marine Coatings Co. Ltd, Chugoku Marine Paints Ltd, Jotun, Hempel A/S, Kop-Coat Marine Group, Akzo Nobel N.V., Advance Marine Coatings AS and Chugoku Marine Paints Ltd among others.



About A to Z Research

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Albany, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 10/31/2017 -- The Chinese defense and security industry has once again become the focus of world media after a string of attention-grabbing headlines this year. Analysts have released a new report titled "China-Defense and Security: An advancing global power (Strategy, Performance and Risk Analysis)", which explores key data on defense and security industry statistics including total expenditure, revenue expenditure, and capital expenditure. The study has been freshly broadcasted to the vast repository of Market Research Hub (MRH), which offers an in-depth analysis of the historic and current market scenario. The report is beneficial for the investors because the overall information is analyzed to reveal the key issues and trends driving market performance in the Chinese defense and security market.



Request Free Sample Report: https://www.marketresearchhub.com/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=1350010



As per the study key findings, Chinas total defense and security expenditure recorded a CAGR of 9.2%, rising from US$102.8 billion in 2012 to US$146.3 billion in 2016, and will post a notable CAGR of 11.7% to reach US$247.5 billion in 2021 due to the modernization of the country's technological capabilities. Now the world's second-largest spender on national defense, China is evolving reforms in its defense state-owned enterprises (SOEs). Expenditure increased at a CAGR of 9.2% in 2016 and will post a forecast-period CAGR of 11.7% to reach US$247.5 billion in 2021. Some of the prime factors behind this expected growth include modernization plans, peacekeeping missions, and tensions with the US that escalated due to the presence of US Naval Forces in the South China Sea territory in 2016.



At first, the report talks about the precise industry overview, including a market snapshot which provides information of various segments and sub-segments. The market overview section of the report discovers the market dynamics such as drivers, restraints and opportunities that currently have a strong impact on the Chinese defense and security market; and how it could influence the market in the near future. Moreover, SWOT analysis has also been included in the study, which discovers the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats impacting market performance and investment in the Chinese defense and security market.



Browse Full Report with TOC- https://www.marketresearchhub.com/report/china-defense-and-security-an-advancing-global-power-strategy-performance-and-risk-analysis-report.html



Key industry segments such as aircraft, C4ISR electronics & IT, naval ships, helicopters, military vehicles, and others are highlighted. Of them, the aircraft category remains one of the key growth drivers of the Chinese defense and security industry, accounting for 41.5% of capital expenditure in 2016; followed by the C4ISR electronics and IT category with 16.05%. Also, the study analyzes that China emerged as the largest exporter in Asia-Pacific region, due to the export of armored vehicles, aircraft and ships. Aircraft exports primarily comprise J-7s, K-8s, and Y-12s. China exports defense equipment to Bangladesh, Venezuela, Pakistan, Tanzania, and Myanmar. In addition, looking at the trends that are being witnessed within the Chinese defense and security industry it has been analyzed that with domestic manufacturing strength, China will continue to reduce its defense imports.



The competitive landscape section in the report includes competition matrix, market share and product offerings of the leading defense and security players in China.



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San Francisco, CA -- (SBWIRE) -- 11/01/2017 -- Global Small Scale LNG Terminals Market: Overview



The clean burning nature of natural is driving initiatives encouraging its increased usage across a number of industrial applications and across the transportation industry. The transportation industry, which largely relies on petrochemicals-based fuels with high emission levels to power engines, making it one of the most significant contributor to the rising levels of air pollution across the globe.



In a bid to lower down the levels of environment-degrading emissions and pollutants, government bodies are increasing their participation in initiatives aimed at the increased the usage of natural gas and are focusing on the development of LNG infrastructure at a rapid pace. These initiatives are expected to pace up the rate of deployment and development of LNG terminal infrastructures. Although large LNG terminals have been conventionally the more preferred type of LNG supply centers, the rising demand for LNG from remote-located consumers is rapidly making small-scale LNG terminals the norm for the supply of natural gas across small geographies.



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Global Small Scale LNG Terminals Market: Trends and Opportunities



Over the past few years, the global commoditization of LNG has led to a significant rise in the number of new applications and market of LNG. Technological solutions enabling small scale LNG terminals have become mature and modularization, standardization, and the rate of competitiveness have increased.



Relatively lower entry-level challenges as compared to large LNG projects have opened up vast stores of opportunity for the rapid development of creative and new technologies and have increased the number of new entrants in the market over the years. The increased adoption of LNG as a fuel in the automotive industry, especially for powering heavy-duty vehicles, is also a key factor to have increased the adoption of small-scale LNG terminals across several regional markets.



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Global Small Scale LNG Terminals Market: Regional Overview



From a regional perspective, the small scale LNG terminals market is highly attractive across environment-conscious regions such as North America and Europe. Strict regulations in the marine sector have increased the scope of usage of LNG as a bunker fuel in Europe, stimulating the development of strategically located small scale terminals. In the next few years also, North America and Europe will continue to contribute significantly to the global small-scale LNG terminals market in terms of new installations and capacity expansions.



Asia Pacific is also a highly promising market owing to its mammoth transportation industry. In China, several efforts in place to educate masses about the need to switch to clean fuels to lower down the levels of air pollution in cities, easy availability of natural gas, and substantial price difference between diesel and natural gas are driving the increased deployment of small scale LNG terminals.



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Global Small Scale LNG Terminals Market: Market Potential



The field of LNG bunkering is increasingly becoming one of the key end-use segments of the global small scale LNG terminals market and companies operating in the field are registering large-scale expansion of operations and capacities at a rapid pace. In a recent development, the privately-owned company LNG Gorskaya has received funding worth $20.04 mn, which the company will use to develop its LNG bunkering plants in Estonia. With further funding, the company is planning to finance its LNG bunkering centers in Finland, Germany, Estonia, Latvia, and Sweden, establishing a series of small-scale terminals to be able to provide LNG to ships at around 320 km from its LNG bunkering stations.



Global Small Scale LNG Terminals Market: Competitive Landscape



The highly competitive vendor landscape of the global small scale LNG terminals market is expected to witness the introduction of several new business models in the next few years. The market is expected to witness a rise in mergers and acquisitions as companies focus on leveraging their project management competence and technological expertise to stay ahead of competition.



Some of the leading companies operating in the global small scale LNG terminals market are Nippon Gas Co., Ltd., EcoElectrica Inc., Plum Energy, LLC, Linde AG, Santos Ltd, PT Donggi Senoro LNG, Prometheus Energy Company, Emirates Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) LLC, Petroliam Nasional Berhad (PETRONAS), and Skangass AS.



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TMR Research is a premier provider of customized market research and consulting services to business entities keen on succeeding in today's supercharged economic climate. Armed with an experienced, dedicated, and dynamic team of analysts, we are redefining the way our clients' conduct business by providing them with authoritative and trusted research studies in tune with the latest methodologies and market trends.



Our savvy custom-built reports span a gamut of industries such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals and metals, food and beverages, and technology and media, among others. With actionable insights uncovered through in-depth research of the market, we try to bring about game-changing success for our clients.
[NEW YORK] A portable 3-D scanning device developed by Sri Lankan and US researchers can quickly measure limb enlargement of patients with the disfiguring condition elephantiasis that resulted from lymphatic filariasis infection.

Reporting on the device this month (16 October) in the American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, the researchers say it consists of an infrared sensor mounted on an iPad that produces highly accurate 3-D reconstructions of the legs  the limbs most commonly affected by lymphedema or fluid accumulation from blocked lymphatic vessels.

The scanner produced highly accurate results in only a fraction of the time of the other tests Philip Budge, Washington University in St. Louis

Philip Budge, an author of the report and professor of medicine in the division of infectious diseases at Washington University, St. Louis, says healthcare workers assess the severity of lymphedema by using a tape measure or by relying on water displacement by the affected limb. Often, this is impractical for leg measurements.

Originally developed to measure lymphedema in cancer patients following surgical removal of the lymph nodes, the new device has been adapted for those afflicted by elephantiasis caused by lymphatic filariasis infection.

Lymphatic filariasis is a mosquito-borne disease that often leaves its victims with disabling hydrocele (accumulation of fluid in the scrotum), lymphedema or elephantiasis after the infection has cleared. According to the WHO, infections typically occur during childhood but may go unnoticed, leading to a permanently impaired lymphatic system.

Budge and fellow Washington University researcher, Ramakrishna Rao, tested the device on 52 patients with varying stages of lymphedema at a clinic in Galle, Sri Lanka, managed by Channa Yahathugoda, a co-author of the report.

The most encouraging news is that the scanner produced highly accurate results in only a fraction of the time of the other tests, Budge says. To our knowledge, this is the first time that infrared 3-D scanning technology has been used on filarial lymphedema patients.

Budge stresses that lymphedema is not the same as an infection with the parasite that causes lymphatic filariasis. Sri Lanka has nearly eliminated transmission of the parasite, but many people who were previously infected still have lymphedema which doesnt go away even after treatment to clear the parasites.

Mike Weiler, the chief of Lympha Tech which is developing the first commercial version of the device, says it should be ready for limited release during the first quarter of 2018 and open availability in the second half of 2018. The fact that it's a mobile-based platform allows it to be affordable for nearly every environment, he tells SciDev.Net.

Achim Hoerauf, director of the Institute of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Bonn, Germany, says the new device will be useful in lymphedema clinics and in lymphatic filariasis control programmes. It could, he says, lead to early detection of limb abnormalities in people at risk for lymphedema and early morbidity management and prevention.



This piece was produced by SciDev.Nets Asia & Pacific desk.
SANTA CLARA, Calif. , Nov. 01, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- PanTerra Networks, the leading provider of unified cloud services for mid-market enterprises, today announced a major upgrade to Streams, its unified communications, team messaging and file sync & share cloud service. With todays release, Streams adds enhanced business intelligence with powerful graphical analytics and expanded reports, real-time and threshold notifications and improved mobility collaboration. These new enhancements further solidify Streams as the ideal multi-service cloud communications solution for large and growing enterprises.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d898bd5d-4422-4260-86eb-2c98d089a7a0

With the new graphical analytics and reporting capabilities such as period over period comparison, companies can instantly spot trends and see potential areas of improvement in their business. The user comparison capability allows managers to see how specific users are performing against company defined performance metrics in real-time. With SmartBox, Streams HIPAA secure unlimited cloud file sync and share service, companies have access to a lifetime of analytics data that they can review, compare and measure against.

The new business intelligence feature with enhanced graphical analytics gives our marketing team a quick snapshot of response times measured to thresholds we've set to make better real-time staffing changes or adjustments on the fly, said Mike Silipo, Director of Marketing at Garage Door Inc. In addition, the historical trend reports enable us to better plan for future activities in conjunction with marketing campaigns. We use organizational reports daily to track over 8,000 local telephone numbers in all the areas we support and to manage our local labor.

Arthur Chang, President and CEO of PanTerra, said, "We're proud of our business intelligence offering and excited to see the level of customer adoption Streams has had in such a short time. We feel the quickest way to enable businesses to make sound decisions is to provide them with a cloud solution that delivers unified analytics across all their cloud services so that they can gain a holistic view of their companys performance in real-time and over time. Streams analytics does exactly that by keeping executives and managers informed through a unified, real-time analytics dashboard and through comprehensive historical reports. Our ability to give customers access to all their analytics data over the lifetime of their account is a huge plus for our customers.

About PanTerra

PanTerra is a business-class Unified Cloud Service Provider, seamlessly delivering unified communications, team messaging, contact center, file sync & share and business analytics through Streams, its unified cloud solution. Streams is a business-class, HIPAA secure, ultra-reliable, futureproof unified cloud service that can be custom configured on a user by user basis and consistently deployed world-wide.

Streams includes unified communications and team messaging services that can upgrade or replace an enterprise's existing communications and team messaging infrastructure with a next-generation cloud-based solution and SmartBox, its HIPAA secure, enterprise cloud file storage, sync & share service.

All Streams services can be self-managed or provided through SentraCloud, its fully managed solution delivered by PanTerra, which includes the management of all Streams services, optional last mile MPLS connectivity and any associated on-premises networking equipment.

With PanTerra's Unified Cloud Service solution, enterprises consolidate their cloud services, gain the highest levels of security, scalability, reliability, availability, quality of service, service level agreement and support while significantly lowering their total cost of operations and IT administration complexities. PanTerra is headquartered in Santa Clara, CA.

For more information, please visit www.panterranetworks.com or call +1 800.805.0558 or email us at info@panterranetworks.com.

PanTerra Media Contact

David Immethun

Sr. Director of Marketing

408.457.8941

dimmethun@panterranetworks.com
[SAN FRANCISCO] When choosing the sessions I want to attend at a conference, I tend to favour those that offer a fresh point of view on an issue and bring in perspectives from different parts of the world.

Decolonising Science, a session at the 10th World Conference of Science Journalists held this month (October 26-30) in the US city of San Francisco, sounded like that kind of session  and I was right.

Mandi Smallhorne, president of the African Federation of Science Journalists and the South African Science Journalists Association, told me that in proposing the session, her starting point was that journalists are not really aware of the fact that science reporting is often done from the perspective of the global North.

I wanted to provoke some questions about how we see science and how science interacts with people who science is done for, and the people who are the subject of science, she said.

As an example, she refers to the many clinical trials that take place in the global South on people who do not necessarily understand what they are for.

We need to ask questions about the impact of science in society across the world, said Smallhorne.

The South African science journalist Sibusiso Biyela, a digital science communicator at ScienceLink and a volunteer for SciBraai, shared a practical barrier he encountered when writing science stories in Zulu.

Biyela said a science story cannot be simply translated from English to Zulu  it needs to be fully adapted.

He gave the example of astronomy, where there arent enough specific names for space bodies such as planets.



TV Padma, a freelance science journalist from India, highlighted as part of the panel the need for a science journalist in the developing world to not focus on peer-reviewed journal papers only. She gave the example of grassroots innovations that have not been submitted to academic journals, but which are also important.

Javier Cruz, a science journalist from the National Autonomous University of Mexico, asked in the panel if the issue was really about colonised science.

It is not science that is colonised, said Cruz, but the policies of many developing countries.

It is our governments that define the priority scientific areas to be supported, in many cases excluding some areas that could be more relevant locally, he explained, adding that decisions are often taken without enough scientific evidence to back them up.

I am glad that the purpose of the session was not to reach a consensus  that would not have been possible. But the main goal of asking provocative questions was definitely achieved.
[SAN FRANCISCO] Congratulations to Lausanne in Switzerland for their successful bid to host the next World Conference of Science Journalists (WCSJ).

Countries in the developing world would struggle to put together a bid thats as good, and you cant fault the directors of the World Federation of Science Journalists for choosing them over a rival bid from Montreal, a decision announced during this months WCSJ in San Francisco (26-30 October).

After all, the bid was a consortium between Switzerland, France and Italy, and was supported by the European Commission and CERN  the worlds biggest particle collider.

Yet its developing countries that would get the most from having a world conference in their backyard  and the region that would benefit the most is Africa.

In Africa, the job of science journalism is not very well developed, said Hilaire Diarra, editor of Maadou, a science and technology journal based Mali, West Africa.

Its not surprising that there wasnt a bid from an African country. After all, how much would it cost them to compete with the glitz and glamour of Lausanne or Montreal?

But maybe the process itself needs to be adapted.

Having the conference hosted on the continent would give massive momentum to locally produced science journalism, putting science in the minds of policymakers and newspaper editors in countries that struggle with malaria and HIV, and that bear the brunt of climate change.

Curtis Brainard, the outgoing president of the World Federation of Science Journalists, told me: I can tell you that all of the board members are incredibly eager to see the conference go to Sub-Saharan Africa.

Yet after 11 announced editions of the WCSJ, not one has been hosted there. The Lausanne announcement brings the number up to four in Europe, two in North America, one in Latin America, two in Asia and one in the Middle East.

The next one after Lausanne should go to Africa because Africa is also part of this world, Columbus Mavhunga, the chairperson of the Health Journalists Association of Zimbabwe, told me following the announcement.

The problem, according to Mavhunga, is that most African countries would struggle to meet the cost of running one of these events on their own.

Countries like South Africa, Kenya and Uganda have well-established science journalist associations, and perhaps one solution would be for them to put together a joint bid.

Anyone who has seen South Africas awe-inspiring Science Minister, Grace Naledi Mandisa Pandor, speak would be left in no doubt about the impetus an African bid could have. SciDev.Net will be publishing an interview with Pandor in the next few days.

Its my hope that for 2021, the International Federation of Science Journalists will receive a strong bid from Africa, and decide to bring the WCSJ to a region where good science journalism really can save lives.

This article was was originally published on SciDev.Net's global edition.
DARLINGTON, S.C. -- It was truly a storybook ending for the business that won first place in Downtown Darlington's Annual Business Halloween Costume Contest Tuesday.

Employees of The Jewelers Bench took first place dressed as characters from Little Red Riding Hood.

Carolina Bank employees dressed for the 70s and took second place in the Annual Darlington Downtown Revitalization Association Business Halloween Costume Contest.

First Citizens Bank employees in Darlington dressed up for Halloween as Cruella de Vil, a witch, and Harley Quinn.

The Housing Authority of Darlington represented the 1950s sock hop for Halloween.

SPC Credit Union dressed as Alvin and the Chipmunks for Halloween.

Rent-A-Center employees celebrated Halloween too. Pictured are Deborah Slade as a cat and Kelly Garland as a witch.
FLORENCE, S.C.  CSX Transportation employees and local retirees held an informational picket outside the CSX Florence Rail Yard on Tuesday afternoon to protest the companys stalled contract negotiations affecting wages and health benefits.

The Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees Division (BMWED) led the picket outside the CSX Florence Rail Yard from 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m., holding signs and handing out flyers to local employees with information about CSXs ongoing contract bargaining and their reasons for picketing. The BMWED is a division of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters and is responsible for maintenance and construction on the railroads.

According to picketers, the demonstration is in response to a current labor standoff between employee unions and the four Class 1 railway companies  CSX, Norfolk Southern, Union Pacific and BNSF Railway. Negotiations have been going on for more than two years and employees say the company is looking to drastically reduce our health insurance benefits in a time where their profits are at record highs and their stock is at six-year highs.

The Morning News is owned by Berkshire Hathaway which also owns Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) Railway.

Were talking about multi-billion dollar Fortune 500 operations who are clocking incredible profits right now, BMWED internal organizing coordinator Carey Dall said. This hyper-profitable railroad is unwilling to sit down and discuss reasonable wage increases and keeping the already relatively expensive health care status quo in place.

Weve been basically stonewalled by a set of corporations who are just incredibly greedy.

CSX spokesman Rob Doolittle released a statement: CSX values the strong relationship it enjoys with its employees, including those who are represented by the BMWE. The issues discussed in the information outreach in Florence today are subject to national negotiation among all railroads and the national organizations who represent many railroad workers.

The Florence picket is one of several gatherings the BMWED has held in the last month at CSX railyards including one in Kansas and two in Florida. Dall said the picketers strategically chose to come to the Florence railway as it is along a major route for CSX Transportation.

The group has also picketed along other Class 1 railways including BNSFs supply chain from Long Beach to Chicago and Union Pacifics Sunset Route from Long Beach to El Paso. Dall said the group plans to continue conducting these rolling picket lines leading up to a national Day of Action on Nov. 8 when thousands of BMWED members will picket at hundreds of railroads across the country.

Dall said all of these pickets are showing the railroad that were preparing for ultimate, meaning either further types of informational picketing or sizable labor strikes.

We dont want to do that, Dall said. Our intention is wholly to reach a reasonable deal that works for the railroad, does not impact its profitability but provides a quality standard of living for the hard-working railroaders in the United States of America.
This column expresses my thoughts only. I do not speak for Florence School District One or the FSD1 board.

When the big Hoffmeyer Road tract was purchased a few years ago, it was seen as a place large enough to have not only new elementary and middle schools but also the place where a new West Florence High School could be built someday.

Meanwhile, the Florence School District One board had already gone on record to endorse a middle school concept that included grades 6 through 8. That decision led to the early building of Moore on the Hoffmeyer tract in anticipation of growth and in recognition of the size limitation at Sneed Middle School. The problem was that our pay-as-you-go system was not going to get our community to the implementation of the middle school concept as fast as a referendum would allow.

While many people do not begrudge a need to improve conditions at the high school in the West Florence zone, in the aftermath of the proposed Reconfiguration proposal this year that graphically highlighted disparity in funding for new school construction among our community zones to date, it was particularly sensitive that only one new high school was proposed for referendum funding.

In August, Florence School District One floated a referendum concept before the public in a forum at Poynor. The proposal came in at $266 million but only because the Southside Middle School (Southside) was kept out and was held over as a pay-as-you-go project. If blended into the referendum proposal, Southside would have put the referendum tab at closer to $300 million. Even this, however, was only possible if both South Florence High School and Wilson High School were renovated, not replaced.

In fact, if SFHS and WHS (along with Southside) had been included with WFHS in the August proposal for this generation (i.e., within the next 25 years), the costs would balloon to a total referendum proposal of more than $400 million (for grades 9 through 12 high school construction).

Along the way, on a dual track, the stream of pay-as-you-go dollars would still need to be utilized for maintenance and technology at all FSD1 sites.

For many people, it did not seem equitable or fair that only one high school out of three would be replaced.

How did we get here? Do we shuffle ahead or will we still yet get to dance?

While pay-as-you-go (school-by-school construction paid for with short-term two- and three-year bonds) has jump-started the work on our construction needs since its inception (starting with the Lucy Davis Elementary project completed in 2012) and has given us flexibility, it has not replaced the need for us as a community to really consider our long-term needs, the priorities of their placements and the most efficient approach to their funding.

There are two reasonable paths forward available to our community.

One I call the Shuffle. It can work. It might even be a reasonable short-term solution to West Florence zone overcrowding.

The other path I call the Dance. Though it requires immediate investment through a publicly approved referendum initiative, I think it represents our best way to systematically achieve equity in our high school zones, to best position our community for the future and to defer other costs through a reasonable continuing application of pay-as-you-go.

The Shuffle

The Shuffle achieves immediate relief in our very overcrowded West Florence High School. It also eliminates all mobile classrooms at WFHS. This is how it can be done next school year:

>> 1. Move the fifth- and sixth-graders in the Moore facility to the new Lucy Davis, Royall and Delmae elementary schools. With them, FSD1 has a large excess capacity at the elementary school level in the WFHS zone. To the extent that Carver and McLaurin do not yet have those capacities, their students can easily be placed temporarily in one or more of those other big schools for now.

>> 2. Move the middle school program from Sneed to Moore. Moore has a capacity of 1,325, far more than that of Sneed. Thus, middle school in the WFHS zone is no longer overcrowded, either.

>> 3. Move the ninth grade out of the mobile classrooms at WFHS and into the Sneed facility. Sneed thereby becomes a dedicated ninth-grade academy. Other communities already do this, most recently in Clover, South Carolina.

>> 4. WFHS would then house grades 10-12, like some high schools in other areas. It is now actually under capacity. It is now not in need of mobile classrooms. There is now no immediate need for new high school construction in the WFHS zone.

The Shuffle, however, does kick the can of facilities needs down the road. The continued growth in the WFHS zone is universally projected. Maintaining two middle schools there, so that a possible future high school, when needed, will have a middle school feeder in place, is good planning. Likewise, the preferred option of expanding WFHS allows families to remain within the school zone of their residential choice.

The Shuffle also has the potential of lulling the community into simply proceeding with our thus far, school board approved, pay-as-you-go formula without really looking at a generational opportunity of using a referendum to reasonably replace all three of our high schools.

The Dance

Frankly, the problem with the FSD1 referendum proposal this summer was its essential mere acceleration of pay-as-you-go, with the add-on of one new high school but leaving out the other two zones for new high schools. The unspoken but clear message for two of our communities was that we had no plan to ever replace those two high schools. We had looked no further at them than the renovations on the table.

All that could be stated was that the SFHS and WHS zones would get new middle schools, but even without a referendum, those zones are slated to get those middle schools under pay-as-you-go.

I ask consideration of a shift in thinking so as to allow a deferment of those pay-as-you-go middle school projects, right when they are otherwise on deck, but only so as to allow the SFHS and WHS zones to move into new high school replacement construction, along with West Florence, if the public so approves by referendum.

Our high schools should be the capstones of any referendum. While building WFHS, if we do not also address SFHS and WHS now, we will cause a greater shift of population to the west that will make a future effort to rebuild the other two high schools more problematic.

FSD1 should immediately face the issue of projected inadequate high school site acreage at the John Paul Jones Road (JPJ) new construction location and develop a can-do, will-do attitude and begin exploring the acquisition of the additional acreage necessary for a high school there. It is more than ridiculous that the JPJ site is supposedly so inadequate, with 55 acres, for a high school, when the current SFHS site of only 57 total acres contains not only that major high school but also a separate career center and a separate middle school.

With a new high school on the JPJ site, the current SFHS site can then house the middle school and the ninth-grade academy. Replacement construction for those needs follows later. We must look longer term, phase these projects, and thus make everything workable and affordable.

The same approach applies at Wilson High School. A new high school should be the capstone in that zone, too. With a new WHS, the current WHS site can become the middle school and ninth grade academy site, with the new construction for those needs, like at SFHS, to follow later.

In the WFHS zone, the new Moore facility is built to upper-grade standards. Construction of a second building on the Hoffmeyer tract, at much less new cost, will allow the new WFHS to actually be in two buildings with one (Moore) holding the ninth and tenth grades and a newly constructed building holding grades 11 and 12. Think of it like a small college campus. The initial FSD1 rollout had WFHS to be built for 2,500 students (current brick and mortar WFHS  without mobiles  is 1,500). With Moore capacity at 1,325, we could realistically build for 1,000 for those upper grades, since current WFHS enrollment is well below 1,900.

This allows Sneed to continue as a middle school but also makes possible the use of the current WFHS site as a second middle school site. The current WFHS property also has sufficient room for construction of a future new elementary school, when needed.

If this approach is not followed, when the community gets back to SFHS in the future, we will have to rebuild it on a new 70-acre property site to then be identified and purchased. If we prioritize the new high school now, we can build it on JPJ and simply move over to it and then move the middle school into the existing high school site. Later the new middle school can be rebuilt back on the existing SFHS site, without need to purchase more property.

By focusing on all three high schools now, but with creative deferment of some of their construction costs to later dates to save front-end expense, and with a continuation of the pay-as-you-go approach for other needs, and with passage of a referendum plan, we could build the three high schools now for $200 million. For another $20 million, we could update the existing high school facilities for service as sixth- through eighth-grade middle schools and ninth-grade academies, as needed.

Standing still has never been an option. The Shuffle works well as a stopgap in the WFHS zone, but only to temporarily get the large ox out of the overcrowded ditch there.

Why Shuffle when we can Dance?

Porter Stewart is a member of the Florence School District One board and is a past board chairman.
October was Domestic Violence Awareness Month, a time for advocates across the nation to call for an end to domestic violence.

According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, every nine seconds in America, a woman is assaulted or beaten. Thats a disturbing statistic for sure.

To move on a path of positive change, men must consistently stand up as advocates and champions on the fight against domestic violence and assault.

Men from a Biblical and societal perspective are expected to provide for and protect their families. Which, in part, means treating women respectably and certainly without violence.

Men must take value in the fact that it is not OK to be abusive  under any circumstances (even when a man might have seen or had grown up under abusive circumstances and did not identify the violence as bad at the time).

Thats why it is important that men become aware of their mental health and stability, seeking help for issues that could affect them.

As parents, we must raise our boys to be respectful, nurturing and caring instead of abusive, belligerent and violent.

As men, we must educate our sons, colleagues, brothers, nephews (and other family members) to be beacons of hope instead of harbingers of violence.

We must teach one another to take accountability in the fact that women are human beings, not objects to be abused.

As men, if we turn a blind eye to domestic violence, we become cultivators of the next generation of domestic violence.

Ill say again: It is our obligation to speak out on domestic violence, and if you are an offender, get help or counseling.

Domestic violence is a pattern of behavior that we, as men, have a strong stake in preventing every chance we get.
ARLINGTON, Va., Nov. 01, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Air Force Association's (AFA) CyberPatriot Program Office has announced the Midwest CISSE Chapter (MCISSE) as its newest CyberPatriot Center of Excellence.

CyberPatriot, the nation's largest and fastest growing youth cyber education program, is AFA's flagship science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) program dedicated to strengthening cyber skills among American youth. The Center of Excellence designation is awarded to communities and institutions that provide leadership and support to further the educational experiences of their students through the CyberPatriot program.

CyberPatriot established the Center of Excellence program in 2011, and has since recognized 11 other entities  Los Angeles Unified School District, the City of San Antonio, Spokane Public Schools, Rose State College (Okla.), Fairfax County Public Schools (Va.), STEMspark East Tennessee Innovation Hub, Huntsville City Schools (Ala.), Lees Summit R-7 School District (Mo.), SoCal Cybersecurity Community College Consortium, Elk Grove Unified School District (Calif.), and Red Bank Regional High School District (NJ).

The University of Detroit Mercy, which is the lead institution for the MCISSE coalition, began building Cyber Security awareness across Michigan in 2006. MCISSE now covers the upper Midwest with all five of the National Security Agency Centers of Excellence in Michigan as well as partners from Ohio, Missouri, Colorado, Texas, and as far away as Warwick University in the United Kingdom. In 2015, MCISSE took on the challenge of expanding its reach into K-12 education by adding the CyberPatriot program.

It has been our honor to help foster the spread of cybersecurity across our region, said Tamara Shoemaker, Director of the Center for Cyber Security & Intelligence Studies at the University of Detroit Mercy. The consequence of this effort has been to ensure that the pipeline of potential students is Cyber Security aware, both in practice and as a career choice.

MCISSEs extensive list of long standing relationships with the faculty and staff of universities and community colleges in the region, along with access to professionals who work in ICT and Cyber Security in the Detroit industrial base, has led to the establishment of mentor relationships with middle and high schools who presently participate. Mentoring services are also provided to the many districts that plan to participate in the future.

Through its efforts, MCISSE has gotten recognition from Michigans Governor and the head of the Michigan National Guard, both who have helped secure funding with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation to promote the growth of the CyberPatriot Program. That funding has allowed MCISSE to hold two AFA CyberCamps and sponsor 80 team registrations for the current season, a huge jump from nine teams just three years prior.

For more information on MCISSE and CyberPatriot's Center of Excellence program, visit http://uscyberpatriot.org/about/centers-of-excellence.

The Air Force Association is a non-profit, independent, professional military and aerospace education association. Our mission is to promote a dominant United States Air Force and a strong national defense, and to honor Airmen and our Air Force Heritage.

Attachments:

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f3a10c72-6ce5-48d1-83b5-285fe1de2fe9
BOSTON, Nov. 01, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The National Tay-Sachs & Allied Diseases Association (NTSAD), the nations longest standing patient advocacy organization, announces that it will honor David Meeker, M.D., and Professor Timothy Cox, ScD, at Imagine & Believe, its annual Boston fundraising gala.



Marking its 60th anniversary, Imagine & Believe 2017 celebrates a history of achievement in advancing research toward a treatment, building healthy families through carrier screening, and supporting affected families.

NTSAD has served as both a role model for other advocacy groups and a beacon for families who receive a terrible and life-changing diagnosis, said Meeker, CEO of KSQ Therapeutics, who formerly led Sanofi Genzyme. Im honored to be recognized by the organization and look forward a day when the event is solely to celebrate successful treatments.

The anniversary event will be held Thursday, November 9 at the Royal Sonesta Hotel, Cambridge MA, and draws nationwide interest. Guests include families, leading researchers, health care professionals and vital members of the life science and advocacy communities.

As one of the longest-standing medical charities in the U.S. and the leading voice globally to relieve the terrible suffering caused by Tay-Sachs and related diseases of the brain, I warmly congratulate NTSAD on its 60th anniversary, says Prof. Cox, a researcher and clinician at the University of Cambridge, UK.

Dr. Meeker and Professor Cox are being recognized by NTSAD for their significant contributions in the field of rare diseases and lysosomal storage disorders.

David and Tim have been steadfast champions for those impacted by genetic disease, and their leadership has helped advance both new treatments and understanding, said NTSAD Executive Director, Susan Kahn. We look forward to their ongoing contributions to the field, and hopefully, towards new treatments.

Sanofi Genzyme is the title sponsor of Imagine and is joined by 27 additional sponsors. Proceeds from at Imagine & Believe will fund research and provide support for families affected by Canavan disease, GM-1, Sandhoff, Tay-Sachs and other related rare genetic diseases. Ongoing research in Tay-Sachs disease includes substantial progress towards a clinical trial being planned by the Tay-Sachs Gene Therapy Consortium and other ongoing projects.

In addition to providing research grants and supporting more than 500 families and individuals worldwide, NTSADs educational programs raise awareness about how to prevent these and related neurodegenerative diseases, which are each caused by an enzyme deficiency and are fatal in children and progressively debilitating in adults.

While weve made substantial progress in carrier screening and provided much-needed support for families impacted by these devastating diseases during our 60 years as an organization, we cannot rest until there is a cure, said Blyth Lord, NTSAD President.

For ticket and sponsorship information please visit www.ntsad.org.

Media Contact:

Edna Kaplan

KOGS Communication

Kaplan@kogspr.com

781-639-1910
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Nov. 01, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Riverside Resources Inc. (Riverside or the Company) (TSX-V:RRI), is pleased to announce an update of the exploration work being done at the Glor Gold Project (the Project) in Sonora, Mexico. Positive results obtained by Riversides summer program of geological mapping and rock sampling (up to 14.4 g/t Au) have encouraged partner, Centerra Gold Inc. (Centerra), to work up additional geophysical and extensive soil geochemistry surveys designed to focus the selection of drill targets in the central part of the Project. Centerra has been funding exploration at Glor since August, 2016, having entered into an option agreement with Riverside to earn a 70% interest in the Project (see press release, July 26, 2016). The ultimate goal of go-forward exploration and drilling programs at Glor is to discover a gold deposit amenable to open-pit mining with heap leach processing; similar in nature to the multi-million ounce deposits being mined in this same part of Sonora at the El Chanate, San Francisco and La Herradura gold operations.



The new exploration work, which has already been initiated, consists of an 850-sample soil geochemistry survey, a detailed ground magnetics survey covering an area of 210 hectares, a second magnetics survey of 80 line-kilometers that adjoins a previously completed survey, and an induced polarization survey of 14 line-kilometers that will be done in the same area as the soil survey and detailed magnetics survey. A full surface and exploration access agreement was recently signed with the leaders of the San Lucas communal lands, or ejido, which covers most of the western part of the Glor Project. In addition, the Project was granted a work permit by the Mexican environmental agency SEMARNAT that allows for drilling and other mechanized exploration work to be done in the targeted areas.

Riversides President and CEO, John-Mark Staude, stated: We are pleased with the expanded exploration programs at our Glor Project with Centerra. The gold targets we are defining have large-scale potential and fit the shear zone model that projects at low angles beneath shallow alluvial cover. Our field teams are working closely with senior Centerra geologists and consultants, and we look forward to a second drill program commencing in the near future.

Riversides most recent mapping and rock sampling program focused on the 3 km by 1.5 km Puerto El Alamo target area in the central part of the Glor Project. Exposed on hillsides in the area is a Jurassic sequence of clastic sedimentary rocks and andesite volcanic formations which is buried under younger sedimentary rocks and extensive alluvial deposits found south of a northwesterly striking regional fault. The volcanic rock is one of the main host-rocks for gold mineralization, and a number of prospector pits were found on shear zones in this lithology. Since mid-July of this year some 396 rock-chip samples were collected and analyzed for gold and 45 other elements. Approximately 9% of these samples returned gold assays greater than 0.3 g/t Au, with 16 samples assaying 1.0-24.0 g/t Au. The sample with the highest gold grade (24.0 g/t Au) was a select sample collected from a 30 cm wide, lead sulphide-bearing quartz vein a few tens of meters in length. A more significant sample that assayed 14.4 g/t Au was chip-channeled across a 1.2 m wide shear zone showing pervasive iron carbonate-sericite alteration cut by quartz veinlets.



The exploration work to-date has developed several target areas and Riversides partner remains committed to thoroughly exploring the Project to establish additional high-potential drill targets. Preliminary drill target locations have already been developed and the Company will provide further updates as the next phase of exploration progresses towards a drill campaign.

Qualified Person & QA/QC:

The scientific and technical data contained in this news release pertaining to the Glor Project was reviewed and approved by Ron Burk, P. Eng, a non-independent qualified person to Riverside Resources, who is responsible for ensuring that the geologic information provided in this news release is accurate and who acts as a qualified person under National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

About Riverside Resources Inc.:

Riverside is a well-funded exploration company that is driven by value generation and discovery. The company has approximately $4,000,000 in cash, less than 45M shares issued and a strong portfolio of gold-silver and copper assets in North America. Riverside has extensive experience and knowledge operating in Mexico and leverages its large database to generate a diverse portfolio of properties. In addition to Riversides own exploration spending, the Company also aims to diversify risk by securing joint-venture and spin-out partnerships to generate more discovery chances and advance multiple assets simultaneously. Riverside has additional properties available for option, with more information available on the Companys website at www.rivres.com.

ON BEHALF OF RIVERSIDE RESOURCES INC.



John-Mark Staude



Dr. John-Mark Staude, President & CEO

For additional information contact:

John-Mark Staude

President & CEO

Riverside Resources Inc.

info@rivres.com

Phone: (778) 327-6671

Fax: (778) 327-6675

Web: www.rivres.com Raffi Elmajian

Corporate Communications

Riverside Resources Inc.

relmajian@rivres.com

Phone: (778) 327-6671

TF: (877) RIV-RES1

Web: www.rivres.com

Certain statements in this press release may be considered forward-looking information. These statements can be identified by the use of forward looking terminology (e.g., "expect, estimates", "intends", "anticipates", "believes", "plans"). Such information involves known and unknown risks -- including the availability of funds, the results of financing and exploration activities, the interpretation of exploration results and other geological data, or unanticipated costs and expenses and other risks identified by Riverside in its public securities filings that may cause actual events to differ materially from current expectations. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Chen will be replacing Seaspan founder and ceo Gerry Wang who is retiring on 3 November. Until Chen takes up the post Peter Curtis, executive vice president and chief operating officer, will also serve as Seaspan's interim ceo.

Chens most recent role was as ceo of BNP Paribas (China), and he was previously general manager of Trafiguras Chinese operations.

"We are pleased to have reached a very successful conclusion to our ceo search, and to have a seasoned professional like Mr Chen join our executive team. Mr Chen has diverse operating and financial business experience as well as strong relationships in our key markets in Asia and Europe, said David Sokol, chairman of Seaspan.

Chen commented: I am confident that Seaspan will continue to strengthen its position as the leader in the global containership leasing industry.
In a stock market announcement SYS Corp said that In the dry bulk sector, it focussed its efforts on the domestic and coatal shipping segments. Consistent volumes with the Far East trades saw its eight vessels shipping 423,000 cu m of cargo at an average freight rate of $35-$39 per cu m. Backhaul legs were mainly on time charter for shipments of general cargo from far east regions to the Philippines, then enroute back to Sarawak.

In the liquid bulk sector, stable seasonal demand for CPO shipments in East Asia led to an improved freight rate of $26 to $31 per metric ton. An eight-month contract of affreightment from Petronas Chemical Marketing (Labuan) to ship methanol products from Labuan also helped.

In the container sector, SYS Corp is seen benefitting from its East Malaysia Network strategic alliance with Northport and expects to have more stability in its containers shipping through its cooperation agreement providing coverage between East Malaysia and West Malaysia with its thirteen container vessels. The group lifted 98,075 teu in this financial year.

Nonetheles for the domestic and regional shipping segment, revenue fell to MYR312.7m from MYR328.9m previously while segment profit also slid 30% to MYR42.5m from MYR60.4m previously.

In International Shipping, foreseeing unstable Middle East shipping demand, the Group had sold its stakes in loss making units Aya Shin Yang FZC and Shin Yang Shipbuilding and Engineering RMC FZC.

The international shipping segment however also saw revenue plunge by a fifth to MYR185.5m from MYR235.1m previously although segment losses narrowed to MYR37.1m.

The shipbuilding segment saw weaker demand from the oil and gas sector due to capital expenditures cuts.

Ship repair and fabrication did slightly better, with this sector repairing a total of 825 units in the year. Nevertheless SYSCorp delivered four vessels during the year but segment losses almost doubled to MYR20.7m from MYR11.8m previously and revenue fell to MYR134.4m.

Looking ahead, SYS Corp said: "We foreseen that the price of crude oil price remains stable which in turn contributed to our anticipated stable bunker fuel costs to our shipping operation."

Meanwhile continuous infrastructure development in Sarawak and the neigbouring Brunei is expected to create a lot of demand for shipping services.

"The challenge for the group is to further improve its efficiency and productivity in both fleet efficiency and shipbuilding consolidation activities," SYS Corp concluded.
LOS ANGELES, Nov. 01, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- (OTCQB:BDIC) Blow & Drive Interlock Corp (BDIC) based in Los Angeles, California has just announced its newest products to hit the market in Early 2018. There was plenty of excitement during the unveiling and demonstration of BDICs Home Alcohol Monitoring Device. The Handheld device with a camera and GPS/WIFI & live streaming allows those in Judicial and Probation departments to monitor offenders who are required to stay sober from alcohol while on probation.



Traditionally, courts use probation to offer a criminal offender conditional relief from a potential jail sentence. If the offender meets regularly with a probation officer and complies with court-mandated benchmarks of good behavior for a fixed period of time, they escape a harsher sentence the court would otherwise impose. Courts in some US states charge offenders fees to help defray the costs of running a probation service. This is called offender-funded probation.

State & Local officials turn to criminal offender monitoring companies like BDIC because they are facing genuine financial hardship. With BDICs new home alcohol monitoring system, BDIC can offer courts, counties, and municipalities criminal offender monitoring services without asking for a single dime of public revenue. In return BDIC has the right to collect fees from the probationers it supervises.

The second amazing new product BDIC unveiled today was its 4G LTE Live-Streaming Video Body Worn Camera for Law Enforcement.

Most body cameras are their own standalone device. They can record police interactions from a 12-hour shift, typically, onto an internal storage device that an officer carries around on their uniform. At the end of a shift, they go back to headquarters to upload the data.

There's one major disadvantage to this uploading setup. If some significant police interaction is going on, such as a deadly hostage scenario, the police supervisors calling shots at headquarters are basically flying blind. Officers on the scene can report what they're seeing, but those body cameras aren't really doing anything to help the situation at hand.

But now with BDICs 4G LTE Live-Streaming Video Body Worn Camera, Law Enforcement Personnel on the scene can transmit a live feed from their body cameras to headquarters allowing police decision makers access to real time information about what each officer is seeing.

This innovative body-camera streaming system transmits live video, audio, and GPS location in real time, day or night, to a police command or dispatch center, while simultaneously recording and retaining video in the camera itself. BDICs new Body Worn Camera has the benefit of increasing the safety of police officers in the line of duty by giving headquarters real-time situation awareness and the ability to make immediate critical assessments and decisions to aid officers in the field

The body camera weighs about 210g and provides up to 32 GB of memory & 5-megapixel recording. It also offers infrared technology for night recording, multiple resolution settings, pre-and post-recording capabilities, and many additional features to aid officers in obtaining high quality video recording.

Both products are expected to be available in early 2018 and will be added to BDICs already successful line of BDI-747 Alcohol Ignition Interlock Devices for monitoring DUI/DWI offenders in their vehicles.

For information on Blow & Drive Interlocks reseller program, visit www.blowanddrive.com or call 877-238-4492

About BDIC

Blow & Drive Interlock Corp (BDIC) based in Los Angeles, California, is a publicly traded company that manufactures, distributes and leases its' Ignition Interlock Device Model# BDI-747 in multiple States.

The BDI-747 is a state of the art ignition interlock device approximately the size of a smartphone. The ignition interlock device requires the driver to exhale into the device prior to starting the vehicle. This prevents the vehicle from starting if the driver's blood-alcohol content exceeds a predetermined set level. Interlocks may be required for use by DUI or DWI ("driving under the influence" or "driving while intoxicated") offenders as part of their mandatory court or motor vehicle department program.

The individual subject to the court or motor vehicle order pays for the installation/removal and monthly lease of the ignition interlock device. The Company provides monitoring of the device at predetermined intervals according to state guidelines. Data is collected and made available to the appropriate authorities for review. The data shows all breath tests performed and/or missed tests as well as any attempt to bypass or circumvent the system.

FORWARD-LOOKING DISCLAIMER



This report may contain certain forward-looking statements and information. This material contains statements about expected future events and/or financial results that are forward-looking in nature and subject to risks and uncertainties. Such forward-looking statements by definition involve risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of mentioned company to be materially different from the statements made herein.
A recent funding renewal will allow two University of Michigan (U-M)-administered programs to continue their mission of supporting collaboration among state universities and spinning off technologies developed at universities into startup businesses.

The Michigan Strategic Fund  an oversight board for the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC)  approved $1.4 million for the Michigan Corporate Relations Network (MCRN) and $1.26 million for Technology Transfer Talent Network (T3N), funding each program for another year.

"The state continues to fund these programs because they show results," says Stella Wixom, executive director of the U-M Business Engagement Center and principal investigator of the MCRN grant.

MCRN started in 2011 as a collaboration between six state universities but has since expanded to include all 15 state universities. T3N, also created in 2011, was started with help from the MEDC to provide talent programs and resources to support the commercialization of university projects.

Talent resources provided by T3N include a fellowship program, a mentors-in-residence program, university post-doctoral fellowships, and a statewide talent resource network.

"These programs touch on three key areas that are integral parts of commercializing technology: business engagement, technology transfer, and research," says Denise Graves, MEDC university relations director. She says the renewed funding will allow both programs to "expand and refine" the work they're doing supporting all 15 public universities across Michigan.

While the focus of both programs is on finding commercial channels for university-created technologies, much of the work they do is about "building relationships," Graves says.

That relationship-building includes setting up mentorship programs and getting interns into small and medium-sized businesses.

Graves says mentors with "deep industry knowledge" are matched with faculty to help them commercialize technology, get first customers and funding, and provide feedback to faculty on what they need to do to make the technologies viable in the marketplace.

Wixom says the state is interested in exposing students to small and medium-sized companies that students might otherwise overlook. The grant money will help students get internships in those smaller companies.

"A lot of those companies are thrilled with the talent and convert those internships to full-time positions, and the students are more interested in staying after having hands-on experience at those companies," Wixom says.

Wixom says it's important to note that the collaborations among state universities to create technology spinoffs is "a really unique offering."

"It makes us competitive in the country in terms of companies locating here," Wixom says. "I've talked to folks in Texas and Mississippi who are trying to emulate this model. The partnerships and support from the state make us attractive and friendly to businesses."

Sarah Rigg is a freelance writer and editor in Ypsilanti Township. You may reach her at sarahrigg1@gmail.com.

Photos courtesy of MCRN and MEDC.
Press Release

November 1, 2017 De Lima elated, humbled over 'Prize for Freedom' award Senator Leila M. de Lima today expressed elation over the prestigious "Prize for Freedom" Award conferred by Liberal International (LI) in recognition for her outstanding efforts in defense of freedom and human rights. De Lima, a known human rights defender, said she is greatly humbled and grateful for LI for this latest recognition of her unrelenting fight for human rights, justice and the rule of law amid the political persecution she is subjected to under the present administration. "I am humbled and honored to be chosen as the recipient of this prestigious Human Rights Prize, which was also bestowed to former president and democracy icon Corazon Aquino," she said in a statement. "More than a recognition, I regard this award as an inspiration that strengthens my resolve to continue opposing this murderous regime, its outright disregard for human rights and trampling of human dignity to my last breath, especially because I am not alone in my fight," she added. During its 199th Executive Committee meeting in Johannesburg, South Africa this week, the LI has announced it is conferring the Prize for Freedom - the global federations' highest human rights honor -- to Senator de Lima. More than 100 liberals from 32 countries participated in LI's 199th Executive Committee meeting. (See https://liberal-international.org/news-articles/philippines-political-prisoner-de-lima-receive-lis-top-human-rights-award/) In an official statement, Markus Loning, Chairman of LI's Human Rights Committee who visited and met with the Senator last July, cited De Lima as perfect embodiment of a leader who fights for what is right despite political oppression. "Leila De Lima has been a flag-bearer for human rights in the Philippines and beyond, setting a shining example for other human rights defenders. Even from inside the prison she keeps fighting for the rule of law and the dignity of individuals. She should immediately be released from pre-trial detention," Loning said. According to LI, De Lima will be the second Filipino to accept the Human Rights Prize, after then President Corazon Aquino in 1987, who was recognized "for her world-renowned advocacy of democracy, peace, and the empowerment of women." LI noted the award is given to "a well-known personality of liberal conviction who has made outstanding efforts for the defence of freedom and human rights." Other recipients of the prestigious award include the imprisoned Saudi liberal blogger Raif Badawi (2016), Helen Suzman (2002), Martin Lee (1996) and was first awarded in 1986. The third international organization that sent representatives to visit De Lima in detention, LI has previously denounced the arrest of De Lima as politically motivated. A network of over a hundred liberal and democratic parties in the world, LI also urged the Duterte administration to immediately release De Lima from continued unjust detention and allow her to fulfill her mandate as a sitting Senator of the Republic. Prior to this award, De Lima was also recognized by Foreign Policy magazine as one of 100 leading Global Thinkers for 2016, by Time Magazine as one of 100 Most Influential People, one of the Icons, for 2017, and by Amnesty International as one of the notable Women Human Rights Defenders in 2017.
DENVER, Nov. 01, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pax8, the leading value-added cloud distributor, today announced it has promoted Jennifer Bodell to vice president of Channel and Don Jeter to vice president of Marketing. Bodell and Jeter will continue reporting to Nick Heddy, senior vice president of Sales and Marketing.



We are excited to announce the new, well-deserved promotions for Jennifer and Don, said Heddy. As award-winning leaders in the IT channel, Jennifer and Don are making an impact in the community, enabling MSPs to find success selling cloud and profitably growing their businesses. As the first female executive at Pax8, Jennifer brings a fresh perspective and expertise that is driving our business development strategy and field marketing efforts. Don is a creative force in the industry who has helped us develop the unique Pax8 brand, enabling us to expand our reach in the market. The Pax8 team is proud to congratulate Jennifer and Don on their expanded roles and scope of work.

As the vice president of Channel, Bodell is responsible for strategic direction of the companys field marketing efforts and key IT channel relationships, including new growth opportunities and partner program development. Before joining Pax8, Bodell held multiple channel-focused leadership positions at StorageCraft, including her most recent position as the companys Channel Marketing Manager. Throughout her career, Bodell has earned several achievements including the 2016 Presenter of the Year by HTG, one of CRNs Power 100 in 2017 and 2016, a CRN 2017 and 2016 Women of the Channel, one of CRNs 100 People You Dont Know But Should, and she was named a 2015 Rising Star by the Utah American Marketing Association. She holds a bachelors degree in Business Communications from the University of Utah.

As vice president of Marketing, Jeter is responsible for the companys strategic go-to-market efforts, brand development, including marketing enablement programs, lead generation, campaigns, and partner/vendor engagement. Previously, Jeter held various marketing roles at Symantec and Veritas. While at Veritas, the worlds leader in information management, Jeter received many accolades, including the CMOs Marketing MVP honor and North Americas VP Leadership award. Jeter was recently named one of CRNs 100 People You Dont Know But Should. He received a Bachelor of Science from Southern Oregon University.

Jennifer and Don are a pleasure to work with, and it is evident that they work hard every day to drive innovation and cultivate successful partnerships in the IT channel, said Lisa Mackenzie, partner and senior vice president at The Channel Company. As one of CRNs Power 100 and CRNs Women of the Channel for two consecutive years, we couldnt be happier to know that Jennifer will be Pax8s first female executive. We look forward to the continued impact they will make in the IT channel.

To learn more about Pax8, please contact the cloud solutions advisors at (855) 884-PAX8, email info@pax8.com, or visit www.pax8.com.

About Pax8

Pax8 is the leading value-added cloud distributor offering top cloud products and solutions to the IT channel. The company is driving the business transition to the cloud through its comprehensive enablement, education, and technology that powers the marketplace. The Pax8 proprietary cloud marketplace provides efficient and intelligent cloud product configuration so solution providers and managed service providers (MSPs) can easily automate their processes and create customized bundled solutions for their customers. As the Cloud Wingman for the IT channel, Pax8 offers on-demand marketing, quote to cash support, sales assistance and training, provisioning automation, and subscription billing. Pax8 is well-engineered to sell, assemble, and deliver quality cloud solutions to its worldwide channel of solution providers and MSPs. For more information, please visit www.pax8.com.

Follow Pax8 on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter.
Online anonymity and tech companies inability to discern real corporations from shell firms funded by Russian money prevented Facebook, Google and Twitter from identifying Russian interference in the 2016 election, company representatives said Tuesday during a hearing before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee.

Though it was a rare opportunity for lawmakers to grill tech firms on their practices and policies, senators seemed frustrated by the companies refusal to back regulation of political ads online and open up about their efforts to root out terrorism and foreign meddling.

How did Facebook, which prides itself on being able to process billions of data points and transform them into personal connections for its users, somehow not make the connection that electoral ads paid for in rubles were coming from Russia? asked Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn.

Twitters Sean Edgett later became the sole tech company representative to commit to not accepting political ads that are paid for in a foreign currency.

Facebooks general counsel, Colin Stretch, declined to go as far as making a promise under oath. Googles representative, Richard Salgado, said he needed to check to make sure its a good signal.

As many as 126 million Facebook users may have been exposed to content that originated from the Russian operation, Stretch said.

Thats a big jump from the previous estimate of 11.4 million users that the social networking giant said probably saw paid advertisements by Russian operatives, in part because it includes propaganda posts that spread through shares and likes, without a boost from ads. Facebook had never before disclosed the impact such content had on its social network.

Twitter in its prepared remarks reported that it found 2,752 accounts linked to Russian-backed operations and more than 36,000 bots promoting similar propaganda. Those accounts, according to Edgett, the companys acting general counsel, tweeted about last years election about 1.4 million times and generated 288 million impressions, a measure of how much a tweet is viewed.

Salgado, Googles director of law enforcement and information security, said the company had found two main accounts on its advertising service that appeared to be backed by the Russian government. Those accounts spent roughly $4,700 on search and display ads during the U.S. presidential election, Salgado said.

On YouTube, Googles video-sharing service, 18 channels with about 1,100 videos were uploaded by individuals who we suspect are associated with this effort and that contained political content, according to Salgados prepared remarks.

Each companys representative was quick to point out how low those numbers were in the grand scheme of things: More than 1.3 billion people visit Facebook daily; Twitter sees about 330 million users monthly; and Google, which earns more than $75 billion a year in ad revenue, said people watch more than a billion hours of YouTube video daily, with 400 hours of video uploaded every minute.

But senators quickly grew irritated with attempts at minimizing the problem.

Why has it taken Facebook 11 months to come forward and help us understand the scope of this problem? asked Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del.

I hear a lot of Johnny-come-latelies, said Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., who implied the companies could have done more to investigate these advertisements and noted how much money they made from them.

Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes

Federal investigators have said they believe there are probably many more accounts on Twitter that went undiscovered because they were not linked to the accounts that had already been shut down. Facebooks lawyer said its likely that they were not able to find every Russian-linked account, as the company is limited in its ability to see behind the company running an advertising account. If a firm is a shell corporation ultimately backed by Russian money, Stretch said, it would be difficult for Facebook to tell.

Facebook announced that it would double its security and safety staff, which tracks extremism and other forms of abuse on its network, to 20,000 by the end of next year. Twitter said it has hundreds of workers tackling the issue, and Google said there are thousands of its employees dedicated to tracking misuse of its services.

Though the hearing was focused on Russian use of social media to disseminate false or divisive political narratives, senators brought up a wide range of issues, including fake news, shell corporations, free speech, the power of Silicon Valley, tech employees own political leanings and whether tech firms should be considered media companies.

The prospect of Silicon Valley companies actively censoring speech or the news content is troubling to anyone who cared about a democratic process with a robust First Amendment, said Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas. It is disconcerting if those political positions (of tech employees) become a lens through which American consumers consume news.

Company lawyers will testify again before the Senate and House intelligence committees on Wednesday, widely considered the main event in this weeks congressional probe of tech companies.

None of the companies high-profile CEOs  Googles Sundar Pichai, Twitters Jack Dorsey or Facebooks Mark Zuckerberg  attended Tuesdays hearing.

Marissa Lang is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: mlang@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @Marissa_Jae
CAPITOLA, Calif., Nov. 01, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A new study to understand the potential impact of cut-flower agribusiness land usage with the January 2018 legalization of cannabis production in California concludes there is no evidence it will affect the states ability to produce nearly 80 percent of the nations cut flower production. The study by Dr. Daniel Sumner of the University of California Agricultural Issues Center (AIC) at UC Davis points out that economic barriers will continue to limit how much greenhouse space is actually converted into legal cannabis production and concludes the states cut-flower output should generally remain stable.

Even though cannabis has been a cash crop in California for decades, licensed production in the near future will be contained by the necessary costs to comply with the new regulations and with social and political factors, according to the report commissioned by the California Association of Flower Growers & Shippers (CalFlowers). The study states that the newly legitimatized cannabis producers must pay taxes and fees, comply with state and local regulations, and while some sanctioned cannabis producers may seek to grow their crop where cut flowers are grown today, the impact is expected to be negligible.

"Our conclusion is that cannabis is not among the main issues that Californias cut flower growers need to be concerned with anytime soon and certainly not in 2018, Sumner said.

To understand the potential impact of cannabis demand and production on the states cut flower producing capacity, Sumner had his team focus on licensed production expected to begin in January 2018 because it is only this new crop that represents a potential challenge to cut flower production. Despite the statewide total of 15.5 million pounds of cannabis production, the AIC estimates at most 700,000 pounds of licensed cannabis will be produced in greenhouses in California in 2018.

All of this could be grown in just approximately 6 percent of the states floriculture growing space and about 3 percent of its total greenhouse space. Of course, not all of the converted cannabis crop will be produced in floriculture growing space for many reasons. The direct competition for farm labor should also only have a slight impact on cut-flower production.

Michael LoBue, CalFlowers CEO said, We commissioned the report to determine if the upcoming gold rush with the legalization of cannabis would cut into our production capacity and found out it wont affect our output or distribution channels. Even though greenhouses might seem like good places to grow cannabis, this report indicates that the entry costs and other factors are just too daunting to have much of an impact on an established and thriving industry like the cut-flower agribusiness.

The study results were presented at the CalFlowers biennial conference and convention Fun N Sun this August in Carlsbad, Calif. Following a presentation of the findings, Sumner and a panel of CalFlowers members discussed the issues concerning flower growers and shippers.

The CalFlowers conference panel included:

Steve Dionne of Wafex USA, panel moderator, who has been involved in the California floral industry for over 20 years, serves on the CalFlowers Board, and has twice served as the associations president





Michael A. Mellano, chairman of the board and vice president of farming for Mellano & Company, a third generation cut flower producer and distributor in San Luis Rey, Calif.





Martin Meskers, president of wholesale cut flower nursery Oregon Flowers, Inc., in Aurora, Ore., who brought insights as a producer in a state that is slightly ahead of California in the legalization of cannabis





Patrick Dahlson, CEO of Mayesh Wholesale Florist and an active participant in the floral industry who has served in the leadership of the Wholesale Florists & Florists Suppliers Association (WF&FSA) and the Society of American Florists (SAF)





Daniel A. Sumner, Ph.D., is the Frank H. Buck Jr. Professor in the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics at the University of California, Davis, and the Director of the University of California Agricultural Issues Center.

Sumners presentation and the AICs final report can be found on the CalFlowers website at http://www.cafgs.org/2017-final-report-of-cannabis-impact-on-california-cut-flowers.

About CalFlowers

The California Association of Flower Growers & Shippers (CalFlowers) is a voluntary California-based trade association comprised of nearly 200 voting members in California and 384 associate members in 47 states other than California. CalFlowers collaborates with other floral industry associations to promote the floral industry in the U.S., striving to have more Americans enjoy more flowers more often, and provides access to discount shipping programs for floral products. (www.cafgs.org)

About the Agricultural Issues Center

The University of California Agricultural Issues Center (AIC) provides identification and analysis of important issues affecting agriculture in California. AIC provides independent and objective research-based information on a range of critical, emerging agricultural issues and their significance for the economy. (https://aic.ucdavis.edu/)

Media Contact: Michael LoBue, 415-561-6111, mobile 415-613-1559, LoBue@cafgs.org
NEW YORK - Federal authorities on Wednesday charged the 29-year-old Uzbek immigrant they say plowed a rented truck into people walking and cycling on a New York City bike path - killing eight - with providing support to a terrorist organization, alleging that he was inspired by the Islamic State to inflict mayhem and chose Halloween because he figured there would be more people on the street.

In court papers, federal authorities said that Sayfullo Saipov told the FBI that he began planning his attack a year ago, though he settled on using a truck as a weapon only two months prior.

Saipov said he was proud of what he had done - even requesting to display the Islamic State flag in his hospital room - and that he was inspired particularly after he watched a video of Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, court papers say. In that video, Baghdadi questioned what Muslims in the United States were doing to respond to the killing of other members of their faith in Iraq, Saipov told the FBI.

In addition to the terrorism charge, Saipov faces one count of violence and destruction of a motor vehicle - a charge that, because prosecutors allege someone died as a result, could carry with it the death sentence.

More than a dozen people were also wounded Tuesday.

Police and FBI officials decried the incident as the worst terrorist attack in New York since Sept. 11, 2001, and they immediately launched an international investigation to uncover how and why it happened. They urged New Yorkers to carry on as normal, even as they said they would beef up security at this weekend's New York City Marathon and explore other steps to prevent a similar incident.

"What happened yesterday was not okay," New York City Police Commissioner James O'Neill said. "It will never be something that any of us just accept as inevitable."

Saipov, who drove for Uber and once had his own trucking company, apparently was radicalized after he came to the United States, and a note written in Arabic that he left at the scene extolled the Islamic State, authorities said.

Translated to English, the note said, in part: "Islamic Supplication. It will endure," court papers say.

"The gist of the note was that the Islamic State would endure forever," said John Miller, the deputy commissioner of intelligence and counterterrorism at the New York City Police Department.

David Patton, Saipov's attorney, said: "In a case like this involving so much tragedy, it's more important than ever to let the judicial process play out. How we as a society treat Mr. Saipov will say more about us than it will about him."

It was not immediately clear whether investigators had found any evidence that others had knowledge of, or assisted with, the plot. The FBI said briefly Wednesday night that agents were looking for another man, identified as 32-year-old Mukhammadzoir Kadirov, or Muhammad Kadirov, in connection with the investigation. But they gave no indication why they were doing so or if he was suspected of having a role, and just minutes later, they said they were no longer seeking him.

"We believed he had information related to yesterday, but we are not looking for that individual any longer," said FBI Assistant Director in Charge William Sweeney, adding, "We have found him, and I'll leave it at that."

A person who was in touch with both Saipov's and Kadirov's families on Wednesday said that Kadirov is in New Jersey, has retained an attorney and is cooperating with law enforcement officials, but that he was not under arrest as of Wednesday evening.

The person, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the subject, said Kadirov is Saipov's cousin. The person, who spoke to Kadirov over the phone, said Kadirov seemed "utterly shocked and horrified" by what Saipov had done.

Investigators found on Saipov's phones 90 videos and 3,800 images, many of which seemed to be Islamic State propaganda, videos of the group's fighters killing prisoners or bomb-making instructions. He told agents that he wanted to kill as many people as he could and considered putting Islamic State flags at the front and back of his truck - but ultimately decided it would draw too much attention, court papers say.

National security officials have warned that as the Islamic State is being routed in Syria and Iraq, the group's supporters might try to carry out crude attacks in the places where they live. The group has urged its supporters to use vehicles as weapons, and the tactic has been employed in France, Britain, Germany, Sweden, Spain and Canada.

The group, though, did not immediately claim responsibility for the incident in New York, according to the SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors extremist activity.

Officials on both sides of the political aisle agreed that Saipov's rampage was an act of terrorism, but there was almost immediate disagreement on how to respond.

President Trump decried the way Saipov entered the United States - via a State Department program that grants visas to people from countries with historically low rates of immigration to the United States - and said he would ask Congress to end it. On Twitter, Trump asserted that he would increase already "extreme" vetting of those wanting to come to the country, and he took a swipe at Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer, D-N.Y.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, D, fired back that Trump's tweet was "not helpful" and said he was "bothered by an attempt by anyone to politicize this situation."

The president also said he was considering sending Saipov to the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said later that "I believe we would consider this person to be an enemy combatant."

Sanders, though, did not seem to affix any legal meaning to the term, and of sending Saipov to Guantanamo Bay, she said Trump was trying to indicate that he "would support that, but he wasn't necessarily advocating for it."

Even the suggestion of labeling Saipov an enemy combatant or putting him in Guantanamo Bay - which probably would spark years of legal wrangling - drew immediate condemnation from civil liberties groups. The court system at the military prison is still struggling to bring to trial those accused of playing roles in the 9/11 attacks.

"Military detention would be unconstitutional, contrary to congressional statutes and unnecessary," said Hina Shamsi, director of the ACLU National Security Project.

On Tuesday afternoon, Saipov is alleged to have ultimately crashed into a school bus and emerged from his truck armed with a paintball gun and pellet gun. A passer-by flagged down police officers responding to an unrelated call at a school in the area, and one of them shot and wounded Saipov, police said.

Court papers say Saipov shouted "Allahu akbar,'' meaning "God is great'' in Arabic, after he got out of the truck. Investigators found a stun gun on the floor of his truck and three knives in a black bag he was carrying, court papers say.

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Among those Saipov is accused of killing were a group of childhood friends from Argentina, now in their late 40s, who had been planning a trip to New York for years; a young mother; and two men in their 20s and 30s from New York and New Jersey.

Police said Saipov had never been the "subject" of an FBI or New York police investigation, though they stopped short of saying he was unknown to law enforcement. Miller said "he will have some connectivity to individuals who were the subjects of investigation, though he himself was not." Law enforcement officials said the FBI has been investigating a friend of Saipov's, but that probe had not previously found derogatory information against Saipov.

The FBI has, in the past, scrutinized people who have gone on to commit attacks. Perhaps most notably, agents investigated Omar Mateen, who shot and killed 49 people last year in an Islamic State-inspired attack in an Orlando nightclub, for 10 months in 2013, even putting him under surveillance and recording his calls before ultimately closing the case.

A perpetrator of the Boston Marathon bombing in 2013 also drew scrutiny before that attack.

Saipov arrived in the United States in March 2010 and lived in Ohio, Florida and New Jersey, according to authorities. He started a trucking company, was married, had children and at one point, worked for Uber, where he passed a background check. His wife has told the FBI that she did not know he was planning violence, a person familiar with the case said.

Those who knew Saipov said they were surprised by what had happened - though some acknowledged that he had antagonistic tendencies.

Mirrakhmat Muminov, 38, a truck driver in a suburb of Akron, Ohio, said that Saipov lived in his community and worked part-time for his trucking company for a few months. But he had to fire him because he was often late for deliveries and was aggressive with customers.

"He was always aggressive and nervous," Muminov said in an interview. "We warned him in our community: 'Don't be nervous. You have to stay calm.' "

---

Jon Silman in Tampa; Eli Rosenberg and Abigail Hauslohner in Paterson, N.J.; Renae Merle in New York; and Sari Horwitz, Julie Tate, Philip Rucker, Amy B Wang and Samantha Schmidt in Washington contributed to this report.

- - -

VIDEO:

Twenty-nine-year-old Sayfullo Saipov is the suspect held in the terrorist attack that left eight people dead in Lower Manhattan on Oct. 31. Here's what you should know. (Amber Ferguson/The Washington Post)

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President Trump is losing another court fight, this one over his sudden decision in July to kick transgender people out of the military. A federal judges ruling blocks the move, but the case highlights the presidents quirky and self-defeating approach to policymaking thats producing a string of legal losses.

In the latest case, a Washington, D.C., judge halted the transgender ban, using Trumps own tweets against him. Justice Department lawyers tried to sell the slashing change as something else: the beginning of an administrative and legal review with a more distant deadline.

The judge wasnt buying it. U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly responded to suits brought by veterans, LGBT advocacy groups and several states, including California, to block the exclusion. In her ruling, the judge noted there was a good chance the complaint about unfair treatment would prevail if the matter went forward and the reasons offered by the president for the ban were not merely unsupported, but were actually contradicted by the studies, conclusions and judgment of the military itself.

The ban was a blindsiding action from a president famous for doing just that. The Pentagon was caught unaware of the presidents switch and hurried to clear up the confusion with a stretched out policy review intended to soften the presidents words. But the judge, as others before her, cited Trumps tweets as the underlying intention and blocked the presidents order for now.

Its not the first time Trump has stumbled on his own words. Two other high-profile issues  a travel ban from Muslim-majority countries and a financial cut to sanctuary cities  were entangled in litigation over the presidents bluntly spoken words and challenges that he was acting improperly.

When lawyers for the White House tried to soften the presidents own words with less divisive explanations, opponents brought up Trumps original remarks. Instead of crafting a policy carefully, the president throws out red-meat sound bites via Twitter, leaving legal advisers to scramble for a defensible position. It isnt working.

When it comes to policy making, Trump may be his own worst enemy, especially in federal court. The tweeter in chief isnt accomplishing much in these recent cases.

This commentary is from The Chronicles editorial board. We invite you to express your views in a letter to the editor. Please submit your letter via our online form: SFChronicle.com/letters.
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Two weekends ago I went to Napa for an upcoming story, and last weekend I did the same with Sonoma, concentrating on checking out life around Glen Ellen and the Sonoma Plaza after the devastating fires.

I made my first stop at El Molino Central, which has become known for its Mexican food. Diners order at the counter and the food is delivered to the patio or picnic tables in back. The enchiladas suiza ($12) were excellent, but the special tamales ($14) filled with ground beef and pork were some of the best Ive had. The masa was light and barely held together, letting the filling and the surrounding sauce shine.

While it was business as usual in most places I visited, including the Sonoma Plaza, when we drove on Highway 12 between Glen Ellen and Kenwood, the damage was evident on both sides of the highway.

There were many close calls during the fires, and two prominent wineries barely escaped the flames. However, both Buena Vista and Scribe were welcoming visitors.

At Scribe, gaggles of people spread colorful blankets on the hillside in front of the barn and drank the Nouveau Pinot Noir, which had been bottled just a few days before. Proceeds from the sales go to La Luz, which has created a Fire Relief Fund to help immigrant families in need.

At Buena Vista, the oldest commercial winery in California with roots back to 1857, everything was back to normal, even though the winery was surrounded by charred hills.

On Sunday, owner Jean Charles Boisset hosted a special ambassadors event; the night before, the winery had a Halloween party. I could smell smoke in the back reaches of the cave where the fire came nearly to the back wall, but everything else seemed copacetic.

Michael Bauer/The Chronicle

For dinner, we ended up at the 5-year-old Glen Ellen Star, which reopened just last week. By 6 p.m. every chair was occupied on the converted patio and in the tiny main restaurant, which has become known for its wood-fired pizza, particularly the margherita ($16).

Yet the restaurant, owned by Ari Weiswasser and Erinn Benziger-Weiswasser, offers much more than that, including a whole branzino ($39), which is mostly boned and stuffed with sliced potatoes; and a roast chicken ($27) presented on a bed of lentils.

Food Guide Top 25 Restaurants Where to eat in the Bay Area. Find spots near you, create a dining wishlist, and more.

Desserts play into our frozen-confection obsession. The restaurant makes a half-dozen flavors and packs them in individual scoop-size cartons ($5) to present to diners. The salted peanut butter had an intensity that is hard to capture in a frozen product.

It was a great way to end a day in the Wine Country before driving back to San Francisco. While the Wine Country is singed around the edges, its open and waiting for tourists.

El Molino Central: 11 Central Ave., Sonoma; (707) 939-1010. www.elmolinocentral.com. Open 9 a.m.-9 p.m. daily.

Glen Ellen Star: 13648 Arnold Drive, Glen Ellen; (707) 343-1384. www.glenellenstar.com. Dinner nightly.

Scribe Winery: 2100 Denmark St., Sonoma; (707) 939-1858. www.scribewinery.com. Reservations required.

Buena Vista Winery: 18000 Old Winery Road, Sonoma; (800) 926-1266; www.buenavistawinery.com. Tasting room open daily.
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On Sunday morning, a Little Free Library on Castanada Avenue in Forest Hill was defaced with box cutters and knocked off its perch. Vandals left the library in a planter on the property.

It was the third time in two years that the library has been vandalized, said owner Kristina K., who declined to share its exact location.

"Its an absolute mystery," she said. "People have an impulsive need to hurt it."

The library has been in its current spot since August 2015. After purchasing the little libraryshaped like a houseon Etsy, Kristina and her husband painted it gray to match their home.

"I saw these little libraries popping up all over the city, and I love reading," Kristina explained. "I thought this was a nice way to trade books." The library was popular with the neighborhood, and people started putting books into it right away, she said.

A few months after it went up, unknown parties ripped the door off of its hinges and threw it in the planter. Six months later, someone else knocked the library off of its perch, landing in their planter again.

"The parts you needed to connect it were really damaged," said Kristina. She and her husband fixed up the little library again, and it was "going strong" until this past Sunday.

Kristina's husband discovered the library on the ground, with various pieces of wood ripped off from the box cutters. Compared to the previous incidents, the damage was "significant" this time around.

"I don't know what the Little Free Library did to them," she said. "Its close to death, and Im not sure what to do."

While Kristina filed a police report, she said she and her husband may not repair the library again if it is vandalized a fourth time. However, she noted that her neighbors were strongly in support of the library.

"Theres an elderly woman who depends on it for her all of her reading," she said. "Itd be a real shame for her. She comes over every day."

"On the flip side," she said, "I cant keep it on the pole if people keep attacking it."

This isn't the first time a Little Free Library in San Francisco has suffered abuse. In 2016, the Duboce Triangle Little Free Library closed after vandals set it on fireand then made off with it for the second time.

This story originally appeared on Hoodline.
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Trick-or-treaters passing through San Francisco's Mission Dolores Park met a sorrowful sight Wednesday night: stark gravestones, nearly a dozen of them, in memoriam of existences taken too soon. It was a memorial to short-lived Bay Area startups.

Farewell, Juicero, we hardly knew ye.

A Halloween prankster with a San Francisco sensibility devised the stunt, which greeted costumed park-goers and their pups just as candy-seeking kids set out for the night.

The headstones paid homage to a diversity of Bay Area companies, all of which fizzled in the past year or so (the exception being troubled health-tech company Theranos, which is still open for business).

Evan Hynes, a former startup employee, devised the hoax.

"I asked myself, what's the scariest thing that can happen to an employee at a startup?" the 26-year-old told SFGATE. His answer: "Finding out that your two percent stake in a blockchain-based smart juice company is actually worthless."

Hynes made the gravestones with styrofoam and spray paint.

The homage to startups past followed a similar fate to the companies it lampooned; after a few hours, park rangers asked Hynes to take the gravestones down.

Michelle Robertson is an SFGATE staff writer. Email her at mrobertson@sfchronicle.com or find her on Twitter at @mrobertsonsf.
MISSION, Kan., Nov. 01, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- (Family Features) From savory appetizers to delicious holiday gifts, cheese is a must-have holiday ingredient.



A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/79c4fad3-e676-42fc-b616-a07e57b93d57

These recipes from Chef George Duran, host of TLCs Ultimate Cake Off and Food Networks Ham on the Street, make it easy to elevate your cheeseboard, serve up delightfully delicate puffed pastries or make glass canning jar gifts to give away to guests. Each dish features Jarlsberg Cheese, which was created in 1956 and remains based on the original Norwegian recipe, offering a slightly nutty, mild and delicious taste that helps every dish live up to festive occasions.

Best known for its classic wedge, Jarlsberg is also available sliced and in snacks and crisps for simple appetizers, savory sides and even take-home treats your guests will love.

Find more ideas to elevate this holiday season at jarlsberg.com.

Tomatoes Gratin

Servings: 4

4 tomatoes

2 ounces balsamic vinegar

1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus 4 ounces, divided

4 garlic cloves, sliced thin

4 sprigs fresh thyme (or equivalent dried)

salt, to taste

pepper, to taste

2 ounces pine (pignoli) nuts

8 ounces shredded Jarlsberg Cheese

Heat oven to 350 F.

Cut tomatoes in half. In bowl, whisk together vinegar, 1/3 cup olive oil, garlic, thyme, salt and pepper; gently mix in tomatoes. Transfer to ovenproof dish. Place tomatoes cut-side up and bake 15 minutes.

In pan, toast pine nuts with remaining olive oil until golden then set aside.

When tomatoes are cool enough to handle, remove skins and return to baking dish. Sprinkle tomatoes with shredded cheese. Return to oven and broil about 5 minutes, or until cheese turns golden and bubbly. Top with toasted pine nuts.

Cranberry and Walnut Phyllo Triangles

Servings: 4

Filling:

1 cup chopped fresh or frozen cranberries

1/3 cup sugar

1/3 cup raisins

2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup

1 tablespoon finely grated orange peel

3 tablespoons freshly squeezed orange juice

Triangles:

10 sheets fresh or frozen phyllo dough

1/3 cup melted butter

2 1/2 cups Jarlsberg Chunk Cheese, cut into 25 cubes

2 cups chopped walnuts

Heat oven to 375 F.

In saucepan, combine cranberries, sugar, raisins, honey, orange peel and orange juice; bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmer uncovered 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Cool to room temperature.

Carefully lay one phyllo sheet on cutting board and brush with melted butter. Place another sheet of phyllo on top and brush with melted butter. Cover remaining sheets with damp towel to prevent drying out. Position brushed pastry horizontally and cut into five strips.

Place 1/2 teaspoon cranberry filling, one cube of cheese and 1/2 teaspoon chopped nuts in lower corner of each strip. Fold dough over filling to form triangle. Fold triangle up then over, forming another triangle. Continue folding to end of strip. Brush top with melted butter and sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon chopped nuts. Repeat with remaining strips of dough and remaining sheets of phyllo.

Bake 12-15 minutes, or until golden brown. Cool on wire rack before serving.

Note: If using frozen phyllo dough, thaw in refrigerator overnight.

French-Style Marinated Cheese

Servings: 1 jar

6 ounces Jarlsberg Original, Lite or Hickory Smoked Cheese

2 ounces black or green olives

1 small leek, bulb only (or small shallot)

1 tablespoon fresh oregano or tarragon (or equivalent dried)

1 teaspoon green or black peppercorns

2 sprigs fresh thyme (or equivalent dried)

1 clove garlic

2 tablespoons white wine vinegar

4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

1 glass canning jar

Cube cheese and thinly slice olives and leek. Finely chop oregano and peppercorns, and finely mince thyme and garlic.

To make marinade: Whisk vinegar with oil, oregano, peppercorns, thyme and garlic. Layer cheese, olives and leeks inside jar. Cover with marinade and seal tightly.

Place jar in refrigerator to marinate 1 day. For best results, use within 3 days.

Holiday Deviled Eggs

Servings: 12

6 eggs

1/8 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon pepper

1 teaspoon white vinegar

1 teaspoon mustard

1/4 cup mayonnaise

1 cup shredded Jarlsberg Cheese

Topping options:

Paprika

Parsley

Bacon

Shredded Jarlsberg Cheese

Cooked crab meat

Scallions

Boil large pot of water. Carefully add eggs and boil on high 2 minutes then simmer 13 minutes.

While eggs cook, chop parsley and scallions, if desired.

Once eggs are cooked, transfer to bowl of ice water; cool 8-10 minutes. Peel eggs and cut in half lengthwise. Separate egg yolks into another bowl. Reserve egg white halves.

Combine egg yolks with salt, pepper, vinegar and mustard. Add shredded cheese and mayonnaise; mix until smooth.

Spoon about 1 tablespoon of yolk mixture into each egg white half.

Add toppings, as desired. For classic deviled eggs, sprinkle paprika and chopped parsley over eggs. For a savory alternative, cook four strips of bacon and chop. Top eggs with chopped bacon and shredded cheese. For a unique variation, try topping eggs with cooked crab meat and chopped scallions.

Michael French

mfrench@familyfeatures.com

1-888-824-3337

editors.familyfeatures.com

About Family Features Editorial Syndicate

Established in 1974, Family Features is a leading provider of free food and lifestyle content for print and online publications. Our articles, photos, videos and web content solutions save you time, money and help create advertising opportunities. Registration is fast and free  with absolutely no obligation. Visit editors.familyfeatures.com for more information.
Evan Sernoffsky /

Three teenagers were killed when their car drove off a rural highway in the hills above Woodside, authorities said.

After the car was found Wednesday morning, the San Mateo Coroners Office identified the victims as Matthew Edward Eric Cruz, 18, of Redwood City; Andrew Rogelio Gonzales, 19, of Menlo Park; and Ricardo Seneca Torres, 19, of Redwood City.
Russian River Brewing Company's efforts to raise significant funds for Sonoma County fire relief have been so successful, staffers have had to cap the sales of raffle tickets benefitting residents.

The tickets offered a chance at a coveted, once-in-a-lifetime prize for beer aficionados: the option to cut the line at the annual February 2018 Pliny the Younger triple IPA release at the Santa Rosa brewery. All proceeds from raffle sales are being donated to the King Ridge Foundation, a nonprofit also based in Santa Rosa, and the program, called Sonoma Pride, is still accepting separate donations.

"Thanks to the overwhelming support, sales of the Pliny the Younger line-cutting privileges raffle tickets has exceeded King Ridge Foundation's expectations," a post on the official Sonoma Pride website reads. "The raffle is now currently closed to further sales. We want to thank you for your incredible support."

Tickets were priced at $25 apiece, and according to Russian River co-owner Natalie Cilurzo, raffle sales and other donations given through their Sonoma Pride fund raised $60,000-$70,000 in the first 24 hours from when it launched on Thursday, Oct.12. By Nov. 1, the fund had raised almost a quarter of a million dollars through donors and raffle entries.

"We had an overwhelmingly positive response to the Pliny the Younger Line Cutting Raffle ticket sales," Cilurzo writes to SFGATE in en email Wednesday. "We ended up raising over $114K just from raffle ticket sales, which definitely far exceeded our expectations!"

Now Playing: Russian River Brewing Company Expanding Video: San Francisco Chronicle

Initially, the brewery intended to select winners for the Pliny raffle in mid-November. But due to its quick success, the King Ridge Foundation is drawing 14 winners  one for each day of the annual two-week release  on Nov. 1.

"Vinnie (Cilurzo) and I always said we would never, ever do (line-cutting privileges) because we get hit up all the time from nonprofits," Cilurzo said a week after the fund was launched. "If there's anytime that's appropriate for this, now is the time, because we need to make a lot of money to help our community get back on its feet. It's also a great way to remind people we're here and come back to Sonoma County and Santa Rosa."

In addition to the Pliny raffle, Russian River has enlisted 49 other breweries in the U.S. and the U.K. to create a beer under their Sonoma Pride label and donate sale proceeds to King Ridge. Russian River was among the first to release their contribution, on Tuesday night; other breweries, including Sonoma Springs, Alvarado Street, Moonlight Brewing Co., Lagunitas, Deschutes, Pizza Port, and others, will be releasing theirs in the coming weeks.

Alyssa Pereira is an SFGATE staff writer. Email her at apereira@sfchronicle.com or find her on Twitter at @alyspereira.


In 1999, Javier Zamora traveled from his home country of El Salvador to the United States. He was 9 and migrated alone, attempting to reach his parents. They had individually fled the country, due to civil war and its aftermath, when he was a toddler. What was meant to be a two-week journey through a smuggling network instead lasted two months.

This period, and the painful history it carries, make up the San Rafael poets powerful debut book of poems, Unaccompanied (Copper Canyon Press; $16). Split into sections, the collection provides details on the harrowing journey, along with accounts of family history and a ravaged El Salvador  all of which build a fuller picture of trauma.

When asked about his relationship to the past, after arriving in the U.S., Zamora said, Im still trying to explore that question. I think because I was so small, the trauma  what it did to my memory was to black things out.

The deeply affecting poems from Unaccompanied dug up memories that he had repressed, along with the memories of his family members, offering glimpses of horror and sorrow. In from The Book I Made with a Counselor My First Week of School, Zamora writes, Javier saw a dead coyote animal, which stank and had flies over it / I keep this book in an old shoe box underneath the bed. She asked in Spanish / I just smiled, didnt tell her, no animal, I knew that man.

There are moments that are still just now coming back to Zamora. Large sections of his journey are left out simply because they remain as blind spots in his memory.

Now 27, Zamora has remained mostly in the Bay Area; hes a Wallace Stegner Fellow at Stanford. He and other immigrants are preparing to defend their temporary protected status to remain in the U.S. as President Trump threatens to revoke it.

Unaccompanied allows for underlying questions about the nature of immigration and culpability. Zamoras father fled the Salvadoran civil war, during which the U.S. government funded the countrys violent military.

After arriving in the U.S., Zamora attempted to bury his past.

I denied that I was Salvadoran, he said. I denied that I even spoke Spanish in middle school. I would refuse to speak Spanish for a while. Those are all tools to survive, so I wouldnt get detected. I had repressed all these feelings since I was 9, all the way up till high school.

When Zamora was in high school, a poet visited his class and read work by Pablo Neruda.

The homework was to write a poem, and the first title of the very first poem that I wrote was called Mi Tierra  My Land. And it was about the land that I had left, and why I had left it.

Poetry allowed him to re-access a dark past. Yet writing has recently proved to be somewhat deceptive. Revising drafts of a poem, Zamora said, allowed him to see the work as an object and not a feeling. There was a distance to the trauma. But recently Zamora visited Tucson, where he had first entered the U.S.

I was there from Tuesday through Saturday, and I must have slept six to eight hours that entire time, he said.

I thought that I had healed. I thought that I had a better control of that trauma. But going back to Tucson I realized that theres still a lot of work that I need to do. My body still remembers.

Brandon Yu is a Bay Area freelance writer.

Book events

Javier Zamora: 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 4. $5. OHanlon Center for the Arts, 616 Throckmorton Ave., Mill Valley. http://ohanloncenter.org/.

Solmaz Sharif, whose book Look was a finalist for the 2016 National Book Award, reads from her work at the Lunch Poems reading series at UC Berkeley. 12:10 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 2. Free. Morrison Library (101 Doe Library), UC Berkeley. http://lunchpoems.berkeley.edu/

John Hodgman will be in conversation at Booksmith with Adam Savage to discuss his new book, Vacationland. Wednesday, Nov. 8. $20-$45. Public Works, 161 Erie St, S.F. www.booksmith.com.

Jeffrey Eugenides discusses his new short story collection, Fresh Complaint, at City Arts & Lectures. 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 9. $29. Nourse Theatre, 275 Hayes St., S.F. www.cityarts.net.
Divisive language and policies from President Trump are helping push business travelers north of the border, the head of Marriott International said Wednesday.

Large groups of travelers, particularly for conferences, are changing reservations to friendlier cities such as Toronto over U.S. options with the view that bringing in an international group would be more hassle-free in Canada and maybe a little bit riskier in the U.S., CEO Arne Sorenson said in an interview in Toronto.

Revpar growth, a measure of financial performance based on revenue per available room, will be in the mid- to high single digits in Canada this year, compared with 1 to 2 percent in the U.S., Sorenson said. That statistic alone doesnt indicate whether travelers are changing their destination.

Youre going to have people coming in from everywhere, and theyre going to be looking at Can we get our people in? Are they going to want to go to that place? Sorenson said, sipping a cappuccino in a meeting room of the Ritz-Carlton hotel. At the moment theres a perception around the world that the U.S. is a little less welcoming than it was in the past.

Sorenson cited the presidents efforts to ban travelers from some Muslim-majority countries and speeches that emphasize nationalism and criticize current immigration policy. In Canada, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has publicly defended Muslims and extolled immigration.

Marriott is bringing up the issue in conversations with the White House on welcoming visitors from abroad, Sorenson said, declining to provide details.

Canadas economy is booming, expanding faster than any Group of Seven nations and forecast to grow at an average of 2 percent annually over the next five years. In the U.S., gross domestic product grew by 1.5 percent last year, though it is forecast to reach 2.4 percent next year, according to a survey of economists by Bloomberg. Overall, Marriotts occupancy in both countries is over 80 percent.

Sorenson has commented on Trumps policies in the past. The presidents travel ban is not good, period, he said at a company event in Dubai in April. The ban has been repeatedly blocked by federal courts and has drawn condemnation from employers in industries including technology that rely on foreign talent. Sorenson was named to the board of Microsoft Corp. last month.

Sorenson was vice chairman of President Barack Obamas Export Council and was in the delegation that visited Cuba in March of 2016, part of an overture Trump has criticized. Sorenson wrote an open letter to Trump on LinkedIn soon after his election, in which he emphasized the need to unite the country and break the cycle of retribution. Former presidential hopeful Mitt Romney, who has denounced the presidents character, is on Marriotts board of directors.

Corporate guests represented about 70 percent of Marriotts room-nights in 2016, with leisure accounting for about 30 percent, according to the company. This includes properties from Marriotts September 2016 acquisition of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide.

The Maryland company is opening a St. Regis-branded hotel in Torontos financial district, replacing Trumps brand on the 65-story luxury tower. The building, now under renovation, was purchased by InnVest Hotels this year after financial difficulties, dozens of lawsuits, and negative sentiment plagued the development.

Katia Dmitrieva is a Bloomberg writer. Email: edmitrieva1@bloomberg.net
President Trump used a deadly terrorist attack in New York City Tuesday to renew his support for a chief campaign promise: curtailing the number of low-skilled immigrants coming into the country to make room for those whose abilities can command higher salaries.

His remarks come a day after Sayfullo Saipov, an immigrant from Uzbekistan who was admitted to the U.S. on a diversity visa, was accused of plowing a pickup truck into a crowded bicycle path in Manhattan. Eight people were killed, and several more were injured.

Trump said Wednesday that he would ask Congress to begin unraveling the visa program: We are fighting hard for Merit Based immigration, no more Democrat Lottery Systems, the president tweeted.

This program was started in 1990 as a way to bring foreigners into the U.S. from countries with low rates of immigration. The government issues up to 50,000 of these visas through a lottery each year, a tiny fraction of the millions who apply.

During the application period for fiscal year 2017, about 19 million people applied for the U.S. diversity visa program, according to the Pew Research Center. The government is currently taking applications for the next fiscal year, with a deadline of Nov. 22.

The visa has long been considered a golden ticket for those coming from countries in Africa, the Middle East and Asia, who dont have family ties or a job offer in the U.S. To qualify, all a person needs is a high school education, two years of work experience and a passport from a country whose number of immigrants to the U.S. fell below a certain bar in a given government fiscal year. The qualifications are much less rigorous than those for other visas commonly used in Silicon Valley, like the H-1B, which requires a foreigner to have at least a bachelors degree and be paid a certain salary.

Tech companies like Google and Facebook rely on H-1B visas to fill engineering positions, and have long complained about the limited number of visas available for high-skilled workers. Each year, 85,000 H-1Bs are allocated to for-profit companies through a lottery.

H-1B holders often get stuck waiting for green cards for years because of the high volume of foreigners emigrating from those countries. Indian and Chinese citizens, who account for the majority of H-1B holders, are excluded from the diversity lottery.

In theory, doing away with the diversity visa could benefit high-skilled immigrants by freeing up more green cards in the U.S., said Ed Litwin, a Bay Area immigration attorney.

While some (diversity visa recipients) could be professionals and could be very well-trained, thats not a requirement, Litwin said. We need to have more availability to these international educated people that are at the cutting edge.

But, when Trump says he wants to do away with the diversity visa, he doesnt necessarily mean he will reallocate those visas to the highest-skilled, said Stuart Anderson, executive director of the National Foundation for American Policy, a nonpartisan think tank.

Merit-based is purely a slogan, Anderson said. Its not a serious effort to increase the amount of immigrants coming into the country.

Anderson added that the administration has a series of proposals that actually make it harder for certain high-skilled immigrants to come into the country.

In August, the president endorsed the RAISE Act, which would slash legal immigration in half and establish a point system for those considered higher-skilled. Meanwhile, the administration is also scrutinizing several other Obama-era rules that help high-skilled foreigners live and work in the U.S.

Some rules on the chopping block include those designed to benefit startup entrepreneurs, spouses of H-1B visa holders, and foreign students who graduated with a degree in scientific or technical fields.

The administration has also issued a series of memos that have the effect of making it harder for H-1B applicants to qualify.

It would be more sincere to have a proposal that would take the numbers of the diversity visa and put them toward employment-based immigration, Anderson said. But all their advocacy is for fewer people coming in. Period.

Following the attack, Trump chided Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., because he supported the diversity visa program when it was enacted nearly 30 years ago.

On Twitter, Schumer shot back: President Trump should be focusing on the real solution  anti-terrorism funding, he wrote. Pres Trump, instead of politicizing & dividing America which he always seems to do at times of national tragedy, should bring us together.

Trisha Thadani is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: tthadani@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @TrishaThadani

The diversity visa by the numbers

How many people apply?

2007: 9.1 million

2008: 10.1 million

2009: 13.2 million

2010: 9.8 million

2011: 16.5 million

2012: 19.7 million

2013: 12.6 million

2014: 14.6 million

2015: 14.4 million

2016: 17.6 million

2017: 19.3 million

(Note: Fiscal years; the U.S. government fiscal year ends Sept. 30.)

How many are admitted?

There are 50,000 diversity visas allocated every year.

What are the qualifications?

At least a high school education

Two years of work experience, in a profession approved by the Department of State

Once an individual is chosen, they must:

Submit a detailed background check

Go through a security check and health screening

Submit to a visa interview

Pay $330.
Another round of the debate over crime and punishment is opening in California, where lawmakers and voters in recent years have added some elements of leniency to a justice system that has long been one of the nations most punitive.

A new study and a proposed ballot measure gave conflicting grades this week to the wave of changes in state law. Those changes included the 2011 realignment that resentenced low-level felons to county jail instead of state prison and ballot measures that shortened some three strikes sentences for repeat felons in 2012, reclassified some theft and drug crimes from felonies to misdemeanors in 2014, and gave some long-serving prisoners a chance for early parole in 2016.

A report released Monday by Californians for Safety and Justice, which generally supports the recent actions, found little change in statewide crime rates from 2010 to 2016  a drop of about 3 percent in property crimes, compared to population, and an increase of less than 1 percent in violent crimes.

There were wide variations between counties, said the report, which relied on state data  San Francisco had a 35.1 percent increase in property crimes over the six-year period, compared to decreases of 9.5 percent in Alameda County, 12.7 percent in Contra Costa County, 8.3 percent in San Mateo County and 8.2 percent in Marin County.

But overall, the sponsoring group said, the figures refute predictions by prosecutors and police groups that shorter sentences would trigger an avalanche of crimes.

Were still living in an era of historic lows as it relates to crime, said Lenore Anderson, executive director of Californians for Safety and Justice, which generally supports the recent actions and released the report. The public has said (to) stop wasting billions of dollars on ineffective prisons.

A different perspective came from a coalition of law enforcement and victims advocates calling itself the California Public Safety Partnership.

Were reforming the unintended consequences of reforms to better protect the public, Assemblyman Jim Cooper, D-Elk Grove (Sacramento County), said Monday as the coalition filed papers to begin signature-gathering for a 2018 initiative that would roll back some of the new laws.

One provision would narrow part of Proposition 57, the 2016 initiative sponsored by Gov. Jerry Brown that allowed inmates to go before the parole board and seek release after completing the sentence for the crime they committed, without serving more time for previous convictions. They would have to persuade the board that they posed no danger if released, and would not be eligible for parole if their crime was defined as violent.

But prosecutors contend Prop. 57s definition of violent crimes was far too limited. The ballot measure would add 15 additional crimes, including assault on a law enforcement officer, felony domestic violence and rape of an unconscious person, and require those prisoners to serve their full sentences.

Other provisions would overturn parts of Prop. 47, the 2014 initiative that shortened sentences by reducing a number of felonies to misdemeanors punished by short jail terms.

Prop. 47 raised the threshold for felony theft from $450 to $950, making theft of anything worth less than that amount a misdemeanor. The proposed ballot measure would allow felony prosecution for a third theft of property worth $250 or more.

The measure would also allow police to collect DNA from anyone convicted of one of the crimes reclassified as a misdemeanor under Prop. 47. Current law authorizes collection of genetic material only from convicted felons, a limitation that, according to prosecutors, leaves gaps in the states DNA database.

Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @egelko
Dublin, Nov. 01, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Global Light Business Jet Market 2017-2021" report has been added to Research and Markets' offering.



The global light business jet market to grow at a CAGR of 5.68% during the period 2017-2021.



Global Light Business Jet Market 2017-2021, has been prepared based on an in-depth market analysis with inputs from industry experts. The report covers the market landscape and its growth prospects over the coming years. The report also includes a discussion of the key vendors operating in this market.



One trend in the market is adoption of 3D printing. The aerospace industry is rapidly growing, and aircraft OEMs are looking for ways to meet the increasing demand of the market. They are pioneering innovations and are adopting new and innovative methods to increase their production rate. One such innovation is 3D printing.



According to the report, one driver in the market is preference toward leasing an aircraft over conventional procurement. As most chartered airlines operate in low-profit-margins (merged profits), it becomes challenging for them to pay substantial amounts of cash for the purchase of fleets or new-generation business jets. Also, maintaining a robust fleet structure is imperative for airline operators to maximize their offerings and customer reach. With the evolving dynamics of aircraft leasing businesses, chartered airlines can now access a comfortable option for adding new aircraft to their fleets through leasing arrangements from aircraft financing entities.



Further, the report states that one challenge in the market is planetary financial support for R&D. The success of the business aviation industry depends on R&D investments, along with technological and business innovations. Although the financial support for aeronautics R&D is mainly provided by governments to achieve important national goals, some funds are provided by business jet suppliers and OEMs. However, compared with other sectors of the global aviation industry, the focus on the R&D for the global business jet sector has decreased.



Key vendors

Bombardier

Embraer

Textron Aviation

Other prominent vendors

Cirrus Aircraft

Honda Aircraft Company

PILATUS AIRCRAFT

Key Topics Covered:



Part 01: Executive Summary



Part 02: Scope Of The Report



Part 03: Research Methodology



Part 04: Introduction



Part 05: Market Landscape



Part 06: Market Segmentation By Aircraft Type



Part 07: Geographical Segmentation



Part 08: Decision Framework



Part 09: Drivers And Challenges



Part 10: Market Trends



Part 11: Vendor Landscape



Part 12: Key Vendor Analysis



Part 13: Appendix



For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/72bmwr/global_light




This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 3 1 of 3 Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Bill Hutchinson / The Chronicle Show More Show Less 3 of 3





A man was shot and killed by police in Sunnyvale after stabbing a woman and a police canine Tuesday afternoon, officials said. The woman was taken to a hospital, where she is expected to recover, but the dog died.

Officers responded to a home on the 500 block of East Weddell Drive after reports of a stabbing about 1 p.m., said Capt. Jeff Hunter with the Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety.
Sonoma County sheriffs deputies shot a man in the arm Tuesday night after he drove a car into his friend and then tried to escape from police by driving a stolen truck through a mobile-home park in Healdsburg, authorities said.

Officers arrived about 10:30 p.m. to the 300 block of Bailhache Avenue, just outside the Healdsburg Plaza, in response to reports that a man had been intentionally hit by his friends car after an argument, sheriffs Sgt. Spencer Crum said in a statement.
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Forget Hawaiian-style, the latest target of mass internet ire is strawberry pizza.

Social media users had their pitchforks ready on Sunday when @MoonEmoji tweeted a photo of a strawberry-topped pizza pie with the caption "strawberries>>pineapples."

The internet critics were not having it.

"That is so wrong it's unreal," wrote @Jeromebill on the photo, which has more than 2,000 comments.

"The police are on their way, I hope it was worth it," added @Blaker212.

One Twitter user simply wrote, "I want to die."

Others were less critical of the idea, with some welcoming the sweet-and-salty concoction and others noting the ubiquitousness of fruit on cheese platters.

The fruit-on-pizza debate is steeped in historical tension. Earlier this year, the internet broke into unrest after Iceland's president Gudni Th. Johannesson said he was "fundamentally opposed" to pineapple on pizza and would ban it if he had the power. Everyone from Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to pop star Justin Bieber weighed in on the foodie controversy (both Justins are pro pineapple).

Things got so out-of-hand, Johannesson issued a statement on Facebook, which evolved into a polemic on presidential power.

"I do not have the power to make laws which forbid people to put pineapples on their pizza," he wrote. "I am glad that I do not hold such power. Presidents should not have unlimited power."

Though @MoonEmoji is taking all the credit, the Twitter user is not the first to place the sweet red berries on his or her pie. Multiple cooking blogs have shared recipes for the savory pizza, including a basil and balsamic number from Cookie and Kate in 2013 and a bacon and onion pie courtesy of Closet Cooking.

In December, The San Francisco Chronicle's Food Editor Paolo Lucchesi tasted a strawberry pizza while on a trip to Finland. He cited the experience as the "most mind-bending food moment of 2016."

Michelle Robertson is an SFGATE staff writer. Email her at mrobertson@sfchronicle.com or find her on Twitter at @mrobertsonsf.
WASHINGTON  President Trump dismissed George Papadopoulos as a liar and a mere campaign volunteer, but newly unsealed court papers outline the former advisers frequent contacts with senior officials and with foreign nationals who promised access to the highest levels of the Russian government.

They also hint at more headaches for the White House and former campaign officials. Papadopoulos is now cooperating with special counsel Robert Mueller as he investigates possible coordination between Russia and Trumps 2016 White House campaign.

Records made public Monday in Papadopoulos case list a gaggle of people who were in touch with him during the campaign but only with such identifiers as Campaign Supervisor, Senior Policy Advisor and High-Ranking Campaign Official. Two of the unnamed campaign officials referenced are, in fact, former campaign chairman Paul Manafort and his business associate Rick Gates. Both were charged with financial crimes in an indictment unsealed Monday.

The conversations described in charging documents reflect Papadopoulos efforts to arrange meetings between Trump aides and Russian government intermediaries and show how he learned the Russians had dirt on Hillary Clinton in the form of thousands of emails.

Though the contacts may not by themselves have been illegal, the oblique but telling references to unnamed people  including Professor and Female Russian National  make clear that Muellers team has identified multiple people who had knowledge of back-and-forth outreach efforts between Russians and associates of the Trump election effort.

Its a reality that challenges the administrations portrait of Papadopoulos as a back-bench operator within the campaign, an argument repeated Tuesday by White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders, who dismissed him as a volunteer with a minimal role.

The extent of the contacts is substantial. During a six-month period ending Aug. 15, Papadopoulos met, telephoned, Skyped or emailed his three foreign contacts for five different Trump campaign officials a total of 29 times. He also traveled twice to London and once to Italy. Another trip to Moscow was canceled.

Papadopoulos place on the Trump campaign was formalized in March when Trump adviser Sam Clovis released the names of eight foreign policy advisers amid public pressure on Trump to disclose his foreign policy team.

A lawyer representing Clovis confirmed in a statement that he was the person, identified as the Campaign Supervisor in court papers, who brought Papadopoulos onto an advisory committee on national security.

Eric Tucker and Chad Day are Associated Press writers.
WASHINGTON  Two collisions between Navy destroyers and commercial vessels in the Western Pacific this year were avoidable and the result of a string of crew and basic navigational errors, the Navys top officer said in reports made public Wednesday.

In two harrowing reports that told of missed warnings, strings of errors and frantic U.S. sailors fighting to save their shipmates, the Navy determined that both fatal collisions could have been prevented. Seven sailors were killed in June when the destroyer Fitzgerald collided with a container ship near Japan. The collision in August of the John S. McCain  another destroyer, one named after Sen. John McCains father and grandfather  and an oil tanker while approaching Singapore left 10 sailors dead.

In the case of the Fitzgerald, the Navy determined in its latest reports that the crew and leadership on board failed to plan for safety, to adhere to sound navigation practices, to carry out basic watch practices and to respond effectively in a crisis.

Many of the decisions made that led to this incident were the result of poor judgment and decision making of the commanding officer, the report concluded. The crew was unprepared for the situation in which they found themselves through a lack of preparation, ineffective command and control, and deficiencies in training and preparations for navigation.

In the case of the John S. McCain, the investigation concluded that the collision resulted from a loss of situational awareness while responding to mistakes in the operation of the ships steering and propulsion system while in highly trafficked waters.

The collisions were avoidable, Adm. John M. Richardson, the chief of naval operations, said in a summary of the reports, released by the Navy on Wednesday morning.

The release of the reports came a day after the Navy held closed-door briefings for lawmakers on Capitol Hill and sent officers crisscrossing the country to brief family members of the sailors killed. A broader review of the 7th Fleets pace of operations, training, equipment and maintenance is to be released Thursday.

On Tuesday, McCain, R-Ariz., chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, pointed to the automatic budget cuts at the Pentagon since 2013, known as sequestration, as one of the primary culprits behind the combined 17 deaths aboard the two destroyers.

Weve deprived them of the funds to do it, McCain said of the continuous operations in the Pacific. Were putting those men and women in harms way to be wounded or killed because we refuse to give them the sufficient training and equipment and readiness. Its a failure of Congress. Its on us.

Eric Schmitt is a New York Times writer.
1 LGBT rights: Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards lost his latest legal battle Wednesday over his executive order aimed at protecting the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people in state government. A three-judge panel of Louisianas 1st Circuit Court of Appeal upheld a lower courts decision that the Democratic governors executive order was an unconstitutional attempt to expand state law. The ruling was a victory for the Republican state attorney general, Jeff Landry, who had issued an opinion saying the order violated the state constitution. Landry had refused to approve various state agency contracts for appointment of legal counsel if the contracts contained the gender identity protection.

2 Slave descendants: A federal judge in Georgia refused to dismiss a lawsuit that claims racial discrimination is eroding one of the last Gullah-Geechee communities of slave descendants on the Southeast U.S. coast. U.S. District Court Judge Dudley Bowen ruled that residents and landowners from the tiny community on Sapelo Island have presented discrimination claims under the Equal Protection Clause of the Constitution that are at least plausible. Attorneys for the state of Georgia and officials in McIntosh County asked the court last year to throw out the lawsuit, which claims black residents and landowners on Sapelo Island pay unfair tax rates in return for few services, putting pressure on them to leave.
NEW YORK  Federal prosecutors brought terrorism charges Wednesday against the Uzbek immigrant accused in the truck rampage that left eight people dead, saying he carried out the attack in response to the Islamic States online calls to action and picked Halloween because he knew more people would be out on the streets.

The charges against 29-year-old Sayfullo Saipov could bring the death penalty.

Even as he lay wounded in the hospital from police gunfire, Saipov asked to display the Islamic State flag in his room and said he felt good about what he had done, prosecutors said in court papers.

Meanwhile, the FBI said a second Uzbek  32-year-old Mukhammadzoir Kadirov  is wanted for questioning in connection with the bloodshed.

Saipov, accused of driving the rented Home Depot pickup truck that barreled down a bike path near the World Trade Center memorial on Tuesday, was charged with providing material support to a terrorist group and committing violence and destruction of motor vehicles, resulting in death.

His lawyers did not immediately return a message seeking comment.

Prosecutors said he had 90 videos and 3,800 photos on one of his two cell phones, many of them Islamic State-related pieces of propaganda, including images of prisoners being beheaded, shot or run over by a tank.

Saipov left behind knives and a note, handwritten in Arabic, that included Islamic religious references and said it will endure  a phrase that commonly refers to Islamic State, FBI agent Amber Tyree said.

Questioned in his hospital bed, Saipov said he had been inspired by Islamic State videos that he watched on his cell phone and began plotting an attack about a year ago, deciding to use a truck about two months ago, Tyree said.

During the past few weeks, Saipov searched the Internet for information on Halloween in New York City and for truck rentals, the agent said. Saipov even rented a truck on Oct. 22 to practice making turns, Tyree said.

He even considered displaying Islamic State flags on the truck during the attack but decided against it because he did not want to draw the attention, authorities said.

John Miller, deputy New York police commissioner for intelligence, said Saipov appears to have followed, almost exactly to a T, the instructions that ISIS has put out.

In the past few years, the Islamic State has exhorted followers online to use vehicles, knives or other close-at-hand means of killing people in their home countries. England, France and Germany have all experienced deadly vehicle attacks since mid-2016.

A November 2016 issue of the groups online magazine detailed features that an attack truck or van should have, suggested renting such a vehicle and recommended targeting crowded streets and outdoor gatherings.

Colleen Long and Jennifer Peltz are Associated Press writers.
SANTA ANA, Calif., Nov. 01, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As the end of 2017 approaches, Nekter Juice Bar is planning to celebrate two major milestones in December: its 100th restaurant and its first two East Coast restaurants in North Carolina. These openings, combined with 150 restaurants in development, positions Nekter Juice Bar as one of the most successful emerging brands in the restaurant industry today. Nekters 100th restaurant is scheduled to open in late December in Anaheim, California, with its North Carolina restaurants slated to open in the Charlotte market in early December.



A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2efba10c-6f82-4799-b35c-45edb1156d09

Seven years ago, we saw an opportunity to disrupt a restaurant category that had lost its way with empty promises of offering a healthy menu, said Steve Schulze, co-founder and CEO, Nekter Juice Bar. We took a different path to become a truly authentic and inspirational brand with fresh, clean and nutrient-rich juices, smoothies and acai bowls. As our appeal among guests and the franchise community continues to accelerate, we will not become complacent about menu innovation, ingredient transparency and quality, and the guest experience. Rather, we will seek new ways to innovate and enrich the entire experience.

Now with 92 restaurants in California, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, and Texas, Nekter entered several new markets this year, including Utah, Florida, Washington, Fort Worth, and Houston. The company will open at least nine more restaurants in 2017 and an additional 75 restaurants in 2018, which puts it well on its way to reaching its goal of 425 restaurants by 2020. With the majority of future growth coming from franchising, Nekter is actively recruiting entrepreneurs as it expands into more new markets in 2018, including: Atlanta, Central California, Chicago, Louisiana, New Mexico, Ohio, Tennessee, Tucson, and the Washington D.C.-Maryland-Virginia metropolitan area.

As we grow, however, it is critical that we align our brand with likeminded partners, who value healthy living and want to offer an easy, accessible, affordable and premium juice bar experience to their friends and neighbors, said Schulze. In return, we offer an exceptional AUV of $837,263*, a robust franchise training and support program that facilitates rapid development schedules, and an outstanding research and development department that keeps our menu fresh and appealing.

Recent menu innovations include new Skoop by Nekter, a natural, clean and delicious frozen treat that has been a huge hit among guests while also opening up new revenue streams for the brand. For the holidays, Nekter partnered with upstart, gourmet waffle cone purveyor, The Konery of Brooklyn, New York, on two limited-time offerings, the first being Scary Skoop featuring a new Charcoal Vanilla Skoop flavor and an Orange Creamsicle cone. In November, Nekter will introduce a refreshed line-up of its cold-pressed bottle juices, which includes new juice blends enhanced with healing herbs and Superfood ingredients.

Also this year, Nekter has invested in four new restaurant designs to resonate with different communities and demographics: city/urban, suburban, traditional, and non-traditional locations such as airports and unique retail spaces. Restaurants are more than just about food, they should be about building a community, said Schulze. And with that must come restaurant design that is consistent with the brand but also reflective of and appealing to the local community. Nekter is more than the brick and mortar of a restaurant. Its a lifestyle that permeates beyond the four walls.

About Nekter Juice Bar

Southern California-based Nekter Juice Bar was founded in 2010 by Steve and Alexis Schulze, two healthy living enthusiasts, who set out to transform the juice bar experience based upon the fundamental belief that healthy can taste great, be easily accessible for those on their path to wellness, and be affordable. Nekter offers a menu of fresh, delicious, nutrient-dense juices, smoothies, and acai bowls that are made without processed ingredients, artificial flavors, added sugars, and unnecessary fillers at 92 restaurants in California, Arizona, Nevada, Texas, Utah, and Colorado. Nekter continues to expand in existing markets and will open soon in new markets including Florida, Washington, and North and South Carolina. As the company continues to grow, it seeks franchise partners, who want to own a business in the thriving health and wellness sector of the restaurant industry, and who want to make a real difference in their communities. An Inc. 500 company, Nekter was recently named one of the fastest growing franchise businesses of 2016 by Inc. Magazine, and was recognized by Nations Restaurant News magazine as a 2016 Hot Concept. In 2016, Nekter also debuted on Entrepreneurs Franchise 500 ranking at number 217, and was named a Next 20 brand to watch by Nations Restaurant News in 2017.

Visit www.nekterjuicebar.com for the latest company news, location information and franchise opportunities. Guests can also find Nekter on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

*As disclosed in Item 19 of Nekter Franchise, Inc.s 2017 Franchise Disclosure Document. The above figure reflects the average for the 11 franchised locations that opened before January 1, 2016 and operated for the full 2016 calendar year. 45% of these franchised locations met or surpassed the average. The results for new locations may differ from the represented performance. There is no assurance that you will sell as much. This is not a franchise offering. An offering is made by Franchise Disclosure Document only.
Allegations of sexual assault against Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein and a social media campaign that followed are raking up long-muffled controversies across the globe. Now a list of academics accused of assault has caused a frenzy among India's intellectuals.

When Raya Sarkar, a 24-year-old law student of Indian descent at the University of California at Davis, posted a crowdsourced list on Facebook of male academics who allegedly harassed or assaulted women, India's academic world splintered.

Sarkar's list, based mostly on first-person accounts from women, includes the names of more than 60 prominent male academics. She said women provided her with WhatsApp messages and emails to corroborate their claims.

Some say the list is the product of a broken system that fails to hold sexual predators to account. But many, including a group of Indian feminists, said the list devalues "due process," putting unverified accusations on equal footing with cases in which men were convicted of sexual crimes.

Now Playing: Nigerian and Indian actresses are joining Hollywood to say #MeToo. Actresses in the countries' significant movie industries are coming out in support of the campaign, with leading names speaking out against sexual abuse. Priyanka Chopra recently addressed the issue at a conference, saying that these stories happen "not just in India, but all over the world." But while many have shared their stories, most refuse to name the abusers, fearing retaliation or lost opportunities. Nigerian actresses from "Nollywood" have also documented sexual harassment and abuse in their industry. Award-winning Nigerian actress Kate Henshaw claimed a producer sexually harassed an actress that she'd recommended for a role. Men dominate industries in both countries. For context, there are six times as many men as women working behind the camera in India. #MeToo may be sparking conversation in Bollywood and Nollywood, but until there's cultural shift in attitudes toward women, actresses will still be at risk. Video: Vocativ

Sarkar defended the list in an interview with BuzzFeed, saying she created it in the aftermath of the Weinstein allegations and the #MeToo campaign, in which women shared their experiences of sexual harassment or assault. "The list is primarily for students to be wary of their professors, because in my opinion, knowing how college administrations function, harassers will continue to hold their positions of power," she said.

The list, which has been widely shared, leaves out names of accusers, and specific details of the incident that could allow alleged predators to identify their victims.

Partha Chatterjee, a social scientist and historian from the eastern city of Kolkata, denied allegations in a response published by the Wire news website. He wrote, "I am certain that in 44 years of my association with the Center for Studies in Social Sciences, I have never been involved in an incident in which I could be accused of having sexually harassed a student.

"I believe it is fair for me to demand that the nature of the allegation against me be made known to me so that I could make a specific response to it. Otherwise, I demand that my name be removed from the list," he wrote.

Prominent feminists also have lashed out against Sarkar. A post on the feminist Kafila blog signed by over a dozen noted women activists said, "It worries us that anybody can be named anonymously, with lack of answerability . . . We too know the process is harsh and often tilted against the complainant. We remain committed to strengthening these processes . . . This manner of naming can de-legitimize the long struggle against sexual harassment, and make our task as feminists more difficult."
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A Boulder Creek man who is charged with intentionally causing the 400-acre Bear Fire in the Santa Cruz mountains pleaded not guilty to 11 felonies in court Tuesday.

Marlon Coy mouthed the words "You're next," to Santa Cruz County District Attorney Jeff Rosell and glared at the top prosecutor.

Outside the courtroom, when asked about it by KSBW, Rosell said, "bring it on."

Coy, 54, is charged with arson causing great bodily injury to firefighters, arson of an inhabited structure or property, arson of a forest, looting an evacuated house, and brandishing a firearm.

The Bear Fire in Boulder Creek injured 13 firefighters, destroyed two homes, and burned nearly 400 acres of forests before it was contained Oct. 26. It cost $7.1 million for CalFire to battle the blaze.

"It's arson, it's not an accident. We are going to come after you if you do those sort of things in this county," Rosell said Tuesday.

Sheriff Jim Hart described Coy as a "depraved man."

Hart's investigators said Coy intentionally ignited the wildfire on the night of Oct. 16 because he got into a dispute with someone.

Now Playing: Authorities announce an arrest in connection with the Bear Fire in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Video: FoxM9NJ

After more than 150 residents evacuated, Coy looted an evacuated house on Hidden Springs Road and stole $15,000 worth of jewelry, Sheriff's Lt. Todd Liberty said. Deputies found Coy in Live Oak riding a bicycle that he also stole from the Hidden Springs Road house and he was carrying a backpack with the jewels inside, Liberty said. Coy was arrested.

"Rarely have I seen more reckless actions than those committed by this depraved man," Hart said. "If not for the heroic efforts of first responders, (Coy) could easily be facing murder charges today."

Investigators pinpointed the Bear Fire's origin to 475 Dianes Way, where Coy lived with several other adults in various types of structures.

Julia Cabibi also lived on the property and her home was destroyed. The sheriff said Coy and Cabibi were in a "dating relationship."

Three men told deputies that they saw Coy light the wildfire. According to court documents, Coy brandished a firearm at the person he was feuding with.

The Sheriff's Office declined to identify who Coy was arguing with moments before he allegedly lit the blaze.

Deputies are still looking for Cabibi because they want to question her. Cabibi is not considered a suspect.

"We just need to know what she knows," prosecutor Mike McKinney said.

Cabibi has written a few Facebook posts in recent days, including one post stating, "My house got burned because some (expletive) was stealing my uncles muscle cars and I found him out...it's all so (expletive)."

She also wrote, "Everyone is being so judgmental and has turned their backs. This has been devastating."

Coy remains behind bars with his bail set at $800,000. His public defender asked to have it reduced to $150,000, but Judge John Salazar denied that motion.

Coy is scheduled to return to court on December 1.
FORM 8.3

PUBLIC OPENING POSITION DISCLOSURE/DEALING DISCLOSURE BY

A PERSON WITH INTERESTS IN RELEVANT SECURITIES REPRESENTING 1% OR MORE

Rule 8.3 of the Takeover Code (the "Code")

1. KEY INFORMATION

(a) Full name of discloser: OCTOPUS INVESTMENTS LIMITED (b) Owner or controller of interests and short positions disclosed, if different from 1(a):

The naming of nominee or vehicle companies is insufficient. For a trust, the trustee(s), settlor and beneficiaries must be named. (c) Name of offeror/offeree in relation to whose relevant securities this form relates:

Use a separate form for each offeror/offeree Clinigen Group plc (d) If an exempt fund manager connected with an offeror/offeree, state this and specify identity of offeror/offeree: (e) Date position held/dealing undertaken:

For an opening position disclosure, state the latest practicable date prior to the disclosure 31/10/2017 (f) In addition to the company in 1(c) above, is the discloser making disclosures in respect of any other party to the offer?

If it is a cash offer or possible cash offer, state "N/A" NO

2. POSITIONS OF THE PERSON MAKING THE DISCLOSURE

If there are positions or rights to subscribe to disclose in more than one class of relevant securities of the offeror or offeree named in 1(c), copy table 2(a) or (b) (as appropriate) for each additional class of relevant security.

(a) Interests and short positions in the relevant securities of the offeror or offeree to which the disclosure relates following the dealing (if any)

Class of relevant security:







Interests Short positions Number % Number % (1) Relevant securities owned and/or controlled: 5,156,403



4.47 (2) Cash-settled derivatives:



(3) Stock-settled derivatives (including options) and agreements to purchase/sell:



TOTAL: 5,156,403 4.47





All interests and all short positions should be disclosed.

Details of any open stock-settled derivative positions (including traded options), or agreements to purchase or sell relevant securities, should be given on a Supplemental Form 8 (Open Positions).

(b) Rights to subscribe for new securities (including directors' and other employee options)

Class of relevant security in relation to which subscription right exists: Details, including nature of the rights concerned and relevant percentages:

3. DEALINGS (IF ANY) BY THE PERSON MAKING THE DISCLOSURE

Where there have been dealings in more than one class of relevant securities of the offeror or offeree named in 1(c), copy table 3(a), (b), (c) or (d) (as appropriate) for each additional class of relevant security dealt in.

The currency of all prices and other monetary amounts should be stated.

(a) Purchases and sales

Class of relevant security Purchase/sale



Number of securities Price per unit



0.1p Ordinary Sale 680 11.765

(b) Cash-settled derivative transactions

Class of relevant security Product description

e.g. CFD Nature of dealing

e.g. opening/closing a long/short position, increasing/reducing a long/short position Number of reference securities Price per unit





(c) Stock-settled derivative transactions (including options)

(i) Writing, selling, purchasing or varying

Class of relevant security Product description e.g. call option Writing, purchasing, selling, varying etc. Number of securities to which option relates Exercise price per unit Type

e.g. American, European etc. Expiry date Option money paid/ received per unit

(ii) Exercise

Class of relevant security Product description

e.g. call option Exercising/ exercised against Number of securities Exercise price per unit





(d) Other dealings (including subscribing for new securities)

Class of relevant security Nature of dealing

e.g. subscription, conversion Details Price per unit (if applicable)





4. OTHER INFORMATION

(a) Indemnity and other dealing arrangements

Details of any indemnity or option arrangement, or any agreement or understanding, formal or informal, relating to relevant securities which may be an inducement to deal or refrain from dealing entered into by the person making the disclosure and any party to the offer or any person acting in concert with a party to the offer:

Irrevocable commitments and letters of intent should not be included. If there are no such agreements, arrangements or understandings, state "none"



None





(b) Agreements, arrangements or understandings relating to options or derivatives

Details of any agreement, arrangement or understanding, formal or informal, between the person making the disclosure and any other person relating to:

(i) the voting rights of any relevant securities under any option; or

(ii) the voting rights or future acquisition or disposal of any relevant securities to which any derivative is referenced:

If there are no such agreements, arrangements or understandings, state "none"



None





(c) Attachments

Is a Supplemental Form 8 (Open Positions) attached? NO

Date of disclosure: 01/11/2017 Contact name: Annaliese Maisch Telephone number: 0207 710 6477

Public disclosures under Rule 8 of the Code must be made to a Regulatory Information Service and must also be emailed to the Takeover Panel at monitoring@disclosure.org.uk. The Panel's Market Surveillance Unit is available for consultation in relation to the Code's disclosure requirements on +44 (0)20 7638 0129.

The Code can be viewed on the Panel's website at www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk.
Anxiety is soaring among high school seniors (and their parents) as college application season is in full swing right now. Students are busy trying to maintain their GPA, studying for standardized tests, visiting campuses and sitting down to pen a personal essay, asking themselves, "What is it that makes me stand out?"

And many are not doing it on their own.

The college admissions industry is huge, offering prospective students help with every aspect of the process -- from prepping for SATs to curriculum and summer activity planning -- in order to become the ideal college candidate.

And there's a reason it's booming: many feel the need for help. With college competitiveness at an all-time high and a confusing common app process, people can feel overwhelmed by the entire process.

The costs can vary wildly for these consulting services. At one extreme, there is the $28,995 college consultant in Manhattan, one of many consultants who has students sign up for pricey multi-year packages that very closely monitor every aspect of the student's academic and extracurricular life.

There can be downside to this package approach. As an Atlantic article pointed out, "Instead of preparing themselves for collegeor more importantly, for lifestudents spend all of their pre-college years preparing themselves for the moment of admission."

Now Playing: These are the Top 10 universities who've produced the most millionaires, according to WealthInsight. 10. University of Chicago 9. Northwestern 8. Cambridge 7. New York University 6. MIT 5. Oxford 4. Columbia 3. University of Pennsylvania 2. Stanford 1. Harvard Video: Wibbitz

On the other hand, there are those like Sharon Rudnick of Berkeley whose billing approach can accommodate the less affluent student: "Many (consultants) will charge by the package even if the student doesn't need it. I try to keep it more equitable by charging by the hour."

"There are a lot of anxious parents and stressed out students," Rudnick says, "and a major part of a consultant's brief is to help parents traverse the minefield and help defuse what's become an arms race."

Rudnick's goal is to look for the best college fit for the student, and when she first meets with a family, she excuses the parents and just talks with the student so she can "get a sense of who they are unfiltered."

Of course many families can't afford these kinds of consulting services, which is just one factor in tilting the admissions playing field.

"There's still an illusion that it's a merit-based process that gives equal opportunity to all hard working students, while evidence suggests that's just not so," Albany High counselor Becca Burns told SF Gate. "As a public school employee, I worry about equity of access and what that means for college-bound students who can't afford the extra support."

For those students who cannot afford pricier outside coaches, other low cost, or free, resources are available for them to access either directly or through their schools.

For one, a growing number of programs help low income students with the college application process. One is QuestBridge, a Palo Alto based nonprofit that links high achieving, low income high schoolers with opportunities and scholarships at leading colleges and universities.

Also, for those students who can not get expensive tutoring for standardized tests, Khan Academy, which helps millions of students every year with online tutorials in an array of subjects, now offers free SAT prep as well. Many East Bay schools use the People's Test Preparation Service out of UC Berkeley. And several sites guide students to resource pages that abound with help in the college search, prep and application process.

In the above gallery, see some of the many ways people pay into the tens of thousands of dollars to improve their teens' chances for getting into the college of their choice.
MELVILLE, N.Y., Nov. 01, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Data Storage Corporation (OTCQB:DTST) (DSC and the Company), a provider of diverse business continuity, disaster recovery protection and cloud solutions, today announced its formation of Nexxis Inc. (Nexxis), a new subsidiary of the Company which will focus on the development of next-generation voice and data services intended to help companies speed up their communications, increase revenue and reduce costs.



John Camello, who will serve as president of Nexxis, is a veteran telecom entrepreneur and executive with significant experience in providing nationwide telecom services, including Hosted VoIP with Unified Communications, SIP Trunking, High-Bandwidth Direct Internet Access and Data Connectivity, with emphasis on Business Continuity.

We are excited about kicking off this new business venture with telecom veteran John Camello, stated Chuck Piluso, CEO, DSC. Our goal is to provide reliable network services and state-of-the-art hosted PBX solutions with Unified Communications (UCaaS) to DSCs client base and new prospects. The time is right for Data Storage Corporation and our units to deliver high quality state-of-the-art VoIP and carrier solutions. It is our desire that our clients will benefit from superior telecom solutions and uncompromised high-touch technical service as they have experienced throughout our fifteen year history.

John Camello, Nexxis president, added, Im excited to lead this new venture. We intend to offer standalone voice, internet and transport services, as well as complete next-generation voice and data solutions that will incorporate auto failover with the goal of delivering unmatched reliability and value. This represents a great opportunity for such cutting-edge services to become an integral part of a recognized leader in the IT space. It is the goal of Nexxis to offer the best services and to become a trusted resource that clients will consider an asset to their businesses.

About Data Storage Corporation

Data Storage Corporation (DSC) delivers and supports a broad range of premium solutions focusing on data storage and protection. Clients look to DSC to ensure disaster recovery and business continuity, strengthen security, and to meet increasing industry, state and federal regulations. The company markets to business, government, education and the healthcare industry by leveraging leading technologies, including Virtualization and Cloud Computing. The company provides hardware, SaaS, managed IT services, installation and maintenance. For more information, please visit http://www.DataStorageCorp.com and www.SIASMSP.com.

Press Contact:

Wendy Schmittzeh

Data Storage Corporation

(212) 564-4922

info@datastoragecorp.com
UNITED NATIONS  The United States voted against a U.N. resolution condemning Americas economic embargo against Cuba, reversing last years abstention by the Obama administration and reflecting worsening U.S.-Cuban relations.

The resolution was overwhelmingly approved in the 193-member General Assembly Wednesday by a vote of 191-2, with Israel joining the U.S. in voting no.

Last October, then-President Barack Obama decided to abstain for the first time in 25 years following the restoration of U.S. diplomatic relations with Cuba in July 2016. Relations were broken in 1961 after Fidel Castro took power and installed a communist government in Cuba.

U.S. Ambassador Nikki Haley said before the vote that the U.S. will vote against the embargo as long as the Cuban people continue to be deprived of their human rights and fundamental freedoms.

The no vote Wednesday returns the United States to a place of extreme isolation within the global community over its policy toward Cuba, potentially undermining the Trump administrations broader goals for engagement with Latin America. The U.S. embargo on Cuba is almost universally opposed throughout the world.

The vote comes as an ongoing crisis over U.S. government workers in Havana harmed by invisible health attacks has created a new rift between the U.S. and Cuba, putting the restoration of ties in jeopardy. State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert did not mention the attacks in announcing the no vote, instead emphasizing the need to promote rights and democracy in Cuba.
FORM 8.3

PUBLIC OPENING POSITION DISCLOSURE/DEALING DISCLOSURE BY

A PERSON WITH INTERESTS IN RELEVANT SECURITIES REPRESENTING 1% OR MORE

Rule 8.3 of the Takeover Code (the "Code")

1. KEY INFORMATION

(a) Full name of discloser: Davidson Kempner Capital Management LP (b) Owner or controller of interests and short positions disclosed, if different from 1(a):

The naming of nominee or vehicle companies is insufficient. For a trust, the trustee(s), settlor and beneficiaries must be named. (c) Name of offeror/offeree in relation to whose relevant securities this form relates:

Use a separate form for each offeror/offeree Worldpay Group Plc (d) If an exempt fund manager connected with an offeror/offeree, state this and specify identity of offeror/offeree: (e) Date position held/dealing undertaken:

For an opening position disclosure, state the latest practicable date prior to the disclosure 31 October, 2017 (f) In addition to the company in 1(c) above, is the discloser making disclosures in respect of any other party to the offer?

If it is a cash offer or possible cash offer, state "N/A" YES, Vantiv Inc and Vantiv UK Limited

2. POSITIONS OF THE PERSON MAKING THE DISCLOSURE

If there are positions or rights to subscribe to disclose in more than one class of relevant securities of the offeror or offeree named in 1(c), copy table 2(a) or (b) (as appropriate) for each additional class of relevant security.

(a) Interests and short positions in the relevant securities of the offeror or offeree to which the disclosure relates following the dealing (if any)

Class of relevant security:



3p ordinary



Interests Short positions Number % Number % (1) Relevant securities owned and/or controlled: (2) Cash-settled derivatives:



67,836,750 3.3918



(3) Stock-settled derivatives (including options) and agreements to purchase/sell:



TOTAL: 67,836,750 3.3918





All interests and all short positions should be disclosed.

Details of any open stock-settled derivative positions (including traded options), or agreements to purchase or sell relevant securities, should be given on a Supplemental Form 8 (Open Positions).

(b) Rights to subscribe for new securities (including directors' and other employee options)

Class of relevant security in relation to which subscription right exists: Details, including nature of the rights concerned and relevant percentages:

3. DEALINGS (IF ANY) BY THE PERSON MAKING THE DISCLOSURE

Where there have been dealings in more than one class of relevant securities of the offeror or offeree named in 1(c), copy table 3(a), (b), (c) or (d) (as appropriate) for each additional class of relevant security dealt in.

The currency of all prices and other monetary amounts should be stated.

(a) Purchases and sales

Class of relevant security Purchase/sale



Number of securities Price per unit





(b) Cash-settled derivative transactions

Class of relevant security Product description

e.g. CFD Nature of dealing

e.g. opening/closing a long/short position, increasing/reducing a long/short position Number of reference securities Price per unit 3p ordinary CFD Increasing a long position 4,000,000 4.0404 GBP

(c) Stock-settled derivative transactions (including options)

(i) Writing, selling, purchasing or varying

Class of relevant security Product description e.g. call option Writing, purchasing, selling, varying etc. Number of securities to which option relates Exercise price per unit Type

e.g. American, European etc. Expiry date Option money paid/ received per unit

(ii) Exercise

Class of relevant security Product description

e.g. call option Exercising/ exercised against Number of securities Exercise price per unit





(d) Other dealings (including subscribing for new securities)

Class of relevant security Nature of dealing

e.g. subscription, conversion Details Price per unit (if applicable)





4. OTHER INFORMATION

(a) Indemnity and other dealing arrangements

Details of any indemnity or option arrangement, or any agreement or understanding, formal or informal, relating to relevant securities which may be an inducement to deal or refrain from dealing entered into by the person making the disclosure and any party to the offer or any person acting in concert with a party to the offer:

Irrevocable commitments and letters of intent should not be included. If there are no such agreements, arrangements or understandings, state "none"



NONE





(b) Agreements, arrangements or understandings relating to options or derivatives

Details of any agreement, arrangement or understanding, formal or informal, between the person making the disclosure and any other person relating to:

(i) the voting rights of any relevant securities under any option; or

(ii) the voting rights or future acquisition or disposal of any relevant securities to which any derivative is referenced:

If there are no such agreements, arrangements or understandings, state "none" NONE









(c) Attachments

Is a Supplemental Form 8 (Open Positions) attached? NO

Date of disclosure: 1 November 2017 Contact name: James Gange Telephone number: 212-446-4029

Public disclosures under Rule 8 of the Code must be made to a Regulatory Information Service.

The Panel's Market Surveillance Unit is available for consultation in relation to the Code's disclosure requirements on +44 (0)20 7638 0129.

The Code can be viewed on the Panel's website at www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk.
English Portuguese

CHICAGO, Nov. 01, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Warranty Group, a leading global provider of warranty solutions and underwriting services, announced this morning that Luiz Antonio Sacco has joined the organization as its new president in Brazil. Luiz Sacco will be responsible for maintaining high operational standards, exploring new business opportunities, and driving revenue and profitable growth in the organizations business in Brazil.



Were very pleased to have Luiz managing our Brazilian operations and driving our business to the next level, said Alejandra Calatayud, Executive Vice President Latin America for The Warranty Group. Luiz has extensive experience with both established corporations and entrepreneurial organizations that can be leveraged to the benefit of our existing clients and to new business opportunities.

Luiz Sacco has a leadership history in organizations from diverse market segments such as information technology, financial services, consumer goods and retail in Brazilian and international companies including IBM, American Express, Banco Bradesco, Cremer and SafetyPay. As part of his successful trajectory, he developed business with banks, premier ecommerce and retail companies, beyond strategic partnerships in Brazil as well as in Latin American countries. Luiz studied electrical engineering and holds a specialization in Business Administration at Fundacao Getulio Vargas and an Executive MBA in International Management.

About The Warranty Group:

With more than 50 years of industry leadership, The Warranty Group is one of the worlds premier global providers of warranty solutions and related benefits, with operations in more than 35 countries and over 1,600 employees. With Virginia Surety Company and London General Insurance as our wholly-owned insurance companies, The Warranty Group is a single-source solution that provides underwriting, claims administration, and marketing expertise to some of the worlds leading manufacturers, distributors, and retailers of consumer goods including automobiles, homes, consumer appliances, electronics, and furniture, as well as specialty insurance products and services for financial institutions. For more information, visit www.thewarrantygroup.com.
FORM 8.3

PUBLIC OPENING POSITION DISCLOSURE/DEALING DISCLOSURE BY

A PERSON WITH INTERESTS IN RELEVANT SECURITIES REPRESENTING 1% OR MORE

Rule 8.3 of the Takeover Code (the "Code")

1. KEY INFORMATION

(a) Full name of discloser: Tyrus Capital S.A.M. (b) Owner or controller of interests and short positions disclosed, if different from 1(a):

The naming of nominee or vehicle companies is insufficient. For a trust, the trustee(s), settlor and beneficiaries must be named. (c) Name of offeror/offeree in relation to whose relevant securities this form relates:

Use a separate form for each offeror/offeree Worldpay Group plc (d) If an exempt fund manager connected with an offeror/offeree, state this and specify identity of offeror/offeree: (e) Date position held/dealing undertaken:

For an opening position disclosure, state the latest practicable date prior to the disclosure 31 October 2017 (f) In addition to the company in 1(c) above, is the discloser making disclosures in respect of any other party to the offer?

If it is a cash offer or possible cash offer, state "N/A" YES

If YES, specify which: Vantiv, Inc.

2. POSITIONS OF THE PERSON MAKING THE DISCLOSURE

If there are positions or rights to subscribe to disclose in more than one class of relevant securities of the offeror or offeree named in 1(c), copy table 2(a) or (b) (as appropriate) for each additional class of relevant security.

(a) Interests and short positions in the relevant securities of the offeror or offeree to which the disclosure relates following the dealing (if any)

Class of relevant security:



3p ordinary



Interests Short positions Number % Number % (1) Relevant securities owned and/or controlled: (2) Cash-settled derivatives:



32,323,239 1.616 (3) Stock-settled derivatives (including options) and agreements to purchase/sell:



TOTAL: 32,323,239 1.616

All interests and all short positions should be disclosed.

Details of any open stock-settled derivative positions (including traded options), or agreements to purchase or sell relevant securities, should be given on a Supplemental Form 8 (Open Positions).

(b) Rights to subscribe for new securities (including directors' and other employee options)

Class of relevant security in relation to which subscription right exists: Details, including nature of the rights concerned and relevant percentages:

3. DEALINGS (IF ANY) BY THE PERSON MAKING THE DISCLOSURE

Where there have been dealings in more than one class of relevant securities of the offeror or offeree named in 1(c), copy table 3(a), (b), (c) or (d) (as appropriate) for each additional class of relevant security dealt in.

The currency of all prices and other monetary amounts should be stated.

(a) Purchases and sales

Class of relevant security Purchase/sale



Number of securities Price per unit





(b) Cash-settled derivative transactions

Class of relevant security Product description

e.g. CFD Nature of dealing

e.g. opening/closing a long/short position, increasing/reducing a long/short position Number of reference securities Price per unit 3p ordinary CFD



Reducing a long position 1,000,000 GBP 4.066 3p ordinary CFD



Reducing a long position 500,000 GBP 4.050

(c) Stock-settled derivative transactions (including options)

(i) Writing, selling, purchasing or varying

Class of relevant security Product description e.g. call option Writing, purchasing, selling, varying etc. Number of securities to which option relates Exercise price per unit Type

e.g. American, European etc. Expiry date Option money paid/ received per unit

(ii) Exercise

Class of relevant security Product description

e.g. call option Exercising/ exercised against Number of securities Exercise price per unit





(d) Other dealings (including subscribing for new securities)

Class of relevant security Nature of dealing

e.g. subscription, conversion Details Price per unit (if applicable)





4. OTHER INFORMATION

(a) Indemnity and other dealing arrangements

Details of any indemnity or option arrangement, or any agreement or understanding, formal or informal, relating to relevant securities which may be an inducement to deal or refrain from dealing entered into by the person making the disclosure and any party to the offer or any person acting in concert with a party to the offer:

Irrevocable commitments and letters of intent should not be included. If there are no such agreements, arrangements or understandings, state "none"



none





(b) Agreements, arrangements or understandings relating to options or derivatives

Details of any agreement, arrangement or understanding, formal or informal, between the person making the disclosure and any other person relating to:

(i) the voting rights of any relevant securities under any option; or

(ii) the voting rights or future acquisition or disposal of any relevant securities to which any derivative is referenced:

If there are no such agreements, arrangements or understandings, state "none"



none





(c) Attachments

Is a Supplemental Form 8 (Open Positions) attached? NO





Date of disclosure: 1 November 2017 Contact name: Jonathan Beer Telephone number: +377 9999 5030

Public disclosures under Rule 8 of the Code must be made to a Regulatory Information Service.

The Panel's Market Surveillance Unit is available for consultation in relation to the Code's disclosure requirements on +44 (0)20 7638 0129.

The Code can be viewed on the Panel's website at www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk.
MIAMI, Nov. 01, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- (OTC MARKETS:GHAV)  Today, Grand Havana ("GH") and Miami Club Rum officially announce a three-year collaboration to launch Cuban Coffee Infused Rum, a collective, creative partnership  the groups first-ever brand partnership of its kind  thats more than traditional branding. Elements will include events and experiences, unique offerings and the development of a batch of limited edition Miami Club Rum and Grand Havana infused coffee cocktail.

As part of the brands strategy, Miami Club Rum worked with Grand Havana to ignite Cuban Coffee Infused Rum, a concept with a conversational movement of taste between rum and Cuban coffee, a supreme blend by Luis Bustelo to bring fans of different genres together. With its roots delving in Cuba, Grand Havana is championing this global homage to a distinct island vibe with a modern kick  perfectly in line with the spirit and Caribbean origins of Grand Havana, Inc.

Mr. Luis Bustelo, Master Blender and COO states, "We are proud of our final product; the blending process and working with Matt Malone was one of the highlights of my long coffee career. This is a true testament of two great brands coming together to do something magnificent."

Steven Haas, Vice-President, further states, "I've been in the restaurant business for a very long time and headed taste testings all over the country. I can tell you this is delicious. Bustelo and Malone blended the perfect cocktail for any event."

About Grand Havana Coffee Company

Grand Havana Coffee is a Miami-based specialty coffee retailer and wholesaler. GH specializes in the small-batch roasting of Cuban style espresso coffee beans, masterfully blended by legendary roaster, Luis Bustelo, the original master blender of the Cuban espresso. The company focuses on taking the product mainstream following the massive popular demand for our specialized roasting blend, with over 3.5 million cups of espresso served.

Grand Havana Coffee is the consumers brand of choice for delving into the essence, allure and nostalgia of old Havana, with all its coffee products roasted and packaged in Miami, Florida USA.

Safe Harbor Statement:

The information posted in this release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You can identify these statements by use of the words "may," "will," "should," "plans," "explores," "expects," "anticipates," "continue," "estimate," "project," "intend," and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected or anticipated. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, general economic and business conditions, effects of continued geopolitical unrest and regional conflicts, competition, changes in technology and methods of marketing, and various other factors beyond the Company's control.

Contact Info:

Robert Rico-CEO

Robert@grandhavanacoffee.com

305-283-9237
DALLAS, TX, Nov. 01, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- H. Ross Ford, president and CEO of TCN Worldwide, is pleased to announce the TCN Worldwide 2017-2018 Board of Directors, which were elected at this years TCN Worldwide Fall Conference held in Santa Monica, California. One of the industrys leading international commercial real estate organizations, TCN Worldwide is a consortium of independent commercial real estate firms serving 200+ markets across 24 countries.

We are extremely pleased to announce TCN Worldwides Board of Directors, stated Ross Ford. This diverse group of experienced professionals, each recognized as a leader in their respective marketplace, reflects the quality of those firms that make-up our membership roster. The accomplished professionals who serve on our Board are among the best and brightest in the industry and we are confident that this distinguished team will prove invaluable in the accomplishment of our strategic goals.

The 2017-2018 TCN Worldwide Board of Directors include:

Barry Beitler, President of Beitler Commercial Realty Services/TCN Worldwide in Los Angeles. Mr. Beitler will serve as Chairman of the Board.





Gerald Sullivan, Principal and Managing Broker at PW Commercial/TCN Worldwide in Chicago. Mr. Sullivan will serve as Vice Chair.





William Sitar Jr., Vice President at Sitar Realty/TCN Worldwide in New Jersey. Mr. Sitar will serve as Treasurer.





Ben Azulay, Principal & Executive Managing Director at Bradford Allen Realty/TCN Worldwide in Chicago. Mr. Azulay will serve as Secretary.





David Wallach, CCIM, President and Broker of Barclay Street Real Estate/TCN Worldwide in Calgary, will serve as an at-large Board Member.





Timothy Mitchell, Principal at Norris & Stevens, Inc./TCN Worldwide in Portland, will serve as an at-large Board Member.





H. Ross Ford, President & CEO of TCN Worldwide in Richardson, TX. Mr. Ford is responsible for the strategic direction of the organization and the implementation of all expansion and networking initiatives.

About TCN Worldwide

TCN Worldwide, a consortium of leading independent commercial real estate firms, provides complete integrated real estate solutions locally and internationally. With commercial real estate professionals serving more than 200 primary and secondary markets worldwide, TCN Worldwide is one of the most comprehensive service providers in the industry. An extensive range of real estate services coupled with a personal commitment to exceed client expectations is what allows TCN Worldwide to be a leader in the commercial real estate industry.

TCN Worldwide ranks as one of the largest service providers in the industry, consisting of more than 5,000 commercial real estate professionals in 160+ offices across 24 countries, and collectively representing more than $58.6 billion in annual transaction volume.

For more information on TCN Worldwide, contact H. Ross Ford at 972-769-8701 or visit www.TCNWorldwide.com.

# # #

Attachments:

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/06c215a6-1259-4b5c-98a3-9c19bd5ce164
CALGARY, Alberta, Nov. 01, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Encana Corporation (TSX:ECA) (NYSE:ECA) will release its 2017 third quarter results on Wednesday, November 8, 2017. The news release detailing Encana's 2017 third quarter results will provide operating and financial information. Financial statements will be available on the company's website.



A conference call and webcast to discuss the 2017 third quarter results will be held for the investment community the same day at 7 a.m. MT (9 a.m. ET). To participate, please dial (844) 707-0663 (toll-free in North America) or (703) 326-3003 (international) approximately 10 minutes prior to the conference call.

The live audio webcast of the third quarter conference call, including slides, will also be available on Encana's website, www.encana.com, under Investors/Presentations & Events. The webcasts will be archived for approximately 90 days.

Encana Corporation

Encana is a leading North American energy producer that is focused on developing its strong portfolio of resource plays, held directly and indirectly through its subsidiaries, producing natural gas, oil and natural gas liquids (NGLs). By partnering with employees, community organizations and other businesses, Encana contributes to the strength and sustainability of the communities where it operates. Encana common shares trade on the Toronto and New York stock exchanges under the symbol ECA.

Further information on Encana Corporation is available on the companys website, www.encana.com, or by contacting:

Investor contact:

Corey Code

Vice-President, Investor Relations

(403) 645-4606



Patti Posadowski

Sr. Advisor, Investor Relations

(403) 645-2252

Media contact:

Simon Scott

Vice-President, Communications

(403) 645-2526



Jay Averill

Director, Media Relations

(403) 645-4747

SOURCE: Encana Corporation
HONG KONG  Young Hong Kong democracy activist Joshua Wong warned Wednesday that Chinas rise means human rights are in increasingly greater danger of being overshadowed globally by business interests.

He was responding to questions about his expectations for an upcoming Asian tour by President Trump, who will visit China and four other countries.

Wong, 21, Hong Kongs most famous activist, is out on bail while he appeals a prison sentence related to his involvement in massive 2014 pro-democracy protests.

Business interests override human rights, he said. It unfortunately seems to be a common trend in the world under a rising China.

He urged Trump to not let human rights lose out to commercial considerations, hinting that U.S. business interests could also someday be directly affected.

As an example, he referred to the recent case of British human rights activist Benedict Rogers, who was barred from entering Hong Kong on what many suspect to be Beijings request, and said it might happen again.

The day may come for U.S. politicians to be blocked from entering Hong Kong and when politicians or businessmen from the U.S. might not be possible to enter such an international financial center, how can they keep silent on the erosion of Hong Kong autonomy? he said.

Beijing promised to let Hong Kong maintain wide autonomy and civil liberties after its 1997 handover from Britain under the one country, two systems blueprint, but pro-democracy activists fear Chinas Communist rulers are reneging on their pledge.

Wong turned 21 behind bars and said it might not be the last time I will celebrate my birthday inside prison.

Kelvin Chan and Yi-ling Liu are Associated Press writers.
SYDNEY  The 606 men refusing to leave an Australian immigration camp in Papua New Guinea were without power and many of their toilets on Wednesday as reports emerged saying one of them had resorted to harming himself while others needed urgent medical treatment.

The camp inside a Manus Island navy base was declared closed Tuesday afternoon, based on the Papua New Guinea Supreme Courts ruling last year that Australias policy of detaining asylum seekers there was illegal and unconstitutional. But the men who have stayed at the camp on Lombrun Navy Base fear for their safety in the alternative shelters available in the nearby town of Lorengau because of threats from locals.

The Sydney-based Refugee Action Coalition said the removal of electricity generators Wednesday morning left the camp without power, including toilets that operate on electrical pumps. They still have tap water, though the coalition says it isnt drinkable.

As the asylum seekers faced a second nervous night at the now-unguarded facility amid ongoing fears of violence from locals, an Iranian man living there, Behrouz Boochani, tweeted: A refugee has harmed himself with a razor. He cut his wrist and chest. Physically hes good now but mentally is out of control.

In another tweet, Boochani said: Some refugees are very sick. They need urgent medical treatment. They have been physically sick for a long time. There is no support for them. He added later that a Rohingya refugee with epilepsy is sick now.

Boochani also tweeted that Papua New Guinea immigration officials had sent a bus to the center Wednesday morning to take refugees to their alternative accommodation in Lorengau, but that the refugees are still refusing to go. Immigration is saying (its) your choice.

The Refugee Action Coalition has applied to the Supreme Court for an injunction stopping the closure of the camp. Coalition spokesman Ian Rintoul said the first night without security staff guarding the residents had at least passed peacefully.

The men are sitting tight for the moment, Rintoul said. The situation isnt great, but at least there were no attacks during the night.

For four years, Australia has paid Papua New Guinea, its nearest neighbor, and the tiny Pacific island nation of Nauru to house asylum seekers who attempt to reach the Australian coast by boat. They are Rohingya Muslims from Myanmar, Afghans, Iranians, Sri Lankans and other nationalities.

Trevor Marshallsea is an Associated Press writer.
JERUSALEM  Israelis celebrate it. Palestinians despise it. The Balfour Declaration, Britains promise to Zionists to create a Jewish home in what is now Israel, turns 100 this week, with events in Israel, the Palestinian territories and Britain drawing attention to the now yellowing document tucked away in Londons British Library.

Historians still muse about Britains motivations, and its commitment to the declaration waned in the decades after it was issued. Yet the 67 words penned by a British Cabinet minister still resonate 100 years later, with both the Israelis and Palestinians seizing the anniversary to reinforce their narratives.

Each side is marking the centenary in starkly different ways, shining a light on the chasm between Israel and the Palestinians that some say was cleaved on Nov. 2, 1917.

Its so divisive even today because Zionists think that the Balfour Declaration laid the foundation stone for modern Israel, and by the same token non-Jewish Palestinians and Arabs see it as the foundation stone of their dispossession and misery, said Jonathan Schneer, a historian who authored a book on the document.

The declaration was the result of discussions between British Zionists seeking political recognition of their goal of Jewish statehood and British politicians embroiled in the First World War. Written by British Foreign Secretary Lord Arthur Balfour and addressed to Lord Lionel Walter Rothschild, a British financier and Zionist leader, the declaration promised British assistance to create a Jewish homeland.

His Majestys government view with favor the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people, and will use their best endeavors to facilitate the achievement of this object, the declaration goes, continuing with a caveat: It being clearly understood that nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine.

British motives for issuing the declaration include imperialist political calculations meant to secure a foothold in the Levant amid the collapse of the Ottoman Empire to the messianism of British politicians steeped in biblical history, hoping to restore Jews to their ancestral home.

The declaration served as the basis for the British Mandate of Palestine, which was approved in 1920 by the League of Nations.

Israel views the pledge as the first international recognition granted to the Jewish peoples desire to return to its historic homeland.

The Palestinians see the declaration as the original sin, a harbinger of their nakba, or catastrophe, the mass displacement that resulted from the war surrounding Israels creation in 1948.

Tia Goldenberg is an Associated Press writer.
TORONTO, Nov. 01, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Montero Mining and Exploration Ltd. (TSX-V:MON) (Montero) has completed an initial grab sampling program on its Soris Lithium Project in central Namibia.



On October 24, 2017, Montero announced entering into a Letter of Intent (LOI) with Frovio Investment, a Namibian company, to acquire up to an 80% interest in its wholly owned Soris Lithium Project in the De Rust pegmatite field in Namibia (the Property). Montero is currently in a 3-month legal and technical due diligence period. Under the terms of the LOI, Montero immediately earns an 80% interest in the Property by committing to spending C$1 million and completing a feasibility study in 3 years.

Nico Scholtz Pr.Sci.Nat., an expert on pegmatite geology, carried out the sampling program for Montero. A total of 16 grab samples were submitted for full chemical analysis and 3 mineralogical samples for investigation at SGS Laboratories in Johannesburg, South Africa. The chemical assay results have been reported to Montero while the 3 mineralogical samples remain outstanding.

The 16 grab samples were collected along approximately 2.4km strike of the known pegmatite intrusions. The samples vary in Li 2 O content from 0.07 % Li 2 O to 5.32 % Li 2 O. The samples retrieved also contain anomalous tin and tantalum values and are provided in Table 1 below. The samples are selective and not necessarily representative of the mineralization hosted in the pegmatites on the property. Further confirmatory work including mineralogical investigations, geological mapping, channel sampling and lithium analysis on RC chips from a previous drill program is planned as part of the due diligence program.

Table 1: Concentrations of lithium (Li 2 O), tantalum (Ta 2 O 5 ) and tin (SnO 2 )



Component Average Concentration Range of

Concentrations Median Values Lithium as Li 2 O a. 1.37 % 0.07% to 5.32% 0.6 % Tantalum as Ta2O5 b. 809 ppm 15 ppm to 10,831 ppm 124 ppm Tin as SnO 2 c. 1,766 ppm 105 ppm to 8,798 ppm 615 ppm a. Li 2 O obtained by conversion factor of 2.153 b. Ta 2 O 5 obtained by conversion factor of 1.2211 c. SnO 2 obtained by conversion factor of 1.2696

Dr. Tony Harwood, President and Chief Executive Officer of Montero commented, Montero has identified lithium bearing spodumene mineralization in pegmatites over a 2.4km strike length from the Soris Lithium Project where our most recent sampling program returned values of up to 5.32% Li 2 O Lithium Oxide. Tantalum and tin values are also anomalous. Further due diligence is underway to include channel sampling and analysis of RC chips from a previous drill program where lithium was not analyzed. Montero is looking to confirm tantalum and tin values and establishing the lithium content of the pegmatites.



The Soris Lithium Project is in central Namibia, north west of the town Uis which is 220km north of Walvis Bay, Namibias largest commercial deep-water port. The project is in the Erongo Region and is connected by dirt and asphalt road to the port of Walvis Bay.

The De Rust pegmatite field is hosted in the metasedimentary units of the Damara Mobile Belt of the Pan African Damara Orogen in Namibia. The zoned pegmatites at the Soris Lithium Project belong to a group of highly fractionated, tantalite-cassiterite, lithium-rich rare metal pegmatites known as Lithium-Cesium-Tantalum (LCT) pegmatites. Lithium mineralization occurs in the form of spodumene crystals developed virtually over the whole length of the pegmatite, although the relative abundance of spodumene varies from one location to another spodumene crystals of up to 80cm long are observed.

The Soris Lithium Project pegmatites encompass several outcrops, varying in length between 100m up to 470m over 2.4km and measured in places to be more than 30m wide. The pegmatites were previously mined on a small scale for tin and tantalum (Diehl, 1992). More recently exploration for tantalum and tin, including Reverse Circulation (RC) drilling was undertaken until 2015. The pegmatite has not been mined or systematically sampled or assayed for lithium.

Qualified Person's Statement

This press release was reviewed and approved by Mr. Mike Evans, M.Sc. Pr.Sci.Nat., who is a qualified person for the purpose of National Instrument 43-101 and a Consulting Geologist to Montero. A review was also undertaken by Nico Scholtz, Pr.Sci.Nat., a qualified person for the purpose of National Instrument 43-101 and is a Namibian based geologist with more than 10 years experience. He has extensive experience in rare metal pegmatite exploration in Namibia having worked on many Lithium-Cesium-Tantalum (LCT) pegmatite intrusions.

About Montero

Montero is a mineral exploration and development company engaged in the identification, acquisition, evaluation and exploration of mineral properties in Africa. Currently these include Lithium, Tantalum and Tin in Namibia, Phosphates in South Africa and Rare Earth Elements (REE) in Tanzania. Montero is reviewing and evaluating other opportunities from its operating base in South Africa. Montero trades on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol MON.

For more information, contact:

Montero Mining and Exploration Ltd.

Dr. Tony Harwood, President and Chief Executive Officer

E-mail: ir@monteromining.com

Tel: +1 416 840 9197 | Fax: +1 866 688 4671

www.monteromining.com

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION: This news release includes certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward looking information includes, but is not limited to, statements, projections and estimates with respect to the Share Consolidation. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as plans, expects or does not expect, is expected, budget, scheduled, estimates, forecasts, intends, anticipates or does not anticipate, or believes, or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results may, could, would, might or will be taken, occur or be achieved. Such information is based on information currently available to Montero and Montero provides no assurance that actual results will meet management's expectations. Forward-looking information by its very nature involves inherent risks and uncertainties that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance, or achievements of Montero to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Actual results relating to, among other things, results of exploration, project development, reclamation and capital costs of Monteros mineral properties, and financial condition and prospects, could differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements for many reasons such as: changes in general economic conditions and conditions in the financial markets; changes in demand and prices for minerals; litigation, legislative, environmental and other judicial, regulatory, political and competitive developments; technological and operational difficulties encountered in connection with Monteros activities; and other matters discussed in this news release and in filings made with securities regulators. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect any of Monteros forward-looking statements. These and other factors should be considered carefully and accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Montero does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.
WASHINGTON  It has become something of a ritual for U.S. presidents trying to demonstrate their resolve against North Koreas ever-escalating aggression.

Beginning with Dwight Eisenhowers visit to the front lines of wartime Korea, U.S. leaders have traveled to the barbed and mined demilitarized zone dividing the Korean Peninsula, peering across the barren north through binoculars, hearing broadcast propaganda, and reaffirming their commitment to standing with the South.

After leaving the possibility of the visit dangling, the White House announced definitively this week that President Trump would not be following in their footsteps and will be forgoing a visit to the DMZ as he sets out on his maiden Asia trip.

A senior administration official told reporters during a White House briefing that Trump will instead be visiting Camp Humphreys, a military base about 40 miles south of Seoul, to highlight the U.S.-South Korean partnership and South Koreas burden-sharing. His tight schedule, officials said, wouldnt accommodate both stops.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to provide details ahead of the trip, noted that several Trump administration officials, including Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Vice President Mike Pence, had already made the trip to the border that has separated the North and South for 64 years.

Trumps trip comes amid escalating tensions and rhetoric with North Korea, which has continued to pursue its missile and nuclear programs and ramped up its missile testing. In a recent speech at the United Nations, Trump said he would totally destroy the nation, if necessary. He has also derided North Korean leader Kim Jong Un as little Rocket Man. Kim has returned the favor, calling Trump a mentally deranged U.S. dotard.

The White House has played down the notion that its hesitation to send Trump to the DMZ stemmed from security concerns. But two people familiar with the administrations thinking said that security issues had been discussed. The Secret Service, which advises on the presidents itinerary, did not immediately respond to a request for comment on its recommendations.

U.S. and South Korean officials also argued that a visit to Camp Humphreys, also known as United States Army Garrison-Humphreys, at the invitation of South Korean President Moon Jae-in, serves as a fitting symbol of the countries ties and South Koreas commitment to contributing to its own defense  a theme the president often pressed during his campaign.

Visiting the wooded, craggy terrain inside the DMZ is like going back in time to 1953. In July of that year, the Korean War armistice agreement was signed at Panmunjom, the so-called truce village bisected by a marker that is the official dividing line between North and South Korea. This is the only area inside the DMZ where soldiers of North and South can stand nose to nose.

Jill Colvin and Matthew Pennington are Associated Press writers.
Fidelity Life will use a $100 million capital injection from the New Zealand Superannuation Fund to help pay for future growth and new innovation, with a focus on the insurer's digital capability and platforms, says chief executive Nadine Tereora.

The two companies yesterday announced the NZ Super Fund plans to take at least a 41.1 percent stake through a $75 million share issue at $115 apiece and the acquisition of at least $25 million of existing stock. The deal is subject to conditions including changes to Fidelity Life's constitution.

CEO Tereora told BusinessDesk the life insurer has grown strongly over the last few years and outpaced its ability to fund its own expansion. Asked whether the NZ Super Fund could eventually take a larger stake, Tereora said "possibilities are always there and I think this is the first step of working with the Super Fund and I am confident the future is really bright"

The company is "looking for new ways that Kiwis can access cover," and that its digital strategy is about "enabling and transforming the customer experience that our advised clients receive" and ensuring customers can access their insurance at any time," she said.

"The digital age we now operating in is 24/7 and it is about enabling customers to transact when they wish to, whether that is at 9am talking to their financial adviser or late at night when they engage with us online," she said.

Ultimately, Fidelity Life's aim is to address the "underinsurance gap" in New Zealand: "Kiwis will invest in bricks and mortar before they will invest in protecting their income or their lives," she said.

Education is key, she said, as there is "actually a bit of myth in play here with New Zealanders. They think ACC is the answer for any loss they suffer, but actually it's not." ACC is for accidents and injury and "even that doesn't cover your full income should you be off work for a significant period of time," she said.

The new funding will also provide additional regulatory capital to grow the existing lines of business, in particular, its adviser channel, she said. The money "will really help fund continued growth around our existing channels as well as new, innovative product lines and ways to market," she said.

Tereora said she was confident the necessary conditions would be met for the deal to go through. "The board is very supportive of this deal and our major shareholders are very supportive so we are confident we will get shareholder approval."

Shareholders, including the Fidelity Family Trust, will vote on changes to the insurers constitution needed for the proposal to proceed at the companys annual meeting on Dec. 12. The deal will settle if the constitution is altered and other conditions are met.

Independent advisers Simmons Corporate Finance have concluded that the value of the Fidelity Life shares involved in the proposed transaction is in the range of $110-$130 per share and that the total value of the company is between $198 million and $220 million.

(BusinessDesk)

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A2 Milk Co shares slumped 11 percent as investors cashed in on a stellar run in the stock which had been up more than 300 percent this year.

The shares dropped 92 cents to $7.75 as at 2.15pm having peaked with a record close $8.75 on Oct. 30. A2 and its supplier Synlait Milk have been a breaking new ground since getting Chinese registration for their brands in September, and A2, in particular, has been a favourite among Australian investors for having managed to navigate through the Chinese market in much better shape than rivals such as Bellamy's. Synlait fell 5.6 percent to $7.75.

"You have to wonder whether this is a one-day wonder," said Grant Williamson, a director at Hamilton Hindin Greene in Christchurch. "When a stock takes off like A2 it usually registers a correction at some stage."

The slump in A2 shares drove a 1 percent slide on the benchmark S&P/NZX50 index to 8,064.32, with Australian investors also sour on Fletcher Building, which has downgraded its earnings outlook multiple times after failing to come to grips with the rapid escalation in construction costs. Fletcher shares dropped 3.8 percent to $7.08, having slumped 31 percent so far this year.

"Fletcher selling momentum has been building up following disappointing news," Williamson said.

Those two companies were weighing down the benchmark index, with 17 stocks up in early afternoon trading, 15 unchanged and 18 down.

Metro Performance Glass, a perennial underperformer in the construction sector, dropped 5.1 percent to 94 cents, while Air New Zealand fell 2.6 percent to $3.215.

(BusinessDesk)

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Fonterra Cooperative Group has maintained its forecast for a stronger payout to its farmers for the 2018 season despite the recent decline in dairy prices on the GlobalDairyTrade platform.

In presentations for the annual shareholders' meeting in Hawera this morning, the cooperative reiterated its forecast 2017/18 payout of $6.75 per kilogram of milk solids plus earnings per share in a range of 45-to-55 cents, making the forecast total available payout of $7.20 to $7.30, before retentions. The final cash payout was $6.52 for the 2016/17 season for a 100 percent share-backed farmer.

Chair John Wilson said farmers enjoyed a good season in 2016/17 "after two seasons of unusually low milk prices". Apart from that, the company presentations gave few specifics on the outlook.

Some analysts have been speculating the 2018 forecasts could be under pressure given the recent weakening in prices. Whole milk powder fell 0.5 percent to US$3,014 a tonne in the last GDT auction on Oct. 17, the lowest since the April 17 sale.

OMF said last month that global supply/demand dynamics "suggest scope for a further significant correction in the milk fat premium and we see potential for considerable downside risk to the farmgate milk price."

The presentations from chief executive Theo Spierings included bullet points for 2018 priorities that include "Deliver China and Beingmate partnership at full potential", protecting Fonterra's share of the New Zealand milk pool, revitalising the Anlene brand, increasing its share of the Australian milk pool and achieving "double-digit Foodservice diversified growth."

Fonterra has faced criticism for its partnership with Beingmate, whose shares have fallen since the New Zealand company took a stake of just under 20 percent in 2014 to cement a deal targeting China's infant formula market and sales of its Anmum products.

In Australia, Fonterra competes with Murray Goulburn Cooperative, that country's largest milk processor. While it has won suppliers off its rival by being able to offer a higher milk payout it missed out on buying Murray Goulburn, which last week announced it had entered a binding agreement to sell all its operating assets and liabilities to Canada's Saputo for A$1.31 billion.

Duncan Coull, chair of the Fonterra Shareholders' Council, was also set to address the meeting. His presentation included a chart rating the company against its key performance indicators for 2017. He gave it ticks for the farmgate milk price, consumer and food service volumes and the farmgate milk price but gave it a fail for earnings per share, which at 46 cents lagged behind the 50 cents-to-60 cents target, and return on capital, which came in at 11.1 percent versus a targeted 13.2 percent.

Last month, Fonterra trimmed its milk collection outlook for the 2018 season after a wet August and September sapped production, especially in the North Island. It now forecasts 1,540 million kilograms of milk solids for the year ending May 31, 2018 from a previous projection of 1,575 kgMS.

Units of the Fonterra Shareholders' Fund, which are entitled to the dividends on the ordinary shares, last traded at $6.40 and have gained 6.7 percent this year, while the S&P/NZX 50 Index rose 17 percent.

(BusinessDesk)

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Milford Asset Management's active growth KiwiSaver fund is the only one to deliver annualised double-digit growth over the 10-year life of the state-sponsored savings scheme, Morningstar research shows.

The research analysis firm's quarterly KiwiSaver report has included annual 10-year returns for the funds with the scheme, whose principle legislated purpose is to "encourage a long-term savings habit and asset accumulation by individuals who are not in a position to enjoy standards of living in retirement similar to those in pre-retirement". That makes long-term returns the "most appropriate to evaluate performance" of the scheme, Morningstar manager research ratings director Chris Douglas said in his report.

Milford's active growth fund, with $760 million under management, topped the leaderboard on the 10-year basis with annual returns of 13 percent after fees. The fund and its principal Brian Gaynor have long advocated the benefit of active investment management, despite the growing push for investors to park their money with a passive investor, often relying on global index-tracking exchange-traded funds, to keep fees down to a minimum.

"This approach started off with a much greater bias to Australasian equities, but has become more diversified as it has grown," Douglas said of the fund's 10-year performance. "Asset allocation does move around and the strong performance has come from a bias to growth assets and exposure to Australasian credit."

Of the conservative funds, the Aon Russell Lifepoints Conservative fund, with $74.9 million of assets, was the top performer over the decade with annual after-fees returns of 7 percent. Among moderate vehicles, the Aon Russell Lifepoints Moderate with $20 million under management was the 10-year leader with annual returns of 9.3 percent, and Aon ANZ Balanced, with $29 million of assets, was the first-ranking balanced fund with annual returns of 7.1 percent.

KiwiSaver uptake has exceeded expectations since it was launched in 2007, with 2.79 million members, equivalent to 72 percent of the working age population, with assets worth $43.24 billion: an average of $15,500 per member. That's after $1.72 billion of withdrawals for the first-home buyer scheme over the past five years.

The Financial Markets Authority rapped the default providers over the knuckles in this year's annual review of the scheme, saying not enough was being done to encourage those people automatically enrolled to make active decisions about what kind of fund to choose.

Morningstar's Douglas said the FMA was right to see how it can ensure providers are putting investors in a fund with the right risk profile for their age and circumstances but noted how hard it was for providers to "engage the disengaged". He mooted the lifecycles approach raised by ANZ several years ago, where default fund members were put in growth, balanced, or conservative funds depending on their age.

"The primary purpose of KiwiSaver is to help New Zealanders save for their retirement and if someone is saving for a house via KiwiSaver, then hopefully they are engaged enough to ensure they are also in the right risk profile," Douglas said. "With KiwiSaver now 10 years old, it's time to try something new that will help investors."

Across the different groups, default funds with $8.59 billion under management delivered an annual return of 5.4 percent after fees over 10 years, conservative funds with $11.04 billion of assets, generated annual returns of 5.6 percent, and moderate funds with $6.39 bilion of assets, delivered annual returns of 6.9 percent. Balanced funds with $9.68 billion of assets posted annual returns of 5.9 percent, while growth funds with $11.56 billion delivered annual returns of 5.9 percent. Aggressive funds with $2.23 billion under management generated annual returns of 5.1 percent over the past decade.

(BusinessDesk)

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Fairfax New Zealand, which is rebranding it as its flagship news website Stuff, has taken control of the hyper-local Neighbourly website for an undisclosed sum in what's emerging as an alternative strategy for the media group if a planned merger with NZME can't go ahead.

The local unit of ASX-listed Fairfax Media Group yesterday acquired the remaining shares it didn't own in Neighbourly, having first bought a 22.5 percent stake in December 2014. Over that period, Neighbourly's membership has swelled to more than 500,000 from 62,000 and the website was singled out by group chief executive Greg Hywood as a now-profitable business that created a "real opportunity the future" of the New Zealand division.

"Acquiring Neighbourly was perhaps a risk for a business that had been focused on traditional publishing, but its undeniable success has shown us the value of exploring and developing new ways to support our core business of journalism," Fairfax NZ chief executive Sinead Boucher said in a statement. "We are incredibly grateful for the hard work (Neighbourly co-founder) Casey (Eden) and his team have done evolving Neighbourly, as it is now a key way for our journalists to connect with communities across New Zealand, talk to them about what matters locally, and keep them informed."

The deal was closed the same day Fairfax NZ announced plans to shrink the size of its daily broadsheets to tabloid from the middle of next year, shrinking not only the size of the paper but also the associated printing costs. The compact format has been adopted by publishers around the world to reduce their printing costs, including at NZME's flagship masthead the New Zealand Herald.

Fairfax NZ has progressively lifted its stake in Neighbourly since the first investment, and as at June 30, 2016 placed a $4.6 million value on its joint ventures being 45 percent of Neighbourly and 25 percent of the KPEX shared advertising exchange. That year Fairfax NZ registered a $1.3 million loss from its share of joint ventures and was owed $350,000 from Neighbourly in a related party loan.

Boucher took over the reins as New Zealand CEO earlier this year, but has had a pivotal role in redirecting the publisher's focus in a digital-first strategy when she was head of news.

When the Australian parent reported its annual result in August, group chief Hywood told analysts the New Zealand business was "very, very interesting" given stuff.co.nz's monthly audience of 2.1 million people, calling it a "tremendous digital growth platform". The group has enjoyed success with its digital investments such as the float of Trade Me and plans to replicate that with a similar plan demerging its Domain real estate listings group.

Fairfax NZ has also secured complementary businesses with that digital push, taking a controlling stake in NZ Fibre Communications, better known as Stuff Fibre, and a minority stake in electricity provider Future Energy New Zealand, creating the ability to bundle content, telecommunications, and energy in a single package.

However, Fairfax NZ's bid to raise the threat of digital advertising giants such as Google and Facebook as threatening the viability of newspaper publishers when pitching a merger bid with NZME to the Commerce Commission failed to convince the regulator such a deal was in the public interest. The two media companies recently appealed the decision in Wellington's High Court, and are waiting for the decision.

(BusinessDesk)

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Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has poured cold water on the Ports of Auckland's proposal to extend one of its wharves by 13 metres into Waitemata Harbour, just hours after the proposal was released.

Speaking after her first official conversation as prime minister with the mayor of Auckland, former Labour Party leader Phil Goff, Ardern said: "What I'm happy to say is that I have always opposed port expansion at its current site."

While POAL is positioning the longer wharf as part of a package that would also see another wharf removed, a spokesman for Ardern confirmed the government saw the new proposal as a bid for expansion.

The port's proposal, just a week since the new government was sworn in, has irritated key ministers, who regard the proposal as being deaf to the agreement in the coalition agreement between Labour and the New Zealand First parties to investigate moving the port to another site. NZ First leader Winston Peters campaigned on moving the port to Whangarei and upgrading the rail connection to Auckland.

Goff told a brief media conference with Ardern: "I welcome the fact that the government has committed to an upper North Island port study.

"It doesn't make sense for Auckland to make a decision in isolation to what the region and the country actually needs. So this is a draft proposal from the ports. That will go out for public discussion. They will be seeking resource consents but what we've got now is a study that will demonstrate what will work best for Auckland, for the region in the upper North Island and for the country as a whole. I think that study will be what counts for what we do in the future."

In its release, the port said it needed to expand a wharf to accommodate the increasing size of container ships coming to Auckland, the country's main import port, and allow it to continue to service the city and surrounding area for the next 30 years or "until such time as the port is moved".

A Future Port Study involving various stakeholders and completed in July last year under the previous mayor, Len Brown, concluded the port's current location on the waterfront in the Auckland central business district would not be able to handle projected freight growth over the next 50 years and proposed a range of alternatives, including Northport near Whangarei, sites in the Firth of Thames, the Manukau Harbour on Auckland's west coast, and a site near the surf beach of Muriwai.

The port argues it will need some leeway to expand its berthing facilities in the interim.

Ardern also confirmed the new government would continue to use the process created between the previous government and Auckland Council to create the Auckland Transport Alignment Plan, which prioritises transport infrastructure investment for a city that is increasingly congested as around 800 new cars a week take to the road in the country's largest and fast-growing city.

Goff strongly backed the government's plans to build light rail services from central Auckland to the airport and west Auckland, with eastern and northern light rail to follow.

"I've looked around at different models around the world. It's very clear that Auckland has to have a mass transit system," said Goff, who defended the proposed 10 cents per litre regional petrol tax that will allow Auckland Council to contribute up to $1.5 billion of the approximately $3.9 billion cost of the airport and western routes.

"If we did not have the regional fuel tax, we would have to put rates up by probably 15 percent, which would be totally unsustainable, or we would have to introduce a congestion tax which, I think, in London is running at $21 a day. The regional fuel tax is on average probably $2.60 a week. That is absolutely sustainable," said Goff, who said his exploration of other cities showed light rail was "not an outdated technology" but "what countries all around the world are doing".

He was also sympathetic to the use of so-called "value capture" rating on properties that benefited from being close to new public infrastructure, saying the idea had support "across the political spectrum".

"That's a concept that really needs to be explored," he said. "Sometimes when the ratepayer and the taxpayer put in new infrastructure, it puts a massive uplift in the value of your properties. I think it's fair that if you're getting a massive uplift in the value of your property that you make a contribution to the infrastructure that lets that happen."

(BusinessDesk)

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PALO ALTO, Calif., Nov. 01, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Benetech , the leading software for social good nonprofit, today announced a five-year award from the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs, to expand and improve access to books for students who read differently due to blindness, low vision, a physical disability, or dyslexia. Bookshare , the largest online library of accessible books, along with training and support, will remain free for all U.S. school districts, schools, educators, and their qualified students.



Access to knowledge through reading is a basic human right and a critical step on the path to economic, educational, and social development, said Brad Turner, VP of Global Literacy, Benetech. Many students struggle in school and in life because they read differently. Benetech is proud to work with these students, their parents, and their educators to make reading not only possible but also fun and enjoyable with personalized reading experiences.

Bookshare has already delivered over 11 million books to students and is used in schools and districts across the United States, ranging from the largest urban districts such as Los Angeles Unified School District and New York Public Schools, to small, rural districts in all 50 states. Qualified students attending community colleges and universities, charter schools, and homeschools also access the Bookshare library free of charge. In tandem with Bookshare, Benetechs Born Accessible and Global Certified Accessible initiatives engage publishers and the education community to prioritize the creation and procurement of accessible content.

Benetech will use the award funding to reach an additional 200,000+ students, on top of the half million existing Bookshare student members, with personalized access to over 800,000 books. The company will deliver four million downloads of those accessible ebooks to qualified students over the five-year award period and will work directly with publishers to ensure accessibility features are included in production and are present in over 50 percent of educational books by 2022.

Bookshare allows students to have immediate access to academic resources alongside their peers, said Jonathan Fine, assistive technology specialist, Boston Public Schools. For example, a high-school student with a visual impairment is able to access classroom reading materials by independently accessing books on her iPad in a digital and audio format. In another example, a student with dyslexia is able to access a grade level novel via Bookshare and read alongside his peers. In both scenarios, the playing field is leveled and the students are given equal opportunity to access their curriculum.

Benetechs approach to achieving personalized education solutions at scale, including Bookshare, follows the companys proven software for social good model: identify unmet social needs, prototype solutions, and scale those solutions to drive systemic change. Benetech works with the communities it serves to ensure solutions meet the needs and improve the lives of individuals in those communities. Benetechs software for social good efforts span education, human rights, social services, and the environment.

Benetechs ability to deliver positive, lasting impact at scale is made possible by philanthropy, government and corporate funding, and community participation. To learn more about and to join the Benetech community, visit: https://benetech.org/get-involved/.

This project is supported by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs (Award Number H327D170002). Opinions expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the position of the U.S. Department of Education.
English Finnish

Metsa Group Stock Exhange release 1 November 2017 at 6.30 pm EET

At a meeting held on 1 November 2017, the Supervisory Board of Metsa Groups parent company, Metsaliitto Cooperative, elected forestry and agriculture entrepreneur Johan Bjorkenheim to be a new member of Metsaliitto Cooperatives Board of Directors as of 1 January 2018. Bjorkenheim has a long time experience from forestry as well as from positions of trust in Metsaliitto Cooperative. He has been a member of the Representative Council during the years 19992011 and a member of the Supervisory Board as from 2011.



Antti Tukeva, maanviljelysneuvos (Finnish honorary title), was no longer a candidate for the Board of Directors. Tukeva has been a member of the Board since 2009.



The meeting also decided to pay the following fees to the Chairman and members of the Board of Directors in 2018: the fee paid to the Chairman of Metsaliitto Cooperatives Board will be EUR 7,200 per month, and the monthly fee for Board members will be EUR 4,000. The monthly fee paid to the chair of the Audit Committee will be EUR 1,200 and to the chair of Compensation Committee EUR 1,000. The fees are at the same level as in 2017.





METSA GROUP





For further information, please contact:

Miika Arola, Group General Counsel, Metsa Group, tel. +358 10 465 4205

Metsa Group

www.metsagroup.com

Metsa Group is a forerunner in sustainable bioeconomy utilising renewable wood from sustainably managed northern forests. Metsa Group focuses on wood supply and forest services, wood products, pulp, fresh fibre paperboards and tissue and cooking papers.

Metsa Groups sales totalled EUR 4.7 billion in 2016, and it employs approximately 9,300 people. The Group operates in some 30 countries. Metsaliitto Cooperative is the parent company of Metsa Group and is owned by approximately 104,000 Finnish forest owners.

Follow Metsa Group:
Vancouver, B.C., Nov. 01, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The British Columbia Utilities Commission has completed its inquiry examining the impact on BC Hydro ratepayers associated with continuing, suspending or terminating the Site C project.



The Site C Inquiry Panel received 620 written submissions, and heard from 304 speakers during 11 Community Input Sessions throughout the province. In addition, the Panel held three First Nations Input Sessions and two Technical Presentation Sessions.

This was a challenging project with a very tight timeframe, said David Morton, Chair & CEO of the BCUC, With the significant contributions of those who participated in this Inquiry, the Panel and Commission staff worked very hard to produce a report that will assist the government in its decision making.

The report and executive summary are available on the BCUC Site C Inquiry website: www.sitecinquiry.com.

The Panels key findings are:

The BCUC is not persuaded that the Site C project will remain on schedule for a November 2024 in-service date. The Panel also finds that the project is not within the proposed budget of $8.335 billion. Currently, completion costs may be in excess of $10 billion.

The Panel finds the least attractive of the three scenarios is to suspend and restart the project in 2024. The suspension and restart scenario adds at least an estimated $3.6 billion to final costs and is by far the most expensive of the three scenarios. In addition, the Panel considers it the most risky scenario because, among other things, environmental permits will expire and that will require new applications and approvals.

The Panel finds the Site C termination and remediation costs to be approximately $1.8 billion, in addition to the costs of finding alternative energy sources to meet demand.

Regarding future energy needs, the Panel finds BC Hydros mid load forecast to be excessively optimistic and considers it more appropriate to use the low load forecast in answering the questions set out in the Inquiry. In addition, the Panel is of the view that there are risks that could result in demand being less than the low case.

The Panel believes increasingly viable alternative energy sources such as wind, geothermal and industrial curtailment could provide similar benefits to ratepayers as the Site C project, with an equal or lower Unit Energy Cost.

Neither completing Site C nor implementing a portfolio of alternative energy sources is without risk. The Panel reviews the risks of each approach in the report.

On August 2, 2017, the Lieutenant Governor in Council, by OIC No. 244, requested that the BCUC, pursuant to section 5(1) of the Utilities Commission Act, advise the Lieutenant Governor in Council respecting BC Hydros Site C project, in accordance with the terms set out in the OIC. The OIC is available on the BCUCs Site C Inquiry webpage.
MENLO PARK, Calif., Nov. 01, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Aviso, the leader in AI-powered sales forecasting and visibility, today announced that Stephen DAngelo has joined the company as President, Worldwide Field Operations. Mr. DAngelo will be responsible for all sales and business development operations and for scaling demand for Aviso Sales Vision, the only platform on the market purpose-built to drive forecasting accuracy and offering 360-degree visibility across the full sales lifecycle. In this role, Mr. DAngelo will apply his expertise in field sales, demand generation, technical sales and business development to help the company transition to the next level of growth and further its leadership position as the category-defining leader in the space.



Steve brings three decades of sales and field operations leadership to our company, said Michael Lock, Aviso CEO. He has a track record of managing and driving high growth companies especially in the enterprise segment of the business. I am excited to be working with him again and we are fortunate to add him to our team.

Prior to joining Aviso, Mr. DAngelo served as Worldwide Vice President of Sales at Hearsay Systems where he helped the company grow aggressively in the Enterprise Space. Steve has held the president role at several other technology companies and was founder and CEO of his own company focused on data-driven hiring for sales personnel.

Im excited to join the team at Aviso and look forward to helping the company achieve its mission of helping sales leaders become more data-driven using AI-based technology, said Mr. DAngelo. Aviso is the leading provider of forecasting technology and advanced AI predictions in the market. Its a great time to come onboard, especially as they redefine pipeline and deal reviews with their newest functionality.

About Aviso

Aviso offers the only product on the market purpose-built for forecasting and sales visibility. The Aviso Sales Vision platform aligns sales forecasting, pipeline reviews, and deal reviews on one, collaborative tool. With key sales data from three critical processes all in one place, Aviso provides unprecedented, 360-degree visibility across the entire sales lifecycle, from call number, to closed deal. With Aviso technology and a powerful AI smart layer powering our platform, sales and sales operations teams at companies such as Apttus, Splunk and Xactly improve forecast accuracy, make smart selling decisions to close more deals, and leverage insights to maximize impact. With Aviso, youll not only know if a rep, product line or business segment is forecasted to miss the number, but by how much, and what to do about it. Aviso is headquartered in Menlo Park, CA. For additional information, visit us at www.aviso.com, Twitter, or LinkedIn.
Pamela Silvestri | silvestri@siadvance.com

Booze shakes, deep-fried oreos Italian-style, steaks and more have landed on our shores. Keep scrolling for all the mouthwatering details.

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(Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)

Hot stuff!

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  One restaurant cometh, while another restaurant goeth. And so begins the continuing stories of the ever-changing restaurant-scape on Staten Island.

First, let's extend a hearty welcome to Curry Leaf in Tompkinsville, a new Sri Lankan eatery for sit-down and take out options at 19 Corson Ave., 917-367-2827. And here is a formal "hello" to the Mike Jr.'s Richmond Diner at 3954 Richmond Ave., a sister location to the Oakwood spot and former home to the Richmond Diner.

And let's wave also to VINUM of Stapleton  704 Bay St., VinumNYC.com, 718-448-8466 whose custard-filled pastries called cornetti (pictured above) come fresh from the espresso and wine bar's oven each morning.

Exciting!

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Pamela Silvestri | silvestri@siadvance.com

Update on Flaming Grill!

It's open! After a water main break and simultaneous visit from the Health Department, Flaming Grill & Supreme Buffet of Port Richmond was closed by the Health Department in mid-October. But all is well now  the sprawling all-you-can-eat "supreme" smorgasbord is back in business with its sushi, Chinese food and Continental foods.

And, we have a few new eateries to check out.

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(Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)

Metro Bar & Bistro soon becomes the Hylan Diner.

The owners of the venue at 2561 Hylan Blvd., 718-668-9200 will be changing over to a 24/7 diner format come Monday, Oct. 30. Deposits for parties will be honored, says principal Steve Osman.

The glitzy lounge and upscale restaurant format, he says, just wasn't working.

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(Staten Island Advance/ Bill Lyons)

In the meantime, Metro's bartender Jennifer...

... has moved over to the bar at Jac Mao. The restaurant misses its long-time tap-tender, Danielle, has moved onto work on the ambulances. And, host Elbert is back at Jac's, a one-time showplace for a Johnny Cash impersonator.

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Courtesy of The Chocolate Suite

The Chocolate Suite opened in Huguenot.

Owners Angela Criscitelli and Lisa Defelice opened the store in mid-September. Bag or jar your own cande at $1.99 per 1/4 pound or $3.99 per 1/2 pound.

The Chocolate Suite is located at 895 Huguenot Ave., Huguenot, 718-948-2172, TheChocolateSuiteSI.com. Hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

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And, welcome to The Coupe which has a 'super soft opening' under its belt.

With its liquor license in place, the whiskey lounge will open daily from 6 p.m. to 4 a.m.. It will feature top shelf liquors, ice chipped from a solid block and food (the latter's full list to-be-announced) and can be found at 379 Van Duzer St., Stapleton; 718-269-0668, TheCoupeNYC.com.

For now, the menu includes a charcuterie platter with handmade truffles, dried figs, croustini and a handful of select cheeses. Its evening/speakeasy format will add to the restaurant row that's already taken root here in Stapleton with Vida, Duzer's Local, Pastry Lover's Choice and Sabor Macchu Picchu at the heart of things.

The 379 Van Duzer building is from the 1880s and includes hardwood floors and tin ceilings. The bar has quartz counter tops and sports a little lounge in the back of the place.

Andrew Rice, the general manager of a top NYC bar Attaboy on the Lower East Side, is involved with The Coupe. Designers of the bar itself are Norman Desharnais, the landlord George Christo and Sabrina Hamilton.

Adds Edward Mango, head bartender, "And Norman has spent countless hours making the bar look as great as it does."

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Courtesy of Mr. Ciao's

Mr. Ciao rolled out a new menu.

With filet mignon over a potato cake with plum wine reduction, a small mesh basket filled with hot rice balls, ribeye steak over garlic smashed potatoes and a pork chop with hot cherry peppers, it what's for dinner alongside sushi and Asian fusion cooking.

Mr. Ciao is located at 2945 Veterans Rd. West; 718-966-0300. The roof top restaurant and lounge is accessible by elevator in the evenings every day but Mondays. The kitchen is open on Tuesday and Wednesday with hours from 5 to 10 p.m. and Thursday, Friday and Saturday with hours from 5 to 11 p.m. and Sunday from 1 to 9 p.m.



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Kettle Black is doing gangbuster business.

The West Brighton pub will roll out its full menu starting Monday, Oct. 30 along with nightly deals and two-for-ones. Readers report waiting an hour or so at peak dinner times on the weekend and are loving the various sauces on chicken fingers and Buffalo wings.

Kettle Black is located where Afternoone's restaurant once lived at 415 Forest Ave.; 718-420-0173, Kettleblackbar.com. The spot has been overhauled to include two spacious dining rooms and an extensive bar with flatscreens throughout the restaurant. Kettle has kept its windows open to the balmy air this mild October and is just across the street from Ho'Brah, its sister spot which specializes in a California-surf taco menu. Both venues feature weekend brunch.

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Pamela Silvestri | silvestri@siadvance.com

Confections Dessert Lounge is open to adults and kids...

... well, kinda on the kids.

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Pamela Silvestri | silvestri@siadvance.com

Jamie and Jak Daragjati, parents of three children, wanted a place where a mature people can gather.

"My husband and I live a very hectic schedule. So when we have a sitter we are in no rush to get home," says Jamie.

Confections is located at 65 Page Ave., Richmond Valley, 718-554-4992; Confections via Facebook and Instagram.

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Pamela Silvestri | silvestri@siadvance.com

So, if you're not in a rush, stop in for a cheese and fruit platter.

Aside from this item, the food is all desserts.

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Pamela Silvestri | silvestri@siadvance.com

There's a seven-layer cake with vanilla ice cream and chocolate drizzle.

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Pamela Silvestri | silvestri@siadvance.com

Will Gozdziewski is the mixologist at Confections.

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He froths cocktails with egg whites.

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Pamela Silvestri | silvestri@siadvance.com

Bacon and S'mores weave through the menu and cocktails.

Nutter Butters are combined with vanilla and chocolate vodkas and whipped cream for a booze-infused dessert/drink.

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Pamela Silvestri | silvestri@siadvance.com

Confections has started booking private parties.

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Pamela Silvestri | silvestri@siadvance.com

The restaurant can be rented out during the week or at night.

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Pamela Silvestri | silvestri@siadvance.com

Jamie wants a nice nightlife atmosphere.

"We wanted something more mature. We wanted the cool shakes but those for a more mature crowd  youre getting the feel of the nightlife atmosphere. But we dont have a DJ in there. We wanted you to go with your date and actually be able to hear them speak," she says.

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Pamela Silvestri | silvestri@siadvance.com

She and Jak invite guests in for the late-night waffles...

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Pamela Silvestri | silvestri@siadvance.com

And a sweet and fruity beverage.

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Pamela Silvestri | silvestri@siadvance.com

Behind the secret bookcase...

Violette's Cellar and speakeasy are shaping up.

Violette's Cellar is located at 2271 Hylan Blvd., 718-650-5050, ViolettesCellar.com.

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Pamela Silvestri | silvestri@siadvance.com

Here's a look at the almost-finished digs.

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Pamela Silvestri | silvestri@siadvance.com

Of course, purple hues run through the restaurant.

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Pamela Silvestri | silvestri@siadvance.com

The subterranean space is former home to LaBotte.

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Pamela Silvestri | silvestri@siadvance.com

With the 'violette' theme there is a focus on wines.

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Via Margherita Restaurant is coming to Rosebank.

The whole moniker for the restaurant is Via Margherita Restaurant-Cucina Calabrese. It is primed to open for early December at 452 Tompkins Ave., Rosebank; 347-996-9274.

Benedetto Giusta and his father Natale Giusta own the eatery which will serve Italian breakfast, lunch, dinner and desserts daily.

From eggs, frittatas and early morning panini presentations, Via Margherita will feature Bombolini (Italian doughnut), fresh fruit and Cornetto, a flaky pastry like a croissant filled with custard or Nutella.

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(Courtesy of Benedeto Giusta)

The appetizers...

Mainstays of the core menu offer fried calamari, a Caprese platter with fresh mozzarella and cherry tomatoes, rice balls made with ricotta cheese, hot and cold antipasto plates and assorted vegetable patties made with eggplant, cauliflower and broccoli.

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Pamela Silvestri | silvestri@siadvance.com

As well as salads, vegetable sides and traditional Italian pastas...

sausage is cooked into dishes with chick peas, broccoli raab or peppers.

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(Courtesy of Benedetto Giusta)

'Pollo Calabrese' is a hearty combination of olives, peppers, taomtoes, sausage, capers and garlic.

Chicken will also come parmigiana, stuffed with ham and provolone, topped with fresh mozzarella and as wings sauteed with olive oil, garlic and oregano.

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Deep-fried Oreos...

will be "touched by an Italian."

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Pamela Silvestri | silvestri@siadvance.com

And you might think you're looking at a wall, but it's not just ANY wall.

This is THE wall you'll see at Chef Mike's Rodizio Grill coming to 35 Androvette St., Charleston, ChefMikesRodizio.com, 929-407-6006.

I am about 90 percent done. Basically I am waiting on final inspections. And were building a handicapped ramp so it will be 100 percent accessible, said chef and owner Mike DiLeo.

Im looking to open the week of Thanksgiving," he said.

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Pamela Silvestri | silvestri@siadvance.com

From the butter to the bread, 'everything will be spectacular,' promises the chef.

"The top thing is the all-you-can eat rodizio with 10 different options of protein  you have your filet mignon, your skirt steak, your sausages, different cuts of beef, pork, chicken along with lamb and shrimp," explains the chef on his place. But...

"The difference between me and other rodizios is I didnt opt to put in a salad bar. If theyre not full and fresh, its not appealing. So customersll have three different styles of salads to choose from...depending on the size of their party, it will determine the number of sides they can choose," said Mike. He'll also present an ala carte menu with six apps and 10 entree options for those who don't want the abbondanza version of the meal.

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(Courtesy of Mike DiLeo)

Here's the bar.

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Courtesy of Mike DiLeo

This is the shiny new rodizio.

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Thanksgiving is coming.

Hook and Rail is taking orders for brined and fresh-killed birds.

Hook & Rail Meats is located at 4174 Victory Blvd., Travis; 718-524-5208. The store is open Tuesday from 2 to 8 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

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Whole packages are starting to pop up around the borough.

The deadline at Hillside Market is Nov. 18 for a package with all the trimmings  the whole bird or breast, stuffed shells, stuffing, candied yams, broccoli oreganata, Sherry giblet gravy, cranberry sauce, corn bread, housemade apple or pumpkin pie  for $169 (10 to 12 guests) and $239 for (18 to 20 guests.)

Got a Thanksgiving deal or meal going in your restaurant or deli? Send that information on over to me at silvestri@siadvance.com. And, in the meantime, enjoy these splendid fall days eating and savoring Staten Island.
CHANTILLY, Va., Nov. 01, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SOC, a Day & Zimmermann Company, is a leading provider of mission support solutions including Integrated Security, M&O, and Cleared Staffing services around the world. This season, SOC will attend a series of RecruitMilitary Events for veterans and transitioning active duty military, guard, and reserve members seeking employment. SOC is looking to fill a number of positions including: K9 handlers, guard force, security police officers, trainers, firearms instructors, paramedics, armorers, designated defensive marksman, curriculum developers, and more.



SOC will attend:

RecruitMilitary Fort Bragg

November 8, 2017

11:00  3:00pm

Bragg Conference & Catering, 2658 Reilly Road, Ft Bragg, NC 28310

REGISTER HERE

RecruitMilitary Las Vegas

December 7, 2017

11:00  3:00pm

Conference Center of Las Vegas

6590 Bermuda Road

Las Vegas, NV 89119

REGISTER HERE

RecruitMilitary San Antonio

January 11, 2018

11:00  3:00pm

Norris Conference Centers

618 NW Loop 410, #207

San Antonio, TX 78216

REGISTER HERE

As a patriotic organization supporting the U.S. National Security Mission, we are a company that lives its values 24/7 by maintaining safety and integrity at all times, said Steven Selfridge, President, SOC. Most employees agree that this is what makes joining SOC an easy choice. Our unwavering commitment to our country stands in every choice we make, including hiring veterans.

We actively seek qualified former military who have bravely served our country to join our workforce, stated Joe McDonald, Vice President, Talent Acquisition, SOC. We know that some of the best elite performers who share our same high values and integrity come from this bracket, McDonald added.

SOC has dedicated veteran recruiters and resources available to aid military members transitioning to the civilian workforce. In addition, SOCs Veteran Employee Resource Group is dedicated to ensuring veteran employees have a support group within the company at SOC.

About SOC  SOC, a Day & Zimmermann is a trusted global provider of mission support solutions with a history of assuring safe and effective operations for U.S. Government and commercial customers. SOC provides a guarantee of discrete and effective service so that customers can do their best work. SOC employs more than 5,000 professionals engaged in the delivery of mission critical safeguards and security, facility management and operations, engineering, explosive ordnance storage and disposal, and international logistics, and life support services. The Companys customers include the U.S. Departments of State, Energy, and Defense, Fortune 500 companies, and non-governmental organizations. Consistently ranked on the global Defense News Top 100 List of defense companies, SOC is owned by Day & Zimmermann, a $2.4B family owned, century-old, provider of construction and engineering, staffing, and defense solutions. For more information visit http://www.soc-usa.com/careers/

Diversity, Inclusion, & Equal Opportunity Employer  SOC is committed to maintaining an inclusive workforce, where employees are hired, retained, compensated and promoted based on their contributions to our Company. Our collective strength through our parent company Day & Zimmermann is rooted in over 110 years of diverse employees and businesses, commitment to success, and delivery on promises made. Federal and State Equal Employment Opportunity laws prohibit employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation and gender identity, age, national origin, citizenship status, veteran status and disability status. SOC is committed to providing an equal opportunity work environment in full compliance with these laws. If you are an individual with a disability and you require an accommodation in the application process for any job you see posted on this or another website, please email us at reasonableaccomodation@dayzim.com

Media Contact: Holly Holt

Director, Marketing & Corporate Communications, SOC

holly.holt@soc--usa.com

www.soc-usa.com
Hyden, Kentucky, Nov. 01, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Frontier Nursing University (FNU), a graduate school educating nurse-midwives and nurse practitioners, hosted its 2017 commencement ceremony on Saturday, Oct. 21, in Hyden, Ky. Over the past year, more than 600 nurse-midwives and nurse practitioners from almost every state across the nation have completed an FNU distance-education program. The commencement ceremony was attended by more than 160 graduates and 1,200 of their family members and friends. The ceremony also included a special video presentation of the awarding of an honorary doctorate degree to philanthropists Barbara and Donald Jonas who founded the Jonas Center for Nursing Excellence.

Started by nurse-midwifery pioneer Mary Breckinridge, FNU has been educating nurses and midwives for nearly 80 years and has grown into one of the countrys leading graduate schools with an annual enrollment exceeding 2,000. FNU, recognized as a Top 50 online graduate nursing school by U.S. News & World Report, offers doctoral and masters degrees for nurse-midwives and nurse practitioners. The university leverages innovative distance-education methods to reach nurses throughout the country and the world. FNU graduates provide primary care for women and families residing in all areas, with a focus on rural and underserved communities.

FNU produces about a third of the certified nurse-midwives in the U.S. For the 2016-2017 graduation year, nearly 40 percent of the more than 600 graduates completed FNUs nurse-midwifery program.

FNU President Dr. Susan Stone presided over the commencement ceremony and degrees were conferred on graduates of Frontiers Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) and Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) programs. MSN graduates completed the Nurse-Midwifery, Family Nurse Practitioner or Women's Health Care Nurse Practitioner specialty tracks.

Dr. Jennifer Hatcher, director of diversity and inclusivity and associate professor for the University of Kentucky College of Nursing, delivered the keynote address. Dr. Hatcher holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, a Master of Science in Nursing as a family nurse practitioner, a Masters in Public Health and a PhD in Nursing. She is the founder and director of the DREAM Center, a multidisciplinary research center focused on promoting positive health outcomes for underrepresented minorities by promoting workforce diversity, health equities research and training the next generation of health equities scholars. Dr. Hatcher has been continuously funded by the National Institutes of Health for more than a decade to conduct health disparities research focused on improving health outcomes for underrepresented minorities.

In honor of their extensive support and contributions to the advancement of nursing, FNU awarded Barbara and Donald Jonas with the honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters. Mr. and Mrs. Jonas established the Jonas Center for Nursing Excellence, a first-of-its-kind philanthropic program dedicated to advancing nursing. The focus is on establishing grants based on partnerships between schools of nursing and clinical practice settings as well as convening opinion leaders to develop solutions to long-standing problems challenging the nursing profession.

The Jonas Center has supported more than 1,000 Jonas Scholars and is the nations leading philanthropic funder of graduate nursing education. The Jonas Scholars program has had a significant impact on Frontier Nursing University students. Two members of the 2012-2014 cohort received $30,000 in scholarship support, four members of the 2014-16 cohort of students received $50,000 in scholarship support, and four more students in the 2016-18 cohort are receiving $70,000 in scholarship awards. Thats a total of $150,000 impacting ten FNU students.

View the special presentation of the honorary doctorate to Barbara and Donald Jonas here.

######

About Frontier Nursing University:

The mission of FNU is to educate nurses to become competent, entrepreneurial, ethical and compassionate nurse-midwives and nurse practitioners who are leaders in the primary care of women and families with an emphasis on underserved and rural populations. FNU offers graduate Nurse-Midwifery and Nurse-Practitioner distance education programs that can be pursued full- or part-time with the students home community serving as the classroom. Degrees and options offered include Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or Post-Graduate Certificates. To learn more about FNU and the programs and degrees offered, please visit Frontier.edu.

Attachments:

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/38b17239-a5c7-46ab-8421-297497b7c85c

Attachments:

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/57704f39-531f-453e-82bd-8f37f8b298e6
NEW YORK, Nov. 01, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Contextere announced today it will collaborate with Samsung Electronics America Inc. to bring contexteres intelligent personal agent for industrial workers to Samsung Gear S3 wearables. The contextere software, which provides industrial workers with the right information, at the right time, on the right device, will also leverage the Samsung GearUP Wearable API Marketplace on the companys wearable devices to deliver AI-powered capabilities such as real-time health intelligence, geo-location for improved safety, and notification task alerts and hands-free calling.



The partnership between contextere and Samsung combines each companys strengths -- Samsungs GearUP platform, which collects biometrics, geo-location, and other contextual information, coupled with contexteres machine learning algorithms. This results in unparalleled actionable intelligence for industrial companies, including the ability to provide workers with critical procedural guidance and notifications related to their job. For example, a manufacturing worker can be alerted to breakdowns in hydraulic systems, while an aviation worker can receive pre-defined geo-location alerts informing them of their next work site location. This occurs via a wearable, while monitoring real-time stress, making for a safer, more productive work environment.

"contextere is focused on human-centric innovation, and our collaboration with Samsung exemplifies this, explains Gabe Batstone, contextere CEO. "We are excited to bring our transformational industrial software to Samsung users, as well as our customers in Aerospace, Energy and Smart City markets. This includes Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, as part of their C-130J Super Hercules program, who earlier this year invested in the development of an intelligent personal agent for aircraft technicians."

Lockheed Martin is committed to delivering innovative technology on our aircraft platforms deployed around the globe, said Charles Bouchard, Chief Executive of Lockheed Martin Canada. This is another example of how our technology investments benefit countries and customers by enabling new partnerships and ultimately new solutions.

"contextere is working to augment the industrial workforce through contextual and timely information," said Nitesh Jain, Head of Digital Health and Wearable Services, Services & New Business at Samsung Electronics America, "and they are a great addition to Samsungs GearUP ecosystem. This collaboration will explore advanced wearable technology solutions as a means of addressing critical pain points impacting health, safety and productivity."

Availability of the contextere application on the Samsung Gear S3 is expected in Q1 2018.

ABOUT CONTEXTERE

Contextere has offices in New York, US and headquartered in Ottawa, Ontario. contextere is an Industrial software company creating AI powered solutions focused on human performance. contextere is transforming the future of work with an intelligent personal agent that delivers actionable intelligence to the last tactical mile. Anywhere 'warm hands touch cold steel' contextere answers the simple question  now what? With contextere, Global 2000 companies and their employees capture value through dramatic decreases in human error, equipment downtime, and safety incidents. Learn more at www.contextere.com .

ABOUT LOCKHEED MARTIN

Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Lockheed Martin is a global security and aerospace company that employs approximately 97,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration, and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. For additional information, http://www.lockheedmartin.com/us.html.

ABOUT LOCKHEED MARTIN CANADA

Lockheed Martin Canada, headquartered in Ottawa, is the Canadian-based arm of Lockheed Martin Corporation, a global security, and aerospace company employing 97,000 people worldwide. Lockheed Martin Canada has been Canada's trusted defence partner for over 75 years specializing in the development, integration, and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The company employs more than 900 employees at major facilities in Ottawa, Montreal, Halifax, Calgary, and Victoria, working on a wide range of major programs spanning the aerospace, defence and civil sectors.
Norcross, GA, Nov. 01, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Terry Holmes Automotive Groups seven dealerships have been selected to certify their pre-owned vehicles with the exclusive MOTOR TREND Certified designation. MOTOR TREND Certified vehicles meet the highest standards in the pre-owned market, with every vehicle vigorously inspected, upgraded and backed by a MOTOR TREND Certified seal of approval, plus a comprehensive vehicle protection from EasyCare.

MOTOR TREND Certified dealers are carefully selected and appointed based on their focus on quality and a positive customer experience. They must have a history of excellent customer reviews and outstanding service. MOTOR TREND Certification allows the Terry Holmes Automotive Group to offer MOTOR TREND Certified pre-owned vehicles and MOTOR TREND Certified service in their seven dealerships in South Carolina and Georgia.

"The MOTOR TREND Certified Program takes the customer buying and service experience to exceptional levels," said David Moorhead, Platform General Manager "It provides third-party assurance through the trusted and respected MOTOR TREND brand, and provides additional consumer value on all manufacturer brands we offer."

Steve Richards, Vice President of the MOTOR TREND Certified Program driven by EasyCare, said The Terry Holmes Automotive Groups strong commitment to South Carolina and Georgia consumers made them a natural choice to be named a MOTOR TREND Certified dealer.

The Terry Holmes Automotive Group began offering MOTOR TREND Certified vehicles in October 2017 at six of their seven dealerships, all in South Carolina, including Island Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, Island Premier Luxury Cars, Myrtle Beach Mitsubishi, Nissan of Sumter, Nissan of Orangeburg and Cheraw Chevrolet Buick. The Terry Holmes Automotive Group will offer MOTOR TREND Certified vehicles in November 2017 at its Georgia location, Nashville Ford in Nashville, Georgia.

For more information on the MOTOR TREND Certified Program, visit http://www.motortrendcertified.com.

About EasyCare

EasyCares mission is to help dealers succeed at every customer touchpoint by creating passionate employees and customers. Whether its protecting the dealerships customers on their behalf or helping deliver the ultimate driving experience, EasyCare is fully engaged. Since 1984, the company has provided leading-edge benefits that have helped nationwide dealers deliver an outstanding ownership experience to over 7 million customers. EasyCare provides the only F&I benefits that are named a MOTOR TREND Recommended Best Buy for franchised dealers, in addition to a full suite of training programs, management development, and proprietary software. For more information, please visit www.easycare.com.

About MOTOR TREND

MOTOR TREND, a media brand of TEN: The Enthusiast Network, was founded in 1949 and is internationally recognized as one of the leading brands in the automotive category. The MOTOR TREND brand is composed of Motor Trend magazine; the award-winning website MotorTrend.com; Motor Trend OnDemand subscription video-on-demand service; Motor Trend Auto Shows; Motor Trend Audio; Motor Trend en Espanol; Motor Trend India; and the renowned Motor Trend Car of the Year, SUV of the Year, Truck of the Year, Person of the Year, and Best Drivers Car awards programs.

About TEN: The Enthusiast Network

TEN: A Discovery Communications Company is the largest automotive media company in the world, bringing together Discoverys fast-growing Velocity network and TENs entire automotive digital, direct-to-consumer, social and live event portfolio, including MOTOR TREND, HOT ROD, ROADKILL, AUTOMOBILE, and more than 20 other industry-leading brands. With a cumulative reach of more than 131 million, the company encompasses Velocitys #1 TV network for automotive superfans, MOTOR TRENDs #1 automotive YouTube Channel, and Motor Trend OnDemand, the only auto-dedicated subscription video-on-demand service.

Attachments:

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/435c026d-33ef-4624-9614-0c63680bc593
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WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., Nov. 01, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Exclusive Charter Service (ECS) Jets partnered with the Friends of Puerto Rico nonprofit to deliver more than 250,000 pounds of supplies to Puerto Rico on October 20th, using a chartered 747 that landed at Aguadilla airport in the western part of Puerto Rico, the region hit hardest by Hurricane Maria. Onboard the 747 were industrial generators that will be used to power hospitals and schools in Puerto Rico, along with food, water and medicine.



Departing from its West Palm Beach, Fla. location, Exclusive Charter Service Jets will transport yet another 265,000 pounds of much-needed supplies via two MD-11 jets on Tuesday, Nov. 2 -- including providing supplies for the Regazo de Paz orphanage. Working with Friends of Puerto Rico, ECS Jets plans to deliver three million more pounds of aid over the next 90 days.

Americans have been very generous in donating items for Puerto Rico, but those donations arent getting to the people who need them, so we wanted to help solve that problem by leveraging our expertise in private jets, cargo and logistics to get those items there quickly, said Jason Johnson, founder and CEO of Exclusive Charter Service. On our Oct. 20th trip, we got more than 250,000 pounds of supplies there in one day (the biggest concentration of industrial generators delivered yet) and worked with Puerto Ricans on the ground to get the supplies to the people and organizations who need them.

He added, To help get these much-needed donations and supplies transported to Puerto Rico, we encourage Americans to donate via our Puerto Rico Jet Relief GoFundMe campaign or directly to Friends of Puerto Rico. And, for those charities and organizations that need help getting donated supplies to Puerto Rico, we are glad to help deliver these donations and encourage you to get in touch with us.

The Board of Directors of Friends of Puerto Rico is happy to have partnered with ECS Jets with its extensive disaster relief experience and its exceptional service, helping to make these essential delivery missions successful, said Angelique Sina, Executive Director of Friends of Puerto Rico.

About Exclusive Charter Service (ECS) Jets

Exclusive Charter Service (ECS) Jets, with more than a decade of experience in private jet brokerage and charter, has a fleet of private jets available for trips anywhere in the U.S. In addition, it offers the Aero Club card membership, for trips on its company-managed aircraft and its distinguished managed partner fleet. Headquartered in West Palm Beach, Fla., ECS has additional locations in Fort Lauderdale, Orlando and Miami as well as Ronkonkoma, New York; New York City and Nashville, Tenn.

About Friends of Puerto Rico

Friends of Puerto Rico is a non-partisan, non-profit organization 501(c)(3) based in Washington, DC that contributes financially to the orange economy by supporting the arts, education and entrepreneurship programs to catalyze economic development and stimulate sustainable economic development.

For more media information, contact:

Alexa Reisner, ECS Jets

516-643-1642/alexa@ecsjets.com
SAN ANTONIO, Nov. 01, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Harte Hanks (NYSE:HHS) a leader in customer relationships, experiences and interaction-led marketing, today announced the appointment of Jon C. Biro as its Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Biro is expected to join the company in mid-November.



A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/42c8fecd-a4f3-43d6-9237-00c695014948

Mr. Biro, 51, was most recently Chief Financial Officer of Exterran Holdings, Inc. and Exterran Corporation where he provided financial leadership during a period of significant reorganization, due to the oil and gas industry downturn, and played a significant role in consummating a complex spin-off transaction for the natural gas compression service and production and processing equipment provider. Before his tenure at Exterran, Mr. Biro served as Consolidated Graphics Chief Financial Officer for more than six years, concluding with its sale to R.R. Donnelley & Sons.

Mr. Biro will report directly to Harte Hanks Chief Executive Officer, Karen Puckett, and will bring his financial expertise to support the Harte Hanks continuing transformation to an analytics-driven, customer-centric marketing services provider. As Chief Financial Officer, Mr. Biro will focus on strategic financing initiatives, as well as internal and external financial reporting and support.

Jon brings a wealth of industry experience and has led the financial transformation of several companies, so we are excited that he will be joining Harte Hanks to help complete our transformation, said Ms. Puckett.

I am thrilled to be joining Harte Hanks where I can employ my passion for driving performance improvement and transformation. The initial steps are already underway and I look forward to working with the leadership team to accelerate these efforts, said Mr. Biro. It is truly an exciting time for marketers as they navigate the rapidly changing marketplace and Im looking forward to helping Harte Hanks and their clients chart their courses.

Harte Hanks also announced that upon Mr. Biros employment, Robert L. R. Munden, who is currently serving as Chief Financial Officer, will revert to his prior role as the companys General Counsel and Secretary. We appreciate Roberts efforts and willingness to step up and lead our financial organization for the past ten months as we worked through numerous challenges, said Karen Puckett.

Mr. Biro, a Certified Public Accountant, earned a B.A. degree in psychology from the University of Texas at Austin and an M.S. in accountancy from the University of Houston.

About Harte Hanks

Harte Hanks is a global marketing services firm specializing in multi-channel marketing solutions that connect our clients with their customers in powerful ways. Experts in defining, executing and optimizing the customer journey, Harte Hanks offers end-to-end marketing services including consulting, strategic assessment, data, analytics, digital, social, mobile, print, direct mail and contact center. From visionary thinking to tactical execution, Harte Hanks delivers smarter customer interactions for some of the world's leading brands. Harte Hanks 5,000+ employees are located in North America, Asia-Pacific and Europe. For more information, visit Harte Hanks at www.hartehanks.com, call 800-456-9748, or email us at pr@hartehanks.com. Follow us on Twitter @hartehanks or Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/HarteHanks.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements, including statements about the company's leadership transition, services and clients. A number of risks and uncertainties could cause actual results to differ materially from currently anticipated results. Additional important factors and information regarding Harte Hanks that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements are set forth in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and our most recent Quarterly Report of Form 10-Q, as filed with the SEC and available in the "Investors" section of our website under the heading "Financials & Filings." We specifically disclaim any obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the future even if circumstances change and, therefore, you should not rely on these forward-looking statements as representing our views after today.

As used herein, "Harte Hanks" refers to Harte Hanks, Inc. and/or its applicable operating subsidiaries, as the context may require. Harte Hanks' logo and name are trademarks owned by Harte Hanks. All other brand names, product names, or trademarks belong to their respective owners.

Investor and Media Contact:

Scott Hamilton

Investor and Public Relations

(303) 214-5563

scott.hamilton@hartehanks.com
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TORONTO, Nov. 01, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Ontario Professional Planners Institute (OPPI) announced the 2017 winners of the Excellence in Planning Awards today at an event held at Queens Park.



The Excellence in Planning Awards recognize innovation, creativity, professionalism, problem-solving, and communications in urban and community design, planning studies or reports, and public education. These are the best of the best in urban and rural planning across the Province.

The 2017 OPPI Excellence in Planning Awards celebrate the very best of planning and role of Registered Professional Planners (RPPs) to improve and strengthen the communities across Ontario. RPPs are the professionals specifically educated, trained and ethically committed to guiding decision makers, stakeholders and the public along the better-informed path to inspired communities in the public interest. Todays award winners showcase those who are leading the way in shaping sustainable communities, says OPPI President, Jason Ferrigan, RPP, who presented the awards.

Im pleased to celebrate these awards with OPPI. As a former city councillor and a former small-town mayor, I know planning is a critical, and the better we are at it, the easier it is to turn our cities into communities and our streets into neighbourhoods. RPPs bring that level of excellence to Ontarios planning system at a time when it has never been more urgently needed, says Ted McMeekin, MPP, Ancaster-Dundas-Flamborough-Westdale.

The winners in this years categories are:

Urban / Community Design

Windmill Development Group, Dream Unlimited, Perkins + Will, and Fotenn Planning + Design

Zibi Master Plan

Municipal Statutory Planning Studies, Reports, Documents

City of London

The London Plan

ERA Architects, Centre for Urban Growth and Renewal, United Way Toronto, City of Toronto & Toronto Public Health

RAC Zone

Research/ New Directions

Civicplan

PlanLocal: Safe Streets

WSP Canada / Metrolinx

New Mobility Background Paper for the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area

Communications / Public Education

City of London

ReThink London

City of Kitchener

Love My Hood: Kitchener's Guide to Great Neighbourhoods

Community Planning & Development Studies/Reports

City of Kitchener

Planning Around Rapid Transit Stations - PARTS Central Plan

In addition, the OPPI and Heart & Stroke Foundations Healthy Communities Award was given to the following recipients. This special award recognizes excellence in creating healthy communities.

OPPI and Heart & Stroke Foundation of Ontarios Healthy Communities Award

City of London

The London Plan

City of London

ReThink London

Windmill Development Group, Dream Unlimited, Perkins + Will, and Fotenn Planning + Design

Zibi Master Plan

The annual awards event also coincides with another key planning celebration. Next week on November 8th, planners around the world will celebrate World Town Planning Day, raising awareness of the importance of planning in their communities.

OPPI is currently seeking enhanced self-regulation of the planning profession through Bill 122. The importance of planning and the role of the planning profession in creating and fostering healthy communities - putting the public interest first - should not be overlooked. The government has updated much of the planning legislation in this province and it needs to now update the 25-year-old legislation that regulates planners as part of an overall modernizing the planning system in Ontario. Renewed and strengthened legislation that supports professional planners and protects the public interest in Ontario is important. It gives the public confidence in the work that planners do and it helps to reinforce the value of the professions work. Great Plans Need Great Planners. The time is now to move Bill 122 forward. ontarioplanners.ca/Who-We-Are/Professional-Regulation

About the Ontario Professional Planners Institute (OPPI)

OPPI is the recognized voice of the Provinces planning profession. Our almost 4,500 members work in government, private practice, universities, and not-for-profit agencies in the fields of urban and rural development, community design, environmental planning, transportation, health, social services, heritage conservation, housing, and economic development. Members meet quality practice requirements and are accountable to OPPI and the public to practice ethically and to abide by a Professional Code of Practice. Only Full Members are authorized by the Ontario Professional Planners Institute Act, 1994, to use the title Registered Professional Planner (or RPP).

Sarah Snowdon, Communications Manager

416-838-3423 or s.snowdon@ontarioplanners.ca

Twitter: @OntarioPlanners

Facebook.com/OntarioProfessionalPlannersInstitute

Linkedin.com/company/ontario-professional-planners-institute

Website: ontarioplanners.ca
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BURNABY, British Columbia, Nov. 01, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CUPE 401 welcomed outside workers at the Corporation of the Town of Port McNeill into the local last week. The workers at the public works yard voted to join CUPE 401 in a Labour Board representation vote.



Were really pleased to welcome these workers into CUPE 401, said CUPE 401 President Blaine Gurrie. Its a great fit with the municipal workers we represent on Vancouver Island. We look forward to working with our newest members to achieve their first collective agreement.

CUPE 401 represents a diverse group of approximately two thousand members from all over Vancouver Island. Their newest members from Port McNeill maintain roads and public parks.
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The ACT government will look at jacking up the cost of dangerous dog licences to cover the cost of increased enforcement, as it considers an Opposition bill to tighten up domestic animal laws.

Their potential amendments include raising the fines for failing to comply with dangerous dog laws and punishing people for failing to report their own dog for attacking.

New rules about dangerous dogs could be in force in Canberra by the end of the year.

City services minister Meegan Fitzharris said the legislation brought forward by the Canberra Liberals on Wednesday addresses some but not all of the problems associated with dangerous dogs in Canberra.

She signalled further changes the government wanted to make to the laws with the "expectation and hope" the new rules would be in force by the end of the year.
The rollout of 281 stun guns to police officers across the ACT will continue despite the weapon's link to a fatal incident on Tuesday morning.

The ACT's chief police officer, Assistant Commissioner Justine Saunders, has also defended the force's use of the weapon, saying they had been fired just 11 times in 13,000 callouts over the past year.

ACT police at the scene of a death following the use of a taser by police at a home in Waramanga. Credit:Rohan Thomson

Anthony Caristo died on Tuesday a short time after he was Tasered by police, who were responding to calls of shouting and smashing glass at his Waramanga home.

Assistant Commissioner Justine Saunders told a press conference on Wednesday that the force would continue with its planned Taser rollout.
It took artist Christopher Toth a lot longer to complete a three-metre high mural of the late John Hanna than he had originally planned.

"I was just constantly interrupted while I was painting," Toth said.

Artist Christopher Toth in front of the mural with Diana and Melanie Hanna. Credit:Sitthixay Ditthavong

"And I loved it. People were just commenting and asking questions and telling me their own amazing stories about John.

"Even people that I didn't suspect, a lot of the homeless community that were walking past were going 'That's John' and one man said 'Listen, I'm homeless, but John knew me by name'."
Churches will finally be covered by the ACT's reportable conduct scheme from July 1 next year.

Community consultation has begun abut how the scheme will cover religious organisations that provide pastoral care and religious instruction.

Chief Minister Andrew Barr: "We're already working on how to best expand the scheme to capture more organisations." Credit:Rohan Thomson

Since July this year, all government organisations that deal with children have been required to report allegations, offences or convictions related to children to the ACT Ombudsman within 30 days and launch an investigation.

Chief Minister Andrew Barr said already a number of reports have been made to the ombudsman but more could be done to keep children safe.
The ACT government needs to act on a five-year-old promise to make construction projects safer by creating a register for engineers, a professional peak body says.

Engineers Australia has called for the government to adopt the safeguard, which it says will prevent accidents and allow greater scrutiny of people hired to engineering work.

The scene of a bridge collapse over Barton Highway in North Canberra during 2010. Credit:Lannon Harley

Canberra division manager Keely Quinn said despite making a commitment, the government's inaction had left the ACT without a registration scheme.

Her comments come after the government said its safety watchdog would not launch a prosecution over the 2010 Gungahlin Drive extension bridge collapse that hospitalised nine workers, an incident blamed partly on engineering problems.
Former criminal lawyer Stephen Stubbs is back behind bars after judges on Wednesday heard an appeal against his convictions for fraud.

A full bench of the ACT Court of Appeal reserved their decision on the appeal, but revoked Stubbs' bail following an application from prosecutors.

Earlier on Wednesday, Stubbs, 64, withdrew a separate appeal against his sentence, after the judges warned he could risk a lengthier term if it went ahead.

Stubbs faced trial late last year and a jury found him guilty of 14 counts of dishonestly obtaining property by deception in the course of doing legal work for Alexander Duffy, 19, who was facing a serious charge of conspiracy to commit murder.

Stubbs had accepted $25,000 in money transfers from Mr Duffy's mother and $4,000 from Legal Aid ACT, the legal funding service for low-income Canberrans, in 2008 and 2009.
The family of a Canberra man who died after being Tasered by police in his Waramanga home have remembered him as a man with "a big heart".

Anthony Caristo, who was in his mid-50s, died during a critical incident on Tuesday, when police found him covered in blood and holding a large knife. Police said his finger was severed and arms cut, and, as he struck his leg with the knife, officers Tasered him once to prevent him harming himself further.

A recent photo of Anthony Caristo (pictured on the left next to his mother) supplied by the Caristo family.

After being subdued and handcuffed, Mr Caristo was found to be unresponsive and could not be revived.

On Wednesday, his daughter Carley told The Canberra Times she was still numb with disbelief.
A Canberra teen who declared himself "the paedophile hunter" as he ambushed a man lured using a fake account on gay dating app Grindr has avoided more jail time.

The man, 19, will instead serve his one year and 10 months' imprisonment in the community under the strict conditions of an intensive corrections order for blackmailing the man, who said in court the attack was "a form of bigotry".

An ACT Supreme Court judge also ordered the offender, whose name has been suppressed, complete 250 hours' community service in the next 12 months.

He was among five males police charged after they cracked an extortion ring that targeted gay men on social media and threatened to "out" them as paedophiles unless they handed over cash and mobile phones in a string of attacks across the ACT.

One of the victims - described by his mother as "a beautiful drag queen" - killed himself hours after he was threatened by members of the group earlier this year.
The ACT government was negotiating the controversial sale of a Dickson carpark to the Tradies Club Group as early as December 2010, up to two years before expressions of interest were called for the sale.

The block of land is one of three that were part of a controversial land swap deal in Dickson between the government and the union-linked club in late 2014.

The carpark, bordered in yellow, at Block 30, Section 34, Dickson. It was one of three blocks involved in a land swap deal between the LDA and Tradies Club. Credit:Daniel Burdon

That deal is now under investigation by the territory's Auditor-General, one of two current probes into deals undertaken by the now-defunct Land Development Agency, the other focussed on rural land purchases.

The land swap is likely to be a key focus of the Opposition during debate scheduled for Thursday in the Legislative Assembly on leader Alistair Coe's motion of "no confidence" in the Chief Minister, Andrew Barr.
- The energy and dynamism of its youth will lead Mexico to greater prosperity," said the Chairman of Grupo Salinas -

- It is very important that we always have a vision and a commitment among all Mexicans like the one that Ricardo Salinas has been able to build in his business group," commented San Luis Governor Juan Manuel Carreras Lopez -

SAN LUIS POTOSI, Mexico, Nov. 01, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Grupo Salinas, a group of dynamic, fast-growing and technologically advanced companies, deeply committed to the modernization of the countries where they operate, announced today that its founder, Ricardo Salinas, presented ideas about global trends and how Mexico youth can take advantage of them to innovate and contribute to progress.

In the Polyvalent Theater of the city of San Luis Potosi, before San Luis Potosi Governor Juan Manuel Carreras Lopez, Education Secretary Joel Ramirez Diaz, and hundreds of university students, Ricardo Salinas invited youth to imagine the future, its great possibilities and add value in coming years.

Ricardo Salinas quoted Kevin Kelly, author of "The Inevitable," noting that the world has changed drastically in the last three decades and the forces that drive this process will accelerate even more in coming years.

He said that as processes are constantly updated, we all must continuously learn, otherwise we will soon become obsolete. Many professions will disappear, but new opportunities will also arise for those who know how to take advantage of them; Mr. Salinas added that young people will have to generate much more value than machines to avoid being replaced by them.

However, he sees these changes as positive. Just as the mechanization of farms freed workers for new professions generations ago, great opportunities with new activities are opening up for young people.

Governor Carreras encouraged youth to strive for more, "no one can substitute the effort that young Mexicans and Potosinos should do, neither Mr. Salinas, or the governor, or anyone else. Life is yours, but we can contribute better tools for those who want to take advantage of them, run the strongest and fly higher."

Salinas said the world is currently closely connected and there is access to global knowledge, and it is necessary to take advantage of this large volume of information, and create greater value with it. Mr. Salinas added that Mexican youth should think about where the world is going, detect opportunities to innovate and make the decisions that will lead them to success.

The challenges of the future demand a new educational scheme, which privileges critical reasoning and creativity. In addition, it is necessary to create an enabling environment, with freedom, security and justice, to generate prosperity.

Mr. Salinas concluded that never in the history of humanity have there been so many possibilities to innovate and be successful, and he assured that Mexico has a bright future that requires the passion and energy of its youth.

Following the inauguration of the aforementioned exhibitions, Ricardo Salinas donated a collection of books to the local library and later attended a San Luis Potosi Esperanza Azteca Orchestra and Choir concert, which received standing ovations.

Ricardo Salinas has the firm commitment to participate in forums of ideas to promote the creation of value, higher levels of development, well-being, and progress.

About Grupo Salinas

Grupo Salinas (www.gruposalinas.com) is a group of dynamic, fast growing, and technologically advanced companies focused on creating: economic value through market innovation and goods and services that improve standards of living; social value, to create social capabilities to improve the communities conditions; and environmental value, by reducing the negative impact related to its business activities. Created by Mexican entrepreneur Ricardo B. Salinas (www.ricardosalinas.com), Grupo Salinas operates as a management development and decision forum for the top leaders of member companies. These companies include: TV Azteca (www.TVazteca.com; www.irtvazteca.com) Azteca America (us.azteca.com), Grupo Elektra (www.grupoelektra.com.mx), Banco Azteca (www.bancoazteca.com.mx), Advance America (www.advanceamerica.net), Afore Azteca (www.aforeazteca.com.mx), Seguros Azteca (www.segurosazteca.com.mx), Punto Casa de Bolsa (www.puntocasadebolsa.mx), Totalplay (www.totalplay.com.mx) and Enlace TP (www.enlacetp.mx). TV Azteca and Grupo Elektra trade shares on the Mexican Stock Market and are part of its Sustainability Index. Each of the Grupo Salinas companies operates independently, with its own management, board of directors and shareholders. Grupo Salinas has no equity holdings. The group of companies shares a common vision, values and strategies for achieving rapid growth, superior results and world-class performance.

Press Relations:

Luciano Pascoe, +52 (55) 1720 1313 ext. 36553, lpascoe@gruposalinas.com.mx

Daniel McCosh, +52 (55) 1720-0059, dmccosh@gruposalinas.com
As the sun set on All Hallows' Eve in the capital, there were two rather mysterious figures sighted on Canberra's streets.

The horses (by day) enjoyed their first Halloween trick-or-treating in Florey overnight, joining scores of Canberrans in the annual celebration.

Horses pounded Canberra's streets in costume for Halloween 2017. Credit:Belinda Cox

Owner Belinda Cox said the pair preferred healthier snacks to the traditional candy offered on doorsteps - and managed to score a few carrots throughout the night.

"Halloween is alive and well in Canberra's suburbs and this year we decided to take our horses along as well," she said.
The West Coast Eagles have unveiled a new logo and a new guernsey at a brand relaunch at Crown in Perth on Wednesday.

A stronger focus on the Eagle was the inspiration in revamping the trusty Eagles logo, which had been in play since the year 2000, club CEO Trevor Nisbett said.

Mr Nisbett, who was joined by star ruckman Nic Naitanui, former Eagles greats Dwayne Lamb, Rob Wiley and David Wirrpanda, said the club went though a lengthy research process to arrive at the new look.

"It's modern, it's fierce," Nic Naitanui said of the logo, which would ring in a "new era" together with the opening of the new Perth Stadium.
National Australia Bank chief executive Andrew Thorburn is unleashing a $1 billion cost-cutting drive he says is needed to prepare the bank for a world of tougher competition and soft economic conditions.

Mr Thorburn on Thursday said up to 6,000 jobs would be lost over the next three years, as part of a plan to slash expenses while investing in new technology, including by using automation to replace work done by people.

The cuts were announced as the bank delivered 2.5 per cent growth in profits to $6.6 billion, with the bank saying it expected to maintain its dividend for the next year.

Even so, it also pledged to invest an extra $1.5 billion over the next three years, which triggered a sharp slump in its share price, amid concerns about the hit to earnings. The company also said it would hire 2000 people with technology skills.
Criticism of Facebook and its founder, Mark Zuckerberg, is easy to come by; solutions aren't as clear. Credit:New York Times As they stand, and especially with algorithmic reinforcement, "reactions" and "likes" are like megaphones for echo chambers and news outrage. The single most important step Facebook - and its subsidiary Instagram, which I view as equally important in terms of countering misinformation, hate speech and propaganda - can take is to abandon the focus on emotional signalling as engagement. This is a tough proposition, of course, as billions of users have been trained to do exactly this: "react." What if there were a "trust emoji"? Or respect-based emojis? If a palette of six emoji-faced angry-love-sad-haha emotional buttons continues to be the way we engage with one another - and how we respond to the news - then it's going to be an uphill battle.

Stop hiding behind bromides like "we are not a media company." That makes us think you don't understand you have a serious set of problems that need fixing. Vivian Schiller Negative emotion, click bait and viral outrage are how the platform is "being used to divide." Given this problem, Facebook needs to help us unite by building new sharing tools based on trust and respect. 2. Kevin Kelly, Co-founder of Wired magazine. Facebook should reduce anonymity by requiring real verification of real names for real people, with the aim of having 100 per cent of individuals verified. Companies would need additional levels of verification, and should have a label and scrutiny different from those of people. (Whistleblowers and dissidents might need to use a different platform.)

Facebook could also offer an optional filter that would keep any post (or share) of an unverified account from showing up. I'd use that filter. 3. Ro Khanna, Democrat representing California's 17th Congressional District, which includes sections of Silicon Valley. Ultimately, whether from tech companies or Congress, what people want is more transparency. Facebook should expand on its Hard Questions blog to explain how its news feed algorithms work, how it uses data in targeting and how it makes decisions about third-party verification and removing offensive content. It should make it simple for users to provide feedback and be responsive to their concerns. The company also should make its executives readily available to the press, and they should spend time on Capitol Hill to explain their decision-making.

Everyone understands that new technology platforms are not perfect and that bad actors find ways to abuse them. The key is for Facebook to be upfront about technical challenges, open about its mistakes and willing to answer the tough questions honestly. If it does that, it will continue to earn the public's trust. 4. Kate Losse, Early Facebook employee who recounted her time at the company in her book, "The Boy Kings: A Journey Into the Heart of the Social Network." It would be interesting if Facebook offered a "vintage Facebook" setting that users could toggle to, without News Feed ads and "like" buttons. (Before "likes," users wrote comments, which made interactions more unique and memorable.) A "vintage Facebook" setting not only would be less cluttered, it would refocus the experience of using Facebook on the people using it, and their intentions for communication and interaction. Somehow, no matter how "smart" the Facebook algorithms and behind-the-scenes data processing get, the site felt more engaging as a tool for human communication when interaction was primarily driven by what users wanted to do and say, rather than where the algorithms want people to look.

5. Alice Marwick, Assistant professor of communication at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Facebook should allow users to sort their news feed chronologically by default on all platforms, rather than rely on an algorithmically sorted News Feed. This would increase the diversity of items in the News Feed, and would make it more likely that users were exposed to people and information that didn't support their own confirmation bias. It should also greatly increase the human oversight of ad targeting systems - specifically, oversee algorithmically generated categories (rather than basing them solely on user-inputted interests). Political and interest-based advertising should be under much stricter scrutiny than, say, the advertising of T-shirts or hair products. 6. Ellen Pao, chief diversity and inclusion officer at the Kapor Center for Social Impact and a former chief executive of Reddit. Facebook needs to replace its focus on engagement quantity with interaction quality. To really do that means replacing at least half of the leadership team and board with underrepresented people of colour who are informed and value diversity and inclusion - and, as my colleague Freada Kapor Klein suggested, have journalistic principles.

At Reddit, I was able to effect positive, lasting change (at least according to this research) to content quality and interaction quality by building a diverse executive team. 7. Eli Pariser, Chief executive of Upworthy and author of "The Filter Bubble." Facebook should open itself up for independent research. Right now, Facebook is a black box: It's very difficult, and in many cases impossible, for researchers to independently look at behaviour on the platform. While opening private data to research creates risks, there's a ton of explicitly public data on the platform that Facebook makes difficult to query at scale. Facebook could also open up many of the tools advertisers currently use for free use by research scientists. It would be a bold move for transparency, and one that would help us understand much better what's happening on the world's most important social platform. And it'd be wise to do this before regulators forced them to.

The company should also optimise for "time well spent." Facebook's greatest superpower is figuring out how to eat as much of our attention as possible. But as Tristan Harris and others have pointed out, that attention often doesn't yield much - leaving us poorly informed and feeling worse about ourselves. Instead of measuring clicks and likes, what if Facebook optimised for how much value an article or video or game gave us weeks or months afterward? The company could survey of the kinds of content we've spent the most time on, and ask us which gave us the most and least value, as a way to balance our impulsive present selves with our greater aspirations. 8. Vivian Schiller, Adviser and former news executive at NPR, NBC News and Twitter.

The single most important thing Facebook must do is come clean. Tell us what you know. Tell us what you know but can't share. Tell us what you don't know. And tell us what you don't know that you don't know. Stop hiding behind bromides like "we are not a media company." That makes us think you don't understand you have a serious set of problems that need fixing. Coming clean may not be the only thing, and may not be the main thing, but it's the first thing. 9. Tim Wu, Professor at Columbia Law School and author of "The Attention Merchants: The Epic Scramble to Get Inside Our Heads." Facebook should become a public benefit corporation. These companies must aim to do something that would aid the public, and board members must also take that public benefit into account when making decisions. Mark Zuckerberg has said that Facebook's goals are "bringing us closer together" and "building a global community."
Last month I claimed that using a $900 million, publicly funded loan to bail out Adani's otherwise unviable Carmichael coal mine proposal was the height of absurdity.

How wrong I was.

With Australia's Big Four banks among the two dozen that by policy or commitment won't be going anywhere near the project, it's no secret that Adani is desperate for finance.

The Australian government has been equally desperate, creating an agency and filling it with taxpayers' money so we can fund a project opposed by the majority Australians.
A senior Adani executive has defended the company's controversial Carmichael coal mine project in Queensland, telling a mining conference in Melbourne that he was not ashamed to say he worked for Adani or in the mining industry.

Muthuraj Guruswamy, Adani's general manager of corporate affairs and business development, told conference delegates that Adani would meet its Australian tax obligations, had signed land use agreements with four indigenous groups, and that it believed in investing in local communities.

"We are a (registered) Australian company, which means all the taxes that are due to be paid will be paid within Australia," he said.

"I'm not going to be standing here and feel ashamed that I'm working for the mining industry or working for Adani," he said.
Gas giant Oil Search has acquired enormous oil assets in Alaska in a deal worth $US400 million ($521 million) as it seeks to diversify from its operations in Papua New Guinea.

The acquisition represents a major change in pace for the company, which to date has operated solely in PNG and primarily within the gas sector.

The acquisition marks the first time Oil Search has stepped out of PNG. Credit:AP

"For some time, Oil Search has been seeking to acquire oil interests to complement our PNG gas assets to create a more balanced portfolio that is less exposed to one single commodity in a single country," Oil Search managing director Peter Botten said.

However, he stressed the move into Alaska would not affect its PNG projects.
Retail veteran Solomon Lew says Myer's latest sales figures show the department store's strategy is reaping only "weeds" and that its incoming chairman is unelectable.

Under pressure from Mr Lew, whose Premier Investments is Myer's largest shareholder and who had called on the company to back up claims its turnaround strategy was showing "green shoots", Myer revealed sales in the 13 weeks to October 28 dropped to $699 million, down 2.8 per cent from the same period last year.

Solomon Lew is agitating for change of the Myer management. Credit:Josh Robenstone

"I only see weeds, no green shoots," Mr Lew said after the figures were released.

Premier, which owns 10.8 per cent of Myer's shares, has called on other shareholders to vote against the election of Myer's board nominees at its AGM later this month and demanded the appointment of two of its own representatives.
Domino's workers will get pay rises worth tens of millions of dollars a year after the workplace tribunal agreed to tear up unfair agreements struck between the pizza chain and one of Australia's biggest unions.

The decision in the Fair Work Commission on Wednesday to terminate the deals, which takes effect in 12 weeks, will result in more than 20,000 Domino's workers getting paid award penalty rates and casual loadings.

Domino's delivery driver Casey Salt is paid significantly less than the minimum pay of the award. Credit:Michael Chambers

Some of the agreements between Domino's and the conservative Shop, Distributive & Allied Employees Association have been in place for more than a decade.

The workers would have received hundreds of millions of dollars in extra wages if they had been paid award rates, the basic wages safety net, during that time.
Laurie McDougall of Beecroft writes: "Whatever happened to the 'Man in the Stocks' on the Buckets Way near Booral? As a boy in the mid 1950s the family would always stop at this roadside rest area on our trips north. Visiting Gloucester recently revived this boyhood memory." Stock answers only.

Further to the discussion on names and occupations (C8), Stephen Porter of Berowra is, indeed, a porter. "At Mt Wilga rehab hospital I take patients to/from physio, hydro and education sessions. When I started work here, the staff didn't believe my surname. My driver's licence had them stunned. Who else has surname/occupation identical? Is the club big or small?"

Paul Duncan's pondering of a "better class of flatmate" (C8) received a most curious response from Peter Hunt of Young. "Is that the Paul Duncan, well known as a table-top dancer in the late 60s? His moniker was 'The Dancing Duncan'."

In a case of pride before the fall, Brian Pyrmont of Frenchs Forest writes: "Today I received a parcel from a mail order company (I won't mention their name, just to save them some embarrassment), which proclaimed very prominently to be 'Proudly Australian Owned and Opperated'. Says it all, eh?" Yet sometimes the label is correct. Richard Stewart of Pearl Beach finds it, "Pleasing to read on a 250 gram package of frozen Australia Banana Prawns that the contents contain crustaceans".

A question for the Roosters from Julian Quinlan of Murgon in Queensland: "Do two halfbacks make one fullback?"
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Nov. 01, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Providence Gold Mines Inc. (TSXV:PHD) ("Providence" or the "Company") is pleased to announce results from underground sampling of the Companys Providence Gold Mine in central California. The results demonstrate continued success on its Phase I exploration program with the presence of high grade gold mineralization adjacent to former stoped (mined) areas of the mine.



Results from the sampling of the various workings in the South Mineralized Shoot on the 600 foot level property are as follows:

PRELIMINARY ROCK CHIP SAMPLE RESULTS (>3GPT Au):

SUMMARY 600 LEVEL SOUTH SHOOT

Sample # Location Width (Metres) Au (GPT) 2980165 Small drift approx. 7m behind 600 drift 569.5 sample of face of vein in stope 0.70 31.70 298063 Small drift approx. 7 m behind 600 drift, 569.5, sample of face of vein in stope 1.10 6.54 from 2980165 to 298063 1.80 16.33 2980141 633 back 1.0 4.16 280161 Small drift approx. 7 m behind 600 drift, 569.5, sample of face of vein in stope 2.80 4.41 2980175 552, West Rib 0.80 9.74 2980178 551, West Rib 1.20 4.60 2980182 549, East Rib 0.60 7.05 2980189/90 533, 600 drift, West Rib 1.20 3.16 2809193 533, 600 drift, West Rib 0.40 3.22 Note: of the 52 samples collected to the south of the North Shoot, 25 assayed >1 gpt Au of which 10 assayed >3 gpt Au with two assaying >10 gpt Au

The above sample results verify the historical results for the Providence Mine South Shoot. The South Shoot is located approximately 70 metres to the south of the North Shoot. The following table summarizes the results of the chip sampling program and reported in the news release dated September 21, 2017.

PROVIDENCE GOLD MINES LTD: PROVIDENCE GOLD MINE-ROCK CHIP SAMPLES RESULTS

(>3GPT Au) SUMMARY: 600 LEVEL-NORTH SHOOT Sample # Location Width (Metres) Au (GPT) 2980069 Stope back 1.0 8.60 2980074 398 0.9 4.15 2980076 398, West Rib 1.0 3.31 Or 2.2 3.28 2980077 372 Back, W Rib 1.0 19.58 2980103 426 Slab From Small Stope 0.3 14.55 2980108 435, W Rib 1.3 45.64 2980116 447, East Rib and Back 1.1 4.82

Previous work has shown the Providence property to contain gold bearing vein system with several workings being located. As a result of the ongoing exploration success, the Company has dispatched its exploration team to the property to complete further soil geochemical sampling, outcrop mapping and sampling. The program commenced this week. The purpose of the program will be to verify the potential strike length within the propertys 2.2 km long property boundary.

We are excited that our results have validated the historically reported production and confirm the potential of significant gold mineralization, along the 2.2 km strike and down-dip, said Ron Coombes, President & CEO of the Company.

QA&QC Procedures

The Company followed industry standards in its QA&QC procedures. A certified standard sample, or a blank or a field duplicate sample is inserted every 10 samples before the set of samples is sent to the Laboratory. This procedure is applied to all rock chip and channel samples. The Company sent all of the samples to Bureau Veritas Laboratory in Reno, a laboratory that meets International Standards ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 Certification.

Qualified Person

John M. Kowalchuk, P.Geo, a geologist and qualified person (as defined under NI 43-101) has read and approved the technical information contained in this news release. Mr. Kowalchuk is a senior geologist consulting to the Company.

The Company is pleased to announce that its website is live as of November 1st, 2017. Visit www.providencegold.com.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

Ronald Coombes

Ronald Coombes, President & CEO

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

Telephone: 1-604-602-4935

Facsimile: 1-604-602-4936

Contact: Robert Eadie

or

Ronald Coombes

Mobile: 1-604-724-2369

rcoombes@providencegold.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.




Thousands of Victorians dead in the past two decades, with mortality rates increasing steadily over the past five years. One hundred and ninety lives lost in the state in 2016 alone. At least 34 fatalities in the Yarra Council area so far this year.

Many of the dead were in what should have been their peak years of social and economic productivity, and they left behind children, parents, and friends whose lives will never be the same.

This week we finally got news that the Victorian Government has started the process of implementing evidence-based harm reduction strategies to address heroin overdoses. Credit:Justin McManus

Worse still, there are clear evidence-based strategies that could have been implemented: these deaths were largely preventable.

This week we finally got news that the Victorian government has started the process of implementing evidence-based harm-reduction strategies to address heroin overdoses. Some 15 years after the peak of the previous heroin "epidemic", Melbourne will trial a medically-supervised injecting centre.
While draft laws aimed at outlaw motorcycle gangs introduced into the ACT Legislative Assembly on Tuesday are a welcome step in the right direction, the question that needs to be asked is "are they tough enough?"

The laws would give ACT police, whose investigations into drive-by shootings and fire bombings linked to conflict between outlaw bikie groups have been hampered by a lack of co-operation from the victims in the past, additional powers.

The most notable is the ability to declare a private property a crime scene for up to six hours without a warrant in the event the occupants refuse to co-operate with police. Another is to make it a crime to shoot at a building, even if it is empty.

The proposed laws have been drafted in response to widespread criticism of the ACT's anti-bikie laws in the wake of an influx of outlaw bikie gangs into the territory.
Shifting the burden Everyone must be concerned at the critical situation of the asylum seekers on Manus Island. It looks possible that with the closure of the centre, these men may be subject to serious violence at the hands of Manus Islanders who understandably are angry that refugees have been "dumped" on them by Australia. It is hard to believe that Australia has behaved so shamefully to people seeking refuge from threats to their lives in their home countries. And hard to believe that we have treated neighbouring, poorer countries so arrogantly and selfishly in trying to shift the burden of assisting refugees on to them. The legacy of both major party governments ever since offshore "processing" began has been utterly miserable, inhumane and unfeeling towards desperate people who have committed no crimes.

The safety of the refugees on Manus Island must be assured and the government must bring them to Australia to allow them to mend from the inhumanity they have been subjected to. Kathryn Kelly, Chifley Nowhere safe to go I am alarmed at the continuing crisis on Manus Island and the likelihood of worse to come after the government closed the centre on Tuesday. I consider that all Parliamentarians who don't stand up to protest about this appalling situation will share responsibility for any further injuries or loss of life, as they already do for several deaths and the incalculable psychological harm done over the last four years.

There is nowhere safe for the asylum seekers to go and they are terrified. This government claims the responsibility for the men's safety lies with PNG but that is simply not the case; this is a situation created by Australia. The only viable solution is to bring them to Australia. Clare Conway, Ainslie High cost of retrial

David Eastman was convicted in 1995 of the murder of Assistant Commissioner of Police Colin Winchester. On August 22, 2014, the conviction was quashed and a new trial ordered, by which time Eastman had served almost 20 years of a sentence of life imprisonment. The DPP is proceeding with the retrial. The costs of the retrial are reported by the Canberra Times as something of the order of $27 million. The ACT Budget sets aside $5.103 million for the trial in the current year and in addition $3.028 million is allocated to the Office of the DPP, an undisclosed portion of which relates to the Eastman prosecution. Why is the DPP proceeding? There are three possible outcomes.

1) Eastman is convicted. As he is now 72 and has already served the best part of a life sentence surely a court is likely to impose no further penalty. 2) Eastman is acquitted. That would raise significant compensation questions which would likely be very costly. 3) A jury cannot agree, in which case there must be a retrial or a discontinuance of the prosecution. How does the continuance of this case justify its costs? Why is the DPP persisting with the prosecution in light of the above facts?

G. A. Stretton SC, Canberra Polycentric Jack Kershaw (Letters, October 30) says "The just-released Draft Greater Sydney Region Plan proposes multiple town centres to deal with myriad urban problems." Hopefully Sydney doesn't take Canberra's own polycentric urban form too literally. The area required to build parking structures for a car-reliant district population of 1.5 million would be astronomical. Ryan Hemsley, Wright

Going too far? Is it just me or is this Beersheba thing, complete with middle-aged "re-enactors" on horse back, being over-egged beyond belief? What about the British and New Zealand troops who played an equally crucial part? Who remembers that the Turkish defenders were outnumbered by nearly 10 to one? M. Moore, Bonython Why ask the people? The same-sex postal ballot is concluding, yet Parliament is unlikely to gain wisdom from the result.

Asking people what may be desirable for individual same-sex couples provides no basis for re-shaping the culture. A better question relates to wider society: Would it be good for the nation to legalise same-sex marriage? Within representative democracy, such a question raised by MPs may prompt responses such as: "You tell me - that's why we elected the Parliament." David D'Lima, Sturt, SA Charging electric vehicles

Moves to encourage, even subsidise the take-up of electric vehicles seem to overlook the increasing cost and possible shortage of electricity. The assumption that electric vehicles will reduce emissions is also questionable, based on the belief the energy will be supplied by renewable sources. Setting targets for electric vehicles as proposed by environment and sustainability commissioner Professor Kate Auty must surely include a realistic understanding of the impact on the already stressed electricity network and the likely source of this extra demand. Charging millions of vehicles in the ACT and NSW alone would, as things stand, almost certainly require generation by gas or coal, doing little if anything to reduce emissions. Subsidising in any form the purchase or operation of any private vehicle should be discouraged, particularly in Canberra where the government has failed to provide adequate public transport.

That is why passenger vehicles account for 75 per cent of emissions in the ACT, with 69per cent of Canberrans driving to work. Graham Downie, O'Connor Training our own I share Joseph Ting's concerns on Australia's population (Letters, October 31), considering it is already in excess of the levels recommended by various individuals, associations and conferences. Because birth control is an extremely emotive issue, it is fortunate that we do not have to do anything in this area because, like many developed countries, our current birth rate is less than replacement level.

Our population continues to increase for only two reasons, longevity and net migration. Modern medicine notwithstanding it seems the former will slowly diminish in influence. Most of the migration is skilled at the behest of employers seeking to pursue the neo-economic paradigm of ever expanding growth. If these workers were trained here there would be a lag period but, thereafter, we could stabilise our population, cease "poaching" workers from the (often underdeveloped) countries of their training, provide more training jobs here, transfer the infrastructure cost associated with migration to training facilities and employer incentives and still have some capacity for humanitarian migration. As a bonus, there would be less anxiety induced in those who feel threatened by our migrant intake. Dick Varley, Braidwood, NSW

Fewer children Joseph Ting (Letters, October 31) rightly argues for Australians having fewer children as well as limiting immigration to curtail population growth. If the planet is not to be overrun with people, then no-one has a right to have more than replacement (two per couple). Australia has below replacement fertility at 1.77 but, because of demographic lag-time, natural increase still added 142,400 people to the total population in the year to March 2017. It is slowly going down but will be another couple of decades before it becomes negative. Thus, any couple choosing to have no children or one child, should be applauded since they will hasten the day when natural increase becomes zero.

Jenny Goldie, Michelago, NSW Canavan unmoved The panel on Monday night's Q&A program consisted of emeritus professor of politics at the University of Sydney Judith Brett, ex-PM Kevin Rudd, political editor of the Financial Review Laura Tingle, and right-wing broadcaster Alan Jones. Some vigorous disagreement would not have been surprising. However, there was a remarkable degree of agreement on some subjects, including the messy, precarious position of the Turnbull government and Malcolm Turnbull himself, and the proposed Adani coal mine in central Queensland.

The panel was unanimous in the opinion that the case for the Adani mine is vulnerable on environmental or ethical grounds and, more tellingly, that there is no business case for it. India doesn't want the coal, no Indian or Australian bank will underwrite it, and the touted number of jobs (about "10,000") does not stand up to scrutiny  it is closer to 1500. Immediately following Q&A, in stark contrast, Senator Matt Canavan on Lateline insisted the Adani mine must go ahead, mainly to create jobs. Senator Canavan is denying reality and trying to swim against the tide. Douglas Mackenzie, Deakin

Traffic disaster How come no one is complaining about the disaster that is Horse Park Drive? Not only is the disruption at the western end, caused by now providing for entry and egress to the new suburbs, completely unacceptable planning considering the road was completed only some two years ago, but it would appear that the ACT government has sacked all the roundabout constructors and replaced them with traffic light installers. The number of traffic lights is ridiculous when roundabouts would have easily coped with traffic even at the busiest of times. If you intend travelling from one end to the other it might be a good idea to pack a picnic lunch.

Graham Bridge, Ngunnawal White elephant I live in Gungahlin and watch the progress of "The Tram". While this project has been managed as efficiently as possible there certainly are some inconveniences. My concern, I travel by car down Northbourne most days sometime after 9am. I would be lucky to see one to two people people at any bus stop.

Who will be using this tram after completion? Is it a white elephant? Catherine Danes, Bonner TO THE POINT GUESS NOT Barnaby Joyce has said he would not contemplate second-guessing the High Court, just as he would not second-guess a doctor on medical matters, yet, with no scientific background, Joyce consistently dismisses the advice of 97 per cent of the world's climate scientists that burning fossil fuels is the principal cause of current global warming. He can't have it bothways.

Patricia Saunders, Chapman YOUR HONOUR It's a strange time indeed when Matt "Adani" Canavan can be held up as the only "honourable" minister. Bob Gardiner, Isabella Plains SAVAGE BREEDS

It is said that any dog can attack and that restricting breeds would not decrease either the number of dogs or attacks. The critical issue is severity of attack. If only chihuahuas had ever been allowed in the ACT the number of attacks might have been the same or greater but, overall, the medical consequences would have been less severe than has been the case. Heino Lepp, Macquarie CHILD'S BEST FRIENDS I write in defence of dogs. I grew up learning to walk by hanging on to two German Shepherd dogs, kind and affectionate creatures.

We did see to it that they had plenty of exercise. C.A. Moloney, Yarralumla TIME TO FIX THIS So another politician, this being the first one from either of the two major parties, has bitten the dust after falling foul of Section 44 of the constitution. That puts paid to the idea that the Libs had been saved by the quality of their procedures. It must also make Labor a bit worried. Surely it is time to fix this mess.

N. Ellis, Belconnen MAN OF THE PEOPLE Malcolm Turnbull should be speaking out in support of the Palestinian people, not embracing Netanyahu. He is our Prime Minister and he should represent us and not himself. Chris Swinbank, Kingston OF HUMAN RIGHTS

Australia's dark history of turning our backs on people who are simply seeking safety is becoming even uglier. Where are the Liberal and LaborMPs who believe in their party's fine words on human rights and values? Sue Wareham, Cook PARENTS IN CHARGE Reports of the bashing of Chinese schoolchildren are shocking. Parents, being the first educators (covertly or overtly) of their children should be held in some degree responsible for the actions of their children. Philip Robinson, Bruce
Nor have any of Australia's agreements ever had to face official scrutiny after the event . "Not that I am aware of," were the words used by a foreign affairs official at a parliamentary hearing.

Seriously. Korea, Japan, China. None of the three big agreements boasted about by Tony Abbott and Malcolm Turnbull has been subjected to an independent assessment of its benefits and costs. And nor has the far bigger, 5600-page, Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement signed by trade minister Andrew Robb shortly before he resigned and took up a position with the Chinese investor that runs the Port of Darwin.

This week we learnt that it will end the practice of signing Australia up to trade agreements that haven't survived a benefit-cost analysis.

Labor won't fully return to its original expensive plan to deliver fibre to 93 per cent of households and businesses. Credit:Glenn Hunt

The US-Australia free trade agreement at least faced an unofficial analysis about the time of its 10th birthday in 2015. An economic modeller from the Australian National University applied the framework developed by the Productivity Commission and found it had cut rather than boosted trade between Australia and the US and the rest of world. Trade between Australia and the US also slid, but for other reasons.

It's easy to see why it cut trade with the rest of the world. Like most exclusive agreements it gave special access to exports from its members. Here's how it would have worked with the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership (had Donald Trump not pulled the pin): Vietnam would have been a member but Thailand would not have been. The US-based Peterson Institute for International Economics has found that Vietnam would have exported more to Australia (which would have boosted its economy) in place of Thailand, which would have exported less (which would have harmed its economy).

And Australia would have had to change the way it made things, cutting inputs from countries such as Thailand and Indonesia under complex "rules of origin" if it wanted special access to the US, even where that meant much higher costs. The Korea-Australia agreement included 5200 rules of origin.

It's little wonder that the business organisation closest to the action, the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, finds its members less than keen to use the agreements trumpeted by the Coalition. Only 15 per cent use and understand the Australia-US Free Trade Agreement, 5 per cent use it without understanding it, 17 per cent understand but don't use it, and 22 per cent neither understand nor use it. Another 41 per cent say it's not relevant to them.
It appears the integrated approach to infrastructure delivery and urban renewal has been put on the back-burner. But there are even bigger shifts in policy included in the new plan for Sydney.

Infrastructure NSW promoted the project as an integrated urban renewal/motorway project and UrbanGrowth took the lead role on the urban renewal. Many in the development industry saw the opportunities for new housing and mixed-use development and were encouraged by the early plans by UrbanGrowth that were ultimately released as the "Parramatta Road Urban Revitalisation Strategy" a year ago. Since then UrbanGrowth has been restructured and the plans only get a passing mention in the GSC's Greater Sydney Region Plan.

We need to go back some years to the early announcements about the need to renew the downgraded corridor along Parramatta Road and the related need to better connect the M4 freeway into the Sydney CBD. The logic was that if traffic was directed off Parramatta Road then real urban renewal could occur in areas close to Sydney's best jobs.

The recent package of plans released by the Greater Sydney Commission on planning for Sydney's future includes a number of shifts in direction that seem to question some of the reasoning behind the WestConnex project. The new directions are not deliberately against WestConnex, but in combination they set a framework for Sydney's growth that does not seem to support fully this enormous infrastructure project.

Greater Sydney Commission chief Lucy Turnbull released the draft Greater Sydney Region Plan during a media event in Sydney last week. Credit:AAP

At the time WestConnex was first announced by the NSW government the big planning issue was the vast number of commuters who had to travel from western Sydney to the jobs in the east. If we could get better access for the workers to the eastern city this would help workers from the west. The very name WestConnex describes this key aspect of the massive infrastructure project that focused access on one key employment centre.

Yet the new region plan for Sydney changes this focus from being on a single jobs centre to a focus on three jobs centres. It is even called "A metropolis of three cities" and its text states, "This draft plan outlines the strategies and actions to deliver a metropolis of three cities and rebalance opportunities for all residents to to have greater access to jobs, shops and services".

The region plan for Sydney also promotes the concept of 30-minute cities where people can live within a 30-minute commute time of their work. So we need to question whether the three-city, 30-minute commute approach promoted by the GSC aligns with the concept of connecting the west to the jobs-rich east that is the essence of WestConnex.

As well as the shift to three cities from one and the slowing down of the urban renewal along Parramatta Road the new draft Greater Sydney Plan seems to be changing another of the original reasons behind WestConnex related to the need for better connections for freight from Port Botany to western Sydney. Over recent years there has been a strong trend for industrial uses to relocate from inner city sites out to the M7 motorway in western Sydney. This had led to many redundant inner-city industrial sites becoming urban renewal projects such as Victoria Park and Green Square, but the latest GSC plans now prohibit the rezoning of these industrial lands to residential or mixed-use zones. The intent appears to be to keep the industrial jobs in inner-city sites. So does this question to some extent the importance of linking the port to the west?
It's got me wondering: if NSW or Victoria did cross that threshold, would news organisations continue to include the same potentially life-saving referral to suicide-prevention services in their reports? Or will that footnote need to be updated, with one message for those whose deaths the publishers wish to avert, and another for the people whose deaths they are happy to facilitate?

On Thursday, Victoria's upper house is expected to debate legislation to make assisted suicide legal in that state, while here in NSW, a bill sits in the upper house waiting to be debated.

I have even seen it included in editorials explicitly endorsing the right of certain people to end their own lives with the help of a doctor. It's a dark, stark dissonance, and a confronting illustration of former prime minister Paul Keating's observation that, if we make assisted suicide legal, "there will be people whose lives we honour and those we believe are better off dead".

A familiar footnote  or something similar  appears at the bottom of countless news reports on "voluntary assisted dying" (the latest euphemism for euthanasia and assisted suicide): "If you are troubled by this report, experiencing a personal crisis or thinking about suicide, you can call Lifeline 131 114 or beyondblue 1300 224 636 or visit lifeline.org.au or beyondblue.org.au."

Nia Sims, who suffers from the terminal illness scleroderma, and her friend Jane Morris celebrate the decision in Victoria's lower house to pass the dying with dignity bill. Credit:Justin McManus

And what about the suicide prevention hotlines themselves? Will they screen out people whose wish to die sounds rational, and who may qualify under the relevant legislation, distinguishing them from the thousands of callers desperately seeking help to avoid the tragedy of suicide? Will those hotlines be asked to refer people who can legally end their own lives to places where they can get more information on how to go about it? Will the hotlines acquiesce in such requests?

And what about the arbitrary thresholds that the legislation sets? The NSW bill would make assisted suicide illegal for people under 25, but legal for everyone else. So if you're a 24-year-old with a terminal illness, and intent on ending your own life, are we (as a community) supposed to counsel you that suicide is not the answer  that you never know what the future holds, and that while there's life there's hope? Or should that conversation be more respectful of the newfound right to suicide? Something along the lines of "patience friend (or son, or daughter, or wife, or husband, or Mum, or Dad), your birthday is just around the corner and then you can do as you wish".

How reliable are the so-called "safeguards" anyway? Today the NSW bill says you must be 25, but in Victoria you only need to be 18. How long before the push to end such arbitrary interstate ageism? After all, once the threshold is breached  once our community officially says, "Yes, for some people suicide is OK"  we're really just quibbling over details. It's not a question of "whether" taking of one's own life is OK, it's just a question of "who" gets to enjoy that strange privilege.

And what about mistakes? Our legal system prizes its cornerstone principle of "innocent until proven guilty". The great jurist Lord Blackstone said, "Better that 10 guilty persons go free than that one innocent party suffer". And yet, despite this, innocent people go to jail. Lawyers, juries, judges, police and witnesses all make mistakes, because the fact is, no human system of safeguards is infallible.
The confected outrage from the United States at perceived Russian involvement in the Trump election campaign is surely just another diversion that steers scrutiny away from the debacle that is the Trump administration ("Facebook dismay over scale of Kremlin-backed ads", November1). The United States has a long and proud history of interfering in the governments of other countries at the behest of protecting "democratic values". This has included deploying aggressive and so-called "peace keeping" military operations  think Panama, Iraq, Afghanistan, to name just a few. Then there is the time-honoured tradition of using US-based corporations as "fronts" for covert CIA operations  think anywhere that US agricultural or oil "geopolitical" interests might lie. The Russians have a good master to learn from in the US. I also doubt that Facebook has refunded any of the revenues generated by the alleged Kremlin-backed social media activity during the presidential election. Russ Couch Woonona Yellow fever I accept that there are people who like the hire bikes scattered all over our footpaths (Letters, October 31). There are five in our immediate area right now. I complained to the council and the traffic engineer suggested I move the bike from my frontage to someone else's frontage. I said no. I don't like it being done to me, so I refuse to do it to someone else. What we need is a volunteer list of o-bike lovers so that we the cranky ones know where to transfer the bikes without causing upset to normal neighbours. Chris Edwards Sydneham

Bookshop loss speaks volumes about Newtown So sad to see a Newtown icon priced out of the suburb by "market forces" ("Last chapter for Gould's Book Arcade", November 1). I'll give you a multiple choice. The building will: a) be bought by developers for a mix of apartments and retail; b) become yet another Thai restaurant; c) be bought by the supposedly "cash-poor" Sydney University for one of its many projects (heck, they might be the owners of the building already); d) become another frozen yoghurt shop. The quirky "nice, different and unusual" shops of Newtown, which attracted people to the suburb, are diminishing by the day. Sad. Genevieve Milton Newtown As a young and erstwhile member of the proletariat,I would spend many an idle Saturday afternoon roaming through Gould's wonderful Book Arcade in the city. One afternoon however, after discussing volume 29 of Lenin's collected speeches with a tall skinny lad, he suddenly whipped the volume out of my hand and took off out the front entrance, heading north up towards the Quay. Unfortunately for this would-be member of the bourgeoisie he was also spotted by the owner, Mr Gould. One of my most delightful memories of a life devoted to books is that of Mr Gould running up the street yelling "Stop thief! Stop thief!" Every time I glance at my Dickens collection I think about the wonderful bookshops we had in Sydney, the characters who ran them and the people who frequented them, and to this day I still wonder whether the thief with his copy of volume 29 of Lenin's speeches was caught. Perhaps the greater punishment for the thief would result from its reading. Brian McKeown Long Jetty

Manus deadlier than a leaky boat As the Manus Island detention centre is closed ("None will settle here", November 1) and refugees brace for disaster after refusing to leave the Manus Island facility, we should remember that the stated purpose of offshore detention, was to stop refugees from "drowning at sea". The casualty rate for drownings on the crossing from Indonesia (1999 to 2013) was about 2 per cent. The casualty rate among refugees and asylum seekers detained offshore, is currently running at about 0.6 per cent. Just a few more deaths in the chaotic closure of the Manus Island detention centre will drive this up above the 2 per cent rate from drowning. At that point, offshore detention will be seen to be more dangerous than a trip on a leaky boat. George Rosier Carlingford The men on Manus are preparing to die. It might be at the hands of machete-wielding locals who won't let them into town or the PNG navy who have already attacked the camp or from deprivation of essential medicine, food and water. I am trying to imagine how their mothers must feel right now. And how it ever came to this. Perhaps it was inevitable when a man like [Immigration Minister Peter] Dutton, with a demonstrable hatred of refugees and a deep racist bent, is given complete power over them. Shayne Chester Potts Point

"Fair go mate!" I don't hear that phrase very often any more. What's it mean to be "true blue" these days? Seems to me that the measure of anyone's, or any nation's, humanitarianism is how we treat those least able to help themselves  those pushed to the margins of our society. And, it seems to me that Australia as a nation has at least two big blots on any claim we may want to make on being a humanitarian nation. The biggest is our historical treatment of our Indigenous peoples. The second is our current treatment of "our" refugees. The men stranded on Manus Island are our refugees. They belong to us. They sought asylum here. True blue, fair dinkum Aussies are compassionate, especially to those who need a break, a fair go. We support the under dog don't we? Only the cruellest of bastards turns away from another human being in need. I don't believe the majority of Australians are cruel, uncaring bastards  and so I can't understand how this inhumane treatment of our refugees has been allowed to go on for so long. Fair go. Philip Fitzgerald Lapstone Credit:AP So used are the Libs to blaming Labor for everything, I was startled this morning to hear Acting Prime Minister Julie Bishop  to give her and her temporary role their full important status  blame Papua New Guinea for the awful situation of the hapless refugees still on Manus Island. Suzanne Russell Rivett, ACT

While we struggle with issues of citizenship, this morning's headline "None will settle here", together with a photograph of desperate and frightened refugees under our watch, is shocking. This is a country which prides itself on its belief in giving people a "fair go". A country which proudly sings about sharing with those who come across the sea. No Mr Dutton, it's not subterfuge. It's abuse with long-term consequences for those affected and for us as a nation. These people should not be afraid, they should be safe. Vicky Marquis Glebe Resource use How does Jill Napier (Letters, November 1) know that Aborigines were "people who for 65,000 years preserved this beautiful and precarious land"? The pre-European population was very small and any human impact on this large continent, including the well documented use of bush fire, would have been minuscule. Nothing suggests that the original inhabitants weren't pursuing the exploitation of natural resources with the same vigour exhibited by humanity from time immemorial. Alan Haselden West Pennant Hills

Why would a group representing 2 per cent of our population deserve "equity", Jill Napier? Despite being given billions of taxpayers' dollars each year, nothing ever seems to satisfy our Indigenous leaders. Now they want their own special form of Parliament. Malcolm Turnbull has surely got this one right because few Australians would support this divisive and costly exercise in political correctness. Phil Johnson Dee Why More a nightmare I wonder whether Wendy Waller still feels excited about the "field of dreams" that  according to her  Badgerys Creek is, once an A380 comes roaring in at 3am, rudely disrupting her sweet slumber ("New airport offers field of dreams", November 1). Her half-hour commute probably vanishes into diesel fumes the moment she gets stuck behind one of the additional 600 petrol tankers needed every day (to refuel the planes) courtesy of a missing fuel pipeline for Western Sydney Airport. Barbara Kosasih Seven Hills

Banking beckons For Malcolm Turnbull to declare: "I have never had so much fun in my life" in the face of yet more dual-citizenship revelations, displays extreme hubris and arrogance on his part. His constant backflips on major policy issues are embarrassing and completely lacking in integrity. It's time he got back to being a merchant banker  where principles are not so important  and made way for a government which sticks to its principles  if any such entity actually exists. Pam Hawkins Lakemba Compare the voter participation rates After the poll closes next week, it would be debate-inducing to compare the voter contribution to that of a federal election. How does the 77 per cent participation in a survey that holds no consequences for failing to respond compare to voting rates when there is a financial penalty to not doing so? ("More than three quarters of Australians have voted in same-sex marriage survey: ABS", November 1).

Christine Northam Caringbah The Australian Bureau of Statistics asks us to vote YES or NO on the subject of same-sex marriage, presumably in an unbiased tone. Yet the background music to their television ad is Somewhere Over the Rainbow. Is this some sort of subliminal message? OrSimply a co-incidence? I don't believe in co-incidences. Allan Shipp Bilgola Plateau Nail in the coffin Senate President Stephen Parry has belatedly revealed that he may also be a dual citizen. For almost two decades, prior to 2004 when Mr Parry was elected as a Liberal Senator for Tasmania, he worked as a funeral director and was made President of the Australian Funeral Directors Association. Could Mr Parry's pre-Parliamentary occupation perhaps be a grave presage of the Federal Government's imminent future?
The Greens have escalated their criticisms of the Turnbull government over the tense stand-off at the Manus Island detention centre, issuing a dire warning about the risk of suicide for detainees with no access to mental health medication.

Essential services have been shut down at the now-decommissioned Manus compound, including food, water, sewage and medicines.

Greens leader Richard Di Natale said some 20 per cent of the 600 men still refusing to move from the compound had been on medication for mental health disorders  which had now been abruptly removed.

"The government has stopped ... providing these people with medication," Senator Di Natale, a medical doctor, told ABC radio on Wednesday.
Jerusalem: Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has insisted it is up to individual MPs and senators to make sure they are not dual citizens, rejecting new calls for an audit of parliament.

But Mr Turnbull took a swipe at outgoing Senate president Stephen Parry, who announced he believed he had dual citizenship on Tuesday, saying he was "disappointed" in Mr Parry's handling of the affair.

Mr Turnbull said he had learned about Mr Parry's situation at the same time it was reported in the media.

"I am disappointed that Senator Parry didn't make public this issue some time ago, quite some time ago," Mr Turnbull said, speaking from Jerusalem where he had spent the morning in political meetings and touring Yad Vashem, the Holocaust museum.
Lawyers are hopeful Papua New Guinea may dramatically intervene in the desperate situation on Manus Island by reopening the abandoned detention centre or striking a resettlement deal with New Zealand.

About 600 refugees and asylum seekers have spent two nights in darkness at the decommissioned Australian-run refugee processing centre, sustaining themselves on stockpiled food and water, since official personnel left on Tuesday.

Asylum seekers refusing to leave the Manus Island facility. Credit:Twitter/@NickMcKim

An injunction application was before PNG's Supreme Court chief justice on Wednesday evening that would effectively force PNG to reopen the facility and provide food, water and electricity.

Ben Lomai, acting for Iranian refugee Behrouz Boochani, said he had reason to believe PNG's government might "agree to the order", but there had not yet been official talks.
Washington, DC & cities nationwide, Nov. 01, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- See Kickoff VIDEO here

On November 9th, just over two months after Trump killed the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, over a thousand immigrant youth and their allies will be leading school walkouts and rallies across the country and in Washington, DC to demand Congress pass a clean Dream Act, a path to citizenship, permanent protection and with no dangerous enforcement add-ons, before the end of this year.

Immigrant youth are already losing their protections from deportation and the need for Congress to act is becoming more urgent every day. But while Congress drags their feet, immigrant youth are rising up to demand action.

Who: Immigrant youth, students and people of conscience nationwide

What: Operation Dream Act Now - organized by immigrant youth themselves, the operation will consist of an upswell of student walkouts and activity in Washington, DC. Throughout history, students and young people have organized walkouts to fight injustice. In 1968, more than 15,000 Chicano students left their classrooms and protested against racial segregation and inequalities in East Los Angeles schools and we are carrying on that tradition. On November 9th, they will demand that those with institutional power in their schools and cities call for a clean Dream Act and that Congress deliver.

Where/When - Washington, DC: On November 9th at 10:30 am, young people who walked out from area schools or traveled to the nations Capital will meet at Columbus Circle (Union Station) and mobilize to Congress.

Where/When - Nationwide: On November 9th at schools in Arizona, California, Maryland, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, Washington and Washington DC. A list of schools in each state will be provided 24-48 hours in advance with specific timing.

For more details about the Washington, DC mobilization or for details about actions in your particular state, please contact Bruna Bouhid, Sheridan Aguirre or Chris Valdez.

###

United We Dream is the largest immigrant youth-led organization in the nation, a powerful network made up of over 400,000 members and 48 affiliate organizations across 26 states. UWDs vision is to build a multi-racial, multi-ethnic movement of young people who organize and advocate at the local and national levels for the dignity and justice of immigrants and communities of color in the United States. You can find more about UWD online at www.unitedwedream.org.

Attachments:

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/5aba21c0-79ba-4928-a308-509c6a1dc17e

Attachments:

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/32a9ece0-9759-470f-9065-39102f77ecbf

Attachments:

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/95e062ce-4e93-4332-8b08-13b3c8889ac7
Governments are usually blamed for chaos in parliament, as Tony Abbott showed in Julia Gillard's day.

It is far from clear that more dual-allegiance MPs will not come forward, or be named in politically calamitous circumstances.

Confidence between the represented and the representative, is threadbare.

Stranded: Prime Minister Malcom Turnbull after the High Court ruled Barnaby Joyce to be ineligible to be elected. Credit:Andrew Meares

But this? This is "next level" chaos, extending beyond disruptive antics in the House, to the much deeper question of who legally occupies the chamber from which the very government is drawn.

Already, the Coalition's absolute majority has been obliterated - if temporarily.

For a stranded Malcolm Turnbull, it must feel as if the music has stopped and he is the one left standing.

The German social theorist Jurgen Habermas coined the term "legitimation crisis" in the mid-1970s to describe the observable decline in public confidence in governments, public institutions, and systematic political leadership.
Fiona Nash showed little remorse for sitting in the Senate for more than a decade when she was not entitled to be there. Credit:AAP After the High Court declared her invalid, Nash issued a statement about how she had put in "12 years of hard work" and was "really proud of the things I've been able to achieve". Nowhere in the detailed list of her achievements did she give the slightest snippet of regret that she sat in the Senate for more than a decade when she was not entitled to be there. True, her former boss, former Nationals leader Joyce did apologise for the "inconvenience" of a byelection, but this was in general, not personal terms. And can best be understood as trying to ingratiate himself with New Englanders (i.e. silly High Court, please re-elect me), rather than level with them. Tellingly, when he was asked about how much responsibility he took for the High Court decision, Joyce demurred. "I had no reason to believe I was a citizen of any other country but Australia," he said, adding he was born in Tamworth (so there).

As for One Nation's booted senator, Malcolm Roberts, born in India to a Welsh father (thus lacking even the Tamworth Base Hospital fig leaf), he specifically said: "I do not apologise. I express my regret because I was wrong but it was genuinely my belief [that I was OK]." Since July, when the citizenship saga blew up with all the precision of someone taking the lid off the blender in the middle of making soup, we've had no shortage of people expressing constitutional opinions. Everyone from the Prime Minister to the dude making your takeaway pizza has become an expert in how section 44 operates. But strangely, no senior legislators have suggested anything to fix the hideous mess covering the entire Parliament (Attorney-General George Brandis' take is, "if anybody wants to make an allegation ... let them make that allegation"; Acting Labor leader Tanya Plibersek says, "There isn't any chaos that involves the Labor Party"). Neither the Coalition nor Labor have backed repeated calls from the Greens, some independents and an increasing number of backbenchers for an audit of MPs and their citizenship status. Or for a change to the constitution, to make it more accommodating of dual citizenship. Or for some other process to be added to electoral nominations, so we don't end up with a Parliament full of ineligibles in the future. The whole thing has been left to the media to investigate in its imperfect and piecemeal fashion. Which means even though the Court of Disputed Returns handed down its clear omnijudgment last week, this provided no certainty that everyone else left in Parliament was good to stay.
It can be tempting to believe a backlog of happy memories should make it easy to pick up where you left off. Credit:Stocksy

I recently received an email that caused me great concern. Typically my email traffic is very dull: phone bills, my mum saying HELLO in ALL CAPS, the occasional Nigerian Prince scam  business as usual. But this one required a serious double take.

It's no secret we live in a time when everything old is new again. Music, fashion, food, fitness, it's all come full circle. But can that same rule apply to friends?

Hey, so I was wondering if you were free for dinner on Tuesday? Was great seeing you last week and we said we should catch up more, so let's catch up more?! Will give you a buzz later today to follow up???

Now on the surface, I'll admit, it's a pretty nice email. The tone is light, the person seems upbeat, they use a lot of question marks  possibly too many  in fact, if you re-read the email there are a total of six question marks. That's six too many. It's a hop, skip and a jump away from cutting letters out of a magazine and sending a ransom-style letter in the mail. It doesn't bode well.

But the bigger concern is that this person, who is trying to punctuate their way into my diary, is an old school friend.

I know that may not seem like a big deal, but allow me to provide a little context. Over the past year, my social calendar has resembled a pretty serious stroll down memory lane.

First, it was the 10-year high school reunion  a bizarre but surprisingly enjoyable affair at a local pub. Unfortunately, the rise of Facebook means there's no element of surprise at these reunions  you know what everyone looks like and what they're up to. But it was nice to actually talk to people you had grown up with, instead of just silently observing their lives on social media.
When it comes to the Birdcage during Cup week, it's all about trying to outdo the next guy.

The same is true of the marquees, which each year compete for bigger celebrities, more delectable food and a gimmick that will get them on the nightly news. And then there's Mumm.

Known as the party marquee, where Julie Bishop has been spotted having a boogie, Mumm has a reputation for bringing a little bit of the cray-cray to the otherwise anodyne set-up.

A few years back, they imported dancers from the Moulin Rouge, and last year, installed a fully-plumbed swimming pool, where Olympian James Magnussen famously took a dip.
Contestants in the annual Miss Peru beauty pageant have made headlines after responding to questions about their "measurements" with gender violence statistics.

The staged "protest", which was approved by the pageant's organisers, saw 23 contestants cite statistics relating to domestic violence and sexual slavery in the South American country in the show's opening segment.

Lima's Camila Canicoba was the first woman to take to the stage. "My measurements are 2,202 cases of femicide reported in the last nine years in my country," she said.
Centrelink has copped a lashing from the Administrative Appeals Tribunal after it found the agency misled a client who was later told she owed $37,000 in debts.

In a decision this month described as "extremely rare", the tribunal found Centrelink had made an error by combining information about two different types of benefits in a letter it sent to the woman.

The Administrative Appeals Tribunal has rebuked Centrelink for misleading a family tax benefit recipient. Credit:Marina Neil

One administrative law expert said the finding was made despite laws heavily weighted in Centrelink's favour, and called for the agency to check the letter's format was not in widespread use.

The Centrelink client received both family tax benefits and parenting payments, each requiring her to update the agency about changes to her partner's income.
Uluru will be closed to climbers after the board of the Uluru Kata Tjuta National Park voted to close the climb to the summit of the rock.

The unanimous decision to close Uluru to climbers was described as "righting a historic wrong" by David Ross, the director of the Central Land Council.

"This decision has been a very long time coming and our thoughts are with the elders who have longed for this day but are no longer with us to celebrate it," Mr Ross said.

Mr Ross said the board agreed to delay the date of the climb's actual closure for another two years.
A peak state government advisory panel is calling for an overhaul of the NSW liquor licensing system to presume against the granting of applications for new pubs, clubs or bottle shops in domestic violence "hotspots".

The recommendation is being made by the Domestic Violence Death Review Team in its latest report, which also contains the shocking statistic that 61 per cent of homicides with a female victim in NSW from 2000 to 2014 were domestic violence-related.

The report notes that the link between alcohol and domestic violence means the Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority (ILGA) must "take into account" domestic violence rates within local government areas when deciding on applications.

But it argues that the authority "should be required to consider several additional criteria when making determinations".
Sydney nightclub identity John Ibrahim's brother Fadi and son Daniel have appeared in court over their alleged roles in an international tobacco and drug- smuggling conspiracy.

Their matters were briefly heard by Magistrate Les Mabbutt in Central Local Court on Wednesday and adjourned to February 7.

John Ibrahim's son, Daniel Ibrahim, arrives at court Credit:AAP

Also in court was John Ibrahim's model girlfriend, 27-year-old Sarah Budge, who is facing firearms and ammunition charges following a series of organised raids and arrests across Sydney and the United Arab Emirates in August.

During the sting, Australian Federal Police and their NSW counterparts arrested 18 people after intercepting a shipment of drugs bound for Australia worth an estimated $810 million in July.
As the national marriage equality postal survey entered its final week, a leading organisation behind the "no" campaign zeroed in on a Sydney council's annual grants program, urging councillors to reject the funding of LGBT programs.

But the bid by the Australian Christian Lobby proved unsuccessful on Tuesday night, as a majority block of the Inner West Council voted to approve more than $67,000 in funding for 13 LGBT programs for the upcoming year.

"We are giving out several hundreds of thousands of dollars in grants to a wide range of organisations, some of which are LGBT organisations. So what?" mayor Darcy Byrne said.

The Christian Lobby's NSW director Kieren Jackson wrote to each of the 15 councillors on Monday, asking them to re-evaluate the use of ratepayer funds towards LGBT organisations in favour of prioritising "the most vulnerable in society, the sick and those with disabilities".
NASHVILLE, Tenn., Nov. 01, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Healthcare Realty Trust Incorporated (NYSE:HR) today announced results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2017. The Company reported net income of $3.2 million or $0.02 per diluted common share for the quarter. Normalized FFO for the three months ended September 30, 2017 totaled $45.2 million, or $0.38 per diluted common share.



Salient quarterly highlights include:

For the trailing twelve months ended September 30, 2017, same store revenue grew 2.8%, operating expenses increased 0.9%, and same store NOI grew 3.9%:

 Same store revenue per average occupied square foot increased 2.0%.

 Average same store occupancy increased to 89.6% from 88.9%.

 Same store revenue per average occupied square foot increased 2.0%.  Average same store occupancy increased to 89.6% from 88.9%. Four predictive growth measures in the same store multi-tenant portfolio:

 In-place contractual rent increases averaged 2.8%, up from 2.7% a year ago.

 Cash leasing spreads were 4.6% on 385,000 square feet renewed:

 1% (<0% spread)

 11% (0-3%)

 52% (3-4%)

 36% (>4%)

 Tenant retention was 80.5%.

 The average yield on renewed leases increased 60 basis points.

Leasing activity in the third quarter totaled 558,000 square feet related to 147 leases:

 421,000 square feet of renewals

 137,000 square feet of new and expansion leases

 421,000 square feet of renewals  137,000 square feet of new and expansion leases Acquisitions totaled $141.1 million since the end of the second quarter:

 In July 2017, the Company purchased a medical office building on HCA's West Hills Hospital and Medical Center campus in Los Angeles for $16.3 million. The building is 43,000 square feet, 93% leased, and immediately adjacent to the West Hills Medical Center MOB that Healthcare Realty acquired in May 2016.

 In November 2017, the Company closed on four of the eight medical office buildings from the previously announced Atlanta portfolio transaction for an aggregate purchase price of $112.1 million. The four properties are 96% leased and include two buildings totaling 151,000 square feet on the WellStar Paulding Hospital campus, one building totaling 118,000 square feet on the WellStar Kennestone Hospital campus, and one off-campus building totaling 20,000 square feet that is 100% leased to Piedmont Healthcare. The four remaining properties are expected to close in mid-December 2017, subject to timing of loan assumptions.

 In November 2017, the Company purchased a medical office building adjacent to the Overlake Hospital Medical Center campus in Seattle for $12.7 million. The building is 26,000 square feet, 96% leased, and is adjacent to the Overlake Medical Pavilion which Healthcare Realty developed in October 2011.

 In July 2017, the Company purchased a medical office building on HCA's West Hills Hospital and Medical Center campus in Los Angeles for $16.3 million. The building is 43,000 square feet, 93% leased, and immediately adjacent to the West Hills Medical Center MOB that Healthcare Realty acquired in May 2016.  In November 2017, the Company closed on four of the eight medical office buildings from the previously announced Atlanta portfolio transaction for an aggregate purchase price of $112.1 million. The four properties are 96% leased and include two buildings totaling 151,000 square feet on the WellStar Paulding Hospital campus, one building totaling 118,000 square feet on the WellStar Kennestone Hospital campus, and one off-campus building totaling 20,000 square feet that is 100% leased to Piedmont Healthcare. The four remaining properties are expected to close in mid-December 2017, subject to timing of loan assumptions.  In November 2017, the Company purchased a medical office building adjacent to the Overlake Hospital Medical Center campus in Seattle for $12.7 million. The building is 26,000 square feet, 96% leased, and is adjacent to the Overlake Medical Pavilion which Healthcare Realty developed in October 2011. On August 14, 2017, the Company completed the sale of 8.3 million shares of common stock for net proceeds of $247.1 million to fund investment activity and repay debt obligations.

On November 1, 2017, the Company redeemed $100.0 million of its $400.0 million outstanding 5.75% Senior Notes due 2021.

A dividend of $0.30 per common share was declared, which is equal to 78.9% of normalized FFO per share.

Healthcare Realty Trust is a real estate investment trust that integrates owning, managing, financing and developing income-producing real estate properties associated primarily with the delivery of outpatient healthcare services throughout the United States. As of September 30, 2017, the Company owned 197 real estate properties in 26 states totaling 14.4 million square feet and was valued at approximately $5.2 billion. The Company provided leasing and property management services to 11.2 million square feet nationwide.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Additional information regarding the Company, including this quarter's operations, can be found at www.healthcarerealty.com. Please contact the Company at 615.269.8175 to request a printed copy of this information.

In addition to the historical information contained within, the matters discussed in this press release may contain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. These risks are discussed in filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission by Healthcare Realty Trust, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 under the heading "Risk Factors," and as updated in its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed thereafter. Forward-looking statements represent the Company's judgment as of the date of this release. The Company disclaims any obligation to update forward-looking statements. A reconciliation of all non-GAAP financial measures in this release appears beginning on page 5.

HEALTHCARE REALTY TRUST INCORPORATED

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (1)

(amounts in thousands, except per share data)

ASSETS 9/30/2017 12/31/2016 Real estate properties: Land $ 196,217 $ 199,672 Buildings, improvements and lease intangibles 3,400,224 3,386,480 Personal property 10,300 10,291 Construction in progress 1,138 11,655 Land held for development 20,123 20,123 Total real estate properties 3,628,002 3,628,221 Less accumulated depreciation and amortization (888,875 ) (840,839 ) Total real estate properties, net 2,739,127 2,787,382 Cash and cash equivalents 196,981 5,409 Restricted cash  49,098 Assets held for sale and discontinued operations, net 8,772 3,092 Other assets, net 200,824 195,666 Total assets $ 3,145,704 $ 3,040,647 LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY Liabilities: Notes and bonds payable $ 1,166,060 $ 1,264,370 Accounts payable and accrued liabilities 69,918 78,266 Liabilities of properties held for sale and discontinued operations 59 614 Other liabilities 45,405 43,983 Total liabilities 1,281,442 1,387,233 Commitments and contingencies Stockholders' equity: Preferred stock, $.01 par value; 50,000 shares authorized; none issued and outstanding   Common stock, $.01 par value; 300,000 and 150,000 shares authorized; 124,890 and 116,417 shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively 1,249 1,164 Additional paid-in capital 3,173,167 2,917,914 Accumulated other comprehensive loss (1,274 ) (1,401 ) Cumulative net income attributable to common stockholders 1,055,499 995,256 Cumulative dividends (2,364,379 ) (2,259,519 ) Total stockholders' equity 1,864,262 1,653,414 Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $ 3,145,704 $ 3,040,647

(1) The Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets do not include all of the information and footnotes required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America for complete financial statements.

HEALTHCARE REALTY TRUST INCORPORATED

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (1)

(amounts in thousands, except per share data)

(Unaudited)



Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30, 2017 2016 2017 2016 Revenues Rental income $ 106,561 $ 102,534 $ 315,519 $ 302,746 Other operating 392 1,125 1,249 3,576 106,953 103,659 316,768 306,322 Expenses Property operating 40,626 37,504 116,644 109,173 General and administrative 8,021 7,859 24,720 23,687 Acquisition and pursuit costs 507 865 1,878 3,411 Depreciation and amortization 35,873 31,985 105,148 93,668 Bad debts, net of recoveries 14 (47 ) 185 (8 ) 85,041 78,166 248,575 229,931 Other income (expense) Gain on sales of real estate assets (7 )  39,519 1 Interest expense (14,107 ) (13,759 ) (42,694 ) (43,512 ) Pension termination    (4 ) Impairment of real estate assets (5,059 )  (5,387 )  Interest and other income, net 426 123 616 301 (18,747 ) (13,636 ) (7,946 ) (43,214 ) Income from continuing operations 3,165 11,857 60,247 33,177 Discontinued operations Income (loss) from discontinued operations 8 (23 ) (9 ) (50 ) Gain on sales of real estate properties   5 7 Income (loss) from discontinued operations 8 (23 ) (4 ) (43 ) Net income $ 3,173 $ 11,834 $ 60,243 $ 33,134 Basic earnings per common share: Income from continuing operations $ 0.02 $ 0.10 $ 0.50 $ 0.31 Discontinued operations 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 Net income $ 0.02 $ 0.10 $ 0.50 $ 0.31 Diluted earnings per common share: Income from continuing operations $ 0.02 $ 0.10 $ 0.50 $ 0.31 Discontinued operations 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 Net income $ 0.02 $ 0.10 $ 0.50 $ 0.31 Weighted average common shares outstanding - basic 119,098 114,152 116,181 106,552 Weighted average common shares outstanding - diluted 119,181 115,052 116,277 107,366

(1) The Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income do not include all of the information and footnotes required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America for complete financial statements.

HEALTHCARE REALTY TRUST INCORPORATED

Reconciliation of FFO, Normalized FFO and FAD

(amounts in thousands, except per share data)

(Unaudited)

Three Months Ended September 30, 2017 2016 Net income attributable to common stockholders $ 3,173 $ 11,834 Gain on sales of real estate properties 7  Impairments of real estate assets 5,059  Real estate depreciation and amortization 36,478 32,557 Total adjustments 41,544 32,557 Funds from operations attributable to common stockholders $ 44,717 $ 44,391 Acquisition and pursuit costs (1) 507 649 Write-off of deferred financing costs upon amendment of line of credit facility  81 Normalized funds from operations $ 45,224 $ 45,121 Non-real estate depreciation and amortization 1,388 1,386 Provision for bad debt, net 4 (47 ) Straight-line rent receivable, net (1,156 ) (1,684 ) Stock-based compensation 2,429 1,851 Non-cash items 2,665 1,506 2nd generation TI (4,481 ) (6,013 ) Leasing commissions paid (1,826 ) (1,514 ) Capital additions (4,203 ) (5,088 ) Funds available for distribution $ 37,379 $ 34,012 Funds from operations per common share - diluted $ 0.37 $ 0.39 Normalized funds from operations per common share - diluted $ 0.38 $ 0.39 Funds available for distribution per common share - diluted $ 0.31 $ 0.30 FFO weighted average common shares outstanding - diluted (2) 120,081 115,052

(1) Acquisition and pursuit costs include third party and travel costs related to the pursuit of acquisitions and developments. Beginning in 2017, FFO and FAD are normalized for all acquisition and pursuit costs. Prior to 2017, FFO and FAD were normalized for acquisition and pursuit costs associated with only those acquisitions that closed in the period. These changes were prompted by the Company's adoption of ASU 2017-01 which was effective January 1, 2017.

(2) Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding for the three months ended September 30, 2017 includes the dilutive effect of nonvested share-based awards outstanding of 899,733 shares.

Management considers funds from operations ("FFO"), FFO per share, normalized FFO, normalized FFO per share, funds available for distribution ("FAD") and FAD per share to be useful non-GAAP measures of the Company's operating performance. A non-GAAP financial measure is generally defined as one that purports to measure historical or future financial performance, financial position or cash flows, but excludes or includes amounts that would not be so adjusted in the most comparable measure determined in accordance with GAAP. Set forth below are descriptions of the non-GAAP financial measures management considers relevant to the Company's business and useful to investors.

The non-GAAP financial measures presented herein are not necessarily identical to those presented by other real estate companies due to the fact that not all real estate companies use the same definitions. These measures should not be considered as alternatives to net income (determined in accordance with GAAP), as indicators of the Company's financial performance, or as alternatives to cash flow from operating activities (determined in accordance with GAAP) as measures of the Company's liquidity, nor are these measures necessarily indicative of sufficient cash flow to fund all of the Company's needs.

FFO and FFO per share are operating performance measures adopted by the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts, Inc. (NAREIT). NAREIT defines FFO as the most commonly accepted and reported measure of a REITs operating performance equal to net income (computed in accordance with GAAP), excluding gains (or losses) from sales of property, plus depreciation and amortization (including amortization of leasing commissions), and after adjustments for unconsolidated partnerships and joint ventures. The Company defines Normalized FFO as FFO excluding acquisition-related expenses and other normalizing items that are unusual and infrequent in nature. FAD is presented by adding to Normalized FFO non-real estate depreciation and amortization, deferred financing fees amortization, share-based compensation expense and provision for bad debts, net; and subtracting maintenance capital expenditures, including second generation tenant improvements and leasing commissions paid and straight-line rent income, net of expense. The Company's definition of these terms may not be comparable to that of other real estate companies as they may have different methodologies for computing these amounts. FFO, Normalized FFO and FAD do not represent cash generated from operating activities determined in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America and is not necessarily indicative of cash available to fund cash needs. FFO, Normalized FFO and FAD should not be considered an alternative to net income as an indicator of the Companys operating performance or as an alternative to cash flow as a measure of liquidity. FFO, Normalized FFO and FAD should be reviewed in connection with GAAP financial measures.

Management believes FFO, FFO per share, Normalized FFO, Normalized FFO per share, and FAD provide an understanding of the operating performance of the Companys properties without giving effect to certain significant non-cash items, including depreciation and amortization expense. Historical cost accounting for real estate assets in accordance with GAAP assumes that the value of real estate assets diminishes predictably over time. However, real estate values instead have historically risen or fallen with market conditions. The Company believes that by excluding the effect of depreciation, amortization, gains or losses from sales of real estate, and other normalizing items that are unusual and infrequent, FFO, FFO per share, Normalized FFO, Normalized FFO per share and FAD can facilitate comparisons of operating performance between periods. The Company reports these measures because they have been observed by management to be the predominant measures used by the REIT industry and by industry analysts to evaluate REITs and because these measures are consistently reported, discussed, and compared by research analysts in their notes and publications about REITs.

Carla Baca

Director of Corporate Communications

P: 615.269.8175
The impressive resume includes a list of primary schools as well as being a rugby co-ordinator at the prestigious Scots College at Bellevue Hill and St Joseph's College at Hunters Hill.

But now, the working history of Simon Phillips is being investigated by child abuse squad detectives after he was charged on Wednesday with the aggravated indecent assaults of four young girls at a lower north shore primary school.

Mr Phillips, who is believed to have been removed from his position after police began investigating complaints from pupils, is facing 13 counts of aggravated indecent assault of a child under his authority.

Seven of the charges relate to the same student, who was allegedly touched inappropriately. Three other students were allegedly touched twice each by Mr Phillips.
When politics gets mixed up with ice-cream, the results are not always pretty.

The NSW Young Liberals have provoked a strong reaction on social media after posting a photograph in support of embattled ice-cream manufacturer Streets on its Facebook page.

The photograph posted by the NSW Young Liberals features their president, Harry Stutchbury, and Shani Murphy, who works for Liberal Party member Shayne Mallard MLC.

The pair are holding Cornettos, a brand of ice-cream made by Streets.
A DNA profile from blood found on the sock of murdered Sydney bookmaker Charles Skarratt has led to the dramatic arrest of a punter for his death.

Mr Skarratt, 72, well known within the greyhound racing industry, was bound and stabbed after being ambushed as he drove into the garage of his home in Woolwich, on Sydney's lower north shore, on December 22, 1989.

He was killed during a violent struggle for his $25,000 takings from a greyhound meeting in Dapto.

His assailants missed another $3000 in the top pocket of his shirt.
A Sydney Uber driver will remain behind bars after he allegedly engaged in sexually explicit online conversations with someone he believed to be a 14-year-old girl.

For a little over a month, Gaurav Marwah, 39, allegedly used an online carriage service to chat with the girl and, later, to arrange to meet her in person.

Gaurav Marwah, 39, was arrested by police on Tuesday. Credit:NSW Police

Unbeknown to Mr Marwah, the person on the other side of the online conversations was far from a 14-year-old girl.

Rather it was CEIU27, an undercover detective from the State Crime Command's Sex Crimes Squad's Child Exploitation Internet Unit.
Farming groups are fuming at the prospect Labor's previously defeated land-clearing legislation could be re-introduced.

On day three of the 2017 state election campaign, Premier Annastacia Palasczczuk confirmed she would reintroduce the bill if Labor won the next election.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk on the campaign bus in far north Queensland on Wednesday. Credit:Darren England/AAP

But it was revealed the particularly controversial reverse onus of proof aspect, which would require farmers to prove their innocence, would be dumped.

A spokeswoman for the Premier said the effect of the legislation would be the same, but reverse onus of proof was no longer needed because of improvements to monitoring, including better quality satellite imagery.
A Gold Coast mother will argue she did not deliver the blow that killed her four-year-old son in 2009 after pleading guilty to his manslaughter.

Heidi Strbak, 34, remained on bail on Wednesday after admitting in the Brisbane Supreme Court to unlawfully killing Tyrell Cobb.

Heidi Strbak (centre) arrives for arraignment for the manslaughter of her four-year-old son Tyrell Cobb in 2009, at the Supreme Court in Brisbane on Wednesday. Credit:AAP Image/Regi Varghese

Her defence barrister Gregory McGuire told the court Strbak needed to remain on bail so they could prepare for her three-day long contested sentencing hearing next week.

Strbak's plea comes a month after her ex-partner Matthew Scown was sentenced to four years' jail for manslaughter but walked from court, having already spent two years and eight months in custody.
Labor will reintroduce its vegetation management laws if it wins the next election.

But it would dump the controversial reverse onus of proof element, which would have compelled farmers to prove they were innocent.

The Palaszczuk governments land-clearing bill was defeated by two votes after failing to win enough support from the crossbenchers in August 2016.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk walks past an anti-Adani coal mine protester as she leaves the Cairns Aquarium on Wednesday. Credit:AAP

Labor had hoped to use the 2015 election commitment to showcase its environmental credentials and commitment to the Great Barrier Reef, and the bill was important to UNESCO to keep the reef off the in danger list.
Opposition Leader Tim Nicholls has pledged $300 million towards the delivery of the Sunshine Coast rail duplication, should the LNP win this months state election.

Speaking from Landsborough, within the seat of Caloundra, Mr Nicholls said it was time to make the long-overdue Sunshine Coast rail duplication between Beerburrum and Nambour a reality.

LNP leader Tim Nicholls and his deputy, Deb Frecklington, have promised to duplicate part of the Sunshine Coast train line. Credit:Glenn Hunt/AAP

Sadly, Annastacia Palaszczuk has been more interested in picking fights with the federal government than delivering real outcomes for Queenslanders, he said.

Our $300 million commitment means more frequent and reliant train services for Sunny Coast locals.
Rich Lister Christian Beck took out the EY entrepreneur of the year prize in an awards ceremony at Crown Palladium on Wednesday night.

The founder of Australian Technology Innovators was described by the judging panel as a "self-made and self-taught" man who has amassed a $619 million fortune, placing him in 109th place in last year's Australian Financial Review Rich List.

Christian Beck is the 2017 EY entrepreneur of the year.

Mr Beck has no tertiary education and taught himself computer programming and coding to build software for his father's law firm 20 years ago.

The experience prompted him to go out on his own, and he started his first company, LEAP Legal Software, delivering technical solutions to improve the productivity of law firms and conveyancers.
It started that way, as a dream. But, to paraphrase Roald Dahl, doesn't everything?

A giant peach will be built in the Murray River town of Cobram in an attempt to pull more tourists to the fruit-growing region.

An artist's impression of Cobram's giant peach. Credit:Jeavons Landscape Architects

The five-metre-high structure joins the ranks of Australia's other giant tourist attractions, including the Big Banana and the Big Pineapple.

While significantly smaller than most (the banana in the NSW city of Coffs Harbour is 13 metres long, while Queensland's pineapple is 16 metres high), the brains behind the peach hope its sculptural simplicity will be an appealing gateway to the town.
For Immediate Release

South Jersey Gas Proposes Second Phase of Storm Hardening and Reliability Program

FOLSOM, N.J., November 1, 2017 - South Jersey Gas, subsidiary of South Jersey Industries (NYSE:SJI), filed a petition today with the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities seeking to enhance and protect its infrastructure in advance of future significant weather events. The petition seeks approval of a second phase Storm Hardening and Reliability Program (SHARP II), a continuation of the very successful infrastructure investment program that was completed this past summer.

"This proposed program supports South Jersey Gas' continued commitment to the safety, reliability and resiliency of our natural gas distribution system for our customers," said Dave Robbins, president of South Jersey Gas. "Investments made under SHARP II to modernize and enhance our infrastructure will help us better prepare for major weather events, ensuring system reliability both during and after a storm occurs."

Under the proposed three-year program, which the company proposes to commence on July 1, 2018 and complete by June 30, 2021, South Jersey Gas will invest an estimated $110.25 million through four system enhancement projects along the coastal region of Southern New Jersey. These enhancements include the installation of Excess Flow Valves ("EFVs") - mechanical safety devices designed to shut off the flow of natural gas automatically in the event of a service line break - and the construction of the Absecon Island loop, Ocean City loop and Brigantine Bridge projects.

Following the devastating impacts of Superstorm Sandy five years ago, South Jersey Gas studied possible improvements that would enhance system reliability and resiliency on and around barrier islands and flood prone areas. In response and after receiving Board of Public Utilities approval, South Jersey Gas implemented SHARP, beginning in July 2014 and completed in August 2017, which focused on upgrading low-pressure mains and services to high-pressure. These improvements reduced system vulnerability to service interruptions from water and sand intrusion while also making it easier to respond to potential leaks or damage by third-party excavators. As a result, SHARP enabled the company to accelerate the replacement of 92 miles of coastal infrastructure, create 413 construction jobs and begin installing EFV's for residential and business service lines. Despite these efforts, there is still more to do to ensure the distribution system is sufficient to withstand the next major storm event. SHARP II will enable South Jersey Gas to continue to provide safe, adequate and reliable natural gas service to all its customers, including those within the coastal regions.

About South Jersey Gas

South Jersey Gas, subsidiary of South Jersey Industries (NYSE:SJI), delivers safe, reliable, affordable natural gas and promotes energy efficiency to approximately 381,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers in Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland, Salem, and portions of Gloucester, Burlington and Camden counties in New Jersey. Visit www.southjerseygas.com to learn more about South Jersey Gas and its programs.



TELEPHONE: 609-561-9000 ext. 4496

Media Contact: media@sjindustries.com





# # #
Victoria's historic voluntary euthanasia laws now appear unlikely to pass without major changes as key MPs insist on amendments.

The life expectancy of those allowed to seek voluntary euthanasia is a key issue, with the current 12 months likely to be reduced to six months.

Credit:Kate Geraghty

With debate on the right-to-die laws to resume in the Parliament's 40-member upper house on Thursday, at least two MPs maintained they would not support the bill in its present form.

Liberal Simon Ramsay has joined independent James Purcell in saying he wanted amendments to the legislation.
Police are scouring rooftops in Melbourne's CBD as they hunt for a man suspected of robbing an Elizabeth Street business.

A man was seen on the roof and in the roof cavity of the My Chemist store just after 1pm on Wednesday.

Officers searched roofs above the business and found a black duffel bag which they have now taken as evidence.

Police have also door-knocked the homes of city residents and used their balconies to see if they could spot the offender who is still on the run.

A police helicopter also searched the area.
Section C  which often throws a curveball at Year 12s  asked students to analyse a principal's newsletter about the dangers of plastic packaging. It was accompanied by a black and white image of mounds of black garbage bags.

More than 43,800 students flung their pens to desks on Wednesday afternoon and shuffled out of examination rooms, many relieved that their first exam was over.

VCE students have literally been asked to analyse a big pile of rubbish in this year's English exam.

Head of English at Shelford Girls' Grammar Daniela Ouzecky said this section was more conservative than the previous year's unseen text analysis, which included a cartoon of a giant watermelon that confused some students.

"The visual in this one is basically a mountain of rubbish," she said. "That is the image they want students to be able to see but it still offers an opportunity for stronger kids if they talk about it being an apocalyptic image. It looks like the end of the world."

Fitzroy High School VCE team leader John Hinman said the best students would have contrasted the school's logo of a tree with the image of the garbage.

They would have also pointed out that the newsletter was delivered to its audience in an environmentally friendly online format, which backed up the principal's argument.

But the talking point for students was fictional principal Denise Walker's hatred of tomato sauce containers, which she fumed were "lethal if flipped in your eye".
A 27-year-old man has been arrested and is assisting police in relation to an incident in Alexander Heights overnight where a man was stabbed to death.

Police were called to a home on Linto Way at around 1.30am Wednesday morning, and found a 22-year-old man suffering stab wounds.

Police have cordoned off Linto Way in Alexander Heights. Credit:6PR / Chelsie Stone

He was rushed to Royal Perth Hospital but died a short time later.

Canine units were patrolling the area overnight and forensic officers arrived at the home this morning.
Washington: US senators on Tuesday pressed Facebook's chief lawyer on why the company did not catch 2016 election ads bought using Russian rubles, why its investigation of them took so long and how much it knows about its 5 million advertisers.

Democrats and Republicans at the Senate crime subcommittee hearing fired questions for much of two hours at Facebook General Counsel Colin Stretch, who said that in retrospect the company should have done more.

"In hindsight, we should have had a broader lens. There are signals we missed," Stretch said under questioning from Democratic Senator Al Franken about how the company missed political ads bought with Russian money. Stretch called the Russia-based ads "reprehensible" for their political divisiveness.

The hearing marked the first time tech executives have appeared publicly before US lawmakers on the Russia matter, and the tone represented a dramatic shift in fortunes for Silicon Valley, which for years has grown accustomed to favourable regulatory treatment in the United States.
New York: New York terror attack suspect Sayfullo Saipov's arrival in the United States in 2010 began unceremoniously in Ohio.

"My dad introduced him as 'he's new to the United States and he's going to stay with us'," said a 22-year-old acquaintance who asked not to be named and who recalled Saipov as having arrived from Tashkent, Uzbekistan, knowing little English.

Saipov was a late sleeper who was looking for a job and trying to improve his English, the acquaintance said, adding he learnt from a phone notification on Tuesday that Saipov had been named as the suspect in a terrorist attack in Lower Manhattan.

The 29-year-old allegedly drove a truck down a bike path in New York, killing eight people and injuring almost a dozen more.
The suspect in the deadly New York City driving attack has been identified as 29-year-old Sayfullo Saipov by two law enforcement officials, Associated Press reports.

Saipov is reportedly an Uzbek national who has been in the US since 2010. The suspect lived in Tampa, Florida and Ohio at different times and has a history of minor traffic violations.

Saipov Sayfullo Credit:St Charles Missouri Dept of Corrections

Eight people were killed when the suspect drove a utility vehicle down a bike path next to the Hudson River in Lower Manhattan on Tuesday afternoon.

After the rampage, Saipov reportedly jumped out with two fake guns and was shot by police officers.
Bogota: When Australian Cassandra Sainsbury was detained in April, at age 22, it looked almost certain that she would be spending a very long time in a Colombian jail.

The South Australian was detained with 5.8 kilograms of cocaine in her luggage at El Dorado International Airport in Bogota as she prepared to leave the country.

Under the Colombian penal code, more than five kilograms means a maximum sentence of 30 years, but instead, it is likely she will be free before her 30th birthday.

"She has been very lucky," Sainsbury's lawyer Orlando Herran said outside court on Wednesday, local time.
PHILIPSBURG:--- The House of Parliament will sit in an urgent plenary public meeting on Wednesday, November 1, 2017.

The urgent plenary public meeting is scheduled for 14.00 hrs in the General Assembly Chamber of the House at Wilhelminastraat #1 in Philipsburg.

The agenda point is:

Discussion on the Declaration pertaining to the willingness of 8 Members of Parliament to join together and form a new government for St. Maarten with the objective of breaking the impasse on Dutch aid on the basis of mutual trust and understanding (IS/061/2017-2018 dated October 31, 2017 and IS/062/2017-2018 dated October 31, 2017)

Members of the public are invited to the House of Parliament to attend parliamentary deliberations.

The House of Parliament is located across from the Court House in Philipsburg.

The parliamentary session will be carried live on St. Maarten Cable TV Channel 120, via SXM GOV radio FM 107.9, the audio via the Internet www.sxmparliament.org and Parliaments Facebook page: Parliament of Sint Maarten.
PHILIPSBURG:--- The Dominica Foundation St. Maarten (DFS) held a Fundraising event for the high schools that were damaged by Hurricane Irma and pillaged by looters. The fundraising event was held on October 28, 2017 at the Fresh Market parking lot; Sundial School, St. Dominic High School, St. Maarten Vocational Training School, Charlotte Brookson Academy, St. Maarten Academy and P.S.V.E. participated in the fundraising. Announcements were made on local radio stations Laser 101, SOS 95.9, 102.7 FM and Island 92 throughout the day where the listeners were encouraged to stop by the parking lot and make a donation to the high school of their choice. It soon became a friendly competition where the participating schools vied to raise the most funds. Stands were set up with school paraphernalia and schools raised additional funds by selling baked goods, arts and crafts while diligently imploring their Alumni friends and supporters to donate. The Charlotte Brookson Academy and St. Maarten Academy had some of their students perform, keeping passer-by and donators entertained.

The DFS recently held a Hurricane Relief Drive in aid of the island Dominica which was ravished by Hurricane Maria, after the success we had with the Drive we saw it fit to contribute to our island of residence as well. In a brainstorming session one of our members, Rohan Williams came with the idea to organize our own twist on a drive-a-thon. We as the foundation are very happy with the outcome of this event and looks forward to organizing more events that will benefit St. Maarten/St. Martin, Dominicans residing on St. Maarten/St. Martin and the Commonwealth of Dominica, stated DFS President Clayton Felix.

The Dominica Foundation St Maarten wishes to thank the participating schools, the Afoo Food Group for donating the parking lot and Abu Gazi Restaurant for the use of their facilities.

Persons interested in joining DFS may contact President Clayton Felix at +1721-5276801 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

DFS Press Release
GREELEY, Colo., Nov. 01, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- JBS USA will hold its third quarter 2017 earnings conference call on Wednesday, November 15, 2017, at 9:00 a.m. Eastern (7:00 a.m. Mountain). The call will be open to investors in the Companys bonds and term loan, as well as lenders to the Companys revolving credit facility and prospective investors, securities analysts and market makers. More information about the call will be posted to the Companys website at www.jbssa.com. On the website, please go to the Investors page and select the JBS USA bond investors link. Financial statements and related data for the third quarter 2017 will be made available to investors on the Companys website prior to the call.

JBS USA is a leading processor of beef and pork in the United States, the number one processor of beef in Australia in terms of daily slaughtering capacity, and the number two processor of chicken in the U.S. and U.K. through its subsidiary, Pilgrims Pride Corporation. The Company processes, prepares, packages and delivers fresh, processed and value-added beef, pork, chicken, and lamb products for sale to customers in the United States and international markets. In addition to the U.S. and Australia, the Company has processing facilities in Canada (beef), Europe (chicken) and Mexico (chicken). The Company is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of JBS S.A., the worlds largest animal protein producer.

Dunham Winoto

Director, Investor Relations

JBS.USA@jbssa.com

970-506-8192

Web site: http://www.jbssa.com/
PHILIPSBURG:--- The University of St.Martin (USM) Elite Alumni Foundation released its newest project which is geared towards the current situation at the insitution.

"It's one of the darkest days in the history of Education in our country especially with lack of true compassion shown for USM' s situation," remarked Stuart Johnson President of the USM Elite Alumni Foundation.

President Johnson flanked with Vice-President Paula Gordon unveiled the T-shirts which urge the populous to support saving the institution.

"We owe it to the current and past students, the staff and the generations to come to ensure USM' s closure isn't forever," Johnson said.

T-shirts can be purchased from the members of the board for a mere cost of $10. Further information is available via the Facebook fan page of the foundation.

All proceeds will go towards financial contributions to the University of St. Martin #saveUSM

USM Elite Alumni Foundation Press Release
POND ISLAND:--- TelEm Group is joining forces with the Safe Haven Foundation during the month of November to help stamp out domestic violence in the St. Maarten community.

According to the womens shelter, Safe Haven, there has been a spike in the number of calls from women seeking refuge for urgent assistance since the passage of Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Maria in September as a result of violence in their home.

Unfortunately, due to limited resources, Safe Haven has only been able to help a limited number of these women in need and has had to turn a number of them away or refer them to other places where they might get help.

The foundation has now decided to deal with the problem at its source - by addressing the persons in the community who cause violence against women and girls by mounting an awareness and prevention campaign with community partner such as TelEm Group.

Safe Haven Director, Cassandra Richardson, says it is heartbreaking for her when any woman calls the womens shelter asking for help and none can be given.

With the full support of our Board and sponsors such as TelEm Group we want the entire community to know what is going on out there and what they can do to help the situation, said Cassandra during a brief meeting with TelEm Group Manager, Marketing & Sales, Grisha Heyliger-Marten to plan activities for the month.

Both plan to distribute literature about domestic violence and also to take part in International Womens Day events on March 8th and also in the United Nations-sanctioned Prevention of Violence Against Women & Girls on November 25th.

We are planning to do some radio talk shows and also have weekly ads with tips and SMS in the media to focus attention on domestic violence to see if we can provide answers to why there has been such a sharp increase in domestic violence since the passing of these two hurricanes, said Cassandra, who is aware of all the stresses that the devastating storm has had on families and relationships generally.

As a caring corporate citizen we wholeheartedly stand behind Safe Haven in their awareness and prevention campaign for the month of November, said the TelEm Group representatives, Ms. Marten.

Cassandra says one of the highlights of the month is expected to be a fundraising walk to raise funds for the group and also to focus awareness to the St. Maarten community.

Details and times of the walk is expected to be announced at a later date, meantime, Ms. Marten is encouraging everyone to get on board with the campaign and assist the group in any way they can in their efforts to protect women and girls in our community from harm.

TelEm Press Release
PHILIPSBURG:--- The Dominica Foundation St. Maarten (DFS) is inviting all Dominicans residing on St. Maarten/St. Martin to join them as they celebrate Dominica 39Th Independence Anniversary. The celebration will be held on Sunday November 5, 2017, activities kicks off with a church service at the Roman Catholic Church in Philipsburg at 8:00am, all Dominicans are encouraged to attend wearing their traditional/folklore outfit. Following the church service, persons can proceed to the Telem parking lot (across the University of St. Martin) where there will be various Dominica Breakfast dishes on sale from 8:00  11:00am.

The celebration continues with a Car Rally, the rally route begins at Cole Bay (entry to the Causeway Bridge/Bellevue) - Union Road - A.J.C. Brouwers Road - Bush Road - Walter Nisbeth Road (Pondfill), ending at the Telem parking lot. All vehicles are asked to be there by 2:30pm in order to line up; the rally begins at 3:00pm sharp. There will be Dominica specialty dishes and beverages available at the Telem parking lot after the Car Rally.

Due to the passing of Hurricane Maria which devastated Dominica, the morale of Dominicans throughout the island and the diaspora has been heavily affected. Dominicans are known for their patriotism which they display proudly during our Independence celebrations, usually there are various activities taking place in Dominica during the celebrations such as Creole day, Independence Rally, Creole in the Park and the World Creole Festival; unfortunately most of these events are cancelled due to the damages sustained from Hurricane Maria. Even though the island is mourning; we are a resilient community who are doing our best to not only build back our island of residence, St. Maarten/St. Martin but also our island of birth Dominica. We are hoping to lift the spirits of our fellow Dominicans and to reassure them that we made it through the storms and we will rebuild both St. Maarten/St. Martin and Dominica again, stated President of the Foundation, Mr. Clayton Felix.

DFS is looking forward to a grand turnout on November 5th, 2017.

DFS Press Release
Lt. Col. Oscar Gomez Cifuentes was an army battalion commander accused of human rights violations

Demobilized members of the ELN (National Liberation Army) arrive in Cali, Colombia. Individuals pictured were not involved in this story.

Deportation officers from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) on Tuesday removed a former Colombian national army battalion commander accused of human rights violations.

Retired Lt. Col. Oscar Gomez Cifuentes, 53, was implicated in five killings in Colombia that allegedly occurred while he was the commander of Infantry Battalion 43 Efrain Rojas Acevedo. These allegations relate to a disputed report stating that five persons were killed by the battalion during a confrontation at a Colombia ranch in November 2007. This incident was among other incidents reported by military units as "positive" killings of guerrillas in combat; but later these killings were alleged to have been executions committed outside of combat. Such killings are referred to as "false positives."

Between 2008 and 2014, Gomez was admitted into the United States three times as a temporary non-immigrant visitor through New York and Miami. He departed as required the first two times, but he overstayed his visa in 2014. On April 4, 2017, a federal immigration judge ordered him removed back to Colombia; Gomez appealed that decision to the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA).

On June 10, 2017, ERO Miami officers assigned to ICE's Fugitive Operations Team arrested Gomez, and he was taken into custody pending his appeal to the BIA regarding his removal order. However, on Aug. 24, 2017, he withdrew his appeal.

This case was litigated by ICE's Office of the Chief Counsel in Miami with the support of the Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Center (HRVWCC).

The HRVWCC was established in 2009 to further ICE's efforts to identify, track and prosecute human rights abusers. It leverages the expertise of a select group of agents, lawyers, intelligence and research specialists, historians and analysts who direct the agency's broader enforcement efforts against these offenders.
Agility and digitization? two sides of the same coin

Posted by Publisher Telecommunication

There are many companies that have already failed with their digital transformation. The reason for their failure is often that they set no concrete long-term goal or tried to stick to a project plan that was simply too inflexible. Digital transformation should be applied as a holistic change project to ensure the right balance between innovation and maintaining ongoing business operations, but still retain enough scope for preserving agility.

Instead of working out an excessively detailed long-range plan, which can be outdated after as little as a year due to the short cycles in modern business, it is better to move ahead with small steps and to keep things in ?motion?.

Change in all business areas

Digital transformation in companies work according to different rules than classic innovations. In the process, profound changes affecting several areas at the same time ? such as technology, products, services, customer experience, business processes and business models ? must be included and project managers needs to be able to respond at short notice as well as flexibly as demand requires. Also, a successful digital transformation without the support and understanding of top management is difficult to impossible. Large organisations rely heavily on standardised and efficient procedures and processes, which often leads to a greater specialisation and focus for entrepreneurial innovation. However, the disadvantage of this typical set-up is that ? due to the size of the company and the level of standardisation ? there is less flexibility and scope than, for example, in less hierarchically networked start-ups. A large number of short-term and fast agreements and decisions are required to be able to act at the pace that digitization brings with it. This agility is difficult to integrate into everyday working life in many large companies.

Proven concepts suddenly diminish in importance in the wake of the digital transformation

Instead of formulating comprehensive digitization strategies and creating long-term projects, the focus should rather be on agility when it comes to strategic digitization. The prerequisite is that new processes are defined and also implemented; however, the classic project launch and the scheduled end is initially outlined rather as a provisional project charter. Creating a rigid, irrevocable time frame runs contrary to the logic of an agile digitization. The development of new business areas should be planned in short cycles. Individual project phases, which can also be subject to adjustments based on customer feedback, are easier to change than large-scale plans. An excessively long timescale often restricts those responsible for achieving the set goals. For example, prototypes used as interim results (in order to benefit from feedback loops and customise project phases) can be much more promising and motivating than rigid project plans. Benchmarks often lead to a bottlenecking of investment and build up ?debts? for the future. In the worst case, companies delay investments that have been necessary for a long time just so they can meet benchmarks. Due to the high rate of change of asymmetric growth in changing markets and the impacts of digitization, conventional decision-making processes are losing their validity.

More agile structures required in the company

In a highly volatile and dynamic environment, increasing the agility of the organisation is a critical success factor for companies. For an accelerated and successful introduction of new products and services in the market, motivated and dedicated teams using efficient and simplified processes are a decisive prerequisite.

Companies should focus on encouraging their employees to think and act in an even more entrepreneurial manner, and extend the individual scope for decision-making. Also, the willingness for permanent changes should be increased. All of this is supported by a pronounced performance-oriented culture, based on open feedback and the recognition and rewarding of outstanding results.

The most important basics in every company undergoing digitization are a clear overall strategy as well as well-networked measures and permanent responsibilities within the organisation. On the other hand, it also crucial to ensure that sufficient flexibility and freedom remain for responding to and accommodating short-term considerations.

In summary: The complexity of the topic of digitization and its possible, and sometimes inevitable, results mean that implementation cannot be based on rigid, long-term projects. For a successful implementation of digital transformation, it is essential to define a holistic approach that runs like a common thread throughout the corporate realignment, to stay agile and not to integrate corporate strategy in slavishly defined project phases. Moreover, during change processes it is important to involve, educate and qualify staff. Without the support of senior management, any transformation of the company is difficult, if not impossible.

Digital transformation works according to different rules, in which classical decision-making mechanisms often simply do not work.

Authors:

Andreas Wartenberg has been an executive search consultant for nearly 25 years, filling management positions in the technology sector and other industries. Mr. Wartenberg set up and led national and international teams before joining Hager Unternehmensberatung as a Managing Director in 2008. He is a leading topic expert in the DACH region in regards to all aspects of technology management and digitalization within all type of corporations. Since early 2015 the Hager Unternehmensberatung has become a partner of Horton International. Andreas Wartenberg is currently Chairman of the Board at Horton Group International.

Hager Unternehmensberatung is a partner of Horton International and offers customers at over 40 locations in the globally most important economic regions solutions for issues throughout the working life cycle: Employment Lifecycle Solutions.

These targeted solutions for the working life cycle are mirrored in our individual divisions: in the placement of the right candidates, the evaluation of staff potential, during training to develop the personal skills of employees and supporting individual change processes.

With nearly 90 employees working in small specialist teams, a fully digital workflow and over 20 years of experience in the technology sector as well as other innovative markets, Hager Unternehmensberatung brings together the performance and process quality of the industry?s big names with the speed and flexibility of a start-up.

Hager Unternehmensberatung is one of the top 15 recruiters in the DACH region and the well-known executive search consultancy for digital transformations.
Huawei Champions Open Ecosystems at Eco-Connect Europe 2017

Posted by Publisher Hardware

BERLIN, GERMANY  (Marketwired)  11/01/17  Huawei, a leading global information and communications technology (ICT) solutions provider, celebrated the power of open ecosystems and collaborative ICT at this years Huawei Eco-Connect Europe, in Berlin. Under the theme of Go Digital  Go Cloud Huaweis flagship event in Europe emphasized the need to create and shape an open, innovative ICT ecosystem to empower the digital transformation of European businesses.

Digital transformation is no longer a future trend; its happening now, but digital transformation cannot be done by one single company, or organization, alone, Vincent Pang, President of Western European Region, Huawei commented. As a reliable digital infrastructure innovator and enabler, Huawei aims to build an open platform in Europe and globally, leading to closer collaboration across the digital industry. This platform will inspire cross-industry innovation, create a digital culture, and bring clear value to European communities and enterprises. And this is why we held the Eco-Connect Conference with our partners.

Collaboration is key to innovation, and helping to develop a thriving digital ecosystem. Over 2,000 partners, customers, media, analysts and KoLs attended Huawei Eco-Connect Europe 2017 including Intel, Altair, Commvault, KUKA, Orange Business Services and SAP.

During the conference, Huawei also announced plans to build a global cloud network based on its own public clouds, as well as clouds that it has built together with partners. Huawei believes that the cloud will prosper only when it helps customers create value on an ongoing basis. European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) has been running their workloads on the public cloud that was jointly developed by Huawei and T-system. Relying on thousands of Huaweis high-performance computing nodes, CERN has lowered the overall maintenance costs of Large Hadron Collider (LHC) experiments by approximately 67% and shortened the online cycle from 90 to 15 days.

OpenLab is also one of Huaweis initiatives to demonstrate its commitment to building digital ecosystems with partners in an open and collaborative way. Various large enterprises and government departments are already implementing solutions developed by Huaweis OpenLabs. For example, Huawei worked closely with Altair to create an enterprise simulation cloud solution for use within research and development in the automotive industry. Huawei has also innovated with partners such as SAP and Oracle to power IoT solutions, enabling customers to build strong, cost-effective power grids. Further demonstrating the companys commitment to an open ecosystem, Huawei will launch its next OpenLab, in Paris, by the end of this year.

As to consumers, Huawei unveiled several new Mobile Services, content partnerships with 15 key app and game developers, as well as two strategic partnerships with key video content providers ahead of the launch of Huawei AppStore and Huawei Video Service in 2018. Additionally, during Huawei eco-CONNECT, MobileIron provided a demonstration of ZeroTouch Enrollment into MobileIron Cloud with the just launched Huawei Mate10 Pro. The demo shows how IT departments and users can save the hassle of hands-on configuration of company-owned Android smartphones and tablets.

Looking to the future, together with Partners, Huawei plans to build a digital ecosystem which allows its customers to develop business globally with single-point access. Huawei is becoming a ICT platform for industry partners and opening up 6 domains with 3000+ Leading ICT APIs.

Meanwhile, Huawei will also invest heavily in cultivating digital talents and developing digital mindset in Europe. In terms of developing digital talents and cultivating a digital mindset, Europe still has room for improvement. In the last 15 years, Huawei has been committed to supporting ICT Talents and developing digital skills in Europe. Based on the existing programs, we decided to launch a Digital Impact Initiative across Europe to boost digital mindset and help to build stronger digital competences across the region, Vincent Pang said. In the coming five years we intend to connect and engage with five million people across Europe, equip 100,000 people with digital skills for life and work, and train 5,000 senior ICT professionals.

Huawei is a leading global information and communications technology (ICT) solutions provider. Our aim is to enrich life and improve efficiency through a better-connected world, acting as a responsible corporate citizen, innovative enabler for the information society, and collaborative contributor to the industry. Driven by customer-centric innovation and open partnerships, Huawei has established an end-to-end ICT solutions portfolio that gives customers competitive advantages in telecom and enterprise networks, devices and cloud computing. Huaweis 170,000 employees worldwide are committed to creating maximum value for telecom operators, enterprises and consumers. Our innovative ICT solutions, products and services are used in more than 170 countries and regions, serving over one-third of the worlds population. Founded in 1987, Huawei is a private company fully owned by its employees.

For more information, please visit Huawei online at or follow us on:

Image Available:

Huawei

Nicholas Graham

+44(0)2034276360
MODIO Addresses Leading Guestroom Complaint

Posted by Publisher Peripherals

BURLINGTON, ONTARIO  (Marketwired)  11/01/17  Editors Note: Photos for this release will be available on the Canadian Press picture wire via Marketwired.

K.R. Moeller Associates Ltd. (KRM), a global developer and manufacturer of sound masking technology, today announced the launch of MODIO, a sound masking device specifically designed for hotel guest rooms. MODIO provides a solution to one of the most common hotel guest complaints: noise.

MODIO addresses the hotel noise problem using a sound similar to soft airflow. It covers up intruding noises or reduces their disruptive impact by minimizing the amount of change between volume peaks and the guest rooms baseline background sound level. In the past, guests tried unsuccessfully to use the HVAC system, white noise apps or other gadgets in this manner.

Prior to MODIOs launch, KRM successfully implemented its commercial sound masking system, LogiSon Acoustic Network, in properties for Hilton, Marriott, Fairmont, The Ritz Carlton, and Dream Hotel, as well as the Roxy Hotel (formerly Tribeca Grand) and Fogo Island Inn. Although feedback from both hotel guests and managers who experienced the technology was overwhelmingly positive, the company decided to go back to the drawing board to integrate what they had learned into a new product specifically designed for hotel guest rooms.

KRM developed the LogiSon system with office applications in mind. Prior to MODIO, the company often had to get creative with installation techniques in order to handle all of the unique environments presented by the hospitality industry. MODIO is a commercial-grade device that is as easy for guests to use and as effective at covering noise as the LogiSon system, but only takes minutes to install  meaning no lost room night.

Niklas Moeller, Vice President, KRM, underlines the importance of offering a commercial-grade masking system. Its vital that the sound be properly generated, adjusted via effective volume and frequency controls, and produced over a high-quality loudspeaker. Introducing a poor-quality sound will irritate rather than help the guest, said Moeller. Other approaches havent caught on, because they simply cant do the job, he added.

Noise presents a significant operational and consumer issue for hotel owners, operators and guests. In 2011, a survey from JD Power (North American Hotel Guest Satisfaction Survey) ranked noise at the top of the list of complaints industry wide.

Many hotel guest rooms exhibit the type of acoustic conditions weve successfully addressed in offices over the last forty years, said Moeller. Basically, their low ambient level makes it very easy for occupants to hear noises occurring in other areas, whether its from a conversation, television or telephone, mechanical or plumbing equipment, car or airplane traffic, the hotels pool or bar. These noises irritate guests and disrupt their sleep.

Hotel owners/operators can choose to install MODIO in one or a few rooms with consistent noise problems, or in every room to prevent unforeseen complaints. The device quickly mounts to the back of any flat screen TV using standard VESA brackets, to furniture or the wall, allowing installation to be handled by the hotel maintenance staff in approximately 10 minutes.

MODIOs location also means the device is virtually hidden and ensures the masking sound is evenly diffused into the bed area and across the room.

The sound spectrum  or curve  MODIO produces is specifically engineered to balance acoustic control and occupant comfort. The company recommends customizing the curve to each guest room using specialized software and a sound analyzer, a service offered by MODIO representatives. However, in cases where this option is not feasible, a default setting can be used, which still delivers industry-leading masking performance in guest rooms.

Instructions on the control pad and in the guest services guide tell guests about the purpose and use of this amenity. The dial on the control pad allows an occupant to set their rooms background sound level according to personal preference or as needed to cover disturbances. These days, a dial might seem low-tech, but it makes MODIO easy for all guests to use, said Moeller. Theres no need to fuss with pairing to a mobile app. It also prevents guests from having to look at a blue-light emitting device, a known sleep disruptor.

Guest feedback to our technology is very positive, said Moeller. They like the feature, feel it works well, and perceive it as an amenity. It also shows a proactive approach to dealing with noise in that the hotel is addressing it before it becomes a problem. Its much better to prevent a complaint in the first place than try to fix it later, he added.

MODIO is certified for use in commercial applications in numerous regions around the world including North America, the Caribbean, Latin America, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Asia and Southeast Asia. The device is covered by a 5-year warranty. Patents are pending.

About K.R. Moeller Associates Ltd.

K.R. Moeller Associates Ltd. is a global developer and manufacturer of sound masking technology, including the first networked sound masking, paging and music system: LogiSon Acoustic Network. K.R. Moeller is committed to product innovation and high-quality customer service, as well as to providing sound masking education for customers and related professionals. K.R. Moeller is headquartered in Burlington, Ontario, Canada and is a privately-held company. For more information about MODIO, visit . For more information about the LogiSon Acoustic Network, visit .

Contacts:

For more information, additional photo options and

interview requests, please contact:

Colleen Finnegan

Finnegan Communications

647.341.3240 / 416.618.4605
NEW YORK, Nov. 01, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Guggenheim Investments, the investment management division of Guggenheim Partners, today announced that the following Guggenheim exchange traded funds (ETFs) have declared distributions. The table below summarizes the distribution for each ETF.



Distributions Schedule Ticker Exchange Traded Fund Name Ex-Date Record Date Payable Date Total Rate Per Share GSY Guggenheim Ultra Short Duration ETF1 11/02/17 11/03/17 11/07/17 $ 0.0550 GTO Guggenheim Total Return Bond ETF 11/02/17 11/03/17 11/07/17 $ 0.0857 BSCH Guggenheim BulletShares 2017 Corporate Bond ETF 11/02/17 11/03/17 11/07/17 $ 0.0181 BSCI Guggenheim BulletShares 2018 Corporate Bond ETF 11/02/17 11/03/17 11/07/17 $ 0.0257 BSCJ Guggenheim BulletShares 2019 Corporate Bond ETF 11/02/17 11/03/17 11/07/17 $ 0.0296 BSCK Guggenheim BulletShares 2020 Corporate Bond ETF 11/02/17 11/03/17 11/07/17 $ 0.0344 BSCL Guggenheim BulletShares 2021 Corporate Bond ETF 11/02/17 11/03/17 11/07/17 $ 0.0384 BSCM Guggenheim BulletShares 2022 Corporate Bond ETF 11/02/17 11/03/17 11/07/17 $ 0.0419 BSCN Guggenheim BulletShares 2023 Corporate Bond ETF 11/02/17 11/03/17 11/07/17 $ 0.0420 BSCO Guggenheim BulletShares 2024 Corporate Bond ETF 11/02/17 11/03/17 11/07/17 $ 0.0481

1 Effective June 30, 2017, the funds name was changed to Guggenheim Ultra Short Duration ETF. Please see the funds prospectus for more details.

Distributions Schedule Ticker Exchange Traded Fund Name Ex-Date Record Date Payable Date Total Rate Per Share BSCP Guggenheim BulletShares 2025 Corporate Bond ETF 11/02/17 11/03/17 11/07/17 $ 0.0486 BSCQ Guggenheim BulletShares 2026 Corporate Bond ETF 11/02/17 11/03/17 11/07/17 $ 0.0478 BSCR Guggenheim BulletShares 2027 Corporate Bond ETF 11/02/17 11/03/17 11/07/17 $ 0.0543 BSJH Guggenheim BulletShares 2017 High Yield Corporate Bond ETF 11/02/17 11/03/17 11/07/17 $ 0.0245 BSJI Guggenheim BulletShares 2018 High Yield Corporate Bond ETF 11/02/17 11/03/17 11/07/17 $ 0.0668 BSJJ Guggenheim BulletShares 2019 High Yield Corporate Bond ETF 11/02/17 11/03/17 11/07/17 $ 0.0842 BSJK Guggenheim BulletShares 2020 High Yield Corporate Bond ETF 11/02/17 11/03/17 11/07/17 $ 0.0909 BSJL Guggenheim BulletShares 2021 High Yield Corporate Bond ETF 11/02/17 11/03/17 11/07/17 $ 0.0946 BSJM Guggenheim BulletShares 2022 High Yield Corporate Bond ETF 11/02/17 11/03/17 11/07/17 $ 0.1086 BSJN Guggenheim BulletShares 2023 High Yield Corporate Bond ETF 11/02/17 11/03/17 11/07/17 $ 0.1153 BSJO Guggenheim BulletShares 2024 High Yield Corporate Bond ETF 11/02/17 11/03/17 11/07/17 $ 0.1059 BSJP Guggenheim BulletShares 2025 High Yield Corporate Bond ETF 11/02/17 11/03/17 11/07/17 $ 0.1145

Past performance is not indicative of future performance. To the extent any portion of the distribution is estimated to be sourced from something other than income, such as return of capital, the source would be disclosed on a Section 19(a)-1 letter located on the Funds website under the Literature tab. Distributions may be comprised of sources other than income, which may not reflect actual fund performance.

For more information, please visit http://www.guggenheiminvestments.com/etf.

About Guggenheim Investments

Guggenheim Investments is the global asset management and investment advisory division of Guggenheim Partners, with $243 billion1 in total assets across fixed income, equity, and alternative strategies. We focus on the return and risk needs of insurance companies, corporate and public pension funds, sovereign wealth funds, endowments and foundations, consultants, wealth managers, and high-net-worth investors. Our 275+ investment professionals perform rigorous research to understand market trends and identify undervalued opportunities in areas that are often complex and underfollowed. This approach to investment management has enabled us to deliver innovative strategies providing diversification and attractive long-term results.

Media Contact

Ivy McLemore

Managing Director, Investment Communications

Guggenheim Investments

Ivy.mclemore@guggenheimpartners.com

(212) 518-9859

This material is not intended as a recommendation or as investment advice of any kind, including in connection with rollovers, transfers, and distributions. Such material is not provided in a fiduciary capacity, may not be relied upon for or in connection with the making of investment decisions, and does not constitute a solicitation of an offer to buy or sell securities. All content has been provided for informational or educational purposes only and is not intended to be and should not be construed as legal or tax advice and/or a legal opinion. Always consult a financial, tax and/or legal professional regarding your specific situation.

Read a funds prospectus and summary prospectus (if available) carefully before investing. It contains the funds investment objectives, risks, charges, expenses and other information, which should be considered carefully before investing. Obtain a prospectus and summary prospectus (if available) at http://guggenheiminvestments.com or call 800.820.0888.

The referenced funds are distributed by Guggenheim Funds Distributors, LLC. Guggenheim Investments represents the investment management businesses of Guggenheim Partners, LLC (Guggenheim), which includes Guggenheim Funds Investment Advisors, LLC ("GFIA") and Guggenheim Partners Investment Management (GPIM), the investment advisors to the referenced funds. Guggenheim Funds Distributors, LLC, is affiliated with Guggenheim, GFIA and GPIM.

BulletShares, BulletShares USD Corporate Bond Index, and BulletShares USD High Yield Corporate Bond Index are trademarks of Guggenheim Index ServicesSM and have been licensed for use by Guggenheim Investments. Guggenheim Index Services is an affiliate of Guggenheim Investments.

1 Guggenheim Investments total asset figure is as of 09.30.2017. The assets include leverage of $11.6bn for assets under management and $0.4bn for assets for which we provide administrative services. Guggenheim Investments represents the following affiliated investment management businesses of Guggenheim Partners, LLC: Guggenheim Partners Investment Management, LLC, Security Investors, LLC, Guggenheim Funds Investment Advisors, LLC, Guggenheim Funds Distributors, LLC, Guggenheim Real Estate, LLC, GS GAMMA Advisors, LLC, Guggenheim Partners Europe Limited, and Guggenheim Partners India Management.
Iraqi Kurdistan Was Never Ready for Statehood

Iraqi Kurdistan's referendum on independence has made an already bad situation for the Kurds far worse. Instead of enhancing the Kurds' political leverage and autonomy, it has squandered international goodwill toward them, antagonized Baghdad and its neighbors, and deepened economic risks and societal fissures. It has also spurred the loss of control over important territories and resources. Iraqi security forces have reasserted authority over Kirkuk and its oil assets, other "disputed territories," and Iraqi border crossings after a negotiated withdrawal of Peshmerga forces. The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) now finds itself hemmed in politically and economically. Although the KRG has offered to "freeze" the referendum results in response to the political fallout and in order to forestall the advances of Iraqi forces into Kurdish-controlled territory, the Iraqi government is demanding full cancellation, although both sides are engaged in negotiations. The fallout from the referendum also promises to reorder the KRG's internal politics; President Masoud Barzani has announced that he will step down from his post on November 1. But the referendum was the catalyst and not the cause of the KRG's current crisis. The KRG leadership has promoted a narrative about the region being a secular democracy with a booming economy and cohesive military force -- but, in reality, the landlocked region has long been economically unstable, institutionally weak, and politically divided. The KRG leadership's first mistake was to focus heavily on garnering international support for its ambitious state-building project, rather than getting buy-in from Iraqis. Instead of drawing non-Kurds into its "Kurdistani" territories as equal citizens, the KRG discriminated against them. During a visit to northern Iraq days before the independence referendum, one Arab businessman told me how "even in business we are not equal" and complained about additional taxes he had to pay to move goods within the Kurdistan region. Assyrians reacted angrily to land confiscations by the ruling Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the replacement of their local leaders by KDP officials -- a process that they say aims to "erase" them from the Nineveh Plains. Many Yazidis still harbor resentment for having been abandoned by the KDP to the Islamic State in 2014. As a result, non-Kurdish Iraqis were overwhelmingly opposed to a Kurdish state, particularly one that included the oil-rich province of Kirkuk. One prominent Arab tribal leader told me, days before the referendum, that only 5 in 100 Arabs in Kirkuk would accept KRG dominance over the area. Another Arab leader told me frankly that he would never treat the outcome as legitimate: "It's not done.... We will get [Kirkuk] back." All UsersEven if the independence referendum hadn't stirred domestic and regional opposition, the absence of a sufficient KRG revenue stream and a unified military command structure would have undermined its ability to hold and secure the territories it gained during the war against the Islamic State. (The KRG's territory expanded by 40 percent during the military campaign.) The region's rapid economic development from 2008 to 2012 was largely financed by Iraq's oil wealth and not a self-sustaining Kurdish economy. The KRG's decision in 2014 to circumvent Baghdad with "independent" oil sales, together with the fall in oil prices and the costs of the military campaign against the Islamic State, reinforced its economic vulnerability. Although the KRG has cut spending and raised taxes, it failed to ever effectively reckon with its financial and political problems. Meanwhile, Kurdish military victories relied heavily on external backing -- specifically, coalition air power -- rather than the KRG's own institutional strength. Control over the KRG's security forces, including the Peshmerga, has long been divided between the two main political parties across the region's three provinces. These divisions became apparent after the referendum, when some leaders from the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), the other main Kurdish party, negotiated a deal with Baghdad and withdrew their Peshmerga troops from Kirkuk without fully informing officials in the ruling KDP party or others within the PUK. It also explains why various factions are now accusing each other of being traitors and "selling out Kirkuk." The spectacular loss of Kirkuk, along with its oil fields and assets, and a number of smaller fields in Ninewah province, now promises to deepen the KRG's financial hole. These losses have thus far reduced the Kurdistan region's oil production and exports from about 600,000 to about 280,000 barrels per day, taking about 55 percent of the KRG's oil expert revenue with it. They also come at a time of declining prospects for the KRG's energy sector: The price of oil has dipped precipitously, and international oil companies (IOCs) have pulled out of 19 exploration blocks inside the region since 2014. The financial fallout has ended any hope the Kurds had of creating an autonomous and self-sustaining economy separate from Baghdad. These straitened conditions will make it even more difficult for the KRG to pay its civil servant salaries -- which have not been fully paid in two years -- its more than $20 billion in debt, IOC operating costs, and oil traders. The much-hyped energy deals that the KRG signed with Turkey and the Russian oil company Rosneft may continue -- but these foreign investments, particularly after the referendum, are likely to come at the expense of Kurdish control over its own energy market and pricing mechanisms. Baghdad's closure of international airspace in the Kurdistan region, the cancellation of some regional flights, and threats of border closures from Turkey and Iran -- if continued -- can only add to the economic morass. Kurdish leaders are also increasingly under pressure to implement political reforms. The ruling KDP and the PUK together dominate the region's political and economic affairs and have maintained a power-sharing pact since the first KRG was established in 1992, despite bouts of civil war and tensions. Just recently key officials from both parties called to extend the Kurdistan Parliament's term for eight months and to postpone elections once again -- further assuring their political control. Local opposition to these parties and the KRG was evident during the referendum: While strongholds of the ruling KDP in Dohuk and parts of Irbil had an 80 to 95 percent "yes" vote, parts of Sulaimaniyah province saw a turnout that dipped as low as 50 percent. These divisions have only deepened since the referendum and its fallout. Even though some Kurds blame foreign governments for the failed independence bid, the vast majority feel cheated by their own leaders in the KDP and PUK. Power struggles have also been reinforced within and between the political parties, that extend beyond traditional KDP-PUK rivalries. The recent violence in the Iraqi Kurdistan Parliament after Barzani's "resignation" statement, and ongoing tensions among groups, underlines the fragility of political stability inside the Kurdistan region. Sustained armed conflict is unlikely, although a media war and outbreaks of violence may continue, sporadically. Opposition groups, independents, and a new reformist party led by former KRG Prime Minister Barham Salih have called for a "transitional government" to help resolve the KRG's political and economic crises. But even if Barzani vacates his office, there's no reason to expect the downfall of the House of Barzani or the House of Talabani -- the two families behind the KDP and PUK, respectively -- anytime soon. The KDP has institutional roots in Iraq since the 1940s, and the Barzani family's patronage networks run deep. Barzani will retain influence in a "political leadership council" while his son Masrour will remain as head of the KDP security apparatus, and his nephew Nechirvan Barzani will remain as prime minister. The KRG leadership seems poised to draw precisely the wrong lesson from the havoc wrought by the referendum. Instead of admitting their strategic miscalculations, Barzani and other Kurdish leaders have denied responsibility for the referendum fiasco and its fallout. This group can be counted on to continue playing the victim card, blaming "traitors" for their institutional deficiencies, and harping on outside threats, including Iran and its militias, rather than devoting attention to their internal problems and institutional reform. Even then, the fundamental features of the Kurdistan region will remain unchanged. It will still be landlocked, economically dependent, bound to Baghdad, Turkey and Iran, and politically divided. These weaknesses will become increasingly apparent as Iraq's central government gains leverage and credibility across the country and the region, and Iraqi nationalism continues to grow in salience among the public. Under these conditions, the KRG has little choice but to negotiate with the Iraqi government and regional states to survive, just as it has done for decades. The difference now that the disastrous referendum has been held is that instead of negotiating from a position of strength, the KRG must now deal with Baghdad from a position of weakness.

Denise Natali is a distinguished research fellow and director of the Center for Strategic Research at the National Defense University's Institute for National Strategic Studies.
Johnson City, TN, Nov. 01, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Throughout the month of November, you can help a soldier get their best sleep ever when you shop online at BedInABox.com. Their dream team has joined efforts with Soldiers Angels to offer several ways you can help members of the military during the holiday season.

Many times, our deployed troops are often stuck in uncomfortable sleeping arrangements that prevent quality rest. This holiday season, we want to help our American service members sleep better by donating a portion of all online sales to Soldiers Angels as well as offering a special on our American-made Curve Pillow, explains Melissa Thomas, Chief Marketing Officer for BedInABox.com.

For those who want to participate and send pillows as gifts, BedInABox.com will offer a 15% discount on each Curve pillow sale and collect the orders until November 30. All pillows will be shipped to the Soldiers Angel team to be included in their holiday stocking drive. To send specific soldiers a pillow, customers can also provide the appropriate military mail address for their loved ones to get a pillow in time for the holidays.

Knowing that people care for us while deployed makes us have pride in what we do. Soldiers Angels is helping us feel loved when needed, says SPC Bernal, a service member participating with Soldiers Angels.

For over 14 years, Soldiers Angels has grown to be the largest volunteer network of any charity of its kind in the country; 97% of all donations provide aid and comfort to the men and women of the United States Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, their families, and a growing veteran population. Thousands of "Angel" volunteers assist wounded, deployed personnel, veterans and their families throughout the year by collecting and donating wish-list items, sending handwritten letters and organizing community events.

Attachments:

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/467370f2-acbf-4b20-8041-3859521fd358

Attachments:

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ea4c4698-3678-4db8-8ea0-9d800f277810
By Fred Maroun in Ottawa

New Canadian Media

Quebec recently passed a law banning face coverings for people delivering or receiving public services, which has re-ignited the debate across Canada on banning the burqa and niqab.

Some people, such as Idil Issa, have accused Quebecs politicians of going after Muslims because they are a minority and an easy target. Knowledge of Quebec history and culture, however, contradicts that accusation.

Quebec is by far the most progressive province in Canada. Its two main parties are centrist (the Liberal Party of Quebec) and centre left (the Bloc Quebecois) whereas all other provinces have strong conservative parties. Quebecs support for same-sex marriage is at 78%, possibly a world record. Quebec is a striving multicultural and diverse society.

Quebec was the only Canadian province to undergo a revolution (albeit a non-violent one, aptly named the Quiet Revolution) against religious and political conservatism.

There is a problem when women live in a society as liberal as Quebec and yet feel the need to comply with some of the most conservative and patriarchal religious rules ever invented. The fact that many Quebecers recognize this as a problem is not a symptom of intolerance.

When Quebecs new law is discussed, the discussion invariably drifts towards the face covering of some Muslim women due to a version of Islam that is highly sexist and regressive, commonly referred to as Islamism. The concern of citizens is clearly not face coverings in the abstract but the religious radicalism that it implies.

I grew up in Lebanon at a time when Muslims were already the majority, and yet I never saw a woman with her face covered in public, even in Muslim neighborhoods. Several members of my family grew up in Egypt and make the same observation. With the growth of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, however, the niqab and the burqa are now often seen in the streets of Cairo.

Raheel Raza, president of the Council for Muslims Facing Tomorrow, wrote, [I] never saw a niqab when I was growing up in Karachi, Pakistan. [] But in the 25 years I have called Canada home, I have seen a steady rise of Muslim women being strangled in the pernicious black tent that is passed off to naive and guilt-ridden white, mainstream Canadians as an essential Islamic practice.

Islamism is the opposite of social liberalism. Whereas liberalism aims to achieve for women equal rights and opportunities, Islamism considers women inferior and expects them to be subservient. The infiltration of Islamist values into Canadian society can only send chills into the backs of liberals.

There are however no easy answers to fighting Islamism in Canada since we also value freedom of speech, freedom of thought, and personal choice. A ban on face coverings can be seen as a patriarchal imposition on women who may in theory choose to cover their faces. And if a husband prevents his wife from leaving the house with her face uncovered, a ban may transform her house into a jail.

Politicians try to avoid complex issues, and the growth of Islamism in liberal societies is undoubtedly a complex issue. Quebec politicians deserve credit for at least trying. Federal politicians refuse to even talk about it.

During the Conservative leadership campaign, Kellie Leitch attempted to bring forward a proposal to defend Canadian values by asking some tough questions of potential immigrants, but she faced strong opposition even within her party. After Andrew Scheer won the leadership, he left Leitch out of his shadow cabinet and gave another former candidate, Lisa Raitt, the position of deputy leader even though Leitch received almost twice as many votes as Raitt on the first ballot.

The federal Liberal Party and the NDP stay even farther away than their conservative counterparts from fighting Islamism. Almost all Liberal Members of Parliament (MPs), all NDP MPs, and a small number of Conservative MPs passed a vague motion condemning Islamophobia without defining its meaning, which could be interpreted as an attempt to muzzle legitimate criticism of Islamism.

While I never saw burqas and niqabs in Lebanon, I see them now in Ottawa, far too often. Such occurrences are frequent reminders to Canadians that the issue of Islamism is not a faraway problem but a local one.

Canada has no leading politician resembling Donald Trump at the moment, but neither did the U.S. until two years ago. Then Trump barged into the political scene and raised issues that Americans were concerned about, such as Islamic terrorism, issues that other politicians were afraid to discuss.

There are likely more significant reasons why Trump was elected, but his willingness to be politically incorrect was undoubtedly one of the attributes that attracted voters to him. We see such a phenomenon occurring in parts of Europe as well, such as Germany where the extreme right has significantly weakened Chancellor Angela Merkels dominance.

Politicians must find the courage to ask the politically incorrect questions, even when they do not have all the answers, so that intelligent solutions can emerge. If competent politicians ignore the challenge, demagogues may take advantage of the vacuum and propose ill-conceived populist ideas, which is the last thing we need.

Fred Maroun is a Canadian of Arab origin. He lived in Lebanon until 1984, including during 10 years of civil war. He regularly blogs for The Times of Israel.

Criticism outside Quebec, but wide support inside

The mainly French-speaking province of Quebec recently banned face coverings for anyone receiving public service in the province.

It is a first in North America, but the province now joins several other countries or regions in the world which have instituted full or partial bans on Muslim face coverings.

The new law has been widely condemned by a variety of officials and various advocacy groups as targeting Muslim women who choose to wear the niqab veil or burka.

We are just saying that for reasons linked to communication, identification and safety, public services should be given and received with an open face, Premier P.Couillard

In spite of wide media attention given to those against the new law, and condemnation such as that from Ontarios Premier, and Montreals Mayor, a recent survey shows fairly widespread support for the law within the province.

The finding was part of a larger poll conducted by the Angus Reid polling service.

The survey taken in early October showed 62 per cent strongly supported the new law, while another 25 per cent expressed moderate support.

The law says no-one providing public services (public employees) or receiving them can do so with the face covered.

Many opponents say the new law deliberately targets Muslim women while other criticism include the difficulty of enforcing it.

Transit drivers dont want to be put into the position of policing the law and refusing riders for example. Others say in the case of medical emergencies, no one can be refused treatment, face covered or not.

At present there are no penalties for those not enforcing the law. There are also exemptions for those making a serious request although that too is vague.

The government says it intends to clear up many of these and other issues by next July.

This piece was originally appeared in New Canadian Media.

See http://autoconfig.newcanadianmedia.ca/component/k2/42597-we-ignore-islamism-at-our-own-peril
A veteran professor of Greco-Roman history at Columbia University has withdrawn from teaching and other student-related activities in the wake of allegations that he exploited his position of power to sexually harass women for decades. He nevertheless remains employed by the university.

Professor William V. Harris, 79, is accused in a federal lawsuit filed earlier this month of sexually harassing one doctoral student in particular for several years, ultimately disparaging her within her academic circle.

The news of Harris's withdrawal came in a Monday evening email to graduate students and faculty in History, Classics and Classical Studies, according to a redacted version supplied to Gothamist.

"Earlier today, students enrolled in Professor William Harris's classes were told that he has agreed with the University to withdraw from his teaching, advising and other student-related activities," it states. "We share this information more broadly with you to clarify what has been a subject of considerable discussion and concern. We also want to take this opportunity to reiterate that Columbia must be a place where students and scholars are able to purse [sic] their academic work free from worry about harassment of any sort."

The email was signed by David B. Madigan, Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, and Carlos J. Alonso, Dean of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.

Reached by email, Harris declined to comment.

Professor Harris remains an employee of the University," a university spokesperson said. "We do not comment on personnel matters and have nothing further to add beyond what already has been communicated to our students and faculty."

The federal suit alleges that Harris began asking the anonymous 29-year-old plaintiff personal questions shortly after meeting her in the spring of 2014. He also "ingratiated himself as a trusted confidant" as he learned about her father's suicide, among other things. That same spring he started telling her frequently that she was attractive, to which she responded that she felt uncomfortable.

Harris allegedly made physical advances that spring and on through 2015, leaving the woman "emotionally traumatized," according to the suit. Once, Harris allegedly forced her against a desk and kissed her, another time putting his mouth on her breast "suddenly, and without warning." He also allegedly asked her for sex, which she refused, and allegedly sent her a pornographic email.

This past summer, the plaintiff allegedly contacted Columbia's Title IX Coordinator, Associate Vice President Marjory Fisher, and asked that Harris not be allowed to enter her department building. Harris was subsequently scheduled to teach twice a week in the building, according to the suit.

The lawsuit accuses Columbia of gender-based discrimination violating the NYC Human Rights Law and Title IX. Harris is accused of "negligent infliction of emotional distress."

"We are glad that Columbia has done the right thing," the plaintiff's attorney, David Sanford, told Gothamist. "The problem is, it took Columbia 30 years to do the right thing, and that's part of what the case is about."

Sanford considered Columbia's decision in the wake of snowballing sexual assault allegations against Harvey Weinstein and other powerful men.

"I think we are at a cultural tipping point, and I think that tipping point is in part evidenced by what Columbia did," Sanford said. "I think Columbia understands the cultural moment, but again it's a cultural moment years too late."
The largest Halloween parade on the planet proceeded as planned last night in the West Village, the estimated crowd of some two million people undeterred byor, in some cases, unaware ofthe terrorist attack that killed eight people just hours earlier and less than a mile away.

If anything, Sixth Avenue felt more packed with revelers than ever, the entire width of the street often jammed with costumed marchers, and spectators shrieking and laughing more than twelve deep on the sidewalks.



Photograph by Scott Lynch / Gothamist

In a press conference after the attack, Mayor Bill de Blasio promised to increase security along the parade route, and NYPD officers were certainly everywhere in evidence. De Blasio and Governor Andrew Cuomo made an appearance in the parade as well, marching a few blocks up near 14th Street.



Mayor de Blasio and Governor Cuomo at the Halloween parade (Benjamin Kanter / Mayoral Photo Office)

Overall, there was very little about the event that seemed any different than it has the last dozen or so years. Costumes leaned toward the creative and the gruesome, with music blasting from passing floats and marching bands providing plenty of impetus to dance. There were a couple of commercial-sponsored floats and teams throwing freebies to the masses, but for the most part the Village Halloween Parade remains a party of the people.
Federal terrorism charges were brought Wednesday evening against 29-year-old Sayfullo Saipov, the suspect accused of driving a truck down the West Side Highway bike path yesterday, killing eight people and injuring twelve more.

Saipov allegedly started planning the attack a year ago, and decided to use the truck to target civilians two months ago, according to the complaint. He had planned to continue driving his rental car to the Brooklyn Bridge to continue to strike pedestrians and "kill as many pedestrians as he could," the complaint states.

Saipov has been charged with providing material support and resources to a "designated foreign terrorist organization" as well as violence and destruction of motor vehicles, according to the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York.

"We don't know his path of radicalization yet," NYPD head of counterterrorism John Miller told reporters.

The complaint summarizes an interview that Saipov gave to investigators from his bed at Bellevue Hospital on Tuesday.

Saipov allegedly said that he was inspired to carry out the attack by ISIS videos that he watched on his cell phone. He was particularly motivated by a video featuring Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi in which the ISIS leader asked what Muslims in America were doing to respond to the killings of Muslims in Iraq.

Saipov rented a truck from Home Depot on September 22nd to practice "making turns," according to the complaint. He allegedly chose Halloween because he believed there would be more civilians on the street, and had initially considered displaying ISIS flags on the front and back of the truck, he said, but decided against it to avoid drawing too much attention to himself.

During his bedside interview, Saipov allegedly asked to display the ISIS flag in the hospital room and said that he "felt good about what he had done," according to the complaint.

According to investigators, a bag recovered from the scene contained three knives, as well as a Florida driver's license. Investigators also recovered two cellphones and a stun gun from the floor of the truck. One cell phone allegedly contains dozens of videos and thousands of images that appear to be ISIS propaganda. A document containing "Arabic and English text" was also recovered about ten feet from the truck, and Saipov allegedly told investigators that he had written it. It reads, in substance, "No God but God and Muhammad is Prophet" as well as "Islamic supplication. It will endure," according to the complaint.

The NYPD and federal prosecutors held a joint press conference Wednesday evening in Manhattan. The top possible penalty for the terrorism charge is life in prison, they said. The top penalty for the federal violence and destruction of motor vehicles is death.

Around the same time, the NYPD announced that they were seeking a second person in connection to Tuesday's deadly attack. Assistant FBI Director Bill Sweeney said at the start of the press conference that the request for information had been redacted, though the man's photo and name were still posted on the FBI's website at that time.
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A University of Hartford first-year student was expelled and arrested on Saturday for harassing her roommate, after allegedly admitting that "she licked her roommates dining utensils and smeared bodily fluid on the womans backpack."

Brianna Brochu, 18, was charged with intimidation based on bigotry or bias, as well as breach of peace and criminal mischief, according to the Hartford Courant.

Brochu is white; the victim, Chennel Rowe, is African-American. This morning, university president Greg Woodward said in a letter, "I am writing to provide further updates on the deeply disturbing situation involving our students. As of this morning, Brianna Brochu is no longer a student at the University of Hartford. She will not be returning to the institution."

Rowe told FOX 61, "I kind of felt unwanted and she was giving off vibes," and said that Brochu ignored her since they were placed in the dorm room together. She apparently became suspicious when she was suffering "severe throat pain." Eventually, she moved out of the room. From FOX 61:

[Brochu] asked me if I was moving out and I simply said yup and she made a face and said okay and then I saw her pick up her phone and automatically start texting, said Rowe. Minutes later, Rowe was approached by one of her RAs who informed her of something disturbing: pictures on Instagram, allegedly posted by her roommate, taunting Rowe. Rubbing bloody tampons on my things, so like she posted pictures of my Steve Madden bag that I had been sleeping next to the whole time on my bed with blood stains on it, Rowe said.

The Tab published an Instagram caption that Brochu reportedly posted, proclaiming, "Finally did it yo girl got rid of her roommate!! After 1 1/12 month of spitting in her coconut oil, putting moldy clam dip in her lotions, rubbing used tampons on her backpack, putting her toothbrush places where the sun doesn't shine and so much more I can finally say goodbye Jamaican Barbie."



Via the Tab

Rowe described her experience on Facebook Live, calling it "beyond ridiculous." She also said that residence hall administrators told her to abide by a "no contact" contract and not to speak about the incident at all:

"I refuse to be another college statistic," Rowe said, in explaining why she was coming forward.

Woodward said in his letter, "As I said yesterday, the University took action immediately once these allegations were brought to our attention. University Public Safety was first notified and responded to this incident at 11:48 p.m. on October 17. The reprehensible conduct of the involved student was not known by the victim or the University until that time. By 1:12 a.m. the West Hartford Police Department was notified and processes for legal and University conduct began. A no-contact order was put into place and the case was turned over to local authorities by 2:16 a.m."

Brochu was released on $1,000 bond. Her next court date is November 15th.


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Animals Before Humans?

German development policies weren't much better. The ministry responsible was controlled by the Christian Social Union (CSU) at the time, the Bavarian sister party of the center-right Christian Democrats, and seemed to have a preference for supporting authoritarian potentates. Then-CSU head Franz Josef Strauss was himself a big-game hunter and seemed particularly taken with Zaire's dictator Mobuto Sese Seko, a man who occasionally had extremities hacked off of his political opponents. The Germans were given permission by the dictator to oversee the construction of roadways, including several stretches of the road between Kisangani and Bukavu. The fact that part of it went straight through Kahuzi-Biega National Park concerned nobody, nor did the disapproval of UNESCO, which was concerned about the park's World Cultural Heritage status. In total, the ministry made around 200 million deutsche marks available for the project, beginning in the 1980s.

"The road didn't just slice through the gorillas' habitat, it paved the way for a war that was already foreseeable at the time," says Karl-Heinz Kohnen, who has visited the area several times on behalf of the German group Mountain Gorilla and Rainforest Direct Aid, a non-profit group working to protect gorilla habitat.

To this day, the road has also made it easier for people to take what they want from the forest: It helps rebel groups and the army supply themselves with fresh game meat and enables the transportation of coltan, a mineral that is important for the construction of cell phones. "But the first profiteers were the German companies," says Kohnen. He says that the Batwa people showed employees of a subsidiary of Boehringer-Mannheim, a German pharmaceutical company, where rare prunus Africana trees could be found. The company then cut the trees down to turn their bark into a prostate drug. Kohnen says it was a "mistake" to use the knowledge of the Batwa, but to otherwise keep them out of the park.

Germany's Reconstruction Credit Institute continues to adhere to the model of protecting wildlife by keeping people out of the park. And it has since become the park's largest funder. According to park director Lucien Lokumu, about $2 million came from the development bank in 2016 alone, representing about 60 percent of the budget.

A KfW spokeswoman emphasizes the extent to which the "participation of local communities" is supported, but she can hardly be referring to the Batwa. If they have any jobs at the park, they are menial ones. "In this colonial model of conservation, the Batwa play the role of impoverished extras for tourists," says Stephen Corry, director of Survival International, an organization that works to support the rights of indigenous people. "German development aid shouldn't be making the decisions about the homeland of the Batwa without their approval. Maybe some people think that gorillas are more important than people, but that shouldn't be the position of the German government."

Yet it's not entirely clear that the German government agrees with Corry. Part of the funding is used for defending the park and for the equipment necessary to do so. German aid money is thus used to fund the paramilitary camps where rangers are trained. Yet it's not the rebels that the rangers focus on - after all, the rangers don't dare go more than a couple of kilometers into the park. Rather, their priority is preventing the Batwa from getting in.

WWF Under Fire

What the GIZ and KfW people don't seem to understand is that in many parts of Africa the protection of biological diversity in natural parks is a question of negotiation. If an oil company arrives and wants to invest (as was the case in neighboring Virunga Park), compromises quickly become possible.

Have the GIZ and KfW ever questioned this German form of conservation? The KfW said in response to a query from DER SPIEGEL that a "consultant" was advising them on the project. The GIZ declined to respond.

The KfW supports 510 nature reserves around the world, including 78 in Africa, many of which have at times been beset by conflict. In southeastern Cameroon, the bank works together with the WWF to support game wardens. But for years, there have been reports that these wardens have tortured and displaced the Baka indigenous people there and have even poached animals themselves. The WWF admits that it is a "delicate situation." They say they support the Baka, but couldn't exclude the possibility that attacks by the "state eco-guards," which are trained and equipped by the WWF, were taking place.
Brussels, Oct 27, 2017 (SPS) - A delegation of European parliamentarians was prevented Friday at Laayoune airport from getting off the plane by the Moroccan authorities of occupation, as it was preparing to head for the occupied territories of Western Sahara to enquire about the situation of human rights, said Sahrawi Minister Delegate for Europe Mohamed Sidati.

Five members of the European Parliament intergroup peace for the Sahrawi people, including the intergroup President Jytte Guteland and her two vice-presidents Paloma Lopez and Bodil Valero were prevented from getting off the plane carrying them from Strasbourg via Canary Islands this Friday 27 October, he told APS.

These Euro-deputies of different parties represented in the European Parliament intended to stay in Western Sahara to enquire about the situation of human rights in the occupied territories. They were supposed to meet with human rights organizations and representatives of civil society.

The expulsion of the delegation of the European parliamentarians is a flagrant attempt to hide the reality of the systematic repression from which the Sahrawis are suffering, affirmed Sidati, citing in this regard, the assassination, recently, of the young Mentu Ment Mohamed Echeikh in Dakhla.

In a letter sent to the presidents of EUs different bodies, the Sahrawi minister underlined that this umpteenth expulsion of European deputies has only one purpose that is to hide the crimes committed against humanity by the Moroccan authorities of occupation in the occupied territories of Western Sahara.

Expressing his solidarity with the expelled Euro-deputies namely Jytte Guteland, Paloma Lopez, Bodil Valero, Lidia Senra and Josu Juaristi, Sidati urged EU and human rights organizations to act urgently to lift the military siege and media blockade on the region.

Sahrawi minister also stressed the urgent need to allow independent observers and international press to get freely to Western Sahara.SPS

125/090/700
The 3,200t shipment of Alzon neo-N was imported by Gleadell Agriculture. It was manufactured by SKW Piesteritz, Germanys largest producer of ammonia and urea and a specialist manufacturer of stabilised urea products. The cargo, unloaded on Friday 27 October, is the first of five booked to the end of January to meet rising demand for stabilised urea in the UK.

Growers are turning to the product to cut rising losses to the environment and improve fertilisation efficiency, says Gleadell fertiliser manager Calum Findlay.

Alzon neo-N, a granular 46% N urea fertiliser, is the worlds first integrated all-weather fertiliser. It takes stabilisation technology to a new level, containing two inhibitors to reduce both ammonium and nitrate losses.

These losses are an increasing problem, driven by increasing temperatures and moisture extremes during the growing season, says Mr Findlay.

Trials have shown have shown Alzon neo-Ns integrated inhibitor system can reduce nitrate leaching by up to 50% and nitrous oxide emissions by up to 75%, and prevent ammonia losses almost completely.

As with some other existing stabilised urea products, Alzon neo-N contains a urease inhibitor, which slows down the conversion of urea to ammonium reducing the risk of losses by volatilisation.

It also contains a nitrification inhibitor that reduces the rate at which ammonium is converted to highly mobile nitrate, which is prone to leaching or being lost to the atmosphere.

This combination ensures a higher proportion of nitrogen is taken up by the plant, which is good for the pocket as well as the environment, says Mr Findlay.
It's that time of year when the leaves change colors, pumpkin flavoring is crammed into everything imaginable (who needs Eye Drops with Pumpkin Spice?), and scary things come out on Halloween  but will you open your door on October 31 and be confronted by anything scarier than these hair-raising financial horror stories?

They Stole My Identity  First we find out that a data breach at Equifax exposes the personal information of 145.5 million people, and then we find out that the Yahoo hack in 2013 exposed the information of every single one of their 3 billion accounts. Is there a single American who hasn't been hacked yet?

The odds are great that your personal information is for sale to identity thieves  or already in their hands. Can you foil them with credit freezes and other ID protection measures before it's too late? Is it already too late? Does your VISA card contain mysterious purchases from a country ending in "stan", or 27 large screen TVs from Best Buy? If you would like to monitor your credit to prevent identity theft and see your credit reports and scores, check out our credit monitoring service.

The Debt That Ate My Future  Student loan debt has reached an amazing $1.45 trillion, with indebted Class of 2016 graduates owing an average of $37,712. Approximately 1 out of 9 (11.2%) of student loans are delinquent (either in default or with payments at least 90 days overdue).

Too many Americans are being slowly crushed by their student loan debt burden, especially when other debts are included  an average credit card debt of $4,061 per cardholder, an average mortgage debt of $106,132, total auto loan debt of $1.16 trillion, and 42.9 million people with an average of $1,766 in overdue medical debt. Will economic growth and wage increases come in time to save them, or will their hopes and dreams for a better life be cruelly dashed?

Health Care Nightmare  Who knows what horrors await you if you become sick and your insurance premiums are too high for you to afford? Average out-of-pocket medical costs continue to rise, topping $10,000 in 2016. Meanwhile, premiums continue to rise on the health care exchanges.

Over the past four years, premiums in the individual marketplace have more than doubled. As insurers back out of some markets and political uncertainty reigns, premiums on the state insurance exchanges continue to rise rapidly. For example, rates in Georgia are up by 57%.

Insurance companies priced in the likelihood that President Trump would continue his assault on the Affordable Care Act. Given Trump's actions to allow cheaper policies containing fewer benefits and to cut off an expected $9 billion in cost-sharing subsidies to insurers, the insurers chose wisely  but will we be swamped with excessive costs as a result?

Release the Nukes  What list of potential horrors would be complete without the prospect of nuclear war? The current tense relations between the U.S. and North Korea make that horrible concept more plausible  and in addition to the terrible death toll and destruction of property, the financial impact on the world economy would be hard to imagine.

For reference, a paper from the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) notes that spending on the Chernobyl accident  a single release that took place in a relatively isolated area  was over $13 billion between 1991 and 2003. ICAN cites a separate study estimating the cost of a nuclear explosion in New York City at $10 trillion or above  over half of our current GDP.

Remember the famous quote of Albert Einstein, "I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones." Then remember the leaders who have their fingers on their respective nuclear buttons. Are you frightened yet?
A teacher has been placed on leave after a racial slur was used by students acting out a scene in a social studies class at West Iredell High School.
On June 5, someone shot Leonard Eugene Cook multiple times. While waiting for doctors at the hospital, he removed the bullets himself and toss
Capt. Bryan Johnson summed up the mood Wednesday morning after Statesville police responded to reported gunshots in southwest Statesville.

Here we go again, he said.

Police found no victim at the scene, but said they were told that someone with a gunshot wound was on the way to a hospital.

The shooting was reported in the 900 block of Inglewood Road at about 10:20 a.m., said Johnson, supervisor of the Criminal Investigations Division for the Statesville Police Department. Inglewood Road is in the Parkwood Village neighborhood off Buffalo Shoals Road.

Police taped off the scene and closed the road to traffic. Johnson said officers found shell casings in the road and that the house at 925 Inglewood was hit by gunfire.

The home was occupied at the time, Johnson said.

Sarah Murdock, who lives on Inglewood about a block from the shooting scene, said a relative lives at the home that was struck. She said she was told by neighbors that a family member was shot in the arm and was headed to a hospital.

Murdock said she heard multiple gunshots.

A business owner on Buffalo Shoals Road who didnt want to be identified said he heard bam bam bam bam bam, followed by a short pause before the shooting resumed.

It was just long enough to drop a clip and put a clip back in, and then it was four or five more shots, the man said.

Murdock, like the police, said she was frustrated.

Im sick of this, Murdock said. Theres been so many shootings in this area. The people who do the shooting are dumb. They do the shootings when kids are around. This is really getting out of control.

She estimated that there have been 10 shootings in the neighborhood this year, half of which she described as shootouts.

A couple months ago, someone ran through a playground in the neighborhood firing a gun in the air, sending children running, she said.

Murdock said she doesn't let her 3-year-old boy play outside.

Its so dumb," she said. "When I run into the people who did this they will hear so many cuss words, they wont know what to do.

Kaelan Moten, 29, was shot in an apartment at 510 Russell St. on Oct. 24, police said. Police responded to the scene that night and didnt locate a victim.

Police said family members took Moten to Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem that night. She was treated and released.

That case remains under investigation and no arrests have been made.
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The income tax will drop from 16 to 10 percent, but at the same time social security taxes will increase from 16.5 percent to 35 percent, president of the 'Cartel Alfa' National Trade Union Confederation Bogdan Hossu said on Tuesday, upon leaving the meeting of the Tripartite National Council, according agerpres.ro.

"The wage won't be cut, because according to the law in force, we are talking about a gross wage. The trouble is that following the transfer, the gross wage stays the same, but the tax rate charged on the worker increases. It's true, the income tax goes down from 16 percent to 10 percent, but at the same time the social security taxes charged on the worker rise from 16.5 percent to 35 percent. From this point of view, there is a rise in taxation that will reflect not in the gross wage amount, but in the net wage the worker takes home. The employers have not firmly pledged growth, the government relies only on a promise and the good intentions about that, but we are talking about 3 million, not the employees who collect today the minimum national wage and who will see an increase of 97 lei in net, we are not talking about the public sector, which is in for a 25 percent increase, which actually means a net increase of about 4 percent, but we are talking about the rest of Romania's workers who will be affected," Hossu explained.

He added that the employers' side has approved all government measures.

"At the National Tripartite Council, the employers' side has rather pompously approved all the governmental measures. The issue raised by the unions, on their part, is that we obviously do not oppose the increase of the minimum national wage, but we want it clearly stated that the minimum guaranteed wage is the basic wage with no other bonuses or additions, as it was this year," Hossu said.

The union leader also talked about the tax reform project, stating that it is riddled with serious deficiencies and the government "doesn't intend to issue a circular requiring all employers in the country to raise wages."

Last but not least, Hossu also showed that several categories will no longer pay the 10 percent health security contribution and the list of subsidized medicines will grow shorter, as will the set of free services.
Romania's President Klaus Iohannis said on Wednesday that although important progress has been made in Romania in terms of gender equality, the country needs to speed up bridging the gaps.

I firmly believe that equality between women and men is a pillar of the future-oriented society, for which all of us have the duty to act every day. (...) Romania has already taken important steps for the commitment that we have pledged to set up the new profession of equal opportunities expert. Although important progress has been made in Romania to meet the objectives of equality, we are aware of the need to speed up the gap bridging, first of all by changing mentalities and also by an integrated and multidimensional approach of policies in the area, including supporting female entrepreneurs," Iohannis told the Conference of Francophone Women in Bucharest.

He added that, by organising the conference, the capital of Romania is a "genuine international agora of equal opportunities."

"A standard bearer of La Francophonie in the region, Romania considers that the International Organisation of La Francophonie has the vision and determination to get engaged alongside the international partners in the challenges of gender equality," said Iohannis, according agerpres.ro.

According to him, women working in business, research and development, those who become entrepreneurs and those who want to start up businesses are models for the younger generation, but they face a number of serious problems.

"They have difficult access to funding resources and feel the lack of professional support networks. Their presence is much lower in decision-making and managerial positions than men's. Last but not least, women are victims of stereotypes and prejudices related to their roles and abilities in the family, economy, but also in society," said Iohannis.

The head of state welcomed the proposal to launch a network of French female entrepreneurship.

He added that Romania supports the adoption of the La Francophonie Strategy of Gender Equality at the future of Summit of La Francophonie in 2018, showing that this is a concrete contribution to the universalisation of fundamental human rights.

He pointed out that since its Greater Union, Romania has provided a number of important female personalities for politics, culture, science, education and sports.

"It is our duty to honour this valuable contribution, making gender equality one of the great achievements of the world, a precious legacy for generations to come," said Iohannis.

Among the attendees of the Conference of Francophone Women were Secretary General of La Francophonie Michaelle Jean, and President of Mauritius Ameenah Gurib-Fakim.
Prime Minister Mihai Tudose and Finance Minister Ionut Misa told a meeting on Tuesday of the Tripartite National Council for Social Dialogue that switching the pay of some social security contributions from employers to employees in 2018 will not have a negative impact on wages, either in the public or in the private sector, according agerpres.ro.

According to a Government press statement, the central topics of the talks held at the Government House between the prime minister, Cabinet members and leaders of the major confederations of trade unions and employers' associations in Romania, in the format of the Tripartite National Council for Social Dialogue, were a draft emergency ordinance amending the Tax Code, with emphasis on switching the pay of social security contributions from employers to employees, and an increase in the minimum wage.About switching the pay of some social security contributions from employers to employees in 2018, Prime Minister Mihai Tudose and Finance Minister Ionut Misa reiterated that this measure will not have a negative impact on wages, either in the public or in the private sector."We have talked with business leaders and wages will increase. The business community told me there was an opportunity to pay people better," said Tudose.The statement says the employers' associations rated the idea "a very good measure," while the trade unions stated themselves in favour of keeping the legislation on the pay of the contributions as it is.At the same time, an increase in the minimum wage to 1,900 lei starting next year, according to the objectives in the governance programme, was agreed by the trade union leaders and met no opposition from the employers, who mentioned the need for infrastructure development, especially in the areas of transport and agriculture, for the optimal exploitation of Romania's potential in terms of business development.Tudose announced that the incumbent government is considering a paradigm shift in transport infrastructure, and mentioned a meeting the same day with World Bank officials.
Romania is a very committed member of La Francophonie, the Secretary General of the International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF), Michaelle Jean, stated on Tuesday evening.

"Romania plays a very important role in the Organization. It is a very committed member. Romania insisted on organising this conference (Conference of Francophone Women  editor's note)," Michaelle Jean told AGERPRES.

She unveiled the fact that last year, on the occasion of her official visit to Romania, President Klaus Iohannis promised her that he will do everything possible to have this event organised in Bucharest.

Moreover, Michaelle Jean said that "Romania wants to revitalize its connections with the African countries, through exchanges and economic agreements."

She also hailed the presence of the many businesswomen at the conference in the Romanian capital.

"Bucharest has never seen so many Francophone businesswomen and their energy is very present. And this happens because we are between 400 and 450 businesswomen in the Francophone space. We want to celebrate women's courage, their achievements in the business world, their contribution to the development of economy in various sectors. We hope that in the end we will have a very strong statement and that, at the end of the conference, we will be able to create a network of Francophone businesswomen," said the OIF Secretary General.

Michaelle Jean noticed the manner in which Romania succeeded in becoming "a bright country, opened to the world." "When I talk about Bucharest, I call it "the magnificent," she said.

OIF Secretary General Michaelle Jean on Tuesday evening participated in the official opening of the Francophone Film Festival at the Romanian Cultural Institute headquarters, an event taking place over October 31  November 2, on the occasion of the International Conference of Francophone Women in Bucharest.

The Festival also included the "Women/Femmes" exhibition of French photographer Yann Arthus-Bertrand, who traveled through 60 countries to capture portraits of women and the animation film "Aya de Yopougon," made by Marguerite Abouet and Clement Oubrerie in 2013.

The Francophone Women conference is organized on November 1 and 2 under the High Patronage of the Romanian President, by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in cooperation with the International Organization of the Francophonie and the National Agency for Equal Chances.
SPRINGFIELD, ILL.  U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Illinois, is urging the Federal Communications Commission to block the proposed acquisition of Tribune Media Co. by Sinclair Broadcast Group.

"If approved, the merged Sinclair-Tribune company would own or operate 233 stations nationwide and reach 72 percent of U.S. TV households  making it the nation's largest television broadcast company," Durbin, of Springfield, said in a letter this week to Ajit Pai, FCC chairman.

Durbin also said it appears that the commission is "going out of (its) way to clear barriers to the deal by rolling back any rule that may pose a problem to it," and that the acquisition would "threaten diversity and localism in broadcasting, ignore the unique concerns and interests of local audiences, and harm competition."

The letter also said Sinclair has a "history of exploiting loopholes to skirt existing ownership caps by remotely operating stations while still dictating the content, including mandating Sinclair-produced segments such as the Terrorism Alert Desk, which regularly conflates Islam and terrorism, and firing many of the local reporters at the stations."

Sinclair, based in Hunt Valley, Md., has proposed a $3.9 billion takeover of Tribune Media Co., which, according to a Baltimore Sun story, was formed in 2014 when Tribune Co., then parent of the Sun and newspapers including the Chicago Tribune, split its broadcasting and publishing divisions into independent companies. The broadcast division became Tribune Media, while the publishing division became Tribune Publishing, renamed tronc Inc. last year.

The U.S. Department of Justice also is reviewing the proposed deal and is expected to complete it by the end of the year, the Sun reported.

Sinclair has said the scale and efficiencies that a merger would bring will ensure the future of free over-the-air television, according to the Sun. Sinclair's filing said it also would plan to produce more original content shows, share programs, add reporters to local political beats and beef up investigative teams and online presence, the newspaper reported.

Durbin's letter, also copied to other FCC commissioners, said that Congress "explicitly directed the FCC to establish limits to how many households a single broadcasting company could reach because it recognized the public benefit gained from televising a diverse range of opinions and maintaining robust competition in broadcasting.''

In a recent op-ed Durbin penned for Crain's Chicago Business, Durbin said the merger would "do permanent damage to the American tradition of local broadcasting and will take a wrecking ball to the pillars of objectivism and diversity in local broadcasting."

He also wrote that Pai, "who was narrowly approved by the Senate to be President (Donald) Trump's chairman of the FCC, has shown he will not hesitate to put the needs of the industry ahead of the best interests of consumers."

In St. Louis, Sinclair owns KDNL (Channel 30), the ABC affiliate. Tribune Media owns KTVI (Channel 2) and KPLR (Channel 11), part of the CW network. The Post-Dispatch is a news partner of Fox 2 News.
In a rare direct appeal to the White House, the director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau wrote a letter to President Donald Trump this week, asking him to let stand a rule that makes it easier for consumers to file class-action lawsuits against financial companies.

Congress narrowly passed legislation that would spike the rule, and now the bill goes to Trump for final approval. All indications are that he will sign it.

The Senate voted 50-50 on the legislation last week, and Vice President Mike Pence broke the tie to undo the rule. The White House released a statement afterward saying the president applauded Congress for voting to rescind the rule.

Nevertheless, CFPB Director Richard Cordray, an Obama appointee who some conservatives have suggested should be fired, wrote to the president Monday, making the case that Trump should veto the legislation and allow the rule to take effect.

The rule would continue to allow banks and other financial companies to use contract agreements to block consumer lawsuits and require that disputes be settled in private arbitration. But it would make a key exception: Financial companies would not be able to use those agreements to block class-action lawsuits.

Many have told me I am wasting my time writing this letter  that your mind is made up and that your advisers have already made their intentions clear, Cordray wrote. But this rule is all about protecting people who simply want to be able to take action together to right the wrongs done to them.

The CFPB and consumer advocates argue that class-action suits represent a way to hold banks accountable for wrongdoing that affects many customers, especially in cases where the harm to any individual consumer is relatively small.

In such cases, consumers might not want to go through the trouble of arbitration, and a financial institution might have little incentive to correct its actions. Wells Fargo & Co.s fake accounts scandal is often cited as a prime example.

But the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and other opponents  including the U.S. Treasury Department, which last week issued a report critical of the rule  called it a giveaway for class-action attorneys, arguing that lawyers are often the biggest beneficiaries of class-action settlements.

In the letter, Cordray acknowledged that he and Trump have never met or spoken, but tried to appeal to the president by mentioning Trumps legal wranglings in the business world.

I am aware that over the course of your long career in business you often found it necessary to go to court when you thought you were treated unfairly, Cordray wrote. Of course, most Americans cannot afford to do this on their own.

He also suggested that the arguments against the rule are unfounded and that it should be clear to the president that the rule would help the average American.

I think you really dont like to see American families, including veterans and service members, get cheated out of their hard-earned money and be left helpless to fight back, he wrote. I know that some have made elaborate arguments to pretend like that is not what is happening. But you are a smart man, and I think we both know what is really happening here.

A CFPB spokesman declined to comment on whether the White House had responded to Cordray.

The White House didnt respond to requests for comment.
Its time to shop for coverage again on HealthCare.gov, and for some itll mean steep increases and restrictive networks.

Wednesday marks the fifth time consumers across the country can begin shopping for health insurance coverage through HealthCare.gov, a product of President Barack Obamas landmark health bill.

The window to enroll, starting Nov. 1, comes after months of attempts by the Republican party to repeal the Affordable Care Act, and acts by President Donald Trumps administration to undermine the law that included pulling back funding for advertisements, enrollment assistance, and payments to lower the cost of coverage for low-income individuals.

It has led some local organizations to ramp up efforts to reach previous shoppers, especially given the shortened open enrollment period.

In previous seasons, there was good messaging and advertising around open enrollment. Thats something that were not seeing right now, Tim Williams, a manager with Cover Missouri, a nonprofit coalition that assists enrollees throughout the state.

In Missouri, like much of the nation, if consumers are not eligible for financial assistance, theyll likely experience significant sticker shock.

The average increase in premium prices across Missouri is 37 percent for those not eligible for financial help. The average increase is based on the second-lowest cost silver plan in each region. Its typically used as a benchmark to calculate rate changes, according to data compiled by St. Louis University School of Law Center for Health Law Studies.

However, a majority of Missourians who shop for coverage receive some sort of financial assistance, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. In other words, many Missourians will be shielded from steep increases.

In fact, in some instances, some consumers who receive financial help will likely see a decrease in price, according to the data with SLU.

This year the only type of plan available to Missourians is an EPO plan, or exclusive provider organizations, according to SLUs data. There are no longer PPO plans, or preferred provider organizations, to choose from like in previous years.

EPOs typically do not allow for out-of-network visits. PPO plans have out-of-network benefits, but patients face higher costs.

Brokers say its imperative that consumers double-check whether their doctors are in-network.

However, Kelly Rector, a broker with Denny and Associates Inc. in OFallon, Mo., said consumers may have to make tough decisions this year.

Theyre going to have to pick which doctor is more important to them, Rector said of her experience helping clients so far.

When it comes to choice, most Missouri counties only have one insurance plan available .

There are only a few counties where consumers will be able to choose between two carriers.

No county has the choice of three or more carriers, according to SLUs data.

The counties with multiple carrier options include St. Louis, St. Charles and Jefferson counties, plus St. Louis city.

The biggest change in the St. Louis area is the loss of Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield. The plan primarily contracted with SSM and Mercy, while excluding BJC HealthCare.

Taking Anthems place is a new entrant into the Missouri market, Centene. Its plans will be known as Ambetter.

But Centene is no stranger to Missouri or the St. Louis area.

The company is headquartered in Clayton and its primary line of business is providing health insurance coverage to low-income individuals who are eligible for Medicaid. Centene has said the exchanges are complementary to their Medicaid business.

The framework of Centenes plan will look similar to Anthem; it will also exclude BJC facilities and doctors. It will contract primarily with SSM, Mercy and St. Lukes in Chesterfield.

Cigna is the only health plan in which BJC doctors and facilities are in network.

However, Ambetters online directory did not list St. Louis University Hospital as an in-network facility as of Wednesday morning. SSM, which owns and operates SLU Hospital, said it is within the Ambetter network, according to Jason Merrill, a spokesman for the hospital.

A spokesperson for Centene later confirmed that SLU Hospital is within the Ambetter network.

Experts warn those online directories can change and are sometimes inaccurate.

Sometimes those online directories are a great first step to identify what the network looks like, sometimes its not always perfect. Thats a big part of our work, said Williams of Cover Missouri.

He encourages enrollees to call a particular provider and verify.
Art Van Furniture, a growing chain based in Warren, Mich., will open early next year in four former Rothman Furniture & Mattress properties, company officials say.

The furniture stores  in Affton, Bridgeton, O'Fallon, Mo., and O'Fallon, Ill.  will be Art Van's first in the St. Louis area. The retailer, founded in 1959, currently has more than 120 stores in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Iowa.

In addition, Magnolia Home by Rothman, a single-store furniture location at 1516 South Hanley Road in Richmond Heights, will be converted to an Art Van Design Studio later this year, said Rothman President and CEO Jay Steinback, who signed a franchise agreement with Art Van for the St. Louis stores.

Steinback, 39, will lead the new Art Van of St. Louis franchise unit that will be based in the St. Louis area, and 220 of Rothman's 230 employees are being offered employment at Art Van, Steinback said.

He sees opportunities to grow Art Van to as many as 10 stores in the St. Louis area and several more elsewhere in Missouri and southern Illinois. We're actively looking for more sites, he said, adding he's looking at vacant Sports Authority and Gander Mountain retail spaces.

Additionally, Art Van's PureSleep mattress stores will open both within the chain's furniture stores and as standalone stores in the St. Louis region, Steinback said.

St. Louis-based KAI Design & Build is providing construction services for the building renovations and Clayton-based Enterprise Bank & Trust is Art Van St. Louis' lender.

Two existing Rothman Furniture sites that won't be converted to Art Van are 7737 Watson Road in Shrewsbury and 3001 Washington Avenue in Alton. The sprawling 88,000-square-foot Shrewsbury building is under contract to U-Haul, and the future use for the 37,000-square-foot Alton property has not yet been determined.

Steinback is the grandson of Milton Rothman, who ran Rothman Furniture until the early 1980s. Steinback was named CEO, succeeding his father, Dale Steinback, in 2013.

Rothman Furniture has about $50 million in annual sales and is profitable, Steinback said in an interview at the company's O'Fallon, Mo., headquarters. But as competition from e-commerce retailers has intensified in recent years, younger customers are increasingly expecting furniture deliveries within a couple days as opposed to a couple weeks.

If you can't do that, they'll find someone else that will, Steinback said. I couldn't stock enough to meet that demand.

As an Art Van franchisee, Steinback said he'll now have access to a 1.3 million-square-foot warehouse in Detroit with $55 million in inventory. Rothman's existing 160,000-square-foot warehouse generally only holds about $5 million in inventory.

When Rothman announced its plans in September to shut down all of its stores, Steinback said some customers commented on social media that Rothman's inventory was outdated.

We look at the comments, Steinback said. And I get it. We'll have more styles with Art Van. That's why we're doing this.

Steinback is scouting the St. Louis area for up to 10,000 square feet of office space for his franchise unit's corporate staff, which will remain locally based.

Rothman stood for family and locally owned and operated, quality, great pricing and community focused, Steinback said. None of that changes but the name on the building.

Steinback will be Art Van's largest franchisee, Art Van spokeswoman Diane Charles told the Post-Dispatch in a phone interview.

Art Van, which offers a mix of price ranges for first-time homebuyers and high-end furniture, began growing its store count about nine years ago by opening stores within a day's drive and a 300-mile radius of Detroit.

When Art Van was acquired by Boston-based private equity firm Thomas H. Lee Partners earlier this year, Art Van's executives said the sale could accelerate its growth.

In addition to recently expanding its corporate-owned stores to 15 in the Chicago area, Art Van now is looking to grow its footprint within a 600-mile radius of Detroit.

"It was a combination of St. Louis being a great market that we can service with our existing distribution network and finding a strong partner in Rothmans," Charles said about Art Van's decision to expand in St. Louis.

The Art Van chain is named after its founder, Art Van Elslander.

"We plan to be the number one furniture provider in St. Louis with this partnership," Art Van's vice president of franchising Keri Durkin said Wednesday at a press conference in Richmond Heights.
Divisive language and policies from President Donald Trump are helping push business travelers north of the border, the head of Marriott International Inc. said on Wednesday.

Large groups of travelers, particularly for conferences, are changing reservations to friendlier cities such as Toronto over U.S. options "with the view that bringing in an international group would be more hassle-free in Canada and maybe a little bit riskier in the U.S.," Chief Executive Officer Arne Sorenson said in an interview in Toronto.

Revpar growth, a measure of financial performance based on revenue per available room, will be in the "mid- to high single digits" in Canada this year, compared with 1 to 2 percent in the U.S., Sorenson said. Revpar growth alone doesn't indicate whether travelers are changing their destination.

"You're going to have people coming in from everywhere, and they're going to be looking at 'Can we get our people in? Are they going to want to go to that place?'" Sorenson said, sipping a cappuccino in a meeting room of the Ritz-Carlton hotel. "At the moment there's a perception around the world that the U.S. is a little less welcoming than it was in the past."

Sorenson cited the president's efforts to ban travelers from some Muslim-majority countries and speeches that emphasize nationalism and criticize current immigration policy. In Canada, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has publicly defended Muslims and extolled immigration.

Marriott is bringing up the issue in conversations with the White House on "welcoming visitors from abroad," Sorenson said, declining to provide details.

Canada's economy is booming, expanding faster than any Group of Seven nation's and forecast to grow at an average of 2 percent annually over the next five years. In the U.S., gross domestic product grew by 1.5 percent last year, though it is forecast to reach 2.4 percent next year, according to a survey of economists by Bloomberg. Overall, Marriott's occupancy in both countries is over 80 percent.

Sorenson has commented on Trump's policies in the past. The president's travel ban is "not good, period," he said at a company event in Dubai in April. The ban has been repeatedly blocked by federal courts and has drawn condemnation from employers in industries including technology that rely on foreign talent. Sorenson was named to the board of Microsoft Corp. last month.

Sorenson was vice chair of President Obama's Export Council and was in the delegation that visited Cuba in March of 2016, part of an overture Trump has criticized. Sorenson wrote an open letter to Trump on LinkedIn soon after his election, in which he emphasized the need to unite the country and "break the cycle of retribution." Former presidential hopeful Mitt Romney, who has denounced the president's character, is on Marriott's board of directors.

Corporate guests represented about 70 percent of Marriott's room-nights in 2016, with leisure accounting for about 30 percent, according to the company. This includes properties from Marriott's September 2016 acquisition of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc.

The Bethesda, Md.-based company is opening a St. Regis-branded hotel in Toronto's financial district, replacing Trump's brand on the 65-story luxury tower. The building, now under renovation, was purchased by InnVest Hotels LP this year after financial difficulties, dozens of lawsuits, and negative sentiment plagued the development.
ST. LOUIS  Survivors of an ovarian cancer victim whose $72 million jury verdict against Johnson & Johnson was tossed out last month by a Missouri appeals court are seeking another review of the case or its transfer to the Missouri Supreme Court.

Jacqueline Fox, of Birmingham, Ala., was 62 when she died about four months before a St. Louis circuit court heard her claim that talcum powder in the New Jersey-based health care giant's products caused her ovarian cancer. A jury in February 2016 awarded her $10 million in actual damages and $62 million in punitive damages.

Last month, the appeals court here ruled that Foxs lawsuit lacked jurisdiction in Missouri because of a U.S. Supreme Court decision in June that imposed limits on where injury lawsuits can be filed. The Bristol-Myers Squibb case said non-California residents could not file claims there against the New York-based maker of the blood thinner Plavix, ruling that establishing a lawsuits jurisdiction requires a stronger connection between the forum state and a plaintiffs claims.

A motion by Fox's estate filed Tuesday with the Missouri Eastern District appeals court requested that the court re-hear her case or that it be transferred to the state's highest court. Fox's motion asks the appeals court to decide if its Oct. 17 ruling "permits reconsideration of the personal jurisdictional issue" in a lower court under new standards established by the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in June.
CLAYTON  The St. Louis County Council on Tuesday gave unanimous final approval to a pay increase for county police officers that will average about 30 percent per officer.

The raises make up a significant part, about $19 million, of the $46 million a year expected to be raised from the Proposition P tax hike that voters approved in April.

The vote came with no debate, a marked change from contentious council meetings concerning police pay earlier this fall. After the 6-0 vote, a crowded council chambers broke out in applause.

The measure was for patrol officers and sergeants only. The council also granted preliminary approval for raises for officers ranked lieutenant and above; a final vote will be next month.

Its rather life-changing for our members who are officers in the department, Matt Crecelius, business manager for the St. Louis County Police Association, said after the meeting. The real winners are going to be citizens of St. Louis County, who will see a much better-rested, much better-trained officers and higher-qualified recruits.

The current wage scale for St. Louis County police patrol officers starts at $48,256 base pay per year and tops out at $70,980. But unlike other collective bargaining agreements that give officers raises based on their years of service, the county officers agreement doesnt compel the county to increase pay until there are additional revenue streams  such as the one provided with the passage of Proposition P.

The average pay for a St. Louis County patrol officer has remained stagnant at roughly $51,000.

Dozens of officers who have worked for the county for 10 years still earn $48,256 in base pay. Those officers will see their base pay jump to $68,848  a 42 percent increase.

After Jan. 1, officers will start at $52,208 and then earn 80 cents more per hour every year thereafter. The new scale tops out at $77,168 for officers who have served the county for 15 years.

County Police Chief Jon Belmar has said the measure would allow his department to hire and retain officers. The department has consistently claimed that it was losing officers to higher-paying departments. The county police department has 850 officers.
ST. LOUIS  A local fitness company executive, Todd Beckman, was dealing dozens of pounds of marijuana on the side and conspired with others to kidnap and beat a man from Maplewood who had stolen money and marijuana from him, a Beckman co-defendant said in court Wednesday.

That co-defendant, Caleb Laubinger, also claims that Beckman pistol-whipped and beat the kidnapping victim and threatened to kill him before accepting $27,000 in ransom money. The victim was dropped off in a van bearing the logo of TanCo, one of the BAM Brands companies. Beckman founded the company and was president and CEO at the time of the kidnapping but is no longer.

Beckmans attorney could not be immediately reached for comment.

Laubinger, 27, of Pacific, pleaded guilty Wednesday in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to conspiracy to commit a kidnapping and admitted his role in the offense.

Laubingers plea says Beckman brought in 50 to 80 pounds of marijuana at a time from California. The pot was packed in industrial toolboxes that were commercially shipped in large wooden crates.

Caleb Laubingers brother Blake stored the marijuana in his home in Pacific, oversaw its distribution and collected proceeds of its sale for $2,400 to $3,000 per pound, the plea says.

The kidnapping victim, who dealt marijuana for Beckman, knew that a shipment had arrived, broke into Blake Laubingers house on Oct. 29, 2016, and stole 24 pounds of marijuana and $15,000 cash, the plea says. He was an immediate suspect in the theft, and Blake Laubinger and Beckman devised a plan to get the drugs and money back.

The Laubinger brothers had trouble finding the victim, once getting tipped that he was at a Steak n Shake but losing him in a high-speed car chase, the plea says.

After another tip, the brothers entered the victims house on Nov. 21 and were waiting when he got home. They attacked him and Caleb Laubinger choked him into unconsciousness, the plea says.

They then took the victim to Blake Laubingers home , where they tied him to a support beam in the basement and shocked him with a Taser. Beckman arrived with a co-defendant, Kerry Roades, and both men beat the victim and shaved his head. Beckman pistol-whipped him and dry-fired his gun at the victims head, the plea says.

The next day, Beckman bought plastic shrink wrap and a heat gun, and threatened to shoot the victim, shrink wrap him and ship him to California.

That same day, Caleb Laubinger and the other defendants made a series of calls to the victims parents demanding ransom money. The Laubinger brothers then tied the victim up in a shipping container on a vacant lot Beckman owned in Fenton, the plea says.

On Nov. 23, Beckman and Blake Laubinger forced the victim to sign a power of attorney in an attempt to gain title to at least one vehicle he owned, the plea says. The victims father even accompanied Beckman to a car dealer in an unsuccessful attempt to transfer the title, she said. The victims parents ultimately paid $27,000 to Beckman, it says.

The victim was picked up by his father and taken to a hospital. Hospital staff called police.

Some of the money was later recovered by investigators from a safe in Beckmans office, and the victims DNA was found on Beckmans pistol, the plea says. Investigators also found communications about the plot on the conspirators cellphones.

U.S. District Judge Audrey Fleissig repeatedly stopped the proceedings to ask if everything she was reading from the plea agreement was true. Caleb Laubinger repeatedly replied, Yes maam.

Assistant U.S. Attorney John Davis agreed as part of the plea to ask for 20 years when Laubinger is sentenced in January. Laubinger and his attorney, Patrick Kilgore, could ask for less. He could face up to 30 years or life in prison under federal sentencing guidelines.

Kilgore declined to comment after the hearing.

Caleb Laubinger was one of five men indicted last year.

Another co-defendant, Zachary Smith, then 25, pleaded guilty in May to misprision of a felony, or helping conceal a crime. He admitted that he failed to alert authorities after being in the basement and seeing the victim, who appeared to be severely beaten and in obvious distress.

Smith could face roughly 21 to 27 months in prison under federal sentencing guidelines.

The others have pleaded not guilty, but have scheduled hearings on Thursday and Friday where they could change those pleas, according to court filings and lawyers.
UPDATED at 3:15 p.m. with name of victim.

ST. LOUIS  Friends found a 52-year-old man stabbed to death inside his home on Tuesday night, police say.

Paul Butler lived in the 4800 block of Labadie Avenue. He had been stabbed multiple times. He died at the scene.

Acquaintances found Butler inside the home before 9:30 p.m. Tuesday and called police. Police say they don't know when he was stabbed.

Police have no suspects in the homicide case.
KANSAS CITY, Mo.  A Missouri appeals court upheld a ruling that the Missouri Veterans Commission and its executive director, Larry Kay, were guilty of age and sex discrimination against a former ombudsman for the commission.

A panel of the Western District Court of Appeals ruled Tuesday that the commission didn't prove during the original trial in Cole County that the judge improperly handled some evidence in a lawsuit filed by Pat Rowe Kerr.

In July 2016, Kerr was awarded $2.875 million in damages.

The Jefferson City News-Tribune reports Kerr and Kay repeatedly clashed after he became the commission's director in June 2009. She contended age and sex discrimination led to her firing in November 2009.

A spokeswoman for Attorney General Josh Hawley declined to comment on whether the state will file another appeal.
Missourians last November overwhelmingly voted to get big money out of state elections. Not quite a year later, politicians and special interests have responded: Too bad. We like things the way they are.

Big money already is flowing into state legislative races that are still 12 months away. Its just taking a more circuitous path, dumped into political action committees that shuffle money among themselves. The PACs are supposed to have limited coordination with the candidates official campaign committees, but that rule is almost impossible for the understaffed Missouri Ethics Commission to enforce.

Amendment 2 on last Novembers ballot passed with 70 percent of the vote. It limited individual contributions to candidates for state and judicial offices to no more than $2,600 per election. It prohibited corporations and labor unions from making direct contributions to candidates. It prohibited committees from transferring money among themselves, a tactic often used to disguise the source of a candidates support.

Opponents predicted that it wouldnt survive a court challenge. They were right; in May a federal judge threw out most of the law except for the $2,600 individual limits. That simply rerouted money into PACs. Between January and Oct. 15, the last quarterly campaign finance reporting date, some 105 new PACs were created by politicians and special interests thumbing their noses at the voters will.

The thing is now Swiss cheese, chortled Todd Graves after Judge Ortrie Smiths ruling in May. Graves, the brother of U.S. Rep. Sam Graves, R-Tarkio, is Republican state chairman. His law firm represented the plaintiffs in the case.

Money in politics, like water on concrete, always finds a crack. Nonetheless, a union-backed group called Clean Missouri already is circulating petitions to put the issue back before voters in November 2018 as part of a comprehensive ethics reform package.

Until then, the effect of Amendment 2 will be to make the question of whos paying for whose campaign more opaque than ever. Political action committees must disclose their donors names, but they often turn out to be other committees.

A preview of whats to come can be seen in a special election to be held Nov. 7 to fill a vacant state Senate seat in suburban Kansas City. Republican state Rep. Mike Cierpiot of Lees Summit is facing Democrat Hillary Shields and Jacob Turk, a disgruntled Republican running as an independent.

Cierpiot got a six-figure donation from something called the Missouri Alliance for Freedom-Grace River, which got a six-figure check from something called the Liberty Alliance, which got a $350,000 check in August from something called the American Democracy Alliance, which is a 501( c )4 dark money organization that doesnt have to disclose its donors.

This is the sort of thing Missouri voters clearly wanted to end. Looks like theyll need to keep trying.
Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach, the vice chairman and driving force behind President Donald Trumps bogus Commission on Election Integrity, has gone silent. This could be because court documents unsealed last week, after he misled a federal judge, show his real agenda is amending the national Voting Rights Act to suppress votes.

The commission hasnt met since Sept. 12, when it was embarrassed by Kobachs claim that 5,500 people may have committed fraud by registering to vote in New Hampshire without having a state drivers license. It turns out that voting without a state ID is not illegal as long as someone  like a college student  is legally domiciled in the state.

Reputable studies have shown fraud by voter impersonation is all but non-existent. But Kobach appears deeply worried about brown people. Hes the one who inspired the president-elects startling claim last November that Trump would have won the popular vote if you deduct the millions of people who voted illegally.

With the voter integrity commission, Kobach finally had a platform to pursue his real agenda: Bringing Kansas show us your papers voting requirement to the rest of the country.

The Kansas law required proof of citizenship to register to vote. The American Civil Liberties Union challenged it, saying the law violated the federal Voting Rights Act. In October 2016, a federal appeals court agreed, ruling that Kobachs law amounted to a mass denial of a fundamental constitutional right.

Then Trump was elected. In a widely published photograph of Trump and Kobach taken Nov. 20, Kobach was carrying a document titled First 365 days. It included the headline Stop Aliens from Voting.

The ACLU sued to find out if amending the Voting Rights Act was part of the plan. Kobach said the document wasnt relevant. A judge fined him for patently misleading the court and ordered him to submit to a sworn deposition. The ACLU deposition was unsealed last week. Sure enough: Kobach wants show me your papers to be the law of the land.

Meanwhile, he still wants state election officials to run registration data through a program called Crosscheck that throws out registrations for people with the same names and birthdates. Researchers have found that Crosscheck is wrong 99 percent of the time. Indiana, Vice President Mike Pences home state, is being sued for throwing out the registrations anyway.

A lot of people have the same name, and the possibility of some sharing the same birthdate is higher than most people think. Statistically, out of every 23 people born the same year, its 50-50 that two of them will share the same month and day of birth.

For people like Kobach and Trump, math and fact are irrelevant. Its ideology thats important. Americans should hope the Kobach commission stays silent.
Warwickshire Police have defended a large increase in recorded crime in the county, after national statistics revealed it has risen considerably more here than in any other West Midlands force.

The figures, published by the Office of National Statistics, showed that overall recorded crime rose by 24% in Warwickshire from June 2016-June 2017.

It is one of the seven biggest rises of all forces in England and Wales and the rise is ten per cent higher than any other force in the West Midlands.

Superintendent Andrew Nolan, of Warwickshire Police, said: We remain committed to protecting the most vulnerable in our communities and continue to do everything we can to reduce and tackle crime.

Although the latest Warwickshire figures show an increase in reported crime, this firstly reflects the national trend and locally is due to a number of factors including crime recording improvements and increased trust and confidence in reporting by victims.

"We are extremely pleased that our latest figures show that 86 per cent of victims are satisfied by the service they have received from us."

A total of 39,638 offences were recorded by the force over the year with theft the most common, with 17,742 offences.

Weapon possession offences in Warwickshire increased by 68 per cent over the year to 338 offences while general public order offences rose by 61 per cent, with 2,052 offences recorded.

However two types of offences have shown an encouraging fall with non-domestic burglaries down 5 per cent and theft from person offences down eight per cent.

Overall recorded crime across all forces in England and Wales has risen by an average of 14 per cent.

Commenting on the figures Warwickshires Police and Crime Commissioner Philip Seccombe, said: The rise in recorded crime gives an illustration of the pressures policing is currently under, both locally and nationally.

As the ONS notes, some of the rise is caused by changes to police recording practices and it will take a number of years before we can be confident that we have a true baseline against which we can measure the forces performance.

Equally, percentage changes can sometimes be misleading when dealing with smaller numbers and it remains the case that Warwickshire is a low crime area.

There is little doubt, however, that there have also been genuine rises in some categories of crime. Some of this is welcome  such as increased reporting of hate crime  but rises in other types of crime such as burglary and violence offences are more concerning.

Combined with an expanding population, increases in recorded crime mean that officers are dealing with increased workloads against a backdrop of reducing resources.

In the last 12 months I have made significant investments in advanced technology to support frontline policing, which are helping to reduce bureaucracy and free up more officer time to focus on detecting crime and supporting victims.

Warwickshire Police is also continuing with its major programme of modernisation to ensure that it focuses its efforts on tackling the offences which cause significant harm to our communities and to individuals.

In the meantime, I am continuing to argue the case with government that there needs to be increased investment in policing and I will continue to hold the Chief Constable to account to ensure that our policing resources are used to the best possible effect.

Stratford MP Nadhim Zahawi said: I am aware of the ONS figures that show a disproportionate rise in crime in Warwickshire over the last year. This is, of course, concerning.

Whilst it is true that part of this increase is due to continued improvements to recording practices and an increased willingness of victims to come forward and report certain crimes, it is undeniably the case that much of this increase is genuine.

I am regularly briefed by Warwickshire Police on their operations and I have full confidence in Martin Jelley and the entire Warwickshire police force in tackling this.

Jeremy Wright MP, whose constituency covers Wellesbourne and Kineton, added: In a low crime area like Warwickshire, any rise in reported crime is understandably concerning. However it is not always simply the case that more crimes are being committed.

It can mean more crimes that previously were not reported are now being pursued. I am also told that recording practices have recently changed which will affect some figures. Nevertheless, I trust our local Police will learn the lessons from todays figures and improve performance where needed.
What remains of the gazebos destroyed by fire.

MINDLESS vandals have destroyed 25 gazebos costing 10,000 in total when a shipping container belonging to Alcester Town Council was set on fire in the early hours of Monday morning.

The gazebos  which have been described as an asset to the community  were set alight at 2.15am next to the Jubilee Centre on Jubilee Fields.

Alcester Fire Station was alerted by a member of the public and the fire was extinguished but not before the gazebos were completely destroyed in the storage container.

Town Clerk, Vanessa Lowe, said the act was nothing more than mindless vandalism and the gazebos had been regularly booked by community groups and charities like the Royal British Legion and voluntary organisations to help raise money and awareness at festivals and shows in the town.

Police are investigating and anyone with information about the incident should contact the police quoting Incident Number 0021 30/10/2017 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Tillerson, appearing with Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis in front of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, indicated American forces have the right to stay in Iraq under the 2001 and 2002 Authorizations for the Use of Military Force (AUMF), a long-standing justification for military action around the globe, until the fight against ISIS is concluded.



The statement came up in response to a question from Sen. Tom Udall, D-N.M., who asked If U.S. forces are told to leave, will we depart Iraq or will be stay uninvited as our forces are doing in Syria, and under what legal authority will they remain?



Responded Tillerson: We will remain in Iraq until Daesh is defeated and we are confident that ISIS has been defeated.



Defense Secretary Jim Mattis testified before senators Monday that a new force authorization in the war on terror would be welcome, but isn't needed.



When Udall pushed again on what legal authority that would occur, Tillerson responded by citing the 2001 and 2002 AUMFs.



However, the secretary stressed that we are there also at the invitation of the Iraqi government and that [Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi] has given to me no indication he is in any particular hurry to have us depart.



Mieke Eoyang, vice president of the national security program at the Third Way think tank, called the idea of staying in Iraq against the desire of Baghdad insanity.



At that point, the U.S. would be considered an invading force by the Iraqis and would become a target not only of Daesh, but the Iraqi Security Forces, said Eoyang, a longtime Democratic staff member on the Hill.



Thats from a practical perspective. From a legal perspective, theyre on even shakier ground. Daesh didnt exist when they passed the 2001 AUMF and the 2002 AUMF was to enforce U.N. Security Council resolutions. They dont have that here. Tillerson needs to go talk to Mattis and his lawyer before he commits to that position.



Kori Schake, a fellow with the Hoover Institute who worked at both the National Security Council and the Defense Department during the George. W. Bush administration, said it is unfortunate Secretary of State Tillerson gave the impression we would remain in Iraq without Iraqi approval.



But, Schake thinks Tillerson may have inadvertently stumbled into that stance. Tillersons response came as part of a broader question from Udall about the role of Iran-backed militias in Iraq. Last week during a visit to Iraq, Tillerson called for Iran-backed militias to either turn down arms or leave the country.



I honestly think he was trying to clean up his previous awkward suggestion Iraqi Shiia militia go home to Iran, and bungled into another round of making news that will require cleaning up, Schake said.



Asked for clarification on Tillersons remarks, a State Department spokesman said the department doesnt deal in hypotheticals and deferred to the secretarys comments.



Pentagon spokeswoman Dana White said she would associate us with Tillersons comments, adding I wont answer hypotheticals. We are in Iraq to defeat ISIS and as [Tillerson] said we are there by invitation.



A senior Iraqi diplomat, informed of Tillersons comments, told Defense News that The U.S. forces are at the official request of the Iraqi government; the effectiveness of their support and the coalition allies to the Iraqi Security forces is gratefully acknowledged. The Iraqi Government is committed to maintaining the course of cooperation with our allies until the ultimate defeat of ISIS, in such a way that ensures that there is no sequel to this terrorist group.
Some traditions at elk camp are not to be broken. There will be snoring, booze, afternoon naps, dirty dishes, gratuitous belching, and profane utterances that must never be shared outside the sacred wall tent. There may or may not be animals taken, but there will be a party of hunters hitting it hard by day, looking to rest and replenish at night. And there is no prohibition against pumpkin spices. Hunting camp, in fact, is ripe for the spicing.

Until about 14 years ago, pumpkin spices stayed in familiar culinary territory, adding their aromatic flavors to pies, cookies, oatmeal, and the occasional glass of holiday eggnog. It was an open secret among adventurous chefs that the spices could be applied elsewhere, but doing so was rarely the selling point that it is today.

The Pumpkin Spice Latte was introduced by Starbucks Coffee in 2003. Since then more than 200 million PSLs have been sold, and the pumpkin spice umbrella has grown far beyond the green and white curls of the Starbucks muse. The pumpkin spices have become a major food trend, worth $500 million annually, and they appear in processed foods like Godiva truffles and Pringles potato chips, as well as the cookies and Pop Tarts I impulse-purchased en-route to hunting camp. The American Option Insurance Agency offers a Pumpkin Spice Coverage, because, you guessed it, pumpkin spices are good on everything.

We know they spice up the morning oatmeal, but would they work in a big greasy breakfast, or a chunky, savory supper? Would the pumpkin spices mix with whatever drink is within arms reach of ones camp chair? That is what I went to hunting camp to investigate.

As I was preparing to get out of town, I decided to calibrate my pumpkin spice meter on the original elixir. But the Starbucks drive-thru line was 16 cars long, spilling out of the drive-thru lane and around the parking lot and onto the street. I wasnt getting into that, and was afraid if I parked and went inside, my car would get trapped by the ever expanding drive-thru line. I decided to wing it. The clock was ticking and I had to get out of town.

Anyway, Starbucks didnt even invent the pumpkin spice latte, much less pumpkin spices, which have been used together for centuries. A batch of pumpkin spices is typically about half cinnamon, followed by smaller amounts of ginger and nutmeg, and even less ground allspice and clove. But the formula is most customizable. I was in a rush, so I bought some premixed powder at the store. I also bought a rotisserie chicken. Driving home, the smell of pumpkin spices mingled with the smell of baked chicken, and it was very right.

As I packed my stuff, I followed the guidance of an enthusiastic YouTuber Talk Becky Talk, and learned her method of homemade PSL from scratch. Hers, like the Starbucks version, is prepared by mixing coffee with pre-made pumpkin spice syrup. Her spice mix, nutmeg-heavy and clove-free with added black pepper, demonstrates the range within which this mixture can be customized.

Start with a pie pumpkin  or any other squash thats good for baking like acorn, kabocha or blue hubbard, to name a few. Peel it with a sturdy, sharp knife, clean out the seeds and innards, and cut up the meat into one-inch chunks.

Arrange a pound of the pumpkin/squash chunks in a baking pan, and sprinkle with  teaspoon allspice, a heaping teaspoon cinnamon,  teaspoon ground ginger, a pinch of black pepper, and one whole freshly-ground nutmeg. Becky seems to have quite a sweet tooth, and you can follow her as far as you dare. She adds a tablespoon of vanilla extract, three ounces soft brown sugar, and four tablespoons maple syrup. Think sticky caramel. Add  cup water, stir it up really well with a spatula, cover in foil, and bake at 350 for 50 minutesuntil the pumpkin is nice and soft. Allow it to cool to room temperature.

Put the remains in a saucepan and bring to the boil ten minutes, and allow to cool. Add water (I used almond milk) to dilute if its too thick, and blend until it is smooth and silky. Pour into a sealable glass jar.

Becky proceeds to make the best PSL ever. I jumped in my rented pick-up and drove through the night to the best hunting camp ever.

They mocked me when I arrived with my spices. Soon enough it was I who was laughing as they lapped my pumpkin spices in whatever form I served them. Breakfast, lunch and dinner, I put my pumpkin spices where I felt like it, and they loved it. The only (pumpkin spice-related) static at camp happened when some barbarian got mayo in the pumpkin spices syrup jar.

I cooked with the pumpkin spice powder, and used the syrup as a condiment. The syrup made everything taste better to which it was applied, and the boys were particularly interested in the beverages beyond coffee with which it could be mixed. A lot of progress was made.

Cooking with that dry spice powder was at least as rewarding. As soon as the powder hit a greasy pan, a happy smell would permeate the camp, easing the regrets and soothing that whole-body ache that only chasing an elk across miles of rough country can give. At one point, I had this kind of gross remains of a chicken that one of the snowflakes in the tent didnt want to eat. I fried some bacon, and then added the pieces of chicken Id pulled off the carcass, and finally some chopped onions, and two tablespoons of pumpkin spice powder. It slowly cooked down into a something very reminiscent of a mole. A dark, complex, rich, delicious chicken and bacon mole. If only I had saved the pumpkin seeds.

I had other grand ambitions as well, of pumpkin spice pizza, mini-muffins, French toast, and perhaps a meal of handmade pumpkin spice gnocchi with sage butter. But after a hard day stalking the wily wapiti, it was all I could do to pour the appropriate form of pumpkin spices onto the appropriate dish, and enjoy.

Nobody complained about pumpkin spices cooked into the spicy elk chili, or on the refried baked chicken, or the bacon and eggs. Nobody minded the syrup in the Greek yogurt, or mixed with rum. That syrup was basically pumpkin pie in a liquid form. I already knew I could live on pumpkin pie, and this was confirmation. Everything else was just condiments.

Alas, we never did get to try the spices pan fried in unpasteurized butter with elk blood. But someday we will, and I dont expect any complaints. It couldnt not be delicious.
As winter approaches, take heart in the fact that it wont last 80 years.

Thats how long two volcanic winters may have lasted after two separate explosions of the Yellowstone volcano about 630,000 years ago, the same eruptions that formed the Yellowstone caldera, and the last big eruptions of the volcano. The explosions occurred about 170 years apart and helped drop the temperature of ocean waters by about 5.4 degrees.

These conclusions are the result of a detailed examination of sediments collected in Santa Barbara Basin, off the Southern California coast. By drilling into the basins mud, scientists from the University of California Santa Barbara could see the individual layers on an almost decade by decade basis, an amazingly detailed view.

Their research was revealed in a press release from the Geological Society of America last week.

Grabbing headlines

Mention Yellowstone and volcano in the same sentence and news feeds hum, Facebook lights up with frightening posts and some websites hype a foreboding end to life on Earth. Especially in the past few months, Yellowstones supervolcano has garnered several such headlines.

First came a swarm of earthquakes, mostly small, that spawned theories of an impending eruption. Earthquake swarms are common in the area, hitting as many as 3,000 in 1985. The cause is either changing stresses in the vicinity of the 1959 Hebgen Lake earthquake, or it could be water or magma moving around under the surface, according to Mike Poland, a geophysicist with the U.S. Geological Survey and the scientist in charge of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory.

This summers log of earthquakes was high at 2,500, but Poland pointed out that the seismic infrastructure monitoring the Greater Yellowstone Area is also much more sensitive and yet may still be missing some smaller, more localized temblors.

Another story that grabbed attention said that NASA scientists had studied how to inject cool water into Yellowstones magma chamber to depressurize the system and halt an eruption, according to the BBC. The system could use venting steam to power turbines, a double benefit.

Quicker refill

Other recent headline-capturing stories have been based on a scientific study that, taken out of context, was used by some websites to create doomsday scenarios.

Arizona State University graduate student Hannah Shamloo, who analyzed fossilized volcanic ash from Yellowstone, reported that an injection of fresh magma into a system like Yellowstones  enough to cause a supereruption  could happen in decades rather than thousands of years.

Its shocking how little time is required to take a volcanic system from being quiet and sitting there to the edge of an eruption, Shamloo told The New York Times.

That statement was qualified, though, with the footnote that theres more work to do before scientists can verify a precise time scale.

Poland happened to be in the Yellowstone backcountry when that story appeared, requiring his predecessor to field calls on the subject from the national and international media. Although Poland has worked in Hawaii where volcanic eruptions can generate a lot of local interest, he said he was surprised by the intense media focus related to Yellowstone.

Theres a psychology to this I didnt expect, he said, which has me wanting to get more information out to the public, because it seems like the public really eats it up.

Geyser gazers

An example of the continuing public interest Yellowstones plumbing can generate also came in October when University of Utah scientists published a report providing a better picture of the underground workings of Old Faithful geyser and the surrounding geyser basin. By using seismic sensors to capture faint vibrations, the researchers were able to map the hot water reservoir that supplies water to the geyser.

The neat thing about these geyser systems is they are repeat experiences, Poland said. Assuming the plumbing doesnt change, they can deploy in one area, move to another and see the same process to map out the plumbing system.

The scientists estimated that the underground hot water reservoir  which is really a system of cracks and fractures rather than one large pool  has a diameter of about 200 meters, a little larger than the University of Utah's Rice-Eccles Stadium, and can hold approximately 300,000 cubic meters of water, or more than 79 million gallons, according to a university press release.

By comparison, each eruption of Old Faithful releases around 8,000 gallons, leaving a lot in reserve.

"Although it's a rough estimation, we were surprised that it was so large," said doctoral student Sin-Mei Wu, the first author of the research.

Old Faithful got its name because it regularly erupts about every 44 to 125 minutes.

Back to mud

Old Faithfuls eruptions are like seconds on the geological time scale when compared to the data analyzed in the mud of the Santa Barbara Basin. Poland said although the findings are intriguing, hes going to hold off on endorsing the evidence until it can be reconciled with other information found around Yellowstone.

I dont know much about the offshore geology, he said. But even if it is only a couple of hundred years, I think you would see it in the stratigraphy that was mapped in Yellowstone. It could be completely consistent.

U.C. Santa Barbara geologist Jim Kennett, who led the study, said the evidence was so apparent because of the basins unique formation. About 1 millimeter a year of sediment is deposited into the basin, which is fed nutrients from the ocean that include tiny shellfish. The shells preserved in the sediment are a record of oxygen isotopes from which scientists can deduce the sea surface temperature when they were alive.

Oxygen levels on the bottom of the basin are so low that no mud-dwelling marine animals live there, animals that could burrow into the mud and mix up the sediment layers.

"Thus, it is not surprising that Kennett and his group can look in detail at the climate changes following a volcanic eruption," Cathy Whitlock, a Montana State University professor whose Paleoecology Lab has used sediment cores from mountain lakes to track fire and climate history in the West, wrote in an email.

"Their study gives us insight into a period that is generally poorly known," she added. "It was a time of tremendous change in our region, with the eruption of the Yellowstone supervolcano, which was likely a series of closely spaced eruptions."

So cold

Each volcanic winter lasted longer than it should have, according to simple climate models, Kennett said in the news release.

"We see planetary cooling of sufficient magnitude and duration that there had to be other feedbacks involved." The feedbacks might have included increased sunlight-reflecting sea ice and snow cover or a change in ocean circulation that would cool the planet for a longer time.

Such findings didn't surprise Whitlock.

"We saw cooler temperatures around the world as a result of the Mount Pinatubo eruption in the early 90s," she wrote. "This was due to the ejection of particulates and sulfides in the atmosphere. It sounds like this group is seeing a similar but greater cooling impact from the Yellowstone eruptions, which would have been many times larger."

If the research holds up, Poland said volcanologists will have to adjust their models.

The ability to examine an event so long ago based on layers of sediment in a basin in California is fascinating to Poland and just one more example of how continuing technological evolution is painting a broader picture of ancient events, and giving greater insight into the functioning of the Yellowstone caldera and its unique geology, tales of which are always good for a headline.
Bull Mountain coal miners can keep working, but must stockpile their production while a new environmental assessment is finished, a federal judge ruled Tuesday.

The amount of federal coal displaced by such development work shall not exceed 170,000 tons, and any federal coal so displaced must be stockpiled and stored at the mine, and shall be neither sold or shipped, U.S. District Judge Donald Molloy wrote shortly after a hearing in Missoula. In all other regards, the injunction set forth in the courts order of August 14, 2017 remains in full force and effect.

The case pitted Bull Mountain Mine owner Signal Peak Energy and the U.S. Office of Surface Mining against the Montana Environmental Information Center.

Signal Peak Energys attorney told Molloy a delay during the assessment would have forced layoffs of 30 workers at the mine. The Montana Environmental Information Centers attorney countered that the company had brought that problem on itself by rushing the review process and choosing to pay its executives big bonuses instead of carrying its workers through the delay.

Neither side got to address the meat of Molloys original decision, which found that the U.S. Office of Surface Mining failed to adequately consider the environmental effects of shipping coal to Asian customers as well as what burning it for electricity does to climate change and pollution. Molloy did not rule on the issue Tuesday.

MEIC attorney Shiloh Hernandez simply asked that Molloys order stay in place while Signal Peak accounted for both the public health costs of its coal production and the economic costs of its workforce.

Signal Peak attorney John Martin said that showed the plaintiffs just wanted to block the mine expansion by any means. He proposed allowing the company to keep mining but stockpile the coal while the paperwork got completed. That unsold, unmoved coal wouldnt produce any of the harms the plaintiffs claimed, he said.

The Bull Mountain mine uses the long wall process of underground coal removal. On a map, it looks like a sheet of lined writing paper, with each open space representing a long wall of coal. The lines are tunnels known as development mines, dug behind the next wall to put gear in place before full excavation begins. After the miners remove the long walls of coal, the earthen ceiling is collapsed to fill in the gap.

Most of the Bull Mountain coal lies on private land. But federal mineral holdings checkerboard the property. The MEIC lawsuit challenged Signal Peaks ability to dig those federal sections, arguing that the governments environmental assessment hadnt accounted for the public costs of greenhouse gas emissions, climate change, land damage and impacts from coal transport. Judge Molloy agreed, and ordered the company to halt while a new environmental assessment was made.

While the new review should be done in six or seven months, Signal Peak Chief Executive Officer Bradley Hanson testified the excavation work cant take a break or change its sequence of activity. Even though most of the next two long walls sit on private ground, their development mine tunnels have to pass through one of the federal sections to put the infrastructure in place.

Ive got 30 workers developing mines into the federal land, and then they stopped, Hanson said. They finished nine days ago. Depending on how we do here today, those jobs are eliminated.

Hanson got emotional describing the qualities of the 30 miners, who he said contributed greatly to the mines winning an unprecedented three consecutive safety awards while meeting equally tough production requirements.

In 40 years in this business, Ive never been around a better group, Hanson said. These are the best miners Ive ever worked with. Six of them are going to Washington, D.C., to pick up those safety awards. This should be a time to celebrate.

MEIC attorney Hernandez asked Hanson why Signal Peaks corporate owners were willing to pay $11 million in executive bonuses and put millions more in trust for Musselshell Countys post-mine future, but it wasnt willing to carry the 30 miners salaries for the few months of delay while the new environmental assessment was worked out.

Its not possible to have the shareholders and executives pay those costs? Hernandez asked.

I know Im paid to run the best mine that I can and try to keep it in the black when it is very difficult in the last few years because the price of coal is very low, Hanson replied. He added the company had recently laid off other miners because of low international coal prices. The mine currently has about 260 employees.

Molloy reminded both sides his quandary wasnt the mines impact on climate change or the miners future employment, but whether the governments inadequate environmental analysis of the mine expansion justified stopping work at Bull Mountain while the problem was fixed.

The question is the scope of the injunction, Molloy said. Its not whether the corporate management isnt getting paid way more, probably for less value, than those guys busting their butts in that mine. Thats the editorial opinion.
Early indications highlight speed, fatigue and a lack of control as playing a role in a series of crashes around Tauranga yesterday.

Western Bay of Plenty road policing manager Senior Sergeant Ian Campion says a total of four crashes occurred on Tauranga roads in a 12 hour period.

At 9.34am a single car crash occurred on Waihi Road and there were no injuries.

A driver lost control in this accident, struck the kerb. That vehicle was towed away.

Following this, was another crash just after 12pm on State Highway 36 near Joyce Road.

Two vehicles collided and early indications are that fatigue played a part in the collision with one vehicle crossing the centre line, says Ian.

One driver was taken to Tauranga Hospital with what is described as moderate injuries.

He says a further two minor crashes were also reported to police.

At 10.34am an extremely minor collision occurred at the intersection of Hewletts Rd and Maru St, no injuries were sustained and there were no blockages.

Another collision also occurred around 5pm at Farm Street, where an elderly driver crashed into a parked school van that was unoccupied.
New Zealands top carpentry apprentices are getting ready to battle it out for the title of Registered Master Builders CARTERS 2017 Apprentice of the Year, this Friday.

Tauranga builder Matthew Abbott is one of 10 finalists who will battle it out in an action-packed six-hour practical challenge being hosted at The ASB Showgrounds in Auckland.

After winning their respective regional competitions the 10 apprentices will compete for the top prize at the national competition, which takes place this Thursday and Friday

Other finalists also include Seddon-based Olivia Ward who took out the Upper South Island Apprentice of the Year to become the first female apprentice since 2013 to compete in the national final.

To win the national competition, the industrys future leaders must impress the judging panel over a two-day event. This includes undergoing a 45-minute interview and a six-hour practical challenge. The practical challenge is open to the public from 8am till 1pm.

This year the competition is taking place alongside the Auckland Build Expo, which brings together industry professionals and leaders from across the construction sector.

Registered Master Builders chief executive David Kelly says Apprentice of the Year not only promotes the fantastic career opportunities in the industry for apprentices, but also encourages more employers to take them on.

The rate of carpentry apprentices in training is increasing at a much greater rate than the number of employers taking them on. Between June 2016 and June 2017, the number of apprentices increased by 1007, yet the number of employers training them only increased by 421.

With the growth in apprentice numbers comes the need for more employers to provide them with the opportunities they need to succeed and make their mark on the industry.

Apprentice of the Year showcases the skills and abilities of our apprentices who will go on to become the industrys future leaders. It also celebrates the employers who invest in them to future-proof their businesses and the construction pipeline, says David.

The winner of the Registered Master Builders CARTERS 2017 Apprentice of the Year will be announced at an awards dinner after the practical challenge has been completed on Friday evening.

The national winner will receive prizes including the use of a Ford Ranger Ute for a year, a $5000 grant courtesy of CARTERS and a range of quality tools as well as an iPad, courtesy of MBIE.

All ten finalists will also attend a specially designed Outward Bound course and the Registered Master Builders House of the Year National Gala on 25 November.

We wish all the finalists good luck as they embark on the beginning of a fantastic career in the industry as Master Builders, says David.

Apprentices, employers and young people aspiring to be a part of the construction industry are encouraged to join the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/registeredmasterbuilders

For more information, visit www.apprenticeoftheyear.co.nz
An estimated 46 kilograms of cocaine, with a street value of around NZ$20 million ($450 per gram), has been seized from an address in Tauranga early this morning.

Four foreign nationals have also been arrested as part of a five-month Customs and Police investigation.

Customs commenced the operation after an investigation into smaller methamphetamine seizures, resulting in several arrests, identified persons of interest believed to be involved in smuggling and distributing Class A drugs and money laundering.

Customs joined forces with Police to build intelligence and carry out investigative work, establishing that a cocaine shipment would be offloaded from a commercial ship near Tauranga.

The ship arrived from Chile late on Tuesday 31 October, and the syndicate approached the vessel under the cover of darkness, retrieving the cocaine from a hidden compartment on the exterior of the hull.

Search warrants executed in Tauranga, Mt Manganui and residential addresses in Auckland early this morning culminated in arrests.

Two Australian men and a Croatian aged in their mid-forties, and one Serbian national in his mid-thirties, are scheduled to appear in the Tauranga District Court this afternoon, November 1, on charges relating to importing the cocaine and possessing the drug for supply.

A further 5kg of cocaine and a kilogram of methamphetamine was located in an Onehunga address along with a large amount of cash. Inquiries have linked this to an alleged previous importation which included a further 30 kg of cocaine. As a result the two Australian and the Croatian nationals will face additional charges relating to this.

Customs Group Manager Intelligence, Investigations & Enforcement Jamie Bamford says this investigation reaffirms the value of intelligence and partnerships in piecing together information to dismantle a criminal enterprise.

New Zealand is being targeted by international crime syndicates as a market for cocaine.

"Our intelligence suggests an increase in demand and use, and this goes hand-in-hand with the increase in seizures were making at the border.

Customs focuses on the maritime border, and our regional ports.

"This outcome couldnt have been achieved without our partnership with Police and the determination and skill of our officers.

Police Assistant Commissioner: Investigations, Richard Chambers, says todays seizure is hugely significant.

These arrests have dismantled a trans-national crime syndicate attempting to profit from a drug that would have caused a great deal of harm within our communities, he says.

Assistant Commissioner Chambers says that this is the largest single seizure of cocaine in New Zealand, and that the shipment was destined for New Zealand.

During the course of the inquiry evidence has also been uncovered of a sophisticated money laundering operation sending hundreds of thousands of dollars out of New Zealand through international criminal money remitters. Inquiries continue and I am confident that further arrests will be made as evidence is uncovered, assessed and actioned.

This operation is another good example of the close working relationship we have with Customs, our international law enforcement partners, and the whole-of-Government approach to combating drug-related harm in our communities.
Rotorua Boys High School and Rotorua Girls High School will be the first schools in the country to add the NCEA-accredited Police Studies subject to their curriculum.

In collaboration with New Zealand Police and Unitec, the course will be delivered to Year 13 students in 2018, preparing the students to apply for entry to the Royal New Zealand Police College on completion.

This will provide a significant career pathway that previously have been closed to schools, says Rotorua Boys High School Principal Chris Grinter.

These students will end up with a wonderful qualification and on the pathway to being a police officer within a few months of leaving school.

The NCEA Level 3 and NCEA Level 4 course will cover the context of policing in New Zealand, relevant legislation, policies, strategies, procedures and ethics.

It will also teach the theory and practice involved in policing.

"We are really excited about the opportunity to participate with our brother school in this ground-breaking partnership with the New Zealand Police," says Rotorua Girls High School Principal Ally Gibbons.

"It also builds positively on our last three years of involvement in the CACTUS (Combined Adolescent Challenge Training Unit Support) programme, a community-based programme with the police that has assisted our young women in their personal development.

It has blossomed into a highly successful programme at RGHS, delivering positive change to our young women and many participants have assumed leadership positions in the school which aligns with our school motto Crafting Future Leaders.

Students will be able to gain 29 NCEA Level 3 credits plus the Unitec Level 4 certificate in Introduction to Police Studies Aotearoa New Zealand.

Both schools have worked on the curriculum with police, with students providing key input.

The course will be a full-year paper, incorporating the content of the 12-week course required by all RNZPC entrants  meaning they will not have to complete this separately as part of their Police College application.

While it will help students prepare to apply for RNZPC, completion of the NCEA course does not guarantee students a place.

They will still need to meet the other entrance requirements.

Rotorua Police area commander Inspector Anaru Pewhairangi says being able to engage local police hopefuls at school level is great news for the area and for police.

Our aim at NZ Police is to be reflective of the communities we serve, says Anaru.

This is a chance to strategically target youth, Maori, and women to join the New Zealand Police.

This course will give us a chance to work directly with these young people and help them understand what we are trying to achieve, and help promote trust and confidence in the police.

Police have a goal of increasing Maori recruitment, and Rotorua Boys and Girls High School have high numbers of Maori students.
Customs and police were happy to talk about some of the details of New Zealand largest ever cocaine bust in Tauranga today, but not all questions were answered at the police and customs press conference this afternoon.

The 46kg of cocaine with an estimated value of $20 million was hidden in what is believed to be the sea chest near the rudder of the Maersk Antares, a container ship at the port of Tauranga.

The cocaine was picked up earlier today, says Customs intelligence, investigations & enforcement manager Jamie Bamford.

The hiding place is believed to be in or near the sea chest, the intake reservoir from which piping systems draw raw water. Most sea chests are protected by removable gratings, and contain baffle plates to dampen the effects of vessel speed or sea state. On a ship the size of the Maersk Antares, it can be several square metres in area.

When asked if they were arrested upon returning their boat to the ramp, police assistant commissioner investigations Richard Chambers would not confirm  except to say the four men (two Australians, a Croatian and a Serbian) were caught red-handed.

He would not say if the accused smugglers brought their own boat.

We cant got into that sort of details.

Obviously the matter is before the court, but criminals of this type will find a number of ways to facilitate their business. That forms part of our investigation and in due course further facts will come out.

The four arrested men face serious charges and will be out of circulation for a long time, says Richard.

Importing a class A drug carries a maximum life sentence.

The four men are part of what police and customs are calling a trans-national syndicate. None of them are South American.

They are in New Zealand as visitors and were living in Auckland  where search warrants executed today discovered another 5kg of cocaine a kilogram of methamphetamine and a significant amount of cash.

The Maersk lines direct connections from South American ports to New Zealand has been operating for a year, but both men were reluctant to confirm if there have been previous shipments.

The ship itself has come from Columbia. Peru and Chile, says Jamie. We know that is a route exploited by some significant cartels that operate in the Americas.

New Zealand Customs and police have, with other international agencies, been monitoring trends in drug cartels that smuggle narcotics across the world.

We take particular interest in networks and understanding networks, says Jamie.

Last year customs seized 35kg of cocaine.

We pay one of the highest prices, so we are an attractive market. Its all about greed, says Jamie. Those syndicates and cartels making money off peoples misery feel they can come to New Zealand - and as Richard said we will try and stop that from occurring.

No weapons have been found. Richard says the arrests were carried out with the assistance of police officers from Auckland and Tauranga, along with Customs and intelligence staff.

When asked if the police armed offenders squad took part, he says we always take the necessary safety measures to protect not only police and customs staff but also members of the community.

This is a high risk business, so we are not about to make any compromise on safety.

Ongoing investigations will be taking place into how the cocaine was going to be distributed around New Zealand and who might be involved in that.
I know, I know! Thanksgivings weeks away, so why this recipe for Chocolate Pecan Pie now? Short answer: Because its my Lets Bake! column for November. And because the recipe comes from Maida Heatter, the best dessert recipe cookbook author there is.

I got to know Maida through her first cookbook, Maida Heatters Book of Great Desserts, which came out in 1974. I was so taken by her writing style and selection of recipes that I couldnt decide which recipes to try. So I made them all. Thats 276 recipes over a period of 18 months. Too bad there was no internet then or I would have blogged about them all.

While I was happily baking and eating my way through her book, Maida and I became pen pals. And a few years later, when she and her husband, Ralph, stopped in Missoula on their way to Alaska by car, my wife, Dorothy, and I invited them over for dinner. Our two sons werent in their teens yet, but they knew Maida well, having sampled every one of the recipes from her first cookbook.

By the time of Maida and Ralphs visit, her third dessert book, all about chocolate, had been published. A pecan pie recipe in that book is the subject of todays Lets Bake! column.

Let me just say that this is a special pie. And its really a collaboration between Maida and me. The crust recipe is mine, but the filling is Maidas.

Because I get so many questions about pie crust, I decided to make the crust part of this column a primer on pie dough. I like a combination of butter and vegetable shortening or lard in pie crusts, half of each. The shortening that has worked very well for me is mechanically (expeller) pressed organic palm fruit oil. Its non-hydrogenated and firm at room temperature. I chill it when making pie dough so that it comes close to the texture of cold butter. You can substitute coconut oil (solid at room temperature) for the palm oil if you wish.

Have fun with this pie. In fact, have fun with all your baking!

Chocolate Pecan Pie

I have adapted this recipe from Maida Heatters Book of Great Chocolate Desserts, Knopf, 1980. In her headnote she says that this is one of the best of all pies. Dark rum is in the filling, but if you dont want to use it, just leave it out. Instead, increase the vanilla to 1 tablespoon.

Pastry

Ingredients:

1 cups (7 ounces) all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons sugar

 teaspoon salt

2 ounces (4 tablespoons) palm oil vegetable shortening, chilled

4 ounces (1 stick) cold unsalted butter

4 tablespoons ice water

Chocolate Pecan Filling

2 cups (7 ounces) pecan halves

4 tablespoons ( stick) unsalted or salted butter

2 ounces unsweetened chocolate, coarsely chopped

4 large eggs

1 cup granulated sugar

1 cups dark corn syrup

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

2 tablespoons dark rum, optional

1. To make the pastry, if not weighing, measure the flour by dipping dry measures into the flour, filling to overflowing, and sweeping off the excess with a straight edge. Put the flour, sugar, and salt into the work bowl of a food processor and process 5 seconds to mix. Cut the cold vegetable shortening and butter into tablespoon-size pieces and add to the work bowl. Pulse 4 times for 1 second each.

2. Then begin pulsing very rapidly for a fraction of a second each time while you dribble in the ice water through the feed tube. After 20 to 30 or a few more pulses youll see the dough forming several large lumps. Stop pulsing at this point. If the dough seems at all dry, add a teaspoon more of ice water and pulse quickly twice. Dump the dough lumps onto a lightly floured work surface, press the lumps of dough together and shape it into a 5-inch disk about 1-inch thick.

3. And thats all there is to it. Wrap the pastry securely in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour. The dough may be made a day ahead and refrigerated.

4. On a lightly floured surface ( I use a pastry canvas), roll the chilled dough into a 14-inch circle. The dough will be about -inch-thick, ideal for a pastry shell. If the dough feels too firm to roll, let it stand about 10 minutes to soften a bit. Check frequently as you roll to make sure the dough is not sticking. Flour lightly as necessary. Roll from the center of the dough outward, and rotate the dough frequently to maintain a round shape. Roll the dough onto your rolling pin and unroll the dough onto your pie plate letting the dough drape over the edges of the pan. Lift an edge of dough and nudge the pastry into the pan. Continue going all the way around the pan. Its important not to stretch the dough or it may bake unevenly.

5. Once the pan is lined with the dough, trim off excess dough with kitchen shears leaving an overhang of about  inch of dough. Fold this overhanging dough under itself onto the dough on the rim of the pie pan to form a high standing rim. Press firmly on this double layer of dough going all the way around the pan. To crimp the dough, press an index finger against the inside of the dough rim and pinch the dough on either side of the finger to make a V. Repeat, making a pattern of Vs all around the top of the crust. With a fork, prick the bottom all over at 1-inch intervals. Refrigerate for 45 minutes, then freeze the pie shell for 15 minutes or until frozen solid. Freezing helps prevent shrinking.

6. For this pecan pie, you prebake the shell so that the bottom will remain crisp once the filled pie is baked and cooled. While the crust is in the freezer, adjust an oven rack to the lower middle position and preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Line the chilled pie shell with a square of aluminum foil, pressing the foil evenly onto the sides and leaving the edges of the foil pointing upward. Pour in enough dried beans to fill the shell by about three-fourths; a 2-pound bag should do it. Put the shell in the preheated oven and bake 15 minutes, or until the edge of the pastry is a light golden brown color. Remove the pie shell from the oven, reduce the heat to 400 degrees, and carefully lift off the foil and beans. Return the shell to the oven to bake for another 10 minutes or so until the edges are a rich golden brown and the bottom is a shade lighter in color. Check often to see If the dough puffs up anywhere at all; if it does, prick it gently with a skewer. Cool the baked pie shell completely. Reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees. When cooled, store the beans in a zip-top bag. They may be reused over and over.

Filling:

1. Arrange the pecans on a baking sheet in a single layer and place in the oven. Bake 8 to 10 minutes, until the nuts are fragrant and lightly toasted. Set aside to cool.

2. In a small heavy saucepan (1-quart) melt the butter over low heat. Add the chocolate and cook, stirring occasionally, until the chocolate is completely melted. Remove from the heat and cool slightly.

3. In a large bowl, whisk the eggs just to blend the yolks and whites thoroughly. Beat in the sugar and syrup just to mix. Add the vanilla, rum (if using), and the butter/chocolate, and whisk thoroughly. Stir in the pecans with a rubber spatula.

4. Put the partially baked pie crust on a baking sheet and carefully pour in the filling. Do this slowly. Watch the edges of the crust as you pour. If it isnt high enough or has a low spot, you may not be able to use all the filling.

5.Bake for 40 to 50 minutes. When done, the center of the pie should jiggle just a bit when you pull out the oven rack. If the pie filling is very jiggly, bake a few minutes more. The filling will set and firm up as the pie cools. Another way to make sure the pie is done is to look for a few small cracks on the top of the pie. An underdone pie will not have these cracks.

6. Cool the pie to room temperature. Then refrigerate. This pie is really at its best served cold. Maida says whipped cream is traditional with pecan pie. Offer it or not. Its up to you. Serve small portions. This pie is very rich!

Makes 10 servings.
In 2010, Benetti upped their game with Mine Games; offering her owner the perfect platform to explore the American coast, the Caribbean and beyond. With a large beam of 10.40-metres, the space on board is ample for 12 guests looking to spend longer periods cruising, as well as beautifully laid out cabins and facilities for total comfort.

On deck, Mine Games brings relaxation to the voyage with elegantly styled awnings hanging over intimate outdoor dining areas, a luxurious Jacuzzi to soak in the sun and ample seating and space for a late night soiree.

Inside, an elevator services all decks to take guests on board seamlessly from beach club, to open-air gym and sun deck and dining area to saloon. Mine Games offers a chance for those on board to truly enjoy any situation, whether gathering friends for a voyage across the coast, or escaping in a stripped-back style with the family.

Gilded in gold, the Studio Massari interiors are delicate, sophisticated and ultimately comfortable; imbuing Mine Games with a sense of bygone style from the office, to the giant Master Cabin and piano bar-come-saloon.

Denison is bringing a huge fleet to the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, including Excellence, Far From It, Cheers 46, Silver Oak Cellars and more on the Las Olas Bend across a 40-strong Denison yacht fleet.
A Smyth County man vying for the 6th Districts seat in the Virginia House of Delegates came under fire after his status on the Virginia Sex Offender Registry came to light late last month.

Kenneth D. Browning (I) was one of more than 156,000 felons to have his voting rights restored at the beginning of the year under Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffes 2016 clemency order. That order restored to felons the right to vote, the ability to serve on a jury and the right to hold public office.

Brownings campaign flew under the radar until a public forum held at the Lincoln Theater gave local candidates the opportunity to address voters in mid-October.

Once news of Brownings candidacy began to circulate, residents began to point out his criminal history.

According to a criminal complaint, in 2008 Browning admitted that he contacted then 15-year-old Lucas Firestone and asked him to have sex with him. Although Firestone told Browning he was underage, Browning persisted in trying to get Firestone to either meet with him or allow him to sneak into his bedroom, the complaint stated.

The court document indicated that Browning then followed Firestone and his sister when they left the home, flashing his headlights and sounding his horn in an attempt to pull them over.

Browning pleaded guilty to using a computer to facilitate sex with a minor in late November that year and completed the terms of his probation in 2013.

I was blown away when I found out he was running, said Firestone, who agreed to speak publicly. I feel very uncomfortable with his rights being restored and representing the [district].

Firestone voiced concern that, if elected, Brownings duties may more frequently bring him in contact with children.

Restoring his rights and having new types of access to the public is a scary thought when it comes to our children, he said.

But Sex Offender Registry Compliance Officer Shane Underwood said that nonviolent offenders like Browning are not restricted in their ability to access certain public areas, so there would be no change in this regard for Browning.

Browning, who denied that the events played out the way the criminal complaint indicated, said he believes voters should consider what he can do for the community and not his criminal record when going to the polls.

I knew my past would come up, but Im trying to help the people in the 6th District, he said. The past needs to be left in the past; lets concentrate on the future. They should vote for the man who gets the job done. I want to be the man that hears the peoples voice.

Virginia's 6th District encompasses part of Smyth and all of Wythe and Carroll counties.

Browning said he plans to take steps to have his record expunged, but Commonwealths Attorney Roy Evans said one would generally have to have been acquitted of his charges or have the charges dropped before an expungement can take place.

While he said hes aware his past convictions could play a role into voters decisions, hes relieved to have been able to address the issue.

I got it out there in the open. If they want to vote for me, they can vote for me. If not, thats fine.

Browning isnt the only ex-felon contending for a seat in the House this year.

In Fauquier County, Libertarian candidate Nathan Larson is on the ballot after spending 16 months in federal prison for threatening to kill former president Barack Obama. The Fauquier Times reported that Larson also had his rights restored under McAuliffes executive order.

Voters will go to the polls Nov. 7. A list of Smyth County poll locations can be found at www.smythcounty.org.

Jasmine Dent Franks can be reached at jfranks@wythenews.com.
ABINGDON, Va.  Washington County, Virginia, has chosen C-Trans Ambulance Service to provide 911 Advanced Life Support and Basic Life Support to the Glade Spring service area.

The company was selected Friday after county officials heard public bids from three service providers. It immediately took control of emergency services.

C-Trans Ambulance Service was the lowest bidder. It will pay Washington County $100 per month as a contribution for utilizing the Washington County Central Dispatch.

The service area required a new provider because the Washington County Board of Supervisors revoked the Primary Service Area from Glade Spring Volunteer Life Saving crew at a meeting on Tuesday. County officials cited a lack of provision of Advanced Life Support coverage over an extended period of time and no clear prospect for improving ALS delivery as reason for the revocation.

Washington County Supervisor Eddie Copenhaven said Advanced Life Support is a vital part of the emergency response process.

ALS is important because if you break a leg, ALS gets there, they can give you a shot to control your pain, Copenhaver said. [Basic Life Support] cant.

Two other companies  Mercy Ambulance Service, Inc. and Richardson Ambulance Service  also submitted bids. Richardsons submitted cost was zero dollars per month, and Mercy bid $86,001 per month. Mercys bid was not considered because it did not provide its county permit, according to Jason Berry, Washington County administrator.

C-Trans Ambulance Service, which includes Abingdon Ambulance Service, serves Washington, Russell, Smyth, Scott and Tazewell counties.

Berry said the countys requirements for the winning bid included a stated monthly price, a stipulation that the company house an ambulance in the district if the provider is not located in Washington County and 24/7 emergency services.

In a news release earlier this week, county officials said that since Jan. 1, the Glade Spring Volunteer Life Saving Crew had been available as ALS only 4.6 percent of the time. Over the past six months, neighboring EMS agencies have had to assist the Glade Spring crew with 111 calls, which meant those agencies left their primary response areas.

A criminal investigation is underway in connection with the Glade Spring Volunteer Life Saving Crew, the Washington County Virginia Sheriffs Office confirmed on Wednesday. Maj. Byron Ashbrook said the Sheriffs Office is looking into two misdemeanor thefts from the Glade Spring Volunteer Life Saving Crew.
Appalachian School of Law graduates taking the Virginia Bar Exam for the first time performed better than the state average for first time test takers, ASL Dean Sandy McGlothlin confirmed Monday.

She noted the Virginia Bar Exam results released Friday follow the results also learned recently related to the North Carolina, Georgia and Maine Bar Exam pass rate for ASL students. One hundred percent of the ASL graduates taking the test for the first time in North Carolina, Georgia and Maine also passed it, giving ASL a 100 percent pass rate in each of those states.

The Virginia Board of Bar Examiners released the results of the July 2017 Virginia Bar Exam on October 27. ASL had a first time test taker pass rate of 76.92 percent, higher than the statewide average of 76.43.

We are so proud of our students and the results they achieved, McGlothlin said. The hard work they put in to earning their Juris Doctor degrees; the hours of additional study they put in to preparing for the Bar Exam; and their own individual commitment to pursuing and achieving their dreams of becoming attorneys has paid off.

It is no small feat to pass the Bar Exam and we congratulate them for their efforts and their achievements, McGlothlin added.

The news of the Bar Exam pass rates adds to the positive news ongoing at ASL. An uptick in enrollment numbers was celebrated in August as 69 first year students arrived on campus to begin classes. The first year class includes new students, students who started law school this past January and transfer students and represents a more than 80 percent increase in the number of first year students compared to fall 2016.

Nineteen states are represented in this years entering class. First year students this year hail from Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia.

Since ASL graduated its charter class in 2000, more than 1,400 students have earned their degrees of Juris Doctor from the Appalachian School of Law.
Dustin Hoffman has apologized after being accused of groping and sexually harassing a teenager on the set of a TV film in 1985.

Actress Anna Graham Hunter wrote a column for The Hollywood Reporter describing how Hoffman asked for a foot massage, grabbed her butt, and repeatedly made sexual comments to her when she was a production assistant on the set of "Death of a Salesman." Hoffman was 49 at the time, and Hunter was 17.

"One morning I went to his dressing room to take his breakfast order; he looked at me and grinned, taking his time. Then he said, 'I'll have a hard-boiled egg ... and a soft-boiled clitoris,'" Hunter wrote. "His entourage burst out laughing. I left, speechless. Then I went to the bathroom and cried."

Hunter said she didn't speak out publicly about the alleged encounters, but had copies of letters written to her sister in London about her time on set. She wrote that she tried to speak to Hoffman's assistant Frankie "about why Dustin is like that," but Hoffman allegedly interrupted them and asked if she was "badmouthing me."

Hunter added that she was conflicted, because she enjoyed being on set with Charles Durning, John Malkovich and playwright Arthur Miller, but also because she didn't think anyone would take her claims seriously.

"And yes, I loved the attention from Dustin Hoffman. Until I didn't," she wrote.

Guest column: Dustin Hoffman sexually harassed me when I was 17 https://t.co/xE3Djlplsa pic.twitter.com/jhPfKUAALo  Hollywood Reporter (@THR) November 1, 2017

Hoffman apologized in a statement to THR.

"I have the utmost respect for women and feel terrible that anything I might have done could have put her in an uncomfortable situation. I am sorry. It is not reflective of who I am," the now 80-year-old actor said.

Her allegations come after other women have shared their own allegations against film producer Harvey Weinstein and director James Toback. Law enforcement agencies in New York and California say they've launched investigations against both Hollywood titans.

Oscar winner Kevin Spacey, actor-comedian Andy Dick, former "Entourage" star Jeremy Piven, and producer-director Brett Ratner have also been recently accused of sexual misconduct.

"At 49, I understand what Dustin Hoffman did as it fits into the larger pattern of what women experience in Hollywood and everywhere," Hunter wrote. "He was a predator, I was a child, and this was sexual harassment. As to how it fits into my own pattern, I imagine I'll be figuring that out for years to come."
MANLIUS, N.Y. -- Police were called to an Onondaga County high school Tuesday after being made aware of a possible threat.

This is the second threat investigation the East Syracuse Minoa School District high school has seen this month, and the fourth for the district overall this year, according to Syracuse.com | The Post-Standard archives.

The Manlius Police Department responded to the Central High School at 6400 Fremont Rd. around 2 p.m. Tuesday after being made aware of "a threat of violence directed toward the East Syracuse Minoa High School," the department stated.

The department did not give further details on the nature of the threat, but said there is currently no information suggesting it was credible or that anyone was in danger. School dismissed at its normal time and after-school programs continued as scheduled, the department stated.

The investigation remains open. Officers could not be immediately reached for comment.

This is the second threat of violence Manlius police have investigated at the high school this month, and the fourth incident of 2017 for the district.

High school students, faculty and staff were ordered to shelter in place on Oct. 13 after a note threatening a school shooting was found in a girls' bathroom, according to the district. That threat was also deemed non-credible, according to police.

On Oct. 18, an ESM middle-school student was arrested and charged with a felony for falsely saying there were explosives at Pine Grove Middle School. The case is being handled in family court.

Another ESM student was charged in February for making a terroristic threat after threatening harm against other students via social media, the Manlius Police Department stated. Though the threat was deemed non-credible, the student was charged for the felony crime and the case is being handled in family court.

School district officials could not be immediately reached Tuesday evening for comment.

Anyone with information on the incidents can call the Manlius Police Department tip line at (315) 682-8673 or email tips@manliuspolice.org.
Syracuse, NY -- Retired state Supreme Court Justice John Brunetti did have an interesting story to tell about the O.J. Simpson trial, after all.

In teasing Syracuse.com readers for his live Q&A session Wednesday, the judge repeatedly noted that he wasn't allowed to talk about O.J. or other cases while he was still judge.

That prohibition ended at 11:59 p.m. Monday with his retirement after more than two decades on the bench.

Question: So what do you want to tell us about the O.J. case?

Brunetti: First, I knew 2 of the witnesses. Herbert MacDonnell was a blood spatter expert who "wrote the book" on flight characteristics of human blood. He was from Corning. I called him as an expert witness in People vs. Schleicher in front of Judge Burke (when I was a defense lawyer) in the mid-80s. The second witness was Rich Rubin, the vice president of the company that manufactured the gloves. His house was about 7 down from me and we rode the school bus together.

Brunetti also delved into more serious topics in answering 19 questions from readers at the noontime hour.

Question: I'd like to know if judges ever tour correctional facilities? Do they know what they are condemning people to?

Brunetti: Absolutely! It is required by Court Rule 17.1 that every superior court judge [that's county and supreme] visit the following types of facilities every 4 years.

State Prison like Auburn

County Prison like Jamesville

County Detention Center like the Justice Center

Secure Juvenile Facility like those in Johnstown, McCormack and Lansing

Secure Juvenile Detention Facility like Hillbrook.

Question: Is there one person or one case that you remember the most? Not necessarily the most famous, but the one that you will never forget. Maybe it is someone who did wrong and then straightened themselves around or something else.

Brunetti: The ones where I set aside the guilty verdict. (I'll talk about those cases in the next question.)

Question: Do you regret any decisions and why?

Brunetti: "Regret" would be the wrong word because it is defined as "feeling sorry for some fault, act or omission." A judge's career on the bench is a constant learning experience, not only about the law, but every aspect of the job such as temperament and case management. Judges are in a perpetual cycle of self-evaluation. There were times over the years when I had wished I had done things differently, but no regrets with respect to something as important as a verdict or sentencing or decision on a motion. For example, during 22 + years I set aside verdicts in four cases (in one of them twice) so there were a total of five rulings. The People did not appeal two of them. The People did appeal three of them. In all three of those cases the People were successful on the appeal, and the convictions were reinstated. By no means do I regret having made those rulings that were reversed.

Question: Why do sex offenders get such little time in jail? For example a man is going to get only 2 years for sexually assaulting a toddler that was 3 years old!

Brunetti: In all cases, including sex cases, the prosecutor considers the strength of the evidence, the views of the victim/victim's parent a and the certainty of conviction without any appeals. The judge will often approve the prosecutor's recommendation. The reaction of the reader of a story about a sentence is often based on the false assumption that the accused would definitely have been convicted by a jury.

And some broad criminal justice topics:

Question: Why are people charged for murder in NYS always sentenced to 25 years to life?

Given certain situations, I'm sure most people would agree that murderers should be sentenced to life imprisonment.

Why is 2nd degree murder used more often than 1st degree when persons are charged for murder?

Brunetti: The maximum penalty for murder second-degree is 25-life. The minimum is 15-life. Murder first degree allows life without parole. Take the 19-year-old who is the getaway driver in a convenience store robbery where the clerk is the killed by his co-conspirator. A sentence of life without parole might seem harsh. Murder first degree has extra proof requirements, so it is used less frequently.

Question: Are there better remedies than incarceration? What does it do well and not do well?

Brunetti: What "does well" in terms of punishment depends on the goal of punishment. We have five statutory goals of punishment in the penal law: appropriate public response, general deterrence, specific deterrents, rehabilitation/re-entry and where necessary, incapacitation.

Question: What are your thoughts on the sex offense registries, both the NY and the National Registry. Do you truly believe that these registries actually prevent these particular crimes? Do you think these registries would be used as simply a law enforcement tool, without the public notification component?

Brunetti: 1. The obligation to register imposed by New York's Sex Offender Registration Act [SORA] is not a punishment as defined by law. It is a consequence of a regulation that affects a person. In fact, appeals of sex offender determinations are classified as civil rather than criminal.

2. The registries have been held by appellate courts to be "remedial" and intended to prevent crime as well as alert the public. SORA is only one component of "prevention" or what we lawyers call "deterrence". The others include the DNA requirement, lengthy mandatory state prison sentences for a second felony sex crime conviction and sex offender treatment.

3. There are cases where the strict application of SORA may appear too broad. Take a 19 year old who has consensual sex with a 16 year old and is convicted of sexual misconduct. He must register as a sex offender. He will likely be a level 1 out of 3, but he must still register for 20 years. But if rated a level 2, for is entire life unless his may petition to get off the registry after 30 years is granted.

Question: Where does NYS and Onondaga County obtain the authority to restrict the peoples right to keep and bear arms without government permission knowing that the 2nd Amendment, the 14th Amendment Section 1, Heller Case, McDonald Case and Marbury v Madison clearly limit the governments authority to do so?

Brunetti: From the U.S. Court of Appeals in New York City, which ruled, in the wake of Heller and McDonald, New York's pistol license law Constitutional.

Question: I wanted to know Judge Brunetti's opinion on double jeopardy as I have been studying law and seen he was recently on a case pertaining double jeopardy?

Brunetti: We have two types of jeopardy in New York: Constitutional double jeopardy and statutory double jeopardy found in CPL Article 40. Since the statute is much broader, it is usually used rather than the Constitutional claim. The case that I had will be reviewed by the appeals court in Rochester.

The retired judge's take on some notable cases:

Question: If everyone agrees the (Robert Neulander) juror engaged in misconduct, why hasn't the juror faced any consequences?

Brunetti: It would be difficult because wilfulness must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt for a person to be adjudged in contempt, whether initiated by a judge (Judiciary Law Contempt) or a prosecutor (Penal Law Contempt)

Question: So (Brunetti) predicts a new trial (in Neulander). If a new trial is ordered will the defense have a strong case to move it out of this area considering the prejudicial remarks made by DA Fitzpatrick to the media about a polygraph test which would never be allowed in any trial.

Brunetti: I did not predict a new trial. I predicted that the Court of Appeals will hear this case, either because of a non-unanimous ruling by the Appellate Division or because the likelihood that situations like this will recur will make it an issue the Court of Appeals deems worthy of review.

A change of venue is an extremely rare occurrence. An attempt to select a jury must usually be tried and fail. You would be surprised at how many prospective jurors have heard little or nothing about highly publicized cases.

Question: What do you think about the (Alicia) Alampi case? I think the judge (Brunetti was judge) felt that she was not totally responsible and therefore sentenced her to a light 3 years probation.



Brunetti: As I said when I imposed sentence, the sentence could not be based upon conduct for which the defendant was acquitted.

Question: If you were the sitting Judge during the trial of Gary Thibodeau from Oswego County in re the Heidi Allen disappearance on April 3, 1994, would you have struck the testimony of the jailhouse witnesses? Would you have any particular thoughts about the eyewitness changing his description to police of the vehicle or person he supposedly saw at the store that morning or the fact that he replied "I don't recall" often when the former Judge Fahey was questioning him?

Brunetti: I know as much about the case as the general public. I have encountered many "Jailhouse witnesses" as you call them over my 42+ year career as a defense lawyer, state prosecutor, federal prosecution and judge. There are rarely grounds to "strike" any witness' testimony unless it is inadmissible due to lack of relevance, hearsay, etc. It is up to the jury to decided if the witness is being truthful. I have seen some very believable witnesses (including "jailhouse witnesses" ) and some very unbelievable witnesses (including "jailhouse witnesses" ) over the years. It's the jury's job to decided who to believe. Same with an eyewitness changing his description or answering "I don't recall" often: It's up to the jury.

Question: What if the jury was wrong for not believing a witness, in this case Sharon Thibodeau, who was acquitted of perjury for lying about Gary's alibi?

Why wouldn't that fact have great weight with the previous Appeal?

Brunetti: A perjury acquittal does not mean that the person's testimony was accurate and truthful.

Question: Jeffrey MacDonald's (Fatal Vision) appeal is presently pending before the Fourth Federal Circuit, having been argued last January. He is arguing, inter alia, newly discovered evidence. How do you think this case will turn out? Does the fact that the Court has not rendered a decision several months post argument mitigate against MacDonald as they would not delay if it meant keeping an innocent man in prison?

Brunetti: I have followed the McDonald case ever since I saw the made for TV movie about it. I read the decisions that the Fourth Circuit is reviewing, but did not study them in such detail as to make a comment. The alleged newly discovered evidence concerns laboratory issues as to hairs processed by the FBI and the "pajama demonstration". In my experience, the length of time an appellate court or a trial judge takes to render a decision is not indicative of the ultimate outcome.

So what's next for Brunetti after retirement? He's moving into a new office downtown and plans to go into private criminal practice. So stay tuned for his next appearance around the courthouse.
A 20-year-old man from Salmon, Idaho, was killed after his car hit an elk on Monday evening. He has been identified as Trevor H. Stenlund.

The Montana Highway Patrol reports the accident occurred on Montana Highway 200 near Potomac at mile marker 16.

The man hit the elk at 7:13 p.m. Monday after it had already been hit by another vehicle traveling the other direction.

According to the MHP, the first vehicle to hit the elk was driven by a 21-year-old woman, who was not seriously injured. However, after she hit the elk, a 2008 Dodge Ram 3500 driven by the man hit the elk again.

The elk went airborne and hit the windshield and roof of the Dodge, which then went down into an embankment. The man was wearing his seatbelt but was pronounced dead at the scene.

It is the 163rd highway fatality in Montana so far this year, compared to 166 at this time last year.
TOWN OF WATERTOWN, N.Y. -- A North Country judge has been charged with having a sexual relationship with a defendant, deputies said.

Watertown Town Justice Andrew N. Capone was arrested by the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office and charged with official misconduct, a misdemeanor, deputies announced on Wednesday.

Capone has been accused of having sexual contact with a defendant who was facing charges in Watertown Town Court -- Capone's court, deputies said.

Capone was released on an appearance ticket.
WATERTOWN, N.Y. -- A Fort Drum soldier is facing more than 50 charges after a grand jury indicted him for the deaths of his wife and a New York State trooper.

A Jefferson County grand jury has charged Justin Walters with killing his wife Nichole Lum Walters and Trooper Joel Davis during a domestic violence incident at his home, reported the Watertown Daily Times. The indictment was unsealed Tuesday -- more than three months after the deadly shooting in Theresa.

The indictment also accuses Walters of trying to kill his wife's friend and two young children, reported the Watertown Daily Times.

Trooper Davis was called to the Walters' rural County Route 46 home the evening of July 9 after a caller reported hearing gunshots during a domestic dispute.

Walters shot and killed Nichole Walters, his wife and the mother of his child, troopers said. He then shot and killed Davis when the trooper arrived at his home, troopers said.

At some point, Walters shot and injured Rebecca Finkle, his wife's friend, troopers said.

Walters was arrested after the deadly shooting. After more than three months in custody, Walters was indicted by a grand jury on a 55-count indictment, reported WWNY TV.

The indictment accuses Walters of repeatedly shooting his 27-year-old wife in her head, face, hands and body, reported the Watertown Daily Times. He then fatally shot Davis in the chest, officials have said.

Nichole Walters, a Mattydale native, is survived by her young son. Davis, 36, is survived by his wife and three children.

The indictment also accuses Walters of trying to kill Finkle and two young children by opening fire on the shed where his wife's friend lived, reported the Watertown Daily Times.

The indictment charges Walters with three counts of first-degree murder, two counts of second-degree murder and three counts of attempted second-degree murder, according to the Watertown Daily Times. Of the additional charges, Walters is facing 36 counts of third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, reported the newspaper.
DECATUR  The Moscow Ballet will be returning to Decatur, introducing the holiday season with the Great Russian Nutcracker.

Two performances will be on Saturday, Nov. 4, at Millikin Universitys Kirkland Fine Arts Center. The international ballet company will perform the Christmas classic of a girl who dreams of a nutcracker prince and a battle with a mouse king.

The Decatur performance will be unique. Joining the award winning international dancers will be more than 100 community dancers from various dance studios around Illinois.

Maria Morari, audition director for Moscow Ballets Dance with Us program, visited the area for auditions in August.

It is a big concept and project, she said. It is not easy to arrange this.

Children, ages 7 to 17 with at least one year of ballet training, auditioned. Roles for the dancers include party children, mice, snowflakes and snow maidens.

According to Morari, discipline is important for ballet performances. The dancers needed to know ballet terms and moves. She understands the young dancers' hopes for becoming professional ballerinas.

It is a great experience to be backstage with real ballerinas, Morari said.

The young dancers will arrive hours before the performances. They will experience all of the pre-show preparations of professional dancers, such as costume fittings, hair and makeup. All the ballerina stuff, Morari said.

Other personalized features to the ballet performance include the Millikin University childrens choir. The 40-member group will not only sing during the ballet performances, but will be caroling in the lobby of Kirkland Fine Arts Center.

The Millikin-Decatur Symphony Orchestra will also be joining the performances. Conductor Sergey Bogza has been involved in the process since the ballet company was scheduled more than a year ago.

The Moscow Ballet rarely performs with a live orchestra due to the high cost of such a feature. The dancers often dance to pre-recorded music. Bogza understands the important element of the symphony.

According to the conductor, ballet music is different than a concert symphony. The musicians need to be careful with cues and tempo. The orchestra dictates the speed for the dancers, Bogza said.

The orchestra may need to make small adjustments on the spot.

The orchestra makes it a living breathing organism, Bogza said. It is set by human beings, not by pre-recorded music.
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DECATUR  Vandals armed with BB guns have gone on another car window-smashing spree in Decatur.

Decatur police logged 19 damage reports Monday between 6 p.m and shortly before midnight. The reports range from Camelot Drive on the north side of the city to East Condor Drive on the northeast and North Dennis Avenue on the city's west side.

This is the second round of such damage, following on from an incident where more than 20 vehicles had windows shot out the night of Aug. 25.

I am not so much mad as disappointed, said Lamar Watts, who had the driver's window shattered in his 2009 Chevrolet Impala, which was parked on the street outside his home in the 2000 block of North Dennis Avenue. Another vehicle had a window shattered in the next block as well.

I'm just disappointed that people do that kind of stuff, added Watts, 64, who fears the repair bill might run to more than $300. I don't want to see whoever did this hurt or nothing, but I would like for them to get caught.

Watts thinks he heard the sound of the window breaking around 8:15 p.m. when there was a dull thump noise from outside. I got up and looked out the window and didn't see anything but what I did hear was a voice that said something like 'Yeah'.

A short time later his grandson came home and told him the window on the car was broken. I drove around the neighborhood to see if I could see anyone doing this but didn't see anything, said Watts. I did notice that another guy's window was busted in his car.

Detective Sgt. Chris Copeland said he didn't know if this latest vandalism was connected to the August incident or how many people might be involved in causing the damage. He said the suspects can create a lot of problems in a relatively short time.

You get a couple of morons together in a car and they've got a BB gun and they decide 'Let's go out and shoot some windows,' he said.

Police are appealing for help from the public in tracking the culprits down. Call 217-424-2734 or Crime Stoppers at 217-423-8477.
URBANA  A Decatur man is awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty to federal charges for his role in a gas station robbery and the subsequent murder of his getaway driver because he feared she would talk to police.

Prosecutors said Matthew J. Higgins-Vogt, 25, admitted that he had shot and killed Paige Mars, 19, on April 5, 2015, murdering her execution-style in a wooded area near the Sangamon River just south of Greenwood Cemetery. She had been the driver during a shotgun robbery April 3, 2015, of the Circle K convenience store, 1685 South Baltimore Avenue in Decatur.

Higgins-Vogt pleaded guilty Monday in Federal Court in Urbana to conspiracy to commit a Hobbs Act robbery and committing the Hobbs Act robbery. The Hobbs Act is a federal statute covering robbery that interferes with interstate commerce. The murder of Mars is seen as being part of that conspiracy, said Sharon Paul, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Higgins-Vogt also admitted brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence and being a felon in possession of a weapon. He is due to be sentenced March 5, 2018, and faces up to 20 years on each of the Hobbs Act charges. Brandishing a firearm carries a mandatory seven year to life sentence that must be served consecutive to any sentence imposed for violent crime. Higgins-Vogt could also be sentenced to up to 10 years in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Paul said the evidence showed the two men had conspired to commit the robbery together and also conspired again to kill, with Higgins-Vogt the trigger man. They met to discuss the possibility that Paige Mars might alert law enforcement and they conspired to kill her, she said.
WASHINGTON  The U.S. Navy blamed "complacency, over-confidence and lack of procedural compliance" for a destroyer crash that killed a Harristown sailor in August, saying it and another destroyer accident in June that killed a total of 17 sailors were "preventable."

"Both of these accidents were preventable, and the respective investigations found multiple failures by watch standers that contributed to the incidents," said Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson in a report released Wednesday. "We must do better."

The Navy concluded that the crashes resulted from widespread failures by the crews and commanders who didn't quickly recognize and respond to unfolding emergencies. Navy leaders publicly acknowledged those failings in a congressional hearing in September.

Harristown sailor Petty Officer 3rd Class Logan Palmer, 23, a Sangamon Valley High School graduate, was an interior communications electrician on the the USS John S. McCain, which collided with an oil tanker near Singapore in Southeast Asia on Aug. 21, leaving 10 U.S. sailors dead and five injured.

He loved the Navy, Palmer's brother, Austin Palmer, said in an online message Wednesday, following the release of the report. "He was always there telling me to never give up."

Describing his brother as brave, honorable, trustworthy and kind, "he truly embodied what it meant to be an Eagle Scout," Austin Palmer said.

Hundreds attended Palmer's funeral Sept. 11 in Life Foursquare Church in Decatur. He was buried with full military honors in Harristown Cemetery. He was posthumously promoted to petty officer 2nd class.

The family, including parents Sid and Theresa Palmer, was returning from Washington, D.C., on Wednesday after receiving a briefing on the report at the Pentagon.

The family also attended the Senate Armed Services Committee hearings on the destroyer collisions in September.

The 72-page report describes in detail the events leading up to the USS McCain collision, its aftermath on the ship, the harrowing escape of some sailors who had been trapped below deck and the multiple ways in which the tragic outcome might have been prevented.

A few minutes before the collision, the commanding officer ordered speed control of the ship to be shifted from one crew member to another, and the steering control was also inadvertently shifted. This caused several minutes of confusion as the crew believed steering was lost, according to the report.

The report said the commanding officer and others on the bridge lost situational awareness, and did not understand the other ship's course and speed relative to their own before the collision. Neither of the ships sounded the five short whistle blasts required by the International Rules of the Nautical Road to warn one another of danger, the Navy said.

Palmer and the other sailors who died in the collision were all in the same sleeping quarters, from which two sailors were able to escape. The Navy concluded that the space likely flooded in less than a minute after the collision.

Several failings were cited by the Navy, including:

Substandard knowledge about how to operate the ship control console.

The ship's commanding officer disregarded recommendations from his executive officer, navigator and senior watch officer to "set sea and anchor watch teams in a timely fashion to ensure the safe and effective operation of the ship."

No one was properly trained on how to correctly use the ship control console during what the Navy called a "steering casualty."

Many of the contributing factors leading to the collision resulted from poor judgment and decisionmaking of the commanding officer, the Navy said in the report.

That said, no single person bears full responsibility for this incident, the report said. The crew was unprepared for the situation in which they found themselves through a lack of preparation, ineffective command and control and deficiencies in training and preparations for navigation.

As a result of the two deadly accidents, eight top Navy officers, including the 7th Fleet commander, were fired from their jobs, and a number of other sailors received reprimands or other punishment that was not publicly released. Among them, the commander and executive officer of the USS John S. McCain were relieved of their duties and reassigned last month.

"We are a Navy that learns from mistakes, and the Navy is firmly committed to doing everything possible to prevent an accident like this from happening again," Richardson said. "We must never allow an accident like this to take the lives of such magnificent young sailors and inflict such painful grief on their families and the nation."

The USS Fitzgerald and a container ship collided in waters off Japan in June, killing seven sailors. The Navy said Wednesday that collision "resulted from an accumulation of smaller errors over time, ultimately resulting in a lack of adherence to sound navigational practices."

In January, the USS Antietam ran aground near its base at Yokosuka, Japan, and in May the USS Lake Champlain, had a minor collision with a South Korean fishing boat. Both Navy ships are guided-missile cruisers.

"We will spend every effort needed to correct these problems and be stronger than before," Richardson said.

The Associated Press and Herald & Review Staff Writer Claire Hettinger contributed to this story.
A California-based investor purchased the former J.C. Penney store at Cortana Mall for $850,000 at an auction.

Jose Gonzales doesnt know yet what he will do yet with the store, said Austin Earhart, an agent with Beau Box Commercial Real Estate, who represented the buyer and the seller. The deal includes the 200,000-square-foot store and the 12 acres around it.

While existing agreements with Cortana Mall require the space to remain in use as a retail site, Earhart said the malls owners have been waiving those requirements. The former Service Merchandise/Steve & Barrys space became home for Virginia College in 2010.

It will be something other than retail, Earhart said. It will have to be something else.

Experts have suggested the property at Airline Highway and Florida Boulevard be turned into a distribution center, call center, office space, church, health care facility, school or some combination of all of those things.

The Cortana J.C. Penney store closed this spring when the retailer shut down 138 locations nationally.

+2 Baton Rouge's Cortana Mall, interior stores hit market with $4M price tag Cortana Mall is up for sale with an asking price of $4 million for the shopping center at Ai

Beau Box had listed the property for $2.4 million. But Earhart said J.C. Penney decided it wanted to auction off many of its stores and put about 80 locations on the block. It was an interesting process, he said.

Moonbeam Leasing & Management of Las Vegas, which owns Cortana and the former Mervyns anchor store, put the properties on the market in August for $4 million. The former Sears and Macys anchor stores are being sold separately, there are reportedly purchase agreements for both of the stores.

Cortana has been open since August 1976 and was the place to shop in Baton Rouge until the Mall of Louisiana, which opened in 1997, eventually wrested away the title.
DECATUR  The pursuit of a wanted person ended with a two-vehicle crash in downtown Decatur Tuesday evening, according to the Macon County Sheriff's Office.

Lt. Jamie Belcher said the pursuit began at about 6:30 p.m. on 1st Drive, after deputies attempted to initiate a traffic stop with a white Chevrolet. The vehicle's passenger was wanted by the sheriff's office on a felony warrant, he said, and the driver fled northbound on N. Franklin Street.

The fleeing vehicle ran a red light at the intersection of Franklin and E. William Street, and was t-boned by a vehicle that had the right-of-way on William, Belcher said. The crash's impact caused the Chevrolet to roll over onto its side.

Belcher could not say how fast either the fleeing vehicle or the pursuing deputy's vehicle were traveling down Franklin Street.

After the crash, the wanted man tried to flee on foot, but was swiftly arrested by sheriff's deputies, Belcher said. He could not provide the charges that the man was originally wanted for on Tuesday evening.

At least two people were transported by Decatur Ambulance Service to a local hospital with minor injuries, Belcher said. Deputies tried to arrest the wanted man at the scene, but Belcher said he will be kept overnight at the hospital due to broken bones.

He could not confirm which of the suspect's bones were broken, or how many were broken during the crash. Belcher was also unable to confirm if any more arrests would be made on Tuesday.

Decatur police diverted traffic near the intersection as law enforcement worked to clean up the scene. The crash damaged a street light and knocked over a small tree.

Belcher said power lines were also downed because of the crash, and Ameren Illinois crews were at the scene to disconnect electricity to them.

Due to the sheriff's office's involvement in the pursuit that led to the crash, Belcher said the Illinois State Police has been contacted to investigate the crash itself.

This is standard protocol for any crash investigation that involves a vehicle being pursued by the sheriff's office, he said, and deputies will continue to carry out their own investigation of the events that led to the crash.

No further information was available Tuesday night.
SAN JUAN  Gov. John Bel Edwards capped off a trip to hurricane-ravaged Puerto Rico on Tuesday with visits to some of the hardest hit areas of the island.

Edwards, who arrived in San Juan on Monday at the invitation of Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rossello, flew to the western side of the U.S territory with Louisiana and Puerto Rican leaders  stopping in Rincon to visit a health clinic and relief sites before returning to Baton Rouge.

"It is going to be a long, long time for a full recovery," Edwards said of the damage he saw. "Obviously, they are going to continue to need our help."

At each stop, Edwards plugged the homeowner assistance program that his administration has been instrumental in helping Puerto Rico establish.

"We've just been able to exchange some ideas and some lessons learned to try to help them incorporate those in their plans so they can prepare for a long-term recovery," Edwards said.

Hurricane Maria slammed ashore Puerto Rico as a Category 4 storm on Sept. 20. In the weeks since, what's been called a "humanitarian crisis" has unfolded with thousands of people still in shelters, more than half of the island without power and growing concerns about its ability to rebuild.

Edwards joined Rossello on Monday to announce the launch of Tu Hogar Renace, or STEP, which is modeled after Louisiana's post-flood Shelter at Home program.

"Our best planners have been here for a month now, working with them," Edwards said of the joint effort.

The goal is to help Puerto Rico residents get back into their homes more quickly, with bare bones repairs that will be paid for by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Puerto Rico has estimated its program will serve up to 75,000 people  about six times the size of Louisiana's program, Edwards said.

Because of the popularity of concrete and stone homes in Puerto Rico, Edwards said the program won't have to focus so heavily on drywall issues as Louisiana's Shelter at Home did, receiving mixed reviews about the temporary nature of those repairs. Puerto Rico, which is struggling to restore electricity because of its aging power grid, also received approval to cover solar panels and generators through STEP.

"Obviously, the devastation is widespread," Edwards said. "It's on every part of this island."

That includes some remote areas in Puerto Rico's mountainous inland regions officials viewed by helicopter on Tuesday.

Small enclaves marked by blue tarps and piles of debris were amid wind-battered trees.

Edwards said that he's concerned the hillier locations like that could struggle to get supplies as they look to rebuild.

During his tour of Rincon, a colorful coastal community that is in full-scale disaster relief mode, Edwards, joined by Rincon Mayor Carlos Lopez, stopped by a health clinic that until recently had to rely on back-up generators for power.

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"It's been tough," Susana Perez, the Costa Salud Clinic's director, told Edwards during his tour of the facility.

Edwards asked her about the stories of Puerto Rico residents who have died because they were not able to receive constant care in the storm's aftermath, and Perez said thankfully no patients perished from her clinic.

But she did have one urgent concern: "We need water," she told officials upon their arrival. A representative from Rossello's office assured her water would arrive shortly.

A couple of blocks away, a beer bar on Rincon's main strip has been converted to a makeshift distribution center for donated items.

Volunteers there were collecting tarps, non perishable foods, water, diapers and other needed items for distribution.

"We could see that there was a lack of leadership just in general," said Deshawn Sargent, a bartender who is helping run the hub. "Everything wasn't going the way it should be."
Local law enforcement officials are bracing for the release of the first group of inmates  about 1,400 convicts  under the new criminal justice system that was passed and signed into law earlier this year.

The numbers seem high, but thats because the new law applies retroactively. Inmates will be released, starting Nov. 1, to the parish where they were convicted.

When you say 1,400 everybody thinks Wow, said James LeBlanc, secretary for the Department of Corrections. Its not as alarming as people might think. We have this under control.

The state already discharges about that many inmates each month, LeBlanc said Friday. Spread across the state that means even in the big cities only about 30 to 40 new cases will be added to the rolls of parole officers.

A more immediate concern is to get a system in place. About 16,000 inmates  some 40 percent of the current prison population  will soon meet the qualifications for early release under the new law.

Corrections personnel have been working overtime going over the records of each convict being considered. Lists have been sent to the sheriffs and prosecutors of inmates set for release in their jurisdiction.

The statewide list has 1,413 names but that could change as the review is being completed, LeBlanc said.

The 10 bills of the Louisiana Justice Reinvestment Package aimed at saving the state about $265 million over the next decade by reducing the states prison population 10 percent. Gov. John Bel Edwards package won bipartisan support as well as the backing of many in the business and faith communities.

Under Act 280, when a nonviolent offender has served 35 percent of the sentence, the convict becomes eligible for parole. The standard had been 40 percent.

LeBlanc said that an inmate with a 10-year sentence would be getting out an average of 63 days early.

Caddo Parish Sheriff Steve Prator is not persuaded and wants to slow down.

During a Thursday press conference, Prator pointed to a name on the list who he said had been arrested 52 times for dozens of crimes, including manslaughter, and was getting out prison seven years early.

"Do you think he's rehabilitated with that kind of record? I don't think so, Prator told the televised news conference. "We need to take our time and do like some of the other states and have some programs that work on rehabilitation before we just open the gates."

Theres never been a situation like this in the history of the state, so youve got a lot of unknowns, said Michael Ranatza, executive director of the Louisiana Sheriffs Association. Nearly everyone in law enforcement has been fretting the arrival of Nov. 1. Now that it has come, the best way to deal with it is meeting it head on, Ranatza said.

Sheriffs want to know how good time is computed and how the state is applying the violent and nonviolent classifications.

The states sheriffs set up a system Friday to directly call LeBlanc  he gave out his cell phone number  to ask their questions and address their concerns.

Prosecutors also are concerned, said Pete Adams, executive director of the Louisiana District Attorneys Association.

Our guys are going through the lists now. There are a few egregious people on the list and were told theyre not going to be released, Adams said Friday, adding that while LeBlanc is trusted, prosecutors are taking a wait and see approach to see how the Corrections department handles problems as they arise.

East Baton Rouge Parish District Attorney Hillar Moore III plans to track the 50 or so inmates that are on the list to be released. Hes looking to see what kind of services they receive and how closely the newly released inmates are monitored.

Were trying to identify those who, unfortunately, might become rearrested. We want to gather the data to see if this idea works, to see if its a good idea or not, Moore said. Everybody is new at this. They truly believe this will help. I hope thats the case but Im really skeptical right now.

About 80 percent of the inmates will be discharged from parish jails, as opposed to state prisons, LeBlanc said. Those convicts usually have committed less serious offenses.

But those parish jail inmates also receive fewer services than those coming out of state penitentiaries.

LeBlanc said his department is working to beef up, risk assessments, reentry centers and transition programs.

The new law also required that half of the money saved in the first year go toward community supervision, substance abuse treatments, education and employment services.

We feel comfortable that were doing the right thing here, LeBlanc said. Its the start of a new process for the criminal justice system. It may be a little painful. Its not going to be perfect. But in the big picture is this is huge step in the right direction.
Few people work harder than teachers, who dedicate their lives to educating our children. Traditionally, teachers have been able to achieve a 
In this March 16, 2017 file photo, Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards, right, listens as Corrections Secretary Jimmy LeBlanc talks about efforts to overhaul Louisiana's criminal justice system, in Baton Rouge, La. Edwards recently signed a package of bills overhauling criminal-sentencing laws. Under the laws, which take effect later this year, an estimated 1,200 additional inmates will be released on probation or parole within two years, Corrections Secretary Jimmy LeBlanc has said. Veteran probation officers say the new laws will mean thousands of additional people for them to supervise, with a minimal increase in compensation for the larger workload.
WASHINGTON (AP)  Calling the suspect an "animal," President Donald Trump on Wednesday urged tougher immigration measures based on "merit" after the deadly truck attack in New York City.

Trump noted during a Cabinet meeting that the driver in Tuesday's attack entered the country through the "Diversity Visa Lottery Program" and called on Congress to "immediately" begin working to eliminate the program, which applies to countries with low rates of immigration to the U.S. Trump added, "We have to get much tougher, much smarter, and less politically correct."

Earlier Wednesday, Trump called the visa program "a Chuck Schumer beauty"  a reference to the Senate's Democratic leader.

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Schumer fired back from the Senate floor, accusing Trump of "politicizing" the tragedy.

Officials said the attacker is an immigrant from Uzbekistan who came to the United States legally in 2010.

Trump has backed legislation that would curb legal immigration and shift the nation toward a system that would place an emphasis on merit and skills over family ties.

The comments followed Trump's Tuesday night statement that he had ordered the Department of Homeland Security "to step up our already Extreme Vetting Program." Trump's policy entails more stringent investigative measures intended to identify would-be immigrants who may sympathize with extremists or pose a national security risk to the United States.

During the 2016 presidential campaign, Trump proposed a total ban on Muslim immigration to the U.S. before embracing "extreme vetting." Trump's efforts to block immigrants from several Muslim-majority countries have been tied up in federal courts.

The diversity visa program provides up to 50,000 visas annually by lottery. Applicants must have a high school diploma or meet work experience requirements. It was created as part of a bipartisan immigration bill introduced by the late Sen. Ted Kennedy, D-Mass., and signed into law by Republican President George H.W. Bush in 1990.

Schumer, a New York Democrat who was a member of the House of Representatives at the time, proposed a program for "diversity immigrants" in a bill he offered earlier that year.

Speaking on the Senate floor Wednesday, Schumer said he has "always believed that immigration is good for America." He also criticized Trump for "politicizing" the deadly attack, comparing his response to President George. W. Bush's after 9/11.

"President Trump, where is your leadership?" Schumer asked. "The contrast between President Bush's actions after 9/11 and President Trump's actions this morning could not be starker."

He said Trump actually had proposed cutting anti-terrorism funding in his most recent budget.

"I'm calling on President Trump to rescind his proposed cuts to this vital anti-terrorism funding immediately," Schumer said.

Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., said on Twitter that Trump was unfairly blaming Schumer for the diversity visa program. Flake, one of Trump's chief Republican foes in Congress, said Schumer was among a group of eight Republican and Democratic senators who proposed eliminating the program three years ago as part of a broader bipartisan bill to overhaul U.S. immigration laws.

Flake, who served on that "Gang of Eight" with Schumer, said: "I know. I was there."

The immigration bill ultimately failed in the GOP-led House after passing the Senate in June 2013, 68-32, with 14 Republicans joining Democrats.

Flake recently announced he's not running for re-election but says he won't be silent about Trump's politics and behavior.
A Canberra pathologist says a more expensive vaccine would not have helped Australia's record flu season even if it was available because it was still based on a mis-matched strain.

It comes after the country's chief medical officer rubbished claims Australians had been given a cheap option.

Professor Brendan Murphy.

The ACT has had almost double the confirmed cases of flu this year compared to all of 2016, a trend similar to what has been seen across the country.

There have been almost 3000 clinically confirmed cases of the flu in the ACT so far this year, up on the 1587 cases in 2016.
The early bird will catch the chocolate frog when Haigh's Chocolates opens its first Canberra store on Thursday morning.

The Adelaide confectioner will be one of a bunch of new stores to open as part of Canberra Centre's new lifestyle precinct, sitting upstairs from the ground floor beauty precinct, which opened in July.

Canberra Centre senior marketing manager Kelly McGufficke and Le Creuset's Myriam Szudrich inside the new lifestyle precinct at Canberra Centre. Credit:Sitthixay Ditthavong

Canberra Centre's Kelly McGufficke said, "This is the next stage of the transformation of the Monaro Mall, which was the original part of Canberra Centre which first opened back in 1963. So we're really proud of how Canberra Centre is constantly changing and evolving to bring unique experiences to the ACT."

As well as Haigh's, new stores include herb and spice merchants Gewurzhaus, homeware brands Top3 by Design, Le Creuset and The Pen Boutique, Robinsons Bookshop, and Parisian jeweller Les Nereides.
The corporate watchdog has suffered a devastating legal blow after a court threw out its case against the former directors of collapsed retirement village owner Prime Trust, including former federal health minister Michael Wooldridge.

The loss could cost taxpayers millions of dollars as the Full Court of the Federal Court awarded costs in the long-running case against the Australian Securities and Investments Commission.

Former federal health minister Dr Michael Wooldridge was originally hit with a 27-month ban and a $20,000 fine. Credit:Luis Ascui

The court ruled that ASIC had filed its case one month after the statute of limitations for corporate wrongdoing ended.

A statement by the regulator said it was considering the judgment, raising the possibility that it would appeal to the High Court.
The citizenship farce, fuelled afresh by the ensnarement of the Senate president, Stephen Parry of the Liberal Party, is corroding confidence in the integrity of the Federal Parliament. Many people are wondering, reasonably, whether they should have faith in lawmakers, a lamentably large number of whom cannot comply with requirements of our paramount law, the constitution. This, in turn, is stoking calls for a referendum to remove or rewrite section 44 of the constitution, which, to mitigate conflicts of interest, outlaws dual citizenship.

Senator Parry's undermining of public confidence is curious; despite the high-profile examination by the High Court of similar transgressions by seven other federal parliamentarians, he omitted to mention his probable British citizenship. His resignation from Parliament on Wednesday afternoon appeared tardy.

Another one bites the constitutional dust: Former Senate president and former senator Stephen Parry. Credit:AAP

The constitutional incompetence is also creating a chorus for an independent audit of the eligibility of every member of the Federal Parliament. A referendum, the only way to alter the constitution, would be an expensive folly. It is not the solution to incompetence. It would be unlikely to succeed  only eight of the 44 since federation have been carried, and there is no compelling case to end the prohibition of lawmakers holding dual citizenship.

The High Court has upheld an unambiguous ruling delivered a quarter of a century ago. It is the responsibility of candidates and parties to investigate citizenship and to renounce any allegiance to a foreign power. This is in no way inconsistent with the celebrated fact that half of our population was born overseas or has at least one parent who was.
Have you ever had a conversation with someone about a shared experience, only to find you remembered it completely differently?

Even more unsettling, have you ever questioned whether something you think you "remember" actually happened at all?

Next time you wonder whether an event actually occurred, be assured your scepticism is justified. Credit:AnsonLu

Until the middle of last century, it was assumed that memories were laid down rather like photographs, then retrieved when necessary in their original form.

Thanks to the work of Endel Tulving in Toronto, Alan Baddeley in Cambridge and Elizabeth Loftus at the University of Washington, we now know that when we try to remember something, we call up only the essential bits.
It's a bird, it's a plane, no it's Justin Trudeau disguised as Clark Kent, aka Superman, for Halloween, much to the surprise of parliamentarians as he entered the House of Commons for question time.

It is not unusual for Trudeau to sport slicked-down hair and a blue suit with a bright red tie, but his wide-rimmed spectacles were the giveaway to assembled staff and journalists of the Halloween surprise the 45-year-old Canadian Prime Minister had in store.

Justin Trudeau takes his youngest son Hadrien dressed as Paw Patrol character Skye trick-or-treating. Credit:AP

As he descended down the stairs, Trudeau apparently quipped that it was a shock to witness the Prime Minister dressed as one of the fellow journalists there, but "it has to be done," before opening his button down shirt to expose the Superman symbol underneath.
Something strange has happened amid the recent allegations levelled at Kevin Spacey by actor Anthony Rapp, who claims Spacey assaulted him (then aged 14) at a 1986 Hollywood party.

Oddly, nobody has asked Rapp what he was wearing at the time.

Nobody asked why it took him so many years to report the abuse. Nobody asked if he were being paid to speak out, was a gold-digger, or just wanted attention. Nobody asked if he had a grudge against Spacey, or was a man-hater. Nobody asked why he freely went to Spacey's house, or said he shouldn't have been there. Nobody asked if his memory was faulty about an event that took place 30 years ago, or if he might have misinterpreted Spacey's intent.

Nobody looked up his sexual history or claimed he once worked as an exotic dancer. Nobody needed to find more of Spacey's victims to legitimise Rapp's claims. And nobody asked Rapp if he'd been drinking.
A former "high-flying" investment adviser who used $1.59 million of his clients' money to plug gaps in his business after the global financial crisis has avoided time behind bars.

Lewis Fellowes, 43, pleaded guilty in the Brisbane District Court on Wednesday to three dishonesty offences against Queensland and Western Australian clients between 2008 and 2010.

The court heard Fellowes transferred his clients' money into his own accounts without their knowledge or permission in order to avoid margin calls and project a positive financial position.

None of the clients suffered any financial loss as Fellowes paid the money back, with interest, before the Australian Securities and Investments Commission launched an investigation into him in 2014.

Defence barrister Saul Holt QC said Fellowes always intended to pay the money back and was genuinely remorseful for his actions.
The project would add connections to allow extra trains on the North Coast and the Gold Coast rail lines by adding extra underground rail lines and stations between the Exhibition and Dutton Park stations. The underground project will proceed if Labor wins the election, but will likely be cancelled if the LNP wins office in its own right, or if it forms a government with One Nation. Premier Annastacia Palaszaczuk said Mr Nicholls was not being clear about Cross River Rail. "We have no firm indication whether they support it or not," Ms Palaszczuk said. She said Labor had decided not to wait for federal government funding before starting the project.

"And all that is at risk if Tim Nicholls gets into power." The Greens also support the underground rail project. Mr Abson said the risk of another "political backflip" over Cross River Rail would hurt Queenslands reputation among national and international investment banks. The thing that damages our reputation the most among international investors, and the investment community in general, is this risk of political backflip, he said. Infrastructure Association of Queensland chief executive Steve Abson with ACCC chairman Rod Sim and IAQ member Jonathan Peacock.

Mr Abson is a past president of the Queensland Major Contractors Association, a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (MAICD) and a Fellow to the Australian Institute of Building (FAIB). Mr Abson said he had some sympathy for the state oppositions questioning of the projects costs. When you are in opposition it is appropriate that you hold the government of the day to account, he said. "And the LNP have done a good job with this." But ... it really dents business confidence if you dont get incoming governments not standing by these critical decisions, he said.

Stacey Rawlings, the manager of Engineers Australia Queensland division, said its members would be very disappointed if the project was cancelled now expressions of interest had been called. Once industry has been called to action it is always extremely disruptive for industry to gear down and then gear up again later, Ms Rawlings said. So it would be a very disappointing outcome if the project was put on hold, or completely disbanded. Ms Rawlings said Queensland risked losing engineering skills to other states. If we dont have some of these projects continue where companies have already been gearing up their skills, then we are in the position of continuing to lose these crucial skill sets we need for the state.

The LNPs former transport minister, now treasurer Scott Emerson, did not directly answer the concerns from industry. Mr Emerson said the LNP itself had unanswered concerns, raised by Infrastructure Australia in July 2017 over the project. Infrastructure Australia questioned the Queensland governments estimated 6.9 per cent rail customer increase in the Brisbane region to 2026 and Cross River Rails impact on reducing road congestion. They were both included as benefits to the project. So we still have questions that have not been answered, Mr Emerson said.

He backed away from saying the project would be dead in the water if the LNP was elected to government. We have said we are not yet convinced that this is the way to go in line with the Infrastructure Australia report, he said. That is all we have said. So we dont think it stacks up at the moment. Mr Emerson said he understood the need for a new heavy rail connection across the Brisbane River and the LNP had developed the BaT tunnel concept, which was cancelled by Labor.

Infrastructure Australia said Cross River Rail was not needed "until the mid 2020s at the earliest". Labor's existing plan would have work finish in mid-2024. Opposition infrastructure spokesperson Deb Frecklington said Labor made mistakes in assessing the future passenger numbers. "Labor have based their projections on the number of train passengers doubling over the next 10 years," she said. "However, the reality is passenger numbers have dropped by 10 million people over the last eight years."
Most congressional Republicans appear to be responding to Monday's indictments by changing the subject, talking about how great tax cuts are, or just going into hiding. Some commentators seem to think they are carrying water for Donald Trump by ducking the question. They are wrong.

Their silence is very, very bad news for Donald Trump.

The normal reaction from members of Congress to bad news for a same-party president isn't to duck and hide. It's to adopt the White House's talking points.

In this case, members of Congress could easily emphasize that Trump wasn't personally implicated in these indictments, or that none of those charged currently held White House positions. They could go further, too, following the (preposterous) Fox News line that special prosecutor Robert Mueller has conflicts of his own and that the one who really should be charged is Hillary Clinton.

Instead? Mostly some mumbling about letting the system take its course. At least two senators even explicitly supported Mueller.

I'm going to repeat: That's very, very bad news for Trump.

It suggests what we all suspect: The president has few if any real allies in Congress, and furthermore that virtually no one believes anything he says.

Of course, Trump has repeatedly earned his awful professional reputation, specifically the part in which everyone knows that he's willing to say things that are not only untrue, but also obviously untrue when he says them. So when Trump shouts that "there is NO COLLUSION!" it's very unlikely that there are many Republicans on the Hill who give it any weight at all.

Sure, it would be nice if every House and Senate Republican applauded Mueller for his good work so far and urged him to get to the bottom of it all. But it's a big mistake to read their silence as support for the White House.

Yes, it's true: Republicans badly want their tax plan to pass. They want that, presumably, because they think it would be great for the nation, and they'll continue to think that regardless of who the president is or what he's done. But the fact that Paul Ryan (for one) changed the topic to tax cuts when asked about the indictments doesn't mean anything except that Ryan doesn't want to publicly support a Republican in the White House, and in fact may be terrified to do it because he assumes there's more bad news to come that could undercut any talking points he repeats.

And that he feels no pressure from House Republicans to do so.
A state government minister has apologised after making an ill-advised jibe about Irish people that drew a strong response from Australian diplomats in Dublin.

Victorian Consumer Affairs Minister Marlene Kairouz issued her apology on Wednesday after a routine press conference about a scam warning on Monday went awry.

Minister for Consumer Affairs Marlene Kairouz (left) sworn in by Victorian Governor Linda Dessau AM in 2016. Credit:Eddie Jim

While warning residents of the state to be wary of dodgy workmen fronting up on their doorsteps, Ms Kairouz said the words that would come back to haunt her.

"If anybody knocks on your door that has an Irish accent, automatically ask them to leave," the minister said.
He may carry the notorious name, but the younger brother of the Bourke Street rampage accused must be treated fairly, a magistrate has said as he released Angelo Gargasoulas.

Mr Gargasoulas pleaded guilty on Wednesday to breaching his bail the day after he was granted it on October 10.

Angelo Gargasoulas Credit:Penny Stephens

Magistrate John Hardy released him from court for time served after he had spent 18 days in custody. He would have been sentenced to seven days for the breaches, Mr Hardy said.

"You carry the name. I'm doing my best to treat you fairly on your own merits," he said.
New York: An Uzbek immigrant suspected of killing eight people in New York City by ploughing a truck into cyclists and pedestrians on a bike path has asked to display Islamic State's flag in his hospital room as he recovers from a gunshot wound.

The suspect, Sayfullo Saipov, 29, who was hospitalised after a police officer shot and arrested him, ending Tuesday's rampage, confessed to authorities while in custody that he began planning the attack a year ago, according to the criminal complaint filed against him.

He was charged in federal court on Wednesday with acting on behalf of the militant group Islamic State.

The 10-page complaint said Saipov waived his rights to remain silent and avoid self-incrimination in agreeing to speak to investigators without an attorney present from his Bellvue Hospital Center bed in Manhattan.
Washington: Senator Angus King issued a simple admonishment to the lawyers representing Facebook, Google and Twitter at a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on Russian meddling with social media during the 2016 presidential election.

"I'm disappointed you are here and not your CEOs," King, an independent from Maine who caucuses with Democrats, told the three corporate counsels. "We would appreciate seeing the top people who are actually making the decisions."

Democrat Joe Manchin of West Virginia echoed the criticism that the Silicon Valley giants had left their decision makers at home.

The rebuke came during a hearing in which the three lawyers faced tough grilling over what top Democrats on the panel called a slow response to interference in U.S. politics. The appearance was the companies' second day of hearings in Congress. They faced a Senate Judiciary subcommittee on Tuesday and will appear before a House panel later today.
President Donald Trump would like Americans to believe the indictment of former campaign manager Paul Manafort is no big deal.

Todays announcement has nothing to do with the president and nothing to do with the presidents campaign, press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders told reporters.

That prompted guffaws, obviously, across social media  plus a quick demand by Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-San Antonio, for Sanders to resign for the outright lies she has told.

Manafort was indicted, along with an associate, on tax fraud, money laundering and other federal charges tied to millions of dollars in secret payments from pro-Russian forces within Ukraine dating to 2006.

Its true that Mondays charges dont prove the more serious questions at the heart of Special Counsel Robert Muellers investigation. They dont prove that Trump or his team colluded with Russia to win last years election. And they dont prove that Trump fired FBI Director James Comey because he refused to stop investigating the possibility of collusion.

But nothing to do with Trump? Sanders cant be serious.

Besides, its early yet. Later that day, word came that another campaign figure, senior foreign affairs adviser George Papadopoulos, has pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI when it asked him in January about his contacts with Russian intermediaries. He told the FBI he had known those Russian contacts before he ever came aboard the campaign. But that was a lie.

Trump immediately insisted that the alleged crimes by his former campaign manager took place years ago and before Paul Manafort was part of the Trump campaign. But not according to the indictment. Right there on the first page, it alleges that Manaforts vast money-laundering scheme stretched from at least 2006 through 2016.

He is also accused of lying to the FBI about his work for Ukraine last fall and again earlier this year.

Thats not years ago. Thats practically yesterday.

Its common for prosecutors to use tax fraud charges, and perjury too, to squeeze a defendant against whom they cant prove an underlying cases. Call it the Al Capone strategy.

But whats so important about the tax charges against Manafort is why he was hiding all that income. And where all the income was coming from.

Before he ran Trumps campaign, he and his companies spent years boosting pro-Russian forces within Ukraine. When one of his clients was elected president there, the indictment alleges, he began hiring lobbyists back in the U.S. to advance Ukraines interests before Congress.

That wouldnt have been illegal. Maybe awkward to explain in a U.S. presidential campaign, but not illegal. But before you can lobby the U.S. government on behalf of a foreign power, our laws require you to come clean about the relationship, how much youre being paid and for what.

The indictment alleges that he failed to register, instead conducting all that business through a worldwide maze of partnerships, accounts and banks.

Will this be the first of many indictments? Its too soon to say. But it casts Trump, who claims to be such a smart people picker, in extraordinarily poor light.

-- The Dallas Morning News
Newly appointed Armenian Ambassador to Georgia Ruben Sadoyan is a man of means, but has a lackluster record as a member of parliament

We know this from the financial disclosures he filed while a member of the Armenian National Assembly from 2007-2017. (Sadoyan has still failed to file a disclosure, as required, after assuming the job of ambassador.)

In 2014, Sadoyan declared cash assets of US$1 million, EUR 149,000 euros, and AMD 138 million ($286,000). His salary was only AMD 2.9 million. He declared no property holdings.

In the public eye, Sadoyan, along with his brother, is most closely connected with Unigraf, a company contracted by the Yerevan Municipality to sterilize and remove stray dogs from the streets of the Armenian capital. The brothers transferred their shares to others in 2007 and 2012.

Ruben Sadoyan, according to Armenias State Revenue Committee, has been the sole owner of Podo First, a company engaged in the retail gasoline and liquid gas business for automobiles, since 2005.

He failed to mention any of this in his financial disclosure.

Armenias Ministry of Finance decided to shut the company down in 2014 and 2015 Both decisions were reversed, and fines of AMD 300,000 were levied instead.

In 2006, Sadoyan founded an advertising agency called Universal Graphics. Alfred Sadoyan, Rubens son, held the shares.

The Sadoyans evidently liked the advertising business because they formed two new companies in 2016  Gallery LLC (owned by Rubens wife Meri Aghayan), and Design House LLC (owned by his daughter Emma).

In 2015-2016, while still a member of parliament, Ruben Sadoyan was involved in a court case as a loan guarantor. Armenias AmeriaBank sued several companies, and Sadoyan, demanding restitution of US$ 174,000. The bank won, and the defendants didnt appeal.

During his ten years in the Armenian parliament, Sadoyan never introduced any legislation and he never took the floor to voice issues pertinent to his district. He was also known for his poor attendance record.
The My Armenia Program has launched a project with CyArk, a California-based non-profit organization that uses new technologies to capture, archive and share the worlds cultural heritage with the global community. In Armenia, CyArk will be scanning the historical Noravank monastery and the Areni-1 cave complex in Vayots Dzor province, as well as design products that promote and share Armenias cultural heritage in and beyond the country. These two iconic sites are, respectfully, of historical and archaeological significance.

Thanks to new virtual reality (VR) headsets, visitors are now able to virtually experience the magnitude and beauty of a heritage site, captured in every detail by CyArks scanning devices. Through motion tracking tools, users not only see the site but are also able to move virtually through the site and explore the surrounding area.

These kinds of virtual experiences are great for presentations during public events such as travel trade fairs, museums and educational institutions in order to interest and engage tour operators, researchers and other interested parties in the opportunities and experiences Armenia can offer. The My Armenia Program and CyArk will collaborate to design virtual and visual products that will be showcased at museum exhibits, including the 2018 Smithsonian Folklife Festival in Washington, D.C., as well as trade shows, marketing and investment events. CyArk will also process the acquired data to develop photorealistic virtual reality experiences to allow visitors appreciate Armenias unique cultural heritage, thus increasing global awareness of Armenia as a cultural tourism destination.

As part of My Armenias partnership with CyArk, a four-day workshop was also held at the Tumo Center for Creative Technologies for students and cultural heritage and architecture specialists. The training provided an overview of the three technological tools  photogrammetry, aerial imagery, and 3D scanning  CyArk will employ to document the Areni-1 cave complex and the Norovank monastery. Workshop activities included hands-on training with the equipment, scanning of sample sites in Yerevan, and data processing. Participants reviewed the captured data and learned about software applications for development of tourism materials such as virtual tours and videos. Workshop participants were also invited to follow CyArks field activities in Vayots Dzor to help promote the sustainability of such activities in the future.

The My Armenia program is funded by USAID and implemented by the Smithsonian Institution.

My Armenia supports the sustainability of Armenian cultural heritage through the development of an inclusive and dynamic tourism sector that engages and benefits Armenian communities across the country.
Brazos County jurors heard special prosecutor Lisa Tanners opening statement and testimony from three state-called witnesses Wednesday morning on the first day of a trial of a man facing the death penalty for allegedly killing six people at a campsite in Tennessee Colony in November 2015.

Tanner, a prosecutor with the Texas Attorney Generals Office, recounted to jurors the grisly murders of six members of the Kamp and Johnson families during a night of terror in Anderson County on Nov. 14, 2015. Tanner told jurors both families met at a campsite in Tennessee Colony that weekend, on land Thomas Kamp had recently bought from the cousin of the deceased father of William Mitchell Hudson. The familes had gathered to celebrate the upcoming 24th birthday of Nathan Kamp. Thomas Kamp, the 45-year-old general manager of a car dealership, lived in Midlothian with his long-time girlfriend, Hannah Johnson, 40.

Tanner said Hudson had been resentful that his familys land had been sold, and went on a murderous rampage that November night after sharing alcoholic beverages with the families. Tanner alleged Hudson, now 35, shot and killed Thomas Kamp, 45, Nathan Kamp, 23, and Austin Kamp, 21, as well as Kade Johnson, 6, while they were in the woods gathering firewood. Tanner said Hudson later returned to the campground where Carl, Hannah and Cynthia Johnson were waiting. Tanner said Hudson killed Carl and Hannah, who were father and daughter, and forgot about Cynthia, the nights only survivor, who lived by hiding outside during the stormy night and calling the police after sunrise the following day.

Hudsons attorneys, Stephen Evans and Jeff Herrington, reserved their opening statements.

Jurors heard from law enforcement and listened to Cynthias 911 call. Emily Parker, who had been a patrol deputy with the Anderson County Sheriffs Office at the time of the murders, said Cynthia had appeared in shock when authorities located her, and she kept repeating the phrase, theyre all dead, theyre all dead while they questioned her. Parker said Cynthias face appeared swollen from what appeared to be ant bites, and she kept spilling the water bottle the deputies had given her because she was shaking.

Parker described the RV where Hannah and Carl Johnson were found as being filled with Hollywood blood.

Hudson is on trial for the murders of Carl and Hannah Johnson. He is being held in the Brazos County Jail with bail set at $2.5 million.

Anderson County District Attorney Allyson Mitchell filed a notice to seek the death penalty in January.

The trial resumes at 1:30 this afternoon in the Brazos County Courthouse.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is asking lawmakers and the Trump administration for an additional $61 billion to help support Hurricane Harvey recovery efforts.

According to a statement released Tuesday afternoon, the estimate was compiled by the Governor's Commission to Rebuild Texas based on surveys submitted by affected city and county officials who listed the needs of their communities, and with the help of coastal flooding and disaster mitigation experts selected from the state's university systems, as part of a report explaining the proposal.

The gathered university system experts also helped to develop a system for organizing and selecting projects so that officials could efficiently prioritize the proposals in a way that will "maximize recovery and reduction of future flood losses" using the following criteria: degree of flood impacts avoided; economic justification; technical feasibility; equity and fairness; environmental soundness.

The commission, which is led by Texas A&M University System Chancellor John Sharp, has determined 60 percent of the needs are designated for flood control and 33 percent would be used to buy out or elevate homes and buildings in flood-prone areas.

The remaining funding would be used for roads, bridges, water utilities and hazard mitigation.

"The $61 billion represents a snapshot at this time as the request will evolve as we continue to work with mayors, county judges and other local officials to document their communities' needs for public infrastructure," Sharp said in a statement.

As a part of the commission's overall mission, the proposed funding also would be used to reconstruct and improve the affected areas with the hope of preventing a similarly disastrous event in the future.

"Future-proofing the state's coastal areas requires a long-term commitment and investment to improve the resiliency of our communities and institutions," wrote Sharp in the opening statement of the commission's report. "To succeed, the task needs both the continued partnership and financial support of the federal government. This funding request is a critical step in the effort to restore the Gulf Coast as a vibrant and economically important hub for our state and the nation."

The cost estimates include $36.62 billion for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers projects that could help reduce the impact of future storm damage. The second largest portion of the estimate is $15.33 billion to be delivered through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery program.

Additional funding areas included in the estimate include the U.S. Department of Agriculture, state education agencies, economic development, the Federal Emergency Management Administration Disaster Relief fund, transportation infrastructure and more.

According to the presentation delivered by the commission, "this level of additional federal assistance is vital to restoring the economy of the Texas Gulf Coast and is consistent with federal aid in past disasters such as Hurricane Katrina."

Officials noted the $61 billion only accounts for the state's needs to rebuild public infrastructure and would be in addition to current expenditures by FEMA. Total damages caused by the hurricane are estimated so far at $180 billion. In September, federal lawmakers passed a short-term, $15.25 billion measure to provide immediate support for emergencies in both Texas and Florida.

In the report, the commission recognized the process of rebuilding will be neither simple nor inexpensive but said it believes the investment to be a worthy one.

"It will require the work of years, not weeks or months," commission officials wrote in the report. "It is, however, a process that, if completed successfully, will save the nation, the state, and individual Texans billions of dollars in losses and damages from future natural disasters, and save lives in the process."

Texas Sen. John Cornyn said in a statement Tuesday evening he and his colleagues in the Texas delegation plan to continue their efforts to secure the unmet recovery needs of the state.

"It's really important for us to remember that there's a lot of work that we need to do in responding to some of the unmet disaster needs around the country, starting with Hurricane Harvey in my state," he said in the statement.

Moving forward, Sharp said the list provided to Congress and the Trump administration is not a final nor comprehensive gathering of the local recovery needs -- rather it is a collection of what has been submitted to and assessed by the commission thus far.

"We wanted to illustrate the size of the assistance we need and the type of projects," Sharp said. "Just because a project is on the list does not mean it will be funded and just because a project is not on the list doesn't mean it can't be funded if a mayor or county judge brings it to us. This is a 'bottom up' process. We rely on the county judges and mayors to tell us what their communities need."

Sharp was selected in September to serve as commissioner of the Governor's Commission to Rebuild Texas while maintaining his duties with the A&M System. Sharp also committed to wielding the resources of the A&M System's universities and agencies to most effectively and efficiently conduct the commission's efforts.
Brazos County jurors will hear testimony today as trial gets underway for a Tennessee Colony man facing the death penalty for allegedly killing six people at an Anderson County campsite in November 2015.

William Mitchell Hudson, 35, is accused of killing six people between the ages of 6 and 77 on Nov. 14, 2015. According to the Palestine Herald Press, Hudson is accused of killing members of two families after sharing alcoholic drinks with them. Though the case occurred in Anderson County, about 100 miles away, Anderson County District Attorney Allyson Mitchell will try the case at the Brazos County Courthouse.

According to the Palestine Herald Press, Mitchell filed a State of Notice to Seek the Death Penalty on Jan. 23.

Brazos County District Clerk Marc Hamlin said 180 jury summons were sent to potential jurors around Sept. 1, the vast majority of whom responded.

Hamlin said the number of county residents sent jury summons varies by case, and that the severity and heinousness of crimes are taken into account when determining how many potential jurors to ask to come into court.

Mitchell said it took about four weeks for attorneys to pick the 14 jurors needed for the case. Because Hudson's case involves the death penalty, potential jurors are individually interviewed and can be given written questionnaires to determine their general stance on capital punishment.

Mitchell said attorneys began individual interviews with potential jurors Oct. 2. The 14 jurors were finalized Oct. 27.

Mitchell will prosecute Hudson alongside Lisa Tanner, from the Texas Attorney General's Office. Hudson's attorneys are Stephen Evans and Jeff Herrington. District 3 Judge Mark Calhoon will oversee the case in 361st District Court Judge Steve Smith's courtroom, on the fourth floor of the Brazos County Courthouse.

Authorities transferred Hudson from the Anderson County Jail to the Brazos County Jail on Sept. 22, according to public records. He is charged with six counts of capital murder and is being held on a $2.5 million bond.

The trial begins at 9 a.m. today.
With the one-year unexpired term on the Place 3 seat she won last November drawing to a close, College Station Councilwoman Linda Harvell is seeking a full three-year term in the position. Also seeking her place at the dais is challenger Dallas Shipp.

Last November, Harvell was elected to fill the Place 3 seat that was vacated by Karl Mooney when he was elected mayor. If re-elected, it would be her first successful campaign for a full three-year term on the council -- she previously ran for the Place 5 seat in 2014. This is the first run for office for Shipp, a local marketing consultant who, among other reasons, says he chose to seek the seat after the City Council approved a 2.5-cent tax rate increase for the fiscal year that began Oct. 1.

Ahead of the Nov. 7 election and with only three days left of early voting, The Eagle asked the candidates to stake out their positions on some ongoing issues facing the city and decision points future councils will consider.

Managing growth

Harvell thinks College Station needs "smart, sustainable growth" -- what she describes as projects, whether they be homes, apartment complexes or businesses, that will still be desirable in 25 years.

"I think we need to plan it out very efficiently, because we don't have that much land," Harvell said. "So we need to take advantage of what's available to developers and builders ... and just make it where it complements the city and its residents and helps enhance our quality of life."

Looking at the city's budget is another area important to growth management, Harvell said, to see where the council can either "refine the numbers" or find new ways to pay for what she says is $300 million worth of unfunded projects. That may mean putting some projects on the back burner until the city is more financially solvent, she said.

Third, the City Council needs to make sure that it pursues projects that fulfill the mission of improving citizens' quality of life, as outlined in the city's mission statement, Harvell said. She specifically pointed out students, young families and young professionals as demographics for whom the city could do more.

For Shipp, his top recommendation for growth management is to have a "realistic" plan in place. Without that, that's when issues arise in neighborhoods, he said.

"For me, the biggest thing is we've got to have a plan, and we also need to be in constant communication with the county and the school district on a local level," Shipp said, adding as an example that better communication with the school district would allow the city to better plan for traffic around newly constructed schools.

As the city grows, he also wants to see College Station be more aggressive in bringing in both job-generating businesses and attractions that would bring together families and friends. Attracting those businesses will require that the city takes a look at what Shipp describes as "red tape" that slows down growth, which he says has caused several of his friends to locate their businesses in Bryan over College Station. Streamlining the process that prospective businesses go through with City Hall is one of the things Shipp said inspired him to run for office.

Traffic

There's no quick fix for College Station's traffic issues, Shipp said. What the city can do, though, is better plan major construction projects around high-traffic times of year. He said this was an issue with several projects near the corner of Rock Prairie Road and Longmire Drive, where he said construction could have been completed during the summer when fewer students were in town.

A longer-term solution would be for the city to have better communication with state officials and make them aware of the city's expansion needs and plans. For example, with construction of the Southern Pointe subdivision at the site of the Texas World Speedway on the horizon, "it would be great" for road funding from the state to be earmarked for what Shipp predicts will be a necessary expansion of Texas 6.

Harvell also said there's no easy fix for traffic congestion, and in many cases there's "little the city can do" with some of the most heavily trafficked thoroughfares, such as Texas 6 and University Drive, which are Texas Department of Transportation roads. Her concerns regarding traffic control are focused on neighborhood streets that commonly see speeders and cut-through traffic. It's one of the biggest issues she's heard from residents since joining the council 11 months ago.

A flashing speed limit sign installed on Dominik Drive has helped with speeding there, she said, and is an idea the city potentially could implement on other neighborhood streets.

Paying for infrastructure improvements

Harvell said she's heard other council candidates suggest the city look for places to trim the budget "line item by line item" to free up costs, but "it's just not that easy." The reality, Harvell said, is no one council member can find more revenue to put toward College Station's growing list of capital needs. It will require a unified management team who can look for places to "effectively reduce the debt," she said.

"In talking with the city manager, down the road we're gonna have to probably look at maybe some kind of increase in different fees, which all of us want to avoid if we can," Harvell said, though she doesn't want to raise taxes.

Harvell suggests reducing debt by putting some low-priority projects "on the back burner" that had been identified by the Citizen Advisory Committee in 2015 when the city was considering a bond election, such as a new natatorium and a skate park. "Reducing the debt without impacting the citizens" will have to be the top priority for the new council, Harvell said. And while she has no problem with departments looking at where they can reduce some of their budgets, Harvell doesn't think the council should "micromanage" that process.

Shipp's focus for bringing in more revenue is attracting businesses that would expand the city's tax base and create more jobs that would spur people to purchase homes and generate additional property taxes, all without having to raise the property tax rate.

"It's all connected, and so I don't want to see us have to keep raising property taxes," Shipp said. "I think that College Station, while [its tax rate] is lower than a lot of cities it gets compared to, I don't think that when there's other opportunities to bring in additional revenue it should be done by increasing property taxes."

College Station has room for growth when it comes to commercial opportunities and sales tax, Shipp said, which would raise revenue to support infrastructure improvements and fund the police and fire departments without putting the burden on the taxpayers.

Affordable housing

Shipp feels College Station's lack of affordable housing isn't an issue in a vacuum -- "it's impacting these other issues with our firefighters and police officers," he said. "I think that is the primary issue that we need the city to address."

While he's not a proponent of government getting involved in all of the issues of residents' daily lives, he said this one is impacting city staff directly and the ability of the police and fire departments to recruit candidates.

"You've got to look at the impact fees -- I think that has to do a lot with it, but then also providing opportunities in terms of the rules for lot sizes," Shipp said. "Have conversations with developers, who have said with the price of land in College Station these days they can't build a new house and sell it for less than $200,000 ... at the end of the day, this all comes down to having people on council who understand the economics, who understand the decision-making for the entire city and not just little pockets that they live in and they're passionate about."

Harvell, too, has heard from developers that it's difficult to build a house in College Station for less than $200,000.

"I think that the city is certainly not adverse to trying to find ways where we can somehow or another find more affordable housing for people that can't afford a $300,000 home," Harvell said.

So far, the city "hasn't found the right avenue" to make that happen, Harvell said, adding that she hopes to work with the development community to find a solution sooner rather than later.

Police staffing

College Station has 144 sworn officers in its police department. Based on the city's population, calls for service, response times and the geographical area the department covers, city staff members estimate the department needs 10 to 15 more officers. Harvell said the 2.5-cent tax increase for a new police station and money built into the budget for pay increases were a good start, but the city needs to do "whatever it can to keep morale up to keep [officers] excited about working in College Station."

"The challenge in retaining the officers is that we've got to get competitive pay, and I don't know that the tax increase will do that, but we need to look at our budget," Harvell said. "They have to be first on the list."

Shipp said the biggest issue with police staffing is retention. He's heard that officers leave the city mainly because of higher paid offered in other cities, or that they can relocate to Houston, Austin or Dallas-area suburbs for the same amount of pay but where they can buy a home for less money.

"We have our needs, which are police, fire and infrastructure, and then you've got your wants, like city programs and things that are great if you can afford them, but I think it's important to not spend money on building new parks and creating new programs until that top priority of funding police and fire is fully filled," Shipp said. "... You've got to take care of the critical programs before we pay for other things."
May 22, 1938 - October 28, 2017

Carolyn "Ruth" Fleeger, 79, passed away on Saturday, October 28, 2017. Ruth was born May 22, 1938 in Butler, Pennsylvania to Charles and Helen (Burris) Kaufman.

One of six children, Ruth grew up in the difficult World War II time of ration cards - which she still had. She walked to school in the plentiful snow of Pennsylvania winters and one of her most despised chores as a child was to clean the birdbath. She learned how to ride a bicycle on a red brick road and she enjoyed being a Rainbow Girl, which provided leadership training through community service.

She loved singing and was a member of the Butler High School choir until her graduation in 1956.

Ruth met the love of her life, James Lee Fleeger, on a blind date and they were married on September 27, 1957. During their marriage, they were blessed with three children: David, Denise, and Chuck. During the course of their life together, they moved several times for Lee's education and research. These stops included Penn State, University of Delaware, University of Illinois and "The" Ohio State University. Finally, their travels brought them to Texas A&M, where they were able to put down roots.

Ruth was a wonderful mother, and one of her favorite memories was her trip to Tanzania for her son David's wedding. She loved getting to participate in the cultural aspects of the wedding there.

She worked for Texas A&M University in the Department of Agricultural Engineering for many years. Her organization and always "knowing a guy" who could do whatever needed doing helped her in that career.

Ruth was an incredibly meticulous person, she had impeccable handwriting, was a fast typist, and was a whiz at spelling and short hand. She spent over a quarter of a century working as a legal secretary for Hugh Lindsay before retiring to be a full time Grandma in 2012.

Ruth was the ultimate hostess at all times, gracious and generous to a fault. Whenever she went out to eat with someone, she had to be the one to pay the check, and was always the last to eat. She also loved helping people out at church.

A founding member of Peace Lutheran Church, she purchased the first set of hand bells for the hand bell choir. She also was she was the 1989 Volunteer of the Year for Family Outreach. She also enjoyed her work with Habitat For Humanity.

One of Ruth's biggest role models was Mother Theresa, and she tried to emulate that love of all people through her volunteerism. In her free time, Ruth enjoyed sitting down and reading a good book while eating Reece's Peanut Butter Cups. Her favorite things to read were crime mysteries, romance, and non-fiction.

The feisty side of her also came out with her daily habit of watching All My Children. She may have hated cleaning the birdbath as a kid, but she always had a hummingbird feeder filled for "Ruby," which was her name for all the hummingbirds.

One of the favorite things she ever did was getting to go on a hot air balloon ride.

Grandma Ruth leaves behind a large family: Her son and daughter-in law David Lee and Flora Fleeger, her daughter and son-in-law Denise Lynn and Harvey Haney, her son and daughter-in-law Charles "Chuck" Ross and Angela Fleeger, her grand-daughter Abigail "Abby" Jean Rutledge and her husband Shawn Bates, her granddaughter Katherine Ann Haney, her granddaughter Kristin Nicole French and her husband Logan, her grandson Joseph Lee Fleeger, her grandson James Craig Fleeger, and her six month old great-grandson Kingsley Charles French.

Her grandchildren will miss hearing her call to say, "Hi, it's just grandma." Her family would like to invite you to help celebrate Ruth's life by joining them at a visitation on Saturday, November 4, 2017 from 4 to 6 pm at Hillier Funeral Home of Bryan.

Her funeral service will be Sunday, November 5 at Peace Lutheran at 2:30 pm. She will be laid to rest next to her beloved husband Lee at College Station City Cemetery immediately following the service.

There will be a reception following the burial at Peace Lutheran Church. In lieu of flowers we request donations to Hospice Brazos Valley.

Please visit Ruth"s tribute page at www.hillierfuneralhome.com to view a full life story and to share memories and stories.
I worked for Paul Manafort. He always lacked a moral compass.

Early in my career, I worked for Paul Manafort. He was strategic, canny, demanding and, it will surprise no one to learn after his 12-count indictment this week, played by his own rules in an industry where you usually got away with it. I was young, wanted to do right by the world, and my boss lacked a moral compass. Working for him nearly broke my spirit.

A few years out of college, in 1987, I landed a job as an international field operative for BMS&K -- Black, Manafort, Stone & Kelly, the capital's very first bipartisan lobbying firm. Manafort himself hired me after I promised that "there is no place in the world I will not go." And I got what I signed up for: In more than a decade working for him, there was no place that Manafort would not send me.

According to a Newsweek cover story that year, BMS&K was "the hottest shop in town." The service it provided to clients was part politics, part public policy and part commerce, a curious mix of self-interest, selflessness and opportunism that could exist only in our nation's capital. BMS&K got paid to change policy and alter opinions. It could be for something as narrow as a modified export regulation, or as all-encompassing as building strategic alliances against America's enemies, real or perceived.

The late '80s was a time of global upheaval. Following Ronald Reagan's presidency, we were in an era of proxy wars and freedom fighters. The Soviet Union was beginning to teeter. So foreign governments and other political interests were willing to pay us millions of dollars to ensure that they were properly allied with the United States. And we did it all: We organized congressional delegations and advocacy trips to members' districts, coordinated head-of-state visits to Washington, handled font-page media placements, prepared white papers. Whatever it took.

You never knew what would come at you at BMS&K. It felt random and totally unpredictable. One autumn afternoon in 1989, Manafort summoned me to his office and announced he was dispatching me and my colleague, John Donaldson, to Somalia. We had three days to prepare.

The mission: Meet with its ruler, Siad Barre, and get him to sign a contract for $1 million, with $250,00 up front. The deal was pre-sold to Barre by one of Manafort's shady intermediaries. We just had to collect the signature. Our assignment would be to clean up Barre's international reputation, which needed plenty of soap. An Africa Watch Committee and other human rights organizations, including our own U.S. State Department, had documented a long list of barbaric acts carried out by Barre and his ruthless cadre of Red Berets.

I told Manafort it didn't seem like a promising strategy to march into a murderous dictator's office and point out to him and his lieutenants that he has a public relations problem. "Are we sure we want this guy as a client?" I asked, in a garish display of naivete. Manafort sounded annoyed, as if I had asked the right question at the wrong time. He waved off my concerns as he settled into his large leather armchair in his spacious corner office overlooking the Potomac River, the walls adorned with photos of past presidents, U.S. senators, congressmen and other notables. It was intimidating, and meant to be. I and my colleagues regarded Manafort as a master geopolitical strategist. He was one of those rare individuals who could cut through the noise, get to the heart of a problem and hit on a solution. And he didn't care about the collateral damage. I eventually learned that the hard way.

As he showed John and me out the door, he said: "We all know Barre is a bad guy, Riva. We just have to make sure he's our bad guy. Have a great trip!"

John and I arrived just as the capital, Mogadishu, was encircled by rebels seeking to overthrow Barre. We never got our meeting with the embattled leader, who fled to Libya in search of arms -- a pretty unique reason for canceling a meeting. We barely got out of the city before it fell, bribing our way onto one of the last flights out, a Somali Airlines flight to Cairo.

We returned to Washington without our luggage or the signed contract, though we did carry back a memorable souvenir: amoebic dysentery.

The mercenary African adventure left me dispirited. I needed to cleanse my soul. So when I received a last-minute request several weeks later from the Center for Democracy to serve as an election observer in Nicaragua's first multiparty elections, I jumped at it, and invited John to join me.

Here was a chance to do something good. And Manafort was away, so we could depart conveniently without seeking his permission. The guy was a control freak, and even though he had no say in how we used our personal time, John and I knew he would veto the trip since it wouldn't directly benefit BMS&K. Plus, he generally showed no interest in ideas he didn't generate.

Under international pressure, the Soviet-backed Sandinista government had agreed to hold elections, partly because they expected their leader, Daniel Ortega, to win the presidency decisively. His main challenger was Violeta Barrios Torres de Chamorro of the National Opposition Union, (UNO, or the ONE).

Our goal for the center was to visit 10 polling stations in the countryside outside of Managua, where the guerrilla war had made citizens wary. It was the last day of the country's voter registration.

At 5:30 a.m., the temperature already approaching 90 degrees, our team of five set off in a Toyota SUV with our checklist: Review the registrar list at each precinct; confirm there are no armed police or military within 100 yards; ensure the registration process was free from intimidation.

At Jinotega, in the hills near the Honduran border, thousands were waiting in the main square to register. The excitement was infectious, and the atmosphere festive. Most of the women and girls were attired in shiny, taffeta-like dresses in pastel shades of pink, purple, yellow and lime; the men wore their Sunday best, many sporting ties. While a colleague from our entourage interviewed the poll workers, I approached a middle-aged couple standing hundreds back in the line. I asked them, "Por quien usted va a votar?" Who will you vote for?

The man smiled, revealing his yellowing teeth. His eyes shone as he pointed his index finger into the air. It was the sign for UNO. All at once, everyone in line followed suit, index fingers raised. I knew I wasn't supposed to ask about voter preference, and I was later admonished by the center staff. But I was glad to see that people felt free to vote against the Sandinistas. Moreover, I was now convinced from my impromptu focus group that Ortega was going to lose. I felt I had just witnessed democracy being born. A nice change from my entreaties to a Somali warlord!

Monday morning, as John and I awaited our flight to D.C., we decided to call Manafort. He'd likely be wondering why we hadn't shown up for the Monday staff meeting. We never took vacation days.

In a failed attempt to disarm him, we hyped the potential marketing target for our company. "Hi, Paul," John began. "I'm here in Miami with Riva on our way back to D.C. We went to Nicaragua with the Center for Democracy, and we're convinced Chamorro will win. This may be a great opportunity for the firm."

I leaned close to John so I could hear Manafort's response. But I didn't need to. "Who gave you permission to leave the country?" Manafort screamed into the receiver. "Why didn't you inform me? You're wasting your goddamn time! The Sandinistas have this election all sewn up! Client priorities are not being met! You both have horrible judgment!" Then he hung up.

The next day at the office, I got the word from my co-workers: They'd never seen Manafort like this. "Stay away from him," warned Mary Kay, his secretary. Piled on my chair were a half-dozen notes in Manafort's handwritten scribble. Each was a job he wanted done ASAP, and each would take hours. My penance. I'd be working every night that week to pay for my side trip.

Months later, after Chamorro had won an astonishing upset victory over the Sandinistas by a margin of 54 to 46 percent, Manafort asked John and me to secure a contract with her and her party. I wanted to raise a finger into the air when he asked -- my middle one! (We never made a deal.)

It would go on like that with me and Manafort for another five years, and through my most challenging mission, Angola, where I was deployed in September 1992 as BMS&K's sole representative during the country's first democratic election. The historic contest pitted the communist government against the firm's client, the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA).

By then BMS&K had worked with UNITA for several years and was responsible in no small part for the Reagan administration designating UNITA as a "freedom fighter" movement. That made it eligible for covert funding to fight the government and their Soviet and Cuban allies. The international community hoped the '92 elections would finally bring peace and permit democracy to take root. And Manafort was convinced that UNITA would win. Both assumptions proved false.

The U.N.-administered election was a logistical disaster, with only 17 helicopters deployed to move completed ballots in a country twice the size of Texas. When early results from the urban areas showed the government's clear advantage, UNITA cried foul and the capital, Luanda, became extraordinarily tense. You could tell the various party militias were ready to fight.

I went to the National Electoral Commission downtown to urge that UNITA's concerns be taken seriously so that calm could be kept while the final vote count continued. After a pointless two-hour visit, I emerged from the smoke-filled office, famished, and looking for my vehicle. As I approached the street, a firefight broke out -- rapid, staccato automatic gunshots. Everyone scattered. I dove under a white Jeep with U.N. emblazoned on its side, and waited, and waited. I felt extremely alone. Why had Manafort sent me here by myself?

After the shots subsided, I emerged from my sheltering place, shaking uncontrollably. It took me a while to reset myself, remember where I was and what I was doing. After the incident, the U.S. mission urged me to leave the country. Officials there were unsure whether I was a target. Two weeks later, the country was at war with itself. The election process was never completed. Thousands of UNITA sympathizers were killed, along with many friends, including some who had escorted me onto my flight out.

I was traumatized, depressed, almost in mourning. Worse, I felt responsible. Our efforts might have contributed to the misery inflicted on the Angolan people. As for Manafort -- well, there was no self-reflection. It was simple: We lost a client. He saw no reason to dwell on it. I shouldn't take it personally, he told me.

But that was my problem. I took everything personally, questioned myself, the firm, the mission, and the point of it all. And when it wasn't enough to rationalize that I was gaining experience to deploy for better use elsewhere one day, when I could no longer justify the unjustifiable, it was time to leave Manafort. That was 22 years ago.

- Levinson, president & CEO of KRL International, a strategy consultancy, is the author "Choosing the Hero: Choosing the Hero: My Improbable Journey and the Rise of Africa's First Woman President," a memoir.

manafort-essay

Washington Post News Service (DC)

11/1/2017 8:55:20 AM Central Daylight Time
The indictment of Paul Manafort and his longtime business partner Rick Gates should have come as no surprise to anyone. Indeed, it was precisely because of news reports in the summer of 2016 on some of the same matters contained in Mueller's indictment - charges of illicit cash payments to Manafort by the party of former Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych and Manafort's assistance with undisclosed foreign lobbying - that Manafort was fired from Donald Trump's campaign (though somehow Gates managed to stay on).

Special counsel Robert Mueller's court filing tells a sordid tale of influence-peddling on behalf of Yanukovych, Vladimir Putin's man in Kiev. But while Monday's revelations were in no way an indictment of Trump-Russia collusion, they were a searing indictment of Trump's judgment in bringing Manafort into his campaign in the first place.

My first job in Washington in 1989 was at Black, Manafort, Stone and Kelly, long before Manafort began working for Yanukovych. Trump was a client then and has known Manafort for decades. Did it not occur to Trump that, given Manafort's recent client roster, this was probably not the person he wanted running his presidential campaign - or that hiring him might come back to haunt Trump as president one day? How was being a pro-Putin lobbyist not disqualifying for Trump?

For his part, Manafort is a victim of his own hubris. He would probably not be in legal jeopardy today if he had not raised his head and become the public face of the Trump campaign. In Washington, you can line your pockets with work for Putin-backed clients, or you can be a public figure leading a presidential campaign, but you can't do both. Manafort reportedly tried. According to the indictment, he was engaged in money laundering of his Ukraine payments during his time on the Trump campaign and afterward.

Similarly, the court's "statement of the offense" on George Papadopoulos for providing false statements to the FBI contains no evidence of Trump-Russia collusion but shows bad judgment on the part of Trump's campaign for bringing Papadopoulos aboard. Papadopoulos was such a junior foreign policy figure that his announcement as a member of Trump's foreign policy team in March 2016 was met with this mocking Post headline: "One of Trump's foreign policy advisers is a 2009 college grad who lists Model UN as a credential."

The statement goes into great detail about his efforts to court a Kremlin-connected professor, a "niece" of Putin (who was not actually his niece) and a "Russian MFA connection." But Mueller's court filing also shows that those contacts produced little. Papadopoulos was unable to set up the meeting between Trump and Putin in Moscow that the Russians desperately wanted (a footnote in the plea deal quotes an email between campaign officials that said "We need someone to communicate that DT is not doing these trips"). When it became clear the Putin meeting would not happen, Papadopoulos tried to pitch himself to travel to Moscow to represent the campaign, which also never happened. In other words, Papadopoulos was a peripheral figure whose failing efforts to impress the campaign with his Russian contacts seem to have come to naught.

Still, why bring him on in the first place? We know that in early 2016 Trump was having trouble attracting talented foreign policy advisers, but this was ridiculous. A presidential front-runner doesn't bring people onto his foreign policy advisory team who still consider "U.S. Representative at the 2012 Geneva International Model United Nations" to be resume-worthy. This was a guy who would have a hard time landing a job as a legislative assistant on Capitol Hill, and suddenly, he's conducting back-door diplomacy with Russian officials and doing interviews with the Russian press, in the name of the Trump campaign? What could go wrong?

Much has been made of the professor telling Papadopoulos that the Russians had "dirt" on Hillary Clinton and thousands of "emails of Clinton." But the document does not indicate that anyone at the Trump campaign took Papadopoulos up on this. Moreover, WikiLeaks did not release "emails of Clinton" but Democratic National Committee emails - so it's not clear that the professor's offer was any more truthful than his introduction to Putin's "niece." Since Papadopoulos has been a government informant since his arrest in July, perhaps there is more to come on this front. But as former federal prosecutor Andy McCarthy points out, the statement of offense seems to be more exculpatory than incriminating for Trump: If the Russians were offering Clinton emails through Papadopoulos, "that would mean Trump and his campaign had nothing to do with the acquisition of the emails" and thus had not committed a crime. Accepting "dirt" from Russian sources would have been unsavory if it happened. But that's arguably less unsavory than the Clinton campaign paying for dirt on Trump from Russian sources.

In other words, there's still no more public evidence of criminal collusion with Russia than there was before charges were brought. But there is plenty of evidence that the Trump campaign had catastrophically bad judgment in choosing its most senior and junior advisers - and that Russia's spy network sought to exploit that weakness.
In eastern Ukraine, three and a half years of conflict in a highly industrialised region is already thought to have led to massive groundwater pollution from flooded mines, while shelling continues to risk causing serious damage to industrial facilities.

In the Lake Chad Basin, climate change is partly to blame for a conflict that has resulted in a vast and complex humanitarian emergency.

In Somalia, decades of conflict have disrupted delicate dryland pastoral systems and livelihoods, contributing to the rise in armed groups. For Afghanistan, efforts to restore its denuded forests and ensure their sustainable management are being hampered by insecurity.

Meanwhile post-conflict Colombia faces widespread mercury pollution from gold mining, alongside the enormous challenge of balancing the protection of biodiversity with the demands of economic development.

Signs of progress?

These examples, and many more besides, are not going unnoticed by the international community. At a recent United Nations' event on humanitarian response and the environment, organisations from both fields pledged deeper cooperation on the early identification of environmental health risks created by conflicts.

This approach was recently applied to mapping urban environmental hazards caused by the destruction of Mosul, and a growing number of forward-thinking humanitarian organisations are now recognising the need for an integrated approach, examining how the environment affects their operations, or is in turn affected by them.

Iraq, which is just beginning to count the cost of the environmental damage wrought by Islamic State, is seeking to highlight the threat posed by the toxic remnants of war in a resolution at the United Nations Environment Assembly this December. In doing so it is encouraging UN Environment to review its capacity to monitor and respond to the risks posed by conflict pollution.

In a further sign of progress, last year the assembly passed an historic resolution on conflict and the environment by consensus, in what has been viewed as the most significant text of its type since the 1991 Gulf War oil fires.

Nevertheless, the failure of the body to pass a resolution calling for a fresh United Nations led assessment of the environmental conditions in Gaza at the same meeting revealed that politics can still trump environmental and humanitarian considerations.

A modest victory

The United Nations Security Council has also struggled with politics as it has sought to address conflict and the environment, in its case on the security implications of climate change.

During the last decade several mainly European countries have tried to encourage formal and informal debates on the topic but have often found themselves blocked by Russia, China, the G77 and the Non-Aligned Movement.

There were some signs of hope earlier this year when members agreed to a resolution on the situation in the Lake Chad Basin, which included a reference to: ...the adverse effects of climate change and ecological changes among other factors on the stability of the Region, including through water scarcity, drought, desertification, land degradation, and food insecurity...'.

That the text also emphasised the important role that climate risk assessments and risk management strategies could play in the early identification and response to climate-induced insecurity was a modest victory for those governments and organisations engaged on the topic.

Another environmental dimension currently being pursued by states, academics and think tanks, and which is closely linked with climate security, is that of water and conflict.

Illegal exploitation

For the Global High-Level Panel on Water and Peace, the topic includes the equitable use of water resources as a tool for preventative diplomacy, as well as a vehicle for post-conflict peacebuilding.

Their approach is driven by global population and climatic pressure on water resources, and the widespread targeting of water infrastructure in recent conflicts. They too believe that the topic should be addressed by the Security Council as a priority issue for international peace and security.

Against this backdrop, and with little fanfare, the United Nations' International Law Commission is midway through a multi-year project to review the weak state of legal protection for the environment in relation to armed conflicts.

Along the way, the commission is proposing new legal principles to help protect the environment before, during and after conflicts. In some places they are refinements of existing laws, in others fresh interpretations based on how states and international organisations have acted in the past.

The process is all the more important because, unlike peacetime environmental law, the laws protecting the environment from warfare have barely evolved since the 1970s.

Rights of communities

There are further tentative signs of progress at the International Criminal Court, where last year its prosecutor issued new guidance on the selection of cases. The guidance included proposals to try cases involving: ...the destruction of the environment, the illegal exploitation of natural resources or the illegal dispossession of land'.

Applying such approaches to conflict settings would be complex, regardless of whether the damage has been caused by governments or armed groups, but the prosecutor's proposals are indicative of a move towards greater recognition of environmental crimes.

Similarly, recent work at the United Nations' Human Rights Council to increase the recognition of environmental human rights has also considered the links between wartime environmental degradation and rights.

Its special rapporteur on toxics having recently identified that Existing laws intended to protect the environment during armed conflict have proven insufficient to prevent serious pollution and other forms of exposure to hazardous substances', threatening the rights of communities in conflict-affected areas.

Where should we go from here?

All of these initiatives, across all their many fora, are contributing towards momentum for change, both in how the environment is protected in conflict, and in how the international community responds to harm or to environmental risks.

While positive, they are just the beginning of a process. How that process develops will be in the hands of governments, international organisations and civil society, in particular those who have experienced the consequences of damage first hand.

What should the next steps be?

It's clear that the collection of data on wartime environmental damage must be increased, both as a means of minimising harm to people and ecosystems in the short-term, and to help inform policy in the longer term.Improved data collection is also vital to help document human rights violations and environmental crimes that occur during and after conflicts.

As the Lake Chad example suggests, work is also needed to enhance the United Nations' ability to monitor and respond to environmental risks. And it's also clear that much more could be done to ensure that natural resource management is prioritised in post-conflict planning, and that resources and technical assistance are made available to ensure that conflict-affected states can rebuild effective environmental governance.

Finally, it's becoming increasingly clear that we have a generational opportunity to finally tackle the weak legal framework intended to protect the environment in relation to armed conflicts. However doing so will require the coordinated efforts of governments, lawyers and civil society: a major undertaking but perhaps no more unrealistic than a treaty banning nuclear weapons.

Concerted action

This year, NGOs and leading experts have marked #EnvConflictDay by calling for greater progress in efforts to protect people and the environment from the impact of warfare.

Highlighting the ongoing conflicts in Iraq, Libya, Syria, Ukraine and Yemen, the 30 organisations and 10 experts argue that conflict pollution, and damage to ecosystems and natural resources, pose immediate threats to human health and threaten reconstruction and peacebuilding.

The signatories include humanitarian, environmental, legal and development organisations, as well as experts in healthcare and conservation.

For the first time in many years, this year's #EnvConflictDay should be an opportunity to reflect on the progress that has been achieved, and not just the problems we face. But more importantly, it should also be a call for concerted action to secure those gains already made, as well as to plan for the future.

This Author

Doug Weir manages the Toxic Remnants of War Project, which studies the humanitarian and environmental impact of conflicts and military activities, on Twitter @detoxconflict, and is a Visiting Research Fellow at King's College London's Department of War Studies' Marjan Centre.
Birds of prey in Britain face a bleak future unless urgent action is taken to stop shooting, poisoning and trapping, according to the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.

The RSPB today published its latest report, Birdcrime 2016, which found that there were 81 cases of persecution in 2016 alone. This included 40 shootings, 22 poisonings, 15 trappings and four other incidents.

Hen harriers, peregrine falcons, red kites and buzzards were among the victims. The charity suggests these figures are just the tip of the iceberg with many illegal killings going undetected or unreported.

Prosecutions arising

The report also revealed close to two-thirds (53) of the confirmed incidents took place in England, with particular concern for raptors in North Yorkshire.

Over the last five years the county recorded the highest number of confirmed bird of prey persecution incidents in the UK, with 54 incidents since 2012 and 19 last year alone.

The problem wasnt confined to England, with the report highlighting confirmed case in Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland, where there is growing concern over the repeated suspicious disappearance of satellite tagged birds of prey.

This year, a study by Scottish Government examined the fate of 131 golden eagles fitted with satellite tags between 2004-16 concluding that as many as 41 (one third) disappeared, presumably died, under suspicious circumstances connected with records of illegal persecution.

Increasingly, people in the UK are being robbed of the chance to see these spectacular birds because of these illegal incidents, yet in 2016, there wasnt a single prosecution arising from a confirmed incident, the first time this has happened in 30 years.

Compelling evidence

Martin Harper, RSPB Conservation Director, said: Birds of prey bring our skies to life. There is nothing like seeing a diving peregrine or a skydancing hen harrier.

"The sights of these spectacular birds are something we should all be able to enjoy, unfortunately illegal activity is stopping this and preventing the birds from flourishing.
You have a character that goes through the scrutiny of being sexualised , and then an audience that does the same thing.
By Arvind Magesan

New Canadian Media

Statistics Canada has released new data from the 2016 census that shows more than any other G8 country, Canada is a nation of immigrants. One in five Canadians (21.9 per cent to be exact) were born in another country.

Immigration is a significant component of Canadas population growth and evolving demographic composition. The census data shows more than 1.2 million new immigrants came to Canada between 2011-16. Immigrants are also typically younger and more educated than the average Canadian.

Not surprisingly then, immigration is often touted as a necessary condition for sustained economic prosperity. And yet in spite of their ostensible importance to the Canadian economy, immigrants themselves have yet to catch up to other Canadians in terms of economic outcomes.

Economists refer to this catching up as economic assimilation and often measure it using the native-immigrant wage gap  the difference between the average wages of immigrants and those whose families have been here at least three generations. The persistence of this wage gap is a feature common to economies in the Western world that rely heavily on immigration.

As an economist and a child of immigrants myself, I was curious to delve into the census data to understand how this gap has evolved over time and across major cities in Canada  and to get a hint of what may be at the root of it.

The first thing that surprised me is the gap has not changed much over the past 10 years. Census data from 2006 showed, at a national level, first-generation immigrants earned wages 12.6 per cent less than the average wage of native Canadians. In 2011, the gap dropped slightly to 10 per cent, but the new census data shows its climbed significantly to 16 per cent.

Importantly, the gap is a countrywide phenomenon. Looking at the three of the most popular destinations for immigrants in the past decade  Toronto, Vancouver and Calgary  the gap in 2016 sits at 25, 17 and 23 per cent respectively.

Interestingly, the gap doesnt only exist for first-generation immigrants, but also for the children of immigrants (second generation, i.e. Canadians born to immigrant parents). The new data shows at the national level, second-generation immigrants earn 5.4 per cent less than natives.

Canada is an especially interesting case given the points system used to screen potential immigrants, where language, education and job skills are key determinants. And for the first time, the census has reported that about six out 10 new immigrants came here under the so-called economic admission category, meaning they have the skills to enhance and promote economic development.

Given the way immigrants are screened before entry, one would expect relatively quick integration into the Canadian economy and a convergence in wages. But this is clearly not the case.

The reasons put forward to explain the wage gap range from employer difficulty in assessing immigrant education credentials to outright discrimination. Economists refer to two types of discrimination in the labour market context, statistical discrimination and taste-based discrimination.

In the former, employers use observable traits (such as race) to make inferences about something like productivity. For example, an employer sees a job applicant with brown skin. The employer isnt prejudiced towards brown people, but is worried (stereotypically) the employee is going to want to take trips home to Sri Lanka and would need a lot of vacation time. So the employer hires someone else equally qualified. Taste-based discrimination is more what we think of as prejudice  not wanting to hire someone purely because of skin colour.

Identifying causal factors that explain the wage gap is a difficult task - individuals who immigrate to Canada do so by choice. These choices are a function of a host of factors that could potentially jointly explain the decision to immigrate and labour market outcomes, including personal characteristics, job experience and education, to name just a few. Identifying discrimination in the labour market, and separating between taste-based and statistical discrimination, is even harder.

However, a 2011 study by University of Toronto economist Phil Oreopolous takes an important step in this direction.

In the study, thousands of computer-generated resumes were mailed out to companies that had posted ads searching for employees. The resumes were randomly assigned either a foreign or a white sounding last name, and were otherwise identical. The result: The resumes where the applicant had a foreign-sounding last name were less likely to receive a call back than identical looking resumes with a white last name.

When the author followed up with some of the recruiters, the overwhelming reason given for overlooking resumes with a foreign-sounding name was that they anticipated difficulty with language. Specifically, recruiters expected a lack of fluency in English, problems with communicating at work and difficulty for customers and co-workers in understanding a foreign accent. In other words, recruiters were statistically discriminating between job candidates based on their names.

The latest census data says the native-first generation immigrant wage gap is 16 per cent at the national level. Once we examine whether immigrants speak English at home, things change  the wage difference is just 5.8 per cent. But for first-generation immigrants who dont speak English at home, the gap jumps to 27.3 per cent.

For second-generation immigrants, there is barely any gap for those who speak English at home (0.7 per cent) but its still a significant gap for those who dont speak English at home (a whopping 45.7 per cent).

This pattern also holds in the major metropolitan centres in the English-speaking parts of the country, which attract the most immigrants.

Interestingly, at almost 25 per cent, Toronto has one of the largest city level wage gaps in the country, explained at least in part by the fact that new immigrants tend to land in Toronto first and are more likely to be unemployed for a period of time. The three largest cities in English-speaking Canada, which also attract the most immigrants, also have gaps larger than the national average.

Though these patterns are striking, they should not be interpreted as causal  immigrants cant necessarily start speaking English at home and expect to see their future earnings increase. There are unobserved qualities of individuals that may correlate both with the tendency to speak English at home as well as with labour market earnings potential. Without holding these fixed in some way, we cant say whether there is a causal relationship between English skills and the gap in labour market outcomes.

But supposing that the findings here are suggestive of a causal relationship, why does speaking English at home matter so much?

One obvious answer is that individuals who speak English at home speak better English in general  and this would mean better communication at work.

But another possibility is the labour market discriminates against individuals with weaker English skills even when English is not important for productivity.

Arvind Magesan is an Associate Professor of Economics at the University of Calgary.

This piece was originally appeared in New Canadian Media.

See http://avia.newcanadianmedia.ca/component/k2/42612-closing-the-immigrant-wage-gap-is-speaking-english-important
New to Canada? Youre not alone, according to the latest Census figures that show the growing number of immigrants in Canada  one in five Canadians (21.9 per cent to be exact) were born in another country. But the immigration journey isnt always easy, which is where Canadian Immigrant magazines Career, Education & Settlement Immigrant Fair comes in.

The fifth annual fair is coming back to Vancouver, November 9, 2017, to help immigrants on their journey to success in Canada. The fair will be at Vancouver Convention Centre East (999 Canada Place) from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

This free expo for internationally trained professionals includes a diverse tradeshow of exhibitors, including several hiring employers like Lush Cosmetics and Hudsons Bay, and more. The tradeshow promises to be the largest one yet, with information on everything from careers, to continuing education, to mortgages.

Also, dont miss the great lineup of speakers, including Canadian Immigrant columnist Silvia Di Blasio, who will share tips on making the most of self-employment and freelancing. Plus, if you have a financial background, dont miss the session on becoming a CPA by CPA-BC.

Catherine Steele is back with her popular English pronunciation class, which was standing-room only at last years fair. For more accent reduction help, Patrick Byrne of L2 Accent Reduction will host his own interactive activity, following a new Networking Cafe run by RBC Top 25 Canadian Immigrant Trish Mandewo. Top it off with resume help from ISSofBC and a homebuying workshop by an immigrant mortgage professional.

And, if youre in B.C. only temporarily but want to become a permanent resident, get the immigration information you need from back-to-back workshops on Express Entry and the BC provincial nominee program.

To learn more about the fair and pre-register, go to www.canadianimmigrant.ca/careerfair/Vancouver.
In the upcoming Franklin County Board of Supervisors election, I am writing to sincerely support Charles Wagner for re-election. I have known Charlie for more than 30 years. He has served the citizens of Franklin County faithfully for 47 years, including 20 years on the Board of Supervisors. Charlie serves on numerous community service boards and chairs many of them. He has also volunteered for Habitat for Humanity for over 15 years.

Charlie has worked tirelessly for the good of Franklin County and its citizens with a desire to get things done. I know this first-hand because I worked with him on the Western Virginia Regional Jail project when I was superintendent and he a jail authority board member. Charlie looked out for the interest of Franklin County in the jail project and because of his efforts the regional jail is one of the leading regional jails in Virginia and beyond.

I have always tried to follow this rule, if it ain't broke, dont fix it. I urge the citizens of Franklin County to follow this rule and return Charles Wagner to the Board of Supervisors.

Charles I. Poff Jr.

Roanoke

Former superintendent/Western Virginia Regional Jail; retired Roanoke County sheriff
A man charged in a fatal boating accident on Smith Mountain Lake last year wont spend any time in jail under a court decision Monday.

A Pittsylvania County judge reduced one of the charges against Drewry Woodson Hall of Martinsville resident and took another under advisement for a year.

Hall was charged after an accident that claimed the life of 17-year-old Gabby Ayers of Clemmons, North Carolina.

Ayers was a passenger on a Polaris jet ski that collided with the 21-foot Key West Boat being operated by Hall. The accident happened in a cove near the Anthony Ford Boat Ramp, on the Pittsylvania County side of the lake.

Both Hall and his passenger, 22-year-old Capers Penn Zentmeyer of Martinsville, helped pull Ayers and the operator of that jet ski, 19-year-old William Rentz Brandt, to shore after the wreck. Brandt, who lives in Danville, was taken to Carilion Franklin Memorial Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Originally, Hall had been charged with operating a boat in a reckless manner. Judge George A. Jones reduced that to operating a boat in an improper manner, fining him $300. Under the reduced charge, Jones said $500 was the maximum fine allowed.

Three hundred dollars is nothing compared to the loss of a human being, Jones said, explaining that he reduced the charge because he did not feel Hall was completely to blame for the incident.

The Virginia Code says, ..upon the trial of any person charged with reckless boating where the degree of culpability is slight, the court in its discretion may find the accused not guilty of reckless boating but guilty of improper boating. Improper boating shall be punishable as a Class 3 misdemeanor.

The Virginia reckless boating law says, in part that no person shall operate any motorboat or vessel, or manipulate any skis, surfboard, or similar device, or engage in any spearfishing while skin diving or scuba diving in a reckless manner so as to endanger the life, limb, or property of any person.

Among other things, Jones indicated one of the factors in his decision was what he felt was a discrepancy between Brandts testimony on May 16 and the statement he gave officers after the incident.

During Brandts testimony on May 16, he said he didnt remember the original collision. The last thing he recalled, the Danville resident said, was looking over his right shoulder and seeing the boat approaching.

I knew it was going to hit me, he said on May 16, talking about the gut feeling he had at the time. Brandt said he didnt remember how fast he was driving the jet ski or where he was going, or how fast the boat was traveling.

In the statement to officers, Brandt allegedly said I turned. I turned. I hit the boat.

If he hit the boat, Jones indicated, then the boats operator couldnt be solely responsible for hitting him or the jet ski.

Defense makes its case

In closing arguments, defense attorneys focused on the difference in Brandts statements, contending the jet ski crossed into the path of the oncoming boat. Defense attorney Thomas Cullen also brought up the fact that on cross-examination back on May 16, Brandt said he would prefer not to answer the question when asked whether he had smoked marijuana before going out on the jet ski that day. It was impossible to test if he was under the influence, Cullen argued, referring to the earlier testimony of Officer Tyler Sheets of the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. Officer Sheets had testified that he had forgotten his white box test kit when he went to the hospital and so was not able to test the jet ski driver for possible use of drugs.

In the end, Cullen argued, the judge must consider the actions of the driver of the boat (Hall) and the driver of the jet ski (Brandt). Cullen argued that even though Brandt was not charged in the accident, the judge must consider the actions of both drivers in totality.

He argued that Hall did everything right, when it comes to his responsibilities. He pointed out the Martinsville resident was licensed to operate the boat, had the lights of the vehicle turned on and was slowing down when the boat entered the cove. He also pointed out that Hall jumped out of the boat and tried to save the two victims, saying he acted heroically.

The prosecutions case

Pittsylvania County Commonwealths Attorney Robert Bryan Haskins meanwhile pointed out there was no visibility problem, no fog and no obstruction on the boat Hall was driving that would have prevented him from seeing the jet ski was approaching.

Haskins argued that several witnesses testified the boat Hall was operating was moving fast and that the jet ski was going 5 mph or less when the accident happened. This was a point disputed throughout the trial, as a defense witness claimed the boat was going about 10 mph and the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries estimated the boats speed at 25 to 30 mph.

Haskins also brought up the testimony of Zentmeyer, the boats only passenger. On Aug. 14, Zentmeyer testified that the boat was at maximum throttle and on plane (flat, as opposed to the bow in the air) as it was exiting a cove. All of sudden, he said, a split second, a jet ski is approaching us on the left side, banking hard left and hits the boat like this. I only had a split second to see it coming from the left side of the boat.

He said it looked like the jet ski was trying to turn left to swerve and miss the larger craft as the boat emerged from the cove.

Zentmeyer also testified in that Aug. 14 hearing that Hall gave him no indication before that split second of noticing the jet ski.

That split second that he (Hall) and I saw the jet ski, we were trying to turn right because he was trying to turn left and miss us, Zentmeyer said.

Haskins also referred to more of Zentmeyers testimony from Aug. 14, where he had asked the passenger if Hall had given any indication of seeing the boat before the impact or that he was trying to avoid it.

No, because we were looking out towards the right, towards the main channel, Zentmeyer said at the time.

In that Aug. 14 hearing, Haskins followed up by asking so, you all were looking out to the right to make sure that there werent other boats that you were going to have to avoid in the distance?

Zentmeyer responded, Correct.

Issuing a ruling

In addition to being found guilty of operating a boat in an improper manner, Judge Jones also found sufficient evidence to find Hall guilty of purchasing or being in possession of alcohol. Hall had been 20 years old at the time of the incident and has since turned 21. Instead of handing down a ruling on that charge, Judge Jones took it under advisement for a year and ordered Hall to perform 20 hours of community service. If Hall completes the community service as required, then the judge could consider dismissing the alcohol charge.

We are very pleased with the courts ruling that the commonwealth did not prove reckless boating, Cullen said after the trial. The events of July 3, 2016 were the result of a tragic accident involving two parties. Drew, who acted heroically after the accident, mourns the loss of Gabby Ayers and hopes to put this difficult chapter behind him.

Haskins could not be reached Monday for comment.

Collins reports for the Martinsville Bulletin.
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Starting Wednesday, Stew Leonards will begin delivering groceries  milk included  using the Instacart service, which hires shoppers to peruse aisles for delivery.

Stews Fresh Delivery ordering windows range from one hour to seven days according to customers preferences, for those within a 20-to-30 minute drive of Stew Leonards stores in Norwalk, Danbury and Newington, as well as New York locations in Yonkers, Farmingdale and East Meadow.

Details are available at shop.stewleonards.com or via Instacarts app. For customers who use the code stewsexpress to sign up by Feb. 1, delivery will be free for up to a year on orders above $35. For one-time orders, delivery fees range between $6 and $10, with Instacart also offering an annual membership.

Instacart has been expanding nationally, with Balduccis Food Lovers Market also announcing this week a partnership for deliveries from regional stores including in Greenwich and Westport. Stop & Shop, the largest supermarket chain operating in southwestern Connecticut, makes deliveries via its in-house Peapod service.

Stew Leonards traces its roots back a century in Norwalk to the Clover Farms dairy run by the father of Stew Leonard Sr. The company is run today by his son, Stew Leonard Jr., with Jake Tavello one of two members from the familys third generation to join the company, alongside cousin Blake Leonard. Tavello leads the new app-based delivery initiatives.

My great-grandfather started delivering in the 1920s, Tavello said Tuesday. Its cool for us because we are really going back to our roots. ... Its part of our history and heritage.

Stew Leonard Sr. still recollects the routine from his youth making the rounds with his father Charles Leo Leonard, after bottling milk from a herd numbering some 600 cows that grazed where the Route 7 extension bisects Norwalk today.

Get up in the morning at 2 (a.m.) ... and go over to the dairy  you would load your truck up with ice and you would go out in the dark of night and start delivering, he said. That was in the 1930s. ... What comes around goes around.

As for the three-ton chunk of granite outside each stores entrance, etching in stone the companys first rule that the customer is always right  along with a second one instructing employees to reread it if the customer is ever wrong in Stew Leonards words? A third rule might be in order, Stew Leonard Jr. allowed.

Rule 3  read Rules 1 and 2 on your iPhone, he said.

 Due to a reporting error, captions accompanying earlier versions misstated the name of Al Palumbo.

Alex.Soule@scni.com; 203-842-2545; @casoulman
Time's Running Out

If you received an extension of time to file your taxes this year, hopefully you made good use of it  because the due date is fast approaching. Monday, October 16, is the filing deadline.

Did you squander your extension time? If so, you're probably out of luck. The IRS generally only grants additional tax extensions to members of the military who are serving in combat zones and contingency operations, or certain taxpayers living outside the US. Special relief may be available for those affected by natural disasters, such as this year's devastating hurricanes. The IRS maintains a page for details on qualifying events.

Assuming you must file by October 16th, how do you proceed? The obvious answer is  quickly.

The Things You Need

Start by remembering an important change for this filing season. Because of breaches of IRS files, you can no longer use an electronic filing PIN for identification purposes. Unless you used a self-selected PIN in a prior year  and you remember it  you will need your prior year's adjusted gross income (AGI) for ID confirmation.

If you have last year's return, your AGI is on line 37 of Form 1040, line 21 on Form 1040-A, or line 4 on Form 1040-EZ. Did you use an outside tax preparer or tax preparation software? You should be able to access last year's form either place. Otherwise, you can utilize the IRS Get Transcript Online service. You don't have time to have the IRS supply a copy by mail.

Necessary forms and instructions are available on the IRS website and through any commercial tax preparation software. Aren't sure which forms you need? Free help for qualifying taxpayers is available through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program or the Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) program. Locations for both programs are available on the IRS website.

If you don't qualify for these programs, the IRS has an online interactive tax assistant to help  or there's always the old-fashioned phone call or visit to your local IRS office.

When you're done with preparation, and ready to file, you can still do so electronically in either of two ways: the IRS Free File system or the regular IRS e-file method  up to the extension deadline. Beyond that point the IRS will begin preparation for the next tax season. Late filings beyond October 16th must be submitted using paper forms.

Finally, don't forget that the Affordable Care Act is still with us. You won't need to send in proof of insurance coverage forms (Form 1095) with your tax return, but you should keep them for reference in case of an audit.

Still confused? Perhaps it's best to seek a professional tax preparer to cut your losses. Keep in mind that, while you received an extension to file, you didn't receive an extension to pay. If you underestimated your tax bill  or simply didn't pay anything in April  you have tax penalties and interest charges to look forward to. Invest in a professional to help you out of this situation, and learn from them in order to avoid similar circumstances in the future.

What if you can't afford to pay now? Don't let that affect your filing. File now, pay what you can, and work out the details with the IRS. The agency offers an online payment agreement as a potential option.

Look For Tax Savings

One positive of filing on an extension is that you have more time to look for deductions or tax credits that you might have missed originally.

Tax credits are particularly powerful, since they subtract directly from your tax bill for a dollar-for-dollar savings. You don't have to itemize to take advantage of tax credits, and some tax credits are refundable  meaning that you can receive more back in the credit than you owe in taxes.

Examples include the Earned Income Tax Credit, the Child Tax Credit, the American Opportunity Credit for educational endeavors, and the Saver's Credit to encourage retirement savings. Many tax credits are designed to help low-income families who need tax assistance the most. Details are available on the IRS website.

You may also be assuming that you don't have enough deductions to itemize. Don't assume anything. Check our list of top tax deductions for this filing season, and consult the IRS instructions for Schedule A for other possibilities.

The Takeaway

There are plenty of good reasons to file a tax extension. Laziness and disorganization aren't the best of them, and hopefully, you have a system in place to keep your relevant receipts and tax documents in a single place as the year progresses.

If you didn't have such a system in place for 2016, make sure to do so this year, and bookmark useful IRS and other tax-preparation resources on your browser. You may still have to file an extension, but if you do, the process will be simpler and you are less likely to miss on your estimated tax payment.

From now on, leave the shoeboxes for your shoes.

File Simple Federal Returns for FREE.
A new report by financial site WalletHub puts Westport, Conn. near the top of its list of the best small cities in America.

The site looked at 1,268 cities with populations between 25,000 and 100,000 and ranked them across five key dimensions: Affordability, Economic Health, Education & Health, Quality of Life and Safety. The cities were ranked by percentile with the 99th percentile representing the best cities.
NORWALK  The four mayoral candidates are hardly united on whether Connecticuts sixth-largest city needs a city manager to help run it.

A city manager is an appointed official employed by an elected body and responsible for directing the administration of a local government.

Lisa Brinton, an independent whos running for mayor as a petitioning candidate, put forward the idea for Norwalk and reiterated her thoughts during a mayoral candidates forum before the League of Women Voters of Norwalk at the City Hall auditorium Monday evening.

If I were to win, one of my big pushes is for professional management of the city, Brinton said. I dont see the Common Council ignoring the will of the people. But if the Common Council wanted to go that direction, we could do a petition, a citizens petition and it would be put on the ballot that way.

A majority vote by the council would be needed to form a charter revision commission and get the ball rolling. Voters would have the final say at the ballot box.

Although Brinton has made hiring a city manager a central theme of her 2017 mayoral campaign, she explored it as part of Norwalks 2016 charter revision effort. Voters shot down extending the citys mayoral term from two to four years, giving council members a raise and eliminating the smaller elected positions.

Brinton found that Greenwich, Manchester, Meriden and West Hartford employ city managers or similar individuals.

Its the most cost-efficient and equitable way to run a city, with day-to-day operations managed by an educated, non-partisan professional administrator, not partisan mayor, Brinton wrote in a letter to the editor. I say this without regard to party affiliation.

Norwalks other three mayoral candidates arent jumping aboard the bandwagon.

Mayor Harry Rilling, a Democrat seeking a third term, noted Monday evening that many at-large council candidates came out against the idea at a similar forum last week. Accountability was the chief reason given. Rilling expressed similar concerns.

A mayor is elected by the people and is accountable to the people, Rilling said. A city manager would be accountable to the Common Council, not the people. We dont need somebody coming in here, a professional resume builder, looking to build his or her resume on our dollar and then moving onto something else.

Rilling said his administration has assembled a team of leaders and professional department heads that is accountable to residents and getting things done.

Brinton cited snow-plowing at and near Norwalk schools  now handled by public works and parks employees  as well as city permits as examples of inefficiencies that could be reduced by hiring a city manager.

When have to go to 17 different departments to pull a permit for a business, or a to have a special event, Brinton said. That is where a city manager would come in.

Republican Andrew Conroy, a former District E councilman running for mayor, however, said hes not sure Norwalk needs a city manager.

The way a city manager has been described in some instances is that a city manager is like a dictator, a dictator whos going to run the city and maybe be somewhat accountable to the mayor, somewhat accountable to the Common Council, Conroy said.

Conroy described a chief of staff as a preferable alternative. Without naming her, he rejected characterizing Laoise King, whose official title is assistant to the mayor, as a chief of staff.

We actually made a lot of progress in the city when we had chiefs of staff, and I think that would help move the concepts from department to department to department and help us stay on top of issues, Conroy said.

State Rep. Bruce Morris, a South Norwalk Democrat who is running for mayor as a petitioning candidate, did not discount the concept of city manager but expressed concerns over the potential costs.

I would not want to misuse taxpayer resources that are needed in other places, Morris said.

He also cited accountability as a reason not to hire a city manager.

Quite frankly, as a mayor I would want to be held accountable, Morris said.
WILTON  A man from Washington, D.C. is facing stalking charges after continuously sending unsolicited text messages and phone calls to an ex-girlfriend over the span of a month, police said.

Police learned in February that David Susskind, 25, was repeatedly harassing his ex-girlfriend, a Wilton resident, according to police reports.
Cassey Snow of Grand Island, who was arrested on drug charges before boarding a plane at Central Nebraska Regional Airport Sept. 24, failed to show up for a preliminary hearing Tuesday afternoon in Hall County Court.

Judge Alfred Corey issued a bench warrant for her arrest.

Snow, 23, had been released Sept. 25 on her own recognizance.

She is charged with three counts of possession of a controlled substance, which is a Class 4 felony, and one count of unlawful acts relating to drugs, a Class 3 misdemeanor.

The criminal complaint says Snow was in possession of clonazepam/klonopin, methadone hydrochloride and alprazolam/xanax. The misdemeanor charge alleges that Snow possessed a controlled substance in a container other than that in which it was delivered to him/her by a practitioner.

Her address is listed as 521 W. 16th St.
Trinity Lutheran School students Tuesday got to make edible stained glass, recreate a thunderstorm and see three different Martin Luthers.

The special event was in honor of the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. Students broke into small groups and visited 10 stations around the school between 1:15 and 3 p.m.

At one of the stops, students created cookies using small pieces of Jolly Ranchers. Placed in a circular container, the Jolly Ranchers melted when warmed in a toaster oven. When the cookies are done, they look like stained glass.

Are you guys excited to eat windows? said teacher Sherri Probasco.

The only problem with stained glass cookies is the kids cant eat them until today.

Katie Johnsen, 10, tried to give her cookie a rainbow pattern.

What if shes not in the mood to eat the cookie Wednesday because of too much trick-or-treat candy Tuesday?

I doubt I will, she said.

Three pastors portrayed Martin Luther at different stages of his life. The Rev. Craig Niemeier, who is pastor of Zion Lutheran Church in Worms, played Luther at the age of 20. The Rev. Adam Snoberger, associate pastor of Trinity Lutheran, was Luther at the age of 27. An older Luther was portrayed by the Rev. Marcus Mackay of Peace Lutheran Church in Hastings.

Niemeier demonstrated the part of Luthers life in which he promised God, in the middle of a thunderstorm, to become a monk. The presentation was accompanied by sound effects. Students snapped their fingers together to create the sound of falling raindrops. Naomi Ristvedt, the schools music teacher, provided realistic claps of thunder.

Normally, Trinity Lutheran has an event called a Fall Party on Oct. 31. But the nature of the event changed this year. Because if you cant make a big deal after 500 years, when can you?

Because this is the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, weve kind of gone all out this year, said Principal Sandy Armstrong.

Other years, the school talks about Luther a week or so before Oct. 31. This year, students were given a broader picture of the man.

But the day was not about being Lutheran, Armstrong said.

Primarily we want the kids to realize that it is by faith that they have been saved through Jesus Christ, she said. Its not so much about being Lutheran as the fact that we want to stay true to what Scripture says, and follow what Gods command is in His word.

That message is hardly limited to Lutherans. Many of our fellow Christians believe the same things that we do  that it is by grace we have been saved, and we want the kids to realize that, Armstrong said.

Kids from many different churches attend Trinity Lutheran, she said.

Niemeiers final message to students was that God loves you and is with you wherever you go.

David Lindeman, who is Trinity Lutherans director of Christian education, talked about kidnappers taking Luther to Wartburg Castle. Lindemans ultimate message was that God loves us and will guide us even when were scared.

During his talk, Lindeman had students act out some of the roles. Three boys said, Hello, Martin Luther. Im here to kidnap you. Another boy said, I am Prince Frederick of Saxony.

Mackay told students that hes well over 500 years old. Ive aged well, havent I? he said.

As part of the day, students made bookmarks while learning about the printing press. Leading up to the event, fifth-graders fashioned tin can lanterns and seventh-graders made castles. Eighth-graders did digital projects that tell the story of Martin Luther. One was an iMovie creation that took the form of a movie trailer.

Carol Quandt portrayed the wife of Martin Luther. God knew what he was doing in bringing the couple together, she said. I turned out to be just the perfect wife for that guy, she said. The thing to remember, though, was that Luthers wife loved Jesus with all her heart, Quandt said.

What did Carston Pieper learn Tuesday?

That Martin Luther is old, he said.

But the 8-year-old knew it was the anniversary of the Reformation. And he enjoyed the art he saw in the museum.

Johnsen, a fourth-grader, learned that Martin Luther grew a beard when he called himself Knight George. She also learned that he was kidnapped by three people and taken to a castle.

Emily Nelson, 12, learned a lot throughout the activities. She also liked having her picture taken with one of the Martin Luthers.

The seventh-grader is fond of her school. Everybody should come here because this is the best place to go. Its really kind and really nice, Nelson said, adding that the school is really great.
The Department of Veterans Affairs will hold a series of open houses across Nebraska on Wednesday to introduce military veterans to the benefits available to them.

Grand Island will host one of the six open houses.

The open houses will kick off Veterans Month at the VA. Representatives of the VA Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System will be at all events.

Times and locations are:

-- Omaha, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., VA Medical Center, 4101 Woolworth Ave.

-- Lincoln, 2 to 5 p.m., VA Clinic, 600 S. 70th St.

-- Grand Island, 1 to 4 p.m., VA Medical Center, 2201 N. Broadwell Ave.

-- North Platte, 1 to 4 p.m., VA Clinic, 600 E. Francis St., Suite 3.

-- Holdrege, 1 to 4 p.m., VA Clinic, 1118 Burlington St.

-- ONeill, 1 to 4 p.m., VA Clinic, 555 E. John St.

All veterans are invited, whether or not they are currently enrolled in the VA system. Veterans who wish to enroll should bring their DD214 discharge forms with them.
Joseph McDermott, executive director of the Nebraska State Fair, has announced his retirement, according to the Nebraska State Fair board.

McDermott has been with the State Fair for 30 years. He has served as executive director for nine years, leading the organization through eight successful fairs in Grand Island. The Nebraska State Fair moved to Grand Island in 2010.

He will remain in his current position through the end of this year and continue as a consultant to the board in 2018.

It has been an incredible run for the last three decades and especially since the fair moved to Grand Island, McDermott said.

The support of the fair by the Grand Island community, he said, has simply been amazing.

We could not have had eight incredibly successful fairs without the exceptional participation of the citizens of Grand Island and Central Nebraska, McDermott said. I am extremely proud to have been involved with the fair and our community.

He said its time to step aside so the board can bring in a fresh set of eyes to gain a new perspective for the fair.

I very much appreciate the hard work and support of the board and staff and have enjoyed working with them to ensure a better fair, McDermott said.

Chris Kircher, chairman of the Nebraska State Fair board, said the board congratulates McDermott on his retirement. They also thanked him for his 30 years of service to the State Fair.

Were also very appreciative of Josephs willingness to stay on in a consulting role in 2018, Kircher said. This will help provide continuity as we conduct our search for a new executive director and will help ensure an orderly and smooth transition to new leadership. Our goal is to continue and build upon the success and momentum that the Nebraska State Fair has seen in recent years.

McDermott began working for the State Fair as a computer programmer in the late 1980s. He later became office manager and assistant director. He became executive director in 2009 and directed the transition of the State Fair from Lincoln to Grand Island. Under his leadership, the State Fair has seen tremendous growth. This year the fair had a total attendance of about 380,000 people, its second-largest attendance in its history.

He also worked with his staff and the State Fair board to create the State Fairs outdoor concert series. This year, Pentatonix drew more than 12,000 people to its outdoor concert at the State Fair.

Bruce Swihart, CEO of Fonner Park, knew McDermott before the State Fair came to Grand Island. When the fair was in Lincoln, it also operated the horse race track there. Swihart knew McDermott through their work together in the Nebraska horse racing industry.

It has been a great working relationship as far as me personally over the years with Joseph, Swihart said. When the State Fair came to Fonner Park in 2010, Joseph was a large player in that end of it. He did a wonderful job in the transition. The State Fair has grown.

He said Fonner Park, the State Fair board, and McDermott got along well working on projects that helped Fonner Park and the State Fair to become successful and making Fonner Park a better place as well.

McDermott was also instrumental in the creation of the Grand Island Livestock Complex Authority (GILCA). When the State Fair moved to Grand Island, more than $40 million in livestock facilities were built at Fonner Park. GILCA is a partnership between the State Fair, Fonner Park, Grand Island Chamber of Commerce and the Convention and Visitors Bureau to promote those facilities during the State Fairs off-season. This year, the GILCA partnership helped to bring the Aksarben Stock Show to Grand Island. It is one of the largest 4-H stock shows in the United States.

Brad Mellema, executive director of the Grand Island/Hall County Visitors and Convention Bureau, said he has appreciated working with McDermott in helping Grand Island expand its tourism industry.

Along with his work with the State Fair, Mellema said, McDermotts involvement with GILCA has really moved our whole industry forward.

Josephs expertise and business acumen have been a really important part of that, he said. He will be sorely missed.

During the past several years, GILCA has helped to bring many national livestock shows to Fonner Park. Mellema said that McDermott led the charge to get the Aksarben Stock Show to Fonner Park.

When this opportunity came along, Joseph specifically said that we have to make this happen, he said. That was just the mentality of when the opportunity was presented early on. It was a massive undertaking. It was his leadership that got that show relocated to Grand Island.

Mellema said the Nebraska State Fair, under McDermotts leadership, has helped his organization reshape tourism in Grand Island.

The event-driven nature of Fonner Park and the State Fair facility that was built around that really has in fact changed for the better how business is conducted here, he said. I will always have fond memories of Joseph, working with him in that role.

Having the State Fair in Grand Island led to more motel rooms and restaurants. McDermott helped grow the State Fair and off-season activities at Fonner Park. That brought more people to Grand Island who stayed in motels and ate at the local restaurants. Tax revenue generated from those motels and restaurants led to more Grand Island growth and helped Grand Island officials plan for the communitys future.

McDermott credited his staff for their job in helping the State Fair grow in Grand Island.

Along with the move to Grand Island, he said another highlight of his career is when the people of Nebraska voted to dedicate 10 percent of state lottery money to the State Fair in 2004. The lottery money provides about $4 million each year to the State Fair operations.

McDermott said he and his wife will remain in Grand Island.
Meineke Car Care Center has opened a location in Edwardsville, just behind the Pasta House on Route 157. Dirk Schaumleffel and his wife Amy own several stores in the metro-east. They had been looking for an Edwardsville location for several years. The main office for the franchise is in Belleville.

Were new to Edwardsville, but this is the ninth location in the franchise. We saw this location, which had been a car wash, and thought it would work for us, Schaumleffel said.

Schaumleffel opened his first Meineke in 1996. The day I graduated from college, I went to Meineke training for a month, he said. His first stores were in St. Louis County. He bought the Belleville location in 1999. As he opened more stores in Illinois, he sold the Missouri stores.

Were running out of places to go, Schaumleffel added. We looked at this site four years ago. Weve been looking in Edwardsville since 2001 and never came across anywhere feasible for a Meineke. He has a store in Wood River and one in Highland, he said, that both attract customers from Edwardsville.

Were the only automotive shop on this side of town, said center manager Chris Overholtz. Were close to both Edwardsville High School and SIUE. Overholtz said that he didnt think the location off of Route 157 behind the Pasta House was a problem. People see us from the stoplight at Center Grove and 157, he said. He added that they had already had customers who saw them from the stoplight.

We have True Value next to us, Schaumleffel said. Theyre not worried about the visibility and they do fine.

Meineke centers started as Meineke Mufflers, but Overholtz said that they offer much more than that now. We offer everything but body work, he said. They can also cut and weld, he said.

A lot of shops cant cut and weld. Because we can, we can often repair something instead of replacing it.

The center also offers fleet service. One of their first customers at the Edwardsville location was Kettle River, Overholtz said.

The percentage of fleet work we do varies from location to location, said Office Manager Meagan Winkelmann. We go from 10 percent of the business on up. All managers are trained to deal with fleets, she added.

Since the center opened, Overholtz said, most of their business has been oil changes and scheduled maintenance.

Since there hasnt been a Meineke in the location, people dont know what we do, Winkelmann said. But people will learn what we can do.

Operations Manager Doug Ducker and Winkelmann have both been with Schaumleffel for several years. Overholtz is new to Meineke, but not to auto repair. He is from Edwardsville and has worked in town at other shops. There are three mechanics working in Edwardsville now, but Overholtz said they will hire more as business picks up.

There are several advantages to having nine centers, Schaumleffel said. We have our own tow trucks and we dont charge to tow if you get the work done here. He said he was also able to pull employees from other locations to staff this one. Some want to stay in Edwardsville, he said, and some will go back to their previous location as he hires more people here.

Its one of the reasons we stayed in Illinois, Schaumleffel said. We can shuffle tools, trucks and people to different locations when theyre needed.
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Linkedin Gina Lisdiani (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, November 1, 2017 13:22 1841 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a26ec518 3 Opinion energy,#energy,renewable-energy,#RenewableEnergyProjects,clean-energy,energy-and-mineral-resources-ministry,ignasius-jonan Free

Earlier this month, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Ignasius Jonan announced that the government will not approve any new coal-fired power plants on Java, an effort to open more opportunities for the development of renewable energy and gas-fired power plants.

This move is necessary to achieve our countrys ambitious climate change mitigation and clean energy goals: cutting greenhouse gas emissions by up to 41 percent by 2030 as part of the Paris Agreement, as well as increasing the share of renewable energy in from 12 percent to 23 percent by 2025.

While the announcement is good news, the renewable energy industry is largely left with uncertainty. Specifically, how will these ambitious goals be achieved?

At face value, the clean energy goals should appear realistic, given Indonesias vast renewable energy potential across solar, wind, geothermal and biomass resources; an estimated 200 gigawatts (GW) of available clean power. The government has also made an effort to be responsive to the renewable energy business communitys complaints  leading to seemingly never-ending policy revisions and updates  resulting in potential progress: more than 1,000 megawatts (MW) of renewable energy contracts have been signed in the first nine months of 2017.

But this is progress only on paper. Time will tell how many of these 1,000 MWs will be built and generating clean power for PLNs grid. Renewable energy progress in Indonesia to-date has been underwhelming and the policy and regulations remain uncertain.

How can renewable energy investment grow in the near-term despite this uncertainty? One successful approach in various countries is to support investment where there is noticeable demand for clean energy supply.

One specific demand center for clean energy is the commercial and industrial customer base. Manufacturing activities account for approximately one-fifth of Indonesias gross domestic product (GDP), and the electricity demand for countrys manufacturing activities is projected to double by 2025.

Further, driven by the need for sustainable corporate growth, multinational and local companies alike are now serious about utilizing renewable energy to minimize environmental impacts and contribute to fighting climate change  all while saving money over the long term.

More than 110 multinational companies to-date have made 100 percent renewable commitments with more joining every day. Just in 2015-16, corporations in the US agreed to buy more than 7,000MW of power generated by clean energy, according Bloomberg New Energy Finance. Globally, corporate power purchase agreements account for at least 19,000MW of clean energy capacity to-date.

Corporate demand is also driving renewable energy growth for our neighbors. Ayala Land, the largest property developer in the Philippines is committed to being completely carbon neutral in the next five years. Several of Apples suppliers in Asia have committed to 100 percent renewable energy supply. Thailand recently announced that rooftops owners can sell excess solar electricity back into the grid.

Indonesia should similarly harness this corporate demand. What would this look like and how would it be achieved?

First, it would be sensible to encourage private companies to add on-site renewable energy generation. At least, two major barriers need to be addressed to boost on-site renewable energy.

For starters, there is currently a capacity charge required for power plants operating at sites that are already connected to the PLN electricity supply. As an illustrative example, a business utilizing a 500 kilowatt (kW) rooftop solar power plant would be required to pay a monthly capacity charge of approximately Rp 20.70 million . Thats approximately Rp 250 million extra every year just to have renewable energy supplied to your business.

Next, it is currently very difficult for a company to procure renewable electricity if it doesnt have the ability to invest in the assets. As it stands, third-party investors and owners of renewable energy plants are not allowed to sell clean power directly to private off-takers like factories or shopping centers, even if the renewable energy assets are located on-site. This type of private capital is plentiful, but regulatory constraints are inhibiting the flow of this private capital and slowing the deployment of distributed renewable energy solutions.

Addressing the capacity charge and regulatory constraints would bolster clean energy uptake and reduce greenhouse gas emissions  goals that both the government and companies want to achieve.

But stimulating on-site renewable energy installations is only one part of the picture. The larger opportunity may be enabling off-site renewable energy supply to commercial and industrial ratepayers through innovative schemes such as power wheeling or direct power purchase agreements, in which PLN would play an important role in the transmission and delivery of power.

Take, for example, a large manufacturing facility that wants 5 MW of renewable energy but only has enough space on-site for 500 kW. An off-site renewable energy purchasing mechanism such as a direct power purchase agreement (DPPA) would allow the company to buy clean electricity being generated a few, or even a hundred, kilometers away. Private investors are familiar with these models  off-site purchasing has been the primary driver of corporate renewable energy procurement globally  and large energy consumers like factories, shopping centers and data centers would be attracted to a long-term, predictable electricity price; not to mention one that was derived from clean power.

Indonesia isnt alone in its ambitious renewable energy targets. Many of the companies operating here also have aspirations of tapping into Indonesias enormous renewable energy resources. Policies and regulations should therefore encourage, not hinder, renewable energy investment.

By partnering with and leveraging the resources of the private sector, Indonesia will have a much stronger chance to meet its Paris Agreement commitment and National Energy Policy goals.

***

Gina Lisdiani is Managing Director of Allotrope Partners for Indonesia. Allotrope Partners is a clean energy investment and advisory firm with the mission to accelerate the transition to a sustainable future. Gina leads public-private partnership initiatives in Indonesia that advance the policy and financing frameworks needed to mobilize private investment into the clean energy sector. Ms. Lisdiani holds her Bachelor degree in Industrial Engineering and Master degree in Business and Technology from Bandung Institute of Technology. And she has been engaged with clean energy activities for more than a decade.

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Linkedin EDITORIAL (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, November 1, 2017 08:05 1841 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a26de246 4 Editorial #Editorial,retail-store,retail,Mitra-Adiperkasa,Matahari-Department-Store,online-store,#retailstore Free

Indonesias major department store chains have begun to feel the pinch of the rapidly growing trend of online shopping. Many retailers have suffered a decline in sales, forcing them to close some of their outlets. PT Mitra Adiperkasa (MAP), one of the countrys major department store chains, for example, has announced plans to shut down three more Lotus department stores in Jakarta. Previously, it closed two outlets in Greater Jakarta. MAP will also stop operations of its Debenhams outlet in Senayan City shopping mall in South Jakarta at year-end, having closed two outlets in Kemang, South Jakarta, and Karawaci, Banten.

Similarly, publicly listed PT Matahari Department Store closed its Manggarai and Blok M stores last month. Meanwhile, retail chain PT Ramayana Lestari Sentosa has closed eight outlets across the country.

The trend, as a result of slowing consumer goods sales growth, is in fact a global phenomenon. It has been occurring in Japan, the United States and many other countries. In Indonesia, sales growth at 55 fast-moving consumer goods brick and mortar retail outlets reached only 2.7 percent year-to-date (ytd) as of September, compared to a 10-11 percent increase in the same period last year.

Although analysts largely attribute the mass closure of retail outlets to sluggish sales, we cannot deny the fact that online marketplaces have started to replace traditional retail shops. Online transactions account for only about 2 percent of the countrys total retail sales so far, but their growth is accelerating and eating up the market share of offline retailers, thanks in part to huge investments injected into the new businesses.

With access to the internet multiplying, particularly among the younger generation, it comes as no surprise that online shopping has won consumers hearts and minds. Online shopping offers nearly unlimited choices, as well as a simple and convenient way of shopping as buyers only need to open apps to find their sought-after goods and settle their payments anytime, anywhere.

Forget traffic congestion or unfriendly weather, which may discourage consumers from going to shopping malls  not to mention difficulties in finding a parking space.

Cheaper prices are another key reason why buyers are shifting from offline to online stores. The government will impose taxes on goods and services sold online, but prices will remain the comparative advantage of the digital market over its traditional counterpart.

Indonesia has also seen this digital wave disrupt the conventional taxi industry, which has triggered unrest. Other industries will soon feel the disruption. The phenomenon is now creeping into the financial services sector, especially banking, amid growing interest in peer-to-peer lending, an online lending service for both individuals and businesses.

No one can resist digitalization. In fact, the world has entered a digital era, which has changed the way people do business  unfortunately, at the expense of thousands who have become jobless.

As Indonesias regulator, the government needs to monitor this major shift, so that the digital era can spur economic growth and create new jobs.
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Linkedin KEMENKO PMK (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta, Indonesia  Thu, November 2, 2017

Speaking before participants of the 89th Youth Pledge Day ceremony and the South Papua Corridor NKRI Expedition 2017, the Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Puan Maharani stated that Indonesian youth are entering an era full of challenges, a highly competitive economy and pressure from global cultures. Thus the era demands resilience among young people.

Menko PMK expressed her hope that the younger generation will prepare and develop themselves for their family and the country. I hope that young people, fueled by the spirit of the Indonesian Youth Pledge, train and strengthen their mind and body to take over the responsibility of developing the nation.

We are not all alike, but we work as one in developing our home, Indonesia, to achieve prosperity, advancement and high culture, she said, echoing the theme of this years Youth Pledge Day commemoration Kita Tidak Sama, Kita Kerja Bersama (We are not the same, we work together).

Referring to the South Papua NKRI Expedition 2017, which coincided with the commemoration of Youth Pledge Day, the minister said the expedition had reached people living in the Merauke, Mappi, Boven Digul and Asmat regencies. It had also reached those in Muna, Kota Tual, Maluku Tenggara regencies, and the Aru Islands.

The warm welcome given and received, and the communal work by the participants and local people throughout the expedition can help to develop and strengthen the sense of unity among Indonesians, she said.

At the event, the minister, on behalf of the government, extended her thanks and appreciation to the Chief of the Indonesian Armed Forces, Chief of Indonesian Police, Chiefs of Staff, the Special Forces Commander, all ministries and related agencies, local governments, state-owned enterprises, business people, public figures, the media and other parties who have helped to prepare and support the expedition.

The minister symbolically handed over 190 houses built independently. She also handed over educational games to the Harapan Papua Early Childhood Education Program (PAUD) and Tunas Melati Kindergarten, two cars to the Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) Merauke, 20 biomass stoves, praying equipment to religious leaders and 1,289 birth certificates. She also symbolically handed over funds to two representatives from the Hopeful Family Program (PKH).

Merauke Regency now has 3,840 families who are part of PKH, with the aid amounting to Rp931 million.

Accompanying the minister was Health Minister Nila F. Moeloek, Women Empowerment and Children Protection Minister Yohana Yambise, Head of National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) Willem Rampangiley and Special Forces Commander Matsuni.
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Linkedin Juliana Harsianti (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, November 1, 2017 08:55 1841 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a26df8f7 4 Health Rachel-House,children,cancer-patient,health,#health,cancer,#cancer,#children Free

What do children feel when they are aware of the fatal diseases plaguing them? How do their families deal with these children, who should be happy and playing with their friends, but now have to undergo various treatments and endure pain?

Such circumstances prompted former banker Lynna Chandra to set up the Rachel House foundation in 2006.

The foundation aims to provide palliative care for children with cancer and HIV/AIDS to enhance their quality of life and give them happiness throughout their struggles.

We hope the children can always be as cheerful as their healthy peers, even though they have to receive [medical] treatments that can be painful, said Rachel House CEO Kartika Kurniasari.

Kartika suggested that such care is better provided at home in a more comforting atmosphere, thus enabling the patients to spend their last days among family members.

She said North Jakarta was chosen as the community base of the palliative caretakers because it was home to a greater number of low-income residents who did not have sufficient access to healthcare.

Training also covers nursing basics, first aid methods and how to contact hospitals when a patients condition deteriorates, said Susi, a nurse at the foundation.

Public bucket list: A man writes on Rachel Houses Living Wall during a recent campaign at the Cilandak Town Square mall in South Jakarta. On the wall, visitors can write down the things they would want to do if they knew they were living their final days. (JP/Juliana Harsianti)

Rachel House also assists patients families in caring for their children and in dealing with the emotional turbulence that comes with this responsibility.

According to Susi, several parents who had terminally ill children eagerly supported Rachel House as trainers or assistants to boost the spirits of other families whose children are dying.

Rachel House makes an effort to cooperate with hospitals by arranging palliative services for home care, conducting medical therapy to relieve pain and opening wards dedicated to children.

The foundation has also urged the government to include a palliative component in the National Health Insurance (JKN) program.

Unless it becomes part of the JKN, palliative care can be a burden for low-income people.

Reflection: A visitor reads bucket list items written on Rachel Houses Living Wall. (JP/Juliana Harsianti)

Psychiatrist Edi Setiawan Tehuteru, a medical consultant for the foundation, said he hoped Rachel Houses efforts in North Jakarta can be duplicated in other locations by the house itself or by other institutions, emphasizing the importance to palliative service.

For patients with no more chances of survival, enhancing the quality of the final part of life is [important]  even more so for children, whose lives should be filled with joy, Edi said.

Some medicine can be administered to reduce pain, in addition to other treatments with proven soothing and mood-boosting effects, he added.

One of the additional treatments from the foundation is musical therapy, which is assisted by harpist Maya Hasan.

According to Maya, a certified musical therapist, music travels at a frequency that produces a positive effect on its recipient.

So far, classical music is recommended, but according to the latest research, any genre is good for therapy as long as it gives pleasure to its listener, Maya said.
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Linkedin Ganug Nugroho Adi (The Jakarta Post) Surakarta  Wed, November 1, 2017 13:47 1841 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a26ee800 1 National Kahiyang-Ayu,Jokowi,wedding-ceremony Free

The daughter of President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, Kahiyang Ayu, is counting the days as her wedding to Bobby Afif Nasution is fast approaching. About 8,000 invitations have already been posted.

The reception will be held at the Graha Saba Buana in Surakarta, Central Java, on Nov. 8.

"The invitations are ready, half of which have been sent. If the invitations are ready, that means other preparations are complete. The wedding preparation is 100 percent complete. The next thing will be the execution," said Gibran Rakabuming, the weddings spokesman.

Gibran is Jokowis eldest son.

The invitations were sent along with coupons for souvenirs, several Quranic verses and a printed location map.

"[The guests] will get batik-patterned glass boxes as souvenirs," Gibran said, adding that the souvenirs were made by Risang Aji Art Glass owned by glass craftsman Mintorogo in Surakarta.

In the ijab kabul (Islamic version of holy matrimony) procession, Vice President Jusuf Kalla will be the brides witness, while Coordinating Economic Minister Darmin Nasution will be the grooms. Surakarta mayor FX Hadi Rudyatmo will give the welcoming remark.

Six gold-decorated chariots will be used by the couple and their families during the event. Four of the chariots belong to Surakartas mayor and the rest belongs to Jokowi. Three chariots will start the ride from the bride's family home to the wedding venue, while three others will arrive from the Alila Hotel where the groom's family is staying. (foy/dmr)
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, November 1, 2017 14:47 1840 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a26f250e 1 Politics Agus-Harimurti-Yudhoyono,Democratic-party,Susilo-Bambang-Yudhoyono,Prabowo-Subianto,Gerindra-Party Free

Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono, the son of former president and Democratic Party chairman Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, continued his trip to meet senior figures in an attempt to gain support and possible political alliances.

Agus paid a visit to Gerindra Party chairman Prabowo Subianto at the latters private residence in Kertanegara, South Jakarta, on Tuesday evening, or one week after he met with Vice President Jusuf Kalla in Makassar, South Sulawesi, last Friday.

Democratic Party Deputy Secretary-General Rachland Nashidik said Prabowo and Agus talked about geopolitical issues in their one-and-a-half-hour meeting.

He added that they also discussed the situation in Indonesia, which many people say is in dire need of a leader who can embrace all societal elements and is not selfish.

Both of them specifically discussed the idea of a leader who can unite different political views in the countrys democracy, said Rachland, as quoted by kompas.com.

They also prayed and wished for the health and success of each other, he said.

Many political experts believe that Agus political maneuver was part of a scheme to enter bigger political competitions in the near future, after he was defeated in this years Jakarta gubernatorial election. (foy/ebf)
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Linkedin Deena Shanker (Bloomberg) New York, United States  Wed, November 1, 2017 17:48 1840 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a2701588 2 World survey,UnitedStates,stress,Trump-effect,health,race Free

For those lying awake at night worried about health care, the economy, and an overall feeling of divide between you and your neighbors, theres at least one source of comfort: Your neighbors might very well be lying awake, too.

Almost two-thirds of Americans, or 63 percent, report being stressed about the future of the nation, according to the American Psychological Associations Eleventh Stress in America survey, conducted in August and released on Wednesday. This worry about the fate of the union tops longstanding stressors such as money (62 percent) and work (61 percent) and also cuts across political proclivities. However, a significantly larger proportion of Democrats (73 percent) reported feeling stress than independents (59 percent) and Republicans (56 percent).

The current social divisiveness in America was reported by 59 percent of those surveyed as a cause of their own malaise. When the APA surveyed Americans a year ago, 52 percent said they were stressed by the presidential campaign. Since then, anxieties have only grown.

A majority of the more than 3,400 Americans polled, 59 percent, said they consider this to to be the lowest point in our nations history that they can remember. That sentiment spanned generations, including those that lived through World War II, the Vietnam War, and the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11. (Some 30 percent of people polled cited terrorism as a source of concern, a number thats likely to rise given the alleged terrorist attack in New York City on Tuesday.)

A rolling art installation commenting on the state of politics in America sits in the road in Manhattan on Nov. 2, 2016 in New York City. With the US presidential election only days away, many Americans are feeling anxious over both the tone and the direction of the campaign for the presidency. The race between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump has been tightening in crucial swing states as Nov. 8 approaches. (Agence France -Presse/Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

We have a picture that says people are concerned, said Arthur Evans, APAs chief executive officer. Any one data point may not not be so important, but taken together, it starts to paint a picture.

The survey didnt ask respondents specifically about the administration of President Donald Trump, Evans said. He points to the acrimony in the public discourse and the general feeling that we are divided as a country as being more important than any particular person or political party.

Yet he and the study note that particular policy issues are a major source of anxiety. Some 43 percent of respondents said health care was a cause. The economy (35 percent) and trust in government (32 percent) also ranked highly, as did hate crimes (31 percent) and crime in general (31 percent).

Policymakers need to understand that this is an issue that is important to people, that the uncertainty is having an impact on stress levels, and that stress has an impact on health status, Evans said, pointing out that the relationship between stress and health is well-established.

And keeping up with the latest developments is a source of worry all its own. Most Americans56 percentsaid they want to stay informed, but the news causes them stress. (Yet even more, 72 percent, said the media blows things out of proportion.)

The APA survey did find, however, that not everyone is feeling the same degree of anxiety. Women normally report higher levels of stress than men, though worries among both genders tend to rise or fall in tandem. This year, however, they diverged: On a 10-point scale, women reported a slight increase in stress, rising from an average 5.0 in 2016 to 5.1 in 2017, while the level for men dropped, from an average 4.6 to 4.4.

Racial divides also exist in reported stress. While the levels among blacks and Hispanics were lower in 2016 than the year before, they rose for both groups in 2017, to 5.2 for Hispanic adults and 5.0 for black adults. Among whites, meanwhile, the average remained the same, at 4.7.

People receive first-aid after a car accident ran into a crowd of protesters in Charlottesville. (AFP/File)

The report also notes that many Americans are finding at least one healthy way to feel better: 53 percent reported exercising or doing other physical activity to cope. Social support is also important, Evans said. Third, he says, I think its really important for people to disconnect from the constant barrage of information.

The Stress in America survey was conducted by the Harris Poll on behalf of the APA. It was conducted online between Aug. Aug. had participants, all ages up living in the US. It included men, women, whites, Hispanics, blacks, Asians and Native Americans. Data were then weighted by age, gender, race/ethnicity, region, education and household income to reflect America's demographics accurately. Interviews were conducted in English and Spanish.
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, November 1, 2017 14:01 1840 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a26eec36 1 City Alexis-Hotel,permit,anies-baswedan Free

Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan said his decision not to renew the business permit of the Alexis Hotel in North Jakarta, an establishment he claims is a hotbed of prostitution, is based on a solid finding.

He said on Wednesday that he had formed a team specifically tasked to uncover violations allegedly committed by the hotels management.

The team has obtained information about taxi drivers who work there as well [workers] who come from outside Jakarta. We have all [the information] and it isnt made up, Anies told reporters at City Hall in Central Jakarta as quoted by kompas.com.



[We know] how they entered the hotel, how they adjusted their mobile phone. But it would be inappropriate to reveal all the details, he said, warning that firm action would be taken against other businesses in the capital found to host prostitutes.

PT Grand Ancol Hotel, which operates the hotel and massage parlor, denied the allegations.

It ceased all activity on Tuesday and demanded that the city comes up with solutions so that the hotel, which contributed Rp 30 billion (US$2.2 million) in tax to the city annually, can still operate.

Anies said he was standing firm in his quest to shut down the hotel despite the financial benefits to the city. (fac)
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Linkedin Jon Afrizal (The Jakarta Post) Jambi  Wed, November 1, 2017 14:18 1840 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a26f0155 1 National #Jambi,Jambi,#corruption,corruption Free

The former secretary of the Jambi Legislative Council (DPRD), Rosmansyah, has been sentenced to six years in jail for embezzling hundreds of millions of rupiah of a technical training fund.

The Jambi Corruption Court found Rosmansyah guilty on Tuesday of embezzlement during his term in office from 2009 to 2014, specifically for misusing Rp 315 million (US$23,192) of the fund in 2012, Rp 271 million in 2013 and Rp 363 million in 2014.

"The court also orders him to pay Rp 50 million in fines and to return Rp 1.85 billion [to the Jambi treasury]," presiding judge Lucas Sahabat Duha said as he read out the verdict.

Jumisar, another defendant in the case and who was in charge of the technical training program, was also sentenced on Tuesday to a year and six months for his role in the budget misappropriation case.

The case also implicates former Jambi DPRD speaker Zainal Abidin, who has denied his involvement in the case. (ipa)
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, November 1, 2017 16:40 1840 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a26f7e9e 1 City Tangerang,Fireworks,factories,raids Free

A community unit (RW) head identified as Ade Muhtar has been detained by police for allegedly operating an illegal fireworks factory in Cijantra village, Pagedangan, Tangerang.

Joint personnel raided the factory on Tuesday at 10 a.m. after receiving reports from nearby residents, according to a statement by Tangerang Police crimes unit chief Adj. Comr. Alexander Yurikho.

"The workers had left the place when we arrived at the factory. But one of them, Ade Muhtar, was [spotted] around the location, which then, along with evidence, was taken to Pagedangan Police station for further investigation," Alexander said.

In the raid, police confiscated more than 25 packages of fireworks of varying sizes, as well as materials to make the fireworks, such as 10 kilograms of sulfur and 2 kg of potassium.

Police alleged the fireworks were made by hand as they found four rubber-layered hammers and four firework molds.

Alexander said his team had secured the factory and were still looking for three other workers.

Last week, Tangerang was rocked by a blaze at a fireworks factory operated by PT Panca Buana Cahaya Sukses in Kosambi that killed 49 of its 103 workers and injured dozens others. (yon)

Topics : Tangerang Fireworks factories raids
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Linkedin Ganug Nugroho Adi (The Jakarta Post) Sukoharjo, Central Java  Wed, November 1, 2017 11:08 1841 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a26e10c6 1 National treasure-hunters,illegal-excavation,Sukoharjo Free

Residents of Mandan and Joho sub-districts in Sukoharjo, Central Java, have reported an influx of treasure hunters who are scouring paddy fields looking for ancient objects.

The sub-districts are believed to be site of an ancient Buddhist temple.

The residents said the raiders often sneaked in at night.

"They are usually made up of three to five people," said Bimo Kolor Wijanarko, one of the residents, adding that the illegal treasure hunters had already excavated several spots within the 10-hectare area.

Bimo said this had been going on for two years now.

It decreased after the local administration declared the land a conservation area and heritage site, making such activities illegal. However, it has picked up again in the past few months.

Another resident, Handoyo, 40, said the raiders sometimes paid the local owners to excavate their fields.

"They have found bones, jewelry, statues and pottery even though they only dig as deep as 30 centimeters," Handoyo said.

A paddy field owner, Mariman, said the treasure hunters usually came during the dry season when farmers do not plant their fields.

"I know nothing about the heritage. [Some people] want to rent my field for Rp 3 million [a month] and I just allow them [to do the activity]," he said.

Darno, of the Sukoharjo Education and Culture Agency, said the local administration had given the area conserved zone status.

"Therefore, we will take action against those illegal treasure hunters," Darno said (foy/dmr).
Soglin said his over two decades of experience working in the private sector, in addition to his 20 years in the mayors office, gives him the opportunity to really make a difference. Soglin said he does not yet have a timeline for making a decision, but hes interested in visiting other areas of the state to get feedback.
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, November 1, 2017 17:37 1840 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a26fed0d 1 City traffic-attendant,budget,police Free

The Jakarta Police traffic division has made a budget plan for 500 volunteer traffic attendants, locally known as Pak Ogah, to include them in managing the citys traffic.

The Police traffic division chief Sr. Comr. Halim Pagarra said the budget plan was made based on Jakarta's minimum wage.

This year, the city's administration set the minimum wage at Rp 3.3 million (US$243), meaning that a budget intended for 500 people would reach around Rp 20 billion a year.

I hope the city's administration will accept it, Halim said Wednesday, as quoted by tribunnews.com.

In August, police provided traffic control training to Pak Ogah to formally include them in traffic management. The training aimed to officially help traffic police in handling severe congestion, as they usually direct traffic at U-turns or intersections and receive tips from drivers.

Former Jakarta governor Djarot Saiful Hidayat rejected the polices proposal. (wnd)
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, November 1, 2017 19:02 1840 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a2704136 1 City traffic-congestion,survey Free

Jakartans spend a longer time in traffic compared to citizens of other major Asian cities, a study revealed on Wednesday.

App-based transportation firm Uber, in collaboration with the Boston Consulting Group, released a study revealing that drivers in Jakarta spend an average of 22 days a year in traffic.

The number is higher than many other major cities in Asia, in which drivers spend around 19 days stuck in traffic, Uber Indonesia's head of public policy and government affairs John Colombo said.

"In a day, drivers in Jakarta spend an average of 68 minutes in traffic and 21 minutes looking for parking," Colombo said in Central Jakarta on Wednesday, as quoted by kompas.com.

Regarding the difficulty of finding a parking space, the study found 74 percent of Jakartans missed important events, such as wedding parties, appointments with doctors, job interviews and funerals.

Jakarta Deputy Governor Sandiaga Uno, who attended the release of the study's results, deplored the findings. "Imagine, 22 days are the same as two years of annual leave," he said.

He expected ride-sharing apps would help decrease traffic congestion in the city.

The survey was conducted in major Asian cities from July to August involving 9,000 participants from 18 to 65 years old. Besides Jakarta, the study also took place in Singapore, Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, Manila in the Philippines, Bangkok in Thailand, Hong Kong, Taipei in Taiwan, and Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam. (yon)
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Linkedin Kharishar Kahfi (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, November 1, 2017 11:32 1841 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a26e25fe 1 National Southeast-Sulawesi,graft-suspect,corruption-eradication-commission,KPK Free

Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) investigators handed over a dossier on former Southeast Sulawesi governor Nur Alam, who is a suspect in a bribery case related to several mining licenses, to prosecutors on Tuesday.

The hand over was made before the suspects detention period ends on Wednesday [today], KPK spokesman Febri Diansyah told reporters.

The anti-graft body detained the former governor on July 5. Since then, the investigators have extended his detention twice in September and October.

Febri added that prosecutors were still considering whether to hold the trial in Jakarta or Southeast Sulawesi.

Nur was named a suspect in August 2016 in an alleged corruption case involving several mining licenses granted in the province from 2009 to 2014, including the alleged abuse of power in relation to a license given to PT AHD, which conducted illegal mining operations in Buton regency.

Nur had earlier attempted to challenge his detention by filing a pretrial motion to the South Jakarta District Court. The motion, however, was rejected by the judge. (dmr)
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Linkedin Kharishar Kahfi (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, November 1, 2017 12:16 1841 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a26e6a38 1 City reclamation,Jakarta-Bay,Councilors,KPK Free

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has questioned on Tuesday City Council Deputy Speaker M. Taufik in its investigation of possible graft in the deliberation of zoning bylaws in the Jakarta Bay land reclamation project.

The zoning bylaws regulate Jakarta's coastal areas and small offshore islands, as well as spatial planning of Jakarta's north-coast strategic area.

Taufik said that he was questioned on corporations related to islet G, which is being developed by PT Muara Wisesa Samudera, a subsidiary of property giant Agung Podomoro Land (APLN), as well as on Gubernatorial Regulation No. 137/2017 on city planning guidelines for islet G.

"The [regulation] for islet G was issued during the administration of Pak Djarot. We didnt know about it," Taufik said, referring to former governor Djarot Saiful Hidayat, who led the capital from June 2017 until the new leadership was inaugurated last month.

The KPK also questioned Jakarta City Secretary Saefullah last Friday over the controversial reclamation project, in connection with an earlier bribery case that implicated Jakarta councilor Mohammad Sanusi.

Sanusi, who is Taufik's brother, has been convicted of bribery and money laundering.

Last year, APLN president director Ariesman Widjaja bribed Sanusi with Rp 2 billion (US$147,000) to pass a draft bylaw and lower the additional profit-sharing requirement from 15 percent to 5 percent for companies that won the reclamation project.

Sanusi was sentenced to seven years in prison and fined Rp 250 million for his role, while Ariesman was sentenced to three years in prison and fined Rp 200 million. (dis)
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Linkedin Kharishar Kahfi (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, November 1, 2017 20:21 1840 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a2707dd7 1 Business SIM-card,prepaid-card,#mobile-number-registration,mobile-number-registration Free

The Communications and Information Ministry says more than 30 million prepaid mobile phone customers have reregistered their numbers since the ministry opened registration for all prepaid numbers using a citizenship identity number (NIK) and family card (KK) number on Oct. 31.

We recorded that 30.2 million SIM cards have been registered as of today [Wednesday] at 4:30 p.m., said Ahmad Ramli, the ministrys director general for post and informatics technology, during a press conference.

He lauded the figure as an achievement amid concerns over the use of the two identification numbers some said could be problematic owing to the absence of laws protecting personal data.

According to London-based digital agency We Are Social in January, of the 371 million subscribers in Indonesia; 98 percent of them are prepaid customers.

Read also: SIM card registration can be done online, here's how

The ministry requires all prepaid mobile phone numbers to be registered using their NIK and KK numbers between Oct. 31 and the end of February next year. Those that had registered using only their NIK are required to reregister by sending their KK number via text message to 4444.

Ahmad said, however, that customers might encounter problems while registering their numbers through text message or online owing to the high number of people trying to register at the same time.

Dont worry, there is still time until February next year. You should follow the instructions should you fail to register, he added. (ipa)
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, November 1, 2017 10:40 1841 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a26e0313 1 City MRT-Jakarta,Mass-Rapid-Transit,construction,public-transportation Free

PT MRT Jakarta is currently shifting its focus to the construction of Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) train stations and a depot after it completes the project's line construction.

On Tuesday, the last installation of the box girder on Jl. TB Simatupang in South Jakarta marked the completion of the MRT's elevated line section connecting the Lebak Bulus and Pemuda monument stations in Senayan.

"With the installation, the construction of both elevated and underground line sections have been completed," MRT Jakarta president director Willy Sabandar said.

Willy added that the land dispute at the Haji Nawi station on Jl. Fatmawati in South Jakarta had been sorted out with two owners who agreed to hand over their land despite an ongoing legal process.

"The Haji Nawi station doesnt have any more obstacles. Their land are significant for [the continuation of] the construction work," Willy said.

He admitted that some land disputes remain unresolved, but most of the plots are designated for supporting facilities, such as parking areas and the ongoing negotiation would not hamper the project.

The construction of the MRT project has long been delayed because it is in dispute with six land owners near the Haji Nawi station who are demanding more money. (yon/dmr)
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, November 1, 2017 19:33 1840 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a2704f8d 1 National #NovelBaswedan,novel-baswedan,KPK,acid-attack,#acid-attack,police,#Police Free

Six months after the acid attack against the Corruption Eradication Commission's (KPK) top investigator Novel Baswedan, the National Police have yet to name any suspect in the case.

The National Police's Criminal Investigation Department chief Comr. Gen. Ari Dono Sukmanto said Novel's case was difficult to solve because of a "hit-and-run" method where the perpetrators immediately withdrew from the scene.

Such cases, he said, may take years to solve.

"Hit-and-run cases are indeed relatively difficult. Although it does not necessarily mean we will fail. It has only been a few months since the attack [and too early to conclude the investigation]," Ari say on Wednesday, as quoted by Tribunnews.com.

In a similar case, the police managed to arrest the suspects after four years of investigation, he added.

On April 11, Novel was attacked by two unidentified men who threw acid on his face, causing him to suffer serious injuries to his eyes. At the time of the attack, Novel was leading a KPK investigation in the e-ID graft case, which has implicated several members of the House of Representatives and high-ranking government officials.

The police, Ari said, had questioned dozens of witnesses but nothing had led to a significant breakthrough in the investigation.

"For now, [we only have] these witnesses. [But] we will continue to look for further information," Ari said.

Novel, who is currently receiving medical treatment in Singapore, is scheduled to undergo a second operation to his left eye later this month. (foy/ipa)
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Linkedin Nurul Fitri Ramadhani (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, November 1, 2017 16:38 1840 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a26f7090 1 Politics #WestJava,West-Java,#RegionalElections,regional-election,gubernatorial-elections,Deddy-Mizwar,#PAN,PAN,PDI-P Free

The National Mandate Party (PAN) has said it is open to the possibility of having the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) join a coalition that endorses West Java Deputy Governor Deddy Mizwar in the 2018 gubernatorial race.

"The more parties, the better. Please [join us]. PAN can't do it alone," PAN chairman Zulkifli Hasan said at the House of Representatives building on Wednesday.

Zulkifli made the statement following a plan revealed by the PDI-P to invite Deddy for a meeting next week, despite the PDI-Ps standing as the only party in West Java that can field a gubernatorial ticket without forming a coalition because of its 20-council seats.

PDI-P recently invited seven prospective hopefuls, including Deddy, to a silaturahmi (get together), which appeared to be a kind of primary to vet candidates.

Unlike the PDI-P, PAN  which is affiliated to the country's second-largest Muslim organization, Muhammadiyah  cannot endorse names without forming a coalition as it controls only four council seats in West Java, the countrys most populated province and home to many conservative Muslim groups.

"Therefore, we also hope that the Democratic Party, Gerindra Party and PKS [Prosperous Justice Party] can join us as well," Zulkifli said.

Other parties have also been scouting for gubernatorial candidates to compete against popular Bandung Mayor Ridwan Kamil, who has secured enough support from two Islam-based parties  the United Development Party (PPP) and the National Awakening Party (PKB)  as well as the NasDem Party and Golkar Party. (ipa)
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, November 2, 2017 06:01 1840 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a270aed9 1 Politics setya-novanto,Golkar,defamation,#KPKInquiry Free

Police have arrested a woman suspected of distributing online content deemed defamatory to House of Representatives Speaker and Golkar chairman Setya Novanto.

Head of the Jakarta Polices cybercrime division, Sr. Comr. Asep Safrudin, said that the suspect, identified as 29-year-old Dyann Kemala Arrizqi, had been charged under the Information Technology Law (ITE) law.

"She is currently being questioned. So far, she said that she had been playing around when uploading the photo on social media," Asep said as quoted by kompas.com.

Read also: Politics hinders graft fight

In early October, a photo of Setya lying on a hospital bed began circulating online and soon went viral on social media, with creative meme makers quick to add deriding captions.

Netizens also pointed to a number of oddities in how Setya had posed for the shot.

This photograph of House of Representatives Speaker and Golkar Party chairman Setya Novanto receiving intensive care at Jatinegara Premier Hospital drew widespread criticism that he had posed for the shot, and inspired a slew of satirical memes. (Twitter/Twitter)

Many focused on the electrocardiogram machine in the left-hand corner of the photo. The device measures a patients heart beat, but the one in the picture revealed a flatline  which indicates the patient is already dead.

Setya's lawyers filed a complaint against Dyann to the Jakarta Police on Oct. 10, claiming that she had distributed defamatory materials online.

On Wednesday, the Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI) issued a statement that Dyann was one of its members, who was based in Tangerang, Banten.
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Linkedin Prima Wirayani (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, November 1, 2017 12:11 1841 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a26e5c25 1 Business haj-pilgrims,service,index,BPS Free

The satisfaction index of hajj pilgrims for government services has increased to 84.85 percent this year, compared to 83.83 percent last year, the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) announced on Wednesday.

"What's encouraging is that in the last three years, starting from 2014, there has been a constant increase in the index, although it is not rapid. That means [the Religious Affairs Ministry's] services have been improving constantly," BPS head Suhariyanto told a press briefing.

Intercity bus services recorded the highest index at 88.23 percent, followed by 87.72 percent for shalawat bus services that transport pilgrims from their hotels to the Grand Mosque in Mecca, and 87.38 percent for services provided by pilgrimage officers. Nearly all services saw an increase in their satisfaction index.

Read also: Govt to seek haj facility upgrades from Saudi Arabia

The satisfaction index was first implemented in 2010.

The Religious Affairs Ministry, however, said it did not actually feel confident about the results before the announcement, because the number of hajj officers to the pilgrims was proportionately lower this year.

It was feared the situation would affect [the quality of] their services," Religious Affairs Minister Lukman Hakim Saifuddin told the briefing.

He explained that the number of the pilgrims increased by more than 52,000 this year to around 221,000 pilgrims, while the number of officers was increased by only 250 to 3,500 officers.

"One officer handled 51 to 52 pilgrims last year, but this year, one officer handled 63 pilgrims," Lukman said. "Thus, we are very pleased with the result." (bbn)
Morning briefing: Tesla could expand in Wisconsin with new bill to allow direct sales
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Linkedin Justin Sink and Clementine Fletcher (Bloomberg) New York, United States  Wed, November 1, 2017 13:08 1841 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a26e7c21 2 World trump,terror-attack,New-York-City,Muslim-ban Free

President Donald Trump ordered the Department of Homeland Security to bolster the vetting of immigrants coming into the US after an Uzbek man allegedly drove a truck down a bike path in New York, killing eight and injuring almost a dozen more.

"I have just ordered Homeland Security to step up our already Extreme Vetting Program. Being politically correct is fine, but not for this!," the president said in a Twitter post Tuesday night.

I have just ordered Homeland Security to step up our already Extreme Vetting Program. Being politically correct is fine, but not for this!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 1, 2017

It was unclear what specifically Trump was ordering the Department of Homeland Security to do. Officials there referred questions to the White House, which declined to comment beyond a statement issued earlier in the day.

My Administration will provide its full support to the New York City Police Department, including through a joint investigation with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the formal statement issued in the presidents name said. I will continue to follow developments closely.

The New York Police Department said a driver steered a vehicle on to a bike path just north of Chambers Street in the Tribeca neighborhood and struck multiple people. The vehicle then continued south and struck another vehicle.

The president was briefed on the incident by White House chief of staff John Kelly. White House officials did not comment directly on the investigation.

One of Trumps top domestic priorities has been a crackdown on undocumented immigrants and a strengthening of screening procedures for foreigners seeking to enter the U.S.

A law enforcement official identified the driver as 29-year-old Sayfullo Habibullaevic Saipov. The New York Times said he entered the country in 2010 and that handwritten notes in Arabic found near his truck indicated allegiance to Islamic State, citing law enforcement officials.

Trump in March ordered the State, Homeland Security and Justice Departments to conduct a worldwide review of whether foreign nations should be required to provide additional information about people seeking to enter the US He also ordered the agencies to adopt unspecified enhanced vetting protocols and procedures for people seeking US visas, in order to prevent terrorists or people supporting them from entering, according to a memorandum describing the plan.
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Linkedin Anton Hermansyah (The Jakarta Post) South Tangerang, Banten  Wed, November 1, 2017 17:44 1840 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a2700d3a 1 Business Unilever-Indonesia,revenue,increase Free

Fast moving consumer goods firm PT Unilever Indonesia booked Rp 31.21 trillion (US$2.3 billion) in revenue in the period from January to September.

The revenue grew by 3.69 percent year-on-year (yoy).

Unilever Indonesia finance director Tevilyan Yudhistira Rusli said on Wednesday that the growth mostly came from price increases rather than volume.

In terms of volume, the company only booked growth of 1 percent. "In our first nine-month performance, volume growth is flat," he said during a public expose event at the company's headquarters in South Tangerang, Banten.

The company currently has 40 brands that are categorized into two groups: home and personal care (HPC) and food and refreshment (FNR).

Yudhistira said HPC business, which contributed 67 percent of total sales, grew by 2.42 percent yoy to 21.1 trillion, while FNR, which contributed 33 percent to the total sales, grew by 6.32 percent yoy to Rp 10.1 trillion.

He said some FNR brands performed well despite the gloomy market conditions, such as the significant increase of food seasoning brand Roycos sales. He speculated that many housewives have to use more Royco because of the high price of chicken and beef. The company's net income increased by 10.11 percent yoy to Rp 5.23 trillion. (bbn)
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, November 1, 2017 20:24 1840 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a2708187 1 City forest,city,West-Jakarta Free

West Jakarta municipality plans to boost tourism in Srengseng forest in Kembangan by turning it into a so-called jungle city next year.

The municipality will appoint a third party to manage the forest, West Jakarta economic and development assistant Fredy Setiawan said.

So, the city forest can be a place of recreation and host educational activities. Later on, it will have natural and water attractions. There will be a place for fishing and camping too, Fredy said Wednesday as quoted by wartakota.tribunnews.com.

The concept for the jungle city was proposed to the Jakarta administration in October, he added.

Visitors are required to pay Rp 3,000 (22 US cents) when visiting the 15-hectare forest. Fredy added that there was a possibility of transforming the forest into a mini zoo.

Meanwhile, Srengseng village head Joko Muliadi said the forest had become a main tourist destination in West Jakarta.

Therefore, local officials are committed to improving the forest to boost the number of visitors. (wnd)
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Linkedin Farida Susanty (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, November 1 2017

Indria Wahyuni, 34, felt overwhelmed when she had to stop in Singapore during her travels from Jakarta to London with Garuda Indonesia in March.

The transit in the middle of an 18-hour flight was inconvenient for her as she was traveling with two young children.

There was no point in transiting there to just screen our carry-on bags, and we didnt stop for long. We used the same aircraft for the rest of the voyage, said Indria, a PhD candidate at Birmingham Law School, University of Birmingham, United Kingdom.

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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, November 1, 2017 17:41 1840 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a27009f7 4 Business electric-vehicle,yamaha,market,trial Free

Motorcycle manufacturer PT Yamaha Indonesia (YIMM) introduced its electric motorcycle on Wednesday.

YIMM president director Minoru Morimoto explained that his company had a long history in developing the electric motorcycle, saying that it had introduced its electric motorcycle, the Yamaha Passol, in 2002.

We introduced [the motorcycle] to the market in Indonesia, said Minoru in Jakarta on Wednesday as reported by kontan.co.id.

He said in the next month, Yamaha would cooperate with four institutions, Kebun Raya Bogor, Pelita Harapan University (UPH), PT Mitsubishi Motors Krama Yudha Sales Indonesia (MMKSI) and The Breeze BSD, to carry out a market trial for the vehicles.

Meanwhile, YIMM vice president director Dionisius Betty explained that the product would not be put on the market during the trial. It is not difficult to produce and market the electric motorcycles. But we will first pay serious attention to its safety features, Dionisius said.

The company would pay particular attention to the vehicles ability to cope during flooding, the quieter noise produced by electric vehicles that may increase the risk of traffic accidents and treatment of lithium battery waste.

Lithium battery waste is dangerous if it is not treated well, Dionisius added. (bbn)
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Linkedin Carla Bianpoen (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, November 2 2017

This years Jakarta Biennale will diverge from many of the curatorial practices of its predecessors



The Jakarta Biennale, which is set to open on Saturday at Gudang Sarinah Ekosistem in South Jakarta, will this year adopt Jiwa as its artistic concept.



Jiwa is a concept that is almost impossible to translate into English, but for this biennale, it could be understood as an all-encompassing energy and creative spirit that flows from the past, or the memory of it, to the present and onwards toward new visions.



Bissu, the androgynous shamans from South Sulawesi who will perform prayers and blessings at the opening of the vernissage evening, are just the beginning of what is in store. Another rare feature will be the inclusion of works that could be considered Balinese art brut (raw art) by artists Ni Tanjung and Dwi Putro Mulyono.



Works by acclaimed artists like the late Hendrawan Ryanto (1959-2004), a contemporary craftwork artist, and the late Semsar Siahaan (1952-2005), a great artist and human rights activist, will be on show in revived forms.



Senior artists whose works have made significant contributions to the development of art in Indonesia, have also been asked to join in.



Siti Adiyati, for instance, who was an active member of the Indonesian New Art Movement that made its mark in the 1970s, will revive her installation of eceng gondok or water hyacinths, which grow on water surfaces and hamper the flow of streams and rivers.



Siti said her creation, titled Enceng gondok berbunga emas (Water hyacinth with golden flowers), was a portrait of poverty in its increasing reality, like trash floating in all directions of water ways.



Today, it stands as a powerful work of deep-felt concern over the euphoria of overwhelming consumerism, which promises an imagined golden time.



Marintan Sirait, one of Indonesias first female performance artists, whose notable performance installation from 1990 Membangun Rumah (Building a House) will make a reappearance with an expanded conceptual and deepened spiritual quality. The installation and performance inspires viewers to meditate and retire from the hustle and bustle of the city.





Notably, the biennale will also feature new and existing video works of strong female filmmakers, such as Ximena Cuevas (Mexico), Gabriela Golder (Argentina) and Kiri Dalena (Philippines) together with Indonesians Otty Widasari and Yola Yulfianti.



Thai artist Arin Rungjang has made a new six-channel video work inspired by the song Bengawan Solo (Solos river) for the biennale. However, unlike many who think the song has a romantic inkling, Runjang, who found that the songs composer, Gesang, had not at all intended it as a romantic song, seeks to capture the composers sentiment juxtaposed with his personal story.



Melati Suryodarmo, the biennales artistic director, said the biennale would also present 21 live performances in the first 10 days. The performances include those performed by internationally-renowned artists, Eva Kotatkova, Alastair MacLennan, Jason Lim, Nikhil Chopra and Ho Rui An. Indonesian performers include Marintan Sirait, Aliansyah Caniago, Ratu Rizkitasari Saraswati.



Melati, the first female artistic director since the biennales inception in 2007, is working with four other curators  Annissa Gultom and Hendro Wiyanto of Jakarta, Vit Havranek of Prague and Philippe Pirotte of Frankfurt, Germany.



Palestinian-Saudi artist Dana Awartani, who is known for combining mathematics with Sufi poetry and geometry in her works, will present a video performance and installation based on Islamic geometry and sand, titled I went away and forgot you. A while ago I remembered. I remembered Id forgotten you. I was dreaming.



Thai artist Pinaree Sanpitak, whose recurrent motif is the breast, will collaborate with Indonesian chef Rahung Nasution in the performance Breast Stupa Cookery.



There will also be artworks by Belgian artist Luc Tuymans, Indonesian painters Hanafi and Ugo Untoro, as well as by a Russian painting collective of Alexey Kluyjkov, Vasil Aartamonov and Dominik Forman.



The biennale program will also include Symposia on Nov. 13 and 14 with keynote speakers from Asia and Europe to be held at IFI and accompanied by performances by Ho Rui An and Choi Ka Fai as well as the launch of three books, consisting of art reviews by Bambang Bujono, essays by Siti Adiyati and the personal diaries of Semsar Siagian.

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Linkedin (The Jakarta Post)  Thu, November 2 2017

The recent bust of a prostitution service disguised as an online dating platform has put the controversy over nikah siri (informal unregistered marriage) back into the spotlight. The Jakarta Posts Corry Elyda and Ika Krismantari discuss why people still love to embrace this bald-faced hypocrisy.



Imagine arriving at a wedding ceremony, but you find no fancy dresses, no stunning decorations, no crowd and no Instagram updates. Around you are the bride, bridegroom, cleric and a couple of perfect strangers. What reigns is a sense of secrecy.



Such a scenario can be very real here in Indonesia when a couple has their nikah siri blessed. Secret lovers may opt for a simple wedding ritual on the belief that all they need for the union of a man and a woman is love, if not lust, and the divine blessing.



Under Islamic law, a man can marry a woman as long as there is a guardian for the bride  usually her father or a male relative  as well as witnesses and a dowry. This practice of nikah siri (literally translates as secret wedding) remains commonplace in the predominantly Muslim country. In Arabic, sirri means clandestine.



From the Islamic religious perspective, nikah siri is valid, but not under Indonesias secular laws. Law No. 1/1974 on marriage stipulates that a marriage is deemed legitimate if it fulfills religious formalities and is registered by the state. Nikah siri lacks the latter prerequisite and such a wedding is usually performed by a penghulu (a Muslim cleric), who is not authorized by the Religious Affairs Ministry.



Because nikah siri is mostly kept as a secret and is not registered, it is next to impossible to measure its prevalence. In 2012, the Empowerment of Female Heads of Households Program (Pekka), a NGO assisting widows in conflict regions, conducted a study in 111 villages across 17 provinces, and concluded that at least 25 percent of the population was in unregistered marriages.



Although the marriage is religiously valid, this argument does not end its controversy. Critics say that nikah siri is adultery hidden behind the mask of religion. These couples  who often include well-known celebrities and politicians  are subject to ridicule, prejudice and even alienation.



But the sheer prevalence and the general perception of the practice reveal an inconsistency that amounts to hypocrisy.



The recent ban on nikahsirri.com, a website offering matchmaking and secret wedding services, and the arrest of its owner, Aris Wahyudi, may well reflect the attitude. Police have accused him of offering nikah siri services with virgin boys and girls for money. In fact, nikahsirri.com is not the only website of its kind in existence, but the long hand of the law has yet been able to claw out the others.



Recently, The Jakarta Post visited an agent in Tebet, South Jakarta. Tucked in a residential area, the unpretentious office stands out for its signboard carrying the business owners single name squeezed among his academic and clerical titles: Prof. Dr. KH. Aulia MA.



The man was nowhere to be seen. In charge that day was his son, Nurul Huda, who usually takes the role of assistant and witness.



My father can wed the couple as well as become the guardian for the bride, said Nurul. He visibly withdrew upon realizing his guests were journalists.





For the service, the agent sets fees ranging from Rp 2 million (US$148) for couples who bring their own witnesses and guardian, to Rp 3 million if these must be provided.



Nurul said his father usually administered at least one nikah siri a week. His clients vary, ranging from men who wish to take a second wife without the approval of his first wife, young and underaged couples, to divorcees.



Nurul and his father offer the services online and offline publicly. Just google nikah siri in Jakarta and their names will appear at the first click.



Where is the law?



The ambivalent attitudes surrounding nikah siri in Indonesia partly stem from legislation. Generally, people know its legal and social consequences. For instance, the wife and child are not entitled to an inheritance or state documents. Although the 1974 Law on marriage makes it illegal, it does not explicitly ban or criminalize nikah siri.



In a rare case, a housewife in Lumajang, East Java, filed a lawsuit against her husband in 2010 for marrying another woman without her consent. The 1974 Law stipulates that men cannot take a new wife without consent from his legal wife (or wives), or he faces criminal charges that carry a maximum jail term of five years.



A Muslim may have up to four registered wives, but in practice, the formal procedures have been made so complicated that, theoretically, it is next to impossible.



The situation became even more complex after the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) issued a fatwa (edict) in 2006 making nikah siri halal (permissible under Islamic law), as long as it fulfills the sharia requirements: witnesses, dowry and guardians.



That is why even though nikah siri is generally criticized, it is widely practiced. People have various reasons to opt for this marriage model. Some parents would let their underage daughters marry this way and legalize the nuptials later when the women have reached adulthood. Others do it on the pretext that nikah siri would free them from the guilt of adultery.



Arina Rohmatul Hidayah, 23-year-old mother of one, chose nikah siri as a 20-year old student in Yogyakarta because she wanted people to believe her boyfriend was her legitimate husband. Her tactic worked. People stopped gossiping about her relationship and she could better focus on her study, and then formalized her union after graduation.



Tholha, a Religious Affairs Office (KUA) officer in Surabaya, said many men prefer to have a nikah siri with their next wife because the official procedure is just too complicated and inefficient. The 1974 Law on marriage requires men who want to have a second wife to get the approval from their first wife and convince the state that they can guarantee the well-being of both families.



Without these documents, a man cannot take a second wife, Tholha said.



While some men use nikah siri to justify adultery, others take it to the next level and use it to justify prostitution, which is illegal by both the religious and secular laws of Indonesia. The case of nikahsirri.com is an example of how nikah siri practices can be manipulated for prostitution.



Another form of disguised prostitution is the contractual marriage. Puncak in West Java, a popular hilly resort about 70 kilometers south of Jakarta, is widely known for catering to these sin-free short unions. Here, Middle East men are the chief patrons.



They secretly perform nikah siri in hotel rooms [...]. Middlemen acting as agents also serve as witnesses and guardians for their clients convinience, said 54-year-old Puncak resident Dadeng Hidayat.

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Linkedin (Agence France-Presse) Manila, Philippines  Wed, November 1, 2017 16:28 1840 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a26f5b47 2 SE Asia Marawi,Philippines,terrorism,IS,Fighter Free

An Indonesian militant who joined gunmen loyal to the Islamic State group in a five-month battle for a southern Philippine city was arrested there on Wednesday, police said.

The Philippine military last week declared the end of fighting in Marawi but admitted there could be "stragglers" in the area after what authorities said was an IS bid to establish a Southeast Asian caliphate there.

Police said they arrested the 22-year-old Indonesian in Marawi after village officials found him trying to flee, adding he would face rebellion and terrorism charges.

"He is part of the siege and an initial (encounter) in Piagapo," provincial police chief Senior Superintendent John Guyguyon told reporters, referring to a military operation in April against the militants in a town 45 minutes away from Marawi.

Hundreds of local and foreign gunmen who had pledged allegiance to IS rampaged through Marawi, the principal Islamic city in the mainly Catholic Philippines, on May 23. They took over parts of the city using civilians as human shields.

An ensuing US-backed military campaign claimed the lives of more than 1,100 people, displaced 400,000 residents and reduced large parts of the city to rubble.

The Indonesian militant arrived in the Philippines last year upon the invitation of the Filipino head of IS in Southeast Asia, Isnilon Hapilon, according to Guyguyon -- citing the gunman's account given to interrogators.

Hapilon, who was on the US government's list of most wanted terrorists, was killed last month along with fellow militant leader Omarkhayam Maute.

The Indonesian fighter, from Medan, said his group was involved in a 2016 suicide attack that killed eight people in the Indonesian capital Jakarta and was claimed by IS, Guyguyon added.

The militants had plotted to bomb military camps in the Philippines but this did not happen because of the Marawi attack, Guyguyon said.

Authorities said they recovered a gun, a grenade and an undisclosed sum in Philippine, Indonesian and Saudi Arabian currency from the arrested militant.

There are still about twenty remaining fighters holed up in Marawi but they are surrounded by troops, Guyguyon said.

"They are not attacking (our forces) but when you enter, they retaliate."

Topics : Marawi Philippines terrorism IS Fighter
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Linkedin News Desk (Agence France-Presse) The Hague, Netherlands  Wed, November 1, 2017 19:38 1840 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a2705e25 2 News Amsterdam,bicycle,Netherlands,Tourist Free

Amsterdam will enforce a new ban on 'beer-bikes' this week after years of complaints by locals about rowdy tourists getting drunk and disorderly while pedaling along its famous canals.

As from Wednesday "the beer bicycle may be banned from the city center to stop it from being a nuisance," the Amsterdam District Court said in a statement.

"The court agrees with the city council that the combination of traffic disruptions, anti-social behaviour and the busy city centre justifies a ban," it added.

Beer bicycles have become a popular way -- especially for tourists celebrating group events, such as stag parties -- to travel around Amsterdam.

The contraption is actually a small cart fitted out with a number of bicycle seats arranged around a bar table and which is then powered by patrons, as they pedal along the inner city's historic canals.

But beer bicycles have become a huge headache, even for Amsterdammers who are known for their tolerance.

Last year some 6,000 residents, many of them living in the inner city handed the council a petition to have it banned, calling it a "terrible phenomenon."

Read also: Five tourist scams you should watch out for in Europe

"Our city's become a giant attraction park," one resident told the NOS newscaster at the time.

Amsterdam's late mayor, Eberhard van der Laan agreed and instituted a ban the bikes, but was taken to court last year by four beer bicycle operators, who accused the city of "imposing on people's freedom".

At the time, judges struck down the mayor's request, saying it was not properly motivated.

In Tuesday's ruling, however, the judges agreed that problems caused by the beer bike including shouting, public drunkenness and lewd behaviour such as urinating in public were causes for the beer bike to be no more.

Amsterdam in recent years have been looking at ways to tame the yearly deluge of some 17 million tourists, which is threatening to swamp the city.

Once a small fishing village, Amsterdam in the 16th and 17th centuries grew into a major trading hub, but now has become a victim of its own success.

Every year the flow of sightseers flocking to the city's 165 canals grows by some five percent as the result of an impressive marketing campaign.

But for the city's 830,000 residents, tourist numbers threaten to become a major annoyance.

Topics : Amsterdam bicycle Netherlands Tourist
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Linkedin (Pesona Indonesia) Jakarta  Wed, November 1, 2017 13:09 1841 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a26e84cd 2 News Tourism-Ministry-Pesona-Indonesia,tourism-ministry-wonderful-Indonesia,Blora Free

Dozens of students from United States, Uganda, Malaysia, Tanzania, Vietnam, Libya, Rwanda, Timor Leste, Nigeria, France and Ethiopia have recently traveled to Blora regency in Central Java to study about petroleum as well as the regencys local culture.

The students were part of the International Study program at the Diponegoro University in Semarang.

Upon arriving in Blora, the participants were taken to explore the history of petroleum, samin culture and KPH Cepu forestry area where they were introduced to the German-made steam locomotive that was left by the Dutch.

I like it, its a unique old train, said a student from Tanzania, Moses Isdor Mgunda.

Read also: Dutch expertise contributes to promising future for heritage railways

The next place that they went to was the Magung oil well location that was also established by the Dutch in Ledok village, Sambong district.

Traveling with Jeep cars, the students were welcomed by one of the officers named Soentoro, This is the first oil well in Indonesia that were exploited by the Dutch, said Soentoro.

The journey then continued to a teak forest area where they saw oil miners at well 142 and well 98, both run by Pertamina.

Its great, what a memorable experience to be able to see oil wells, said Kagireneza Alexis Fidele, a student from Rwanda, Africa.

The next stop was Samin village in Blimbing Desa Sambongrejo hamlet, Sambong district. They were welcomed with a performance of kotekan lesung by the women of Samin. Some students even tried to learn to play the traditional instrument. (kes)
Every year since 2015, The National Student has published a list of places that we believe students should visit  from treasures right on our doorstep (hello, Wales) to further-flung destinations that are opening up to visitors and unveiling wonders along the way (looking at you, Iran.)

Our list is complied as a result of hours of research, multiple conversations, and lots of wistful sighing over azure-dappled travel editorials. Think of it as a Lonely Planet list for those with a little bit less disposable cash than your average travel book reader.

They might be skint, but students have always travelled  they just swap private hotel rooms for 12-person dorms and restaurant meals for street food delicacies washed down with the local happy hour tipple. Its easy, when you know how.

And this year, all our travel conversations have pointed to one thing: sustainable travel. From a campaign to utilise citizens to save the Great Barrier Reef to a Scottish island that is celebrating 20 years of self-sufficiency, current conversations always circle back round to the same themes.

Weve noticed this in our writers, too  more than ever, we are receiving pitches on subjects covering the breadth of sustainability, from an attempt to log all the single use plastic used in a month to conservation of wild animals in South Africa.

We wouldnt be doing our jobs if we didnt respond accordingly to this  which is why our Top Destinations 2018 will have a sustainability focus running throughout.

Inspired by Earth Hour founder Andy Ridleys quest to mobilise the whole world in conservation of the Great Barrier Reef, Queensland is the first confirmed inclusion in our Top Destinations 2018 list. Well be covering the Citizens of the Great Barrier Reef from its launch in November throughout next year (and probably beyond, too) and keeping our readers up to date with efforts to preserve this most fragile of natural wonders.

I dont need to tell you that looking after the planet has never been more important. This year weve interviewed Al Gore, who is hopeful  but is under no illusion about the amount of work there is to do (you can watch that interview here.) Andy Ridley agrees. We can only hope that, by tapping into this highly important subject and using our platform for good, we can spread the message amongst UK students and urge them to consider their own part in preserving the planet we live on.

So, how can you get involved?

Ahead of World Travel Market London 2017, we are still finalising the destinations that well be including in our selection for next year. Ideally, every destination we feature will have one of the following characteristics:

- - Has previously been dangerous but isnt anymore

- - Is facing huge conservation issues

- - Is facing misconceptions from travellers

- - Has a little-known story that we can share with our readers

If you represent a destination and want to talk to us about it, were waiting for your call  you can find our contact details here.
Gerard Butler still getting work is enough to distract from everything else wrong with this movie - which is everything else in this movie.

At a certain point in Geostorm, Gerard Butler explains that the International Space Station was fitted with "emergency de-rig ports so the panels can be moved easily", whatever that means. I can't be alone in wondering how starved of ideas the writers of this godawful movie were to have thought of that zinger.

Butler plays Jake, a horrible protagonist with no redeeming features. In an early sequence, when faced with a grizzly senator unfortunately played by the incomparable Richard Schiff, Butler's character is revealed to be the chief of operations of the International Space Station. The ISS now acts as a base of operations for a system called Dutch Boy, a series of satellites that can stop natural disasters from happening (no guesses what's going to happen to that).

Butler does that horrible cowboy thing (which the movie actually acknowledges, albeit via the conduit of another horrible character) and tries to be charming with little success. To the surprise of nobody, he is fired for his negligence, but brought back when Dutch Boy inevitably begins to malfunction.

Bringing him back is his brother Max, played by Jim Sturgess in the worst performance of the dough-faced actor's career. In fact, there are few performers in Geostorm who I don't think less of for being in it. Ed Harris and Andy Garcia have a particuarly excruciating scene near the tail-end of this celluloid plane crash, wherein they both seem to be reading (and loathing) the script for the first time on-camera.

Sturgess at least seems like he has read the script, as indeed does Butler. They just both happen to be reading different ones, being as mismatched as they are. My left nipple and I have more chemistry than Sturgess and Butler.

I happened to watch the film with subtitles, meaning that I can confirm with a higher certainty than almost anyone else that it is the stupidest script of the year, if not ever. Spiders are kinder to your ears when they crawl inside and lay eggs in your brain.

And it's not just a turd on a situational level, with exchanges between pretty much every character sending my breakfast ever closer to my mouth. The overall structure would make a nervous 14-year-old in a school presentation tell the film to take a breather. It rattles through expositional talk so fast, it's as though the filmmakers didn't actually want us to hear how bad it all was. Yet, there is absolutely no urgency to the words: the most intense of situations is sedate and tired.

So does the actual 'storm' give us our money's worth? Put it this way: I saw it for free and still felt like I'd been robbed. One action scene looked like a sickly videogame. Another, a car chase set against strobe lightning, was a visual assault as painful as having to constantly look at Gerard Butler's stupid face - in close-up.

It's difficult not to hate everything about this film - its sanctimonious and confusing political undertones; the cluttered Gravity B-movie imitations; and particularly the literal inventory of stupid concepts contained within. Boneless iPads called holo-frames, a secret code based on a phone number (that actually works in the most perplexingly idiotic way possible), Gerard Butler getting work...

A scene exists where Ed Harris says that he will be sworn in as the next President of the United States whilst hoisting a rocket launcher out of the boot of a car. This movie could never have possibly been good if the people making it thought that was a passable idea.

Geostorm is out now, distributed by Warner Bros.




Based on true events, Roland Joffes The Forgiven stars the brilliantly mutable Forest Whittaker as Archbishop Desmond Tutu, as he meets with unapologetic murderer Piet Blomfeld (Eric Bana) in the aftermath of apartheid.

The film captures the fragility of the peace brought about by Nelson Mandela, and raises deep questions regarding morality and forgiveness. Whilst Blomfeld revels in claiming to be unforgivable, Tutu struggles with his faith and his bold claim that everyone is worthy of forgiveness.

Whittaker masterfully captures the many roles that Tutu must play: spiritual shepherd, political leader, loving husband, and simply a man carrying the huge burden of creating peace out of turmoil. A larger than life figure that could so easily be played as a caricature, instead in Whittakers more than capable hands becomes multi-faceted, complex, and painfully human.

Banas Blomfeld is an equally complex figure, but in his case the layers are peeled back slowly throughout the film, revealing hidden depths to a character that seems one-dimensionally villainous at first. Banas imposing physique and thick South African accent fit seamlessly into the world of brutal prison politics his character resides in. Though he is not particularly compelling in the early scenes when his motivations are opaque to Tutu and the audience alike, the film manages to show humanity in even the most monstrous of figures.

That is the real triumph of the film - the moral quandary that Tutu struggles with is passed on to the audience, who must evaluate Blomfeld, and many of the rest of the characters, and decide whether they are worthy of forgiveness. The audience isnt expected to have the strength of faith that Tutu does, nor his determination to forgive such unforgivable acts, yet we are led to that conclusion with a gentle touch.

The story of these two magnetic figures unfolds amongst high-tension situations on all sides. Tutu is beset by political obligations and personal alike - the pleas of a mother (Thandi Makhubele) for him to find out what happened to her daughter drive many of his choices. Blomfeld on the other hand is caught in the middle of the brutal race-based gang warfare of prison life, with his nemesis played convincingly and terrifyingly by Osbert Solomons.

Though the theme of forgiveness is perhaps heavy handed throughout the film, and the plot fairly meandering and opaque for a lot of the film, the emotional climax certainly packs a punch. The performances are intense and committed, carrying the bulk of the film. Makhubeles courtroom scene late in the film is devastating  certainly a tear-jerker!

Audiences will certainly be more forgiving of this film if it is considered as an extended character study of these two fascinating men, rather than an entirely coherent narrative. Blomfelds venomous hatred and Tutus determined love are remarkable forces, brought to life by two fantastically capable actors.

Overall, its an emotional film that does justice to both the complexity of the political situation, and the toll it still has to this day on individuals.
If theres one thing that Transylvania is synonymous with, it's Dracula.

Yes, visiting this rural region of Romania might mean that you come face to face with a vampire, but youll also experience stunning scenery, diverse wildlife and historic architecture.

The unofficial First City of the province of Transylvania is Cluj-Napoca, which is a seven-hour drive north of Romanias capital, Bucharest. Orange roofs and sharp spires dominate the expansive cityscape, though Cluj-Napoca is able to maintain a small town feel, helped no end by the deep surrounding woods and forests.

The city is populated by locals rather than tourists and is both warm and welcoming. Picturesque is often used nauseam to describe many aspects of Romania, but there is no other word that can do Cluj-Napoca and its surrounding fields and woodland justice.

Whilst Cluj-Napoca can be characterised as quaint and rustic in the day, the city comes alive at night. As well as hip food served at the cheap prices that you would expect from Romania, modern bars and clubs are partially accountable for the city's rise in popularity.

Cluj-Napocas modernity also coexists happily with its rich heritage. There is a definite feeling of sincerity as the vibe shifts from provincial to metropolis with day and night.

Nearby the city is Hoia Baciu, reputed to be one of Europes most haunted destinations. Ancient trees in the 55,000-year-old forest creepily impose upon you, obscuring the suns light and casting the scene into little more than darkness. Bats fly overhead and spates of fog are also regular, which contributes to the fright factor that the antique forest creates. As you stumble from tree to tree with such low visibility, theres the overwhelming feeling that a vampire may be about to swoop down at you.

There have been many disappearances at Hoia Baciu; from little girls to shepherds with flocks of over 200. UFO sightings aren't uncommon either. There is a definite chill in

the forest that you wont feel with more kitsch horror destinations that Romania has to offer.

Speaking of the kitsch, Hoia Baciu is just three hours away from Bram Castle - the infamous castle featured in Bram Stokers novel, Dracula. The 14th Century structure looms ominously on a hill, overlooking woodland that is home to brown bears. The surrounding village, though, has become a mecca for cheap plastic souvenirs mass produced in China and sold to the innumerable tourists who visit, jarring with the authenticity that is held by much of the rest of Transylvania.

There is much that Romania has to offer outside of Bucharest, indeed, we havent scratched the surface. Tourism to the country is on the up as travellers become more and more eager to explore the unconventional. Cluj-Napoca and Hoia Baciu definitely tick this box.

Stokers creation was able to fly from his castle straight to England, but youll have to make do with flights to Bucharest from most airports or a direct flight to Cluj-Napoca from Luton with Wizz Air. But really, theres no excuse not to make the heart of Transylvania your next destination!
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Wisconsin is known for having a strong drinking culture. But the culture comes with a negative label: being one of the worst states for drinking and driving.

There is some good news for the local area, however.

Data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics shows a sharp decrease in the number of alcohol-related crashes since 2010 in Sauk, Juneau and Columbia counties. The number of total operating while intoxicated arrests has decreased in all three counties over the last five years.

Sauk County State Trooper Joshua Torth is one who has noticed the decrease in arrests for alcohol OWIs.

Were still seeing it, he said. But its not as potent as it used to be.

In the case of a first offense, an OWI in which an ancillary crime isnt involved is considered a civil forfeiture and after being arrested, the driver can be released to a responsible party.

Some tougher OWI laws have been enacted, but mainly focus on those with multiple offenses and the installation of ignition interlock devices, which check a driver for alcohol before allowing them to start a vehicle. Part of the decrease can be attributed to organizations such as the SAFERIDE program in Wisconsin Dells or Bar Buddies in Sauk Prairie, Baraboo, Lodi and Reedsburg.

Completely preventable

From a first responders point of view, its frustrating to pull someone over who is under the influence of alcohol or to see an accident where alcohol is involved, Troth said.

Thats completely something thats human error thats preventable at 100 percent, he said. Thats not somebody making them drive. They are choosing to do that. They are putting everybody at risk at that point.

State Trooper Eric Lloyd, who is assigned to the Tomah post and serves the Juneau County area, said officers are trained to spot intoxicated drivers, which starts before a vehicle is pulled over.

We look for unusual behavior, he said. Is the vehicle all over the roadway? Is it going up and down in speed, is it driving faster than usual? We take those observations and upon stopping the vehicle for whatever reason, we then continue our investigation and that continues with the contact of that person.

Determining if a person is intoxicated comes in the investigation phase, when officers talk to the person, examine certain behaviors and conduct a standardized field sobriety test and possibly a preliminary breath test.

Most of them will tell you Hey, I had a couple of beers like three hours ago, Troth said. If its intoxicants, you also have the odor of the intoxicant. If youre smelling it that goes down to a whole different level.

Troth called an alcohol-involved accident controlled chaos.

Theres a lot going on in a crash scene usually simultaneously, Troth said. Usually you have one trooper dealing with the crash, one dealing with traffic direction, another one trying to help get a tow truck en route and help with EMS and another one starting to write the crash as far as the investigation portion goes.

With a lot of tourists in the area, Lloyd said he sees a number of people with a first-offense OWI, especially during extended times away from work like Fourth of July, Labor Day and New Years.

Youve got the Dells, youve got Castle Rock, Lloyd said. People come up here and they have a good time and sometimes they dont make the responsible choices when they are on their vacation having a good time.

First-offense law

In Wisconsin, a first OWI is a civil forfeiture, not a criminal offense.

Youre still being charged with operating while intoxicated, Troth said. But we have the ability to release you to a responsible party instead of having you go through the criminal process of getting booked into the jail.

Fines can range from $150 to $1,000 for a first-offense OWI and a drivers license can be suspended for six to nine months. Sauk County District Attorney Kevin Calkins said court costs, attorney fees, citations and insurance increases can add up, even for a first-offense OWI.

The cheapest ticket for that is like $700, Calkins said. Its a pretty steep penalty.

If drunken driving involves a crash where injury or fatality occurs, criminal and homicide charges can be pursued. If a child 16 or younger is in the vehicle, its considered a misdemeanor for the first offense and a criminal offense for the third offense.

At that point, its no longer being released to a responsible party, now were going to jail, Troth said.

Baraboo Chief of Police Mark Schauf said the state needs to change the publics mindset about drinking and driving and the extent that alcohol causes impairment. Despite county rates dropping, the city has seen an increase in the number of OWI arrests.

Were the only state that first-offense is still a non-criminal offense, he said. We have to change the thought where its OK to do. People know its not OK to do, yet they will go to the retirement party after work or something simple and not realize how alcohol is impacting them and get behind the wheel to drive home.

Toughening up laws

Sen. Jon Erpenbach, D-Middleton, said the OWI laws, could be toughened up a bit more but said its a challenge to match the penalties to the crime.

If you flat out make (first offense) a criminal offense, I dont know if there is enough flexibility built into it, Erpenbach said. If someone is 0.00001 above the legal limit should that be a criminal penalty? Theres a lot of debate back and forth in that particular issue.

In 2015, a bill was proposed to make a first-offense OWI a Class C misdemeanor with a $500 fine and 30 days imprisonment. The bill was rejected by the state Senate.

The Legislature mainly has focused on stricter laws for repeat offenders. According to the DOT website, Wisconsin Act 100 changed laws for a fourth-offense OWI conviction, making it a felony and required ignition interlock systems for repeat offenders. The law, passed in 2009, also amended first-offense laws with interlock ignition systems installed when someone has a blood alcohol content level of 0.15, nearly double the legal limit of .08, and increased first-offense to a misdemeanor if a child under 16 years old is in the vehicle.

The latest bill regarding drinking and driving is Assembly Bill 98. The bill proposes to install an ignition interlock device to begin on the date of the court order, rather than when a driver's license is reinstated. State Rep. Ed Brooks, R-Reedsburg, is one of the co-authors of the bill.

Theres been a problem in the past where a person is arrested but they dont make a court appearance for quite awhile and in the meantime they are able to drive, Brooks said. This would expedite the installation of breathalyzers possibly before trial so you dont have that gap in there.

Rep. Dave Considine, D-Baraboo, said the bill has the broadest support on both sides of the aisle. Brooks said the bill could reach the Assembly floor sometime this fall.

Erpenbach and Considine say there should be a balance of both punishment and treatment options available for those convicted of OWI offenses.

You dont change behavior by punishing, Considine said. You change behavior by teaching, training and providing alternatives for people.

However, having access to mental health and addiction services in rural areas can be a challenge because we underfunded counties to a degree on that particular level, Erpenbach said. But at the same time a lot of mental health providers dont necessarily set up shop throughout Wisconsin.

Erpenbach said incarcerating a person for a year costs Wisconsin taxpayers $50,000. He said finding treatment options instead of enforcing harsher penalties could not only save taxpayers money, but save lives as well.

If youre convicted in harming someone in a drunk-driving accident, you not only have a debt to pay to that family but a debt to pay to society, Erpenbach said. There has to be punishment for those types of crime. But at the same time, there has to be services available for that person, even before the idea of a crime happening so that the services are there and they take advantage of it.

Safe rides

To help people encourage good decisions, organizations are stepping up to try and reduce the number of drinking and driving incidents in the area.

Bar Buddies started in 2012 in Sauk Prairie and has become well-known around the Sauk County area. There are now Bar Buddies services in Baraboo, Reedsburg, Lodi and recently in Spring Green.

Heather Ceaser, program coordinator for the Sauk Prairie Bar Buddies, said from 7 p.m. until the last bar closes Wednesday through Saturday night, the organization in Sauk Prairie provides from 10 to 70 rides a night. She said services may increase on holidays such as New Years Eve and Thanksgiving to about 200 rides.

Even if you cant tip our drivers, we dont care, Ceaser said. We want to make sure you make it home safely.

While the organization will charge a per-person rate for rides from one bar to another, the ride home always is free. Ceaser said she sees a lot of repeat riders utilize the program.

Thats something where a lot of people have personally thanked us and said, Id probably be in jail or dead if you guys werent here, Ceaser said. They will ride with us consistently every single night they are out.

Another organization in Wisconsin Dells is the SAFE RIDE program run by the Wisconsin Dells/Delton Tavern League. The program partners with 45 bars and provides vouchers to bars to hand out to patrons.

They call us and we provide them free of charge a safe ride home, said Wisconsin Dells Taxi owner Keshia Gregerson, who coordinates for the SAFE RIDE program.

She said there is an increase in service during the tourist season in the Wisconsin Dells area from May through September.

Were getting people home to Kalahari Resort and Wilderness Resort, Gregerson said. Its not like its limited as far as you have to be a resident of this city to use it. It is available to every single person in this area that needs to go to a residential address.

Fewer OWIs

Gregerson said the program provides more than 5,000 rides a year in the Wisconsin Dells and Lake Delton area. She has also noticed how proactive people are being before going to a place where drinking will be involved.

I have seen fatalities, accidents and OWI rates drop, she said. Ive seen more people utilize it every year.

Sauk County Sherriff Chip Meister said both programs have caused OWI rates to drop.

We can see a direct correlation that when the Tavern League SAFE RIDE program and the Bar Buddies program is used less our OWI arrests go up, Meister said.

Meister said another reason for the decrease in arrests is people becoming more aware of the dangers of getting behind the wheel after too much to drink.

They plan properly when they are going to go out and drink, he said. They are more responsible.

Calkins said the Sauk County Drug Court received a grant from the state to expand its drug program to include those who have received multiple OWI offenses for alcohol. Calkins said most of the crimes dealing with alcohol relate to other crimes like battery and other drug use.

If we can change them from being an alcohol- or drug-addicted individual to a person who is a sober individual the crimes they would normally commit disappear, he said. Were trying to hit the root causes. If we can teach this person by the intensive supervision program and by treatment and become a sober individual and get them working on a job that benefits society Were going to be better off in the number of offenses that dont get committed.
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LAKE DELTON  A Wisconsin Dells concert promoter will continue with plans to host a country music festival in the area next summer despite being denied a permit by the town of Delton Board Monday.

Beartooth Ventures Inc. owner Michael Slaght said following the boards decision that his company is considering a different venue for the proposed Country Splash festival.

Organizers had planned to lease 230 acres of land to host the concerts off Sand Road between Baraboo and Lake Delton. The land is currently zoned for agriculture and would have required a temporary use permit from the town board for a music festival.

It isnt done, Slaght said. It isnt done, and its just a location thats very close to the location weve already looked at.

He declined to comment on a specific location of the new site.

If approved, Country Splash would feature week-long camping and three days of performances from big-ticket Nashville stars. Organizers have estimated the festival could attract as many as 15,000 concertgoers each day.

The town of Delton Plan Commission held a public hearing on the proposed festival earlier this month. During the meeting, the panel heard more than two hours of comments both for and against the event. Organizers said the concerts could increase local employment opportunities and customers for local businesses, but neighbors said the festival could cause safety, traffic and noise issues.

Town of Delton attorney Joseph Hasler said Monday the board could either approve a temporary use permit for the festival, deny the permit, or send the request back to the Plan Commission for further discussion.

We dont have rezoning before us, and we dont have a conditional use permit application before us, he said. My recommendation is to treat this application as a temporary use, and decide how to go forward based on that.

Board Supervisor Peter Tollaksen said he opposed both granting the temporary use permit and sending the request back to the Plan Commission.

Because of the roads and the proximity to so many residents, I would probably have to vote against it no matter what happens, Tollaksen said. I think it would be a great idea, but I would like to see it done at a different locationsomething zoned commercial.

Board Supervisor Gary Cummings said a majority of constituents he heard from opposed the festival. He added that other events held in the area, like the Badger Steam & Gas Engine Show, are operated by nonprofits.

The input I have got, most people dont want it, Cummings said. Being a representative of the people, Im going to have to vote that way.

The board unanimously denied the request for a temporary use permit.

Beartooth Ventures owners Michael and Kathy Slaght live in Wisconsin Dells and together have nearly 30 years of experience organizing country music festivals. Michael Slaght worked on the development of Country Jam USA in Eau Claire and Country Thunder when it was held in Lake Geneva.

Slaght said he was disappointed with the boards decision but respected the opinions that were represented.

Each person has their own right to speak their opinion, and thats what was done, he said. They spoke their opinion, and they listened to the people that are taxpayers in their community, and they followed suit.
Madison Symphony Orchestras new principal organist and organ curator, Greg Zelek, will perform a free public organ recital on Nov. 14 as part of the 180th anniversary celebration of First United Methodist Church as well as the 25th anniversary of the churchs Austin organ.

Zeleks performance will begin at 7 p.m. at the church, 203 Wisconsin Ave., and will feature works by Bach, Mendelssohn and Guilmant.

A meet-and-greet reception will follow the recital. Audiences are encouraged to stay, converse about the program and take the opportunity to meet Zelek.

While the recital is free to attend, donation envelopes will be available. Donations will support the churchs arts programming.
The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday gave ex-post facto approval on the trade agreement between India and Ethiopia for strengthening and promoting trade and economic co-operation between the two countries.

The trade agreement was signed on October 5, during the visit of President Ram Nath Kovind to Ethiopia from October 4 to 6.

The trade agreement will replace the existing agreement that was signed in 1982. It will provide for all necessary measures to encourage trade, economic cooperation, investment and technical co-operation, an official statement said.
A Madison man accused of shooting his wife to death and blowing up their Southwest Side home in September pleaded not guilty Wednesday to homicide, arson and other charges against him.

Steven D. Pirus, 59, who is charged with the death of his wife, Lee Anne Pirus, 50, waived his right to a preliminary hearing before Dane County Circuit Judge Richard Niess before not guilty pleas were entered on his behalf by his lawyer, state Assistant Public Defender Jon Helland.

The case will now be sent to the trial judge that is assigned, Circuit Judge Nicholas McNamara.

Pirus is charged with first-degree intentional homicide, arson, first-degree reckless endangerment and several counts of mistreating animals. A criminal complaint states that Pirus admitted to shooting Lee Anne Pirus in the head after she begged him to do it.

Because of the condition of her body, investigators have been unable to pinpoint when Lee Anne Pirus died, only that it was weeks or months before the Sept. 13 explosion at the Pirus home, which was at 7806 Stratton Way.

Pirus told police that he disconnected a natural gas line from the dryer in the basement of the home, which caused the explosion.

Among the evidence police have gathered were text messages between Pirus and a woman from Russia, whom Pirus called Olga, in which they talked about eventually getting married. Police also found a gun hidden in a storage locker in Belleville that was rented in Lee Anne Pirus name, according to court documents.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday left for a three-day trip to Mauritius, his office said. He aims to attract Non-resident Indian (NRI) investment to the state.

Accompanied by Union Minister Giriraj Singh, Principal Secretary to the Chief Ministers office S.P. Goel and Principal Secretary (information) Avaneesh Kumar Awasthi, Adityanath flew in an Emirates flight around midnight.

The Chief Minister had got his diplomatic passport renewed last week. He is travelling economy class, an official said.

Adityanath is scheduled to partake in the 183rd NRI day in Mauritius which is being held to mark the first arrival of bonded Indian labourers and slaves to the island nation.

He is also scheduled to meet NRIs  mostly people from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar  and urge them to connect with the state and trace their roots.

The Chief Minister is also to meet a group of eminent businessmen of Mauritius and invite them to invest in the state.

This is Adityanaths second foreign visit after assuming office. He went to Myanmar to take part in a Buddhist conclave in August 2016.
Bollywood actor Shahid Kapoor has been a common face on most magazine covers, but this time the actor shot for a cover with his wife Mira Rajput.

The couple, who got married in 2015 has been together, bonded by love for more than two years now. They were blessed with a baby girl in August, last year.

Shahid, Mira look regal in ethnics on the cover photo of Hello magazine and we cant take our eyes off them. Those looks on Shahids face could make the heart skip a beat.

Shahid, who started his career with Ishq Vishk in 2003 shared the picture on Instagram and wrote, Hello.

Hello. A post shared by Shahid Kapoor (@shahidkapoor) on Oct 31, 2017 at 10:30pm PDT

Well, this is not the first time that the couple has got their photo shoot done. Shahid had earlier shared a picture of them with a King and Queen card in their hands. He had captioned the picture: The queen that rules my heart.

The queen that rules my heart. A post shared by Shahid Kapoor (@shahidkapoor) on Oct 17, 2017 at 10:03pm PDT

Shahid Kapoor got married to Mira Rajput in 2015 and their marriage was a low key affair with only a few friends and family in presence. The couple later threw a lavish reception party in Mumbai, which was attended by the whos who of the Bollywood industry.

Shahid is gearing up for his next big release Padmavati, opposite Deepika Padukone.

They have time and again set major couple goals by posting pictures of them on social networking sites.

Heres congratulating the couple on achieving this milestone.

READ ALSO: Padmavati celebrates India, says Shahid Kapoor
People with serious mental illnesses are among the most vulnerable defendants in the criminal justice system. They are at risk of being wrongfully punished for crimes they did not commit, and more harshly punished for behaviour caused by mental illness. They are less able to assist in their own defence, show remorse, or ask for mercy. And the stigma surrounding mental illness means that when mentally ill defendants act or speak in bizarre ways, the reaction is more likely to be fear instead of sympathy.

With the help of professionals who have studied and treated mental illness, our understanding of mental illness has greatly improved in recent years. We have a new appreciation for how the symptoms manifest in thought, judgement, and behaviour. Treatments are vastly improved. Science has also given us more information about the causes of mental illness e.g., we now understand the poor are at greater risk for developing a mental health disorder because of constant exposure to stressful events, dangerous living conditions, exploitation and poor health. WHO estimates are that one in four people will be affected by a mental disorder in their lifetime.

Chances are that someone you know, perhaps even in your own family, lives with mental illness, which can be disruptive and debilitating. But when mental illness and the criminal justice system intersect, it can become a matter of life and death.

Imdad Ali is a case in point. He suffers from paranoid schizophrenia, one of the most severe mental illnesses. It is a brain disorder that affects how a person thinks, behaves and feels. Hallucinations, both visual and audible, are common. Thinking is disorganised, delusional, and chaotic, and can cause confused physical movements. It can be a terrifying experience for someone with the illness, and for those who care about him. It almost certainly means diminished responsibility, but Imdad Ali was given the most severe punishment, a death sentence in 2001.

His disease was dismissed as irrelevant to the criminal behaviour he was convicted of committing. He is now languishing on death row in solitary confinement, which has been proven to worsen mental health conditions. His case continues to be under review. The increasing number of mentally ill defendants creates an urgent need for new legal safeguards and other changes that will prevent the kind of injustice Imdad Ali suffered from ever occurring again.

One of the most important protections is to ensure that all mentally ill defendants have the assistance of a skilled, effective defence lawyer. Such an advocate will ensure the judge has the relevant information about the defendant, including mental health evidence, before a decision is made about guilt or punishment. For this task, the assistance of a mental health expert is also needed. In the US, where I work as a capital defence lawyer, my colleagues and I attend training seminars each year that focus on mental health issues of our clients.

It is also our practice to consult mental health experts in our cases. These experts examine our clients, diagnose and testify in court about how mental illness symptoms affect our clients behaviour. This is information highly relevant to the courts determination about culpability and punishment. The US capital defence community now requires mental health expertise for all death penalty cases.

The legal performance standards reflecting this requirement have helped lawyers understand this and other important principles of effective representation. Our experience has shown that better defence representation leads to more accuracy, fairness, and justice in death penalty cases. It also provides the most vulnerable defendants, such as the mentally ill, with the special protections they require. US judges also use these standards to make informed decisions about whos qualified to defend a death penalty case, and what resources and experts are needed. Other countries that use the death penalty have also created similar performance standards.

Earlier this week, senior lawyers with the Punjab Bar Council thoughtfully discussed the benefits of creating their own standards for death penalty cases, a reflection of their commitment to the integrity of Pakistans legal system. Any justice system worth its name must carefully balance its obligations to society with its responsibilities to protect individuals. This requires a continuous process of reflection and change.

Today, we understand more about mental illness than ever before. That knowledge should now be reflected in the creation of better legal protections for the mentally ill, protections that will prevent injustices and ensure the kind of fair and just legal system that benefits us all.

(The writer is a death penalty defence lawyer and adjunct professor, George Washington Law School)
Madame Curie was the only women who took home Noble prize twice. Unbelievable courage, persistent determination, perfect enthusiasm in favour of own zeal and zest, enabled her to take the coveted part of the male-dominated world.

She was born as Marie Sklodowska Curie on 7 November 1867 in Warsaw, Poland. She was the fifth and youngest daughter among her five brothers and sisters. Her father Moesia Wladyslaw Sklodowski and mother Bronislawa Sklodowska were professors of Mathematics and Physics.

At that time, Poland was under control of Czar, Russia and her father was a patriotic person. Due to his patriotic movement, he lost his service, and had to go through economic crisis. Marie lost her mother at a very young age of nine. She left Warsaw in 1891 and went to Sorbonne, Paris, France to pursue her studies. She was the first women who graduated at Sorbonne in 1894. In the same year, she came in touch with Pierre Curie, the chief of laboratory at the City School of Physics and Chemistry. Later they felt for each other and married in the year 1895.

In 1896, scientist Henri Becquerel observed that uranium compounds gave off penetrating rays (Spontaneous Radiation). Marie found this quite interesting and soon the couple Pierre and Marie started working on Becquerels discovery. In 1898, they discovered a new element from uranium ore pitchblende. They named this new element as Polonium (in tribute of Maries motherland Poland).

In 1903, the Curie couple was honoured with a Nobel Prize with Henri Becquerel, in the section of Physics. In the same year (1906), a mishap occurred where Pierre passed away in a road accident.

It was suspected that Pierre had bone cancer due to exposure of radium salts as he carried it in his pocket to show its illuminated rays to others. In 1911, Marie was again awarded with a Nobel Prize in Chemistry for isolating radium in pure form and studying its properties and compounds. The unit of radium was named Curie in her credit, and the element of atomic number 96 was named Curium. Marie proved that one of the chief uses of radium salts is a source of alpha particles, so it successfully destroys the malignant (cancer) cells.

Todays successful radiotherapy to combat carcinoma was developed by her. This great lady of the world had finished her battle of existence in respect of her services with excellence on 4 July 1943. The cause of her death was diagnosed as plastic anaemia, which might be developed due to excessive exposure of radium, which cures many cancers and saves many lives.

The work of Madame was carried forward by Irene Curie and Frederick Joliot, her daughter and son-in-law respectively. The couple was honoured again with a Noble Prize in good turn of their achievements of Artificial Radioactivity, for chemistry on 1935. Pierre Joliot, the son of Irene and Frederick visited Kolkata in November 2011.

(Annesha Chatterjee, Coordinator, Class XI, Kalyani University Experimental High School, Kalyani, Nadia)
The Union Cabinet gave approval for signing and ratifying an agreement between India and Armenia on cooperation and mutual assistance in customs matters on Wednesday.

The agreement will be signed on behalf of the two countries after it is approved by the respective governments.

The agreement, which was approved by the Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is expected to facilitate trade, ensure efficient clearance of goods traded between the two countries. The agreement will also help in the availability of relevant information for the prevention and investigation of customs offences.

It will also provide a legal framework for sharing information and intelligence between the customs authorities and help in the proper application of customs laws, prevention and investigation of customs offences and the facilitation of legitimate trade.

The draft text of the agreement has been finalised with the concurrence of the two customs administrations.
Indeed, the BJP had no better option than to declare Prem Kumar Dhumal as its chief ministerial candidate for the coming Assembly elections on 9 November. Of all the aspiring leaders in the state, Dhumal alone has the required acceptability in all the 12 districts.

The other leaders, whose names were being floated and debated (as a result of the partys prolonged and suspicious silence over the issue), have a limited appeal outside their territories.

They are strong in their own constituencies and some have reportedly performed impressively. J P Nadda (Union Health Minister) gained a pan-Himachal image mainly in the last three years, but the central leadership of the BJP might not have considered it adequate to bring the party to power.

Besides, Naddas organisational skills would be more useful to the party at the Centre since general elections are only about two years away.

Wild speculation about people considered close to Narendra Modi being made chief minister (in case of a BJP victory) were also doing the rounds. All this had been demoralising the BJP cadres. Even among the common voters disappointment and doubts had set in over this secrecy.

Several statements from the state and Central leaders that it was a poll strategy not to name the chief ministerial candidate was, to say the least, unconvincing. The uninspiring performances by Haryana and UP chief ministers handpicked by Delhi bosses were openly talked about.

Even Dhumal looked baffled instead of his usual strong, assertive personality. The BJPs campaign, in general, lacked the fire for which it was well known.

A huge sigh of relief and loud, spontaneous cheering greeted the announcement by the partys national president Amit Shah in a public rally at Rajgarh.

However, what remains an enigma is why the party had dilly-dallied and delayed naming the chief ministerial candidate. November 9, D-day, with the mandatory two days before which public campaigning must end, is just a few breaths away. Dhumals traditional constituency was Bamson.

He was asked to shift to Sujanpur. He has his own battle on hand for winning the seat, though it should be easier now. But this late decision by the party big bosses does not leave him enough time to tour most of the constituencies with the status of a chief ministerial candidate.

It could have made a very big difference. Whatever the central leaders and the chief ministers of other BJP-ruled states may say in the public rallies, their weight and worth would be nothing compared to a chief ministerial candidates promises.

This raises doubts over the new-found diffidence of the party stalwarts at the Centre. Even if the party wins the elections, only the leadership is to be blamed if the margins are narrow and the number of seats fewer.

But the Modi-Amit Shah combination had obviously sensed the mood of the party and people in the state at the nick of the moment ~ boosting the partys chances considerably.

While Dhumal and his cabinet colleagues during their first term were rather tentative and less sure of themselves in making decisions and handling bureaucratic procedures, they became fairly adept at their work during his second tenure.

There was hardly any anti-incumbency factor. Dhumals affable and considerate attitude towards common people won him popularity in the state.

The battle lines are now shifted from the earlier Modi Vs Virbhadra Singh to Dhumal Vs Singh. It looks like a master-stroke aimed at reducing the negative impact of recent measures like demonetisation, GST, etc.

The reports that the Modi charisma in the country was waning gradually, might have reached the ears of the top brass. Though reports of government intelligence agencies are not always reliable, they do contain a modicum of truth.

The Congress party with all their internal rivalries and over-ambitious leaders in the state, has a tougher job on hand now. Leaders like Pandit Sukh Ram and his son Anil Sharma (a former minister in Virbhadra Cabinet) who have recently defected to BJP may not be the last of an exodus.

Reports indicate that many others in the party have been eyeing the goodies if BJP pulls through. But who knows what situation will come up on 18 December. After all, there may be a game of numbers, for all we know. Dhumal proved in his first term itself his navigational skills in such troubled waters.

The Congress leaders could well be cursing themselves now for provoking the BJP time and again to name its chief ministerial candidate. Surely, Rahul Gandhi and his team seem to know how to invite trouble.
President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday condemned the terror attack in New York in which eight people were run over by a truck.

Shocked to hear of terrorist attack in New York. Our condolences to bereaved families. India stands by United States, Kovind tweeted.

PM Modi said: Strongly condemn the terror attack in New York City. My thoughts are with the families of the deceased and prayers with those injured.

Eight people were killed and 12 injured after a truck ploughed into pedestrians in Lower Manhattan on Tuesday, the city Mayor Bill de Blasio said, calling the attack an act of terror. The suspect has been arrested.

New York City Police Commissioner James O Neil said the suspect was a 29-year-old man, who was not from the city.

According to reports, the attacker is Sayfullo Saipov from Florida.
Efficient management of time and speedy decision-making have been the focus of President Ram Nath Kovind who completed 100 days in office on Wednesday, according to officials of the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Kovind, who took over on July 25 as the 14th president, has also sought to reach out to the states, which form a crucial part of the federal structure of the country, by undertaking visits there.

He has already visited several states and the target is to cover almost all the states by the year-end, the officials said.

The states which Kovind visited included those ruled by non-NDA parties, like Karnataka and Kerala, they pointed out, seeking to underline that the president was being non-partisan as he ought to be.

In fact, he travelled to Kerala twice.

In some states, the president travelled to rural and interior areas, the officials said.

But in all these travels, he mostly did not stay overnight and returned the same evening, as part of his thrust on efficient time management, the officials said.

As president, Kovind also undertook his first foreign visit to Djibouti and Ethiopia from October 3 to 6.

It was a tightly-packed visit involving a lot of travel and no rest, an official said.

The officials said Kovind has also ensured speedy decision-making.

Giving an example, they said the waiting time for the presentation of credentials by foreign ambassadors and high commissioners has been reduced to the maximum of two to three weeks, which earlier used to be up to months.

So far, he has received credentials from 12 ambassadors and high commissioners, including the Russian ambassador and the Pakistan high commissioner, the officials said.

Kovind is also making the Rashtrapati Bhavan more accessible to the public. One of the steps taken in this direction is making the Rashtrapati Bhavans library accessible to common people online.

Recently, the Rashtrapati Bhavan also became a venue for the culmination of Nobel laureate Kailash Satyarthis Bharat Yatra, a movement to spread awareness about child abuse and trafficking.

A highlight of the event was a special gesture by the president to make a Dalit girl sit next to him.

This gesture touched Satyarthi and he recorded it in a hand-written letter to Kovind, the officials said.
The recent findings of a survey commissioned by the Union HRD ministry indicates that a large number of under-qualified teachers are teaching in schools throughout the country. This is incredible and appalling. It reaffirms the malaise in education.

It is astonishing too that nearly four lakh teachers in Bihar and Madhya Pradesh have failed to secure the 50 per cent benchmark in the Class 12 exam and almost 45,000 teachers have not studied beyond the Higher Secondary level. The state of primary education in West Bengal is no less distressing due to the recruitment of a large number of untrained teachers on the basis of the Teachers Eligibility Test.

Despite the Calcutta High Court order to abide by the RTE Act, the situation has been aggravated by the state governments indifference. Qualified teachers are absolutely necessary for quality education, most particularly at the elementary level. Recruitment of primary teachers with suitable qualifications and training is the fundamental imperative, one that has consciously been violated by the administration.

If teachers are not qualified enough, how they will teach? What impression are they going to convey to young minds? How will the concept of a digital and skilled India materialise without adequate literacy? The ratio of student and teacher is also a major problem which needs to be addressed immediately. The one-teacher school is a mockery of the education system. Some time ago, Parliament amended the Right to Education (RTE) bill.

It gave 8.5 lakh untrained teachers a time-frame till 2019 to get themselves qualified and to secure a professional degree from a recognised academic body. When the Right to Education Act was introduced in 2010, many new schools were set up, but untrained teachers were recruited. They were given five years to get themselves qualified.

The striking feature of the Bill is its emphasis on quality education. It envisaged that the evaluation of teachers would be conducted periodically. Teachers without the required qualifications would be given five years time to qualify. However, an evaluation of the RTE Act, after seven years, has exposed its shortcomings. The recent CAG report substantiates this appalling state of affairs. The problems are non-utilisation of funds by several states, decrepit infrastructure, midday meal scam, dearth of qualified teachers, one-teacher dominated schools and little or no supervision. The Right to Education Act was promulgated after six decades of independence.

During this period, many experiments on childrens education were made both by the Centre and the states. The collaboration with Britains Department for International Development (DFID), Unicef, and Unesco for the improvement of elementary education has yielded nothing tangible. The recent Unicef report mentions about 450 million illiterates in our country. The RTE Act envisages the relaxation of bureaucratic control and a conducive environment for peoples participation in the overall development of primary education.

At present 4.6 per cent of 22 crore children in the 6-14 age-group are out of school, i.e. about one crore. The figure is extremely dismal, to say the least. Basic education or Buniadi Siksha, as formulated by Mahatma Gandhi, was both remarkable and challenging.

Cooperation, harmony rather than competition was given due importance in this scheme for overall development of the child. Community programmes, play, dignity of labour, work education, creativity and imagination enhanced the childs psychological attitude and personality. The effectiveness of the Right to Education Act will depend mainly on the quality of teachers. It is necessary to create an All India Teachers Service and to recruit meritorious candidates through a central selection board.

Qualified teachers should be paid suitably in the interest of good education. There is no substitute for good teachers. Technology can act as a catalyst in the mind of the child. We have enough young minds in our country with the propensity to learn, but few qualified teachers to teach them with care and affection.

If we recognise education in the 21st century as a valuable commodity that is monopolized and marketed ruthlessly by the school, it will be more expensive in the days to come. Throughout the country, the cost of educating a child is increasing enormously, and the time has come to ackowledge the role of teachers in society, their background, outlook, and professional ability. The news that a teacher can beat up a student to death simply because of his failure to complete homework is horrifying. This suggests that some teachers do not even possess the basic human qualities of tolerance and affection.

School education, particularly at the elementary level, is in a sordid state. Despite recommendations by several commissions before and after independence (like Sadlers, JP Naik, Mudaliar, Radhakrishnan, Kothari etc), there has been little or no improvement. Governments both at the Centre and in the states are incurring a huge expenditure to bring about qualitative improvement and expansion of elementary education, but with little success. Elementary education has virtually collapsed. There was a time when schools were regarded as temples of learning. The teachers, if poorly paid, were regarded as the backbone of society, and respected and honoured. Good teachers were well-organised, firm and fair with a sense of humour.

The environment of schools with its strict discipline, rules and regulations, was congenial. Barring few exceptions, most of the schools today are a prison-house with a heavily-loaded curriculum, which is evident in the size and weight of the school bags. The childs daily routine is marked by joyless learning which affords no time for play. The education system has two facets ~ its administrative component and the academic.

Training of teachers is the responsibility of the school management. NCERT has been doing commendable work for half a century in the development of pedagogy, educational technology, preparation, publication of text books and teacher manuals. The National University of Educational Planning and Administration (NUEPA) must monitor the quality of education through continuous evaluation and research. The NUEPA must also assess whether the child has acquired the cognitive skills of knowledge economy.

The education system showcases organized anarchy and corruption. It was dismal during the 34 years of Left rule in West Bengal. In the Education Development Index (EDI), West Bengals rank was at 33, only ahead of Jharkhand and Bihar. A radical change and reform in elementary education is absolutely necessary. The formal education system should be given due importance and funds ought to be provided to this segment only rather than non-formal education.

The school examination system should not be done away with. Examination and evaluation can help children to know their strength and weakness in a particular subject. Happily, the HRD ministry has very recently scrapped the no-detention proposal.

Mahatma Gandhis buniadi education, Swami Vivekanandas overall development of humanity and educational epistemology as perceived by Rabindranath Tagore should be blended. Above all, we require qualified and devoted teachers with a sense of morality, values and ethics.

(The writer, a former Reader in Chemistry at Presidency College, Kolkata, was associated with UGC and UNICEF)
The case of the leaked hotel video footage showing Patidar activist Hardik Patel meeting Congress leaders is very curious. It turns out that the owner of the hotel, Ummed Singh Champawat, is a primary member of the BJP. But before he joined the BJP in 2014, he was a leading light of the Congress party and contested several assembly elections on a Congress ticket.

In fact, the BJP was at loggerheads with him then and even filed a complaint that he was running a call girl racket in his hotel. The complaint was ultimately quashed by the court after Champawat alleged that he was being targeted because he belongs to the Congress. It was after this that Champawat made overtures to the BJP and finally joined the party in 2014, just before the Lok Sabha polls. He obviously felt that the Congress had no future in Gujarat where the BJP had been in power for 22 years.

Interestingly, despite Champawats connections with the BJP, Congress leaders have continued to patronize his hotel, located at Airport Circle in Ahmedabad. During the recent bitterly contested Rajya Sabha elections, Congress leader Ahmed Patel stayed at the hotel even as Amit Shah worked overtime to have him defeated.

During Rahul Gandhis last trip to Gujarat, the Congress vice president and Ashok Gehlot were both booked in the hotel. The police procured the relevant video footage of Hardik Patel from the hotel, citing security as the reason.

The question is: how did this footage land up in the hands of BJP leaders and the media? Clearly, the Congress didnt realize that they would be let down by someone who was once a loyalist. It has turned out to be a costly mistake with the BJP capitalising on the footage to allege a secret deal between Hardik and Rahul. It will be interesting to see where Rahul stays on his next trip to Gujarat.

Threats to Ansari

Former vice president Hamid Ansari has been the target of BJP/RSS trolls and bhakts ever since the interview he gave to a TV channel when he demitted office. He had talked about the insecurity of Muslims in that interview. Although retired, he continues to receive hate mail via email and post. But what he got in the post recently was a real shocker. Someone sent him a cheque for Rs. 1 lakh with a letter demanding that he leave India immediately along with his family. The letter said he should move to some Muslim country. The money was meant to insult him as a donation towards air fare. Ansari has passed on the letter and cheque to the union home ministry. But there has been no response. In fact, the home ministry has indicated to the former vice president that it will soon be reviewing his security and probably scaling it down. This is being done despite the hate mail and threats he receives regularly.

Many voices

Was Dineshwar Sharma appointed as interlocutor for Kashmir with an eye on US Secretary of State Rex Tillersons visit? It certainly seems so because Sharma is still to be given a brief for his new assignment and government ministers are speaking in different voices, creating confusion. The appointment was made a week ago but Sharma is still awaiting clear cut instructions from the Modi government about his role.

The most important question on which he needs clarity is whether to engage with the Hurriyat or not. While Rajnath Singh said there will be no restrictions on who he meets, minister of state in the PMO, Jitendra Singh, who is an elected MP from Jammu, has categorically ruled out talks with Hurriyat leaders who he described as people who indulge in violence and hawala transactions.

Jitendra Singh also said Sharma is not an interlocutor but an emissary. This suggests that he is not empowered to suggest solutions. He will only act as a messenger boy. Rajnath on the other hand, declared that he will have full powers. With Tillerson arriving in India for a crucial first visit, the Modi government was under pressure to prove that credentials on Kashmir.

The centre has been under fire for adopting a muscular approach and not engaging the people of the Valley in dialogue. It seems Sharmas appointment was a hasty move to satisfy Tillerson. Curiously, Sharma is still waiting to meet Modi. This is another indication that the government is in no hurry to begin the dialogue process.

Caught napping

It defies belief but it now appears that BJP leaders in Gujarat had no clue that Hardik Patels associate Narendra Patel would turn around and bite them within 24 hours of joining the party. They used to say that not a leaf moved in Gujarat without Narendra Modis knowledge. He had total control over the state with eyes and ears everywhere to inform him of every movement and every impending event.

Things seem to have changed after he moved to Delhi and handed the state over, first to Anandiben Patel and then to Vijay Rupani.

Anandiben, for instance, was not properly briefed about the Hardik Patel led Patidar agitation. She was taken by surprise as the movement swelled and spread. Rupani was equally clueless about Narendra Patels intentions. He failed to tip off the leadership that this associate of Hardik could be a mole.

Arun Jaitley, who is in charge of the Gujarat elections on behalf of the BJP, was in Gandhinagar the day Narendra Patel joined the party. A couple of hours after Jaitley flew back to Delhi, Patel turned the tables on the BJP. He held a press conference, threw down Rs 10 lakhs in crisp 500 rupee notes and accused the BJP of bribing him to join the party. BJP leaders were left running for cover after the allegation.
Recently former Home and Finance Minister of India, P Chidambaram made a statement that dialogue should be held with Kashmiris and that Jammu & Kashmir should be offered a higher degree of autonomy under article 370 of the Constitution.

Since the statement was made in the midst of Gujarat and Himachal elections, the Congress party could not openly come out in support of Chidambaram. After all, a very large number of Indians do perceive the autonomy demand of Kashmiris as somewhat anti national, though not unconstitutional. Indians often ask, Why cant Kashmiris live in peace without autonomy like the other 29 nationalities living in India as well as the Dogras of Jammu and the Ladhakis of Ladakh who never raise these issues?

Do they ask for this special treatment just because it is a Muslim majority area? The Kashmiris, however, feel that their Maharaja had only temporarily acceded the State to India and that he had never merged the state with India fully and hence the question of autonomy/azaadi remains relevant, specially because the wishes of the people were never ascertained through plebiscite. The PM as well as other BJP leaders took Chidambarams statement as a God-sent opportunity to attack the Congress.

The PM thundered in his election speeches that Chidambaram was speaking in the same tone as the azaadi-seeking, Hurriyat pasand Kashmiris. BJP is following a highly nationalist, nononsense muscular policy in Kashmir. So far they have shown no eagerness to talk to Hurriyat leaders or Pakistan although it is well known that the pro-Pakistan Hurryiat Conference holds considerable sway over the minds of the 75 lakh Kashmiri Muslims who live in J&K.

Even Chidambaram was quite wrong when he said that when Kashmiris talk of azaadi they actually mean autonomy. It may be very convenient for Indian leaders to think like that, but we should know that this statement is actually not correct. The Congress appointed interlocutors group had also recommended that the easiest way to come to a compromise in J&K was to grant the whole state a high degree of autonomy under article 370, without taking hard decisions regarding breaking up of the state into three or four parts and then look at the question of autonomy with a magnifying glass. In 2002, the NC dominated J&K Assembly passed a similar resolution asking for 1953 type of autonomy for the whole state of J&K.

However, if this ready made solution is adopted, it will create huge unrest and dissatisfaction among the Hindus, Sikhs and Buddhists living in Jammu and Ladakh who are 45 per cent of the total population. This formula will be liked by NC-PDP and all other Kashmiri groups because then power will pass to the 55 per cent Kashmiri Muslim majority and the minorities will be left high and dry with the protective umbrella of Delhi moving even further away from them. It is for very similar reasons that India had to be divided before the British left.

Had it not been done, the 35 per cent Muslims of India would have been left high and dry with power passing from the British to the 65 per cent Hindu majority. For solving the Kashmir issue permanently we may have to partition J&K into three parts strictly under the Indian constitution.

Now let us have a close look at the ground situation of J&K. Geographically J&K is located at the trijunction of central Asia, south Asia and Mongolian region. Kashmir valley falls in the central Asian part, Jammu province falls in south Asia and Ladakh province is proximate to Mongolia. Kashmir is Muslim dominated, Jammu is Hindu and Sikh dominated and Ladakh is Buddhist dominated. The Maharaja had stitched these three regions together and made it into an administrative unit but it is strictly speaking not one state with multiple languages and religions.

Kashmir is not J&K as is often depicted. Kashmir is only 55 per cent of J&K. The Kashmiris would dream of making the whole of J&K an independent Muslim-dominated country where the national flag would have the hilal sign, because for Muslims,Azaadi ka matlab kya, la ilaha illallah. The government of India would be seriously wrong if they think that the azaadi cry is linked to Kashmiriat.

It is actually a cry for Islamic identity, separate from Hindu majority India. Make no mistake, the cry for autonomy, as advocated by NC and PDP is also linked with the cry for Islamic identity separate from India. If azaadi is impossible to achieve because of Indias military and political might, then the Kashmiris may reluctantly settle for a high degree of autonomy so that they could gradually marginalise the Hindus, Buddhists and Sikhs living in Jammu and Ladakh. No Indian government can ever allow that.

That is why both Congress and BJP are against such a proposal. Then what could be done for satisfying our Islamist Kashmiri brothers who shed buckets of tears for Rohingya muslims but have no sympathy for their own Kashmiri Pandit brothers?

Obviously we cannot grant them azaadi or full autonomy for the whole state. J&K state is best described by the simple equation 87=28+9+4+46. The state assembly has 87 seats out of which 28 seats in Jammu are Hindu/Sikh dominated, nine seats of Jammu have Muslim majority with substantial Hindu population situated in the southern part of the Pir Panjal mountain range, four seats are in Buddhist dominated Ladakh and 46 seats are in Kashmir with an overwhelming Muslim majority.

Will the Kashmiri Muslims be satisfied if 1953 type of autonomy is granted to these 46 seats? It could also be considered for the nine Muslim majority seats of Jammu, but for that a plebiscite has to be held in those segments to know the will of the people. Will they agree to go with autonomous Kashmir, against the forces of geography and the will of the Hindu minority? Will they agree to leave their natural motherland of Jammu?

If the Kashmiris accept such a proposal then these 46 seats, along possibly with the nine seats of Jammu could be straight away declared as constituencies of an autonomous Kashmir parliament and the other 32 seats could be merged permanently with India without article 370. Kashmiris will themselves have to take the initiative for getting such a proposal passed in the state assembly. Indians may be greatly annoyed if Kashmiris gets a parliament and PM of their own (within the Indian framework) but for solving the vexed Kashmir problem this type of autonomy could be considered in this limited area of 46+9 assembly seats, or only 46 seats.

For most Kashmiris this will not be to their liking because they dream of azaadi or autonomy for the whole state.

But for any type of compromise both sides have to move a few steps towards each other. Jammuites and Ladakhis also should be ready for this compromise because then they will be permanently rid of Kashmiri domination.

(The writer, a retired IAS officer, is a former Financial Commissioner, Jammu and Kashmir)
At least 21 people were killed and another seven wounded on Wednesday in an air strike by the Saudi-led Arab coalition on a hotel in northern Yemens Sadah province controlled by the Houthi rebels.

The attack destroyed the hotel located near a market in Suhar region, Efe news reported.

All the victims were men but it was not clear whether they were civilians or Houthi fighters, the report said.

Since 2010, the Houthi insurgents control Saada, a province bordering Saudi Arabia.

The Arab coalitions military intervention in Yemen began in March 2015 in support of the government led by President Abdu Rabu Mansour Hadi and against the Houthi rebels, who control the capital Sanaa and the wide stretches in the western part of the country.

The alliance of Arab and Sunni countries have previously been accused of bombing civilian targets including schools and hospitals, but it has denied intentionally targeting civilian infrastructure or property.
British Prime Minister Theresa May has said she is appalled by the cowardly attack in New York in which eight persons were run over by a truck on Tuesday.

My thoughts are with all affected, she said. Together we will defeat the evil of terrorism and the UK stands with NYC, Xinhua news agency reported.

A man driving a rental truck struck and killed eight people and injured more than dozens of others on a jogging and bike path Tuesday afternoon.

New York Mayor Bill de Blasio said: This was an act of terror.

The sprawling crime scene runs about 10 blocks along the West Side Highway, a few blocks away from One World Trade in lower Manhattan, the downtown New York.

A suspect is in custody and was identified as 29-year-old Sayfullo Saipov of Tampa in the US state of Florida, reports said.
Spains High Court has summoned sacked Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont and 13 other members of his dismissed government to appear later this week.

It also gave them three days to pay a deposit of $7.2 million to cover potential liabilities, BBC reported on Tuesday.

The summons comes after Spains chief prosecutor on Monday said he would press charges including rebellion. Puigdemont is in Belgium with several former ministers. He earlier said he was not there to seek asylum.

Carles Puigdemont triggered a crisis in Spain by holding an independence referendum in early October in the semi-autonomous region despite Madrids opposition and the Constitutional Court declaring the vote illegal.

Spains central government has now taken direct control of Catalonia.

Puigdemont turned up in Brussels on Monday as Spanish Attorney-General Jose Manuel Maza called for Catalan leaders to face charges of rebellion, sedition and misuse of public funds.

The Audiencia National has now summoned the sacked Catalan officials  who are yet to be formally charged  to testify on Thursday and Friday. If they do not appear, prosecutors could order their arrest.

Meanwhile, the speaker of Catalans dissolved parliament Carme Forcadell and other former lawmakers have been summoned to the Supreme Court because they still have parliamentary immunity.

Puigdemont earlier said he would return to Spain if guaranteed a fair hearing.

Several of Puigdemonts former colleagues who remain inside the country may decide to accept the summons and appear in court.

Prosecutors arguments against the group were serious, rational and logical, Judge Carmen Lamela said in a ruling.

The charge of rebellion carries a maximum 30-year jail term.

Speaking at a press conference earlier on Tuesday, Puigdemont said he was not trying to escape justice by travelling to Belgium but wanted to be able to speak freely.

His comments came as Spains constitutional court suspended the declaration of independence made by the Catalan parliament on Friday.

Mr Puigdemont also said he would accept the result of snap elections in Catalonia on 21 December, which was called by Spains central government after it invoked Article 155 of the constitution, temporarily suspending the regions autonomy.

I want a clear commitment from the state. Will the state respect the results that could give separatist forces a majority? Puigdemont asked reporters.

The Spanish government has previously said he is welcome to take part in the fresh polls.

In a separate development on Tuesday, Spains Guardia Civil  a paramilitary force charged with police duties  raided the offices of the Catalan police force.

According to media reports, they searched eight offices for communications relating to the referendum on October 1.
Four Taliban militants in Afghanistans Kunduz province were killed and several injured on Wednesday in an airstrike, an army spokesman said.

Acting upon intelligence input, the security forces conducted airstrikes against Taliban hideout in Nawabad area of Chardara district, killing four rebels on the spot, Ghulam Hazrat Karimi told Xinhua news agency.

Taliban militants partly control Chardara district and adjoining areas.
US President Donald Trump has ordered extreme vetting of foreign nationals after it was revealed that the perpetrator of an attack in New York City that killed eight people was an immigrant from Uzbekistan.

I have just ordered Homeland Security to step up our already Extreme Vetting Programme. Being politically correct is fine, but not for this! Trump wrote on Twitter on Tuesday night.

The President did not specify which programme he was referring to in his tweet nor the measures it entailed.

The White House also did not offer any explanations regarding the announcement.

A few hours earlier, Trump had referred to the Islamic State terror group in another tweet although the organisation has not yet claimed the New York City attack.

Police found a note left by the alleged attacker vowing allegiance to the Islamic State (IS).

We must not allow ISIS to return, or enter, our country after defeating them in the Middle East and elsewhere. Enough! Trump wrote.

The US media identified the suspect of Tuesdays multiple hit-and-runs in New York City as Sayfullo Saipov, a 29-year-old Uzbek national.

According to ABC News, Saipov entered the US seven years ago under a programme which offered a lottery for people from countries with few immigrants to America.

According to witnesses of the incident, the attacker yelled Allahu Akbar (God is great) when he came out of the pickup truck he was driving after it crashed into a school bus after he had run over dozens of people.
A 19-year-old Syrian national has been arrested in Germany on suspicion of plotting a terror attack, police said.

According to a statement from the Federal Prosecutor Generals Office on Tuesday, the individual identified as Yamen A. is under strong suspicion of having taken concrete preparatory steps to carry out an Islamist-motivated terror attack in Germany, Xinhua reported.

The suspect is believed to have aimed to kill as many civilians as possible with a highly-explosive TATP bomb and acquired chemicals and other necessary components towards this end from July 2017 onwards.

The 19-year old was taken into custody when special forces from the Federal Police and Federal Criminal Police Office raided his apartment in the Northern German town of Schwerin early on Tuesday morning.

It remained unclear at a subsequent press conference whether the suspect had already chosen a specific location to carry out his purported attack.

Police spokesperson Ulf Wundrack confirmed that other locations aside from the suspects Schwerin apartment were searched by security forces as well, including in the port city of Hamburg.

Wundrack told reporters that police had hereby offered administrative support for the Federal Criminal Police Office. A further witness in Hamburg was questioned, but no arrests were made.

While Yamen A. had contacted a self-described soldier of the caliphate, who was a supporter of the Islamic State (IS), on the internet prior to his arrest, police were unclear about the identity and role assumed by this second individual in the terror plot.

Security forces said there was no evidence as yet that Yamen A. was a member of a larger terrorist organisation.

Yamen A. had been under permanent supervision from special forces after the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution and the Federal Criminal Police Office launched criminal investigations into his case on October 21.

In response to the widely-publicized arrest, German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere thanked security authorities for preventing a serious terror attack in Germany and praised them for their excellent work.

Nevertheless, de Maiziere warned that the risk of a terror attack against civilians in Germany remained high.
Montreal, CA (H4T1V6)

Today

Snow during the morning will give way to lingering snow showers during the afternoon. Temps nearly steady in the mid 30s. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 100%. 1 to 3 inches of snow expected..

Tonight

Cloudy. A few flurries or snow showers possible. Low 29F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph.
Students of color and those who are transgender or gender nonconforming are less likely than their peers to say they feel welcome and respected at UW-Madison, according to a survey campus officials released Wednesday.

Just half of minority students  and about a third of transgender students and those who dont identify as men or women  said they feel like they belong on the campus, compared to nearly 70 percent of students as a whole.

Students in those groups were also more likely to report they experienced discrimination during their time at UW-Madison, and that they seriously considered leaving the university.

Chancellor Rebecca Blank said the Campus Climate Survey  which gathered responses from UW-Madison students on topics such as how safe they feel on campus and their attitudes about efforts to bolster inclusion at the university  provides data to back up what officials have long heard anecdotally.

The survey results also illustrate a central complaint of minority students who led protests over the racial climate at UW-Madison in the spring of 2016: That the welcoming environment and sense of belonging whites tend to enjoy at the campus is not the reality for many students of color.

Katrina Morrison, chairwoman of the Associated Students of Madison, said the surveys results were no surprise.

It puts my experience and the experience of so many other marginalized students in quantitative data, said Morrison, who is black.

Students with disabilities, women and those who are gay and bisexual also reported having worse experiences than the student body as a whole at UW-Madison.

But after UW-Madison launched a number of new programs in the wake of the 2016 protests, including new training for students and employees, Blank said the survey likely wont lead to another wave of initiatives.

Its role is to bring better data to discussions about the climate on campus and help guide efforts going forward, she said, much like a 2015 survey on sexual assault did for that problem.

UW-Madison officials also plan to repeat the survey in four years to measure the progress of inclusion initiatives, she said. And administrators are planning a series of forums on campus to discuss the survey results with students and the public.

We have to insist and ensure that every student on our campus is free from harm, has a strong sense of belonging and is treated with respect, Blank said. This is an effort that is going to require everyones involvement.

Variances by race, gender

About one-fifth of UW-Madisons student body  8,652 students  participated in the online survey, which was sent to all undergraduates and graduate students in the fall of 2016.

The survey is the first of its kind at UW-Madison, but Blank said other universities have done similar polls of their students that also found disparities in attitudes and experiences.

Overall, 81 percent of students reported feeling safe, welcome or respected at UW-Madison very or extremely often. That figure was 65 percent for minority students, and 50 percent for transgender and gender nonconforming students.

One-third of transgender and gender nonconforming students, and 19 percent of students of color, said they had experienced incidents of hostile, harassing, or intimidating behavior directed at them personally, compared to 11 percent of all respondents.

Students reported incidents that happened on and off campus, and ranged from hearing disrespectful language and threats to shoving, offensive graffiti and fights, according to UW officials.

Asked whether they had considered leaving UW-Madison, 19 percent of minority students and 25 percent of transgender and gender nonconforming students said they had, compared to 12 percent of all students.

Few calls for change

But while a task force charged with reviewing the survey results recommended several general steps to create a better racial climate at UW-Madison  such as improving the universitys response to racist incidents  it laid out few specific calls for change.

The task force was led by Chief Diversity Officer Patrick Sims and Dean of Students Lori Berquam, and included several campus officials and faculty.

Just two of its 15 members were UW-Madison students, with one each representing undergraduates and graduate students.

Morrison said UW-Madison officials did not consult with the student government in putting together the task force; she said she would have advocated for more student representation if they had.

That level of student involvement is weak, Morrison said.

Sims said officials had planned to include more students on the task force, but that goal became harder to accomplish because the group worked over the summer.

Officials on Wednesday pointed to efforts that are already underway to improve the climate at the predominantly white university, such as the Our Wisconsin cultural competency program, which Sims said is meant to show students the different lenses their peers bring to campus. UW-Madison encourages all incoming students to take part in the program, but it is not mandatory.


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I have learned the hard way not to put my personal life on the Internet. But suffice it to say that, God willing, things should be pretty much back to norm...

4 weeks ago
Organization: Abt Associates

Funding Source: United

States Agency for International Development (USAID)

Duty Station: Kampala, Uganda





About Abt:

Abt Associates is an international development organization composed of

dedicated professionals who provide technical assistance, research, analysis,

and practical training services in more than 128 countries.







Project: About USAID Vector Control TaskProject:

Abt Associates, a major American business and government research,

technical assistance, and consulting company, manages the USAID-funded Vector

Control Task Order 1. Task Order 1 will support the U.S. Presidents Malaria

Initiative (PMI) and USAID to plan and implement an integrated vector control

approach with the overall goal of reducing the burden of malaria. Abt has

implemented indoor residual spraying (IRS) for PMI since 2009, delivering

high-quality IRS programs and gathering the most comprehensive vector control

entomological data in the world. Under this contract, Abt will expand

entomological monitoring to guide programs focused on insecticide-treated

mosquito nets and IRS and continue to assist PMI in reducing the burden of

malaria through IRS and capacity building in 22 African countries where malaria

is endemic. Abt also will continue to support PMI in IRS monitoring and

evaluation, as well as environmental compliance.





Job Summary: The Accountant

supports the USAID project by recording and reporting on all financial transactions

of the project. The jobholder processes payroll, maintains account books, and performs

bank reconciliation and financial projections. The jobholder keeps the records

of the accounts books up to date.









x






The AssistantCountry Director (P)/Head of programme acts as a one of the advisers to SeniorManagement. In addition to seniormanagerial functions, the incumbent is responsible for providing the overallCountry Programme with management and administrative support, strategicplanning, proactive delivery and effective implementation of the entire rangeof functions in the programme cycle, from conceptualization and formulation tomonitoring and evaluation. The jobholderwill also work in liaison with Portfolio Coordinators and programme TeamLeaders, the ACD/Head of Programme plays a lead role in the analyses of thesocial, economic, environmental and political context in Uganda and advises oncreative responses to emerging complex challenges and possible areas for UNDPinterventions within the Country Programme Document (CPD). The ACD/Head ofprogramme also advises the CD and RR on potential areas for policy advice thatcould have impact in the country and lobby efforts. He/she will also be providing the necessarysupport to the Country Director in relation to policy advice and guidance tostrengthen national capacity to develop effective and sustainable broad-basedintegrated programmes in UNDP strategic/thematic areas. The ACD/Head ofProgramme, in close collaboration with Portfolio Coordinators and withadministrative support from the Operations team, heads and supervises the TeamLeaders and Field Staff. In addition tothe senior managerial functions associated with the position, the ACD/Head ofProgramme advises on potential areas of policy that could have an impact in thecountry. Other senior management,advisory and policy functions include ensuring accountability and adherencewithin various UNDP policies and guidelines and CO committees to ensureaccountability and staff responsiveness to emerging performance requirements.In addition the ACD(P)/Head of Programme identifies and forges strategicpartnerships with government, UN Agencies, bilateral organizations to ensureoptimal simplification and harmonization of aid delivery procedures, greatercoordination of development interventions and elimination of duplications. The external focus of the job also entailsengagement of senior government officials such as Members of Parliament,Permanent Secretaries and Heads of parastatals and government departments forupstream policy advice, formulating national policies and strategies with theparameters established by the RR. TheACD also works closely with technical advisors and experts in UN agencies, UNDPHQ and Regional Centre staff, government, multi-lateral, bi-lateral and civilsociety to implement UNDP strategy and also serves as member of high-levelnational advisory technical committees and boards. He/she also establishes and offers advice tonational level communities of practice for specific sectors.
Job Title: Contributions Manager

Organization: National

Social Security Fund (NSSF)

Duty Station: Kampala,

Uganda

Reports to: Head of Business



About US:

The National Social Security Fund (NSSF) is positioning itself to be

the Social Security Provider of Choice in Uganda. Our belief at the Fund is

that each employee contributes directly to the growth and success of the

business and each employee is expected to take pride in being a member of the

team.

Job Summary: The Contributions Manager is responsible for creating,

disseminating and implementing business policies and strategies, providing

leadership and direction and dealing with all management issues in the section

and the Branch network for excellent customer service, membership and

contributions growth in the Fund. The

jobholder will be spearheading, managing, supervising and monitoring all activities

under the Contribution Section geared at enforcing the NSSF Act for the growth

of the Fund membership and contributions. The incumbent will be supervising

Business managers and related staff in their performance of various operational

activities. He / she is also

responsible for building an strengthening relationships with employers and

members



Key Duties and Responsibilities:



Formulate

the Contributions Section Business plan in line with the Departments

strategy.



Provide

leadership to the Contributions Section.



Develop

and prepare policy guidelines and procedures and periodically review them for

efficient operations of the section.



Prepare

and periodically review and evaluate the section budget, and carry out

cost benefit analysis of Branches.



Identify

and explore new markets to increase the market share of the Fund in the

pensions industry through membership and contributions growth.



Review,

support and manage the implementation of Branch locations, operational

costs and contracts management for the Contributions section.



Formulate

annual performance work plans and targets for the Contributions section.



Keenly

monitor and evaluate the section performance through periodic reports

and regular visits to all branches. Analyze any resultant bottlenecks and

prescribe immediate and or, transformational corrective action.



Regularly

meet with Contribution Section managers to review performance progress and to

strategize for future performance goals.



Develop

a training programme geared to improving the skills and productivity of the

Contributions section team.



Grow

contributions and membership base through both Relationship Management and

ensuring adherence to the existing laws.



Implement

Data standards in the registrations and contributions data processes.



Put

in place a mechanism to improve monitoring of all non-compliant employers as

mandated by the existing laws.



Formulate

and implement a plan for transfer of non-compliant employers to the

compliance section.



Work

closely with the operations department on matters relating to non-compliant

employers for their subsequent action.



Continuously

improve business controls in the branch network for satisfactory Audit rating.











Experience: Qualifications, Skills andExperience:



The ideal candidate for the NSSF Contributions

Manager job placement must hold a Bachelors degree preferably in the Social Sciences, Business Management,

Marketing, Finance, and or any other business field. The ideal candidate for the NSSF ContributionsManager job placement must hold a Bachelors degree preferably in the Social Sciences, Business Management,Marketing, Finance, and or any other business field.



Possession

of a postgraduate qualification in business, marketing or finance will be of

added advantage. Possessionof a postgraduate qualification in business, marketing or finance will be ofadded advantage.



A

minimum of seven years of demonstrated managerial experience in sales, customer

care or relationship management in a busy financial or commercial environment;

three of which must be at a senior managerial level. minimum of seven years of demonstrated managerial experience in sales, customercare or relationship management in a busy financial or commercial environment;three of which must be at a senior managerial level.



Previous

exposure and experience in strategy formulation and execution shall be

an added advantage.



Strategic

planning Skills



Analytical

Skills



Good

public relations skills



Good

people management skills



Excellent

communications skills



Ability

to Multi-Task



Proficiency

in Common IT Software e.g. Windows packages.



Good

numerical skills



Ability

to remain focused on a goal for long periods

How to Apply:

All suitably qualified and interested candidates should send copies of

application letters, detailed CVs and academic credentials addressed to the

Head of Human Resources & Administration, and delivered to the Registry on

13th Floor Workers House for registration and onward transmission.

NB: Please note that

canvassing or lobbying will lead to automatic disqualification of the

candidate.

th

November 2017 Deadline: 7November 2017



find us on our facebook page

For more of the latest jobs, please visit https://www.theugandanjobline.com orfind us on our facebook page https://www.facebook.com/UgandanJobline






Job Title: Procurement Assistant

Organisation: Action Against

Hunger (ACF)

Duty Station: Uganda

About US:

Action Against Hunger (ACF) is an International Humanitarian NGO which

has been in existence for over thirty years. ACF has been implementing Food

Security and Livelihoods, Nutrition, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene programs in

the Lango, Acholi, West Nile and Karamoja regions of Northern Uganda.

Job Summary: The Procurement

Assistant will assist the Base Logistician in all procurement activities within

the Yumbe base office. Throughout the procurement process, he/she will prepare

and collect all documentation whilst ensuring compliance with Action Against

Hunger procedures, liaise with suppliers on daily basis, assist in conducting

market assessments, request quotations, evaluate supplier bids and follow up on

procurement authorization, delivery schedules and supplier payments.



Responsibilities: Key Duties andResponsibilities:



the department as advised by Base Logistician/Field Coordinator To be able to undertake Procurement activities based on the priority ofthe department as advised by Base Logistician/Field Coordinator



Obtain quotations for services or items required

at the base.



Conduct small purchases and prepare related

procurement documents



Ensure correct filing and archiving of

Procurement Dossiers



Tasked with scanning, printing, photocopying of

procurement and delivery documents



Participate in Paper-based archiving of

Procurement Dossiers for Yumbe base office.



Electronic archiving of Procurement Dossiers for

the base



Update the PFU on a weekly basis and circulate

to all concerned every Fridays of the week

Support Logistics Supply Chain:



Receive and process Purchase Requests (PR) on

reception frequencies;



Participate and Provide support in market

analysis to update the supplier data base



Ensure best available prices & quality,

collect quotations, suppliers references;



Monitor deliveries to the

department/bases/programs



Prepare request for quote, prepare assessment

table and get approval according to Action Against Hunger standard procedures;



Coordinate with suppliers during the delivery of

the goods and services in readiness for delivery



Ensure all purchasing dossiers are complete and

properly filled before archiving



The Procurement Assistant will also deliver and

pick up logistics documents to and from the different offices



Consolidate and update the price catalogue for

Yumbe base office on a regular basis.

Supervision of Delivery issues:



Ensure quality & quantity control of

deliveries



Ensure packaging and transportation to project

sites is accurate and documented. Collect all signed copies of Delivery Notes

and invoices to facilitate the payment process and follow up with the field to

get the Reception notes for the items sent to the various project sites. Ensure

coordination with the relevant program manager before delivery of the items

(reception/storage plan).



Ensure all documentation is existing, updated,

are properly filed and filled in folders before archiving

Reporting:



Update and provide Procurement Follow Up (PFU)

on behalf of line manager on a weekly basis when required.



Update and provide the Supplier List on regular

basis to line manager



Update the Price catalogue consistently.

Additional responsibilities



The Procurement Assistant should be flexible and

adaptable with regards to the implementation of the daily work/activities



The Procurement Assistant is expected to conduct

all duties in a professional manner following Action Against Hunger Uganda

mission staff regulations and charter











Experience: Qualifications, Skills andExperience:



The ideal candidate for the Action Against

Hunger (ACF) Procurement Assistant job opportunity should hold a Bachelors

degree in Logistics or Procurement and Supply Chain Management. Knowledge and

experience in Information Communication Technology will be an added advantage.



At least two years experience in procurement

and/or logistics in a similar position preferably in a fast paced emergency

organization.



Strong computer skills in MS Office, especially

MS Excel



Strong organization skills and attention to

detail



Strong communication skills



Strong negotiation skills



Professional level of English



Ability to work in complex environment and can

bear the work load



Previous experience working for NGOs is an

asset, particularly international and NGOs



Fluency in one or more National/regional

languages is an asset



The deal candidate must be a resident of Yumbe

or willing to reside in Yumbe



Ability to speak the local languages spoken in

Yumbe (Kakwa, Aringa, Kuku, Juba Arabic, Lugbara, Pojulu, Madi ) is will be an

added advantage.

How to Apply:

All suitably qualified and interested candidates should send their

handwritten applications which should include ONLY a cover letter, CV (not more

than 4 pages) with at least three referees and a daytime telephone contract.

For email applications please note that attached documents should not be larger

than 2MBs. All documents should be zipped in one folder. Any email larger than

2MBs will not be considered. Please send your email application to:

recruitment.ug@acf-international.org mentioning Procurement Assistant Yumbe

in the subject line.



5:00 PM Deadline: 6th November 2017 by5:00 PM
The Bank of Uganda (BoU) is the CentralBank of the Republic of Uganda. It was opened on the 15th August 1966. It is100% owned by the Government of Uganda but it is not a governmentDepartment. Bank of Uganda conducts allits activities in close association with the Ministry of Finance, Planning andEconomic Development (MoFPED). Bank of Uganda is responsible for monetarypolicy and maintaining price stability.
Job Title: Sub Grants and Contracts Manager

Organisation: Mercy Corps

Duty Station: Kampala,

Uganda

Reports to: Director of

Finance

About US:

Mercy Corps is an international non-profit organization which

implements high-quality, analytical development programmes in very difficult

places. Mercy Corps has been operating in Uganda since 2006. It has and

continues to implement programs in Acholi and Karamoja sub regions. Mercy Corps

is taking a community-led, market driven approach to address poverty and food

insecurity needs through interventions that get to the root causes and

contributing factors of economic vulnerability. Donors include the United

States Agency for International Development (USAID), DFID, Mastercard

Foundation, WALMART Foundation, Coca Cola Africa Foundation, US Depart of State

(DOS) /PEPFAR, ECHO and Nike Foundation.

Job Summary: The Sub Grants

and Contracts Manager is responsible for

all grants budgeting, budget monitoring and reporting, monitor and make sure

grants spending is as per the donor and Mercy Corps regulations, review and

monitor sub grants and sub grantees to ensure spending is in compliance with

the terms and conditions of the sub grant agreement. He/she is also responsible

for tracking sub grants and sub grantee requirements and for maintaining all

sub grants and contracts financial files. Tracks contracts and procurements for

all grants and programs.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:



Supervise and review sub grants and contracts

senior finance officers work plan, performance and development plan.



Supervise and conduct sub grants pre-award

assessments and recommends for substantial involvements and compliance

requirements and modifications to the sub grant agreement and/or monitoring

plan to lessen financial and compliance risks.



Follow up, collect and review sub grantees

financial reports and fund requests, keep up-to-date records and report all sub

grantees financial status. Review sub grantees financial reports for

correctness, completeness, timeliness and compliance.



Develop, track and report sub grantees

monitoring plan.



Regularly monitor and perform sub grantees

monitoring visits for financial and program deliverables review or audit and

report findings with recommendation to the supervisor, communicate agreed upon

findings to the sub grantees and follow up its implementation.



Supervise and handle sub grants close-outs

ensuring that all requirements of the sub grant agreement have been met and

that sub grant funds have been properly settled.



Keenly review all contracts, contracts payments

and track all contracts payments and milestones.



Maintain and update contracts tracker by grant

and overall and share updated contracts tracker for pipeline and management

purposes.



Follow up all grant compliance issues and

document all required information.



Manage all sub grants in navigator, such as

award cards creation, update and report.



Provide on-going training and support to sub grantees

and Mercy Corps program and finance staff on Mercy Corps and respective donors

rules and regulations.



Support in grants and budgets management and

production of monthly budgets vs actual reports and pipelines in a timely

manner.



Keenly review and track all grants/budget

purchases and contracts and other commitments. Update the contracts and

communicate monthly.



Follow up VAT regulations for the VAT/DUTY taxes

exemptions, reimbursements and reporting to USAID and other donors as per their

specific requirements



Participate and support in preparation of

operating and grant budgets.



Mentor and train staff under his/her supervision

and sub grantees on budget tracking, review burn rates and provide advise if

spending is not happening according to plan.



Ensuring donor regulations are adhered to for

all aspects of the operations



Maintain all donor files and ensure they are

well labeled, fully updated with all contracts, submitted reports, governing

clauses and all other relevant documents.



Be adaptable and flexible to take new tasks and

new assignments as requested from time to time.



Ensure compliance with GAAPs, Ugandan and US law

and standard accounting practice.



Conduct himself/herself both professionally and

personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and to not

jeopardize its humanitarian mission.



Assist other finance functions when ever need

arises.











Experience: Qualifications, Skills andExperience:



The applicant for the Mercy Corps Sub Grants and

Contracts Manager job opportunity should preferably hold a Bachelors degree or

equivalent in accounting or finance is required.



At least eight years experience in grants,

financial and contracts management.



Broad knowledge and understanding of donor rules

and regulations is required.



At least three years of international NGO/PVO

experience is preferred.



Significant experience and skill with budget

preparation and analysis, financial reports preparation and presentation and

proven ability to translate technical financial data into informative reports.



Strong accounting skills and experience,

including management of the general ledger, journal entries, payroll, payables

and balance sheet.



Possess advanced computer skills in MS Office

programs, particularly Excel



Prior management experience and strong organizational

skills



Excellent oral and written English skills



Willingness to travel regularly to Mercy Corps

and sub grantees field offices and project sites approximately 50%.



Proven ability to support programmatic

objectives with timely and meaningful financial information is essential.



A demonstrated ability to multi-task, meet

deadlines and process information in support of changing program activities is

necessary.



An impeccable professional standard of finance

and procurement ethics as well as the willingness and ability to enforce

compliance with Mercy Corps and donor policies and procedures is essential.

How to Apply:

All suitably qualified and interested candidates should send their

E-mail applications including a cover letter clearly stating the salary requirements,

updated CV (with three professional referees), and copies of academic

qualifications/certificates addressed to the Senior HR and Legal Manager, Mercy

Corps Uganda to: ug-mcjobs@mercycorps.org

Deadline: 6th November 2017
The real estate market in India may have hit speed bumps in recent times, but the appetite to invest in Dubai's realty market remains strong and Indians continue to be the largest investors there. Residential real estate prices, which are competitive compared with prices in cities like Mumbai, high rental yields and tax free income is a big draw for Indians investing in Dubai.

According to data from the Dubai Land Development, Indians invested about Rs 3,400 crore in 2011. That figure jumped to Rs 37,060 crore in 2015.

"Indians have been investing about 20 billion Dirham in Dubai's real estate market each year in the last few years. The accumulated number till 2017 is 126 billion Dirham," said Majid Saqr Al-Marri, senior director, real estate investment management, Dubai Land Development.

Sandeep Jaiswal, deputy CEO of sales and marketing at Dubai-based Azizi Developers said that 14-18 per cent of investers in the market were now Indians.

"People who are buying property in Dubai are getting a rental yield of 7-8 per cent easily. As the vicinity improves with respect to schools, supermarkets, the metro... the yields will only increase further," Jaiswal told THE WEEK.

Other developers too have a similar experience to share. Sanjay Manchanda, the CEO of Nakheel PJSC said Indians accounted for one in 10 of its investors; they have purchased 4,500 units from Nakheel, spending over Rs 16,621 crore.

Why are Indians investing so much in Dubai's property market?

"Dubai's excellent transport and social infrastructure, strong demand for rental properties, regulations that allow foreigners to buy freely and strict regulations that ensure that disputes are settled quickly and fairly make it a magnet for real estate investors," said Manchanda.

According to developers, an investor with $1 million can buy 145 square meters of property in Dubai, versus just 96 square meters in Mumbai. Further more, neither is there any tax on rental income in Dubai, nor is there any capital gains tax, which make the returns on investment much higher than similar other markets. With more than 1,700 flights a month, Dubai is also easily accessible from India, and there are also no restrictions on the number of properties a foreign national can own there.

In Dubai one can buy anything from studios to town houses,to bungalows and even land and prices can range from Rs 1 crore to more than Rs 5 crore.
Oil prices settled higher on Tuesday, notching a monthly gain of more than 5 percent, but analysts said bullish sentiment that has driven Brent crude to its highest in more than two years could encourage US producers to export more oil.

Brent settled up 47 cents or 0.7 percent to $61.37, close to its July 2015 highs reached earlier this week, and up around 37 percent from its 2017 lows hit in June.U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude (WTI) settled up 23 cents or 0.4 percent to $54.38, still near its highest since February and close to its highest in more than two years.Traders and brokers said investors were adjusting positions after price rises of around 5 percent in October.

For the month, Brent was up 6.7 percent, while WTI rose 5.2 percent. WTI's discount to Brent has widened to nearly $7, making it attractive to exporters."The large differential has opened the door on regional arbitrage, driving a spike in U.S. crude exports over recent weeks," BMI Research said in a note.

US crude exports have jumped to close to 2 million barrels per day (bpd) and production has risen almost 13 percent since mid-2016 to 9.5 million bpd."The problem is as soon as prices move up it's too easy for US producers to add another rig or another completion crew," said Stewart Glickman, energy equity analyst at CFRA Research in New York, "Then they increase production and youre back where you started."

US crude and gasoline futures extended gains in post-settlement trade after industry group the American Petroleum Institute said that U.S. oil inventories fell far more than expected. Crude inventories fell 5.1 million barrels in the week to October 27 to 456.8 million, compared with analysts' expectations for a decrease of 1.8 million barrels. Gasoline stocks plunged 7.7 million barrels, versus forecasts of a 1.5 million-barrel draw, the API said.

US government oil inventory data will be released at 10:30am (1430 GMT) on Wednesday.Bullish sentiment has been fueled by a pledge by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, Russia and other exporters to hold back about 1.8 million bpd in oil production to tighten markets.

OPEC's adherence to its pledged supply curbs rose to 92 per cent from September's 86 percent, a Reuters survey showed, as top exporter Saudi Arabia continued to pump below its OPEC target and output in Venezuela, in economic depression, declined further.

OPEC is scheduled to next meet at its headquarters in Vienna on November 30.
The police will file a case against a witness who changed his deposition to support actor Dileep in the February 17 actress assault case.

The witness, an employee of Laksyah textile shop in Kakkanad, owned by Dileep's wife, Kavya Madhavan, had told the police initially that main accused Sunil Kumar, aka Pulsar Suni, had visited the shop when he was in hiding after the kidnap and assault of the actress.

Now, the witness has stated that he does not know of Suni's visit to Laksyah.

The court was informed a month ago that the key witness in the case has taken a position different from what he told the police earlier. The investigators had evidence that Kavya's driver had called the witness 41 times. They suspect that the intention behind the calls was to influence the witness to alter his deposition.
. To do so, first type the original number into the text box. Then click on the "Scientific Notation" option located at the top of the floating window. Finally, click on the "Standard" button found beneath the text box to display your result. This program is useful for scientists and engineers working with decimal-based numbers. It provides easy access to those who need to convert those numbers into more compact forms without having to do heavy math calculations first.

Scientific notation is a way to express very large or very small numbers. It is used in physics, chemistry and other fields where large numbers are common. Those numbers are written as a power of 10 followed by a number with an exponent. For example, 1,000,000 (one million) is written as 1  103. The exponent shows how many zeros are after the first digit. For example, 1,000,001 is written as 1  102. Scientific notation is a useful tool for making calculations easier. You can use it to write down very big or very small numbers in one step instead of writing out both the large and small numbers separately. You can also use it to express large or small numbers in terms of other units like centimeters or millimeters.

Scientific notation solver is an online tool that can be used to convert any number into scientific notation. Simply enter any number to the left of the decimal point and it will automatically convert it into a scientific notation equivalent. This web tool can be very helpful when you need to convert a large number into scientific notation. However, please note that this online tool can only convert numbers that are in scientific format. For example, it cannot convert a non-scientific number like "1,085" into a scientific notation equivalent. It is also important to keep in mind that this web tool only works when converting numbers from one particular format to another. For example, if you want to change a non-scientific number like "1,085" into standard format, then you will have to use another online tool like NumberFormatting.com.
"It's so nice to be in an old-fashioned, normal interview, sighs actor Kalki Koechlin as she leads me to a quiet corner, away from the humdrum of the promotional activity for her next release Ribbon. "It's such a relief," she repeats before we sit down for the interview. She was recording promotional videos for the partner/associates of the moviedelivering scripted, promotional lines that she wasn't so gung-ho aboutoften making her displeasure clear to the film's team. Being a clown, keep talking, keep talking....it's so depressing, she animatedly tells me.



The critical or commercial failure of her last weeks release, Jia Aur Jia, doesnt seem to have unnerved her. The team working on the promotions is a little worried that they have upset her by forcing her to do promotional videos, but she is calm. Probably, she understands the drill before a films release very well now. She rather gives a tight hug to one of the girls who looked really petrified.



The first time I sat with Kalki for a long chat was way back in 2009she was still high on the success of Dev D and was performing the play, The Skeleton Woman (which she had written and acted in). She was chirpy, lively and vocal, as she is known to be, yet also much aware of the feelings of everyone working on the play. She doesnt seem to have changed over all these years. A lot has happened in her life and career since then, but she is happy with how it has turned out. It's been good. I can't complain, she says. For the time being, since she is having two back-to-back releases, she feels like Akshay Kumar. She laughs as she says that. Her much-talked about sense of humour is on full display.



The biggest achievement, she says, in all these years, for her has been to have gotten to try so many different things. I am still trying. So many different platformsfrom theatre to spoken word to films to commercials and indie, she says.



Its exhilarating to know that you can do so many things, but at the same time exhausting too. I am just a restless kind of a person and I need to express myself, so its good for me to have all these medium to do it. I find it therapeutic, she says as she talks about the new spoken-word piece she composed for the recently concluded Spoken Fest in Mumbai that was performed in front of almost 2,000 people. I was damn nervous; not enough rehearsal and all that. But once you are on-stage and are connecting with your audience, theres this magic that happens. I live for that, trying to connect with other human beings on a larger scale, she says.



Stage performances, especially theatre, have helped her stay in touch with reality. You know, (being a part of the theatre community) we travel economy, we carry our own stuff, do our own make-up. Were in touch with each-other. Theres not a vanity van experience where youre a little cut-off from the world. Thats really important, she says, also emphasising on how theatre is the best way to practice and stay in touch with your craft.



However, she would remain away from directing plays though. Earlier, she has written Skeleton Woman, and directed, wrote and produced The Living Room. But she says it was a huge job. It was exhausting. I couldnt do anything else. And I dont think I enjoyed it. I found it very stressful. I dont think I am made for direction. I do like writing and performing, so I think I will be doing a lot more collaborative work. I dont know about actually becoming a director full time, but you never know. Right now, I am so excited about acting. I want to be acting till I am ninety, she says.



In Ribbon that releases this Friday, Kalki plays Sahana, a young woman married to Karan (played by Sumeet Vyas). The film is about the young, Mumbai-based couple, who struggle with Sahanas pregnancy and things that change for them.



When Rakhi Shandilya, the director of Ribbon, sent Kalki a mail about the film she was travelling, doing Macbeth shows in America. I read the script in a bus and liked it so much that I immediately started Googling the subjectmaternity leave, if you can have sex when you are eight months pregnantall the things mentioned in it. I discovered that everything that she has written is authentic and I liked that a lot, says Kalki about the initial stage of saying yes to the movie.



Later, on watching Shandilyas documentary My Baby Not Mine on surrogacy in Gujarat, Kalki realised how skilled she is in direction. She knew how not to be intrusive with her camera, capturing things almost like a fly-on-the-wall. I thought that was great.



As far as playing a mother is concerned, Kalki was nothing but glad to have done that. I have been playing underage characters all my life17, 18-year-old characters. Finally, I am playing a character my own age. I think its a great challenge. I had to research motherhood. Also, its a great preparation for my future. I am so pro on changing nappies, how to handle a baby and all these things now, she laughs as she talks about the experiences fondly.



In real life, she says, she thought for the first time of becoming a mother when she had a brother almost nine years ago. Her father remarried and she could witness her brothers birth and growing up years. Before that I didnt really think about having kids; I wasnt very maternal. But since I saw my brother growing up and he comes back from school now with a project in which he has to save the world, I would be like oh, yes, that is what we have to do. Its like a renewal of innocence in your life, Kalki says.



As she mentions earlier, she has often been cast in similar roles, but she doesnt complain. Everyone is typecast. It is up to you to break that by the choices you make. You are of course limited to what scripts come your way, but within that you still try to make each character unique. Its you responsibility. The industry cant be blamed because it will think from the business point of view, of making a hit.



After so many years, she has started getting roles that are different but still limited to the urban world. I dont get to play a village belle, she says with a little disappointment making me curious if she wants to do that. I would love to. But physically, how will it be possible, she says matter-of-factly. Unless I am a Kashmiri, for which too I will have to learn the language. But I am getting challenges. I am playing a Nepali character (in a film by Nicholas Kharkongor). Its a huge challenge but its great that I am getting offers like these, she says, however, adding that one thing that she always cribs about is that how she is the undiscovered Meg Ryan of India. Nobody has figured out that I would be such a goofy, fun, rom-com queen. I am waiting for that to fall on my lap, laughs the actor.



For the time being, her plate is full. Besides the regular theatre shows that she is a part of, she is also starring in Zoya Akhtar and Reema Kagtis show, Made In Heaven for Amazon Video, Rajat Kapoors next directorial venture and another film titled Scholarship along with Konkona Sen Sharma.
Mexican actor Robert Cavazos accused House of Cards star Kevin Spacey of harassment. In a lengthy Facebook post, the 35-year-old actor wrote about his encounter with Spacey at the bar of Londons Old Vic Theatre, where the latter was artistic director from 2004 to 2015.

"I myself had a couple of unpleasant encounters with Spacey that were on the edge of being called harassment. Moreover, had I been a woman, I probably would not have hesitated to identify him as such, but I suppose that the lack of a more specifically direct or aggressive action led me to justify the incident as "one of those things". There are many of us who have a "Kevin Spacey story," Cavazos said in the post.

It was more common for this guy, when he was in the bar of his theater, grabbing whoever caught his attention, Cavazos said. "I didnt stand for it, but I know some people who were afraid to stop it, he added.

Those of us who crossed paths with (Spacey) in London when he was director of the Old Vic know a whole lot more people will find the courage to tell their stories in the coming days and weeks, Cavazos said.

Comparing the Oscar-winning actor to Harvey Weinstein, Cavazos said that he would not be surprised if his victims were in similar numbers to the disgraced media mogul. He said like the producer, the 58-year-old actor also has a pattern of orchestrating his move, targeting especially "a male under 30".

"What these men have in common, aside from their reprehensible actions, is a network of friends, colleagues and collaborators who have been helping them to cover up their behavior for years," he said.

It seems the only requirement was to be a male under the age of 30 for Mr Spacey to feel free to touch us, he said in the post.

Cavazos's filmography includes Rush and El Beso. He has also made a guest appearance on the British TV series Doctor Who.

Meanwhile, the Old Vic responded to recent media reports by issuing a media statement.

The Old Vic would like to respond to recent media reports by making it clear that we are deeply dismayed to hear the allegations levied against Kevin Spacey, who was Artistic Director from 20042015, the theatre said in a statement.

We want our employees to feel confident, valued and proud to be part of The Old Vic family. Any behaviour we become aware of which contravenes these goals will not be tolerated, it added.

Spacey has not responded to the recent allegations.

The new allegations against Spacey come two days after Sar Trek: Discovery actor Anthony Rapp accused the actor of making an unwanted sexual advance towards him when he was 14-years-old.

Soon after Rapp's revelation, Spacey apologised to Rapp saying that he "does not remember" any such encounter but he is "sorry" if he behaved in such a manner under the influence of alcohol.

"I have a lot of respect and admiration for Anthony Rapp as an actor. I'm beyond horrified to hear his story," Spacey posted on Twitter.

Also Read: Accused of sexual misconduct, Kevin Spacey apologises

Meanwhile, on Monday the International Academy of Television Arts and Sciences withdrew an honour scheduled to be conferred on him.

"The International Academy has announced that in light of recent events it will not honour Kevin Spacey with the 2017 International Emmy Founders Award," the Academy announced on Twitter.

Also, Media Rights Capital and Netflix, who produce House of Cards said it was ending House of Cards at the conclusion of its upcoming sixth season.

Also Read: Kevin Spacey's Emmy revoked, 'House of Cards' cancelled

Find below the full translation of Robert Cavazos's facebook post:

SPACEY, WEINSTEIN AND THE ENDEMIC HARASSMENT WE DO NOT TALK IN MEXICAN THEATER

Harvey Weinstein. Kevin Spacey Max Stafford-Clark.

A few days or weeks ago they were among the most important men in film and theater in Hollywood, London and the world. Now they are among the most notorious names in scandals of sexual harassment (and in some cases rape) within our environment.

Weinstein is accused of harassing more than 80 women and raping four of them over 4 decades. It is anticipated that these figures will continue to grow. In his public apology he quoted Jay Z and swore that he will seek help to cure him of his problems, which will not erase the trauma, shame and guilt that the 80 women who accuse him and the probable dozens who chose not to have do what.

Spacey is accused of harassing a 14-year-old boy when he was 26. Those of us who met him in London when he was director of the Old Vic Theater know that many more will be those who dare to tell their stories in the next days and weeks. I would not be surprised if they were numbers similar to Weinstein's. In his public apology he said he did not remember the incident, he apologized to the actor who accused him and took the opportunity to leave the closet, thus distracting the public from his harmful actions.

Max Stafford-Clark, with its Joint Stock and Out of Joint companies, radically changed British theater in the 70s. Now, like Weinstein, he has been fired from his own company for his actions. Three employees accused him of telling them inappropriate things (he could not do anything because of his physical condition). His PR attributes Stafford-Clark's comments to the stroke he suffered a few years ago. Her problem is that now more accusations of women have arisen that happened (in some cases) twenty years before her spill.

What these men have in common, aside from their reprehensible actions, is a network of friends, colleagues and collaborators who have been helping them to cover up their behavior for years. This type of men could not do what they did had it not been for all those who left them alone with their victims or justified them or made themselves misunderstood.

I myself had a couple of unpleasant encounters with Spacey that were on the edge of being called harassment. Moreover, had I been a woman, I probably would not have hesitated to identify him as such, but I suppose that the lack of a more specifically direct or aggressive action led me to justify the incident as "one of those things". There are many of us who have a "Kevin Spacey story". It seems that it only took a male under 30 to make Mr. Spacey feel free to touch us. It was so common that it even became a local joke (in very bad taste). I do not remember how many people told me the same story: Spacey invited them to meet him to "talk about their careers." When they arrived at the theater, the gentleman had prepared a picnic with champagne on the stage, beautifully lit. Each story varied in how far the picnic came, but the technique was the same. More common was that the man was in the bar of his theater, squeezing whoever caught his attention. That's how it happened to me the second time. I never left, but I know of some who were afraid to put a stop to it.

In London, Spacey's case was frowned upon. I do not doubt there were more like him, but none so public and blatant. In the middle this behavior was reproached for its total lack of professionalism, without mentioning the questionable morality.

That's why it was a huge surprise for me to arrive in Mexico and find myself with the reality that this type of behavior is not only common, but sometimes even applauded. The frequency with which I learn that the alleged "sacred cows" of Mexican theater behave the same or worse than Spacey or Weinstein. That it seems perfectly valid to ask their actresses how their sex life is going or openly play their students in front of the rest of the class, ask them to get undressed in the admission exams to one of the most respected theater schools in the country.

I have a lot of colleagues in Mexican theater who have gone through one of those situations. Sometimes all Among our colleagues there are revered directors whose nicknames are variants of their surnames making direct reference to their predilection for promiscuity or harassment and yet others dismiss the seriousness of their actions with comments like these:

"It's a Don Juan."

"The little boys do not complain."

"Those little chavitas are looking for him."

I think that by now we all understand that sexual harassment is not easy for victims to process. Some do not recognize it as such until decades after having suffered it. However, we all understand that none of the actions we justify or allow as part of the artistic process would be considered appropriate or correct in any other way. I do not understand why this would be different in the theater, in the cinema, on television.

When the case of Felipe Oliva Alvarado arose, I swore that I would be the first of many in the theater community in Mexico. Apparently I was wrong, since none of the figures alluded to in these paragraphs changed their behavior in the least. Our young colleagues continue to be harassed, abused and harmed by their teachers and principals, the figures they should be able to trust.

Obviously it is necessary that the same victims are those who raise their voices and raise complaints, but there is much that we can do others and we should have been doing for a long time. If we are witnesses, let's confront. If we are friends, let's listen. If we are participants, let's give up.

This kind of predator can only continue acting as long as we allow it. By not doing or saying anything about it, we are also accomplices.

Finally, only this message remains for the victims:

I believe you. I hear you. I support you.
The concept of original inhabitants of Assam is fast snowballing into a major issue in the state as the herculean task of getting the National Register of Citizens (NRC) updated is nearing completion.

If it is not handled with utmost care by the government, the issue has the potential wreak havoc in the state. Several communities like Muslims, Gorkhas and Bengalis are now demanding that they be considered as original inhabitants of Assam.

The concept of 'original inhabitant' is, quite strangely, nowhere defined. There is no mention of this term in the Constitution of India or in the Citizenship Act (except in the Schedule of Citizenship Rule 2003).

The concept provides for the inclusion of original inhabitants of Assam in the NRC on the basis of proof to the satisfaction of the registering authority which establishes the citizenship of such persons beyond reasonable doubt.

The absence of any guidelines or explanations on the definition of the term has created an atmosphere of chaos in the NRC updating process. There is also a possibility of grave socio-political unrest due to the inclusion of non-citizens in the NRC and exclusion of genuine citizens in the updated draft.

The NRC was first prepared in 1951 and is presently being updated in Assam under the supervision of the Supreme Court to weed out illegal migrants. The top court has set a December 31 deadline to publish the draft NRC.

However, in order to ensure that the issue does not affect the law and order situation in the state, o-ordinator of NRC in the state Prateek Hajela said on Tuesday that nobody will be categorised as original inhabitant in the draft or the final NRC.

Hajela said, The NRC will only contain a list of Indian citizens and no categorisation such as original inhabitant or otherwise will be made. He also clarified that as per the Supreme Court order, people belonging to tea-tribes will be considered original inhabitants of Assam to determine their (Indian) citizenship for including their names in the updated NRC.

The NRC office has also printed leaflets to be distributed among the public to remove misconception about the exercise.

The worst sufferers in this whole exercise are Muslims. A BJP legislator from Hojai, in central Assam, Shiladitya Deb, has gone on record saying 98 per cent of the community in Assam were illegal Muslims from Bangladesh.

The All Assam Minority Students Union (AAMSU) general secretary Rezaul Karim Sarkar said,  No one wants illegal migrants to stay in Assam. But the cut-off date of 1971 should be adhered to and no genuine Indian citizens should be harassed. He added that the AAMSU wants an error-free and complete NRC since his community was the worst sufferer during the verification process.

Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal asserted that the government is committed to providing all required assistance to ensure that an accurate NRC is prepared in Assam. He said persons involved in spreading rumours and misinformation about on the issue of updating the NRC are working against the interest of the nation.

Reiterating the fact that no genuine Indian citizen should feel apprehensive, Sonowal said the NRC would protect the interests of the genuine Indian nationals. There is no question of differentiating people on religious or linguistic lines and the names of all Indian citizens living in Assam will be included in the NRC, he added.

Sonowal pointed out that if the name of any genuine Indian national is left out of the draft NRC, he or she would have ample opportunity as per the provisions of law to file claims and objections. With the Supreme Court closely monitoring the process, there is no reason for any Indian citizen to feel apprehensive, he said.
The Congress on Wednesday strongly protested against the Central Bureau of Investigation's clean chit to Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan in the Vyapam scam, accusing the probe agency of manipulating evidence at the behest of the BJP regime. The party said that it will file a private complaint against the agency in a trial court in Madhya Pradesh.

The CBI in its chargesheet in the Vyapam case says that the hard disk recovered from the office of the Madhya Pradesh Professional Examination Board has not been tampered with and it does not name Chouhan, contrary to the claim of Congress leader Digvijaya Singh.

However, the Congress fielded three eminent lawyersKapil Sibal, K.T.S Tulsi and Vivek Tankha to make the claim that the hard disk referred to by the CBI had been tampered with by the agency. The Congress said it is in possession of the genuine data.

The Congress has decided to file a private complaint in a trial court in Bhopal to charge the CBI with manipulating evidence in the case, and ask for the data in its possession to be taken into consideration.

Sibal said that while the CBI claims to have seized the hard disk on July 22, 2013, and sent it to the forensic lab on July 22, 2013, the chain of events proves that the disk was in fact seized on July 17, 2013.

"The reality is that the hard disk was brought to the office of the IG on July 17. It was then brought to Prashant Pandey for opening, and he made a copy of it on his pen drive," Sibal said. He alleged that the hard disk was manipulated between July 17 and 18 to remove the chief minister's name from it.

"We sent the pen drive in which Prashant Pandey (one of the whistleblowers in the case) had copied the hard disk to Truth Labs, Hyderabad, and it gave its report saying it was correct and no tampering was done," he said.

Sibal said the CBI's clean chit to Chouhan was the latest instance of the investigating agency acting on the instructions of the Modi government. The CBI has a new name now  Compromised Bureau of Investigation, he said, adding that while the investigating agency is targeting senior leaders of the Congress in various states, it was letting off the hook people who belong to the ruling BJP.

Tulsi, who is one of the lawyers in the case, said , There has been destruction of evidence in this case to save the CM. Action must be taken to punish the guilty.

Tankha said the Congress is in possession of all the evidence to prove the chain of events. From the day on which the hard disk was seized in Bhopal to when it was taken to Indore and when it was brought to Prashant Pandey, we have witnesses to corroborate all this, he said.
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Tuesday urged students not to worry as she was personally monitoring the situation following reports of attacks on Indian students in Milan.

"Attack on Indian students in Milan: I have got the detailed report. Please do not worry. I am monitoring the situation personally," Sushma Swaraj said in a tweet.

Sushma Swaraj's remarks came a day after the Indian Consulate in Milan said that it has received reports of attacks and cautioned students to stay away from any area perceived to be of risk.

"The Consulate has received reports of unfortunate incident of attacks on the Indian students in Milan. All Indian students are urged not to panic," the statement said.

"Students are also requested to report such matters to the Consulate on Consul General's Cell 3290884057 immediately," the Consulate said sharing the helpline number.

"This will help the Consulate take up the issue with the higher authorities in Milan so that all efforts can be made to prevent recurrence of such incidents in future.

"Meanwhile, students are advised to be in touch with each other (particularly when they go out) as well as with the Consulate and spread the information among other students about the areas where they face such incidents so that such areas can be avoided or approached with greater caution," the statement added.




Everyone who lives in Karnataka is a Kannadiga. They should learn Kannada and make their children learn it too, said Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, while speaking at the 62nd Karnataka Rajyotsava celebrations in Bengaluru on November 1.

"I am a Kannadiga first, and then an Indian," he added.

At a time when pro-Kannada groups are opposing the "imposition" of Hindi, and the Congress government has appointed a panel to design and study the legal tenability of having a separate Kannada flag for the state, the CM's assertion of the Kannada identity assumes significance.

"If you don't learn Kannada, it means you're showing disrespect to the language," said Siddaramaiah, who also expressed concern that the Kannadigas need to grow more pride and affection towards their language and the State had not succeeded in establishing the right Kannada ambience.

The CM also asked the Kannadigas to be more affectionate towards their language.

Focusing on preservation of Kannada language, the chief minister called for efforts towards creating an atmosphere for learning Kannada and said all schools in the state should teach Kannada.

Lamenting that Karnataka did not succeed in making Kannada a priority in the last 60 years, he said, "Teaching Kannada language is made compulsory even in CBSE and ICSE schools in the state."

Every school irrespective of its board should teach Kannada, he clarified adding that the government would not shutdown any government school even if there is a single student as there is a concerted effort to upgrade their standard.

Countering the critics who dub his concern for Kannada as an "election-oriented" move, he says, "I don't believe in playing politics over Kannada. I am a Kannada lover by birth. I started my political career as the chairman of Kannada Vigilance Committee. Kannada has a history of 2,000 years. I have never compromised on issues concerning the Kannada language, land and water."

Listing his government's initiatives, he said, "After my party came to power, I ensured that five per cent reservation is extended to Kannada medium students appearing for the KPSC exams, 100 per cent reservations to Kannadigas in Group C and D posts in private sector. Our language policy emphasises on conducting recruitment exams for rural banks in Kannada. Knowledge of Kannada has been made compulsory for employees of nationalised, rural and scheduled banks in the state. Screening of Kannada movies has been made mandatory at all theatres including multiplexes. The annual subsidy for Kannada movies has been extended to 125 films and Kannada learning centre's have been opened to teach non-Kannadigas."

Reminding the BJP and the Centre about the federal system of democracy, Siddaramaiah said, "We are not opposed to Hindi or English. But we will not tolerate imposition of other languages at the expense of Kannada. When the pro-Kannada groups opposed imposition of Hindi at Metro stations, my government intervened and got the Centre to adopt two-language (Kannada and English) policy. The Constitution recognises the fact that the state language is supreme in every state. Imposing another language defeats the purpose of linguistic reorganisation of states. A federal system should protect the autonomy of the regional language."

Noting that parents were closing English medium schools over the Kannada schools, the CM called it an "alarming trend".

"My government has been urging the Centre to implement the national education policy to impart primary education in the mother tongue. I wrote to the PM soon after the SC ruling and mentioned it was a setback for every regional language. But to no avail," he rued.

"It is a false notion that students studying in Kannada medium have no future," said the CM, adding that stalwarts like Bharat Ratna Sir M Visvesvaraya and Bharat Ratna CNR Rao had studied in Kannada medium.

"I became a chief minister though I too studied in Kannada medium. However, we have trained 5000 teachers and told them to teach English as one of the subjects in government primary schools. There is a misconception that modern science cannot be taught in Kannada, but one can study any discipline in Kannada. This will enrich the knowledge, language and literature. Likewise doctors, lawyers, technologists and engineers too should adopt Kannada. A new language policy is the need of the hour. Kannada should become the administrative language in the true sense."
Even as Patidar stir leader Hardik Patel continues to draw huge crowds at his public meetings and rallies in Gujarat, community leaders under the aegis of Patidar Organisation Committee on Wednesday alleged that Patidar Anamat Andolan had now become Private Anamat Andolan.

The Committee is an outfit of socio-religious organisations and Trusts from different parts of the state and has both Leuva and Kadva Patels. Earlier, the members had also taken part in dialogue with the state government in which members of PAAS and Sardar Patel Group, another outfit, were also present.

Committee convener R. P. Patel said in Ahmedabad that till the time Hardik demanded reservation under the OBC category, they were all support for him. However, now he is demanding it under EBC, said Patel. He and another Committee leader C. K. Patel claimed that the state government had agreed to undertake a survey so that the reservation on constitutional lines can be worked out.

R. P. Patel said that the state government had already set up a Commission for those not under OBC, as a stopgap arrangement. Police cases, not under legal tangle, are being withdrawn and a retired high court judge is looking into the alleged atrocities on Patidars in 2015.

He questioned the motive of Hardik to hold what he termed as secret talks with Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi. Patel alleged that Hardik and the Congress were misguiding the Patidars and that they should stop doing it immediately.

Pointed out that Hardik was drawing huge crowds, Patel claimed that this was because the people in rural areas do not know the reality and are not educated. The members said that they would meet people of the community to make them aware about their point of view.

He claimed that their demand for reservation under the OBC still stands and that they would praise the Congress government also, like the incumbent BJP government, if it gives reservation after coming to power.

PAAS has been rejecting the state government's offers saying it that they are mere sops. The state government at one point of time has also given 10 per cent reservation under the EBC but the Gujarat High Court rejected it on the grounds that no survey was undertaken.

PAAS core committee members are expected to meet a battery of lawyers of the Congress led by Kapil Sibal around next week. The agitating Patidars had sought an understanding about how the Congress would provide them reservation as per the Constitution.

While the committee members sounded pro ruling party and said that there was now no need for an agitation, Hardik has been openly asking the masses to dethrone the BJP from power.

The Committee members denied that they were under any pressure from the state government to meet the press.
Shia Waqf Board chairman Waseem Rizvi met spiritual guru and Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar at Bengaluru on Tuesday and discussed the possible ways to sort out the Ayodhya imbroglio.

After the meeting, Rizvi said the entire nation respected the AOL founder and that the Shia community was of the view that the long pending dispute should be solved amicably and not by confrontation.

"I am confident that sooner than later a solution will evolve towards peaceful resolution of the Ayodhya problem," he said, adding that if Sri Sri would come forward to sort things out, the Shia community will more than welcome it.

He also said that the Shia community had all rights in the matter as the Babri mosque in Ayodhya was Shia place of worship and that up to 1944, it was run by Shia administrators.

After this, the Sunni community got it registered but this was invalidated later, he added.

Recent media reports suggest that Sri Sri, acting in his personal capacity, was trying to mediate between the Hindu and Muslim sides to try and sort out the long-pending issue.
The Yogi governments move to check illegal immigrants in Uttar Pradesh, by initiating passport verification in Saharanpur and Muzaffarnagar districts, has raked up a storm.

The verification move is yet to be initiated properly, but it has attracted widespread condemnation. Both districts have a sizeable Muslim population; in the past, terrorists supported by Pakistan and Bangladesh have been nabbed from the area. The move has taken on sensitive proportions because Darul Uloom Deoband, an Islamic school, is situated in Saharanpur. The school was founded in 1866, with more than 7,000 students. Darul Uloom Deoband is a very respected institution among the Muslim community.

Minority community in Muzaffarnagar accounts for about 40 per cent of the total population of the district. And Saharanpur has a minority population of around 41 per cent.

According to DIG (Deputy Inspector General) of Saharanpur police, K.S. Emmanuel, re-verification of passports will be done; to assist the local police, LIU (local intelligence units) will be entrusted with the task of verification. Passport verification of foreign students is also likely to take place.

The move by the district police is being viewed as targeting members of the Muslim community. SP leader Juhi Singh condemned the move.

The UP police had turned on the heat in these two districts because UP-ATS (Anti Terror Squad) had nabbed two Bangladeshi terrorists, whose passports were obtained via the Deoband address, three months before.

Sunni Muslim cleric Maulana Khalid Rashid Firangi Mahali, a member of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB), too questioned the move of the UP police. According to him, it smacked of a move against the minority community. However, according to Emmanuel, verification will take place in the entire Saharanpur range. The police is acting on specific information regarding terror modules in the area.

Earlier, the ATS sleuths had raided the hideout of one Faizan Ahamed in Saharanpur and had recovered some incriminating documents. Faizan is said to be a vital recruiter for the IS.

The Yogi government has also decided to initiate action against illegal Bangladeshi migrants living in various parts of the state. All district magistrates have been asked to identify and initiate actions against them; Principal Secretary, Home, Arvind Kumar issued a letter in this regard. The LIU officials have been asked to prepare a list of illegal residents.
Staging a concert at the age of six for Empress Maria Theresa, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was the last Austrian prodigy that the world knows of. Two and a half centuries later, a new prodigy, 31-year-old Sebastian Kurz, is poised to lead Austria as chancellor after a stunning election victory. We have made the impossible possible. Our work begins now, says Kurz.

He pulled off a miracle. But this seems the new normal in Europe, emblazoning an anti-establishment trend: mainstream parties out, populist movements in. It also reveals the spread of far right populism triggered by the massive influx of Muslim refugees into Europe, and how to puncture it.

Nicknamed wunderwuzzi (wonder boy), Kurz will be the worlds youngest leader, seizing the title from the North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un. But Kurz is neither wealthy nor a scion of a political dynasty. He has one great asset though. He understands the pulse of the people. Analysing Kurzs meteoric rise, psychotherapist Ulrich Kropiunigg says, Fed up with coalition squabbling, people want a messiah on whom they can project their unfulfilled hopes, someone who will clean up the mess, improve their lives.

Kurz branded himself brilliantly. Unlike other political leaders who stare earnestly at voters from posters, he looked sideways into the distance, like a prophet gazing into the future; subliminally urging his people to follow him into the promised land. Unlike Emmanuel Macron who launched his own En Marche! movement to become the president of France, Kurz rebranded his mainstream, conservative Austrian Peoples Party (OVP) to launch his movement for Austria from within. His discredited party, which has been ruling for decades in coalition with the equally discredited Social Democratic Party (SPO), receded into the background as the Kurz personality cult grabbed the centre-stage of the new OVP, says political communication expert Jakob-Moritz Eberl.

Love conquers all: Chancellor-elect Sebastian Kurz with Susanne Thier, his girlfriend of 13 years | AFP

The overhaul included replacing the traditional, boring black OVP colour with the trendy turquoise. Kurzs handpicked independent candidates included a quadriplegic pole-vaulter, an environmentalist, a psychoanalyst, a Viennese ball organiser and several women. Kurz combined the OVPs financial and organisational assets with a movements vigour. We value our partys existing strengths, but we are also bringing in new people, he says.

Like Macron, Kurz makes centre-right politics exciting again. His youthful Team Kurz legion wear leather bracelets and turquoise jackets with matching trainers, swigging beer from plastic glasses imprinted with the legend Refreshing. Different. Sartorially, Kurz is a tie-less conservative, which in the old days would have been an oxymoron. But now it symbolises an unconventional leader straddling the classic left-right divide. Kurz is solution-oriented, not ideology-driven. Christian Rainer, editor of the newsmagazine Profil, says, When Kurz became integration minister at 24, everyone made fun of him. He is interesting because he combines political strategy, style and substance.

As Austriasand the worldsyoungest foreign minister, Kurz was tough and effective on Europes most controversial issue, immigration. His interest in the issue predates 2015 when more than a million refugees swamped Europe following German Chancellor Angela Merkels welcome policy. Kurz introduced Islamgesetz (Islamic law 2015) banning burqas, prohibiting foreign-funded mosques and restricting immigrant benefits. He worked with neighbouring countries to close the Balkan immigrant routes, reducing refugee influx ten times.

Though strict, Kurz also argued that immigration could attract international talent. His 50-point plan to better integrate legal immigrants into Austria included teaching German to preschoolers and inculcating civic responsibility, rule of law, values and appropriate behaviour, especially to local women. Simultaneously, he improved job opportunities and endorsed rights like access to halal food and Muslim priestly care in the military. His popularity spread beyond Austrias borders, and even sceptical European leaders like Merkel acknowledged the effectiveness of his policies.

Like Macron, Kurz is avowedly pro-European and business-friendly. He wants to lower taxes, trim bureaucracy, reform the welfare state and reduce public debt. Tall and tanned, the ardent hiker and wind-surfer is a social media expert and spends hours posing for selfies with his fans. Says Austrian journalist Gernot Bauer, He is like a pop star, like Justin Bieber. His strategy and tactics worked. From languishing in third position at one time, his OVP raced to the top, winning 31 per cent of the votes.

Kurzs rise has been quick. After becoming OVPs youth leader in 2009, he abandoned legal studies to focus on politics. Initially, he blundered with his Schwarz macht geil (black is hot) campaign. To attract youth voters, he went around with scantily clad women on a black Hummer, distributing black condoms. He was, however, ridiculed and was called a superficial party animal. But the OVP gave Kurz a second chance and he quickly changed course.

Kurz grew up in Viennas working class Meidling district. His mother was a nurse and his father, a technician who battled unemployment. Hard-working, open-minded and candid, Kurz is a good listener with an engaging personality. Neither a rebel, nor arrogant or disrespectful, he has built a reputation as a dynamic doer.

His political rivals initially ridiculed him. Austrias far right Freedom Party (FPO) leader Heinz-Christian Strache had criticised him when he was made foreign minister. Strache said it was Austrias farewell to foreign policy. Kurz, however, turned out to be a successful foreign minister, interacting confidently with veteran counterparts like US secretary of state John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. He hosted several high profile meetings, including the Vienna talks that led to the 2015 Iran nuclear deal. Kurz was so successful and popular that he was the only minister to complete a full term in the outgoing government.

Constant infighting and public angst at the refugee influx fuelled the rise of FPO, originally headed by a former Nazi. In the presidential elections last December, voters rejected both the mainstream parties, and the FPO candidate missed the job narrowly. That was a wakeup call. It was Kurzs moment to seize, and the OVP acknowledged that it would be doomed without reinvention. Kurz agreed to lead on his terms and secured a 98.7 per cent mandate to head the OVP. When paparazzi turned up to click Kurzs reaction to the spectacular endorsement, they caught him in a big fat kiss with a young woman. It turned out to be his girlfriend of 13 years, Susanne Thier, who works in the finance ministry. They live together in a cramped 700sq.ft flat in Meidling. Like his girlfriend, his parents, too, have kept out of public eye.

The litmus test for Kurz begins now with his efforts to form a coalition government. He could join hands with the FPO or continue with the SPO. The FPO is a natural ally, though its leaders have accused Kurz of political plagiarism for stealing their immigration policies and votes. OVP general secretary Elisabeth Kostinger says Kurz is very talented in telling people how the situation is and delivering solutions. So people trust him. He has the power and the courage to change things.

But Kurzs push for change could face challenges from Austrias fractious politics, entrenched bureaucracy, powerful trade unions and independent states. How much change can he effect when he is beholden to corporates and rich families for funding? Invariably, the elites continue to rule, cannily switching loyalties in troubled times to popular new leaders. In a video that has gone viral, economist Stephan Schulmeister says Kurzs tax cuts will feed the rich and starve the welfare states coffers.

But voting patterns show that the millennials support Kurz. They have been hurt by the 2008 financial crisis, Eurozone debt and the refugee problem. Recession, deindustrialisation, globalisation, government-imposed austerity measures, identity issues and job losses have aggravated public insecurity. The Austrian economy is growing, but millennials fear they will not be as well off as their parents. Kurz offers a ray of hope. Wunderwuzzi connotes someone who can walk on water. So far, the waters have parted for him. That must continue if Kurz is to become a political messiah.
Consider, for example, the children in the inner cities, shot in their yards or on their porches by the drive-by killers of the street gangs who rule their neighborhoods. Since it is the American Left who has redrawn the criminal justice system to invite in foreign villains, or to enable homegrown ones, by ensuring that even caught-and-convicted criminals run free, is it not the American Left who condemned these innocent children  sometimes hundreds per year  to a violent death, the tragic targets of the gang violence of Chicago, New York, Detroit, Milwaukee, and Los Angeles?

But this isnt to say that the modern Left opposes the death penalty completely. In fact, there are many whom the modern Left condemns to death, every day, though not in so many words.

It is well known that the modern Democratic party does not believe in the concept of capital punishment for crimes, even for the crimes long regarded as of a capital nature, such as murder, violent robbery, violent rape, and treason. They advocate jail time, preferably brief, in cozy, comfortable cells, of regulation size and if there isnt enough room, the Left mandates that the prisons be opened so the overflow can walk free, rather than be incarcerated for their crimes in harsh, uncomfortable surroundings.

And what of their brothers and sisters, who survive their yards, their porches, and their neighborhood parks, but are endangered every day in the halls and classrooms of the public grammar schools, junior highs, and high schools of those same cities? No, not the magnet schools, or the charter schools, that win awards and save the lucky few who win the lotteries or have the right connections but the regular schools, the taxpayer funded gang recruiting stations with names like PS-101 where they are beaten, or threatened, perhaps forced into a gang, or pushed into drug consumption or prostitution, or punished for refusing. Even those who physically survive all this are still likely to receive a substandard education, condemning them to lives in poverty, in public housing, in these dens of welfare checks and despair, and the early death of life in a crime zone.

We turn our gaze away from the welfare state, and look at the world of working Americans, the working poor, the lower middle class through the upper middle class. This is the world of regular folks, the vast majority of Americans. These are people who  until seven years ago  usually received their health insurance through their employers. It wasnt always great; sometimes the copay or deductible was higher, or the number of convenient providers was lower, than they would have liked. And when they lost a job, theyd be without healthcare for a few weeks or even months, until they got their next job, and that new employer-provided healthcare kicked in. Less than optimal.

So the Democrat politicians gave us obamacare, on March 20, 2010, driving tens of millions of people out of work, or out of full time work, so that they had to get substandard health insurance from the government, insurance far worse, and much more expensive, than theyd had before. Seven years into this experiment in human misery, millions are suffering bankruptcy from the cost of obamacare or the loss of the full time jobs that obamacare killed; millions are suffering from substandard care or outright lack of treatment, treatment they would have had from the imperfect private system of a few years ago, but simply cannot be provided now that the government is running the show. If we are honest with ourselves, we must admit that this is a death penalty too, of a sort. The Democratic Partys approach to healthcare, which sounded so generous, so caring, to some, when originally pitched, has in fact resulted in both a lack of care and an abundance of impoverishment. President Obamas promise that, instead of wasting resources on costly surgery for the old or sick, wed just give you a pill, turns out to have been an endorsement of the painkiller epidemic we fight today. What happens when the sick cannot get care, because government has rationed it to only the favored, the connected, and those lucky enough to be safely outside the bureaucrats clutches? This too is a death penalty, is it not?

Consider the political causes for which the Left (certainly not every Democrat voter, but long every Democrat politician) has long been most enthusiastic their efforts to facilitate so-called mercy killings, with the clinical-sounding name euthanasia. In countries where it has taken off, like northern Europe, it results in the middle-aged doing away with elderly parents in astonishing numbers and perhaps wondering how long they have until their own children decide that the middle-aged, too, are too old to live happily amidst us moderns

And need we speak of the abortion issue, and the Lefts obsession with normalizing homosexual love affairs, contraception, an end to traditional marriage entirely? If anything related to procreation is discouraged, it is society itself that has been sentenced to a death penalty by the progressive policies of the modern Left. They champion every life choice except the one that leads to more human life. Look at post-modern Europe, with its plummeting birthrate and whole empty towns across a ghost continent they have left plenty of room for migrants from Africa and the Middle East to fill, but with those new residents, the cradle of western civilization is no longer recognizable as Europe in any way but cartographical.

And that is their plan for America as well... not the intentional plan of every Democrat voter, of course, but the plan of the Left, now uncontested in leading the Democratic Party. Democrat voters may not realize - hopefully do not realize - what their candidates stand for, but it is plain to the naked eye. The eight long years of the Obama administration laid it bare:

The modern Left looks forward to the day when it comes here when that same change arrives in America that their soulless policies have brought to Italy, to France, to Germany, to Holland, filling empty nurseries and schools with Sharia-observant Shia and Sunni migrants, who are only too happy to dine at the cornucopia that thousands of years of Western Civilization created, in a feverish contest to see just how fast they can deplete it, and leave an empty husk in its place, like a skeleton in a tropical lake after the piranhas have fed.

We see it in America every day, if we read the papers, and watch the evening news. The Somali enclaves of Minneapolis, the Sharia towns of Michigan, the Wahabi mosques of Chicago. Their numbers swell with regular immigration, with refugee importations, and with special diversity green card lottery systems that turbocharge the process in case it isnt happening fast enough already.

Consider the latest example to hit our televisions and computer screens, on Tuesday, October 31, 2017, the Christian holiday of All Souls Day, which was also one of the biggest and most jovial of secular holidays as well, Halloween.

As a school bus full of children was returning from school, at 3pm in Manhattan, not far from the World Trade Center bombing sites of 1993 and 2001, so dear to the warped minds of the jihadists, an islamofascist terrorist came hurtling from out of nowhere, and crashed into their school bus.

This terrorist, one Sayfullo Saipov, arrived from Uzbekistan in 2010 on a "diversity visa program" green card seven years ago, rented a vehicle at a Home Depot on Halloween, and set out for a quiet park full of potential targets.

He turned onto a bike path, and careened down this path  one not meant for motorized vehicles  running down whatever innocents he could find, whether bicyclists or walkers or joggers his only condition was that they be innocent and undeserving of the horrific death he had in mind for them. As he tumbled out of the vehicle and into the line of fire of an honorable policeman, this villain shouted Allahu Akbar  which correctly translates not to God is great as the politically correct say it, but rather, to My god is greater than your God, a spiteful and triumphant insult to the West, shouted by every jihadist who believes he has accomplished some great thing by murdering defenseless pedestrians, cyclists and school children.

America was in a recession when this demon arrived on our shores, invited here by the politically correct crowd who dreamed up this diversity visa program, invited even though we needed no more workers, no more criminals, no more welfare recipients invited only because the Left wants more of his kind here. The Left wants more non-Christians, more non-Europeans, more others to continue to dilute the Judeo-Christian Western tradition that inspired our Founding Fathers to work so hard and sacrifice so much to give their descendants a land of limited government and limitless opportunity.

It is in fact the Lefts conscious goal to diminish our heritage, to stamp out the great beacon of liberty that our Founders left for us; they are happy to squander it all.

What was the crime of these students, these joggers, these innocent victims, that they should deserve such a sudden and violent attack by a foreign villain?

They were innocent. Those who died in Manhattan this Hallowen, and those who were injured, were just committing the sin of being free Americans, living their lives in New York City, hurting nobody.

And the jihadists cannot abide such freedom, such happiness, such joy. A myriad of mullahs and imams have taught their acolytes that such people must die, that in fact seeking out and killing such innocent victims is their surest path to paradise.

So, yes, this Uzbek immigrant is guilty; he committed this vicious, barbaric crime of his own volition; but he is not alone in his guilt. His teachers, the imams and mullahs who spread the homicidal philosophy of jihad across the globe, share in his guilt. He is a soldier in the field who received his orders from his commanders; ISIS announced just the day before that their followers should take advantage of our Halloween celebrations to commit their monstrous crimes. Hes no lone wolf; he was just following orders from others who share in his guilt.

And too, we must not forget the suicidal crew who invited him here in the first place. Who are the people who watch Islamofascist attacks every day, all over the world, and still open the doors to welcome ever more to our shores? Who are the progressives, in congress, in the judiciary, at the State department, and in the media and academia too, who have insisted on rolling out a red carpet to the most dangerous people from the most un-American parts of the world, through the generous provision of diversity visas? Only the Left. Only the nihilistic, self-destructive crowd of the modern Left could sink so low.

As it turns out, the modern Left does indeed believe in the death penalty. They dole out death sentences day and night, through abortion and euthanasia, through denial of health care and the flooding of neighborhoods with known killers and drug dealers, through conscious destruction of a once great nation by inviting planeload after planeload of refugees, Trojan horses every one, conveying terrorists among the refugees to our beautiful, vulnerable country.

What was the crime committed by these students, these cyclists and joggers? They committed no crime, none at all, but the Left meted out a death penalty to them nonetheless, by consciously importing the many representatives of a death cult into our country, a death cult that has committed itself to our utter destruction and subjugation. The Left knows, but still they open the floodgates, still they wave ever more enemies in.

There is much we can do, much that we need to focus on in America, to put our nation back on the straight and narrow path. We need tax cuts, spending cuts, criminal justice reform, obamacare repeal there is so much to do

But no other issue is as important as ending this horrific onslaught on the people of our great country. For America to survive, its people must survive, and that means ending the flood of death sentences that the worldview of the modern Left has unleashed upon our nation.

America was founded in support of the inalienable rights identified in the Enlightenment  life, and liberty, and the ownership of property and the free pursuit of happiness.

The culture of death, long championed by the islamofascists, and more subtly sponsored by the American Left, must be made to relinquish its death-grip on our culture and our institutions, or the death we will soon be mourning wont be individuals, but our entire nation.

Copyright 2017 John F. Di Leo

John F. Di Leo is a Chicagoland based writer, international trade trainer, and actor. His columns are regularly found in Illinois Review.

Permission is hereby granted to forward freely, provided it is uncut and the IR URL and byline are included.
Five banking giants have thrown their weight behind Money Mail's campaign to return stolen money to fraud victims.

Industry representatives have asked the Government to free up 130million of frozen criminal funds.

Last week, we called for a change in the law so that this cash  sitting in bank accounts doing nothing  could be returned to fraudsters' victims.

Many have lost their life savings because banks do not automatically refund customers who have been tricked into handing over cash or personal details to con artists.

Banking industry representatives have asked the Government to free up 130 million of frozen criminal funds to help victims of fraud

Barclays, TSB, Santander, HSBC and Nationwide Building Society have all backed our bid to use the 130million to compensate fraud victims.

One big bank said that, in some cases, it might even be possible to get the cash back to its original owner.

The rest could go to setting up a compensation fund for other victims.

But two banks bailed out by the taxpayer in the financial crisis  Lloyds and NatWest  are refusing to commit to giving the money to victims.

Lloyds believes the stolen money should go to a general pot of cash for banks to use to fight fraud, and not necessarily returned to customers.

Brian Dilley, the bank's group director of fraud and financial crime prevention, says: 'We support the Mail's campaign, and any effort that helps unlock money for the benefit of customers is welcomed.

'It's crucial that any funds are focused on solutions that have a lasting effect on reducing this fraud. A fund that would only compensate a finite number of victims for a finite period of time would need consideration.'

RSB-NatWest says it is 'supportive of all measures that help our customers who might have been a victim of fraud'  but would not commit to giving the money to those out of pocket.

New figures due out in the next few weeks are expected to reveal how many people have been hit by so-called bank transfer fraud.

Many of those denied refunds have been targeted by cold-callers who masquerade as their bank, the police or a utility company, or received scam emails.

In each case, the unwitting victim is persuaded to make a bank transfer payment, usually using online banking, or hand over vital details. The crook then disappears with their money before it can be traced.

Banks do not cover these losses because the customer is deemed to be at fault.

Many fraud victims have lost their life savings because banks do not automatically refund customers who have been tricked into handing over cash or personal details to con artists

Jim Winters, managing director of fraud at Barclays, says: 'Crooks are using ever more sophisticated tactics to trick people into handing over bank details, or to pay money to a fraudster when they believe they are paying their builder or solicitor.

We're proud to back the Money Mail campaign to help victims get their money back more quickly.'

Elaine Ross, head of fraud at TSB, says: 'We are really supportive of Money Mail's campaign to allow frozen funds to be shared out among fraud victims left out of pocket.

'Our number one priority is protecting our customers' money, and fraud is a battle being fought on many fronts. Changing the law will really help.'

Reza Attar-Zadeh, Santander's head of customer experience, says: 'We would be interested in working alongside the rest of the industry and policymakers to review how the estimated 130 million could be used to support and compensate victims.'

However, he warned that Santander would 'want to ensure that any scheme does not lead to complacency among both consumers and providers in tackling prevention of fraud'.

Paul Wood, UK HSBC head of fraud risk, says: 'We welcome Money Mail's campaign to change the law to make it easier for banks to trace and return money stolen though fraud.'

And Nationwide says: 'Tackling frozen funds through a law change would help free blocked, unclaimed accounts and make the process of returning money to victims easier. Where that is not possible, other beneficiaries could be sought.'

These customers, such as Deborah Farnham, 61, say even a small compensation payout would change their lives.

Deborah lost 9,700 in March this year after criminals hacked into her email account and posed as a car dealership's salesman.

Deborah Farnham lost 9,700 in March this year after criminals hacked into her email account and posed as a car dealership's salesman

The tour guide, from Kendal, Cumbria, had already been emailing a Honda dealership about buying a second-hand car.

So when an email arrived notifying her that the bank details to pay the money into had changed, she wasn't suspicious.

Deborah paid at her local NatWest bank branch and was sent a confirmation email that all was well. But when she phoned the Honda branch, she was told no money had been received.

By the time Deborah contacted NatWest, the money had gone.

NatWest won't refund the money because the bank hasn't done anything wrong.

Deborah says: 'If my house had been burgled and 10,000 worth of belongings had been taken, I'd be insured, but there's no protection when you're a victim of fraud.

'I've had to borrow the whole amount from my sister because I couldn't do without a car where I live. If the banks are sitting on a pile of money they could use to compensate people, then why not? I could pay my sister back.'

A NatWest spokesman says: 'We do everything we can to minimise the impact of fraud by tracing money. On this occasion, we were unable to recover any of it.'

Ben Wallace, security minister for the Home Office, says the Government is in discussions with banks about ways of getting stolen money back to victims.

He says: 'We will not stand by and allow criminals to profit from crimes at the expense of victims.

'Getting stolen money back requires a collaborative and innovative response, which is why we launched the Joint Fraud Taskforce  which sees the Government, law enforcement and industry working together.'
FCA workers are said to be nervous about moving to Stratford

Workers at the Financial Conduct Authority are nervous about their move from Canary Wharf to Stratford next year.

An employee survey says staff at the City regulator have expressed 'significant concerns' over Stratford's safety, particularly over 'knife crime and gangs'.

FCA bosses have now agreed to provide taxis home for anyone working later than 9pm to quell their jitters.

Goldman Sachs boss Lloyd Blankfein, 63, recently announced on Twitter that he was looking forward to spending more time in Frankfurt, a thinly-veiled threat to relocate London staff after Brexit.

Will bearded Lloyds's graceful wife Laura be keen to swap bustling London for boring Frankfurt when they visit Europe?

She was in her element when I spotted her dining at Mayfair's packed-to-the-rafters Arts Club on Monday night.

Marks & Spencer's branch on Paris's Champs-Elysees finally closed yesterday, after the retailer's pragmatic boss Steve Rowe, 50, deemed it a wasteful extravagance.

The store was a vanity project of Rowe's predecessor Marc Bolland, 58, who opened it to great fanfare in 2011.

Posing for the media while clasped to sultry undercrackers model, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, 30, the refined bachelor resembled a crazed Bond villain parading his reluctant arm candy.

Christopher Bailey's departure from Burberry prompts speculation that his boss Marco Gobbetti has already lined up Celine's eflin-like creative director Phoebe Philo, 44, as his replacement.

The pair worked hand-in-glove together at LVMH until sweet-talking Marco, 57, jumped ship and replaced Bailey as Burberry chief executive in July. A nest of vipers the fashion industry, isn't it?

Bloomberg's new 1billion offices overlooking St Paul's Cathedral are equipped with high-tech vaccum lavatories similar to the ones used on aeroplanes, which the ecologically-aware company boasts will save 25m litres of water a year.

All cisterns go!
I have taken early retirement and received a lump sum of 60,000, which I want to invest for an income to supplement my pension.

I havent invested before and I dont want to take much risk.

What is my best strategy?

P. B., Doncaster, Yorkshire.

One reader has received a lump sum of 60,000, which they want to invest for an income to supplement their pension

Given you are investing a large sum of money, I would strongly urge you to seek professional advice  especially as you say you have never invested before.

You can find a list of local advisers through Unbiased or by calling 0800 023 6868. Before you agree on which one to use, make sure you find out how much they charge, as fees can vary greatly.

If you do go it alone, there are certain things you need to consider.

For most people, the best place to start is with a stocks and shares Isa, which allows you to invest up to 20,000 a year tax-free.

There are lots of different Isa providers, but choose one that suits what you want to invest in.

Get help sorting your pension Pension freedom has delivered a lot more choice for people retiring today, but also some tough choices. Should you buy an old-fashioned annuity, keep your pension invested in drawdown, or take lump sums of cash? How do you balance investing to deliver the income you need with making sure your pot doesn't run out? Good financial advice is essential when trying to work these things out, but finding it can be tricky. This is Money has teamed up with Timber to offer readers easy access to carefully selected financial advisers who you can trust, with fair and affordable charges. > Find out if Timber could help you

As a cautious investor, you should be looking to invest in funds, as they spread your money over a number of different companies or bonds.

Dont put your eggs in one basket by picking individual shares.

Choose an Isa provider that lets you buy and sell funds cheaply. Charles Stanley Direct doesnt charge you for trading funds, but there is an annual fee of 0.25 per cent of your pot  50 on a 20,000 investment.

iWeb charges you 25 to open an Isa and 5 every time you want to trade funds, although there is no annual fee.

To fill your Isa, select a diverse range of investments. Sophie Kennedy, of adviser EQ Investors, says you should go for a mix of funds that will pay you an income.

She recommends spreading roughly 40 per cent of your cash between J O Hambro UK Equity Income and Newton Global Income for shares, which have turned 10,000 into 18,410 and 18,500 in five years respectively.

Roughly 45 per cent of your money could go into bond funds, she says. She tips Rathbone Ethical Bond and Twentyfour Dynamic Bond, which have turned 10,000 into 13,330 and 13,965 in five years.

Mrs Kennedy says you should consider putting 10 per cent in a property fund, such as F&C UK Property, which has turned 10,000 into 12,810 in five years.

For the final 5 per cent, consider investing in gold, according to Jason Hollands, of broker Bestinvest.

However, these are just suggestions, and it pays to conduct your own research on funds.
I am a recently retired GP, after 49 years of practising medicine.

My wife retired from teaching languages after four months and has been on maternity leave for 41 years, bringing up me and our three children!

I am now 72 and she is 64. We both receive the full basic state pension.

I also receive 35 per week state second pension, as I worked part time for the tribunal service, while she receives 20 per week state second pension.

If I keeled over, what would she receive in state pension?

Dr R. M., by email

Pension diagnosis: A retired GP asks whether his wife can inherit his state pension

Such a simple question on the surface. Yet, where the state pension is concerned, nothing is ever simple.

This gives me an opportunity to highlight the huge changes that have taken place to widows' benefits.

I took your question to Malcolm McLean, senior consultant with actuaries Barnett Waddingham. He says both yours and your wife's date of births are key to your pension benefits.

Women who started receiving their state pension on or before April 5, 2016 fall under the old regime.

If their husband dies before them, they will receive an increase in their basic state pension up to the level of his basic state pension  plus at least 50 per cent of any additional state pension paid to him such as the state second pension (S2P) or Serps.

In the case of S2P, which ran from 2002 to 2016, the proportion is exactly 50 per cent.

However for Serps  which provided state pension top-ups from 1978 to 2002  the amount depends on the man's date of birth.

The key birth dates are as follows: October 5, 1937, or before  100 per cent; October 6, 1937, to October 5, 1941  90 per cent; October 6, 1941, to October 5, 1943  70 per cent; October 6, 1943, to October 5, 1945  60 per cent; October 6, 1945, and after  50 per cent.

If you only built up S2P, your wife would get 50 per cent of this. However, if you built up some Serps, your wife would get 60 per cent of this as you were born in February 1945.

All of this applies only to women who hit state pension age before April 6, 2016. You confirmed that your wife's state pension started a week before the rules changed, so she is entitled to widow's benefits.

Those who come under the new system generally have to rely solely on their own National Insurance record.

Anyone who is unsure where they stand should get in touch with the Pensions Service via gov.uk or on 0800 731 7898.

There is a limit on the amount of additional state pension any one individual can receive.

That limit is 167.26p a week and embraces both SERPS and S2P whether derived from their own record of earnings or inherited after the death of a partner.

YOU HAVE YOUR SAY This is a fantastic campaign, Money Mail. My uncle lost 50,000 in a phone scam. If people could get some of their money back it would be good. K. L., London Fraud victims should always be compensated by the banks. Yes, people need to take some share of the blame, but banks are the ones opening accounts for fraudsters and letting victims transfer money to dodgy accounts. S. B., via email A lot of these scams could be prevented if the banks acted faster. If they spent more money on their fraud controls I doubt there would be anywhere near as much fraud as there is today. P. S., Margate, Kent While I am glad to see steps are being taken to compensate fraud victims, we need to make sure people are educated so they are not tricked in the first place. J. N., Cambridge I think this is a great idea, but I do wonder whether or not it could be open to abuse. We could see a lot of people 'losing' money to friends so they can claim some cash from this fund. S. B., Leicester People should take responsibility for their own mistakes. I read about people giving their PIN numbers over the phone and I always think: 'Would you have given the same person your front door keys?' T. Y., Dartford, Kent It's good to see Money Mail campaigning to hand this money to victims. I hope the Government sees sense and lets it happen. K. L., Liverpool I have had enough of reading comments from people who look down on fraud victims as if they should have known better. Not all of these scams are as obvious as the classic 'Nigerian Prince' ruse; some of them are incredibly believable and would catch out a lot of people. S. G., London

Why are we struggling with Barclays?

I am treasurer of our local parish, a voluntary position held since 1996. Like many churches we are registered as a charity.

We had three other signatories on our account who have moved away. We informed our bank, Barclays, each time. It seems no notifications were registered. We have pleaded with them to remove these signatories.

On May 3 we received mandate change documentation which we handed over to our local bank with the assurance that nothing could go wrong. We have heard nothing since.

V. C., East Sussex

Barclays says it received notification that you wished to remove three signatories in December 2014.

However it needed a mandate change to be completed and signed by the chairperson and two councillors.

Barclays said it informed you of this, but when it didn't hear anything after 60 days the case was terminated. The next mandate change was received in May this year, but again, not all of the councillors signed the necessary forms.

Barclays feels it has done all it can to support you and to resolve this issue  but I don't agree. You hand-delivered the documents to your local branch, so why on earth didn't somebody go through them and make sure they were correctly filled in?

A member of Barclays support team has now been in touch with you and will help you to sort this issue out.

STRAIGHT TO THE POINT I ordered a 32GB memory card online for 16.99 from Amazon Marketplace, but it didn't arrive. I've written to the seller but had no response. Can you get through to them? G. W., Billericay The seller, UK Mobile Accessories, had been trying to contact you but for some reason you didn't see the messages. You've now been refunded. *** My partner has vascular dementia. Do people with this or Alzheimer's get a council tax discount? If so, how do I claim? L. D, Sunderland If your partner is deemed to be severely mentally impaired, he will no longer have to pay council tax. You need to contact your council to apply for something called a 'disregard'. A GP or specialist will have to sign documents confirming your partner's condition. If he is eligible, the council will act as if you live in the house on your own. You will then be offered a 25 per cent single person's discount. It's worth having a full benefits check from Citizens Advice Bureau or Age UK to make sure you're receiving everything you're entitled to. *** I am trying to register a complaint with easyJet. I've sent two letters to the address on the website but have not even received an acknowledgement. ? D. H., Hereford Easyjet has apologised for the delay in getting back to you. The address you used is for its head office, and due to the amount of correspondence it receives your letter was missed. Customers can call 0330 365 5000 or go to easyjet.com to fill in a form. *** I recently came across 500 French Francs when clearing out my late father's possessions. Can we exchange them for euros and, if so, how? D.F., London The official deadline for exchanging francs for euros with the French central bank was February 17, 2012. However, services such as leftovercurrency.com (0800 030 6855) will still do this. The amount offered varies depending on the note. You may get 5.37 for five 100 notes featuring Pierre Corneille. Rare notes with unique serial numbers may be worth more. Visit bnta.net (British Numismatic Trade Association).

Scottish Power chasing readings I can't give

About seven years ago Scottish Power installed a new smart gas meter. I began to receive email requests for meter readings.

I explained the meter was in a small understairs cupboard and that I suffer from macular degeneration, which makes it difficult for me to see.

Attempts to get the meter read are driving me to distraction. A number of appointments have been made and not met. When I emailed Scottish Power and then phoned, it claimed it had no record of this.

I am at a loss to know what to do next. I would like to investigate moving to a cheaper tariff, but until I can get a meter reading this is impossible.

J. F., Wirral.

You wrote to me in August, I passed your letter to Scottish Power and even then it took weeks to sort out your problem.

You were added to the priority register due to your situation, which should have consisted of meter readings being taken by the provider every three months.

Your account has now been closed and a refund of 45.23 issued as you have moved to a new supplier.

Scottish Power has waived its cancellation fee of 60 and you are satisfied that the issue is now closed.

As you were on its priority register Scottish Power should have had some way of overriding the emails for readings to make sure that those in similar situations do not receive such requests.
Christopher Bailey is quitting Burberry after 17 years at the luxury brand.

The 46-year-old fashion designer is stepping down as chief creative officer to 'pursue new creative projects' after he was ousted from his role of chief executive earlier this year.

Bailey will leave with a payout of up to 13million made up from a mixture of salary, bonus and incentive allowances.

He will continue to receive his 1.1million salary and 440,000 cash allowance until the end of next year and will also be entitled to a bonus for the year to the end of March which could be worth up to 2.2million.

Beauty and the chief: Christopher Bailey with actress Kate Beckinsale and model Rosie Huntington-Whiteley

On top of that Bailey will receive shares under the firm's complex incentive schemes worth up to 10million. He is, however, giving up around 16million worth of shares.

He will remain in his role until March 2017 and provide support to chief executive Marco Gobbetti until the end of the year.

His departure brings to an end an era which saw the firm transformed from an old-fashioned British manufacturer best known for its trademark 'check' pattern, to a global fashion powerhouse.

Bailey was appointed in 2001 by the then-chief executive Rose Marie Bravo, who was tasked with reinventing the brand image of the classic brand, which was popular among so-called 'chavs'.

When she left in 2006, Bravo named Angela Ahrendts, who Bailey knew from his time at Donna Karan, as her successor.

Over the next eight years the pair cleaned up the business, buying back licenses and creating classic British looks that played to the firm's new brand image.

By 2011 it was generating 1.5billion in sales  a 27 per cent increase over the previous year, and had grown its market value to 5.8billion.

The fashion brand also invested heavily in digital by ramping up its social media strategy, live streaming its fashion shows, and partnering with well-known models and actors such as Emma Watson, Cara Delevingne and Jourdan Dunn to promote its clothing.

When Ahrendts left in 2014 to run Apple's retail programme, Bailey was promoted to the dual role of chief creative officer and chief executive.

The move drew criticism from shareholders due to Bailey's lack of corporate experience, and undermined his ability to focus on the product.

After falling sales and profits, the company hired ex-Celine boss Gobbetti to take the helm and Bailey was moved into a new role of president and chief creative officer.

The son of a Yorkshire carpenter, Bailey lives in London with his partner, the actor Simon Woods. They have two daughters.

Bailey said: 'Burberry encapsulates so much of what is great about Britain. As an organisation, it is creative, innovative and outward looking. It celebrates diversity and challenges received wisdoms.

It is part of the establishment, but it is always changing, and always learning. It has been a truly inspiring place to work.'

Analysts said Phoebe Philo, Celine creative director, who worked with Gobbetti while he headed up the firm, could be in the running to replace Bailey.
RBS's global restructuring group is accused of wrecking cfirms during the financial crisis

Royal Bank of Scotland bosses delayed the release of a report into a controversial business turnaround unit by objecting to its findings.

RBSs global restructuring group was meant to help small firms but instead it has been accused of wrecking companies during the financial crisis to bolster the banks balance sheet.

The Financial Conduct Authority cleared it but found systematic incompetence and widespread inappropriate treatment of customers.

The banks concerns about the report meant a summary of its contents took longer to publish, FCA boss Andrew Bailey told MPs yesterday.
BP has unveiled plans to become an electricity supplier for businesses.

The oil giant is exploring plans to sell electricity to UK commercial and industrial firms  in a potentially major push into a new sector.

It would mark a direct response to arch-rival Shell, which started supplying electricity to industrial customers in August.

BP is exploring plans to sell electricity to UK commercial and industrial firms  in a potentially major push into a new sector

Both companies look set to take on the utility giants as they try and find ways to thrive as the world shifts away from fossil fuel.

Earlier this month a BP subsidiary applied to Ofgem for a licence to supply electricity to any non-domestic premises in the UK.

A spokesman said last night: BP has been asked by a number of commercial and industrial parties to look into the feasibility of supplying electricity, which we are now doing.

BPs strategy emerged on the day it launched a share buyback amid a doubling in third-quarter profit, with oil prices staying above $60 per barrel.

But it, and other oil majors, are under pressure to adapt to a world in which oil demand is expected to peak within the next few decades, while electrification, including demand for electric cars, is expected to rise.

Chief executive Bob Dudley told an industry conference this month that BP was investing in relatively small ventures across technologies and business models that would help it hedge its bets in a rapidly evolving world.

At the same time, the business energy market has become more competitive, with smaller suppliers popping up regularly but many struggling to survive given their size.

BP made its first steps into the UKs electricity market earlier this year, taking a minority stake in Pure Planet, an energy supplier founded by the team behind Virgin Mobile, and buying electricity and gas on its behalf.
Bankers led by Lynden Scourfield wrecked family businesses between 2002 and 2007

Victims of a huge fraud were pressured into signing gagging agreements by Lloyds Bank, fuelling claims of a cover-up.

Criminal bankers led by Lynden Scourfield wrecked family businesses between 2002 and 2007, with the proceeds spent on prostitutes, holidays and luxury goods.

The crooks  who worked out of the Reading branch at HBOS, which was bought by Lloyds in 2008  were jailed for a total of 50 years in February.

But victims claim their efforts to expose the disaster were blocked at every turn, with cash payments offered to stop them speaking out.

Those offered a deal for their silence include Paul and Nikki Turner, whose music publishing company was destroyed by Scourfield. They began investigating fraud claims a decade ago.

As early as September 2007, the Turners had passed on allegations that Scourfield and others were funding sex parties with their ill-gotten gains.

However, the Turners were told on several occasions that their claims were untrue. The Turners ran into financial difficulties because of the fraud and the two lenders tried to evict them from their home on 22 separate occasions.

In 2009, MPs representing victims met Philip Grant, then chief operating officer at Lloyds corporate division, according to documents seen by the Mail.

He told the MPs that none of their constituents had a legitimate claim for compensation and there was no evidence the bankers had destroyed companies that were not already going under.

However, he offered to pay 65,000 to the Turners business as a gesture of goodwill  as long as they agreed to a confidentiality clause which would prevent them speaking out in future.

The Turners refused. In response, Grant wrote to the family to say the bank would take steps to take their house away. There is no suggestion that Grant, who still works for Lloyds, did anything wrong.

It was reported yesterday that the bank also gagged TV star Noel Edmonds former business partner Paul Pascoe. Edmonds claims their firm, Unique, was deliberately destroyed by Mark Dobson, one of the Reading fraud gang, and is suing Lloyds for 300million.

Lloyds has pledged to compensate victims of Scourfields gang.

A spokesman said the allegations would be addressed during the legal process, and that 60 per cent of victims had been offered payouts, adding: The group is determined to get to the bottom of what went on, and a thorough investigation is being conducted.
The University of Illinois Student Government boycotted this past weekends homecoming parade to protest the inclusion of the Chief Illiniwek mascot and take a stand against cultural appropriation.

The ISG also praised a protest of the parade, boasting that "we forced the parade to be rerouted and Chancellor Jones' car attempted to push back a blockade of students before the Chancellor exited the parade without comment.

More HERE
A damning report suggests the majority of people don't trust the independent schemes set up to settle disputes with companies.

Customers can appeal to one of 14 different ombudsman schemes if they are unhappy with how a firm has dealt with their complaint.

But not all the ombudsmen have the power to force companies to comply with their decisions.

Customers can appeal to one of 14 different ombudsman schemes if they are unhappy with how a firm has dealt with their complaint

The MoneySavingExpert report found that 60 per cent of customers believe ombudsmen are biased against them.

It also asked 1,400 people to rate the service they received.

Among the worst-scoring schemes were the Pensions Ombudsman, which 80 per cent of users rated 'poor' and Ombudsman Services: Property, which 79 per cent felt was 'poor'.

A group of MPs are to begin an inquiry into the subject today.

l.milner@dailymail.co.uk
Today, This is Money and Money Mail lay bare the Government's shameful betrayal of savers who are desperate to boost their state pensions.

We can reveal that the taxman is unfairly pocketing thousands of pounds from people approaching state pension age.

The investigation follows This is Money revealing how a couple had paid HMRC and the DWP 7,000 to increase their pension, only to find out they would get no extra payment in retirement. After This is Money stepped in, the couple were refunded.

Trap: The taxman is unfairly pocketing thousands of pounds from people approaching state pension age

Savers in their 50s and 60s have handed over the money under the impression that it will boost their weekly state pension payouts. They have been told they have gaps in their National Insurance records and are due less than the full payout in retirement.

It is supposed to be possible to top-up your pension under a scheme, run by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC), which lets you fill in any gaps in your National Insurance record.

But after making their payments, savers were told they wouldn't qualify for any extra pension.

This is typically because they have become entangled in a web of rules governing top-ups to the new and the old state pensions.

Those affected say they received baffling advice from government officials throughout the process. They insist they acted in good faith. Yet when they have asked for a refund, the taxman has refused, saying it has already cashed their cheques.

Victims accuse the government of profiting from innocent mistakes and say the loss will leave them living on a pittance in old age.

HAVE YOU BEEN REFUSED A STATE PENSION TOP-UP REFUND? If HMRC has turned down your refund request, get in touch with tanya.jefferies@thisismoney.co.uk

Former Pensions Minister Steve Webb, now director of insurer Royal London, has said the taxman is treating customers asking for refunds as if they're 'pulling a fast one'.

HMRC 'ACTING LIKE SPIVS' AMID PENSION CONFUSION

To get to the bottom of the muddle, we must first consider the changes made in April 2016.

The new state pension pays up to 159.55 a week  but you need 35 years of full National Insurance contributions under the new regime to get the full amount. If you have paid less, you will get a smaller pension.

The old state pension paid 122.30 a week if you had 30 years of NI contributions  again, fewer contributions meant a smaller pension. This was boosted by earnings-based top-ups known variously as Serps or State Second Pensions.

But many people  including teachers, nurses and those in company-sponsored pensions  did not pay into this top-up for all of their career, so they could end up well short of the 159.55 offered by the new state pension.

Since April 2016, everyone has contributed to the new pension. This could be because you are still working (and, therefore, pay NI from your earnings); through NI credits while you're on maternity leave or benefits; or because you're a man beyond the state pension age for women, when you'll receive automatic credits.

But the amount you receive at retirement is still based on your entitlement under both the old and new schemes. You are given the better of the two.

Now, many savers are receiving pension forecasts which show they are on course to receive less than 159.55 a week. (Note that to get the full amount under the new scheme, you typically need to have paid the old earnings-based top-ups for most of your working life.)

Naturally, they want to boost their state pensions, especially if they believe they have an incomplete NI record. And this is where the trouble starts.

It is possible to plug gaps from the past six years (sometimes ten) and boost your state pension with a scheme known as Class 3 voluntary National Insurance  but it works only in very specific circumstances.

The cost will depend on how long you missed payments, but should be a maximum of 741 per year.

This could buy an additional 237-a-year income for life under the new state pension. But it can be incredibly hard to work out whether you qualify.

The key date is April 2016. If you have 30 years of full NI contributions before then and the government decides you would be better off on the old system, there is no point in making extra contributions to cover past years  even if you don't have the full 159.55 a week offered by the new scheme.

They won't boost your pension because the money will be going towards the old scheme rather than the new one.

John Mullen: 'I acted in good faith and feel I have been treated with contempt'

However, if the Government works out you'd be better off with the new state pension and you don't have the full 35 years of NI contributions, it will let you plug gaps from before April 2016.

Everyone can use Class 3 NI for tax years from 2016 to 2017 onwards, but this will only increase entitlement to the new scheme, not the old.

Savers say these vital wrinkles in the rules are not being communicated to them until after their cheques have been cashed.

REFUSED REFUND FOR HONEST MISTAKE

John Mullen, 65, is a victim of the chaos. When he reached pension age on December 29 last year, he sent a cheque for nearly 3,500 to HMRC to cover gaps across seven years of NI contributions from 2006-2007 to 2013-2014.

He included a note saying he hoped this would get him the 'full' state pension. The cheque was cashed in March.

But John then realised his pension would be based on the old system  in which he already had a full NI record.

He's been battling for six months to get his money back. HMRC finally agreed after we intervened.

John, who is hard of hearing and needed help from Citizens Advice to call HMRC, accuses the Government of 'acting like spivs'. He says: 'I acted in good faith and feel I have been treated with contempt.'

Rule change: New state pension pays up to 159.55 a week  but you need 35 years of full National Insurance contributions under the new regime to get the full amount

HMRC sent him a letter in which it appears to admit it gave him misleading guidance, saying: 'We previously wrote to tell you that there was a shortfall in your National Insurance contributions record.'

But when John asked for his money back, the taxman told him 'no refund can be made'.

It explained that even though his pension would not increase, the Class 3 NI payments qualified him for 'bereavement benefits'. It did not explain what these were.

In fact, they refer to the amount your husband, wife, or civil partner would get if you died before state pension age.

The letter says: 'Regulation 52 of Social Security (Contributions) Regulations 2001 allows for a refund of contributions where payments of those contributions were made in error . . .

Ursula Tonkyn: Found dealing with DWP and HMRC staff baffling, saying 'No one seems to know what they are doing'

Although you stated in your letter that you have sufficient years for pension purposes, the payment of Class 3 contributions still makes a qualifying year towards bereavement benefits therefore, unfortunately, no refund can be made.'

John is not married and has no dependants, so bereavement benefits are worthless. He was also on the verge of claiming the state pension, upon which any benefit would have expired.

Retired French and German teacher Ursula Tonkyn, 63, paid almost 1,300 to HMRC in February 2016 to cover incomplete NI contributions over two years.

She says she was told by HMRC and DWP that she had gaps in her NI record for 2010 to 2012.

But in a letter dated October 19, 2017, DWP says she has already amassed 32 qualifying years. It turned out she was entitled to more state pension under the old system than the new one.

As the old scheme required only 30 years for the full amount, she could not boost it any further.

Ursula, who lives in Norfolk with her husband Edwin, says she found dealing with DWP and HMRC baffling. 'It's very confusing,' she says. 'No one seems to know what they are doing. How can I be expected to make a correct decision?'

HMRC has since told her it is rejecting her refund request on the basis that the extra contributions have given her bereavement benefits. But, once again, these would have lasted only until she reached state pension age  just a few months later.

Robert Buchanan, 56, a retired civil servant from Musselburgh in East Lothian, Scotland, paid 654 to HMRC after checking his NI record on a government website and seeing that he had only 34 of the 35 years of NI payments he thought he needed.

However, the missing year was 2011  which meant that any voluntary NI payment would have gone towards the old state pension, not the new one.

They made no difference to his payout as he already had the 30 years required for the full amount of old state pension.

'I called the government helpline and was told by the adviser that I had little hope of getting my money back,' he says. 'I feel like I've been duped  it's a hardship I simply can't afford on my limited budget.'

John and Jan Airey, 59 and 58, from Cumbria, lost more than 7,000 because they mistakenly thought they could boost their payouts by filling in their NI records from before 2016.

They feel like they were penalised for an honest mistake and cannot understand why staff did not warn them before cashing their cheques.

'It's as serious as if we had paid 7,000 for a second-hand car only to find out the dealer has run off with our money,' they told HMRC in an email.

The couple, both former IT workers who are now property landlords, went on: 'Before (and not after) cashing our cheques, HMRC should have advised us that we need to check whether paying these voluntary years backdated would increase our pension.'

Again, HMRC refused a refund on the grounds that the payment gave them bereavement entitlement.

CUSTOMERS LEFT FEELING LIKE CHEATS

Former Pensions Minister Steve Webb says: 'Dealing with a government department shouldn't leave you feeling like you would if you had handed over money to some dodgy site on the internet.

'People have worked hard for their pension savings and when they make genuine mistakes they should not be treated like they are trying to pull a fast one when they ask for their money back.'

After Money Mail and sister website This Is Money contacted HMRC, it agreed to refund all the victims quoted here.

A spokesman says: 'HMRC has refunded these taxpayers as their additional National Insurance contributions did not, in their cases, contribute to further entitlement to benefits.

'We apologise to the readers, who we let down. We should have refunded their payments when they first requested it.

'Customers who make voluntary contributions in good faith, whose payment does not create a benefit entitlement at the time of payment, will have their money refunded.'

A spokesman for DWP says: 'Voluntary contributions can help to boost your state pension but they might not be right for everyone and can be a significant financial investment.

'This is why the online Check Your State Pension service signposts anyone with gaps in their record to speak to the Future Pension Centre (0345 3000 168) to find out more about the scheme and how it could work for them, or to seek independent advice.'

For more on pensions, turn to the Ask Tony column.
MANZINI  Mzwakhe Myenis newly elected executive committee faces serious challenges in as far as financial issues are concerned.



Myeni was elected as the president of the Association of Christian Artists in Swaziland (ACASWA) last Sunday.



It has since transpired that the association is currently bankrupt. Gospel artists were informed during their Annual General Meeting (AGM) that the outgoing executive committee led by Zakhele Ginindza was at times forced to use personal finances to run some of the associations duties.



Negative



Former ACASWAs treasurer, Mbongwa Dlamini told artists that currently the association was running at a negative balance. However, Dlamini praised the outgoing committee for the commitment they have showed.

He said had they not been dedicated to their work, the association would not be where it is today.



Dlamini also presented a brief financial report which showed how they funded some of the projects the association was involved in.

One of the projects that were highlighted is the Swaziland Gospel Awards. Also highlighted on the financial report was the Uvukile Festival and the Amadodana Competition.

The outgoing treasurer noted that all these projects were a success. However, he insisted that there were no profits made.
AS a topic to give my opinion on today, I thought of the health problems in the country but I decided not to discuss it because I think enough has been said.

That the coffers of the Phalala Fund having gone dry have a devastating effect on the people of this country cannot be overstated by mentioning it every day. Those in government should be doing something already if they have the best interest of the people at heart. One thing though that I may mention is that the minister of Health must know that travelling to regional and international meetings while the ministry she is leading is not performing well will not score her high grades. She must concentrate on her ministry.

Of course I am not saying some meetings are not important but she is just too much out of the country when things are getting worse in her ministry. In the regional and international meetings that our government officials go to they even sign documents in which they commit the country to certain obligations. Coming back home those obligations signed for in the documents are not told to the people and government does nothing about those documents.

What happens next is that some people pick those documents and then ask government why it is not implementing what is in them. What follows is that those people asking those questions are labelled enemies of the State and are unpatriotic. The question that begs an answer is why do government officials commit the country to those treaties and covenants? If they do not want to be questioned on those commitments, they should just refrain from committing the country. Or we sign just to tick boxes?



One such covenant that the country committed to is the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights which came into force in the country on March 26, 2004. On April 26, 2005 the country was supposed to submit a report to the Human Rights Committee on the human rights situation in the country but up to date, there has never been a report that was submitted.

The question is why are we not submitting the report because we were not forced to commit ourselves to the covenant? Were we ticking boxes? I say so because clearly we were not committed to the covenant if we fail to submit reports in such a long time.

On July 7-10, 2017 the country appeared without the report before the Human Rights Committee. I must mention that it was a credit to our government that at least they did appear even though without the report.

That is clearly recommended and it shows some commitment even though government had to be dragged to appear. On July 25, 2017 the Human Rights Committee adopted some concluding observations about the human rights situation in the country and some recommendations were made. My concern though is what are we doing about those recommendations. The country is supposed to provide the Human Rights Committee with information on the implementation of certain recommendations within a year of the adoption of the concluding observations of the committee.

Adoption was on July 25, 2017; therefore we are expected to provide the information on or before July 25, 2018. What is worrying me is that it seems nothing is being done by our government on those recommendations other than the Sexual and Domestic Violence Bill which will cater for some of the recommendations. Will government then blame those who will submit before the committee for doing nothing about the recommendations? Who is to be blamed here, the people who refuse to tell lies that something is being done or government that decided to do nothing about the recommendations?



I know that the perennial excuse of finances will be raised as hindrance to implementing the recommendations. But I will differ because some of those recommendations just need commitment on government to implement them. An example I will give is that government was called upon to widely disseminate the covenant. A number of people who will read this article might lose interest because they are not aware of the covenant and why it should interest them. We have the national broadcasting service where government could easily disseminate information about the covenant.

I am sure expertise can be tapped from civil society organisations that can discuss and clarify the covenant. So the financial excuse will not hold. I am sure some people would even enjoy doing the translation of the concluding observation into siSwati for free. But government will not do that. In my opinion the reason is that government does not want people to know their rights because human rights are an insult to it. Therefore in my opinion government signed these covenants and international treaties just to tick boxes than being committed to what they provide. We want to be in the club as a country yet we do not subscribe to the provisions of the covenants and treaties.
MANZINI  Some children who are on HIV/AIDS medication have made it known that they had a lot of resentment towards their parents due to various reasons.



Some hold their parents responsible for infecting them with the virus while others feel betrayed for not being told that the medication, antiretroviral treatment (ART) was actually for HIV/AIDS. A majority have made it known that they were no longer willing to continue taking the medication.



Most of the children disclosed that finding out that they had to take HIV/AIDS medication for the rest of their lives was the most difficult thing to accept. They said they also wished they could die because they did not understand what they lived for.

However, they said through the Family Life Association of Swaziland (FLAS) Teen Clubs, they have realised that life had to go on and that their future was still bright despite their HIV+ status.



As they shared their experiences, the children, most of whom were infected at birth, could not hide their bitterness towards their parents, especially mothers. Some of them said they were made to take the medication without even knowing what it was for.

*Sizwe, an 11-year-old, said he was tired of taking the medication. He said there were times where he refused to take it completely. During this time, he said he would pretend to be taking the medication then disappear to spit it out.



I did this for quite a long time because I did not understand why I was the only one taking the medication in the family, said *Sizwe.

He said going to FLAS had somehow helped him cope as he now knew why he was taking the medication, something his mother failed to explain to him.
MBABANE  A man who has found himself embroiled in an alleged polyandrous marriage is now demanding E120 000 from his former wife.



Polyandry is the practice where a woman has more than one husband.

Abel Mbhamali of Ekutsimleni in Manzini, alleged that he discovered that his former wife Nokuthula Dludlu of Ludzeludze, was also married to another man. He also wants Dludlu and her family to return to him all the gifts he gave them during their marriage.

In his particulars of claim, he stated that on or about 2010, they (Mbhamali and Dludlu) purported to enter into a contract of marriage in terms of Swazi Law and Custom.



At the time of the purported marriage, the plaintiff (Dludlu) was unknown to me the lawful wife of one Ronnie Nxumalo, to whom she had been married in terms of Civil and Swazi Law and Custom, he alleged.

These are allegations contained in particulars of claim whose veracity is still to be tested in court and the defendant is yet to file her papers in the event she is opposing the claim against her.



Mbhamali alleged that at the time he married Dludlu, the marriage between her and Nxumalo was of full force and effect.

Mbhamali averred that Dludlu acted animo iniuriandi by not disclosing to him her prior marriage.

Animo iniuriandi is a Latin word for intention of stealing.



He told the court that during the existence of his marriage with Dludlu, he was obliged to do the following: pay to her family a herd of 12 cattle as lobola valued at E60 000, purchase 29 blankets to be given as gifts to Dludlus family, expended the sum of E1 500 in purchasing and slaughtering goats used on the date of their purported marriage, and expended the sum of E2 000 on transport on the day of their purported marriage. The plaintiff alleged that the said purported marriage was concluded and declared null and void by Order of Court dated October 14, 2016.
The fuel attendants brother (L) watches with other people as the police load his brothers corpse into their van. (Pic: Sibusiso Shange)

SIDWASHINI  Engen Garage employees at Sidwashini were left traumatised after one of their own lost his life in the hands of a customer.



The indecent happened at around 4pm yesterday.

Information gathered from those found at the scene was to the effect that the employee was stabbed after a short argument with the customer, who was driving a Honda Fit.



An eyewitness alleged that the fuel attendants sin was reminding the customer about the E40 he was owing to the garage after filling up his car sometime ago.

They said what made things worse was the fact that the suspect, who fled the scene after stabbing incident, was well known to the fuel attendant as they attended the same Zion church. The eyewitness said while the duo argued over the E40, the customer allegedly pulled out a knife and stabbed the unsuspecting petrol attendant in his upper body.

We saw him staggering before he fell to the ground, with blood oozing from his neck area. We suspect he died on the spot, said one of the employees.

He said the driver sped off while the other employees were not aware that their colleagues had been stabbed. The majority of the employees declined to comment, stating that they were still traumatised. We have nothing to say since we have not reported the incident to our superiors, said the employees.
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SARATOGA SPRINGS -- Skidmore College is mourning the death of Nicholas Cleves, a 2016 graduate killed in Tuesday's truck attack along a bike path in New York City.

A letter from college President Philip A. Glotzbach said Cleves was 23 years old and living in New York, working as a software engineer, analyst, and web developer.He was among the eight killed by a suspected terrorist in Lower Manhattan driving a rented truck.

At Skidmore, he was a computer science major and physics minor, and studied Italian. He also worked as an IT Help Desk assistant and astronomy tutor, Glotzback wrote.

More for you Trump and Schumer exchange volleys in wake of NYC terror attack

"Our hearts go out to Nicholas's mother, Monica Missio, who is a member of the Skidmore class of 1981, the other members of his family, and his closest friends. At moments such as these, we realize anew how powerless are our words in the face of profound grief. Even so, we reach out to offer our thoughts and prayers, along with the hope that knowing that others are also touched by this loss may provide at least some small measure of comfort," his letter states.

For anyone who needs support, the college's Counseling Services may be reached at 518-580-5555. He reminds employees that they may use the Employee Assistance Program (EAP), which may be reached at 518-793-9768.

Wilson Chapel is open from 9 to 11 p.m. today; 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday and noon to 2 p.m. and 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. Friday.

Bobby Carlton of Saratoga Springs, a former Skidmore staffer, met Cleves on his first day as a freshman and they became fast friends, working together at the Apple campus program. They'd often have lunch together, sharing laughs -- Cleves would always share his chips as well, Carlton recalled with amusement. He was always a gentleman, never rude.

When Cleves was a sophomore his father died. "He handled that with grace, to have to deal with that at such a young age," Carlton said. And he set aside his own goals after graduation to help run the family store in New York with his mother.

Carlton spoke on the phone to Cleves the very morning of the attack, about the young man's Halloween costume, Clint Eastwood from the movie, "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly." It was a pleasant talk before a stunning tragedy.

"I'll miss him," Carlton said.
DMX is set to appear in Manhattan Federal Court in February after pleading not guilty to tax fraud.

Before then, the rapper will be performing at Times Union Center on Dec. 8 as part of the Crew Love Concert Series featuring Juelz Santana, Young Buck, Jim Jones and many others.
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Production has halted on "House of Cards" in the wake of a recent accusation levied against Emmy-nominated star Kevin Spacey, Netflix and Media Rights Capital said Tuesday.

"MRC and Netflix have decided to suspend production on 'House of Cards' Season 6, until further notice, to give us time to review the current situation and to address any concerns of our cast and crew," the statement read.

"Star Trek: Discovery" actor Anthony Rapp came forward Sunday with an accusation that Spacey had made an unwanted sexual advance on him in 1986, when Rapp was just 14.

Spacey quickly responded to Rapp's allegation with an apology for his "drunken" behavior, which he said he did not recall, before using his official statement to come out as a gay man.

On Monday, Netflix and MRC announced that "House of Cards" would conclude with Season 6.

"House of Cards" debuted in 2013 and became the first original online-only streaming series to receive Emmy nominations in major categories.

 Los Angeles Times

Wendy goes down for the count on TV

How you doin', Wendy Williams?

The answer is probably not as positive as usual, as the enthusiastic talk show host suffered a scary moment during Tuesday's live broadcast.

Clad in a Statue of Liberty costume, Williams began slurring her words while introducing an audience participation segment late in the broadcast. The host then went silent and stumbled before collapsing.

The show quickly cut to commercial, and upon returning Williams was adamant that her fall had not been staged.

"That was not a stunt. I'm overheated in my costume and I did pass out. But you know what, I'm a champ, and I'm back," Williams proclaimed.

A spokesperson for "The Wendy Williams Show" told The Times Tuesday, "She is dehydrated and is on her way home to rest and sleep. She has been examined by medical professionals and finished the show in true Wendy spirit. She has never missed a day of work, and will continue all shows as planned."

Williams' Halloween show wasn't a total drag. Actor Jerry O'Connell stopped by in a costume attempting to depict multiple Kardashians at once.

 Los Angeles Times

Another journalist in the Tapper house?

Like most dads, journalist Jake Tapper is super proud of his daughter's accomplishments.

The CNN anchor posts about them on Twitter. Which is how 10-year-old Alice Paul Tapper got an op-ed published in the New York Times.

Last week, the "Lead" anchor announced to his 1.45 million Twitter followers that Alice, a Girl Scout, had come up with her very own patch: the "Raise Your Hand" patch, which has the goal of encouraging and celebrating classroom participation. The new badges had just been delivered to the Girls Scouts Nation's Capital council, and Tapper was "psyched."

Just minutes after his proud dad tweet, Bari Weiss, an editor at the Times, reached out to Tapper about Alice writing about her new badge. Tapper conferred with his daughter offline and tweeted back that Alice was in. Now the fifth-grader had her next big homework assignment  an op-ed for the New York Times.

Less than a week later, the paper published "I'm 10. And I Want Girls to Raise Their Hands," the younger Tapper's take on why girls don't raise their hands as often as boys do in class. Short answer: They're afraid of being wrong. Alice, took the issue to her troop and a new patch was eventually born.

 Washington Post

Actress weighs in on sexual assault issue

Actress Dakota Fanning has told reporters that although she hasn't experienced sexual assault, it's "important to talk about these issues, for women to stand up for themselves."

Fanning, 23, spoke Tuesday at the Rome Film Festival, where she was presenting the film "Please Stand By." She plays a young autistic woman obsessed with the Star Trek series, who runs away from her home in San Francisco to get to Los Angeles to submit her manuscript for a Star Trek script contest.

Fanning said she shares her character's determination in achieving her goal, adding: "you have to fight for what you believe in and stay true to what you are."

 Associated Press
When Raphael Xavier started break dancing 34 years ago at Conrad Middle School in Wilmington, Del., he and his buddies had to hide what they were doing. A kid in California had gotten injured practicing the form, and the highly publicized incident caused schools around the country to ban breaking on their grounds.

"Everybody thought it was a liability, so you got expelled if you were caught doing it," Xavier said in a recent interview. "We had to sneak into places in the school where you couldn't be found, where no one was in the hallways, to practice."

Despite his dedication, Xavier didn't think dancing would be his life. He considered careers as a photographer, a visual artist, an actor "all these other things that I thought I was supposed to become," he said. But after meeting hip-hop pioneer Rennie Harris in the late 1990s, he realized that breaking, art and theater could all coexist.

"When I got on stage and saw what he was doing with the dance, that changed my direction," said Xavier, who performs at the University at Albany on Tuesday evening. "All the things I had in my head came to life  art, dance, music, all of it together." Xavier played Tybalt in "Rome and Jewels"  Harris' groundbreaking hip-hop reimagining of "Romeo and Juliet"  and also performed in the company's "Cool Heat Urban Beat." And he pursued his other interests as well  doing photography shoots for the Notorious BIG and P. Diddy, and recording with his rap group, Sons of Sam. But dancing remained at the centeralong with his drive to make the moves his own.

More Information If you go Raphael Xavier When: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday Where: University at Albany Performing Arts Center, 1400 Washington Ave., Albany Tickets: $15 ($20 day of performance); students, seniors and university faculty and staff $10 ($15 day of performance) Info: 442-3995; http://www.albany.edu/pac/ See More Collapse

"I was always going against the grain  if someone told me I couldn't do something, I did it anyway," he said. "Early on, when I exhausted the 10 or 15 moves I knew, I would cut them in half and put them together with something else, and I kept doing that.

"I was always flipping it  when people expected me to dance with music, I would do it without any. If they expected it to be fast, I would do it all slow. Instead of dancing to rap, I would dance to jazz or ambient sound."

Then, in 2007, an infection between the C5 and C6 discs of his spine temporarily paralyzed him. As he recovered, he drew on all the innovation and tools at his disposal to find a way to keep moving.

"It was a major life change," he recalled. "I had to figure out how I could do this and not risk my life."

The outcome of his explorations is a somatic movement technique he called ''ground core,'' which is done almost entirely on the flooron the back, the stomach or hands and knees. It's been taught at numerous universities, offering insight and "new possibilities to take into the theater space, hip-hop or modern dance," Xavier said.

The discoveries he made during that time informed his touring work "The Unofficial Guide to Audience Watching Performance," launched in 2013, as well as "Point of Interest," which will be onstage Tuesday as part of UAlbany Performing Arts Center's In the Raw series. Featuring five dancers whose age range spans 20 years (the youngest is 27; Xavier, at 47, is the oldest), "Point of Interest" contrasts youthful and mature approaches to breaking.

"You can see the differences in how we understand the movement," Xavier said. "At one point, it's like I'm in a battle with my younger self."

Getting older, he says, reminds him in some ways of being paralyzed. He's forced to surrender to his physical limitations and to admit that some things aren't possible for him anymore.

"I used to be able to fly and now, if I push to do that, I need more time to heal," he said. "I struggle with my body not being able to do what it used to do. But, on the other side of that, it's beautiful, because I'm also pushing the boundaries and finding out what I can do. I'm figuring out a way to move consistently through performances and through the years, and hopefully making the form more accessible to older dancers."

Tresca Weinstein is a frequent contributor to the Times Union.
Albany's Central Avenue corridor is the heartbeat of the region. Everything enters here, everything emanates from here. To see how Albany and the greater Capital Region are changing, look to the shops and restaurants that bring life to the staid brick buildings that line Central Avenue and its side streets.

Caffe Italia, bedecked in a hazy Venetian blue, harkens to a time when Italian immigration swept through the Capital Region. Chester's Smokehouse, which opened in mid-2015, is a reminder of the German and Eastern European fare that was brought over by immigrants as a taste of home. For a moment, a Burmese restaurant (Shwe Mandalay, now closed) demonstrated the presence of Burmese immigrants, many coming to America and the Capital Region as refugees.

The cultural landscape of Central Avenue looks a bit different today than it did at the peak of immigration during the late 1800s and well into the 20th century. Mexican and Caribbean food is copious, with authentic Oaxacan huaraches a stone's throw from Jamaican beef patties and ''mannish water.'' Old-style Italian pizzerias are a block away from an extensive Japanese market, ramen shop and African grocery.

Within the last two years, however, many restaurants and stores have changed hands into halal-certified eateries and purveyors. Five halal restaurants and markets exist on the 200 and 300 blocks of Central Avenue, with additional offshoots on North Manning Boulevard and Ontario Street.

According to Zabihah.com, which hails itself as, "the original and world's largest guide to halal restaurants and markets," there are 40 halal restaurants, 13 halal markets, and 25 halal caterers in the immediate Capital Region, not including halal offerings found at traditional chain grocery stores like Whole Foods and Price Rite in Schenectady.

Why halal?

Halal is an Arabic term for "permissible" and denotes acceptable means of food preparation for followers of Islam. (It is akin to kosher, with its religious tones and strict regulations.) Most people who are familiar with halal guidelines know it for its application to meat, which requires that an animal be humanely raised and slaughtered practices.

Certain species  notably swine but also animals that are carnivorous and have fangs and claws (like tigers)  cannot be slaughtered and consumed under halal guidelines, but halal extends beyond this. Plants used as food must also be grown and processed in mindful, clean ways; the harvest, storage, preparation and packaging of food must be done with sanitation and cleanliness as a top priority.

Muslim population growth

The surge in halal food can be attributed to the rise of the Muslim population in America. The Pew Research Center counts 3.35 million Muslims in the U.S. While Muslims have long been part of life in America, an increase in immigration to the U.S. occurred in the late 1970s and into the 1980s.

Currently, 58 percent of U.S. Muslims are first-generation Americans. While Muslims only account for 1 percent of the total U.S. population, 3 percent of New York state's population is Muslim. City-Data.com reports that 4,567 Muslims lived in Albany County in 2010, up from 659 in 2000.

Sohaib Chekima, principal of Annur Islamic School in Schenectady, said Muslims are moving from New York City to Albany for a better quality of life and finds that "Albany is the hub," because of the existing community here and access to public transport. With increased socioeconomic mobility, many Muslims are moving to suburban areas like Latham and Clifton Park.

Not all Muslims follow a halal lifestyle, though. Fazana Saleem-Ismail, chair of the community outreach committee for Capital Region Coalition Against Islamophobia, says, "There are many interpretations of what it means to 'keep halal.' Some believe that if you eat meat prepared by people 'of the book' [Christians or Jews], that's OK. Others only eat food that is labeled 'halal' or 'kosher.' Still others only eat 'halal'-labeled food. Some Muslims do not keep halal at all.''

Chekima agrees with the "of the book" slaughter and preparation of meat, but notes that because of increased cost to raise (better food, more room to roam), slaughter (increased human interaction) and certify the livestock and subsequent meat, the price of the meat is automatically more expensive. "Halal meat is not out of reach for those considered low-income. It's not a luxury, but it's not something they can have all the time," he says, and notes that while halal-certified fast food is increasing (he notes Elevation Burger, with a location in Latham), "if money is a factor, it just depends on how strict they are."

Uzma Popal doesn't think money should prevent people from eating halal. As director of the Muslim Soup Kitchen Project, she serves only halal-certified food to anyone who comes through her program for a meal. The Muslim Soup Kitchen Project recently donated a freezer to Unity House in Troy  a partner in the soup kitchen project  to store halal meat, which can be prepared by and served to anyone.

"Halal and charity go hand-in-hand. There are many ways to give charity," she says, and while halal-certified food (which includes packaged foods as well) is more expensive, there are halal markets that assist in meeting needs. Lower-cost halal meat can be found at Restaurant Depot in Albany.

Halal food as its own cuisine

Many commonly refer to Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisine as "halal food," but that is a bit of a misnomer. Part of the problem comes from the use of the word "halal" as part of naming conventions. Street food carts in New York City have become predominantly halal-focused in recent decades (a study from Queens College says the trend began in 1990) and many of them included the word "halal" in their business names. The Halal Guys were the most visible among that grouping, with bright yellow awnings and shirts that boldly included the word "halal." The cuisine was primarily composed of rice, marinated meat kebabs, and chopped salad with thick white dressing. It became the touchstone of what halal food tasted like.

But other cuisines are also classified as halal. Chekima notes halal taco stands he encountered in Florida, and locally, restaurants like Minar in Troy (Indian cuisine) and Slavonian European Cafe in Albany (Eastern European cuisine) are also halal-focused. Zaitoon Kitchen, in Latham, is halal-focused, and relies on the owner's Afghan heritage to dictate the menu (when visiting the restaurant's website, it has three adjectives describing its food: "Cage-free, veggie-fed, halal," and also includes a halal certification seal on its menu page). Still, Halal Palace in Troy and the Halal Shack, located on the University at Albany campus, concentrate on the standards of those New York City street food carts.

"By definition, when you say Indian or Pakistani, it's because the people serving the food are from those areas, but halal should never mean anything but the religious guidelines," says Chekima.

The halal-certified category has grown by more than one-third since 2010, with sales of halal food topping $20 billion in 2016, according to a report from Bloomberg. The report states that Whole Foods has witnessed double-digit growth percentages since 2011.

Those numbers aren't supported by Muslims alone. Since halal food  especially meat  follows the same practices as humanely raised or harvested and organic meat, many concerned eaters seek out halal certification in their food decisions.

The future of halal

The Pew Research Center predicts that the Muslim population will grow more than twice as fast as the general world population through 2060, likely surpassing Christians as the largest religious group by population, to total 3 billion Muslims. Those figures will be mirrored in the U.S., leading more restaurants and markets to offer halal options in order to capitalize on the market.

Jamal Rasoully, owner of the Halal Shack and Spin Sauce (a company based in the Capital Region that makes halal-certified condiments, including the white sauce popular at halal food carts) says that it's all about opportunity, and more Muslims will seize the chance to serve their community.

"I think as the population grows, the demand increases and, as we discussed, more individuals are better equipped to meet the demands," he says.

"A number of community members looking in business and being aggressive in this opportunity. Business is in the tradition of the Prophet. He was a businessman, and a large number of his followers had their own businesses. Religion encourages independence and making one's own income," says Chekima.

Popal says that visitors to her soup kitchen meals tell her that halal food tends to taste better, and she believes it's a result of how the food is prepared and the demand on quality necessary to meet halal standards. As more people explore halal-certified foods, the trend will likely flourish and spread to the outer reaches of the Capital Region.

Until then, Central Avenue shows no sign of losing its halal culture, though there is always a seat at the table for the next cuisine to come

Deanna Fox is a freelance food and agriculture journalist. www.foxonfood.com @DeannaNFox
Friday

Don Byron has made a name for himself as a jazz clarinetist. Byron, who plays clarinet, bass clarinet and saxophone, received a Grammy nomination for his 2004 album, "Ivey-Divey." He's known for his penchant for musical exploration; he's played everything from classical compositions and hip-hop to klezmer, pop and Latin dance grooves. A 2009 finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in music, Byron has won the Samuel Barber Rome Prize for Musical Composition. Byron, who spent time as a visiting professor at the University at Albany, brings his quartet to town this week to close the A Place for Jazz Concert Series. 7:30 p.m. Friday. $10-$20; free for children under 12. Whisperdome, Unitarian Universalist Society of Schenectady, 1221 Wendell Ave., Schenectady. 518-393-4011; http://www.aplaceforjazz.org/concertsched.htm#5

Saturday

John Primer knows the blues  personally. The two-time Grammy-nominated blues guitarist was the bandleader for Muddy Waters, Willie Dixon and Magic Slim & The Teardrops. He has played and recorded with a list of blues and rock greats, including Junior Wells, Johnny Winter, the Rolling Stones and Buddy Guy, among others. Primer, a recent inductee in the Chicago Blues Hall of Fame, released his latest record, "Ain't Nothing You Can Do," in April. He brings his Real Deal Blues Band to town this week.

6 p.m. Saturday. $15-$150. The Upper Room, 59 N. Pearl St., Albany. 518-694-3100; http://theupperroomalbany.com

Thursday

For his solo "My Paradoxical Knives," Iranian artist Ali Moini straps himself into a costume that creates a sort of cage or harness around him  a cage made of knives. As he spins round and round, the knives slice through the air. It's a striking image that serves to concretize Moini's exploration of the barriers between cultures, and between audience and performer. The 2009 piece  which he performs for the first time in the U.S. on Thursday, Nov. 9, at EMPAC  also draws inspiration from ancient Persian culture, including the poetry of Rumi and the movement of the Sufi whirling dervishes. Based in Paris, Moini will be in residence at the EMPAC to develop a new piece, "Intentions." 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 9. EMPAC, 110 8th St., Troy. Free; space is limited. http://empac.rpi.edu

Friday

The oldest-known surviving film by an African-American filmmaker will be set to music this week, courtesy of noted jazz drummer William Hooker. Hooker, whose work has been featured on more than 60 albums, will lay down a beat to "Within Our Gates," a 1920 silent film by director Oscar Micheaux. The film focuses on a black teacher and the hardships she faces on her journey north to raise funds for her school. Micheaux graphically depicts racial injustice and violence in the film, which contains an uplifting message of racial pride and self-respect. Hooker's latest album is "Aria (The Italian Project)," a tribute to Italian folk music. Noon and 6:30 p.m. Friday. Free. Bulmer Telecommunications Center Auditorium, Hudson Valley Community College, 80 Vandenburgh Ave., Troy. 518-629-4822; http://www.hvcc.edu/culture/events.html

Saturday

Old Dominion is a country music throwback  the band members sing, write their own songs, and play their own instruments. Following in the tradition of 1980s acts like Alabama, Old Dominion does it all  and has been very successful. The group has three No. 1 country songs, their debut album went gold, and the Academy of Country Music named them new vocal group/duo of the year. The band won Country Music Association nominations for vocal group of the year and new artist of the year, and they've got a new single, "Written in the Sand," that's cracked the top 30 on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart. 8 p.m. Saturday. $29.50-$39.50. Palace Theatre, 19 Clinton Ave., Albany. 518-465-3335; http://www.palacealbany.com
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107
The U.S. military has launched a homicide investigation into the death of a Special Forces soldier in Mali and whether members of the Navy SEALs had a role in his killing.

Staff Sgt. Logan Melgar died June 4 in Mali's capital, Bamako, where he was deployed as a member of the Army's 3rd Special Forces Group. A spokesman for Army Special Operations Command, Lt. Col. Robert Bockholt, said Melgar's death is under investigation, but he declined to release additional details.

The cause is listed as homicide, two U.S. military officials familiar with the case told The Washington Post on Sunday. A third official with knowledge of the investigation confirmed it centers on two Navy SEALs.

Melgar's death was first reported by The New York Times, which said a Naval Criminal Investigative Service investigation centers on two members of SEAL Team 6 and that a medical examiner's determination that Melgar died by strangulation.

No criminal charges have been filed, the Times reported.

SEAL Team 6 is among the military's most elite commando units responsible for conducting highly sensitive clandestine missions throughout the world, including the 2011 raid into Pakistan that resulted in the death of Osama bin Laden.

A spokesman with U.S. Special Operations Command declined to comment on Melgar's case.

Christopher Grey, a spokesman for the Army's Criminal Investigative Division told The Post that its agents responded to Melgar's death and turned over its findings to NCIS.

Ed Buice, a spokesman for NCIS, confirmed its role in the probe, saying the agency took over in late September. He declined to address how Melgar died, saying NCIS does not discuss the details of ongoing investigations.
ALBANY  It had been 69 years since the first-ever women's rights convention in Seneca Falls, 45 years since Susan B. Anthony was arrested for voting, 41 years since New York women petitioned their all-male state legislature for the right to vote, and two years since a majority of men in the state voted against it.

Nevertheless, they persisted. And in 1917, after countless speeches, petitions, editorials, campaigns and parades, New York's women secured the right to vote.

"They did it," came a voice from a crowd of women who gathered in Albany Wednesday for a sneak preview of the State Museum's soon-to-open exhibit celebrating the centennial of women's suffrage in New York.

She was staring up at a "Victory in 1917" banner, framed alongside other merchandise that was sold in the years preceding the 1917 referendum. The "7" in "1917" had been mended, stitched overtop a "5" that had been sewn two years earlier.

"They did," responded a docent who, like the other women in attendance that morning, observed the artifacts around her with a mixture of curiosity and reverence.

The long-awaited exhibit, "Votes for Women: Celebrating New York's Suffrage Centennial," opens Saturday to the public and remains on display at the State Museum in Albany through May 13, 2018.

With the help of more than 250 artifacts and images from the State Museum and on loan from the State Archives, State Library, cultural institutions and private lenders, the exhibit tells the story of women's hard-fought battle for the ballot from a state considered the birthplace of the women's rights movement and credited for propelling a nationwide suffrage victory three years later.

"'If New York wins in 1917 the backbone of the opposition will be largely bent if not broken,' predicted organizing genius Carrie Chapman Catt a century ago, and she was right," said Dare Thompson, President of the League of Women Voters of New York State. "The suffrage win here was a huge shot in the arm to the whole national effort, and suffrage for all American women followed faster than even she expected."

Visitors to the exhibit over the next six months will learn how Johnstown's Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Rochester's Susan B. Anthony and Cicero's Matilda Joslyn Gage helped lead the fight for suffrage at both the state and national level.

They'll see the desk from which Stanton wrote newspaper articles and convention addresses, the alligator purse that carried Anthony's speaking notes and pamphlets, and the trunk that Anthony transported on her numerous campaigns around the state.

An assortment of pins, ribbons, banners and campaign posters serve as a tangible reminder of the work that went into changing public sentiment on the matter, and the mended "Victory in 1917" banner is one of many artifacts that demonstrate perseverance in the face of defeat.

"After that long journey, yes, we enjoy the right to vote," said Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul, chair of the New York Women's Suffrage Commission. "It was hard fought for, and I so admire the incredible stories ... but winning the right to vote did not mean equality at all."

Indeed, the exhibit touches on slightly more recent battles, including Margaret Sanger's early 20th century efforts to give women access to birth control, the 1970s campaign for an Equal Rights Amendment and New York Congresswoman Bella Abzug's 1974 legislation giving women the right to open their own credit cards.

The exhibit culminates with displays future generations will undoubtedly associate with the unrest of 2017  pink "pussy hats" and "Love Trumps Hate" signage  artifacts left behind from Jan. 21, 2017, when hundreds of thousands of women marched around New York and the world to protest what they viewed as a retreat from the hard-won rights of the past.

"One would like to think that 100 years after being able to select our leaders at the ballot box that we would enjoy far more rights and status in society and in our culture than we do today," said Hochul, who was joined at the preview by other women in government, including state Education Commissioner MaryEllen Elia, Board of Regents Chancellor Betty Rosa, state Assemblywoman Pat Fahy and Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan.

The exhibit, she continued, should serve as inspiration to current generations of the work that remains to be done.

Women make up 51 percent of the population but less than 20 percent of Congress and just 27 percent of the New York State Legislature. Nationwide, women make just 78 cents for every dollar earned by men. In most states, women are are not guaranteed paid family leave and are forced to make difficult decisions between their work and family life. And women remain far more likely than men to face domestic violence and sexual assault.

"That, to me, is where the next 100 years lie," Hochul said. "One-hundred years from now when people look back and honor the bicentennial, I want them to look at 2017 and say, yes, they were passed the torch. Not only did they accept that responsibility, they allowed that flame to grow even higher for the betterment of women's lives. That is what's on our shoulders today."
ALBANY  A week before voters head to the polls, likely general election voters are strongly against holding a constitutional convention, according to a new poll.

A Siena College survey released Wednesday shows that 57 percent of likely voters statewide say they will vote no on the convention question, while 25 percent say they'll vote yes. Eighteen percent say they don't know how they'll vote.

This is the first time Siena has polled likely voters, a narrower sample than registered voters, though recent polling of registered voters showed that New Yorkers were becoming increasingly split on the convention question.

Majorities of Democrats (53 percent), Republicans (66 percent) and independents (54 percent) say they will give a thumbs-down to holding a convention. Sixty-three percent of likely upstate voters say they are against holding a convention.

SNY1017 Crosstabs by Matthew Hamilton on Scribd

Sixty percent of the likely voters statewide say a convention would be an expensive waste of time, compared to 29 percent who say it's a once-in-a-generation opportunity to bring the state Constitution into the 21st Century.

The question of whether or not a convention should be held appears automatically on the November ballot every 20 years; voters have shot it down repeatedly. The last state constitutional convention was approved by voters in 1965 after the Legislature put it on the ballot that year. The resulting convention's proposals were rejected by voters two years later.

Siena College pollster Steven Greenberg noted that historically, local general elections bring lower turnout than elections when the White House or statewide offices are in play. If those who turn out on Election Day look like Siena's likely voter sample, the poll seems to spell trouble for the chances a convention will be approved.

"Since the last poll, there's been a month of campaigning, and I've seen a lot of negative campaigning," he said. "Haven't seen a whole lot of positive campaigning for the con-con, and I think that's reflected here."

While the vote on whether to hold a convention is Tuesday, the process could play out over a couple of years. If a convention process is triggered, delegates would be elected in November 2018. A convention would be held in 2019, with any amendments approved by delegates appearing on the general election ballot for final voter approval that year.

Only 19 percent of likely voters polled say they've heard nothing about a convention, a decidedly lower number than the 49 percent of registered voters who said just last month that they had heard nothing about a convention.

Supporters of a convention have billed it as a way to bring systemic change to state government that wouldn't otherwise be approved by state lawmakers, who have their own process of putting constitutional amendments before the voters. Opponents have cited fears about those who might seek to assert influence over the convention process to potentially strip constitutional rights that currently exist.

Still, likely voters are supportive of some amendment ideas, the poll shows. Eighty-four percent support subjecting legislators to term limits, and 79 percent support subjecting statewide officials, such as the governor, to term limits. Sixty-five percent support banning outside employment for lawmakers, who technically are considered part-time under current law.

However, 57 percent oppose limiting collective bargaining rights of public employees, and 55 percent oppose revising Adirondack protection policies to increase economic development. By a narrower 50-46 percent margin, likely voters oppose legalizing recreational marijuana.

A majority of likely voters (82 percent) support Proposal 2 on the ballot, which would allow judges to revoke or limit the pensions of public officials, including legislators, who are convicted of a felony related to their office. A plurality of likely voters (46 percent) support Proposal 3, which would create a land bank to allow for certain develompent in the Adirondacks and Catskills.

Siena polled 814 likely voters. The margin of error is plus or minus 3.4 percent.

mhamilton@timesunion.com  518-454-5449  @matt_hamilton10
CLERMONT  State Police investigators raided a Columbia County home Wednesday and allegedly found heroin, marijuana plants, several illegal weapons and more than 10 pounds of marijuana packaged for sale. Six relatives were arrested.

The State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation and Columbia County District Attorney's Office launched the investigation on Wednesday after a series of crimes were allegedly committed at a 3 Cedar Hill Rd. home in Clermont. Investigators obtained a warrant to search the home Thursday.
BRUNSWICK  A 48-year-old man allegedly upset that his apple pie was taking too long to be served is accused of breaking a McDonald's display case, State Police said Tuesday.

A trooper responded to the Hoosick Street fast-food restaurant on Friday to investigate a report of an upset customer.
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WASHINGTON  The on-again, off-again relationship of President Donald Trump and Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer was definitely off Wednesday when the president launched a Twitter attack on Schumer the day after the terrorist attack in New York City.

"The terrorist came into our country through what is called the 'Diversity Visa Lottery Program,' a Chuck Schumer beauty," Trump tweeted early Wednesday.

Schumer was quick to counterattack.

Trump took aim at Schumer even before the Department of Homeland Security confirmed that the suspect in the New York City terror attack, Sayfullo Saipov, entered the U.S. in 2010 from Uzbekistan under the State Departments Diversity Visa Lottery. Saipov, who was shot by a New York City police officer in the attack in lower Manhattan, is in a hospital and accused of driving a rented van down a crowded bike lane. Eight died and 11 were wounded.

The lottery grants admittance to individuals from parts of the world not widely represented in the U.S. legal immigration pool. In recent years, many of the immigrants have been from Africa.

Ironically, it was aimed at helping immigrants from Ireland when Congress approved in 1990 with bipartisan support - including co-sponsorship by then Schumer when he was a congressman from Brooklyn. President George H.W. Bush signed it into law.

In blasting Schumer, Trump set aside his apparent sense of kinship with New Yorks senior senator - the evident product of shared backgrounds in New Yorks outer boroughs.

In September, Schumer, Trump and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi did end runs around Republicans on Capitol Hill in crafting agreements on youthful "Dreamer" immigrants as well as raising the debt ceiling and funding the government.

More for you Skidmore mourns graduate killed in New York attack

On Wednesday, Trump appeared eager to pick up the beat of conservative tweeters and talking heads who singled out Schumer for blame as a co-author of the diversity-lottery bill.
A Brooklyn man and a New York City teenager were arrested for passing fake checks, State Police said Wednesday.

Armani Robinson, 21, and a 17-year-old are students at Fulton Montgomery Community College. The investigation began after a fellow student reported that his bank at account at NBT Bank was scammed.

Police said the two suspects had convinced the victim to let them deposit checks in his account but used counterfeit checks. They then used his bank card to take money out of the account. Robinson allegedly took the money out at the NBT bank in the town of Johnstown and the 17-year-old allegedly did the same thing at the NBT branch in the city of Johnstown.

Both were charged with felony criminal possession of a forged instrument, arraigned in Johnstown town court and send to Fulton County jail on $5,000 bail, pending future court dates.
Tributes have been paid to road crash victim Michael Harty who died after the car he was traveling in collided with a tree on Monday.

Mr Harty, with an address of William Street, Nenagh, was involved in a single vehicle collision in the early hours of Monday morning after the car he was travelling in collided with a tree at Carraig Hill, Woodcock Hill off the old Limerick to Cratloe Road.

Emergency services rushed to the scene where they administered CPR however the young man was pronounced dead at the scene while a female passenger was taken to University Hospital Limerick with serious head injuries.

Tributes have since flown in for the young man, aged in his 20s, including messages from his family and friends.

R.I.P to my cuzin Michael Harty God only take the best good dies young really is a mortal sin

Rest in peace michael harty may god give u the best bed in heaven its a cruel world

Mr Harty is survived by his loving parents William and Julie, his heartbroken brothers and sisters Willie, Darren, Danny, Ann Marie, Jimmy, Gerry, Brigie, Julie, Ned and Tony, grandparents, aunts and uncles, nephews and nieces, relatives, neighbours and friends.

Reposing at Ryan's Funeral Home, Nenagh on Wednesday, November 1, from 5pm with removal at 7pm to arrive to St. Mary's of the Rosary Church, Nenagh at 7.30pm. Requiem Mass on Thursday at 12 noon followed by burial in Lisboney New Cemetery.
Sunday 29 October Mid Tipp walkers had 20 walkers out. Both groups enjoyed the beautiful views of the autumnal colours on the hills.

Ollie Walsh led the A walk starting near the Nire Valley Glamping amenity. Ollie led 8 walkers on a very enjoyable new walk - the Glenastockaun valley beside the stream up to the source at Coumtae, where they had lunch with views of the sea in the distance. From there across to Coumfea and along the plateau before a long descent and walk back to the start. Weather was nice, but a very cold wind on top. Fast pace and beautiful walking beside the stream. Good day enjoyed by all.

Denise Laffan led 10 out on the C walk starting near Barravakeen. They hiked up along Long Hill where they had fab views of The Punchbowl and Glinary. Met a lovely group at the ruins of the farmhouse where lunch was enjoyed. One of their group misheard our name and thought we were called the "Mississippi Walkers". It gave us all a good laugh. The group completed a lovely circuit and returned to cars after enjoying a fab day out.

Autumn is a beautiful season to be out and about walking so this coming Sunday (5 November), A and B walks leave from opposite the fire station in Cashel at 11am. There is also a Ramble leaving Slievenamon road carpark Thurles at 10am.

New walkers are welcome to come along, so, for a healthy, sociable and enjoyable activity, feel free to join us in Thurles at 10am or Cashel at 11am. Just bring boots, suitable clothes and a packed lunch. A change of clothes and particularly footwear for after the walk is also strongly advised.

The full programme of walks is now on our website at www.midtipphillwalkers.ie

Further information, visit the website, Facebook or call Dan Condren at 087 2273082.
The quality of water in the Thurles area has dramatically improved in recent years, and the town is ready to handle any new industry seeking to locate here, heard Councillors at the October meeting of Thurles Templemore Municipal District.

Director of Services Matt Shortt said that while Thurles and Roscrea were listed in a recent report stating they had failed to meet EU standards of water quality, this does not relate to the treatment plant in Thurles, but to surface storm water which emerges on exceptional occasions.

The report on October 24 showed that in Co. Tipperary, Mullinahone, Roscrea, and Thurles are regarded as areas where improvements are required to resolve environmental priorities.

Thurles was also cited as an example of a Large Urban Area where the collection and treatment of urban waste water did not meet European Union standards.

Cllr Michael Smith said a series of reports all show that investment is needed in those sites.

Cllr Jim Ryan said he had raised this issue for years. There is raw sewerage being pumped in (to the river Suir). Its not good enough. Something will have to be done. Im glad now the pressure is on.

Its not the County Councils responsibility, its Irish Waters, he said.

Cllr Seamus Hanafin said he did not want the message to go out that raw sewerage is going out all day, every week.

Cllr David Doran said there has been concern locally since the news broke. Thurles is not meeting standards. Thats not good enough. We have a responsibility for that.

Mr Shortt said he didnt want investors or business to think that a large planning application couldnt be dealt with.

The report does not relate to the capacity of the treatment plant. The report relates to surface storm water. We can handle extra planning applications.

Cllr John Hogan said another report, from 1999, showed that water quality has greatly increased since then. It has improved dramatically. Its important it be put into perspective.

There is still some work to get storm water under control, but the message shouldnt go out that the quality of water in the Thurles area is deteriorating. The opposite is happening, said Mr Shortt.

Cllr Jim Ryan said he was still not happy that sewerage is going into the river, and that is happening.
[November 01, 2017] California Legislators Make Cybersecurity Education a Top Priority

SACRAMENTO, Calif., Nov. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- No matter how you count, there's a major shortage of cybersecurity workers in California. There are some 40,000 unfilled positions across the state, and that number is growing every day. California's higher education system is poised to meet that need through its 114 community colleges, 23 CSU campuses and 10 UC campuses. With so many players involved, communication and collaboration are key to making meaningful progress. Those conversations are already happening throughout the state and recently received the support of the California State Assembly. The California Cyberhub, along with key players from education, industry and government, were brought together by the State Assembly Joint Oversight Committee for a hearing titled "Cybersecurity Education and the Needs of the Workforce." (Video) The hearing included representatives from the University of California, California State University, California Community Colleges, California Cyberhub and National University, as well as industry partners like Cisco Systems and CompTIA. Committee chairs Jose Medina and Jacqui Irwin called upon those stakeholders to work together to ensure that California's students have the opportunity to pursue degrees that will prepare them for cybersecurity jobs. Creating a pathway A great demand exists for cybersecurity professionals in both the public and private sectors. The public sector is especially challenged because salaries can't compete with private employers, as the committee heard from Amy Tong, California's chief technology officer, and Mike Petit, chief information officer for Ventura County. One way to combat that is to make students interested in cybersecurity earlier, which is already happening in several key ways across the state. "We are creating a recruitment pipeline that starts in K-12 and continues through community college and CSU," Tong said. "We want to help students see themselves as public servants." The cybersecurity education pathway may also include ertifications provided through CompTIA, one of the world's leading technology associations. James Stanger, CompTIA's chief technology evangelist, told the committee that including certifications as part of the cybersecurity pathway ensures that students earn marketable skills in addition to an academic degree.



"Here's how we can upskill the workforce and here's an opportunity to meet demand," Stanger said. "Certifications help students apply what they learn. It is all about pragmatic, practical applications of information technology." A robust cybersecurity curriculum will include elements of business and technology to ensure that students are able to understand and meet the needs of their future employers.

"Cybersecurity is not just a technical problem, it's very much a business problem and our workforce needs to be trained accordingly," Petit said. California Cyberhub: A collaborative approach Collaboration around cybersecurity education is also happening is through the California Cyberhub, a collaboration of public education and industry that is compiling a central library of resources and encouraging support for cybersecurity competitions around the state. The Cyberhub brings together partners from K-12 education, higher education, government organizations and the cybersecurity industry to provide opportunities for middle and high school students to become interested in cybersecurity at an early age and begin a pathway that leads to a college degree. Cyberhub Community Manager Donna Woods said that the earlier students become interested in cybersecurity, the more likely they are to stick with it. "The Cyberhub offers an opportunity for everyone work together on creating the best learning experience for our students," Woods said. "We are trying to create a better path for our students moving forward." The Cyberhub concept was introduced at the California Cyber Innovation Challenge held at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo over the summer. Bill Britton, the school's CIO and vice president of information technology, said he looks forward to continuing the discussions started at that event. "The Cyberhub is one example of a solution to this program. Now we need others," Britton said. "There are so many things that need to get accomplished and a lot of good work going on across the board." While the assembly hearing was taking place, across the street, the State of Cybersecurity Education Summit was underway which brought many of those same education, industry and government leaders together for a discussion on how to shape a cybersecurity curriculum pathway that extends from middle and high school to a college degree. "The technology community is one community," Tong said. "You do not need to have the title of a public servant to help protect the public's assets." Looking forward The Joint Oversight Committee encouraged those conversations to continue, both in the area of middle and high school outreach and in the area of college transfer credit articulation. There are currently about 27,000 students who are enrolled in cybersecurity-related classes at California community colleges, but there are far fewer opportunities for them to turn those classes into the degrees employers want to see. Moving forward, leaders from California Community Colleges, CSUs and UCs will work together to map that pathway for college students across the state. "We were able to help the committee discover the bottleneck that we have," said Steve Wright, Information Communication Technology sector navigator in the community college Doing What Matters program. "We received clear instructions from the committee chairs to work together and continue these conversations moving forward." For more information about the California Cyberhub, visit ca-cyberhub.org. Contact: Scott Young

Interim Director, California Cyberhub

310-613-4534

[email protected] View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/california-legislators-make-cybersecurity-education-a-top-priority-300547289.html SOURCE California Cyberhub

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[November 01, 2017] Inspur Attends Belt and Road: Hong Kong Returned to China 20th Anniversary - Technology Business Forum

SEATTLE, Nov. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- On October 30th, the Belt and Road: Hong Kong Returned to China 20th Anniversary - Technology Business Forum, hosted by Hong Kong - Greater China Business Association of Washington, was held at Microsoft in Redmond, Seattle. Over 70 representatives from the Hong Kong government, associations, and enterprises attended the forum. Ada Grant, VP of Inspur USA and VP of Inspur Worldwide Services, was invited to deliver a keynote speech. At the forum, Ada introduced Inspur's development in the U.S. and Hong Kong, shared Inspur Chairman and CEO Peter Sun's international development strategy of "bringing in" and "going global", and demonstrated Inspur's efforts in promoting growth of "Belt and Road". At the same time, Ada briefed the audience on formation of the "B&R" Digital Economy Strategic Alliance in Jinan, initiated by Inspur along with four of the top IT enterprises: Cisco, IBM, Ericsson, Diebold Nixdorf, and hree globally renowned financial institutions: China Development Bank, Export-Import Bank of China and China Export & Credit Insurance Corporation. Ada noted that Inspur's involvement in "Belt and Road" strategy will not be limited to export of products and technologies. Inspur will help many countries, international technicians and officials. Due to outreach and international influence, Inspur will achieve the connection of information flow and data flow.



In the panel discussion, Ada engaged in discussion on recent hot topics with Chris Lo, Director of Hong Kong Trade Development Council, Jiang Zhihao, Director of Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office San Francisco, Lawrence Tang, Head of Investment Promotion InvestHK - Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office San Francisco, Donny Kwan, Vice President OR of Uinnova, Hong Lu, General Manager of Clobotics, and Rick Xu, Head of China Strategy of SAP Concur. Ada elaborated on the construction of the digital Silk Road: First, realize the interconnection of information infrastructure; meanwhile, promote concept exportation; share the Chinese solutions of informatization, collaborate with countries along the Belt and Road, and further form the global solutions. The audience readily supported her statements. Through this forum, Inspur will continue to enhance collaboration with the Hong Kong government, associations, and enterprises. With their advantage in software and information systems, Inspur can realize the interconnection of data, build information channels, and boost the efficiency of the hard investments in traditional infrastructure construction.

View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/inspur-attends-belt-and-road-hong-kong-returned-to-china-20th-anniversary---technology-business-forum-300547301.html SOURCE Inspur Group Co., Ltd.

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[November 01, 2017] Lockheed Martin Awarded $158.5 Million Upgrade Contract for Germany P-3C Orion Aircraft

OWEGO, N.Y., Nov. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) received a $158.5 million contract for the second phase of the German Navy P-3C Mission System Refresh program. The program will upgrade the mission system processing suites on the fleet of eight P-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft to support operations through 2035. The Mission System Refresh is part of an overall fleet upgrade that includes structural mid-life upgrades as well as an upgrade to the Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) cockpit capability. The Germany P-3C Orion Mission System Refresh Program will include the design, development, manufacture, integration, installation and test of the Lockheed Martin Airborne Tactical Mission System. The majority of the hardware and software design, manufacture and upgrades will be performed at Lockheed Martin sitesin Owego, New York, Manassas, Virginia and Marietta, Georgia.



"The P-3 Orion has been the world standard in maritime surveillance for over 50 years. Lockheed Martin is dedicated to providing solutions and critical needs that our U.S. Navy and international customers rely on to carry out these critical missions," said Mike McGuire, Lockheed Martin Rotary and Mission Systems Germany P-3 program manager. "The Mission System Refresh provides critical surveillance capabilities, reduces hardware footprint and supports continued future system sustainment." The Airborne Tactical Mission System is an Open Architecture JAVA-based system that provides state-of-the-art software programs as well as core mission system processing, display and control components. By leveraging Commercial-Off-The-Shelf (COTS) components, future obsolescence costs are reduced thereby supporting the long-term system sustainability for the customer. In addition to the Airborne Tactical Mission System, the Mission System Refresh will include a new acoustic processing system called the Airborne Rack-Mounted Commercial Portable Processor (AR-C2P) that will provide long-term sustainability in the P-3 aircraft.

The Germany P-3 Orion Mission System Refresh Program began in 2016 when the U.S. Navy awarded Lockheed Martin an initial Foreign Military Sales (FMS) contract for $54.9 million for design and development work through Preliminary Design. This current contract award of $158.5 million takes the program from Preliminary Design Review through program completion in 2022. The eight aircraft operated by the German Navy were procured in early 2006 from the Royal Netherlands Navy. The P-3 boasts a number of international customers; a number of whom envision operating their aircraft though 2040. For more information about the P-3 Orion, visit our webpage: http://lockheedmartin.com/us/products/p3.html About Lockheed Martin Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Lockheed Martin is a global security and aerospace company that employs approximately 97,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/lockheed-martin-awarded-1585-million-upgrade-contract-for-germany-p-3c-orion-aircraft-300546872.html SOURCE Lockheed Martin

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[October 31, 2017]

Claromentis Release New Drag & Drop and Design Applications in Latest Major Software Update

BRIGHTON, England, Oct. 31, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Leading digital workplace provider Claromentis have released the latest major version of their software, Claromentis 8.2, which includes groundbreaking new functionality for a highly customisable system.

Claromentis 8.2 includes the fully featured Pages and Design applications, which provide users with a complete suite of tools to build their own personalised digital workplace.

Pages Application

8.2 sees the complete launch of Pages, a comprehensive drag and drop application that allows users to build multiple intranet pages and team sites. The release of Pages sees Claromentis move closer towards their ethos of "customisation over configuration", giving users total control of their digital workplace.

Pages comes ready with over 35 intranet components that users can customise to suit their business goals, from increased collaboration to targeted content distribution.

Design Application

Claromentis launch the new and improved Design application in 8.2, which provides an all-inclusive toolkit for creating bespoke intranet esigns in a few clicks. The Design application comes with hundreds of colour and styling options, including customisable colour palettes, the ability to upload favicons, logos and backgrounds, and user-created CSS.







The Design application allows users to create multiple intranet themes, perfect for companies who have several brand identities or global offices. In combination with the Pages application, the Design application provides companies with a powerful tool for building multiple bespoke intranet solutions for their teams within the same integrated digital workplace.

Further information

To learn more about Claromentis 8.2, request a free private tour today.

Press contact

For further information, visit www.claromentis.com or contact [email protected].

About Claromentis

Founded in 1998 with headquarters in the UK, Claromentis have over 18 years of intranet and digital workplace experience under their belts. With over 600,000 users worldwide, Claromentis provide integrated digital workplace software to global customers of all scopes and sizes, such as Virgin Care, NHS, Central Bank of The Bahamas, Serious Fun Children's Network, and Tomy.

Related Links

Claromentis website

View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/claromentis-release-new-drag--drop-and-design-applications-in-latest-major-software-update-300546911.html

SOURCE Claromentis
[October 31, 2017] New GP Instant Call service launches in Singapore, making a consultation with a doctor as simple as browsing the web

SINGAPORE, Nov. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Today RingMD, a Singapore based technology company founded in 2014, announces its new instant call service to the Singapore market. This service will allow anyone in Singapore to pay a small fee to instantly consult with a Singapore doctor, via a video call from their mobile phone, laptop, or any web-enabled device. RingMD already operates a successful business in Singapore, offering an online directory for patients to easily discover medical doctors or mental health practitioners (therapists, counsellors, psychologists), to then consult with at their clinic or online via RingMD. On launching this new service, RingMD CEO Justin Fulcher said, "We know from our experience overseas that a good proportion of in-person General Practitioner (GP) visits can occur online through high-quality video call. According to the 2014 Ministry of Health Primary Care survey, 31,800 patients with acute conditions that are likely to be self-limiting (coughs, colds, sore throats, etc.) visit private GP clinics on a daily basis. That is over 9 million per year. In many cases, time off to rest and recover is the best medicine and all the patient requires is a Medical Certificate (MC) to sign them off work, wich can be provided over RingMD. The objective of our instant call feature is to target these acute conditions. This option of virtual care is important because patients currently have to travel to a clinic and sit in a waiting room surrounded by other sick people before they can consult with a doctor. We believe that technology can increase the convenience of receiving healthcare without affecting the quality of care, the safety of the patient, or the security of their personal data. It's time for patients to gain more control over their healthcare delivery."



According to Fulcher, services like RingMD are not designed to replace the current healthcare system; they are designed to augment it by making healthcare more accessible for the patient. Furthermore, not all conditions are suitable for an online consultation. In those cases, the doctors on RingMD are trained to refer the patient for a face to face visit. More information on common conditions that can be serviced can be found on the RingMD website. RingMD was founded on the belief that everyone on the planet should have access to both quality and affordable healthcare. To date, the company has focused on making this a reality in emerging and critically underserved markets: forging partnerships with governments and large healthcare providers to improve access to healthcare for as many people as possible.

According to Angus Chudleigh, VP of Sales at RingMD, "the decision to focus our efforts on the Singapore consumer market was a no brainer. Singapore is a developed market with excellent internet connectivity and a very high proportion of smartphone ownership. It is also a nation where a large percentage of primary care services are paid out of pocket by the consumer. Most of these consumers value their time highly and want more convenience from all the services they consume, including healthcare. With this in mind, allowing them to consult with a GP from their desk or sofa is just common sense. When you pair this consumer situation with a forward-thinking health ministry that embraces how technology can improve the lives of Singaporeans you get an excellent environment to operate in. We are very excited to bring online GP consultations to Singapore." Contact Information: Public: For any information regarding this feature please visit the RingMD website or contact RingMD directly using the email address [email protected] SOURCE RingMD

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[November 01, 2017] IoTNext 2017 Themed 'Pilots to Scale' Will Debate and Discuss the Next Wave of IoT Innovation & Deployments

BANGALORE, November 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Industry veterans, practitioners, startups and ecosystem enablers come together for India's premier IoT event to take a deep dive on industry verticals, analytics, AI and address challenges of IoT security India Electronics and Semiconductor Association (IESA), along with The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE, Bangalore), will host the third edition of premier IoT event, IoTNext in the city. The Global Summit will focus on the opportunities and challenges from practitioners' viewpoint, learning from the pilots and challenges moving forward. IoTNext will deep dive into market verticals and horizontal enabling technologies while exploring fresh thinking, breakthroughs and leapfrogging that India could do moving forward. The two day summit will be held on November 8th and 9th, 2017 at Park Plaza, Bengaluru. In the last two years, IoTNext has grown both in quality and number of participants and has turned out to be a 'Must Attend' event by IoT practitioners and enthusiasts, making it the top IoT event in India. IoTNext 2015 focused on the emerging possibilities of Digital Transformation with Internet of Things (IoT). IoTNext 2016 focused on the realities on the ground, the ongoing pilots, going beyond just connected devices and highlighting the edge node security concerns in partnership with the CISO platform. Beyond the Hype: Pilots to Scale is the theme for this year's Summit, which will have focused sessions on IoT Analytics & AI; Transportation, E-mobility & Logistic; IoT Security and Industrial IoT followed by IoTNext awards and HACKFEST session. Prominent speakers of IoTNext 2017 include: - Dr. Gulshan Rai, National Cyber Security, PMO - Akhilur Rahman, CTO, ABB India - DileepMangsuli , CTO, GE Healthcare - Dr. Philip Polstra, Author, Linux Forensics - Dr. Aloknath De, CTO, Samsung India - Atul Arya, Head Energy Systems, Panasonic - Mahesh Babu, CEO, Mahindra Electric - Ramesh Kesanupalli, Co-Founder, FIDO Alliance and Founder - NokNok Labs Inc. Contextual data based on ambient knowledge is transforming and optimizing all facets of life, be it self-driving car, self-optimizing supply chain or a completely automated factory. The focus for this year's summit would be to highlight the impact of data analytics and AI on physical world IoT data, involving both cloud and edge analytics. IoT and cybersecurity threats are growing exponentially globally. The security task force of IoTForum has a new and fresh aproach to IoT security, which will be introduced at IoTNext 2017.



India's creaky logistics ecosystem which has been fueled recently by e-commerce has made rapid technology enablement to match the demand and supply to improve efficiency and several well funded IoT startups have emerged. E-mobility is chartering an aggressive course in many countries with India now on a national mission to go all electric vehicles by 2030. While consumers, IoT has been the buzz topic for quite some time, the Industrial segment of IOT is starting to make a larger impact recently. Several industries are being transformed with IoT, business models are changing from capex to opex and Product-as-a-Service (PaaS) is the new business model today rather than just an equipment sale. Speaking on the occasion, Dr Sandeep Garg, Interim President, IESA, said, "We do not see IoT as a disruption. It is rather an evolution towards higher productivity, efficiency and quality. We see the plethora of opportunities that it presents. The Indian government has had a vison to make India a digitally enabled nation, for which it is imperative for every individual, organization and industry body to have a complete shift in their mind sets and look beyond. Embracing IOT related digital transformation is a must now for any organization's improvement and more so for their own future existence."

"IoT will be one of the most important tools to make India a digitally empowered nation. Having the second largest startup base and the highest rate of youth population, India certainly holds a strong position to leverage this wave and come up with innovative ways to become stronger as a nation. Further, with the support of the growing IoT ecosystem, the destination of making India the 'IoT Nation' is not that far," said Ravi Gururaj, President, TiE-Bangalore. The IoTNext awards, jointly organised by IESA and TiE Bangalore, is a competition recognizing and celebrating the most promising IoT startups in India. All India-based local and global startups along with companies that do product development in India and have a direct/formal presence in India are eligible to participate. This year, the session will have four major nomination categories including; Safe Nation, AI/ML in IoT, New Age Mobility and Industrial IoT. For further information on IoTNEXT 2016, please visit here. About IESA (India Electronics and Semiconductor Association) IESA is the premier trade body representing the Indian Electronics System Design and Manufacturing (ESDM) industry and has represented it since 2005. It has over 260 members - both domestic and multi-national enterprises. IESA is committed towards building global awareness for the Indian ESDM industry and supporting its growth through focused initiatives in developing the ecosystem. This is achieved through publishing credible data, networking events and alliances with other international associations. IESA works closely with the Governments as a knowledge partner on the sector, both at the centre and at the state level. To learn more, please visit http://www.iesaonline.org Follow us on Twitter @IESA_Online Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iesaorg About TiE Bangalore TiE is a non-profit, global community welcoming entrepreneurs from all over the world. We believe in the power of ideas to change the face of entrepreneurship and growing business through our five pillars; mentoring, networking, education, incubating and funding. TiE Bangalore was the first step towards TiE's presence in the country. Started in 1999, the sole mission of the chapter has been to make Bangalore the "StartUp Capital" of the country. TiE Bangalore has over 50+ Investors & VCs, 50+ mentors and 1000+ active startups in its network and each year impacts 100+ startups directly through its flagship mentoring and educational programs. For more details, visit http://bangalore.tie.org/. IoTForum of TiE has been active evangelizing the IoT ecosystem. Apart from touching 3000 participants and maintaining a IoT Startup Directory of over 800+ Startups, the Forum has lead usage of an India appropriate technology like LPWAn and Agritech, and is now promoting a radically new approach to IoT Security:'FreshThinking'. For more details visit: http://IoTForIndia.org. Follow #IoTNext on Social Media: Twitter: @IoTNext (for events), @TiEBangalore (startups), @IoTforIndia (IoTForum) @IESA_online (ESDM) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IoTNext/ Twitter handle of IoT chairs: @tiwary_ar, @venkate23736375, @sompalchoudhury http://www.iotnext.org

For further information please contact:

Text100: Priya Tyagi

+91-9916745014 Anindita Sarkar

M: +91-9108458115

IESA: Suriya Kala

M:+91-9740984648



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[November 01, 2017] Docplexus Surpasses 250,000 Members, Retains Position as India's Largest Online Community of Doctors

PUNE,India, November 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Three-and-a-half-year-old healthtech player Docplexus has crossed the 250,000 members mark, firmly securing itself as the largest digital professional network of Indian allopathic practitioners. (Logo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/463727/PRNE_Docplexus_Logo.jpg ) This phenomenal growth is a result of the platform's ability to maintain the quality of its offerings while consistently adding new, innovative features. While some of the initial offerings like patient case studies, online CME courses and live interactive webinars continue to be widely accessed by physicians, some newer initiatives like 'Docplexus News', a weekly news series covering latest healthcare happenings, are also driving huge engagement. Since it first began operations, Docplexus portal has witnessed more than 40,000 clinical case discussions. Currently, over 18,000 doctors log onto the website or app every single day. Phanish Chandra, CEO & Co-founder, notes, "For a long time, doctors lacked sufficient avenues to hold meaningful dialogue with peers, consult experts on challenging patient cases, learn about latest therapies or even stay updated on healthcare policies. Docplexus has eliminated all barriers and successfully united doctors across regions and specialties on a single digital platform. Our portal is now the only thig a doctor needs to effectively meet all his knowledge needs."



Dr. Yasoda Kurra, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynecologist, corroborates, "Docplexus enables a doctor to clarify all clinical doubts in a more professional manner. All experienced doctors give their opinions and practical guidance. I have really benefitted through this platform." Docplexus' steady ascent as the Valued Digital Knowledge Partner of Indian Doctors has gained recognition from academia and industry alike. It recently won the 'Best Brand in Social Media and Digital Marketing' award from CMO ASIA, Indira Group and World Federation of Marketing Professionals & World Sustainability.

Docplexus has also emerged to be the Most Trusted Digital Marketing Partner of Pharma industry. Using its core expertise of engaging doctors via insightful content, it has developed a range of marketing solutions like webinars, and content marketing strategies for launching new products, shaping therapy areas, reviving legacy molecules and so on. So far it has acquired 25 digital marketing projects with 17 reputed pharma players including Lupin, Eli Lilly & Co., Dr. Reddy's, Cipla, Novartis, GSK, Merck, Piramal, Sanofi and Sun Pharma. Phanish observes, "We have witnessed a remarkable shift in the industry's mindset towards digital initiatives. Indian pharma marketers today fully realize the high potential of digital technology for physician outreach and engagement, and are taking concrete steps to leverage platforms like Docplexus to the fullest." About Docplexus Pune-based Docplexus, founded in 2014, is India's largest online community of doctors. The platform is available on the web and also for the mobile. Physicians use Docplexus to interact with peers and seniors. They discuss complex cases and update themselves with the latest advances in the medical field. Connect with Us: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/docplexus-online-services-pvt-ltd- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/docplexus/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/docplexus Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/DocplexusIn Sales Contact

Nikesh Dhunde

AVP Sales, Docplexus Online Services Pvt. Ltd.

[email protected]

+91-9860238881 Media Contact:

Sheetal Sathe

[email protected]

+91-9881969598

Marketing Manager

Docplexus Online Services Pvt. Ltd.





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[November 01, 2017] D-Link Helps AlarmPro Build High-Performance Network to Increase Reliability and Ensure Long-Term Efficiency for Food Processing Company

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., Nov. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- When Blue Bird Pears Inc. required a network rebuild after a fire destroyed one of the company's main facilities, the fruit processing and packaging company needed to build a new network from scratch. AlarmPro, a leading systems integrator supporting the Pacific Northwest, turned to D-Link to design and incorporate much needed upgrades to support a more robust network and handle increased traffic in time for the upcoming harvest season. The previous Blue Birds Inc. network was a patchwork of aging equipment, with unreliable performance that required hours for file transfers between local servers and off-site locations with very limited network security. Every hour of fruit packing is highly dependent on the network. If the network goes down, the entire operation stalls, resulting in lost productivity, spoilage, and a dramatic impact on revenue  often thousands of dollars per minute. "We proposed D-Link because we've always been big fans of their networking gear," said Jon Herrera, owner, AlarmPro. "It always works. You simply put it in, and it rarely  if ever  has any issues. That's really important when you're supporting a facility that needs the best and most reliable equipmen they can get at an affordable price."



To address the various network issues and enhance speed, performance and network security, AlarmPro designed a strong network with D-Link Managed Switches  including the DXS-3600 Series L2/L3 managed switches to support a wide range of L2/L3 features such as VLAN, multicasting, Quality of Service (QoS), as well as security and routing functions. The new D-Link switches enabled Blue Bird Inc. to segment and prioritize their network traffic for greater performance and security. Plus, the more robust network could now support new capabilities like wireless and network-based print services. The powerful D-Link network can also handle the large amount of photo data processed each day. For example, each cherry is photographed 60 times to analyze color, size and blemishes  a highly advanced process that speeds the sorting process. In fact, because of this automated capability, cherries that were discarded in the past can now be sold to other markets.

"Everything works beautifully, and they have had absolutely zero network-induced downtime during the cherry season  a first in company history," said Herrera. "Blue Bird Inc. also appreciates having such a fast network. Everything is 10 gigabit now, with 10-gigabit uplinks from every single switch to the core." D-Link's high-performance switches set the stage for fast and reliable network performance, and provide a future-proof solution that can accommodate increased network traffic, new capabilities and additional growth down the road. While Blue Bird Inc.'s initial automation deployment was dedicated to its cherry processing equipment, the company now plans to expand the network to include the remainder of the processing plant since Blue Bird Inc.'s operations are running more smoothly than ever  a direct result of their improved network. "We had very little time to install this network, so the D-Link team was a tremendous support," said Herrera. "They did everything from ensuring our products arrived on time  even shipping most of it overnight  to making themselves available by phone anytime we needed, and offering suggestions about the fastest and best ways to get things done. I can't say enough about how much they helped us. Without them, this project would not have been completed on time." For more information about D-Link's complete line of business solutions, visit www.dlink.com. About D-Link

D-Link is the global leader in connectivity for home, small business, mid- to large-sized enterprise environments, and service providers. An award-winning designer, developer, and manufacturer, D-Link implements and supports unified network solutions that integrate capabilities in broadband, cloud-based network management, IP Surveillance, switching and wireless. For more information visit us.dlink.com, or connect with D-Link on LinkedIn, Spiceworks and the D-Link Blog. D-Link and the D-Link logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of D-Link Corporation or its subsidiaries. All other third-party marks mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners. Copyright  2017 D-Link. All Rights Reserved. View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/d-link-helps-alarmpro-build-high-performance-network-to-increase-reliability-and-ensure-long-term-efficiency-for-food-processing-company-300546929.html SOURCE D-Link Systems, Inc.

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[November 01, 2017] Astellas, the Movember Foundation and the Toronto Maple Leafs Enter a Power Play with #pucks4prostate

Campaign supports research and awareness for prostate cancer, the most commonly diagnosed cancer among Canadian men MARKHAM, ON, Nov. 1, 2017 /CNW/ - Men, and their loved ones, across Canada just scored again with the announcement of #pucks4prostate, a social media campaign sponsored by Astellas Pharma Canada, Inc. (Astellas Pharma Canada) to raise awareness of prostate cancer. Throughout the month of November, and during a special Toronto Maple Leafs' home game against the Arizona Coyotes on November 20th, fans can help improve men's health by posting selfies using the hashtag #pucks4prostate. For every Instagram or Twitter hash-tagged selfie  (moustaches are optional), Astellas Pharma Canada will donate $5, up to a maximum of $50,000, to Movember Canada. That includes every like, tweet, retweet, and reply using the hashtag. "The Movember movement is about more than growing a moustache. It's about improving men's health all year long," said Michael Tremblay, president of Astellas Pharma Canada. "We are excited to team up with the Movember Foundation and the Toronto Maple Leafs to launch #pucks4prostate in Canada. This unique program is one small way we can make a meaningful contribution to raising awareness and donate funds to improve men's health through education, research, prevention and the early detection of prostate cancer." It is expected that two in five Canadians will develop cancer in their lifetimei. Prostate cancer is the third most common cause of cancer deaths in Canadian males accounting for 10 per cent of all male cancer deaths. When detected early, prostate cancer patients have a 98 per cent chance of survival beyond five yearsii. This figure drops to 26 per cent if detected lateiii. To help increase the odds of early detection, routine check-ups with a doctor are recommended. For more information, visit Facebook.com/pucks4prostate. "At Movember, we love all of the unique and engaging ways our community raises funds," says Ken Aucoin, Country Director, Movember Canada. "Astellas Pharma Canada's #pucks4prostate campaign is a great example of doing great things while having fun, and we're excited to see this come together as we help men live happier, healthier, longer lives." About the Movember Foundation

The Movember Foundation is the only global charity focused solely on men's health, funding over 1,200 innovative projects across 21 countries. The Foundation raises funds and awareness for men's health programs supporting these critical areas: prostate cancer, testicular cancer, mental health and suicide prevention. But our work is not done. Be the difference and go to Movember.com to donate or participate. Together we can stop men dying too young. About Astellas Pharma Canada, Inc.

Astellas Pharma Canada, Inc., headquartered in Markham, ON, is a Canadian affiliate of Tokyo-based Astellas Pharma Inc. In Canada, Astellas has an intense commercial focus on four therapeutic areas  Urology, Immunology, Infectious Disease, and Oncology. For more information about Astellas Pharma Canada, Inc., please visit www.astellas.ca. References







i http://www.cancer.ca/en/cancer-information/cancer-101/cancer-statistics-at-a-glance/?region=on ii http://www.cancer.ca/en/cancer-information/cancer-type/prostate/statistics/?region=sk iii https://ca.movember.com/mens-health/prostate-cancer

SOURCE Astellas Pharma Canada, Inc.

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[November 01, 2017] BlueVine Named Best Business Finance Provider in North America

REDWOOD CITY, Calif., Nov. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- BlueVine, the online business lending pioneer, has been named Best Business Finance Provider in North America at the 2017 Trade Finance Global Awards. The awards, given by the London-based international business finance network and information hub, cited BlueVine's "innovative credit solutions and products" and the Silicon Valley fintech company's expanding role as a provider of working capital financing to small and medium-sized businesses. "BlueVine's invoice financing solution as certainly disrupted the U.S. market with innovative credit solutions and products such as Flex Credit," James Sinclair, editor of Trade Finance Global, said in a statement. "We have high hopes for BlueVine as it navigates the SME financing landscape in North America."



"This is a great honor for us," BlueVine CEO and Founder Eyal Lifshitz said. "We're proud and excited about our growth in North America where we've helped thousands of small and medium-sized businesses address their working capital challenges. We thank Trade Finance Global for recognizing BlueVine's achievements." The Trade Finance Global Awards honors companies that are helping address the financing needs of small and medium-sized enterprises throughout the world. Each category was judged by a panel of professional judges and 2017 was the biggest awards to date, choosing from over 100 companies across 5 markets, Trade Finance Global said in a statement.

"With the recently announced $1.5 trillion trade finance gap, primarily due to lack of SME finance and trade financing in Asian countries, the international trade awards looked at those stepping in to bridge and address this shortfall, along with ancillary products and services helping businesses trade internationally," the organization said. Sinclair, the Trade Finance Global editor, also said: "We were proud to nominate fintechs and disruptors who are using technology to accelerate the use of paperless trade, automation and eKYC. It's been a pleasure for the judging panel reading independent reviews, talking to experts in the sector, and reviewing websites." ABOUT BLUEVINE BlueVine provides flexible working capital financing to small and medium-sized businesses, giving them quick access to funds needed to purchase inventory, cover expenses, or expand operations. A fintech pioneer, BlueVine developed a fully-online cloud-based platform for invoice factoring, revolutionizing the 4,000-year old financing system that allows businesses to receive cash advances on outstanding invoices. BlueVine also offers FlexCredit, business line of credit financing based on 6-month and 12-month payment terms. ABOUT TRADE FINANCE GLOBAL Trade Finance Global is the leading authority and information hub for businesses seeking trade finance, export finance and supply chain finance. Contact:

Amberly Asay

1-801-461-9776

[email protected] View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/bluevine-named-best-business-finance-provider-in-north-america-300546512.html SOURCE BlueVine

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[November 01, 2017] Navidea to Present Late-Breaking Abstract at American College of Rheumatology Annual Meeting

Navidea Biopharmaceuticals (NYSE MKT: NAVB), a company focused on the development of precision immunodiagnostic agents and immunotherapeutics, announced today that it will present a poster during the late-breaking abstract poster session at the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) and Association of Reproductive Health Professionals (ARHP) Annual Meeting, being held November 3-8, 2017, in San Diego, California. Frederick O. Cope, PhD, MS, FACN, Chief Scientific Officer of Navidea, will present a poster of an abstract, titled, "Evaluation of Intravenous Injection of Tc 99m Tilmanocept in Static Planar Gamma Emission Imaging and Fused SPECT/CT Imaging for Rheumatoid Arthritis" and provide an overview of Navidea's development pipeline.







Event: ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting Date: Tuesday, November 7, 2017 Time: 9:00am - 11:00am (Pacific Time) Location: San Diego Convention Hall, San Diego, CA (News - Alert)

About Navidea Navidea Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. (NYSE MKT: NAVB) is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of precision immunodiagnostic agents and immunotherapeutics. Navidea is developing multiple precision-targeted products based on its ManoceptTM platform to enhance patient care by identifying the sites and pathways of disease and enable better diagnostic accuracy, clinical decision-making, and targeted treatment. Navidea's Manocept platform is predicated on the ability to specifically target the CD206 mannose receptor expressed on activated macrophages. The Manocept platform serves as the molecular backbone of Tc 99m tilmanocept, the first product developed and commercialized by Navidea based on the platform. The development activities of the Manocept immunotherapeutic platform are being conducted by Navidea in conjunction with its subsidiary, Macrophage Therapeutics, Inc. Navidea's strategy is to deliver superior growth and shareholder return by bringing to market novel products and advancing the Company's pipeline through global partnering and commercialization efforts. For more information, please visit www.navidea.com. Forward-Looking Statements This release and any oral statements made with respect to the information contained in this release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. We have based these forward-looking statements largely on our current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends affecting the financial condition of our business. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including, among other things: general economic and business conditions, both nationally and in our markets; our history of losses and uncertainty of future profitability; the final outcome of the CRG (News - Alert) litigation in Texas; our ability to successfully complete research and further development of our drug candidates; the timing, cost and uncertainty of obtaining regulatory approvals of our drug candidates; our ability to successfully commercialize our drug candidates; our expectations and estimates concerning future financial performance, financing plans and the impact of competition; our ability to raise capital sufficient to fund our development and commercialization programs; our ability to implement our growth strategy; anticipated trends in our business; advances in technologies; and other risk factors set forth in this report and detailed in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and other SEC (News - Alert) filings. You are urged to carefully review and consider the disclosures found in our SEC filings, which are available at www.sec.gov or at http://ir.navidea.com. Investors are urged to consider statements that include the words "will," "may," "could," "should," "plan," "continue," "designed," "goal," "forecast," "future," "believe," "intend," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "project," and similar expressions, as well as the negatives of those words or other comparable words, to be uncertain forward-looking statements. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, any of which could turn out to be incorrect. We undertake no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise after the date of this report. In light of these risks and uncertainties, the forward-looking events and circumstances discussed in this report may not occur and actual results could differ materially from those anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171101005969/en/

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[November 01, 2017] lifeIMAGE Becomes New Technology Partner with Google Cloud

lifeIMAGE, one of the largest medical information networks for images and clinical evidence, announced a new collaboration today with Google (News - Alert) Cloud. lifeIMAGE is working with Google Cloud Platform (GCP) to help mature global precision medicine initiatives by exploring point of care capabilities for physicians, and to aid researchers in the effort to identify, share and improve their understanding of population health. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171101005972/en/ lifeIMAGE Partners with Google Cloud (Graphic: Business Wire) By joining as a Google Cloud Technology Partner, lifeIMAGE has the opportunity to leverage GCP across our various solutions such as Mammosphere, a patient engagement tool that supports women's health in mammography. In addition, lifeIMAGE now has the capability to use GCP as an extension of our hybrid network hosting strategy for our customer base. "Ultimately, what this collaboration aims to achieve is to help clinicians take better care of patients," said Matthew Michela, President and Chief Executive Officer of lifeIMAGE. "For example, our relationship with Google Cloud will enable us to more easily identify patterns of interest across billions of images to help clinicians make better treatment decisions in real time." lifeIMAGE is one of the largest medical information exchange networks that enables access to images and clinical information to more than 150,000 providers at 1,400 facilitie across clinical specialties and across institutions globally. By processing billions of images and managing millions of clinical encounters across institutional boundaries, lifeIMAGE enables clinicians, patients and data scientists to make more informed decisions.



With its large digital ecosystem, lifeIMAGE supports the health care innovation lifecycle through our ability to gain novel insights from the data passing through our network. This new relationship with Google Cloud also strengthens the regulatory, compliance, and data management collaborations with our global customers, particularly in life sciences. "The collaboration with the Google Cloud Platform framework will focus on strategic opportunities to reduce the healthcare cost burden, to manage partner integrations in the digital ecosystem, and to improve the quality of our insights from genomic, radiomic and clinical data sets," said Janak Joshi, Chief Technology Officer for lifeIMAGE. "We enable machine learning by providing access, scale and speed that are available 24 hours a day, every day."

For more information about the new collaboration come visit us at the lifeIMAGE or Google Cloud booth at the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) annual meeting in Chicago from November 26 to December 1. About lifeIMAGE

lifeIMAGE is a leading medical image exchange solution connecting health care networks, providers and patients to imaging records, regardless of where exams are performed or stored. We enable access to images and clinical information to more than 150,000 providers at 1,400 facilities across clinical specialties and across institutions globally. Providers use lifeIMAGE to improve the quality and timeliness of care, expand referral business, and eliminate wasteful spending. For more information about lifeIMAGE, please visit: www.lifeimage.com, check out our blog or follow us on Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171101005972/en/

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[November 01, 2017] BigRoad Receives Frost & Sullivan's 2017 North American Electronic Logging Device (ELD) Solutions Customer Value Leadership Award

BigRoad, leading provider of electronic logging and ELD mandate compliance solutions, has won the 2017 North American Electronic Logging Device (ELD) Customer Value Leadership Award from Frost & Sullivan (News - Alert). This prestigious Best Practices Award recognizes BigRoad as the best ELD solution provider in the North American ELD market. This award is presented to the company that demonstrates the highest-level of customer and business impact within their respective industry. Analysts at Frost & Sullivan considered all major players in the North American ELD market, and followed an extensive 10-step process, to assess candidates and select a winner. BigRoad outperformed other ELD providers in the areas of price/performance value, purchase experience, customer service, brand equity, financial performance, customer acquisition, and growth. BigRoad joins the ranks of Microsoft, Google, and Amazon Web Services (News - Alert) (AWS) in receiving award recognition by Frost & Sullivan. "We are honored to receive the North American Electronic Logging Device (ELD) Customer Value Leadership Award from Frost & Sullivan," said Tony Lourakis, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Fleet Complete. "Providing superior value and exceptional service to our customers is the driving force behind what we do at BigRoad and, as validated by this award, sets us apart from our competitors." In a cluttered market, Frost & Sullivan recognized BigRoad as the only ELD provider to make a clear audience distinction with differentiated messaging, solution sales strategies, and price points. While other providers focus on larger fleets, leaving owner-operators and small-mid size fleets largely underserved, BigRoad's driver-friendly plug-and-play solution, competitive price point, and targeted brand positioning has allowed the company to become the solution provider of choice among owner-operators, small to mid-size fleets, and cost conscious larger fleets. "With creative product technology, a unique and well-planned customer positioning strategy, and rock-solid customer support, BigRoad has firmly established itself as one of the finest ELD solution providers on the market," concluded Gokulnath Raghavan, Senior Research Analyst at Frost & Sullivan. "With strong overall performance, BigRoad is recognized with Frost & Sullivan's 2017 Customer Value Leadership Award." This fall, BigRoad introduced a limited-time promotional offer where owner-operators who purchase a DashLink ELD on a one-year term, pai upfront, receive an additional three months for free. To celebrate the win of this award, BigRoad has extended the promotion to December 18, 2017 and opened it to fleets of all sizes.



"Since 2011, BigRoad has been a key player in the transportation compliance industry. In the last 12 months, our innovative marketing programs, strategic sales processes, and best-in-class customer service have solidified us as the leader in the space," shared Jake McGuire, Vice President of Sales, Marketing, and Customer Success at BigRoad. "We are honoured to be recognized for our work and excited to celebrate by offering three months of free service to all new customers until the ELD mandate deadline." A copy of the 2017 North American Electronic Logging Device (ELD) Solutions Customer Value Leadership Award can be accessed here.

About BigRoad

BigRoad - A Fleet Complete Company provides innovative and easy-to-use solutions that simplify safety and compliance for thousands of drivers and fleets across North America. BigRoad was recently acquired by Fleet Complete, a global IoT provider of mission critical fleet, asset and mobile workforce management and telematics solutions. BigRoad's DashLink ELD is a simple, affordable, and flexible way for fleets and owner-operators to achieve ELD mandate compliance. With over 480,000 downloads, the BigRoad Mobile App is the number one electronic logging app for drivers on Android (News - Alert) and iOS. For fleets, the BigRoad Web App helps maximize operational efficiency with real-time visibility and risk notifications. Over 30,000 fleets have chosen BigRoad as their compliance partner. About Frost & Sullivan

Frost & Sullivan, the Growth Partnership Company, enables clients to accelerate growth and achieve best-in-class positions in grown, innovation and leadership. The company's Growth Partnership Service provides the CEO and the CEO's Growth Team with disciplined research and best practice models to drive the generation, evaluation and implementation of powerful growth strategies. Frost & Sullivan leverages more than 50 years of experience in partnering with Global 1000 companies, emerging business, and the investment community from 45 offices on six continents. To join our Growth Partnership, please visit http://www.frost.com View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171101005991/en/

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[November 01, 2017] THE Journal Readers Recognize Lexia Reading Core5 as a Top Ed Tech Product in Schools

Boston, Mass., Nov. 01, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Lexia Learning, a Rosetta Stone Company (NYSE: RST), today announced its Lexia Reading Core5 product has been recognized by THE Journals 2017 Readers Choice Awards as the favorite technology product added to K-12 classrooms this year. Nominated by educators across the U.S., Lexia also earned platinum standing, surpassing all other hardware and software solutions, in the categories of Best Reading Program and Best Adaptive/Personalized Learning Tool. In addition, readers selected Lexia as one of the top three favorite technologies currently used in schools. Lexia logo



For its third annual Readers Choice Awards program, THE Journals staff invited members of the education community to submit the bes products, providers and services in any category of their choosingand a record number of readers weighed in.





More than 1,400 education technology professionals, including IT staff and educators, spoke out about the tools they think have the most positive impact on the mission of education, said Dave Nagel, editor-in-chief of THE Journal and editorial director for 1105 Medias Education Group.



According to THE Journal, when readers were asked to name their favorite technology products they added to their school or district this year, the majority of respondents named Lexia as a top provider, besting Google Chromebooks and Google G Suite for Education. Lexia also was recognized as one of the top three favorite technologies currently in usejoining Apple iPad and Google G Suite for Education as other preferences.

Our company is honored to be recognized by the educators who read THE Journal, said Nick Gaehde, Lexia president. They are clearly voicing their opinion on the importance and integral role that technology plays in engaging learners and improving student outcomes.

Lexia Reading Core5, Lexias flagship product, is a research-proven, technology-based program that accelerates the development of fundamental literacy skills for students of all abilities in grades pre-K5. The highly acclaimed program follows a rigorous scope and sequence built for college and career ready standards and provides explicit, systematic instruction through personalized learning paths in six areas of reading. For more information, go to https://www.lexialearning.com/products/core5.



# # # About Lexia Learning

Lexia Learning, a division of Rosetta Stone, empowers educators through adaptive assessment and personalized instruction. For more than 30 years, the company has been on the leading edge of research and product development as it relates to student reading skills. With a robust offering that includes solutions for differentiated instruction, personalized learning and assessment, Lexia Learning provides educators with the tools to intensify and accelerate literacy skills development for students of all abilities. For more information, visit www.lexialearning.com. About Rosetta Stone

Rosetta Stone Inc. (NYSE: RST) is dedicated to changing peoples lives through the power of language and literacy education. The companys innovative digital solutions drive positive learning outcomes for the inspired learner at home or in schools and workplaces around the world.



Founded in 1992, Rosetta Stones language division uses cloud-based solutions to help all types of learners read, write, and speak more than 30 languages. Lexia Learning, Rosetta Stones literacy education division, was founded more than 30 years ago and is a leader in the literacy education space. Today, Lexia helps students build fundamental reading skills through its rigorously researched, independently evaluated, and widely respected instruction and assessment programs.



For more information, visit www.rosettastone.com. Rosetta Stone is a registered trademark or trademark of Rosetta Stone Ltd. in the United States and other countries.

Media Contact: Charlotte Andrist [email protected] 770-310-5244

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[November 01, 2017] Pramata Offers No-Cost ASC 606 Revenue Recognition Assessment to Help Companies Comply with Sweeping New Accounting Standards

BRISBANE, Calif., Nov. 01, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pramata, the leading Commercial Relationship Operations (CRO) company, today announced it is offering enterprises a no-cost Revenue Recognition Assessment to help them comply with complex changes in financial reporting standards under the new ASC 606 rules. The offer includes the identification and analysis of ASC 606 triggers for 50 commercial contracts. The Pramata ASC 606 solution uses a turnkey, human-assisted AI content curation process to automate what otherwise is a very costly and time-consuming manual review process. In addition to ensuring compliance with the evolving ASC 606 standards, the Pramata solution also provides a highly valuable commercial relationship system of record that companies can use to maximize revenue, reduce risk and drive business efficiencies.

"Complying with ASC 606 is a slow and expensive process of identifying the revenue-relevant needles in your contracts haystack. It requires teams of dedicated people poring over contracts and logging the results into error-prone spreadsheets. The Pramata solution eliminates all that by generating the structured content you need for your ASC 606 assessment," said Praful Saklani, CEO, Pramata. "Our no-cost Revenue Recognition Assessment is a great opportunity to accelerate your ASC 606 compliance, and see how unlocking the data buried in contracts can help you reduce revenue leakage across your organization." Turning the challenge into an opportunity

The ASC 606 rules clarify accounting principles and create a common standard for recognizing revenue fro contracts with customers. But they also expose glaring weaknesses in companies' commercial relationship management and processes. Crucial compliance information is often buried within tens or hundreds of thousands of contracts residing in disparate systems with specialized formats, phrasing and terminology. Successfully extracting that information can be an overwhelming challenge. However, by implementing new controls and improving the process, companies can turn this challenge into a long-term benefit that creates new business value.



Unlocking the business value of contract data

The Pramata solution helps companies achieve this transition by providing a commercial relationship system of record that not only ensures compliance, but reduces revenue leakage. It automates the process of extracting data from contracts and other sources such as CLM, CPQ and billing systems. Sales, finance, deal desk, renewal and legal operations teams gain instant access to critical commercial relationship data to help them upsell, cross-sell, prevent revenue attrition and reduce risk. All customer contracts are stored, analyzed and updated in a centralized system that identifies ASC 606 revenue recognition factors, and provides strategic data to maximize operational value across the business. "Pramata gives customers a whole new level of ease, speed and control for identifying the revenue recognition triggers required to comply with the ASC 606 standard. But more importantly, it acts as a business optimization resource that reaches across the entire organization," said Justin Schweisberger, Chief Product Officer, Pramata. "Pramata provides a system of record  a single version of the truth  for all of our customers commercial relationships. Every business day, customers can leverage that data to help front line professionals grow revenue and deliver an exceptional experience for their customers."

Schedule your assessment today

For more information regarding the no-cost Pramata ASC 606 Revenue Recognition Assessment and to learn how Pramata can help your organization be ASC 606 ready, visit www.pramata.com/asc606-compliance or contact us at [email protected]. Upcoming Webinar

Pramata is hosting a webinar on the topic titled The ASC 606 Clock is Ticking: Brute Force Isnt Your Only Option on November 16, 11:00AM PDT. Register at www.pramata.com/asc606-webinar. About Pramata

Pramata operationalizes the details of commercial relationships so large organizations can maximize revenue, reduce risk and drive business efficiencies. Pramata has created millions of dollars in value for some of the largest companies in the world, including Allergan, CenturyLink, Comcast Business, FICO, HPE, NCR, Novelis and Vertafore. Pramata is headquartered in Brisbane, Calif., with offices in Kansas City, MO, and Bangalore, India. For more information please visit www.pramata.com. Media Contact: Marina Greenwood

Activa PR

415.776.5350

[email protected]

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[November 01, 2017] IMImobile Enhances Enterprise Digital Communications Strategy with US Acquisition of SUMOTEXT Corporation

LONDON, 1st November 2017 - IMImobile, a cloud communications software and solutions provider, has announced that it has completed the acquisition of SUMOTEXT Corporation ("SUMOTEXT"), an established US based provider of mobile messaging solutions for government, travel, retail, healthcare, and non-profit organisations. As enterprises seek to accelerate the move to becoming digital businesses and improve customer experience with increased use of digital and mobile interaction channels, the secure and cost-effective management and delivery of these services is becoming increasingly important. This strategic acquisition provides a platform for IMImobile to accelerate the growth of its business in the US market across new industry sectors, with its digital customer interaction products, building on existing relationships with mobile operators in the US. SUMOTEXT's customer and product portfolio is complementary to existing IMImobile products and solutions and will enable the combined companies to further leverage IMImobile's cloud communications product suite in the US market. IMImobile CEO Jay Patel commented, "The acquisition of SUMOTEXT strengthens our position in the US digital communications market. The SUMOTEXT team is experienced in selling and delivering business critical communication solutions to leading US brands. This acquisition provides a great platform for growth for IMImobile into the enterprise market in North America at a time of digital business growth. We expect to invest in sales and marketing in the remainder of the year to March 2018 in order to accelerate growth in futureperiods."



For SUMOTEXT's customers, the acquisition by IMImobile will see the SUMOTEXT team continue to enhance and support a platform that has been independently ranked #1 in the 'Text Message Marketing' category by TopTenReview.com for 7 straight years. In addition, SUMOTEXT's founder and CEO, Tim Miller, will become President of IMImobile North America, Inc. and will join the Group as a member of the senior management team. Miller commented, "As traditional mass messaging channels continue to lose ground to targeted interactive IP messaging channels, large enterprises, financial institutions and wireless carriers require interactive messaging solutions that can provide a consolidated customer view and unified execution of customer interactions across digital channels. IMImobile enables us to deliver immediate differentiation from other providers in the US including the marketing cloud platforms, backed by a group that manages over 27 billion digital customer interactions on behalf of customers in 80 countries".

For further information please contact: IMImobile PLC

Matt Hooper, SVP Global Marketing

Alex Klose, Head of Marketing c/o Redleaf Communications

Tel: +44 (0)20 7382 4769 Redleaf Communications - PR adviser

Charlie Geller

Alina Haritonova Tel: +44 (0)20 7382 4769

[email protected] About SUMOTEXT SUMOTEXT Corporation is a one stop shop for organizations wanting to kick-start and sustain conversations and commerce with mobile audiences via SMS, MMS, and mobile wallets while leveraging a bullet-proof framework for compliant consent management. Their diverse roster of clients includes government agencies and some of America's most admired brands including the U.S. Department of Education, Starbucks, Avis/Budget Group, Guitar Center, the Breeder's Cup, and Southwest Airlines, as well as leading pharmaceutical and healthcare companies such as Astellas, Truman Medical Centers, LASIK Vision Institute, and Agile Health. About IMImobile PLC IMImobile is a cloud communications software and solutions provider that enables companies to use mobile and digital technologies to communicate and engage with their customers. Organisations that trust us to deliver smarter digital customer engagement solutions include Vodafone, Telefonica, Aircel, Capita, BT, BSNL, Ooredoo, MTN, France Telecom, Centrica, Pizza Hut, Tata, the AA, the BBC, EE, Multichoice, Betfair and several major financial institutions. IMImobile is headquartered in London with offices in Hyderabad, Atlanta, Dubai and Johannesburg and has over 900 employees worldwide. IMImobile PLC is quoted on the London Stock Exchange's AIM market with the TIDM code IMO.

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[November 01, 2017] Knowledge to Practice Names Vice President of Strategic Partnerships

BETHESDA, Md., Nov. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Today Kerry Hudson was appointed as Vice President of Strategic Partnerships for Knowledge to Practice (K2P), an Ed-Tech firm contemporizing lifelong learning for physicians through competency-based, personalized, adaptive curriculums. Hudson is one of two central executive positions key to preparing Knowledge to Practice for the next phase of business. Both Hudson, as Vice President of Strategic Partnerships and Laurie Cordova, Vice Present of Product will report directly to Knowledge to Practices Chief Executive Officer, Mary Ellen Beliveau. As Vice President of Strategic Partnerships, Ms. Hudson is responsible for developing deep relationships with hospitals, health systems, physician groups and other organizations that can benefit from K2P's unique approach to improving patient care. "The need for clinical competency support has never been greater. With medical knowledge doubling every 73 days, physicians are burned out. They can't keep up. Kerry is the right person to introduce our solution to hospitals and health systems," said Mary Ellen Beliveau, Chief Executie Officer, Knowledge to Practice. "Kerry is integral to our go-to-market and long-term strategies as we work with health care providers to pioneer ways for physicians to stay up to date so they can provide the best possible patient care."



Ms. Hudson was previously the Vice President of Sales for Denver based, Apto, Inc., a cloud-based brokerage management software company. At Apto, she created a successful Go-to-Market strategy resulting in a 6-fold increase in sales, achieving 70% year-over-year growth. She also developed a training program designed to improve new hire productivity in two months. "I am excited to be joining Knowledge to Practice to exponentially increase the number of physicians using our system and achieving great outcomes for patients," said Kerry Hudson, Vice President of Strategic Partnerships. "We believe the most effective way to get our platform into the hands of all healthcare practitioners is through strong and meaningful partnerships with the institutions they belong to. I'm ready to roll up my sleeves to work alongside with health systems in a whole new way.

About Knowledge to Practice

Knowledge to Practice delivers mastery-based, personalized online continuing medical education for the on-the-go physician, and measurably improves a physician's clinical judgment and critical thinking. Knowledge to Practice's personalized curriculum results in an average of 38% improvement of knowledge retention and recall (compared to 3-5% of older CME models). Using best practices and adult learning techniques, Knowledge to Practice taps top recognized academicians and thought leaders to deliver practice-changing clinical content. Curriculum is then personalized to each physician, enabling them to monitor their personal mastery and learn wherever, whenever and however they choose. To learn more about Knowledge to Practice please visit: www.KnowledgeToPractice.com View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/knowledge-to-practice-names-vice-president-of-strategic-partnerships-300545339.html SOURCE Knowledge to Practice (K2P)

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[November 01, 2017] Holiday Entertaining Excellence

MISSION, Kan., Nov. 01, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- (Family Features) From savory appetizers to delicious holiday gifts, cheese is a must-have holiday ingredient.

Photo Courtesy of Jarlsberg Cheese



A photo accompanying this announcement is available at //www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/79c4fad3-e676-42fc-b616-a07e57b93d57 These recipes from Chef George Duran, host of TLCs Ultimate Cake Off and Food Networks Ham on the Street, make it easy to elevate your cheeseboard, serve up delightfully delicate puffed pastries or make glass canning jar gifts to give away to guests. Each dish features Jarlsberg Cheese, which was created in 1956 and remains based on the original Norwegian recipe, offering a slightly nutty, mild and delicious taste that helps every dish live up to festive occasions. Best known for its classic wedge, Jarlsberg is also available sliced and in snacks and crisps for simple appetizers, savory sides and even take-home treats your guests will love. Find more ideas to elevate this holiday season at jarlsberg.com. Tomatoes Gratin

Servings: 4 4 tomatoes

2 ounces balsamic vinegar

1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus 4 ounces divided







4 sprigs fresh thyme (or equivalent dried)

salt, to taste

pepper, to taste

2 ounces pine (pignoli) nuts

8 ounces shredded Jarlsberg Cheese Heat oven to 350 F.

Cut tomatoes in half. In bowl, whisk together vinegar, 1/3 cup olive oil, garlic, thyme, salt and pepper; gently mix in tomatoes. Transfer to ovenproof dish. Place tomatoes cut-side up and bake 15 minutes. In pan, toast pine nuts with remaining olive oil until golden then set aside. When tomatoes are cool enough to handle, remove skins and return to baking dish. Sprinkle tomatoes with shredded cheese. Return to oven and broil about 5 minutes, or until cheese turns golden and bubbly. Top with toasted pine nuts. Cranberry and Walnut Phyllo Triangles

Servings: 4 Filling:

1 cup chopped fresh or frozen cranberries

1/3 cup sugar

1/3 cup raisins

2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup

1 tablespoon finely grated orange peel

3 tablespoons freshly squeezed orange juice

Triangles:

10 sheets fresh or frozen phyllo dough

1/3 cup melted butter

2 1/2 cups Jarlsberg Chunk Cheese, cut into 25 cubes

2 cups chopped walnuts Heat oven to 375 F. In saucepan, combine cranberries, sugar, raisins, honey, orange peel and orange juice; bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmer uncovered 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Cool to room temperature. Carefully lay one phyllo sheet on cutting board and brush with melted butter. Place another sheet of phyllo on top and brush with melted butter. Cover remaining sheets with damp towel to prevent drying out. Position brushed pastry horizontally and cut into five strips. Place 1/2 teaspoon cranberry filling, one cube of cheese and 1/2 teaspoon chopped nuts in lower corner of each strip. Fold dough over filling to form triangle. Fold triangle up then over, forming another triangle. Continue folding to end of strip. Brush top with melted butter and sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon chopped nuts. Repeat with remaining strips of dough and remaining sheets of phyllo. Bake 12-15 minutes, or until golden brown. Cool on wire rack before serving. Note: If using frozen phyllo dough, thaw in refrigerator overnight. French-Style Marinated Cheese

Servings: 1 jar 6 ounces Jarlsberg Original, Lite or Hickory Smoked Cheese

2 ounces black or green olives

1 small leek, bulb only (or small shallot)

1 tablespoon fresh oregano or tarragon (or equivalent dried)

1 teaspoon green or black peppercorns

2 sprigs fresh thyme (or equivalent dried)

1 clove garlic

2 tablespoons white wine vinegar

4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

1 glass canning jar Cube cheese and thinly slice olives and leek. Finely chop oregano and peppercorns, and finely mince thyme and garlic. To make marinade: Whisk vinegar with oil, oregano, peppercorns, thyme and garlic. Layer cheese, olives and leeks inside jar. Cover with marinade and seal tightly. Place jar in refrigerator to marinate 1 day. For best results, use within 3 days. Holiday Deviled Eggs

Servings: 12 6 eggs

1/8 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon pepper

1 teaspoon white vinegar

1 teaspoon mustard

1/4 cup mayonnaise

1 cup shredded Jarlsberg Cheese

Topping options:

Paprika

Parsley

Bacon

Shredded Jarlsberg Cheese

Cooked crab meat

Scallions Boil large pot of water. Carefully add eggs and boil on high 2 minutes then simmer 13 minutes. While eggs cook, chop parsley and scallions, if desired. Once eggs are cooked, transfer to bowl of ice water; cool 8-10 minutes. Peel eggs and cut in half lengthwise. Separate egg yolks into another bowl. Reserve egg white halves. Combine egg yolks with salt, pepper, vinegar and mustard. Add shredded cheese and mayonnaise; mix until smooth. Spoon about 1 tablespoon of yolk mixture into each egg white half. Add toppings, as desired. For classic deviled eggs, sprinkle paprika and chopped parsley over eggs. For a savory alternative, cook four strips of bacon and chop. Top eggs with chopped bacon and shredded cheese. For a unique variation, try topping eggs with cooked crab meat and chopped scallions. Michael French

[email protected]

1-888-824-3337

editors.familyfeatures.com About Family Features Editorial Syndicate

Established in 1974, Family Features is a leading provider of free food and lifestyle content for print and online publications. Our articles, photos, videos and web content solutions save you time, money and help create advertising opportunities. Registration is fast and free  with absolutely no obligation. Visit editors.familyfeatures.com for more information.

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[November 01, 2017] Video relay service now available to deaf Canadians 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

OTTAWA and GATINEAU, QC, Nov. 1, 2017 /CNW/ - A year after its launch, SRV Canada VRS has extended its service hours, enabling American Sign Language or Langue des signes quebecoise users to make and receive calls any time of the day. SRV Canada VRS allows its customers to communicate to a sign-language interpreter via an Internet-based video link. The interpreter provides real-time interpretation of conversations, as the system connects to the hearing caller whose words are translated into sign language. Since the launch of SRV Canada VRS, over 280,000 calls have been placed by nearly 5,000 Canadian subscribers. Quick Facts The CRTC created the Canadian Administrator of Video Relay Service (CAV, Inc.) to manage the service for all Canadians. The service was launched on September 28, 2016 .



. Canadians can access SRV Canada VRS at no cost. The service just requires a device such as a computer (Mac or PC), smartphone or tablet (iOS or Android) and a sufficient Internet connection.



Anyone wanting more information about the Video Relay Service or how to register should contact SRV Canada VRS.



Quotes "We are delighted to see the positive impact the Video Relay Service has had over the last year for Canadians with hearing and speech disabilities. This initiative contributes greatly to ensuring an equal society for all Canadians. We will work closely with the Canadian Administrator of the Video Relay Service to promote this service so that even more Canadians benefit."

Ian Scott, Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer of the CRTC "This has been an incredible first year. CAV hasn't just been about setting up a relay service to help people make telephone calls, it has also empowered the deaf community. Customers are calling their banks and doctors, their friends, 9-1-1 and obtaining employment in ways they could not before. I'm so excited about the future of SRV Canada VRS and continuing to make refinements and improvements to the service." Sue Decker, Executive Director and CEO, CAV

Associated Links SRV Canada VRS

VRS  CRTC

Policies, Decisions and Orders for Accessible Phone Services Ask a question or make a complaint Stay Connected

Follow us on Twitter @CRTCeng

Like us on Facebook www.facebook.com/crtceng SOURCE Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission

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[November 01, 2017] Boeing HorizonX Invests in Advanced Materials Producer Gamma Alloys

CHICAGO, Nov. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] announced its investment in Valencia, Calif.-based Gamma Alloys, a leader in aluminum alloys focused on developing advanced metal-matrix composites for use in aerospace, automotive and other industries. This investment by Boeing HorizonX Ventures, which was established earlier this year, is its first in advanced materials and machining development and applications. "The wear, strength, durability and machining characteristics of Gamma's materials have the opportunity to further reduce the weight of our products," said Steve Nordlund, vice president of Boeing HorizonX. "The traction that Gamma Alloys has gained in automotive, energy and aerospace reinforces our confidence that Gamma has a unique set of materials." Gamma Alloys, founded in 2008, is pursuing breakthroughs in nano-reinforced aluminum alloys, where the aluminum is reinforced with microscopic particles, or nanoparticles. These alloys provide increased stiffness, improved wear resistance, and greater strength than current materials across a wider range of temperatures. Gamma Alloys is particularly focused on custom soltions where design engineers are currently limited in what they can create with traditionally available materials.



"With funding from Boeing, we will explore compelling applications across demanding industries such as aerospace while accelerating our nanoparticle material development and the full-scale industrialization of our manufacturing processes," said Gamma Alloys CEO Mark Sommer. "The decision to choose Boeing HorizonX Ventures was simple  the opportunity to partner with Boeing was too compelling to pass up." By leveraging the power of the world's largest aerospace company, Boeing HorizonX invests in new business ventures to unlock the next generation of game-changing ideas, products, and markets. The Boeing HorizonX Ventures portfolio includes investments in autonomous systems technology, wearable enabled technologies, augmented reality systems, hybrid-electric propulsion and artificial intelligence. HorizonX also seeks unique business opportunities and non-traditional partnerships for the company's aerospace technology using disruptive innovations and business strategies.

Chicago-based Boeing is the world's largest aerospace company and leading manufacturer of commercial jetliners and defense, space and security systems. A top U.S. exporter, the company supports airlines and U.S. and allied government customers in 150 countries. Contact: Megan Hilfer

Boeing Communications

425-237-2237

[email protected] Gabriela Villa

Gamma Alloys

661-775-1256

[email protected] Follow us on Twitter: @Boeing View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/boeing-horizonx-invests-in-advanced-materials-producer-gamma-alloys-300547453.html SOURCE Boeing

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[November 01, 2017] Edward-Elmhurst Health Announces Partnership With Outcome Health, Dramatically Enhancing The Patient Experience

CHICAGO, Nov. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- EdwardElmhurst Health, one of the largest integrated healthcare systems in Illinois, today announces a partnership with Outcome Health to transform the healthcare experience for patients and providers. Outcome Health will improve healthcare decision-making for Edward-Elmhurst's patients by providing them with actionable health education and informational content in the moment of care. The collaboration with Outcome Health is an important component of Edward-Elmhurst's mission to improve the health of Chicago's diverse communities. The health system's 500 physicians and advanced practice clinicians provide care to more than 700,000 patients annually. "Since the establishment of Edward-Elmhurst Health, we have remained focused on steadily improving processes and workflows for our practitioners while positively impacting the lives of our patients," says Mary Lou Mastro, System CEO of Edward-Elmhurst Health. "Our partnership with Outcome Health is a part of our continued commitment to inspire, educate and positively affect the quality of life of thousands of patients within the Edward-Elmhurst Health network. Through the technology of Outcome Health, information will be readily accessible and support practitioners' ability to educate patients." The partnership with Outcome Health enables Edward-Elmhurst Health to: Create a meaningful, differentiating tool to enhance the patient experience

Improve patient communication surrounding medication options

Utilize educational tools for patients and caregivers

Promote Edward-Elmhurst Health's signature "Healthy Driven" initiatives and goals

Institute seamless online scheduling and bill payment with MyChart

Support the launch of the Cardiac Innovation and Structural Heart Center with deliberate and strategic patient and community outreach "Outcome Health is committed to empowering patients with actionable health intelligence in the critical moments before, during and after patients meet with their physicians," said Rishi Shah, Co-Founder and CEO of Outcome Halth. "We're thrilled to partner with Edward-Elmhurst Health, to strengthen the patient experience directed to providing the best health outcomes at treatment centers and hospitals across the network."



Outcome Health's platform reaches over 230,000 healthcare professionals and consists of over 145,000 touch points that span from patient education in the waiting room to digital 3D anatomical models in the exam room. The company's innovative technology platform includes: Digital exam room wallboard: delivering high-impact health education, 3-D anatomicals, disease state awareness content and details on available therapeutic options.

Exam room tablet: offering contextual health education content for the patients.

Waiting room screen: distributing healthy lifestyle and condition-specific programming to the moments before and after visiting with a physician.

Patient mobile: supplying internet access in doctors' office waiting and exam rooms.

Infusion room tablet: providing support and comfort for patients receiving treatment in infusion centers with educational content and entertainment. Edward-Elmhurst's commitment to providing high-quality medical care in a comfortable, patient-centered setting will benefit from Outcome Health's expertise leveraging digital tools at the point of care to facilitate the physician/patient dialogue and drive better outcomes for all.

About Edward-Elmhurst Health

Comprised of three hospitals  Edward Hospital, Elmhurst Hospital and Linden Oaks Behavioral Health  Edward-Elmhurst Health has annual revenues of more than $1.3 billion, nearly 70 locations across a service area of 1.7 million residents in the west and southwest suburbs of Chicago, nearly 8,500 employees, including 1,900 nurses with 2,000 physicians on staff, plus 1,300 volunteers. Edward-Elmhurst has earned a reputation as a healthcare leader by providing advanced cardiac care, state-of-the-art cancer diagnosis and treatment, and world class stroke care. Edward-Elmhurst also offers the latest imaging technology, care for critically ill newborns, minimally invasive surgery, newest clinical trials and mental health services through Linden Oaks Behavioral Health. Edward and Elmhurst are the 8th and 18th largest hospitals, respectively, in the Chicago area according to Crain's Chicago Business. Both organizations are recognized by the American Nurses Credentialing Center as Magnet hospitals for nursing excellence, an honor achieved by only seven percent of the nation's 6,000 hospitals. About Outcome Health

Outcome Health's mission is to activate the best health outcome possible for every person in the world through technologies that change behavior to positively shape the human condition. The company, founded in 2006 by Rishi Shah and Shradha Agarwal, serves health information and health intelligence during critical moments of care to enable patients and physicians to make the best healthcare decision possible. The company's platform reaches 231,000 healthcare providers nationwide to impact 500 million patient visits annually. Outcome Health has offices in Chicago and New York City and partners with large healthcare systems, private physician practices, medical associations, global life sciences companies as well as pharmacies and payers. Media Contacts:

Keith Hartenberger

Public Information Officer, Edward-Elmhurst Health

[email protected] Philip de Guzman

Communications Lead, Outcome Health

[email protected] View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/edward-elmhurst-health-announces-partnership-with-outcome-health-dramatically-enhancing-the-patient-experience-300547472.html SOURCE Outcome Health

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[November 01, 2017] Sarah Steele Chang Joins Bioz, Inc. as Vice President of Sales

PALO ALTO, Calif., Nov. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Bioz, Inc., developers of the world's first and most comprehensive search engine for life science experimentation, today announced the appointment of Sarah Steele Chang as Vice President of Sales. Chang will be responsible for the management of all sales efforts and the growth and development of Bioz's sales teams. "Sarah's proven success and unique background make her a strong addition to our executive team as we continue our rapid-growth," said Daniel Levitt, Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Bioz. "Her experience with online rating systems and cultivating client partnerships will be a critical asset as we expand our products and services for stakeholders across the life science sector. We are excited to have her join the team." Chang's extensive sales experience will support key Bioz monetization vehicles, including the Vendor Partner Program with its Bioz Stars scoring system that connects scientists with the best research tools. The proprietary evidence-based objective Bioz Stars scores, available for over 200 million life science experimentation products from 50,000 vendors, is globally ecognized as the benchmark of quality for scientific products. Chang will also spearhead the monetization of the company's Data Analytics Program, which provides customers with never-before-available competitive landscape insights and product usage-share data.



"The life science industry is ripe for disruption as endless dollars and time are lost analyzing, aggregating and structuring data within and between research papers," explained Chang. "I see a lot of similarities between Bioz and a platform like Yelp and am excited to support Bioz in its mission to help scientists make faster and smarter experimentation decisions, ultimately speeding up drug discovery and increasing the rate of success in finding cures for diseases." Chang brings over a decade of sales experience at Yelp, advancing through the company to her most recent position as Regional Vice President of Sales where she was responsible for the team that secured $150 million in annual revenue. She also led the company's national San Francisco office and developed the infrastructure to support Yelp's top national accounts and the training and development of the national sales representatives.

Suggested Tweet: @BiozPage is excited to announce the appointment of Sarah Steele Chang as Vice President of Sales: http://bit.ly/2iipisl About Bioz, Inc. Bioz, Inc. offers the world's first search engine for life science experimentation. The patent-pending software platform combines the work of scientists with advanced artificial intelligence (AI), focused on natural language processing (NLP) and machine learning (ML) technology to help life scientists in academia and biopharma make faster and smarter experimentation decisions, ultimately speeding up drug discovery and increasing the rate of success in finding cures for diseases. Founded in 2013 by Stanford research scientist, Karin Lachmi, Ph.D., and CEO Daniel Levitt, Bioz is a Stanford-StartX accelerator company. Over one million researchers from 10,000 different academic institutions and biopharma companies in 196 countries use Bioz. Try Bioz at www.bioz.com. View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sarah-steele-chang-joins-bioz-inc-as-vice-president-of-sales-300546789.html SOURCE Bioz, Inc.

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[November 01, 2017] Benetech Secures U.S. Department of Education Award to Enable All Students to Read

PALO ALTO, Calif., Nov. 01, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Benetech , the leading software for social good nonprofit, today announced a five-year award from the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs, to expand and improve access to books for students who read differently due to blindness, low vision, a physical disability, or dyslexia. Bookshare , the largest online library of accessible books, along with training and support, will remain free for all U.S. school districts, schools, educators, and their qualified students.

Access to knowledge through reading is a basic human right and a critical step on the path to economic, educational, and social development, said Brad Turner, VP of Global Literacy, Benetech. Many students struggle in school and in life because they read differently. Benetech is proud to work with these students, their parents, and their educators to make reading not only possible but also fun and enjoyable with personalized reading experiences. Bookshare has already delivered over 11 million books to students and is used in schools and districts across the United States, ranging from the largest urban districts such as Los Angeles Unified School District and New York Public Schools, to small, rural districts in all 50 states. Qualified students attending community colleges and universities, charter schools, and homeschools also access the Bookshare library free of charge. In tandem with Bookshare, Benetechs Born Accessible and Global Certified Accessible initiatives engage publishers and the education community to prioritize the creation and procurement of accessible content.



Benetech will use the award funding to reach an additional 200,000+ students, on top of the half million existing Bookshare student members, with personalized access to over 800,000 books. The company will deliver four million downloads of those accessible ebooks to qualified students over the five-year award period and will work directly with publishers to ensure accessibility features are included in production and are present in over 50 percent of educational books by 2022. Bookshare allows students to have immediate access to academic resources alongside their peers, said Jonathan Fine, assistive technology specialist, Boston Public Schools. For example, a high-school student with a visual impairment is able to access classroom reading materials by independently accessing books on her iPad in a digital and audio format. In another example, a student with dyslexia is able to access a grade level novel via Bookshare and read alongside his peers. In both scenarios, the playing field is leveled and the students are given equal opportunity to access their curriculum.

Benetechs approach to achieving personalized education solutions at scale, including Bookshare, follows the companys proven software for social good model: identify unmet social needs, prototype solutions, and scale those solutions to drive systemic change. Benetech works with the communities it serves to ensure solutions meet the needs and improve the lives of individuals in those communities. Benetechs software for social good efforts span education, human rights, social services, and the environment. Benetechs ability to deliver positive, lasting impact at scale is made possible by philanthropy, government and corporate funding, and community participation. To learn more about and to join the Benetech community, visit: https://benetech.org/get-involved/. This project is supported by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs (Award Number H327D170002). Opinions expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the position of the U.S. Department of Education. About Benetech

Benetech is a nonprofit that empowers communities with software for social good. Our work transforms how people with disabilities read and learn, makes it safer for human rights defenders to pursue truth and justice, and connects people to the services they need to live and prosper. Were constantly pursuing the next big social impact. Visit www.benetech.org . Sara Gebhardt [email protected]

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[November 01, 2017] Inauguration of the Eeyou Communications Network fibre optic network - $6.5 million to connect Eastmain and Waskaganish to a reliable high-speed Internet service

OUJE-BOUGOUMOU, QC, Nov. 1, 2017 /CNW Telbec/ - The Cree communities of Eastmain and Waskaganish now have access to reliable high-speed Internet service, a necessary tool for economic and social development in the Nord-du-Quebec region. The Quebec government announced that it granted the Eeyou Communications Network (ECN), a non-profit organization, $6.5 million through the Societe du Plan Nord, to carry out the second phase of the fibre optic network project, inaugurated today in Ouje-Bougoumou. Minister of Energy and Natural Resources and Minister responsible for the Plan Nord Pierre Moreau and Deputy Premier, Minister of Economy, Science and Innovation and Minister responsible for the Digital Strategy Dominique Anglade emphasized ECN's efforts to connect 13 communities in the Eeyou Istchee James Bay Territory. Nearly 800 km of optical fibre were required to connect Eastmain and Waskaganish to the network, a priority for the Societe du Plan Nord in the realm of telecommunications. The establishment of an efficient Internet network poses a genuine challenge north of the 49th parallel because of the remoteness of major centres and the size of the territory. ECN has successfully completed this ambitious project by means of a unique business and operating model that is uniting the Cree and James Bay residents. The first phase of the ECN project, during whih 11 communities in the Eeyou Istchee James Bay Territory were connected in 2011, has already shown that a reliable regional Internet network enhances public services and reduces travelling. Telemedicine for residents and reliance on videoconferencing by businesses and organizations have, in particular, proven themselves in the region.



Quotations: "The sustained efforts of the Eeyou Communications Network mean that Eastmain and Waskaganish now obtain the same high-speed Internet service as neighbouring communities, an essential service today. The realization of the project marks another step forward in fulfilling the conditions for success of the Plan Nord: enhance telecommunications infrastructure north of the 49th parallel and facilitate access to the territory."

Pierre Moreau, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources and Minister responsible for the Plan Nord ''The extension of high-speed Internet network in the Nord-du-Quebec represent a lever for the development of the communities and the businesses in the Eeyou Istchee Baie-James region. Through its implication in that project, the Quebec government demonstrate its determination to progress in the implementation of the Digital Strategy.'' Dominique Anglade, Deputy Premier, Minister of Economy, Science and Innovation and Minister responsible for the Digital Strategy. "Connecting these communities was a priority in order to give them the autonomy essential to their social and economic development. Congratulations and thanks to the Eeyou Communications Network team for their hard work. This example of collaboration is proof that we can do more and do better." Geoffrey Kelley, Minister responsible for Native Affairs "I am extremely proud of this project, created by and for the residents of the Eeyou Istchee James Bay Territory. A reliable Internet network is essential for the sound development of regional businesses but also for sectors such as education, health and the economy. The Eeyou Communications Network has already satisfied significant needs and I am confident that it will continue to do so." Jean Boucher, MNA for Ungava Related links: Societe du Plan Nord: plannord.gouv.qc.ca Quebec Digital Strategy : www.economie.gouv.qc.ca/objectifs/ameliorer/strategie-numerique SOURCE Societe du Plan Nord

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[November 01, 2017] Galtway Marketing Launches Big at LAGCOE 2017

HOUSTON, Nov. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Galtway Marketing, a Houston-based full-service marketing, digital, strategy, consulting and branding firm, publicly announced its spin off from Galtway Industries at LAGCOE 2017. The group showcased their new company at the three-day exhibition, and partnered with six major industry corporations to host an event benefitting Sky High on Wednesday, October 25. "Our launch could not have been more successful. We are huge supporters of The Louisiana Gulf Coast Oil Expo (LAGCOE), so it was a natural fit to publicly announce Galtway Marketing to our friends in the Industry at this particular show. The LAGCOE team does a phenomenal job keeping content relevant to industry trends with a focus on both offshore and onshore," said Josh Lowrey, President of Galtway Marketing. The five year-old company previously operated as a service of Galtway Industries that provided marketng solutions as a boutique marketing and sales firm. Entering the market with in-depth industry experience and leading technology, Galtway Marketing partners with clients to modernize their branding and customer retention programs.



"When we sat down to conceptualize Galtway Marketing, we kept going back to 'leveraging industry experience with technology." It's exactly what we are doing. We don't settle for anything less than the best and we don't allow our clients to do so either," said Josh Lowrey. "We feel that we have a mission to push the envelope in Industrial, Energy, and Oil and Gas marketing. We know this business. We love this business. We know what it takes to survive the cyclical market and we want to help our clients maximize their enterprise value by aligning marketing strategies with the technology and data that is available to us today." Galtway Marketing will continue to make a big presence in the market. They are members of several industry organizations, and they are the Underwriter Sponsor for this year's Business Marketing Associated Lanterns Awards on November 30, 2017 at the Royal Sonesta in Houston.

About Galtway Marketing, LLC

Galtway Marketing, LLC is a marketing, digital, strategy, consulting and branding firm that specializes in the Industrial, Energy, and Oil & Gas industries. Headquartered in Houston, Galtway Marketing partners with companies all over North America to develop and execute marketing programs and digital experiences to improve customer connections. For more information about Galtway Marketing, visit www.galtwaymarketing.com. View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/galtway-marketing-launches-big-at-lagcoe-2017-300547626.html SOURCE Galtway Marketing

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[November 01, 2017]

Boston Engineering Appoints Two Directors to Lead its Commercial Practice, and its Sensing and Control Systems Innovation

WALTHAM, Mass., Nov. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Product development firm Boston Engineering today named Mark Clemons to direct the company's Commercial practice, and appointed Guy Fichera to lead sensing and control systems innovation for clients across all industries.

Mr. Clemons previously held senior positions at the Electronics Assembly Equipment division of Illinois Tool Works (ITW), a Fortune 200 company. During his seven-year tenure leading ITW's industrial printer business (formerly Speedline Technologies), he increased profitability 300% through a focused approach to markets and targeted technologies.

Additionally, Mr. Clemons co-founded, grew, and managed the sale of automated test equipment manufacturer AVH, Inc. to Northwave Technologies. He then oversaw product development and business operations for the expanded company.

Mr. Clemons received a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering at UMass Lowell, and earned an MBA at Worcester Polytechnic Institute







"Mark brings deep experience in product development, commercialization, and product sales growth to our commercial sector clients," said Bob Treiber, president and co-founder of Boston Engineering. "The addition of Mark Clemons and Guy Fichera's new technical innovation role reflect our commitment to helping clients solve their toughest product development challenges."

To address added demand for automation, robotics, and Internet of Things (IoT) capabilities, Boston Engineering has named Guy Fichera the director of Sensing and Control Systems. This role enables Mr. Fichera to lead the development of advanced embedded, motion control, and related capabilities across all industries.

Since joining Boston Engineering in 1999, Mr. Fichera has applied his knowledge of custom circuit design, power supply optimization, temperature and motor control design to lead product design, development, and integration projects. Mr. Fichera also developed the FlexMC Motor Control Development Platform, a rapid development system for any motor control solution. Boston Engineering is Analog Devices' exclusive motor control design partner in North America and Europe.

Mr. Fichera holds an Electrical Engineering degree from Worcester Polytechnic Institute and an MBA in technology management from Babson College.

About Boston Engineering

Boston Engineering provides product design and engineering consulting across the entire product development process  from concept through product launch. Certified for ISO 9001 and ISO 13485, the company's industry expertise includes defense & security, medical devices, robotics, and commercial products. Founded in 1995, Boston Engineering is headquartered in Waltham, Mass. with an additional office at UMass Dartmouth's Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. Learn more at www.boston-engineering.com.

View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/boston-engineering-appoints-two-directors-to-lead-its-commercial-practice-and-its-sensing-and-control-systems-innovation-300547618.html

SOURCE Boston Engineering
[November 01, 2017] Trauma Medicine In Las Vegas: DoctorNews.com Issues Special Report On Triage After Mass Shootings

MARINA DEL REY, Calif., Nov. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The average U.S. hospital might statistically expect to see one gun injury in a four-week period. After Stephen Paddock opened fire on a crowd at the Route 91 music festival, Las Vegas Sunrise Hospital had to process and treat 211 trauma victims in a span of hours. DoctorNews.com spoke with the leader of the emergency room team who answered the pager and helped bring order to what could have otherwise devolved into medical chaos. Our interview with Dr. Christopher Fisher is available at the site. "HollywoodScott Martin. "Dr. Fisher and his team proved the truth behind the fantasy."



An excerpt from the interview reveals both the extreme measures Sunrise Hospital took to manage the flood of incoming ambulances and the training that made it possible to save hundreds of lives: Las Vegas Sunrise Hospital is an American College of Surgeons certified trauma center, so the staff had drilled twice a year to prepare for mass casualties.

Nearly everyone, whether scheduled to work, on call or off for the night, came into work, a team of over 100 medical professionals assembling in less than an hour. Procedures that had been put in place theoretically during training were tested in real life. "We do drill for this, and so we have the mechanisms and structure in place," says Fisher. "But nothing compares to the real thing, the drill doesn't compare to the real thing. I think overall we did everything really excellently." Without that preparation and timing, the Sunrise E.R. truly could have looked like a war zone. Instead, hospital staff diagnosed incoming patients fast enough to organize 30 times the normal flow of trauma cases, routing wounds to specialists ready to save lives. That's what miracles look like. ABOUT DOCTORNEWS.COM DoctorNews.com was founded in 2014 to fill a perceived gap in the universe of news and perspectives that members of the medical community can apply to their own professional, personal and financial lives. For more information, contact our publishing team. View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/trauma-medicine-in-las-vegas-doctornewscom-issues-special-report-on-triage-after-mass-shootings-300547552.html SOURCE DoctorNews.com

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[November 01, 2017] Canadian businesses have a better platform to be "China Ready" with WeChat

TORONTO, Nov. 1, 2017 /CNW/ - Over 600,000 Chinese tourists visited Canada in 2016, according to a Destination Canada press release from earlier this year. Going forward, it is likely this number will continue to grow, with many Canadian merchants wondering how they can tap into this large Chinese market. WeChat, with close to 1 billion monthly active users globally, offers a tourism industry solution and came to Canada for the first time earlier this month, sharing its "China Ready" strategy for local businesses by introducing its leading social communication service WeChat and the mobile cross border payment solution WeChat Pay. WeChat's series of seminars, hosted at Cineplex Markham VIP, CN Tower, and Sheraton Vancouver, attracted 800 attendees from over 400 Canadian companies. With the introduction of WeChat and WeChat Pay, WeChat creates new ways to target and market to Chinese consumers more effectively. Many invited guests from different industries were also excited to learn more about the implementation of WeChat's moment Ads and other functions. In 2017 WeChat launched an innovative solution for global merchants t provide service in Mini Program, which is an app-like service over WeChat that can be opened instantly and does not require users to download the full app.



"The tourism industry is committed to educating the community about the growing Chinese market, with China being one of the fastest growing tourism markets in Toronto. We welcomed 300,000 travellers from China last year, so introducing product like WeChat to Toronto helps cater to the growing Chinese market, giving businesses a better understanding of what customers want," said Johanne Belanger, President and CEO of Tourism Toronto. "With many of Richmond's residents and overseas tourists already familiar and comfortable with the app, the seminar hosted by WeChat could not be more relevant to our members and the local business community. There are big opportunities for Canadian businesses as WeChat moves further into the North American market," said Matt Pitcairn, President & CEO, Richmond Chamber of Commerce.

WeChat Pay has quickly grown nationwide and enabled thousands of clients in just half a year. This has enabled Canadian merchants to reach out to Chinese tourists before they arrive and keep in touch after they leave. "With the implementation of WeChat Pay, which is very easy to use and cost effective, our customers in areas with large Chinese populations are very happy that we accept it. It's a great financial processing tool and we look forward to the opportunity to layer it with a marketing element. It's something we've never seen before," said Haigo Derian, president of L'ORO Jewelry. "Feedback from clients provides helpful information which helps lift them through barriers to business. We will be working on future initiatives to bring more versatile social media solutions to allow merchants to reach out to this market," said Jason Pan, GM of iTalkBB Media Corp, which runs media, ads and marketing in Canada. He is one of many who are optimistic about the opportunities brought to Canada by WeChat. SOURCE iTalkBB Media Corp.

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[November 01, 2017] Testimonial Builder, the Premier Mobile App for Filming and Syndicating Video Reviews, Announced That Greg Gifford Has Been Elected to Its Board of Advisors

BALTIMORE, Nov. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Testimonial Builder, the premier mobile app for filming and syndicating video reviews, announced that Greg Gifford has been elected to its Board of Advisors. Greg is recognized internationally as a leading SEO expert. "Greg is undoubtedly the number one SEO guy in the auto industry and probably one of the best in any field," said Testimonial Builder Founder and President Peter "webdoc" Martin. "Having him on our board and involved in helping us continually improve our product is a huge win for the company and more importantly our clients who will ultimately benefit from his expertise." Greg Gifford is the director of search and social at DealerOn, a software company that provides websites and online marketing to new car dealers all over the United States. He has over 16 years of online marketing and web design experience, teaching thousands of small business owners and marketers how to get their sites to show up higher in local search rankings. Earlier this year Greg spoke at Brighton SEO (U.K.'s biggest search marketing conference). He will be speaking at SearchCamp in December 2017 and will be the keynote speaker at SMX Munich (Europe's biggest search marketing conference) in the spring of 2018. "I was immediately impressed with the innovative Testimonial Builder app and how easy it made it to create and publish content. I saw a product that was needed in the marketplace and I'm honored to be joining their board," said Gifford. "Video has a huge impact on SEO and when I saw Testimonial Builder I knew it was a winner and I wanted to be a part of it." The Testimonial Builder app is designed to capture the true excitement of a happy customer in a way that written reviews can't match. That experience is then syndicated and used to boost a business' SEO via YouTube and Google's audio-scanning technology. Testimonial Builder makes it possible for every salesperson to use their smartphone to create their own authentic video marketing material. The salesperson follows a customized script on the teleprompter that incorporates appropriate keywords for SEO. "Greg is a pioneer in the SEO world and we are excited to welcome him to the board," said Philip Zelinger, investor and board member of Testimonial Builder. "With him on the team, we believe we will be able to help improve the SEO relevance of our testimonial videos. Hi expertise will be extremely valuable to our clients."



The Testimonial Builder app uploads videos in real time and emails the video link directly to the customer, so that they can share it with their friends while they are still excited. By incorporating Testimonial Builder into the selling process, each closed sale becomes an opportunity to earn referral business. The average Facebook user has over 350 friends (Statistica) and the app makes it easy for them to share their testimonial on Facebook and other social networks including Twitter and Google+. In addition, they can also email or text the video link to their friends, helping the business reach a large local audience at no cost.

Digital video is widely recognized as one of the fastest-growing media channels and it is expected to continue its expansion and reach. In a Hubspot survey, researchers found that 90 percent of consumers use product videos to make a purchase decision and 80 percent of viewers recall a digital video they have viewed in the past 30 days. In a digital market saturated with banner ads, pay per click flashes and a revolving Facebook News Feed, video stands out and makes a lasting impression. The mobile video audience is becoming increasingly relevant. YouTube projects that mobile video consumption will continue to grow at a rate of 100 percent annually. Hubspot reports that 92 percent of mobile video viewers are likely to share the video with a friend. Testimonial Builder enables businesses to harness the power of organic sharing and build a positive reputation. The Testimonial Builder app is available as a free download on the App Store and Google Play Store. Users can load up to seven video testimonials with the free version. Testimonial Builder is available for any business looking to improve its online presence and share video testimonials. The company plans to expand into other industries including: automotive repair, heavy trucks, health and fitness, hospitality, medical, dentistry, service, retail, professional services and real estate. To learn more about the app and program, visit www.testimonialbuilder.com. About Testimonial Builder, Inc. Testimonial Builder assists businesses in digital marketing sectors including online reputation, video syndication, social media, consulting, training and customer satisfaction. Testimonial Builder enables salespeople to record a customer testimonial at the time of sale when they are most excited and then automatically promote the online video testimonial. Businesses can reach and acquire new customers with video testimonials. Once uploaded, the business can showcase video testimonials on social channels or websites and can link them to any email or digital marketing collateral. This integrated and automated program improves business' online reputation and SEO while providing an interactive social media experience for customers resulting in increased sales. Media Relations Contact: Peter "webdoc" Martin

410.296.2343 ext: 101

954.205.7716 Cell

[email protected] Related Images image1.png

Testimonial Builder image2.jpg

Available for Apple and Android image3.png

Easy to use app image4.jpg

Videos uploaded to YouTube Related Video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bx-ur1xKHoY View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/testimonial-builder-the-premier-mobile-app-for-filming-and-syndicating-video-reviews-announced-that-greg-gifford-has-been-elected-to-its-board-of-advisors-300547691.html SOURCE Testimonial Builder

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[November 01, 2017] Measurement and Control Systems for Automated Cold Storage Warehouses Market - Segmentation Analysis and Forecast | Technavio

The global measurement and control systems for automated cold storage warehouses market is expected to grow at a CAGR of more than 7% during the forecast period, according to Technavio's latest market research. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171101006402/en/ Technavio has published a new report on the global measurement and control systems for automated cold storage warehouses market from 2017-2021. (Graphic: Business Wire) In this market research report, Technavio covers the market outlook and growth prospects of the global measurement and control systems for automated cold storage warehouses market for 2017-2021. The market is further categorized into two segments based on solution (hardware and software and services) and based on end-user (food and beverage and pharmaceuticals). Technavio's research analysts segment the global measurement and control systems for automated cold storage warehouses market into the following regions: Americas

EMEA

APAC Looking for more information on this market? Request a free sample report Technavio's sample reports are free of charge and contain multiple sections of the report including the market size and forecast, drivers, challenges, trends, and more. Americas: largest measurement and control systems for automated cold storage warehouses market Owing to the existence of the maximum number of cold storage establishments in the Americas, the measurement and control systems for automated cold storage warehouses market in this region is observing the highest growth rate compared to the other regions. To further enhance the efficiency of the cold storage facilities, these establishments demand the employment of measurement and control systems. The promising market condition in Nrth America has led to the growth of organized retail and e-commerce industries in the Americas. The measurement and control systems for automated cold storage warehouses market in this region is experiencing growth as these industries have a high requirement for cold storage facilities.



"The major end-user industry that is contributing to the growth of the measurement and control systems for automated cold storage warehouses market in the Americas is the food and beverage industry. The driving factors include the rising demand for fresh food products and the need to improve the efficiency of the existing cold storage facilities," says Bharath Kanniappan, a lead automation research expert from Technavio. This report is available at a USD 1,000 discount for a limited time only: View market snapshot before purchasing

Buy 1 Technavio report and get the second for 50% off. Buy 2 Technavio reports and get the third for free. Measurement and control systems for automated cold storage warehouses market in EMEA The demand for measurement and control system products for automated cold storage facilities in EMEA was impacted due to a reduction in the demand for cold storage warehouses in countries, such as Uzbekistan and other eastern European countries. Europe is contributing substantially to the measurement and control systems for automated cold storage warehouses market in EMEA as the food and beverage industry is one of the major revenue generating industries in this country. The Middle Eastern and African countries generated less revenue when compared with the European market because of the low number of cold storage facilities during the base year. "In EMEA, the revenue generated by the measurement and control systems for automated cold storage warehouses market is expected to be more when compared to the market in APAC during the forecast period. This would be because of the rising standard of living and an increase in the disposable income of European consumers," says Bharath. Measurement and control systems for automated cold storage warehouses market in APAC During the base year, APAC had the lowest revenue contribution to the measurement and control systems for automated cold storage warehouses market when compared to the other regions. This situation is predicted to continue through the forecast period. In several APAC countries, the number of cold storage warehouses are very less. The manufacturers of food and beverage and pharmaceutical products maintain most of these cold storage warehouses. The less number of cold storage warehouses is because of the shortage of organized retail industry in some APAC countries. Promising government policies that focus on product quality in some major food processing countries in the region is promoting the growth of organized retail industry in this region. The top vendors in the global measurement and control systems for automated cold storage warehouses market as highlighted in this market research analysis are: Airtech International

Danfoss

Johnson Controls

Swisslog

Thermo Fisher Scientific Browse Related Reports: Global Industrial Limit Switches Market 2017-2021

Global Power Transmission Seals Market 2017-2021

Global Signal Conditioning Modules Market 2017-2021 About Technavio Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 10,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. If you are interested in more information, please contact our media team at [email protected]. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171101006402/en/

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[November 01, 2017] OTR Media Group Wins Longstanding Billboard Licensing Fight with City of New York

OTR Media Group, a leading outdoor advertising, billboard and wallscape company, today announced that it prevailed in its longstanding legal battle with the City of New York. The Supreme Court of the State of New York last week rescinded the city building department's 2016 decision to revoke the company's outdoor advertising license. Judge Katherine A. Levine said in her order that the prior decision by the city was "disproportionate to the alleged offenses and shocking to the judicial conscious." OTR Media, which kept operating during the legal fight, retains its license and will continue to serve its many brand name advertisers in the metro area. According to OTR Media CEO Ari Noe, the company battled the city for more than a decade over the enforcement of sign and billboard locations. It prevailed on many sign placements that were grandfathered-in according to city policies. For others, it paid fines but faced increased and overzealous scrutiny when it challenged the building department's accounting of the finesand payments.



"We are calling for an investigation by the State Attorney General," said OTR Media attorney Jeffrey Buss of Smith Buss & Jacobs. "We believe the city unfairly and selectively targeted my client in an effort to drive them out of business." Buss said the city's enforcement power should only be exercised to protect the public health, safety and welfare, not for the commercial advantage of the city when it engages in a competing business.

According to Buss, papers filed in the case include internal city communications calling for the city to set up an aggressive enforcement program, in order for the city, and its preferred business partners, to limit competition and make more money. "We employ many New Yorkers and offer a great product to our customers," said Noe. "We are excited to operate free of the harassment of the building department." OTR Media co-counsel Allen Schwartz, Esq. said the court noted there were many flaws in Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings Administrative Law Judge Allessandra Zorgniotti's report and recommendation last year. "We are pleased with the Court's decision as the building department's penalty tried to put OTR Media out of business," said Schwartz. "This decision enables OTR to put this matter to rest." OTR Media Group is a full service outdoor advertising company now in its second decade of operation. The company specializes in providing media sales and signage maintenance, offering billboards, wallscapes and spectacular signs in prime locations in New York City and Los Angeles. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171101006550/en/

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[November 01, 2017] Sandra Phillips Rogers Elected to MSA Board of Directors

PITTSBURGH, Nov. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The Board of Directors of global safety equipment manufacturer MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE: MSA) today announced that Sandra Phillips Rogers, Group Vice President, General Counsel, Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary for Toyota Motor North America, Inc. (TMNA), has been elected to MSA's Board of Directors. "We feel very fortunate to be able to add a person of Ms. Rogers' caliber to the MSA Board," said William M. Lambert, MSA Chairman and CEO. "Sandra brings to MSA a tremendous amount of experience strategically managing complex corporate issues, integrating business, legal and stakeholder relations into discussions and decision making. Her knowledge and insight, gained from nearly 26 years in the legal field and as a business executive, will serve MSA very well as we continue to advance our corporate strategy, effectively manage risks and work toward our long-range goals." As Group Vice President, General Counsel and Chief Legal Officer, Ms. Rogers leads the legal services function for Toyota's operations in North America. Previously, Ms. Rogers served as Vice President and Deputy General Counsel for Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. Prior to joining Toyota in 2012, Ms. Rogers was a partner at global law firm Morgan, Lewis & Bockius. She also erved as Senior Vice President, Associate General Counsel and Chief Litigation Counsel at Pfizer Inc., and as Managing Partner of the Houston office of Shook, Hardy & Bacon.



Ms. Rogers is a founding member of the Center for Women in Law at The University of Texas School of Law, the recipient of the 2016 Legacy Award from the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University School of Law, and received the 2017 Champion of Diversity Award from D CEO. She also serves on the Boards of YWCA USA, United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, and the University of Texas Law School Foundation. In 2017, Texas Lawyer recognized Ms. Rogers as General Counsel Impact Player of the Year. Also in 2017, she was named one of Black Enterprise's 75 Most Powerful Women in Business and a Burton Foundation Legend in Law. Ms. Rogers received her Bachelor of Journalism and Doctor of Jurisprudence degrees from the University of Texas at Austin. A native of Texas, Ms. Rogers currently resides in Dallas.

About MSA Safety Established in 1914, MSA Safety Incorporated is the global leader in the development, manufacture and supply of safety products that protect people and facility infrastructures. Many MSA products integrate a combination of electronics, mechanical systems and advanced materials to protect users against hazardous or life-threatening situations. The company's comprehensive product line is used by workers around the world in a broad range of markets, including the oil, gas and petrochemical industry, the fire service, the construction industry, mining and the military. MSA's core products include self-contained breathing apparatus, fixed gas and flame detection systems, portable gas detection instruments, industrial head protection products, firefighter helmets and protective apparel, and fall protection devices. With 2016 revenues of $1.15 billion, MSA employs approximately 4,600 people worldwide. The company is headquartered north of Pittsburgh in Cranberry Township, Pa., and has manufacturing operations in the United States, Europe, Asia and Latin America. With more than 40 international locations, MSA realizes approximately half of its revenue from outside North America. For more information visit MSA's web site at www.MSAsafety.com. View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sandra-phillips-rogers-elected-to-msa-board-of-directors-300547758.html SOURCE MSA

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[November 01, 2017] The Richman Group Raises $165 Million Through Tax Credit Fund to Build Affordable Housing for Seniors and Families in 15 States

The Richman Group Affordable Housing Corporation, the nation's leading sponsor of equity funds for affordable housing, announced it has raised $165 million in equity for U.S.A. Institutional Tax Credit Fund CXI L.P. The Fund will provide the equity financing for the acquisition, rehabilitation and/or new construction of a diversified portfolio of 28 affordable housing tax credit properties located in 15 states throughout the U.S. Nine institutional investors, representing the nation's leading insurance and banking institutions contributed the $165 million in equity for the fund. The properties acquired by the fund will provide high-quality affordable housing for seniors and families and will add almost 2,500 units to Richman's portfolio, which exceeds 115,000 units. "Access to affordable housing continues to be a critical need for some of the country's lowest income households and one that we have long been committed to tackling," saidStephen M. Daley, Executive Vice President and head of the Richman's equity raising activities. "Institutional investors continue to be attracted to Richman funds because of the company's lengthy experience in the affordable housing industry, its conservative underwriting and track record of delivering results."



In addition to being the nation's pre-eminent sponsor of affordable housing tax credit funds, Richman conducts a wide range of development, equity investment assets and property management activities in both the luxury and affordable rental housing markets. About The Richman Group

Founded in 1987, The Richman Group has grown into one of the nation's largest privately owned residential real estate investment, development and asset management firms. It has developed nearly 20,000 residential units and owned or asset managed over 100,000 units. Furthermore, it offers every expertise in-house, from architects to property managers. The company is headquartered in Greenwich, Connecticut, and has 15 regional offices, serving communities in 49 states, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and Guam. For more information visit, www.therichmangroup.com View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171101006663/en/

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SZ TO MARK FIRST TALENT DAY

2017-11-01  Shenzhen Nanshan





Shenzhen will celebrate its first Talent Day tomorrow with the opening of Shenzhen Talent Park along Shenzhen Bay in Nanshan District with an array of activities under the theme Talent Carnival to be held at the park.

The city has designated Nov. 1 as Talent Day, starting this year, with the aim of raising peoples awareness of the value of talents and their contributions, Zhang Qian, vice inspector of the Personnel Department of the Shenzhen Municipal Committee of the CPC, said at a press conference yesterday.

Also tomorrow, a revised regulation on attracting talents and better protecting the legitimate rights of employees will take effect in the city, according to the press conference.

The regulation was viewed and approved by the citys legislature in August.

Under the regulation, universities and research institutions are encouraged to recruit part-time innovative talents and employees with public institutions are encouraged to quit to start up businesses.

Researchers will be enabled free access to government-funded research equipment and apparatuses in their fields, and government departments and State-owned enterprises will open their doors to distinguished talents from private businesses and social organizations.

Protection of intellectual property rights is also one of the focuses of the regulation. Owners of intellectual property of great significance are entitled to government aid in copyright protection. Intellectual property securitization, as well as investment and financing products of innovative intellectual property, will be encouraged.

Official data showed Shenzhen boasted approximately 20,000 Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) applications in 2016, accounting for 46.6 percent of Chinas total and ranking first in the country for the 13th consecutive year.

Among a package of measures to lure talent, Shenzhen will set up talent development funds and talent innovative startup funds, and provide 300,000 government-subsidized apartments for talents by 2020, which is 4.5 times that of the total for 2011-2015.

So far, LinkedIn, the worlds largest business- and employment-oriented social networking service that operates via websites and mobile apps, the headquarters of hrmarket.com, Chinas largest online HR service platform, and ATD, the worlds largest talent development association based in the United States, have settled down in the city, according to Zeng Xuelian, deputy director of the citys human resources and social security bureau.

About 321 human resources companies, such as Career International, Golden Rice Bowl, Liepin.com, and Bestway, have also set up offices in Shenzhen.
Everybody is goin' phishing. Campaigns have attempted to steal information by masquerading as Netflix, using stolen LinkedIn credentials, and impersonating Brazilian and Swiss banks. Or, you know, convincing people to hand over their personal data by pretending to be Google Docs. There's an entire phishing economy, and the Duo security company analyzed thousands of sites to see how things operate behind the scenes.

Duo found that many attackers use phishing kits that allow them to quickly compromise a site, spoof it, and steal personal data from their visitors. These kits can be removed from the affected websites to help the hackers cover their tracks, but Duo found that many left the kits on the site and available to download, which allowed the company to connect the dots between phishing sites and the people who profit off them.

In the report, Duo said it found 3,200 unique phishing kits across 66,000 compromised URLs tracked by Phishtank and OpenPhish. The company said there could be more identical kits, however, because it matched them based on their SHA-1 hash. A change to a single file would result in a mismatch even though the rest of the kit is the same. It also noted that this was over a 30-day period; longer analysis would find more matches.

Here are some of the highlights from Duo's report:

We parsed each phishing kit for email addresses indicating both where the credentials are being sent as well as who may have originally created the phishing kit. We tracked individual attackers across multiple phishing campaigns, including one actor whose email address was found in over 115 unique phishing kits.We identified over 200 instances of backdoored phishing kits. This shows that attackers who are selling or distributing these phishing kits to other criminals are actively backdooring them to give themselves access to the compromised hosts. Clearly there's no honor among thieves!

Duo also noted that the majority of compromised sites were running WordPresswhich is unsurprising when you consider the platform's popularityand that 16% of the phishing kits were found on sites using HTTPS. That's important to note because many people might assume an HTTPS website is automatically secure, but that isn't the case; it simply means your connection to the site is harder to tamper with.

These findings highlight just how well-oiled the phishing economy is. There are people making phishing kits, people using them, and people using or selling any information they gather. (Which could in turn be stolen by the people who backdoored their own phishing kits.) That's in addition the targeted attacksspear-phishingthat attempt to gather information from specific people instead of hoping someone surfs into a wide net.

There's no easy solution to this problem. Even large companies like Google and Facebook have lost $100 million to phishing scams, too, so odds are good that many individuals won't be able to defend themselves. The only thing you can do is remain vigilant, avoid suspicious content, and keep your fingers crossed. There's a whole industry just waiting for you to slip up so it can find a way to make money off your personal info.
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Watercool announced that it would start to accept pre-orders for three variants of its AMD Threadripper water block on November 2.

In August, shortly after AMD released the first batch of Threadripper chips, Watercool announced that it was developing a dedicated Threadripper water block. The company originally said the new blocks would be available on September 6, but for unknown reasons, the release was delayed. Watercool released a conversion kit that makes the standard Heatkiller IV CPU block compatible with AMD TR4 socket, but it offered no update about the dedicated block. After two months of silence, the company is finally ready to take your money.

Watercools Heatkiller IV Threadripper water block is available in three different varieties. The company offers a copper version with a solid copper top with a few stainless-steel accents and a solid copper cooling plate, both milled from single blocks of copper. It also offers a nickel edition that (you guessed it) features a nickel-plated cooling plate and top cover to give it an even, reflective surface. Watercool also made a version with an acrylic top that lets you see the fluid flow through the block. The plexi top version comes with a black anodized aluminum cover and a nickel-plated cooling plate to give it a two-tone color scheme. It also includes pre-installed RGB lights with a header compatible with X399 RGB motherboards.

Watercool said that the bare copper block would be the first to ship. It plans to fulfill pre-orders of the copper version on November 10, with the nickel-plated and acrylic top Threadripper blocks shipping on November 24. You can place your order from the Watercool webshop tomorrow.
Man charged in North Kansas City homicide case A 21-year-old man faces second-degree murder and armed criminal action charges with connection to the homicide of Zachary Murphy. Cole Walker Huff is in custody and being held on a $1 million bond. Murphy was found dead Oct. 23 about 2:45 a.m. in the 2300 block of Oliver Drive.

Follow-up to a recent murder on the nice side of the bridge and another young dude who might not do well in jail. Take a look:
KC Area - National Cannabis As An Option For Pain Awareness Day

This national crisis kills more than 91 people per day, and we KNOW that medical cannabis can save lives. Opioid overdoses go down by 25% in legal states. November is Chronic Pain Awareness Month. Pain patients deserve a safer choice, and those dealing with opioid addiction deserve to have an alternative.

Here's a look at alternative healthcare advocacy and data regarding medicinal treatment that's far less dangerous than Big Pharma drug pushers . . . Check the presser & TKC highlights . . .Bleeding Kansas Advocates is hosting a short evening of advocacy in support of the Amerians for Safe Access efforts. ASA will be in Washington, D.C. on November 1, hosting vigils, a march and a day of advocacy on Capitol Hill. We want to bring awareness to our community and our leaders, including local, state and federal to the benefits of medical cannabis over opioids. Cannabis advocates across Kansas and Missouri will be hosting vigils/gatherings in conjunction with our local vigil.As we face the deadline on the Rohrbacher-Farr Amendment, patient rights are once again in danger. Not only does this impact legal states, but this also impacts the efforts in states still fighting for legal access. This is an important time for us to show unity.Come stand to honor the 91 people who die daily in our country.30 minutes of your time can be a loud voice for those in chronic pain.Please join us. We encourage you to wear black, and please, per request of Americans for Safe Access, no cannabis leaves on signs or clothes.Today at 6 PM - 6:30 PMRep. Kevin Yoder's Office- 7325 W 79th St, Overland Park, KS 66204########Developing . . .
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The Kansas City Black Chamber of Commerce plans an open forum Wednesday on the KCI proposal and minority businesses. The focus of the meeting Wednesday will be on how the proposed KCI project will impact minority businesses. The forum is free and anyone can come.
Staley High School locked down after 'innocent prank,' district says North Kansas City school spokeswoman Susan Hiland said Staley High School was put on a 'lock and teach' to determine who they were and what their purpose was in being at the school. (Kelli Taylor/KCTV5 News)

Pulling a fake fire alarm is a time honored traditions among youngster jerks in training. Now, in the era of Internets panic and increased paranoia . . . Students realize that teachers, staff and administrators are bound by strict rules and regs protecting them from liability. Therefore, the lesson of the day is that canceling classes is easier than ever despite. Here's a false flag local example . . .
Billion Dollar KCMO Assurance

Edgemoor executive: New KCI design will not sacrifice convenience A fair number of the Kansas City voters who will determine the future of KCI at the ballot box Nov. 7 are concerned about convenience, a matter the contractor says is being addressed. Edgemoor Infrastructure & Real Estate officials have held multiple meetings with the public over its plan to build a single terminal at the airport to upgrade the current layout.

City Market Hipster Aftertaste

Boulevard's first cider draws inspiration from City Market - Kansas City Business Journal Boulevard Brewing Co. is stepping outside its typical offerings with a new cider that draws inspiration from Kansas City's City Market. The name and flavor profile of City Market Cider is a nod to the popular gathering spot and farmer's market, which "represents a place where chefs and home cooks come together to show and taste the best flavors in the region," according to a release.

Show-Me Vaporware Project Defended

FAQ: Is it all hype? Tunneling into Missouri's chances for Hyperloop But the prospect of Kansas Citians reaching St. Louis in only 23 minutes is more realistic than many think. Hyperloop is a 760 miles-per-hour transit system described as high-speed rail travel in a vacuum. A series of interconnected tubes create a low-pressure environment in which levitated pods are propelled by electric motors, gliding with limited friction at speeds that surpass air travel.

Rock Chalk Pollution

Kansas Energy Officials Review Legal Options After Errors Found In Oil Wastewater Permits Kansas' energy-regulating agency is trying to determine why permits were issued for half a dozen wastewater wells whose operators didn't accurately inform nearby residents of their rights to protest the wells. The deficiencies were discovered by a resident of Matfield Green in Chase County who objects to the wells, into which companies can pour hundreds or thousands of barrels of oil- and gas-related wastewater per day.

Kansas City Doggie Update

Vets discover needle in dog's stomach after firefighters rescue her from duplex fire KANSAS CITY, Mo. - A near-death experience at a fire may have in fact saved the life of a local dog. Firefighters rescued the female bull dog from a duplex fire Friday, but it was a discovery afterward that may have made the biggest difference.

Cowtown Garbage Plate

Kansas and Kansas City restaurant inspections for Nov. 1 Here are area restaurants with 7 or more priority or critical health code violations, with highlighted links to some original public record reports by city or county health inspectors. Restaurants correct most violations at the time of the original inspection or shortly thereafter.

Kansas City Snacking Journalism

Order Up | Popculture Cornfetti Order Up | Popculture Cornfetti

Our midday update imaginesat the grocery store as part of a consumer fantasy as we feature some of the most important Kansas City MSM links for right now. Take a peek:And this is thefor right now . . .
Press Release: Clay Chastain files malfeasance lawsuit against Sly James for corrupting 3-light rail petition elections and urges No Vote on new single-terminal airport.

Here are some additional reasons to Vote No for the elite's new (NON-GREEN) single-terminal airport:

The "taxpayers" of Kansas City will pay extra every time they fly in and out of the new airport and / or use its new parking facilities.

THE NEW SINGLE -TERMINAL AIRPORT PROPOSITION IS FOR THE ELITE AND NOT THE PEOPLE. VOTE NO.

As of a filing today, there are now 3- lawsuits filed against Mayor Sly James and the City for corrupting light rail petition elections in 2014, 2015 and 2017.Additionally, the upcoming vote to build a new billion dollar plus single-terminal airport is a watershed election for Kansas City's because it represents the people's last chance to reject the white-oriented, Johnson County-oriented elite establishment (that controls Kansas City and Sly James) and their new glitzy airport project that favors the needs of that privileged sect over the needs of the people.(1) The elite's campaign propaganda and editorials from the Kansas City Star and President Sarah Smith of KMBC 9 news deliberately mislead you when they say a new single-terminal airport will result in "no expense to the taxpayers of Kansas City."(2) The elite have refused to offer the people a chance to vote on an alternative plan to fix up and reuse Kansas City's popular and convenient KCI.(3) The elite's new airport plan has no provision (whatsoever) to integrate into it a new efficient and environmentally-sound citywide light rail transit system (connecting KCI to the central city) that would not only help citizens with better and less expensive transportation options, but also provide them better access to the distant airport and its(4)* To that point, why is it the elite can support a fancy new (car-oriented) billion dollar plus airport for their ilk to fly in and out of, but will not support a convenient, efficient and environmentally-sound light rail-based public transportation system to help the everyday citizens of Kansas City get to and from jobs?Kansas City community activist, Clay Chastain.########
The meeting focused on the organisation of a business forum on December 8 with representatives of funds based in Britain

Greek Economy Minister Dimitris Papadimitriou met on Wednesday with the ambassador of the United Kingdom to Athens, Kate Smith.

The meeting focused on the organisation of a business forum on December 8 with representatives of funds based in Britain. Both sides confirmed that British investors have expressed significant investing interest.

Furthermore, the two officials exchanged views on the negotiations between EU and Britain ahead of Brexit, on matters regarding bilateral trade relations as well as issues relating to Greek students and Greek citizens residing or working in the United Kingdom.

Read more here.

RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations , Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report

Photo Source: Wikimedia Commons Copyright: Rlevente License: CC-BY-SA

Source: ANA-MPA
Impact Estate, a leading real estate advisory and consultancy in Bahrain, said the construction of its boutique residence Raheel-3, based in Amwaj Islands, has been completed and is ready for handover to its owners and potential tenants.



The residence boasts 28 well-appointed units with panoramic sea and island views and modern facilities including an outdoor swimming pool, fitness centre with a steam room, sun deck and barbeque area, said a statement from the company.



The tenants will get to enjoy an island-style living combined with comfort of an exclusive residence.



There are one-bedroom units with the total area of 85 sq m, two-bedroom apartments ranging from 106 sq m up to 119 sq m. and spacious three-bedroom units with balconies and total size of 147 sq.m. The two-bedroom Penthouses feature the terraces and offer ample space of 177 sq m.



"Understanding the clients needs is a core of our strategy. We follow the market demands and are ready to provide A to Z services to the clients of Raheel Residence 3," remarked Oksana AK, the general manager of Impact Estate, which is incharge of the sales and marketing of the building.



The company provides full services including sales, marketing and assistance with units handover, she added.-TradeArabia News Service
KBR, a leading construction group, said it has entered into an engineering agreement for the residue hydroprocessing unit at the Jordan Petroleum Refinery (JPRC) Expansion Project.



This award follows an earlier decision for KBR as selected licensor for its proprietary Veba Combi Cracking (VCC) technology, said a statement from the company.



As per the deal, KBR will provide the basic design package for the unit using its proprietary VCC slurry phase hydrocracking technology.



This unique technology is capable of processing a wide range of feedstocks and enables production of fuels that meet environmental specifications without further upgrading, it stated.



On the contract win, John Derbyshire, the president of KBR Technology and Consulting, said: "We are excited to implement our unique VCC technology and contribute to the success of this important and prestigious project."



KBR, he stated, is committed to the success of JPRC's fourth refinery expansion.



"With its recent implementation in Russia and China, VCC technology has emerged as the most successful slurry phase hydrocracking technology to reliably produce high quality finished products from heavy feeds," added Derbyshire.



JPRC's chief executive Abdel Karim Alawin said: "We selected VCC technology from among several alternative processes for the conversion of the bottom of the barrel in its forthcoming expansion project."



JPRC, he stated, was looking for a feasible process that yields clean products with minimum negative environmental impact.



"Thorough and careful evaluation led to the selection of VCC technology which we think will be the technology of choice for future residue conversion projects," Alawin said. "We certainly look forward to working with KBR to get this project on stream," he added.



According to him, the VCC technology will be implemented at JPRC's refinery in Jordan and will be the core of the refinery's expansion plans to increase production to 120,000 barrels per day.-TradeArabia News Service
Unilever Gulf has hosted an event to brief stakeholders on collective efforts taken in the last year towards meeting the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the UAE Vision 2021.



Held on November 1 at the Dubai Chamber offices in Deira, Dubai, the multi-sectoral event titled #DrivingCollectiveAction saw support and participation from a host of public and private sector organisations, including DP World, Jebel Ali Freezone Authority (JAFZA), Dulsco, Imdaad, MonViso and Blue LLC.



During the event, Unilever unveiled its report Mobilizing Collective Actions to Achieve Sustainable Developmental Goals. The report, which aims to continue the dialogue initiated in 2016, outlined the challenges and opportunities in the UAE in the areas of energy consumption & renewable energy; Zero Waste to Landfill; Entrepreneurship and Health.



In particular, the event highlighted three key achievements accomplished since its last event held a year ago  the setting up of the Jafza Sustainability Network in association with Jafza and DP World to drive sustainability goals via collective industry action; The Launch of the Young Entrepreneurs Awards as a platform to engage youth; and the creation of the zero waste to landfill blueprint for companies to support a 75 per cent reduction in non-hazardous waste going to UAE landfills by 2021.



"Since announcing our ambition of driving collective action last year, our progress has been inspired by the UAE Vision 2021, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, and the Unilever Sustainable Living Plan, said Sanjiv Kakkar, executive vice president for Unilever Mena, Turkey, Russia, Ukraine and Belarus.



#DrivingCollectiveAction is not just a necessity to confront the increasingly challenging social, environmental & economic goals, but it also has a positive business impact. Our research shows that 54 per cent of our consumers want to be more sustainability conscious with their purchase decisions. Simply put, theres never been a better time to create a brighter future, he added.



A high-powered panel discussion during the event saw industry leaders discuss strategies to support the UAEs agenda of diverting 75 per cent of all waste heading to landfills by 2021 through an integrated waste management strategy. The UAE is planning a 100 per cent diversion rate by 2030, and is the only GCC country to have set clear numerical goals for its waste management efforts.



2017 also saw Unilever bring its Unilever Young Entrepreneurs Awards (YEA) to the UAE for the very first time. Via its hackathon, Unilever reached out to 8,000 young people under the age of 35 across 6universities and 2entrepreneurial incubators to spark ideas and innovate solutions for challenges identified by the UAE Vision 2021 and the SDGs. 120 team entries were shortlisted to 11 before 2 finalists were chosen. Winners were invited to the event to share their inspirational ideas.



The Young Entrepreneur Awards are designed to harness the power of youth innovation in tackling pressing environmental concerns. We are delighted at being able to have reached out to 8,000 students across the country by working with universities and entrepreneur incubators, said Cem Tarik Yuksel, managing director Unilever Gulf & Vice President Customer Development Mena, Turkey, Russia, Ukraine & Belarus.



The quality of ideas, and the dedication shown towards creating viable solutions, was inspiring. I also want to thank all our partners from the public and private sector for joining hands and making concerted efforts towards embedding sustainability  with the JAFZA Sustainability Network being a perfect example of collective action. We are delighted at the results we have already achieved, and are excited about charting new goals for 2018 and beyond, Yuksel added.  TradeArabia News Service
Oman has a major opportunity to develop as an aquaculture hub with an export potential projected at $7 billion per annum, according to Teng Theng Dar, non-resident Ambassador of Singapore to Oman.



He made the remark at a forum titled The Journey of Oman-Singapore Partnership and the Next Phase, organised by the Oman Economic Association (OEA) at The Cultural Club in Qurum, Muscat, said anh Oman Daily Observer report.



Also taking part in the forum were Alex Miquel, CEO, Sembcorp Salalah Power and Water Company; Tan Siang Tang, CEO of Oman Air SATS Cargo; Richard Grosse, consul-general of the Singapore consulate-general in Muscat; and an executive of e-Government solutions firm CrimsonLogic.



The forum was moderated by Ann Said al Kindi, board member at the Omani Economic Association.



Speaking at the event, Ambassador Teng compared the sultanates potential as an aquaculture hub to Vietnam, presently the worlds third largest seafood exporter.



He added that Oman and Vietnam have the same land area, weather conditions (especially in south of Oman) and almost the same coastline of a little more than 3,000 km, and if Vietnam can do it, so can Oman.
The global nanotechnology market is forecasted to grow to $174 billion by 2025 at a CAGR of around 18.1 per cent, said Dubai-based system integrator Waseela, citing a Research and Markets report.



Waseela will highlight advances in the multi-billion dollar nanotechnology market during a live discussion with 2016 Nobel Laureate and pioneering nanotech scientist Sir Fraser Stoddart and Intel Corporations former nanotech R&D director Dr Youssry Botros on December 4.



Stoddart and Botros have pioneered a number of advances in nanotech, both individually and together, over recent years. They also co-founded PanaceaNano, a nanotech company focused on the design and manufacture of newly discovered functional nano-materials and systems that will have applications in various industries, including health, energy storage and generation, and biotechnology.



The company has developed several patented technologies and created new start-ups through research and technology development in different areas of nanotechnology, since it was founded in 2015.



While nanotechnology was first thought of and envisioned in 1959, it wasnt until the year 2000 that the field started to advance. Today, it is rapidly gaining traction across such diverse industries as medicine, technology, agriculture, energy storage and water treatment.



In the UAE, leading institutions such as Khalifa University and the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology have pioneered nanotech breakthroughs, with the latter named a centre for semiconductor R&D and manufacturing excellence, in 2012. In April 2017 Masdar student, Nazek El Atab, was named as one of 15 international female researchers to have won the LOreal-Unesco For Women in Science International Rising Talents award, for her work in nanotech.



Capitalising on the market opportunity, discussion host and producer, Waseela, will pioneer its own nano-solutions for the regional market, specialising in applications in its core business of technology. Through the roundtable discussion on December 4, the firm will raise awareness of the nanotech advances currently being explored in the UAE.



The invitation-only event is free to attend, however, places are limited, a company statement said.  TradeArabia News Service
The World Bank has approved a $400-million financial assistance package to support the recovery, reconstruction and rehabilitation of priority infrastructure to restore delivery of public services in areas of Iraq newly liberated from Daesh.



The package represents additional financing to the Iraq Emergency Operation for Development Project; $350 million was approved back in July 2015 and work is already under way in seven cities in Diyala and Salah Ad-Din governorates, said the World Bank in its statement.



The additional financing will allow the geographic scale up of existing project activities to additional cities liberated from Daesh, it added.



"The international community has expressed its commitment to support the urgent need for the government-led reconstruction of Mosul and other recently liberated cities," remarked Saroj Kumar Jha, the regional director for World Bank Middle East Department.



"We are committed to working with Iraqi authorities to ensure that this much-needed reconstruction takes place in a sustainable, inclusive and equitable manner to foster long term development and create opportunities for everyone," he added.



The current project activities span over five primary sectors: water and sanitation, electricity, health, transport and municipal services.



The additional financing, said Jha, will continue to support these sectors, as well as address pressing education, agriculture/irrigation and urban service delivery needs of communities in liberated areas.



It will also support the restoration and preservation of key cultural heritage assets especially in the Old City of Mosul, he stated.



"The additional financing will also support the Government of Iraq in attracting private sector participation in reconstruction efforts. To this effect, studies will be carried out to assess the feasibility of public private partnerships in the reconstruction, operation and maintenance of Mosul airport, which was severely damaged during the liberation of Mosul," noted Jha.



Similar efforts will also extend to restoring public transport terminals that serve intercity transport, and reconstruction of key segments of the railway network, he added.-TradeArabia News Service
Egypt is likely to finalise contracts for its first nuclear power plant, which will have a 4,800-megawatt (MW) capacity, by the year-end, said a report.



Egypt had signed an agreement with Russia two years ago for funding the construction and operation of the plant, which will come up in Dabaa, a site in the north of the country, reported Emirati news agency Wam, citing the country's electricity minister Mohamed Shaker.



Official reports last year affirmed that the loan was worth $25 billion and would finance 85 per cent of the value of each work contract, services and equipment shipping. Egypt would fund the remaining 15 per cent, it added.
Riyadh is the number one in the GCC for the highest source of bot infections, a study said, adding that the Saudi Arabian capital city is also ranked as the fourth city in the Middle East with 43.1 per cent of bots in the region.



Dubai, United Arab Emirates, ranked #2 most bot infected city in the GCC and sixth in the Middle East with 24.7 per cent of bots in the region, according to the study conducted by Norton by Symantec, a leading cyber security company.



Meanwhile, Kuwait City, Kuwait, ranked #3 most bot infected city in the GCC and 10th in the Middle East with 13.2 per cent of bots in the region.



A year on from the Mirai botnets first major attack - which brought much of the internet to a standstill -Norton reveals how the global botnet has grown and which countries and cities unwittingly played host to the greatest number of bot infections. Around 6.7 million more bots joined the global botnet in 2016, and the GCC made up nearly 11.4 per cent of the Middle Easts total bot population.



Bots are Internet-connected devices of any kind, such as laptops, phones, IoT devices, baby monitors, etc. infected with malware that allow hackers to remotely take control of many devices at a time, typically without any knowledge of the device owner. Combined, these devices form powerful bot networks (botnets) that can spread malware, generate spam, and commit other types of crime and fraud online.



The GCC is widely considered a region that adopts new technologies more readily when compared to other global markets. But there seems to be a limited awareness amongst consumers about the various risks associated with using internet connected devices. In fact, more than 2.53 million consumers in the UAE were victims of online crime in the past year, and bots and botnets are a key tool in the cyber attackers arsenal, commented Tamim Taufiq, head of Norton Middle East.



Its not just computers that are providing criminals with their robot army; in 2016, we saw cyber criminals making increasing use of smartphones and Internet of Things (IoT) devices to strengthen their botnet ranks. Servers also offer a much larger bandwidth capacity for a DDoS attack than traditional consumer PCs, added Taufiq.



In fact, IoT devices may be part of the uptick in global bot infections in 2016. During its peak last year, when the Mirai botnet -made up of almost half a million Internet-connected devices such as IP cameras and home routers - was expanding rapidly - attacks on IoT devices were taking place every two minutes. Unbeknownst to the device owners, one in 50 IoT attacks originated from devices in the Middle East alone. The UAE accounted for five per cent of IoT attacks coming from the Middle East in 2016.



The ratio of bots per internet connected user in the GCC was significant as well. There is one bot for every 20 internet users in Kuwait; one bot for every 28 internet users in the UAE; and one bot for every 35 internet users in Saudi Arabia. The number is lower for Oman where there is 1 bot for every 50 internet users.



However, where a bot resides is not indicative of where its creator may live- an infected device in Dubai, for example, could contribute to an attack in the Asia, and be controlled by a cybercriminal somewhere in the US.



A bot might cause a device to slow down, display mysterious messages, or even crash for no apparent reason. Consumers should run a full diagnostic if any warning signs appear.



To safeguard against malicious bots:



 Install robust security software and firewalls to secure your device

 Never ignore system updates. Configure your software's settings to update automatically to make the most of patches and fixes that vendors provide

 Never click on file attachments within emails or messages unless you can verify the source of the attachment is legitimate. Be particularly wary of Microsoft Office attachments that prompt users to enable macros

 Use a long and complex password that contains numbers and symbols and never use the same password for multiple services

 Enable advanced account security features, like two factor authorisation and login notification, if available

 Increase the security settings on your browser and devices

 Always log out of your session when done  TradeArabia News Service
By PTI: compensation

(EDs:Updates toll; detail; Power min, Cong prez comments)

Lucknow, Nov 1 (PTI) A massive explosion ripped a boiler in the state-run power giant NTPCs Unchahar plant in Uttar Pradeshs Rae Bareli district today, killing at least sixteen persons while scores suffered severe burn injuries, officials said.

The NTPC initiated a probe to ascertain the reasons behind the blast while Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced Rs 2 lakh compensation for the families of those killed and Rs 50,000 for the grievously injured, they added.

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Sixteen persons have died while 90 to 100 were injured in the explosion at NTPCs Unchahar plant, UPs Principal Secretary (Home) Arvind Kumar said.

In a statement, the NTPC said that at around 1530 hrs at unit number six of its Unchahar plant, there was a sudden abnormal sound at 20 meters elevation.

There was an opening in corner number two from which hot flue gases and steam escaped affecting the people working around the area, the central public sector undertaking said.

It added that around 80 people were rushed to NTPC hospital, most of them were discharged after giving first-aid.

Union Power minister R K Singh, through social media posts, expressed deep anguish at the loss of lives and said that he had directed the NTPC Chairman and Managing Director Gurdeep Singh to rush to the site.

The Unchahar sub-division in Raebareli district is around 110 km from the state capital.

UPs ADG (Law and Order) Anand Kumar said that all available ambulances were pressed into action and the additional district magistrate and the additional superintendent of police were on the spot to supervise relief and rescue operations.

Chief Minister Adityanath, who was away in Mauritius on a three-day official visit, ordered that necessary steps be taken for rescue and relief.

The CM has taken cognisance of the Unchahar accident and has directed principal secretary (home) to ensure that all steps are taken for rescue and relief, principal secretary (information) Awanish Awasthi, who is accompanying Adityanath, said.

"The chief minister expressed his condolences over the deaths of workers in the Unchahar NTPC unit and announced Rs 2 lakh compensation for the family of those killed and Rs 50,000 for the grievously injured besides Rs 25,000 for other injured workers," Awasthi said.

A National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team was also despatched to the explosion site from the state capital for relief and rescue operations, an official said.

The explosion triggered panic among the employees who ran helter-skelter.

Such explosions can generate searing heat, an official said.

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An injured employee undergoing treatment at a hospital said that a sudden gush of hot gas with contents of ash-like material engulfed him at the NTPC plant.

The man said he was unable to understand what had happened and found himself on a hospital bed with his body scalded all over, when he regained consciousness.

The plant area was cordoned off by the police to facilitate smooth running of ambulances.

Congress president Sonia Gandhi expressed shock and horror at the "terrible tragedy" in her Lok Sabha constituency Raebareli. Conveying her deepest condolences to the families of the bereaved, Gandhi urged upon the authorities to provide immediate medical assistance to the injured.

District Magistrate Sanjay Kumar Khatri told PTI that 40 ambulances were immediately pressed into service.

Chief Medical Officer, Raebareli, DK Singh along with a team of ten doctors were deployed to carry out immediate treatment to the injured, he said.

He also said that arrangements have been made to bring the serious cases to KGMU hospital and Civil hospital in Lucknow. Some of the injured were being sent to Raebareli, Khatri said.

CMO Singh said that if necessary some of the critical cases could be referred to Delhi by air ambulance. PTI NAV ABN KKS SMI ADS

--- ENDS ---

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Movenpick Hotels & Resorts is lending its support to a mega eight-day electric vehicle relay that champions green mobility solutions for the future.



The Swiss hospitality firm, which prides itself on its sustainable tourism values and practices and was last year hailed the most Green Globe certified hotel company in the world, is a major sponsor of the Light Us Sustainable Relay  a unique event that aims to change perceptions about green transport.



The 3,500km relay, which is being co-organised by the Drive Group and the Moroccan Intelligence and Public Affairs Institute (MIPAI), started in Marrakech on October 30, will travel through six countries  Morocco, Spain, France, Switzerland, Belgium and Germany - and will finish in Bonn on November 6 to coincide with the start of COP 23, an annual United Nations climate change conference, which takes place in the city from November 6 to 17.



The relay will demonstrate how it is now possible to travel long distances in electric vehicles, encouraging people around the world to change the way they travel and drive to preserve the environment.



Several Movenpick properties are playing a key role in hosting drivers, spectators, media and other guests taking part in the relay, as well as staging events to mark the start and finish of the green mobility drive. They include the Movenpick Hotel Mansour Eddahbi Marrakech, which will host an opening party and Movenpick Hotel Frankfurt City, which will stage a spectacular gala dinner to officially close the relay on November 6.



At each stage of the eco-friendly expedition, the Tesla car drivers and their support teams will be hosted by local hotels including Movenpick Hotel Mansour Eddahbi Marrakech and Movenpick Hotel & Casino Malabata Tanger (Tangiers) in Morocco, Movenpick Hotel & Casino Geneva in Switzerland and Movenpick Hotel Frankfurt City in Germany.



With this high-profile relay making several pit-stops, many in locations where Movenpick operates properties, it provides the ideal opportunity to reach out to multiple audiences, raising awareness about the importance of preserving the environment for generations to come, said Olivier Chavy, president and CEO, Movenpick Hotels & Resorts.



By supporting this internationally-significant event, Movenpick hopes to play a key role in changing mindsets about sustainable mobility, inspiring positive changes for the future, a goal that is central to our corporate values and green practices.



These green mobility initiatives are aligned to the companys robust sustainability programme Shine, which aims to give back to the communities where the company operates properties.



Shine focuses on three pillars - Environment, Employer and Social Sustainability - with Education an important thread common to each. - TradeArabia News Service


Jazeera Airways, Kuwaits leading low cost airline, has launched an exciting promotion which will run from November 5 to November 29, on all Kuwait to Dubai bound flights.



All passengers booking a flight for travel Sunday-Wednesdays will automatically go into a draw that will entitle the winner to a voucher worth Dh500 ($136), redeemable at the Dubai Airport Duty Free.



Passengers on Dubai bound flights will enjoy a fun experience as the cabin crew will announce one lucky winner on each flight, handing over the card voucher for a unique shopping spree at one of the most sought after and biggest travel retail operators in the world.



Jazeera Airways travellers to Dubai can also look forward to exceptional other benefits. Operating three flights a day, Kuwaits low cost champion lands at Dubai International Terminal 1, offering the most convenient route to exit.



Passengers flying to Dubai can also benefit from Jazeera Airways Park & Fly service free of charge throughout this campaign. Jazeeras Park & Fly service is a unique offer for customers which enables them to avoid the congestion at Kuwait airport car parks by parking at the Park & Fly facility less than 1 km from the terminal, where they can check in for their flight, drop their bags and get their boarding passes. A special bus takes them to the airport.



Announcing the special promotion, Rohit Ramachandran, CEO at Jazeera Airways, said: We have an extremely attractive proposition for business and leisure travelers alike when flying in to Dubai, making the journey easier and more convenient, so people can maximize their valuable time at their destination. This promotion is making flying to Dubai with Jazeera even more enjoyable. - TradeArabia News Service


Buy-Side Unhappy with Tick Pilot; Want Rebates Banned

The Tick Pilot sucks, according to the buy-side, and it should be scrapped. Immediately.

Strong words to be sure. But thats the truth according to a recent report from market consultancy Greenwich Associates, where traders said the Securities and Exchange Commission should consider ending the failed Tick-Size Pilot in small-cap stocks early to free up time and resources for other experiments in equity market regulation, such as the proposed Access Fee Pilot Program, stock exchange speed-bumps and reforms or even the removal of the Order Protection Rule (OPR).

Wow. The buy-side, who gave feedback into this new report, didnt mince words. The report, Investors Take on Market Structure Issues, presents the findings of interviews with 52 U.S. buy-side equity traders about changes in market structure.

Tick-Size Disappointment

Institutional investors view the Tick-Size Pilot as a failure, Greenwich reported. The two-year test program was launched by the SEC in 2015 with the hopes of increasing market liquidity. Almost one-third the traders feel so negatively about the tick-size pilot that they think it should be discontinued immediately.

Its time to clear the deck of the tick pilot in order to focus on other topics, said Richard Johnson, Vice President of Market Structure and Technology at Greenwich Associates and author of the new report.

Speed Bumps

If anyone thought the matter of exchange speed bumps was settled when the SEC approved the speed-bump equipped IEX last June, they were mistaken. That decision approved the IEXs use of a coil of cable that introduces a 350 microsecond delay on orders going into and out of their matching engine said to take away the speed advantage of high frequency trading firms.

Not so fact.

Other exchanges, including the Chicago Stock Exchange have proposed variations on this approach. Currently, the market is divided, with three-quarters of traders in favor speed bumps, but 30% supporting the IEX model only.

This is not even a close call, Johnson said. If regulators have decided that speed bumps are a permissible part of market structure, then other exchanges should be free to implement their own versions, subject to regulatory approval.

Maker-Taker Pricing

Two-thirds of the equity traders in the Greenwich Associates report believe that maker-taker pricing creates distortions and is bad for market structure. In maker-taker pricing typically a rebate is provided to participants for adding liquidity to an order book and an access fee charged for removing liquidity. Many buy-side traders also think regulators should go farther and ban rebates altogether.

Order Protection Rule: An Obsolete Requirement?

When it came into force in 2005 as part of Reg NMS, Rule 611, or the Order Protection Rule (OPR), was very popular. Today brokers and institutional traders employ sophisticated algorithms and smart order routers, venue analysis and other analytic tools making this Rule unnecessary. Removing OPR could reduce complexity, fragmentation and the benefits of speed, while opening the door to innovative products.

We believe the OPR is likely obsolete, Johnson added. We would be supportive of a pilot which could quickly assess the effect on liquidity and execution performance.

For more information on related topics, visit the following channels:
Congress Rajya Sabha MP Ahmed Patel takes a jibe at BJP after they accused him of having links to Islamic State (ISIS).

By India Today Web Desk: Congress Rajya Sabha MP Ahmed Patel today tore into Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani for linking him with a suspected Islamic State (ISIS) operative by accusing the BJP of having links with alleged ISI terrorists.

"Terrorists who were arrested in Bhopal have links with the BJP," Patel said at a Congress rally in poll-bound Gujarat's Bharuch district, which was also addressed by party's vice-president Rahul Gandhi.

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Earlier this year, 11 persons - including Dhruv Saxena, a leader of the BJP's youth wing, Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) member and its district IT cell coordinator based in Bhopal - were arrested by the Madhya Pradesh ATS on charges of leaking Indian Army secrets to the Pakistani spy agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).

Another man among the 11 arrested was believed to be a relative of a sitting BJP corporator in Madhya Pradesh. Photos of Saxena attending an event being addressed by state Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan or dressed in saffron robes had gone viral on social media soon after the arrest. BJP denied any links with him.

PATEL DRAGS MODI INTO THE ISIS CONTROVERSY

The senior Congress leader, who has been party president Sonia Gandhi's chief political aide for a long time, also alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had himself inaugurated a hospital owned by a man close to the BJP, and where a technician, suspected to be an ISIS operative, once worked.

The same technician had also worked at a charitable hospital in Ankleshwar where Patel was a trustee over three years ago. The alleged ISIS operative was arrested by the Anti-Terrorism Squad late last month from Surat.

Patel said, "I conducted a research. He worked in hospitals instituted by BJP leaders. Care Hospital where he (the ISIS suspect) worked was inaugurated by the Prime Minister (Narendra Modi)."

"We don't need lessons in nationalism from the BJP. They should look into themselves," Patel said.

In his speech today, Patel asserted that it was "unbecoming of a Chief Minister to stoop so low" to cast outlandish aspersions on him.

He also said the BJP had no right to speak of terrorism. "BJP speaking of terrorism?" he asked, and referring to former Prime Ministers Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi, said "Congress leaders have suffered the most because of terrorism."

--- ENDS ---
By PTI: New Delhi, Nov 1 (PTI) Air Force Chief B S Dhanoa is on a five-day visit to Vietnam to enhance bilateral ties, the Air Force said today.

Air Chief Marshal B S Dhanoa is on an official visit to Vietnam from October 30 to November 3. "Aim of visit is to improve Bilateral Relations & #DefenceCooperation," the official handle of the Indian Air Force tweeted.

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Last month, Navy chief Sunil Lanba had undertaken a four-day visit to the Southeast Asian nation. The aim of his visit was to "consolidate cooperation" between the armed forces of India and Vietnam and also to "explore new avenues of defence cooperation". PTI PR DIP

--- ENDS ---
By PTI: New Delhi, Nov 1 (PTI) To mark the annual Sweden India Nobel Memorial Week, a new art exhibition -- "The Jewels of India" -- celebrating the countrys Nobel laureates began here today.

The artworks made by fine art students from schools across Delhi-NCR, are exhibited on the "Sweden India Nobel Memorial Wall" established by the Embassy of Sweden in India at the Rajiv Chowk metro station here.

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The Wall is a yearly property created to bring India together to appreciate the laureates for their achievements in varied fields.

The wall has on display portraits of Rabindranath Tagore, CV Raman, Amartya Sen, Kailash Satyarthi, Mother Teresa among others.

The eight artworks were selected from over 30 entries made to the Sweden India Nobel Memorial Painting Contest.

One of the winners of the contest, Akshita Saxena, has made a portrait of Kailash Sathyarthi in chalk pastels and charcoal on canvas.

"I chose Kailash Sathyarthi because he has been fighting for child rights that is still an important issue in our society," she said.

The charcoal used in the painting is symbolic of the hardships of the numerous underprivileged children in the Indian society.

"I think we should stop being the victims of everyday incidents and do our bit to emerge out of this darkness," Saxena added.

Kriti Chatrath, a student at Amity University made a portrait of physicist C V Raman.

Made on a fabriano sheet using steadler pencil colours elucidates Ramans work on the scattering of light and the discovery of the Raman effect.

"I had always been interested in Physics. When I learnt about the contest, I decided I wanted to draw C V Raman. But, I struggled in gathering information about him.

"It took a lot of research. I finally decided to showcase him with a reflection of the contribution he has made to science," the 25-year-old student said.

The winners were awarded a cash prize along with a certificate of appreciation from the Embassy of Sweden.

"From the first non-European laureate Rabindranath Tagore and the first non-European science laureate C V Raman, to a modern day fighter for childrens rights, Satyarthi, the remarkable contributions of Indian Nobel Laureates have inspired many across the world.

"India and Sweden share strong cultural and diplomatic relations. Events like these are a step further to strengthen this special bond," Anna Ekstrom, Swedens Minister for upper secondary school and adult education and training, said.

The exhibition is set to continue till November 7 here. PTI RJS TRS TRS

--- ENDS ---

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New Delhi, November 1

Bharti AXA Life Insurance, a subsidiary of Bharti Enterprises, on Wednesday appointed Vikas Seth as Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

Prior to joining Bharti AXA, Seth was with the Aditya Birla Group for nearly 10 years, the company said in a statement.

The appointment is subject to requisite approval by insurance regulator Irda, it said.

Seth succeeds Sandeep Ghosh as the CEO of the joint venture company between Bharti Enterprises and AXA of France.

Seth would be responsible for managing the overall business, driving new partnership tie-ups as well as the growth roadmap of the organisation, the company said. PTI
New Delhi: The ED on Wednesday arrested a businessman here in connection with its money laundering probe in the over Rs 5,000 crore alleged bank fraud case involving a Gujarat-based pharma firm and few other hawala deals. Official sources said the central probe agency arrested Gagan Dhawan early on Wednesday from the national capital, under sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), after he was called for questioning in the case. PTI
Sai R Vaidyanathan

The desire to go abroad and do well is not unique to Punjabis. The Odiyas too have a long history of it.

And on this Saturday, when Punjabis will be celebrating Gurpurb, residents of the tricity hailing from Odisha will celebrate Boita Bandhana.

In olden days, sea traders from Odisha  called sadhabas  used to sail to distant lands like Java, Sumatra, Borneo and Ceylon on huge boats (called boita).

For their trip to be safe and successful, the women would see them off on the auspicious day of Kartik Purnima.

To commemorate those adventures on the high seas, Odiyas today float small boats made of cork, paper or thermocol in nearby ponds and rivers.

Members of the community from the tricity will launch 50 boats  small and big  at 6 am on November 4. For this, a small pond has been dug up on the premises of Shri Jagannath Temple, Sector 31-D, Chandigarh, said priest Lakshminarayan.

After that, a team from Gaudiya Muth, Sector 20, Chandigarh, will conduct kirtan. That will be followed by bhandara at 1 pm, said Sushant Kumar Nayak, general secretary of the temple.

The month of Kartik is special to the Odiyas. A large majority of us dont consume non-vegetarian food in this month. Even the remaining few give up eggs, fish and meat for the last five days of Kartik. This period is called Panchuka, said Sushant.

The state and the sea
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 31

Three concepts and research technologies of Prof Indu Pal Kaur, Dean, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences (UIPS), Panjab University (PU), found industry buyers today. The agreements would help generate a revenue of Rs 31 lakh.

About 30 per cent of the earnings would go to the PU and the rest would stay with the inventors.

Vice-Chancellor Arun K Grover signed two agreements with Hitech Formulations Private Limited, Chandigarh, and Unique Biotech Limited, Hyderabad, in the presence of Prof Kaur, Prof OP Katare, Director, Research Promotion Cell, and Prof Sanjeev Puri, Director, Centre for Industry Institute Partnership Programme (CIIPP).

Jaspreet Singh Gulati, Director, Hitech Formulations Private Limited, signed the document and handed over the technology transfer fee to the Director, CIIPP. Prof Kanwaljit Chopra, Chairperson, UIPS, represented the UIPS on the occasion.

The PU spokesperson said that such addition to the intellectual property licensing portfolio adds prestige to the university, credibility to the research conceptualisation and also fetch high scores for the university under various ranking systems.

A dermaceutical industry, Hitech Formulations Private Limited, with its main offices at Chandigarh and headed by Gulati signed two patent license agreements with the PU on a US and Indian Patent applications filed by Prof Kaur.

Kaur and Gulati have been collaborating for more than two years now and a PhD student of Prof Kaur had earlier bagged a PM fellowship, which was sponsored by Hitech Formulations Pvt. Ltd. The first technology concerns a product for acne while second is an antifungal product. The anti-acne product reduced irritation by tretinoin and anti-fungal product makes itself stable for better absorption by the skin, said Prof Kaur.

In another deal, a tech-transfer agreement was signed with Unique Biotech Limited (UBL), a biotech company from Hyderabad. The concept of research work conducted at the labs of Prof Kaur was so interesting that the UBL not only agreed to buy the technology but also agreed to bear all expenses for filing a world-wide patent for the technology, said the PU spokesperson.

It is a probiotic formulation which will help in treating vaginal infection. Earlier, we have benn giving antibiotics. It will help in developing anti-acne and also wound healing product, she said.

Kaur will work in close association with both the companies to ensure commercialization of these products soon. Primary focus of her work research has been to develop technologies which can be easily and effectively scaled-up and have commercial viability and translation. She has filed 18 patent applications out of which One Indian Patent was granted early this year and a US patent application has been recently approved for grant. Latter is one of the technologies to be developed at Hitech Formulations Private Limited.

About the initiative

Hitech Formulations Limited signed two agreements and will pay Rs 16 lakh for licence and technology transfer. Of this, Rs 8 lakh is paid at the time of execution of agreement and rest at the time of grant of patent or at the time of commercialisation of any product.

Unique Biotech Ltd (UBL) will pay a total of Rs 15 lakh. Principle of cooperation is regarding bearing expenses for filing of patent application for the study entitled, Development and evaluation of topical and vaginal probiotic formulations. Dr Indu Pal Kaur and Garima Sharma will be the inventors of the patent application filed. Unique Biotech Limited ( UBL) will be a co-assignee along with Panjab University. Rs 5 lakh will be paid initially at the time of signing of the agreement and Rs 5 lakh after grant of patent in the designated countries. After 18 months of commercial launch of the product by the UBL, it will pay tech transfer fees of Rs 5 lakh.
G Parthasarathy

G Parthasarathy

LED by the US and Soviet Union, the five Permanent Members of the UN Security Council tried to ensure, some five decades ago, that they alone had the divine right to possess nuclear weapons in perpetuity, with the signing of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). Their nuclear arsenals steadily increased and pleas for nuclear disarmament arrogantly disregarded. The world nuclear scenario today is now different to what the five envisaged. Nuclear stockpiles have steadily grown. In the past few decades, Israel, Pakistan, India and North Korea have joined the nuclear club. Others like Japan and Iran are capable of doing so when needed. There are an estimated 14,900 nuclear warheads in nine countries, with 93 per cent of these in the possession of the US and Russia.

While China tested and acquired nuclear weapons in the 1960s, the next country to acquire nuclear weapons was Pakistan, which commenced its quest for nuclear weapons after the 1971 Bangladesh conflict. India crossed the nuclear threshold only after it received a veiled nuclear threat from Pakistan during tensions over military exercises named Operation Brasstacks in January 1987. Instructions were issued in 1988 to nuclear scientist PK Iyengar and scientific adviser VS Arunachalam to assemble a nuclear arsenal. Indias distinguished strategic thinker, K Subrahmanyam, provided the strategic rationale for the nuclear weapons programme. India decisively demonstrated its nuclear weapons capabilities 10 years later, with the Pokhran tests. Pakistan predictably followed suit, barely a fortnight later.

India is today confronted with a situation where China has not only provided Pakistan with designs and equipment for manufacturing nuclear weapons, but has also given Pakistan the knowhow and materials for manufacturing missiles capable of carrying nuclear weapons to every part of India, including the Andaman islands. While these facts are known to those involved inside and outside the government in monitoring nuclear developments, it is astonishing that public knowledge on this crucial issue is limited. Sadly, it has never been debated seriously in Parliament. Surely, the public and Parliament need to know more on these issues, to promote awareness of the challenges the nation faces from two hostile neighbours working together dangerously. American nuclear analyst Gary Milhollin has perceptively noted: If you subtract Chinas help from Pakistans nuclear programme, there is no Pakistani nuclear weapons programme.

While Zulfikar Ali Bhutto moved to establish a nuclear weapons capability within weeks of the Bangladesh conflict, his prison memoirs suggest that he was guaranteed of Chinese assistance after his meeting with Chairman Mao in 1976. China, with antiquated uranium enrichment facilities, benefited from designs stolen by AQ Khan from European (URENCO) enrichment facilities. By the early 1980s, China was providing Pakistan designs for nuclear weapons. China currently has approximately 280 nuclear warheads for delivery by 150 land-based and 48 sea-based missiles and fighter aircraft. While India is estimated to possess 110-120 nuclear warheads. Pakistan has 130-140 nuclear warheads, designed for delivery by ballistic and cruise missiles and aircraft. Experts estimate that Pakistans stockpile could potentially grow to 220-250 warheads by 2025, making it the worlds fifth-largest nuclear weapons state. Pakistans missiles, with ranges up to 2,750 km, are all of Chinese design and produced at the National Defence Complex facilities in the Kala Chitta Dhar mountain range to the west of Islamabad. The development, production and test launching of missiles is done at locations south of Attock, using road mobile Chinese-designed missile launchers, produced in Fatehjang.

According to former US Air Force Secretary Thomas Reed, himself a designer of nuclear weapons at Americas Los Alamos Laboratories: The Chinese did a massive training of Pakistani (nuclear) scientists, brought them to China for lectures, even gave the design of the CHIC-4 device, which was a weapon that was easy to build as a model for export. There is evidence that AQ Khan used Chinese designs for his nuclear designs. Notes from those lectures later turned up in Libya. And the Chinese did similar things for the Saudis, North Koreans and Algerians. The great champions of nuclear non-proliferation in the US, who lectured India for decades on non-proliferation, covered up and did nothing to curb these Chinese activities. Pakistan is also known to have received liquid-fuelled ballistic missiles from North Korea in exchange for information on uranium enrichment, in a deal evidently undertaken with Chinese blessings.

Though Pakistan has not enunciated a formal nuclear doctrine, its then head of strategic planning division of its nuclear command authority, Lt-Gen Khalid Kidwai, had averred that Pakistans nuclear weapons were aimed solely at India. Kidwai added that Pakistan would use nuclear weapons if India conquers a large part of Pakistani territory, or destroys a large part of its land and air forces. Kidwai also held out the possibility of using nuclear weapons if India tries to economically strangulate Pakistan, or pushes it to political destabilisation. India has declared that it will not be the first to use nuclear weapons and will use nuclear weapons only if its territory or armed forces face an attack anywhere, in which nuclear, chemical or biological weapons are used. Since India has no desire to conquer large parts of Pakistani territories or destroy its armed forces, there is no possibility of India provoking a nuclear conflict. But, given Kidwais utterances about a full spectrum deterrent, involving the use of tactical nuclear weapons, issued after he retired, New Delhi has to carefully review nuclear strategy imaginatively, bearing in mind that our no first use doctrine has served us well internationally.

It is obvious, especially after Xi Jinpings recent enunciation of Chinese global ambitions at the Party Congress, that missile and nuclear proliferation by China to Pakistan will continue in its efforts to contain India. Pakistan has already tested a sea-based missile and China is set to strengthen Pakistans navy with substantial supply of submarines and frigates. China appears determined to use Pakistan as its stalking horse for its maritime ambitions to promote its OBOR projects in the Indian Ocean. The most crucial challenge we now face is how to deal with a jingoistic China, for which containing India has been a continuing strategic effort for over four decades now. Balancing Chinese power necessarily involves developing partnerships with others across the Indo-Pacific region. Chinas policies are multi-faceted and Beijing will likely avoid open hostility, even as it continues to keep up pressures along its borders with India and uses proxies across Indias immediate neighbourhood to keep India tied up in South Asia. These issues will, hopefully, be reviewed and discussed in Parliament.
THE BJP has sensibly given a break to its absolute reliance on Brand Modi and announced 73-year-old PK Dhumal as its chief-ministerial candidate for Himachal Pradesh. It is an odd choice because of the BJPs undeclared age bar of 75 for holding executive office. The unwritten understanding is that he will hand over the reins to JP Nadda, the presumed heir-apparent and Shah-Modi favourite, once he turns 75 in April 2019. If he carries the day for the BJP, Dhumal may then be disinclined to demit office in case Modis political fortunes nosedive by the time 2019 rolls around. It will also be a gross betrayal of the voters mandate. After all, the BJP has justified Dhumals announcement on the basis that it would give the party a clearer majority and that most of the cadre had sought his leadership.

The mid-course announcement may well be betraying the BJPs nervousness brought about by its shaky position in Gujarat and a below-par showing in areas of Gurdaspur, bordering Himachal Pradesh. After all, the BJP had fought the elections to an insular state like UP without a CMs face. Whatever be the BJPs calculations and compulsions, the Dhumal gambit has robbed it of its two electoral battering rams  dynasty and corruption. It is hobbled from attacking the incumbent CM Virbhadra Singh on dynastic politics because Dhumals son is a BJP MP. It cannot go all out on corruption because while Virbhadra is an accused, the courts have convicted the recently-inducted Sukh Ram, who is promoting his grandson to boot.

As Hindu-Muslim polarisation earns no additional votes in the hill state, the Himachal election for the BJP boils down to vikas with a dash of nationalism. Add to that the fact that Virbhadra has not done too badly on the development front. The old man is undiminished in his appetite for campaigning and rhetoric. The odds may still favour the BJP but the Dhumal move will not be without its potential for collateral damage. A fight is on in Himachal Pradesh.
Satya Prakash

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, November 1

Suspecting foul play, the Supreme Court on Wednesday ordered a CBI probe into acquisition of 1,400-acre land by the then Bhupinder Singh Hooda government in Gurugram in 2009.

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A bench of Justice Arun Mishra and Justice Mohan M. Shantanagoudar asked the CBI to complete the investigation in six months and submit a report to it.

The bench wondered how initially 1,400 acre land was notified for acquisition and finally award was passed for only 87 acre on the pretext that the said 87 acre land was required for Infrastructure Development Projects. The rest of land was allotted to various entities including, colonisers and builders, it was alleged.

Terming it a colourable exercise of power, the bench said provisions of Land Acquisition Act had been misused.

The order came after Haryana Additional Advocate General Anil Grover told the bench that the present state government led by Manohar Lal Khattar did not have any objection to the matter being probe by the CBI.

The Haryana governments stand was communicated to the Supreme Court after Advocate General Baldev Raj Mahajan discussed the matter with the Chief Minister in detail.

Accordingly, the top court was informed that the state government had no objection to handing over matter to the CBI for probe.

However, the state government has made it clear to the court that the observations made by the Punjab and Haryana High Court in its January 10, 2014 order regarding External Development Charges (EDC) should not be treated as binding as it might have a bearing on other cases.

The bench had on Tuesday specifically sought to know the Haryana governments stand on the issue after advocate Jasbir Singh Malik, representing the landowners, said poor farmers had to suffer because of this kind of misuse of power.

Courts cannot be oblivious to the fact that the 1,400-acre land initially meant to be acquired for development by HUDA and finally it was reduced to 87 acres only for which the award was passed.
Tribune News Service

Fatehabad, November 1

Abhilaksh Likhi, Principal Secretary, Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Department, said on Tuesday that to check over-exploitation of water in the dark zones of the state, the government had decided to extensively promote micro irrigation by providing incentives to farmers. He was speaking at Bhimewala village of Fatehabad.

Likhi was on a visit to different villages of Fatehabad district to meet farmers and know their problems. He said 36 over-exploited blocks had been identified under the dark zone and micro irrigation projects were to be launched in these areas.

The projects include underground water conveyance system for efficient use of water distributed through open channel, sprinkler, drip system and the implementation of watershed activities in the state under the Agriculture Department among others.

Likhi said a budget of Rs 40 crore had been earmarked for the underground water conveyance system, while there was a provision of Rs 150 crore for the sprinkler and drip irrigation system.

He called upon the officials of the Agriculture and Horticulture Departments to believe in Prime Minister Narendra Modis announcement of doubling farmers income by 2022.

Haryana is the first state of the country where farmers have been made 100 per cent risk-free by the Prime Minister Fasal Bima Yojana, he said.
Lalit Mohan

Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, November 1

Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh today campaigned for young party candidate from Palampur. While addressing a rally in favour Ashish Butail, who is son of Speaker of Himachal Vidhan Sabha, BBL Butail, the Chief Minister said that the BJP had always resorted to divisive politics while the Congress had sought votes on development.

He said the BJP had always tried to divide Himachal into upper and lower areas to come to power. However, for him all Himachal was one and he had never discriminated against any area of the state in terms of development.

Virbhadra Singh claimed that there was a wave in favour of the Congress in the state due to development works carried out by the state government. The BJP was forced to declare Prem Kumar Dhumal as the CM face due to wave in favour of the Congress in the state, he said.

He called upon the Congress workers in Palampur to work for ensuring the victory of Ashish Butail.

Ranjeeta Ranjan, co-incharge of the Congress, said the BJP was targeting the Himachal government on law and order and crime against women. However, more crime against women was taking place in the BJP-ruled states.

In Uttar Pradesh, the BJP government had announced that it would stop eve-teasing outside educational institutes. Instead even brothers and sisters had been arrested during the police over drive. The goons who had committed heinous crimes against women in UP are roaming free, she alleged.

Ranjeeta Ranjan alleged that the Congress was being accused of bringing in its star campaigners in Himachal. In Himachal we have just one star campaigner who can take on the entire team of BJP leaders. He is Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh she said.

Ranjeeta Ranjan also alleged that the vision document of the BJP had nothing much for the people of the state. The Congress government had already implemented most of the schemes that have been promised by the BJP in its vision document, she alleged.

Speaker of Himachal Assembly BBL Butail, while addressing the rally, said that the Congress had carried out extensive development in the entire state in the last five years and was seeking votes in lieu of that.
Pratibha Chauhan

Tribune News Service

Shimla, November 1

The ruling Congress in Himachal Pradesh on Wednesday released its manifesto, promising to strengthen the farm sector by granting interest-free loans to farmers, creation of 1.50 lakh jobs in the government sector and free laptops to 50,000 college students.

The manifesto lays thrust on strengthening the farm sector and proposes a Rs 1-lakh interest-free loan and 90 per cent subsidy on anti-hail net.

Also read: BJP on backfoot in Himachal, says Vikramaditya Singh

(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)

The manifesto also attempts to woo employees, pensioners and daily wagers.

Our manifesto is a golden link in the chain of colossal progress in Himachal. Once again, we embark on this momentous journey #MissionHP2017 pic.twitter.com/oY0TaFquym  Virbhadra Singh (@virbhadrasingh) November 1, 2017

It says the contractual employees would be regularised in two years and pensioners would get substantial hike in pension.

The VAT on petrol and diesel would be reduced and the GST limit would be enhanced from present Rs 10 lakh to Rs 20 lakh to give benefit to traders, a issue raked by the BJP time and again.

The Congress also promises higher compensation to landowners in land acquisition for four landing and other road projects.

It also proposes pension scheme for workers in unorganised sector and says marriage grant to daughters of widows would be increased to Rs 1 lakh.

The manifesto released by Chief minister Virbhadra Singh, Health Minister Kaul Singh, who is also chairman of manifesto Committee and AICC general secretary Sushil Kumar Shinde claimed that Congress had fulfilled 95 per cent of poll promises and would implement the remaining promises and fresh promises in the next term, if voted to power.

Singh said his government has ensured speedy and uniform development of the entire state, which is visible on the ground and development and welfare of all sections of people would be the main poll plank.

Kaul Singh said the Congress provided government jobs to 75,000 youth during the present term and 1.50 lakh jobs would be given in the next five years. For land acquired by the government, four times the market value will be provided as compensation.

The manifesto also promises enhancement of pension by 5, 10 and 15 per cent after the age of 65, 70 and 75 years, additional increments to employees after fourth, ninth and fourteenth year of service, increasing daily wages to Rs 350 and free laptops to 50,000 college students.

The Congress also promised decentralisation of administrative and financial powers down to panchayat level and continue food subsidy scheme to control price rise.

Speaking to reporters, Virbhadra Singh said the BJP's decision to filed P K Dhumal would have no impact on prospects of the Congress.

The Himachal Pradesh elections will be held on November 9 and the result will be declared on December 18.
By PTI: Guwahati, Nov 1 (PTI) Assam government today signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) and Terms of Reference (ToR) with Singapore for skilling youth of the state.

The MoU and ToR for North East Skills Centre (NESC) was signed between Skill, Employment and Entrepreneurship Department, of Assam government and ITE Education Service, Singapore in the presence of Foreign Affairs Minister of Singapore Dr Vivian Balakrishnan and Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal here.

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An MoU for Guwahati City Greening was inked between the Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority and Singapore Corporation Enterprise.

The Singapore Foreign Affairs Minister termed the occasion as the beginning of a lasting friendship which would be beneficial for both Assam and Singapore.

"Assam is a beautiful land with hills and mountains which are full of greenery. This land is strategically located and has huge potential. We are mandated by the Prime Ministers of both the countries to work for mutual growth", Balakrishnan said.

He further mentioned, "As the economy in the world is rapidly transforming, it is important to provide jobs and skills to our youth. Singapore is partnering with Assam to train the trainers to amplify the impact of the training centre".

Taking part in the signing ceremony of MoUs and ToR, Sonowal expressed the hope that the signing of MoUs between Governments of Assam and Singapore would open new vistas for the youth and requested the Singapore Government to join hands for more such collaborations in future.

Sonowal said Assam Government aims to create a workforce empowered with upgraded skills, knowledge and internationally recognised qualifications to gain access to employment and ensure Indias competitiveness in the dynamic global market with support from Singapore Government.

Informing that the state government will provide skill development training to 78,500 poor rural youths during 2016-19 under the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDUJKY), Sonowal expressed the view that the partnership with Singapore would greatly boost the initiative.

"As the state aspires to become the new engine of growth for the country through Prime Minister Narendra Modis Act East Policy, I am glad to acknowledge Singapores cooperation towards achieving this goal by skilling our youth through Technical & Vocational Education and Training (TVET) system to usher in a period of rapid socio-economic development by sharing knowledge and building capacity", he said.

The NESC will train up to a total of 400 students each year who would contribute towards generating a skilled human resource pool, the chief minister added.

Sonowal further stated the state government has initiated an innovative project for beautification of Guwahati city and improvement of quality of life of its inhabitants through a Project called Guwahati Open Space and Park Integrator (GOPI) Network.

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"Guwahati has a large number of water bodies, open spaces, parks which can be holistically developed as one large potential area for green space.

This unique project is sought to be designed and developed on the model of "Park Connector Network" being implemented by National Park Authority in Singapore", he said.

Highlighting the immense natural resources of the state and its tourism potential, Sonowal sought Singapore governments cooperation for showcasing it to global audience. PTI ESB RG LNS

--- ENDS ---
Dipender Manta

Tribune News Service

Thunag, November 1

BJP national president Amit Shah targeted Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh over corruption charges and deteriorating law and order situation in the state.

He was here at Thunag, 60 km away from Mandi in Seraj valley, to address a public meeting in favour of BJP candidate Jai Ram Thakur.

Addressing a gathering at Thunag, Shah said: Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi has asked the BJP to give details of its performance in its three-year regime, but we ask Rahul that he should tell what the Congress has done for the country in the last 60 years.

In the last five years mafia raj has become active in the state and law and order situation is deteriorating day by day. The Chief Minister is involved in corruption charges. The Kotkhai gang-rape and murder case has put a question mark over the functioning of the state government, where seven police officers, who were earlier investigating the case, are in jail, he said.

He said the mysterious death of forest guard Hoshiyar Singh indicated that forest mafia was active in the state and law and order situation was deteriorating.

Shah claimed that it was not only a wave, but a BJP tsunami, which would oust the Congress from power in the state. He urged people to vote for BJP candidate Jai Ram Thakur and ensure his victory with a huge margin.

Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the BJP is moving ahead to make India Congress-mukt and now it is the turn of Himachal, where the BJP will win 60 plus seats under the leadership of Prem Kumar Dhumal, he added.

Shah claimed that the Centre was providing adequate funds for the state under various schemes, but the Virbhadra-led government deprived the people of the state of those schemes.

Under the 14th Finance Commission, the share of Himachal was multiplied by the NDA government, which was quite low under the Congress regime, he said.

He said Jai Ram Thakur would be given a big responsibility.

State deprived people of Central benefits, says BJP chief

Hamirpur: BJP president Amit Shah said that Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi should tell people what his ancestors had done for the country in the last 60 years instead of asking BJP leaders that what the party had done in the past three years. Addressing an election rally here on Wednesday, he alleged that Congress leaders had ruined the country with corruption and scams. He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had given a new pace to development in the country and Himachal was given special attention. He said though the Centre had increased assistance to the state, the benefit could not reach the people. Speaking on the occasion, former CM Prem Kumar Dhumal claimed that there was no law and order in the state and people were living under threat. He claimed that people had made up their mind to change the government and the BJP would win over 60 seats to form the government. OC
Arteev Sharma and Sanjay Pathak

Tribune News Service

Jammu/Kathua, November 1

With 424 patients testing positive for dengue since the disease broke out this season in the region, particularly Jammu and Kathua districts, the state administration has been caught napping in dealing with the outbreak.

The fear-stricken patients, who failed to get basic treatment in state-run hospitals, were forced to move to private hospitals outside the state. According to official sources, the blood samples of as many as 2,704 patients were taken in Jammu province till today. Of these, 424 have tested positive while the report of 179 is awaited.

In Jammu district alone, the number of dengue cases is 327. Nearly 250 cases were from the Jammu city areas, thereby raising a question mark on the preparedness of the Jammu Municipal Corporation, Health department and other departments, a source said.

Similarly, panic has gripped the residents of Kathua  the gateway of J&K  where 81 patients tested positive for dengue till today. Despite the fact that a majority of suspected dengue patients were from a few pockets in Kathua town, the authorities failed to take suitable remedial measures to control the disease.

Furthermore, the inordinate delay of the authorities in providing the confirmatory ELISA-IGM test reports for detection of dengue created a scare among the suspected patients who rushed to private hospitals outside the state where the reports are made available within hours.

Recently, major hospitals in Jammu and other districts ran short of kits for conducting the ELISA-IGM tests. Consequently, the patients were either kept waiting for days together or they went to private hospitals for early treatment.

This could be gauged from the fact that 220 suspected patients of dengue from the Jammu region were admitted to Dayanand Medical College and Hospital (DMCH), Ludhiana, which was most preferred hospital for the patients from the region, in the past two months. Of these, 148 tested positive and were provided satisfactory treatment at the hospital. The number of unreported cases was quite high.

I was forced to take treatment at the DMCH because the district hospital lacks basic facilities to deal with dengue. The administration is also equally responsible as it did not take preventive steps to check the dengue scare, said Narinder Sambyal, a resident of Ward number 4 in Kathua.

Mahipal Sharma, husband of a dengue patient, said he shifted his wife to Ludhiana after she tested positive for dengue. Poor patients are deprived of quality treatment as the district hospital has no facility to diagnose dengue. It takes more than a week to get the confirmatory test report. This forces patients to get treatment at private hospitals, he said.

Chief Medical Officer, Kathua, AK Choudhary said, A total of 81 cases of dengue cases have been reported in the district so far and a majority of the patients have come from the town, particularly Ward numbers 5, 6 and 7. We have now provided dengue test facility in the hospital. As the mercury is dipping and the breeding season of mosquitoes is coming to an end, we hope the scare will lessen soon.

Dr JP Singh, Epidemiologist, Jammu division, said a total of 2,704 samples were collected from the division till today. Of these, 424 patients tested positive. The problem needs collective efforts. Citizens, Health department and civic body need to work in close tandem in minimising its impact. The favourable conditions for the spread of dengue are between 25-35 degrees C. With the fall in temperature, its intensity will come down, he said.

Shortage of testing kits
New Delhi, November 1

A local court has sent Hizbul Mujahidden chief Syed Salahuddins son to judicial custody on charges of being involved in a 2011 case of funding terrorist activities.

The court on Wednesday sent Salahuddins son Syed Shahid Yousuf to judicial custody until November 27.

The NIA claims Yousuf was one of the several Indian in touch with Ghulam Mohd Bhat  who was among several people the agency arrested in 2011 on charges of trying to use hawala channels to bring money for terrorist activities from Pakistan into Jammu and Kashmir. The agency claimed they had Rs 21.20 lakh in their possession when they were arrested.

The agency accuses Yousuf  previously working as an agricultural assistant in the state government  of collecting money from a militant outfit in Saudi Arabia, and taking directions from other suspects on his father Salahuddins orders.

US State Department declared Salahuddin a Specially Designated Global Terrorist in June this year.

The NIA claims Yousuf received Rs 4.5 lakh through eight international wire transfers. The agency has so far filed two charge sheets against six people, including Bhat, a close aide of separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani.

It has also registered two other cases of terror funding  one in November 2011 and the other in May this year.

Besides, it has also formally filed charges against 10 people  Salahuddin among them  in the 2011 case.

Some 10 people  among them some close relatives and aides of Geelani  have also been arrested.  PTI
Search engine giant Google today paid a tribute to Urdu writer, critic and linguist Abdul Qavi Desnavi on his 87th birth anniversary with a special doodle. Desnavi, who was born in Desna village in Nalanda district of Bihar, passed away on July 7, 2011, in Bhopal, where he spent his life.

Designed by guest artist Prabha Mallya, the Google home page shows the bespectacled scholar in a black bandhgala at work against a stylised Google written in the manner of the Urdu script. He exerted powerful influence on the evolution of Urdu literature and academic thought in India, Googles doodle page said.

In the course of a literary career that spanned five decades, he authored a vast body of Urdu works covering fiction, biographies, poetry and anthologies. His magnum opus was the biographical Hayat-e-Abul Kalam Azad, celebrating the life of Indias first education minister and freedom fighter Maulana Sayyid Abul Kalam Ghulam Muhiyuddin Ahmed Azad, commonly remembered as Maulana Azad.

His other major works include Ajnabi Shaher, Allama Iqbal Bhopal Mein, Bachchon Ka Iqbal and more. Desnavi served as professor and head of the Urdu Department at Bhopals Saifia College. Many scholars, poets and teachers, including lyricist and poet Javed Akhtar, were his students.  PTI
Los Angeles, November 1

Netflix has announced that the production on the sixth and last installment of "House of Cards" is suspended until further notice in wake of sexual harassment claims levied against the show's lead Kevin Spacey.

The streaming giant issued a statement on its US official Twitter account.

"Production on the final season of House of Cards is suspended until further notice.

"This will give us time to review the current situation with our producing partners at MRC," the tweets read.

Netflix and Media Rights Capital (MRC) banner jointly produce the popular political drama, which was being filmed in Baltimore from early October.

The statement further read, "Execs are on set this week discussing with our cast and crew. More details to come."

The news comes after actor Anthony Rapp alleged Spacey of harassing him in an inebriated state at his party when he was a minor, the two companies issued a joint statement expressed their concern on learning the claims.

"In response to last night's revelations, executives from both of our companies arrived in Baltimore this afternoon to meet with our cast and crew to ensure that they continue to feel safe and supported," the statement read.

It was also announced that the streaming giant has decided to put an end to "House of Cards" with season six.

A representative for Netflix, however, confirmed to The Times that the move is unrelated to the sexual assault allegations against Spacey, who is also one of the executive producers of the show.  PTI
Manpriya Singh

During his short visit to Chandigarh sometime this year, designer Manish Malhotra had spoken about his then yet-to-be-showcased collection and also how he had started doing gowns, just a couple of years ago. Courtesy, the redefined quintessential Indian bride who has been hung on gowns like the West! Because at any wedding you see, one function is a gown, shared Manish, provoking us to think of a trend that has been so visible as to not be noticed.

JJ Vallaya, back in 2015, during his visit to Chandigarh, however, didnt think much of the western silhouette merged with Indian embroidery; think lehenga gown or Anarkali gown. Well, if you really want a gown then go to Paris, because that is where they get the art of making it right. But getting a gown designed here is like asking Valentino to make a lehenga, he had said, once again provoking us to think of the silhouette and how popular it was with brides here.

Gown glory

Little wonder, every designer showcasing at the major weeks does include a fair share of the silhouette, some merged with Indian motifs and embroidery, others totally western in colours, like champagne; still some others with a pre-draped dupatta over the one-piece structure. Shyamal and Bhumikas collection, The Princess Soiree, as showcased at India Couture Week 2017, included floor sweeping gowns, among other staples like kalidaar jackets and lehengas. Earlier this year, at one of the shows by designer Monisha Jaising, evening gowns shared equal space with concept lehengas and cocktail sarees in the collection titled Opera. The designer has always played upon the gown, often reserving the outfit for showstoppers. Speaking of which, Preity Zinta walked the ramp for duo Falguni and Shane Peacock at Lakmes Winter Festive 2017, in a radiant cold shoulder gown with silver embellishments.

Trend talk

Its a trend that has lasted more than what was even predicted by those in the fashion industry. City-based designer Sana Ghai, who runs the label The Butterfly, feels the trend of gowns at Indian weddings is a mismatch, but does make them to please the bridezillas! The gown culture seeping into an Indian wedding is just a reflection of so many other western concepts making their way here. Be it the cake-cutting or cocktail parties. She adds, There are so many and such a wide variety of beautiful Indian silhouettes all ready to be explored.
Rameshinder Singh Sandhu

Rameshinder Singh Sandhu

WHENEVER my maternal uncle, who lives in Germany, visits India, he brings along his German colleagues and friends who are eager to explore India and its vibrant culture. Last year, one of his young co-workers took the risk of travelling alone.

During the last leg of her trip, she visited my maternal home at Butala village in Amritsar district. Curious to discover rural Punjab, she did not want to miss the ongoing three-day annual fair at the village that my uncle had told her about.

I was instructed to be her guide and my grandmother was told to welcome her. Brimming with excitement, the visitor arrived in the afternoon, and in the evening, as planned, I took her to the fair. Lets walk, its the best way to explore any country, she told me.

I was reluctant to take her around on foot, knowing how excited village residents would be to see her. As we stepped out, I prayed they would behave themselves. To my horror, she was stared at, at every door; some were keen to know who she was and where she had come from. As we marched further, windows were flung open and men climbed rooftops to announce to neighbours and friends that she was coming. Gori in our village! voices rang out, but we continued to march on with a smile.

A group of naughty children with runny noses ran into us in the next street. Again and again, they shook hands with her and asked her in broken English all the questions they had mugged up in their English class at school.

It began with What is your name? and How are you? but soon veered to How old are you?, What is your fathers name? And the most embarrassing, Are you single or married? For a moment, the queries stumped her, but as the children left, she couldnt stop laughing. Her positive vibes drew a trail of admirers.

As we entered the fair grounds, revellers disengaged from the fair. She became the source of chief amusement; the showstopper. Children and young women ran to her to take selfies and groupfies.

Even elderly men of the village stopped by to catch a glimpse of her and asked me introduce her to them. She was taking pictures of the fair, while the crowd was busy taking snapshots of her; but she kept her smile. As we strolled back home, I told her she had become a celebrity and the villagers would remember her for long. I know, she said, I could feel their excitement. It was a Miss Universe experience for me!

The next morning, she left for Delhi to catch her flight back to Munich. In a few weeks, we received a postcard from her, thanking us for the hospitality. Tell the villagers their Miss Universe misses them, too. Do thank the children who made me laugh  my best travel experience; will return soon,she added.
New Delhi, November 1

Seasoned diplomat Ajay Bisaria, currently the Indian ambassador to Poland, has been appointed the country's top envoy to Pakistan.

(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)

This was announced by the external affairs ministry tonight.

The 1987-batch IFS officer will succeed Gautam Bambawale, who was last month posted to China.

"He is expected to take up his assignment shortly," the ministry said in an official statement.

Bisaria's posting comes at a time when there is chill in Indo-Pak ties following a series of terror strikes in India, including Uri and Pathankot attacks, by Pakistan-based terror groups.

India had also pulled out of the SAARC summit, to be hosted by Pakistan last year, citing cross-border terrorism from that country.

After training at the Foreign Service Institute here, Bisaria chose Russian as his language of specialisation and was posted at the Indian Embassy in Moscow (1988-1991) where he was attached to the economic and political wings of the Embassy.

Bisaria also held position of the private Secretary to the prime minister from 1999 to 2004.

From January 2015, he has served as India's Ambassador to Poland, based in Warsaw, with concurrent accreditation to Lithuania.  PTI
TNS & Agencies

Lucknow, November 1

A massive explosion ripped a boiler at the state-run power giant NTPCs Unchahar plant in Uttar Pradesh's Rae Bareli district today, killing at least 20 persons and injuring nearly 100, officials said.

The NTPC initiated a probe to ascertain the reasons behind the blast, while Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced Rs 2 lakh compensation for the families of those killed and Rs 50,000 for the grievously injured.

Twenty deaths have been confirmed by the district administration. Twenty-two persons with severe burns have been referred to Lucknow, ADG (Law and Order) Anand Kumar said, adding the number of casualties could rise.

The National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) said at a unit of its Unchahar plant, there was a sudden abnormal sound at 20-metre elevation around 3.30 pm. There was an opening in corner number two from which hot flue gases and steam escaped, affecting the people working around the area, NTPC said.

It added nearly 80 persons were rushed to NTPC hospital, most of whom were discharged after first-aid.

The 1,550-MW plant supplies electricity to nine states, according to officials, and employs around 870 persons.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was deeply pained by the accident at the power plant and added that the situation was being closely monitored. The UP Chief Minister, on a three-day official visit to Mauritius, directed Principal Secretary (Home) to ensure that all steps were taken for rescue operations.

A National Disaster Response Force team was also despatched to the explosion site from Lucknow.

An injured employee undergoing treatment at a hospital said that a sudden gush of hot gas with contents of ash-like material engulfed him at the NTPC plant.

The man said he was unable to understand what had happened and found himself on a hospital bed with his body scalded all over, when he regained consciousness.

Rae Bareli Chief Medical Officer DK Singhsaid if necessary, some of the critical cases could be referred to Delhi by air ambulance.
New Delhi, November 1

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Wednesday called on Bhutanese King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck who, along with Queen Jetsun Pema Wangchuk and Prince Jigme Namgyal Wangchuk, is on a four-day goodwill visit to India.

#EverlastingFriendship. EAM @SushmaSwaraj calls on His Majesty the King of Bhutan. The Royal family is on a 4-day goodwill visit to India, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted.

The Bhutanese royal familys visit assumes significance in the wake of the standoff between Indian and Chinese troops in the Doklam region of Bhutan.

(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)

Indian and Chinese troops were locked in an over two-month-long standoff at the Doklam plateau in Bhutan.

The crisis, which erupted in June over the Chinese move to build a road in an area claimed by Bhutan, ended in August, with both sides deciding to disengage from the face-off point.

While India and Bhutan said Beijings move violated the status quo in the India-Bhutan-China international trijunction, China claimed that it was its territory.

Sushma Swaraj also greeted Prince Jigme Namgyel Wangchuck, who is going to turn two next year.

#Adorableguest. EAM @SushmaSwaraj greets the Gyalsey (Prince) of Bhutan on his first visit to India as His Majesty and Her Majesty look on, Kumar said in a separate tweet along with a picture.

There are a number of institutional mechanisms between India and Bhutan in areas such as security, border management, trade, transit, economic, hydro-power, development cooperation and water resources.

India has set up three hydroelectric projects (HEPs) in Bhutan totalling 1,416 MW, which are operational and exporting surplus power to India. About three-fourths of the power generated is exported and the rest is used for domestic consumption.

India is Bhutans largest trading partner. In 2016, bilateral trade stood at Rs 8,723 crore with total imports being Rs 5,528.5 crore (82 per cent of Bhutans total imports) and exports recorded at Rs 3,205.2 crore, including electricity (90 per cent of Bhutans total exports). IANS
The Government of Bangladesh sought an apology from the Pakistani envoy calling his action a "breach of diplomatic norms and practices" and deliberate propaganda to spread shameless lies that would "jeopardise" bilateral relations.

By Geeta Mohan: Bangladesh Foreign Ministry summoned Pakistani envoy to Dhaka Rafiuzzaman Siddiqui on Tuesday for posting a video on the official Facebook page of the Pakistan commission. The video was a "sheer fabrication of historical facts" regarding declaration of Bangaldesh's independence.

A strong protest was lodged by Kamrul Ahsan, Secretary Bilateral (Europe, Africa and Americas) and Consular, from the ministry of foreign affairs in Bangladesh.

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An official statement of the ministry said that the official handed the Pakistan High Commissioner a "diplomatic note" which stated that "the message conveyed in the video that it is not the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman who declared independence of Bangladesh is a blatant lie and sheer fabrication of historical facts". The statement added that the video also mentions "Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman did not want Bangladesh's independence; he sought autonomy".

The Government of Bangladesh rejected this as "baseless" and "unfounded narratives" and sought an apology from the Pakistani envoy calling his action a "breach of diplomatic norms and practices" and deliberate propaganda to spread shameless lies that would "jeopardise" bilateral relations.

The 13-minute video posted by Pakistan High Commission on its Facebook page claimed that 'Ziaur Rahman, not Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, announced Bangladesh's independence'.

"Nothing can be farthest from the truth than claiming that the architect of independent Bangladesh and Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman did not want Bangladesh's independence or that Bangladesh's independence was declared by anybody other than the great leader himself. Any such misadventure from Pakistan or for that matter any quarters in Pakistan would threaten normal ties", the Bangladesh Foreign Ministry press release read.

--- ENDS ---
New Delhi, November 1

Known for his huge contribution towards the enrichment of Urdu language, Abdul Qavi Desnavi was honoured by search engine Google with a doodle on his 87th birth anniversary on Wednesday.

The doodle showed Desnavi sitting in the middle and writing. The letters of the search engine were also given a calligraphic touch.

Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)

An Indian Urdu language writer, critic, bibliographer and linguist, Desnavi, has contributed immensely towards the evolution of Urdu literature.

In his five decades of literary career, he has authored a vast body of works covering fiction, biographies, poetry and anthologies.

Some of his noted works are "Sat Tehriren", "Motala-E-Khotool", "Ghalib" along with his writings on Allama Muhammad Iqbal and Maulana Abul Kalam Azad.

Born in 1930 in Bihar's Desna village, Desnavi, belonged to an erudite family.

He had a strong academic background. His primary education was in Arrah. He completed his graduation and post graduation from St. Xavier's College Mumbai.

Later, he became a Professor in Saifia Post Graduate College in Bhopal. He was made the head of Urdu Department there.

He was a member of several literary and academic bodies.

Desnavi breathed his last on July 7, 2011 in Bhopal where he was living.

IANS
New Delhi, November 1

Indias first consignment of wheat assistance to Afghanistan reached Chabahar on Wednesday, the External Affairs Ministry said here.

MEA Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar also tweeted on the arrival of the first consignment, a welcome ceremony held at Chabahar port on the landmark occasion attended by dignitaries from India, Iran and Afghanistan.

The first consignment of wheat assistance to Afghanistan, flaggedoff by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Afghan Foreign Minister Rabbani, reached Chabahar port today, Kumar tweeted.

The Chabahar port, located in the Sistan-Balochistan province on the energy-rich Persian Gulf nations southern coast, lies outside the Persian Gulf and can be easily accessed from Indias western coast, bypassing Pakistan.

The port is likely to ramp up trade among India, Afghanistan and Iran in the wake of Pakistan denying transit access to New Delhi for trade with the two countries.

According to officials, six more wheat shipments will be sent to Afghanistan over the next few months.  PTI
Islamabad, November 1

Hamid Nehal Ansari, an Indian languishing in a Peshawar jail on espionage charges, filed a petition in the Peshawar High Court on Wednesday asking not to be treated as a spy.

Ansari was arrested and charged with spying when he sneaked into Pakistan from Afghanistan without travel documents in 2012, reportedly to meet a woman he had befriended on social media, the Express Tribune reported.

In the petition, filed in the high court on his behalf by lawyer Qazi Muhammad Anwar, Ansari sought remission of his sentence.

A military court had tried him and sentenced him to three years' rigorous imprisonment that started December 15, 2015 and will end on December 14, 2018.

The plea stated that although Ansari was not found involved in any anti-state activities in Pakistan but had entered the country without proper documents. Therefore, he had the right of remission in the sentence after spending a long time in jail.

A two-member high court bench comprising Chief Justice Yahya Afridi and Justice Ijaz Anwar Khan, directed the Defence and Interior Ministries as well as the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government to submit their replies, Express Tribune reported.

Ansari was 27 when he was arrested from a hotel in Kohat city of Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. He had crossed into Pakistan via Afghanistan with a fake ID card by the name of Hamza, the report said.

Ansari left India for Afghanistan on a tourist visa and then went to Jalalabad to enter Pakistan.

He pleaded the court to change the words "anti-state activities" with "illegal activities" on his warrants, asking it to direct the jail authorities to allow him due remission with effect from December 15, 2015 and decide about his release date.

Ansari had also filed a petition in 2016 for fair treatment in jail.  IANS
New Delhi, November 1

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday condemned the terror attack in New York in which eight persons were run over by a truck.

"Strongly condemn the terror attack in New York City. My thoughts are with the families of the deceased and prayers with those injured," the Prime Minister wrote on Twitter.

Eight persons were killed and 12 injured after a truck ploughed into pedestrians in Lower Manhattan on Tuesday, the city Mayor Bill de Blasio said, calling the attack an "act of terror". The suspect has been arrested.

New York City Police Commissioner James O' Neil said the suspect was a 29-year-old man, who was not from the city.

IANS
IN our issue of 30th October we drew attention to the havoc being wrought by plague in Rawalpindi and emphasised the necessity of closing the local schools for some time in the interests of the teachers and the taught. The Civil Surgeon, Rawalpindi, addressed the following letter to the Inspector of Schools, Rawalpindi Division:-"As plague is still very prevalent in Rawalpindi city and judging from its progress last year it will not begin to subside till towards the end of November. I recommend that the schools in the city should be closed during the first 20 days of November, 1917." The Inspector of Schools has circulated the letter to the Headmasters concerned for information and guidance. Parents and guardians of boys will heave a sigh of relief and feel grateful at the prompt response to the popular demand.
New York, November 1

A man allegedly inspired by the ISIS ploughed a pickup truck down a crowded bike path near the World Trade Centre here today, killing at least eight persons and injuring 11 others in the deadliest terrorist attack on the New York City since September 11, 2001.

(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)

The suspect, believed to be a 29-year-old Uzbek national, was shot in the stomach before being arrested. The media named him as Sayfullo Saipov, an immigrant who came to the US in 2010.

The incident took place along the normally gridlocked West Side Highway, a major thoroughfare that runs along the western edge of Manhattan by the Hudson River. Manhattan is the most densely populated borough of the New York City.

The attacker left a roughly mile-long crime scene: a tree-lined bike path strewn with mangled bicycles and their parts.

Police said the truck drove south after entering a pedestrian and bicycle path, where it struck multiple people.

Six men were pronounced dead at the scene on the cycle lane and two other people were dead on arrival at the hospital.

After smashing the truck into a school bus, injuring two adults and two children, the suspect exited the truck displaying imitation firearms and was shot by police, according to the New York police department (NYPD).

I heard a truck, a car, something going down the bike path, said witness Eugene Duffy, 44, who was waiting at a red light to walk across West Street.

The driver shouted Allahu Akbar after getting out of the vehicle, New York Post reported. A note in English was found in the truck that referred to the Islamic State terror group, media reports said.

At least 11 people were transported to the hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries, according to New York Fire Commissioner Daniel Nigro.

The victims included a Belgian citizen and five Argentinians.

A spokesman for Home Depot confirmed one of the companys rental trucks was part of an incident in lower Manhattan and said the company is cooperating with authorities in the investigation.

The suspect, who hails from Paterson New Jersey had multiple interactions with law enforcement in several states, online records show. Saipov had traffic citations issued in Missouri and Pennsylvania.

Authorities said the was hospitalised after being shot by the police, underwent surgery and was expected to survive.

New York City mayor Bill de Blasio said the incident was being treated as an act of terror, a particularly cowardly act of terror.

US President Donald Trump denounced the attack, saying we must not allow ISIS to return.

In NYC, looks like another attack by a very sick and deranged person. Law enforcement is following this closely.

NOT IN THE U.S.A.! Trump tweeted.

We must not allow ISIS to return, or enter, our country after defeating them in the Middle East and elsewhere.

Enough! he said in another tweet.

In NYC, looks like another attack by a very sick and deranged person. Law enforcement is following this closely. NOT IN THE U.S.A.!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 31, 2017

We must not allow ISIS to return, or enter, our country after defeating them in the Middle East and elsewhere. Enough!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 31, 2017

Trump also said he had ordered more robust extreme vetting of travellers coming into the US.

The US Justice Department said in a statement that a joint terrorism task force that included the FBI, the NYPD and others was investigating the attack.

Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Elaine Duke has been briefed on the apparent act of terrorism that occurred in New York City, an official statement said.

The department is closely monitoring the situation and working with federal, state and local partners in responding to and investigating this tragedy.

We are referring all questions about the investigation to the FBI and the New York Police Department, the statement said.

An Uber spokeswoman said Saipov also drove for the popular ride sharing-company, which is cooperating with authorities, New York Daily News reported.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo directed the One World Trade Center to be lit in red, white and blue in honour of freedom and democracy, his office said.

New York has been largely spared from terrorism since nearly 3,000 people were killed in the September 11, 2001, attacks.

The most recent violence from terrorism there came in September 2016, when a man set off shrapnel-packed explosives in the Chelsea neighbourhood of Manhattan. Nobody was killed, but 30 people were injured.

Trucks have become a common weapon for terrorists in recent years.

In July 2016, as thousands of people crammed into the streets of Nice, France, for a Bastille Day celebration, an assailant influenced by Islamic State drove a 19-ton cargo truck into a crowd, leaving 86 dead and 434 injured.

Then in December, a man with ties to Islamic State drove a 27-ton truck into a Christmas market in Berlin, killing 12 people and injuring 56 others.

Three months later, a man drove his car into pedestrians on Londons Westminster Bridge, killing four and injuring dozens more, before jumping out and fatally stabbing a police officer and being shot dead by other officers. PTI
Yangon, November 1

Myanmar has blamed Bangladesh for delaying the start of a repatriation process for hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslim refugees, saying it feared Dhaka could be stalling until it receives multi-million dollars of international aid money.

More than 6,00,000 Rohingya have fled predominantly Buddhist Myanmar to neighbouring Bangladesh since late August to escape ethnic violence that accompanied a brutal military counter-insurgency operation after Rohingya militant attacks on security posts in Myanmars Rakhine State.

Zaw Htay, a spokesman for Myanmars de facto leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, said Myanmar was ready to begin the repatriation process any time, based along the lines of an agreement that covered returns of Rohingya to Myanmar in the early 1990s.

He said Bangladesh had yet to accept those terms.

We are ready to start, but the other side did not accept yet, and the process was delayed. This is the number one fact, Zaw Htay, Director-General of the Ministry of the State Counsellors Office, told journalists on Tuesday.

A memorandum of understanding on border liaison posts was signed with Bangladesh Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan following talks in the Myanmar capital, Naypyitaw, last week, but there was no progress on reviving the old agreement.

Zaw Htay linked the delay by Bangladesh to the money raised so far by the international community to help build gigantic refugee camps for the Rohingya.

Currently they have got $400 million. Over their receipt of this amount, we are now afraid of delaying the programme of deporting the refugees, he said in comments carried in a front-page article in the state-run Global New Light of Myanmar newspaper on Wednesday.

They have got international subsidies. We are now afraid they would have another consideration as to repatriation, he said.

The Bangladesh government issued a statement on Thursday saying that Myanmar had not agreed to 10 points put forward by its minister at last weeks talks, including the full implementation of the recommendations of an Advisory Commission on Rakhine State, chaired by former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, for a sustainable return of Rohingya.

Khan told Bangladesh media on Friday that the two sides were unable to form a joint working group but said it should be set up by the time Foreign Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali goes to Myanmar for talks on November 30.

The Myanmar government has said it would accept the Rohingya once it was established that they had lived in Myanmar.

Zaw Htay said Myanmar was awaiting a list of Rohingya refugees from the Bangladesh side. Reuters
New York, November 1

A man allegedly inspired by the ISIS ploughed a pick-up truck down a crowded bike path in a borough here, killing eight persons and injuring 11 in what is being described as the deadliest terrorist attack on the New York City since September 11, 2001.

The suspect, 29-year-old Sayfullo Saipov said to be from Uzbekistan, was shot in the stomach before being arrested. He came to the US in 2010. The incident took place along the normally gridlocked West Side Highway, a major thoroughfare that runs along the western edge of Manhattan by the Hudson river. Manhattan is the most densely populated borough of the New York City.

Police said the truck drove south after entering a pedestrian and bicycle path, where it struck multiple people.

Six men were pronounced dead at the scene on the cycle lane and two other people were dead on arrival at the hospital.

After smashing the truck into the school bus, injuring two adults and two children, the suspect exited the truck displaying imitation firearms and was shot by police, according to the New York police department.

An official said he rented the truck from a Home Depot in New Jersey.

The victims included a Belgian citizen and five Argentinians. The truck driver shouted Allahu Akbar after getting out of the vehicle, New York Post reported. A note in English was found in the truck that referred to so-called Islamic State, reports said.

New York City mayor Bill de Blasio said the incident was being treated as an act of terror, a particularly cowardly act of terror. The US Justice Department said in a statement that a joint terrorism task force that included the FBI, the NYPD and others was investigating the attack.

Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Elaine Duke has been briefed on the apparent act of terrorism that occurred in New York City, an official statement said. The department is closely monitoring the situation and working with federal, state and local partners in responding to and investigating this tragedy.

We are referring all questions about the investigation to the FBI and the New York Police Department, the statement said. New York has been largely spared from terrorism since nearly 3,000 people were killed in the September 11, 2001, attacks.

The most recent violence from terrorism there came in September 2016, when a man set off shrapnel-packed explosives in the Chelsea neighbourhood of Manhattan. Nobody was killed, but 30 people were injured.  PTI

Trump for extreme immigrant vetting

Washington: President Donald Trump said on Wednesday he had ordered more robust extreme vetting of travellers coming into the US in the aftermath of the New York attack. I have just ordered Homeland Security to step up our already extreme vetting programme. Being politically correct is fine, but not for this! Trump tweeted. He said he would consider sending the assailant to Guantanamo Bay. PTI

Halloween parade marches on

New York: Thousands of merry-makers, many dressed in elaborate Halloween costumes, paraded through lower Manhattan on Tuesday, undeterred by the attack. Revellers who joined the 44th annual Village Halloween Parade said they were painfully aware that eight people were killed in what authorities say was an act of terrorism but carried on with the festivities to show fortitude and solidarity with the victims. Reuters

Reunion trip ends in tragedy for 5 friends

New York: Five of the dead were Argentine tourists, visiting New York as part of a group of friends celebrating the 30th anniversary of their high school graduation. The Argentinian government is deeply shocked by the death of the compatriots and is working to help the relatives and friends of the victims, the foreign ministry said. Argentina reaffirms its strongest condemnation of terrorist acts and violence in all its manifestations, it added in the statement. Reuters, AFP

Suspect an Uber driver

Sayfullo Saipov, 29, came to the US from Uzbekistan in 2010 and had a green card that allowed permanent legal residence. He had apparently lived in Paterson, New Jersey, and Tampa, Florida, the New York Times reported

An Uber driver, Saipov rented a truck from a home depot in Passaic, New Jersey, before driving it into Manhattan, officials said. After the attack, investigators found a handwritten note from the rental truck in which Saipov had declared his allegiance to the IS

Saipov, a slim, bearded man, was seen in videos running through traffic after the attack with a paintball gun in one hand and a pellet gun in the other

A marriage licence registered in Ohio listed Saipov marrying 19-year-old Nozima Odilova in 2013. IANS

Michelle and I are thinking of the victims of todays attack in NYC and everyone who keeps us safe. New Yorkers are as tough as they come. Barak Obama, former US President

New Yorkers see this attack for what it is  an attempt to sow fear. We stand against terror as we grieve for the victims and thank the @NYPD. Bill Clinton, former president

New Yorks resilience is stronger than a cowardly act of terror. Thinking of the victims, their families, & the responders who saved lives Hillary Clinton, former White House contender
Tokyo, November 1

Japans parliament today formally re-elected Shinzo Abe as Prime Minister after his partys crushing election victory, setting the 63-year-old on track to become the countrys longest-serving premier.

MPs voted by a huge majority to re-install Abe, after his conservative Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) swept to a two- thirds super majority on October 22.

During the campaign Abe had stressed the need for strong leadership to deal with what he called Japans twin crises, a belligerent and nuclear-armed North Korea and a shrinking birth rate.

He has also vowed to start a debate on the controversial issue of making changes to Japans US-imposed post-war constitution to bolster the role of the military in the formally pacifist country.

In the 465-seat lower house, Abe won 312 votes from the conservative ruling bloc. In the 242-seat upper house, Abe won a majority vote of 151 votes, returning him to the top Japanese political post. Our chamber nominates Mr Shinzo Abe as the Prime Minister, lower house speaker Tadamori Oshima declared after the televised vote. A beaming Abe then moved around the chamber, shaking hands with supporters. Despite his overwhelming victory in the October polls, Abes popularity ratings are relatively low and most observers attribute his election success to a weak and fractured opposition.

The main opposition party, the Democratic Party (DP), effectively disbanded after Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike launched a new conservative group and vowed to do away with old school politics.

Several DP lawmakers defected to Koikes new Party of Hope and the more left-leaning MPs formed a new party, the Constitutional Democrats.  AFP

Trump, Abe discuss Indo-Pacific region

Washington: US President Donald Trump on Wednesday spoke over phone with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and discussed the importance of promoting a free and open Indo-Pacific region ahead of his maiden Asia trip next week. Both leaders affirmed the importance of promoting a free and open Indo-Pacific region and maintaining close coordination between the United States and Japan, and with the international community, to maximise pressure on North Korea, the White House said in a readout of the call. PTI
By PTI: By Anisur Rahman

Dhaka, Nov 1 (PTI) Bangladesh has demanded an apology from Pakistan after its envoy here posted a "misleading" video claiming that the countrys founder Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was not the one who declared its independence in 1971.

The nearly 14-minute video was initially posted on a Facebook page called Pakistan Affairs. It said Bangladeshs military ruler and subsequent president "Ziaur Rahman, not Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, announced Bangladeshs independence".

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The Pakistani mission in Dhaka shared the video on its Facebook page, sparking a controversy that prompted it to remove the post.

Secretary (Bilateral) Kamrul Ahsan summoned Pakistani High Commissioner Rafiuzzaman Siddiqui yesterday and handed him a "strongly worded protest note" warning that repeated breach of diplomatic norms by Pakistan would only stand to harm bilateral relations, a Foreign Office statement said.

"The Government of Bangladesh seeks a formal note of apology for this ill-motivated and misleading video post and calls for an immediate withdrawal of the footage from the Facebook page reportedly maintained by the Pakistan High Commission in Dhaka," it said.

The statement said Ahsan told the envoy that Dhaka deeply regretted that notwithstanding Bangladeshs repeated overtures "the malicious campaign by Pakistan and its various agencies against Bangladesh has not come to a halt".

Ahsan said the Pakistani envoy "apologised" saying the incident was "unintentional".

"We told him (envoy) that if this continues it will harm relations between the two countries. History is history. One cannot divert it by spreading propaganda," the Bangladeshi official said.

The diplomatic protest note said the message conveyed in the video that it was not Mujibur who declared the independence of Bangladesh "is a blatant lie and sheer fabrication of historical facts".

"Nothing can be farthest from the truth than claiming that the architect of independent Bangladesh and Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman did not want Bangladeshs independence or that Bangladeshs independence was declared by anybody other than the great leader himself," the note said.

Bangladesh emerged as an independent nation, breaking away from Pakistan after its victory in the 1971 liberation war aided by India.

Bilateral relations have suffered in recent years over the 1971 war crimes trial in Bangladesh and executions of former Bengali war criminals who colluded with the invading Pakistani troops.

A rankled Dhaka repeatedly summoned Islamabads envoy here during the past three years following protests by Pakistani leaders over the trial and executions of hardline Islamists. PTI AR KUN AMS AKJ AMS

--- ENDS ---

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Washington, November 1

President Donald Trump said on Wednesday he had ordered more robust "extreme vetting" of travellers coming into the US in the aftermath of the first deadly terror attack in New York since the September 11, 2001 carnage in the city.

At least eight people were killed and 11 others injured in Lower Manhattan on Tuesday after a gunman in a truck ploughed through a busy bike path, an incident the US termed as an "act of terrorism".

The suspect, 29-year-old Sayfullo Saipov said to be from Uzbekistan, was shot in the stomach before being arrested.

"I have just ordered Homeland Security to step up our already extreme vetting programme. Being politically correct is fine, but not for this!" Trump tweeted.

Trump also changed the banner on his Twitter account to the New York skyline.

His administration announced last week that it would resume accepting refugees after a 120-day ban, though arrivals from 11 "high-risk" countries, most of them home to Muslim majorities, will still be blocked.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims of today's terrorist attack in New York City and their families," Trump had said in a statement after the attack.

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said authorities are treating the incident as a terrorist attack. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said there's no evidence to suggest there's a wider threat or plot, warning that people will still see more security forces out of caution. PTI
Harrisburg/Pennsylvania/Washington, D.C, November 1

The man accused of killing eight people by racing a pickup truck down a New York City bike path on Tuesday may have worked as a driver and lived in New Jersey after emigrating from Uzbekistan seven years ago, according to authorities and media reports.

Few other details about the 29-year-old suspect have emerged since the Tuesday afternoon vehicle rampage in lower Manhattan, blocks from the site of the September 11, 2001, attacks that destroyed the landmark World Trade Centre Twin Towers.

Police have declined to identify the man but a source familiar with the investigation identified him as Sayfullo Habibullaevic Saipov and said he was not a US citizen. His immigration status was not immediately clear.

Saipov was shot by a police officer while attempting to flee minutes after the attack and was whisked away to a local hospital, where he was recovering from an abdominal wound.

With authorities saying they believe the attack was a terrorist event, the lack of disclosure may reflect the nature of the investigation, which is still in its earliest stage.

According to CNN and other media outlets, the suspect shouted Allahu Akbar - Arabic for God is greatest - after leaping from his truck, which had crashed into a school bus as he sped away from the carnage.

He also left behind a note claiming he carried out the deadly assault in the name of the Islamic State militant group, according to reports that Reuters could not immediately confirm.

Federal officials had become aware of Saipov while conducting an unrelated investigation, the New York Times reported, citing three unidentified officials. The Times offered no further details about the nature of the investigation, when it was conducted, or its outcome.

Meanwhile, Uber has confirmed that the suspect was one of its drivers.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo declined to comment on that report when asked by reporters at a news conference. It is too early to give you a definitive answer, he said.

HE LIKED THE U.S.

Saipov, born in February 1988, moved to the United States seven years ago from Uzbekistan, a Central Asian country that was once part of the Soviet Union. He appears to have lived in Ohio, Florida and New Jersey since then.

An Uzbek immigrant who met Saipov in Florida several years ago told the Times that Saipov worked as a truck driver there but began driving for Uber when he moved to New Jersey.

He was a very good person when I knew him, Kobiljon Matkarov told the newspaper. He liked the U.S. He seemed very lucky and all the time he was happy and talking like everything is O.K. He did not seem like a terrorist, but I did not know him from the inside.

The Times, citing sources, reported that Saipov had been living in Paterson, New Jersey, about 25 miles (40 km) northwest of the scene of the attack. He rented the truck used in the attack from a Home Depot in nearby Passaic, just south of Paterson, it said.

Police cordoned off an area of Paterson, a one-time industrial hub known for its large immigrant population, early Wednesday morning. About 25,000 to 30,000 Muslims live in the city, giving it one of the highest concentrations of Muslim people in the New York City area.

Saipov has a history of traffic violations, according to media reports and court records.

In one incident, he was pulled over in central Pennsylvania for pulling a truck trailer that was longer than permitted by law and operating unsafe equipment, as well as driving with the wrong operators licence, state judicial records show.

Saipov listed both Paterson and Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, as his addresses. He paid his fine by mail and did not have to appear in court. Reuters
Vatican City, November 1

Pope Francis condemned on Wednesday recent terror attacks around the world, including in New York where eight people were killed, saying he was saddened by events.

I am saddened by the terrorist attacks in recent days in Somalia, Afghanistan and yesterday in New York, the pope said during his Angelus prayer in St Peters Square.

He asked people to pray that God converts the hearts of terrorists and frees the world of hatred and murderous madness, which abuses the name of God to disseminate death, adding that he was praying for the victims and their families.

Eight people were killed and 11 injured in Lower Manhattan, New York, on Tuesday when the driver of a pickup truck hit people on a cycle path.

At least 27 people were killed on Saturday in the capital, Mogadishu, in an attack claimed by Al-Qaeda linked Shabaab militants.

In Afghanistan, a teenager blew himself up in Kabuls heavily fortified diplomatic quarter on Tuesday and killed at least five people.  AFP
Geneva, November 1

A seven-year-old girl who ran away from her parents managed to take a train to Geneva airport and board a plane despite having no ticket.

The girl gave her parents the slip near Geneva's central railway station on Sunday, then took the one-stop ride to the airport. Her parents rang the Swiss police, who tracked her progress through the airport on security videos, airport spokesman Bertrand Staempfli said.

Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)

She went through the security gate and managed to pass herself off as the child of adults around her, before using her small stature to slip through the departure gate without being noticed and boarding a plane, the airport said in a statement.

On her first attempt, she followed a crew towards the plane and was turned back. She melted into the crowd and pretended to look for her parents. The second time, she managed to get into a plane, was spotted by an official, stopped, and handed over to police.

Staempfli declined to say, which airline was involved or where it was flying to, but he said it was leaving from the airport's French sector and the destination was in France.

Geneva airport straddles the French-Swiss border and passengers can leave from France or Switzerland.

The airport said in the statement it would tighten safety rules and boarding procedures as a result of what it called the "highly regrettable incident".

"This should never have happened," Staempfli said. Reuters
Washington: The US will not tolerate Pakistan providing safe havens to terrorists, America's envoy to the UN Nikki Haley has said and backed the creation of a strategic alliance with India to fight terrorism and maintain peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. Haley, in her keynote address to the 20th annual Legislative Conference of the Indian American Friendship Council, also strongly condemned the terrorist attack in New York that killed eight persons. She said that the US recently embarked on a new strategy for combating terrorism in Afghanistan and South Asia. "America's overriding interest in Afghanistan and throughout South Asia are to eliminate the terrorist safe havens that threaten US and to keep nuclear weapons out of the hands of terrorists," Haley said. PTI
By India Today Web Desk: Bigg Boss 11 contestant Priyank Sharma's ride has been quite an eventful one in comparison to the other contestants. Be it his fight with Akash Dadlani that got him evicted, or spreading negativity after his return in the house with loose and personal comments...he has kept gossip mills busy with something or the other.

And like every action has a reaction, so does his stance. Some people have come out in his support, while others have thrashed him.

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In a recent interview to Indianexpress.com, MTV Splitsvilla host and his mentor Rannvijay Singha revealed what he thinks about him (Priyank) and his actions.

"I was in Spain when all of this happened. I got a missed call from Priyank when I returned. I was surprised to know that he got evicted. I asked him if he thinks that he was wrong. He just said he was not wrong. I asked him if he regrets it. He said, 'I stood up for something that I believed in.' So I was like if you did what you thought was right and you had to suffer through its repercussions, then it's fine. Sometimes in life, you do things just because you are young. But if it is done for the right reason and if you have the courage to take the repercussion then it is ok," he said.

Rannvijay also added: "I really want to know the other side of the story. Because I myself have been doing many reality shows. So, I don't know how much of it was edited. There are a lot of times when contestants instigate each other. If you can get a strong contestant evicted with an act like this, then it is a game played very well."

Not just Priyank, he is also vouching for Benafsha Soonawalla. He asked his fans and followers to vote for her.

Guys our @benafshasoonawalla is in danger again,let's vote for her and save her! To vote for her download The VOOT APP or go on Voot.com !Go vote now! A post shared by Rannvijay (@rannvijaysingha) on Oct 31, 2017 at 3:19am PDT

--- ENDS ---
Martinez

Raymond Martinez, President Trumps nominee for Administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration said in Senate testimony that he will not delay implementation of the electronic logging device mandate that starts to kick in on Dec. 18, less than seven weeks from now.

Replying to Sen. Ted Cruzs (R-TX) query as to whether FMCSA should delay the implementation of the mandate prior to Dec. 18 specifically in light of the cost estimated to implement it of $2 billion, Martinez said that while regulatory reform should be an ongoing process, it is legally required that the December deadline to implement the ELD mandate be met.

In his Oct. 31 testimony before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation on his nomination to head FMCSA, Martinez went on to state that, if confirmed, he would look forward to working with industry and all stakeholders, safety advocates and particularly the impacted sectors of commerce.

Ive heard that this rule could cause serious hardship to some small independent truckers, particularly those working in the agricultural sector, he explained, so, Id want to meet with those involved in those areas who oppose the rule to learn more about their concerns. The goal is to not cripple commerce. The goal is to make our roadways safer. That is our mission and thats in everything we approach through that lens of safety.

So, first and foremost, Martinez added, [I would] abide by the law, but also have an open door policy and work with all the impacted stakeholders.

Martinez is currently Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission. His previous experience includes serving as Chairman of the Governors Traffic Safety Committee in New York.

In his opening statement, Martinez related his bona fides to lead the federal safety-enforcement agency. As the former motor vehicle commissioner and chairman of the Governors Traffic Safety Committee in New York State and the current chairman and chief administrator of the State of New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission, I have been a partner with other state agencies as well as stakeholders to advance safety on our roads.

"I have developed close working relationships with both FMCSA and [National Highway Traffice Safety Administration] as well as with safety advocates, including AAA, the National Safety Council, and MADD," he continued. "I believe that open communication and collaboration are very important and would continue this practice as FMCSA administrator.

Martinez noted that while serving in both the New Jersey and New York agencies, he routinely engaged with thought leaders at some of the university research institutions in our region that continue to do great work in the area of traffic safety as well as the consortium of 19 universities that make up the University Transportation Research Center based at the City University of New York.

He said having this open dialogue and cross pollination of ideas was essential to problem-solving. Implementation of laws and promulgating regulations should be done with the best information available, and must be viewed by stakeholders as reasonable, rational and fair. If confirmed as FMCSA administrator, I would continue to pursue data-driven policies.

The committee has not yet taken a vote on whether Martinezs nominee is to be reported to the Senate favorably, unfavorably or without recommendation. Once they have voted, his nomination will come before the full Senate, which must confirm his nomination by a simple majority vote.

Originally posted on Automotive Fleet
Police have identified a motorcyclist who was killed Sunday afternoon in a head-on crash on the Keystone Expressway west of downtown.

Tulsa Police on Tuesday said Jonathan Ayers, a 36-year-old city employee, died in the collision.

Ayers eastbound motorcycle was hit by a westbound SUV that had crashed and rolled over a cable barrier into the eastbound lanes below the Union Avenue overpass, police said. Police said the 1999 Chevy Suburban was sliding on its side when it collided with Ayers 2008 Harley Davidson, which went through the SUVs windshield.

As of noon Tuesday, the SUV driver and Ayers passenger were in critical condition at Tulsa hospitals, Officer Jeanne MacKenzie said.

This is a tragic loss for our city of Tulsa family, Mayor G.T. Bynum said Monday in a statement. Jonathan Ayers was a member of the Streets and Stormwater Department and recently received a promotion to Equipment Operator II  his first day in his new position would have been today.

Jonathans coworkers said he was a hard worker and a pleasure to be around. We have been in touch with Jonathans family and will be thinking of his family and friends during this time.
The headquarters of Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) located at Singamari in Darjeeling has been sealed after a massive haul of explosives have been recovered.

By Indrajit Kundu: The headquarters of Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) located at Singamari in Darjeeling has been sealed by the police on Wednesday. The move has come just a day after Darjeeling police claimed that it has recovered a massive haul of explosives from the hills.

The Singamari office, located close to GJM chief Bimal Gurung's Patleybas residence has been the epicentre of a bloody confrontation between Gorkhaland protesters and security forces when the agitation reached its peak in June this year.

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The district administration claims that the office building and land had been illegally encroached by GJM as per government records. Accordingly, an order issued by the District Magistrate notifying that the property belongs to the state government was pasted on the gate of the building before being sealed.

Gurung has been on the run for several weeks ever since the West Bengal government booked him under the stringent Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA). On Tuesday, police had recovered 102 gelatin sticks, stolen from a nearby power plant in July this year from a tea estate in Tindharia.

"Police had prior information that some gelatin sticks which had gone missing from the Neji power plant in July had been supplied to GJM chief Bimal Gurung. He had then distributed it in parts to his men. We have learnt that some part of it has been hidden in the tea estate. So our team carried out a search operation and recovered 102 such sticks," informed Darjeeling police superintendent Akhilesh Chaturvedi.

A total of 325 kilogram gelatin sticks had been stolen from an NTPC plant in Darjeeling and police claim they have recovered close to 50 kilograms of the stolen explosive. "We will get in touch with NTPC to verify if the recovered gelatin sticks match with those stolen earlier," Chaturvedi added.

Earlier in August, Darjeeling was rocked by a high intensity blast at the hill town's motor stand area. Suspecting involvement of Gurung and his men, police had then started a case against the GJM chief under various sections of Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Explosive Substances Act.

Last month, Bengal police had raided Gurung's hideout on the Bengal - Sikkim border in which a police officer was killed during a shootout. More than a dozen gelatin sticks and several AK-47 assault rifles were also recovered from the area, police had claimed.

(With inputs from Kayes Ansari)

--- ENDS ---
OKLAHOMA CITY  The Oklahoma Supreme Court has declined to hear a lawsuit against three bills filed by Tulsa attorney and Republican gubernatorial hopeful Gary Richardson.

The court previously ruled on two of the bills in other cases.

Richardson challenged House Bill 2433, which removes the sales tax exemption on vehicles, effectively adding a tax. Automobile dealers also challenged the measure.

The court ruled that the removal of an exemption is not the same as levying a tax. Therefore, the justices said, the bill was not subject to the constitutional requirement of obtaining super majorities in the House and Senate.

Richardson also challenged House Bill 1449, which slapped a $100 fee on electric cars and a $30 fee on hybrids. The Oklahoma chapter of the Sierra Club also challenged the fee.

The court determined that the fee was a tax and raised revenue. The bill therefore was subject to constitutional restrictions that revenue-raising measures not be passed in the last five days of the legislative session and obtain a super majority in both chambers.

The bill was passed during the last week of a session without a super majority.

Finally, Richardson challenged House Bill 2348, which uncouples the standard Oklahoma income tax deduction from the amount allowed by the IRS and freezes it at the 2017 level for tax years beginning on or after Jan. 1, 2017.

It is unclear at this time whether it will raise revenue for the state, and if so to what extent, as the federal standard deduction for 2018 or beyond has not been declared, the court stated Wednesday.

Because it is unclear at this time whether House Bill 2348 will increase revenue in Oklahoma, it is not ripe for review at this time, the court said.
Three women testified Tuesday in Tulsa County District Court against a man charged with sexually abusing and neglecting relatives of his significant others in a case that a prosecutor told jurors has facts that sound almost too bad to be real.

Jury trial proceedings began Monday for 38-year-old Brian Paul Campbell on four charges of child sexual abuse against a person younger than 12 and one count of child neglect.

Three women who had romantic relationships with Campbell  Beverly Vaughan, Crystal Toney and Christina Mathews  are also listed as co-defendants and face child neglect charges.

Two charges against Campbell claim that between 2014 and 2016, he raped a girl related to Mathews and forced her to perform oral sex when she was between 4 and 6 years old.

The third count contends that during the same time period Campbell ejaculated in the presence of that girl and also a boy related to Mathews when the boy was between 5 and 7.

The fourth charge accuses him of propositioning a then-11-year-old relative for sex between 2006 and 2007.

Mathews is charged with abusing the 5-to-7-year-old boy and permitting Campbell to continue to have access to him and two other small children under her care.

Toney is accused of permitting abuse based on claims that she knew or reasonably should have known that Campbell was a safety risk to three other children living with her, Campbell and Vaughan.

The neglect charge against Campbell and Mathews alleges they did not protect her three young relatives from seeing sexually explicit material. It, along with Vaughans neglect count, also claims the children did not have adequate supervision, which caused them to become truant, have access to drugs, go hungry and suffer from lice.

Assistant District Attorney Sarah McAmis said during opening statements that the children were repeatedly and sadistically sexually abused by Campbell, whom she alleged had been perpetrating sex offenses for at least two decades.

It almost sounds too much  too bad  to be true, McAmis said.

But Kyle Killam, Campbells attorney, emphasized that the jury should evaluate only Campbells role in the charges before them and avoid having a visceral response when hearing testimony about incidents for which Campbell is not on trial.

Testifying on Tuesday were a 34-year-old woman who said Campbell forced her to give him oral sex when she was 12; the relative, now 22, that he propositioned for sex between 2006 and 2007; and Toney.

The first witness cried as she recounted how she kept asking Campbell, then 16, to stop touching her and remembered how he prevented her from calling out for help.

The woman said she later told her mother about what happened, which prompted law enforcement to become involved. Dianna Baumann, a former Tulsa Police detective, said she interviewed Campbell in late 2006 with regard to a different abuse investigation against a child  which did not result in a conviction  and learned he got in trouble in some way for the 1995 altercation.

Campbells relative, now 22, became emotional as she told Assistant District Attorney Andrea Brown about Campbell asking her when she was 11 if she was curious about having sex with him. She said he also touched her leg and put his hand under her shirt in one interaction, and that he has since detailed to her his interest in BDSM activities.

The woman told Killam under cross-examination that she was afraid of Campbell to an extent because of his behavior.

Toney, who is not biologically related to Campbell, took the stand and told Brown she had a consensual relationship with him from the ages of 17 to 18, which stopped once Vaughan became aware of it. Oklahoma law states the age of consent is 16.

Toney, now 31, said Campbell expressed to her that he liked having two women in the same house for sexual purposes. She told Killam the sexual activity was kept away from the three boys who were living with her, Campbell and Vaughan.

However, under further questioning from Brown, she conceded it was possible the boys could have been exposed to sexual activity without her knowledge or Vaughans.

A neighbor of Campbells and Mathews was the last witness on Tuesday, describing an occasion in which he saw Mathews relatives at their home in unsanitary conditions and without supervision. He said he observed there was little food in the residence and that the children routinely told him they were hungry.

Testimony in the case will resume in District Judge Kelly Greenoughs courtroom on Wednesday.
Two Tulsans charged in the shooting death of a woman, reportedly at the hands of their accomplices during an east Tulsa robbery attempt, have pleaded guilty to lesser offenses.

Chase Allen Bridgers, 20, and Marquis Houston, 18, pleaded guilty Monday to accessory after the fact to first-degree murder, according to court records. They were initially charged with first-degree murder.

Bridgers and Houston acted as lookouts in the deadly May 18 incident, according to a probable cause affidavit.

Bridgers reportedly told police that their accomplices  Tonnako Miller, 15, and Jaydon Harring, 14  approached Vennie Jean Blalock, 64, after she exited her car at the Sawmill Apartments, 12903 E. 35th Place.

Witnesses told police that Miller pulled a gun on her, according to the affidavit.

Blalock was shot after she turned and struggled for the weapon, according to investigators, who said the pairs intent appeared to be robbery.

The four defendants were also implicated in a burglary that occurred the previous day at another Tulsa apartment complex. In addition, they were alleged to have been in possession of a stolen Ford F-150 around that time, according to court records.

Bridgers and Houston also pleaded guilty to charges related to those incidents, said Tulsa County District Attorneys Office spokeswoman Sally Van Schenck. They are scheduled to be sentenced Dec. 11.

The three admissions of guilt were entered as blind pleas, meaning there was no deal with the prosecution on sentencing.

Bridgers and Houston are being held without bond in the Tulsa Jail.

Miller and Harring each are charged with first-degree murder, feloniously pointing a firearm, second-degree burglary, possession of a stolen vehicle and possession of a firearm after juvenile adjudication, according to court records.

They are scheduled for a Dec. 1 preliminary hearing, which is pending their certification as adults or as youthful offenders, Schenck said.
A former nurse aide of a Collinsville nursing home used a residents debit card to make unauthorized purchases at stores and fast-food restaurants, and to make at least one ATM withdrawal, authorities said, with the transactions totaling at least $2,300.

Tracy Lynn Borman, 41, of Mannford used the debit card from November 2016 to February 2017 while employed at North County Nursing and Rehabilitation, according to a probable cause affidavit. Borman worked there from September 2016 through the following February.

A resident of the nursing and rehab center had authorized Borman for the sole purpose of purchasing e-cigarette supplies for the resident, the affidavit says.

In addition to the retail purchases, authorities said, Borman used the card to pay for services at an electric cooperative and an orthopedic office.

The nursing home alerted the resident to the financial issues in February when attempting to withdraw the residents monthly payment. Borman had drained the account of about $2,300, authorities said.

Administrators of the nursing home then alerted law enforcement.

Witnesses told investigators that Borman seemed to have financial issues. She reportedly asked co-workers for money for gas, shoes and Halloween costumes and candy for her children, according to the affidavit.

Borman is charged with one count of engaging in a pattern of criminal offenses and four counts of financial exploitation by a caretaker, according to charges filed Monday by Oklahoma Attorney General Mike Hunter, who said senior citizens are some of the most vulnerable citizens.

A Tulsa County district judge has issued a warrant for Bormans arrest.
Sales of a new specialty license plate designed by an Ada high school student would support education in Oklahoma if enough pre-orders are placed.

The Oklahoma State Department of Education received nearly 800 entries from students across the state for its License to Educate art contest. After an online vote, a plate designed by Latta High School junior Sarah Skaggs will be available for pre-order at tag agencies across the state or online.

Skaggs watercolor painting of a vintage schoolhouse at sunrise was based on the Jones Chapel Schoolhouse in Wintersmith Park in Ada, according to a news release from the department. The historic one-room structure was built in 1907  the same year Oklahoma became a state.

The specialty license plate sells for $35, plus a $3 mailing fee. Most of the proceeds would help to recruit and retain teachers in Oklahoma, according to the news release.

The Oklahoma Tax Commission requires 100 pre-orders by May 1 to put the plate into production.

For more information on the License to Educate contest, go to sde.ok.gov/sde/licensetoeducate.
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The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB) is a Historically Black University and an 1890 Land Grant Institution. It serves a diverse student body of over 2,600 graduate and undergraduate students. Over the past several years students have enrolled at the institution from 40 different countries. The University offers 30 baccalaureate, 8 master's, and one PhD degree across a broad spectrum of subject areas. The faculty is the most racially and ethnically diverse of any public institution in the state of Arkansas; 52.8% are African-American, 23.6% are Asian-American, and 23% are Caucasian-American (European descent), representing 20 different countries.



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The BJP wants the Centre to make Vande Mataram mandatory in all schools but do they know Indian national song by heart? Television studios present a clear picture and it's an ironic, funny one.

Navin Kumar Singh, BJP spokesperson looking into his phone whlie trying to sing Vande Mataram (left; photo courtesy: Zee Salaam), Baldev Singh Aulakh, BJP minister from UP (right; photo courtesy: Facebook)

By Vivek Surendran: BHARATIYA JANATA PARTY AND ITS NATIONALISM

The Bharatiya Janata Party is a nationalist party and the obvious assumption is that all members of the BJP love India, its culture, its national anthem, national song and its people, and that they would go to any length to defend the state; more so because the BJP-led NDA government is in power at the Centre with Narendra Modi as the prime minister.

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This notion has been, time and again, challenged by BJP members itself, thanks to the words and deeds of some of its members (and ministers). Since the time BJP came to power, there have been talks about a rising intolerance in the country, either fuelled by opposition parties or instilled by the increase in attack on minority communities and state crushing dissent.

TOUCHY TOPICS

India's national anthem Jana Gana Mana, India's national song Vande Mataram, the Hindu religion, and the Indian Army have become touchy topics since 2014. BJP spokespersons, appearing on national television channels to defend the Centre, often derail conversations and debates on dissent and poorly executed economic policies (you don't need a hint here!) using the above four topics and have now managed to lead people into believing that any opinion against their narrative is dangerous for India. These politicians, with the help of some senior journalists, even popularised the term "anti-national" and used their social media army to tag people who stand against them as anti-nationals.

JANA GANA MANA AND VANDE MATARAM

On November 30 last year, when the Supreme Court made playing national anthem, and rising for it, mandatory before movie screenings across cinema halls in India, the BJP was on cloud nine. Like Justice Misra, who is now the Chief Justice of India, the BJP stood with the argument that national anthem before movie screenings will make Indians more patriotic.

Weeks after the SC order made national anthem mandatory, and BJP celebrating it, BJP's Ravinder Gupta, Mayor of North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC), was caught on camera singing the national anthem incorrectly.

WATCH THE VIDEO HERE:

RavinderGupta,#BJP Mayor N Del MunCorp Can't Sing NationalAnthem PseudoNationalist RSS First Hoisted Tiranga 2002pic.twitter.com/HgWUcBiaJT- Geet V (@geetv79) December 15, 2016

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) made Vande Mataram compulsory in all civic schools in Mumbai and soon after, the BJP wanted it to be made mandatory in schools across Maharashtra. BMC's decision came after a Madras High Court order making national song mandatory in schools, government offices, private entities and industries in Tamil Nadu.

In August, 2017, the Yogi Adityanath-led BJP government issued a circular directing all madarsas (Islamic schools) to hold celebrations on Independence Day and said singing Vande Mataram is a must. UP's MoS Minority Welfare Baldev Singh Aulakh, who appeared on India Today Television on senior journalist Rahul Kanwal's show Newsroom, to defend his government's stance was left red-faced after he failed to sing even a line of Vande Mataram.

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In a video of a TV debate on Zee Salaam that has gone viral by now, BJP spokesperson Navin Kumar Singh was seen struggling to sing the national song.

But when All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) member Mufti Ejaz Arshad Qasmi dared Singh to prove his patriotism by singing Vande Mataram, Singh was seen trying to take help from 'Google Baba'. Things got worse when Qasmi noticed Singh picking up his phone and when he called him out on camera.

Navin Kumar Singh, who initially tried to deflect the challenge by asking Qasmi to sing the national song, finally managed to sing Vande Mataram but this is what he delivered -

"Vande mataram, Sujalam suphalam, Vande mataram..."

"Sansayam, malyaam, subhrathajyothisham,Pulkisham"

"Vande mataram,Pulkistaa(n?)..."

"Sumita, dumallu, tsumameem...Suhasin, sumandra bulshumaniVande mataram"

We have no idea Vande Mataram could be sung this way and with these lines.

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WATCH THE HILARIOUS VIDEO HERE:

Greatest video on the internet. Swear, I'm still howling with laughter and my throat's gone hoarse ?????? #VandeMataram pic.twitter.com/JSJi8nlIkt- Taz (@xtahzy) October 30, 2017

Navin Kumar Singh is being trolled mercilessly on Twitter and Facebook for this.

For those who don't know our national song, here it is. Thank us later!

JAIPUR MUNICIPAL CORPORATION MAKES NATIONAL ANTHEM AND NATIONAL SONG MANDATORY FOR STAFF

The Jaipur Municipal Corporation (JMC) made it mandatory for all its staff to sing the national anthem in the morning (at 9 55 AM) and national song in the evening (5 55 PM) and Jaipur Mayor Ashok Lahoty even said that those who cannot comply "should go to Pakistan."

Maybe we should ask him to sing Jan Gan Man and Vande Mataram too to see if he can.

--- ENDS ---
Michael Prendergast and a member of a UNHCR partner organization interview a family who have benefited from UNHCR's legal assistance activities at a camp for internally displaced Iraqis in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq  RaveMedia

What is your job in UNHCR?

Im currently working as an Associate Reporting Officer.

Before you came to Jordan you spent two years in Iraq. What did you work on there?

I spent two very rewarding years there working in external relations and reporting for the office covering the Kurdistan region of Iraq (KR-I), through the UN Volunteers Programme. Iraq has endured a very complex humanitarian crisis in recent years involving huge levels of both internal displacement and cross border displacement (both Syrian refugees into Iraq and Iraqi refugees into Syria). The KR-I region hosts around a quarter of a million Syrian refugees in addition to over one million of the 3.3 million Iraqis who have been internally displaced since 2014. In addition to the displacement situation, the region is in the midst of an economic crisis and has had to contend with a lengthy armed conflict against extremist groups, all of which has amplified the effects of displacement.

What will you be doing in Jordan?

In Jordan I will be working as part of the Regional Directors Office in Amman, which covers the Syria and Iraq situations. I will be working on the Regional Refugee and Resilience Plan (3RP), which is an interagency response plan to the Syrian refugee crisis, led by UNHCR and UNDP. It covers the humanitarian response in the five major host countries for Syrian refugees in the region (Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, and Egypt). My role will involve collaborating with colleagues in each of these countries for the drafting of the next plan for 2018-2019. The Regional Office covers the countries of 3RP and also Syria itself so, in addition to the 3RP, I will also be working on reports and updates concerning displacement and the UNHCR response in each of these countries. This includes the internal displacement situation in both Syria and Iraq.

How did you get involved with working in the humanitarian sector and UNHCR in particular?

I studied law in university and did a masters in international law, where I became particularly interested in refugee law. Afterwards, I started looking for opportunities with NGOs providing legal assistance to refugees and immigrants. I found work with Nasc, the Irish Immigrant Support Centre in Cork, first as a legal intern and then as a consultant legal officer. After this, I moved to Turin, Italy to work with UNICRI, a UN institute conducting research into crime and justice. However, I always felt that I wanted to work with refugees and towards the end of my time in Turin I started to get more involved in a number of voluntary projects supporting refugees. At that stage, I also started to actively look for a work in this area. When I got the opportunity to move to Iraq with UNHCR I jumped at it, much to the dismay of some of my family who were not too sure that it was such a wise choice.

What is your first impression of the situation in Jordan and the region? What is the focus of the regional office there?

The entire region is dealing with a number of crises: over 5 million Syrian refugees are displaced around the region, in addition to over 6 million people internally displaced in Syria and over 3 million people internally displaced in Iraq. Fortunately the neighbouring countries, including Jordan, have shown great support by bearing the brunt of the cross border displacement.

Our regional office coordinates UNHCRs activities in the region and works with other UN agencies to ensure a coherent and effective humanitarian response. The office also has an important role in bringing the plight of refugees in the region to the attention of the international community, other donors, and the general public. The response in recent years has been exceptionally generous with around USD 12 billion raised to assist Syrian refugees since 2012 but, as the situation has become protracted, there is a danger that a kind of donor fatigue has set in. Continued financial and political support from the international community is needed to respond to the displacement itself and also to address the root causes.

Where in Ireland are you from and is there anything you miss from home?

Im originally from Tipperary but I have moved around a bit in the last 10 years and I have lived in Cork, the UK, Italy, Iraq and now Jordan. The toughest part of being away from home is feeling disconnected from family and friends. I try to get back as often as possible, usually a couple of times a year. Aside from that, I miss a fire on a winters evening and a pint bottle of Bulmers cider on a summers day  with Irelands weather, Im often lucky enough to get both of these things on the same trip home!
Much like 2015, the images of flooded streets and houses in Chennai are playing again since the last 48 hours.

By India Today Web Desk: It has been nearly two years since Chennai and some other parts of Tamil Nadu witnessed devastating floods that claimed several hundred lives and displaced lakhs of people. The images of flooded streets and houses were playing again as Chennai witnessed heavy rainfall in the last 48 hours.

In Kodungaiyur locality of Chennai, two girls, aged eight, were electrocuted today when they stepped on a cable wire in stagnant rainwater. Three officials and five workers of the electricity board were suspended for dereliction of duty. In Anakaputhur, two students died after they were allegedly struck by lightning.

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On Tuesday, Tamil Nadu minister S P Velumani claimed that the ruling AIADMK government has done more work compared to London and America in terms of tackling and preparing for monsoon.

While the jury is still out on how prepared Chennai is to face the monsoon this year, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs report on the 2015 floods does provide some invaluable suggestions on preventing a disaster.

Here are some of the suggestions made by the committee in its August 2016 report 'Disaster in Chennai caused by torrential rainfall and consequent flooding':

1) The committee recommended that regular maintenance of the drainage system should get top-most priority however daunting the task may be. It said: The Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority and Chennai Municipal Corporation should pay attention to this issue seriously and act accordingly. The drainage system of the city should be flawless so as to prevent any kind of water logging.

2) The committee while observing illegal encroachment and faulty town planning as major causes for the Chennai deluge noted that action taken by the state government was inadequate. It suggested: There should be a proper blue print and planning for rehabilitating and resettling those who are living on encroached settlements before removing encroachment.

3) The parliamentary standing committee said that unplanned urbanisation was one of the main contributing factors for floods in and around Chennai. "The Committee, therefore, recommends that the Centre should come out with a proper long-term master plan for metro cities to prevent such disasters in future. The committee is also of the opinion that it is an eye opener and other metro cities must also learn from it," the report said.

4) Dismissing the argument of the then Union Home Secretary that there can be no preparation for a disaster that occurs once in a 100 years, the parliamentary committee said that "Ministry of Home Affairs through its subordinate concerned agencies has to bolster its disaster preparedness". "Separate action should be taken to prepare calamity map of all important cities by developing standard vulnerability indices so as to minimise loss of life, loss of private and public property and vital installation," it suggested.

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5) Stressing on the need for use of advanced technology to fight natural disasters, the committee suggested, "The administration of both Centre and State should work together and remain vigilant to tackle the situation... the NDMA and all concerned bodies of Central and state governments should have established procedures so that vital time is not lost in wriggling out procedural delays".

6) Noting the spate of urban floods in cities like Chennai, Mumbai, Srinagar and Surat, the parliamentary standing committee suggested that "guidelines by NDMA should be scrupulously followed and they should also review town planning of each city by giving due importance to clear flood channels, proper drainage, safe-passage to excess water in lakes, de-siltation of river bed, removal of illegal encroachment".

7) The Committee observed that there are "multiple agencies involved in the disaster management process" and felt that "despite the best efforts all these take lot of time and consequently the administration fails to reach out to the victims". It recommended: There should not be so many layers and NDMA has to revamp the process in co-ordination with the Centre and the state.

ALSO WATCH: 2 kids electrocuted in waterlogged Chennai

--- ENDS ---

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Not heard of any plans to build a 1,000 km water diversion tunnel in Tibet for the Brahmaputra river, a top Chinese engineer says.

By Ananth Krishnan: A top Chinese engineer who is building China's longest water tunnel in Yunnan province has said he "has not heard of" any plans to build a 1,000 km water diversion tunnel in Tibet for the Brahmaputra river.

His comments come a day after the Chinese government denied a media report which said engineers had submitted a plan in March to build the world's longest tunnel to divert the Brahmaputra's waters from Tibet to arid Xinjiang. The Chinese Foreign Ministry said it was "a false report".

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The report, in the South China Morning Post, had quoted several Chinese experts who said that an on-going 600 km water tunnel in Yunnan was being used as "a demonstration project" for the Tibet Brahmaputra tunnel. But the chief engineer of the Yunnan plan denied this on Wednesday.

"There is no such direction from the central government, and I've never heard of any plan laid out for a Tibet-Xinjiang tunnel project," Zhao Shijie, chief engineer of the Dianzhong water diversion project in Yunnan, told the Global Times.

He told the paper that "rumours" about the tunnel were not new, but were "baseless".

The Yunnan tunnel project, which has no connection to the reported Tibet plan, began in August and the 660 km tunnel will divert water from the Jinsha river to cities in Yunnan, including capital Kunming.

The plan is estimated to cost 78 billion Yuan.

The Global Times said citing a 2006 media report that "a plan to divert water from Tibet to the northern parts of China was heatedly discussed in the 1990s. Over the decade, 208 lawmakers and 118 political advisers raised proposals and motions on the plan."

"However, the dream of massive water diversions has never been approved due to concerns of the huge cost and potential for damaging the landscape," it added.

Mei Xinyu, a scholar at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, told the paper such a diversion would have unwanted ramifications. "I firmly oppose the project, as Xinjiang cannot afford this project. The estimated cost of diverting water from Tibet to Xinjiang would be five times that of Xinjiang's annual GDP. It may depend massively on central government subsidies and the assistance of local governments in other regions, which likely would lead to social instability."

The SCMP report quoted a researcher as saying "In five to ten years from now, the technology will be ready and the cost affordable, and the temptation of the benefits will be difficult to resist".

Another researcher, however, told the paper the Tibet tunnel would cost more than 1 trillion Yuan-five times the cost of the Three Gorges dam-which would be prohibitive.

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A diversion of the Brahmaputra's waters would have ramifications for India and Bangladesh.

China's dams in Xinjiang and in Yunnan have caused concern in neighbouring countries, from Kazakhstan to Laos and Thailand.

While its dams on the Brahmaputra are at an early stage, India and China have established a working group mechanism on cross-border resources, but this has had a limited mandate so far. In 2013, both sides agreed to allow Indian hydrological experts to travel to Tibet to monitor flows of the Brahmaputra. China also agreed that year to provide hydrological data during the flood season from May until October every year.

That cooperation worked from 2014 to 2016, but data wasn't submitted this year. Chinese officials said it was because of upgrading monitoring stations.

China has so far built one 510 MW dam at Zangmu on the river's upper reaches, and has begun work on three more dams on the river. Beijing says these are run of the river dams for hydropower generation and won't store large volumes of water, but some experts have said it could alter the river's ecosystem.

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The Brahmaputra isn't entirely dependent on flows from China, with a large catchment area in Arunachal Pradesh in India. India has commissioned a study to ascertain the percentage of flows dependent on China, with varying estimates from experts.

--- ENDS ---
By PTI: killed Osama

By Lalit K Jha

Washington, Nov 1 (PTI) The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) today released 470,000 additional files seized in the 2011 US raid on a Pakistani compound that killed al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.

CIA Director Mike Pompeo said the release of recovered al-Qaeda letters, videos, audio files and other materials provides the opportunity for the American people to gain further insights into the plans and workings of the terrorist organisation.

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At the direction of President Donald Trump, the CIA put online 470,000 additional files seized in May 2011 when US Navy SEALs burst into the Abbottabad compound and shot dead Laden.

However, the CIA withheld release of nearly two dozen videos, including the one titled The Story of India stating that they were copyrighted videos.

The Story of India is a BBC documentary series, written and presented by historian Michael Wood about history of India.

The files released today include Ladens sons wedding video and diaries left by the Saudi-born militant.

The documents include Ladens personal journal, over 18,000 document files and 79,000 audio and image files, which include practice reels for public speeches, audio correspondence and imagery gathered or generated by al-Qaeda for a variety of purposes.

"The CIA will continue to seek opportunities to share information with the American people consistent with our obligation to protect national security," he said.

"The materials are posted in the original Arabic and in as close to the original form as possible, modified only so the files cannot be edited," the CIA said.

The CIA said these materials provide insights into the origins of fissures that exist today between al-Qaeda and the ISIS, as well as strategic, doctrinal and religious disagreements within al-Qaeda and its allies; and hardships that the terror group faced at the time of Laden?s death.

Other themes in the materials include al-Qaeda?s preparations to commemorate the tenth anniversary of 9/11 and the group?s attempts to promulgate its message through western media.

The documents also provide insight into al-Qaeda?s efforts to exploit the Arab awakening for its benefit and that of the global jihad, Laden?s efforts to maintain unity within the group and among its affiliates despite disagreements over tactics and doctrine and the terror groups efforts to rehabilitate its tarnished image among Muslims due its mistakes and negative media portrayals.

The CIA said the information remaining in the Abbottabad collection that has not been released publicly includes materials that are sensitive such that their release would directly damage efforts to keep the nation secure; materials protected by copyright; pornography; malware and blank, corrupted and duplicate file. PTI LKJ PMS

--- ENDS ---

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By PTI: New Delhi, Nov 1 (PTI) Delhi-based businessman Gagan Dhawan was sent to a seven-day custody of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) by a city court following his arrest today in connection with a Rs 5,000 crore money laundering probe.

Additional Sessions Judge Ajay Pandey allowed the probe agencys plea seeking custody of Dhawan, who was arrested in an alleged bank fraud case involving a Gujarat- based pharma firm and few other hawala deals

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The ED has sought 14-day custody of the businessman.

Official sources had said the central probe agency arrested Dhawan from the national capital under sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

Dhawan, they said, was on the radar of the agency for allegedly aiding bank loan frauds related to Sterling Biotech, the Vadodara-based company, and few other similar alleged illegal transactions.

The firm and Dhawan are also beingprobed by the Enforcement Directorate for allegedly bribing senior income tax department officials as part of an earlier criminal complaint.

The agency had carried out searches against Dhawan and a former Congress MLA in Delhi in August.

The CBI had recently booked Sterling Biotech, its Directors Chetan Jayantilal Sandesara, Dipti Chetan Sandesara, Rajbhushan Omprakash Dixit, Nitin Jayantilal Sandesara and Vilas Joshi, Chartered Accountant Hemant Hathi, former Director Andhra Bank Anup Garg and other unidentified persons in connection with the alleged bank fraud case.

The CBI has alleged that the company had taken loans of over Rs 5,000 crore from a consortium led by Andhra Bank which have turned into non-performing assets.

The FIR has alleged that the total pending dues of the group companies were Rs 5,383 crore as on December 31, 2016.

The ED had taken a cognisance of this FIR to file a money laundering case against them. PTI UK RRT PKS RT

--- ENDS ---
Published: November 01, 2017

UT Presents Ethics Hot Seat Series Featuring Earnest Broughton Nov. 8

On Wednesday, Nov. 8, Earnest Broughton, senior advisor for the Ethics and Compliance Initiative, will be on the hot seat at The University of Tampas Ethics Hot Seat Speaker Series, hosted by the UT Center for Ethics. The event, which begins at 5:30 p.m. in the Crescent Club on the ninth floor of the Vaughn Center, is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served.



Broughtons talk, Ethics from the Outside In and Inside Out, will be an interactive journey that explores the emerging science behind why we act the way we do, especially when our behavior runs contrary to the values we hold dearest, and what we can do about it.



Broughton, along with Dan Verreault, director of the UT Center for Ethics, and Robert Marley, associate director of the UT Center for Ethics, will tackle the question of how much our behavior can be attributed to the environment, to our sociocultural context, and to the psychological, biological and neurological factors that make us human.



Broughton served as executive director of the Ethics Program for United Services Automobile Association (USAA) from 20002011. He is the co-founder and current president of the Greater San Antonio Ethics and Compliance Roundtable.



For more information, contact Jessica Luce at jluce@ut.edu. Register to attend at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ethics-hot-seat-featuring-earnest-broughton-tickets-37127298750.
(Nov. 1, 2017) -- Aimin Liu, Lutcher Brown Distinguished Chair in Biochemistry at The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA), has published research demystifying a decades-old medical case. The article, which appeared in Molecular Genetics and Metabolism, explores the first confirmed human case of 2,3-dioxygenase deficiency.

Dr. Lius study is an important step forward in understanding hypertryptophanemia and is sure to have a tremendous positive human impact, said George Perry, dean of the UTSA College of Sciences and Semmes Foundation Endowed Distinguished University Chair in Neurobiology. His work is a vital part of our brain health research efforts and an example of the exciting, innovative research UTSA is known for.

Liu, a UTSA biochemist, specializes in metabolism, the bodys process to convert food to energy. His expertise also includes biosynthesis, enzymology and protein biochemistry.

The UTSA researcher collaborated with Patrick Ferreira, a medical geneticist at Alberta Childrens Hospital in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, to document the case. Ferreira contacted Liu in 2015 seeking a better understanding of metabolic disorders he had followed in a female baby born in 1986.

Using advanced instrumentation techniques in his UTSA laboratory, Liu concluded that tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase deficiency was the explanation for the patients conditions: chronic hypertryptophanemia, characterized by an excess of tryptophan, and its subsequent hyperserotonemia, a condition caused by excessive serotonin. Both disorders are rarely reported in the medical literature.

Their case is now the first confirmed report of human tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase deficiency.

Tryptophan, an essential amino acid, is necessary for normal growth and is a precursor to the neurotransmitters serotonin and melatonin. Serotonin plays a critical role in the central nervous system and controls many of the bodys functions. Melatonin is derived from serotonin and has a critical role in the bodys sleeping cycles.

We are dedicated to conducting this intense research because of the impact it can have on people struggling with these conditions, he said. The advanced labs we have at UTSA combined with our devoted students is what make these types of discoveries happen.

Liu hopes that the discoveries he, Ferreira and his UTSA students made will lead to the development of medications that could help people with metabolic disorders like the one they studied.

It was very moving to be involved in a study that could result in a person, or multiple people, benefitting from our work, Liu said. Its a wonderful example of laboratory work making a difference in the everyday world.

UTSA is ranked among the nations top four young universities, according to Times Higher Education.
UW Religion Today: A Ghost Story from Egypt

By Paul V.M. Flesher

A few years ago, I traveled to Egypt and found myself visiting the tombs in the Valley of the Kings, the pyramids, the mastaba burial chambers and the temples the ancient Egyptians used for conveying the dead to the next world.

Not surprisingly, I began to think that Egyptian religion was focused on death and the afterlife. I was sure of it when I was shown the 50-foot wooden boat assembled from pieces buried near the Giza Pyramids. Its intended use? To ferry the dead to their next life. I started wishing to see something about life and happiness. So, when the opportunity arose to visit the old Jewish synagogue of Cairo, I jumped at the chance.

I was so excited about seeing the synagogue that I did not notice the area the guide took me through to get there. The synagogue itself was quite fascinating, but that is another story. On the way back to the tour bus, I took more interest in my surroundings and immediately began to get nervous.

At first, I thought my nervousness was due to the fact that we were the only people on the streets. The streets were clean, dusty and yet, totally deserted. What made this stranger was we were in Cairo, where the sidewalks are so crowded you could lift your feet up and let the crush of people carry you forward, and where the buses are so crowded people hung outside from the windows in order to get home. The lack of people here was definitely strange.

The hair on my neck began to rise when I realized that the houses showed no signs of life. From the number of buildings around us, this seemed to be a populous area. There were many one-story family dwellings; most had stone walls around their small yards, and they seemed to be in a fairly good state of repair. Through a few windows, I could see a table here or a chair there, so they were not empty. They were just devoid of human life. The farther we walked through this city, the more I strained to see people, on the street or in the houses. The emptiness continued.

And, then, I noticed the silence -- the birds and animals also were missing. No chirping or bird songs. Only the distant roar of the Cairo streets, somewhere beyond where we were. A hush settled on the group. Suddenly, through a window, I saw a cat -- a thin, emaciated cat, with its skin stretched tightly over its skull. It darted quickly from view, but not before I could see it had one red eye and one yellow eye -- the only parts of it that looked alive.

Finally, as we neared the bus, the guide provided an explanation. We were walking through Cairos famous City of the Dead, its cemetery. In Cairo, the wealthier inhabitants had purchased family plots in the cemetery, buried their dead in the ground, and then built houses above the crypts. The living relatives would visit their dead by coming to the houses. Once or twice a year, large numbers of relatives would gather in a house and have a party, a party in which, they believed, the spirits of the deceased took part.

So, the modern City of the Dead was a way of connecting the living and the dead, of providing the dead with a place to live, much like the ancient Egyptians had tried to provide their dead with the things of a new life. So, despite the heavy Muslim character of Egypt, religious practices that preceded Islams rise by millennia old continued.

Flesher is a professor in UWs Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies. Past columns and more information about the program can be found on the web at www.uwyo.edu/RelStds . To comment on this column, visit http://religion-today.blogspot.com
Naseem, the man who was arrested, has several cases of robbery against him and also has a reward on his head. During an interrogation, he reportedly disclosed that he was in contact with Chhota Shakeel.

By Mail Today Bureau: Delhi Police on Tuesday arrested a contract killer named Naseem (28), who is also a close aide of underworld don Chhota Shakeel.

Naseem alias Rizwan was tasked with eliminating Pakistan-born writer Tarek Fatah and other high-profile personalities in Andhra Pradesh and Delhi.

Earlier this year, Delhi Police's Special Cell arrested a contract killer named Junaid Chaudhary for planning to target Fatah on Shakeel's orders.

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Junaid was in contact with Shakeel, who was giving him directions to eliminate Fatah - a vocal critic of radical Islam and sharia practices.

Fatah, who is currently settled in Canada, is apparently on fugitive underworld don Dawood Ibrahim's hitlist for his critical remarks against regressive practices in Islam and growing radicalisation within the community.

"Based on a tipoff, a trap was laid on Tuesday at Jafrabad in Delhi, from where Naseem alias Rizwan was nabbed. Police apprehended him after a long chase and recovered Rs 1,98,000 along with a sophisticated pistol and four live cartridges," said Ajit Kumar Singhla, DCP (Northeast).

WHAT THE INTERROGATION REVEALED

Naseem has several cases of robbery against him and also has a reward on his head.

During an interrogation, he reportedly disclosed that he was in contact with Chhota Shakeel.

"He further disclosed that he had a meeting with a criminal named Munna Singh through another criminal named Rashid in Bijnor jail and conspired to eliminate some high-profile personalities in Andhra Pradesh in return of a handsome amount running into crores. He also disclosed that Shakeel had asked him to eliminate a person residing in Dwarka in Delhi," a police officer said.

When Chaudhary was arrested, he told police that he received Rs 1.5 lakh through hawala operators and was conducting a recce to kill Fatah when he came to Delhi-NCR the next time.

He also tried to find out where Fatah stays in Delhi and the timing of his last visits to TV stations and other places, police said.

During interrogation, he is learnt to have told police that Shakeel had promised him more money once the job was done.

Police said Naseem was born in Bulandshahr in UP. Some 10 years ago, his family shifted to Mustafabad in Delhi where he started selling undergarments. Later, he came in contact with criminals and murdered one Shaheed.

He then started committing robberies and extortion to earn fast money. He later came in contact with Shakeel through Choudhary.

--- ENDS ---

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Delhi police has arrested two men this year for planning to target Pakistan born writer Tarek Fatah on orders of gangster Chhota Shakeel.

By India Today Web Desk: Delhi Police has arrested a man named Naseem who was wanted in the Tarek Fatah case, an attempt to murder, a robbery in Gokulpuri and many other cases. Naseem aka Rizwan allegedly has connections with the underworld.

This is the second arrest made for targeting Pakistan born writer Tarek Fatah this year. Earlier this year, Delhi Police's special cell arrested a man named Junaid for planning to target Tarek Fateh on the orders of Chhota Shakeel.

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According to previous reports, Junaid, who is an exceptionally good shooter, was in contact with Shakeel, who was giving him directions to eliminate Tarek Fateh.

Tarek Fateh is a Pakistan-born Canadian writer, is known for critique of sharia law. Fateh's viewpoints are often denounce Islamic practices thus creating controversies and also gaining many haters in the process.

Fateh's outspoken views on Islam and Sharia have apparently offended Dawood Ibrahim's close aide, Chhota Shakeel. Shakeel thus wanted to kill Tarek Fateh and has hired men to do the job for him. One of them was Junaid who was arrested earlier this year.

More details on Naseem's arrest are awaited.

(With inputs from Chirag Gothi from Delhi)

--- ENDS ---
Pittsburgh native Walter McClintock graduated from Yale in 1891. In 1896 he traveled west as a photographer for a federal commission investigating national forests. McClintock became friends with the expeditions Blackfoot Indian scout, William Jackson or Siksikakoan. When the commission completed its field work, Jackson introduced McClintock to the Blackfoot community of northwestern Montana.Over the next twenty years, supported by the Blackfoot elder Mad Wolf, McClintock made several thousand photographs of the Blackfoot, their homelands, their material culture, and their ceremonies.Like his contemporary, the photographer Edward Curtis, McClintock believed that Indian communities were undergoing swift, dramatic transformations that might obliterate their traditional culture. He sought to create a record of a life-way that might disappear. He wrote books, mounted photographic exhibitions, and delivered numerous public lectures about the Blackfoot.
A night view of Da Nang City. - VNA/VNS Photo

Nearly 2,000 CEOs will attend the CEO Summit in the city. Vice chairman of the citys Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Association (DANASME), Nguyen Van Ly, told Viet Nam News that this would represent a rare opportunity for local firms to show off their capacity.

The city has 21,000 businesses, of which 98 per cent are SMEs and super-small businesses with registered capital of VND90 trillion (US$3.9 billion). They contribute 43 per cent to the citys Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP), and employ 60 per cent of the citys labour force. Eighty per cent of the city businesses operate in trade, service, hospitality, tourism property and retails, making international connections especially important.

Da Nang has been a leader in Provincial Competitiveness Index (PCI) for the past decade. It has 408 domestic projects worth $4.5 billion, and 525 foreign direct investment (FDI) projects worth $3 billion.

Tourism real estate remains an investment magnet in this central city, attracting 25 (FDI) projects worth US$1.8 billion. But the citys business community faces challenges that the APEC Summit could help ameliorate.

We have been struggling in seeking a larger export market and long-term strategic partners in service and tourism as well as property. For us, building connections with giant foreign partners is nearly impossible, Ly said. Our small and medium enterprise community faces limited funds and technology, as well as little international exposure. Thats why the APEC Summit is very important to the citys business community.

Ly said he hoped that local businesses would be able to share experiences with CEOs from some of the worlds top firms and join global production processes.

He said the association had received a list of top 100 enterprises in the APECs CEO Summit for business matching. Local businesses are particularly expected to connect with international firms operating in the fields of finance, hi-tech and human resources.

Tourism boon

The 2017 APEC Summit was a diamond chance for Da Nangs tourism industry in hosting the worlds top economic leaders and CEOs, as well as officials from 21 member economies and partners, said the citys tourism association, Huynh Tan Vinh.

Vinh said the city received an award for Asias Leading Festival and Event at the World Travel Awards ceremony for tourism last year. He said that hosting the APEC Summit would confirm the citys tourism prowess.

He said Da Nang was also the first city in Viet Nam and the South-east Asian region to host a leg of the Clipper 2015-16 Round the World Yacht Race last year. Because of that event, the symbol of the Ngu Hanh Son Mountain (Marble Mountain) and the citys tourism logo, Fantastic City, travelled around the globe.

The APEC Summit is a great promotional opportunity for the citys tourism industry, Vinh said. Well be able to offer international observers an introduction to the city through the first-hand experiences of 10,000 delegates, 2,000 CEOs and 3,000 journalists at the APEC Summit.

He said the city had received huge investment from the central Government and private sectors in infrastructure projects, including airport expansiona new terminal could host about 14 million tourists per yearconvention halls, accommodations, human resource training and decoration projects.

The city has developed 600 hotels and resorts to provide 26,000 rooms for hosting 15 million tourists per year in 2030, Vinh said.

Yeon In Jung, the CEO and general director of South Koreas Doosan Heavy Industries Viet Nam (Doosan Vina) said the APEC Summit was an excellent opportunity for Viet Nam to showcase its advantages and encourage firms to invest and open a branch or subsidiary in the country like Doosan did in 1995.

He said the APEC Summit would provide long-term benefit for Viet Nam, its people and businesses; the exposure that Viet Nam would receive is tremendous.

If you think of Viet Nam in terms of a brand, hosting the APEC Summit will introduce key decision makers in Government and business people from all over the world to what is possible in Viet Nam, and that is priceless, he added.

The VIPs that are coming will be able to see firsthand what companies like Doosan have done here and theyll be able to easily see the possibilities for investment. Another side effect will be the millions of people in the leaders home nations who will also be shown what it is like to visit and do business in Viet Nam by their media, so the benefits from APEC will last long after the event and have a knock-on effect that will bring lasting value to Viet Nam for many years to come, he said.

I think all the factors for success are here and good businessmen are sure to recognize that, he continued. They will Carpe Diem or seize the day and take a serious look at Viet Nam.
For the first time, Vietnam is on track to accomplish all of its annual socio-economic goals Photo: Le Toan

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc told the National Assembly last week that based on the socio-economic results of this years first nine months, We may, for the first time after so many years, accomplish or even over-fulfil all of the 13 socio-economic goals set by the National Assembly (see box for details).

This is quite a big success for our country, especially in the context that the economy is gradually changing its growth model, with a gradual reduction of natural resources and a focal shift to the manufacturing and processing industry, high-tech agriculture, and development of services and tourism, PM Phuc said. The achievement of comprehensive results in all sectors has contributed to strengthening confidence and inspiration, and has also been highly commended by the international community.

For example, the United Nations has raised Vietnams Sustainable Development Index for 2017 by 20 ranks, to 68 out of 157 nations and territories, he said.

A governmental report on Vietnams socio-economic situation delivered to the National Assembly last week stated, It is expected that the economy will grow 6.7 per cent this year, reaching the National Assemblys target set earlier.

The economy grew 6.41 per cent in this years first nine months, higher than the 5.99 per cent in last years corresponding period. It rose to 7.46 per cent in this years third quarter from 6.28 and 5.15 per cent in the second and first quarters, respectively.

However, if the mining sector does not suffer from an estimated decrease of 5.9 per cent this year, the whole economy would surely grow upwards of 7.24 per cent, the government said.

Thus, it is clear that the manufacturing and processing and service sectors, coupled with strong exports, have compensated for the decline in the mining sector, Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung told VIR.

The 6.7 per cent target will be hit thanks to strong growth in the economys key sectors this year, including the agro-forestry-fishery industry (up 3 per cent  a fourfold increase against 2016 to hit a record $35 billion in export turnover), construction (up 7.17 per cent), and services (up 7.25 per cent  the highest rise since 2008).

Regarding industrial growth, the manufacturing and processing sector, which creates 80 per cent of Vietnams industrial growth, is expected to rise by a record rate of 12.8 per cent year-on-year.

Also, Vietnam is projected to welcome a record number of 13 million international tourist arrivals this year, up 30 per cent against last year. Meanwhile, the number of local tourists may reach a record 75 million, up 12 per cent against 2016.

Also, Vietnam may reap a record export turnover of $202 billion this year, from last years $176 billion.
According to the latest figures from the Ministry of Construction (MoC), as of July 2017, there were less than 800 cases reported of foreigners being granted housing ownership in Vietnam. This figure is quite low compared to the total number of foreigners living and working in the country  about 82,000.

According to Savills Vietnam, the main barriers discouraging foreigners from pursuing real estate ownership are uncertainties in local laws and legal procedures, as well as unfamiliar administrations.

Many foreigners have expressed interest in Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, and Danang real estate. The number of red books (ownership certificates) issued to foreign organisations and individuals buying houses has been relatively low considering the high levels of interest and demand.

However, Sergey Nam, deputy CEO of Kusto Home, the developer of Ho Chi Minh City District 2 development Diamond Island, said that the number of foreigners buying units in Diamond Island has been increasing, and the set targets have almost been hit. Actually, we have to admit that the revised Law on Housing in Vietnam, which took effect on July 1, 2015, has affected the foreign buyers. Its easier for foreigners to buy residential properties in Vietnam, as long as they can enter the country legally. There is no need for a residence visa, unlike in previous periods. The two-fold rise in foreign buyers in our Diamond Island project in District 2 has shown their interest in Vietnams property, Nam told VIR.

He further added that the big challenge now is clearing up how foreigners apply for and receive ownership certificates for 50 years, and to figure out what the terms and conditions to extend leaseholds are.

If it was clear by now, I am sure the number of foreign buyers would be much bigger, he added.

According to Circular No.19/2017/TT-BXD and Decree No.99/2015/ND-CP issued by MoC, regulating the number of houses and apartments owned by foreigners was meant to tighten resale procedures and increase transparency in legal and administrative processes.

However, adjusting limits to make them more suitable for areas with special demands, such as condominiums or Grade A apartments, is another direction that needs consideration.

The flexibility of limited-area coverage over fixed limits would support the market, especially with more than 82,000 foreigners living and working in Vietnam.

Residential Sales director of Savills Ho Chi Minh City Nguyen Khanh Duy said that the law allowing foreigners to buy real estate in Vietnam has received positive feedback from sellers and buyers alike.

The Ho Chi Minh City real estate market has seen thousands of successful transactions with foreign clients over the last two years, Duy said.

Generally, requirements have become clearly defined and the evolution of the local real estate market has created a new source of demand.

Nam from Kusto Home said that Vietnam is seen as a new destination for both living and investing, based on the positive economic signals and newly-updated land-related laws. The number of foreign buyers aiming to own property in Vietnam is increasing every year.

I believe the government is on the right track and a lot has been done so far. We are looking forward to additional instructions to be issued very soon, he said.

In 2017, many projects quickly reached the 30 per cent foreign ownership limit (in terms of units) in a very short time. The 30 per cent quota on many developments was reached almost immediately, forcing developers to turn away many interested foreigners looking to buy.

According to property consultants, clients were mainly Asian, from places such as Korea, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Singapore.

Projects and products attracting overseas buyers are mainly in the high-end segment. A great deal of buyer appeal is in buy-to-let properties  as potential lease income is an attractive investment.
German police have arrested a Syrian man suspected of preparing a terror attack. (Photo: AFP/Julian Stratenschulte)

The man, identified only as Yamen A, 19, was held at dawn by special forces in the northeastern town of Schwerin, the federal prosecutor's office said in a statement.

Several apartments were also searched in the region, which is north of Berlin.

The man is suspected of having "planned and already concretely prepared an Islamist-motivated attack in Germany using very powerful explosives," a spokeswoman for the prosecutor's office, Frauke Kohler, told reporters.

In a statement, the office said the man had made a decision "no later than July 2017 to explode a bomb in Germany with the aim of killing and wounding as many people as possible."

"It has not yet been established whether the suspect already had a target in mind or not," it said, adding that prosecutors did not have any information on whether the suspect belonged to "a terrorist organisation".

In the following weeks, he began to acquire the chemical products and materials necessary to build a bomb.

"A serious attack has been prevented," German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere said in a statement.

"This action came at exactly the right moment: late enough that the necessary evidence had been gathered but early enough to eliminate any potential danger".

He added: "The threat level in Germany remains high".

German police have been on high alert over potential extremist attacks, particularly since December last year when a man hijacked a truck and ploughed into shoppers at a Christmas market in Berlin, killing 12 people.

The attacker was shot dead by police in Milan four days later, and the rampage was claimed by the Islamic State militant group.

An investigation pointed to a catalogue of "gross mistakes" by security services in the lead-up to the attack.

'10,000 RADICALS'

The scathing report found that authorities had missed several opportunities to arrest and deport the driver, Tunisian asylum seeker Anis Amri.

The 24-year-old, who had previously been jailed in Italy, had been in touch with extremists and sold drugs in Berlin. He had managed to escape detection by skipping across German state lines and using different identities.

Last July, a 26-year-old Palestinian asylum seeker wielding a knife stormed into a supermarket in Hamburg, killing one person and wounding six others before being detained by passers-by.

German prosecutors said the man likely had a "radical Islamist" motive.

The intelligence services estimate there are around 10,000 radicals in Germany, some 1,600 of whom are suspected of being capable of using violence.

IS claimed responsibility for a number of other attacks in 2016, including the murder of a teenager in Hamburg, a suicide bombing in the southern city of Ansbach that wounded 15, and an axe attack on a train in Bavaria that left five injured.

Chancellor Angela Merkel has allowed in more than one million asylum seekers in the past two years - a decision that has driven the shock rise of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party.

The arrest on Tuesday came as Merkel's conservative CDU party was in talks with the left-leaning Greens and the pro-business Free Democrats (FDP) to form a coalition government.

One of the main points of friction in the talks is Germany's position on migrants, with the CDU and the FDP hoping to clamp down on new arrivals while the Greens want to maintain a more welcoming stance.
As winter comes knocking at Delhi's door, the air quality continues to remain in the 'very poor' category, with a mild smog covering the entire national capital region.

By Abhishek Anand: Winter is almost here in Delhi. Today's early morning weather report even saw the minimum temperature plunge below 18 degree Celsius. The city's air quality continues to remain in the 'very poor' category though, with a mild smog covering the entire national capital region.

Reports say the maximum temperature of Delhi is likely to remain above 30 degree Celsius, while the minimum temperature may dip to around 17-18 degree Celsius across the week.

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"This was the minimum temperature recorded so far since last winter. The minimum temperature will go down further during next couple of weeks. The maximum temperature will, however, remain around 30 degree Celsius, and the days will be warm," said a weather department official.

Delhi bro what the fuck pic.twitter.com/TS1NcUU3aI- k (@krazyfrog) October 31, 2017

Meanwhile, the air quality of the NCR remains a major concern.

According to the Ministry of Science's website, System for Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR), the particulate matter (PM) 2.5 level was recorded 179 gm-3, which falls in the 'very poor' category. Also, PM 10 was recorded at 298 gm-3, which falls in the 'poor category'.

"With no rains or heavy wind in site, the air quality is likely to remain stagnant this month," said a weather department official.

In mid-October, Delhi saw a further rise in pollution levels, with Bhiwadi (NCR) in Rajasthan becoming the first place to record "severe" quality of air under the Air Quality Index (AQI).

Across the NCR, where the air quality has already touched "very poor" level in many areas -- including IGI Airport, Delhi University (North Campus) and Mathura Road -- recorded an AQI of 290, which is merely 10 points away from overall "very poor" air quality.

Ghaziabad, on the other hand, was on the verge of reaching "severe" with air quality at present registering "very poor" at an Index value of 385. Noida, where air quality was slightly better 48 hours earlier, also saw increase in pollution, with AQI recorded at 263, considered "poor".

I washed the ionic air purifier filter last week... pic.twitter.com/6Wip6B4YWO- Nikhil Pahwa (@nixxin) October 31, 2017

Post Diwali this year, despite Supreme Court's ban on the selling of fire crackers and guidelines regarding bursting them beyond a certain time limit, the air quality index (AQI) in the NCR rose significantly.

The Delhi government is planning to re-impose the odd-even rule to counter the rising pollution and the departments concerned have been asked by the ministers to pull up their socks for implementation of odd-even rule.

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[With added inputs from IANS]

North Delhi right now.You can seen the smoky air, smell it. Until you see data, never quite sure of how bad. Stay next to a purifier pls. pic.twitter.com/VuktsCFfxS- Nikhil Pahwa (@nixxin) October 31, 2017

--- ENDS ---
Kanye Wests last major public appearance came last December when he unexpectedly showed up at Trump Tower. - AFP Photo

West, a once omnipresent celebrity with a prolific media presence and high-profile marriage to Kim Kardashian, abruptly ended a tour and was hospitalised in November 2016 after unusual rants on stage.

Making his most visible appearance this year, West contributed a verse on a song released on Tuesday by Cyhi The Prynce, an Atlanta rapper whom West earlier signed to his label imprint.

The song, Dat Side, expounds on the perils of fame and hits back at critics, with West speaking of being African-American in his affluent Los Angeles neighbourhood.

"Neighbours said they think I gave the neighbourhood a black eye," the 40-year-old father of two raps.

He also appears to reference his ongoing rift with Swift. In his 2016 song Famous, West boasts that the pop star may have sex with him as he takes credit for her celebrity  a reference to how he disrupted her at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards.

Swift voiced anger at the lyric and hit back in Look What You Made Me Do, a vindictive track released in August.

West on the latest track references the name of the controversial song as he raps: "The people claim to know you... get famous on you / Then they go and blame it on you / You just good, they cant ignore you."

Wests last major public appearance following his hospitalisation came in December when he unexpectedly showed up at Trump Tower in New York to meet then president-elect Donald Trump  whose aides said he was mulling an official role for the rapper.
Khaisilk's 'Made in China' scandal spread to the group's other business ventures

Khaisilks selling scarves imported from China as locally made products angered customers who in the past days have been boycotting every product of the Khaisilk brand.

According to the latest news, a series of luxury restaurants, namely Au Menoir de Khai, Nam Phan, Cham Charm, and Trois Pommes, have become emptier after the scandal.

Besides, a series of multimillion-dollar real estate projects in Phu My Hung urban area have faced devaluation as customers have started to complain about the quality of these real estate projects.

After the initial success in trading in silk scarves, Khai, the founder of the Khaisilk brand, decided to expand his business operations in restaurants and real estate, and at present, the revenue from real estate projects contributes a large part of the groups total revenue.

Khai currently owns several projects in Phu My Hung urban area, including an office and shopping centre complex valued $35 million, the white castle TajamaSago valued $15 million, and the 18-storey Khai Tower.

Khai plans to construct the 20-storey Price Tower near Khai Tower, which would bring the total value of the two towers to $40 million.

Along with a loss of prestige and money, Khaisilk is facing a series of investigations following the "Made-in-China" scandal.

Notably, according to newswire Vietnamnews, on October 30, Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Tuan Anh chaired a meeting with relevant agencies on resolving violations by selling "Made in China" products under a Vietnamese trademark.

The scandal broke out after a Khaisilk scarf was found bearing both Made in China and Made in Vietnam tags at one of the brands outlets at 113 Hang Gai Street, Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi.

Anh said relevant documents had been submitted to the police that will launch a criminal probe.

In addition, a joint task force will be set up with the participation of police, customs, and tax officers, as well as representatives of the Vietnam Textile and Apparel Association and the Vietnam Standards and Consumers Association, which will launch an independent probe into allegations against the brand.

Anh also asked that the peoples committees of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City instruct relevant agencies to co-operate with the task force to clarify the violations of Khaisilk Group, Khai Duc JSC, and its branch on 113 Hang Gai Street.

The Department of Market Watch will collect information related to the scandal.

Onle a few days after the scandal broke out did Khaisilk chairman Hoang Khai admit in an interview with online newspaper zing.vn that half of the silk used by Khaisilk came from China, while the rest came from Vietnamese craft villages. However, he was adamant that his company always used high-quality material.

All Khaisilk outlets in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City have been shut down following the scandal.

Founded in the late 1990s, Khaisilk scarves are considered a premium product, popular amongst local luxury consumers and international tourists.

Khaisilk scandal: Brand to be investigated Khaisilk, once regarded as Viet Nams hi-end silk brand, is facing a series of investigations following a "Made-in-China" scandal.

Tax probe results on scandal-hit Khaisilk to be announced soon The General Department of Taxation (GDT) will announce the results of the tax inspection of Khaisilk Group, a top Vietnamese silk brand, following the recent scandal of the company selling Chinese-made products.

MoIT initiates probe into Khaisilk fraud The Minister of Industry and Trade, Tran Tuan Anh, on Thursday asked the Department of Market Watch to look into the origin of products of the Khaisilk Group - a top Vietnamese silk brand - following a complaint that it was selling products made in China.
A Khaisilks outlet in Ha Nois Hang Gai Street has been shut down after scandal.  Photo laodong.com.vn

Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Tuan Anh said relevant documents had been transferred to the police.

Anh, on Monday, chaired a meeting with relevant agencies on checks and ways to resolve violations by selling "Made-in-China" products under the Vietnamese trademark.

Polices will launch a criminal probe into Khaisilk after an inspection last week uncovered fake products that were made in China at one of the brands Ha Noi outlets on 113 Hang Gai Street, Hoan Kiem District.

In addition, a joint task force will be set up with the participation of police, customs, tax offices, the Viet Nam Textile and Apparel Association, and the Viet Nam Standards and Consumers Association, which will launch an independent probe into allegations against the brand.

It will also ask the Peoples Committee of Ha Noi and HCM City to instruct relevant agencies to co-operate with the task force to clarify violations of Khaisilk Group, Khai Duc Joint Stock Company and its branch on 113 Hang Gai Street.

The Department of Market Watch will collect information related to the scandal.

The scandal came to light on October 23 when a business in Ha Noi posted on Facebook a complaint about products it had bought from the brand saying they were actually made in China.

According to the post, the company bought 60 Khaisilk-branded scarves at in the Hang Gai shop in Ha Noi for VN644,000 (US$28) each. However, one scarf had two tags - Khaisilk Made in Viet Nam and Made in China.

The company said it checked the rest of the scarves and found signs that Made in China tags had been removed.

Group chairman Hoang Khai, the brands owner, later admitted in an interview with online newspaper zing.vn that half of the silk used by Khaisilk came from China, while the rest came from Vietnamese craft villages. However, he was adamant that his company always used high-quality material.

Khai shared that in the 1990s, Viet Nams silk artisan villages couldnt produce enough raw material for his brand, so he had to begin sourcing it from China and selling items with a Made in Viet Nam tag.

The scandal may bring down the brand as local consumers are urging a complete boycott.

Khaisilk is a well-known high-end brand with a history of over 30 years, famous for its supposedly high-quality "Made in Viet Nam" products.

Earlier on the same day, chairman of HCM City Nguyen Thanh Phong also asked relevant agencies to clarify the violation which could affect tourism as Khaisilk has three shops in the city.

All Khaisilk shops in Ha Noi and HCM City have been shut down following the scandal.
A young girl reacts as police officers secure an area following the deadly truck attack in New York, Photo AFP

A young girl reacts as police officers secure an area following the deadly truck attack in New York, Photo AFP

In the wake of what New York's mayor called a "cowardly act of terror," children were evacuated from one nearby elementary school with nervous parents after a 29-year-old man mowed down pedestrians and cyclists before smashing into a school bus.

"It was terrible. We're here every day. This is our route to school, where we walk the dog, go to the supermarket," said Yvonne Villiguer, 52, whose nine-year-old son is dressed as the Grim Reaper, clutching a scythe.

Oct 31 normally sees TriBeCa, one of the most expensive neighborhoods in Manhattan home to celebrities, wealthy families, gleaming glass condo buildings and luxury boutiques, revel in Halloween festivities.

But this year, children went door to door, sidestepping police and news crews a stone's throw away and hours after a 29-year-old terror suspect, identified by American television networks as an Uzbek citizen from Florida, wrought death.

Villiguer's initial plan was to take her son through the streets for the customary haul of candy. But in the aftermath of the attack, they restricted themselves to the nearby apartment building of some friends.

"This has ruined the holiday," said nearby 41-year-old doorman Conce Dadd on Warren Street, just steps from the scene of the attack as he opens and closes the door to children dressed as Harry Potter and a sumo wrestler.

"That's life. It can happen any moment. There's nothing you can do," he sighed philosophically. "Only thing you can do is to punish the guy who did it."

'SUPER NERVOUS'

Angelica Pinera, a 30-year-old mother in a caramel coat ran after girls aged 10 to 12 dressed up as Alice in Wonderland, Minnie the Mouse and Little Bo Beep.

The street was dark save for the bright lights of police cars and fire trucks. Many were afraid to go out asking for sweets when they heard about the attack, but children's excitement built up all year won over for others.

"I'm super nervous and sad," admitted Pinera, outside a primary school that closed its doors for safety.

"It's the last straw when something like that happens. This day is so special and with the kids near the school, it's worrisome."

Ilke Mancov, who lives nearby, said he was very worried about his family when he heard about the attack -- while he was at work.

Some hours later, he kept a watchful eye as he stepped with his children - one Little Red Riding Hood and one Wolf - past the police cordon so they could fill their bags with chocolate and candy.

"We live a block away from where everything happened, so I was very worried," the father in his 30s told AFP.

"There are a lot of kids because this happened in between two schools," Mancov said, pointing to an elementary school on one side and a high school on the other.

"It hits home. New York is not the type of place where you can do anything. In fact, it is surprising that it hasn't happened more often," he added.

"It's just how it is. It's the world we live in. If it had happened an hour later, all the kids would have been coming out of school and it would have been much much worse."
The United Nations says an estimated 605,000 Rohingya had arrived in Bangladesh since late August fleeing an upsurge in ethnic violence in Rakhine State. (Photo: AFP/Fred Dufour)

The United Nations says an estimated 605,000 Rohingya had arrived in Bangladesh since late August fleeing an upsurge in ethnic violence in Rakhine State. (Photo: AFP/Fred Dufour)

At least 200 Rohingya have drowned since late August making the treacherous sea crossing from Myanmar to Bangladesh.

Overall, some 600,000 members of the Muslim minority have fled their mainly Buddhist homeland following a wave of violence there which the United Nations has described as ethnic cleansing.

Police said the three babies fell into the water as their boat reached shore in the town of Teknaf on Monday evening.

"Two of the children were dropped from their mothers' laps," Teknaf police chief Main Uddin told AFP. "The children were aged between three and 10 months."

The other four victims drowned when their boat sank in rough weather on Tuesday morning as it neared the Bangladesh coast.

"There were at least 33 people in the small trawler, which capsized after it was caught in high waves," local police chief Abul Khair told AFP.

He said one person was found dead at the scene while six others were rushed to hospital in critical condition. Three of them later died.

The rest were dragged ashore or managed to swim to safety, Khair added.

He said the victims were all Rohingya from Buthidaung district in Myanmar's westernmost Rakhine state. The UN estimates that 605,000 members of the persecuted minority have fled since August 25.

Most have crossed by land into Bangladesh, where refugee camps have been overwhelmed by the sick and injured.

But others have made the dangerous voyage by sea, taking rickety fishing boats into the Bay of Bengal and snaking up the coastline of Bangladesh looking for a spot to make landfall.

The refugees have described systematic massacres, rapes and arson in their villages by Myanmar troops and ethnic Rakhine Buddhists.
Sony KDL 42 W700B, photo source: nguoitieudung.com.vn

Lack of inspection results by professional agencies was the main reason for temporarily suspending the case. In September, the trial already had to be suspended to collect additional documents and evidence. A time for a return to court was not specified.

Bui Trong Kham, a resident of the northern province of Hai Duong, sued Sony for allegedly failing to fulfil their warranty obligations for a faulty television set and said that his family will follow the lawsuit to the end. He said, It is not only for me anymore, but also for other consumers rights in this country.

As a consumer. I lost faith in Sony Vietnam, he said.

His claims against Sony stand at VND542.3 million ($24,650), including the cost of the TV set, the preparation of the necessary documents, litigation fees, and compensation for mental stress.

According to Kham, he bought a Sony KDL 42 W700 television set on October 2, 2014 from a Sony agency in Pham Ngu Lao street in Hai Duong, with the warranty period of 24 months after the purchase.

On July 10, 2015, the TV set broke and Kham promptly called the Sony warranty centre in Hai Duong. The centres employees came out and fixed the problem. However, on September 21, 2015, his TV broke once again. The centres employees came, took some pictures of the TV, and said that the information and pictures would be forwarded to the warranty centre.

Two days later, on September 23, 2015, the centre called Kham and refused to fix the TV, attributing the problem to liquid damage not covered under the warranty. Sonys warranty staff informed Kham that it would cost VND7.35 million ($334) to fix his TV at home or VND6.9 million ($313) to fix it at the Sony warranty centre. However, Kham declined Sonys offer and immediately visited the centre for a better solution, but failed.

Later, in December 2015, Kham once again visited the centre, this time with his lawyer, asking for a free repair of his TV, but he was denied. As a result, he sued Sony, saying that his contractual rights had been violated. However, Sony said they had offered Kham a free warranty at their centre for his TV at the time, with no more warranty time later. Still, Kham declined the offer, which Sony considered a refusal to get a warranty for his TV.

Sony maintains that it does not lie to customers and has contested Khams compensation claim.
"A push by North Korea to become a nuclear state cannot be accepted or tolerated," Moon said in an address to parliament. "We also will not develop or own nuclear arms."

In recent months Pyongyang has carried out its sixth nuclear test - its most powerful by far - and launched missiles apparently capable of reaching much of the US mainland, raising concerns in Seoul about its security alliance with Washington.

South Korean media and opposition politicians have called for US tactical nuclear weapons, which were withdrawn from the peninsula in the 1990s, to be returned.

Some have suggested that if Washington does not agree - Defense Secretary Jim Mattis expressed doubts about the concept in a visit at the weekend - Seoul should develop a nuclear capability of its own, in order to ensure what they dub a "balance of terror" on the peninsula.

But Moon said in his address that Seoul's approach would be "based on the joint declaration to denuclearise the Korean peninsula declared by both Koreas" in 1992.

Then the two Koreas agreed not to develop nuclear arsenal on the flashpoint peninsula, and two years later the North forged an aid-for-denuclearisation deal with the US.

The 1994 deal fell apart in 2002 when the North walked out and resumed its atomic weapons programme after Washington raised suspicions Pyongyang was secretly pursuing nuclear arms.

Pyongyang carried out its first atomic test in 2006, and has made significant progress in its weapons technology under current leader Kim Jong-Un, who has overseen four atomic blasts and numerous missile tests since inheriting power in 2011.

'TRAGIC HISTORY'

The North hails its nuclear arsenal as a "treasured sword" to protect itself from potential invasion by its "imperialist enemy" the US, but has threatened to bracket the US Pacific island of Guam with missiles.

Kim and Donald Trump have also traded personal insults in recent months, sparking concerns of a conflict on the peninsula where the 1950-53 Korean War left millions dead.

Tensions escalated further as Trump warned of "fire and fury" against the North and a "calm before the storm".

But Moon insisted there could be no US military action without Seoul's agreement, saying Koreans had to "determine the fate of our nation ourselves".

"There should be no military action on the peninsula without our prior consent," he said.

"We will not repeat the tragic history like colonialisation and division during which the fate of our nation was determined regardless of our will," he added.

Japan colonised the peninsula from 1910 to 1945, and after Tokyo's surrender ended the Second World War it was divided into separate zones of occupation by Russia and the US.

Even some Trump advisers say US military options are limited when any armed conflict on the peninsula is expected to cause massive casualties.

The South's capital Seoul is home to 10 million people and only about 50km from the border, within range of Pyongyang's artillery.

One study by the Nautilus think-tank in California estimated around 65,000 civilians would die in Seoul alone on the first day of a conventional North Korean attack.

Trump is scheduled to visit Japan, South Korea, China, Vietnam and the Philippines during his first Asia trip this month, with all eyes on his message to the North and Kim.

How to curb the North's threats is expected to top the agenda when Trump visits the South - a key Asian ally of Washington's, which hosts 28,500 US troops - for a summit with Moon on Nov 7.
The Viet Nam Peacekeeping Centre has coordinated with Military Hospital 175 and partners from Australia and the US to open a training course on first aid by air and trauma care for officers and nurses at the second-level field hospital. - Photo daidoanket.vn

Australian experts shared experience in first aid by air of the UN peacekeeping mission in South Sudan and instructed trainees to practise a flight to improve their capacity in the field.

Meanwhile, US specialists will provide guidance on trauma care.

After completing the course from October 30-November 5, the trainees will take an exam to get the International Trauma Life Support (ITLS) certificate and prepare to join the UN peacekeeping mission.

Viet Nams first field hospital team is set to join the United Nations peacekeeping mission in South Sudan in 2018.
By PTI: (Eds: With additional input)

New Delhi, Nov 1 (PTI) The ED today arrested a businessman here in connection with its money laundering probe in the over Rs 5,000 crore alleged bank fraud case involving a Gujarat-based pharma firm and few other hawala deals.

Official sources said the central probe agency arrested Gagan Dhawan early today from the national capital, under sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), after he was called for questioning in the case.

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He was later produced by the agency before a court here which sent him to seven days of ED custody.

Dhawan, they said, was on the radar of the agency for allegedly aiding bank loan frauds related to Sterling Biotech, the Vadodara-based company and few other similar alleged illegal transactions.

It had registered a case under the PMLA based on a recent CBI FIR of alleged defrauding of the Andhra bank by the said firm to the tune of over Rs 5,000 crore.

The agency suspects the role of about 300 shell firms in perpetrating money laundering and alleged routing of illegal funds through foreign shores in this case.

The sources claimed Dhawan allegedly had links with a number of bureaucrats and politicians whose funds he reportedly transacted through hawala.

The Gujarat firm and Dhawan are also beingprobed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for allegedly bribing senior Income Tax Department officials, as part of an earlier criminal complaint.

The agency had carried out searches against Dhawan and a former Congress MLA in Delhi in August.

The CBI had recently booked Sterling Biotech, its Directors Chetan Jayantilal Sandesara, Dipti Chetan Sandesara, Rajbhushan Omprakash Dixit, Nitin Jayantilal Sandesara and Vilas Joshi, Chartered Accountant Hemant Hathi, former Director Andhra Bank Anup Garg and other unidentified persons in connection with the alleged bank fraud case.

The CBI has alleged that the company had taken loans of over Rs 5,000 crore from a consortium led by Andhra Bank which have turned into non-performing assets.

The FIR has alleged that the total pending dues of the group companies were Rs 5,383 crore as on December 31, 2016.

The ED had taken a cognisance of this FIR to file a money laundering case against them. PTI NES DIP

--- ENDS ---
With this the High Court bench also ordered that hawkers should be included on committees that determine hawking zones.

By Vidya : Giving a boost to the anti-illegal hawking campaigns, the Bombay High Court has ruled that hawking will be permitted only in designated zones and no such activities will be allowed on foot-over and rail-over bridges within 150 metres of railway stations.

The court in its order observed that footpaths and pavements are public properties that are intended to serve convenience to general public. "They are not laid for private use and their use for private purpose frustrates the very object for which they are carved out from portions of the public roads."

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After hearing arguments extensively before the Diwali vacations, division bench of Justice BR Gavai and Justice MS Karnik said that if hawkers were allowed to do business anywhere without restrictions then it would create chaos. The court also referred to September 29 stampede incident on the foot-over bridge at Elphinstone Road railway station that resulted in the death of 23 persons and injured 35 others.

"On account of the mad rush of the passengers, there was commotion on the bridge, which led to loss of 23 precious human lives. The presence of large number of hawkers on the foot-over bridge is said to be one of the major contributing factors in the mishap," the court said in its 118-page order.

Many petitions had been filed by hawker unions and Congress leader Sanjay Nirupam last year claiming that as per the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, the municipal authorities cannot evict them. The petitioners argued that after the Act came into effect there are now no non-hawking zones and the hawkers are permitted to set up shop anywhere and the municipal corporations and councils cannot evict them.

However, the court said, "We are of the view that while considering the rights of the hawkers to conduct their vending business on streets, we will have to balance the rights of the pedestrians to walk on the footpaths and the citizens to use the roads for the purpose of plying their vehicles."

The court reiterated the earlier Supreme Court rules which said, "No hawking would be permitted within 100 metres from any place of worship, holy shrine, educational institutions and hospitals and within 150 metres from any municipal or other markets or from any railway stations."

The court also directed that no hawking would be permitted on footbridges and overbridges. The bench added that outside places of worship, hawkers can be permitted to sell only such items as are required by the devotees for offering to the deity or for placing in the place of worship like flowers, candles, coconuts and so on.

The bench noted that till vending and non-vending zones are notified by the authorities in accordance with the Act, hawking activities would be permitted only in those areas which have been approved as hawking zones in the 2009 Supreme Court judgment. With this the High Court bench also ordered that hawkers should be included on committees that determine hawking zones.

--- ENDS ---

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On 30 October 2017, Carles Puigdemont, former President of the Generalitat of Catalogne, arrived in Brussels. He had been welcomed there by members of the New Flemish Alliance (the Nieuw-Vlaamse Alliantie or the NVA) and resided at the headquarters of the European Free Alliance (Alliance libre europeenne).

The NVA is a Flemish regional party participating in the current Belgian government. A few of its leaders are known for their links with the extreme right.

The European Free Alliance is a federation of regionalist, autonomist and separatist parties that sits with the Greens in the European Parliament. Its president is the Frenchman Francois Alfonsi (Party of the Corsican Nation, Partie de la Nation corse). Carles Puigdemonts Catalan European Democratic Party is not a member of it.

Carles Puigdemont immediately hired a lawyer specializing in asylum claims (Paul Bekaert Esq) and has made progress through NVA ministers. However, the Belgian Prime Minister, Charles Michel, made it known that he would be against political asylum being granted and has refused access to the Residence Palace, so that a press conference could be held there.

On 31 October, Carles Puigdemont went on to give a press conference to the Press Club. Of course he denied that he wanted to stay in Belgium, since this option had been closed off to him. He declared that he would respect the result of the elections called by the Spanish Prime Minister on 21 December.
The Ministry for Heritage has announced that three new interpretation panels have been placed within our Old Town in order to provide information on our Medieval History, namely our Islamic and Spanish Periods.
Photo: Hannes Magerstaedt/Getty Images for Bits & Pretzels

In the next episode of This Is Us viewers will see a flashback to the year 2008 in which Kevin (Justin Hartley) is struggling to find work as an actor. Kevins roommate, however, has just landed a role, and the part that Us fans wont see is the roommate happily noting that his next gig is a Kevin Spacey movie. TVLine reports that in light of recent accusations of sexual misconduct against Spacey made by actor Anthony Rapp, NBC decided to revise the upcoming hour, called The 20s. According to an account Rapp gave to BuzzFeed, Spacey made sexual advances toward him when he was just 14 and Spacey was in his mid-20s. In response, Spacey did not deny the accusations, but instead said he did not remember the night in question, apologized to Rapp, and then came out as gay, a combination of admissions that has been met with harsh criticism.

The This Is Us decision comes on the same day that Netflix suspended production on House of Cards, which is currently filming its sixth season  a season that was declared its last just yesterday. The International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences has also rescinded plans to give the actor its Founders Award.
The horror movie Polaroid and the period drama The Current War  both produced by the Weinstein Company  were supposed to be released in November, but now they wont see premieres until 2018. The future of TWC is unclear as the gigantic mess around Harvey Weinstein  he has been accused of crimes such as sexual assault, harassment, and even rape by nearly 70 women  is sorted out by the company. Harvey Weinstein was voted out of his eponymous studio, and he has since been kicked out of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and banned permanently from the Producers Guild of America, but some have called for the entire board of directors to be dissolved. As The Hollywood Reporter points out, high-profile companies like Apple and Amazon have canceled planned partnerships with TWC. Current War star Benedict Cumberbatch has been among those in Hollywood who have condemned the actions of Weinstein, saying the rollout of revelations has left him utterly disgusted.
Photo: Valerie Macon/AFP/Getty Images

When Anna Graham Hunter was 17, she interned as a production assistant on the set of Death of a Salesman, the 1985 TV movie starring Dustin Hoffman, John Malkovich, and Stephen Lang. In a first-person essay for The Hollywood Reporter, Hunter has accused Hoffman of sexually harassing her. Hunter recalls  through letters she wrote to her sister during this time, detailing her days on set  Hoffman making frequent inappropriate sexual comments around her and to her, groping her, and asking for massages. At first, Hunter writes, she was charmed by the actors comments, but they quickly made her uncomfortable. My heart aches for the awkward virgin with the bad hair who had only been kissed three times in her life, laughing as the man her fathers age talked about breasts and sex. I want to weep that she found this charming, she wrote in THR. In a response statement, Hoffman apologized: I have the utmost respect for women and feel terrible that anything I might have done could have put her in an uncomfortable situation. I am sorry. It is not reflective of who I am.

According to published excerpts from Hunters letters, Hoffman described the first day they met: He invited her to join his entourage to eat lunch, and then asked for a foot massage. [Another PA] and I were discussing why he is so nice to us, Hunter wrote. One reason is because he likes girls. Jenna is in eighth grade. Another is probably because he gets tired of all the kissy-assy people. By the second week of production, Hoffman asked the high-school senior about her sex life, and groped her multiple times. When she reported his conduct to a supervisor, he got wind of it: Later, I was delivering lunches when John, Stephen, and Dustin came down the hall and he shouted, Anna! So you think Im a sexist pig, huh? Anna! she wrote. The whole fucking studio heard him. So I told him that I didnt appreciate his wandering hands or his comments. He apologized and said he would stop.

Hunter said Hoffman didnt grope her again, but she felt unsupported by her supervisors. The bad news is [my supervisor] said its too bad [the harassment] became an issue. Hell, I didnt make it an issue. He did, Hunter wrote in a letter dated February 4, 1985. She said that for the sake of the production we have to sacrifice some of our values and just let it roll over our heads. She said we should try to have a sense of humor and just giggle and slap his hands or something.
Spacey. Photo: Amanda Edwards/WireImage

Following allegations that Kevin Spacey made a sexual advance toward an underage actor in 1986, more accusations of misconduct have surfaced. Filmmaker Tony Montana tells Radar Online that Spacey groped him in 2003 while the two were at a bar in Los Angeles. I went up to order a drink and Kevin came up to me and put his arm around me, Montana says. He was telling me to come with him, to leave the bar. He put his hand on my crotch forcefully and grabbed my whole package. Montana says Spacey then told him, This designates ownership. After Montana removed Spaceys hand from his crotch and left, Spacey allegedly followed him into the bathroom. Montana says Spacey appeared intoxicated. I backed him out the door and I pushed him, he says. One of his friends was in line and I said, Its time to take your boy home. They all ended up leaving. Montana says he previously spoke about the alleged groping only to his therapists and that he suffered from PTSD in the six months after the incident.

Actor Roberto Cavazos, who performed at Londons Old Vic where Spacey served as artistic director from 2004 to 2015, claims Spacey routinely preyed on young male actors at the theater. It seems the only requirement was to be a male under the age of 30 for Mr Spacey to feel free to touch us. It was so common that it even became a local joke (in very bad taste), he wrote on Facebook. Cavazos describes multiple stories of Spacey arranging picnics at the theater with actors to discuss their careers where he would inappropriately touch them. I myself had a couple of nasty encounters with Spacey that were on the verge of being called harassment. In fact, if I had been a woman, I probably wouldnt have hesitated to identify [them] as such, he wrote. Cavazos says there are likely to be more accusations made against Spacey from people who worked at the Old Vic, and that he wouldnt be surprised if they were numbers like Weinstein. In a previous statement, Spacey said he could not recall the alleged incident with the minor but apologized.
You want truffles? You gotta get in the dirt with the pigs.

So says Holden to Shepard in a clarifying moment during the ninth episode of Mindhunter, as the boss is downstairs grilling the four members of the BSU about a missing section of the Richard Speck interview transcript. The discussion gets down to some basic questions that have haunted the nascent unit all season: Whats appropriate? Whats scientific? What questions will elicit useful responses? And will they get what they need entirely from coloring inside the lines? Now that they have major funding and an audience outside their basement expecting results, they cannot continue to function as a rogue unit hell-bent on dismantling the square protocols of the FBI. They need to be a proper operation.

At the same time, the divisions within this circle of five are telling. Shepard is obviously an old-school, by-the-book guy, but he gets some support from Carr, who comes from the world of academia, where scientific studies are expected to abide by rigid methodologies. She doesnt see someone like Speck as some golden goose, but one source of data among many to be aggregated alongside 40 other subjects yet to be interviewed. When she first met Bill and Holden, she talked about prisons as the perfect laboratory setting for conducting this sort of study, but any improvisation on their part contaminates the lab. It becomes harder for her to sort out which information is useful and which information has been tainted by role-play or provocation.

Yet Carr is not in the room for these interviews. Nor is Shepard. Nor is Gregg Smith, who seems as morally rigid as he is incapable of abstract thought. Ed Kemper is a talker, but Jerry Brudos and Speck begin stonewalling Bill and Holden the moment they start reading from their prepared remarks. They make a sport out of toying with these stuffed shirts and they both require a little trickery on Holdens part to get them talking, whether its offering Brudos a pair of high heels or encouraging the vicious misogyny that motivates Speck. Whats more, Holden sees these interviews as producing useful, actionable intelligence that can be applied in the field right away, before they get folded into some study that will take years to produce. In this episode alone, theyre able to draw up a profile on a rapist and murderer in Georgia that might not have been possible in the past.

But its Bill whos perhaps the most interesting figure in this debate, because hes caught in an uncomfortable place between both worlds. When Holden starts talking to Speck in his language (e.g. What gave you the right to take eight ripe cunts out of the world?), Bill is plainly appalled, and he remains livid as Holden makes more disturbing statements on the way to the car. (When he talked about feeding [the birdie] meatloaf through an eyedropper, I actually felt sorry for the guy.) He largely agrees with Carrs point of view, saying that we can learn from snails, but he knows what its like to pry information from a subject on the ground. Sticking to the script isnt always feasible.

The solution Bill suggests gets them into trouble, and reflects how dangerous his neither-here-nor-there position is. Leaving Holdens filthy role-play off the transcript is not something Holden himself had ever considered. Hes confident that hes following his instincts and getting excellent material as a result. Bill can anticipate the poor reaction the interview will get from Carr, so his instinct is to protect his partner and clean up the transcript, which of course gets Smith involved, along with everyone else once the Office of Professional Responsibility comes poking around on Specks behalf. Carr wants to be transparent about their withholding of evidence. Bill wants to close rank, arguing that it would bring unnecessary trouble down on them. Bill wins, but Smith appears willing to play the whistle-blower in the end.

Episode 9 brings David Fincher back in the directors chair for a riveting hour on ethics and methodology, which deepens the show beyond what might have been expected of it. Because Mindhunter is based on a book co-written by John E. Douglas, who doubles as the inspiration for Holden, there was reason to suspect that it would be the origin story of the FBIs serial crime unit, emphasizing how important these developments were for understanding the minds of certain violent criminals. Yet the focus hasnt been entirely on profiling serial killers and applying that information on real cases. Its also circled back to the profilers themselves, particularly Holden, and questioned the serious missteps that theyre making on the job. Speck puts perhaps too fine a point on it during the interview  Youre crazy, theres a fine line separating you from me  but the show gains in complexity by implicating the agents behavior in the field. Theyre not perfect.

In that respect, Mindhunter aligns with other Fincher serial-killer thrillers, especially Zodiac, which gets the killings out of the way early on and spends the rest of the time following obsessives down the rabbit hole. Fincher knows the type well, the how do we get ahead of crazy if we dont know how crazy thinks mentality. Its an unflattering look for someone who purports to be an expert and professional to stoop to Specks level and reflect his language back to him. And the willingness of Mindhunter to allow its heroes to look bad is a big part of what makes it work.

Dillingers

 After a one-episode break, were back to cold opens involving the BTK killer, whos dressed for the part. The exterior shot of the house, with Rader behind the blinds, is haunting in such a distinctly Fincher way. Theres a gray-black menace to the place, as if theres a ghoul inside.

 The pattern of interviews and real cases sometimes syncs up too neatly. We hear Speck talk about how an intended robbery led to rape, which led to murder, which led to more murders. Then we cut later to Georgia, where an intended rape perhaps leads to inadvertent murder. One revelation applying so neatly to another strengthens Holdens argument, but its starting to feel dramatically convenient.

 The whipping of the bird into the fan is the biggest shock the show has produced so far. When youre incapable of empathy, its possible to dispatch of life this casually.

 Tremendous scene involving Principal Wades wife paying Holden a visit to shun him for supporting her husbands termination. Finchers staging of it raises the tension, with the two on opposite ends of the hallway and the elevator opening and closing persistently. Neither of them want to be near each other.

 My friend Alyssa Rosenberg, a columnist for the Washington Post, has a good essay up about Mindhunter as a show about misogyny and why its the perfect show for a moment when contempt and violence toward women has surfaced in the news. Read it here.
Photo: Sony Picture Classics

Were about a month out from the November 23 release of Luca Guadagninos Call Me by Your Name starring a dancing Armie Hammer and former rapper Timothee Chalamet falling in love in a small town in northern Italy, and already the hot takes have begun. So if youre feeling left out, we want to redirect your attention instead to the book. Yes, the book! The original novel by Andre Aciman, from 2007, is a stirring tale of love, lust, and body fluids. Its gay canon! And you now have plenty of time to go to a bookstore, purchase a copy (or download it on your Kindle or, better yet, listen to the audiobook), open a bottle of Montepulciano, curl up on the couch, and read it.

And well be there with you at every page. Were inaugurating a new regular book club, in which your Vulture writers E. Alex Jung and Hunter Harris plan to read, swoon, weep, and discuss the text each week until the movies release. Our reading schedule looks a little like this: Each Wednesday  November 8, November 15, and November 22  well have a conversation and discussion post about the books sections (there are four, but were combining the middle two sections), so youll be done with the book right before the premiere. Come be a part of our emotional journey, and well do our best to respond in the comments and on Twitter. Your assignment, should you choose to accept: Read part one by November 8 so you can follow along with us.

But already, you may be asking: Should you even read the book before you see the movie? Now this, dear reader, really gets to the heart of the problem. We ourselves agonized over whether we should have revisited the source material before we saw the film at an early screening, but the damage was done and we couldnt say no to Armie Hammers voice. But maybe we can help you decide for yourself, so in the spirit of our new book club, were going to talk about it (spoiler free!).

Alex: Hunter, Im so glad that weve found a work-sanctioned outlet for our love of Call Me by Your Name, the book. I loved this book when I first read it. It was a couple of years after it first came out, and my then-boyfriend, my first Real Relationship, recommended it to me. I remember taking the book out of his stack at the Columbia dorms (he was a grad student), and the cover of the guy, presumably Oliver, with head bowed at the edge of a pool, obviously spoke to my gay self. We were stupid in love and he said that this was a stupid-in-love book. For me, its one of those books indelibly fixed in time and place, just like the narrative itself. When did you first read it?

Hunter: I think our colleague Kyles piece from Sundance first put the movie on my radar. Ive always liked Armie, and I absolutely adored Luca Guadagninos last movie, A Bigger Splash. I wish I could unfurl some great story about an ex-lover passing it along to me, but I was just interested in the movie and I heard the book was great, too. I read it the last weekend in August, which I remember very specifically because its a distinctly summer book: Elio and Oliver fall in love in summer, and theyre kind of dreading its inevitable end.

Alex: I think once news of the film trickled out of Sundance, every gay book club in New York City put it on their lists (if they hadnt read it already), and every party in Fire Island had some variation on peaches and cream. Once the trailer hit, it was like a bottle of poppers broke open on the floor at the Pavillion on a Saturday night. Were you happy with the casting?

Hunter: Absolutely. By the time I read it, the trailer had come out, and Im not sure the casting could be better. They have such ferocious chemistry in the movie, of course, but as individuals Armie seems like a natural Oliver  insanely beautiful, aloof, clever  and Timothee seemed like the ideal Elio. He wears that obsessive adolescent longing and confusion so well. (If you havent watched Miss Stevens on Netflix, I recommend it.) Did Elio and Oliver look different in your mind?

Alex: No, I agree, the casting is excellent. Armie has the insouciance and thighs and hair that make him an object of obsession par excellence. But when I think about book characters I think of them less as physical beings and more as feelings. (Although this iconic photo of a shirtless Paul Newman is probably what my Oliver would look like.) Which brings us to the question at hand, which is whether you should read the book before you watch the movie. I was literally crying as I reread the book on the subway en route to the screening, so when I watched the movie, I think I was emotionally spent. Theres something so immediate about the text. I was transported into idyllic northern Italy, into the early 80s, and into the lives of Elio and Oliver and their heady, desperate romance (and lets face it, probably my own), and its hard for me to separate the book and the movie. Im having a real Sliding Doors moment thinking about what my life would have been like if I had seen the movie without the book so freshly in my mind. I think, maybe, I wish I hadnt.

Hunter: When I started the book, I had this great, idealistic plan to read it early enough so that it would kind of fade in my memory by the time I saw the movie at the NYFF screening. How wrong I was! I didnt expect to be so totally taken with the book; by the time I saw the movie, I could only obsess over the little differences: the throwaway lines I was absolutely certain needed to remain intact, the minor plot changes, the absence of this or that character. I like the movie a lot, but I adore the book. Im still trying to keep them separate in my mind as two distinct works. But if I had to choose, Im happy I read the book first. Even if it robs me of fully enjoying the movie, its just so spectacular.

Alex: It really is, which is why I would still recommend reading the book first, too. I would just say to make sure you finish it before opening weekend so you can create enough distance between yourself and the text. Also, unlike me, you should try to remember that movies are not books.

Hunter: So, every week until Call Me by Your Name opens in theaters, well take a break from our usual jobs  revealing interviews and blatant thirst  to meet here and talk about the novel. Expect much in-depth discussion about that infamous peach scene. By the time we get to part three, I cant promise that my responses wont just devolve into blubbering, tear-stained silences, but e la vita. Later!
Priah Ferguson as Erica Sinclair. Photo: Netflix

You could count all of Priah Fergusons scenes in Stranger Things 2 on one hand, but shed snatch them all away. The young actress makes her debut as Lucas Sinclairs little sister Erica in the second episode, where she taunts her brother as their mother takes photos of him in his Ghostbusters costume. God, you are such a nerd, she says. No wonder you only hang out with boys. Erica! her mother admonishes. Just the facts, she replies. Just! The! Facts! And with that, a star was born.

Photo: Netflix

It was going to be a throwaway part, Matt Duffer told Vultures Jen Chaney during their episode-by-episode conversation about Stranger Things 2. This girl came in from Georgia and just killed it, and then she killed it on set. I was thinking, Maybe she just nailed the audition, but it was every day. We were dying. Once that happened, the Brothers Duffer knew they had to squeeze in a few extra scenes for Ferguson wherever it made sense. She knocked it out of the park every time we brought her in, Matt said. Any excuse we had to get Erica in there, wed write her in.

There are plenty of heartwarming relationships in Stranger Things 2: Jonathan reminds his little brother Will that he, too, is a freak; Steve gives Dustin hair-care tips; Nancy saves Dustin at the dance. But the best and most accurate little-sibling thing about Erica is that she does not care. She does not care what Code Red means. She does not care that He-Man and her Barbie doll do not exist in the same canonical universe. She most certainly does not find weird alien creatures and feed them nougat. She just doesnt care!

Here is what Erica cares about: syrup on her pancakes, the color pink, and dragging her older brother and his dumb friends. Erica is the queen of withering one-liners. She is the Miranda Priestly of Hawkins. She is mean, snotty, and relentlessly Your Little Sister. I got a code for you instead, she tells Dustin. Code Shut Your Mouth!

The best part? Were definitely going to see more of Priah Ferguson in the future. There is no version of season three where Erica doesnt have a majorly expanded role! Matt Duffer told Vulture. Shes got to. Shes too good.

In honor of Queen Erica, here are some out-of-context GIFs perfect for your next Twitter fight or breakup.

Photo: Netflix

Photo: Netflix

Photo: Netflix

Photo: Netflix

Get all your Stranger Things 2 questions answered at the shows Vulture Festival LA panel on November 18! Tickets available here.
By India Today Web Desk: Govt lauds India Today's Operation Jihad Mafia, calls conversions by PFI serious national issue

Addressing a press conference, Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad applauded India Today for its Operation Jihad Mafia.

Pakistan envoy in Dhaka summoned for distorting history, apology sought

The Government of Bangladesh sought an apology from the Pakistani envoy calling his action a "breach of diplomatic norms and practices" and deliberate propaganda to spread shameless lies that would "jeopardise" bilateral relations.

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Ameesha Patel was relentlessly trolled for two selfies that she posted on Instagram.

Kidambi Srikanth recommended for Padma Shri by former Sports Minister Vijay Goel

Kidambi Srikanth, on Sunday, became the first Indian and only the fourth shuttler in the world to win four Super Series tournaments in a calendar season.

--- ENDS ---
Joy on the page and on the screen.

Each month, Abraham Riesman offers recommendations on comics, including book-length graphic novels, comics-format nonfiction, and ongoing series. With any luck, at least one of them will be a match for you.

Present by Leslie Stein (Drawn + Quarterly)

One should feel thankful that Leslie Stein keeps her narratives so simple  after all, youre reading them in a new language. In her collection of strips, Present, Stein offers up a visual approach wholly unlike anything else in the comics ecosystem today. Human heads typically consist of a pate of hair atop two eye dots separated by a colinear mouth, panel borders are implied but invisible, emotion and emphasis are added to text by streaks of watercolor behind them, and dialogue is presented not through bubbles but free-floating letters connecting to their speaker by curled and colored threads of ink. As we watch Stein recount the ins and outs of her professional and personal life, were tempted to let our eyes blur out and simply fall into the visuals, which I mean as a compliment. As she puts it at the conclusion of one strip, It doesnt matter what mark you make  its just about a feeling.

I Am Not Okay With This by Charles Forsman (Fantagraphics)

Dear Diary, go fuck yourself is the first line of text that appears in I Am Not Okay With This, and that mixture of the quotidian and the confrontational comes to define the narrative that subsequently unfolds. Sydney is an ugly-skinny teenage girl, drawn by Charles Forsman as a kind of riot-grrrl Olive Oyl, poorly navigating her 16th year on this planet while dealing with the consequences of her fathers death and the presence of her own strange telekinetic abilities. In Forsmans thick, patchy lines, we see a vision of what the X-Men mythology might be like for a mutant who never got that reassuring visit from Professor X. The narrative is infused with abject loneliness and bonds broken, and though the final page may leave you cold, the rocky journey toward it is as insightful as it is brutal.

Bolivar by Sean Rubin (BOOM!)

Were in the midst of an explosion in the market for comics aimed at young readers, and Bolivar is fine fuel for the fire. Aimed at a grade-school audience, its a clever hybrid of the traditional picture-book format and an outright comic book, alternating seamlessly between blocks of black text on white background and panels of word-ballooned action. Its a sweet story about a modest dinosaur who defied extinction and is living a quiet life in New York City when a girl who lives next door discovers him. The recurring motif is the notion that everyone in NYC is far too busy to even notice that a dinosaur is in their midst, making the youngster endlessly frustrated at others disbelief of her find. Eventually, of course, his cover is blown and once the lizards out of the bag, comedic chaos breaks loose. The illustrations of this secretly magical New York are warm and textured, like a crosshatched Annie Hall, and Rubin has a gift for soothing language and gently rolling structure. This one deserves to be a bedtime staple.

Body Music by Julie Maroh (Arsenal)

Body Music is a tender and soft-edged meditation on unconventional love and sex, and youd expect no less from the creator of Blue Is the Warmest Color. Julie Maroh returns with a pulsing heat in this new collection of vignettes about romantic encounters that push and break boundaries  sometimes for good, sometimes for ill. A woman finds out her hookup partner is a trans man and they discuss what that means for them. A man ponders whether he can make a polyamorous relationship work. A man and his male lover debate the ethics of the formers infidelity to his wife. A white fan seduces a black author. And yet, despite the running theme of intimacy between people who arent straight, cis, and white, the book doesnt feel performatively woke. Perhaps that has something to do with the sumptuous artwork, with its pillowy lines, luscious sex scenes, and Greek-sculpture facial acting. Buy this one for someone who needs proof that comics can deal with identity politics without feeling stilted and aggravating.

Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man by Chip Zdarsky, Michael Walsh, and Ian Herring (Marvel)

Really, it was only a matter of time before Chip Zdarsky started writing a Spider-Man series. In the past five-odd years, hes established himself as one of the finest comedic minds in sequential art through his work on Howard the Duck, Jughead, and Kaptara, as well as his never-disappointing Twitter account and comic-con showmanship. Hes been wisely paired with the first great stand-up comic of comics, Spider-Man, on this new series, and it has yet to disappoint. There are zingers galore (as well as clever commentary on how Spideys trying to keep his zingers more sensitive these days, i.e. no more fat jokes about the Kingpin), the character relationships are lush, and the whole endeavor finds a sweet spot between empty frivolity and overbaked pathos. The underrated Michael Walsh takes over penciling duties for the next issue, and delight is near-guaranteed for all.

Monograph by Chris Ware (Rizzoli)

What a document. The auteur behind books like Jimmy Corrigan and Building Stories is so universally beloved and popularly recognized that he hardly needs any introduction, and yet here Chris Ware is, reintroducing himself to us in an astounding work of self-reflection. Monograph is a massive, well, monograph, one that sets out to tell the story of Wares life as an artist. Rough drafts and finished pieces from throughout Wares decades-long career are accompanied by text that alternates between the autobiographical and analytical. Though Ware is known for his inimitably clean line work, the book is anything but sterile  right from the jump, he writes frankly about hating himself and feeling unworthy of the book hes crafting, but one doesnt feel pity for him so much as admiration for the way he stands up when self-doubt tries to cripple him. Thanks for not giving up, Chris.

Zegas by Michel Fiffe (Fantagraphics)

Truly, we are blessed to be alive while Michel Fiffe is making comics. The writer-artist is perhaps best known for Copra, his long-running pastiche of and homage to superhero comics like Suicide Squad and The Punisher, but dont sleep on his other major ongoing work, Zegas  collected here in a thick-stocked oversize volume. Hefty Boston and sly Emily are a brother-and-sister duo living an impoverished existence in a city that could be New York or could be the capital of Mars. Workplace drama intermingles with inconceivable plant life and surreal technology, adding up to a comic unlike anything else on stands  except, perhaps, Copra. Fiffe is a terrific storyteller, but his greatest gift is his ability to create a page  theres no visual element that isnt stunning, from the evocatively sonic lettering to the ever-fluxing panel borders.

Runaways by Rainbow Rowell, Kris Anka, and Matthew Wilson (Marvel)

A new Runaways comic was, of course, bound to happen  after all, the youthful superteam has a screen translation hitting Hulu this fall. But Rainbow Rowell, Kris Anka, and Matthew Wilson have so far put together a series that feels anything but perfunctory. Rather than retread the original premise  kids find out their parents are supervillains and go on the run to fight back and right wrongs  the new Runaways picks up with some of the core characters struggling to make it through their 20s when the past catches up to them (I mean that literally  time travel is involved). The series is probably not for newbies, as a fair amount of familiarity and attachment to the gang is required, but if youre already a Runaways stan, theres a lot for you to love here.

She Makes Comics by Marisa Stotter (XLrator Media)

Okay, this one is cheating for two reasons: (1) Its a movie, and (2) it came out in 2014. But! It was just released on Netflix, and if you like comics enough to be looking at this list for recommendations, you like comics enough to benefit from watching She Makes Comics. This wide-ranging documentary covers the century-long history of women reading, making, and selling sequential art, and its essential viewing for anyone who wants to understand the history of the medium. Its greatest asset is the insanely deep bench of interviewees that director Marisa Stotter and her collaborators were able to assemble: everyone from pioneering DC artist of the 1950s Ramona Fradon, to Vertigo Comics founding editor Karen Berger, to underground comix legend Trina Robbins, to recent superstars like Marjorie Liu and Kelly Sue DeConnick. Dozens upon dozens of womens voices are thrown into the mix, telling war stories, damning misogyny, recovering the forgotten past of female comics creators and readers, and envisioning a future where creativity and enthusiasm trump gender exclusivity.
Harvey Weinstein. Photo: Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images for the 2015 Tribeca Film Festival

An unnamed actress has filed a lawsuit in Toronto against Harvey Weinstein claiming he sexually assaulted her twice in 2000, the Toronto Sun reports. The lawsuit also names Disney, which owned Weinsteins Miramax at the time of the alleged incident. The actress, referred to as Jane Doe in the suit, calls Weinstein a serial sexual predator who allegedly performed oral sex on her without her consent. She says she met Weinstein on the Toronto set of an unnamed Miramax film. The following day, she was asked to meet with Weinstein in his hotel room to discuss future roles in his films. After his assistant, Barbara Schneeweiss, left the room, she claims the conversation shifted from business to Weinstein asking if she liked massages. Then, she says, he forced himself on her.

He overpowered her, pushed her onto the bed, and took his penis out of his pants. After exposing his penis, he told Doe that he had made various famous actresses careers and could make Does career as well, the lawsuit reads. She claims Weinstein then forced her down and performed oral sex on her while she resisted; she eventually broke free and escaped the room. When Jane Doe brought her agent and a friend with her to meet with Weinstein again to confront him  hed allegedly left her several messages saying they had a misunderstanding  she says he asked to see her in private. She claims he then threw his weight onto her and tried to stick his tongue down her throat. Jane Doe reported the second incident to the others at the meeting. She worked with Weinstein on one other Miramax film three years later and alleges that, though he continued to harass her, she never met with him again after the incidents in 2000.

Jane Doe reported the alleged assaults to Toronto police in October. Shes suing Weinstein, Schneeweiss (who now works for the Weinstein Company), Mirimax, and Disney for $4 million in damages for physical pain and psychological distress. Disney has responded to the suit, saying she has no legal basis for the claim against the company. More than 60 women have accused Weinstein of sexual misconduct; another accuser is currently suing the Weinstein Company for negligence.
Photo: Getty Images

Kristen Bell and Ted Danson might be the marquee names of The Good Place, but for many viewers, the breakout star of the afterlife comedy is William Jackson Harper, who portrays anxious, indecisive philosophy professor Chidi Anagonye. Vulture caught up with Jackson, whos also currently starring in Zoe Kazans off-Broadway play After the Blast, to ask him about what makes Chidi so relatable, the appeal of dystopian stories, and how it feels to act with hundreds of needles in your face.

A lot of people whove watched the show have told me that Chidi is their favorite character. What about him do you think people relate to?

Probably indecision. Most people I know in my life have a hard time making decisions or dread it, especially as we get older. I think thats pretty relatable  its certainly the thing that I relate most to in that character.

Has seeing what indecisiveness has cost Chidis character motivated you to be more decisive?

I think Im more apt to just go ahead and make a choice because I see how annoying it can be. But Im still pretty dang indecisive. Im trying to be more active. If somethings a toss-up, Ill just pick one [option] and leave it at that. I wont agonize over things as much. But I think thats about it. Though Chidi is a lot more extroverted and loud than I am about how tortured he is. Most of the time, people dont even know that Im that neurotic and indecisive.

Even more so than last season, the show has been interacting directly with a lot of philosophical concepts like existentialism and the trolley problem, and Chidi is the one introducing all of them. As an actor, how do you prepare for talking fluidly about all these different philosophical texts? Do you get Cliffs Notes from the writers?

No, I just have to go look it up. I have to figure it out! I mean, thats just part of an actors homework, you know. They did their job, they researched, they wrote it, and its my job to figure what Im saying and make sure that I understand it. So I get the script and there are some concepts or ideas or some people floating around, and I have no idea who or what they are. I go straight to Google and go to town.

Chidi is the only philosopher character I can remember appearing on TV. Have you gotten any feedback from real-life philosophers about the character or your portrayal?

Not so much from philosophers  a lot more from academics. A lot of academics Ive talked to relate strongly to that character. You know, its like pages upon pages upon pages and getting stuck in your own head and all that stuff. Its something that a lot of my academic friends have said: I know that guy. That guy is very relatable. Or he reminds him of a professor [they had], something like that.

Kristen Bell and Ted Danson were the only cast members who knew the big twist of season one going in; you and the rest of the cast found out right before the finale was shot. Had you known in advance, do you think there are things youd have done differently with the character?

I worry that I may have tried to make little nods towards the Good Place being something other than what it is. I think I would have probably tried to get cute with it a little bit. So the fact that none of us knew what was going on as characters, and then also none of us knew what was really going on as actors, was totally fine with me. It sort of made us Method actors against our will!

Its a good thing they didnt tell us, because TV is a completely different animal, and putting that together is very different from theater. For the subtlety of the build and everything, its best that we were in the dark.

Your background is primarily in theater, and youve said that being on a sitcom has been a learning curve for you. If you could go back and talk to yourself when youd just starting filming the show, what advice would you give yourself?

Relax, breathe, dont blink so much. Just a few little technical things. As real as TV feels for the person viewing it, for me as an actor, its a much more artificial-feeling thing to create because theres just a million different people in the room with you, all doing something very important. And youre not just in that room living the circumstances. Theres a lot of different things going on around you. Whereas on stage, you have a lot of rehearsal, and yes, theres an audience there, but youre in charge of that experience. Youre on that set, and youre just in that world, and thats all there is to it.

So if I gave myself some advice, it would just be like, relax, calm down. Theres a lot of people here that are here to make you look better than you are! Just calm down and do the scene.

What surprised you most about that process  about the sausage of how TV is made?

The thing that always boggles my mind is just how little you need to do in order for things to come off on screen as opposed to being on stage. But theres also a way in which you can appear dead on screen. Theres a sweet spot in between being subtle and relaxed and being alive and just being sorta dead behind the eyes.

And thats one of those things where its like  I watch Kristen. Shes one of those people that seems completely relaxed all the time and completely full, and everything she does fits perfectly in that medium. Just fits seamlessly. Im trying to figure out how she does that. I think thats the biggest difference. How do you be full and engaged and have your energy coming through, but still be relaxed?

The Good Place really gives equal time to its ensemble, and the whole cast is strong. If you could play any other one of the characters on the show, regardless of gender, who would you pick?

I want to name one of the ladies, because it would be fun to just play one of those characters, but I think Id pick Jianyu  Jason. I might be biased just because I like Manny [Jacinto]s interpretation so much. He gets to do a lot of really fun stuff, and he gets some really goofy lines. He cracks me up on the reg. I think it appeals because his character and my character are the most diametrically opposed from the rest of the cast. Hes literally the dumbest person in the afterlife, and my characters a nerd. Reversing all of that looks like fun.

In the most recent episodes, theyve done some pretty crazy stuff with Chidis character, including repeatedly splashing you with gore and covering your face in needles. Whats been the most challenging scene to shoot of the episodes that have aired so far?

Oh, man, the needles. I had to go to acupuncture and they put 50 real needles in my face, just to see if it would work, if I could still move and talk. And the thing is, they had to put them in really far, just to see if they would stay in case I did have to act with them. And after all that, the 50 needles still just didnt look enough like torture. It didnt look severe enough.

So they used a prosthetic that they put on my forehead and my chin and all that stuff, and that took several hours to apply. And then the needles went in my hands and my feet  It took several hours to get that all in. We have a real crackerjack makeup crew, and they were very, very, very efficient and diligent. To concentrate for that long, putting all these needles in some guys face, and not mess up, is pretty impressive.

Thats extremely intense for a 30-second gag!

Yeah! I know.

Do you get nervous now when you get delivered these scripts each week? Like, Oh god, what are they going to do now? Am I gonna get covered in gore again?

I gotta say, after the blood cannon and the needles back-to-back, I was like, Okay, all right, look  wait. I definitely got a little afraid, because its like, Oh man, it seems like its just open season on Chidi! But the gags are funny, and when the show gets wild, my characters sort of, in a lot of respects, the straight man. And sometimes when really ridiculous things happen to the straight man, its just that much more shocking and surprising.

Tell me a bit about After the Blast, the play youre currently starring in.

Its about a couple in the not-too-distant future who are part of the remnants of humanity, and who have to retreat underground after several cataclysms. In their world, experience is simulated and fertility is regulated, and they have one more chance to have a baby. And thats where the story takes off.

Thats a lot of dystopias for one actor. What about these kinds of shows and plays do you think is connecting with people?

I think the world is  fucking frightening right now! Its a terrifying place.

It is!

I know that my anxiety is definitely taking a serious spike. It seems like every day I wake up and watch the news and get afraid of something different, or get incredibly angry about something. I think a lot of people feel that way. At least with The Good Place, Id like to think we are some kind of escape from that. Because at least its fun, its hopeful, its funny. But After the Blast is definitely something that is trafficking a lot of our paranoia of the day. Sometimes people just need to see  or at least for me, I think that I need to see  what the result of whats going on right now could be. Just to crystallize the fear, rather than have it be this large, generalized cloud of anxiety hanging somewhere in the future.

Is there anything else in the pipeline for you, coming up?

Nothing I can actually bring up right now. Theres some stuff thats not 100 percent solidified, but as far as work, its a lot of just preparing to be with my family for the holidays. And Im going on a trip with my lady. I think were gonna do Morocco.

Okay, so Im not sure if you know this, but about half of your top Google searches are people asking whether or not youre related to Samuel L. Jackson.

Wow, really?

Yup.

Thats  wow. Ive guess Ive seen it on Twitter, like, someone tweeted at me, Dude, just tell me. Are you related to Samuel L. Jackson? And I just  Im not even gonna  Im not dealing with this. Thats weird. But no, Im not. Im not at all related to Samuel L. Jackson. Actually, the Jackson in my middle name, thats actually not my middle name. Long story short, I had to change my middle name in order to get my equity card years and years ago. There was already a William Harper, or a Bill Harper, or something like that, and I couldnt use any variation of just those two names, so I had to insert a middle name. And my real middle name is 11 letters long, so I was like, I cant. William Fitzgerald Harper is just too long a name. So I just took my moms maiden name and put that in the middle, which was nice, to be able to honor both of my parents.

So yeah, thats the root of that. But I am not related to Samuel L. Jackson in any way whatsoever  that I know.
By PTI: New Delhi, Nov 1 (PTI) Tech giant Google today said it has started retailing its flagship smartphone, Pixel 2 in the Indian market from today, priced at Rs 61,000.

Google had launched the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL in October this year.

The devices, which compete in the premium segment with gadgets like Apples iPhone 8 and X as well as Samsungs Note 8, will be available in markets like the US, the UK and Australia apart from India.

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Pixel 2 will be available in India on Flipkart (online) and through offline partners like Reliance Digital, Croma, Poorvika, Sangeetha Mobiles, Vijay Sales and others for Rs 61,000 (64GB) and Rs 70,000 (128GB), Google said in a statement.

The second edition of Pixel features 5-inch display, 4GB RAM, 12MP rear and 8MP front camera, and 2,700mAH battery.

Google will bring its Pixel 2 XL (6-inch display) into the Indian market from November 15 onwards.

In a separate statement, Google said its first Cloud Region has gone live in Mumbai, a move that will help the tech giant offer cloud platform services to developers and enterprise customers in India.

The India region offers several services including compute, Big Data, storage and networking, Google said.

"The new region will help customers build applications and store their data, and significantly improve latency for customers and end users in the area," Dave Stiver, Product Manager at Google Cloud Platform, said.

He added that hosting applications in the new region can improve latency for end users in Chennai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru compared to hosting them in the other closest region, Singapore.

Google, however, did not disclose the investments made.

The new Mumbai region joins cities like Singapore, Taiwan, Sydney and Tokyo in Asia Pacific that house a similar infrastructure. PTI SR SBT

--- ENDS ---
Waco's smaller screens will host three independent films  well, two films and a television special  Wednesday and Thursday that showcase subjects that normally don't get a lot of attention.

The first comes Wednesday night at the Waco Hippodrome when Waco-rooted "Texas Music Cafe" celebrates its 20th anniversary at 7 p.m. with a screening of "Rising Stars and Lone Star Legends," a program requested by Central Texas public television KNCT for an upcoming pledge drive.

Twenty years of anything is an achievement and to keep a television/video series, one involving live music, no less, is testament to the vision and zeal of co-founder and producer Chris Ermoian, who created it with his brothers T.J. and Jeff.

I remember when "Texas Music Cafe" started with tapings in a Franklin Avenue recording studio, with audiences, bands and Ermoian and volunteer cameramen all rubbing elbows in close quarters. It was new, learn-as-you-go operation that flew on faith and shoestrings.

Over the next 20 years, it would move locations and distribution platforms, change supporting partners, air on different channels and  most important to Ermoian and his crew  connect viewers to live Texas music, performed both by fresh groups and grizzled veterans. This month's Waco Today has a solid piece by Leslie Rascoe's that's worth the read.

True to form, Wednesday's celebration offers a healthy dose of live music, rock from Armenian band Vordan Karmir, who will play following the screening. Admission is $7.

The story of farmer, writer and activist Wendell Berry takes the Waco Hippodrome screen at 3:30 p.m. Thursday with the screening of the documentary "Look & See." The film, directed by Laura Dunn, premiered at the 2016 SXSW Film Festival and rereleased the next year at the Sundance Film Festival.

The movie looks at Berry, a writer who moved back home to Henry County, Kentucky, to farm in 1967, beginning a lifelong defense of small-scale farming and its values of land stewardship and conservation, sustainability, simplicity and attachment to place  values he saw as becoming more threatened by increasing urbanization and the growth of industrial agriculture.

Admission is free, but tickets must be reserved in advance. Tickets can be reserved online here.

Increasingly harsh immigration enforcement is the subject of "Out Of Reach," hosted by actress America Ferrera and shown by Waco Immigrants Alliance at 7 p.m. Thursday at Common Grounds, 1123 S. Eighth St.

Ferrera, daughter of Honduran parents, traveled to Texas in the last months of the Obama administration to talk with undocumented immigrants and American citizens to talk about how the change in immigration policies, and the rhetoric surrounding the change, will affect them personally.

A question-and-answer session will follow the film, which is being screened across Texas in an effort to build opposition to SB4, the new state law addressing sanctuary cities and immigration enforcement.

Admission is free, but organizers ask that those planning to attend respond at this Eventbrite link.
BJP sources say they are confident that the Centre will ease the tax regime before the polls so that it does not face any reaction during voting.

By Amit Kumar: Observing growing discontent among the Gujarati traders' community that was tangled up in the Goods and Services Tax regime, the Bharatiya Janata Party pushed its own government at the Centre to tweak the new system in the run-up to Assembly polls in the state.

BJP sources say they are confident that the Centre will ease the tax regime before the polls so that it does not face any reaction during voting.

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Analysts say thousands of small businesses are struggling to keep up with the complex rules, diverting resources that could have been devoted to productive activity. Explaining the challenges being confronted by traders, a senior BJP leader told Mail Today, "Yes, we know they have been facing problems."

The leader also said the party realises that GST has become a big election issue in Gujarat. Traders from the state have repeatedly hit the streets, claiming complications in the filing process and thousands of crores in losses since the reform was implemented this year.

However, the BJP leader said nobody knows the businessmen of Gujarat more than PM Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah.

He admitted that the new generation of the business community is more agitated and reactive. The leader told this reporter that the urgent revisions made in the GST should not imply that the Congress is giving the BJP a tough fight in Gujarat.

He said the traders in the state remember vividly the "inspector raj" that prevailed there under the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre when there was no GST. The leader said the Centre brought down the GST rates not out of some apprehension of losing votes but out of concern for the core constituency.

The Congress, led by its vice-president, Rahul Gandhi, has been campaigning aggressively across the state in a bid to tap into the resentment of small businessmen over the tax system.

The BJP leader said the concern for Gujarat was essential for the country's economic health. When asked whether the party would exert further pressure on the Modi government to cut GST rates, he said such specifics cannot be discussed with the media.

--- ENDS ---
Sholay villain Gabbar Singh stars in two spoof videos, both offshoots of political speeches doing the rounds in the Gujarat electoral campaign.

By Mail Today: It is the big fight for Gujarat. An all-out war has broken out in the kingdom of social media, and it's not the Congress or the BJP but Hindi cinema's supervillain himself, who seems to be the real superhero in the election campaign.

Yes, it seems theatrics have taken over politics right now.

The first video going viral has been titled 'BJP ke Golay', produced by Congress supporters. The simple yet effective short story sees Gabbar Singh chopping off GST, 'Notebandi' and even 'Desh ki janta' in the 40 second clip.

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The other video, supposedly a work of BJP supporters, superimposes Rahul Gandhi's face over Gabbar, while he has his party members in the line of fire. The video recreates the classic 'kitne aadmi the' scene in a much more political and topical scenario which only renders it even more hilarious.

There is an extended shot of PM Modi laughing out loud at the end of the video. These spoofs are both offshoots of the political speeches doing the rounds in the Gujarat electoral campaign.

Last week, Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi created a stir with his remark that the Goods and Services Tax was nothing but a "Gabbar Singh Tax" ! in response to PM Modi who said that it was just a 'good and simple tax.'

WATCH | Rahul Gandhi launches scathing attack on BJP in poll-bound Gujarat, calls GST Gabbar Singh Tax

--- ENDS ---
A North Waco Halloween tradition ran into a scare this year with city of Waco event regulations but got a last-minute assist from the city itself.

The grassroots event known as Halloween on Colcord featured hordes of trick-or-treaters, mounds of candy and volunteers cooking up more than 1,000 hot dogs Tuesday.

But on the eve of Halloween, it appeared the city would not be closing off Colcord for the event, which drew an estimated 1,500 last year. Thats because the city said the event needed an activity permit, along with event insurance and four police officers.

The problem was that that no one was truly in charge of the festivities, not even the Sanger Heights Neighborhood Association, which has provided volunteers and funding for several years. No one was willing to sign off on the event insurance.

Its unusual in that its not really an event, and no one is really responsible, said Luann Jennings, interim president of the neighborhood association. Theyre going to come whether we prepare for it or not.

But after discussions between Colcord residents, the parks department and Councilman Dillon Meek, City Manager Dale Fisseler said Thursday morning that the city would close the street from 21st to 25th Street, provide the officers and sign off on the insurance paperwork. Donations from the neighborhood association and Antioch Community Church helped pay for the insurance.

Fisseler said the city has closed the street for several years, and it has helped make trick-or-treating safer.

I see this as a safety benefit to the neighborhood, Fisseler said. Its a good event and helps neighbors get to know each other, and that has an impact on crime.

Meek said the city and neighbors will have time to plan for next years closure, but he said he was pleased Fisseler took the action to close the street for safety reasons.

Jennings said she was grateful for the decision.

I think it helps make everybody safer, and I think its great the city was willing to do that, she said.

Street closed

The city has closed Colcord on Halloween since 2013, and in the past the neighborhood association has gotten an activity permit without having to have insurance, former association president Fernando Arroyo said. Last year, the association paid for a single police officer at the citys request.

Colcord Avenue, with its stately houses dating back to the early 20th century, has been a Halloween destination for as long as anyone can remember.

Ed Braig, who lives at Colcord and 22nd Street, said it was one reason he moved to the neighborhood 27 years ago.

I moved here from Houston, and I was real hesitant about moving into the Sanger Heights neighborhood, Braig said. In October, someone told me, go down and look at those houses. I went down there on Halloween and parked my car on 22nd Street, and I stood there in awe. I never could have believed that many kids would be in that neighborhood.

After that revelation, Braig decided to buy his house and raise a family on Colcord, and now he looks forward to every Oct. 31. For this years event, he stocked up with more than 1,000 pieces of candy and decorated his house with a giant dragon.
McLennan Countys rate of prescription opioid distribution is higher than state and national averages, a fact that helped prompt county commissioners to file a lawsuit Tuesday against the countrys largest opioid manufacturers and wholesale distributors.

County commissioners retained the law firms of Haley & Olson P.C., and Harrison Davis Steakley Morrison Jones P.C. in what commissioners say is a first step toward holding companies responsible for flooding the community with prescription opioids and fueling an opioid-abuse epidemic by prioritizing profits over people.

For every 100 people in McLennan County, 77 opioid prescriptions were dispensed in 2015, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The state average for the class of painkillers was 59.8 prescriptions per 100 people, and the national average was 70.6 prescriptions per 100 people, Haley & Olson attorney Craig D. Cherry said.

The two firms will receive a third of any settlement or judgment recovered against the pharmaceutical companies, County Administrator Dustin Chapman said. If the county does not get a favorable result, the firms will not be paid, he said.

McLennan County Judge Scott Felton said everyone has friends or family who have been impacted by the epidemic.

The commissioners want to be leaders in this fight against an epidemic that has affected McLennan County citizens of all races and socio-economic groups, Felton said. Simply put, opioid addiction and the corresponding effects of opioid addiction do not discriminate. We want to help put a stop to this and recoup taxpayer dollars that have been expended in numerous ways to combat this epidemic.

The lawsuit could take years to resolve, Cherry said.

The opioid epidemic has created a tremendous burden for counties across the country, he said. McLennan County is no exception to that rule.

Felton said he believes the two law firms are the right ones for the job.

The lawsuit was filed Tuesday afternoon in the U.S. District Court Western District, Waco division. Defendants listed include: Purdue Pharma LP, Purdue Pharma Inc., The Purdue Frederick Company, Cephalon Inc., Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., Teva Pharmaceuticals USA Inc., Johnson & Johnson, Janssen Pharmaceuticals Inc., Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals Inc. n/k/a Janssen Pharmaceuticals Inc., Janssen Pharmaceutica Inc. n/k/a Janssen, Endo Health Solutions Inc., Endo Pharmaceuticals Inc., Abbott Laboratories, Knoll Pharmaceutical Company, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Abbott Laboratories, Watson Laboratories Inc., Actavis LLC, Actavis Pharma Inc. f/k/a Watson Pharma Inc., Insys Therapeutics Inc., Pfizer Inc., McKesson Corporation, Cardinal Health Inc. and AmerisourceBergen Corp.

There have been a substantial number of overdose deaths as a result, in whole or part, of opioid ingestion, and opioid addiction is one of the primary reasons county residents seek substance abuse treatment, according to the lawsuit.

Manufacturing companies have pushed highly addictive, dangerous opioids falsely representing to doctors that patients would only rarely succumb to drug addiction, while the distributors breached their legal duties to monitor, detect, investigate, refuse and report suspicious orders of prescription opioids, commissioners said in a press release. The economic burden caused by opioid abuse in the United States is about $78.5 billion, including from lost productivity, an increased need for social services, increased health insurance costs, increased criminal justice presence, strain on judicial resources, and substance abuse treatment and rehabilitation, according to the release. The two law firms are evaluating what type of financial impact the epidemic has had on McLennan County, but they believe the cost has been in the millions of dollars, Cherry said.

Both firms have been contacted by a number of other counties throughout the state, he said.

We are evaluating those cases at this time, Cherry said. My belief is that we will be asked to represent additional counties going forward.

Other counties cases would be separate from McLennan Countys, but there is a chance they could be consolidated as they move forward, he said.

Cried with my clients

The CDC has provided fairly concrete and scientific information regarding the opioid problem in McLennan County, said Herb Bristow, another Haley & Olson attorney.

County leaders asked the firm to look into whether there was an issue in McLennan County, Bristow said.

Matt Morrison, a Harrison Davis Steakley Morrison Jones attorney, said his litigation experience has brought him face to face with victims of the opioid crisis.

I have cried with my clients. I have represented families of people who have died from the epidemic, Morrison said. It is overwhelming and it is across the country.

Health care providers in the United States wrote more than 289 million prescriptions for opioids in 2016, enough for every adult in the nation to have more than one bottle of pills, according to the lawsuit.

Opioids used to treat moderate to severe pain include oxycodone, hydrocodone, morphine and methadone, according to the CDC. Some opioid brand names include OxyContin, Vicodin, Opana, Percocet, Percodan, Roxicodone and Avinza.

Fentanyl is an opioid typically approved to treat advanced cancer pain. Heroin is an illegal opioid that has seen increased use in the U.S. among many demographics, according to the CDC.

The prescription opioid-abuse epidemic did not occur by chance, the lawsuit states.

Defendants falsely and misleadingly downplayed the serious risk of addiction  exaggerated the effectiveness of screening tools in preventing addiction, claimed opioid dependence and withdrawal are easily managed,  promoted highly addictive opioids through souvenirs and toys, according to the lawsuit.

Misrepresentations by the defendants led doctors and patients to discount risks of the drugs, the suit states.

Some of the repercussions for residents of McLennan County include job loss, loss of custody of children, physical and mental health problems, homelessness and incarceration, which results in instability in communities often already in economic crisis and contributes to increased demand on community services such as hospitals, courts, child services, treatment centers and law enforcement.

Morrison said it would be the law firms privilege to bring the fight against opioid abuse to McLennan County. The county has been damaged, and we need to help make that right, he said.

More than six out of 10 drug overdose deaths in the nation involve an opioid, according to the CDC. The amount of prescription opioids sold to pharmacies, hospitals and doctors offices nearly quadrupled from 1999 to 2010, according to the CDC. Opioid deaths have quadrupled since 1999. On average, 91 Americans die every day from an opioid overdose, according to the CDC.

McLennan County commissioners voted 4-0 to file the suit. Precinct 2 Commissioner Lester Gibson was not in attendance.

Other Texas counties have recently engaged in litigation against pharmaceutical companies concerning the opioid epidemic.

Lawyers with the Dallas-based firm Simon Greenstone Panatier Bartlett P.C. filed a similar suit on behalf of Upshur County on Sept. 29, making it the first lawsuit by a Texas governmental body against pharmaceutical companies for their role in the opioid epidemic, which was declared a national emergency by President Donald Trump last week. Bowie and Hopkins counties have since joined the firms suit.

There is no denying that we have an opioid crisis in America and that the human misery and financial damage it causes is enormous, said Jeffrey Simon, a Simon Greenstone Panatier Bartlett attorney, in a statement. Although accidental overdoses have become the leading cause of death for Americans under the age of 50, the pharmaceutical industry has not been fully held accountable for its role in creating this epidemic.
A 26-year-old woman turned herself in to authorities Tuesday after her 7-year-old son came to school earlier this month with bruises all over his body, McLennan County Sheriff Parnell McNamara said.

Lucia Ramirez Dominguez, also known as Lucia Bererra, of Elm Mott, was arrested after administrators with Connally Independent School District alerted Child Protective Services about a 7-year-old boy who came to school Oct. 16 with multiple bruises on both sides of his face, McNamara said. CPS notified authorities, who investigated the incident and questioned Dominguez, the boy's mother, about the injuries, he said.

"Apparently, this incident happened on or about Oct. 12, but the bruising was so bad she kept the child home for about four days before she brought him to school, according to her," McNamara said. "The bruises were still pretty bad, and the school noticed them and notified authorities."

Investigators determined the incident happened at the family's Elm Mott home, McNamara said.

Detectives issued a third-degree felony warrant charging injury to a child. McNamara said Dominguez turned herself in Tuesday.

She later posted a $5,000 bond and was released from McLennan County Jail.
Edward Frank Zgabay

May 9, 1924 - Oct. 30, 2017

Ed Zgabay was called to glory on Monday, October 30, 2017. He was 93 years old. Church service will take place 10 a.m., Friday, Nov. 3, at St. Mark Lutheran Church, 2000 Clay Ave, Waco, TX 76706. Burial will follow at Waco Memorial Park. The family will receive visitors from 5 to 7 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 2, at Pecan Grove Funeral Home 3124 Robinson Drive.

Edward Frank Zgabay was born on May 9, 1924, in Burleson County, Texas, to Louis Paul and Mary (Dubcak) Zgabay. He was baptized in the Catholic Church in 1924 and confirmed at St. Mark Lutheran Church in Waco, Texas, on March 29, 1953. He was united in marriage to Gladys Droemer on July 12, 1952 at Emanuel Lutheran Church in Giddings, Texas. They recently celebrated their 65th Wedding Anniversary. Edward served in the U.S. Army during WWII and the Korean War. He retired from civil service in 1973. He was a highly skilled mechanic, taxidermist, carpenter and craftsman. He loved fishing, farming and woodworking, but most of all he loved his Lord and his family.

He is survived by his wife, Gladys; son, Glenn and wife, Susie, and their daughter, Shawn Oliver and husband, Larry, and their children Jordan, Chase and Logan; daughter, Linda Paar and husband, Ken, and their daughter, Jenny Horne and husband, Lear, and their two children, Davison and Olivia, and their daughter, Ashlee Richardson and husband, Jeff, and their son, Jase; son, Terry and wife, Diana, and their children, Austin and Ariana; son, Tim and wife, Melanie, and their children, Ryder and Wyatt. He is also survived by his sister, Gladys Kocurek; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life. Rev. 2:10At the family's request, gifts in Ed's memory may be shared with St. Mark Lutheran Church.
GREENWOOD  The Cass County Sheriffs Office is investigating two armed robberies at a gas station outside Greenwood.

The first robbery occurred Oct. 23 when unknown party held up the Cubbys gas station located at Interstate 80 Exit 420 at around 10:54 p.m., said Cass County Sheriff William Brueggemann in a press release. The suspect fled the area prior to the deputys arrival.

The store clerk stated that a male entered the building armed with a semi-automatic pistol wearing a black hoodie and blue bandana covering his face, according to a press release. The suspect demanded the money from the registers while pointing the gun to the clerks head.

The robber then fled the store with an unknown amount of money. It is not known at this time if the suspect was working alone or with an accomplice.

Deputies returned to the same location Oct. 30 at 12:37 a.m. for another armed robbery.

The suspect fled the area prior to the deputys arrival, according to a press release. Nebraska State Patrol also responded to the call.

The store clerk reported that a male entered the building armed with a pistol wearing a black hoodie and blue bandana covering his face. He stated the suspect demanded the money from the registers while pointing the gun him. The suspect also robbed a customer who was in the store at the time.

The suspect fled the store with an unknown amount of money.

After reviewing security video, investigators think it may be the same suspect as the Oct. 23 incident.

The suspect is described as having a dark complexion and is approximately five feet, six inches tall, with dark hair.

Investigators believe the suspect may have arrived approximately 10 minutes before the robbery in a silver or light colored sedan, parking in the north lot of the property near or behind where the tractor trailers park.

The investigation is still ongoing and anyone with information, whether large or small, as to who the armed suspect is or what vehicle they may be driving, is to contact the Cass County Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-527-3699 or the Cass County Sheriffs Office at 402-296-9370.
Rahul will be keen on finalising a seat-sharing formula with the JD-U faction led by tribal leader Chhotubhai Vasava, which will give the so-formed alliance a grip on around 50 Assembly seats in Gujarat election.

Rahul Gandhi waving at the crowd during the previous leg of his Gujarat Yatra. Photo: Twitter/@OfficeOfRG.

By Supriya Bhardwaj, Kamlesh Damodar Sutar: Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi will begin his three-day-long third leg of the Gujarat NavSarjan Yatra from Jambusar in Bharuch district from today.

Rahul, who is going to visit 6 districts and 35 assembly constituencies in this 3-day tour, will be keen on finalising the seat-sharing formula with the JD-U faction led by prominent tribal leader Chhotubhai Vasava ahead of the assembly election next month.

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Congress general secretary in-charge of Gujarat Ashok Gehlot has already had a series of meetings with Vasava. Sources say that if the alliance is confirmed, the Congress-JDU Vasava combine will have a grip on around 50 Assembly seats.

Apart from Vasava, Congress has also reached out to Patidar leader Hardik Patel and Dalit icon Jignesh Mevani.

Talks have been going on from Gujarat to Delhi to work on a common minimum agenda between Congress with Patel and Mevani. Both Hardik Patel and Jignesh Mevani have put forth their demands before Congress leaders, who are now discussing the matter internally.

"If all (talks) go well, you will see a surprise element in the Surat rally on November 3", said a senior leader.

65 PER CENT OF GUJARAT's POPULATION UNDER 35

As Gujarat has 65 per cent population below 35 years of age, Congress is keen to rope in these two young leaders too. OBC leader Alpesh Thakor has already joined the Congress.

Criss-crossing through Bharuch, Surat and the tribal areas of Gujarat, Rahul will also be meeting farmers affected by the land acquisition issue at Dayadra in Bharuch district apart from addressing public meetings and visiting famous shrines in the area. Later in the day, Rahul will speak at the Yuva Rojgar Sabha at Ankleshwar.

Rahul's NavSarjan Yatra, which started on September 25, covered the region of Saurashtra in its first phase and central Gujarat in the second. The yatra would cover 6 districts of Bharuch, Tapi, Valsad, Dang, Navsari and Surat in South Gujarat.

On Thursday, Rahul is expected to address Mahila Swabhiman Sabha in Vyara and Adivasi Adhikar Sabha at Nana Pondha in Valsad district. The Congress vice-president will also address a gathering of traders in Vapi. He is likely to visit the Unai Mataji temple in Vansda.

On Friday, the Congress leader will speak to farmers in Saharanpur and the fishermen community in Kosamba.

ALSO WATCH VIDEO | Gujarat poll dates announced: Will BJP be able to woo more voters or Congress?

--- ENDS ---
ASHLAND  The resident of a house that burned last week is asking for the publics help to locate two of his pets.

Michael Prime is offering a reward for returning a cat and dog that may have escaped the fire at his home at 16514 250th Street in rural Ashland on Oct. 27.

The pets reportedly ran out of the home when a local citizen opened the door before the fire department arrived. Prime said there were four dogs and five cats in the house at the time of the fire. After the fire, Prime found the remains of three dogs and four cats.

The missing cat has cream-colored long, fluffy hair. The dog is a miniature pinscher that is black and tan or red and weighs 10 to 15 pounds.

The fire was reported at 10:48 a.m. after a rural mail carrier saw the flames. When firefighters arrived, the front half of the house was already engulfed, according to Ashland Fire Chief Brian Whitehead.

It had been burning for a while before wed been called, he said.

Ashland requested help from Greenwood, Mead and Murdock fire departments due to lack of manpower and because the firefighters had to haul water to the rural area from Ashland.

It took a lot of manpower, Whitehead said. Its good that departments can work together.

Firefighters were on scene until 4:30 p.m. extinguishing the fire and making sure any hot spots did not flare up. Wind was also a factor in fighting the fire, Whitehead said.

Prime said he and his wife, Randy, were in the process of moving to an acreage in rural Iowa. They were not home at the time of the fire. Prime was three hours away in Iowa, while his wife was about to the mid-point on her way to their new home. Both immediately drove to Ashland after hearing the news.

They had already transported some items to their new home, but the big items were still in the Ashland house.

We had a lot of stuff moved out, but not everything, he said. We didnt have much, but what we had, we lost.

The Primes had lived in the home, owned by Margaret Mason, for 13 years. A cause has not been determined yet, but Prime said the fire marshal indicated it could have been faulty wiring, adding that the home was built in 1910.

The four horses owned by the Primes were not injured in the fire.

If anyone has information about the missing animals, call The Ashland Gazette at 402-944-3397 or email news@ashland-gazette.com to be put in touch with Prime.
As Rahul Gandhi kick-started the third leg of the Gujarat Navsarjan Yatra, he set the tone before the rally by tweeting on the claims by Finance Minister Arun Jailtley on ease of doing business.

By Kamlesh Damodar Sutar: On his first day of NavSarjan Yatra Rahul Gandhi launched a scathing attack on the Modi government. On the other hand the Congress vice president also made an attempt to connect with the people.

As Rahul Gandhi kick-started the third leg of the Gujarat Navsarjan Yatra, he set the tone before the rally by tweeting on the claims by Finance Minister Arun Jailtley on ease of doing business.

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"Sabko maloom hai 'ease of doing business' ki haqeeqat, lekin khud ko khush rakhne ke liye 'Dr Jaitley' ye khayal achha hai," tweeted Rahul.

His criticism intensified in his address at Jambusar.

"Jailtley sits in AC office. He doesn't know what the small and medium traders feel about ease of doing business. The concept was killed when demonetisation was announced," Rahul said in a well attended rally in Jambusar.

And in Rahul's radar yet again was the GST. Speaking exclusively to India Today, Rahul yet again reiterated that the GST was Gabbar Singh Tax that was extorting money from people.

Rahul's connect with the people of Gujarat was not just restricted to the stage. On stage, it was an unusual sight when Rahul was seen greeted by sadhus in a Muslim dominated area of Jambusar.

RAHUL SPORTS TRADITIONAL HEADGEAR

In Mandvi , Rahul sportingly wore a traditional headgear and even flashed a sword offered to him by the local Rajput community. Off stage Rahul was forthcoming not only in greeting people but also happily clicked selfies with locals.

After addressing farmers of Dayadra, Rahul sprung a surprise for eight-year-old Shafa and Ashmira.

While the young girls waved at the Congress vice president who was sitting in his bus, Rahul promptly got down and obliged the girls by clicking pictures with them.

The fan following just went a step ahead when 15-year-old Mantasha Sheth climbed on Rahul Gandhi's vehicle to click a selfie.

Mantasha Sheth clicks selfie with the Gandhi scion.

"I have always loved the way he speaks and to me he appears very confident. I knew he was coming to Bharuch and wanted to meet him. I went to him and clicked a selfie," said Mantasha.

While charming youngsters to farmers, the Congress vice president made all the right noises on the first day of his South Gujarat tour. On Thursday, Rahul apart from meeting the tribals he will yet again try to impress voters by visiting the Unnai Mata temple.

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VIDEO | Bharuch girl climbs onto Rahul Gandhi's van to get selfie clicked with him

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Brian Cox, the prominent UK science presenter and physicist, says the emergence of the likes of US president Donald Trump and even One Nation's ex-senator Malcolm Roberts has made him ponder entering politics to help counter the rise of "comedians and clowns".

Professor Cox, who clashed with Mr Roberts on ABC's Q&A program last year over climate change, said the appeal of insularity, nationalism and populism was being driven by unaddressed political issues, such economic dislocation leading to worsening inequality.

"There's lots of reasons for Brexit and Trump, and Malcolm Roberts, but one of them might be in the face of these challenges, people retreat and try to build walls around themselves," Professor Cox said. "That's the route, if not to the destruction of civilisation, then at least its stasis or decline."

Describing himself as a "pragmatic centralist", Professor Cox said his calls for more scientists to engage in debate beyond their laboratories logically extended to his own potential role.
Aaron Pajich's body was found in the backyard of an Orelia home in June 2016. Autism advocate Bob Johnson also addressed the media, saying the women abused Aaron Pajich's trust and naivety. "They took advantage of someone who, you know, typically was just looking for friendship, easy to be exploited, not able to read the motivations of other people," he said. Aaron Pajich's stepmother Veronica Desmond and family friend Joanne Burke outside court. Credit:Heather McNeill "It's sometimes tough living when you've got no protection from people who want to take advantage, to manipulate, to use and abuse and it's sadly too common a story for autistic young people."

The accused women, who were housemates, murdered the 18-year-old and buried him underneath a freshly laid concrete slab in their Orelia backyard on June 13, 2016. Jemma Lilley, left, and Trudi Lenon blamed each other for Aaron Pajich's death. The court heard a "vulnerable" Mr Pajich, who had Asperger's syndrome, was targeted and lured to the house by Lenon, who knew the teenager through her 14-year-old son. She invited Mr Pajich to meet her and Lilley at Rockingham shopping centre around 9am on June 13. Police forensic officers at the Orelia home where Aaron Pajich's body was found. Credit:Nine News Perth

Mr Pajich was dropped at the centre by a friend and farewelled her by saying 'Goodbye and God bless'. It was the last time he was seen by family or friends. Aaron Pajich's body has been found in Orelia. Credit:WA Police CCTV footage showed the teenager leaving the shops with the accused pair and security footage from their home showed the three entering the Broughton Way house around 10.30am. "Mr Pajich did not ever emerge from that house alive," state prosecutor James McTaggart said in his opening address to the jury.

"The state's case is that Aaron Pajich was brutally and violently murdered at the hands of these two accused. "Either both Ms Lilley and Ms Lenon jointly murdered Aaron Pajich, or one aided the other." Mr Pajich's body was discovered around a week later buried in the pair's backyard garotted with multiple stab wounds to his chest and neck. The home's loungeroom had a large section of carpet cut out, concealed by a couch, and police found multiple blood stains and knifes at the property. Both women denied murdering Mr Pajich and blamed each other.

Lilley claimed she was unaware Mr Pajich had been killed and that Lenon must have murdered him and concealed the crime while she was taking a three-hour nap in the next room. Lenon however admitted witnessing Lilley stab Mr Pajich to death, claiming she helped conceal the crime out of fear. Both originally lied to police and told detectives they had not seen Mr Pajich the day he went missing but later admitted he had visited their home. During the trial, the jury heard how Lilley was obsessed with serial killers and knives, and had told a friend she wanted to kill someone before she turned 25. She often referred to herself as SOS, a serial killer character she created for a book she wrote as a teenager in 2007.

Lenon met Lilley three months before Mr Pajich was murdered, and the pair moved in together in May developed a dominant / submissive relationship. Lenon once described Lilley as a "literal psychopath" who was "unnerving but addictive". A day after Mr Pajich's murder, Lilley sent Lenon a message saying, 'I'm seeing things I haven't seen before and feeling things I haven't felt before', to which Lenon replied: 'You're welcome SOS'. When news Mr Pajich was missing first broke days later, the two women sat in a bedroom in the middle of the night and read articles about him together. "I enjoyed that," Lilley text Lenon shortly after the housemates returned to their respective rooms.

Lilley, who took the stand for five days during the trial, claimed messages between her and Lenon about killing someone were role-play for a new book she was writing. She claimed she was in character when she wrote Lenon a long message 13 days before the murder. "I feel as though I cannot rest until the blood or the flesh of a screaming, pleading victim is gushing out and pooling on the floor, until all the roads and streets are streamed red and abandoned, and the fear in the back of everyone's minds and on the tongue of each human that's left standing is SOS," it read. "I cannot shift this belief that the world has become not only ready for me, it needs me to be ready." Lenon replied: "It's definitely time. I am ready. You are ready".
Morale at WA's public hospitals has plummeted further, with almost half of all doctors contemplating resigning in the past year.

More than 860 senior doctors surveyed by the Australian Medical Association WA revealed a fractured relationship with management and a health system under pressure.

Health Minister Roger Cook expects morale to get better.

AMA WA president Omar Khorshid said the results reflected angst and anger from senior doctors, with many labelling the system broken and in crisis.

"Trust has been lost between medical staff and management," he said.
Even as speculations about him joining the NCP have been abounding for a while now, Hardik and his close associate Dinesh Bambania claimed it was not a political meeting, but a Diwali courtesy meeting.

By Jumana Shah: In another interesting development on Wednesday, firebrand Patidar leader, who has raised the heckles of ruling BJP in Gujarat, met the Nationalist Congress Party leader Praful Patel at an undisclosed location in Ahmedabad.

Even as speculations about him joining the NCP have been abounding for a while now, Hardik and his close associate Dinesh Bambania claimed it was not a political meeting, but a Diwali courtesy meeting.

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Hardik tweeted about the meeting with photographs soon after. "This was not the first time we met Prafulbhai. We have met several times over the last year," Bambania said, refusing to comment on the speculations about PAAS lending its support to NCP in the coming Assembly elections in Gujarat.

Another speculation going around in political circles in Gujarat is that the BJP is using NCP as its B team to negotiate with Hardik and keep him from joining Congress formally. Interestingly, this is inherently contradictory as NCP for the last decade at least has had a formal tie-up with Congress, and it contests elections jointly with seat sharing in Gujarat.

Despite this tie up, NCP has been going back and forth on its support to Congress. One of the two NCP MLAs in Gujarat - Kandal Jadeja claimed he was asked to vote against Ahmed Patel in the Rajya Sabha elections. This was following the exit of veteran rebel leader Shankersinh Vaghela from Congress on the eve of polls.

Political observers have confided that Praful Patel might be looking to contest Assembly elections from South Gujarat this time. Getting the Patidar support would be a big boost for the NCP, which despite a few MLAs in the Assembly, has negligible presence on the ground in Gujarat.

Meanwhile, a fringe group Patidar Organization Committee lashed out against Hardik Patel on Wednesday morning. Members of this group claimed the negotiations with the BJP-led state government were sufficient and Hardik should stop his movement now.

The members of this group are representatives of the Umiya Mata Sansthan, Unjha, Khodaldham, Kagvad and other Patidar organizations from Sidsar, Ahmedabad and Surat. "Hardik is now politicizing the issue by lending backdoor support to Congress. This is not what the reservation movement was meant for," Rasikbhai Patel said.

VIDEO | Will support Congress, if it supports Patidar causes: Hardik Patel

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The order, issued by the state education department, asked teachers to perform religious duties during the Kapal Mochan Mela.

Haryana Chief Minister M L Khattar said the order has not been issued by the government. Photo: PTI.

By India Today Web Desk: An order asking government teachers to work as volunteers during the Kapal Mochan Mela in Yamunanagar district of Haryana has created a row. The Haryana government has allegedly asked teachers to perform the duties of a 'pujari' or priest during the festival.

The teachers association has protested against the decision. State advisor to the Haryana Teachers Association Jaidev Arya called the order a "Tuqhlaki farman" (diktat). "It is not a teacher's job to work as priest," he said, adding that if the state decides to act against teachers, the association will launch a protest.

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The order, issued by education department officials, asked teachers to perform religious duties during the festival. Haryana Chief Minister M L Khattar, however, said the directive has not been issued by the state government. "This could be a directive of the local administration, not our," he said.

The Yamunanagar district education officer, in a noted dated October 29, sought an explanation from teachers who failed to turn up for the training ahead of the Kapal Mochan Mela.

A section of the teachers, protesting against the order, accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government of pursuing a "Hindutva agenda". Jawahar Yadav, former OSD to Haryana CM and chairman of Haryana Housing Board, said teachers were not asked to perform the duties of a priest and denied any Hindutva agenda behind the move.

He said the order asked teachers to help make arrangements for the festival at the district level, and it would not hamper regular classes as duties were assigned during holidays.

(Inputs from agencies)

ALSO WATCH: Honeypreet arrest: Haryana CM Khattar blames Punjab Police for delay

--- ENDS ---
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh said the BJP has made it easier for the Congress by announcing Prem Kumar Dhumal as its CM candidate.

By Satender Chauhan: The Congress today released its election manifesto ahead of the Himachal Pradesh Assembly election and claimed that its manifesto is better than that of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, who has been yet again named the Congress' chief ministerial candidate in the upcoming polls, said Kaul Singh Thakur-led committee has prepared the document after much deliberation and hard work. Virbhadra Singh said that the BJP has made it easier for the Congress by announcing Prem Kumar Dhumal as its chief ministerial candidate.

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Kaul Singh Thakur, the health minister in the Virbhadra Singh government, said the Congress government has fulfilled 95 per cent of the promises made over the last five years. Thakur said the government has relentless worked towards development of Himachal Pradesh in its tenure.

Some of the promises made in the Congress' election manifesto includes farmer loan of up to Rs 1 lakh with zero interest, 50,000 laptops with 1GB data to school students. On the job front, the Congress claimed that it has provided employment to 75,000 people in the last five years, and promises to provide 1.5 lakh jobs if voted to power.

The manifesto also promises appointment of staff in newly-opened schools and colleges in Himachal Pradesh and stricter laws to deal with incidents of animal attacks on humans. Himachal Pradesh will go to polls on November 9 and counting of votes for the 68 Assembly seats will take place on December 18.

BJP president Amit Shah on Tuesday announced former chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal as the party's CM candidate at a rally in Himachal Pradesh. "BJP's focus is politics of development. We want to make Himachal corruption-free and initiate record development initiatives in the state," Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted after Dhumal's candidature was announced.

The India Today-Axis My India poll has predicted a clean sweep for the BJP in the state, with the party likely to win on 43-47 of the 68 seats in Himachal Pradesh. The poll predicted 21-25 seats for the Congress.

ALSO WATCH: Himachal Pradesh Opinion Poll: BJP set for big win defeating Congress CM Virbhadra Singh

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An Association for Democratic Reforms report shows how the candidates of Himachal Pradesh election fair when it comes to their criminal backgrounds, financial status and education.

By India Today Web Desk: The polling day for the Himachal Pradesh Assembly elections is right around the corner (November 9). But even as the day draws closer, there is still a lot we don't know about the electoral candidates here.

A Himachal Pradesh Election Watch and Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), which analyses "the self-sworn affidavits of all candidates from the HimachalPradesh 2017 Assembly Elections" comes in handy for this purpose.

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Here's all we know about the the criminal backgrounds, financial statuses, education, etc. of the candidates:

CRIMINAL BACKGROUND

The ADR report shows that 61 out of the 338 candidates have declared that they have criminal cases against them, with 61 of them having 'serious criminal cases'.

Ram Kumar, an INC candidate contesting from Doon constituency, has a case related to murder against him.

Two candidates declared having cases related to attempt to murder against them.

Speaking party-wise, Indian National Congress has six candidates with criminal cases against them contesting at the Himachal Pradesh election, while the BJP has 23, the Bahujan Samaj Party has three, and the CPI(M) has 10.

FINANCIAL STATUS

Affidavits submitted by candidates reveal that 158 out of the 338 of them are crorepatis.

Some 55 candidates contesting at the Himachal Pradesh election have assets that value up to Rs 5 crore, while 55 others have assets that value between Rs 2 to Rs 5 crore.

The ADR report further shows that as many as 105 candidates here have assets worth Rs 50 lakhs to Rs 2 crores, 70 of them have assets worth Rs 10 lakhs to 50 lakhs, and 53 of them have assets less than Rs 10 lakhs.

All in all, 59 out of 68 INC candidates, 47 out of 68 from BJP, 6 out of 42 from BSP, 3 out of 14 from CPI (M), one CPI and 36 Independent candidates have declared assets worth more than Rs 1 crore.

BJP candidate Balvir Singh Verma, from constituency Chopal, has declared the highest assets, with a total of over Rs 90 crore.

EDUCATION

A total of 120 candidates contesting at the Himachal Pradesh election have educational qualification below Class 12 pass, while 214 of the total 338 candidates are graduate or above.

There is also one candidate who is illiterate, and one1 who has not submitted their educational details.

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By PTI: in 2018

New Delhi, Nov 1 (PTI) India and Bhutan have agreed to celebrate 2018 as the golden jubilee of the establishment of formal diplomatic ties between the two neighbours, a statement by the Bhutanese Embassy said.

President Ram Nath Kovind, during his meeting with Bhutan King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, also extended an invitation to him to pay a state visit to India during the golden jubilee year, which was accepted by the visiting dignitary.

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"The meetings were held in a very warm and cordial atmosphere, reflecting the spirit of mutual trust and understanding that characterise the exceptionally friendly ties between the two countries," the statement said.

Earlier in the day, Kovind "conveyed deep appreciation for the King of Bhutans personal involvement and guidance and the support provided by Bhutan in addressing the recent situation in the Dokalam area".

India and Chinas troops were locked in a 73-day stand- off in Dokalam, a tri-junction between Sino-India and Bhutanese border near Sikkim, from June 16 this year after Indian Army personnel stopped the Chinese Army from building a road in the disputed area.

Apart from the president, Wangchuck also held talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj.

Recalling the "unique and historical ties of friendship and understanding" between India and Bhutan, the leaders exchanged views on bilateral cooperation as well as other issues of mutual interest.

The two sides expressed satisfaction at the "excellent state of bilateral relations" and reaffirmed their commitment to advance the good ties across diverse sectors of cooperation.

"The visit of Their Majesties to India marks an important milestone in the close and friendly relations between the two countries and has contributed significantly towards further strengthening the profound friendship between India and Bhutan," the statement added.

The Bhutans King also conveyed appreciation for the support India provides for Bhutans socio-economic development, the statement added.

Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu, senior ministers and officials will also call on the King of Bhutan during the visit from October 31 to November 3. PTI PR SMN

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by Richard Coulson

I went over to a new Island Luck gaming site the other night and opened an account in the windowless single-purpose room, lit mainly by dozens of computer screens. I was not there to become a steady player, but to discover whether the premises were infested with shady characters likely to pose a risk to the countrys financial sector, as Minister of Tourism Dionisio DAguilar has warned us with alarmist press headlines.

It didnt quite feel that way. A half-dozen citizens quietly tapped on their keyboards far from the old days of numbers manually chalked-up in a seedy bar as seen in the grimly brilliant Bahamian film Cargo. Doubtless the Minister means well, but like all politicians he is bound to leap over the fence with scary claims that catch the eye but dont stand up to hard analysis.

He tells us that sloppy web shops do not apply the same know your customer (KYC) rules as careful, rock-solid banks. Not so. A quietly efficient lady asked me for passport, and utility bill showing address, and I signed a form confirming that I was not a politically exposed person, as required deep in the Gaming Regulations, 2014, which the Gaming Board inspectors frequently drop in to spot- check, as they do the 196 highly technical sections about maintenance of accounting records and internal controls. I certainly never felt any high-pressure salesmanship enticing me to raise my playing level.

Upon depositing $50, I was not asked to verify the source of my funds, which would be an absurd demand for the modest amounts wagered by me and other players, via bets that give an uncertain, usually negative, rate of return. Thats a logical requirement only for a bank or investment company accepting multi thousands or millions to invest or immediately wire transfer abroad.

The Minister would have us believe that these alleged slip-shod habits of the gaming companies breed a class of money-launderers whose reliance on illicit income gives them finance for drug-dealing or acts of terrorism. One must ask how it would be possible for the highly irregular flow of gaming winnings to fund these criminal schemes. And wheres the evidence? I am not aware of our Financial Intelligence Unit receiving a flow of suspicious transaction reports about players illicit use of funds.

The seven licensed gaming firms are accused of being a restrictive cartel, not least by the three Canadian banks who dominate our financial business like a closed shop. These very banks now accuse the gaming shops of operating unlicensed money transfer business to make cash available to Family Islands residents. Quite true, and why not?  because the banks themselves, like any cartel, refuse to up-grade their facilities to serve small, scattered markets. Customers in Eleuthera and Cat island struggle to find a physical branch, and Bimini customers actually had to find another island after Royal Bank, Bahamas Oldest Bank, walked out, apparently without penalty or criticism from our Central Bank. Naturally the gaming firms, with their widespread day-long-open offices, will step in to satisfy popular needs when banks fall down on the job.

The Minister attempts to warn us with anecdotal evidence from the International Monetary Fund with that foreign banks wont do business with gaming houses or banks that serve them. If thats so, the solution is for our Central Bank to take a strong line and convince banks that gaming business does not mean illegal business. They have been fully licensed here since 2014 and are making a major contribution to the economy.

Island Luck has 32 branches throughout the county, with about 150 white-collar staff, all Bahamians. Employment for all the licensees provides a total annual payroll of $18 -$20 million dollars. The Gaming Board itself employs a steadily growing cadre of experienced professionals, and industry wide there is a heavy demand for accountants and computer technicians for audit and compliance functions. Expenditure on rent, utilities and supplies across a range of about 100 premises runs into tens of millions, with substantial charitable contributions from all the companies.

The discussion will never stop whether gaming houses (or any licensed industry, here or abroad) pays enough in taxes, but certainly in the Bahamas the burden is substantial. In addition to the flat annual $80,000 license fee, they pay amounts closely akin to income tax either 11% of adjusted gross revenue (wagers received less winnings paid out) or 25% of EBITDA earnings, whichever is greater. And in these days of ever-improving mobile technology, increasing play at the gaming houses is not automatic . As the owner of one company explained to me, just as home viewing of movies is growing on TV or computer screens at the expense of theaters, so more people are finding ways to wager on-line from their living rooms. Every gaming site must be-upgraded to offer more imaginative wagering systems. Whether the number of shops should be controlled, or their locations restricted from school or church neighborhoods, are legitimate questions that can be decided with rational analysis, as with liquor stores.

It is depressing to read some of the defamatory comments following the newspaper articles. One can only shake ones head at the ignorance, prejudice, and animosity shown by some of our (anonymous) correspondents, calling the gaming business criminal enterprises engaged in money-laundering and all sorts of other illegal activities...run by these thugs like Sebas Bastian and Craig Flowersall without the slightest shred of evidence!

The Minister of Tourism expresses fears about a shadowy past. Although the 2014 Gaming Act for the first time covered the so-called numbers or web shop business by licensing and regulating mobile (on-line) gaming as well as casinos, he is concerned that earlier profits earned in the bad old pre-legislation days may have been used to fund unseen illicit activities. Again, not the slightest evidence has been produced. The two thugs named above have created open and visible enterprises. Sebas Bastian has invested his profits from Island Luck into successful real estate projects created by Brickell Management Group, insured through licensed agency BMG Insurance, as well broker-dealer Investar Securities licensed by our meticulous Securities Commission, with its board headed by a former Chairman of that very Commission and its senior director being the distinguished lawyer/philanthropist Lowell Mortimer. Craig Flowers, an older gentleman with international activities, used his gaming profits from the FML Group to build the FML Corporate Centre on western Bay Street, without doubt the most handsome restoration of derelict properties ever undertaken downtown, far exceeding any attempts by legitimate businesses.

The gaming business will never be universally accepted. Christian groups will always discourage their members from playing with vigorous spiritual reasoningthat is their privilege. Social reformers will always lament the irreducible minimum of players who become addicts and rashly spend beyond their means, but every gaming house has a formal responsible gaming program and wager-limit systems, which were non-existent in pre-legalization days. The gaming industry is here to stay, as an entrenched legally approved activity like bars and liquor outlets. The low turn-out referendum of 2013when in fact a majority of registered voters did not vote against web shops or lotteriescan no longer be dredged up as the decisive negative argument.

The leaders have not done enough to stifle the negative image that still percolates. While our Central Bank, BISX, and Financial Services Board provide copious statistics, and free public relations, for all aspects of banking and finance, and the Hotels Association does much the same for the tourist industry, no similar information is available about the gaming house business Much of the continuing criticisms would be dispelled if we could find clear presentations of such key figures as: total size of the industry by assets of all companies; total number of licensed web shops. per capita per island; total employees and total payroll; total annual wagering take and total annual payout to winners; total charitable contributions.

The Gaming Houses Association will soon appoint a spokesperson to disseminate this information by print and digital means. The basic facts could be supplemented with a quarterly magazine telling about new gaming developments, personnel promotions and awards, controls of addictive gambling, and many other news items. Good examples can easily be found on the web-sites of the many state lottery commissions in the US, which provide full disclosure not just about the various games but about management and financial operations. These precedents could eventually lead to each Bahamian gaming house publishing its own Annual Report, just like a publicly-owned company.

There will be continuing issues of broad policy and detailed control that will continue to arise. But they will best be resolved by meetings and discussions between the gaming companies, the Board, the ministry of finance, the Attorney-General  even the churchesand not by scatter-shot accusations in the media.

Mr. Coulson has had a long career in law, investment banking and private banking in New York, London, and Nassau, and now serves as director of several financial concerns and as a corporate financial consultant. He has recently released his autobiography, A Corkscrew Life: Adventures of a Travelling Financier.
Youth-only and Military/Veteran-only waterfowl hunts canceled this weekend at Ballard WMA; Fewer blinds available at Boatwright WMA
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By Bill Hughes

Oct. 31, 2017 | PADUCAH, KY

By Bill Hughes Oct. 31, 2017 | 07:50 PM | PADUCAH, KY

Wednesday marks five weeks since fire destroyed the front half of Shooter's Supply in Paducah, and the owners have been counting their blessings while making arrangements to take care of their customers.



Lynn McCutcheon said investigators told him they believe the fire on September 27 started with a computer speaker on the secretary's desk. The office and front part of the building were destroyed, and the rest of the building received smoke and heat damage.



McCutcheon said it took two weeks for the official investigation, inventory and to get everything out of the building. Since then, they have worked to separate the rear part of the building and restore it, replacing walls, ceilings and lighting.



"We've already moved part of the archery department back in, we're moving safes back in, and by week six we hope to be moving guns back into that," McCutcheon said.



He said about 20 percent of the inventory was destroyed, and the value of the rest is being calculated by the insurance company. McCutcheon said after they get the insurance settlement they may be able to buy the inventory back and have a "fire sale," but that hasn't yet been confirmed.



McCutcheon said the insurance adjustor who counted their inventory told them he has been all over the country for 30 years, after disasters of all kinds, and he has never seen a community support a business like they have Shooter's Supply.



"So that really, really made me proud of... maybe what we have been to the community and how they're giving back." he said. "For four weeks, somebody showed up and provided lunch every day. Hundreds of volunteers have showed up and gotten their hands black to help out."



For now, everything in the store at the Cairo Road location is brand new and wasn't involved in the fire. A building next door to the store is currently where the gun shop is located, but those items will be moved back in when the remodel is complete.



McCutcheon said, "The gun shop, ironically, is about the same size as [what] I started with 35 years ago."



For now, their repair shop is in another building on the other side of the store.



Meanwhile Lynn's wife Trudy is running another location they opened in the old Guy Gray Supply building at Alben Barkley Drive and Friendship Road. That store is selling clothing, boots, and supplies for waterfowl and deer hunting.



As for employees, nobody has lost any work during this time. In fact, they have probably worked harder since the fire.



McCutcheon said, "We've done most of this work ourselves and relied on our employees to do it. Fortunately, we've had lots of friends and a lot of customers that's just come and volunteered their time. Nobody's lost any work over this, it's created a lot of extra work!"



He said their current inventory is obviously smaller than before, but they just wanted to stay open to serve their customers during hunting season. Modern gun season starts in eleven days, and bow hunters have been busy since September 2.



"We needed our archery department to fix these bows if something has gone wrong with them. Our repair department is taking care of people's guns. So, we are selling new merchandise, but the main thing was to take care of those customers," McCutcheon said.



Their annual "Hunter's Night Out" event was originally set for last Thursday, but he said they hope to have a customer appreciation day some time in the future.



McCutcheon said the family's faith has sustained them through this ordeal.



He said, "If it wasn't for that, it would be all but impossible. We've had good times, we've laughed, we've cried, we've had lots of arguments over things, but all in all we've had faith that the Lord's gonna take care of all of this, so we're all OK, we're gonna make it."
By West Kentucky Star Staff Nov. 01, 2017 | 06:33 AM | FRANKFORT, KY

resolve multistate claims that pharmaceutical company Mylan Inc. violated federal law by knowingly misclassifying EpiPen and EpiPen Jr. as a generic drug to avoid paying higher rebates owed to Medicaid.

Attorney General Andy Beshear today announced his office is returning over $12 million to state and federal Medicaid programs to

Under the $12.2 million Kentucky settlement, $8.5 million will be returned to the federal Medicaid program and $3.7 million will be returned to Kentuckys Medicaid program.

Medicaid and its expansion provide a critical service that helps Kentuckys most vulnerable citizens, Beshear said. As Attorney General, I am committed to holding any company that defrauds Medicaid accountable. The actions of companies like Mylan defraud not only the government but the people government serves.

According to the $465 million nationwide settlement, Mylan demanded massive price increases in the private market while avoiding its corresponding rebate obligations to Medicaid from 2010-2017 by erroneously reporting EpiPen as a generic drug despite the absence of any therapeutically equivalent drugs.

Federal law requires companies of single-source, or brand name, drugs to pay higher rebates to Medicaid.

Beshears Medicaid Fraud and Abuse Unit is charged with investigating and prosecuting any health care provider who fraudulently bills or abuses the Medicaid system.

To date, Beshears office has obtained settlements that will return over $64 million to taxpayers through recoveries of state and federal Medicaid funds, Medicare funds, and other funds through civil settlements and obligations of criminal restitution.
By PTI: Paris, Nov 1 (PTI) India is committed to promoting UNESCOs agenda, Union HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar said today, observing that the UN bodys responsibilities have become bigger owing to its work in the field of education, culture and science.

Delving into Indias efforts in developing the education sector, the human resource development minister said accessibility, equity, quality, affordability and accountability are five important pillars in this arena.

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"Multilateralism needs to succeed. For this, we need to stick to our original agenda. We should maintain line and length and should not divert. It is not confrontational but cooperative federalism. Every member state is sovereign but will come together for common good," he said.

The minister was speaking during the general policy debate at the 39th General Conference of UNESCO here.

"UNESCOs responsibilities to the future has become bigger...So our resolves must be stronger. This is the extraordinary legacy of our partnership with UNESCO from the time of its birth and we would like to see it continue," Javadekar said.

He also recalled that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had discussed with UNESCO about an introspection into our different cultures, traditions and religions to overcome the rising tide of extremism, violence and divisions that plague our world.

"This is our original agenda, education, culture, science and communication. In this, we learn from each other. We share best practises. This is UNESCOs agenda. We must promote it," he said.

Highlighting the Massive Open Online Courses launched in July this year, Javadekar noted that 400 courses have been made available and more than 18 lakh students and citizens have registered for it.

Earlier, on the sidelines of the UNESCO General Conference, the minister had a bilateral meeting with his Afghanistan counterpart and had interaction with E-9 Ministers at E-9 Ministerial lunch.

Bangladesh, Brazil, China, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Nigeria and Pakistan are referred to as the E-9 countries.

Afghanistan sought Indias help in curriculum development. India has assured to provide all help to develop a scientific curriculum relevant to Afghanistan. PTI PR GJS PMS

--- ENDS ---
Enjoy the first large-scale museum exhibition dedicated to tramp art since 1975. More than 150 examples of tramp art, concentrating on works from the United States, with additional international examples.

For Immediate Release: October 24, 2016 (Santa Fe, NM) The Museum of International Folk Art presents No Idle Hands: The Myths & Meanings of Tramp Art, the first large-scale museum exhibition dedicated to tramp art since 1975. The exhibition will present more than 150 examples of tramp art, concentrating on works from the United States, with additional examples from France, Germany, Switzerland, Scandinavia, Canada, Mexico and Brazil to demonstrate the far reach this art form has had. Additionally, the show will analyze and dismantle the myths and misperceptions about tramp art, particularly as they relate to assumptions related to class, quality, and the anonymity of the makers.

Tramp art describes a particular type of chip-carved woodwork that was practiced in Europe and the United States between the 1870s and 1940s, making use of discarded cigar boxes or crates that were then notch-carved along the edges and layered. Objects made were primarily boxes and frames, but other household objects such as small private altars, crosses, medicine cabinets, wall pockets, clock cases, plant stands, and even furniture can be found.

"Tramp art's place in art history has been troublesome. It has had detractorspeople who regard it as 'the ugly duckling' of folk artbut also numerous champions," said Laura Addison, Curator of North American & European Folk Art at the Museum of International Folk Art, and the show's curator. "This exhibition will erase any doubts about the quality and craftsmanship of the work and situate tramp art as a practice at the crossroads of cultural transformation at the turn of the 20th century," she said. Addison also pointed out that by juxtaposing historic pieces with those by contemporary artists working in the tramp art style, the exhibition frames this art form as an ongoing tradition that continues to capture the public's imaginationmyths and all.

"The ingenious objects in the Tramp Art exhibition use recycled or repurposed wood, and highlight a moment in time a century ago when artisans, many of them immigrants to the US, created a new variety of folk art," said Khristaan D. Villela, Director of the Museum of International Folk Art. "They are a testament to the ability of untrained artists to produce objects of immense beauty and complexity," he said.

For many years, tramp art was believed to have been made by itinerants and hobos, thus its name. It has been demonstrated, however, that this belief, first put in print by Frances Lichten in a 1959 Pennsylvania Folklife article, is erroneous. Nonetheless, the name "tramp art" has remained the only terminology used for this practice, and the paucity of scholarly studies to dispel the mistaken notions about tramp art have allowed the myths to persist.

Whittling objects such as wood chains and ball-in-cage whimsies was a common pastime, including among railriding "hobos," and some examples of tramp art were likely by the hand of itinerant laborers or artisans. However, this style of carving was more commonly the practice of family men and blue-collar factory workers making functional domestic objects or gifts for the women in their lives. Efforts have been made in recent years to identify makers by name and unearth their biographies; these personal narratives illustrate a very different story of the makers of tramp art. As these makers and their stories come to light, it has become obvious that home and family are central to an understanding of the practice of tramp art.

No Idle Hands will present tramp art objects according to four primary areas: Introduction/historical context, home & nation, frames & boxes and devotional objects. Works in the exhibition will come from the Museum of International Folk Art permanent collection as well as loans from a number of private and museum collections across the country. An exhibition publication will accompany the exhibition, with essays by Laura Addison, Curator of North American & European Folk Art, Museum of International Folk Art; Leslie Umberger, a curator in the area of folk art and self-taught art at the Smithsonian American Art Museum; and Eric Zafran, a retired curator of European art, most recently at the Wadsworth Atheneum.

The Museum of International Folk Art Museum Shop is located in the museum at 706 Camino Lejo (Museum Hill just off Old Santa Fe Trail). 505-982-5186.

MUSEUM OF INTERNATIONAL FOLK ART

The Museum of International Folk Art is a division of the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs.

The Museum of International Folk Art's mission is "to enrich the human spirit by connecting people with the arts, traditions and cultures of the world." Founded in 1953 by Florence Dibell Bartlett, the museum holds the world's largest international folk art collection of more than 150,000 objects from six continents and over 150 nations.

The museum's collections represent a broad range of global artists whose artistic expressions make Santa Fe an international crossroads of culture. For many visitors, fascination with folk art begins upon seeing the whimsical toys and traditional objects within the Girard Collection. For others, the international textiles, ceramics, carvings and other cultural treasures in the Neutrogena Collection provide the allure. The museum's historic and contemporary Latino and Hispano folk art collections, spanning the Spanish Colonial period to modern-day New Mexico, reflect how artists respond to their time and place in ways both delightful and sobering. In 2010, the museum opened the Mark Naylor and Dale Gunn Gallery of Conscience, where exhibitions encourage visitors to exchange ideas on complex issues of human rights and social justice.

Over 90,000 national and international visitors visit the Museum International Folk Art every year. Through folk art, the museum encourages all to find a common ground upon which to craft better lives for all.

Museum exhibitions and programs are supported by donors to the Museum of New Mexico Foundation and its Director's Leadership Fund, Exhibitions Development Fund, and Fund for Museum Education, as well as by the International Folk Art Foundation, also established by museum founder Florence Dibell Bartlett.
By PTI: New Delhi, Nov 1 (PTI) The government today gave its ex- post facto approval to the trade agreement between India and Ethiopia to strengthen economic ties between the two countries, an official statement said.

The decision was taken by the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi here.

The trade agreement will replace the existing pact signed in 1982.

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The Cabinet "has given its ex-post facto approval for the trade agreement between India and Ethiopia for strengthening and promoting trade and economic co-operation", the statement read.

The pact was signed on October 5 during the state visit of the president of India to Ethiopia.

"The trade agreement will provide for all necessary measures to encourage trade, economic cooperation, investment and technical co-operation," it added.

The bilateral trade between India and Ethiopia declined to USD 840.5 million in 2016-17, from USD 854.6 million in the previous fiscal. PTI RR ARD

--- ENDS ---
A man in a rented pickup truck mowed down pedestrians and bicyclists along a busy bike path near the World Trade Center memorial.

Authorities investigate the scene near a covered body on a bike path after a motorist drove onto the path near the World Trade Center memorial (Photo: AP)

By Geeta Mohan: The Consul General of India in New York has informed through a tweet that NYPD has indicated that "there are no Indian names amongst the casualties" in the terror attack that took place on Tuesday.

Indian mission is in touch with the New York Police Department (NYPD) to ascertain more details.

Eight people were killed and eleven injured in an attack that is being called a terror attack by New York authorities. The suspect, 29-year old Sayfullo Saipov, an immigrant from Uzbekistan has been arrested and is in the hospital recovering from gunshot wound fired by the police.

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Even as New York was shaken by this attack where the Uzbek mowed down eight people with a pick-up truck in Lower Manhattan, President Donald Trump has ordered a heightened "vetting process" for travellers entering the United States.

In a tweet he said, "I have just ordered Homeland Security to step up our already Extreme Vetting Program. Being politically correct is fine, but not for this!"

The Trump travel ban had seen stiff opposition from various quarters and even as the US administration continues to block refugees from 11 Muslim majority nations, this would add fresh impetus to President Trump's policy.

Also, Uzbekistan is not among the 11 on the list of banned countries. Will the administration review its list is not clear from the given by President Trump.

Earlier he also tweeted, "In NYC, looks like another attack by a very sick and deranged person. Law enforcement is following this closely. NOT IN THE U.S.A.!"

--- ENDS ---
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Welcome to The Independent Herald E-Edition! Check back each week on Tuesday to see our[Read More]
By PTI: (Eds: Updating with fresh quotes and inputs)

By Lalit K Jha

New York, Nov 1 (PTI) A domestically radicalised Uzbek man yelling God is great ploughed a pickup truck down a crowded bicycle path here today, killing eight people and injuring 11 others in the deadliest terror attack on the city since 9/11.

The 29-year-old suspect, a sympathiser of the Islamic State terror group, was shot in the stomach by a police officer before being arrested. The Uzbek man has been identified as Sayfullo Habibullaevic Saipov, an immigrant from the Central Asian country, who came to the US legally in 2010.

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The incident took place near the World Trade Centre and along the normally gridlocked West Side Highway, a major thoroughfare that runs along the western edge of Manhattan by the Hudson River as Americans celebrated Halloween.

The attacker left nearly a half km crime scene -- a tree-lined bike path strewn with mangled bicycles and their parts.

Police said the truck drove south after entering a pedestrian and bicycle path, where it struck multiple people. Six men were pronounced dead at the scene on the cycle lane and two other people were dead on arrival at the hospital.

The victims included five Argentinians and a Belgian citizen. Two other victims have not yet been identified.

After smashing the truck into a school bus, injuring two adults and two children, the suspect exited the truck displaying "imitation firearms" and was shot by police, according to the New York Police Department (NYPD).

Officers were able to talk to Saipov before the surgery, but it was unclear if he told them anything, a law enforcement official said.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said Saipov was "radicalised domestically" in the US.

"The evidence shows -- and again, its only several hours, and the investigation is ongoing -- but that after he came to the United States is when he started to become informed about ISIS and radical Islamic tactics," Cuomo told CNN.

"We have no evidence yet of associations or a continuing plot or associated plots, and our only evidence to date is that this was an isolated incident that he himself performed," he said.

Officials said Saipov left a note declaring his allegiance to the Islamic State, but authorities have not found any connections between him and the terror group or any other organisation.

One witness, Eugene Duffy, told ABC Channel 7 that he saw the truck driving quickly down the cycle path alongside the West Side Highway at full speed as it hit a number of people. He also reported hearing about nine or 10 shots.

The driver shouted Allahu Akbar (God is great) after getting out of the vehicle, New York Post reported.

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A pellet gun and a paintball gun were recovered from the scene, officials said.

Eleven people were transported to the hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries, according to New York Fire Commissioner Daniel Nigro.

A spokesman for Home Depot confirmed one of the companys rental trucks was part of an incident in lower Manhattan and said the company is "cooperating with authorities" in the investigation.

The suspect, who hails from Paterson New Jersey, had multiple interactions with law enforcement in several states, online records show. Saipov had traffic citations issued in Missouri and Pennsylvania.

New York City mayor Bill de Blasio said the incident was being treated as an act of terror, "a particularly cowardly act of terror".

US President Donald Trump denounced the attack, saying "we must not allow ISIS to return".

"In NYC, looks like another attack by a very sick and deranged person. Law enforcement is following this closely. NOT IN THE U.S.A.!" Trump tweeted.

Trump also said he had ordered more robust "extreme vetting" of travellers coming into the US.

The US Justice Department said in a statement that a joint terrorism task force that included the FBI, the NYPD and others was investigating the attack.

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An Uber spokeswoman said Saipov also drove for the ride sharing-company, which is cooperating with authorities.

The One World Trade Center, the main building of the rebuilt World Trade Center complex destroyed during the September 11, 2001 terror attack, was lit in red, white and blue in honour of freedom and democracy.

New York has been largely spared from terrorism since nearly 3,000 people were killed in the 9/11 attack.

The most recent violence from terrorism there came in September 2016, when a man set off shrapnel-packed explosives in the Chelsea neighbourhood of Manhattan. Nobody was killed, but 30 people were injured in the incident.

Trucks have become a common weapon for terrorists in recent years, with the ISIS encouraging its followers to use them in carrying out deadly attacks.

In July 2016, an assailant influenced by the Islamic State drove a 19-tonne cargo truck into a crowd in the French city of Nice, leaving 86 people dead and 434 injured.

In December, a man with ties to Islamic State drove a 27-tonne truck into a Christmas market in Berlin, killing 12 people and injuring 56 others. PTI LKJ CK NSA AKJ AKJ

--- ENDS ---

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India Today found out that the Jaipur mayor was able to recite Vande Mataram, the national song, but most of the employees of JMC were not able to sing even a few lines.

By Dev Ankur Wadhawan: A day after Jaipur Mayor Dr Ashok Lahoty's directive asking the employees of Jaipur Municipal Corporation (JMC) to sing the national anthem in the morning and the national song in the evening became applicable, India Today checks out the ground reality at the corporation premises.

The motive behind this was to ascertain whether the mayor and other employees actually know the national anthem and song or not, and if the directive, in any way, has helped in improving the attendance at the Jaipur Nagar Nigam.

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The collective belief is that this directive will help in improving attendance and generate patriotic fervour.

India Today found out that the Jaipur mayor was able to recite Vande Mataram, the national song, but most of the employees of JMC were not able to sing even a few lines. Similarly, few people knew the national anthem well.

Even several senior officers India Today spoke to, seemed ill at ease when asked to recite Vande Mataram. But they insisted that the move will help in making the corporation staff disciplined and will help generate patriotic fervour.

DS Rathore, DC in the Vigilance Department, when requested to sing the national song began reciting national anthem. When his mistake was pointed out, he claimed that the time for national song is in the evening.

Here is the conversation that took place:

India Today : Do you agree with the custom of singing National song and National Anthem which has started at the Jaipur Municipal Corporation?

DS Rathore : I definitely agree. A very good custom has been started. It is a good thing to sing national song.

India Today: Do you think the employees will come on time because of this? Earlier, there used to be complaints that employee do not come on time.

DS Rathore: No, employees used to come on time. If they did not come on time, then it was marked absent. But now because this is a good beginning, the employees are feeling good by singing the national anthem. This has been a very good message.

India Today: Request you to sing a few lines of the national song.

*Sings national anthem instead*

India Today: National song, Vande Mataram?

DS Rathore: The time for Vande Mataram is later, in the evening. No, I know it. But the time for it has been decided in the evening.

Another officer, Deputy Commissioner Badri Parasad Sharma, admitted that he did not know Vande Mataram. However, he claimed that he could sing the national anthem.

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This is how he replied to India Today's questions:

India Today: Do you agree with the custom of singing national anthem and national song?

Badri Prasad Sharma : I do agree, its a good thing.

India Today: I request you to sing the national song once.

Badri Prasad Sharma: I can sing Jan Gana Man but I dont't know Vande Mataram.

India Today: Why is that?

Badri Prasad Sharma: Will learn, have started now.

India Today: Please sing National Anthem once.

*Sings National Anthem partially*

Do you know only this much?

Badri Prasad Sharma: No, I know it completely and have recited it.

Another employee Komal Yadav could only sing the national song partially. This is how the conversation with her went:

India Today: What do you have to say about the practice that has started at the Jaipur Municipal Corporation of singing national anthem in the morning and national song in the evening.

Komal Yadav: If there is any such thing called patriotism left, then its right. Soldiers also do it on our borders for the nation.

India Today: Can you sing the national anthem for us?

Komal Yadav: Will I have to sing it completely?

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*Sings National Anthem partially*

Will be able to sing this much only.

India Today: What about national song?

Komal Yadav: I won't be able to sing that completely.

India Today: As much you know.

*Sings national song partially*

Komal Yadav: Won't be able to sing it completely. No, I know it but won't be able to sing it right now.

Even though the mayor's order asking the employees to sing the national anthem and national song has been appreciated by the JMC employees, it was apparent that many of the officials India Today spoke did not know the national anthem or the song.

--- ENDS ---
People running construction companies throughout Minnesota complain a lot these days about not being able to find enough workers. And theyre worried about a major crunch in the coming years.

The housing bust and Great Recession a decade ago devastated the trades as jobs dried up and workers left the field. In Minnesota, employment in the sector has rebounded significantly, but its still short of its 2005 annual average peak of some 129,000 jobs. Complicating matters: Many who remain in the field are nearing retirement.

Industry leaders are so concerned about finding workers that some key players have launched a campaign to draw more people into the field: Project Build Minnesota.

We are trying to prime the pump, said David Siegel, executive director of the Builders Association of the Twin Cities  and one of the founders of Project Build Minnesota. Our goal is to draw interest to the profession, the trade, the field broadly and say, Construction is something you ought to think about.

Siegel and other industry leaders hope to make that pitch through a website that covers everything from career opportunities to training programs. Theyre also making efforts to speak directly to students, parents and school counselors about the construction and building trades, in which workers earn about $61,500 a year on average, Siegel said.

There has been a tendency for some people to look down on blue-collar professions, Siegel said, but he believes thats changing.

Somebodys got to build our roads, he said. Somebodys got to build our houses. I think were coming back to understanding how important and valuable those skills and trades and opportunities are. And its just going to take some time for that to sink in.

That thought is already sinking in with students enrolled in Northeast Metro Intermediate School District 916s construction program. The intermediate district is one of three in Minnesota that provides career and technical education, among other services, to 14 school districts.

Northeast Metros construction program offers students classes and experiences they would not find in their home school districts. Every year, students build a house from the ground up, guided by skilled tradespeople.

Luke Jeska of North St. Paul is one of the students in the program, which has made him think more about a career in construction or a related field.

I like being outdoors, he said. And you get to do a lot with your hands, and its different stuff every day.

The program has helped Stillwater High School senior Dylan Haley confirm his career plans.

I have a lot of relatives in the trades, and I hope to be an electrician, he said. Its fun, interesting, something new every day.

Tom Spehn oversees the districts construction training program. He says the decline of shop classes in middle schools means students are less aware of the trades. And they come to his program without the skills they used to bring: From arithmetic, adding, subtracting, fractions to proper use of hand tools, something as simple as using a hammer, he said.

We have to teach them here, whereas 18 years ago, with their shop class experience, we didnt have to go through those steps.

Spehn said students learn all aspects of the home building industry in his program: foundation, framing, interior and exterior finishing, roofing and the internal mechanics, such as heating, electrical and plumbing.

But the trickle of students coming out of programs like Spehns is not enough to satisfy the industry.

Kurt Scepaniak, who owns Brooklyn Center-based Horizon Roofing, hopes to add two dozen or more workers next year  but that might be a stretch. Many, if not most, young people dont see construction and related trades as smart career options, he said.

In the last few years, it has continued to get tougher as more and more marketing has been done for everybody go to college, he said.

Scepaniak, whose company serves commercial customers throughout the Midwest, says hes had to look for workers outside of Minnesota or bring on people with no construction experience and train them on the job  all at a time when wages are well above minimum and rising.

Our wages right now are running anywhere between $16 an hour to about $41 an hour, he said.

Labor market experts say a greater focus on diversity is crucial to the construction industry addressing its labor issues.

Construction is an industry that has not done a very good job of diversifying their labor force, said Oriane Casale, a labor market analyst with the Minnesota Department of Employment of Economic Development. And if they want to continue hiring people, theyre simply going to have to hire a more diverse labor force because thats the population out there to be hired.

Indeed, minorities are the fastest-growing demographic of Minnesotas workforce. And theyre underrepresented in the building trades, which cant find cant find workers in the places theyre used to looking, said Louis King, president and CEO of Summit Academy OIC in Minneapolis.

Kings school offers 20-week, tuition-free programs that prepare students to move into entry-level jobs or apprenticeships in the trades. Since the beginning of last year, King says 320 graduates have done that. Most of the schools students are women or people of color.

King said the construction industry needs to give more consideration to people like the programs graduates  populations that they have not necessarily welcomed, or seen as a source of labor, he said.

Minnesotas human rights department says construction industry efforts to reduce disparities have produced tremendous gains over the past five years. But barriers remain. This summer, the department boosted the states goals for minority and women-owned participation in state construction projects to reflect the growing diversity of Minnesotas workforce.

King hopes to ramp up enrollment in Summit Academy OICs construction program. Meanwhile, other training programs are in the works.

North Hennepin Community College, for one, has been working with the Minneapolis Building and Construction Trades Council to develop a two-year construction technology degree that incorporates an apprenticeship as part of its program.

In the fall of 2015, South Central College, which has campuses in North Mankato and Faribault, revived a two-year carpentry program that had been shelved during the recession.

There was a major demand for the program, said college president Annette Parker. Lots of construction companies really wanted us to bring the program back.

Ironically, though, the total number of graduates in construction and architectural programs at the colleges and universities of the Minnesota State college and university system dropped from 1,326 in 2011 to 970 in 2015.

Minnesota State spokesman Doug Anderson said many people are finding that they can land jobs in the field and get on-the-job training, meaning they dont need a degree, training or experience upfront, at least not these days.
The Save Our Schools Committee of Winona doesnt know exactly how the Winona public school district should address its nagging financial and facilities issues.

Committee members are adamant, however, that the districts Nov. 7 facilities referendum isnt the answer.

I think the Winona community is smart enough and willing to work together so we can figure this out in a better way, said Jerry Miller, a committee member and the former mayor of Winona.

Miller said he takes issue with the referendum for at least two reasons: the potential closure of Jefferson and Madison elementary schools, and the roughly $60 million in interest that residents would be expected to pay.

I dont think its practical to close two schools while spending millions of dollars to add more space at other schools (Washington-Kosciusko and Goodview elementary schools), he added. We have a lot of brainpower in Winona. There has to be a better way.

Officials at Winona Area Public Schools say the referendum would help the district out of a precarious financial situation; the district is facing cuts exceeding $1 million each year for the foreseeable future.

They say it would also bring the districts overall square footage into a more reasonable range, given that districtwide enrollment has dropped by more than a third since 1996.

This plan would set up the district educationally and financially, Superintendent Rich Dahman said at a recent meeting sponsored by Winonas League of Women Voters.

Dahman, while admitting the plan has imperfections, has touted the referendums potential to better serve the districts current students and families, and its potential to attract new families to the district.

Every piece of the referendum is something thats going to benefit students, he said.

Save Our Schools had representatives at that meeting, too, and they were persistent in their belief that Winona would be worse off under the districts plan.

Closing elementary schools is as much a Winona issue as it is a school issue, said Emilio DeGrazia, a committee member and a former professor of English at Winona State University. Youd be disrupting neighborhood institutions and invalidating the possibility of creating community centers.

Added Natalie Siderius, a former school board member: You close these schools, and its one more thread of our community fabric thats pulled out.

Karl Sonneman, an attorney and another member of Save Our Schools, said he would be more likely to support a cheaper plan that addressed the elementary buildings alone. (This years referendum includes roughly $30 million for projects at Winona Senior High School, Winona Middle School and the Winona Area Learning Center.)

He said a capital project referendum, as opposed to the current bond referendum, might be more attractive to voters.

You basically raise the money and spend the money in the same year, so youre not paying significant interest, said Sonneman, who estimates that, through a capital project referendum, the district could repair and renovate its elementary buildings for a fraction of the proposed cost.

It would be more of a staged process, he said.

Some Save Our Schools members have more sentimental reasons for opposing the referendum.

Susan Briggs, who also questions how the referendum would better serve families and educate children, said she would hate to see the closure of two more stately brick school buildings.

When my husband and I moved to Winona in 1970, we drove around and said that this city has lovely schools and churches, said Briggs, who also fought the closure of Central Elementary, which ultimately did close in 2011. My passion is still those lovely schools and churches.

Briggs and Sonneman say they expect residents to vote down the referendum.

Miller, after years of working in local politics, says he knows better than to try to predict an election.

If the referendum were to fail, according to Dahman, the school board would most likely begin working toward some other solution. In recent months, district officials havent talked much about the viability of other plans.

Next years school board elections could further complicate matters.

Four of the seven current school board members are up for re-election, and the introduction of new members could shift the boards approach toward facilities.

At least two members of Save Our Schools (Sonneman and Allen Hillery) were unsuccessful in school board bids in 2016, and at least one member (Siderius) served on the board in the past.

I think theres so many negatives about this referendum that it will ultimately be defeated, said Sonneman, whos undecided on another run for school board. The real question is: What are we going to do next?
Radio personality and Twin Cities music blogger Andrea Swensson will visit Winona on Friday, Nov. 3 to promote her book Got To Be Something Here: The Rise of Minneapolis Sound.

Swensson will discuss her book and field questions during a Q and A at Mid West Music Store from 7 to 9 p.m. After the book event, she will venture down to Eds No Name Bar, where shell play some records she highlights in her book with Winonas own DJ Rhumpshaker.

As of right now, Winona is the only city on Swenssons book tour outside the Twin Cities region. part in thanks to a rapport with the citys music scene and Mid West Music Fest.

It was all Jacob (Grippen, vice president of the Mid West Music Fest), Swensson said. Ive gotten to know him over the years going to Mid West Music Fest ... theres such a vibrant artistic community (in Winona).

Swenssons book chronicles the rise of Minneapolis sound from the 1950s up until when Prince made his career-catapulting debut at the club that is now called First Avenue on March 6, 1981.

Its about social history and changes that happening in that period, she said. Many of these artists flew under the radar during their heyday.

Swensson spent four years on this book interviewing and collecting records of the artists she discusses in her book. She said the most surprising part of the process was simply discovering and hearing most of the music for the first time.

As a well-known music blogger in a burgeoning Twin Cities music scene, Swensson said it was upsetting to discover so much of this music flew, and continues to fly, under the radar in a market rich with musical talent and history.

I almost felt angry that I didnt know this music and that it had been mostly kept underground all these years, she said.

The fact so many of talented musicians and bands that predated Prince were mostly unknown outside their immediate market  such as Maurice McKinnies, Prophets of Peach, The Family and Prince Rogers Nelson, among a number of others  prompted Swensson to document their journey through the Twin Cities music scene during a time of high racial tension, segregation, and discrimination.

I thought, I have a platform and I want to use it to raise up voices that havent been heard,' she said. The music is so great, its honestly upsetting that we dont know more and arent more familiar about this stuff.

The book discussion will be fairly casual. Swensson said shes looking forward to having dialogue about her book.

I want people to hear stories about these great records, she said. Id love for people to ask questions and have dialogue because theres so much ground to cover.
By Dev Ankur Wadhawan: Congress has come out claiming that the Jaipur Mayor , Dr. Ashok Lahoty, should apologise for his Pakistan remark. However, the party also maintained that it has no objection to the Jaipur Municipal Corporation (JMC) employees singing National Anthem and National song.

Dr. Archana Sharma, Congress Spokesperson spoke with India Today, "Yes, he should apologise because he should point it out clearly to whom did he indicate that they should go to Pakistan and the way he was saying was, nobody objected, even our Corporators were there, they participated in the event."

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So, who was there opposing it? It seems that... competition participating throughout the country where BJP leaders are having a competition declaring themselves as biggest nationalists. But, I think it is a part of publicity he wants to gain because the misgovernance delivered by him by not rendering the services for which he has been elected," she added.

The Jaipur Mayor, after issuing an order asking the employees of the Jaipur Municipal Corporation (JMC) to sing National Anthem in the morning and National Song in the evening, had controversially remarked that those opposed to the singing of National anthem and National song go to Pakistan.

"Where we people are working, there cannot be a bigger positive sense than National Anthem there, there can be no bigger positive energy than that. So, we start our day with National Anthem and there is a lot of benefit for us because of that. There is talk of national patriotism, love for national song," Lahoty stated.

"Alongwith that, a work culture will get developed, everyone will sit accumulating positive energy and because of that, will perform well, workmanship will increase and a sense of togetherness and discipline will also increase."

"Everyone will come on time as well, this is a huge intention behind this (move) as well. We are not asking to indulge in any sloganeering pertaining to any religion. The nation that you stay in, if someone has to oppose the national anthem and national song of that nation, then absolutely do that, there is no stopping that. Then, that (person) go to Pakistan," Lahoty added.

The directive issued by the Mayor is effective from Tuesday. It requires the Corporation employees to sing National Anthem at 9:50 AM and National song at 5:50 PM before the employees leave the Corporation premises.

--- ENDS ---
Richard Musser of Baraboo is one of two players who won $50,000 from the Oct. 14 Powerball drawing, according to a press release from the Wisconsin Lottery.

Musser purchased his manually picked ticket from the BWP Fresh Express Mart on Eighth Street in Baraboo. He plans to put his winnings toward his nest egg and, possibly, a bigger honeymoon, according to the release.

The other winner was Veronica Anderson of West Allis. Both tickets matched four out of five numbers plus the Powerball.

The winning numbers from the Oct. 14 drawing were 32, 37, 56, 66, and 69. The Powerball was 11 and the Power Play number was 3.

The next Powerball drawing is tonight. The estimated jackpot is $52 million ($32.1 million cash). Tickets must be purchased by 9 p.m. to be included in the drawing.
MAYVILLE  Interim Mayville Police Chief Ryan Vossekuil will be sworn in next week in a permanent role after he and the city reached an agreement following more than a month of contract disputes.

It is a great honor and a privilege to lead this department, Vossekuil said. This has been a long and challenging process for all and Im excited to move forward.

The final contract removes the 12-month probationary period that was part of the previous offer and it increases the salary from $72,000 to $73,400. In addition, Vossekuil will attend police chief training and other training as needed. The council will then review his status on July 1.

Mayor Rob Boelk said Vossekuils appointment would be made retroactive to April 25. He had been filling the police chief role on an interim basis after the resignation of Christopher MacNeill.

Im glad we have come to a resolution and can move forward for the residents of Mayville, Boelk said.

Vossekuil rejected a contract offer in August because he was advised to do so by legal counsel. Boelk issued a news release Sept. 21 stating that Vossekuil did not make a counterproposal, leading the city to reject Vossekuil as a candidate.

One contentious point in the contract was the 12-month probationary period. The probationary period carried the risk that Vossekuil could be easily dismissed and thus put the benefits he earned over the course of his 15-year career with the department in jeopardy.

The city previously had said it would move forward with its search for a chief, but residents criticized the Mayville Common Council and asked it to reconsider the contract it offered to Vossekuil. Boelk previously defended the probationary period, calling it standard and something that must be included in order to protect the citys best interests.

MacNeill resigned March 31. He was investigated by the Watertown Police Department at the request of Boelk, whose request came after the Wisconsin Department of Criminal Investigation served a search warrant on the city of Mayville on Feb. 6. Boelk placed MacNeill on paid administrative leave Feb. 9.

The swearing-in for Vossekuil is set for Nov. 9 at 6 p.m. at Mayville City Hall, 15 S. School St.
Miscellaneous  Saturday at 1:44 p.m., someone in the 100 block of Evergreen Lane told police that a man refused to come home.

Theft  Saturday at 2:45 p.m., a woman told police that she left items in a cart in the 100 block of Lakecrest Drive and when she came back to the cart the items were gone. The suspects were caught on camera and later returned the items.

Hit-and-run  Saturday at 4:41 p.m., a vehicle was hit in the Kohls parking lot, 1734 N. Spring St.

Threat  Saturday at 6:02 p.m., a woman told police that a woman had pointed a gun at her children while they were outside playing in the 100 block of Cherokee Drive. The woman said that she cocked the gun and the gun did not have a round in the chamber. No arrest was made.

Threat  Saturday at 8:17 p.m., a woman in the 900 block of Madison Street requested an officer because a man threatened to kill dogs if she didnt come home.

Fight  Saturday at 10:27 p.m., there was a fight involving two men at Stormys, 208 Front St. One man was cited with disorderly conduct and the other man was cited with disorderly conduct and battery. A woman was in violation of a no-drinking order.

Disorderly conduct  Sunday at 12:06 a.m., a man and woman were fighting near Hidalgos Taqueria, 1110 Madison St.

Disorderly conduct  Sunday at 2:01 a.m., a woman reported that a man beat her up in the 1000 block of Madison Street. A man was arrested and cited with domestic battery and endangering safety.

Intoxicated person  Sunday at 2:57 a.m., a man was cited with operating a vehicle while intoxicated and unreasonable/imprudent speed near the North Center Street and Gilmore Avenue.

Intoxicated person  Sunday at 3:33 a.m., a woman reported that a vehicle was swerving near the North Spring Street and Beichl Avenue. The driver, a man, was cited with operating a vehicle while intoxicated. The passenger, a woman, was in violation of a no-drinking order.

Disorderly conduct  Sunday at 8:13 a.m., an employee at Best Western, 815 Park Ave., reported that a woman called the front desk asking for police. A man was cited with domestic disorderly conduct a woman, was cited with battery, and another woman was cited with disorderly conduct.

Vandalism  Sunday at 11:27 a.m., a man reported that his mailbox was blown up and a potato was launched into his garage door in the 1400 block of Hiawatha Drive.

Traffic  Sunday at 2:20 p.m., someone told police that a piece of wood with nails sticking out of it and a balloon tied to it was in the roadway near the South Roosevelt Avenue and Park Avenue intersection.

Vandalism  Sunday at 2:29 p.m., someone reported that a group of boys were jumping up and down on a picnic table in Swan City Park.

Disorderly conduct  Sunday at 4:40 p.m., someone in the 400 block of Brook Street told police that children in a vehicle were driving recklessly and had taken candy.

Accident  Sunday at 6:52 p.m., a man and a woman were involved in a vehicle accident near the Prospect Avenue and Jacob Gassen Way.

Theft  Monday at 9:06 a.m., a bike was stolen near Beaver Dam Middle School, 108 Fourth St.

Break-in  Monday at 7 p.m., a woman told police that an upstairs door was broken in the 600 block of South Center Street. The apartment was ransacked.

Disorderly conduct  Monday at 7:51 p.m., a man reported that another man hit him in the face with a plastic pitcher in the 200 block of South Vita Avenue.

Disorderly conduct  Monday at 9:02 p.m., someone reported that a man was walking through a parking lot in the 800 block of Park Avenue, acting crazy and making threats.
The Beaver Dam Lions Club would like to thank the community for their support of our White Cane Days fundraiser. We especially appreciate the support of area businesses that allowed us to collect funds outside their stores. Those businesses include Food Pride, Piggly Wiggly, Walmart, ShopKo and Fleet Farm.

In turn, the Lions Club is able to support many charitable projects including Leader Dog, used eyeglasses for Lions-sponsored mission trips, supplies for our school crossing guards, Wisconsin Lions Camp for campers with special needs, Blind Outdoor Leisure Development for the sight impaired, vision screening for elementary school students in Beaver Dam, eyeglasses for the needy, as well as other charitable endeavors within the community and state.
MADISON  Both leaders of the Republican-controlled Legislature said Tuesday the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. board should be allowed to review the pending $3 billion contract with Taiwanese manufacturer Foxconn before voting on it.

Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau, and Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, who support the deal, said in interviews the board should be able to review the contract.

That puts them at odds with WEDC Secretary Mark Hogan, who has said the agency will follow the usual process of providing the board with a staff review outlining the terms of the agreement, but not the contract itself.

I think they should have access, Fitzgerald said. They should be able to examine the language and know whats in it.

The issue was previously raised by WEDC board member Sen. Tim Carpenter, D-Milwaukee, after the board delayed a vote on the contract two weeks ago for unspecified reasons. Carpenter, who opposes the deal, has said the vote was delayed because the contract as written would have prevented the state from recouping funds from Foxconn if it didnt fulfill its end of the deal.

Vos said in principle, the board members should be able to read the contract beforehand, though whether they would receive it a week beforehand or a day is up for discussion.

Its fair to say you should be able to read it before you vote on it, Vos said. Unfortunately, sometimes people who are opposed to a project are willing to go to any extreme to try to scuttle it. If the goal is for people to do an adequate review so they know exactly what theyre voting on and know exactly whats in the contract, thats what should happen.

Fitzgerald said he spoke with Department of Administration Secretary Scott Neitzel about the issue on Sunday and that Neitzel agreed the contract should be made available to the board. However, DOA spokesman Steve Michels said Tuesday there was a misunderstanding and that Neitzel supports the process the board has in place and the detailed due diligence WEDC is doing to protect the taxpayers. A Fitzgerald spokesman declined to discuss the conversation further.

WEDC spokesman Mark Maley said Hogan, who is on a trade mission to Israel this week, has provided WEDC board members with several updates on contract negotiations and indicated the Foxconn contract will continue to go through the usual process. The board will review detailed information about the key elements of the contract, including job creation and capital investment requirements, the related tax incentives, the conditions for clawbacks, and the reporting and monitoring requirements, he said.

A spokesman for Gov. Scott Walker didnt respond to a request for comment.

The Legislature has already approved the broad outline of the Foxconn deal, which Walker made with company President Terry Gou. It calls for $2.85 billion in tax credits for construction of the $10 billion facility in Racine County and the creation of up to 13,000 jobs.

The tax credits are refundable and will mostly be paid from existing tax collections because the company also will benefit from a state tax credit that almost eliminates state corporate taxes for all manufacturers. The amount of that benefit to the company is unknown.

The WEDC board is not expected to vote on the Foxconn contract until its next board meeting on Nov. 8 at the earliest.

Also on Tuesday, Assembly Minority Leader Gordon Hintz, D-Oshkosh, named Foxconn critic and gubernatorial candidate Rep. Dana Wachs, D-Eau Claire, to the WEDC board. Wachs replaces former minority leader Rep. Peter Barca, D-Kenosha.

Barca voted in favor of the Foxconn deal, a move that was criticized by his Democratic colleagues before he resigned as minority leader.

Representatives for Walker did not respond to a request for comment about the presence of Wachs on the WEDC board. But Republicans have criticized Wachs for opposing the Foxconn deal.
The New York Police Department is responding to reports of shots fired in lower Manhattan, according to J. Peter Donald, a spokesperson for the NYPD.

One person is in custody and no others are being sought, the NYPD said. The police also said to expect "many emergency personnel" in the area of Chambers Street and West Street on the lower west side of Manhattan.

New York Mayor Bill de Blasio has been briefed on the incident in downtown Manhattan, the mayor's press office said in a tweet, adding that NYPD and first responders are on the scene. Video from the scene showed large numbers of officers and police vehicles.

Tuesday afternoon on Twitter, a user posted an image of a person lying on the ground near the scene of an incident near West & Chambers Streets in Manhattan.
President Donald Trump and his stable of surrogates have tried to discredit former campaign adviser George Papadopoulos in wake of his guilty plea to special counsel Robert Mueller, casting him as nothing more than a low-level "coffee boy" who rarely -- if ever -- interacted with senior members of Trump's campaign.

Those comments, though, belie Papadopoulos' actual role in the campaign, as laid out by Mueller's statement of charges, and use misinformation and inaccuracies to deride the former campaign adviser.

On Monday, it was revealed Papadopoulos pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about his interactions with foreign officials with Russian government connections. It was also revealed Papadopoulos was a "proactive cooperator" in the Russia probe, meaning he had been working with Mueller and his team after they caught him lying to the FBI.

The news came on the same day former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort and former Trump campaign official Rick Gates were arrested.

'Coffee boy'

Claim

Former Trump campaign adviser Michael Caputo told CNN on Tuesday that Papadopoulos was nothing more than a "coffee boy" on the 2016 campaign who "never showed up at Trump Tower."

"He ... never had any interaction with any of the campaign leaders around me, and the leaders of the Washington office of the campaign didn't even know who he was until his name appeared in the press," Caputo told CNN's "New Day."

Reality

Though Papadopoulos may have not been omnipresent at Trump's campaign headquarters, describing him as a "coffee boy" ignores the fact that he attended a roundtable meeting with Trump in March 2016 and then-candidate Trump described him as an "excellent guy" in an interview with The Washington Post.

Papadopoulous was also emailing with high-level staffers, such as Manafort, about his potential Russian contacts during the campaign and received encouragement for his efforts.

Papadopoulos was also not an adviser with no campaign experience, either. Before working with the Trump campaign, Papadopoulos was an adviser on Ben Carson's 2016 campaign. When the Carson campaign ended, he joined Trump's effort with the credentials he brought from Carson's team.

When asked about why Papadopoulos joined the Trump campaign, a source familiar with the White House's thinking said, "He came from someone else's campaign. His expertise was energy. He had published papers. He looked good on paper."

'Low level volunteer named George'

Claim

Trump, after hours of silence about Papadopoulos, slammed his former foreign policy adviser as a "young, low level volunteer named George" who "few people knew."

Reality

Even if "few people" knew Papadopoulos, Trump was one of them.

The then candidate brought Papadopoulos' name up during a March interview and later met with him a part of a national security meeting on March 31, 2016.

Trump himself praised Papadopoulos to The Washington Post.

Additionally, Papadopoulos was known within the campaign because, as the court document states, he regularly emailed a campaign supervisor and his messages were discussed between other campaign officials, which CNN has now identified, according to a congressional source, as Manafort and Gates.

'Never... interacting with senior management on a regular basis'

Claim

One key to the statement of charges against Papadopoulos was that the former foreign policy adviser regularly emailed campaign officials and received encouragement from the officials to take a trip to meet with the foreign-born professor and his contacts with the Russian government.

Former Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski told NBC Tuesday that Papadopoulos was "never a person who was part of a team that was interacting with senior management on a regular basis."

Reality

The former campaign manager's statement is contradicted by Mueller's statement of charges.

After a meeting where Papadopoulos' professor told him that he had met with Russian officials who have "dirt" on then-candidate Hillary Clinton, the foreign policy adviser "continued to correspond with Campaign officials ... in an effort to arrange a meeting between the campaign and the Russian government."

According to the statement of charges, Papadopoulos continued to exchange emails and calls with a "high-ranking campaign" officials and, after proposing a meeting between Russian officials and the campaign, his messages were discussed privately between two other campaign officials, which CNN has now identified, according to a congressional source, as Manafort and Gates.

At one point, Papadopoulos' campaign supervisor said he would "encourage" him to make an off-the-record trip to meet with members of the Russian foreign ministry.

"I would encourage you ... (to) make the trip, if it is feasible," the campaign supervisor wrote, according to the statement of offense.

'Long before they ... had any association with the campaign'

Claim

White House chief of staff John Kelly, in an interview on Monday, issued a blanket statement to all of Mueller's action on Manafort and Gates.

"These indictments were handed down, Paul Manafort of course, his associate Mr. Gates, and another minor aide to the Trump administration, George Papadopoulos," Fox News' Laura Ingraham asked. "What's the administration's reaction?"

Kelly responded: "All of the activity -- as I understand it, they were indicted for -- were long before they ever met Donald Trump or had any association with the campaign. But I think the reaction of the administration is let the legal justice system work, everyone's innocent until, presumed innocent, and we'll see where it goes."

Reality

Kelly is correct that Manafort and Gates' charges stem from activity that pre-dates their times with the Trump campaign. But the blanket statement that "all of the activity ... they were indicted for, were long before they ever met Donald Trump or had any association with the campaign" is not true when considering Papadopoulos.

Mueller's statement of offense for Papadopoulos clearly details how his interactions with a foreign-born professor who in turn introduced him to Russian contacts began after -- and largely because -- of his involvement with the Trump campaign.

In one passage, the complaints states that before Papadopoulos disclosed his involvement in the campaign, the professor with Russian contacts was "uninterested" in him. But once Papadopoulos disclosed his new role on the Trump campaign, the professor "appeared to take great interest" in him.

The statement of charges later details Papadopoulos' repeated interactions with Trump campaign officials, including being encouraged by a campaign supervisor to meet with Russian contacts.

The initial interaction between Papadopoulos and the professor happened in around March 14, 2016, according to the statement of offense. Trump name-checked Papadopoulos in an interview with The Washington Post a week later and then met with him as part of a broader "national security meeting" in Washington on March 31, 2016.

Additionally, while the current charges against Manafort and Gates date back years, there is nothing stopping Mueller from charging the two top aides with more charges in the future.
Robert Mueller is ready to tighten the net again.

In a pair of highly significant court maneuvers, the special counsel is expected to unveil new details of his investigation Friday that will make life even more uncomfortable for President Donald Trump and his inner circle.

Mueller is facing a deadline to explain to a judge in Washington why he has accused Trump's already convicted and jailed former campaign chairman, Paul Manafort, of lying and breaking a cooperation deal.

And he must also deliver documents to a court in New York recommending whether Trump's former personal lawyer Michael Cohen should go to jail and for how long, after Cohen turned against his former top client and agreed to cooperate with the special counsel.

Ahead of what could turn out to be a pivotal day in the investigation, Trump lashed out at Mueller's team.

"Is this really America? Witch Hunt!" Trump tweeted, after quoting a Fox News host who criticized the probe.

The twin filings represent yet another dramatic moment for the Mueller investigation and are being eagerly awaited in Washington for signs of how the Russia drama will unfold in the weeks ahead and how much it may eventually hurt Trump.

Yet as with this week's feverishly anticipated sentencing memo about Trump's ex-national security adviser Michael Flynn, the filings could bring a measure of disappointment to special counsel watchers if large quantities of evidence are redacted to protect ongoing investigations.

Even if important context remains under seal, Mueller often delivers hints and opens loops in court documents that sketch a colorful narrative of the Russia affair, and may offer pointers of where a probe branded "presidential harassment" by Trump on Thursday is going.

Neither of Friday's deadlines involves action implicating the President directly in any wrongdoing, more than 18 months after Mueller was chosen to find out whether Trump's campaign colluded with Russian election interference in 2016.

But in recent weeks it has become clear that the special counsel is using proceedings and filings concerning key witnesses and former Trump associates to suggest a pattern of questionable behavior on the part of the President.

It's clear that Trump's behavior has worried officials at the Justice Department since nearly the start of his presidency. CNN reported Thursday on the frantic days that followed the President's firing of then-FBI Director James Comey, which led Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein and top FBI officials to view Trump as a leader who needed to be reined in, according to two sources describing the sentiment at the time. Ultimately, then-acting FBI Director Andrew McCabe took the extraordinary step of opening an obstruction of justice investigation even before Mueller was appointed, the sources said.

Since then, Mueller has constructed a tapestry of disclosures that started with an accounting of a hacking operation by Moscow's intelligence agencies and has unveiled multiple links between Russians and people around Trump -- and repeated lies about those contacts.

Friday's activity will end an ominous week for Trump in which it has become clear that the investigation is far broader beneath the surface than is publicly evident. Mueller can now be said to be digging into possible collusion with the Russians, obstruction of justice, contacts with Russian officials during Trump's transition, possible campaign finance violations and the President's business secrets.

A frantic Friday revolving around the Russia drama will also feature a return to center stage by Comey, who will testify in private to two House committees as Republicans throw their final blocks for Trump before handing over control to Democrats next month.

And a former Trump campaign foreign policy adviser, George Papadopoulos, who was jailed for 14 days for lying to the FBI, will be released on Friday.

If that were not enough, Trump's longtime informal political adviser Roger Stone -- who is being investigated for alleged cooperation with WikiLeaks, which posted emails hacked from the Hillary Clinton campaign and the Democratic National Committee by Russian agents -- said he would not turn against the President.

"This is not about Russian collusion, it's about the parsing of words," Stone said. "It's about process crimes and perjury traps, and I decline to participate."

'Crimes and lies'

Mueller has pledged to tell the court about Manafort's "crimes and lies" that he said were committed after the uber-lobbyist signed a plea agreement and have sparked speculation the former campaign chairman is angling for a presidential pardon.

The disclosures from Mueller's team will be closely watched to see whether Manafort, who is at risk of spending the rest of his life in jail, lied about activity that could implicate Trump or senior campaign officials, or solely about the business interests in Ukraine that led to his downfall on fraud charges or other questions.

Manafort is an important witness for Mueller since he was at a notorious Trump Tower meeting in 2016 in which the candidate's son Don Jr. believed Russian intermediaries would deliver "dirt" on Clinton.

He could also be useful in establishing whether changes to the platform at the Republican National Convention that watered down criticism of Russia had followed requests from Moscow.

Lawyers for Manafort denied their client lied and will have a chance to challenge the special counsel's assertions before his sentencing date of March 5.

It is possible that some of Mueller's explanations will be blacked out, as they were in the Flynn filing. But a spokesman for the special counsel's office has said that at least some of the filing will be public.

Ross Garber, a lawyer who specializes in impeachment, told CNN's "New Day" on Thursday that it was not normal for a cooperation agreement to collapse in such a manner, given the intensive negotiations that typically happen beforehand.

"It will be interesting to see whether anything new came up that nobody expected, but it is very unusual," Garber said.

Mueller's decision to come down hard on Manafort but to offer leniency to Flynn was widely interpreted as a sign that he will reward people implicated in the investigation who are willing to tell the truth about what happened -- but will tolerate no obstruction.

Cohen resets his life's 'compass'

Cohen has asked the court for a non-custodial sentence after he admitted tax fraud and lying to Congress about Trump's business aspirations in Moscow to preserve the President's political narrative that he had no ties to Russia.

Cohen's lawyers said in a memo that their client -- by turning on Trump, for whom he once said he would take a bullet -- had decided to "re-point his internal compass true north toward a productive, ethical and thoroughly law-abiding life."

Sentencing documents filed by both sides in the case have connected significant dots in the investigation.

Last week, Cohen pleaded guilty to misleading lawmakers about a project to build a Trump Tower in Moscow, which he had originally said had been shelved by January 2016.

In fact, the project was alive until June 2016, according to a statement lodged with the court by Mueller, who said Cohen had discussed the plan with Trump several times and had briefed Trump family members.

The revelations were important because Trump had insisted throughout the campaign that he had no business links with Russia.

They also raised the question of whether the President was beholden to Russia for a long period of the campaign and was shaping his complimentary statements about President Vladimir Putin to further his own financial interests.

Cohen has also pleaded guilty to campaign finance violations connected to hush money paid to women who alleged affairs with Trump, which the President has denied.

"Michael kept his client contemporaneously informed and acted on his client's instructions," Cohen's lawyers wrote in their sentencing memo.

"Michael felt obligated to assist Client-1, (Trump) on Client-1's instruction, to attempt to prevent Woman-1 and Woman-2 from disseminating narratives that would adversely affect the Campaign and cause personal embarrassment to Client-1 and his family."

Cohen, who faced 46 to 63 months in jail under his original plea deal with New York prosecutors, is hoping that Mueller will grant him the same kind of favorable treatment as Flynn. The special counsel told a court this week that owing to Flynn's cooperation with the investigation, the former national security adviser should get no jail time. Redactions in documents accompanying the request made it impossible, however, to assess what that cooperation entailed and whether it put the President in any jeopardy.

Trump has reacted angrily to the idea that Cohen could get a break from Mueller in return for his cooperation.

"He lied for this outcome and should, in my opinion, serve a full and complete sentence," the President tweeted earlier this week.

Depending on the details Mueller chooses to unveil on Friday, it is almost certain that Trump's allies will reach for their familiar argument that the special counsel still has not proved any cooperation between Russia and the campaign -- the original mandate of the probe.

But with every move he makes, Mueller appears to be getting closer to the people who are closest to the President himself, so in the broadest sense there's every chance that Friday could effectively be another rough day in court for Trump.

CNN's Sara Murray and Katelyn Polantz contributed to this story.
On a building project that is already nearly $500,000 over budget, the Columbia County Boards Ad Hoc Building Committee on Tuesday considered changes in the courthouse remodeling project that could potentially add even more costs.

Shonna Neary of the countys accounting department told committee members that the $45.51 million project is about $464,000 over budget.

The overruns also have come from changes requested by court staff, and from additions to the project, such as new climate-control infrastructure, that were not included in the original plans, but which make sense to complete while the buildings interior is being gutted.

The two proposed changes discussed on Tuesday both stem from concerns raised by employees of the courts and the countys Building and Grounds Department.

The budget for the courthouse renovation calls for a decorative metal fence, with secure sliding gates, for a parking area on the courthouses southeast side, for judges and employees of the district attorneys office.

Project Manager Ron Locast, of the Madison-based design firm Potter Lawson, said the fence, as proposed, would cost about $46,500  and thats whats budgeted for it.

But court staff members have asked the committee to look into the possibility of building, instead, an opaque fence, so that no passers-by can see, talk to or otherwise bother people entering or leaving their vehicles in the parking lot.

The committee made no decision on the opaque fence, largely because they dont know what it might cost.

Locast said there are two options for an opaque fence  one made of PVC (plastic) material, the other a louvered style made of galvanized steel.

The potential problems with the plastic fence are numerous, he said. It would not be durable, especially during winter snow removal, and a matching gate could not be installed, resulting in a gate that looks like a chain-link cyclone fence.

Tanner Davis of the Madison-based construction firm J.H. Findorff and Sons said he does not have a price quote for the louvered fence, but its likely that it would be much more costly than the fence that is currently in the plans.

Supervisor Barry Pufahl of Pardeeville, chairman of the County Boards Judiciary Committee, asked whether the louvered fence would truly be more secure, especially if a person were determined to pry up the slats to look inside the parking lot. (The secure lot also will be monitored by video cameras.)

If somebody wants to peek in, he said, theyll peek in.

Judge W. Andrew Voigt said he questioned whether a decorative metal fence would provide sufficient security, and suggested the possibility of forgoing a fence altogether, to save money.

Dont spend money on a fence that just looks pretty, and doesnt accomplish what we want it to accomplish, he said.

In another courthouse-related issue, Locast said he has learned of potential acoustics problems involving the judges chambers and jury rooms, which might allow confidential conversations to be overheard.

Acoustics, Locast said, are something thats really difficult to fix after the fact, so we want to do it right.

Building and Grounds Director Cory Wiegel said he has been able to hear conversations in jury rooms through the walls of nearby restrooms.

Voigt said its not just a situation where someone can hear voices but not understand what is being said.

I could hear what was said, he said. I could even tell who was speaking.

Creating a more soundproof environment, Locast said, would entail adding more layers of drywall and ensuring that doors, joints and even electric outlets are sealed to prevent the transmission of voices.

The committee approved the acoustical improvements, after hearing that the cost for additional drywall would likely run less than $10,000.

For the proposed opaque fence, the committee expects to have more information about pricing when it next meets on Nov. 9.
Could the Canadian Prime Minister really be real-life Superman?

By India Today Web Desk: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau could very well be Superman's alter ego, Clark Kent, even in real life--yes, we're still waiting for him to don his cape in the Parliament someday--but he actually dressed up as him for Halloween yesterday, and set our hearts on fire.

While on the way to Canada's House of Commons for Question Period, Justin Trudeau gave the media a glimpse of his Halloween costume.

Picture courtesy: Instagram/dawn_images

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Dressed like DC comics' superhero, Superman's alter ego, Clark Kent, Trudeau sported gelled hair, a blue Superman suit underneath his suit and Clark Kent's signature, nerdy glasses.

Justin Trudeau arrived for House duties today dressed as Clark Kent for Halloween. (via CBC News) pic.twitter.com/iCjUxVov73- Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) October 31, 2017

The Canadian Prime Minister then went trick-or-treating with his kids Ottawa's Rideau Hall, pictures from which can be seen strewn all over social media.

Picture courtesy: Instagram/afa.the.funny

In 2016, Justin Trudeau had dressed up as a character from Le Petit Prince, a French children's book.

Picture courtesy: Instagram/gregkolz

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A Columbus man was sentenced Tuesday to 21 months in jail for a pair of 2014 felony cases.

Justin Lee Eddy, 29, was again facing a felony charge of substantial battery and a separate charge of felony bail jumping in Columbia County Circuit Court on Tuesday morning.

Although it wasnt right, my client essentially walked in on his partner and mother of his children in relation with another man, and it resulted in a violent act against that other person, defense attorney Peter Masana said.

Columbus police were dispatched to a residence and then to Columbus Community Hospital around 4 a.m. on June 18, 2014, where the couple Masana referenced were found, the man being treated for a broken jaw. According to court documents, after discovering the situation, Eddy knocked the man to the floor and kicked him in the face several times.

Eddy was arrested and released on $200 cash bond on July 2, 2014, only to appear in court five days later on new charges of bail jumping and violating a court order. Shortly after his release, Eddy had texted the woman in the affair about 29 times with someone elses phone. He also sent her a letter written on the back of his copy of a restraining order.

In August 2014, Eddy was given a withheld sentence and placed on probation for three years. He was discharged from probation in May 2017 with a warrant issued for failure to pay court fees and restitution totaling $518.

He hasnt had any violent crime outside of the battery three years ago, Masana said, pointing out that they were in court Tuesday not because of any new criminal charges, but for revocation of probation.

Ive had days and days and months to think about what Ive done, said Eddy, who came to court from Rock County Jail, with 321 days of jail credit. You told me that if I laid another finger on another person, I would go away for a long time, and that scared the tough guy out of me.

It is not about punishing you for your probation or rewarding you for an epiphany in jail, Judge W. Andrew Voigt said.

The issue at hand, Voigt said, was revisiting the original charges. Voigt conceded that the situation of the first case was predictable, though still an egregious offense. The second, Voigt explained, was non-violent, but egregious in its own way.

What Im hearing today tempers that, Voigt said.

District Attorney Jane Kohlwey requested a year of jail for each case, with Huber release only allowed for substance abuse treatment. Masana argued for those two one-year sentences to be served concurrently with work release.

Voigt, citing Eddys ineligibility for Department of Corrections programming, ordered him to serve 12 months in jail in the earlier case and a consecutive nine months in the latter with Huber work release.
Health Ministry spokesman Wahid Mujro said another 20 people were wounded in the blast, which took place in a heavily-guarded area housing several diplomatic missions.

By AP: A suicide bomber struck near the US Embassy in Afghanistan's capital on Tuesday, killing five people in an attack claimed by the Islamic State group.

Health Ministry spokesman Wahid Mujro said another 20 people were wounded in the blast, which took place in a heavily-guarded area housing several diplomatic missions and the offices of international organizations.

IS claimed the bombing in a brief statement carried by its Aamaq news agency, without specifying the target.

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"There were a number of dead bodies and wounded victims lying around," said Ghulam Hazrat, who witnessed the attack. He said military and civilian ambulances arrived quickly.

The attack took place about 500 meters (yards) from the American Embassy, but there were no reports of foreigners killed or wounded.

Gen. Dawlat Waziri, spokesman for the Defense Ministry, said the bomber was on foot. The police promptly cordoned off the area of the attack.

An Islamic State affiliate in Afghanistan has carried out several attacks in recent years, mainly targeting the country's Shiite minority, which the Sunni extremists view as apostates. The IS affiliate is largely made up of disenchanted insurgents who left the much larger and more well-established Taliban.

Although both groups want to impose a harsh version of Islamic rule in Afghanistan, they are bitterly divided over leadership and ideology, and have clashed on a number of occasions.

ALSO WATCH | Las Vegas Shooting Eyewitness Recounts 'Running Over Bodies' to Survive

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New Centre at Wits to tackle inequality

Wits launches first Centre for inequality in the southern hemisphere.

The Southern Centre for Inequality Studies, launched on 25 October 2017 at the Wits Club will adopt a multidisciplinary approach in understanding and addressing inequality in the global south.

Speaking on the politics of inequality at the launch, Wits Vice-Chancellor and Principal Professor Adam Habib said that inequality is one of the biggest challenges in the world and is detrimental to political systems.

South Africa faces a widening inequality gap, this problem is not unique to the country and has been linked to instability in communities and driving geopolitics.

"The real danger of inequality is that it polarises our world. It socially polarises our world and when you have a socially polarized world, your political system gets inevitably paralysed, said Habib.

"There is a real recognition that we are in a real dangerous situation and we need to know where to next.

According to Professor Zeblon Vilakazi, Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research and Postgraduate Affairs, the Centre feeds into the Wits 2022 research vision.

Research into the inequality in the global south, particularly in South Africa is central to our strategies, said Vilakazi.

Professor Edward Webster, Interim Director of the Centre said that they will examine the various facets of inequality and will study both the rich and the poor.

Our approach is to study how power reproduces inequality. It is not only how inequality is reproduced, but how it can be overcome, reduced or challenged. We are looking at sources of power that could challenge inequality, countervailing power. We are interested in identifying what could count as the forces, the instruments, the policies, that would begin to develop a coalition that would begin to challenge inequality, he said.

With over 24 research clusters and 80 researchers from across various disciplines, the Centre will pull together an alliance of practitioners and intellectuals across national boundaries who will collectively unravel the inequalities in our country.

"Wits was at the center of many of the struggles of the anti-apartheid. This project is about putting Wits as a critical thinker of a more egalitarian society post-apartheid, added Webster.

The Centre is funded by the Ford Foundation which has an interest in advancing social justice.

Nicolette Naylor, Fords Southern Africa Director, said the Centre will enrich global knowledge and strategies.

The Centre fits in line with the Foundations mission and inequality themes.
The CM has reportedly warned Chandy not to run into trouble amid controversies over latter's alleged land encroachment allegation.

By P S Gopikrishnan Unnithan: Sending a strong warning to Transport Minister of Kerala, Thomas Chandy, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has rebuked Chandy for his remarks on the land grab allegation. Chandy who took part in LDF's Janajagratha Yathra in Alappuzha yesterday said, he will continue the construction activities in the disputed area.

Minister's remarks have earned criticism from various corners damaging the parties reputation.

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CM Vijayan, who summoned Chandy after today's cabinet meeting, expressed his displeasure over the remarks.

The CM has reportedly warned Chandy not to run into trouble amid controversies over latter's alleged land encroachment allegation.

Chandy, the NCP minister in Pinarayi's cabinet, has come under scanner after reports emerged that his resort in Kuttanad has encroached a water body for extending the property. Owing to allegations and political pressure, the revenue department directed district collector Anupama, to conduct an enquiry.

It is learned that both the interim and final reports revealed that minister's firm have encroached land and levelled water bodies. The report also suggested strict action against the resort under Land and Water Bodies Protection Act.

However, the government has asked for a legal opinion on this report. Sources close to the government hint that the CM may demand his resignation after the culmination of Janajagratha Yathra in Kochi on November 3.

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When many Facebook users changed their profile picture to a flag of France to condemn a terror strike in Paris, Kandy posted a picture of a burning French flag as a mark of protest against the country's military intervention against ISIS. Read on to learn more.

By Shashank Shekhar, Arvind Ojha: Calling Islamic State fighters "role models" and poems from al-Qaeda were among a few posts of Shahjahan Velluva Kandy, a native of Kerala's Kannur district, who was deported from Turkey on his third attempt to cross into ISIS territory.

Last week, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) got five-day custody of the suspected ISIS sympathiser who was arrested in July at Delhi airport after being sent back by Turkey.

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A senior NIA official told Mail Today that Kandy's social media accounts were scanned along with getting details about his links with people who are involved in creating fake documents and sending people to join the jihad.

All ISIS sympathisers are connected to each other through social networking sites and encrypted chats, say sources. Mail Today accessed Kandy's Facebook account through which he was in touch with several Islamic State supporters along with some of those who have already fled to Syria.

At first glimpse, 32-year-old Kandy's FB account may not throw up anything unusual, with a profile picture of him on a horse and a wide landscape shot of a green hill. But scroll down a little and a flurry of hate posts stare back.

Kandy is an activist of the Kerala-based radical Muslim outfit Popular Front of India (PFI).

Sources say the group could soon be banned by the government for its alleged links to terrorism and conversion activities. Kandy was active on Facebook until June 2016 and was frequently putting up pictures and posts about purported violence against ISIS fighters. Security agencies say social media has become one of the biggest sources of recruiting new jihadis by instigating them with provocative posts.

When many Facebook users around the world changed their profile picture to a flag of France to condemn a terror strike in Paris, Kandy posted a picture of a burning French flag as a mark of protest against the country's military intervention against ISIS. His post got five shares and was liked by over 40 people.

Security agencies are scanning his friend list and groups he was active in as they suspect the presence of many ISIS recruiters. Cops have got vital leads from social media sites in breaking the ISIS network in Kerala.

POLICE CRACKDOWN

Some of Kandy's Facebook friends faced a crackdown last week when Kerala police arrested five people with suspected links to Islamic State from Kannur. Thalassery native Manaf and Hamsa had recruited people from Kasaragod and Kannur districts for the terror group. Hamsa had connections with international leaders of ISIS and he led recruitment from northern Kerala.

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The other three - KC Mithilaj, Abdul Razzak and AV Rashid - were reportedly trained by Islamic State in Istanbul and were trying to enter Syria when they were stopped by Turkish police.

They were then deported to Kerala. All of them were connected to Kandy through Facebook. The Kannur resident during his interrogation also told cops that at least six people from Kerala are fighting for the Islamic State in Syria since February.

Last week, Mail Today reported about an Indian doctor who now goes by the name Abu Muqatil al-Hindi and has become a big worry for security agencies as he is believed to be the man currently heading recruitment of jihadis from India.

Investigators also tried to find out Abu's real identity through Kandy and how he managed to reach Syria. Kandy through his Facebook account was not only spreading venom by sharing fake news and posts about atrocities against Muslims across India but he openly abused RSS leaders, the central government leadership and even investigating agencies like NIA.

He had put up several posts related to beef ban to instigate people he was in touch with. All his posts are politically motivated and aimed at provoking the Muslim community.

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He openly boycotted Republic Day celebrations and came out in support of Rohingya Muslims while sharing posts related to violence against them in Myanmar and in India. The NIA had re-registered the case probed by Delhi police's special cell. Cops had said he procured a fake passport using the services of an agent from Chennai.

Shahjahan's passport was detected as fake only after his flight left for Turkey. Indian officials alerted their counterparts in Turkey and he was immediately sent back.

WATCH | Operation Conversion Factory: Kerala Islamic NGO behind conversion racket?

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According to the 2014 Global Innovation Index, Australian students spend the longest time in school. On average an Australian student is likely to spend 20 years in the education system while a student in Niger spends an average of five years. New Zealand ranks second with 19 years while Iceland and Ireland rank third and fourth respectively. Netherlands, Norway, Spain, and Finland complete the list of eight schools where students take more than 17 years from their primary to tertiary education.

Countries Where Women Spend the Longest in School on Average

Female Enrollment

Just like in several other key sectors of the global economy, women have also been shortchanged in the education sector. In Sub Saharan Africa, and in particular the war-torn countries of Somalia, South Sudan, Central African Republic, Congo, Chad and several others dominate the list of countries with the lowest rate of female school enrollment. According to the World Bank, 48% of students enrolled in primary education are women. However, only 37.7% of those receiving tertiary education are women. A large number of girls drop out of school due to various reasons including cultural, economic, and political reasons. The low enrollment of women in tertiary education ricochets to the labour market where men dominate in numbers and wages.

Female School Life Expectancy

Women who study progressively from the primary level to the tertiary level also tend to take longer than boys. The gender disparity is larger in better economies than in lower economies, but average school life expectancy is 12 years. Canada tops the list of countries where women on average it takes 15 years from the moment a girl enrolls for primary education to their tertiary education. Norway ranks second with 14.9 years, and South Korea Ranks third with 14.6 years. South Korea is among the countries with the highest number of graduation rate, 98% of students who enroll for college education will graduate. Sweden, Japan and the US rank joint fourth with 13.9%. For the past three years leading to 2016 more women have graduated in in the US then men. However, the US still grapples with a high number of students who drop out of school or do not graduate on time.

Female School Dropout

According to UNESCO approximately 130 million girls aged between 6 and 17 are not attending school. Fifteen million girls of primary-school age are not attending school, of which half are found in sub-Saharan Africa. Poverty, child marriage, violence, and cultural beliefs are the most common factors for the high rate of non-school going girls. The World Economic Forum states that one in every ten girls in Africa drops out of school because they cannot afford sanitary pads. Cases of female dropouts are few in the developed world, but drug use and teenage pregnancy are some of the major factors that lead to school dropout among girls.
What is Caprock?

Caprock is a resistant rock that lies on top of a less resilient rock type. The other name for caprock is a cap rock, and typical examples include mafu stones and sandstone. To illustrate this, the caprocks analogy is the structure of the cake that have the outer material of a cube being harder than the inner part. Therefore, if a rock type lies on top of a softer rock type, then this rock type is known as the caprock. The usual specific locations of the caprock include the mesa rock formations, escarpments, and salt domes. In the petroleum line of business, the caprock are always defined as an impermeable rock that prevents the water, oil, or grass from sipping to the surface. A perfect example of caprock is the Niagara escarpments, the region where the Niagara Falls is located. The caprock in this region consist of limestone material.

Salt Dome Caprock

In the Gulf of Mexico, the salt domes dissolve in a specific and unique manner. The top of the salt domes disintegrate and usually, they make arrangements that vary from a height of zero to 1500 feet. The process by which these salt domes were created is that the halite which is a chloride (salt) is eroded first leaving the second layer called gypsum and anhydrite. The two materials (gypsum and anhydrite) combine with other organic materials in a chemical reaction to form calcite. According to Murray's 1966 classic paper, he analyzed that the sequence of this layers enumerate from calcite to gypsum and finally anhydrite salt.

Caprock Escarpments

The phrase "caprock escarpments" is usually used in west Texas and Eastern New Mexico to describe a transformation of the geological formation between the plain in Milano and Estacado. The escarpments consist of caliche, which is a layer of calcium carbonate having a nature that is resistant to erosion. In various locations, the mountains rise to a thousand feet above the plains. The features that are located in this escarpment were formed due to corrosion. In general, the up-slope and the convergent terrain brings about sudden and unexpected changes in weather and the climate of that region. For example, this slope enhances precipitation and bring about strong thunderstorms.

Caprock Canyon State Park and Trailway

Caprock Canyon is a Texas national park which is located in Milano Estacado. The area is approximately one hundred miles southeast of Amarillo. The city has beautiful well-structured terrain made of caprock. The inner part of the rock is easy to corrode compared to the top part of the rock type. Due to the high corrosion in the region, the formation of a beautiful canyon has occurred. The canyon is among the most popular sites for tourist attraction in the state of Texas.
The lawyer was taken into custody at a relative's house in Thripunithura, after the Kerala High Court denied him anticipatory bail.

Kochi Police arrested a senior lawyer for his alleged involvement in a murder case. (Image for representation)

By P S Gopikrishnan Unnithan: Kochi Police arrested senior lawyer C P Udhayabhanu on Wednesday for his alleged involvement in a murder case.

Udhayabhanu was taken into custody at a relative's house in Thripunithura, after the Kerala High Court denied him anticipatory bail.

He'd been planning to surrender before the district police chief.

Udhayabhanu was the seventh accused in a murder case in Chalakkudy, Thrissur.

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On September 29, a real estate broker, Rajeev, had been found dead in suspicious circumstances.

A detailed probe lead the police team to a quotation gang which carried out the murder.

He had earlier filed a complaint saying he was threatened by Udhayabhanu and others in connection with a real estate deal.

WATCH | Arun Jaitley on RSS worker's murder: Every time LDF is in power, violence increases

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The response for the competition, which started on Gopa-Ashtami, is such that the NGO's website has crashed.

The response has been so overwhelming that the NGO organising the contest has had to buy additional data to download cowfies.

By Manogya Loiwal : Everyone has heard about selfies or groupfies, but now the family seems to have welcomed a new member - the 'cowfie'.

It is nothing but a selfie that you click with a cow in the frame. An NGO in Kolkata has started a two-month-long competition that invites people to click such selfies and upload it on their website to qualify for an award.

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The response for the competition, which started on Gopa-Ashtami, is such that the NGO's website has crashed. The number of applications has compelled the organisers to buy additional data to keep downloading the photos that are being put up by thousands of applicants.

Abhishek Pratap Singh, a senior member of Go Seva Parivar, the organiser of the contest explained, "The selfie competition has been started to spread awareness about the gaumata (cow). We want to make this competition a medium for everyone to understand the importance of cows. We want them to believe that a selfie is not meant to be clicked with friends or celebrities."

The contest, which will be on till December 31, has attracted many participants and a lot of support.

One of the applicants, Rohit Goenka, said: "I am very fond of clicking selfies. I have come with my entire family. I strongly believe I will win.' The 6000-member Go Seva Parivar had started operating only three years ago, with an aim to bring awareness about cows in urban and rural areas. This so far is one of the major steps they have taken.

Vikas Trivedi, another member of the organisation said, "I want people to be aware of the importance of cow protection, which is known as gauraksha. This is in fact the main motive behind our initiative of organising the competition. "We believe a mere selfie will be enough to get people connected with our the gaumata."

The cow selfie mania has been more popular in the district level.

'Cowfies' can be uploaded on gosevaparivar.org or even via the app available on Play Store.

West Bengal has more than 6000 gaushalas or cow shelters.

Surendra Dalmia, the incharge of the Sodepur Gaushala with more than 1000 cows is flooded with participation requests. Dalmia explains, "50-60 people are clicking selfies with cows daily. I am happy to witness that the move has been so successful."

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Disability rights campaigner, Crossrail engineer and award-winning painter to receive honorary fellows from Wrexham Glyndwr University

This article is old - Published: Wednesday, Nov 1st, 2017

An engineer leading the UKs flagship 14.8 billion Crossrail programme, an award-winning painter and a champion of disability rights are to be honoured by Wrexham Glyndwr University this week.

Professor Rhys Vaughan Williams, who has been Head of Mechanical Electrical and Public Health Works for the London rail project since 2009, will receive an honorary fellowship from the university this week along with Nathan Davies and Shani Rhys James MBE.

Australian-born Mrs James has exhibited worldwide and received the Gold Medal for Fine Art at the 1992 National Eisteddfod.

Mr Davies is an author, poet and disability activist best known for his work with Wrexham AFC Disabled Supporters Association.

Professor Williams, Mr Davies and Mrs James are among eight honorary fellows being handed out by Wrexham Glyndwr University at their 2017 graduation ceremonies.

Professor Maria Hinfelaar, Vice Chancellor of Wrexham Glyndwr University, said: Our honorary fellowships are all about recognising outstanding achievement within an individuals personal or professional life.

Rhys and Nathan have made a significant difference within their fields and we are delighted to be able to honour them along with all of our other fellows.

We hope they are as proud as we are when they collect the awards in front of hundreds of our graduates at the William Aston Hall.

The remaining five honorary fellows for 2017 are being recognised for their services to Wrexham Glyndwr University.

Bruce Roberts, Mervin Cousins, Julia Grimes, Brian Howes OBE and Collette Bleakley have all served on the universitys Board of Governors in recent years.

Hundreds of graduates are collecting undergraduate and postgraduate awards across five ceremonies in the William Aston Hall, which will run from today (Wednesday 1st November) until Friday 3rd November.
Wrexham breaches World Health Organisation guidelines on air quality

This article is old - Published: Tuesday, Oct 31st, 2017

New research on UK pollution published today by the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) and Lancet Countdown collaboration shows Wrexham being one of 44 towns and cities in the UK that breached the recommended World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines for air quality.

The scoring system is based around measurements for tiny particles smaller than 2.5 microns wide, known as PM2.5s . Such particles are shown to cause heart disease and premature death, with WHO guidelines saying they should not exceed 10 micrograms per cubic metre of air. Wrexham, and most of the towns and cities in the report, are well within the EU annual limit values (25 micrograms/m3 for PM2.5), the Lancet report states the WHOs limits represent a safer threshold.

Wrexham Councils Public Protection Service monitors air pollution in numerous locations throughout the County Borough using many different techniques including automated systems, and manually placed diffusion tubes. The Council run two Partisols to monitor for PM10 within the County Borough, which look like big white boxes with small patio heater style pipes on top, situated opposite Victoria School and another in Isycoed.

With Wrexhams AM Lesley Griffiths being Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs we asked for comment. A Welsh Government Spokesperson got back to us early this evening to say: We are firmly committed to reducing emissions and improving air quality across Wales and earlier this year issued new guidance to Local Authorities on air quality management.

Next year the Welsh Government will develop a new clean air plan for Wales, including a clean air zone framework. We are also in the process of revising our national planning policy, Planning Policy Wales, to strengthen its provisions in relation to air pollution.

We will continue to work with local authorities and other stakeholders and the Cabinet Secretary intends to hold a debate on the clean air framework for Wales in the Assembly before Christmas. The new guidance cited is viewable here.

We asked Wrexham Council if there was any further detail or local comment available on the report findings, and at the time of publication we have not had a response.

UPDATE: The below tweet has been deleted since we contacted Wrexham Council earlier this afternoon, therefore the embedding no longer works nor does the residents tweet show. The text embed code is as-is from Twitter. The remaining public tweet is one questioning the data.

Wrexham Councils Lead Member for Economy, Economic Development and Regeneration did comment on twitter at the figures, likely due to well documented air quality issues in Chirk:

Is the figure for #Wrexham correct it obvious does not include# CHIRK.  Cllr Terry Evans (@terryevans) October 31, 2017

A resident tweeted their view in response as below, with the Councillor also speculating to why the figures did not meet his expectation:

Maybe Someones had their paw greased.  Cllr Terry Evans (@terryevans) October 31, 2017

Nearby in Cheshire East council police have been called in after the local authority admitted pollution data has been falsified.

Further to the tweets above by a member of the Councils Executive Board, and in the above context of Cheshire East, we also asked Wrexham Council if there was a comment on the quality of the data being collected in Wrexham. At the time of publication we have not yet received a reply.

Worldwide 2,100 cities exceeded recommended pollution levels, with 44 of the UKs 51 towns and cities in the WHOs ambient air pollution database exceeding the levels.

On the research, the RCPs special adviser on air quality, Professor Stephen Holgate, said: As the RCP and Lancet Countdown research shows, climate change is here and a health issue today. More can and should be done. The benefits for an overstretched health service alone are justification, but it is clear that the benefits of action will be felt much more widely, both economically and for those most affected by air pollution.

The RCPs lead on sustainability, Dr Toby Hillman, said: We know that high exposures in early life have a major effect on lung and cognitive development throughout an individuals life  that is why it is the governments duty to improve the air we breathe and to ensure that people across the UK are not exposed to such a preventable cause of death and illness.

Addressing climate change and poor air quality isnt a burden or cost, but fundamentally an opportunity we should grasp with both hands.

The full Lancet overview PDF document can be found here, with the full UK list below

Full list of the worst places in the UK for air quality according to the average annual PM2.5 numbers (in micrograms) against the WHO guidelines:

Glasgow  16

Scunthorpe  16

Eastbourne  15

Leeds  15

London  15

Salford  15

Southampton  15

Armagh  14

Birmingham  14

Cardiff  14

Chepstow  14

Gibraltar  14

Oxford  14

Port Talbot  14

Portsmouth  14

Stanford-le-Hope  14

Stoke-on-Trent  14

Thurrock  14

Warrington  14

Bristol  13

Leamington Spa  13

Manchester  13

Newport  13

Norwich  13

Wigan  13

Belfast  12

Carlisle  12

Hull  12

Liverpool  12

Nottingham  12

Plymouth  12

Prestonpans  12

Swansea  12

York  12

Birkenhead  11

Brighton  11

Londonderry  11

Middlesbrough  11

Saltash  11

Southend-on-Sea  11

Chesterfield  10

Newcastle upon Tyne  10

Reading  10

Stockton-on-Tees  10

Wrexham  10

Aberdeen  9

Bournemouth  9

Grangemouth  9

Sunderland  9

Edinburgh  8

Inverness  6

Top pic: Blue skies.
As many as 15, 300 people died in police custody in India between 2001 and 2015, and 16,000 were injured.

The commission recommends making the definition of 'torture' wide enough to include physical, mental or psychological injury

By Harish V Nair: If the Law Commission has its way, police personnel indulging in custodial torture are in trouble.

Recommending a new bill with provision for life term for cops found guilty of the offence, the commission has said in case a person sustains injuries in custody, it will be presumed that it was inflicted by the police unless it is proved otherwise.

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"The burden of proof shall lie on the authority concerned to explain such injury. This must be included in the Indian Evidence Act," the panel headed by Justice BS Chauhan said in a report submitted to the law ministry.

The Law Commission had been asked to examine the issue of ratification of UN Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment and submit a report.

As many as 15, 300 people died in police custody in India between 2001 and 2015 and 16,000 injured. But less than 50 per cent of custodial deaths led to a case being registered. On an average, 98 people die in police custody every year in India.

The commission also recommended making the definition of "torture" wide enough to include inflicting injury, either intentionally or involuntarily, or even an attempt to cause such an injury, which will include physical, mental or psychological injury.

In order to curb the menace of torture and to have a deterrent effect on acts of torture, it recommended "stringent punishment extending up to life imprisonment and fine to the perpetrators of such acts".

Regarding payment of compensation, it said the courts will decide upon a justiciable compensation bearing in mind the socio-economic background of the victim and will ensure that the compensation so decided will suffice the victim to bear the expenses on medical treatment and rehabilitation.

UN CONVENTION

The commission also suggested that the government ratify a United Nations convention on "torture and other inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment". Though India is a signatory to the convention, in the absence of an anti-torture law, it has not ratified it.

The UPA government had drafted a bill on torture in 2010 but it could not be passed. The panel has said the state should own the responsibility for the injuries caused by its agents on citizens, and the principle of sovereign immunity cannot override the rights assured by the Constitution.

"While dealing with the plea of sovereign immunity, the courts will have to bear in mind that it is the citizens who are entitled to fundamental rights, and not the agents of the state," it said.

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Going by the law, which states 'liability follows negligence' the Commission is of the opinion that the state should own the responsibility for the injuries caused by its agents on citizens, and principle of sovereign immunity cannot override the rights assured by the Constitution.

ALSO WATCH | EXPOSED: UP's prison-turned-torture cell where inmates suffer abuse and corruption

--- ENDS ---
The Pentagon has suddenly ordered the withholding of key information on the state of Afghanistans security forces that have been published in quarterly reports for nearly a decade. The censoring of the data comes as the Trump administration has given the military brass free rein to escalate US imperialisms longest war, now in its 17th year, sending thousands more troops to the South Asian country, while substantially increasing military spending.

The latest report issued by the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) reported that the US military command in Afghanistan had classified important measures of ANDSF [Afghan National Defense and Security Forces] performance, such as casualties, personnel strength, attrition, and operational readiness of equipment.

SIGAR was created by Congress in 2008 as an oversight body to monitor the vast US spending on Afghan reconstruction, now totaling over $120 billion, with the lions shares going to the countrys security forces. It also has law enforcement powers to investigate the rampant corruption and outright theft that has funneled billions of dollars of this spending into the pockets of military contractors.

The US military command has claimed that it is withholding the information on the state of the Afghan security forces at the request of officials within the American puppet regime of President Ashraf Ghani in Kabul.

In an interview with the New York Times, the inspector general, John Sopko, sharply questioned both the motives and the pretext for the US militarys censoring of the information.

The Afghans know whats going on; the Taliban knows whats going on; the US military knows whats going on, he said. The only people who dont know whats going on are the people paying for it.

He added: The government usually doesnt classify good news. I dont want any nameless, faceless Afghan bureaucrat telling the American taxpayer what they ought to know.

The day after the issuing of the censored report saw another suicide bombing in the heart of the Afghan capitals most heavily secured district, killing five people and wounding at least 20. The blast took place within about 500 yards of the US Embassy and near other diplomatic compounds and offices of international agencies. It is the latest in a series of such blasts that have killed at least 70 people in Kabul over the past month, underscoring the Ghani governments tenuous hold even over the capital. Last May, a massive truck bomb in the diplomatic district killed 80 people and wounded hundreds.

The only other time the US military has classified such data was in 2015 when the Obama administration was orchestrating the formal handing over of security to the Afghan security forces, and then the data was kept secret for only a few days.

The key reason for censoring the information can be found in the last uncensored report, which pointed to unsustainable losses suffered by the Afghan forces in the first four months of the year, with 2,531 troops and police killed and another 4,238 wounded. This points to an increase in the already punishing toll recorded for all of last year: 6,700 dead and 12,000 wounded.

Casualties, desertions and other sources of attrition have led to a drop of 4,000 in the total number of Afghan troops and 5,000 in that of police. Of course, the overall losses are far greater, given the continuous recruitment of impoverished youth as cannon fodder in the US-led war.

The reliability of the figures provided by the Afghan military on the strength of its forces are, in any case, suspect. It has been estimated that up to 17 percent of the Afghan National Armys official troop total could be made up of so-called ghost soldiers, names of soldiers who are no longer serving, but kept on the rolls so that senior officers can collect their paychecks.

Further underscoring the crisis within the US-backed forces were the latest reports figures indicating a sharp increase in so-called insider attacks involving attacks on the Afghan security forces and their US advisors by Afghan soldiers and police: From January 1 to August 15, 2017, there have been 54 reported insider attacks: 48 green-on-green and six green-on-blue attacks, when ANDSF personnel turned against their Coalition counterparts. This is an increase of 22 green-on-green and four green-on-blue attacks from last quarter.

Other figures that were included in the report also point to a steadily deteriorating situation for the US-backed regime and the American occupation. Afghan forces were said to be in control of just 56.8 percent of the countrys 407 districtsthe lowest share since SIGAR began keeping figureshaving lost control of an additional nine districts to the Taliban over the last six months. Moreover, government controlled areas included just 63.7 percent of the Afghan population, far below the 80 percent which the senior US commander on the ground, Gen. John Nicholson, promised to Congress in February.

The report issued Tuesday also found that the number of civilian casualties inflicted by the US military and the security forces of the Afghan regime had increased by 52 percent this year, attributable in large measure to the escalation of US air strikes, with 2,400 conducted between January and September and more bombs and missiles dropped on the country than at any time since 2012, during the Obama administrations surge. At least two-thirds of those killed and maimed by the US and its puppet forces are women and children, according to the report.

The day before the issuance of the censored SIGAR report, US think tank the Center for Strategic and International Studies posted an analysis by Anthony Cordesman, a longtime advisor of the Pentagon, that indicated increasing pessimism within the US military and intelligence apparatus over the Afghanistan intervention.

Cordesman painted a picture of an Afghan military consisting of poverty-stricken youth forced into the army because of lack of work in a country that has become an economic nightmare for all too many of its citizens.

Much of the better paid service sector in the Afghan economy collapsed with the departure of US and other foreign troops in 2012-2014, Cordesman writes, with all too many of the better educated and more skilled Afghans leaving the country.

His report cites World Bank figures estimating an overall poverty rate of 39.1 percent, climbing to 46 percent in the rural areas. The bank estimates Afghan per capita GDP at just $590, making it the poorest country on earth outside of sub-Saharan Africa.

An unemployment rate estimated at between 30 and 40 percent for military age males pushes menespecially young and inexperienced meninto the military out of sheer economic survival and without regard for patriotism or the nature of the cause, Cordesman writes.

He describes Afghanistan as one of the worst and most corrupt political structures and governments in the world, lacking any coherent political leadership and characterized by warlords and power brokers, and a steadily increasing dependence on a narco-economy.

The situation, he adds, has ominous historical precedents that ended in the defeat of what appeared to be a superior army. He cites similar levels of corruption and demoralization leading to the defeat of the South Vietnamese army in 1975, the collapse of Chiang Kai-sheks Chinese Nationalist Army in 1949 and the disintegration of Fulgencio Batistas security forces in the face of the 1959 Cuban revolution.

In other words, US imperialism is confronting another historic debacle in its 16-year-old war in Afghanistan. Its only answer is to give the military free rein to escalate the bloodshed, increasing the number of air strikes and sending in more troops, while organizing CIA hunt and kill militias and drone strikes. At the same time, it is seeking to draw India into a conflict that could rapidly escalate into a broader war involving a confrontation with South Asias other nuclear power, Pakistan.

The suppression and censorship of information is an integral part of this escalation of a war that enjoys no significant support by the American people.
Two-year-old Anthony A.J. Burgess Jr, in need of a kidney transplant, has been hospitalized for peritonitis after a hospital barred his father from donating his left kidney after violating probation.

The boys father, Anthony Dickerson, was scheduled to have the surgery on October 3. After Dickerson was released early on a reduced bond of $2,000 by Gwinnett County Sheriffs Office on October 2, Emory University Hospital refused to schedule the surgery and barred Dickerson from donating his kidney to his son, pending official documentation of subsequent parole compliance for three months.

We will re-evaluate Mr. Dickerson [for donor eligibility] in January 2018 after receipt of this completed documentation, wrote Sharon Mathews, Emory Transplant Centers Lead Coordinator, to the family. The family called her back.

The lady said, We need your parole information and your probation info, Carmellia Burgess, A.Js mother, told local station WGCL-TV. He said, Why? We need you to be on good behaviour for three to four months before you can give your son the kidney. And January 2018 we will think about re-evaluating you, basically.

Dickerson is healthy, drug-free, and a 110% match for his son, who has since been placed by Emory on a recipient waiting list. As of December 2016, 2,159 people are on Emorys kidney transplant waiting list, according to the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients. Burgess worries that a January transplant will be too late. She said A.J. is also in need of bladder surgery and that his organs are starting to fail. The child suffered a stroke two months ago.

The familys attorney, Mawuli Davis, says it is unlikely that they will sue the hospital to pursue the kidney transplant surgery. Quite frankly, we dont know if baby A.J. has that kind of time, he told LawNewz.

A.J. was born one month prematurely without any functioning kidneys and spent the first 10 months of his life in a neonatal intensive care unit. He is fed intravenously, must be hooked up to dialysis every night, and must undergo bladder surgery every six months to replace the gastronomy tube that drains his bladder five times a day (A.J. is too young for a catheter; according to his mother, he has already undergone five such surgeries). Most infants without functioning kidneys die in utero. The first to survive to birth was born in 2013.

A.J. was admitted to Henrietta Egleston Hospital for a peritonitis infection on October 29, an infection of the inner wall of the abdominal cavity that threatens the internal organs. It is a common complication of peritoneal dialysis (PD) and the cause of death in 16 percent of PD patients. Burgess said that her son has been vomiting constantly and crying in pain.

Dickerson was arrested on September 28 on suspicion of possession of a weapon and eluding police while attempting a felony, according to the authorities. He was on probation for misdemeanor theft and forgery charges. At the time, Emorys Transplant Center sent a letter to Gwinnett County Jail requesting his temporary release.

If Mr. Dickerson could be escorted to Emory for blood work and a pre-operative appointment tomorrow, September 29, we will be able to continue with the scheduled surgery, an Emory official said in the letter dated September 28. On October 9, Burgess reported that Emorys decision to bar Dickerson from donating his kidney to his son till January was final and that A.J. would have to wait for a kidney from a deceased donor.

The law firm hired by Burgesss family has been in talks with Emorys legal counsel since October 17. According to Davis, Emory was initially unclear about why it insisted on postponing the life-saving surgery.

Emorys lawyers indicated to me the arrest caused Emory to be concerned about whether Mr. Dickerson would follow through with the post-transplant medical protocol that would be required of a kidney donor, says Harold Spence, another attorney with the law firm.

Emory Healthcare is the largest healthcare provider in the state of Georgia and boasts one of the best organ transplant facilities in the Southeast.

Art Caplan, a professor of bioethics and head of the division of medical ethics at the New York University School of Medicine, told the Washington Post, Usually when centers balk at a donor, its for some reason having to do with a medical problem that hasnt been disclosed that poses additional risk or a worry that the donor cant follow up with medical care if something goes wrong. But I dont find either of those particularly great reasons not to use him as a donor.

A physician at Emory who was outspokenly opposed to the hospitals decision offered to speak on camera to CBS46 reporter Dante Renzulli, telling him over the phone, Even if the father got arrested again, hed be allowed to leave the prison to fulfill his donation obligation and get medical care. He also felt that the risks to the fathers health didnt outweigh the babys need for the kidney. But moments before the physician was due to appear on camera, he canceled the interview. Someone at the hospital convinced him not to speak publicly on this, Renzulli reported.

Burgess has started a petition to convince Emory University Hospital to reschedule the surgery and a fundraiser to help cover the costs of A.J.s care. The family is searching for other hospitals willing to transplant Dickersons kidney to A.J. and is desperate enough to travel to transplant centers outside of the state of Georgia.

[A.J.] has been fighting for his life since the day he came into this world, wrote Burgess on the GoFundMe page on October 13. Due to this I have been unable to keep a stable job because of numerous doctors appointments and the smallest thing causing him to end up back and forth to the hospital. I am just trying to get some financial stability because I still have to provide for all of my kids as well as myself.

A.J.s family has been met with an outpouring of support from workers all over the United States and internationally, with over 56,000 signatures on the petition and almost $9,000 donated to the family. Burgess wrote on Facebook that 11 people have approached her since the beginning of October, offering to donate their own kidneys to her son.

A.J.s case is not an aberration. Countless families in the United States routinely forego vital medical care, struggling on stagnant and falling wages, unable to shoulder hefty hospital bills and out-of-pocket costs. The desperate financial straits faced by A.J.s family is a common tragedy under the capitalist system, which subordinates the health of workers and their families to the profit interests of insurance companies and health care providers.

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New reports document declining life expectancy and worsening health of US workers

[24 October 2017]
House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes, Republican from California, announced last week that his committee would begin an investigation into the sale of Canadian uranium mining company Uranium One, which owned mines in the United States, to the Russian state-owned nuclear energy firm Rosatom. The sale was approved in 2010 by a nine-member government panel which included a representative of the State Department, then headed by Hillary Clinton.

The congressional investigation into Uranium One is part of an effort to counter the anti-Russia campaign by the Democrats by arguing that it is the Clintons and the Democrats, not President Trump, who are stooges of Putin. Trump repeatedly raised the issue of the Uranium One deal during the presidential campaign, as well as in recent tweets, claiming that Clinton gave away Americas uranium stockpiles to Russia.

Republican Senator Chuck Grassley, who heads the Senate Judiciary Committee, has raised demands for the Justice Department to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate the approval of the 2010 deal and possible Russian collusion, mirroring the appointment of special prosecutor to investigate the ties of Trumps associates to Russians. White House chief of staff General John Kelly backed this call in an interview Monday night on Fox News.

This line of argument reached its most hysterical pitch in the comments of Sebastian Gorka, a former Trump campaign official and White House aide, who appeared on Fox Friday night and demanded that Hillary Clinton face the death penalty. If this had happened in the 1950s, there would be people up on treason charges right now, he declared. The Rosenbergs, okay? This is equivalent to what the Rosenbergs did, and those people got the chair. Think about it. Giving away nuclear capability to our enemies, that's what we're talking about.

The facts of the Uranium One deal fail to substantiate these increasingly unhinged denunciations. There is ample evidence that Bill and Hillary Clinton did corrupt favors for big financial contributors to the Clinton Foundation, but the charges of disloyalty and treason are nothing more than an attempt by the defenders of the White House to repay the congressional Democrats in the same coin for their McCarthyite-style Russia baiting of Trump.

The history of the affair demonstrates once again the complete cynicism of the anti-Russia campaign, since Democrats no less than Republicans have been happy to take the money of Russian oligarchs, while both parties continue to serve their real masters, the Wall Street billionaires and the military-intelligence apparatus of American imperialism.

The Uranium One story first came to light in the 2015 book Clinton Cash written by Peter Schweizer, an editor at large for the fascistic Breitbart News, and funded by the Government Accountability Institute, a Florida-based research organization founded by Breitbart boss Stephen Bannon and backed by billionaire Robert Mercer.

Bannon, who would go on to be the CEO of Trumps campaign and joined him at the White House as his senior counselor, produced the book as an effort to weaponize possibly damning stories about Clinton and then feed them to mainstream media, in particular the New York Times, which corroborated the details outlined in the book, and gave Schweizer extensive publicity and credibility.

The latest round of reports adds nothing to the accounts appearing in early 2015, which are damning enough in terms of documenting the money-grubbing activities of the Clintons, who were willing to speak to any audience for the right fee. In the case of the Russian uranium deal, that was $500,000 for a single appearance in Moscow by Bill Clinton, the largest fee the former president ever received for an event.

The convoluted story goes back to 2005, when Canadian mining speculator Frank Giustra won a deal for his company, UrAsia, to take control of prized uranium mines in Kazakhstan several days after a meeting between Bill Clinton and the countrys dictatorial president Nursultan Nazarbayev.

Giustra expressed his appreciation subsequently in 2006, donating $31.3 million to the Clinton Foundation. He has since become one of the largest donors to the Clinton Foundation, pledging a multi-year donation of $100 million, cofounding the Clinton Giustra Enterprise Partnership. He now sits on the board of directors of the Clinton Foundation. He has thrown lavish birthday parties for Bill Clinton and provided the former president with the use of his private jetliner to fly to events during his wifes 2016 presidential run.

UrAsia merged with a South African firm in 2007 becoming Uranium One and expanding its holdings into the United States. While Giustra stepped aside from the company after the merger, the companys investors as well as Chairman Ian Telfer, donated millions of dollars to the Clinton Foundation between 2008 and 2011.

Soon after the creation of Uranium One, negotiations began for the Russian state-owned corporation Rosatom to take a 17 percent ownership stake in the company and a deal was cut in 2009. This was followed by a June 2010 bid by Rosatom to take a majority ownership stake in the company, a deal which because of its potential national security implications had to be approved by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), which included a representative of the State Department, then headed by Hillary Clinton.

While the deal was under consideration, Bill Clinton flew to Moscow where he was paid $500,000 by Renaissance Capital, a Russian investment bank which had assigned a favorable rating to Uranium One stock. During his visit Clinton also had a meeting with Putin, who was then prime minister. Four months after Clintons speech CFIUS approved Rosatoms taking a majority stake in Uranium One.

While the Giustra-Clinton connection is well-documented and highly lucrative for the former president and his wife, there is no evidence connecting this relationship to the approval of the Uranium One takeover, or even that Hillary Clinton was aware of that particular deal. Moreover, the McCarthyite claims of treason conceal the reality that no uranium was actually transferred from the United States to Russia. The deal was purely financial, and all of Uranium Ones production facilities, assets and uranium holdings in the United States remain in the country.

A second avenue of attack has been launched around claims that the Obama administration dragged out an investigation of another US subsidiary of Rosatom, Tenex, in which the companys executive Vadim Mikerin was convicted of money laundering and bribery involving an American uranium trucking company. The investigation began in 2009 but did not result in charges until 2015. During this period, Rosatom acquired its majority share of Uranium One and then, in 2013, took 100 percent control of the company.

Republicans have argued that the investigation was deliberately delayed to ensure approval of the Uranium One deal. They have also objected to a gag order imposed on an undercover FBI informant involved in the case. Last week, at Trumps urging, the Department of Justice lifted the gag order, permitting the unidentified informant to testify before the House Intelligence Committee.

The concocted and politically motivated character of the Uranium One affair is demonstrated in the identity of the lawyer representing the FBI informant: Victoria Toensing, a longtime legal operative in a series of right-wing provocations, going back to the multiple investigations that led to the impeachment of Bill Clinton in 1998. Toensing was identified with the public defense of Linda Tripp, who helped engineer the exposure of Clintons sexual relationship with Monica Lewinsky, as well as Judith Miller, the New York Times reporter who served as the conduit for fabricated CIA claims of weapons of mass destruction in Saddam Husseins Iraq.
From Brussels, where he fled to escape prosecution by Spanish authorities, deposed Catalan regional premier Carles Puigdemont appealed yesterday for the European Union to intervene in the secession crisis. Last week, Madrid invoked Article 155 of the Spanish Constitution to impose an unelected regime in Catalonia in response to the October 1 Catalan independence referendum. Now Puigdemont is asking the EU to broker a deal between the Popular Party government in Madrid and the ousted Catalan authorities.

Workers in Catalonia and across Spain face an attempt by the Spanish ruling elite to seize the Catalan regional state apparatus, purge the public service and crush all opposition to the EUs agenda of austerity and militarism by mobilizing tens of thousands of Guardia Civil and soldiers. The danger of bloody police-military repression in Catalonia is looming.

Puigdemonts appeal to Brussels expresses the political bankruptcy and reactionary role of Catalan bourgeois nationalism in this explosive and dangerous situation. There are mass protests against Article 155 in Catalonia, fears in the European ruling elite of a mobilization of the working class, and popular opposition to Article 155 across Spain. Puigdemonts reaction to this growing popular opposition is to seek a deal with both Madrid and the EU, which has repeatedly made clear its support for Madrids policy of authoritarian rule in Catalonia.

Speaking from Brussels, Puigdemont lamented the grave democratic deficit that exists in the Spanish state and urged Brussels to intervene to protect the values of the EU. He said he wanted to base the Catalan regional government partly in Brussels for a time so as to escape the violence and belligerence of Madrid. Calling for a defense of Catalan institutions and self government, Puigdemont at the same time endorsed Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoys call for snap elections in Catalonia on December 21.

Though these elections will be held at gunpoint, amid a massive military-police deployment following the vicious crackdown on peaceful voters during the October 1 referendum, Puigdemont nevertheless claims that Madrids December 21 election call constitutes a democratic plebiscite.

Polls by the Centre dEstudis dOpinio show that an election held today would return a pro-independence parliament in Barcelona virtually indistinguishable from the parliament that was the basis for Puigdemonts government before he was removed by Madrid.

The Junts pel Si (JxSTogether for Yes) coalition would receive 60 to 62 seats, and the petty-bourgeois Candidatures of Popular Unity (CUP) would receive eight to nine. This would give the JxS-CUP coalition a majority in the 135-seat Catalan parliament.

Puigdemont did everything he could to suggest that Rajoys December 21 election would be a truly democratic expression of the will of the Catalan population. I will accept the results, but will the Spanish government accept them if they are not favorable [to Madrid]? Puigdemont asked, adding that Rajoy might somehow accept a unilateral declaration of independence by Catalonia if the December 21 vote gave the majority to secessionists.

Puigdemonts appeals for a deal with the EU and the political establishment in Madrid aim to promote absurd illusions. The EU will not intervene in Spain to preserve democratic values any more than Madrid is seeking a democratic consultation of the Catalan population by calling the December 21 poll. The EU and government leaders in Germany, Britain and France have repeatedly insisted that Rajoy is the only person in Spain with whom they will negotiate.

Madrid invoked Article 155 to suspend the powers of the Catalan parliament. Whatever majority is returned by the December 21 election will be powerless from the standpoint of Spanish law to name a government, pass laws or take any substantive action. Puigdemonts attempts to present the Catalan parliamentary election as democratic amounts to applying a democratic gloss to the dictatorial policies of Madrid.

The only way forward in the struggle against the turn toward dictatorship by the Spanish and European capitalist class is the independent revolutionary mobilization of the working class, on the basis of a socialist and internationalist perspective. The defense of the elementary democratic and social rights of the working class across Spain and Europe requires a struggle against the attempt by Madrid and the EU to impose a government by force on an entire region of Spain. The crackdown on Catalonia must be stopped, and Spanish troops and police withdrawn from the region.

Such a struggle can be mounted only in opposition to all factions of the Spanish political establishment, including its supposedly left factions such as the middle-class Podemos party, and to the Catalan nationalists. Despite the bitter conflict between the ruling elites in Madrid and Barcelona, they are reacting to growing popular opposition to the crackdown in Catalonia by closing ranks against the working class and shifting further to the right.

Mass protests of hundreds of thousands of people in Barcelona have pointed to the broad popular opposition to Madrids crackdown in Catalonia. Residents of Spanish-speaking working class districts of Catalonia, such as LHospitalet de Llobregat, have denounced Spanish police units as occupation forces, and there is growing fear in ruling class circles of an explosion of opposition in the working class.

Earlier this week, the French daily Le Bien Public warned that no one can predict the reactions of non-Catalan populations who make up entire suburbs of Barcelona and can be aggressive. It cited a social democratic official in Barcelona as saying, In meetings, in cafes, we avoid talking about it and thats for the best. Its a powder keg.

Yesterday, the right-wing and bitterly anti-Catalan independence daily El Mundo published a poll showing broad opposition in Spain to Madrids crushing of Catalan self-rule. Despite a month of wall-to-wall anti-Catalan propaganda in the press by papers like El Mundo, only a small minority of Spaniards support the onslaught against Catalonia led by Rajoys Popular Party, the Citizens party and the Spanish Socialist Party (PSOE).

The poll found that 57 percent of Spaniards and 76 percent of Catalans wanted Catalonia to hold a peaceful referendum on independence. Large majorities opposed Catalan independence (80 percent in Spain 58 percent in Catalonia) and believed that independence was, in fact, impossible (71 percent in Spain and 56 percent in Catalonia). But only a small minority approved a policy leading to less self-government in Catalonia: 27 percent in Spain and 10 percent in Catalonia.

This is a devastating popular repudiation not only of Rajoys crackdown, but also of the press campaign to support it based on denouncing Catalans and promoting Spanish unity protests attended by fascist organizations such as the Falange of Spanish dictator Francisco Franco. This turn towards dictatorial forms of rule, which is unanimously supported by the EU and the major European governments, faces deep opposition among workers. This is the objective social basis for a revolutionary counteroffensive against European capitalism and its drive to dictatorship.

It is also an exposure of Puigdemonts impotent appeals to Madrid as well as the reactionary role of Spains Podemos party. The latter has done nothing to mobilize its 5 million voters to oppose the turn to dictatorship in Spain, and Podemos General Secretary Pablo Iglesias has spent much of his time on the phone in talks with Rajoy. When Rajoy announced plans to the Spanish Congress to invoke Article 155, Iglesias fell in line with press demands for national unity behind the crackdown, telling Rajoy: Today is not a day for polemics. I want to reflect with you.

Podemos did not capitulate to Rajoy because Rajoys policy was temporarily recording high poll ratings due to the neo-fascistic frenzy in the Spanish press. Rather, it capitulated because an appeal for opposition to Rajoy would have found broad support and risked provoking a confrontation between the workers and the ruling class, which Podemos, a petty-bourgeois tool of the political establishment, is determined to avoid.
The death of 21-year-old Jacoby Marquis Hennings at Fords Woodhaven Stamping plant in Michigan on October 20 shines light on the oppressive conditions of temporary part-time (TPT) employees in the auto industry.

Police say the young worker died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound after they confronted him outside a union office inside the plant. Hennings, whose parents are both Chrysler workers, apparently went to the United Auto Workers (UAW) for help after a supervisor disciplined him and sent him home for reportedly coming in late to work.

In addition to working at Ford, Hennings worked another part-time job at Fiat Chryslers Warren Truck Assembly Plant, 37 miles away, and, according to coworkers there, he was concerned he might lose his job when FCA removes production of its top-selling Ram pickup from the plant in coming months.

While they must pay union duesequivalent to two hours of pay each month, and in the case of Jacoby Hennings, $60 or more a month for two jobsTPTs have no job security, can be fired at will, and exploited for years on end without ever reaching the carrot of full-time employment, which the company and UAW dangles before them.

TPTs are constantly harassed, Rob, a worker at Fiat Chryslers Toledo, Ohio Jeep Plant told the WSWS Autoworker Newsletter. This poor kid must have been completely stressed working two auto jobs at the same time. We now have a UAW-sponsored culture of being worked to death.

Instead of hiring new full-time workers, the companies are hiring TPTs and stringing them along with promises of full-time positions. At our plant, it took 12 years for the TPTs hired in 2001 to get to full time. Even though TPTs pay dues, the contract says the UAW cannot do anything to stop them from being fired unless its a case of race, gender or some other kind of discrimination.

It took me six years to get full time. They used to scream at us and blame us for everything even if our team didnt build the part they were complaining about. We were the pariahs, everything that went wrong was our fault because they couldnt scream at the full-timers. It was like boot camp except the army is nicer.

The UAW first agreed to the creation of a new sub-class of autoworkers in the so-called transformational contracts of 2007. For the first time this established a two-tier wage structure, at that time limited to non-core functions, such as material movement, with workers getting a starting wage of $14 an hour, or 50 percent less than workers hired before 2007.

The contracts also sanctioned the hiring of TPTs to replace the tens of thousands of older, higher paid legacy workers who were pushed out through a combination of intolerable speedup, supposed voluntary retirements and buyouts. Instead of being transformed into full-time workers after completing a 90-day probationary period, these TPTs could labor indefinitely without making any progress towards seniority or eventual full-time status.

In exchange, the UAW was handed control of a newly created retiree health care trustalso known as the Voluntary Employees Beneficiary Association (VEBA). It would later receive billions of dollars in cash and corporate stock, making the union-controlled trust the single largest shareholder of GM and Chrysler.

During the 2009 bankruptcy restructuring of GM and Chrysler, the Obama administration and the Wall Street financiers it put in charge of its Auto Task Force demanded a whole series of new concessions as the condition for a federal bailout. This included imposing second tier wages on all new hires, regardless of their job classifications, and a further expansion of part-time temps.

In its contract summary of the deal, the UAW said, To enhance operational efficiency, the union and company have agreed that the use of Temporary Part-Time (TPT) employees may be extended beyond the usual Mondays, Fridays and premium time, to address special circumstances as they arise.

In addition, to meet cost savings required by the terms of federal loans to Chrysler, the parties agree that future TPT hires will be at the TPT Team Member Support (TMS) 2 rate in effect on January 5, 2009. Wage formula increases will be frozen for the duration of the 2007 UAW Chrysler National Agreement. TPT employees will not be eligible for a performance bonus or any vacation entitlement. Any deviations from the current language are subject to the approval of the UAW Vice President.

The UAW vice president for Chrysler at the time was the late General Holiefield, who federal prosecutors say was handed millions in bribes by Chrysler executives to sign company friendly agreements. In the years that followed, widespread suspicions grew that Holiefield and other UAW officials were selling new jobs as part of the corrupt operations of the UAW-Chrysler National Training Center.

In 2011, the UAW signed a four-year deal that institutionalized the two-tier pay and benefit scheme, kept TPTs on the unending treadmill without full-time status, and did not count TPTs and Summer Vacation Replacements (SVR) towards the 25 percent cap on entry level workers that was supposed to go into effect in September 2015.

By 2015, the UAW dumped any caps on low-wage second-tier workers, greatly expanded the number of TPTs the auto companies could exploit, and gave the companies greater power to turn laid off full-time workers into TPTs. The creation of a largely disposable workforce, including young workers like Jacoby Hennings, was part of a UAW-backed plan to allow the auto bosses to quickly downsize their workforces without having to pay out Supplemental Unemployment Benefits (SUB) and other benefits.

The 2015 sellout provoked a rebellion by rank-and-file workers and the WSWS Autoworker Newsletter emerged as a center of opposition, prompting the UAW to denounce the newsletter as outside agitators and purveyors of fake news. For the first time in 33 years, workers rejected a national contract backed by the UAW, in what one industry analyst called a grass-roots movement of alienated UAW members armed with smartphones and social media channels.

The UAW was only able to push through contracts at FCA, GM and Ford through a campaign of intimidation, lies and outright vote-rigging. As the WSWS warned, the contracts were followed to a new wave of layoffs and downsizing, facilitated by the UAW.

The death of Jacoby Hennings has touched a deep chord. Thousands have shared articles on the young mans death from the WSWS Autoworker Newsletter. Below is a selection of comments from workers whose identities we are protecting to prevent retaliation by management and the UAW.

T said, No, the UAW doesnt work for the workers, they work for the company for sure. On day 89 before my 90th day I arrived at work to clock in and was told by my team leader to report to HR and dont clock into work. I went to HR to see an office full of people. I asked why I was there and they sat me down with the president of the union and told me I was being fired. I asked why and they told me I had one occurrence. I told them it was for leaving early on my shift with the approval from supervisor and my union rep because my 80-plus grandmother got sick, was hospitalized and nearly lost her life.

I tried to take it through arbitration. After a long time off work, with no pay I couldnt get my job back because they added a second occurrence when I was out 3 days on bereavement. I was heartbroken because my 90 days of work was actually 179 days because we had 90 with the temp service and then another 89 after they actually gave you your hire-in papers.

I contemplated taking my own life. I was very depressed because I couldnt provide for my family with the holidays around the corner. If you dont have any gifts for your children you look in their faces with the feeling of hopelessness and helplessness. It was not a good feeling at all and until this day I cry because I finally thought for once in my life I had a chance to make a change for my family.

Another worker posted: Im an employee for the Big Three and the union is definitely working with the companies against its employees. Ive been here 18 years and have experienced all types of injustices, from being fired twice, once while I was on medical and the second time, due to a new boss trying to climb the corporate ladder at my expense, to all the injuries you accumulate over the years, that they make your problem, not theirs.

They dont care about nothing but their numbers. The politicians have changed the rules so these companies dont have to be responsible. I understand totally where everybody is coming from, you feel helpless and backed into a corner and the people that you pay to help you, have no interest in helping you, not for real. I myself was on the verge of suicide from all the things theyve put me through. I lost everything when they took my job, and the only thing they gave me back was profit sharing. The union had the audacity to say the company is not giving you your job back and your back pay.

AY said, Reading this about this young man was touching and tearful. I have a grandson myself around Cobys age and a son who worked for Chrysler during the bankruptcy of UAW/Big Three. Who used that opportunity to hurt, bait, and trick those young black men to their advantage? Who takes responsibility for this tragedy?
Top legal and security officials for Facebook, Twitter and Google appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee Tuesday, in a hearing targeting Extremist Content and Russian Disinformation Online.

Over the course of four hours, senators argued that foreign infiltration is the root of social opposition within the United States, in order to justify the censorship of oppositional viewpoints.

Russia sought to sow discord and amplify racial and social divisions among American voters, said Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein of California. It exploited hot button topicsto target both conservative and progressive audiences.

Republican Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa said Russia helped promote protests against police violence in Ferguson, Baltimore and Cleveland. Russia, he said, spread stories about abuse of black Americans by law enforcement. These ads are clearly intended to worsen racial tensions and possibly violence in those cities.

Democratic Senator Mazie Hirono of Hawaii demanded, for her part, that the companies adopt a mission statement expressing their commitment to prevent the fomenting of discord.

The most substantial portion of the testimony took place in the second part of the hearing, during which most of the Senators had left and two representatives of the US intelligence agencies testified before a room of mostly empty chairs.

Clint Watts, a former U.S. Army officer, former FBI agent, and member of the Alliance for Securing Democracy, made the following apocalyptic proclamation: Civil wars dont start with gunshots, they start with words. Americas war with itself has already begun. We all must act now on the social media battlefield to quell information rebellions that can quickly lead to violent confrontations and easily transform us into the Divided States of America.

He added, Stopping the false information artillery barrage landing on social media users comes only when those outlets distributing bogus stories are silencedsilence the guns and the barrage will end.

As this civil war rages on, he said, our country remains stalled in observation, halted by deliberation and with each day more divided by manipulative forces coming from afar.

The implications of these statements are staggering. The United States is in the midst of a civil war, and the necessary response of the government is censorship, together with the abolition of all other fundamental democratic rights. The rebellion must be put down by silencing the news outlets that advocate it.

That such a statement could be made in a congressional hearing, entirely without objection, is an expression of the terminal decay of American democracy. There is no faction of the ruling class that maintains any commitment to basic democratic rights.

None of the Democrats in the committee raised any of the constitutional issues involved in asking massive technology companies to censor political speech on the Internet. Only one Republican raised concerns over censorship, but only to allege that Google had a liberal bias.

The Democrats focused their remarks on demands that the Internet companies take even more aggressive steps to censor content. In one particularly noxious exchange, Feinstein pressed Googles legal counsel on why it took so long for YouTube (which is owned by Google) to revoke the status of Russia Today as a preferred broadcaster. She demanded, Why did Google give preferred status to Russia Today, a Russian propaganda arm, on YouTube? ... It took you until September of 2017 to do it.

Despite the fact that Feinstein and other Democrats were clearly pressuring the company to take that step, the senators allowed Richard Salgado, Googles Law Enforcement and Information Security Director, to present what was by all appearances a bald-faced lie before Congress. The removal of RT from the program was actually a result ofis a result of some of the drop in viewership, not as a result of any action otherwise. So there was  there was nothing about RT or its content that meant that it stayed in or stayed out, Salgado stammered, in the only time he appeared to lose his composure during the hearing.

Salgados apparently false statement is of a piece with Googles other actions to censor the Internet. These include changes to its search algorithm, which, behind the backs of the public, have slashed search traffic to left-wing websites by some 55 percent, with the World Socialist Web Site losing some 74 percent of its search traffic.

Stressing the transformation of the major US technology companies into massive censorship operations, Democratic Senator Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island asked the representatives of the firms, I gather that all of your companies have moved beyond any notion that your job is only to provide a platform, and whatever goes across it is not your affair, to which all answered in the affirmative.

When pressed by lawmakers to state how many people were employed by Facebook to moderate content, Colin Stretch, the companys general counsel, said that Facebook employed thousands of such moderators, and was in the process of adding thousands more.

While the senators and technology companies largely presented a show of unity, just how far the companies were willing to go in censoring users content and helping the government create blacklists of dissidents was no doubt a subject of contentious debate in the background.

On Friday, Feinstein sent a letter to Twitters CEO demanding that the company hand over profile informationpossibly including full names, email addresses, and phone numbersrelated to divisive organic content promoted by Russia-linked accounts.

Although the senators largely steered away from the issue of organic content in their questions, a remark by Sean Edgett, Twitters acting general counsel, made clear that the organic content Feinsteins letter was referring to included the social media posts of US-based organizations and individuals. Edgett said organic tweets, include those that you or I or anyone here today can tweet from their phone or computer.

The New York Times reported over the weekend, however, that Facebook has already begun turning lists of such organic content over to congressional investigators. Given that Facebook has said that just one Russia-linked company had posted some 80,000 pieces of divisive content, including reposts from other users, it is reasonable to assume Facebook and Twitter are being pressured to turn over information on a substantial portion of political dissidents within the United States.
A massive explosion and blaze swept through a fireworks factory at Kosambi in Tangerang, a satellite city on the outskirts of Indonesias capital, Jakarta, last Thursday. Most of those trapped inside were killed or suffered horrific burns.

Of the 103 workers thought to be in the plant, at least 47 died inside the factory and 46 were injured. The workforce was largely composed of women, teenagers and at least three under-age children. A 14-year-old girl was among the dead.

Tangerang police chief Hary Kurniawan has stated that the death toll is likely to rise as a result of the severity of burns suffered by the injured. According to doctors, many have burns to 80 percent of their body and are in a critical condition. At least 10 more workers are unaccounted for.

Angry and distraught relatives crowded three hospitals in the area searching for their family members last week. They were well aware of the appalling safety record of the plant, and previous fires in similar facilities. Indonesian authorities are notorious for failing to enforce basic safety regulations in the countrys many sweatshops.

Photos from the scene have pointed to the conditions that led to the tragedy. They show a confined space in which over 100 workers were operating in close proximity to dangerous materials.

Most of the victims were burned beyond recognition. Jakarta police medical and health division chief Umar Shahab said DNA testing and dental records will be required for their identification.

A large explosion, sounding like a massive bomb occurred at around 8:30 am local time. Police said it was caused by a spark from welding in the warehouse section, igniting gunpowder used in the production of fireworks. A fire rapidly spread and the roof collapsed. Panicked workers tried to escape.

Witnesses have stated that the front gate, the only exit from the factory, was closed, preventing workers from escaping. One police account denied this, but authorities have confirmed that most of the bodies were found stacked in one area of the factory, indicating that the workers were trapped.

The devastating impact on the local community was underscored by a report in the Jakarta Post on Saturday.

Twenty of those killed and four injured came from the nearby Gang Pipa neighbourhood in the village of Belimbing. Sutisna and his wife Rohini were among those killed along with 18 of their neighbours. Sutisna was foreman at the factory. When it began operations six weeks ago, he invited his neighbours to work there.

The factory was owned by Panca Buana Cahaya Sukses (PBCS). The local Metro TV reported that, while the factory had a permit, the establishment of a fireworks factory near a residential area was contrary to existing regulations.

The authorities have sought to scapegoat individuals for the blaze, in order to obscure the safety violations that are abetted by the authorities.

Police named three suspectsfactory owner, Indra Liyono, the companys operational director Andri Hartanto and the welding equipment operator Subarna Ega. The first two have been interviewed by police and Ega has not been located.

The suspects face the possibility of being charged with workplace negligence causing death, punishable by a maximum of five years imprisonment and a fine of 500 million rupiah ($US37,000).

However, the causes of the catastrophe lie in the ruthless exploitation of workers in so-called developing countries such as Indonesia.

The factory was set up to quickly exploit new opportunities in fireworks manufacture. In 2014, 600 billion rupiah ($US44.261 million) was being spent in Indonesia on fireworks but most were imported from China and Japan.

The state-owned PT Pindad munitions manufacturer developed plans in 2014 to expand from military products to large scale fireworks to exploit the lucrative market. Other investors have followed suit.

The workforce for these profiteers is readily available, as seen by the women and children marched by poverty from the Gang Pipa neighbourhood into the PBCS death trap.

The Indonesian economy has grown 500 percent since 1998. According to World Bank figures, this was largely based on the exploitation of cheap labour by domestic and foreign capital.

Some 80 percent of Indonesians, or 205 million people, are worse off than 20 years ago. Over 100 million live below or just above the meagre official poverty line of less than $2 per day.

Some 54 percent of the workforce is employed in the largely unregulated informal sector of the economy, where wages are as low as one third of those for comparable jobs in the formal sector.

From 2003 to 2010, the bottom 40 percent of the population increased its consumption by just two percent. In 2014 the richest 10 percent of the population consumed as much as the bottom 54 percent. Meanwhile one percent of the population controls 50 percent of national wealth.

The growth of social inequality has been accompanied by ever-more dangerous work conditions. In 2015, an estimated 2,300 workers perished in industrial accidents.

There have been a number of industrial fires in Indonesia this year affecting the poorest workers in Jakarta:

* On New Years Day, 23 people perished when an inter-island ferry caught fire travelling from Jakarta to Tidung Island.

* On January 19, a fire in the historic Senen Market in Central Jakarta destroyed three blocks and 500 vendors kiosks. It was the eighth major fire at the markets since 1974.

* On June 22, a fire swept through the Kebayoran Lama market, killing a young boy, causing one billion rupiah in damage and destroying the homes of 80 residents.
If he contests, he will become the first sitting MP to do so at the age of 91. If he does not contest (or is not allowed to contest), he will become the first Indian politician to retire from Lok Sabha at 91.

By Kumar Shakti Shekhar: Senior BJP leader LK Advani is conspicuous by his absence in the run up to the Gujarat Assembly election. Despite being a Lok Sabha MP from Gandhinagar, the capital of Gujarat, he is not campaigning in the crucial state poll.

The focus will turn again on Advani once the Assembly election is over. It will be regarding his candidature for 2019 Lok Sabha election from Gandhinagar.

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ADVANI'S CLOSE CONNECTION WITH GUJARAT

Advani's political career is intricately entwined with Gujarat in general and Gandhinagar in particular. After getting elected to the Rajya Sabha for four consecutive terms and 19 years from 1970 to 1989, the senior BJP leader was first elected to the (Ninth) Lok Sabha in 1989 from New Delhi.

However, he shifted to Gandhinagar in the Tenth Lok Sabha election held in 1991. But, he resigned in 1996 in the wake of the Jain hawala diary case. He chose not to contest 1996 Lok Sabha election till his name was cleared.

After Advani was given a clean chit, he returned to Parliament, winning the 12th Lok Sabha election from Gandhinagar itself in 1998. Since then, he has been continuously representing Gandhinagar in the Lok Sabha for the past 19 years.

The veteran BJP leader has won the subsequent Lok Sabha elections held in 1999, 2004, 2009 and 2014. At present, Advani is serving his seventh term as a Lok Sabha member, six of which are from Gandhinagar.

IGNORING ADVANI

The former deputy prime minister has always campaigned in Gujarat all these years. But it is for the first time that he is missing from action in the poll-bound state.

Advani found himself sidelined in the BJP, of which he is one of the founding members, about a couple of years before the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. It coincided with Narendra Modi, the then Gujarat chief minister, being gradually elevated as the party's face for the general elections.

After Modi-led BJP coming to power and Amit Shah taking over as the party president, Advani was suddenly rendered to a passive role. Instead of including him in the Union council of ministers, a 'Margdarshak Mandal' was created in the party and Advani, along with Kanpur MP Murli Manohar Joshi, was "elevated" and made their members.

Advani was also overlooked for the president's post. The then Bihar governor Ram Nath Kovind was chosen to succeed Pranab Mukherjee in Rashtrapati Bhavan.

With Advani's continuously shrinking role, it is doubtful whether the BJP will field him as a candidate for the 2019 Lok Sabha candidate.

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Born on November 8, 1927, Advani will complete 90 years in a week's time. By the time the 2019 Lok Sabha elections are held, he will be over 91.

Whether or not he is fielded in the next general elections, Advani will create a record of sorts.

If he contests, he will become the first sitting MP to do so at the age of 91. If he does not contest (or is not allowed to contest), he will become the first Indian politician to retire from Lok Sabha at 91.

A record in the making.

ALSO WATCH VIDEO | Rahul launches scathing attack on BJP in poll-bound Gujarat, calls GST Gabbar Singh Tax

--- ENDS ---
The indictments against Trump campaign aides handed down Monday by Special Counsel and former FBI Director Robert Mueller mark a significant intensification of the political crisis in the United States.

Trumps former campaign chairman Paul Manafort and Manaforts longtime assistant Richard Gates, who also served on the Trump campaign team, were indicted on 12 counts of money laundering, conspiracy, filing false reports and failing to register as representatives of a foreign power. The latter charge was connected to their work as lobbyists for the former president of Ukraine, Viktor Yanukovych, and his pro-Russian political party.

Perhaps even more threatening to Trump was the guilty plea entered by a former foreign policy adviser to the Trump campaign, George Papadopoulos. He was arrested in July and has been cooperating with the Mueller investigation since then. He entered into a plea bargain on October 5, admitting to having lied to FBI agents, but Mueller kept the charges against him and the plea deal secret until Monday.

Papadopoulos told Muellers prosecutors that he met with several Russians in 2016 who claimed to have ties to the Kremlin and who offered to provide the Trump campaign with dirt on Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. The court papers cite Papadopouloss discussions with high-level Trump campaign officials, one of whom has been identified in the press as Manafort, on pursuing the Russian contacts.

This is being hailed by Democrats and allied media outlets as evidence of collusion between the Trump campaign and the government of Russian President Vladimir Putin to swing the 2016 election in favor of Trump.

It is virtually certain that more indictments will follow in an aggressive investigation centered on Trump himself. Mueller was appointed special prosecutor following Trumps firing of then-FBI Director James Comey last May. He was given a mandate to investigate alleged Russian meddling in the election and possible collusion and obstruction of justice by Trump and his team.

In a series of tweets, Trump dismissed the indictments of Manafort and Gates as having no connection to their work for his election and called Papadopoulos a liar who played no significant role in his campaign. His far-right allies, including Breitbart News chief Stephen Bannon and Rupert Murdochs Wall Street Journal editorial page, are urging congressional Republicans to demand Muellers resignation, take measures to throttle his investigation, end congressional probes of Russian interference and instead aggressively investigate charges of Democratic collusion with Moscow.

The indictments mark a new stage in a ferocious conflict within the American ruling class that has been raging since the election campaign and has escalated since Trumps inauguration. In this conflict, there is nothing remotely democratic or progressive on either side.

The Trump administration, dominated by generals and billionaires, is the most reactionary government in US history and a ruthless enemy of the working class. As it threatens to launch nuclear war against North Korea and stages endless provocations against Iran and China, while destroying health care, removing all regulations on big business, promoting police violence, witch-hunting immigrants and preparing to implement a multitrillion-dollar tax cut for the rich, it enjoys broad support in the financial oligarchy and sections of the military.

Trump, in league with Bannon, is deliberately cultivating the development of a ferociously nationalist, pseudo-populist movement outside of the political establishment and, if necessary, independent of the Republican Party.

But what is the basis of the Democrats opposition to Trump? Virtually absent from the commentary in the New York Times, Washington Post and other Democratic Party-aligned media outlets is any reference to Trumps reactionary domestic and foreign policy. Instead, the Democrats are attacking Trump for being soft on Russia and directing their appeal to the military and the intelligence agencies.

Mueller, for many years the head of the FBI, personifies the deep statethe unelected and unaccountable bureaucracy of police, military and spies that is the real arbiter of US policies both at home and abroad. The Democratic Party is joined at the hip with this reactionary apparatus of repression and violence.

The Democrats are not opposing Trumps glorification of the military and global saber rattling. They recently voted overwhelmingly for the biggest Pentagon budget in US history, in excess of the amount requested by Trump, and are pushing in Congress for a new authorization of force resolution to guarantee a blank check for military interventions.

They have dropped their token opposition to Trumps attacks on immigrants and refugees and are angling for a deal on new health care cuts and a massive reduction in corporate taxes.

Under conditions where Trumps poll ratings have sunk to record lows and the Republican Party is facing an open split between anti-Trump and pro-Trump factions, the last thing the Democrats want is to encourage a popular mobilization of opposition to the governments policies. In the first place, the Democrats are in basic agreement with the administrations program of war, austerity and repression. Secondly, they fear a thousand times more the threat of an upsurge of working-class opposition than they do retribution from their opponents within the ruling class.

The claim of Russian meddling, based not on facts but rather on the say-so of the intelligence agencies, has taken on the character of a neo-McCarthyite witch hunt, in which social and political opposition to the policies of the ruling class is attributed to the malign intervention of the Kremlin.

Increasingly, the reactionary and absurd narrative of Russian subversion has been directed toward the suppression of left-wing and antiwar political opposition. With the Democrats and allied news outlets such as the New York Times and the Washington Post in the forefront, the supposed menace of Russian-inspired fake news has been used to crack down on social media and the Internet, with progressive and left-wing websites, first and foremost the World Socialist Web Site, increasingly blacklisted by the tech giants Google, Facebook and Twitter. This campaign has ever more openly become an attack on free speech and political expression.

The right-wing character of the Democrats opposition to Trump was summed up in a column published Tuesday in the New York Times by Michelle Goldberg headlined The Plot Against America. Goldberg, who has written for the Nation and Salon and is currently on the staff of the Democratic-aligned American Prospect, denounces the Trump-Russia campaign against our democracy and declares that for all his nationalist bluster, his campaign was a vehicle for Russian subversion.

At the same time, the Times foreign policy columnist Thomas Friedman publishes one op-ed piece after another calling on the generals in Trumps cabinet to oust the president and take direct control of the affairs of state.

As the World Socialist Web Site wrote in its June 13, 2017 statement Palace coup or class struggle: The political crisis in Washington and the strategy of the working class:

The working class confronts in Trump and his administration a vicious enemy, dedicated to the destruction of its democratic rights and a further lowering of its living standards. It is a government that is pursuing an international agenda based on America First chauvinism. The working class must oppose this government and seek its removal. But this task must not be entrusted to Trumps factional opponents in the ruling class. The working class cannot remain a bystander in the fight between Trump and the Democrats. Rather, it must develop its struggle against Trump under its own banner and with its own program.

This means the development of an independent political struggle of the working class based on the program of workers power, the international unity of the working class and socialism, in opposition to both parties and all factions of the capitalist class.
Pennsylvania State Police arrested 29 peaceful protesters in West Hempfield Township, part of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, as construction began on a multi-billion-dollar natural gas pipeline, called the Atlantic Sunrise Pipeline.

Williams Partners, headquartered in Tulsa, Oklahoma, is building the $3 billion, 185 mile pipeline traversing Pennsylvania from north of Scranton, near the New York border, to south of Lancaster, near Maryland.

The protesters have been charged with defiant trespassing and could face as much as one year in prison. Twenty-three protesters were arrested en masse on Monday, October 16 while they sought to block construction equipment from beginning work on land that had been owned by the Adorers of the Blood of Christ, an order of Catholic nuns. Another six people were arrested on Saturday, October 21.

Protests have occurred in other areas throughout Lancaster County. In early October, 35 people used 18 vehicles to block the construction of an access road in Manor Township.

At another location in Conestoga Township, Williams Partners paid $2.8 million to purchase a 107-acre property on which protesters had built an encampment nicknamed, The Stand, a reference to the protests last year against the pipeline near Standing Rock, North Dakota.

The principal organizer behind the protests is Lancaster Against Pipelines. According to its Facebook page, it is a local, grassroots movement rooted in core principles of non-violence and mutual respect for each other, for our communities, and for the land we are working so hard to protect.

Lancaster County residents say Williams Partners has trampled over their rights, seizing private land and destroying natural resources for pure greed.

The nuns who owned the land in West Hempfield have filed a religious freedom lawsuit against the owner, Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Co., a part of Williams, and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to halt the construction, claiming that it violates what their religion allows land to be used for. The group built a small chapel in the path of the pipeline in protest and as part of the effort to block its construction.

The lawsuit has been dismissed by a judge in Reading, Pennsylvania, but the nuns have filed an appeal. Williams Partners has targeted this location first for construction in the hope of getting it completed before the lawsuit works its way through the courts.

The north-south pipeline will connect shale gas drillers with two existing pipelines near Wilkes-Barre and Williamsport on its northern side and its main line that brings natural gas up from the Gulf of Mexico to facilities in Philadelphia, New York and New Jersey.

The pipeline is 42 inches in diameter with a 50-foot-wide right of way and runs next to or through state parks and forests. Thirty-five miles of the pipeline will be laid in Lancaster County, traversing seven townships.

With a $3 billion price tag, the pipeline is scheduled to be completed next summer. The company has issued public statements saying that it will bring inexpensive, American-sourced natural gas to disadvantaged people, and, what is rather Orwellian, claiming it will help the US lead the world in combating climate change.

The pipeline has been given the approval from both the Obama and Trump administrations as well as the states Democratic Governor Tom Wolf.

The bipartisan approval of the project makes clear the subservience of the Democratic Party to corporate interests, in this case the oil and gas industry. The natural gas-rich Marcellus Shale region which lies in the northern part of the state has been opened up for fracking by the state government. Gas extraction companies only pay county and municipalities a tiny impact fee, while local waterways are routinely contaminated.

A WSWS reporter spoke to protesters in West Hempfield Township, as many passersby honked and waved to express support and bolster the protesters.

John, a member of Lancaster Against Pipelines, said the pipeline company is trying to run it through here before the Nuns case is heard in court. It is the only place in Lancaster County where pipe is getting laid and where there is resistance. The other place they are forcing it through is in Conestoga because of resistance.

They [the corporation] have no concern for the environment; so many waterways here that can be contaminated, places where trees will never grow again. What if in 30 years a farmer digs up the ground or buries a dead cow and accidently hits the pipe line and it blows up. Forty-five houses in this development will be eliminatedfrom the epicenter there is a quarter of a mile blast radius.

Reporters asked us how this protest will be different because we are all white? We thought we might be treated a little better but it is not true, we have had people arrested.

Last year, during the protests led by members of the Standing Rock Sioux tribe against the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL) in Cannonball, North Dakota, the Obama administration stood by as police launched fusillades of tear gas, projectiles, and water on peaceful protesters, some of whom received serious injuries.

Michael told the WSWS he came from Harrisburg to defend peoples basic democratic rights.

The way the pipeline has been built is undemocratic. State Senator Martin was a former national gas lobbyist, Michael explained. He was on the Lancaster County commission and introduced an anti-protester bill. This would charge protesters for emergency responders. There are 203 gas lobbyists. The will of the people is separated from the law of the land.

Mark, who had participated in the DAPL protests, said If we let the fossil fuel industry have their way, climate change gets worse. They will frack the crap out of Pennsylvania. It is a business and the fossil fuel industry will do a minimum required by law to protect the environment. They will destroy the water. Im an independent medic. Im here to protect the people. The first oil well was drilled in Pennsylvania by Rockefeller and I think Pennsylvania ranks third in corruption.

Mindy, a local resident, said The mainstream media is behind the corporations. I am a West Hempfield resident on a state road and I have violations occurring on my property. Ive talked to the state police and municipality: no actions and no response from them! I am taking a stand. I have compassion for humanity and earth. We own a small mobile home park and Williams [the pipeline corporation] wants the property to put the pipeline through it. In February, they wanted to take pictures of the property trying to condemn it and gain access to part of the land.

I cannot afford another lawsuit when Im trying to fight a multi-million-dollar company. I talked to the project manager and he was silent. Where is my assistance? They dont care if they destroy my well and then they will condemn my place to steal my land. Now I have to pay $300 for water testing. They keep taking, taking, taking, the dreams and livelihoods of people.

Im just ready to walk in there to get arrested, Mindy concluded.
More than six weeks after Hurricane Maria ravished Puerto Rico, and with anger over the Trump administrations indifferent response reaching a breaking point, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders made a brief visit to the island last Friday, October 27.

Sanders was welcomed at San Juans Munoz Marin airport by the capital citys mayor, Carmen Yulin Cruz, who has been an outspoken critic of Trump, along with Governor Ricardo Rossello, who has largely praised the relief effort.

Sanders arrived as public outcry grew over the $300 million contract granted to Whitefish Energy, a Montana-based company with close ties to the Trump administration, to help repair the islands devastated electrical grid. The contract to the tiny company was canceled and an FBI investigation announced shortly after Rossello was forced to urge the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority public utility to cancel the deal.

Sanders toured Playita, an impoverished working-class neighborhood in San Juans Santurce subdivision, before flying out a few hours later. The district was left isolated for 11 days after the hurricane hit, inundated with floodwaters, its homes destroyed, mired in sewage, with little food and with foul yellow water coming out of their taps. The banner residents hung on an overpass, which read, SOS Playita needs water and food SOS, became symbolic of the plight of working-class and poor residents on the island.

Across Condado Bay, however, San Juans wealthy residents have recovered very quickly: roads are clear, water and food are readily available, and affluent residents are able bask in air-conditioned rooms in expensive hotels or luxury condos powered by generators.

Afterwards, Sanders held a press conference at the Roberto Clemente Coliseum in San Juan, the nerve center of rescue and rebuilding efforts for the Rossello administration. He also met with trade union leaders who have a long record of collaborating in imposing the austerity measures demanded by Wall Street.

Referring to the Whitefish contract, Sanders said, Federal funds should not be used to enrich private firms. Funds ought to go to people in need.

Sanders, however, proposed no new funds to meet the massive humanitarian disaster, which a UN panel noted Monday had left more than 80 percent of the population, or 2.8 million people, without electricity, few hospitals functioning, water contaminated, and children, older people, the homeless and disabled, vulnerable to an approaching winter.

The trip came after Sanders and Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren said they would propose a comprehensive plan for the island that included some form of debt forgiveness. Sanders deliberately concealed the fact that the Obama administrationwhich he fully supportedhad imposed a Financial Oversight Board, essentially a bankers dictatorship, to squeeze $70 billion in debts out of the islands largely impoverished people.

During his remarks, Sanders demagogically criticized Wall Street for robbing resources necessary for education, homes and infrastructure. He did not call for the cancellation or repudiation of the debt, calling instead for the application of bankruptcy procedures in Puerto Rico similar to those available to US municipalities.

This would be cold comfort for the islands population. In 2013-14, a US federal judge used the municipality laws to rape Detroit, slashing public employees pensions, selling public assets and privatizing services. The looting of Puerto Rico involved some of the same financial vultures and political figures, including former US judge Steven Rhodes, as that of Detroit. The Obama administration backed the Detroit bankruptcy, which was implemented with the collaboration of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) and other unions, which have affiliates in Puerto Rico.

After Sanders visit to Playita, local leader Cecilia Collazo said the senators visit had brought hope. Indeed, Sanders has largely taken over the role of Jesse Jackson, during the 1980s, 90s and early 2000s, who would travel from one political flashpoint to another to urge angry workers and youth to keep hope alive, above all in the Democratic Party.

During his campaign for the presidential bid of the Democratic Party, Sanders traveled from depressed coal mining regions of Appalachia to deindustrialized Rust Belt states to the poisoned city of Flint, Michigan, urging workers to keep their faith in the Democratic Party, and after winning 13 million votes from workers and young people who mistakenly believed Sanders was a socialist, he told his supporters to back the Wall Street shill and warmonger Hillary Clinton.
Thousands of New Yorkers gathered for the annual Halloween parade just hours after a driver mowed down pedestrians with a pick up truck in Manhattan.

Heavily armed police guard as people watch during the Greenwich Village Halloween Parade, Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2017, in New York. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki)

By India Today Web Desk: The recent attack in Manhattan in which 8 people were killed and 11 injured failed to dampen the spirit of the people. New Yorkers gathered for the annual Halloween parade and marched through lower Manhattan where the attack took place.

The participants said that they were aware that 8 people lost their lives in the attack and the parade was a away of showing solidarity with the victims, Reuters reported.

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"You gotta live your life, you can't let things like this discourage you," said 60-year old Michael Spain. "As sobering as they are, you still gotta come out and enjoy stuff like this - or they win."

The 44th annual Village Halloween Parade, which is said to be one of US' biggest Halloween parades, took place amid heavy security. Thousands of people dressed in intricate Halloween costumes flocked to the parade. The NYPD tweeted -

Out of an abundance of caution, you will see an increase of NYPD personnel throughout NYC, including the Halloween Parade.- NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) October 31, 2017

The Commissioner of the New York Police also took to Twitter to applaud the spirit of the New Yorkers. "NYers are resilient and won't be deterred. Great to see large crowd at annual Halloween parade in Village. Thx for showing world who we are," Commissioner James P. O'Neill wrote on Twitter.

NYers are resilient and won't be deterred. Great to see large crowd at annual Halloween parade in Village. Thx for showing world who we are. pic.twitter.com/rl3gC0wXfl- Commissioner O'Neill (@NYPDONeill) November 1, 2017

Here are a few pictures from the Halloween Parade:

A reveler poses for the photographers during the Greenwich Village Halloween Parade, Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2017, in New York. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki) A reveler poses for the photographers during the Greenwich Village Halloween Parade, Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2017, in New York. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki)

Heavily armed police guard as revelers march during the Greenwich Village Halloween Parade, Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2017, in New York. New York City's always-surreal Halloween parade marched on Tuesday evening under the shadow of real fear, hours after a truck attack killed several people on a busy city bike path in what authorities called an act of terror. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki)

Revelers pause for a picture as they march during the Greenwich Village Halloween Parade, Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2017, in New York. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki)

A reveler stands near a police car as she arrives to march during the Greenwich Village Halloween Parade, Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2017, in New York. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki)

A reveler dances during the Greenwich Village Halloween Parade, Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2017, in New York. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki)

A police officer stands guard as revelers gets their picture taken during the Greenwich Village Halloween Parade, Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2017, in New York. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki)

Heavily armed police guard as revelers march during the Greenwich Village Halloween Parade, Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2017, in New York. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki)

A reveler gets his picture taken by a friend in front of heavily armed police during the Greenwich Village Halloween Parade, Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2017, in New York. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki)

A reveler performs during the Greenwich Village Halloween Parade, Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2017, in New York. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki)

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(With inputs from Agencies)

--- ENDS ---
DOUGHERTY COUNTY, Ga. (WTXL) - Drug trafficking continues to plague one South Georgia County.

Now officers are focusing their attention on two local motels after finding drugs at both.

Earlier police arrested seven people in Dougherty County for drug charges, and now another five people have been arrested for similar charges.

Officials say they found in a Travelers Inn room more than 19 grams of cocaine, 250 grams of spice, more than 10 grams of marijuana, cash and a gun.

In that room, police also found Calvin Amos, 39, and Keyawana Diamond, 25.

Down the street, police arrested Cody Carman, Paige Williams and Taylor Griffin-Taylor after police found 58 grams of meth worth over $5,800.

Right now police are unable to connect owners or managers of these two motels to these particular cases but both businesses are under investigation.

All 5 people are in the Dougherty County Jail.

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ST. AUGUSTINE, FL (WAWS/WFOX/WJAX/CNN)  Protesters gathered outside a Florida restaurant after a worker painted her face black as part of an Aunt Jemima Halloween costume.

Dozens of students at Flagler College showed up outside The Bunnery Bakery and Cafe Tuesday to express how upset they were with the workers Halloween costume.

"I saw the baker with blackface. I asked her what her costume was. She said she was portraying Aunt Jemima, one protester said.

The woman says she and her friend confronted the Bunnery employee. The students say they were offended and wanted to bring awareness to the issue.

"Aunt Jemima is a stereotypical caricature of black women, and I am a black woman. And if I see that and it offends me, then you should be OK with wiping the paint off your face, said the womans friend and fellow protester. "Black people and any other race is not a costume for you to wear. Were not a joke, and you cant do that.

The owner of the Bunnery says the employee washed off her face after the confrontation, and she took off the costume. She says the employee did not mean to offend anyone.

"She works at the Bunnery. It was something to throw together real quick. I mean, pancakes, Bunnery, that sounds pretty normal to me, said the employees daughter over Facetime.

The employee said in an email she thought the costume was a brilliant idea.

"Color is not something that exists in my life. I come from a very colorful family and I love all the same. I will not apologize for my costume, there was nothing wrong with my actions in the choice of my costume, she wrote.

The Bunnery apologized for the costume on its Facebook page.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - The Tallahassee-Leon County Planning Department is holding a series of open forums where citizens can share their ideas for Frenchtown's growth and development.

The meetings will be held over four days in the Lincoln Center at 438 West Brevard St.

Their dates:

Wednesday, Nov. 1, noon - 4:30 pm

Thursday, Nov. 2, 10 am - 6 pm

Friday, Nov. 3, 10 am - 6 pm

Saturday, Nov. 4, 10 am - 4 pm

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(RNN) - Eight people are dead and several more are seriously injured on Tuesday after a man drove a truck the wrong way down a bike path in Lower Manhattan, deliberately mowing down cyclists. Officials are investigating the incident as a terrorist attack

Among the dead were five people from Argentina, and a Belgian, the Associated Press reported on Tuesday night, citing foreign ministers of the two nations. The suspect left a note in the rental truck claiming he was inspired by ISIS to carry out the carnage, CNN is reporting.

President Donald Trump announced he plans to strengthen the extreme vetting program for immigrants that is already in place.

The 29-year-old suspect was shot and taken to a hospital where he remains in custody. Two law enforcement sources told the New York Times that he came to the country in 2010, and that he rented the truck in New Jersey. He is in surgery and is expected to survive, CNN is reporting.

The suspect has been identified as Sayfullo Habibullaevic Saipov of Tampa, FL. He is originally from Uzbekistan.

The New York Times reported that the white box truck, which had Home Depot decals on the hood and sides, drove about 20 blocks down the bike path hitting several people from behind. The driver crashed the truck into a school bus and exited the vehicle brandishing a paintball gun and a pellet gun; officers shot him in the abdomen and took him into custody.

Two law enforcement officers told the Times that the suspect was shouting "Allahu Akbar," which means "God is great" in Arabic.

Trump responded to the attack with a series of tweets, offering prayers for the victims and a reference to ISIS fighters.

New York Mayor Bill DeBlasio, speaking at a news conference, said, Based on information we have at this moment, this was an act of terror, and a particularly cowardly act of terror aimed at innocent civilians.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said there is no reason to suspect a broader plot or scheme. Police said they are not looking for any more suspects.

The event unfolded in the Tribeca neighborhood in lower Manhattan a few blocks from the World Trade Center, on a street running alongside the Hudson River on the west side. Nearby Stuyvesant High School was immediately locked down.

People took to social media to report that they were hearing gunshots.

Video from the scene showed several bodies and crushed bicycles strewn along the bike path on Chambers and West streets.

Saipov lived in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, as late as 2015, reports Cleveland station WOIO. Steven Newman of Cuyahoga Falls said he met Saipov through the neighborhood.

"He didn't stand out. He just seemed like another person, really. I'm completely shocked," Newman said.

Saipov also lived in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 2010,WXIX reports. Saipovs father and a man in the area were friends and allowed him to stay with them for approximately two weeks. They say he wanted to stay in the city to get a green card. He got a job at a local Taco Bell, and then left. They say he was headed to Florida.

The Cincinnati Enquirer reports Saipov registered a business under the name Sayf Motors Inc. in 2011.

Copyright 2017 Raycom News Network. All rights reserved.
(WTXL) - Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal announced Tuesday he has formed a panel to review the case against Worth County Sheriff Jeff Hobby.

The state attorney general, as well as the sheriffs from Gordon and Peach counties, will make up the panel.

They will review and investigate the charges against Hobby, following a controversial drug search at a Worth County high school.

Deal has given the panel 14 days to issue a report to him deciding the fate and future of Hobby's time in office.

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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - Local business leaders say, Tallahassee's reputation is negatively affecting how the city wants to brand itself.

They're calling for a study to look at possibly consolidating city and county governments.

The Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce's board of directors met this morning and unanimously approved the start of an independent study examining the combination of the two governments.

The idea came up during the chamber's sponsored visit to Nashville, where governments were consolidated.

Board chair Heidi Otway says the recent FBU investigations and the county's crime rate pushed the idea along.

They say, what happens in government has a direct impact on business.

"Right now, there is a national cloud of doubt about our community," said Otway. "Headlines in USA Today. Some of our board members and our members going out of our community -- and people are like, 'Oh, you're from Tallahassee? What's going on in Tallahassee? I'm hearing all these negative things.' We need to fix that, and the only way to fix that is to start looking for solutions to make our community better."

The study is expected to be completed by mid-January 2018, when the results will be shared with the community.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - A Tallahassee man has been arrested, accused of shooting a victim in the face after trying to steal his gun.

Durontrez Matthews, 25, was arrested on Tuesday for attempted homicide, robbery with a firearm, grand theft of a firearm, and possession of weapon/ammo by a convicted Florida felon.

According to an arrest document, Tallahassee Police officers responded to 509 East Magnolia Drive on Oct. 3 about a victim.

When they arrived, they found an unconscious victim bleeding profusely from his face.

When the victim could talk, he told officers "'D' shot me." The victim explained that 'D' tried to grab his gun, leading to a fight over it that ended with the victim getting shot.

On Oct. 18, officers spoke with the victim, who at this point had undergone several surgeries. According to documents, the victim said the incident started after he bought some marijuana and walked to a nearby field to smoke.

While there, 'D' came up to him and asked him for a cigarette. He then asked the victim if he knew a particular man. The victim said he did and 'D' walked away.

About five to 10 minutes later, 'D' came back with three other people. The victim said they immediately began arguing over the man in question, the argument quickly turning physical.

According to the arrest document, the other people grabbed him and pushed him to the ground, causing his shirt to come up and reveal the victim's pistol in his waistband.

"[The victim] stated at that point, he knew they were going to try to take his gun," officers wrote. The victim tried to get to the gun first for self defense, but 'D', who was standing over him, pulled the pistol from his hand.

The victim told officers 'D' immediately put the gun to the bridge of his nose and shot him. When the victim woke up from being "blacked out," he found that the gun was gone along with $90 from his pocket.

When asked how he knew 'D', the victim told police that he met him through the man 'D' asked him about before the incident.

On Oct. 19, officers were able to identify 'D' as Durontrez Matthews. When officers talked to Matthews, who was in the Leon County Jail for violation of probation, he denied knowing the victim.

Based on their investigation, officers developed probable cause and charged Matthews for attempted homicide. He remains in the Leon County Jail.

They note Matthews was previously convicted for numerous grand thefts and burglaries in Leon County back in 2012.
THOMAS COUNTY, Ga. (WTXL) - A Thomas County judge declared a mistrial in the 2014 murder of Sharlene Steadman.

Court officials confirmed Tuesday that a mistrial was declared because of "an issue with opening arguments."

This is the third time and jury Wade Jackson has faced for the death of Sharlene Steadman, 53.

Her body was found in her home May 2014 with blunt force trauma to the head.

In the original trial, a witness was unable to be present in court.

Jackson has been in the state prison since his arrest on charges of murder, armed robbery, aggravated assault and burglary.

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By Asian News International: Turns out, multiple orgasms aren't exclusive to women.

According to Stu Nugent, resident sex expert at Lelo, men too can have multiple orgasms by working the right kind of muscles, the Daily Star Online reported.

Nugent noted that there is only a small, lucky percentage of men who have very short refractory periods and are able to get an erection and ejaculate again within minutes of their first ejaculation.

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For the majority of men to have a multiple orgasm, they need to exercise their pubococcyx muscles - the pelvic floor muscles that are used to "hold in" your pee."

To strengthen these muscles, one needs to do kegel exercises, he suggested. These exercises, coupled with being able to recognise "the point of no return" are the two key factors to male multiple orgasms.

Also Read: Is sexism the reason behind your lack of orgasms?

Finding the pelvic floor muscles can be done through stopping urination midstream or tightening the muscles that prevent you from passing gas.

The main movement to do is to tighten your pelvic floor muscle, hold the contraction for three seconds and the release for three seconds. It can be done relatively inconspicuously while sitting, standing or walking and needs to be done in three sets of 10 repetitions every day.

Stu added that the use of a sex toy can help maintain excitement after the first orgasm, but it can be helpful to focus on secondary erogenous zones immediately after the first orgasm.

He warned that being able to master a multiple orgasm is a skill that will take time and a lot of practice.

This is because it requires a "new way of thinking about your climax" and depends heavily on your sexual awareness, knowledge of your body and erogenous zones and the physical and mental mechanisms that trigger pleasure.

--- ENDS ---
MEMPHIS, TN (WMC) - A mother admitted to using an extension chord to beat and choke her 10-year-old, but she said he was the one who stabbed and killed himself with a kitchen knife.

Memphis police officers were called to a home on Shady Vista on Saturday afternoon. There they found 10-year-old Jaheem McKinzie; he was bleeding from his injuries. The child was rushed to the hospital where he later died.

"My heart is hurting from that, because I used to see him all the time," neighbor Traimaine King said.

During the investigation, Robin McKinzie, the child's mother, told officers she was beating her son with an extension cord and choking him as a way to discipline him.

She then told officers the boy got angry, ran into the kitchen, and stabbed himself in the chest with a kitchen knife.

McKinzie is charged with aggravated child abuse and endangerment. She has not been charged in his death.

Jaheem was a 4th grader at Cornerstone Denver Prep.

Copyright 2017 WMC Action News 5. All rights reserved.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - The Tallahassee Police Department will host a safety and sobriety checkpoint on Thursday, November 2.

The checkpoint will run from 11:30 p.m. to 3 a.m. and will be in the 100 block of South Bronough Street, according to a TPD news release.

DUI checkpoints are used to detect drivers too impaired to operate a motor vehicle, vehicles with faulty equipment, and drivers operating a vehicle without a valid license.

The checkpoint will be well marked by signage, marked patrol vehicles and uniformed officers.

The operation is designed to have a minimal impact on traffic flow and to save lives.

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LEON COUNTY, Fla. (WTXL) - A vehicle crash early Wednesday morning resulted in injuries and a roadblock at Wade Road and Blountstown Highway.

Florida Highway Patrol says they dispatched a unit to the scene at 5:15 a.m. Wednesday.

Troopers urged caution, saying the Blountstown east and west bound lanes are blocked.

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By Mayuresh Ganapatye: Congress had organised a protest outside Dadar station to show their support for hawkers. As soon as their protest started, over 30 MNS workers gathered at the same place and started chanting slogans against Congress and Mumbai Congress Chief Sanjay Nirupam. MNS workers soon attacked the Congress workers by hurling potatoes on them.

The situation became so tensed that police had to do lathi-charge on few MNS workers to dissuade them. Police detained workers from both MNS and Congress party.

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A case of rioting has been registered against around 40 MNS workers. Eighteen party workers have been arrested. Police took the MNS workers to Dadar Police Station and Congress workers to Shivaji Park police station.

Few days ago, MNS had forcefully evacuated hawkers outside Dadar station as they blocked the roads and caused problems to people. Similar action was taken by MNS in other parts of the city. Mumbai Congress Chief Sanjay Nirupam had objected to it and threatened to intensified their agitation against MNS.

"They attacked us and instead of arresting them police is taking us in to custody. We were here to do a silent protest." Said Rajan Bhosale of Congress.

"We are happy that we couldn't allow Congress to start their protest. We consider it as our win" said Sandeep Deshpande of MNS.

--- ENDS ---
China will put in place a unified GDP calculation system in 2019 that will see the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) take over data collection responsibilities from local authorities.
Finding clues in the ashes: Investigating fires is another way to save lives
Former residents of the Savoy Apartments protest their displacement on Monday, Oct. 30, 2017, near the Howard Johnson Plaza Hotel in Yakima, W
By PTI: Shimla, Nov 1 (PTI) Prime minister Narendra Modi will address two election rallies in Himachal Pradesh tomorrow, BJP leaders said today.

He will address a rally in Rehan in the Fatehpur Assembly constituency in Kangra district at 11.30 am and another in Dhaula Kuan in Paonta Sahib at 2 pm, they said.

The prime minister will also address rallies in Sundernagar in Mandi, Rait in Shahpur and Palampur in Kangra district on November 4, and in Kullu and Una on November 5.

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BJP president Amit Shah, who has already addressed six election meetings so far, will address more meetings in Una and Kangra on November 5.

Himachal Pradesh goes to polls on November 9. PTI PCL SMN

--- ENDS ---
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President Reuven Rivlins speech at the start of the Knessets winter session was unprecedented in every way. I cant remember a similar speech from any other president exceeding his authority this much and violating his commitment to be neutral.

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Despite the remarkable courage demonstrated by the president as he faced off the prime minister, the government and the Likud party, and despite the correct things he said from the bottom of his heart, it must be said that in all fairness, if the same president had said these kinds of things against the Left, against the court or against what parties from the other camp represent, the criticism against him would have been as profoundjust from the other side.

The oppositions applause helped Netanyahu and Likud ministers argue that that it was an opposition leaders speech rather than a presidents speech (Photo: President's Residence spokesperson)

Rivlins politicization was actually facilitated by the opposition, which applauded him twice during the speech, helping Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Likud ministers argue that it was an opposition leaders speech rather than words befitting a president. Opposition leader Isaac Herzogs speech, as impressive as it may have been, got lost after the presidents scathing speech and Netanyahu's derogatory one.

Likud members are talking about a break-up with President Rivlin. Many Likudniks, including Likud activists, believe the president crossed a line in his speech. Senior Likud members who supported Rivlins nomination for president expressed their disappointment and even pain last week. This is a president who was elected in a very political manner after a very political fight, a senior Likud member told me. Most of the people who applauded him at the Knesset didnt vote for him, and most of those he blasted in his speech did vote for him.

His desire to attack from a presidents position, the senior Likud member said, was wrong. He could have spoken about ethics, but this was an attack on the government. The president has a bridging role. He is the only person who is a confidant and isnt subject to the prime minister. He has to be the person the prime minister will feel comfortable to consult. Even Shimon Peres as president didnt allow himself to issue more than one harsh statement, or make one critical comment, the senior member added.

The presidents speech sparked a row inside and outside the political system. Some were impressed by his courage, by the clear words and by the fact that the president did what government ministers should have done a long time agorenounce the prime ministers conduct.

There were also those who called the president all kinds of names and competed over who would criticize him more. When one hears Culture Minister Miri Regev criticize Rivlins lack of Beitar glory, one doesnt know whether to laugh or cry. What does Regev have to do with Beitar glory? What does Regev have to do with glory in general? And when she compared Rivlin and Moshe Katsavs stateliness and said that the former president (and convicted rapist) was treated unfairly, even the most ardent Likudnik probably wanted to move to a different team.

But Regev is Likuds display window. She was put there by the husband of her good friend, Sara Netanyahu. Just like he put Coalition Chairman David Bitan, who boasts that he hasnt read a single book in the past 10 years, which likely includes the writings of Zeev Jabotinsky.

Netanyahu's birthday party. The prime minister is building his power today on his cooperation with the young ministers (Photo: Haim Zach, GPO)

This was evident last week during Netanyahu's birthday celebration at the Prime Ministers Office. Netanyahu wasnt congratulated by people who volunteered to congratulate him, but by those who were asked to congratulate him. Netanyahu's associates approached them and asked them to speak.

This can teach us something about the balance of power around the prime minister. He wasnt congratulated by Ministers Gilad Erdan, Yuval Steinitz or Yisrael Katz (who didnt even attend the event). He was congratulated by Ministers Miri Regev, Yariv Levin and Zeev Elkin, and by Knesset Members David Bitan and Yoav Kisch. Netanyahu's congratulators are the new Turks, the generation that came after what was supposed to be the successors generation: these include Katz, Erdan, Gideon Saar, Silvan Shalom, Moshe Kahlon, Moshe Yaalonall the people Netanyahu saw as a threat and made sure to get rid of or keep away from his surroundings.

The prime minister is building his power today on his cooperation with the young ministers: Regev and Levin, who are the closest ones to him; Elkin, who has recently been slightly pushed away; and Coalition Chairman Bitan. These are the people he isnt afraid of.

Netanyahu's 68th birthday party will likely be remembered thanks to Yair Netanyahu's promise that he would never go into politics. Theres no reason not to believe him. He enjoys making an impact, but he already realizes that its a very brutal system. And everything that has been written and said about him is nothing compared to what will happen the day he decides to join.

We shouldnt turn it into a read my lips kind of promise, though: the hands that enthusiastically applauded himhis mothers handswill be the same hands that will push him in.
Hundreds of people participated Tuesday evening in the memorial ceremony for slain Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin on the 22nd anniversary of his assassination.

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The event, titled "Remembering in Songfrom HaReut Song to Shir LaShalom", originated with an initiative by Army Radio and the Menashe Regional Council in the Gan Shmuel kibbutz and was held for the 17th consecutive year.





Last year's memorial rally held in Rabin Square (Photo: Motti Kimchi)

Among those participating in the event were former Mossad chief Danny Yatom, who also gave a speech, Army Radio Commander Shimon Elkabetz and Head of the Menashe Regional Council Ilan Sade.

The evening was accompanied by songs from Dorit Reuveni, Hanan Yovel and Uri Harpaz, Nadav Guedj, Nofar Salman, Shai Hambar and Libi Panker. Also performing were the girls of the Menashe Regional Council's Yasmin troupe along with Kafr Qara's "Al-Nahada" group.

The memorial event for Rabin was inaugurated with the Reut ("Camaraderie") song, one of the late prime minister's favorite songs. The ceremony was concluded with the singing of the Israeli national anthem, preceding by Shir LaShalom, or "A song to peace", the last song sung by Rabin mere minutes before he was murdered.

Photo: Motti Kimchi

The event was hosted by Sergeant Tom Nesher and edited by Army Radio's Yoram Rotem.

The state ceremony marking the beginning of the Yitzhak Rabin Memorial Day will take place Wednesday at 12 pm at the President's Residence in Jerusalem. At 3 pm, the state memorial ceremony for Yitzhak and Leah Rabin will take place in the capital's Mount Herzl, with a special Knesset session taking place at 5 pm in the slain prime minister's memory.

The murder

On Saturday night, November 4, 1995, Tel Aviv's Kings of Israel Square hosted a mass rally under the banner of "Yes to Peace, No to Violence."

The rally, attended by Labor Party leaders, peace activists and a number of artists, was organized in the attempt to drum up public support for the peace process led by Prime Minister Rabin at the time.

Shortly after the rally, Rabin went down the back stairwell of the Tel Aviv-Jaffa municipality building flanked by his security detail and stepped towards his car.

PM Rabin alongside Shimon Peres moments before the former's assassination (:  )

The prime minister was mortally wounded and quickly taken to Ichilov Hospital.

Head of Rabin's security detail Yoram Rubin was also wounded in the assassination.

Amir, then a 27-year-old student at Bar-Ilan University and far-right activist, was apprehended and immediately taken into custody.
Disabled organizations that signed an agreement with the government to increase disability benefits are now threatening to resume their struggle after it became apparent the first stage of the benefits increase was unlikely to go ahead in January 2018 as planned.

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Over a week has passed since the beginning of the Knesset's winter session , but so far the agreement, which was signed at the end of September, has yet to be put on the agenda of the Labor, Welfare and Health Committee.

In a response to a parliamentary question by MK Ilan Gilon (Meretz), who was party to the negotiations, committee chairman MK Eli Alalouf (Kulanu) said the agreement would not be implemented until all disabled groups were on board.





Disabled Panthers protesters outside the National Insurance Institute in Jerusalem (Photo: Alex Kolomoisky)

"We are promoting several parallel bill proposals to raise disability benefits, which will be ready soon after we reach agreements with all disabled groups," Alalouf said. "We're doing all we can to reach these agreements soon, in conjunction with the government and the disabled groups."

Kulanu MK Eli Alalouf, chairman of the Knesset's Labor, Welfare and Health Committee (Photo: Gil Yohanan)

A faction of the disabled protesters has refused to accept the agreement, claiming they were not party to negotiations and coming out against the fact it does not raise disability benefits to match minimum wage. They have continued their demonstrations and road blockings.

"If this is how things are going to be, we will return to our struggle and to road blocking," said Naomi Morbia, the head of the Struggle for the Disabled organization, who was one of the six protest leaders to take part in the negotiations. "The Kulanu Party, led by Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon, will bear the severe consequences."

Protesters outside the Prime Minister's Office (Photo: Yoav Dudkevitch)

"As of today, October 31, 2017, not even a memorandum has been issued," Gilon wrote in a letter to Alalouf. "We have about two months left to complete the legislative process pursuant to the agreement with the Israeli government. I fear that until the government actually wakes up, it would be too late."

Meretz MK Ilan Gilon (Photo: Amit Shabi)

The first stage would've seen disability benefits raised to NIS 3,200 a month.

Gilon explained in his letter that "the agreement's highlight is that on January 1, 2018, the money is supposed to be in the bank. On this date, the first stage of the agreement is supposed to take place. It was agreed the government would promote a bill proposal parallel to my own private bill proposal, which passed a preliminary reading a year ago. As of right now, none of these agreements have been implemented."

Disabled Panthers protesters blocking entrance to PMO in Jerusalem (Photo: Disabled Panthers)

Gilon noted that while he was also in favor of reaching an agreement with all disabled groups, "the only way to reach an agreement with them is to pass my bill to compare disability benefits to minimum wage, which has been waiting on your committee's table for nearly a year."

Alex Friedman, one of the protest leaders and the head of an organization called "Disabled, Not Half a Person," was also among the signatories of the agreement.

"The Knesset returned from its hiatus a week ago, and since then it has been dealing with everything except for the most burning issue, which is bringing this agreement to public discussion and implementing it," Friedman said. "This once again testifies to the Knesset having the wrong priorities, putting political matters above human lives. If (the Knesset) doesn't come to its senses soon, we would have to remind thema disabled person is not half a person. Crumbling walls eventually collapse."

Disabled Panthers, the most prominent organization objecting to the agreement, welcomed Alalouf's announcement that there would be no Knesset discussions on the matter until agreements are reached with them as well.

"All disabled organizations express regret that the Struggle for the Disabled organization is continuing to fight for the terrible agreement, which was reached and not signed," the Disabled Panthers said in a statement. "This agreement leaves the disabled living in poverty, and we will not allow this."

Labor and Welfare Minister Haim Katz has also refused to adopt the agreement. He visited the disabled demonstrators' protest tent outside the Knesset on the first day of the winter session, telling them they deserve benefits equaling minimum wage.

"An agreement was signed while the minister in charge was not in the room, nor were representatives of the National Insurance Institute," Katz said. "We haven't received the data yet, but a government bill will not pass without my approval."
Qatar has condemned Israels controlled explosion of an attack tunnel Monday that had entered Israeli territory from Gaza. The explosion left seven terrorists from Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad dead.

The Israeli explosion is a continuation of Israeli crimes against the Palestinian people and an attempt to sabotage the efforts of the Palestinian people to regain their rights and legitimacy.
By PTI: (Eds: Updating with fresh inputs]

Chennai, Nov 1 (PTI) Rains lashed the metropolis and other coastal districts of Tamil Nadu leading to closure of schools and colleges for the second day today, while two children were electrocuted in a rain-related mishap in the city.

The meteorological office said rainfall occurred here and at Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur districts, besides the Cauvery delta zone including Cuddalore and Nagapattinam, adding there could be overnight rains as well.

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Rain is expected in coastal districts and south Tamil Nadu in the next 24 hours, they said.

Moderate to isolated brief heavy spells of rains brought more areas under sheets of water making commute difficult with severe traffic congestion in several areas.

Two girls, aged 7 and 9 years, were electrocuted when they were playing near their homes at Kodungaiyur here. With this, the toll in rain related incidents climbed to seven.

Expressing grief over the deaths, Electricity Minister P Thangamani said the children had stepped on wire submerged under water and it led to electrocution.

The minister said eight Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation employees were suspended for failing to take precautionary measures.

A 5-member team of officials will conduct inspections in Chennai to ensure such incidents are not repeated, he said.

A solatium of Rs 2 lakh will be given to the kin of the each of the deceased by states power distribution company TANGEDCO (Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation), he said. Also, a solatium will be given from the CMs Relief Fund by Chief Minister K Palaniswami, he added.

Schools and colleges remained closed for a second day today in Chennai, Tiruvallur and Kancheepuram districts. It will remain closed tomorrow also, officials said.

Parts of Vyasarpadi, Perambur, Choolai and Otteri in North Chennai, West Anna Nagar in Central Chennai and Madipakkam and Keelkattalai in South Chennai were inundated.

At the ESI hospital in Korattur, rain waters caused hardship to patients.

The Met department in a bulletin here said that rain or thundershowers are likely to occur at most places over coastal Tamil Nadu and Puducherry and at many places in interior Tamil Nadu tomorrow.

The North East monsoon is active in Tamil Nadu and its neighbourhood, Director of the Area Cyclone Warning Centre, S Balachandran told reporters here.

In the past 24 hours there was rainfall in many parts of the State, the highest being at Ponneri in Tiruvallur district (10 cm), he said.

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The upper air cyclonic circulation over the Gulf of Munnar is positioned over Sri Lanka and Southwest Bay of Bengal now and under its influence, in the next 24 hours many places in coastal districts and south Tamil Nadu will receive widespread rainfall.

Barring western districts, interiors of the state will witness moderate showers, he said.

Heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely at some places in coastal districts.

As regards Chennai and neighbouring Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur, there will be intermittent rains and sometimes it could be heavy, he said.

Buses were delayed on several routes due to rains. Traffic snarls were seen at many locations and vehicles were diverted at some points to ease traffic situation.

With the resumption of rains, suburban Mudichur which was already witnessing waterlogging became almost inundated and residents faced acute difficulty in venturing out.

Several homes and retail outlets were shut in Mudichur which falls under Kancheepuram district, and roads wore a deserted look.

Rain water entered some houses at Mudichur and low-lying areas of Madipakkam.

Civic authorities said staffers were being deployed round-the-clock to drain out water from roads and subways.

Trees that got uprooted in some locations were being cleared and Over 400 pumps were being used to clear the roads of water, they added.

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Districts including Thanjavur, Nagapattinam and Cuddalore experienced rains yesterday as well. There were brief spells of rain in Chennai and in several parts of Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur districts overnight.

Followed by Ponneri, Cuddalore district recorded nine cm of rain for the 24-hour period ending 8.30 am today. PTI VGN BN TIR

--- ENDS ---
The Iranians are showing no signs of panic in light of the Israeli threats to drive them out of Syria. They have a lot of experience with the Israeli leadership, and they understand what many Israelis have yet to comprehend: The person accusing half his people of being sourpusses who keep missing opportunities is himself the national master of missed opportunities.

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The Iranians studied the way the Israeli security echelon under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu handled the nuclear crisis at the beginning of the decade, and they have no reason to assume that something in him has changed: All talk and no action. Business as usual.

Today its already clear, more than in the past, that the Iranians didnt take Israels threats to attack Irans nuclear facilities seriouslynot even during the critical years, 2011-2012, when the Israeli government created the impression that it was prepared and about to make a decision to destroy the Iranian nuclear project at any given moment.

Netanyahu will talk and threaten, but its unlikely Israel will carry out a wide-scale military operation that will pull the rug from under Irans feet in Syria (Photo: EPA)

Western diplomats who served in Tehran during those years, Iranian exiles residing in the West and other sources are able to tell their Israeli colleagues today that the Iranians were never afraid of an independent Israeli strike at the time. They were afraid of an American attack that would perhaps be carried out together with Israel or as a result of an Israeli provocation that would push the United States to launch a military operation.

According to reports that accompanied the nuclear crisis in the beginning of the decade, then-Defense Minister Ehud Barak maintained as well that Israel could attack on its own, as a last resort. But an effective attack with international backing, which wouldnt leave Israel in a state of isolation, could only be carried out together with the US.

There were some people in Israel who estimated that the Americans would discuss a joint military option with us only if they were convinced that Israel had the ability and willingness to carry out a military operation deep within Iran. Indeed, they did hold very concerned dialogues with Israel based on the intelligence they had, which indicated that Israel had acquired independent abilities to attack. The US closely followed the Israeli preparations and was updatedin an informal and unauthorized mannerby our own people, who believed that an Israeli strike was a dangerous idea.

At the end of the day, the Israeli military pressure created three phenomena: The Israeli public actually took its leadership seriously, and received a daily dose of anxiety over an unconventional war with Iran; the Americans stepped up their threats of military action and economic sanctions on Tehran, but that was what eventually led to an initial agreement with Iran in 2013, which Israel was left out of; and at the same time, in their difficult anxiety periods, the Americans promised to supply Israel with security aid in imaginary scopes, as long as it halted its military preparations, and even presented Israel with military abilities that they promised to use if Israel suffered the slightest damage.

Netanyahu, however, refused to be impressed by the American goodwill at the time: He believed that he, with his rhetoric power, would lead the American representatives against their president.

The national master of missed opportunities lost in every possible corner. He lost security aid in sums that Israel could only dream of, and received instead a generous annual grantthough one whose size was not unusual when compared to previous grantsfrom US President Barack Obama. That didnt stop him from marketing this missed opportunity to the public as an extraordinary achievement.

Netanyahu never believed in the efficiency of economic sanctions as an absolute solution to the nuclear issue. Sanctions, as far as he is concerned, as just an interim stage. He believes in the military solution. In the Obama era, a joint Israeli-American attack was unrealistic. Donald Trump is giving him some hope that the military vision will be implemented, but according to the American presidents conduct so far, its a false hope.

Netanyahu is enjoying the image he has built for himself of the father of the military option against Iran: He is the one who identified the problem, he offered solutions, and thanks to him, the nuclear development in Iran was postponed.

These are half-truths. He is not the one who started the preparations for the military optionit was former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon who, towards the end of his term, began allotting money to preparations for a major military operation, while favoring the Mossads secret activity. The military preparations continued during the Ehud Olmert era too, in which the Mossad was said to have scored impressive achievements in postponing the project.

Netanyahu was in the opposition at the time. He was in on the secret. He didnt invent anything and didnt offer anything new, apart from a series of eloquent speeches on the nuclear issue. The world moved in a different direction, leaving us behind. When he already presented his own strategy for a military move, he was overpowered by the army and the Mossad.

This is what is going to happen vis-a-vis Syria as well. Netanyahu will talk, threaten and sweep the masses off their feet, but its unlikely that Israel will carry out a wide-scale military operation that would pull the rug from under Irans feet in Syria. Moreover, it doesnt seem like Israel is being included in any diplomatic moves that could support a military operation to drive the Iranians away from the region.
Freshly released footage of former IDF soldier Gilad Shalit, who was held in captivity by Hamas between 2006 and 2011, was released Wednesday, showing the final moments before being released as part of a prisoner exchange deal.

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Appearing in a Hamas documentary, which describes an operation carried out by terrorists from its military wing exactly four years ago during which four senior tunnel unit commanders were killed, Shalit can be seen calmly awaiting his release.

Footage of Gilad Shalit in captivity

X

Throughout the clip, three short scenes are shown from the period of Shalits captivity. While two of them were already made public, including one which shows the Israeli prisoner being handed a drink while smiling, new footage shows him on the day of his release waiting with masked Hamas guards as he looks around his cell waiting to be transferred to Egyptian intelligence forces.

Screenshot

Shalit was released from captivity on October 18, 2011 when he entered the Kerem Shalom crossing and was greeted by Israeli army officers.

The Hamas video refers to an incident that took place on November 1, 2013, after an attack tunnel was discovered in the Kibbutz of Ein HaShlosha on the border with Gaza,

IDF combat engineers planned to explode the tunnel when a powerful explosive device was detonated by Hamas. The tunnel was subsequently destroyed from the air by the Israel Air Force which also killed four Hamas terrorists in the process.
Iran's Foreign Ministry has condemned the truck attack in New York City that killed eight people and seriously injured at least 11, referring to it as a "terrorist" assault.

That's according to a report Wednesday by the semi-official Fars news agency. It quoted Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Ghasemi.

Ghasemi said in a statement that "a serious approach coinciding with honesty and transparency of all nations" is the only way to "uproot" terrorism.

Ghasemi also expressed sympathy with the relatives of the "innocent" victims of the attack.

Tensions are high between Iran and the US as President Donald Trump recently refused to re-certify the nuclear deal Tehran struck with world powers.
The Islamist terror group Hamas began ceding control of the Gaza Strip's border crossings with Israel and Egypt to Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas on Wednesday under an agreement brokered by Cairo to end a decade of internal schism.

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The move marked the most concrete implementation of the October 11 reconciliation deal signed between the two warring Palestinian factions.

Rafah crossing

Israel and the United States have reservations about the intra-Palestinian pact, however, given refusals by Hamaswhich has fought three wars with Israel since violently seizing control of Gaza from Abbas in 2007to relinquish its rockets and other arms.

Rafah crossing

Witnesses said that employees from Abbas's PA moved into Erez and Kerem Shalom crossings on the Israeli border and Rafah crossing on the Egyptian border, as Hamas counterparts packed up equipment and departed on trucks.

At Rafah, large murals of Abbas and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi decorated the entrances to the passport hall and Palestinian and Egyptian flags flew over the compound.

Citing security concerns, Israel maintains tight restrictions on the movement of people and goods at its crossings with the Gaza Strip.

Egypt, which in the past has accused Hamas of aiding an Islamist insurgency in its Sinai peninsula bordering Gaza, has kept Rafah largely closed. Hamas denies the allegations and has stepped up security along the frontier.

Ministers from the Abbas-backed government of national consensus have begun gradually to assume their duties in Gaza in past weeks and on Tuesday took over the revenue accounts of the Rafah and Kerem Shalom crossings, officials said.

Hamas had used those revenuestaxes and fees collected from merchants and passengersas part of its Gaza budget, to pay salaries of the 40,000 to 50,000 employees it has hired since 2007. Those wages will now be paid by the PA, under the Cairo agreement.

Hamas also maintains an armed wing, which analysts say has at least 25,000 well-equipped fighters. It remains the dominant force in Gaza, an enclave of two million people.

The Palestinian Authority will begin operating the Erez and Kerem Shalom crossings immediately, officials said, while in Rafah the operation will await further security arrangements such as deploying a force from Abbas's presidential guards and Cairo completing innovations on its side of the facility.
Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah met with deputy Hamas leader Saleh al-Arouri in Beirut on Tuesday, Hezbollah's Al Manar TV station reported on Wednesday.

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According to Al Manar, the two discussed "the Zionist aggression against Gaza and its ramifications" after the IDF blew up a terror tunnel on the Gaza border crossing into Israeli territory, which dug by Islamic Jihad, earlier this week.

Nasrallah offered his condolences to al-Arouri, who lives in Beirut after having been expelled from Turkey and Qatar, for the death of the terrorists who were in the tunnel when the IDF blew it up.

Hamas deputy leader Saleh al-Arouri, left, and Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah meet in Beirut

The Hezbollah secretary-general also offered his condolences to Islamic Jihad leader Ramadan Shalah in a phone call on Tuesday.

Al-Arouri, responsible for Hamas's terror attacks in the West Bank, played a major role in the reconciliation between Hamas and Fatah

Al-Arouri signs Palestinian reconciliation agreement in Cairo (Photo: EPA)

He also leads the pro-Iranian faction inside Hamas, seeking to restore relations with Tehran at any cost after years of strained ties under Hamas's former political bureau chief Khaled Mashal.

Mashal preferred the support of the moderate Sunni axis of Saudi Arabia and Egypt, while al-Arouri and Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh are trying to gain favor with both the Sunni axis and the Shiite axis of Iran, Hezbollah and Syria.

To that end, al-Arouri has led two Hamas delegations to Tehran in the past three months.

Al-Arouri during his latest visit to Tehran (Photo: Reuters)

His meeting with Nasrallah this week is likely the first since Hamas and Hezbollah cut ties in 2011, when the Syrian civil war began, over Hamas's support of rebel groups fighting to overthrow Syrian President Bashar Assad, who enjoys the support of both Hezbollah and Iran.

Such a meeting would not have happened without a green light from Iran, which likely indicates the warming of ties between Hamas and Tehran.

Meanwhile, Nasrallah's second-in-command Naim Qassem commented on the tunnel explosion in Gaza during an event in Beirut, saying "Israel has the ability to determine when the war would start, but not how it would end. Israel should know that if it decides to start a war, its home front and buildings would be exposed to the missiles of the resistance."
A suspected Islamic extremist stabbed two police officers Wednesday near Tunisia's Parliament headquarters in an unusually bold attack that rattled the capital.

The attacker, a 25-year-old known to authorities for radicalism, was quickly arrested, the Interior Ministry said in a statement.

Security reinforcements were rushed to the site in a western suburb of Tunis and cordoned off the area. The stabbing occurred near the country's leading museum, the Bardoitself the target of one of Tunisia's deadliest attacks when two extremists trained in Libya gunned down tourists in 2015.

One of the officers is in intensive care after being stabbed in the neck, the ministry said. The other rushed to his aid and was stabbed in the forehead and was treated for lighter injuries, it said.
Former defense minister Moshe Ya'alon warned Wednesday that "a political murder could happen at any moment," laying the blame on Israel's leadership, which he called "divisive and inciting."

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"There's incitement. You can see it on social media," Ya'alon told Ynet in an interview held on the Memorial Day for slain Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin . "It's absolutely clear a political murder could happen at any moment in light of the ongoing incitement. One of our problems is that we still can't heal the wound from Rabin's murder."

Rabin, Ya'alon said, "took responsibility" for things that had gone wrong under his leadership. "His most important act as a leader, in my opinion, is taking responsibility for the failed attempt to rescue (captured IDF soldiered) Nachshon Wachsman," he added.

Moshe Ya'alon at the Ynet studio

He lamented the fact that leaders today are focused on politics rather than leadership, accusing Netanyahu of mounting "an attack on everything that is supposed to constitute the checks and balances in a democracy."

Netanyahu and "his messengers," Ya'alon said, were attacking the media. "A minister (Miri Regev) said 'the government should control the media,' while one Likud MK did one better and said 'the Likud needs to control the media,'" he elaborated.

"It's clear to me there is a trend here, to attack anything that is being seen as the 'elites' who disrupt governance," Ya'alon added.

One example of that, he said, is the Supreme Court. "You could have a serious discussion about judicial activism and the appointment of judgesI'm ready to have that discussion. But the executive authority is shirking responsibility and passing it on to the Supreme Court, and then it attacks it, trying to have it both ways," Ya'alon asserted.

"Look what they're doing to the police commissioner , and before that to the Shin Bet director and to IDF officers all the time," he bemoaned. "If the prime minister wanted to prevent this, he would have. But it serves him. He has one goal, and that is his political survival, and to hell with the country."

Not for the first time, Ya'alon called on Netanyahu to resign. "I didn't think Netanyahu would choose greed over security interests until it all blew up right in front of me in the submarine affair," he said. "In February 2016, I blocked the deal as the defense minister, because I had suspicions. Since then, I've learned everything I didn't know before: That David Shimron was involved, that David Sharan was arrested, Avriel Bar-Yosef's involvement. I couldn't defend Netanyahu anymore. Choosing greed over state security? No way."

Ya'alon (L) and Netanyahu (file photo) (Photo: Haim Horenstein)

While allowing that he is not well versed in the two ongoing criminal investigations against Netanyahu, Ya'alon declared that at least in the submarine affair "there isn't just smoke, there's fire. Anyone with a pair of eyes should understand there's a serious problem here, which threatens the foundations of democracy in the State of Israel."

Ya'alon also criticized the public spat between his successor in the Defense Ministry, Avigdor Lieberman, and Education Minister Naftali Bennett after the latter slammed what he saw as an apology from the IDF Spokesman for the death of terrorists in the tunnel explosion.

"It was necessary to clarify matters in the briefingnot in the statementso the other side doesn't think we were going to do something that would force it to retaliate," Ya'alon explained.

"Playing politics with security matters, particularly at the expense of the IDF, is absolutely reprehensible," he stressed. "And it has become a kind of a trend: to gather votes or bolster oneself politically with all kinds of slogans at the IDF's expense."

Bennett (L) and Lieberman (Photo: Alex Kolomoisky)

Ya'alon also provided examples of such slogans. "There was one (Lieberman) who declared Hamas must be eliminated, and one (Bennett) who spoke about a preventative attack against the tunnels. Why aren't they doing this? It was obvious those were just empty slogans," he said.

He criticized the government's announcement in the wake of the Hamas-Fatah reconciliation that Israel would not enter peace negotiations with the Palestinians if Hamas is a party to those talks. "Did we really need to interfere in this reconciliation, which is going to fail? We should watch from the sidelines, protect our interests and not become involved, so we won't be blamed later," Ya'alon said.

Ya'alon stressed he saw no chance for a true reconciliation between Hamas and Fatah. "At the end of the day, I don't see this reconciliation agreement leading to Hamas's disarmament, with Hamas willingly giving up its weapons. So it's obvious it's going to fail," he said.
Israel's leaders and dignitaries assembled at the Great Leaders of the Nation's Plot on Mount Herzl for the state memorial ceremony for slain Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin on the 22nd anniversary of his death, with Rabin's family in attendance. In his speech, Rabin's son Yuval needled Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in saying, "Rabin did not enact legislation (referencing the recent wave of legislation perceived to protect Netanyahu from investigations or prosecutioned.), did not abdicate his responsibilities and did not whine."

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The wreath-laying ceremony was attended by Prime Minister Netanyahu, Hilik Barwho is stepping in for Yuli-Yoel Edelstein who was on a state visit to Cyprusand for the first time, the newly appointed Supreme Court Justice Esther Hayut.

Rabin's son Yuval used his speech to critique PM Netanyahu (Photo: Central Productions)

Yuval Rabin worked some contemporary political criticism into his speech. "Rabin and his wife were not handled with kid gloves. Rabin did not enact legislation, did not abdicate his responsibilities and did not whine. Even when he was under an onslaught of the worst hateful attacks conceivable, he was everyone's prime minister. That is not the way things are today," he said.

"I'd like to make something perfectly clear: what happened 22 years ago was murder. It was politically-motivated. The goals it was meant to achieve were clearly defined and there absolutely was incitement (against Rabin). That is a truth we must come to terms with," the late prime minister's son demanded.

PM Netanyahu (R) with newly sworn-in Supreme Court Chief Justice Esther Hayut (Photo: Central Productions)

"We can no longer sit idly by as Yitzhak Rabin is portrayed as a murderer himself who was responsible for the deaths of thousands of Israelis. Enough is enough. The vast majority of the victims of the Oslo Accords were murdered by Hamas. That organization was, and still is, a sworn enemy of Israel," he said in an attempt to clarify any possible misconceptions regarding his father.

Prime Minister Netanyahuthe object of Rabin's censurealso spoke at the memorial. "Rabin's murder obliges us to denounce any form of violence, all the more so when it's directed against elected officials. The freedom of argument and expression must be preserved, but woe unto us if that is not the case. We're committed unequivocally to the basic tenets of democracy, and national decisions will be made at the ballot box and nowhere else."

Netanyahu pointed at confluence between Rabin's political opinions and his own (Photo: Central Productions)

Netanyahu then went on to speak about Rabin's political statements, comparing them to his own. "Rabin cautioned against the over abundance of launching terrorist attacks against Israeli from Palestinian territory, determined we will not be going back to the June 1967 lines and demanded Jerusalem remain Israel's capital and under Israeli sovereignty," he said.

"Rabin reiterated his commitment to not uproot any settlement as part of the Interim Agreement and my stance is also that neither Jewish nor Arab settlements should be uprooted even as part of a permanent agreement. That is not only my stance but the stance of most of Israel's citizenry. We can join together around Rabin's security perception, accepted by most Israelis, which is necessary to safeguard our future and achieve lasting peace with our neighbors," Netanyahu concluded.

Earlier Wednesday at a memorial taking place at the President's Residence in Jerusalem, President Reuven Rivlin warned that Israeli society could not lend a hand to the erosion of its democracy which had been caused by Rabin's assassination.

President Rivlin ( Photo: Gal Arbel)

Opening the Ner Yitzhak state memorial ceremony at the Presidents Residence, Rivlin lamented the severe wounds inflicted on Israeli society as a result of the shooting carried out by the radical right-wing extremist Yigal Amir.

The murder was not merely an erosion of Israeli democracy, but also caused a serious tear in it, Rivlin said.

We will never forgive the person who murdered the prime minister and tore a huge rupture in the fabric of the State of Israel. The fracture that was caused has widened as a result of that murder and we have been trying to heal it ever since and we must continue to do so.

Rivlin added his belief that a balance must be struck within Israeli democracy to enable an environment in which disagreements and dialogues can flourish without compromising national unity.

Rivlin also spoke at the main Mount Herzl ceremony (Photo: Central Productions)

Stateliness is entrusted with creating a delicate balance between allowing disagreements in the most penetrating and sharp manner, and unity, the president said.

Reminding his listeners that Israel is the only Jewish state in the world, Rivlin urged that it not be taken for granted. We cannot be naive, or believe that riches are forever. Statliness itself also requires repairs and updates. We cannot give up on it or to lend a hand to its erosion.

Only through determined and cooperative activities to strengthen statehood, he continued will we succeed in strengthening and connecting the fiber between the tribes and the camps while committing to maintaining the uncompromising construction of Israeli democracy and guarding it. Because we dont have, not one of us, another state.

The ceremony was also attended by President Rivlins wife Nechama, along with leader of the opposition Isaac Herzog, Deputy Knesset Speaker Hilik Bar, Supreme Court Judge Anat Baron, Chief Rabbi David Lau, members of the Rabin family, other MKs, and students.
NEW YORK  Israel's prime minister says his country stands with the United States following the deadly truck attack on a New York City bike path.

Benjamin Netanyahu issued a statement Wednesday addressed to President Donald Trump, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio.

Netanyahu decried "yet another horrible Islamist terror attack" and says Israel prayed for the victims and their families. He says: "Together we will defeat this scourge."
SANAA, Yemen  A suspected airstrike by the Saudi-led coalition fighting Shiite rebels in Yemen killed at least 29 people, including children, in the country's north, a Yemeni health official said Wednesday.

Abdellah al-Ezi, head of the health office of the northern Saada province, said the airstrike struck a small hotel in a market, wounding 28 other people. Saada, which borders Saudi Arabia, is a stronghold of the Iran-backed rebels, known as Houthis.

Footage obtained by The Associated Press shows a bulldozer removing wreckage and debris from the site of the airstrike.
By PTI: New Delhi, Nov 1 (PTI) Morocco has offered to share its experiences on counter-terror and de-radicalisation initiatives with India, the Union home ministry has said.

This was conveyed during a meeting between Moroccan Interior Minister Noureddine Boutayeb and Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju here last evening.

Boutayeb said Morocco is emerging as a key counter-terror and de-radicalisation partner in North Africa and would like to share with India its experiences in this field, a home ministry statement said.

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Rijiju responded positively to the offer and said India has been a long sufferer of terrorism and is taking steps to counter this problem effectively.

The Moroccan minister, who is currently visiting India, is leading a composite delegation from various ministries dealing with information and communication technology and socio-economic programmes and Moroccos National Bank.

During the week-long visit, the team will study the Indian experience of Aadhaar, Crime, Criminal Tracking Network and System (CCTNS) and benefits like direct benefit transfer, gas subsidy and digitised banking systems, the statement said.

Boutayeb expressed happiness over the implementation of the Aadhaar scheme in a big democracy like India with a population of over 1.25 billion in the shortest possible time.

He said Morocco is also in the process of implementing programmes based on the socio-economic model of India and that his delegations primary focus is to learn from the experiences of Indias model of development and socio-economic reforms.

Rijiju also briefed him about various initiatives like CCTNS, a mission mode project under the national e- governance plan which will help modernise the police force and envisages national wide networking enabling share of information between police stations, state officers and security agencies.

He requested the Moroccan side for a liberal visa regime for Indian citizens to enable more people to people contacts and also facilitate visas to the business community on both sides.

Rijiju also requested for expeditious conclusion of Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty. The Moroccan side requested for e-visa facility to Moroccan citizens. PTI ACB MIN

--- ENDS ---
The Argentine Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed Tuesday five of the eight victims killed in the New York City terrorist attack were Argentine nationals, with another Argentine citizen wounded in the attack carried out by 29-year-old Uzbek terrorist Sayfullo Saipov, with five Argentine citizens treated in New York hospitals in total.

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The victimsAriel Erlij, Hernan Diego Mendoza, Diego Enrique Angelini, Alejandro Damian Pagnucco, and Hernan Ferruchiwere part of a group of eight childhood friends who came to New York to celebrate the 30th anniversary of their graduation from the Polytechnic School of Rosario and were in the midst of a bike-riding trip when they were hit by Saipov's truck.

Five of eight men pictured in photo, including Jewish businessman Erlij (circled), were killed in the attack

Erlij, a 48-year-old Argentine Jew, was a businessman who owned a steel plant in Rosario. According to Argentine news site Infobae, he paid the fare for two of his former classmates as they could not afford the trip to the US for personal reasons. Argentine newspaper La Nacion, meanwhile, reported Erlij paid for the entire trip out of pocket.

Victims took group photo before trip wearing shirts with the word 'Free'

Sources told the Yeshiva World News site Erlij was rushed to the hospital in very serious condition and was pronounced dead shortly thereafter.

Jewish businessman Ariel Erlij

The Argentine Ministry of Foreign Affairs published an announcement communication its condolences to the families of the victims. "The men, Rosario natives, were part of a group of friends celebrating the 30th anniversary of their graduation from the Polytechnic School of Rosario when tragedy struck," the ministry said.

"The Consulate General continues keeping in constant communication with the police and hospital that received the wounded, as well as with their relatives in Argentina. We accompany the families in this horrible moment of deep pain, one shared by Argentines everywhere," the ministry concluded.

Argentina's Consul to New York Mateo Estreme told Rosario's La Capital paper that the four survivors from the Argentine group were all in a state of shock. Several days before their trip, the eight childhood friends took a group photo in which they were wearing identical t-shirts emblazoned with the word "Libre" ("Free").

Uzbek terrorist Sayfullo Saipov (Photo: AP, AFP)

Argentina's President Mauricio Macri tweeted, "Deeply moved by the tragic deaths of this afternoon in NY. We are at disposal of the families of the Argentine victims."

Profundamente conmovido por las tragicas muertes de esta tarde en NY. Nos ponemos a disposicion de los familiares de las victimas argentinas  Mauricio Macri (@mauriciomacri) November 1, 2017

On Tuesday, a little after 3 pm eastern time, Saipov drove a rented truck onto a bike path near south Manhattan's Chambers Street and ran over cyclists and pedestrians, killing eight and wounding a dozen more. The terrorist continued driving until he hit a school bus.

After the collision, he disembarked from his vehicle carrying two imitation weaponsa paintball gun and an airsoft gunand screamed, "Allahu akbar" as he tried making his getaway.

The truck used in the attack (Photo: AFP)

An off-duty police officer incapacitated Saipov by shooting him and he was arrested and taken to a hospital, which said he underwent surgery and was in serious condition.

The New York Police Department said the working assumption was the terrorist acted alone and said it was not looking for further suspects.
NEW YORK  The Uzbek immigrant accused of using a truck to mow people down along a bike path, killing eight, did it in the name of the Islamic State group, police said Wednesday.

Investigators, meanwhile, were at the hospital bedside of 29-year-old Sayfullo Saipov, working to extract information about the attack Tuesday afternoon near the World Trade Center memorial that also left 12 people injured, a law enforcement official said.

"He did this in the name of ISIS," John Miller, deputy police commissioner for intelligence, said at a news conference, citing handwritten notes left by Saipov in his rented Home Depot pickup.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed slain prime minister Yitzhak Rabin's son Yuval in his Knesset remarks during a special session for the later prime minister.

After Rabin lambasted Netanyahu and the ever-widening disagreements within Israeli society, Netanyahu retorted, "I accept your challenge and call for national reconciliation and brotherhood."

"In light of (Rabin's) moving appeal, I reiterate my message of calling for uniting around our shared security and political principles, shared by most Israelis nowadays. I also understand your pain in light of the defamation and slanderous comments levied against your father," Netanyahu said.
The Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) suffered a major blow Monday, when a tunnel carrying its operativesincluding senior commanderswas detonated by the IDF, killing nine terrorists with five still considered missing.

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The IDF considers the incident to still be ongoing, with the Gaza Division remaining on high alert in fear of PIJ retaliatory measures following the tunnel's detonation, with the army saying it was merely 200  300 meters from one of its outposts in the Kissufim sector. A shaft exiting into Israeli territory was not yet excavated, the army added.

Smoke billowing following the tunnel's detonation (Photo: Barel Efraim)

A senior IDF Southern Command officer spoke to reporters Wednesday, saying, "We're still in the midst of this incident. We're careful to not become complacent despite the momentous achievement. We're looking at the (Hamas-Fatah) reconciliation with wariness because Hamas is trying to have its cake and eat it too, partnering with both Fatah and Iran. The reconciliation does not necessarily bode well for us, but it is an expression of the pressures Hamas is under."

IDF Southern Command presumed that apart from the search for missing operatives, which is still ongoing, PIJ is deliberating on its response, its timing and magnitude. Indeed, days may pass before the terrorist group retaliates, similarly to a January 2015 incident in which Hezbollah launched anti-tank missiles at a Givati force in Mount Dov as retaliation for Israel's purported assassination of Jihad Mughniyeh.

The Islamic Jihad, then, may bide its time and wait for the most opportune operational moment to strike back at Israel.

Some of the options the IDF has taken into consideration are a significant barrage of rockets launched at one of Israel's southern population centers, an anti-tank missile launch at the new border barrier work site, against an IDF force operating near the border or sniper shooting near the border fence. A terrorist attack somewhere in the West Bank was also deemed possible.

"The Islamic Jihad was dealt a very serious blowperhaps deservedly soand at any given moment it may strike back. It's a significant failure for the organization, both in its tunnel being exposed and the manner in which it chose to attempt to mount a rescue effort," the IDF officer added.

"It would be remiss in choosing to retaliate. The longer it waits, the lesser the chances for retaliation. Those operating against us will pay a heavy price, and Hamaswhich we consider to be the sovereign in the stripwill also be drawn into the circle of escalation," the officer cautioned.

The Islamic Jihad is the second strongest group in the Gaza Strip (Photo: AFP)

"Hamas is not without blame in the incident, as it allowed the tunnel to be dug in the first place. However, it currently wishes to continue the calm in order to regain its strength and concentrate on internal civilian issues. The Islamic Jihad is not bound by the same rules as Hamas and will be hard pressed not to retaliate considering the large number of casualties it suffered. If Hamas does not rein them in, it will also be drawn into the cycle of violence. Let every tunnel excavator know when they go down there: their lives are at risk," the officer concluded.

The tunnel detonated Monday was considered unique due to the organization that excavated itthe Islamic Jihadwhich thus far concentrated on developing advanced rocket capabilities, occasionally better than Hamas's. The PIJ has some 10,000 fighters in the strip and has equipped itself with hundreds of medium-range rockets, reaching up to 40 kilometers, and several dozen relatively new short-range rockets, only capable of reaching the area surrounding Gaza but carrying a payload of hundreds of kilograms of explosives. The latter rockets are equivalent to Hezbollah's Burqan rockets in their destructive potential.

The organization coordinates with Hamas but is considered independent, and its stance on the reconciliation agreement has yet to become known.

Funeral for one of the Islamic Jihad terrorists killed in the tunnel collapse (Photo: AFP)

Due to heightened tensions, work on the underground anti-tunnel barrier wall was partially halted in light of daily status evaluations and the danger snipers pose to the project's employees and the forces acting as their security.

The IDF also has not ruled out the possibility Iran, the organization's chief financier, will consider the new situation an opportunity to hamstring the newly-found reconciliation, brokered by Egypt, and urge PIJ to retaliate in order to create escalation within the entire strip.

"The Islamic Jihad's headquarters are in Syria, where decisions are made in coordination with Iran," the Israeli officer explained.

The IDF has deployed Iron Dome missiles in anticipation of a possible escalation (Photo: EPA)

New discoveries regarding the detonated tunnel

New details regarding the IDF campaign against terror tunnels in the Gaza Strip came to light Wednesday, as it was discovered the Gaza Division has been operating a group of expertsdubbed "the brain" by the senior officerfor about a year, tasked with locating and destroying tunnels.

The lab, which is overseen by an officer affiliated with the division, has engineers, geologists, engineering officers and intelligence personnel all working in tandem to interpret data received by the technological systems deployed in the field, including the sensor array that picked up the tunnel this week.

The tunnel was detonated as part of an operation that mobilized dozens of officers and soldiers, and the tunnel's detonation was precise thanks to the experts' efforts. The operational also entailed preliminary deployment in the sector, strengthening defenses near the border and isolating the space around the tunnel.

Photo: AP

The laboratory was designed to operate not merely against tunnels penetrating into Israeli territory, but to also translate its innovative capabilities for the forces maneuvering around the strip during the next conflagration.

The information gleaned by "the brain" will assist soldiers in handling Hamas's many upgraded offensive tunnels, through which the organization attained one of its greatest achievement during Operation Protective Edge: kidnapping the bodies of Oron Shaul and Hadar Goldin.

Islamic Jihad excavators worked on the tunnel for about a year, and five of them were performing digs while it was detonated, which may mean the organization was unaware its tunnel was discovered and signaled for demolition by the IDF.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs commented about the Catalan cessation crisis in Spain for the first time, saying, "The State of Israel and Spain have strong and years'-long bonds of friendship. We hope the internal crisis in Spain will be resolved swiftly, peacefully and with far-reaching national consensus."

Spain hoped Israel would join other countries in announcing it does not recognize Catalonia's unilateral declaration of independence, but Israel refrained from doing so.
A computer recovered in the 2011 US special forces operation that killed Osama bin Laden contained a video collection that included kids' cartoons, several Hollywood movies and three documentaries about himself. The list of the videos was included in the release on Wednesday by the US Central Intelligence Agency of nearly 470,000 files found on the computer seized in the May 2, 2011, US raid on the al-Qaeda founder's hideout in Abbottabad, Pakistan.

It is the fourth tranche of materials taken from the walled compound where bin Laden and his family lived to be made public by the US government since May 2015. Materials that still have not been released are being withheld because they could harm national security, are blank, corrupted or duplicate files, are pornographic or are protected by copyright, said a CIA statement.

The copyright-protected materials include more than two dozen videos such as "Antz," "Cars" and other animated films, the role-playing game "Final Fantasy VII" and "Where in the World is Osama bin Laden" and two other documentaries about the al-Qaeda leader, the CIA said.
On the first day of winter in 2000, my husband and I became brand new parents to the most beautiful baby girl.

She had classic baby blue eyes and a head full of black hair. We were filled with pride in this new milestone in our lives and completely and totally in love! We fully expected to be home with our happy new family just in time for Christmas celebrations, however some medical complications caused us to travel out of state with this brand new bundle of joy where our baby received the medical help she needed. After a couple of weeks, we came back to Nebraska to settle into our new home.

Almost immediately upon our return, the local school district reached out to us to let us know about the Early Development Network (EDN) in Nebraska and the services that our local school district had to offer our newborn. I had been in education for several years and I didnt realize this whole awesome support system existed. What a blessing for our family the Nebraska EDN provided for us. We were able to have wonderful providers work with our baby in our home and answered any questions we may have had about her care.

Fast forward 10 years to the year 2010, and I had the awesome privilege of being named as the Special Education Director at York Public Schools where I help to oversee staff who work with children from birth through age 21. I am able to see first-hand the wonderful impact that early intervention can have to help get babies off to the right start.

The first three years of a childs life are critical and getting providers working with children right away has been shown to be an effective way to set children up for success in school. At York Public Schools, we have an awesome early intervention team that consists of an early childhood special education teacher, speech pathologists, a physical therapist, occupational therapist, teacher of the visually impaired, teacher of the hearing impaired and a services coordinator. Currently we work with approximately 20 babies and families in their natural environments helping to support the important stages of each individual childs development.

If you have any concerns about a childs development, please know that our knowledgeable early childhood team at York Public Schools accepts referrals year round for babies who are Nebraska residents, age birth to 3, and are eligible for early intervention services through the Nebraska Early Development Network. If you have concerns about a childs development, please call our school at 402-362-6655 or call the toll free Early Development Network at 1-888-806-6287 to begin the referral process.

Truly, early intervention works, and with the fast-paced and incredible growth a child makes in the first three years of their lives, Babies Cant Wait!
YORK  Jodi Clemons, 43, also known as Jodi Diggins, who is currently an inmate at the Nebraska Center for Women in York, has been sentenced to four years of probation after she serves her current prison sentence, for first degree forgery.

In this particular case, according to court documents, a woman reported to the York Police Department that she was the victim of a scam. She said she was approached by a woman she worked with, who asked her to do her a favor. She was asked to deposit a check made out to Clemons in her own account, because Clemons did not have an account.

She agreed to deposit the check and then withdraw cash from her account to give to Clemons.

The victim later discovered that the check was fictitious and she was out more than $2,000.

The police then uncovered an elaborate scheme involving secret shopper arrangements, out-of-state banks and Clemons.

When the case started, the prosecution was seeking habitual criminal status for Clemons, because of her long criminal history. According to court documents, she has been earlier convicted of, in Douglas County: second degree forgery in May, 2003, and sentenced to a term of 18-24 months in prison; second degree forgery in April, 2004, and sentenced to a term of 20 months to five years in prison; possession of a controlled substance in March, 2008, and sentenced to a term of 20 months to five years in prison; and delivery of an exceptionally hazardous drug in February, 2013, and sentenced to a term of 1-3 years in prison.

Later, the habitual criminal issue was dropped as part of a plea agreement.

In the latest case, Clemons was also sentenced to three separate terms of 30 days in jail  but those can be waived by the court if she remains in compliance with the terms of her probation.
The accused have revealed the name of the kingpin, who operates from Rajasthan. A team of ANC might leave for Rajasthan by Thursday to nab him.

By Divyesh Singh: The Anti Narcotics Cell (ANC) of Mumbai police have busted an international drug cartel operating from across the border. Arrest of two drug suppliers, and seizures of contraband worth over Rs 3 crores was also recovered. Acting on a tip-off, ANC officers from the Worli unit laid a trap in Sion and nabbed two persons carrying huge quantity of contraband.

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ANC officers had kept surveillance on two suspects about whom they had received information. The suspects were coming to Mumbai to deliver a huge supply of pure heroin which was being brought illegally from Pakistan.

"We laid a trap and intercepted two persons on a footpath opposite Welfare Villa, in Sion east, and found them carrying heroin in huge quantity. The two have been identified as Gautamsingh Omkarsingh, 55 and Buntyali Qudratali, 23 both residents of Jhalawar district of Rajasthan. They were carrying packets containing 1.40 kilograms each worth over Rs 3 crores in their bags concealed in plastic packets and sealed using adhesive tapes", said DCP Shivdeep Lande from ANC.

ANC officers have found that the two accused had come to deliver the contraband to some peddler involved in distribution of narcotics in Mumbai and also smuggling it overseas via Sri Lanka.

The accused have revealed the name of the kingpin, who operates from Rajasthan. A team of ANC might leave for Rajasthan by Thursday to nab him.

"The Rajasthan-based kingpin running the racket is a chargesheeted narcotics smuggler with several cases against him across the country. He was arrested previously a decade ago for his involvement in a major drug cartel. The accused has his connections with suppliers based in Pakistan. It seems the contraband sneaked into India and then supplied to various other destinations like Sri Lanka. From there, the consignment is then smuggled into the US and UK", said senior police inspector Ninad Sawant from ANC.

ANC officers also raised concern over growing menace of heroin addiction in the city. In the recent past it has been observed that heroin, a high-end drug, has been shipped into the city due to increased demand.

The accused have been sent to police custody till November 9.

--- ENDS ---
Yuma News

Yuma, Arizona - On Tuesday, November 14th, retired Yuma County Sheriffs Office Detective Eric Frost will present The Dangers of Social Media at 4:30 p.m. at the Foothills Library. Learn how to keep yourself, your family, your job and your assets secure. Parents will learn what information can make kids easy targets for online predators, and what may cause problems in the future when applying for college or employment.

There is no charge to attend.



Eric Frost graduated from Central Arizona Regional Law Officers Academy in 2006, and was hired by the Yuma County Sheriffs Office. During his tenure as a Deputy Sheriff, he worked as a Hostage Negotiator on the Crisis Management Unit, Special Operator on the Special Response Team, Gang Officer, and Narcotics Officer on the Yuma County Narcotics Task Force. From 2010-2015, Mr. Frost supervised the Criminal Investigations Division as Lead Detective, and had a 100% solvability rate on homicides and attempted homicides. During his career with the Yuma County Sheriffs Office, he received the Outstanding Achievement award, Agitator of the Year, Special Merit award, and Officer of the Year.



In October 2016, Mr. Frost had to retire from the Yuma County Sheriffs Office after being seriously injured on duty. After retiring, he launched Eric Frost Consulting to teach companies, small businesses, families, schools, and winter visitors to protect their property, loved ones, employees, customers and themselves.



The Foothills Library is located at 13226 E South Frontage Road. For more information, call (928) 342-1640.
Yuma News

Yuma, Arizona - An Evening of Chamber Music, featuring the Arizona Western College String Ensemble, vocal students, and flutist Karrie Myers, will be held on Sunday, November 5 - at 5 p.m. at St Paul's Episcopal Church, 1550 S. 14th Ave.

The classical music performance will include two cantatas by J.S. Bach, selections from Vivaldi's Autumn and Winter from the Four Seasons, a table duet by Mozart, Ombra Mai Fu by G.F. Handel, Stabat Mater by G.B. Pergolesi, and several pieces by Telemann. The classical ensemble pieces will be performed by a range of two to 15 musicians.

The concert is free for the community to attend. Donations to benefit the AWC Music Department will be accepted.
VILLANOVA, Pa.  Villanova Universitys annual Mendel Medal Lecture, featuring Olufunmilayo Falusi Olopade, MD, FACP, OON, an internationally renowned oncologist, the Walter L. Palmer Distinguished Service Professor of Medicine, and Director of the Center for Clinical Cancer Genetics at The University of Chicago, will be held at 2:00 p.m., Friday, November 17 in the Villanova Room at the Universitys Connelly Center. Dr. Olopade, the recipient of the Universitys 2017 Mendel Medal, will deliver a lecture titled, Genomic Landscape of Breast Cancer in Diverse Populations. The event is free and open to the public. Parking will be available on campus at the I-1 Ithan Avenue Parking Garage.

Dr. Olopade was selected by Villanova as this years Mendel Medal winner in recognition of her work in developing innovative strategies for comprehensive cancer risk assessment and prevention based on evolving understanding of genetic and non-genetic factors in individual patients, with a focus on young women of African ancestry. The Mendel Medal, established in 1928 by the Board of Trustees of Villanova University, honors pioneering scientists who have demonstrated, by their lives and their standing before the world as scientists, that there is no intrinsic conflict between science and religion.

Dr. Olopades lecture will discuss her mission as a researcher and medical professional, to, in her words, seek genetic justice for women and their families around the world, by challenging existing paradigms in how breast cancer is detected, diagnosed and treated.

Using genomic technologies and bioinformatics, Dr. Olopades laboratory research focuses on deciphering the root causes of breast cancer in diverse populations. The overall goal of her research is to accelerate progress in cancer prevention and treatment by gaining a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms of tumor progression in at-risk individuals,

In 2005, Dr. Olopade authored a pioneering study that found significant differences between breast cancers in Caucasian women and in women of African descent. She has published widely in medical and scientific journals. Dr. Olopade is an elected member of several honor societies, including the National Academy of Medicine, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and the American Philosophical Society. She has received numerous honors and awards, including honorary degrees from Bowdoin University, Princeton University, North Central College and Dominican University; MacArthur Foundation Fellowship; Doris Duke Distinguished Clinical Scientist and Exceptional Mentor Award; American Cancer Society Clinical Research Professorship; Officer of the Order of the Niger Award; and the Franklin D. Roosevelt Freedom from Want Award. Dr. Olopade has served on the Board of Directors for the National Cancer Advisory Board and the American Board of Internal Medicine. Currently she serves on the Board of Directors for the Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Lyric Opera of Chicago and the MacArthur Foundation.

Dr. Olopade earned her medical degree from the University of Ibadan College of Medicine in Nigeria. She trained in Internal Medicine at Cook County Hospital in Chicago and in Hematology/Oncology and Cancer Genetics at the University of Chicago.

First awarded in 1929, Villanovas Mendel Medal honors 19th century Augustinian friar and scientist Gregor Johann Mendel, Abbot of the Augustinian Monastery, Brunn, Austria (now Brno, the Czech Republic), best known as the father of modern genetics, for his discovery of the celebrated laws of heredity that bear his name. As an institution founded by the Augustinian Order, Villanova University plays a key role in sustaining Mendels legacy. Past recipients of the Mendel Medal have included Nobel Laureates, outstanding medical researchers, pioneers in physics, astrophysics and chemistry, and noted scientist-theologians. Click here for more information on the Mendel Medal and its history.

The Rev. Kail Ellis, OSA, PhD, Special Assistant to the President and Dean Emeritus of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Villanova University, commenting earlier on Dr. Olopades selection as the 2017 Mendel Medal winner said, The Mendel Medal selection committee was very impressed with Dr. Olopades work in breast cancer genetics, especially on the impact of BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations in young women across the African diaspora. Her research in the incidence of breast cancer among minority populations as well as disparities in health outcomes, are particularly in accord with the criteria for the award of the Mendel Medal.

I am humbled to receive this significant honor, Dr. Olopade said. I would like to share that honor, to dedicate this award to the memory of my beloved father, the Late Reverend Canon John Bodunde Falusi, an Anglican Minister who fully expected me to make the most of my opportunities and use my talents to serve humanity. He believed in education and recognized the importance of applying scientific discoveries to alleviate suffering and eradicate diseases.

About Villanova University: Since 1842, Villanova Universitys Augustinian Catholic intellectual tradition has been the cornerstone of an academic community in which students learn to think critically, act compassionately and succeed while serving others. There are more than 10,000 undergraduate, graduate and law students in the University's six collegesthe College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the Villanova School of Business, the College of Engineering, the College of Nursing, the College of Professional Studies and the Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law. Ranked among the nations top universities, Villanova supports its students intellectual growth and prepares them to become ethical leaders who create positive change everywhere life takes them. For more, visit www.villanova.edu.
New Delhi: As the Narendra Modi government proceeds with the grandiose plans for a 'Bullet Train' between Mumbai and Ahmedabad, a RTI query has revealed that over 40 percent of seats on all the trains on this sector go vacant causing huge losses to Western Railway.

According to RTI replies received by Mumbai activist Anil Galgali, only in the past one quarter, the Western Railway's staggering losses in this sector is nearly Rs 30 crore, or around Rs. 10 crore per month.

"The Indian government is over-enthusiastic and plans to spend more than Rs 1 lakh crore on the Bullet Train project, but it has not done its homework properly," Galgali said, adding it raises serious question marks on the viability of the Bullet Train project, whenever it comes up.

The Indian Railways have also admitted that they have no plans to introduce any new trains on this sector which is already in the red.

Replying to Galgali's query on seats occupancy on all the trains between the two cities, the WR revealed that in the past three months, 40 percent all seats went vacant on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad sector and 44 percent empty on the Ahmedabad-Mumbai route.

WR's Chief Commercial Manager Manjeet Singh said that between July 1-September 30, there are 32 mail/express serving this sector with a total seating capacity of 735,630 seats on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad sector.

Of these, only 441,795 seats were booked during that period generating a revenue of Rs 30,16,24,623 against the total estimated expected income of Rs 44,29,08,220 - incurring a huge loss of Rs 14,12,83,597 in the past quarter.

Similarly, on the Ahmedabad-Mumbai route served by a total of 31 mail/express trains with a seating capacity of 706,446, only 398,002 seats were booked, resulting in a revenue of Rs 26,74,56,982 against the estimated expected income of Rs 42,53,11,471, spelling a massive loss of Rs 15,78,54,489.

The WR provided the data of all the major trains plying on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad-Mumbai route like the Durantos, Shatabdi Expresses, Lokshakti Express, Gujarat Mail, Bhavnagar Express, Saurashtra Express, Vivek-Bhuj Express and others.

Faced with the vacancies on existing trains, the WR Divisional Engineer, Ahmedabad informed that there is no fresh proposal to introduce any new trains on this sector.

In fact, Galgali said that the most popular train, 12009 Shatabdi Express with a capacity of 72,696 seats sold only 36,117 during the July-September period on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad route and in the return direction of the total 67,392 seats, only 22,982 were sold.

This train, which once always ran packed in all seasons both ways has now proved to be a loss-maker, and the executive chair car with 7,505 seats was practically deserted with just 1,469 seats booked, plummeting revenues from the estimated Rs 1,45,49,714 to a paltry Rs 26,41,083 during the last quarter.

The position in all other trains was similar and though there is a higher demand for sleeper class compared to seats, the WR has not done enough to augment its capacity.

Galgali pointed out that given this current alarming scenario, coupled with growing preference for flights and improved road travel, the Central and Gujarat governments must review the expensive option of the Bullet Train before it becomes a white elephant for the Indian taxpayers.
New York: President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that he had ordered more robust "extreme vetting" of travellers coming into the United States following the first deadly attack in New York blamed on terror since the September 11, 2001 strikes.

"I have just ordered Homeland Security to step up our already Extreme Vetting Program. Being politically correct is fine, but not for this!" Trump tweeted.

The president`s attempts at banning travellers from several mainly Muslim nations have been met with successive legal challenges.

His administration announced last week that it would resume accepting refugees after a 120-day ban, though arrivals from 11 "high-risk" countries, most of them home to Muslim majorities, will still be blocked.

With IANS inputs
New York: Eight persons were killed and 12 injured after a truck ploughed into pedestrians in Lower Manhattan in New York late on Tuesday.

Condemning the attack, New York Mayor called it an "act of terror". Meanwhile, the authorities have arrested the suspect.

Based on the information authorities had at the moment, the incident was "a particularly cowardly act of terror aimed at innocent civilians," Mayor Bill de Blasio said at a press conference, Xinhua news agency reported.

US President Donald Trump tweeted: "In NYC, looks like another attack by a very sick and deranged person. Law enforcement is following this closely. NOT IN THE U.S.A.!"

"We must not allow ISIS to return, or enter, our country after defeating them in the Middle East and elsewhere. Enough!" Trump said in another tweet.

"My thoughts, condolences and prayers to the victims and families of the New York City terrorist attack. God and your country are with you!" the President wrote on Twitter.

Speaking at the conference alongside with the mayor, New York City Police Commissioner James O' Neil said the suspect was a 29-year-old man, who was not from New York. He said authorities would not release his identity immediately.

At 3.05 pm, a man driving a rented Home Depot pickup truck entered the West Side Highway bicycle path at Houston Street, according to O' Neil.

He said the man began driving southbound, striking a number of pedestrians and bicyclists along the route.

At Chambers Street, the truck collided with a school bus, injuring two adults and two children, according to the police.

After the collision, the driver exited the vehicle, holding up a paintball gun and a pellet gun.

He was shot by a uniformed police officer and was then sent to a hospital.

According to reports, the driver shouted "Allahu Akbar", which means "God is great" in Arabic.

O'Neil was asked to confirm whether the driver made such statement at the press conference. He said that the driver "did make a statement when he exited the vehicle" although he declined to elaborate on it.

Video footage shot by an office clerk working in the 52-story 7 World Trade Center building showed that all main streets around the usually bustling financial district had been vacated, with only police vehicles spotted moving or parking in the area.

The female clerk, who asked to be identified only by her surname Jiang, told Xinhua she and her colleagues were advised by police to stay in the building until further notice.

An eyewitness named John Williams said: "When I was walking down the street towards the incident, I saw a group of women and children were running towards me, one of them was saying 'he has a gun, he has a gun.' I turned around and heard the gunshot about 30 seconds later."

"There was a white pickup truck with Home Depot logos. The front of the truck was completely smashed in and there was smoke," he added.

The attack occurred hours before an annual Halloween parade was to take place in Lower Manhattan, which would be packed with thousands of people in costumes.

Authorities said more police officers and resources were deployed in iconic places in the city.

Also at the press conference, New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo, who just hours ago wished New Yorkers a safe and happy Halloween, said there was no evidence of ongoing threat after the truck attack.

With IANS inputs
New Delhi: Hyundai Motor India Ltd (HMIL) on Wednesday reported a marginal decline in domestic sales at 49,588 units in October.

The company had sold 50,017 units in October 2016, HMIL said in a statement.

HMIL Director, Sales and Marketing, Rakesh Srivastava said the company's October sales were driven by its popular models such as Grand i10, Elite i20 and Creta.

Besides, the newly-launched Verna received strong customer response with over 20,000 cumulative bookings and 1.5 lakh enquiries, he added.
PATNA: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's photograph and selfies with 2012 Bihar hooch tragedy accused Rakesh Singh has left the Janata Dal (United) red-faced. Acting swiftly, the party terminated the membership of Singh on Tuesday.

The move comes two days after the JD(U) supremo was photographed with Singh at the former's official residence in Patna on Sunday.

The party stated that Singh has been expelled post allegations of his involvement with liquor mafia in the state.

Earlier, the Bihar CM clarified that Singh had accompanied a teacher, who had refused to accept dowry for his son's marriage.

"Neither I nor our state president had an idea about this man. But once questions were raised we took no time in dissociating ourselves with him," Kumar said.

In 2012, nearly 29 people were killed after consuming liquor supplied from a shop owned by Singh, a block president of the ruling JD(U) in Bhojpur district. He spent two years in jail and is currently out on bail facing trial, said sources.

In the recent photograph, Singh is seen sitting beside the Bihar CM during. He reportedly took a few selfies with Kumar.

Soon after the photo went viral on social media, opposition Rashtriya Janata Dal or RJD attacked the government, linking the incident with the latest hooch tragedy in Rohtas, which claimed four lives on Friday.

RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav alleged that the prohibition imposed by the Nitish-led Bihar government is a "farce" and that the JD(U) depends on earnings through illicit liquor for its finances, inviting a sharp reaction from the ruling party.

"The prohibition is a farce," he said. "The JD(U) is heavily dependent for its finances on earnings through illicit liquor."

"But in the photographs we see a JD(U) leader sharing space who happens to be the main accused in a 2012 hooch case ...The way he got an entry into the high-security official residence of the CM raises many questions about the chief minister's sense of judgement with regard to the people he chooses to interact with," Yadav said on Tuesday.

With agency inputs
Sena leaders are unhappy with the possible induction of Narayan Rane in the state cabinet.

By Mayuresh Ganapatye: On Wednesday, Shiv Sena Chief Uddhav Thackeray, called an urgent meeting of Shiv Sena leaders at party headquarters Sena Bhavan in Mumbai.

According to the sources, Shiv Sena top brass has asked leaders to go all guns blazing against BJP and spread the word throughout the state. The party also distributed a 56-page booklet which has details of all the state BJP leaders and ministers involved in scam.

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Apart from BJP, Shiv Sena leadership also discussed if Narayna Rane gets formally inducted in the cabinet, then what stand the party should take. During this meeting Aditya Thackeray, Deepak Kesarkar, Subhash Desai, Diwakar Raut and Sanjay Raut were present.

Sena leaders are unhappy with the possible induction of Narayan Rane in the state cabinet. CM Devendra Fadnavis and BJP are yet to take a final call on Rane, who recently quit the party, formed his own outfit and has already extended his support to NDA.

Fadnavis government recently completed three years in Maharashtra. There is a chance that Rane may get inducted in the state cabinet by Fadnavis. Due to this the tussle between Shiv Sena and BJP has grown.

Uddhav had asked for a report card on how the preparation of next general election is happening in all the district. He discussed the local issue with district heads with possible solutions to solve it.

District heads also submitted a ground report about farmers' loan waiver issue.

--- ENDS ---
New Delhi: Maverick filmmaker S Shankar is all geared up to present the most expensive and hugely made film ever in Indian diaspora titled 2.0. The venture is a sequel to 2010 blockbuster Tamil film Enthiran starring Rajinikanth.

2.0 will bring together megastar Rajinikanth, Amy Jackson and Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar. It is for the first time that Akki will be seen playing a negative role on-screen.

The latest poster of the film was shared by noted south trade analyst Ramesh Bala on Twitter. It is bound to give you the chills as Akki looks totally unrecognisable in it. His beast mode can send shivers down your spine.

The film is being shot simultaneously in Tamil and Hindi. Also, a dubbed version in Telugu will release alongside the original Tamil and Hindi versions reportedly. The film is scheduled to hit the screens on January 25, 2018.

The music of 2.0 is composed by maestro AR Rahman and the recently the audio was launched in Dubai.
New Delhi: Already Rs 65,000 crore private investment has been committed in the food processing sector and more is expected during the mega global food event to begin from November 3, the government said on Wednesday.

Of the total, more than 40 per cent of the investment has been committed by domestic players like ITC, it said, adding that this would create more than 10 lakh jobs in the country.

"Huge investment has been committed in the food processing sector because of transformation measures taken in the last three years and improvement in the ease of doing business," Food Processing Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal told reporters.

Already Rs 65,000 crore (USD 10 billion) has been committed ahead of the event -- to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi -- and more investment is expected, she said.

The minister was speaking at the curtain raiser event of the 'World Food India 2017' being organised along with industry body CII.

Highlighting about investor-friendly measures, Badal said an online system is in place for faster processing of application and grant of funds.

A portal 'Nivesh Bandhu' for the benefit of investors has been designed and will be unveiled by Modi at the event. A food regulatory portal will also be launched.

Speaking at the event, Food Safety and Standards Authority (FSSAI) CEO Pawan Kumar Agarwal said, "Over the last couple of years, we have put things together to enable more investment".

Food standards are at par with global benchmark and now approvals are given for recipe-based also. Besides, a new system has been put in place for approval of new kinds of foods, if required, he added.

"So in all, we have created an investor friendly environment and the regulatory burden has been reduced", Agarwal noted.

The food event will provide global businesses a platform to explore Indian market across the value chain in food processing and food retail.

The event will showcase the strength of India in food processing and allied sectors. It will also connect domestic and international businesses for possible partnerships and facilitate collaboration, investment flow and encourage sourcing from India.

More than 40 countries, 27 states governments are participating in the event. Germany, Denmark and Japan are the partner countries, while the Italy, the Netherlands are the focus countries.
New Delhi: Delhi Police Special Cell has arrested a man masquerading as a director in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's office (PMO), reports said on Wednesday.

The man nabbed by the Special Cell has been identified as Kanhaiya Kumar. He's also known as Dr. KK.

He was arrested on Monday from Sector 100 in Noida, the reports said.

Kanhaiya Kumar, who posed as a director in the PMO, had even mentioned PMO's room number (152) as the address in his visiting card.

It is alleged that Kumar even tried to dupe the Central Vigilance Commissioner by asking him to help an Indian Defence Accounts Services (IDEAS) officer secure a lucrative post.

The CVC contacted the PMO and confirmed his appointment in the office.

Kanhaiya Kumar used to seek favours from the government officials and the bureaucrats whom he met frequently.

Kumar even possessed an SUV which had a Government of India (GOI) sticker pasted to it.

The Delhi Police had received a tip-off about him on October 17 and the case was then assigned to its Special Cell.

He was produced before the chief metropolitan magistrate Deepak Sehrawat at Patiala House Courts on Tuesday and then taken on a 10-day remand.

The police are also investigating Kanhaiya Kumars close friend in Hyderabad who got his visiting cards printed.

Kumar has been charged with impersonation, forgery, criminal conspiracy and cheating.
New Delhi: Delhi Police on Wednesday nabbed a wanted criminal Naseem, who was carrying a reward of Rs 50,000 on his head.

Naseem, who has several cases of attempt to murder, robbery, extortion registered against him, was arrested by the Special Cell of Delhi Police.

According to Zee Media, Naseem alias Rizwan is closely linked with the underworld and is believed to be working on the orders of dreaded gangster Chhota Shakeel.

Zee Media quoted sources as saying that Naseen was hired by Chhota Shakeel to kill Pakistan born writer Tarek Fatah.

However, there is no official confirmation about the same from the Delhi Police as yet.

This is not the first time that the Delhi Police has arrested a wanted criminal for targeting the controversial Pakistani writer.

Earlier this year, Delhi Police's Special Cell had arrested a man called Junaid for planning to eliminate Tarek Fateh, apparently on the orders of the Pakistan-based don Chhota Shakeel.

Junaid  a sharpshooter - was in regular contact with Shakeel, who had given him strict orders to kill Fateh.

Tarek Fateh - a Pakistan-born Canadian writer - is known for his critical observations about the Islamic Sharia Law.

Fateh's critical views on Islamic practices have sparked a bitter debate the Indian sub-continent and earned him a lot of adversaries.

Fateh is apparently on fugitive underworld don Dawood Ibrahim's radar for his critical remarks against Islam and the Sharia Law.
New Delhi: Traders' body CAIT on Wednesday appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a reduction in the 28 per cent GST rate levied on health and nutritional drinks and supplements, arguing that these are items of mass consumption.

"The government has demonstrated its intent to target malnutrition through the recently released National Nutrition Strategy, being steered by the Niti Aayog.

"Hence, any high rate of taxation runs contrary to the stated public policy objectives of your government besides making it unaffordable and hurts the business of the trading community," CAIT said in a letter to the prime minister, pleading with him to correct the anomaly at the earliest.

The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) contended that the GST triggered price spike may push these products out of the price reach of the common man and exacerbate India's malnutrition and hunger problem which has already reached endemic proportions. It argued that high tax rates adversely affect the business of small traders in the supply chain.

"Therefore, in a country which has malnutrition as a major scourge, these are powerful arguments which hopefully Sir, you would take on board and ensure their affordability through the application of lower GST slabs," CAIT said while addressing the Prime Minister in the letter.

Besides, it said, given the complexity of the exercise involving compliance with the Goods and Services Tax (GST), "there must be a dynamic review mechanism to ensure that inadvertent flaws in the system are ironed out".

In the letter, the traders' body also drew the prime minister's attention to findings of a chief economic advisor- led study conducted recently before the implementation of GST.

"The study which had deliberated on the revenue neutral rate for GST strongly recommended keeping essential food items out of its ambit. The report goes so far as to say that food such as cereals, pulses, edible oils and vegetables should be construed as merit items and should be either exempt or should be taxed at concessional and lower rates," CAIT said.

It observed that a GST triggered price spike may risk putting small traders out of business through reduction in the demand for health and nutritional drinks and supplements.

"From a technical point of view there seems to be a roadblock which am sure the GST Council will do well to revisit and address. The issue stems from the fact that at present there is no specific HSN code for cereal and malt based health food drinks which are as of now classified under 1909 10 10 to be taxed at 28 per cent," CAIT said.

The traders' body contended that there is a merit in expanding the 1901 10 definition to accommodate items such as 'health food drinks' to be marked out for a lower rate of taxation.
New Delhi: Pollution in Delhi-NCR has dropped to 'severe' levels, courtesy increased crop burning in Punjab and Haryana.

Despite numerous warnings by a green court and environmental authorities, crop burning has reached unprecedented levels, causing the air quality to deteriorate further.

On Tuesday, air quality in the National Capital Region witnessed further deterioration with pollution levels of Faridabad (Haryana), Ghaziabad (Uttar Pradesh) and Bhiwadi (Rajasthan) placed under 'severe' category with index value worse than a day after Diwali.

Dry and cold north-westerly winds blowing in from Punjab and Haryana at speeds of 10-15 km per hour, where stubble burning according to the satellite images has increased manifold, air quality in Delhi-NCR may fall further.

According to the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR), all 10 monitoring stations across Delhi recorded "very poor" air quality, with PM2.5 (particles with diameter less than 2.5 mm) ranging between 302 to 362. The safe range for PM2.5 is 60 as per national standards and 25 according to the international standards.

With this in mind, SAFAR has discouraged all kinds of outdoor activities and has advised those suffering from asthma or other respiratory issues to keep their medications handy. The air quality forecasting system further recommended wearing respiratory masks of N-95 or P-100 standards while going out.

At Anand Vihar in east Delhi, the Delhi Pollution Control Committee recorded the PM2.5 value at all time high ranging betwen 753 to 773 between 3 a.m. to 4.30 a.m., while the lowest value was 167 for a brief period of 30 minutes from 2 p.m.

The Central Pollution Control Board showed dangerous trend in pollution level, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) recorded at very poor in Delhi at index value of 351 as compared to 328 on Monday.

The AQI in Bhiwadi was 404 (318 a day after Diwali), Faridabad 410 and 439 in Ghaziabad (412 a day after Diwali)  all placed under 'severe' category.

In Gurugram, the AQI was 343 as compared to 318 on Monday and in Noida, 348 as compared to 332 on Monday  both placed under 'very poor' category.

Meanwhile the satellite images from the National Aeronautics and Space Administrations' FIRMS (Fire Information for Resource Management System) Web Fire Mapper show stubble-burning increasing manifold with both Punjab and Haryana marked in red (depicting fire).

The unabated stubble-burning in Punjab and Haryana, estimated to be around 35 million tonnes, was banned by the green court in November 2015. However, due to lack of support from the respective governments, farmers continued to burn paddy straw.

"Air pollution is set to increase. The north-westerly winds from Punjab and Haryana are slowing down in Delhi, and this will continue for some days," Mahesh Palawat, Director of private weather forecast agency Skymet, told IANS.

(With IANS inputs)
Jambusar: Congress veteran Ahmed Patel on Wednesday tore into Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani for linking him with a suspected ISIS operative, asserting that it was unbecoming of a head of the government to stoop this low and the BJP had no right to speak of terrorism.

"BJP speaking of terrorism?" he asked, and referring to former Prime Ministers Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi, said "Congress leaders have suffered the most because of terrorism."

Speaking at a public meeting here, which was later addressed by Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi, Ahmed Patel said, "We don't need lessons in nationalism from the BJP. They should look into themselves."

He said, "It was unbecoming of a Chief Minister to stoop so low" to cast outlandish aspersions on him. Patel was referring to a suspected ISIS operative arrested by the Anti-Terrorism Squad late last month from Surat who had earlier worked as a technician at a charitable hospital in Ankleshwar where Patel was a trustee over three years ago.

Patel said, "I conducted a research. He worked in hospitals instituted by BJP leaders. Care Hospital where he (the ISIS suspect) worked was inaugurated by the Prime Minister."
Teachers in Haryana are set to face disciplinary action after they defied the state government order to attend a compulsory 'priest training' on October 29. The teachers in the state have been asked to take a training to carry out functions of priests ahead of the village fair at Yamunagar Temple.

The teachers who opposed the diktat and skipped the training session have been asked to explain the reason of their absense.

The Manohar Lal Khattar-led Haryana government wants the teachers to perform 'pooja' and even distribute 'prasad' during the 'mela' at the temple.

While there has been no comment from the ruling party, the opposition parties are hitting out at the state government for 'saffronising the entire event'.
Shimla: Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh on Wednesday stoked a controversy with his latest remarks on the sensational 'Gurdiya rape-murder case'.

The Chief Minister allegedly termed the 16-year-old's rape-murder a 'common happening' and said such incidents happen everywhere.

"Gudiya rape-murder is a normal and small incident but has been blown out of proportion. Name one state or country where murders don't take place," the CM was quoted as saying.

However, this was not the first such remark by the Chief Minister on the Kotkhai rape-murder case.

In July, the Chief Minister came under sharp criticism for a similar remark where he stated 'such incidents keep on happening in a society'.

On July 4, a 16-year-old girl was offered a lift in a vehicle by the accused when she was returning home from school. On the way, the accused raped and murdered her at a nearby forest. Her naked body was found in isolated woods in Kotkhai tehsils Halaila village on July 13.

Agitated by the incident, angry locals vandalised police vehicle and staged massive protests across Kotkhai for several days alleging police inaction in the case.

The police later took into custody at least eight suspects in connection with the case.

On July 19, after custodial death of one of the eight rape accused, the case was later handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) by the Himachal Pradesh High Court.
New Delhi: Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi used a Mirza Ghalib couplet and BJP leader Arun Jaitley some deft wordplay, each hitting out at the other party over conflicting views on the World Bank's report on 'ease of doing business'.

A day after the World Bank released its report that India had improved its ranking, Twitter was once again the playing field for the Congress and the BJP leaders.

Gandhi put out a tweet in Urdu, taking off from a famous Ghalib verse to say the Union finance minister was deluding himself.

"Sabko maloom hai 'ease of doing business' ki haqeeqat, lekin khud ko khush rakhne ke liye 'Dr Jaitley' ye khayal achha hai (everybody knows the reality of ease of doing business, but this thought, Dr Jaitley, is good to keep yourself happy)."

Jaitley said the UPA's "ease of doing corruption" has been replaced by NDA's "ease of doing business", apparently hitting back at Gandhi's jibe.

"The difference between the UPA and NDA - 'The ease of doing corruption has been replaced by the ease of doing business'," he said in his tweet.

According to the World Bank report released yesterday, India's rank on the 'ease of doing business' scale has risen from 130 to 100 this year, helped by a slew of reforms in taxation, licensing, investor protection and bankruptcy resolution.

Addressing a press conference soon after the World Bank ranking was made public, Jaitley had said India is the only major country named for pursuing structural reforms.

Gandhi said at a rally in Gujarat today that Jaitley should ask small and mid-sized businessman if the ease of doing business had really improved.

"The entire country will shout and say ease of doing business is absent, you have destroyed it, your demonetisation and GST have ruined it," he said.
Nawazuddin Siddiqui withdrew his memoir after two of his former girlfriends accused him of manipulating stories.

By India Today Web Desk: Nawazuddin Siddiqui ruffled quite a few feathers with his controversial memoir, An Ordinary Life.

It all started with confessions of an extra-marital affair with his Miss Lovely co-star Niharika Singh. He talked about how their relationship began after she invited him over for dinner one night and opened the door dressed in faux fur. "I, being the lusty village bumpkin that I am, scooped her up in my arms and headed straight for the bedroom," Nawazuddin's book read.

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An enraged Niharika slammed the actor for not taking her consent as well as "fabricating stories and manipulating a fleeting relationship". She also said that he had hidden from her that he had a wife, when they were in a relationship.

Soon after that, Nawazuddin's first girlfriend Sunita Rajwar lashed out at him for his "extraordinary lies". The actor had, in his book, claimed that he "plunged into deep, deep depression" after Sunita ended their relationship out of the blue, probably because she wanted a richer and more successful man.

Faced with flak, Nawazuddin issued an apology and decided to withdraw his book. If a report in Deccan Chronicle is anything to go by, his wife was the reason behind this move.

A source is quoted as saying, "It wasn't an easy decision. The past few days have not been easy on Nawaz. He has been deeply troubled by the effect the words in his biography had on two of his female friends. The truth is, his command over the English language is inadequate, so perhaps the memoir should have been written in Hindi. The excerpts where he went into alleged details of his relationships with two female friends came across as tasteless and should never have gone into the book."

The source added, "He never realised that his words would be taken so badly. It was Anjali who reminded him that correcting the damage was not impossible. She suggested he apologise and withdraw the book. And he did."

ALSO WATCH: FIR against Nawazuddin for slapping a girl

--- ENDS ---
NEW DELHI: Reservation for OBC students in National Talent Search Examination (NTSE)-stage II conducted by the NCERT has been approved, Union Human Resource Development Minister Prakash Javadekar said today.

The 27 per cent quota for Other Backward Class students will be effective from 2019 as the process for the 2018 examination has already commenced, the minister said.

The reservation for OBC students will be in addition to already existing 15 per cent quota for scheduled caste students, 7.5 per cent for students from Scheduled Tribes and four per cent for physically challenged students.

"Approved reservation for #OBC students in #NTSE National Talent Search Examination Stage-II conducted by @NCERT," Javadekar said in a tweet.

He also said that increasing the number of scholarships from 1,000 to 2,000 for the second stage of NTSE is also under "active consideration".

Class 11 and 12 students get Rs 1,250 per month under the scholarship, while undergraduate and postgraduate students get Rs 2,000. For PhD students, the amount is decided according to UGC norms, he added.

The stage-1 of the examination is conducted by state governments, while the stage-II is conducted the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) to identify and nurture talented students.

Sources said the state governments may also be asked to provide reservation to the OBC category. Some states are already providing the OBC reservation.

Earlier, the Aurangabad bench of Bombay high court had asked to study the feasibility and necessity of providing quota to OBC students, the sources said.

Following it, an NCERT committee had favoured quota for OBC students to be implemented as per central government norms, they added.
NEW DELHI: The Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) on Tuesday issued a notice to Tihar Jail Administration and Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) South District, questioning the delay in execution of death penalty to rapists of 2012 Nirbhaya gang-rape case.

The Supreme Court on May 5 upheld the death penalty awarded to all four convicts in Nirbhaya gang-rape case by the High Court.

Five months after the decision, the death sentence is yet to be carried out.

In a complaint to the DCW, the victim's mother Asha Devi questioned, even after five months of Supreme Court's verdict, the accused have not been hanged.

She also asked if Tihar Jail officials have issued an order of death sentence to the four accused. If the order has been issued, the reasons for not adhering to the order.

Responding to the mother's plea, DCW chairperson Swati Jaihind asked the Tihar Jail administration and DCP South District to respond by November 6.

On December 16, 2012, six people, including a juvenile, brutally assaulted and raped 23-year-old paramedic in a moving bus in South Delhi. The victim and her male friend were later thrown out of the bus. On December 29, 2012, the victim succumbed to the extensive injuries in a Singapore hospital. The incident triggered nation-wide protests.

The four convicts - Mukesh, Pawan, Vinay Sharma and Akshay Kumar Singh - were awarded death sentence. The fifth accused, Ram Singh, committed suicide in jail.

The sixth accused, a juvenile, has been released after completing mandatory probation period in a remand home.
New Delhi: In a significant development, the Election Commission on Wednesday pressed for a life ban on convicted MPs and MLAs from contesting polls.

According to ANI, the poll panel made this submission before the Supreme Court during a hearing.

The Election Commission said it favours barring convicted MLAs, MPs for life.

BJP leader Ashwani Upadhyay had filed a PIL seeking a lifetime ban on MPs, MLAs from contesting elections.

The central poll body has earlier faced flak from the Supreme Court for not taking a clear stand on the BJP leader's appeal seeking to bar convicted politicians for life during a hearing in July.

An apex court bench comprising Justices Ranjan Gogoi and Navin Sinha slammed poll panel and asked whether it was constrained to give its thoughts on the issue.

Is silence an option for you (ECI)? You must say either yes or no on whether you are supporting the petitioner. You are the ECI and here is a citizen of India who has come here to seek lifetime debarment of convicted persons. Can you say I will be silent? No, you cannot, the bench had then said.

If you (ECI) feel constrained by the legislature, then let us know. If you are even constrained to the extent of giving your view, feel free and say so clearly, it said.

After ECIs response, the apex court said that it was clear that the poll body has supported the cause advocated by petitioner, Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay, who had sought a life ban for convicted politicians.

What the current law says

Under the current law, a lawmaker can be debarred for six years from contesting elections once he is convicted for heinous or moral offences.

Various pleas have knocked the Supreme Courts door arguing that the ban should be lifetime at par with the judiciary and executive where a person cannot hold office for life post-conviction.

The Election Commissions latest submission in the apex court could have far-reaching consequences on top leaders like Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad who has been convicted in the fodder scam.

Former Bihar CM Lalu Prasad was sentenced to five years in prison in October 2013 after being convicted in a 17-year-old case related to the embezzlement of Rs 37 crore meant for the purchase of cattle fodder for farmers in the state.

With PTI inputs
New Delhi: Known for his huge contribution towards the enrichment of Urdu language, Abdul Qavi Desnavi was honoured by search engine Google with a doodle on his 87th birth anniversary on Wednesday.

The doodle showed Desnavi sitting in the middle and writing. The letters of the search engine were also given a calligraphic touch.

An Indian Urdu language writer, critic, bibliographer and linguist, Desnavi, has contributed immensely towards the evolution of Urdu literature.

In his five decades of literary career, he has authored a vast body of works covering fiction, biographies, poetry and anthologies.

Some of his noted works are "Sat Tehriren", "Motala-E-Khotool", "Ghalib" along with his writings on Allama Muhammad Iqbal and Maulana Abul Kalam Azad.

Born in 1930 in Bihar's Desna village, Desnavi, belonged to an erudite family.

He had a strong academic background. His primary education was in Arrah. He completed his graduation and post graduation from St. Xavier's College Mumbai.

Later, he became a Professor in Saifia Post Graduate College in Bhopal. He was made the head of Urdu Department there.

He was a member of several literary and academic bodies.

Desnavi breathed his last on July 7, 2011 in Bhopal where he was living.

IANS
New Delhi: The government on Wednesday unveiled draft norms for the unmanned aircraft systems. The regulations, once finalised, would permit commercial use of drones in the country.

Drones for civilian use will require a unique identification number as well as radio frequency tags.

Nano drones, those weighing below 250 grams, would be exempt from seeking one-time approval, including the unique number requirement, as per the final draft rules prepared by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).

Drones have been classified into five categories, with those weighing up to 250 gram described as 'nano'.



Those weighing more than 250 gram and up to two kilogram would be classified as 'micro' while 'mini' would be those having weight of over 2 kilogram and less than or equal to 25 kilogram.



'Small' drones would be those weighing up to 150 kilogram and above that threshold would be classified as 'large', as per PTI.



Besides "RFID/SIM", drones should have return to home option and anti-collision lights, as per the draft rules.



RFID (radio frequency identification) is used for the identification purpose electronically.



Apart from barring these drones to be operated within 5 kilometre of an airport, they would be restricted from "within 50 kilometre from international border and beyond 500 metre (horizontal) into sea along the coastline".



Drones would not be allowed within "5 kilometre radius from Vijay Chowk (in national capital)" and also from a mobile platform such as a moving vehicle, ship or aircraft.



"We are making the rules very very user-friendly," Civil Aviation Secretary RN Choubey told reporters.



Noting that the draft norms have been prepared after extensive consultations internally, he said the final and formal Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR) for drones is expected to be in place by December-end.



Various restrictions have been proposed to ensure that drones are used only for valid purposes and there would be 'no drone zones'.



"All drones are proposed to be operated in visual line of sight, during day time only and below 200 feet," the ministry said in a release.

Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju expressed hope that the draft norms would encourage genuine and "discourage nefarious activities".

Time for some exciting action in the sky - we will issue draft regulations for use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (Drones) at 4:30 pm today.  Ashok Gajapathi Raju (@Ashok_Gajapathi) November 1, 2017

On the other hand, Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation Jayant Sinha said, "We have taken a major step regarding drone policy today. We have studied various policies from all across the globe and formulated a drone policy which would encourage this industry. It is on website for public consultation. I believe by January 1 we'll be able to implement it," ANI reported.

"Drone is such a technology that has several purposes. The kind of experimentation that is happening with drone has led to expectations that the delivery of products of e-commerce, medical supplies, photography, shall happen through drones in future. As far as our country is concerned, we need to put some restrictions considering safety measures to avoid misuse of drone. We needed to balance the fact that drone industry should be promoted while also the misuse is avoided," he added.

Currently, aircraft rules do not cover use of drones as well as their sale and purchase. Aviation regulator DGCA had in October 2014 restricted the use of drones and unmanned aircraft system by civilians.

The draft norms would be put up for public consultations for a month.

(With Agency inputs)
New Delhi: Congress tops the list in the upcoming elections in Himachal Pradesh in terms of crorepati candidates while BJP has the maximum number of candidates with criminal records.

According to an analysis by Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) into candidates' affidavit reveals that 59 out of 68 candidates from Congress have declared assets in excess of Rs 1 crore. That is 87 per cent and the highest among all political parties. The BJP has 47 of its 68 candidates with assets worth more than Rs 1 crore - 69 per cent.

The richest candidate in the fray is BJP's Balvir Singh Verma from Chopal constituency. His net worth is Rs 90 crores. Congress' Vikramaditya Singh from Shimla Rural is second in the list with Rs 84 crore.

The report further finds that 158 of the total 338 candidates are worth more than Rs 1 crore.

The BJP heads the list in terms of candidates with criminal records - at 23. Nine of these candidates face serious charges like murder, attempt to murder and kidnapping. Congress has six candidates with criminal cases against them.

The details emerge on a day when the Election Commission told Supreme Court that convicted MPs and MLAs should be banned for life from contesting polls. Under the current law, a lawmaker can be debarred for six years from contesting elections once he is convicted for heinous or moral offences.
New Delhi: The Army on Wednesday urged veterans and serving officers to verify defence-related information before commenting on it on social media, saying that "vested interests", including those in neighbouring countries, were carrying out a deliberate misinformation campaign.

The advisory by the Army did not specify the issues but many veterans and serving officers have in recent days commented on contentious subjects such as the status equivalence between military officers and their civilian counterparts and the One-Rank-One-Pension scheme.

The advisory was posted on Twitter by the Army's additional directorate general of public information.

It said material printed on the letterheads of the ministry of defence or branches of Army headquarters were being circulated on social media and some of these were false.

"At times, even vintage photographs are being circulated to depict recent incidents. Therefore, it is apparent that there is a deliberate misinformation campaign being launched by vested interests, some of which is being initiated from countries bordering our nation," the advisory said.

It advised the veterans and officers to approach the Army headquarters to check the veracity of information or material before they commented on issues that directly affected the service.

"This does not in any way deny veterans the right to healthy criticism on any issue that they feel necessitates attention of our community," it added.
NEW DELHI: Congress chief Sonia Gandhi launched a scathing attack on the political climate in the country. They called for undaunted efforts in the face of what they claimed was "rising intolerance" in the country.

Sonia's remarks were read out by her son Rahul Gandhi at a ceremony on Tuesday evening to give away the 30th Indira Gandhi Award for National Integration to Carnatic musician TM Krishna. She had been unable to attend due to her health. Sonia had been admitted to the hospital last Saturday with an upset stomach.

"In today's times, when our country finds itself increasingly divided in the name of a narrow nationalism, the Indira Gandhi Award for National Integration is recognition of the values she stood for," Rahul said as he read out the Congress president's remarks.

"The country's heritage is now in the hands of those who are bent upon rewriting history, imposing falsehood and unscientific ideas on our people and stifling independent thinking," the statement continued, in an apparent attack on the Narendra Modi government.

"The (Indira Gandhi) Award reminds all of us that like her we must be undaunted, unafraid and uncompromising against the forces of darkness that seek to engulf our land," Rahul said.

(With inputs from PTI)
New Delhi: An Indian jailed in Peshawar has filed a petition in Pakistan High Court asking authorities to not regard him as a spy.

Hamid Nehal Ansari currently faces espionage charges after he reportedly entered Pakistan from Afghanistan without travel papers in 2012 to meet a woman he had met online. He was tried by a military court and was sentenced to three years rigrous imprisonment from December 15 of 2015 till December 14 of 2018.

According to Pakistan's Express Tribune, Ansari has now sought that his jail term be reduced as no evidence of anti-state acitivity has been found against him. Filed through his lawyer Qazi Muhammad Anwar, Ansari in his petition has stated that he has already spent close to two years in jail for traveling without legal documents.

Ansari had left India for Afghanistan on a tourist visa before crossing over to Pakistan via Jalalabad. He was 27 when he was arrested from Kohat city. It is alleged that he had a fake id which identified him as Hamza.

Ansari had also filed a petition in 2016 for fair treatment in jail after Dawn reported that he received injuries during two attacks on him by fellow inmates. In his latest petition though, he seeks to drop the words "anti-state activities" with "illegal activities" on his warrants.

(With inputs from IANS)
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday condoled the explosion at an NTPC plant in Uttar Pradesh and assured that efforts are being made to restore normalcy. The explosion took place in a boiler and killed at least 18 while injuring close to 100.

PM Modi took to Twitter to express condolences and said that the situation is being closely monitored. "Deeply pained by the accident at the NTPC plant in Raebareli," he wrote on the micro-blogging site. "My thoughts are with the bereaved families. May the injured recover quickly. The situation is being closely monitored & officials are ensuring normalcy is restored."

Deeply pained by the accident at the NTPC plant in Raebareli. My thoughts are with the bereaved families. May the injured recover quickly. The situation is being closely monitored & officials are ensuring normalcy is restored: PM @narendramodi  PMO India (@PMOIndia) November 1, 2017

The blast occured in the boiler of 500MW under trial unit at its plant in Uchahar (Raebareli district) - some 110 kilometers from the state capital of Lucknow.

A senior official said the unit was the sixth at NTPC and was commissioned on March 31 this year. Panic-stricken labourers ran in all directions to escape from the explosion. Many received burn injuries.

An alert was sounded at the community health centre (CHC), district hospital and at other medical centres after the accident. Medical officials said every available ambulance was pressed into action.

State Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who is in Mauritius on a three-day visit, also expressed condolences and annoucned Rs 2 lakh for the families of those killed. Rs 50,000 has been announced for those injured.
By PTI: Bengaluru, Nov 1 (PTI) Senior IPS officer Neelamani N Raju has taken charge as the first womanDirector General of Police of Karnataka.

Soon after assuming charge last evening, Raju said her ascendance to the top post had boosted the morale of other women IPS officers in the state.

The DGP said she wants to make police stations more women-friendly and providing security is her top priority.

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Thanking the government for reposing faith in her, Raju said there were challenges ahead in Karnataka where assembly elections are due early next year.

She also said Tipu Jayanthi, being opposed by the BJP, is a "big challenge" but she was confident of handling the situation.

The state government is celebrating the birthanniversary of the 18th Century Mysore ruler Tipu Sultan onNovember 10. The move has been opposed tooth and nail by theBJP which sees Tipu Sultan as a "religious bigot" and a "brutal killer".

An IPS officer of 1983 batch, 57-year-oldRaju replaced Rupak Kumar Dutta who retired.

Though there were other claimants for the post, the government gave preference to the seniority.

Her husband D N Narasimha Raju had retired as principal secretary to the chief minister last year. PTI GMS RA VS DIP

--- ENDS ---
New Delhi: A blast at NTPC plant in Uttar Pradesh's Uchahar killed at least 18 and injured close to 100 on Wednesday. While local administation and NTPC officials rushed to conduct rescue operations, the toll is expected to rise.

Following are the major developments:



* The explosion occured late afternoon in one of the boilers at the plant in Unchahar - about 110 kms away from UP state capital of Lucknow. NTPC said the accident took place in the boiler of 500MW under trial unit.

* Officials said the explosion took place in the boiler which is filled with water in tubes which are heated. This in turn creates steam which moves the turbines and generates electricity.

* A senior official said the unit was the sixth at NTPC and was commissioned on March 31 this year.

* Panic-stricken labourers ran in all directions to escape from the explosion. Many received burn injuries.

* An alert was sounded at the community health centre (CHC), district hospital and at other medical centres, after the accident.

* Local administration has pressed every available ambulance into rescue and relief operations.

* A National Disaster Response Force unit has been dispatched from Lucknow to assist in rescue operations.

* NTPC's senior management has also rushed to the spot.

* Union health minister JP Nadda has spoken to state health minister about the accident. He has also asked Union Health Secretary to extend all possible help.

* State CM Yogi Adityanath, who is in Mauritius on a three-day visit, has expressed condolences and annoucned Rs 2 lakh for the families of those killed. Rs 50,000 has been announced for those injured.
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and world leaders on Wednesday condemned the terror attack in New York in which eight persons were run over by a truck.

Here are some of those reactions:-

Donald Trump

Condemning the incident, US President Donald Trump tweeted: "In NYC, looks like another attack by a very sick and deranged person. Law enforcement is following this closely. NOT IN THE U.S.A.!"

"We must not allow ISIS to return, or enter, our country after defeating them in the Middle East and elsewhere. Enough!" Trump said in another tweet.

"My thoughts, condolences and prayers to the victims and families of the New York City terrorist attack. God and your country are with you!" the President wrote on Twitter.

My thoughts, condolences and prayers to the victims and families of the New York City terrorist attack. God and your country are with you!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 31, 2017

PM Narendra Modi

"Strongly condemn the terror attack in New York City. My thoughts are with the families of the deceased and prayers with those injured," the Prime Minister wrote on Twitter.

Strongly condemn the terror attack in New York City. My thoughts are with the families of the deceased & prayers with those injured.  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 1, 2017

Theresa May

British Prime Minister Theresa May said that she is "appalled by the cowardly attack" in New York in which eight persons were run over by a truck on Tuesday.

"My thoughts are with all affected," she said. "Together we will defeat the evil of terrorism" and the "UK stands with NYC", she said.

New York Mayor Bill de Blasio

"This was an act of terror," the New York Mayor said.

Eight persons were killed and 12 injured after a truck ploughed into pedestrians in Lower Manhattan on Tuesday. The suspect has been arrested. New York City Police Commissioner James O' Neil said the suspect was a 29-year-old man, who was not from the city. According to reports, the attacker is Sayfullo Saipov from Florida, .
New Delhi: President Ram Nath Kovind on Wednesday expressed his deep appreciation for Bhutan's support in resolving the recent stand-off with China at Dokalam.

The manner in which both India and Bhutan stood together to address the situation in Dokalam "is a clear testimony to our friendship", a Rashtrapati Bhavan statement said.

Kovind, who met Bhutan King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, the queen and the prince at Rashtrapati Bhavan, said the security concerns of India and Bhutan are indivisible and mutual.

The president "conveyed deep appreciation for the King of Bhutan?s personal involvement and guidance and the support provided by Bhutan in addressing the recent situation in the Dokalam area", the statement said.

India and China's troops were locked in a 73-day stand- off in Dokalam, a tri-junction between Sino-India and Bhutanese border near Sikkim, from June 16 this year after Indian Army personnel stopped the Chinese Army from building a road in the disputed area.

The president said India and Bhutan share exemplary bilateral relations.

"Our relations are unique and special. Our bilateral ties are based on utmost trust and understanding. We should do everything to make it a model of bilateral cooperation, which will be noted by others in the neighbourhood," he said.

The president said India was delighted to see the rapid progress made in Bhutan while simultaneously preserving its very special culture as well as protecting the environment.

"India has been happy to share its knowledge, experience and resources with Bhutan. Our development cooperation has been guided by the priorities set by the government and people of Bhutan," he said.

Kovind also complimented the king of Bhutan on the successful completion of the first decade of his reign and his vision for a stable, happy and prosperous Bhutan.

The royal couple is on four-day visit to India.
BHOPAL: Rejoicing Central Bureau of Investigation's (CBI's) clean chit in Vyapam scam probe, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Wednesday said that truth has prevailed finally.

"I was clean so a clean chit to me was obvious," Chouhan told reporters here.

His reaction comes a day after CBI filed chargesheet in Vyapam scam and gave a clean chit to the BJP leader. The agency has said that there is no mention of 'CM' in hard disc seized. It also filed chargesheet against 490 accused in the scam.

Without naming senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh, Chouhan said, "People working in public life should not level false allegations against an opponent just for the sake of defaming. The opposition has a right to level allegations but those allegations must be based on facts."

Congress leader Digvijaya Singh had earlier alleged that the hard disk, containing data on Vyapam seized by Indore police, has been tampered. He further alleged that Chouhan's name appears 48 times on it.

In 2015, Singh moved to the Supreme Court seeking forensic investigation of documents, including the hard disk recovered from the Vyapam office.

Refuting all statements, CBI said that there is no basis in the allegations made Singh.

Vyavsayik Pariksha Mandal or Vyapam scam revolved around the admission and recruitment in Madhya Pradesh Professional Examination Board (MPPEB).

The scam involved several politicians, senior officials, and businessmen. The examinations were taken by around 3.2 million students.

Vyapam scam is also known for the deaths. A number of people connected to the scam, died mysteriously during the course of the investigation.

With ANI inputs
New Delhi: Singapore has offered assistance to promote India's digital payment network RuPay card overseas by becoming its first international partner.

Singapore Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Balakrishnan said his country is ready to become RuPay Card's first international partner, while praising steps taken by the government such as promotion of digital payments and use of Aadhaar.

The RuPay card is a digital payment platform whose benefits include lower transaction cost as the processing is done within India, which also leads to faster transactions.

Balakrishnan believes there is a need to step up the pace of digitisation in India.

The minister offered Singapore's help in taking RuPay overseas by becoming its first international partner while addressing a conference organised by CII late last evening.

According to Balakrishnan, global value chains are changing due to technology and India needs to integrate itself with South-East Asia to take advantage of this opportunity.

He pointed out that international tourist arrivals in India were just 8.2 million, about half of what Singapore currently receives.

The minister was of the view that given India's diversity and size, the country has the potential to increase foreign tourist arrivals manifold. Towards this objective, he drew attention to the air connectivity between India and South-East Asia.

"He observed that Singapore is India?s 10th largest trading partner and 2nd largest foreign investor. He stressed that the investment figures comprise actual investment such as Ascendas' USD 2 billion investment in IT parks, Sembcorp's investment of USD 3 billion in the power sector and Singapore Airline's investment in Vistara," CII said in a statement.

He also highlighted India's strong historical footprint in the region and deep influence in the culture, religion and languages of South-East Asia. Singapore, the Minister pointed out, throughout history has always acted as a gateway for India in the region.
Bengaluru: Taking his advocacy of Kannada nationalism to a new level, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday said that anyone who lives in the state must know Kannada.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah made these remarks while addressing a gathering at the 62nd Karnataka Rajyotsava in the state capital.

All schools in the state must teach Kannada, the Chief Minister said.

Everyone who lives here is a Kannadiga. Whoever lives in Karnataka should learn Kannada and make their children learn it too, Siddaramaiah said.

The Congress leader, however, said that he is not against any particular community or language.

I am not against learning any language. But if you dont learn Kannada, it means youre showing disrespect to the language, he added.

Siddaramaiah also asked Kannadigas to be more affectionate towards their states language.

Siddaramaiah had earlier said that any attack on Kannada will not be tolerated.

Earlier in September, Siddaramaiah had also written to Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley asking him to direct Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) to amend language proficiency clause.

In his letter, Siddaramaiah said candidates with proficiency in local language should be given preference in selection of Bank Officers and Office Assistants in Karnataka.

The Chief Minister had said the selected candidates must know the local language Kannada to communicate with people in rural areas.

Earlier this year, he had also said that Hindi cannot be imposed on all and is not the national language of the country.

Hindi cannot be imposed; you must leave it to people to learn it. Hindi is not and cannot be the national language. It is just one of the languages of the country. I am not opposing learning of any language, be it Hindi, Tamil or even foreign languages; only thing is, do not impose it, Siddaramiah had said.

Focusing on preservation of Kannada language, the Chief Minister called for efforts towards creating an atmosphere for learning Kannada at all educational institutions across the state.

The CM also made a point by saying that Karnataka did not succeed in making Kannada a priority in the last 60 years.
MUMBAI: Violent scuffle ensued between workers of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena or MNS party and Congress on Wednesday during a hawker's protest in Dadar. The Rapid Action Force was called in to control the situation. Several workers from both the parties were detained by the police.

Congress party workers had come out in support of the hawkers.

Following Mumbai's Elphinstone station stampede tragedy that claimed 23 lives and injured several others, MNS chief Raj Thackeray addressed a public rally. He threatened the railway administration to make sure hawkers dont come at Mumbai stations.

Taking matters into their own hands, MNS activists have been assaulting roadside vendors and hawkers over the past few weeks, in a bid to evict them forcibly.

Reacting to this, on Saturday several hawkers attacked MNS workers outside suburban Malad railway station as the later tried to evict them forcibly.

Meanwhile, a political tussle between the MNS and the Congress intensified. The Raj Thackeray-led party held a protest outside the suburban residence of Mumbai unit Congress president Sanjay Nirupam, who has sided with hawkers.
New Delhi: The BSE Sensex closed at fresh record high by jumping over 350 points on Wednesday while the NSEs Nifty ended more than 100 points to close at record high following the jump in Indias ranking in the World Bank ease of doing business survey for 2018.

India went up by 30 notches to 100th position on the World Bank ranking, released on Tuesday.

Moreover, eight core sectors growing to a six-month high of 5.2 per cent in September and positive leads from global market accelerated the buying pace that lifted key indices to new highs.

The Sensex settled at a new closing peak of 33,600.27, up 387.14 points, or 1.17 per cent. The index surpassed its previous closing record of 33,266.16, touched on October 30.

On Tuesday, the gauge had retreated from record by losing 53.03 points.

Similarly, the broader 50-issue NSE Nifty breached the 10,450-mark for the first time to hit a new intra-day peak at 10,451.65, bettering its record of 10,384.50 hit on October 30.

However, profit-taking at record levels erased gains and finally settled at 10,440.50

Better-than-estimated earnings by some more companies too bolstered trading sentiments.

The market rally was driven by strong buying in telecom, banking, realty, metal, FMCG and PSU counters. Traders said uninterrupted pumping of funds into equities by domestic institutional investors also boosted investor sentiment.

In the Sensex kitty, Bharti Airtel emerged biggest gainer by jumping over 8 per cent even as the company posted sixth straight quarter of drop on earnings as its consolidated net profit plunged 76.5 per cent for the September quarter.

(With PTI inputs)
Mumbai: A man driving a rented pickup truck mowed down pedestrians and cyclists on a bike path alongside the Hudson River in New York City on Tuesday, killing eight people and injuring about a dozen others in what authorities said was an act of terrorism.

Former Miss World and actress Priyanka Chopra, who apparently stays close to the spot where the tragic incident took place, tweeted:

Nyc.. As resilient as ever. Iu. My condolences to everyone affected by this tragedy (sic).

This happened 5 blocks from my home,As I drive back home from work,Dreary sirens remind me that this is the state of the world #nyc #peace (sic).

Nyc.. As resilient as ever. Iu. My condolences to everyone affected by this tragedy.  PRIYANKA (@priyankachopra) 1 November 2017

This happened 5 blocks from my home,As I drive back home from work,Dreary sirens remind me that this is the state of the world #nyc #peace 1 November 2017

Priyanka is in the US to shoot for the third season of ABCs Quantico, a show in which she essays the role of a FBI agent.

The terrifying incident marked the greatest loss of life from a suspected terrorist attack in New York since suicide hijackers crashed jetliners into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in lower Manhattan on Sept. 11, 2001, killing more than 2,600 people.

Tuesday`s assault, on the far west side of lower Manhattan a few blocks from the site of the World Trade Center, was reminiscent of several deadly vehicle attacks in Europe during the past 15 months.

(With Reuters inputs)
Jaipur: The Jaipur Municipal Corporation in Rajasthan has made it compulsory for all its employees to sing the national anthem in the morning and Vande Mataram in the evening with the city mayor making it clear that 'those who don't want to sing can go to Pakistan'.

The anthem will be sung at 9.50 am every morning. The employees are meant to report to work at 9:30 am in the municipal corporation. At around 5:55 pm, five minutes before the closing time, the employees have to sing the national song Vande Mataram.

The new rule came into force on Tuesday.

Confirming the report, city Mayor Ashok Lahoty told reporters, "Nothing has more positive energy than the national song. One should go home with the positive energy of the national song and give quality time to his family,"

"It has many benefits. This will develop a work culture, there will be positive energy. This will increase workmanship," he added.

He, however, dismissed the report on the 'Pakistan' jibe.

"No, I did not mean to say go to Pakistan. That was just friendly banter. Someone asked what if someone opposes singing the national anthem. I said this is not Pakistan."

The new diktat comes in the middle of a debate over the singing of the national anthem in cinema halls.

Almost a year ago, the Supreme Court, in a ruling, asked cinema halls to play the national anthem before the screening of films.

However, last week, the apex court asked the central government to consider regulating the playing of the anthem while noting that "we don't have to wear patriotism on our sleeves."

The government has argued that India is a diverse country and the national anthem can be a unifying force.
In the wake of the New York terror attack, US President Donald Trump tweeted that he has ordered the Homeland Security to step up the country's vetting programme.

The pickup truck which was used to run over people in yesterday's New York City attack. Source: Reuters

By India Today Web Desk: Responding to the terror attack at New York's Manhattan, which has killed at least eight, US President Donald Trump has ordered a more robust vetting programme of travellers coming into the US.

"I have just ordered Homeland Security to step up our already-extreme vetting programme. Being politically correct is fine, but not for this!" Trump tweeted.

I have just ordered Homeland Security to step up our already Extreme Vetting Program. Being politically correct is fine, but not for this!- Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 1, 2017

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Trump has also changed the banner on his Twitter account to the New York skyline.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims of today's terrorist attack in New York City and their families," Trump had said in a statement after the attack.

Earlier, the US president took to Twitter to decry the attack, saying "we must not allow ISIS to return".

"In NYC, looks like another attack by a very sick and deranged person. Law enforcement is following this closely. NOT IN THE U.S.A.!" Trump tweeted.

In NYC, looks like another attack by a very sick and deranged person. Law enforcement is following this closely. NOT IN THE U.S.A.!- Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 31, 2017

"We must not allow ISIS to return, or enter, our country after defeating them in the Middle East and elsewhere. Enough!" he said in another tweet.

We must not allow ISIS to return, or enter, our country after defeating them in the Middle East and elsewhere. Enough!- Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 31, 2017

The Trump administration announced last week that it would resume accepting refugees after a 120-day ban, though arrivals from 11 "high-risk" countries, most of them home to Muslim majorities, will still be blocked.

THE NEW YORK TERROR ATTACK

At least eight people were killed and 11 others injured in Lower Manhattan late Tuesday afternoon after a truck driver ploughed through a busy bike path. This incident is being described as the first deadly terror attack in New York since the 9/11 carnage.

The suspect, 29-year-old Sayfullo Saipov of Florida, is said to be originally from Uzbekistan. After the attack he was shot in the stomach before being arrested.

[With inputs from PTI]

Multiple bikes leftt crushed along the bike path in lower Manhattan after the attack. Source: Reuters

--- ENDS ---
Among the many powerful names of Lord Shiva  Neelkantha  finds a special mention. A legend associated with this name is inspiring.

As we know, Hinduism is a philosophy explained using metaphors. These metaphors describe the fundamental values and principles of life and the Samudra Manthan episode will establish the reason why Shiva is also known as Neelkantha.

Heres the meaningful legend:

When the Asuras (demons) and the Devas (Gods) were eager to get hold of Amrit, the divine nectar of immortality, a contest was organised so that one of the two parties could reap benefits. The samudra/kshirasagara (ocean) needed to be churned in order to attain the nectar. And to execute this daunting task, the Mandara Parvat (a mighty mountain named Mandara) was used as a churning rod and Vasuki (the king of Snakes) was turned into a rope.

The Devas and the Asuras started pulling the rope from either side so that the nectar from the bottom of the Kshirasagara could be obtained but while churning, even harmful things started surfacing. Halahala was a poison that gradually started spreading all over. According to another legend, Halahala was the poison that dripped from Vasukis mouth as he was pulled to and fro by the Devas and the Asuras.

This Halahala was so poisonous that it could ruin creation. Fearing the end, the Devas and the Asuras pleaded to Lord Shiva to save the creation. A compassionate being that he is, Shiva agreed to drink the Halahala.

Shiva arrested it in his throat to prevent it from seeping into his body. And according to another legend, Mata Parvati on learning that Shiva had consumed the Halahala, held his throat so as to stop the poison from running down to his stomach.

The impact of the poison was such that it turned Shivas neck blue and hence the name Neelkantha.

Symbolism: Both the good and the bad exist. One needs to learn the art of stopping negative energy from affecting us.
CHENNAI: Heavy rain continued to lash Chennai and northern Tamil Nadu with northeast monsoon hitting the southern coast on Wednesday. Schools and colleges in Chennai, Kanchipuram and Tiruvallur districts remained closed for a second consecutive day, following district administration orders.

Most central areas of Chennai city received lesser rainfall compared to suburban areas in all directions where infrastructure is generally a notch lower.

By 8:30 am on Wednesday, the India Meteorological Department or IMD weather station in Nungambakkam reported receiving 116.4 mm rainfall, while an independent weather station Chepauk received 147.5 mm.

Suburban areas, especially in the southern part of the Greater Chennai region, received very heavy rainfall. Perumbakkam received 316.9 mm of rain while Chrompet received 252.2 mm of rain.

The weather department predicted rain or thundershowers at most places over coastal Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, and at many places over interior Tamil Nadu over the next four days.

Weather Forecast for Wednesday

Chennai: Moderate to heavy rainfall



Vellore  Overcast with light to moderate rainfall



Madurai  Partially cloudy with thunderstorms



Trichy  Thunderstorms expected



Coimbatore  Mostly cloudy with thunderstorms

"These rains are due to the presence of the cyclonic circulation over Sri Lankan landmass which could organise itself well as it moves into the open waters. In the wake of this persistent circulation and potential development into a low-pressure area (LPA) in the days to come, the entire coastal Tamil Nadu inclusive of Chennai may witness moderate to heavy rain for next few days. The interiors as well could get isolated moderate rain spells," stated Kea weather site
Chennai: Two girls died on Wednesday due to electrocution in Kodungaiyur in Chennai as heavy rains pounded the city and suburban areas.



Bhavna and Vijayshri, both eight years old, were electrocuted when they stepped on a power cable covered by stagnant rain water in RR Nagar.

As rains continued to lash Chennai and suburbs, low lying areas, especially in Mudichur and Selaiyur near Tambaram, were marooned.



Varadarajapuram near Mudichur, one of the worst-hit areas in the 2015 floods, again presented a picture of plight as residents started leaving for safer places.



The Met office has predicted intermittent rains in Chennai, Kanchipuram and Tiruvallur districts for Thursday.

Schools in these districts were closed for a second consecutive day on Wednesday owing to rains. They were closed on Tuesday owing to rains on Monday.



The weather department has also predicted rain or thundershowers at most places over coastal Tamil Nadu and Puducherry and at many places over interior Tamil Nadu for the next four days.



The girls who died, were playing near their home as the schools were closed because of the rains.



Eight officials of the Electricity Board, including an Executive Engineer and an Assistant Engineer, were suspended for dereliction of duty, Electricity Minister SP Velumani told reporters.



He also announced a solatium of Rs 2 lakh for the kin of the dead.



He said leakage of electricity from the wire from an open pillar box was the reason for the girls` electrocution.

Velumani said chances of electrocution were less in Chennai because of underground cabling of electric wires but the accident took place because of the lack of proper upkeep of the pillar box.

CHENNAI CITY POLICE HAS DONE MONSOON IMPROVEMENT WORK ON 30.10.2017 THROUGHOUT CHENNAI.  Chennai City Police (@chennaipolice_) October 31, 2017

Rain bands weakening. Rain will reduce for now in #Chennai #ChennaiRains November 1, 2017

Active few hours ahead for North Coastal #TamilNadu, heavy spells like in few places. #Chennai also in line for moderate spells of #Rains. pic.twitter.com/G9mvxSGcC4  Chennairains (@ChennaiRains) November 1, 2017

(With IANS inputs)
New Delhi: Telecom major Bharti Airtel will transfer the optical fibre business to its wholly owned subsidiary Telesonic Networks for a valuation of up to Rs 5,650 crore, as per a regulatory filing today.

The board of directors in its meeting yesterday "has approved the scheme of arrangement between Bharti Airtel ("Transferor Company") and Telesonic Networks Limited ("Transferee Company")...For the transfer of the optical fibre cable business of the transferor company to the transferee company, a subsidiary of the transferor company, by way of a slump sale", it said.

The optical fibre business of Bharti Airtel includes both underground and overground fibres.

Bharti Airtel said it is transferring the cable business based on cash consideration of Rs 4,564.7 crore. It will be subject to upward adjustment on account of incremental capital expenditure, working capital and the like incurred by the transferor company up to the date the deal is signed.

"However, the overall consideration shall in no event exceed Rs 5,650 crore," the filing said.

Telesonic Networks Limited, engaged in "designing, planning, deploying, optimising and managing broadband and fixed telephone networks across India...Does not belong to the promoter/promoter group/group companies", it said.

"The proposed transaction is between a holding company and its wholly owned subsidiary company," the filing said.

Bharti Airtel stock closed at Rs 538.40, up 8.19 per cent, on BSE.
Mumbai: Google on Wednesday said its cloud region in the financial capital has gone live, marking the India entry of the global online advertising giant's offerings in the emerging area, where it trails Amazon and Microsoft.

This is the first Google Cloud Platform (GCP) region in the country. It offers several services including computing, big data, storage and networking and customers will be able to pay in Indian Rupees for the services.

"The new region will help customers build applications and store their data, and significantly improve latency for customers and end users in the area," Google cloud Platform's product manager Dave Stiver said.

He added that hosting applications in the new region can improve latency from 20-90 per cent for end users in Chennai, Hyderabad, Bangalore and of course Mumbai, compared to hosting them in the other closest region, Singapore.

Other cloud regions in Asia Pacific are hosted from Taiwan, Sydney and Tokyo.

The company had earlier said that it will have three such centres across the country, without spelling out the investment. The company has earmarked USD 30 billion of investments for the cloud offerings.

In India, it has been serving companies like D B Media, Ashok Leyland, logistics player DTDC, and has also announced that Hike Messenger has shifted to its offerings recently.
New Delhi: Tata Communications on Wednesday said it has become a member of the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) that will allow it to protect its customers from online child sexual abuse material.

Tata Communications is the first internet service provider (ISP) in India to become a member of the IWF, it said in a statement.

"With this collaboration, Tata Communications is leading the way towards a safer internet by protecting citizens from online child sexual abuse material," it added.

As a part of IWF, Tata Communications will now be using the URL List service that provides a list of webpages containing child sexual abuse imagery.

"By using the URL List and removing its customers' ability to access these webpages, Tata Communications will provide its customers with the most up-to-date way to protect their networks from child sexual abuse imagery online," it said.

The company said over 28 per cent of the world's internet routes travel over Tata Communications' network, making it the fifth largest global internet backbone service provider.

"In line with our strong corporate values and ethos of integrity, we have adopted and implemented the IWF resources to block child sexual abuse material from the internet," Tata Communications General Counsel ? India and Company Secretary Manish Sansi said.

Susie Hargreaves OBE, CEO of IWF, said the partnership will help towards achieving a safer internet "by disrupting the hosting and distribution of child sexual abuse material online".

In April this year, the Indian government had directed Internet service providers (ISP) to block distribution and transmission of child sexual abuse content by July 31.

IWF has more than 130 companies as its members, including the likes of Facebook, Google, Microsoft, Cisco, Vodafone and Apple.
New Delhi: Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi will visit Uttar Pradesh`s Raebareli district on Thursday in the aftermath of a boiler blast in National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) plant.

"Due to the unfortunate NTPC accident, I will visit Raebareli tomorrow morning. Will join Gujarat navsarjan yatra in the afternoon," he tweeted.

Due to the unfortunate NTPC accident, I will visit Rae Bareli tomorrow morning. Will join Gujarat Navsarjan Yatra in the afternoon. November 1, 2017

Earlier, Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday expressed shock and horror at the blast in her constituency that has killed several people.



"I express shock and horror at the terrible tragedy in Rae Bareli, where many people lost their lives in a boiler blast in NTPC and several others injured today," Sonia said in a statement.



Conveying her deepest condolences to the families of the bereaved, the Congress president urged the authorities to provide immediate medical assistance to the injured.



She asked party workers to provide help in relief operations and provide all possible assistance to the families of the injured.

Congress President Sonia Gandhi conveys her condolences for the #NTPC tragedy in Rae Bareli. pic.twitter.com/91pOdCQQwy  INC Sandesh (@INCSandesh) November 1, 2017

The NTPC has initiated a probe to ascertain the reasons behind the Unchahar plant blast while UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has announced Rs two lakh compensation for the families of those killed and Rs 50,000 for the grievously injured.

(With IANS inputs)
New Delhi: A Swiss couple, who was attacked at Fatehpur Sikri earlier this month have been offered a free two-night stay at a five-star hotel in the national capital as a "token of concern" by Tourism Minister KJ Alphons.

In a letter to the couple, Mr Alphons offered to put them up at the government-run ITDC hotel, The Ashok, after they recovered from their injuries.

He said the couple, Marie Droze and Quentin Jeremy Clerc, can choose to stay at the hotel on the dates of their choice.

"Trust you are recovering fast and would be on your way home soon. As a token of our concern, we would like to offer you a room at our luxury hotel, The Ashok, at Chankyapuri, New Delhi for two nights on the dates of your choice. All expenses at the hotel, including food and beverages, would be covered," he said in the letter.

Set upon 25 acres of prime land in the capital's diplomatic area, The Ashok is situated 2 km from Rashtrapati Bhavan. The tariff per night is around Rs. 10,000.

The minister had earlier written to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath over the issue and also visited the couple, who are currently recovering at Apollo Hospital, Delhi, assuring them of help.

On October 22, the couple from Lausanne in Switzerland, were chased and attacked 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.

They later told the media that as they lay on the ground bloodied and bruised, bystanders began making videos of them on their mobile phones.
Washington: President Donald Trump on Wednesday criticised the nation`s visa system in the wake of Tuesday`s truck attack in New York City and pressed for a `merit based` program for immigrants to the United States.

"The terrorist came into our country through what is called the `Diversity Visa Lottery Program,` a Chuck Schumer beauty. I want merit-based," Trump posted on Twitter.

The terrorist came into our country through what is called the "Diversity Visa Lottery Program," a Chuck Schumer beauty. I want merit based.  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 1, 2017

We are fighting hard for Merit Based immigration, no more Democrat Lottery Systems. We must get MUCH tougher (and smarter). @foxandfriends  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 1, 2017

"Senator Chuck Schumer helping to import Europes problems" said Col.Tony Shaffer. We will stop this craziness! @foxandfriends  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 1, 2017

Earlier, he had ordered more robust "extreme vetting" of travellers coming into the US.

"I have just ordered Homeland Security to step up our already extreme vetting programme. Being politically correct is fine, but not for this," Trump had tweeted.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims of today's terrorist attack in New York City and their families," he had further said and had added, "we must not allow ISIS to return."

I have just ordered Homeland Security to step up our already Extreme Vetting Program. Being politically correct is fine, but not for this!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 1, 2017

The Trump administration had last week announced that it would resume accepting refugees after a 120-day ban, though arrivals from 11 "high-risk" countries, most of them home to Muslim majorities, will still be blocked.

At least eight people were killed and 11 others injured in Lower Manhattan after a gunman in a truck ploughed through a busy bike path, an incident the US termed as an "act of terrorism", PTI reported.

The man accused of killing eight people by racing a pickup truck down a New York City bike path may have worked as a driver and lived in New Jersey after emigrating from Uzbekistan seven years ago, according to authorities and media reports.

Police have declined to identify the 29-year-old suspect but a source familiar with the investigation identified him as Sayfullo Habibullaevic Saipov and said he was not a US citizen, as per Reuters.

His immigration status was not immediately clear.

Saipov was shot by a police officer while attempting to flee minutes after the attack and was whisked away to a local hospital, where he was recovering from an abdominal wound.

Meanwhile, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said there's no evidence to suggest there's a wider threat or plot, warning that people will still see more security forces out of caution.

On the other hand, NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio said, "This is a very painful day in our city, but New Yorkers will not be changed by an act of terror."

This was a cowardly act of terror. It was intended to break our spirit. But New Yorkers are resilient. We will be undeterred. October 31, 2017

New York City. Greatest place on earth. pic.twitter.com/HmV7OZc9uN  NYC Mayor's Office (@NYCMayorsOffice) November 1, 2017

(With Agency inputs)
Madrid: Dismissed Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont will ignore a court order to return to Spain to answer charges over the region`s push for independence, but he could testify from Belgium, his lawyer said on Wednesday.

If Puigdemont fails to answer Thursday`s High Court summons, an arrest warrant could be issued that would make it virtually impossible for him to stand in a snap regional election called by the Spanish government for Dec. 21.

There was currently no arrest warrant out for Puigdemont, the lawyer, Paul Bekaert, told Associated Press.

Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy sacked Puigdemont and his government on Friday, hours after the Catalan parliament made a unilateral declaration of independence -- a vote boycotted by the opposition and declared illegal by Spanish courts.

On Monday, Spain`s state prosecutor filed charges of rebellion, sedition and misuse of public funds against Puigdemont for defying the central government by holding an referendum on secession on Oct. 1 and later proclaiming independence.

Puigdemont travelled to Belgium at the weekend with other members of the dismissed Catalan administration and hired a lawyer.

"(He) is not going to Madrid and I suggest that they question him here in Belgium. It is possible," Bekaert told AP, adding there were provisions in the law that allowed his questioning outside Spain.

The High Court summoned Puigdemont and 13 other former members of the Catalan government to testify in Madrid on Thursday and Friday on the prosecutor`s charges.

A judge will then decide whether those called to testify should go to jail pending an investigation that could take several years and potentially lead to a trial. The judge might also grant them conditional bail or order them to surrender their passports.

If Puigdemont and his associates did not turn up, the judge might also order them jailed as a flight risk.

The courts have also told the Catalan secessionist leaders to deposit 6.2 million euros ($7.2 million) by Friday to cover potential liabilities.

"OFF TO PRISON"?

Three former Catalan government advisors returned to Spain from Belgium late on Tuesday and were greeted at Barcelona`s international airport by a small crowd chanting "off to prison".

Puigdemont and four others were not among those returning to Spain. He said on Tuesday he would only go back to Spain when given unspecified "guarantees" by the Spanish government.

Wednesday is a national holiday in Spain and government offices are closed, giving a brief respite in Spain`s gravest political crisis since its return to democracy some four decades ago.

Following a tumultuous month, attention is also gradually turning to the December election, called by Rajoy when Madrid took over control of the previously autonomous region.

Puigdemont said in Brussels on Tuesday he accepted the election and the Madrid government said he was welcome to stand, though legal proceedings might prevent that.

Uncertainty over how the crisis will play out has prompted more than 1,800 Catalonia-based companies to move their legal headquarters out of the region and the government to lower its country-wide economic forecasts for next year.

On Wednesday, rating agency Moody`s said the declaration of independence and the suspension of self rule were credit negative for the region and the country, and that associated uncertainty would damage sentiment and consumer spending.

Moody`s raised Spain`s credit rating to Baa2 in 2014 as the country emerged from a prolonged economic slump.

On Tuesday, Moody`s affirmed Catalonia`s long-term issuer and debt ratings of Ba3, saying the government`s reinforced control compensated for the increased risks, in particular the region`s rapidly deteriorating business climate.

If Puigdemont fails to answer Thursday`s High Court summons, an arrest warrant could be issued that would make it virtually impossible for him to stand in a snap regional election called by the Spanish government for Dec. 21.

There was currently no arrest warrant out for Puigdemont, the lawyer, Paul Bekaert, told Associated Press.

Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy sacked Puigdemont and his government on Friday, hours after the Catalan parliament made a unilateral declaration of independence -- a vote boycotted by the opposition and declared illegal by Spanish courts.

On Monday, Spain`s state prosecutor filed charges of rebellion, sedition and misuse of public funds against Puigdemont for defying the central government by holding an referendum on secession on Oct. 1 and later proclaiming independence.

Puigdemont travelled to Belgium at the weekend with other members of the dismissed Catalan administration and hired a lawyer.

"(He) is not going to Madrid and I suggest that they question him here in Belgium. It is possible," Bekaert told AP, adding there were provisions in the law that allowed his questioning outside Spain.

The High Court summoned Puigdemont and 13 other former members of the Catalan government to testify in Madrid on Thursday and Friday on the prosecutor`s charges.

A judge will then decide whether those called to testify should go to jail pending an investigation that could take several years and potentially lead to a trial. The judge might also grant them conditional bail or order them to surrender their passports.

If Puigdemont and his associates did not turn up, the judge might also order them jailed as a flight risk.

The courts have also told the Catalan secessionist leaders to deposit 6.2 million euros ($7.2 million) by Friday to cover potential liabilities.

"OFF TO PRISON"?

Three former Catalan government advisors returned to Spain from Belgium late on Tuesday and were greeted at Barcelona`s international airport by a small crowd chanting "off to prison".

Puigdemont and four others were not among those returning to Spain. He said on Tuesday he would only go back to Spain when given unspecified "guarantees" by the Spanish government.

Wednesday is a national holiday in Spain and government offices are closed, giving a brief respite in Spain`s gravest political crisis since its return to democracy some four decades ago.

Following a tumultuous month, attention is also gradually turning to the December election, called by Rajoy when Madrid took over control of the previously autonomous region.

Puigdemont said in Brussels on Tuesday he accepted the election and the Madrid government said he was welcome to stand, though legal proceedings might prevent that.

Uncertainty over how the crisis will play out has prompted more than 1,800 Catalonia-based companies to move their legal headquarters out of the region and the government to lower its country-wide economic forecasts for next year.

On Wednesday, rating agency Moody`s said the declaration of independence and the suspension of self rule were credit negative for the region and the country, and that associated uncertainty would damage sentiment and consumer spending.

Moody`s raised Spain`s credit rating to Baa2 in 2014 as the country emerged from a prolonged economic slump.

On Tuesday, Moody`s affirmed Catalonia`s long-term issuer and debt ratings of Ba3, saying the government`s reinforced control compensated for the increased risks, in particular the region`s rapidly deteriorating business climate.
An eyewitness claims seeing the New York terror attack suspect running towards group of children with guns. After his arrest, a paintball gun and a pellet gun were recovered from the scene.

By India Today Web Desk: An eyewitness to the truck attack in Manhattan, New York, says the alleged suspect was seen "sprinting toward a group of kids" after crashing the truck he was driving into a school bus.

"I saw the shooter come outside of his car, and I saw him exit and run toward a group of kids," witness Thibaud Roy told ABC News. "That's what I saw."

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The alleged suspect, 29-year-old Sayfullo Saipov from Florida, is said to have mowed down pedestrians and bicyclists in a rented pickup truck along a busy bike path near the World Trade Center memorial in New York City. The incident took place on Tuesday late afternoon.

So far, at least eight have been reported dead and 11 injured in what is being described as a terror attack.

The truck then rammed into a school bus on Chambers Street near Stuyvesant High School, injuring two school staff members and two children, one of whom is in critical condition.

After the driver stepped out of the truck carrying what appeared to be two handguns, a police officer shot him in the abdomen before arresting him.

Reports say that the suspect was carrying "some sort of an imitation gun", and later from the crime scene, a paintball gun and a pellet gun were recovered.

The eyewitness speaking to ABC News, who claims to have seen the suspect for about 20 seconds after the attack, said that he saw the man waving the guns around as he "sprinted towards the kids,".

Watch the video clip of the suspect running with the 'imitation' guns here:

Eyewitness to NYC truck attack says alleged suspect "sprinted toward group of kids" after crashing into school bus. https://t.co/6q7VrTSU4x pic.twitter.com/MBhWr9beWl- ABC News (@ABC) November 1, 2017

--- ENDS ---
An attack in New York on Tuesday in which a man driving a pickup truck killed eight people and injured more than 12 others shook residents of the country's most populous city. A suspect was shot by police and taken into custody after what authorities described as a terrorist incident.

The following are some of the other attacks carried out in New York in recent years:

2017 - James Harris Jackson, a 28-year-old white man, stabbed Timothy Caughman, an African-American, multiple times with a sword in March. Caughman later died of his injuries and Jackson told police he traveled to the city from Maryland to kill black men.

2016 - Three bombs exploded in the New York area, two in Manhattan`s Chelsea neighborhood and one in New Jersey, in September, wounding 31 people. Several unexploded bombs were also found. The suspect, Ahmad Khan Rahimi of New Jersey, was captured after a shootout with police. Rahimi, now 29, who was born in Afghanistan, was influenced by anti-American materials believed to be produced by Islamist militant group al Qaeda, prosecutors said.

2010 - Times Square was evacuated in May when a car bomb that failed to explode was found in a sport utility vehicle. Faisal Shahzad, a naturalized American and Taliban-trained militant, later pleaded guilty and was sentenced to life imprisonment.

2008 - An individual detonated a small pipe bomb in front of the U.S. Armed Forces recruiting station in Times Square in March. There were no injuries.

2001 - On the morning of Sept. 11, members of al Qaeda flew two passenger planes into the north and south towers of Manhattan`s World Trade Center. The attacks, which involved a third plane that crashed into the Pentagon and a plane that crashed in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, killed 2,996 people and injured over 6,000 others. The death toll included some 2,600 people who were in the World Trade Center and on the ground in the subsequent collapse of the towers.

1997 - Palestinian teacher Ali Hassan Abu Kamal opened fire on the observation deck of the Empire State Building in February, killing one person and wounding six others before shooting himself.

1994 - Lebanese-born immigrant Rashid Baz shot at a van of Orthodox Jewish students on the Brooklyn Bridge, killing one and wounding three others.

1993 - Militants detonated a truck bomb below the North Tower of the World Trade Center in February, killing six people and injuring over a thousand.
A driver mowed down pedestrians near the World Trade memorial on Tuesday killing 8 people.

Authorities stand near a damaged Home Depot truck after a motorist drove onto a bike path near the World Trade Center memorial, striking and killing several people Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2017, in New York. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)

By India Today Web Desk: Eight people died and 11 were injured in an attack in Manhattan, New York on Tuesday when a driver plowed a pickup truck down a crowded path near the Hudson River in Manhattan.

The New York Police are calling it the deadliest attack in New York since the attack on September 11, 2001.

Here are the highlights of what ensued in New York's Manhattan:

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A 29-year-old driver in a rented pickup truck mowed down pedestrians in a busy street in Manhattan, killing 8 and injuring 11 people. The driver was identified as, Sayfullo Saipov, smashed the truck into a school bus got down from the truck, and started running up and down the highway with a pellet gun and a paintball gun in hand shouting "Allahu Akbar". Investigators also found handwritten notes in Arabic around the truck, but no direct evidence has been found that points directly to Saipov's allegiance to ISIS. New York's Mayor Bill de Blasio has declared the rampage a terrorist attack. In a press conference, Blasio said, "based on information we have at this moment, this was an act of terror, and a particularly cowardly act of terror aimed at innocent civilians." Saipov was shot in the abdomen after he got out of the truck and taken into custody. No information about his condition has been released yet. A police officer stands near a vehicle in the parking lot of a Home Depot store Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2017, in Passaic, N.J. Police investigating a rented Home Depot truck's deadly rampage down a bike path near New York's World Trade Center have surrounded the white Toyota minivan with Florida plates parked in a New Jersey Home Depot lot. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) According to reports, Saipov (29) came to USA in 2010 from Uzbekistan and had a green card. An official told the media that Saipov rented the truck from Home Depot in New Jersey. Investigators found that Saipov was on the radar of federal authorities. The identity of the victims has not been released yet but Belgian and Argentine governments have said that their citizens were among the victims. New York's Governor Andrew Cuomo called the attack a "lone wolf" attack and has said that there is no evidence of a wider ongoing threat as of now. Heavily armed police guard as people watch during the Greenwich Village Halloween Parade, Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2017, in New York. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki) Police will be monitoring the streets of the city on Halloween night. The city's annual Halloween parade that takes place in West Village will still take place. US President Donald Trump ccondemned the attack. "In NYC, looks like another attack by a very sick and deranged person. Law enforcement is following this closely. NOT IN THE U.S.A.!", Trump wrote on Twitter. Indian PM Narendra Modi also condemned the attack.Strongly condemn the terror attack in New York City. My thoughts are with the families of the deceased & prayers with those injured. - Modi wrote on Twitter.

--- ENDS ---
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 30, ARMENPRESS. Armenian delegation led by Speaker of the Parliament Ara Babloyan has arrived in Tajikistan on an official visit, press service of the Parliament told Armenpress.

The delegation includes MPs Vahram Baghdasaryan, Sasun Mikayelyan and Romik Manukyan.

On October 30 the Armenian Parliament Speaker and delegation members had meetings with Shukurdzhon Zukhurov, speaker of the lower house of the parliament, and Mahmadsaid Ubaidulloev, speaker of the upper house.

During the meetings the sides stated that the Armenian-Tajik relations are effectively developing, there is a high level political dialogue. The sides also expressed readiness to develop the inter-parliamentary cooperation.

Ara Babloyan said this year marks the 25th anniversary of establishment of Armenian-Tajik diplomatic ties and the cooperation which is based on traditional friendship and mutual understanding strengthens at various directions. Speaker Babloyan attached importance to the mutual visits at state level aimed at further deepening the interstate ties and in this context highlighted the visit of Tajik President Emomali Rahmon to Armenia.

The meeting touched upon also the cooperation between the legislative bodies of the two countries. The officials stated that the parliamentary friendship groups can play an important role for the development of inter-parliamentary dialogue.

Speaker Babloyan attached importance to the productive cooperation of Armenian and Tajik delegations in the CIS IPA and CSTO PA.

He also emphasized the kind attitude of the Tajik authorities towards the Armenian community.

The officials also discussed the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. They noted that the conflict should be solved exclusively through peaceful negotiations within the frames of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmanship.

They also touched upon the development of cooperation in trade-economic field and the implementation of prospective programs.
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 1, ARMENPRESS. Eight people were killed and almost a dozen injured when a 29-year-old man in a rented pickup truck drove down a busy bicycle path near the World Trade Center Tuesday in Manhattan, New York City, CNN reports.

The suspect was identified by two law enforcement sources familiar with the investigation as Sayfullo Habibullaevic Saipov. He's from Uzbekistan in Central Asia but had been living in the US since 2010, sources said.

A senior law enforcement officer told CNN a note, written in English, was found in the truck that said the attack, which unfolded around 3 p.m. on Halloween, was done in the name of ISIS.

"This was an act of terror, and a particularly cowardly act of terror," New York Mayor Bill de Blasio said, "aimed at innocent civilians, aimed at people going about their lives who had no idea what was about to hit them."

The incident is being investigated as terrorism, officials said. Witnesses reported the suspect was yelling "Allahu Akbar," according to four law enforcement sources. The FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force is taking over the lead of the investigation.

After crashing the truck into a school bus, the suspect exited the vehicle while displaying imitation firearms and was shot in the abdomen by a police officer, according to the NYPD.
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 1, ARMENPRESS. Re-elected president of the Composers Union of Armenia Aram Satyan plans to renovate the Beethoven hall of the Composers' Creative Center after Eduard Mirzoyan in Dilijan with the expectation to hold a great concert dedicated to the 250th anniversary of the renowned composer.

Aram Satyan talked about the achievements of the Union during his tenure and the future programs.

Many people are interested in what achievements Armenian composers reached during the recent years. Since 2013 the works of nearly 80 young and mature Armenian composers have been performed abroad. By this way we make the music of Armenian composers recognizable throughout the world: this is one of our priority tasks.

I want to state that several festivals have been held in Boston and Providence. A chamber music festival was held in New York which I also attended. Its surprising, the American people approached us and said they have discovered the Armenian modern music, Aram Satyan said.

He also attached importance to the festival organized by the Union in France. French musicians were performing the works of contemporary Armenian composers. We held 5 concerts in Paris, Lion, Marseille. The Armenian ministry of culture assisted this project.

We also had a joint festival in Russia and Armenia during which successful concerts were held in Armenia, than in 8 different Russian cities, and again the works of Armenian composers were performed.

In 2016 we have cooperated with China. We also hosted them in Yerevan and a concert was held in the Komitas Museum-Institute. Then we visited China and jointly performed in Beijing. During 2016 for the first time a concert was held in Belgium with the participation of local musicians where the works of our talented young musicians were performed: this was being held for the first time. This year we also organized a unique musical camp in the Creative Center after Eduard Mirzoyan in Dilijan, uniting 40 young Armenian and Georgian musicians and performers.

If I try to sum up, since 2013 numerous concerts of works of Armenian contemporary composers were held in US, Russia, France, China, Germany, Italy and etc. Their works have been performed at international festivals all over the world, he said.

Taking about the upcoming plans, Aram Satyan said they are going to hold a joint symphonic music contest with Switzerland. We also plan to organize the visit of Armenian young composers to Poland and vice versa. The talks are underway. Next month 3 concerts of Armenian music will be held in the Georgian cities of Gori and Tbilisi within the framework of Armenian-Georgian cooperation, he said.

During these years the two floors of the building of the Composers Union have been renovated. Huge works have been carried out in the Composers' Creative Center after Eduard Mirzoyan in Dilijan. It is expected to renovate the Beethoven hall of the Creative Center on the occasion of the 250th anniversary of the great composer. He said after renovation they can hold a great concert with the participation of renowned musicians from different countries of the world.
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 1, ARMENPRESS. Russia will supply a batch of military armaments to Armenia in the upcoming days as part of an active contract, while the realization of the new 100 million dollar loan agreement will begin after confirmation on all intergovernmental levels, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan said in an interview to Russias RIA Novosti.

We will realize the previous contract until the end of this year. We are expecting new supplies in the coming days, and until the end of the year we will close all issues regarding the previous contract, Sargsyan said.

We have already signed a new contract in Yerevan, in must pass all Russian and Armenian state levels, and subsequently the ratification procedure, and then we will start working with Russian manufacturers for realizing the program. Unfortunately it wont be done rather quickly, he said.

Back in June 2015, a 200 million dollar agreement was signed between Russia and Armenia for acquiring Russian military armaments.

Under the new agreement, which was approved by the Armenian government on October 12, 2017, Russia will provide a 100 million dollar state exports loan to Armenia to finance the supplies of military designated production.
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 1, ARMENPRESS. Yerevan and Moscow are developing the roadmap for implementation of programs within the frames of a joint investment fund: the resources can also be directed for financing the programs in IT and energy field, President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan said in an interview to RIA Novosti, Armenpress reports.

The project on creating Armenian-Russian investment fund was submitted in late January 2017. It will finance those fields which can ensure increase of trade turnover, exchange of import, development of industrial cooperation between the two countries.

As for the Russian-Armenian fund, we continue working. Recently the representatives of the fund visited Armenia. If we talk about the fields for investments, they are the IT, energy, high technology productionAt the moment the sides are working on forming a roadmap, President Sargsyan said.

At the same time, the President said another two investments funds have been established in Armenia: one of them is the Pan-Armenian investment fund, and the second is the Investors Club of Armenia. On November 13 this fund will hold a great presentation in Yerevan on launching an investment program (a little more than one billion USD). Those are investments mainly in Armenias energy fields which includes the modernization of Armenian electric networks, construction of new hydroelectric power plant and organization of production for Schneider Electric energy company. And I think that this production will find its consumer in the Russian market as well, Serzh Sargsyan said.
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 1, ARMENPRESS. President of the Republic of Artsakh Bako Sahakyan on November 1 held a consultation with the participation of the leadership of parliamentary standing committees, press service of the Artsakh Presidential Office told Armenpress.

A number of issues relating to the mutual cooperation of legislative and executive power branches, as well as the 2018 state budgeting were discussed.

President Sahakyan highlighted the importance of continuously enhancing the efficiency of cooperation between the power wings, adding that he expects interactive and working atmosphere of budget discussions.

The consultation was attended by Parliament Speaker Ashot Ghoulyan, as well as other officials.
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 1, ARMENPRESS. President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev sent a letter of condolences to US President Donald Trump over the New York terror attack and promised to assist in investigating the deadly attack, Reuters reports.

Earlier CNN reported 8 people were killed and almost a dozen injured when a 29-year-old man in a rented pickup truck drove down a busy bicycle path near the World Trade Center Tuesday in Manhattan, New York City.

The suspect was identified by two law enforcement sources familiar with the investigation as Sayfullo Habibullaevic Saipov. He's from Uzbekistan in Central Asia but had been living in the US since 2010, sources said.
"Rahul Gandhi was the one who counselled him and motivated him to achieve something good in life to support the family," Nirbhaya's mother Asha Devi said.

By Chayyanika Nigam: The brother of the young physiotherapist who was killed in a 2012 gang-rape in Delhi that shook the nation is ready to fly. And their mother thanks Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi for making the family's dream come true.

"Aman (name changed) is a pilot now because of Rahul Gandhi," said Asha Devi, who fought for years to get justice for her daughter. The brutality of the crime against the 23-year-old, who was named "Nirbhaya" - meaning fearless - because of laws against naming rape victims, provoked intense anger and weeks of protests across Indian cities and also hit international headlines.

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All the accused were arrested and charged with sexual assault and murder. One of them died in police custody. The four remaining adult defendants were found guilty of rape and murder and sentenced to death. A juvenile too was convicted and sent to a reform facility for three years.

The tragedy hurt Aman but could not stop him, Asha told Mail Today. Apart from sponsoring his higher education, Rahul's regular phone calls motivated him to achieve what he wanted, she said.

When his sister was killed, Aman was in Class 12. He wanted to join the military. But the brutal crime sent him into shock.

"Rahul Gandhi was the one who counselled him and motivated him to achieve something good in life to support the family. After learning that he wanted to join the defence forces, Rahul asked him to pursue a pilot's training course after completion of school," Asha said.

After his CBSE board examinations in 2013, Aman got admission at Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Uran Akademi in Rae Bareli, the Congress leader's parliamentary constituency.

"While shifting to Rae Bareli, Aman made up his mind that he will prepare for the Indian Army's recruitment examination. But on joining the course, he found it difficult. He never got time to pursue parallel studies," Asha said, quoting conversations with her son.

'NEVER QUIT'

During his 18-month pilot's training course, Aman used to get regular updates about the Nirbhaya trial. "When he was studying, Rahul used to talk to him over the phone and taught him to adopt a 'never quit' attitude." she added.

"Even after he completed his studies, he called him to find out about his training-cum-job." Aman is now undergoing final training with a commercial airline in Gurugram. He will soon fly a plane. Asha said even Rahul's sister Priyanka calls them over the phone. "She often asks about our health," she said.

Nirbhaya's youngest brother is studying engineering in Pune. Their father is a permanent employee at Delhi airport's terminal 3 and has a desk job. On Wednesday, the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) issued a notice to the city's Tihar Jail administration and the deputy commissioner of police in the south district for delaying the execution of the death penalty awarded to Nirbhaya's rapists.

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Asha Devi had complained to the DCW, asking why the criminals have not been hanged as per the Supreme Court order which came five months ago.

WATCH | No one can do a Nirbhaya now, they'll remember this verdict: Asha Devi on death penalty to rapists

--- ENDS ---
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 1, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan is donating more than 10 million drams to this years fundraiser of the Hayastan All-Armenian Fund, executive director of the fund Ara Vardanyan told ARMENPRESS.

On November 1, the Prime Minister visited the Fund to get acquainted with the 25 years of activities and programs.

The Prime Minister visited the fund at our invitation, for which we are very grateful. First of all I presented all the programs which we carry out, and also upcoming programs. A surprise happened for us, when we were in the financial department, where donations are usually made, the Prime Minister said that for this fundraiser he donates his one-year salary, which is a bit over 10 million drams, Vardanyan said.

This years telethon of Hayastan All Armenian Fund will take place on November 23.
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 1, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan on November 1 sent a letter of condolences to the Grigoryan family on the death of Peoples Artist of Armenia Alexander Grigoryan, artistic director and general producer of the State Russian Drama Theatre after K. Stanislavski of Yerevan, press service of the Presidents Office told Armenpress.

The President extended his deepest condolences to the artists family, relatives, colleagues and numerous fans.

Dedicating himself to the stage art for decades, Alexander Grigoryan enjoyed the unique love and sympathy of the audience. The unique manifestations of his activity are the numerous works of contemporary and classical playwrights performed in the Stanislavski Theatre.

The renowned artist had a significant contribution to the development of Armenian-Russian cultural ties and strengthening of friendship, reads the Presidents condolence letter.




YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 1, ARMENPRESS. Kaspersky Lab, multinational cybersecurity and anti-virus provider, announced about a new targeted cyberattack against banks.

Information security expert Samvel Martirosyan told ARMENPRESS that the cyberattack also affected the Armenian banks. Quite a major attack on the banking system took place the target of which were mainly the Russian banks, but it also affected the Armenian and Malaysian banks, he said.

Samvel Martirosyan said there are still no reports on the damage caused. Businesses in Armenia remain silent in case of such attacks, therefore we will hardly listen any statements by our banks on this, he said, stating that the attack mostly affected the bank card processing. The traces allow to suspect quite a famous cybercrime group which already for several years carries out such actions against banks. The cybercriminals managed to receive money from ATMs, on average they receive nearly half a million dollars per attack, Martirosyan said.

The information security expert said such attacks are quite hard both in terms of implementation and detection. In most cases they are detected after the attack is over.
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 1, ARMENPRESS. Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan on November 1 visited the UN Office in Armenia on the occasion of Armenias membership to the UN and the 25th anniversary of the UNs activity in Armenia, press service of the Presidents Office told Armenpress.

The President congratulated the UN staff led by UN Resident Coordinator Bradley Busetto, as well as the heads and staffs of UN agencies, foundations and programs on this important jubilee. Serzh Sargsyan highly appreciated the development programs carried out by the UN Yerevan Office in Armenia which were targeted and different starting from assistance to democratic institutions up to support to small and medium business.

During the meeting with UN Resident Coordinator Bradley Busetto, the Armenian President expressed hope that Armenias productive cooperation with the UN will further strengthen and deepen. He warmly remembered his meeting with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres more than a month ago on the sidelines of the 72nd session of the UN General Assembly. Serzh Sargsyan reaffirmed Armenias commitment to the UNs fundamental values.

Resident Coordinator Busettos contribution is also significant in the useful and productive work of the UN Yerevan Office. People in Armenia believe this Office thanks to its coordination programs are being implemented at a highly professional level and great responsibility. The UN, of course, is first of all a union of states that are gathered over common goals, and I want to thank all those people conducting a key mission under the UN who every day implement their work with the greatest dedication, the President said.

Bradley Busetto thanked the Armenian President for the visit, warm congratulatory words and appreciation, and said during those years the Office has made the best efforts to make the UN a neutral platform in Armenia for the coordinated work of the international community and Armenia.

The UN in Armenia implements numerous programs through the finance of the European Union, Russia, the United States and other donors. During these years we have tried to concentrate on strategic issues important for the Armenian government, such as modernization of border checkpoints, strengthening democratic institutions, holding democratic elections, as well as works on solving demographic issues. We also expect implementing new programs, for instance, modernization of Meghri border checkpoint, we are discussing with the emergency situations ministry the issue of cleaning hazardous warehouses in the Nairit plant. We carry out very good and important works in the bordering communities of Tavush provinces and at the moment we observe the opportunity to expand those programs including also the bordering villages of Gegharkunik and Syunik provinces.

Of course, we should not forget the works we are doing for assisting the Syrian-Armenian refugees in partnership with Armenia.

By using this chance I want to express gratitude to Armenia for contribution to stability and peace at the global level, in particular, for the important and active role in participation in the UN peacekeeping mission. I want to highlight Armenias peacekeeping mission in Mali, Lebanon and other countries and the readiness to continue it, the UN Resident Coordinator said.



At the end of the meeting the Armenian President watched the photo exhibition in the Office titled Armenia-UN: 25 years in the United Nations family.
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 1, ARMENPRESS. The Chairman of the Standing Committee on Foreign Relations of the National Assembly of Armenia, the Head of the Armenian parliamentary delegation to Euronest PA Armen Ashotyan delivered a speech on October 31 at the opening of the Euronest PA Plenary Session on the future of the Eastern Partnership and Armenia-EU relations.

As ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the parliament of Armenia, in the context of Eastern Partnership priorities Armen Ashotyan touched upon Armenia's multi-track or the so-called 'complimentary' Eastern partnership position and in relation to this underlined that we should take into consideration that every Eastern Partnership participant state has its own interests and guideline. Armen Ashotyan highlighted the formation of the new legal framework of the Armenia-EU cooperation and the signing of the Armenia-EU Comprehensive and Enhanced New Agreement. The Head of the parliamentary delegation also expressed hope that there will be positive results connected with the visa liberalization process in the near future.

In his word Armen Ashotyan emphasized the effective role of the Eastern Partnership platform for the interests of the citizens of the Eastern Partnership countries.

Regarding the current differences between the Eastern Partnership participant states, Armen Ashotyan highlighted the definition of such values, which will be common and admissible for all Eastern Partnership countries.

In his speech Armen Ashotyan also talked about the conflicts existing in the Eastern Partnership countries and has noted that the Euronest is not a platform of the conflicts' settlement, however it can be observed as a unique means for the political dialogue of conflicting states, particularly between the colleagues of Armenia and Azerbaijan. In this context Armen Ashotyan emphasized the circumstance that the Assembly could underline in its works in Kiev and record the important fact that all the conflicts existing in the Eastern Partnership countries are different, the Nagorno Karabakh conflict has no military solution, and the problem settlement is based on the OSCE Minsk Group fundamental principles and Helsinki Final Act. Armen Ashotyan attached importance to the fact that the Assembly reaffirmed its support to the efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs.

Armen Ashotyan also underscored the circumstance that the Eastern Partnership is not an agreement and document turnover mentioned on the paper and cannot be, it is a platform for the justification of the expectations of the Eastern Partnership countries, making as a basis and goal of the activity the implementation of the reforms and the daily consistent work.

At the end of his speech Armen Ashotyan has noted in relation to the signing of the Armenia-EU Comprehensive and Enhanced New Agreement within the framework of the upcoming Summit of the Eastern Partnership that in this new legal framework Armenia will become the first country which is a member of the Eurasian Economic Union and at the same time it will be a legally bounding agreement with the European Union. In this context Armen Ashotyan noted that the signing of the Agreement would be a link to the international community that the Eurasian Economic Union and the European Union should not be conflicting parties, and in this case Armenia could be a bridge connecting two different economic and political efforts of the two Unions.
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 1, ARMENPRESS. Armenia will continue taking steps for the development of winemaking and shoe production fields, President Serzh Sargsyan said in an interview to Russia 24 TV.

The reporter said till now Armenia was famous for its brandy, but while visiting Armenia they have discovered the Armenian wine, and jokingly asked a question to the President: Why did you hide it from us for so long?

The President said in response that winemaking in Armenia has a centuries-old history, and this is not our assessment. During Soviet times Armenia specialized in brandy production. Over the past five years the number of farmers engaged in winegrowing increased drastically in Armenia. In addition, several our compatriots, who live abroad and work in this field, made investments in our country. In fact, today high-quality wine is being produced in Armenia. Unfortunately, the volumes are still small, but I want to note that in 2016 compared to 2014 the wine export to Russia increased by 70%, the President said.

Coming to the shoe production, the reporter said during Soviet times Armenia was a center of shoe production and asked what programs are expected in this field. Serzh Sargsyan said during the first 8 months of this year compared to the same period of the last year the export of shoes increased by 48%. In fact, we have a great potential in this sector, traditions, people have been maintained, and we will also develop the shoe production field. I want to inform that now special shoes are produced in Armenia for famous people, but this is not a number. I think two years later we will talk about the fact that this tradition is restored in Armenia, Serzh Sargsyan said.
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 1, ARMENPRESS. President Serzh Sargsyan visited the European Regional Educational Academy on the occasion of the 15th anniversary of establishment of the institution, the Presidents Office said.

Executives of the educational institution and the minister of educational and science accompanied the president as he toured the institutions renovated building, including the computer lab and the modernized library.

The executives of the European Regional Educational Academy presented to the president the future programs and prospects of development of the institution.
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 1, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian Armed Forces are one of the most important attributes of our state, they are called on to protect our peoples sovereignty and security, President Serzh Sargsyan said in an interview to the Russian Vesti, Armenpress reports.

Our Armed Forces are not bad equipped in technical terms, they have serious examples of modern military equipment under their leadership, are equipped with highly-professional officers. But this doesnt mean that our Armed Forces should not develop in terms of management of troops, modernization of armament, the President said.

He said the Armenian side has applied to Russia with a request to provide a loan for purchase of new, modern arms aimed at modernizing the Armed Forces.

We do not threaten anyone, we ensure our countrys security. The Armenian Armed Forces are considered as the first guarantors of Armenias security. However, in the contemporary world no one is able to ensure its national security alone, thus, countries enter unions, Serzh Sargsyan said. He recalled that Armenia is a member of the CSTO since the very first day of its establishment.

He considered it normal that collective security defense issues are being developed within the CSTO. And this is reflected at different forms, including through holding military drills.

This year some part of operative-strategic military drills called Combat Brotherhood 2017 was held in the territory of Armenia. This round was called Partnership-2017 which was attended by all CSTO member states. The military drills included more than 2500 troops of the CSTO member states, about 500 units of armament and military equipment, up to 23 aircrafts and UAVs. The military exercises were successfully held. They proved that in reality the work we do is only for the benefit of our countries, the Armenian President said.
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 1, ARMENPRESS. India and Armenia will sign a cooperation and mutual assistance agreement in the customs sector.

According to ANI news agency, the Indian Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given its approval for signing and ratifying an agreement between India and Armenia.

This agreement shall enter into force on the first day of the second month after both parties notify each other in through diplomatic channels, that the necessary national legal requirements for entry into force of this agreement have been fulfilled. It is also expected to facilitate trade and ensure efficient clearance of goods traded between both the countries, ANI reported.
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 1, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian delegation led by Chairman of the foreign relations committee of the Armenian parliament Armen Ashotyan is participating in the plenary session of the Euronest parliamentary assembly October 29  November 1 in Kiev.

Mr. Ashotyan reported from Kiev that the delegation has designed and submitted an urgent bill on the resolution regulating the use of lethal autonomous weapon, which was adopted at the Euronest PA session.

The adopted resolution cites numerous international legal acts and documents, including the letter of leading organizations of robotics of 26 countries to the UN about the need to urgently address the challenges of deadly weapons and the limitations of their international use.

The Armenian delegations resolution first of all relates to the use of state of the art drones (UAVs). In this context, it is noteworthy to mention the precedent of the temporary ban of the license of an Israeli manufacturer on sales and exports by the Israeli defense ministry, regarding the attacks on Nagorno Karabakh positions at the calls of Azerbaijan, Ashotyan said.

Under the adopted resolution, the Assembly highlights the production and use of autonomous weapons within international legal norms, and condemns the targeted use of these weapons against civilians in conflict zones. Eastern Partnership countries are also urged to contribute to transparent and accountable policy, regarding the use of the so called killer robot weapons. The resolution also highlights the installation of investigation mechanisms in conflict zones.

The Azerbaijani delegation voted against the resolution.
By PTI: New Delhi, Nov 1 (PTI) Expressing grave concern over the deaths due to vector-borne diseases like dengue and chikungunya, the Supreme Court today said the percentage of lives lost was more in Uttar Pradesh which indicated a "problem with the health care system" there.

It said the lack of waste management was the cause for several lives being lost across the country due to the spread of these diseases, adding that there was a rise in the number of deaths in West Bengal, Maharashtra, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

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A bench comprising Justices M B Lokur and Deepak Gupta observed that solid waste management was a "crucial issue" and asked the Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF) to file an affidavit within four weeks regarding the implementation of the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016.

Directing the Centre to file a comprehensive affidavit indicating the steps taken by it for implementation of these rules, the bench said "the cause of deaths (due to vector borne diseases) is waste and lack of waste management."

At the outset, the bench referred to the affidavit filed by Delhi governments health department and said the number of cases of vector-borne diseases in the national capital have come down this year compared to last year.

It said though number of deaths in Delhi was less this year, it has increased in states like West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Maharashtra.

"This is a cause of concern for us," the bench said, adding that it would have to look into these aspect for the entire county and not only Delhi.

"In Uttar Pradesh, the number of such cases are less but percentage of death was more. The problem is with the health care system there if they are not able to prevent deaths," it said, adding it was a subject matter of discussion in the national health policy.

Senior advocate Colin Gonsalves, assisting the court as in amicus curiae in the matter, referred to the Solid Waste Management Rules and said these have to be implemented effectively.

When the court was informed about a policy on disposal of garbage in Delhi, the bench observed that if the matter was Delhi specific only, it could be taken up by the Delhi High Court.

The court referred to the solid waste management rules and said that duties of various ministries, like MoEF and ministry of urban development, was specified in it.

It fixed the matter for further hearing on December 12.

Delhi government had earlier told the court that the national capital has witnessed lesser number of dengue and chikungunya cases this year compared to 2016 and the situation was "not bad".

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It had said that as per the data compiled by the municipal corporations of Delhi (MCDs) till October 7, 368 chikungunya cases were reported, while the all-India figure till this period stood at 8,726.

It had said that till October 7, 2,152 dengue cases were reported in the national capital which also included one death from the vector-borne disease.

Last year, Delhi had seen an outbreak of chikungunya and dengue. As per data provided by the civic bodies, there were 9,633 and 4,305 dengue and chikungunya cases respectively till December 3, 2016.

As per the data of this year, out of a total of 4,545 dengue cases reported in the national capital, 2,152 were residents of Delhi, while the rest were from other states. Of the 2,152 Delhi cases, 345 were reported this month.

Dengue and chikungunya are caused by the aedes aegypti mosquito, which breed in clear water.

The apex court had in 2015 on its own taken cognisance of the death of a 7-year-old boy due to dengue after being allegedly denied treatment by five private hospitals and subsequent suicide by his parents, and sought response from Delhi government. PTI ABA MNL SJK RKS ARC

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YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 1, ARMENPRESS. Digital and telecommunication technologies are developing in Armenia and the authorities have done a lot of work to first of all invest effective educational system, ARMENPRESS reports President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan told Russia 24, adding that he refers to the IT projects, robotics and chess.

To the question if the investment of chess in the educational system has been productive, President Sargsyan said, Very much, and not only in terms of making achievements in the IT sector. Chess is a game where one wins or loses in a fair way. No one disturbs you there, there are no other people there. It also helps one to be fair in life as well, to accept his own victories and defeats. Its very important. We attach great importance to extracurricular education and c enters for creative technologies have been opened both in Yerevan and other cities of our small country, where children come after school irrespective of their age and check their abilities in the spheres of animation or programming. Those who achieve some success go to the second and then third stages, and later set up their own start-ups, Sargsyan said, adding that its a good base for future success.
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 1, ARMENPRESS. Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan sent a letter of condolences to US President Donald Trump on the terror attack in New York that claimed dozens of innocent victims and injured, press service of the Presidents office told Armenpress.

The President extended condolences and support to the US President, the American people and relatives of the victims, wishing them fortitude and courage, and a speedy recovery to the wounded.

Such inhuman acts reaffirm our belief that terrorism has no boundaries, and the international community should jointly continue the fight for eradicating this evil against humanity.

We pray together with the good people of the United States for the peace of souls of innocent victims and health of the wounded, read the Presidents condolence letter.
SAN FRANCISCOIt's Halloween night tonight, so it seems only proper that NakedSword Originals would release its latest feature, The Devils Deal & Other Sordid Tales, on DVD. The salaciously spooky title is available worldwide online and in stores everywhere. Directed by NakedSwords award-winning director, mr. Pam, and written by Leo Forte, The Devils Deal & Other Sordid Tales features a top notch cast that includes Justin Brody, Casey Jacks, Gabriel Alanzo, Jonah Fontana, Leo Luckett, Phoenix Fellington, Ruckus, and transgender star Viktor Belmont.

The Devils Deal & Other Sordid Tales is broken up into four distinct vignettes of chilling, creepy, and very taboo sexual encounters that will make viewers think twice before making a deal with the devil. From spirits, hauntings, near death experiences, and deals with the devil, this title is the perfect seasonal release. Its also the first mainstream gay porn release to feature a trans porn star in well over a decade. Trans star Viktor Belmont garnered a lot of column inches when it was announced that he would be appearing in a NakedSword Originals scene. Now fans get the chance to see Viktor in one of the most talked about pairings of the year, featuring gay porn star Justin Brody.

Director mr. Pam said, "We had so much fun bringing this project to life! Theres simply nothing like it in the gay porn world today. Since it's conjured from the sick and brilliant mind of Leo Forte, we really went there and explored several taboo subjects. Between the casting, the script and the way its shot and produced, there is a real authenticity about it that I believe the audiences will connect to.

NakedSword Originals The Devils Deal & Other Sordid Tales is now available on DVD online and at wholesale worldwide.

For DVD wholesale purchasing, contact John Gunderson ([email protected]). Contact Toby J Morris ([email protected]) for additional image assets, information and access to the Falcon Studios Group
LOS ANGELESThe Adult Performer Advocacy Committee today released the following statement regarding the hot-button issues of sexual harassment, sexual assault and other violence within the adult industry:

The Adult Performer Advocacy Committee (APAC) stands firmly on the side of sexual assault and violence survivors within the adult performer community. The committee is dedicated to improving workplace safety, dismantling behaviors that perpetuate violence against all performers, and creating more professional work environments.

We acknowledge that too often stigma, shame, and systemic failures have hindered performers from speaking out about sexual harassment. We aim to challenge the stigma, behaviors, and complicity that compromise workplace safety, as well as develop a healthy, supportive community of performers.

Adult film is a unique and challenging industry to navigate. Non-consent does not belong in our industry or any industry. The norm should not be that victims of harassment and assault feel silenced by the power dynamics and stigma that make the adult industry difficult to navigate. It will take the efforts of the entire adult community to evolve to better protect its workers against non-consent, pressure, coercion, assault, and violence. To dismantle the societal stigma that hurts those who are marginalized and vulnerable, it will take effort from directors, producers, agents, production members, performers, and civilian allies.

We agree with the Free Speech Coalition in that no one waives their right to consent just because theyve worked in adult film, or have appeared naked, or are eager to book a shoot, or have contracted to do a film, or had sex with someone previously, or work in a sex-related industry. To assume otherwise is not only wrong, its criminal.

Directors, photographers, producers, and all production members are expected to uphold the same level of professionalism as outlined in the Performer Code of Conduct. The Model Bill of Rights provides a base standard of boundary guidelines for maintaining a safe and comfortable work experience on set. Any production company unfamiliar with the contents of either is encouraged to visit the APAC website and review these documents, and to assure all directors, photographers, and performers they hire are familiar with these guidelines as well.

In the adult film industry, weve seen what the mobilization of our community can bring in the political arena. We need to shift away from complicity, rationalizations, and silence to a standard which normalizes informed consent, respects choice, and honors boundaries. APAC exists for the adult performers. We will continue to serve the community in whatever capacity it can.

For more information about the Adult Performer Advocacy Committee, contact [email protected] or (818) 927-2903.
High-sugar treats including biscuits and cakes should be banned from lunchtime meal deals, according to health campaigners Action on Sugar (AOS).

The group made the call following research that found some lunchtime meal deals contained up to 30 teaspoons of sugar.

AOS is urging supermarkets and retailers to exclude all high-sugar drinks and confectionery  those that would have a red traffic light label  from the deals.

Baked items highlighted as part of shocking combinations included: Boots Delicious Carrot Cake, with 28g of sugar per 71g pack, Morrisons Millionaire Shortbread, with 26.5g of sugar, and The Co-ops Rocky Road Bar at 23g of sugar.

These were paired with the likes of Morrisons Sweet Chilli Chicken Wrap with Relentless Passion Punch Energy 500ml drink; and Co-op Meal Pot Blackbean Pulled Beef & Noodle with Rockstar Blueberry Pomegranate Acai energy 500ml drink; in combos with 28 teaspoons of sugar per deal.

Eating too much sugar is linked to obesity, type 2 diabetes, cancer and tooth decay, said Graham MacGregor, chairman of Action on Sugar and Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine at Queen Mary University of London. The government now needs to take decisive action to ban all promotions of unhealthy foods.

The British Nutrition Foundation (BNF), which recently worked with Jamie Oliver on a report about nutrition in schools, told British Baker consumers needed to be aware of the options available and make healthy decisions.

Were eating more sugars and saturated fat than we should and its important that consumers are aware of the different options available in meal deal offers, which often include fruit or vegetables as the snack and sugar-free drinks or water, a BNF spokesperson said. Its best to choose healthier options most of the time, including those lower in free sugars and saturated fat, higher in fibre, and with plenty of fruit and vegetables.

Last month, hospital chiefs were told that three-quarters of pre-packed sandwiches and other savoury pre-packed meals sold in their hospital canteens, stores and vending machines must contain 400 calories or less per serving and must not have more than five grams of saturated fat per 100g. Failure to meet the targets will mean hospitals lose out on funding ring-fenced for improving the health of staff, patients and their visitors.


From left, Superior Court judges Todd Burke, Jesse Caldwell, and Jeffery Foster hear arguments in March in a lawsuit filed by Gov. Roy Cooper arguing that legislation passed during a December special session violates the separation of powers. (CJ photo by Don Carrington)

A three-judge Superior Court panel has dismissed the lawsuit between Gov. Roy Cooper and the General Assembly over the Bipartisan State Board of Elections and Ethics Enforcement.The panel unanimously ruled it did not have jurisdiction to address the lawsuit between the governor and state lawmakers - but even if it did, it would have ruled in favor of legislators.the court order reads.said Senate leader Phil Berger, R-Rockingham, and House Speaker Tim Moore, R-Cleveland, in a joint statement.The General Assembly passed legislation during a December special session the court struck down - in part because the governor would not control appointments to the board. This year, the legislature passed Session Law 2017-6 (aka Senate Bill 68), merging the Board of Elections and the Ethics Commission into a new eight-member board with equal Republican and Democratic representation, as did last year's legislation.Unlike last year's law, the governor would choose board members from a list of names provided by the state Democratic and Republican parties.Cooper sued, arguing the law violated his constitutional power to control the makeup of the election board. While the law requires Cooper appoint all eight members of the board, he has refused to do so while the case is pending.The Superior Court panel rejected the lawsuit with scant explanation, but in September the North Carolina Supreme Court gave the lower court 60 days to reconsider the case and explain why it arrived at its conclusion.Tuesday, the lower court came to the same outcome as before - with the explanation that the Constitution's separation-of-powers provision left this type of policymaking in the hands of the General Assembly.Once again the lawsuit between Cooper and the General Assembly will go to the N.C. Supreme Court.said Rep. David Lewis, R-Harnett, the top elections official .In a statement, Cooper spokesman Ford Porter noted a recent constitutional amendment proposed by legislative leaders requiring judges to stand for election every two years.Porter said.
You put an app on your phone, but haven't used it in a week, and youre about to delete it from your phone. Then an email arrives that shows you how the app solves a problem you've been struggling with. Email personalization saves the day.

A 2022 McKinsey report says that 71% of consumers expect companies to offer personalized communication. 76% get frustrated when it doesnt happen.

Ramping up your email marketing to stand out and get the results you want can be tough. But theres a strategy that less than 30% of marketers are using.

Lets talk about email personalization and check out some personalized email examples.

What is email personalization? Email personalization is how brands use data to create unique emails for each person on their email list.

Email personalization is more than a strategy. Its a way to connect one-on-one with each person that reaches out to learn about your business.

This process helps email marketers create emails that appeal to each individual on their email list. And they can do it without having to draft a separate email for each person.

According to Experian, 78% of customers are more aware of how businesses are using their data. So, personalization is more convenient for marketers, but how do customers feel about it?

Why is email personalization important?

Email personalization is a wildly effective strategy. Segmentation of email campaigns alone can increase revenue by up to 760%.

And while subscribers want to know more about how companies are using their data, 59% of customers trust businesses using AI to personalize their experience. Because of this high level of comfort, email personalization is an excellent investment when its done right.

According to Statista, 42% of consumers feel that personalization is somewhat or very important. And 67% have used personal recommendations when shopping for products.

If you want to improve engagement and revenue for your business, the best time to start personalizing your emails is now.

Email Personalization Strategies

Most of the posts you see on social media are just for you. These platforms encourage you to spend more time on their platforms using algorithms that notice what you like and give you more of it.

The average person spends 147 minutes on social media each day. This can lead them to expect all their online experiences will feel personal.

Until marketing automation, businesses found it difficult to personalize emails. But today its possible to create unique emails for every subscriber and to show them what appeals to their personal interests.

Email personalization can make every email an offer that's just for them.

But creating personalized emails is tougher than it looks. Besides the challenge of designing an email that connects and appeals to subscribers, personalization requires some technical know-how.

Its not unusual for an email marketing manager to design a great email. But some of these emails never get sent because of API, email marketing platform, and other challenges.

So, before you start personalizing your emails, check out these strategies.

1. Build a list you can segment.

Creating a great email list is about more than getting attention from new subscribers. Each form, email, and interaction is an opportunity to collect segmentation data.

Collect useful information.

As you build each email form, think about the data that you can collect and how it can help segment subscribers later.

For example, a form with a single box for subscriber names can make personalizing tough. New sign-ups may add their first name, but they could also add a business name, their last name, or leave this field blank.

That means you wont be able to personalize emails with subscribers first names without creating errors. Nothing says impersonal like an email that starts with "Hi jcl89@hotmail."

At the same time, you want to make an email sign-up form thats quick and easy to fill out.

Think about how you want to collect personal and business names in advance. Then you can choose the best way to personalize for each segment.

Other useful information to collect when users subscribe could include:

Location

A quick yes or no survey

Email frequency preferences

Demographics like age, company position, or location

Psychographics like personality types, income level, or goals

Create surveys and interactive emails.

As you email new subscribers, use interactive elements to segment users based on their interests.

Use link tracking to help you organize your email lists. Link tracking can tell you when a subscriber clicks a link in your email. You can use this data to quickly respond and connect with a prospect, or use this data to segment your list later on.

Another way to collect more data for segmentation is through surveys. A survey can help you collect personal information to refine your messaging to contacts. It can also make it easier to understand their top questions and concerns early in the buyer journey.

This article includes some segmentation ideas and how you can work them into your emails.

Use integrations.

Another way that you use data to segment your users is to connect your email marketing tool to your CRM. Integrations with your email marketing tool can also offer real-time insights. This data can help you send targeted emails based on what your contacts are doing online.

The goal is to track user behavior that can help you target communications. The amount of data a platform can collect can be a little overwhelming, so instead of grabbing a ton of data that you cant use, create a plan.

Think about the emails that will be interesting and useful to your customers. Next, think about how you can use data insights to personalize your emails in a way that makes them even more valuable.

For example, instead of offering the same sale to every subscriber, use data to personalize your discount emails.

Try offering a discount to every person that bought your most popular product in the last few months to encourage them to buy again.

Some other data you might want to collect and use to personalize your email:

Buying habits

Mobile vs. desktop

Engagement, like email opens and clicks

2. Align emails with the buyer's journey.

The most effective emails contain the right information at the right time. That means finding a way to welcome new subscribers thats personal, then keeping them engaged until they become loyal brand promoters.

So, start with strong brand personas and outline your ideal buyer journey. Next, use email personalization to send automated emails that support and enhance your customer experience.

Build automated email sequences for each stage in the buyer journey.

Most companies send emails from a few different departments. This might include:

An eager sales team that wants to connect

A marketing team wooing customers with upsells

Customer service agents responding to questions

To make sure that every person on your email list gets what they need when they need it, youll want to create targeted workflows and sequences.

Start with a welcome sequence. This might be a one-on-one email from a trusted member of your team or a bright graphic welcome that connects to the reason your latest contact signed up.

Its also a good idea to offer extra products and services based on past purchases through email. When using this strategy, try to focus on customers who have made more than one purchase.

The more data you have, the more likely you will steer customers toward items they really want. Otherwise, these personal recommendations can start to feel decidedly impersonal.

Make recommendations about the customer, not about which product you want to sell more of.

Other useful sequences and workflows you can build and personalize include:

New product announcements

Outreach when a contact goes inactive

Campaigns based on subscriber activity, like attending a webinar

Status alerts, like a flight change or change in product availability

Trigger personalized emails at important moments.

Use personal emails to highlight the moments when your subscribers expect an email. To stand out, youll also want to celebrate moments where your customer has reached a personal goal.

Product engagement moments are key. If a customer has used your meditation app every day this week or theyve logged in to a food diary app for three days in a row, it's a great time to send an email.

Triggered emails are a way to show that the moments that are important to them are important to you too.

Use behavior triggers.

Its easy to focus on the beginning and end of your relationship with an email contact, but most of the real action happens in the middle. You can use this moment in the buyer journey for emails that trigger with an action.

Trigger emails are a way to connect with your subscribers at the right time. For example, Instagram sends you an email when they haven't seen you log in for a while.

A triggered email sends after a specific event or interaction. When an email aligns with their actions and priorities, it feels more useful and personal than an email blast.

Potential behavior triggers for email include:

Event registration

Loyalty membership

Canceling or changing an appointment

Changing contact or profile information

Cart abandonment

Product page exit

Shipping cost exit

An important note: Use triggers to creatively let your subscribers know youre paying attention, but keep it chill. It can be uncomfortable for some users to know their actions are being tracked online.

Add subscriber tags to further segment subscribers based on their actions.

It's easy to focus on the beginning of a subscriber's email journey. But ideally, an email subscription is a long-term relationship that deepens over time. Tags can help you continue to send subscribers the right messaging as their interests and needs change.

Tagging subscribers when they complete a specific action is a great way to segment your audience. You can use dynamic tags to quickly send subscribers a useful message based on what they are doing now, not what they thought they would do when they first subscribed.

3. Design emails with personalization in mind.

If its done well, email can deliver $33 ROI for each dollar you spend.

So, build trust with every email. Don't accidentally spam their subscribers with discounts, new products, and pressure to buy. Instead, focus on your subscribers and the value you're giving them each time you hit send.

Write personalized subject lines.

Email personalization isn't just calling subscribers by name. It's using data to make every one of your subscribers feel special.

Write your subject lines and emails like you're writing an email to a friend. This approach can make your language feel more natural. It can also make the added personalization feel more authentic. Take a look at these subject line examples if you need inspiration.

Send emails from a person, not just a brand.

Send emails from a person, not a brand. A real name and face in the "from" field of an email let subscribers know the face behind the message. It makes each email feel more personal, like a conversation instead of a transaction.

You can also try adding a personalized P.S. at the end of an email. A personal postscript is a quick way to add a personal touch to emails. It shows subscribers that you want to connect with them as a person, not just a prospect.

Create email campaigns for unique segments of your email list.

Use data insights to study and anticipate customer needs. Then create unique emails that address those needs. This might mean creating an email course, directing them to help center resources, or sending surveys that ask for their opinion.

Dynamic content in emails can let you send different codes and email content to different subscribers.

Try to use data to inform your messaging. At the same time, don't add sensitive personal information directly.

For example, if you're personalizing an email for your high-income segment, don't plug in the income level they shared on a form or survey. Instead, you try adding a section with top-tier or exclusive products.

Use images to personalize emails.

Images and GIFs can make an email more exciting and interesting. Besides making subscribers more aware of your brand and story, images are a great way to get the attention of readers who dont read the messages in their inboxes.

Image personalization is an effective strategy for emails too. A company that sees its logo in your B2B email is more likely to pay more attention to what you have to say. A shopper looking for a personalized pillow may be more likely to buy if they see a custom graphic theyve used on your site before.

Send limited-time unique email offers.

One of the best ways (source) to get a subscriber to act is to create urgency. For example, if a shopper abandons their cart before clicking "Buy now" an email with a limited time discount could inspire them to make that purchase.

Schedule emails at the right time.

Start with your buyer personas and their habits to decide the best time to send emails. And don't forget to keep location in mind.

Let's say your new subscriber opens emails first thing in the morning, you might set their email to send at 8 am. But what if they live in a time zone where they're eating lunch just as you wake up for the day? You might miss the best time for that contact to read your email.

Segmenting contacts by location can help you send your emails at the right time to every subscriber.

Start A/B testing.

Compelling email personalization is in the details. Email marketing seems simple, but some variables can impact the experience.

A/B testing is an effective way to gauge how your subscribers respond to your emails. For the most useful insights, test only one variable at a time. If you test too many email features at the same time it will be difficult to understand what is and isn't working.

Do some research if youve never run marketing experiments like this before.

4. Make the next steps clear and easy.

You can create a great user experience by thinking about the full user journey, not just crafting a perfect personalized email.

Shorten the conversion path with relevant links.

When your email tells subscribers to click a link, that link needs to deliver. For example, if an item sells out and that product and link are in the highlight of your email, it will only frustrate your customers.

Have links in mind before you start writing and designing. Check each link you plan to include to make sure it's current. Then create a message that sells the content in that link.

Clicking a link doesn't seem like a big deal. But the increased rate of phishing scams can lead subscribers to second guess engaging with your emails.

Keep this perspective in mind. It will help you draft emails that foster relationships with your email list and avoid making emails that feel like clickbait.

Create targeted landing pages.

If you're building custom landing pages for your emails, make sure that your email and landing page designs work together. Think about creating unique landing pages for each segment. Then focus your landing page message on the information that's most important to that group of people.

Personalized Email Examples You Can't Help but Click

Why email examples like this work: Not only does this email make it easy to make reservations online, but it also remembers favorite restaurants. This helps users discover new places to eat based on reviews and reservation behavior.

One way OpenTable encourages users to leave reviews is by sending emails with a personalized subject line. Then, they ask the diners' to review their most recent restaurant experience.

These reviews give OpenTable an idea of which restaurant recommendations are user favorites, which makes the reservation process easier for their users.

Why email examples like this work: This email effectively pulls a frequent traveler (me) back in with a check-in email. It reminds me of what Im not doing (opening emails). Next, it encourages me to loop back in with an image of something I might rather be doing (surfing at the beach).

This email also has a button marked "Deals." Its a great strategy to offer something special from your brand when a user stops engaging. It could give your audience the motivation they need to take action and make a purchase.

Why this email example works: The Hustle has a "Snippets" section in their newsletter. Each email includes a curated list of articles highlighting topics the subscriber picked when they signed up.

This users chosen topics are Big Tech and The Hustle Picks, so the snippet section updates with those topics in mind. This makes each email feel like its just for them, instead of a general list of whats new.

If you feel like this would work for your subscribers too, set up workflows that remind subscribers how to continue taking advantage of these specially-tailored messages.

Why email examples like this work: Spotifys Year in Review emails and in-platform messaging are a highlight for subscribers. Music has a strong emotional impact. Spotify uses this to remind this what their last year looked like in music, just before the new year begins.

The copy in this email from Spotify is particularly effective because it frames the personalization in a way that makes the recipient feel like they're getting a reward for their usage. Phrases like "Guess which song is your #1?" lend themselves to a sense of exclusivity  making the user feel important.

Again, this push helps to confirm that the user is actively using the streaming service, and is continuously reminded of the value.

Why this email personalization example works: When I was actively applying for jobs. I often used LinkedIn for my search. Each day, LinkedIn sent me a roundup of jobs it thought would pique my interest.

While some of the listings were more applicable than others, all of them were clickable.

Did you catch that? Clickable. And even if none of these jobs piqued my interest, I had a network of professional connections who might have considered them, driving even more traffic to LinkedIn's website.

Why this email example works: Why this email example works: Be My Eyes is an app that helps blind and low-vision users borrow the sight of over 1.5 million volunteers. This email triggers after a user has their first volunteer call. Then, it goes into detail on how they can solve common problems.

This email has a lot of text, but its broken into bullets to make it easy and quick to read.

The timing of this email makes a simple process even easier and makes first-time volunteers feel more comfortable helping.

Why email examples like this work: This email begins with an enticing subject line: "You're in. Here's your exclusive code."

The email is short and clear, highlighting a custom offer and an image GIF highlighting their most popular products.

In a more complicated or image-heavy email, that discount code could be easy to miss. But this email personalization is simple and quick to read, which makes it easy to see the unique discount code that the subject line calls out.

Why email examples like this work: This email is a great example of how to use location information to offer a customized email experience. In the email, Ticketmaster makes it easy for me to quickly visualize what's headed to my area and when. This lowers the barrier between me and the point of purchase.

This type of personalization could be super useful for a company looking to deliver more relevant messages to international leads or existing customers.

If youre using HubSpots free email marketing software, you can use a contacts location to personalize your messages like this campaign.

Why this email example works: This email triggers after a stay at one of Getaways unique locations. It includes a reminder to book another visit soon.

The first image is a slideshow that highlights the best features of a Getaway cabin. The second image shows a punch card with two nights punched out. This makes it easy to see how many more nights it will take to stay for free.

This email also includes a referral link to share for an extra discount, offering value to both Getaway and their customers.

Why email personalization examples like this work: After following one of his favorite chefs on TikTok, Matthew received this email from the social network with suggestions for similar accounts to follow.

What's more, the suggestions were super relevant.

When companies have as much data as TikTok does, they usually go one of two ways with personalization: They totally nail it, or they have too much data to sift out what's important. This is an example of accurately identifying what Matthew would care about, and delivering it to him.

Why this email example works: This email starts with a bold discount graphic. The message clearly states that the inspiration for every discount was customer feedback and requests.

Then it features easy-to-see and attractive images of their top products, with extra text that shares why each bra is a popular pick.

Each highlighted product also includes a testimonial. This adds to the feeling that these products have the customer in mind.

Why this email example works: Ancestry pulls users back in with an email that hints about new information in the family tree.

It personalizes both first and last names in different parts of the email, so the personalization feels more authentic.

The email includes personal hints and extra details to lure users to spend more time on the site.

Why email examples like this work: This email has a simple message and clearly states the value of their service. The big wow in this email is the personalized image. It pulls a picture from their app to drive another purchase.

If you want to boost the word-of-mouth influence behind your product or service, this is a great example of how personalization can help propel your message.

Why this email example works: This quick and peppy reminder to get back into an app shows that Bunch is using data-driven strategies to engage users. Theyre anticipating the most likely reason Im not logging in, calling out a common issue, and offering a solution. It also gives me a chance to update my reminders.

This isnt the only effective way to use platform data. This strategy could apply to many marketing materials  ebooks, webinars, and blog articles, to name a few.

For example, if you find that someone downloaded an ebook on social media tips, you may want to set up a workflow to trigger a follow-up email that suggests they check out your social media guide on SlideShare.

Why email examples like this work: This email shows a product from a merchant Ivelisse has bought from before. The headline "Your Favorite" reminds her that this is a product shes seen and liked before.

Etsys email also offers a discount, with the original price crossed out, and the discount offer is in green instead of black. This makes the offer easier to see but it's still pleasing to the eye.

It serves as a great example of how to use a contact's search behavior to re-engage them with your company, and hopefully move them closer to a sale.

Why this email personalization example works: Voicebox adds to the post-karaoke experience by adding a personal playlist. They want to know if you had fun, ask for your feedback if you had any issues, and remind you to visit again soon.

Even better, the email ends by reminding you exactly what you sang during your session. The list has a lot of detail, which brings you right back to the moment you were singing.

Its just the right amount of inspiration to get you to book a session to sing again.

Why this email example works: Fear isnt a fun emotion, but it is a motivator. This email offers an alert with positive feedback about my credit score, but it also hints that there could be other less friendly messages in their portal that I should check, just in case. This gets me to click and engage with their services.

What I love most about the email is its simplicity. It offers up a single topic, which is enough to interest the recipient without overwhelming them. Plus, the copy is quick, friendly, and clear.

Why this email example works: Happyfeed is a gratitude journal app for users to record three things they are grateful for each day. This monthly recap email grabs data from the app to remind me of some of my best moments from the past month.

They also remind me how active I was on the app, and include extra offers and new features. This is a great way to reinforce the value of a product while also offering reasons a user should upgrade or spend more time using a product.

They also ask for my feedback, reinforcing the message that my opinion is important to them.

Why email examples like this work: This email from Google lets Ivelisse know that people like the update she added. It also includes a personalized image of the edited map, so it reminds her of the update quickly and easily.

This email reminds her that updating reviews and locations on Google Maps makes a difference. Thats a powerful motivator to keep making updates.

Why email examples like this work: Sephora used this personalized email to give Kimberly a free gift and a reminder to buy, with a birthday greeting to boot.

That's a great way for brands to achieve customer reactivation  by using a fixed date, like a birthday or anniversary, to remind people what it was that they loved about your business in the first place.

If you're a HubSpot customer, this is an easy email to copy for your contacts through fixed date or property-based workflows. It allows you to base your workflow on a calendar or contact property date. This makes it easy to send anniversary emails, digital birthday cards, renewal reminders, and more.

Why email examples like this work: Reddits mission is to build community. This personalized email shows this user that other members of this subreddit appreciate their comments.

This simple email tells the commenter that their opinion is valuable and that they should keep participating. This leads to clicking from the email back into Reddit.

Why this email personalization example works: There are a lot of reasons to abandon an online shopping cart. Sometimes you still want to buy, but its hard to find that perfect item again online. Enter this email from Alex Mill.

It quickly gets to the point, letting you know they saved the items in your cart and are offering them at a discount. And the big gorgeous image also helps remind you of the quality of their products.

Why this email example works: There's a thing about conferences and summits. They're valuable. They help you gain knowledge and become an expert.

This personalized email lets conference attendees know what they might have missed and other available learning opportunities. It also outlines a discount offer and makes the offer deadline clear and easy to understand.

HubSpot Professional and Enterprise customers: You can create Smart CTAs like these in your own emails with your HubSpot CTA tool.

Let's Get Personal

Its never been easier to personalize your messaging. With an integrated CRM and email marketing software like HubSpot, you can keep track of all your customer data and use it to tailor your flow.

It may seem like a big undertaking, but by observing, understanding, and investing in the behavior of your customers, you can help to make sure that they'll stay customers. So start getting personal  and keep growing.

Editor's Note: This post was originally published in February 2013 and has been updated for freshness, accuracy, and comprehensiveness.
Salvinia is a hard-to-get-rid weed from Brazil that's been called a "lake killer" in Texas, where it was introduced in 1998. It literally chokes lakes by covering their surface. Volunteers are now breeding a "large army" of Salvinia-loving weevils to combat the problem.

Salvinia is a tricky beastit doubles in size every week, has tentacles that loom underneath, and chokes up waterways, making it impossible for wildlife to grow or boats to sail. It's a monster currently devastating Texas's picturesque Caddo Lake. But, never fear, the weevil is here. Residents of Uncertain, Texas have taken it onto themselves to combat the invasive species with the help of a small Brazilian insect known as the Salvinia weevil. By releasing these tiny soldiers onto the pervasive plant, they're hoping to save the lake and their home.
At attorney general appointee Jeff Sessions January confirmation hearing, Senator Al Franken asked him, "If there is any evidence that anyone affiliated with the Trump campaign communicated with the Russian government in the course of this campaign, what will you do?"

Sessions, who was sworn in, said, "Senator Franken, I'm not aware of any of those activities. I have been called a surrogate at a time or two in that campaign and I didn't have  did not have communications with the Russians, and I'm unable to comment on it."

It appears the Sessions committed perjury.

From New Republic:

But George Papadopoulos's guilty plea indicates that there were attempts in the Trump campaign to arrange a meeting with Putin, and that Sessions was aware of them. As CNN reports this morning, "The chairman of Trump's national security team, then Alabama Senator and now Attorney General Jeff Sessions, shut down the idea of a Putin meeting at the March 31, 2016, gathering, according to the source. His reaction was confirmed with another source who had discussed Sessions's role."

Image: Jeff Sessions by Gage Skidmore
By PTI: Boston, Nov 1 (PTI) Indian-origin scientists at Stanford are encouraging people from across the world to record the annoying high-pitched whine of mosquitoes using their cellphones, in a bid to produce the most detailed global map of the disease-causing insects.

Mosquitoes can carry deadly diseases, including malaria, yellow fever, dengue, West Nile virus, chikungunya and Zika.

Diseases spread by mosquitoes result in millions of deaths each year and the burden of their effects is carried most strongly by places with the fewest resources.

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The Prakash Lab at Stanford University in the US, led by assistant professor Manu Prakash, is looking for citizen scientists to contribute to Abuzz, a mosquito monitoring platform.

"We could enable the worlds largest network of mosquito surveillance - just purely using tools that almost everyone around the world now is carrying in their pocket," said Prakash.

"There are very limited resources available for vector surveillance and control and it is extremely important to understand how you would deploy these limited resources where the mosquitoes are," he said.

With enough contributions from citizen scientists around the world, Abuzz could create a map that tells us exactly when and where the most dangerous species of mosquitoes are most likely to be present and that could lead to highly targeted and efficient control efforts.

Abuzz is a low-cost, fast, easy way to gain an incredible amount of new data about mosquitoes.

Contributing to this research is as simple as holding a cellphone microphone near a mosquito, recording its hum as it flies and uploading the recording to the Abuzz website.

The researchers take the raw signal, reduce background noise and run it through an algorithm that matches the buzz with the species that is most likely to have produced it.

Once the match is found, researchers will send the person who submitted the recording information about the mosquito they found and mark every recording on a map on the website, showing exactly where and when that mosquito species was sighted.

Critical to the success of Abuzz is the fact that mosquito species can be differentiated by the frequency of their wingbeats, which is what produces their characteristic whine.

Researchers created a mosquito sound library, organised by species, which powers the matching algorithm.

Overall, they captured about 1,000 hours of mosquito buzzing from 18 lab-reared and two wild mosquito species, all of which were species relevant to human health.

Recognizing that people who could benefit most from Abuzz may not have access to the latest smartphones, researchers designed the platform so that it can work off recordings from almost any model of cellphone.

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The algorithm has worked using as little as one fifth of a second of sound ? although recordings that are a second or longer are the most desirable, researchers said. PTI MHN SAR MHN

--- ENDS ---
CNN reports that then-Candidate Donald Trump 'did not dismiss the idea of arranging a meeting with Russia's president when it was suggested in a meeting with his campaign foreign policy advisers last year.'

Their reporting is based on one person in the room, who declines to identify themselves.

CNN:

The idea was raised by George Papadopoulos as he introduced himself at a March 2016 meeting of the Republican candidate's foreign policy advisers, according to a court filing.

"He didn't say yes and he didn't say no," the official said, declining to be more specific about Trump's response to Papadopoulos.

But the chairman of Trump's national security team, then Alabama senator and now attorney general Jeff Sessions, shut down the idea of a Putin meeting at the March 31, 2016, gathering, according to the source. His reaction was confirmed with another source who had discussed Session's role.

Trump's response to Papadopoulos' offer could be of interest to special counsel's office.

J.D. Gordon, a former Pentagon spokesman and Trump campaign national security adviser who attended the meeting, told CNN he was "surprised to learn this week what George Papadopoulos was up to during the campaign."

"He obviously went to great lengths to go around me and Sen. Sessions," he added.

CNN reached out to other people in attendance at the meeting who did not respond.
Rumble

Our lives are full of moments where we must interact with each other and make compromises for the sake of coexisting. We face complicated social involvements that require some give and take to get things done and to benefit everyone. A life full of selfish decisions and actions would make everything harder for all involved. But occasionally, this compromise is difficult and emotions and pride get the better of us all. Tact an diplomacy gives way to anger and resentment and the sparks fly. This is what happened here in a simple and easily solved dilemma. As cars made their way through the parking lot, two met bumper to bumper and reached an impass. Onlookers could hear horns honking and impatient voices. It seemed that either could have backed up a little to make way, but the moment became tense and both dug in their heals. Cameras came out as people watched the exchange. Two grownups should have been able to resolve the matter without a spectacle. The man in the car with the trailer has difficulty in backing up. And in fairness, he has not blocked anything but his own lane. He wants to go forward and around the corner. The lady coming around the curve has entered into the middle of the lane and she could either adjust to her right, or back up out of the way. But she has her sights on a parking spot that is being blocked by the car and trailer. She may be afraid to back up, but she has the option to veer out and to her right. The car and trailer could pull forward and completely resolve the matter. What she does not like is the escalation in his voice as she hesitated and tried to decide what to do. Her initial reaction was to stop and do nothing. The man honked. She stared at him. He gestured and told her to move her car. And this is where it seemed to become unfriendly. Her passenger got out of the car, stood in the lane and began smoking a cigarette. She said she could not move as she was waiting for him to get back in. This was clearly a move of defiance. The camera recorded the moments that followed that initial meeting and up to that point. The man's impatience is now at a peak as the minutes have dragged on. Traffic has built up behind both vehicles. Backing up now is tricky for the woman, and impossible for the man. Other horns honked. The man began to swear and the passenger of the woman's car makes a deliberate show of taking his time getting back into the car. Spectators began to talk about intervening with advice or a reprimand. The cars behind both vehicles backed up and out of the way, leaving just the two in the predicament. The man finally got into the vehicle and the woman made a very slow move forward and out of his way. For Canada, this is an unusual display of impatience that left people shaking their heads. What had gone on for nearly 5 minutes was a seemingly needless showdown. Who is more to blame in this scenario? Is it the man with his rude demands, or the woman with her reluctance to move her car over to the right?
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 1, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- As if severe hot flashes alone weren't enough of a problem for menopausal women, a new study finds these symptoms may also be tied to a greater risk for sleep apnea and related heart issues.

The study included nearly 1,700 middle-aged women, about 25 percent of whom were at intermediate or high risk for obstructive sleep apnea -- for instance, they generally were older, had higher levels of body fat and had high blood pressure.

Compared with women who had mild or no hot flashes, those who reported severe hot flashes were nearly twice as likely to have obstructive sleep apnea, the researchers found.

In sleep apnea, pauses in breathing or shallow breathing prevent a person from getting a good night's sleep.

Sleep apnea has been linked to a significantly increased risk for heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, depression and early death, the study authors pointed out in a news release from the North American Menopause Society.

According to JoAnn Pinkerton, executive director of the society, "Sleep disruption is a common complaint at menopause. It is important to recognize the high number of undiagnosed sleep disorders, including obstructive sleep apnea."

Although the study found an association between severe hot flashes and the chronic sleep disorder, it did not prove a cause-and-effect relationship.

"Early morning headaches or excessive daytime sleepiness should raise concern for obstructive sleep apnea, and signal a possible need for sleep apnea testing," Pinkerton suggested.

The study was published online Nov. 1 in the journal Menopause.

More information

The U.S. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute has more on sleep apnea.
At least 20 people were killed, and scores suffered injuries, after a boiler unit exploded at the NTPC in Raebareli - Sonia Gandhi's Lok Sabha constituency - on Wednesday evening.

By Supriya Bhardwaj: Congress president Sonia Gandhi has expressed concern for the victims of an explosion at the NTPC in Raebareli, her Lok Sabha constituency. In a letter, she said she regretted being unable to travel to the area due to her poor health.

At least 20 people were killed, and scores suffered injuries, after a boiler unit exploded at the NTPC on Wednesday evening.

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The death toll is likely to increase, and many are feared trapped inside the 500 megawatt unit, which is located in Unchahar.

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi will travel to Raebareli tomorrow. His sister, Priyanka Gandhi, is likely to visit.

Here's Sonia Gandhi's letter.

WATCH | An initial TV report on the explosion at the NTPC

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On his recent visit to Iraq, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson congratulated Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi on his countrys military victories over ISIS, including the liberation of Mosul last July, and the recent liberations of Hawija and Tal Afar. These are all very important victories, and we applaud the efforts on the part on the Iraqi forces to defeat Daesh, said Mr. Tillerson.But there is still more that has to be done to ensure that ISIS is defeated once and for all and is eliminated from all of Iraq.

Secretary Tillerson noted with concern the recent differences that have emerged between the Kurdistan Regional Government and the Iraqi central government. He said, We encourage both parties to enter into discussion and dialogue. I think if both parties commit themselves to a unified Iraq, to the Iraqi constitution, I think all differences can be addressed and the rights of all can be respected and Iraq will have a very secure and a prosperous future.

The United States believes the newly created Coordination Council, which includes Iraq and Saudi Arabia, is an important milestone in restoring relationships between Iraq, the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, and Saudi Arabia. This engagement, said Secretary Tillerson, is extremely important for the Iraqi people [Sunni, Shia, and Kurds] that they are able to now reintegrate with their Arab neighbors. This renewed cooperation should lead to economic development for the people of Iraq and strengthen the security and stability of the region.

The United States will do its part as well by looking for ways to increase economic investment in Iraq. The United States, said Secretary Tillerson, looks forward a great partnership between Iraq and the U.S. for many years to come.
Lawyer Paul Bekaert in his office in Tielt, Belgium. ERIC VIDAL (REUTERS)

The lawyer in Belgium for sacked Catalan premier Carles Puigdemont said he wants his client to testify in that country in connection with a criminal investigation into sedition and rebellion.

He is not going to Madrid and I suggested that they question him here in Belgium, said Paul Bekaert in statements to The Associated Press.

Bekaert said Puigdemont has no intention of returning to Spain because it is highly probable that he will be arrested.

The judge has told Puigdemont and ex-members of his cabinet to pay a combined bond of 6.2 million

The Spanish judiciary has initiated legal proceedings against 20 Catalan politicians involved in the declaration of independence passed in the regional parliament last Friday.

Puigdemont and 13 members of his government  all ousted by Madrid as part of the application of emergency powers in the region using Article 155 of the Spanish Constitution  have been summoned to appear in the Audiencia Nacional, Spains High Court, on Thursday and Friday of this week.

Meanwhile, six members of the speakers committee of the Catalan parliament, including Speaker Carme Forcadell, have been summoned to appear in the Spanish Supreme Court on Thursday and Friday.

All face possible charges of rebellion, sedition and misuse of public funds. Rebellion carries a maximum prison term of 30 years.

The former Catalan premier said he would only return to Spain if he received guarantees of a fair trial

Speaking on Dutch television last night, Paul Bekaert, the lawyer for Puigdemont, said his client would not appear in court in Spain this week, and that they would appeal all attempts at extradition.

However, Puigdemont himself has yet to make a public comment on whether he will show up. If he does not appear in court, prosecutors could ask Lamela to order a European arrest warrant.

The summons from the High Court and Supreme Court came hot on the heels of announcements that both courts had accepted formal accusations filed by Spanish prosecutors.

Boos and insults J.J. Galvez A number of former members of the sacked government of Carles Puigdemont returned to Spain late yesterday evening after appearing alongside the former regional premier in Brussels during his press conference. Former interior department chief Joaquim Forn arrived at Barcelonas El Prat airport at 11pm and was greeted with shouts of traitor, dog, and to prison! On the same flight was sacked employment chief Dolors Bassa, while various media outlets reported that former culture chief Lluis Puig had also been on the plane. After collecting their baggage, the politicians were met by a small group waving Spanish flags who insulted and booed them. Where is Puigdemont? shouted one of the dozen or so anti-independence demonstrators.

The High Court judge overseeing the case, Carmen Lamela, said Puigdemont and the 13 members of his government named in the state prosecutors action would have to pay a combined bond of 6.2 million  the same sum allegedly taken from the public coffers in Catalonia to help fund the illegal independence referendum on October 1. If that sum is not paid in three days, their assets could be seized.

Lamela noted that while Puigdemont and his government have not yet been formally charged, she understood that he and members of his cabinet had plotted a strategy in which all of the secessionist moment was perfectly organized, with the roles shared between government and parliamentary authorities and civic associations.

The judge said Puidgemont and the members of his government would be questioned and cautionary measures considered at the hearings, including the possibility of having them remanded in custody.

But speaking at a highly-anticipated press conference in Brussels on Tuesday, after the shock news that he had traveled to the Belgian capital after the independence declaration on Friday, the former Catalan premier said he would only return to Spain if he received guarantees of a fair trial.

Puigdemont denied reports he was in Belgium to claim political asylum, saying instead that he wanted to draw attention to the politicized nature of the Spanish justice system.

English version by George Mills.
The Freixenet winery and headquarters in Sant Sadurni d'Anoia. Josep Lluis Sellart

The famous Spanish cava company Freixenet decided on Tuesday to keep its headquarters in Sant Sadurni dAnoia, Catalonia, after its council noted a change in the political and legal situation in Catalonia over the past couple of days.

The Freixenet council celebrated the affirmation of constitutional order and calls for the return of normalcy

The president of the Freixenet Group, Jose Luis Bonet, recently expressed his intention to move the headquarters to outside Catalonia, motivated by the independence movement and the declaration of independence voted in the Parliament last Friday. However, the affirmation of constitutional and statutory order from the application of Article 155 of the Constitution has changed the cava companys opinion.

In a brief statement, the Freixenet board celebrated the affirmation of constitutional order and called for the return of normality. The board emphasized the need to recover a positive economic dynamic that has been seriously questioned in the past two months, as soon as possible.

Therefore, according to the statement, the recovery of economic normality, in Catalonia and Spain, advises against moving headquarters under these new circumstances, as Freixenet is a Catalan company and, consequently, Spanish.

Freixenet employs 1,400 workers, most of them at the Sant Sadurni dAnoia winery and headquarters. However, the other major cava company from this region, the Codorniu Raventos group, announced the change of location, from Barcelona to the town of Haro, in La Rioja, a wine region in northern Spain.

Capital flight in Catalonia Manuel V. Gomez The pace of companies electing to leave Catalonia has slowed since regional elections were called. On Monday, the first working day after the activation of Article 155, only 62 companies announced plans to move: less than half the number seen the previous Friday (140). As of the end of October, 1,883 companies had already changed their registered addresses. The push to leave began on October 9 and reached its peak 10 days later, when in a single day 268 companies announced their decision to quit the region.

Bonet has been one of the businessmen most critical of the independence process and its economic consequences. The president of Freixenet called on Catalan leaders more than one occasion to return to the path of the Constitution and not to disturb the positive cycle of the economy. If independence takes place, which I do not believe it will, we will be a Spanish multinational that operates in Catalonia, Bonet said before the regional parliament voted.

Freixenet, managed by the Bonet, Ferrer and Hevia families, was founded in 1914, becoming one of the largest companies in the cava industry. After years of economic difficulties and governance problems, the group had a turnover of 529 million in 2016, 5.1% more than the previous year.

English version by Debora Almeida.
Former Catalan regional premier Carles Puigdemont on Wednesday in Brussels after his press conference. Mark Carlson (AP)

Speaking in Brussels on Tuesday, former Catalan premier Carles Puigdemont depicted Spain as a place with no legal or democratic guarantees  a country that prevents him from returning to face a fair trial for the crimes of sedition, rebellion and misuse of public funds in connection with the illegal independence referendum of October 1.

Either ignoring or choosing to forget the separation of powers that exists in this country, the ousted Catalan leader delivered a speech  in three languages  that followed the usual script, filled with contradictory arguments and half-truths that he used to seek international support for his project. The following are chief examples.

Since October 1, our hand has been extended in an invitation to dialogue, to the extent that we even proposed suspending the declaration of independence.

Suspending something that was illegal in the first place is not extending your hand. And Puigdemonts offers of dialogue were always expressed negatively: he did not show up at the meeting of regional premiers, nor did he honor reiterated invitations to come to the Spanish Senate and Congress. His only disposition to dialogue was based on the condition that the dialogue would deal with the format and dates for the independence referendum.

The (Spanish) states aggressiveness, of which there are so many examples: 700 mayors facing legal action, thousands of people beaten when they were going to exercise their right to vote [on October 1], the impunity enjoyed by the far right, exorbitant fines against organizers of the November 9 (2014) plebiscite [in Catalonia], the charges by state prosecutor General Maza.

The 700 cases he mentions are currently on hold, although they have not yet been definitively dropped: they were initiated by prosecutors, not by judges.

And the police action of October 1 has been widely debated. Many people sustained bruises, two suffered minor injuries, and two serious injuries. All of them have recovered. If there are people who have no moral authority to talk about police violence, that is the Catalan leaders who sent in the Mossos dEsquadra to subdue protestors with the Indignados anti-austerity movement: a woman named Esther Quintana lost an eye from a rubber bullet fired at her during a general strike in 2012.

And there were no multi-million euro fines for organizing the non-binding referendum of November 9, 2014. Instead, the Audit Court asked for the return of the public money (5.2 million) that was used by the government of former Catalan premier Artur Mas to finance the banned vote.

Former Catalan premier Carles Puigdemont and ministers in Brussels on Tuesday. YVES HERMAN (Reuters)

The measures adopted by the Catalan government since Friday (...) are consistent with the values of peace, respect for plurality and neutrality that we have always pursued.

The governments of Artur Mas and Carles Puigdemont never displayed the neutrality that the latter boasts of  much less so during the two attempted referendums that they launched, conducting a biased campaign, manipulating the public broadcaster and stripping opposition deputies of their power. International observers present at the October 1 vote concluded that minimum standards for considering a referendum valid had not been met.

This government could have forced loyal public employees to start a dispute over control (of Catalan institutions), but instead it chose to guarantee that there will be no confrontation and no violence. A republic for all cannot be built on a foundation of violence. If the Spanish state wants to build its project on violence, thats their decision to make, but they cannot drag us into a scenario that the sovereignty movement has consistently rejected, as all democrats should.

If Puigdemont feels it would have been legitimate to force government employees to undertake illegal activities, that speaks volumes about his personal concept of democracy and government neutrality. So much for a republic for all cannot be built on a foundation of violence. Theres no doubt that all Catalans must be feeling most grateful for this gracious concession. Renouncing the use of unregulated violence is not something one can choose to do in a democracy: it is a pre-existing condition of democracy.

One part of the (Catalan) government has come to Brussels to denounce the politicization of the Spanish justice system.

Even though the Spanish judiciary is on a par with that of any advanced democracy, it has its faults and could be improved. But it does not contain such serious flaws as the one contained in the draft design for a Catalan justice system, under which the head of the Supreme Court would be personally appointed by the president of the Catalan republic, who would also be head of the executive or first minister, an uncommon accumulation of responsibilities in a European country.

In this hypothetical Catalan justice system, all legal appointments would be made by a mixed committee where the government would have a majority. Now here is a perfect example of the politicization of the justice system and its subservience to governing powers. It would mean the end of the rule of law.

Under no circumstances will we abandon the Catalan government; we will continue to perform our duties despite the limitations imposed by our non-confrontational strategy, and we will confront the States politically motivated legal action from a political position, not a legal one.

Had Puigdemont renounced the position that he was removed from? Certainly, his trip to Brussels and the secrecy surrounding it, combined with the statements made by an unusual Belgian lawyer, gave his trip a feeling of flight, of a search for individual protection in the form of asylum.

Belgiums deputy prime minister and economy chief, Kris Peeters, underscored the strangeness of Puigdemonts conduct when he said: If you are going to declare independence, you usually stay with your people.

Meanwhile, the prosecutors complaint may be right on target,or open to improvements, or absolutely spotless, but in any case, it would only be political if it denounced political actions. Instead, it deals with conduct (political in origin) that could be construed as illegal and consistent with felonies encoded in the Criminal Code. To consider that Puigdemonts behavior as a political leader should be automatically excluded from legal action is to grant him immunity privileges and a carte blanche that are nowhere reflected in the Spanish Constitution or in the Catalan statute of autonomy.

It is contradictory to say that the December 21 regional election is a democratic challenge yet support initiatives to stop Article 155

Puigdemonts claim that he would return if a fair trial could be guaranteed runs along the same lines. What guarantees would those be? Procedural guarantees, which are by definition the same for all Spanish citizens? Or personal privileges by virtue of the position he used to hold?

His claims ignore the separation of powers and the independence of the judiciary. Although the public prosecutors office is formally independent, it can be so to a greater or lesser degree depending on the characteristics of the individuals who exercise it. Even so, judges act independently from the public prosecutor.

During the course of the same legal proceedings, judges may impose strict precautionary measures on some suspects (such as Jordi Sanchez and Jordi Cuixart  the leaders of the civic groups National Catalan Assembly (ANC) and Omnium, who are in pre-trial custody) and more lenient ones on others (such as former chief of the Catalan police force Josep Lluis Trapero, who has to report to the court periodically), despite the fact that prosecutors had requested similarly tough measures for all.

We will support initiatives to stop Article 155 from taking effect and dismantling the Catalan institutional system (...) We accept the election set by the Spanish state as a democratic challenge.

It is contradictory to say that the December 21 election is a democratic challenge yet support initiatives to stop the application of Article 155. The election has been called by Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy precisely through the emergency powers vested on him by the application of Article 155. Puigdemont could have easily called the election himself  he had been encouraged to, and had in fact been widely expected to do so the day before independence was declared.

Participants at the pro-unity march in Barcelona on October29. Jaime Villanueva

We will accept the result of the election, as we have always done.

False. The secessionist bloc obtained less than 50% of the popular vote at the last regional election, yet considered that it had a democratic mandate to go down the road to unilateral independence. It did not respect the outcome of that election, instead politically manipulating it and building itself up into the government of a minority.

The Catalan cause is the cause of the values that Europe is based on.

EU institutions and governments have said countless times that the cause of Catalan secessionism violates European principles because it violates Spanish constitutional laws. Puigdemonts vague appeal to democratic values, especially when these have been infringed, is mostly irrelevant. The EU has been a global role model in breaking down internal barriers, and it cannot risk building new ones, as that could herald a return of the risks to stability that led to two world wars.

We are working to ensure that the PP, PSOE and Ciudadanos [political parties] cannot dismantle the Catalan institutions.

It was the secessionist bloc that dismantled Catalan regional institutions when it violated the Catalan Statute through self-made breakaway laws passed on September 6 and 8. Restoring them is what its all about now.

English version by Susana Urra.
(Reuters) - Bahrain's public prosecutor charged two leaders of the country's banned main opposition party of spying for Qatar on Wednesday, months after cutting ties with the neighboring Gulf monarchy amid a regional diplomatic row.

Sheikh Ali Salman, secretary general of al-Wefaq party, and Sheikh Hassan Sultan are accused of colluding with Qatar to carry out "hostile acts" in Bahrain and damage its national interests and prestige, according to a statement on state news agency BNA.

The men met Qatari officials as well as affiliated agents inside Lebanese Shi'ite militia Hezbollah, the statement said. It accused them of transferring confidential information and receiving financial support from Qatar.

The prosecutor ordered that both men be taken into custody.

Salman's wife Alya Radhi wrote on Twitter that she had spoken by phone with her husband, who denied all charges. There was no immediate comment from al-Wefaq.

Salman is already serving a four-year prison sentence for inciting hatred and insulting the interior ministry, after he was arrested in 2015.

He was summoned and interrogated about the new accusations in the presence of his lawyer, the statement said.

It did not elaborate on whether Sultan was detained.

Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt cut diplomatic, transport and trade ties with Qatar in June, accusing it of financing terrorism.

Bahrain and close ally Saudi Arabia believe Qatar is fomenting unrest in the island kingdom by supporting protests and sporadic attacks against security forces, backed by arch-rival Iran.

Both countries deny the charges and say the boycott is an attempt to rein in support for reform in Bahrain.

The Sunni-ruled kingdom, where the U.S. Fifth Fleet is based, has been on edge since 2011 "Arab Spring" protests led by its Shi'ite majority were put down by the government with the help of fellow Gulf Arab states.

The government banned al-Wefaq and revoked the citizenship of the country's top Shi'ite Muslim cleric as part of a crackdown on the opposition.

Human rights groups accuse Bahrain of clamping down on dissent and violently cracking down on protests, charges the government rejects.
Nearly two weeks after Iranian Parliaments Audit Court announced that former president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad spent $1.3 billion of Irans oil income illegally, the deputy head of a conservatives faction has called for his expulsion from the influential Expediency Discernment Council, EDC.

Member of parliament Gholamali Jafarzadeh Iman Abadi said om Tuesday, As it is proven that Ahmadinejad has violated the law, he must be expelled from EDCS, according to ILNA.

Earlier, on Wednesday, October 18, Iranian parliaments Audit Court had announced Ahmadinejads violations, ordering him to repay $1.3 billion to the treasury. The ruling accused Ahmadinejad that during his presidency from 2008 to 2013 oil revenues were unlawfully spent without being properly transferred from the oil ministry to the treasury.

Although the court found Ahmadinejad directly responsible for the violation, it did not sentence him.

Asked by ILNA what should be done with Ahmadinejad, who obviously cannot repay such an amount, Imanabadi responded, As a rule, those responsible for such violations are condemned to lose their governmental positions. Therefore, Ahmadinejad should be expelled from EDC.

The Expediency Discernment Council was initially established by the order of the founder of the Islamic Republic, ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini in 1987 to resolve disputes and differences between the Guardian Council and parliament.

Upon the revision to the constitution in1988 the EDC turned into a legally recognized entity.

Members of the EDC are chosen by the Supreme Leader, ayatollah Ali Khamenei for a five year term.

During his two consecutive terms as the president, Ahmadinejad accused EDC of violating the countrys Constitution, disrupting the countrys management process and, as an ex officio member, rarely attended its sessions.

However, after completing his eight years of presidency in 2013, Ahmadinejad was appointed as a member of EDC by Kahmeneis decree, on the grounds of his priceless efforts during his presidency.

Will it not be against the Supreme Leaders decision to call for Ahmadinejads expulsion from EDCS? ILNA asks and Imanabdi explains, When the Supreme Leader appointed Ahmadinejad, the former presidents financial mishandling was not revealed. Nevertheless, at the moment, expelling him from EDCS is necessary

However, Ahmadinejad has always insisted that his presidency has been unique in financial transparency and clarity.

He has also dismissed the charges and threatened to divulge a cowardly scenario by bands of power and wealth.

Moreover, he has alleged that a cabal is waging war against the leading officials of his administration.
The U.S. State Department confirmed on October 31, that during the U.N. General Assembly in New York, the U.S. made a pitch to Iran for a high-level meeting.

The State Department spokesperson, Heather Nauert responded to a direct question if Secretary of State Rex Tillerson had floated the idea of a top-level meeting and Iran had rejected it.

Nauert responded, Yeah. So I know that that was something that the Secretary had floated. The country  the Iranian officials said no, and that was the end of it.

On October 29, Irans foreign ministry spokesman Bahram Ghasemi told ILNA that President Hassan Rouhani had turned down a meeting with President Donald Trump, during his trip to the U.N. in September.

The following day the White House denied the Iranian claim. Spokesperson Sara Huckabee Sanders in an email to NBC news said that the Iranian claim was not true.

At the State Department briefing on Tuesday, the line of questioning as to whether the U.S. had proposed a meeting  and whether this meeting was meant to be between Trump and Rouhani continued.

A reporter asked if Iran was correct in saying that it had rejected an offer for a meeting with President Trump. Nauert answered They did.

Rohani and Trump exchanged harsh words during their speeches at the annual UN Assembly.



Trump called Iran "a corrupt dictatorship," while Rohani assailed the "rogue newcomers" in the U.S. administration.



The U.S. leader has consistently accused the Iranian government of supporting terror and insurgent groups throughout the Middle East.

Nauert also responded to questions regarding statement by two Iranian commanders that the Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei has put a limit of 2000 kilometers for Iranian ballistic missiles.

Well, 2,000 kilometers is actually pretty far. That would certainly put other countries that are allies of ours in the range, Nauert said and added, Those Iranian-made rockets have too long been used to exacerbate some of the  and inflame conflicts in the region. And as you well know, its in violation, ballistic missiles are, of the UN Security Council resolutions.
PFI is accused of brainwashing Hindu women and marrying them off to Muslim men.

By India Today Web Desk: India Today's sting on massive conversions carried out by Popular Front of India (PFI) in Kerala has raised many questions about the authenticity of such NGOs.

Addressing a press conference, Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad raised concerns about the working of such NGOs and called the case of massive conversions an "extreme case of radicalisation".

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He demanded a detailed probe into the case and said that action should be taken against the culprits.

Applauding India Today's sting on PFI's racket of religious conversions, Ravi Shankar Prasad said that anyone who wants to convert by choice can do that, but forced conversions are a 'serious national issue'.

"Why I am specifically complementing India Today is because they did a sting on Hurriyat and its foreign funds. No one from Hurriyat has denied. Second, extraordinary initiative is to expose the terror elements in Kerala," he said.

Targetting the Congress, Ravi Shankar Prasad said, "suprisingly Rahul, who speaks on every issue these days is silent on Hurriyat and Kerala. We also demand action from Kerala govt, People voted them to govern, not to do vote bank politics.

Reacting to the India Today's PFI sting on Tuesday, Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said that the organisation should be banned. "Your investigation shows that there is a PFI, the Popular Front of India, which is having an organised racket employing people who are owning it up on your channel that they are creating a radical group by some kind of psychological brainwashing," said Prasad.

Post India Today's expose on forceful conversions by PFI in Kerala, the CM's office has asked for a copy of the report and has said that appropriate action will be taken after the report is received. India Today released a sting operation on Tuesday that shows Zainaba A.S., head of PFI's woman wing accepting the fact that PFI's sister organisation Sathya Sarani has carried out massive conversions. As the report was released, Zainab denied the allegations and termed them as "baseless".

Kerala CM's office has asked for a copy of the report from India Today which will be forwarded to the state intelligence department on urgent basis. The authorities said that the matter will be treated with utmost seriousness.

The PFI is under investigation by NIA who are looking into the India Today sting.

--- ENDS ---
Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 1

Trend:

Over the past 24 hours, Armenias armed forces have 115 times violated the ceasefire along the line of contact between Azerbaijani and Armenian troops, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry said Nov. 1.

The Armenian armed forces were using heavy machine guns.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.

The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 1

Trend:

Armenias destroying ancient religious and cultural monuments, belonging to the Islamic world, in the occupied Azerbaijani lands is unacceptable, said Deputy Chairman of Pakistani Senate Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri.

He was addressing a meeting with Azerbaijan's Ambassador to Pakistan Ali Alizade, Azerbaijani Embassy in Pakistan told Trend.

At the meeting, it was noted that the support of Pakistani Senates Committee for Foreign Affairs for Azerbaijan's territorial integrity, its recognition of the Khojaly genocide and acceptance of resolutions demanding immediate withdrawal of Armenian troops from the occupied Azerbaijani territories are highly appreciated by Azerbaijan.

Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri said that Pakistan considers Azerbaijan a fraternal country, and noted the importance of strengthening unity and cooperation among Islamic countries, adding a perfect example of this is the Pakistani-Azerbaijani relations.

The sides also exchanged views on the organization of high-level mutual visits, as well as expansion of cooperation in economic and humanitarian spheres.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.

The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 1

Trend:

Permanent Representative of Azerbaijan to the United Nations addressed a letter to the Secretary General of the United Nations on Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in pursuant to the The situation in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan, Protracted conflicts in the GUAM area and their implications for international peace, security and development, The rule of law at the national and international levels and other relevant agenda items of the 72nd session of General Assembly.



In the letter, Armenias policy of aggression and occupation against Azerbaijan and its consequences, international legal responsibility of Armenia for wrongful acts, resolutions and decisions of UN Security Council and other international organizations, as well as humanitarian and other aspects of the conflict, illegal economic and other activities in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan and third party responsibility for such actions with fundamental facts were explained in detailed manner and in this context, groundlessness of Armenias assertions was exposed once again.



The letter was circulated as the document of UN Security Council and General Assembly (A72/508-S/2017/836).

The full text of the letter in two UN official languages (English/Russian) can be accessed here.
Details added (first version posted on 15:50)

Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 31

Trend:

The people and state of Azerbaijan will never allow creation of a second Armenian state on Azerbaijan's historical lands, said President Ilham Aliyev.

He made the remarks at a joint press conference together with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Baku Oct. 31.

Both at the one-on-one meeting and at the meeting with participation of delegations, we have seen once again that the Turkey-Azerbaijan relations are at the highest level, said President Aliyev.

The Turkey-Azerbaijan friendship, brotherhood, unity is at the highest peak today, he noted adding that there is consensus on the discussed issues, all issues are solved, and the discussed issues are implemented.

Naturally, we have discussed today the future development of our political relations, said the president.

The head of state noted that political relations of Azerbaijan and Turkey are developing successfully.

Speaking about the high-level mutual visits, President Aliyev reminded that he has visited Turkey twice this year, and today the Turkish President is on a visit to Azerbaijan.

Ministers, other officials meet frequently, added the head of state.

Meanwhile, the two countries support each other in all international organizations, said President Aliyev.

The president said that the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, one of the most painful problems for the region today, has also been discussed.

Unfortunately, this conflict has not been solved yet. Azerbaijans historical land, Nagorno-Karabakh, and seven surrounding districts are under occupation, and as a result of the occupation, more than one million Azerbaijanis have become displaced persons, said President Aliyev. International organizations, especially the UN Security Council passed four resolutions on the conflict. These resolutions indicate that the Armenian armed forces must be withdrawn immediately and unconditionally from the occupied lands.

Unfortunately, these resolutions remain on paper, Armenia still ignores them, and the conflict remains unresolved. This is the policy of double standards against us. In some cases, UN Security Council resolutions are implemented within a few days. However, in our case, these resolutions and decisions remain unfulfilled for more than 20 years, added the president.

The head of state noted that the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict must be resolved on the basis of international law and within the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan.

There is no other way. The people and state of Azerbaijan will never allow creation of a second Armenian state on our historical land. I once again thanked President Erdogan for the support of Turkey in this issue. Turkey has always supported the just case of Azerbaijan in all international organizations as a friend, as a brother, added Ilham Aliyev.

Today, we have discussed the military cooperation extensively, he noted adding that this issue is also on the agenda.

Noting that three joint military exercises have been held in Azerbaijan, two military exercises  in Baku and one military exercise  in Nakhchivan this year, President Aliyev said that this is a factor strengthening the two countries cooperation in the military sphere.

Meanwhile, the joint military-technical cooperation continues, added the president.

Turkeys growing military industrial complex is of great interest to Azerbaijan, said Ilham Aliyev.

He added that Azerbaijan buys and will continue buying military products from Turkey.

President Aliyev said that the document signed today in the economic sphere is of great importance.

Preferential, in other words, the privileged trade agreement is of great importance, noted the president.

He expressed confidence that once this agreement enters into force, the two countries trade turnover will increase significantly.

Speaking about the investments, President Aliyev said that to date, $10 billion have been invested in Turkey by Azerbaijan, and $11 billion have been invested in Azerbaijan by Turkey.

The volume of these investments will further increase and Azerbaijans investments in Turkey must reach $20 billion, added the head of state.

Turkish companies have been operating successfully in Azerbaijan for a long time and to date, Turkish companies, at the expense of the Azerbaijani state budget, have been carrying out various work worth $11 billion, added Ilham Aliyev.

This strengthens friendship and cooperation between businessmen, noted the president.

Of course, energy and transportation issues have been traditionally discussed at todays meeting, said the president, and added that we are moving confidently towards the set targets.

The Azerbaijani president expressed confidence that the Trans Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP) project will be completed soon and there is no problem with its implementation.

The Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway project was put into operation yesterday. We celebrated this historic day together with my brother, our brothers and sisters who came from Turkey. This is our great success, great victory, said the Azerbaijani president.

This once again shows that all the projects involving Turkey and Azerbaijan and those initiated by the two countries are being implemented, noted President Aliyev.

Along with the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC), Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum, TANAP, the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars (BTK) is also a big transnational, continental-scale project, said the head of state.

Our unity, our friendship has made it all possible, he added.

Ilham Aliyev said that today the Turkey-Azerbaijan friendship, brotherhood and unity is an important factor for the region and plays a stabilizing role in the region.

Strengthening Turkey increases Azerbaijans strength, noted the president.

Thanks to the leadership of my dear brother, Turkey has become a great power today in the world, and our enemies are disappointed, added President Aliyev.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 1

By Ilhama Isabalayeva  Trend:

The Azerbaijani-Turkish cooperation has great prospects, Azerbaijani MP Aydin Mirzazade told Trend Nov. 1.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogans recent visit to Azerbaijan, the issues raised at the 6th meeting of the Azerbaijan-Turkey High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council and the statements made by the presidents of both countries proved once again that the Azerbaijani-Turkish cooperation is based on the relations of friendship, brotherhood, good-neighborliness, he added.

The sixth meeting of the Azerbaijan-Turkey High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council was held in Baku Oct. 31 with the participation of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and President Erdogan.

The Azerbaijani MP stressed that the positions of the two countries coincide on all issues and the countries act as allies within the international organizations.

"President Erdogans visit to Azerbaijan and the Council meeting coincided with such a historic event as the commissioning of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars (BTK) railway, he said. The public of both countries is confident that Turkey and Azerbaijan will further support each other and expand ties to be stronger."
Details added (first version posted on 13:10)

Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 1

Trend:

Azerbaijans President Ilham Aliyev met with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani in Tehran Nov.1.

The role of historical, cultural and religious roots in strengthening of relations between the peoples of Azerbaijan and Iran was noted during the meeting.

Ten meetings held in the last five years between the heads of state were considered as an indicator of the two countries successful cooperation, and the successful development of political relations.

The two sides also discussed the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict at the meeting. President Aliyev spoke about Armenias occupation policy and the negotiation process on settlement of the conflict.

The two presidents discussed military and military-technical cooperation and perspectives in this field. Meanwhile, regional issues were touched upon, and the Azerbaijani and Iranian presidents exchanged views on the fight against terrorism and extremism.

It was noted that the Azerbaijan-Russia-Iran trilateral cooperation has great potential and this format can give good results for cooperation in very important spheres.

Economic cooperation issues were discussed at the meeting. The two presidents praised the fact that the countries trade turnover increased by 70 percent in 2016 and by 33 percent in the first nine months of 2017.

President Aliyev and President Rouhani exchanged views on issues of mutual investments, cooperation in energy, oil and gas, transport.

They also spoke about the successful implementation of the International North-South Transport Corridor project.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 1

By Elchin Mehdiyev  Trend:

The next meeting of the Azerbaijan-Turkey High-Level strategic Cooperation Council is the successful continuation of high-level relations between the two countries, a member of Azerbaijani parliament Tahir Karimli told Trend Nov. 1.

Karimli noted that the issues discussed both at the Councils meeting and at the bilateral meeting are further strengthening the firm and close cooperation between the two countries.

Fraternal relations between Azerbaijan and Turkey can serve as an example for all countries. The agreements reached at the meeting between President Ilham Aliyev and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan also proved that cooperation between Azerbaijan and Turkey in both military and other spheres will further develop, noted the MP.

This cooperation, this unity exists not only between the two states but also between the Azerbaijani and Turkish peoples, added Karimli.

The sixth meeting of the Azerbaijan-Turkey High-Level strategic Cooperation Council was held in Baku on Oct. 31 with participation of President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 1

By Elchin Mehdiyev  Trend:

Strategic relations of Azerbaijan and Turkey are the guarantor of peace and stability in the region, Azerbaijani MP Hikmet Babaoglu told Trend Nov. 1.

Babaoglu added that the Azerbaijan-Turkey relations are at a very high level.

"On October 30, we witnessed a historic event, namely, the commissioning of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars (BTK) railway, which will connect not only two allied countries, but will also become a new bridge to Europe through Central Asia and Anatolia," he said.

The Azerbaijani MP said that the sixth meeting of the Azerbaijan-Turkey High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council was held Oct. 31 during Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogans visit to Azerbaijan.

"Multifaceted and important issues, including political ties, cooperation in international organizations, economic, military, military-technical cooperation, education, energy and transport sectors were discussed, he said. Each of these spheres is of strategic importance and promises good prospects for the development of mutual relations.

The documents signed at the meeting will lead to further intensification of relations in education, defense, security, trade, agriculture and other spheres, which is in the interests of both countries," Babaoglu added.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 1

By Elchin Mehdiyev  Trend:

Italy intends to intensify ties with Azerbaijan, deputy chairman of the Italian Senate Linda Lanzilotta said at a meeting with chairman of the Azerbaijani parliament Ogtay Asadov, the Azerbaijani parliament said in a message Nov. 1.

Asadov expressed confidence that this visit will make a new contribution to the development of relations between the two countries.

"Italy is one of the most important trade partners of Azerbaijan, he said. The relations are developing. One of the important issues is the development of bilateral relations with Italy and within the international parliamentary organizations. The relations in the economic sphere bring real benefits to both sides.

Asadov stressed that the talks held by high-level delegations, in particular during the presidential meetings, raised bilateral ties to a qualitatively new level.

"The trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Italy amounted to $2.39 billion," he said. In the future we intend to increase this figure."

In her turn, Lanzilotta expressed confidence that this visit will make a positive contribution to the development of relations between the parliaments of the two countries.

"Italy attaches great importance to the development of relations with Azerbaijan, she said. We intend to further intensify relations in various spheres."

The prospects for the development of interparliamentary relations, the issues of further intensification of cooperation in the economic, cultural, humanitarian spheres, as well as other issues of mutual interest were discussed at the meeting.

Head of the Azerbaijani parliaments office Safa Mirzayev, head of the working group on interparliamentary relations with Italy Azer Kerimli, Azerbaijani ambassador to Italy Mammad Ahmadzade, Italian ambassador to Azerbaijan Augusto Massari and other officials attended the meeting.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 1

By Ilhama Isabalayeva  Trend:

The opening of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars (BTK) railway once again demonstrated to what extent Azerbaijans geopolitical position strengthened in the international arena, said President of Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences Akif Alizadeh.

He made the remarks at a Presidium meeting Nov. 1.

Alizadeh noted that the BTK project provides access to Europe and the Silk Road route for Azerbaijan.

The BTK railways opening is a grandiose historic event. This is one of Azerbaijans biggest victories in the 21st century, he said.

The official opening ceremony of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway was held in Baku Oct.30. The BTK railway was constructed on the basis a Georgian-Azerbaijani-Turkish intergovernmental agreement. The railways peak capacity will be 17 million tons of cargo per year. At an initial stage, this figure will be one million passengers and 6.5 million tons of cargo.
The Central Intelligence Agency released 470,000 additional files seized in May 2011 when US Navy SEALs burst into the Abbottabad compound and shot dead Laden.

By Press Trust of India: Osama bin Laden closely followed developments in Kashmir and the trial of Pakistani-American terrorist David Coleman Headley in the 26/11 Mumbai attacks case, indicated the documents seized during the 2011 US raid on a Pakistani compound that killed the al-Qaeda founder.

The Central Intelligence Agency today released 470,000 additional files seized in May 2011 when US Navy SEALs burst into the Abbottabad compound and shot dead Laden.

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The files include Ladens sons wedding video and diaries left by the Saudi-born militant.

The documents revealed that Laden closely followed news related to the arrest of Lashkar-e-Taiba operative Headley and was a regular reader of some of the top Indian publications.

An Indian Express article titled Omar Sheikh?s Pak handler Ilyas Kashmiri also handled Headley was found from the computer of Laden in Abbottabad. The article was dated November 16, 2009.

An article Fears of air-borne terrorists strikes in India, UK published in Sri Lanka Guardian was also found in a separate file on Laden's computer. A PTI story, Al-Qaeda helping Taliban to destabilise Pak Government: Gates, dated February 9, 2010, was also found on Ladens computer.

Another article found on Laden's computer was about the coded communications between Headley and his HuJI links. The news article was published by The Time of India on November 15, 2009. Laden also saved on his computer another PTI article, titled: India to send magistrate to US to record Headleys statement.

Laden highlighted in yellow some portion of the article titled Pak Major handled Headley's India recce, published on March 16, 2010.

The highlighted portion reads, "The dossiers also sought the custody of Pakistani terrorist, Ilyas Kashmiri. Kashmiri is the chief of the '313 Brigade' and acts as the 'military operations head' of the Al- Qaeda. Intercepts reveal that Kashmiri told two attackers inside Nariman House, Keep fighting, Brigade 313 has been deployed.?

The documents also revealed that Laden was interested in news related to Kashmir and several terrorists especially IIlyas Kashmiri.

An Economic Times story US asks Pakistan to find Iyas Kashmiri? dated January 7, 2010 was found among the saved documents on Laden?s computer. A February 2009 article 'Pakistani Kashmiri militants now fighting NATO forces' was also found.

--- ENDS ---

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Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 1

Trend:

The decisive political will of Azerbaijans President Ilham Aliyev has made it possible to turn one more historic project into reality, Ali Hasanov, Azerbaijani presidents assistant for public and political affairs, wrote in a Facebook post Nov. 1.

The opening of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars (BTK) railway on October 30 has become an important historic event both in the socio-political and economic life of Azerbaijan and on a global scale, said Hasanov.

Most of the experts believe that the BTK will strengthen trade and economic relations between the European and Asian countries, economic development of the regions countries and their geopolitical influence in the world, noted the top official.

First of all, the BTK railway is of particular importance in terms of ensuring the geo-economic interests of Azerbaijan, he added.

Hasanov said the purposeful policy pursued by President Ilham Aliyev on the use of Azerbaijans rich natural resources, favorable geographical position, transport and communications capabilities connecting the East and the West, and other geopolitical advantages in line with national interests has substantially strengthened Azerbaijans role on international arena.

The BTK railway has been established to meet the need of creating a new, economically viable transportation route for freight traffic in Eurasia, noted the president's assistant.

Preparation and implementation of the BTK railway project, which is an important component of the Eurasian transportation map, has lived through various difficulties, noted Hasanov. He said some foreign political circles claimed that this project is economically ineffective.

However, the principled political will of President Ilham Aliyev, as well as the principal position, mutual support and confidence of the leaders of Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey, helped overcome all the difficulties and turn the next historic project into a reality, added the top official.

In the system of geopolitical relations in the South Caucasus, national interests of Azerbaijan, Turkey and Georgia complement each other, noted Hasanov, adding that the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC), Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum oil and gas pipelines, as well as the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway play an important role in ensuring the joint geo-economic interests and security of these three countries.

The signing of the agreement on construction of the BTK railway in 2007 further deepened the strategic partnership relations between Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey in transport and communications, he said.

Over the past few years, Azerbaijan has become a crucial link in transport and communication relations of the world, by transforming domestic, regional and international road infrastructures, including transit systems as part of the East-West and North-South transport corridors, noted the presidential assistant.

Azerbaijans participation in transnational energy, transportation and communications projects (Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline and Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum gas pipeline, Europe-Caucasus-Asia transport and communication corridor, Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway, etc.) has increased its geo-economic importance in the region and its role in ensuring international energy and transportation security, said Hasanov.

He noted that Azerbaijan has become one of the major transportation and logistics centers in the world, as an initiator, driving force and main guarantor of the BTK railway project.

The railway is the shortest, but economically viable route connecting Europe with Asia, and it is envisaged to transport 5 million tons of cargo at the first stage and 17 million tons and more in the subsequent period, added the top official.

He noted that the BTK railway will have a significant impact on the efficient and inexpensive access of Azerbaijani exporters to world markets and will allow increasing the volume of foreign trade turnover among the countries which are located along the route.

Another geo-economic importance of this transportation route is the direct railway connection between Europe and Azerbaijan through Turkey and Georgia, said the top official.

Implementation of transnational transportation and communication projects in the South Caucasus meets strategic interests of not only Azerbaijan, but also other states in ensuring peace and stability in the region, added Hasanov.
Details added (first version posted on 17:58)

Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 1

Trend:

The decisive political will of Azerbaijans President Ilham Aliyev has made it possible to turn one more historic project into reality, Ali Hasanov, Azerbaijani presidents assistant for public and political affairs, wrote in a Facebook post Nov. 1.

The opening of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars (BTK) railway on October 30 has become an important historic event both in the socio-political and economic life of Azerbaijan and on a global scale, said Hasanov.

Most of the experts believe that the BTK will strengthen trade and economic relations between the European and Asian countries, economic development of the regions countries and their geopolitical influence in the world, noted the top official.

First of all, the BTK railway is of particular importance in terms of ensuring the geo-economic interests of Azerbaijan, he added.

Hasanov said the purposeful policy pursued by President Ilham Aliyev on the use of Azerbaijans rich natural resources, favorable geographical position, transport and communications capabilities connecting the East and the West, and other geopolitical advantages in line with national interests has substantially strengthened Azerbaijans role on international arena.

The BTK railway has been established to meet the need of creating a new, economically viable transportation route for freight traffic in Eurasia, noted the president's assistant.

Preparation and implementation of the BTK railway project, which is an important component of the Eurasian transportation map, has lived through various difficulties, noted Hasanov. He said some foreign political circles claimed that this project is economically ineffective.

However, the principled political will of President Ilham Aliyev, as well as the principal position, mutual support and confidence of the leaders of Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey, helped overcome all the difficulties and turn the next historic project into a reality, added the top official.

In the system of geopolitical relations in the South Caucasus, national interests of Azerbaijan, Turkey and Georgia complement each other, noted Hasanov, adding that the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC), Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum oil and gas pipelines, as well as the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway play an important role in ensuring the joint geo-economic interests and security of these three countries.

The signing of the agreement on construction of the BTK railway in 2007 further deepened the strategic partnership relations between Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey in transport and communications, he said.

Over the past few years, Azerbaijan has become a crucial link in transport and communication relations of the world, by transforming domestic, regional and international road infrastructures, including transit systems as part of the East-West and North-South transport corridors, noted the presidential assistant.

Azerbaijans participation in transnational energy, transportation and communications projects (Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline and Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum gas pipeline, Europe-Caucasus-Asia transport and communication corridor, Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway, etc.) has increased its geo-economic importance in the region and its role in ensuring international energy and transportation security, said Hasanov.

He noted that Azerbaijan has become one of the major transportation and logistics centers in the world, as an initiator, driving force and main guarantor of the BTK railway project.

The railway is the shortest, but economically viable route connecting Europe with Asia, and it is envisaged to transport 5 million tons of cargo at the first stage and 17 million tons and more in the subsequent period, added the top official.

He noted that the BTK railway will have a significant impact on the efficient and inexpensive access of Azerbaijani exporters to world markets and will allow increasing the volume of foreign trade turnover among the countries which are located along the route.

Another geo-economic importance of this transportation route is the direct railway connection between Europe and Azerbaijan through Turkey and Georgia, said the top official.

Implementation of transnational transportation and communication projects in the South Caucasus meets strategic interests of not only Azerbaijan, but also other states in ensuring peace and stability in the region, added Hasanov.
Details added (first version posted on 20:56)

Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 1

Trend:

The increase in trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Russia indicates to the restoration of our economies, mutual interest, said President Ilham Aliyev at a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Tehran Nov. 1.

We have met several times this year and our meetings always lead to good results, because we give new momentum to the development of relations. We are very delighted that in the economic sphere, the trade turnover is increasing after certain complex processes, said President Aliyev. This indicates that there is great mutual interest between business entities, and the increase in trade turnover is an indication of the recovery of our economy and presence of mutual interest.

The president noted that Azerbaijan and Russia cooperate in all spheres  humanitarian, economic, energy, transportation, military and technical spheres.

He expressed satisfaction that todays meeting took place as part of the trilateral summit, which is a very important event of global scale.

This cooperation is based on deep historical roots, mutual interests of the two countries on international arena, and mutual support, said the Azerbaijani president.

The head of state expressed confidence that the important issues, to be discussed at the trilateral summit, will give a new impetus to the strengthening of relations.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov.1

By Azad Hasanli - Trend:

Russian President Vladimir Putin voiced hope that all issues on the Caspian Sea Status will be agreed upon in the near future.

Vladimir Putin made the remark at a press conference following the results of a trilateral meeting with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Iranian President Hassan Ruhani in Tehran Nov.1.

"I hope that in the near future we will complete the coordination of all parameters of our agreements, which should be signed on the status of the Caspian Sea," the Russian president said.

He also expressed satisfaction with the results of the joint work of Russia, Iran and Azerbaijan. "I hope that our work has not been in vain, we really discussed very important issues of the trilateral format. I am sure that working in this way, openly, kindly, with a mutual desire for a positive result, our work will benefit our countries, our states, our peoples," Putin said.

The Caspian littoral states  Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Russia, Turkmenistan and Iran  signed the Framework Convention for Protection of the Marine Environment of the Caspian Sea in November of 2003.

Russia and Kazakhstan signed an agreement on the delimitation of the northern part of the Caspian Sea in order to exercise sovereign rights for subsoil use in July 1998. The two countries signed a protocol to the agreement in May 2002.

Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan signed an agreement on the delimitation of the Caspian Sea and a protocol to it on Nov. 29, 2001 and Feb. 27, 2003, respectively.

Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Russia signed an agreement on the delimitation of adjacent sections of the Caspian Sea on May 14, 2003.

Today most of the issues on the draft Convention have been agreed upon, negotiations are underway on the remaining issues.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 1

Trend:

Azerbaijan's first vice president, First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva loves ballet very much and patronizes it, Nikolay Tsiskaridze, people's artist of Russia, rector of the Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet, said in an interview with the Moscow-Baku website.

Tsiskaridze said that he will visit Baku in late November, where he will hold a number of master classes.

"My invitation to Azerbaijan became possible thanks to Mehriban Aliyeva, so I think that good relations will be established with Azerbaijan, he said.

He added that the Academy of Russian Ballets troupe can visit Azerbaijan in the future.

"Of course, ballet in all the post-Soviet republics after the collapse of the Soviet Union is in desperate need of Russian influence, he said. I have reiterated that many times.

The ballet in Georgia, Azerbaijan, Lithuania, Ukraine, etc. appeared only in 1991, he said. Before that, the history of the ballet in these countries is directly connected with the Russian ballet. If we summarize, all this is Russian ballet during the period of the Russian Empire, then - the Soviet Union."

He said that without using experience of Moscow and St. Petersburg, the ballet schools of the post-Soviet countries are facing great difficulties in development.

"Therefore, there is need for further training, he said. I hope that after my visit to Azerbaijan, closer ties will be established between the ballet communities of our countries."
Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 1

Trend:

Today the world-known perfumer, specialist in ingredients, fine fragrances, Paulo Moraes arrived in Baku.

He has created fragrances for companies like Loreal, Loccitane, Coty, Natura, O Boticario, Dalli Group etc. For more than 20 years Paulo has been working in fragrance houses and is an expert at the Swiss perfume manufacturer Luzi AG. Paulo arrived in Baku at the invitation of the Azerbaijani representatives of "Luzi AG" to train partners of Azerbaijani perfumery companies.

The training on the topic "Olfactory Training and Sensor Technology" runs from October 30 to November 1 and will allow Azerbaijani perfumery companies to study the "psychology of fragrances", the technology of production and the recognition of ingredients in perfume compositions. The main goal of the training is to help companies not to get lost in the complex world of fragrances. Participants will learn about smelling time of fragrances and explanation about the extructure/pyramid and olfactive direction.

According to Paulo: There is a place where the impossible happens: hot and cold, textures, colors, feelings, dreams, passion...everything is possible inside a fragrance.

Being surrounded by the most famous fragrances in the world during three days the partners of the company Luzi AG will learn how to feel and identify each name, acquire the skills of technology for recognizing odors and determine the ingredients that make up the fragrance.

LUZI AG (Lucie) is one of the oldest European perfume manufacturers. For ninety-year-old history of the company, almost all fragrance houses producers became its customers. The company was founded in 1926. The headquarters is in Zurich (Switzerland). Luzi representative offices are located in more than 100 countries. The company Luzi produces more than 1,700 tons of perfume per year.

Every year more than 900 new successful aromatic compositions are developed by Luzi perfumers.

In 2014, the company began to actively develop the manufacturing of its products and in February 2017, opened a regional office in Baku.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov.1

Trend:

Turkeys Ombudsman Office intends to establish an Association of Ombudsmen of Turkic-Speaking Countries, the Turkish media outlets report.

The decision to establish the Association was adopted following consultations with Azerbaijans Ombudsman Office.

In this regard, it is planned to hold a meeting with ombudsmen of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan in late 2017.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov.1

Trend:

Twenty one high-ranking officers of the Penal Service of Azerbaijan have been brought to disciplinary responsibility for the escape of prisoners.

The decision was made at the collegium meeting of the Justice Ministry Nov.1, the ministry said in a statement.

Of the total number of the high-ranking officers brought to disciplinary responsibility, 15 were dismissed from the justice bodies, four, including former commander of the guard of the Penal Service, Justice Lieutenant Colonel Bahruz Abdullayev, were arrested and brought to criminal responsibility for power abuse.

At the same time, specific instructions were given in order to strengthen discipline in the Penal Service, ensure strict compliance with legislation, strengthen security measures, ensure control over the activity of subordinate structures and increase the sense of responsibility of employees.

In conclusion, some drafts of normative and legal acts regulating the activity of justice bodies were discussed, and state registration of a number of non-profit legal entities was implemented.

On Oct. 23, Etibar Mammadov and Ali Aghami, arrested on grave crime charges, escaped from a train in Bilajari settlement during transportation to Baku, being accompanied by guards.

After preliminary results of the investigation, 10 people were removed from justice system and three were dismissed by order of the justice minister for negligence in the performance of official duties. Ali Aghami was detained Oct.26.

The necessary measures to detain Etibar Mammadov continue.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 1

By Ilhama Isabalayeva  Trend:

A business forum titled Role of Private Sector in Commercialization and Development of Science will be held in Azerbaijan on March 1-2, President of Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences Akif Alizadeh has told a Presidium meeting in Baku.

The forum will be held with joint organizational support of the National Academy of Sciences, Azerbaijans Center for Analysis of Economic Reforms and Communication, and the American Chamber of Commerce.

The purpose of holding the forum is to expand business activities of scientific institutions of the National Academy of Sciences and develop science.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 1

By Elchin Mehdiyev  Trend:

The Baku-Tbilisi-Kars (BTK) railway project is the restoration of the ancient Silk Road, Azerbaijans Deputy Prime Minister Abid Sharifov said Nov. 1.

He made the remarks in Baku at an event dedicated to the 94th anniversary of Turkeys independence.

Sharifov noted that the BTK railway will make it easier for a number of countries to enter world markets and increase the volume of traffic between Europe and Asia.

Touching upon Azerbaijani-Turkish relations, he said that the two countries have great potential for cooperation.

Turkey always supports the Azerbaijani people on the main problem of our country, Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, he noted.

Currently, cooperation between Azerbaijan and Turkey is developing in all spheres. I want to note the sixth meeting of the Azerbaijan-Turkey High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council, held yesterday in Baku. A number of important documents were signed during the meeting. It once again shows that Azerbaijani-Turkish relations have great potential, Sharifov added.

The sixth meeting of the Azerbaijan-Turkey High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council was held Oct. 31 with the participation of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
By PTI: Islamabad, Oct 31 (PTI) Pakistan is seeking a new deal with the US for acquiring an unspecified number of helicopters for anti-narcotics operations after returning nine military choppers it had received in 2002, a media report said today.

Pakistan today returned five of the nine Huey II helicopters it had received almost 15 years ago. The ministry of interior, which was using the aircraft, had returned four of these nine rotary-wing helicopters on October 15.

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Pakistan had received a total of 12 aircraft, including three fixed-wing Cessna airplanes, from the US for anti- narcotics operations in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas and Balochistan, the Dawn reported.

Since the area is also used by militants for carrying out operations along the Pak-Afghan border, the aircraft reported their activities as well, when observed, the daily said.

Primary purpose of the aircraft, however, was to monitor smuggling of narcotics as the region is connected to a major drug-route.

The aircraft were acquired under a renewable agreement and after the expiry of that agreement, Pakistan had the option to either return the aircraft or buy them.

Although the US urged Pakistan to "nationalise" the helicopters after the agreement expired, the ministry of interior decided to return them, instead of buying them for continued use.

The ministry, however, purchased the three Cessna airplanes that came with the choppers.

The Americans, who received the remaining five aircraft yesterday, have already made "redirection" arrangements ? selling it to a third party ? so Pakistan cannot re-buy those helicopters. Instead, Pakistan will have to renegotiate a fresh deal.

Diplomatic sources were quoted as saying by the Dawn that it should not be difficult to do so as both American and Pakistani officials acknowledge a direct link between narcotics and terrorism financing and Washington believes that stopping drug-trade in this region will also help reduce terrorism.

Pakistan renewed its interest in acquiring the choppers after the recent change of leadership in the interior ministry.

The decision to return the helicopters was taken by former interior minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, while the new minister, Ahsan Iqbal, concluded that the ministry needs them to monitor the drug route, which is also used by the militants.

During his visit to Washington earlier this month, Iqbal advised the embassy to negotiate a fresh deal with the US for reacquiring helicopters for his ministry. PTI PMS AKJ PMS

--- ENDS ---
Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 1

By Anvar Mammadov  Trend:

The full transition to non-cash settlements contributes to the growth of financial inclusiveness, said Vusal Gasimli, executive director of the Center for Analysis of Economic Reforms and Communication.

He made the remarks at an event dedicated to the State Program on Expansion of Digital Payments in the Republic of Azerbaijan for 2018-2020 in Baku Nov. 1, according to the Centers message.

Gasimli noted that the development of non-cash settlements contributes to improvement of business environment and the efficiency of economy.

International experts believe that the full use of non-cash settlements in Baku will lead to an increase of $1.9 billion in revenues, including business income  by $1.4 billion, governments revenues  by $400 million, consumers income  by $100 million, said the executive director.

This process will also allow increasing employment by 3.5 percent in 15 years, he added.

Addressing the event, Deputy Chairman of the Board of the Central Bank of Azerbaijan Alim Guliyev also said that the international payment system MasterCard analyzed the problems in the field of digital payments in Azerbaijan and prepared proposals for improving the situation in this field.

These proposals have been discussed with banks, government agencies and other interested organizations and taken into account in the draft State program. In particular, the project envisages activities that will significantly increase the number of non-cash settlements, added Guliyev.

In general, the State Program identifies 18 priorities in four main areas.

As a result of discussions, it was decided to finalize the draft program taking into account a number of new proposals and recommendations.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 1

By Maksim Tsurkov  Trend:

SOCAR Trading, a trading house of Azerbaijani state oil company SOCAR, is holding talks on supplies of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to Pakistan, a source in Azerbaijans oil and gas market told Trend.

"Active negotiations are now underway with Pakistan. Azerbaijan and Pakistan signed an intergovernmental agreement on energy cooperation on Feb. 28, 2017, which directly involves LNG supplies. Since that time, talks have been held with relevant Pakistani bodies. Work is underway; the sides are discussing the terms of delivery, the price and volume," the source said.

The source added that SOCAR Trading has other plans for LNG projects as well.

"The company intends to increase its portfolio on LNG, so that it is easier to compete in this market in the future."

In February, Azerbaijan and Pakistan signed an agreement on cooperation in the field of oil and gas supplies. Pakistan currently imports about 4.5 million tons of LNG per year.

SOCAR Trading, headquartered in Geneva, was established in late 2007 by the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 1

By Leman Zeynalova  Trend:

Azerbaijan is one of the main partners of Wartsila in the Caspian region, Azerbaijani Deputy Energy Minister Natig Abbasov said.

Abbasov made the remarks during Finlands Wartsila Corporations presentation entitled "Liquefied Natural Gas Technologies", held with the support of the Azerbaijani Energy Ministry in Baku Nov. 1.

Wartsila is a global leader in advanced technologies and complete lifecycle solutions for the marine and energy markets.

"The corporation has been operating in the country for 12 years in such spheres as oil and gas industry, electric power engineering and sea transport, he said. In 2005-2010 this corporation successfully completed projects on construction of modular power stations with a total capacity of 880 megawatts in Azerbaijan.

In his turn, Jan Tallgren, the Regional Director for Europe East, Energy Solutions at Wartsila, expressed gratification with the participation of the corporation in the implementation of various projects in Azerbaijan.

He said that the new office of the corporation opened in the country in 2008. The office renders sales services in the construction of power plants and shipbuilding.

The representatives of Azerbaijans SOCAR state oil company, the countrys Ministry of Emergency Situations, Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, Azerbaijan Caspian Shipping CJSC, Baku Shipyard are participating in the event.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 1

Trend:

A workshop entitled Late Life Reservoir Management was arranged by Norwegian multinational oil and gas company Statoil at Baku Higher Oil School (BHOS).

It gathered BHOS Rector Elmar Gasimov, Statoils Country Manager in Azerbaijan Fawad Quraishi, managers of the company, students, teachers and professors of the Higher School. The workshop was conducted by Reservoir Technologies Senior Advisor of Statoil Azerbaijan Gurbat Agayev who has more than 30 years of professional experience in oil and gas industry.

Opening the workshop, the Rector Elmar Gasimov emphasized importance of such initiatives and expressed his gratitude to Statoils Country Manager in Azerbaijan Fawad Quraishi and Senior Advisor of Statoil Azerbaijan Gurbat Agayev for organizing the event. In his presentation, the speaker told about Statoil activities, successes and international projects, and about development of the Statfjord, which is one of the largest oil and gas fields in the U.K.-Norwegian boundary of the North Sea. He also provided detailed information related to the structures and engineering of oil and gas fields, reservoir parameters, the field drainage strategies, depressurization (reducing gas pressure in closed areas) and latest trends in this sphere. At the end, the speaker answered numerous questions raised by the workshop participants.

Gurbat Agayev has joined Statoil in early 1999, after having more than 12 years experience as research scientist and reservoir engineer from different companies in Azerbaijan, Russia and Norway. He has experience from both the Statoil operated and partner operated fields, both in Norwegian Continental Shelf and internationally, outside Norway.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 1

By Rufiz Hafizoglu  Trend:

The testing of the Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP) will start at the end of 2017, Turkish media outlets quoted Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Berat Albayrak as saying Nov. 1.

He noted that the first gas will be sent through TANAP to test the pipeline in late 2017.

Albayrak added that TANAP is one of the most important projects for Turkey.

TANAP project envisages transportation of gas from Azerbaijan's Shah Deniz field to the western borders of Turkey. The gas will be delivered to Turkey in 2018 and after completion of the Trans Adriatic Pipeline's construction the gas will be delivered to Europe in early 2020.

The length of TANAP is 1,850 kilometers with an initial capacity of 16 billion cubic meters of gas. Around six billion cubic meters of this gas is meant to be delivered to Turkey, with the remaining volume to be supplied to Europe.

The projects total cost is estimated at $8.5 billion.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov.1

By Azad Hasanli - Trend:

Russia, Iran and Azerbaijan should coordinate their efforts in the production of hydrocarbons.

Russian President Vladimir Putin made the remark at a press conference following the results of a trilateral meeting with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Iranian President Hassan Ruhani in Tehran Nov.1.

"Russia, Iran and Azerbaijan are major producers of hydrocarbons. But this does not mean that we must compete, this means that we must coordinate our efforts," said Putin.

He noted that coordination of actions within the framework of OPEC has already yielded positive results. "This would not be possible if the countries that are not members of the cartel did not join this work. The same goes for the Organization of Gas Producers. We also cooperate here and will continue to cooperate, "Putin said.

Putin also stressed that Russia confirms its readiness to supply gas through the pipeline transport systems of Azerbaijan to the north of Iran, which may be economically expedient for the partners.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 1

By Huseyn Veliyev  Trend:

Azerbaijans project on information security, BUGemot, became a participant of the international community  OWASP (Open Web Application Security Project), the projects manager Rashad Aliyev told Trend.

Aliyev said that OWASP compiles a list of Top-10 most dangerous vulnerabilities in web applications.

The participation of BUGemot project contributes to informing the public about dangerous vulnerabilities. In general, the data published in the OWASP report coincide with the vulnerabilities that AzNET users mostly face. The most common vulnerability, according to our estimates, and according to OWASP, is the attacks using SQL Injection, noted Aliyev.

BUGemot platform (bugemot.com) was created in 2016 and unites ethical hackers for the fight against cybercrime.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 1

By Nigar Guliyeva  Trend:

Kazakhstan has ranked 36th in the World Banks Doing Business 2018 rating, one point lower compared to Doing Business 2017.

Although Kazakhstans overall rating dropped from its record high last year, the country was rated first among the 190 countries considered in Protecting Minority Investors. The position is due to the policy reform undertaken this year.

The WB assesses the ease of doing business in terms of 10 indicators.

Kazakhstan ranked 41st (45th last year) on "Starting a Business" indicator, 52nd (22nd last year) on "Dealing with Construction Permits" indicator, 70th (75th) - "Getting Electricity", 17th (18th) - "Registering Property", 77th (75th) - "Getting Credit", 1st (3rd) - "Protecting Minority Investors", 50th (60th) - "Paying Taxes", 123rd (119th) - "Trading across Borders", 6th (9th) - "Enforcing Contracts", 39th (37th) - "Resolving Insolvency".

Doing Business ranking covers 190 countries and is published annually.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 1

By Nigar Guliyev  Trend:

The 22nd session of the UN Special Programme for the Economies of Central Asia (SPECA) Project Working Group on Transport and Border Crossing kicked off in Astana Nov.1.

More than 40 delegates from government agencies and diplomatic missions of UN SPECA countries - Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, as well as international, regional and financial organizations - the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP ), the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the Turkic Council, the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank and the Islamic Development Bank attend the event.

Dauren Sabitov, the deputy chairman of the Transport Committee of the Ministry of Investment and Development of Kazakhstan, addressing the event, noted that the UN SPECA was established in 1997 by the UN European and Asian-Pacific regional commissions at the initiative of President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev.

"Since then, one of the important areas of cooperation discussed at the UN SPECA platform is promotion of international transit transport and the harmonization of national transport and customs legislation with international standards," he said.

During the two day event, the participants will discuss the current issues of the transport sector at the UNECE seminar on the Sustainable Development Goals related to transport.

The seminar participants will discuss ways to achieve the SDG through the formation and implementation of long-term transport policies at national levels. In this context, focus will made on the conceptual development of transport until 2030 and the role of international financial institutions in this process, creation of a sustainable transport infrastructure and access to a secure urban transport system, and collection and processing of data on road safety and road transport in SPECA countries, Russia and Belarus.

The above-mentioned events are held within the framework of the 10th International Conference on Transport and Transit Potential "TransEurasia-2017" on the topic "New Eurasia: development of transport and logistics systems on Euro-Asian transcontinental routes".
Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 1

By Nigar Guliyeva - Trend:

Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev expressed his condolences to US President Donald over the terror attack in New York, the Uzbek Foreign Ministry reported.

Mirziyoyev noted that there can be no justification for this ruthless and extremely cruel crime.

"We strongly condemn any forms and manifestations of extremism and terrorism," the president's message says.

Mirziyoyev further stressed that the tragedy once again confirms the need to unite the efforts of the entire international community in countering such inhuman challenges of our time.

"Uzbekistan, for its part, is ready to use all the forces and means to assist in the investigation of this terrorist act," President Mirziyoyev said.

A driver plowed a pickup truck down a crowded bike path along the Hudson River in Manhattan on Tuesday, killing eight people and injuring 11 before being shot by a police officer in what officials are calling the deadliest terrorist attack on New York City since Sept. 11, 2001.

A native of Uzbekistan is suspected of committing the terror attack in New York, reports said.
By Santosh Chaubey: The United States policy in Afghanistan is framed by defeated US generals and can never succeed with the baggage of defeat it carries, Pakistan has said blaming the US for singling out Pakistan to cover its own failures in the war-ravaged south Asian nation.

"The US generals who faced defeat in Afghanistan in the last 15 years have formed the structure for the policy for this region," remarked Pakistan's Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif while speaking on the floor of the country's senate today, adding that "no objective policy can be formed when it is baggage of defeat" and is bound to fail, a Geo News report said.

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The report further quoted Asif saying "when the US holds Pakistan responsible, it, in fact, tries to brush its own defeat under the carpet." Asif also informed the senate of Pakistan that he told this to the US in unequivocal terms, both during his visit to the US in September and US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson's Pakistan visit on October 24, first by a senior US government official after US President Donald Trump unveiled his Afghanistan centric South Asia policy on August 21 where he blamed Pakistan for being a safe terror haven and harbouring terrorists who hurt US interests in Afghanistan, especially the Haqqani Network.

During his visit, Tillerson had reminded Pakistan that it needed to eradicate militants and terrorists operating from its soil, something which had seen strong reactions from Khawaja Asif and the Pakistani parliament.

Blaming the US and other international forces fighting in Afghanistan of being inept, Asif then had hit back saying it was indeed the central region behind the prolonged Afghanistan crisis. He had further added that the "terrorist attacks were not planned on or executed from Pakistani soil and there were no terrorist safe havens in the country," be it the Haqqani Network or others while its senate chairman had called Tillerson's remarks unacceptable, "Tillerson's statement seems like that of a viceroy's before they visit a country."

Pakistan has also dismissed the US threats of curtailing economic and military aid. "Pakistan only receives "a trickle" of economic assistance from the US and does not get any military hardware from them and Pakistanis are not like in the past when they were American's proxy," Asif recently said in an interview, even if the facts say otherwise. According to a USAID report, the US aid to Pakistan till 2012 stood at $60 Billion. Also, in the last five years alone, since 2011, Pakistan has received some $15 Billion in aid from America, including military and financial assistance.

After US President Donald Trump called Pakistan a treacherous nation and a safe haven for terrorists, engaged in double-dealings, harbouring and protecting the very same terrorists who attack the US interests in Afghanistan, while unveiling his South Asia policy, the US has increasingly been putting more pressure on Pakistan to honour its commitment.

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Last month, when Pakistan was patting its back for its so-called brilliant rescue operation to liberate a US-Canadian family who was in Haqqanis' captivity for five years, the terse response from Trump was, "the Pakistani government's cooperation is a sign that it is honouring America's wishes for it to do more to provide security in the region."

The US has taken measures including cutting military aid to Pakistan and is going to curtail its role in Afghanistan while at the same time is looking for a strategic partnership with India in Afghanistan's reconstruction process, a cornerstone of Trump's new Afghanistan policy, even if Pakistan sees an increased Indian presence in Afghanistan inimical to its interests.

--- ENDS ---
Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 1

By Ali Mustafayev  Trend:

President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev and the King of Jordan Abdullah II discussed the cooperation between the two countries in several areas, including renewable energy, agriculture, transport and generally economic and investment cooperation, the press service of the Kazakh president said in a message.

Prices on transportation affect export and import operations. In this regard we consider the importance of developing efficient transport and logistics routes between Kazakhstan and Jordan. We discussed the possibility of using the Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan-Iran and Georgia-Armenia-Turkey railways, Nazarbayev said.

The parties also discussed the further development of cooperation in agriculture sector.

Kazakhstan may supply agriculture and livestock products to Jordan, and Jordan, in turn, can export vegetables and fruits to our country in winter and spring seasons, said the Kazakh president.

He stressed that Kazakhstan and Jordan have all the necessary potential to organize joint projects in the renewable energy field.

We discussed the possibility of establishing partnership in renewable energy sector, given Jordan's interest in developing of alternative energy sources.

The Kazakh president also touched upon military cooperation between the countries, stressing the prerequisites for further strengthening of cooperation in this field.

Nursultan Nazarbayev emphasized the role of Jordan in the Astana process, which contributes to the stabilization of the situation in Syria.
Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Nov. 1

By Huseyn Hasanov - Trend

Croatia appreciates the relations of friendship and partnership with Turkmenistan, Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic said in a message to Turkmen counterpart Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov.

"I hope that you will visit the Republic of Croatia soon," President Grabar-Kitarovic said. "I am convinced that our further joint efforts will contribute to the expansion of cooperation, especially the intensification of our economic interaction to realize the potential of the two countries."

Ashgabat and Zagreb actively cooperate in the transport sector. Croatian companies are interested in partnership in such spheres as power engineering, transport, shipbuilding.

Earlier, Croatia said that it supports Turkmenistan's efforts to ensure global energy security and develop mechanisms for reliable and stable transit of energy resources to the world markets.

Turkmenistan is one of the key players in the energy market of the Caspian region and Central Asia and stands for diversification of routes.
Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Nov. 1

By Huseyn Hasanov Trend:

Ensuring stable exchange rate of the Turkmen national currency, the manat, is one of priority tasks of the countrys banking sector, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov said in his appeal to bank employees on the occasion of the 24th anniversary of the introduction of the Turkmen manat.

Other priority tasks of the Turkmen banking sector include expanding the range of banking services, bringing their quality to the international level, and introducing innovative technologies in the sector, Bedimuhamedov added in his appeal.

It is also noted that stable functioning of the banking sector is of key importance for ensuring the competitiveness and dynamic growth of the Turkmen economy, its successful integration into the system of international economic relations.

Turkmenistan has embarked on a policy of gradual transition to market economy. A number of measures, including denomination of the national currency and switching to the international accounting standards, have been implemented in the country.

Since January 1, 2015 the official exchange rate in Turkmenistan remains at 3.50 Turkmen manats to the US dollar.
Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Nov. 1

By Huseyn Hasanov Trend:

Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov has noted the importance of carrying out all the measures outlined in the State Program on Combating Corruption at a proper level, the Neutral Turkmenistan newspaper reported Nov. 1.

The Turkmen president was speaking at a meeting of the State Security Council of the country.

Mammetkhan Chakyev, director of the State Service of Turkmenistan for Combating Economic Crimes, reported on the practical steps taken in order to successfully solve the tasks set before the employees of the state service.

Earlier, it was reported that there were cases of abuse of official powers by some officials, facts of bribery and smuggling in a number of Turkmen ministries and departments.

Particularly, the results of inspection of the activities of agricultural complex structures and the Turkmenhimiya state concern were reported.

Criminal cases were filed in Turkmenistan in mid-May on the crimes related to bribery and embezzlement of state property.
Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Nov. 1

By Diana Aliyeva  Trend:

A center for recruitment of Uzbek citizens who wish to work at companies in St. Petersburg will operate for several days in Samarkand.

The center will operate as part of the visit of a cultural and business mission of St. Petersburg to Uzbekistan on November 7-10.

According to the Ministry of Employment and Labor Relations of Uzbekistan, the delegation includes governor and vice-governors of St. Petersburg, heads of executive bodies, representatives of secondary and higher education institutions, medical institutions, members of business community of the city.

A business forum titled St. Petersburg and Republic of Uzbekistan  New Horizons of Cooperation is also planned to be held in Tashkent.

An agreement on trade and economic, scientific, technical and cultural cooperation is expected to be signed between the administrations of St. Petersburg and Tashkent.

St. Petersburg and Tashkent governors are also expected to sign road maps on cooperation.
Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Nov. 1

By Diana Aliyeva Trend:

On November 3, Tashkent will host a meeting of the CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States) Council of Heads of Government, the Uzbek Foreign Ministry reported.

Prime ministers of Armenia (Karen Karapetyan), Belarus (Andrei Kobyakov), Kazakhstan (Bakytzhan Sagintayev), Kyrgyzstan (Sapar Isakov), Russia (Dmitry Medvedev), Tajikistan (Kokhir Rasulzoda), as well as Chairman of the Executive Committee and Executive Secretary of the CIS Sergei Lebedev, confirmed their participation in the meeting.

Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan will be represented at the upcoming meeting by deputy prime ministers, this is while Moldova will be represented by plenipotentiary representative at the statutory and other bodies of the CIS.

It is expected that the heads of the delegations of the CIS member states will be received by Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

The agenda of the meeting includes 18 draft documents.

In the narrow format of the meeting, it is planned to exchange views on topical issues of cooperation within the framework of the CIS, as well as to agree on the date of the next meeting of the CIS Council of Heads of Government.

At the expanded meeting with the participation of members of delegations, the sides will consider issues of trade and economic cooperation of the CIS member states within the free trade zone, development of oil and gas engineering, land reclamation and control over the customs value of goods.

According to tradition, a number of bilateral meetings of the delegations of the CIS member states will be held within the framework of the meeting.

More than 200 guests, who are journalists and members of official delegations, are expected to take part in the meeting.
Russian President Vladimir Putin began a visit to Iran on Wednesday designed to underpin closer ties between two countries at loggerheads with the United States as President Donald Trump threatens to pull out of a 2015 nuclear deal with Tehran, Reuters reports..

Putin and his Iranian hosts are expected to discuss the nuclear deal and regional crises such as the Syrian conflict, in which Moscow and Tehran are the main backers of President Bashar al-Assad, while Washington, Turkey and most Arab states support opposition groups seeking to overthrow him.

We are very pleased that, apart from our bilateral relations, our two countries play an important role in securing peace and stability in the region, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani told Putin in his welcoming remarks.

Russian and Iranian help has proved crucial for Assad, allowing him to win a series of military victories since 2015 and to reestablish his control over most of Syria. Moscow is now trying to build on that success with a new diplomatic push, including a meeting in the Black Sea resort of Sochi next month.

Moscow is also an important ally for Iran in its confrontation with the Trump administration, which on Oct. 13 refused to certify Tehrans two-year-old nuclear deal with six major powers that include Russia and the United States.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 31

By Fatih Karimov Trend:

Trade turnover between Iran and China stood at $27.234 billion in first nine months of 2017, according to the latest statistics released by the Chinese Customs Administration.



China's exports to Iran in the 9-month period amounted to $13.347 billion or 17.3 percent more year-on-year.

China exported $1.326 billion worth of goods to the Islamic Republic in September 2017, compared to $1.243 billion worth of exports in September 2016.

The country also imported $13.887 billion worth of goods from Iran in the 9-month period, 32.7 percent more compared to the same period of 2016.

Chinas imports from Iran amounted to $1.746 billion in September 2017, while the figure stood at $1.13 billion in September 2016.



Trade turnover between the two countries was $51 billion in 2014, 31 percent more compared to the preceding year.



The figure stood at $34 billion in 2015, indicating a 34 percent plunge.

Trade turnover between Iran and China stood at $31.2 billion in 2016, down 7.7 percent from 2015.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 1

By Fatih Karimov Trend:

he trade turnover between Iran and Turkey stood at $8.151 billion during the first nine months of 2017, according to the latest statistics released by the Turkish Statistical Institute.

The figure indicates a rise by 14.24 percent compared to same period of the preceding year ($7.135 billion).

The trade turnover between the two countries reached $899.169 million in September 2017.

The exports of Turkey to Iran in September 2017 was valued at about $218.092 million ($456.207 million in September 2016), meanwhile the country imported goods worth $681.104 million from Iran in the same month ($358.574 million in the same period of 2016).

Turkey's exports to Iran in the first nine months of 2017 amounted to $2.315 billion, compared to $3.814 billion in the first nine months of 2016.



The country also imported $5.836 billion worth of goods from Iran in the period, 75.7 percent more compared to the first nine months of 2016 ($3.321 billion).

So, the trade balance between the two country was $3.521 billion in favor of Iran.

The trade turnover between the two countries was $13.71 billion in 2014, which stood at $9.76 billion in 2015, indicating a 29-percent plunge.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 30

By Fatih Karimov Trend:

Iran inaugurated a production line for manufacturing tablets and smartphones for children.

The production line was inaugurated in southern Iranian Khoramshar city during a ceremony on Oct. 30 attended by Mohammad Javad Azari Jahromi, the countrys telecommunications minister, state-run IRINN TV reported.

Jahromi said the tablets will be manufactured using domestic capacities, adding that a secure operating system by Iranian developers will be installed in manufactured tablets and smartphones.

He added that annual demand for tablets and smartphones in Iranian market is about 7 million.

"It is a market with 15,000 billion rials of turnover, so we should focus on high quality domestic production," the minister said.

During the ceremony, a document was signed by Jahromi for manufacturing 500,000 tablets and smartphones for children.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 1

By Khalid Kazimov  Trend:

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said that Tehran and Baku are determined to strengthen and deepen bilateral ties and cooperation.

At a meeting with President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev in Tehran Nov.1, Rouhani pointed to trilateral cooperation between Iran, Azerbaijan and Russia, saying that Tehran and Baku have demonstrated a proper pattern for bilateral and regional cooperation, Iranian presidential website reported.

Saying that the ties between Tehran and Baku have been growing over the recent years, he called for further expansion of relations between the two countries.

President Rouhani further touched upon cooperation between the two countries in transportation and described the inauguration of the Astara (Iran)-Astara (Azerbaijan) railway as a significant step in bilateral ties.

Rouhani also spoke about the significance of the issue of using national currencies in bilateral trade, adding the central banks of the two countries are capable of carrying out bilateral trade through national currencies.

Speaking about regional developments, the Iranian president highlighted the need to establish peace in Syria and Yemen through diplomatic talks.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 1

By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend:

Radical Islamic currents in the Arab world mainly appeared after the Islamic revolution in Iran as a defense mechanism against the spread of the revolution.

In late October, Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia Mohammad bin Salman stressed that an end will be put to all radical currents soon and Saudi Arabia will return to moderate Islam.

Following the Saudi princes statement, a number of Arab media outlets wrote that women will be allowed not to wear a headdress in the new city of Neom, envisaged in the Saudi Vision 2030. However, the Saudi authorities neither confirmed nor denied this information.

Turkey perceived the Saudi princes statement about "moderate Islam" ambiguously. For example, Ravza Kan, member of the foreign policy commission of the Turkish parliament and the ruling Justice and Development Party, said that Islam does not need moderation.

"For the first time the term "moderate Islam" was used by leader of the Gulen movement (FETO), Fethullah Gulen," she said.

The "moderate Islam" project is mainly directed against Iran and no matter how the Saudi prince tried to introduce the concept, there are many obstacles to its implementation.

First, the use of the term "moderate Islam" testifies to Saudi Arabias recognition of the fact that it was an adherent of "radical Islam".

Secondly, Islamic currents and teachings which are beyond Salafism are considered in Saudi Arabia beyond Islam.

Thirdly, how will the relations between Saudi Arabia and Shia Iran develop after "moderate Islam" as according to Salafi teachings, Shia Islam is considered to be beyond Islam?

Moreover, if Saudi Arabia with "moderate Islam" is open to all religions of the world, then what will be the further status of Mecca and Medina cities, to which only Muslims are allowed?

"Moderate Islam" in Saudi Arabia also means the beginning of a revival of Arab nationalism.

Meanwhile, in August 2017, Iraqi Shiite leader Muqtada al-Sadr visited Saudi Arabia. During the visit, al-Sadr met with the Saudi prince. Although al-Sadrs visit to Saudi Arabia was not greatly covered by media, the visit was important, given a number of anti-Iranian statements made by al-Sadr.

For example, al-Sadr always urged the Iranian authorities not to interfere in Iraqs internal affairs.

Despite Iran is also an ideological center for Shia Arabs, there is a number of disagreements between Arab Shia Muslims and Iranian Shia Muslims. These differences are mainly related to ethnicity.

Undoubtedly, if Saudi Arabia returns to "moderate Islam", this will lead to an ideological split among the Salafis and will give an impetus to new growth of radicalism.

---

Rufiz Hafizoglu is the head of Trend Agency's Arabic news service, follow him on Twitter: @rhafizoglu
A citizenship crisis that robbed Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull of his one-seat majority will claim another politician, with the Senate president on Wednesday saying he will resign after confirming he was a dual national, Reuters reports.

Stephen Parry, the leader of the upper house and a member of Turnbulls Liberal party, said he will submit his resignation on Thursday after he being told that along with his Australian citizenship he also held British citizenship by descent.

Parrys father was born in Britain before moving to Australia as a boy in 1951, which automatically gave Parry citizenship by descent.

Under the constitution a politician must only hold Australian citizenship to be eligible to be elected to the national parliament.

I wish my successor all the best and trust that she or he will continue the reforms that I have commenced, Parry said in a statement.

Parrys resignation follows last weeks High Court ruling that the deputy prime minister, Barnaby Joyce, was ineligible to sit in parliament as he held dual Australia-New Zealand citizenship when elected.

The ruling meant the government lost its one-seat majority in the lower house and must now rely on independents for its political survival.

Joyce has since relinquished his New Zealand citizenship and will re-contest his seat at a Dec. 2 by-election.

Joyce was one of a group of lawmakers, known as the Citizenship Seven, whose eligibility to sit in parliament was thrown into doubt in recent months when it was found they were dual citizens.

The High Court last Friday also ruled four other politicians ineligible to sit in parliament due to dual citizenships.

Turnbull does not control the Senate, and Parrys departure will not change the dynamics of the upper house where seats are assigned to party alternatives when an incumbent resigns.

Turnbull has flagged potential changes to the constitution, noting that more than half of Australias population of 24 million was either born overseas or has a parent who was born overseas. A national referendum would be needed to change the constitution.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 1

By Nigar Guliyeva  Trend:

Risks from natural hazards are gradually outpacing resilience in South and Southwest Asia and have the potential to reverse hard-won development gains in the sub-region, the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) said here in a report released Oct.31.

Head of the UN ESCAP Sub-regional Office for South and South-West Asia, Michael Williamson, underscored that "the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development recognizes the devastating and pervasive impacts that natural disasters can have and incorporates the principles of disaster risk resilience as a central tenet of the promise to leave no one behind."

"In South and Southwest Asia, protecting livelihoods from the impact of disasters must move to the top of the policy agenda, with the recognition that even the most efficient early warning systems may not be sufficient," Williamson told the media.

In 2016 and 2017 alone, avalanches, snowfall and rain-related disasters have caused considerable damage in Afghanistan, while torrential monsoon rains in Bangladesh, India and Nepal have killed over 900 persons and affected almost 41 million people, said the report entitled The Asia-Pacific Disaster Report 2017.

The poorest and most vulnerable sections of the society are disproportionately affected by these disasters in this sub-region which can very quickly strip poor people of their livelihoods, pushing them back into absolute poverty or trapping them in an inter-generational transmission of poverty, the report said.

Though the sub-region is continuing to develop quickly, it is still home to a large portion of the world's absolute poor, the ESCAP said.

Disasters also widen socioeconomic disparities and exacerbate existing inequalities, according to the report.

Beyond the human costs, research undertaken by ESCAP has indicated that in the sub-region, floods have cost $94 billion in estimated damages within the past 15 years, the report said.

Forty percent of global economic losses from disasters will be in the Asia-Pacific region by 2030 with the least developed countries suffering from annual losses of around 2.5 percent of GDP, the report said.

The launch of the Asia-Pacific Disaster Report 2017 in Nepal was part of a two-day workshop on addressing disaster risks specific to South and Southwest Asia in Kathmandu which brought together government officials and disaster management specialists from 10 countries in the sub-region.

Delivering a key note address at the workshop, Arbind Kumar Mishra, a member of the National Planning Commission of Nepal, said that disasters affect everyone but impact the poor and vulnerable people the most.

"Low-income countries account for only about 9 percent of the world's disaster. Yet, they experience 48 percent of fatalities," Mishra said.

The Asia-Pacific Disaster Report aims to assist policymakers, in both public and private sectors, to better understand disaster risk and resilience and take the many opportunities for action, especially in risk hotspots where a greater likelihood of change coincides with a higher concentration of poor, vulnerable and marginalized people.
The Netherlands will hold a referendum on legislation giving law enforcement authorities far-reaching surveillance powers, the Dutch Voting Commission said on Wednesday, Reuters reports.

A range of activists, politicians and media groups want to overturn the tapping law, which was passed by parliament in July and allows agencies to gather data covertly from large groups of people at once.

Dutch law obliges the government to hold a non-binding referendum if a petition with at least 300,000 signatures is submitted to the Voting Commission.

The agency said it had received more than 384,000 valid signatures and that the referendum would be held on March 21 together with municipal elections.

Opponents argue that innocent civilians will be dragged into the sights of intelligence agencies, while the government says the powers are needed to counter national security threats.

The referendum law is itself controversial and may be repealed by the newly appointed right-of-centre government under Prime Minister Mark Rutte.

After it was passed in 2015, a referendum was used to block the Dutch government from ratifying an economic treaty it and other European Union countries had negotiated with Ukraine.

A large no vote on the referendum embarrassed The Hague and forced Rutte to seek minor amendments to the treaty with the other EU states, eventually leading to the Dutch ratifying it.

It later emerged that the signatures to hold the Ukraine referendum were gathered via the internet and never vetted.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov.1

By Nigar Guliyeva  Trend:

New EBRD Managing Director for Turkey Arvid Tuerkner took the office in Istanbul Nov.1.

Tuerkner previously held the position of EBRD Director for Corporate Debt and before that headed the Banks activities in Russia, the Bank reported. In Turkey he succeeds Jean-Patrick Marquet who returns to London as EBRD Managing Director for Infrastructure.

In his new position in Istanbul, Tuerkner will lead the EBRD operations in Turkey focusing on investments and policies that promote sustainable energy, improve the quality of infrastructure, help Turkish businesses become more competitive, deepen capital and local currency markets and provide greater opportunities to youth, women, refugees and companies in remote regions to support the countrys long-term growth potential.

I am honored to take on this new task," Tuerkner said. "Turkey plays an extremely important role in the EBRDs operations and currently is the top destination for EBRD finance. I am committed to building on the excellent track record of the Bank in the country. Together with the EBRDs 90-strong team in Istanbul and Ankara we will work very hard to continue delivering strong results despite a challenging environment.

The EBRD is a major investor in Turkey.

To date, the Bank has invested over 9.5 billion in various sectors of Turkeys economy, with almost all investments in the private sector. In 2017, the Bank signed 30 projects worth almost 1 billion and expects to exceed 1.5 billion in investments this year.
President Donald Trump sent a nuclear-capable B-2 stealth bomber from Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri on a long-range mission to the Pacific this weekend, THE Sun reports.

And the Russian Defence Ministry today announced that US and Japanese jets escorted Russias missile-carrying Tupolev-95MS strategic bombers during flights over the Sea of Japan and the Pacific.

A spokesman said: "Two strategic bombers Tupolev-95MS of Russias Aerospace Force have carried out routine flights over international waters of the Sea of Japan and the western part of the Pacific Ocean.

"At certain sections of the route the Tupolev-95MS crews were accompanied by a pair of F-18 fighters (of the US Air Force), and a pair of F-15, F-4 and F-2A fighters (of the Japanese Air Force)."

The threat of nuclear missile attack by North Korea is accelerating, US defence secretary Jim Mattis warned at the weekend.

Mattis made his remarks as he accused the North's leader Kim Jong-un of "illegal and unnecessary missile and nuclear programmes".

Speaking in Seoul alongside South Korean defence minister Song Young-moo, he warned: "North Korea has accelerated the threat that it poses to its neighbours and the world."

Because of this, he said, military collaboration between the US and South Korea had taken on "a new urgency".

Mattis added: "Any use of nuclear weapons by the North will be met with a massive military response."
At least 13 people including a pregnant woman were killed when an electricity transformer exploded outside a wedding ceremony in western India, police said Wednesday, the Sun daily reports.

Dozens of guests had assembled for the ceremony outside a family home in the western state of Rajasthan when the transformer exploded, spewing hot oil and metal shards.

"Four people died on the spot," local police superintendent Rameshwar Singh told AFP.

Locals said they had raised concerns about the maintenance of the transformer with officials, but nothing had been done.

Rajasthan chief minister Vasundhara Raje has ordered a high-level inquiry into the incident.
Russia said on Tuesday its submarine deployed in the Mediterranean fired three ballistic missiles to destroy a command post of the Islamic State group in Syria's eastern Deir Ezzor province, News 24 reports.

"A missile strike with three Kalibr missiles destroyed a command post with large numbers of militants and armed vehicles and also a large weapons and ammunition depot," the Russian defence ministry said in a statement posted on Facebook.

It said the strikes targeted the area around the town of Abu Kamal, one of the few remaining urban strongholds of IS in Syria.

The ministry added it could confirm "the destruction of all the given targets."

It posted a video on Twitter of a missile blasting out of the sea.
Bahrain said on Tuesday it would impose entry visas on Qatar nationals and residents in what it called a security measure, Reuters reported.

Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt cut diplomatic, transport and trade ties with Qatar in June, accusing it of financing terrorism. Doha denies that and says the boycott is an attempt to rein in its support for reform.

The new measures aim at preventing harming the security and stability of the kingdom of Bahrain particularly in light of the latest repercussions of the crisis with Qatar, said a statement from the official Bahraini news agency BNA.

Citizens from the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council countries are supposed to be able to travel within the GCC carrying only an identity card. Bahrains visa requirements will apply from Nov. 10.

Ambassador Ali Khalfan Al Mansouri, Qatars Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office in Geneva, said the visas constitute a flagrant violation of the agreements and resolutions of the Gulf Cooperation Council.

These measures are completely contrary to the statements of officials of the siege countries not to harm the Qatari citizen when taking any steps in the context of this crisis, Mansouri told the Qatari state news agency.

Bahrains foreign minister said on Sunday his country would not attend Decembers GCC summit if Qatar does not change its policies, and that Qatar should have its GCC membership suspended.
Modernizing and maintaining the U.S. nuclear arsenal over the next 30 years will cost more than $1.2 trillion, according to a report released on Tuesday by the Congressional Budget Office, Reuters reported.

The report said current plans for the modernization of the aging planes, ships and missile silos that make up the U.S. nuclear arsenal would cost 50 percent more than if the U.S. only operated and maintained its current equipment in the field.

The CBO study reviewed the Obamas Administrations plans for modernization of the nuclear arsenal. President Donald Trump in January directed Secretary of Defense James Mattis to conduct his own review the U.S. nuclear forces. The results could be published in the coming months.

U.S. House Armed Services Committee member Adam Smith, a Democrat from Washington, said of the Obama-era plan: Congress still doesnt seem to have any answers as to how we will pay for this effort, or what the trade-offs with other national security efforts will be.

The report said costs would rise from $29 billion in 2017 to $47 billion in 2027, before peaking at around $50 billion a year through the early 2030s.

Trump has said he wants to ensure the U.S. nuclear arsenal is at the top of the pack, saying the United States has fallen behind in its weapons capacity.

U.S. officials have noted that Americas nuclear modernization is lagging behind Russias upgrade of its own nuclear triad.

General Paul Selva, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told Congress in August he believed Moscow was already two-thirds of the way through its nuclear modernization process.

In August, the U.S. Air Force awarded Boeing Co and Northrop Grumman Corp separate contracts to continue development work on the replacement of the aging Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile system one leg of the nuclear triad.

Days later the Air Force awarded Lockheed Martin Corp and Raytheon Co separate $900 million contracts to continue work on a replacement for the AGM-86B air-launched nuclear cruise missile. That detailed development contract allows the companies to continue work on the long range standoff weapon yet another leg of the triad.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 1

Trend:

New York authorities have confirmed the deaths of six foreigners and 2 Americans in Tuesday's attack in New York City.

Authorities do not see any additional specific or credible threats against the city, Sputnik reports citing New York Mayor Bill de Blasio.

New York has boosted security measures at airports, tunnels, stations in the wake of the deadly attack, de Blasio has announced.

On Tuesday, a man later identified as an Uzbek national Sayfullo Saipov, who reportedly came to the United States in 2010, drove a truck through a bike path in Manhattan, killing eight and injuring 11 others. It is the deadliest act of terror in New York since the 9/11 attacks in 2001.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 1

By Rufiz Hafizoglu  Trend:

Turkey is preparing a bill that will expand the ban on the sale of tobacco products, the countrys Deputy Prime Minister Recep Akdag said, the Turkish media reported Nov. 1.

Akdag noted that the new law will also prohibit the sale of tobacco products at the cash desks of stores.

New bans on use of tobacco products have been in effect in Turkey from January 2015, adopted under a state program against smoking.



All the tobacco products sold in Turkey have black packages to be less attractive.



Turkey imposed a ban on smoking in public places in 2008. Penalty for smoking in public and enclosed places is 88 TRY ($23.19 as of Nov. 1).
Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 1

By Rufiz Hafizoglu  Trend:

An explosion occurred at a filling station in Istanbuls Tuzla District, the Turkish media report Nov. 1.

Three people were injured in the explosion, according to the preliminary information.

The cause of the explosion is still unknown. Medical personnel are working at the scene.
KYODO NEWS - Oct 31, 2017 - 19:55 | All, World

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte and his partner Cielito Avancena met Japan's Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko on Tuesday at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, discussing the at times strained history of relations between their countries.

According to the Imperial Household Agency, the meeting went on for around 25 minutes, during which the emperor noted that many local people lost their lives in World War II, when Japan occupied the Philippines for more than three years.

(Pool Photo)

Duterte replied that the two countries have overcome their past to build cooperative ties, and expressed his gratitude for Japan's continued assistance in the postwar period.

A government source said the inclusion of a meeting with the imperial couple on Duterte's itinerary raised concerns among some in the Japanese government due to his history of controversial remarks.

But according to the agency, Duterte holds great respect for the imperial family and appeared nervous at the outset of his meeting with the emperor and empress, bowing to them as they came out to meet him.

Duterte had been tipped to meet the imperial couple for the first time during his visit to Japan in October last year, but the meeting was canceled following the death of Prince Mikasa, an uncle of Emperor Akihito.

On Monday, Duterte and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held talks at which they affirmed their cooperation on regional issues, including North Korea and the South China Sea. They also released a joint statement laying out Japan's support for development projects in the Philippines over the next five years.
KYODO NEWS - Nov 1, 2017 - 13:16 | Feature, All

The Japanese government began its seasonal "Warm Biz" energy-saving campaign on Wednesday, encouraging people to beat the cold by making a variety of environmentally-conscious choices in their everyday life.

Under the campaign, running through winter, the Environment Ministry is urging people across the country to set their home heating systems at 20 C.

The campaign started in 2005 as a way to help efforts to mitigate global warming. Wearing thermal clothing, using blankets and thick curtains, eating warming foods and spending time in the fewest possible heated rooms in the home are among behaviors recommended in the campaign.

"The smart use of heaters can help save energy and reduce electricity bills. We want many people to join in with the Warm Biz (effort)," said Tomohiro Takeda, an official of the ministry's division promoting the campaign.

Some ministry officials kicked the campaign off by wearing sweaters and vests to their office in Tokyo on Wednesday, despite the city experiencing pleasant weather.
By May Masangkay, KYODO NEWS - Nov 1, 2017 - 08:18 | Arts, World, All

A film by a Malaysian director is giving audiences in Japan food for thought on one of the world's worst humanitarian catastrophes -- the exodus of Rohingya Muslim refugees fleeing Myanmar only to find more hardships elsewhere.

Edmund Yeo said in a recent interview with Kyodo News that he was inspired to make the film "Aqerat (We the Dead)," so that he can "explore" the plight of the Rohingya and implications for modern-day Malaysian society.

The film is his home country's entry into the main competition section of the 30th Tokyo International Film Festival, which began on Oct. 25 and runs through Nov. 3.

The plight of the Rohingya -- a stateless, impoverished Muslim minority in the predominantly Buddhist Myanmar -- has been in the international spotlight since renewed violence broke out in the country's restive Rakhine State in late August.

Since then more than 600,000 Rohingya from Rakhine have crossed the border into Bangladesh, joining over 200,000 people who had sought safety there following previous outbreaks of violence.

Malaysia, which is also a Muslim-majority nation, has also over the years become a haven for the Rohingya refugees, and is now hosting more than 100,000 of them.

Sometimes dubbed "boat people" for having fled to Malaysia and other countries of the region over the years on rickety, overcrowded boats, many Rohingya endured perilous voyages on the open seas under the worst possible conditions.

After reaching land, some ended up being exploited by human trafficking syndicates, particularly those transiting through Thailand.

In the film, the heroine, Hui Ling, loses her savings and gets caught up in human trafficking near the Malaysia-Thailand border, where she witnesses the mistreatment of refugees arriving on boats.

Yeo said he was "shocked" when he heard about news reports of the discovery of bodies of the Rohingya migrants in the forest in northern Malaysia two years ago because "we were the bad guys, we were the traffickers."

The 33-year-old director said he found "some parallels" between Malaysians and the Rohingya in their search "for a better life."

"I found the plight of the Rohingyas to be...kind of a reflection of us, as Malaysians. So many of us leave the country," he said.

The film's title means "afterlife" in the Rohingya language, similar to the Malay word "Akhirat," with the same meaning.

Yeo believes the crisis is a call for action to go beyond indifference. The ordeal of the Rohingya has been going on for years, with U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein branding Myanmar authorities' recent treatment of them "a textbook example of ethnic cleansing."

"Many of us are living in a bubble, like we don't really care that much about the immigrants," said the Malaysia-based director, who was visiting Japan.

"We always preach about being compassionate and loving one another and we complain about how authorities are mistreating us, but yet we do not have the human decency to care about the plight of these people. And so is that a price that we have to pay, like to develop as a country to lose our humanity?"

Yeo is also careful not to "exploit" the Rohingya people in depicting their plight in his film.

"I didn't deliberately make a film to be timely or topical," he said, adding, "I wanted to make sure that I'm treating this subject in a very respectful manner."

Along with "Aqerat," Yeo's documentary "Yasmin-san" is also being screened at this year's Tokyo International Film Festival, his second time here after his debut feature film "River of Exploding Durians" was shown in the competition section in 2014.

"Yasmin-san" was supposedly a documentary showing behind the scene footage in the making of "Pigeon," a film shot in Malaysia by Japanese director Isao Yukisada, but it turned out to be Yeo's personal "film essay" paying tribute to the late Yasmin Ahmad, a celebrated Malaysian filmmaker whose international breakthrough at the same festival in 2005 paved the way for other compatriots.

While Yeo has never met Yasmin, he found a "connection" among Yasmin, Yukisada and Malaysian actress Sharifah Amani, who appeared in "Pigeon" and has worked with Yasmin.

"It's my love letter to Malaysian cinema," Yeo said.
The old adage of looking to the past to understand the future certainly applies to improving potatoes.

Examining the ancestors of the modern, North American cultivated potato has revealed a set of common genes and important genetic pathways that have helped spuds adapt over thousands of years. Robin Buell, Michigan State University Foundation Professor of Plant Biology and senior author of the paper, shows potential genetic keys that could ensure the crop will thrive in the future.

"Worldwide, potato is the third most important crop grown for direct human consumption, yet breeders have struggled to produce new varieties that outperform those released over a century ago," Buell said. "By analyzing cultivated potato and its wild relatives using modern genomics approaches, we were able to reveal key factors that could address food security in 21st century agriculture."

Cultivated potatoes, domesticated from wild Solanum species, a genetically simpler diploid (containing two complete sets of chromosomes) species, can be traced to the Andes Mountains in Peru, South America.

While the exact means of the potato migration are unknown, spuds essentially spread worldwide since their domestication some 8,000 to 10,000 years ago. As potatoes were taken from the more equatorial regions of Peru and Bolivia to the southern parts of South America, they became adapted to longer summer days in Chile and Argentina.

One aspect that is known is how Spanish conquistadors introduced potatoes upon return from their South American exploits to the European continent, where potatoes were quickly adapted as a staple crop. As the explorers ventured from Europe to North America, they also brought potatoes to the new world.

Scientific explorer Michael Hardigan, formerly at MSU and now at the University of California-Davis, led the team of MSU and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University scientists. Together, they studied wild, landrace (South American potatoes that are grown by local farmers) and modern cultivars developed by plant breeders. The result, published in the current issue of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, was the largest crop re-sequencing study to date.

Not only did it involve substantial re-sequencing of potato, but it also tackled one of the most-diverse crop genomes. The modern spuds found in today's kitchens are genetically complex tetraploid potatoes, having four times the regular number of chromosomes. Potatoes' complex genome harbors an estimated 39,000 genes. (In comparison, the human genome comprises roughly 20,000 genes.)

From the large gene pool, the researchers identified 2,622 genes that drove the crop's early improvement when first domesticated. The study appears in the current issue of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Studying the gene diversity spectrum, from its wild past to its cultivated present, can provide an essential source of untapped adaptive potential, Buell said.

"We'll be able to identify and study historic introgressions and hybridization events as well as find genes targeted during domestication that control variance for agricultural traits," she said. "Many of these help focus on adapting to different climates, fending off different pathogens or improving yield, keys that we hope to better understand to improve future breeding efforts."

For example, wild potatoes reproduce through berries and seeds. Cultivated potatoes are asexual and are food and seed in one. (Anyone who's left a potato in a dark pantry too long has witnessed this trait firsthand.)

The researchers present evidence of the signatures of selection in genes controlling this change. They also shed light on a role of wild species in genetic pathways for fighting pests and processing sugars for food. Diving into somewhat obscure territory, they looked at potential genetic sources that control circadian rhythm; yes, plants also have 24-hour clocks controlling biological processes.

"We knew about their physiological traits, but we didn't know what genes were involved," Buell said. "As potatoes were moved, they had to adapt to longer days, more hours of sunlight. We're now starting to understand what's happening at the genetic level and how wild Solanum species evolved to long-day adapted tetraploid potatoes."

Additional MSU scientists contributing to this study include: Linsey Newton, John Hamilton, Brieanne Vaillancourt, Krystle Wiegert-Rininger, Joshua Wood, David Douches and Eva Farre. Scientists from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University also were part of the research team.

###

Michigan State University has been working to advance the common good in uncommon ways for more than 150 years. One of the top research universities in the world, MSU focuses its vast resources on creating solutions to some of the world's most pressing challenges, while providing life-changing opportunities to a diverse and inclusive academic community through more than 200 programs of study in 17 degree-granting colleges.

For MSU news on the Web, go to MSUToday. Follow MSU News on Twitter at twitter.com/MSUnews.
Description

Hofstra University will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the dedication of The Axinn Library on November 1, 2017 with a symposium designed to celebrate the librarys rich architecture.

The Axinn Library building opened in 1967 and is an award-winning example of the Brutalist style. A major feature of Brutalism is incorporating the construction of a building into its design. Axinn, for example, has exposed concrete, steel and waffle ceilings.

9:45-10 a.m. Welcome and introductions with Neil H. Donahue, Ph.D., vice provost for undergraduate academic affairs; and Howard Graves, director of library and information services.

10-10:15 a.m. Historical background on The Axinn Library, led by Geri Solomon, assistant dean for special collections.

10:15-10:45 a.m. A look back with Professor Herb Deutsch, who will reminisce on time when the library was being built.

11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Keynote address by London-based art director and graphic designer, Peter Chadwick.

1:30-2:30 p.m. Yankee Brutalism with Architectural Historian Brian Sirman.

2:45-4:15 p.m. Panel with Alexandra Lange, architecture critic for Curbed; Peter Bentel, a partner in the studio of Bentel & Bentel, Architects/Planners AIA and a licensed architect; and Mark Pasnik, a founding principal of over,under, an internationally-recognized architecture and design practice. This panel will be moderated by Daniel Rubey, professor of library services at Hofstra.

The day will end with a reception at 4:15 p.m. in the ground floor lounge of the library. The gathering will feature artwork from students of Associate Professor James Lee in an exhibit called Angles on Axinn.
Description

Mesita welcomes Blue Nectar Tequila to host Mesita's first Tequila Paired Dinner!

Tickets include a 4 course meal accompanied with Tequila from Blue Nectar, which are paired perfectly with our menu. Ticket holders will have an exclusive discounted drink menu featuring Blue Nectar Tequilas. Get ready for a night filled night with prizes and give aways.

Dinner will be hosted by Tequila Master Eric Rubin. Eric Rubin is one of the original founder of Tres Agaves, producing 100% agave Tequila as well as agave nectar and margarita mix. They work with one of Mexico's oldest distilleries, 'El Llano', to produce a proprietary Tequila. He has visited over 300 Mexican distilleries and has accumulated a vast amount of knowledge along the way to share with you throughout the night

Its an event you do not want to miss!

Tickets can be purchased at: https:// bluenectartequiladinner.eve ntbrite.com/

21+ to Attend
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By PTI: New Delhi, Nov 1 (PTI) The commerce ministry today said it would be premature to start negotiations at the World Trade Organization (WTO) on rules for the e-commerce sector as the contours of this segment are still "in the dark".

Joint Secretary in the Department of Commerce Sudhanshu Pandey said that India is focusing on making rules for domestic e-commerce players.

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"Starting negotiations on WTO rules in the e-commerce would be premature as the contours of this space are still in the dark," industry body Ficci said in a statement quoting Pandey.

The official was speaking at an interactive session on E-Commerce, Digital Infrastructure, Trade Rules and WTO. It was organised by Ficci and the Centre for WTO Studies.

The remarks assume significance as developed countries including the US are pushing for inclusion of new issues like investment facilitation and e-commerce in the WTOs ministerial meeting to be held in Argentina in December.

Pandey said several countries were eager to negotiate multilateral rules to govern global trade through e-commerce.

"Such rules stand to hurt the interests of most developing countries, including India. India needs to think whether it was prepared to take on the obligations that would bind its stakeholders to an international policy in a sector, which was still evolving," he added.

Since July last year, around 24 papers have been submitted by different countries to the WTO on e-commerce and nations like Japan have put out highly ambitious papers, he said.

In such a scenario, Pandey said, India needs to safeguard its domestic market which is still small.

National rule making for e-commerce is also a daunting task as there were many issues that are overlapping in nature, he said, adding that different departments are trying to address various issues to help formulate an overarching national policy for e-commerce.

Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology is working on a draft paper on e-commerce, which will be put out for comments.

Speaking at the event, Abhijit Das, Head, Centre for WTO Studies, said that there are many challenges in starting the negotiations.

These, he added, include data flow, servers, data localisation, transfer of technology and mandatory sharing of telecom infrastructure and need attention. PTI RR CS SA

--- ENDS ---
Abiomed, Inc. ABMD was a big mover last session, as the company saw its shares rise more than 7% on the day. The move came on solid volume too with far more shares changing hands than in a normal session. This breaks the recent trend of the company, as the stock is now trading above the volatile price range of $168.78 to $181.07 in the past one-month time frame.



The company has seen a mixed track record when it comes to estimate revisions of four increases and two decreases over the past one month, while the Zacks Consensus Estimate has moved higher, suggesting that more solid trading could be ahead for Abiomed. So make sure to keep an eye on this stock going forward to see if this recent jump can turn into more strength down the road.



Abiomed currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), while its Earnings ESP is positive.

ABIOMED, Inc. Price

ABIOMED, Inc. Price | ABIOMED, Inc. Quote

Another stock worth considering in the Medical - Instruments industry is Luminex Corporation LMNX, which carries a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.



Is ABMD going up? Or down? Predict to see what others think: Up or Down



More Stock News: This Is Bigger than the iPhone!



It could become the mother of all technological revolutions. Apple sold a mere 1 billion iPhones in 10 years but a new breakthrough is expected to generate more than 27 billion devices in just 3 years, creating a $1.7 trillion market.



Zacks has just released a Special Report that spotlights this fast-emerging phenomenon and 6 tickers for taking advantage of it. If you don't buy now, you may kick yourself in 2020.



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Zacks Investment Research
Billionaire activist investor Bill Ackman , aiming to win three seats on ADP (NASDAQ: ADP) 's board, told CNBC on Wednesday he's seeking the spots because the company is "very inefficient." Comparing parts of ADP's business to rival Paychex (NASDAQ: PAYX) , the Pershing Square founder said: "ADP is not as efficient as it should be." "The result is its margins are half of Paychex's," Ackman said. He said Paychex competes in about 35 percent of ADP's businesses.Ackman unveiled an 8.3 percent stake in stock and options in ADP in August. The boardroom battle goes toa vote at the human resources service firm's annual shareholder meeting next week.In a statement to CNBC, the company said: "ADP strongly rejects the false and reckless claims made by Pershing Square throughout the proxy contest and urges shareholders to vote in their own best interests on ADP's white proxy card." Ackman said in the " Squawk Box " interview that ADP's shareholder base sees "a big margin opportunity." He said some of the investors he's spoken to believe the pressure he's applied is a "positive." If the company doesn't continue to innovate and become more efficient, it is going to lose "significant market share," he said. He added that he has no desire to fire lots of employees, saying the HR solutions industry is growing. The biggest risk to ADP workers is from the company's failure to keep up with its competition, he said.Ackman said ADP has "missed the boat on technology," describing the company's chief technology officer as not a "technologist," but a business guy.In its statement, the company said: "ADP is continuing to execute on a technology-driven transformation. ADP is now the largest Human Capital Management (HCM) provider in the cloud, with 83 percent of our clients on strategic cloud-based platforms."Earlier, the company said it plans to file a complaint with the SEC against Ackman for releasing "false and misleading" information.In a letter to ADP on Wednesday morning, Ackman advocated that both sides "get along for the benefit of all of ADP's stakeholders.""Putting out a press release saying that you are reporting me to the SEC is a move designed to smear my reputation for a tactical advantage in a proxy contest. It is not an appropriate thing to do, nor is it fair play," Ackman wrote in the letter.The hedge fund manager's letter also said ADP can increase its profit margins by improving software and services as well as reducing operating costs."It's certainly an important investment for us. It's one of the largest investments we've made," he told CNBC. "We think the downside is limited and the upside is pretty substantial." Pershing Square has been underperforming the market this year. The fund is down 1.2 percent year to date versus the S&P 500's 14.8 percent return through Oct. 24, according to its website.Reuters contributed to this report. Billionaire activist investor Bill Ackman , aiming to win three seats on ADP (NASDAQ: ADP) 's board, told CNBC on Wednesday he's seeking the spots because the company is "very inefficient." Comparing parts of ADP's business to rival Paychex (NASDAQ: PAYX) , the Pershing Square founder said: "ADP is not as efficient as it should be." "The result is its margins are half of Paychex's," Ackman said. He said Paychex competes in about 35 percent of ADP's businesses. Ackman unveiled an 8.3 percent stake in stock and options in ADP in August. The boardroom battle goes to a vote at the human resources service firm's annual shareholder meeting next week. In a statement to CNBC, the company said: "ADP strongly rejects the false and reckless claims made by Pershing Square throughout the proxy contest and urges shareholders to vote in their own best interests on ADP's white proxy card." Ackman said in the " Squawk Box " interview that ADP's shareholder base sees "a big margin opportunity." He said some of the investors he's spoken to believe the pressure he's applied is a "positive." If the company doesn't continue to innovate and become more efficient, it is going to lose "significant market share," he said. He added that he has no desire to fire lots of employees, saying the HR solutions industry is growing. The biggest risk to ADP workers is from the company's failure to keep up with its competition, he said. Ackman said ADP has "missed the boat on technology," describing the company's chief technology officer as not a "technologist," but a business guy. In its statement, the company said: "ADP is continuing to execute on a technology-driven transformation. ADP is now the largest Human Capital Management (HCM) provider in the cloud, with 83 percent of our clients on strategic cloud-based platforms." Earlier, the company said it plans to file a complaint with the SEC against Ackman for releasing "false and misleading" information. In a letter to ADP on Wednesday morning, Ackman advocated that both sides "get along for the benefit of all of ADP's stakeholders." "Putting out a press release saying that you are reporting me to the SEC is a move designed to smear my reputation for a tactical advantage in a proxy contest. It is not an appropriate thing to do, nor is it fair play," Ackman wrote in the letter. The hedge fund manager's letter also said ADP can increase its profit margins by improving software and services as well as reducing operating costs. "It's certainly an important investment for us. It's one of the largest investments we've made," he told CNBC. "We think the downside is limited and the upside is pretty substantial." Pershing Square has been underperforming the market this year. The fund is down 1.2 percent year to date versus the S&P 500's 14.8 percent return through Oct. 24, according to its website. Reuters contributed to this report.



More From CNBC


The AES Corporation AES is set to release third-quarter 2017 results, before the opening bell on Nov 2.



Last quarter, the company delivered a positive earnings surprise of 19.05%. However, AES Corp. missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate in the three out of the trailing four quarters, with an average negative surprise of 0.44%.



Lets see how things are shaping up at the company prior to this announcement.



Factors at Play



On October 9, AES Corp. announced that following the impact of Hurricanes Irma and Maria, its operations in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands has been significantly affected. Notably, three of the companys Puerto Rico power plants sustained notable damage. Its Puerto Ricos 24 megawatt (MW) solar plant and one of the two units of its 524 MW coal-fired plant were severely harmed. Despite the damages, the other unit is still able to generate electricity while the damaged one is being restored.



Consequently, the company expects adjusted earnings per share (EPS) to be in the lower half of the $1.00 to $1.10 range in 2017. An adverse impact of 3-5 cents is expected on the 2017 adjusted EPS guidance, primarily stemming from the sustained damages to the aforementioned power plants and other business interruptions. This, in turn, is expected to have a significant effect on third quarter results as well.



For the soon-to-be reported quarter, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings is projected to move down 8.3% while the same for revenues is estimated to remain flat on a year-over-year basis.

The AES Corporation Price and EPS Surprise

The AES Corporation Price and EPS Surprise | The AES Corporation Quote

Earnings Whispers



Our proven model does not show that AES Corp is likely to beat estimates in the third quarter. This is because a stock needs to have both  a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold)  to be able to beat estimates. Unfortunately, that is not the case for AES Corp.



Zacks ESP: AES Corp has an Earnings ESP of 0.00%. This is because both the Most Accurate estimate and the Zacks Consensus Estimate are pegged at 29 cents. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before theyre reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.



Zacks Rank: AES Corp has a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).



As it is we caution against stocks with a Zacks Ranks #4 or 5 (Strong Sell) going into an earnings announcement, especially when the company is seeing negative estimate revisions.



Stocks that Warrant a Look



Here are few utility stocks that worth considering on the basis of our model, which show that they have the right combination to pull off a beat.



NiSource, Inc. NI will report quarterly results on Nov 1. The company has an Earnings ESP of +7.84% and a Zacks Rank #2. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.



El Paso Electric Company EE has an Earnings ESP of +3.99% and a Zacks Rank #3. The company is scheduled to report quarterly results on Nov 1.



Avista Corporation AVA has an Earnings ESP of +2.63% and a Zacks Rank #3. The company is slated to release quarterly results on Nov 1.



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NiSource, Inc (NI) : Free Stock Analysis Report



The AES Corporation (AES) : Free Stock Analysis Report



El Paso Electric Company (EE) : Free Stock Analysis Report



Avista Corporation (AVA) : Free Stock Analysis Report



To read this article on Zacks.com click here.



Zacks Investment Research
US President Donald Trump sits in the drivers seat of a semi-truck as he welcomes truckers and CEOs to the White House in Washington, DC (JIM WATSON/AFP/Getty Images)

Theres a truck-driver shortage in the U.S., and it will reach its highest level by the end of 2017.

According to a new report from the American Trucking Associations (ATA), the industry requires 50,000 more drivers by the end of this year.

Over the next decade, the trucking industry will need to hire roughly 898,000 new drivers, or an average of nearly 90,000 per year. Replacing retiring truck drivers will be by far the largest factor, accounting for nearly half of new driver hires (49%), according to Bob Costello, chief economist of ATA.

With the relatively high average age of existing truck drivers  49  the trucking industry needs to figure out how to attract new ones.

Luring new drivers with better pay

Brian Fielkow, CEO of Houston-based trucking company Jetco Delivery, has been grappling with this question. The best way to lure in workers is, of course, paying a competitive wage. Fielkow employs 125 full-time drivers and says the average driver makes $60,000 a year, plus benefits. Thats significantly more than the industrys median pay of $41,340.

Compensation is critical. We have to be competitive because were vying for talent not only in this industry, but in industries like construction and energy, he said. Were building a driver-centric company.

Other companies are trying to boost compensation, with some offering sign-on bonuses to lure in drivers, according to the ATA. In addition to the pay, Jetco has also created a driver committee that helps make decisions along with the executives.

Having a driver committee thats truly involved in the governance of the company makes sure that our drivers voices are heard and we respond to their concerns, he said.

Focus on quality of life

While many recruiters and companies may try to portray a drivers life as a liberated one on the open road, the reality doesnt quite match that ideal.

Its a hard life. I have a box that Im sleeping in most nights. I get hotels from time to time, but youve got to want to do it. You have to want to travel, go to a lot of places, see different things, deal with different people every day, an Iowa truck driver named Greg Gedenberg told CBS News in a recent interview.

Story continues

These days, young workers are looking to find more work-life balance than a truck drivers schedule allows. Fielkow said hes at an advantage to provide that balance because he runs a regional business.

Especially as the next generation enters this industry, youre going to see quality of life, focus on family, and home time grow in importance. We run a business model that gets people home most nights. We also try to match drivers with the loads that work best for them. Its a matter of knowing your team, doing the best you can, Fielkow said.

However, he added: I dont think theres one silver bullet. But I think what really needs to change is societys treatment of drivers. Theyre so often taken for granted. People complain about being behind a big truck that slows them down. They need to realize these men and women are navigating heavy traffic daily, stocking grocery stores, drug stores, everywhere we go.

Indeed, trucks transport 70.6% of all goods that Americans consume.

It is a noble calling. And the more I work with drivers, the more Im convinced of it. We need to recognize that its not just a trucking industry problem. The shortage will affect all of us, he said.

The tech bump?

Fielkow acknowledges that technology has opened up the doors to the kinds of professions people can pursue outside of trucking  especially driving for taxi-app companies like Lyft and Uber, which offer the huge advantage of flexibility.

Meanwhile, the promise of autonomous trucks may seem like a bad sign for truck drivers. However, Fielkow said he believes technology will ultimately enhance drivers livelihood.

While were still years away from seeing fully driverless Class 8 trucks on the highway, driver-assisted tech could lessen the driver shortage by making the job less stressful.

The more sophisticated technology may attract younger individuals to truck driving. One could envision an environment when the longer, line-haul portion of truck freight movements are completed by autonomous trucks and local pickup and delivery routes are completed by drivers, the ATA report noted.

Fielkow also believes that technology will change the role of the driver for the better, envisioning that a lot of the burden would be removed from drivers.

Its going to make the experience more enjoyable and truck drivers will become more like airline pilots. We know that planes already do a lot of the piloting. Im seeing technology not as a way to eliminate the driver, but bring in the next generation of drivers.
America Movil S.A.B. AMX reported mixed financial results in the third quarter of 2017. While revenues grew year over year, the bottom line missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate.

The Mexican telecom behemoths net loss was $540.36 million as against net income of $120.16 million in the year-ago quarter. However, the quarter's loss per ADR (American Depository Receipt) was 16 cents, which was below the Zacks Consensus Estimate of earnings of 33 cents.

America Movil, S.A.B. de C.V. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise

America Movil, S.A.B. de C.V. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise | America Movil, S.A.B. de C.V. Quote

Total revenues of approximately $13,821 million were down 2.2% on a year-over-year basis and were also below the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $13,971 million. Segment-wise, Services revenues were around $11,902 million, down 1.9% year over year. Equipment revenues totaled $1,919 million, down 4.4% year over year.

Total cost and expenses in the third quarter declined 2.2% year over year to $10,069.42 million. Quarterly EBITDA (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization) declined 2.1% year over year to $3,751.7 million. EBITDA margin was 27.1%, flat year over year.

Liquidity

At the end of the third quarter of 2017, America Movil had around $4,444.85 million of cash and marketable securities compared with $4,419.1 million at the end of 2016. At the end of the reported quarter, total debt was around $41,949.8 million compared with $43,809.2 million at the end of 2016.

Subscriber Statistics

The company ended September with 363 million access lines, with fixed-RGUs increasing 0.5% and wireless base declining 1.3%. Net subscriber additions for the third quarter were 330,000. Total postpaid additions were 1.4 million subscribers (up 6.0% year over year), including 699,000 in Brazil and 202,000 in Mexico. However, the company lost more than 1 million prepaid subscribers.

On the fixed-line platform, broadband accesses were up 5% year on year after 345,000 new accesses in the quarter in Brazil, the United States and Colombia. Pay-TV subscriber base was down 1.4% annually, with 50,000 disconnections in the quarter.

Story continues

Prime Regional Segments Results

Quarterly revenues from Mexico, America Movil's home ground, decreased 0.3% year over year to $3,749.9 million. EBITDA inclined 0.9% to $1,181.6 million. Mexican ARPU (average revenue per user) increased 8.2% year over year to $7.867 while the churn rate was 4.2% compared with 4.5% in the prior-year quarter.

Revenues from Brazilian operation declined 2.5% year over year to $2,693.58 million. EBITDA increased 5.9% to $777 million. Meanwhile, Brazilian ARPU was $4.57, up 9.7% year over year while the churn rate was 3.6% compared with 3.8% in the year-ago quarter.

Revenues from America Movil's U.S. operation (Tracfone) increased 5.3% year over year to $1,988 million. EBITDA declined 5% to $141 million. ARPU rose 7.3% year over year to $23, while the churn rate was 4.2% compared with 4.3% in the year-ago quarter.

America Movil is systematically enriching spectrum portfolio with the acquisition of wireless spectrums. The company continues to witness intense competition from big telecom operators like AT&T Inc T in the Mexican market and from Telefonica Brazil SA VIV in Brazil. The companys Brazilian operation, Claro, competes with Vivo, owned by Telefonica Brazil. Further, Mexicos telecom regulatory authority granted permission to cable TV and media giant, Grupo Televisa SA TV, to initiate wireless operations in the region. However, the company is yet to take any decision in this regard. Such mixed prospects justify America Movil's current Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here .

More Stock News: This Is Bigger than the iPhone!

It could become the mother of all technological revolutions. Apple sold a mere 1 billion iPhones in 10 years but a new breakthrough is expected to generate more than 27 billion devices in just 3 years, creating a $1.7 trillion market.

Zacks has just released a Special Report that spotlights this fast-emerging phenomenon and 6 tickers for taking advantage of it. If you don't buy now, you may kick yourself in 2020.

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What happened

Shares of steelmaking giant United States Steel Corporation (NYSE: X) erupted for nearly 16% gains soon after the market opened today, in response to the company's third-quarter 2017 earnings report, which crushed Wall Street expectations. Adjusted EPS for the most recent three-month period came in at $0.92, which was $0.21 higher than the average analyst estimate compiled by Yahoo! Finance. It was $0.11 higher than even the most bullish analyst's expectation.

United States Steel Corporation also reported a 21% jump in revenue compared to the year-ago period, topping the average analyst estimate by $188 million. The news was enough to lift shares as they continue a relatively steady climb that began in May. Even so, recent stock prices still haven't surpassed the high-water mark set in February. (Shares fell sharply following a disastrous company update at the end of April.)

As of 12:34 p.m. EDT, the stock had settled to a 7.6% gain.

Toy construction workers and managers building successively larger columns out of coins.

Image source: Getty Images.

So what

Executives remained humble despite walloping Wall Street, saying the company's performance during the quarter was a little better than they expected, and simply added that the performance increased their confidence in the company's ability to hit 2020 targets for operational excellence. The third-quarter 2017 earnings rout could also be a sign that United States Steel Corporation can beat Wall Street expectations for full-year 2017 earnings. The company now expects adjusted earnings per share of $1.70 this year, which is ahead of the analyst average of $1.65.

The good news wasn't just contained to the income statement. The steel giant reported $299 million in operating cash flow for the quarter, thus more than doubling its year-to-date total, and ended September with $1.7 billion in cash on the balance sheet. If the return to profitability proves sustainable, and higher selling prices continue to hold for the foreseeable future, then Wall Street may be forced to revalue the $4.8 billion company.

Story continues

Now what

The company is finally seeing the benefits of past cost-saving and efficiency efforts. Management is doing a pretty good job at influencing the factors within its control, and a recent surge in selling prices for various steel products has certainly helped provide a boost. Still, 2020 is a long way away. It will be interesting to see how Wall Street analysts adjust their view of the company in the next few weeks, especially concerning 2018 expectations. Today, investors can enjoy the fact that United States Steel Corporation is on track to meet its long-term goals.

More From The Motley Fool

Maxx Chatsko has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Aqua America Inc. WTR reported third-quarter 2017 earnings per share of 43 cents, in line with the Zacks Consensus Estimate and ahead of the year-ago quarters earnings of 41 cents by 4.9%.



Total Revenues



Third-quarter revenues of $215 million lagged the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $236 million by 8.9% and missed the year-ago quarters figure of $226.6 million by 5.1%.



Highlights of the Release



The company signed an agreement to acquire 3,800-connection municipal wastewater system to drive growth.



Year to date, Aqua America's state subsidiaries in Indiana, Illinois, New Jersey, North Carolina and Ohio have received rate awards or infrastructure surcharges amounting $21.4 million. In addition, the company currently has rate proceedings pending in Illinois, North Carolina and Virginia worth $14.1 million.



Consolidated operations and maintenance expenses were $68 million for third-quarter 2017, compared with $79.8 million in the year-ago quarter. The year-over-year decline was due to divestitures in market-based activities, lower production expenses and employee-related expenses.



Interest expenses increased 11.1% to $22.41 million from $20.17 million in the year-ago quarter.



Financial Highlights



Current assets were $138.3 million as of Sep 30, up from $128.7 million as of Dec 31, 2016.



Long-term debt was $1,952.5 million as of Sep 30, higher than $1,737.6 million as of Dec 31, 2016.



Guidance



Aqua America reiterated 2017 earnings guidance in the range of $1.34-$1.39 per share. It expects customer base to expand 1.5-2% in 2017.



Aqua Americas same-system operations and maintenance expenses are expected to increase by less than 2%.



The company also reaffirmed 2017 capital investment budget of $450 million. This is part of the 2017-2019 investment plan of nearly $1.2-billion.

Aqua America, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise

Aqua America, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise | Aqua America, Inc. Quote

Upcoming Peer Releases



American States Water Company AWR is expected to report third-quarter 2017 results on Nov 6. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings is pegged at 58 cents.



American Water Works Company AWK is expected to report third-quarter 2017 results on Nov 2. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings is pegged at $1.08.



Consolidated Water Company Ltd. CWCO is expected to report third-quarter 2017 results on Nov 9. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings is pegged at 14 cents.



Zacks Rank



Aqua America carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here



More Stock News: This Is Bigger than the iPhone!



It could become the mother of all technological revolutions. Apple sold a mere 1 billion iPhones in 10 years but a new breakthrough is expected to generate more than 27 billion devices in just 3 years, creating a $1.7 trillion market.



Zacks has just released a Special Report that spotlights this fast-emerging phenomenon and 6 tickers for taking advantage of it. If you don't buy now, you may kick yourself in 2020.

Click here for the 6 trades >>



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American Water Works (AWK) : Free Stock Analysis Report



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To read this article on Zacks.com click here.



Zacks Investment Research
By PTI: New Delhi, Nov 1 (PTI) President Ram Nath Kovind today expressed his deep appreciation for Bhutans support in resolving the recent stand-off with China at Dokalam.

The manner in which both India and Bhutan stood together to address the situation in Dokalam "is a clear testimony to our friendship", a Rashtrapati Bhavan statement said.

Kovind, who met Bhutan King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, the queen and the prince at Rashtrapati Bhavan, said the security concerns of India and Bhutan are indivisible and mutual.

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The president "conveyed deep appreciation for the King of Bhutan?s personal involvement and guidance and the support provided by Bhutan in addressing the recent situation in the Dokalam area", the statement said.

India and Chinas troops were locked in a 73-day stand- off in Dokalam, a tri-junction between Sino-India and Bhutanese border near Sikkim, from June 16 this year after Indian Army personnel stopped the Chinese Army from building a road in the disputed area.

The president said India and Bhutan share exemplary bilateral relations.

"Our relations are unique and special. Our bilateral ties are based on utmost trust and understanding. We should do everything to make it a model of bilateral cooperation, which will be noted by others in the neighbourhood," he said.

The president said India was delighted to see the rapid progress made in Bhutan while simultaneously preserving its very special culture as well as protecting the environment.

"India has been happy to share its knowledge, experience and resources with Bhutan. Our development cooperation has been guided by the priorities set by the government and people of Bhutan," he said.

Kovind also complimented the king of Bhutan on the successful completion of the first decade of his reign and his vision for a stable, happy and prosperous Bhutan.

The royal couple is on four-day visit to India. PTI AKV SKL MIN

--- ENDS ---
The amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere reached its highest level in 800,000 years in 2016, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said Monday.Carbon dioxide levels "surged" at record breaking speeds last year, with globally averaged concentrations of CO2 hitting 403.3 parts per million in 2016 compared to 400 parts per million in 2015, according to the WMO's Greenhouse Gas Bulletin.This was due to a combination of human activities and a "strong" El Nino event, the report said. El Nino and La Nina refer to the "warm and cool phases of a recurring climate pattern across the tropical Pacific," according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.The WMO said that direct measurements from the past 800,000 years had been taken using both Antarctic ice cores and "modern instruments." The increase in concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere commenced in the industrial age, which began in 1750. This was down to a range of factors including population growth, as well as industrialization and its use of fossil fuel sources. "Without rapid cuts in CO2 and other greenhouse gas emissions, we will be heading for dangerous temperature increases by the end of this century, well above the target set by the Paris climate change agreement," Petteri Taalas, the WMO's secretary-general, said in a statement. "Future generations will inherit a much more inhospitable planet." Under the Paris Agreement, reached at the end of 2015, world leaders committed to making sure global warming stays "well below" two degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius.At the beginning of June, however, President Donald Trump announced that the U.S would withdraw from the Paris Agreement and commence talks to re-enter or negotiate a new accord.Taalas said that CO2 remained in the atmosphere for hundreds of years and in oceans for even longer. "The laws of physics mean that we face a much hotter, more extreme climate in the future. There is currently no magic wand to remove this CO2 from the atmosphere."Erik Solheim, the head of UN Environment, said that while the last few years had seen an enormous uptake in renewable energy, a redoubling of efforts was needed "to ensure these new low-carbon technologies are able to thrive. We have many of the solutions already to address this challenge. What we need now is global political will and a new sense of urgency."The WMO's bulletin was based on analysis from the WMO Global Atmosphere Watch program. The amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere reached its highest level in 800,000 years in 2016, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said Monday. Carbon dioxide levels "surged" at record breaking speeds last year, with globally averaged concentrations of CO2 hitting 403.3 parts per million in 2016 compared to 400 parts per million in 2015, according to the WMO's Greenhouse Gas Bulletin. This was due to a combination of human activities and a "strong" El Nino event, the report said. El Nino and La Nina refer to the "warm and cool phases of a recurring climate pattern across the tropical Pacific," according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The WMO said that direct measurements from the past 800,000 years had been taken using both Antarctic ice cores and "modern instruments." The increase in concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere commenced in the industrial age, which began in 1750. This was down to a range of factors including population growth, as well as industrialization and its use of fossil fuel sources. "Without rapid cuts in CO2 and other greenhouse gas emissions, we will be heading for dangerous temperature increases by the end of this century, well above the target set by the Paris climate change agreement," Petteri Taalas, the WMO's secretary-general, said in a statement. "Future generations will inherit a much more inhospitable planet." Under the Paris Agreement, reached at the end of 2015, world leaders committed to making sure global warming stays "well below" two degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius. At the beginning of June, however, President Donald Trump announced that the U.S would withdraw from the Paris Agreement and commence talks to re-enter or negotiate a new accord. Taalas said that CO2 remained in the atmosphere for hundreds of years and in oceans for even longer. "The laws of physics mean that we face a much hotter, more extreme climate in the future. There is currently no magic wand to remove this CO2 from the atmosphere." Erik Solheim, the head of UN Environment, said that while the last few years had seen an enormous uptake in renewable energy, a redoubling of efforts was needed "to ensure these new low-carbon technologies are able to thrive. We have many of the solutions already to address this challenge. What we need now is global political will and a new sense of urgency." The WMO's bulletin was based on analysis from the WMO Global Atmosphere Watch program.



More From CNBC


, Twitter, and are in the congressional spotlight this week, as lawmakers hold a series of hearings exploring Russia's role in the 2016 election.

The three Silicon Valley giants are getting quizzed about Russia-connected ads and other content that have appeared on their platforms. But don't expect it to stop with these hearings. Members of both political parties have already overreacted by introducing legislation that would impose new regulations on online ads.

Congress has tried--and failed--to restrict political speech in the past. Now, some lawmakers are using concern about Russia's election-related shenanigans to bully social media and technology companies.

This is bad news for all Americans.

Traditional media's control and purposeful distortion of information is precisely what created the opportunity for social media to drive the democratization of information. Government meddling won't make anything better at Facebook, Twitter, or Google. We need more transparency, not more regulation.

Users of these platforms have been vocal participants in the debate over the content linked to Russia and its appearance on social media sites. The market, not government, has already prompted these companies to revise their practices.

Facebook, Twitter, and Google are voluntarily taking steps to curtail foreign interference in U.S. elections. That's precisely how it should be.

Facebook will now require more information from advertisers who want to run election-related ads and display that information as pop-ups within the ads. It's also hiring thousands of workers to review the ads and compiling all of the election ads from the last four years and displaying them on a single page. That's about as transparent--and as user-friendly--as disclosure gets.

Facebook has identified more than 3,000 Russia-linked ads that cost about $100,000. That's a miniscule number of ads and a fraction of Facebook's revenues, which totaled $28 billion last year.

Story continues

More alarming is Facebook's revelation that 126 million people might have seen the Russia-connected content. That's certainly a big number, but it represents .004% of the content those people saw on the platform over a two-year period, according to Facebook's estimates. Others saw none of it because they weren't logged in at the time or didn't scroll past it.

Twitter has announced its own amped-up transparency measures. It also severed ties with two Russia-funded media outlets, RT and Sputnik, which had spent approximately $1.9 million in advertising on Twitter since 2011. Twitter said it would donate that money.

Increasingly, Americans get their news from social media. A 2016 Pew Research Center report pegged the number at 62%. As consumers, they must be mindful of not only the content but also the source of that news. And Silicon Valley can certainly help them be more informed and discriminating consumers by being more transparent about who's behind the content it displays.

While the Russia-connected content has triggered cries of collusion and a reckoning at the social media giants, there's still no evidence it swayed the last presidential election.

Spending on the 2016 presidential race totaled $2.4 billion, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. Mark Penn, former pollster for the Clintons, put it bluntly in a Wall Street Journal op-ed: "You Can't Buy the Presidency for $100,000."

Last year, when Facebook found itself embroiled in a controversy of alleged bias against conservatives, I and several other conservative leaders met with executives Mark Zuckerberg and Sheryl Sandberg to voice our concerns. As conservatives, we opposed a government solution. Instead, we relied on market pressure for Facebook to change.

That's the best outcome for today's Russia controversy as well. Congress, for all its good intentions, shouldn't get carried away and impose government restrictions on political speech.

Rob Bluey is vice president of communications at The Heritage Foundation and editor-in-chief of The Daily Signal.

See original article on Fortune.com

More from Fortune.com
Happy Halloween!

Masayoshi Son appears to be going this year as Hamlet, turning in his second performance in three years of heatedly pursuing a merger between his Sprint and Deutsche Telecoms T-Mobile only to abandon the effort.

When talks broke off in 2014 the two sides assumed antitrust regulators wouldnt allow a tie-up. This time around, per a report by Japans Nikkei, Sons SoftBank became concerned it would lose control should T-Mobile take over Sprint.

Shares in T-Mobile and Sprint tumbled Monday as investors betting on industry consolidationand higher cell-phone pricesbid down the two U.S. laggards. Aaron has speculated that Son could be putting on a to be, or not to be, that is the way to get a better price act. Others think he wants to invest ever more in Sprint, the better to realize his dream of connecting devices, humans, and other machines in a single artificial intelligence.

The opposite is feeling more likelythat Son has made a rare blunder by buying a slow-growth mobile carrier in a highly saturated market and is finding it tough to operate or financially engineer his way out of the problem.

Get Data Sheet, Fortunes technology newsletter.

Have a good day and dont eat too much candy.

NEWSWORTHY

Trick. With top social networks expected to testify in Congress tomorrow on Russian efforts to influence the 2016 election, more info is coming out about just how successful those efforts were. Facebook posts from Russias Internet Research Agency reached 126 million Americans, more than 10 times the companys earlier estimate. Twitter said bogus tweets were viewed 288 million times.

Treat. Amid record profits, Samsung named three long-time company insiders as co-CEOs and heads of three of its most important business units. CFO Lee Sang-hoon will be the new board chairman and co-CEOs J.K. Shin and Yoon Boo-keun will resign.

Trick. The feud over royalty payments between Qualcomm and Apple escalated again, with the Wall Street Journal reporting that next years iPhones may eliminate chips from Qualcomm. That could cut revenue by more than $2 billion. Qualcomm shares, already down 16% this year, were down 6% in early trading on Tuesday.

Story continues

Treat. As Apple looks ahead to possible record profits, thanks to new higher priced iPhones, its stock hit an all-time high on Monday of $168.07, before closing at $166.72. Analysts say the share price needs to reach about $194 for Apple to become the first company with a public market value of $1 trillion. And Apples all-time record profit? $18.36 billion in the holiday quarter of 2015 (Apples fiscal first quarter of 2016).

Trick. Netflix said it would cancel its original series House of Cards after its upcoming sixth season. The news came after actor Anthony Rapp said series star Kevin Spacey had sexually assaulted him in 1986.

Treat. Cybersecurity startup Recorded Future, which monitors activity on the dark web, raised $25 million from Insight Venture Partners. The company is almost cash flow positive with revenue in the mid-eight figures CEO Christopher Ahlberg tells Fortune.

Trick or treat. Reviews of the iPhone X arrived on Tuesdaywell, sort of. Apple gave many reviewers only 24 hours with the phone before allowing articles to be posted. At The Verge, Nilay Patel said the new screen was amazing but Face ID didnt work everywhere, such as in bright sunlight. (Apparently Apple engineers need to get out more.) Nicole Nguyen at BuzzFeed got the phone much earlier than most, however. After a week, she had mastered all the new gestures required by the elimination of the home button. But its the new sizesmaller than an iPhone Plus but with a higher resolution screenthat was most attractive.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Like a fractal pattern, the world of bitcoin and other digital currencies seems to get more detailed and remain quite complicated the closer you look. So Im constantly on the lookout for good explainers. Y-Combinators Ramon Recuero has written about the splitting of single cryptocurrencies into multiple, incompatible forks. And his evolutionary biology metaphor makes the explanation better than most:

Forks, in short, are an evolutionary mechanism for digital networks, which allows them to try out many different futures at the same time. What if Facebook could create and explore hugely different versions that shared past data and operated entirely independently from each other? This type of experimentation is A/B testing on steroids. This evolution can happen at different times during the cryptocurrencys life span. Many now-famous cryptocurrencies like Litecoin, Dash, or Zcash, started as a Bitcoin implementation.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

Heres the First Look Inside Waymos Self-Driving Minivans By Kirsten Korosec

Hollywoods New Piracy Problem: Rogue Streaming Boxes By Jeff John Roberts

How Serious Are Tech Giants About Blockchains? Ethereum Co-Founder Grades Apple, Amazon, Google By Robert Hackett

Elon Musks SpaceX Edges Nearer to Goal of Reusable Rockets By Joseph Hincks

Why AMDs Stock Plunged 20% in Less Than a Week By Aaron Pressman

Google Is Making It Easier to Stream Live Television With a New YouTube TV App By Tom Huddleston Jr.

Apple iPhone Sales in China Soar After 18 Months of Decline By Don Reisinger

BEFORE YOU GO

What will the kids get up to on Halloween these days? Creating their own artificially intelligent, horror-story-telling Twitter chatbot, at least if the kids are some young scientists at MITs Media Lab. Check out Shelly, named after Frankenstein author Mary Shelley.
Donald Trumps former campaign chairman, Paul Manafort, and his business associate, Rick Gates, were indicted Monday on charges stemming from the Russia investigation led by Special Counsel Robert Mueller.

Manafort and Gates are facing multiple charges, including money laundering, conspiracy against the United States, and failure to disclose their lobbying activities for a foreign power. The pair entered a plea of not guilty in federal court on Monday.

Separately, onetime Trump campaign foreign policy advisor George Papadopoulos pleaded guilty to lying to investigators about his contact with Russian-linked interests.

The charges are the first major public developments in Muellers six-month-long investigation of Russian meddling in the 2016 election.

How did the investigation get to this point? Heres a quick refresher:

October 7, 2016: Obama Administration confirms Russian involvement in Wikileaks email dump

About a month before Election Day, the Department Of Homeland Security and Office of the Director of National Intelligence announced that they believed Russia was involved with WikiLeaks publication of private emails from the Democratic National Committee (DNC) and Hillary Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta.

These thefts and disclosures are intended to interfere with the U.S. election process, a joint DHS-DNI statement read. We believe, based on the scope and sensitivity of these efforts, that only Russias senior-most officials could have authorized these activities.

January 6, 2017: DNI issues unclassified report on Russian meddling

As one of the last major actions of the Obama Administration, the Director of National Intelligence released a 25-page report just two weeks before Donald Trumps inauguration. Titled Assessing Russian Activities and Intentions in Recent U.S. Elections the report confirmed the belief of the intelligence community that Russia was behind the hack targeting the DNC and Podestas emails. Moreover, the report concluded that Russia interfered in the U.S. election specifically to undermine Hillary Clintons campaign.

Story continues

Russias goals were to undermine public faith in the U.S. democratic process, denigrate Secretary Clinton, and harm her electability and potential presidency, the report read. We further assess Putin and the Russian Government developed a clear preference for President-elect Trump.

In the weeks following the report, the Senate and House Intelligence Committees announced they would each investigate Russian interference in the election.

It was around this time that an unverified dossier emerged which reportedly outlined compromising information the Russian government may have collected about then-President elect Trump. The Washington Post reported last week that research for the dossier was funded in part by Hillary Clintons campaign and the DNC.

March 20, 2017: James Comey confirms the FBI is investigating Russian interference

James Comey, still serving as FBI Director at the time, told the House Intelligence Committee that the Department of Justice had authorized the FBI to investigate Russian interference in the 2016 election, including any potential collusion between Russia and the Trump campaign.

The FBI, as part of our counterintelligence mission, is investigating the Russian governments efforts to interfere in the 2016 presidential election and that includes investigating the nature of any links between individuals associated with the Trump campaign and the Russian government, and whether there was any coordination between the campaign and Russias efforts, Comey said.

May 9, 2017: President Trump fires James Comey

President Trump unexpectedly announced that he was firing Comey, citing recommendations from top officials at the Department of Justice who were critical of Comeys controversial handling of a probe into Hillary Clintons use of a private email server.

The explanation drew skepticism, as Trump had previously praised the Clinton investigation, and because Comey was overseeing the FBIs investigation into Trumps campaign.

Regardless of the recommendation, I was going to fire Comey, Trump later told NBC News anchor Lester Holt. And in fact when I decided to just do it, I said to myself, I said you know, this Russia thing with Trump and Russia is a made-up story.

May 17, 2017: Robert Mueller appointed as Special Counsel to lead Russia investigation

Following Comeys ouster, former FBI Director Robert Mueller was appointed to lead the Office of Special Counsel, which was tasked with overseeing an independent investigation into Russian interference and has the power to file charges.

Muellers appointment came just days after the New York Times, citing a memo provided by Comeys associates, reported that Trump had asked Comey for his loyalty during a private dinner. Comey reportedly demurred, instead telling the President he would be honest with him.

July 2017: Donald Trump, Jr. admits meeting Russia-linked lawyer

Initial reports said Donald Trump Jr. met with Russian lawyer Natalia Veselnitskaya in June to discuss U.S. adoptions of Russian children. But emails later published by Trump Jr. showed that he and his brother-in-law, Jared Kushner, met with Veselnitskaya after it was claimed that she had compromising information about Hillary Clinton. Trump, Jr. published the emails after the New York Times contacted him with copies of the messages.

October 4, 2017: Senate committee investigating Russia says it is still trying to hack election system

The Senate Intelligence committee told reporters in a press conference that they had not reached a conclusion about its probe into Russian interference in the election, but that the possibility of collusion between Russia and the Trump campaign was still a distinct possibility.The Russian active measure efforts did not end on Election Day 2016, Senator Mark Warner, ranking chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, told reporters.

October 30, 2017: Paul Manafort, Rick Gates indicted on 12 counts

Manafort and Gates were indicted on 12 counts, including money laundering, conspiracy against the United States and more, according to court filings. Manafort and Gates both pleaded not guilty; their bail figures were set at $10 million and $5 million, respectively.

The Office of the Special Counsel also revealed Monday that George Papadopoulos, formerly a foreign policy adviser to Trumps campaign, had pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI in a January 2017 interview about his contact with a Russian professor. Papadopoulos was arrested in July and has been cooperating with investigators ever since.
By Julie Zhu

HONG KONG (Reuters) - China's CDH Investments and Hong Kong-based start-up SenseTime Group are raising about 3 billion yuan ($453 million) to invest in firms working on artificial intelligence (AI) technology, two sources with knowledge of the matter told Reuters.

The companies' plan for the fund, which according to the sources will be mainly used to invest in growth-stage AI start-ups worldwide, comes amid Beijing's drive to be a leader in the technology that is increasingly becoming key to various sectors.

Once the preserve of researchers, AI has grabbed the attention of businesses from healthcare to financial services looking to use algorithms to comb through large troves of data to recognize patterns and solve problems. The technology is set to spread to driverless cars and service robots in the future.

Beijing-based investment firm CDH and SenseTime, which provides technology-based applications like facial recognition, video analyzing and autonomous driving, will act as co-managers of the fund, known as general partners, one of the sources said.

It was not immediately clear when the fundraising would be completed or who would be the potential investors.

The sources declined to be named as the capital raising plans were not public. CDH and SenseTime declined to comment.

In July, SenseTime had raised $410 million, led by CDH and China's state-backed fund Sailing Capital, in a deal that marked one of the largest fundraising rounds by an AI firm and valued it at over $1.5 billion.

Last October, the state think-tank Chinese Academy of Sciences and investment firm Hillhouse Capital Group launched one of the country's first AI-focused funds, with an initial fundraising target of 1 billion yuan ($150 million).

Chinese search engine giant Baidu Inc, which is making a big push into AI, opened the first national AI lab in March in partnership with the powerful state planner - the National Development and Reform Commission.

Story continues

CHINA'S BIG AI PUSH

The hectic fundraising activity linked to the technology comes after Beijing in July unveiled an AI development plan to grow the country's core AI industries' value to more than 150 billion yuan by 2020 and 400 billion yuan by 2025.

With this major push into AI, China is looking to rival U.S. market leaders such as Alphabet Inc's Google and Microsoft.

Beijings AI plan comes as the United States is poised to bolster its scrutiny of investments, including artificial intelligence, over fears that countries including China could access technology of strategic military importance.

China's State Council in July said the "situation with China on national security and international competition is complex", which was part of the incentive for making a domestic AI push.

SenseTime, a three-year-old AI firm, counts China's Ministry of Public Security and domestic heavyweights including China Mobile, HNA Group and Huawei Technologies [HWT.UL] as its major clients.

CDH, backed by Singapore's sovereign wealth fund GIC [GIC.UL] and International Finance Corporation, has about $18 billion worth of assets under management and its portfolio firms include the world's largest pork supplier WH Group.

(Reporting by Julie Zhu, additional reporting by Sijia Jiang; Editing by Sumeet Chatterjee and Himani Sarkar)
We expect Exelon Corporation EXC to pull off a positive earnings surprise, when it reports third-quarter 2017 earnings on Nov 2. The Utility has surpassed earnings estimates in the previous two quarters, resulting in an average beat of 5.20%.



Why a Likely Positive Surprise?



Our proven model shows that Exelon is likely to beat estimates because it has the right combination of two key ingredients. A stock needs to have both a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) to be able to beat estimates and the company has the right mix.



You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before theyre reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.

Zacks ESP: The Earnings ESP, which represents the difference between the Most Accurate estimate of 87 cents and the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 86 cents, is +0.48 %. This is a meaningful and leading indicator of a likely positive surprise.



Zacks Rank: Exelon currently carries a Zacks Rank #3. The combination a favorable Zacks Rank and positive ESP makes us reasonably confident of a positive surprise this season.



Conversely, we caution against Sell-rated stocks (#4 or 5) going into the earnings announcement, especially when the company is seeing negative estimate revisions.

Exelon Corporation Price and EPS Surprise



Exelon Corporation Price and EPS Surprise | Exelon Corporation Quote

Factors to Consider



Exelon expects its third-quarter earnings to be in the range between 80 cents and 90 cents per share, which takes into account a full quarter of contributions from the New York ZEC program that started on Apr 1.



We believe that the Delmarva new electric and gas rate approval, along with Pepco DC rate case during the quarter will have a positive impact on Exelons total revenues in the second half of 2017.



As free cash flow generation capacity is helping Exelon to lower its long-term debt, we expect its outstanding debts to drop further in the second half of 2017. The first-half debt level was $30.3 billion, declining nearly $1.2 billion from 2016 end levels.



Other Stocks to Consider



Exelon is not the only stock in the Zacks Utility Power industry that is expected to report a positive earnings surprise. Investors can also consider the following stocks from the same space this season.



NiSource Inc. NI is expected to report third-quarter earnings on Nov 1. The company has a Zacks Rank #2 and an Earnings ESP of +7.84%. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

ALLETE Inc. ALE is expected to report third-quarter earnings on Nov 1. The company has a Zacks Rank #2 and an Earnings ESP of +1.89%.



Avista Corporation AVA is expected to report third-quarter earnings on Nov 1. The company has a Zacks Rank #3 and an Earnings ESP of +2.63%.



Wall Streets Next Amazon



Zacks EVP Kevin Matras believes this familiar stock has only just begun its climb to become one of the greatest investments of all time. Its a once-in-a-generation opportunity to invest in pure genius.



Click for details >>



Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report



Exelon Corporation (EXC) : Free Stock Analysis Report



NiSource, Inc (NI) : Free Stock Analysis Report



Avista Corporation (AVA) : Free Stock Analysis Report



Allete, Inc. (ALE) : Free Stock Analysis Report



To read this article on Zacks.com click here.



Zacks Investment Research
By Sijia Jiang

HONG KONG, Oct 31 (Reuters) - China's biggest facial recognition firm Megvii, more commonly known as Face++, has raised $460 million in a fresh round of financing, drawing investment from a Chinese state fund, Ant Financial and Foxconn Technology, a source with direct knowledge of the fundraising told Reuters.

A previous round of financing last December valued Face++, a Beijing-based start-up behind Alipay's "scan your face to pay" function, at $2 billion.

The latest fundraising was led by the China State-owned Venture Capital Fund and existing investors Alibaba Group Holding Ltd affiliate Ant Financial and Foxconn .

Russia-China Investment Fund, a joint venture of sovereign wealth funds, and South Korea's SK Group are also among the investors, said the source, who declined to be named.

A spokesman for Face++ declined to comment.

The Chinese national venture capital fund is a 200 billion yuan ($30.17 billion) state-controlled fund set up last year to invest in China's start-ups.

The fund could not be reached for comment outside office hours. Ant Financial and Foxconn did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The fundraising at Face++ comes as facial recognition start-ups boom in China on keen demand from the government and private companies.

Rival Sensetime Group raised $410 million in July from Chinese investors, which it said then was the largest single financing round for any artificial intelligence company.

($1 = 6.6300 Chinese yuan renminbi) (Reporting by Sijia Jiang; Editing by Ian Geoghegan)
Razer, the U.S.-Singapore firm that produces PCs and peripherals for gamers, is set to raise as much as $550 million from its Hong Kong IPO after it revealed its price range.

The company first filed to go public in July, and today it confirmed that it plans to offer 1,063,600,000 shares at a range of HK$2.93-HK$4.00, that's around $0.38-$0.51. If the full allocation sells at that top price then the listing would raise $550 million, at mid-range that's HK$3.5 billion or $450 million.

12-year-old Razer plans to spend the proceeds on developing new product verticals -- it is expected to announce its first mobile device before the end of this year -- funding acquisitions and R&D, and also growing its brand via increased marketing initiatives.

It already has an impressive following -- its most devoted fans sport tattoos of the Razer logo -- thanks to a mantra of selling products that are "For Gamers, By Gamers."

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

Three-quarters of revenue comes from the sales of PC accessories like gaming mice, souped up keyboards, specialist headphones and more, but the firm branched into PC devices with the Razer Blade, a high-performance laptop dedicated to portable gaming that costs more than $2,000, and it bought audio visual brand THX in 2016. Despite the price, margins on the Blade are low at under three percent.

Razer said in its prospectus that it isn't likely to be profitable for some time as it is focused on expanding its business. Beyond hardware it is betting that a digital services play can leverage its brand to pay dividends, with its payments platform -- funded by another acquisition -- representing a critical part of that strategy. It aims to grow its presence in key markets like China, where it claims to be the top gaming accessories brand, and North America, which already accounts for 50 percent of sales.

Story continues

That's yet to come and Razer can point to being profitable in 2014 -- to the tune of $20.3 million -- before losses in 2015 and 2016, $20 million and $59.6 million, respectively. The former, it said, was largely down to the cost of an aborted U.S. listing, while its most recent financial year saw an increase in stock options and more R&D. Excluding that compensation, Razer's loss for 2016 was a more modest $20.6 million.

Revenue-wise, Razer is in a tricky spot. Total sales growth hasn't been amazing, instead the company's real opportunity is that the global games industry itself will expand to give it more customers to sell to.

There's precious little analysis on the peripherals space but a report commissioned by Razer itself concluded that gaming peripherals were a $2 billion market in 2016. With the base of global gamers predicted to jump from two billion in 2016 to 2.7 billion in 2021, Razer is pitching investors on that opportunity coupled with its forays into mobile, AV, services and payments.

Existing backers who have already bought into the vision include Foxconn, Intel, IDC-Accel and Hong Kongs richest man, Li Ka-shing, who invested via his Redmount Ventures fund.

The SCMP reports that they'll be joined by committed IPO investors Singapore fund GIC, real estate firms Kingkey (China) and Singhaiyi (Singapore), cigarette group Djarum from Indonesia, and Macau-based casino owner Loi Keong Kuong. A tranche of shares for the public will be offered up this week.

Alongside Razer, Tencent's China Publishing Group -- an Amazon Kindle-like ebooks business -- is also going public in Hong Kong. The HKSE has increased its appetite for tech firms after selfie app make Meitu raised $629 million in a December listing.
For decades, the Republicans have portrayed themselves as the party of tax cuts, the party of less government and spending cuts, and the party of economic growth for all. The truth is Republicans are too chicken to be any of those things and too politically tone deaf to see why their cowardly decisions to "play it safe" are producing negative results for them at every turn. We got more proof of all that this weekend with the news that the congressional GOP leaders are still looking to remove or significantly cut the mortgage interest tax break. Now don't get me wrong. That tax break, supposedly meant to encourage home ownership in America and all the legitimate economic benefits that come with it, definitely needs some revising. It's led to inflated home prices, suburban sprawl, and worst of all it's mostly a benefit to richer people who don't need it.

But the problem for the Republicans isn't the effect of the mortgage deduction, it's the convoluted thinking that goes behind their wanting to mess with it in the first place. As I've written several times during this tax reform process , the GOP is worrying way too much about lost revenue and not enough about cutting spending. Think about it, if all the Republicans are doing is increasing some taxes to make up for cuts elsewhere, then all of this is just an elaborate game of robbing Peter to pay Paul. The Republicans seem convinced that the tax reform efforts and their political fortunes will be toast if they lose support from some deficit hawks like Senator Rand Paul. That may be true mathematically, but as Paul himself has indicated, dealing with the deficit by increasing some individual taxes to make up for corporate cuts doesn't make a lot of political sense. Of course, it only makes sense if you're a Republican lawmaker who's more afraid of the backlash from cutting a popular program or two. And that's what's happening here to a party that labels itself as a group that fights bloated spending.

And it's that fear of making spending cuts that's fueling so many bad ideas to raise revenue instead. Here are the leading members of that Hall of Shame: They floated the Border Adjustment Tax idea that America's retailers rightfully opposed as a move that would have hurt some of the nation's poorer consumers. They're looking to eliminate or slash the state and local tax deductions that would bring brutal overall federal tax bill increases to people living in highly-populated coastal blue states. They've floated the idea of limiting tax-free contributions for 401(k) plans that could destroy the retirement plans for millions of Americans who rely on those plans. And now we have this similar push on mortgage interest tax breaks that's drawing massive ire from home builders, realtors, and others who believe such a move would really hurt home prices and values. And Republicans still think all of these ideas and the extreme anger that comes with them are better than what they'd face from some common sense spending cuts? All of these ideas come with more negative baggage than any accusation that the Republicans are spendthrifts or irresponsible on deficits. Compare that problem with being blamed for rising prices at the store, hurting retirees, cratering the housing market, and inflicting cynical financial pain on people living in Democratic Party dominated states. The truth is, there really is no comparison and the Republican leadership is particularly tone deaf not to see that. But somehow, that leadership is still pressing on with an obsession over revenues and deficits. The bottom line is the GOP doesn't believe in the simple, across-the-board tax cuts that President Ronald Reagan promoted so unapologetically 36 years ago. Economists will argue for decades to come over whether those tax cuts he got through Congress were the reason for the economic boom of the 1980s. But that boom is undeniable as GDP grew by as much as 7.8 percent at the height of the economic turnaround in the years immediately following those tax cuts. Not all of the blame lies with the congressional Republicans. President Trump has let this go way too far. On one hand, he's promoted a message on tax reform that always very simple and persuasive. He talks about the "biggest tax cuts ever," and has cited a study that says the corporate tax cut plan could lead to $4,000 in wage growth for American families. But while he delivers this clear message, he hasn't put a stop to the GOP in Congress continuing to work on those complicated and contradictory ideas that create more and more problems. The same guy who riddled his presidential campaign with controversial statements and continues to have little trouble calling out his political opponents with public insults isn't calling for Congressional Republicans to drop the arduous schemes and just cut the taxes and the spending. What exactly is he afraid of? This is no way to run a government or win over the voters. And unless something big changes in their thinking and strategy, the Republicans are dooming the tax reform effort from within. Commentary by Jake Novak, CNBC.com senior columnist. Follow him on Twitter @jakejakeny. For more insight from CNBC contributors, follow @CNBCopinion on Twitter. WATCH: Public support for GOP tax plan 'soft' according to new poll



More From CNBC


Western Union Co. WU is scheduled to report third-quarter results on Nov 2, after market close.

The companys Consumer-to-Consumer segment is expected to witness an increase in transactions which will be driven by strong growth in westernunion.com. We expect strong transaction growth from North America and Latin American countries partly offset by declines from Europe, Middle East, Africa and South Asia regions. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenues from this unit is $1.1 billion, which translates into year-over-year growth of 0.3%.

Revenues from another segment Business Solutions, which facilitates payment and foreign exchange solutions, primarily cross-border, crosscurrency transactions, for small and medium size enterprises and other organizations and individuals, is exposed to fluctuation in exchange rate between the U.S. dollar and other currencies. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenues from this segment is $98 million, which translates into year-over-year growth of 1%.

The company has committed to spend approximately $1 million on WU Way (its new business transformation program) in 2017, and these costs, related primarily to the implementation, consulting and severance, will be noted each quarter. Part of this cost will therefore will reflected in the quarters results.

Also, the bottom line might suffer from elevated compliance spending.

Western Union Company (The) Price and EPS Surprise

Western Union Company (The) Price and EPS Surprise | Western Union Company (The) Quote

Here is what our quantitative model predicts:

Our proven model shows that Western Union has the right combination of the two key ingredients to beat earnings estimates.

Zacks ESP: Earnings ESP which represents the difference between the Most Accurate estimate and the Zacks Consensus Estimate, is +1.51%. The positive ESP is a meaningful indicator of a likely positive earnings surprise. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before theyre reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.

Story continues

Zacks Rank: Western Union carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Note that stocks with a Zacks Rank of #1, 2 or 3 have a significantly higher chance of beating on earnings.

Other Stocks to Consider

Here are some other companies that you may consider as these too have the right combination of elements to post an earnings beat this quarter:

Intercontinental Exchange Inc. ICE will report third-quarter 2017 earnings results on Nov 2. The company has an Earnings ESP of +0.19% and a Zacks Rank #3. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Prudential Financial, Inc. PRU has an Earnings ESP of +0.07% and a Zacks Rank #2. The company is expected to report third-quarter earnings results on Nov1.

Lincoln National Corp. LNC has an Earnings ESP of +0.05% and a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). The company is expected to report third-quarter earnings results on Nov 1.

Wall Streets Next Amazon



Zacks EVP Kevin Matras believes this familiar stock has only just begun its climb to become one of the greatest investments of all time. Its a once-in-a-generation opportunity to invest in pure genius.



Click for details >>



Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report



Lincoln National Corporation (LNC) : Free Stock Analysis Report



Prudential Financial, Inc. (PRU) : Free Stock Analysis Report



Intercontinental Exchange Inc. (ICE) : Free Stock Analysis Report



Western Union Company (The) (WU) : Free Stock Analysis Report



To read this article on Zacks.com click here.
The damaged La Perla neighborhood viewed from the air during recovery efforts four weeks after Hurricane Maria struck Puerto Rico: Mario Tama/Getty Images

Over 900 people have been cremated in Puerto Rico since Hurricane Maria made landfall a month ago, but the official death toll is still listed as 51.

The government allowed 911 bodies to be cremated without being physically examined by a government medical officer to determine if they should be included in the official death toll from the storm, BuzzFeed News reports.

Each cause of death was listed as being of "natural causes."

As such, the official death toll likely fails to take account of all those who died as a result of the deadly hurricane.

Accurate information about the death toll is important because it allows victims' families to claim federal relief aid.

It has also been used as a measure of how effective relief efforts have been.

When President Donald Trump visited the US territory, he boasted about the low death toll, which at the time was just 16.

Later, when asked to rate the White House's response, he said: "I'd say it was a 10."

A woman removes mud from her damaged house in Toa Baja, 35 km from San Juan, Puerto Rico, on 23 September 2017. (Getty)

Puerto Rico's Department for Public Safety has said deaths would only be added to the official toll if confirmed by the Institute of Forensic Sciences.

The 911 cremations had been permitted to go ahead after the institute reviewed the records, but the bodies were not examined by a government medical officer, a spokeswoman for the department told BuzzFeed.

A message written on the rooftop is seen from the air during recovery efforts following Hurricane Maria near Humacao, October 10, 2017 (Reuters/Lucas Jackson)

Several funeral home and crematorium directors told the site they had received no official guidance instructing them to send suspected hurricane victims to the institute. The government said it had issued no such guidance.

Some said they considered heart attacks and people who died of lack of oxygen because of lack of power as hurricane-related deaths, while others said they considered those "natural causes."

Roughly 70 per cent of the US territory remains without power more than a month after Maria struck on 20 September as a Category 4 storm with winds of up to 154mph (245kph).
Mr Kushner had a 'deep suspicion and derision of journalism and reporters', Mr Pope claimed: AP Photo/J Scott Applewhite

White House adviser Jared Kushner still calls his father "daddy", a former employee has claimed.

Kyle Pope, who worked as editor of the New York Observer while Mr Kushner was the newspaper's publisher, described working under Donald Trump's son-in-law in an op-ed piece.

He claimed the then 28-year-old never read the paper, saying: "Most weeks, Kushner not only didnt read the Observer, he didnt appear to read anything else, either."

He also said he found it "strange" that Mr Kushner called his father, Charles, "daddy".

"Charles, whom Jared talked to frequently while the father was imprisoned in Alabama, popped in often during my meetings with Jared on Fifth Avenue. I remember this because Jared would refer to him as 'daddy,' which I found strange," Mr Pope wrote in the Columbia Journalism Review.

Mr Pope said Mr Kushner had a "deep suspicion and derision of journalism and reporters" and claimed he would often block "merit" pay rises.

"When I would approach Kushner about raises for the staff, he would almost always balk, pointing out that if we didnt boost their pay, there was a line of replacements willing to work for the same salary or less," he wrote. "Journalists, in his mind, were essentially interchangeable, and easily replaceable. The fact that they were so poorly paid was evidence, in his mind, that what they did or how they did it could not possibly be that important."

Mr Pope, who is the incoming editor for CJR, also questioned how the Observer might have contributed to the "fake news" environment.

"Throughout [Mr Trumps] campaign and into his presidency, I have looked back on my short tenure at the Observer for signs of the anti-press fervour I can only assume Kushner has shaped," he said.

"How did this socially ambitious real-estate developer, who bought a beloved Manhattan weekly and counted Rupert Murdoch as one of his personal heroes, end up helping to guide an administration that has made the vilification of anyone associated with journalism a central plank?"

Story continues

He added: "Did Kushner simply inherit the 'fake news' mantra from his father-in-law, or did he have a hand in creating it? Were there hints during his tenure at the Observer of what was to come?"

Mr Kushner did not respond to Mr Pope's request for comment.
White House Chief of Staff John Kelly on Monday said, "the lack of an ability to compromise led to the Civil War." Speaking to Fox News, Kelly offered a view of history in which both sides of the Civil War  a pro-slavery Confederacy and the opposing Union  were made up of "men and women of good faith." Kelly's views echoed those of his boss, President Donald Trump , who claimed that "both sides" were to blame after violence broke out during a white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia that claimed the life of an anti-racism protester. "There are certain things in history that were not so good, and other things that were very, very good," Kelly said. "I think we make a mistake as a society, and certainly as individuals, when we take what is accepted as right and wrong, and go back 100, 200, 300 years or more and say, 'What Christopher Columbus did was wrong.'" "Five hundred years later, it's inconceivable to me that you would take what we think now and apply it back then. I just think it's very very dangerous. It shows you how much of a lack of appreciation of history and what history is," said Kelly, a retired Marine Corps General. Kelly then explained his view of the Civil War: "[Confederate General] Robert E. Lee was an honorable man who gave up his country to fight for his state," Kelly said. "One hundred and fifty years ago, that was more important than country  it was always loyalty to state back in those days. Now it's different. But the lack of an ability to compromise led to the Civil War, and men and women of good faith on both sides made their stand where their conscience had them make their stand." Kelly did not elaborate about what compromise would have prevented a war fought over the future of slavery in the United States. Southern U.S. states began seceding from the Union in December 1860, following the election one month earlier of President Abraham Lincoln, whose Republican Party had strong anti-slavery sentiments. The economy of the mostly agricultural South was at that time dependent on massive-scale, slave labor. CNBC reached out to the White House late Monday to clarify what compromises Kelly believes were lacking in the lead-up to to the Civil War, and will update this post with any response. WATCH: Trump: You had very fine people, on both sides Correction: This story has been updated to correct the wording in one of John Kelly's quotations.



More From CNBC


Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - October 11, 2017) - Legend Gold Corp. (TSXV: LGN) (the "Company" or "Legend") announces that it has signed a non-binding Letter of Intent ("LOI") dated October 10, 2017 with Altus Strategies Plc ("Altus"), a UK-based prospect generator listed on AIM (ALS), whereby Altus will acquire Legend. The LOI sets out the terms and conditions for Altus to acquire all the issued and outstanding common shares ("Legend Shares"), unexercised warrants ("Legend Warrants") and unexercised share purchase options ("Legend Options") through an all-stock transaction, which is anticipated to be completed by way of a Plan of Arrangement (the "Proposed Transaction"). The Proposed Transaction was negotiated at arm's length between Legend and Altus.

Highlights of Proposed Transaction:

Legend shareholders to own 27.6% of the enlarged undiluted issued share capital of Altus following the Proposed Transaction

Altus is listed on the AIM market ("AIM") of the London Stock Exchange (AIM: ALS)

Legend shareholders to receive three (3) Altus Ordinary shares ("Altus Shares") for each Legend share they hold (the "Exchange Ratio")

Legend valued at approximately C$5.7 million based on current price of Altus Shares, a 110% premium to 20 day VWAP (as defined below)

Subject to due diligence, final documentation, Legend shareholder, regulatory and other approvals

Definitive documentation to be negotiated by 31 October 2017

All outstanding Legend Options and Legend Warrants will roll over on the same terms into Altus options and warrants, subject to adjustment to reflect the Exchange Ratio

Altus to seek a dual listing on the TSX-V concurrently with the closing of the Proposed Transaction

Michael Winn, Chief Executive and Chairman of Legend, commented:

"Our combination with Altus will be positive and transformational for all Legend stakeholders, with an immediate premium for current shareholders. Altus is a Project Generator focused on Africa, which was founded and is managed by a team who have a considerable track record in creating shareholder value from mineral exploration in the region. Altus was established in 2007 and listed on London's AIM exchange in August 2017. Despite the bear market since 2011, Altus has grown a substantial and diversified portfolio of projects; including discoveries in Cameroon, Ethiopia, Liberia and Morocco, principally in gold, copper-silver, bauxite and iron ore. Altus has a strong shareholder register including its board and management. Not only does Altus have the requisite skills and expertise to advance Legends' projects, our shareholders will benefit significantly from exposure to their diversified project generator portfolio and clear growth trajectory."

Steven Poulton, Chief Executive of Altus, commented:

"We are delighted to have entered into this agreement with Legend which has a portfolio of high quality and strategically located gold projects in western and southern Mali. We are also delighted that, on completion of the Proposed Transaction, Michael Winn will be joining the Altus board as a non-executive director, Dr. Demetrius Pohl will be joining as an advisor and Ambogo Guindo will join our team as an advisor to the Mali operation."

Benefits of the Proposed Transaction for Legend Shareholders:

Delivers a significant premium to their current investment in Legend

Continued exposure to Legend's assets through the enlarged entity

New exposure to a portfolio of projects, diversified by commodity and geography in Africa

A strengthened management team with a strong track record in creating shareholder value

Enhanced liquidity from a larger well-established company with a strong shareholder base

Benefits of the Proposed Transaction for Altus Shareholders:

Acquisition of an advanced portfolio of strategically located gold projects in Mali

The Diba oxide gold resource is located 20km from the Sadiola gold mine

Artisanal workings indicate significant exploration upside at Lakanfla and other projects

Deal brings a joint venture partner in Resolute Mining Ltd, earning in on Pitiangoma Est

Opportunity to list Altus on the TSX-V with an established North American shareholder base

Proposed Transaction

Altus proposes to acquire all the outstanding Legend Shares and therefore effectively acquire a 100% interest in Legend's projects. Legend shareholders will receive three (3) Altus Shares in exchange for each Legend Share they hold. The Exchange Ratio represents an aggregate deemed consideration for Legend of C$5.7 million and approximately C$0.41 per Legend Share, based on the Altus Share price as at the close of market on 10 October 2017. The consideration represents a premium of approximately 110% to Legend's 20-day volume weighted average price ("VWAP") and 130% to Legend's Share price as at the close of market on the TSX-V on 10 October 2017.

This Proposed Transaction will result in the issuance of an aggregate of 41,060,256 new Altus Shares to Legend shareholders, representing 27.6% of the enlarged issued share capital of Altus immediately following the Proposed Transaction, based on the current Altus issued and outstanding Shares of 107,680,814. Each of the issued and outstanding Legend Options and Legend Warrants will be exchanged for Altus options and Altus warrants on the same terms, other than for the number and prices which shall be as adjusted in accordance with the Exchange Ratio.

It is anticipated that the Proposed Transaction will be implemented by way of a Plan of Arrangement under the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia), however, alternative mechanisms could be considered, such as a take-over bid, as the parties and their respective advisors negotiate definitive documentation for the Proposed Transaction and complete due diligence.

The Proposed Transaction will contain customary representations, warranties, covenants and non-solicitation provisions and be subject to a number of conditions, including, but not limited to:

receipt of all necessary regulatory, shareholder, court and third-party approvals and compliance with all regulatory requirements, including without limitation, receiving all necessary approvals from Legend shareholders by way of special resolution, the TSX-V and AIM;

receipt of a fairness opinion by Legend; and

no material adverse changes in the financial condition, assets or liabilities (contingent or otherwise) of either Altus or Legend having occurred.

Support of the Proposed Transaction

Altus' officers and directors holding in aggregate approximately 40% of the currently issued and outstanding shares of Altus, have agreed to vote in favor of any Altus shareholder resolutions required to complete the Proposed Transaction. Altus will seek shareholder authority for the issue of the new Altus Shares and a disapplication of pre-emptive rights to permit the issue of Altus Shares to the shareholders of Legend. Legend will seek shareholder authority to approve the Proposed Transaction. Legend's officers and directors holding in aggregate approximately 53% of the currently issued and outstanding shares of Legend, have agreed to vote in favor of the Proposed Transaction.

Conditions Precedent

The LOI contemplates material conditions precedent to be fulfilled prior to their being a binding agreement between the Company and Legend, including, but not limited to:

the completion of customary due diligence by Altus in respect of Legend and Legend in respect of Altus, to their sole and absolute satisfactions;

the negotiation and execution of a definitive agreement and board approvals being obtained; and

board approval of the Proposed Transaction.

There can be no assurance that the conditions precedent of the LOI will be satisfied, or that the Proposed Transaction will be completed as proposed or at all.

About Altus:

Altus is a diversified and Africa focused project generator in the natural resource sector. Through their subsidiaries they seek to discover new projects and attract third party capital to fund their growth, development and ultimately have a positive exit option. This strategy enables Altus to remain focused on the acquisition of new opportunities to be fed into the project generation cycle and aims to minimize shareholder dilution. Altus' business model is designed to create a growing portfolio of well-managed and high-growth potential projects which is diversified by commodity and by country. Altus aims to position its shareholders at the vanguard of value creation, but with significantly reduced risks traditionally associated with investments in the mineral exploration sector.

The following is a summary of the Altus's key projects:

Cameroon - Gold

Altus holds the 189 km2 Laboum gold exploration license in northern Cameroon through its 99% owned subsidiary Auramin Ltd. At Laboum, an approximately 18 km long by 5 km wide gold-bearing shear zone has been discovered. In addition, close to 1 km of quartz veins have been discovered with exposed widths of between 1 m and 40 m. High resolution ground geophysics and a concurrent gold-in-soil survey are defining priority targets for a systematic trenching program.

Morocco - Copper

Altus holds the 60 km2 Agdz copper-silver exploration license in central Morocco through its 100% owned subsidiary Aterian Resources Ltd. Five prospects have been defined on the license to date. The project is located close to a number of operating mines, notably the recently commissioned Bouskour Cu-Ag mine located 14 km NE of Agdz.

Altus'100% owned subsidiary Aterian Resources Ltd also holds 226 km2 across five exploration licenses throughout Morocco. The licenses areas are prospective for zinc, lead, copper, tin, tungsten and gold.

Ethiopia - Copper

Altus holds the 322 km2 Tigray-Afar and Negash copper-silver exploration licenses ('Tigray-Afar') in northern Ethiopia through its 100% owned subsidiary Altau Resources Ltd. Tigray-Afar is subject to a memorandum of agreement with Japan Oil Gas and Metals Corporation (JOGMEC) and contains manto style copper-silver mineralization, as lenses, pipes and veins.

Cameroon - Bauxite & Iron Ore

Altus holds the 601 km2 Birsok & Mandoum bauxite exploration licenses in central Cameroon through its 97.3% owned subsidiary Aluvance Ltd. The Birsok & Mandoum licenses are subject to a joint venture agreement with ASX-listed Canyon Resources Ltd. The project is within 10 km of an operating rail line to the port of Douala on the Atlantic Ocean. Altus also holds the 400 km2 Bikoula & Ndjele iron ore exploration licenses in southern Cameroon through its 97.3% owned subsidiary Aluvance Ltd.

Liberia - Gold

Altus holds the 639.6 km2 Bella Yella gold exploration license in western Liberia through its 99% owned subsidiary Auramin Ltd. At Bella Yella a 7.5 km NE-SW striking gold in soil anomaly has been defined. A number of artisanal gold workings have been discovered on the anomalous area.

For further information regarding Altus, please visit its website www.altus-strategies.com or contact:

Altus Strategies Plc

David Netherway, Non-Executive Chairman

Steven Poulton, Chief Executive

Matthew Grainger, Executive Director

Greg Owen, VP Corporate Development

Tel: +44 (0) 1235 511 767

E: info@altus-strategies.com

All information in this news release regarding Altus has been provided by Altus.

Qualified Person

Dr. Demetrius Pohl, PhD., Certified Professional Geoscientist (CPG), Legend's V.P. of Exploration, is the Company's Qualified Person for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosures for Mineral Projects of the Canadian Securities Administrators, and has approved the written disclosure of the technical information contained in this news release.

About Legend:

Legend is a Canadian mineral exploration company focused on gold exploration in Mali. Legend's flagship projects include the Diba and Lakanfla projects. Further information is available at the Company's website www.legendgold.com .

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

Michael Winn, President and Chief Executive Officer

Email: mwinn@seabord.com

Telephone: (604) 696 9396

Dave Miles, Chief Financial Officer

Email: dmiles@seabordservices.com

Telephone: (604) 696 9396

This press release has been prepared by Legend Gold Corp. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Statements contained in this news release that are not historical facts are "forward-looking information" or "forward-looking statements" (collectively, "Forward-Looking Information") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation and the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-Looking Information includes, but is not limited to, disclosure regarding possible events, proposed completion of the Proposed Transaction, conditions or financial performance that is based on assumptions about future economic conditions and courses of action; the timing and costs of future exploration activities on the Company's properties; success of exploration activities; permitting time lines and requirements; time lines for technical reports; planned exploration and development of properties and the results thereof; and planned expenditures and budgets and the execution thereof. In certain cases, Forward-Looking Information can be identified by the use of words and phrases such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", budget", "scheduled", "suggest", "optimize", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", "potential" or "does not anticipate", believes", "anomalous" or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". In making the forward-looking statements in this news release, the Company has applied several material assumptions, including, but not limited to, that the current exploration and other objectives concerning its mineral projects can be achieved and that its other corporate activities will proceed as expected; that the current price and demand for gold will be sustained or will improve; that general business and economic conditions will not change in a materially adverse manner; the continuity of the price of gold and other metals, economic and political conditions and operations. Forward-Looking Information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the Forward-Looking Information. Such risks and other factors include, among others, risks related to the availability of financing on commercially reasonable terms and the expected use of proceeds; ability of Legend to obtain all necessary approvals and comply with regulatory requirements in relation to the Proposed Transaction and to ultimately complete the Proposed Transaction; operations and contractual obligations; changes in exploration programs based upon results of exploration; future prices of metals; availability of third party contractors; availability of equipment; failure of equipment to operate as anticipated; accidents, effects of weather and other natural phenomena and other risks associated with the mineral exploration industry; environmental risks; certainty of mineral licenses; community and governmental relations; delays in obtaining governmental approvals or financing; fluctuations in mineral prices; the nature of mineral exploration and mining and the uncertain commercial viability of certain mineral deposits; the Company's lack of operating revenues; governmental regulations and the ability to obtain necessary licenses and permits; changes in environmental laws and regulations and changes in the application of standards pursuant to existing laws and regulations which may increase costs of doing business and restrict operations; risks related to dependence on key personnel; and estimates used in financial statements proving to be incorrect; as well as those factors discussed in the Company's public disclosure record. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could affect the Company and may cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in Forward-Looking Information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that Forward-Looking Information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on Forward-Looking Information. Except as required by law, the Company does not assume any obligation to release publicly any revisions to Forward-Looking Information contained in this news release to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
Soon after a truck mowed down and killed eight people in New York City, pro-ISIS channels on Telegram began celebrating the terrorist attack.

Multiple bikes are crushed along a bike path in lower Manhattan in New York, NY, U.S., October 31, 2017. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid

By India Today Web Desk: A rented pickup truck mowed down pedestrians and cyclists in the United States of America's financial capital New York City on Tuesday, killing at least eight people and injuring another 11.

The 29-year-old driver of the truck, which climbed onto a bicycle path in New York's Manhattan and barrelled down the track for around a kilometer before coming to a halt, was arrested by the police after being shot non-fatally in the abdomen.

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US media reported that the man had been identified as Sayfullo Saipov and that he shouted "Allahu akbar" (God is great) before he was taken down by a New York City Police officer.

While authorities termed it a suspected act of terrorism, there was no immediate information available regarding which terrorist group may be responsible for the truck attack. President Donald Trump, while condemning the "terrorist attack", invoked the name of the global militant group Islamic State.

"We must not allow ISIS to return, or enter, our country after defeating them in the Middle East and elsewhere. Enough!" Trump said in a series of tweets.

Click here to Enlarge Emergency crews attend the scene of an alleged shooting incident on West Street in Manhattan, New York, U.S., October 31 2017. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly

ISIS, on the other hand, remained mum and did not officially advance a claim of responsibility for the New York City attack.

However soon after the attack, pro-Islamic State groups on Telegram, an encrypted chat application preferred by the terrorist group and its supports, started voicing their joy at the deaths in New York, posting morbid photos and posters.

Journalists and private intelligence firms that cover terrorist groups shared a number of these posters on Twitter.

The following was shared by New York Times journalist Rukini Callimachi:

11. They are also making commemorative online posters, marking the occasion: pic.twitter.com/fxsFMUSr6l- Rukmini Callimachi (@rcallimachi) October 31, 2017

It should be noted that Islamic State, as of last updating this report, did not put out a statement claiming responsibility for the New York City attack.

3- ISIS just published their evening news bulletin. No mention whatsoever of #Manhattan. They speak of attacks in Afghanistan & Iraq. pic.twitter.com/CDqIFSxkmy- Jenan Moussa (@jenanmoussa) October 31, 2017

Rita Katz, the director of the SITE Intelligence Group, too tweeted about pro-ISIS channels erupting in joy after reports of the New York City attack came in.

5) #ISIS supporters celebrating #Manhattan attack, stating: "You killed men and widowed women and orphaned children...what do you expect!" pic.twitter.com/LPLCc7sRDh- Rita Katz (@Rita_Katz) October 31, 2017

Despite no claim yet from #ISIS for #ManhattanAttack, group supporters are promoting the incident as "just terror" with posters pic.twitter.com/PUjR6Xv3lo- SITE Intel Group (@siteintelgroup) October 31, 2017

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Police authorities in the United States are to ascribe the New York attack to any particular terrorist group.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in an early morning tweet, condemned the attack, posting, "Strongly condemn the terror attack in New York City. My thoughts are with the families of the deceased & prayers with those injured."

--- ENDS ---
MEXICO CITY, Oct 31 (Reuters) - TV Azteca, Mexico's second-largest broadcaster, said on Tuesday that it has hired a longtime Televisa executive to lead its unit for television and distribution of content.

Alberto Ciurana will be in charge of programming, operations and production for the TV Azteca channels, the company said in a statement.

He had previously served as president of programming and content at Univision Networks and was a vice president at Televisa, Mexico's top broadcaster, for 15 years.

Ciurana will report directly to Benjamin Salinas, who is chief executive of Grupo TV Azteca.

The Mexico television landscape was jolted last week by the news that Emilio Azcarraga will step down after 20 years as chief executive of Grupo Televisa, staying on as chairman. (Reporting by Julia Love; Editing by Sandra Maler)
A "monster" planet, which should in theory not exist, has been discovered orbiting a faint dwarf star far, far away, surprised astronomers said Tuesday.

The existence of the gassy giant challenges long-standing theories that such a big planet -- about the size of Jupiter -- cannot be formed around a star so small.

The star has a radius and mass about half that of the sun.

Theory had predicted that small stars can form rocky planets, "but do not gather enough material together to form Jupiter-sized planets," Britain's Royal Astronomical Society said in a statement.

Planets are thought to form as gas and dust left over from massive galactic explosions, and swirling in disks around newborn stars, clump together to form bodies.

The planet was discovered by the Next-Generation Transit Survey (NGTS), based in Chile's Atacama Desert.

The project gave its name to the star -- NGTS-1 -- and dubbed the planet NGTS-1b. The "b" signifies it is the first planet found around this star.

The survey uses an array of 12 telescopes to scour the sky and identify dips in light emitted by stars -- a sign that a planet is moving in front of the star as perceived from Earth.

"The discovery of NGTS-1b was a complete surprise to us -- such massive planets were not thought to exist around such small stars," said Daniel Bayliss from the University of Warwick, a lead author of the study accepted for publication in the science journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.

"The planet is about 25 percent the radius its host star. This makes is very large compared to its host star! For comparison, Jupiter is only about 10 percent the radius of our sun," Bayliss told AFP.

Once they found it, astronomers measured how much the planet's gravitational impact caused its parent star to "wobble", so as to determine its size, position and mass.

The planet orbited very close to its star, the team found -- just three percent of the distance between the Earth and the sun, and completes an orbit every 2.6 days, "meaning a year on NGTS-1b lasts two and a half Earth days."

Story continues

The planet and star are about 600 light-years from Earth in a constellation called Columba.

"Despite being a monster of a planet, NGTS-1b was difficult to find because its parent star is so small and faint," said Bayliss's colleague Peter Wheatley.

The planet's parent star is described as an M-dwarf -- the most common type in the universe, which means there may be many more unpredicted giant gas planets to be found, the team said.

"I'm looking forward to seeing what other kinds of exciting new planets we can turn up," Wheatley said.
FILE PHOTO: The Pfizer logo is seen at their world headquarters in New York, U.S. April 28, 2014. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly/File Photo (Reuters)

By Bill Berkrot

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Pfizer Inc, the largest U.S. drugmaker, expects no shortage of suitors for its consumer health business and said it would decide whether to sell, spin off or retain the unit next year.

The business, with brands such as pain drug Advil, Centrum multivitamins and Chapstick lip balm, had sales of about $3.4 billion in 2016.

"We expect broad interest from potential acquirers," Chief Executive Ian Read said on Tuesday after the company reported its third quarter results.

Supply problems related to sterile injectable products acquired in Pfizer's purchase of Hospira, along with steep declines in sales of off-patent products, contributed to an 11 percent drop in third quarter revenue from the Essential Health unit to $5.05 billion.

Pfizer said the supply challenges would have a negative impact of "several hundred million dollars" this year, moderating in 2018.

Pfizer shares were off 0.7 percent at $34.90 shortly after midday.

SunTrust Robinson Humphrey analyst John Boris said Essential Health was "under pressure" and that investors were concerned about new competitors grabbing sterile injectables market share before Pfizer's manufacturing challenges are fully addressed.

Pfizer said all of its 2,000 Puerto Rico-based employees were safe and that it had made significant progress in dealing with damage to its three manufacturing plants on the island devastated by hurricane Maria last month.

Chief Financial Officer Frank D'Amelio said the revenue impact from the storm was "expected to be insignificant."

Innovative Health sales rose 11 percent in the quarter to $8.12 billion with strong contributions from its blockbuster pneumonia vaccine Prevnar and breast cancer drug Ibrance.

Prevnar sales declined 1 percent to $1.52 billion, but topped analysts' estimates of about $1.46 billion.

Ibrance sales surged nearly 60 percent to $878 million but fell short of lofty Wall Street expectations for $914 million.

Story continues

Sales of rheumatoid arthritis drug Xeljanz rose 48 percent to $348 million but were held back in Europe, where the company is still negotiating reimbursement with several countries.

Pfizer sees additional sales growth with an expected approval in psoriatic arthritis and said it still expected new eczema cream Eucrisa to eventually reach annual sales exceeding $2 billion.

It also said it hoped a potential approval for Xtandi in non-metatstatic prostate cancer based on recent data would provide a new growth ramp for that key medicine from its 2016 acquisition of Medivation.

The company raised the midpoint of its full-year adjusted earnings forecast by 3 cents to a range of $2.58 to $2.62 per share. It tightened its 2017 revenue forecast to $52.4 billion to $53.1 billion, from $52 billion to $54 billion.

Excluding items, Pfizer earned 67 cents per share for the quarter, beating analysts' average estimates by 3 cents, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.

"We view these results as refreshingly boring. We think boring is a good thing right now," Credit Suisse analyst Vamil Divan said in a client note.

The lack of drama was welcomed after several drugmakers this quarter spooked investors with new concerns over critical growth products, including Merck & Co, Celgene Corp and Gilead Sciences Inc.

(Reporting by Bill Berkrot in New York and Akankshita Mukhopadhyay and Ankur Banerjee in Bengaluru; Editing by Savio D'Souza and Richard Chang)
"There can be no distraction that alters the commitment to repair the power grid as quickly as possible."

By Latifah Muhammad

Puerto Rico has scrapped a $300 million business contract with a tiny energy company amid growing scrutiny over the agreement, just one week after it was made public. Ricardo Ramos, the head of Puerto Rico Electric Authority announced Sunday (Oct. 29) that the deal with Whitefish Energy Holdings was canceled on the recommendation of Gov. Ricardo Rossello.

There can be no distraction that alters the commitment to repair the power grid as quickly as possible, Rossello said in a statement Sunday. The decision announced today is intended to reaffirm our commitment to transparency in the contracting process in the government of Puerto Rico and to achieve the highest degree of efficiency possible in the restoration of the power grid of our island, in the shortest amount of time possible.

Whitefish, a tiny Montana-based energy company raised suspicion immediately after it landed the multi-million dollar contract to aid in Puerto Ricos hurricane relief efforts. Besides its link to the Trump Administration, Whitefish only has two full-time employees, and came under fire for its expensive labor rates.

After calling for a probe into the Whitefish contract, Rossello, publicly urged PREPA to pull the plug.

FEMA also raised concerns. Based on initial review and information from Prepa, FEMA has significant concerns with how Prepa procured this contract and has not confirmed whether the contract prices are reasonable, the agency said in a statement Friday (Oct. 27).

Last week, San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulin Cruz questioned how the two-year-old company secured such a large contract. In response, Whitefish threatened to pack up and leave.

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? the company tweeted and later apologized.

Weve got 44 linemen rebuilding power lines in your city & 40 more men just arrived. Do you want us to send them back or keep working?  Whitefish Energy (@WhitefishEnergy) October 25, 2017

Mayor, you called for our work to end. We do not want to leave the island without help. Were committed to restoring power to Puerto Rico.  Whitefish Energy (@WhitefishEnergy) October 25, 2017

Whitefish is located in the hometown of the Trump Administration Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, and is funded by an equity firm owned by a major Trump donor, The Daily Beast reports.

Story continues

According to the Washington Post, Zinke also knows the companys CEO Andy Techmanski, which Zinke attributed to being from a small town where everybody knows everybody.

Zinke denied any involvement in the business deal. I had absolutely nothing to do with Whitefish Energy receiving a contract in Puerto Rico, he tweeted Friday along with a statement blaming the dishonest media or political operatives for trying to tie him to the company. I welcome all investigations into the allegations.

The FBI is reportedly investigating the Whitefish deal. Meanwhile, the contract requires 30-day notice of cancellation, which means Whitefish is likely to continue working until the agreement is officially dissolved.

Cheers coming from Los Rosales in #Manati after power was restored to the neighborhood. Were honored to have been able to help. pic.twitter.com/DdcnW9sC06  Whitefish Energy (@WhitefishEnergy) October 30, 2017

This post Puerto Rico Cancels $300 Million Contract With Tiny Energy Company Hired To Restore Electricity first appeared on Vibe.
Ricardo Ramos, CEO of the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA), announced Sunday the agency will cancel its contract with Whitefish Energy after the company finish(es) what they started. The announcement comes a day after the islands governor, Ricardo Rosello requested that the deal be torn up. Whitefish Energy, a two-person outfit out of Whitefish, Mont., raised eyebrows when it landed the $300 million, no-bid contract in the weeks after Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico and left the U.S. territory largely without power.

Frustrations in Puerto Rico have been building since the storm hit and recovery efforts have been slow to reconnect power to the islands 3.4 million residents. On Oct. 25, San Juan mayor Carmen Yulin Cruz took to Twitter, challenging the contract with Whitefish:

If @WhitefishEnergy feels that asking for transparency is misplaced, what are they afraid we will find.  Carmen Yulin Cruz (@CarmenYulinCruz) October 25, 2017

In response, Whitefish Energy replied, 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? Later that day, the company apologized for its response to Cruz, saying its goal was to do all we can to help everyone in Puerto Rico in this time of need.

But in the wake of that Twitter spat, continued analysis of the Whitefish contract has revealed that its terms prevented oversight and review of the deals financials, and that there was no public bidding process involved in striking the deal.

In response to the criticism, Whitefish has said it landed the work because we took the call and were here. According to a report by CNN, the company had previously struck up a relationship with Puerto Rico as the island braced for Hurricane Irma. That storm left the island relatively unscathed, but it booked up other energy companies in damage-laden areas of the mainland U.S. So, when Maria hit Puerto Rico, both Whtiefish and PREPA were ready to work together.

The FBI is now investigating this turn of events, reports the Wall Street Journal. Whitefish says it will cooperate fully with the investigation, a company spokesman said. The procurement of the PREPA contract was at all times fully appropriate, he added.
Qualcomm (QCOM) reported quarterly earnings and revenue on Wednesday that beat analysts' expectations, even as the chipmaker remains entangled in a costly legal battle with Apple (AAPL). Here's how Qualcomm did compared to what Wall Street expected: Earnings per share of 92 cents vs. 81 cents expected, according to Thomson Reuters Revenue of $5.96 billion vs. $5.8 billion expected, according to Thomson Reuters In the year-ago quarter, the chipmaker reported earnings per share of $1.07 on $6.2 billion in revenue. The company's shares rose by as much as 2 percent in after-hours trading on Wednesday. Though Qualcomm did slightly better than expected, the company said its quarterly results "were negatively impacted as a result of actions taken by Apple and its contract manufacturers." Qualcomm is engaged in a costly legal battle with Apple over licensing terms for chips used in the iPhone and iPad. In January, Apple sued Qualcomm for roughly $1 billion, claiming that the chipmaker had withheld payments it owed, and that Qualcomm charged unfairly high "royalties for technologies they have nothing to do with." Apple's January suit came days after the U.S. Federal Trade Commission filed an anti-trust case against Qualcomm for allegedly using its dominant position in the market to charge high royalties for patented technologies that are "essential to industry standards." Qualcomm, in turn, asked U.S. trade regulators in July to halt the sale of imported iPhone and iPads in the United States. The chipmaker alleges that technology purchased by Apple from its rival Intel violated six of Qualcomm's patents. Donald Rosenberg, Qualcomm's general counsel, said during a conference call Wednesday that patent disputes with Apple in Germany and China could be resolved by mid to late 2018, but other cases could drag on for the foreseeable future. "It's important to keep in mind that litigation of this size and magnitude takes a while," Rosenberg said. Amid the dispute, Apple has designed iPhones and iPads that would no longer use Qualcomm chips, according to Reuters , citing two people familiar with the matter. Qualcomm shares are down more than 18 percent year to date. Reuters contributed to this report.





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In a fiery speech in Bharuch's Jambusar, Rahul Gandhi criticised the government's handling of the economy as well as the famed 'Gujarat model' that helped Narendra Modi get elected as prime minister in 2014.

By India Today Web Desk: Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi launched into a fresh attack targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his poll-bound home state of Gujarat, invoking some of the prime minister's pet projects as well as the recently released World Bank rankings on Ease of Doing Business.

In a fiery speech in Bharuch's Jambusar, Gandhi criticised the government's handling of the economy and also brought up the controversial Tata Nano project to attack the famed 'Gujarat model' that helped Narendra Modi get elected as prime minister in 2014.

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Do you see a Tata Nano on the streets anywhere these days? Rahul questioned at the beginning of his speech as he sought to invalidate the hype built around the Gujarat model of development.

"(Then chief minister) Modi gave a Rs 33,000 loan crore (for the) Tata Nano (project) almost for free... In spite of that there are no Tata Nano seen on roads (today), Rahul, who is on the third leg of his Gujarat NavSarjan Yatra, said.

Third leg of Navsarjan Yatra with Congress VP Rahul Gandhi began with an address to the people of Jambusar, Gujarat. #IAmGujaratIAmCongress pic.twitter.com/7ASzLxOVGB- Congress (@INCIndia) November 1, 2017

"This is the Gujarat model. Take lands from farmers, give (businessmen) water, electricity, and they give (the businessmen) give nothing in return... This is what the Gujarat model of development is," Gandhi said.

Gujarat's population is angry, the Congress vice-president, tipped to soon take over the Grand Old Party, went on to claim, saying that the government was working to benefit just a few chosen businessmen while the common man suffered due to the Modi government's demonetisation exercise.

"The Modi government says they will celebrate (anti-black money day) on November 8 while the entire country is crying... the entire country knows Modi government made a big mistake (with note ban)... we lost 2 per cent points in GDP growth," the Gandhi scion went on to say.

'UNEASE OF DOING BUSINESS'

Rahul Gandhi also targeted the government on the recently released World Bank Ease of Doing Business report that saw India jump 30 ranks to number 100. The report was highlight by the PM Modi and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, among others, with much fanfare yesterday.

Gandhi however seemingly dismissed the report, posting a Hindi tweet in which he referred to the finance minister as "Dr Jaitley".

???? ????? ?? "ease of doing business" ?? ?????, ????????? ?? ??? ???? ?? ??? "Dr Jaitley" ?? ????? ????? ??- Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) November 1, 2017

Gandhi also brought up the Ease of Doing Business report in his Gujarat speech, saying, "The government claims there has been a movement forward in ease of doing business... I request Arun Jaitley to go to a small or medium businessmen and ask him (about it, and) he will (say) that ease of doing business was killed by demonetisation."

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WATCH VIDEO | Gujarat model meant to serve the rich, of no help to the poor: Rahul in Bharuch rally

--- ENDS ---
Sony (Tokyo Stock Exchange: 6758.T-JP) reported fiscal second-quarter earnings and revenue that beat forecasts thanks to a strong performance from its PlayStation gaming business, and said it expects its best profit since 1998. The Japanese electronic giant reported the following numbers for the three months to September 30:Sales of 2.06 trillion Japanese yen ($18.2 billion) vs 1.86 trillion yen expected, according to Reuters data. This was also a 22.1 percent year-on-year rise.Operating profit of 204 billion yen vs 135.6 billion yen expected. This market a 346.4 percent rise.Sony also raised its dividend in the second quarter to 12.50 Japanese yen from 10 Japanese yen.The Japanese giant said it now expects operating income for the year ending March 31 to be 630 billion Japanese yen. If realized, this would be the highest ever profit for the company since its record-breaking year in 1998 when it earned 526 billion yen. During this period, Sony's first PlayStation console was proving very successful.PlayStation boostSony's gaming and network services business saw operating revenue rise 35.4 percent year-on-year to 433.2 billion yen, with operating income hit 54.8 billion yen, marking a 188.3 percent rise.PlayStation has been the crown jewel for Sony for a long time and the latest quarter was helped by increased game and hardware sales. Major game titles such as "FIFA 18" and "Unchartered: The Lost Legacy" were released during the quarter. On Monday, the company also announced a number of new games coming out over the next couple of years. These included some virtual reality (VR) games. Sony released the PlayStation VR headset last year , and has since sold over 1 million units , making it the second-largest VR headset by market share, according to IDC. Chips perform wellUnder Chief Executive Kazuo Hirai, Sony has been on a turnaround path, slimming its struggling businesses while doubling down on the big profit drivers. PlayStation has been one of those. And so has the components business. Sony's semiconductor business saw profit of 49.4 billion yen in the quarter, up from a 4.2 billion yen loss in same period a year before. The loss was due to an earthquake which hit production. Sony said that the increase in profit was due to increased sales of image sensors for mobile products which are used in some of the top smartphones around the world. What next?Sony shares were trading around 2.7 percent higher after the results and so far this year are up around 35 percent year-to-date.The company's shares recently hit a nine-year high, but there are also questions about where the future growth will come from. Sony has been investing in areas such as VR and artificial intelligence (AI).In an interview with CNBC last year, CEO Kazuo Hirai said he was confident that the company was still able to create "wacky" products to excited consumers."Sony is committed to making sure we innovate on both fronts - traditional products and also really new ideas, sometimes wacky ideas, but ideas that really wow our customers," Hirai said. Sony (Tokyo Stock Exchange: 6758.T-JP) reported fiscal second-quarter earnings and revenue that beat forecasts thanks to a strong performance from its PlayStation gaming business, and said it expects its best profit since 1998. The Japanese electronic giant reported the following numbers for the three months to September 30: Sales of 2.06 trillion Japanese yen ($18.2 billion) vs 1.86 trillion yen expected, according to Reuters data. This was also a 22.1 percent year-on-year rise. Operating profit of 204 billion yen vs 135.6 billion yen expected. This market a 346.4 percent rise. Sony also raised its dividend in the second quarter to 12.50 Japanese yen from 10 Japanese yen. The Japanese giant said it now expects operating income for the year ending March 31 to be 630 billion Japanese yen. If realized, this would be the highest ever profit for the company since its record-breaking year in 1998 when it earned 526 billion yen. During this period, Sony's first PlayStation console was proving very successful. PlayStation boost Sony's gaming and network services business saw operating revenue rise 35.4 percent year-on-year to 433.2 billion yen, with operating income hit 54.8 billion yen, marking a 188.3 percent rise. PlayStation has been the crown jewel for Sony for a long time and the latest quarter was helped by increased game and hardware sales. Major game titles such as "FIFA 18" and "Unchartered: The Lost Legacy" were released during the quarter. On Monday, the company also announced a number of new games coming out over the next couple of years. These included some virtual reality (VR) games. Sony released the PlayStation VR headset last year , and has since sold over 1 million units , making it the second-largest VR headset by market share, according to IDC. Chips perform well Under Chief Executive Kazuo Hirai, Sony has been on a turnaround path, slimming its struggling businesses while doubling down on the big profit drivers. PlayStation has been one of those. And so has the components business. Sony's semiconductor business saw profit of 49.4 billion yen in the quarter, up from a 4.2 billion yen loss in same period a year before. The loss was due to an earthquake which hit production. Sony said that the increase in profit was due to increased sales of image sensors for mobile products which are used in some of the top smartphones around the world. What next? Sony shares were trading around 2.7 percent higher after the results and so far this year are up around 35 percent year-to-date. The company's shares recently hit a nine-year high, but there are also questions about where the future growth will come from. Sony has been investing in areas such as VR and artificial intelligence (AI). In an interview with CNBC last year, CEO Kazuo Hirai said he was confident that the company was still able to create "wacky" products to excited consumers. "Sony is committed to making sure we innovate on both fronts - traditional products and also really new ideas, sometimes wacky ideas, but ideas that really wow our customers," Hirai said.



More From CNBC


New Jersey on Tuesday sued Purdue Pharma, accusing the OxyContin maker of contributing to the states opioid crisis through deceptive marketing to doctors and patients, including the elderly and the opioid-naive.

Christopher Porrino, the New Jersey attorney general, faulted what he called a decade-long marketing campaign of almost inconceivable callousness and irresponsibility, and said Purdue downplayed the risks of opioids and exaggerated their benefits in the pursuit of profit.

The 103-page lawsuit filed in Essex County Superior Court accused the privately held company of engaging in unconscionable practices, making false claims and creating a public nuisance, while costing the state hundreds of millions of dollars in prescription costs.

We vigorously deny these allegations and look forward to the opportunity to present our defense, Purdue said in a statement. We are deeply troubled by the opioid crisis and we are dedicated to being part of the solution.

Many state and local governments have filed lawsuits to hold drugmakers accountable for a nationwide opioid epidemic, which President Donald Trump last Thursday called a national public health emergency.

Opioids, including prescription painkillers and heroin, played a role in 33,091 U.S. deaths in 2015, an increase of 16% from 2014, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

New Jersey said Purdue deceived doctors and patients into believing OxyContin, which is used to relieve pain, and other opioids could treat chronic pain over the long term, as an alternative to over-the-counter pills such as Advil and Tylenol, even though there were no studies showing their safety and effectiveness beyond 12 weeks.

Purdue pushed sales representatives to visit as many as 40 doctors a week in person to promote opioids, and set annual prescription quotas as high as 8,400 for OxyContin alone, according to the lawsuit.

A former sales rep was quoted as saying she knew OxyContin dosages would rise as patients tolerances increased, and struggled to meet her quotas because she thought patients should not go down that road if they had safer alternatives.

Story continues

OxyContin was launched in 1996.

Purdue has faced similar lawsuits by at least nine other U.S. states, several cities and counties.

Last Wednesday, Purdue said it was cooperating with a U.S. Department of Justice probe related to OxyContin.

In 2007, the company and three executives pleaded guilty to misbranding OxyContin and agreed to pay $634.5 million to resolve a separate Justice Department investigation.
QUEBEC, QUEBEC--(Marketwired - Oct 4, 2017) - Stelmine Canada Ltd. ( Stelmine ) (TSX VENTURE:STH) is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Michel Boily and Mr. Normand Goulet to the Board of Directors as geologists specialized in geochemistry, metallogeny and structural geology. Since April 2017, these specialists provided strong expertise in the support of Stelmine exploration program and are actively involved in the Courcy project. Their scientific and technical knowledge will be of the utmost importance in the Company's future strategic planning following the results obtained from Stelmine exploration campaigns carried out in the eastern segment of the Opinaca sedimentary basin.

Michel Boily

Dr. Boily is an expert geochemist and metallogenist specializing in the interpretation of precious and rare metal deposits in Precambrian volcano-plutonic terranes for the last 25 years. Prior to consulting for the mining industry and government agencies, Dr. Boily was involved as a research associate at MERI/McGill in the study of several rare metals deposits located in the Quebec province; notably the Strange-Lake deposit in Labrador (Zr, Y, REE), the St-Honore mine in the Saguenay area (Nb, REE) and the Quebec Lithium Mine in the Abitibi Greenstone Belt (Li). Since 1992, Dr. Boily has conducted exploration and technical evaluation of gold, base metals and rare metal properties located in Archean greenstone belts and the Grenville Province of Quebec, in the Anti-Atlas Proterozoic windows of Morocco, Northern Mexico, Argentina and Nicaragua. Dr. Boily graduated from the Universite de Montreal in 1988 with a PhD in geochemistry and carried out post-doctoral studies at the University of Chicago. Since 1984, Dr. Boily has been the author of various publications in international scientific journals and has written numerous technical reports. Dr. Boily is currently a registered Professional Geologist in good standing with l'Ordre des Geologues du Quebec.

Story continues

Normand Goulet

Dr. Normand Goulet (Bsc, Universite de Montreal; DEA and Doctorate, Universite de Grenoble, France and PhD, Queen's University, Kingston) is a full tenured professor in geology at the Universite du Quebec, Montreal. Dr. Goulet brings a vast expertise in the domain of structural geology, tectonics, deformation of metalliferrous deposits and petrology. He has over forty years of experience managing teams of geologists working for government or private agencies in Canada or abroad. In particular, Dr. Goulet carried out geological studies on the metasedimenary Opinaca basin and participated to the initial exploration work on the Courcy property. Professor Goulet directed several research projects on gold (Abitibi, Dominican Republic, Maroc, Mali), nickel (New Caledonia, Ivory Coast, Albania, James Bay), uranium (Otish and Torngat Mtns.), diamond (Torngat) and on polymetallic mineralization (Nunavut). He further participated in mapping and the completion of a new geological and metallogenic map of Mali.

Stelmine is proud to welcome Messrs. Boily and Goulet on their current team and is convinced they will play an active role in the Company's management.

Furthermore, the Company reports Mr. Hugo Gagne will leave his position as a member of the Board of Directors. M. Gagne will still be involved in Stelmine as an occasional adviser to the Management. The management wants to express his gratitude to Mr. Gagne for his implication over the last year.

Stelmine also announces granting, as of October 3rd 2017, 350,000 stock options to his employees, management, directors and consultants at an exercised price of 0.30 $ per share, including 60,000 options to be exercised within the next 12 months and 290,000 within the next 60 months, conditional on TSX Venture Exchange approval.

Follow us on www.Stelmine.com and on our Facebook (Stelmine Canada) where we uploaded pictures of the Courcy camp and of our crew at work.

About Stelmine

Stelmine is a junior mining exploration company and its activities are located in the Province of Quebec. Stelmine holds 754 claims spanning 383 km2 on the eastern part of the Opinaca metasedimentary basin, which contains zones with a high potential for gold deposit discovery in geological contexts similar to the one leading to discovery of the Eleonore Mine. Its capital stock consists of 21,926,452 issued and outstanding shares for a current market capitalization of $6.6 million.

Forward-looking statements

Certain statements made herein may constitute forward-looking statements. These statements relate to future events or the future economic performance of Stelmine and carry known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may appreciably affect their results, economic performance or accomplishments when considered in light of the content or implications or statements made by Stelmine. Actual events or results could be significantly different. Accordingly, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its regulation services provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
TE Connectivity Ltd. TEL scored its eighth consecutive earnings beat as the company reported fourth-quarter fiscal 2017 adjusted earnings of $1.25 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.16 by 7.8%. The figure also steered past the projected range of $1.14-$1.16.

The impressive earnings were driven by continued progress on strategic priorities, solid execution and impressive top-line growth. Encouraged by the successful execution and all-round growth, the company released upbeat earnings and revenue guidance for first-quarter fiscal 2018.

On a GAAP basis, the companys earnings from continuing operations came in at $1.21 per share, down from $1.22 reported in the year-ago quarter.

Inside the Headlines

Net sales in the quarter were up 3.7% year over year at $3,456 million and also topped the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3,259 million. Solid performance in two of the three segments drove the quarterly top-line growth. Excellent traction in the companys harsh environment businesses, which has been a staple profit churner over the past quarters, contributed significantly to the top line.

Segmental Performance

Transportation Solutions revenues came in at $1,844 million in the reported quarter, up 15% on a year-over-year basis. Orders in the transportation segment came in at $1,704 million, up 13% on a year-over-year basis. Organic growth in automotive, commercial transportation, and sensors across all regions boosted the top line.

Industrial Solutions revenues had another strong quarter, rising 12% year over year to $954 million. Orders in this quarter rose 15% to $830 million. The impressive growth was driven by strength in industrial equipment, factory automation & medical applications. Solid Aerospace, Defense and Marine business contributed to the segment revenues, which was slightly offset by decline in the Energy business in Europe. Also, the previously completed Creganna and Intercontec acquisitions added significantly to growth.

Story continues

Communications Solutions revenues climbed 4% year over year to $658 million. Orders were up 6% year over year to $412 million, led by strength in Asia in both Data and Devices and Appliances. Growth of this segment was bolstered by strength in Asia in both Data and Devices, and double-digit growth in appliances.

The companys adjusted operating margin for the quarter expanded 110 basis points from the year-ago quarter to 16.8%.

TE Connectivity Ltd. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise

TE Connectivity Ltd. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise | TE Connectivity Ltd. Quote

Liquidity & Cash Flow

TE Connectivity exited the quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $1,218 million, higher than $647 million a year back.

The company generated free cash flow of $691 million in the quarter, up from $604 million in the prior-year quarter.

Share Repurchase Program/Dividend

In fiscal 2017, the company returned $1.2 billion to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases.

Acquisition

The company enhanced its harsh environment portfolio with bolt-on acquisitions in the Automotive and Medical business.

The company recently acquired Hirschmann Car Communication, which focuses on vehicle connectivity technology used in antenna and infotainment systems. TE Connectivity also acquired MicroGroup, which makes specialized shafts for medical applications. These acquisitions will unlock expansion opportunities, and advance content growth in key applications for the automotive and medical markets.

Guidance

TE Connectivity projects first-quarter fiscal 2018 adjusted earnings per share in the range of $1.23-$1.27, reflecting growth of 9% at the mid-point. It expects revenues to lie in the range of $3.35-$3.45 billion (which reflects growth of 10% year over year at the mid-point).

To Conclude

TE Connectivity delivered yet another impressive quarter with strong top- and bottom-line beats. The companys fiscal 2018 earnings guidance and robust sales forecast are likely to go very well with investors, as it carries its robust growth momentum into fiscal 2018.

Most of the companys operating margin expansion in the past few years have been driven by the transportation segment. Encouragingly, in recent times we observed that both the Communications and Industrial segments are contributing significantly to the operating margin expansion as well, thus adding to the companys strength.

Going forward, we believe the previously completed Creganna and Intercontec acquisitions will continue to unlock significant opportunities in the transportation and industrial segments. Overall, we believe strong demand in end markets, along with an overarching business model, will continue to drive TE Connectivitys future growth.

Zacks Rank & Stocks to Consider

TE Connectivity carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).

Some better-ranked stocks in the broader space include Kemet Corporation KEM, Universal Display Corporation OLED and ZAGG Inc ZAGG, each sporting a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Kemet Corporation generated huge, consecutive beats over the trailing four quarters, for an average positive surprise of 64.8%.

Universal Display also has a striking earnings surprise history, with an outstanding average beat of 534.2% over the trailing four quarters, driven by three massive beats.

ZAGG has beaten earnings estimates thrice over the trailing four quarters. Last quarter, it beat estimates by 20%.

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SAO PAULO, Nov 1 (Reuters) - Representatives of U.S. private equity firm TPG Capital Management LP and state-owned China Telecom Corp Ltd are meeting with Brazil's solicitor general on Monday to discuss a possible takeover of debt-laden telecom provider Oi SA, local media reported.

The two groups have approached Oi about purchasing the company once it emerges from bankruptcy protection, in a process that would involve a capital injection, an executive told Reuters in September.

Grace Mendonca, the solicitor-general, is part of a government working group that is trying to assuage differences between shareholders and creditors before a key Nov. 10 meeting in which bondholders will vote on a restructuring plan. The government has billions of dollars tied up in the company through state banks and unpaid regulatory fines.

TPG and China Telecom are interested in taking over the company, the sole fixed-line operator in a third of the country's 5,500 municipalities, via a 10 billion-real capital injection, newspaper Folha de Sao Paulo reported.

As part of the deal, TPG would be the majority partner and China Telecom would take a minority stake, a source told Reuters.

At the meeting, the groups will condition their bid on a new telecoms reform going into effect, Folha reported. The regulatory overhaul would make more flexible government requirements for investments by telecoms operators, analysts say.

They also will require renegotiation of 20 billion reais in outstanding regulatory fines that the company holds.

China Telecom will offer to construct fiber optic cable to the homes of clients in more than 2,000 municipalities, the newspaper reported. After that, it said, China Telecom would discuss a potential tie-up with Brazilian competitor TIM Participacoes SA.

TPG did not immediately respond to a request for comment. China Telecom did not immediately respond to a comment request sent outside normal business hours.

Mendonca also will participate in an afternoon meeting with Nelson Tanure, an influential shareholder in Oi, who is pushing for a plan that would imply a 73 percent haircut on bondholder debt, newspaper Valor Economico reported.

A Tanure spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment. (Reporting by Gram Slattery and Tatiana Bautzer; Editing by Christian Plumb and Bill Trott)
President Donald Trump said Tuesday that he hopes tax reform can be accomplished by year-end. "I want the House to pass a bill by Thanksgiving. I want all of the people standing by my side when we get ready to sign by Christmas  hopefully before Christmas," he said at a hastily scheduled press availability.When asked if he was looking into phasing in corporate tax rate reductions, Trump responded, "We're not looking for that, hopefully not."The president made his remarks after meeting with business leaders including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National Association of Manufacturers and the Business Roundtable.House Republicans are expected to release a draft their long-anticipated tax bill Wednesday. Trump is scheduled to depart for a trip to several countries in Asia on Friday. While the president is overseas, some White House officials will stay behind to work on the tax overhaul effort, including Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and top economic advisor Gary Cohn .  The Associated Press contributed to this report. President Donald Trump said Tuesday that he hopes tax reform can be accomplished by year-end. "I want the House to pass a bill by Thanksgiving. I want all of the people standing by my side when we get ready to sign by Christmas  hopefully before Christmas," he said at a hastily scheduled press availability. When asked if he was looking into phasing in corporate tax rate reductions, Trump responded, "We're not looking for that, hopefully not." The president made his remarks after meeting with business leaders including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National Association of Manufacturers and the Business Roundtable. House Republicans are expected to release a draft their long-anticipated tax bill Wednesday. Trump is scheduled to depart for a trip to several countries in Asia on Friday. While the president is overseas, some White House officials will stay behind to work on the tax overhaul effort, including Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and top economic advisor Gary Cohn .  The Associated Press contributed to this report.



More From CNBC


WASHINGTON, Nov 1 (Reuters) - The U.S. State Department has approved a possible $1.1 billion sale of support services and facilities to Qatar for its F-15QA fighter aircraft program, a Pentagon agency said on Wednesday.

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency said it notified Congress of the possible sale, which includes design, construction and other services and facilities. The F-15 is made by Boeing Co. (Reporting by Eric Walsh; Editing by David Alexander)
Reuters

A Tesla Inc director and a former executive took the stand on Monday and defended Elon Musk's $56 billion pay package against a shareholder's claims that the entrepreneur dictated terms of the deal to finance his dream of traveling to Mars. Tesla shareholder Richard Tornetta hopes to prove that Musk used his dominance over the electric vehicle maker's board to craft the 2018 package and then duped investors into approving it. The first day of a week-long trial in Wilmington, Delaware, featured testimony from Ira Ehrenpreis, a Tesla director since 2007, who was pressed to explain why the board did not demand that Musk dedicate himself to the company full-time.
Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell from Kentucky (L) and US President Donald Trump arrive for the Republican Senate Policy Luncheon at the US Capitol October 24, 2017 in Washington, DC, where they planned to talk about tax reform (AFP Photo/CHIP SOMODEVILLA) (Getty/AFP/File)

Washington (AFP) - US Republicans on Wednesday are due to roll out highly-anticipated legislation to enact the first sweeping overhaul of American tax system in more than three decades -- but their chances of success are less than certain.

With the party having taken control of the White House and both houses of the legislature for the first time in 10 years, the planets would ordinarily seem to be aligned for the Republicans to easily deliver $6 trillion in tax cuts for business and individuals.

But sharp internal divisions over how and where to change the tax code -- and finding ways not to balloon the budget deficit by the party known for fiscal discipline -- mean reaching a consensus will require a delicate balance among competing interests.

Here are some of the main areas lawmakers have been working on:

- Fewer income tax brackets -

The Republican framework for tax reform unveiled last month calls for scrapping most deductions and cutting the number of income brackets to three from seven currently. Wage earners would pay taxes of 12 percent, 25 percent and 35 percent depending on their income bracket, meaning the highest earners could pay less than they currently do.

Senior White House economic advisor Gary Cohn has said he cannot guarantee that some middle-class Americans will be protected from paying more in taxes under the plan. But House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan has disagreed, announcing plans to add a fourth bracket to capture more revenue from high earners.

- Tax credit for home owners -

A last-minute challenge over the weekend from the powerful National Association of Home Builders, was the latest threat to the plan's viability.

The association vowed to defeat the tax overhaul if it fails to maintain the tax credit for "homeownership," which allows taxpayers to deduct mortgage interest and property tax payments.

"This plan will hurt millions of hard-working American families and marginalize homeownership. The American people deserve better," the association said in a statement.

Story continues

- Corporate tax cuts -

The plan calls for cutting corporate tax rates to 20 percent from 35 percent in an effort to make the United States more attractive to commercial investment.

This is the costliest chunk of the tax plan but is due to be phased in over a five-year period.

On paper, the current rate makes the United States among the highest taxed jurisdictions in the world, but this rate is rarely applied due to many deductions and credits allowed to companies.

- 'Territorial' corporate taxes -

In theory, this change could encourage companies to repatriate wealth currently stashed abroad to avoid US taxes. By adopting a "territorial" system, only profits earned in the United States would be taxable and profits from abroad would only be subject to the tax systems of the countries where they were earned.

- Caps on retirement savings? -

Currently, Americans are allowed to put as much as $18,000 a year in tax-deferred retirement savings accounts known as 401(k)s. Republicans have faced stiff opposition -- notably from President Trump himself -- in proposing to limit the very popular tax-free contributions in order to pay for other tax cuts.

- Pass-throughs -

The Republican framework calls for reducing tax rates for so-called pass-through companies -- entities in which profits pass through to shareholders and partners -- to 20 percent. Currently they are taxed under the tax rules for individuals.

- Local tax deductions -

Americans pay taxes not only to the federal government but also to state and local authorities. And Republicans from high-tax states like New York, California and New Jersey are particularly anxious about a proposal that could stop tax payers from deducting those local taxes from their federal tax bill.

- Repealing the estate tax -

Those Americans wealthy enough to inherit $5.5 million or more from their parents -- or about 0.2 percent of all US estates -- would no longer pay this tax. Democrats have cited this and other provisions in calling the entire proposal a giveaway to the rich.
Vulcan Materials Company VMC is set to release third-quarter 2017 results, before the opening bell on Nov 2.



Last quarter, the company had delivered a positive earnings surprise of 16.87%. Notably, the company surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate in only one of the last four quarters, which more than offset the earnings misses. This resulted in an average earnings beat of 0.41%.



Vulcan Materials Company Price and EPS Surprise

Vulcan Materials Company Price and EPS Surprise | Vulcan Materials Company Quote

Vulcan is susceptible to bad weather conditions as most of its products are used outdoors in the public or private construction industry. Also, the companys production and distribution facilities are located in the open. Inclement weather conditions affect the companys ability to produce and distribute products as well as demand.



Aggregates shipments declined 2% in the first six months of 2017 owing to adverse weather conditions. The recent hurricanes will likely cause shipment delays in the third quarter. Nevertheless, increased demand for building materials for the repair of damaged properties will likely offset the initial concerns regarding business delays.The Zacks Consensus Estimate for aggregates shipments is pegged at 50, 776 tons for the third quarter, up 1% year over year.



Meanwhile, our proven model does not conclusively show an earnings beat for Vulcan this quarter. This is because a stock needs to have both a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) for this to happen. That is not the case here, as you will see below.



Zacks ESP: The Earnings ESP is -7.19%. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before theyre reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.



Zacks Rank: Vulcan has a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell). Note that we caution against stocks with a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell) or 5 going into the earnings announcement, especially when the company is seeing negative estimate revision.



Earnings estimates for the third quarter have moved down 15.4% over the last 30 days, reflecting analysts concerns. Currently, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings is pegged at 93 cents, reflecting a decline of 7.7% year over year.



Nonetheless, the companys aggressive cost-control initiatives, strong aggregate reserve position and pricing power are likely to drive results in the third quarter. Also, sustained growth in private construction activity is expected to bode well for demand of both the aggregates and non-aggregates business lines. For the third quarter, the consensus estimate for revenues is pegged at $1.06 billion, up 4.7% year over year.



Stocks Worth a Look



Here are a few construction stocks worth considering as they have the right combination of elements to beat earnings.



Potlatch Corporation PCH has an Earnings ESP of +5.36% and a Zacks Rank #1. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.



Owens Corning Inc OC has an Earnings ESP of +0.03% and a Zacks Rank #2.



Louisiana-Pacific Corporation LPX has an Earnings ESP of +3.90% and a Zacks Rank #1.



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To read this article on Zacks.com click here.
By PTI: Jaipur, Nov 1 (PTI) The toll in the transformer explosion in Rajasthans Khatulai village rose to 14 today, police said.

A transformer had exploded in the Khatulai village near Shahpura town of the state yesterday, killing five persons and injuring several others.

Medical Superintendent of SMS Hospital, D S Meena, said nine persons, who were sustaining severe burn injuries, succumbed while undergoing treatment at the SMS Hospital here late last night.

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"Women were performing Bhaat ceremony (pre-wedding function) when the incident took place. Five persons had died on the spot and 22 others were rushed to the SMS Hospital. Out of the 22, nine more deaths, mostly that of women, were reported late last night. The casualties also included a pregnant lady. Three persons were discharged and ten are undergoing treatment," DSP Shahpura, Bhag Chand Meena, said today.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje has ordered a high-level probe into the incident after meeting the victims at the SMS hospital here.

Jaipur district collector Siddharth Mahajan announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh for kin of the deceased.

"The Jaipur Vidhyut Vitran Nigam Limited (JVVNL) will give Rs 5 lakh to family of the deceased and additional Rs 5 lakh will be provided through CM relief fund," he said.

Congress leader Sachin Pilot called the incident unfortunate and said the explosion took place due to non-maintenance of the transformer.

"It is a very unfortunate incident and a high-level probe should be ordered to identify the people responsible for the negligence," he said in a statement.

Meanwhile, villagers and local leaders thronged the area in protest against the electricity department for alleged criminal negligence.

The bereaved families also refused to send the bodies for postmortem, until an investigation was ordered and adequate compensation announced. PTI AG DPB SRY

--- ENDS ---
An operation to disrupt the sale and supply of illegal tobacco and alcohol across north Wales has uncovered more than 440,000 cigarettes, 169 kilos of hand-rolling tobacco and 2,700 litres of alcohol, all believed to be illicit.

Officers from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), with support from North Wales Police, UK Border Agency, Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire, Gwynedd and Wrexham Trading Standards, visited 59 retail premises and self-storage units between October 24-26.

The visits, as part of HMRCs Tobacco Taskforce activity, led to suspected illegal tobacco and alcohol products being seized from 11 premises. This included:

 446,664 cigarettes, with an estimated 155,886 duty and VAT evaded;

 169.85 kilos of hand-rolling tobacco, with an estimated 46,709 duty and VAT evaded; and

 2,703.35 litres of alcohol, with an estimated 6,615 duty and VAT evaded.

John Cooper, assistant director, Fraud Investigation Service, HMRC, said: The sale of illegal tobacco and alcohol will not be tolerated by us or our partner agencies. Disrupting criminal trade is at the heart of our strategy to clampdown on the illicit tobacco market, which costs the UK around 2.5bn a year, and the sale of illicit alcohol which costs the UK around 1.3bn per year. This is theft from the taxpayer and undermines legitimate traders.

We encourage anyone with information about the illegal sale of tobacco or alcohol to contact the Fraud Hotline 0800 788887.

In addition to the HMRC tobacco and alcohol seizures, quantities of amphetamines, cocaine, cannabis, cannabis cookies, a Samurai sword and a vehicle used to transport suspected illegal goods, were also seized.

Chief inspector, Dave Jolly, North Wales Police, said: As a result of the activity last week we have denied criminals the opportunity to evade duty and benefit financially at the expense of the residents of North Wales. Our actions will be on-going and reinforce the commitment from the PCC to make North Wales a safer place.

Richard Powell, chair of Trading Standards North Wales, said: The widespread availability of cheap, illegal tobacco in our communities poses a major threat to health. Around 11,000 children become addicted in Wales every year (thats a classroom full each day) before they are even old enough to be legally sold tobacco.

The results achieved in this joint agency operation, led by HMRC, are incredibly encouraging and sends a clear message that we are committed to working together to tackle illegal tobacco and alcohol.
Afghan officials say at least eight people were killed and more than 20 wounded after a bomb attached to a fuel tanker exploded in northern Afghanistan.



Officials said on November 1 that the blast occurred overnight in the center of Charikar, the capital of Parwan Province, some 60 kilometers north of Kabul.



All of those killed were said to be civilians. At least eight of the wounded were in critical condition.



"The explosion of the fuel tanker was the result of a sticky bomb but the fire spread to a passing passenger bus," provincial police chief Mohammad Zaman Mamozai said.



Wahida Shahkar, spokeswoman for the provincial governor, said the bus was travelling to the Afghan capital, Kabul, and was full at the time of the explosion.



In the northern province of Balkh, the deputy provincial police chief, General Abdul Razaq Qaderi, said that a suicide car bomb targeted a district police commander, killing one person.



Qaderi said that the target of the attack, Qala-e Zal district police commander Nabi Gechi, and nine other people were wounded.



The official said Gechi did not suffer life-threatening injuries. At least three students were said to be among those wounded.



No one claimed either attack, which come 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.



On October 31, a suicide bomber blew himself up inside Kabuls so-called "Green Zone," where many embassies and the head offices of major international organizations are located, killing at least four people and wounding dozens more.



The extremist group Islamic State (IS) claimed responsibility for the attack, which officials said was carried out by a teenager.

With reporting by AFP, AP, and dpa
Honolulu, HI, Oct. 31, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Associa Hawaii is honored to announce the recent hiring of Pauli Wong as the new branch president. Ms. Wong will oversee branch operations, business development projects and the association management teams throughout the islands.



Ms. Wong has more than 15 years of community association management experience and has previously held several positions at Associa Hawaii, including senior vice president. Ms. Wong has volunteered for the Community Associations Institute (CAI) for more than 10 years and resided as CAI Hawaii chapter president for two years.



We are excited to bring in someone with such vast local industry experience and a track record of successful leadership and team building, stated John Ingenito, Associa senior vice president of international & acquisition operations. Paulis extensive expertise and reputation is unmatched and her ties to the community will allow her the ability to expand Associas community reach. She will bring a new community spirit to the Hawaii team and the market.



Ms. Wong has been accredited the Professional Manager of Community Associations (PCAM) designation through CAI and has received numerous awards for her role with CAI seminars. She holds the record for the best membership retention rate during her CAI Hawaii presidential terms and is also one of a handful of certified Reserve Specialists in the state of Hawaii.



With more than 180 branch offices across North America, Associa delivers unsurpassed management and lifestyle services to nearly five million residents worldwide. Our 10,000+ team members lead the industry with unrivaled education, expertise and trailblazing innovation. For more than 40 years, Associa has provided solutions designed to help communities achieve their vision. To learn more, visit www.associaonline.com.



Stay Connected:

Like Associa Hawaii on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/associahawaii/

Join Associa Hawaii on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/associahawaii/

Subscribe to the Blog: https://hub.associaonline.com/

Follow Associa Hawaii on Twitter: https://twitter.com/associahawaii/

Join us on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/associa

Attachments:

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/3cac1ebd-ea51-48b8-911b-289d10392bd8
1 November 2017

Acron Sets Up Distribution Company in France

Acron Group, a leading vertically integrated producer of mineral fertilisers in Russia and globally, launched Acron France SAS, based in Paris, to sell urea-ammonium nitrate (UAN) and bulk blends directly to consumers in France and neighbouring countries. For UAN distribution, the Company leases warehouse facilities in Rouen, France, and Gent, Belgium.

The CEO of Acron France SAS is Ms Nathalie Brastel, who has extensive experience in fertiliser sales and distribution.

Mr Dmitry Khabrat, Acron Vice President Overseas, commented: "For many years, Acron Group has been among the major European suppliers of UAN. In 2017, sales to this region totalled approximately 400,000 tonnes. Acron France will expand the Group's footprint in this priority export market. The new team of professionals will promptly respond to clients' needs, ensuring rapid supply of a variety of high-quality products".

Media contacts:

Tatiana Smirnova

Public Relations

Phone: +7 (495) 777-08-65 (ext. 5196)

pr@acron.ru

Background Information

Acron Group is a leading vertically integrated mineral fertiliser producer in Russia and globally, with chemical production facilities in Veliky Novgorod (Acron) and Smolensk (Dorogobuzh). The Group owns and operates a phosphate mine in Murmansk region (NWPC) and is implementing a potash development project in Perm Krai (VPC). It has a wholly owned transportation and logistics infrastructure, including three Baltic port terminals and distribution networks in Russia and China. Acron's subsidiary, North Atlantic Potash Inc. (NAP), holds mining licenses for 11 parcels of the potassium salt deposit at Prairie Evaporite, Saskatchewan, Canada. Acron also holds a minority stake (19.8%) in Polish Grupa Azoty, one of the largest chemical producers in Europe.

In 2016, the Group sold 6.4 million tonnes of various products to 63 countries, with Russia, Brazil, Europe and the United States as key markets.

In 2016, the Group posted consolidated IFRS revenue of RUB 89,359 million (USD 1,333 million) and net profit of RUB 25,525 million (USD 381 million). Acron's shares are on the Level 1 quotation list of the Moscow Exchange and its global depositary receipts are traded at the London Stock Exchange (ticker AKRN). Acron employs over 11,000 people.

For more information about Acron Group, please visit www.acron.ru/en.
CHARLOTTE, N.C., Nov. 01, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HIFU Prostate Services, LLC, the leading provider of HIFU technology to physician practices in the United States, is proud to announce a partnership with WakeMed Health & Hospitals to bring HIFU for prostate cancer to their WakeMed Cary Hospital facility treating men with localized prostate cancer.



This partnership expands the accessibility of HIFU to more men looking for non-invasive prostate cancer treatment options, said Thomas Gough, senior vice president and administrator of WakeMed Cary Hospital. Patients and families are at the core of our organizations mission as we improve their health and well-being while providing compassionate and outstanding care. With the addition of the HIFU treatment, we believe we are giving additional less-invasive options and the best possible care to men with prostate cancer.

HIFU, or high intensity focused ultrasound, is treatment that uses sound waves to heat and destroy tissue in the prostate. There is no cutting, no incision and no blood loss. It is a one-time procedure that allows men to return home the same day and get back to their normal lifestyle within a few days, with significantly lower rates of impotence and incontinence as seen with surgery or radiation treatment for prostate cancer.

Dr. Frank Tortora, with Associated Urologists of North Carolina, has worked with HIFU patients since 2008 and treated the first HIFU patient at WakeMed Cary Hospital on Wednesday, October 18.

I have worked with HIFU for nearly 10 years and I have seen men do extremely well with the treatment. It is exciting to have the procedure available at WakeMed Cary Hospital as it will allow us to offer the procedure as an option to more men that qualify, said Dr. Tortora.

WakeMed is an exceptional health system with an outstanding reputation in North Carolina. We are confident that patients who receive HIFU at WakeMed Cary Hospital will receive quality care all the way through the process, said John McLean, chief operating officer, HIFU Prostate Services.

HIFU was cleared by the FDA two years ago for the ablation of prostatic tissue. Earlier this year, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services issued a Medicare code that may help some patients cover part of the cost of the HIFU procedure. Learn more about this potential reimbursement here.

About HIFU Prostate Services, LLC

HIFU Prostate Services was founded to provide men access to a less invasive treatment option for prostate cancer that has the ability to eliminate cancer and preserve patient quality of life. Our mission is to deliver the highest quality of care, support, and technology to the patient and to the urology community for the treatment of localized prostate cancer using Sonablate HIFU. The company is headquartered in Charlotte, NC and with locations in 12 cities throughout the US. Learn more at http://www.hifuprostateservices.com.

About WakeMed Health & Hospitals

Serving the community since 1961, WakeMed Health & Hospitals is a nationally recognized, private, not-for-profit health care organization founded and based in Raleigh, N.C. The largest health system in Wake County, WakeMed exists to improve the health and well-being of our community by providing outstanding, compassionate, patient- and family-centered care to all.

The 919-bed system comprises a network of facilities throughout the Triangle area, delivering health and wellness services that bring added value to the communities we serve. WakeMed is a leader in cardiac and vascular care, womens and childrens services, emergency medicine and trauma care, physical rehabilitation, orthopaedics and neurosciences.

Specialty facilities include the WakeMed Heart Center, Childrens Hospital, Womens Pavilion and Birthplace, Womens Hospital at WakeMed North, WakeMed Rehabilitation Hospital, Adult and Childrens Emergency Departments and a Level 1 Trauma Center.

WakeMeds team of more than 8,800 employees, 1,500 volunteers, 1,200 affiliated physicians, and the more than 280 physicians employed by WakeMed Physician Practices use the most advanced technologies along with the best minds and the biggest hearts to ensure the finest quality in health care and community health. For more information, visit www.wakemed.org.

Media Contacts

HIFU Prostate Services

John Linn, 704-248-7562

WakeMed Health & Hospitals

Kristin Kelly, 919-350-5921
By PTI: (Eds: Incorporating related series)

Jaipur, Nov 1 (PTI) The toll in the transformer explosion in Rajasthans Khatulai village rose to 14 today, with Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje ordering a high-level probe into the incident.

Union Minister and Jaipur Rural MP Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, who visited the affected families today, termed it a "tragic incident" and called for a thorough investigation.

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A transformer had exploded in the Khatulai village near Shahpura town of the state yesterday, killing five persons and injuring several others.

Medical Superintendent of SMS Hospital, D S Meena, said nine persons, who had sustained severe burn injuries, succumbed while undergoing treatment at the SMS Hospital here late last night.

"Women were performing Bhaat ceremony (pre-wedding ritual) when the incident took place. Five persons had died on the spot and 22 others were rushed to the SMS Hospital. Out of the 22, nine more deaths, mostly that of women, were reported late last night. The casualties also include a pregnant lady. Three persons were discharged and ten are undergoing treatment," DSP Shahpura, Bhag Chand Meena, said today.

Rathore visited Shahpura town to take stock of the situation. He also met with those undergoing treatment at the SMS Hospital and assured them of best medical care.

"It is a tragic mishap. Such a thing should not happen to anyone. Blast in a transformer is a matter of concern and all aspects of it should be investigated," he told reporters.

Governor Kalyan Singh prayed for courage to the bereaved family members who lost their loved ones in the mishap. He also wished for fast recovery of the injured.

Jaipur district collector Siddharth Mahajan announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh for kin of the deceased.

"The Jaipur Vidhyut Vitran Nigam Limited (JVVNL) will give Rs 5 lakh to families of deceased and additional Rs 5 lakh will be provided through Chief Ministers relief fund," he said.

Congress leader Sachin Pilot called the incident "unfortunate" and said the explosion took place due to non-maintenance of the transformer.

"It is a very unfortunate incident and a high-level probe should be ordered to identify the people responsible for the negligence," he said in a statement.

He also accused the BJP-led state government of not acting beyond ordering a probe and announcing compensation.

The Congress leader said the state government should reveal details of the money spent on replacement and maintenance of equipment.

Rajasthan BJP president Ashok Parnami also met the injured victims earlier in the day.

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Meanwhile, villagers and local leaders protested against the electricity department for alleged criminal negligence.

The agitated families also refused to send the bodies for postmortem, until an investigation was ordered and adequate compensation announced. PTI AG SRY

--- ENDS ---
As of August 26th, 2021 Yahoo India will no longer be publishing content. Your Yahoo Account Mail and Search experiences will not be affected in any way and will operate as usual. We thank you for your support and readership. For more information on Yahoo India, please visit the FAQ
New York, Oct 31(Just Earth News): Some 3.2 million people in the Democratic Republic of Congo's (DRC) conflict-ravaged south-central Greater Kasai region are severely food insecure, struggling to feed themselves and in urgent need of assistance, the head of the United Nations food relief agency warned Monday.

As many as 250,000 children could starve in Kasai in the next few months unless enough nutritious food reaches them quickly, said World Food Programme (WFP) Executive Director David Beasley as he wrapped up a four-day mission to the vast central African country that included a visit to Kasai.

We need access to those children, and we need money  urgently, he added.

Kasai's traditionally high malnutrition rates were exacerbated further after last year's inter-ethnic violence  characterized by large-scale killing, wholesale destruction of villages and crops, and targeting hospitals, clinics and schools. The region now accounts for more than 40 per cent of the DRC's 7.7 million severely food insecure.

WFP is ramping up emergency assistance there, planning to reach 500,000 of the most vulnerable by end-December  and many more by early next year. Dozens of staff are being deployed, 80 additional off-road trucks are being brought in to deliver food to remote areas, and the WFP-run UN Humanitarian Air Service is, presently flying aid supplies and workers to seven regional locations, is being expanded.

However, WFP's emergency operation, launched in August, has so far been financed by internal borrowings, and only one percent of the $135 million required through mid-2018 has been secured from the international community.

Although violence in Kasai has diminished in recent weeks, banditry and extortion are commonplace. Moreover, in a region the size of Germany with multiple active militias and a road network that is largely impassable during the September-December rainy season, humanitarian access is set to remain a challenge.

Beasley also witnessed WFP's work in eastern North Kivu province, which is also constrained by access challenges and limited funding. Just 250,000 of the province's one million displaced people  victims of two decades of conflict  are receiving assistance, and only half rations.

Much of DRC's population is dependent on subsistence farming, with competition for land often at the heart of the violence. Many conflict-displaced families who had returned to their villages in North Kivu and Kasai told Beasley they could not resume working their fields for fear of being attacked.

I have met too many women and children whose lives have been reduced to a desperate struggle for survival, Beasley pointed out. In a land so rich in resources, that's heart-breaking. And it's unacceptable.

The WFP chief acknowledged donor concerns about limited returns on investing in a better future for the Congolese, noting that some Governments have threatened to redirect such funding to countries where they say it will have more impact.

I hear those concerns, said Beasley. But let's not hold innocent women and children responsible for the failings of others.

What the brave people I met over the last few days want most of all is peace  peace to be able to grow their own food, to rebuild their lives and to build a brighter on Tomorrowon for their children. It's a simple, powerful message. I have conveyed it to President [Joseph] Kabila and members of his Government, urging that they do more to help this come about,' he concluded.

Photo: OCHA/Otto Bakano

Source: www.justearthnews.com
The day before, the Iran nuclear deal had been implemented, and in return, the president was making a reciprocal humanitarian gesture, clemency for seven Iranians imprisoned or awaiting trial for criminal violations of American sanctions. It was later announced that the U.S. had also dropped outstanding warrants against fourteen other Iranians.

The president added that, with the nuclear deal implemented, and the hostages released, the time was right for resolving a financial dispute that dated back more than three decades.

The government of the Shah of Iran advanced money for military equipment, but after the 1979 revolution Washington did not deliver it. Therefore, the president asserted, we were returning the disputed money, Irans own funds, including appropriate interest, but much less than the amount Iran sought. Now that the larger issues had been resolved, the U.S. was simply issuing a long-delayed refund to Iran, and in the process saving Americans a significant amount of money.

The president was returning $400 million in Irans Foreign Military Sales (FMS) account with the Pentagon, plus $1.3 billion in interest. However, the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act, stipulated that Irans FMS account could not be refunded until court judgments held by the U.S. government against Iran for damages from terrorist acts against American citizens were resolved to Americas satisfaction. Those judgments, including interest accumulated between 2001 and 2016, totaled about $1 billion.

Many of Obamas opponents called the $1.7 billion payment ransom, and to understand this, in his article for Mosaic Magazine, Rick Richman, author of Racing Against History: The 1940 Campaign for a Jewish Army to Fight Hitler explains some of the background.

Alisa Flatow, a twenty-year-old Brandeis University honors student was spending her junior year abroad in Israel. In April 1995, she boarded a bus in Jerusalem bound for Gaza. She was killed when a van filled with explosives slammed into it. The attack was carried out by a faction of Islamic Jihad that was reportedly controlled, financed, and directed by the highest levels of Irans government. Her father filed suit in U.S. federal court against Iran. Flatow v. Islamic Republic of Iran (1998), and was awarded a total of $20 million in compensatory damages as well as punitive damages. The court noted that expert testimony had detailed an annual expenditure [by Iran] of approximately $75 million for terrorist activities and that Iran is so brazen in its sponsorship of terrorist activities that it carries a line item in its national budget for this purpose. The court also awarded punitive damages of $225 million, which was the minimum amount the expert had testified was necessary to have a significant deterrent effect.

As well, Cicippio v. Islamic Republic of Iran (1998) involved Joseph Cicippio (comptroller of the American University of Beirut), David Jacobsen (CEO of the medical center there), and Frank Reed (who operated two private schools in Beirut), who were all abducted by Hizballah, an entity the court found was sponsored, financed, and controlled by Iran. The three were held under horrific conditions, and the court awarded them a total of $65 million in compensatory damages.

Terry Anderson, chief Middle East correspondent for the Associated Press, was kidnapped in Beirut by Hizballah and held for nearly seven years. In the case of Anderson v. Islamic Republic of Iran (2000), the court again found Iran responsible, and awarded $41.2 million in compensatory damages and $300 million in punitive damages.

Leonard Eisenfeld brought the case of Eisenfeld v. Islamic Republic of Iran (2000) before the court for the death of his son Matthew, a twenty-five-year-old Yale graduate studying at the Jewish Theological Seminary in Israel, and by Arline Duker for the death of her twenty-year-old daughter, Sara, a Barnard College graduate enrolled in a program at the Hebrew University. The two had been on an Israeli bus, when a passengeracting under directions from a Hamas official funded and trained by Irandetonated a bomb that destroyed the bus and killed them. The court awarded $22.5 million in compensatory damages and $300 million in punitive damages.

Iran was held legally responsible in many other cases. A total of sixteen cases were decided against Iran by courts in the United States between 1998 and 2004, and awards of compensatory damages totaling some $400 million and punitive damages totaling $3.5 billion were stipulated.

The problem was collecting the judgments. Sixteen years later, no payments were made by Iran for any of the sixteen court judgments against it.

Richman writes, The presidents actions with respect to the lawsuits won by American victims of Iranian terror, after years of litigation, stand in stark contrast to the resolution of the court cases concerning Libyas terrorism, including the 1988 Pan Am 103 bombing over Lockerbie, Scotland. When Libya sought to re-establish relations with the United States, Congress and the State Department blocked action until Libya satisfied the terror claims of American citizens against it. Libya paid the U.S. $1.5 billion to resolve those claims. Nothing of the sort accompanied the negotiations with Iran over the nuclear deal, as the administration made concession after concession to obtain it.

Richman calls the policy of appeasing Iran worse than paying ransom.
A fake image doing rounds on social media shows a senior police officer kneeling in front of Home Minister Rajnath Singh and touching his feet.

By India Today Web Desk: Image manipulation is an art. But if you don't get it right, there is a definite fall.

Propagating fake images, or real images out of context, is something the Bharatiya Janata Party members, from IT cell head Amit Malviya to Cabinet ministers, have tried and failed.

Now, the Congress Party that upped its social media game, is taking the same route.

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An image shared by Twitter user Alamgir Rizvi, who has Rahul Gandhi's photo as his display picture, shows a senior police officer in uniform kneeling in front of Home Minister Rajnath Singh and touching his feet. In his tweet, he said, "DGP of Gujarat. After seeing this I don't believe Election free and fair. Kis per bharosa keya jaye. SC bhi kan me tel dale hai."

Social Media Hoax Slayer, @SMHoaxSlayer on Twitter, had debunked this image on October 13 itself.

The article said how people started claiming that a still from one of the scenes in the movie "Kya Yeh Sach Hai" directed by former IPS Officer Yogesh Pratap Singh is from real life and how a Twitter user, who evidently supports Congress, went a step ahead and morphed Rajnath Singh's face onto the face of the actor playing the minister.

Here is the original still from the movie -

This morning, Alamgir Rizvi tweeted the same photo again with a fake story, and Congress' National Spokesperson Sanjay Jha quote-tweeted Rizvi's tweet saying, "If this is a true picture, it is just too much. Stunned beyond comprehension."

Twitter users called Jha out on this and he responded saying he has noted the fact and that he will withdraw his retweet. In a new tweet, he also asked Rizvi to delete his tweet. He said, "Alam Rizvi you should delete this forthwith. It is inappropriate and wrong, and therefore misleading."

Photoshopped. Actual photo is a scene from a movie "Kya Ye Sach Hai" released in 2011. Debunked on 13th Oct. Check Proofs/Source in reply https://t.co/FjlWEYdQJW- SM Hoax Slayer (@SMHoaxSlayer) November 1, 2017

This is a fake picture, it screams Photoshop. Even though @alamgirizvi has been informed that it is fake, he's refused to delete it till now https://t.co/TNQZXtCjs8- Pratik Sinha (@free_thinker) November 1, 2017

In a new tweet, Jha also asked Rizvi to delete his tweet. He said, "Alam Rizvi you should delete this forthwith. It is inappropriate and wrong, and therefore misleading."

Noted. I will delete my RT. @alamgirizvi you should delete this forthwith. It is inappropriate and wrong, and therefore misleading. https://t.co/vvaNqUmfzg- Sanjay Jha (@JhaSanjay) November 1, 2017

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--- ENDS ---
Shrewsbury International School

Job Opportunity

Position / Job Specification: EAL Specialist

Department: Academic

Salary: This is a Local Hire Position, and salary would be dependent on experience



Position Summary:



The EAL Specialist reports to the Director of EAL and will typically be expected to engage in a full timetable of 50 periods per ten day cycle. Our highly motivated, experienced and flexible team of EAL specialists, working across all age phases, have good knowledge of the National Curriculum for England, and support its delivery through an EAL model of sheltered immersion. The EAL specialists also play key roles in the promotion and development of EAL strategies for all. They do this by working closely with mainstream teachers at the planning and delivery stages, and through leading staff training. English language learning is one of the main pillars of the schools mission, and our expectations of the children are very high. The solid foundation set at the primary level and the development, consolidation and refinement of our students proficiency in English as they move through the school is crucial to meeting these aspirations. EAL Specialists at Shrewsbury are exceptional practitioners who understand the nature of second language acquisition and how best to support it in a specific setting such as this.



General:



hrewsbury is one of South East Asias outstanding international schools, with enrolment of 1600 students from Early Years to Sixth Form, exceptional examination results and particular strengths in the creative arts, design and sport. The school itself enjoys a delightful and spectacular setting, right on the banks of the Chao Phraya River in the heart of Bangkok. The school is readily accessed by road and has its own boats, which provide an easy and quick link to Bangkoks Skytrain and the city centre. The link with Shrewsbury School UK (www.shrewsbury.org.uk) is taken very seriously and, year-on-year, develops into a world-class educational partnership.



Candidate Profile:

The successful candidate:

will be qualified (holding at least a bachelors degree, or equivalent, and an entry-level TESOL qualification) and experienced, preferably within an international school setting;

have sufficient up-to-date knowledge of the key issues in Second Language Teacher Education;

have sufficient knowledge of/experience of teaching EAL within mainstream curriculums;

will have either experience of working with English Language Learners or a desire to broaden his/her experience and skills in EAL teaching and learning strategies;

be motivated, enthusiastic, imaginative and innovative;

have excellent interpersonal skills;

be aware of and sensitive to the demands of working in a cross-cultural setting;

will be a dedicated teacher capable of inspiring students;

will have a working knowledge of the National Curriculum for England and an ability and aspiration to attain high standards;

will have assessment for learning skills;

will have a flexible approach to working within the school curriculum and structures;

will have demonstrated an appreciation of the value of the extra-curricular dimension in developing the potential of students;

will have a positive approach to professional development, particularly in the areas of EAL and ICT;

will be happy to commit to and apply all school policies;

Child Safeguarding:

Shrewsbury International School is committed to Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. The successful candidate will be required to

attend in-house Child Safeguarding programmes

promote and safeguard the welfare of all students in the school

report to the Child Protection Officer any concerns they have for the welfare of a student. This may include unsafe practices witnessed within the school as outlined in the schools Speak Out (Whistleblowing) Policy.

keep professional relationships with students where personal boundaries are respected and maintained

seek advice from a Line Manager or Child Protection Officer with issues or concerns related to Child Safeguarding.

Requirements:

Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service Check (DBS) prior to the start of contract.

Formal proof of identity with photo ID (Original Driving License / Passport).

2 signed, confidential references (one of which will be from the candidates current headteacher) before the start of contract.

Verification of original qualifications.

How to Apply:

Applications will only be accepted on the official Shrewsbury International School Application Form, which is available on the school website Job Vacancies page.



Further Details:



Full details of the school are available on our website at www.shrewsbury.ac.th.

Any queries should be forwarded to jobs@shrewsbury.ac.th
Find schools in Utah offering CNA training programs and courses. Learn about program requirements, and get admissions and tuition info for CNAs living in Utah.

View Schools

A CNA credential in Utah will allow you to work with registered nurses as a nursing assistant and help with patient care, basic nursing procedures and patient care procedures like bathing and movement. This article will help you find related programs available in Utah.

What You Need to Know

In Utah, you can find CNA programs at both 2-year and 4-year public schools. You could complete your certified nursing assistant training in two to five months, depending on the program's structure. That means you'll be spending between 94 to 135 hours in your studies. Your coursework will include classroom discussions at the school and clinical experiences at local facilities. Explore some of your CNA school options below.

CNA Programs in Utah

Davis Applied Technology College

The nursing assistant program at Davis Applied Technology College (DATC) is offered on Monday through Thursday evenings to adults and eligible high school students. You'll spend 70 hours in classroom studies learning about infection control and patient safety, basic nursing skills and personal care skills, as well as four hours learning CPR techniques. In a 25-hour clinical rotation, you'll learn to apply your knowledge and technical skills in a healthcare setting.

Program Name: Nurse Assistant Certificate of Proficiency

Nurse Assistant Certificate of Proficiency Program Length: 108 clock hours (about two months)

108 clock hours (about two months) Tuition and Fees: $397 (program cost, includes all fees, 2018-2019)

$397 (program cost, includes all fees, 2018-2019) Admission Requirements: Must be at least 16 (at least a second semester junior if still in high school), tuberculosis test, hepatitis B immunization, pass college admission test in reading

Must be at least 16 (at least a second semester junior if still in high school), tuberculosis test, hepatitis B immunization, pass college admission test in reading School Type: 2-year, public; approximately 3,200 students (all undergraduate)

Dixie State College of Utah

Each year, Dixie State College of Utah trains about 200 nurse assistants through lectures and clinical experiences. In this program, you'll learn basic nursing and personal care skills through coursework and training in the school's cutting-edge nursing laboratory. You gain 24 hours of clinical experience at local care facilities. The course gives you four college credit hours and prepares you to take the state's CNA credentialing exam.

Program Name: Certified Nurse Assistant Program

Certified Nurse Assistant Program Program Length: 94 clock hours (4 credits)

94 clock hours (4 credits) Tuition and Fees: $441 (program cost, includes all fees, 2018-2019)

$441 (program cost, includes all fees, 2018-2019) Admission Requirements: Tuberculosis skin test, hepatitis B immunization

Tuberculosis skin test, hepatitis B immunization School Type: 4-year, public; approximately 8,600 students (all undergraduate)

Mountainland Applied Technology College

In the CNA training program, you'll learn to monitor patients, perform basic tasks, help medical staff and assist in procedures. You'll be taught to take vital signs and assist patients with personal care, such as grooming and eating, through coursework and hands-on training. CNA training classes are offered in the mornings and afternoons at the college's Orem, Thanksgiving Point, Spanish Fork and Wasatch campuses, and Health care provider CPR from the American Red Cross is part of the program.

Program Name: Nurse Assistant (CNA Training)

Nurse Assistant (CNA Training) Program Length: 135 clock hours (about five months)

135 clock hours (about five months) Tuition and Fees: $585 (program cost, includes all fees, 2018-2019)

$585 (program cost, includes all fees, 2018-2019) Admission Requirements: Must be at least 16, tuberculosis test, hepatitis B immunization, test of reading and math skills

Must be at least 16, tuberculosis test, hepatitis B immunization, test of reading and math skills School Type: 2-year, public; approximately 2,800 students (all undergraduate)

Salt Lake Community College - Meadowbrook Campus

The CNA program at Salt Lake Community College is taught in the mornings and evenings at the Meadowbrook campus. You study anatomy and physiology, interpersonal relations and disease control, as well as complete clinical experience that includes working in an acute care setting. If you don't possess a CPR card, you may be required to complete a stand-alone CPR for Health Care Professionals course.

Program Name: Certificate of Proficiency: Certified Nursing Assistant (KCNA)

Certificate of Proficiency: Certified Nursing Assistant (KCNA) Program Length: 122 clock hours

122 clock hours Tuition and Fees: $3,843 per year for in-state students; $12,206 per year for out-of-state students, specific program costs unavailable (2018-2019)

$3,843 per year for in-state students; $12,206 per year for out-of-state students, specific program costs unavailable (2018-2019) Admission Requirements: Must be 17 upon enrollment, 18 upon completion, tuberculosis test and required immunizations, drug screening and criminal background check, test of reading and math skills, ability to lift and move patients

Must be 17 upon enrollment, 18 upon completion, tuberculosis test and required immunizations, drug screening and criminal background check, test of reading and math skills, ability to lift and move patients School Type: 2-year, public; approximately 29,200 students (all undergraduate)

In Utah, CNA certifcation includes class time along with an exam which you can prepare for though regional programs found at Davis Applied Technology College, Dixie State University, Mountainland Applied Technology College and Salt Lake Community College.
Learn about criminal justice degree programs in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Get information about classes available and program requirements to make an informed decision about your education.

View Schools

All levels of degree programs are available if you are interested in studying criminal justice in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Here you can learn about the programs and the schools that offer them.

What You Need to Know

The Philadelphia area offers a range of academic programs to individuals interested in earning a degree in criminal justice. Students may earn an associate's, bachelor's, master's, or even doctorate degree in or related to the field. Program lengths vary from two to five years, depending on the program. Individuals who have completed police academy training may be partially credited for the classes, given credit hours towards an associate's degree. Most of the bachelor's degrees in criminal justice near Philadelphia include an internship and research projects. One of the programs requires that students earn ten credit hours in a foreign language. Once a baccalaureate degree has been earned, students may choose to continue their studies by applying to the master's or the doctoral degree program available in the area. The master's degree is available through a thesis and a non-thesis track. Students who have earned a master's may be eligible for a faster-track of the Ph.D. program, which prepares students to teach or do research in the field of criminal justice.

Associate's Degree Program in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Community College of Philadelphia

The justice program at the Community College of Philadelphia requires a minimum of 60 credit hours to graduate. If you are a graduate of the Philadelphia Police Academy, you may be able to receive academic credit for a maximum of 15 credit hours. Core courses include the study of sociology, psychology, juvenile justice, and criminal law. Electives include police operations, criminal investigation, addiction studies, and organized crime.

Program: Associate in Applied Science in Justice

Associate in Applied Science in Justice Program Length: Two years, full-time

Two years, full-time Tuition and Fees: $5,142 for in-district residents; $10,284 for in-state residents; $15,426 for nonresidents (2018-2019)

$5,142 for in-district residents; $10,284 for in-state residents; $15,426 for nonresidents (2018-2019) School Type: 2-year, public; 16,672 students (all undergraduate)

Bachelor's Degree Programs in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

La Salle University

The bachelor's degree program in criminal justice is offered through the School of Arts and Sciences and includes core courses in criminology, research methods, and ethics. Electives can be chosen from a diverse array of courses, including the study of the criminal courts, social problems, violence, gender crimes, and legal writing. You can also choose to dual major in sociology or select a minor in business administration.

Program: Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice

Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Program Length: Four years, full-time

Four years, full-time Tuition and Fees: $30,710 (2018-2019)

$30,710 (2018-2019) School Type: 4-year, private not-for-profit, 5,191 students (3,904 undergraduate)

Pennsylvania State University - Penn State Abington

Penn State Abington is located about six miles from Philadelphia. The Division of Social Sciences offers a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) and a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) program in administration of justice. Both programs can teach you about investigative research methods and the criminal justice system. The B.A. curriculum also includes studies in a foreign language. The B.S. program helps you hone your research abilities and gives you the option of completing an internship.

Program: Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science in Administration of Justice

Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science in Administration of Justice Program Length: Four years, full-time

Four years, full-time Tuition and Fees: $14,524 for residents; $23,278 for nonresidents (2018-2019)

$14,524 for residents; $23,278 for nonresidents (2018-2019) School Type: 4-year, public, 3,746 students (all undergraduate)

Temple University

The Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice program is available at Temple University's main campus in Philadelphia. You can study criminal law and criminal justice research, as well as enroll in writing seminars about law enforcement or social policy. You will also be required to complete ten credit hours in a foreign language. A paid internship with the National Park Service is available, and an honors program is also offered.

Program: Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice

Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice Program Length: Four years, full-time

Four years, full-time Tuition and Fees: $16,970 for residents; $29,066 for nonresidents (2018-2019)

$16,970 for residents; $29,066 for nonresidents (2018-2019) School Type: 4-year, public, 39,740 students (29,484 undergraduate)

Master's Degree Program in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Temple University

If you would like to continue your studies in criminal justice, the Master of Arts program at Temple University can be completed in as little as two years. Part-time options are available as well. This degree program requires a minimum of 30 credit hours, and core courses include research methods, decision-making, and criminal justice theories. There is a thesis option, but you can choose to complete additional elective classes instead of writing a thesis.

Program: Master of Arts in Criminal Justice

Master of Arts in Criminal Justice Program Length: Two years, full-time

Two years, full-time Tuition: $16,488 for residents; $22,698 for nonresidents (2018-2019)

$16,488 for residents; $22,698 for nonresidents (2018-2019) Prerequisites: Bachelor's degree in criminal justice or related field

Bachelor's degree in criminal justice or related field Requirements: Goal statement; Graduate Records Examination (GRE) scores; resume; writing sample

Goal statement; Graduate Records Examination (GRE) scores; resume; writing sample School Type: 4-year, public, 39,740 students (29,484 undergraduate)

Ph.D. Program in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Temple University

The Ph.D. program is designed to prepare you for criminal justice research or teaching positions. A minimum of 48 credit hours in the classroom is required, in addition to independent research. Courses include research methods, statistical issues, theories of crime, and advanced methods in criminal justice. If you already possess a master's degree, you may be able to quality for advanced standing in this degree program.

Program: Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Criminal Justice

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Criminal Justice Program Length: Five years, full-time

Five years, full-time Tuition: $16,488 for residents; $22,698 for nonresidents (2018-2019)* Prerequisites: Bachelor's degree in criminal justice or related field

$16,488 for residents; $22,698 for nonresidents (2018-2019)* Bachelor's degree in criminal justice or related field Requirements: Goal statement; GRE scores; resume; writing sample

Goal statement; GRE scores; resume; writing sample School Type: 4-year, public, 39,740 students (29,484 undergraduate)

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is home to both public and private colleges that offer criminal justice degree programs.
Learn about EMT classes in the Washington, D.C., area. Get information about degrees available and admission and program requirements to make an informed decision about your education.

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EMTs save lives and work in very stressful, time-sensitive situations providing patient assessment, patient care and trauma prevention and management using emergency medical techniques and equipment. If this is the career for you, you can find many DC-area schools offering programs for both basic EMT and advanced paramedic certification.

What You Need to Know

You could complete your EMT-Basic training in a semester or so, or you could take two semesters to reach the paramedic level of training. Either approach will require you to take and pass the national certification examination before working in the field. Your coursework will include classroom lessons and hands-on internships.

EMT Certification Classes in the Washington, D.C., Area

Anne Arundel Community College

Anne Arundel Community College (AACC) is located about 30 miles outside of Washington, D.C. They offer a three-tiered emergency medical technician program that includes basic (EMT-B), intermediate (EMT-I) and paramedic levels. Students in the EMT-B program learn how to assess and manage patients at an incident scene or in an ambulance. The State of Maryland has designated AACC's EMT program as a Health Manpower Shortage Community College Program, which means Maryland residents outside of Anne Arundel county may be eligible for in-county resident rates on required courses.

Program Name: Emergency Medical Technician - Basic

Emergency Medical Technician - Basic Program Length: 19 weeks

19 weeks Tuition and Fees: $4,670 per year for in-county residents, $7,880 per year for out-of-county state residents, $12,740 per year for non-residents (as of 2019)

$4,670 per year for in-county residents, $7,880 per year for out-of-county state residents, $12,740 per year for non-residents (as of 2019) Prerequisites: Basic English skills

Basic English skills Requirements: Health examination record, criminal background check, orientation seminar (recommended), score of at least 27 on arithmetic placement test, copy of driver's license or photo ID

Health examination record, criminal background check, orientation seminar (recommended), score of at least 27 on arithmetic placement test, copy of driver's license or photo ID School Type: 2-year, public; about 12,886 students (all undergraduate)

Howard Community College

The EMT-B program at Howard Community College (HCC), located approximately 25 miles from Washington, D.C., will prepare you for state and national registry EMT certification. If you already have your EMT-B certification, the school also offers an EMT-Paramedic training program. At HCC, you can earn a certificate, letter of recognition or associate's degree, depending on the courses you take. If you enroll in the certificate or degree options, you'll take classes in trauma prevention and management, medical emergencies and patient assessment, as well as complete an internship for experience in the field.

Program Name: Emergency Medical Technician/Paramedic

Emergency Medical Technician/Paramedic Program Length: 2 semesters

2 semesters Tuition and Fees: $3,936 per year for in-county residents, $6,048 per year for out-of-county state residents, $7,248 per year for non-residents (as of 2019)

$3,936 per year for in-county residents, $6,048 per year for out-of-county state residents, $7,248 per year for non-residents (as of 2019) Prerequisites: English class at Howard University or passing score on placement test

English class at Howard University or passing score on placement test Requirements: At least 18 years old, Health Sciences Division health data form, criminal background check, drug screen

At least 18 years old, Health Sciences Division health data form, criminal background check, drug screen School Type: 2-year, public; about 9,211 students (all undergraduate)

Northern Virginia Community College

The EMT-B program at Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) includes instruction in patient assessment, lifting and moving patients, medical and trauma emergencies, care for infants and children, ambulance operations and patient airway support. Upon completing the program, you can continue on to get your EMT-I or paramedic certifications, or you can earn an associate's degree in emergency management services. NOVA's EMT programs are held at the school's Medical Education campus in Springfield, about 10 miles from Washington, D.C.

Program Name: Emergency Medical Technician - Basic Career Studies Certificate

Emergency Medical Technician - Basic Career Studies Certificate Program Length: 1 semester

1 semester Tuition and Fees: $5,610 per year for residents, $11,618 per year for non-residents (as of 2019)

$5,610 per year for residents, $11,618 per year for non-residents (as of 2019) Prerequisites: High school diploma or GED, at least a grade of 'C' in one unit of high school algebra and one unit of high school science

High school diploma or GED, at least a grade of 'C' in one unit of high school algebra and one unit of high school science Requirements: At least 18 years old, official transcripts (preferred), GPA of 2.0 in all general education courses taken prior to admission, CPR certification card (health care provider level), health history and physical, criminal background check, drug screen, appropriate scores on placement tests, information session (attend or watch online)

At least 18 years old, official transcripts (preferred), GPA of 2.0 in all general education courses taken prior to admission, CPR certification card (health care provider level), health history and physical, criminal background check, drug screen, appropriate scores on placement tests, information session (attend or watch online) School Type: 2-year, public; about 50,929 students (all undergraduate)

The Community College of Baltimore County

The Community College of Baltimore County (CCBC) is located about 40 miles from Washington, D.C. Their EMT-B program covers both the theory and applications of basic emergency care outside of a hospital. Some of the major topics you'll study include airway, patient assessment, obstetrics and gynecologic emergencies, operations and behavioral emergencies.

Program Name: Emergency Medical Technician Basic

Emergency Medical Technician Basic Program Length: 1 semester

1 semester Tuition and Fees: $4,276 per year for in-county residents, $7,110 per year for out-of-county state residents, $10,204 per year for non-residents (as of 2019)

$4,276 per year for in-county residents, $7,110 per year for out-of-county state residents, $10,204 per year for non-residents (as of 2019) Prerequisites: High school diploma or GED; completion of math, English, reading and English as a Second Language courses

High school diploma or GED; completion of math, English, reading and English as a Second Language courses Requirements: At least 18 years old, written permission from EMT program director

At least 18 years old, written permission from EMT program director School Type: 2-year, public; about 18,830 students (all undergraduate)

EMTs in the DC area can find certification and paramedic programs locally through schools in Maryland and Virginia, including Anne Arundel Community College, Howard County Community College, Northern Virginia Community College and The Community College of Baltimore County.
Learn about engineering degree programs offered in Connecticut. Get information about programs available and program requirements to make an informed decision about your education.

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Connecticut offers a unique mix of private and public schools that offer undergraduate and graduate level degree programs in engineering. Each program is outlined below, along with a quick look at each school.

What You Need to Know

Your degree options in engineering include bachelor's and master's programs. In addition, each degree program offers several engineering disciplines, depending on what area you'd like to pursue. If your career plans include working on engineering projects in the public sphere, you'll need to obtain licensure, so you'll want to select a program accredited by ABET.

Engineering Bachelor's Programs in Connecticut

University of Connecticut (UConn)

The School of Engineering at UConn offers some cutting-edge minors for undergraduates including nanomaterials and nanotechnology. You can participate in worldwide research with other researchers and faculty through the Research Experiences for Undergraduates program, which receives funding from the National Science Foundation. There are also research opportunities open to undergrads on campus in chemical, material and biomolecular engineering, as well as others.

Program Name: Bachelor of Science

Bachelor of Science Field of Study Options: Biomedical engineering, chemical engineering, civil engineering, computer engineering, computer science & engineering, electrical engineering, engineering physics, environmental engineering, management & engineering for manufacturing, materials science & engineering, mechanical engineering

Biomedical engineering, chemical engineering, civil engineering, computer engineering, computer science & engineering, electrical engineering, engineering physics, environmental engineering, management & engineering for manufacturing, materials science & engineering, mechanical engineering Program Length: Four years, full-time

Four years, full-time Tuition and Fees: $15,730 per year for residents and $38,098 for non-residents (2018-2019)

$15,730 per year for residents and $38,098 for non-residents (2018-2019) Prerequisites: Algebra, geometry and two years of lab science

Algebra, geometry and two years of lab science School Type: 4-year, public; 27,412 students (19,133 undergrads)

University of Hartford

At this university, you'll find engineering housed in the College of Engineering, Technology and Architecture. The engineering programs at Hartford are accredited through the ABET and may offer several tracks. The school offers both research and co-op programs to undergraduates and in some cases, students can earn credit for co-op programs.

Program Name: Bachelor of Science

Bachelor of Science Field of Study Options: Biomedical engineering, civil engineering, computer engineering, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering

Biomedical engineering, civil engineering, computer engineering, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering Program Length: Four years, full-time

Four years, full-time Tuition and Fees: $40,694 per year (2018-2019)

$40,694 per year (2018-2019) Prerequisites: prerequisite coursework

prerequisite coursework School Type: 4-year, private, not-for-profit; 6,770 students (5,000 undergrads)

Yale University

The School of Engineering & Applied Science at Yale offers ABET-accredited Bachelor of Science in Engineering Sciences programs with several majors. Within the engineering program, you'll take courses in math and science, as well as major specific coursework in biomedical, chemical, electrical and mechanical engineering. In addition to the Bachelor of Science, you can complete a Bachelor of Arts, as well as take graduate level courses with instructor permission. In addition to coursework, students can complete lab courses in the SEAS shop facilities.

Program Name: Bachelor of Science in Engineering Sciences or Bachelor of Arts in Engineering Sciences

Bachelor of Science in Engineering Sciences or Bachelor of Arts in Engineering Sciences Field of Study Options: Biomedical engineering, chemical & environmental engineering, electrical engineering, electrical engineering & computer science, mechanical engineering & material science, engineering & applied science

Biomedical engineering, chemical & environmental engineering, electrical engineering, electrical engineering & computer science, mechanical engineering & material science, engineering & applied science Program Length: Four years, full-time

Four years, full-time Tuition and Fees: $53,430 per year (2018-2019)

$53,430 per year (2018-2019) School Type: 4-year, private, not-for-profit; 13,433 students (5,964 undergrads)

Engineering Master's Programs in Connecticut

University of Connecticut

This school offers a Master of Engineering program for chemical engineering, civil engineering, environmental engineering, materials science and engineering & mechanical engineering. The program takes place in a hybrid distance-learning format and some classes can be attended at designated work sites throughout the area. If you opt for an on-campus Master of Science program, you'll have access to research facilities including the Center for Clean Energy Engineering, the Booth Engineering Center for Advanced Technology and the Connecticut Transportation Institute.

Program Name: Master of Science or Master of Engineering

Master of Science or Master of Engineering Field of Study Areas: Biomedical engineering, environmental engineering, geotechnical engineering, structural engineering, transportation & urban engineering, civil engineering, chemical engineering, materials science & engineering, biomolecular engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical & computer engineering

Biomedical engineering, environmental engineering, geotechnical engineering, structural engineering, transportation & urban engineering, civil engineering, chemical engineering, materials science & engineering, biomolecular engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical & computer engineering Program Length: 2.5 years, full-time

2.5 years, full-time Tuition and Fees: $17,660 per year for residents and $39,272 for non-residents (2018-2019)

$17,660 per year for residents and $39,272 for non-residents (2018-2019) Prerequisites: Discipline-related bachelor's degree

Discipline-related bachelor's degree Admission requirements: GRE scores, letters of recommendation

GRE scores, letters of recommendation School Type: 4-year, public; 27,412 students (19,133 graduate students)

University of Hartford

Within the civil engineering field of study, you can complete specializations in environmental, structural and transportation engineering. Within mechanical engineering, you can specialize in manufacturing and turbomachinery engineering. Some of the facilities and activities you'll have access to as an engineering student include the CT NASA Space Grant Consortium, Engineers Without Borders and the Center for Integrated Design. The school also has international partnerships with universities in Shanghai, Afghanistan and Baghdad. Additionally, you can complete a dual degree in engineering and business administration.

Program Name: Master of Engineering

Master of Engineering Field of Study Areas: Civil engineering, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering

Civil engineering, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering Program Length: 30 credits (about 2 years)

30 credits (about 2 years) Tuition and Fees: $13,055 per year (2018-2019)

$13,055 per year (2018-2019) Prerequisites: Appropriate bachelor's degree in engineering

Appropriate bachelor's degree in engineering School Type: 4-year, private, not-for-profit; 6,770 students (5,000 graduate students)

University of New Haven

If you don't have a Bachelor of Science degree in a related field, you can still be accepted on a provisional basis. In order to do so, you'll have to commit to completing a series of courses before you begin your graduate engineering studies. Some of the research facilities you'll have access to include the Instrumentation and Mechanics Laboratory, the Center for Thermofluid and Multiphase Phenomena and the Multidisciplinary Foundation Laboratory. You can also participate in a variety of engineering clubs that encourage ethnocentric achievement, as well as technical organizations, such as the Robotics Club.

Program Name: Master of Science

Master of Science Field of Study Areas: Computer science, electrical engineering, engineering management, mechanical engineering, engineering & operations management, environmental engineering, industrial engineering, network systems

Computer science, electrical engineering, engineering management, mechanical engineering, engineering & operations management, environmental engineering, industrial engineering, network systems Program Length: 33 credits (about 2 years, full-time)

33 credits (about 2 years, full-time) Tuition and Fees: $16,690 per year (2018-2019)

$16,690 per year (2018-2019) Prerequisites: Bachelor's degree

Bachelor's degree Admission Requirements: 2 letters of recommendation, GMAT or GRE scores

2 letters of recommendation, GMAT or GRE scores School Type: 4-year, private, not-for-profit; 6,867 students (5,092 graduate students)

This article has shown students in the Connecticut area how they can earn a bachelor's or master's degree in engineering from several institutions and choose from a wide array of specializations, including electrical, environmental, civil, and mechanical engineering.
Learn about information technology degrees in San Francisco, California. Get information about programs available and degree requirements to make an informed decision about your education.

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In this article, you will read about several colleges and universities that offer associate's, bachelor's, and master's degree programs in information technology in the San Francisco, CA area.

What You Need to Know

Information technology degree programs near San Francisco might be completed through area 2- or 4-year schools. You could pursue a 60-credit associate's degree in computer information systems or computer programming, to learn entry-level job skills and possibly transfer to a 4-year program at a later time. A 4-year bachelor's degree program in business is offered locally with an appropriate specialization available in information technology. Some courses are also offered online. If you already have a bachelor's degree, information technology work experience or at least a minimum number of college credits in the field, you might be admitted into a master's degree program in information technology management or information systems, with a variety of concentrations available. Read the following summaries to get all of the important details.

Associate's Degree Programs near San Francisco, California

College of Alameda

College of Alameda offers an associate's degree in computer information systems that covers computer terminology, computer applications and programming languages. Courses include spreadsheet applications, database management, C programming, Windows networking and computer troubleshooting. Credits earned in this program can be transferred into a bachelor's program. College of Alameda also offers computer applications, web publishing and desktop support technician certificates.

Program Name: Associate of Arts in Computer Information Systems

Associate of Arts in Computer Information Systems Program Length: 60 credit hours

60 credit hours Tuition: $1,254 per year for in-state students and $7,806 per year for out-of-state students (2018-2019)

$1,254 per year for in-state students and $7,806 per year for out-of-state students (2018-2019) School Type: 2-year, public; roughly 6,400 undergraduates

Laney College

Offered through Laney College's Computer Information Systems Department, the associate's program in computer programming can prepare you for the workforce or for enrollment in a 4-year program. The curriculum covers operating systems scripting, introductory computer programming, data communications and networks and operating systems. You can also study web publishing and Java programming.

Program Name: Associate of Arts in Computer Programming

Associate of Arts in Computer Programming Program Length: Minimum 60 credit hours

Minimum 60 credit hours Tuition: $1,254 per year for in-state students and $7,806 per year for out-of-state students (2018-2019)

$1,254 per year for in-state students and $7,806 per year for out-of-state students (2018-2019) School Type: 2-year, public; roughly 10,400 undergraduates

Bachelor's Degree Program near San Francisco, California

Golden Gate University

Golden Gate University's Bachelor of Science in Business program with a concentration in information technology covers a variety of information technology and business management topics. You can learn about social media in business, information technology for managers, project management and database administration. Courses may be offered on campus and online.

Program Name: Bachelor of Science in Business

Bachelor of Science in Business Specialization Area: Information technology

Information technology Program Length: 123 semester credit hours

123 semester credit hours Tuition: $16,095 per year (2018-2019)

$16,095 per year (2018-2019) Admission Requirements: Either a cumulative 2.0 GPA with at least 24 college credits or a cumulative 3.0 high school GPA, at least three years of work experience and a statement of purpose

Either a cumulative 2.0 GPA with at least 24 college credits or a cumulative 3.0 high school GPA, at least three years of work experience and a statement of purpose School Type: 4-year, private not-for-profit; about 400 undergraduates and 2,100 graduates

Master's Degree Programs near San Francisco, California

Golden Gate University (GGU)

In GGU's Master of Science in Information Technology Management program, you can learn a variety of information technology and business skills to help advance your career. Some courses in the program include project management, management information systems and data mining. You can also take elective courses in areas such as security, database management and emerging technologies.

Program Name: Master of Science in Information Technology Management

Master of Science in Information Technology Management Specialization Areas: General or management of healthcare information

General or management of healthcare information Program Length: 45 credit hours

45 credit hours Tuition: $18,985 per year (2018-2019)

$18,985 per year (2018-2019) Prerequisites: Bachelor's degree

Bachelor's degree Admission Requirements: Minimum three years information technology work experience or 30 credit hours in undergraduate computer information systems courses

Minimum three years information technology work experience or 30 credit hours in undergraduate computer information systems courses School Type: 4-year, private not-for-profit; about 400 undergraduates and over 2,100 graduates

University of San Francisco (USF)

The information systems master's program at University of San Francisco focuses on IT management skills. You'll study information security, communications and networks, data warehousing, global information systems and project management. The program culminates in a capstone project. In addition, USF offers master's degrees in computer science and web science.

Program Name: Master of Science in Information Systems

Master of Science in Information Systems Specialization Areas: General, information security or biotechnology

General, information security or biotechnology Program Length: 36 credit hours

36 credit hours Tuition: $24,990 per year (2018-2019)

$24,990 per year (2018-2019) Prerequisites: Bachelor's degree with a minimum 2.7 GPA in upper-division courses and a minimum 3.0 GPA in upper-division major courses

Bachelor's degree with a minimum 2.7 GPA in upper-division courses and a minimum 3.0 GPA in upper-division major courses Admission Requirements: Two letters of recommendation

Two letters of recommendation School Type: 4-year, private not-for-profit; over 6,700 undergraduates and 4,000 graduates

In summary, the College of Alameda, Laney College, Golden Gate University, and the University of San Francisco all offer programs in the San Francisco area in the field of information technology.
In an effort to increase access to college education, Central University in Chile and LaGuardia Community College in New York have teamed up to launch the Community College of Santiago, Chile's first community college. Modeled after such institutions in the U.S., Santiago offers an affordable technical education that can lead to a career or transfer to Central University.

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Closing the Education Gap

Community colleges are a hot topic in the U.S. right now. The Obama administration is pushing 2-year institutions as a key part of the effort to increase college completion rates because they offer a low-cost means to prepare for a career or transfer to a university with the first two years of a bachelor's degree already completed.

With the Community College of Santiago, educators in Chile are hoping to increase college access by importing that model.

There are plenty of professional institutes and technical education centers in Chile. But until now, technical education has been looked down upon by employers and universities, making it a poor route to a career or 4-year education. Santiago has overcome that stigma through its association with Chile's Central University, making it the first institution that can truly bring college education to those who can't afford four years at a university.

A Model for Social Mobility

The Community College of Santiago is operated by Central University and supported by LaGuardia Community College, part of the City University of New York (CUNY) system. The connection between Central and LaGuardia was originally formed by Jorge Perez, a Chilean expat who teaches math at LaGuardia.

Five years ago, Perez's passion for community colleges as an 'engine for social mobility' led him to link up a former student, who was a dean at Central University, with the administration at LaGuardia. The relationship led to Santiago, and an export of the unique educational opportunities afforded by the community college system.

Current students at Santiago can earn a degree in accounting, business management, construction management, network administration and security, programming or telecommunications. For students who want to transfer, all of the coursework is fully recognized by Central University. Students in five of the six programs will also earn a dual degree from LaGuardia. The CUNY institution reviews the programs' curricula to ensure that they meet New York's high academic standards.

The programs have also already outshone other Chilean technical education in the eyes of employers. The links to LaGuardia and Central University have bolstered the reputation and value of the degree. In an interview with The Chronicle of Higher Education, Cristopher Valdes Vergarra, a current student at Santiago, said that his boss plans to promote him when he finishes his 2-year degree in construction management.

Given the early success of the institution, Santiago is already planning its next step. The institution will add more degree programs, and it is aiming to triple its enrollment. Administrators are particularly focused on workforce development, hoping to train more skilled workers and boost Chile's economy.

In order to promote this aspect of the college, administrators have created ties with local industry, recruiting donors to create institutional scholarships and members for a business advisory board. They hope to create internships and more post-graduation employment opportunities by tailoring the college curricula to industry needs.
Learn about medical school degree programs in Colorado. Get information about admission and degree requirements to make an informed decision about your education.

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For those wishing to pursue an advanced medical degree to become a medical doctor, physician's assistant or medical researcher, you can find programs through the University of Colorado at Denver. Depending on your personal educational goals, you might pursue a doctoral degree or a master's degree. You can find important school information, program requirements and costs for each below.

What You Need to Know

Various medical degrees are offered by the University of Colorado at Denver. Depending on the level of the program, students must complete between three and eight years of intensive study as they prepare to become physician assistants, medical doctors or medical scientists. Prospective students of these programs should expect to fulfill residency, rotation, fellowship, or thesis requirements.

Doctoral Medical School Degrees in Colorado

University of Colorado at Denver (Anschutz Medical Campus)

Featuring selective admissions (entering students' grade point average was 3.74 in fall 2011), the University of Colorado School of Medicine offers an MD program with four phases of curricular requirements. In addition to the 2-phase essentials core and clinical core courses, you will complete advanced studies courses and participate in the Mentored Scholarly Activity program. Upon completion of the 4-year program, you may complete graduate medical education in one of 81 accredited specialized residency and fellowship programs at the University of Colorado Hospital or one of the program's four affiliate hospitals.

Program name : Doctor of Medicine (MD)

: Doctor of Medicine (MD) Program length : 4 years plus residency

: 4 years plus residency Tuition and Fees : $8,017 annually for residents; $23,821 for non-residents (2018-2019)

: $8,017 annually for residents; $23,821 for non-residents (2018-2019) Prerequisites : Baccalaureate degree or 120 semester hours with coursework in biology, general and organic chemistry, physics, English and mathematics

: Baccalaureate degree or 120 semester hours with coursework in biology, general and organic chemistry, physics, English and mathematics Requirements : Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), personal essay, application through American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS)

: Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), personal essay, application through American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS) School type: Public school

University of Colorado at Denver (Anschutz Medical Campus)

This dual degree program culminates in a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) and a Doctor of Medicine (MD) through the completion of an 8-year program of study. The program combines the curricular requirements of the MD program with biomedical research. You'll take basic science labs and courses, complete a comprehensive exam and research and write a thesis.

Program name : Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) (MD/PhD)

: Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) (MD/PhD) Program length : 8 years (full-time)

: 8 years (full-time) Tuition and Fees : $8,017 annually for residents; $23,821 for non-residents (2018-2019)

: $8,017 annually for residents; $23,821 for non-residents (2018-2019) Prerequisites : Baccalaureate degree with required coursework in biology, general and organic chemistry, physics, English and mathematics

: Baccalaureate degree with required coursework in biology, general and organic chemistry, physics, English and mathematics Requirements : Recommendation letters; AMCAS application

: Recommendation letters; AMCAS application School type: Public school

Master's Level Medical Degree Program in Colorado

University of Colorado at Denver (Anschutz Medical Campus)

The MPAS program at the University of Colorado School of Medicine combines clinical and interdisciplinary science education in a 3-year program of study. As a graduate student, you may pursue specialized degree tracks in global health, rural medicine and urban/underserved medicine as well the Leadership, Education, Advocacy, Development and Scholarship (LEADS) track, featuring interdisciplinary coursework and projects to develop skills specifically related to serving underserved patients. You'll complete rotations and take courses in specific areas, such as family medicine, emergency medicine, pediatrics and women's health, as well as a variety of other specialties.

Program name : Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS)

: Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS) Program length : 36 months (full-time)

: 36 months (full-time) Tuition and Fees : $8,017 annually for residents; $23,821 for non-residents (2018-2019)

: $8,017 annually for residents; $23,821 for non-residents (2018-2019) Prerequisites : Baccalaureate degree with minimum 2.8 GPA and required courses in biology, chemistry, genetics, psychology and statistics

: Baccalaureate degree with minimum 2.8 GPA and required courses in biology, chemistry, genetics, psychology and statistics Requirements : General Record Examination (GRE); ability to demonstrate basic communication and observation abilities, intellectual and behavioral capabilities and motor skills

: General Record Examination (GRE); ability to demonstrate basic communication and observation abilities, intellectual and behavioral capabilities and motor skills School type: Public school

At the Anschultz Medical Campus of the University of Colorado at Denver, one will find degree programs and training for medical doctors and medical scientists at the doctoral level and for physician's assistants at the master's degree level.
Discover which schools offer nursing programs in Kentucky. Find out requirements, prerequisites, and school information so you can make an informed education decision.

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Do you need to know which schools in Kentucky offer nursing programs? Get details on three universities in the state offering undergraduate and/or graduate degrees in the field.

What You Need to Know

You can find nursing programs on levels ranging from certificate to doctoral degrees at Kentucky schools. Bachelor's or master's degree programs in nursing can include hands-on clinical practicums, and many programs will prepare you for the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). Although bachelor's programs provide a general education in nursing topics and techniques, master's programs allow you to focus your education on a nurse practitioner specialty. Explore some 4-year, public schools with nursing programs below.

Nursing Bachelor's Degree Programs in Kentucky

Eastern Kentucky University

As a student in Eastern Kentucky's bachelor's degree program in nursing, you'll be required to enroll in the University as a pre-baccalaureate nursing major. Before you'll be eligible to take nursing lab courses, you'll need to maintain at least a 2.5 GPA and receive approval from the department chair. You'll also need to complete a series of prerequisite courses in areas such as biology, chemistry, and nutrition before taking clinical nursing courses. Some of the courses you'll be required to take include health care leadership, adult health nursing, nursing theory, and clinical drug therapy.

Program Name: Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program Length: 4 years

4 years Tuition and Fees: $9,666 per year for in-state students; $19,444 per year for out-of-state students (2018-2019)

$9,666 per year for in-state students; $19,444 per year for out-of-state students (2018-2019) Prerequisites: CPR training; courses (see description below)

CPR training; courses (see description below) Admission Requirements: Proof of immunization and tuberculosis screenings; background check

Proof of immunization and tuberculosis screenings; background check School Type: 4-year, public; 15,815 students (13,398 undergraduate)

University of Louisville

Your tenure at the University of Louisville's bachelor's degree in nursing will be separated into two phases, both of which entail separate entrance processes. The first phase requires that you have at least a 21 composite ACT score and 2.8 high school or college GPA. This phase encompasses general education courses such as math, sociology, and psychology, in addition to fundamental nursing courses, such as human nutrition, pathophysiology, and pharmacotherapeutics. The second, more advanced, phase of your studies requires that you have completed the first phase of courses and all other undergraduate coursework with at least a 2.8 GPA. It also requires that you've earned at least a 'C' in all prerequisite science, nutrition, and English courses. This second phase encompasses your advanced core nursing courses, a leadership practicum, and a professional nursing practicum.

Program Name: Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program Length: 4 years

4 years Tuition and Fees: $11,656 per year for in-state students; $27,278 per year for out-of-state students (2018-2019)

$11,656 per year for in-state students; $27,278 per year for out-of-state students (2018-2019) School Type: 4-year, public; 21,430 students (15,641 undergraduate)

Western Kentucky University

Western Kentucky's bachelor's degree program in nursing will provide you with a base of knowledge in areas such as communication, critical thinking, and leadership. In addition to conventional coursework, you'll enhance your education through clinical supervision in various hospital departments, long-term care facilities, schools, and health departments. Once you complete this program, you'll be eligible to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX), the test you must pass in order to obtain your license to practice.

Program Name: Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program Length: 4 years

4 years Tuition and Fees: $10,512 per year for in-state students; $26,280 per year for out-of-state students (2018-2019)

$10,512 per year for in-state students; $26,280 per year for out-of-state students (2018-2019) Prerequisites: 3 semesters of undergraduate courses (see description below)

3 semesters of undergraduate courses (see description below) Admission Requirements: Entrance exam; Liability insurance; criminal background check; drug screening; medical history documentation; proof of immunization; medical exam; personal health insurance

Entrance exam; Liability insurance; criminal background check; drug screening; medical history documentation; proof of immunization; medical exam; personal health insurance School Type: 4-year, public; 19,456 students (17,030 undergraduate)

Nursing Master's Degree Programs in Kentucky

University of Louisville

You may complete Louisville's master's degree program in nursing on either a full-time or part-time basis. You'll also have the option of choosing one of four concentrations: adult nurse practitioner, family nurse practitioner, neonatal nurse practitioner, or psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner. Your core courses will encompass areas such as health care systems, statistics, informatics, and evidenced-based nursing. As a precondition for graduation, you may be required to complete several hundred hours of supervised clinical experience in a variety of professional settings, such as hospitals, long-term care facilities, and medical offices.

Program Name: Master of Science in Nursing

Master of Science in Nursing Program Length: 51 credit hours (approximately 4 semesters)

51 credit hours (approximately 4 semesters) Tuition and Fees: $12,880 per year for in-state students; $26,650 per year for out-of-state students (2018-2019)

$12,880 per year for in-state students; $26,650 per year for out-of-state students (2018-2019) Prerequisites: Bachelor's degree in nursing

Bachelor's degree in nursing Admission Requirements: Official GRE scores; criminal background check;

Official GRE scores; criminal background check; School Type: 4-year, public; 21,430 students (15,641 undergraduate)

Western Kentucky University

Western Kentucky's master's degree program in nursing allows you to choose one of four specialties in which to concentrate your studies: family nurse practitioner, psychiatric nurse practitioner, nurse educator and nurse administrator. The core courses that you'll take, regardless of your specialty, include research applications, advanced nursing theory, and nursing health policy. You should expect to gain a diverse range of skills through this program, such as the ability to apply nursing concepts and theories in a clinical setting, apply ethical principles to your professional practice, and analyze healthcare issues from various perspectives.

Program Name: Master of Science in Nursing

Master of Science in Nursing Program Length: 33-48 credit hours, depending on specialty (approximately 3-4 semesters)

33-48 credit hours, depending on specialty (approximately 3-4 semesters) Tuition: $12,140 per year for in-state students; $17,980 per year for out-of-state students (2018-2019)

$12,140 per year for in-state students; $17,980 per year for out-of-state students (2018-2019) Prerequisites: Bachelor's of science in nursing; CPR certification; RN licensure

Bachelor's of science in nursing; CPR certification; RN licensure Admission Requirements: Liability insurance; criminal background check; drug screening; medical history documentation; proof of immunization; medical exam; personal health insurance; professional resume

Liability insurance; criminal background check; drug screening; medical history documentation; proof of immunization; medical exam; personal health insurance; professional resume School Type: 4-year, public; 19,456 students (17,030 undergraduate)

In summary, the information presented here covers three schools that offer nursing programs in Kentucky - two of the schools, the University of Louisville and Western Kentucky, offer a bachelor's and master's degree.
Learn about schools in Cleveland, Ohio that offer teaching and school administration degrees. Get information about degree options and admissions requirements to make an informed decision about your education.

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If you are looking for teaching and school administration degree programs in Cleveland, Ohio, this article can help. It provides school and program information for four colleges that offer such degree programs.

What You Need to Know

In Cleveland, community colleges, 4-year colleges and universities offer teaching programs at the associate's, bachelor's and master's degree levels. Associate's degree programs in this field take two years to finish and focus on early childhood education. Master's and bachelor's degree programs include a variety of specializations. Bachelor's degree programs prepare students for licensure as an educator in the state of Ohio. Master's degree programs may require students to complete a project, thesis or examinations in order to graduate, and some may prepare students to go on to a doctoral degree program. Many programs at different levels provide student teaching or field experience. Below are some of the teaching programs available at Cleveland schools. Read on for more details and to see if any will work for your needs.

Associate Degree in Teaching and School Administration in Cleveland, Ohio

Cuyahoga Community College

Students who want to earn an Associate of Applied Science need to earn a total of 60 semester credit hours. Within the early childhood education program, you'll take part in 30 volunteer hours and 330 hours of field experience. The program focuses on child development and learning for children, ages infancy through five years old.

Program Name: Associate of Applied Science in Early Childhood Education

Associate of Applied Science in Early Childhood Education Program Length: 2 years, full time

2 years, full time Tuition and Fees: $3,436 for in-district students; $4,322 for in-state students; $8,136 for out-of-state students (2018-2019)

$3,436 for in-district students; $4,322 for in-state students; $8,136 for out-of-state students (2018-2019) School Type: 2-year, public; 23,440 (all undergraduate students)

Bachelor's Degrees in Teaching and School Administration in Cleveland, Ohio

Cleveland State University

If you want to study childhood education, you'll earn between 133 and 146 credits for the bachelor's degree. The school also offers teacher education programs that prepare you for licensure in Ohio. Throughout your studies, you'll learn about educational technology, curriculum, special education and teaching methods.

Program Names: Bachelor of Science in Education

Bachelor of Science in Education Areas of Concentration: Early childhood education, middle childhood education, physical education and sport, special education and teacher licensure

Early childhood education, middle childhood education, physical education and sport, special education and teacher licensure Program Length: 4 years, full time

4 years, full time Tuition and Fees: $10,457 for in-state students; $14,824 for out-of-state students (2018-2019)

$10,457 for in-state students; $14,824 for out-of-state students (2018-2019) School Type: 4-year, public 11,999 undergraduates and 4,070 graduates

John Carroll University

You'll learn about child development, assessment and curriculum development as part of the bachelor's degree programs at John Carroll University. Each of the degree programs can prepare you for teacher licensure in Ohio. By your senior year, you'll take part in student teaching to develop professional experience.

Program Names: Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science

Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science Fields of Study: Early childhood, middle childhood, multi-age, adolescent/young adult, physical education and exercise science

Early childhood, middle childhood, multi-age, adolescent/young adult, physical education and exercise science Program Length: 4 years, full time

4 years, full time Tuition and Fees: $41,340 (2018-2019)

$41,340 (2018-2019) School Type: 4-year, private; not-for-profit; 3,076 undergraduates and 479 graduates

Notre Dame College

As part of your teacher education studies at Notre Dame College, you'll learn about issues in education, ways to manage the classroom and how to teach students of all backgrounds. Field experience and student teaching will also be part of your studies. The degree programs are designed to prepare you for the teacher licensure process in Ohio.

Program Name: Bachelor of Arts

Bachelor of Arts Fields of Study: Early childhood, middle childhood and adolescent/young adult

Early childhood, middle childhood and adolescent/young adult Program Length: 4 years, full time

4 years, full time Tuition and Fees: $30,160 (2018-2019)

$30,160 (2018-2019) School Type: 4-year, private; not-for-profit; 1,571 undergraduates and 129 graduates

Master's Degrees in Teaching and School Administration in Cleveland, Ohio

Cleveland State University

If you are ready to further your career as a teacher, then you can consider a master's degree to gain research experience and leadership skills. Depending on your program, the Master of Education program may require you to complete a thesis, project or pass examinations. There are also master's degree programs that prepare teachers for the licensure process. Additionally, this school offers a Ph.D. program in urban education, which offers specialization options in areas like school administration, learning and development, and counseling education.

Program Names: Master of Education

Master of Education Fields of Study: Early childhood education, educational research, elementary education, gifted and talented learners, educational administration, educational technology, organizational leadership, literacy development and instruction, middle childhood education, secondary education and special education

Early childhood education, educational research, elementary education, gifted and talented learners, educational administration, educational technology, organizational leadership, literacy development and instruction, middle childhood education, secondary education and special education Program Length: 2 years, full time

2 years, full time Tuition and Fees: $9,942 for in-state students; $16,905 for out-of-state students (2018-2019)

$9,942 for in-state students; $16,905 for out-of-state students (2018-2019) Prerequisite: Bachelor's degree

Bachelor's degree School Type: 4-year, public 11,999 undergraduates and 4,070 graduates

John Carroll University

Many of the master's degree programs are for future educators seeking licensure. For the Master of Education program, you'll earn between 40 and 46 credits and take part in a teaching internship. You're likely to learn about school law, leadership, curriculum and research methods.

Program Names: Master of Arts and Master of Education

Master of Arts and Master of Education Fields of Study: Education, school counseling, school psychology and educational administration

Education, school counseling, school psychology and educational administration Program Length: 2 years, full time

2 years, full time Tuition and Fees: $15,471 (2018-2019)

$15,471 (2018-2019) Prerequisite: Bachelor's degree

Bachelor's degree Admissions Requirements: Minimum 2.75 GPA and interview

Minimum 2.75 GPA and interview School Type: 4-year, private; not-for-profit; 3,076 undergraduates and 479 graduates

Cleveland is home to a number of schools that offer teaching and school administration degree programs including Cuyahoga Community College, Cleveland State University, John Carroll University and Notre Dame College.
Find out which Washington, D.C., schools offer web development degrees. See requirements and school information for students looking for web development degrees across the area.

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Whether you are looking to study at the associate or bachelor's degree level, web development programs are available at several colleges across Washington, D.C. Compare the information given in this article to make an educated choice about where to study.

What You Need to Know

Web development classes are offered through associate degree programs in the field; you can also study Web development through bachelor's degree programs in computer science or information technology. Graduates of associate's degree programs can enter the workforce or transfer to a 4-year bachelor's degree program. Bachelor's degree students can take web-related classes through elective choices. Read on for more about these schools and programs.

Associate Degree Programs in Web Development Near Washington, D.C.

Montgomery College - Rockville Campus

If you want to start your web design career, you can enrol in Montgomery College's Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) in Web Careers degree program. The curriculum is based around web development courses, as well as classes in computer programming and security. Some topics you can study in the A.A.S. program include Flash, Photoshop and the fundamentals of graphic design.

Program Name: Associate of Applied Science in Web Careers

Associate of Applied Science in Web Careers Program Length: 2 years with course load of 15 credits per semester (60 credits total required)

2 years with course load of 15 credits per semester (60 credits total required) Tuition & Fees: $5,178 per year in-district, $9,966 per year in-state, $13,602 per year out-of-state (2018-2019)

$5,178 per year in-district, $9,966 per year in-state, $13,602 per year out-of-state (2018-2019) School Type: 2-year, public; 21,720 students (all undergraduate)

College of Southern Maryland

The College of Southern Maryland is a community college less than 30 miles from Washington, D.C. The college offers an A.A.S. degree program for aspiring web developers that covers skills ranging from HTML coding to web graphics and multimedia. Courses that are available in the A.A.S. program include computer security, .NET technology, web programming, web authoring and operating systems concepts. After you graduate, you can apply to transfer to any University of Maryland campus to complete a bachelor's degree.

Program Name: Associate of Applied Science - Information Services Technology - Web Developer

Associate of Applied Science - Information Services Technology - Web Developer Program Length: 2 years, full-time

2 years, full-time Tuition & Fees: $3,825 per year in-district, $6,660 per year in-state, $8,580 per year out-of-state (2018-2019)

$3,825 per year in-district, $6,660 per year in-state, $8,580 per year out-of-state (2018-2019) School Type: 2-year, public; 6,882 students (all undergraduate)

Bachelor's Degree Programs in Web Development Near Washington, D.C.

George Washington University

George Washington University offers both a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) and a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Computer Science. The B.A. program provides an interdisciplinary, liberal arts approach toward learning about computer science. The B.S. program is more quantitative and includes more courses in mathematics, computer engineering and computer science. Although there is not a concentration in web development at George Washington University, there are courses that will help you prepare for this career. For example, you can take web software development and Java programming.

Program Name: Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science in Computer Science

Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science in Computer Science Program Length: 4 years, full-time

4 years, full-time Tuition & Fees: $55,230 per year (2018-2019)

$55,230 per year (2018-2019) School Type: 4-year, private not-for-profit; 28,172 students (12,546 undergraduate)

University of the District of Columbia

The University of the District of Columbia offers two B.S. specialization options: computer science and information technology. Although the B.S. degree is not entirely focused on web development, you can take courses that cover relevant topics, including HTML, XHTML, JavaScript and CSS. An advanced web development course is also available, and it covers more complex programming languages like .NET, ColdFusion and PHP.

Program Name: Bachelor of Science in Computer Science or Information Technology

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science or Information Technology Program Length: 4 years with course load of 15-16 credits per semester (122-123 credits required to graduate)

4 years with course load of 15-16 credits per semester (122-123 credits required to graduate) Tuition & Fees: $5,888 per year in-state, $12,416 per year out-of-state (2018-2019)

$5,888 per year in-state, $12,416 per year out-of-state (2018-2019) School Type: 4-year, public; 4,244 students (3,867 undergraduate)

In summary, those looking to study web development in Washington may consider Montgomery College or the College of Southern Maryland for an associate degree in the field, or George Washington University or the University of the District of Columbia for bachelor's degree programs.
Learn about information technology degrees in Wichita, Kansas. Get information about programs available and admission requirements to make an informed decision about your education.

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Students in the Wichita, KS, area have a few school options for undergraduate degrees in information technology. Once enrolled, there are a variety of specializations students can choose from to hone their technical skills.

What You Need to Know

Individuals near Wichita interested in earning a degree in information technology (IT) may choose from associate's and bachelor's degree programs offered by 2-year and 4-year public and private schools. Degrees in computer technology and IT usually offer students a selection of areas of study from which to choose; students may specialize in subfields such as software development, digital media, database administration, or internetworking, among others. Computer literacy is often required for admission. Some bachelor's degree programs are designed for students who have already completed two years of formal education in the field, roughly the equivalent of having earned an associate's degree.

Associate's Degree Programs near Wichita, Kansas

Butler Community College

At Butler Community College, you can enroll in one of many degree programs offered in the field of information technology. The coursework offered through these programs will differ based on the academic area of study, but some common concepts may be shared through all of the programs, such as programming, SQL, networking management and desktop systems. Additionally, information technology fundamentals are covered in most programs, and general education courses are also included.

Program Name: Associate in Applied Science (multiple majors)

Associate in Applied Science (multiple majors) Majors: Database administration, cyber security, digital media, interactive 3D technology, software development, internetworking management, Windows administration or web development

Database administration, cyber security, digital media, interactive 3D technology, software development, internetworking management, Windows administration or web development Program Length: 60-63 semester credit hours

60-63 semester credit hours Tuition and Fees (2018-2019): $3,180 for in-district students; $3,510 for in-state students; $5,310 for out-of-state students

$3,180 for in-district students; $3,510 for in-state students; $5,310 for out-of-state students Admission Requirements: Computer literacy with skills in computer applications and fundamental English and algebra proficiency

Computer literacy with skills in computer applications and fundamental English and algebra proficiency School Type: 2-year, public; 8,374 students (all undergraduates)

Hesston College

The Associate of Applied Arts and Sciences in Computer Information Technology degree program can prepare you for a career in information technology or for transfer to a 4-year program. The curriculum also prepares you for a wide variety of industry certifications through product and software vendors. You can expect to take courses such as service and support, computer network administration, Microsoft Windows server administration and computer programming.

Program Name: Associate of Applied Arts and Sciences in Computer Information Technology

Associate of Applied Arts and Sciences in Computer Information Technology Program Length: Approximately 60 semester credit hours

Approximately 60 semester credit hours Tuition and Fees (2018-2019): $26,900

$26,900 School Type: 4-year, primarily associate's, private not-for-profit; 419 students (all undergraduates)

Newman University

The Associate of Science in Information Technology degree program from Newman University offers courses in subjects like computer hardware, information technology, management information systems and programming. You can also pursue an information technology elective course.

Program Name: Associate of Science in Information Technology

Associate of Science in Information Technology Program Length: Minimum 62 semester credit hours

Minimum 62 semester credit hours Tuition and Fees (2018-2019): $30,750

$30,750 School Type: 4-year, private not-for-profit; 3,373 students (2,766 undergraduates)

Bachelor's Degree Programs near Wichita, Kansas

Friends University

The Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems program is designed for students with roughly 2 years of college credits. You can also pursue the combined program to earn your bachelor's degree in computer information systems and master's degree in management information systems. Core courses for the program include web programming, information security, computer programming and human computer interaction.

Program Name: Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems

Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems Program Length: 124 semester credit hours

124 semester credit hours Tuition and Fees (2018-2019): $28,415

$28,415 Admission Requirements: 62 transferable credit hours, writing courses and algebra course with minimum 'C' grade and computer information systems course

62 transferable credit hours, writing courses and algebra course with minimum 'C' grade and computer information systems course School Type: 4-year, private not-for profit; 1,926 students (1,356 undergraduates)

Newman University

You can also pursue a bachelor's degree in information technology from Newman University. Some required courses include web design and development, database management systems and systems design and project management. A portfolio course is also required for this degree program.

Program Name: Bachelor of Science in Information Technology

Bachelor of Science in Information Technology Program Length: 124 semester credit hours

124 semester credit hours Tuition and Fees (2018-2019): $30,750

$30,750 School Type: 4-year, private not-for-profit; 3,373 students (2,766 undergraduates)

All things considered, there are several strong school & program options for you to choose from to study information technology in the Wichita area.
Learn about telecommunications degree programs in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Get information about degrees available and program requirements to make an informed decision about your education.

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Certificate and associate degree programs relevant to telecommunications are available to study in Colorado Springs, CO. Read on to learn about the courses offered at Pike Peak Community College.

What You Need to Know

Few options are available to individuals interested in earning a degree in telecommunications near Colorado Springs. There is, however, at least one certificate and one associate degree program offered in the area, both through Pikes Peak Community College, a two-year, public school. While the certificate in computer networking technology may be completed in one year of full-time study, the associate degree generally takes two years to earn. Both programs allow students to specialize in an area such as Network+ or as a Cisco Certified Network Associate. In addition to scheduled program courses in subjects such as local and wide area networks, spreadsheets, and operating systems, students may take classes that will train them for a number of voluntary industry certification exams.

Telecommunications Certificate Programs in Colorado Springs

Pikes Peak Community College

Pikes Peak Community College offers certificate programs that relate to telecommunications technology. The 32-credit CCNA program features courses in computer literacy, computer applications, web authoring, spreadsheets, and four courses in Cisco networking. The 30-credit Network+ program requires coursework in operating systems, spreadsheets, Linux, local and wide area networks, web authoring, and e-commerce. Both programs can prepare you to earn standard industry certifications through Cisco and CompTIA.

Program Name: Certificate in Computer Networking Technology

Certificate in Computer Networking Technology Concentration Areas: Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA), Network+

Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA), Network+ Program Length: One year, full-time

One year, full-time Tuition and Fees: $3,840 per year in-state, $14,928 per year out-of-state (2018-2019)

$3,840 per year in-state, $14,928 per year out-of-state (2018-2019) School Type: 2-year, public; 13,204 students (all undergraduate)

Telecommunications Associate Degree Programs in Colorado Springs

Pikes Peak Community College

Students enrolled in this program must earn between 62-64 credits and choose a CCNA or Network+ concentration. Required courses cover a variety of topics, such as operating systems, networking, information systems, web authoring, computer applications, and spreadsheets. The Cisco Certified Network concentration examines router configuration, network management, and protocols, and the program can prepare you to earn professional certification through Cisco. The Network+ concentration features coursework in Linux, local and wide area networks, network analysis, and e-commerce. The Network+ concentration can prepare you to earn professional certification through CompTIA.

Program Name: Associate of Applied Science in Computer Networking Technology

Associate of Applied Science in Computer Networking Technology Concentration Areas: Cisco Certified Network Associate, Network+

Cisco Certified Network Associate, Network+ Program Length: Two years, full-time

Two years, full-time Tuition and Fees: $3,840 per year in-state, $14,928 per year out-of-state (2018-2019)

$3,840 per year in-state, $14,928 per year out-of-state (2018-2019) School Type: 2-year, public; 13,204 students (all undergraduate)

To recap, Pikes Peak Community College has both an associate degree and certification options in computer networking technology for those looking for a telecommunications degree in Colorado Springs, CO.
Find schools in Vermont offering psychology programs and courses. Compare school specializations, enrollment numbers and tuition costs to make an informed decision Vermont schools offering this discipline.

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Postsecondary students in Vermont can pursue a four-year bachelor's degree in psychology, and graduate students can pursue a two-year master's degree.

What You Need to Know

Completing a bachelor's program won't prepare you to practice as a psychologist. However, earning this degree could help you prepare for graduate study or gain entry-level employment in positions working with the public like sales or customer service.

You could complete your bachelor's degree in about four years, while a master's program typically requires an additional two years of study. Doctoral programs could take as long as five years to complete, depending on your prior study in the field.

Psychology Bachelor Programs in Vermont

University of Vermont

In addition to the required general education and research classes for the psychology bachelor's program, you can choose to take courses in abnormal psychology, childhood psychology, social psychology and the history of psychology. The core psychology program consists of a minimum of 34 credits.

Program Name: Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, Bachelor of Science in Psychology

Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, Bachelor of Science in Psychology Program Length: 4 years, full-time

4 years, full-time Tuition and Fees: In-state, $18,276 per academic year; out-of-state, $42,516 per academic year (for 2018-2019)

In-state, $18,276 per academic year; out-of-state, $42,516 per academic year (for 2018-2019) Prerequisites: 4 years of English, 3 years of mathematics, 2 years of foreign language, 3 years of social sciences and 2 years of physical or natural science

4 years of English, 3 years of mathematics, 2 years of foreign language, 3 years of social sciences and 2 years of physical or natural science School Type: 4-year, public; 11,328 undergraduate and 2,067 graduate students

Castleton University

The core psychology program is made up of 40 credits at Castleton University. In addition to physiology and anatomy courses, you'll need to complete human development and personality theory classes as a psychology student. You'll also be required to take biopsychology and cognitive psychology courses. There are several concentrations you can choose from through this program, including health psychology, developmental psychology and forensic psychology.

Program Name: Bachelor of Arts in Psychology

Bachelor of Arts in Psychology Specialization Options: Forensic psychology, developmental psychology and health psychology

Forensic psychology, developmental psychology and health psychology Program Length: 4 years, full-time

4 years, full-time Tuition and Fees: In-state, $12,314 per academic year; out-of-state, $28,322 per academic year (for 2018-2019)

In-state, $12,314 per academic year; out-of-state, $28,322 per academic year (for 2018-2019) Prerequisites: 2-3 years of laboratory science, 3-4 years of social science, 4 years of English, 3 years of math and 2 years of a foreign language

2-3 years of laboratory science, 3-4 years of social science, 4 years of English, 3 years of math and 2 years of a foreign language School Type: 4-year, public; 1,892 undergraduate and 304 graduate students

Saint Michael's College

As an undergraduate psychology major, you can take classes in cognitive psychology, educational psychology and the psychology of marriage. You can also study animal psychology and child development. A psychology club is available to students if you're interested in extracurricular activities. An animal lab, a virtual reality lab and an observational lab are located on this campus.

Program Name: Psychology Major

Psychology Major Program Length: 4 years, full-time

4 years, full-time Tuition and Fees: $45,375 per academic year (for 2018-2019)

$45,375 per academic year (for 2018-2019) Requirements: Evaluation form completed, personal essay submitted, submit SAT and ACT scores

Evaluation form completed, personal essay submitted, submit SAT and ACT scores School Type: 4-year, private not-for-profit; 1,694 undergraduate students and 256 graduate students

Northern Vermont University - Lyndon

The Bachelor of Arts in Psychology core program requires you to complete classes on human interaction, human growth and development and research methods. There is also a field work class. This course familiarizes you with what it is like to work in the private and public sectors of psychology work. The program requires the completion of a yearlong research project.

Program Name: Bachelor of Arts in Psychology

Bachelor of Arts in Psychology Program Length: 4 years, full-time

4 years, full-time Tuition and Fees: In-state, $12,074 per academic year; out-of-state, $25,394 per academic year (for 2018-2019)

In-state, $12,074 per academic year; out-of-state, $25,394 per academic year (for 2018-2019) Prerequisites: 3-4 years of science, 3-4 years of social science, 3 years of mathematics and 4 years of English

3-4 years of science, 3-4 years of social science, 3 years of mathematics and 4 years of English Requirements: Personal essay, SAT/ACT scores, one to two letters of recommendation

Personal essay, SAT/ACT scores, one to two letters of recommendation School Type: 4-year, public

Psychology Master Program in Vermont

Saint Michael's College

This 60-credit program in clinical psychology requires you to do a major thesis paper or a case study for your final project. You'll also need to participate in an internship or a practicum as part of your studies. You can expect to complete classes in psychological assessment, physiological dimensions of psychology and advanced developmental psychology.

Program Name: Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology

Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology Program Length: 2 years, full-time

2 years, full-time Tuition: $10,620 per academic year (for 2018-2019)

$10,620 per academic year (for 2018-2019) Prerequisites: 3.0 GPA undergraduate, bachelor's degree

3.0 GPA undergraduate, bachelor's degree Requirements: Submit a resume, completion of 300 supervised hours in a mental health or human services job

Submit a resume, completion of 300 supervised hours in a mental health or human services job School Type: 4-year, private not-for-profit; 1,694 undergraduate students and 256 graduate students

Psychology Doctoral Program in Vermont

University of Vermont

You'll earn your master's degree along the way to earning your doctorate in psychology at the University of Vermont. As a part of the general and experimental psychology program, you'll choose one of the specializations to focus your coursework and studies in. You have the option of designing your own individualized study program with your faculty mentor. In order to graduate, you'll need to go before a committee and defend your final dissertation.

Program Name: Ph.D. in Psychology

Ph.D. in Psychology Specialization Options: Biobehavioral psychology, social psychology, human behavioral pharmacology and developmental psychology

Biobehavioral psychology, social psychology, human behavioral pharmacology and developmental psychology Program Length: 4 years, full-time

4 years, full-time Tuition: In-state, $13,272 per academic year; out-of-state, $31,452 per academic year (for 2018-2019)

In-state, $13,272 per academic year; out-of-state, $31,452 per academic year (for 2018-2019) Prerequisites: Bachelor's degree. Master's degree holders are expected to complete the program up to 1.5 years sooner

Bachelor's degree. Master's degree holders are expected to complete the program up to 1.5 years sooner Requirements: Transcripts, three letters of recommendation

Transcripts, three letters of recommendation School Type: 4-year, public; 11,328 undergraduate and 2,067 graduate students

Some of the Vermont schools that offer four-year bachelor's degrees and/or two-year master's degree programs for students studying psychology include the University of Vermont, Saint Michael's College, Castleton University and Lyndon State College.
Learn about business schools in Washington state. See specialization options, degree requirements, and course offerings so that you can make an informed decision about your education.

View Schools

Students who are interested in studying business in Washington state have several options. There are public and private universities in the state where you can begin your education with a bachelor's degree or advance your knowledge by pursuing a graduate degree.

What You Need to Know

To enter a career in business, you can earn a bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree in business administration or a related business field. Some graduate programs offer an accelerated track; some offer classes on the nights and weekends to accommodate working professionals.

Bachelor's Degree Business Programs in Washington

Seattle University

Seattle University was founded in 1891 and is located in the heart of the city. Each major option requires you to complete a business core, which includes courses like accounting, business statistics, and economic principles. The requirements for each major may vary, with some giving you many elective options and others requiring a strict set of courses. Seattle University also offers an individualized major that allows you to tailor your course selection to fit your goals. Seattle University also has a number of clubs and organizations designed for business students, including a marketing club, international business club, and the Moneythink club.

Program Name: Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration

Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration Specialization Areas: Business economics, management, marketing, accounting, international business, information systems, finance

Business economics, management, marketing, accounting, international business, information systems, finance Program Length: Four years, full-time

Four years, full-time Tuition: $44,610 per year (tuition and fees for 2018-2019)

$44,610 per year (tuition and fees for 2018-2019) Prerequisites: High school courses in math, English, social science, lab science, and foreign language

High school courses in math, English, social science, lab science, and foreign language School Type: 4-year, public; about 7,291 students (approximately 4,685 undergraduates)

University of Washington - Seattle Campus

The Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration program at the University of Washington - Seattle allows you to choose from six formal concentration options, as well as an informal concentration in operations management (if you choose an informal concentration, it will not be noted on your transcript). Your required courses will vary depending on the specialization you choose. For example, in the human resources management option, you'd take courses in organizational behavior and performance appraisal, while you'd have courses in banking and managerial economics if you opted for the finance specialization.

Program Name: Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration

Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration Specialization Areas: Accounting, entrepreneurship, human resources management, finance, information systems, operations management, marketing

Accounting, entrepreneurship, human resources management, finance, information systems, operations management, marketing Program Length: Four years, full-time

Four years, full-time Tuition: $11,207 per year for residents; $36,588 per year for non-residents (tuition and fees for 2018-2019)

$11,207 per year for residents; $36,588 per year for non-residents (tuition and fees for 2018-2019) Requirements: Personal statement, ACT or SAT scores

Personal statement, ACT or SAT scores Prerequisites: High school or college courses in English, mathematics, social studies, world languages, lab science, art, and quantitative math

High school or college courses in English, mathematics, social studies, world languages, lab science, art, and quantitative math School Type: 4-year, public; about 47,400 students (roughly 32,099 undergraduate)

Washington State University

The College of Business at Washington State University offers a number of specialization options within the Bachelor of Arts program. Besides a general business administration option, you could choose accounting, marketing, entrepreneurship, finance, and others. Though your required courses will vary with your specialization, some of the courses you might take include accounting, finance, management operations, and business law. Business courses are available at the college's main campus in Pullman, as well as the Tri-City, Spokane, and Vancouver campuses.

Program Name: Bachelor of Arts

Bachelor of Arts Specialization Areas: Accounting, business administration, entrepreneurship, finance and management science, international business, management and operations, information systems, marketing

Accounting, business administration, entrepreneurship, finance and management science, international business, management and operations, information systems, marketing Program Length: Four years, full-time

Four years, full-time Tuition: $11,584 per year for residents; $25,820 per year for non-residents (tuition and fees for 2018-2019)

$11,584 per year for residents; $25,820 per year for non-residents (tuition and fees for 2018-2019) Requirements: ACT or SAT scores

ACT or SAT scores Prerequisites: High school courses in English, math, science, art, world languages, and social science

High school courses in English, math, science, art, world languages, and social science School Type: 4-year, public; about 31,478 students (around 26,098 undergraduates)

Master's Degree Business Programs in Washington

University of Washington - Seattle Campus

The Master of Business Administration (MBA) programs at the University of Washington - Seattle are designed for experienced business professionals who want to advance their careers. In addition to the full-time and evening regular program options, you can opt for the executive and technology management specializations. You might choose the technology management option if you're interested in working for a technology-based company, while the executive program might appeal to you if you're an experienced, mid-career manager. If you want to work full-time while earning your MBA, you might go for the evening program, which would take 24-33 months to complete.

Program Name: Master of Business Administration

Master of Business Administration Specialization Areas: Business administration, executive business administration, technology management

Business administration, executive business administration, technology management Program Length: 18-21 months (depending on specialization area), full-time

18-21 months (depending on specialization area), full-time Tuition: $15,510 per year for residents, $27,801 per year for non-residents (tuition for 2018-2019)

$15,510 per year for residents, $27,801 per year for non-residents (tuition for 2018-2019) Requirements: Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) scores; technology management program also requires interview, resume, letters of recommendation, and personal statement; executive program requires letters of endorsement and letters of recommendation

Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) scores; technology management program also requires interview, resume, letters of recommendation, and personal statement; executive program requires letters of endorsement and letters of recommendation Prerequisites: Bachelor's degree, work experience

Bachelor's degree, work experience School Type: 4-year, public; about 47,400 students (roughly 32,099 undergraduate)

Western Washington University

At Western Washington University, you can choose from full-time, accelerated, evening, and weekend MBA programs, depending on your scheduling needs. The full-time, evening and weekend programs take about two years to complete, while the accelerated program can be completed in one year. Courses you'll take as an MBA student include marketing, management, finance, and business policy. The traditional program is designed for students who have undergraduate degrees outside of the business field, while the accelerated program is meant for people who already have a business degree or some managerial experience.

Program Name: Master of Business Administration

Master of Business Administration Program Length: Two years, full-time

Two years, full-time Tuition: $10,350 per year for residents, $21,474 per year for non-residents (tuition for 2018-2019)

$10,350 per year for residents, $21,474 per year for non-residents (tuition for 2018-2019) Requirements: Personal statement, GMAT or GRE scores

Personal statement, GMAT or GRE scores Prerequisites: Bachelor's degree, college calculus course; accelerated, evening, and weekend programs also require managerial experience

Bachelor's degree, college calculus course; accelerated, evening, and weekend programs also require managerial experience School Type: 4-year, public; about 16,121 students (roughly 15,170 undergraduates)

Ph.D. Business Programs in Washington

Washington State University

As a Ph.D. student at Washington State University's College of Business, you'll attend seminars on research methods, professional development, and topics related to your area of specialization. The program places emphasis on statistics and research methods, and you'll be required to write a research paper during your second year of study. A written field exam, an oral preliminary exam, and a dissertation are also required to graduate from the program. Graduate assistantships are available to help offset the cost of tuition and provide you with monthly stipends.

Program Name: Ph.D. in Business

Ph.D. in Business Specialization Areas: Accounting, finance, hospitality business management, information systems operations, management, marketing

Accounting, finance, hospitality business management, information systems operations, management, marketing Program Length: Four years, full-time

Four years, full-time Tuition: $11,224 per year for residents; $24,656 per year for non-residents (tuition for 2018-2019)

$11,224 per year for residents; $24,656 per year for non-residents (tuition for 2018-2019) Requirements: Resume, GMAT scores, statement of purpose, letters of recommendation

Resume, GMAT scores, statement of purpose, letters of recommendation Prerequisites: Bachelor's degree

Bachelor's degree School Type: 4-year, public; about 31,478 students (around 26,098 undergraduates)

If you're an aspiring businessperson in Washington, you can choose between business programs at Seattle University, Washington State, the University of Washington, or Western Washington University.
Learn about financial management courses in Colorado Springs. Get information about programs available and admission requirements to make an informed decision about your education.

View Schools

Prospective students in the Colorado Springs area interested in financial management can find undergraduate and graduate degrees at local schools. Fields of study that cover these courses include economics and business.

What You Need to Know

You can study financial management through degree programs in economics and business at public and private Colorado Springs-area colleges and universities. Areas of emphasis include finance, international business, and international political economy. Bachelor's degree programs take four years of full-time study to complete, while master's degree programs take 2-3 years. You may have to write a senior thesis in a bachelor's degree program. The area master's degree program offers study abroad; you can also take classes on-campus or online.

Bachelor's Degree Programs with Financial Management Courses in Colorado Springs, CO

Colorado College

Colorado College is unique for its block plan, which allows you to take 'blocks' of classes that last three and a half weeks before taking a new class. Earning your bachelor's degree in economics may prepare you for a career in financial management. Your curriculum features studies on statistics, financial accounting, calculus, and macroeconomic theory. The program also includes a senior thesis in economics.

Program Name: Bachelor of Arts in Economics

Bachelor of Arts in Economics Specializations: Mathematical economics, international political economy

Mathematical economics, international political economy Program Length: Four years, full-time

Four years, full-time Tuition and Fees (2018-2019): $55,470 for in-state and out-of-state students

$55,470 for in-state and out-of-state students Admission Requirements: Secondary school report, counselor evaluation, teacher recommendations

Secondary school report, counselor evaluation, teacher recommendations School Type: 4-year, private not-for-profit; 2,144 students (2,114 undergraduates)

University of Colorado - Colorado Springs

Other than international financial management, you'll study principles of marketing, microeconomics, managerial accounting, and corporate finance while in this program. The three main areas covered by the program include financial management, investments, and financial markets and institutions. You'll be able to minor in entrepreneurship, accounting, service management, or information systems.

Program Name: Bachelor of Science in Business

Bachelor of Science in Business Specialization: Finance

Finance Program Length: Four years, full-time

Four years, full-time Tuition and Fees (2018-2019): $8,523 for in-state students; $20,067 for out-of-state students

$8,523 for in-state students; $20,067 for out-of-state students School Type: 4-year, public; 13,123 students (10,951 undergraduates)

Master's Degree Programs with Financial Management Courses in Colorado Springs, CO

University of Colorado - Colorado Springs

The master's degree program at the University of Colorado is accredited by the Admission to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). Studies include international financial management, managing global markets, and export management. Also included in the curriculum are two short-term study abroad courses, one in Europe and another in Asia. You'll have the option of earning your degree either online or on-campus.

Program Name: Master of Business Administration

Master of Business Administration Specialization: International Business

International Business Program Length: Two to three years

Two to three years Graduate Tuition (2018-2019): $13,206 for in-state students; $25,022 for out-of-state students

$13,206 for in-state students; $25,022 for out-of-state students Prerequisites: Bachelor's degree

Bachelor's degree Admission Requirements: Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT)/Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores, resume, statement of interest

Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT)/Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores, resume, statement of interest School Type: 4-year, public; 13,123 students (10,951 undergraduates)

To summarize the information above, Colorado College offers a bachelor's program in economics while the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs offers a bachelor's program in business and a master's program in business administration.
Learn about law enforcement programs near Colorado Springs. Get information about program options, costs and program requirements to make an informed decision about your education.

View Schools

Are you searching for law enforcement programs in the Colorado Springs, CO, area? Here you will learn about certificate, associate degree and bachelor's degree programs in this field at three schools: two community colleges and the University of Colorado.

What You Need to Know

Certificate programs could take as little as three terms to complete, but these programs prepare you for the P.O.S.T. examination, which qualifies you for entry-level law enforcement positions. You could also earn an associate's degree, which takes about two years of study. These programs may offer internship opportunities, and your curriculum includes general education requirements. Four-year bachelor's degree programs combine coursework with hands-on practical experience through an internship. Some offer concentration options.

Law Enforcement Certificate Programs near Colorado Springs

Pikes Peak Community College

The Pikes Peak Regional Law Enforcement Academy provides the basic P.O.S.T. training you'll need to become a law enforcement officer in Colorado. In this program, you'll commit to over 500 hours of coursework and then sit for the P.O.S.T. certification exam. Courses you'll take include basic police academy, basic law enforcement academy, firearms and arrest control techniques.

Program Name: Pikes Peak Regional Law Enforcement Academy

Pikes Peak Regional Law Enforcement Academy Program Length: 39 credit hours (roughly three semesters)

39 credit hours (roughly three semesters) Tuition and Fees: In-state $3,840; out-of-state $14,928 (2018-2019).

In-state $3,840; out-of-state $14,928 (2018-2019). Admissions Requirements: At least 17 years old (those under 17 may be admitted under special conditions), criminal background check

At least 17 years old (those under 17 may be admitted under special conditions), criminal background check School Type: 2-year, public; 13,204 students (all undergraduate)

Pueblo Community College

The law enforcement academy at Pueblo Community College (PCC) meets P.O.S.T. certification requirements and prepares you to become an entry-level police officer in Colorado. You'll study several aspects of the law, including constitutional, Colorado and case law. Upon completion of the program, you will also have satisfied the police science emphasis for the school's associate degree program in criminal justice.

Program Name: Law Enforcement Academy

Law Enforcement Academy Program Length: 37 credit hours (roughly three semesters), 18 weeks full-time; 36 weeks part time

37 credit hours (roughly three semesters), 18 weeks full-time; 36 weeks part time Tuition and Fees: In-state $5,179; out-of-state $16,262 (2018-2019).

In-state $5,179; out-of-state $16,262 (2018-2019). Admissions Requirements: At least 17 years old (those under 17 may be admitted under special conditions), proof of U.S. 'lawful presence' if you are a new student over 18 years old applying for a public benefit, formal application to PLEA department chair, criminal background check, interview, basic skill requirements

At least 17 years old (those under 17 may be admitted under special conditions), proof of U.S. 'lawful presence' if you are a new student over 18 years old applying for a public benefit, formal application to PLEA department chair, criminal background check, interview, basic skill requirements School Type: 2-year, public; 6,197 students (all undergraduate)

Law Enforcement Associate Degree Programs near Colorado Springs

Pikes Peak Community College

Pikes Peak Community College's associate degree program in criminal justice covers constitutional law, criminal evidence, criminal law, operations, report writing and corrections. In addition, you can deepen your knowledge in one of the four emphasis areas. The school also offers certificate programs in advanced investigations, basic criminology, basic investigations, corrections, basic criminal justice and patrol. Many of the school's graduates have gone on to become police chiefs and sheriffs.

Program Name: Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) in Criminal Justice

Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) in Criminal Justice Specialization Areas: Investigations and management, patrol, corrections, crime scene investigation

Investigations and management, patrol, corrections, crime scene investigation Program Length: 60-61 credit hours (roughly two years, full-time)

60-61 credit hours (roughly two years, full-time) Tuition and Fees: In-state $3,840; out-of-state $14,928 (2018-2019).

In-state $3,840; out-of-state $14,928 (2018-2019). Admissions Requirements: At least 17 years old (those under 17 may be admitted under special conditions)

At least 17 years old (those under 17 may be admitted under special conditions) School Type: 2-year, public; 13,204 students (all undergraduate)

Pueblo Community College

If you enroll in PCC's associate degree program in criminal justice, you can expect to study corrections, constitutional law, law enforcement and criminology. You'll also participate in an internship. If you choose the police science emphasis, you'll need to complete PCC's Law Enforcement Academy, which may have additional admissions requirements. You can also opt for the school's A.G.S. in Criminal Justice program, where you'll take more general education classes and fewer criminal justice courses than you would in the A.A.S. program.

Program Name: Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) in Criminal Justice; Associate of General Studies (A.G.S.) in Criminal Justice

Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) in Criminal Justice; Associate of General Studies (A.G.S.) in Criminal Justice Specialization Areas: Adult and juvenile corrections, police science

Adult and juvenile corrections, police science Program Length: 60-67 credit hours, (roughly 2-3 years, full-time)

60-67 credit hours, (roughly 2-3 years, full-time) Tuition and Fees: In-state $5,179; out-of-state $16,262 (2018-2019)

In-state $5,179; out-of-state $16,262 (2018-2019) Admissions Requirements: At least 17 years old (those under 17 may be admitted under special conditions), proof of U.S. 'lawful presence' if you are a new student over 18 years old applying for a public benefit, formal application to the director of the criminal justice program, criminal background check, interview, basic skill requirements

At least 17 years old (those under 17 may be admitted under special conditions), proof of U.S. 'lawful presence' if you are a new student over 18 years old applying for a public benefit, formal application to the director of the criminal justice program, criminal background check, interview, basic skill requirements School Type: 2-year, public; 6,197 students (all undergraduate)

Law Enforcement Bachelor's Degree Programs near Colorado Springs

University of Colorado - Colorado Springs

The University of Colorado - Colorado Springs (UCCS) offers a bachelor's degree in criminal justice program through its School of Public Affairs. The core curriculum includes courses in criminal justice ethics, law enforcement, societal violence and the judicial process, as well as a required internship. You can also pursue an optional concentration to supplement your major. UCCS also offers an undergraduate certificate in homeland security that covers terrorism, first-responder organizations and public administration. If you've completed a bachelor's degree, you also have the option of enrolling in a Master of Criminal Justice degree program.

Program Name: Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Criminal Justice

Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Criminal Justice Specialization Areas: Corrections, family violence, forensic science, law enforcement, law, public policy

Corrections, family violence, forensic science, law enforcement, law, public policy Program Length: Four years, full-time

Four years, full-time Tuition and Fees: In-state $8,523; out-of-state $20,067 (2018-2019).

In-state $8,523; out-of-state $20,067 (2018-2019). School Type: 4-year, public; 13,123 students (10,951 undergraduates)

To summarize the information, here are three schools in the Colorado Springs area that offer law enforcement programs in the forms of certificates, associate degrees and/or bachelor's degrees.
By Lakshana N Palat: From their scorching chemistry in Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam to the burning controversies that went on for years after they broke up, the Salman Khan-Aishwarya Rai affair has been the subject of much discussion and speculation in Bollywood. The two who were madly in love once, barely even acknowledge each other today, and go the extra mile to avoid running into each other.

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So, what went wrong?

FAIRY-TALE BEGINNINGS

Their affair began on the sets of Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam (1999). Bhansali seems to have the magic touch when it comes to creating on-screen and off-screen couples, be it Salman and Aishwarya, or Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone in Bajirao Mastani and Goliyon Ke Rasleela-Ram Leela.

The equation between Salman and Ash was the backbone of Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam.

Things seemed perfect, for a while. Aishwarya made a cameo as Salman's girlfriend in Hum Tumhare Hain Sanam. Aishwarya became close to Salman's family, and was part of all their family events. She developed a strong bond with his sisters, Arpita and Alvira Khan. However, Ash's family was against the relationship and made no secret of it.

SALMAN'S VIOLENT BEHAVIOUR

In November 2001, eyewitnesses say that Salman reached Aishwarya's apartment and kept banging on the door, asking to be let in. Some say that he even threatened to commit suicide if she didn't let him in. The drama continued till 3am in the morning, and finally she let him in. Apparently, his hands were bleeding. According to sources, the reason behind the spectacle was that he wanted a promise of marriage from Ash. However, she was in no hurry to get married, back then.

Salman later said in an interview that she wasn't returning his love, and that he was forced to turn violent.

"If you won't fight, that means there is no love between you, I will not fight with an outsider; when we fight, it is all because of our love," he maintained stoically. Ash, clearly didn't think so.

The turning point that marked the end of the relationship was when Salman went to USA to help his ex-girlfriend, Somy Ali, without informing Ash, who was obviously furious about it. It was only downhill after this.

THE UGLY END

Aishwarya later confirmed her break-up with Salman in 2002, and said that he wasn't able to come to terms with it. By this time, Salman was creating chaos in Aishwarya's professional life as well. He reportedly showed up on the sets of Shah Rukh Khan's Chalte Chalte, and tried to drag her away. Aishwarya later said that he suspected her of having an affair with SRK. He even got into a fight with SRK, and many said that he held him by the collar. Salman denied this. However, Ash lost the role, and the film went to Rani Mukerji.

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Later, Aishwarya also said that the "Salman chapter was the worst" in her life, and that she was glad she was out of it.

"He would call me up after the break-up and talk rubbish. He suspected me of having affairs with my co-stars. There were times that he got physical with me, luckily without leaving marks. I would go to work as if nothing had happened," she said at the time.

So, far from a story of smouldering passions, it is clearly is a tale of abuse and harassment. Yet, this would never be slotted in such a category, because...Bhai is bhai.

ALSO WATCH | Happy Birthday Salman Khan: A look at Bhaijaan's controversial life

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Learn about CNA classes and training in Minnesota. Get information about programs available, admission procedures and CNA training requirements to make an informed decision about your education.

View Schools

Several schools in Minnesota offer CNA training and preparation for professional licensing exams. See info about four public Minnesota schools, including estimated expenses and common course topics.

What You Need to Know

Certified nursing assistant (CNA) programs in Minnesota are primarily offered through 2-year public schools and can be completed in about one month. Admission requirements can include an admissions test, background check, proof of immunizations and proof of liability insurance. You can enroll in day or evening classes. You'll also complete lab and clinical training. Those who complete a CNA training program are qualified to sit for the state exam. Read on for additional details about these schools and CNA training.

Schools Offering CNA Programs in Minnesota

Anoka Technical College

Anoka Technical College's certified nursing assistant course is offered in day or evening sessions. You learn to provide basic nursing care to patients in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities. Upon completion of training, you're eligible to take the nursing assistant competency exam. According to the MDH, candidates that pay for their training and testing prior to employment are eligible for reimbursement from their employer if receipts are submitted within one year of taking the CNA test.

Program Name: Certified Nursing Assistant

Certified Nursing Assistant Program Length: Four weeks (five credits)

Four weeks (five credits) Tuition and Fees: $5,584 per year (costs for 2018-2019)

$5,584 per year (costs for 2018-2019) Admission Requirements: Must take and pass nursing assistant pre-test; Mantoux test within 90 days of clinicals; malpractice insurance; criminal background check and proof of immunizations

Must take and pass nursing assistant pre-test; Mantoux test within 90 days of clinicals; malpractice insurance; criminal background check and proof of immunizations School Type: 2-year, public; 1,844 students (all undergraduate)

Hennepin Technical College

Hennepin Technical College's nursing assistant class is available at the school's Brooklyn Park and Eden Prairie campuses during the Summer, Fall and Spring semesters. Through classroom lectures, supervised lab studies and 24 hours of clinical education, you learn to provide basic personal care to patients in nursing homes or other long-term care settings. When training is completed, you're prepared for the state's competency exam.

Program Name: Nursing Assistant - Registered

Nursing Assistant - Registered Program Length: Four weeks (four credits), full-time

Four weeks (four credits), full-time Tuition and Fees: $5,248 (costs for 2018-2019)

$5,248 (costs for 2018-2019) Admission Requirements: Criminal background check; proof of negative TB test within 90 days of clinicals

Criminal background check; proof of negative TB test within 90 days of clinicals School Type: 2-year, public; 4,762 students (all undergraduate)

Minneapolis Community and Technical College

The nursing assistant/home health aide program at Minneapolis Community and Technical College prepares you to work at nursing homes, assisted living facilities and home healthcare agencies. You learn basic nursing assistant skills, like managing behavior, monitoring vital signs and assisting patients with their daily activities. You hone those skills at the college's on-campus laboratory and a long-term care facility. You can choose between the 5-credit course or a 6-credit extended-hour course; there is also a 3-credit acute care option if you want additional training in an acute care setting.

Program Name: Nursing Assistant/Home Health Aide Certificate

Nursing Assistant/Home Health Aide Certificate Program Length: Five credits, full-time

Five credits, full-time Tuition and Fees: $5,396 per year (costs for 2018-2019)

$5,396 per year (costs for 2018-2019) Admission Requirements: Must pass reading placement test; criminal background check; proof of current immunizations and negative TB test; liability insurance

Must pass reading placement test; criminal background check; proof of current immunizations and negative TB test; liability insurance School Type: 2-year, public; 6,951 students (all undergraduate)

Northwest Technical College

Northwest Technical College's nurse assistant program prepares you for work as a CNA in hospitals and long-term care facilities. The curriculum includes lecture and lab studies and a clinical portion to help you obtain supervised hands-on training. This course can also act as a prerequisite if you decide to enroll in the school's practical nursing associate's program.

Program Name: Nursing Assistant Certificate

Nursing Assistant Certificate Program Length: Four credits, full-time

Four credits, full-time Tuition and Fees: $5,488 per year (costs for 2018-2019)

$5,488 per year (costs for 2018-2019) Admission Requirements: Proof of current immunizations and liability insurance prior to clinicals

Proof of current immunizations and liability insurance prior to clinicals School Type: 2-year, public; 1,022 students (all undergraduate)

Certified nursing assistant programs are offered through at least four different technical colleges in Minnesota - Anoka Technical College, Hennepin Technical College, Minnesota Community and Technical College and Northwest Technical College.


Here's What's Trending Today...

Martin Luther and his 95 Theses were trending on Google Tuesday.

It is a strange place to find Luther, who lived 500 years ago in what is now Germany. He was a Roman Catholic religious worker, who became a professor of theology.

Luther disagreed with some of the Catholic Churchs teachings. He especially disliked the custom of selling indulgences. It enabled wealthy people to pay the church to free themselves of their sins. In other words, clergy could clear them of any wrongdoing or violation of Catholic teachings.

On October 31 in the year 1517, Luther reportedly left his 95 Theses on the door of the Castle Church in the town of Wittenberg. His writings disputed the Catholic Churchs power over believers. He said that ones trust in God, not actions, would lead to salvation.

Luther wrote Why does not the pope, whose wealth today is greater than the wealth of the richest Crassus, build the basilica of Saint Peter with his own money rather than with the money of poor believers?

Some historians question whether Luther actually did nail his theses to the door of the church. But all agree that his writings spread with the help of the printing press. His Theses became a kind of 16th century trending topic across central Europe. The Pope condemned them as conflicting with the Churchs teachings.

The incident launched what became known as Reformation and led to the Protestant movement to break away from the Catholic Church.

On the 500th anniversary of Luthers act of resistance, members of German youth organizations nailed their own theses to the doors of 300 churches around Berlin.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and others attended a religious service at Castle Church in Wittenberg. And October 31, Reformation Day, was a public holiday in all of Germany.

And that is Whats Trending.

Im Jill Robbins.

Hai Do wrote this story for Learning English. George Grow was the editor.

Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page.

______________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

thesis - n, plural theses a long pice of writing on a particular subject

trending - n. something that is popular

indulgence - n. in the Catholic Church, putting aside part or all punishment that is due for committing sins

salvation - n. the act of saving someone from sin

Crassus - n. Marcus Licinius Crassus was the richest man in Roman history

nail - v. to attach with a nail
Kenyas Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission says President Uhuru Kenyatta has been re-elected.

The commission says 98 percent of Kenyans who marked ballots in the presidential election last week voted for Kenyatta. He received 7.4 million votes.

Six weeks ago, Kenyas Supreme Court cancelled Kenyattas victory in elections held in August. The court ruled that the commission did not follow the constitution and law. It ordered a new vote.

About 80 percent of registered voters marked ballots in the August elections. But only 38 percent voted last Thursday.

Opposition leader Raila Odinga withdrew as a presidential candidate about a month ago. He said the commission was not ready for a repeat vote. And he urged his supporters not to vote in the election.

Odinga comes from Kisumu in western Kenya. Many people there support him.

Eric Otieno says he cannot accept the result of the repeat election.

I have just seen disaster in this country because you cannot tell anyone that the way forward, we have had elections, and so we have a president. To me, we dont have a validly elected president. Recognizing Uhuru as president, my president, no way

Many people in the area where Kenyatta was born and in the Rift Valley area voted for the governing Jubilee party. The Rift Valley is home to deputy president William Ruto.

The electoral commission canceled the vote in four counties for security reasons. The four are Kisumu, Homa Bay, Siaya and Migori.

Opposition supporters have been protesting in some parts of the country. They are calling for electoral reforms.

Some political observers question the legitimacy of the latest election because 12 million registered voters did not mark ballots. Kamissa Camara is one such expert. She works for PartnersGlobal, an organization that works for peaceful and democratic change.

Odinga did boycott the election as well as most of his supporters. So only one third of registered voters actually went to vote in this rerun. So that will cause a great question and a great challenge for the legitimacy of President Uhuru Kenyatta.

On Tuesday, Odinga made his first public comments since Kenyatta was declared the winner. He described the vote last week as a sham election that must not be allowed to stand.

Odinga announced the creation of what he called a Peoples Assembly, through which the opposition would exercise the solemn duty of restoring democracy, constitutionalism, and the rule of law.

Chris Hennemeyer follows politics in Africa. He says Kenyatta will have to change the way he talks about his victory if he is to be able to govern his divided country.

Now its up to him to decide whether he wants to sound like a conciliatory leader whos attempting to bring Kenyans together or whether thats not the route he chooses to go on and from his initial remarks today, it does not sound like hes willing to speak to Raila to try and find some common ground and move the country forward.

Chris Hennemeyer says he does not believe the election will stop Kenya from playing an important role in East Africa.

He understands that business must go on so I dont see Kenya turning into a failed state or dysfunctional country."

John Tomaszewski is with the International Republican Institute, an organization that works to spread democracy. He was in Kenya during the elections. He says this has been a difficult time for the country.

Weve seen a very tough election cycle and I think whats happened today is one more step in a process that wont end today. I think, while the Jubilee government would like to move on, you know, the NASA coalition has dug in and I think well continue to see more and more of this discussion in the weeks ahead...

Kenyan business and religious leaders have called for calm.

At least nine people have died from election-related violence since Thursday.

Im Anne Ball.

Correspondent Mohammed Yusuf reported this story from Kisumu, Kenya. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted his report for VOA Learning English. His story contains information from a report by VOAs Mariama Diallo. George Grow was the editor.

We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section, or visit our Facebook page.

_______________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

valid  adj. acceptable according to the law

legitimate  adj. real, accepted or official

rerun  n. an occurrence in which something happens or is done again

sham - adj. not true or real

conciliatory  adj. intended to make someone less angry

dysfunctional  adj. the condition of having poor and unhealthy behaviors and attitudes within a group of people

cycle  n. a set of events or actions that happen again and again in the same order; a repeating series of events or actions

NASA  n. acronym for National Super Alliance  the name of the political opposition in Kenya

dug in  phrasal verb to dig a trench and take position inside it (used figuratively)
At the start of the school year, Aelina Pogosian could not wait to tell her friends about the most interesting thing she had done over the summer.

The 16-year-old did not want to talk about a trip she took somewhere. She wanted to talk about a paid internship that she had at a biology laboratory at Montgomery College in Maryland.

The internship was made possible by the RISE program, which gives real job experience to high school students in Montgomery County.

A lot of the materials and machinery we used is not given at most high schools, Pogosian said. She added, I got to learn a lot at the same time I was able to have a lot of fun. And I met some new people.

Jennifer Sengbusch is the Instructional Lab Coordinator who worked with Pogosian. She said her first task is to teach the high schoolers about safety rules to avoid injury.

She said, We also went through working with chemicals, making solutions, doing calculations. Then we progressed into doing more complicated things (such) as measuring protein concentrations and doing DNA tests.

The internship was not just about tests in the laboratory. There also was training in how to take care of animals, such as snakes and tortoises, kept in the lab.

RISE program gives real job experience

More than 400 students from Montgomery Countys 25 high schools took part in the RISE program.

RISE stands for Real Interesting Summer Experience. The experiences may be at construction companies, police stations, marketing companies, fire stations and other places. More than 140 businesses, government agencies and non-profit organizations hosted students for paid internships.

Will Jawando, a local activist, is the program's director. He says RISE has two main goals: The first goal is to expose our students to career opportunities early on so they can inform their education or training after high school.

The second goal is improving the local economy.

We said there's 30,000 middle-skill level jobs here in Montgomery County that are not filled. So how do we also expose them to that there's jobs here in the county that they could be doing in a year or two that pay well and are on career track.

He said the program does not only benefits the students. It can also help the county and the region. If students involved in the program stay in the area after graduating from high school, they can become productive citizens.

Local government supports the program

The program received some support from the Montgomery County Council. Councilman Craig Rice helped provide some of the money.

Rice said that, while government often pays attention to immediate needs like roads and building, the RISE program provides for future generations. He said spending money on young people is a way to show that government is serious about being competitive in the world.

Sengbusch said RISE gave her the chance to work with high school student who might apply to Montgomery College. She described the students as curious and eager to learn.

She said high schoolers might be more inquisitive than college students. She said, The high school students really ask a lot of great questions."

Pogosian, she said, was engaged and always on time. She noted that she was surprised to learn that the 16-year-old arrived an hour early just to make sure she would be on time, saying I just didnt want to be late.

Organizers say the RISE program had a successful summer in 2017. They want to expand the program next year. They also hope that other counties in the area will offer similar Real Interesting Summer Experiences for their students.

Im Anna Mateo. And I'm Ashley Thompson.

Faisa Elmasry reported this story for VOA News. Mario Ritter adapted it for VOA Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the editor.

_______________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

calculations n. the process of using math to find an answer

internships n. a position meant to give a young person experience in doing a job

career n. a job or profession that someone does over a long time

benefit v. to cause a good result

curious adj. having an interest in find out new things

eager adj. being excited and interested to do something

inquisitive adj. having many questions, interested in finding out more

engaged adj. involved in something deeply

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There appears to be something fishy about the story of two sailors who say they were lost at sea for five months.

A U.S. Navy ship rescued Jennifer Appel and Tasha Fuiava Friday in the Pacific Ocean and they landed in Japan Monday. They and their two dogs had left Hawaii May 1 on their sailboat, the Sea Nymph.

They said their boat was severely damaged in storms and they were floating aimlessly for months.

However, a U.S. Coast Guard examination has found that the women never used their emergency beacon. Weather experts also say there were no storms as described by the women.

The women earlier told The Associated Press that they had radios, satellite phones, GPS and other emergency gear. However, they did not say they had an emergency position indicating radio beacon. The device communicates with satellites. It sends position information to officials in minutes.

Appel said Tuesday that they had the device on their sailboat but never turned it on. She added that in her experience, the beacon should be used only when facing physical danger and death in the next 24 hours.

Our hull was solid, we were floating, we had food, we had water, and we had limited maneuverable capacity, Appel said in Japan. All those things did not say we are going to die. All that said its going to take us a whole lot longer to get where were going.

Experts are questioning the truth of other main elements of the womens story. It is not consistent with weather reports or basic geography of the Pacific Ocean.

The pair said they faced a fierce storm on May 3 off the Hawaiian island of Oahu with 97 kilometer an hour winds and 9-meter high waves. But the National Weather Service in Honolulu said no organized storm systems were in or near Hawaii that day or near that day. NASA satellite images confirm that finding.

Appel said they received a Coast Guard storm warning May 3. And she expressed surprise Tuesday that there was no record of the storm.

The women said they thought about turning back, but the islands of Maui and Lanai did not have harbors deep enough for their sailboat.

The Sea Nymph is 15 meters long. Both islands have harbors that can accept boats of that size. But Appel said she had made changes that increased the size of her sailboat.

Several days later, Appel said, parts of their mast and rigging failed but their motor still worked. The two decided against trying to land on another small island. They believed it was mostly unpeopled with no protected waters.

But Christmas Island, part of the island nation of Kiribati, is home to more than 2,000 people. It also has a port that welcomes huge ships.

The pair then set sail for the Cook Islands, about 1,600 kilometers away and a few hundred kilometers beyond their original target destination of Tahiti.

Then, they said another storm killed their engine at the end of May.

At one point in June, the Coast Guard said it made radio contact with a vessel identifying itself as the Sea Nymph near Tahiti. The Coast Guard reported the captain said they were not in distress and expected to make land the next morning. It is not clear if that communication was from Appel and Fuiava, who told the Coast Guard they were more than 2,000 kilometers away, near Christmas Island.

Im Caty Weaver.

The Associated Press reported this story. Caty Weaver adapted it for Learning English. Hai Do was the editor.

_______________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

maneuverable  adj. able to be moved quickly, easily, or in small spaces

consistent  adj. in agreement with something

harbor  n. a part of the ocean, a lake, etc., that is next to land and that is protected and deep enough to provide safety for ships

original  adj. happening or existing first or at the beginning

destination  n. a place to which a person is going or something is being sent

vessel  n. a ship or boat

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South Korean President Moon Jae-in says his country will not develop nuclear arms or own nuclear weapons.

The president made the statement in a speech Wednesday to South Koreas National Assembly.

Moon added that both South Korea and North Korea should observe a joint declaration from 1992. In that statement, both countries said the Korean Peninsula should be free of nuclear weapons.

Observers noted that Moons position on such weapons remains unchanged.

The presidents statement comes as opposition lawmakers have called for a redeployment of American tactical nuclear weapons in the South. They want to defend against the threat of North Korean efforts to develop nuclear weapons.

Some South Korean lawmakers say their country should have its own nuclear weapons.

On September 3, North Korea tested its sixth and most powerful nuclear device yet.

North Koreas nuclear and long-distance missile tests have led to strong language from United States President Donald Trump. He has threatened to launch military action against the North if it continues testing barred by the United Nations Security Council.

However, in his speech on Wednesday, Moon stated that no military action will be taken on the Korean Peninsula without the permission of South Korea. He also said that his country would control its own future.

Trump to visit South Korea for talks

South Korea will be the second country that Trump visits on his trip to Asia later this month. North Koreas nuclear and long-range missile development is expected to be one of many issues to be discussed.

After his visit to South Korea, Trump will then travel to Beijing for talks with Chinese officials.

As preparations for the visit continue, members of his cabinet have visited Asia and discussed the situation in Korea.

Last month, U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said, Our goal is not war, but rather the complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

The Reuters news agency reports that the United States is carrying out direct, secret negotiations with North Korea.

The report was published on Wednesday. The story said that an unidentified State Department official told Reuters that the U.S. special diplomat for North Korea has been speaking with North Koreas U.N. mission.

The U.S. does not have diplomatic relations with North Korea. But, special diplomat Joseph Yun, the report says, has been in contact with the North through what is known as the New York channel. That term suggests North Koreas diplomatic contacts with the U.N.

The unidentified official said the discussion has not been limited at all, both (in) frequency and substance.

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said last month that the United States is extending diplomatic efforts toward North Korea. President Trump, however, has voiced anger over nuclear and long-range missile tests carried out by the North.

Im Mario Ritter.

Richard Green and Steve Herman reported this story for VOA News. Mario Ritter wrote a story based on their reports for VOA Learning English. His story includes information from Reuters. George Grow was the editor.

_____________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

tactical  adj. something specific that works toward a large plan or goal

verifiable  adj. something that can be shown to be true

mission  n. a group of people who are sent to a foreign country for specific reason or purpose

frequency  n. how often something happens

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Since Google releases the source code for most versions of Android, any company that wants to load it on a phone, tablet, or other device can do that. But if you want to include Google Mobile Services (including the Play Store, Play Services, YouTube, and other core apps), you need to meet Googles software compatibility requirements.

Now Google is making it easier for device makers to do that through a GMS Express program that allows device makers to use pre-approved builds of Android with Google Mobile Services (GMS).

One of the first partners is Taiwanese chip maker MediaTek, which says that its already worked with several of its customers.

The upshot? MediaTek says the time it takes to complete compatibility certification has been cut from three months to just one. According to MediaTek, participation in the program also reduces costs.

The chip maker says its processors are used in about 1.5 billion devices, including many of the phones and Android TV boxes produced by Chinese manufacturers. While Google Mobile Services isnt as important for the Chinese market, the new GMS Express program could make it a lot easier for those companies to ship their products to other markets, where users expect access to features like the Google Play Store.

via xda-developers
This new study reveals the relationship between the capacity of children to learn how to read and their hearing ability. Credit: BCBL

Almost 10 percent of the world's population suffers dyslexia. Establishing an early diagnosis would allow the development of training programs to palliate this disorder. This goal could be closer after a study carried out by the Basque Centre on Cognition, Brain and Language (BCBL) associating auditory processing in children with their reading skills. The results offer a new approach for detecting the risk before children learn to read.

Difficulty recognising words, decoding and writing problems, and the limitation of reading comprehension are the main consequences of dyslexia, a neurologically based cognitive disorder that is generally diagnosed late. The current study demonstrates a relationship between children's hearing and the capacity to acquire reading skills.

This breakthrough, published in Frontiers in Psychology, could help establish the risk of dyslexia from an early stage, as well as develop training programmes to preemptively palliate reading limitations. "The capacity of children to listen and process language is a decisive factor in learning to read," explains Paula Rios-Lopez, the supervisor of the study and a research member of the BCBL.

At present, we must wait for children to reach 9 years of age in order to diagnose dyslexia. However, the results of the San Sebastian centre imply that measurement of hearing capacity from a very early age may allow professionals to identify children that might have reading problems and therefore be more susceptible to dyslexia.

Furthermore, specific training activities could be implemented before nine years of age based on prosody (accents, tone and intonation) and language rhythms, together with programmes designed to palliate reading difficulties. The aim is to improve reading skills and avoid future disorders. "For example, we could make an activity as simple as playing a drum improve the rhythmic skills of the child with the purpose of gradually improving language perception and avoiding future disorders," says Rios-Lopez.

The importance of rhythm

The study was carried out with 40 children in the second and fifth grades. In order to demonstrate the relationship between hearing capacity and the ability to learn how to read, the subjects were exposed to a pseudo-word, which they were required to repeat verbally when asked about it. The researchers found that this word was better understood when preceded by phrases produced only with prosodic information, i.e., in which the information only consisted of rhythms and intonations, with no phonemes of any kind.

The children that yielded poorer scores in the reading skill test were those that most improved after testing with phrases and prosodic information. Children that do not optimally process low-frequency sounds (tones, accents and intonations of speech) have greater difficulty correctly decoding phonemes and words, and this, in turn, is directly correlated to reading capacity and its possible disorders.

"Rhythm offers the brain the key to focusing auditory attention in moments when information relevant to speech perception appears," explains Rios-Lopez. "When the brain predicts the appearance of such information, an excitable state is produced, with the recruitment of neurons destined to adapt to it," she concludes.

More information: Paula Rios-Lopez et al. The Role of Slow Speech Amplitude Envelope for Speech Processing and Reading Development, Frontiers in Psychology (2017). Journal information: Frontiers in Psychology Paula Rios-Lopez et al. The Role of Slow Speech Amplitude Envelope for Speech Processing and Reading Development,(2017). DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2017.01497
Women with a history of infertility have a 10 percent increased risk of death compared to those without reported infertility struggles, according to results of a new study from researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. The study, which examined the association between infertility and mortality as well as specific causes of death, also showed that women with a history of infertility have a 20 percent increased risk of cancer-related mortality. The results of the study were presented this week at the annual American Society of Reproductive Medicine Scientific Congress & Expo in San Antonio, Texas.

"While associations between infertility and overall health have been noted in the male population, until now, the relationship between a woman's fertility and her overall health has not been as robustly examined," said lead author Natalie Stentz, MD, a fellow in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. "Though we can't yet explain the association between infertility and mortality, it is possible that the condition may be an early indicator of either endocrine or inflammatory disruption that over time, leads to long term health issues such as malignancy or diabetes."

In the new study, researchers examined data from the 78,214 women enrolled in the National Cancer Institute's Prostate Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian (PLCO) Cancer screening trial. Study participants were enrolled between 1992 and 2001, and were followed 13 years, or until study withdrawal or death. Using data collected in that study, the Penn team examined the effect of self-reported infertility (inability to conceive for one year or greater) on all causes of mortality and primary cause of death.

Infertility was reported in 14.5 percent of the study population. At the completion of follow up, infertile women were 10 percent more likely to be deceased when compared to women who were able to get pregnant more easily, though the authors note that women from each group (fertile and non-fertile) died at a similar age. When examining reproductive cancers, the authors noted that while patients with infertility were 44 percent more likely to die of breast cancer, infertility was not associated with an increased risk of ovarian cancer or death from ovarian or endometrial cancers.

Additionally, individuals with infertility were 70 percent more likely to die from diabetes, despite both groups of women having a comparable prevalence of diabetes.

"The results raise significant questions over the long-term effects of infertility and whether it is infertility itself or an underlying condition that predisposes an individual to infertility that drives these increased risks," Stentz said. However, she adds that because infertility is diagnosed during a woman's reproductive years, typically many years before the end of life, a correlation between fertility and health can be challenging to study on a population level because of the amount of time that is needed to follow these patients. "There is certainly much left to be studied - including how pregnancy and fertility treatments may affect mortality later in life - but our results highlight the fact that a history of infertility is indeed related to a woman's life long health, and opens a potential opportunity for screening and/or preventative management for infertile women for both women's health care providers and the general practitioner."
Ovidie is a French feminist who published a book about the ignorance of pornography. Her documentary Pornocracy is an exploration of porns multinational corporations and their exploitation of performers. Credit: Pornocracy

The recent attempt by Conservative MPs to label porn a public health crisis in Canada is part of a web of attacks against gender and sexual minoritiesand a diversion from necessary policy debates on ending sexual violence. Luckily, the House of Commons Standing Committee on Health didn't go for it.

It's a good thing because there a number of public health issues which need to be addressed. Children receive insufficient and often scientifically inaccurate sexual education and women cannot access reproductive and sexual health services. Queer and transphobic attacks remain the highest-rated violent hate crime, sex workers are denied the right to work with security and dignity and shelters are turning away people fleeing domestic violence.

None of these issues relating to public sexual health have been addressed by the House of Commons Standing Committee on Health this year.

Instead, they debated M-47, a motion to study "the public health effects of online, violent and degrading sexually explicit material of children, women and men."

Just the title creates confusion. For example, separating out the social and sexual differences between children and adults would be a Herculean task. Then there is the fraught problem of defining "violent and degrading."

Faced with such an unwieldy framework, the committee decided to focus on peer-reviewed research to help them understand the issue prior to releasing the report and making recommendations.

Remarkably, Canada decided not to follow in the footsteps of the United States and the United Kingdom in blaming porn for a wide range of medical and social ailments, from erectile dysfunction to divorce. Instead, the report acknowledged that while pornography use may co-relate with some unhealthy and anti-social behaviour in some people, there is no credible evidence that pornography of any kind causes that behaviour.

Moral panic

The decision to emphasize evidence over moral panic is a hopeful sign that we are done with excusing abusive behaviour by men against women with false diagnoses like sex addiction or porn addiction.

As noted sex therapist David Ley, author of both The Myth of Sex Addiction and Ethical Porn For Dicks, has said: "It's possible to be an ethical, responsible person and treat oneself and others with dignity and integrity, AND to watch hot, no-holds-barred sex on screen."

Anti-porn advocates will remain unconvinced, as is clear by the dissenting opinion submitted by Conservative members of the committee. Why do some people cling to the notion that porn is a destructive force on the health of the nation?

Uncovering the answer reaches into the darkest corners of sex shaming, stigmatization, ignorance and fear that continue to characterize Canada's sexual culture.

Does porn cause public health issues?

The majority of the briefs submitted (20 out of 23) to the House of Commons Committee argued vociferously that porn causes major public health issues, usually citing a personal experience as proof. We co-authored one of the few briefs submitted that emphasized rigorous peer-refereed research.

Instead of personal stories of porn horror, we explored the difference between causation and correlation and the heteronormative bias in anti-porn research. We also looked at the slippery definitions often provided for "violent" or "degrading" pornography especially when consent isn't considered a factor in the evaluation process.

We discussed the lack of any standardized (much less proven-effective) diagnosis of "porn addiction" and the lack of standardized treatment protocols. As we read through the briefs advocating for labelling porn a public health crisis, we noticed an assumed ideal of a monogamous, heterosexual, romantic couple.

Over one third of the briefs insisted porn use contributed to relationship breakdowns. Increased interest in sexual experimentation and casual sex were also frequently listed as a public health concern.

Not one of the briefs acknowledged lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer or Two Spirited (LGBTQ2+) sexual expression. Some of them even listed "anal sex" as a violent-and-degrading consequence of porn. The deep-set homophobia of such an argument cannot be understated.

M-47 came on the heels of a spate of legislation, particularly in the United States and United Kingdom, to curtail access to pornography. The U.K. passed the Extreme Pornography Act, a draconian intervention on privacy rights that blocks pornography sites with national-based ISPs if they depict acts considered "extreme."

Critics note that many of the acts defined in the law target women's pleasure, including face-sitting and ejaculatory orgasm.

That law was followed by the Digital Economy Act. The U.K. now requires age verification checks for all porn sites and increased web blocking for any U.K.-based sites.

Politicians argued these measures were necessary to protect children a simplistic statement to silence criticism. However, no real evidence supported their position. They also ignored the fallibility of digital age verifications.

Meanwhile, in the United States, the Republican Party and eight states have already declared porn a public health crisis. What might appear at first as absurd political grandstanding can have significant consequences on how sexual health is publicly supported, including sexual health curricula, access and privacy rights, research support and professional training.

What is so laudable about Canada's House of Commons report is it refutes the oppressive and harmful assumptions contained within the "public health crisis" argument. In recognizing the spectrum of gender and sexual diversity, and the critical factor of consent in defining both "violent" and "degrading," the committee has set Canada on a long-overdue path to developing a sexual health promotion strategy "that would include, but not be limited to, sexual identity, gender equity, gender-based violence, consent and behaviour in the digital age."

Porn ground rules

To be sure, the House of Commons report recognizes there are "possible risks of exposure to online violent and degrading sexually explicit materials." This is fair and correct, as there are risks to individuals of any age who are pre-disposed toward gender or sexual violence due to a host of social influences that breed intolerance for gender and sexual diversity and equity.

For example, research indicates that self-diagnosis of porn addiction occurs mostly in white, married, wealthy men. Religiosity is also highly correlated to expressing self-damaging attitudes and behaviours such as shame, guilt and fear that their pornography viewing habits will be discovered.

Thus, as we enter this new stage of the oft-battled-but-never-won porn wars, we would like to see more research on how the negative impacts of porn consumption could be mitigated by a more inclusive sexual ethic. Is there perhaps a way for spiritual and sexual communities to work together for sex positivity?

We are cautiously optimistic. The Religious Institute, a multi-faith organization that advocates for sexual health, education and social justice in faith communities has created a Religious Declaration on Sexual Morality, Justice and Healing:

"Grounded in respect for the body and for the vulnerability that intimacy brings, this ethic fosters physical, emotional and spiritual health. It accepts no double standards and applies to all persons, without regard to sex, gender, colour, age, bodily condition, marital status or sexual orientation."

Their statement shares a lot in common with the growing international network of feminist and ethical porn producers to whom we owe a debt of gratitude for establishing the ground rules for consent-based sex.

Performers and producers like Ovidie are drawing attention to serious labour problems within the global network of Mindgeek/Pornhub. Stoya bravely spoke up about relationship abuse, and experienced a repugnant backlash by anti-porn activists who suggested her work in porn was the cause of the violence. Shine Louise Houston, an ethical porn producer and director of the award-winning film Snapshot, runs courses and workshops on using explicit sex in film to educate about everything from diversity to safer sex practices.

If ecumenical societies and ethical porn networks can share the same sexual values, the opportunity to develop a dynamic sexual health strategy has never been better. Canada can become a global leader in fostering healthy sexualities through consent-based education, sex worker support and gender and sexual inclusiveness.

The diversion into porn fear-mongering has resulted in not much more than a few cheeky, clickbait headlines. Now that we've had our laughs, it is imperative that the House of Commons Standing Committee on Health return to the commitment made in their report.

This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.
Analysis of the PARTNER 2A trial and the SAPIEN-3 Intermediate Risk registry found transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) to be highly cost-effective compared with surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) in intermediate surgical risk patients with aortic stenosis.

Findings were reported today at the 29th annual Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT) scientific symposium. Sponsored by the Cardiovascular Research Foundation (CRF), TCT is the world's premier educational meeting specializing in interventional cardiovascular medicine.

Researchers led by Dr. David J. Cohen (Saint Luke's Mid America Heart Institute, Kansas City, MO) used data from the PARTNER 2A randomized trial and the SAPIEN-3 Intermediate Risk registry to perform a formal, patient-level economic analysis comparing TAVR using either the SAPIEN XT valve (XT-TAVR) or the SAPIEN-3 valve (S3-TAVR) with SAVR. The comparison between XT-TAVR and SAVR was based upon randomized assignment within PARTNER 2A; the comparison between S3-TAVR and SAVR was not randomized. Procedural costs were assessed based on measured resource utilization and all other costs were assessed by linking trial data with Medicare claims for the index hospitalization and follow-up period or by piecewise regression models for the remaining patients.

PARTNER 2A

In the trial, XT-TAVR led to significant reductions in procedure duration compared with SAVR (10246 vs. 23683, P<0.001) and hospital length of stay (6.45.5 vs. 10.97.6, P<0.001). Although procedural costs were $22,083 higher with XT-TAVR than SAVR (reflecting the higher cost of the transcatheter valve), most of this higher cost was offset by reduced costs related to length of stay and in-hospital complications such that total costs for the index hospitalization were only ~$2,900 higher with TAVR ($61,433 vs. $58,545; P=0.014). Over the following 24 months, follow-up costs were substantially lower with XT-TAVR (by $9,303 per patient) such that total medical care costs were lower with TAVR than SAVR two-year follow-up ($107,716 vs. $114,132, P=0.014). When the trial results were projected over a lifetime horizon, XT-TAVR was projected to result in both cost savings of $7,949 and greater quality adjusted life expectancy (by 0.15 years).

SAPIEN 3

When performance of S3-TAVR in the S3i registry was compared with SAVR within PARTNER 2A, the reductions in procedure duration (8438 vs. 23683, P<0.001) and length of stay (4.65.7 vs. 10.97.6, P<0.001) were even greater than in the randomized trial. As a result, despite the higher cost of the transcatheter valve, total costs for the index hospitalization were lower with S3-TAVR than SAVR ($54,256 vs. $58,410, P=0.014). Over the first year of follow-up, S3-TAVR resulted in additional cost savings of nearly $11,000/patient. When these in-trial results (including improved survival at two years) were projected over a lifetime horizon, S3 TAVR was projected to yield lifetime cost savings of $9,692 per patient and a significant gain in quality adjusted life-years (0.27 years)an economically dominant strategy.

"For patients with severe aortic stenosis and intermediate surgical risk similar to those enrolled in the PARTNER 2 trial, these results demonstrating substantial cost savings and improved quality-adjusted life expectancy, indicate that transcatheter aortic valve replacement should be considered the preferred strategy based on both clinical and economic considerations," said David J. Cohen, MD, MSc, Director of Cardiovascular Research at Saint Luke's Mid America Heart Institute in Kansas City, MO.

The PARTNER 2A and SAPIEN 3 Cost-effectiveness Trial was funded by Edwards Lifesciences. Dr. Cohen reported receiving research grant support from Edwards Lifesciences, Medtronic, Boston Scientific, and Abbott Vascular as well as consulting income from Edwards Lifesciences and Medtronic.
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

It's been 55 years since NASA astronaut John Glenn successfully launched into space to complete three orbits aboard the Friendship 7 Mercury spacecraft, becoming the first American to orbit the Earth. The evolution of spaceflight, advancements in science and technologies and the progress of public-private commercial partnerships with companies such as Space X and Blue Horizons have strengthened NASA's goals and the public's confidence to move forward in discovery and human exploration.

More people today are poised to explore space than ever before; those who do will experience the effects of microgravity on the human body. Recognizing the need for data related to those effects, MUSC neuroradiologist Donna Roberts, M.D., conducted a study titled "Effects of Spaceflight on Astronaut Brain Structure as Indicated on MRI," the results of which will be featured in the Nov. 2 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

"Exposure to the space environment has permanent effects on humans that we simply do not understand. What astronauts experience in space must be mitigated to produce safer space travel for the public," said Roberts.

While living and working in space can be exciting, space is a hostile environment and presents many physiological and psychological challenges for the men and women of America's space program. For example, NASA astronauts have experienced altered vision and increased pressure inside their heads during spaceflight aboard the International Space Station. These conditions can be serious problems for astronauts, particularly if they occur in low-earth orbit aboard the International Space Station or far from Earth, such as on an exploration mission to Mars.

To describe these symptoms, NASA coined the term visual impairment intracranial pressure syndrome, or VIIP syndrome for short. The cause of VIIP syndrome is thought to be related to the redistribution of body fluid toward the head during long-term microgravity exposure; however, the exact cause is unknown. Given safety concerns and the potential impact to human exploration goals, NASA has made determining the cause of VIIP syndrome and how to resolve its effects a top priority.

Roberts is an associate professor of radiology in the Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences at MUSC. Before attending medical school at MUSC, she worked at NASA Headquarters in Washington, D.C. Working with NASA's Space Life Sciences Division in the early 1990s, she was already aware of the challenges astronauts faced during long-duration spaceflights. She was concerned about the lack of data describing the adaptation of the human brain to microgravity and proposed to NASA that magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) be used to investigate the anatomy of the brain following spaceflight.

Roberts suspected subtle anatomical changes in the brains of astronauts during spaceflight might be contributing to the development of VIIP syndrome, based on her earlier work. From 2001 to 2004, Roberts led a three-year NASA-funded bed rest study, collaborating with other life sciences researchers at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston. A South Carolina native, Roberts had just completed a two-year neuroradiology fellowship at the University of California at San Francisco.

For this study, she examined the brains and muscular responses of participants who stayed in bed for 90 days, during which time, they were required to keep their heads continuously tilted in a downward position to simulate the effects of microgravity.

Using functional MRI, Roberts evaluated brain neuroplasticity, studying the brain's motor cortex before, during and after long-term bed rest. Results confirmed neuroplasticity in the brain occurred during bed rest, which correlated with functional outcomes of the subjects.

As Roberts evaluated the brain scans, she saw something unusual. She noted a "crowding" occurrence at the vertex, or top of the brain, with narrowing of the gyri and sulci, the bumps and depressions in the brain that give it its folded appearance. This crowding was worse for participants who were on longer bed rest in the study.

Roberts also saw evidence of brain shifting and a narrowing of the space between the top of the brain and the inner table of the skull. She questioned if the same thing might be happening to the astronauts during spaceflight.

In further studies, Roberts acquired brain MRI scans and related data from NASA's Lifetime Surveillance of Astronaut Health program for two groups of astronauts: 18 astronauts who had been in space for short periods of time aboard the U.S. Space Shuttle and 16 astronauts who had been in space for longer periods of time, typically three months, aboard the International Space Station. Roberts and her team then compared the brain images of the two groups of astronauts.

Roberts and study investigators evaluated the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) spaces at the top of the brain and CSF-filled structures, called ventricles, located at the center of the brain. In addition, the team paired the preflight and postflight MRI cine clips from high-resolution 3-D imaging of 12 astronauts from long-duration flights and six astronauts from short-duration flights and looked for any displacement in brain structure.

This postflight MRI cine clip shows evidence of an upward shift of the brain and narrowing of cerebrospinal spaces at the top of the brain of a NASA astronaut stationed aboard the International Space Station. Credit: Donna Roberts

Study results confirmed a narrowing of the brain's central sulcus, a groove in the cortex near the top of the brain that separates the parietal and frontal lobes, in 94 percent of the astronauts who participated in long-duration flights and 18.8 percent of the astronauts on short-duration flights. Cine clips also showed an upward shift of the brain and narrowing of the CSF spaces at the top of the brain among the long-duration flight astronauts but not in the short-duration flight astronauts.

Her findings concluded that significant changes in brain structure occur during long-duration space flight. More importantly, the parts of the brain that are most affected - the frontal and parietal lobes - control movement of the body and higher executive function. The longer an astronaut stayed in space, the worse the symptoms of VIIP syndrome would be.

Roberts compared these findings with a similar medical syndrome experienced by women called idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH), which affects young, overweight women who present with symptoms similar to VIIP syndrome: blurry vision and high intracranial pressure with no known cause. A common treatment for IIH is to perform a lumbar puncture, whereby CSF is drained using a needle placed in the lower back - a procedure performed by a neuroradiologist such as Roberts. Presently, there is no protocol to perform a lumbar puncture in a microgravity environment.

To further understand the results of the study, Roberts and the team plan to compare repeated postflight imaging of the brains of astronauts to determine if the changes are permanent or if they will return to baseline following some time back on Earth. With NASA's Mars expedition mission set to launch in 2033, there's an urgency for researchers such as Roberts to collect more data about astronauts and understand the basics of human space physiology.

A journey to Mars can take three to six months, at best. In order to reduce travel time between the Earth and Mars, the two planets need to be aligned favorably, which occurs approximately every two years.

During this two-year time period, crew members would remain on Mars, carrying out exploration activities. The gravity on Mars is approximately one-third that of Earth. Considering travel to and from Mars, along with the time on the surface, the Martian expedition crew would be exposed to reduced gravity for at least three years, according to Roberts. What would that do to the human body? Could a human even survive that long in a reduced gravity environment?

NASA astronaut Scott Kelly spent 340 days living and working aboard the International Space Station, and astronaut Peggy Whitson recently completed a 288-day mission in space. To date, the longest continuous time in space was 438 days, a record held by Russian cosmonaut Valery Polyakov.

"We know these long-duration flights take a big toll on the astronauts and cosmonauts; however, we don't know if the adverse effects on the body continue to progress or if they stabilize after some time in space," Roberts said. "These are the questions that we are interested in addressing, especially what happens to the human brain and brain function?"

Study co-author and Department of Radiology and Radiological Science colleague Michael Antonucci, M.D., agreed. "This study is exciting in many ways, particularly as it lies at the intersection of two fascinating frontiers of human exploration - space and the brain."

"We have known for years that microgravity affects the body in numerous ways," he continued.

"However, this study represents the most comprehensive assessment of the impact of prolonged space travel on the brain. The changes we have seen may explain unusual symptoms experienced by returning space station astronauts and help identify key issues in the planning of longer-duration space exploration, including missions to Mars."

Roberts hopes to continue to collect long-term follow-up data on the astronauts already being studied. In addition, she is participating in a new bed rest study in Cologne, Germany, collaborating with Racheal Seidler, Ph.D., of the University of Florida and the German Space Agency. The study simulates astronauts living aboard the International Space Station, while being exposed to higher levels of carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide scrubbers aboard the International Space Station clean and filter the air systems throughout the spacecraft, but some CO2 remains. Roberts will evaluate the blood flow to the brain, brain structure and other changes among study subjects.

With her team's hard work and dedication, Roberts hopes to establish MUSC as the go-to institution for further studies in clinical neuroimaging related to space exploration.
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Blinken calls on Armenian Prime Minister to maintain momentum of peace talks with Azerbaijan

Armenian MOD refuted another misinformation of Azerbaijani MOD

Media: Fire in Istanbul is caused by several explosions, not just one

Drone 'allegedly' blows up oil depot in Oryol Oblast

Trump officially announces that he will run for president in 2024

Anwar Gargash: UAE has no interest in choosing sides between great powers

Ukraine suspends oil pumping through Druzhba pipeline towards Hungary

Germany urgently needs gas turbines to stabilize power grids

Polish media report on fall of two missiles on country's territory

Economic downturn worsens in eastern EU due to a spike in inflation

U.S. believes that meeting between Biden and Jinping was strong signal to rest of world

Karabakh MFA welcomes resolution adopted by French Senate

Italy bans facial recognition technology and smart glasses

Germany to establish maintenance center in Slovakia for weapons supplied to Ukraine

Energy Ministry: Russia carried out most massive shooting of Ukraine's energy system since war starts

French Senate passes resolution calling for sanctions against Azerbaijan

Rishi Sunak hints that he will abandon plans to declare China 'threat' to national security

EU supports any call to phase out fossil fuel use

Secretary of Security Council of Armenia receives delegation of EU special envoys, member states

Armenian President Vahagn Khachatryan receives newly appointed ambassador of Cyprus

Zelenskyy's adviser: The situation after Russian shelling is critical

Newly appointed ambassador of Cyprus visits Armenian Genocide memorial

Borrell: EU countries must work together to replenish their military stocks

French Senator: Are the lives of Armenians worth less than the lives of Ukrainians?

Turkey plans to strike targets in northern Syria

Emergency power outages in Kyiv due to explosions

Lavrov calls Zelenskyy's speech at G20 summit performance beyond all regulations and decency

Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince embarks on Asian tour

Ukrainian media report missile strikes in number of areas

Chinese 50-year-old man runs marathon smoking

Pashinyan receives delegation of EU special envoys, EU member states on Eastern Partnership

Bloomberg: Paris overtakes London to become Europe's largest stock market

Anti-Iranian rally held in Baku

Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin: Pashinyan's approaches and wordings do not contribute to solving urgent problems

Borrell announces appearance of EU rapid reaction force in 2023

Norwegian Defense Minister pledges $30 million to NATO fund for Ukraine

Italy auctioned biggest truffle for record 184 thousand euros

Serviceman kills fellow soldier in Armenia

Kyodo: 67-year-old Japanese princess diagnosed with breast cancer

Mehriban Aliyeva hurriedly gives up her role of UNESCO 'Goodwill Ambassador' before French Senate meeting

Jeff Bezos says he's ready to give away most of his fortune

Britain to allocate $11.8m to rebuild Ukraine's energy infrastructure

Peskov: Kyiv cannot and doesn't want to negotiate, SVO will continue

Turkey detains another suspect in planning terrorist attack in Istanbul

Tasnim: Iranian authorities released 38 protesters in southeast

Terrorist attack: Number of detainees in Istanbul grows to 50

Armenian FM presents to Europeans consequences of September Azerbaijani aggression

Biden and Erdogan back extension of grain deal

Macron and Erdogan meet on G20 margins

UN: Earth's population is 8 billion people

Indian PM urges G20 countries to find peaceful solution to Ukraine

Minimum wage to rise in Armenia

Ministry: Air pollution level in Armenia up by 30-40% over the past five years

Erdogan and Biden hold talks in Bali

Media: Macron asks Xi Jinping to 'pressure' Putin to return to negotiations

UN: Armenia's population will decrease by 2050

Zelenskyy states that only realistic model of POW exchange is all for all

Ameriabank launches Google Pay, Google Wallet support for card users in Armenia

Argentine President Fernandez feels ill at G20 summit

Ruben Vardanyan receives head of ICRC mission: We must ensure a peaceful childhood for children living in Artsakh

Copper rises in price

Newspaper: Armenian Prime Minister wants to hold referendum on constitutional amendments in spring

Ardshinbank showcases the Google Pay for Android fans in Armenia

Zelenskyy calls not to offer Ukraine compromise with territory and independence

Secretary of State: U.S. stands ready to continue support for Karabakh settlement

Google Pay is a new contactless payment option for Converse Bank customers

French Senate to consider resolution on sanctions against Azerbaijan

Zelenskyy addresses G20 leaders: It's time to stop Russia's war

Karen Vardanyan donated 112 million drams for the medical equipment for National Center for Infectious Diseases

Another four-day parliamentary session begins in Yerevan

Gold declines in value

World oil prices go down

Plans to build 'death pyramid' in London that will hold millions of bodies

Armenian and Georgian Foreign Ministries hold consultations in Tbilisi

Azerbaijani and Iranian FMs hold phone conversation

Steve Jobs' sandals sold for more than $200,000

Armenian PM accuses Azerbaijani leader of terrorizing Armenian civilians

Azerbaijan shells Armenian positions on border again

OPEC downgrades its forecast for global oil demand growth in 2022

White House: Biden and Xi Jinping agree on Blinken's visit to China

CNN: CIA chief Burns meets with SVR director Naryshkin in Ankara

Turkish FM Cavusoglu thanks Ararat Mirzoyan for condolences

Putin signs decree allowing stateless persons to serve in Russian army

Airbus CEO: There is no question of them breaking off trade ties

Armen Grigoryan receives Igor Khovayev

Britain and France sign agreement on strengthening cooperation on illegal migration

US updates its sanctions list for Russia: Milur Electronics LLC, an Armenian company listed

Potatoes prices grow by 20%: expert claims agriculture collapse in Armenia

Peskov says Russian-American talks in Ankara initiated by Washington

Morgan Stanley: UK and euro zone economies are likely to face recession

Xi Jinping hopes for comprehensive dialogue between NATO, the EU and the US and Russia

Japan proposes to deploy Australian nuclear submarines

Biden calls talks with Xi Jinping at G20 summit frank

WB: Debt levels among low- and middle-income countries soared in 2021

Xi Jinping: China does not intend to challenge the U.S.

Scholz: Adopting a joint G20 summit statement is a tough task

Biden and Xi Jinping oppose use of nuclear weapons in Ukraine

Nikol Pashinyan receives Russian co-chair of OSCE Minsk Group

IMF head warns of risks for world economy because of rivalry between China and US

Irakli Garibashvili: Georgia is ready to promote in every possible way the dialogue between Armenia and Azerbaijan
YEREVAN.  The U.S. Embassy in Yerevan on Wednesday organized a business conference focused on Armenias agriculture sector. The goal was to connect Armenian companies involved in the sector with the expertise, products, and technology of well-known U.S. companies Valmont and Monsanto.

The conference aimed to strengthen commercial ties between the United States and Armenia by connecting representatives from American and Armenian agribusinesses, and by giving American companies the opportunity to showcase the latest technological advances in the field.

Agriculture is one of the most important sectors of the Armenian economy. It accounts for 19.6% of Armenias GDP and employs 36.2 % of Armenias labor force, said Charge dAffaires a.i. of the U.S. Embassy Rafik Mansour at the conference opening. The United States is dedicated to improving the commercial opportunities for both our countries, and to deepening our trade and investment relationship. We can celebrate the fact that bilateral trade in goods between the United States and Armenia is up 35% in the first eight months of this year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Two U.S. companies  Valmont and Monsanto  sent representatives to the conference to present their products and services and to learn about business opportunities in Armenia.

The conference was followed by meetings between representatives of U.S. and Armenian companies.
Thespeculations about the shut-down of the Armenian nuclear power plant in Metsamor are artificial and have nothing to do with reality, President Serzh Sargsyan said in an interview with RIA Novosti.

The government of Armenia in March 2014 decided to extend the life of the Armenian nuclear power plant. The plant will be financed from the Russian state export credit worth $ 270 million and a grant of $ 30 million.

Sargsyan noted that at present, together with the state corporation Rosatom, works are underway to implement the program for extending the lifetime of the second power unit of the NPP.

We are taking measures to increase project and operational safety, as well as modernization. So, Metsamor NPP will serve until at least 2027. We believe that nuclear power will always be present in Armenia for its security, primarily energy security, he said.

Asked whether there can be no talks about closing the NPP after the signing of the agreement with the EU in November, Sargsyan said: No, no. The agreement does not contain such a point.
Armenias main goals as a member of the Eurasian Economic Union is to increase the volume of trade turnover with the members of the Eurasian Union, President Serzh Sargsyan said in an interview with RIA Novosti.

His comment came in response to a question about changes in Armenias economic indicators after joining the Eurasian Union.

Last year, our export to Russia in the agricultural sector grew by about 40 percent. This year, the figures are slightly lower, but above 35 percent. We are developing good greenhouse economy. In general, I must say that agriculture is very developed, but there is also the potential for even greater growth. If we talk about the types of agricultural products that we can send to Russia - these are vegetables, fruits, canned food, cheese ... And the difference of this particular sector is that we supply the products of not one single enterprise-monopolist, let's say, ore mining and processing company. In agriculture, we employ more than 350 thousand farms, so the income is distributed. And this is very important, Sargsyan said.

The Armenian president assured that the country can be engaged in Russias import-substitution program. First of all, Armenia is engaged in industrial cooperation and will develop such areas as instrumentation, radio electronics, machine-tool construction, machine building.
YEREVAN.  In 2018, Office of the Human Rights Defender (Ombudsman) of Armenia will increase the work regarding the reports about shooting on border villages.

Ombudsman Arman Tatoyan on Wednesday stated the above-said at the joint debates of the standing committees of the National Assembly, and devoted to draft of the 2018 State Budget of Armenia.

In his words, these reports will be addressed to as many international organizations as possible, and whose responsibilities include protection of human rights.

These reports are already being prepared in English and French.

We work actively also with the Nagorno-Karabakh [Republic] colleague, added Tatoyan, so that the republic be in full contact with international human rights organizations.
Chairman of the Republic of Armenia National Assembly (RA NA) Standing Committee on Foreign Relations and head of the RA NA Delegation to the EuroNest Parliamentary Assembly (PA), Armen Ashotyan, on Tuesday delivered an address at the opening of the EuroNest PA plenary session on the future of Eastern Partnership (EaP) and Armenia-EU relations.

In the context of EaP, priorities Ashotyan touched upon Armenias multi-track, or complementarity EaP position and in relation to this, stressed that we should take into consideration that each and every country within the framework of the EaP has its own interests and guidelines. Armen Ashotyan highlighted the formation of the new legal framework of the RA-EU cooperation and the signing of the RA-EU Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement. Also, the head of the RA NA delegation expressed the hope that there will be positive results soon regarding the visa liberalization process.

In addition, Ashotyan emphasized the effective role of the EaP platform for the interests of the citizens of the EaP countries.

Regarding the current differences between the EaP member states, Armen Ashotyan highlighted the definition of values which will be common and admissible for all these countries.

In his speech, Armen Ashotyan spoke also about the existing conflicts in the EaP countries, and noted that although the EuroNest is not a platform for conflict resolution, it can be observed as a unique means for political dialogue between the conflicting states, especially between the colleagues from Armenia and Azerbaijan. In this context, Armen Ashotyan highlighted that the EuroNest PA could underline in its works in Kiev and record the important fact that all conflicts existing in the EaP countries are different, the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict has no military solution, and the settlement of this matter is based on the OSCE Minsk Group fundamental principles and the Helsinki Final Act. Armen Ashotyan attached importance to the fact that the EuroNest PA reaffirmed its support to the efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs.

Furthermore, Ashotyan underscored that the EaP is not and cannot be an agreement and document turnover mentioned on paper, it is a platform for the justification of the expectations of the EaP countries, making as a basis and goal of the activity the implementation of reforms and the daily consistent work.

In conclusion, Armen Ashotyan noted in relation to the signing of the RA-EU Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement within the framework of the upcoming EaP summit that in this new legal framework, Armenia will become the first country which is a member in the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and, at the same time, it will be a legally bounding agreement with the EU. In this context, he said the signing of this agreement will be a link to the international community that the EAEU and the European Union should not be conflicting parties and, in this case, Armenia could be a bridge connecting the two different economic and political efforts of these two unions.
YEREVAN.  President Serzh Sargsyan on Wednesday paid a visit to the United Nations (UN) Office in Armenia, and on the occasion of the 25th anniversaries of the countrys membership in this organization and the latters activities in the country.

First, the President congratulated the office staff, led by Bradley Busetto, UN Resident Coordinator in Armenia, on this anniversary, and lauded the development programs which this organization has implemented in the country.

During his talk with Busetto, the President expressed the hope that Armenias productive cooperation with the UN will be further strengthened and deepened, and reaffirmed the countrys commitment to the core values of this organization.

Bradley Busetto, for his part, stressed that the UN Office in Armenia has done its utmost so that this organization becomes a neutral platform for international community in Armenia and for combined work of the country.

Following the talk, President Serzh Sargsyan toured the exhibition that has opened at the UN Office in Armenia, and where the countrys presence at this organization and the programs implemented by the UN in Armenia over the course of 25 years are presented through photographs.
YEREVAN.  Criminal charges have brought against the man who kidnapped 3-year-old in Armenia preschool. He has also been accused on suspicion of attempted murder of two people.

On Monday at around 4pm, an Armavir resident entered the said preschool, kidnapped one of its pupilsa boy born in 2015with the threat of knife, and demanded to talk with his ex-wife in order to release the child, the Committee informed Armenian News-NEWS.am.

But as a result of measures that were undertaken, the hostage-taker was neutralized, whereas the little boy was safely released.

During the respective operation, however, the man injured himself with the knife, and he was immediately taken to hospital and underwent surgery.

But information has been obtained that, before taking the child hostage, the man had inflicted knife injuries to his ex-wife who works at this preschool as a teacher, and to her grandmother, who is the director of this preschool.

Three people have been recognized as injured party.

The said knife was found at the scene.

Several forensic examinations have been commissioned.

The suspect has been arrested.
The UN General Assembly on Wednesday adopted a resolution calling for an end to the US economic embargo on Cuba, Reuters reported.

The non-binding resolution urges the United States to repeal the embargo on Cuba as soon as possible. The U.N. vote can carry political weight, but only the U.S. Congress can lift the full embargo, put in place more than 50 years ago.

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley called the plenary meeting on this subject political theater. The Cuban regime is sending the warped message to the world that the sad state of its economy, the oppression of its people, and the export of its destructive ideology is not its fault, Haley told the General Assembly.

Cubas Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez said Haley and the United States lack the slightest moral authority to criticize Cuba, calling her remarks disrespectful against Cuba and its government.

U.S. President Donald Trump said earlier this month he believed Havana was responsible for a series of alleged incidents that Washington says harmed 24 of its diplomats, while Cuban officials said last week talk of acoustic strikes was science fiction.
Sheriff Explains Why He Works With ICE

Says immigration enforcement is a national security issue and law enforcement across the country should help

BETHESDA, Md.Sheriff Chuck Jenkins swears by the 287(g) program, calling it a force multiplier for immigration enforcement and an effective way to keep criminals off the streets.

The 287(g) program was added to the Immigration and Nationality Act in 1996 under President Bill Clinton, and is a cooperation agreement between Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and a state or local law enforcement agency.

Under the agreement, designated officers are trained and supervised by ICE to perform some immigration law enforcement functions within jail settings.

When Jenkins was elected sheriff for Frederick County, Maryland, in 2006, one of his priorities was to join the program.

I believe its a real key piece of national security, he said at a public event on Oct. 17. I believe it achieves the goal of keeping the county safer; it keeps the criminals from being released back onto the street and not being released back to commit more serious crimesall the things that we find people are victims of all over the country.

Jenkins said the added workload for his department is negligible and ICE handles all the costs.

As a sheriff, I have an obligation to do everything within my power  with the legal means I have, to use every program, every resource, every tool to do what I can to protect the citizens of my county.  Chuck Jenkins, sheriff, Frederick County, Maryland

Really, what we do is facilitate a process. We help ICE in determining their [an inmates] immigration status, he said. If here illegally, they are usually placed in deportation proceedings by ICE.

The only inquiries that we make are once an individual is arrested and taken to our booking center at the jail. Everybody is asked two questions: Where were you born?, and, What country are you a citizen of?

If the detainee answers anything other than the United States, an immigration status check is conducted using the federal database. Jenkins said most people are honest, because they know that the consequences of lying are far greater.

Deputies never ask an individuals immigration status while responding to an incident, while on a traffic stop, or while conducting an investigation, Jenkins said.

I guarantee you  nobody is out there asking questions about immigration status on the street. It just simply doesnt happen, he said.

Sanctuaries

Nationwide, many jurisdictions have created so-called sanctuary cities, which ban or limit local law enforcement from cooperating with federal immigration authorities. These sanctuaries refuse to alert ICE when an inmate is being released, or refuse to hold an inmate for up to 48 hours longer in order for ICE to take custodyeven when ICE issues a federal detainer warrant.

Last month, ICE arrested a convicted felon in New York after the NYPD had refused to honor the detainer request lodged by ICE and released him.

Pablo Garcia-Taveras, 45, a Dominican national, was previously convicted of felony criminal possession of a controlled substance and felony attempted criminal possession of a controlled substance. He had also previously been deported twice.

Every day, our officers put their lives on the line to arrest criminal aliens who could have easily been transferred to ICE custody within the confines of a secure jail environment, said Thomas Decker, field office director for ICEs Enforcement and Removal Operations in New York.

Jenkins said he doesnt view ICE detainers any differently than those from other agencies, like the FBI, the U.S. Marshals, or the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Were going to honor their detainers, were going to honor their requests with holds on prisoners, he said.

In September, ICE arrested almost 500 individuals in sanctuary jurisdictions that deny ICE access to jails and prisons to interview suspected immigration violators, or that do not honor ICE detainers.

Of the 498 individuals taken into custody, 317 had criminal convictions, 68 were immigration fugitives, 104 were previously deported criminal aliens, and 18 are gang members or affiliates, according to ICE.

Jenkins said some politicians in his local city election have been talking about making Frederick a sanctuary city.

The bottom line is, it cant be, because of what were doing at the detention center, he said. Everybody thats arrested in Frederick City comes to my jail. Therefore, youre subject to removal if youre in the country illegally. So they can call it what they want, but Frederick City and Frederick County are not going to be sanctuaries.

Jenkins is elected directly by the people in Frederick County, rather than by the county executive, which is the case in other counties, such as neighboring Montgomery County.

That gives Jenkins the freedom to join programs such as the 287(g) without political interference.

However, he said, County Executive Jan Gardner has told him she doesnt like the program.

If she had her way, it would be gone. I told her as long as Im sheriff, were going to have it, Jenkins said. As a sheriff, I have an obligation to do everything within my power  with the legal means I have, to use every program, every resource, every tool to do what I can to protect the citizens of my county.

Slimmed Down 287(g) Program

The original 287(g) program included a task force component, under which local 287(g)-designated officers were authorized to carry out immigration enforcement actions on the street. Under the task force model, officers could question individuals about their immigration status, serve warrants for immigration violations, and issue immigration detainers.

The task force part was stripped out in 2009 by the Obama administration, and 287(g) now just includes agreements that involve cooperation within jails, prisons, and detention centers.

Since 2008, when Frederick County joined the program, the sheriffs department has cooperated with ICE with 1,525 individuals who were identified as being in the country illegally and committing crimes in the county, Jenkins said.

Almost 1,400 of those individuals with detainers were placed into removal proceedings, with eventually a final order of removal, Jenkins said. So those people who committed crimes in our county, for the most part, are now gone.

Jenkins said that of the roughly 1,400 people, 67 were validated gang members, and of them, 18 had some type of specialized training, such as sniper or commando training, or they were martial artists, knife fighters, or trained assassins.

Theyre the type of people that are coming across our borders and happened to infiltrate and get to this part of the country, he said.

Jenkins said it doesnt take a 287(g) agreement to cooperate with ICE.

All you have to do is pick up the phone as a detention center, as a Bureau of Corrections, and say, Listen, Ive got someone you want on a detainer. Theyre in my jail. Im going to release them in 48 hours.

I guarantee you, ICE will show up and pick him up.

Jenkins said the citizens of Frederick County are by and large overwhelmingly supportive of his department.

He said the serious crime rate in the county, as categorized by the FBI and Department of Justice, is less than half of the national average.

Im not tying that directly and solely to our participation with ICE in the program, but that certainly plays a part, Jenkins said.

Chilling Effect

Jenkins said the 287(g) program gets a bad rap from media and advocacy groups, mostly because they misconstrue what the program does, and doesnt, do.

Most politicians in sanctuary jurisdictions say that cooperating with ICE creates a chilling effect in immigrant communitiesmeaning victims and witnesses of crime stop coming forward because they are afraid of being deported.

However, protections such as the U-visa already exist for illegal aliens who are victims or witnesses of crime. And law enforcement officers dont ask the immigration status of witnesses and victims of crimes, unless they themselves have been arrested for a crime.

Thats why I dont buy this argument [of] the chilling effect, Jenkins said. The local immigrant communities want to make them safer. They dont want to be victims in their own communities. And we find that, by and large, the immigrant community cooperates with us because they know those protections are there.

Beyond only operating in jails, the 287(g)-designated officers are able to issue prosecutorial releases, which means an illegal alien could avoid being placed into deportation proceedings.

If youre arrested and we determine that youre in the country illegally, if there is a humanitarian reason, like youve got some type of illness, cancer, youre pregnant, youre a sole provider for a family or children, or its a very minor offense  were going to cut [you] loose.

Jenkins said his department has issued 204 prosecutorial releases since 2015.

Cost of Program

Aside from the cost of sending deputies and corrections officers to South Carolina for training, there is no ongoing cost to the sheriffs department.

Not one dollar of Frederick County taxpayer money goes into that program, Jenkins said. He said ICE pays for everything, including the training, the computers to do the database checks, the fingerprinting equipment, the language lines for interpretation, and the transportation of detainees.

ICE has absolute oversight and supervision of the program, he said. They look at every file, they look at every detainereverything is reviewed for sufficiency, for legal accuracy. ICE supervisors come into our jail every day.

Jenkins said his department could not have a better relationship with ICE.

There are not enough ICE agents out there to do the job, there simply isnt, Jenkins said. So they need the help of law enforcement, they need the help of corrections, and they need the help of the prisons and sheriffs across the country to make this work.

Two other counties (out of 23) in MarylandHarford and Anne Arundelhave 287(g) agreements with ICE.

In total, ICE now has agreements with 60 law enforcement agencies in 18 statesalmost double the number of active programs in 2016, according to data on ICEs website.
Mattel, Inc. (MAT) - Get Free Report can't catch a break.

Fitch Ratings downgraded the toymaker one notch to the lowest investment level grade, BBB-, Tuesday, Oct. 31, just as investors are turning their backs on the Barbie brand. S&P, too, downgraded Mattel two notches last week, from BB to BBB-. Mattel's stock is nearly 10% down this week, after posting dismal third-quarter earnings.

Mattel blamed the bankruptcy of Toys 'R' Us for much of its troubles, but as Fitch maintained in the downgrade announcement, that Mattel's sales have declined for 12 out of the 15 past quarters. The credit rating company anticipates that revenue will continue to decline at a mid-single-digit rate and that EBITDA margins will also contract to 11% for the full year.

Meanwhile, analysts left and right are lowering their target prices for the stock. Despite CEO Margo Georgiadis' $650 million cost saving plan, Wall Street is skeptical that Mattel will bounce back.

"When the dust settles after today, we think the share price could move [further] down," wrote D. A. Davidson & Co. analyst Linda Bolton Weiser in a note Monday, Oct. 30.

KeyBanc Capital Markets' Brett Andress also painted a gloomy outlook.

"We continue to believe the turnaround may take longer than anticipated as MAT works to combat sustained (and potentially structural) portfolio weakness," he wrote on Oct. 27, citing the Toys 'R' Us Chapter 11 filing, looming debt covenants and the industry trend that favors film franchise products over evergreen toys, like Mattel's Barbie and Hot Wheels products.

Mattel's competitor Hasbro Inc. (HAS) - Get Free Report , for instance, saw its sales boosted by Marvel films that came out this year, as it has the exclusive license to manufacture Marvel Legends action figures. Movies historically have been drivers of sales in the $20 billion toy industry, and this past year has been unprecedented in the volume of films with toy prospects.

Mattel posted Thursday, Oct. 26, a 13% decline in sales in its third quarter and suspended its quarterly dividend of 15 cents a share. Chief Financial Officer Joseph Euteneuer also announced that there will be a reduction in the global workforce.

"We suspected a rough quarter...but that was really tough," wrote Jeffries analyst Stephanie Wissink in a Oct. 27 note following Mattel's earnings miss.

BMO Capital Markets analyst Gerrick Johnson titled his post-earnings Mattel note, Not Quite the Kitchen Sink, But Close.

Meanwhile, interest from short sellers has skyrocketed to 21%, versus 12.6% in August. Just one day after Mattel announced its third-quarter earnings, short sellers were up $184 million, according to an S3 Partners report. An all-time high of 74.5 million shares were short then with $1.1 billion at risk.

The report noted, "As the market continues to roar ahead into the last quarter 2017, it doesn't appear that short sellers will take their foot off of the gas anytime soon."

More of What's Trending on TheStreet:
A Visual Model to Simplify the Definition of Safety

To shape, control, and influence performance in any organization, clarity should exist around what employees are required to do and what is most desirable.

How is safety defined in your company? Most people respond to this question with a goal (such as not getting hurt or going home the same way they came to work) rather than a definition. If a group of people are going to work to accomplish a goal, it must be clearly defined and the definition universally shared.

Safety, simply put, is knowing what can hurt you, learning the things that can keep them from hurting you, and doing those things. This overly simplistic definition does not elaborate on the methodologies of mitigating risks, but it does focus on the basic objectives. It also provides a sensible framework to not only focus discussions to increase ownership, but also assist in developing new leading indicators for a companys ever-maturing safety scorecard.

Knowing the Risks: Do your employees know the different types of risks they might face in their work area? What are the big risks, the where single exposure is likely to result in a serious injury or fatality? These types of risks are often categorized as high-probability. What are the common risks they will face? What risks are being taken that are common to the culture? These are typically low-probability types of risk. What risks are often taken that are less likely to result in an injury, but as an organization drastically improves in their approaches to safety and resulting performance, might make up a large part of their injuries? How well do your employees know both the big and common risks? Consider a quiz or a test to find out. The response can become a leading indicator for your safety scorecard.

Knowing What Precautions to Take: Merriam-Webster defines precaution as "care taken in advance" or "a measure taken beforehand to prevent harm or secure good." Do your employees know what precautions are required of them? Lockout/Tagout is an example. In most companies, this is not a gentle request; it is a requirement, and serious events occurred that led to this. The U.S. Navy has a saying, "All rules are written in blood." However, in an organization plagued by injuries that could largely be preventable by keeping eyes on path or task, it would be inefficient to try to write and enforce a rule that "You must look where you are going." Specifically, what precaution must someone take to control the big risks? And what precaution can someone take to control the common risks? To shape, control and influence performance in any organization, clarity should exist around what employees are required to do and what is most desirable. Do your employees know this? Their responses to a quiz could also become a leading indicator.

This article originally appeared in the November 2017 issue of Occupational Health & Safety.
Microlearning: Training for the Millennial Generation

Part of the appeal of microlearning is that it can be administered just-in-time and just enough. And it makes learning an ongoing process.

The landscape of tools at a training manager's disposal is growing and evolving as technology rapidly develops. The Millennial generation is entering the workforce as baby boomers and even Gen Xers age and retire.

The e-learning and safety training communities are discussing "microlearning," a fairly new concept that is allegedly a more efficient and simplistic way to train employees, improve workplace safety, and better accommodate a changing workforce.

What is Microlearning?

One microlearning session aims to teach one particular lesson, in a brief amount of time. In a sense, it is similar to a Google search: a quick answer to a specific question.

As described in the name, microlearning is much shorter than traditional training, with sessions typically ranging between 2 and 5 minutes. A microlearning training course that runs longer than 5 minutes risks violating the core concept of focusing on one specific learning objective.

Microlearning may take various forms, but course developers typically design courses in rich media formats, with video designed for easy access via smartphones being the most common. Courses include learner interaction, such as a brief quiz or follow-up discussion with an instructor, and provide reference documents and other outside items as additional resources.

How Can Microlearning Be Implemented for Safety Training?

Most formats of microlearning are easily accessible via smartphones, tablets, and desktop computers. Organizations can deliver courses at precise moments, or in an on-demand format.

Microlearning's single-concept approach allows it to complement traditional training offered for stand-alone topics or as part of a series. For example, a two-day personal protective equipment training session cannot be condensed into 5 minutes. However, this training topic could be broken down into multiple microlearning sessions on hearing protection, footwear, and so forth.

This article originally appeared in the November 2017 issue of Occupational Health & Safety.
New Alliance Focused on Diisocyanates

OSHA and the American Chemistry Council have joined in a two-year alliance to raise awareness of workers' exposure hazards and promote the chemicals' safe use in the polyurethane industry.

OSHA and the American Chemistry Council announced a new alliance in September that will raise awareness of how workers are exposed to diisocyanates and promote safe practices for their use in the polyurethane industry. These are raw materials used to make polyurethane products, such as insulation, car seats, and foam mattresses, and respiratory and dermal exposures can result in irritation of the skin and mucous membranes, chest tightness, and difficulty breathing. More serious health effects include asthma and other lung problems, according to OSHA.

According to EPA, diisocyanates are well-known dermal and inhalation sensitizers in the workplace and have been documented to cause asthma and lung damage, but the ACC Center for the Polyurethanes Industry (CPI) says manufacturers, in partnership with downstream users, have implemented product stewardship activities that have contributed to a reduction in diisocyanate-related asthma cases, even as production rates of diisocyanates have increased.

The alliance calls for the creation of a web-based training program on the safe use and handling of chemicals and the potential routes of exposure for users. The partners will develop guidance on medical surveillance and clinical evaluation techniques for employers and workers using the chemicals, and their agreement calls for best practices seminars on health and safety procedures for OSHA, On-Site Consultation, and State Plan staffers.

"OSHA's new alliance with ACC will help ensure that employers and employees who work with the identified chemicals better understand the health hazards associated with these potentially hazardous chemicals and the methods to control employee exposures," said Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health Loren Sweatt.

Three groups from ACC will lead the work with OSHA: CPI and the Diisocyanates and Aliphatic Diisocyanates panels. According to ACC, members of these groups include manufacturers and distributors of chemicals and equipment used to make polyurethane, and CPI serves as the voice of the polyurethanes industry, covering more than 220,000 workers nationwide.

This article originally appeared in the November 2017 issue of Occupational Health & Safety.
Waste as an Energy Source: the Path to a Low-Carbon Economy

Climate change, renewable energy, low-carbon economy: For some, these are catchwords and arguments for a global ecological rethink. For others, they stand for a business segment that couples environmentally friendly technologies with a clear vision to ensure we can leave a world worth living in for future generations.

p>The goals agreed at the 21st United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP21) in 2015 are an ambitious call for action: The aim is to keep global warming below 2 degrees C. For this to happen, the emission of greenhouse gases will have to be completely halted between 2045 and 2060, and the production of CO2 reduced to levels that can be absorbed by natural photosynthesis. According to current studies, this will entail stopping the burning of fossil fuels entirely from 2040 and switching completely to renewable sources of energy.

However, it is not just industry and transportation that are responsible for imbalances in the carbon cycle: Landfill sites currently account for around 8 percent of greenhouse gas emissions. Amid rising population numbers and the resultant volumes of waste, this number is also set to increase  experts expect waste volumes to reach 2.4 billion tons by 2025, producing 1,300 million tons of CO2-equivalent greenhouse gases. Consequently, sustainable waste management has a direct bearing on the global climate. Clean-tech companies, such as Swiss-based Hitachi Zosen Inova (HZI), are committed to addressing this issue with product portfolios comprising a range of complementary energy-from-waste (EfW), and power-to-gas (PtG) technologies.

Energy from Non-Recyclable Waste

In many parts of Europe, recyclables are collected separately, with the residual waste then processed in EfW plants. This trend is becoming increasingly more attractive in the United States and Canada because it offers a range of advantages, such as reducing or completely eradicating the need for landfill, cutting greenhouse gases, and protecting the human habitat from contamination and pollution. High-efficiency grate incineration with flue gas treatment and material recovery technologies ensure the smooth running of industrial, manufacturing, and municipal plants utilizing the environmentally friendly conversion of waste into energy, which is subsequently fed into the grid as base-load power to supply households and commercial and industrial facilities. Modern EfW plants, equipped with advanced technology, can deliver enough heat from a ton of waste to replace approximately 63 gallons of heating oil, for example, or generate 800kWh of electricity  enough to supply an average household in the United States or Canada with electricity for approximately one month, based on a total annual consumption of approximately 10,000kWh per year.

This article originally appeared in the November 2017 issue of Occupational Health & Safety.
Laguna Phuket Kindergarten (LPK) was recently awarded Thailands Top 100 Schools for Operational Excellence Award 2017, nominated by the provincial Education Office. The award ceremony was held at Rajabhat Suan Sunandha University, Bangkok, in remembrance of His Majesty the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej. The Awards & Recognition Programmes by the Ministry of Education and affiliate offices focus on the theme Teacher of the Land, which emphasises the concept of following in the footsteps of His Majesty King Bhumibol, who is recognised as the Teacher of the Land.

This award was granted to 100 schools nationwide that achieved and/or sustained high performance on provincial educational assessments. LPK score was above 90 per cent in 3 consecutive years. Awarded schools will serve as Spotlight Schools and help lead efforts to replicate their award-winning programmes and sharing of best practices to schools in their local community.

This is a wonderful reward as this year LPK celebrates its 25th anniversary in educating the future generations. We have introduced what we call meaningful and inquiry-based learning to 3,399 children. We are proud of our learning activities that promote meaningful learning and living a purposeful life. said, Ms. Prae Sunantaraks, LPK Permit Holder.

Our mission in developing sustainable communities through education has never been more satisfying. I enjoy coming to LPK every day to do whatever I can, and to create enduring memories for our students, parents and teachers, said Mrs. Aranya Ninlapat, Principal of Laguna Phuket Kindergarten.

To learn more about Laguna Phukets initiatives in social responsibility and community sustainability programmes and/or to donate, visit www.LagunaPhuket.com/CSR or follow Facebook @LagunaPhuketCSR
Corn fields sit adjacent to forest in the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso. Credit: Lisa Rausch.

Brazil's environmental land registration program has been successful in slowing down the rate of deforestation on private land, according to a new study.

The study is published in the journal Conservation Letters. Brazil houses nearly 13 percent of the world's remaining forests, and although its deforestation rate has slowed in recent years, it remains the second-highest contributor to global forest loss. However, Brazil has made substantial progress mapping properties for environmental registration, known as CAR (Cadastro Ambiental Rural). First with a handful of state-level systems in the Amazon, and more recently with a national rural land registration system known as SiCAR (Sistema Nacional de Cadastro Ambiental Rural).

Deforestation - the removal of a forest or stand of trees where the land is thereafter converted to a non-forest use - contributes significantly to the greenhouse gas effect, one of the leading causes of global warming. The biggest driver of deforestation is agriculture. Farmers cut forests to provide more room for planting crops or grazing livestock.

The program's success provides a potential pathway toward mitigating climate change, said Jennifer Alix-Garcia, an economist in OSU's College of Agricultural Sciences and the study's lead author. The CAR allows landowners a way to demonstrate compliance with environmental regulations and it also provides a mechanism for the government to monitor land-use, she said.

"Brazil was able to implement this program in a region where land tenure is very insecure, which suggests it would be possible in other parts of the world," Alix-Garcia said.

The researchers examined the impacts of CAR registration in the Amazon states of Mato Grosso and Para during the early years of its implementation, between 2006 and 2013, using randomly drawn points from the forested area of the two states. Using registration data and satellite imagery, they calculated that deforestation in the two states would have been 10 percent higher in the absence of CAR registration.

The CAR, now administered through the SiCAR system, is one of a variety of interventions that aims to control deforestation on private lands in the Brazilian Amazon, including improved satellite monitoring, increased enforcement of the 2012 Forest Code, credit restrictions for areas involved in excessive deforestation, and private sector zero-deforestation agreements.

"Property registration is particularly important for initiatives such as Brazil's Soy Moratorium and Zero-Deforestation Cattle Agreements, which aim to trace supply chains on the ground," said Holly Gibbs, professor of geography and environmental studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

However, the property data is still not available to the public in a comprehensive way, adds Lisa Rausch, researcher at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. This has to change to improve environmental governance by both the public and private sectors, she said.

More information: Jennifer Alix-Garcia et al, Avoided Deforestation Linked to Environmental Registration of Properties in the Brazilian Amazon, Conservation Letters (2017). DOI: 10.1111/conl.12414 Journal information: Conservation Letters
Students on a ClimateWatch trail on the Crawley campus of the University of Western Australia. Credit: Mitchell et al (2017)

Citizen science projects, such as ClimateWatch, can boost engagement in undergraduate courses, according to a study published November 1, 2017 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Nicola Mitchell from The University of Western Australia, and colleagues.

Many citizen science projects involve the collection of data by a team of volunteers for the purpose of being used in scientific research. This hands-on approach to data collection could also be a potential teaching strategy to promote undergraduate science students' active engagement with environmental issues in their everyday surroundings and deepen their knowledge of the environment.

To investigate the effectiveness of incorporating citizen science into undergraduate education, Mitchell and colleagues examined the use of the Australian phenology citizen science program ClimateWatch in a University of Western Australia first-year biology class from 2011 to 2016. Using the ClimateWatch smartphone application and website, students monitored plants, animals, fungi and algae for potential changes in their life cycles and/or their distributions as the climate changes. In a parallel process, the students wrote a journal article focusing on one species' potential response to climate change, the validation of citizen science datasets, or a combination of both topics.

The researchers conducted surveys with 1500 students before and after they completed this citizen science project from 2011 to 2016. They found that this project significantly contributed to the phenological data on Australian's species, with about two-thirds of ClimateWatch's records between 2011 and 2014 coming from students enrolled in universities. It also greatly contributed to environmental engagement for the students since the majority (55 percent) planned to continue collecting data after the project was finished. on their own. and a large portion (35 percent) also introduced the application to their friends. Finally, students also learned how to analyze, present and interpret publish their phenological and distributional data as part of their studies, and the 130 student publications that have come from this program are testament to their discoveries.

The researchers hope to continue refining the program at UWA to produce more citizen scientists to work with ClimateWatch, and encourage more researchers to work with university citizen scientists, and in general to improve data quality.

As study co-author Nancy Longnecker says, "Becoming a scientist involves so much more than memorizing facts. Doing research in the 'real world' is an excellent way for students to learn and citizen science provides many opportunities."

More information: Mitchell N, Triska M, Liberatore A, Ashcroft L, Weatherill R, Longnecker N (2017) Benefits and challenges of incorporating citizen science into university education. PLoS ONE 12(11): e0186285. doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0186285 Journal information: PLoS ONE
A warming planet makes it harder for sunlight to disinfect lakes, rivers, and coastal waters. Credit: Rensselaer

Increasing organic runoff as a result of climate change may be reducing the penetration of pathogen-killing ultraviolet (UV) sunlight in inland lakes, rivers, and coastal waters, according to a new study in the journal Scientific Reports. The findings, from a team including researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, points to the potential for an increase in waterborne pathogens.

Scientists have already measured an increase in "browning" of the world's waters, a phenomenon caused by more organic matter washing in from the surrounding land. The new study, led by Miami University in Ohio, analyzed water samples and used a model based at the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) to quantify, for the first time, the impact of dissolved organic matter on the potential for UV radiation from the sun to kill pathogens in the water.

Not only does an increase in dissolved organic matter make it more difficult for sunlight to disinfect bodies of water, it also makes it more difficult for water treatment plants to work effectively, said lead author Craig Williamson, a Miami University ecologist. In the United States, 12 to 19 million people already become ill from waterborne pathogens annually.

Kevin Rose, the Frederic R. Kolleck '52 Career Development Chair in Freshwater Ecology at Rensselaer, gathered much of the data on dissolved organic matter in water samples to assess the potential of UV radiation to kill pathogens.

"Water clarity is dropping in many regions due to factors such as browning, and this research demonstrates that this change is likely decreasing natural disinfection of potentially harmful pathogens," said Rose.

The team used samples of water from lakes around the world, from Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, to Chile and New Zealand. Tests determined the amount of dissolved organic matter contained in each sample, and the wavelengths of lightincluding ultraviolet wavelengthsabsorbed by that organic matter.

Using the Tropospheric Ultraviolet-Visible modelwhich simulates how UV light is scattered and absorbed as it passes through Earth's atmosphereresearchers determined how much UV light hits the surface of the lakes throughout the year. Researchers also analyzed reflection and refraction off each lake's surface to calculate how much light penetrates the lakes and then, finally, how deeply it reaches.

The Tropospheric Ultraviolet-Visible model also calculates the expected disinfecting power of UV light in a particular body of water based on its dissolved organic matter and other characteristics, a measurement known as "solar inactivation potential (SIP)." In some cases, researchers calculated the SIP across different parts of, or for different time periods in, the same lake.

The results allowed scientists to quantify the impacts of dissolved organic matter. For example, the summertime SIP for one lake in northeastern Pennsylvaniawhich, along with other regional lakes has undergone significant browning in recent decadesdropped by about half between 1994 and 2015.

In California's Lake Tahoe, the SIP in the relatively pristine center of the lake can be as much as 10 times greater than at Tahoe Meeks Bay, an area at lake's edge that is heavily used by humans and has a much higher level of dissolved organic matter.

The scientists also showed how SIP can dramatically decrease after a heavy rainfall event using water samples collected from the region where the Manitowoc River flows into Lake Michigan, which supplies drinking water to more than 10 million people. Modeling based on samples taken before and after a strong storm moved through on June 21, 2011, showed that the SIP may have dropped by as much as 22 percent due to the extra dissolved organic matter that washed into the area in this single storm event.

More information: Craig E. Williamson et al, Climate change-induced increases in precipitation are reducing the potential for solar ultraviolet radiation to inactivate pathogens in surface waters, Scientific Reports (2017). DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-13392-2 Journal information: Scientific Reports
The proud DESHIMA team in the cabin of the ASTE telescope of the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ) in Chiles Atacama Desert. From left to right, (back row): Toshihiko Kobiki, Tai Oshima, Kenichi Karatu; (front row): David Thoen, Akira Endo, Robert Huiting, Tatsuya Takekoshi. Credit: Robert Huiting (SRON)

DESHIMA is a completely new type of astronomical instrument with which researchers hope to construct a 3-D map of the early universe. In early October, Dutch and Japanese researchers installed the DESHIMA measurement instrument under the ASTE telescope in Chile. Last week, DESHIMA achieved first light.

To study the early universe, astronomers need to measure infrared light that has taken between 10 and 13 billion years to reach Earth. Sensitive instruments are required for this. A team from TU Delft is collaborating with SRON, Leiden Observatory and Japanese astronomers to develop superconductive and extremely sensitive measurement equipment that speeds up the current measurement process 100-fold. Its members are currently on location in Chile to install and test the equipment.

The Japanese Atacama Submillimeter Telescope Experiment (ASTE) is located in the Atacama Desert in Chile at an altitude of 4.8 kilometres. In recent weeks, the Deep Spectroscopic High-redshift Mapper (DESHIMA) was installed on this telescope. This new type of spectrometer determines the exact distance to distant infrared star systems by measuring the redshift of the spectrum of the star systems. DESHIMA is the first broadband spectrometer for these specific infrared frequencies.

DESHIMA features microwave kinetic inductance detectors (MKIDs), which can detect the most minute changes in radiation energy with the greatest precision. Akira Endo (TU Delft) developed the concept of a spectrometer with a large number of MKIDs. Jochem Baselmans (SRON/TU Delft) later suggested creating the entire spectrometer on the same chip, without using optics, and the idea of the superconductive, on-chip spectrometer was born.

A single superconductive chip, further developed by these and other researchers from TU Delft and SRON, collects the far infrared radiation, filters it into narrower frequencies and detects the luminosity per frequency. The chip is cooled in a cryostat to a temperature of -273 degrees Celsius (120 millikelvins) and read by special electronics. The cryostat and electronics were both developed by SRON.

Proof of principle

Narrowband far infrared spectrometers are already available, but DESHIMA is the first spectrometer of its kind to be tested on a telescope. What makes DESHIMA special is its instantaneous bandwidth. DESHIMA will be tested in Chile as proof of principle at a frequency of 346 Gigahertz and an instantaneous bandwidth of 40 Gigahertz. Nobody has ever attempted to use such a large bandwidth to look so far back in time and deep into space.

The aim is to work towards a bandwidth of 240-720 GHz in a few years' time, which requires even more precise lithography. SRON and TU Delft are already working on a successor to DESHIMA called MOSAIC, a 25-pixel version that is expected to be operational in three years' time. If everything goes according to plan, researchers will soon be able to use it to create the first 3-D map of star systems dating back to the dawn of the universe.

More information: To find out more about the technology behind DESHIMA, the research project in Chile and studying star systems in general, read the blog produced by TU Delft's Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science, see:

https://www.tudelft.nl/en/eemcs/current/nodes/stories/the-deshima-guide-to-the-galaxy/
The world has more than 12.5 million recent graduates with STEM degrees, according to the World Economic Forum, which emphasizes a diverse skillset for a fast-changing global workplace. Still, perceptions persist that degrees in science, technology, engineering and math are best-suited for contributing to economic growth. Credit: The Human Capital Report 2016, World Economic Forum

The perception abounds around the world that science, technology, engineering and mathematics, or STEM subjects, matter more economically and academically than the humanities and social sciences.

China's plan to turn 42 designated universities into "world class" science and technology powerhouses is the latest and starkest example.

Political and educational leaders everywhere hail the university's role in driving economic growth and continue to introduce policies designed to achieve this goal. Students are responding to these signals by enrolling in increasingly large numbers in the STEM fields at the expense of the arts and social sciences. This is a worrisome trend and merits critical reflection.

Universities are no longer quaint preparation grounds for social and professional elites. They are multifaceted, frequently massive corporate entities that foster new knowledge, encourage cultural vitality and help prepare graduates in a vast range of fields to enrich the quality of their lives.

At their best, universities are bastions of exuberant debate, unparalleled tolerance and personal discovery. Of course, they are not always at their best, and narrow-mindedness in behaviour and programming can compromise their ideals and erode their distinctive scholarly qualities.

STEM programs are critical components of universities' curricular and research missions, but so, too, are the liberal arts. And these programs should not be marginalized in market-driven, academic prioritization schemes.

Liberal arts' contributions to society

The contribution of liberal arts to cultural and civic life is crucial and historically enduring.

Philosophers and political theorists have deepened our understanding of the ideological systems that govern our lives; historians preserve cultural memory and provide perspective on contemporary conflicts; novelists, poets and artists, both those who teach in universities and those who have studied in them, exhibit the infinite power of the imagination.

Nations that nourish these pursuits enhance the civility and spirit of their communities.

And like engineers and computer scientists, social science and humanities graduates contribute enormously to economic life. Tourists everywhere flock to galleries, museums and historic sites, staffed so often by higher education graduates, making tourism one of the world's largest industries.

The health studies student who writes a thesis on food insecurity has learned how to conduct independent research, problem-solve and communicate effectively, skills that companies consider essential.

Those who are multilingual and have knowledge of foreign cultures help forge economic and social relations among nations.

Liberal arts grads are versatile

To understand differentiated learning strategies, now employed in the world's best classrooms, teachers require a deep understanding of child development theories taught in education and psychology programs.

University graduates often end up in rewarding jobs that seem unrelated to their program specialization, but this is evidence of the versatility, not the irrelevance, of a high-quality university education.

Enlightened employers and recruiters in the STEM sector understand the added value of broad academic training.

Stewart Butterfield, co-founder and CEO of Slack Technologies, a remarkably successful American message-platforming startup, holds an undergraduate philosophy degree from the University of Victoria in British Columbia and a master's degree in the philosophy and history of science from Cambridge.

As he told Forbes Magazine:

"Studying philosophy taught me two things. I learned how to write really clearly. I learned how to follow an argument all the way down, which is invaluable in running meetings. And when I studied the history of science, I learned about the ways that everyone believes something is true  like the old notion of some kind of ether in the air propagating gravitational forces  until they realized that it wasn't true."

He also hired Anna Pickard, who holds a theatre degree from the U.K., to be his editorial director, describing how he was impressed by her creative writing and her inventive "cat impersonations."

Of course, no university graduate can be guaranteed a lucrative and rewarding career. Higher education is not insulated from economic downturns and instability.

Studies in Canada, for example, show that in buoyant times, STEM graduates earn more than those from the arts and social sciences, though in the long term, the latter thrive and do far better than those with college level or no post-secondary education. In bad times, graduates from all fields struggle, including those from applied professional programs.

Nortel's collapse had impact

In the late 1990s, in response to industry shortages, the government of the province of Ontario injected millions of dollars into universities that would commit to doubling the number of engineering and computer science graduates.

In a few short years, the tech bubble burst for Nortel Networks, the Canadian-based high-tech giant that led the lobbying effort to expand the campus training programs. The collapse cost thousands of employees their jobs and left universities with under-enrolled science and tech departments.

One enduring problem is precarious or part-time employment. This especially affects unskilled labour, but the university-educated are not immune from part-time work with low wages and no benefits. Even universities fuel the new precariousness.

Ontario's post-secondary institutions depend heavily on highly trained contractually limited faculty to teach undergraduate and diploma students, a phenomenon common throughout the economy in many fields  not simply the arts.

In the United States, between 1975 and 2014, the proportion of faculty with full-time tenured positions fell by 26 per cent and the number of those with part-time instructional appointments grew by 70 per cent. Precarious employment, a systemic problem from which no sector is immune, must be addressed by enlightened social and economic policy.

Notwithstanding the undulations of the international economy, science and technology are considered leaders in the innovation wars now under way in advanced economies, and universities train the soldiers for the innovation frontlines.

High-tech jobs not at the top

Yet high-tech employment by no means leads these nations' occupational sectors, constituting just 5.6 per cent of the labour force in Canada and 5.9 per cent in the United States.

Leaders of educational institutions, concerned about the employability of graduates, should therefore avoid over-investing in these areas and instead sustain academic and curricular diversity, including the liberal arts, which engage students in crucial questions about the human condition.

Among those questions are those pondering the future of work itself.

As physicist Stephen Hawking points out, artificial intelligence and robotics are likely to render huge portions of the world's population unemployable.

"I believe that society needs to confront this question before it is upon us: if machines are capable of doing almost any work humans can do, what will humans do?" he said in an interview last year.

This is a profound challenge requiring the deep thinking of real people in all academic disciplines.

China, especially, should cultivate broad scholarship in its universities, which are not known for fostering academic freedom, critical thinking and intellectual autonomy. Their institutions' high rankings in the STEM areas will seem rather hollow in the absence of these core university values.

This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.
People who voted for Brexit were more likely to live in areas where the overall level of education was lower, according to a major new study.

However, Dr Peter Tammes, of the University of Bristol, found no link between leave-voting and higher unemployment or lower socio-economic status.

In a paper in the journal Sociological Research Online, Dr Tammes analysed the 2016 referendum vote result and compared this with census and other data on people in each of the 380 local authorities in mainland Britain.

He found that in the 25 percent of areas with the highest proportion of people with lower educational qualifications in England, on average 63 percent of people voted Brexit. In the 25 percent of areas with the lowest proportion of people with lower educational qualifications, on average only 49 percent voted for Brexit. This was after other factors such as unemployment rate and turnout rate were discounted statistically.

Writing in the journal, Dr Tammes says: "In England, the percentage of lower educated was positively associated with the proportion of Leave-votes. This indicates that England was divided along educational lines."

He also found that the Brexit vote was bigger in areas that had seen a large rise in the proportion of immigrants between 2004 and 2011.

This finding contrasts with suggestions from some analysts that the highest vote for Leave were in areas with the lowest levels of immigration.

Dr Tammes said: "The percentage of migrants who arrived between 2004 and 2011 in local areas was positively associated with the proportion of leave-voters.

"This indicates that the relative number of recently-arrived migrants in local areas might have been a key factor in voters' decisions."

The study also found that in areas where relatively more people self-reported, poorer health showed higher proportion of Leave-votes, particularly if they had a large proportion of elderly people in poorer health.

The research aimed to "provide us with a better understanding of the underlying factors of the Brexit-vote and directions for future research," said Dr Tammes.
A study of one Texas school district reveals one of the best evidence-based ways ever found to close the educational achievement gap between black and white students.

The research found that teachers' sense of collective efficacy in any one school - the belief that they had the capability and support necessary to educate their students - was closely connected to the achievement gap.

Schools in which teachers showed high levels of collective efficacy had a 50 percent reduction in the academic disadvantage experienced by black students, compared to schools where teachers had average levels, the study showed.

"The importance of this finding should not be underestimated," said Roger Goddard, lead author of the study and Novice G. Fawcett Chair and professor of educational administration at The Ohio State University.

"The achievement gap has been a persistent problem in the country with few good solutions. But we found something that really makes a difference and that schools can take proactive steps to develop."

Goddard conducted the study with Linda Skrla of the University of the Pacific and Serena Salloum of Ball State University. Their results appear in the Journal of Education for Students Placed at Risk.

The study involved 13,472 students and 2,041 of their teachers in 47 schools in one Texas school district. Student achievement in each school was measured by scores on state-mandated mathematics tests in grades four and five. The researchers controlled for the students' socioeconomic status.

The test scores in each school were compared with the teachers' scores on a scale developed by Goddard that measured their sense of collective efficacy.

The questions on the scale are designed to measure two aspects of collective efficacy, Goddard said: How capable the teachers feel and how difficult they thought their task was. Teachers rated how much they agreed with statements like "Teachers here are confident they will be able to motivate their students" and "The opportunities in this community help ensure that these students will learn."

Not surprisingly, the more teachers believed they could make a difference, the better both black and white students scored on achievement tests.

"But it was notable that collective efficacy didn't help all students equally - it actually helped black students more and helped them close the gap with white students," Goddard said.

How does collective efficacy help?

Goddard said other research suggests teachers who feel efficacious put forth more effort, are more creative problem solvers, and are less likely to give in to negative thoughts when things go wrong.

This approach was evident in another part of their study in which the researchers conducted focus groups with teachers in six schools. They chose schools that were both above and below average when it came to student test scores and collective efficacy for teachers.

One teacher explained how his school, which served mostly students of color and had a high level of collective efficacy, reached the state's top performance rating:

"The bottom line is that we did it because...we believed we could get the kids to do it. We did it with 15,000 hours of after-school tutoring...We did it because we convinced the children they could do it."

Many teachers in top-achieving schools with high levels of collective efficacy talked about how they used social persuasion to enforce norms of high expectations for student success. That means teachers were expected to go beyond their job responsibilities.

One teacher said: "We know that to work here you have to do whatever it takes to get [the students to succeed]."

Another key point that came through in the focus groups was that the support of principals and school administrators was absolutely vital for teachers to feel this sense of collective efficacy.

"Principals could either empower teachers to try their best or, in some cases, could make it harder to succeed. But the teachers we talked to left no doubt that principals were crucial," Goddard said.

In a previous study, Goddard and his colleagues found that a high level of social capital was another key trait found in successful schools. Social capital is the network of relationships between school officials, teachers, parents and the community that builds trust and norms that promote academic achievement.

Goddard said social capital and collective efficacy are related, but they aren't the same thing. Social capital is necessary for successful schools, but it is not sufficient.

"Social capital can help, but without that belief in your ability to successfully reach students, the chances you'll achieve your goals are vastly reduced," he said.

More information: Roger D. Goddard et al. The Role of Collective Efficacy in Closing Student Achievement Gaps: A Mixed Methods Study of School Leadership for Excellence and Equity, Journal of Education for Students Placed at Risk (JESPAR) (2017). DOI: 10.1080/10824669.2017.1348900
Lead author Dr Aaron Greenville captures the splendour of central Australia's Simpson Desert. This photo was taken in the south-west of Queensland. Credit: Dr Aaron Greenville

A study of changing rainfall and bushfire patterns over 22 years has found - in addition to a likely decrease in cover of the dominant plant spinifex - feral animals pose a major threat to seed-eating rodents.

Scientists at the University of Sydney have analysed up to 22 years of long-term monitoring data on plants and animals in central Australia to project how changing rainfall and wildfire patterns, because of climate change, will influence desert wildlife.

The research from the University of Sydney's School of Life and Environmental Sciences found there could be decreases in the cover of the dominant plant, spinifex, and a resulting decrease in seeding - and that introduced cats and foxes pose one of the major threats to seed-eating rodents.

Spinifex is a major habitat type across central Australia - from Queensland to Western Australia, including in the Simpson Desert where this study was conducted.

The findings are being published in the Royal Society's journal Open Science.

Some estimates have suggested that up to one in six species are at risk from climate change. Predators can take advantage of more open habitats for hunting, which puts more pressure on wildlife.

An introduced cat in the study area. Credit: Desert Ecology Research Group, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney

Lead author Dr Aaron Greenville said their model suggested that if removing introduced cats and foxes, the rodent population would increase by almost one in 10.

"The dingo plays a complex positive role for wildlife in arid Australia," said Dr Greenville.

The desert mouse, Pseudomys desertor, is listed as Critically Endangered in NSW but is not threatened in Queensland or for the IUCN Red List. It is one of the species of rodents that researchers studied as part of their work. Credit: Dr Aaron Greenville

More information: Aaron C. Greenville et al. Desert mammal populations are limited by introduced predators rather than future climate change, Royal Society Open Science (2017). DOI: 10.1098/rsos.170384 Journal information: Royal Society Open Science
Credit: NASA

New maps of Greenland's coastal seafloor and bedrock beneath its massive ice sheet show that two to four times as many coastal glaciers are at risk of accelerated melting as had previously been thought.

Researchers at the University of California, Irvine, NASA and 30 other institutions have published the most comprehensive, accurate and high-resolution relief maps ever made of Greenland's bedrock and coastal seafloor. Among the many data sources incorporated into the new maps is data from NASA's Ocean Melting Greenland campaign.

Lead author Mathieu Morlighem of UCI had demonstrated in an earlier study that data from OMG's survey of the shape and depth, or bathymetry, of the seafloor in Greenland's fjords improved scientists' understanding of both the coastline and the inland bedrock beneath glaciers that flow into the ocean. That's because the bathymetry at a glacier's front limits the possibilities for the shape of bedrock farther upstream.

The nearer to the shoreline, the more valuable the bathymetry data are for understanding on-shore topography, Morlighem said. "What made OMG unique compared to other campaigns is that they got right into the fjords, as close as possible to the glacier fronts. That's a big help for bedrock mapping," he added.

Additionally, the OMG campaign surveyed large sections of the Greenland coast for the first time ever. In fjords for which there are no data, it's difficult to estimate how deep the glaciers extend below sea level.

The OMG data are only one of many datasets Morlighem and his team used in the ice sheet mapper, which is named BedMachine. Another comprehensive source is NASA's Operation IceBridge airborne surveys. IceBridge measures the ice sheet thickness directly along a plane's flight path. This creates a set of long, narrow strips of data rather than a complete map of the ice sheet.

Besides NASA, almost 40 other international collaborators also contributed various types of survey data on different parts of Greenland.

No survey, not even OMG, covers every glacier on Greenland's long, convoluted coastline. To infer the bed topography in sparsely studied areas, BedMachine averages between existing data points using physical principles such as the conservation of mass.

The new maps reveal that two to four times more oceanfront glaciers extend deeper than 600 feet (200 meters) below sea level than earlier maps showed. That's bad news, because the top 600 feet of water around Greenland comes from the Arctic and is relatively cold. The water below it comes from farther south and is 6 to 8 eight degrees Fahrenheit (3 to 4 degrees Celsius) warmer than the water above. Deeper-seated glaciers are exposed to this warmer water, which melts them more rapidly.

Morlighem's team used the maps to refine their estimate of Greenland's total volume of ice and its potential to add to global sea level rise if the ice were to melt completely, which is not expected to occur within the next few hundred years. The new estimate is higher by 2.76 inches (7 centimeters) for a total of 24.34 feet (7.42 meters).

OMG principal investigator Josh Willis of JPL, who was not involved in producing the maps, said, "These results suggest that Greenland's ice is more threatened by changing climate than we had anticipated."

On Oct. 23, the five-year OMG campaign completed its second annual set of airborne surveys to measure for the first time the amount that warm water around the island is contributing to the loss of the Greenland ice sheet. Besides the one-time bathymetry survey, OMG is collecting annual measurements of the changing height of the ice sheet and the ocean temperature and salinity in more than 200 fjord locations. Morlighem looks forward to improving BedMachine's maps with data from the airborne surveys.

The maps and related research are in a paper titled "BedMachine v3: Complete bed topography and ocean bathymetry mapping of Greenland from multi-beam echo sounding combined with mass conservation" in Geophysical Research Letters.
Credit: NASA/Josh Valcarcel

Using a system similar to an overhead bridge crane, Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen is suspended over a mock-up of the International Space Station during a microgravity simulation in the Active Response Gravity Offload System (ARGOS) at NASA's Johnson Space Center on Oct 24, 2017.

Engineers and astronauts conducted testing in both light and darkness to mimic the 90 minute day-night cycle the astronauts experience in orbit. The crew's feedback will be used for future spacewalks.

Provided by NASA
Norway produces 14 million meals of salmon each day and the industry says it could do much more

"We could produce five times as much fish by 2050": in a posh hotel in the Norwegian town of Trondheim, a fishing industry representative winds up his presentation on Norway's sky-high fish farming goals.

The "potential" for salmon and other farmed fish has been calculated by researchers, Norwegian Seafood Federation spokesman Oyvind Andre Haram tells AFP, noting that each day the Scandinavian country of 5.2 million people produces "14 million meals of salmon."

Worldwide demand for farmed salmon seems to know no end. Norway, which produces 1.3 million tonnes a year, already accounts for more than half of world production and has no plans to slow down.

The country's fish farming industry has in the past been taken to task over environmental issues, but it's determined to resolve those challenges.

"There are two major issues... One is sea lice, and the other is escapes of farmed fish from net pens into the sea," says Julie Dovle Johansen of conservation group WWF Norway.

Sea lice is a parasite that requires fish farmers to slaughter large amounts of salmon prematurely, costing the industry between 1.0 and 1.5 billion euros ($1.16-$1.75 billion) a year, according to John Arne Breivik, the head of a sea lice removal company.

Sea lice can also spread to wild salmon stocks and kill them.

Cleaner fish

Farmed salmon that escape from their cages also risk muddying the gene pool of wild salmon if they mate, according to Dovle Johansen.

Farmed salmon are more fragile to natural threats and have a lower survival rate, a characteristic that can be transmitted to wild salmon, she said.

Industry giants are therefore putting a lot of effort into innovative projects to address these problems, raising hopes for the sectorbut also concern among environmental activists.

"There's an ambition by the salmon industry and the (fisheries) ministry to double the production capacity within the next 10-15 years, which we think is quite crazy," the head of Greenpeace Norway, Truls Gulowsen, told AFP.

In one of the many fjords nestled into the island of Hitra off Norway's western coast, thousands of farmed salmon teem in the ocean water in circular pens belonging to the Leroy fishing group, dancing and gliding in a never-ending water ballet.

Leroy is the world's second biggest salmon producer.

Lena is a young employee hired just a month ago.

Farmed salmon are more vulnerable to natural threats than their brethren in the wild

"Feeding the fish is the main part of this job," she tells AFP, pointing to camera screens that show the almost adult salmon splashing in the saltwater along with the occasional small wrasse, "cleaner fish" strategically implanted to peck off sea lice from the farmed salmon instead of using potentially harmful pesticides.

Other techniques are also being used, according to Jean-Pierre Gonda, the head of Leroy France.

He shows sketches of a so-called "pipe-farm", a giant breeding boat with six basins of ocean water pumped up through pipes from a depth of 30 metres (100 feet), and kept at a constant temperature, unaffected by weather conditions and free of sea lice, Gonda explained.

Underwater egg

The first fish farm of this type was launched a few weeks ago off the port of Bergen, on Norway's west coast.

Other large projects dot Norwegian waters.

One is a behemoth farm belonging to the Salmar group which opened this summer with a capacity of more than a million salmonwith the particularity of being located in the open sea, five nautical miles from shore, reducing the chances of sea lice contaminating wild salmon.

There is also a closed underwater tank developed by Marine Harvest, known as "The Egg", where only the tip of the "eggshell" appears above water.

These new projects are all designed to avoid the scourge of sea lice without resorting to chemicals.

And they all aim to satisfy the growing demand for salmon.

Once a luxury food, consumption of salmonrich in supposedly heart-healthy Omega 3 fatshas exploded since the 1980s, especially in the United States, Russia, Europe and Japan, according to WWF.

The new farms "could reduce the sea lice problem," said Dovle Johansen.

But, she said, they are "pretty new so we don't have the knowledge to answer if this solves any problems."

"It might be a potentially big risk," she said, fearing a mass escape of farmed fish given the large size of some of the farms.

While the federation acknowledges that escapes are a problem, it says their frequency has been reduced thanks to stricter regulations.

 2017 AFP
This pair of images from the Mast Camera (Mastcam) on NASA's Curiosity rover illustrates how special filters are used to scout terrain ahead for variations in the local bedrock. Credit: Jet Propulsion Laboratory

Color-discerning capabilities that NASA's Curiosity rover has been using on Mars since 2012 are proving particularly helpful on a mountainside ridge the rover is now climbing.

These capabilities go beyond the thousands of full-color images Curiosity takes every year: The rover can look at Mars with special filters helpful for identifying some minerals, and also with a spectrometer that sorts light into thousands of wavelengths, extending beyond visible-light colors into infrared and ultraviolet. These observations aid decisions about where to drive and investigations of chosen targets.

One of these methods for discerning targets' colors uses the Mast Camera (Mastcam); the other uses the Chemistry and Camera instrument (ChemCam).

Each of the Mastcam's two eyesone telephoto and one wider anglehas several science filters that can be changed from one image to the next to assess how brightly a rock reflects light of specific colors. By design, some of the filters are for diagnostic wavelengths that certain minerals absorb, rather than reflect. Hematite, one iron-oxide mineral detectable with Mastcam's science filters, is a mineral of prime interest as the rover examines "Vera Rubin Ridge."

This image from the Mars Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI) camera on NASA's Curiosity Mars rover shows effects of using the rover's wire-bristled Dust Removal Tool (DRT) on a rock target called "Christmas Cove.". Credit: Jet Propulsion Laboratory

"We're in an area where this capability of Curiosity has a chance to shine," said Abigail Fraeman of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, California, who leads planning for the mission's investigation of Vera Rubin Ridge.

This ridge on lower Mount Sharp became a planned destination for Curiosity before the rover landed five years ago. Spectrometer observations from orbit revealed hematite here. Most hematite forms in the presence of water, and the mission focuses on clues about wet environments in Mars' ancient past. It found evidence during the first year after landing that some ancient Martian environments offered conditions favorable for life. As the mission continues, it is studying how those conditions varied and changed.

Curiosity's ChemCam is best known for zapping rocks with a laser to identify chemical elements in them, but it also can examine targets near and far without use of the laser. It does this by measuring sunlight reflected by the targets in thousands of wavelengths. Some patterns in this spectral data can identify hematite or other minerals.

This false-color image demonstrates how use of special filters available on the Mast Camera (Mastcam) of NASA's Curiosity Mars rover can reveal the presence of certain minerals in target rocks. Credit: Jet Propulsion Laboratory

"The colors of the rocks on the ridge are more interesting and more variable than what we saw earlier in Curiosity's traverse," said science team member Jeffrey Johnson of the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, Maryland. He uses both Mastcam and ChemCam data for analyzing rocks.

Hematite occurs at sufficiently small grain sizes in rocks found at this part of Mars to preferentially absorb some wavelengths of green light. This gives it a purplish tint in standard color images from Curiosity, due to more reflection of redder and bluer light than reflection of the green wavelengths. The additional color-discerning capabilities of Mastcam and ChemCam show hematite even more clearly.

Johnson said, "We're using these multi-spectral and hyper-spectral capabilities for examining rocks right in front of the rover and also for reconnaissancelooking ahead to help with choosing where to drive for closer inspection."

The Chemistry and Camera (ChemCam) instrument on NASA's Curiosity Mars rover examined a freshly brushed area on target rock "Christmas Cove" and found spectral evidence of hematite, an iron-oxide mineral. Credit: Jet Propulsion Laboratory

For example, a false-color Sept. 12 panorama combining Mastcam images taken through three special filters provided a map of where hematite could be seen in a region a few days' drive away. The hematite is most apparent in zones around fractured bedrock. The team drove Curiosity to a site in that scene to check the possible link between fracture zones and hematite. Investigation with Mastcam, ChemCam and other tools, including a camera and brush on the rover's arm, revealed that hematite is also in bedrock farther from the fractures once an obscuring layer of tan dust is brushed away.The dust doesn't coat the fractured rock as thoroughly.

That finding suggests that dust and fractures cause the hematite to appear more patchy than it actually is. If the hematite is broadly distributed, its origin likely was early, rather than in a later period of fluids moving through fractures in the rock.

"As we approached the ridge and now as we're climbing it, we've been trying to tie what was detected from orbit to what we can learn on the ground," said Curiosity science team member Danika Wellington of Arizona State University, Tempe. "It's still very much a work in progress. The extent to which iron-bearing minerals here are oxidized relates to the history of interactions between water and rock."
Credit: Leiden University

Sirius is not a single star at all, but a binary system of two stars. Polaris, the north star, is actually a system of three stars. And Castor, in the constellation of Gemini, actually consists of a whopping six stars. Current models show stars forming by the fragmentation of massive interstellar gas clouds, spinning themselves by gravity into stardom, in isolation and unaffected by nearby stars. But the plethora of systems in our galaxy that consist of multiple stars now has astronomers wondering why stars so often come in groups.

At Leiden Observatory in the Huygens Laboratory building, PhD student Nadia Murillo is looking at data gathered by (among others) ALMA, an array of sixty-six 12 meter radio telescopes in the Chajnantor valley, Chile. She's observing the very early stages of star formation in a region of the galaxy known as the Gould belt. Positioned at some 325 light-years away, it's a prime location to find out what leads to gas clouds fragmenting into young star systems.

Murillo: "We know that fragmentation of gas clouds occurs, and that clouds can fragment into systems of mutiple stars, because we can see the final result. But we're not sure yet what causes and influences the fragmentation of clouds. Why are there single stars forming in some places and multiples in others?"

This is the main question that Murillo wants to answer in her thesis. The answers are surprising. "Disc formation around stars has turned out to be important in the early stages of star formation, as discs can eventually fragment and form multiple star systems. Furthermore, what could have started as a binary star can end up with a disc that fragments and then turns into multiple stars. This all affects how a given systems ends up looking."

"We analyse the chemical structure of a given system, knowing that there are molecules that occur in cold regions and ones that occur in warm regions. Looking at their distribution allows us to model the physical and chemical structure of young stars and their influence on the surrounding material, telling us what systems actually look like."

Murillo's thesis research has changed the way she sees astronomy, modeling, and chemistry. "I once had a somewhat black-box view of some parts of the field, but it quickly turned out not to be as difficult or as out of reach as I thought. I now work together with lab scientists, modelers and observers to find out what's causing star systems to form."

In her research, Murillo took a multidisciplinary approach. "Sometimes we rely too much on models, sometimes too much on observations, or theory. It is important to consider all three - to cast a broader gaze. Earlier models and simulations have suggested that temperature could be an important factor in star formation, making the difference between clouds fragmenting and not fragmenting. We studied different molecules in cold and warm gas and compared their presence in single, binary and multiple young stars known as protostars. We didn't find any difference in the temperatures of the protostars, but we do find what seems to be a relation with mass."

"My thesis is a tiny piece of the big picture of star formation. Right now, models show stars in isolation, forming in a vacuum - and that is rarely the case. Current theories and models need to be adapted to include multiplicity, and until we do so, the big picture is incomplete."
This animation shows an aurora as observed from the International Space Station. Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center/Joy Ng

Space may seem empty, but it's actually a dynamic place populated with near-invisible matter, and dominated by forces, in particular those created by magnetic fields. Magnetospheresthe magnetic fields around most planetsexist throughout our solar system. They deflect high-energy, charged particles called cosmic rays that are spewed out by the Sun or come from interstellar space. Along with atmospheres, they happen to protect the planets' surfaces from this harmful radiation.

But not all magnetospheres are created equal: Venus and Mars do not have magnetospheres at all, while the other planetsand one moonhave ones that are surprisingly different.

NASA has launched a fleet of missions to study the planets in our solar systemmany of which have sent back crucial information about magnetospheres. The twin Voyagers measured magnetic fields as they traveled out to the far reaches of the solar system, and discovered Uranus and Neptune's magnetospheres. Other planetary missions including Galileo, Cassini and Juno, and a number of spacecraft that orbit Earth, provide observations to create a comprehensive understanding of how planets form magnetospheres, as well as how they continue to interact with the dynamic space environment around them.

Earth

Earth's magnetosphere is created by the constantly moving molten metal inside Earth. This invisible "force field" around our planet has a general shape resembling an ice cream cone, with a rounded front and a long, trailing tail that faces away from the sun. The magnetosphere is shaped that way because of the near-constant flow of solar wind and magnetic field from the Sun-facing side.

Rotating animation of the planet Mercury. Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center/Joy Ng

Earth's and other magnetospheres deflect charged particles away from the planetbut also trap energetic particles in radiation belts. Auroras are caused by particles that rain down into the atmosphere, usually not far from the magnetic poles.

It's possible that Earth's magnetosphere was essential for the development of conditions friendly to life, so learning about magnetospheres around other planets and moons is a big step toward determining if life could have evolved there.

Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center

Mercury

Mercury, with a substantial iron-rich core, has a magnetic field that is only about 1 percent as strong as Earth's. It is thought that the planet's magnetosphere is compressed by the intense solar wind, limiting its extent. The MESSENGER satellite orbited Mercury from 2011 to 2015, helping us understand our tiny terrestrial neighbor.

Jupiter

After the Sun, Jupiter has by far the strongest and biggest magnetic field in our solar systemit stretches about 12 million miles from east to west, almost 15 times the width of the Sun. (Earth's, on the other hand, could easily fit inside the Sunexcept for its outstretched tail.) Jupiter does not have a molten metal core; instead, its magnetic field is created by a core of compressed liquid metallic hydrogen.

Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center

One of Jupiter's moons, Io, has powerful volcanic activity that spews particles into Jupiter's magnetosphere. These particles create intense radiation belts and auroras around Jupiter.

Ganymede, Jupiter's largest moon, also has its own magnetic field and magnetospheremaking it the only moon with one. Its weak field, nestled in Jupiter's enormous shell, scarcely ruffles the planet's magnetic field.

Saturn

Saturn's huge ring system transforms the shape of its magnetosphere. That's because oxygen and water molecules evaporating from the rings funnel particles into the space around the planet. Some of Saturn's moons help trap these particles, pulling them out of Saturn's magnetosphere, though those with active volcanic geyserslike Enceladusspit out more material than they take in. NASA's Cassini mission followed in the Voyagers' wake, and studied Saturn's magnetic field from orbit around the ringed planet between 2004 and 2017.

Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center

Uranus

Uranus' magnetosphere wasn't discovered until 1986, when data from Voyager 2's flyby revealed weak, variable radio emissions and confirmed when Voyager 2 measured the magnetic field directly. Uranus' magnetic field and rotation axis are out of alignment by 59 degrees, unlike Earth's, whose magnetic field and rotation axis are nearly aligned. On top of that, the magnetic field does not go directly through the center of the planet, so the strength of the magnetic field varies dramatically across the surface. This misalignment also means that Uranus' magnetotailthe part of the magnetosphere that trails behind the planet, away from the Sunis twisted into a long corkscrew.

Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center

Neptune

Neptune was also visited by Voyager 2, in 1989. Its magnetosphere is offset from its rotation axis, but only by 47 degrees. Similar to Uranus, Neptune's magnetic field strength varies across the planet. This means that auroras can appear across the planetnot just close to the poles, like on Earth, Jupiter and Saturn.

And beyond

Outside of our solar system, auroras, which indicate the presence of a magnetosphere, have been spotted on brown dwarfsobjects that are bigger than planets but smaller than stars. There's also evidence to suggest that some giant exoplanets have magnetospheres, but we have yet to see conclusive proof. As scientists learn more about the magnetospheres of planets in our solar system, it can help us one day identify magnetospheres around more distant planets as well.

Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center
Is religion inherently violent? Some believe so, but secular individuals and institutions have proven to be just as violent. Credit: Shutterstock

Is religion violent? It's a common question that arises when discussing religion, politics and world crises, particularly apparent terrorist attacks of the type that played out in New York City on Tuesday.

Islam in particular is branded as a violent faith, but others argue Christianity deserves the same assessment.

But behind the question is a whole host of problems, and so it isn't surprising some scholars suggest that classifying any religion as violent is problematic and unreliable.

As a scholar of religion, I also question whether calling oneself "religious" really says anything meaningful about one's identity. Given the diversity of religious groups, the term "religion" is not only extremely general, but it has a long history.

Learning about the origins of the word can help us understand better the myriad social groups that come together around shared histories, texts, traditions and experiences.

According to the scholarly work of theologian Daniel Boyarin and historian Carlin Barton, in ancient Rome the term "religion" was not at all separate from everyday experiences such as "eating, sleeping, defecating, having sexual intercourse, making revolts and wars, cursing, blessing, exalting, degrading, judging, punishing, buying, selling, raiding, revolting, building bridges, collecting rents and taxes."

Religion alone does not explain violence

Today, the term "religion" gets separated from political, social, economic and cultural life. And so if we're pondering whether religion is inherently violent, then we're probably interested in why an individual or group acts violently. So is religion really something we can compartmentalize and blame for the violent actions of individuals or groups?

Not at all, argues William Cavanaugh in his 2009 book The Myth of Religious Violence. While society often makes clear distinctions between religion and secularity, Cavanaugh argues religion is a poor category to use when trying to understand why individuals or groups act violently.

By Cavanaugh's reasoning, a more contemporary example would be the recent mass shooting in Las Vegas. Stephen Paddock, who shot from the 32nd floor of a hotel to kill 58 people, had no apparent religious affiliation. Neither did many other perpetrators of mass shootings, among the most violent and horrifying crimes committed in the United States, including the murderer who gunned down 20 young schoolchildren in Newtown, Conn., in 2012.

So instead of asking "was religion the reason that a group or individual acted violently?" Cavanaugh suggests it's impossible to separate religion from culture, politics and economics making the question incoherent.

For those inclined to believe religious groups are more violent than their secular counterparts, Cavanaugh challenges that notion by pointing out secular institutions often commit violence, but avoid moral scrutiny because they present themselves as reasonable and not driven by religious fervour.

'Many motivating factors'

Cavanaugh's argument is not that religious groups aren't violent. Instead, he argues religion is not what determines whether a group is violent. He holds that there are so many motivating factors that result in violent behaviour that it's impossible to determine whether religion plays a primary role.

Violence is something demonstrably found in groups and individuals regardless of whether they're religious or secular.

But the rejection of violence also cuts across religious and secular lines. Sometimes groups that reject violence are deeply religious, and other times groups that oppose violence do not present themselves as religiously motivated.

Many groups that have opposed violence seem to be both secular and religious at the same time. Consider the pacifism of Mohandas K. Gandhi and of Martin Luther King, Jr. during the Civil Rights Movement. Perhaps non-violence also exceeds the divisions between the religious and the secular.

Instead of talking about "religious violence," it's time to start talking about violence in general and determining what spurs people to violent acts. Otherwise we risk ignoring the deeper and more meaningful reasons why people commit horrifying acts of violence against others.

This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.
Artists illustration of two merging neutron stars. Credit: NSF/LIGO/Sonoma State University/A. Simonnet

(Phys.org)Recent gravitational wave detections have allowed physicists to confirm with greater and greater precision what Einstein predicted over 100 years ago in the theory of general relativity: that gravity does not act instantaneously as Newton thought, but instead propagates at the speed of light.

"The speed of gravity, like the speed of light, is one of the fundamental constants in the Universe," Neil Cornish, a physicist at Montana State University, told Phys.org. "Until the advent of gravitational wave astronomy, we had no way to directly measure the speed of gravity."

Over the past few months, physicists have made very rapid progress in bounding the speed of gravity using gravitational wave observations.

Initially, the first LIGO detections of gravitational waves constrained the speed of gravity to within 50% of the speed of light.

In a paper published last week in Physical Review Letters, Cornish and his coauthors Diego Blas at CERN and Germano Nardini at the University of Bern have combined the first three gravitational wave events reported by the LIGO and Virgo collaborations, allowing them to improve the original bounds to within roughly 45% of the speed of light.

Just two days later (and after the physicists mentioned above wrote their paper), another paper was published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters by the LIGO and Virgo collaborations, whose authors are affiliated with nearly 200 institutions around the world. By using data from the gravitational waves emitted by a binary neutron star merger detected in August, they were able to constrain the difference between the speed of gravity and the speed of light to between -3 x 10-15 and 7 x 10-16 times the speed of light.

The reason for the huge leap in precision is that the neutron star event did not emit only gravitational waves, but also electromagnetic radiation in the form of gamma rays. The simultaneous emission of both gravitational waves and light from the same source allowed the scientists to set bounds on the speed of gravity that is many orders of magnitude more stringent that what could be set using gravitational wave signals alone.

Depending on whether an astrophysical source emits both gravitational waves and light or only the former, scientists take different approaches to constraining the speed of gravity. When a source emits both gravitational waves and light, scientists can measure the difference (if any) in the arrival times of the two different types of signals at a single detector. In the AJL paper, the scientists measured an arrival delay of just a few seconds between signals that traveled a distance of more than one hundred million light years. Such a small delay across this distance is considered virtually nothing.

On the other hand, when a source emits only gravitational waves, scientists must detect the same signal in multiple Earth-based detectors and measure the (very slight) difference in arrival times. The scientists of the PRL paper did this by comparing signals detected by two LIGO detectors located 1800 miles apart: one in Hanford, Washington, and the other in Livingston, Louisiana.

As the physicists explain, it's possible to greatly improve the bounds on the speed of gravity using sources that emit only gravitational waves. For example, using four detectors located at different places on Earth, with five gravitational wave events for comparison, the constraints could improve to within 1% of the speed of light. But they could still not reach the degree of precision of experiments that have access to both gravity and light.

Overall, bounding the speed of light has many significant implications for fundamental physics and cosmology. One of the biggest implications is that the tight bounds provide a more precise test of general relativity and rule out proposed alternatives to general relativity.

"Many alternative theories of gravity, including some that have been invoked to explain the accelerated expansion of the Universe, predict that the speed of gravity is different from the speed of light," Cornish said. "Several of those theories have now been ruled out, thereby restricting the ways in which Einstein's theory can sensibly be modified, and making dark energy a more likely explanation for the accelerated expansion."

More information: Neil Cornish, Diego Blas, and Germano Nardini. "Bounding the Speed of Gravity with Gravitational Wave Observations." Physical Review Letters. DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.119.161102 B.P. Abbott, et al. (LIGO Scientific Collaboration and Virgo Collaboration, Fermi Gamma-ray Burst Monitor, and INTEGRAL.) "Gravitational Waves and Gamma-Rays from a Binary Neutron Star Merger: GW170817 and GRB 170817A." The Astrophysical Journal Letters. DOI: 10.3847/2041-8213/aa920c Journal information: Physical Review Letters , Astrophysical Journal Letters

 2017 Phys.org
Shown are amyloid fibers made from a peptide derived from the E. coli CsgA protein. Credit: The Chapman Lab

Artificial hip implants, knee implants and catheters are susceptible to infections: bacteria that flow through the blood system can collect on these foreign surfaces and hunker down to proliferate.

Now, University of Michigan researchers, in collaboration with The Scripps Research Institute, have found that a protein produced within the human body could fight against this problem.

When bacteria collect on a surface, they form a protective layer called a "biofilm." These biofilms are held together by a scaffolding composed of a protein called "amyloid" that the bacteria itself produces. The bacterial amyloid is similar to the structure that snarls neurons in the brains of people with Alzheimer's disease, disrupting the person's ability to form and recall memories.

In the case of bacteria on a prosthetic, biofilms protect the colony of bacteria from its environment, including from antibiotics a doctor might prescribe to attack the infection. In a new study, the researchers found that a protein produced by humans called transthyretin, or TTR, can suppress the formation of amyloid and biofilm in E. coli, a common bacterial strain found in humans.

The team, which includes Matthew Chapman, U-M professor of molecular, cellular and developmental biology; Joel Buxbaum, professor of molecular medicine with TSRI; and lead author Neha Jain, a postdoctoral fellow in the Chapman lab, published their results in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science.

Human transthyretin protein can adopt an aggregated or amyloid form under certain conditions. Credit: The Chapman Lab

"One of the most important health implications for biofilms is on catheters. On any sort of device that you try to put in a human, a biofilm will form," said Chapman, U-M professor of molecular, cellular and developmental biology. "This is a huge, huge problem because being catheterized for just a few days, bacteria can form biofilms on the device, which can lead to serious infections."

The team studied how TTR interacted with a strain of E. coli found in urinary tract infections. In UTIs, the bacterial strain settles into the bladder, forming biofilm communities. Bacteria in a biofilm encase themselves in a coat of amyloid fibers that help to protect them from stressors in the environment. E. coli amyloids are composed of a protein called CsgA.

When the researchers mixed purified TTR and CsgA, CsgA could not make protective amyloids. Taking down a bacteria's key defense against its environment could allow the body to fight the infection more effectively.

"It's easier to break individual sticks rather than a bundle. Similarly, bacterial infections can be dealt more effectively if bacteria are not held together in biofilms," Jain said. "We found that TTR can prevent biofilm formation in a uropathogenic E. coli strain as well as other bacterial strains."

Buxbaum, who has long studied TTR, pointed out that under some conditions TTR can form amyloid fibers itself, and it could be this ability that gives TTR the structural characteristics to interrupt amyloid formation by other proteins, such as CsgA.

Fighting fire with fire: However, the variant of TTR that can form polymers, called M-TTR, can prevent other proteins from adopting the amyloid fold. Shown on the here are amyloid fibers derived from bacterial curli proteins, and the same proteins mixed with M-TTR. M-TTR prevents amyloid fiber aggregation of the bacterial curli proteins. Credit: The Chapman Lab

About one in 100 people who receive hip or knee replacements experience an infection, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. A 2001 study found that 95 percent of urinary tract infections in critically ill patients were traced back to their catheters, while 87 percent of bloodstream infections came from an indwelling vascular catheter and 86 percent of pneumonia cases were associated with a mechanical ventilator.

"It's possible that products derived or based on these protein interactions could reduce this problem in medicine, that biofilms form on a lot of artificial surfaces implanted within the body," Buxbaum said. "The notion is we could impregnate these surfaces with this protein so that they may not form these biofilms and make it easier to treat these infections with antibiotics."

Chapman and Buxbaum say implementing this will require more research, but the move could help prevent infections on implants as well as antibiotic resistance.

"If you could target that resistance, the host may be able to clear the infection," Chapman said. "You could also potentially prescribe lower doses of antibiotics or shorten the duration of antibiotic usage, which would all be good things."

More information: Neha Jain et al. Inhibition of curli assembly andEscherichia colibiofilm formation by the human systemic amyloid precursor transthyretin, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2017). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1708805114 Journal information: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
The classification of the dinosaurs might seem to be too obscure to excite anyone but the specialists. Credit: Max Langer

The classification of the dinosaurs might seem to be too obscure to excite anyone but the specialists.

However, this is not at all the case. Recently, Matthew Baron and colleagues from the University of Cambridge proposed a radical revision to our understanding of the major branches of dinosaurs, but in a critique published today some caution is proposed before we rewrite the textbooks.

Every child learns that dinosaurs fall into two major groups, the Ornithischia (bird-hipped dinosaurs; Stegosaurus, Triceratops, Iguanodon and their kin) and the Saurischia (lizard-hipped dinosaurs; the predatory theropods, such as Tyrannosaurus, and the long-necked sauropodomorphs, including such well-known forms as Diplodocus).

Baron and colleagues proposed a very different split, pairing the Ornithischia with the Theropoda, terming the new group the Ornithoscelida, and leaving the Sauropodomorpha on its own.

Their evidence seemed overwhelming, since they identified at least 18 unique characters shared by ornithischians and theropods, and used these as evidence that the two groups had shared a common ancestor.

An international consortium of specialists in early dinosaurs, led by Max Langer from the Universidade de Sao Paulo, Brazil, and including experts from Argentina, Brazil, Germany, Great Britain, and Spain has now re-evaluated the data provided by Baron et al. in support of their claim.

Their results, presented today in the journal Nature, show that it might still be too early to re-write the textbooks for dinosaurs.

In this new evaluation, the authors found support for the traditional model of an Ornithischia-Saurischia split of Dinosauria, but also noted that this support was very weak, and the alternative idea of Ornithoscelida is only slightly less likely.

Max Langer said: "This took a great deal of work by our consortium, checking many dinosaurs on all continents first-hand to make sure we coded their characters correctly.

"We thought at the start we might only cast some doubt on the idea of Ornithoscelida, but I'd say the whole question now has to be looked at again very carefully."

Baron and colleagues believed their data suggested that dinosaurs might have originated in the northern hemisphere, but the re-analysis confirms the long-held view that the most likely site of origin is the southern hemisphere, and probably South America.

Professor Mike Benton from the University of Bristol's School of Earth Sciences, a member of the revising consortium, added: "In science, if you wish to overthrow the standard viewpoint, you need strong evidence.

"We found the evidence to be pretty balanced in favour of two possible arrangements at the base of the dinosaurian tree. Baron and colleagues might be correct, but we would argue that we should stick to the orthodox Saurischia-Ornithischia split for the moment until more convincing evidence emerges."

Steve Brusatte of the University of Edinburgh, a member of the consortium, said: "Up until this year, we thought we had the dinosaur family tree figured out.

"But right now, we just can't be certain how the three major groups of dinosaurs are related to each other. In one sense it's frustrating, but in another, it's exciting because it means that we need to keep finding new fossils to solve this mystery."

More information: Untangling the dinosaur family tree, Nature (2017). DOI: 10.1038/nature24011 Journal information: Nature
Work-horse instrument ROSINA-DFMS (Rosetta Orbiter Sensor for Ion and Neutral Analysis-Double Focusing Mass Spectrometer). Credit: University of Bern

Launched March 2004 and following a 10-year journey across the solar system, the European Space Agency's Rosetta probe made history in 2014. It became the first spacecraft to orbit the nucleus of a cometa frozen remnant of the pristine material from which the solar system formedand later land on its surface. The Rosetta mission ended in 2016 with the probe's dive into the comet, called Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. But its close-up studies of the comet continue to yield scientific insights.

In a presentation at the AVS 64th annual International Symposium and Exhibition, being held Oct. 29-Nov. 3, 2017, in Tampa, Florida, Kathrin Altwegg, professor emeritus at the University of Bern in Switzerland, will describe findings from Rosetta's ROSINA (Rosetta Orbiter Sensor for Ion and Neutral Analysis) instrument, which obtained the first detailed, in situ measurements of the chemical composition of a comet's atmosphere, or coma.

ROSINA uses a mass spectrometer to analyze the various isotopes of atoms such as xenon and rare organic molecules, including sulfur-containing compounds. Such measurements can reveal where an atom was first synthesized, for example, in a supernova, or in the case of an organic molecule, the temperature and other conditions under which it formed.

"What we found is amazing: Cometary ice is mostly older than the solar system, having survived its formation as ice," Altwegg said. "This means the abundant organics found in the cometary coma are also probably older and therefore as such 'universal'not specific to the solar system. If comets contributed to the emergence of life on our Earth, similar processes could have happened or could happen elsewhere in the universe."

One of Rosetta's key findings was that less than one percent of Earth's water came from comet impacts.

"By looking at xenon isotopes we can also quantify how much organics they brought," Altwegg said. "The unexpected richness of organics found in the cometary coma together with the results from xenon tell us that comets could have played an important role in sparking life on Earth."

ROSINA's analyses of Comet 67P's coma were supposed to be complemented by ground measurements obtained by the spacecraft's lander, Philae. But Philae unexpectedly bounced on impact when its thruster did not fire and two harpoons failed to anchor it to the surface. Eventually, Philae lost power and the ability to communicate with Earth.

"We are missing the ground truth, as, due to the hopping of the lander Philae, the two mass spectrometers on Philae could not measure in their nominal modes," Altwegg said. Future missions that successfully land on a comet and take extended surface and subsurface measurements would help reveal what, she said, "the real pristine material looks like."

Provided by Science and Technology of Materials, Interfaces, and Processing
The hydrofoils performance was tested using a custom-built instrumentation platform and mounting system. Credit: Trinity College Dublin

Engineers from Trinity are turning to the sea in an attempt to reduce the environmental cost of energy production. As the global population booms we will need to solve a perplexing equation that requires outputs to soar while dampening the effect our actions have on the environment.

And it could be the tides that hold the key.

Scientists have viewed tidal power as a potential option for reliably generating 'green' electricity for some years. There is significant untapped power in the world's oceans, and the tides are incredibly reliable  unlike the winds that generate power via turbines on land, we can almost set our watches by the tides. But the cost of equipment installation on the seafloor has  among other things  been prohibitively expensive.

Trying to reduce these costs is a Trinity team involving Experimental Officer in the School of Engineering, Gerry Byrne, Assistant Professor in Engineering, Tim Persoons, and Visiting Professor in the Trinity Business School, William Kingston.

The team tested a next-gen hydrofoil-based anchoring device at a unique tidal testing facility in the Netherlands to assess whether it might offer a reliable means of fixing an energy-generating tidal array to the sea floor. If practical, the device would significantly reduce installation costs because it is considerably smaller and lighter than current options.

Several undergraduate and postgraduate engineering students, including Cormac Fagan, Harry Crowley, Thomas Burke and Diarmuid Jackson, have assisted in the design, engineering, fabrication and calibration of this test system, which was shipped from the lab in Trinity to the test facility in The Netherlands.

Gerry Byrne and Professor Tim Persoons said: "After extensive tests we found that we could accurately predict the lift force associated. The drag force was underestimated by the numerical simulations, yet it was in line with expectations for this type of device."

"Importantly, our work has indicated that hydrofoil systems could significantly reduce the costs associated with the deployment and retrieval of tidal flow anchoring. This should assist in reducing the overall cost of energy from tidal streams and thus narrow the gap between this renewable resource and energy derived from fossil fuels."

Professor Kingston added that a "feature of the invention is that the hydrofoil is designed to be compact during deployment, but its wingspan can be expanded when it is in position," and that he sees other potential uses in ocean energy applications for the device.

The estimates of the global potential of tidal energy generation vary, but energy capacity could exceed 120 GW globally. Tidal stream energy could theoretically supply more than 150 TW/h per annum, which is well in excess of all domestic electricity consumption in the UK.

Gerry Byrne added: "The UK's tidal power resource is estimated to be more than 10 GW, which represents about 50% of Europe's tidal energy capacity, so that provides a measure of how important it is to further develop our options in harnessing this untapped resource. Here in Ireland the theoretical gross energy content of our waters is a sizeable 230 TWh/year."
By PTI: proposed scheme

New Delhi, Nov 1 (PTI) A group of tuberculosis (TB) survivors has written to Union Health Minister JP Nadda, inquiring about a scheme proposed by the Centre to provide direct economic benefits to TB patients undergoing treatment.

The scheme has been proposed in the latest National Strategic Plan for Tuberculosis (2017-2022).

Considering that the disease affects a large number of Indias poor due to social, economic and environmental factors, the Survivors Against TB (SATB) has urged the government to extend the benefits under the scheme to all the TB patients, irrespective of whether they seek care from the public or private sector.

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"This scheme is a step in the right direction. Global evidence has shown that poverty and TB are inter-connected. The poor people frequently come across economic barriers when it comes to healthcare," Deepti Chavan, a multi-drug resistant (MDR) TB survivor and a member of the SATB, said.

The SATB has sought to know when will the scheme be launched and the first set of payments reach the beneficiaries. It has also requested the government to share a clear implementation plan for the scheme.

The group has suggested key parameters for effective monitoring and evaluation of the scheme, including ease of access, utility of the benefit amount etc.

"We welcome this patient-centric and compassionate policy. However, its impact must be assessed from the perspective of the recipients, that is the patients," Saurabh Rane, an SATB member and an MDR TB survivor, said.

TB costs India close to USD 24 billion each year. As per the WHO (World Health Organisation) TB Report, the disease kills one Indian every minute.

The scheme, if implemented effectively, can bring about a drastic change in how India addresses and manages the TB related economic impact and poverty.

"For the first time in decades, we have the opportunity to ensure that TB-affected families do not become poorer due to a loss of livelihood or the treatment expenses. We hope the government will address our queries," Chapal Mehra, convenor of the SATB, said. PTI PLB RC

--- ENDS ---
Facebook chief Mark Zuckerberg said surging profits for the leading social network don't matter if the platform can't clean up abuse

Facebook on Wednesday reported that profits leapt on booming revenue from online ads in the third quarter, topping investor forecasts and buoying shares already at record highs.

The leading social network said it made a profit of $4.7 billion in the quarter that ended on September 30, a jump of 79 percent from the same period a year earlier.

Chief executive Mark Zuckerberg used the update to address criticism of Facebook for allowing disinformation and manipulation during the 2016 US presidential election, hours after the company's top lawyer faced a grilling at a Washington congressional hearing.

"Our community continues to grow and our business is doing well," Zuckerberg said.

"But none of that matters if our services are used in ways that don't bring people closer together. We're serious about preventing abuse on our platforms. We're investing so much in security that it will impact our profitability. Protecting our community is more important than maximizing our profits."

Facebook shares that ended the day up 1.4 percent to $182.66 but retreating in after-market trades to $179.25.

Investor enthusiasm may have been tempered by rising costs at the California-based internet giant and executives stressing the company is firmly in "investment mode" while predicting ad growth will slow.

"They made a ton of money but the Russia investigation is clearly putting a cloud over everything for the moment," said independent analyst Rob Enderle.

"Sometimes it just takes a trigger event to cause a bunch of people to take their profit and go someplace else, especially if they have decided this is as good as it is going to get at Facebook for a while."

The analyst added that some investors might be worried that the probed into Russia meddling with US politics will result in regulation on social networks that might hurt profitability.

Investment mode

Expenses rose to $5.2 billion from $3.9 billion in the same quarter last year, and headcount at the company was up 47 percent to 23,165 employees.

"We will continue to invest aggressively in the many opportunities we see ahead," Facebook chief financial officer David Wehner said during an earnings call with analysts.

Zuckerberg outlined investment priorities that included video content, which he described as the biggest trend at Facebook.

The number of monthly active users at the social network continued to grow, reaching 2.07 billion, an increase of 16 percent from the same time last year.

Advertising served up on smartphones or tablets accounted for about 88 percent of revenue taken in from marketing messages in the quarter, Facebook reported.

The quarterly earnings report was released as Facebook and other internet titans testified this week before Congress about a Russian-led effort to spread misinformation and sow discord ahead of the 2016 US election.

New details on meddling

Facebook told Congress on Wednesday that the apparent political meddling included use of its image-oriented messaging service Instagram.

Facebook general counsel Colin Stretch told a hearing that Instagram posts by suspect Russian accounts were seen by some 20 million Americans last year.

"We now discovered, in the last 48 hours, 120,000 Russian-based posts on Instagram," Stretch told the Senate Intelligence Committee hearing.

The latest data on Instagram is on top of the estimated 126 million Americans exposed to Facebook posts from Russian entities seeking to create divisions during the election campaign.

"So all told, that gets you to approximatelya little less than 150 million," Stretch said in response to questioning from Democratic Senator Mark Warner.

Senator Dianne Feinstein of California told the hearing which included lawyers for Facebook, Google and Twitter that the companies need to do more to help combat "cyber warfare."

"I asked specific questions, I got vague answers, and that just won't do," she told the companies.

"You have a huge problem on your hands... You've created these platforms, and now they are being misused, and you have to be the ones to do something about it, or we will."

The hearing was the second in Congress this week in which social media and internet firms have been called to explain how fake news and other disinformation was allowed to spread during the election campaign.

"I've expressed how upset I am that the Russians tried to use our tools to sow mistrust," Zuckerberg said

"What they did is wrong and we are not going to stand for it."

 2017 AFP
While everyone hates filing their taxes, research suggests paying more (if well spent) can make us happier. Credit: a katz/Shutterstock.com

Republicans recently announced their tax plan and are hoping to turn it into law before Thanksgiving. While details are in flux, it would likely eliminate the estate tax, lower the top marginal rate and slash corporate rates, producing, in sum, what the president has dubbed a "gigantic" tax cut.

Each of these elements, if passed, would make the tax code less progressive and reduce government revenues in ways that ultimately makes it harder to pay for programs and services. Since the purpose of public policy should be to improve citizens' lives and well-being, the obvious question to consider in evaluating this plan is whether it does that. Or put another way, will the tax plan make most Americans happier?

Research on happiness economics suggests two vantage points to use in considering this question.

The first concerns how progressive a tax system is. Simply put, are societies happier when the wealthy bear a proportionately higher share of taxes? The second is the total level of taxation. That is, whether higher taxes make people more or less happy because the government takes more of their earnings and spends it on services like health care or infrastructure.

Let us consider each in turn.

The importance of 'tax morale'

A recent article in the peer-reviewed journal Psychological Science suggests that countries with a more progressive tax system are in fact happier than those where tax rates are flatter.

In this piece, three psychologists compare the progressiveness of a nation's tax system with various measures of happiness. They find clear and unequivocal evidence that progressive taxes "are positively associated with subjective well-being." In other words, a country's citizens are happier when the wealthy bear a larger share of the taxes.

This conclusion holds not just when using simple correlations. It also holds under sophisticated statistical analyses that control for other national factors, such as GDP per capita and income inequality, as well as for individual factors like income, gender, age and marital status.

One reason for this is that the link between income and happiness is strongest for the poor and middle class. Nobel Laureates Angus Deaton and Daniel Kahneman demonstrated that happiness increases with income until a certain threshold is reached at which the returns in terms of well-being progressively diminish. That means that while income lost to taxes harms the poor and middle class  who tend to spend most of what they earn  it does not trouble the affluent  whose satisfaction with life is much less affected by a marginal increase in tax burden.

Another reason might be what scholars call "tax morale." This refers to the extent to which people accept a moral obligation to pay taxes as their contribution to society. In turn, this implies a belief that a tax system is fair.

Existing research clearly indicates, and common sense suggests, that tax morale is higher the more progressive a system is  that is, a "fair" system is one in which the rich pay a disproportionate share  and that people with greater tax morale are happier. So, logically, if progressive taxation increases tax morale, and tax morale increases happiness, more progressive taxes mean higher levels of happiness.

This is not good news for Americans, however.

The U.S. tax system is one of the least progressive in the Western world and is considerably less so than it was just a few decades ago.

And this is also bad news for the Republican tax plan  if the GOP and President Donald Trump want to make Americans happier.

The highly respected Tax Policy Center's detailed analysis of the plan shows that benefits are heavily skewed toward the wealthiest. The current proposal will benefit the 1 percent handsomely, increasing their incomes by more than 8 percent. Meanwhile the working and middle classes receive minimal benefits, if any  and they may even see their taxes increase.

While nothing is certain until the ink is dry, their bill most likely will result in a more regressive tax system that likely will make most Americans less happy.

What taxes do

But what about connection between the total tax burden and the national level of happiness?

Surely no one likes being taxed, but taxation is the mechanism by which society provides a great many things that people do like, such as Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security, not to mention good schools, good roads and safe neighborhoods.

"Big government" programs benefit everyone for the obvious reason that they reduce poverty and alienation, thus lowering the social problems such as crime and suicide that these conditions produce.

In turn, it seems obvious that virtually all people, regardless of social class or political ideology, are happier when there is less poverty and less insecurity. Much peer-reviewed academic research has documented just that.

Whether looking across countries or across U.S. states, people  both rich and poor  tend to be happier in places where government provides a greater array of social protections and services. Hence, the closer we approach what Europeans call social democracy  and Americans call New Deal programs  the more people tend to find life satisfying.

If taxpayer-funded government programs make people happy, then we should find a link between the level of tax burden and happiness. And in fact, that's what we find by examining a wide range of countries in the Western world.

For example, Denmark, generally considered the world's happiest country, also has the highest tax burden of any of industrial democracy, with about half of all income going to the tax man in 2014. Conversely, the least happy are also the least taxed, namely South Korea and Turkey, which pay 25 percent and 15 percent, respectively. Yet, despite their low taxes, South Korea ranks just 58th in happiness, between Moldova and Romania, while Turkey ranks even lower at 69th, just below Libya.

We cannot of course generalize from a few examples, nor can we assume that taxation (and the spending taxation allows) are the only causes of happiness. To make strong claims about the nexus between taxation and well-being requires the rigorous and systematic analysis found in the peer-reviewed academic literature.

In "The Political Economy of Human Happiness," one of us (Radcliff) examined individual-level data on 21 countries over three decades and found that people are happier as tax burden increases.

This held even when accounting for other factors known to affect happiness such as income, health, employment status, gender, age, race, education, religion and so on. Similarly, the national or aggregate level of happiness went up or down with the level of taxation (again, controlling for other factors).

The same positive connection between tax burden and happiness was reported in a 2011 paper, while another article found that life satisfaction varies positively with the total amount of governmental "consumption" of the economy, that is the level of taxation.

The price of a 'civilized society'

While details of the Republican tax plan could change drastically, it is certain to reflect core Republican values like lowering tax rates and smaller government.

Republicans tend to favor a flat tax because they argue it's fairer. And they want to reduce the tax burden overall because they think people are better off with more money in their pockets and fewer government services. Scholarly research by us and others suggest they are wrong on both counts, at least in so far as human happiness is concerned.

The familiar aphorism, usually attributed to Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, notes that "taxes are the price we pay for a civilized society," a sentiment chiseled into the side of the IRS building.

We believe research into the economics of happiness would take this sentiment one step farther: Taxes are the price we pay for a happy society.

This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

South America's answer to the Brits' builder's brew, their choice pick-me-up is said to have the kick of coffee, the health perks of tea and the delight of chocolate.

But for all its benefits, Brazil's best-loved beverage has been linked to mouth, throat, kidney and bladder cancers. It is a hard fact to swallow in a country where people in every park and square sit sipping it.

Made from the dried, chopped, ground leaves of rainforest holly tree, mate, like many foods and drinks, contains polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).

The traditional wood smoke drying process, which puts wood smoke in direct contact with the tea, contaminates it with high levels of cancer-causing PAHs.

Experts in heat exchangers and thermal systems at Brunel University London have invented a novel way to dry mate tea leaves. They use clean hot air, made by burning any biofuels, and a heat-pipe-based heat exchanger to stop PAHs forming and make mate safe to drink.

"The project is in response to a need highlighted by a major mate tea beverage producer in Brazil with a vision of obtaining a safer, cleaner, efficient and cost-effective tea leaves drying system," said Brunel's Prof Hussam Jouhara.

"Brunel's standing in the heat-pipe-based heat exchangers design and optimisation has again brought to market new innovation that will make a very popular drink in South America safe."

Perched in the city of Sao Mateus do Sul, one of Brazil's biggest mate producers, Ervateira Sao Mateus, has been using Prof Jouhara's heat-pipe-based system for a year. "It demonstrates that any biofuel can be used to run the process," he said, "and the heat-pipe-based heat exchanger will ensure that only sensible heat is transferred from the resulting flue gas to heat a clean stream of air that will, in turn, be used to dry the leaves."

Britain and Brazil are pouring 3.4m into Brunel's Erva Mate Drying Project to perfect the new heat-pipe-based drying process and percolate prospects for export. By tackling toxicity and enabling any biofuel to be used, Brunel's fixes will cut out PAHs in mate tea and recycle waste into fuel, reducing both costs and carbon footprint.

It promises fantastic returns for Brazil's economy, safeguarding sales and widening the mate market for exports to Syria and the Middle East, Europe and eventually world-wide.
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

The lithium-ion batteries that commonly power mobile phones and laptops are ubiquitous and efficient. But they can occasionally explodeas evidenced in the batteries used by Samsung's Galaxy Note 7, which the company recalled last year.

Solid-state batteries, which eschew the flammable and unstable liquid electrolytes of conventional lithium-ion batteries, could be a safer option. Now, researchers have demonstrated a new way to produce more efficient solid-state batteries. This proof-of-principle study may lead to safer and more compact batteries useful for everything from sensor networks to implantable biomedical devices.

Alex Pearse, a doctoral student at the University of Maryland, College Park and the Nanostructures for Electrical Energy Storage, a DOE-sponsored Energy Frontier Research Center, will present this work during the AVS 64th International Symposium and Exhibition being held Oct. 29-Nov. 3, 2017, in Tampa, Florida.

A battery is composed of two oppositely charged electrodes, the cathode and anode. Nestled between them is an electrolyte that allows ions to transfer from one electrode to another when the battery's circuit is completed, enabling electric current to flow. In lithium-ion batteries, this electrolyte is liquid.

Replacing a liquid electrolyte with a solid makes for an inherently more stable battery. A solid electrolyte also offers the potential for thin film construction, but these solid-state batteries, which use glass electrolytes, can't store as much energy as their liquid counterparts, a problem mainly due to the fabrication process.

To make thin-film solid-state batteries, conventional methods employ what's called line-of-sight physical vapor deposition (PVD), which is akin to spray painting. The electrodes and electrolyte are made by directly depositing the material as a film onto a surface. These films must be very thin, or else the layers can separate and break down.

"You can't make the films very thick before you get issues with cracking or delamination," Pearse said. "It takes too long to grow and gets very expensive."

But because a thin battery can't hold as much current, it can't store that much energy in a given area. Just to power your smartphone, Pearse explained, a solid-state battery would need to span one square meter.

One way to increase capacity is to introduce holes, ridges, or other patterns that boosts the surface area. But conventional PVD doesn't work for these complex, 3-D shapes.

"You can imagine a can of spray paint and aiming it at some complicated 3-D, porous object," Pearse said. "You won't be able to cover every nook and cranny with the even coat that's needed."

So Pearse and his colleagues tried another technique called atomic layer deposition (ALD). ALD bathes the object in the materialvaporized into a gaswhich adheres to the entire surface. The result is a thin film that evenly blankets an object of any shape.

Although ALD is a well-established technique, this is the first time it's been used to fabricate a full, 3-D solid-state battery, Pearse said. To increase surface area, the researchers designed their battery with a series of holes, developing new patterning strategies to create precise coatings. Because the layers are still very thin, the battery can be very compact and can also be recharged quickly.

The prototype can't yet compete with conventional batteries, Pearse said, but it paves the way forward. While solid-state batteries still can't compete with most conventional ones, they may be well suited for certain applications, such as in tiny sensors. Because there are no toxic liquids that can leak, they would also be ideal for biomedical devices implanted in the body. Best of all, they are unlikely to explode.
URI junior Amanda Bednarick (background) and research assistant Sam Hemmendinger use a Jacob's staff to measure the thickness of rocks at Petrified Forest National Park. Credit: Reilly Hayes

One of the most exciting discoveries that paleontologists can make is finding the causal relationship between the extinction of ancient creatures and the environmental conditions that led to that extinction. A team of scientists and students at the University of Rhode Island is inching closer to revealing how a group of animals from the Late Triassic went extinct, thanks to the precise dating of fossils at Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona.

URI Professor David Fastovsky, who made important discoveries about the extinction of the dinosaurs between the Cretaceous and Tertiary periods 66 million years ago, is leading a team of researchers working to understand what caused the extinction of the near-relatives of North America's earliest dinosaurs around 215 million years ago.

"Reconstructing extinctions is extremely difficult," he said, "but at Petrified Forest we have the best-dated ancient river deposits in the world, which allow us to ask very precise questions about this extinction  in particular, whether it was gradual or catastrophic. This could be one of the extremely rare instances in the ancient record when this could actually be determined quantitatively using direct evidence."

If the researchers determine that all of the animals went extinct at about the same time  rather than gradually over a long period  they may be able to link the animals' extinction to the catastrophic impact of an asteroid that left a 50-mile-wide crater in Quebec, an impact that some scientists believe was responsible for the extinctions at that time.

Fastovsky has been studying the fossils at Petrified Forest since 1991. He said the rocks there indicate a distinct "faunal turnover" when one set of organisms disappeared and another set of organisms appeared.

"The question is, can we date that faunal turnover, and how precisely," he said.

Using what he called "high-precision uranium-lead dating" developed by researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and applied by URI geoscientists in Petrified Forest National Park, Fastovsky is hopeful that his team will have some answers by the end of next year.

To meet that goal, Fastovsky engaged Gavino Puggioni, URI assistant professor of statistics, who is using sophisticated statistical analyses to determine whether the ancient animals all went extinct simultaneously, which would be expected from a catastrophic event.

"The processes that we're studying took place over thousands of years," said Puggioni. "We're trying to extract a very weak signal from this small data set. But there are statistical techniques that can help us identify what we're observing. We are trying to extend and push the boundaries."

"This is an unheard-of level of quantitative precision being applied to an extinction event," added Fastovsky.

To fill in gaps in the existing data, URI graduate student Reilly Hayes and junior Amanda Bednarick spent three months last summer finding the precise locations where more than 100 fossils had been collected from Petrified Forest over the last century. It wasn't easy.

"River systems like at Petrified Forest tear themselves up when the sediments build up," explained Hayes. "So you find a lot of discontinuities between the beds of rock. But we already had dates in the model of how certain beds fit together into the larger sequence at the park. We just didn't know where all the fossils occurred relative to those."

The dates in the model were first collected by a previous generation of URI researchers, and they run through the full thickness of the rock sequence exposed in the Park, which Fastovsky and his MIT colleagues nicknamed the "backbone."

Hayes and Bednarick hiked many miles each week last summer and found 51 sites around the park where they could link previously collected fossils with rocks of known age.

"We relocated all these fossil localities, some of which didn't have exact information for where they were originally found, and then we established a game plan for how to correlate this spot on the ground to a place where the backbone was exposed," said Bednarick.

Over the next year, additional field work will be required to relocate about 20 more fossil sites, and the statistical analyses will continue. And then the researchers hope to be able to draw conclusions about the cause of the extinction.

"We're looking forward to testing whether the extinctions occurred at the same time and whether this particular extinction would be concordant with what you would expect if an asteroid did the deed," concluded Fastovsky. "That would be pretty special."
Cape Mountain Zebra in South Afirca. Credit: Jessica Lea from The University of Manchester

How can Zebra poo tell us what an animal's response to climate change and habitat destruction will be?

That is what scientists from The University of Manchester and Chester Zoo have been investigating in South Africa. Together the team have been using 'poo science' to understand how challenges or 'stressors', such as the destruction and breakup of habitats, impact on populations of South Africa's Cape mountain zebra.

To measure 'stress' levels of the animals the scientists have been analysing glucocorticoid hormones in the Cape zebra's droppings. Glucocorticoid hormones are a group of steroid hormones that help regulate the 'flight or fight' stress response in animals.

The research found that zebras are facing multiple challenges, including poor habitat and gender imbalances, which are likely to compromise their health, have repercussions for their reproduction and, ultimately, a population's long term survival.

Dr Susanne Shultz, the senior author from the School of Earth and Environmental Sciences (SEES) at Manchester, explains: 'Faecal hormone measurements are easy to collect without disturbing the animals and provide a window into the chronic stress animals are experiencing. Using these indicators we can establish the health of both individuals and populations.'

A Group of three Cape Mountain Zebras with one looking directly at Camera. Credit: Jessica Lea from The University of Manchester

The team have used a 'macrophysiological approach' for the first time ever to evaluate the effectiveness of an ongoing conservation plan. A macrophysiological approach involves comparing animal responses in different nature reserves or geographical regions. By evaluating patterns of stress on a large scale, at-risk populations can be identified as their profile will differ from healthy populations.

The researchers also found that using physiological biomarkers, such as hormones from droppings, is an effective way of evaluating the impact of ecological and demographic factors on animal populations. This approach could also tell conservationists how other animals and species might respond to future environmental changes and stressors.

Dr Sue Walker, Head of Applied Science at Chester zoo, said: 'Zoos specialise in population management and have developed a wide range of innovative techniques to monitor the species under their care. This project is a fantastic example of how we can use these knowledge and skills to also help the conservation of wild animals threatened with extinction.'

As well as using this new approach the particular species of the Zebra was also important. Dr Jessica Lea, from SEES and the paper's lead author, added: 'The Cape mountain zebra is an ideal model species to assess because it has undergone huge ecological and demographic changes in the recent years.

Cape Mountain Zebra strolls across grassland in South Africa. Credit: Jessica Lea at The University of Manchester

'Following a massive population decline, they have been actively conserved for the past several decades. The information available on their recovery means we can measure the impacts of both environment and social factors on population health.'

Combining SEES's knowledge in macroecology with Chester Zoo's expertise in wildlife physiology allowed the team to gain crucial insights into the Cape Mountain zebra ecology. This then translated into practical applied conservation management initiatives to support the species.

Dr Shultz added: 'Understanding the factors leading to global biodiversity loss is a major societal challenge. In an ever-changing environment, new problems arise quickly so it is essential we use evidence-based methods to continually evaluate the effectiveness of conservation projects.'

More information: Jessica M. D. Lea et al, Non-invasive physiological markers demonstrate link between habitat quality, adult sex ratio and poor population growth rate in a vulnerable species, the Cape mountain zebra, Functional Ecology (2017). DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.13000 Journal information: Functional Ecology
By PTI: Opposition fumes

Chandigarh, Nov 1 (PTI) In a controversial order, government school teachers were asked to attend a training programme to help priests at a religious festival in Haryanas Yamunanagar, triggering angry reactions from the Opposition and teachers bodies.

The teachers were asked to enrol for a programme for the Kapal Mochan Mela in Yamunanagar by the local administration.

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A section of teachers said they were asked to perform odd jobs such as distributing prasad among the devotees at the fair, which began today.

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar told reporters here today his government had not given any such direction.

"This may be a local arrangement, but from our side, there is no such direction," he said.

A senior official of the Yamunanagar district administration said around 600 government employees, including teachers, were deployed to perform miscellaneous tasks such as managing the crowd and assisting the priests.

Twenty-six of the 109 teachers, who were supposed to have attended the training imparted by the administration on October 29, stayed away from it.

The teachers were asked to turn up for the programme at the Kapal Mochan Mela office in Yamunanagar district at 1 pm on October 29.

When many failed to do so, the administration sought an explanation from the district education officer concerned on why they had not participated in the event and asked for departmental disciplinary action against them.

Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala took a dig at the Khattar government on Twitter saying, "Teachers will become priests now, the future of students depends on god."

He also posted a document dated October 29, purportedly signed by the Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO), Bilaspur (which comes under Yamunanagar district), directing the teachers who were absent at the training programme on the said date to attend a similar programme the next day.

The document also warned the teachers of disciplinary action if they failed to do so.

The four-day fair has attracted nearly two lakh pilgrims from several states, including Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and Rajasthan.

The Yamunanagar district administration official said nearly five lakh devotees took part in the event every year.

"It is wrong to say that the teachers were asked to perform the rituals of the priests," he added.

However, Jaidev Arya, the state adviser to the Haryana Teachers Association, dubbed the government order a "Tughlaki farman (whimsical diktat)" and "unwarranted".

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"We oppose this Tughlaki farman. A teacher should not be put on such duties. It is not the duty of the teachers to perform puja and distribute prasad. We oppose such decisions of the state government," he told reporters in Yamunanagar.

Former chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda hit out at the Khattar government saying that on one hand, there was a shortage of teachers in the government schools and on the other hand, teachers were being forced to play the role of priests.

Khattars ministers and BJP MLAs should perform such tasks instead, Hooda said.

"Ever since the BJP government came to power in Haryana three years ago, the standards of education have gone down. The schools are not being upgraded, there is a shortage of teachers, but the Khattar government is not concerned about this. Rather, it is worried about how to make the teachers distribute prasad and perform puja," he said.

He added that the Khattar government should open a recruitment centre to hire priests to do such jobs at these events.

"Everyone knows that this government has failed on all fronts. So, why does the chief minister not give some work to his ministers and MLAs? They should perform the task given to the teachers, who have a greater responsibility of teaching the students and shape their future," Hooda, who has been the chief minister of the state twice, said. PTI SUN VSD RC BDS RC

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Revels User Conference 2017  Revelry!

Revel Systems, a leader in cloud Point of Sale held a two-day conference in San Francisco bringing together business owners, industry thought leaders, and technology experts to discuss strategies for business success along with industry trends.

Revels two-day conference was held at the San Francisco Hyatt Regency, featured speakers, panels, and roundtables highlighting Revel clients. The event concluded at the San Francisco City Hall with Revels seventh anniversary celebration, the conferences namesake Revelry celebration.

Opening keynote address and state of the industry synopsis:

In the opening keynote address, Revel executives (Bobby Marhamat COO, and Erick Kobres CTO) discussed the current and future states of the industry as it relates to the democratization of omni-commerce, kiosks, mobile ordering, and Artificial Intelligence.

Joe Waller, CEO of Pacific Gateway:

Joe Wallers customer session emphasized the impact of thinking outside the box. Waller says that what sets Pacific Gateway aside from others is how they empower the local community by offering locally made goods at airport retail, architecting airport retail technology for the convenience of travelers and in general, anticipating the needs of the decision makers. Pacific Gateway is a privately held company that has graduated from the Airport Concessions Disadvantaged Business Enterprises program

Mike Chissler, COO, Holler and Dash:

Mike discussed how fast casual is changing the restaurant landscape through value in convenience, quality, and friendly service. This value prop is driven by Gen Z and Y. He identified the need for change by spinning off Cracker Barrel to Holler and Dash. He also recognized the increasing concern consumers have over spending money eating out, driving a need for value. Mike explained how millennials are the biggest population whose consumer behaviors are far different than their predecessors. They are lifestyle oriented, tech enhanced, have a need for speed, authenticity and transparency, want healthy, handcrafted foods, and customer control (customized/self-service solutions.) Millennials can be difficult to market to because multiculturalism is the mainstream, meaning they are transitional and exploratory. Because of this, it is important for restaurants to add social value and match their lifestyles.

Doug Collister, CMO, China Live:

Doug Collister of China Live shared how social media and PR have been instrumental to their success. He encourages that for larger projects, PR agencies can be important in defining your restaurant in the local community. Collister said China Lives biggest next step is to aggregate CRM data to better market to customers online after their in-store experience.

Restaurant Showdown shots and results:

The winner of the inaugural Restaurant Showdown was Cinthya Cisneros, whose Napa based brewery and boozy pastries, La Cheve, won the crowd and judges. As the winner, La Cheve, has been awarded $10,000 seed money and a year of Revel technology.

Predictions and trends from Revel Presenters:

Revel executives (Bobby Marhamat COO, and Erick Kobres CTO) say we will start to see more serious options for AI assistants to order things for us  and for consumers to conduct commerce through messaging apps.

They also think we will start to see some interesting commercial use cases for augmented reality  think about a pop-up augmented reality storefront for a food truck  or an overlay of detailed information on a box in your stock area. There are a lot of useful real-world use cases coming.

Another prediction is that we will see some resurgence with QR Codes since Apple just added QR Code recognition as a native feature in iOS 11.



More content from The Point of Sale News:
ATMIAs Withdraw Cash Wednesday Consumer Campaign Now Underway

SIOUX FALLS, S.D., November 1, 2017  (Business Wire)  ATMIA , the global trade association for the ATM industry, today announced its U.S. Withdraw Cash Wednesday consumer social media campaign is up and running. The campaigns video, Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter profiles, website and cash blog encourage consumers to visit ATMs every Wednesday to get cash for weekend spending, while providing timely information and tips about how cash helps people stick to budgets and reduce debt. The campaign is gearing up for November 22, the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, Black Friday and the Christmas holiday shopping season, hoping to significantly increase ATM cash withdrawals nationwide.

Withdraw Cash Wednesday is the brainchild of ATMIAs International Marketing Committee. In its first year of inception, initial efforts are focused on the U.S. consumer campaign launch to get people in the habit of withdrawing cash every Wednesday. A sponsorship campaign is also underway with funds earmarked towards 2018 to gain further Withdraw Cash Wednesdaymomentum and traction with consumers across the country.

Theres a lot of cash bashing going, but in todays world, cash continues to be the number one way people choose to pay, says Mike Lee, chief executive officer for ATMIA. Withdraw Cash Wednesday is a super way to help both consumers and the ATM industry, adds Lee. I want to thank the sponsors and volunteers involved in bringing Withdraw Cash Wednesday to fruition this year, and look forward to the campaigns success for many years to come.

Consumers joining the campaign receive regular reminders to withdraw cash on Wednesdays, as well as no-nonsense cash spending and budgeting tips via email or text. Facebook, LinkedIn and the Withdraw Cash Wednesday cash blog contain timely articles consumers can use to budget and spend with cash to reduce debt. A convenient ATM Locator directory is available for consumer lookup on the Withdraw Cash Wednesday website.

ATM industry constituents are encouraged to support the Withdraw Cash Wednesday campaign by ordering ATM decals and signage and promoting the campaign through client newsletters and social media channels.

About ATMIA

ATMIA is the leading non-profit trade association representing the entire global ATM industry. ATMIA serves more than 10,000 members from over 650 participating companies in 65 countries spanning the whole ATM ecosphere, including financial institutions, independent ATM deployers, equipment manufacturers, processors and a plethora of ATM service and value-added solution providers. ATMIA provides Education, Advocacy and Connections to help its members keep abreast of industry news and developments; increase knowledge and professionalism; improve operational efficiencies; understand and influence regulatory processes; participate in the local, regional and global ATM community; and forge new relationships to advance their businesses. Founded in 1997, ATMIA has active chapters in the United States, Canada, Europe, Latin America, Asia-Pacific, Asia, Africa, India and the Middle East focusing on the unique needs and issues of each region. For more information, please visit atmia.com. Follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter or YouTube.

Other Point of Sale News:
Bloom intelligence meets urgent retail and hospitality challenges

Bloom Intelligence, a leader in sophisticated data analytics whose roots go back more than a decade, announces a groundbreaking cloud-based Wi-Fi marketing and analytics platform that provides advanced tracking metrics for omnichannel retailers and the hospitality industry.

Seventy percent of consumers shop at brick-and-mortar stores, but increasingly prefer the convenience of digital purchasing. Bloom Intelligence mixes the digital and in-store experience to give retailers the essential analytic tools they need to act on consumer behavior in real time. The platform is also customizable for restaurants that benefit from the ability to track guest behavior and trigger deals in real time.

The Bloom Intelligence difference is getting ahead of customer sentiment when they are on the premises and immediately sending offers and suggestions to influence purchasing decisions. The company also has the ability to send deals to people both before and after they visit the retail location and remarket to them just as they are about to exit the store or restaurant.

The goals are to increase visit frequency and retain churning customers. The companys unique capabilities will soon encompass heat mapping and on premise-presence messaging based on the customers location in the store. The Bloom Intelligence team provides seamless, white glove service to clients, encompassing hardware and software, implementation and ongoing system management. Everything is completely firewalled, including the highest level of security.

We are making big data work for the retail and hospitality industries by using real time intelligence to actually personalize the customer experience and deliver dynamic marketing content. said William R. Wilson V, CEO of Bloom Intelligence. Ninety percent of consumers keep their mobile phones with them at all times and our marketing automation platform triggers direct communication that grabs customers attention while theyre in the store or restaurant, drives social media interaction and promotes retention after they leave.

So how does Bloom Intelligence work? Customers are encouraged to register for in-store WiFi, which is both a value-add service for customers and an asset to retail and hospitality marketing and operations. Data is collected whether the consumer logs in or not, and Bloom Intelligence is able to interact with a customer who does not have the store or restaurants mobile app installed. The platform is also able to automate customers onboarding to third party applications, such as loyalty programs and mobile apps.

Bloom Intelligence triggered offers utilize advanced segmentation based upon demographics, presence analytics, and purchasing behavior. Acting on actual customer behavior, Bloom Intelligence automates one-time, repeating and triggered promotions that align with individuals shopping or dining behavior. Specific triggered promotions can be built around several metrics, such as:

At Risk  sends an offer to people who Bloom Intelligence has marked as having broken their regular visit pattern.

 sends an offer to people who Bloom Intelligence has marked as having broken their regular visit pattern. Milestone  used to send an offer when customers reach predetermined milestones such as their 10th, 25th, or 100th visit. Offers can also be generated annually, for example, on the anniversary of a customers first visit to the store or restaurant.

 used to send an offer when customers reach predetermined milestones such as their 10th, 25th, or 100th visit. Offers can also be generated annually, for example, on the anniversary of a customers first visit to the store or restaurant. Loyalty  creates a virtual loyalty program that works like good old-fashioned coffee club punch cards. Customers will get an offer every time they reach the number of visits specified by the retailer or restaurant.

 creates a virtual loyalty program that works like good old-fashioned coffee club punch cards. Customers will get an offer every time they reach the number of visits specified by the retailer or restaurant. Rolling  rewards frequency and consistency based on number of visits and time period set by the retailer (for example, 3 visits in 10 days); an offer is sent when customers meet these criteria.

In addition to triggered marketing, customer data is collected to measure customer sentiment in real time with Bloom Intelligence ratings and NPS score capabilities. Their analytics also answer key omnichannel retail questions, including:

What is the projected lifetime value of a specific customer?

How can you use customer data to optimize and measure return visits?

How do you build a truly integrated consumer experience?

Metrics are made available to the retailer via the proprietary Bloom Business Intelligence Platform, an easy-to-read dashboard that simplifies interpreting and acting on the data to:

Measure customer behavior and the actual ROI of specific deals that drive customers back into the store.

Use special offers to drive social interaction, encourage customer reviews and rescue at-risk customers.

Track and project retail traffic flow by week, day and hourly increments.

Decrease customer churn rate by creating campaigns for first-time customers that encourage return visits.

Identify most frequent customers through built-in segmentation for easy targeting.

Our advanced tracking metrics are changing the way retailers and restaurateurs interact with their customers and how consumers interact with brands, says Wilson. Data that drives sales  thats how analytics and automated triggered marketing increases ROI.

For more information on Bloom Intelligence and its services, please visit www.bloomintelligence.com.

ABOUT BLOOM INTELLIGENCE

Bloom Intelligence is a software and managed services company that provides sophisticated data analytics to brick and mortar locations. With real time information on who is visiting their stores, how often, and for how long, retail clients gain powerful groundbreaking tools to engage and delight their customers.

With roots that go back over ten years, Bloom Intelligence excels at helping customers drive retail traffic to increase sales and profits. The company harnesses the power of mobile technology, big data, and location analytics to provide valuable business insights to both independent stores and national chains and franchises alike.

Other Point of Sale News:
Inventory needs to be managed and managed well, or you are going to get in recurring trouble, and lose your credibility and hard-earned conversions, whether 

Read more
By PTI: in Kerala: BJP

New Delhi, Nov 1 (PTI) Terrorism and radicalisation have acquired "menacing proportions" in Kerala, the BJP said today, adding that these issues of national security were being "sacrificed at the altar of vote bank politics".

Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad highlighted a media sting on Popular Front of India (PFI), a Kerala-based Islamic party, and also refereed to love jihad as he demanded a probe against its leaders.

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He said they should be dealt more severely than Hurriyat leaders, who are being probed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for terror funding.

Hurriyat is an umbrella organisation of many separatist parties in Kashmir.

The sting, Prasad said, has caught PFI founding members saying that they received funding from abroad and had converted over 5,000 persons to Islam, and an Islamic state was their final goal.

"You in India are running a terrorist group with an aim of making an Islamic state by taking funds from abroad. Young sons and daughters are being radicalised for this. It is a very serious threat to the national security," he said.

The Information and Technology minister said the NIA was looking into cases of love jihad, adding that the agency should also investigate what the media report has highlighted.

Prasad also made a reference to an alleged case of love jihad being heard by the Supreme Court, which has ordered an NIA probe into the matter, and attacked the Left-led Kerala governments contention in the court that there should be no probe in the matter.

The BJP, he maintained, was of the opinion that people can voluntarily convert but there should be no use of inducement, allurement or fear.

Due to the PFIs activities, life of common citizens of Kerala is under threat, the Union minister claimed, urging the state government to take pro-active measures in this regard.

"If the Kerala government maintains silence on the issue, we will have to say that it is sacrificing national interest at the altar of vote bank politics," he said.

He also asked Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and party vice president Rahul Gandhi to speak on the matter.

The BJP has taken up the issue of "jihadi terrorism" in Kerala in a big way. The party looks to widen its appeal in the southern state ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

The saffron party has been traditionally weak in Kerala and could not win any seat from the state in the last Lok Sabha polls. PTI KR SRY

--- ENDS ---

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" " Hot-Jupiters, like the one named CoRoT-2b pictured here orbiting close to its host star, aren't uncommon. What's very unusual about NGTS-1b is the tiny size of its host star. NASA/Ames/JPL-Caltech

Just in time for Halloween, astronomers announced the discovery of an exoplanetary "monster" lurking around a tiny star.

Called NGTS-1b, the alien world orbits a star around 600 light-years from Earth and has been measured to be approximately the same size as Jupiter but 20 percent less massive. Its orbit is extreme. Known as a "hot-Jupiter," this exoplanet whips around its star once every 2.6 days and has a surface temperature of 530 degrees Celsius (nearly 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit).

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So far, this might not sound very remarkable. Many hot-Jupiters have been discovered with extremely compact orbits in our galaxy. But NGTS-1b's star is a puny "class M" star  otherwise known as a red dwarf  and, according to planetary formation models, it shouldn't be possible for such a tiny star to support such a huge planetary heavyweight.

" " Artist's impression of sunrise on planet NGTS-1b University of Warwick/Mark Garlic

In fact, this is the largest planet compared to the size of its star ever found in our universe, and its very existence is perplexing astronomers.

"The discovery of NGTS-1b was a complete surprise to us  such massive planets were not thought to exist around such small stars," said Daniel Bayliss, who works at the University of Warwick, U.K., in a statement. "This is the first exoplanet we have found with our new NGTS facility and we are already challenging the received wisdom of how planets form."

Bayliss' team used the brand-new Next-Generation Transit Survey (NGTS) to make the discovery, which was no mean feat. Red dwarfs are extremely dim and small stars, so they can be difficult to observe, but they are the most abundant type of star in the Milky Way and are known to host their own planetary systems. However, none have been found to possess worlds of such monstrous proportions as NGTS-1b.

"NGTS-1b was difficult to find, despite being a monster of a planet, because its parent star is small and faint," said Peter Wheatley, also in the press release. Wheatley, who also works at the University of Warwick and leads the NGTS project, continued, "Small stars are actually the most common in the universe, so it is possible that there are many of these giant planets waiting to [be] found."
How is the Definition of Success Changing in Singapore?

For several decades, the Singapore model of education worked very well. We churned out students proficient in math and science. Students were sorted by their PSLE, O level and then A level grades so only the most academically successful would be corralled into the most prestigious university courses, sorted of course according to earning potential upon graduation.

But now, that model doesnt seem to be working anymore. With the economy more and more dependent on innovation, the government is realising that the system isnt producing the kinds of people who can keep the economy chugging along.

Once successful professions are losing their shine

Traditionally, parents used to push their kids to enter professions that required formal qualifications such as medicine, law, dentistry and accountancy. Because these jobs paid reasonably well and entry was restricted, they were viewed as stable and safe choices. Choosing one of these as a career was a step to success.

These days, however, it is undoubtedly tech jobs that look the most promising, with a spike in the starting salaries of computing grads being just the tip of the iceberg.

This year, the number of university applicants listing computing as their first choice jumped, while the number choosing law fell. This is no doubt due to the glut of lawyers which has caused starting salaries to fall, as well as news reports shedding light on the high attrition rate of lawyers due to long, punishing hours.

Professionals such as doctors and accountants also have a reputation for working ridiculously long hours, while teachers lament the enormous volume of non-teaching work they are forced to complete.

With 3 in 4 Singapore millennials aiming to be their own boss, getting a professional degree is no longer a guarantee for success and that isnt necessarily a bad thing.

Wealth and stability will no longer be the key career drivers

Singapore owes its past economic success to the many MNCs which have set up shop here. So naturally, preparing students to become employees in these corporations worked well for us.

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Nowadays, however, it seems the key to further growth is to maximise our digital capabilities, innovate and be adaptable. And to do that, Singapore needs different kinds of people than the obedient office workers we used to churn out.

Thats why despite our success in achieving top PISA scores, the government has been investigating ways to tweak the education system to produce the kinds of people the future economy will need.

An unhealthy focus on grades in particular has been criticised for producing students who dont bother to look beyond the textbook and who show no interest in their work.

How should the education system change to fit the new definition of success?

To produce students wholl be able to thrive in the future economy and make sure the country doesnt fall into obsolescence, striving to achieve the following goals might help.

1. Nudge students towards exploring their interests

Ones personal interests were pretty low on the priority list when choosing a uni course two decades ago. What was important was earning power.

But in future, workers will be less able to get by doing their jobs on autopilot mode for 30 years. Constant learning and developing ones skills is necessary to stay relevant. Which is why only those students who are genuinely happy with their chosen career choices will thrive.

Instead of focusing only on boosting students grades, schools need to offer stronger career guidance, and the system needs to enable students to dabble and explore their interests more.

2. Emphasise true mastery of subject matter outside of the classroom

Singaporean students are notorious for asking, Is it going to be on the exam? when given information that looks suspiciously unnecessary. Thats because the education system is so grades-focused that anything that doesnt affect ones grades is deemed unimportant. Students become skilled test-takers and nothing more.

The goal of the education system should be to encourage students to develop good learning habits and a spirit of inquiry that will enable them to truly master their subjects of choice outside the classroom.

In future, a focus on building a portfolio rather than simply getting good grades might be beneficial, as students will be required to demonstrate a genuine interest in their chosen course of study and a track record of having explored it before they can be admitted into certain courses.

What qualities must future workers and entrepreneurs have to succeed in the future? Tell us in the comments!

The post How is the Definition of Success Changing in Singapore? appeared first on the MoneySmart blog.

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FILE PHOTO: The logo of the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) is pictured at its building in Singapore in this February 21, 2013 file photo. REUTERS/Edgar Su/File Photo

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has issued prohibition orders (POs) against two individuals for activities related to the ongoing 1MDB saga.

Ang Wee Keng Kelvin, a former representative of Maybank Kim Eng Securities Pte Ltd, and Lee Chee Waiy, formerly of NRA Capital Pte Ltd (NRA), were served with the POs, which ban them from providing any capital market and financial advisory services and are effective for a period of six years from 30 October this year.

In a statement on Wednesday (1 November), the central bank said that it has also served notice of its intention to issue a permanent PO against former BSI Bank wealth manager Yeo Jiawei.

Ang was convicted of an offence under the Prevention of Corruption Act for bribing Lee with $3,000 to expedite the preparation of a valuation report on PetroSaudi Oil Services Limited (PSOSL). Lee was the primary person in NRA working on the valuation of PSOSL.

He had accepted the bribe from Mr Ang and had applied inappropriate methodology and assumptions in the valuation of PSOSL, said an MAS spokesman.

The two men have also been banned from taking part in the management of, acting as a director of, or becoming a substantial shareholder of any capital market and financial advisory services firm in Singapore.

Meanwhile, MAS intends to ban Yeo from these activities for life. Yeo has been investigated by the Commercial Affairs Department (CAD) on 1MDB-related matters. He was convicted by the State Courts in Singapore on several charges, including money laundering, cheating and tampering of witnesses during CADs investigation.

To-date, a total of six persons involved in 1MDB-related breaches have been issued POs by MAS, with notices of intention to issue POs served on another two persons. The POs issued have ranged from six years to lifetime bans.

Ong Chong Tee, MAS Deputy Managing Director (Financial Supervision), said, MAS expects professionals in the financial services industry to uphold high standards of integrity and proper conduct. Those who fall short of these standards will be dealt with firmly, to safeguard public trust in our financial institutions and Singapores reputation as a clean financial centre.
It was just 67 words written in a faraway country a century ago, but it shaped their lives, Israelis and Palestinians say. Thursday marks the 100th anniversary of the Balfour Declaration, when the British government said it viewed "with favour the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people". The anniversary is a joyous occasion for Israelis, the precursor to the creation of their state in 1948, with the declaration encouraging Jews to emigrate to the land of their ancestors. Michael Oren, an Israeli deputy minister, recently called it the "high-water mark of Zionist diplomacy." For Palestinians, however, it marks the beginning of a catastrophe -- arguably leading to hundreds of thousands fleeing or being forced from their homes during the war surrounding Israel's creation. It is also seen as having helped sow the seeds of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and Israel's ongoing 50-year occupation of the West Bank. Small numbers of Jews, including those having fled anti-Semitic persecution elsewhere, lived on the land before 1917 alongside Palestinian communities. Zionist leaders were encouraging mass immigration as part of efforts to fulfil their dream of a Jewish state in the land from where their ancient ancestors fled. But the open letter penned by British foreign secretary Arthur James Balfour provided new impetus for the push. Baruch Levy's parents left Iraq for Mandate Palestine in 1934, cradling him in their arms. He had been born the year before in Baghdad. "My parents were Zionist, religious people. They came here I believe following the Balfour Declaration... after the First World War when the British took over," he said. "That gave them and other communities a kind of push to come." Relations between Jewish and Palestinian communities had never been perfect, but they worsened as the British mandate in Palestine following World War I wore on, he said. Levy remembers fighting between the communities from time to time. "The Jewish goal was from the very beginning building the Jewish home," he said. "The Arabs, as I see it, were always kind of an obstacle, or putting obstacles to us as Jewish people." Levy said he remembers the anniversary of Balfour as a day of celebration for Jewish communities. "As a child we always celebrated the second of November in schools, in streets, in youth movements. It was like the beginning of something." - 'Destroyed our world' - Palestinians see it differently. Mohammed Hilleyel, 94, was born only six years after the letter prescribed a future for the land he came from, but he was not to know of its existence for more than two decades. While the decision was published in the British press in 1917, Hilleyel said there was no real effort to inform Palestinians living on the land during the British mandate period that ended in 1948, when the state of Israel was founded. It was only in 1946, two years before he and his family would have to flee their farmlands near Jaffa and eventually end up in Gaza, that they learned of the British declaration from a military officer. When told of what in Arabic is called the Balfour promise, he says he was shocked. The British, he said, "destroyed our world". "What is Britain to me? It's the Balfour agreement." Other Palestinians, especially in larger cities, did know, and Rima Tarazi, born in 1932, said there were regular protests against British policies during the mandate era. Despite this thousands of Jews arrived in mandate Palestine during the British period, and Tarazi accused the British of unfair treatment. "There was no right or justice in the whole Balfour Declaration. How did they have the right to give somebody's land to somebody else? I could never understand that." She said the declaration has "haunted" the Palestinian people for 100 years. Despite worsening relations as the British mandate worn on, Tarazi remembers they had Jewish neighbours, the Eisenbergs, whom they were close to. During World War II as word of atrocities against Jews came out of Germany, the family's mother came to speak to Tarazi's. "She told her 'If the Nazis ever came here will you promise me to take care of Batia my daughter as your daughter?' My mother said 'of course.'"
FILE PHOTO: Detainees walk around the compound among water bottles inside the Manus Island detention centre in Papua New Guinea, February 11, 2017. Behrouz Boochani/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo (Reuters)

By Colin Packham

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Hundreds of asylum seekers refused to leave a detention centre in Papua New Guinea on Wednesday, even after power and water were cut and food supplies dwindled, in a stand-off that human rights groups warn could become a humanitarian crisis.

Australia and PNG are trying to close the Manus Island centre, one of two remote Pacific camps that Canberra uses to detain asylum seekers who arrive by boat. The camps have drawn widespread international condemnation.

The remote Manus island centre has been a key part of Australia's disputed "Sovereign Borders" immigration policy under which it refuses to allow asylum seekers arriving by boat to reach its shores, detaining them instead in PNG and Nauru in the South Pacific.

Around 600 detainees on Manus island are defying the attempts to close the camp, saying they fear violent reprisals from the local community.

The men refused to board a bus to a transit centre on the island on Wednesday, three of the asylum-seekers told Reuters, frustrating Australia's plans to dismantle part of its costly offshore detention programme.

"They took generators this morning and they cut the main pipes, there is no power in the whole centre and no water," Sudanese refugee Abdul Aziz told Reuters. "People are extremely anxious."

The asylum seekers, warned that utilities would be cut, had begun to collect rainwater in bins. However, without running water, advocates fear a rapid decline in sanitary conditions of the camp.

The loss of power also threatens to dampen morale of the detainees, nearly all of whom are suffering from mental health issues, according to a United Nations report in 2015.

"Mobile phones are a lifeline for these men," said Elaine Pearson, director of Human Rights Watch in Australia.

"They are completed isolated and they need phones to get real-time information about what is happening elsewhere on Manus, as well as to stay in touch with their families."

Story continues

SHARING FOOD

The detainees were sharing what food remained but some of the men Reuters spoke to by phone said supplies were running low. They had been given enough meals to last only until the camp's official closure on Tuesday.

Acting Australian Prime Minister Julie Bishop said the men should move to the new centres, which Australia has said it would support with A$250 million ($195 million) worth of food and security for the next 12 months.

The relocation of the men is designed as a temporary measure, allowing the United States time to complete vetting of refugees as part of a refugee swap deal that Australia hopes will see it no longer responsible for the detention of nearly 1,400 asylum seekers who have been classified as refugees.

Those not accepted by the United States would likely be resettled in PNG or in another developing country, dashing hopes of coming to Australia.

Vehement opposition among Manus residents to the asylum seekers has raised fears within the camp of potential violence, stoked further by the departure of Australian-employed private security guards on Tuesday.

"We did not sleep, about 30 guys at one time would keep watch for potential attacks," said an asylum seeker who asked to be identified only as Imran, due to fears his application for U.S. resettlement could be jeopardised.

Lawyers for some of the 600 men filed a last-minute suit in PNG's Supreme Court on Tuesday to prevent the camp's closure and for services to be returned.

A ruling is expected later on Wednesday.

PNG's High Court ruled last year that the Manus centre, first opened in 2001, was illegal. The United Nations and rights groups have for years cited human rights abuses among detainees in the centres.

(Reporting by Colin Packham in SYDNEY,; Editing by Diane Craft and Paul Tait)
United Nations chief Antonio Guterres on Friday came under pressure to overhaul the role of UN peacekeepers in Central African Republic as he wrapped up a visit to the conflict-torn country. Guterres's four-day visit came ahead of a Security Council decision on whether to renew the mandate of the UN's peacekeeping force and meet a request for reinforcements. In a meeting with the secretary general, a group of lawmakers called on the UN peacekeeping force MINUSCA to be more active in tackling violence. "There's been a lot of words (about MINUSCA) but we are waiting for them to be transcribed into acts," said the head of the National Assembly, Abdoul Karim Meckassoua. "What is the mandate for this force? Can't we do more or do things better?" he asked. MINUSCA has come under verbal attack for perceived passivity or even collusion in the face of militia violence, and its troops accused of sexual abuse and rape. In June, a 600-member battalion from Republic of Congo was sent home after being accused of sexual assaults and trafficking. In 2016, 120 Congolese peacekeepers were sent back for the same reasons. Former prime minister Anicet-Georges Dologuele urged MINUSCA to "replicate" the successful operations in the towns of Bambari and Bocaranga that chased out militia groups. Mired in poverty but rich in minerals, CAR has been battered by a three-year conflict between rival militias that began after then-president Francois Bozize was overthrown. Under a UN mandate, the former colonial power France intervened to push out the Muslim Seleka rebels who had taken over, and the UN launched a peacekeeping mission in 2014. - 'Instrumental in protecting civilians' - But the country remains deeply unstable, with armed groups controlling most of the country, and the role of UN peacekeepers is under close scrutiny. Thousands of civilians have lost their lives and half a million people have been displaced out of a population of roughly 4.5 million. In Friday's meeting, Guterres pointed to the death of 12 MINUSCA troops who have been killed in CAR this year. "There certainly are things that must be improved... but let's be fair, look at the sacrifice made by such a large number of soldiers," he said. On Wednesday, Guterres had visited Bangassou, a predominantly Christian town of 35,000 people around 700 kilometres (435 miles) east of Bangui that 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. The UN Security Council is to decide whether to renew the mandate, which expires on November 15, of the 10,000 MINUSCA troops, who are part of 12,500-member peacekeeping force. Guterres is lobbying for the mandate to be renewed and for an additional 900 troops to be sent to the country. The watchdog group Human Rights Watch (HRW) on Friday threw its weight behind the appeal. "United Nations peacekeepers have been instrumental in protecting civilians in many instances," HRW said. "The 15-member Council should give the peacekeeping mission, MINUSCA, the additional resources the UN says it needs to protect civilians from attacks, including sexual abuse." The group added that it documented the killings by armed groups of at least 249 civilians since May, most in the south-central and southeastern parts of the country, and 25 cases of rape by militiamen in the southern prefecture of Basse-Kotto.
People hold banners as a United Nations vehicle enters town of Mesraba in the eastern Damascus suburb of Ghouta, Syria, October 30, 2017. REUTERS/Bassam Khabieh (Reuters)

GENEVA (Reuters) - A convoy from the United Nations and Syrian Arab Red Crescent entered towns in the besieged Damascus suburb of eastern Ghouta on Monday, bringing aid to 40,000 people for the first time since June 2016, the United Nations said.

A tightening siege by government forces has pushed people to the verge of famine in the eastern suburbs, residents and aid workers said last week, bringing desperation to the only major rebel enclave near the Syrian capital.

The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said on Twitter they had entered the towns of Kafra Batna and Saqba.

The Syrian Arab Red Crescent said in a separate tweet that the inter-agency convoy had 49 trucks.

They carried food, nutrition and health items for 40,000 people in need, OCHA spokesman Jens Laerke said. "The last time we reached these two locations were in June 2016," he said.

A health worker in Saqba who was present when the convoy started to offload said that nine trucks of foodstuffs, including milk and peanut butter, and four trucks of medicines had arrived so far.

Technical specialists were on board to assess needs in the towns in order to plan a further humanitarian response, he said.

"More aid to complement today's delivery is planned in the coming days," Laerke added.

At least 1,200 children in eastern Ghouta suffer from malnutrition, with 1,500 others at risk, a spokeswoman for the U.N. children's agency UNICEF said last week.

Bettina Luescher, spokeswoman of the U.N. World Food Programme (WFP), said the convoy carried nutrition supplies for 16,000 children.

Food, fuel and medicine once travelled across frontlines into the suburbs through a network of underground tunnels. But early this year, an army offensive nearby cut smuggling routes that provided a lifeline for around 300,000 people in the enclave east of the capital.

(Reporting by Stephanie Nebehay; Additional reporting by Ellen Francis in Beirut; Editing by Alison Williams and Peter Graff)
By PTI: New Delhi, Nov 1 (PTI) Texmaco Rail and Engineering Ltd has bagged a USD 67.7 million (nearly Rs 435 crore) contract from the Bangladesh railway ministry for construction of a rail route between India and Bangladesh.

In a BSE filing, Texmaco Rail and Engineering Ltd said, "It has been awarded a contract, valuing USD 67.7 million, by the Ministry of Railway, Bangladesh Government."

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The company said the contract is for construction of 45- km dual gauge railway line, including railway stations buildings, level crossing gates and a Customs house building through North Eastern Border area in Maulavibazar district of Bangladesh adjoining Karimganj of Assam.

"The rail route is expected to enhance trade and passenger transportation between the two countries by opening a new Customs checkpost. The line segment is planned to be constructed within 18 months by the EPC Division - Kalindee Rail Nirman of the company," it added.

Stock of Texmaco Rail and Engineering was trading 1.21 per cent higher at Rs 117.10 on the BSE. PTI SVK ARD

--- ENDS ---
French Catholic authorities expressed anger Tuesday at the court-ordered removal of a cross from a statue of the late pope Jean-Paul II, which prompted outrage from his native Poland. France's highest administrative court ruled last week that the cross, in the northwestern town of Ploermel, must be taken down due to strict secularism laws separating church and state. The local Catholic diocese in Vannes deplored the move Tuesday, saying it "risks exacerbating the tendency to make Christian symbols ever less visible". The court move raised the hackles of French rightwingers and the far-right, while the conservative government in Warsaw suggested moving the statue to Poland. "The Polish government will try to save this monument to our compatriot from censorship and we will propose moving it to Poland," Prime Minister Beata Szydlo said Saturday. The statue, by Russian artist Zurab Tsereteli, was erected in a square in Ploermel under an arch topped by a cross following a 2006 decision by local authorities. The National Federation for Free Thought, a non-profit organisation, took the issue to court alongside two local residents. The court ruled that the cross breached France's 1905 secularism law, which forbids religious symbols from being displayed on public monuments.
A labourer stacks firewood for use in a brick kiln as smoke billows from a chimney on the outskirts of Jammu May 2, 2012. REUTERS/Mukesh Gupta/Files (Reuters)

By Tom Miles

GENEVA (Reuters) - Greenhouse gas emissions are on course to be about 30 percent above the 2030 global target, but there are signs of a move away from fossil fuels that not even U.S. President Donald Trump can stop, the United Nations said on Tuesday.

Trump has announced he will pull out of the Paris climate agreement under which 195 countries pledged to try to keep global warming to "well below" 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial times.

An annual U.N. audit of progress towards that goal showed emissions are likely to be 53.0-55.5 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent per year by 2030, far above the 42 billion tonne threshold for averting the 2 degree rise.

But U.N. Environment chief Erik Solheim hailed signs of progress, with an apparent three-year plateau in carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels, cement production and other industrial processes, largely due to slower growth in coal use in China and the United States.

We all know the bad news. In my view however we are at a turning point where the good news is taking precedence from the bad news," he told an event to launch the report in Geneva.

"We are at a watershed moment where we have stopped the rise in CO2 emissions, there is every reason to believe we can bring them down, and we see great news coming from all over the world every day," Solheim said by video link from Nairobi.

He said the question he was asked wherever he went was: "What about Donald Trump?", to which he answered that the momentum was now with private sector efforts to combat climate change which Trump would not be able to stop.

"In all likelihood the United States of America will live up to its commitments not because of the White House but because of the private sector, he said. "The train is on the right track, but our duty is to speed it up."

The U.N. says greater efforts will be needed because temperatures are set to rise by 3.0-3.2 degrees Celsius this century. Ministers will work on guidelines for the Paris agreement in Bonn next month.

Story continues

Jennifer Morgan, executive director of Greenpeace International, said climate-fuelled hurricanes, floods and drought would rapidly worsen unless ministers committed to keep fossil fuels in the ground.

Paris was just the starting point," she said.

"Faster, bolder action is needed. Leaders must emerge in Bonn and use the platform to take stronger action and hold others to account if they fail to live up to their obligations. We can still achieve 1.5 degrees Celsius if we all work together.

(Reporting by Tom Miles; Editing by Robin Pomeroy)
Philippine marines from the Marine Battalion Landing Team stand to attention during their arrival from Marawi at port area in metro Manila, Philippines October 30, 2017. REUTERS/Dondi Tawatao (Reuters)

MANILA (Reuters) - Philippine security forces on Wednesday arrested an Indonesian national suspected to be among the pro-Islamist militants who seized control of parts of the southern city of Marawi in May, military and police officials said.

The seizure stoked concerns that the region had become a hub for Islamic State in Southeast Asia, triggering a five-month military effort to eject the militants, comprised of domestic fighters and foreigners such as Indonesians, Malaysians and Middle Easterners.

Community peacekeepers arrested the Indonesian on Wednesday morning, Colonel Romeo Brawner, deputy commander of the Marawi task force, told reporters.

The arrest highlights that "civilian participation is essential in our collective effort to secure our communities from terrorist elements," Zia Alonto Adiong, a politician who is assisting in rescue and relief, said in a statement.

The arrest came a day after a pro-Islamic State militant was gunned down and nine days after the Philippines wrapped up military operations. More than 1,100 people, mostly militants, died in the siege, which drove about 350,000 from their homes.

The militant identified himself as Muhammad Ilham Shaputra, 23, from Medan City in North Sumatra, said John Guyguyon, police chief of the province of Lanao del Sur, where Marawi is located.

His bag held a mobile phone, a .45-caliber handgun, a fragmentation grenade and Philippine and Indonesian currencies, along with some riyals, while he tried to escape through a lake, Guyguyon added.

"Our action is to file a case against him because he is part of the initial siege," Guyguyon told a news conference.

"We are preparing the investigation report so we can file cases of rebellion, terrorism and others," Guyguyon said, adding that the Indonesian confessed there were several gunmen still hiding in the main battle area in downtown Marawi.

The Indonesian militant arrived in the Philippines in November last year at the invitation of Isnilon Hapilon, the Islamic State's emir in Southeast Asia, who was killed in Marawi last month, Guyguyon said.

Thousands of residents have started returning home, only for some to find dwellings ransacked. But the main battle area remains off limits, until possible booby traps and unexploded ordnance have been cleared.

(Reporting by Neil Jerome Morales; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)
Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Tehran on Wednesday for an official visit, with talks expected to focus on Syria, the Iranian nuclear agreement and bilateral ties. Putin will also take part in a summit with his Iranian and Azerbaijani counterparts, Hassan Rouhani and Ilham Aliyev. Putin is to hold separate talks with Rouhani and supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as Russia and Iran cooperate on a range of issues including the conflict in Syria. The Kremlin said Syria will be a focus of the talks, which come after Russia, Turkey and Iran pledged in Kazakhstan on Tuesday to bring the Syrian regime and its opponents together for a "congress" to push peace efforts. Russia and Iran, which support President Bashar al-Assad's government, and Turkey, which backs Syrian rebels, have organised a series of peace talks in the Kazakh capital Astana this year, agreeing on the establishment of "de-escalation" zones in various parts of the war-torn country. Wednesday's talks will also focus on the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, which saw sanctions lifted in exchange for limits on Tehran's atomic programme and which is under pressure from US President Donald Trump. Tehran signed the deal with six countries including Russia and the United States, but Trump last month refused to certify the agreement, drawing criticism from Moscow which slammed the US president's "aggressive and threatening rhetoric" against Iran.
DUBAI (Reuters) - An air strike by a Saudi-led military coalition killed 26 people at a hotel and an adjoining market in Yemen's northern Saadah province on Wednesday, according to medics and a Reuters witness.

The attack, which struck the Sahar district of the vast territory that borders Saudi Arabia, demolished the budget hotel and reduced market stalls outside to a heap of twisted sheet metal. Medics retrieved corpses from the rubble.

The military alliance led by Saudi Arabia has launched thousands of air strikes against Yemen's armed Houthi movement, which hails from Saadah and now controls much of the country.

The coalition said in a statement carried on state news agency SPA that it was looking into media reports of the strike and would release its findings after a comprehensive review.

The 2-1/2 year war effort has yet to achieve its goal of restoring to power the internationally recognised government, but the conflict has unleashed one of the world's worst humanitarian crises and killed at least 10,000 people.

Saudi Arabia and its allies, which receive logistical and intelligence help from the United States, accuse the Houthis of being a proxy of Iran.

The Houthi group denies those charges and says it is conducting a patriotic resistance against outside aggressors in thrall to the West.

(Writing by Maha El Dahan and Noah Browning; Editing by Robin Pomeroy)
Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev addresses the 72nd United Nations General Assembly at U.N. Headquarters in New York, U.S., September 19, 2017. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz/Files (Reuters)

TASHKENT (Reuters) - Shavkat Mirziyoyev, the president of Uzbekistan, told U.S. President Donald Trump in a letter of condolences on Wednesday his country was ready to use all its resources to help investigate the deadly New York City attack.

The Tashkent government said earlier on Wednesday it was investigating reports that an Uzbek man was behind the attack which killed eight people and injured about a dozen in what U.S. authorities said was an act of terrorism.

(Reporting by Mukhammadsharif Mamatkulov; Writing by Olzhas Auyezov; Editing by Andrew Osborn)
Friend of the mag Stu Robinson has just set up a new website to showcase his photography, including plenty of killer skate photos shot both around his native Belfast and further afield across Europe.

Hover your cursor over Mini Browns hoarding-assisted melon grab below and let your brain send the necessary signals to your fingers to make you apply pressure, youll soon find yourself enjoying more imagery of this high calibre!
Globally averaged concentrations of CO2 reached 403.3 parts per million in 2016, up from 400.00 ppm in 2015 because of a combination of human activities and a strong El Nino event. Concentrations of CO2 are now 145% of pre-industrial (before 1750) levels, according to the Greenhouse Gas Bulletin.

Rapidly increasing atmospheric levels of CO2 and other greenhouse gases have the potential to initiate unprecedented changes in climate systems, leading to severe ecological and economic disruptions, said the report.

The annual bulletin is based on observations from the WMO Global Atmosphere Watch Programme. These observations help to track the changing levels of greenhouse gases and serve as an early warning system for changes in these key atmospheric drivers of climate change.

Population growth, intensified agricultural practices, increases in land use and deforestation, industrialization and associated energy use from fossil fuel sources have all contributed to increases in concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere since the industrial era, beginning in 1750.

Since 1990, there has been a 40% increase in total radiative forcing  the warming effect on our climate - by all long-lived greenhouse gases, and a 2.5% increase from 2015 to 2016 alone, according to figures from the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration quoted in the bulletin.

Without rapid cuts in CO2 and other greenhouse gas emissions, we will be heading for dangerous temperature increases by the end of this century, well above the target set by the Paris climate change agreement, said WMO Secretary-General Petteri Taalas. Future generations will inherit a much more inhospitable planet,  he said.

CO2 remains in the atmosphere for hundreds of years and in the oceans for even longer. The laws of physics mean that we face a much hotter, more extreme climate in the future. There is currently no magic wand to remove this CO2 from the atmosphere,said Mr Taalas.

The last time the Earth experienced a comparable concentration of CO2 was 3-5 million years ago, the temperature was 2-3C warmer and sea level was 10-20 meters higher than now.

The WMO Greenhouse Gas Bulletin reports on atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases. Emissions represent what goes into the atmosphere. Concentrations represent what remains in the atmosphere after the complex system of interactions between the atmosphere, biosphere, cryosphere and the oceans. About a quarter of the total emissions is taken up by the oceans and another quarter by the biosphere, reducing in this way the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere.

A separate Emissions Gap Report by UN Environment, to be released on 31 October, tracks the policy commitments made by countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and analyses how these policies will translate into emissions reductions through 2030, clearly outlining the emissions gap and what it would take to bridge it.

"The numbers don't lie. We are still emitting far too much and this needs to be reversed. The last few years have seen enormous uptake of renewable energy, but we must now redouble our efforts to ensure these new low-carbon technologies are able to thrive. We have many of the solutions already to address this challenge. What we need now is global political will and a new sense of urgency," said Erik Solheim, head of UN Environment.

Together, the Greenhouse Gas Bulletin and Emissions Gap Report provide a scientific base for decision-making at the UN climate change negotiations, which will be held from 7-17 November in Bonn, Germany.

WMO, UN Environment and other partners are working towards an Integrated Global Greenhouse Gas Information System to provide information that can help nations to track the progress toward implementation of their national emission pledges, improve national emission reporting and inform additional mitigation actions. This system builds on the long-term experience of WMO in greenhouse gas instrumental measurements and atmospheric modelling.

WMO is also striving to improve weather and climate services for the renewable energy sector and to support the Green Economy and sustainable development. To optimize the use of solar, wind and hydropower production, new types of weather, climate and hydrological services are needed.

Key findings of the Greenhouse Gas Bulletin

Carbon dioxide

CO2 is by far the most important anthropogenic long-lived greenhouse gas. Globally averaged concentrations for CO2 reached 403.3 parts per million in 2016, up from 400.00 ppm in 2015. This record annual increase of 3.3 ppm was partly due to the strong 2015/2016 El Nino, which triggered droughts in tropical regions and reduced the capacity of sinks like forests, vegetation and the oceans to absorb CO2. Concentrations of CO2 are now 145% of pre-industrial (before 1750) levels.

The rate of increase of atmospheric CO2 over the past 70 years is nearly 100 times larger than that at the end of the last ice age. As far as direct and proxy observations can tell, such abrupt changes in the atmospheric levels of CO2 have never before been seen.

Over the last 800 000 years, pre-industrial atmospheric CO2 content remained below 280 ppm, but it has now risen to the 2016 global average of 403.3 ppm.

From the most-recent high-resolution reconstructions from ice cores, it is possible to observe that changes in CO2 have never been as fast as in the past 150 years. The natural ice-age changes in CO2 have always preceded corresponding temperature changes. Geological records show that the current levels of CO2correspond to an equilibrium climate last observed in the mid-Pliocene (35 million years ago), a climate that was 23 C warmer, where the Greenland and West Antarctic ice sheets melted and even some of the East Antarctic ice was lost, leading to sea levels that were 1020 m higher than those today.

Methane

Methane (CH4) is the second most important long-lived greenhouse gas and contributes about 17% of radiative forcing. Approximately 40% of methane is emitted into the atmosphere by natural sources (e.g., wetlands and termites), and about 60% comes from human activities like cattle breeding, rice agriculture, fossil fuel exploitation, landfills and biomass burning.

Atmospheric methane reached a new high of about 1 853 parts per billion (ppb) in 2016 and is now 257% of the pre-industrial level.

Nitrous Oxide

Nitrous oxide (N2O) is emitted into the atmosphere from both natural (about 60%) and anthropogenic sources (approximately 40%), including oceans, soil, biomass burning, fertilizer use, and various industrial processes.

Its atmospheric concentration in 2016 was 328.9 parts per billion. This is 122% of pre-industrial levels. It also plays an important role in the destruction of the stratospheric ozone layer which protects us from the harmful ultraviolet rays of the sun. It accounts for about 6% of radiative forcing by long-lived greenhouse gases.
Theres a campaign afoota bill was recently introduced in the New York City Councilto rename the Williamsburg Bridge after the jazz musician Sonny Rollins. Most efforts to monumentalize a notable figure are lame and, even if successful, go ignored. Nearly a decade ago, the Triborough Bridge was rechristened the Robert F. Kennedy Bridge, but no one calls it that because RFK had nothing to do with the bridge or that part of town. He was barely a New Yorker.

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The Sonny Rollins Bridge, thoughthat would be something else. The renaming would resonate with the man, the site, and a vibrant slice of the culture of the city.

It also has a great backstory: the stuff of mythic lore, but true. In the summer of 1959, Rollins28 years old, at the peak of his career, the greatest jazz improviser alive, the Saxophone Colossus, he was calleddropped out of the scene: simply disappeared.

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One evening in 1961, a writer named Ralph Berton was walking on the bridge, from Manhattans Lower East Side to his home in Brooklyn, when he spotted Rollins, all alone, playing his tenor saxophone. Berton wrote a story about the encounter in Metronome magazine. He fictionalized it a bitcalling the vanished sax legend Buster Jonesbut most readers knew he was writing about Sonny.

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The campaign also has a great backstory: the stuff of mythic lore, but true.

It turned out, as Berton discovered when he later knocked on his door to ask questions, that Rollins had been playing his horn on the bridge almost every day for the previous two years. Rollins and his wife Lucille had moved from Harlem to an apartment downtown. He didnt want to bother neighbors with his playing. One day, he noticed a walkway on the Williamsburg Bridge just a couple blocks away. It was almost always deserted. So he made it his special spot for practicing.

Rollins was, and remains to this day, his harshest critic. He winces when he listens to most of his recordings, hearing in even his most sublime solos only the notes he missed or the phrases he bypassed, which hes certain would have led him closer to the perfection he always seeks. In 1959, he felt himself drifting further from the ideal sound he sought, and he sensed the audience drifting, too.

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Jazz was going through great changes. Miles Davis, his contemporary and fellow former acolyte of Charlie Parker, was exploring a new kind of jazz improvisation, more limber and moody, based on scales instead of chords. John Coltrane, his fellow tenor sax man and close friend (though the jazz press portrayed them as rivals), was scouring every crevice of harmony for some untapped spirit and doing so with mind-ripping speed and energy. Ornette Coleman was toppling structures altogether. Not just jazz fans but cultural mavens of all sorts were flocking to hear these musicians and their new thing, as the eras innovations were labeled by promoters, and Rollins felt flustered that he didnt have one.

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So he took his horn to the bridge and spent endless hours blowing scales, arpeggios, extended chords, phrases from exercise books, variations of whole songs, seeking some new thing of his own, against the sounds of cars, seagulls, and tugboats zooming, flying, and sailing around him.

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The Metronome article sparked a sensation and helped bring Rollins off the bridge. For one thing, jazz fans were starting to prowl the bridge in search of the vanished master. His days of privacy were over. For another, it was getting hard to live on his wifes secretarial salary alone. So Rollins came back to the scene, and the major record labels came calling. RCA offered him a $90,000 contract (equivalent to $750,000 in todays dollars), the largest advance ever awarded a jazz musician, on the condition that he call his next album The Bridge.

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Rollins albums before all this were adventurous, but The Bridge, released in 1962, possessed a new, restless urgency: fierce tones, fragments of melodies, blown in staggered cadences with abrupt shifts of tempo. Yet compared with the rocket flares his peers were sending up (Davis Kind of Blue, Coltranes Giant Steps, Colemans The Shape of Jazz to Come), The Bridgewhich consisted mainly of standards and balladsseemed a bit old hat.

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It was this time on the bridge that set the bar and the pace for the adventures to come.

So Rollins pushed further, soon recording a live album (Our Man in Jazz) with two members of Ornettes quartet, then another (Nows the Time) with some of Miles new bandmates, then a still more radical album (East Broadway Run Down, on the indie Impulse! label) with Coltranes quartet. Except for The Bridge, none of these albums made much money. RCA dropped him after two and a half years, and his stint with Impulse! was short-lived as well. Yet those years196266are now widely viewed as his most vital and creative: a period of relentless experimentation and reinvention.

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On his best nights, which have amounted to hundreds of nights in the decades since (not least at his 80th-birthday concert at the Beacon in 2010, which is captured on Road Shows, Vol. 2), Rollins has plowed songs with new paths for chorus after chorus, no two alike, exploring every avenue that a chord or melody might open upthen, just as you think hes exhausted them all, he darts into some uncharted alley and invents a new way of playing music, never losing grip on the pulse, swing, shape, and above all the joy of a song.

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It was this time on the bridge that set the bar and the pace for the adventures to come, and this is why the bridge should be renamed for Sonny Rollins, who is very much alive at the age of 87not just for what it means to the history of jazz (an admittedly esoteric field) but for what it could, and should, mean to the vast variety of artists and art lovers in New York.

So many aspiring writers, painters, actors, dancers, designers, and musicians come to this city to trace the steps of their predecessors and test their own talents in the hothouse dens and temples of culture where they and their competitors and collaborators strive to find their voice and make their mark.

To these artists and their audiences, the vision of Sonny Rollins shedding on the bridge day after day, year after year, deferring (in his case, abandoning) fame and luster until he got it right, could be a stirring monument. The Statue of Liberty, within sight of where Rollins stood those days, bears the famous welcome of Emma Lazarus poem (which was titled The New Colossus): Give me your tired, your poor,/ Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free. The Sonny Rollins Bridge (named for the Saxophone Colossus) might inspire those yearning to study and work tirelessly as artists.
Rewarding employees can be a great way to keep your whole team engaged and happy at work. But what if there was a better way to actually hand out those rewards? Thats exactly what Bonusly aims to provide.

The company has created a system to allow team members to recognize great work from their co-workers. Read more about the company and its offering in this weeks Small Business Spotlight.

What the Business Does

Provides a new way for companies to recognize great work from employees.

Co-founder and CEO Raphael Crawford-Marks told Small Business Trends, Bonusly is a rapidly scaling start-up that empowers companies to reward and motivate employees through peer-to-peer micro-bonuses, so teams can recognize and publicly praise their colleagues for work theyve done well. When Bob in accounting stays late to help meet a deadline, or Rick in sales closes a major deal, anyone within the company can recognize Bob and Rick with Bonusly points. As points accrue, they can be redeemed for real-life rewards such as cash, gifts cards to Sephora, Amazon or Home Depot, or even charitable donations. Bonusly seamlessly integrates with the leading HR and communication tools like Slack, Basecamp, BambooHR, Namely and ADP. Currently used by more than 1,000 companies including Hulu, Gilt and Chobani, Bonusly improves employee lifetime value by improving learning and development, increasing motivation and job satisfaction, and ultimately retaining employees for longer.

Business Niche

Being fun and easy to use.

Aside from the various integrations and and analytical features, the platform makes the process of awarding bonuses fun for all involved, so theyll be likely to actually use it.

Crawford-Marks says, Bonusly is not a chore. You never have to send out a nag email reminding employees to use it. Employees find it fun, delightful, and habit-forming. You can enrich bonuses with images, emojis, and Gifs.

How the Business Got Started

Because of frustration at other startups.

Crawford-Marks says, [Co-founder] John Quinn and I were both veterans of startups large and small, and had been frustrated by a lack of recognition, and also by companies that asked only managers to dole out recognition and spot bonuses. We knew peers had the best vantage point to identify and celebrate contributions and accomplishments, yet there was no way to easily empower employees to do so. So we decided to build Bonusly.

Biggest Win

Securing a major round of funding in 2014.

Crawford-Marks explains, The company was bootstrapped up until that point, until one of Bonuslys paying customers introduced us to the investor at FirstMark. That introduction was significant, since it opened the door to a meeting and eventually landed us $1M in seed funding. The customer? InVision, who is one of Bonuslys strongest supporters to this day.

Biggest Risk

Moving away from a major startup hub.

Crawford-Marks says, Bonusly was founded in San Francisco in 2012 and eventually moved the company to Boulder, CO in 2016 with some employees working remotely from various cities around the U.S. It was a risk from a sales and marketing perspective since the largest deals are typically done on the coasts. Also, the Bay Area is the center of the tech industry, where startups have unfettered access to media, investors and talent. However, the move has proven to be hugely beneficial, opening the door to new tech and design talent in Boulder at a more affordable cost. It has also nurtured the teams work/life balance, who enjoy living more healthy, active lifestyles.

Lesson Learned

Have a plan for charging customers early on.

Crawford-Marks says, Bonusly launched as a free service John and I were curious to see take off. It quickly gained traction as the go-to peer to peer rewards system and we then realized, its difficult to monetize something people have been getting for free. The company adapted by offering a freemium pricing plan, where teams up to 8 have free access and larger teams scale up from there.

How Theyd Spend an Extra $100,000

Hiring a full-time marketer.

Crawford-Marks says, This person would focus on driving both new and expansion demand through integrated and automated marketing, targeting SMBs and mid-market enterprises.

Favorite Quote

If youre going through hell, keep going. Winston Churchill

* * * * *

Find out more about the Small Biz Spotlight program
Salesforce serves businesses big and small today. But even as the company grows and its customers do, too, it hasnt taken its eye off companies like yours.

Here is a list of 10 things every small business should know about Salesforce to get a better understanding of the company and what it offers.

Salesforce started small, too  18 years ago in a small apartment.

The story of Salesforces beginnings is probably one to which many small business owners can relate. Back in 1999 Marc Benioff and three co-founders started Salesforce in San Francisco. To start Salesforce, Benioff gave up a successful career and struggled to find investors.

Today, the company is a tech titan. In the past quarter, Salesforce revenue reached $2.56 billion. Thats a 26 percent increase over the previous year. And its been recognized as the top CRM company in a competitive industry.

Salesforce has more than 150,000 customers, many of which are small businesses.

Once a small business itself, Salesforce got off the ground by serving small business needs. Today, some of the biggest companies in the world rely on Salesforce but still, many of its customers are startups and small businesses. The company is not taking its eye off the customers who got them where they are today.

DUFL is a great example of a company that has grown tremendously with Salesforce. Acting like a personal valet for business travel, DUFL cleans and stores garments customers need for their trips and ships them directly to their destination. DUFL uses Salesforce to keep a complete record of each individuals unique needs so it can then deliver personalized, 1-to-1 experiences to its customers. With Salesforce supporting its sales and customer service, DUFLs team of less than 50 employees has seen 10% month-on-month growth while maintaining a retention rate of more than 99%.

Today, Salesforce is much more than CRM.

Sure, Salesforce is nearly synonymous with CRM, especially for small businesses. But the company is getting a reputation for other services it provides companies like yours.

For instance, a few years ago Salesforce acquired Demandware, which it now calls Salesforce Commerce Cloud. Commerce Cloud allows small businesses to create unique shopping experiences for all its customers, including new ways of engaging customers on mobile devices at any time.

Salesforce also offers Quip, content collaboration tools for businesses.

Salesforce puts on one of the largest user conferences in the United States.

Youll never walk alone at Dreamforce. Thats the annual user conference put on by Salesforce. And this is a big deal. Its the largest software conference in the world.

Dreamforce offers the opportunity to learn first-hand how Salesforce  and any of its offerings  can help your small business. And if one of the many experts on hand isnt enough, youll have a chance to meet the 175,000 or so attendees at this years event. Thats right  175 THOUSAND!

Its bigger than a lot of cities, says CRM Essentials co-founder Brent Leary, a regular at Dreamforce.

Many of those at Dreamforce are small business customers. This year there will be over 300 sessions dedicated to small businesses.

Salesforce has invested big in artificial intelligence.

Salesforce is integrating artificial intelligence with its CRM platform. The company calls its AI Einstein and promises to make everyone in your small business using it smarter.

In an interview with Small Business Trends, Salesforces Tony Rodoni stressed the role and impact of AI for a small business.

No small business should have to have a data science department, Rodoni said. But we want to put functionality into the product that helps them see trends, recommend actions, and take next steps. And our SMB customers are going to see that in our products pretty darn quick.

Your small business can access capital, find an investor, or get help on growth with Salesforce.

Salesforce has its own venture capital and investment arm called Salesforce Ventures.

The company has also created the AI Innovation Fund and is investing $50 million in startups that use AI to integrate their companies products with Salesforce.

Salesforce for Startups provides startups with access to the Salesforce technology, resources and expertise needed to become thriving customer and community-focused companies. Salesforce helps startups build, grow and give back through the AppExchange Partner Program, Salesforce Ventures, Pledge 1%, customer-focused products and much more.

Salesforce has a 1-1-1 philanthropy program.

Making an impact on your community, outside of being a successful company, adds value to any small business. Salesforce.org is based on the companys own 1-1-1 model of social philanthropy.

And the 1-1-1 model is ideal for small businesses to donate from the beginning without stunting

their own growth. The 1s in 1-1-1 represent a percent of time, resources, and products that go to the common good of the community surrounding every business whos pledged to contribute.

Salesforce.org says, to date, it has donated $168 million in grants, 2.3 million hours of community service, and product giveaways to more than 32,000 nonprofits and higher education institutions.

The AppExchange offers other apps for your business that automatically integrate with Salesforce.

Salesforce was the first to come out with an app store for third party integrations and extensions. Its called Salesforce AppExchange. The AppExchange is where youll find other business apps that integrate with Salesforce.

The AppExchange recently reached its five million installs milestone, which shows the accelerating momentum of the AppExchange. Salesforce hit one million installs after six years, but in the last 12 months, it has grown from four to five million. This illustrates the exponential growth and strength of Salesforces partner ecosystem, which empowers SMBs with pre-integrated business apps to help them run their business efficiently.

Salesforce training is gamified.

Salesforce has a learning system dubbed Trailhead. The company calls it the fun way to learn how to use Salesforce.

Trailhead is free and offers learning modules and guided trails for every skill level. Check out this blog post to learn more about how small businesses can use Trailhead. Theres even a special Trail Mix designed especially for small businesses.
The Evangelical Church in Slovakia commemorated the 500th anniversary of the Reformation with several events including the reading a pastoral letter.

A New Testament by Martin Luther on display at the German Historical Museum in Berlin. (Source: AP/TASR)

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For the people of today, the Reformation still has relevance in that encourages us in the fight for the spiritual things of the world, said Milos Klatik, general bishop of the Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in Slovakia.

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We want to learn from Luthers experiences, Klatik added during a mass at the Evangelical Church of the Holy Trinity in Bratislavas Petrzalka district, as quoted by the SITA newswire. The right understanding of the Word of God changed his life and is now changing this world.

The Reformation is one of the important events of history as it has contributed much to both the Church and society.

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Read also: Evangelical Church commemorates the 500th anniversary of the Reformation Read more

The Slovak Evangelical bishops are fully aware that this is most of all Gods work, reads the pastoral letter proclaimed in all Evangelical churches on the occasion of the 500th anniversary of the Reformations beginning.

Our Lord acted at a convenient time through the lives of Martin Luther, Filip Melanchton and Leonard Stockel, and many of Luthers collaborators and supporters of the Reformation ideas, high or low-class, ordained and non-ordained, and whole generations of our ancestors, the bishops wrote, as quoted by TASR.

They stressed that people must remember them and use what they achieved and left for us.

Reformation still has relevance

We must also thank God for the people who brought the current Evangelic believers to the faith.

Let us beg God to be and become the followers of the Reformation ideas, the heralds of the Word of God, to be and become the heralds of Gods love and mercy by our words and our way of life, the bishops added, as quoted by TASR.

They also stressed that the anniversary of the Reformation has always highlighted the importance to repent, pray, read, learn and think more about the Bible.

On October 31, evangelical Christians worldwide commemorate the day when theologian Martin Luther hung the 95 theses which openly opposed the papal teachings on indulgences, on the door of the castle church in the German city of Wittenberg in 1517, TASR wrote.
The Ex-economy minister has already been charged in the case of disadvantageous privatisation; the Gorilla team can re-open the prosecution.

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Former head of the private TV company Markiza and ex-minister for the defunct ANO party, Pavol Rusko, has been detained and held in custody on the charge of conspiracy to murder. Police, however, could use the opportunity to complete the investigation of a different case: the disadvantageous privatisation of the combined (steam-gas) cycle (PPC).

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The alleged Gorilla file of the Slovak Information Service (SIS) mentions it. Based on this file, Rusko was charged with fraud back in early 2012. Then-interior minister Daniel Lipsic claimed that the privatisation took an illegal course, that the price was in fact much lower and that Rusko, as economy minister at the time, was responsible.

This was the very first charge in the Gorilla case but after only a few days, the Special Prosecutors Office halted the prosecution, claiming lack of evidence.
Slovakia is still lagging behind in economic convergence towards the more advanced Europe, according to the analysis of the convergence of the Slovak economy compiled by the Slovak central bank, NBS.

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Slovakia's economy is growing but the country's position in terms of indicators for performance and productivity has not improved enough, the Slovak central bank (NBS) states in its latest Analysis of the Slovak Economy's Convergence.

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It expects that the national economy could begin growing more rapidly, but not before 2018, when its pursuit of the European-Union average in economic performance should see a revival, the TASR newswire wrote. This will be partly due to the launching of production at carmaker Jaguar Land Rover's plant in Nitra, positive developments on the labour market and growing household consumption.

The relative performance of the country's economy achieved 77 percent of the EU average in the past year, which meant the fourth year of stagnation in approaching the economically more advanced states of Europe. The relative productivity of Slovakia even fell last year; by one percentage point to 82 percent of the EU average.

Coming closer in prices

On the other hand, after four years of decline, Slovakia came closer to the West in prices when the relative price level reached 68 percent of the EU average in 2016 and soared by 2 percentage points year-on-year. The problem is that the differences between EU countries in the dynamics of economic growth have fallen to a historic low, the SITA newswire wrote on October 31. Although Slovakia posts economic growth exceeding the level of 3 percent, it is not enough to catch up with the more developed West.

The central bank, however, points out that the Slovak economy has begun to lag behind its partners from the Visegrad (V4) Group as well. This was evident in the first half of this year, when the economies of Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Poland grew faster than the Slovak one. The NBS attributes this to the post-crisis development, in which private consumption did not develop in Slovakia as well as in the surrounding countries. And while general government consumption was the most dynamic in Slovakia from among the V4 countries, it failed to offset the lagging of private consumption.

We might see a change next year, though, according to SITA. The central bank's forecast sees the growth of Slovakia's GDP in the following two years as accelerating to 4.2 percent in 2018 and to 4.6 percent in 2019. It expects Slovakia's GDP to reach 82 percent of the EU average in 2019.

The situation concerning the adoption of necessary structural reforms and support for the business environment has not improved in Slovakia, with the country even falling in the Doing Business 2017 international chart on a yearly basis. Similar developments were seen in the Global Competitiveness Report and World Competitiveness Yearbook. Slovakia is also losing the competitive advantage it had due to low salary costs, NBS noted.

Nonetheless, Slovakia has been performing well in nominal convergence, i.e. in meeting the Maastricht Criteria. Currently, Slovakia comfortably meets the fiscal criteria for adopting the euro, but the its deficit has been significantly exceeding budgetary thresholds, with the country recording a higher deficit in 2016 than the EU average. The goal of achieving a balanced budget has again been postponed as well.
The city of Martin which was under forced administration had it lifted after a huge debt made by the previous council was repaid. The Mayor who promised to step down if this happens stays however.

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Based on a decision made by the Finance Ministry, Martin can again manage its finances, as the city's forced administration was cancelled. Several weeks ago, it paid off the debt of more than 6 million, and this means that investment projects, support for culture, sport, etc., will be launched immediately, spokesperson of the city of Martin, Zuzana Kalmanova, informed the TASR newswire.

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The ministerial decision was delivered to Martin city authorities on October 30. After the debt was paid, based on the decision of the City Council in Martin, the city re-gained the chance to manage its own finances, Kalmanova said, as cited by TASR.

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Read also: Martin: Steps of PK Faktorings bailiff contradict law Read more

Martin has always been very sound economically, and our percent of indebtedness before the forced administration was 8.7, which is considerably lower than other comparable city self-governments, Martin Mayor Andrej Hrnciar added.

In recent weeks, the city repaid the debt to the creditor, the Bratislava-based PK Faktoring s. r. o., company which did its best to rid the distrainor of the right to seize the city's assets. The Finance Ministry's decision was the last step that enabled Martin, after more than a year and a half, to manage its financial resources, even exceeding the duties stipulated by law, the spokesperson said.

What caused the forced administration

The forced administration of Martin, launched in March 2016, is the result of a case dating back to the 1990s. In 1995, Martin was to invest a non-monetary contribution in the form of the local Turiec Hotel, and the Magistrat challet, with the Lyziarske Stredisko (i.e. Ski Resort) Martinske Hole company. This never happened, however, and in 2002, statutory representatives of Lyziarske Stredisko Martinske Hole sued the city, requiring it to pay 3.42 million. In the course of the legal dispute, the claim rose to more than 8,6 million. After a failed special appeal of the general prosecutor to the benefit of the city, the company which acquired the claim blocked, through the distrainor, almost all city accounts. In March 2016, the city asked the Finance Ministry for forced administration, TASR wrote.

The incumbent Mayor of Martin, Andrej Hrncar  who is also the Deputy Speaker of Parliament for the coalition SNS party  promised 18 months ago he would resign if the city became free of the forced administration. Now he he will not resign, but he will not run in the next mayoral election, he told TASR.
By PTI: By Lalit K Jha

Washington, Nov 1 (PTI) US President Donald Trump has condemned the "terrorist attack" in New York that left at least eight people dead and 11 others injured.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims of todays terrorist attack in New York City and their families," Trump said in a statement after a 29-year-old man, identified as Sayfullo Saipov, plowed a speeding truck through a busy bike path in Lower Manhattan today.

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"My administration will provide its full support to the New York City Police Department, including through a joint investigation with the Federal Bureau of Investigation," he said.

Saipov, said to be from Uzbekistan, is under police custody. He was arrested after being shot in the stomach by officials of the New York Police Department.

"We offer our thanks to the first responders who stopped the suspect and rendered immediate aid to the victims of this cowardly attack. These brave men and women embody the true American spirit of resilience and courage.I will continue to follow developments closely," Trump said.

Earlier, the US president took to Twitter to decry the attack, saying "we must not allow ISIS to return".

"In NYC, looks like another attack by a very sick and deranged person. Law enforcement is following this closely. NOT IN THE U.S.A.!" Trump tweeted.

"We must not allow ISIS to return, or enter, our country after defeating them in the Middle East and elsewhere. Enough!" he said in another tweet. PTI LKJ CK

--- ENDS ---
Dressed up in a variety of costumes, large crowds gathered at Bui Vien Walking Street in District 1, the most popular road in the citys backpacker area, on Tuesday night.

Pubs and restaurants along the street were decorated in the spirit of the celebration.

Along with the frenetic atmosphere, severe congestion occurred in the area, especially at the intersection of Bui Vien with De Tham Streets.

According to Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper reporters, parking lots near Bui Vien Street were full.

Parking fees were raised to between VND20,000 (US$0.88) and VND30,000 ($1.32) per motorbike.

A young girl poses wearing a colorful mask.

A man dressed up as a mad scientist poses with the crowd on Bui Vien Walking Street.

A young man puts on horror-themed makeup to celebrate the holiday.

The crowded Bui Vien Street is seen from above.

Popular TV host Thanh Bach (C) is seen among the crowd.

Locals put on various types of makeup and costumes.

Locals put on various types of makeup and costumes.

Locals put on various types of makeup and costumes.

Foreign visitors join the fun.

A young boy gets his face painted.

A foreign man has his face painted in the Halloween theme.

Face painting services were offered from VND50,000 ($2.21) to VND100,000 ($4.41) per person.

A pub on Bui Vien Street displays Halloween-themed decorations.

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Students and employees of several schools and institutions in the central city of Da Nang will be given days off during next weeks Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit.

The municipal Peoples Committee announced on Monday that days off will be applied to local schools and agencies to facilitate activities of the APEC Economic Leaders Week.

Employees and officials of state entities working at the Da Nang Administrative Center will be given a holiday on November 9 and 10.

Those who are responsible for APEC-related tasks will go to work as normal. However, they must be able to present a security card issued by the APEC subcommittee for security and healthcare in order to enter the building.

Parking lots of the administrative center will be shut down during those two days.

Students of local schools, universities, colleges, and regular education centers in Hai Chau, Thanh Khe, Cam Le, Ngu Hanh Son, and Son Tra Districts will have two days, November 10 and 11, off.

Kindergartens will remain open as usual during the period.

The Peoples Committees at district level will cease their regular meetings on November 9 and 10 to focus on ensuring security and traffic safety in their neighborhoods.

According to Truong Thi Hong Hanh, deputy director of the municipal Department of Tourism, the APEC week is a golden opportunity for the citys tourism sector to welcome VIP guests from the worlds biggest economies.

Lam Quang Minh, director of the municipal Department of External Relations, said that local businesses have the chance to extend their operations and develop their human resources to prepare for the international event.

APEC is a regional economic forum established in 1989, comprising 21 member economies, including Australia, China, Japan, South Korea, Thailand, the United States, and Vietnam among others.

Running from November 6 to 11, the Economic Leaders Week is expected to be attended by world leaders including U.S. President Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping, and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

During the APEC Economic Leaders Week, a vehicle ban will be applied to various streets across Da Nang. Trucks and passenger buses with more than 16 seats, with the exception of those with APEC badges, will be prohibited from traveling in the city between 5:00 am and 11:00 pm from November 5 to 12. Parking is banned along streets including Hoang Sa, Vo Nguyen Giap, Truong Sa, Vo Van Kiet, Nguyen Van Thoai, Bach Dang, Tran Phu, 2 Thang 9, Cach Mang Thang 8, Nguyen Van Linh, Duy Tan, and Tran Thi Ly. The Dragon Bridge will cease its iconic fire show on November 4, 5, 11, and 12. Tourism activities along the Han River will also be halted from November 9 to 11.

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Hot on the heels -relatively speaking- of The Handmaids Tale on SBS, Netflix will debut another Margaret Atwood-penned drama, Alias Grace.

Her 1996 fictional novel centres around Grace Marks (portrayed here by Sarah Gadon), an Irish-born servant in 1840s Canada convicted of double murder.

Allowed to work in the house of Torontos governor, her celebrated murderess status becomes a curiosity to society ladies. But she is also of special interest to some in position who question a potential miscarriage of justice, keen to see her released after 15 years behind bars.

Enter pioneering psychiatrist Dr. Simon Jordan (Edward Holcroft) tasked with assessing her state of mind in the hope of writing a most favourable report.

Over the course of the opening episode a dialogue between Grace and Dr. Jordan will begin to peel back a complex series of events in flashback. It details her emigration with family from Ireland, an horrendous ocean voyage, domestic violence (and more) at the hands of her father before employ with wealthy land-owner Thomas Kinnear (Paul Gross). There she befriends maid Mary Whitney (Rebecca Liddiard), one of her few confidantes in this cruel Dickensian-like existence.

Yet while most doctors have attempted harsh, rudimentary prognosis of Grace, the softly-spoken Dr. Jordan is most benevolent. He has an uphill battle to win over the trust of Grace, who proves to be a smart, if cagey, patient.

Atwoods poetic observations, so canny in her previous hit drama, are evident once more.

Grace tells Jordan how many dangerous things, for instance, take place in a bed: birth, death, and a first act between men and women.

Some call it love, others despair -merely an indignity they must suffer through, she says.

But Jordan presses on, even if Grace is less-forthcoming about her supposed confession to murder.

Director Mary Harron brings Sarah Polleys script to life with a dynamic engagement from the two leads. Spliced throughout is a much darker tone, befitting of the most gruesome, violent acts, underpinned throughout by questions of justice and authority. Atwood remains fascinated with submission and class.

There are even sullen faces of silent house servants who wouldnt be out of place in Handmaids Tale, and as such this arrives as a pretty worthy companion. That said, this is hardly dystopian, offered instead as a murder mystery.

Sarah Gadon (11.22.63, World Without End) is perfectly contained as the title character, hiding dark secrets and concealing vulnerability. And she totally nails the Irish accent. She is ably-matched by the striking Edward Holcroft (Gunpowder, London Spy, Wolf Hall) showing patience and wit in trying to connect with his patient. Anna Paquin will also appear as housekeeper, Nancy Montgomery and there is plenty of period costume for the eye.

Of late TV is quite drawn to the relationship between analyst and criminal (indeed this could be a pioneer Mindhunter). But with Atwoods dark stamp on this, joined by key female creatives, Alias Grace is off to a fine start.

Alias Grace premieres Friday on Netflix.
US actor Jeremy Piven (Entourage, Mr. Selfridge, Wisdom of the Crowd) has denied allegations levelled at him through social media by actress Ariane Bellamar.

In a series of tweets Bellamar suggested Piven groped her on the set of Entourage.

Hey @jeremypiven! Member when you cornered me in your trailer on the #Entourage set? Member grabbing my boobies on the  without asking??  Ariane Bellamar (@ArianeBellamar) October 30, 2017

Member when I tried to leave; you grabbed me by the ass, looked at yourself in the mirror, & said what a beautiful couple we made? #MeToo https://t.co/liD7irs0o0  Ariane Bellamar (@ArianeBellamar) October 30, 2017

Jeremy Piven, on two occasions, cornered me & forcefully fondled my breasts & bum. Once at the mansion & once on set. #MeToo @AriMelber @CNN https://t.co/liD7irs0o0  Ariane Bellamar (@ArianeBellamar) October 30, 2017

But Piven has issued a denial.

I unequivocally deny the appalling allegations being peddled about me. It did not happen, he said in the statement. It takes a great deal of courage for victims to come forward with their histories, and my hope is that the allegations about me that didnt happen, do not detract from stories that should be heard.

HBO also issued a statement: Today, via the press reports, is the first we are hearing about Ariane Bellamars allegations concerning Jeremy Piven. Everyone at HBO and our productions is aware that zero tolerance for sexual harassment is our policy. Anyone experiencing an unsafe working environment has several avenues for making complaints that we take very seriously.

Piven is currently starring on the Wisdom of the Crowd. CBS said in a statement, We are aware of the media reports and are looking into the matter.

Bellamar appears determined to stick to her version of events.

Wisdom of the Crowd is five episodes into its run in the US. It debuts in Australia this Sunday on TEN.

Source: Hollywood Reporter
Production companies Matchbox Pictures & Screentime will both open offices in South Australia for 2 years as part of a drive by the South Australian Film Corporation to ramp up local drama production.

Both will develop new SA-based projects with local writers, producers and directors.

The SAFC is now inviting South Australian producers or production companies to partner with one of the two companies.

Bob Campbell, Screentime Executive Chairman said We are very pleased to be partnering with the South Australian Film Corporation in setting up a Screentime office in Adelaide. Two series of Wolf Creek and now Pine Gap have meant we have come to appreciate the considerable advantages South Australia offers and we look forward to working with the creative community to develop and produce more productions in SA.

Chris Oliver-Taylor, Managing Director of Matchbox Pictures said Matchbox is delighted to be partnering with the SAFC on this important initiative. Following our huge success with South Australian produced Deadline Gallipoli we are looking forward to working again with the amazing South Australian writing and producing teams to create world-class drama series that will complement the work already underway in South Australia.

SAFC will provide $250,000 over two years towards the running of each of the new Adelaide offices covering overheads, travel and TV drama series development funding. This significant opportunity will give a South Australian Producers and key creatives unique access to the development of a TV drama series through project support and enhanced access to high-end collaborators. The initiative can place SA writers into key TV writing rooms while SA directors will have greater opportunities for directing or as placements on series episodes.

By attracting two prestigious, high-volume drama production houses to open Adelaide-based operations, the SAFC recognises the vital importance of television production to the sustainability and capacity for growth of the industry in South Australia.

Additionally, a new and separate TV Development Grant for writers and producers will be launched this week. The initiative can support an SA Producer and/or Writer with the opportunity to develop high-end television drama. Up to $40,000 will be provided for up to 2 TV drama series with the funds to be used for the development of a series bible including story rooms, series outlines, script editors, plotting sessions, and completion of a pilot episode.

The SAFC TV Drama initiatives are seeking to trigger the development and production of long running series to be produced in SA, creating consistent jobs and further growing the local industry. These initiatives are expected to bring significant production spend to the State and enhance South Australias growing reputation for quality TV drama.

Premier of South Australia and Minister for the Arts Jay Weatherill said It is testament to the reputation and experience of the South Australian screen industry to attract such powerful players in TV production to expand their operations into our State. This key investment in our local industry will have benefits for years to come.

Chair of the SAFC, John Hill said These initiatives provide a great opportunity for our South Australian content creators to collaborate with experienced production companies and their exceptional national and international reach. The resulting growth to our screen sector, and development of our professional skill base will have many advantages to our local industry going forward.

SAFC CEO Annabelle Sheehan said Both Screentime and Matchbox have engaged with South Australia and its creative teams via substantial projects and other programs over the past few years. The decision to partner with and create offices in the state confirms their commitment to further building the industry here .The South Australian screen sector will substantially benefit from the global reach of both theses extraordinary companies with their parent companies in the USA and Europe.
Stranger Things actor Charlie Heaton has issued a brief statement following news reports he was detained by US immigration after being found with traces of cocaine at at LAX airport last week.

Heaton was sent home to the UK, missing the LA premiere of the Netflix series.

My planned travel to the U.S. last week was affected by an issue at U.S. immigration, and I am working to rectify it as soon as possible, he said.

I do want to clarify that I was not arrested or charged with a crime, and cooperated fully with the U.S. officials at LAX. Im sorry to all the fans and my Stranger Things family for missing the premiere. We are all so proud of this season and I would never want this story to negatively impact the show.

Stranger Things series 2 debuted on Netflix last week.

Source: Deadline
* Peru expects $10 bln of mining investment finalised in 2018

* Anglo's Quellaveco copper project seen getting green light

* Govt to help by building infrastructure in mining areas (Adds quotes, details, background)

By Eric Onstad

LONDON, Nov 1 (Reuters) - Peru aims to simplify mining permits to attract new investment while high metals prices are expected to help spur $10 billion of new mining projects next year, Mining Minister Cayetana Aljovin said on Wednesday.

"We have this window of opportunity with the increase in prices, especially copper and zinc," she told Reuters in an interview in London during metals industry gathering LME Week.

"This is making projects that were on hold to be revived."

Mining investment in Peru, the world's No. 2 copper and zinc producer, is set to fall for a fourth straight year in 2017, but Aljovin expects it to bounce back in 2018.

"I'm sure that next year we will see private investment in mining growing very fast ... I want to simply the permits," she said, without giving details on how applying for mine approvals would be streamlined.

Aljovin said some of the projects expected to get the green light in 2018 are Anglo American (LSE: AAL.L - news) 's Quellaveco copper project and the Michiquillay deposit, which the country is due to auction on Dec (Shanghai: 600875.SS - news) . 20.

Others due to be approved are iron ore deposit Pampa de Pongo, owned by China's Jinzhao Mining Peru, and Minsur's copper project Mina Justa, she said.

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTESTS

Mining accounts for about 15 percent of gross domestic product in Peru while minerals make up some 60 percent of export earnings.

Protests by communities worried about environmental damage from mines have slowed or stopped other projects, but Aljovin believes the situation has improved and vowed that government would help by working to build infrastructure.

"The mines nowadays, the process and technology they use are very different from the past. Also our rules for the environment have improved a lot in recent years," she said.

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"But I think they have to show these improvements to the communities so they can be aware."

Aljovin, who took over as mining minister in July, said the government planned to help create a more favourable environment for mining in remote communities.

"The state has been very absent in some of these (rural) territories. Now (Frankfurt: 11N.F - news) the state understands the government has to go there and provide health, roads, sanitation, electricity, communications," she said.

"This will create a new environment for the mining industry to get settled there." (Reporting by Eric Onstad, editing by Louise Heavens and David Evans)
(For Reuters coverage of LME Week, click on)

* Rio aims to be part of 'once-in-a-lifeime' transformation

* Asia buys around 70 percent of Rio Tinto (Hanover: CRA1.HA - news) 's minerals

By Barbara Lewis

LONDON, Nov 1 (Reuters) - Africa, as the largest untapped source of growth in the mining sector, is pivotal in helping Rio Tinto and other resources companies to supply the changing needs of the huge Asian market, a senior company official said on Wednesday.

The comments, delivered at a Bloomberg forum as part of LME Week, is a vote of confidence in Africa, which has suffered from investor caution over political risk and corruption scandals.

"From a mining perspective, Africa is the largest untapped source of growth for our industry," Bold Baatar, Rio Tinto's chief executive of energy and minerals, said, according to a copy of his speech.

"This provides us with a huge opportunity. It provides us with the opportunity, in partnership with the east, to be part of the once-in-a-lifetime transformation story of Africa."

Rio Tinto has strong relationships with China and other Asian customers that buy approximately 70 percent of its products.

China's development required bulk commodities, such as iron ore, but its needs are evolving as it focuses on implementing environmental standards and seeks to lead a shift to electric transport.

The world's biggest miner BHP has emphasised copper as its commodity of the future.

Rio Tinto, the second biggest major, has a massive copper project in Mongolia, but is also looking at less traditional commodities through its unit Rio Tinto Ventures.

They include the rare earth mineral monazite, used in heavy magnets for electric vehicles, which is produced from Rio Tinto's mineral sands project in Madagascar.

Elsewhere in Africa, Rio Tinto in Guinea mines bauxite, used to produce aluminium, which can make vehicles lighter and more energy efficient.

Rio Tinto is selling its stake in Guinea's giant Simandou iron ore project to Chinalco, China's biggest state-run aluminium producer, although the deal announced more than a year ago has yet to be finalised.

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Rio's relationship with Africa has had its challenges.

It suspended one senior executive and accepted the resignation of a second after discovering $10.5 million in unexplained payments to a consultant in Guinea.

It also faces fraud allegations over coal assets it once owned in Mozambique.

Investors have this year been particularly wary of Africa after Tanzania banned unprocessed mineral exports as part of a plan to reap greater rewards from international miners, and South Africa proposed a new mining code that the industry has challenged. (Editing by Mark Potter)
By Colin Packham

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Hundreds of asylum seekers refused to leave a detention centre in Papua New Guinea on Wednesday, even after power and water were cut and food supplies dwindled, in a stand-off that human rights groups warn could become a humanitarian crisis.

Australia and PNG are trying to close the Manus Island centre, one of two remote Pacific camps that Canberra uses to detain asylum seekers who arrive by boat. The camps have drawn widespread international condemnation.

The remote Manus island centre has been a key part of Australia's disputed "Sovereign Borders" immigration policy under which it refuses to allow asylum seekers arriving by boat to reach its shores, detaining them instead in PNG and Nauru in the South Pacific.

Around 600 detainees on Manus island are defying the attempts to close the camp, saying they fear violent reprisals from the local community.

The men refused to board a bus to a transit centre on the island on Wednesday, three of the asylum-seekers told Reuters, frustrating Australia's plans to dismantle part of its costly offshore detention programme.

"They took generators this morning and they cut the main pipes, there is no power in the whole centre and no water," Sudanese refugee Abdul Aziz told Reuters. "People are extremely anxious."

The asylum seekers, warned that utilities would be cut, had begun to collect rainwater in bins. However, without running water, advocates fear a rapid decline in sanitary conditions of the camp.

The loss of power also threatens to dampen morale of the detainees, nearly all of whom are suffering from mental health issues, according to a United Nations report in 2015.

"Mobile phones are a lifeline for these men," said Elaine Pearson, director of Human Rights Watch in Australia.

"They are completed isolated and they need phones to get real-time information about what is happening elsewhere on Manus, as well as to stay in touch with their families."

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SHARING FOOD

The detainees were sharing what food remained but some of the men Reuters spoke to by phone said supplies were running low. They had been given enough meals to last only until the camp's official closure on Tuesday.

Acting Australian Prime Minister Julie Bishop said the men should move to the new centres, which Australia has said it would support with A$250 million (144.36 million pounds) worth of food and security for the next 12 months.

The relocation of the men is designed as a temporary measure, allowing the United States time to complete vetting of refugees as part of a refugee swap deal that Australia hopes will see it no longer responsible for the detention of nearly 1,400 asylum seekers who have been classified as refugees.

Those not accepted by the United States would likely be resettled in PNG or in another developing country, dashing hopes of coming to Australia.

Vehement opposition among Manus residents to the asylum seekers has raised fears within the camp of potential violence, stoked further by the departure of Australian-employed private security guards on Tuesday.

"We did not sleep, about 30 guys at one time would keep watch for potential attacks," said an asylum seeker who asked to be identified only as Imran, due to fears his application for U.S. resettlement could be jeopardised.

Lawyers for some of the 600 men filed a last-minute suit in PNG's Supreme Court on Tuesday to prevent the camp's closure and for services to be returned.

A ruling is expected later on Wednesday.

PNG's High Court ruled last year that the Manus centre, first opened in 2001, was illegal. The United Nations and rights groups have for years cited human rights abuses among detainees in the centres.

(Reporting by Colin Packham in SYDNEY,; Editing by Diane Craft and Paul Tait)
DUBAI (Reuters) - Bahrain's public prosecutor charged two leaders of the country's banned main opposition party of spying for Qatar on Wednesday, months after cutting ties with the neighbouring Gulf monarchy amid a regional diplomatic row.

Sheikh Ali Salman, secretary general of al-Wefaq party, and Sheikh Hassan Sultan are accused of colluding with Qatar to carry out "hostile acts" in Bahrain and damage its national interests and prestige, according to a statement on state news agency BNA.

The men met Qatari officials as well as affiliated agents inside Lebanese Shi'ite militia Hezbollah, the statement said. It accused them of transferring confidential information and receiving financial support from Qatar.

The prosecutor ordered that both men be taken into custody.

Salman's wife Alya Radhi wrote on Twitter that she had spoken by phone with her husband, who denied all charges. There was no immediate comment from al-Wefaq.

Salman is already serving a four-year prison sentence for inciting hatred and insulting the interior ministry, after he was arrested in 2015.

He was summoned and interrogated about the new accusations in the presence of his lawyer, the statement said.

It did not elaborate on whether Sultan was detained.

Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt cut diplomatic, transport and trade ties with Qatar in June, accusing it of financing terrorism.

Bahrain and close ally Saudi Arabia believe Qatar is fomenting unrest in the island kingdom by supporting protests and sporadic attacks against security forces, backed by arch-rival Iran.

Both countries deny the charges and say the boycott is an attempt to rein in support for reform in Bahrain.

The Sunni-ruled kingdom, where the U.S. Fifth Fleet is based, has been on edge since 2011 "Arab Spring" protests led by its Shi'ite majority were put down by the government with the help of fellow Gulf Arab states.

The government banned al-Wefaq and revoked the citizenship of the country's top Shi'ite Muslim cleric as part of a crackdown on the opposition.

Human rights groups accuse Bahrain of clamping down on dissent and violently cracking down on protests, charges the government rejects.

(Reporting by Dubai Newsroom; Editing by Matthew Mpoke Bigg)
By David Ljunggren

OTTAWA (Reuters) - Canada, under pressure from allies to boost its commitment to peacekeeping, will propose offering helicopters for use by U.N. forces in Mali and could later provide troops to work as trainers, two sources familiar with the matter said on Wednesday.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's Liberal government, which came to power in 2015 and quickly promised to make 600 soldiers available for peace operations, last year said it would consider sending soldiers to Mali but has repeatedly put off a decision amid fears of casualties.

The stalling has irritated other nations, which say it could harm Canada's efforts to win a seat on the Security Council.

Canada is prepared to send six helicopters for use by the 10,000-strong U.N. force in Mali, which is helping deal with a militant threat, said the sources, who requested anonymity given the sensitivity of the situation.

More than 80 members have been killed since 2013, making Mali the world's deadliest peacekeeping operation.

Canada is hosting an international peacekeeping conference later this month and officials are preparing a special meeting on the sidelines to discuss the needs of the Mali mission, both in terms of providing troops and helping train local forces, the sources said.

One option for Canada would be to send soldiers to act as trainers, a role they are already playing in northern Iraq, said one source. They could either be based in Mali or nearby nations.

Although Ottawa has sent three separate fact-finding missions to the Mali region, Canadian officials said they have yet to take a final decision on whether to send troops.

"We realise there is growing impatience for a final decision," said a Canadian source familiar with government thinking.

Defense Minister Harjit Sajjan told reporters that "when it comes to peace support operations... we will make sure that we take our time to make a responsible decision." He declined to give further details.

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Defense experts said that given the scale of the Mali challenge, they doubted whether even 600 Canadian troops could make a difference on the front lines.

A senior diplomat from a nation involved in peacekeeping said the Canadian government should have studied the Mali mission carefully before publicly discussing the possibility of sending troops.

"If soldiers start coming home in coffins, it's debatable whether Sajjan could give a coherent explanation of why Canada was there in the first place," said the diplomat.

(Reporting by David Ljunggren; Editing by David Gregorio and Dan Grebler)
WASHINGTON (AP) -- A federal appeals court on Wednesday upheld Energy Department decisions approving three projects to export liquefied natural gas, a boost for the Trump administration's strategy to increase energy production and promote exports.

The Sierra Club was seeking to overturn approvals of export terminals in Maryland, Louisiana and Texas, saying the projects would increase air and water pollution and contribute to global warming.

A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit said in a unanimous opinion that the Energy Department fulfilled its legal obligations under the National Environmental Policy Act and other laws. The court said its decision was similar to a ruling in August when it upheld approval of a separate export terminal in Texas.

Liquefied natural gas, or LNG, is natural gas chilled to liquid form for shipment on tanker ships.

Charlie Riedl, executive director of the Center for Liquefied Natural Gas, an advocacy group that promotes natural gas exports, said he hopes the decision "will put an end to the unnecessary and costly challenges by Sierra Club that delay LNG projects" across the country.

"The facts are clear and the court agrees: The regulatory review process for U.S. LNG projects provides a thorough review of both operational and environmental impacts before being approved," Riedl said.

Exporting natural gas helps the U.S. economy and enhances geopolitical stability in countries that receive natural gas, such as Japan, China, South Korea and Argentina, Riedl said.

Nathan Matthews, a Sierra Club attorney, said expanding exports of gas produced by the drilling technique known as fracking inevitably increases air and water pollution. Fracking involves pumping huge volumes of water, sand and chemicals underground to split open rocks to allow oil and gas to flow. Fracking has led to a boom in natural gas production but raised widespread concerns about possible groundwater contamination and even earthquakes.

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Matthews said it was disappointing that the court declined to hold the Energy Department "accountable for doing a real analysis that takes the costs for American communities into account," through increased pollution and emission of greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming.

Dominion Energy's export terminal in Cove Point, Maryland, is scheduled to open in the coming weeks. Cheniere Energy's Sabine Pass facility in Louisiana opened last year. And Cheniere's project in Corpus Christi, Texas, is due to open next year.

The projects, along with a fourth export terminal in Freeport, Texas, all were approved by the Obama administration.

____

This story corrects the name of the appeals court.
By Prak Chan Thul

PHNOM PENH (Reuters) - A European Parliament delegation warned on Tuesday that Cambodia could face EU action over aid and vital trade preferences if the human rights situation worsened further.

The delegation's statement was the strongest threat of action from representatives of any Western donors since the arrest of opposition leader Kem Sokha in September and steps by Prime Minister Hun Sen's government to dissolve his Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP).

The ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Delegation of the European Parliament called for the release of Kem Sokha and an end to the process of dissolving his party.

"The government of Cambodia should be aware that the European Parliament is a co-legislator for budgetary and trade issues," said the delegation's chairman, Werner Langen, a member of German Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democrats party.

"A serious deterioration of the human rights situation might have implications for development assistance programmes and trade preferences," he said after a two-day visit.

Huy Vannak, undersecretary of state at Cambodia's Interior Ministry, said the European Parliament should keep trade and politics separate.

"Some members of the European Parliament should distinguish between political agenda and trade for the interests of the people. We need to create many choices rather than make the interests of the people a hostage of a political agenda," Huy Vannak told Reuters.

"Without economic prosperity, democracy will just be an illusion," he said.

European Union countries accounted for around 40 percent of Cambodia's exports in 2016. Its exports, mostly of clothing, get fully duty free access under a scheme to help the world's poorest countries.

Western diplomats say in private it would be difficult to secure EU agreement for limiting trade preferences because of the harm it could do to some 700,000 low-wage garment workers employed in Cambodian factories.

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CRACKDOWN

The European Union and its member states also gave Cambodia nearly $170 million (128.09 million pounds) in development aid last year, according to Cambodian government figures.

That was still well short of the $265 million it got from China, which is now by far the biggest donor and investor and voiced support for Hun Sen's government after the arrest of Kem Sokha.

The government has intensified a crackdown against political opponents, independent media and human rights groups in recent months ahead of an election next July in which Hun Sen's rule of more than 32 years will be at stake.

Cambodia's Supreme Court rejected an appeal to free Kem Sokha on Tuesday, saying his release could be a public risk as the threat of dissolution looms over his party.

Lawyers for Kem Sokha had asked the Supreme Court to rule that his detention was illegal and said he should be granted parliamentary immunity from prosecution.

The Supreme Court is due to rule on Nov. 16 whether to dissolve the CNRP after the government last month filed a lawsuit asking to dissolve it on grounds it was involved in a plot to topple the government.

Kem Sokha was not brought to the court hearing on Tuesday.

"The hearing seems fake," Hem Socheat, a lawyer for Kem Sokha, told the court.

Hun Sen has said his rival was getting help from the United States. The U.S. Embassy in Phnom Penh has rejected any suggestion of interference in politics.

(Editing by Matthew Tostevin, Alison Williams and Paul Tait)
A 240-tonne replica of a German U-boat is being moved to a French harbour ahead of filming for a major new Second World War drama series.

The plot for Das Boot will pick up where the critically acclaimed movie of the same name ended and will focus on both a fictional German U-boat crew and the French resistance trying to disrupt their activities.

Sky Germany is behind the 25m eight-part drama series and filming gets under way this week in the French seaside town of La Rochelle.

The naval base that the Nazis built using slave labour in the 1940s still stands, thanks largely to the 8m-thick reinforced concrete that they used.

"This is an absolutely perfect location because the producers don't need to change anything," said French historian Herve Sinquin, who is working as a historical adviser on the project.

"This was where the Germans were based for five years and they built that structure to protect their U-boats.

"This stretch of Atlantic coast was hugely important to the German navy, so that's why they put so much effort into ensuring it couldn't be bombed. And it was bombed, but it withstood those Allied bombardments."

La Rochelle was one of the last French towns to be liberated from Nazi control and the residents here are curious to see how the producers will take their famous harbour and coastline back to some of the darkest days in French history.

The 1981 Wolfgang Petersen Das Boot film was nominated for six Oscars and is widely regarded as the most important German film ever made.

"It had a huge impact all around the world," said producer Holger Reibiger, who is working on the new series.

"People watched that movie and saw that German cinema had something, it put us on the map. So yes, there's a big responsibility taking on a project of this scale, especially given the name and the history attached to it.

"Germans will watch this and no doubt they will compare, that is real pressure. I really hope we can do it justice.

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"We have German stars, French stars and American stars in the cast, but if you ask me, the real star is the actual U-boat itself."

The boat measures 67m and was shipped to western France from a base in Malta this week.

Das Boot will be broadcast in the autumn of 2018.
ANKARA, Turkey (AP)  Turkish state television says a lawyer for President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has filed a criminal complaint against an opposition legislator for calling Turkey's leader a "fascist dictator."

Lawmaker Bulent Tezcan, who is the spokesman for the main opposition party, made the comments in a town in northwest Turkey on Monday, to support a local mayor who was questioned by authorities for reportedly calling Erdogan a "dictator."

TRT television says Erdogan's lawyer filed a complaint on Tuesday, accusing Tezcan of insulting the president  a crime that is punishable by up to four years in prison.

Erdogan has filed similar complaints against close to 2,000 people before withdrawing them after last year's failed coup as a goodwill gesture.

Critics say Turkey has taken an authoritarian turn under Erdogan.

See Also:
Niger Defence Minister Kalla Mountari poses for a portrait after an interview with Reuters, in Niamey, Niger November 1, 2017. REUTERS/Tim Cocks (Reuters)

By Tim Cocks and Absoulave Massalatchi

NIAMEY (Reuters) - Niger has asked the United States to start using armed drones against jihadist groups operating on the Mali border, raising the stakes in a counterinsurgency campaign jolted by a deadly ambush of allied U.S.-Nigerien forces.

On Oct. 4, Islamist militants with sniper rifles and rocketpropelled grenades killed four U.S. soldiers and at least four of their Nigerien partners in an ambush that exposed the dangers of an expanding U.S. presence in the largely desert nation.

What began as a small U.S. training operation has expanded to an 800-strong force that accompanies the Nigeriens on intelligence gathering and other missions. It includes a $100million drone base in the central Nigerien city of Agadez which currently only deploys surveillance drones.

"I asked them some weeks ago to arm them (the drones) and use them as needed," Defence Minister Kalla Mountari told Reuters in an interview in his office. Asked if Washington had accepted the request, he said: "Our enemies will find out."

A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, welcomed the defence minister's comments, saying armed drones would be helpful in protecting U.S. troops and potentially targeting militants. The official was not aware of any formal agreement having been reached, however. The deaths of the U.S. soldiers, at the hands of suspected insurgents with the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara group, shocked Americans, many of whom did not realise their country had such a large presence in Africa's Sahel region.

The incident also highlighted the "mission creep" that has set in and expanded the U.S. role in landlocked Niger, one of the world's poorest and most insecure countries.

Mountari said the team of 12 U.S. Special Forces soldiers and 30 Nigerien troops had been "right up to the Mali border and had neutralised some bandits" just before the ambush took place. He declined to give further details.

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The U.S. military has been adamant that the Oct. 3-4 mission was not intended to involve contact with enemy forces.

Mountari said: "They (U.S.-Nigerien contingent) came back to Niger, they greeted the population, they gathered intelligence and it was inside the country, when they didn't expect anything, that the attack happened."

U.S. forces do not have a direct combat mission in Niger,but their assistance to its military does include intelligence,surveillance and reconnaissance in their efforts to target violent Islamist organisations.

However, Mountari was clear he saw them as close partners.

"The Americans are not just exchanging information with us.They are waging war when necessary," he said.

"We are working hand in hand. The clear proof is that the Americans and Nigeriens fell on the battlefield for the peace and security of our country."

A growing U.S. role in Niger could prove unpopular both with Americans, many of whom are tired of costly and sometimes deadly foreign adventures, and in Niger, whose citizens have mixed feelings about foreign forces on their soil.

Drone strikes have been controversial in other parts of the world because of the risk of civilian casualties. At a protest rally over a domestic political issue on Sunday, dozens of demonstrators also began chanting against the presence of foreign troops in Niger, a Reuters witness said.

(Reporting by Tim Cocks; Additional reporting by Idrees Ali in Washington; Editing by Mark Heinrich and Tom Brown)
By Axel Bugge and Daniel Alvarenga

LISBON, Oct 31 (Reuters) - Aiming to spur development of drones and self-driving vehicles, Portugal is planning to launch "free zones" with special regulations to allow testing of such technologies and attract investment in them, the industry secretary said.

Portugal has seen a sharp rise in technology start-ups in the past few years, helped by cheap property, well educated engineers and low wages following its 2011-14 debt crisis.

Hosting the Web Summit technology conference has helped. It opens next week in Lisbon for the second time.

Foreign investment in the sector helped propel economic growth in 2017 to its highest level in more than a decade and the government hopes new regulation can draw more companies.

"We are working a lot on the regulatory and legal aspects because this is really totally fundamental for opportunities in this area," Industry Secretary Ana Lehmann told Reuters in an interview.

"One of the areas we are working on has to do with technological free zones and drones is one of the areas we want to promote...another is autonomous vehicles."

Many countries are looking at how to allow companies to test new technologies.

In Britain, Amazon is carrying out special parcel delivery testing while Alphabet's Google has tested drone delivery technology in Australia under its "Project Wing".

The U.S. government last week approved a plan for expanded drone testing.

Lehmann said the Portuguese government was working carefully on the laws needed for such zones. The country restricted the use of drones this year to raise public security.

"We are studying some locations and what is needed...within a legal framework that is very careful because these technologies have an impact," she said. "This is a delicate topic and we want to do it properly."

Portuguese law currently does not allow the testing of self-driving cars on public roads.

Story continues

Veniam is one of Portugal's leading technology companies. It has developed wireless networks for public transport and hopes to use that know-how for autonomous vehicles. Veniam first developed its system in the city of Porto, which Lehmann said was a "very interesting test case".

Mercedes-Benz this year opened a digital centre in Lisbon, which includes development of autonomous vehicle technology while Volkswagen has a big assembly plant in Portugal.

Portugal is also angling for a potential European factory under consideration at Tesla Motors. The country has one of Europe's biggest reserves of lithium.

"Lots of people are fighting, we are fighting (for a Tesla factory)," Lehmann said when asked about the possibility.

(Reporting by Axel Bugge; editing by Jason Neely)

See Also:
Former New York Yankees pitcher Mariano Rivera listens as U.S. President Donald Trump speaks about administration plans to combat the nation's opioid crisis in the East Room of the White House in Washington, U.S., October 26, 2017. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump has developed a friendly relationship with Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, a senior administration official said on Tuesday, despite Duterte's often profanity-laden tirades against the United States.

"I think there's a warm rapport there and he's very much looking forward to his first in-person meeting with President Duterte," the U.S. official told reporters during a background briefing on Trump's Nov. 3-14 trip to Asia.

The two leaders have become friendly during telephone conversations and exchanges of letters, the official said.

Trump will travel to Asia amid rising tensions over North Koreas nuclear and missile programs. He will be in Manila on the last leg of his trip, which includes visits to Japan, South Korea, China, and Vietnam, to attend the ASEAN leaders summit.

Duterte has attacked the United States verbally, chiding Washington for treating the Philippines "like a dog," despite the two nations longstanding relationship.

The Philippines leader announced his "separation" from the United States during a visit to Beijing a year ago, declaring he had realigned with China as the two agreed to resolve a South China Sea dispute through talks.

Duterte is accused by international human rights groups of supporting a campaign of extrajudicial killings of drug suspects in the Philippines, which his government denies.

The Philippine leader was infuriated by expressions of concern by members of former President Barack Obamas administration about extrajudicial killings in the Philippines.

But Trump, in a phone call to Duterte in May, praised the Philippine leader for doing an unbelievable job on the drug problem despite human rights groups condemnation of Dutertes drug crackdown, in which thousands of people have been killed.

(Reporting by Steve Holland and Doina Chiacu; Editing by David Alexander and Alistair Bell)
National investment group Mercia Technologies said it has signed a partnership agreement with the University of Edinburgh [UoE], one of the world's top 25 universities according to the Quacquarelli Symonds World University Rankings.

Equipped with the neccessary funds to spend, specifically, on opportunities at the university, Mercia said it anticipates a significant number of new Scottish investment opportunities as part of the partnership, over the medium term.

The non-exclusive partnership with the University would reportedly also grant Mercia access to Edinburgh Innovations, forming an important base for Mercia to both reach out to leading research centres within the University and connecting it to its five other Scottish university partners as well as other innovators and entrepreneurs across Scotland.

Dr George Baxter, CEO of Edinburgh Innovations at the UoE said: "The UoE has an exciting pipeline of technology coming from its internationally recognised research base. We are pleased to be working with Mercia which has a strong track record of supporting spin-out activity and we see this partnership as an important part in the UoE's mission to increase its role in local, regional and national innovation, such as the recently announced Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal."

For his part, Mark Payton, chief executive officer of Mercia Technologies, said: "This is a further milestone for Mercia as we continue to expand our model of patiently supporting globally relevant opportunities with our managed funds before swiftly scaling via our balance sheet capital. I would like to thank the team at the UoE for their positive support and engagement. I look forward to what I know will be a productive relationship as we build out our presence in Scotland and, in parallel, continue to support our 18 other key university partnerships across the Midlands, the North of England and Scotland."
Property, residential, construction and services company Kier Group posted its results for the six months to 31 December on Thursday, with revenue falling 1% to 2bn on an underlying basis.

The FTSE 250 firm said the results were in line with expectations, as profit from operations improved 4% to 56.5m, with the board saying there remained a strong pipeline of growth opportunities.

Profit before tax was 12% higher at 46.3m, and the board declared an interim dividend per share of 22.5p - up 5% on a year prior.

Its operating margin was 2.8%, improving from 2.7% in the six months to the end of 2015, and basic earnings per share were up 11% to 38.9p.

Net debt was 179m, widening 3% from 174m.

On a statutory basis, group revenue was up 1% to 2bn, profit from operations improved 149% to 47m, profit before tax was up 712% at 34.9m, and basic earnings per share were 405% higher at 39.9p.

Today's results reflect the ongoing financial and operational discipline employed across the group and the strength of our flexible, integrated business model, said chief executive Haydn Mursell.

The group has a balanced portfolio of businesses and market leading positions in regional building, infrastructure and housing.

Our continued focus on simplifying the portfolio and working with clients in a collaborative way is delivering further growth opportunities.

Mursell said Kiers clients recognised that approach as a key differentiator when working with the company.

He also claimed the group's breadth provided some resilience against economic uncertainty, and the board was continuing to shape Kier to focus on its core competencies.

We are encouraged by the pipeline in the property and residential businesses and our healthy order books of approximately 9bn in the construction and services businesses.

We remain on course to deliver our expectations for the full year and we are well positioned to achieve our Vision 2020 goals.

East of England joint venture established with Cross Keys

At the same time, Kier announced that it established a joint venture with CKH Developments, a housing association and care services provider which principally operates in the east of England, on Wednesday.

The company said it would transfer part of its land bank and a number of its residential developments in the east of England, valued at up to 97m, into the joint venture with Cross Keys, contributing up to 4m of equity into the venture.

Kier will receive a cash payment of up to 64m for the assets and the joint venture will be funded by a non-recourse revolving credit facility from HSBC Bank.

There will be a 90:10 split of economic ownership and each party will have 50:50 voting rights.

Initial completion of the transaction was expected to take place by 31 March, with subsequent completions expected to take place prior to 30 June upon the transfer of further sites.

The JV was expected to be cash generative from completion of the transaction, Kiers board said.

The transaction would release funds to Kier for reinvestment in other parts of its business in line with its 15% return on capital employed hurdle, and it expected the transaction to be earnings accretive in 2019.

Kier said itself and and Cross Keys had a long-standing relationship in the eastern region, operating in complementary sectors of the housing market.

It would provide its development, land-buying, construction and sales expertise to the venture, and Cross Keys would provide access to key strategic relationships for the benefit of the venture.

The joint venture represents a strategic milestone for Kier Residential, commented Haydn Mursell.

This transaction enables us to accelerate our strategy to recycle the capital employed in the Kier private land bank to drive the future growth of the group and improve our overall ROCE.

In addition, the joint venture plays a role in addressing the UK Government's housing strategy by creating a vehicle which can focus on delivering new homes in the east of England, a geography both parties know well.

Phil White stepping down as chairman, Philip Cox to be appointed

Kier Group also announced that Phil White had advised the board of directors that he would retire as chairman and step down from the board with effect from the conclusion of the annual general meeting on 17 November.

He will be succeeded by Philip Cox CBE, who is currently chairman of Drax Group and Global Power Generation.

Kier confirmed Cox will retire as the chairman of GPG by 10 September.

He will join the board as a non-executive director and chairman designate on 1 July, and will assume the role of chairman immediately following the AGM.

He will be a member of the nomination and remuneration committees with effect from his appointment as a non-executive director.

Phil White was appointed to the board of Kier in July 2006 and has served as chairman since January 2008.

I am delighted that Philip has agreed to accept the role of chairman designate, as his extensive track record demonstrates that he has the range of skills and experience for the role, commented Phil White.

I would like to welcome Philip to the board and I am looking forward to working with him over the coming months to ensure a smooth handover of duties.

Philip Cox, commenting on his appointment, said he was honoured to be joining the board of Kier.

There are clear opportunities for Kier in each of its market sectors and I am excited about the prospect of working with the management team to grow the business in line with its Vision 2020 strategy.
French oil and gas giant Total began preparing to sell it specialty chemicals division Atotech this week, it was reported on Friday, with reports that the subsidiary could be worth around 3bn.

The Euronext and NYSE-traded firm did announce plans to sell non-core assets in February, citing a ballpark value of $4bn at the time.

In May, chief executive Patrick Pouyanne was quoted as saying Atotech was no longer within Totals wider strategic vision.

Reuters reported on Friday that its sources are expecting Barclays to lead the divestment, with a final mandate imminent.

Neither Total nor Barclays were willing to comment.

Atotech is expected to generate EBITDA of 250m in the current year, with reports that the firm could be valued at 12-13 times that amount.

The sale would be the latest in a specialty chemicals bonanza, with the Dow-DuPont-ChemChina consortium takeover of Syngenta being the largest recent transaction.
Virginia 4-H is partnering with Google to bring computer science and modern technology to 4-H'ers across the state, giving Virginia youth more access to technology education, the latest equipment, and the opportunity to apply computer science to their fields of interest.

Were very excited about the partnership between 4-H, Americas largest youth development organization, and Google, one of the most influential companies in technology. This grant will allow us to reach a new audience and to engage our youth with the latest technology to expand their existing project work, said Jeremy Johnson, the Virginia state 4-H leader.

Virginia 4-H plans to implement the Google technology on statewide and local levels, expanding STEM educational offerings. Twenty Google virtual reality (VR) kits will be used at special events to engage youth with a new kind of learning. The equipment will be used at many state events, including the Virginia Tech Science Festival on Nov. 4.

Googles VR technology will also help 4-H on the local level to recruit new members. Children and parents will be able to meet with 4-H representatives remotely and in real time through the magic of VR goggles.

Virginia 4-H has also received 30 Chromebooks, which will be utilized in many ways across the state. In Alleghany County, students at Clifton Middle School will apply the technology to history projects. Sixth graders will learn how to use Google Slides to complete history presentations. Seventh-graders will use the Chromebooks to create a 4-H Academic History Quiz Bowl based on their History SOLs. Both of these projects will allow students to improve their computer skills.

Virginia is one of 22 states benefiting from this $1.5 million grant from Google. The program will reach more than 100,000 4-Hers across the country, allowing youth to implement technology to improve their communities.

This collaboration between 4-H and Google lays the groundwork for 4-H to deliver computer science education across the organization, which reaches nearly 6 million kids in every county and parish in the United States. It also establishes an official 4-H Computer Science Career Pathway, which will enable kids to progress from a casual interest in computer science to dedicated study, ultimately helping to equip them with career experience.

4H grows confident young people who are empowered for life today and prepared for the careers of tomorrow. The research-backed 4H experience nurtures young people who are four times more likely to contribute to their communities; two times more likely to make healthier choices; two times more likely to be civically active; and two times more likely to participate in STEM programs.

Google.org works to extend the reach of nonprofit innovators and connect them with a unique blend of support that includes funding, tools, and volunteers from around Google. These innovators are the believers-turned-doers who have made the biggest impact on the communities they represent, and whose work has the potential to produce meaningful change that can scale. To date, Google.org has given more than $110 million to help close learning gaps around the world. This grant builds on that legacy by providing computer science to students who have traditionally lacked access.

Computer science will be important in every field Virginia 4-H'ers may wish to pursue, from agricultural science to fashion to engineering. This program allows 4-H to prepare them for the future today.

Written by Caroline Sutphin
S&P 500 3,991.73 DOW 33,592.92 QQQ 289.39 Retiring Soon? 8 Facts About Retirement You Need to Know Invest in Smart Home Tech with Superior Patents (Ad) Three Penny Stocks Making Big Moves In November Agilent Remains In Buy Range Ahead Of Next Week's Q4 Report These 5 Microcap Stocks (Ad) Dont Chase Walmart Higher, Wait For Extra Low Prices Wayfair Still Has Its Fair Share of Issues These 5 Microcap Stocks (Ad) Russian airstrikes reported in cities across Ukraine Stocks gain ground after wholesale inflation eases in US

S&P 500 3,991.73 DOW 33,592.92 QQQ 289.39 Retiring Soon? 8 Facts About Retirement You Need to Know Invest in Smart Home Tech with Superior Patents (Ad) Three Penny Stocks Making Big Moves In November Agilent Remains In Buy Range Ahead Of Next Week's Q4 Report These 5 Microcap Stocks (Ad) Dont Chase Walmart Higher, Wait For Extra Low Prices Wayfair Still Has Its Fair Share of Issues These 5 Microcap Stocks (Ad) Russian airstrikes reported in cities across Ukraine Stocks gain ground after wholesale inflation eases in US

S&P 500 3,991.73 DOW 33,592.92 QQQ 289.39 Retiring Soon? 8 Facts About Retirement You Need to Know Invest in Smart Home Tech with Superior Patents (Ad) Three Penny Stocks Making Big Moves In November Agilent Remains In Buy Range Ahead Of Next Week's Q4 Report These 5 Microcap Stocks (Ad) Dont Chase Walmart Higher, Wait For Extra Low Prices Wayfair Still Has Its Fair Share of Issues These 5 Microcap Stocks (Ad) Russian airstrikes reported in cities across Ukraine Stocks gain ground after wholesale inflation eases in US
Getting the right amount of coverage is important, but its just as important to place your business with the right carrier. Heres how to separate the great from the rest.

Its licensed in your state. Only do business with a carrier thats licensed to sell insurance where you reside. This enables you to seek assistance from your states insurance department if you have problems. The insurance departments website should have a list of licensed insurers, but if not, a call to the agency will get you the information you need.



Take the AARP Smart Driver online course

It is financially healthy. An insurer thats in poor financial shape may not have the resources to pay your claim. Standard & Poors (spratings.com), A.M. Best (ambest.com), Fitch (fitchratings.com) and Moodys (moodys.com) all evaluate and report on the strength of insurance companies, though these ratings arent always easy to find on their websites. If you are considering a lesser-known provider, experts recommend you consult ratings from at least two agencies before saying yes.

It has a low rate of justified complaints. The website of your states insurance department should offer a report that gives the number of justified complaints received by insurance carriers. This report typically provides a complaint ratio that compares the number of justified complaints with the companys total amount of business in the state. You can also find an insurance companys complaint ratio by visiting naic.org, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners website, and clicking on Consumer Information Source. Look for a carrier with a relatively low complaint ratio.

Its easy to contact. You want an insurer that you can contact in all circumstances. If you find yourself on hold for a long time or face other difficulties when shopping for a carrier, theres a good chance youll face similar problems  or worse ones  as a customer. Choose a carrier thats easy to reach and pleasant to deal with.

Get your newer safer vehicle with the AARP Auto Buying Program
LeadingAge Florida and other nursing-home-industry groups had challenged the rules, saying it would be impossible to meet the requirements by the deadline.

In his decision, Judge Garnett W. Chisenhall Jr. agreed with the industry about the time frame. He also ruled that the state had failed to show that an immediate danger still existed that required a hasty rule change, since the hurricane season was about to end. The effects of prolonged heat exposure on the elderly have been known for years, he wrote.

In an email, Scott's spokesman, McKinley Lewis, criticized what he called a shortsighted ruling against protecting lives and elderly Floridians and said the governor would appeal.

Senior-care operators in other states are watching how the Florida case plays out.

Nursing centers are eager to work with lawmakers and regulators to learn from the successes and failures from the response of the recent hurricanes and develop rational responses that make sense and make our residents safer, Cliff Porter, senior vice president of government relations at the American Health Care Association, an industry group, said in an email.

At least a few states, including California and North Carolina, already require nursing homes to have backup generators on site. Federal Medicare rules require long-term care facilities to have plans for alternative energy sources during a power outage but dont require them to install generators.
Stateline reported recently on the growing enforcement trend targeting people who try to pass off pets as service animals. There are several reasons why some people might do this: It gets around bans in apartments, condos and restaurants, and service dogs are allowed in airplane passenger cabins without their owners having to pay an extra fee.

Massachusetts may soon become the 20th state to create a law concerning pets posing as service animals. A bill in the state legislature would make it a civil infraction for any individual to misrepresent a pet dog as a service dog, according to its current language. Anyone convicted of the infraction could face 30 hours of community service and a fine of up to $500.

Our goal is to prevent abuse of the system, because animals that arent legitimate service dogs can give true service dogs a bad reputation, and that does a terrible disservice, Republican Massachusetts state Rep. Kimberly Ferguson, who filed the bill, told the Boston Globe in March.
Brown County approves Bailey Pro Rodeo as new stock provider

Bailey Pro Rodeo out of North Dakota has been selected as the new rodeo stock provider for the Dacotah Stampede Rodeo, a two-day event at the fair.
Officers called to an apartment complex on Carlisle near Montgomery NE last week said they believe a 21-year-old man had shot his roommate and then shot and killed himself, according to a spokesman for the Albuquerque Police Department.

Officer Tanner Tixier said the roommate, 21-year-old Zackery Dunkelberger, was taken to the hospital, where he died several days later. He said Jeffrey King-Braswell, died at the apartment in the 4600 block of Carlisle NE.

Tixier said there is no evidence to show what prompted King-Braswell to shoot Dunkelberger and then himself.

He said they were both from Albuquerque.

Tixier said on Oct. 23, the day of the shooting, King-Braswell was at a friends house and then left suddenly.

The friend went to King-Braswells almost immediately to see why he left so suddenly and found King-Braswell and Dunkelberger, Tixier wrote in an email. Evidence indicates King-Braswell shot Dunkelberger and then shot and killed himself.

An obituary published online said Dunkelberger died on Oct. 26, but did not provide any other information about him.
SANTA FE  An arrest warrant on felony stalking charges was issued here Monday for David Alcon, who is running for the U.S. House seat in southern New Mexicos 2nd Congressional District.

Alcon, 39, of Milan, the son of Democratic state Rep. Eliseo Lee Alcon, was convicted of the same crime in 2008.

David Alcon is accused of stalking a Santa Fe woman and sending her threatening messages on Saturday night and into Sunday morning. He did not respond to a Journal voicemail seeking comment.

According to the city police report, the 44-year-old woman was at a Halloween party when she began receiving text messages from Alcon after 11:30 p.m. saying he loved her and wanted to have children with her and that she better not leave. He also sent a photo of his genitals, according to the report. The woman declined to comment to the Journal on Tuesday.

She repeatedly told him to leave her alone, the police report states. Alcon was persistent in his proposition to (the woman), and even sent messages that suggested he was watching (her). When asked if she saw Alcon at the party, the woman told police she had been dancing with random people and wasnt sure if he was one of them.

After the woman left the party, her Uber driver contacted police for her. The reporting officer wrote she was visibly shaken and crying. She called police two more times once she got home, saying Alcon was still contacting her. During one call, she told an officer that Alcon told her he was at her apartment.

The woman told police she met Alcon at a political event 10 years ago and he had texted her before, but not in a threatening manner like this. After she got upset at the party, the report says, Alcon changed his demeanor via text and asked her to work for him.

Alcon was convicted of aggravated stalking and misdemeanor criminal trespass nearly 10 years ago. Court records show that the charges were dismissed after he completed a deferred sentence.

He announced his congressional run in September and told the Journal that hes changed since his conviction and is managing his mental health issues. Alcon is one of four Democrats seeking the U.S. House seat now held by Republican Steve Pearce, who is running for governor.
Copyright  2017 Albuquerque Journal

State Auditor Tim Keller calls the company he ran in Cambodia a social enterprise and describes his work there as the most meaningful and impactful experience Ive ever had.

City Councilor Dan Lewis  Kellers opponent in the Nov. 14 mayoral runoff  alleged in a debate last month that Keller created sweatshop jobs in Cambodia and that the enterprise took away union jobs in America.

So was Digital Divide Data a sweatshop  a place where workers are employed at low wages for long hours and under poor conditions? And did that nonprofit, which Keller ran in Cambodia from 2001 to 2003, take union jobs away from America?

DDDs business model is based on hiring members of economically disadvantaged groups such as land mine victims in Cambodia and other developing countries. They do data entry work, such as typing old newspaper articles and other records so that they are available digitally. The nonprofit encourages its workers to get college degrees, and it provides scholarships for them.

Incredibly ignorant

This is yet another example of my opponent making things up and of these sort of desperate lies that really have no grounding in truth, Keller said. And its also incredibly ignorant and disrespectful of all of the land mine victims in Cambodia and the country situation as a whole to mischaracterize a project that literally saves lives as anything but that.

Asked why he accused Keller of creating sweatshop jobs, Lewis said there are lots of questions about Kellers work in Cambodia.

How much were those people being paid? Lewis asked. Were they paid as much as people in America? No one knows about that company or what he did for three years in Cambodia.

To be sure, Lewis isnt the first to question whether Digital Divide Data was exploiting workers in the developing world.

DDDs first client was the Crimson, Harvards independent student newspaper. In 2001, the paper was creating a database of its past editions.

Activists outraged

When word got out that Cambodian workers would be paid 40 cents an hour to do the work, several activists were outraged, according to a 2001 story in The Boston Globe.

Theres no question that, by U.S. standards, 40 cents an hour is ridiculously low pay. But the $50 a month that they were paid was higher than the $45 minimum wage paid in Cambodias garment sector at the time, and four times higher than Cambodias poverty-line wage, according to the Globe and the Cambodia Daily.

Typists worked six-hour shifts a day, six days a week, and DDD provided English lessons and paid for their medical expenses. DDD also raised monthly salaries to $65 while Keller was there.

As for the suggestion that union jobs are being shipped to other countries, C. Matthew MacInnis, a Harvard senior and the Crimsons president at the time, told the Globe in 2001 that the paper couldnt afford to have the work done in North America.

The union question

Author David Bornstein argued in a column published in The New York Times in 2011 that U.S. workers arent hurt by this type of outsourcing because its not economically feasible for those jobs to exist in the U.S.

The concept for DDD didnt come from Keller, but he was DDDs first president, and he set up its first operation in Cambodia. By the time he left in 2003, the company had 100 employees and was operating in the black.
A head-on crash on Tuesday morning, near Carlsbad, left one man dead, according to a New Mexico State Police spokesman.

Officer Carl Christiansen said 21-year-old Jacob Balderrama died after his truck crossed into oncoming traffic on US 285, around 8:30 a.m., and hit a tractor-trailer.

He said Balderrama was not wearing his seat belt at the time. The driver of the tractor-trailer was not injured.
WASHINGTON  At our political costume ball, it is definitely 90s nostalgia night. A president obsessed with attacking all things Clinton stands accused of serial sexual harassment, sends out underlings to dismiss the accusers as liars, condemns a federal investigation as a politically motivated fraud and is attempting to destroy the reputation of the leader of that investigation. Hillary Clinton may be Donald Trumps continuing target, but the Clinton years are clearly his inspiration.

It worked the first time around. In Bill Clintons case, the Democratic Party almost uniformly honored tribal loyalties above legal or moral principle. Even the feminist left generally fell into line for partisan reasons. American women, said columnist Nina Burleigh, should be lining up with their presidential kneepads on to show their gratitude for keeping the theocracy off our backs. What is a little sexual misconduct and obstruction of justice among friends when legal abortion is at stake?

Now Trump appeals to the same type of team solidarity, this time on the right. The Dems are using this terrible (and bad for our country) Witch Hunt for evil politics, tweeted Trump, but the Rs are now fighting back like never before. Note how a federal investigation of Russian influence on American democracy has become the Dems. Note also that it is not the president and his lawyers fighting this investigation but the Rs. Trump is conditioning Republicans and conservatives to view his upcoming legal defense entirely through the lens of partisanship. With the broad cooperation of conservative media, there is every reason to think he might succeed.

Trumps ultimate objective in all this matters greatly. If he wants to recruit Republicans into a defense of the shady political and business dealings of Paul Manafort and the rest of the presidents political circle  now exposed by federal indictment  it will be discrediting and humiliating. A party that rallies to the defense of corruption will eventually be seen as a swamp in need of clearing.

But if Trumps goal is to escape a tightening legal investigation by firing special counsel Robert Mueller and issuing a string of self-protective pardons, the participation of the Republican Party takes on a different meaning. In this case, Trump would be turning his authoritarian pose into authoritarian practice, removing an essential check on the abuse of power. Liberal democracy itself would be under attack from an American Putinism. And elected Republicans who enabled this would be complicit in a crime against the Constitution and violate the oath they took to defend it.

As the indictments begin to come down, Republicans need to ponder what legal and ethical lines, if any, they are willing to draw. Continuing the attacks on Hillary Clintons own dishonest dealings is all fun and games  except to Clinton, I suppose. Joining the defense of slimy political figures such as Manafort makes one, ceteris paribus, into a slimy political figure. Obscuring or excusing Russian influence on the American political process is a dangerous disservice to the country. Supporting Trump in a power play against the special counsel and his investigation would be an attack on the stability and legitimacy of the Republic  a source of infamy in American history.

To what circle of hell are Republican officials about to consign themselves? It would be useful for members of Congress to declare that they will never enter the fourth circle  the demolition of the integrity and independence of the FBI  if only to deter Trump from forcing a constitutional crisis. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., has done so, arguing such an action would be the beginning of the end of the Trump presidency. But it is hard to imagine such courage written broadly in todays GOP  and even harder to imagine such courage exhibited pre-emptively.

It is worth making clear that every conservative media voice  including, recently, the editorial voice of The Wall Street Journal  that attacks the objectivity and legitimacy of Mueller is giving Trump cover and encouragement to move against him. They are dropping lit matches in the dry tinder of American politics. And they would be responsible, in part, for the resulting wildfire.

Do Republicans and conservatives really want to be remembered as a bodyguard of enablers for this man? For this cause? Few enter the fray of political ideas, or make the considerable sacrifices of entering public life, to defend corruption and the abuse of power. That is now the calling of the Republican partisan, and the downward path of dishonor.

Michael Gersons email address is michaelgerson@ washpost.com. (c) 2017, Washington Post Writers Group
Despite the repeated denials and righteous indignation, what many suspected turned out to be true: The IRS under the Obama administration targeted groups for their conservative political views.

Its something that should concern all Americans, because they should be just as worried about an IRS under President Trump being tempted to do the same thing to different political victims.

And for that reason, Americans deserve more than the IRS apology that comes as part of a settlement in which the powerful agency that strikes fear into the hearts of audit-wary taxpayers  the taxman cometh  admits that it sidelined the nonprofit applications of more than 40 local groups such as the Albuquerque Tea Party or any group anywhere with the word Patriot in its title.

The federal agency and the Justice Department settled two lawsuits, one involving the payment of a substantial amount of money, over the agencys track record of both delaying the tax-exempt status requests of such groups and singling some out for additional tax scrutiny.

When the supposedly nonpartisan IRS operates as it should, an application for tax-exempt status usually takes three to six months. In these cases, it took years. In the case of the Albuquerque Tea Party, it took eight years.

This conduct was truly Orwellian, and there should be zero tolerance.

The Albuquerque Tea Party was among the first to challenge the IRS. While not part of the suit that resulted in the monetary payments, its officials are pleased with the result.

We basically got what we wanted, said Graham Bartlett, the Albuquerque Tea Party president. Which is to make sure the IRS does not do this to anybody else  not just conservative groups but anybody else. The government cant bully us around just because of our political thinking.

There was no prosecution as the FBI, predictably, found incompetence and poor judgment but no criminal conduct. While that conclusion is suspect, its understandable: Then-FBI Director James Comey and then-U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch knew whom they worked for  meaning the high-ranking IRS official at the center of the controversy, Lois Lerner, essentially got a free pass.

Perhaps not surprisingly, there was virtual silence from Congress, including New Mexicos delegation, on the IRS admission.

Thats unfortunate, because Congress needs to step up, speak up and make sure this doesnt happen again. To anybody.

This editorial first appeared in the Albuquerque Journal. It was written by members of the editorial board and is unsigned as it represents the opinion of the newspaper rather than the writers.
JERUSALEM  Israelis celebrate it. Palestinians despise it. The Balfour Declaration, Britains promise to Zionists to create a Jewish home in what is now Israel, turns 100 this week, with events in Israel, the Palestinian territories and Britain drawing attention to the now yellowing document tucked away in Londons British Library.

Historians still muse about Britains motivations, and its commitment to the declaration waned in the decades after it was issued. Yet the 67 words penned by a British Cabinet minister still resonate 100 years later, with both the Israelis and Palestinians seizing the anniversary to reinforce their narratives.

Each side is marking the centenary in starkly different ways, shining a light on the chasm between Israel and the Palestinians that some say was cleaved on Nov. 2, 1917.

Its so divisive even today because Zionists think that the Balfour Declaration laid the foundation stone for modern Israel  and theyre right to think that  and by the same token non-Jewish Palestinians and Arabs see it as the foundation stone of their dispossession and misery, said Jonathan Schneer, a historian who authored a book on the document.

The declaration was the result of discussions between British Zionists seeking political recognition of their goal of Jewish statehood and British politicians embroiled in the First World War. Written by British Foreign Secretary Lord Arthur Balfour and addressed to Lord Lionel Walter Rothschild, a British financier and Zionist leader, the declaration promised British assistance to create a Jewish homeland.

His Majestys government view with favor the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people, and will use their best endeavors to facilitate the achievement of this object, the declaration goes, continuing with a caveat: It being clearly understood that nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine.

British motives for issuing the declaration include imperialist political calculations meant to secure a foothold in the Levant amid the collapse of the Ottoman Empire to the messianism of British politicians steeped in biblical history, hoping to restore Jews to their ancestral home.

The declaration served as the basis for the British Mandate of Palestine, which was approved in 1920 by the League of Nations. The following decades saw a spike in the number of Jews immigrating to Palestine as Zionist state institutions took root. With that came increased friction with the Arab population.

Israel views the pledge as the first international recognition granted to the Jewish peoples desire to return to its historic homeland. It sees Britain as having played a supporting role in a narrative dominated by the determination, heroism and pioneering spirit of the early settlers who fought to build the state.

While the state would not have arisen without settlement, sacrifice and a willingness to fight for it, the international impetus was, undoubtedly, the Balfour Declaration, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said this week.

Israel is planning a major campaign meant to drive home that narrative and highlight its warm ties with Britain, an important ally at a time when the European Union has taken steps against Israels West Bank settlements. Netanyahu will mark the anniversary in London on Thursday at a dinner hosted by the current Lords Balfour and Rothschild and attended by Prime Minister Theresa May. An anniversary concert in London this weekend will feature British performers alongside a Jewish Israeli clarinetist and a pianist who is an Arab citizen of Israel.

The Palestinians say that the Balfour Declaration was a tragedy. It wasnt a tragedy. Whats been tragic is their refusal to accept this 100 years later, Netanyahu said as he left for London Wednesday night.

The Palestinians see the declaration as the original sin, a harbinger of their nakba, or catastrophe, the mass displacement that resulted from the war surrounding Israels creation in 1948. That refugee crisis reverberates across the region today, and the Palestinians have cast Israel, through the declaration and its imperialist British patrons, as a colonial enterprise.

The Palestinians, who have spent recent years seeking recognition for their state at international institutions, are demanding British accountability. They want an apology and have threatened to sue Britain over the declaration.

We asked them to make it right, to make this historical oppression right by recognizing the state of Palestine and apologizing to the Palestinian people, said Palestinian Foreign Minister Riad Malki. He said they have asked Britain to issue a new declaration that would be more favorable to the Palestinians, a request he said London rejected.

Protests are planned in the Palestinian territories, where thousands of students will stand in their schoolyards on Thursday demanding Britain dismiss the declaration, and in Britain, where dozens of cars will be emblazoned with posters condemning the declaration. In Jerusalem, thousands of letters from Palestinian schoolchildren are to be delivered to the British Consulate.

British graffiti artist Banksy organized an event marking the anniversary in the West Bank town of Bethlehem on Wednesday. Children wore helmets with the British flag and a woman dressed as Queen Elizabeth unveiled a curtain to reveal the word Er SORRY underneath an image of a crown on Israels West Bank separation barrier.

Britain, meanwhile, has treaded lightly, casting the anniversary as a commemoration and not a celebration.

We will mark the centenary with pride and respect, but also with a degree of sadness, as issues between Israel and the Palestinians remain unresolved, Middle East Minister Alistair Burt said last week.

By the 1930s, a new government in Britain backed away from its earlier promise to the Zionists, with an official commission of inquiry deciding that Britains mandate over Palestine, with its constant internecine violence, proved untenable. The 1937 Peel Commission recommended that the land be split between Arabs and Jews. Relations between the Jews in Mandatory Palestine and Britain would further deteriorate before Israel declared independence.

Israel would later capture more territory in the 1967 Mideast war, including east Jerusalem, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, land the Palestinians want for their state. The years since have seen repeated spasms of violence and the dwindling of hopes for peace.

The Balfour Declaration is being used by both sides to advance a present agenda, said Martin Kramer, a historian at Jerusalems Shalem College. There are reasons for Israelis to be grateful for it and reasons for the Palestinians to regret it, but its history. It cant be changed.

___

Associated Press writers Mohammed Daraghmeh in Ramallah, West Bank, and Jill Lawless in London contributed reporting.
TOKYO  Japanese investigators knocked on the door of a suspects apartment and asked him about a missing woman. She is in here, the man reportedly replied, pointing to a cooler box.

More chilling details emerged Wednesday about Takahiro Shiraishi, 27, who police say confessed to killing and dismembering nine bodies found in his apartment. Shiraishi was handed over to prosecutors for further questioning.

Police arrested him Tuesday after finding the bodies  eight females and one male  in cold-storage cases inside his apartment in Zama, a city southwest of the capital. Police say Shiraishi confessed he tried to hide evidence.

Police found the bodies, some covered with cat litter, while searching for the 23-year-old woman who had disappeared after exchanging Twitter messages, allegedly with Shiraishi. They are working to identify the victims.

The gruesome case captured widespread attention in a country known for public safety, topping news with reports that showed the building where the suspect lived in a small studio apartment.

Media reports quoted investigative sources as saying Shiraishi started killing as soon as he moved into his apartment in late August. His first victim was another woman whom he got in touch with via Twitter, offering to assist her suicide wish, then killing her boyfriend to silence him, according to the media reports, including NHK public television. They said Shiraishi used similar tactics to kill seven other women, four of them teenagers.

A police official who spoke to The Associated Press on Tuesday said a toolbox and saw found in Shiraishis apartment may have been used to dismember the bodies.

Japanese media quoted his neighbors as saying they had noticed foul smells coming from the apartment. Shiraishi threw out some of the body parts as garbage, along with the victims belongings, reports said.

They said the missing woman contacted Shiraishi via Twitter in late September, seeking a partner for a suicide pact and saying she was afraid to die alone. The two were recorded by security cameras walking together outside train stations near her residence and the suspects apartment on Oct. 23, the reports said.

The womans brother reported her disappearance to police the next day. When he sought information about his sisters disappearance on Twitter, an unidentified woman replied that she had met Shiraishi and agreed to cooperate with police by setting up a fake appointment. Two investigators then followed Shiraishi back to his apartment and knocked on the door, public broadcaster NHK said.

When they asked him if he knew where the missing woman was, Shiraishi pointed to one of eight coolers, saying She is in here, NHK said, quoting investigative sources.

The suspect told police his motives were money and sexual abuse, Japanese media reported Wednesday. Police refused to confirm the reports to AP. Japanese police release information only through limited official statements or through news conferences exclusive to journalists in the police press club.

Local media ran a junior high school photo of the suspect, beaming, his hair fluffy, braces on his teeth suggesting a relatively well-off family background. But there was little other information about his education or where he comes from, except that he is from Zama. Reports say he was working as a scout in the sex industry, recruiting women in entertainment districts in Tokyo.

Internet suicide sites have been a concern since the late 1990s. In 2005, a man in Osaka lured three people via the internet with promises to assist in their suicides, and strangled them. He was sentenced to death.

Although Japan has one of the lowest crime rates in the world, it has witnessed some high-profile killings recently. Last month, a man was arrested for allegedly stabbing his wife and five children after setting fire to their house. In July last year, a former employee of a home for the disabled allegedly killed 19 and injured more than 20 others.

___

Follow Mari Yamaguchi on Twitter at twitter.com/mariyamaguchi

Find her work at https://www.apnews.com/search/mari%20yamaguchi
HONG KONG  Young Hong Kong democracy activist Joshua Wong warned Wednesday that Chinas rise means human rights are in increasingly greater danger of being overshadowed globally by business interests.

He was responding to questions about his expectations for an upcoming Asian tour by U.S. President Donald Trump, who will visit China and four other countries.

The 21-year-old Wong, Hong Kongs most famous activist, is out on bail while he appeals a prison sentence related to his involvement in massive 2014 pro-democracy protests.

Business interests override human rights, he said in an interview with The Associated Press. It unfortunately seems to be a common trend in the world under a rising China.

During Trumps Asian trip, he said theres likely to be a lot of uncertainty. No one can expect what will suddenly be published on his Twitter. But he urged Trump to not let human rights lose out to commercial considerations, hinting that U.S. business interests could also someday be directly affected by Chinas rising clout.

As an example, he referred to the recent case of British human rights activist Benedict Rogers, who was barred from entering Hong Kong on what many suspect to be Beijings request, and said it might happen again.

The day may come for U.S. politicians to be blocked from entering Hong Kong and when politicians or businessmen from the U.S. might not be possible to enter such an international financial center, how can they keep silent on the erosion of Hong Kong autonomy? he said.

Beijing promised to let Hong Kong maintain wide autonomy and civil liberties after its 1997 handover from Britain under the one country, two systems blueprint, but pro-democracy activists and lawmakers fear that Chinas Communist rulers are reneging on their pledge.

Wong urged the U.S. and other Western countries to pay closer attention to how the China model threatens Asia-Pacific stability.

The China model is a reference to economic development without corresponding democratic reforms, as well as the name of a controversial booklet praising Chinas one-party rule that the Hong Kong government planned to distribute in 2012 to schools as part of moral and national education. Wong helped lead protests that forced the government to shelve those plans.

Wong was given bail last week, two months into a six-month prison sentence. He and a fellow activist, Nathan Law, were both sent to prison after the justice secretary won a legal challenge overturning more lenient sentences. The move sparked fears Hong Kongs independent judiciary is under threat. They are due in court Nov. 7 to appeal the sentences.

Wong, who is also awaiting sentencing in another case, is prepared to go back to jail. He turned 21 while behind bars and said it might not be the last time I will celebrate my birthday inside prison.

Though he has become synonymous with Hong Kongs democracy movement, Wong said it was important not to forget others who are also paying a price but havent attracted the same international spotlight. About two dozen other young activists are serving prison sentences longer than his, just because they were asking for democracy, freedom and human rights by non-violent civil disobedience, he said.

During his time behind bars, Wong did compulsory marching exercises 30 minutes a day and ate with a spoon because forks, knives and chopsticks are banned.

Asked if the prison guards singled him out for harsher treatment, he said, They treated me fairly with swear words and foul language.

Not allowed a phone, he couldnt update his popular social media accounts but said being unplugged allowed him the opportunity for spiritual reflection. Prison news was limited to Hong Kongs pro-Beijing publications, but he read books such as I Am Malala by 20-year-old Pakistani activist and Nobel Peace laureate Malala Yousafzai. Letters from supporters in places like New York, London and Berlin helped buoy his spirits.

Out of prison, he is making the most of time, hanging out with his parents and girlfriend, playing video games and enjoying favorite local foods like Hong Kong-style milk tea.

Wong plans to keep fighting for full democracy in Hong Kong. In the short term, he said his political party, Demosisto , will announce a candidate as early as next week to run in an election next year to fill a seat in the citys semi-democratic legislature vacated when Law was disqualified because of a government legal challenge.

In the long run, he said theres plenty of work to do getting Hong Kongers to adjust their mindset to resist Beijings tightening grip.

I still believe Hong Kong people can overcome, even though we are inside the prison set by China.

___

Follow Kelvin Chan on Twitter at twitter.com/chanman and Yi-ling Liu at twitter.com/yilingliu95 .
WASHINGTON  It has become something of a ritual for U.S. presidents trying to demonstrate their resolve against North Koreas ever-escalating aggression.

Beginning with Dwight Eisenhowers visit to the front lines of wartime Korea, U.S. leaders have traveled to the barbed and mined demilitarized zone dividing the Korean Peninsula, peering across the barren north through binoculars, hearing broadcast propaganda, and reaffirming their commitment to standing with the South.

After leaving the possibility of the visit dangling, the White House announced definitively Tuesday that President Donald Trump would not be following in their footsteps and will be forgoing a visit to the DMZ as he sets out on his maiden Asia trip.

A senior administration official told reporters during a White House briefing that Trump will instead be visiting Camp Humphreys, a military base about 40 miles south of Seoul, to highlight the U.S.-South Korean partnership and South Koreas burden-sharing. His tight schedule, officials said, wouldnt accommodate both stops.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to provide details ahead of the trip, noted that several Trump administration officials, including Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Vice President Mike Pence, had already made the trip to the border that has separated the North and South for 64 years.

Trumps trip comes amid escalating tensions and rhetoric with North Korea, which has continued to pursue its missile and nuclear programs and ramped up its missile testing. In a recent speech at the United Nations, Trump said he would totally destroy the nation, if necessary. He has also derided North Korean leader Kim Jong Un as little Rocket Man. Kim has returned the favor, calling Trump a mentally deranged U.S. dotard.

The White House has played down the notion that its hesitation to send Trump to the DMZ stemmed from security concerns. But two people familiar with the administrations thinking said that security issues had been discussed. The Secret Service, which advises on the presidents itinerary, did not immediately respond to a request for comment on its recommendations.

U.S. and South Korean officials also argued that a visit to Camp Humphreys, also known as United States Army Garrison-Humphreys, at the invitation of South Korean President Moon Jae-in, serves as a fitting symbol of the countries ties and South Koreas commitment to contributing to its own defense  a theme the president often pressed during his campaign.

Some experts on the region also breathed a sigh of relief, arguing the trip could have further inflamed tensions between Trump and Kim.

I would probably be begging him not to (go). No Secret Service likes to, said Dean Cheng, a China expert with the Heritage Foundation. He said that, given the recent exchange of words between Kim and Trump, a visit was probably more fraught with risk than your average presidential visit.

Others pointed to the symbolism of the presidents visit to the base.

To me it was a no-brainer that he should go to Humphreys, this new base that theyve poured all this money into, said Jim Schoff, a former Pentagon adviser on East Asia policy and now senior fellow in the Asia program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

Schoff said the base was perfect for Trump: Its a big, massive real estate project and its South Korean-funded. Its the big story of the alliance in recent times and its a great opportunity to highlight that, he said.

Troy Stangarone, a senior director at the Korea Economic Institute in Washington, agreed that, with the move of United States Forces Korea to Camp Humphreys almost complete, a visit there sends a stronger signal about U.S. commitment to defend South Korea. A trip to the DMZ , he said, could instead be misinterpreted and raise tensions on the Korean peninsula.

Visiting the wooded, craggy terrain inside the DMZ is like going back in time to 1953. In July of that year, the Korean War armistice agreement was signed at Panmunjom, the so-called truce village bisected by a marker that is the official dividing line between North and South Korea. This is the only area inside the DMZ where soldiers of North and South can stand nose to nose.

In 1983, Ronald Reagan became first U.S. president to enter the DMZ  with South Korean artillery gunners standing poised to fire if necessary to protect him  and every president, barring one, has made the trip since. Trumps predecessor, Barack Obama, visited during a 2012 trip to Seoul and told troops stationed at the border that the contrast between South Korea and North Korea could not be clearer, could not be starker, both in terms of freedom but also in terms of prosperity.

In 1993, Bill Clinton stood closer to North Korean territory than any Western leader, walking out on the Bridge of No Return and looking through binoculars at North Koreans about 50 yards away.

He later recalled seeing young North Korean soldiers looking back at him and thinking: I wish you could walk over this bridge and I hope it wont be long until you can, until we put down the threat of nuclear war and open up the hand of friendship.

Pence said his visit earlier this year let North Koreans see our resolve in my face.

But Evans Revere, a former senior State Department official for East Asia, said that he was disappointed by Trumps decision. He said a visit would have helped the president understand the human toll of any potential military action and see for himself just how close Seoul is to the border.

By not visiting the DMZ, President Trump can only remind our allies, once again, that he does not view our alliance commitments in the same way as did every one of his predecessors, he said.

___

Associated Press National Security Writer Robert Burns contributed to this report.
WASHINGTON  President Donald Trump dismissed George Papadopoulos as a liar and a mere campaign volunteer, but newly unsealed court papers outline the former advisers frequent contacts with senior officials and with foreign nationals who promised access to the highest levels of the Russian government.

They also hint at more headaches for the White House and former campaign officials. Papadopoulos is now cooperating with special counsel Robert Mueller as he investigates possible coordination between Russia and Trumps 2016 White House campaign.

Records made public Monday in Papadopoulos case list a gaggle of people who were in touch with him during the campaign but only with such identifiers as Campaign Supervisor, Senior Policy Advisor and High-Ranking Campaign Official. Two of the unnamed campaign officials referenced are in fact former campaign chairman Paul Manafort and his business associate Rick Gates. Both were charged with financial crimes in an indictment unsealed Monday.

The conversations described in charging documents reflect Papadopoulos efforts to arrange meetings between Trump aides and Russian government intermediaries and show how he learned the Russians had dirt on Hillary Clinton in the form of thousands of emails.

Though the contacts may not by themselves have been illegal, the oblique but telling references to unnamed people  including Professor and Female Russian National  make clear that Muellers team has identified multiple people who had knowledge of back-and-forth outreach efforts between Russians and associates of the Trump election effort.

Its a reality that challenges the administrations portrait of Papadopoulos as a back-bench operator within the campaign, an argument repeated Tuesday by White House press secretary Sarah Sanders, who dismissed him as a volunteer with a minimal role.

In charging the 30-year-old Papadopoulos with lying to the FBI, Muellers team is warning of a similar fate for anyone whose statements deviate from the facts.

I think everyone to whom Mueller and his team wanted to send a message heard loud and clear the message, said Jacob Frenkel, a Washington defense lawyer.

The White House had braced over the weekend for an indictment of Manafort and for allegations of financial misconduct that it could dismiss as unrelated to the campaign or administration. Then came the unsealing of Papadopoulos guilty plea and an accompanying statement of facts that detailed his efforts to set up a meeting between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, and his cooperation with prosecutors since his arrest at an airport last summer.

The extent of the contacts is substantial. During a six-month period ending Aug. 15, Papadopoulos met, telephoned, Skyped or emailed his three foreign contacts or five different Trump campaign officials a total of 29 times. He also traveled twice to London and once to Italy. Another trip to Moscow was canceled.

There are clear indications prosecutors used Papadopoulos to gather more information about the campaign as they probe possible criminal activity.

He was arrested in July, but the case was not unsealed until Monday, giving prosecutors weeks to debrief him for information and use him to get deeper into the campaign. He was initially arrested on false statements and obstruction of justice allegations, but as part of a plea deal, pleaded guilty only to lying to the FBI, a possible token of leniency in exchange for further cooperation.

In court papers, prosecutors have said prematurely making the case public would hurt his ability to be a proactive cooperator, which legal experts say could include surreptitious techniques like wearing a microphone to record conversations.

I would infer from that that he was working proactively on behalf of the prosecutors, which would mean going out and obtaining evidence, said former Justice Department prosecutor Peter Zeidenberg.

Though the campaign officials and other people referenced in the complaint are not named, its nonetheless possible to ferret out the identities of several.

For instance, Joseph Mifsud is the London professor who figures prominently in the case, according to a comparison of court papers and emails obtained by The Associated Press. Mifsud confirmed to The Telegraph newspaper that he is the professor mentioned as a would-be link between the Trump campaign and Russia.

In court papers, Mifsud is described only as a London professor who met repeatedly with Papadopoulos and offered to set up meetings with Russian officials who could provide thousands of emails with damaging information about Clinton.

The professor is also credited in the document with introducing Papadopoulos to a woman referred to as a female Russian national who served as a potential link to the Russian government. Papadopoulos described her incorrectly in emails to Trump campaign officials as Putins niece. She has not yet been identified publicly.

Mifsud, a vocal Putin backer, told the newspaper the FBI case lacks credibility and that he did not tell anyone he could produce emails that would weaken the Clinton campaign.

Papadopoulos place on the Trump campaign was formalized in March when Trump adviser Sam Clovis released the names of eight foreign policy advisers amid public pressure on Trump to disclose his foreign policy team.

A lawyer representing Clovis confirmed in a statement that he was the person, identified as the Campaign Supervisor in court papers, who brought Papadopoulos onto an advisory committee on national security. In court papers, the unnamed supervisor receives some of Papadopoulos email exchanges about his attempts to line up a meeting with the Russians, appearing to encourage the effort at one point by responding Great work. He also later encouraged Papadopoulos to travel to Russia on his own.

The lawyers statement said Clovis opposed any trip to Russia for Trump or his campaign staff but noted that Clovis may not have made his opposition known when a volunteer made suggestions on a foreign policy matter.

The foreign policy advisory council on which Papadopoulos sat met on a monthly basis throughout the spring and summer for a total of about six times, according to an official involved with the group. Papadopoulos, who was based in London at the time, did not attend all of the meetings, but he did attend a dinner meeting of the advisers in late June at the Capitol Hill Club in Washington with Attorney General Jeff Sessions.

Trump released a photo of the meeting on social media.

Papadopoulos, who had no formal responsibilities, communicated most with Clovis and Manafort, according to an official involved with the group who was unauthorized to disclose internal campaign activities. Papadopoulos angered some on the foreign policy team in early May by urging former British Prime Minister David Cameron to apologize after calling Trump divisive, stupid and wrong.

___

Associated Press writers Steve Peoples in Washington and Greg Katz in London contributed to this report.
FORT BRAGG, N.C.  Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahls difficult childhood and his washout from Coast Guard boot camp stoked serious psychiatric disorders that helped spur him to walk off his remote post in Afghanistan in 2009, a psychiatrist testified Wednesday.

Dr. Charles Morgan said the soldier was already suffering from a schizophrenia-like condition and post-traumatic stress disorder when he disappeared in Afghanistan. Morgan was the final defense witness at sentencing, and closing arguments are expected to start Thursday.

The forensic psychiatrist said interviews with family and childhood friends, as well as a lengthy exam with Bergdahl, convinced him the soldier was suffering from schizotypal personality disorder when he disappeared in Afghanistan. He said he concurred with an Army Sanity Board document that previously made the diagnosis public.

On the stand, Morgan went into greater detail than what was previously disclosed about Bergdahls mental health. He said Bergdahl has an internal, self-critical commentary that he doesnt recognize as his own thoughts. Bergdahl, he said, engages in fantasy and has thoughts of self-castration to purify himself.

Bergdahl and others with the disorder have this experience of their own inner life as if its not them, Morgan said. He said the internal commentary manifests in thoughts such as: Youre never going to be good enough.

However, Morgan said the commentary isnt an auditory hallucination, and Bergdahl isnt psychotic. He said Bergdahl knew right from wrong when he walked off his post.

Still, the disorder makes it difficult for Bergdahl to see the second- and third-order effects of his actions and how they will impact others, Morgan said.

Morgan believes Bergdahl had post-traumatic stress disorder before his 2008 Army enlistment largely due to growing up with a quick-tempered father. Symptoms of anxiety and tunnel vision, sometimes present when he interacted with his father, occurred the night Bergdahl had a 2006 panic attack that caused his Coast Guard discharge, Morgan said.

Bergdahls father believed in corporal punishment and punched holes in the walls when he was angry, Morgan said. Growing up, Bergdahl would sometimes hide when he heard his fathers truck arriving at their house in Idaho.

Capt. Nicole Ulrich, a prosecutor, asserted on cross-examination that Bergdahls current therapist has misgivings about the schizotypal personality diagnosis. Morgan, who has directly treated 75 prisoners of war, disagreed and responded that forensic examinations such as his are much more thorough than typical therapy sessions that often focus on asking about a patients day or managing prescriptions.

Morgans testimony was part of defense efforts to mitigate any potential punishment. Defense attorneys have made clear that Bergdahl is competent to answer the charges. The judge, Army Col. Jeffery Nance, also said Wednesday that evidence shows Bergdahl understood his Army enlistment contract in 2008.

Bergdahl has said he left his Afghanistan post intending to reach a commander at another base and describe what he saw as problems with his unit.

Morgan said the decision was consistent with schizotypal personality disorder.

I think he believes there are times that, if its the morally right thing to do, you have to break the rules, he said. Theres not a thinking through of: Are there other ways to achieve this goal?'

Earlier this week, Bergdahl took the stand to apologize to the troops who were wounded searching for him, and he described the brutal conditions of his five-year captivity. Two military agents who debriefed Bergdahl also testified about how much valuable intelligence he provided.

Prosecutors presented evidence that the wounds to several troops who searched for him merit stiff punishment. Bergdahl faces up to life in prison. The military judge hearing the case has wide discretion on his punishment because Bergdahl didnt strike a plea agreement with prosecutors when he admitted to desertion and misbehavior before the enemy.

The 31-year-old soldier from Hailey, Idaho, was brought home by President Barack Obama in 2014 in a swap for five Taliban prisoners at Guantanamo Bay. Obama said at the time the U.S. does not leave its service members on the battlefield. Republicans roundly criticized Obama, and Donald Trump went further while campaigning for president, repeatedly calling Bergdahl a traitor who deserved serious punishment.

___

Follow Drew at www.twitter.com/jonldrew
NEW YORK  Some saw him as disagreeable and argumentative, others as quiet and prayerful. He was said to be hardworking but also seemed to simmer with disillusionment over financial and career setbacks.

As Sayfullo Saipov lay in a hospital bed Wednesday, police tried to piece together the life of the 29-year-old immigrant accused of driving a truck onto a New York bike path and killing eight people. A fuller portrait began to emerge of the suspect who was described by the president as an animal and by the mayor as a coward.

Saipov legally emigrated from Uzbekistan, a former Soviet republic and predominantly Sunni Muslim nation north of Afghanistan that is estimated to have produced hundreds if not thousands of supporters for the Islamic State group and other extremist organizations in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan.

Notes found at the crime scene indicate Saipov acted in the name of IS, authorities said.

After arriving in the U.S. in 2010, Saipov made his first home in Ohio, acquaintances said.

Another Uzbek immigrant, Mirrakhmat Muminov, came to know Saipov and said he was most struck by how provocative he was.

Sometimes, he would stir quarrels over weighty topics such as politics or the Mideast peace process, Muminov said, but he could also grow angry over something as simple as a picnic.

He had the habit of disagreeing with everybody, said Muminov, a 38-year-old from Stow, Ohio, who works as a truck driver, just as Saipov once did.

Muminov described Saipov as aggressive and suspected he held radical views, though Muminov never heard him speak of the Islamic State group.

He was not happy with his life, Muminov said.

According to some media reports, Saipov lived for a time in Kyrgyzstan, another former Soviet nation that borders Uzbekistan and has a sizable ethnic Uzbek minority.

In June of 2010, the same year Saipov came to the U.S., the area near the city of Osh in southern Kyrgyzstan where he reportedly lived saw violence between ethnic Kyrgyz and Uzbeks that left at least 470 people dead. Nearly three-quarters of them were ethnic Uzbeks. The violence prompted an exodus of Uzbeks from Kyrgyzstan.

A marriage license filed in Summit County, Ohio, shows Saipov married a woman named Nozima Odilova on April 12, 2013. But the couple eventually left Ohio for Florida. Saipov had a drivers license from that state, and some records showed an address for him at a Tampa apartment complex.

FBI agents interviewed residents at the complex Tuesday, but some who lived there said they knew nothing of their former neighbor. Records show he worked as a commercial truck driver and formed a pair of trucking businesses that could have kept him on the road for long stretches.

He had a handful of driving violations and was arrested last year in Missouri after failing to appear in court on a citation for brake defects. Jail records indicate he was detained for less than an hour.

Saipov and his family moved from Florida to New Jersey in June, according to a law enforcement official who spoke on condition of anonymity.

On Wednesday, FBI agents removed evidence bags from an apartment building in Paterson, just northwest of New York City.

Maria Rivera, who lives down the street, said she sometimes saw Saipov talking on his phone or with two or three other men in the neighborhood. A month ago, when she saw a little girl walking down the street, she asked the child who her mother was.

She pointed in the direction of Saipovs home, Rivera said.

He came out, grabbed the baby and he didnt say nothing to me, she said.

Birth records in Ohio show that Saipov and his wife had two daughters, ages 2 and 4. A neighbor in New Jersey said they had a third child, a boy, earlier this year.

Another neighbor of Saipov, who is Riveras son, 23-year-old Carlos Batista, said he saw Saipov and two friends come and go several times in the past three weeks in the same model Home Depot pickup used in the attack. He also recalled a recent incident in which Saipov played the role of peacemaker.

Two of Saipovs friends were angry Batista was riding a dirt bike up and down the street and ordered him to stop. Tempers flared and words escalated until Saipov came outside.

He basically was the peacemaker, Batista said. He calmed everything down.

Muminov said he last heard from Saipov a few months ago when he called asking for advice on insurance. He said he heard from friends of Saipov that his truck engine blew a few months ago.

He lost his job, Muminov said. When someone loses their truck, they lose their life.

That may have led Saipov to drive for Uber, which confirmed he had passed a background check and driven for six months, making more than 1,400 trips.

Authorities said Saipov never was the subject of an investigation by the New York Police Departments intelligence bureau or the FBI, but they were looking at how he might be connected to the subjects of other investigations. Saipov had been planning his attack for weeks, police said.

After plowing through the bike path and into a school bus, authorities said, he emerged from the vehicle, brandishing air guns and yelling God is great! in Arabic.

He remained at Bellevue Hospital, where he was recovering from being shot by the police officer who stopped the attack.

Late in the afternoon, he was taken to a federal court hearing after a terrorism charge and other counts were filed against him by prosecutors, who said he was consumed by hate and a twisted ideology.

Saipov appeared in a wheelchair, with his hands and feet shackled. He didnt enter a plea or seek bail.

As he lay in bed at the hospital, authorities said, he asked about displaying a flag for the Islamic State group in his room. He said, according to court documents, that he felt good about what he had done.

___

Kang reported from Stow, Ohio. Associated Press writers Deepti Hajela and Wayne Parry in Paterson, New Jersey; Colleen Long in New York; Tamara Lush in Tampa, Florida; Michael Sisak in Philadelphia; and Jim Salter in St. Louis also contributed to this report.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.  State police officers involved in the 2011 shooting death of a New Mexico man have won a legal victory in their effort to avoid being sued by the mans relatives.

Following the guidance of the U.S. Supreme Court, a panel of federal appeals judges ruled Tuesday in favor three state police officers who sought immunity after relatives of Samuel Pauly sued them over claims that he was a victim of excessive force when the officers surrounded his rural home the night of Oct. 4, 2011.

The Pauly family filed its lawsuit after a grand jury declined to indict the officers.

According to the ruling, Pauly was shot through the window of his rural home by one of the officers investigating a road rage incident involving his brother earlier in the evening.

The appellate court initially sided with Paulys family, finding that the officers were not protected by qualified immunity, which shields government officials from liability when they are accused of violating a persons rights in the course of performing their duties.

The officers appealed, and the U.S. Supreme Court ordered the appellate court to take another look at the case. That resulted in the ruling by the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals reversing its earlier decision.

At issue is the high legal threshold established for filing lawsuits against police under similar circumstances. The Supreme Court had said that officers are immune from such lawsuits unless its clear their actions violated established rights.

In Paulys case, the high court found that the lower courts failed to cite any similar cases where an officer was found to have violated a persons rights against excessive force.

Lee Hunt, an attorney representing Paulys family, said he plans to appeal to the high court. He also said the familys negligence claim against the officers is still pending in state district court.

Hunt said the appellate court found the officer who shot Pauly that night violated his constitutional rights against excessive force but that no previous case law existed to tell the officers what they were doing was wrong.

In my view, its such a broken law  qualified immunity. It protects officers who have engaged in unconstitutional conduct, Hunt said. In this case, the court found a constitutional violation, it found that it resulted in the shooting of Sam Pauly and yet the police have no accountability because of qualified immunity.

Mark Jarmie, an attorney for the officers, said he was not authorized to comment about the latest ruling because other claims are still pending.

Tuesdays ruling does not address the legality of the officers actions, only whether the officers could be sued individually.

Court documents indicate Pauly and his brother never heard police announce their presence and feared they were connected to the earlier road rage incident.

Daniel Pauly stepped out of the back of the home and fired two warning shots, while Sam Pauly opened the front window and pointed a handgun into the darkness. The officers fired and Sam Pauly was hit in the heart.

The events unfolded in less than five minutes, according to court documents.

The court acknowledged disputes over whether the officers adequately identified themselves and there were questions raised about whether the officer who shot Pauly could have issued a warning.

That officer was kneeling behind a wall about 50 feet (15 meters) away when he fired at Pauly.
WASHINGTON  A federal appeals court on Wednesday upheld Energy Department decisions approving three projects to export liquefied natural gas, a boost for the Trump administrations strategy to increase energy production and promote exports.

The Sierra Club was seeking to overturn approvals of export terminals in Maryland, Louisiana and Texas, saying the projects would increase air and water pollution and contribute to global warming.

A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit said in a unanimous opinion that the Energy Department fulfilled its legal obligations under the National Environmental Policy Act and other laws. The court said its decision was similar to a ruling in August when it upheld approval of a separate export terminal in Texas.

Liquefied natural gas, or LNG, is natural gas chilled to liquid form for shipment on tanker ships.

Charlie Riedl, executive director of the Center for Liquefied Natural Gas, an advocacy group that promotes natural gas exports, said he hopes the decision will put an end to the unnecessary and costly challenges by Sierra Club that delay LNG projects across the country.

The facts are clear and the court agrees: The regulatory review process for U.S. LNG projects provides a thorough review of both operational and environmental impacts before being approved, Riedl said.

Exporting natural gas helps the U.S. economy and enhances geopolitical stability in countries that receive natural gas, such as Japan, China, South Korea and Argentina, Riedl said.

Nathan Matthews, a Sierra Club attorney, said expanding exports of gas produced by the drilling technique known as fracking inevitably increases air and water pollution. Fracking involves pumping huge volumes of water, sand and chemicals underground to split open rocks to allow oil and gas to flow. Fracking has led to a boom in natural gas production but raised widespread concerns about possible groundwater contamination and even earthquakes.

Matthews said it was disappointing that the court declined to hold the Energy Department accountable for doing a real analysis that takes the costs for American communities into account, through increased pollution and emission of greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming.

Dominion Energys export terminal in Cove Point, Maryland, is scheduled to open in the coming weeks. Cheniere Energys Sabine Pass facility in Louisiana opened last year. And Chenieres project in Corpus Christi, Texas, is due to open next year.

The projects, along with a fourth export terminal in Freeport, Texas, all were approved by the Obama administration.

____

This story corrects the name of the appeals court.
NEW YORK  Day by day, the accusations pile up, as scores of women come forward to say they were victims of Harvey Weinstein. But others with stories to tell have not.

For some of these women whove chosen not to go public, the fear of being associated forever with the sordid scandal  and the effects on their careers, and their lives  might be too great. Or they may still be struggling with the lingering effects of their encounters.

Canadian actress Erika Rosenbaum, 37, had just gone public with her own allegations of sexual misconduct by Weinstein when, about 10 days ago, she received a Facebook message from a young woman, asking if they could speak.

The aspiring filmmaker and actress had listened to Rosenbaums recorded interview with The New York Times, in which she described several disturbing incidents in hotel rooms with the producer some 15 years ago. And she wanted to tell Rosenbaum about her own, remarkably similar but much more recent experiences with Weinstein  a series of harrowing hotel-room encounters which, she says, took place just last year, when she was 21.

She told Rosenbaum that shed developed a relationship with Weinstein, that was really two relationships: One where he was very much a mentor  and another that I kept locked inside a secret compartment in my mind where he was manipulating me in a way that I didnt know how Id got there, or how to get out.

It really was like speaking to myself at that age, Rosenbaum says.

I felt like I was talking to an older version of myself, says the young woman.

She wanted Rosenbaums advice: Should she go public with her story? She wanted her experience to serve as a warning for other young women about what can happen in friendships with powerful older men. But she was just beginning her career, and worried about being tainted by association with the scandal. And because the encounters were so recent, she was only beginning to process it all.

Rosenbaum told her that going public was a personal decision, not right for everyone  If shes not ready to come forward, shes not ready.

The young woman has decided that for now, she is not. Im not Gwyneth or Angelina or Lupita, she says of some of the most famous women who have accused Weinstein. I think I deserve to build my career without being linked to Harvey Weinstein every time somebody Googles my name.

___

As any advocate for victims of sexual harassment or assault will tell you, the decision of whether to come forward can be an excruciating one  even when the assailant is not a famous Hollywood figure.

It is an agonizing decision for everyone, says Jeanie Kurka Reimer, whos spent 30 years working in the field of sexual assault in Wisconsin, as an advocate, therapist and consultant. But in a high-profile case like Weinsteins, she adds, theres yet another layer of difficulty. You cant ever take it back, she says of the choice to go public. Its a life-changing decision.

Anita Hill, a symbol for many women in the fight against sexual harassment, understands well why a woman, especially at the beginning of her career, would stay silent. When a person has moved on and become a star, its easier for that person to be embraced and not feel the repercussions of speaking out, says Hill, who was excoriated by many when she famously testified in 1991 that then-Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas had sexually harassed her.

But when theyre young, she said in a recent interview, its a big question mark as to how people are going to react. And they still have their lives to think about. There still can be a negative public reaction, even though we say (sexual harassment) is wrong.

This is why, Hill and others note, many victims accept confidential settlements in sexual harassment cases. And, she notes, only a fraction of cases are even reported at all.

Though Weinsteins rapid downfall  he was fired by his own company, and expelled from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and other groups  likely lessens the fear of retaliation, there remains the fear of being stigmatized. Its a fear expressed even by an established actress like Anabella Sciorra, who alleged in The New Yorker this week that Weinstein had raped her in the early 90s.

Now when I go to a restaurant or to an event, people are going to know that this happened to me, Sciorra told the magazine. Theyre gonna look at me and theyre gonna know. Im an intensely private person, and this is the most unprivate thing you can do.

Attorney Gloria Allred has brought four Weinstein accusers in front of cameras in recent days. But she says others have come to her who arent going public, and shes certain there are many more out there. As Rosenbaum speculates: Im sure there are many young women who are too fresh from this experience to speak out. Most of the women weve heard from are over 30. Theres got to be a whole slew of young women that arent saying anything right now.

___

Like Rosenbaum, the young woman, who related her story in multiple interviews with The Associated Press on condition of anonymity, met Weinstein at a party. It was the spring of 2016. According to her account, Weinstein asked to see a film shed made and gave her his cell number.

She called, eager for his mentorship. They met three times and simply discussed cinema. Whatever you want to say, hes a genius about film, she says.

But then, after an evening event with Weinstein and others, they ended up back at his hotel, she says. She assumed everyone was meeting for dinner. They had a drink in his suite; still no others arrived. Suddenly, in a scenario that matches that of many accusers, Weinstein made a brief exit and returned naked, the woman alleges. He asked her to strip; she said no, repeatedly, but he kept negotiating. Eventually, the woman alleges, both were naked, and he convinced her to give him a massage and then lie on the bed as he masturbated.

Even before she left the room, she says she was blaming herself. Im feeling, I did this,' she recalls thinking. I put myself here, and now I have to clean up my mess.' But she hoped it was just a one-time thing. And, she stresses, she wanted to keep the mentorship  and what she believed was a friendship  on track.

More meetings followed. Some, but not all, ended up in hotel rooms, she says. The woman says she refused to have intercourse with Weinstein. But she says he persisted in other ways, including pressuring her into oral sex. On three occasions, when she refused to participate in three-way sex, he directed her to watch him engage in activity with the other woman, she says. And what became the norm, she says, is that he would pleasure himself behind her as she stood naked in front of a mirror.

The young woman says she felt so debased and ashamed by these encounters that she lied to all her close friends and family, saying everything was above board. After nine months, she finally told her parents what had been happening.

Youre going to hate me, youre going to hate me, she repeated over and over to her mother, according to the accounts of both women, weeping and shaking as they sat in the family car. She recalls even recoiling from her mothers sympathetic hug, saying Im disgusting.

Soon after, the young woman deleted all texts from Weinstein, she says. The AP has seen written journal entries referring to him, and emails of a non-intimate nature; it has also spoken to family members and her manager, who feel she should stay anonymous, given her young age and fledgling career.

Through a spokesman, Weinstein has consistently denied all allegations of non-consensual sex. (Representatives did not reply to repeated requests for comment on this story.)

The woman finds that questionable. I said No the first few times but then I just did it, she says. I felt like I didnt have an option. She adds: I wasnt sure what he would do if I said no. I had heard he could make someone completely obsolete in a second. I was scared of that.

___

Rosenbaum, too, was in her early 20s when she met Weinstein. I was the same age and probably a very similar young woman  a little bit of talent and ambition and brains, she says.

She too ended up in a hotel room, where she alleges he coaxed her into a massage. She decided complying was the safe way out. I didnt want to humiliate the all-powerful Oz, she told the Times.

The next time Rosenbaum found herself in a hotel room with Weinstein, the producer brought her into a bathroom, where, she alleges, he stood her in front of a mirror, held her by the back of the neck and masturbated behind her. She had one more encounter, in his office, where she says he also made sexual advances.

He didnt have a gun to my head, he didnt wrestle me to the floor, Rosenbaum told the Times of their meetings, which took place over an extended period. I just didnt know how to get out. After that, she says, I lied to cover my embarrassment and my shame, keeping the secret from others.

But when the Weinstein story broke this month, Rosenbaum, who lives in Montreal, was in a far different place than she was 15 years ago. Now a mother of three small children, she says the intervening years had provided needed perspective. My life is full and balanced in a way it wasnt when I was young, she says. Its bigger than just work. I see the long game now. That balance gave me the ability to be honest.

Still, the decision to go public wasnt simple. I still very much believed that I could be blackballed as a troublemaker, she says. Even now, when so many more women have come out, she says she realizes there may well be people who dont want to work with me. But there will also be people who do.

She has been buoyed, she says, by the sisterhood of women who have been reaching out to her  some to thank her, others to tell their own stories.

As the young woman did. When they spoke by telephone, Rosenbaum says, one question the younger woman grappled with was how she had allowed herself to get into those unwanted sexual situations with Weinstein.

And then Rosenbaum told her something that she found comforting.

I told her something about consent, that I did not know at her age, Rosenbaum says. I told her that if youre afraid to say no, then it isnt consent.
CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C.  A former Marine Corps drill instructor was drunk on power and targeted three Muslim recruits for abuse, prosecutors said at the opening of his court-martial on charges including cruelty and maltreatment.

Gunnery Sgt. Joseph Felix punched, choked and kicked recruits at the Marine Corps Parris Island, South Carolina, training center, prosecutors said Tuesday, according to multiple news outlets.

Felix also burned one recruit after ordering him into a commercial clothes dryer and turning it on after interrogating him about his Muslim faith, prosecutors told jurors. Felix told another Muslim recruit: Hey, ISIS, get in the dryer, prosecutors said.

You will learn the accused is drunk on power, prosecutor Capt. Corey Weilert told the eight-person jury hearing the case at the sprawling North Carolina Marine Corps base.

After a confrontation in March 2016 when Felix slapped his face, 20-year-old Raheel Siddiqui of Taylor, Michigan, fell three stories to his death, investigators said. Siddiquis death was declared suicide, but since then Marine Corps officials have said they uncovered widespread hazing of recruits and young drill instructors and identified up to 20 people possibly tied to misconduct.

A commanding officer at Parris Island who was fired amid allegations of misconduct after Siddiquis death also faces a court-martial. Lt. Col. Joshua Kissoon is charged with making false statements, failing to heed an order and other charges. He will face court-martial at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia, but no trial date has been set.

Mentions of Siddiquis death is being limited by Judge Lt. Col. Michael Libretto to testimony addressing an obstruction charge facing Felix. Prosecutors say Felix told recruits not to talk about the incident outside of the unit, The Island Packet of Hilton Head, South Carolina, reported .

Felix also faces three counts of maltreatment toward Siddiqui and the two other Muslim recruits, as well as nine counts of violating an order, making a false statement and being drunk and disorderly.

Ameer Bourmeche, now a 23-year-old lance corporal at Camp Pendleton in California, said he was roused awake in the middle of the night in July 2015 by shouts of Wheres the terrorist? He said Felix and another drill instructor, Sgt. Michael Eldridge, marched him to the barracks shower room, where Felix elbowed him in the chin. They smelled of alcohol, Bourmeche testified.

Eldridge also was charged, but he is cooperating with the prosecution and is expected to face less-severe punishment, The Washington Post reported .

Bourmeche said Felix and Eldridge ordered him to do pushups and other exercises in the shower, then told him to climb into an industrial-size clothes dryer. He said they turned on the dryer with him inside three separate times. Each time, the drill instructors asked whether he renounced Islam. The third time, Bourmeche said, he told them he was no longer a Muslim.

Defense counselor Navy Lt. Cmdr. Clay Bridges told jurors that testimony by Bourmeche and other recruits are boot camp stories that have been conflated, are contradictory and blown out of proportion.

The trial is scheduled to last about two weeks.
NEW YORK  President Donald Trump and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer have become locked in a political fight over the tragic terror attack in Manhattan, which killed eight and wounded 14.

Schumer blasted Trump on the Senate floor Wednesday morning, just hours after the president suggested the New York Democrat was at fault for Tuesdays attack.

President Trump, where is your leadership? Schumer said. The contrast between President (George W.) Bushs actions after 9/11 and President Trumps actions this morning could not be starker.

Hours earlier Trump began tweeting that attacker Sayfullo Saipov entered the U.S. in 2010 through the Diversity Visa Lottery from Uzbekistan.

The terrorist came into our country through what is called the Diversity Visa Lottery Program, a Chuck Schumer beauty. I want merit based, Trump tweeted.

The Washington Post noted Schumer, then in the House of Representatives, worked on the broader Immigration Act of 1990, of which the Diversity Visa program was a part.

Trumps tweet came after reports Saipov, who drove the equivalent of 14 blocks on a bike path during his rampage, entered the U.S. with a Diversity Visa  prompting conservatives to attack Schumer.

Trump doubled down on the vitriol, using Tuesdays bloodshed to push for a merit-based system for allowing foreign nationals into the country.

We are fighting hard for Merit Based immigration, no more Democrat Lottery Systems. We must get MUCH tougher (and smarter), Trump spouted about seven minutes after his first tweet. He tagged Fox News Fox & Friends morning show.

Schumer, speaking on the Senate floor, shamed Trumps response  drawing a parallel to Bushs appearance at Ground Zero after 9/11.

He also pointed out Trumps proposed budget had cuts to anti-terror funding, which Schumer said was crucial to NYPD efforts to prevent attacks.

So again, I am calling on the president to rescind his proposed cuts to this vital anti-terrorism funding immediately instead of dividing, instead of politicizing, do something real, Mr. President, Schumer said.

The Immigration Act of 1990 overwhelmingly passed both the House and Senate  controlled by Democrats at the time  and was signed into law by President George H.W. Bush, a Republican, not long after receiving it.

Schumer was also part of the bipartisan Gang of Eight group of senators who in 2013 proposed an immigration reform bill that wouldve done away with the program. The law, which also wouldve strengthened merit-based visa programs, failed to pass.

Thats something Trump critic Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., pointed out Wednesday morning.

Actually, the Gang of 8, including @SenSchumer, did away with the Diversity Visa Program as part of broader reforms. I know, I was there, Flake retorted to Trumps tweet.



2017 New York Daily News

Visit New York Daily News at www.nydailynews.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

-

PHOTO (for help with images, contact 312-222-4194): NY-ATTACK

_____
Mindshare completes 20 years today (November 1, 2017) and the landmark is being celebrated across its 116 offices in 86 countries spread throughout North America, Latin America, Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific, involving over 8,000 employees.

Dedicated to forging competitive marketing advantage for businesses and their brands, the global media agency has been basking in glory since its inception in 1997 in Asia. The story of Mindshare is one of Speech, TeamWork and Provocation.

Gowthaman Ragothaman, Global Chief Strategy Officer for Mindshare FAST, wrote in his Facebook wall: Proud to be Purple! How time flies! Have seen this company grow alongside my son. Both are not a teenager anymore! But would like to keep Mindshare at 19 forever! Let the wisdom become its muscle memory and let its youth remain; Forever young. At the edge, breaking down all conventions, continuously curious, optimistic, energetic, reconfiguring, startup, FAST, provocative and yet collaborative! #TeamMindshare.

On the occasion of its 20th anniversary, Mindshare is launching www.teammindshare.com, wherein the talents across the network will share their stories. Celebration is in full swing, while social media is abuzz with hashtags #Purplepeople #teammindshare #Mindshareturns20 and many more.

A video, titled The Official history of Mindshare, on the networks website mentions, Mindshares approach is centred on winning, innovating and constantly evolving to keep ahead of the crowd. Living our values has always defined us. We believe that everything begins and ends in media and there is never a finish line. We will remain dissatisfied one global family trying to change the world as long as media is evolving so are we.

Being the first new global company created by WPP, the two-decade old agencys culture is to constantly change and develop. It claims to have always been a very different media company, both in name and attitude. From the original idea of the House of Media in 1997 to the new definition of the 21st century  that of a Full service agency. Mindshare redefined volume into the industry by helping to create GroupM and intelligently leveraging scale to help benefit its clients.

Recently, Mindshare was recognised as Agency of the Year at the sixth edition of SMARTIES India Awards 2017 by Mobile Marketing Association (MMA). The agency also won accolades at the 17th edition of Emvies, where Mindshare India retained the Media Agency of the Year award, fetching nine Gold, seven Silver and 12 Bronze metals.
Vodafone has announced a significant evolution of its brand positioning and visual identity in India, which focuses on the theme of optimism about the future and positions Vodafone as a modern contemporary, inspiring and future fit brand, using the new tagline  The Future is exciting. Ready?

It is a significant metamorphosis for Vodafone, since the Power to you tagline was introduced in 2009. This new positioning, part of Vodafones global rebranding exercise across 36 countries, is designed to underline the companys belief in new technologies and digital services playing a positive role in transforming society and enhancing individual quality of life in the years ahead.

Launching the new brand identity, Sunil Sood, Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer, Vodafone India, said, India is entering a new exciting era - an era of Digital, Convergence, Big Data, IoT, Cloud, Augmented Realities, Robotics and Artificial Intelligence. The real and virtual worlds are converging at an unprecedented pace to create a bold new future. Our new brand positioning emphasises Vodafones mission and purpose to help customers and communities adapt, navigate and prosper from the remarkable new trends reshaping the world. At Vodafone, we are excited about the possibilities ahead and are ready to enable our customers to conquer this new world.

He further said, Its a huge market out there. This is an exciting technology. We will compete and collaborate with other market players like Facebook as they play on the layers of connectivity we provide. Vodafone will be helping its customers navigate this journey to embrace this technology and enter this new future full of excitement, Sood added.

The new visual identity will place greater emphasis on Vodafones iconic speech mark logo  the biggest change to one of the most recognised symbols of Vodafone since the hallmark logo was created in 1998. The speech mark will now appear as the central graphical focus overlaid on all marketing and marketing communications collateral. The logo will also appear in a new 2D design in place of a skeuomorphic 3D approach.

Following a dramatic rise in digital literacy and adoption in India  a trend thats being reflected across demographics and geography, Vodafones new brand positioning is a visual and intrinsic representation of its Readiness to equip and empower customers to stay connected with their worldFrom saying Hello with conversations on the go, accessing the myriad offerings of mobile internet, content, fin-tech, M2M and IoT solutions, Vodafone has consistently raised the bar in its offerings to cater to the evolving needs of retail and enterprise customers.

The Campaign

Over the years, brand Vodafone has been iconic with the much loved Pug and the ZooZoos. This new positioning further strengthens brand Vodafone and takes it to the next level. A multimedia marketing campaign will look at simple human stories of embracing technology through the eyes of recent common man icons Asha-Bala. These stories will be told across multiple media with a high-decibel 360-degree campaign  from TV to Digital, incorporating the latest technologies.

Elaborating on the new campaign, Piyush Pandey, Executive Chairman & Creative Director, SA Ogilvy & Mather India, said, Any campaign is only an expression of the belief with which a brand is moving forward. Vodafones new campaign is a statement of new philosophy of bringing newer and newer stuff to ease your life and make it as easier for you to actually benefit from it. The new tagline, The future is exciting. Ready?, is a more inclusive line as compared to the previous one, Power to You.

Commenting on the USP of the new campaign, Sunil Sood said, Digital is a reality, therefore, it may have its own speed. We believe that we are the first ones to take a position which is completely Future Fit and which will take us to the next step in our customer journey. Technology cycles are only becoming shorter. India has a large start-up empire. As a telecom major, we meet all the people who are dependent on technology and provide them with the connectivity layer, therefore, we are best positioned here and thats why we say the future is exciting, are you ready?

Meanwhile, referring to the companys future plans, Balesh Sharma, COO, Vodafone India, said, A merger is coming up and we are very optimistically looking forward to it. All options are open thereafter as to the branding. In the foreseeable future, both the great brands will be given a new shine to Vodafone as we get in.
PLEASANTON, Calif., Nov. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Laborers' International Union of North America (LIUNA) and its affiliated Northern California District Council of Laborers and Southern California District Council of Laborers announced its unanimous endorsement of Gavin Newsom for California Governor.

"Gavin Newsom is one of the most effective and responsive leaders I have worked with," said LIUNA Vice President and Northern California District Council of Laborers Business Manager, Oscar De La Torre. "As the Mayor of San Francisco and California Lieutenant Governor, Newsom has consistently demonstrated a track record of fiscal responsibility, social consciousness and a commitment to fight for the working class." De La Torre continues, "These qualities are what sets him apart from the crowded field of gubernatorial candidates; and I believe he is the right man at the right time to be the next Governor of California."

"I am honored to receive this important endorsement," said Newsom. "We've worked together for years because we share the same vision, and I admire their hard work and steadfast commitment to providing living wages, health care, and retirement benefits for working-class Californians."

"The California Governor's Office needs to be occupied by a serious candidate who understands what it means to govern responsibly," said LIUNA Vice President and Pacific Southwest Regional Manager, Rocco Davis. "Newsom is the right candidate for the working men and women of California. He will stand strong with all Californian's by enforcing labor laws and ensuring job opportunities that allow hard working trades men and women an opportunity to provide for their families and retire with dignity. "

"Newsom has the right combination of executive level experience and commitment to balanced job growth and working class values to lead California," said Jon Preciado, Southern California District Council of Laborers Business Manager. "I am confident that he will balance the needs of working class Californians with a sound fiscal policy that will continue to attract employers and job creation in the years to come."

With over 65,000 laborer members and 4500 signatory employers strong  The Northern California District Council of Laborers and Southern California District Council of Laborers are on the forefront of the construction industry, a powerhouse of workers and employers who are proud to build California.

View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/california-laborers-union-endorse-gavin-newsom-for-california-governor-300546962.html

SOURCE Northern California District Council of Laborers
TEL AVIV, Israel, November 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

Kanabo Research, a Tel Aviv-based medical cannabis R&D Company, recently won the highly esteemed Live Investor Pitch Award for their VapePod, at the CannatTech UK event, held at The Old Truman Brewery in London's Brick Lane on 26th October.

While Kanabo have been developing cutting-edge solutions to assist medical cannabis patients, the unveiling of their new VapePod was a real head turner at the London event, and won the acclaimed award for good reason.

Kanabo's VapePod, the first medical cannabis device to receive initial medical device approval from Israel's Ministry of Health, offers a revolutionary cannabis oil delivery system, designed to treat specific medical ailments and conditions with precision, accuracy and consistency. The VapePod is designed to utilize the highest quality cannabis extracts and to create tailor-made Cannabis formulations that target CNS disorders such as insomnia, anxiety and neuropathic pain, to name just a few.

The company also confirmed that it intends to enter the European market in a serious way, with low THC formulations that are permitted under EU law and will revolutionize the fast growing CBD industry of nutraceuticals.

Kanabo CEO Avihu Tamir, spoke to reporters about the company's VapePod at the event in London, "We have worked tirelessly to create a unique product in the world of medical cannabis. At Kanabo we incorporate extract formulations that are able to target specific ailments and medical conditions for a wide range of patients in need. We are excited that within the next six months clinical trials will commence on our product," he said.

About Kanabo Research: kanaboresearch.com, is an Israeli medical cannabis R&D company founded by Avihu Tamir and David Sack, who combined years of personal experience working with medical cannabis patients in Israel before turning their vision into a reality. The company's mission is to innovate cutting edge medical solutions, while targeting specific medical conditions via their proprietary VapePod system - vapepod.com .

To learn more about Kanabo Research, visit http://www.kanaboresearch.com or email info@kanaboresearch.com.
Garbage in, garbage out

Throughout the 1970s, EPA staff repeatedly raised red flags about the inadequacy of testing data that Monsanto was submitting in support of glyphosates original registration. For example, in an August 1978 memo, TB scientist Krystyna Locke raised concerns about a Monsanto study in which the scientists from the contract lab had failed to record what happened in the experiment. Locke quoted Monsanto scientist Robert Roudabush, who defended the study this way: The scientific integrity of a study should not be doubted because of the inability to observe all primary recording of data. In other words, the EPA should not be concerned by the absence of data. It should simply trust the studys conclusions.

The EPAs Locke also pointed out that it is difficult not to doubt the scientific integrity of a study when the [lab] stated that it took specimens from the uteri (of male rabbits). (A male rabbit does not have a uterus.)

This is only the most egregious example of the unreliable data made available to the EPA during its original regulatory review in the 1970s. Many other EPA memos we examined detail incomplete or otherwise unacceptable toxicology screening tests.

Conversely, one apparently valid study has been the target of major attempts to discredit it by both EPA management and Big Ag. In 1983, the EPA was continuing to examine glyphosate toxicity data supplied by Monsanto in anticipation of the registration review that the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) requires for each pesticide at least every 15 years. As part of that process, Monsanto submitted to the EPA a two-year mouse feeding studya study that has since become a thorn in Monsantos side and a drag on the EPAs push to find glyphosate benign. Its history merits close scrutiny.

The mouse study was conducted for Monsanto by a commercial lab called Bio/Dynamics, but the results of the research were neither peer-reviewed nor made publicly available. Bio/Dynamics studied 200 mice: 50 unexposed control mice and three groups of 50 mice exposed to three different doses of glyphosate. Four of the exposed miceone at the middle dose and three at the highest dosedeveloped kidney tumors called adenomas, which tend to be initially benign but can transform into cancers.

Staff toxicologists, pathologists and statisticians in the TB provided the first interpretation of these results. On March 4, 1985, an ad hoc committee of these scientists reported that based on this mouse study, glyphosate was carcinogenic, or a Class C substance. They did not question the 1983 studys structure or reported data. EPA staff toxicologist William Dykstra, in an April 3, 1985, memo, stated unequivocally, Glyphosate was oncogenic in male mice causing renal tubule adenomas, a rare tumor, in a dose-related manner.

Outside experts

The TB scientists recommended further expert analysis, so in the fall of 1985 Monsanto recruited four outside pathologists to review the original tissue slides from the 1983 study andeventuallyfresh slides taken from the same animals used in that original study. In a March 11, 1986, memo, Dykstra reported on the results of this review: One of the outside pathologists, Marvin Kuschner, saw a tumor in the control group of mice like those found in the exposed groups. Based on this finding, the EPA decided to discount the entire study on the grounds that if an unexposed control mouse had a tumor, the tumors in the exposed mice were not compound-related. Subsequent evaluation of the same evidence by other pathologists found no evidence of a tumor in the control mouse, but the seeds of doubt had already been sown. As late as 2016 the EPA still mentioned the tumor in the control mouse, although it was not there.

Dissatisfied with the first outside experts verdict, the EPA asked another five outside pathologists to look at the mouse tissue slides from that study. According to a March 1, 1986, memo from EPA Hazard Evaluation Division toxicologist D. Stephen Saunders, these experts decided that the incidences of renal tubular-cell neoplasms in this study are not compound-relatedin other words, that the kidney tumors were not related to glyphosate exposure.

Throughout this process, the EPA was riddled with internal dissent. In February 1985, TB statistician Herbert Lacayo wrote an impassioned memo regarding the 1983 mouse study. He concluded that without glyphosate exposure, the odds of seeing the kidney tumors noted in the study were about 156 to 1.

Under such circumstances a prudent person would reject the Monsanto assumption that glyphosate dosing has no effect on kidney tumor production, wrote Lacayo. Our viewpoint is one of protecting the public health when we see suspicious data. It is not our job to protect registrants from false positives.

PassE Toxicology

Monsantos interests were protected by a toxicological tenet that held sway at the time: the linear dose-response. This assumes that the greater the dose of a toxic substance, the greater the effects, and vice versa, often phrased as the dose makes the poison. Under this assumption, a carcinogenicity test would be expected to show tumor size or tumor numbers increasing in linear relation to increased exposure to the carcinogen. In the mouse study, tumor numbers followed this pattern, which the TB noted was an indication that the tumors were glyphosate-related. But the largest tumor was found in one of the middle-dose mice. Pathologist Robert A. Squire, a member of the first outside group consulted, wrote in a September 1985 letter to Monsanto, This would be highly unlikely if the tumors were compound-related. Thus, even though the tumor numbers followed a linear dose-response, the tumor size of the middle-dose mouse presented an opportunity to discount glyphosates effects as non-linear and therefore nonexistent.

In some circumstances, the linear dose-response reasoning makes sense, but the science of chemical health effects has advanced considerably since the 1980s. It is now generally accepted among academic researchers that non-linear dose-responsesresponses in which low levels of exposure may produce more significant effects than high levels and responses in which effects at high doses sometimes plateau or tail offoften occur.

None of the regulatory studies of glyphosate considers the possibility of non-linear dose-responses. The registration documents submitted by Monsanto show that when glyphosate testing data did not conform to the linear dose-response model, the companys hired scientists and the EPAs consultants concluded that adverse effects found in exposed animals were not caused by glyphosate. But this outdated approach underlines why glyphosates toxicity should be revisited using modern concepts and methods.

After a decade of EPA staff scientists repeatedly flagging inconsistencies, mistakes and questionable scientific interpretations in Monsantos data, one might expect the EPA to require rigorous new studies. Instead, the agency continued to invite outside experts to review the data, as though it was determined to ask the same question until it got the answer it was looking for.

Dont like the answer? Ask again.

In early 1986, the EPA called in yet more outside expertsnamely, the agencys FIFRA Scientific Advisory Panel. The seven-member panel included the head of biochemical toxicology and pathobiology at the Chemical Industry Institute of Toxicology (CIIT). This institute was founded by chemical manufacturers and funded by organizations and companies that included the American Chemistry Council (an industry group that boasts Monsanto as a member), and pesticide manufacturers BASF, Bayer and Dow Chemical. The panel also included a consultant who had worked for the ChemAgro Corporation (later part of Bayers agricultural division) before founding her own consultancy.

The FIFRA panel felt that calling glyphosate carcinogenic was going too far and suggested downgrading its classification to D, not classified.

Biostatistician Christopher Portier, formerly a director of the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (part of the Department of Health and Human Services) says the agency should have stuck with the TB ad hoc committees original interpretation. Of the FIFRA panel, he says, I have no clue how they got there.

At the same time, according to a February 1985 summary memo by Stephen L. Saunders, based on the panels advice, The Agency has determined that the existing mouse study does not provide sufficient evidence for a resolution of this issue. Therefore, a repeat mouse study is required.

Despite the EPAs requests for a clarifying experiment, Monsanto apparently refused. Monsantos registration director George B. Fuller protested vigorously in an Oct. 5, 1988, letter to the director of the EPAs Office of Pesticide Programs, Edwin F. Tinsworth. [There is] no relevant scientific or regulatory justification for repeating the glyphosate mouse oncogenicity study, Fuller wrote. We feel that to do so would not be an appropriate use of either the Agencys or Monsantos resources. In a 1988 meeting, the company again pressed the EPA to give up on the repeat mouse study requirement. The EPA backed down.

To our knowledge, the original 1983 mouse-feeding carcinogenicity study was never repeated.

What is clear from available EPA internal records is that when test results suggest toxicity, EPA managementas opposed to EPA staff scientistsconsistently gives Monsanto and its testing laboratories the benefit of the doubt. They defer to Monsantos preferred conclusions instead of requiring the development of additional evidence that would clarify the questions regarding glyphosates carcinogenicity. The documents we have examined indicate that the EPA may have asked foror intended to enforce a requirement forbetter data, but we have seen nothing to show that the agency ever did so. The EPA did not respond to our request for comment.

Despite these omissions and questions, in June 1991, the EPA announced that it was downgrading glyphosate from a Class Dnot classifiable substanceto a Class E substanceone that shows evidence of non-carcinogenicity for humansbased on the lack of convincing evidence in adequate studies. (Note that this implies adequate studies might still provide convincing evidence.)

IARC awakens regulators

After the EPA reregistered glyphosate in 1993, the agencys investigation of glyphosates potential health effects became more or less dormant until controversy erupted when the World Health Organizations IARC concluded in 2015 that glyphosate was probably carcinogenic to humans. That in turn prompted the EPA to develop its Fall 2016 Glyphosate Issue Paper. This document references the 1983 mouse study as a linchpin in its conclusion that glyphosate is not a human carcinogen. Referring to the 1983 study, the EPA wrote, The additional pathological and statistical evaluations concluded that the renal tumors in male mice were not compound-related.

For its part, Monsanto called the IARC review flawed and accused the IARC committee of cherry-picking and overlooking data. Monsanto demanded the reports retraction.
October 23, 2017

The large tasting table, placed at the center of the Station Beirut cultural space, contained an eclectic assortment of rocks marinated in sauces, seawater with smoked salt, and filtered and boiled mud. The more-edible items among the 87 samplers featured were berries and fruit, but observers were also told they could taste or lick the rocks. The culinary "performance" was called "Tasting the Future," and the conversation accompanying the meal was about the history of food and people's connection to it.

Ian Kerr is a member of Spurse, the creative design consultancy responsible for the performance. During the tasting, he talked about how people relate to food  addressing an audience reluctant to taste stones. Food is a major medium of dialogue, Kerr told Al-Monitor, as people know about their local cuisine and are eager to share it.

Everyone knows what their parents used to cook, so we are talking to people about pleasure, joy and curiosities [of the food they consume]. Art may be inaccessible sometimes, but you can make food at home, he said, underlining that while not everyone creates or has access to artwork, most everyone cooks.

Kerr said the rocks and sea salt on the table are intended to demonstrate that the food we consume is part of an ecosystem to which all people belong. The goal is to make people see larger movements of migration, history and society.

"Tasting the Future" was one of three food performances in Station Beirut under the theme "Upon a Shifting Plate," an expression attributed to American poet Emily Dickinsons Fame Is a Fickle Food. "Upon a Shifting Plate" included talks and walks, workshops, tastings and cooking sessions, all aimed at exploring the production and consumption of culinary heritage and how our eating habits shape our psychological and cultural dispositions.

The performances were part of the Beirut component of the Sharjah Biennial event, which the Sharjah Art Foundation in the United Arab Emirates has organized since 1993. This year's edition, SB13, was curated by Christine Tohme, the founding director of Ashkal Alwan, a Lebanese association for plastic arts.

The title of the biennial this year was Tamawuj," a noun in Arabic that means the rising and falling of waves. On Sharjah Art Foundations website, this title is described as a flowing, swelling, surging, fluctuation or a wavy undulating appearance, outline or form. It also says the title reflects SB13s aims to cultivate collaborations between Sharjah and local partners.

SB13 has been going on since the beginning of 2016 in various locations. The finale took place Oct. 14-22 in Beirut and included lectures, performances, films and exhibitions.

The main goal was to decentralize, rather than having the biennial in a single, fixed setting. As part of the effort to decentralize, the two main events were held in Sharjah and Beirut, and three other off-site projects took place in Istanbul, Ramallah, and Dakar, Senegal.

The biennial also focused on the way young communities explore revolutionary ideas and challenge authority through an exhibition titled An Unpredictable Expression of Human Potential, curated by Hicham Khalidi, the associate curator for Lafayette Anticipation. Located at the Beirut Art Center, the exhibition focused on youth culture, social anger and unrest, and urban environment, as viewed by about a dozen young and upcoming artists.

At the entrance of the exhibition, the audience was welcomed by the sound work of Mohammed Bourouissa from France, who recorded and mixed sounds from the Sunday market in Beirut, an informal, traditional market. The sounds accompanied photos taken by French photographer Dorine Potel of cars displaying products to sell on the market of Tripoli. Potel told Al-Monitor the ideas work well together.

My pictures are about seeing how life is organized outside official structures, in a poor and popular area with people from all origins and with different stories," Potel said.

Other works were more openly rebellious, such as a bronze bread broken on the floor, films about migration and youth, or pictures of rough neighborhoods. Dala Nasser, a Lebanese artist, exhibited a piece made out of turmeric because of the health-food trend. I think the art world is turning a blind eye on real issues, but it needs to be reminded [of what is happening in the world from] time to time, Nasser told Al-Monitor.

At the Sharjah Biennial, the themes and topics addressed were anything but light. Khalidi told Al-Monitor, The exhibition is built on the idea of young peoples position today on issues such as refugees or post-colonialism and they want long-term solutions for those crises. The youth [are] now confronting policymakers who are only thinking short-term.
October 31, 2017

The Israeli political arena has been in uproar for a while now over a bill proposal advanced by Likud member David Amsalem to grant immunity to sitting prime ministers, protecting them from police investigations and indictment while serving. On the night of Oct. 28, senior Likud ministers were shocked to hear media reports that David Bitan, chairman of the governing coalition, is planning to put Amsalem's proposed legislation, the so-called French Law, to a vote in the Ministerial Committee for Legislation. He made his decision despite an agreement reached a few days earlier to put the proposed legislation on hold. Apparently, the goal in passing it would be to afford Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a chance to avoid criminal investigations if he is elected to another term. If passed, the French Law, nicknamed after a similar provision in France, would not cover the current term.

HaBayit HaYehudi has already expressed its opposition to the bill. Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon, chairman of Kulanu, announced that he would allow his Knesset members to vote according to their conscience. Meanwhile, Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit has issued a statement saying the proposed legislation would be a blow to the rule of law. It would therefore have appeared that the French Law was dead and buried.

It turns out that while Bitan was retreating from that piece of legislation, as Netanyahu's "fixer," he was promoting the "Bibi 2 Law," which would prohibit the police from releasing summaries of an investigation after an investigation is concluded. This toned-down version of the French Law would also be to Netanyahu's advantage in that even once the current police investigations into his possible corruption are concluded, the public would still not know whether there is an evidentiary basis for putting him on trial until the attorney general's office makes a decision on whether to indict. This would give Netanyahu the time he needs to run for re-election and win, according to the current polls. In other words, Netanyahu would form the next government.

Bitan's Saturday night surprise resulted in a coalition crisis, as anticipated. HaBayit HaYehudi leaders claimed his action violated an agreement with them not to bring the proposed law before the Ministerial Committee for Legislation, but Bitan has insisted that if the French Law is not put up for a vote, no other piece of coalition legislation will be brought before the committee either.

Likud's ministers, including the most senior among them, came to the conclusion the night of Oct. 28 that, yet again, Netanyahu is not taking them into consideration, that Bitan has managed to work his way around all of them and that he is now the political figure closest to the prime minister. It was obvious to everyone that the move had been coordinated with Netanyahu to create an atmosphere of unease within the coalition. Some ministers raised the possibility that Bitan's stubborn insistence is just spin, intended to distract the media from a new lawsuit by a former cleaning lady that a former employee of the prime minister's residence has brought against Netanyahu's wife, Sara.

What really concerns senior members of the Likud and the coalition, however, is the question of whether Netanyahu is intentionally pulling the rug out from under HaBayit HaYehudi and Kahlon to create a coalition crisis that will lead to early elections. According to this scenario, if Netanyahu succeeds in advancing the election before Mandelblit makes a decision on whether to indict, it will be easier for him to be re-elected. If reelected, he might then be able to pass the French Law and avoid further investigations in office. This would also block any rival claimants to the Likud leadership, chief among them former Minister Gideon Saar. Both Saar and Transportation Minister Yisrael Katz are being mentioned as potential heirs if Netanyahu is forced to resign because of the investigations into his dealings.

"It is absolutely infuriating that we have no idea what Netanyahu is planning," one senior Likud minister told Al-Monitor on the condition of anonymity. "My feeling is that he wants to advance the next election, because now he is strong and the polls show that he would be the next prime minister. The problem is that he needs an excuse. Otherwise, what would he say to his coalition partners, who dont want an election now."

Topping the list of coalition partners who do not want an election is Kahlon. He actually told Netanyahu that he would not help him advance to elections. That is why Kahlon announced Oct. 1 that he intends to pass the 2019 budget very soon. Passing the budget would provide the government a stable coalition and limit the number of reasons to advance the election. It is in Kahlon's interest to hold elections as far into the future as possible, since that would give him more time to improve in the polls. At the same time, it would be detrimental to Labor Party Chairman Avi Gabbay, Kahlon's nemesis. Kahlon had appointed Gabbay environment minister on behalf of Kulanu only to have him quit the party and government and take over the Labor Party. Kahlon cannot abide by the fact that Gabbay is soaring in the polls. He believes, however, that Gabbay will, with time, wear out his welcome.

Kahlon is not Netanyahu's only problem. The chairman of the ultra-Orthodox Shas, Interior Minister Aryeh Deri, also has no interest in advancing elections. Deri is entangled in criminal investigations of his own, and recent polls show that Shas might not even pass the electoral threshold, disappearing from the Knesset if elections were held today. Another coalition partner who has no interest in early elections is the chairman of Yisrael Beitenu, Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman. He loves his job and will do anything to prevent the coalition from falling apart.

Netanyahu is well aware that his coalition partners will block just about any move he makes to hold early elections, so he is constantly testing their limits. The current assessment in the political arena, however, is that if Netanyahu does decide to initiate a move leading toward early elections, it would be hard to stop him.

On Oct. 29, as the shock waves from the French Law crisis rippled through the coalition, Netanyahu told a meeting of Likud ministers that he is not interested in passing legislation related to the investigations into his actions. Nevertheless, no one really believes that Bitan acted on his own one night prior. This is just the second week of the Knesset's winter session, which is taking place in the shadow of the criminal investigations into Netanyahus affairs. Yet his coalition is stable. While not one of his coalition partners wants early elections, his position in the Likud is solid.

What all this means is that it looks like Netanyahu's fourth government will be able to complete its term, until 2019, as Netanyahu has said on more than one occasion he wants to do. Nevertheless, the coalition and the Likud itself are wary of the prime minister. They would not be at all surprised if they wake up one fine morning to a crisis that will make it impossible for the current government to continue in office.
October 31, 2017

RAMALLAH, West Bank  The US Consulate in Jerusalem launched a $10 million project on Oct. 15 to support the water sector in the West Bank governorate of Jericho. In attendance during the announcement of the launch was Jason Greenblatt, US President Donald Trumps special envoy to the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.

The project will expand the network of pipelines that flow into the wastewater treatment plant in Jericho, connecting 10,000 new residents to the network, which was funded in 2016 by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). This means that the new project (network expansion), which should be ready by early 2018, will connect 70% of the residents of Jericho to the water treatment plant, which, in turn, was funded by the Japanese government in the city and launched by Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah in June 2014.

The project will be of great help to the farmers in the city of Jericho and the Jordan Valley, especially palm farmers, as it will increase their irrigation resources, which is the biggest problem plaguing this sector.

Water scarcity is the main problem faced by palm farmers in Jericho, as Israeli authorities control the water resources in Jericho and the Jordan Valley, which are in Area C, and prevent Palestinians from digging new water wells.

In this vein, Clayton Alderman, the spokesperson and media attache for the US Consulate General in Jerusalem, told Al-Monitor, This project improves wastewater collection services to Jericho households by connecting them to the city sewage network, which feeds the wastewater treatment plant constructed by the Japanese government. The treated wastewater is then recycled for agriculture irrigation, which contributes to economic growth. The US government invests in water and wastewater infrastructure to improve the daily lives of Palestinians and enhance the prospects for lasting peace.

While the project aims to connect 10,000 additional residents to the plant, it also provides a safe way to dispose of wastewater so as not to harm the health of the Jericho residents, Alderman added.

Asked about the significance of the project for the agricultural sector, Alderman said, Water is very scarce in the arid Jordan Valley. Also, the high salinity of the soil makes groundwater unsuitable for irrigation in that area. In other words, the project addresses these challenges by providing a sustainable source of irrigation for farmers in Jericho.

As for the relation between the project and the US administrations role in the peace process, Alderman said, The US administration and President Trump are committed to a just and lasting peace between the Palestinians and the Israelis.

He added, Greenblatt confirmed that a key element in the peace process is a prosperous economy. Also, there is a need for real opportunities for Palestinians across the West Bank and Gaza, so this project is a step in that direction.

The US government project was established in cooperation with the Japanese government, which financed the construction of a sewage treatment plant through the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA). JICA started constructing the plant in 2011 and inaugurated it in 2014, and the US government has been gradually establishing a network of water pipelines, most recently on Oct. 15.

Abdel Nasser Makki, the head of the sewage and waste disposal department at JICA, told Al-Monitor, The idea of building a sewage treatment plant started in 2011 in a bid to get rid of the cesspits scattered in the city and ward off the threat they pose to the environment and the health of the Jericho residents  $32 million has been earmarked for the construction of the plant and the network of main water transport lines in the area.

In 2012, we launched a new phase of the project worth $6 million to raise the efficiency of the municipality of Jericho when it comes to dealing with the station. We also wanted to teach the human cadres in the municipality how to deal with the station and the main lines, and how to connect them to the houses  especially considering that the municipality lacked a wastewater department that could provide specialized employees, Makki added.

The maximum capacity of the station is 8,000-9,000 cubic meters per day, and it is now receiving between 700-900 cubic meters of wastewater and sewage. But with the completion of the US project and once 70% of the Jericho houses are connected to the station, this level will jump to 2,500-3,000 cubic meters per day, according to Makki.

The station gets wastewater through a network. It then treats it so it is suitable for irrigation and transfers it to a large basin to be subsequently sent to palm growers in Jericho via a huge electric pump. This takes place under the supervision of the Jericho municipality, being the competent authority.

Head of the Jericho municipality Salem Gharouf told Al-Monitor, The importance of the project lies in its ability to provide water to encourage the expansion of agricultural lands  especially as farmers have been suffering from water scarcity.

Gharouf said that 10 palm growers in Jericho were currently benefiting from the stations treated water, but once the US project is completed, more than 50 farmers will benefit in light of the increasing lands planted with palm trees. These are estimated at 5,000 dunums (5 square kilometers).

Asked about the stations ability to satisfy the increasing demand for water, Gharouf said, The plant is currently pumping about 900 cubic meters per day, which is not enough amid the increasing demand for water. But we expect this level to increase once the project is completed so that farmers can take advantage of the stations water pump, which is only operating at 10% capacity.

Amid this increasing need for additional water resources to irrigate trees and expand farms, palm growers in Jericho are hoping that the new project will meet some of their needs until they are able to benefit from the Palestinian water resources that are controlled by Israel in the Jordan Valley.
October 31, 2017

Russia and Iran are hijacking the Syria peace talks to outmaneuver the United States and cement their influence in the country for decades to come, opposition leader Riad Seif told Al-Monitor in an exclusive interview on the sidelines of his first official visit to Washington.

Seif was in town last week for a two-day conference aimed at organizing the Syrian-American community into a potent lobbying force in the Donald Trump era. As head of the Istanbul-based National Coalition of Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces since May, Seif has made it a priority to court US support for the beleaguered opposition and warn that Moscow and Tehran are using parallel peace talks in Astana to supplant UN-backed negotiations in Geneva.

Our concern is that Astana will supersede Geneva, he told Al-Monitor during an interview at his hotel. If Astana is the internal solution, this will be very catastrophic and devastating for the Syrian people.

In particular, Seif raised concerns that so-called de-escalation zones negotiated in Astana amount to little more than a partitioning of Syria among rival powers, without any say from the Syrian people. The coalition announced today that it was boycotting the Astana talks, declaring that it will not participate in any negotiations with the regime outside Geneva or without UN sponsorship.

The four de-escalation zones are developing in a very dangerous way, and they are going to turn into four countries, he said. They say these four de-escalation zones are only for six months, but they're renewable.  So this might go on for dozens of years or maybe forever.

The United States only has observer status at the Astana talks, which are spearheaded by Bashar al-Assad regime backers Russia and Iran and opposition patron Turkey. The seventh round of the Astana talks concluded Oct. 31.

A longtime dissident and former member of parliament who was detained and tortured under Assads rule, Seif said both the Barack Obama and the Trump administrations had failed secular opposition forces by preventing them from fighting the regime and ending programs to arm the rebels. He urged Trump to play a more forceful role in backing the opposition in order to compel Assad and his international backers to make concessions at the negotiating table.

We need political, military and economic support from the United States, said Seif. If the coalition is strong, it will make an equilibrium on the ground and will force the regime to sit at the table for a political solution.

Seif said the opposition wants to work with the Trump administration on two common goals: fighting terrorism and countering the Iranian influence in Syria and in the region while keeping the Russians from exerting more force and control in the region.

To that end, Seif told Al-Monitor that the opposition plans to double down on lobbying Congress and the White House by uniting the opposition and the Syrian diaspora in the United States. He pointed out that 21 members of Congress attended the forum, including House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce, R-Calif. An opposition official in Washington told Al-Monitor that Seif also met with State Department and White House National Security Council officials on Oct. 31.

We will have a permanent office here in Washington with the cooperation of the Syrian American community, Seif said. From now on, we will be concentrating on the most important ally for us, the Americans.

The below transcript of the interview, conducted via a translator, has been edited for brevity and clarity.

Al-Monitor: Can you tell me more about your trip to Washington? Who did you meet with during the [Oct. 26-27] American Forum on Syria Policy? And what objectives are you pursuing here on behalf of the coalition?

Seif: First of all, this visit is not a program to meet people from the [Donald Trump] administration. The goal is to meet people from the expatriate Syrian community. In my opinion, there had been shortcomings in building relationships with the administration and with members of the Congress. It's a shortcoming from the Syrian community here.

On the first day of the conference, we had 21 congressmen who support the Syrian revolution. They emphasized their support and are considered friends of the Syrian people. We are hoping to build on this relationship and to develop it with the Congress. Since I was staying here for two days, we did not have any plan to meet officials from the US administration because this meeting requires prior preparations.

Lately the coalition has strengthened itself and is playing a wider and stronger role. Right now the coalition has two tasks. One task is that we have the duty of political representation and political expression. And the coalitions performance was acceptable in this regard.

The second task is managing the liberated areas in order not to leave a vacuum after the withdrawal of the regime forces. However, due to certain circumstances, the coalition wasn't able to take on this role. This has caused the most damage. This vacuum of power was filled in by extremist groups like the Islamic State [IS] and [Jabhat] al-Nusra [now known as Jabhat Fatah al-Sham].

We were trying to avoid all these mistakes, and after a lot of insistence, we are able to retake the border crossings from some military factions. This will be followed up by other quick steps. They will be delivering services and other things. This will be done with the coordination and the cooperation of the Turkish government.

And regarding [the former IS stronghold of] Raqqa, we hope to be forming a local provincial council that is composed of the people of Raqqa.

Al-Monitor: Not the YPG [Kurdish leftist Peoples Protection Units]?

Seif: No. This step will be very difficult to do, but the role of the coalition and its interim government will be very important and crucial in order to guarantee stability. And of course the same thing will be done in Idlib after it is rid of al-Nusra. And this will apply in all other areas of de-escalation of violence like Deir ez-Zor and others.

Al-Monitor: You mentioned that you want places like Raqqa to be governed by the local residents. Did you support the US decision to arm the YPG to retake Raqqa? If not, what would your preferred strategy have been?

Seif: The people of Raqqa cannot accept to be occupied by the YPG in a direct or indirect way. There is a feeling of injustice and anger that is growing inside Raqqa residents due to the US support to the YPG. The YPG has a black history and black record in Syria because they have displaced a lot of Syrians from different areas.

Even if the United States wants to reward the YPG for their participation in the liberation of Raqqa, it should not be at the expense of the Raqqa population. The provincial council of Raqqa should be in accordance with the demographic distribution of Raqqa, and they should respect human rights.

This is the ideal solution. However, the continuation of the situation like it is right now might be the beginning of a civil conflict in Raqqa.

Al-Monitor: The next round of Syria peace talks [spearheaded by Russia, Turkey and Iran] in Astana will take place Monday and Tuesday [Oct. 30-31]. Will you be attending the talks? What outcome do you hope will emerge?

Seif: The coalition is not participating officially in Astana. However, there are a significant number of Astana members who come from military factions that are represented in the coalition. The legal expert in Astana is also from the coalition. But he's going there on his personal behalf, not as a representative of the coalition.

We have some concerns regarding Astana. Our concern is that Astana will supersede [the UN-sponsored talks in] Geneva and be the alternative of Geneva. We see that is the Russian plan.

If Astana is the internal solution, this will be very catastrophic and devastating for the Syrian people. The four de-escalation zones [negotiated during the Astana talks] are developing in a very dangerous way, and they are going to turn into four countries. They say these four de-escalation zones are only for six months, but they're renewable. They might extend the duration. So this might go for dozens of years or maybe forever.

Therefore, we don't expect much from Astana. And we hope that the track of Geneva will be reactivated because the political solution is the only solution in Syria and the preservation of Syrian unity and territory.

Al-Monitor: Have you explained your concerns to the Turkish government and some of the military factions in the coalition? Have they been receptive?

Seif: Their answer is Astana could never be the alternative to Geneva and they are paying attention to that with great scrutiny. But from previous experience, we have a lot of concerns and they know our concerns because the Russians are the dominating ones. All of Russias plans have been implemented successfully due to the absence of an American role and an American force.

Al-Monitor: The Trump administration has opted to stop arming the opposition against the regime, and the United States only has an observer status in Astana. What do you make of that decreased support for the opposition?

Seif: The alliance and the cooperation between the United States and the armed groups have been going through a lot of failed experiences because the United States has put in a condition for those factions that they should only be fighting IS and not the regime or anyone else. The Americans have failed these armed groups, so they didn't have any other choice except to go in and talk to the YPG because the Americans wouldn't send troops on the ground.

With the current administration, we have two common goals. The first one is countering terrorism, and the second one is countering the Iranian influence in Syria and in the region while keeping the Russians from exerting more force and control in the region. We want the US administration to consider the coalition as a partner whom they can trust and count on in order to achieve common goals.

Al-Monitor: You said you weren't happy with the coalition's previous lobbying of the administration. What would be your approach?

Seif: We will have a permanent office here in Washington with the cooperation of the Syrian American community. From now on, we will be concentrating on the most important ally for us, the Americans. There had been a common consensus on this. Soon it will turn to action.

Al-Monitor: Do you have a rough timeline for all this?

Seif: We have continuous talks and communication with the State Department through [the State Departments top official in charge of Syria policy] Michael Ratney. We will soon have an office here in Washington with representatives from the Syrian American community and a representative from the coalition, but the coalition always has talks with Ratney and others.

Al-Monitor: Now that IS is almost defeated, what do you want the United States to do in Syria?

Seif: The political solution in Syria, which is the political transition, cannot be done without US and Russian agreement. If the Americans are convinced of a political solution in Syria, convincing the Russians is possible. The Americans must have a role in this because the coalition is the only opposition body that has international recognition. We need political, military and economic support from the United States. If the coalition is strong, it will make an equilibrium on the ground and will force the regime to sit at the table for a political solution. Currently the regime doesn't accept any talk of a political transition.

Al-Monitor: You mentioned that after the opposition fought the regime, there was a vacuum that groups like IS and [Jabhat] al-Nusra filled. But some factions represented by the coalition have fought alongside [Jabhat] al-Nusra and other Salafi groups such as Ahrar al-Sham. So what is the coalition's stance on what should be done with such allies? And what is the coalition doing to curb their influence?

Seif: One of the strategic mistakes that we have committed is not countering terrorism in its early stages. We have not treated the early stages of extremism since its beginning because of the depression that we were going through. None of the 15 armed groups that we represent in the coalition are extremist in their position. There is no Ahrar al-Sham or similar groups. Even Jaish al-Islam is not represented in it.

One of the important achievements of the revolution is that the population did not embrace Islamist extremists. There is no role for Islamist politics in it. Political Islam wouldn't have any main role. We shouldn't use force to involve religion in politics.
November 1, 2017

BAGHDAD  Iraqi-Saudi relations have witnessed significant improvement after years of boycott that had worsened during Nouri al-Malikis rule between 2006 and 2014. On Oct. 22, the establishment of a Coordination Council between the two countries was announced.

Iran, which is seeking to expand its influence in Iraq, might not like this rapprochement, especially following the latest meeting between Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi and Saudi King Salman bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud that took place with US blessing when US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson attended the launching of the Coordination Council.

Former Iraqi Ambassador to the US Lukman Faily told Al-Monitor, Over the past years, the US attempted to take serious steps to mend ties between Iraq and Saudi Arabia. With this development, the regions geopolitics will change.

Saudi newspaper Asharq al-Awsat reported that the Iraqi-Saudi rapprochement will curb the appetite of the parties that cause stability, in a clear reference to Iran, which Saudi Arabia always accuses of destabilizing the situation in the region.

The results of the US-brokered Iraqi-Saudi rapprochement started appearing when Tillerson asked Iranian militias to leave Iraq, saying that the Iraqi-Saudi rapprochement will "counter some of the unproductive influences of Iran inside of Iraq.

Hashem al-Haboubi, the deputy secretary general of the Iraqi National Accord movement spearheaded by Iraqi Vice President Ayad Allawi, told Asharq al-Awsat that the Iraqi-Saudi rapprochement might help Iraq break free from Iranian control.

The Iraqi-Saudi rapprochement does not include the Iraqi state in its explicit form only, but also expands to political parties that are at odds with Iran such as the Sadrist movement led by Muqtada al-Sadr, who visited Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates two months ago and headed to Jordan recently to visit King Abdullah.

Saudi Arabia is seeking alliances that can cement its presence in Iraq through political, economic or social relations. The kingdom invited several Iraqi tribe sheikhs to meet with Salman there.

Salman al-Ansari, the head of the Saudi American Public Relation Affairs Committee in the United States, told Al-Monitor, Iraq is a great country and should not be the backyard of the extremist Iranian state. Many regional and international variables are working toward cutting off Irans bloodstained hands.

Ansari said the Iraqi-Saudi rapprochement is important for Arab security and that the coordination council would help both countries cooperate on several levels such as fighting terrorism and reconstruction.

Saudi Arabia will not have it easy in fighting Iran over influence in Iraq, as Iran has been cementing its influence in Iraq for 14 years and has been garnering political and popular support as well as creating armed groups under the pretext of sectarian rapprochement.

The spokesman for Asaib Ahl al-Haq, which is affiliated with the Popular Mobilization Units, Naim al-Aboudi, talked about the importance of Iraqi openness to its Arab surroundings. But Aboudi, who belongs to a political bloc that considers velayat-e faqih an authority, told Al-Monitor that the Iraqi government must not rush into opening up until Saudi Arabia proves its good intentions toward Iraq. He said, Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries destabilized Iraqs security and facilitated the entry of terrorists into the country.

Irans allies in Iraq do not want their country to be part of the US-Arab axis. They want a balance in Iraqs relations without having to join any axis. Aboudi said that Iraq is an axis in itself, drawing Arabs closer to Iran and Turkey.

Can Saudi Arabia play a big role in Iraq and stabilize it, 14 years after Iranian economic, political, cultural and armed dominance? Perhaps it can with continuing US support for Iraq and Saudi Arabia.

The high-level Iraqi visits to Jeddah and Riyadh have increased lately on the diplomatic, economic and military levels. Political figures and parties as well as leaders of armed groups translate relations between Iran and Iraq.

Saudi Arabias goals in Iraq are not limited to mending ties, but go beyond that. The kingdom wants to curb Iranian influence and make a strong entrance into the Iraqi market.

Saudi Arabia took key practical steps in this direction. It opened a consulate in Najaf, which is considered the Vatican of the Shiites, and launched direct flights between Baghdad and Riyadh. The kingdom has also increased its participation in international economic forums in Baghdad, counting 60 companies that partook in Baghdads International Fair.

Saudi Arabia and Iraq will share the profit of curbing Iranian influence in Iraq. Abadis government is trying to reduce the Iranian impact on Iraqs decision-making gradually and definitively. Saudi Arabia  with US support  will be one of the contributing factors to scaling down Irans presence in Iraq.

The Iraqi-Saudi rapprochement indicates that Iranian influence in Iraq will not remain the same. But Iran, which has power over Iraqi state institutions and has armed groups advocating for it, will create huge hurdles in the way of Iraqi and Saudi ambitions.

The Saudi-Iraqi rapprochement will clearly impact the Iraqi political arena, especially as it did not limit itself to Sunni entities, but also included Iraqi state institutions and different sects like Shiites who are the majority in the country.
November 1, 2017

Since the Jan. 1 nightclub attack in Istanbul, the Turkish government has perceptibly ramped up its struggle against extreme Salafi-jihadi networks in Turkey. This struggle by Turkish intelligence and the security establishment against the Islamic State (IS) and al-Qaeda-affiliated networks of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham  which is particularly active in Syria's Idlib province  lends added significance to the Turkish armys intervention in Idlib about a month ago. The operation in Syria was not a unilateral move, but part of the de-escalation zone project agreed to with Russia and Iran in the Astana peace talks. That aside, it also comes with domestic security benefits.

Ankaras amplifying of its struggle against Salafi-jihadi networks inside Turkey can be deduced from the number of operations conducted and suspects detained. Security sources told Al-Monitor that in 2016, Turkey detained some 2,700 people on suspicion of being Salafi-jihadis, while this year by October, some 4,000 people had already been detained. The number of operations so far this year have doubled compared with 2016 figures. Security sources noted that security operations have only been targeting violent networks and that nonviolent networks with significant popular bases of support have not yet become a focus.

Security sources who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the situation said their operations have become more successful than in the past because of improved intelligence gathering. As Turkish intelligence elements have become more embedded in al-Bab, Idlib and elsewhere in Syria, they have been able to collect more information about sleeper cells in Turkey. Sources have also noted that the decline of IS and Hayat Tahrir al-Sham in Syria and internal disputes among Salafi-jihadi networks in Turkey have resulted in their being more exposed.

Since early October, when the Idlib operation was launched, Turkey has frequently been waking to reports about Salafi-jihadi networks in the country. The latest concerned 30 operations launched Oct. 27 in 10 provinces that resulted in the detention of some 200 extremist Salafists.

One recent operation, on Oct. 27, was particularly noteworthy. It began with suspicious explosions in two houses in the Arnavutkoy and Esenyurt neighborhoods of Istanbul. The following day, four people, including two women, were apprehended while leaving two explosives-laden vehicles in a parking garage at a shopping mall in the Bayrampasa district of Istanbul. Two of those arrested were found to be Austrian citizens of Turkish origin who had been living in Istanbuls Arnavutkoy district for the past five years. Their connections in Austria are under investigation. In addition to the two cars packed with explosives, a bomb-laden motorcycle was also seized, and a total of 66 homemade explosive devices with remote-control detonators were found in various vehicles. A search of the mall where the suspects were caught revealed four microwave ovens packed with explosives.

Two Salafi-jihadi cells had been planning to carry out a massive, multi-phased attack at the mall. They had bought four microwave ovens from a store in the mall, packed them with explosives and then returned them, complaining of problems with the appliances. The store clerks accepted the ovens, but did not examine them before setting them aside. According to the plan, the ovens would be detonated by remote control, and as people fled in panic, the cars and the motorcycle would be detonated. In the final phase, suicide bombers were to mingle among the crowds gathering to help and detonate their explosive vests.

Security source said the explosives in Arnavutkoy and Esenyurt were supposed to distract the police from the mall operation. It is possible the suspects had been hoping to cause mayhem and bloodshed in Istanbul on Oct. 29, Independence Day. A security source said they are trying to identify additional cells that may have been involved in the four-pronged operation based on clues found in the area.

So what pushed Ankara to buttress its struggle against violent networks linked to IS and Hayat Tahrir al-Sham in 2017? The answer may be in the publics reaction to the Istanbul nightclub attack and its impact across the country.

The first IS attack in Turkey in March 2014, in the central Anatolian province of Nigde, and the 14 other large-scale IS attacks that followed faded from the public eye relatively quickly. The nightclub attack, however, has remained on the national agenda because of the debate it generated over lifestyles, religion, secularism and the existence of Salafi-jihadis in Turkey.

The debate also raised questions about the attitude of the ruling Justice and Development Party government toward Salafi-jihadi networks. Added to all the mix was the assassination of Andrei Karlov, Russias ambassador to Turkey, in December 2016 by a Salafi-jihadi. The killing put Ankara under intense international pressure, especially from Russia, to take action against violent, extremist networks.

It is not a leap to suspect that Salafi-jihadis will move to make life difficult for President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his AKP government leading up to the 2019 presidential elections. Ankara already knows well that it will not be able to root out extremist violence in the country, but it can hardly be expected to soften its attitude toward domestic threats. The army is therefore continuing to conduct sensitive operations in Idlib that include intelligence gathering to help minimize the impact of extremist networks.
November 1, 2017

After nearly two weeks of interrogation in an Istanbul prison, leading civil society activist Osman Kavala was formally arrested today and awaits trial on charges of seeking to overthrow the Turkish government.

Kavalas arrest marks an escalation in the governments Orwellian drive to galvanize public opinion against alleged Western conspirators and local fifth columnists who want to weaken and dismember Turkey.

Outrageous charges against Osman Kavala. Hes a well-respected man. But todays Turkey is ruled by crazy conspiracy theories, tweeted Kati Piri, a member of the European Parliament and its Turkey rapporteur, echoing widespread sentiment in EU circles.

The 60-year-old Kavala comes from a line of wealthy Ottoman aristocrats. He has rebelled against the establishment but remained part of it, running an array of businesses and donating the proceeds to worthy causes. Kavala is an ardent champion of Turkish-Armenian reconciliation and his philanthropy has greased a broad range of projects from Kurdish rights to the environment. Many impoverished students, intellectuals and artists have counted on Kavala to bail them out.

That he should be touched will have sent a chill through the Istanbul elite. The silence of TUSIAD, the main lobby group for pro-secular Turkish business people, in the face of Kavalas plight speaks volumes about their fear.

A smear campaign against Kavala in the pro-government Turkish media had been building prior to this detention on Oct. 18. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan appeared to endorse it, recently saying, "The identity of the Soros of Turkey has been uncovered. Erdogan was referring to Kavalas supposed links to fellow philanthropist George Soros. The Hungarian-American financier has been accused of funding civil society in the former Eastern Bloc countries to unseat communist regimes and advance his own business interests.

Erdogan also said that Kavala had been linked to Metin Topuz, who worked for the US Drug Enforcement Agency at the US Consulate in Istanbul. Topuz was arrested for his alleged ties to Fethullah Gulen, the Pennsylvania-based cleric who is accused of masterminding last year's coup attempt.

The move sent US-Turkish relations into a tailspin with the United States freezing all nonimmigrant visa application business at its consulates in Turkey.

Aydinlik, a Turkish publication affiliated with Dogu Perincek, an ultranationalist politician who favors dumping NATO in favor of close ties to Moscow, claimed that Kavala had frequent contact with Henri Barkey, a prominent American academic who is the victim of another smear campaign. Barkey, who organized a workshop on Iran on Buyukada, an island near Istanbul only days before the July 15 putsch, has been accused of organizing the latter on behalf of the CIA.

His picture was splashed alongside those of several of the 16 participants of the front pages of the pro-government titles accompanied by Kafkaesque accounts of his alleged mischief.

Barkey, who has also written for Al-Monitor, said in a telephone interview, I have met with Osman Kavala numerous times over the years. He is a terrific person but I have never had any direct professional dealings with him. The last time I saw him was when I was in Turkey last summer. I bumped into him at a restaurant and had a brief chat. Thats all.

Barkey believes that he and Kavala have been targeted to help the government feed the fires of the conspiracy and to pressure European governments to extradite alleged Gulenists who have sought asylum in the EU. They know the Europeans care about [Kavala], Barkey said.

Scapegoating Kavala and others who move in Western circles may stem from the governments desire to cover potentially damning evidence from Reza Zarrab, the Turkish-Iranian gold trader who is expected to appear in a New York court later this month on charges of busting US government sanctions on Iran. Zarrab, who has boasted of his connections to Erdogan and high-ranking members of his Justice and Development Party, may plead guilty, according to The New York Times. Biggest news on Turkey today  Signs that Zarrab could sing," tweeted Howard Eissenstat, a New York-based academic who writes extensively about Turkey. Erdogan has been pressing for Zarrabs extradition.
Semiconductor company, ARM, has announced its latest display solution for smartphone manufacturers, comprising three main components aiming to deliver an improved viewing experience when consuming content such as virtual reality and HDR videos. The new ARM solution includes a new Mali-D71 display processor (not to be confused with the Mali-G71 graphics chip), a new Assertive Display 5 chipset, and the ARM CoreLink MMU-600 System Memory Management Unit.

With an increasing number of premium smartphones adopting 4K displays, maintaining a crisp image and a high frame rate has become increasingly difficult without a strongly optimized display processor. According to ARM, this is where the new Mali-D71 chip comes in to ensure that 4K images can be delivered at a rate of 120 frames per second. This is achieved by the chips capability to sustain up to 4x the delay on the system bus for the same throughput when compared to the previous Mali-DP650 processor, all thanks to significant memory subsystem optimizations. In addition, the ARM Mali-D71 can repurpose the resources required by a secondary display when using a single panel in order to effectively double the performance. Furthermore, with unprecedented 2x pixel throughput the Mali-D71 can provide 4K VR performance at 120 frames per second, all the while requiring 30 percent less energy, claims the manufacturer.

The aforementioned display processor works hand-in-hand with a new System Memory Management Unit called the ARM CoreLink MMU-600, resulting in 50 percent latency improvement and secure content protection for media. Finally, the company unveiled a new Assertive Display 5 chip building upon the previous AD technology to further improve visibility in direct sunlight and provide HDR management for display pipelines, improved gamut and color management, as well as higher power savings. According to the chipmaker, the new Assertive Display 5 silicon can deliver HDR10 or HLG content even on SDR displays, all the while providing a low power design without any additional workload having to be passed on to the CPU or system memory. It remains to be seen when ARMs newest display solution will be adopted by OEMs and which one will be the first to bring these technologies to the consumer market. In any case, its likely that ARMs latest solution wont make it onto consumer devices before the end of 2017.
Samsung will likely launch a Galaxy Beta Program for Android 8.0 Oreo in the near future, as suggested by a user agreement and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) pages for the program that emerged online in the last 24 hours and can be accessed by referring to the source link below. According to the FAQ, users who will participate in the program will have the chance to test the beta version of Android 8.0 Oreo for both the Samsung Galaxy S8 and the Galaxy S8 Plus. Once the software is installed, participants are expected to send their feedback regarding the operating system in order to help improve the firmware. To participate in the program, users should have a Samsung account and they should fulfill a number of requirements set by the manufacturer. Aside from consumers who possess the unlocked variant of the handsets, users who purchased their smartphones from either Sprint or T-Mobile may take part in the program. Interested individuals may download and install the Samsung Plus app from either the Galaxy Apps store or the Google Play Store. Within the app, the user may submit the application form through the Registration menu.

After completing the registration process, the installation procedure can be manually triggered by going to the device settings and tapping the Download Updates item in the Software Update section. The manufacturer stated that the beta software will be rolled out gradually, meaning that it may take days or even weeks before all participants receive the installation file. The South Korean smartphone manufacturer recommends that the software package is downloaded using a Wi-Fi connection, since downloading the file through a mobile data connection may result in additional carrier charges. To prevent loss of data, the contents of the device should be backed up to a personal computer using the Samsung Smart Switch app. The applications installed on the smartphone should also be updated to the latest version, according to the tech firm, to prevent issues and errors related to software compatibility. People who have downloaded the beta software may submit their feedback through the Samsung Members app.

Samsung is expected to launch Android 8.0 beta for the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus in two phases. The first phase will include North America, South Korea, and the United Kingdom, while the second phase will include China, Spain, Germany, Poland, India, and France.
The United States isnt in the top 60 countries by average 4G LTE download speeds, according to the latest edition of The State of LTE study authored by OpenSignal, with the London-based wireless company putting the U.S. average at 13.98Mbps, which is even lower than the 14.99Mbps figure reported by the same firm in June. The score puts the U.S. at the 61st place in the world by 4G LTE download speeds, suggesting that its wireless carriers are still struggling to provide consumers with cutting-edge service. The highest average was observed in Singapore and amounted to 46.64Mbps, being followed by South Korea, Norway, Hungary, and the Netherlands, the latter of which is the only country in the top five to drop below the 40Mbps mark.

In terms of general 4G LTE availability, the U.S. is doing much better, placing fifth with a coverage of nearly 87 percent. Hong Kong and Norway also scored in the high 80s and took the fourth and third place on the same list, respectively, with the chart being led by Norway at third, Japan at second, and South Korea at the top position, having 4G LTE coverage of almost 97 percent. Unlike similar studies, OpenSignal doesnt measure wireless coverage on a geographic basis, with the company instead opting to track the percentage of time during which a representative sample of users has access to 4G LTE while using any cellular network. This approach completely eliminates the impact of dead zones with no coverage but also allows areas covered with 4G LTE by only some wireless carriers to reduce the overall score in an attempt to serve as a more reliable indicator of how often do consumers in any given country actually have access to a high-speed mobile connection.

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In the last five months since OpenSignals last report, not a single country managed to break the 50Mbps average download speed despite a handful of them showing some potential to do so, the new findings show. This trend appears to be intentional, with many mobile service providers now apparently placing a much larger focus on expanding their coverage instead of improving their average speeds, and a significant portion of their resources also being committed to maintaining and increasing the reliability of their networks. This state of affairs still allows 4G LTE connectivity to continue expanding its availability, albeit its real-world performance continues to vary to a great degree depending on the territory.

OpenSignals findings on 4G speeds around the globe are impacted by numerous factors, from the exact technologies adopted by individual wireless carriers to telecommunications regulators and their decisions on how much spectrum to make available, as well as operators choices in regards to the amount of spectrum to dedicate to 4G networks. Unsurprisingly, the report reveals that countries with high adoption rates of wireless technologies appear to have the highest average download speeds, with those very same nations also being statistically more likely to have a higher number of 4G LTE-enabled devices.

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While the British company didnt specifically detail the case of the United States, the fact that stateside download speeds are worse by around seven percentage points on average compared to their June performance may be partially explained by the unlimited race in the country thats still heating up. T-Mobile would likely agree with that assessment, with the Bellevue, Washington-based company and its CEO John Legere always being keen to claim that Verizon cant keep up with providing unlimited plans, though the drop in average speeds across all carriers may also be a result of a business strategy and not a byproduct of any technical shortcomings.

OpenSignal is convinced that the stagnation of average 4G download speeds around the world is just a temporary development and that network performance will resume its trend of improvements in the near future, possibly even by the time its next report is set to be completed in mid-2018. The United States also isnt the only country whose average download speeds have been declining, suggesting that existing wireless technologies that are in widespread use may have plateaued and that new advancements are needed. Refer to the banner below for a more in-depth breakdown of OpenSignals findings, as well as two interactive maps visualizing the companys latest report.
BarcelonaSeveral far-right groups roamed the streets of Barcelona on Sunday afternoon after participating in the unionist demonstration, causing incidents and some tense stand-offs. In the morning, some people assaulted a Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat employee when they tried to enter the Provenca train station via the exit turnstiles on their way to the march. They also threw lighters and coins at the staff of Catalonias public TV who were covering the unionist demonstration hosted by Societat Civil Catalana and supported by, among others, Ciudadanos, the PP, the PSC, Espanoles de a Pie, Plataforma per Catalonia, Vox, Somatemps, and other extreme right organizations.

After the demonstration, attended by some 300,000 people according to local police, another group carried out a racist attack at the corner of Pau Claris and Casp. Shoves, punches and, once one of the aggressors had walked off, cries of "morito, morito" (towelhead, towelhead in Spanish) from a distance, while they did something of a "dance" while waving Spanish flags. Thus was the racist aggression against a young Sikh witnessed by a passerby early in the afternoon, after the demonstration. The witness recorded the events and reproached the demonstrators ironically for their "pacifism", while they were chanting "this is Spain". The reaction of a middle-aged woman who also carried a Spanish flag was to say to him "What are you doing?" and knocking his mobile phone to the ground. In spite of everything, the witness was able to save the recording and posted it to Twitter with the username @coconutsugarsug. ARA contacted him and he gave the newspaper a higher quality version of the video, which can be seen here.

At the same time, a taxi driver was slightly injured on carrer Casp, near Passeig de Gracia, when a can was thrown against the windshield of his car and shattered the glass. The driver was treated by Emergency Medical Services (SEM) for cuts to his face. Local city police opened an investigation and filed a report on the injuries. For their part, the Mossos d'Esquadra will start an investigation if the taxi driver files charges. Ada Colau, mayor of Barcelona, expressed her rejection of the events via a post on Twitter.

The Mossos d'Esquadra arrest a man who attacked two South Americans

The moment of greatest tension took place in Placa de Sant Jaume, where some of the demonstrators went after the rally finished. Once there, they clashed with Mossos d'Esquadra, throwing objects, insulting them, and trying to hit them. The unionists shouted "Viva Espana" and "Franco would have got rid of your nonsense". The Catalan police were, in fact, the target of shouts and slurs throughout the march, with participants saying that the Mossos "are not our police", in contrast with the Spanish National Police and the Guardia Civil, who received cries of support.

The Mossos d'Esquadra detained a man who assaulted a police officer with a flagpole in the Placa de Sant Jaume as the alleged author of the crime of attacks against authority. No arrests were made at the time, but according to sources within the Mossos, officers located the same man hours later, at 7:20 pm, when he was assaulting two people of South American descent in Placa de Catalunya.

After the incidents in Placa de Sant Jaume, the same riot police unit which had faced off against the unionists went to Placa de Catalunya in response to reports of an aggression against street vendors working in front of the FNAC store. But according to police sources, along the way they ran into a group that had attacked a South American couple who were waiting for the tourist bus. The victims told the police that they wanted to file a complaint, and when police approached the highly agitated group of aggressors, they recognized the man who hours earlier had attacked them with a flagpole. They identified the others and arrested the man in question.

Actor and producer Jordi Brunet denounces an aggression

Another assault took place at five o'clock in the afternoon in Placa de Catalunya, and the victim was actor and producer Jordi Brunet. He told ARA "when I was parking my motorcycle next to the Zurich Cafe, a skinhead unionist pushed me and knocked down my motorcycle while everyone looked on. I hit him twice, the people started to call for the police, and the attacker ran away. The motorcycle has a few scratches. I'm fine, a little bit shaken up. And he has the dubious honor of having been on the receiving end of my first blows. By the way, afterwards I gave my usual performance at the Capitol theater".
We Put Everyday Carry Tools To The Ultimate Test

We Sent Some EDC Tools To Stationed American Soldiers - Here's How They Fared

The AskMen editorial team thoroughly researches & reviews the best gear, services and staples for life. AskMen may get paid if you click a link in this article and buy a product or service.

Everyday Carry, or EDC in the parlance, is the idea that having functional tools always at prepares you for engaging the world wherever you are. Individually curated, situationally dependent, EDC is about choices  a careful selecting, assessing, and, perhaps most challenging, paring those choices to the quintessential minimums through trial and error based on your needs and preferences.

Weight, bulk, functionality, and cost all come to play in the decision-making process. EDC is different from the add-ons necessary for a particular activity, sport, or event  these are the things you pat you pocket for before heading out the door. Whats in your pocket? Only you can answer that, but were here to offer some thoughts and suggestions.

First, what you carry is ultimately situation and environment dependent. What are your objectives and where are you? A soldier engaged in combat has different requirements from a daily commuter in a benign Western country enjoying the rule of law. San Salvador demands a different set of tools from Irvine, California (one of the safest cities in the wild, wild West). An urban setting encourages choices that differ from a rural one.

RELATED: Upgrade Your Routine With The Absolute Best Everyday Carry Kits

After more 30 years with the military, Ive seen the range of knives from thats not a knife  this is a knife yearning to be swords to small, utilitarian tactical folders or multi-tools. I used to carry a small Swiss Army knife with a 1.5 inch blade and scissors attached to my keyring  more than sufficient my day-to-day needs as a Marine in a garrison (non-combat) environment. Frequent flyers will want to avoid anything with a blade or other items viewed by TSA as contraband.

For the newly packing, our partners and friends at Huckberry.com have assembled a series of hand picked tools that are compact, lightweight, inexpensive, and address some of the more common situations you're likely to encounter, and some less so, short of Armageddon or Ragnarok.

Compact EDC Kit

Huckberry Compact EDC Kit, $60.00 at Huckberry.com

KeySmart is basically a key holder that offers much more than simply access to your keys. A number of complementary systems work with the holder to add, change, or remove tools, small knives, LED flashlights, and other accoutrements quickly, as needed. The 4.5 classic chassis, made of high-grade aircraft aluminum, holds two to eight keys or tools, while the extended one holds up to 14. The chassis can be quickly disassembled, outfitted with your personal selection, and reassembled.

We tested a setup that includes the Keysmart chassis along with carrier case tools from a Klecker Knives the Griffin pocket tool, a bit driver, and a folding knife, all in a convenient system that also holds your keys. You can pick up the complete set here.

The Griffin tool is a feature-rich, stainless steel, mini multi tool that packs a helluva lot of functionality into a small package: a screwdriver, scoring Tool, four wrenches (5/16, 9/32, 1/4, 3/16), bottle opener, and pry tool.

The Bit Driver is a stainless steel frame that holds a reversible Phillips and flathead bit for quick, on-the-go fixes.

The Folding Knife means you wont leave the house without a pocket knife on you, and this one is about as compact as it gets with a 1.9 blade. Note: this is not a TSA-approved item.

We handed the Keysmart off to an Army combat engineer to tinker around with both in garrison and in the field. Alan liked the compact form and found it ready for most light utility work around the barracks where he didn't always have other tools readily available to him.

In the field, he wanted something more substantial and usually defaulting to his multitool. For those situations where you might already be carrying keys, the Keysmart is a handy way to add extra utility. With some simple tools, you can also modify your keys by cutting off most of the key head and re-drilling the keyring hole. This further reduces the tool heft.

Huckberry Compact EDC Kit, $60.00 at Huckberry.com

Essential EDC Kit

Huckberry Essential EDC Kit, $50.00 at Huckberry.com

Huckberrys Essential EDC Kit takes a different approach, either replacing or enhancing your current keyring setup. With a black anodized split key ring, Huckberry added the Wazoo Survival Pod, Screw Key Set, and a Peanut Lighter, the EDC Kit is available as complete, ready-to-go solution.

The Wazoo Survival Pod comes wrapped in 10 of paracord with a 550-pound rating (thats why its also called, 550 cord), perfect for tying together shelter or making netting. Inside the intricately knotted cord is a firesteel, for lighting fires; a wire saw, for cutting wire for said shelters or fires; and a nameplate, which can used as a striker with the firesteel or as a fishing sinker/spinner.

The Peanut Light is a micro lighter machined from stainless steel measuring a miniscule 1.3 in length by 0.5 in diameter. The removal lighter uses standard lighter fluid and it can also function as a tiny candle. Without the lighter (clean it first), the case works as a watertight pill container.

The Screw Key set comes with two tools, one Phillips and one flat head screwdriver constructed of heat-treated, blackened steel. The simplicity, durability, and functionality makes this our Editors Pick.

We put this next set of EDC tools in the hands of Chris, a soldier who trains electronic warfare techniques and systems to US and NATO personnel. He particularly liked the screw key, a tool with sufficient heft and durability to be useful both in his shop and in the field. While finer adjustments or delicate work required other tools, quick fixes were a perfect opportunity to bring out the key tools.

The Peanut lighter worked fine in no wind conditions, takes standard lighter fluid, and is easily refilled. We passed it around to a group of soldiers who thought it was an amusing novelty, more of a backup to their Zippos and Bics than a primary. When asked if it was something they would hang on their battle-rattle (body armor, ammunition, and other battlefield essentials), most said, definitely.

The Wazoo is a onetime use toolonce you disassemble it to employ the various bits and pieces, you'll be challenged to re-knot the paracord with all the pieces unfolded. This is a survival tool, not an everyday use item. That said, the cable saw cuts dried wood or plastic easily and the other elements would prove equally useful under dire conditions to start a fire, assemble shelter, and procure food.

Huckberry Essential EDC Kit, $50.00 at Huckberry.com

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Dr. David Besselsen (Courtesy of University of Arizona)

The University of Arizona's planned Marley Foundation College of Veterinary Medicine in Tucson is back to the drawing board. So far, it has appointed Dr. David Besselsen as interim dean.

Dr. Besselsen had been attending veterinarian and director of University Animal Care, which manages the university's animal facilities and oversees the campuswide animal care and use program.

The UA is once again seeking provisional accreditation from the AVMA Council on Education, which will conduct a site visit in spring 2019. In a Sept. 28 university press release, Dr. Besselsen said his focus will be on coordinating accreditation materials, preparing academic and clinical facilities, and developing a sustainable financial model "that provides an affordable and accessible veterinary medical education program for Arizona's citizens."

The UA started the process to seek COE accreditation when the veterinary college conducted a feasibility study in 2013 and asked that year for a consultative site visit from the COE; the visit took place Jan. 13-15, 2014. Arizona filed a letter of application with the COE in 2014, seeking a letter of reasonable assurance of accreditation. A council site team traveled to Tucson for a comprehensive site visit Jan. 24-28, 2016. That October, the council voted to deny a letter of reasonable assurance of accreditation.

Reasonable assurance does not confer accreditation but is a first step toward earning provisional accreditation and, ultimately, accreditation. The classification means the developing college has demonstrated that it has a realistic plan for complying with COE standards. A college granted reasonable assurance must offer admission to its first class of students and matriculate them within three years.

The University of Arizona is once again seeking provisional accreditation from the AVMA Council on Education, which will conduct a site visit in spring 2019.

The UA appealed the COE decision in December 2016. Then, this past March, the council reversed part of its earlier decision and approved the program's plans for a research program, but issues with four other standards remained (Standard 2, Finances; Standard 4, Clinical Resources; Standard 6, Students; and Standard 8, Faculty). The UA has since reapplied for consideration of accreditation by the COE.

In this effort, Dr. Besselsen will be assisted by Mark Cushing, a policy adviser and attorney in the animal health sector whose track record includes helping three other veterinary colleges secure COE accreditationat Lincoln Memorial University, the National Autonomous University of Mexico, and Ross University. Multiple veterinarians who serve on the UA faculty or practice in Arizona will also participate in development of the program, according to the university press release. The UA veterinary college now hopes to open its doors in the fall of 2020.

"David is intimately familiar with the history and evolution of the veterinary medicine program, and has contributed ideas that have helped us reach our current status," UA Provost Andrew Comrie said in the release.

The interim dean will report to Comrie and will work closely with Dr. Shane Burgess, vice president for agriculture, life and veterinary sciences, and Cooperative Extension. Dr. Burgess led the initial effort by the veterinary college to become accredited by the COE as its previous interim dean.

Dr. Besselsen graduated from the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine in 1988 and worked in private practice for two years before returning to his alma mater to complete residency training and earn a doctorate in pathobiology.

He joined UA in 1995 as an associate veterinary specialist and chief of pathology services for University Animal Care. He was promoted to veterinary specialist in 2002, assistant director in 2006, and director in 2012. Dr. Besselsen also has UA appointments in the BIO5 Institute (for research collaboration), Arizona Cancer Center, and School of Animal and Comparative Biomedical Sciences.

The proposed UA program would be the only public veterinary medical education program in Arizona. Midwestern University, a private, not-for-profit health care university based in Glendale, Arizona, received a letter of reasonable assurance from the COE in January 2013. It's on track to receive full accreditation in 2018 at the time its first students are graduating.

The UA's proposed veterinary program is composed of the preprofessional program and the three-year professional veterinary degree program; the COE decision impacts only the professional program. It will not have a traditional teaching hospital, but instead, will have a distributive model in which it will partner with veterinarians at hospitals and clinics throughout Arizona and the western United States for clinical training for students.

Tuition and fees for the program haven't been released, but for comparison, the current rate paid by resident UA pharmacy students is $12,981.05 a semester, or $77,886.30 over three years, and by nonresident pharmacy students, $22,956.05 a semester, or $137,736.30 over three years.

Get more information about the University of Arizona's planned College of Veterinary Medicine.

Related JAVMA content:

Accreditation appeal denied, Arizona plans to try again (June 15, 2017)

Arizona to appeal adverse decision (Oct. 15, 2016)

Accreditation status remains uncertain for Arizona) (July 15, 2016)

Arizona veterinary program secures funding (Oct. 15, 2014)

Arizona veterinary program being reconceptualized (June 15, 2014)
    Dr. Kenneth McMillan Dr. Charles Franz Dr. Charles Ashwander Dr. Hank Lee 

Event: Emerald Coast Veterinary Conference, June 28-July 2, Sandestin, Florida

Awards: Veterinarian of the Year: Dr. Kenneth McMillan, Talladega. Dr. McMillan received his veterinary degree from Auburn University in 1981 and is a partner at Pell City Animal Hospital. A past president of the association, he chairs the ALVMA Legislative Committee and serves as the legislative liaison for the association. Distinguished Service Award: Dr. Charles Franz, Montgomery, for exceptional achievements and contributions to the advancement of the profession. A 1981 graduate of the Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Franz owns Franz Management Services and serves as executive director of the Society for Theriogenology, American College of Theriogenologists, and Theriogenology Foundation. He began his career practicing mixed animal medicine in the Montgomery area, later co-founding and serving as chief executive officer of Sunbelt Veterinary Supply. From 2001 until March 2017, Dr. Franz was executive director of the Alabama VMA. Under his directorship, the association experienced tremendous growth in member services and increased financial stability. Layperson of the Year Award: Jeanne Brock, Jacksonville, for contributions toward advancement of the profession and the association. A licensed veterinary technician, Brock is a member of the Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine's Canine Performance Sciences program. She co-invented Vapor Wake, a scientifically based method for selecting, training, and employing dogs for the detection of hand-carried and body-worn explosives. Brock has also developed and implemented curriculum in performance dog care for prison inmates, via a certificate offered as part of Auburn University's continuing education program. Special Award: Dr. Larry Stutts, Tuscumbia, and Ron Johnson, Sylacauga. Dr. Stutts is a member of the Alabama State Senate, representing District 6. Johnson is a member of the Alabama House of Representatives, representing District 33. Senator Stutts and Representative Johnson were honored for their roles in getting legislation passed that exempts veterinarians from the drug monitoring program in Alabama. Service Award: Drs. Charles Ashwander, Decatur; William Bledsoe, Camden; James Floyd, Auburn; Jack Goodman, Athens; John Hammons, Athens; and Frances Kendrick, Selma.

Officials: Drs. Charles Ashwander, Decatur, president; Hank Lee, Atmore, president-elect; C. Alan Jones, Hazel Green, vice president; Mark Russell, Huntsville, treasurer; Randy Davis, Decatur, member at large; and Harold Pate, Lowndesboro, immediate past president
    Dr. William Headlee Dr. Norma Headlee Dr. Larry Carpenter Dr. Eric Knock 

Event: Annual meeting, Aug. 13-16, Sioux Falls

Awards: Veterinarians of the Year: Drs. William and Norma Headlee, Kadoka. The Drs. Headlee earned their veterinary degrees from Iowa State University in 1978. They own a mixed animal practice in Kadoka. During their almost 40-year careers, Drs. Headlee have mentored several veterinarians, and veterinary and veterinary technology students. Distinguished Service Award: Dr. Larry Carpenter, Sturgis, won this award, given in honor of an individual who has brought distinction to the veterinary profession through professional and personal achievements and by serving as an inspiration to veterinarians and their clients. A 1982 graduate of the Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Carpenter owned Veterinary Surgical Service, a small animal practice in Sturgis, from 2003-15. Prior to that, he served in the Army, retiring as director of the military working dog hospital in San Antonio with the rank of colonel. During a deployment in Haiti in 1995, Dr. Carpenter participated in a vaccination drive against rabies in coordination with the Haitian Ministry of Health, United Nations mission to Haiti, Pan American Health Organization, and Christian Veterinary Mission. He is a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons. Emerging Leader Award: Dr. Eric Knock, Miller, won this award, given to a member who has graduated in the preceding 10 years and has a record of outstanding accomplishments in veterinary research, private practice, regulatory services, civic activities, or organized veterinary medicine. A 2007 graduate of the Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Knock co-owns Prairie View Veterinary Clinic in Miller. He has developed several bovine services, including the use of ultrasonography for evaluation of carcass traits, pregnancy staging, and embryo flushing and transfer. A past member of the SDVMA Continuing Education Committee, Dr. Knock serves as a mentor to recent veterinary graduates and veterinary students.

Officials: Drs. Michelle Jensen, Harrisburg, president; Mark Braunschmidt, Brandon, president-elect; Ethan Andress, Hettinger, vice president; Chanda Nilsson, Groton, secretary-treasurer; Travis White, Sioux Center, immediate past president; Chris Chase, Brookings, AVMA delegate; Cindy Franklin, Yankton, AVMA alternate delegate; Angela Anderson, Sioux Falls, District 1 representative; Heidi Sorenson, Watertown, District 2 representative; and Sandra Wahlert, Hot Springs, District 3 representative
The path of A/2017 U1 as it passed through our inner solar system in September and October 2017. Credit: NASA / JPL

On October 19 astronomers with the Pan-STARRS facility in Hawaii spotted an otherwise unremarkable small object tumbling through our solar system, but initial and follow-up observations revealed several intriguing characteristics:

It was moving faster than 50,000 mph before it arrived, more than enough to ensure it wouldn't be captured by the sun.

It entered the inner solar system from an angle far steeper than other distant visitors like comets.

It appears to be more like an asteroid than a comet  if it were a comet, it would have produced a tail as it neared the sun.

Why it matters: All the evidence together suggests that A/2017 U1, as it's currently named, is not from around here. It likely formed in another stellar system altogether, was ejected who knows how long ago, and has been traveling interstellar space before a chance encounter with our sun. It's already on its way out  past the orbit of Mars  traveling back into the void.
On Tuesday evening, Uber confirmed that Uzbekistan-born Sayfullo Habibullaevic Saipov, who allegedly mowed into bicyclists and pedestrians on a bike path in lower Manhattan, killing eight people, was indeed a driver for its ride-hailing service.

"We are horrified by this senseless act of violence," said an Uber spokesperson. "Our hearts are with the victims and their families. We have reached out to law enforcement to provide our full assistance."

Deja vu: Similarly to a series of deadly shootings in Kalamazoo, Mich. last year by an Uber driver, the company is finding itself under the spotlight. In both cases, the drivers passed Uber's mandatory background check, which includes driving and criminal records over the past seven years, and had no prior safety reports from passengers that would have alerted Uber. The company has been criticized for years for not following in the footsteps of the taxi industry and mandating fingerprinting, though it argues that its own methods are more thorough.
Tensions in Spain escalated to new heights Friday when the Spanish Senate authorized the government to use unprecedented measures to remove Catalonia's self-run government, moments after the Catalan parliament declared the region's independence. Since then, Spanish authorities have filed charges that carry up to 30 years in prison against ousted Catalonia President Carles Puigdemont and his colleagues.

The latest: Puigdemont, who fled to Brussels on Monday, said Tuesday that he is not trying to escape justice, but wants to be able to speak freely. He added that he does not plan to seek asylum there, and will return to Spain once he's given "guarantees" by the Spanish government.

Why it matters: The territorial conflict has propelled the country into its greatest constitutional crisis since it embraced democracy in 1978, and has left Catalonia in chaos.

Clashes between Spain and Catalonia

Catalonia, home to Barcelona, is one of Spain's wealthiest and most popular regions in Europe. It also enjoys a high degree of autonomy.

However, many Catalans feel Madrid takes more money from them than they get in return. This conflict was exacerbated during the 2008 recession, when Spain's economic failure hit Catalonia hard, creating large spikes in unemployment rates and driving some residents into poverty.

There are also historical grievances between Catalonia and Spain, many of which stem from Catalonia's poor treatment under the dictatorship of Francisco Franco. Those deep-rooted cultural issues are still very prominent in Spain today.

The independence referendum

Catalonia held an independence referendum on October 1st, despite the Spanish government declaring it illegal. There was only one question on the ballot: "Do you want Catalonia to become an independent state in the form of a republic?"

Catalan officials later declared that 90% of those who turned out voted for independence. However, more than 750,000 votes could not be counted because polling stations were closed and ballot boxes were confiscated as a result of the clashes between voters and police officers, according to a Catalan spokesman.

Following the vote, Catalan President Carles Puigdemont signed a declaration of independence, but delayed implementation to allow talks with the Spanish government.

Madrid set a deadline for Puigdemont to clarify his intentions, but it passed with no progress, so Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy announced plans to impose direct rule on the region to keep them from declaring independence.

The Catalonian independence vote

Catalonia's regional parliament passed a motion Friday to establish its independence from Spain, just hours after Rajoy made his case for measures to keep Spain unified. The vote was approved with 70 in favor of independence, 10 against, and two blank ballots in the 135-member parliament, per NPR. Catalan lawmakers opposed to seceding walked out of the chamber in protest prior to the vote.

Moments after, the Spanish Senate authorized the government in a 214 to 47 vote to invoke Article 155 of Spain's Constitution, giving Rajoy the power to take direct control over Catalonia's government. The measure is expected to go into effect after it's published in the government register Friday night.

Rajoy said he had "no alternative" to implement the unprecedented measures, stating that Puigdemont and his separatist cabinet were acting illegally.

What's next

With Article 155 now in effect, the Spanish government is able to run Catalan government ministries, as well as local police and local media stations from Madrid, per the Financial Times.

In the immediate aftermath, Catalonia can't do much more aside from removing Spanish flags and symbols from government buildings. As the AP notes, "Catalonia does not have security forces sufficient to set up borders and key areas such as taxes, foreign affairs, defense, ports, airports and trains are in the hands of the Spanish government in Madrid. Spain also recently took virtually full control of Catalonia's spending."

Catalonia can't do much more aside from removing Spanish flags and symbols from government buildings. As the AP notes, "Catalonia does not have security forces sufficient to set up borders and key areas such as taxes, foreign affairs, defense, ports, airports and trains are in the hands of the Spanish government in Madrid. Spain also recently took virtually full control of Catalonia's spending." So far no country or international body has expressed support for the Catalan government's push for independence, with the European Union standing firmly behind Madrid and Rajoy. Jean-Claude Juncker, President of the European Commission has said Catalonia will not be able to be an E.U. member state if they secede, and Martin Schulz, President of the E.U. Parliament, said no one in the E.U. will recognize Catalan independence, per AP.

has expressed support for the Catalan government's push for independence, with the European Union standing firmly behind Madrid and Rajoy. Jean-Claude Juncker, President of the European Commission has said Catalonia will not be able to be an E.U. member state if they secede, and Martin Schulz, President of the E.U. Parliament, said no one in the E.U. will recognize Catalan independence, per AP. U.S. State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said in a statement Friday: "Catalonia is an integral part of Spain, and the United States supports the Spanish government's constitutional measures to keep Spain strong and united."

The latest
The head of Ukraine's presidential administration, Dmytro Shymkiv, told the Financial Times that his country's government warned Facebook and U.S. officials in 2015 that Russia was using "aggressive behavior" to spread disinformation on social media in an "information war." Shymkiv said Facebook's response was that they're an "open platform" that allows everyone to communicate.

Why it matters: The Ukrainian assertions suggest that Russian fake news was detected much earlier than the tech giants have so far let on. Axios reported yesterday that a former FBI agent had detected Russia's use of fake news and automated bots in 2014. The investigation into Russia's interference in the 2016 election and big tech's role has come to a head this week with interrogations of Google, Twitter and Facebook by both the House and Senate Intelligence Committees.

Facebook's defense:
Amazon has gotten so good at moving merchandise that it now accounts for 43 cents of every dollar spent online in the U.S., according to eMarketer. An ebullient Wall Street last week sent the company's share price soaring after a record-breaking third quarter, and made CEO Jeff Bezos the richest man in the world.

What's next: Lost in this torrent of news are indications that Amazon's revenue formula is fundamentally changing: from a reliance on retail and cloud services, the e-retailer appears likely to power future growth with fulfillment and shipping services to third-party sellers.

This is highly lucrative stuff: Analysts and industry executives say new initiatives like Amazon Key and Amazon Seller Flex show the company's potential to siphon off a large chunk of the trillions of dollars spent globally on logistics and shipping. "This is going to be a huge business for them," says Cooper Smith Amazon, an analyst with business intelligence firm L2.

The background: Amazon's transformation into a company that generates 37% of its revenue from services has been a long time in the making. Amazon Marketplace launched in 2000: In exchange for a commission, this far-sighted service allowed outside sellers to hock used books right besides Amazon's own listings. Seventeen years later, third-party sales account for at least half of the transactions on the website. Then, in 2006, came "Fulfillment by Amazon": In exchange for handling fees, Amazon rented its storage and distribution infrastructure to outside sellers.That same year it launched Amazon Web Services: Outside businesses got access to Amazon's spare server capacity  again, in exchange for a fee.It's this pattern of creating state-of-the-art services for its own use, and then offering them to outsiders, that should have the logistics and shipping industry worried. "The logistics industry is only just now starting to wake to this threat," says Zvi Schreiber, CEO of the online shipping marketplace Freightos.

Amazon's latest offerings  Seller Flex and Key  are next in the line of this tradition.

Seller Flex launched last month: It's a new courier service that ships goods from outside sellers to customers' homes.

It's a new courier service that ships goods from outside sellers to customers' homes. Amazon Key was announced last week : Using a smart lock and an indoor security camera, this program offers in-home delivery for Amazon Prime members.

: Using a smart lock and an indoor security camera, this program offers in-home delivery for Amazon Prime members. "This is not an experiment for us": Peter Larsen, Amazon's vice president of delivery technology, tells WSJ, "We think this is going to be a fundamental way that customers shop with us for years to come."

Peter Larsen, Amazon's vice president of delivery technology, tells WSJ, "We think this is going to be a fundamental way that customers shop with us for years to come." It follows a familiar pattern: Cooper Smith argues that if Amazon Key catches on, it could make Amazon a necessary partner for any company wanting to deliver goods securely to households. Imaginative and potentially revolutionary experiments like this are why "Amazon is the biggest threat to FedEx that FedEx has," he told Axios.

FedEx declined to comment, but in the past executives have been dismissive of any threat by Amazon. UPS said Amazon is a valued customer and that it hopes to expand its relationship with the e-retailer. As for Amazon, a spokesperson repeats what the company has said previously, which is that changes to its logistics business are meant to supplement and not replace UPS and FedEx. Here is some of the case for skepticism:

Logistics cost a lot: Some analysts say it would be impossible for even a company with Amazon's deep pockets to build out the infrastructure necessary to compete head to head with FedEx and UPS.

Some analysts say it would be impossible for even a company with Amazon's deep pockets to build out the infrastructure necessary to compete head to head with FedEx and UPS. Customers may be resistant: Michael Pachter, an analyst with Wedbush Securities, says that while stolen packages may be a hassle for customers, waiting for Amazon to send a replacement may be preferable to allowing strangers to enter your home.

The bottom line: The key to understanding Amazon is its monomaniacal focus on giving the customer what he or she wants, even before they know they do. Amazon is not going to wait around for FedEx and UPS to experiment with changes that could improve the customer experience, whether that means new products for home entry or faster delivery options. And history shows it would be wise to take notice when Amazon starts experimenting in your backyard.

Sign up for Axios newsletters to get our Smart Brevity delivered to your inbox every morning.
The Armenian customs service said on Wednesday that it has found and confiscated more than 100 kilograms of heroin from a Turkish-owned truck that crossed into Armenia from Iran.

The State Revenue Committee (SRC) said the truck driven by a Turkish man underwent an X-ray inspection at the Meghri crossing on the Armenian-Iranian border before being escorted to a customs warehouse in Yerevan. According to an SRC statement, customs officers there examined it more meticulously and found 105 kilograms (233 pounds) of heroin hidden inside the heavy vehicles bodywork.

The statement added that the smuggling case has been referred to Armenias National Security Service (NSS). The latter did not issue any statements on the massive drug bust as of Wednesday afternoon. It was thus not clear whether the truck driver, identified as Ferdi Ozdemir, was taken into custody.

The SRC released photographs of the truck and the drug consignment allegedly found inside it. It also said that the vehicle belongs to a cargo company registered in Georgia. The companys reported name, Omertransport, suggests that it has Turkish owners.

Turkish nationals were already implicated in what was the biggest heroin seizure in Armenias history reported by the authorities in Yerevan in January 2014. Armenian customs officers confiscated at the time as much as 850 kilograms of the Class A drug from a Georgian-registered truck that also entered the country from Iran.

The trucks Georgian driver as well as a Turkish citizen, Osman Ugurlu, were arrested and subsequently sentenced by an Armenian court to 17 and 19 years in prison respectively.

Armenian prosecutors claimed during their trial that Ugurlu conspired with two other Turks to transport huge amounts of heroin from Iran to Europe via Armenia, Georgia and Ukraine. They said the Turks set up a cargo firm in Georgia for that purpose in 2013. Both defendants pleaded not guilty to the accusations.

Iran is thought to be the main source of drug trafficking through Armenia. Scores of Iranians have been imprisoned in Armenia on corresponding charges over the past two decades.

Most drugs are smuggled in trucks driven across the Iranian border crossing at Meghri, the U.S. State Department said in its 2016 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report. It said that with U.S. and European Union assistance Armenia is improving its ability to detect illegal narcotics shipments.

The report also noted that closed borders with Turkey an Azerbaijan make Armenia less attractive for drug trafficking and that drug abuse among Armenians is modest.
1 November 2017 10:14 (UTC+04:00)

By Trend

Over the past 24 hours, Armenias armed forces have 115 times violated the ceasefire along the line of contact between Azerbaijani and Armenian troops, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry said on November 1.

The Armenian armed forces were using heavy machine guns.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.

The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
1 November 2017 11:06 (UTC+04:00)

By Trend

The Baku-Tbilisi-Kars (BTK) railway will increase the export potential of Azerbaijan, Anar Asgarov, former adviser to Chairman of Azerbaijan Railways CJSC Javid Gurbanov, said on October 31.

Commissioning of the BTK railway Oct.30 became one of the most significant economic events of the current year, he said.

This railway, which will link many countries, is important in both the economic and political spheres, he noted. All countries using this route, initiated by Azerbaijan, or rather head of state Ilham Aliyev, will have financial dividends from the BTK project.

The expert noted that with the end of the era of high prices for energy carriers, in particular oil, in order to maintain the positive dynamics of Azerbaijans GDP, steps were taken to increase budget revenues from the non-oil sector.

A lot of work was done in the field of tourism, and this immediately brought benefits due to the timely created infrastructure, Asgarov added. In the future, the BTK railway can make significant contribution to the development of tourism in Azerbaijan due to the passenger flow on this route.

The expert stressed that over the past years, big reforms under the leadership of the Azerbaijani president have been carried out for the development of agriculture.

It is no secret that in the coming years, Azerbaijan will cover its needs and will export its agricultural products in quite large volumes, Asgarov said. The BTK railway can play a key role at this stage. When the cost of agricultural products is formed, transport expenditures account for 40-60 percent of this cost. If one considers that there is a lot of competition in this sphere, a manufacturer with minimal transportation costs will win.

As for the cheapness of tariffs, only water transport is cheaper than rail transport, the expert added. For the efficient sale of agricultural products with maximum income in foreign markets, sometimes 0.05-0.1 cent price preference is enough. In the future, this may also help to conquer certain markets in the long term.

In the experts opinion, the BTK railway, as well as the International North-South Transport Corridor project, plays a great role in increasing Azerbaijans export potential. The relevance of these transport corridors will grow as the exports of products to foreign markets increase, he added.

I would also like to note that the above mentioned project was initiated by the Azerbaijani president way earlier than the recession in the energy markets began, and this again proves the far-sighted economic policy pursued by the head of state, Asgarov said.

The official opening ceremony of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway was held in Baku Oct.30. The BTK railway was constructed on the basis a Georgian-Azerbaijani-Turkish intergovernmental agreement. The railways peak capacity will be 17 million tons of cargo per year. At an initial stage, this figure will be one million passengers and 6.5 million tons of cargo.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
1 November 2017 15:04 (UTC+04:00)

The United States  Azerbaijan Chamber of Commerce (USACC), based in Washington, D.C., has successfully completed the largest ever U.S. Trade Mission to Azerbaijan, certified by U.S. Commercial Service with support of the U.S. Embassy in Baku, Azerbaijani Embassy in Washington, DC, Azerbaijani Ministry of Economy and AzPromo.

The trade mission commenced on October 16 with a breakfast briefing by U.S. Ambassador Robert Cekuta and presentation by legal firm Dentons. The mission was completed on October 18 with a formal reception at the residence of the U.S. Ambassador.

With 18 companies and nearly 30 delegates, this U.S. Trade Mission to Azerbaijan was a response to the rapid growth of opportunities in Azerbaijan. The companies represented a broad swath of commercial sectors and engaged in over 120 business-to-business and business-to-government meetings. It provided leaders in business and government the chance to focus on strengthening economic and trade relationships between the United States and Azerbaijan, primarily by opening doors to tremendous new export opportunities for the U.S. companies and attracting new investment to Azerbaijan.

The 2017 Trade Mission to Azerbaijan offered a comprehensive program, which afforded American companies high market exposure to explore and expand trade and business opportunities as well as access to key decision makers in both private and public sectors of Azerbaijan.

Using the opportunity, we would like to thank the American companies for joining this trip and our partners for making the trade mission a success.

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1 November 2017 18:00 (UTC+04:00)

By Laman Ismayilova

The exhibition of the young Azerbaijani writer and photographer Rustam Huseynov "The Heart of the Urals" has opened in the Russian Information and Cultural Center (RICC) in Baku.

The exposition tells about Russian`s Perm region - its nature, architecture, culture, history and modern life. Most recently, the author visited Perm within the framework of Rossotrudnichestvo's New Generation program, Trend Life reported.

The head of the Rossotrudnichestvo representation in Azerbaijan addressed the event.

"We are grateful to Rustam for his initiative, and when he showed us his photos, it immediately became clear that many visitors to our center should see them," he said.

The architect and artist Elchin Aliyev and the science fiction writer Alexander Khakimov gave a high appraisal to the works included in the exposition.

Rustam Huseynov personally conducted an excursion around the exhibition. He told visitors about the history of one or another of his photographs. At the same time, the author demonstrated deep knowledge in the field of wooden architecture, the sights of Perm and its nature.

The exhibition will last until November 10. Admission is free.

---

Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
1 November 2017 17:20 (UTC+04:00)

By Laman Ismayilova

Is sugar really bad for you? This question haunts people for many years.

Nutritionists and diabetes specialists often say that sugar is bad for you because it has calories. If you have diabetes or a diabetes-related condition, then having sugar will increase your blood glucose, which is a risk factor for heart disease.

This is also the view of the Turkish artist Sevincy, who is going to present his works in Baku.

The exhibition "Without sugar" will open in Art Tower gallery on November 2, Trend Life reported.

"Sugar today is the real" alcohol for children. "And as for alcohol, psychologists get used to it. Do not allow your children to become an object of the corporate industry. Through my art works I show how to live without sugar. My opponents usually say: "It is great for baking!" If you still believe it , then welcome to my show My goal is to win the battle with sugar", said artist.

"My desserts just demolish the imagination, unlike traditional desserts from the "sweet poison". Often, this kind of visualization is called "cherry on the cake", I also add a fez, a symbol of the culture of our great-grandfathers as the top of my work, which is designed to protect your head from poison and decorate your life, " he added.

The exhibition is co-organized with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the State Historical and Architectural Reserve "Icherisheher" and NGO Arts Council Azerbaijan.

Admission is free.

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Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
1 November 2017 13:35 (UTC+04:00)

By Rashid Shirinov

The participants of the First General Assembly of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Civil Peace Platform, which was held in Tbilisi on October 30, have appealed to the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs with the initiative to establish a review board of representatives of the Armenian and Azerbaijani civil societies which would have an advisory mandate under the Minsk Group.

The appeal noted that the OSCE Minsk Group has made serious efforts to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, stop military operations on the frontline and continue the negotiation process between the parties, and the organization continues to work in this direction.

The OSCE Minsk Group, established in 1992 to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, is the only international organization carrying out its mediation mission in the issue. However, despite the measures taken and negotiations held over the past 25 years, the peace has not yet been established between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

There are many reasons for this situation, and one of them is that the civil societies and NGOs of Armenia and Azerbaijan are not able to cooperate either with each other or with state structures, the Civil Peace Platform stated.

The appeal also noted the deep concern about the systematic violations of the ceasefire on the frontline, which led to numerous casualties, and about the possibility that these violations will develop into large-scale military operations.

We as the Armenia-Azerbaijan Civil Peace Platform feel responsibility and the need to establish cooperation with the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs that can contribute to the settlement of the conflict and also help you in this complex peace building process, the appeal reads.

The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding regions. More than 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed and over 1 million were displaced as a result of the large-scale hostilities. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations.

Until now, Armenia controls fifth part of Azerbaijan's territory and rejects implementing four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding districts.

The decisive process of bringing together the people of Azerbaijan and Armenia on boosting the settlement of the conflict started in December 2016, when the Armenia-Azerbaijan Peace Platform was founded in Baku by a group of Azerbaijani and Armenian public figures and peacekeepers. It was created to bring together representatives of civil society of the two countries for creating dialogue between Azerbaijan and Armenia, the sides to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

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Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
31 October 2017 19:00 (UTC+04:00)

By Trend

Turkeys growing military industrial complex is of great interest to Azerbaijan, said President Ilham Aliyev.

He made the remarks at a joint press conference together with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Baku on October 31.

Today, we have discussed the military cooperation extensively, he noted adding that this issue is also on the agenda.

Noting that three joint military exercises have been held in Azerbaijan, two military exercises  in Baku and one military exercise  in Nakhchivan this year, President Aliyev said that this is a factor strengthening the two countries cooperation in the military sphere.

Meanwhile, the joint military-technical cooperation continues, added the president.

He noted that Azerbaijan buys and will continue buying military products from Turkey.

---

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1 November 2017 10:57 (UTC+04:00)

By Trend

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogans visit to Azerbaijan, the holding of the sixth meeting of the Azerbaijan-Turkey High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council strengthen the relations of friendship and brotherhood between the countries, Azerbaijani MP Elman Mammadov told Trend on October 31.

He said that the signed documents and the discussed issues testify to the strong Azerbaijani-Turkish strategic cooperation.

"The development of these relations from the political and economic points of view will help preserve peace and tranquility in the future," he said. Azerbaijan and Turkey are involved in significant projects, namely, the recently commissioned Baku-Tbilisi-Kars (BTK) railway, TANAP project, which will be implemented in the future. Central Asian and European countries are already joining them.

The sixth meeting of the Azerbaijan-Turkey High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council was held in Baku Oct. 31 with the participation of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and President Erdogan.

---

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* PermaKat Eleonora Rosati received the 2022 Adepi Award

* PermaKat Eleonora Rosati listed as one of the World Intellectual Property Review's "Influential Women in IP" of 2020.

* PermaKat Eleonora Rosati listed as one of the Managing Intellectual Property magazine's "Fifty Most Influential People" of 2018.

* IPKat founder and Blogmeister Emeritus Jeremy Phillips listed as one of the Managing Intellectual Property magazine's "Fifty Most Influential People" of 2005, 2011, 2013, and 2014.

* Recommended by the European Patent Office as reading material for candidates for the European Qualifying Examinations, 2013.

* Listed as "Top Legal Blog" in The Times Online, March 2011.

2010 ABA Journal 100. * One of the only two non-US blogs listed in the Blawg100.

* Court Reporter Top Copyright Blog award winner, November 2010.

* Number 1 in the 2010 Top Copyright Blog list compiled by the Copyright Litigation Blog, July 2010.

* Selected by the United States Library of Congress for inclusion in its historic collections of Internet materials related to Legal Blawgs as of 2010.

* Top Patent Blog poll 2009: 3rd out of 50 in the "Favourite Patent Blog" poll and 2nd out of 50 in the "Most-read" poll.

Blog of the Year, 20 August 2008. * ComputerWeekly IT Law and Governance, 20 August 2008.
By Trend

Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev met with Iranian President Hasan Rouhani in Tehran on November 1.

The role of historical, cultural and religious roots in strengthening of relations between the peoples of Azerbaijan and Iran was noted during the meeting.

Ten meetings held in the last five years between the heads of state were considered as an indicator of the two countries successful cooperation, and the successful development of political relations.

The two sides also discussed the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict at the meeting. President Aliyev spoke about Armenias occupation policy and the negotiation process on settlement of the conflict.

The two presidents discussed military and military-technical cooperation and perspectives in this field. Meanwhile, regional issues were touched upon, and the Azerbaijani and Iranian presidents exchanged views on the fight against terrorism and extremism.

It was noted that the Azerbaijan-Russia-Iran trilateral cooperation has great potential and this format can give good results for cooperation in very important spheres.

Economic cooperation issues were discussed at the meeting. The two presidents praised the fact that the countries trade turnover increased by 70 percent in 2016 and by 33 percent in the first nine months of 2017.

President Aliyev and President Rouhani exchanged views on issues of mutual investments, cooperation in energy, oil and gas, transport.

They also spoke about the successful implementation of the International North-South Transport Corridor project.

---

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1 November 2017 18:14 (UTC+04:00)

By Trend

The Azerbaijani-Turkish cooperation has great prospects, Azerbaijani MP Aydin Mirzazade told Trend on November 1.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogans recent visit to Azerbaijan, the issues raised at the 6th meeting of the Azerbaijan-Turkey High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council and the statements made by the presidents of both countries proved once again that the Azerbaijani-Turkish cooperation is based on the relations of friendship, brotherhood, good-neighborliness, he added.

The sixth meeting of the Azerbaijan-Turkey High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council was held in Baku Oct. 31 with the participation of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and President Erdogan.

The Azerbaijani MP stressed that the positions of the two countries coincide on all issues and the countries act as allies within the international organizations.

"President Erdogans visit to Azerbaijan and the Council meeting coincided with such a historic event as the commissioning of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars (BTK) railway, he said. The public of both countries is confident that Turkey and Azerbaijan will further support each other and expand ties to be stronger."

---

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1 November 2017 17:52 (UTC+04:00)

By Trend

Strategic relations of Azerbaijan and Turkey are the guarantor of peace and stability in the region, Azerbaijani MP Hikmet Babaoglu told Trend on November 1.

Babaoglu added that the Azerbaijan-Turkey relations are at a very high level.

"On October 30, we witnessed a historic event, namely, the commissioning of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars (BTK) railway, which will connect not only two allied countries, but will also become a new bridge to Europe through Central Asia and Anatolia," he said.

The Azerbaijani MP said that the sixth meeting of the Azerbaijan-Turkey High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council was held Oct. 31 during Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogans visit to Azerbaijan.

"Multifaceted and important issues, including political ties, cooperation in international organizations, economic, military, military-technical cooperation, education, energy and transport sectors were discussed, he said. Each of these spheres is of strategic importance and promises good prospects for the development of mutual relations.

The documents signed at the meeting will lead to further intensification of relations in education, defense, security, trade, agriculture and other spheres, which is in the interests of both countries," Babaoglu added.

---

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1 November 2017 17:33 (UTC+04:00)

By Trend

The next meeting of the Azerbaijan-Turkey High-Level strategic Cooperation Council is the successful continuation of high-level relations between the two countries, a member of Azerbaijani parliament Tahir Karimli told Trend on November 1.

Karimli noted that the issues discussed both at the Councils meeting and at the bilateral meeting are further strengthening the firm and close cooperation between the two countries.

Fraternal relations between Azerbaijan and Turkey can serve as an example for all countries. The agreements reached at the meeting between President Ilham Aliyev and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan also proved that cooperation between Azerbaijan and Turkey in both military and other spheres will further develop, noted the MP.

This cooperation, this unity exists not only between the two states but also between the Azerbaijani and Turkish peoples, added Karimli.

The sixth meeting of the Azerbaijan-Turkey High-Level strategic Cooperation Council was held in Baku on Oct. 31 with participation of President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

---

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1 November 2017 12:26 (UTC+04:00)

By Trend

Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov has noted the importance of carrying out all the measures outlined in the State Program on Combating Corruption at a proper level, the Neutral Turkmenistan newspaper reported on November 1.

The Turkmen president was speaking at a meeting of the State Security Council of the country.

Mammetkhan Chakyev, director of the State Service of Turkmenistan for Combating Economic Crimes, reported on the practical steps taken in order to successfully solve the tasks set before the employees of the state service.

Earlier, it was reported that there were cases of abuse of official powers by some officials, facts of bribery and smuggling in a number of Turkmen ministries and departments.

Particularly, the results of inspection of the activities of agricultural complex structures and the Turkmenhimiya state concern were reported.

Criminal cases were filed in Turkmenistan in mid-May on the crimes related to bribery and embezzlement of state property.

---

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1 November 2017 13:23 (UTC+04:00)

By Trend

At present, there are 4,893 state pre-school educational institutions in Uzbekistan, in which more than 706,000 children are educated.

Such data have been disclosed during a meeting at the Youth Press Club in Tashkent. Uzbek Minister of Preschool Education Agrippina Shin, her deputy Dilshod Kenjayev, kindergarten teachers attended the meeting.

Over 57,000 specialists work in preschool institutions. Such a structure as the ministry of preschool education has been established in the country for the first time upon the decision of the Uzbek president dated September 30, 2017.

Taking into account the population growth in Uzbekistan over the past 20 years, the number of state pre-school educational institutions has decreased by more than 45 percent, Shin said.

The measures are planned to be taken to increase the salary of those working in preschool education sector. The number of both state and private pre-school educational institutions will be increased. Kindergartens will be provided with all necessary medicines, information and communication technologies and necessary equipment.

---

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1 November 2017 13:41 (UTC+04:00)

By Trend

Turkey is preparing a bill that will expand the ban on the sale of tobacco products, the countrys Deputy Prime Minister Recep Akdag said, the Turkish media reported on November 1.

Akdag noted that the new law will also prohibit the sale of tobacco products at the cash desks of stores.

New bans on use of tobacco products have been in effect in Turkey from January 2015, adopted under a state program against smoking.



All the tobacco products sold in Turkey have black packages to be less attractive.



Turkey imposed a ban on smoking in public places in 2008. Penalty for smoking in public and enclosed places is 88 TRY ($23.19 as of November 1).

---

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1 November 2017 16:00 (UTC+04:00)

By Trend

Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev expressed his condolences to US President Donald over the terror attack in New York, the Uzbek Foreign Ministry reported.

Mirziyoyev noted that there can be no justification for this ruthless and extremely cruel crime.

"We strongly condemn any forms and manifestations of extremism and terrorism," the president's message says.

Mirziyoyev further stressed that the tragedy once again confirms the need to unite the efforts of the entire international community in countering such inhuman challenges of our time.

"Uzbekistan, for its part, is ready to use all the forces and means to assist in the investigation of this terrorist act," President Mirziyoyev said.

A driver plowed a pickup truck down a crowded bike path along the Hudson River in Manhattan on Tuesday, killing eight people and injuring 11 before being shot by a police officer in what officials are calling the deadliest terrorist attack on New York City since Sept. 11, 2001.

A native of Uzbekistan is suspected of committing the terror attack in New York, reports said.

---

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1 November 2017 15:09 (UTC+04:00)

By Trend

Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Iran on Wednesday to meet with top leaders as tension between Tehran and Washington mounts over a 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and six major powers, Reuters reports.

State TV reported that Putin would discuss issues with Iranian officials including regional crises such as the Syrian conflict, the nuclear deal and economic and bilateral ties.

Moscow and Washington are at odds over an array of issues and Russia has criticized U.S. President Donald Trumps decision not to certify the nuclear deal on October 13.

Russia and Iran are allies in Syria and the main backers of President Bashar al-Assad, while the United States, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and other Gulf Arab states support opposition groups seeking to overthrow him.

Putin will also take part in a three-way summit between Russia, Iran and neighboring Azerbaijan, state TV said.

---

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Here are nine ASCs that opened or were announced during the month of October.

New York City-based Mid-Bronx Endoscopy Center officially began operations in August 2017. Physicians Endoscopy will serve as the center's management and administrative services partner.

New Lenox, Ill.-based Silver Cross Surgery Center opened across the street from Silver Cross Hospital. The 14,000-square-foot center has three operating rooms, 12 preoperative and postoperative beds and a family waiting area.

Bozeman (Mont.) Health is opening a new $20 million clinic. Bozeman is building a new ASC within the clinic.. The project is a partnership between the health system, United Surgical Partners International and local physicians.

Blackfoot, Idaho-based Bingham Memorial Hospital broke ground on a facility with a surgery center in Idaho Falls, Idaho.

Carle and Christie Clinic physicians broke ground on a new joint venture surgery center in Champaign, Ill. The new surgery center is expected to open in early 2019.

Allegany Associates, the owners of Johnson City, N.Y.-based Southern Tier Surgery Center filed plans with the New York Department of Health to build an ASC in Olean, N.Y.

The State of Tennessee Health Services and Development Agency approved Nashville, Tenn.-based Saint Thomas Health's certificate-of-need application to expand its services. In a joint venture with United Surgical Partners International, Saint Thomas Health plans to build a 13,000-square-foot surgery center.

Northwell Health opened the third phase of Lenox Health Greenwich Village in New York City, including a $25 million ASC.

Richmond, Va.-based MEDARVA Healthcare opened its second ASC in Richmond.
SINCE THE RAPTURE OCCURS BEFORE THE FUTURE 7 YR TREATY IS SIGNED, I WONT BE AROUND TO HAVE THE ACTUAL TREATY SIGNING. BUT UNTIL THEN THIS SITE IS DEDICATED TO THE BEGININGS OF THE ISRAELI / ARAB PEACE PROCESS. AND AS CLOSE TO THE 7 YEAR SIGNING THAT WE GET BEFORE THE RAPTURE OF THE SAVED TO HEAVEN. UNTIL WE MEET JESUS IN THE CLOUDS BODILY, AND COME TO EARTH 7 YRS LATER.
Americans should have an intimate relationship with their wallets, according to Alexa von Tobel, founder and CEO of Learnvest.com and author of Financially Fearless. She delivered a keynote speech at Becker's ASC 24th Annual Meeting: The Business and Operations of ASCs Oct. 27 in Chicago, about the money mantras to live by.

About eight years ago, Ms. von Tobel created Learnvest, a financial planning software, which Northwestern Mutual acquired in 2015.

"Money has this odd dynamic where everybody always feels like they don't have enough of it," Ms. von Tobel said. "It's not about making more; it's about what you make and making really good decisions."

She offered six critical steps for people to start feeling good about their money.

1. Organize. The average American holds 14 different financial accounts. Ms. von Tobel suggested consolidating those accounts into one or two vendors. Additionally, create an email address solely for financial account alerts, because bills will often get lost in the shuffle of a person's main email.

"If you open your bills, you will find that you are likely often overcharged," she said. "If you're not looking at your money, you're not taking care of your money."

Credit scores are also critical to a healthy wallet, and Ms. von Tobel recommended watching this score like a hawk on sites like creditkarma.com and annualcreditreport.com. If a credit score is above 760, it is in great shape.

2. Focus. Two key components matter when sorting through finances: income and expenses. Income reflects how much a person makes post-taxes, and expenses relate to what a person's life actually costs. Ms. von Tobel stressed 50 percent or less should go toward essentials, inclusive of shelter, transportation to work, utilities and groceries. Twenty percent should go toward savings and 30 percent funnels toward personal.

"Your rent or mortgage should never be more than 30 to 35 percent of your income," Ms. von Tobel said.

3. Plan. Ms. von Tobel labeled this strategy the "Monopoly step," indicating a person must pass the following three tests to start financing something else, like a vacation.

 Create an emergency fund with liquid cash: The emergency fund should contain enough for three months for those in their early career; six months for those in their middle career; nine months for those in their late career; and 12 months for those with a family.

 Conquer debt: Get rid of credit card debt and car loans. Good debt includes mortgages and school loans, because they are tied to assets.

 Save for the future: In retirement, a person's life tends to become less active and costs likely decreases. The 80 percent rule demonstrates the idea that a person will live off 80 percent of the costs in retirement he or she currently spends.

4. Build. This step involves saving for other aspects of life, such as a child's college education. Ms. von Tobel noted, though, that people must save for themselves before they start saving for their children. For those interested in buying a home, Ms. von Tobel said a person must be able to put 20 percent down. Additionally, she stressed not buying a home unless a person wants to hold it for seven years.

"One big life hack is under spend on your home and you'll feel rich everywhere else," she advised.

5. Protect. This is the insurance step. Ms. von Tobel suggested researching all relevant insurance policies (homeowner's, disability, term life, umbrella, long-term care) as well as estate docs (living will, beneficiary forms, power of attorney, trust docs, last will and testament).

"If you asked me, how do I promise I never go bankrupt? I would tell you, well it's simple: make sure you're always insured," she said.

6. Maximize. A key investment strategy entails a person putting money into the market that he or she can keep there for the long-run. Ms. von Tobel emphasized the "rule of 5"  if a person needs to use the money in the next five years, he or she shouldn't invest it.

A financial plan's final step is to achieve, or actually do all of the above steps: "This is where it's really good to either work with someone else or have a buddy who holds you accountable," concluded Ms. von Tobel.
Vizient bestowed its 2017 Innovative Technology designation on Pentax Medical's slim linear ultrasound endoscope.

Here's what you should know:

1. Vizient awards the designation based on feedback from hospital experts.

2. The experts interacted with the scope at Vizient's Innovative Technology Exchange, Sept 14 in Denver.

3. The new scope is the slimmest linear gastrointestinal echoendoscope on the market.

Pentax Medical Americas' President Clark Barousse said in a release, "Pentax Medical is delighted to have been recognized by Vizient with an [Innovative] Technology Designation for an exceptional product that is unique in our industry."
Becker's ASC Review profiled the following 12 ASC leaders during the month of October.

Eric Beck, DO, of Envision Healthcare. Dr. Beck is the integrated delivery CEO of Envision Healthcare. He is also president and CEO of Evolution Health, a division of Envision Healthcare. Within Evolution Health, Dr. Beck oversees one of the few U.S. post-acute provider practices focused on population health.

Paul Browne of Tenet Healthcare. Mr. Browne is the CIO and SVP of applied informatics for Tenet Healthcare. Tenet appointed Mr. Browne to the CIO position in 2012. In his role, he oversees Tenet's information technology systems and identifies ways to further the management company's business interests through information technology.

Kyle Burtnett of USPI. Mr. Burtnett is the president of ambulatory services and chief integration officer for United Surgical Partners International. Since joining the company in June 2015, Mr. Burtnett has served in positions including SVP of Tenet Healthcare's outpatient services division.

Joe Clark of Surgical Care Affiliates. Mr. Clark is the executive vice president and chief development officer of Surgical Care Affiliates. He was the president and CEO of HealthMark Partners, an ASC and surgical hospital partner, prior to joining SCA's team.

DJ Hill of Compass Surgical Partners. Mr. Hill co-founded Compass Surgical Partners alongside Sean Rambo. Mr. Hill is currently the CEO of the management company. In his role as CEO, Mr. Hill oversees hospital and physician-only joint ventures.

Benjamin Maser, MD, of Palo Alto Medical Foundation. Dr. Maser is the physician director of the division of ambulatory surgery for Palo Alto Medical Foundation in Mountain View, Calif. Palo Alto Medical Foundation ranked as the top freestanding ASC based on the number of physicians in SK&A's report titled "Top 50 Free-Standing Surgery Centers." Last year, the foundation had 194 physicians.

Jereen Mathew of National Medical Billing Services. Mr. Mathew is the senior vice president of operations for NMBS, one of the largest U.S. ASC billing companies. Mr. Mathew has been a NMBS team member since 2014.

Kelli McMahan of Pinnacle III. Ms. McMahan, RN, is currently the vice president of operations of Pinnacle III. Her nursing career spanned three decades. Ms. McMahan previously was the assistant head nurse in a 450-bed surgical suite hospital.

Michael Perry, MD, of Laser Spine Institute. Dr. Perry is the chief medical officer and co-founder of Tampa-based Laser Spine Institute. Dr. Perry helped expand the company from three physicians and nine employees to a company with 1,200-plus team members.

Frank Principati of Physicians Endoscopy. Mr. Principati is the COO of Physicians Endoscopy. Joining the company in 2010, Mr. Principati oversees all the company's centers' operations including centers that are under development.

Tony Rhorer, MD of SurgCenter Development. Dr. Rhorer is a principal and managing partner at SurgCenter Development. Dr. Rhorer is the CEO of SurgCenter at Paradise Valley in Scottsdale, Ariz. The center is one of SurgCenter's first developments in Arizona.

William Wilcox of USPI. Mr. Wilcox is the chairman and CEO of United Surgical Partners International. Joining USPI's team in 1998, he took on the president and director roles. He has been USPI's CEO since 2004 and has seen the company through major transitions including Tenet's merger with USPI in 2015.
The following hospital and health system credit rating and outlook changes and affirmations took place in October, beginning with the most recent.

1. S&P places Puerto Rico's Ryder Memorial Hospital on credit watch-negative

S&P Global Ratings placed Puerto Rico-based Ryder Memorial Hospital's series 1994A bonds, which are rated "B+," on credit watch with negative implications.

2. Moody's downgrades Southcoast Health System to 'Baa1'

Moody's Investors Service downgraded New Bedford, Mass.-based Southcoast Health System's bonds to "Baa1" from "A3," affecting $148 million of rated debt.

3. Fitch revises Regional West Health Services' outlook to negative

Fitch Ratings affirmed its "BBB+" rating on Scottsbluff, Neb.-based Regional West Health Services' series 2016A bonds, affecting $73.3 million of debt.

4. Fitch assigns 'AA-' rating to Bayhealth Medical Center's bonds

Fitch Ratings assigned its "AA-" rating to Dover, Del.-based Bayhealth Medical Center's proposed $107 million series 2017A bonds.

5. Fitch affirms 'BBB+' on Erlanger Health System's bonds

Fitch Ratings affirmed its "BBB+" rating on Chattanooga, Tenn.-based Erlanger Health System's series 2014A bonds, affecting $149.9 million of debt.

6. S&P downgrades East Jefferson General Hospital's rating to 'B+'

S&P Global Ratings downgraded Metairie, La.-based East Jefferson General Hospital's series 2011 hospital revenue bonds to "B+" from "BB."

7. Moody's revises Southern Ohio Medical Center's outlook to negative

Moody's Investors Service affirmed its "A2" rating on Portsmouth-based Southern Ohio Medical Center's series 2016 bonds.

8. Moody's assigns 'A1' to Jackson-Madison County General Hospital

Moody's Investors Service assigned its "A1" rating to Jackson, Tenn.-based Jackson-Madison County General Hospital's proposed $65 million series 2018A revenue bonds.

9. Fitch assigns 'BBB+' on Carson Tahoe Health System

Fitch Ratings assigned its "BBB+" rating on Carson City, Nev.-based Carson Tahoe Health System's proposed $57.7 million series 2017A.

10. Moody's affirms 'A2' rating on Mary Greeley Medical Center

Moody's Investors Service affirmed its "A2" rating on Ames, Iowa-based Mary Greeley Medical Center, affecting $65 million of outstanding debt.

11. S&P revises Yuma Regional Medical Center's outlook to positive

S&P Global Ratings affirmed its "A-" rating on Yuma (Ariz.) Regional Medical Center's series 2014 revenue bonds, affecting $73 million of debt.

12. S&P downgrades Care New England Health System's rating to 'BB-'

S&P Global Ratings downgraded Providence, R.I.-based Care New England Health System's rating to "BB-" from "BB."

13. Moody's revises outlook on Children's Health System of Texas to negative

Moody's Investors Service affirmed its "Aa2" rating on Dallas-based Children's Health System of Texas, affecting $352 million of debt.

14. Fitch affirms 'BBB+' on Peterson Regional Medical Center

Fitch Ratings affirmed its "BBB+" rating on Kerrville, Texas-based Peterson Regional Medical Center's series 2015 revenue bonds, affecting $51.2 million of debt.

15. Fitch assigns 'BB+' to Lawrence General Hospital's bonds

Fitch assigned its "BB+" rating to Lawrence (Mass.) General Hospital's proposed $69 million series 2017 revenue bonds.

16. Fitch downgrades Great Plains Regional Medical Center to 'B+'

Fitch Ratings downgraded Elk City, Okla.-based Great Plains Regional Medical Center's series 2007 revenue bonds to "B+" from "BB-," affecting $32.8 million of debt.

17. Fitch affirms 'BB' rating on LifePoint Health

Fitch Ratings affirmed its "BB" issuer default rating on Brentwood, Tenn.-based LifePoint Health.

18. Fitch revises Swedish Covenant Hospital's outlook to negative

Fitch Ratings affirmed its "BBB+" rating on Chicago-based Swedish Covenant Hospital's series 2016A revenue bonds.

19. S&P upgrades Lawrence + Memorial Hospital's bond rating to 'A+'

S&P Global Ratings upgraded the rating to "A+" from "BBB+" on New London, Conn.-based Lawrence + Memorial Hospital's bonds.

20. S&P downgrades Lawrence General Hospital's rating to 'BB+'

S&P Global Ratings downgraded Lawrence (Mass.) General Hospital's revenue debt to "BB+" from "BBB-."

21. S&P revises Mercy Health's outlook to stable, affirms 'AA-' rating

S&P Global Ratings affirmed its "AA-" issuer credit rating and long-term revenue bond rating on Springfield, Mo.-based Mercy Health.

22. Fitch keeps Rating Watch Negative on Western Connecticut Health Network's bonds

Fitch Ratings maintained the Rating Watch Negative on Danbury-based Western Connecticut Health Network's series M and series N revenue bonds, affecting a total of $81.5 million of debt.

23. Moody's downgrades Albert Einstein Health Network to 'Baa3'

Moody's Investors Service downgraded Philadelphia- based Albert Einstein Health Network's bond and issuer rating to "Baa3" from "Baa2," affecting $447 million of outstanding debt.

24. Fitch upgrades Yavapai Regional Medical Center's revenue bonds to 'A'

Fitch Ratings upgraded Prescott, Ariz.-based Yavapai Regional Medical Center's series 2016 and 2013A revenue bonds to "A" from "BBB+," affecting $73 million of debt.

25. Moody's assigns 'Aa2' rating to Nationwide Children's Hospital's bonds

Moody's Investors Service assigned its "Aa2" rating to Columbus, Ohio-based Nationwide Children's Hospitals proposed $85 million series 2017A revenue refunding bonds.

26. S&P upgrades Children's Hospital of Orange County to 'A+'

S&P Global Ratings upgraded the rating to "A+" from "A-" on Orange, Calif.-based Children's Hospital of Orange County's series 2011 and 2009A as well as its underlying rating on series 2009B-D.

27. Moody's assigns 'Aa3' rating to Mercy Health's bonds

Moody's Investors Service assigned its "Aa3" rating to Cincinnati-based Mercy Health's proposed $292 million series 2017C revenue bonds.

28. Fitch affirms 'A+' rating on PeaceHealth's revenue bonds

Fitch Ratings affirmed its "A+" rating on Vancouver, Wash.-based PeaceHealth's outstanding debt, affecting a total of $477 million of debt.

29. Moody's affirms 'A3' rating on Central Florida Health's outstanding bonds

Moody's Investors Service affirmed its "A3" rating on Winter Haven, Fla.-based Central Florida Health's outstanding bonds, affecting $84 million of debt.

30. Moody's assigns 'A1' rating to Aspirus' bonds

Moody's Investors Service assigned its "A1" rating to Wausau, Wis.-based Apirus' proposed $68 million series 2017 revenue bonds.

31. Moody's revises North Mississippi Health Services' outlook to negative

Moody's Investors Service affirmed its "Aa3" and "Aa3/VMIG 1" ratings on Tupelo-based North Mississippi Health Service's outstanding rating bonds, affecting $156 million of debt.

32. S&P assigns 'BBB+' rating to Hannibal Regional Hospital's bonds

S&P Global Ratings assigned its "BBB+" rating to Hannibal (Mo.) Regional Hospital's proposed $39.4 million series 2017 hospital revenue bonds.

33. S&P assigns 'BBB-' rating to Samaritan Medical Center's bonds

S&P Global Ratings assigned its "BBB-" rating to Watertown, N.Y.-based Samaritan Medical Center's proposed series 2017A and series 2017B hospital revenue bonds.

34. Moody's assigns 'A1' rating to LifeBridge Health's bonds

Moody's Investors Service assigned its "A1' rating to Baltimore-based LifeBridge Health's proposed $119 million series 2017 revenue bonds.

35. Moody's assigns 'Aa3' rating to MultiCare Health System's bonds

Moody's Investors Service assigned its "Aa3" rating to Tacoma, Wash.-based MultiCare Health System's proposed $318 million series 2017A and 2017B revenue bonds.

36. Fitch assigns 'A-' rating to Anne Arundel Health System's bonds

Fitch Ratings assigned the "A-" rating to Annapolis, Md.-based Anne Arundel Health System's series 2017A and 2017B, affecting $58.4 million of debt.

37. Fitch upgrades rating on Halifax Health to 'A-'

Fitch Ratings upgraded Daytona Beach, Fla.-based Halifax Health's series 2016, 2015 and 2008 revenue bonds to "A-" from "BBB+," affecting $343 million of debt total.

38. Moody's affirms 'A1' rating CentraCare Health System

Moody's Investors Service affirmed its "A1" rating on St. Cloud, Minn.based CentraCare Health System's outstanding rated revenue bonds, affecting $284 million of debt

39. Moody's affirms 'Baa2' rating on Skagit Regional Health

Moody's Investors Service affirmed its "Baa2" rating on Mt. Vernon, Wash.-based Skagit Regional Health's revenue bonds, affecting $120 million of rated debt.

40. Moody's downgrades MaineGeneral Medical Center to 'Ba3'

Moody's Investors Service downgraded Augusta-based MaineGeneral Medical Center to "Ba3" from "Ba2," affecting $280 million of rated debt.

41. S&P affirms 'A-' rating on Norton Healthcare

S&P Global Ratings affirmed its "A-" rating on Louisville, Ky.-based Norton Healthcare

42. Moody's assigns 'A3' rating to Tower Health's bonds

Moody's Investors Service assigned its "A3" rating to West Reading, Pa.-based Tower Health's proposed $584 million series 2017 bonds.

43. S&P downgrades Baptist Memorial Health Care to 'BBB+'

S&P Global Ratings downgraded Memphis, Tenn.-based Baptist Memorial Health Care to "BBB+" from "A-."

44 Fitch affirms 'BBB+' on University Health System's bonds

Fitch Ratings affirmed the "BBB+" rating on Knoxville, Tenn.-based University Health System's series 2017 and series 2016 bonds, affecting $233.4 million of debt.

45. Moody's affirms 'A2' rating on Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System

Moody's Investors Service affirmed its "A2" rating on Spartanburg (S.C.) Regional Healthcare System's outstanding rated revenue bonds, affecting $185 million of debt.
Nashville, Tenn.-based HCA Healthcare, which operates more than 170 hospitals, saw revenue increase in the third quarter of 2017, but the company's net income declined year over year.

HCA's financial results were in line with the third quarter preview the company issued in October. HCA ended the third quarter of this year with net income of $426 million on revenues of $10.7 billion. That's compared to the same period of 2016, when the company recorded net income of $618 million on revenues of $10.3 billion.

On an earnings call Tuesday, HCA Chairman and CEO R. Milton Johnson said the company took an estimated $140 million hit from hurricanes Irma and Harvey. HCA has a total of 18 hospital campuses, eight freestanding emergency rooms, five surgery centers and one freestanding cancer center in the Houston and Corpus Christi, Texas, markets, which were two areas significantly impacted by Hurricane Harvey. The company has 50 hospital campuses, 32 surgery centers, 17 freestanding ERs and 10 diagnostic imaging centers in Florida, where several facilities felt the impact of Hurricane Irma.

The Texas Medicaid Waiver program also took a toll on HCA finances. The company said it took a $50 million hit related to the program in the third quarter of this year.

Mr. Johnson said the hurricanes and the Texas Medicaid waiver reduction make evaluating the third quarter results more complex. "However, if you look at the broad trends to normalize with the destruction in the hurricane affected markets, we believe many of the trends are comparable with the first half of 2017," he said.

In addition to releasing its third quarter financial results, HCA announced the board approved a new $2 billion share repurchase program. Including this newly announced program and the company's share repurchase program announced in November 2016, HCA has approximately $2.15 billion authorized for share repurchases.

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Texas hospital encounters billing, cash flow issues after Cerner go-live
Oklahoma Health Commissioner Terry Cline, PhD, resigned Monday after the state health board of directors accused him of mismanaging the department's finances.

The board voted at an emergency meeting Monday to accept Dr. Cline's resignation, according to the Stillwater News-Press. His resignation came after the board learned the department is faced with an immediate financial loss due to multiple years of fiscal mismanagement and over-expenditures.

In a statement to KGOU, Martha Burger, chairwoman of the board, said the board is working to get to the bottom of the department's financial issues.

"I would like to reiterate how seriously this board takes these matters today," Ms. Burger said. "We are committed to working with the department of health to resolve them."

Dr. Cline, who had served as Oklahoma's top health official since June 2009, was replaced on an interim basis by Preston Doerflinger, Oklahoma's finance secretary.

More articles on leadership and management:

Medicaid advocacy CEO: Medicaid data should be better utilized

Hatch: We are not ruling out ACA mandate repeal in tax reform

Aetna CEO: Successful companies manage people, not bottom lines
Scott Scherr, MD, emergency department director at Las Vegas-based Sunrise Hospital & Medical Center and regional medical director of Knoxville, Tenn.-based TeamHealth, told Becker's Hospital Review he was nearly asleep when his phone started "blowing up" with calls to come to the hospital Oct. 1. He said in those first few moments, he wasn't aware he would be responsible for more than 200 of the nearly 500 individuals injured during the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history to date.

In an interview with Becker's Hospital Review, Dr. Scherr described his experience in the hours and days after Stephen Paddock opened fire on crowds of concertgoers during a country music festival in Las Vegas Oct. 1.

Sunrise Hospital, the closest medical facility to the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, treated 200-plus of the nearly 500 people injured during the incident, Dr. Scherr told Becker's.

Editor's note: Responses have been lightly edited for length and clarity.

Question: Can you describe the initial scene of the hospital on the evening of Oct. 1? What was the atmosphere like?

Dr. Scott Scherr: I was actually at home and was about to go to sleep when my phone started blowing up. I didn't really know what was going on; I was just told there had been a mass casualty incident and to report to Sunrise Hospital. I got to the hospital a little bit before 11 p.m. On the way there, I was listening to the radio and the information was still coming in; reports just said two confirmed dead, shooting at the Mandalay Bay, multiple injured  I wasn't really expecting all that much.

When I got to the hospital, there were multiple security guards in the parking garage. One of the guards, whom I knew, just had a thousand-yard stare. I looked behind him and there were four victims who were dead on arrival in gurneys behind him. Seeing that, my expectations of that night changed. They changed again when I went into the ambulance bay and saw more private vehicles than ambulances. As soon as I walked into the ambulance entrance there were patients on gurneys, in wheelchairs, on the floor, covered in blood. That's when the true magnitude of the moment sunk in.

Q: What was your plan to provide adequate care for all those who came in seeking help?

SS: We had such an incredible response. At least 35 TeamHealth physicians, nurse practitioners and medical scribes showed up to the hospital within 30 to 90 minutes after the incident occurred. We expanded the footprint of the emergency room almost fourfold because 100-plus other members of the medical staff, including physicians, physician assistants, ambulatory staff and nurses showed up. Once the ER was filled to capacity, we started taking patients to the pediatric ER next door, as well as the postanesthesia care unit and two other observation units. We worked really well with the trauma surgeons and pediatric surgeons that responded that night; we did more than 27 surgeries during the first eight hours after the shooting.

For triage, we tagged all of our patients with a certain color to connote varying chances of survivability: patients who were dead on arrival were black-tagged; patients with red tags had seconds or minutes to start doing resuscitation; yellow was for patients who had about an hour or so. Our procedure for a mass casualty incident is to do our initial triage, but then reassess because there's always the chance patients with whichever tag could become unstable.

Q: What were the days following the incident like?

SS: For the rest of the night on Oct. 1, our goal was to just go through all of our patients and treat the sickest individuals first, making sure they were taken care of and were stable, and then continue down the line to make sure the next wave of patients were stable. I ended up spending about 21 straight hours at the hospital because it was my responsibility to make sure the ER was ready and able to handle the volume of patients we were experiencing and that we had enough medical supplies on hand to care for everyone.

We had 12 patients that didn't make it that night. During the evacuation period at the concert, people didn't have their purses or wallets, so it was difficult to identify the patients. We had to work with families and have them identify the individuals. So I stayed at the facility the morning of Oct. 2 because I felt it was important for the families to be able to speak to a physician that worked that night and to notify them of their loved ones' deaths.

The day after the incident was eerily calm. Typically we see about 300 patients a day, but that Monday (Oct. 2) we saw about 215 patients. I think everyone in the city was probably at home with their loved ones, so we didn't see the patient volume we typically see for a few days.

Q: How prepared do you feel Sunrise Hospital physicians were for such an incident?

SS: The hospital conducts mass casualty drills, but nothing can really mimic what we went through that night. I think watching the events unfold and seeing the various area hospitals' response to the shooting will help prepare other facilities for other mass casualty incidents of this nature. The medical staff's response and the communication between the command center and physicians in various departments  everyone brought their A-game and did a great job and saved a lot of lives.

One thing that really helped us within each physician group was having a way to communicate  to get that additional help is key. Our ED has the ability to send mass texts to everyone, and that really saved us.

After the incident, we aimed to make sure all healthcare clinicians had access to counselors and such to make sure we had a formal debrief of the situation and identify members of the staff who may need additional help or were severely affected by the events of that night. That's what has been weighing on my shoulders the most since the incident: making sure that my team is OK. Every TeamHealth physician at Sunrise had the opportunity to speak with a grief counselor during the entire week after the shooting. The counselors responded to the facility that Tuesday, Oct. 3. We've also since sent follow-up phone calls and such to check in with our staff. I think most of our staff is managing well after the incident, but there are a few who are still struggling and may need some more time.

Q: How do you feel nearly a month after the shooting? What are some things that have stood out to you the most?

SS: I have a lot of pride  pride for my team of healthcare workers and first responders and others who helped during the incident. I also have pride for the city of Las Vegas and this community, which has done a really good job coming together not only to show support for the victims, but also for the medical staff and first responders and healthcare workers. I think that's really helped this community heal. I've lived in this city for about 20 years and I've always thought that the city really is filled with a community of people. After this, I've realized that Las Vegas is much more than that. Everyone really came together, whether through monetary or emotional support, to just get through this tough time, and that's something that's pretty awesome to see.
The following healthcare mergers, acquisitions, partnerships and general transactions took place or were announced during the past month.

1. Care New England may not finalize sale of Memorial Hospital until 'well into 2018'

Providence, R.I.-based Care New England officials said a complicated negotiation process has extended the timeline of Pawtucket, R.I.-based Memorial Hospital's sale to Ontario, Calif.-based Prime Healthcare Foundation.

2. MidMichigan Health, West Branch Regional Medical Center to affiliate

Midland-based MidMichigan Health entered into an affiliation with West Branch (Mich.) Regional Medical Center Sept. 28.

3. Texas A&M buys 18-story office building near Texas Medical Center for engineering, medical school partnership

College Station-based Texas A&M University System board of regents approved the purchase of an 18-story office building across from Houston-based Texas Medical Center Sept. 27.

4. Louisiana women's hospital, cancer center partner to create cancer pavilion

Woman's Hospital and Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center, both in Baton Rouge, La., are teaming up to make cancer care more accessible to women across the state.

5. Massena Memorial Hospital affiliation talks on hold

Massena (N.Y.) Memorial Hospital CEO Robert G. Wolleben said affiliation talks with two health systems were put on hold.

6. Meridian Behavioral Health Systems completes purchase of West Virginia hospital

Brentwood, Tenn.-based Meridian Behavioral Health Systems completed its acquisition of Charleston, W.Va.-based HHA, parent company of Charleston-based Highland Hospital, Sept. 27.

7. Cortland Regional Medical Center, Guthrie to explore affiliation

Cortland (N.Y.) Regional Medical Center, a 162-bed hospital, and Guthrie, a four-hospital system in Sayre, Pa., signed a nonbinding letter of intent to explore a definitive affiliation Sept. 27.

8. HealthSouth, University Medical Center to build 40-bed Texas hospital through joint venture

Birmingham, Ala.-based HealthSouth and Lubbock, Texas-based UMC Health System entered into a joint venture agreement Sept. 25.

9. Ochsner to continue management of St. Bernard Parish Hospital

New Orleans-based Ochsner Health System signed an extended agreement allowing the health system to continue management of Chalmette, La.-based St. Bernard Parish Hospital.

10. Court approves sale of bankrupt North Carolina hospital

A judge has allowed Morehead Memorial Hospital, a 108-bed nonprofit hospital in Eden, N.C., that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in July, to begin selling off its assets.

11. Baptist Memorial among frontrunners to purchase, lease OCH Regional

The Oktibbeha County board of supervisors revealed Oct. 5 Memphis, Tenn.-based Baptist Memorial Health Care and Tupelo-based North Mississippi Health Services are among the frontrunners to purchase or lease Starkville, Miss.-based OCH Regional Medical Center.

12. UChicago, Northwestern and U of Illinois-Chicago partner to study emergency care

University of Chicago Medicine, Chicago-based Northwestern Memorial Hospital and the University of Illinois at Chicago will team up to conduct clinical trials to improve outcomes for patients with life-threatening emergencies.

13. KeyBanc Capital closes acquisition of Cain Brothers

Cleveland-based KeyBanc Capital Markets completed its acquisition of New York City-based investment banking and public finance firm Cain Brothers & Co. Oct. 2.

14. California State University, Dignity Health-Northridge to partner

California State University, Northridge named Dignity Health-Northridge (Calif.) Hospital Medical Center the university's first-ever "Community Health Partner of the CSUN Matadors" Oct. 4. The partnership will go into effect immediately.

15. Mayo Clinic, Oxford sign transatlantic partnership for medical research

Rochester, Minn.-based Mayo Clinic, the University of Oxford (U.K.) and the Oxford (U.K.) University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust signed a trans-Atlantic agreement Oct. 3 to advance medical research and patient care.

16. Rush signs agreement to acquire Chicago hospital

Chicago-based Rush signed a nonbinding letter of intent to acquire Evergreen Park, Ill.-based Little Company of Mary Hospital Oct. 4.

17. Northwell Health acquires Orlin & Cohen Orthopedic Associates

New Hyde Park, N.Y.-based Northwell Health acquired Orlin & Cohen Orthopedic Associates, the largest private orthopedic practice in Long Island, N.Y.

18. Adventist Health buys $14.5M plot to connect subsidiary systems in Florida

Altamonte Springs, Fla.-based Adventist Health System purchased 103 acres in Florida's Polk County to extend and connect its Orlando and Tampa Bay, Fla.-based health systems.

19. Georgia hospital gets new management

Milledgeville, Ga.-based Oconee Regional Medical Center is now officially managed and owned by Macon, Ga.-based Navicent Health.

20. LifePoint divests Georgia hospital to Piedmont Healthcare

Brentwood, Tenn.-based LifePoint Health sold 138-bed Rockdale Medical Center in Conyers, Ga., to Atlanta-based Piedmont Healthcare.

21. Penn State Health completes integration of 100-member Pennsylvania physician group

Penn State Health, the parent company of Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey (Pa.) Medical Center, integrated approximately 100 physicians and other healthcare providers belonging to Lancaster, Pa.-based Physicians' Alliance into the health system Oct. 2.

22. Mon Health completes acquisition of Stonewall Jackson Memorial Hospital

Mon Health, a two-hospital system in Morgantown, W.Va., finalized its acquisition of Weston, W.Va.-based Stonewall Jackson Memorial Hospital Oct. 2.

23. Baptist Health South Florida, Bethesda Health finalize merger to form 10-hospital system

Miami-based Baptist Health South Florida completed its merger with Boynton Beach, Fla.-based Bethesda Health Oct. 1 after two and a half years of negotiations.

24. Kindred partially completes sale of SNF business for $108M

Louisville, Ky.-based Kindred Healthcare closed on the sale of a portion of its skilled nursing facility business to BM Eagle Holdings for $108 million Oct. 2.

25. CHS divests Texas hospital to HCA subsidiary

Franklin, Tenn.-based Community Health Systems completed its divestiture of 103-bed Weatherford (Texas) Regional Medical Center and its associated assets to Irving, Texas-based Medical City Healthcare Oct. 1.

26. Global Medical REIT closes on $40.65M acquisition of Seton Healthcare, Kindred joint venture

Global Medical REIT, a Bethesda, Md.-based company engaged in the acquisition and leasing of healthcare facilities, closed on a $40.65 million deal to purchase Austin, Texas-based Central Texas Rehabilitation Hospital Sept. 25.

27. Bergen Regional rebrands under new management

Nonprofit Paramus, N.J.-based Care Plus Bergen assumed management of Bergen Regional Medical Center, also in Paramus, Oct. 1. Bergen Regional also rebranded as New Bridge Medical Center.

28. Lakeland Regional Health, Orlando Health affiliate

Lakeland (Fla.) Regional Health affiliated with Orlando (Fla.) Health Oct. 1 to establish an integrated healthcare system.

29. Steward Health Care becomes private hospital operator of 36 hospitals following Iasis acquisition

Boston-based Steward Health Care completed its acquisition of Iasis Healthcare, an 18-hospital system in Franklin, Tenn., Sept. 29.

30. Quorum Health sells 2 Pennsylvania hospitals

Brentwood, Tenn.-based Quorum Health, the 32-hospital spinoff of Community Health Systems, sold two Pennsylvania hospitals to Williamsport, Pa.-based UPMC Susquehanna.

31. CHS completes divestiture of 5 Pennsylvania hospitals

Community Health Systems finalized its divestiture of five Pennsylvania hospitals to West Reading, Pa.-based Tower Health  formerly Reading Health System  Oct. 1.

32. Jefferson, Monell Center sign letter of intent to merge

Philadelphia-based Jefferson university (Philadelphia University + Thomas Jefferson University) signed a letter of intent to merge with the Monell Center, an independent nonprofit scientific institute dedicated to the interdisciplinary research on the senses of taste and smell, also based in Philadelphia, Oct. 12.

33. Arizona medical centers merge under Summit Health name

Fifty-one Arizona medical providers currently affiliated with Peoria-based Arizona Primary Care Physicians will form a new physicians group  Summit Medical Group Arizona  under a partnership agreement with Summit Health Management of New Jersey.

34. Tenet sells hospital to Loyola with eye on exiting Chicago market

Dallas-based Tenet Healthcare reached a definitive agreement to sell MacNeal Hospital, a 368-bed community hospital in Berwyn, Ill., and its affiliated operations to Chicago-based Loyola Medicine.

35. CoxHealth to acquire Missouri hospital

CoxHealth, a five-hospital system in Springfield, Mo., signed a letter of intent to acquire Barton County Memorial Hospital in Lamar, Mo., Oct. 10.

36. Catholic Health expands partnership with Buffalo Medical Group

Catholic Health System, a five-hospital system in Buffalo, N.Y., expanded its partnership with Buffalo Medical Group, a group physician practice with four main New York locations in Buffalo, Williamsville and Orchard Park.

37. Temple University Hospital, St. Luke's form strategic partnership for transplant services

Temple University Hospital, a 722-bed academic medical center in Philadelphia, entered into a strategic partnership Oct. 10 with Bethlehem, Pa.-based St. Luke's University Health Network to streamline coordination of care for select transplant services.

38. HCA offshoot to lease East Jefferson General Hospital

Metairie, La.-based East Jefferson General Hospital's board of directors signed a letter of intent Oct. 10 to lease the facility to New Orleans-based University Healthcare System.

39. KentuckyOne Health transfers ownership of clinic for $0

Rather than permanently shutter one of its clinics, Louisville-based KentuckyOne Health transferred ownership of Westside Medical Center Primary Care Clinic to Family Health Centers, both in Louisville, at no charge.

40. BJC HealthCare to consider severing 30-year operating lease early if Boone Hospital joins MU Health Care

St. Louis-based BJC HealthCare will consider terminating its 30-year operating lease with Columbia, Mo.-based Boone Hospital Center early if the hospital successfully finalizes its partnership with University of Missouri Health Care, also in Columbia.

41. Stanford Health Care partners with California hospital for heart surgery

Dameron Hospital, a 200-plus-bed hospital in Stockton, Calif., partnered with Stanford (Calif.) Health Care Oct. 5 to improve its cardiothoracic surgery program.

42. Adventist, Rideout Health finalize affiliation agreement

Roseville, Calif.-based Adventist Health reached an affiliation agreement with Marysville, Calif.-based Rideout Health.

43. Nevada Regional Medical Center to undergo change in management

The Nevada City Council approved plans last week to begin negotiating a contract with Joplin, Mo.-based Freeman Health System to take over management of Nevada (Mo.) Regional Medical Center.

44. Bankrupt California hospital lines up potential management partners to terminate current lease early

Tulare (Calif.) Regional Medical Center, which filed for bankruptcy Sept. 30, is reportedly in talks with two health organizations to run the facility, placing the hospital in a position to break ties with its current management company early.

45. Cleveland Clinic, Quest Diagnostics form strategic partnership

Secaucus, N.J.-based Quest Diagnostics signed a definitive agreement to acquire Cleveland HeartLab, a spinoff of Cleveland Clinic.

46. U of Utah Health partners with Central Valley Medical Center

Salt Lake City-based University of Utah Health and Nephi, Utah-based Central Valley Medical Center partnered to provide burn care to Nephi residents via telehealth technology.

47. Steward Health Care, Cleveland Clinic express interest in partnership with Indian River Medical Center

Steward Health Care; Nashville, Tenn.-based HCA; and Cleveland Clinic are three of 12 suitors who expressed preliminary interest in partnering with Vero Beach, Fla.-based Indian River Medical Center.

48. Care New England, Partners deal reportedly unaffected by Memorial Hospital closure

A spokesperson for Care New England told Becker's Hospital Review the health system remains committed to completing its proposed affiliation with Boston-based Partners HealthCare despite the recent closure of one of its hospitals.

49. Boca Raton Regional Hospital to begin search for long-term partner

Boca Raton (Fla.) Regional Hospital hired New York City-based investment banking and public finance firm Cain Brothers & Co. to assist the in the hospital's search for a suitable partner.

50. Memorial Sloan Kettering, Norwalk Hospital form cancer care partnership

New York City-based Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and Norwalk (Conn.) Hospital formed a cancer care collaboration Oct. 16 to integrate the medical and radiation oncology staff at both facilities and share best practices.

51. U of Michigan in talks to affiliate with Wayne State physician practice

Ann Arbor-based University of Michigan is reportedly negotiating a potential affiliation agreement with Detroit-based University Pediatrics, a physician group that provides staff and faculty for Wayne State University School of Medicine and the Children's Hospital of Michigan, both in Detroit.

52. Steward Health Care completes integration of 2 Arizona hospitals

Steward Health Care completed the integration of two Arizona hospitals this month.

53. Tri Valley Health to affiliate with Avera Health

Cambridge, Neb.-based Tri Valley Health System's board of directors approved a management affiliation agreement with Sioux Falls, S.D.-based Avera Health Oct. 18.

54. ThedaCare drops plan to consolidate 2 Wisconsin hospitals

ThedaCare, a seven-hospital system in Appleton, Wis., will not pursue plans to consolidate two of its hospitals in Appleton and Neenah, Wis.

55. Bankrupt North Carolina hospital attracts 7 bidders

Two health systems and three medical service companies submitted bids this week for all or part of Morehead Memorial Hospital's assets.

56. Tenet ditches sale plans after CEO's departure

Tenet Healthcare ended efforts to sell itself following the departure of longtime leader Trevor Fetter Monday, two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters Thursday.

57. Wake Forest Baptist to purchase High Point Regional

Winston-Salem, N.C.-based Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center signed a letter of intent Oct. 25 with Chapel Hill, N.C.-based UNC Health Care to acquire High Point (N.C.) Regional Health.

58. Johns Hopkins goes global, pursues 19 healthcare ventures across 5 continents

Baltimore-based Johns Hopkins Medicine International aims to spread the health system's brand and mission across the globe through several initiatives, including a hospital in the Middle East.

59. Dignity Health, Select Medical sign definitive agreement to combine select operations

Dignity Health signed a definitive agreement to combine its subsidiary occupational medicine and urgent care services provider with Mechanicsburg, Pa.-based Select Medical's service provider Oct. 23.

60. Rice Memorial board OKs partnership with CentraCare, ACMC Health

The Willmar, Minn.-based Rice Memorial Hospital board of directors approved a series of agreements Oct. 30 to create a regional healthcare entity in partnership with Willmar-based ACMC Health and St. Cloud, Minn.-based CentraCare Health.

61. Elliot, Southern New Hampshire Health combine to create Solution Health

Manchester, N.H.-based Elliot Health System and Nashua-based Southern New Hampshire Health signed an agreement Oct. 30 to combine operations, according to the New Hampshire.
Manchester, N.H.-based Elliot Health System and Nashua-based Southern New Hampshire Health signed an agreement Oct. 30 to combine operations, according to the New Hampshire Union Leader.

The combined entity, SolutionHealth, will aim to provide and improve medical care through the sharing of EHRs and other advancements in medical technology.

Officials from both health systems said during a press conference Monday the deal is not a merger because both institutions will maintain their own brands and boards of directors. Officials said they intend to create a third board to oversee the combined entity that will comprise five representatives each from Elliot Health System and Southern New Hampshire Health.

Elliot Health System President and CEO Doug Dean said Monday officials will submit the agreement to the New Hampshire attorney general's office, who will have four months to review and approve changes.

Officials also said there would be a potential for some duplicative positions to be eliminated in the combined entity, according to the report.

The organizations initially signed a letter of intent to combine in June.
Attorney generals from 45 states and Washington, D.C. moved to widen a lawsuit Tuesday that accuses generic drugmakers of collusion to fix prices, according to Reuters.

The initial lawsuit, first filed in December 2016, alleges a broad conspiracy by six large pharmaceutical companies to divvy up market share and set price increases to boost their profits. The original complaint targeted Mylan, Heritage, Teva Pharmaceuticals, AurobindoPharma USA, Citron Pharma and Mayne Pharma.

The expanded lawsuit accused 12 additional pharmaceutical companies and two individual drugmaker executives  Rijiv Malik, Mylan's president and executive director and Satish Mehta, CEO and managing director of Emcure Pharmacuticals, a parent company of Heritage Pharmaceuticals  of price-fixing.

"It is our belief that price-fixing is systematic, it is pervasive, and that a culture of collusion exists in the industry," said Connecticut AG George Jepsen, who is leading the case, according to Reuters.

Mylan said it found no evidence of price-fixing by the company or its employees and vowed to defend the allegations vigorously, according to the report.

"Mylan has deep faith in the integrity of its president, Rajiv Malik, and stands behind him fully," the company wrote in a statement.

Prosecutors Tuesday moved to add Actavis Holdco, Actavis Pharma, Acend Laboratories, Apotex Corp., Dr. Reddy's Laboratories, Emcure, Glenmark Pharmaceuticals, Lannett Pharmaceuticals, Par Pharmaceutical Co., Sandoz, Sun Pharmaceutical Industries and Zydus Pharmaceuticals.
[October 31, 2017] As Cyber Threats to Automobile Dealerships Grow, an Oregon Ford Dealer Employs Delivery Trust Email Encryption to Protect Customer Information

IRVINE, Calif., Oct. 31, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Identillect Technologies Corp. (the "Company" or "Identillect") (TSX-V:ID) (OTCQB:IDTLF) (Frankfurt:8ID), a leading provider of email security today announced Mid Valley Ford, an automobile dealership in Dallas, Oregon, will implement Identillects email encryption tool, Delivery Trust. The decision represents a proactive choice by the dealership to protect their customers Personal Identifying Information (PII).

According to a study by Helion Technologies, 75% of small and medium sized businesses with less than 500 employees (this includes most car dealerships) have experienced at least one security breach in the previous 12 months. Automobile dealerships distribute sensitive customer financial data which is the information used for identity theft. "It's a fact - hackers are getting more sophisticated in choosing their victims," said Identillect CEO Todd Sexton. "They're choosing industries to target based on customer demographics and their perceived lack of security. With bank account information, credit card numbers and the personal data of new car buyers available on their networks, dealerships must take proactive steps to protect this data." Delivery Trust, which protects information in transit and at rest from cyber security threats, has been adopted by a growing number of small and medium sized businesses throughout North America. Dealerships are becoming more proactive as they know they are a target for cyber criminals. Delivery Trust is being implemented in a growing number of industries, because there is a need for email security tools whenhandling individuals personal identifiers. Recent surveys not only found an increase in cyber-attacks on businesses but for car dealerships in particular, they also identified a huge loss in customer confidence when a breach occurs. A poll by Total Dealer Compliance found that 84 percent of car buyers surveyed would not return to a dealership that had been the victim of a data breach.



"Taking important cyber security measures against hackers, including email encryption, can be inexpensive compared with the amount of money a dealership can lose when a breach occurs," said Sexton. About Mid Valley Ford

Mid Valley Ford, is a Ford dealer in Dallas, Oregon offering new Ford Cars, Crossovers, SUVs, Trucks and Commercial Trucks and quality pre-owned used vehicles. Located 12 miles west of Salem Oregon, and located in the central part of the Willamette Valley, Mid Valley Ford strives to be the "Lowest Cost Value Leader New Ford Dealer" in Oregon.

About Identillect

Identillect Technologies is the leading provider of email encryption service Delivery Trust, empowering enterprises of all sizes to protect their business and their clients critical information against cyber security attacks. Delivery Trust is an award-winning, multi-platform plug-in, which gives users complete control of their emails, for one low price. One simple integration complies with all regulations and most importantly provides peace of mind. For more information, or your free trial, please visit www.identillect.com.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors of: IDENTILLECT TECHNOLOGIES CORP. Todd Sexton

Chief Executive Officer

Tel: (949) 468-7878

Email: [email protected] Investor Relations:

Arlen Hansen

Kin Communications

1-866-684-6730

[email protected] Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release may include forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. All statements within, other than statements of historical fact, are to be considered forward-looking. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include market prices, exploitation and exploration successes, continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. There can be no assurances that such statements will prove accurate and, therefore, readers are advised to rely on their own evaluation of such uncertainties. We do not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements except as required under the applicable laws.

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Misty Blanchette Porter, MD, a former OB-GYN at Lebanon, N.H.-based Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center and professor at Hanover, N.H.-based Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, filed a complaint against the hospital Oct. 11 alleging officials fired her because she took an extended leave from the hospital and for her whistle-blowing actions, according to The Dartmouth.

Dr. Blanchette Porter said in the lawsuit filed with the U.S. District Court of Vermont she lost her job at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center after the facility closed its reproductive endocrinology and infertility program in June. She claims officials fired her, in part, because she took disability leave after an injury in November 2015. Ms. Porter had been employed at the hospital for roughly 20 years.

"After Dr. Blanchette Porter's employment was terminated, the Dartmouth-Hitchcock administration told members of the staff that the decision to terminate her employment was motivated by the fact that she had been out of work for an extended period and was only able to work part-time," according to the complaint obtained by The Dartmouth.

The lawsuit stated the hospital "harassed, abused, intimidated, discharged, threatened and otherwise discriminated against" Dr. Blanchette Porter after she informed hospital management several times of what she considered to be questionable medical practices by hospital employees at the facility, the report states. Dr. Blanchette Porter claimed Dartmouth-Hitchcock's actions are a direct violation of the New Hampshire Whistleblowers' Protection Act, which was designed to protect whistle-blowers who come forward.

Dr. Blanchette Porter seeks damages "in an amount to be determined at trial" for wrongful discharge, violation of the New Hampshire Whistleblowers' Protection Act and disability discrimination and retaliation, The Dartmouth reports. She also seeks reinstatement as a hospital employee with no loss in seniority or benefits.

Lawyers on behalf of Dartmouth-Hitchcock declined to comment to The Dartmouth on the pending litigation. The Dartmouth could not reach an attorney for Dr. Blanchette Porter.

A spokesperson for the hospital told The Dartmouth, "The decision [to close the REI program] was not made lightly, because D-H is deeply committed to women's health, and we appreciate the impact of this decision on our patients and their caregivers."

"However, delivering the highest quality healthcare to our patients is paramount, whether here at DHMC or elsewhere, and our inability to support the specialized clinical resources required for such a program led to the conclusion that continuation of the program was not in our patients' best interests," the spokesperson continued.
The American Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration Oct. 31 on behalf of a 10-year-old girl with cerebral palsy who was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents after crossing a checkpoint to receive gallbladder surgery at Corpus Christi, Texas-based Driscoll Children's Hospital Oct. 24.

Immigration officers claim Rosa Maria Hernandez was detained because she had been living in the U.S. without legal permission and was traveling to Driscoll Children's in an ambulance without her parents, among other reasons, according to The Washington Post.

Rosa Maria had been traveling to the hospital to undergo gallbladder surgery after suffering complications from kidney stones. Once she had woken up from surgery and was discharged from the hospital, ICE agents arrested and transferred her to an HHS Administration for Children & Families Office of Refugee Resettlement detainment facility in San Antonio 150-plus miles from her home in Laredo, Texas, according to an ACLU blog post. Rosa Maria's mother previously said she brought Rosa Maria to the U.S. without legal permission when she was 3 months old.

Officials reportedly transferred her to ORR because she was an "unaccompanied minor," the blog post states.

The ACLU contends the Trump administration violated severals laws in Rosa Maria's case, including the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008 and the Homeland Security Act of 2002. While the laws allow ICE agents to transfer "unaccompanied children" into the ORR's custody, the ACLU argues both laws define "unaccompanied" children as children who do not have a parent or guardian able to care for them in the U.S. Rosa Maria, however, lives with her parents in Laredo and was with a family member at the time of her detention, according to the blog post.

The organization also argues Rosa Maria's detainment violated both her own and her parents' due process rights guaranteed under the Fifth Amendment. Under the due process clause, government officials may detain individuals if their detention is reasonably related to the government's interests in preventing flight risk or protecting the community from danger. The ACLU argues Rosa Maria is not a flight risk and does not pose any danger.

"Rosa Maria has been taken from the only home that shes ever known. Because of cerebral palsy, she requires constant, specialized care, which her family is in the best position to provide. Even without developmental delays, most 10-year-olds would be unable to comprehend or process how they went to sleep at a hospital and woke up in the custody of the U.S. government.  Every single day that she remains separated from her family, the nightmare continues," the organization wrote in its blog post.

To read the ACLU's blog post about the case, click here. For more information on Rosa Maria's case, click here.
Officials at Florida Hospital Oceanside, an 80-bed hospital in Ormond Beach, said the hospital will remain closed for a minimum of 18 months to repair damages the facility suffered after Hurricane Irma made landfall in the state in early September, the Ormond Beach Observer reports.

A spokesperson for the health system's east Florida region told the Ormond Beach Observer 18 months is the soonest the hospital can reopen because of damage to the interior and exterior of the building. She also said the hospital closed its transitional care unit "because there is no short-term fix for the building," the report states.

The spokesperson said current patients in the hospital's TCU will continue to receive care at Daytona Beach-based Florida Hospital Memorial Medical Center. However, no new patients will be admitted.

Editor's note: Becker's Hospital Review reached out to Florida Hospital Oceanside and will update the article as more information becomes available.

More articles on patient flow:

Immigration agents detain 10-year-old patient at Driscoll Children's Hospital: 9 things to know

3rd Michigan medical facility temporarily closes due to water issues

Ohio hospital reopens after fire causes temporary evacuation, closure
While public health officials are urging everyone to get the flu vaccine, some members of the healthcare community are debating the effectiveness of this year's shot, according to NBC Montana.

This year, the flu is starting early and spreading a number of different strains, the CDC warns, but the flu shot only defends against one of those variants. Additionally, some patients are concerned with the shot's potential negative side effects.

However, getting the vaccine is the best way to not only protect yourself but keep the virus from infecting those who may not survive it, according to some public health officials.

"That helps with individuals who can't get the vaccine, like babies under six months of age and older people or people with allergies. If they can't be vaccinated the best thing to do is to is for all of us to get vaccinated. So, therefore, we are protecting them," Pam Whitney, RN, a nurse at the Missoula (Mont.) City-County Health Department, told NBC Montana.

Naturopathic physician Jamison Starbuck believes people should take additional steps to prevent themselves from illness this flu season, besides just receiving the flu shot.

"[R]ather than just going and getting the flu shot and thinking 'Well OK, that took care of everything and now I can just go and do what I want to do,' I think it's wiser to understand that we are moving into a season of a lot more exposure to illness, and we do things to make our bodies healthy and strong," she told NBC Montana.

Even if the flu shot may not protect against all strains of the virus, the CDC still recommends getting the shot, which will cover a person for a full year.

Editor's note: This article was updated Nov. 2 at 12:50 p.m. A previous version of this article insinuated some health experts believed the flu vaccine was not effective. The revised article clarifies these opinions are attributable to a naturopathic physician cited in NBC's coverage.
Pharmacists are taking on a much larger role than ever before in hospitals' strategic initiatives.

"Historically, pharmacists focus was predominantly within the 4 walls of the pharmacy. says Kelly Morrison, director of remote and retail pharmacy services for Dublin, Ohio-based Cardinal Health. "Their role didnt involve getting out on the floors working directly with care teams and interacting with patients. That's changed now."

As onsite pharmacists take on more initiatives, such as medication reconciliation and discharge patient counseling, the hospital loses valuable labor resources to perform medication order entry and reviews. In these circumstances, remote pharmacy models can be leveraged to offer a convenient and flexible method to supplement onsite pharmacists, according to Ms. Morrison.

She spoke with Becker's Hospital Review about the benefits of remote pharmacy models and shared how hospitals can expand services by maximizing labor while minimizing costs.

Editor's note: Responses have been lightly edited for style and clarity.

Question: How are remote pharmacy models expanding pharmacy's role and reach?

Kelly Morrison: Within the last three to four years, pharmacies have been asked to get involved in many more initiatives that broaden their role, due in part to healthcare reform. For example, both the adoption of computerized physician order entry and initiatives to reduce 30-day readmissions are impacting pharmacy resources. With the adoption of CPOE, the medication order entry volume typically increases due to pharmacy having to review orders for areas they did not prior to CPOE; such as the emergency department and other procedural areas. In addition, one of the most effective methods to reduce 30-day readmission rates is through patient discharge counseling driving medication adherence post-discharge. In addition, hospitals are challenged executing medication reconciliation programs that are most effective when pharmacy is involved.

With pharmacists serving many more roles than in the past, hospitals are forced to re-allocate pharmacy resources. Hospitals could hire more pharmacists, however most are trying to maximize labor since healthcare reimbursements and budgets are flat. Using remote pharmacists can often achieve cost savings for hospitals and allow onsite pharmacists to focus on other initiatives. With remote pharmacies, hospitals don't have to deal with recruiting, human resource issues, pharmacists taking vacation time or sick leave, etc. This enables hospitals to provide a consistent level of care 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Q: How are other health systems managing labor to support pharmacy-led initiatives?

KM: Many health systems are using remote pharmacy models to supplement their onsite team to expand hospital-based pharmacies' staff. One health system in North Carolina employs a pharmacy staff to support their 24-hour pharmacy operation. In the past the pharmacy didn't have a need to supplement their staff with remote pharmacists. However, in the last year a key initiative for them was to reduce their 30-day readmission rates, so they did a pilot where they allocated a pharmacist to counsel patients about their medications prior to discharge in some critical care areas. This approach yielded a positive impact in reducing their readmission rates, therefore, they wanted to expand it throughout the hospital. Yet to do that, they had to reallocate pharmacist time to support this initiative and are leveraging remote pharmacy model to supplement the on-site staff to ensure on-going medication order entry continued to be performed timely.

In some cases, hospitals need a labor solution to address a specific project for a short period of time. Another health system has a centralized remote pharmacy service in place internally, however, the health system temporarily engaged Cardinal Health for remote pharmacy services to help with a technology implementation and a medication reconciliation project that would be a strain on their resources for several months. Rather than hire new staff for a short period of time, they decided to leverage Cardinal Healths remote pharmacy service to supplement their own.

Q: How can a remote pharmacy model be leveraged to support a retail strategy?

KM: Many retail pharmacies are challenged managing higher patient volumes while expanding services to under-served, remote communities. Leveraging remote pharmacy models can help these pharmacies ensure the scripts are processed and filled timely to enable medication adherence.

Providing pharmacist support to a small population can create financial challenges. However, several new technologies enable pharmacists to expand their reach remotely, depending on each states regulations.

In addition, health systems often have an ambulatory care network throughout the community, and want to be able to expand pharmacy services to these sites. Using a remote pharmacy model is often a cost effective approach that improves patient safety and outcomes.

Q: How do you see remote services evolving hospital care in the next five to 10 years?

KM: In the next five to 10 years, more and more healthcare will be conducted outside the four walls of the hospital in ambulatory care sites, infusion centers, urgent care facilities and outpatient surgery centers. Employing on-site pharmacists in these environments can be cost prohibitive, therefore expanding remote pharmacy models to service patients and providers outside of the hospital will be critical.

But its not just about pharmacy. Telehealth initiatives and regulations continue to address the expansion of many remote clinical services and will become more common in the future.

More articles on supply chain:

Supply chain tip of the day: How to maintain the medical supply chain amid natural disasters

Merck attributes $135M in lost Q3 sales to NotPetya cyberattack

Is Amazon also looking to enter the medical device business?
Neural Analytics signed a $10 million contract with the U.S. Department of Defense to develop and supply a portable, point-of-injury ultrasound for assessing combat-related traumatic brain injuries.

Here are five insights:

1. Over the next 18 months, Neural Analytics will develop its Lucid System to measure and monitor physiological parameters relevant to moderate to severe traumatic brain injury and to operate in prolonged

field care scenarios.

2. Lucid System is expected to operate as a single, portable unit with minimally required training and maintenance. The contract was awarded by the U.S. Army Medical Research and Material Command.

3. Additionally, after the device is completed, Neural Analytics will continue to supply the system to the Department of Defense and commercialize the system into its brain health platforms.

4. It is estimated more than 370,000 military service members have suffered traumatic brain injuries over the last 16 years, and combat-related traumatic brain injury remains the most common source.

5. Neural Analytics creates devices and services to measure, diagnose and track brain health. The company focuses on acute ischemic stroke, traumatic brain injury and dementia, as well as created

portable and autonomous devices.
The Physician Alliance, a Michigan-based physician organization focused on population health, granted The CORE Institutes Michigan facilities a five-star rating through its Specialist Service Excellence Award Program.

TPA developed awards to encourage physician groups to implement and maintain the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Patient-Centered Medical Home-Neighborhood capabilities. The five-star rating for Service Excellence Award in Care Coordination and Quality Improvement recognizes the practices care quality and participation in improvement programs. The awards also help primary care physicians to identify "excellent specialty practices" without referrals.

Phoenix and Novi, Mich.-based The CORE Institute provides integrated, comprehensive musculoskeletal and neurological care. The practice blends clinical care with research, academics and community service. The practice also focuses on payer reform initiatives and prides itself for remaining on the forefront of systems-based quality programs.

"We are honored to be recognized by The Physician Alliance as a leader in service excellence and remain committed to providing the best evidence-based patient care available," said William Higginbotham III, MD, who heads the practices quality implementation initiatives.
Here are eight spine surgeons and neurosurgeons that joined new organizations, moved locations or received promotions in October 2017.

Ali Rezai, MD, left Columbus-based Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center to join Morgantown, W.Va.-based WVU Medicine. He now leads clinical trails and research programs at WVU Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute, a new program for the health system.

Marco A. Rodriguez, MD, opened the International Spine Institute in Baton Rouge, La. He previously treated patients in South Carolina for five years, before founding the International Spine Institute.

Robert Huang, MD, joined Sacred Heart's Pediatric Care Center at Gulf Breeze (Fla.). State University of New York Center for Advanced Technologies granted Dr. Huang funds for osteoporosis research and Palms Clinic and Hospital Corporation awarded him grant money to study spinal fusion.

Galena, Kan.-based Orthopedic Specialists of the Four States welcomed its third spine surgeon, Toby Moore, DO. He previously treated patients at Colorado Springs, Colo.-based Front Range Orthopedics.

Brian Willis, MD, will serve as the interim chairman of Louisiana-based LSU Health Shreveport's neurosurgery department, effective Nov. 1. Dr. Willis replaces Anil Nanda, MD.

Nassau University Medical Center in East Meadow, N.Y., welcomed neurosurgeon Arturo Camacho, MD. He underwent fellowship training at Cleveland Clinic.

Conway (Ark.) Regional Health System welcomed Regan S. Gallaher, MD, to its team. Equipped with about 20 years of experience, Dr. Gallaher specializes in treating spinal illness and trauma.

Spine surgery specialist Michael Mauro, DO, joined Healthpointe in La Mirada, Calif. Dr. Mauro underwent fellowship training at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore.
OrthoConnecticuts Danbury (Conn.) Orthopedics welcome spine surgeon Justin Paul, MD, PhD, according to Voices News.

Here are four things to know:

1. Dr. Paul specializes in minimally invasive spine surgery and has published numerous scientific articles on avoiding complications during complex spine procedures.

2. Board certified in orthopedic surgery, Dr. Paul underwent fellowship training at Rush University in Chicago.

3. After earning his medical degree from Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City, Dr. Paul completed his residency at the Hospital for Joint Diseases in New York City.

4. Along with Dr. Paul, OrthoConnecticut Danbury Orthopedics welcomed two orthopedic surgeons and two pain management specialists.
Methodist Hospitals in Northwest Indiana added Nassir Mansour, MD.

Here are four insights:

1. Dr. Mansour joined the Methodist Physician Group Network.

2. He is a neurosurgeon specializing in neurovascular surgery, neuro-oncology surgery, neuro-spine surgery, epilepsy Surgery, facial pain, hydrocephalus and Chiari malformation.

3. Dr. Mansour's office will be at the Neuroscience Institute in Merrillville, Ind.

4. He serves as an assistant neurosurgery professor at State University of New York, Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn.
[October 31, 2017] BCM One Partners With Leading Cybersecurity Consulting Firm

NEW YORK, Oct. 31, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- BCM One, a leading technology solutions provider, announced today a partnership with Secure Technology Integration Group (STIGroup), a cybersecurity firm providing consulting, secure IT engineering and managed security services. The partnership extends beyond cloud and bandwidth, into deep managed security across the entire estate of client assets. STIGroup and BCM One have teamed together to provide BCM One clients reliable options with regards to security services including: managed SIEM, managed firewall, endpoint threat detection and prevention, incident response and forensics, penetration testing, and regulatory compliance. The STIGroup security operations center (SoC) is powered by best of breed technology and is monitored by STIGroup analysts on a 24x7x365 basis. "At this present time, cybersecurity is more important than ever for any line of business. The STIGroup has proven to be a reliable and highly experienced organization to provide our clients with the critical security solutions needed to protect their network infrastructure," stated Jay Monaghan, Partner & President of BCM One. "Together with BCM One, we have an innovative unique offering consisting of cloud, bandwidth, and enterprise data security, providing clients with unmatched technlogy integration and professional service delivery," said David Gordon, President of STIGroup.



For more information about BCM One, visit www.bcmone.com and follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn. ABOUT BCM ONE

BCM One provides a single source for truly integrated technology solutions that help advance a company's business objectives. Through strategic partnerships with over 50 leading technology suppliers fused with our own managed solutions, BCM One is a technology integrator and advocate for businesses. We develop the best-customized solution per client. BCM One offers Intelligent Network  connecting your business to the world, Intelligent Workplace  infusing collaboration across your business and Intelligent Cloud  optimizing cloud solutions for business transformation. Our Mission: To provide a World Class Experience with EVERY Human Interaction. ABOUT STIGROUP, LTD Founded in 2000, STIGroup is an innovative firm that provides cybersecurity consulting, secure IT engineering, managed security services, and human capital solutions. STIGroup delivers the people, process and technology that enable our client's cybersecurity programs. Our proven methodology combines information security lifecycle best practices with a client-specific engagement model. This allows businesses to utilize technology aggressively, while maintaining the confidentiality, integrity and availability of mission-critical information. More information about STIGroup can be found at https://www.stig.net or by calling 888-881-6661. For Media Inquiries: Paula Como Kauth

Office: 212.906.7255

[email protected] View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/bcm-one-partners-with-leading-cybersecurity-consulting-firm-300546892.html SOURCE BCM One Public Relations

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A person named Chandran, from Sri Lanka, had filed a Habeus Corpus case against actress Bhuvaneshwari, claiming that his 23-year-old daughter was kidnapped by the actress against the law. As per the case filed by him, the court ordered Bhuvaneshwari to surrender in the court. Bhuvaneshwari appeared before the judges for the hearing yesterday morning (October 31). The court adjourned the case to November 21, asking them to provide enough proof.



Meeting the press post the hearing, Bhuvaneshwari said, "I am unnecessarily being pulled into this case. It is a problem concerning a single individual. The girl had faced sex torture from her cousin, and used to express her feelings to me. But, I didn't interfere with the problem because I didn't want to create a ruckus or commotion inside the family.



However, this became a big issue, last month, when her family members assaulted her and forced her to have sex. She escaped and came running to me from Trichy. She pleaded with me to help her, and I had no other options. As a fellow woman, and like a mother, to her, I decided to help her, and wrote separate letters to the CM cell and the Commissioner, stating that the girl is safe with me.



I also called the girl's family over the phone and informed them about this. They came up to my place and asked her to come, but the girl refused to go with her family. She told that if she goes back to her house, she will commit suicide. This was the issue and nothing else."
Ace cinematographer Santosh Sivan will don the role of a director once again with his new film Kunjali Marakkar IV.



The Thalapathi cinematographer has officially released the first look poster of the film. The film will star Mammootty in the lead role, and is said to be based on the story of the warrior and captain of Kozhikode Samoothiri's Navy, Kunjali Marakkar.



This Malayalam film, written by T.P. Rajeevan and Shankar Ramakrishnan, will be produced by August Cinemas. Santosh Sivan's last directorial venture was Inam, which talked about the civil war that prevailed in Sri Lanka.
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The main objective of this venture is to improve health care and public health education in the Marshall Islands.

Taipei Medical University Shuang Ho Hospital at Taiwan has signed an agreement with the Marshall Islands' Ministry of Health and Human Services to continue a medical internship program as well as establish a Hospital Information System (HIS) to enhance the quality of health care in the Pacific Island country.

The signing of agreement was attended by Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen and Hilda Heine, President of the Marshall Islands.

As per the agreement, Shuang Ho Hospital will help with the running of a clinical internship program for medical interns in the Marshall Islands as well as set up a HIS at Majuro Hospital, which is located in the country's capital city Majuro, to digitize patient records and other medical information.

Taiwan's health care efforts in the Marshall Islands includes helping local hospitals set up a standard operating procedure for patient care and donating a picture archiving and communication system (PACS), commonly used in radiology to store diagnostic information.

According to Minister of Health and Welfare Chen Shih-chung, the main objective of this venture is to improve health care and public health education in the Marshall Islands.

It is hoped that through this agreement the Marshall Islands will be able to achieve the World Health Organization's global health targets, Chen stated.
[October 31, 2017] RS Components appoints Chris Poullaos as Country Manager for Australia and New Zealand

SYDNEY, Nov. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- RS Components (RS), the trading brand of Electrocomponents plc (LSE:ECM), the global distributor for engineers, has appointed Chris Poullaos as Country Manager for Australia and New Zealand. The appointment supports the company's ongoing commitment to become first choice for its customers and suppliers by delivering a one-stop solution, powered by technology, innovation and data-led insight that fulfils the needs of engineers and procurement officers in the industrial and electronics sectors. Based in Sydney, Chris will focus on driving growth and expanding the RS Australia and New Zealand business. With an aim to provide best-in-class customer services, he will concentrate on reinforcing the company's promise to provide a broad range of industrial and electronic products, high stock availability, together with extensive sector-specific knowledge and technical expertise. Cris will lead the local team to continue to improve the customer experience, develop new channels to market, drive customer expansion and implement supplier and brand promotion activities.



"Chris brings a valuable mix of industry knowledge from across multiple sectors such as information technology, industrial product, food processing, facility and office supply management with a proven track record of success in enhancing business performance. Building on the solid foundation of the Australia and New Zealand markets, Chris will play a key role in driving growth as we continue to adapt to the needs of our customer base in the markets," commented Frank Lee, Regional Vice President APAC at RS. Prior to joining RS, Chris was General Manager of the Food Processor Supplies business unit of Bunzl Australasia. He also held senior sales management and director roles with Educations Works Australia, Electus Distribution (Jaycar Electronics) and Corporate Express Australia.

About RS Components RS Components and Allied Electronics are the trading brands of Electrocomponents plc, the global distributor for engineers. With operations in 32 countries, we offer more than 500,000 products through the internet, catalogues and at trade counters to over one million customers, shipping around 50,000 parcels a day. Our products, sourced from 2,500 leading suppliers, include electronic components, electrical, automation and control, and test and measurement equipment, and engineering tools and consumables. Electrocomponents is listed on the London Stock Exchange and in the last financial year ended 31 March 2017 had revenues of GBP1.51bn. For more information, please visit the website at www.rs-online.com. Further information is available via these links: Twitter: @RSComponents; @alliedelec; @designsparkRS RS Components on Linkedin:

http://www.linkedin.com/company/rs-components Other Relevant Links : Electrocomponents plc: www.electrocomponents.com

RS Components: www.rs-online.com

DesignSpark: www.designspark.com Photo - https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20171030/1978257-1

Logo - http://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20150818/8521505364LOGO SOURCE RS Components

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Viruses ability to decode and repurpose the self-assembly instructions within viral genomes is so efficient that they can write artificial instructions for assembly that are even better than those found in nature.

Researchers who successfully cracked a code that governs infections by a major group of viruses have gone a step further, creating their own artificial code, reports University of York.

Previously, scientists at the Universities of York and Leeds discovered that many simple viruses use a hidden code within their genetic instructions for the production of viral proteins that gets decoded during viral assembly.

Now the same researchers have moved beyond simply reading the hidden assembly instructions to writing their own messages to regulate viral assembly. Their ability to decode and repurpose the self-assembly instructions within viral genomes is so efficient that they can write artificial instructions for assembly that are even better than those found in nature.

Since the artificial messages are written in the form of RNA molecules that, unlike viral genomes, no longer encode messages for creating viral proteins, these are completely harmless to the human body.

This new understanding of viral self-assembly codes could prove hugely important in a range of clinical applications, such as cancer therapy and immunisation.

Trojan horse

Professor Reidun Twarock, a Mathematical Biologist with the University of Yorks Departments of Mathematics, Biology, and the York Centre for Complex Systems Analysis, said: If you were to compare our research to household DIY, its like taking a set of instructions for building a shelf, learning what makes the assembly so efficient, then using the instructions to build a different shelf using better-quality wood.

In the future, our research should allow the introduction into the body of something that looks like a virus from the outside, but contains a different cargo inside the shell of coat proteins. It would be completely harmless as everything that makes it infectious has been stripped away, leaving only the message of the assembly code that makes formation of the protein shell efficient.

The idea is to enable efficient formation of coat protein shells that trick the immune system, triggering a response, which would mean it was primed to act immediately if it were to encounter a real infection. Or, in a different application of the same technology, to transport other cargoes into a cell for therapeutic purposes, like a Trojan horse.

The research, which also involved the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory and the University of Oxford, is presented in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).

Applications

Professor Peter Stockley, a Biological Chemist from the Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology at the University of Leeds, said: Our research means it is now possible to create virus-like particles highly efficiently, that encompass the artificial assembly manual and potentially also other cargoes, but that are unable to replicate.

Such particles have a wide range of potential applications, including in the production of synthetic vaccines and systems to deliver genes to specific cells.

Professor Stockley added: During the Second World War the need to decode the German military codes known as Enigma drove the development of electronic computing, which in turn led to the digital world of today. In the same way, this new understanding of viral self-assembly codes is likely to trigger multiple applications of the technology, just as digital computers proved to be useful for more than simple code-breaking.

The research was funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), a Royal Society Leverhulme Trust Senior Research Fellowship and a Joint Wellcome Trust Investigator Award to Professors Stockley and Twarock.
[November 01, 2017] AvaTrade is Introducing AvaTradeGO, its Innovating Trading App

DUBLIN, November 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- AvaTrade, the leading forex and CFD broker, launched AvaTradeGO, a new MT4 based trading app. The app offers trading on both fixed and floating spreads trading accounts, as well as registration-free demo accounts. The new app is available for Android and iOS users. AvaTradeGO has a fresh and user-friendly interface, which appeals both to new and experienced traders alike. The uniqueness of AvaTradeGO is the trading insights it gathers from traders in real-time, sending the user live social trends and push notifications on selected instruments. These features generate to the trader a broad vision of the markets in real-time, and aim to assist in making the right call at the right time. "We set out with a primry goal to produce an app which really stands out at the top of the industry, one that is not just a trading app but THE trading app," says Mr. Daire Ferguson, CEO of AvaTrade. "During the entire planning and development time, we always had the trader experience as the main objective, to make his/her trading experience with AvaTradeGO not only good - but really marvellous. Looking at the final product I feel we have accomplished that, and we will continue to enhance the features and make it even better still."



Find out more about AvaTrade at http://www.avatrade.com/trading-platforms/avatradego About AvaTrade

AvaTrade, the leading forex and CFD broker, was founded in 2006 and offers more than 250 financial instruments, top trading platforms, and a new cutting-edge mobile app, AvaTradeGO. Clients enjoy personal account managers and a 24-hour live customer service in 15 languages. AvaTrade accommodates to traders of all levels, and further ensures secured trading with advanced encryption and fully segregated accounts. AvaTrade is fully regulated in the EU, Japan, Australia, South Africa & BVI. Press Contact

Orly Garini-Dil

Marcom Director

+1-646-335-0738 (Ext. 2125)

[email protected]

SOURCE AvaTrade

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[November 01, 2017] Atera Announces More Automation, Security, and Support

NEW YORK, Nov. 01, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Atera, developer of the cloud-based IT automation platform that combines Remote Monitoring and Management (RMM), Professional Services Automation (PSA), and remote access into one powerful solution, today announced new enhancements to the IT management platform, providing additional functionality, security, and automation for Managed Service Providers (MSPs) and IT professionals. The new capabilities also include expanded system control and monitoring, improved patch management, and the introduction of 24/7 app support offering real-time chat with Atera specialists, and much more.

We are excited to announce the new capabilities that enable MSPs to better scale and automate their businesses, said Gil Pekelman, chief executive officer at Atera. The enhancements, asked for directly by MSPs, will provide more benefits to their customers and add ease of use in their business practices. We look forward to helping MSPs succeed and profitably grow their businesses with our technology and continued support. The latest updates include the following benefits for MSPs: Enhanced Automation and Customer Communication : A new report scheduling platform provides MSPs with the ability to share their work and progress with customers, along with automated reporting for system health status, work completed, technician productivity, and more. This type of automated and continuous communication increases customer satisfaction and reduces churn.

: A new report scheduling platform provides MSPs with the ability to share their work and progress with customers, along with automated reporting for system health status, work completed, technician productivity, and more. This type of automated and continuous communication increases customer satisfaction and reduces churn. Enhanced System Control: Atera provides a new powerful searching capability with automatic actions and scripts that run on search results. For example, its now possible to search for all devices missing specific software and automatically run a script to install it, on all devices, with one click.

Increased Report Granularity : Two new reports have been added, including the Software Inventory Report and the Price Status Summary Report. The new detailed reports will distinguish between different patch classes, security, drivers, rank by level of importance, and more. The Software Inventory Report provides customization and device segmentation with built-in automation logic according to customized software profiles. MSPs can build smarter reports according to software attributes, such as vendors, versions, product family, and other new advanced filters. The Patch Status Summary Report offers better control and management of the system, enbling a faster reaction time to cybersecurity threats. It also offers more detailed feedback and greater granularity than ever before.

: Two new reports have been added, including the Software Inventory Report and the Price Status Summary Report. The new detailed reports will distinguish between different patch classes, security, drivers, rank by level of importance, and more. Enhanced Security : Atera, in partnership with Webroot, is now offering the SecureAnywhere DNS Protection feature, which provides secure web browsing for all endpoints. In addition to the DNS protection, other new security enhancements include more system-wide controls and an option to add a password to each device. The full security suite now consists of Webroot Anti-Virus, Webroot secure browsing, and a powerful online backup tool.

: Atera, in partnership with Webroot, is now offering the SecureAnywhere DNS Protection feature, which provides secure web browsing for all endpoints. In addition to the DNS protection, other new security enhancements include more system-wide controls and an option to add a password to each device. The full security suite now consists of Webroot Anti-Virus, Webroot secure browsing, and a powerful online backup tool. Improved Support: Atera is now offering 24/7 support within the Atera platform, offering MSPs on-demand expert support and an opportunity to speak with a technical specialist through a live chat feature.



unique pricing model and a transformative billing dashboard that includes real-time statistics from The Benchmark. Atera offers a fast, easy, and secure way for MSPs to migrate their customers to the IT management platform. To learn more about Atera, please call (877) 211-4666, or email [email protected]. MSPs seeking to efficiently and effectively run their businesses should sign up for a 30-day free trial today via www.atera.com.

About Atera

Atera is the developer of the cloud-based IT automation platform that combines RMM, PSA, and remote access into one powerful solution. Ateras all-in-one innovative platform offers MSPs improved operational efficiency, seamless integration, end-to-end management, and disruptive pricing. To learn more, visit www.atera.com. MEDIA CONTACT

Amanda Lee

ARL Strategic Communications

(727) 272-0781

[email protected]

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Home price growth in the capital cities has continued to slow on a quarterly basis, weighed down by tighter lending by the big banks and easing market conditions in Sydney.

Sydney home prices fell 0.6 per cent over the quarter and were down 0.5 per cent over the month, figures from property data group Corelogic show.

It marks the first rolling quarterly fall in Sydney since May 2016 when the first round of tighter borrowing requirements were still working their way though credit policies. It is the second month in a row Sydney prices have retreated after they slid 0.1 per cent in September.

Home prices in Darwin and Perth were also down, 4.4 per cent and 0.7 per cent respectively, over the quarter. Melbourne's market conditions remain resilient compared to Sydney, with home prices up 0.5 per cent for the month and reaching growth of almost two per cent over the quarter.
Canberra police were confronted with a man covered in blood holding a large knife when they used their Taser on him, according to the territory's police chief.

Anthony Caristo died in his Waramanga home on Tuesday, in what is believed to be the first Taser-related death in the ACT.

ACT Chief Police officer Justine Saunders. Credit:Karleen Minney

Chief Police Officer Justine Saunders said, from what she knew, the officers had acted "entirely appropriately" and they were "severely traumatised" by the event.

Revealing more details of the incident on Wednesday, she said two officers were called to Larakia Street about 11.30am, when neighbours heard a man yelling and smashing glass.
It was a horrific scene in December 2013 when Parwinder Kaur ran screaming from her home in Sydney's north-west, her body covered in flames.

Neighbours watched on in shock as the 32-year-old emerged at the front her home on Greensborough Avenue, Rouse Hill, after being doused in petrol and set alight.

At the time, witnesses recalled her husband, Kulwinder Singh, then 34, running after her, apparently trying to put out the flames with his hands, saying, "Fire, fire. I didn't do it, I'm a good man."

But, four years on, Mr Singh has been arrested and charged with the murder of Ms Kaur.
A 750 megawatt coal-fired power plant in north Queensland would be viable, but only if wholesale electricity prices remained as high they are today and a carbon price is never introduced over the next 40 years.

The leaked private consultants' report published in News Corp newspapers on Wednesday also warned there was a serious risk the $1.6 billion plant may become a stranded asset because the demand for coal is dropping.

Anti-coal protesters dogged Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk in Cairns on Wednesday. Credit:Darren England/AAP

Queenslands wholesale electricity price is monitored by the Australian Energy Market Operator and the wholesale price of electricity varies constantly, minute by minute.
A heavily pregnant woman has been taken to hospital after three men set fire to her south-east Brisbane home.

Her 44-year-old brother was rescued from the house by firefighters as he tried to tackle the blaze himself.

Police believe the men smashed a front window of the Mackenzie home and poured petrol inside before setting it alight about 10.15pm.

Firefighters were able to extinguish the blaze before it could spread beyond the front room.
While celebrating Halloween has become increasingly popular in WA, it seems not all Perth residents have gotten into the spooky spirit.

A series of pamphlets distributed in Perth's northern suburbs urge locals to denounce the holiday, as it is a mixture of "pagan traditions and idolatry" and "is an abomination to God".

The anti-Halloween pamphlet. Credit:Molly McHugh

"Most people today think of Halloween as harmless fun when children [sic] dress up in costumes and go from house to house to 'trick or treat'," the pamphlet, which was dropped into letterboxes around Duncraig and Carine, says.

"Householders then give the children sweets to avoid being tricked by them. They are blinded to the evil that lies behind this tradition.
A 21-year-old man is in custody after police allegedly spotted him smashing business windows with a shovel in the early hours of Thursday morning.

WA Police say they watched as the man made his way down Main Street in Ellenbrook at about 2.40am, and smashed the shopfront windows of nine different businesses with a shovel..

It's not clear why the man attacked the business shopfronts. Credit:Jason South

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It is understood he did not take anything from any of the businesses.
That's another factor in favour of Rheinmetall's bid: a brand-new factory in south-east Queensland. That'd be great in a vulnerable marginal electorate like Peter Dutton's, wouldn't it? Or perhaps Christopher Pyne will talk up South Australia's urgent need for an injection of government industry. Wouldn't that fit the bill as part of an effort to replace a real business, like making cars for Australians? After all, if you look around, you'll notice we still use a lot of vehicles and the perception that industry is returning to Adelaide certainly won't hurt a government that needs a few wins ...

Of course, South Australia will be softened up by the big bickies in shipbuilding. Interestingly, last week's Submarine Institute conference heard in detail about the massive challenges Australia's new subs will face as they try to remain stealthy. The Australian Strategic Policy Institute's Andrew Davies said he'd begin his speech with something "nice and uncontroversial". "Submarines," he said, "might be obsolete by the middle of the century", before going on (at some length), describing exactly how new technology will soon offer so many new ways of destroying them. Then he paused. "I'd still put my money on the submarine program outlasting the future frigate program. In fact, I think that submarines will prove to have greater longevity than almost any other military platform."

In the past, we've dealt with the challenges of offensive weaponry by belting something on. Ships were given bigger guns with longer ranges, which dictates increased size and therefore even more armament. That's what Sea 5000, the new frigate project, is about. That dwarfs what we are spending on the army; it's part of the massive $89 billion naval shipbuilding program.

The problem, as Davies points out, is missiles are getting cheaper and more effective. They'll soon be able to swarm intelligently to flood a ship's defenses. It will become too dangerous to send our frigates into harm's way. They're optimised, at huge cost, to fight a conventional war, yet this is the one environment in which they'll be too vulnerable to ever engage.
Government reports come and go with great rapidity. Some are acted on, most are quickly pigeonholed. Last week Scott Morrison tabled a report from the Productivity Commission called Shifting the Dial, but it was soon lost amid all the excitement about raids on a union and politicians being thrown out of their jobs.

Despite this inauspicious beginning, let me make a fearless prediction: when the history of the economy in the early decades of the 21st century is written, this report will get prominence.

Credit:Illustration: Letch

Why? Not because this government or the next will rush out to implement its recommendations, but because it will be seen as a turning point in the thinking of the nation's economic advisers.

The populist revolt against the doctrines of "neoliberalism"  or economic rationalism, as we've called it in Australia  has been apparent for most of this year. It's been apparent since the middle of the year that the long-running bipartisan consensus in support of neoliberalism in the advanced economies has collapsed.
[November 01, 2017] Vanguard Integrity Professionals At GSE UK 2017 In United Kingdom

Vanguard to Exhibit at GSE UK November 7 - 8, 2017 LAS VEGAS, Nov. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Vanguard Integrity Professionals, Inc., cybersecurity experts with cybersecurity solutions securing any enterprise, is proud to sponsor and exhibit at GSE UK 2017 in Whittlebury, United Kingdom November 7 - 8, 2017. Additionally, Vanguard will be presenting on topics addressing the latest cybersecurity and compliance issues. Vanguard will highlight its security solutions demonstrating how they play a vital role protecting any enterprise, cloud or IBM z/OS security server environment.



GSE UK 2017 brings together thought leaders, experts and professionals at all levels of cyber security as well as the next generation of cyber defenders. The GSE UK Conference is an annual event organized by the GSE Conference Committee. The conference includes several keynote and plenary sessions and a large number of subject streams, each of which covers a specific area of interest targeting cybersecurity. Security experts from Vanguard will be on hand at GSE UK 2017 to discuss the latest security and compliance topics, trends and techniques over the two-day conference. We invite you to come by our booth and meet Vanguard executives.

About Vanguard Integrity Professionals Vanguard Integrity Professionals provides enterprise security software and services that solve complex security and regulatory compliance challenges for financial, insurance, healthcare, education, transportation and government agencies around the world. Vanguard provides Cybersecurity Solutions Securing any Enterprise. The world's largest Financial, Insurance, Government Agencies and Retailers entrust their security to Vanguard Integrity Professionals. Vanguard is committed to protecting and securing the Cloud and any Enterprise environment. Vanguard provides 24/7/365 live customer support from the United States of America. IBM and z/OS are trademarks of International Business Machines Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/594126/Vanguard_Integrity_Professionals_Logo.jpg

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Last week a humanoid robot called Sophia visited Australia and declared on ABC breakfast television that robots deserved more rights than humans because they had "less [sic] mental defects". The same robot previously told the SSXW Festival in Austin, Texas that it would destroy all humans.

Then the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia granted Sophia citizenship. (Presumably it's still a second-class citizen being nominally female in a country that has only recently allowed women to drive.)

Sophia's robo-chauvinism sounds like the premise for a Halloween horror movie. But don't get too spooked.

Earlier this year, Sophia's creator David Hanson told US TV host Jimmy Fallon that the robot is "basically alive". Sorry, but that's going too far! Sophia is a truly awesome feat of engineering but sentient, it ain't.
Government MPs are joining growing calls for a "full audit" of MPs' citizenship status, with one describing the ongoing constitutional saga as the "death of a thousand cuts" of the Parliament.

Craig Kelly, Liberal MP for the Sydney seat of Hughes, said the Australian Electoral Commission was best placed to conduct the audit.

"There's virtually an informal audit being done by the media, which is like a death of a thousand cuts," he told the ABC's Lateline program on Tuesday night.

"I think the best way to bring this to a head, to draw a line in the sand, let's have a full audit of everyone's record, put this behind us and move on and then, going forward, everyone will be crystal clear what the rules are."
Ultimately, the spokesman said, "decisions such as the one in relation to the Ipswich Communications Centre will always be made by operational police, including the Police Commissioner". Commissioner Ian Stewart had recommended the Palaszczuk government close the Yamanto facility. Credit:Darren England/AAP The Ipswich Communications Centre at Yamanto manages triple-zero calls and police dispatch for the Ipswich area and employs about 25 police and unsworn civilians. In 2015, it was one of the few remaining regional communications centres, with analogue radio equipment that was easily eavesdropped. Since 2009, most of the other small centres have been consolidated into larger city-based facilities with more modern equipment, including, in 2015, centres at Mt Isa and Innisfail. According to a briefing note dated November 23, 2015, authored by Community Contact Command Assistant Commissioner Paul Stewart and signed off and marked as supported by Commissioner Ian Stewart, the option to install a new digital radio network at Ipswich, but otherwise leaving the facility untouched, was the worst of four possible options for the centre.

This is is not considered a viable option and maintains current operational risks, the briefing note warns. But it was that option the Labor government announced it would proceed with four days later. By contrast, closing the centre and integrating its operations into the Brisbane communications centre had the advantages of low or neutral cost that would capitalise on recent investment in Brisbane and for the G20 summit and creates a sustainable precedent or model for further at-risk communication centres. The QPS noted that closure also carried risks and disadvantages including opposition by unions and Ipswich (City) Council and media critical of decision to reduce local employment opportunities through some positions relocating out of the district. Two other options, to create a specialist role for the centre or to keep it but integrate it fully into the state network, would necessitate spending up to $1 million, funding that was not readily available and would likely require the re-direction of funds from other QPS commitments or planned activity.

The same advice and warnings had been included in a similar note written by Assistant Commissioner Stewart dated August 6, also supported by the Commissioner, who six weeks earlier had already signed off on a plan to integrate the functions of the Ipswich centre into the Brisbane communications operation. In her speech to Parliament in August, Mrs Miller claimed Ms Palaszczuk had ordered her to use ministerial powers to overrule the Commissioner and keep the centre open. Former police minister Jo-Ann Miller addresses Parliament. Credit:AAP Mrs Miller alleged that her refusal to do so had led to her being sacked as police minister on December 3, 2015. I told the Premier that the then-mayor was allegedly corrupt and I believed had access to information confidential to the Ipswich police comms centre, Mrs Miller told MPs on August 22.

My concerns were ignored and all I got was just fix it, which was code for directing the Police Commissioner under the Police Service Administration Act. I refused to do it. The Premier stood by an allegedly corrupt former mayor and got rid of an honest police minister. The Premier responded in Parliament the following day, saying Mrs Miller had raised allegations about Mr Pisasale with her while Ms Palaszczuk was Opposition Leader and that she had said at the time she would be taking them to the Crime and Corruption Commission. Ms Palaszczuk did not address the deliberations over the Yamanto centre. Separately, documents tabled earlier under Parliamentary privilege by independent MP Rob Pyne alleged Mr Pisasale had received inside information about police raids and arrests from a worker at the Ipswich Communications Centre, which the then-mayor used to ingratiate himself with the media and others.

The worker, Cate Carter, later tabled a response in the Parliament denying the allegations. Mr Pisasale resigned as mayor in June amid a CCC investigation into $50,000 in cash the then-mayor was found carrying at Melbourne Airport the previous month. Paul Pisasale is due to reappear in court next week. Credit:Darren England/AAP He has since been charged with a range of offences including official corruption, misconduct in public office, perjury, possession of a restricted drug, fraud, extortion and attempting to pervert the course of justice. Mr Pisasale is due to appear in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on November 7.

The briefing notes acknowledge the opposition of the Queensland Police Union and Together Union to the closure plan, which was first announced to staff in April 2013. QPU president Ian Leavers was later reported as having welcomed the sacking of Mrs Miller as police minister. Mrs Miller, the member for the Ipswich electorate of Bundamba since 2000, said both unions knew that no public servant was going to lose their jobs as a result of the communications centres closure. She said plans had been in place for their redeployment in Brisbane, at other police facilities in Ipswich or at the Ipswich Corrections Centre. The people of Ipswich were always suspicious of the motives of the Ipswich mayor and the police union, she said. Ms Palaszczuk's spokesman said the Yamanto facility would contribute to enhanced communications capability during next year's Commonwealth Games.
Bogota: Drug smuggler Cassandra Sainsbury has been sentenced to a maximum of six years in prison under a plea deal approved by a Colombian judge, her lawyer says.

"Her sentence begins immediately and could be as low as three years if she has behaved well," Orlando Herran said after a closed session in Bogota on Wednesday.

Sainsbury was also fined the equivalent of 450 Colombian minimum wages (about $140,000).

Mr Herran said he intends to appeal against the fine as Sainsbury is unable to pay it, AAP reported.
President Donald Trump said he plans to end a diversity visa lottery program that he said the Uzbek immigrant suspected of killing eight people in New York City used to get into the United States.

"Today we mourn the horrifying terrorist attack in New York City, just blocks away from the site of the World Trade Centre," Trump said on Thursday during a meeting with his cabinet at the White House.

"I am today starting the process of terminating the diversity lottery program. I'm going to ask Congress to immediately initiate work to get rid of this program," he said.

He said the program "sounds nice, it's not nice, it's not good," adding that he would "certainly" consider sending suspect Sayfullo Saipov to Guantanamo Bay.
[November 01, 2017] Colocation Northwest Expands Presence With Major Lease in Seattle's Centeris Data Center

Colocation Northwest, a division of IsoFusion, a leading provider of Internet access and IT services in the Puget Sound region, announced today that it has leased up to 7 Megawatts of mission critical IT capacity, that includes scalability for the deployment of enterprise and high-density customers at the Centeris South Hill data center campus. Colocation Northwest's new expansion into the world-class Centeris SH1 facility is driven by increasing customer demand for scalable, high performance colocation, including disaster recovery services. The strategic move highlights Colocation Northwest's customer-first approach and commitment to growing their data center offerings to the Puget Sound region and West Coast of the United States. "We look forward to bringing our vision for scalable, fully managed colocation solutions and integration to a new level," said Stephen Milton, co-founder and CEO of Colocation Northwest. "Our commitment to Centeris allows us to offer the same customer-focused colocation services we've given customers for over 25 years, to the enterprise and wholesale markets." Colocation Northwest will have access to Centeris' 50 megawatt onsite substation providing dedicated, expandable, green power, and, dense fiber connectivity delivering redundant, high-speed connections to the most important access points in the U.S. and Asia. IsoFusion's customers of all sizes will enjoy the security of Centeris' secure facility, while benefiting from direct dark fiber access to the Westin Building Exchange and Coloction Northwest's other data center locations. Built on bedrock, SH1, exceeds current seismic standards and is above the 500-year floodplain, making it one of the safest as well as one of the most secure and robust facilities in the region.



"We are pleased to welcome Colocation Northwest to our high performance Seattle Centeris SH1 data center," said Centeris owner, Larry Benaroya. "We look forward to providing the redundancy, robust security and hyper-scalability to support Colocation Northwest's commitment to operational excellence and growth." About Colocation Northwest & IsoFusion:

Colocation Northwest, a division of IsoFusion Inc. is one of the largest privately held ISP and Colocation providers in Western Washington. Founded in 1991 as ISOMEDIA, IsoFusion is a full solution provider of Internet related products and services that cater to local businesses, as well as providing complex solutions to companies with a national presence. A competitive local exchange carrier (CLEC) in the state of Washington, IsoFusion offers a full range of services providing everything from commercial Fiber and Ethernet connections, custom Fiber to the Home community solutions, hosting and dedicated server options, managed data center colocation services and technology consulting for businesses. IsoFusion provides managed enterprise solutions and outstanding service to prominent Northwest businesses. IsoFusion is Headquartered in Seattle Washington and provides exceptional quality, value, and service to over 23,000 residential and business customers across the West Coast. For more information visit colocationnorthwest.com or isofusion.com. About Centeris Data Centers: Centeris is a leading provider of data center solutions for mission critical IT applications and systems infrastructure based in the Seattle area. By integrating innovative design with proven energy efficient and environmentally sustainable technologies, Centeris provides abundant reliable power with robust critical infrastructure and efficient data center operations. Privately held by The Benaroya Company, with facilities in the Northwest including Seattle's South Hill Data Center and Boise, Centeris possesses the operational flexibility coupled with the financial strength to respond to current and future requirements with speed and certainty. For more information visit www.centeris.com. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171101005553/en/

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Call it a gateway to friendship.

Mayor De Blasio announced on Friday that the city will finally get its first-ever Chinese archway designating the entrance to Sunset Parks Chinatown neighborhood, on Eighth Avenue between 60th and 61st streets. The archway, which will be installed within the next few years, will be a gift from Beijings Chaoyang District and its placement underscores the importance of the cultural enclave, the mayor said.

In Brooklyn, this Chinese community has grown to such an extraordinary extent, and Sunset Park and the surrounding area now have a major  global, in fact  Chinese community, the mayor said at the unveiling. This was the right place, on Eighth Avenue, to have this arch.

The 40-foot-tall friendship archway will sit close to one of the borders of Brooklyns Chinatown, which spans Eighth Avenue between 42nd and 68th streets.

The archways twin pillars will be decorated with indigo-blue glazed tiles and classic Chinese designs, including a golden dragon and a revolving floral motif, and topped with an ornately tiled, nine-section roof. The middle beam of the arch will have a Chinese inscription, meaning one family over four seas, and an English one marking the connection between Brooklyn, the largest borough in New York City, and Chaoyang, the largest district of Beijing.

Former Borough President Marty Markowitz first unveiled plans for the arch in 2013, and Community Board 7 endorsed the plan in 2015. The citys Public Design Commission finally approved the archways design this past July. The Department of Transportation will manage its installation.

In China, such ornate archways traditionally stand at significant sites  such as temples, tombs, and government offices  as well as at the entry points to major urban streets. And in many American cities  including Boston, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Seattle, and San Francisco  similar archways mark their own Chinatowns, but Sunset Parks will be New York Citys first, even though the distant isle of Manhattans Little Fuzhou neighborhood on the Lower East Side is the citys oldest Chinese community.

DeBlasio also credited Borough President Adams  who allocated $2 million towards the project  as well as Councilman Carlos Menchaca (DRed Hook) at the Friday unveiling. He added that the three pols represented the citys diversity, making their presence at the Friday unveiling a fitting one.

Its a classic only-in-New York, only-in-Brooklyn moment that we have an Italian-American, African-American, and Mexican-American unveiling a Chinese arch, Hizzoner said, referring to himself, Adams and Menchaca.
Euro zone finance ministers will discuss next week completion of the banking union, ideas for setting up a common budget and ways to simplify the bloc's fiscal rules, in preparation for a December summit on reforming the currency area.

No conclusions are likely to be reached at the Eurogroup meeting on Monday, however, as there are widely differing views among the 19 countries that share the euro on most aspects of reform.

"It will be more laying out the table before cooking starts," one senior euro zone official said.

The Dec. 15 euro zone summit will start six months of deliberations on deeper integration, with a further summit in June 2018 taking decisions on how the single currency area will look in future.

Among the possible changes are ideas for a special pool of money for euro zone countries that would be managed by a finance minister for the whole of the euro zone and who would answer to a euro zone caucus in the European Parliament.

Other proposals include turning the euro zone bailout fund into a European Monetary Fund and creating a sovereign insolvency mechanism that would put market pressure on governments to conduct prudent fiscal policies.

Some euro zone officials believe the involvement of markets is necessary because EU fiscal rules -- the Stability and Growth Pact -- have become so complex and prone to political interpretation that they are no longer effective.

Finance ministers will discuss on Monday how to make them simpler, because the rules have grown from a budget deficit cap of 3% of GDP and 60% of GDP limit on public debt in 1992 to hundreds of pages of legal text and explanations.

"We went from one article in the Maastricht Treaty to 400 pages and it is not 400 times better," the official said.

But with no agreement on any aspect of reform, the debate will be difficult.

On the main element, the euro zone budget, views on its size range from hundreds of billions of euros, to no budget at all.

There is no agreement whether it should be financed from special taxes or country contributions, or if it should lend money or make transfers. Some countries want the budget to support reforms or investment, while others think it should be used to pay unemployment benefits or counter macroeconomic shocks that hit a small number of few euro zone countries.

Nor is there agreement on how to complete the euro zone's banking union through a pan-European deposit insurance scheme.

Germany is fiercely opposed to the plan because it fears that wealthier German banks might end up propping up weaker rivals in other EU states, like Italy, where a large number of bad loans poses a risk to the stability of the banking sector.

Yet officials argue such a European deposit insurance scheme (EDIS), meant to cover insured savers up to 100,000 euros in case of a bank failure, is needed to make the euro zone banking system more stable.

After two years of fruitless talks, the European Commission presented a new proposal earlier in October that introduces the scheme more gradually than initially planned, allowing time to reduce existing risks in banks across the euro area. (Reuters)

Source: www.businessworld.ie
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has embarked on a trade mission to Seattle, Silicon Valley and San Francisco it was announced today.

The primary focus of the visit is on growing trade, investment and tourism opportunities between Ireland and the US while highlighting Irelands priorities in the context of Brexit and other international developments. The programme includes a series of meetings with client companies and representatives of the IDA, Enterprise Ireland and Tourism Ireland.

As of year-end 2016, there were 223 West Coast headquartered companies operating in Ireland, employing 46,540 people, a 4% increase on the previous year. Employment by West Coast companies accounts for nearly one quarter of total employment figures by IDA clients in Ireland, which currently stands at nearly 200,000.

Furthermore, more than 700 Irish companies are active across the USA collectively generating more than 3.74bn in revenue in 2016. Of these, more than 140 are active on the West Coast across all sectors of the economy although principally delivering solutions to the innovation economy.

In Seattle, the Taoiseach will engage with key business leaders as well as local Irish community representatives before travelling on to Silicon Valley for a number of engagements with existing and potential investors in Ireland.

In San Francisco, the Taoiseach will have the opportunity to meet with Mayor Edwin Lee and Irish Community representatives at City Hall on Thursday evening. On Friday, he will attend an Enterprise Ireland event aimed at supporting the growth of Irish companies on the West Coast before officially opening the San Francisco office of Enterprise Ireland client company, Linesight.

Speaking ahead of the trip, the Taoiseach said, "My visit to the US West Coast is a valuable opportunity to engage with major business leaders and further strengthen the economic relationship between Ireland and the US. I will highlight Ireland's position as an island at the centre of the world, our strong commitment to EU membership and our status as a gateway for US firms into Europe and other global markets."

He added, "As an open trading economy at the heart of Europe, I want to double Irelands global footprint over the next seven years to maximise opportunities for growth and prosperity for our people at home and abroad."

Source: www.businessworld.ie
The British government is to begin the process of directly imposing an annual budget for Northern Ireland for the first time in a decade after parties there failed to restore the region's devolved government.

The move is a major step towards a return to direct rule from London, which could destabilise the delicate political balance in Northern Ireland, creating a major headache for British Prime Minister Theresa May as she negotiates Britain's exit from the European Union.

Britain's minister for Northern Ireland James Brokenshire said, however, that talks between the pro-British Democratic Unionist Party and Irish Nationalists Sinn Fein would continue and that if an power-sharing executive was formed, the budget process could be handed back.

"While important progress has been made in discussions between the DUP and Sinn Fein towards the establishment of an executive, it has not yet been possible for the parties to reach agreement," Brokenshire told journalists in Belfast.

The DUP and Sinn Fein have shared power for the past decade in a system created following a 1998 peace deal that ended three decades of violence in the province.

Sinn Fein pulled out in January, complaining it was not being treated as an equal partner.

"I am, therefore, now taking forward the necessary steps that would enable a budget bill to be introduced at Westminster at the appropriate moment in order to protect the delivery of public services in Northern Ireland," he added.

He also said he would take advice as to whether the salaries of the deputies in the NorthernIreland devolved parliament should be cut while there is no executive, a move that would put additional pressure on politicians to reach agreement.

He said such a move would require legislation in the British parliament at Westminster. (Reuters)

Source: www.businessworld.ie
Glencore PLC, a Swiss mining and commodities trading company, is planning to withdraw its secondary listing in Hong Kong, citing a lack of interest from local investors.

The Switzerland-based company plans to delist from Hong Kong on Jan. 31, its regulatory filings said.

Most of the companys shares are held by investors in London where Glencore is primarily listed. Only 0.3% of issued shares are traded on the Hong Kong bourse.

In May 2011, Glencore raised $10 billion through a London and Hong Kong initial public offering, a move that executives of the company believed would pump up profitability by building closer relationships with a diverse group of investors.

While a lack of investor interest in secondarily listed companies in Hong Kong is not uncommon, the citys stock exchange has stepped up efforts to attract more companies to float their shares there. In June, the bourse released proposals to set up a new board that will likely have fewer listing requirements for promising startups.

Glencores secondary listing in Johannesburg, started in 2013, will remain in place, the company added.

Contact reporter Dong Tongjian (tongjiandong@caixin.com)
If you have just started your journey in an online casino or are looking for a new site to play,...
Industry leader joins February event as a platinum sponsor to share latest solutions and insight.

Trumbull, CTOctober 30, 2017 -- TMC today announces 888VoIP has signed on as a platinum sponsor for ITEXPO being held February 14-16, 2018 at the Greater Ft. Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. ITEXPO is the only event dedicated to exploring communications solutions for the enterprise mid-market, resellers and service providers. ITEXPO is the annual meeting point where buyers of communications hardware and services can sit face-to-face with hundreds of manufacturers and solutions providers in one place, for three incredibly productive days. 888VoIP will be showcasing an array of innovative solutions at Booth 507.

At 888VoIP, we strive to provide our Service Providers, VARS, and System Integrators with everything they will need to achieve their business goals, said David Vance, Chief Operating Officer at 888VoIP, We do this through our knowledge of technology, our strong dedication to customer service, and by offering our partners the most innovative, value-added solutions.

For the past ten years, 888VoIP has been a worldwide leading distributor of VoIP hardware & software solutions. 888VoIPs services extend past VoIP distribution through their Channel Advantage program. By utilizing Channel Advantage, partners have access to the expertise of the 888VoIP team for provisioning, inventory management, advanced API, custom marketing collateral, RMA services, technical support, and training. By providing these tools to partners, 888VoIP is helping to ensure that business goals are not only met, but surpassed.

For more information or to register for ITEXPO, contact [email protected]. For media inquiries, contact Jessica Seabrook. Companies interested in exhibiting, sponsorship or advertising packages for ITEXPO should contact TMC's Joe Fabiano at 203-852-6800 x132 or Maureen Gambino at 203-852-6800 x109.



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Edited by Maurice Nagle
Carthage Cement sees 11% fall in 3Q turnover

ICR Newsroom By 01 November 2017

Tunisias Carthage Cement saw its turnover fall by 11 per cent YoY to TND132.4m (US$53.1m) in 3Q17 from TND149m in 3Q16.



The companys domestic sales remained stable at TND95.437m, leading to a market share of 19 per cent.



In terms of export sales, revenues fell by 77 per cent in the 12 months to 30 September with some sales to Libya. However, the company has not been able to recover in terms of exports to Algeria.



In 9M17 the company has invested TND9m with total debts at TND516.7m.





Published under
Loma Negra sets its IPO at US$19/ADS

01 November 2017

Loma Negra Cia Industrial Argentina SA said on Tuesday its initial public offering was priced at US$19 per American Depository share (ADS), raising about US$954m (US$40.4m).



The US$50.2m ADS offering was priced at the top of the proposed range of US$15 to US$19, with each ADS representing five common domestic shares.



Most of the proceeds will go to InterCement Brasil SA, Brazils second-largest cement producer, which owns 99 per cent of Loma Negra. The rest will go to Loma Negra, the company said in its IPO filing. The company plans to debut on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "LOMA" today.

Published under
Malawi producers increase cement prices

01 November 2017

Imported clinker and use of diesel engines to power cement production lines are causing cement manufacturers in Malawi to raise cement prices.



A 50kg bag of cement was selling at MKW6600 (US$9.11) a month ago, but now ranges between MKW9000- MKW10,000 (US$12.4-13.8) in Blantyre, representing a 60 per cent price increase. With cement production halted, there is little construction work taking place.



Cement manufacturers say the situation is unlikely to change until February 2018. The power industry needs heavy rainfall for Lake Malawi to fill up. With the power outages now running into the fifth month, for the third year running, and getting worse by the day, both power providers Escom and Egenco are struggling to meet even half of the demand.

Published under
If your goal is to get rich, a career in politics might not be the best choice. United States senators and representatives may earn six-figure salaries for serving in Congress, but politicians in local and state offices sometimes earn less than they would at a minimum wage job, according to salary date compiled by Ballotpedia.

Salaries for state legislators top $100,000 a year in California, but in many states, politicians earn just a few thousand dollars per year. In Texas, legislators make $7,200 annually, or $600 a month for a job that requires a minimum of 140 days of full-time work every two years. Though the job doesnt come without its perks  legislators may get pension benefits, health insurance, and per diems to offset expenses when the legislature is in session  the pay is so low that it can make serving as a representative financially difficult for anyone who isnt already well off.

Many lawmakers must be independently wealthy or have flexible jobs that allow them to juggle politics and everyday work. Part-time legislators are also more likely than full-time legislators to be retirees, according to FiveThirtyEight. They might also be more dependent on lobbyists for advice about legislation.

Though the idea of raising politicians salaries tends to be a non-starter, some believe paying our elected representatives more would be good for everyone. In addition to possibly making it feasible for more people to run for office, research has linked higher politician salaries with less corruption and more attention to citizen concerns (as opposed to those of special interest groups and lobbyists), Politico reported.

As it stands now, politician pay varies widely from state to state. Using information from Ballotpedia, weve ranked the states that pay their elected representatives the lowest and the highest base salaries.

States where politicians earn the least

Every state has a different way of determining salaries for their state legislators, which can make figuring out where politicians earn the least (and the most) challenging. To rank states, weve compared politicians base salaries when the legislature is in session. In states where lawmakers get paid a daily rate, weve calculated a salary based on the number of days the legislature usually meets. Though we didnt factor it into the rankings, weve also noted other compensation lawmakers might receive, such as a per diem.

Here are the 10 states where lawmakers earn the least.

10. South Carolina

Salary: $10,400

In South Carolina, legislators earn $10,400 per year for a legislative session that runs from January through June. They also get $140 for meals and housing for each day theyre in session or at a committee meeting, plus $1,000 a month for in-district expenses. Including salary as well as expense payments, legislators receive $31,000 per year on average, according to an analysis by The State in 2015.

9. Mississippi

Salary: $10,000

Legislators in Mississippi earn $10,000 per year, plus a $140 per diem. Most legislative sessions last three months. However, each lawmaker also receives $1,500 every month for out-of-session work. Theyre also reimbursed for mileage. Once you factor in all those different payments, the typical Mississippi lawmaker receives $40,000 to $50,000 per year, according to the Clarion-Ledger.

8. Nevada

Salary: $8,777.40

In Nevada, legislators earn $146.29 per day for a maximum of 60 days per session. That works out to a salary of about $8,777 per year. They also get $140 per day for expenses. Senate and assembly members can also be paid both their daily salary and per diem when they attend conferences, training, and other gatherings as an official representative of the state.

7. Kansas

Salary: $7,979.40

Kansas lawmakers earn $88.66 for each day of a 90-day legislative session, which occurs every other year. That works out to a little less than $8,000 annually. However, they also get an additional $7,000 every year to compensate them for the work they do in their districts, such as meeting with constituents, according to the Kansas City Star. Total compensation is about $15,000 per year, plus a per diem of $140 when the legislature is in session.

6. Montana

Salary: $7,437

In Montana, legislators earn $82.64 per day, or $10.33 per hour, according to the Montana Legislature. Thats just about what youd get working at Walmart. The legislature meets for no more than 90 days every other year, which means lawmakers receive a $7,437 salary in years when they gather in Helena. They also receive a per diem of $112.85.

5. Texas

Salary: $7,200

Texas state senators and representative earn $7,200 per year, plus a $190 per diem. The legislature meets for 140 days every two years. The per diem translates to an additional $26,600 in compensation in the years when the representatives gather in the city of Austin.

4. South Dakota

Salary: $6,000

South Dakota lawmakers earn $6,000 per session. Each legislative session can last no more than 40 days, and lawmakers receive a $140 per diem each day theyre in session. That works out to an additional $5,600 per year.

3. Wyoming

Salary: $6,000

In Wyoming, lawmakers earn $150 per day for a legislative session that lasts 40 days in odd numbered years and 20 days in even numbered years. In an odd numbered year, state senators and representatives are paid $6,000; in even numbered years, $3,000. They also receive $109 per day for expenses.

2. New Hampshire

Salary: $100

In New Hampshire, state senators and representatives are essentially volunteers. The New Hampshire constitution caps legislator pay at $200 per two-year term, or $100 annually. Theres no per diem, though elected representatives do get a mileage reimbursement.

1. New Mexico

Salary: $0

New Mexico legislator salaries are the lowest in the United States. Elected representatives dont earn a thing, though they do receive $163 per day for expenses while the legislature is in session and if theyre attending committee meetings. Theyre also reimbursed for mileage. In 2015, the average legislators compensation was more than $20,000, according to the Las Cruces Sun-News.

Next: The states where politicians earn the most

States where politicians earn the most

Most states are stingy with politician salaries, but a handful generously compensate lawmakers. Often, high salaries go hand-in-hand with a legislature that meets year-round. In those states, being a representative is a full-time job, and the salary reflects the greater time commitment.

In these 10 states legislators all earn more than $50,000 per year.

10. Alaska

Salary: $50,400

Alaska legislators earn just over $50,000 every year for a 90-day legislative session. Lawmakers also receive a per diem of $223 or $249 when theyre in session, depending on the time of the year. Once the per diem and other sources of money like expense accounts are factored in, elected officials can take home $10,000 to $11,000 for every month theyre meeting in Juneau and more than $100,000 every year, KTUU calculated.

9. Wisconsin

Salary: $50,950

In Wisconsin, legislators earn just under $51,000 annually. Most state senators get a per diem of $88, while assembly members get $138 daily. (Those who live in Dane County, home to the state capital of Madison, get a smaller per diem.) The state has a full-time legislature.

8. Hawaii

Salary: $60,180

Hawaii legislators earn about $60,000 annually. State representatives who live outside Oahu also receive $175 per day for expenses like food and housing during the 60-day legislative session. Those living on Oahu get $10 per day. Senators and representatives who live on other islands are also reimbursed for flights to and from Oahu.

7. Ohio

Salary: $60,584

Lawmakers in Ohio earn more than $60,000 per year. However, they dont get a per diem, which means that meals, lodging, and other expenses during the legislative session must be paid out of their own pocket. They are reimbursed for mileage to and from the state house. The state has a full-time legislature.

6. Massachusetts

Salary: $62,547

Massachusetts elected representatives currently earn $62,547 annually, with base pay tied to the states median income, according to CBS Boston. Lawmakers recently voted to give some elected officials raises, including the speaker of the house and the senate president. The state has a full-time legislature.

5. Illinois

Salary: $67,836

Illinois legislators earn $67,836 every year, plus a $111 per diem when the legislature is in session. Sixty-seven percent of lawmakers receive additional stipends for serving in leadership roles or on a committee, according to Illinois Policy, which means some earn close to six figures. The state has a full-time legislature.

4. Michigan

Salary: $71,685

In addition to earning a salary of close to $72,000 every year, Michigan lawmakers also receive a $10,800 annual expense allowance, but there is no per diem. Salaries and expense accounts havent changed since 2011, when legislators took a 10% pay cut. The state has a full-time legislature.

3. New York

Salary: $79,500

In New York, lawmakers earn nearly $80,000 per year. The per diem is $174 for legislators who stay overnight in Albany when the legislature is in session, and $59 per day for all others. Despite having the third-highest salaries in the country, New York lawmakers havent had a salary increase in 17 years, and the states compensation commission recently denied the request for a pay bump. The state has a full-time legislature.

2. Pennsylvania

Salary: $86,478.50

Pennsylvania lawmakers earn $86,478.50 per year, after a 1.34% increase that took effect in 2017. The raise was the result of an automatic cost-of-living adjustment, according to Penn Live. They also receive a $175 per diem on days the full-time legislature is in session.

1. California

Salary: $104,115

With their six-figure salaries, California state senators and assembly members are the highest paid in the U.S. Wages for lawmakers in 2017 are a few thousand dollars higher than 2016 after a 4% pay raise. Salaries are still below what they were before the recession, when the states compensation commission cut pay by 18%. Legislators also receive $175 per day when the full-time legislature is in session.

More from The Cheat Sheet:
On a sunny day last May, several families climbed onto a couple of buses, happily looking forward to visiting a monastery together.

They never made it. Instead, half of them, including ten children, were slaughtered. You see, these families were Egyptian Christians.

Islamic terrorists dressed in military fatigues stopped the buses and ordered the riders off. As one eyewitness later said, As each pilgrim came off the bus, they were asked to renounce their Christian faith and profess belief in Islam. But all of themeven the childrenrefused. The terrorists murdered 29 Christians before fleeing.

This Sunday is the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church. Its a time to focus our attention on our brothers and sisters who are being arrested, tortured, murdered, and driven out of their homeland, simply because they worship Jesus.

The attack in Egypt was just one of many around the world last spring. In Germany, a Muslim stabbed a woman to deathone who had converted from Islam to Christianity.

In Pakistan, a Christian pastor was sentenced to life in prison and tortured for blasphemy. He reportedly has been tortured many times.

In North Korea, entire families are thrown into labor camps, where they often die from torture, beatings, and starvation.

In Turkey last year, American missionary Andrew Brunson was locked up on the absurd grounds that he was a terrorist.

Islamists have also swept through Niger, setting fire to Christian churches, orphanages, schools and homes. I could go on.

According to Open Doors USA, the worst offenders are North Korea, Somalia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Sudan. Sometimes Christians are persecuted by a hostile government, as in China. But in the majority of countries, Islamist extremists are at fault. Tragically, western governments and the United Nations are not doing enough to prevent genocidal efforts, according to the Catholic News Agency.

They shouldand they must. More Christians are being persecuted today than ever before in history. Some one hundred million believers are at risk. And yet, the world press largely ignores this massive humanitarian horror.

Why, you may ask, are Christians being persecuted in such great numbers today? In part, its because theyre considered part of the imperial West. And in many countries, Christians are the ones who are speaking out against the exploitation of the poor. Third, Christianity is spreading rapidly in predominantly Muslim countries. And totalitarian leaders hate Christians because our ultimate allegiance is always going to be to God and not to a government.

Finally, writes Laura McAlister on the blog site Ignitum Today, the hidden reality behind all persecution is revealed in the book of Revelation: It teaches that Satan makes war on those who keep the commandments of God and bear testimony to Jesus.

Folks, we need to wake up, speak out, and urge our leaders in government to do what it can to fight atrocities committed against innocent men, women, and children around the world.

Above all, we need to pray for them fervently. Lifting them up before Gods throne is what persecuted Christians say they need most.

There are two websites I urge you to visit. First, go to opendoorsusa.org, youll find resources to help you and your church observe this international day of prayer for the persecuted church. Then theres the Voice of the Persecuted.

Come to BreakPoint.org, click on this commentary, and Ill link you to them both.

Finally, to those who are suffering for their faith, I leave you with the words of Joshua: Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid . . .for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.

BreakPoint is a Christian worldview ministry that seeks to build and resource a movement of Christians committed to living and defending Christian worldview in all areas of life. Begun by Chuck Colson in 1991 as a daily radio broadcast, BreakPoint provides a Christian perspective on todays news and trends via radio, interactive media, and print. Today BreakPoint commentaries, co-hosted by Eric Metaxas and John Stonestreet, air daily on more than 1,200 outlets with an estimated weekly listening audience of eight million people. Feel free to contact us at BreakPoint.org where you can read and search answers to common questions.

Eric Metaxas is a co-host of BreakPoint Radio and a best-selling author whose biographies, children's books, and popular apologetics have been translated into more than a dozen languages.

Photo courtesy: Thinkstock/stevanovicigor

Publication date: November 1, 2017
Apple designing next generation iPhones and iPads without Qualcomm chips

As the company's legal battle against Qualcomm continues, Apple will be designing the next generation iPhones and iPads without Qualcomm LTE chips. The technology giant is considering using Intel or MediaTek chips for the upcoming devices.

According to reports, Qualcomm prevented Apple from getting access to a particular software that it needed to test LTE chips for new prototypes of future iPhones and iPads.

Qualcomm allegedly started withholding the software when Apple filed a lawsuit against it back in January. However, Qualcomm also claimed that the modem chip included in the 2018 iPhone has been tested and released to Apple.

In a statement to Reuters, Qualcomm said that it remains dedicated in supporting Apple's products. "We are committed to supporting Apple's new devices consistent with our support of all others in the industry," said the company.

The chip manufacturer was the sole supplier for Apple's modem chips for a number of years. Apple only started using chips from other manufacturers in its 2016 release of the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus, which used Intel chips in addition to the Qualcomm chip.

The iPhone 8 and 8 Plus, which were only recently released, also used both Intel and Qualcomm chips.

The two companies are currently in the middle of a multinational legal dispute over the Qualcomm's licensing term to Apple. It started when Apple sued Qualcomm for $1 billion because it was allegedly "charging unfair royalties" for its technologies. Apple also accused Qualcomm of failing to pay quarterly rebates.

Since then, the legal battle between the two companies has only escalated. Qualcomm has countersued Apple and filed a number of patent infringement lawsuits against the Cupertino-based company. It has also appealed to the U.S. International Trade Commission to stop importation of Apple products and has also requested China to cease manufacturing and marketing iPhones.
SPRINGFIELD -- The Grain and Feed Association of Illinois offers scholarships to students that are planning on getting into the ag business field.

GFAI works hard to promote the many career opportunities in the industry, to build relationships with colleges and connect students with people and careers in the grain and feed sector. Please check out some of the resources below to learn about their efforts this past year.

Scholarships applications will be available in January. They will notify members once the process is open and online.

Ten $3,500 scholarships are available to students seeking a career in the grain and feed industries.

This experience involves the students writing two blog posts, working at a member facility for two-days each in the spring and fall semesters and attending our Industry Immersion Kickoff Tour in the summer.

2017 Scholarship Program in Action

Check out some of the more recent activities in the 2017 Scholarship Newsletter at www.gfai.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/ScholarshipNews2017.pdf

Please consider a contribution to GFAIs Scholarship Program.

Most contributions go towards scholarships for students in local communities. Contributions also support programs like the Industry Immersion Kickoff Tour, career fairs and other recruitment and promotional efforts. Email jbrooks@gfai.org if youd like to make a corporate contribution.

Get Student Perspectives

Throughout the year, students will post a blog of their experiences in the Industry Immersion Program. Visit GFAIs Elevation of Education blog at gfaiindustryimmersion.wordpress.com

For more information visit www.gfai.org/
'Arrow' star Colton Haynes and florist Jeff Leatham marriage news: A-list stars attend event, Kris Jenner officiates wedding

On Friday, Oct. 27, "Arrow" actor Colton Haynes married the man of his life, Jeff Leatham, at a Palm Springs hotel. The two had been engaged for seven months.

The 29-year-old "Teen Wolf" star wed Leatham, a florist and Four Seasons artistic director, in a ceremony attended by A-list stars and which was officiated by none other than the matriarch of the popular reality family, Kris Jenner.

Haynes, in an interview with People, revealed how Leatham had helped him improve his relationship with his family and friends. "When you learn to really love someone, it's completely life-changing," he added. Leatham also revealed that the get-together of friends and family for the milestone was far more important than the decorations.

Invited guests heeded the black and white theme of the ceremony. The star-studded event saw Haynes' costar Dylan O'Brien, husband and wife Joe Manganiello and Sofia Vergara, "Working Girl" star Melanie Griffith, and "Modern Family's" Jessie Tyler Ferguson.

Haynes had shared in February this year the proof that he was dating Leatham. His Instagram post showed him and Leatham hugging at the midst of rose petals formed to a heart shape at a rooftop with the sunset as the backdrop. Haynes also reminded people to "never be afraid to love harder" with the caption.

The most special day of my life. Thank you @jeffleatham . We were actually in the clouds...speechless. Happy Valentine's Day to all of you. #LoveWins  Never be afraid to love harder. A post shared by Colton Haynes (@coltonlhaynes) on Feb 14, 2017 at 9:40pm PST

After a month, the 46-year-old creative soul popped the question to the actor at Cabo San Lucas in Mexico. The proposal was witnessed by some of the closest friends in the industry and family members. The rep of Haynes divulged that the two danced to Bruno Mars' "Marry You" after Haynes finally said, "Yes."

Haynes came out in 2016 after a Tumblr post garnered a comment from a fan denoting that he had a "secret gay past," to which the actor replied publicly with, "Was it ever a secret?" It had since stirred controversy.
As Nepal becomes the latest country to restrict religious freedom, prayer is the answer

Last week, in a parliamentary debate on religious freedom worldwide, a number of MPs mentioned the recent passage of legislation in Nepal, which contains clauses which criminalise religious conversion and penalises the 'hurting of religious sentiment.'

Nepal is better known for Mount Everest than religious repression, but now joins a dubious roll call of nations which includes Pakistan and India, all of which have laws restricting the individual's right to freedom of religion or belief and freedom of expression.

In practice, it means that a Christian in Nepal talking about their faith with a neighbour could be charged with attempting to 'forcibly convert' them, because these laws do not allow for the agency of an individual to choose the faith of their choice, instead viewing such a decision as something done to a person against their will.

One of Christian Solidarity Worldwide's (CSW) partners in Nepal, Pastor Tanka Subedi, has put the situation starkly: 'We don't want Christians to be arrested and put in jail...let's pray altogether that we will get freedom.' The request for prayer is one that we at CSW receive often.

Prayer is at the heart of everything we do, guided by the reminder in James 5:16 that 'The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.' You may know that 19 November is the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church, but this year, we're dedicating the entire month to prayer and action for persecuted Christians around the world.

Under the banner of the 'One Month, One Church, One Prayer' campaign, CSW, Open Doors and Release International are calling on Christians of every denomination to join together and pray for Christians who suffer because of their faith.

It's all too easy, in a world full of difficult and seemingly intractable problems, to feel disempowered. But prayer is a way to bridge the gap and stand in solidarity with our family of believers. 1 Corinthians 12:27 states that we are all one body, and, in verse 26, that 'If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.'

This summer, we had an amazing week of rejoicing in answered prayers, with the miraculous release from prison of three men whose cases we'd been working on for years.

Li Heping, a Chinese human rights lawyer, was released from prison just two days after CSW supporters joined in prayer for him after he was given a suspended sentence. Li had been arrested two years ago as part of the Chinese government's crackdown on human rights defenders in the country. Though we prayed in hope, his release was a far more powerful answer than we ever expected.

Later that same week, we received the news that Rev Hassan and Mr Abdumawla, two men unjustly imprisoned in Sudan, had also been released. These men were charged along with two others, Rev Kuwa and Mr Jasek, with national security crimes in August 2016, after being arrested almost a year earlier. In reality, their only crime had been raising money for the medical treatment of a young man who'd been badly burned in a student protest.

Though the other two men had been released earlier, it seemed unlikely that Rev Hassan and Mr Abdumawla would see freedom so soon. But they were, in a week of miraculous breakthroughs.

This November, we have one prayer for our family around the world, echoing Pastor Tanka's call for freedom. Join us on 19 November, and throughout the month, in praying together:

Father God,

As one Church, united under your holy headship, and knowing that we are all one family in Christ; We pray for those who suffer in your name all over the world, our brothers and sisters, who share in that same great gift of salvation through your Son, but who face injustice, oppression and even death because of their faith in you. We want to walk with them as they journey through the valley of darkness, and we pray knowing that you are a God of compassion, comfort, and justice; who always hears their prayers, never leaves them and will forever be their fortress and shield, whatever they face. We pray that you will grant them strength, courage, and protection from those who seek to harm them because they follow you; Guidance and wisdom for when their path seems impossible to tread, and hope for a future where they have the freedom to worship you without fear.

In the name of Jesus,

Amen.

Kiri Kankhwende is senior press officer to Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), which works for religious freedom through advocacy and human rights, in the pursuit of justice.
'Daredevil' rumors: Showrunner wants a 'Kingpin' miniseries

The king is back in Hell's Kitchen, but not only does he want the chunk of territory in New York, he also wants his own show, as Wilson Fisk a.k.a. Kingpin (Vincent D'Onofrio) from Netflix' "Daredevil" might be getting his own miniseries.

Season one showrunner of Marvel's "Daredevil" Stephen DeKnight has recently taken to Twitter to answer a fan's request for him to oversee the return of Fisk in the upcoming season 3 on Netflix. DeKnight has even teased the fans of the show that he is up for a six-episode miniseries of "Return of the King," a comic book story arc in "Daredevil," where Fisk returns to Hell's Kitchen for vengeance, teaming up with Matt Murdock a.k.a. Daredevil (Charlie Cox in the series).

I'd be down for a six ep Return of the King mini series with @vincentdonofrio. https://t.co/89tc5QOxzL  Steven DeKnight (@stevendeknight) October 25, 2017

DeKnight even tagged D'Onofrio in his tweet about the miniseries, assumingly because he wants D'Onofrio to reprise his role as the Kingpin, should the project get greenlit. As of now though, there are no official statements from either Marvel or Netflix regarding the spin-off, and neither has D'Onofrio responded to DeKnight's tweet.

For now, fans can expect D'Onofrio's return to the "Daredevil" series as Fisk. Marvel has announced that Fisk will be returning as a main character in season three of Marvel's vigilante series, and his much-awaited return in Hell's Kitchen may get explosive. Fans have been awaiting his official return to the scene and in Murdock's sights ever since he was incarcerated in season 1 by the Daredevil himself.

The events in season two of the show, however, have cemented the notion that no walls or bars can hold Fisk since he has never seen a throne he doesn't want to sit on, as was evident when he took over an entire prison from scratch despite being a fresh inmate.

It is not yet clear what Fisk plans to do once he returns, but fans can expect that he will be after Daredevil, as the latter is the biggest threat that Fisk and his crime empire are facing.

No release date has been confirmed yet for season three of Marvel's "Daredevil" on Netflix.
Free Speech? Jerry Falwell bans Christian protester from Liberty University campus

Christian pastor and author Jonathan Martin was expelled from Liberty University campus after planning to hold a prayer vigil protesting against the evangelical institution's president, Jerry Falwell Jr.

Martin attacked Falwell for his recent comments where he called for a declaration of 'war' against 'fake Republicans' and said he was organising a 'peaceful action' to demonstrate against 'this toxic hybrid of nationalism and religion from President Falwell does not reflect the student body or faculty as a whole'.

But in a lengthy statement Falwell said Liberty University has 'a longstanding tradition of not allowing uninvited demonstrations or protests on campus'.

Falwell went on to attack Martin and said: 'Mr Martin seems to believe that it is impossible to be a Christian and support Donald Trump's America First agenda.'

He added: 'We understand that it is upsetting to leftist leaning and progressive Christians to see so many Evangelicals supporting Donald Trump but many at Liberty University believe Evangelicals are among the forgotten men and women in this country who voted for change in 2016.'

Martin attended a concert on the Virginia university's campus on Tuesday night where he was approached by police and warned he would be arrested if he returned in the morning for his planned prayer vigil.

Falwell confirmed that police warned Martin he would be arrested for trespassing describing his 'protest disguised as a prayer meeting'.

He said: 'If Liberty university began allowing uninvited groups to protest on campus, the next group might be the KKK, the Nazis, white supremacists or Antifah.'

In response Martin asked: 'What does it mean for a college administration to be this afraid of free speech? What precisely is Jerry Falwell afraid of?'

He said the ban 'confirms what I've heard repeatedly of the authoritarianism of Falwell from students' adding that, 'like the president for whom he serves as a full-time apologist, Falwell does not easily tolerate robust dissent.'

He tweeted:

.@JerryFalwellJr openly encourages students to carry weapons, but is afraid of public prayer from Christians who openly embrace nonviolence.  Jonathan Martin (@theboyonthebike) October 31, 2017
'Game of Thrones' season 8 spoiler, update: will Sansa and Daenerys meeting bring unity or war?

HBO's hit thriller fantasy series "Game of Thrones" might be on its way to its eighth season, but fans have been restless about how the next run could go. Plus, more fans expected the final season to be massive.

Fans are speculating that Sansa Stark and Daenerys Targaryen will finally meet for the first time next season. This is so because the actresses who play the characters, Sophie Turner and Emilia Clarke respectively, had been seen together in a set in Belfast.

The speculation was also fuelled by the last scene of the final episode of "Game of Thrones" season 7 when Daenerys was heading North. If this would be the case, Sansa would probably know about Daenerys and Jon Snow's (Kit Harington) supposed passion for each other.

This would might chaos between the two ladies, especially since Sansa had been feeling a little bit ignored by Jon, who was born as Aegon Targaryen. Knowing that a new relationship might be the reason for his neglect towards her, Sansa's last string could be snapped, and she could finally lose it. Others who are more optimistic predict that Daenerys and Sansa will probably get along to form a new force.

The set in Belfast was said to be grand, as the photos showed huge backdrops, noticeable because of its contrast with the scenery in the capital of Northern Ireland. As such, many predict that the last season will go all-out, and everyone from the show will give their all.

Production had started for the eight season of "Game of Thrones" early October, though there was no mention of when the last run would air.

"Game of Thrones" is based on George R.R. Martin's book, "A Song of Ice and Fire." The series has been welcomed by fans since its introduction in 2011. It had received various Emmy awards, Peabody Awards, and Golden Globe Awards, among many others.
'Madam Secretary' season 4 episode 5 spoilers: Problems on all fronts; new character provides help

The problems just continue to pile up in "Madam Secretary" season 4.

The fifth episode, titled "Persona Non Grata," foreshadows more pressing global matters as Elizabeth (Tea Leoni) will be steadfast in proceeding with a conference in Kyrgyzstan that deals with human trafficking. This is despite the inappropriate behavior by a U.S. ambassador.

Elsewhere, Elizabeth and Henry (Tim Daly) begin to worry when their daughter Alison (Katherine Herzer) keeps coming home from her campus.

Meanwhile, the abrupt departure of Bebe Neuwirth's character, Nadine Tolliver, has left a gaping hole in the secretary of state's team. Thankfully, here to step in is Sara Ramirez.

According to Deadline, Ramirez will be joining the cast of the CBS political drama as a series regular. She will be playing the character of Kat Sandoval, a bright political strategist who has made a name for herself on The Hill for her brilliance and for disappearing suddenly  until Elizabeth tracks her down and convinces her to return to the political arena.

CBS revealed that Ramirez's character will be making her first appearance in the show's Nov. 19 episode.

Barbara Hall, creator and executive producer of "Madam Secretary" said, "We're very excited that Sara is joining the cast." She added that the actress brings a new perspective as well as a fun and energetic aura not just to the show but to her character's workplace as well.

Co-executive producer Lori McCreary also expressed excitement about having Ramirez. McCreary added that it was an instant connection as soon as Ramirez walked in on the set, bringing her talent and spirit with her.

This will be Ramirez's first regular TV role after working on the hit ABC medical drama "Grey's Anatomy" which she departed from last year. She played the role of Dr. Callie Torres for more than 10 seasons.

"Madam Secretary" airs every Sunday at 10:30 p.m. EDT on CBS.
Pope Francis' confession: I fall asleep while praying

It has happened to all of us but perhaps it's refreshing to hear it from the top.

Pope Francis has confessed to falling asleep while praying.

But it is not just the Holy Father who admits he has nodded off while in conversation with Our Lord. He also says a number of the Church's famous saints did the same.

'When I pray, sometimes I fall asleep,' he said in an episode of a Catholic TV2000 television programme published on YouTube.

'Saint Therese did it too,' he added referring to the 19th century French nun.

But the 80-year-old offered comfort to those guilty of some shut-eye while appearing to pray. He said Christians were called to feel like children lying in their fathers' arms  a place conducive to napping therefore, he implied.

Despite his advancing years the pontiff has extraordinary energy and plans a six-day trip to Myanmar and Bangladesh at the end of this month.

His characteristically joyful and enthusiastic approach comes with its restrictions though  he is tucked up in bed by 9pm each night. However that does allow him to wake at 4am for morning prayer  or possibly another nap!
Pope Francis faces chaotic backlash in Myanmar if he even mentions Rohingya

Pope Francis is being warned that even mentioning the Rohingya in his upcoming visit to Myanmar and Bangladesh this month will unleash a backlash from nationalist groups.

Catholic leaders in the country admitted they were 'very nervous' about the trip and what the pontiff might say, adding they will be watching his words very carefully. One false move will 'plunge the country into chaos', they warn.

'The Pope's visit is keeping us very anxious, as many things can go wrong,' said Father Mariano Soe Naing, communications director for Myanmar's bishops.

'If the Holy Father in his speech evens mentions the Rohingya, the nationalist groups will respond. This is a historic problem, and we need a lot of time to solve this problem. We cannot just say this or that. That is the reason why Aung San Suu Kyi cannot say anything,' he said after Myanmar's de facto leader faced intense criticism for failing to stand up and protect the Rohingya.

But he said the bishops understood her silence, laying the blame with the military.

'Aung San Suu Kyi has no right to comment on anything. The military has the authority to decide everything,' he told the Catholic News Service. 'The whole world wants to criticize her, wants her to fight against the military in favour of full democracy. But that's a fight she cannot win. She might have the force of the people behind her, but the bloodshed would be terrible. The blood would flow like rivers in this country. The military is not ready to give up easily. She knows that well.'

More than one million Rohingya live in Myanmar, most in Rakhine State, but more than 600,000 have fled to Bangladesh to escape ethnic violence accompanied a brutal military counter-insurgency operation after Rohingya militant attacks on security posts in the Rakhine State.

Following the initial attack by the militant group on August 25, Pope Francis spoke in supoprt of the Rohingya and urged pilgrims at the Vatican in Rome to pray for 'the Lord to save them, to raise up men and women of goodwill to help them, that they may be given full rights'.

But Father Soe Naing said the pontiff's comments caused discontent in Myanmar.

'When the Holy Father said that we should pray for the Rohingya, people were really angry, because it was Burmese police posts that were attacked, and people died. The pope didn't mention the terrorist attacks when he asked people to pray for the Rohingya. Why did he leave out the rest of the people who suffered in this country?' he said.

'Our people do not want to hear the word "Rohingya". We are not allowed to use it in our country. If the Holy Father comes and begins to speak about this conflict, then the nationalists may rise up against him. That is our fear. But we believe that the Holy Father knows what to say and what not to set say. We trust in his wisdom.'

Patrick Loo Tone, president of the Myanmar Council of Churches, said the Pope's visit, and any potential fallout, carries high risks and potential rewards for Protestants as well as Catholics in the country.

'In general, people don't know the difference between Catholics and Protestants, so when the Pope comes it will not just benefit the Catholics, but the whole Christian community. And if something goes wrong, it is not only the Catholics who will suffer,' he said.

'Most Buddhists don't trust the Muslims, and the Muslims don't trust the Buddhists. For the time being, though, both parties trust us Christians to a certain extent. But if we do or say something that appears to favor the Muslims, then the Buddhists will become more suspicious and uneasy about us. We have to be very careful about what we say, or we Christians could be the next target.'

He added all Christians, including non-Catholics, would play a strong role in welcoming the pontiff enthusiastically.

'There are tens of thousands of Catholics who want to come see and hear the Pope, because it's the first time that the Pope has come here. They have asked us to help, and we're opening our churches and other buildings to offer hospitality. And many Buddhists, including some of the big monasteries, are also offering their spaces. Some might see the Pope's visit as possibly negative, but I believe God will make it a positive experience for everyone,' he said.
Reformation 500 stunt as rebel priests call Church 'corrupt' in declarations pinned to St Paul's Cathedral door

Priests claiming to be modern-day Martin Luthers have pinned a declaration to St Paul's Cathedral's doors warning the Church of England is 'corrupt' and in 'crisis' because of its softening stance on same-sex relationships.

In a symbolic act on the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation, a group of vicars posted the Southwark Declaration  a statement affirming conservative Anglican theology  to the doors of St Paul's Cathedral and Southwark Cathedral on Tuesday night.

The document, which has been signed by more than 60 priests and was first published in 2015, calls on bishops 'to regain the confidence of Bible believing Anglicans' in order 'to avoid a rupture in the church'.

They write: '500 years ago Martin Luther 95 Theses to a church door in Germany. He did it because the church had become corrupt. Today a Declaration is being fixed to a cathedral door here in England because the Established Church in our land is becoming corrupt.'

The document warns 'practice on the ground has already changed' in reference to allowing church leaders to be in committed same-sex relationships and warned it was 'weakening and destroying the church'.

The actual declaration contains five 'affirmations' surrounding conservative theology.

It comes as the Archbishop of Canterbury urged the Church to undergo another Reformation if it is to flourish amid 'political pressures' and 'the ferocity of sinful power-seeking' today.

Warning against using the Bible to 'serve politics or causes', Justin Welby used the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation to call the global church to unite around fighting inequality and combating materialism.

'Today the gospel speaks to the inequalities of a 21st century world of inequality: of refugees and human trafficking; human arrogance and materialism; in the use of technology as a saviour, rather than as a gift,' he told hundreds of church leaders from around the world, including the heads of the English and Welsh Catholic Church and the Lutheran Church of Great Britain.

'Our speaking and living of the gospel must, like Martin Luther, be speaking to our world as it is,' he said at the Reformation's 500th anniversary service at Westminster Abbey on Tuesday.
'Stranger Things' season 2 news: Justice finally served for Barb

Finally, justice had been served for one of the characters who was mercilessly killed by the Demogorgon in the first season of Netflix's hit sci-fi thriller series "Stranger Things."

Fans who were seeking justice for Barb, or Barbara Holland, who was played by Emmy nominee Shannon Purser, finally saw the details about the death Nancy's (Natalia Dyer) best friend. People had started questioning the lack of explanation for her death and the fact that show only mentioned on her death when Nancy went looking for her. Although "Stranger Things" season 1 was intended to focus largely on finding Will Byers (Noah Schnapp), many still felt that Barb's death was not resolved properly.

For the second season of the "Stranger Things," the Duffer brothers, Ross and Matt, finally gave details on Barb. The Hollywood Reporter noted that Barb still had a place in the second run although she remained deceased. Executive Shawn Levy also insisted that Barb's storyline was always planned out to eventually roll out, even before the clamor for the character's justice had begun.

The brains behind the "Stranger Things" also divulged that the actress herself or flashbacks would not be necessary to bring justice to the character. "The idea is that she's gone, and we didn't want the audience to get the relief of seeing her again," Ross added.

"Stranger Things" season 2 will see Nancy still upset over Barb's death, which would affect her relationship with Steve Harrington (Joe Keery). Fans will see Nancy blame herself for her best friend's death. This will prompt Nancy to seek justice for her friend while being extremely close with Will's brother, Jonathan (Charlie Heaton).

Their efforts would lead to a team up with investigative reporter Murray Bauman (Brett Gelman). The findings have prompted the media to take the report, which meant that the truth was revealed. Finally, Barb's parents got the real story on their daughter's death. It also meant closure for Nancy.
In the jigsaw puzzle of nations that make up Sub-Saharan Africa lies a small, landlocked country to which I traveled on a sort of pilgrimage. Months of planning and 24 hours of flying landed me at Entebbe International Airport. With only two gates, the airport lies just south of the capital city of Kampala, a ridiculously cramped maze of asphalt and dirt roads with roaming livestock. Six more hours in a cramped van with 26 other Americans who knew nothing about each other took me to a remote area on the west side of the country.

My 17-year-old daughter accompanied me on this journey. Courageous, beautiful, and wise beyond her years, she chose to go with me to work in Africa over getting a new car. This was a decision that I doubt I would make now, much less as a teenager.

When we arrived in the small town of Masindi, we pried our bodies from the van, collected our gear, and headed to a cramped room in the back of a resort compound. Our accommodations consisted of two metal-framed beds with mosquito netting, five square feet of additional floor space, a bathroom with no hot water, and a toilet that required the tank to be reloaded with water before flushing. No luxuries, but it was exciting.

Uganda is one of the 25 poorest nations in the world. It is the size of Oregon and home to 35 million people, many of whom are refugees from wars in nearby nations from the past two decades (e.g., Sudan and Rwanda). Its southern border sits on the equator, and the weather is perfect. Every day the high is 80F, and the low at night is 72F. English is the national language (a byproduct of British colonialism), but more than 100 local dialects are spoken. Everyone has body odor; they cannot afford deodorant. The flip side of this is that I never saw a Ugandan smoke. They simply do not have the money for it. The people are genuinely happy and friendly. They shake your hand vigorously with beaming smiles.

Unique Insights

There are no stoplights in Uganda. Every so-called highway is a two-lane road clogged with overloaded trucks and stripped gears that prevent them from exceeding 30 miles per hour. Your driver will scare you multiple times each day by passing these trucks into oncoming traffic on bad roads. Everyone has (or has had) malaria and schistosomiasis. (I did not even remember what schistosomiasis was before I started this trip.) During our week there, all my patients had chest pain, paralysis, or both, but I did not look at a single ECG or head CT.

Why did I pay a lot of money and take time off from work to do this? I had my reasons, but another physician on the mission summarized some of them while speaking to our group over dinner one night: I came here to get away from you.

ED patients in the United States have a talent for grinding the life out of us. As the saying goes, Everyone talks about the weather, but no one does anything about it. Are EPs doing the same thing by just pumping out more shifts without really thinking about what it is doing to them? The statistics are dismal. Our specialty is number one in burnout and illicit drug use. Add to this that doctors commit suicide at a rate well above that of the general population. Nonetheless, I receive more than 100 applications for every residency position our program offers each fall. On the surface, this does not make a lot of sense.

I had four goals for my trip. I wanted to spend time with my daughter, a wonderful teenager pulling away from her parents a little bit more every day as she gets ready for college. I wanted to lead my residents by example. Our program is extraordinarily fortunate to have a great global health director. Over the past four years, 70 percent of our graduates have participated in trips to international locations, with Uganda being one of the most popular. I wanted to create personal bonds with great people who share a common vision for helping others. I also wanted to rethink my professional goals and figure out how global health fits into my future.

Most readers may think they have no interest in this part of the world or anything to do with Uganda. But trust me, there are insights to be gained in this small, hard-to-find country that are not available in our current lives.

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Comments? Write to us at [email protected].
'Terrible revolution': Police remove protesting Catholics from Brussels Reformation service

A group of dissenting Catholics were removed by police from Brussels cathedral on Saturday after invading an ecumenical Protestant-Catholic commemoration of the Reformation. The group condemned the Reformation as heretical, a 'terrible revolution' and a 'tragedy for Christian society'.

The United Protestant Church in Belgium (UPCB) hosted the event with the Catholic Cathedral of St Michael and St Gudula yesterday, marking 500 years since Martin Luther supposedly posted his 95 Theses to the door of Wittenberg Castle  a gesture symbolic of the rebellion and church split that followed.

But the service was interrupted by about 12 young Catholics, who linked arms whilst reciting the rosary during the celebration, according to Catholic News Agency. They were eventually removed from the cathedral by police, as Youtube footage shows.

A leaflet that had been allegedly handed out by the group called the ecumenical event a 'profanity', according to the news site Media-Presse-Info.

The leaflet read: 'Our Cathedral of St Michael and St Gudula is a Catholic building built by our fathers to be a House of God, for the celebration of Holy Mass, for the praise of God and the saints.

'Indeed, the so-called Reformation was really a revolt: under the pretext of combatting abuses, Luther rebelled against the divine authority of the Catholic Church, denied numerous Truths of the Faith, abolished the Sacrifice of the Mass and the Sacraments, rejected the necessity of good works and the practice of Christian virtues.

'Finally, he attacked the veneration of the Virgin Mary and the saints, the religious life and monastic vows,' it continued. 'This terrible revolution was a great tragedy for Christian society and for the salvation of souls. And the Lutheran errors are still heresies today because the Truth is eternal.'

The president of the UPCB, Steven Fuit, spoke in celebration of unity amidst diversity at the service, saying that 'differences', when respected and not passively accepted, 'are an inherent part of unity'.
Terror in New York: Christian leaders urge prayer after 'senseless violence'

An Uzbek immigrant accused of killing eight people in New York City by driving a rental truck down a riverfront bike path on Tuesday appeared to have acted alone, but the Hallowe'en Day attack had all the hallmarks of terrorism, authorities said.

The suspect, who was shot by police and arrested moments after Tuesday's rampage on the Lower West Side of Manhattan, left a note saying he carried out the attack in the name of the militant Islamic State group, the New York Times and CNN said.

Christian leaders responded with prayer and calls for unity, and warnings about the spread of Islamist ideology.

The death toll paled in comparison to dozens killed in similar assaults last year in France and Germany. However, it was still the bloodiest single attack on New Yorkers since September 11, 2001, when suicide hijackers crashed two jetliners into the World Trade Center, killing more than 2,600 people.

The Twin Towers site was just a few blocks from the scene of the carnage left when the suspect swerved the pickup onto a path filled with pedestrians and bicyclists on a sunny, crisp autumn afternoon.

Driving at speeds estimated at more than 60 mph, the vehicle mowed down everyone in its path before slamming into the side of a school bus.

The man then climbed out of the vehicle brandishing what appeared to be a pair of handguns before he was confronted by a city police officer, who shot him in the abdomen. Police said they recovered a paint-ball gun and a pellet gun from the scene.

The attack was over in a matter of seconds. Video footage taken by a bystander that circulated online showed crumpled bicycles scattered long the path, and at least two people lying on the ground.

In addition to the eight fatalities, at least 11 people were hospitalised for injuries described by fire officials as serious but not life-threatening. That excluded the suspect, who underwent surgery for gunshot wounds.

Police declined publicly to identify the man, but a source familiar with the investigation said his name was Sayfullo Saipov, 29. He reportedly lived in Paterson, New Jersey, a one-time industrial hub about 25 miles (40 km) northwest of lower Manhattan.

He had rented the pick-up from a Home Depot hardware store which, according to media accounts, was located in Passaic, just south of Paterson.

Six victims were pronounced dead at the scene and two more at a nearby hospital, Police Commissioner James O'Neill said.

Five of the dead were Argentine citizens, visiting New York as part of a group of friends celebrating the 30th anniversary of their high school graduation, the Argentina Foreign Ministry said in a statement. Belgium's foreign minister said a Belgian citizen was also among those killed.

A US law enforcement official described the suspect as a US immigrant born in Uzbekistan, a predominantly Muslim country in central Asia that was once part of the former Soviet Union. CNN and NBC News reported that he entered the United States in 2010.

Authorities late on Tuesday surrounded a house in Paterson where, according to the New York Times, Saipov was believed to have lived. Paterson, known for its large immigrant population, is home to about 150,000 people, including 25,000 to 30,000 Muslims.

ABC News reported that Saipov had lived in Tampa, Florida. A check of court records related to a traffic citation that Saipov received in eastern Pennsylvania in 2015 showed he listed addresses then in Paterson and Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio.

Although authorities from the mayor's office to the US Department of Homeland Security all swiftly branded the attack an act of terrorism, Governor Andrew Cuomo stressed that the suspect was believed to have acted alone.

'There's no evidence to suggest a wider plot or a wider scheme. These are the actions of one individual meant to cause pain and harm and probably death,' Cuomo told a news conference two hours after the rampage.

Asked later in a CNN interview whether the suspect had been known to authorities before the attack, Cuomo replied: 'It's too early to give you a definitive answer.'

The New York Times said investigators quickly recognised that Saipov had come to the attention of law enforcement in the past.

It cited three officials as saying federal authorities knew of Saipov from an unrelated probe, although it was unclear whether that was because he had ties to someone who was under scrutiny or because he was the target of an investigation.

CNN and other media outlets, citing police officials, reported that the suspect shouted 'Allahu Akbar'  Arabic for 'God is greatest'  when he jumped out of his truck.

O'Neill said only that an unspecified comment by the suspect when he exited his truck, and the general circumstances of the assault, led investigators to label the incident a 'terrorist event'.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation joined the New York City Police Department and other agencies in a Joint Terrorism Task Force to conduct a probe of the attack, the FBI said in a statement.

Despite the attack, thousands of costumed Halloween revellers turned out hours later for New York City's main Halloween parade, which went on as scheduled on Tuesday night with a heightened police presence just a few blocks away.

US President Donald Trump, who has pressed for a ban on travellers entering the United States from some predominantly Muslim countries, said on Twitter that he had ordered Homeland Security officials to 'step up our already Extreme Vetting Program. Being politically correct is fine, but not for this!'

Evangelical supporters of the US president expressed their support, with Robert Jeffress, pastor of First Baptist Church, Dallas, linking the event with dramatic developments yesterday in the investigation into collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia. He tweeted: 'Unless Mueller has pic of @POTUS holding flashlight for Russians brking in voting machines, don't care abt Russia. This is why I support DJT.'

Unless Mueller has pic of @POTUS holding flashlight for Russians brking in voting machines, dont care abt Russia. This is why I support DJT https://t.co/p5irzV1CML  Dr. Robert Jeffress (@robertjeffress) November 1, 2017

Broadcaster and conservative activist Dr James Dobson said: 'Every new act of terror that targets innocent lives is a tragic and terrible reminder of the evil that exists in our world. This particular attack is perhaps made even more painful by its proximity to the World Trade Center. Make no mistake, this is pure cowardice veiled in violence. True bravery belongs to the first responders and specifically the police officer credited with helping end this violence before even more were injured or killed.

'We pray for the people of New York, many of whom are likely reliving the pain of 9/11 all over again. We pray also for the families who have lost loved ones on what should have been a normal fall day like any other. Finally we pray for the end of the hateful ideology that gives birth to these senseless and barbaric acts.'

Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, president of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops, said: 'To you and to everyone, I would like to say that the forces of darkness always try to wipe away our hope, but our hope is in the name of the Lord and will always remain firm. Let us remember the words of the Lord to prophet Joshua: Be strong and steadfast! Do not fear nor be dismayed, for the Lord, your God, is with you wherever you go.'

Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the Catholic Archbishop of New York, said: 'Today our city and our nation are stunned and horrified by another act of senseless violence.

'While details continue to emerge, one thing is clear: once again, no matter our religion, racial or ethnic background, or political beliefs, we must put our differences aside and come together in faith and love to support those who are injured, pray for those who have died as well as their families and loved ones, and work towards greater respect and understanding among all people so that heinous and evil acts like this become a thing of the past.'

Additional reporting by Reuters.
'The Batman' news: Matt Reeves says the Batsuit will not have nipples

Not much else is known about the upcoming "Batman" movie starring Ben Affleck. With Matt Reeves at the director's chair and the script getting a bit of an overhaul, there is another element that he would leave out of the titular character's appearance.

Reeves replied to a fan's tweet, who brought up the infamous "nipples" seen on the suits of Batman and Robin in the titular film. He replied to the joke with a little laughter, before clarifying that no, the Bat-nipples will not be included in Affleck's batsuit in the upcoming movie.

The infamous bat nipples were featured in the critically panned "Batman & Robin" movie. Director Joel Schumacher as well as the former Batman himself George Clooney have since shared their thoughts about the feature, with Schumacher explaining that it seemed like a good idea at the time. Schumacher previously explained that when "Batman Forever" came out, there were advancements when it came to rubber molding.

He then suggested to make the suits more anatomical, as seen from the Greek statues and drawings. When the nipples were added onto the suit, Schumacher then thought it was cool.

During the early days when Affleck was just announced to become the next caped crusader, some even jokingly brought that up. However, after Affleck impressed everyone with his performance as Bruce Wayne/Batman in the DC Extended Universe, it is safe to say that only few would be worried about that coming back.

Not much else is known regarding the plot, but with the recent announcement of a "Deathstroke" stand-alone movie, it can be assumed that the villain will not be going head-to-head with the Dark Knight in "The Batman." Joe Mangianello was signed on to play the masked assassin but it is still unclear whether or not he is still attached to the role.

"The Batman" is scheduled for release in 2019.
The miracle of the Balfour Declaration: 100 years on, Israel is a flourishing democracy

Picture the following scenario. It is October 2006: the 2nd Lebanese War with rockets hammering down from Lebanon is over  we hope  and I am on my way to spend Shabbat with the Chief Rabbi of Haifa and his wife.

The Chief Rabbi wants to find out about the Church of England and how it differs from the Catholic Church  if at all - and whether it is worth the Chief Rabbinate of Israel having bilateral relations with this Church whose Synod has recently chosen to boycott the State of Israel at the say-so of the Anglican Bishop of Jerusalem.

A new friend from the synagogue, ultra Orthodox and wearing a wig, joins me on my walk down Einstein Street, and suddenly a car screeches to a halt practically at her feet on the pavement. Shabbat had already begun, so I sense trouble.

A gigantic man in beach-wear, half her age, jumps out of the car and lunges at her. I look round for a police officer. None in sight: this is Shabbat after all (not like here in Broughton Park, Salford, where they are busy protecting us from incipient Muslim extremists). But then the lunge becomes a bear hug and she reciprocates.

'Was that your son?' I ask. 'No,'  she says. 'That was my boss.'

Or take another scenario. It is 7.00 am and I am on the bus descending the Carmel for a morning swim at the beach when out of the window I see a woman in a burka stumbling on the pavement.

Suddenly a dozen cars screech to a halt on the busy main road which has witnessed many accidents. From all directions, young Israeli women on their way to work jump out of their cars and rush to help a fellow Israeli in distress.

These scenes are almost unimaginable anywhere else in the world and could be multiplied a thousand-fold. Because, whisper it not in Gath, but the modern State of Israel is the best-integrated country in the world, with minority groups thriving at every level and in every walk of life.

And this couldn't have happened without the Balfour Declaration in which 8 people were key: four of whom were Jewish and four of whom were not.

The four Jews were Theodore Herzl who in 1897 established the First Zionist Congress and said 'If you will it, it is no dream'. He died in 1904.

Rav Kook, first Chief Rabbi of Israel under the British Mandate, who said, 'To a life of creativity I call you  to the broad vistas of the Lord'.

Russian Jewish scientist Chaim Weizmann was invited to Manchester University in 1904 to develop their organic chemistry department. Weizmann ended up producing the plastic substance that helped the UK win World War I and told Balfour that the State of Israel was a must for the Jews and that 'You are meeting the wrong sort of Jew'. Balfour agreed and Weizmann became Israel's first President.

And Chaim Bialik, Israel's national poet, who in 1904 wrote to his fellow Russian Jews after the latest pogrom, and following the story of Abraham, 'Look into yourself and go' from your present state of misery into a new state of being and a new land.

And the non-Jews were Winston Churchill and Arthur Balfour who were local Manchester MPs and met Weizmann up here in this industrial city.

There was the Liberal C.P. Scott, editor of the Manchester Guardian, who met Weizmann through his doctor wife Vera, the pioneer of mother and baby clinics up here and introduced him to the Liberal establishment.

And then there was Lloyd George, steeped in the Bible, who felt that the Welsh and the Jews had a great deal in common.

Much has been written about the flaws of the Balfour Declaration, but I recently interviewed Dr Naomi Cohen (widow of Chief Rabbi Shear Yashuv Cohen  teacher of both Jonathan Sacks and the present Chief Rabbi Mirvis).

When Shear Yashuv was born, his birth was registered as 'Palestinian, November 4th 1927.' You can find this fact and his birth certificate on p. 28 of his biography.

Naomi arrived in Israel from America aged 19 in 1949 and when I asked her why everyone in the UK is obsessed with the 'poor Palestinians', she attributed this to the British colonialist mentality in which the Jews must always be kept in their place and their statehood not really acknowledged. What some have called 'the insufferable effortless superiority of the British.'

But apart from the grinding poverty which she encountered among Jews in Israel on her arrival in 1949, what she said always kept people together and 'makes it a wonderful place to live' is the shared love of children. 'Whether you are Jew, Arab, or Druze, you love children  the children of others as well as your own.'

'And', she added, 'whatever the failings of successive Israeli governments, they are better than Arab governments, and everyone knows this.'

Today, Israel is still a country the size of Wales, but with nearly 9 million citizens  around 23 per cent of whom are Arabs. It is a country of start-ups, literacy, vibrancy, argument and debate. It has a citizen's army which binds the country together and democratizes immigrants from all over the world.

The State of Israel has retained her democracy against all the odds, determined not to be exterminated by its millions of enemies, either by physical force or by propaganda  not least from this country.

And Israel has also given the world the beautiful new language of modern Hebrew, based on the Bible but on other sources as well.

Israelis are the most quarrelsome and argumentative of people, but when you ask them, what is their greatest success story, they claim that together with their staunch democracy of which they are justly proud, it is the rebirth of their ancient biblical language in ever new forms to produce the modern Hebrew language of Ivrit.

Who for instance could fail to be moved by the word 'ramzor'  'hint of light' for traffic light, or 'chashmal'  the 'speaking silence' (part of the biblical prophet Ezekiel's vision) for 'electricity'?

Yes, Israel represents for many that hint of light and that electricity that we all need in life. And Naomi's husband, the former Chief Rabbi of Haifa, said it best when he stated: 'It is not only the Creation of the State of Israel which is the miracle but the fact that we keep going despite the hatred of the world who would like to see us destroyed.'

And the Balfour Declaration which took place on November 2 1917, whose 100th anniversary we now celebrate, was an essential part of the miracle - the beginning of the flowering of our redemption.

Dr Irene Lancaster is a Jewish academic, author and translator who has established university courses on Jewish history, Jewish studies and the Hebrew Bible. She lives in Greater Manchester and is chair of the Broughton Park Dialogue Group which just celebrated its ninth anniversary.
Weinstein, Spacey and the hypocrisy of the current moral panic

The Western media and politicians are now in full-scale moral panic mode. After Harvey Weinstein we have the absolutely shocking revelation that there are other people in positions of power who have abused that power. Whether it's in the celebrity bubble of Hollywood or the political bubble of parliament  it appears that everyone now has a story of being molested and abused. For some the church has become so tainted with abuse that the words paedophile and priest are seen as synonymous.

Some have referred to this as being a kind of collective moral hysteria or the resurgence of a new politically correct puritanism. You think this should delight those of us who are good old-fashioned puritans  you know, the kind who think that all human beings are made in the image of God and should be treated with respect.

Us old-style puritans have this rather quaint idea that sex is special, even sacred, and should not be indulged in as some kind of recreational sport. We think that those in positions of power should use that power to serve others and not to exploit the weak for financial or personal gain. We have this rather crazy idea that its not a good idea to sell your body in order to advance your career, or to misuse and abuse other's bodies just because you get a kick out of it, and you can. And we know that what is done in secret will one day be exposed not by the media, but when we stand before the Omniscient Lord on the Day of Judgement and the books are opened. So you would think that we would be welcoming this apparent outbreak of personal purity.

In reality it is somewhat depressing and even sickening  not least because many of those who are leading the witch-hunts are possibly themselves the witches. The stench of hypocrisy fills the airwaves. Harvey Weinstein for example marched against Donald Trump's attitude towards women, Jimmy Saville campaigned for children's charities, and Hollywood celebrities lauded Roman Polanski whilst knowing that he was guilty of child rape. 'You, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself?' (Romans 2:21). As regards church hypocrisy it is surely evident to anyone who follow the Christ who told us to care for, love and protest the little ones, that those who misuse the Bible in order to obtain and abuse power, are worthy of the lowest pit in hell. The second lowest must be for those in authority in the church who seek to cover that up. The notion that the name of Christ or his beautiful word can be used to corrupt the humanity that he created is about as blasphemous as it can get.

Returning to the wider society, it's not so much the individual hypocrisy that concerns me as the collective hypocrisy being displayed by an elite that cannot seem to grasp the basic biblical and common sense principle  what you sow, you reap.

When we desacralised sex, removed it from any connection with marriage, family and children, and thought that we could have what we want, when we want, without consequences  what did we expect would happen? Did no-one other than Mary Whitehouse foresee the increase in sexually transmitted diseases, the broken homes and the sexual abuse of power? When Gary Glitter sang to screaming teenage girls 'do you want to touch me?' what did we think he was referring to? Rod Liddle in his latest book, Selfish Whining Monkeys, calls the music of my teenage years a 'mass grooming exercise'. Does he have a point?

Our society is in mass denial; refusing to face up to the mess that we've made of the world that He created. This is not just about feminism and male power (although it is that). Its about the abuse of power by human beings, males and females, whether heterosexual or homosexual. It's astonishing that people actually seem to believe, or want to believe that women cannot be guilty of the abuse of power. It's astonishing that the fury against Kevin Spacey is not so much because he is alleged to have abused a 14 year old boy, but because he came out as gay. It is surely right to talk about when powerful men use sex as a weapon. It is also right to talk about when powerful women use sex as a weapon. As it is for heterosexuals and homosexuals.

I think of the college lecturer who told a colleague who had found her 'making out' with a student 'you say anything and I'll accuse you of homophobia'  end of career. Or the student who had been raped by a businessman and was told by the police that 'gay rape' was almost impossible to prove. Or the female student who was date-raped by a man and again told that it was almost impossible to prove. Its not just wannabe film stars who are given the impression that career advancement is dependent on who you sleep with. Politics, business and education have the same problem. Sexual abuse is endemic in our culture. To limit it to one issue or one group of people is to trivialise and refuse to deal with the problem.

If we were prepared to face up to reality we would see that this is what happens when you don't take into account human sinfulness and believe, despite all the evidence, that human beings are basically good. It's what happens when you exchange the wonderful gift of God-given sex for the perversion that the devil sells. This is about society's hubris in thinking we can get rid of the roots and somehow retain the fruits. And it's about the abuse of power by the powerful. Elitist bourgeois morality is the new absolutist ethic for our culture and, surprise, surprise, it is designed for the benefit of the elites who make the rules. They don't pay the price. The poor do. Disproportionately.

The Christian answer is not to preach a perceived Victorian morality. It is to preach the Good news. Humanity is broken. We are broken. Human beings need to be redeemed from the abuse of power and the effects of the perversion of the good gifts that God has given us. That is why Christ came. To the poor. To the prostitutes. Even to the powerful. Our society has a choice  we can indulge in the handwringing, moralising, remorse blame game, say 'never again' and then repeat the same process in a couple of years. Or we can repent and seek reformation and renewal. Will anyone in power dare to say that? Or would that be the ultimate blasphemy against the Holy State?

David Robertson is Associate Director of Solas CPC in Dundee and minister at St Peter's Free Church. Follow him on Twitter @TheWeeFlea.
Weinsteins at Westminster? It's time for the Church to start being offensive

It's really easy to join in the chorus of condemnation at the predatory behaviour exhibited by powerful people in Hollywood and Westminster. Harvey Weinstein appears to have lit the blue touchpaper. Now there's Kevin Spacey, who chose to announce he was gay in the context of accusations of sexual assault against an under-age boy, enraging  well, everyone.

No doubt there's more to come from Hollywood, but in the meantime the far less glamorous location of Westminster is providing its own material for outrage. A Labour party activist, Bex Bailey, says she was raped at party event and discouraged by a party official from reporting it; Damian Green, the Prime Minister's deputy, has been accused of inappropriate behaviour by Tory activist Kate Maltby; and other stories of bad behaviour are circulating, including a list of (unproven) allegations against 40 Tory MPs.

It's everywhere  powerful men (almost always) are using that power to gratify their lust on people who don't want their attentions but are afraid to say no. And of course, it's in the Church too. A female priest blogged about it and spoke to Christian Today  there are senior clergy who regard their junior colleagues as fair game, and who aren't called out for it.

Who could possibly defend behaviour like this? Not me, certainly. It's even worse when it's in the Church. How do people rise to positions of influence and authority without enough self-knowledge to realise they can't treat people as their personal playthings? It would be entirely baffling, without that resource of theological anthropology that continually reminds us of a fundamental Christian truth: that we are sinners who will do bad things because there's a twist in our souls.

However: this is all seductively straightforward. It's the sort of righteous horror that would correctly be judged 'boring' in a Radio 4 'Thought for the Day' slot.

If Christians are saying nothing different from anyone else, there's not much point in us. And the interesting thing is not so much the public outrage, as what happens next.

Influential people exposed as sexual predators have been destroyed forever in the most powerful court on earth: public opinion. They have no future, no respect, no pity and no way back. Associating with them is to be infected by them. They are toxic.

For Christians to talk about the possibility of repentance, forgiveness and restoration is offensive. It is seen as soft on sin. The assumption is that it's because no one cares about the victims. It's equated to comments like those by broadcaster Anne Robinson, who suggested modern women were just too fragile and should be more robust. And because of its shocking record regarding challenging abusive behaviour in the past, when truly wicked behaviour was ignored or hushed up because of the reputational damage it would cause, the risk is that the Church colludes with this. The more we denounce bad behaviour today, the more we'll show how we've move on from all that and can be trusted again. So denunciation of sin and sympathy with the victims, instead of arising from from a heart for the poor and vulnerable and a passion for righteousness, becomes a form of cheap virtue signalling.

Let's be clear: no one can justify Weinstein-like behaviour, in Hollywood or in Westminster. But anyone can denounce evil. The Church is called to go further: to call sinners to repentance, and to offer the full and free forgiveness of Christ to all who want it. It's hard to argue for mercy when the whole world is howling for vengeance, but that's what we're for.

Does that mean the Weinsteins of the world just get a free pass? Of course not: that would be idiotic. They should be called to account, in the law courts if appropriate. Clergy who abuse their authority and victimise colleagues or parishioners should be disciplined too. But vengeance  the reduction of any human being to a symbol of evil, such that the only appropriate consequence of their action is a total rejection and abhorrence of them forever  is not something the Church should ever condone. It is a privilege belonging to God, not to society, and when the Church stops talking the language of faith and starts talking the language of culture, it's been corrupted.

So yes, let's condemn this behaviour by all means. Let's try to make sure we aren't complicit. Let's support the victims and pray for them. But let's not be fooled into thinking that's all we have to do. We're a Church, not a tabloid newspaper. Let's pray for Weinstein, Spacey and all those sleazy Westminster predators too. They're children of God. God help them.

Follow Mark Woods on Twitter: @RevMarkWoods
When we grieve over terrible massacres like Las Vegas, God grieves with us

A gunman opened fire last night at a music concert in Las Vegas. More than fifty people were killed and more than two hundred were injured. This is the worst mass shooting in US history.

Here's what we know so far.

The Route 91 Harvest country music festival was taking place across the road from the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, near McCarran International Airport on the south side of the Las Vegas Strip. The gunman opened fire from a perch high up in the Mandalay Bay casino.

Police are now confirming that the main suspect is dead. Stephen Paddock, age sixty-four, was a resident of Mesquite, Nevada. He was apprehended on the thirty-second floor of Mandalay Bay, where he died. Las Vegas Sheriff Joe Lombardo does not believe there are any more shooters.

Authorities just announced that they have located Marilou Danley, a woman who was traveling with Paddock before the shooting. The victims have not yet been identified. They include two police officers who were on duty and were shot. One is in critical condition. According to the sheriff, other officers who were off duty were shot and killed at the concert.

Our first question is whether this was an act of terrorism. Sheriff Lombardo told reporters that he did not believe it was. He added that "because it's an ongoing investigation, we don't know what his belief system was at this time," but the suspect has no known terrorist connections.

Not much else is known about Stephen Paddock at this hour. He was a white male and was not a military veteran. He had no criminal convictions in Nevada or run-ins with Mesquite police. He lived in a retirement community and apparently acted alone. Marilou Danley lived with him.

I am writing this Daily Article with a grieving heart, just as I am sure you are reading it in stunned disbelief and sadness as well. I hate that we live in a world where a single person can inflict such horrific pain. I hate that our world is so unpredictable that what happened last night in Las Vegas could happen anywhere at any time. I hate this feeling of impotence, this sense that we can do nothing to prevent such atrocities from continuing. I know you feel the same way.

But I also know that our Father is grieving with us.

The Creator of the universe is a Father who loves his children so much that his Son died for us (Romans 5:8). He feels all that we feel, including our pain and grief (John 11:35). "The Lord is near to the brokenhearted" (Psalm 34:18).

He wants us to "weep with those who weep" (Romans 12:15), but he also wants us to do all we can to heal our broken world. If we give up, the criminals win. If we give up, Satan wins. He was "a murderer from the beginning" (John 8:44) who "comes only to steal and kill and destroy," but Jesus "came that they may have life and have it abundantly" (John 10:10).

John Wesley: "Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can." Never give up. The more our world despairs, the more it needs the hope of Jesus.

One last word: When the shooting occurred, Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman tweeted, "Pray for Las Vegas." Please do so, right now.

Originally posted at denisonforum.org

Adapted from Dr. Jim Denison's daily cultural commentary at www.denisonforum.org. Jim Denison, Ph.D., is a cultural apologist, building a bridge between faith and culture by engaging contemporary issues with biblical truth. He founded the Denison Forum on Truth and Culture in February 2009 and is the author of seven books, including "Radical Islam: What You Need to Know." For more information on the Denison Forum, visit www.denisonforum.org. To connect with Dr. Denison in social media, visit www.twitter.com/jimdenison or www.facebook.com/denisonforum. Original source: www.denisonforum.org.
A return to growth and profitability at Hexagon Composites is likely to mean additional jobs at its Lincoln subsidiary.

Hexagon Composites, the Norwegian company that owns Hexagon Lincoln, on Wednesday reported its best third quarter since 2014.

The company earned just more than $2 million in the third quarter, compared with a loss of $1.3 million in the third quarter of 2016.

Much of that improvement was because of a turnaround in the business at Hexagon Lincoln, which makes many of the company's compressed natural gas and hydrogen products.

Mobile pipeline sales, which make up the bulk of Hexagon Lincoln's business, were up 265 percent from a year ago. Sales in the hydrogen segment, which is a relatively new product line for the company, quadrupled.

Hexagon said in its earnings release that the hydrogen business unit is experiencing significant growth and will require "substantial ... investments of resources."

Jack Schimenti, president of Hexagon Lincoln, said Hexagon Composites will be making investments in the hydrogen segment across its global footprint, including at its Lincoln operations in the Lincoln Airport's LNK Enterprise Park.

He said the company likely will hire an additional 20 to 30 people for the hydrogen segment in Lincoln, with jobs focused on engineering and business administration.

Schimenti also said the growth in the mobile pipeline business, which involves selling semitrailers stocked with CNG tanks, is likely to lead to additional jobs in Lincoln, although he did not speculate on how many.

The company's Lincoln operation has rebounded from a layoff two years ago that pared its local employment from around 300 workers to about 250.

Schimenti said there are nearly 300 people working for the company in Lincoln. About 100 work at Hexagon Lincoln and another 195 work for a joint venture between Hexagon Lincoln and Agility Fuel Systems.
For the first time in history, announced researchers this May, a majority of the worlds population is living in urban environments. Citiesefficient hubs connecting international flows of people, energy, communications, and capitalare thriving in our global economy as never before. However, the same factors that make cities hubs of globalization also make them vulnerable to small-group terror and violence.

Over the last few years, small groups ability to conduct terrorism has shown radical improvements in productivitytheir capacity to inflict economic, physical, and moral damage. These groups, motivated by everything from gang membership to religious extremism, have taken advantage of easy access to our global superinfrastructure, revenues from growing illicit commercial flows, and ubiquitously available new technologies to cross the threshold necessary to become terrible threats. September 11, 2001, marked their arrival at that threshold.

Unfortunately, the improvements in lethality that we have already seen are just the beginning. The arc of productivity growth that lets small groups terrorize at ever-higher levels of death and disruption stretches as far as the eye can see. Eventually, one man may even be able to wield the destructive power that only nation-states possess today. It is a perverse twist of history that this new threat arrives at the same moment that wars between states are receding into the past. Thanks to global interdependence, state-against-state warfare is far less likely than it used to be, and viable only against disconnected or powerless states. But the underlying processes of globalization have made us exceedingly vulnerable to nonstate enemies. The mechanisms of power and control that states once exerted will continue to weaken as global interconnectivity increases. Small groups of terrorists can already attack deep within any state, riding on the highways of interconnectivity, unconcerned about our porous borders and our nation-state militaries. These terrorists likeliest point of origin, and their likeliest destination, is the city.

Cities played a vital defensive role in the last major evolution of conventional state-versus-state warfare. Between the world wars, the refinement of technologiesparticularly the combustion engine, when combined with armormade it possible for armies to move at much higher speeds than in the past, so new methods of warfare emphasized armored motorized maneuver as a way to pierce the oppositions solid defensive lines and range deep into soft, undefended rear areas. These incursions, the armored thrusts of blitzkrieg, turned an armys size against itself: even the smallest armored vanguard could easily disrupt the supply of ammunition, fuel, and rations necessary to maintain the huge armies of the twentieth century in the field.

To defend against these thrusts, the theoretician J. F. C. Fuller wrote in the 1930s, cities could be used as anchor or pivot points to engage armored forces in attacks on static positions, bogging down the offensive. Tanks couldnt move quickly through cities, and if they bypassed them and struck too deeply into enemy territory, their supply linesin particular, of the gasoline they drank greedilywould become vulnerable. The city, Fuller anticipated, could serve as a vast fortress, requiring the fast new armor to revert to the ancient tactic of the siege. Thats exactly what happened in practice during World War II, when the defenses mounted in Leningrad, Moscow, and Stalingrad played a major role in the Allied victory.

But in the current evolution of warfare, cities are no longer defensive anchors against armored thrusts ranging through the countryside. They have become the main targets of offensive action themselves. Just as the huge militaries of the early twentieth century were vulnerable to supply and communications disruption, cities are now so heavily dependent on a constant flow of services from various centralized systems that even the simplest attacks on those systems can cause massive disruption.

Most of the networks that we rely on for city lifecommunications, electricity, transportation, waterare overused, interdependent, and extremely complex. They developed organically as what scholars in the emerging field of network science call scale-free networks, which contain large hubs with a plethora of connections to smaller and more isolated local clusters. Such networks are economically efficient and resistant to random failurebut they are also extremely vulnerable to intentional disruptions, as Albert-Laszlo Barabasi shows in his important book Linked: The New Science of Networks. In practice, this means that a very small number of attacks on the critical hubs of a scale-free network can collapse the entire network. Such a collapse can occasionally happen by accident, when random failure hits a critical node; think of the huge Northeast blackout of 2003, which caused $6.4 billion in damage.

Further, the networks of our global superinfrastructure are tightly coupledso tightly interconnected, that is, that any change in one has a nearly instantaneous effect on the others. Attacking one network is like knocking over the first domino in a series: it leads to cascades of failure through a variety of connected networks, faster than human managers can respond.

The ongoing attacks on the systems that support Baghdads 5 million people illustrate the vulnerability of modern networks. Over the last four years, guerrilla assaults on electrical systems have reduced Baghdads power to an average of four or five hours a day. And the insurgents have been busily finding new ways to cut power: no longer do they make simple attacks on single transmission towers. Instead, they destroy multiple towers in series and remove the copper wire for resale to fund the operation; they ambush repair crews in order to slow repairs radically; they attack the natural gas and water pipelines that feed the power plants. In September 2004, one attack on an oil pipeline that fed a power plant quickly led to a cascade of power failures that blacked out electricity throughout Iraq.

Lack of adequate power is a major reason why economic recovery has been nearly impossible in Iraq. No wonder that, in account after account, nearly the first criticism that any Iraqi citizen levels against the government is its inability to keep the lights on. Deprived of services, citizens are forced to turn to local groupsmany of them at war with the governmentfor black-market alternatives. This money, in turn, fuels further violence, and the government loses legitimacy.

Insurgents have directed such disruptive attacks against nearly all the services necessary to get a city of 5 million through the day: water pipes, trucking, and distribution lines for gasoline and kerosene. And because of these networks complexity and interconnectivity, even small attacks, costing in the low thousands of dollars to carry out, can cause tens of millions and occasionally hundreds of millions of dollars in damage.

Iraq is a petri dish for modern conflict, the Spanish Civil War of our times. Its the place where small groups are learning to fight modern militaries and modern societies and win. As a result, we can expect to see systems disruption used again and again in modern conflictcertainly against megacities in the developing world, and even against those in the developed West, as we have already seen in London, Madrid, and Moscow.

Another growing threat to our cities, commonest so far in the developing world, is gangs challenging government for control. For three sultry July days in 2006, a gang called PCC (Primeiro Comando da Capital, First Command of the Capital) held hostage the 20 million inhabitants of the greater Sao Paulo area through a campaign of violence. Gang members razed police stations, attacked banks, rioted in prisons, and torched dozens of buses, shutting down a transportation system serving 2.9 million people a day.

The previous May, a similar series of attacks had terrified the city. The attackers moved on foot, and by car and motorbike, wrote William Langewiesche in Vanity Fair. They were not rioters, revolutionaries, or the graduates of terrorist camps. They were anonymous young men and women, dressed in ordinary clothes, unidentifiable in advance, and indistinguishable afterward. Wielding pistols, automatic rifles, and firebombs, they emerged from within the city, struck fast, and vanished on the spot. Their acts were criminal, but the attackers did not loot, rob, or steal. They burned buses, banks, and public buildings, and went hard after the forces of ordergunning down the police in their neighborhood posts, in their homes, and on the streets.

The violence hasnt been limited to Sao Paulo. In December 2006, a copycat campaign by an urban gang called the Comando Vermelho (Red Command) shut down Rio de Janeiro, too. In both cases, the gangs fomenting the violence didnt list demands or send ultimatums to the government. Rather, they were flexing their muscles, testing their ability to challenge the government monopoly on violence.

Both gangs had steadily accumulated power for a decade, helped in part by globalization, which simplifies making connections to the multitrillion-dollar global black-market economy. With these new connections, the gangs profit horizon became limitless, fueling rapid expansion. New communications technology, particularly cell phones, played a part, too, making it possible for the gangs to thrive as loose associations, and allowing a geographical and organizational dispersion that rendered them nearly invulnerable to attack. The PCC has been particularly successful, growing from a small prison gang in the mid-nineties to a group that today controls nearly half of Sao Paulos slums and its millions of inhabitants. An escalating confrontation between these gangs and the city governments appears inevitable.

The gangs rapid rise into challengers to urban authorities is something that we will see again elsewhere. This dynamic is already at work in American cities in the rise of MS-13, a rapidly expanding transnational gang with a loose organizational structure, a propensity for violence, and access to millions in illicit gains. It already has an estimated 8,000 to 10,000 members, dispersed over 31 U.S. states and several Latin American countries, and its proliferation continues unabated, despite close attention from law enforcement. Like the PCC, MS-13 or a similar American gang may eventually find that it has sufficient power to hold a city hostage through disruption.

The final threat that small groups pose to cities is weapons of mass destruction. Though most of the worry over WMDs has focused on nuclear weapons, those arent the real long-term problem. Not only is the vast manufacturing capability of a nation-state required to produce the basic nuclear materials, but those materials are difficult to manipulate, transport, and turn into weapons. Nor is it easy to assemble a nuke from parts bought on the black market; if it were, nation-states like Iran, which have far more resources at their disposal than terrorist groups do, would be doing just that instead of resorting to internal production.

Its also unlikely that a state would give terrorists a nuclear weapon. Sovereignty and national prestige are tightly connected to the production of nukes. Sharing them with terrorists would grant immense power to a group outside the states controlthe equivalent of giving Osama bin Laden the keys to the presidential palace. If that isnt deterrent enough, the likelihood of retaliation is, since states, unlike terrorist groups, have targets that can be destroyed. The result of a nuclear explosion in Moscow or New York would very probably be the annihilation of the country that manufactured the bomb, once its identity was determinedas it surely would be, since no plot of that size can remain secret for long.

Even in the very unlikely case that a nuclear weapon did end up in terrorist hands, it would be a single horrible incident, rather than an ongoing threat. The same is true of dirty bombs, which disperse radioactive material through conventional explosives. No, the real long-term danger from small groups is the use of biotechnology to build weapons of mass destruction. In contrast with nuclear technology, biotechs knowledge and tools are already widely dispersedand their power is increasing exponentially.

The biotech field is in the middle of a massive improvement in productivity through advances in computing power. In fact, the curves of improvement that we see in biotechnology mirror the rates of improvement in computing dictated by Moores Lawthe observation, borne out by decades of experience, that the ratio of performance to price of computing power doubles every 24 months. This means that incredible power will soon be in the hands of individuals. University of Washington engineer Robert Carlson observes that if current trends in the rate of improvement in DNA sequencing continue, within a decade a single person at the lab bench could sequence or synthesize all the DNA describing all the people on the planet many times over in an eight-hour day. And with ever tinier, cheaper, and more widely available tools, a large and decentralized industrial base that is hiring lab techs at a double-digit growth rate, and the active transfer of knowledge via the Internet (the blueprints of the entire smallpox virus now circulate on the Web), biotech is too widely available for us to contain it.

In less than a decade, then, biotechnology will be ripe for the widespread development of weapons of mass destruction, and it fits the requirements of small-group warfare perfectly. It is small, inexpensive, and easy to manufacture in secret. Also, since dangerous biotechnology is based primarily on the manipulation of information, it will make rapid progress through the same kind of amateur tinkering that currently produces new computer viruses. Terrorists also have a growing advantage in delivering bioweapons. The increasing porousness of national borders, size of global megacities, and volume of air travel all mean that the delivery and percolation of bioweapons will be fast-moving and widespreadpotentially on several continents at once.

It is almost certain that we will see repeated, perhaps incessant, attempts to deploy bioweapons with new strains of viruses or bacteria. Picture a Russian biohacker who, a decade from now, designs a new, deadly form of the common flu virus and sells it on the Internet, just as computer viruses and worms get sold today. The terrorist group that buys the design sends it to a recently hired lab tech in Pakistan, who performs the required modifications with widely available tools. The product then ships by mail to London, to the awaiting suicide vectorsmen who infect themselves and then board airplanes headed to world destinations, infecting passengers on the planes and in crowded terminals. The infection spreads quickly, going global in dayslong before anyone detects it.

Its very possible that many cities will fall in the face of such deadly threats. Megacities in the developing worldwhich often, because of their rapid growth, widespread corruption, and illegitimate governance, arent able to provide security or basic services for their citizensare particularly vulnerable. However, cities in the developed world that properly appreciate the threats arrayed against them may devise startlingly innovative solutions.

In almost all cases, cities can defend themselves from their new enemies through effective decentralization. To counter systems disruption, decentralized servicesthe capability of smaller areas within cities to provide backup services, at least on a temporary basiscould radically diminish the harmful consequences of disconnection from the larger global grid. In New York, this would mean storage or limited production capability of backup electricity, water, and fuel, with easy connections to the delivery gridat the borough level or even smaller. These backups would then provide a means of restoring central services rapidly after a failure.

Similarly, cities may combat networked gangs by decentralizing their own security. Cities have long maintained centralized police forces, but gangs can often overwhelm them. Many governments are responding with militarized police: China is building a million-man paramilitary force, for example; and even in the United States, the use of SWAT teams has increased from 3,000 deployments a year in the 1980s to 50,000 a year in 2006. But militarized police may too easily become an army of occupation, and, if corrupt, as they are in Brazil, they may become enemies of the state along with the gangs.

A better solution involves local security forces, either locally recruited or bought on the marketplace (such as Blackwater), which can be powerful bulwarks against small-group terrorism. Such forces may become a vital component in our defense against bioterrorism, too, since they can enforce local containmentand since large centralized services, like the ones we have today, might actually accelerate the propagation of bioweapons. Still, if improperly established, local forces can also become rogue criminal entities, like the Autodefensas Unidas de Colombia and the militias in Rio de Janeiro. Governments need to regulate them carefully.

In the future, we probably wont know exactly how we will be attacked until it happens. In highly uncertain situations like this, centralized solutions that emphasize uniform responses will often collapse. Heterogeneous systems, by contrast, are unlikely to fail catastrophically. Moreover, local innovationsupplemented by a marketplace in goods and services that improve security, detection, monitoring, and so onis likely to develop responses to threats quickly and effectively. Other localities will copy those responses that prove successful.

In June 2007, the FBI and local law enforcement halted a plot to blow up the John F. Kennedy International Airports fuel tanks and feeder pipelines. This was another great example of how police forces, if used correctly, can defuse threats before they become a menace [see On the Front Line in the War on Terrorism]. However, our current level of safety will not last. The selection of the target demonstrated clearly that future attackers will take advantage of our systems vulnerability to disruption, which will sharply increase the number of potential targets. It also showed that these threats can emerge spontaneously from small groups unconnected to al-Qaida. More and more attempts will come, with higher and higher rates of success. Our choice is simple: we can rely exclusively on our current security systems to stop the threatsand suffer the consequences when they dontor we can take measures to mitigate the impact of these threats by exerting local control over essential services.

Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images
The Halloween assault in Lower Manhattan was straight out of the ISIS playbook. Ever since October 2010, when al-Qaida published the second issue of its online magazine Inspire, jihadi leaders have been urging the faithful to turn ordinary cars and trucks into killing machines to mow down the enemies of Allah. On Tuesday in New York, Sayfullo Saipov, 29, a green-card holder from Uzbekistan in Central Asia and resident of Florida, who appears to have come to the United States through the so-called Diversity Visa lottery, responded to the call. He drove his rented Home Depot truck from West Houston Street onto a Hudson River Park bike path, one of New Yorks most beloved amenities. Within ten minutes, eight people were killed and 15 were injured. A note found in the truck, law enforcement officials said, indicated that Saipov committed the attack out of devotion to ISIS.

At a news conference at 1 Police Plaza less than two hours after the deadly attack, John Miller, the New York Police Departments chief of counterterrorism, cited the Islamic States updated guidance to jihadi aspirants contained in the third November 2016 issue of its own online journal, Rumiya (Rome), as the attackers probable inspiration. The article encouraged followers to attack large outdoor conventions and celebrations, pedestrian-congested streets, outdoor markets, festivals, parades, [and] political rallies. It even specified the ideal type, weight, and speed of a car needed for terror purposes, according to a translation provided by the Counter-Extremism Project.

It seems likely that the killers original target may have been the famous Greenwich Village Halloween parade, another beloved New York tradition that close to 1 million people typically attend. But the NYPDs overwhelming security presence, and the numerous street closures adjacent to the parade, may have dashed his dreams of an even more memorable massacre.

While the attack investigation is ongoing and details of Saipovs motives and plans are still being gathered, the vehicle assault bore the hallmarks of the attacks that ISIS and other militant jihadi groups have long been promoting. NYPD commissioner James ONeill said that the terrorist emerged from his rental vehicle after crashing into a school bus screaming a statement that indicated terrorist intent. While the politically attuned ONeill declined to identify what the attacker shouted, the language in which he was shouting, or his suspected nationality, numerous eye witnesses said that the man, dressed in dark clothing and carrying a pellet gun and a paint-ball gun, was screaming Allahu AkhbarGod is Great in Arabic.

Governor Andrew Cuomo pointed out another hallmark of a vehicle assault. The perp, he said, was one of those lone wolves who meant to cause pain and harm and probably death and the resulting terror.

But it takes a pack to raise a lone wolf. Even if Saipov acted alone, he was part of a growing ideological fraternity numbering in the tens of thousands who now inhabit every region of the globe. Those seeking eternal glory have staged similar attacks in at least a dozen other citiesfrom Nice to Paris to Barcelona to London to Jerusalem. Like the attacks in these cities, the Halloween attack in Lower Manhattan was aimed at inflicting maximum carnage. Schools in the area were letting out students shortly after three oclock when Saipov drove his rented truck off West Houston Street onto the bike path. There was no shortage of targets. The streets between West Houston and Chambers were crowded with parents picking up their costumed children prepared for an evening of trick-or-treating. Pedestrians and bikers on the Hudson River bike path were stunned and helpless as Saipov careened his weapon through the crowd.

With the collapse of its self-declared caliphate in Syria and Iraq, ISIS is on the run. So are its adherents. But as the extremists disperse, the terrorist threat, paradoxically, increases. American and other intelligence agencies have long warned of a likely rise in vehicle and other attacks as the frustrated, furious faithful are forced to reorient their campaign. In May 2017, the U.S. Transportation and Security Agency (TSA) warned truck and bus companies to be on guard for suspicious individuals seeking to rent vehicles. According to TSA data, Islamist terrorists have carried out more than a dozen vehicular assaults since 2014 that have killed more than 170 people. Such attacks are ever more likely, the TSA memo warned, since unsophisticated tactics such as vehicle-ramming are hard to prevent and capable of inflicting mass casualties if successful.

Saipov might have killed even more people had the NYPD not been the nations premier counterterrorism force. NYPD officers showed up in force minutes after the attack began, shooting him before he could kill more New Yorkers. The NYPD, in fact, was responding to the vehicular threat long before this type of terror became the focus of federal concern. At Tuesdays press conference, Miller discussed the departments SHIELD program, which has sent officers to brief some 20,000 businesses in the private sector about the growing terrorist threat post9/11. Miller noted that after Rumiya reissued its call for vehicular attacks and suggested an assault on the Thanksgiving Day parade, the NYPD visited over 148 truck rental offices in the metropolitan area asking employees to watch for suspicious indicators. The police department conducted repeated visits in person and by phone, he said.

Even more essential has been the NYPDs intelligence division, which has long collected information about suspicious individuals. After being heavily, and in many instances unfairly, criticized for allegedly violating civil liberties, Millers former boss, William Bratton, shut down a particularly controversial program that the intelligence unit had run early in its existencea so-called demographic unit that collected information on the location and activities of Muslims suspected of terrorist intentions. Another critic was New Jersey governor Chris Christie, who lambasted the NYPD for surveilling New Jersey-based Muslims and asked whether the spying was borne out of arrogance, or out of paranoia, or out of both. News reports Tuesday night indicated that Saipov had lived for some time in Paterson, New Jersey.

But the NYPD has not scaled back most of its vital surveillance activities. In fact, New Yorks Finest, working in tandem with the FBI and other law enforcement agencies that comprise the Joint Terrorism Task Force, have continued collecting information on suspected terrorists living in and visiting the city. They were unable to prevent the Halloween attack. The so-called flash-to-bang trajectory of lone-wolf radicalization is accelerating. An individual intent on mayhem against soft targets is the toughest law enforcement terrorist challenge. Eight people were killed Tuesday. But the toll could have been much higher had the police not responded so quickly and New Yorkers not been so stubbornly resilient. Concluding his remarks Tuesday, Governor Cuomo issued his own call to arms. Were not going to let them win, he said. And if we change our lives, we contort ourselves to them, then they win and we lose.

Three and a half hours after Saipovs wicked rampage, hundreds of thousands of costumed New Yorkers poured into the streets to celebrate Halloween, as planned. Paradoxically, Saipovs perverse mission failed: New Yorkers were not cowed, and he was denied the martyrdom that he was clearly seeking. Shot in the stomach, Saipov will probably live to be brought to justice, not far from the scene of his heinous crime.

Photo by Yana Paskova/Getty Images
On a clear summer day, Lieutenant Isa Abbassi and Officer Jamal Kilkenny are taking in the sights, NYPD-style. Their Agusta A119 helicopter, bearing the NYPDs distinctive blue and white markings, soars 700 feet above the East River, its single engine purring at top speed. Heading north at 70 miles per hour, the chopper whirls by the Brooklyn and Williamsburg Bridges as Kilkenny points its L-3 Wescam multisensor camera at various tourist destinations: the South Street Seaport, the United Nations headquarters, the 59th Street Bridge. Fifteen minutes later, the chopper circles the Staten Island Ferry and the Statue of Liberty, scanning the statues base for anything suspiciousfor example, the wrong boat in the wrong place or scuba divers off Lady Libertys dock.

Abbassi and Kilkenny also check out sites that the public doesnt visitthe army base at Fort Hamilton in Brooklyn; the alleys, warehouses, and storage areas near LaGuardia and John F. Kennedy Airports; a power plant in Queens; the giant ventilator shafts that aerate the Holland and Lincoln Tunnels; and the entrance in Queens to the Buckeye Pipelinewhich carries millions of gallons of jet fuel to JFK and which was the target of a foiled Islamist terrorist attack in 2007. From time to time, Kilkenny monitors his radiation detectors, technology so sensitive that it sometimes mistakes crates of potassium-rich bananas for nuclear material. It takes just 25 minutes for the chopper to circumnavigate the five boroughs of New York and the more than 100 critical locations that the 62-person aviation unit patrols day and night.

The NYPDs fleet now has seven helicopters: four Agusta A119s and three Bell 412s, larger twin-engine choppers that can transport 15 SWAT-team members to a rescue scene. The aircraft contain an arsenal of monitoring equipment powerful enough to read a license plate or the name of a book in a pedestrians hand almost a mile away. Their satellite navigation system lets pilots zoom in on any location simply by typing in an address on a keyboard, while their giant strobe lights can turn night into day on dark rooftops or bridges. The choppers also have compartments for .50 caliber swiveling machine guns and other heavy weapons. Such capability isnt cheap: the Agustas cost $4.5 million apiece, and the Bells $14 million. But Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly says that the aviation unit is vital to protecting New York City from terrorism. We could not cover this much territory in such depth so quickly and thoroughly any other way, Kelly says.

The fleets size, activity, and capabilities make it a good symbol of the NYPDs relentless focus on counterterrorism since the attacks of September 11, 2001. No other city in America has a comparable fleet; then again, no other city faces comparable danger. Since 2001, at least 11 serious plots against New York have failed or been thwarted, police say. Preventing another terrorist catastrophe is Kellys paramount mission. A decade after 9/11, the NYPD has adapted to the challenge and become not just the nations most highly regarded police department but the nations most effective counterterrorism force.

The extent of the NYPDs fight against terrorism is enormous. Few New Yorkers know that each of the departments 76 precincts dedicates at least one patrol car to routine checks on houses of worship and other sites that terrorists might try to strike. Or that Kelly allocates some $330 million of his $4.6 billion annual budget to counterterrorism-related activities, with 1,200 of his 50,000 employees assigned to the war on terror. Or that he has continued to give priority to counterterrorism during the budget-mandated shrinkage of his force, which now has about 10 percent fewer officers than it did in 2001. (The force has still achieved a 40 percent drop in serious crime since Kelly returned to the commissioners job in 2002.)

A recent demonstration of the NYPDs ongoing engagement with terrorism came on May 1, after Navy SEALs killed Osama bin Laden in Pakistan. The audacious raid, Kelly told his top aides, was good newswith complications. Those complications included the possibility that some of bin Ladens followers would seek to avenge his death by attacking the global jihads top target: New York. By the time President Obama made the late-night announcement that bin Laden was dead, a message instructing police officers to prepare for trouble had already gone out to all commands, and precincts were heightening security around station houses and the citys iconic sites. A midnight tour of cops working transit hubs was held over, almost doubling the number of officers deployed in subways and around the citys train and ferry stations. The next morning, New Yorkers on their way to work found extra police, bomb-sniffing dogs, and bag-check posts in subway and train stations; a similar increase was ordered for the evening rush hour.

Some of those emergency measures remained in force weeks later, as the heat of summer began. While Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano stressed that her agency had received no warnings that would elevate its now colorless alert system to a higher level, Kelly continued to believe that the threat to New York had increased, at least in the short run. Threats to New York keep coming out in bin Ladens notes, Kelly tells me. So far, the material that the SEALs plucked from bin Ladens Abbottabad compound has not revealed the existence of a specific plot aimed at New York, a senior official in Washington says. But the material apparently does show that bin Laden kept thinking about how to attack Gotham. References to New Yorkas well as to Chicago, Los Angeles, and other leading American destinationsshow up repeatedly in the documents, photos, e-mails, and other material that the CIA and other intelligence agencies are currently analyzing.

Ray Kelly begins each working day with a briefing on terrorist trends from two top aides: David Cohen, his chief of intelligence and a former chief of the CIAs operations division; and Richard Daddario, his deputy for counterterrorism. Since early June, the sessions have taken place in Kellys sleek new Executive Command Center on the 11th floor of One Police Plaza, the departments dilapidated 1970s-era headquarters overlooking the Brooklyn Bridge. From 9 to 10 am, the three men sit at the centers long oval table and pore over reports of terrorism incidents at home and abroad; ongoing investigations; splits and internal ideological shifts in militant jihadist groups; and developments in Iraq, Afghanistan, and elsewhere. As they talk, television broadcasts fill the giant wall-to-wall screens that surround themAl Jazeera in English and Arabic; New York

One, which monitors developments in the city; breaking news from Fox, MSNBC, and CNN; and alerts from the all-important Weather Channel. The screens can also display live video feeds from some 200 subway cameras and from the NYPDs helicopters. The windowless room, which can seat up to 40, is secure: with its own independent air and electrical supply, officials can seal it off in an emergency.

On a typical morning, a police source says, Cohen outlines reports from the departments 11 overseas liaisonsdetectives embedded in local police forces in London, Lyons, Jerusalem, Amman, Singapore, and other terrorist hot spots. The presence of the departments eyes and ears abroad has occasionally rankled the Federal Bureau of Investigation, which has its own extensive network of overseas agents. But Kelly insists on receiving terrorism-related information in a timely manner. This was our way of ensuring that the New York question in any terror investigation is always asked, says Paul Browne, the deputy commissioner for public information and Kellys long-standing confidant.

One morning in June, the official says, the trio discussed the commissioners plans for the NYPDs World Trade Center Command, a temporary post of 200 to 240 cops and support staff assigned to protect the new memorial at Ground Zero, which is scheduled to open on the tenth anniversary of 9/11. Eventually, says Kelly, as many as 700 officers may be assigned to secure the 16-acre World Trade Center site, which, as currently configured, will house the 9/11 memorial, five towers, an arts center, and a transit hub that the NYPD will police in cooperation with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which owns much of the land. Terrorists have already attacked the World Trade Center twice, of course, and in 2006, the police disrupted a plot to bomb a train tunnel and a retaining wall at Ground Zero. Browne calls the site the Number One target in the city that remains the nations top target.

Unsurprisingly, many of the departments most ambitious counterterrorism undertakings aim to enhance security in lower Manhattan. In November 2008, Kelly quietly opened a high-tech command center in a nondescript downtown office building to monitor 150 closed-circuit cameras, 30 license-plate readers, and other sensors operating around Wall Street; within a year, there may be as many as 1,500 public- and private-sector cameras in operation downtown, Kelly says, all of which the NYPD can access. This is the Lower Manhattan Security Initiative, modeled in part on the Ring of Steel, a surveillance system set up in Londons financial district after terrorists there killed 56 people and wounded more than 700 in 2005. But New Yorks version exceeds Londons in sophistication and scope. The New York cameras, for instance, are programmed with an algorithm that instructs them to send an alert when a package or briefcase is left unattended for too long or when people make certain physical movements, which the NYPD declines to discuss.

Last September, Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced that the NYPD and the Metropolitan Transit Authority were extending the Lower Manhattan Security Initiative into midtown Manhattan. Ultimately, some 1,500 more cameras, license-plate readers, and environmental monitors will be integrated into the system. The cameras are now installed in some of the citys busiest transport hubsGrand Central Terminal, Penn Station, and the subway station at Times Square. Washington will pick up virtually all of the security initiatives $200 million tab.

These projects have alarmed some civil libertarians. Donna Lieberman, executive director of the New York Civil Liberties Union, has wrangled with Kellys NYPD over a myriad of issues, including its stop and frisk policies; spot checks of backpacks, handbags, and briefcases in subways; and surveillance tactics used to protect the Republican National Convention in 2004. She accuses the department of trying to turn New York into a surveillance society in which every move you make is recorded by the police department and no one knows if there are rules in place to protect privacy or sufficient independent oversight of the system. In September 2008, the NYCLU sued the police in the states supreme court for refusing to disclose information about how the Lower Manhattan Security Initiative would safeguard privacy. In June of the following year, it filed a federal lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security, seeking to learn, among other things, how the police and Washington planned to use the information and with whom they planned to share it. Both lawsuits are still pending.

Browne says that the surveillance system has strict privacy safeguards. The pictures and data collected wont be stored for longer than 30 days unless theyre part of an ongoing investigation, he notes. Further, he says, several agencies and individuals have the authority to investigate potential wrongdoing in the camera project and in the NYPDs other counterterrorism programs: five district attorneys, two U.S. attorneys, and an independent Civilian Complaint Review Board, not to mention the city councils oversight committees on finance and public safety.

Cohen says that similar safeguards apply to the deployment of undercover cops who infiltrate suspected terrorist groupsthe heart of the NYPDs intelligence-collection effort. At virtually every meeting, we have a legal counsel who oversees ongoing investigations, he says. Both deputies deny the assertions of some Muslim activists, who have charged that the department discriminates against Muslims by performing undercover surveillance in mosques when not pursuing particular leads in an investigation. We dont target mosques, says Browne. We follow leads.

However, two recently published reports have raised questions about whether the NYPDs surveillance of Muslim individuals and groups violates federal civil liberties and privacy laws. Last month, the Associated Press reported that the NYPD had targeted ethnic communities in ways that would run afoul of civil liberties rules if practiced by the federal government. It also questioned the departments relationship with the CIA, alleging that the NYPDs intelligence divisions employment of CIA officials, as well as its undercover activities, had blurred the line between foreign and domestic spying. The NYPD strongly denied the reports, saying that no spying had occurred without a criminal lead.

But this week, NYPD Confidential, a well-read blog among law enforcement officials, published an internal NYPD intelligence-division report challenging the NYPDs assertion that it only follows tips. The 2006 document, according to the blog, showed that the police had compiled information on 250 mosques; 12 Islamic schools; 31 Muslim student associations; 263 places called ethnic hotspots, such as businesses and restaurants; and 138 persons of interest. Together, the reports could prompt more calls for federal and independent oversight of the NYPDs counterterrorism activities.

While much of the press coverage of the NYPD has focused on the departments cutting-edge technologyKelly is a self-confessed gadget guyhe and other senior officials insist that the departments true strength in fighting terrorism is its people. The continuity of leadership is key, says Cohen. Im in my tenth year in this job, he says; so are at least half of the counterterrorism divisions employees. There is no supervisor who doesnt understand the mission; they are expert at what they do.

Another personnel advantage is the NYPDs diverse makeup, which mirrors the citys own. Kelly points out that the departments recruits over the past five years were born in 88 different countries. The chopper pilots who flew me around the city are a case in point: Abbassi, head of the departments aviation unit, is of Arab descent; Kilkennys family, despite his Irish surname, is from Guyana. This diversity gives the NYPD an enviable language capability and an edge in its undercover work, recruitment of informants, informal neighborhood surveys, and cyber-unit, which monitors radical websites in several languages. Not even the FBIs linguistic depth and range are as great, Kelly asserts.

The terrorism threat has evolved sharply since early 2002, when Kelly first sketched out his plan for countering it on a piece of paper for Mayor Bloomberg. Al-Qaidas core, as counterterrorism experts call the organization that bin Laden headed, does remain a threat. U.S. intelligence officials guess that more than two-thirds of its leadership cadre have been killed or jailed during the past decade, but underestimating the organization could still be disastrous. Last May, Steve Kappes, a former deputy CIA director, told an NYPD gathering of public and private security professionals that al-Qaida was the most adaptive terrorist entity he had encountered in his 30-year intelligence career. Even without bin Laden, he said, its threat might not be significantly diminished for years to come.

Another danger is the expansion of what Bruce Hoffman, a terrorism analyst at Georgetown University, calls the al-Qaida universe. In 2008, there were seven al-Qaida networks or theaters of operation; last year, there were 11. Such groups find political vacuums in failed and failing states very attractive. Al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, or AQAP, has grown increasingly lethal and ambitious in Yemen; in Somalia, al-Shabaab has attracted several young Somali-Americans to its ranks from Minnesota, of all places.

Among the most ominous recent trends is the surge in homegrown terrorism, which was initially identified in 2007 by NYPD analysts Arvin Bhatt and Mitchell Silber. That threat came home dramatically to the NYPD in 2004, when it arrested two immigrants, Shahawar Matin Siraj and James Elshafay, for planning to bomb the Herald Square subway station during the 2004 Republican National Convention. Elshafay cooperated with prosecutors and got a plea deal; Siraj was convicted on four counts of conspiracy and received a 30-year prison sentence. The fact that Siraj had emigrated as a child from Pakistan, had grown up in the United States, but still wanted to kill Americans made a strong impression on the police department, Cohen recalls: It was the first homegrown case against a U.S. target that resonated so deeply. Homegrown terrorism captured headlines again in May 2010, when Faisal Shahzad, a naturalized Pakistani-American and middle-class Connecticut resident, tried to blow up his SUV in Times Square. Only luck and his insufficient training kept Shahzad from carrying out his martyrdom mission, the police concede.

The homegrown trend has severely complicated counterterrorism efforts. In 2009, at least 43 American citizens or residents were charged with terrorism crimes, according to Hoffmans count; last year, the number was at least two dozen. At a counterterrorism meeting in New York last winter, Silber warned that more homegrown plots would be likely in the near future, not just in the United States but in Europe, Canada, and Australia as well. In fact, he said, the preponderance of major terrorist plots against Americans since 9/11 have been homegrown, and between 2004 and 2009, 90 percent of the core conspirators of jihadist plots against the West were radicalized in the West. While al-Qaida remains a serious problem, Silber argues, the threat today comes mainly from younger Muslim men between the ages of 15 and 35 who are middle-class and have no direct al-Qaida connection but have been radicalized by an extreme and minority interpretation of Islam. Brian Jenkins, a veteran counterterrorism guru at the RAND Corporation, says that a related problem is the emergence of do-it-yourself terrorism, more diffuse and less predictable than centrally directed plots.

What keeps Kelly and his team awake at night? Not the historical rivalries and resentments between the FBI and the NYPD, they say. Kelly maintains that the two organizations now work together well. The police department once had only 12 detectives on the FBIs Joint Terrorism Task Forces; today, it has 120. The major source of information for us is the JTTF, Kelly says. Cohen agrees: Cooperation today between the police and the JTTF is standard operating procedure. Of course, the department still gets annoyed when the FBI decides not to pursue an investigation developed by the NYPD or asserts jurisdiction over one that the NYPD wants to lead.

The NYPD has also negotiated protocols with other city agencies that often figure in terror investigationsNew Yorks vast public-health service, for instance, the police departments partner in efforts to hunt down pathogens and viruses that could be used in a terrorism attack. But Kelly does worry about what he and his counterterrorism division cannot control unilaterallyfor instance, the policing and protection of bridges, tunnels, and the Hudson River, whose surveillance is shared with the Port Authority and the Metropolitan Transit Authority. A related concern is the inability or unwillingness of neighboring jurisdictions to implement counterterrorism measures similar to New Yorksone reason for the NYPDs Sentry program, which trains cops in the tristate area in counterterrorism techniques in order to foster intelligence-sharing.

And, of course, Kelly worries about an attack using nuclear weapons or other WMDs. Daddario, the counterterrorism division chief, has thought long and hard about how New Yorkers would evacuate the city in the event of a widespread biological or nuclear attack. The NYPD has drawn up evacuation plans, but theyre of limited value, he says; in such an emergency, the police department would have to rely on self-evacuationindividual decisions by hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers to leave the city, even on foot and across bridges. Daddario also admits that the state-of-the-art air sniffers that are supposed to detect anomalous airborne pathogens need improvement. The technology is not there yet, he says.

Another terrorism-related anxiety for Kelly, aides say, is that the governments visa policies and the countrys easily penetrable borders mean that he doesnt know whos living in New York. In 2005, Congress passed the REAL ID act, requiring states to issue drivers licenses that could be readily authenticated through encryption and biometrics after a background check. But many states have rebelled against implementing it, citing cost, privacy, and other concerns. Its hard to protect the nation, warned former White House terrorism advisor Richard Clarke in his 2008 book Your Government Failed You, if the government doesnt know who is in it.

Perhaps the greatest challenge to the NYPDs efforts, however, is the way we think about terrorism. Americans like to see conflicts as finite, with a beginning and an end, says Jenkins. But that will not be the case in the struggle against terrorism. This challenge adapts and morphs and is constantly evolving. It wont end. Its hard for any individual or government agency to accept that. Even in New York.

Photo by Jose Jimenez/Primera Hora/Getty Images
Because their power companies restored most service within days, Texas and Florida got through the emergency phase of Hurricanes Harvey and Irma quickly. In Houston, most of the power never even went out. But it has now been nearly six weeks since Hurricane Maria, and 70 percent of Puerto Rico remains without power, exacerbating a humanitarian crisis. Its not clear whats taking so long, though it has become clear that while the federal government is good at some things, taking over a local civilian-power grida core state and local responsibilityis not among them.

A week after the storm, Prepa, the islands municipal-power authority, signed a preliminary contract with Montana-based Whitefish Energy, a small company with no experience managing such large projects, to reconstruct the grid. Prepas board ratified the $300 million agreement in mid-October. When news of the deal became public, the U.S. media cried corruption: reporters noted that Whitefishs chief executive and President Trumps Interior secretary, Ryan Zinke, hail from the same town, and that Zinkes son recently worked for Whitefish. When the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which will ultimately pay the bills, questioned the arrangement, Puerto Ricos governor ordered Prepa to cancel it over the weekend, effectively starting everything over.

This odd episode is not even the strangest aspect of Puerto Ricos stalled recovery. In the first week after the storm, Prepa ceded its lead role in rebuilding the power grid to Washington. On September 26, the same day Prepa inked its deal with Whitefish, the Army Corps of Engineers said that it would be provid[ing] emergency power to critical sites, such as hospitals. By October 9, this mission had expanded, with the Corps saying it had received the mission assignment from FEMA to lead in the planning, coordination and integration efforts to execute electrical power grid repair on the island. To that end, it began hiring its own contractors from the mainland. Such agreements are now valued at more than $300 million and will increase further. Prepa, bankrupt before Maria, had not built or maintained its infrastructure to withstand a hurricane.

The Army Corps plays a vital role in U.S. infrastructure, owning and operating dams and levees. But it doesnt generally direct long-term repairs of private, civilian power grids. In Florida, after Irma, the Corps quickly completed an emergency mission to help restore power to shelters, hospitals, and other critical sites, but private power firms remained in charge of the larger repair effort. Before that, whether it was Katrina in New Orleans or Sandy in New York, local power companies, whether for-profit or locally owned, have directed mass-scale post-storm repairs and improvements to their own power grids.

Power companies restore service after a storm through a practice called mutual aid, through which burdened utilities appeal to other utilities for help. After Irma, New Yorks Con Ed went down to Florida, and after Sandy, power crews came to New York and New Jersey from around the country to restore service. Power-company crews are nimble and fast; no one knows how to install a utility pole and string wire better than the people who do it every day. Power companies that help out a stricken counterpart, in turn, are reimbursed for their extra costs by the affected company and, sometimes, by FEMA.

So why hasnt that happened in Puerto Rico? Its not a question of money. Shortly after the storm, FEMA said that it would make 100 percent reimbursements for emergency power restoration. But Prepa, oddly, never asked for help. Support . . . is initiated when the affected utility requests aid, the American Public Power Association, the mutual-aid association of non-profit power companies, said. To date, Prepa has not requested aid . . . rather, it has engaged Whitefish. . . . Communications with Prepa and Whitefish have been difficult. Only this week has Prepa asked for mutual aidbut with the Army Corps in charge, this belated action only raises more questions than it answers.

By contrast, personnel in charge of other critical tasks in Puerto Rico, such as debris removal, managed to marshal help from afar. New York City, for example, sent 50 sanitation workers and building inspectors to the island. The sanitation workers just returned Monday, after three weeks of removing debris. In the U.S. Virgin Islands, heavily hit by both Irma and Maria, power restoration is proceeding through normal channels. The islands power company, Wapa, quickly requested mutual aid. Though Wapa enjoys federal government support, its clear who is in charge: Wapa reports steady progress daily on its website.

Maria was an historic storm, and perhaps extenuating circumstances unique to Puerto Rico justify a radical departure from normal, successful practice. Has the Army Corps determined that Prepa is not up to restoring its own electric grid, as evidenced from the companys dismal prestorm performance? Does the Army Corps thinkimprobablythat it can do this work cheaper and better than expert power companies and their contractors from the mainland? Does the federal government want to keep rebuilt power infrastructure separate from Prepa, so that Prepas pre-storm investors do not benefit from the mass influx of taxpayer aid?

Most, important: with the resources of the federal government behind it, what, exactly, is taking the Army Corps so long? Too many Puerto Ricans remain in the dark, both in the literal sense and when it comes to knowing why the power is still out, and who is really in charge.

Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images
Virginias gubernatorial race was rocked recently by a commercial, paid for by the Latino Victory Fund, depicting a white man trying to run down a group of nonwhite children with his pickup truck. As a black boy and a girl wearing a hijab walk on a peaceful sidewalk, they hear the roar of a turbocharged engine, and a companion yells, Run! The truck, flying the Confederate battle flag, and bearing a dont tread on me Gadsden-flag license plate in front, is otherwise unadorned, except for a gillespie for governor bumper sticker, as its driver aims to slaughter the innocent kids. Ed Gillespie, the Republican candidate in what has become a national bellwether campaign, is presented as the standard-bearer for white racist political violence.

Just a few days after the ad aired, of course, a Muslim terrorist from Uzbekistan drove a truck into a walkway of pedestrians and bicyclists in Manhattan. Sayfullo Saipov was devoted to the triumph of the Islamic State and the preservation of its vanishing caliphate. The Latino Victory Funds anti-Gillespie commercial would have been more accurate if its pickup-truck driver had turned out to be the dad of the little hijabi girl running for her life.

The ad was pulled after yesterdays attack. We knew our ad would ruffle feathers, said Latino Victory Fund president Cristobal Alex, as if congratulating himself. Alex didnt address the cognitive dissonance that his commercial would surely evoke in any informed viewer, or the inversion of reality that is the hallmark of leftist political rhetoric about immigration and the jihadi threat. The Virginia governors race has focused heavily on the immigration debate, with Gillespiewho holds positions somewhat to the left of the national Republican Party on amnesty and reformtaking a firm stance in favor of enforcement against illegal immigrant gang members, including MS-13, which has a strong presence in Virginia. Democratic candidate Lieutenant Governor Ralph Northam has focused his campaign on the blue suburbs of northern Virginia, reaching out especially to the states expanding Asian population.

Casting electoral politics as the old, white America versus the new, vibrant, multiethnic America is a seductive strategy for Democrats, who cant resist looking at actuarial charts and population graphs that show a nonwhite-majority electorate by 2050, at the latest. But as Hillary Clintons disastrous 2016 campaign demonstrated, politicians must be elected by todays voters, not tomorrows. The inevitability strategy backfires, in part because white voters generally dont like being told to expedite and celebrate their coming demise.

The strategy also backfires because rhetoric about the wonders of unfettered immigration meets the reality of horrible terrorism committed by immigrants or their children. The Latino Victory Fundwhose very name suggests ethnic triumphalismtried to cast even mild immigration-restrictionist sentiment as white supremacism, and to depict Charlottesville murderer James Fields as the typical Gillespie voter. But the reality of terrorism in America is that it is widely and correctly associated with political Islam.

Mayor Bill de Blasio and Governor Andrew Cuomo, speaking today at an NYPD press briefing, made predictably fulsome noises about the danger of limiting immigration from areas known as terrorism hotspots. Arguing for perpetuation of the system that allowed Saipov to come to the United States in what amounts to a visa lottery, Cuomo said that even asking questions about the advisability of basing U.S. immigration policy on such games of chance would play into the hands of the terrorists. De Blasio called for careful vetting of individualsbut with disregard for country of origin or religious affiliation.

Its a pleasing fantasy to pretend that everyone is a nascent American, waiting to hatch, but Sayfullo Saipov was carefully vetted. He was apparently radicalized in the United States. It should be plainly evident to anyone not in denial that the United States current immigration system is not doing a good enough job of excluding those who want to do us harm.

Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images
Steve Reed, shadow minister for civil society, has tabled an urgent parliamentary question to ask why charities are not among the 58 sectors consulted on Brexit.

David Davis, Brexit secretary of state, has published a list of 58 sectors which will be used to help structure analytical work on EU exit. The charity sector is not among those listed. Sectors which are mentioned include textiles, crafts and gambling.

Steve Reed, Labour & Co-operative MP for Croydon North, has tabled a question seeking clarity from the Department for Exiting the European Union on why the sector hasnt been consulted.

Commenting on the lack of consultation with the charity sector, Reed said: Although the government have consulted the gambling sector and the crafts industries, they didnt bother asking the voluntary sector. Civil society organisations employ over 2 million people, contribute 12bn to the economy and stand to lose millions in EU funding after Brexit.

The governments complete and utter disregard for the UKs charity sector is breath-taking. When they started cutting public services, they told charities to pick up the pieces. Now, with charity funding drying up, the government doesnt even pretend to be interested in what charities think any more. Its a disgrace.

Reed said the move is the latest blow to a sector which feels increasingly ignored. In just a few months they have "refused to address concerns about the Lobbying Act, downgraded the role of civil society minister, and failed to replace the Charities Advisor at Number 10".

The list was included in a letter to Baroness Verma the chair of the Lords Sub-Committee on EU External Affairs

Introducing the list, Davis said: We estimate that these 58 sectors cover around 88 per cent of the UK economy. A further 10 per cent of the UK economy is imputed rent which is not traded. The remaining areas of the economy include sectors with strong links to other sectors covered, and sectors where the issues are the same as those in other sectors in the list.
Fines levied by the Information Commissioners Office were unfair and unreasonable, a charities lawyer told a conference on fundraising and data protection yesterday.

Lawrence Simanowitz, a partner at law firm Bates Wells Braithwaite, said that he had made a series of requests to the ICO under the Freedom of Information Act, about the basis on which it fined 13 large charities for breaches of data protection law.

In part those fines were based on what ICO said donors reasonable expectations might be about a process where charities researched their data to assess whether they would like to make a gift.

Simanowitz, speaking at the Westminster Social Policy Forum keynote seminar on charity fundraising in London, suggested the decisions about reasonable expectations appeared to be the personal opinions of individuals in the ICO.

The ICO has said that profiling, if you dont have consent, is likely to be unlawful, he said. I dont think thats right. They dont seem to have got that from anywhere.

The ICO, when contacted for comment, referred Civil Society News to a previous speech by the information commissioner, who said in February that wealth screening was "not fair".

"Let me be clear," she said at the time. "Its not that the activity is against the law but failing to properly and clearly tell your donors that youre going to do it, is.

Jury still out on Fundraising Regulator

Simanowitz also said the jury is still out on whether the Fundraising Regulator would deliver its objectives successfully.

He praised some elements of the regulators behaviour, but said that it had not behaved helpfully in the wake of the ICO fines, particularly Lord Michael Grade, the chair.

He said the regulator had not listened to the sector enough at the outset. He also said it treated the sector as if it was guilty and kind of believed the media myths that the problems in fundraising were greater than they actually were.

Sector cannot be complacent

Simanowitz also criticised fundraisers themselves for not monitoring professional firms closely enough, and not recognising that some of them were cowboys. And he said that boards had not been closely enough engaged in the oversight of fundraising.

Its now being taken more seriously, he said. But still maybe not seriously enough.
After three straight years of growth, government-backed lending to small businesses in Nebraska fell slightly this year.

The Small Business Administration said Wednesday that it approved 425 loans worth $145.8 million for existing and start-up businesses in its 2017 fiscal year, which ended Sept. 30.

That was down slightly from 432 loans worth $148.8 million in fiscal year 2016.

SBA Nebraska District Director Leon Milobar described 2017's loan activity as "steady."

The steady pace of SBA loans is a good sign for Nebraska's strong entrepreneurial economy; access to capital is one of the foundations for small businesses trying to start, grow and create new jobs, Milobar said in a news release.

Despite the decline in SBA lending, it still was the fifth-highest total in state history.

There also were some bright spots in the numbers. For example, the number of loans to veteran-owned businesses increased 63 percent, reversing a 20 percent drop in 2016, and the overall percentage of loans that went to businesses in rural areas grew to 30 percent, up from only 25 percent the year before.

Lending for hotels and restaurants rose by more than one-third in 2017, to $33.5 million, making it by far the largest category for SBA loans in the state. The other top categories were construction ($16.5 million); retail trade ($15.6 million); and manufacturing ($14.8 million).

The top SBA lender in the state in 2017 by number of loans was First National Bank of Omaha with 44. Wells Fargo was second, while Lincoln-based banks First State Bank Nebraska and Union Bank & Trust were third and fourth.

The SBA said that the Nebraska-based loans helped create 1,942 jobs in fiscal year 2017 while helping to retain another 3,462 jobs.
Only 4 per cent of the public have heard of the Fundraising Preference Service, a conference heard yesterday.

Speaking at yesterdays Westminster Social Policy Forum keynote seminar on charity fundraising in London, Briony Gunstone, associate director at market research and data analytics firm YouGov, said that only 4 per cent of the public had heard of the FPS, according to a recent survey.

Although she also said that the public had reacted positively to what they heard of the FPS.

She said that of those who took part in YouGovs recent FPS survey, one third of people said that the introduction of the FPS will increase their trust in the overall sector. A quarter of respondents said it would increase their trust in the individual charities that they have contact with. Two fifths of respondents said they would be likely to use the FPS themselves.

Stephen Dunmore, chief executive of the Fundraising Regulator, had earlier told the forum that the FPS has processed over 9,000 suppression requests from over 3,700 indviduals.

Lawrence Simanowitz, charity partner at law firm Bates Wells Braithwaite, was critical of the low numbers of the public who have signed up to its flagship Fundraising Preference Service.

Simanowitz said: I would say that the Fundraising Preference Service, which I agree has been set up extremely well and efficiently, hasnt lived up to expectations. What I mean by that is the numbers, the numbers of people registering with it. Its about 3,000. Thats incredibly low for a service which is dedicated to that, and of which there has been a lot of investment.

Sectors reputation still not recovered

YouGov's research into charity also showed the sectors reputation has not yet recovered following the damage that occurred around 2015 and onwards.

YouGov survey data, which has tracked public opinion on charities for the last four years, showed that between 2013 and 2016 people saying that the sector has a good reputation has fallen from 62 per cent to 41 per cent. And, with a bit of minor fluctuation, its remained roughly around similar levels since then.

The perception that it has higher ethical and moral standards and that its trustworthy have both also declined significantly between 2013 and 2016, and have not yet recovered.
Three members of Unicorn Riot were in a rental car headed to Charlottesville the night before the August 12 white supremacist rally when one of them, Wendy Parker, started getting messages from a source.

Parker was receiving screenshots of real-time communications between alt-right individuals and groups who helped plan the Charlottesville rally. The communications were sent on Discord, a chat app often used by gamers and included a general orders document created by an alt-right organizer, along with audio recordings of a planning meeting ahead of the rally.

That was all brand-new information, and thats when we first heard about the torchlit rally plans, Parker says. Unicorn Riot was among the first media outlets to arrive at the rally, where one member, Chris Schiano, had a camera knocked from his hand and Parker, who got the tip, was shoved, tripped and cursed.

The screenshots kept coming throughout the following days rally and its violent conclusion. After August 12, the same source helped Unicorn Riot gain access to Discords internal logs, which enabled the collective members to better see the scope of plans for the Unite the Right rally. On August 14two days after rally attendee James Fields, Jr., drove his car into a group of counter-protesters, killing one and injuring more than a dozenthe collective published its first story about the Discord logs. Subsequent Unicorn Riot stories included excerpts from pre-rally communications, including some in which people discuss running over counter-protesters with cars.

Wired later credited Unicorn Riots reporting and spoke with attorneys about the value of the Discord communications. Lawyers say the discussions could be useful in the criminal case against James Alex Fields, Jr.or civil lawsuits filed by people injured in the confrontation.

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Since its founding, Unicorn Riot has gained traction among people looking for alternative news sources, primarily by covering protests with the sort of on-the-ground perspectives many mainstream outlets miss. Unicorn Riots coverage is both DIY boot-strap and sophisticated; its news site has an aesthetic somewhere between the zine-quality production of many independent news sources and the slick HBO astroturf of an outlet like Vice.

Though most members of the decentralized media collective live in Minneapolis and Denver, Unicorn Riot uses donations to send them to hotspot protests around the country. Its reporters often stay for the long haulas in Standing Rock, North Dakota, where Unicorn Riot members camped out in the freezing cold for weeks to cover the fight over the Dakota Access Pipeline, reporting that has resulted in Black Snake Killaz, a feature-length film to be released on November 18.

The members of Unicorn Riot attribute the collectives functionality to its structure, which is not hierarchical. There is no chain of command to run a story idea up. Unicorn Riot works on a consensus decision-making model, which gives them the ability to act quickly in the field. It can also slow them down when it comes to agreeing to participate in stories like this one. Often, Unicorn Riot members do not use bylines for their stories, which are made available to other nonprofits via a Creative Commons license. They share equipment: computers and cameras as well as bullet-proof body armor and gas masks. Donations help pay for reporters travel expenses and a small per diem. They are clear about their methods and their goals; they eschew traditional ideas of objectivity while striving for factual accuracy.

Unicorn Riots structure has enabled members to publish dozens of stories on the alt-right without turning their subjects into stars or even normalizing them. While other organizations wrote celebrity profiles that marveled at the sartorial sense of fashion-conscious fascists, Unicorn Riot revealed what the alt-right was talking about when they thought no one was listening.

Charlottesville wasnt Unicorn Riots first experience with the racist right. In November 2015, when the collective covered the Minneapolis protests that followed the killing of Jamar Clark by police, two white supremacists went to the protest at a police precinct looking for Unicorn. On video that the two men filmed on the way to the protest, they showed a handgun (We are locked and loaded) and used racist language.

Hey man, are you Unicorn? one of the men asked Niko Georgiades, a member of the collective. When Georgiades said he was, the man exclaimed, Dude, we found him! Georgiades interviewed the men on camera about why they came to the protest.

A week later, those same men came back to the same protest site. One of them, Lance Scarsella, shot five protesters, wounding them. Georgiades, the Unicorn Riot reporter, was subpoenaed so that his live-streamed interview with the shooter could be admitted into evidence. Georgiades wrote an extensive series of stories about the case. A judge ultimately sentenced Scarsella to 15 years in prison.

UNICORN RIOT WAS AS PREPARED for Charlottesville as anyone. There were three reporters, Schiano, Parker, and Boyle, on the ground during the pitched street battles surrounding Emancipation Park. Most of the rest of the collective worked to process and package some of the ground teams reporting. They seemed to have a particularly good grasp of the dynamics; of course, at the time, no one knew Unicorn Riot was reading the far rights own chats, planning their next moves throughout the day.

After Unicorn Riot obtained the Discord chat logs, Charlottesville became a different kind of work. For Schiano, one of the only members of the collective who works relatively full-time, the logs have made for a ton of shitty work of going over stuff and making sure it is safe to publish.

As other outlets began to run stories on the Discord servers, Unicorn Riot agreed to make the chat logs available to other journalists. Schiano estimates between 12 and 20 other news organizations have used the released files for stories. (A New York Times contributor embedded with a large group of white nationalists on Discord months ahead of the event, but Unicorn Riot published their first story on Discords role in Charlottesville one day ahead of the Times.)

Other media outlets want to benefit from our work but then separate themselves from us and then other us as people who are not real journalists like them, Schiano says. Fortune, for instance, called Unicorn Riot a left-wing activist group.

I think that dynamic gets a little more interesting with the way certain mainstream media journalists or Vice choose to cover fascist movements versus the way we do it, Boyle says. To what degree are you platforming [them]? I think journalists havent been very careful about that and I think theyve done a really good job at making these Nazis celebrities.

Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today

Baynard Woods creates Democracy in Crisis, a column and podcast syndicated in more than 20 alternative weeklies. He is a reporter at the Real News Network, the author of Coffin Point: The Strange Cases of Ed McTeer, Witchdoctor Sheriff, and an adjunct writing professor at Johns Hopkins University.
Googles self-driving car spin-off is accelerating efforts to convince the public that its technology is almost ready to safely transport people without any human assistance at all.

Waymo, hatched from a Google project started eight years ago, showed off its progress Monday during a rare peek at a closely guarded testing facility located 120 miles (193 kilometers) southeast of San Francisco. Thats where its robots complete their equivalent of drivers education.

The tour included giving more than three dozen reporters rides in Chrysler Pacifica minivans traveling through faux neighborhoods and expressways that Waymo has built on a former Air Force base located in the Californian Central Valley city of Atwater.

The minivans smoothly cruised the roads  drivers seat empty and passengers in the back  at speeds of up to 35 mph (56 kph). By contrast, the Waymo-powered minivans that have been driving volunteer riders in the Phoenix area still use safety drivers to take over control if something goes wrong.

But Waymos real goal is to get to the point where people in cars are nothing but passengers.

Waymo CEO John Krafcik told reporters that the company will be making some cars and freight trucks totally driverless fairly soon, though he didnt provide a specific timetable. We are really close, he said. We are going to do it when we feel like we are ready.

Since Google began working on self-driving cars in 2009, dozens of established automakers such as General Motors and Ford Motors have entered the race, along with other big technology companies, including Apple and ride-hailing service Uber. The competition is so fierce and the stakes so high that Waymo is currently suing Uber, alleging that one of its former managers stole its trade secrets and took them with him when he joined Uber in 2016 as part of an elaborate scheme. The trial in that high-profile case is scheduled to begin in early December.

Waymo is hoping to infuse its technology into ride-hailing services such as its current partner, Lyft, and big-rig trucking companies. It also intends to license its automated system to automakers such as Fiat Chrysler Automobile, which is already using it in 100 Pacifica minivans.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Its been five years since Superstorm Sandy caused widespread devastation to the East Coast, causing an estimated $18.75 billion in insured property losses at the time, according to ISOs Property Claim Services (PCS).

In an interview with Claims Journal, Marc Treacy, managing director of flood insurance at ISO, explains how the storm led to improvements in building codes, risk analysis and resilience strategies.

Powered by InsuranceJournal.tv

Treacy said both city planners and insurers can better determine where communities may prove to be the most vulnerable to flooding through improved analytics and less reliance on FEMA flood maps.

What weve started to see over the past five years is better analytics and tools out there for city planners and insurers to start really assessing risk, said Treacy. A lot of the products that are coming out start to utilize big data in order to understand hydrology as well as typography and start to better predict what areas could see flooding in different types of events.

In addition, building codes and enforcement on the East Coast have improved, said Treacy. After Sandy, many municipalities were concerned with protecting residents in areas susceptible to loss and preventing future repetitive losses.

One area that lags is insurance coverage, he said. Sandy revealed a need for a private market solution.

That way clients can get coverage that is more akin to what theyre used within the robust homeowners and commercial property market, as opposed to the traditional NFIP [National Flood Insurance Program], Treacy said.

The sheer force and destruction associated with Superstorm Sandy reinforced the idea of the true exposure for New York and New Jersey, said Treacy. The storm also reinforced the need for better resiliency and improved flood plain management to stop storm surge.

Some resilience strategies that developed as a result of the storm to protect communities from flooding catastrophes in the future include the installation of flood walls and flood venting and establishing building codes to raise coastal structures higher.

Even though Sandy occurred five years ago, lack of preparedness still exists as is evident in Houston, Texas, where flooding impacted so many structures.

On the other hand, Florida is much better prepared for weather catastrophes, Treacy said. The state has the strongest building codes in the nation for hurricane winds. In addition, there is a private market for flood insurance to encourage carriers to offer flood coverage there. Treacy said homeowners with private flood coverage can recover much faster than if their coverage is through the NFIP.

I think, whats its really starting to show as you look at whether its Sandy, Harvey, Irma or Maria; its really showing that insurers learned that they really need better tools to assess risk, assess their accumulation and then be able to handle the losses out there, added Treacy.
Arkansas opened a 45-day comment period Monday on whether highway officials should let motorists drive at higher speeds and within minutes had elicited confessions from drivers who wrote that, while they themselves speed, other drivers are going even faster.

Legislators this year approved raising interstate highway speeds to 75 mph and said motorists on other highways should be allowed to go faster, too, if engineering studies show it can be done safely. The Arkansas Department of Transportation had said previously it appeared higher speed limits would be appropriate, but has now posted its ideas online and will take public comment through Dec. 13.

With the speed limit being 60 I have people passing me when Im driving about 64, looking like theyre driving about 80, a motorist from Hoxie wrote. If you raise the speed limit, people are going to think they need to drive 90 or faster.  Please dont raise it.

Highway department spokesman Danny Straessle said motorists who note in their remarks that they exceed the speed limit wont be prosecuted for their comments: I think they have to be observed by law enforcement for that to happen.

Eleven other states have raised their speed limits to 75 mph, while neighboring Texas and six other states have limits at 80 mph and up. Straessle said those 18 states generally have long stretches of straight, flat roads through unpopulated areas. Much of Arkansas is hilly, with plenty of truck traffic. More than half of the 40,000 vehicles that travel daily between Little Rock and Memphis, Tennessee, are 18-wheelers.

If the limit is raised to 75, they will be going 85-90.  Im on the interstate 3-4 times a week and it feelis like Im in a NASCAR RACE, another motorist wrote.

Straessle said a highway department study showed that 85 percent of the states drivers travel at 71 mph or less in 70 mph zones. Traffic engineers recommend that speed limits be within 5 mph of the 85th percentile speed, according to the state agency.

If the state Highway Commission approves all elements of the plan, limits on urban interstates and rural multi-lane highways would climb to 65 mph in places, while other rural highways could see 60 mph limits.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Colorado businesses will see a large reduction in loss costs associated with workers compensation premiums in 2018, according to the Colorado Division of Insurance (DOI), part of the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA).

The department recently approved a large reduction of 12.7 percent for the average loss costs. While this will be the fourth consecutive year without an increase, and this particular component has been dropping since 2014, it is a significant difference from the 2017 decrease of 2.4 percent.

Loss costs are the average cost of lost wages and medical payments of workers injured during the course of their employment. Factors that may increase workers compensation costs include: frequency, duration of claim, number of treatments for each claim, severity of injury, increasing medical costs and overall costs to cover workers compensation claims.

This decrease is attributed to a number of items. The claims experience  what is paid out in claims  is the biggest driver in bringing down loss costs. And driving down the claims experience is a reduction in the number of claims being filed, going from 25 claims per million in 2001 to 17.8 claims per million in 2015.

The work of employers and their workers also continues to be a force in reducing workers compensation costs. More and more employers with workers compensation insurance are providing appropriate and ongoing safety training. Many also provide strong return-to-work programs, which bring employees back into the work environment sooner, and wellness programs, which can lead to healthier employees in general.

This is good news for employers in Colorado, said Colorado Insurance Commissioner Marguerite Salazar. But this is also good news for employees too. It means that workplace accidents are going down, and when they occur, they are less serious and mean less time off work.

Even with the statewide average loss costs decreasing 12.7 percent, individual employers may see variation in their workers compensation premium, either increases or decreases, based on their particular classification code or industry group.

The National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI), a rating and advisory organization, collects annual data on workers compensation claims for the insurance industry, and publishes loss costs that form the basis for all workers compensation premium determinations. All insurers in Colorado use the NCCI loss costs as a base. Each insurers own expenses are added to the NCCIs loss costs to arrive at the rates charged to employers. This is another aspect of why each employers specific rate change may differ from the -12.7 percent change.

The projected loss cost figures for 2018 were submitted by NCCI to the DOI earlier this year. Independent actuarial consultants were contracted to provide a review of the analysis for all of the industry classes in Colorado. The NCCI filing, the actuarial analysis and any public comments are used by the Commissioner of Insurance to establish the loss costs used for the premium rates for the upcoming year.

To view the NCCI loss cost filing, individual classification codes, reports, and the final order of approval from the Commissioner of Insurance, visit the Divisions Workers Compensation page.

Source: Colorado Department of Insurance

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
The Arizona Supreme Court has declined to review a case involving the deadly Yarnell Hill wildfire that devastated a rural Arizona community in 2013 and killed 19 elite firefighters.

The decision leaves intact the Arizona Court of Appeals ruling seven months ago that the state doesnt have a legal duty to protect property from naturally caused wildfires.

That ruling upheld a trial judges dismissal of two lawsuits filed against the state and its forestry division by homeowners whose property was destroyed.

The decision by the states high court on Oct. 20 came without comment.

A telephone message for an attorney for the Yarnell homeowners wasnt immediately returned Monday evening.

The lightning-started wildfire destroyed about 125 homes in Yarnell and nearby communities about 35 miles (56 kilometers) south of Prescott.

Nineteen members of the Granite Mountain Hotshots firefighting team died in the wildfire. But the lawsuits involved in the March 30 ruling only dealt with private property.

The Arizona Court of Appeals found that adding to the states firefighting efforts a duty to protect private property would require the state to act as an insurer and could cause perverse incentives prompting public officials to try to shield the state from liability by simply doing nothing to fight wildfires.

Such a result is contrary to the overriding needs of the public, Judge Kent Cattani wrote in the ruling by a three-judge panel.

The homeowners in the two lawsuits, including a class-action one, contended the state negligently managed firefighting efforts in the fires early days, negligently failed to protect Yarnell and negligently failed to provide a timely evacuation notice.

But the trial judge and the Court of Appeals agreed with the states argument that it didnt have a duty to protect property when it undertook management of the wildfire.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Morgan Barbours kindergarten teacher banned her from the monkey bars. The 5-year-old had spent so much time on them that her hands blistered, ripped open and bled.

As she grew older, Barbour took full advantage of the familys trampoline, learning to do flips. She also liked to hook ropes to trees to climb them.

Which is really dangerous, the 25-year-old actress and movement choreographer said. You really should not rig things to trees, but I was 12. I didnt know that.

When she was in fifth grade, her teacher was a retired professional clown, who incorporated circus routines into the curriculum.

We would have juggling breaks throughout the day, she said. I learned how to unicycle and how to tumble and that kind of sparked an interest in circus and clowning in general.

Then, as an undergraduate at Virginia Commonwealth University, Barbour had another clown as a movement teacher.

He could do things with his body that I hadnt even considered physically possible, she said. For part of his act, he would flip upside down and hang by his toes off a ladder.

Then, a year and two weeks ago, Barbour took her first class in performing on a lyra, and all those years of climbing, tumbling and clowning finally came together for her inside a metal aerial hoop.

I had this crazy revelation, she said. Thats pretty much what Ive been performing on and choreographing on ever since.

Ive done theater my whole life. Ive written a lot and done a lot of performance, but Ive never felt anything click quite that much as that did. Its been a strange, yearlong love affair.

Which she will share with Lincoln audiences over the next three weeks. The Nebraska Repertory Theatre hired Barbour as its guest artist and movement director for its production of Jean-Claude van Itallies groundbreaking improvisational theater piece, The Serpent.

Directed by University of Nebraska-Lincoln theater professor Wesley Broulik, The Serpent explores the Book of Genesis. Most of the piece is choreographed movement and pantomime -- hence Barbours involvement -- and includes human sounds and music made by bells, horns, whistles, tambourines and other hand-held instruments.

I feel like its a piece of theater thats unlike anything a lot of theater audiences have seen, Barbour said. It is very abstract. Its not a traditional Western narrative. It doesnt have a beginning, middle or end. But it does pull from stories and real life events that I think will resonate with audiences.

The Serpent is part of the revived Reps season under new artistic director Andrew Park focusing on revisiting classics in new and different ways. Van Itallie wrote the performance piece in collaboration with Joseph Chaikins Open Theater in New York City. It premiered in Rome at the Teatro del Arte on May 2, 1968. It was created to question the origins of evil and came during a volatile time in Americas history.

When Andy asked me if I wanted to do it, I said Oh golly, I guess, Broulik said. I was intimidated by it, to be honest. Its a timely and historical piece. It blew everybody away back in 1968. Its a juggernaut of the theater landscape.

Broulik knew he couldnt do the piece the way Open Theater did.

The show in 1968 was groundbreaking, but if we did it the way they did it, the audience would be bored, he said. Weve moved so far since then.

Thats why Broulik brought in Barbour. She was a student at VCU when Broulik taught there and had kept up with her career. She currently is a London-based actor, aerialist, movement director and writer. Shes finishing up her masters degree at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama.

This past summer, Barbour worked as movement director and played the role of Puck in Brouliks production of A Midsummer Nights Dream for the Saratoga (New York) Shakespeare Company.

The Serpent will feature Barbour and other Rep actors, schooled by Barbour, on lyras.

(The actors) have had their lives changed by this, Broulik said. Five weeks they hadnt seen a lyra let alone know how to spell it. How far theyve come in this short amount of time is amazing. Morgan is patient, giving and forgiving. Shes been wonderful to work with.

Barbour is excited for Lincoln audiences to see the show.

Im calling it Cirque du Soleil light, she said. Its a lot of crazy tumbling, lots of crazy acro-dance moves and lots of aerial hoops work. I feel like at the bare minimum, itll be a really interesting hourlong spectacle movement piece.
Dear Food Doc: I have three questions:

1. A recipe calls for "roasted" walnuts, almonds or other nut. How is the flavor affected if I add nuts without roasting them?

There is a simple reason why nuts are usually roasted. Namely, they taste better. There is also a more technical reason to explain this phenomenon. Specifically, when protein-rich foods are heated in the presence of a small amount of sugar, they react chemically to form the characteristic brown color and a roasted aroma and flavor.

This chemical reaction is called the Maillard reaction, described more than 100 years ago by the French scientist, Louis Camille Maillard. Initially, Maillard was interested in the medical implications of this reaction. Many years later, food scientists realized the culinary importance of the Maillard reaction. The rest, as they say, is history.

Long before we understood the biochemistry, the heat-induced formation of color and flavor was probably one of the main reasons, along with preservation, why humans started cooking food. The reaction occurs in a wide range of foods. Examples include grilled meats, fried chicken, toasted bread, and my favorite, dark roasted coffee. The color of beer is based on the extent to which the malt is roasted, and the crust on bread is all about the Maillard reaction.

Not all Maillard reaction flavors are the same. There are hundreds of specific compounds produced, depending on the starting material. Some are sweet, meaty, or burnt whereas others, like popcorn or almonds, have a characteristic roasted nut flavor.

In culinary practices, the Maillard reaction requires high heat, usually above 300 F (150 C). Foods cooked at lower temperatures may still brown and generate typical Maillard flavors, but it takes longer. Thats why you often see the cooking show chefs using rather high heat to sear meats and brown onions.

The other key requirement of the Maillard reaction is moderate dryness. Meat cooked in broth will not brown or develop roasted flavor. Same with nuts. If you put the raw nuts into a brownie batter, they will not develop much flavor.

This is also why microwave foods do not brown as well. The microwave works by heating water inside the food, rather than by heating food at the surface.

Note that caramelization reactions also generate color and flavor, but this reaction involves only sugars, not protein. That being said, it is possible for both caramelization and Maillard reactions to occur in the same food. Indeed, this time of year, as you enjoy that second or third slice of pumpkin pie, you can thank Louis Maillard.

2. Can salmonella be contracted from eggshells?

Salmonella is one of the most frequent causes of foodborne disease. Undercooked poultry and eggs are among the more common foods implicated in Salmonella outbreaks.

Salmonella can indeed contaminate the shell. However, they can even get inside by diffusing through small pores in the shell or they can be transmitted into the egg as its formed inside the chicken.

Improvements in sanitation and hygiene have reduced contamination of eggs to about 1 in 10,000. However, more than 100 billion eggs are consumed annually in the U.S. This means a lot of eggs could potentially contain Salmonella. The FDA estimates that nearly 80,000 cases of foodborne illness are caused by eating Salmonella-contaminated eggs.

The FDA advises consumers to keep eggs cold and not to use them if they are cracked or dirty. Eggs should be cooked until yolk and whites are firm. Never eat raw eggs. For recipes like egg nog or salad dressing, pasteurized-in-the-shell eggs are now widely available.

3. I often use boxed broth in cooking. Some brands recommend that the broth be used within two weeks after being opened. Is there a danger in using broth that has been in the refrigerator for more than two weeks? I usually date the box when I open it at first use.

The two-week recommendation is reasonable, although a few extra days in the fridge would be fine. Alternatively, broths are easy to freeze, and can then be used at your convenience.
The suspect in the Manhattan terror attack that killed eight people and injured 17 others Tuesday was stopped four times for trucking violations in Nebraska, court records show.

Sayfullo H. Saipov, a 29-year-old immigrant from Uzbekistan who came to the U.S. legally in 2010, was a commercial truck driver who formed a pair of businesses in Ohio. He had also driven for Uber.

He was ticketed by the Nebraska State Patrol on Feb. 4 for having an overweight truck in Cass County, according to court records. A resident of Tampa, Florida, at the time, Saipov paid the $75 fine via the internet June 20.

Three years ago, Saipov was fined $50 in Lincoln County for failing to stop and weigh.

In October 2011, state troopers ticketed Saipov in Cass County for driving more than 11 hours in a 14-hour period. He paid a $50 fine.

And he also was ticketed Dec. 4 that year for carrying an overweight load through the state and fined $150. At that time, he listed a Fort Myers, Florida, address.

On Tuesday, Saipov used a rented truck to plow down people on a bike path near the World Trade Center, brandishing air guns and yelling "God is great" in Arabic, authorities said. He was in critical condition but expected to survive after a police officer shot him in the abdomen following the attack.

News of Saipovs tickets in Nebraska was first reported by the Omaha World-Herald.
U.S. President Donald Trump will not go to the heavily fortified demilitarized zone (DMZ) on the border of North Korea and South Korea during his Asia trip, a senior administration official said on Tuesday.

"The president is not going to visit the DMZ. There is not enough time in the schedule," the official told reporters in a background briefing.

Instead, Trump will be the first American president to visit Camp Humphreys, a military installation south of the South Korean capital of Seoul.

"We thought that would make more sense in terms of its messaging, in terms of the chance to address families and troops there," the official said.

U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis visited the demilitarized zone that divides the Korean Peninsula last week and Vice President Mike Pence made the same trip in April.

The official, speaking on customary condition of anonymity in briefing reporters, noted the two Trump administration forays to the zone.

"It's becoming a little bit of a cliche, frankly," the official said.

Trump leaves for his first trip to Asia this week and is expected to arrive on November 5 in Tokyo.

Separately, two U.S. officials said a decision may be made for the three aircraft carriers currently in the Asia Pacific region to carry out an exercise to coincide with Trump's trip.

The officials said no decision had been made, but it would be the first exercise with three U.S. aircraft carriers in the region since 2007.

A senior State Department official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the buildup of naval forces was part of the military component of the Trump administration's strategy to put "maximum pressure" on North Korea, which includes sanctions and diplomatic isolation.

Earlier on Tuesday, the State Department welcomed a decision by China and South Korea to resume normal ties after a year-long standoff over a decision by Seoul and Washington to deploy a missile defense system to counter North Korea's nuclear program.

Correction: This article has been updated to reflect when Trump is expected to arrive in Tokyo.
A digital invoice finance platform in the U.K. will provide business loans to its customers for the first time, it was announced Wednesday.

Financial technology company MarketInvoice enables businesses to sell their unpaid invoices to provide working capital.

The firm said it would expand into the business lending market, pitting it against established players such as U.S. listed peer-to-peer lender LendingClub and Britain's Funding Circle. The latter raised 82 million ($100 million) in funding from venture capital investors earlier this year.

Peer-to-peer lenders connect lenders to borrowers through an online platform. Businesses apply for a loan and are matched with an investor. They then repay the loan to the peer-to-peer platform, which is then distributed to the investors.

CEO and co-founder Anil Stocker told CNBC that MarketInvoice will take advantage of an incoming European Union regulation called the Second Payment Services Directive (PSD2), which forces banks to open up data about their customers to third party companies.

"PSD2 is a regulatory change that is going to be a real catalyst for us because we're able to get access to SME (small to medium-sized enterprise) customer information," Stocker said in a phone interview Tuesday.

"We can use things like machine learning and artificial intelligence to build better credit scores with this data. I think the banks are starting to realize that this world they've had guarded around customer data for so long, now it's starting to open up."
Popular workplace messaging service Slack suffered a massive outage late Tuesday evening, leaving users around the world unable to send or receive messages and files.

The service failed around 7 p.m. ET and partially resumed by 9:13 p.m. ET. At that time, the company said some users were able to successfully connect to the messaging app, but cautioned the issue is not yet fully fixed.

Slack tweet: We're hearing reports of successful connections. Things should slowly be returning to normal but we're not fully out of the woods just yet.

At about 9:35 p.m. ET, the company updated its status page, saying all users should be able to use the messaging app again.

The company also apologized for the disruption and thanked users for their patience.

Slack tweet: We're sincerely sorry for the service disruption you're seeing at the moment. We're working on it with top priority.

Slack tweet: It's smooth sailing again. Everyone should be able to connect to Slack. Thank you for your time and patience, we know how precious both are.

Slack has about 9 million weekly active users and is a popular mode of communication among many Silicon Valley firms, Fortune 100 companies and media organizations. On its website, Slack says it has more than 50,000 paying companies that use the service.

The messaging app raised $250 million in a funding round led by Japanese tech giant SoftBank in September. That put the company's overall valuation at $5.1 billion.

Users took to social media to complain about the service disruption. In true internet fashion, the memes and the jokes soon followed:

Rachel Heine: tfw you wanna slack your coworkers a funny tweet about Slack being down, but SLACK IS DOWN!!

Thomas Fuchs: Is IRC still a thing? Where do people go when Slack is down?

Matt Pearce: Whichever newsroom refused to add Slack, like Battlestar Galactica, is going to conquer us all tonight.

Dima Spivak: Slack is down and I don't know how to complain to my coworkers about it.

Matthew Patterson: For remote companies, #slack going down is like
Authorities have identified a suspect in the New York City terrorist attack as 29-year-old Sayfullo Habibullaevic Saipov, NBC News has learned.

An Uzbek national who entered the U.S. in 2010, Saipov is believed to be the man who killed eight people and injured more than 12 in lower Manhattan on Tuesday.

Driving a rented Home Depot pickup truck, the suspect collided with bicyclists, pedestrians and a school bus before exiting the vehicle and pulling out a pellet gun and a paintball gun, police said. The suspect claimed his action was done for ISIS, according to a note law enforcement officials found in the truck, WNBC reported.

After being shot in the abdomen by a police officer, the suspect is currently at a hospital, where he refused to answer an initial round of questions, according to NBC News.

Saipov was an Uber driver and passed the app's background check, according to an Uber statement, the Associated Press reported. The ride-hailing firm is "aggressively and quickly reviewing" the suspect's history with the company, the Associated Press said.

President Donald Trump has called the incident a "terrorist attack." New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has said there's no evidence to suggest a wider threat or plot.
London may be known as the banking capital of the world, but it's upstart financial services app Monzo that lands atop this list of the U.K. start-ups attracting the most talent. The mobile-only bank leads LinkedIn's inaugural Top Companies | Startups list for the U.K. To determine this list, LinkedIn's data team analyzed billions of searches by the site's more than 500 million members, considering employee growth, job seeker interest and engagement with the company on the platform, as well as how well these upstarts were able to attract talent away from the established players on LinkedIn's Top Companies list.

The ranking includes familiar names like Airbnb, WeWork and Uber as well as financial service providers and an app that makes it easier for doctors to prep for surgery. Read on for the 10 most attractive start-up employers in the U.K.: 10. Touch Surgery Global headcount: 135 The training app for surgeons offers more than 100 simulations of different procedures so students and healthcare professionals can view surgeries and prepare to perform them. 9. Babylon Health Global headcount: 260 Valuation: $200 million Babylon provides a mobile app that allows users to talk to doctors through a voice or video call. A chatbot performs virtual triage, screening symptoms to determine if patients should head to the ER.

Babylon Health home screen Source: Babylon Health

8. Funding Circle Global headcount: 750 Valuation: $1 billion The business loan provider offers staff a "Funderbar" serving food and drinks daily.

Funding Circle

7. Uber Global headcount: 16,000 Valuation: $68 billion The ride-sharing juggernaught lost its license to operate in London earlier this year but is appealing the ruling and continues to attract top talent. Uber gives employees monthly credits to use on rides or UberEATS deliveries.

A man holds an Apple iPad Mini as he uses the Uber app on October 6, 2017, in Hong Kong. Goldman Sachs believes "wealthy Asian capitals" will likely become epicenters of ride-hailing growth, predicting that the number of cars on the road will peak in 2030 and that the ride-hailing will grow eightfold by then. studioEAST | Getty Images News | Getty Images

6. Airbnb Global headcount: 3,000 Valuation: $29.25 billion Airbnb employees are awarded $2,000 annually to stay in the company's getaways around the world, including more than 1,400 castles. 5. Deliveroo Global headcount: 2,674 Valuation: $2 billion According to LinkedIn, founder Will Shu delivers one of the company's food packages personally each week to so that he can gain insight into challenges the company's delivery staff may be facing.

A food delivery cycle courier waits for orders from Deliveroo, operated by Roofoods, in London, U.K., on Dec. 22, 2016. Simon Dawson | Bloomberg | Getty Images

4. Improbable Global headcount: 221 Valuation: $1 billion True to its name, cloud company Improbable "did the near impossible earlier this year," according to LinkedIn, raising a $502 million Series B. 3. WeWork Global headcount: 3,000 Valuation: $20 billion WeWork hosts a company-wide camp each summer  a perk for employees and members. This year's event was held in Eridge Park, south of London.

A man enter the doors of the 'WeWork' co-operative co-working space on March 13, 2013 in Washington, DC. Mandel Ngan | AFP | Getty Images
A man enter the doors of the 'WeWork' co-operative co-working space in Washington, DC.

A man holds an Apple iPad Mini as he uses the Uber app on October 6, 2017, in Hong Kong. Goldman Sachs believes "wealthy Asian capitals" will likely become epicenters of ride-hailing growth, predicting that the number of cars on the road will peak in 2030 and that the ride-hailing will grow eightfold by then. studioEAST | Getty Images News | Getty Images

The list includes familiar consumer favorites like Airbnb, Lyft and Glossier as well as companies that want to change how you search for, finance and decorate a home and a number of cybersecurity companies. Read on for the 25 most attractive start-up employers in the U.S.: 25. CrowdStrike Global headcount: 760 Valuation: $1.01 billion According to LinkedIn, CrowdStrike was the first cybersecurity company to make accusations against Russia related to the Democratic National Committee email hack leading up to the 2016 election. 24. Cylance

Stuart McClure, CEO of Cylance Gary Friedman | Los Angeles Times | Getty Images

Global headcount: 805 Valuation: $984 million Cylance helps protect companies from malware attacks. After founder and CEO Stuart McClure had a near-death experience on a flight to Australia in 1989, he made it his life's word to "find and fix the problems introduced by technology to prevent bad stuff from happening to innocent people," he tells LinkedIn. 23. Cybereason Global headcount: 325 Valuation: $999 million There is such a thing as a free lunch  at least at Cybereason. In addition to that midday perk the cybersecurity company offers unlimited vacation, commuter reimbursement and employee referral bonuses up to $5,000. 22. Opendoor Global headcount: 415 Valuation: $1 billion Opendoor buys homes directly and resells it, powered by its own mortgage business. New hires function as secret shoppers as a way to learn about the company's app by posing as potential buyers.

21. Blend Global headcount: 200 Valuation: $500 million Blend makes digital tools for mortgage lenders and tells LinkedIn that its clients control about a quarter of the $10 trillion mortgage lending industry. 20. G2 Crowd Global headcount: 120 Valuation: $300 million G2 Crowd provides a quarter of a million verified user reviews of enterprise software, and doesn't sell ads. The company anticipates having 130 job openings in the coming year. 19. Udacity

Udacity educational support specialists Rachel Meltzer and Paul Montgomery provide online university-level tutoring at the Udacity office in Mountain View, California. Ann Hermes | The Christian Science Monitor | Getty Images

Global headcount: 500 Valuation: $877 million The skills-focused platform recently launched a scholarship in partnership with Lyft for an "Intro to Self-Driving Cars" program, in an attempt to make it easier for workers to enter the field. 18. Duo Security Global headcount: 500 Valuation: $1.17 billion The Michigan-based cybersecurity company has a strict "no jerks" policy. 17. GRAIL Global headcount: 250 Valuation: $1 billion GRAIL wants to detect cancer as early as possible, when it can still be cured. It's picked up $1 billion in funding from the likes of future-focused billionaires Bill Gates and Jeff Bezos. 16. Pinterest

Pinterest screen on a mobile phone Source: Pinterest

Global headcount: 1,690 Valuation: $10.45 billion To ensure that the social network keeps innovating, the company launched Pinterest Labs earlier this year, bringing together researchers, scientists, engineers and universities to tackle challenges in machine learning and A.I. 15. Aryaka Networks Global headcount: more than 300 Total funding: $120 million The hardware-free telecom company has the longest average employee tenure of any company on the list, according to LinkedIn  2.7 years. 14. Flexport Global headcount: 500 Valuation: $910 million To help ensure that staffers from different parts of the company get to know each other the company holds a regular "lunch roulette," matching employees who don't see each other on a daily basis. 13. Glossier

Source: Glossier

Global headcount: 130 Valuation: $34.4 million According to LinkedIn, Glossier was the fastest growing company, staff-wise, to make this list, with an annual employee growth rate of 257 percent. 12. Stripe Global headcount: 810 Valuation: $9.2 billion Stripe's technology makes it possible for businesses to instantly accept online payments. 11. General Assembly

Source: General Assembly

Global headcount: 580 Valuation: $452 million Want to get ahead? Apply to work at General Assembly. The company told LinkedIn it promoted 136 employees in the first half of 2017  25 percent of its staff. 10. Convoy Global headcount: 170 Valuation: $80 million Founded in 2015, Convoy matches trucks with shipments to make the freight-moving process more efficient. The company has grown its staff 37 percent in the past six months, and has 28 jobs posted right now. 9. Houzz

Houzz

Global headcount: 1,600 Valuation: $3.84 billion Houzz employees receive a pair of company slippers on their first day at the online remodeling and decorating platform so they can feel right at home at the office. 8. Dropbox Global headcount: 1,900 Valuation: $9.38 billion Dropbox employees are each given 32 hours off per year to volunteer for a cause they're committed to, and the company will match as much as $1,000 in charitable donations made by staff. 7. Rubrik Global headcount: 600 Valuation: $1.3 billion NBA MVP Kevin Durant is one of Rubrik's investors and board advisors. The company is so committed to transparency that all 600 employees attend board meetings and view financial statements. 6. NIO

Nio 2: A close-up of the Nio EP9, the fastest self-driving car, at the SXSW Festival in Austin, Texas, on March 11, 2016. Michelle Castillo | CNBC

Global headcount: 440 Valuation: $2.89 billion The electric and autonomous vehicle maker has "more than quadrupled its staff since June 2016," according to LinkedIn. Twice a month employees participate in activities like trivia and scavenger hunts to welcome and get to know new hires. 5. Slack Global headcount: 890 Valuation: $5.1 billion Slack says that it's the "fastest-growing business application in history," with nine million active weekly users and 43 Fortune 100 companies as clients. According to LinkedIn the company has grown 32 percent over the last year. 4. Lyft

Lyft LED taxi light Source: Lyft

Global headcount: 2,000 Valuation: $11 billion Lyft has been working hard to make its technology more accessible to deaf or hearing-impaired drivers, introducing visual notifications, a message instructing passengers to contact the driver by text and quick tutorials for riders on how to say "hello" and "thank you" in American Sign Language. 3. WeWork Global headcount: 3,000 Valuation: $20 billion New hires of the co-working space provider join each Monday and participate in a city-wide scavenger hunt across the company's 40 New York City buildings. 2. Airbnb

An increase in U.S.-based bookings in early June is a sign that in post-Covid world travelers will "want housing they have control over," according to an early Airbnb investor. Martin Bureau | Getty Images
UNL Chancellor Ronnie Green accused a trio of state senators of using "falsehoods and distortions" in their ongoing dispute with university leaders over an August confrontation between a student and several faculty and graduate students.

Green sent a letter Tuesday to all 49 members of the Nebraska Legislature saying the University of Nebraska-Lincoln will not be politicized and will not be used as a pawn.

The message came in response to an opinion piece by first-year Sens. Steve Erdman of Bayard, Tom Brewer of Gordon and Steve Halloran of Hastings, which appeared in the Hastings Tribune over the weekend and has since been published by the Journal Star.

The piece posed questions about this summer's on-campus incident involving members of UNL's English Department faculty and second-year student Kaitlyn Mullen, who was recruiting for the conservative group Turning Point USA.

Among other things, the senators asked whether the university is "hostile" toward conservative students, and if its administration can "conduct an honest investigation when a conservative student is involved."

They also asked, "Does anyone teach English anymore at UNL?"

NU President Hank Bounds also responded to the piece, telling Erdman, Brewer and Halloran in an email that he was disappointed they hadn't called him to discuss their concerns before it published.

I dont relish the prospect of a public dispute with members of the Legislature, Bounds wrote. Unfortunately, no one contacted me to discuss your questions before the piece was sent to the media, even though senators have my cell phone number and email address.

And when factors are misrepresented to the degree that they have been in this case, Im going to speak up, he added.

Some conservatives, including the three senators, have criticized the university's handling of the August incident since soon after it happened.

Video of Courtney Lawton, a graduate teaching assistant in UNLs English Department, referring to Mullen as a neo-fascist circulated quickly on conservative social media circles, as did a photo of associate professor Amanda Gailey holding a sign that read Turning Point: Please put me on your watchlist.

Gailey, who approached Mullen after the student became visibly upset, said her sign was a show of solidarity for other faculty listed on the Professor Watchlist, a website that lists faculty its moderators claim discriminate against conservative students.

UNL interviewed everyone involved in the incident, which lasted about 20 minutes, and reviewed security footage from a camera mounted outside the Nebraska Union.

Following the review, and in the midst of a wave of angry phone calls and emails to the university, UNL removed Lawton from teaching duties, citing safety reasons.

No action against other employees was taken in early September.

Although they dont list the sources of their information in the opinion piece, Erdman, Brewer and Halloran said recent developments related to the incident raised questions about UNLs treatment of conservative students on its campus, namely:

* "Are professors at UNL hostile toward conservative students?"

* "Are university administrators warm, welcoming, inviting and transparent toward conservative students?"

* "Can the universitys administration conduct an honest investigation when a conservative student is involved?"

* "Can anyone at the University tell the truth about free speech zones on campus?"

* "Does anyone teach English anymore at UNL?"

The opinion piece says Green and three other administrators met with Mullen on Oct. 23 to review the findings of UNLs investigation. Feeling outnumbered and intimidated, Ms. Mullen insisted on bringing her own attorney to the meeting, the senators wrote.

The senators also accused the university of removing 10 minutes of footage from the Nebraska Union video, attributing an explanation to Green that the camera suddenly stopped filming in that particular location and jumped to another area of the campus.

I find your falsehoods and distortions defamatory and an egregious breach of the trust that Nebraskans put in each of us, Green wrote in his response.

In recapping the incident, Green said an employee who directed Mullen to move to an area away from the union, under a policy governing where groups not affiliated with the university can put up table displays, erroneously used the phrase free speech zones.

Because Turning Point USA was not affiliated with the university in any way, the employee was simply trying to enforce a policy, and in that, he used an inaccurate phrase, Green said. We have repeatedly made clear since August 25 that we welcome free speech across our campuses. There were no statements retracted or changed.

The chancellor also said assertions made by the state senators regarding the Oct. 23 meeting between several administrators and Mullen are untrue.

Green said he invited Mullen to review findings of the universitys investigation in a transparent and comfortable setting, for informational purposes only.

Administrators asked that the meeting not be recorded, Green said, so the meeting would not provide content for national organizations to mischaracterize and use to promote their agendas."

UNL also would not communicate disciplinary action against any employees, Green said, although it did make expressly clear to Mullen and the public that the behavior of one employee during the Aug. 25 incident was inappropriate.

He also rebuked the senators charge about the mysteriously missing 10 minutes of tape, saying the camera automatically adjusts where it is pointing on a regular basis to provide a comprehensive view of the area.

The senators also complained about several politically charged signs that were photographed in the English Department's graduate student offices. Green said those signs have been removed.

To put all of this in perspective, the genesis of your letter appears to be one 20-minute interaction at the university that we appropriately addressed, Green wrote. Portrayals that the August 25 interaction is the norm are simply not true, and such falsehoods and baseless accusations are clearly not in the best interest of Nebraskans or of their University.

Green, Bounds and the Board of Regents have all said they were upset with Lawton's behavior.

This wont be the only time we fall short," Bounds wrote this week. We have work to do in becoming a more welcoming place for all of our 53,000 students and 16,000 employees."

He challenged the senators stated reasons for publishing the piece, asking if it was a sincere effort to move the university and state forward, or to serve a personal political agenda.

The university has faced financial pressure from lawmakers as state government deals with an ongoing budget crunch. Campus leaders are working to close a $49 million budget gap as a result.

And Erdman, who was among the university's most persistent critics during the budget debate, plans to pursue $1.1 billion in property tax cuts during next year's legislative session.

Meanwhile, NU is convening a task force to examine the systems policies governing free expression and facilities use to ensure they are clear and consistent, and Bounds will sponsor a speaker series this year centered on unconscious bias.

Bounds also defended the teaching and research faculty for its work across all areas  the thousands of stories of teaching, research and services to the people of Nebraska that arent being told because were still talking about an isolated incident that is being used to advance a political agenda.

Im asking you to join my colleagues and I at the University of Nebraska in advancing the Governors goal to grow our state for the future, Bounds wrote. The next generation is watching.
Using the so-called "New York channel," Joseph Yun, U.S. negotiator with North Korea, has been in contact with diplomats at Pyongyang's United Nations mission, the official said, at a time when an exchange of bellicose insults between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has fueled fears of military conflict.

The United States is quietly pursuing direct diplomacy with North Korea , a senior State Department official said on Tuesday, despite U.S. President Donald Trump's public assertion that such talks are a waste of time.

While U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on Oct. 17 said he would continue "diplomatic efforts ... until the first bomb drops," the official's comments were the clearest sign the United States was directly discussing issues beyond the release of American prisoners, despite Trump having dismissed direct talks as pointless.

There is no sign, however, that the behind-the-scenes communications have improved a relationship vexed by North Korea's nuclear and missile tests, the death of U.S. university student Otto Warmbier days after his release by Pyongyang in June and the detention of three other Americans.

Word of quiet engagement with Pyongyang comes despite Trump's comments, North Korea's weapons advances and suggestions by some U.S. and South Korean officials that Yun's interactions with North Koreans had been reined in.

"It has not been limited at all, both (in) frequency and substance," said the senior State Department official.

Among the points that Yun has made to his North Korean interlocutors is to "stop testing" nuclear bombs and missiles, the official said.

North Korea this year conducted its sixth and most powerful nuclear detonation and has test-fired a volley of missiles, including intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) that, if perfected, could in theory reach the United States mainland.

The possibility that Pyongyang may be closer to attaching a nuclear warhead to an ICBM has alarmed the Trump administration, which in April unveiled a policy of "maximum pressure and

engagement" that has so far failed to deter North Korea.

NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg has urged all United Nations members to fully and transparently implement sanctions against North Korea, which he said has emerged as a global threat.

Speaking at the United Nations on Sept. 19, Trump vowed to "totally destroy" North Korea if it threatened the United States or its allies, raising anxieties about the possibility of military conflict.

Twelve days later, after Tillerson said Washington was probing for a diplomatic opening, Trump said on Twitter that his chief diplomat was "wasting his time trying to negotiate with Little Rocket Man" - his mocking nickname for the North Korean leader.

Democratic U.S. senators introduced a bill on Tuesday they said would prevent Trump from launching a nuclear first strike on North Korea on his own, highlighting the issue days before the Republican's first presidential trip to Asia.

'Broader mandate' for diplomacy

At the start of Trump's presidency, Yun's instructions were limited to seeking the release of U.S. prisoners.

"It is (now) a broader mandate than that," said the official, declining, however, to address whether authority had been given to discuss North Korea's nuclear and missile program.

The New York channel is one of the few conduits the United States has for communicating with North Korea, which has itself made clear it has little interest in serious talks before it develops a nuclear-tipped missile capable of hitting the continental United States.

The last high-level contact between Yun and the North Koreans was when he traveled to North Korea in June to secure the release of Warmbier, who died shortly after he returned home in a coma, the official said.

The Trump administration has demanded North Korea release three other U.S. citizens: missionary Kim Dong Chul and academics Tony Kim and Kim Hak Song.

Warmbier's death was a factor in the chilling of U.S.-North Korean contacts around that time but the biggest impact came from Pyongyang's stepped-up testing, the official said.

The official said, however, that "the preferred endpoint is not a war but some kind of diplomatic settlement" and suggestions that Washington is setting up a binary choice for Pyongyang to capitulate diplomatically or military action were "misleading."

Diplomacy, the official said, "has a lot more room to go."

But Trump's threats against North Korea are believed to have complicated diplomatic efforts.
Wal-Mart is gearing up for the holiday season this year with plans to invest even more in the in-store shopping experience. For Wal-Mart, that means parties.

The big-box retailer plans to hold more than 20,000 parties at its stores over the next two months, with the first event, called "Toys That Rock," taking place nationwide this Saturday.

Wal-Mart's other events will include "Parties That Rock" and "Gifts That Rock," where attendees can receive curated gift guides and toy catalogs. Its overarching holiday marketing campaign this year is dubbed "Rock This Christmas," the company announced Wednesday.

"While we're shipping a whole lot of advertising to the omnichannel experience, we don't want to let the store experience get lost in that," Tony Rogers, chief marketing officer of Wal-Mart U.S., said on a call with members of the media.

"We are investing in [stores] this year more than we ever have," Rogers said. "It's the most we've done in stores."

Wal-Mart made a significant push in 2016 to make its supercenters easier and more festive to shop in, bringing in "holiday helpers" for the first time and upping its amount of live toy demonstrations for kids and their parents.

This year, Wal-Mart is adding more holiday helpers, which guide shoppers to checkout lines, open additional registers during busy hours and fetch items from around the stores. The retailer will also increase the number of toy demos in stores to 165,000, and bring Santa Claus in again for selfies.

In another push, Arkansas-based Wal-Mart is expanding the number of items on sale this holiday season, both in stores and online. The company will triple its online assortment, according to Scott Hilton, chief revenue officer of Wal-Mart's U.S. e-commerce division. And more Wal-Mart shoppers are expected to ring up purchases online prior to picking them up in stores, Hilton said.

Wal-Mart this year will sell items from national brands that were not previously available, like Cuisinart, KitchenAid, Yankee Candle, and Bose in select stores and on Walmart.com. The company is calling for "more exclusives than ever before."

"This is our first holiday season with [free] two-day shipping [on orders over $35], and an expanded online grocery assortment," said Steve Bratspies, chief merchandising officer of Wal-Mart's U.S. team. "It's the biggest and best year, yet, when it comes to merchandise."

Retail rival Target announced its holiday plans last month, which include rolling out a "GiftNow" option online, Weekend Deals, 1,400 new and exclusive toys, and free shipping running from Nov. 1 to Dec. 23.

Best Buy will also remove its free-shipping threshold of $35 through the holidays, as the electronics retailer expands same-day delivery to more markets.

Wal-Mart, though, is sticking to its $35 minimum for free shipping on online orders. The world's largest retailer also sat out of such a promotion  ditching a threshold, like Target and Best Buy  last year. In turn, Wal-Mart expects shoppers to either meet the $35 requirement, or make use of order online, pickup in store.

Wal-Mart has what it calls a Pickup Discount, which encourages customers with savings to shop online-only items, shipping them to a Wal-Mart store for free pickup.
Nearly 100 years ago, Albert Einstein shared his theory of happiness with the world, stating: "A calm and modest life brings more happiness than the pursuit of success combined with constant restlessness." Even still, only a third of today's Americans report feeling happy, according to the 2017 Harris Poll Survey of American Happiness. But in a TED Talk held earlier this year, writer and positive psychology instructor at University of Pennsylvania Emily Esfahani Smith argued that despite our culture's obsession with the pursuit of personal happiness, understanding your meaning in life is the secret to your resilience and success. "Many psychologists define happiness as a state of comfort and ease, feeling good in the moment. Meaning, though, is deeper," Smith said. Citing psychologist Martin Seligman, she pointed out that "meaning comes from belonging to and serving something beyond yourself and from developing the best within you."

"Everyone said the path to happiness was success, so I searched for that ideal job, that perfect boyfriend, that beautiful apartment," Smith said, a topic she elaborates on in her recently published book "The Power of Meaning." But what Smith found was that by chasing happiness, she felt "anxious and adrift," which scientific research has proven to be normal. This feeling was explored in a 2011 study titled "Can seeking happiness make people unhappy? Paradoxical effects of valuing happiness" published by the American Psychological Association. Researchers found that chasing happiness can be self-defeating, "because the more people value happiness, the more likely they will feel disappointed." "Even though life is getting objectively better by nearly every conceivable standard, more people feel hopeless, depressed and alone," Smith said. But when it comes to those who pursue meaning and find it, Smith said they are "more resilient, they do better in school and at work and they even live longer." To find out how people can live more meaningful lives, Smith spent five years interviewing hundreds of people and sorted through psychology, neuroscience and philosophy research. For those who may not know where to start to live a more meaningful life, Smith details these four pillars to help set you on a more fulfilling path.

Value others and find people who value you

The first pillar of meaning is "belonging," which Smith said comes from "being in relationships where you're valued for who you are intrinsically and where you value others as well." The clearest examples of sharing this bond can be seen between yourself and your family or friends. But Smith warned that you shouldn't confuse this with "cheap forms of belonging," where people only value you not for who you are, but for what you believe or who you hate. "True belonging springs from love. It lives in moments among individuals and it's a choice," she said. "You can choose to cultivate belonging with others."

Find your purpose

"Finding your purpose is not the same thing as finding that job that makes you happy," Smith said. "Purpose is less about what you want than about what you give." Smith explained that the key to purpose is "using your strengths to serve others." Given that American adults spend a majority of their time at work, Smith said it makes sense that we channel our sense of purpose through our jobs, where we contribute a lot of our time and feel needed. But as Smith pointed out, the lack of purpose Americans feel at work is translating into "disengagement at work, unemployment and low labor force participation." "Of course, you don't have to find purpose at work, but purpose gives you something to live for," Smith said, adding it gives you a reason to move forward.

Experience transcendence

"Transcendent states are those rare moments when you're lifted above the hustle and bustle of daily life, your sense of self fades away and you feel connected to a higher reality," Smith said. In other words, it's an experience that feels larger than life. But different people will experience transcendence in different ways. For Smith, transcendence looks like getting "so in the zone" while writing that she loses all sense of time and place.

In 2015, University of California - Berkeley researchers Paul Piff and Dacher Keltner published a study on the emotional response of awe, which they described in The New York Times as "that often-positive feeling of being in the presence of something vast that transcends our understanding of the world." In the study, students who looked up at 200-feet-tall eucalyptus trees for one minute felt less self-centered and even behaved more generously when given the chance to help someone, Smith explained. She recommends people place themselves in more moments like these.

Be in control of your life story
Allergan's controversial deal with the Saint Regis Mohawk tribe giving the group the patent rights to one of its key drugs was widely misunderstood, Allergan CEO Brent Saunders told CNBC.

"I think there's a lot of misunderstanding on why we did it," Saunders told "Mad Money" host Jim Cramer in a Wednesday interview. "It wasn't desperation, it was tenacity."

In exchange for the patents for Allergan's eye drug, Restasis, and $13.75 million (plus potentially $15 million in annual royalties), the tribe granted Allergan an exclusive license to sell the drug.

The deal involving the billion-dollar drug drew widespread criticism, raising concerns that Allergan could now raise the price of Restasis while keeping it under patent protection.

A group of hospitals, health insurers and other drugmakers flagged the deal to Congress, asking lawmakers to review it. But Saunders said that it was simply how the pharmaceutical industry works.

"I believe that the biopharmaceutical industry is grounded in one thing, and that's intellectual property protection. That's why we invest billions of dollars coming up with cures and treatments because we get a very short period that's protected by patents to sell those drugs," the CEO said.

On the other hand, Saunders acknowledged big pharma's duty to patients and consumers.

"The flip side of that is I have a social contract that says when we are successful, we'll price it responsibly and we'll make them accessible to those people who can't afford them," he told Cramer. "And I think people got confused that said because I believe in strong intellectual property, I don't believe in making medicines affordable and accessible, and one has nothing to do with the other."

While Wall Street has turned sour on Allergan lately, Saunders said that leading the company past patent cliffs like this one is just part of the job.

"Look, we are tenacious. We believe in protecting our shareholders. We believe in protecting our employees and we believe in protecting our medicines, which means our patients," the CEO said.

Watch Brent Saunders' full interview here:
WHEN: TODAY, TUESDAY, October 31, 2017

WHERE: CNBC'S "SQUAWK ON THE STREET"

Following is the unofficial transcript of BREAKING NEWS from CNBC's David Faber today on CNBC's "Squawk on The Street" (M-F 9AM  11AM.)

All references must be sourced to CNBC.

CARL QUINTANILLA: AND 126 MILLION AND COUNTING. FACEBOOK, GOOGLE, AND TWITTER ON THE HILL AS NEW DATA SHOWS THE SCOPE OF RUSSIAN BACKED PREELECTION MANIPULATION, FAR GREATER THAN PREVIOUSLY DISCLOSED BUT FIRST DAVID'S GOT SOME NEWS ON A BIG DEAL IN THE INDUSTRIAL HEARTLAND.

JIM CRAMER: WHAT?

DAVID FABER: YES, WE DO. EMERSON ELECTRIC WANTS TO OWN ROCKWELL AUTOMATION. AND OVER THE LAST THREE MONTHS, HAS MADE A SERIES OF OFFERS TO THE COMPANY IN AN ATTEMPT TO FULFILL THAT DESIRE, ACCORDING TO PEOPLE FAMILIAR WITH THE SITUATION. EMERSON'S MOST RECENT OFFER FOR ROCKWELL WAS WORTH MORE THAN $27 BILLION. IT WAS MADE IN EARLY OCTOBER FOR 215 DOLLARS A SHARE. THAT WAS SPLIT EVENLY BETWEEN CASH AND STOCK, LIKE THE OFFER WORTH $200 THAT IT MADE IN EARLY AUGUST AND ONE IT MADE A FEW WEEKS AFTER THAT, EMERSON'S LATEST OFFER TO BUY ROCKWELL, WHICH HAS INCREASED IN VALUE GIVEN THE MOVE UP IN EMERSON'S STOCK PRICE, WAS MET WITH A TERSE-REJECTION, ACCORDING TO PEOPLE WITH KNOWLEDGE OF THAT CORRESPONDENCE. AN EMERSON OFFICIAL CONFIRMED THE COMPANY MADE RECENT OFFERS TO PURCHASE ROCKWELL AUTOMATION BUT WOULD OFFER NO COMMENT BEYOND THAT. ROCKWELL, A FIERCELY INDEPENDENT MIDWESTERN COMPANY WITH A RELATIVELY NEW CEO HAS BEEN NO STRANGER TO EMERSON AS THAT COMPANY LOOKED FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO CONSOLIDATE IN THE INDUSTRIAL AUTOMATION SECTOR. BUT AFTER YEARS OF TRYING TO ENGAGE WITH ROCKWELL, EMERSON FOR THE FIRST TIME MADE A FORMAL OFFER TO BUY ROCKWELL IN AUGUST. NOW THAT OFFER WAS FOR $200 AND WHEN MET WITH REJECTION, EMERSON CAME BACK WITH BOTH A HIGHER PRICE AND WITH CONCESSIONS ON SOCIAL ISSUES THAT IT HOPED WOULD BRING ROCKWELL TO THE NEGOTIATING TABLE. THUS FAR, THAT EFFORT, WHICH I AM TOLD INCLUDED A WILLINGNESS TO RENAME THE EMERSON ROCKWELL HAS BEEN MET WITH CONTINUED REJECTION. AS WELL IN THE TIME SINCE EMERSON MADE THE FIRST OFFER, ROCKWELL STOCK PRICES MOVED UP BY MORE THAN 13%. NOW THE LATEST OFFER FOR $215 IN CASH AND STOCK AS I SAID EVENLY SPLIT WOULD VALUE ROCKWELL A LITTLE MORE THAN 20 TIMES IT'S EXPECTED EBITDA FOR 2017. IT WOULD BE ROUGHLY 32 TIMES THE ANALYSTS EARNINGS PER SHARE ESTIMATES FOR THIS YEAR, AND IT WOULD HAVE A TOTAL VALUE OF MORE THAN $27 BILLION, ROUGHLY $27.6 BILLION AT LEAST ON THE SHARE COUNT I HAVE FOR ROCKWELL. EMERSON'S OFFER STEMS FROM ITS DESIRE TO BE A LEADER IN ALL AREAS OF AUTOMATION AND TO PRESENT A STRONGER COMPETITIVE OFFERING TO INDUSTRIAL COMPANIES AS EUROPEAN GIANTS SUCH AS SIEMENS, ABB, AND SCHNEIDER BECOME MORE AGGRESSIVE IN THE FIELD. EMERSON BELIEVES THE COMBINATION COULD BRING REVENUE AND COST SYNERGIES THAT WOULD BE WORTH AS MUCH AS $6 BILLION. NOW IT'S UNCLEAR WHETHER EMERSON IS WILLING TO MOUNT A FULL-ON HOSTILE BID FOR ROCKWELL, WHICH IS INCORPORATED IN DELAWARE. BUT GUYS, CERTAINLY INTERESTING TO SEE SO FAR REBUFFED, NOW BEEN MADE PUBLIC. WE'LL SEE WHAT SHAREHOLDERS THINKS ROCKWELL SHARES OF COURSE, AS WE WOULD EXPECT, TRADING UP RIGHT AROUND 200 BUCKS A SHARE. AND THAT IS WELL ABOVE A NUMBER OF THE TARGETS.

For more information contact:

Jennifer Dauble

CNBC

t: 201.735.4721

m: 201.615.2787

e: jennifer.dauble@nbcuni.com

Emma Martin

CNBC

t: 201.735.4713

e: emma.martin@nbcuni.com

About CNBC:

With CNBC in the U.S., CNBC in Asia Pacific, CNBC in Europe, Middle East and Africa, and CNBC World, CNBC is the recognized world leader in business news and provides real-time financial market coverage and business information to more than 409 million homes worldwide, including more than 91 million households in the United States and Canada. CNBC also provides daily business updates to 400 million households across China. The network's 15 live hours a day of business programming in North America (weekdays from 4:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. ET) is produced at CNBC's global headquarters in Englewood Cliffs, N.J., and includes reports from CNBC News bureaus worldwide. CNBC at night features a mix of new reality programming, CNBC's highly successful series produced exclusively for CNBC and a number of distinctive in-house documentaries.

CNBC also has a vast portfolio of digital products which deliver real-time financial market news and information across a variety of platforms including: CNBC.com; CNBC PRO, the premium, integrated desktop/mobile service that provides live access to CNBC programming, exclusive video content and global market data and analysis; a suite of CNBC mobile products including the CNBC Apps for iOS, Android and Windows devices; and additional products such as the CNBC App for the Apple Watch and Apple TV.

Members of the media can receive more information about CNBC and its programming on the NBCUniversal Media Village Web site at http://www.nbcumv.com/programming/cnbc.

For more information about NBCUniversal, please visit http://www.NBCUniversal.com.
Chinese consumers are getting very excited about the iPhone X. But for Apple , which has struggled to keep up with the onslaught of competition in China's smartphone market, an upturn in fortunes may not yet be on the cards.

Already, Chinese buyers are rushing to get their pre-orders before the official product launch on Friday. JD.com, the country's second-largest e-commerce site after Tmall, received over 2.5 million pre-orders. Other sellers have tallied about another 3 million of such orders.

For perspective, Apple sold 44.9 million iPhone units in China in 2016, according to research by intelligence firm IDC.

Social media platforms in China are also seeing lively activity about Apple's latest offering, with the term #iPhoneX being read 400 million times thus far.
Investors Jeremy Bloom, Dhani Jones, Shawn Johnson East and Bode Miller travel deep into the Canadian Rockies to test new cutting edge adventure products  including a line of women's skis and a conversion kit that enables dirt bikes to ride in deep snow. Which resourceful entrepreneur will earn a life-changing investment?

Watch the clips above for a sneak peek

About "Adventure Capitalists"

Thrill-seeking investors Shawn Johnson, Dhani Jones and Jeremy Bloom travel the country to test products in extreme conditions and potentially offer investments. In each one-hour episode, four separate entrepreneurs showcase products designed for outdoor adventure. These cutting-edge products and inventions run the gamut; from outerwear that can insulate against freezing temperatures (even when wet), to a robotic fishing lure that brings dead bait back to life and a full suspension mountain bike that can trek over any terrain. The adventure capitalists then put these innovations to the test, often in harsh conditions, to determine which are actually worthy of an investment.
The potential for sustained U.S. economic growth is certainly "north of 2 percent," but not the 3 percent that President Donald Trump believes is possible with the implementation of his policy agenda, former Obama Treasury Secretary Jack Lew told CNBC on Wednesday.

"We left the economy in pretty strong shape," said Lew, referring to what he sees as positive results from steps taken during Barack Obama's presidency to recover from the depths of the 2008 financial crisis. "The benefit of the strong economy we left is putting us in a place, if we don't make mistakes, the economy will continue to grow."

"I always tried to be an optimist when I was in office; I'm still trying to be an optimist," Lew said on "Squawk Box," predicting gross domestic product growth "north" of 2 percent on a long-term basis but not 3 percent.

The government last month reported a 3 percent advance in third-quarter GDP after a 3.1 percent increase in the previous quarter.

Trump has taken credit for the uptick in economic growth from the first quarter of 2017 and last year.

But Lew, who also was Obama's White House chief of staff, said it's too early to tell whether those 3 percent levels are here to stay. "We've seen over the last five [or] 10 years a trend of quarters being very uneven," Lew said, pointing out that there were quarters during the Obama administration that were "better than we just saw."

"You've got to take the long view," Lew said. "It is very hard for an economy to consistently grow beyond potential unless you see the population grow and the productivity increasing."

"We have demographic issues that are just a constraint that anyone would face right now," he added, warning that denying such factors "could lead you to make big mistakes."

One of those mistakes would be to implement the approach to tax reform that Republican leaders advocate, said Lew, formerly director of the Office of Management and Budget during Bill Clinton's presidency. "I think it would be an enormous mistake to have a tax cut that we can't afford based on numbers that are unreliable on the hope that we get where you're going."

Trump and Republican tax writers maintain that any tax cuts would be paid for by the accompanying bump in economic growth, a method of measuring the potential impact of policy measures known as dynamic scoring. But Democrats, like Lew, believe that the potential impact of GOP tax cuts should be judged without factoring in any economic change, a practice called static scoring.

House Republicans, in consultation with Trump on Tuesday evening, postponed the release of their tax bill by one day until Thursday. "We just had a few finishing touches to do," House Budget Committee Chair Diane Black told CNBC on Wednesday morning. "We wanted to make sure we had this right when we put it out."
WHEN: Today, Thursday, November 2, 2017

WHERE: CNBC's "Closing Bell"

Following is the unofficial transcript of a FIRST ON CNBC INTERVIEW with Senator Elizabeth Warren and CNBC's John Harwood on CNBC's "Closing Bell" (M-F 3PM  5PM ET) today, Thursday, November 2nd. Following is a link to the video on CNBC.com: https://www.cnbc.com/video/2017/11/02/full-interview-with-senator-elizabeth-warren.html.

All references must be sourced to CNBC.

KELLY EVANS: WELCOME BACK. THE NEW TAX PLAN BACKED BY THE PRESIDENT GETTING SOME INTERESTING REVIEWS TODAY. AND THE HARSHEST WORDS, UNSURPRISINGLY, HAVE COME FROM DEMOCRATS. ONE OF THE LEADING VOICES OF SENATE DEMOCRATS AND A MEMBER OF THE BANKING COMMUNITY, ELIZABETH WARREN IS WITH JOHN HARWOOD.

JOHN HARWOOD: KELLY, I'M GOING TO DIVE RIGHT IN IN WITH SENATOR WARREN. FIRST OF ALL. BIG PICTURE, ARE YOU AGAINST ANY TAX CUT OR ARE YOU AGAINST THIS TAX CUT IN PARTICULAR?

SENATOR ELIZABETH WARREN: SO I AM AGAINST WHAT THE REPUBLICANS HAVE PUT TOGETHER IN THIS TAX PLAN, IN WHICH THEY GIVE $2 TRILLION IN JUST GIVEAWAYS TO GIANT CORPORATIONS. BIG WINNERS HERE, NUMBER ONE BIGGEST WINNER IN THE COUNTRY IS ESTIMATED TO BE WELLS FARGO, WHO WOULD MAKE OUT WITH BILLIONS OF DOLLARS. YOU DO REMEMBER WELLS FARGO -- THE COMPANY THAT OPENED FAKE ACCOUNTS, CHEATED ITS OWN CUSTOMERS. SECOND BIG GROUP THAT WOULD MAKE OUT BIG WOULD BE THE FOREIGN INVESTORS, WHO ARE ESTIMATED TO MAKE ABOUT $700 BILLION OUT OF THIS. THIRD BIG GROUP WOULD BE THE MULTINATIONALS AND THIS GIVES REAL SUBSIDIES TO MOVE JOBS OVERSEAS TO MAKE INVESTMENTS OVERSEAS. BAD IDEA.

HARWOOD: DO YOU SEE ANY MERIT TO THE IDEA THAT CUTTING TAXES FOR CORPORATIONS, EXPENSING PROVISIONS WILL STIMULATE ECONOMIC ACTIVITY AND THEREFORE HELP WORKERS?

WARREN: YOU KNOW, THIS IS THE BIG LIE THAT THE REPUBLICANS KEEP TRYING TO PUSH. AND THEY'VE BEEN PUSHING IT, LET'S FACE IT, FOR 30 YEARS NOW. AND FOR 30 YEARS NOW WE'VE WATCHED WORKERS WAGES JUST STAY FLAT. IN FACT, WHAT HAPPENED AFTER THE GEORGE W. BUSH TAX CUTS IN THE EARLY 2000s? WAGES STAYED FLAT. WHAT HAPPENED OVER IN GREAT BRITAIN? THEY DROPPED CORPORATE TAX RATE BY 11 POINTS AND WAGES ACTUALLY DECLINED.

HARWOOD: SOME ECONOMISTS IN YOUR PARTY SAY, IN FACT, GIVEN THE DEMANDS OF SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE, THE DEFICITS WE HAVE ALREADY, TAXES NEED TO GO UP, NOT DOWN. IS THAT WHERE YOU ARE?

WARREN: THE WAY I LOOK AT IT IS THE REVERSE. WHAT'S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW IS THE REPUBLICANS ARE SAYING," LET'S GIVE $2 TRILLION TO GIANT CORPORATIONS," AND THEN WHEN IT BLOWS A HOLE IN THE DEBT, WHICH WE KNOW IT WILL DO, THEY COME BACK IN A YEAR, OR TWO YEARS AND SAY, "GEE, REALLY, REALLY SORRY, BUT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO CUT MEDICARE, GOING TO HAVE TO CUT MEDICAID, GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE CUTS IN ALL THE INVESTMENTS HERE IN AMERICA." YOU KNOW, I JUST WANT TO SAY ON THAT $2 TRILLION, IF THE REPUBLICANS REALLY THINK WE HAVE $2 TRILLION TO SPEND, WHY NOT SPEND IT ON INFRASTRUCTURE? THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WILL REALLY BOOST THE ECONOMY RIGHT NOW. WHY NOT FORGIVE STUDENT LOAN DEBT? THAT WOULD BOOST THE ECONOMY. WHY NOT WRITE A CHECK TO EVERY AMERICAN EARNING LESS THAN $200,000 A YEAR FOR $17,000? A LOT OF WAYS YOU COULD SPEND $2 TRILLION.

HARWOOD: AS YOU KNOW, THEY DON'T NEED YOUR VOTES TO PASS THIS BILL. CAN YOU STOP IT?

WARREN: I'M GOING TO DO MY BEST. THIS IS REALLY ONCE AGAIN LIKE IT WAS WITH HEALTH CARE. IT'S WHETHER OR NOT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE GET TO SEE WHAT GOES ON, AND MAKE THEIR VOICES HEARD. THAT HAPPENS, THIS BILL WILL NEVER BECOME LAW.

HARWOOD: JEROME POWELL WAS PICKED AS THE NEW CHAIRMAN OF THE FED BY THE PRESIDENT TODAY. HE'S DESCRIBED AS THE CLOSEST THING THERE IS TO JANET YELLEN WHO'S THERE ALREADY AMONG THE CHOICES THE PRESIDENT WAS CONSIDERING. DO YOU SUPPORT JEROME POWELL AND DO YOU ENVISION PROBLEMS WITH HIS CONFIRMATION?

WARREN: SO LET ME SAY, THE CLOSEST THING TO JANET YELLEN IS JANET YELLEN. WELL, I THINK IT'S WORTH A MINUTE TO STOP AND SAY JANET YELLEN HAS DONE A GREAT JOB AS A FED CHAIR AND SHE WILL BE THE FIRST FED CHAIR SINCE 1979 WHO DOESN'T GET REAPPOINTED. THAT'S BEEN TRUE REGARDLESS OF PARTY, THIS HAS BEEN A VERY NONPARTISAN THING. JEROME POWELL 

HARWOOD: ANY CONCERN ABOUT POWELL ON REGULATION, WALL STREET REGULATION?

WARREN: POWELL HAS ALIGNED HIMSELF WITH JANET YELLEN ON A REGULAR BASIS, AND THAT IS A GOOD SIGN, BUT LOOK, THIS IS WHAT HEARINGS ARE ABOUT. I'M GOING TO ASK HIM SOME TOUGH QUESTIONS AND SEE WHAT HIS ANSWERS ARE.

HARWOOD: ELIZABETH WARREN, THANKS SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH US.

WARREN: THANK YOU.

HARWOOD: KELLY, BACK TO YOU.

EVANS: ALL RIGHT. OUR JOHN HARWOOD SPEAKING WITH SENATOR ELIZABETH WARREN. THANK YOU BOTH VERY MUCH.

For more information contact:

Jennifer Dauble

CNBC

t: 201.735.4721

m: 201.615.2787

e: jennifer.dauble@nbcuni.com

Emma Martin

CNBC

t: 201.735.4713

e: emma.martin@nbcuni.com

About CNBC:

With CNBC in the U.S., CNBC in Asia Pacific, CNBC in Europe, Middle East and Africa, and CNBC World, CNBC is the recognized world leader in business news and provides real-time financial market coverage and business information to more than 409 million homes worldwide, including more than 91 million households in the United States and Canada. CNBC also provides daily business updates to 400 million households across China. The network's 15 live hours a day of business programming in North America (weekdays from 4:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. ET) is produced at CNBC's global headquarters in Englewood Cliffs, N.J., and includes reports from CNBC News bureaus worldwide. CNBC at night features a mix of new reality programming, CNBC's highly successful series produced exclusively for CNBC and a number of distinctive in-house documentaries.

CNBC also has a vast portfolio of digital products which deliver real-time financial market news and information across a variety of platforms including: CNBC.com; CNBC PRO, the premium, integrated desktop/mobile service that provides live access to CNBC programming, exclusive video content and global market data and analysis; a suite of CNBC mobile products including the CNBC Apps for iOS, Android and Windows devices; and additional products such as the CNBC App for the Apple Watch and Apple TV.

Members of the media can receive more information about CNBC and its programming on the NBCUniversal Media Village Web site at http://www.nbcumv.com/programming/cnbc.

For more information about NBCUniversal, please visit http://www.NBCUniversal.com.
More than 58,000 people in France have signed a petition demanding men receive more paternity leave following the birth of a child.

The petition, addressed to French President Emmanuel Macron and three of his ministers, has asked that the current 11 days leave awarded to new fathers should be extended to four weeks and made obligatory.

According to The Guardian newspaper, more than 40 prominent figures in France, including the economist Thomas Piketty, have signed the petition.

The petition, hosted by change.org, claims that the departure of one parent from the home after less than 2 weeks from the birth is often traumatic for parents.

It adds that a mother left alone after just 11 days can suffer increased stress and a lack of sleep. For the father, the petition claims the habit of looking after a new-born baby cannot be not fully learned.

French fathers are currently allowed 11 days paid leave or a total of 18 days for a multiple birth.

According to the Connexion website, French mothers can take maternity leave of six weeks before a birth and 10 weeks after, a total of 16 weeks. This rises to 26 weeks if they have two or more children already. This maternity leave is obligatory, though the number can be negotiated.

The United States is unusual in that it does not enforce any paid leave for new parents, according to 2016 data compiled by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

In the same study, the OECD identified Estonia as the most generous of 41 developed countries, offering more than a year and a half of paid leave to new parents.
City Councilman Roy Christensen wants Mayor Chris Beutler to reconsider his decision to award a contract to a Nebraska engineering company for work on a biogas-to-vehicle fuel project.

Beutler bypassed the citys request-for-proposal (RFP) process to award a contract to HDR Inc. for design work on a city-owned and operated process that would convert biogas from the sewage treatment process into compressed natural gas.

Christensen on Wednesday asked Beutler to reconsider the contract with HDR and instead to use the citys RFP process.

Christensen has tried to get the city administration to consider using a private company that would build, own and operate the biogas-to-fuel project. The private company would pay the city an annual fee and produce compressed natural gas for city vehicles.

A broadly written request for proposals would allow a private company to present its plan to a selection committee that would make a recommendation to the administration.

Beutler's team has decided to build an estimated $8.1 million city-owned conversion project that would sell the fuel and federal tax credits. The city expects to earn back between $800,000 to $4 million a year.

Last week, Beutler signed a $727,800 contract with HDR, the company that has done the preliminary work for the city on the project.

Beutler bypassed the normal RFP process used to pick an engineering firm, using his special authority.

The city can bypass the RFP process to avoid delay or inefficiency when a firm has done preliminary work. It also allows the mayor to bypass the RFP process when he determines it is in the best interest of the city.

Christensen said a broadly written RFP would allow bidders to come forward with innovative solutions that can foster competition and lead to the best deal possible for utility ratepayers.

We should not blindly assume that a city-built and city-managed facility is the best solution when other solutions have not been fully vetted through an RFP process, Christensen said in a letter to the mayor.

"In my judgment, given the size and scope of this project  and the total dollars involved  an RFP process is necessary and the right thing to do," Christensen said.

Responding to the letter, Rick Hoppe, the mayor's chief of staff, said the administration did meet with a number of private companies while developing plans for the project.

"But it was clear to us that it was much better to put the revenues generated from the project back into the pockets of ratepayers," Hoppe said in a statement. "Roys assertion that was not a transparent process is inaccurate."
Southeast Asian ride-hailing company Grab on Wednesday said users can now pay for goods and services in shops and restaurants using GrabPay, the company's mobile wallet.

The option is currently available in Singapore, but the company's co-founder, Tan Hooi Ling, told CNBC it will be rolled out simultaneously across Southeast Asia by 2018 if the company gets regulatory approvals.

At the moment, Grab has 25 restaurants and food stalls in Singapore that signed up to accept cashless payments using GrabPay  and the long-term focus for the company is to target the 20,000 odd merchants in Singapore, as well as businesses across Southeast Asia, who still prefer to use cash.

There's no dearth of digital-payment options in Asia due to a pickup in smartphone ownership and the widespread penetration of the internet. But in August, a PayPal study found that cash is still king in many major markets, including those in Southeast Asia. For example, more than 70 percent of the respondents to the PayPal study in the Philippines and Indonesia said they used cash most often.

Cash can be hard to keep track of, can be easily misplaced and is inefficient, according to Tan. Still, merchants have not yet moved to cashless payment options "because it's difficult and it's expensive," she said.

She pointed to the various points of sales that are accepted in large supermarkets as an example: Setting up those payment options take time and it's also expensive because there is a need to put in the right hardware and to train people.

"What we're providing is the complete opposite of that: something that is super easy to install, easy to use and something that's going to be affordable for the merchants, as well as the customers," Tan said.

Moreover, Tan said, many businesses face high merchant discount rates (MDRs)  the transaction fee that is deducted by the payments processor from the total amount received  for accepting cashless payments. That, she added, is likely due to costly hardware and sales processes that make the technology inefficient and "more expensive than it needs to be." MDRs are a common way for many digital payments platforms to make money.
The White House on Wednesday flatly denied that President Donald Trump had ever called the American criminal justice system "a joke and a laughingstock," just hours after Trump said precisely that during a televised Cabinet meeting. (See comments at 3:36 in clip above)

"We need quick justice and we need strong justice  much quicker and much stronger than we have right now  because what we have right now is a joke, and it's a laughingstock," Trump said at the meeting.

The president's remark followed a terror attack in New York City on Tuesday that killed eight people. The suspect, Sayfullo Saipov, was shot on the scene and quickly taken into custody. Authorities later found items that indicate the attack was inspired by ISIS.

A few hours after Trump's Cabinet meeting, CNN's Jim Acosta asked White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders, "Why did the president call the U.S. justice system a joke and a laughingstock?"

"That's not what he said," Sanders replied. "He said that process has people calling us a joke and a laughingstock."

Sanders went on to say that the president was frustrated by how long and costly it is to prosecute individuals accused of terror-related crimes under U.S. law.

"Particularly for someone to be a known terrorist, that process should move faster. That's the point [Trump] is making. That's the frustration he has," she said.
"The world needs investments in climate infrastructure of $1 trillion per year to keep temperature rise under two degrees."

Phase Two culminated in the Paris Climate Accord, embraced by 195 nations (all but Nicaragua and Syria), and launched the current Phase Three with its focus on putting money to work to create a new era of climate infrastructure. Even though President Trump is undoing federal clean power initiatives and threatening to withdraw from the Paris Accord, Phase Three will move forward with rising global momentum.

The world needs investments in climate infrastructure  including clean energy, water, and waste-to-value  of $1 trillion per year to keep temperature rise under two degrees, according to many experts. At present, $287.5 billion per year is being invested, according to Bloomberg New Energy Finance, so we need to quadruple the current rate within five-to-seven years to have a shot. Key to success is engaging institutional investors and their more than $80 trillion in assets, by demonstrating that money can be made in the process. Fortunately, the battle is being waged on many fronts, and progress is evident.

Pension funds in Canada and Scandinavia are making healthy profits investing in wind, solar, and biomass. They have a history of doing so, a track record and results.

Nine institutional investors from five nations have committed $1.45 billion to Aligned Intermediary, an investment advisory group for climate infrastructure, which I lead. Large asset managers, including BlackRock and TPG, are beginning to offer green or impact funds. And universities are wrestling with how to invest their resources to benefit the planet.

Governments are engaged as well. Development finance institutions, including Asian and African development banks, are co-investing to encourage institutional capital. USAID and OPIC are working to ease the way for capital to move into the clean and green sectors.

State governments are increasingly active, as the regional alliances make clear. State green banks are working to overcome market obstacles, with New York having committed $1 billion to alleviate financing gaps in clean energy markets. Last month, California signed an agreement with Ontario and Quebec linking their carbon markets.

For Phase Three to be successful, we must focus on three priorities:

Increase dramatically investments in solar and wind power, especially in countries and states where it is languishing. Solar power was the fastest-growing source of new energy worldwide last year, according to the International Energy Agency. Renewable energy accounted for two-thirds of new power added to the world's grids.

Bring more institutions into the climate infrastructure market, with the asset-management industry offering more funds in clean and green investments. As we have seen in other markets, such as home mortgages and consumer credit, we can accomplish this by (1) creating standardized financial products designed specifically for institutional investors, (2) establishing new investment platforms focused solely on this sector to facilitate greater institutional investment, and (3) investing in the growth of clean energy companies that are creating long-term climate infrastructure assets that institutional investors want to acquire.

Phase Three in the climate war is well underway, but we must expand the financial commitments to it in every way possible as quickly as possible. Now is the time. We cannot wait.

Commentary by Peter Davidson, co-founder and CEO of Aligned Intermediary and former executive director of the U.S. Department of Energy's Loan Programs Office.

For more insight from CNBC contributors, follow @CNBCopinion on Twitter.
The morning after a terrorist killed eight people in lower Manhattan, President Donald Trump pointed the finger at Sen. Chuck Schumer for a program that let the suspect into the country.

At 7:24 a.m. EDT, Trump tweeted that "the terrorist came into our country through what is called the 'Diversity Visa Lottery Program,' a Chuck Schumer beauty."

Tweet: @realDonaldTrump The terrorist came into our country through what is called the "Diversity Visa Lottery Program," a Chuck Schumer beauty. I want merit based.

Schumer responded an hour later, tweeting "I guess it's not too soon to politicize a tragedy."

Tweet: @SenSchumer I guess it's not too soon to politicize a tragedy.

Sen. Jeff Flake, a Republican who rebuked Trump last week, came to the New York Democrat's defense. Flake said Schumer did away with the program Trump accused Schumer of putting in place, tweeting "I know, I was there."

Tweet: @JeffFlake Actually, the Gang of 8, including @SenSchumer, did away with the Diversity Visa Program as part of broader reforms. I know, I was there

Trump also tweeted that his administration is "fighting hard for Merit Based immigration."

Tweet: @realDonaldTrump We are fighting hard for Merit Based immigration, no more Democrat Lottery Systems. We must get MUCH tougher (and smarter). @foxandfriends

The terror suspect, Sayfullo Saipov Habibullaehevic Saipov, is a 29-year-old Uzbek national who entered the United States in 2010, according to NBC News. Authorities say he drove a rented truck that mowed down bikers and pedestrians along the West Side Highway on Tuesday afternoon, killing eight people in the city's deadliest terror attack since 9/11.



After exiting the truck while carrying paintball and pellet guns, he was shot and wounded by police and taken into custody.

A note found inside the truck translates to "ISIS Lives Forever," a senior official told NBC.

Correction: This story was revised to correct the time of the Trump tweet. It was 7:24 a.m. EDT.
Billionaire activist investor Bill Ackman, aiming to win three seats on ADP 's board, told CNBC on Wednesday he's seeking the spots because the company is "very inefficient."

Comparing parts of ADP's business to rival Paychex , the Pershing Square founder said: "ADP is not as efficient as it should be."

"The result is its margins are half of Paychex's," Ackman said. He said Paychex competes in about 35 percent of ADP's businesses.

Ackman unveiled an 8.3 percent stake in stock and options in ADP in August. The boardroom battle goes to a vote at the human resources service firm's annual shareholder meeting next week.

In a statement to CNBC, the company said: "ADP strongly rejects the false and reckless claims made by Pershing Square throughout the proxy contest and urges shareholders to vote in their own best interests on ADP's white proxy card."

Ackman said in the "Squawk Box" interview that ADP's shareholder base sees "a big margin opportunity." He said some of the investors he's spoken to believe the pressure he's applied is a "positive."

If the company doesn't continue to innovate and become more efficient, it is going to lose "significant market share," he said. He added that he has no desire to fire lots of employees, saying the HR solutions industry is growing. The biggest risk to ADP workers is from the company's failure to keep up with its competition, he said.

Ackman said ADP has "missed the boat on technology," describing the company's chief technology officer as not a "technologist," but a business guy.

In its statement, the company said: "ADP is continuing to execute on a technology-driven transformation. ADP is now the largest Human Capital Management (HCM) provider in the cloud, with 83 percent of our clients on strategic cloud-based platforms."

Earlier, the company said it plans to file a complaint with the SEC against Ackman for releasing "false and misleading" information.

In a letter to ADP on Wednesday morning, Ackman advocated that both sides "get along for the benefit of all of ADP's stakeholders."

"Putting out a press release saying that you are reporting me to the SEC is a move designed to smear my reputation for a tactical advantage in a proxy contest. It is not an appropriate thing to do, nor is it fair play," Ackman wrote in the letter.

The hedge fund manager's letter also said ADP can increase its profit margins by improving software and services as well as reducing operating costs.

"It's certainly an important investment for us. It's one of the largest investments we've made," he told CNBC. "We think the downside is limited and the upside is pretty substantial."

Pershing Square has been underperforming the market this year. The fund is down 1.2 percent year to date versus the S&P 500's 14.8 percent return through Oct. 24, according to its website.

Reuters contributed to this report.
For most travelers flying out of Miami International Airport, the experience is far from glamorous, with harrowingly long lines and  if you're lucky  takeaway from KFC. Instead, imagine being ushered onto a private 757 operated by the luxury safari pioneer Abercrombie & Kent. Founder, chairman and CEO Geoffrey Kent, a dashing explorer who is a real-life cross between James Bond and Indiana Jones, will be there to accompany you, along with a fleet of flight attendants, chefs and guides.

Source: Abercrombie & Kent

You'll relax in one of just 50 handmade leather seats that fully recline and have built-in massagers. As the Veuve Clicquot flows, you can use Bose noise-cancelling headphones to watch movies on a personal iPad. From Miami, the jet will whisk you away, crisscrossing the globe, hitting five continents on a 25-day voyage to places like Easter Island, with its mystical "moai" statues; Nicaragua, to tour a volcano by helicopter; Australia, where you'll taste wine in the Margaret River Valley; and Tbilisi, Georgia, for a private choral performance at a sixth-century church.

Easter Island Source: Abercrombie & Kent

"Every three days, we plan a series of outstanding adventures in a different place," says Kent. "Each destination has to outdo the one before." Luxury travel consultant Tiffany Dowd, founder and president of Luxe Social Media, took an A&K private jet journey in 2014.

"Imagine having breakfast on the Masai Mara in the morning and then gambling in the famous Casino de Monte-Carlo in the evening  all in the same day," she says. Dowd says it's the exclusive access and attention to detail that sets Abercrombie & Kent apart  plus being able to travel with the founder of the company.

Geoffrey Kent "It was such an incredible experience to travel around the world with Geoffrey Kent," she says. "He is the ultimate adventurer, a consummate storyteller. To visit Kenya and go on a safari with him, where A&K all began, was something I'll never forget." A private jet pioneer, Abercrombie & Kent originally launched its trailblazing around-the-world journeys in 1989 aboard a luxuriously refitted Lockheed L-1011 Tristar jetliner. In subsequent years, the company chartered the supersonic Concorde. Now, the company hosts excursions on a glamorously outfitted 757. "We're trying to reinstitute that age of exploration," says Kent. "Today everyone just does a package tour, pretends it's really exciting, that it is an experience. By the way, it isn't."

View of 'Laguna de Apoyo' volcanic lagoon and the Mombacho Volcano in Nicaragua Getty Images | INTI OCON

A trip like this isn't cheap  $150,000 per person, based on a double occupancy  but it includes everything, from hotels to food on the plane and off, drinks, activities and tips. Another part of the appeal? The access it gives the lucky (and wealthy) few to money-can-buy experiences. And then there's A&K's "Travelling Bell Boy" service  you never have to touch your own bags. "In this case, you can use the misused word 'unique' to describe the trip," says Doug Gollan, founder and editor of Private Jet Card Comparisons.

Vineyards at Margaret River, in the main wine growing region of South Western Australia Getty Images | Tom Stoddart Archive

Since A&K launched its private jet journeys, the market has been saturated by other luxury brands offering similar weeks-long experiences. Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts takes jetsetters on a sleek black 757 to luxuriate at its properties around the world. Aman just started doing the same for its most enthusiastic Amanjunkies, as its fans are called. Crystal Cruises launched trips on Crystal Skye, a tricked out 88-seat Boeing 777. SeaDream Yacht Club partnered with TCS World Travel to offer the Sea Sky Safari. Smithsonian and National Geographic also run high-brow jet trips with a focus on learning. Trips can range from $56,950 for a trip to Asia with National Geographic to $55,000 an hour to charter the Crystal Skye.

"By flying privately, you're taking away the hassles and stress of 20 arrivals and departures through commercial airports, since you are arriving and departing from VIP facilities," says Gollan, who also publishes the DG Amazing Experiences e-newsletter. That means luxurious lounges with free food and drinks, separate security areas with everything handled for you and no lines  ever. Jack Ezon, president of Ovation Vacations, which caters to clients who have extremely high net worth, usually above $100 million, says that private jet journeys are one of the big travel trends he is seeing in 2017. "Round-the-world journeys are stepping up to a new level as luxury travel brands are stepping in to offer uber-wealthy jetsetters private experiences that showcase what they are all about," says Ezon.

The old city in Tbilisi, Georgia Getty Images | Kaveh Kazemi
Former campaign manager for U.S. President Donald Trump, Paul Manafort (R), leaves U.S. District Court after pleading not guilty following his indictment on federal charges on October 30, 2017 in Washington, DC. Getty Images

The indictment of former Trump campaign chair Paul Manafort sets the stage for a historic test of the American legal and political systems, which could soon come under new attack from a president who has previously asked his advisers about firing Special Counsel Robert Mueller and pardoning those caught up in the Russia probe. Mueller's painstakingly detailed 31-page indictment of Manafort and former Trump campaign aide Rick Gates alleges that the two men concealed their ties to the government of Ukraine, kept huge amounts of money in offshore shelters, and laundered more than $18 million since 2006. The indictment doesn't allege that they colluded with Moscow to help Trump win the 2016 election, which the president and his aides are already using to try to undermine Mueller and dismiss the ongoing probes into team Trump's ties to Russia as partisan witch hunts. But the key thing to understand about the indictments  and the guilty plea of a lesser-known Trump adviser named George Papadopoulos  isn't about their possible impact on the current course of the Trump-Russia scandal. It's about their probable impact on what's still to come. More From Vox:

Congressional Republicans are helping Trump with a big cover-up

The Manafort indictment is a historic test for American democracy

"A giant fog machine": how right-wing media obscures Mueller and other inconvenient stories That's because Mueller's moves increase the likelihood that campaign advisers or administration staffers who find themselves in the special counsel's crosshairs may look to strike plea bargains where they swap damaging information on Trump in exchange for lesser charges. Papadopoulos is already cooperating with the Mueller team. As a result, Trump may decide that he has no choice but to try to protect himself by firing Mueller or issuing preemptive pardons to Manafort or others ensnared in the investigation. Either move would trigger a political and legal crisis on a scale that hasn't been seen since Watergate, with federal courts having to decide whether to overturn any of the Trump pardons and Republicans facing a moment of truth about their willingness to substantively stand up to Trump instead of merely criticizing him publicly. The investigation into Trump's ties to Russia has been simmering along for months, and it wasn't clear if, or when, it would move from a political scandal to a legal one. With Monday's moves by the Mueller team, it has. The question is how far Trump is willing to go to protect himself from an investigation that threatens the future of his presidency  and whether Congress and the courts are up to the challenge.

This is a historic and dangerous moment for the Trump-Russia scandal

To understand where the scandal may be going, it's important to understand the current state of play after Monday's blizzard of legal moves by the Mueller team. The day began with the release of Mueller's indictments of Manafort and Gates, which detailed what prosecutors describe as a years-long scheme to profit from lobbying work on behalf of a pro-Russia Ukrainian political party while hiding the true source of the money. Manafort and Gates received a stunning $75 million between 2006 and 2016, much of it allegedly laundered through offshore bank accounts and shell companies. (The two men pleaded not guilty Monday afternoon.) The indictment of Manafort had been widely expected for weeks, but what came next was a surprise. The Mueller team unsealed a guilty plea from a lesser-known Trump campaign adviser named George Papadopoulos, who admitted to lying to the FBI about his conversations with Joseph Mifsud, a professor with close ties to the Russian government who told Papadopoulos that the Russians had "dirt" on Hillary Clinton, including "thousands of emails." That disclosure is potentially an even bigger development than the Manafort indictment because it confirms that at least one Trump campaign adviser knew of Kremlin efforts to help Trump win the White House and was open to accepting that assistance. Whether Papadopoulos shared that information with others within the Trump campaign (or with Trump himself) remains an open question. The Papadopoulos filings are written in the dry language of a legal document but include several sentences that should raise alarms throughout the Trump administration. In one of their court filings, Mueller's team said the former adviser had been arrested in late July and has been secretly working with the prosecutors ever since. Papadopoulos "has indicated that he is willing to cooperate with the government in its ongoing investigation into Russian efforts to interfere in the 2016 presidential election," Mueller's team wrote in a separate court filing. That raises questions about what kinds of information Papadopoulos has already provided to Mueller; whether he wore a wire or otherwise tried to help Mueller's team gather evidence on other members of the Trump campaign or administration; and whether other members of team Trump are also quietly working with Mueller. Former Justice Department spokesperson Matthew Miller pointed out on Twitter that the only person who knows the answers to those questions is Mueller himself. Tweet And that's why Trump may decide that the time has come to oust Mueller  or pardon people like Manafort and Papadopoulos  regardless of the possible consequences.

Congress and the courts may be the ones who decide what comes next
Demand for Xbox One X console is "super high" ahead of its release next week, the company's head of devices told CNBC on Tuesday.

The is the high-end version of Microsoft's Xbox games console with souped-up specs aimed at the next generation of gaming.

Microsoft is releasing the device on November 7 and it appears demand has matched expectation.

"I won't talk about the exact numbers but the demand is super high, we are very, very excited about Xbox One X right now," Panos Panay, corporate vice president of devices at Microsoft, told CNBC in a TV interview Tuesday.

"I won't compare it to other consoles. What I'll say is the demand for Xbox One X right now is exactly where we anticipated, even more so when you see that excitement for the product... this is something that resonates with gamers."

But the high demand has also prompted warnings of shortages in some regions. The U.K.'s Xbox head Harvey Eagle said in a recent interview with Gamesindustry.biz that he "can't guarantee that stock will be available in launch week for people to just walk into a store and pick up."

One of the major features highlighted when the Xbox One X was announced was its ability to support virtual reality (VR). PlayStation has a virtual reality offering. So far, however, there has been no VR headset released by Microsoft.
Minister of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Khalid A. Al-Falih gestures as he speaks during a panel on October 5, 2017. Sefa Karacan | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images

OPEC must tackle several unknowns ahead of its upcoming meeting if the oil market's "positive glow" is to be sustained, Stephen Brennock, oil analyst at PVM Oil Associates, said Wednesday. The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries is scheduled to meet on November 30, with investors expecting the producer group to prolong output cuts of about 1.8 million barrels per day beyond its current deadline at the end of March 2018. However, there are three pressing issues for the cartel to address.

Exempted members

The first potential stumbling block for OPEC concerns Libya and Nigeria, Brennock said. The cartel gave both nations a waiver from the OPEC-led agreement because internal conflicts in each country caused significant production declines last year. However, Nigeria and Libya have added a combined total of 694,000 barrels per day through the January to September period, Brennock said, citing OPEC-surveyed secondary sources. The exemptions have made the producer group's task of eliminating the supply overhang increasingly difficult and has also been "a factor in capping price gains," he said. Both crude benchmarks notched up monthly gains of more than 5 percent in October. Prices were buoyed by ongoing geopolitical tensions and heightened expectations that OPEC and other oil exporters would extend a deal to limit their oil output.

A second issue for the OPEC leadership to consider is how best to tackle members' "cheating behavior," Brennock said. While the current agreement is OPEC-led, cartel members have been bested by non-OPEC producers in recent months. And though compliance has impressed at just over 100 percent of late, the effort has been far from universal. "Such widespread cheating has only been masked by Saudi Arabia which has led from the front by pumping below its OPEC target," Brennock said.

JOE KLAMAR | AFP | Getty Images

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman said in a statement Saturday that he supports extending the agreement, which aims to keep about 1.8 million barrels off the market through March 2018. Saudi Arabia is the most influential member of OPEC. The agreement, which took effect in January of this year, also included Russia and a number of other non-OPEC nations. Iraq, OPEC's second-largest producer, has been the least compliant member of the deal to date. The country has consistently fallen short of its production cut target, despite being scolded by both Saudi Arabia and Russia for its perceived lack of cooperation. Crude oil supplies from northern Iraq have fallen after the central government took control of oil fields in disputed territories from Kurdish forces.

Higher oil prices
The prospect that Amazon will enter the pharmacy space has cast a pall over stocks of drug distributors and retail pharmacies, erasing hundreds of millions of dollars from their market value.

But in another sector of the drug space, Amazon's entry would be welcomed: pharmaceutical companies.

"Just like science is disrupted with gene therapy or novel treatments, I think the drug distribution channel also should be disrupted with improvements based on technology or efficiency," Allergan CEO Brent Saunders told analysts on the company's third-quarter conference call Wednesday.

Pfizer chief Ian Read made similar comments in an interview with CNBC on Tuesday.

"We haven't had any conversations with them [Amazon]," Read said, but we're "more than willing to talk to anybody who can ensure" the efficiency of the distribution system.

Amazon is considering an entry into the space, with a decision expected as soon as Thanksgiving. Last week, news that Amazon had secured wholesale pharmacy licenses in 12 states further fueled speculation  though experts say those licenses don't facilitate an entry into drug distribution; they support Amazon's existing business in medical equipment.

Still, conviction  or hope  runs high that Amazon is interested in pharmacy. Wells Fargo analyst David Maris, who covers drug companies, points out that the URL AmazonRx.com is registered to the Amazon Legal Department.

"We do not see the Amazon threat alleviating any time soon," wrote David Larsen and Matt Dellelo, analysts covering the drug supply chain space for Leerink, in an Oct. 31 research note. "While these licenses may be related to other health-care products and devices, in our view it is likely that Amazon will eventually get into the pharmacy services space."

Most exposed, they wrote, are retailers  CVS , Walgreens and Rite-Aid  followed by drug distributors  McKesson , AmerisourceBergen and Cardinal Health .

Others have focused on Amazon's potential to disrupt the pharmacy benefit manager  or PBM  space, which is dominated by three major players: Express Scripts , CVS Caremark and UnitedHealth 's Optum.

PBMs, in addition to operating mail-order pharmacies, negotiate drug prices on behalf of insurers and employers, which can often lead to adversarial relationships with pharma companies.

"I've always thought that the current system is pretty inefficient, when you have PBMs, the pharmacy benefit managers, between the manufacturers and the ultimate users," said Joel Marcus, CEO of Alexandria Real Estate, which caters to life science companies.

If Amazon entered the space, Marcus told analysts on the company's third-quarter conference call this week, "it's going to rationalize the system."

Another biopharma CEO, speaking on the condition of anonymity, put it more bluntly: "We'd be fools not to consider anyone who can disrupt the insurance/PBM stranglehold these companies have over patients and us."

To be sure, many point out the pharmacy space is complicated and heavily regulated, which could deter Amazon from pursuing it.

"We'll see on the pharmacy side; there's a lot of regulation there, a lot of red tape," Piper Jaffray analyst Michael Olson, who covers Amazon, said on Squawk Box Friday. As an example, he pointed to Amazon's wine business.

"They're in the business of shipping wine across state lines right now, and they're looking at getting out of that, because that has too much regulation," Olson said. "So I'm not 100% convinced they're going to be getting into the pharmacy space, but we'll see."

Some in the drug industry argue that's precisely why Amazon could successfully disrupt the pharmaceutical supply chain.

"It's an area rife with inefficiency and a lot of turf," said the aforementioned biopharma CEO. "It's overly complicated; that's the opportunity."
Nancy Hicks Reporter Nancy Hicks reports on Lincoln city government, but shes been following the leaders of local and state government for more than 40 years. Follow Nancy Hicks Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today

Printed phone books are going the way of phone booths, heading into the boneyard of historical artifacts.

Omahans havent gotten a residential (white pages only) phone book automatically delivered to their home or business for several years, and less than 1 percent ask to have one delivered.

Last year Dex Media, the company which publishes phone books for CenturyLink, got permission to stop the automatic delivery of phone books to customers in the smaller towns served by CenturyLink, including Fremont, Grand Island, Norfolk, North Platte, McCook and much of the Panhandle.

Now Frontier Communications of Nebraska, which provides traditional landline telephone service to Kearney and Columbus, is seeking permission from the state Public Service Commission to stop handing out printed directories to every customer automatically. Customers would be able to get numbers through an online directory.

The state PSC requires that an alphabetical directory for landline customers be made available without charge. But that doesnt mean it has to be a paper directory.

The PSC has allowed Dex Media to stop automatically providing a printed directory to every CenturyLink customer, but the company must still provide a printed telephone book upon request.

And in small Nebraska cities served by Dex most people will still be getting a phone book. The company is targeting delivery based on whether their research shows the books will be used. That usually means if you are old, you will likely still get a book.

People in small towns tend to use the phone book more, said a spokesman for Dex Media.

In Lincoln everyone will still be automatically receiving a phone book for the time being.

Windstream has "no current plans to ask the Nebraska Public Service Commission for permission to discontinue distributing phone books to all customers," according to its communications staff.

Landline companies contend most people get numbers online and don't use a printed phone book.

In addition cellphone numbers are not published and the number of landline customers continues to drop.

Last year there were about 660,000 landline numbers statewide, but there were more than 1.34 million wireless numbers, based on the PSC annual report.

Will your LES bill change?

Though electric rates are proposed to change next year, most residential customers will not see much of a difference in their bills.

In fact you can check out what your bill might be next year -- if the City Council approves the proposal -- using an online calculator.

I checked out two residential customer' bills, using the bill calculator provided online by Lincoln Electric System. Both will see a tiny drop ($1 to $2) in the monthly bills next year, if usage is identical.

The generic examples provided by LES indicate average customers will see small changes -- from a dollar or two a month higher or lower -- based on the new rates.

You can use the calculator (Google rate calculator, LES) by plugging in your account number.

LES is proposing to raise its monthly facilities charge, which is a flat fee intended to cover the fixed cost of delivering electricity. But the rate for energy usage itself is dropping.

From the examples provided by LES it appears that many residential customers will see a small increase in their bills.

For example, people who live in a small apartment, using an average 500 kilowatts of electricity each month, will see a $1 increase in their monthly bill. People living in a large all-electric home, using 2,400 kilowatts per month, will see a $2.71 drop in the monthly bill.

Most businesses, particularly those that use a lot of electricity, will see a drop in their monthly LES bills.

LES has held public meetings on its proposed budget and rate requests. The last chance to provide your input will be at the City Council's Monday meeting, where the LES budget and proposed rate changes are scheduled for a public hearing.

Using eminent domain

The Lancaster County Board recently agreed to use its power of eminent domain to obtain an easement on land needed for a box culvert along North 148th Street, between O and Holdrege streets.

The landowners dont want the county to take more of their land for this structure, which is larger than the original bridge, based on reports provided the board. They also were afraid more water would be diverted onto their land.

So the board recently voted to take the issue to court.

This is one of three small bridges that must be replaced on the heavily traveled county road, which sees close to 6,000 vehicles a day. One of the other two bridges will be finished within the next two weeks, and the contractor hopes to start on the second box culvert on Monday.

Both the county and the city occasionally need to use the eminent domain process to force reluctant owners to sell property needed for road work.

During her four years in office County Engineer Pam Dingmans staff has worked on 45 to 50 land acquisitions a year. The county has started the condemnation process four times but has only had to go to court once, Dingman said.

The city also uses eminent domain on major street project when negotiations with property owners fail.

In the past five years the city has condemned 11 properties, roughly two per year, according to Michelle Backemeyer, with Public Works and Utilities.

Backemeyer provided these examples of recent major street projects and condemnations necessary: Old Cheney Road (three condemnations out of 71 property owners); Northwest 48th Street (four of 60 property owners); Yankee Hill Road (no condemnations out of 39 properties) and Coddington and West Van Dorn (one of eight properties).
Tanya Williams (R) consoles her neighbor Dawn Lockhart as they view their burned homes in the Coffey Park area of Santa Rosa, California, on October 20, 2017.

Thousands of homes lost to last month's devastating wildfires in Northern California could be rebuilt faster and more efficiently using production-scale techniques, according to industry experts.

Indeed, a proposal is being floated to pull together construction and crew resources to rebuild whole communities or streets lost in the wine country wildfire disaster. This mass-building approach could become particularly important as contractors say they are already being inundated with calls for rebuilding requests and some worry about shortages in skilled labor and materials.

"Because we have such a large situation, we have to think beyond our own property lines," said Julia Donoho, an architect and attorney in the Santa Rosa area.

Backers of the approach say pooling together resources could allow for strength in numbers and increase overall efficiencies in the use of skilled crews, site supervisors, equipment as well as the purchase of construction materials. It also might be a way to get fire victims back into their homes faster.

Overall, last month's wildfires damaged or destroyed more than 14,700 homes across several counties in Northern California. Sonoma County bore the brunt of the disaster but there also was destruction in Napa, Mendocino, Lake and a few other counties.

Sonoma County lost about 5,000 homes, and Santa Rosa  the largest city in the county  had 3,000 homes destroyed and entire neighborhoods wiped out. The homes lost in Santa Rosa represent roughly 5 percent of its housing stock.

In addition to the property losses, there also were at least 43 fatalities linked to the Northern California fires, with 23 in Sonoma County.

Donoho said she's working on a project to rebuild all of Santa Rosa's Coffey Park neighborhood and talking to homeowners about what they'd like to see in the rebuilt community.

About 1,300 homes were lost in Coffey Park, a middle-class neighborhood. There also were higher-end neighborhoods lost that might not lend themselves to production-style rebuilding since there may be too many customized features, industry executives say.

In any event, some believe the rebuilding process could take 3 to 5 years to complete and note that the current priority is a government-led hazardous and toxic waste cleanup at burned homesites. State officials have said they expect the rebuilding to start in earnest in the springtime.

"Some of the homeowners want to be back in so quickly that we should just rebuild with the plans with modern standards that they already had, and that would give them the fastest permit," said Donoho. "Other people have ideas about redesign. So we need to find the right balance."

Added Donoho, "We don't just want a few houses back, we want our whole neighborhood back. If you get your house back, but you don't have a neighborhood of houses around you and you're surrounded by 10 years of construction."

Jeff Okrepkie, an insurance agent in Santa Rosa who lost his home in the wildfires, said grouping together homes to rebuild sounds "great but it's hard to get this whole process figured out right now."

In fact, there is still an ongoing process of fire victims going over losses with insurance adjusters to see how much in proceeds they will get. Some also are dealing with banks who hold the mortgages to homes.

"It's a bleak and scary future that we're looking into, and we have to find a way to wade through those murky waters," he said.

Okrepkie said even before the wildfires there was a "massive labor shortage and a lot of that has to do with the rental and home market up here. Pretty much everybody who could swing a hammer who was reliable already had a job. It will get worse because we just lost that many residential structures."

In Sonoma County, there's also believed to be fewer than six major homebuilders that can construct multiple homes or residential developments.

"When you start looking at the numbers, we're going to need people from somewhere else to help do it," said Okrepkie.

At the same time, there are concerns the new construction crews coming to the area will only exacerbate the region's housing shortage.

Even so, pooling together resources might attract more interest from established builders and contractors from outside the Northern California region.

A large production-scale rebuilding approach was utilized previously in California wildfires, including in 2003, 2007 and 2008. The biggest of those was in San Diego's Scripps Ranch community after the 2003 Cedar fire, a deadly blaze that destroyed a total of more than 2,300 residential properties in the region.

A handful of builders were responsible for rebuilding hundreds of the homes lost in Scripps Ranch. That effort took several years and some of those same firms already have shown an interest in participating in the rebuilding.

"With 6,000 homes and the devastation that we're seeing, we think we could offer a helping hand," said Jeff Pack, an executive with Stonefield Companies, a San Diego-area homebuilder that helped rebuild homes after the Cedar fire and wildfires in Southern California.

Added Pack, "They are going to need a lot of help up there in rebuilding. It's going to be a massive effort with the amount of homes that have been lost."

Stonefield already has made inquiries to see about the availability of its subcontractor pool to assist in Northern California. The company could use its playbook from the Scripps Ranch fires to keep the costs down.

"Our blueprint down there allowed the homeowners to team up together and that allowed the cost spreading to occur from architectural plans to contractor superintendent onsite to site supplies to different tractors that the subcontractors needed to use," said Pack.

Residential insured losses from the recent wildfires totaled more than $3 billion, with the claims total expected to go up, California's insurance commissioner announced Tuesday. The insured losses in Sonoma County exceeded $2.6 billion.

"Doing a group rebuild is a way to lower price so people can afford to rebuild," said Kenneth Klein, a California Western School of Law professor and expert on natural disasters. He said insurance industry data shows about 80 percent of the homes in America are at least 20 percent under-insured, meaning they do not have enough insurance proceeds to replace their homes to the state it was prior to the destructive incident.

Klein, who lost his Scripps Ranch home to the Cedar fire, said almost all of his neighbors decided to do a group rebuild after the 2003 disaster "because it was the obvious way to deal with the gap in insurance proceeds and rebuilding your home." That said, Klein notes he had "full insurance" to cover all his home's losses but still ended up building in tandem with a neighbor.
Russian President Vladimir Putin is heading to Iran to sign a joint statement with the country's leaders Wednesday, Moscow said  a move that signals the Kremlin is prepared to remain close to the increasingly isolated state.

Putin is due to meet Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and the country's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei with talks expected to deepen the countries' economic and political ties. Azerbaijan's President Iham Aliyev will also be present at the meetings.

The Kremlin told CNBC that the meeting was at Rouhani's invitation and was the second time that the presidents had met, their last get together being in August 2016 when a trilateral summit was held in Baku, Azerbaijan.

The topics for discussion will range from trade and economic cooperation to political issues, including the "the fight against terrorism, drug trafficking and discussions on regional conflicts," the Kremlin said in an emailed statement.

Energy links, transport and the Resht-Astara railway route, part of the international North-South transportation corridor, would also form part of the talks.

Moscow said the leaders would sign a joint statement later Wednesday, signaling that deals could be agreed.

Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov confirmed this, telling reporters on Wednesday: "I am confident that today's visit by the Russian president to Tehran will be marked by new important agreements, and we will soon learn about them," Russia's TASS news agency reported.
Donald Trump speaks during a thank you rally in Ladd-Peebles Stadium on December 17, 2016 in Mobile, Alabama.

Ex-Sen. Tom Coburn has offered a theory for why so many Republicans still back President Donald Trump despite behavior that has alienated so many others.

"We have a leader who has a personality disorder," the Oklahoma Republican told The New York Times last week, but "he's done what he actually told the people he was going to do and they're not going to abandon him."

The first assertion offered a damning description of the president. But the second, in a different way, damns his party.

That's because Trump's aides and allies in Congress have spent much of this year trying to keep him from doing things he said he'd do in last year's campaign  which, in turn, shows how Republican politics have drifted from governing realities in 21st century America.

The delay in the tax bill Trump and GOP leaders had hoped to release on Wednesday provides an example. Candidate Trump initially proposed a cut so massive it would have taken millions more Americans off the tax rolls, cut the top personal rate to 25 percent and cut the top corporate rate to 15 percent.

Trump claimed it would produce such an explosion of growth that the deficit wouldn't grow at all. But the conservative Tax Foundation forecast $10 trillion in higher deficits, and the plan has been whittled down since.

Congressional Republicans acknowledge the scaled-back version  with a top corporate rate of 20 percent and top personal rate of at least 35 percent  will increase the deficit by $1.5 trillion. Red ink would rise even more unless the plan includes offsetting provisions to raise revenue.

But Trump has opposed some prominent options. And the resulting difficulty in making the plan add up contributed to the delay.

The same problem hobbled the GOP effort to repeal and replace Obamacare. Trump pledged better, cheaper health care for all Americans without touching Medicaid  a standard that Republican plans could not meet.

On other issues, advisers have kept Trump from labeling China a "currency manipulator" and imposing retribution on American companies that move factories offshore.
Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff left a strong message for his 25,000 employees last month after seeing alcoholic drinks and kegs sitting in the office: take them out.

"I want to remind everyone that we have a no alcohol policy at Salesforce," Benioff wrote in an internal blog post seen by CNBC. "Alcohol is a drug and having alcohol on a Salesforce premise is simply unfair to the Ohana who either do not want it or are intolerant of it."

Benioff, who often calls his employees "Ohana," the Hawaiian word for family, isn't the only public company CEO to enforce a no-drinking policy at work. But he's certainly one of the first tech CEOs to put a hard ban on workplace drinking  a trendy office perk in Silicon Valley that has almost become the norm among tech companies as they try to attract talent with a more laid-back office culture.

Office booze has gained popularity, particularly among tech startups run by young CEOs, as it helps avoid an old, stodgy company image and is believed to encourage an environment where employees enjoy their time together.

Companies such as Twitter and Glassdoor have multiple kegs of beer available free of charge to employees at any time. Yelp and GitHub have free booze but only allow access after work or in certain parts of the office. Facebook and Google don't have an official ban on alcohol, but employees are expected to use common sense when it comes to drinking.

But a growing number of tech companies are starting to kick alcohol out of the office entirely.

Start-up Zenefits banned office drinking last year as part of its effort to clean up its party-like work culture. Uber is considering instituting a similar ban during "core working hours" and reducing the budget for drinks during after-hour events, based on recommendations by an outside law firm. Jet.com has gotten stricter about enforcing a no-booze rule after getting acquired by Wal-Mart , which doesn't allow office drinking, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Salesforce officially announced an alcohol ban at an all-hands meeting held more than a year ago, another person said. It's unclear what inspired the change, but Benioff shared his thoughts about it on Twitter last year, when he wrote, "No room for alcohol or drugs in a start up or tech culture. The CEO has to set the tone from the top and enforce."